Hong Kong: Logistics funding schemes to launch

The Transport & Logistics Bureau today announced that two logistics-related funding schemes under the Maritime & Aviation Training Fund will be officially launched on January 8.

The Professional Training on Smart & Green Logistics Scheme and the Logistics Promotion Funding Scheme will accept applications all year round.

The bureau explained that the Professional Training on Smart & Green Logistics Scheme aims to subsidise eligible logistics associations and training or educational institutions to organise local training courses on modern, smart and green logistics, with a view to helping in-service practitioners equip themselves with up-to-date knowledge.

The scheme will provide subsidies covering up to 80% of the course fees for each participant, subject to a cap of $6,500.

Meanwhile, the Logistics Promotion Funding Scheme will provide sponsorship of up to 100% of the total costs for local promotional campaigns and activities organised by eligible logistics-related organisations and professional bodies.

The scheme supports the rebranding of the modern logistics industry as smart, innovative and high-end. The aim is to attract more young people to join the industry, while also promoting the strengths of Hong Kong as an international premier logistics hub to both local and overseas companies.

The bureau added that the Logistics Development Councils Subcommittee on Industry Development and the Subcommittee on Infrastructure & Promotion will assess and approve applications, in addition to monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the schemes.

The Government will regularly review the use of the funding and the schemes effectiveness to ensure that they keep in step with the industrys development.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
2023 Yearender: China's commercial space industry delivers unprecedented progress

08:41, December 29, 2023 By Deng Xiaoci and Fan Anqi ( Global Times

China's commercial space industry has experienced a year of robust and all-around advancement in 2023, which has been lauded by industry insiders and observers as a prominent feature of China's overall development of its space program, with the unprecedentedly rapid emergence of private space companies a particular highlight.

As of December 15, China's space program had conducted 17 space launch activities related to commercial spaceflight this year, which included launches for commercial carrier rockets and various types of commercial satellites.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping called for nurturing strategic emerging industries including biological manufacturing, commercial space industry and the low-altitude economy at the annual Central Economic Work Conference on December 12, the booming progress of the private space companies is injecting confidence into the country's commercial space endeavors as it heads into its ninth year since 2015.

Year of breakthroughs

CERES-1, built by Beijing-based start-up Galactic Energy, has dramatically increased its launch frequency from four launches in three years to at least seven launches in a single year, including one ocean-based launch, successfully sending around 20 satellites into space in 2023. This small solid-fuel commercial carrier rocket, first successfully launched in November 2020, has rapidly become a force in China's commercial rocket sector following years of intensive development.

In July, another milestone was achieved by Beijing-based private space company, Landspace, with the successful launch of the Zhuque-2 rocket. The flight marked the world's first successful payload delivery into a preset orbit by a liquid oxygen-methane rocket, signifying a major breakthrough in China's use of new, low-cost liquid propellants.

In December, Zhuque-2 continued its success, smoothly completing a mission to launch three satellites in one launch. During a post-launch press conference, the company announced that its new reusable rocket model, Zhuque-3, is scheduled to undertake its maiden flight in 2025.

What's more, several other private space companies have successfully launched rockets this year, including the Tianlong-2 of Beijing-based Space Pioneer, SQX-1 of Bejing start-up iSpace, and Lijian-1 built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Galaxy Space, a commercial aerospace company based in Beijing, has developed and successfully launched a new type of satellite, designed for stacking multiple satellites in a flat-panel configuration. On July 23, 2023, the company launched a satellite codenamed "Lingxi-03" into preset orbit.

This satellite is China's first to utilize flexible solar wings. These "flexible wings" have several advantages: they are compact, lightweight, and modular, making them easier to store. With the same mass, they have a larger surface area to absorb more solar energy. This feature is particularly beneficial for simultaneously launching a large number of satellites, playing a crucial role in accelerating the construction of satellite internet infrastructure, the company told the Global Times exclusively in December.

Currently performing well in orbit, the Lingxi-03 satellite is validating a range of technologies essential for next-generation LEO broadband satellite communication. These include high-capacity energy generation, active thermal control, integrated industrial manufacturing structures, and multi-satellite stack compression release mechanisms.

Its successful deployment is providing crucial technological support for the rapid establishment of China's massive low Earth orbit communication constellation, marking a significant stride forward in the country's efforts to expand its space-based communication capabilities. This development not only demonstrates China's growing expertise in satellite technology but also represents a leap forward in its quest to establish a robust and efficient satellite internet system, the company said.

Moreover, China's national space team has expanded its presence in the commercial rocket field too, with the country's major space contractors China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) leading multiple commercial satellite launches with their main models, the Long March 2D and the Kuaizhou-1A, respectively.

With multiple participants engaged in friendly competition, China's commercial rocket sector is demonstrating increasing vitality and robust growth.

Promising potential

Kang Guohua, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, summarized China's commercial space development in 2023 under three themes: wide application, full-chain development, and low Earth orbit (LEO).

Kang told the Global Times that he has been impressed this year by the resilience of the commercial space industry.

"There is also a major breakthrough in applications, such as Huawei's launch of direct-to-satellite smartphones, which has truly brought the commercial space industry into the public eye. Previously, there was a misconception that there is little demand for commercial spaceflight, and this case has allowed people to see the huge potential of satellite internet," Kang noted.

The other highlight for this year's commercial space development is the advancement of a comprehensive industrial chain, from upstream industries including satellite manufacturing and rocket production, to downstream industries including various applications and services.

Kang specifically mentioned the construction of rocket launch sites by local governments. Previously, these resources were solely controlled by the military, but now they are being opened up for civilian use, reflecting the emergence of a holistic space ecosystem.

For example, Space Pioneer told the Global Times in an exclusive interview in July that the firm has built its own launch site at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and its own rocket manufacturing and assembly center in Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu Province, in a move to greatly boost the efficiency of assembly, testing and launch.

China's first commercial spacecraft launch site in Wenchang, South China's Hainan Province, is ramping up the final stages of construction, and plans to commence normalized commercial launch operations in 2024, the Global Times reported in July.

Shanghai is also aiming to foster a complete industrial chain for commercial rocket production, with an annual production capacity of 50 commercial rockets and 600 commercial satellites by 2025, according to an official plan released in October.

LEO ambitions

What's more, China's commercial space exploration has made significant progress in low Earth orbit, or LEO, activities.

This trend is described by experts as "a step forward for the civilian field," indicating that as civilian space exploration advances in the low Earth orbit space, the focus of state efforts may gradually shift to higher orbits.

This aligns with the global trend of technology development, where countries invest substantial funds in exploring a specific field and subsequently transfer the technology to the civilian sector, Kang said.

In 2023, one of the most notable commercial satellite companies in China is Changguang Satellite Technology Co based in Northeast China's Jilin Province. In June, the company successfully launched 41 satellites in a single mission.

This feat advanced the development of the Jilin-1 satellite constellation, significantly enhancing its capabilities. The constellation now offers high quality remote sensing information and products for various sectors, including national security, geographic surveying, land planning, agriculture, forestry, environmental protection, and smart cities.

Furthermore, in July, the Jilin-based firm, in partnership with the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the CAS, conducted a successful experiment in high-speed laser communication between satellites and ground stations. This experiment laid the foundation for expanding China's space-to-ground communication systems from microwave to laser technologies.

In the realm of constructing LEO communication satellite constellations, a field that has seen a significant rise in activity this year, both national and commercial entities have made substantial progress.

Outstanding major projects include the state-led Hongyun, Hongyan programs, and Xingwang, as well as commercial ventures including the Tianqi constellation.

On September 5, a new grouping of satellites for the Tianqi constellation were successfully launched into orbit. As per the plan, this constellation aims to establish a low-Earth orbit satellite Internet of Things (IoT) network, comprising 38 satellites and several ground stations, to create an integrated space-terrestrial IoT ecosystem.

For Deng Zhongliang, an academician from the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and Professor at the School of Electronic Engineering of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, the great leap of commercialization in space this year would be the satellite internet.

Satellite internet refers to a satellite communication system that can provide broadband access services. The unique advantage of it is that satellite internet is able to fill the coverage gaps in mountainous areas, plateaus, deserts, airspace, and oceans where ground-based mobile internet is insufficient.

Due to the huge potential of commercial applications of satellite internet, it has become one of the most important directions for international competition in the field.

China, in this regard, is working on integrating the 5G ground-based internet with the satellite internet powered by China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and this innovation has made China leading global research and development works, thus promoting the rapid growth of a variety of new commercial aerospace applications, Deng said.

What's more, in order to further reduce costs, a number of new technologies need to enhanced, including the feasibility of rocket recovery, breakthroughs in key components, and the capability of launching multiple satellites with a single rocket. This year, a series of experiments have been conducted, with significant progress made in China's commercial space sector, which Deng believed marked "a big step forward."

The robust development in satellite technology and deployment underscores China's growing prowess in the global space industry, space experts and industry insiders hailed.

The advancements in satellite constellations, particularly in remote sensing and communication, highlight the country's commitment to enhancing its capabilities in space-based technologies. These efforts not only bolster China's technological infrastructure but also offer valuable services and data to a wide array of industries, marking a significant step forward in the nation's journey to becoming a leading space power, they noted.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A group of migrants exit a bus after traveling from Texas in the West Loop neighborhood Dec. 5, 2023 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

A chartered bus arrived in south suburban Manhattan the night of Dec. 21, and dropped off dozens of people in the parking lot of a Metra station without providing warning or more information about the individuals arrival, the Police Department and Mayor Mike Adrieansen said.

These individuals, presumed to be just some of the over 20,000 Venezuelan migrants who have arrived in Illinois over the past year in buses mostly from Texas, were among the first to arrive in the south and southwest suburbs. Almost all of the migrants have previously been dropped off in downtown Chicago.

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When police drove by the Metra station and saw the migrants in the parking lot, they asked them what they were doing in Manhattan as the town had received no warning about their arrival, Adrieansen said. The migrants responded they were trying to get to Chicago.

We just dont have the resources to provide for individuals, said Adrieansen. So, the best thing we can do now if they were to arrive unscheduled, our officers would direct them to Chicago where there is a lot more resources for individuals.

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A spokesperson for the town clarified that Manhattan has no hotels to house large numbers of people or proper triage centers to meet medical needs.

University Park and Lockport have also received buses dropping off migrants. The lack of resources in these towns have caused the leadership of many south and southwest suburbs issue executive orders or enact ordinances to handle the possibility of more buses. University Park and Tinley Park now require bus operators to communicate with the towns if buses are planned for arrival or face fines.

We were never actually made aware of the situation as far as us being notified that they were going to end up in Lockport, said police Chief Ron Harang. The buses just showed up and dropped off some of the migrants.

Lockport also had a busload of migrants dropped off at its Metra station Dec. 21, Harang said. Had they been notified of the drop-off plans, Lockport could have coordinated with the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications to ensure the migrants arrived in the city at a place where they could receive the proper services, Harang said.

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We had to actually find a method of transportation ourselves to get them from the city of Lockport to the city of Chicago, he said.

Lockport has an executive order that goes into place next week which focuses on ensuring there is communication between the leadership sending the buses and Lockport so the community can be best prepared if any more buses come, he said.

I think that the federal government and the state need to step up and ... help out these surrounding towns, villages and cities, he said.

The Manhattan Village Board will consider an ordinance Jan. 3 that would, among other things, would allow the police chief to seek criminal charges against operators of unscheduled buses and issue a fine of $750 per person dropped off.

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The executive order gives our police a little police power to enforce it if (migrants) are unscheduled, just dropped off, said Adrieansen.

Adrieansen said Will County officials are scheduled to meet with Manhattan leadership to discuss plans for handling migrant buses headed to the south suburbs.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
While plowing a field in western Slovakia, a farmer hit a rock. This wasnt the first time the annoying rock had gotten in his way, but he decided it was going to be the last time. He started digging  and found an unusual World War II artifact.

As the farmer in Kostolna-Zariecie dug, a circular concrete structure started to emerge, the Monument Office of the Slovak Republic said in a Dec. 11 news release.

Photos shared by the village of Chocholna-Velcice in an Oct. 17 Facebook post show the excavation process. The partially buried object looks almost like a crater.

The partially buried machine gun nest found in a field in Kostolna-Zariecie.

Officials identified the farmers find as the bottom half of a machine gun nest used by the Nazi German military during World War II. These machine gun nests were also known as a kugelstand and kugelbunker.

The machine gun nest as it was dug up from a field in Kostolna-Zariecie.

These defensive structures were made of reinforced concrete and had a spherical shape with a hole on top. They were used as shelters and firing points for machine guns or other infantry soldiers, the release said. A photo shows what the machine gun nest would have looked like while in use.

The World War II machine gun nest after being fully excavated.

In 1945, near the last few months of World War II, the village of Chocholna-Velcice was located along the front lines for about two weeks, the Facebook post said. The Nazi German army defended the village from advancing Soviet-Romanian armies before finally retreating. During this time, the German military fortified their position with machine gun nests.

Metal detectorists searched the field in Kostolna-Zariecie but did not find any other artifacts, the release said. The lack of any findings suggests that this machine gun nest probably wasnt an active firing location.

At some point after World War II, the upper part of the machine gun nest was destroyed, possibly because it disrupted plowing, officials said. The underground structure was forgotten  until now.

The inside of the World War II machine gun nest after being fully excavated.

Officials estimate that up to a thousand machine gun nests were used by Nazi German forces in Slovakia during World War II. After the war ended, some structures were destroyed, others left in place and some reused as flower pots, playground equipment or other objects.

The machine gun nest from Kostolna-Zariecie was relocated to the Trencin Museum, the release said.

Kostolna-Zariecie is about 70 miles northeast of Bratislava and near the Slovakia-Czechia border.

Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Monument Office of the Slovak Republic and the Facebook post from the village of Chocholna-Velcice.

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EAST PALESTINE, Ohio  When Jessica Conard heard that President Joe Biden would visit her community in East Palestine, she felt a sense of relief.

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.

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I feel like I dont matter, said 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 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 spokesperson.

But for many residents, Bidens absence feels like disrespect. Despite years of promoting himself as working class Joe, Biden is widely viewed here as a Washington insider who is neglecting the catastrophe in their midst.

I believe that it is political for him, said Krissy Ferguson, who lives within a mile of where the train derailed, in a county former President Donald Trump won with more than 70% of votes in 2020.

I believe that if we were in a blue area, he would have come, and that hurts, she said.

The derailment almost immediately became a political flashpoint, fomented by conservative commentators who seized on the crisis to sow public distrust in the Biden administration. In the days after the wreck, Trump  Bidens likely rival in the 2024 presidential campaign  visited East Palestine and handed out Make America Great Again hats, telling the crowd: You are not forgotten.

Administration officials have defended the governments response to the derailment, saying the Environmental Protection Agency and FEMA have deployed a steady stream of resources and hundreds of staff members to assess environmental and health risks. Many remain on the ground, officials said.

Biden also signed an executive order in September calling on federal agencies to continue conducting assessments to hold Norfolk Southern accountable, and he appointed a FEMA coordinator to oversee long-term recovery efforts.

But he did not issue a disaster declaration, which would allow the state to tap into more federal resources to help with recovery efforts, such as relocation assistance, crisis counseling and hazard mitigation.

The administration has said a disaster declaration is not the answer because there is a responsible party: Norfolk Southern. Unlike the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, for example, the derailment was not a natural disaster. The federal disaster law, called the Stafford Act, is designed to make federal funding a payment of last resort.

The states request for a federal disaster declaration remains open while the coordinator completes an assessment to find needs not being met by Norfolk Southern.

But none of that sits right with Jami Wallace, an East Palestine native who says Norfolk Southern is playing God and government.

We do not live in the United States of Norfolk Southern, said Wallace, who formed the Unity Council for EP Train Derailment to keep track of the derailment response and the communitys concerns. We live in the United States of America.

Members of the group say they want their government to take care of them. They want lifelong health screenings and benefits, long-term indoor air monitoring and testing that would detect and provide treatment for chemical exposures now and in the future.

Norfolk Southern has committed to cleaning up the damage  and is being monitored federally to follow through  but they want the kind of long-term commitment that they trust only the federal government can provide.

When you look at Maui, you can see the devastation, said Wallace, but you cant see chemicals in the air, in contaminated houses.

Lingering Chemicals

In the weeks after the derailment, the Ohio governor declared the air and drinking water safe, and the EPA has cited no evidence to suggest there is contamination of concern.

Norfolk Southern said it had spent more than $800 million on cleanup, legal costs and assistance to the community. As of Dec. 1, more than 175,000 tons of contaminated solid waste and 39 million gallons of wastewater had been shipped out of East Palestine, the EPA said.

But hundreds of people have reported health concerns, and the EPA has ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct additional investigations of two major creeks, Sulphur Run and Leslie Run, because of oily sheens in the water.

The train was carrying more than 700,000 pounds of vinyl chloride, a carcinogen, which is used to produce pipes, furniture and packaging.

Much of that freight was incinerated by emergency responders, in a so-called controlled burn to avert a wider explosion. Scientists say the disaster generated hundreds of unknown compounds, but linking any health issues directly to the toxins is difficult.

In a statement, Norfolk Southern said we understand that these residents have been through a lot, and that trust is earned, but that it has demonstrated its commitment to making residents whole. Norfolk Southern has engaged the community since Day 1, and were committed for the long haul, the statement said.

But residents say they live in constant anxiety, fearful that they still dont know how they may be affected by any lingering chemicals.

In June, a CDC official confirmed during a community meeting that some federal employees who went door-to-door to East Palestine became sick. At the same meeting, a CDC doctor told the community that the agency was prepared to help  should they develop cancer.

Conard acknowledges that with all the anxieties there, a presidential visit should be the least of her worries. A scroll through her cellphone pictures shows lesions over her 10-year-olds eyelids, asthma prescriptions for her 4-year-old son and a soot-like substance in her shower and bathtub  all of which developed after the derailment, she said.

The fact that the president hasnt come is disappointing, Conard said. But every day that Biden doesnt declare an emergency puts my community at risk.

What nags at her, she said, is that the president said he would come, and he hasnt.

Federal Response

Biden has characterized his decision as one of timing.

In March, when he was asked by reporters if he had plans to visit, Biden said he would be out there at some point, without specifying a timeline. Ive spoken with every official in Ohio, Democrat and Republican, on a continuing basis, he said.

In September, he was pressed on the issue again.

I havent had the occasion to go to East Palestine, Biden said as he prepared to leave for the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi. There is a lot going on here and I havent been able to break.

He added: We are making sure that East Palestine has what they need materially in order to deal with the problems.

But the political pressure is mounting.

The president will go to East Palestine, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said in September. He promised that he would, and he will.

As the politics over the disaster swirl around them, some residents say they have grown to resent becoming part of a partisan tug of war.

Ferguson has been living with her 82-year-old mother and 89-year-old stepfather in a home that Norfolk Southern is paying to lease until March.

She does not want to return to the home she left, which she said made her lips tingle and her eyes burn when she went back in the weeks after the derailment.

Her parents have become accustomed to the new home, now covered in signs to help her mother, who has Parkinsons disease, and her stepfather, who has dementia, remember where they are. She wonders what will happen to them if they have to leave.

She thinks Biden would understand, even though she voted for his Republican rival.

I still want him to come because hes a listener, she added through quiet sobs. I thought if he would come, he would listen to us, and help us get out.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited East Palestine three weeks after the derailment, acknowledged that residents want assurances about their future.

They want to know that theyre going to be taken care of for the long run, Buttigieg told The New York Times this month. Thats been our commitment as an administration, to use all the tools that we have.

Conard has grown weary of waiting for the president.

If Biden comes to East Palestine, she says, he wont be photographed against the backdrop of devastation that usually comes with a disaster zone visit. Hed find homes with manicured lawns, many lined with American flags, some with signs that say East Palestine Strong, and the occasional banner proclaiming, Dont Blame Me, I Voted for Trump.

As she stood in her kitchen preparing for her sons 4th birthday party, Conards eyes welled as she thought about the possibility of having to leave her forever home because of health concerns.

But where do you go? she said. Where do you go when your community is repeatedly ignored by the president of the United States? Thats where I want to go. I want to go where I feel like an American worth saving.

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Hersh Goldberg-Polin started dreaming about travel as a kid, perhaps because he moved around a lot at a young age. Before relocating to Israel at about 8, he lived in California and Virginia, and often visited family and vacationed in South Florida.

In the first grade, he told his parents hed had enough of the National Geographic Junior edition, wanting to move up to the advanced version. He loved travel so much so that this year, the now-23-year-old Israeli-American planned a two-year trip across the world.

He was supposed to leave on Wednesday, but he couldnt because, on Oct. 7, Hamas kidnapped him at the Supernova Music Festival. A few days later, his parents saw a video of him hiding in a bomb shelter and later losing his arm to a grenade. He has been held hostage ever since.

My heart was torn out that day; it was stolen, said Goldberg-Polins mom, Rachel Goldberg, who wears a number taped onto her shirt every day with the number of days her eldest son has been captured in Gaza. As of Friday, Dec. 29, its been 84 days.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin as a child. He lived in California and Virginia before moving to Israel at about 8 years old.

READ MORE: These South Floridians were in the region when Israel was attacked.

This week, as many wrap up the holiday season with loved ones, Goldberg wants the world to remember that not all can do that, especially those related to the more than 100 people  including at least eight American citizens  still believed to be held hostage by Hamas, an armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic political party by the same name, according to the Associated Press.

Deputy Consul General Mike Driquez of the Israeli Consulate Generals office in Miami echoed that sentiment.

Right now we are in a time thats joyful because of the holidays, but its also very sad, he said. Its very complicated.

Its been almost three months, and we still dont have any information on the abductees health condition or anything like that, he added. We dont have much time left.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a hostage still held by Hamas militants in Gaza and an American citizen, has dreamt about travel since he was a kid.

A mother on a mission: Painful would be a privilege

On Oct. 7, Hamas-led militants attacked Israel and killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians living in communities in southern Israel near the Gaza border, Israel has said. Hamas took about 250 people hostage.

During a ceasefire in late November, Hamas militants released about 110 hostages as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. Israelis counterattacks have killed more than 20,000 Palestinians and displaced almost all of the 2.3 million people living in Gaza, according to the AP.

Geopolitical conflicts are complex, Goldberg says, but what isnt is a mother looking for her son.

Goldberg used to be a teacher. Now her full-time job is advocating for her son and the rest of the hostages, more so after some of the released hostages reported being kept in poor conditions, according to the AP, and after learning about her sons injury.

She urges others to join her and her husband by calling their elected officials and requesting assistance to free the hostages.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, taken hostage by Hamas during the Supernova Music Festival in Southern Israel, with his mother, Rachel Goldberg, and his father, Jonathan Polin. His parents now work around the clock to advocate for his release.

READ MORE: US envoys work for a new hostage release deal and a scale-down of the Israel-Hamas war

My husband and I work 18 to 20 hours per day. We go anywhere; we talk to anyone, she said.

Theyve told their story to United Nations representatives in New York and Geneva. Theyve met with Pope Francis, Elon Musk, President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and 25 U.S. senators and seven governors. Theyve also talked to the War Cabinet in Israel and to different celebrities and influencers, even some they hadnt ever heard of before like record executive Scooter Braun.

We feel excruciating agony at all times, but we have to pretend to be human, and we have to pretend to be functioning, Goldberg said. Because if Im hysterical in a fetal position in a puddle on the floor, then I cant be trying to save him and them. Its really challenging. And its painful. Although painful seems like a cheap word for what were experiencing. Painful would be a privilege, if I was in pain. Its so much more than pain.

Still, Goldberg and her husband, Jonathan Polin, manage to carry on with others grace.

Rachel Goldberg hugs her eldest son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, before he was abducted by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023. He has been held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza since then.

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When she wakes up at 3 a.m., after about three hours of rest she gets every night thanks to prescribed sleeping pills, she reads psalms for times of trouble. Then she reads the thousands of messages of support she gets on social media every day.

And on Wednesday, as the flight their son would have been on to start his two-year trek around the world took off from Tel Aviv  El Al LY 83 to Bangkok  a flight attendant told passengers about Goldberg-Polin, about how he yearned to start his world travels in India. Later, when the plane flew over India, the pilots called Polin.

We are here with you, one of the pilots told the father, a video posted on an Instagram account called @bring.hersh.home showed.

South Florida connections to Israelis

Driquez at the Israeli Consulate Generals office in Miami said he hopes South Floridians realize that although the conflict and the issues in the Middle East may seem foreign, theyre directly connected to their community.

He pointed to personal connections like Goldberg-Polins: His aunts, uncles and grandparents have lived in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach, and he grew up going to Sugar Sand Park in Boca.

READ MORE: Its important that we bear witness. Videos show horrors of Hamas attack on Israel

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American citizen kidnapped by Hamas, embraces his father, Jonathan Polin.

My children still to this day get excited whenever someone mentions that park, Goldberg said. My God, they love it.

Driquez said Israelis, in general, have a deep relationship to South Florida.

When Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium in Surfside partially collapsed in June 2021, killing 98, people, the Israeli Defense Forces sent a search-and-rescue team and helped families through the trauma.

READ MORE: Surfside tragedy survivors honor Israeli rescuers in an emotional Holy Land reunion

That collaboration during the Surfside tragedy is what led state Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat who represents a district that includes Surfside, to travel to Israel earlier this month, and talk to Goldberg and Polin. He visited them at their home during a six-day trip there.

It was very solemn, yet powerful, he said. Rachel was incredibly composed. Shes really holding it together.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A local instrument store and non-profit that supports local musicians has taken a huge financial hit after back-to-back break-ins last week.

Artichoke Community Music on Southeast Powell Boulevard has had about $2,500 in stolen instruments and thousands of dollars of damage done to the stores door from the thefts.

It made me very angry, and you know, you feel violated, said Shelley Garett, executive director of Artichoke Community Music.

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Security footage from Dec. 19 shows two people busted through the door, stealing six guitars in a manner of 20 seconds, Garett said.

Then just four days later, on Dec. 23, one person broke in again and stole two guitars. Portland Police were able to recover one of the stolen guitars from the Dec. 23 heist, but none of the others.

Garett said because its a consignment shop, that translates to having to write a lot of checks to the original owners of the stolen instruments.

Most of those instruments that were stolen belonged to someone else. We still have to pay those consignees. They trusted us with their instruments. So I wrote quite a few checks yesterday to people that we didnt get the advantage of selling those instruments.

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Garrett estimates the door in itself will cost thousands to fix and that they will have to replace it with a locked metal garage door to keep the thieves out.

The broken windows and door have had to be replaced with plywood since they cant afford to replace them. This all comes after the shop has still not fully financially recovered from four break-ins last spring.

Were a nonprofit like everybody else. Were struggling, Garrett said. Id love to get glass back in our windows instead of plywood so its more welcoming.

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Artichoke Community Music just celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. In addition to selling instruments, it also serves as an incubator for young musicians, including hosting open mics.

We have different formats in our shows where people can learn how to perform and move up to feature shows. We have classes upstairs, workshops, great instrument store, Garrett said.

People who have any information about the break-ins are advised to call Portland police.

As for Artichoke Community Music, they are hosting a fundraiser at their location at 2007 SE Powell Blvd on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m., which will feature live music.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
In this photo provided by Karen Lopez, she and her husband, Jerry Lopez, are seen with their seven children in December 2023. Jerry Lopez, 39, was killed in Las Vegas two days after Christmas while on his way to work in what Las Vegas police say was the final carjacking in a crime spree. (Karen Lopez via AP)

LAS VEGAS (AP)  A rifle stolen from a Las Vegas gun show was among the weapons used by a man who shot and killed his mother in the desert near his childhood home two days after Christmas, setting off a violent high-speed police chase as he carjacked bystanders and fired at officers, authorities said.

The pre-dawn rampage left three people dead: The suspect; his 58-year-old mother; and a bystander, a father of seven, who was on his way to work when he unknowingly entered the suspect's path.

At a news conference Friday, Clark County Assistant Sheriff Yasenia Yatomi played dramatic video showing a pursuit that reached speeds up to 104 mph (167 kph) and provided photos of evidence collected by investigators that suggests the suspect could have been planning for a large-scale attack. The evidence included a notebook with a hand-drawn diagram "of a potential ambush situation," a stockpile of items that could be used to build firearm silencers and explosive devices, more firearms and loaded magazines, and documents outlining how law enforcement agencies respond to mass casualty incidents.

Yatomi said the evidence, though abundant, leaves questions unanswered.

We do not know if the suspect was attempting to build an improvised explosive device," she said. "With the materials we found in his homes, we do not know why the suspect started shooting.

The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Justin Davidson. According to Yatomi, he had a lengthy criminal history dating to 2009, including arrests on drug and weapons charges.

Yatomi said Davidson had been wearing camouflage clothing and a tactical vest while armed with a stolen AR rifle and an AK-47-style rifle with an obliterated serial number.

The rampage began before dawn Wednesday, when officers were called to investigate reports of gunfire coming from the desert near Davidson's childhood home in southeastern Las Vegas. Yatomi said the suspect's parents were woken up by the gunshots and, believing their son was firing rounds in the desert, drove there to look for him.

We do not know why his parents immediately went to that area upon hearing gunfire, Yatomi said.

According to police, Davidson opened fire on his parents just as officers arrived, killing his mother, Liza Leveille-Davidson.

Yatomi said the suspect then fired at officers, and as they ran for cover, Davidson shot out the windows of a police cruiser. He sped away toward the southwestern edge of the city.

Security footage played during the news conference showed Davidson carjacking bystanders at gunpoint at two different gas stations during the pursuit. Yatomi said a Las Vegas police officer fired nine rounds at the suspect during the first carjacking, striking him at least once.

After the second carjacking, Nevada State Police troopers joined the chase.

That's when the suspect encountered a white van pulling over to make room for the emergency vehicles. In an attempt to evade the growing number of officers chasing him, police said, the suspect shot the driver multiple times.

Police dashcam video showed the suspect pushing the victim's motionless body out of the van and running him over as he raced off, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Karen Lopez said her husband, 39-year-old Gerardo Jerry Lopez-Martinez, had just left for work as a driver for a medical linen supply company and was minutes away from their home when he was killed. Lopez-Martinez was a father to seven children between the ages of 3 and 11, six of whom were adopted.

With Davidson behind the wheel of Lopez-Martinez's van, Yatomi said officers fired 53 rounds at the vehicle, striking the suspect multiple times.

The van came to a stop a short time later. SWAT officers approached the van and discovered the suspect was dead.

Had Davidson survived, Yatamoi said he would have faced a slew of charges, including two counts of murder, assault on a police officer, grand larceny and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Yatomi said detectives combed the desert area where the suspect started firing off shots. They found loaded magazines of various calibers in multiple locations, but investigators don't yet know if the ammunition was left behind when the police chase began or if the suspect had been hiding them in the desert for some time.

Police have more locations to search as part of their investigation, but for now, Yatomi said, We've painted a picture and I've showed you evidence of a story that should be very disturbing."

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the assistant sheriff's first name to Yasenia, not Yesenia.
After hitting the building, there was a powerful explosion

A shocking video showing a flaming Russian missile crashing into the roof of a high-rise building in Kyiv, followed by a powerful explosion and a huge fireball rising into the sky, is circulating on social media after Russias largest coordinated drone and missile attack on Ukraine of the war.

The video was taken by a resident of a nearby apartment building.

Read also: Two dead, 23 injured after more than 30 air targets downed over Kyiv in massive Russian attack

The full extent of the damage and casualties from the strike is not yet known, but latest reports indicate that two civilians were killed and 23 injured in the Ukrainian capital. Rescue efforts are underway. More people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.

Shahed kamikaze drones, ballistic missiles, S-300 systems, as well as Kh-22/Kh-32, Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, launched from Russian strategic bombers, were used to attack Ukraine throughout the night.

Read also: 4 dead, many injured, shopping mall targeted in Dnipro in one of Russias largest civilian attacks

Kyiv was under air raid alert three times, lasting almost five hours in total. More than 30 air targets were intercepted over the Ukrainian capital.

Russia attacked Ukraine with almost every missile and attack drone in its arsenal overnight on Dec. 29, targeting cities in every region of the country.

At least 17 people have been killed and 85 injured in Russias largest coordinated missile and drone attack on Ukraine of the war.

Ukraine managed to destroy 114 of the 158 air targets that Russia criminally launched at Ukrainian cities far from the frontlines.

Read also: Dead & injured in Lviv  1,000+ km from the front  as Russia attacks sleeping civilians and schools

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
Florida deputies hilariously offer 'courtesy pickup' for no-show Christmas guests: 'You deserve better!'

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. - One Florida sheriff's office is encouraging citizens to utilize their tip line in an unconventional way this holiday season.

"Frustrated with that special someone? Didn't show up for Christmas dinner? Failed to deliver your special gift? You deserve better!" the Clay County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook.

Deputies added that they'd even hilariously arrange a "courtesy pickup" if they have an active warrant.

The post received a slew of comments since it was shared Thursday morning.

"It's beginning to look a lot like jail time," one user wrote alongside a few music note emojis.

"I swear no group of people are funnier than Florida Sheriffs (sic) Offices," said another.

"Then if you feel remorseful, call your local bondsman. You've shown them whose boss," another user wrote.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office can be reached at 904-264-6512, and tips can be submitted anonymously through the SaferWatch app.
Flutist Carlyn Lloyd, right, and pianist Jon Warfel will perform Jan. 7 at the St. Charles Public Library. (St. Charles Public Library/HANDOUT)

Flute and piano duo to perform Jan. 7 at St. Charles library

Flutist Carlyn Lloyd and pianist Jon Warfel will present a concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at the St. Charles Public Library.

The duos repertoire ranges from classical and contemporary to golden oldies to popular favorites, according to a library news release. They have performed more than 750 concerts and educational programs nationwide, officials said.

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Lloyd is a regular with many ensembles, including Arianna, a group comprised of flute, harp, violin and string bass. She also has written popular and classical music arrangements for her woodwind quintet, Quintuplex. She owns Tri-L-Co Music, a company that engages classical chamber music ensembles.

Warfel performs as a piano soloist and accompanist, according to the release. A retired faculty member of Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, he has toured the United States and presented piano concertos with several Illinois orchestras.

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The performance is funded through donations to the St. Charles Public Library Foundation, which supports the library at 1 S. Sixth Ave.

For more information on the performance, go to www.stcharleslibrary.org or call 630-584-0076.

Prince Harry's autobiography, "Spare," was one of the top five most popular books for the Gail Borden Public Library District. (Dan Klenck/HANDOUT)

Elgin library announces most circulated titles of 2023

Elgins Gail Borden Public Library District has released its top five circulated books and DVDs for 2023.

Adult Titles: Spare - Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; It Starts with Us - Colleen Hoover; The Boys from Biloxi - John Grisham; Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult; and Simply Lies - David Baldacci.

Adult Spanish Titles: Violeta - Isabel Allende; Guinness World Records; El Amor en los Tiempos del Colera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez; Tal Vez Manana - Colleen Hoover; and Amor - Isabel Allende.

Youth Print Titles: Dog Man: Fetch-22 - Dav Pilkey; Grime and Punishment - Dav Pilkey; For Whom the Ball Rolls - Dav Pilkey; Mothering Heights - Dav Pilkey; and Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations - Dav Pilkey.

Adult DVD Titles: John Wick Chapter 4; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Black Adam; Avatar; and A Man Called Otto.

Family DVD Titles: The Super Mario Bros Movie; Encanto; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; and Shrek.

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City of Geneva one of 12 to receive electric vehicle honor

Geneva was one of 12 Chicago-area communities to recently complete the EV Readiness Program, which was created to prepare local governments to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, Geneva officials said.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and ComEd awarded Geneva the bronze-level designation under the program, which helps municipalities take steps to develop permitting for EV charging infrastructure.

Geneva and other communities that participated were honored at a Dec. 7 event held at PowerFoward DuPage in Warrenville.

Participating municipalities updated zoning codes to support new charging infrastructure, provided clear guidelines about EV charging station permitting, aligned the permitting and inspection processes with state and national standards, and trained first responders on incidents involving electric vehicles, officials said.

Geneva also created online EV resources to educate residents and businesses, the release said.
MCINTOSH  The state's new requirement for elected officials to reveal their assets, liabilities and other personal financial information has taken a toll on several small municipalities throughout Florida. Locally, the Dunnellon mayor and one city council member chose to resign rather than file Form 6.

Now comes the Town of McIntosh, where on Thursday four of the five council members turned in their resignations.

Here's what we know:

Where is McIntosh, Florida?

In Marion County, north of Ocala and roughly 20 miles south of Gainesville. U.S. 441 runs through the middle of town. McIntosh has a rich history and hosts an annual festival each fall. The population is less than 1,000.

Thousands of people attended the 2019 McIntosh 1890s Festival.

Who resigned from the town council?

Susan Sindledecker, Melinda Jones, Mark Naworensky and Scott Mullikin.

Why did the McIntosh council members resign?

The consensus among the four is that they were not willing to complete Form 6.

Are there any elected officials left in McIntosh?

Just council member Frank Ciotti and Mayor Marshall Roddy.

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

All about Form 6

Ciotti, in a interview with a Star-Banner reporter on Friday morning, said those in office at bigger cities have been required to fill out Form 6. But he said those representing smaller communities, such as McIntosh, were exempt.

Ciotti said McIntosh officials are not paid. He believes the ones who have left felt their privacy was unnecessarily being invaded. Ciotti, who is retired, said he has considered leaving.

What happens next in McIntosh?

The lone council member said the mayor doesn't have a vote. They are reaching out to the governor, asking him to appoint two people on the council so they can have a quorum and conduct business.

Ciotti said a few people have expressed an interest in serving the town. Those selected to the council must complete Form 6 and more than likely will face an electoral challenge in 2024.

Can the town council operate temporarily with just one member?

Technically, yes. Ciotti said he now serves as council president and he has been authorized to sign checks and spend money as needed. Ciotti said McIntosh has an excellent town manager who's capable of handing day-to-day operations. The town is "in good shape financially."

The view of former council member Scott Mullikin

As a non-paid council member, Mullikin told a Star-Banner reporter, he has a problem with the state requirement to expose his financial information for anyone to see. He said he weighed his decision for several weeks and hopes his fellow residents understand his position.

What is Form 6?: Why are so many elected officials abruptly resigning across Florida because of Form 6?

Council meets once a month, plus occasional special meetings and workshops.

What other Florida municipalities are reporting Form 6 issues?

Similar resignations have been reported in North Palm Beach Village, Naples, St. Pete Beach, Cedar Key, Williston, Daytona Beach Shores, Fort Myers Beach, Jacksonville Beach and the small Polk County town of Eagle Lake.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Majority of council members in McIntosh, Florida resign over Form 6
MOORE, Okla. (KFOR)  A years-long case continues involving Patrick Stephen Miller, a former First Moore Baptist childrens ministries employee who was alleged to have sexually assaulted two young girls in a different church.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported on the case out of Arkansas that spread into Oklahoma when Miller decided to leave one church job for another.

Tulsa man sentenced after throwing Molotov Cocktail into LGBTQ-friendly donut shop

Miller worked as Associate Childrens Ministry Director for Immanuel Baptist located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Gazette showed he worked there from 2014  2016.

During his time in that position, allegations came about that Miller had played a game of hide-and-seek with young kids in his class. He allegedly had them come into a dark closet where the victim response statements say he touched them inappropriately. These events were alleged to have occurred in 2015.

An investigation would eventually be launched on those allegations with at least one victim coming forward at the time.

At the beginning of 2018, Miller found employment in Oklahoma at First Moore Baptist where he would eventually have the title of Associate Childrens Ministry Director again.

He would stay there until shortly before his arrest in December of that same year. Miller was arrested on December 10, 2018, and booked into the Oklahoma County Jail where he would eventually be taken back to Arkansas to answer to the alleged child sexual assault charge.

Mother seeks warning sign after daughters fatal car accident

In reporting from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, they found a July 2018 letter from the First Moore Baptist Church Kids Pastor Walter Bradley that announced Miller would be leaving. It also stated that there would be a gathering to celebrate Patrick.

On social media that day, Oklahoma City-area children were told, Make sure you are in Kids Worship on the 19th to love on Patrick before he leaves! Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Frank Lockwood

The church denies knowing any of Millers past allegations until only recently.

In a statement from the Lead Pastor Tyler Kelley,

While current leadership only recently became aware of our churchs past

connection with the accused, we are disheartened by this troubling conduct

and pray for all those who have been impacted. This type of behavior goes

against all we stand for as a church and is not tolerable, nor will be tolerated in

the future. We have worked to inform our congregation and will share any and

all pertinent information with the authorities.

Although we have no relationship with the accused and there has been no

indication of any alleged behavior occurring in the context of our church, we

will work with authorities in the case that any information comes to light. We

again are heartbroken for anyone who has been impacted and believe that all

churches should do everything they can to stop this kind of behavior from

happening. First Moore Baptist Church Lead Pastor Tyler Kelley

Oklahoma adding more Naloxone and fentanyl test strip vending machines

Court records show the victims family had asked Immanuel in 2018 to tell their congregation about his past, but the church did not say anything until earlier this month.

Patrick Stephen Miller

Patrick Stephen Miller, 37, who was originally charged with second-degree sexual assault, pleaded guilty instead to misdemeanor harassment in January 2022.

A court hearing on Millers motion to expunge his record has been set for Feb. 1 in Little Rock. Meanwhile, a second victim has come forward, and Miller remains under investigation, according to multiple news reports.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
One of former Broward Mayor Dale Holness daughters is charged with fraudulently handling her fathers 2020 re-election campaign and falsely obtaining emergency federal benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic crises, according to a federal charging document.

Richelle Holness was her fathers campaign treasurer from April 2019 through October 2020, when he was running unopposed for his seat on the Broward County Commission. Dale Holness was chosen by his fellow commissioners to serve as county mayor for a one-year term that ran through 2020.

Federal prosecutors accused his daughter of misusing campaign funds by issuing checks for campaign consulting and other expenses and having the checks recipients send the money back to her. While she used the money for liquor, fast food, airline tickets and clothing, she filed expense reports showing the money was used for legitimate campaign costs.

Some of the money was used to pay the rent for her fathers real estate business, according to the charging document.

In 2020, Holness daughter claimed to be unemployed so she could collect emergency benefits, according to the document. The amount she is accused of receiving was not included.

She is scheduled to appear in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 10 to address the allegations.

No attorney was listed for Richelle Holness.

Another daughter of Holness, Damara, was sentenced to a 20-month prison term in January 2022. She was released in May, according to prison records.

Damara Holness pleaded guilty to lying on a COVID-19 loan application to get $300,000 during the pandemic.

Dale Holness was the face of the county during the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in Florida, making the case for restrictions that were deemed medically necessary at the time but became less and less popular over time.

He lost a hard-fought 2021 congressional race to fill the vacancy left by the death of U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings. The winner of that special election, U.S. Rep. Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick, defeated Holness by five votes out of more than 49,000 cast.

Cherfilus-McCormick won a little over 65 percent of the vote in their rematch the following year.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.
FILE PHOTO: Ecuador's Vice President Jorge Glas talks during an interview with Reuters at the Government Palace in Quito

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorean former Vice President Jorge Glas will appeal a decision by a judge ordering him back to prison, his lawyer said on Thursday, saying that a return to jail would be dangerous.

Glas, convicted twice for corruption, last Friday asked Mexico for political asylum, arguing he is being persecuted by the attorney general's office in Ecuador.

The former vice president, who served under leftist ex-President Rafael Correa between 2013 and 2017, has been inside the Mexican Embassy in Quito as a "guest" since Dec. 17.

Glas' lawyer Edison Loiza submitted an appeal against the judge's ruling, which was also made on Thursday, arguing his client's life could be in danger.

Glas, 54, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2017 after he was found guilty of receiving bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht in exchange for awarding it government contracts.

He was given a separate eight-year prison sentence in 2020, as was Correa, for using money from contractors to finance campaigns for Correa's political movement.

Glas has been jailed and freed repeatedly. He was last released in November 2022 after completing five years of his sentences.

Though he can move freely within Ecuador, he cannot leave the country during the remainder of his sentences.

(Reporting by Yury Garcia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Leslie Adler)
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  A former grocery store security guard who raped a woman whod requested his help will serve two decades in prison.

30-year-old Jamir Hassan Wallace was sentenced on Friday to 20 years in prison, with an additional 11 years suspended on multiple conditions, including him registering as a sex offender and not contacting the victim upon release.

Mr. Wallaces serious crime has earned him a serious sentence, said Norfolk Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. When the victim asked for help, Mr. Wallace raped her in her own home. My thoughts continue to be with the victim, and I hope that this sentence offers her some closure.

Previous coverage: Man impersonated police officer, raped woman after car stolen

Fatehis office says the rape happened after an initial encounter at the store on Feb. 13, 2022. The victims car, she loaned to a friend at the time, was stolen from the parking lot, and Wallace offered to help her recover it. Wallace falsely suggested multiple times that he was a Norfolk police officer, and that he had coworkers at the station who could help with the case.

Wallace later said he needed to meet the victim at her house to share additional information. When he arrived, still in his security guard uniform, he claimed he was there to arrest the victims friend for allegedly stealing inventory from inside the store.

After the victim protested, Wallace directed her upstairs to her bedroom and raped her, Fatehis office said. He was arrested three days later at the grocery store, and authorities recovered the security outfit he wore during the assault.

Wallace was eventually found guilty of rape, forcible sodomy and impersonating a law enforcement officer in a bench trial in August 2023.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A former Smyrna manager and town resident have both lodged complaints against Town Manager Brian Hercules, records show.

Attorneys representing elected Town Court Judge Brittany Stevens obtained public emails about the complaints that were sent to elected Smyrna Town Council members in October and November, and provided copies to The Daily News Journal.

October emails to the elected officials came from a former 16-year manager who left Smyrna a year after Hercules accepted the town manager job in 2018. The Daily News Journal is withholding the names of people who sent emailed complaints to protect them from possible retaliation.

Judge Brittany Stevens presides over Smyrnas General Session Court on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.

"The anger and domineering leadership style of Mr. Hercules is beyond what any employee should receive," the former manager said in October emails. "And I realize I'm not the only one who has chosen to move on due to his unprofessional and unwarranted actions."

In a letter from Nashville attorney Wesley Clark, Stevens has demanded that the Town Council pursue an independent investigation of Hercules that keeps witnesses anonymous in any documented findings. The letter accuses Hercules of intimidation and retaliation against the judge for standing up to him about how she manages her court staff.

Much of the recent conflict involves Hercules persuading the council in a 5-2 vote to pursue a March 5 referendum process asking voters if the government should eliminate the General Sessions Court for criminal cases that Stevens presides over at the Smyrna Justice Center.

In addition to the judge's complaints, elected Smyrna Town Court Clerk Lisa Brewer emailed a complaint to Mayor Mary Esther Reed accusing Hercules and Assistant Town Manager Todd Spearman of "bullying and belittling behaviors."

Lisa Brewer

The town manager has requested an independent review of the allegations, made during recent Town Council meetings, and such a review will be completed upon an approved agreement and engagement with a third-party law firm, Smyrna spokeswoman Heather Kent said.

Smyrna Town Attorney Jeff Peach advised the council during a Thursday workshop to use the government's contracted law firm Littler Mendelson P.C. for the independent review of the allegations against the town manager. The council will meet with firm members to ask questions about the legal services to investigate labor and employer issues in private executive session at 3 p.m. Jan. 3, Peach said. He expects the firm to meet with those making complaints and others in January.

The mayor and other council members have provided Hercules with favorable annual performance evaluations and pay raises that boosted his salary from $135,000 when he started on July 1, 2018 to $201,058 during the current fiscal year that began July 1. The town has no audio and video records of the council's evaluations of Hercules, and the written minutes of the meetings only describe the raises based on the performance evaluations that exclude mention of any concerns.

Brian Hercules

Government conflict: Smyrna Judge Brittany Stevens' lawyer demands investigation of Town Manager Brian Hercules

Mayor questions former manager's complaint

The complaint from the former 16-year manager described the town providing an amazing place to work for 15 years before the council appointed Hercules as town manager.

"I couldn't have worked for a better place," the former manager said in the emails to council members. "I loved working for the citizens, all of the departments, as well as the council. During my 16th year  while I still enjoyed working for the citizens and all departments  the leadership in the town manager position completely changed for the worse. That's when Mr. Hercules filled that role. That's why I decided to resign from my position with the town of Smyrna."

Mayor Reed replied to the former manager by saying the email caught her, "a little off guard."

"We have communicated a couple of times since you left the town about letters of reference from me, and you never said anything about this before," Reed responded.

The mayor also asked if the former manager had completed an exit interview with Human Resources.

"It is important to us to receive the information in a timely manner from HR, so that if there is an issue, we can address it while the allegations are fresh in the mind of our employees," Reed said in her reply. "I will reach out to HR to find out if they have any of your concerns recorded, and I want to learn what actions were taken by them at the time."

Mary Esther Reed

The former manager recalled that Hercules was present for the exit interview.

"So there wasnt any discussion about the leadership style," the former manager said. "I felt bullied, and his leadership style is not one that any employee should endure."

'Doing a great job': Complaints contrast with council evaluations of Smyrna town manager

Councilman Steve Sullivan questions former manager

Councilman Steve Sullivan responded to the former manager's email by asking why the issues weren't brought up sooner.

"In the years that Brian has been at the town of Smyrna, we have had (zero) formal HR complaints, (zero) EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) complaints, (zero) lawsuits filed," Sullivan said in his reply to the former manager. "It's very hard for the council to respond if no one followed these processes."

Steve Sullivan

The former manager replied to Sullivan by saying the decision to vacate the Smyrna job was about leaving "the negative behind."

"It was better for me to leave with my integrity than to stay and get bullied by a person who wants to have absolute control over everything around him," the former manager told Sullivan. "I felt this was an appropriate time to share my experience with the Town Council. I know there have been some heated conversations regarding General Sessions Court. It's not a fiscal issue. It's a control issue. It appears that the town manager wants to dissolve things he can't control, and he's prepared to use his authority to get his way, no matter who is in his path."

Sullivan and the former manager recorded several more exchanges, with Sullivan stressing that the council has to have formal complaints to investigate claims and protect employees, and the former manager recalling off-the-record conversations with HR staffers about Hercules pretty early in the town manager's career.

Another complaint on management: Smyrna Town Court Clerk Lisa Brewer accuses Town Manager Brian Hercules of 'bullying and belittling behaviors'

Hercules faced 'counseling sessions' from Town Council

One of Sullivan's replies to the former manager also mentioned that he's heard about past issues with the town manager from two employees, and this led to discussion and counseling sessions as part of Hercules' performance review in 2020.

"From our perspective and what we have witnessed since that discussion, he has toned down his responses to challenges, and we have (had) no further complaints," Sullivan said. "Of course, without the proper process, none of this was investigated beyond me asking questions nor is any of it documented."

Smyrna Vice Mayor Marc Adkins told the former manager that Hercules "has progressed with some of those concerns that happened by his demeanor and behavior."

"I am not defending him, whatsoever, only making the point that he has improved since discussions at our evaluations with him regarding this have evolved," Adkins said. "Brian works extremely hard, harder than any other manager I've ever been affiliated with. Other managers also had their shortcomings, as we all do. His hard work doesn't give him the right to be berative, etc., and we have expressed it."

Marc Adkins

Adkins also apologized to the former manager for having endured Hercules' "aggressive side."

Brian Hercules seeks to clear name: Smyrna town manager asks for independent review of 'bullying' complaints by elected officials

Resident upset by Hercules phone call

In a separate exchange, Smyrna council members received a Nov. 1 email from a resident issuing a complaint against Hercules. The resident described a phone call she made a year ago to the Smyrna Street Department, asking for pothole repairs on Almaville Road.

"I left a message, and Brian Hercules called me back," the resident said. "After I explained my concern of how dangerous it was when drivers (myself included) dodged those potholes to prevent damage to our vehicles, he then proceeded into a very loud, unprofessional and condescending tirade saying, 'Let me just run out and do that for you.'

"I stated I was sure I was not the only person complaining about those potholes, and he replied, 'We have no money or employees to do that.'"

The call ended at that point, the resident said, noting that she was, "completely appalled at how I was treated."

The resident said she called the Smyrna Street Department again a day or two later, "and spoke to a very nice female employee."

The Street Department did provide a temporary repair of the potholes within 10 days, but "a permanent fix has not been applied."

The resident ended her email by asking for an investigation into the town manager's behavior and suggesting that he may need "anger management."

Pending investigation will proceed referendum on court issue

The investigation of the allegations against the town manager will take place prior to a March 5 referendum asking Smyrna voters if they want to eliminate or retain General Sessions Court.

Hercules and most of the council members say General Sessions Court is a duplication of taxpayer services that the county must provide, according to state law. Criminal cases and costs Hercules estimates to be more than $900,000 would relocate to General Sessions Courts at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in downtown Murfreesboro, should the referendum be successful.

Others, including Stevens and Brewer, disagree with the town manager's cost estimates, and contend the town residents and police force benefit by having a local General Sessions Court.

'Citizens should be involved': Smyrna officials divided over General Sessions Court status

The plan recommended by Hercules would keep the revenue-generating Municipal Court for traffic and code violations. Stevens would continue to preside over Municipal Court and collect her current annual salary of $121,360 until the eight-year term she won in August 2022 ends. The council would then appoint a part-time judge, Hercules said.

Brewer also would continue to collect her current annual salary of $88,056 until the four-year term she won in August 2022 ends. The town manager would then appoint a full-time Municipal Court clerk, Hercules said.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. Follow his tweets on the X social media platform formerly known as Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

Referendum set on fate of Smyrna General Sessions Court

The Smyrna Town Council decided recently to hold a March 5 referendum for voters who live within Smyrna's boundaries to decide if the town should eliminate General Sessions Court and let Rutherford County handle its criminal cases. Early voting is set Feb. 14-27. Adults who live in Smyrna and are not yet registered to vote have until Feb. 5 to register with the Rutherford County Election Commission in order to cast ballots in the referendum and presidential primary. Residents outside of Smyrna have the same registration deadline to vote in the primary for president, and local offices for school board seats, Rutherford County property assessor and county highway superintendent.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Smyrna town manager under fire in two separate complaints
Donald Trumps former fixer, Michael Cohen, used Google Bard to cite made-up legal cases that ended up in a federal court. The New York Times reported Friday that Cohen admitted in unsealed court papers that he passed on documents referencing bogus cases to his lawyer, who then relayed them to a federal judge. Cohen reportedly wrote in the sworn declaration he hadnt stayed on top of emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology.

Cohens legal team filed the paperwork in a motion asking for an early end to court supervision from his 2018 campaign finance case, for which he served three years in prison. After Cohens attorney, David M. Schwartz, presented the legal documents to the federal court, Judge Jesse M. Furman of the Federal District Court said he was having trouble finding the three decisions cited by Schwartz (via Cohen).

Judge Furman told Schwartz that if he couldnt provide documentation of the cases, the attorney needed to provide a thorough explanation of how the motion came to cite cases that do not exist and what role, if any, Mr. Cohen played in drafting or reviewing the motion before it was filed. Schwartz must also explain why he shouldnt be sanctioned for citing nonexistent cases to the court. Cohen is a former lawyer who was disbarred after pleading guilty to multiple felonies.

Enter Bard. Cohen said he didnt realize the AI bot was a generative text service that, like ChatGPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not. Cohen also blamed his lawyer, saying he didnt realize Schwartz would drop the cases into his submission wholesale without even confirming that they existed.

Although lawyers using AI chatbots to cite hallucinated cases makes for easy comedy, this flub could have profound implications for a critical case with potential political ramifications. Cohen is expected to be the star witness in the Manhattan criminal case against Trump for allegedly falsifying business records. The Bard flub gives Trumps lawyers new ammunition to discredit the onetime fixer.

Cohen joins the company of ChatGPT Lawyer Steven Schwartz, who cited made-up cases (sourced through OpenAIs chatbot) in a civil case earlier this year. He was allegedly joined by the attorney for Fugees rapper Pras Michel. In October, the artist accused his lawyer of using an AI program he may have had a financial stake in to produce his closing arguments.
Paul Whelan marked five years in Russian detention on Dec. 28 as he called on U.S. President Joe Biden to please use every resource available to secure my release as you would do if your own son had been taken hostage.

Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in Moscow on Dec. 28, 2018 and imprisoned on spying charges he denies. He maintains he was visiting Russia to attend a friend's wedding.

He has criticized Biden for being "the guy that made the decision to leave me behind twice," stressing "he's the man that can bring me home," and told media he feels betrayed by the White House.

This comes after WNBA star Brittney Griner and fellow Marine veteran Trevor Reed were swapped for Russian prisoners in the U.S. in 2022.

I would ask President Biden to pull out the stops, cross the red lines, and do whatever needs to be done to get this case resolved and to get me home. If my life is not worth that effort, then I dont know what is, Whelan told CNN last week.

WNBA star Brittney Griner on Dec. 8 commemorated one year since her release from Russia and called for more effort to free others currently detained overseas.

As you gather with loved ones and take part in your familys traditions, please tell them how much you love them and also, please take a moment to think about and share a story, send a letter or call a representative about one of the many Americans being held away from their families this holiday season, the Griner family said earlier in December.

A September study by the James P. Foley Foundation assessed that about 80 percent of the Americans detained in 2022 were in China, Iran, Russia or Venezuela.

The Biden administration is also working to free over 130 hostages, many with U.S. citizenship, who are being held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group.

Critics have expressed anger at the Biden administration for failing to leverage all available resources secure the release of U.S. citizens detained worldwide.



Read also: Brittney Griner calls for more effort to free Americans detained overseas

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Robert E. Crimo III, is escorted into a courtroom during a case management conference before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven and wounding dozens more at a Fourth of July parade in 2022, asked a Lake County judge to allow him to continue without the aid of his assistant public defenders and invoked his right to a speedy trial. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool) (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Its been almost 18 months since a mass shooting in Highland Park claimed seven lives during the annual Fourth of July parade. In that time, the community -- including the dozens injured in the attack -- has continued to heal and remember those who were lost.

This year, the alleged shooter and his father have both made several court appearances, one guilty plea was entered and a trial was set for early next year in the case, which was one of the Lake County News-Suns top stories of 2023.

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The Lake Countys states attorney office set a precedent of parental accountability after Robert Crimo Jr., father of the alleged shooter, pled guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct in November. Prosecutors argued the father acted recklessly when sponsoring his then-underage sons application for a firearm license.

Parents bear forceful responsibility for their decisions to allow children access to firearms, especially when they are acutely aware of the potential consequences, said Lake County State Attorney Eric Rinehart after the plea deal was reached.

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Crimo Jr. was sentenced to two months in jail and two years of probation. He was released early for good behavior on Dec. 13, after serving just under a month of his sentence.

Robert E. Crimo Jr., arrives at the Lake County Courthouse, Nov. 15, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

A trial date was set for his son, Robert Crimo III, for Feb. 26, 2024, after he requested an expedited proceeding at a case management conference on Dec. 11.

The alleged shooter also dismissed his attorneys at the conference, and said he planned to represent himself at trial.

The younger Crimo is accused of more than 100 felonies, including numerous counts of first-degree murder, for opening fire on a rooftop in downtown Highland Park during the Independence Day parade on July 4, 2022. Seven people were killed and dozens more were wounded.

Criminal defense attorneys said the defendants decision to represent himself is not uncommon in cases where a defendant faces serious charges and life in prison. However, the attorneys wouldnt advise such a move to a client.

Its just that the stakes are so high, but in the defendants mind, often the stakes appear impossible so they may as well get involved and do what they can for themselves, said Tony Thedford, criminal defense attorney and partner at Thedford Garber Law.

As the trial approaches, the city of Highland Park continues to provide support services for victims and the community at large, most recently formalizing a partnership with other service organizations and government agencies to share grant resources.

Some prosecutors may approach cases where there has been mass harm with trauma-informed practices, which generally means to have an awareness and understanding of the trauma that has occurred, said Rena Paul, former federal prosecutor and co-founder of Alcalaw.

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In practice, trauma-informed approaches for a prosecutor are transparency, predictability and mindfulness of the impact trauma can have on everyone involved in the trial process, said Paul, who has co-authored a trauma-informed curriculum for the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College in New York City.

Rinehart has said he maintains close communication with many victims and their families. In anticipation of the elder Crimos guilty plea deal, Rinehart said in November he had conversations with the families ahead of the plea announcement.

Lake County, Ill., State's Attorney Eric Rinehart listens to a question during a news conference after an appearance at the Lake County Courthouse, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

In the Crimo case, pro se litigation adds another potential harm to the victims that requires significant time and attention from a trauma-informed prosecutor to prepare a witness for the situation, Paul added.

The most significant piece is having a potential assailant cross-examine a victim during this, which is a very fraught situation, with the possibility of causing significant additional harm to the person on the stand, as well as their family and friends in the audience, Paul said.

A trauma-informed prosecutor can really empower a witness in that situation with tools to make the prospects of this additional confrontation more bearable, or at least prepare them for that situation, which can be preparation before, during and after the trial, Paul continued.

Judge Victoria A. Rossetti asks questions to Robert E. Crimo III., during a case management conference at the Lake County Courthouse Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in Waukegan, Ill. Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven and wounding dozens more at a Fourth of July parade in 2022, asked a Lake County judge to allow him to continue without the aid of his assistant public defenders and invoked his right to a speedy trial. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool) (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

A professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine professor, Lori Ann Post, who has studied decades of mass shootings and the shooters, said Crimos decision to represent himself is, very consistent with psychopathy and narcissism.

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High profile violent cases can be very stressful for prosecutors, Paul added, which is why its important for prosecutors to be equipped with self-care strategies.

This year, the city of Highland Park also begun planning a remembrance place for the massacre. The memorial will honor the lives lost, those who were present and injured and all other impacted victims.

chilles@chicagotribune.com
L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers has become the first woman to amass a $100bn (78.5bn; 90.1bn) fortune, according to a ranking of the richest people in the world.

The French beauty empire founded by her grandfather is on track for its best stock market performance in decades.

L'Oreal shares rose to a record high in Paris on Thursday.

The firm has seen its sales rebound after the pandemic, when people under lockdown used less makeup.

The net worth of Ms Bettencourt Meyers, aged 70, crossed $100bn on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making her the 12th richest person in the world.

She is still a distance away from French counterpart Bernard Arnault, who was second on the list with a net worth of $179bn. Mr Arnault is the founder of LVMH, the world's biggest luxury group, which owns a portfolio of high-end brands including Fendi and Louis Vuitton.

L'Oreal did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.

Ms Bettencourt Meyers is the vice-chairperson of the company's board. She and her family are the single biggest shareholders of L'Oreal with a stake of around 35%.

She became the reigning heiress of L'Oreal after her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, died in 2017.

Liliane, who was regularly named France's richest person, had maintained close ties with French leaders and embraced the media limelight.

During her later years, she was embroiled in a public fight with Francoise, her only child, who had accused a photographer and socialite of taking advantage of her mother's mental frailty.

"My daughter could have waited patiently for my death instead of doing all she can to precipitate it," she said in a TV interview.

In 2011, a French court ruled that Liliane had a form of dementia, and awarded Francoise control over her wealth and income. Another family member was tasked to look after Liliane's health and physical well-being.

Ms Bettencourt Meyers is said to favour privacy over attending social events frequented by many of the world's wealthy.

She is known to play the piano for several hours a day and has written two books - a five-volume study of the Bible and a genealogy of the Greek gods.

"She really lives inside her own cocoon. She lives mainly within the confines of her own family," said Tom Sancton, who authored the book The Bettencourt Affair.
Up to a million people are expected on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday (ERIC FEFERBERG)

The French government said on Friday it will deploy more than 95,000 police and military personnel for New Year Eve's celebrations, adding that a heightened "terrorist threat" required tight security.

Paris alone, where up to one million revellers are expected on the Champs-Elysees Sunday night -- twice as many as last year -- will get 6,000 security forces to keep order.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters that Sunday's deployment was motivated by "a context of a heightened terrorist threat due to the conflict in Israel and Palestine".

More people were expected in the streets of the capital than last year because of additional celebrations to mark 2024 as the year of the Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Darmanin said.

The national deployment would include 90,000 police or gendarmes, 5,000 members of the anti-terror military contingent Operation Sentinelle as well as mobile units, Darmanin said.

There will be a ban on alcoholic drinks in some areas of Paris, he said.

No political demonstrations will be allowed, added Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.

People will be body-searched before getting access to a festivities' perimeter around the Champs-Elysees, and be banned from carrying "any object that could be used as a weapon", he said.

Drones will be used for surveillance, and France's intelligence services will be put on alert, Darmanin said.

sm-bb/jh/as/cw
Up to 1.5 million people are expected to descend on the Champs-Elysees in Paris for the New Years Eve countdown - Thibault Camus/AP

French authorities have warned of a very high terror threat on New Years Eve because of the war in Gaza, as Germany also braced itself for violence.

Gerard Darmanin, the French interior minister, said on Friday that 90,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed throughout the country during the festivities.

Ive requested a very strong mobilisation of police forces and the gendarmerie under the context of a very high terrorist threat, of course due to whats happening in Israel and Palestine, said Mr Darmanin.

Some 5,000 soldiers from Operation Sentinel, a military operation aimed at protecting the French from terror threats, and 35,000 firefighters will also be dispatched.

In Paris, where up to 1.5 million people are expected to descend on the Champs-Elysees for the New Years Eve countdown, 6,000 officers will be on patrol. Police will be permitted to use drones for the first time as part of their operations.

Celine Berthon, the head of the Directorate General of Internal Security, Laurent Nunez, the prefect of police, and Gerard Darmanin, the interior minister, announce the security measures for New Years Eve - Stephane de Sakutin/AFP

Meanwhile, in Germany, authorities have announced one of the largest police operations in years as they attempt to secure the streets of Berlin.

Nancy Faeser, the German interior minister, said she was concerned that New Years Eve could once again be a day on which we experience blind rage and senseless violence.

Noting that violence had increased on Dec 31 in recent years, she added: Of course we have to keep a very close eye on the danger of this mixing with radicalisation, which we are now seeing in light of the Middle East conflict.

Some 4,000 police will be deployed throughout the German capital, where local law enforcement will be supported by officers drafted in from other parts of the country.

Germany has reported a surge in alleged terror plots since the beginning of the war in Gaza, with Cologne Cathedral closed over Christmas because of concerns that Islamic State had a plan to attack it.

In France, Mr Darmanin said the situation in Israel and Gaza had exacerbated the terror threats it was facing, but noted the country has been a target for attacks for many years.

France has been on its highest state of counter-terrorism alert since mid-October, when a teacher in the northern town of Arras was stabbed to death by a radicalised former pupil who reportedly shouted Allahu Akbar as he attacked.

The incident came a week after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct 7. Mr Darmanin said at the time that there was a link between the attack and the war in the Middle East.

Earlier this month, the interior minister instructed police forces to be extra vigilant over the Christmas holiday, which ultimately passed without incident.

The presence of dissuasive law enforcement and the work of our intelligence services are extremely reassuring and effective for our fellow citizens who must continue to live and celebrate if they wish, he said.

While security forces will be mobilised in mass numbers across France over the weekend, Pariss local, unarmed municipal police officers will go on strike on New Years Eve and New Years Day to demand higher wages.

Unions have said up to 80 per cent of municipal police forces could strike across the country on Dec 31 amid similar complaints.

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Eva Green, a famous French actress and star of Casino Royale, Kingdom of Heaven, and an upcoming Three Musketeers duology, wore a shawl on Dec 28 from the joint collection of the Ukrainian OLIZ brand and the fundraising platform UNITED24.

It is a shawl from the Stolen Art collection. It depicts the works of Polina Rayko, the Ukrainian primitivist artist, whose house-museum was severely damaged by flooding caused by the Kakhovsa Dam explosion on Jun. 6, 2023.

Read also: UK actor Mark Strong becomes ambassador for United24 to support school reconstruction

Eva Green posted this photo on her Instagram.

UNITED24 thanked the actress for helping to tell the world the truth of Russia's crimes.

Read also: Ukrainian brand Faina Gallery wins award at prestigious Design Miami/Basel exhibition

The Stolen art collection of silk scarves includes three scarves: one based on the work Polina Raiko, Red Sunset by Arkhip Kuindzhi (the sketch of the painting was stored in the Mariupol Art Museum robbed by Russians while the original is in the New York Met), and mosaics of Dimitry Solunsky which were dismantled from St. Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv and transported to the Tretyakov Gallery when the cathedral itself was blown up in 1937.

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
Cheryl Clark was sworn in as Ottawa County Treasurer on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.

GRAND HAVEN  Ottawa Countys next treasurer was sworn into office by a familiar face Friday, Dec. 29.

Cheryl Clark, who was appointed to the office Dec. 19, was sworn in by former Ottawa County treasurer and current State Rep. Bradley Slagh at the Ottawa County Courthouse in Grand Haven. Slagh hired Clark as the deputy treasurer when he held the office.

As soon as I heard he could give the oath of office, I asked if he would be willing to do it, Clark said Friday. It was very important to me to have him here, he brought me into the fold.

Clark is replacing Amanda Price, who took over as treasurer in 2019 after Slagh was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. Prices last day is Dec. 31.

Im excited to move into the next chapter of my life in becoming the treasurer, Clark said. Thank you to the committee for appointing me, to Amanda and Brad for mentoring over the years and to the staff for supporting me.

State Rep. Bradley Slagh prepares to give the oath of office to Cheryl Clark, the next Ottawa County Treasurer, on Friday, Dec. 29.

Clark has served Ottawa County as deputy treasurer for 15 years. Before that, she was the Robinson Township treasurer for a decade, where she'd previously been an account technician. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Cornerstone University.

More: Ottawa County promotes from within for treasurer role

During an interview for the position, Clark said her priorities include upgrading the department's software, streamlining the county's credit card payment services and offering cross-training opportunities to all employees.

Slagh said giving Clark the oath of office was an honor and full circle moment.

It was heartwarming to be invited to come do (this)," he said.

He added Clarks experience will serve the county well through the transition.

Its important for the whole county that we have people we trust in office. Were excited to have Cheryl there, Slagh said. She served both me and Amanda really faithfully, and the county.

Shes got the experience, the breadth of knowledge and she understands what the job takes to be able to get it done. Im excited for all those reasons.

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The county treasurer heads up the department that handles, among other responsibilities, the collection of delinquent property taxes, forfeiture and foreclosure of properties, all revenue and investments for the county, and dog licensing.

Clark was selected for the position from more than 20 applicants by a panel consisting of Clerk Justin Roebuck, Prosecutor Lee Fisher and Probate Judge Mark Feyen. Clark said earlier this month she plans to run for a full four-year term in 2024.

 Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Full circle: Cheryl Clark sworn in as next Ottawa County Treasurer
Former Bundestag President Wolfgang Schaeuble opens the plenary session in the German Bundestag with a memorial to SPD politician Hans-Jochen Vogel, who died in July 2020. Schauble, Germany's finance minister during the eurozone crisis, has died at the age of 81, his family tells dpa. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

The funeral service for Wolfgang Schauble, the long-serving German minister and Christian Democratic Union stalwart who died this week, is to be held in Offenburg on Friday January 5, according to a local newspaper report.

The city in the south-western state of Baden-Wurttemberg declined to comment on the report in the Offenburger Tageblatt.

The service is to be held in the city's main Protestant church, with burial in the historic Waldbach cemetery in Offenburg, according to the report.

As Schauble was an honorary citizen of Offenburg, a grave has been made available by the city.

Schauble, 81, died in Offenburg on Tuesday evening surrounded by his family.

He served as German finance minister under Chancellor Angela Merkel through the eurozone debt crisis.
Harold and Eva White review an edition of the Naperville Sun in October 1952. Harold bought the newspaper for $600 in 1936. (Naper Settlement/HANDOUT)

Every week we publish a historic photo highlighting a story from Napervilles past from the history archives of Naper Settlement.

The Naperville Sun youre reading today is just one in a long line of newspapers that have served the community since 1849.

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For much of the 19th century, the business was quite volatile with newspapers coming and going, some after a few months, others after a few years.

Napervilles newspaper history began when Charles J. Sellon took up an offer from a Chicago businessman to start a publication in the city in exchange for a free printing press.

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The first issue of Sellons DuPage County Recorder was published Dec. 1, 1849. It had a circulation of 500  a big number for the time  but folded in just nine months.

Sellon was undeterred, returning in August 1850 with the Democratic Plaindealer. As was the case for many newpapers at the time, it promoted the issues it supported  in this case, the Democratic Party and the Daughters of Temperance.

Despite taking on a partner, journeyman printer H.S. Humphrey, to help address financial problems, Sellon ultimately abandoned the enterprise  and his family  without warning in November 1850.

Walter Givler sets type for the Naperville Clarion, which was owned by his father, David Givler. This photo is believed to be from the late 1890s or early 1900s. (Naper Settlement/HANDOUT)

After Sellons sudden exit, Dr. C.C. Barnes and Charles Keith assumed his debts and went into partnership with Humphrey. The DuPage County Observer began publishing in January 1851.

Humphrey sold his interest to Gershom Martin in April 1852, and he worked with Barnes and Keith for the two years before assuming sole ownership.

But then, like now, readership was important. With fewer than 275 subscribers, the Observer was having a tough go and printed its final edition in 1854.

Folk, however, still needed their news, and Keith returned to the business with the DuPage County Journal. Unlike its predecessors, the Journal included national and international news obtained through publishers exchanges, similar to The Associated Press or Reuters today.

Keith soon partnered with J.N. Edson under the name Keith, Edson & Co. And when Keith left, E.M. Day took his place and ultimately became the sole owner and editor in 1856.

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All went well until 1857, when the newspapers office on West Chicago Avenue was swept away during a massive DuPage River flood.

However, a new paper soon popped up. The Naperville Newsletter was published from 1857 to 1863 and unlike its predecessors, it had some competition covering the growing community

The Naperville Sentinel was published from 1861 to 1862 by D.B. Birdsall, of Wheaton. It was succeeded in August 1863 by Robert K. Porters DuPage County Press, which lasted five years.

David B. Givler bought the Sentinel, and its growing list of 300 subscribers, in February 1968 and renamed it the Naperville Clarion in 1869.

The name change was necessitated by a change in the DuPage County seat, Naperville having lost the title to nearby Wheaton.

Newspapers in small towns were typically about four pages long and published once a week. A one-year subscription cost $2.

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Because Givler could not make a living just publishing the Clarion, he also printed calling cards, invitations, stationary, handbills, posters and advertisements.

Ohio born and raised in Copenhagen Corners, which is now part of Naperville, Givler was the Copenhagen Schoolhouse schoolmaster and later trained as a printer prior to the Civil War.

After serving with the 7th Illinois Infantry, he returned home to farm and then worked as a warehouse clerk before going into the newspaper business, where he found success.

Helming the paper until 1905, he sold the venture to his son, Rollo N. Givler, who ran the enterprise until his retirement in 1951, when the Clarion was sold. It continued to be published until the 1970s.

Which brings us to the Naperville Sun, founded by Harold Moser in 1935 to compete with the Clarion. He sold it to Harold White a year later for the kings ransom of $600.

Born in 1913 to parents teaching English in India at the time, White and his family moved to Naperville at age 4 when his father was offered chairmanship of the English department at North-Western College, renamed North Central College in 1926.

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White graduated from NCC in 1935, bought the paper in 1936 and married Eva Anderson, whom hed met at the school when she was studying for a teaching certificate, in 1937. Eva joined its the paper in 1938 and served as co-publisher until her death in 1990.

Harold White was the Suns editor and publisher until March 1991, when he sold it to Copley Press. They sold it and its other suburban newspapers in 2000 to the Sun-Times Media Group, which in turn sold it to current owner, Chicago Tribune Media Group, in 2014.

Andrea Field is the curator of history at Naper Settlement. For more information, go to www.NaperSettlement.org.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
A state senator plans to introduce legislation during the upcoming session of the General Assembly aimed at swatting, false reports of criminal activity that send police to the homes or offices of targeted victims.

Since Christmas Day, three Republican state senators, a Democratic state senator, GOP Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, have been targeted by swatting calls.

This issue goes beyond politics  its about public safety and preserving the integrity of our institutions, said state Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Buford, one of the victims of swatting, who announced Thursday that he will back legislation strengthening penalties for false reporting and misuse of police forces.

We will not stand for these threats of violence and intimidation. Those involved in swatting must be held accountable under the full extent of the law.

Besides Dixon, other state senators targeted by swatting calls include Republicans John Albers of Roswell and Kay Kirkpatrick of Marietta, and Democrat Kim Jackson of Stone Mountain.

Greene told The Hill, a Washington, D.C.-based newspaper covering Congress, that her two daughters were targets of swatting on Thursday, just days after she experienced what she estimated was the eighth swatting call aimed at her.

Whoever is doing this, you are going to get caught and it wont be funny to you anymore, Greene wrote on X, the social media platform known as Twitter.

The 2024 session of the General Assembly will begin Jan. 8.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  Thieves broke into the Garfield Heights City Schools garage twice in one week, according to police.

Myles Garrett talks about his painful grief after game

The thieves stole several lawnmowers and vehicles, according to Garfield Heights Police Chief Mark Kaye.

The school district issued a statement to FOX 8 News on Friday:

The Garfield Heights City Schools confirms that the district experienced a forced breaking-and-entering occurrence during which equipment and assets were stolen and damaged, it reads. The GHCS is currently working with the Garfield Heights Police Department to identify the offenders, retrieve lost or stolen assets, and determine the appropriate criminal consequences.

Gov. DeWine vetoes Ohios transgender athlete, healthcare bill

The school district is now reviewing surveillance footage of the theft, Kaye said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon held a press conference earlier this month alongside two men who were recently exonerated after spending decades behind bars for murders they did not commit.

During the news conference on Dec. 13, Gascon apologized to Giovanni Hernandez and Miguel Solorio for their wrongful convictions, while taking time to thank members of the D.A.s Office unit that works on cases like these.

The exonerations were the third and fourth by the D.A.s Office this year.

Hernandez was only 14 years old when he was arrested and charged for a 2006 drive-by shooting that took place in Culver City that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Gary Ortiz.

His first trial began in December 2010 and ended in a hung jury, in which a jury is unable to agree on a verdict. A second trial began two years later, leading to his conviction of all charges.

Throughout the entire legal proceedings and his decadelong prison sentence, Hernandez and his family maintained his innocence, insisting he was at home when the deadly shooting happened.

In July 2015, Hernandez submitted a claim to the D.A.s Offices Conviction Integrity Unit, but was denied a review. He repeated those efforts in 2021, and was eventually able to secure a review.

Giovanni "Gio" Hernandez speaks during a press conference on Dec. 13, 2023 at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office following his release from prison on a wrongful conviction of homicide. (Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office)

Investigators found new evidence and collected new statements from witnesses who werent interviewed at the time of the original investigation. An analysis of Hernandezs cell phone records showed that the phone, which was in his possession, was not at or near the location of the shooting, which corroborated his claim that he was at home when it happened.

Marisa Harris is an attorney for the Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic at Loyola Law School and worked on Hernandezs case.

Gio was only 14 years old when he was sentenced to die in prison for a crime he did not commit, she said. Like so many young people serving long, adult sentences in Californias prisons, Gio was given no hope for a future outside of prison walls. However, despite this grave injustice, Gio found his way to the light.

Like Hernandez, Miguel Solorio was convicted in a fatal drive-by shooting which he insisted he had no part in. He was 19 at the time of his arrest.

On Dec. 6, 1998, a man and his friends drove the 605 Freeway looking to buy marijuana.

At some point, the vehicles occupants were approached by another man who demanded to know their gang affiliation. That man drove off, firing a firearm as he sped off.

Mary Bramlett, 81, was shot and killed as she stopped at an intersection in the mans line of fire.

Solorio was identified as a suspect and arrested in her killing. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, but continued to claim his innocence.

His attorney, Ellen Eggers, submitted an innocence claim through the Conviction Integrity Unit which led to a review of his case.

As part of the review, investigators determined that Miguel Solorio was mistakenly identified in a photo lineup as his brother, Pedro Solorio.

The D.A.s Office, Solorio, Eggers and the Northern California Innocence Project, which worked as co-counsel on the case, requested that his conviction be vacated. After serving nearly 25 years in prison, his case was dismissed.

Miguel Solorio and his wife, Silvia Solorio, pose for a photo following a press conference on Dec. 13, 2023 at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Solorio was released from prison after serving nearly 25 years on a wrongful conviction of homicide. (Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office)

Sarah Pace, an attorney for Northern California Innocence Project, said Miguels 25 years of wrongful incarceration highlights the important need for investigators to follow all leads and avoid tunnel vision, as well as present witnesses with suspect images only one time and understand that if a witness doesnt identify the suspect it points to their innocence.

Gascon, who was elected District Attorney under the promise of reform and progressive policies, said he is committed to ensuring these wrongful convictions are learned from and avoided in the future.

Its truly devastating when people are wrongfully convicted, especially when they were so young at the time of their arrest, Gascon said. These cases not only highlight the tragic impact on the lives of those directly affected but also underline the impact to the family and friends left behind.

In September, a man convicted of robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault was released from prison after 28 years after it was determined he was also wrongfully convicted. In May, a man convicted of attempted murder for a shooting in Baldwin Park was acquitted and also released from prison after serving 33 years.

To watch the press conference in its entirety, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Left: Glock 49; Right: 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. (Photo by GERT EGGENBERGER / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo by GERT EGGENBERGER/APA/AFP via Getty Images)

The GLOCK brand pistol is so synonymous with striker-fired, semi-automatic, polymer-frame handguns that other weapons following this design are sometimes referred to as "Glocks." Named for its inventor, Gaston Glock, the GLOCK company is one of most recognizable in the firearms and manufacturing industries around the world. On December 27, 2023, GLOCK's founder passed away at the age of 94.

Gaston Glock, inventor of the GLOCK pistol (GLOCK US)

Glock was born on July 19, 1929, in Vienna, Austria. In 1963, he founded the GLOCK company as a manufacturer of curtain rods. The next decade, Glock began manufacturing knives and entrenching tools for the Austrian military. Through this contract, Glock learned of the military's intent to replace its WWII-era Walther P38 pistols . Capitalizing on the opportunity, Glock decided to design a pistol and compete for the contract.

Gen. Austin Miller with a Glock on his hip in Afghanistan (U.S. Army)

Glock used his inexperience in the firearms industry to his advantage. Rather than following established firearm design and philosophy, he started with a clean slate and set out to design the ideal modern handgun. In 1982, Glock assembled a team of European police, military and competitive shooters to draw from their collective experiences. Just three months later, Glock developed a working prototype of his pistol.

A Navy SEAL trains with a customized Glock 19 (U.S. Navy)

Designated the Glock 17, the new handgun was not the first double-stack, striker-fired or polymer-frame 9mm handgun. However, it was the first to combine these features into a cost-effective package using synthetic materials and modern manufacturing techniques. Despite having a capacity of 17 rounds of 9mm, the Glock 17 is so named because it was the GLOCK company's 17th patent.

U.S. Marines and British Royal Marine Commandos train on Glock 17s (U.S. Marine Corps)

In early 1982, the same year that it was designed and built, the Glock 17 was rigorously tested and evaluated by the Austrian military. Passing all of the trials and emerging as the winner, the Glock 17 was adopted as the P80 . Through the 1980s, militaries and law enforcement agencies around the world bought GLOCK pistols. By 1992, roughly 350,000 were sold in over 45 countries, including 250,000 in the United States.

A PJ with a Glock 19 (U.S. Air Force)

In 1999, Glock asked for a meeting with one of his financial advisers, Charles Ewert, whom he suspected of embezzling the company's funds. Ewert hired an assassin to murder Glock and cover up his embezzlement. The assassin attacked Glock in a parking lot, but the company's founder fought back and survived. Both Ewert and the assassin were convicted of attempted murder and imprisoned.

SMA Michael Grinston fires an accessorized Special Forces Glock 19 (U.S. Army)

Following his death, Glock leaves behind a legacy of a wide range of iconic firearms . The British Army issues the Glock 17 Gen 4 as the L131A1 General Service Pistol; U.S. Special Operations Command issues the Glock 19 Gen 3 and Gen 4 as the Mk27 ; and the FBI, DHS and DEA all issue some form of GLOCK pistol to their agents.
The Gen Zer who lives in a 45-room, 900-year-old Italian castle reveals what it's really like to be part of the aristocracy

Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta is a 22-year-old Gen Z woman who lives in an Italian castle.

Her family has owned Castello Sannazzaro for 28 generations  almost 900 years.

She spoke to Business Insider about all the traditions and quirks of the castle.

When Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta went to study abroad in the US, she decided she would tell new friends that she lived in a castle immediately to get it out of the way.

An opportunity arose early on when the teacher asked the whole class to share something unique about themselves.

"I was like, I live in a castle," Sannazzaro Natta told Business Insider. "People thought that I didn't speak English very well, and by castle, I meant just a big house."

Two years later, one of Sannazzaro Natta's closest friends admitted to her that she'd assumed she just didn't know the word for "mansion."

"I thought it was so funny, I laughed for two days," she said.

Castello Sanazzaro. Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta

Sannazzaro Natta, who is 22, does in fact live in a real-life castle  the Castello Sannazzaro in Northern Italy, which has been owned by her family for 28 generations and just hit its 860th birthday under their care.

Realizing she wanted to share her home with the world, Sannazzaro Natta started posting on TikTok when she found herself back in Italy during the COVID lockdowns of 2021.

At the time, she was still studying in the US, so had to stick to a nine-hour time difference, attending online classes from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. every day.

"That was not really pleasant," she told BI. "I have no idea how I did an entire semester like that, but I survived. But I couldn't change my schedule completely."

Sannazzaro Natta would wake up at around 9 a.m. with her whole day ahead of her. She'd wanted to start making online content for a while, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

It seemed to resonate with people. They loved the tours of the 45-room castle, Sannazzaro Natta's explanations and timelines of her family's history, and when she showed all the different paintings in the various rooms and heirlooms.

"Then of course the question was, so how did you get a castle? I was like, OK, let's start talking about that," she said.

Just one of the castle's grand rooms. Ludovica Sannazzaro

Sannazzaro Natta's family isn't royalty, she said, but her father is a count. It's usually just her and her parents living in the castle unless her brother comes to visit, she said, though she does believe there are a few ghosts residing there too.

One of the reasons Sannazzaro Natta wanted to start making videos was to break the stereotype of how aristocracy lives. For the most part, her family is pretty normal  they just happen to live in an amazing, historical building.

She said her parents didn't really understand what Sannazzaro Natta was doing at first. But now they're more than happy to help out behind the scenes of videos.

On TikTok, Sannazzaro Natta's account @thecastlediary now has 1.7 million followers.

"Without them, I don't think I could do anything," she said of her parents. "Because my mom, most of the time, helps me with all my videos. She decides all the costumes, she does the sets, everything."

Her dad helps her out with the history, she added.

"He helps me translate letters, and he gives me ideas of some documents, and sometimes he's also in the videos," she said. "It's a family project."

After covering the history, Sannazzaro Natta thought the castle would be the perfect setting to recreate scenes from Disney movies.

"I grew up, of course, with all the Disney classics," she said.

It's one of her biggest dreams to see the castle in a Disney movie, she said. "I don't know if it'll ever happen, but who knows."

Living in a castle never gets old. Sannazzaro Natta has lived at Castello Sannazzaro since she was four years old, but still sometimes can't believe that it's her reality.

Her favorite room, she said, is the music room. In there, there's a piano from 1800.

"It doesn't play, unfortunately, it doesn't work anymore, but it's just so beautiful to see," she said.

"And there's part of our old book collection, there's all the hat collection, there's some of the original clothing that we have, and it's smaller than most of our living rooms. It just feels very cozy, but at the same time, you feel like you're going back in time."

Walking down every passageway feels historic because the castle has been through so many changes, she added. Sannazzaro Natta's own bedroom used to be a small kitchen, then a storage room, then a bathroom, before she took it over. "So it changed quite a few times," she said.

The music room. Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta

The castle is part of Sannazzaro Natta's identity, and she said it's been integral to who she has become as a person.

"It changed me a lot in a lot of different ways," she said. "I appreciate history, I appreciate culture a lot more, and it made me very aware of how time changed everything."

At the same time, it's all she's ever known.

"Yes, it's a castle, but it's my home," she said.

It can be a little challenging to bring it up with new people at first, though.

"Hi, my name is Ludo and I live in a castle," she said. "It's kind of awkward."

Growing up, Sannazzaro Natta sometimes worried that people would judge her or assume things about her that weren't true.

"It's always very interesting seeing how people react when I tell them where I live," she said. "The castle is a big part of my life, and I'm really proud of it and I'm proud of my family's history.

"If you want to make assumptions, go for it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
On 29 December, Serhii Marchenko, Minister of Finance of Ukraine, and Martin Jager, German Ambassador to Ukraine, discussed Ukrainian budgetary needs for the coming year.

Source: Marchenko and Jager on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Jager, commenting on the "productive and candid conversation" with the Minister of Finance of Ukraine, noted that the parties "talked about the current budget situation and the needs for 2024."

Quote: "Germany will continue to stand closely by Ukraine's side," the ambassador said.

Today I had a productive and candid conversation with Finance Minister Sergiy Marchenko. We talked about the current budget situation and the needs for 2024. Germany will continue to stand closely by Ukraine's side.@SergiiMarchenk3 pic.twitter.com/oWd7gRXY9l  Martin Jaeger (@MJaegerT) December 29, 2023

Ukraines Minister of Finance added that he discussed with Jager "further cooperation areas and Ukraines budgetary needs for 2024" and thanked for the assistance already provided.

Background:

The European Union did not approve a four-year plan of macro-financial assistance for EUR 50 billion before early 2024 because of Hungary's position. In this regard, the leaders agreed on an extraordinary summit dedicated to this issue, which will be held on 1 February.

Earlier, the media reported that the European Union was preparing a "plan B" with EUR 20 billion of financial aid for Ukraine if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked the main plan for EUR 50 billion.

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Some of the worst violence last year came in the Neukolln district of Berlin

Hundreds of people have been seen buying fireworks in Germany and the Netherlands ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations, despite pleas from authorities to tone down the use of the festive explosives.

Berlin saw violent riots last year, with fireworks being fired at police, sparking fires and causing injuries.

Some Dutch cities including Amsterdam have banned the use of pyrotechnics.

But the ban is expected to be widely ignored.

Fireworks are traditionally used to ring in the new year in Germany and the Netherlands, with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day the only times they can be set off without permission.

But in recent years, celebrations have come under increased scrutiny.

Last year, dozens of police and firefighters were injured during riots in Berlin. Authorities said some were deliberately targeted with fireworks.

Other cities including Hamburg, Bonn, Dortmund and Essen, also saw violence.

In the Netherlands, last year's celebrations led to serious injuries, including to a child in Utrecht who had to have his hand amputated and right eye removed.

Authorities in Amsterdam linked the use of fireworks to a fire at a primary school and attacks on police officers.

In anticipation of similar scenes to last year, Berlin police conducted raids on shops suspected of selling illegal fireworks on Friday.

Officials said they had found seven alleged violations of the law, mostly in the southern Neukolln district.

Hundreds of Berliners had been seen queuing to purchase fireworks on Thursday night.

Barbara Slowik, Berlin's police chief, said the policing operation on New Year's Eve would be the "largest for decades". She added that she expected the Israel-Gaza war to worsen tensions.

Around twice as many police officers as usual will be on the streets in the northern German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on 31 December.

Following the violence last year, mayors and police unions in the Netherlands and Germany called for a ban on the sale of fireworks. Some municipalities such as Amsterdam have already implemented bans.

In the Dutch capital, igniting fireworks has been illegal since 2021, although the ban was widely ignored last year.
Police officers stand in front of the cathedral. Cologne Cathedral remains closed to visitors after the terror alert. Oliver Berg/dpa

Strict security measures are to be taken to protect Cologne's iconic cathedral during traditional News Year's celebrations, the officer in charge of the zone in the western German city said on Friday.

The deployment would be aimed at preventing any possible attacks, Martin Lotz said. "I'm unable to detail the nature of the attacks here," he added.

Lotz warned that revellers could encounter officers carrying submachine guns in the city. "That may be unsettling, I know," he said, but the measure was important to allow people to celebrate in safety.

The German authorities have reported receiving a tip-off concerning possible terrorist attacks by an Islamist group on New Year's Eve. Security measures around the famous cathedral were stepped up before Christmas was celebrated. The cathedral has been closed to tourists until further notice.

On Sunday, police detained a 30-year-old Tajik man in Wesel some 100 kilometres north of Cologne, holding him in custody "to avert danger." He is suspected of having visited the cathedral possibly to plan an attack.

Lotz said his unit was weighing up the risks. Damaging the massive cathedral itself was "not that easy," he said. Any threat could come to the surrounding area, he predicted.

A police vehicle stands in front of the cathedral. Cologne Cathedral remains closed to visitors after the terror alert. Oliver Berg/dpa
The celebration of Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas through New Years Day, seven days during which African Americans celebrate their history and culture.

It comes from Ghana, said Dr. Marcia Tate Arunga, running her hand along the red, black and green cloth. And so, this is kind of the foundation for Kwanzaa here always to be represented by something from Africa.

For the dean of Evergreen State College Tacoma, Dec. 26 has long been the start of a very special week. Kwanzaa is the only celebration conceived by and for African Americans, based on seven principles that Dr. Tate Arunga knows by heart.

First thing we talk about is unity, Umoja, she said. And then self-determination. How do you move as a people? And then like collective action. How do we move in unison?

Indeed, Kwanzaa was born in the wake of collective action: the destructive and deadly uprising in 1965 in a predominately Black neighborhood in Los Angeles, the Watts riots.

The next year, Black social activist Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa. He based the celebration on harvest festival traditions from various parts of west and Southeast Africa.

Now, this is our Sankofa bird, said Arunga. Its also our emblem here at Evergreen.

The celebration itself is symbolized by the Kwanzaa table.

Always on the Kwanzaa table are the fruits, Arunga explained. And they represent the children, the idea that the children are our fruits and the potential is big for them to grow.

At its center is the kinara.

The kinara now holds seven candles, Arunga said. The three red candles are for the blood of the people. The one black candle is for the color, skin color. And the three candles that are in green are for the land. And for the land we have left would be the motherland of Africa, where all civilization originated.

By at least one measure, Kwanzaa has been slow to catch on. According to the 2020 census, African Americans comprise more than 13% of the U.S. population. Yet, in 2019, the National Retail Federation estimated just 2.6% of Americans planned to celebrate Kwanzaa.

Still, there have long been evangelists.

So, I brought Kwanzaa with me, said Pam Bridges, a native of Baltimore, MD. And introduced it actually in the school districts here in University Place.

Bridges is one evangelist. The Evergreen alum and former professor raised her four children, including acclaimed mezzo-soprano JNai Bridges, celebrating the holiday each year.

I think just the colors and just the whole idea of celebrating family, said Bridges, and being proud of where youre from and your African roots.

If youve had trouble finding Kwanzaa celebrations, youre likely not alone. COVID-19 forced a lot of cancellations. But the holiday is being revived at places like the Life Enrichment Bookstore in Columbia City, Seattles only Black-owned bookstore.

Thats a time for us, a whole seven days, to claim the richness of our culture, said Bridges.

Kwanzaa continues through New Years Day.
The paper wrote of Ms Meloni: 'In times of war, we have chosen someone who has shown she knows how to fight' - ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images

An Italian Right-wing daily provoked an outcry on Friday after naming the countrys first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, its man of the year.

Libero ran a lengthy tribute on its front page and featured a large portrait of the prime minister wearing a double-breasted white blazer and a look of determination.

Under the headline Man of the Year, the article said Ms Meloni had won the war of the sexes in Italy and had not only broken the glass ceiling, she dissolved it.

The article was quickly received as a snub by political opponents and womens rights activists who have accused Ms Meloni of not doing enough to protect women from violence and promulgating regressive views around their role in society.

On Thursday, a senator in her party said that a young womans first aspiration should be to have a child.

The article was written by Mario Sechi, the papers Rome bureau chief, who led the prime ministers public relations team between March and September of 2023 before taking his position at the daily.

In our society of weak thinking, we have recognised strong ideas, Mr Sechi wrote.

In excessive diversity, we have reversed gender. In times of war, we have chosen someone who has shown she knows how to fight.

The paper ran a lengthy tribute on its front page - Libero

Mr Sechi said the prime minister had confronted two wars, multiple geopolitical shocks, a changing Europe and a world order that was now being reinvented.

She was elected as Italys first female prime minister in October 2022.

Giorgia Meloni for Libero is man of the year because above everything she has cancelled the war of the sexes by winning it, by thinking differently, being divergent, overcoming the arrogance of men and the defeatism of women. She has not only broken the glass ceiling, she has dissolved it.

This is a surrender

Elly Schlein, secretary of the centre-left Democratic Party, criticised the newspapers editorial decision, saying the prime minister had abandoned Italian women.

Today a Right-wing newspaper is explaining to us that politics and power are for men, said Ms Schlein. I dont think my aspiration as a politician is to become man of the year. On the contrary, I think this is a surrender.

Elisabetta Piccolotti, an MP from the Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra (Greens and Left Alliance), described the cover as an affirmation of male superiority and called on the prime minister to reject it.

At this point, prime minister, please clarify: are you a woman, are you a man or are you non-binary? Piccolotti wrote on Facebook.

However, the culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, a former deputy director of Libero, told journalists in Naples that the title man of the year was well-deserved as he also took a swipe at the barbarism of cancel culture.

Since it was elected in 2022, the Meloni government has sought to defend the traditional family and national identity, protect cultural heritage and restrict migrant arrivals.

Ms Meloni, a single mother who recently separated from her partner, TV presenter Andrea Giambruno, has been known for her strong stance on the concept of the traditional family.

She has so far made no comment on the Libero article.

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Editor's note: More than 700 years ago, a ship loaded with porcelain sank off the coast of southeast China's Fujian province during a voyage overseas.

The wreckage of this Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) vessel was found 30 meters underwater in 2010, near the islet of Shengbeiyu in Fujian. The salvage work began in 2022, with archaeologists having so far retrieved about 20,000 items, among which over 17,000 are Longquan celadon.







But, where was the ship going? Why was it loaded with so much porcelain? Were the items made as commodities? Who made them? And what exactly is Longquan celadon?



Based on archaeological findings at an ancient port about 700 kilometers away in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, as well as some highly similar porcelain items discovered in Southeast Asia, experts concluded that the vessel is likely to have been a merchant ship traveling from Wenzhou to Southeast Asia.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Yuan dynasty authorities encouraged overseas trade, and the Longquan celadon industry was prosperous at the time, accounting for a large part of ceramic exports. Historical documents show that Wenzhou was a major port for exporting celadon, which was also sold to Africa and Europe.

Longquan, a small town in ancient times, refers to today's mountainous Longquan city in east China's Zhejiang province. Produced in this area and achieving fame across the world, Longquan celadon is a type of green-glazed Chinese porcelain with a history of 1,700 years, beginning in the 3rd century.

Although it originated during the Jin dynasty (265-420), Longquan celadon was not produced on a large-scale until the late 10th century during the Northern Song dynasty (9601127). Since the 10th century in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) period, Longquan celadon was often selected as tribute gifts for emperors and royal families.

Later in 1138 in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), the emperor moved the capital from north China to the southern city of Hangzhou, close to Longquan. The relocation was due to wars and political instability, resulting in a great number of people also travelling south. Among them, there were many skillful porcelain craftsmen and large-kiln owners, who integrated their techniques and businesses with locals, significantly boosting the local celadon industry. As such, Longquan celadon manufacturing quickly reached its peak of development and the area became the center of the porcelain industry.

In the following Yuan dynasty and early Ming dynasty (13681644), Longquan celadon continued to develop, with some masterpieces from that time surviving to the present day. From the mid to late Ming dynasty, its production experienced a decline due to major social changes and the emergence of new types of porcelain, such as Jingdezhen ceramics. When China began its reform and opening-up in 1978, Longquan celadon once again regained its momentum.

In 2006, traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon were selected among the first batch of China's national-level intangible cultural heritage. Three years later, the techniques were also inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

The Chinese characters  ("long"), referring to the loong (Chinese dragon) and a symbol of the emperor,  ("quan"), meaning spring or spring water,  ("qing"), denoting blue or green, and  ("ci"), signifying porcelain, combine to form the keywords for understanding Longquan celadon.

Longquan has deep forests, high mountains, clear rivers and smooth waterways, providing the necessary fuel, raw materials, water and transportation access for the porcelain business. Traditionally, craftsmen used local materials such as violet-golden clay and a mixture of burnt feldspar, limestone, quartz and plant ash to make celadon.

The production process mainly consists of ingredient mixing, molding, shape refining, decorating, glazing and firing. Thick glazed products require several layers of glaze, which are fired in a repeated cycle of heating and cooling four or five times, leaving 10 or even more layers. The firing temperature may reach as high as 1,310 degrees Celsius, as temperatures higher than 1,250 degrees Celsius will help produce the best jade-like green or blue colors.

Longquan celadon is usually classified into two styles: "elder brother" celadon and the "younger brother" variety. The story goes that two brothers during the Southern Song dynasty developed the two types. However, there is a lack of specific historical evidence proving the tale. "Elder brother" celadon has a dark body and a crackle effect. The color of the glaze usually looks like cream or ivory tending to grey or brown, with little green in it. Meanwhile, the "younger brother" variety is known for its masterpieces in jade-like green, among which are the most treasured fenqing (light milky-green or blue) and meiqing (plum green) glazes. These colors come from iron oxide fired in the kilns while varying the firing techniques such as the control of the timing and temperature.

A piece of Longquan celadon made during the Southern Song period is one of the most valuable items in Zhejiang Provincial Museum. The boat-shaped water dropper, a device used in ancient China to add water on inkstones when grinding ink sticks, is 16.2 centimeters long, 6.5 cm wide and 9.1 cm high. It features carved columns, a pavilion and a shelter. Two passengers seem to be chatting inside the pavilion, and the boatman looks to be reaching for his bamboo hat which is on the roof, while his robe flows in the wind.

Cai Naiwu, a ceramics expert at the museum, explained that this unique celadon water dropper is particularly exquisite, showcasing a high level of Longquan celadon manufacturing. The item was probably custom-made for a member of the literati, which was a common practice at the time.

Longquan celadon was not used only by the imperial family in ancient times, but also by ordinary people. Large kilns were able to produce sufficient quantities of items for use in the home, containing no harmful substances like lead or cadmium. Nowadays, ancient Longquan celadon masterworks are still treasured by museums and collectors, while modern celadon wares are commonly used in daily life. Leaders of the Chinese government also often choose modern celadon items as traditional and valuable presents for foreign dignitaries and friends.

In 2018, the first World Celadon Conference was held in Longquan city, attended by ceramic experts, master craftspeople, enterprises and government officials from 12 countries, including Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway, South Korea and the United States. This October, the sixth edition kicked off, hosting forums and seminars to discuss inheritance and innovation in the industry. An exhibition titled "Longquan City Celadon Art" was also held earlier this year at the China Cultural Center in Brussels, Belgium, with 55 works made by Chinese artists on display.

Discover more about China's intangible cultural heritage and their keywords:

Items/years inscribed on UNESCO ICH list:



 2022: Traditional tea processing

 2020: Wangchuan ceremony, taijiquan

 2018: Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa

 2016: Twenty-four solar terms

 2013: Abacus-based Zhusuan

 2012: Training plan for Fujian puppetry performers

 2011: Shadow puppetry, Yimakan storytelling

 2010: Peking opera, acupuncture and moxibustion, wooden movable-type printing, watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, Meshrep

 2009: Yueju opera, Xi'an wind and percussion ensemble, traditional handicrafts of making Xuan paper, traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon




When Craig Vandenberg decided he wanted to propose to his girlfriend, Emery, he knew he had to do something special.

A student at Florida Southern College, Vandenberg reached out to his school resource officer, Dagon Leach, from the Lakeland Police Department.

Together, they hatched a plan.

Vandenberg gave Leach his wallet and his girlfriends phone number, then Leach channeled his inner actor.

Hey, is this Emery? Leach asks in body camera footage shared by the Lakeland Police Department on Facebook on Dec. 23. So I need your help. A police officer from downtown found Craigs wallet and youre listed as an emergency contact for him.

Leach tells Emery on the phone that he had tried to find Vandenberg at his house but couldnt seem to reach him to return the wallet, and asked if Emery could pick it up.

This dudes got me staying late, Im ready to go home, its been a long day, Leach says at the end of the call, adding to the ruse.

Waiting patiently as Leach chats on the phone is Vandenberg, dressed in a suit jacket and holding a bouquet of flowers, the video shows.

The student waited patiently for his girlfriend to arrive after the police officer called and said someone had found his wallet.

Emery agrees to meet Leach at a pavilion next to a lake on the schools campus, so Vandenberg quickly jumps into the back of Leachs patrol vehicle with his head down and waits for his moment.

She has no idea, Leach says as the two wait for Emery to arrive. Its almost game time.

Leach drives the patrol vehicle up to the pavilion as Emery arrives and steps out to hand her the wallet, the video shows.

Emery tells Leach he caught her just in time as she was about to leave campus, and thanks him for returning the wallet.

Im an emergency contact? Emery asks Leach.

Yeah, so you must be important, he responds. Oh, one more thing though.

Then, just as Emery was about to walk away, Leach opens the back door of his patrol vehicle and Vandenberg steps out, much to Emerys surprise.

Vandenberg leads Emery toward the water, then gets down on one knee, the video shows.

The student led his girlfriend toward the lake on campus, then got down on one knee to ask her to marry him.

Oh my god, yes! Emery is heard saying in the video.

Craig and Emery, congratulations to you both! the Lakeland Police Department wrote in the Facebook post. Thank you for allowing us to help make this a true surprise.

Florida Southern College is about 40 miles east of Tampa.

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Comparing it to the size of a quarter, Columbus Police Sgt. Brett Slaughter holds a "switch" used to turn a handgun into a machine gun. He said the devices are not legal in the United States, but the Police have taken more than two dozen of them off the streets this year. He added that they are not manufactured by Glock, although counterfeiters use the Glock symbol on them.

By the end of 2023, Columbus will have seen a massive uptick in a tiny yet dangerous device for firearms, and law enforcement officials fear it will only get worse in 2024.

Glock switches  devices as small as a quarter that can be attached to the back of a handgun to make it fire automatically  continue to show up on Columbus streets, Deputy Chief Smith Weir of the Columbus Division of Police told The Dispatch.

As of Dec. 18, Columbus police had recovered 72 Glock switches in 2023, up from 19 recovered by police in 2022 and zero in 2021, according to the division. It's a "disturbing trend" that Weir said has police worried for the new year and especially next summer, which is typically the deadliest time of year in Columbus.

A Glock switch can turn a firearm into a machine gun, a weapon that was banned nationwide 89 years ago and is known for its ability to spray bullets in quick succession. Firearms with a switch can shoot approximately 20 bullets per second, which is faster than the rate of fire of an M-4 machine gun issued to servicemembers, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Made with Flourish

"When you hear it, it makes your heart stop," Weir said. "It is very disconcerting to hear that amount of gunfire going off in that period of seconds."

The majority of Glock switches confiscated by police have been discovered during traffic stops, or while officers are serving warrants, Weir said.

But there have been a few high-profile shootings that involved guns equipped with Glock switches in the greater Columbus area.

A shooter in March appeared to have fired dozens of bullets in just seconds outside a Sullivant Avenue business in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhood, security camera footage showed. At least three people were hit, and two had to be transported to area hospitals for treatment, according to police.

Just a few months later, in May, an unknown assailant in a car fired several rounds in just seconds from a gun with a suspected Glock switch at a Northeast Side home on Aberdeen Avenue, killing a bystander who turned out to be a 69-year-old grandmother of eight as she walked into her daughter's house with a bag of groceries.

Read More: In Ohio's busiest ER, new tech is saving lives of more Columbus gun shot victims

Such shootings are the type of incidents law enforcement worry about with the rise in Glock switches, said Daryl McCormick, special agent in charge of the ATF's Columbus Field Division. It's clear, McCormick said, that switches represent "a sustained problem" for the community.

"As far as what we see in the future, it is without a doubt going to continue to be one of our top public safety problems in terms of gun violence," McCormick said.

Another, less direct signal that Glock switches may be on the rise locally is how often ShotSpotter, a technology to recognize gunshots, is detecting what seems to be automatic gunfire, Weir said. Shotspotter is used in five city neighborhoods, including the Hilltop, Linden, Near East Side, portion of the South Side and the Wedgewood Village Apartment complex on the West Side.

The number of times ShotSpotter detected fire from an automatic weapon increased from 116 incidents in 2022 to 189 in 2023, as of Dec. 18, Weir said. Since the technology isn't in all areas of the city, Weir said the number of shootings involving machine guns is likely an undercount.

Those numbers are likely to increase with the popularity of Glock switches as the devices have become something of "a status symbol" among some gangs and criminals, McCormick said. Along with increased demand, Weir said the switches are so small that they can be difficult to spot, and they can easily be purchased online or made at home with a 3D printer.

All of those factors combined for a "perfect storm" that Weir said would make it challenging to eliminate Glock switches from city streets.

"I think it would be short-sighted to think this is going to go away on its own," Weir said. "We have to prepare and investigate it like it's going to increase."

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police found nearly 4 times as many Glock switches in 2023
This is the fourth in a five-day series. Read part one, part two, and part three.

It's a good thing we know George Santos is a pathological liar, or we'd have to worry that he is the unluckiest man alive. In the past, the former Republican congressman from New York has claimed his mother died on 9/11, that his family barely escaped the Holocaust, that four of his employees were murdered in the Pulse nightclub shooting, that his niece was kidnapped, that he was once mugged and was also the victim of an attempted assassination. None of it was true. So it's okay to be skeptical of the latest Santos tale of tribulation: He says his car was broken into and $180 worth of gifts were stolen. He used a photo of broken glass as "proof," but the glass miraculously healed, with no broken windows, by the time Eyewitness News arrived on-scene.

The histrionics over "a busted" car were mostly an occasion for Santos to play to whatever lingering audience of MAGA morons might still support the recently ousted representative, as Santos used it as grist for vitriol against the Democratic mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, who he called a "fking animal." (Adams did not break into Santos's car and despite the myriad of legitimate criticisms of him, crime has gone down during his tenure.) One does not need to like Adams in order to reject Santos pandering to the people who assert, sight unseen, that New York City was left a burned-out husk after Black Lives Matter protests.

The whole thing is a dreary reminder that, as amusing as it may be to see Santos doing Cameo videos for cash, the man doesn't just have an ugly soul. He lacks imagination and does not deserve to be elevated to a camp icon. As Melanie McFarland wrote in Salon, "Santos rise to power is a symptom of that cancer" of authoritarianism that has also gave us Donald Trump.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

Instead, Santos should be remembered, in what is likely his march to prison, for what he is: The platonic ideal of a MAGA Republican. As Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times wrote when Santos was finally expelled from Congress late this year, "Hes heir to Trumps sybaritic nihilism, high-kitsch absurdity and impregnable brazenness."

The majority of Republicans seem to understand that there is no way to denounce Santos, who is under 23 felony charges related to fraud, without calling into question why they continue to support Trump. The former president doesn't just have 91 felony indictments, but he's also been found liable in civil court for fraud and a 90s-era sexual assault of journalist E. Jean Carroll. Rejecting Santos while embracing Trump is like getting angry at the neighborhood cat caller while calling Ted Bundy a stand-up fellow.

Rather than parse these distinctions with reporters, most Republicans instead strike a reflexive support-all-Republican-criminals posture. That's why it took 328 days and two votes before Santos got the boot. Even then, Democrats  nearly all of whom voted to toss Santos  truly deserve the credit. The majority of Republicans voted to keep Santos in the body, including the newly anointed speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

Republicans have trained the press well. Most reporters find it tedious to remark about it. Like declaring "how 'bout that heat" in July, getting in a dander about GOP depravity is treated as the pastime of boring people. But I think the press really missed an opportunity, despite sending fleets of reporters to chase Santos around. Johnson, for instance, loves to rave about how "the Bible" is "my worldview." No one has, as far as I know, bothered to ask Johnson to point out where in the Bible Jesus condones defrauding homeless veterans, stealing credit cards, or falsifying your life story to the press. Surely there's some curiosity about his possible answer?

Sigh, who am I kidding? We all know what the outcome would be if Johnson was asked to square his support of Santos  or of Trump, for that matter. He'd flash his "what are you going to do about it" smirk and start droning some glib bullshit in the lawyerly tone he uses to make all his bananas beliefs sound authoritative. It's exhausting to even ponder. I can see why no one wants to go through the motions, even on the hope of saving the republic from these pompous liars.

It is worth flagging that, while Johnson voted to keep Santos, he didn't exactly go out of his way to save him. Instead, he let 105 members vote to expel Santos, without trying to whip them against it. Republicans get no points for not rallying more heartily to defend Santos, however. It just underscores that what drives them is not, as Johnson said, "the Bible," but their naked worship of power. Trump has lots of power, so he gets the rally-the-wagons response when he commits crimes. Santos has infamy, but no real power. Republicans cut him loose with the same ease that Santos let that dog die.

Despite all this, I was torn about whether or not Santos made the cut for a five-day series about the biggest losers of the GOP. He did do a great deal of individual harm to his alleged victims. Still, he's not a threat to the country like, for instance, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who was also on my shortlist. Plus, so much of the post-defenestration discourse around Santos assumes that his impudence, on its own, opens the door to his next act: Perhaps a reality TV series? A podcast? Or pulling a Milo Yiannopoulos and declaring himself "ex-gay?" I've heard more than one pundit self-assuredly declare that we will have to endure Santos for a long time. To many, it seems inevitable that Santos will find his home in the right-wing media ecosystem that apparently prints money for any grifter willing to echo their talking points.

But I find myself skeptical for one simple reason: Odds are actually pretty high that Santos is going to prison relatively soon. His trial is set for September, and the evidence against him is staggering. Unlike Trump, Santos doesn't have a massive support system willing to pay millions to stall this trial. Why would donors give him money? Even if Santos could escape the noose, he has no power and nothing to offer potential backers in return. Plus, they'd be worried he'd steal their credit cards.

No, I don't think Santos will have a chance to be on "Dancing with the Stars" or some "Real Housewives" franchise. Unlike the actually rich and powerful Republicans whose ranks he tried to join, Santos is likely to face swift justice for his alleged crimes. So he deserves a spot on this list. We can just hope his fate will loosen up the handcuffs for many more MAGA criminals who have done much worse than alias "Anthony Devolder".
The government approved a draft of the Ukraine Facility plan for submission to the European Commission, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Dec. 29.

"Today, we are approving the project of the Ukraine Facility plan for submission to the European Commission. Together with businesses, the public sector, the deputies' corps, and (Ukraine's) regions, we have done a lot of work to create it," Shmyhal said.

The Ukraine Facility (The Facility) is designed to support Ukraine, its recovery, and its path to European Union accession, allocating up to 50 billion euros ($55.3 billion) from 2024 to 2027.

The Facility is comprised of three pillars: It will give Ukraine direct financial support through grants and loans, mobilize private investment in Ukraine through guarantees and blended finance, and finance assistance and capacity-building programs for Ukraine's national, regional, and municipal levels of government and civil society to help them achieve EU standards.

To unlock the support, Kyiv was required to prepare a "Ukraine Plan," detailing its vision for Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernization, in cooperation with the European Commission.

The program's final conditions will be announced once the European Council approves the Ukraine Facility regulation, Shmyhal said. The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2024.

According to Shmyhal, around $43 billion of the total $55.3 billion will be targeted at "ensuring (Ukraine's) macro-financial stability."



"Currently, there are ongoing developments, to which the European Commission will still provide its comments and suggestions," Shmyhal said.

According to a joint assessment by the World Bank, the Ukrainian government, the European Commission, and the UN in March, Ukraine's reconstruction needs over the next 10 years amount to 384 billion euros ($411 billion) and 142 billion euros ($152 billion) for the 2023-2027 period.

Read also: What made Ukrainians feel hopeful in 2023

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Editor's note: The previous version of this news article said six people had been injured in the Russian attack on Smila. The article was updated when the number of wounded people increased to nine.

Russian forces struck a residential area in Smila, Cherkasy Oblast, in the afternoon of Dec. 29, injuring at least nine people, including a child, according to the latest information published by Ukraine's State Emergency Service.

Fifty-one house was damaged in the attack, the State Emergency Service said, adding that first responders are still working on the scene.

In his first report on the atttack, Ihor Taburets, the regional governor, said that six people were injured and 12 houses were damaged.

One of the six victims is in severe condition, Oleksii Kuleba, a Presidential Office deputy head, said on Telegram.

Taburets reported that Smila was under Russian attack at around 3:30 p.m. local time. The Air Force earlier warned about Russian missiles moving toward the region.

Taburets didn't specify how many missiles actually hit the region.

Smila lies some 25 kilometers southwest of Cherkasy in central Ukraine.

Russia carried out a mass attack against Ukraine early on Dec. 29, launching 158 attack drones and missiles at cities across the country.

Read also: Russia launches 158 drones, missiles at Ukraine, deaths reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian attacks on Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Dec. 29 injured three people, regional governor Serhii Lysak reported.

A 49-year-old man was reportedly hospitalized, and two 29-year-old men sustained minor injuries.

The attacks damaged two farms, where warehouses and cars were reportedly destroyed. A community and industrial enterprise were also damaged.

According to Lysak, 12 homes, a dormitory, and six farm buildings were broken into during the attack.

"While Dnipro and Novomoskovsk countered the missile attacks, Nikopol suffered..." Lysak said.

In Dnipro, six civilians are confirmed to have been killed and at least 30 were injured as of around 4:30 p.m., Governor Serhii Lysak reported. A shopping center and a maternity hospital were hit in the attack.

According to Lysak, as soon as the air raid alert went off, the hospital's staff with all patients took shelter, which prevented casualties in this strike.

The attack on Dnipro also destroyed or damaged a house, eight administrative buildings, at least two dozen high-rise buildings, and cars, Lysak added.

The National Police later reported that a child and a policeman were among the dead.

Russian attacks reportedly damaged 42 homes and an educational institution in Novomoskovsk.

Read also: Russia launches 158 drones, missiles at Ukraine, deaths reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A landmark archaeological discovery in the Xizang autonomous region has offered scientific evidence that humans inhabited the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as many as 40,000 years ago, greatly extending the timeline of human history in the area.

More than 10,000 artifacts from various periods have been unearthed at the Merungdap Cave site in Ge'gyai county of Ngari prefecture.

Experts said the seminal find comes from what appears to be the first prehistoric human cave in the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The prehistoric cave site is situated at an altitude of around 4,600 meters and offers valuable insights into ancient human activities.

The Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said it conducted excavations between 2018 and 2020 in cooperation with the region's Institute of Cultural Relics Protection. Three consecutive excavations were conducted at Cave No 1 of the dig site.

An excavation conducted later in 2021 uncovered older cultural layers, including stone cores made from black horn shale, stone tools and several animal bones, pottery fragments and ancient needles.

These findings indicate that ancient humans used the site for some time, and their activities extend further back and are more complex than previously thought.

The discovery is also of great significance as it is the first large-scale cave with human artifacts to be found in the western part of the plateau. This fills a gap in knowledge about cave sites in Xizang and contributes to the understanding of prehistoric archaeology, researchers said.

Zhang Xiaoling, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, expressed enthusiasm about the finding. She emphasized that the Merungdap Cave site significantly extends the history of human habitation in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau's hinterland, particularly in Xizang's Ngari prefecture.

"Previously, the oldest known site in Ngari was the Gadpaserul site ruins, dating back approximately 3,000 to 4,000 years. The Merungdap Cave site, however, contains remains from more than 3,000 years ago and potentially even older cultural artifacts dating back 40,000 years," Zhang said, adding that the extended timeline adds a crucial chapter to the region's history.

Zhang said the archaeological team conducted a total of six excavations from 2018 to 2023, with the Merungdap Cave site being discovered in 2018.

In 2019, during the early period of excavation, the research team found the cave also had rock paintings made using red ocher. These paintings predominantly depict geometric patterns, including neatly arranged vertical stripes, human silhouettes, handprints and motifs such as the sun, according to Xinhua News Agency.

"Over the course of the past six years, we have uncovered remnants of human habitation spanning at least three different periods. The earliest artifacts can be traced back 40,000 years, while the most recent ones date to approximately 4,000 years ago," Zhang said.

While many questions remain unanswered, the materials unearthed at the Merungdap Cave site promise to provide valuable new insights. As the work continues, the findings will serve as a foundation for further research and understanding, offering glimpses into the ancient history of the plateau and placing it in the broader context of human civilization, she said.
Salut Bar Americain, a longtime brasserie-style French spot on Grand Avenue, is set to close by Jan. 8.

Reduced traffic because of other nearby closures along St. Pauls premier shopping street played into the decision, according to management.

Parasole Restaurant Holdings, which runs Salut locations in St. Paul and Edina, plus other restaurants including Mannys Steakhouse and Good Earth, has decided not to renew the Grand Avenue lease when it expires in January.

We found that our other stores were supplementing this store, and with prices going up across the board, we couldnt make sense of it anymore, said Parasole chief operating officer Donna Fahs. As I said to the staff every time we open the door, we lose money.

In St. Paul, Salut Bar Americain was known for its spacious patio and accessible French-inspired menu. The restaurant opened on Grand Avenue in 2008 in the former Sidneys space. Saluts first location, in the 50th and France area of Edina, opened in 2005. At the time, Parasole also operated buzzy Twin Cities restaurants like Chino Latino and Figlio.

Fahs said several factors contributed to the closure, including rapidly increasing food costs and a series of other recent or upcoming business closures along Grand Avenue, including Anthropologie and Pottery Barn. With fewer vibrant retail options nearby, Fahs said, Salut was seeing much lower foot traffic.

Out-of-state landlord

Buildings along this stretch of Grand, including the one housing Salut, are owned by the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, a pension fund based in Columbus.

Over the past few years, tenants in STRS Ohio-owned buildings have been steadily closing, raising concerns among neighborhood advocates. Fahs criticized out-of-town landlords like STRS Ohio for failing to provide relief to local businesses like Salut during the pandemic.

It makes a difference having landlords that are in the community, that understand whats going on in the community, she said.

Parasole is working to find other positions within the company for Saluts St. Paul employees, some of whom have been at the restaurant since it opened in 2008, Fahs said  but, because the winter season tends to be much slower for restaurants, options are limited. Employees who leave have been offered severance benefits, she said.

While Salut hopes to remain open until the official Jan. 8 closing date, the restaurant may end up shutting its doors earlier if staffing levels dont remain consistent, Fahs said.

Salut Bar Americains Edina location will remain open. Gift cards to any Parasole restaurant are honored at all of the companys brands, Fahs said, so Salut gift cards can also be used elsewhere.

Diners with Salut reservations in January and onward are being contacted this week, Fahs said. Those with questions can call the restaurant at 651-917-2345.

Could we have stumbled along, hoped for the best? We cant take that chance, she said. And thats really sad.

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Many people in Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona reported seeing a green fireball streaking across the sky on Thursday night.

Hesperia resident David Cameron told the Daily Press that just after 6:30 p.m., he looked to the northeast and saw a green object streaking slowly toward Earth.

It had a long green tail, and it was visible for a few seconds before it disappeared, Cameron, 59, said. I wish I had my camera with me.

Several people claimed the falling object was a decommissioned SpaceX satellite burning up on reentry. Others speculated that the object was part of this years Geminid meteor shower, as reported by the Daily Press.

NASA officials shared what really caused the fireball.

The shower is from shooting debris from the 3200 Phaethon asteroid, a 3.17-mile wide space rock orbiting the Earth at a distance of more than 6.4 million miles. The asteroid's orbit crosses the orbits of Mars, Earth, Venus and Mercury, according to NASA.

Peak celestial shower activity was expected in mid-December, with continued activity for much of the month.

A 'huge' fireball in the sky

Kevin Wylie said he was driving east of Lucerne Valley when he saw a green comet-like object streak across the sky.

It was huge, and it appeared in the sky for quite some time before it dropped out of sight, said Wylie, 40, who lives in Apple Valley. It really was cool to see.

Ashley Rose, of Oak Hills, took to Facebook to say she saw the huge fireball at 6:41 p.m. while driving on Interstate 10. She added that a bunch of us hit our brakes when we saw it.

More: The best time to see the Geminid meteor shower is this week. Here's how to watch.

In a Facebook post, Sarah Derruisseaux of Arizona asked, Did anyone get the shooting star/comet on camera tonight, between 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.? It was in the west falling from north to south.

Carrie Russell of Arizona told Derruisseaux that her dash cam captured video of the falling object.

Honestly, my video didnt do it justice is was sooo bright and huge! Russell said. It looked like a HUGE fireball in the sky!! It was amazing!

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Green fireball seen streaking over Southern California, Nevada, Ariz.
With his shock of blond hair, clunky jewelry, signature sunglasses and multiple tattoos, Guy Fieri is pretty easy to spot.

But the Food Network personality managed to slip briefly under the radar earlier this month when grabbing some lunch at Venezia Italian Pizza and Ristorante in North Palm Beach.

Chef-owner Albert Vogli admitted to the Palm Beach Post that at first he didnt recognize Fieri, who dined with his son Hunter on the afternoon of Dec. 15. He said that a server had to remind the boss that a superstar was in their midst.

Vogli recounts that two regular customers knew exactly who the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host was, and managed to get a selfie with him.

Make sure you give the waitress a good tip, Fieri, who owns a mega-mansion in Lake Worth Beach, reportedly told them.

Vogli and his wife, Elida, also eventually also snapped a picture with the Mayor of Flavortown and posted it to the restaurants Facebook page for posterity and cred.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Fieris order was a slice, topped with sausage and pepperoni.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard spent her first day of freedom in nearly a decade doing some shopping and sharing her plans to start a family with her reported husband.

Blanchard, 32, was released three years early from Missouri's Chillicothe Correctional Center on Dec. 28 after being granted parole, a spokesperson told NBC News. She was originally sentenced to 10 years in prison after having been convicted of second-degree murder for her role in the 2015 slaying of her allegedly abusive mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard.

She was seen leaving a shopping center on Dec. 28 with her husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, 37, whom she reportedly married in 2022 while in prison, the Springfield News-Leader reported at the time. Blanchard was asked in video obtained by Splash News if she has any plans.

"Lots of 'em," she replied.

One of those plans included a post to social media.

On Dec. 29, Blanchard shared her "first selfie of freedom" to her official Instagram page.

Prosecutors in court claimed Blanchard was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, NBC News reported. MSP is a psychological disorder in which a caretaker makes someone ill or creates the illusion of them being ill in order to receive attention, according to the National Institutes of Health. Blanchard said her mother forced her to use a wheelchair, the Springfield News-Leader reported. In a 2017 interview with Dr. Phil McGraw, Blanchard said her mom forced her to eat via a feeding tube and shaved her head. Blanchard's mother also got treatments for her daughter, which included "prescriptions for anti-seizure medication and surgeries," Ozarks First previously reported.

The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard (Courtesy the Blanchard Family / Lifetime)

Blanchard and her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, plotted to kill her mother in 2015. Godejohn stabbed Dee Dee Blanchard to death in her home in Springfield, Missouri, while Gypsy Rose Blanchard hid in the bathroom, the Springfield News-Leader reported. Godejohn was sentenced in 2019 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Blanchard shared her future hopes in an interview with People, including details about her reported marriage to Anderson.

Its hard because Im going into a new life and Im newly married, and Im going to have kids one day, and Im going to have to explain to my kids why their grandmother on mommys side isnt around," Blanchard said. "And thats going to be a really hard conversation.

She does not fear acting like her mother one day if she has children.

"Whenever someone says, Do you think that because of what you went through, youre going to do that to your kids? I say, You know what? Absolutely not,'" she said. I have learned what not to do. I have no concerns about my parenting when it comes to that.

The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard (Courtesy the Blanchard Family / Lifetime)

Anderson told People that the two started talking when he sent Blanchard a letter in prison in 2020 in which he told her about himself and what her story meant to him.

Ryan has seen me through some really good times, some really hard times," Blanchard said. "I would say that he is probably the most compassionate soul that Ive ever met, and the most patient. God knows, hes so patient with me, because I could be a lot to handle. I could be an emotional handful.

Blanchard has been the subject of intense media scrutiny for years. She detailed her alleged abuse in the interview with McGraw and a 2017 HBO documentary called "Mommy Dead and Dearest."

Her harrowing account also inspired a drama series on Hulu called "The Act," starring Joey King and Patricia Arquette. Arquette won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Blanchard's mother, and King received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Blanchard.

Blanchard will share her story in an upcoming Lifetime special called "The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard," which premieres Jan. 5.

"I want to make sure that people in abusive relationships do not resort to murder," she told People. "It may seem like every avenue is closed off but there is always another way.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was picked up by her husband after being released from prison on Thursday.

Blanchard's husband is a middle school special education teacher from Louisiana.

The couple met after Anderson wrote Blanchard a letter while she was in prison.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the woman who conspired with her then-boyfriend to have her mother killed, was released early from prison on Thursday, and picked up by her recently-wed husband.

Blanchard, 32, married Ryan Scott Anderson last year while she was serving a 10-year sentence at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri.

She was granted parole after serving eight years for her role in the death of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard, who prosecutors also acknowledged was abusive.

Anderson picked Blanchard up in a silver Cadillac, according to a photo published by People. The vanity plates on the car said "HITMAN," which, coincidence or not, is reminiscent of the events that put Blanchard behind bars in the first place.

Who is Gypsy Rose's husband, Ryan Scott Anderson?

According to People, Anderson is a middle school special education teacher from Saint Charles, Louisiana.

The couple were married in August 2022 in Chillicothe, Missouri while Blanchard was still in prison, according to the Springfield News-Leader. At the time, she was 30 years old and Anderson was 36 years old.

Anderson also appears to be a wrestling fan. The vanity plate on the car Anderson picked Blanchard up in was styled after WWE Hall-of-Famer Bret Hart, who often went by the stage name "The Hitman."

Blachard told People in an interview before her release that Anderson was a crucial source of support since they met in 2020. She and Anderson told People that they were planning on consummating their marriage after her release from prison, and expressed desires to have children.

Blanchard told People that she knows it'll be difficult to explain her mother's absence to her future children. However, she said that she's confident she won't treat her children the way that her mother treated her.

Dee Dee Blanchard and Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2016 after she was found guilty of conspiring to kill her mom, who was found dead in 2015. Courtesy of the Blanchard Family

"Whenever someone says, 'Do you think that because of what you went through, you're going to do that to your kids?' I say, 'You know what? Absolutely not.'" Blanchard told People. "I have learned what not to do. I have no concerns about my parenting when it comes to that."

How did Gypsy Rose and her husband meet?

Blanchard and Anderson first met after Anderson wrote her a letter while she was in prison back in 2020, the teacher told People.

According to Anderson, he decided to write to her after his coworker said that he wanted to write to Joseph Maldonado, the subject of the Netflix docuseries "Tiger King" better known as "Joe Exotic."

"It was when 'Tiger King' was really popular," says Anderson of the hit Netflix show about wildlife businessman and convicted felon Joseph "Joe Exotic" Maldonado.

"I said, 'I'll tell you what, if you write him, I'll write Gypsy Rose Blanchard," Anderson recounted to People. "I never thought she'd be my wife."

Anderson told the publication that he wrote in his letter to Blanchard the impact that she had on him, in addition to plenty of information about himself.

"She told me the main reason was probably because I was from Louisiana," Anderson told People. "So I credit that as being the most important thing."

The couple's relationship grew as they corresponded, both Blanchard and Anderson told People. Anderson said that he'd get "butterflied" when they wrote emails to each other, but hearing her voice for the first time was a tipping point.

"Ryan has seen me through some really good times, some really hard times. I would say that he is probably the most compassionate soul that I've ever met, and the most patient," Blanchard said to People.

Murder followed by years of abuse

Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2016 after she was found guilty of conspiring to kill her mom Dee Dee Blanchard, who was found dead in 2015.

Her story received nationwide attention due to the strange and extraordinary circumstances of the situation: Blanchard has said in interviews that for years, her mother has subjected her to medical treatment she never needed, including forcing her to use a wheelchair, eat through a feeding tube, and undergo several surgeries.

One pediatric neurologist told Buzzfeed News in 2016 that he didn't "see any reason why she doesn't walk" after performing numerous tests on Blanchard.

Dee Dee was widely believed to have Munchausen by proxy, a rare behavioral disorder in which a caretaker, such as a mother, imposes a physical or mental illness on someone who is otherwise healthy.

Blanchard has said that she was desperate to get out of the situation, leading her to ask her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn to kill her mother.

Godejohn continues to serve a life sentence for first-degree murder at the Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri.

While Godejohn has said in interviews that he would kill again for the sake of Blanchard, Blanchard told People that she regrets what she did.

"Nobody will ever hear me say I'm glad she's dead or I'm proud of what I did," she said. "I regret it every single day."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gypsy Rose Blanchard commemorated her first full day of freedom with a selfie.

She took to Instagram Friday to mark her release from prison by snapping a quick pic of her smiling, writing First selfie of freedom! in the caption.

Blanchard, who conspired with her then-boyfriend Nick Godejohn to kill her abusive mother in 2015, was released from prison early Thursday morning.

She pled guilty to a second-degree murder charge on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 and served about 85% of her 10-year sentence, spending a total of eight years behind bars for her role in the murder. She became eligible for parole in September.

Blanchard also recently announced the release of an eBook titled Release, set to come out on Jan. 9.

Heres what we know about Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard coverage: Gypsy Rose Blanchard's release from prison latest twist in shocking Munchausen by Proxy case

Who is Gypsy Rose Blanchard?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who is Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchards daughter, was made to believe she suffered from a wide range of medical ailments including leukemia, asthma and muscular dystrophy thanks to her mother.

Gypsys late mother was accused of having made her daughter appear to have a range of physical and developmental ailments, USA Today previously reported.

Dee Dee Blanchard, later said to have Munchausen syndrome by proxy which is a mental condition in which someone makes another person ill for sympathy or gain received disability payments and gifts from charities all of Gypsys illnesses, that often led to painful treatment and procedures.

Gypsy, who used a wheelchair before it was discovered she could walk, said she was desperate to escape her mother's abuse and sought help from her online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn.

Godejohn, who was was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing and killing Dee Dee Blanchard, traveled to Missouri on June 9, 2015 to help enact the escape plan.

He was reportedly let into the home after Gypsys late mother fell asleep and used a knife handed to him by Gypsy to stab the sleeping woman 17 times, killing her before fleeing to his native Wisconsin, USA Today previously reported.

Gypsy later told ABC 20/20 news she hid in the bathroom with hands over her ears during the act.

Authorities were contacted about a post on Dee Dee Blanchards Facebook page dated June 14, 2015 that read, That B*** is dead! before her body was found in her home with multiple stab wounds.

Before Gypsy was publicly tied to the murder, many Springfield residents were worried that she was also in peril.

The bizarre nature of the Springfield murder made national headlines and became the subject of documentaries and streamed television series.

When was Gypsy Rose arrested?

Nov 15, 2018; Springfield, MO, USA; Gypsy Blanchard takes the stand during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn on Nov. 15, 2018. Godejohn is on trial for fatally stabbing Gypsy's mother, 48-year-old Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, at her Greene County home in June of 2015. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Papes-USA TODAY NETWORK

Gypsy and her boyfriend were arrested on June 14, 2015 in Big Bend, Wisconsin.

The pair posted two updates on Dee Dee Blanchards Facebook page earlier that day to draw attention to her yet undiscovered body.

How old is Gypsy Rose Blanchard?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was born July 29, 1991, making her 32 years old in 2023.

How old was Dee Dee Blanchard when she died?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard raises her hammer during the dedication of her family's new home in Springfield, MO alongside her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, before Dee Dee's death.

Dee Dee Blanchard was born May 3, 1967, making her 48 years old when she was killed in 2015.

Who is Gypsy Rose married to?

Gypsy married Ryan Scott Anderson in July 2022. Anderson is 37-year-old teacher based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, according to People.

The pair split after three months of marriage but eventually reconciled, the magazine reported.

She shared with various news outlets that she planned on attending a Kansas City Chiefs game with her husband after her release, stating that she hopes she gets to meet superstar Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, USA Today previously reported.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gypsy Rose Blanchard shares first selfie after release from prison
Palestinian mother Asmaa Naser (C) mourns the bodies of her twin children, Ahmed and Jihan Naser, who were killed after an Israeli air strike on the Nuseirat camp, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir El-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Ali Hamad/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A total of 187 people have been killed in one day in fresh Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry controlled by the militant Palestinian organization Hamas said on Friday.

The ministry added that 312 Palestinians were injured.

The total number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war rose to 21,507.

The number was last given on Thursday as 21,320. According to this information, 55,915 other people have been injured.

The figures cannot be confirmed, but the UN and other observers point out that the authority's figures have proven to be credible in the past.

The war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by fighters from the Islamist Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7 in Israel near the border with Gaza.

As a result, around 1,200 people were killed on the Israeli side, including at least 850 civilians.

People mourn near the bodies of Palestinians killed after an Israeli raid last night on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, at Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital. Mohammed Talatene/dpa

People inspect a damaged building after an Israeli raid on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip as battles continue between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Mohammed Talatene/dpa
Traore has not been part of a Bournemouth squad since 3 December, missing their last four league matches

Bournemouth midfielder Hamed Traore will be out for "some time" after contracting malaria, says manager Andoni Iraola.

The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international was treated in hospital after the November international break.

He has not been named in the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on 13 January.

"The past few weeks have been a tough situation for him personally," said Iraola.

"We have to make sure that he is OK and he recovers properly."

Traore is now recovering at home and will have further tests.

A tropical disease spread by mosquitoes, malaria is not contagious. Symptoms usually appear seven to 18 days after infection.

Traore joined Bournemouth in January on loan from Italian side Sassuolo before a permanent deal worth about 20m was agreed in the summer.

He has made only 10 Premier League appearances and has not played for Bournemouth since 1 November.

He featured in Ivory Coast's victories over Seychelles and Gambia on 17 and 20 November respectively.

Bournemouth, who are are 12th in the table, travel to Tottenham on Sunday.

Our coverage of Bournemouth is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment

Everything Cherries - go straight to all the best content
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Our quiet stretch of weather will most likely continue through the end of the week with little fluctuations across the state.



However, some warming is expected to continue through Friday as southwest flow increases ahead a of a pair of weak systems over the weekend.



Temperatures are expected to remain 5-10 degrees above normal into Friday with mid-40s expected along the Wasatch Front, and mid-50s for St. George.

The inversions and haze that are building in across the northern valleys will likely continue into the weekend as well. Air quality remains impacted as a result, with most valleys expected to remain in the moderate category into the weekend.

The exception may be Salt Lake County, where the Utah Department of Environmental Quality forecasts unhealthy for sensitive groups by Saturday. Theres a chance that air quality could improve slightly into the new year with a weak system passing through the state.

The high pressure ridge slides east over the weekend and will allow for limited moisture to return to southern Utah.



At this point, the system sliding into the desert southwest looks moisture starved and little moisture will make it to the state.



A few light rain and snow showers are expected on Saturday in southwest Utah. As we head into the new year, another trough slides in behind the first and brings a similar pattern to the state.

The overall trend is for increasing cloudiness and a slight drop in temperatures through midweek. Otherwise, very little, if any moisture will fall across our mountain areas New Years Eve into New Years Day.

With Utahs 4Warn Forecast both on-air and online you can stay on top of all the weather changes the Beehive State has to offer! We are Good4Utah!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Commencing on New Year's Day, Renmin University of China has announced that it will permit public tours of its campus, aligning with the growing demand for increased openness at elite Chinese universities. The university's move comes in response to calls for greater accessibility and admiration from the public.

In a release on Thursday, the university outlined the process for individuals interested in touring the campus. Prospective visitors are required to register their names, ID numbers, and mobile phone numbers one day in advance through a mini-app on the university's WeChat social media account.

Additionally, if any academic activities are open to the public, those wishing to attend can register and gain entry through the organizers. The university emphasized its commitment to regulating the number of tourists dynamically to prevent disorder. It also urged visitors to adhere to proper behavior and avoid entering teaching or office buildings without permission. The university warned that individuals entering the premises illegally or disrupting the teaching order may face temporary or permanent bans.

The registration process is free of charge, and the university cautioned against unauthorized individuals claiming to provide "services" in exchange for fees.

This policy shift follows calls from various groups, including university professors, advocating for greater openness, asserting that universities are inherently public institutions. With the waning impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased push for universities to reopen their gates.

Prior to this announcement, access to the campus of Renmin University of China was generally restricted to students, faculty members, and alumni. Touring the campus was not available to outsiders.

Earlier this month, a Peking University professor shared an incident of bypassing the university's ID-checking policy and being pursued by security guards, sparking online debates on the accessibility of elite universities. Peking University is reported to be developing an electronic system to facilitate public entry while maintaining teaching order, slated for launch in the upcoming semester. During the winter vacation, efforts will be made to address the public's desire to visit the campus.

Peking University and Tsinghua University, often regarded as the top two universities in China, currently open to the public with limited quotas on weekends and holidays, requiring advance registration. The quotas are popular and tend to fill quickly, particularly during peak periods, leaving many individuals disappointed.
For Sanaa Shah's family, summer in Australia is worlds apart from the carefree coastal lifestyle depicted in travel brochures.

"We don't have a close-by beach to go to," the 20-year-old says.

"We can't escape the heat here."

Instead, sweltering days often leave her "locked indoors" with a crippling migraine and trigger heavy nosebleeds for her younger sister.

Her home is in an inland area of Sydney where temperatures can climb 10C higher than seaside suburbs - a result of its geography, lack of green spaces and abundance of heat-trapping surfaces.

That region - western Sydney - has one of the fastest-growing urban populations in the country, as well as rising poverty rates.

And weather data shows that one in every 10 summer days there already surpasses 35C.

Heat is known as Australia's "silent killer" because it's deadlier than all other natural disasters combined yet leaves behind no visual clues as to the scale of its devastation.

But its impacts aren't being felt equally, with more than 60% of such deaths occurring in underprivileged communities like Ms Shah's, according to a climate modelling firm.

Now, experts say that without government intervention, "social inequality" will play a defining role in who survives Australia's increasingly blistering temperatures.

'Urban heat islands'

Australia defines a heatwave as three or more days in a row of unusually high day and night temperatures.

It's amid those hotter conditions that the body can struggle to cool down, prompting a range of illnesses, including heatstroke, which can effectively cook the organs if untreated.

People who are elderly, disabled, or have underlying medical issues are most at risk - but anyone who can't seek out cooler conditions can face lethal consequences.

As the driest inhabited continent, Australia is particularly vulnerable to extreme heat

According to official data, heat claimed almost 300 Australian lives and sent 7,000 people to hospital in the past decade.

But an Australian National University study argues the true numbers are vastly under-reported because death certificates only record certain information. It found heat had contributed to 36,000 Australian deaths between 2006 and 2017.

Much of the danger exists in what scientists call "urban heat islands".

They're built-up areas covered in materials that amplify heat, such as concrete, asphalt, and rows of dark-roofed homes which attract sun and raise household temperatures.

Western Sydney - where 2.5 million Australians live - is a prime example.

Its position at the foothills of Sydney's Blue Mountains shields it from cooling coastal breezes, and many residents live in buildings with inadequate insulation and feel cost of living pressures.

Ms Shah says summertime can be "isolating", as many in her community are forced to "shelter indoors" or find themselves shackled to their air conditioners.

"That in itself is a privilege though, because lots of people can't afford to keep their AC running, so maybe they go to the library or the local shopping centre to escape the heat," she explains.

Now as she studies the impacts of climate change at university, Ms Shah questions why her suburb was seemingly built to "work against the local environment".

"We have lots of tightly compacted homes here with dark roofs that were built quickly and cheaply with poor insulation. And if you drive around, you won't see any trees or green spaces," she says.

"I just don't think that long term sustainability was ever considered."

And she's not alone in her concerns.

Nearly 50% of residents quizzed in Australia's largest survey on the health impacts of heatwaves felt their suburbs had been built in ways which increased heat.

The nationwide survey, conducted last year by charity Sweltering Cities, also found that almost 70% of people reported feeling unwell on hot days.

The charity provides information to people living in urban heat islands on where to seek refuge in extreme temperatures, or how to use cheaper cooling techniques such as homemade window coverings or outdoor awnings.

What can be done?

Authorities have made efforts to combat the problem. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology recently put in place a heatwave warning system to alert communities about incoming hot weather and the associated health risks.

State and local governments across the country are investing in revegetation projects to provide more urban green cover. In Melbourne, two "chief heat officers" have even been appointed to find ways to make the city more weather-resilient.

But Emma Bacon, who founded Sweltering Cities, argues that meaningful progress will require bigger policy shifts.

She wants the federal construction code to be updated to ensure that up-to-date climate data informs development; a review of heatwave emergency plans in every state; and a ban on dark roofing nationally.

Last year, New South Wales tried to implement a requirement for lighter-coloured roofs to be used on all new homes to improve energy efficiency.

However, the policy was scrapped amid concerns from property developers that the changes would make it harder to deliver affordable housing in what is already one of the most expensive markets globally.

For Ms Bacon it was yet another "short-sighted" example of lawmakers failing to take the dangers of heat seriously.

"The way we plan our cities today decides how many people die in the heatwaves of tomorrow," she says.

"Unlike in other disasters, whether you stay safe in extreme temperatures comes down to your resources and what your home and workplace looks like."

More extreme fire, drought and heatwaves will hit Australia in the coming decades

There is also criticism of Australia's reliance on coal and gas to underpin its electricity grid and economy.

Since taking office last year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised to slash emissions much faster than his predecessors, but his government has also approved several new coal mines.

"We're having a much more honest conversation about climate change than a few years ago, but we're also opening up fossil fuel developments and literally adding fuel to the fire," Climate Council researcher Simon Bradshaw says.

Mr Bradshaw, who studies extreme weather, warns that unless Australia "weans itself off coal, oil and gas" this decade, "a lot more people will soon be exposed to lethal heat".

"It will keep getting hotter, but every ton of carbon we leave in the ground will reduce the severity of heatwaves in the future," he says.

But carbon cuts will have to happen at a household level too, experts say - which means teaching people different ways to cope on stifling days, rather than immediately turning to their air conditioning.

"We can't stay locked inside this vicious cycle, whereby we respond to hot weather with mass air conditioning use, fuelled by electricity that is predominantly generated by fossil fuel power plants," Prof Ollie Jay from Sydney University explains.

Prof Jay - who works in a specially-made climate chamber that simulates extreme heatwaves - is urging Australians to adopt "low resource" cooling strategies this summer.

The most effective include using fans to focus on reducing the body's temperature rather than that of the broader home environment, wetting the skin or dunking the feet in a bucket of water, or putting ice in a towel and resting it on the back of the neck.

These are science-backed methods that can have a big carbon impact, he says. But crucially they're affordable and practical - which for Ms Bacon and her team, as they check in on people, is essential.

"We'll be doing everything we can to be present in hot suburbs and keep the communities we work with safe," she tells the BBC.

"But we also shouldn't be living in a country where people die in heatwaves because they're poor or vulnerable."
A man is behind bars after officials say he shot a Spalding County deputy to death, prompting a SWAT standoff.

The incident unfolded at a home on Deason Street Friday morning after the two deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call and a welfare check.

Channel 2 Action News was the first crew on the scene, where law enforcement vehicles lined the side of the road as far as the eye could see.

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said that the deputies started to cross the yard, and a man inside, identified as Todd Lamont Harper, started shooting at them out of the window with a shotgun.

One of the deputies, identified as Sgt. Marc McIntyre, was shot in the head. The other deputy engaged in a gunfight with the suspect, who barricaded himself inside the house.

Other officers arrived and were able to help get McIntyre away from the gunfire. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead hours later.

Another officer sustained an injury to the hand, but was not shot, Dix said. Hes still being treated at the hospital.

Numerous law enforcement agencies assisted Spalding County deputies in the ensuing standoff, which lasted most of the afternoon.

We breached the whole back side of the house using our armored vehicle and Clayton Countys armored vehicle, Dix said. The suspect still would not surrender.

Hours later, deputies were able to enter the home and found Harper hiding under a bed. He was arrested and taken to jail. Dix said he was combative and had to be carried to the car.

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He continued to tell us he knew where all of us lived and that he was going to kill us all, Dix said. We transported him away and he is currently in custody in my jail, where he will stay. He killed my deputy. Hes going to sit in my jail.

Channel 2 Action News spoke to neighbors in the area, who said they heard what they thought were gunshots before numerous officers descended on the area.

A policeman went down the road and we heard some shots go off. About seven shots. And then next thing you know they got all sorts of police. They got armored cars out there, a neighbor said.

The neighbor said he believes the suspect is a veteran who suffers from PTSD.

Dix said officers had responded to the home on similar calls before, but on previous occasions, officers were able to negotiate with him to come out of the home.

Dix added the other deputy would recover but was rattled by witnessing the death of his supervisor, who was an Army veteran who came home to serve his community.

This supervisor was one of those guys who, every time you saw him would smile. Would call your name from across the parking lot, an emotional Dix told reporters. He was a deputy who definitely led by example.

McIntyres body was escorted from Wellstar Hospital in Spalding to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.

Numerous officers from multiple jurisdictions were at the hospital to pay their respects.

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Better pay for city employees, faster 911 response times and speeding up city permitting processes are some of the New Year's resolutions Phoenix city councilmembers are setting for 2024.

The Arizona Republic asked Mayor Kate Gallego and the council about goals and resolutions. Here's what they said.

Resolutions for the new year, straight from City Hall

Mayor Kate Gallego: "Im always looking to improve City services and ensure were the best we can be  so Id say our resolution should be to speed up delivery of quality services, reduce our 911 response times, and expedite our permitting process."

Vice Mayor (District 7 Councilmember) Yassamin Ansari: "Ensure that programs and policies like our Office of Refugee Support and Community Assistance Program and pay raises for city employees that we worked so hard together to deliver in the past few years arent negatively affected by state shared revenue shortfalls and the loss of city income from the rental tax repeal."

District 1 Councilmember Ann O'Brien: "To become more efficient. Our staff throughout the City is great, dont get me wrong! However, government has historically been the Titanic that can never seem to move quite as fast as the private sector. Already, Council voted to bring staff salaries to a more competitive range with that of the private sector, but we can be doing more to not just retain our staff but increase efficiencies."

District 2 Councilmember Jim Waring: "Hire more police officers. Its our biggest issue and one we have to address. We have done an excellent job in many other areas (economic development, reducing water consumption) but we have to ensure the public safety. Without that, all of the other good works might be undone."

District 3 Councilmember Deb Stark: Continue improving the permitting process, to ensure it is more prompt and affordable.

District 4 Councilmember Laura Pastor: "Be fiscally responsible in every decision we make."

District 5 Councilmember Betty Guardado: "Phoenix is on the rise, and while we are facing new and perhaps difficult budget constraints in the coming years, our shared values are what define us as a community and guide us in making decisions that prioritize the well-being and happiness of those in our community. While tough choices may lie ahead, let us remember the impact they will have on real people's lives  our friends, neighbors, and families, which includes City of Phoenix employees. By approaching these decisions with compassion and empathy, we can find solutions that not only address a budget shortfall but also preserve the essence of what makes Phoenix such a special place to live."

District 6 Councilmember Kevin Robinson: No response.

District 8 Councilmember Kesha Hodge Washington: "My New Years resolution is to ensure that the city fosters a cooperative and effective environment that prioritizes the issues that directly impact our residents and their well-being."

Other important issues for the city

Gallego: "We should work to pass Prop 479, which invests in our regional transportation plan. It will help Phoenix improve flow and safety on our freeways, build out our larger road system, and keep our bus system going. It allows us to fund innovative new technology to improve folks commutes. This plan will be on the November ballot."

Ansari: "Build on housing and zoning reform to make it easier to build both market rate and affordable housing so that we continue to see rent prices decrease for years to come while continuing to build affordable housing on the many city-owned lots that are still undeveloped."

O'Brien: "To approve more housing than the year before  and do the same again in 2025. My Proposed Homeless Solutions Plan that I released in June of 2023 talks about ways we can increase more housing. Im proud to say that since the release, we were successful in amending the Phoenix City Code to allow for Accessory Dwelling Units. We have also prioritized permitting for affordable housing and shelters. Under my request, discussions have started in the Planning Department about how we can streamline the entire process from zoning to permitting  and in some cases, annexations  throughout the City. Already, the Department has held listening sessions with stakeholders to learn what could we be doing better to reduce the time it takes to go from a pre-application to walls out of the ground. My office is committed to making it more efficient to build housing of all types in Phoenix."

Stark: Traffic enforcement with regard to red-light running and speeding.

Pastor: "Finding creative ways to maintain our services and staffing with the loss of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds and the flat tax in the coming years. To continue our streak of prudent budgeting, we need to face the reality and plan ahead. Also, addressing the DOJ findings."

Reporter Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or by phone at 480-476-6116.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix's New Year's resolutions? Faster 911 times, permitting, housing
From the late rescue of a program many child care businesses rely on to a flurry of bills that propose other supports for the industry, 2023 has been an eventful year for child care in state politics.

Whether youve been watching these happenings closely or are just now jumping in, heres a recap of what the Legislature did  and didnt do  about child care in 2023. Plus, there's a peek at what's to come in 2024, including a potential study committee devoted to child care.

Child Care Counts was set to end, until Gov. Tony Evers

With the pandemic-era funds that supported it running out, Child Care Counts, the states stabilization payment program thats credited with keeping thousands of child care businesses afloat, was set to end in early 2024.

Advocates warned the end of the program would mean child care would become even more unaffordable and difficult to find. Some providers already started substantially raising their tuition in the spring when the programs funds were cut in half, and planned further increases for when the program ended.

Democrats made multiple attempts to continue Child Care Counts in the new year and beyond  Gov. Tony Evers even called a special session on the matter  while Republicans had their own ideas on how to support the industry. For awhile, it seemed like Child Care Counts would end early next year after all.

But in October, Evers announced plans to direct $170 million  mostly unspent pandemic-related funding originally directed to other areas  to continuing the program at the current reduced funding levels through June 2025. He called it a stopgap measure, and said the one-time funding is not enough.

Child care providers told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin they were relieved by Evers' action. But, knowing the $170 million is half of what advocates and Democrats had asked for, they also know it wont be enough to keep all providers from sinking.

More: Gov. Tony Evers announces $170M in 'emergency funding' to extend Child Care Counts

More: Child care providers, parents, happy with Wisconsin Gov. Evers extension of funds for Child Care Counts

Wisconsin Shares, the state's child care subsidy program, had changes. More will come.

While Child Care Counts wasn't included in the 2023-25 state budget, the budget did increase the amount allocated to the Department of Children and Families by roughly $127 million for the biennium  the majority of which is federal funding. Much of this was to alter aspects of Wisconsin Shares, which assists qualifying families by paying a monthly portion of their child care costs.

This includes funding to support changing the way families subsidies are calculated to consider full-time or part-time enrollment. This provides some families with higher subsidy amounts, and therefore potentially less out-of-pocket costs. The change began Oct. 1 when participants could also start requesting Wisconsin Shares' help with registration fees, provided they meet specific criteria.

More: Wisconsin is altering its child care subsidy program. Heres what families need to know.

Come July 1, 2024, more changes that were approved by the Legislature this year will roll out. To qualify for Wisconsin Shares now, a familys gross monthly income can't exceed 185% of the federal poverty level. In the summer, this will switch to 200% of the federal poverty level, increasing the number of families that can receive the subsidy.

Currently, when participants make above the income phaseout threshold (200% of the federal poverty level, which will remain unchanged) their copayment increases by $1 for every $3 they make over the threshold. As part of the state budget passed this year, beginning in July participants will owe $1 for every $5 they make over the threshold.

The budget bill allocated $15 million for a fund for child care providers, to be administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Its unclear how this will be spent.

Republican child care bills passed the Assembly

This year, Republicans advanced a series of bills they hope would help the child care industry and families that rely on it. The bills, which passed in the Assembly along party lines and are awaiting Senate action, would change regulations and create a revolving loan fund for child care providers.

Another bill would allow Wisconsinites to set up a reimbursement account, which the bills authors liken to a health care flexible spending account, to help pay for child care expenses without having their contributions taxed by the state.

Proposed regulation changes that solicited concern during public hearings included allowing 16-year-olds to work in child care centers, increasing group sizes and the number of children per teacher for some age groups in centers, and allowing centers to alter staff-to-child ratios to reflect those in the local school district. Opponents said these threaten childrens safety; others appreciated the flexibility the changes would provide.

State Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, speaks during the Sept. 14 Assembly session at the Capitol.

Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, an author of the bills, previously said the bills weren't meant to solve all child care problems, but to support administrators, owners-operators as the ultimate decision-maker.

Multiple providers told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that, with the slim profit margins child care businesses make, theyd be wary of taking on loans from the revolving fund.

Authors of the bill that would create a child care reimbursement account wrote in a memo it would make child care more affordable for families by lowering their state tax liability. But if parents can't find child care in the first place, such programs wont be useful, Appleton parent Carolyn Desrosiers told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

More: A Republican plan to ease the child care crisis got a hearing. Here is what providers and others had to say

More: What's the status of child care, workforce proposals? Here are five things to know.

Another GOP bill hopes to incentivize employers to help with child care

In November, Republicans introduced another bill related to child care that authors say will help Wisconsins workforce. The bill would establish refundable state tax credits for businesses that help their employees access child care.

Under the bill, employers could receive up to $100,000 in state tax credit for costs involved with creating a child care program for its employees or making a contribution to a nonprofit to operate the program.

They could also receive a state tax credit of up to $3,000 per child of an employee for costs associated with subsidizing their child care, and certain operating and administrative costs associated with keeping that child in care. To receive the latter credit, the employer would have to pay at least half of the employees child care costs.

Nobody testified against the bill at its public hearing. Rep. Sue Conley, D-Janesville, said she asked employers in her district for their thoughts on the bill and nothing negative came back. However, a few small businesses told her they doubted they would take advantage of the new credits.

Republicans introduced another bill, also discussed in the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, that would alter the business development tax credit, which is awarded by Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to businesses it contracts with, to allow a business owner to claim tax benefits up to 15% of its investment for establishing a child care program for its employees, as well as up to 15% of its investment for workforce housing for eligible employees.

More: Republican bill would offer tax credits to businesses that help with employees' child care

Related: Ariens built a center in Brillion to provide subsidized daycare to employees. It's working.

More: Should Wisconsin fund child care like it does roads? Here are some solutions to the child care crisis

Instead of Child Care Counts, Republicans opted for tax cuts. Their plan was vetoed.

Before Evers' allotment of $170 million to fund Child Care Counts, he called for a special session in September for lawmakers to consider his $1 billion workforce plan  which included $365 million for child care, including Child Care Counts.

Republicans passed an amended plan in both the Senate and Assembly. It scrapped Child Care Counts and opted for a $2 billion income-tax cut for a broad swath of middle-class earners that they said could help families pay for child care and other expenses.

The Republicans plan also would have expanded a tax credit that people with children could have used to pay for child care, among other initiatives. Evers vetoed it in November, calling it a completely unserious bill that fails to meaningfully and sensibly address workforce issues.

More: Evers vetoes $2 billion tax cut and child care credit expansion, calling proposal 'completely unserious'

More: Republicans pass workforce plan with middle-class tax cut that Evers previously vetoed

What's in store for 2024?

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, signaled the Senate would vote on the Republicans' package of six child care bills, but the chamber isnt expected to reconvene until 2024.

They went really fast through the Assembly, and were taking a good look at them," LeMahieu said in a Dec. 17 WKOW Cap City Sunday interview.I think theres some really good things in those bills. We just need to make sure that theyre clean and make sense.

Even if the bills were to pass in the Senate, based on earlier comments from Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback, its likely Evers will veto them.

Legislation that could reduce the quality of care for our kids fails to keep child care center doors open tomorrow, and provides no immediate help to make child care more affordable for working families simply will not cut it, Cudaback previously said.

The two Republican bills relating to tax credits for businesses supporting employees child care have to be taken up in the Senate committee and passed in both Senate and Assembly committees before they would head to both full chambers for votes.

The DCF also hopes to work with legislators and other stakeholders to achieve its goals for the new year, said communications director Gina Paige. She said these include:

Making Wisconsin Shares more user friendly so more families use the program

Reviewing and possibly altering YoungStar, the states child care quality rating system, to help increase access to high-quality care

Phasing out any initiatives funded through federal COVID relief supports that dont have state funding

Pushing bipartisan support of long-term funding

If bipartisan legislation on child care isn't introduced and moved forward, Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, plans to ask that a bipartisan committee be created to study and introduce potential solutions to child care issues. Billings previously asked for such a committee in 2020 and 2022, along with Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Schofield.

Clearly it is an issue on the minds of legislators from both sides of the aisle and across the state, Billings told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin in a statement. The study committee would bring together not only legislators, but also child-care providers, workforce-development experts, business leaders and other relevant parties to find some common ground and common solutions on working towards addressing this issue.

Snyder said he regrets that his and Billings' proposal didn't go through last session. He has yet to talk with her about submitting another proposal, and said for now he is focusing on "a productive spring legislative session."

Hope Karnopp and Jessie Opoien of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Madison Lammert covers child care and early education across Wisconsin as a Report for America corps member based at The Appleton Post-Crescent. To contact her, email mlammert@gannett.com or call 920-993-7108. Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to Report for America.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Here's what Wisconsin lawmakers did  and didn't do  regarding child care this year
Hong Kong democracy activist Tony Chung said on Friday he had fled to Britain to seek asylum because he could no longer endure living in fear in the Beijing-controlled territory.

In 2021, Mr Chung, then 20, became the youngest person to be imprisoned under Hong Kongs sweeping national security law.

He pleaded guilty to secession and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Since his early release in June, Mr Chung said he has lived in daily fear.

I feared stepping out of my home, feared using the phone in public, and worried about the possibility of being detained again by national security police officers on the streets, he said in a statement posted on his social media early Friday but dated December 27.

Blocked from taking up work, Mr Chung said the national security police officers kept on coercing and inducing me to join them.

They proposed providing informant fees, urging me to supply information about others as proof of my reformation and willingness to cooperate.

The intimidation faced by Hong Kong dissidents like Mr Chung reflects the drastic erosion of the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to China in 1997.

The territorys sweeping national security law, imposed after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, introduced draconian punishments for opaquely-defined offences.

Tony Chung marches on an annual New Year protest in Hong Kong in 2019 - Kin Cheung/AP

It effectively outlawed free speech and dissent and has routinely been used to target pro-democracy activists, many of whom have since been jailed or forced into exile.

Both Beijing and Hong Kongs pro-China government have hailed the security law for bringing stability to the city.

Mr Chung said he got permission to leave Hong Kong by saying he wanted to go on holiday in Okinawa, Japan, and sought help once outside Chinese soil.

As I publish this statement, I have safely arrived in the United Kingdom and have formally applied for political asylum upon entry, he said.

His post on social media included a photo of him holding a suitcase in front of a sign that read UK Arrivals.

Mr Chung is the latest Hong Kong political figure to flee the city, following an announcement this month by activist Agnes Chow who had moved to Canada.

Ms Chow had said that as part of a deal with police, she agreed to travel to mainland China for a tour to observe the countrys achievements in return for getting bail.

Bounties on activists

In his Friday post, Mr Chung wrote that police had asked him to go on a trip to mainland China but dropped the idea after he asked for ways to ensure his safety.

Authorities this year have issued bounties for 13 pro-democracy activists abroad, promising HK$1 million (101,000) for information leading to their capture.

Mr Chung was previously the convenor of the now-disbanded Studentlocalism, a small group he set up in 2016 as a secondary school pupil to advocate for Hong Kongs independence from China.

Separation from China was then a fringe view in Hong Kong although calls for self-rule became more vocal during the 2019 protests.

In 2020, Chung was nabbed by plainclothes police from a coffee shop opposite the US consulate, where he was allegedly planning to seek asylum.

Significant mental stress

Since October, he had intermittently fallen ill following his release from prison, and doctors diagnosed him with significant mental stress.

National security police had requested meetings every two to four weeks, Mr Chung said, where he was asked extensively about his activities and people he met.

Each meeting involved meeting at random locations, being ordered to board a seven-seater vehicle with closed curtains, and transported to unknown destinations, he wrote.

Authorities compelled him to sign an order banning him from public speaking, and disseminating anything related to his conviction or deemed a danger to national security, Mr Chung added.

He was also stopped from seeking legal assistance, with authorities citing a confidentiality clause under the security law.

Under such immense pressure and fear, I can only silently endure, he said.

Calling himself a Hong Kong exile, Mr Chung said it was impossible for him to return home in the foreseeable future, but added he still hoped to do something for the territory after settling down in the UK.

I believe that as long as the Hong Kong people never give up, the seeds of freedom and democracy will sprout alive again, he said.

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Slowly but surely  and not without opposition  age-old efforts to change images of Native Americans that many view as offensive have gained new momentum across Massachusetts, sparking conversations about history, representation and what it means to honor a people.

Weve been saying the same thing for a long time, and I just get the feeling like this time around, there are more open ears and open hearts, said Faries Gray, Sagamore of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag.

When the state Legislature returns to formal sessions in January, two areas of focus will be redesigning the state seal and motto and considering a bill that would ban the use of Native American nicknames statewide.

Gray testified at a November legislative hearing on a bill that would ban the use of Native American nicknames.

Faries Gray, a Massachusett Native American, told legislators on the Joint Committee on Education on Nov. 13 that native images, names and icons should not be used as mascots in public schools.

I testified because the state, our leaders here in the commonwealth need to hear from Indigenous leaders in regards to mascots thats portraying our image or the likeness of us, he said. For far too long, we have been left out of the discussion.

Native Americans were historically forbidden to speak their language, practice their culture, wear long hair or enter Boston.

We were forbidden to do anything that was considered Indigenous, he said. Now you have the dominant culture using us as their mascot and dressing up as us and hooting and hollering like theyre speaking our language, he said. It shouldnt be allowed in any school system.

More than 20 schools in Massachusetts use a Native American mascot

No other race has to deal with their image being used as a mascot, Gray said.

Mascots are pretty much reserved for animals and mythical beings, he said. The Indigenous are neither. Were a living people, not only of the past but of the present.

School mascots classify Native American people in very limited roles, often as warriors, Gray said, despite that the Massachusett were primarily farmers and fishermen.

Were only portrayed in this violent way, he said. We view this as a form of racism and appropriation of our culture.

According to the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition, more than 20 schools across the commonwealth use Native-American mascots, with common team names such as Indians, Chieftains, Red Raiders and Sachems.

Some communities strongly support retaining their mascots.

The town of Dartmouth voted in support of keeping the Dartmouth Indian name and mascot in an April 2022 referendum. The Dartmouth School Committee passed a motion to affirm the continued use of the name and mascot at a meeting a few weeks later.

Clyde Andrews, member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag and former running back at Dartmouth High School, helped create the Dartmouth Indian image.

It took about a year for Julia Marden, a member of the Gay Head (Aquinnah) Wampanoag Tribe, to twine a turkey feather mantle, which she revealed during the Gay Head (Aquinnah) Wampanoag powwow Sunday. The cape-like garment is the first of its kind on the east coast in 400 years. Indigenous leaders in Massachusetts continue their push for the state to ban using Native Americans as nicknames for high school sports teams.

It pays homage to the Native Americans who walked this land many, many years ago, Andrews said. And we're still here.

But over the past few decades, many other schools have changed their mascots  including Turners Falls High School in Montague, said David Detmold, coordinator of the website Change the Mass Flag and founding editor of the local independent newspaper the Montague Reporter.

Turners Falls  a village in Montague  and Turners Falls High School are named after Captain William Turner, who led a massacre of Native Americans sleeping near the falls. Now called the Thunder, the high schools mascot was previously named the Indians.

The total egregious inappropriateness of this symbolism, naming a team the Indians in a high school named after the militia leader who killed every Native American he could find that morning, led me as editor of the newspaper to call for a change, he said.

Detmold and other residents of the town brought the issue to the school committee, and a series of emotional hearings followed, he said.

High school mascot talks led to state seal critique

During one hearing, Detmold remembers, an alum of the school posed a question that led him to his area of focus today: If we have to change our mascot, why shouldnt the state have to change theirs?

The alum gestured to the state flag that stood in the room at the hearing, Detmold recalled.

None of us had really studied it very carefully before, so somebody opened up that flag and we took a good look at it, he said. I said to myself, the man has a good point.

Massachusetts state seal, flag and motto

Indigenous peoples in Massachusetts have been trying to change the state flag for more than 50 years

In 2021, former Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation to establish a special commission to study whether the state flag and seal should be redesigned. The current image depicts a Native American figure under an arm holding a sword representing that of Myles Standish, a military officer in the Plymouth Colony known for brutality toward Native Americans.

The motto, translated from Latin, means By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.

Massachusetts seal commission slow to act

Gray said the commission was established after a lengthy battle of Indigenous people trying to get the state just to acknowledge that their flag is offensive.

The commission had a slow start, as Baker did not finish appointing commission members until after their initial deadline to submit recommendations had passed, Detmold said.

Its members came from a wide range of political backgrounds, he said, which made consensus difficult. Yet, in May 2022, the commission voted to proceed toward a completely new seal and motto, rather than making revisions to the current one.

The six Indigenous leaders on the commission, by May of last year, had persuaded some staunch holdouts among the white majority on the commission that the current symbol was causing harm today and needed to be totally revised, Detmold said. That, to me, was a significant milestone and real progress.

But aside from recommending that the seal and motto should be changed, the commission was unable to reach a consensus on what the new design should be by their deadline. They produced a report compiling their findings from multiple surveys and called for a working group to be established to create the new seal and motto.

More: Bourne seal 'a gross misinterpretation' of Native American culture. Should it be changed?

Detmold pointed to Mississippis swift adoption of a magnolia to replace the Confederate flag as their state symbol in just three months and called on Gov. Maura Healey to take action and move the process along.

Its very much time for Gov. Healey, who ran on issues of equity and inclusion, to take a look at the findings of the special commission, he said. Take this flag down and tell the Legislature it is time to come up with a symbol of peace and unity that we can all live with and get behind.

All things considered, Detmold said he thinks the commission made a sensible recommendation.

Do I wish that things had gone differently and we had a complete result from the special commission? Yes, of course I do, he said. But its a healthy ongoing conversation.

What should a new Massachusetts state seal look like?

Detmold said the suggested changes that seem to have broad public support are symbols of nature that are deeply tied to the commonwealth. As for his own personal priorities for the new design, Detmold deferred to local Indigenous leaders.

What I deeply believe is that after using Indigenous imagery without consultation or consent from the Native leaders of this area for nearly four centuries, what I prefer is the opinion of the Native leaders and the consensus of the Native leaders who have been consulted, Detmold said. Whatever they come up with, that's what I support.

Achieving a design that will make everyone happy is nearly impossible, Gray said, and attempting a nod to Indigenous peoples of the commonwealth on the flag and seal runs the risk of treating the many different cultures like a monolith.

No tribe can tell another tribe what it is to feel like youre being honored, he said.

The story behind the sword on the Massachusetts state seal

Personally, he likes the idea of featuring a turkey or a chickadee, the state bird. On one thing, though, he is certain.

The sword needs to go, he said. I think thats pretty universal, everyone agrees about the sword.

After allegedly hearing a warning of a potential attack, Standish called for a peaceful summit with Massachusett War Chiefs Pecksuit and Wituwamat as well as several others. During what is now known as the Massacre at Wessagussett, Standish poisoned or ambushed and killed them, beheading one warrior and displaying his head on a post as a warning, according to tribal history.

For the Massachusett tribe, when we see this flag and we see the sword, we view this as theyre honoring a terrorist, which is insane, he said. We just want the truth to be told about the genocide that happened here.

Where else is Myles Standish honored?

The flag is one of many places granting honor to Myles Standish across the commonwealth, including a state forest and a dormitory building at Boston University.

Gray spoke at the school about the building amid efforts to change its name, which were rejected by then-B.U. President Robert Brown in a letter.

Myles Standish was a capable and flawed individual whose responsibility was the defense of his community in a precarious time and place, Brown wrote. His role in the history of the founding of Massachusetts, and thus our nation, was significant. To remove his name from the residence hall would discount his significant role in our history.

Brown has since retired, and Gray hopes B.U.s incoming president Melissa Gilliam will be more open to a conversation.

As for the state park, Grays attention is turned to the relationship with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, where the leadership has changed over time.

Our hopes are always that we can create a relationship with an organization or a person and build from there, he said.

When working with any organization  whether a town, school, government department or university  Gray hopes to be met with empathy.

Will Myles Standish Park and Myles Standish Hall, will those names be changed? I believe so, he said. Which leadership will do it? I dont know.

Gray attributes much of this feeling of momentum to youth involvement and outside support.

Thats why things are changing now, because you have non-Indigenous people as well as Indigenous people working together to make positive change, he said.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Mass. may change state seal, ban Native high school mascots. Someday.
Stained glass artist Brian Clarke has said he is "feeling very surprised and grateful" at being given a knighthood in the New Year Honours.

Brian Clarke, 70, from Oldham, is being honoured for his services to art in a career which spanned more than 50 years.

He said his art was for the working class and was "intended to beautify the corners of the world it occupies".

"I feel so grateful that my life's work has been noticed," he said.

Mr Clarke's work has appeared in landmarks worldwide including the Al Faisaliyah Center in Riyadh, the Royal Mosque of King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, and the 14-metre-high, stained glass pavilion, The Stamford Cone in Connecticut.

'Work hard'

Last year, he designed and created a series of large stained glass windows for the Brian Clarke Church of England Academy, a secondary school in Oldham, which is named after him.

He said being honoured for his work was "more than I could have imagined".

"Anything like this, of course, will contribute to supporting the continuation of what is a unique and special part of our visual arts culture," he added.

Chief Executive of Manchester City Council Joanne Rooney becomes a CBE

"I am working class by birth and by inclination," Mr Clarke said.

"My art is for the working class and my public art in stained glass is intended to beautify the corners of the world it occupies."

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Manchester City Council has been appointed CBE for services to local government.

Joanne Roney, who became the city's first female chief executive in 2017, said she was "delighted" to receive the honour and "humbled" that someone had taken the time to nominate her.

"I am genuinely surprised but also delighted to receive this honour for something I am so passionate about."

She added: "Leaving school at 16, I would never have imagined this at all.

"I hope that young people might see this and take some inspiration that you can have a great career if you work hard, stay true to your values and love what you do."

Manchester College's former Deputy Principal, Christine Kenyon, becomes an MBE

Manchester College's former Deputy Principal, Christine Kenyon, becomes an MBE for services to further education.

Ms Kenyon, who said she felt "humbled and proud" by the honour, began her career at Blackpool and The Fylde College in 1989 while also running a mobile hairdressing business.

She joined The Manchester College as vice principal in 2014 and was promoted to deputy principal in 2019.

"Further education is a door that is always open to everybody regardless of their starting point," she said.

"My career started with a course at my local further education college and I am a testament to the positive impact that a further education can have on your career aspirations."

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A group of Chinese filmmakers entered the TV and online series market to create something special: an online series about the youth of the 1980s in a northern city in China.

A promotional picture featuring five friends from the online series "Burning Years." [Photo courtesy of Youku]

Wen Muye, the director known for blockbusters such as "Dying to Survive" and "Nice View," along with his longtime team and collaborators, was eager to explore new realms in his career.

One day, Wen and Han Xiaohan, the scriptwriter and B-team director of Wen's films, discussed their shared interest in gritty stories about brotherhood in the gangster world. They keenly recognized the rarity of such content and genre in the market, fueling their desire to create a drama with the style of a gangster movie.

That moment led to the creation of the online series "Burning Years," a drama portraying the lives of five young individuals with distinct personalities. As they navigate a rapidly changing era, their diverse choices steer them onto divergent paths, ultimately turning former best friends into adversaries who part ways. The series captures the essence of passionate, poignant, and struggling young people.

"Burning Years" recently completed its broadcast on the Youku video streaming platform in early December. It has received an impressive 8.1 out of 10 score on Douban, China's leading review aggregation site. Many viewers have hailed it as "one of the best online series" broadcast in 2023, offering a rare opportunity for the audience to enjoy a cinematic experience within an online series.

Wen served as executive producer and art director for the series, while Han took on the role of director. "Before I started directing, I didn't anticipate the immense pressure that comes with the role. You must stay focused on the creative process while constantly handling numerous trivial matters," Han shared with China.org.cn.

Han added that his collaboration with Wen was marked by strong rapport. Throughout the process, Wen provided valuable advice, helping him see the bigger picture and strengthening his skills in shooting and selecting materials to create the most effective edit for storytelling.

"One piece of advice he gave me that I found incredibly useful was, 'When filming, you need to capture everything and be insatiable, but when editing, you need to be ruthless,'" the director recalled.

A promotional image of Wang Lei, portrayed by actor Jia Hongxiao, in "Burning Years." [Photo courtesy of Youku]

The director also mentioned his experience watching Wen Muye's earliest short film, "Requiem" (2014), in which Jia Hongxiao played the lead role. "Jia's portrayal of a reserved and stoic character impressed me. So, we decided to cast him in this series and develop the character's personality and details based on the actor himself," he explained.

Han noted that Jia also contributed his own ideas during the script's creative and polishing process. "Jia made significant contributions to this drama, and we communicated extensively. He provided some excellent insights to incorporate into his role," Han said.

"The role I played represented a unique individual, an extreme example. He experienced things that we would never encounter in reality. Ultimately, I hope this drama will prompt caution and reflection in everyone," Jia told China.org.cn.

The actor praised the director's dedication and his all-out effort to make and perfect the online series. He also recalled the immersive atmosphere during the making of the drama. "Everyone was fully dedicated to their roles, even during our downtime. The chemistry between us was so natural."

Director Han said he hoped that his online series could depict genuine emotions that touch people's hearts, evoke nostalgia, and deliver powerful warnings to society.

"I hope this series prompts those who have lost themselves or strayed onto the wrong path to reflect, renew themselves, and move forward in their lives," Han said.
Sashko (short for Oleksandr), a 15-year-old from the settlement of Novohryhorivka in Mykolaiv Oblast who starred in the Imagine Dragons music video, has had his house rebuilt.

In the spring of 2022, Sashko's home was completely destroyed by the Russians, but the teenager was unwilling to leave it.

The Imagine Dragons, ambassadors of UNITED24, the Ukrainian government initiative raising money for the needs of the military, posted a music video for the song Crushed with Sashko in the lead role.

After the video, one of the donors on the fundraising platform allocated funds to reconstruct the house.

"Director Ty Arnold met Sashko during a two-month journey through Ukraine. He delivered humanitarian aid to the village and encountered the boy wandering among the ruined houses.

This encounter was fateful: the story of the Ukrainian boy moved Ty and became the basis for the music video of one of the most popular contemporary bands," says UNITED24.

There was not a single intact wall left in his house after the Russian strike, and there was no electricity, so the ruins had to be demolished.

Instead, builders laid a new foundation and built a more reliable house.

They also added a terrace, a dream of Sashkos mother, and built a shelter nearby. The construction was completed in just six months.

"After the release of the video, thousands of people wanted to help the boy: there was an overwhelming amount of words of support and offers to buy an apartment in some Ukrainian city.

However, Sashko refused to leave Novohryhorivka, so the constant partner of UNITED24, the multistore network Aurora, decided to allocate funds for the reconstruction of the ruined home," adds UNITED24 coordinator Yaroslava Hres.

Earlier, we revealed the story of Sashko, which became the basis of the music video plot. His native settlement endured five months of Russian occupation.

Oleksander told journalists that he agreed to the filming only to raise funds for rebuilding his home. The teenager also wanted to draw the attention of volunteers to the destroyed school, where he studied for nine years.

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SEATTLE - Crews are investigating a house fire that displaced six people in Seattle Thursday morning.

According to the Seattle Fire Department (SFD), crews responded to a house fire near the corner of SW Austin St. and 37th Ave. SW at around 5:15 a.m.

Seattle Fire Department

About an hour later, the SFD announced that the fire was out and searches of the building were clear.

RELATED: Idaho student murders house demolished year after quadruple stabbing

The Red Cross is now assisting the six residents who were displaced.

Investigators determined that the cause of the fire was an accident. The estimated loss is about $100,000.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt.
Houston - An airplane operations specialist, Michael Wills, lost his life in a fatal incident involving a fuel truck at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. A Houston law firm has now filed a $100 million lawsuit for his wrongful death.

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

The lawsuit, brought by Wills' daughter Kimberly, targets Menzies Aviation and driver Michael Dameon Bowers, Jr., alleging negligence in the operation of the fuel truck. During his duties, Wills suffered fatal injuries after being pinned between two vehicles.

Attorneys Randy Sorrels, Alexandra Farias-Sorrels, Andrea Roth of Sorrels Law, and Austin attorney Brooks Schuelke represent Kimberly Wills in this case.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX 26 NEWS APP

In expressing the profound impact of her father's passing, Kimberly Wills said, "The loss of my father has been devastating to myself and my family. He was my rock, and this unexpected loss is something that is difficult to process even at this time. There is a huge void in my life."

SUGGESTED: Texas-based developer, lender sued for targeting Hispanic borrowers

Randy Sorrels emphasized the preventable nature of Wills' death, pointing to the need for heightened safety measures on airport tarmacs.

"The fueling company should have been exercising the utmost care when working around planes and people on the airport tarmac. This senseless death was completely preventable, and we seek to hold all responsible for Mr. Wills death responsible and bring about change in the aviation industry," Sorrels stated.

The lawsuit seeks substantial damages for the Wills family and aims to prompt systemic changes to aviation safety protocols.
A tornado on the sun released a cloud of hot gas about six times the size of the Earth into space.

The cloud was released alongside a powerful coronal mass ejection.

The sun has been fizzing with activity as it nears its most restless state in more than a decade.

NASA captured an enormous tornado on the sun's surface that released a cloud of hot charged gas about six times the size of the Earth.

The gas cloud was spotted by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on Thursday.

It was accompanied by a powerful coronal mass ejection, an explosion that sends charged particles barreling through space, per space weather website spaceweather.com.

A tornado on the sun spit a cloud of hot gas about six times as big as the Earth into space on Wednesday, as the sun becomes more restless than it has been in over a decade. NASA/SDO/Business Insider

The cloud of gas was not launched toward Earth, so isn't dangerous for humans. Still, it is a symptom of the sun's current state of restlessness, which is increasing as it nears a peak of activity.

Every twelve years or so, the sun's poles flip. This causes our star to fizz with more solar explosions, sunspots, flares, and storms than when it is quiet. Eventually, the sun reaches a peak of activity and starts settling down again.

Scientists predict this peak should happen within the next year or so. In the meantime, they are keeping a close eye.

Solar weather is mostly harmless for humans, but a peak of solar activity increases the risk of a very rare, once-in-a-lifetime solar storm so powerful it could short power grids and knock out communication systems.

Solar observation systems are currently poorly equipped to predict such a storm, which could be felt on Earth very quickly.

The increased solar activity could also put deep-space astronauts at more risk being exposed to radiation, a major hindrance at a time when space agencies aim to send astronauts to the moon. NASA, for instance, wants to launch its Artemis 2 mission to fly astronauts around the moon in 2024.

The term "solar tornado" is only a nickname for the structure spotted on the sun, which is still poorly understood, experts previously told Business Insider.

"What we're seeing here is polar crown filament (PCF). A filament is a huge, twisted magnetic stricture that sits above the sun's surface, sometimes for months," Mathew Owens, a professor of space physics at the University of Reading, told BI in an email in March.

Plasma can be released when these magnetic fields come under too much tension and eventually break apart, Owens told BI.

The term "tornado" suggests the structure spins, but this might be a misnomer, Sven Wedemeyer, a professor of solar physics from the University of Oslo who has studied this phenomenon, told BI in March.

"You basically have two possibilities. Either you have some structure that's held together by magnetic fields that's actually truly rotating, or what you're seeing is plasma  hot gas  that's following some pre-twisted magnetic field and gives the appearance to be rotating, but is just moving up and down like a slight spiral," said Wedemeyer.

"One theory is if there's true rotation in there, this may trigger or destabilize the whole structure, which may contribute to this eruption," said Wedemeyer.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Israeli units are "expanding" their operations in the area around the city of Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted on the social media platform X on Friday, without providing details.

"The troops eliminated dozens of terrorists by means of air attacks, snipers and tank fire," it said, describing action during the course of Thursday. Dozens of Hamas members had been killed in various battles in the north of the Gaza Strip, the IDF reported on X.

Hamas leaders are thought to be hiding in Khan Younis, where the IDF is currently concentrating its forces. The IDF has instructed residents of the city to leave for Rafah to the south-west on the Egyptian border.

The IDF reported finding explosives in the homes of Hamas members. Buildings with explosives had been destroyed, it said. Troops also found a number of tunnels and weapons.

The IDF said its operations were aimed at securing control of an area on the outskirts of Khan Younis, from where an attack was mounted on October 7 on the Nir Oz kibbutz directly across the border.

The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said 187 people had been killed in one day in fresh Israeli attacks. It added that 312 Palestinians had been injured. The figures took the number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war to 21,507.

The number was last given on Thursday as 21,320. According to this information, 55,915 other people have been injured.

The figures cannot be confirmed, but the UN and other observers point out that the authority's figures have been credible in the past.

Four pedestrians were injured in a suspected car attack near a settlement in the West Bank on Friday, Israeli media and the Magen David Adom ambulance service reported.

Paramedics treated four people in their 20s. They were all conscious and one was in a "moderate condition," the ambulance service reported. Three others were slightly injured, it said. Israeli media reported that the victims were Israelis.

"Soldiers operating in the area neutralized the terrorist," the IDF said. According to the media, the driver was shot dead. There was initially no information on his identity.

The suspected car attack took place next to a military post near the Israeli settlement of Otniel in the south of the occupied West Bank, not far from the city of Hebron.

Israel took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Hundreds of thousands of settlers now live there in the midst of around 3 million Palestinians, who are demanding that the area become part of their own state.

The already tense situation in the West Bank has worsened significantly since the start of the Gaza war following the Hamas massacre of some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, the worst massacre in Israel's history.

Palestinians inspect damaged buildings after Israeli attacks in Deir El-Balah. Naaman Omar/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Canadian violinist Chantal Juillet celebrated her 63rd birthday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on Dec 19. Conductor Yu Long presented her with a birthday cake and the musicians of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra played an impromptu rendition of Happy Birthday to You for her.

On that day, the Chantal Juillet& Charles Dutoit Chamber Music Library was unveiled, with Juillet and her husband, Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, attending the ceremony.

The library houses the scores of more than 3,000 chamber works by 230 composers from the 17th century to the present day, all donated by Chantal Juillet. In September 2020, the scores arrived in Guangzhou, sent from Montreal, Canada.

The scores cover various forms of chamber music, including string, wind, percussion, keyboard, and vocal, with a focus on instrumental works. Many internationally renowned musicians, such as pianists Martha Argerich, Gary Graffman, violinist Itzhak Perlman and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, have used these scores in their performances. Some have handwritten markings left by these musicians during rehearsals.

"I am very touched and impressed by this library. I told maestro Yu Long to make something simple, but this is not simple. This is extraordinary," Juillet says.

Peng & Pan, a string duo from the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, consisting of violinist Peng Ke and cellist Pan Yang, performed Austrian composer Hanns Eisler's work, Duo for Violin and Cello, during the ceremony from the score donated by Juillet.

The long friendship between the couple and Yu, who served as the music director of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra from 2003 to 2023, and is now the orchestra's honorary music director for life, started 19 years ago.

They co-launched the Canton International Summer Music Academy in 2005 in Guangzhou, with Juillet and Dutoit serving as the music director and chamber music director of the event, which was one of the first large international professional music summer camps held in China. Between 2005 and 2007, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra organized the Canton International Summer Music Academy, inviting distinguished artists from world-renowned orchestras to be tutors, attracting young musicians from all over Asia.

"Nineteen years ago, when we met Yu Long, that day was my birthday, which I will never forget," says Juillet. "Back in 2005, when we held auditions for the summer camp, many young musicians had difficulty finding music for them. It was like a seed planted in my heart to provide young people with access to music scores.

"The best part of music is chamber music, since being a soloist is about practicing alone and requires much solitude, and being in an orchestra can bring a feeling of being lost," says the violinist.

Juillet adds that the scores donated to the Chantal Juillet & Charles Dutoit Chamber Music Library have been used during her career of more than 25 years.

The violinist joined the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1985, and was appointed co-concertmaster of that orchestra in 1990. She has performed worldwide with international orchestras.

"Being a part of this project in China has been an incredible opportunity in my life. This is a highlight of my musical career because the scores have found the place where they belong," she says.

"The Canton International Summer Music Academy has trained many young musicians, many of whom have grown into professional musicians today. The library is an expansion of our long friendship and the music scores donated by her (Juillet) will benefit more young musicians and music lovers," says Yu.

On Dec 22, Dutoit performed with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, with music works including Gabriel Faure's Pelleas et Melisande Suite, Op 80, Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto No 2 in A Major, S 125, and Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No 9 in E Minor, Op 95, From the New World. Young pianist Wang Yalun, born in 2004, was featured during the concert.

"This is my 35th time in China and I return to this country almost every year," says the conductor, 87, who was appointed principal conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 2002. "I saw some young Chinese conductors coming to our rehearsals, which was great. It's nice to see them. I love coming here to share my experience, such as how to rehearse with the orchestra."

According to Chen Qing, president of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, these valuable music scores have been cataloged and stored according to library management standards. People need to make an appointment to access the library, and the reservation channel will soon be announced through the official platforms of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra. The library will also develop online access capabilities and will also digitalize all the music scores, which will promote music education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond.
Ignacio E. "Nacho" Lozano Jr., a former publisher of the Spanish language newspaper La Opinion, patron of theater arts and former U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, died Wednesday. He was 96.

Lozano died surrounded by family at the home of one of his four children, daughter Monica Lozano.

In a tribute to him, she wrote: "What is the definition of a great man? If it is to live life to its fullest, to maximize our time on earth pursuing justice for those who suffer the greatest injustice, to promote freedom of the press and the right to information that is unbiased and independent, freedom from oppression, freedom to migrate, freedom from tyranny, then that man is Ignacio Lozano."

"If it is to show others that life can be joyous and loving and there are few treasures as rich as family, then that is Ignacio E. Lozano, Jr." she continued.

Ignacio E. Nacho Lozano Jr. stands before the presses of La Opinion newspaper. (Courtesy Lozano family)

Lozano, born in San Antonio, Texas, was the son of Ignacio E. Lozano Sr. and Alicia Elizondo Lozano, who were immigrants from Mexico. His parents founded La Prensa in San Antonio  Texas' first Spanish-language newspaper  and then started La Opinion in Los Angeles in 1926. The latter grew into a national and international publishing company, ImpreMedia, which was acquired by MyCode, a media startup, last year.

Lozano Jr. began working at La Opinion after graduating from the University of Notre Dame, while his father focused on La Prensa. He then took over publishing La Opinion after his father died. As California's Latino population began to expand, so did the newspaper, jumping from 22,000 copies issued in 1977 to 70,000 in 1986, the Los Angeles Times reported in 1987.

With him at the helm, the newspaper went from covering just Mexican news to reporting on other parts of Latin America, and also expanded its reporting on Los Angeles and Latinos, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"He left me with a legacy and with an enterprise worth devoting my life to," Lozano said of his father in the article by the Times.

Lozano was appointed to serve as ambassador to El Salvador by former President Gerald Ford in 1976 but left that post when Jimmy Carter was elected president.

Lozano also was director of Bank of America, the Walt Disney Co., Pacific Life and Sempra Energy and was a member of the board of trustees at University of Notre Dame, where he studied journalism.

After cutting back on his publishing work, Lozano became involved in Los Angeles theater and helped boost the work of Hispanic playwrights, the Times reported.

"I've been 'the Latino' on enough mainstream community organizations," he told the newspaper. "It's time I devoted more attention to things that interest me as a Latino, things that show an interest in the Latino community and culture."

Monica Lozano, who served as managing editor and later publisher of La Opinion, said her father once sued the federal agency that was then known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service for interfering with a La Opinion's newsgathering work. She said he led a delegation to secure the release of Argentine journalist and writer Jacobo Timmerman, during what was known as the Dirty War, which was waged by Argentina's military dictatorship against suspected dissidents from 1976 to 1983. She said he presided over the Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa's objections to Mexican government control of media.

"While he lived out his values through an extraordinary professional life, it was his personal quality that made his life so joyful and adventurous," Monica Lozano wrote in her tribute.

She called him a "quintessential storyteller" who adored her mother, Marta, who died in 2018.

The couple had four children: Leticia, Jose, Monica and Francisco. He also is survived by nine grandchildren, including Alicia Victoria Lozano, a California-based reporter for NBC News.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Before millions of Americans installed solar roofs, before towering wind turbines became a common sight in Midwestern skies, before electric car giant Tesla rolled out its first sedan, there was Icebreaker.

Small but seemingly unstoppable, the Cleveland clean energy project fought for 14 years to become the first offshore wind farm on the Great Lakes.

Along the way, there were victories: Icebreaker Wind secured a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and won a case before the Ohio Supreme Court.

But a few weeks ago, the Icebreaker team finally admitted defeat, with an announcement that the project had been indefinitely suspended due, in part, to lack of funding.

We just dont have a path forward right now, said William Friedman, a board member at the nonprofit behind Icebreaker, the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp.

The fall of Icebreaker is a blow for those who dream of clean energy flowing in from the Great Lakes, which have the potential to supply electricity to millions of homes.

But experts and Icebreaker insiders told the Tribune that the pioneering Icebreaker project faced obstacles specific to its advancing age, relatively small size and lack of state support  obstacles that other projects, including one being considered in Illinois, could potentially avoid.

The Illinois wind farm  proposed in February for Lake Michigan in a bill that notes the potential benefits of a Chicago location  would be larger than Icebreaker and could benefit from strong state support for clean energy.

Chicago probably could lead the way, and in some ways is leading the way in the race to build the first Great Lakes wind farm, said Walt Musial, chief engineer for offshore wind energy at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Illinois bill, the Rust Belt to Green Belt Act, passed in the House and is under consideration in the Senate.

Some people think this is (just) a cute little thing were doing for energy, said state Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, who introduced the bill in the House. But he sees the quest for a Lake Michigan wind farm as part of a global clean energy transition.

Were building the infrastructure to power the world, Evans said.

The Icebreaker era

From a clean energy perspective, offshore wind is better wind: faster and more consistent, with a smoother flow, according to Gregory Nemet, a professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

You get less electricity out of the same turbine on land, Nemet said. Its just the difference between having the smooth surface you have on water versus hills and buildings and terrain that introduce turbulence.

And the advantages of offshore wind dont stop there.

With wind turbines getting bigger, developers can avoid daunting transportation challenges, such as fitting huge trucks under bridges. Offshore turbines can be built at specialized ports and hauled directly to installation sites by barge.

Offshore turbines, which can be situated 15 miles or more from land, are less likely to interfere with scenic views or cause aesthetic complaints, Nemet said. And they can be placed relatively close to major population centers such as Chicago.

Icebreaker would have benefited from such advantages, as well as the $50 million Department of Energy grant. For a while, there was also a partnership with a big Norwegian wind developer.

But Icebreaker experienced delays in 2020, when Ohio regulators added a poison pill to their approval of the $126 million, six-turbine project: The turbines would have to power down at night for eight months of the year, to limit harm to migrating birds and bats.

The poison pill was added despite testimony from state experts that a nighttime shutdown was unnecessary, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

That was a very damaging blow, said Richard Stuebi, a lecturer at Boston Universitys Questrom School of Business and the first president of the nonprofit behind Icebreaker.

The regulators backed down, but they had already delayed a project that had to meet Department of Energy timetables and deadlines to keep its funding.

Another set of delays was caused by a lawsuit filed by citizens with environmental concerns. Icebreaker emerged victorious in a 2022 Ohio Supreme Court decision, but again, valuable time was lost.

In the end, Icebreaker essentially ran out of deadline extensions from the Department of Energy and had to forgo $37 million of its $50 million grant, according to Friedman.

Its disappointing, Friedman said. A lot of people worked hard over the years to try to advance the project.

Still, he remains optimistic about the future of Great Lakes wind power. Great Lakes wind can supply enough electricity to power millions of homes by 2050, according to Musial.

Icebreaker would have produced enough electricity to power about 7,000 homes.

Friedman noted that the proposed Illinois wind farm could get strong state support, something that Icebreaker never obtained.

And he pointed out that Icebreaker was conceived as a relatively small demonstration project that  due to its size  couldnt pay for itself. At this point, he said, it probably makes more sense to go with a big, economically viable project.

The Illinois bill proposes a pilot project capable of generating at least 150 megawatts of electricity, while Icebreaker would have generated about 21 megawatts.

The Illinois bill would set up a fund to help the wind project apply for federal grant money and the bill would require the state to procure electricity from at least one very large offshore wind project on Lake Michigan.

Friedman, the president and CEO of the Port of Cleveland, said he isnt aware of an equally promising Great Lakes offshore wind project.

I think with the interest thats been sparked in Illinois, you all are probably the next up to bat, he said.

Jobs, money at stake

To make a wind turbine you need to bend steel, turn screws and grind gears.

Its the stuff that the industrial Midwest has historically done, said Stuebi, and workers in this region have the right skills for the jobs that will be created.

There could also be money for the state of Illinois. On the East Coast, wind developers have paid billions of dollars for leases that allow them to build offshore wind farms.

Most of that money has gone to the federal government, but in the Great Lakes, the states would have control over leasing.

(States) would presumably be able to keep a lot of the (lease) money, Musial said. That hasnt been worked out yet, but I would think that would be an incentive to at least look into it.

Offshore wind can serve big cities like Chicago that have large populations, relatively little available land, and few options for local, utility-scale, carbon-free electricity.

One option  referenced in the Illinois bill but not required by it  would be to locate at least part of the project, a specialized port, on the South Side of Chicago, which is already home to a major port.

Offshore wind farms have been supplying power to Europe since the 1990s, and earlier this month a Long Island wind farm became the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the United States to deliver electricity to the power grid.

I think we will see wind power on the Great Lakes, said Musial. The question is more, how much will we see, and when will it happen?

Large floating turbines could be installed about 15 miles offshore in the Great Lakes, where the winds are good, the birds are fewer and the visual impact is minimized, Musial said.

Among the challenges: There has never been a commercial-scale floating wind farm built in waters that freeze in winter.

Sheets of ice as big as Chicago could collide with floating turbines as tall as skyscrapers, and the turbines would have to be designed to break the ice and deflect it.

Weve done design studies and it doesnt appear to be an insurmountable engineering problem, but because it hasnt been done yet, theres uncertainty about the things that might occur, Musial said.

Passing the torch

There are also regulatory issues: States would have to set rules for wind farms, perhaps by adopting federal regulations. A government report co-authored by Musial recommends forming a Great Lakes wind energy advisory group, with members drawn from government, industry, nonprofits and research institutions.

The report also recommends holding workshops to allow discussion among the affected states, set research priorities and encourage regional partnerships.

Musial said that given the technical challenges and regulatory gaps, it will likely be at least eight to 10 years before we will see a wind turbine operating on the Great Lakes.

I think what happens next is some kind of regional dialogue among the states that want to do this, he said.

Icebreaker could, technically, be resurrected, should a new source of funding appear. But Friedman doubts that the project, in its current form, will ever be built.

Too much time went by, he said. Thats part of the whole story of the demise. When you begin planning and designing something many, many years ago, technology changes during that time frame. Costs change. And you get to the point where you almost have to start over.

As for Illinois, Evans refrained from offering an estimate of when a wind farm could be built, saying at this point its hard to know.

He knows his next step, though: drumming up support for his bill.

Its all about moving the ball along, he said.

____
William Sherer II thanks his predecessor, Tom Bernabei, after Sherer was sworn in as Canton's new mayor during a ceremony Thursday at City Hall.

CANTON  William V. Sherer II took his oath as mayor Thursday afternoon in a packed City Council Chamber filled with family, friends and well-wishers, including outgoing Mayor Thomas Bernabei.

As his wife, Carrie, held the Bible, Sherer was sworn in by Stark County Common Pleas Court Judge Taryn Heath.

Daughter Nicolette Carnahan and her husband, Chad, twin daughters Adrian and Julian Sherer, and grandchildren Henry and Ella, also were in attendance.

An emotional Sherer thanked his wife, whom he called his "rock," his parents, and Bernabei, for his leadership.

William Sherer II gets a hug from his wife, Carrie, after he was sworn in Thursday as Canton's new mayor.

"I could be up here for five hours thanking everyone who helped me get here," Sherer said, noting that Bernabei encouraged him to get involved in public service six years ago.

The new mayor called the day a reflection of his father, William Sr., who instilled a strong work ethic.

"Everything I am today is because of him," he said.

Bill Sherer: Canton should be city of opportunity

Sherer, a 1988 alumnus of McKinley High School, told the crowd that he wants Canton to be a city of opportunity for everyone.

"Every kid in this town should have the same shot as I had," he said. "I'm just a blue-collar kid who never left his town, even though I had plenty of opportunities to do so."

Others on hand for the swearing-in included Stark County Commissioner Richard Regula, outgoing Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry and R. Scott DePew, Sherer's Republican opponent. U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-13th District, noted that when she first met Sherer on the campaign trail, he loved talking about Canton.

(Information has been corrected to fix an error. See correction below. 945 a.m. Dec. 29)

Democrat William Sherer II, right, is congratulated by his former opponent, Republican Roy Scott DePew. Sherer was took his oath of office Thursday as Canton's mayor.

"He said he wanted to give back to the community that had given him and his family so much," she said

The city's 72nd mayor, Sherer bested four other Democratic candidates in the May primary and captured 68% of the vote in the November general election. He succeeds Bernabei, who chose not to seek a third term.

Sherer's annual salary will be $131,935.

"I'm confident he will do well," Bernabei said. "I'm sure he'll do things different, just by virtue of our different backgrounds. When you're mayor, you set the standard by your work ethic and your integrity, and he will do so. I'm very confident of that."

Bill Sherer's staff in Canton

One thing that won't change is the cabinet. Sherer chose to retain Safety Director Andrea M. Perry, Public Service Director John Highman Jr., Finance Director Mark A. Crouse and Economic Development Director Christopher J. Hardesty, all of whom retook their oaths of office on Thursday.

He thanked the four. Because of their willingness to serve in a new administration, the transition will be easier, he said.

William Sherer II holds his granddaughter Ella Carnahan, 2, after Sherer was sworn in as Canton's new mayor.

"I couldn't do this alone," he said.

As mayor, Sherer, who had been city council president since December 2018, will be responsible for managing city operations and Canton's nearly $330 million annual budget. Among his first tasks will be to work with the city Board of Health to pick a new health commissioner to replace James Adams, who intends to retire Jan. 24. The health board reopened its search for commissioner after not coming to an agreement on the eight applicants it considered when the job was initially posted in September.

Sherer, who served as the business manager, financial secretary and treasurer for Ironworkers Local 550 for nearly 18 years, has said his long-term goals are improving city neighborhoods and reducing crime.

Canton's new mayor, William Sherer II, is sworn in Thursday by Stark County Common Pleas Judge Taryn Heath. Next to Sherer is his wife, Carrie.

"The strength of our city has to be our neighborhoods and the people in them," he told the audience. "Some work has already been done; we're going to (improve) our neighborhoods, one street at a time."

As part of the ceremony, Sherer's cousin, Nashville recording artist and "American Idol" 2020 finalist Lauren Mascitti, who grew up in Louisville, performed "God Bless America."

Sherer's official duties begin on Jan. 2.

Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @kweirREP

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

Canton's new mayor, William Sherer II, is sworn in Thursday by Stark County Common Pleas Judge Taryn Heath. Next to Sherer is his wife, Carrie.

CORRECTION: U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes represents the 13th District. The district was incorrect when this story first published.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: William Sherer II is sworn in as Canton's new mayor
Alfred Kammer, the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) European Department director, said that international donors are focused on supporting Ukraine's government and social programs, not the military, Voice of America reported on Dec. 28.

Kammer was asked whether foreign donors were ready to increase their financial assistance to Ukraine in order to cover increasing costs caused by the war, such as an expensive mobilization campaign.

"We expect Ukraine to generate domestic revenues," Kammer told Voice of America in an interview.

"I always emphasize very clearly that we expect domestic revenues to be generated. Strengthening the economy, structural reforms that support economic activity, better governance will generate additional tax revenues."

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 19 that he plans to cut government spending "as much as possible" in order to fund mobilization efforts. In his year-end press conference, he said that large-scale mobilization would cost Ukraine an additional Hr 500 billion ($13.4 billion).

When asked to comment on Zelensky's statement, Kammer reiterated that IMF assistance focuses on the functions of the government.

"We support and monitor the budget as a whole, not individual expenditures, and we and donors are helping the government of Ukraine to fulfill its basic functions during the war, such as protecting vulnerable people, paying salaries, pensions, paying for education, etc.," Kammer said.

He said that in order to generate additional revenues to cover wartime expenditures, Ukraine should turn to better governance and the newly-approved National Revenue Strategy, a program backed by the IMF that is meant to bolster Ukraine's economy and bring its tax laws in line with EU standards.

The strategy will help "get more revenues to the budget, to support spending needs during this time," Kammer said.

The IMF released its latest tranche of $900 million in aid to Ukraine on Dec. 11. The funds are part of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), a four-year agreement that will allow Ukraine to access $15.6 billion in financial aid in regular installments.

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.
Ram is one of the most revered deities in the Hindu pantheon (Arun SANKAR)

In an Indian town known as a flashpoint for sectarian violence, workers are crafting the final touches on a divisive temple that has come to symbolise the country's rising tide of Hindu nationalism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will next month inaugurate Ayodhya's new shrine to Lord Ram on a site where a mosque once stood, before it was torn down by Hindu zealots more than three decades ago.

Muslim residents of the city, remembering the deadly riots that accompanied the demolition, have been wary of its renewed atmosphere of religious fervour.

But for many more, the project is both a means of restoring Ayodhya to the glory of its depiction in ancient Hindu texts, and proof of Modi's commitment to defending India's majority faith just months ahead of national elections.

"Modi has stayed true to his promise," housewife Gudiya Devi told AFP outside another temple in Ayodhya after her morning prayers.

"All these years we dreamt of a majestic Ram temple and now that dream is coming true," she added. "This is all thanks to Modi. He is our true leader."

Artisans were toiling on top of bamboo scaffolds Friday to finish ornamental details on the main structure of the imposing shrine, which will stand 50 metres (160 feet) tall at its highest point.

With a price tag of an estimated 20 billion rupees ($240 million) according to project manager Jagdish Aphale, its builders expect tens of millions of Hindu pilgrims to visit the temple each year.

Immense sums from government coffers have poured into Ayodhya to give the city's dilapidated infrastructure a facelift ahead of the inauguration.

A new international airport will open on Saturday, road and rail connections have been upgraded and a crop of new hotels have sprung up almost overnight.

Sidewalks and pillars have been decorated with the saffron flags and marigold flowers used in Hindu festivities to welcome travellers.

"So many pilgrims have already started pouring into the city," said Shubh Mangal, a 52-year-old who makes his living selling flowers and other offerings for Hindu worshippers.

"My profits have doubled. We are all overjoyed."

- 'Full of dread' -

Ram is one of the most revered deities in the Hindu pantheon as the protagonist of the Ramayana, one of the faith's two foundational epics, which chronicles his battles with the demon-king Ravana.

Devout Hindus believe that Ram was born in Ayodhya around 7,000 years ago but that during the rule of the Mughal Empire, the Babri Masjid mosque was built on top of his birthplace in the 16th century.

Modi's presence at the inauguration is effectively the opening salvo in his campaign for re-election later in 2024.

His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has campaigned for decades to build a temple on the site and its activists were instrumental in the mosque's demolition.

One senior BJP leader travelled around the country to rally the faithful to the cause in a Toyota sedan fitted to resemble Ram's mythical chariot -- a procession that sparked multiple religious riots in its wake.

The mosque was torn down by a mob in 1992, triggering another wave of riots across the country that killed 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.

Its destruction was a hammer blow to the foundations of India's secular political order, paving the way for the rise of Hindu nationalism to become the country's dominant political force.

The site lay dormant for decades before a Supreme Court decision in 2019 permitted construction of the Ram temple.

Haji Mehboob, a witness for the losing side of that case, said Modi's presence at the temple's inauguration was another milestone in the increasing entanglement of Hindu worship and politics.

"The prime minister of a secular country is coming to inaugurate a Hindu temple... with an eye on winning the 2024 elections by reaching out to his Hindu base," he told AFP.

"The Muslim community in Ayodhya is full of dread over what the future holds for them."

abh/gle/dva
An Indianapolis man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison earlier this month after he pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child.

Devon Shane Mitchell, 37, was arrested in April after officers investigated him for other criminal activity and found images and videos of Mitchell raping a child in his custody who was younger than four years old, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

After Mitchells arrest, FBI agents found more than 800 images and videos of child sexual abuse on his electronic devices along with the videos he created using the toddler victim, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Both FBI agents and Indianapolis police investigated the case.

Our hearts break for the violence and trauma the defendant inflicted on such a young and vulnerable child," said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers in a statement announcing the sentencing.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Mitchell and ordered he pay $10,000 to the victim in addition to 20 years of probation supervision once he is released from prison.

The case against Mitchell was part of Project Safe Childhood, a 2006 Department of Justice program to coordinate resources for prosecuting people who sexually exploit children on the Internet.

Contact IndyStar's state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana man sentenced for raping young child and filming abuse
Consequences of the Russian attack in Lviv

One civilian was killed and the number of injured has risen to 15 in Lviv following Russian drone and missile strikes on the city on Dec. 29, Lviv Regional State Administration, Maxym Kozytsky, reported.

The attack on Lviv was part of Russias largest coordinated drone and missile attack on Ukraine of the war.

Lviv was first targeted with drones, and later missiles.

Nine people were initially reported injured. The toll soared following the missile strike on Lviv that hit a residential apartment.

Western Air Defense Forces neutralized eight of the 14 strike drones that attacked the Lviv region, said Kozytsky.

Read also: Dead & injured in Lviv  1,000+ km from the front  as Russia attacks sleeping civilians and schools

One of the enterprises in Lviv bore the brunt of the drone attacks, sustaining partial damage to its administrative building and production workshops. There were no reported casualties or injuries at the affected site.

Russia attacked Ukraine with almost every missile and attack drone in its arsenal overnight on Dec. 29, targeting cities in every region of the country.



At least 19 people have been killed and 85 injured in Russias largest coordinated missile and drone attack on Ukraine of the war.

Ukraine managed to destroy 114 of the 158 missiles that Russia criminally launched at Ukrainian cities far from the frontlines.

Read also: At least 17 civilians killed, 85 injured as Russia unleashes largest missile and drone attack of the war

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Seattle staple in Wedgwood Ale House and Cafe has closed its doors after 32 years in business.

The closure comes after a new owner purchased the building with plans to renovate it. The owner of Wedgwood, Kip Caputo, said he is in talks with the building owner and is hoping they could reopen once the renovations are complete, but its still uncertain if that will happen.

It is hard -- thats why we hold out hope that well be able to do it, Caputo said. It may look a little different once were renovated; I want to keep the same vibe even if it looks a little different.

With the closure, Caputos 12 employees will be out of work, and so hes started a GoFundMe to help them transition.

Its been so awesome, not just the GoFundMe but people giving ridiculous tips to help with the staff, so many hugs, a lot of crying, theres been a lot of people crying the last couple of weeks, Caputo said. Itll be a tough one tonight, but its what were here for and what weve always been here for.

It was a packed house on Thursday as loyal customers said their final goodbyes.

When I moved into my house I didnt have any dishes, so I came here every day for dinner for about three months, Evan Hundley said.

Another loyal customer, Aaron Bowater, flew all the way from London to bid the establishment farewell.

Im going to be careful because otherwise Im going to start welling up, Bowater said. I had no choice but to book some flights, cancel my plans for the holidays, and head out here.

Many customers like Rick Williams have sat at the horseshoe bar for more than a decade.

Its an institution, its sad to see things like this leaving the neighborhood, Williams said.

The neighborhood treasure will surely be missed.

Its just a place where whenever you come in, however youre feeling, theres always a warm welcome, theres always a beer being poured and theres always a good time, Bowater said.
Authorities are offering a $2,000 reward for information about an Iowa trucker who disappeared under mysterious circumstances last month.

David Schultz, 53, was reported missing on Nov. 21. Schultzs semi-tractor was found abandoned two weeks ago on a rural highway near Sac City in northwest Iowa, its trailer still filled with the piglets he was transporting. Authorities found Schultzs wallet and phone inside his truck and his jacket on the side of the road.

The Sac County Sheriffs Office later posted on social media that it was offering a $2,000 reward for information on Shultzs disappearance.

Schultzs wife Sarah told the Sioux City Journal that something must have gone wrong.

More: Iowa county attorney clears deputy who shot a suspect following fatal Fareway attack

This is not something David would do, the paper quoted her as saying. He would never leave. His family is his life.

She said she didnt know if her husband was alive or dead.

I want my husband, she said. Its exhausting. Its awful.

More: Attempted murder suspect found dead after barricading himself in Des Moines motel

Hundreds of people have volunteered to search for Schultz and have covered 100,000 acres. Volunteers searched areas in Wright, Webster, Calhoun and Sac counties, authorities said.

Anyone with information about Schultzs disappearance is asked to call the Sac County Sheriffs Office at 712-662-7127 or the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at 712-262-1873.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Authorities: $2,000 for information on missing trucker David Schultz
Sirens

A Delaware County sheriff's deputy has been cleared after shooting and wounding a man who is charged with murder in the November killing of an employee at a Fareway supermarket in Monticello.

Delaware County Attorney John Bernau, in a news release, said "investigative materials" gathered by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation showed that the actions of Deputy Matt Menard were reasonable under the circumstances of the moment.

He said Menard, a 25-year veteran of law enforcement, was among law enforcement officials seeking the suspect, Nathan Russell, 38, of East Dubuque, Illinois, following the Nov. 7 murder of Fareway employee Aaron McAtee, 48, of Monticello.

Menard encountered Russell in Hopkinton, a village north of Monticello, Bernau said. "During that contact, Deputy Menard shot and wounded Russell," Bernau said in his release.

In a separate news release at the time of the shooting, Monticello police Chief Britt D. Smith said that while the deputy tried to take Russell into custody, "Russell failed to comply with directions from the Deputy who subsequently discharged his weapon in the attempt to detain Russell."

Neither Smith nor Bernau said whether Russell was armed at the time of the shooting or what directions he had been given.

Russell was taken to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics and Menard was placed on critical incident leave, authorities said.

Bernau, in his release, said that Menard acted "not only to protect his own life, but the lives of nearby citizens. I have further determined that Deputy Menard acted in accordance with his training and experience. When the whole of the incident is looked at objectively, Deputy Menards actions in shooting Russell were reasonable and legally justified under Iowa law and he will face no criminal liability.

Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa deputy cleared in shooting of suspect in Fareway employee slaying
This aerial panoramic photo taken on Jan. 10, 2023 shows a view of Lujiazui area in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in east China's Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

China will roll out a package of measures in 2024 to boost efforts in soliciting foreign investment, an official from the country's top economic planner has said.



China will work to solve existing problems that foreign businesses face in investing in the country, said Zheng Chiping, head of the National Development and Reform Commission's department of foreign investment utilization and outbound investment.

China will lift all the restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector and continue to open up the service sector, Zheng told Xinhua in an interview.

Official data shows that foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland in actual use stood at 1.04 trillion yuan (about 146.53 billion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months of the year, remaining at a historically high level against the backdrop of sluggish cross-border investment globally.
The latest hangings came after an alleged Israeli airstrike that killed a high-ranking Iranian general - Alamy

Iran executed four people accused of spying for Israel on Friday, local media reported.

The group  three men and one woman  were hanged after being convicted of kidnapping Iranian security forces in a bid to extract intelligence from them, according to the Mizan news agency, which is affiliated to the Isalmic Republics judiciary.

They were also accused of setting fire to cars and apartments of some of Irans intelligence agents.

Mizan identified the men as Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, Rahman Parhazo and the woman as Nasim Namazi.

Four members of a sabotage group related to the Zionist regime [Israel] ... were hanged this morning, in the Islamic Republics north-western province of West Azerbaijan, the news agency reported.

The group committed extensive actions against the countrys security under the guidance of  Mossad, Israels spy agency, Mizan said.

It added they had been sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh, or waging war against God, and corruption on Earth.

Their executions followed Irans mid-December hanging of a fifth accused Mossad agent in the south-eastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

The latest hangings also came less than a week after an alleged Israeli airstrike killed a high-ranking Iranian general in Syria.

Video of confession

The official IRNA news agency posted a video clip nearly eight minutes in length showing the men, that were put to death on Friday, confessing to their alleged cooperation with a Mossad officer in neighbouring Turkey, who used two names, Tony and Arash.

Iranian intelligence put the group under close surveillance for at least four months, from around January 2022 until their arrest sometime that May, when they were transferred from a neighbouring country to Iran, the video clip showed.

They were training us for bigger assignments, an unidentified young man in a blue striped shirt said in the clip.

Several others accused of working with the same group were each sentenced to a decade in jail, Mizan reported, without providing further details.

Iranian media said the case involved 10 offenders who were in video communication with Mossad officers and set fire to cars and homes of people affiliated with the security apparatus and received cash for taking photos they sent to Mossad agents.

Shadow war

Iran and Israel have long accused one another of spying and waging a shadow war.

In November, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, said that Iran was carrying out executions at an alarming rate, putting to death at least 419 people in the first seven months of the year.

Iran said that it executed an Israeli Mossad spy earlier this month, charged with releasing classified information. In January, the countrys Iranian-British former defence minister Ali Reza Akbari was hanged for alleged cooperation with the UKs Secret Intelligence Service.

In 2020, Iran executed a man convicted of leaking information to the US and Israel about a prominent Islamic Revolutionary Guard general who was later killed by a US drone strike in Iraq.

According to rights groups including Amnesty International, Iran executes more people per year than any other nation except China.

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 border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was established in 1921

Officials discussed the possibility of redrawing the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in the 1970s, Irish state archives have revealed.

Reducing the size of NI was one option proposed by Dublin civil servants in response to escalating violence during the Troubles.

They were asked to consider the costs and consequences of such a scenario.

The 1975 discussion paper has been made public for the first time as part of the annual release of state papers.

The previously secret document was entitled the "Negotiated Repartition of Northern Ireland" and contained a proposal to transfer swathes of land and hundreds of thousands of residents from north to south.

It was drawn up at the request of the Irish cabinet, following the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement along with Stormont's nascent power-sharing government in 1974.

The Irish government wanted to prepare itself for all eventualities, including a possible British withdrawal, large-scale violence and even civil war.

'Economic burden'

The discussion paper's authors envisioned a range of possibilities for the path of a new land border but even the most conservative would have seen many towns and villages transferred into the Republic of Ireland, with only County Antrim left intact.

Under the option for maximum change, two thirds of Northern Ireland's territory would have become part of the Republic, with all of County Fermanagh and large parts of counties Tyrone, Down, Armagh and Londonderry changing hands.

According to Irish broadcaster RTE, this option would have involved 486,000 residents (285,000 Catholics and 201,000 non-Catholics) moving from north to south.

The costs of redrawing the border and rehousing affected residents were estimated at up to 873m at the time - a figure exceeding 7bn in today's money.

But officials also suggested there would be a "tremendous economic burden" if the border was forcibly redrawn as a result of large-scale violence.

The discussion paper also examined the consequences of possible Irish military intervention in Northern Ireland to "subdue loyalist resistance".

Irish government advisors concluded that this option would be "beyond our military and administrative capabilities".

The 1975 plan was not needed but it was not the first time that the Irish government had put forward its own proposals to change the borderline.

When the island of Ireland was partitioned in 1921 the Anglo-Irish Treaty stated that a commission would be set up to determine the future boundary of the recently established Northern Ireland.

However, due to the outbreak of the Irish Civil War, the Irish Boundary Commission did not hold its first meeting until 1924.

The commission's proposals were partially leaked to the Morning Post newspaper in November 1925 and the report horrified the Irish government, which had not anticipated it would lose any of its territory to Northern Ireland.

The Irish Free State's then leader, WT Cosgrave, went to London for talks and the two governments agreed to shelve the commission's recommendations and keep the border to its original 1921 path.
The Israeli military acknowledged Thursday two deadly strikes on the Maghazi refugee camp on Christmas Eve that killed dozens of Palestinians, noting the attacks killed civilians.

The admission comes as the Palestinian death toll exceeds 20,000 in the Israel-Hamas war and pressure rises on Israel to halt its all-out offensive in Gaza.

The Israeli military said the Christmas Eve strikes consisted of fighter jet-launched missiles that struck buildings adjacent to their intended targets.

The military said it regrets the harm to uninvolved individuals, and is working to draw lessons from the incident.

A preliminary investigation revealed that additional buildings near the targets were also hit during the strikes, which likely caused unintended harm to additional uninvolved civilians, the military said.

The Gaza Health Ministry said the two strikes killed at least 70 people.

International pressure for a cease-fire in the war has continued to rise through the holidays, with Pope Francis re-upping his calls to stop warfare in a Christmas address.

I plead for an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims and call for a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation by an opening to the provision of humanitarian aid. May there be an end to the fueling of violence and hatred, he said.

While the Biden administration has refused calls for a cease-fire from allies abroad and rising dissent domestically, the U.S. government has pressed the Israeli military to draw back its military operations.

The Israeli government has shown few signs of heeding that advice, however. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that the countrys war in Gaza will continue for a long time, despite warnings from the U.S. and others that a continued assault on Gaza could strengthen Hamas instead of defeat it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
People inspect a damaged building after an Israeli raid on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip as battles continue between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Mohammed Talatene/dpa

Israeli units are "expanding" their operations in the area around the city of Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted on the social media platform X on Friday, without providing details.

Hamas leaders are thought to be hiding in Khan Younis. The IDF reported finding explosives in the homes of Hamas members. Buildings with explosives had been destroyed, it said. Troops also found a number of tunnels and weapons.

The IDF said its operations were aimed at securing control of an area on the outskirts of Khan Younis, from where an attack was mounted on October 7 on the Nir Oz kibbutz directly across the border.

The IDF has instructed residents of the city to leave for Rafah to the south-west on the Egyptian border amidst a growing humanitarian crisis.

Virtually the entire population of Gaza - around 2.2 million people - is currently dependent almost exclusively on humanitarian aid, including food. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) recently estimated that 40% of Gaza's residents are at risk of famine.

On Friday, UNRWA called for the unhindered and safe access of humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip.

He called for humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip to be ensured to match the overwhelming needs including fuel, food, medicine, water and hygiene material also for those with specific needs like women, adolescent girls and people with disabilities.

The UNRWA chief objected to recent accusations made by Israel that the UN aid workers were failing in their tasks.

This is baseless disinformation, said Lazzarini, adding that "this is not the time to exchange accusations and promote misinformation.

The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said 187 people had been killed in one day in fresh Israeli attacks. It added that 312 Palestinians had been injured. The figures took the number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war to 21,507, with 55,915 others injured.

The figures cannot be confirmed, but the UN and other observers point out that the authority's figures have been credible in the past.

Hours after the figures were released, South Africa accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The case, filed with the UN's highest court, demands that Israel be ordered to cease its attacks in Gaza, the ICJ announced. South Africa claims the actions of the Israeli armed forces have a "genocidal character," as they are aimed at the annihilation of the Palestinians in this area, an ICJ press release on the case reported.

South Africa, which has traditionally maintained good relations with the Palestinian Territories, says it is basing its complaint on the UN Genocide Convention, which was signed by both South Africa and Israel.

The ICJ judgements are binding, but the court has no power to enforce them. It can, however, call on the UN Security Council to take action in the matter.

Israel, through Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat on X, immediately and decisively rejected South Africa's complaint.

He said, "South Africa is cooperating with a terrorist organization that is calling for the destruction of the State of Israel."

Haiat added that, "Israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by South Africa and its application with this complaint" to the ICJ.

The lawsuit "lacks both factual and legal basis," he wrote, adding that the ICJ and the international community should "completely reject South Africa's baseless claims."

The pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement claimed at least five attacks on Israeli posts near the Lebanese border, prompting Israeli retaliatory shelling and airstrikes that wounded two people, a Lebanese security source said.

Hezbollah said in a statement that it hit a crane carrying surveillance equipment in the Dovev Farms, inflicting casualties.

The Israeli army said it struck a Hezbollah terrorist cell responsible for launching anti-tank missiles in the area of Aitaroun and a missile launcher used to launch toward the area of Baram in northern Israel earlier Friday.

It added that Israeli fighter jets struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of Wadi Hamul in Lebanon.

And in the West Bank, four pedestrians were injured in a suspected car attack near a settlement in the West Bank on Friday, Israeli media and the Magen David Adom ambulance service reported.

Paramedics treated four people in their 20s. They were all conscious and one was in a "moderate condition," the ambulance service reported. Three others were slightly injured, it said. Israeli media reported that the victims were Israelis.

"Soldiers operating in the area neutralized the terrorist," the IDF said. According to the media, the driver was shot dead. There was initially no information on his identity.

The already tense situation in the West Bank has worsened significantly since the start of the Gaza war following the Hamas massacre of some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, the worst massacre in Israel's history.

People inspect a damaged building after an Israeli raid on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip as battles continue between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Mohammed Talatene/dpa

People inspect a damaged building after an Israeli raid on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip as battles continue between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Mohammed Talatene/dpa
Victims of an Israeli army strike react outside of Kuwait hospital in Rafah - AFP

Israeli forces fired at an aid convoy as it travelled along a designated safe route in the enclave, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has claimed.

Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army - our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage, said Tom White, UNRWAs director in Gaza.

According to UNRWA, the incident took place on Thursday afternoon and there were no casualties.

The Israeli army has said that it is looking into the reports.



On Friday, the UNs humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths described the situation in Gaza as impossible for its people and for those trying to help them.

You think getting aid into Gaza is easy? Think again, he said, adding that aid convoys had been shot at, without elaborating further.

Follow the latest updates below

04:00 PM GMT

Today's live coverage has ended

Todays live coverage has ended. Here is a roundup of the days main events:

An American warship shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels, the US military said.

Israeli forces are expanding operations in Gazas key southern city of Khan Younis as they intensify their offensive against Hamas.

The Israeli Defence Forces has announced the arrival of reinforcements in the southern city of Khan Younis as it steps up its operations in the area.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Friday at least 21,507 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel broke out nearly 12 weeks ago.

2023 has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.

03:44 PM GMT

Aid group warns of catastrophic hunger and starvation

The international aid group Mercy Corps has said that half a million people in Gaza are now facing catastrophic hunger and starvation.

Kate Phillips-Barrasso, vice president of global policy and advocacy for Mercy Corps, said:

The amount of lifesaving goods being allowed inside Gaza is a drop in the ocean and has not yet increased to the level necessary to meet Gazans basic and critical needs, even after the opening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Once trucks reach their destination, the safe delivery of any kind of assistance is almost impossible due to the ongoing and unstopping security risks.

03:28 PM GMT

Couple arrested for pouring fake blood outside Downing Street

A married couple has been arrested after pouring fake blood and putting bloody handprints on the gates outside Downing Street as part of a protest to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The Metropolitan Police said two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after paint was thrown at the gates.

Virginia Moffat, 58, and Chris Cole, 60, were named by campaign group FigTree as the arrested pair.

The couple, from Dorset, said the Government had blood on its hands after refusing to demand Israel end its bombing of Gaza, according to a statement by FigTree.

The Christian protesters called it a massacre of biblical proportions.

03:13 PM GMT

Pictured: Palestinians search for survivors

Palestinians are searching for survivors following heavy bombardment.

Palestinians search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house - REUTERS/Arafat Barbakh

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house - REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

02:53 PM GMT

Largest IDF brigade deployed to southern Gaza

The Israeli Defence Forces has announced the arrival of reinforcements in the southern city of Khan Younis as it steps up its operations in the area.

The largest brigade of the IDF - the Kfir Brigade - arrived at some point within the last week, a statement said.

The brigade was initially deployed to Gaza at the beginning of December. Its specialist engineers were used to destroy tunnels south of the Wadi Gaza.

The IDF reported that the troops had begun eliminating Hamas cells immediately and were destroying buildings rigged with explosives.

02:36 PM GMT

West Bank ramming suspect named

Earlier we reported on a car ramming in the West Bank. It has since emerged that the suspect was shot dead by police.

The Palestinian health ministry named the alleged assailant shot by Israeli forces as Amro Abu Hussein.

02:18 PM GMT

Lebanese car hit by UAV strike

A car in Lebanon was hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle on Friday, Lebanese media has claimed.

Several news outlets allege that Israel was responsible for the attack and that it was an attempted assassination.

The Lebanon National News Agency also reports that Israeli warplanes are flying low in the sky over numerous locations close to the border with Israel.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing rockets at Israel earlier on Friday.

02:04 PM GMT

30,000 Palestinians dead or missing in Gaza, according to reports

Almost 30,000 Palestinians are now dead or missing in Gaza, an official from the enclaves government has told reporters.

They told Al Jazeera that more than 7,000 are believed to be trapped under rubble.

Around 800,000 Gazans in Gaza City and the north do not have access to hospitals, he added.

01:47 PM GMT

2023 deadliest year for West Bank since records began

2023 has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.

A total of 504 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed this year, according to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.

With a total of 504 Palestinians killed in the #WestBank so far this year, 2023 has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since @UNOCHA began recording casualties in 2005. pic.twitter.com/gz1nmYCEOL  UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 29, 2023

01:30 PM GMT

Car ramming suspect 'neutralised'

Earlier we reported on a suspected car ramming in the West Bank.

The military has since revealed that soldiers neutralised the driver at the scene near a military post south of the city of Hebron.

The Magen David Adom paramedic service said that it treated one person in moderate condition and three others who were lightly wounded.

01:13 PM GMT

32 suspected ISIS operatives arrested in Turkey

Turkey has detained 32 people with suspected links to ISIS who were allegedly planning to carry out attacks on the Iraqi Embassy, as well as synagogues and churches, according to Turkish media.

The suspects include three suspected ISIS operatives.

The group were detained during raids carried out in nine provinces across the country, security sources said.

It follows the arrest of 304 suspected ISIS operatives during numerous raids across Turkey.

The move came as part of what appeared to be a security sweep leading up to the New Year festivities.

The war between Hamas and Israel has increased fears of terrorist activities during this time.

01:00 PM GMT

308 people killed in UN shelters since start of war

At least 308 people sheltering in United Nations shelters have been killed since the beginning of the war, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has claimed.

They added that a further 1,095 people have been injured.

Initial reports indicate on 25 December, 2 people sheltering in @UNRWA Maghazi Prep School were killed & 1 injured, result of a direct strike.



Since the war began, at least 308 people sheltering in @UNRWA shelters have been killed & 1,095 injured.



Nowhere in#Gaza is safe. pic.twitter.com/FZEOTdgErf  UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 29, 2023

Initial reports indicate on 25 December, 2 people sheltering in UNRWA Maghazi Prep School were killed & 1 injured, result of a direct strike, it wrote on X.

Nowhere in Gaza is safe.

12:26 PM GMT

Suspected ramming attack in West Bank

A suspected ramming attack has taken place in the West Bank, according to reports.

Several Israeli media outlets have said that four people were injured during the incident.

It is thought that the driver died in the incident.

12:12 PM GMT

21,507 Gazans killed in war

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Friday at least 21,507 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel broke out nearly 12 weeks ago.

The figure includes 187 fatalities over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said. It added that 55,915 people have been wounded in Gaza during the fighting.

More than 80 per cent of Gazas 2.4 million people have been driven from their homes, according to the United Nations.

11:56 AM GMT

UN accused Israel of firing on aid convoy

The director of the United Nationss agency in Gaza has accused Israel of firing on an aid convoy.

#Gaza - Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from Northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli Army - our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage - aid workers should never be a target.@UNRWA  Thomas White (@TomWhiteGaza) December 29, 2023

Thomas White wrote on social media:

Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from Northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli Army  our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage  aid workers should never be a target.

11:37 AM GMT

France to step up security measures for New Year's celebrations

France will have large numbers of police and soldiers deployed for this weekends New Years celebrations due to the very high terrorist threat facing the country amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said there would be around 90,000 police deployed across France, with 6,000 of them in Paris. There would also be 5,000 soldiers deployed from the Sentinelle unit, set up to deal with terrorist threats.

I have called for an extremely high turnout of police and security forces given the context of the very high terrorist threat due to, clearly, what is happening in Israel and in Palestine, Darmanin told reporters.

European security officials have stated that there is a growing risk of attacks by Islamists radicalised by the Israel-Hamas war.

11:17 AM GMT

Pictured: Smoke rises from Gaza

In this photograph, smoke can be seen rising from an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced an intensification of the fighting in Gaza while facing internal pressure to save hostages.

Smoke rises from an explosion in Gaza Strip - Amir Levy/Getty Images

11:05 AM GMT

Israel 'expanding operations' in southern Gaza

Israeli forces are expanding operations in Gazas key southern city of Khan Younis as they intensify their offensive against Hamas.

The task here is to dismantle Hamas - so that it no longer has military and governing capabilities, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said at a press briefing on the operations.

We will be required to show a lot of perseverance and determination.

Heavy Israeli shelling over the last two days near the Al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis has left at least 41 Palestinians dead and more than 50 others injured, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Those killed include displaced persons seeking shelter, it said.

10:40 AM GMT

Netanyahu cancels key meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a cabinet meeting due to discuss the Hamas conflict and the exchange of hostages and prisoners.

Assessing what Gaza would look like after the war, something the US has urged Israel to address, was also on the agenda.

Bezalel Smotrich, from Mr Netanyahus coalition party, allegedly declined to be involved in the discussions and has rejected the Palestinian Authority (PA) having any rule in Gaza when the conflict ends.

He is also against the transfer of funds to the PA, as the United States has urged.

10:14 AM GMT

At least 14 Palestinians detained in West Bank

At least 14 Palestinians, including a child, have been detained in the West Bank following a series of raids.

Four people were detained in the village of Qaffin, while a 16-year-old was detained in Ein as-Sultan refugee camp in Jericho.

In the Ramallah province, the town of Deir Abu Meshaal was raided by Israeli forces, with several residents arrested.

Two residents were also detained in Ramallahs Al-Amaari refugee camp.

A raid on Surif saw at least two Palestinians arrested, while at the Al-Fara refugee camp in the northern province of Tubas, a wounded young Palestinian man from inside an ambulance was detained.

09:59 AM GMT

US warship shoots down drone and missile fired by Yemen's Huthis

An American warship shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired Thursday by Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels, the US military said.

The Huthis have repeatedly targeted vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lane with strikes they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas.

The USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Huthis, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement, referring to a guided-missile destroyer.

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 on international shipping by the Huthis since mid-October.

09:44 AM GMT

Pictured: Destruction in Gaza

Here is a roundup of the latest photos from the southern city of Rafah as Israeli attacks continue.

Victims of an Israeli army strike react outside of Kuwait hospital in Rafah - Mohammed ABED / AFP

Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Rafah - REUTERS/Shadi Tabatibi

People struggle to recover bodies and injured people from under the rubble of a building struck by an Israeli raid on Rafah - APAImages/Shutterstock

09:19 AM GMT

Gaza convoy came under Israeli fire, UN claims

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday an aid convoy came under fire by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip without causing any casualties.

Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army - our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage, UNRWAs director in Gaza, Tom White, wrote on X.

09:06 AM GMT

Pakistan bans New Year's Eve celebrations in solidarity with Gaza

Pakistan has banned New Years Eve celebrations to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the government said late Thursday, urging people to instead observe simplicity.

In an evening televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said because of the situation in the Gaza Strip, the government had completely banned all kinds of events regarding the New Year celebrations.

Kakar said Thursday, The entire Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah were deeply saddened by the genocide of the oppressed Palestinians, especially the massacre of innocent children, in Gaza and the West Bank.

New Years Eve is usually marked in boisterous fashion in Pakistan, with fireworks and aerial gunfire - as well as a bank holiday on January 1.

08:53 AM GMT

Iran executes four accused of sabotage and links to Israel's Mossad

Iran executed on Friday four people, including a woman, whom it accused of being saboteurs with links to Israels Mossad intelligence service, the Mizan news agency affiliated with the judiciary said.

The executions took to five the number of people put to death this month in a decades-long shadow war that has seen Iran accuse Israel of attacks on its nuclear effort, charges the latter has never confirmed or denied.

Four members of a sabotage team associated with the Zionist regime... were executed this morning following legal procedures, the news agency said, accusing them of extensive actions, guided by Mossad officers, targeting Irans security.

Fridays executions in West Azerbaijan province followed Irans mid-December execution of a fifth accused Mossad agent in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

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Semafor Signals

Insights from Washington Post, Kan, and Times of Israel

NEWS

Israel acknowledged this week that it caused unintended harm to civilians when it conducted two airstrikes on a densely populated refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Dec. 24, killing dozens.

It comes as the reported death toll in Gaza surpasses 20,000, and international calls grow for Israel to scale back its assault on the territory.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Israel doesnt often acknowledge civilian casualties

Sources: New York Times, Washington Post

It was a rare admission of fault by the Israeli Defense Forces, which acknowledged the two strikes for the first time. Israel also recently said that the deaths of three hostages, who were fatally shot by Israeli forces while trying to escape Hamas captivity, could have been prevented. The dual admissions were evidence of accountability on the part of the IDF, a retired Israeli colonel said. You need to make sure soldiers understand the depth of the actions that they take, said Col. Miri Eisen, who now runs a counterterrorism think tank in Israel.

Israels dumb bombs pose greater risk to civilian population

Sources: Kan, CNN

Israel used improper munitions that were not appropriate for the strike, according to an Israeli public broadcaster. Its military has faced criticism for using bombs that are either oversized or unguided dumb bombs that are less precise and pose a greater threat to civilians; CNN reported this month that 40 to 45% of the air-to-ground munitions Israel has used were unguided. It is a massive civilian harm problem if they do not have that accuracy, and if you cant even give a benefit of the doubt that the weapon is actually landing where the Israeli forces intended to, an arms expert and Amnesty International advisor told the network.

Humanitarian crisis continues to worsen amid displacement

Sources: Times of Israel, AP

The strike came as Israel expanded its ground operation in central Gaza and said it was close to being in full control of northern Gaza. Civilians, meanwhile, were told to evacuate further south, with tens of thousands streaming into Rafah. However, Israel has struck several areas that it said were safe for civilians to evacuate to, according to multiple reports. An estimated 85% of Gazans have been displaced, overwhelming shelters and humanitarian organizations. The director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said people have built shacks along any available roadside space. Some are sleeping in their cars, and others are sleeping in the open, she said.
UN recognition of Spring Festival is a positive step forward

08:45, December 29, 2023 By Mitchell Blatt ( China.org.cn

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 baijiurice 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.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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This aerial photo taken on Feb. 26, 2023 shows the Yangpu Bonded Port Area in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, south China's Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's national economic development zones saw year-on-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.6 percent in 2022, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.



In 2022, the GDP of the country's 230 such development zones was 14 trillion yuan (about 1.97 trillion U.S. dollars), accounting for 12 percent of China's total GDP, ministry spokesperson He Yadong told a press conference.

The actual use of foreign capital among the development zones rose 11.5 percent to 43.2 billion U.S. dollars during the period, accounting for 23 percent of China's total, He said.

The development zones also saw their trade volume total 10.3 trillion yuan in 2022, up 15 percent year on year and accounting for 25 percent of the national total, he said.
After visiting more than 60 restaurants in Disney Springs, I know which are and aren't worth it.

Themed restaurants, like Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood, don't get my recommendation.

Wine Bar George is my favorite restaurant to bring loved ones to because of its extensive menu.

As an Orlando resident, Disney Springs is located just a few miles from my home.

Unlike Disney's theme parks, entry into the entertainment, dining, and shopping complex is free.

Disney Springs has more than 60 restaurants, and over the years, I've tried them all at least once.

Here are the spots I think you can skip and the ones you shouldn't miss.

I skip the Rainforest Cafe  its themed environment can be overwhelming.

I'm not a fan of Rainforest Cafe's immersive atmosphere. Amanda Adler

Eating alongside animatronic elephants and screeching monkeys fits right in at Disney World.

But with fake thunderstorm audios echoing from every corner, dining at the Rainforest Cafe can be overwhelming after a day of busy theme parks.

The loud environment can also make having a conversation or a peaceful meal difficult.

Rainforest Cafe is also a chain, so if you want to check it out, maybe go to a location outside of Disney.

Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs has an underwhelming atmosphere.

Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs isn't worth it in my opinion. Joseph Hendrickson

Planet Hollywood is another themed chain that isn't really worth it. What was once a ' 90s hot spot backed by Hollywood legends now offers little excitement when I visit.

The restaurant resembles an observatory, but it doesn't seem to keep up with modern Hollywood decorations.

Although its American-style bar food offerings are OK, nearby eateries offer very similar menus that I enjoy more.

Frontera Cocina has good drinks and appetizers, but I'm not a fan of its main courses.

Frontera Cocina is another restaurant in Disney Springs that I think you can skip. Amanda Adler

Disney Springs has many celebrity-chef restaurants, including spots from Wolfgang Puck and Guy Fieri. Although I enjoy most of them, Rick Bayless' Frontera Cocina falls short for me.

As a huge fan of Mexican cuisine, I'm surprised that my experiences at Frontera Cocina have been pretty inconsistent.

The restaurant's guacamole and margaritas are delicious, but its main courses haven't impressed me enough to return.

Although I won't be going back to Disney Springs' Frontera Cocina, Bayless' Frontera Grill in Chicago offers the best brunch I've ever had.

STK has a loud environment that isn't worth the hassle to me.

I skip STK when deciding where to eat when visiting Disney Springs. Amanda Adler

Although STK opens early, the eatery plays loud synth sounds that remind me of a nightclub, which I'm not a fan of.

Basic meals are offered at high prices, like $25 Caesar salads and steaks that soar past the $100 mark with $12 butter to add on.

I've noticed that other high-end steak restaurants have similar prices, but STK feels and tastes less original to me.

It's also a chain you can visit elsewhere if you really wanted to.

Paradiso 37 underwhelms me with its food but I'd go there for a drink.

Paradiso 37 doesn't have the best food, in my opinion, but I like its happy-hour drinks. Amanda Adler

Tables always seem to be available at Paradiso 37, but the restaurant seems to sell pricey, Latin-Carribbean-inspired food that often leaves me underwhelmed.

But Paradiso 37 impresses me with its happy hour and decent drinks. So, although I wouldn't suggest it for dinner, it's a good spot to enjoy a drink while waiting for a reservation nearby.

On the other hand, my go-to restaurant suggestion at Disney Springs is Wine Bar George.

I visit Wine Bar George often when I visit Disney Springs. Amanda Adler

Master Sommelier George Miliotes' wine bar offers more than 200 wines by the glass or ounce, making it a great spot to try something new.

Wine Bar George's food menu is equally satisfying. It's my favorite spot to bring friends and loved ones to split succulent steak or comfort food like crispy mac-and-cheese bites.

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's restaurant, Morimoto Asia, blows me away every time.

Morimoto Asia is a great spot at Disney Springs. Amanda Adler

Morimoto Asia was one of the first celebrity-chef eateries to open at Disney Springs, and it remains a favorite after countless visits.

I can't dine here without ordering spareribs and a glass  or a pitcher  of sake sangria. I've yet to find a menu item that I don't like.

If you're looking for a quick snack, the restaurant also features an outdoor food window that serves delectable eats in a quick-service setting.

The Boathouse offers a fun environment and delicious food.

The Boathouse is another great Disney Springs restaurant. Amanda Adler

At The Boathouse, I love to sit by the water while I enjoy fresh surf and turf and drinks with rubber-ducky garnishes.

The restaurant's interior is just as fetching, with a charming oyster bar and unique seating, like booths made from actual boats.

The honey-glazed yeast rolls are one of my favorite items on the menu.

My favorite themed bar at Disney Springs is Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar.

I love visiting Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar during the holiday season. Amanda Adler

Made to resemble an airplane hangar and named after a character from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar offers items with catchy names, like a Cool Headed Monkey cocktail.

I love visiting the bar during the holidays because it's even more vibrant with lights, rows of garland, and other festive decor.

Gideon's Bakehouse has a delicious cookie menu that's always changing.

Although there's usually a line, waiting for a treat from Gideon's Bakehouse is worth it. Amanda Adler

The line of people waiting to step inside Gideon's Bakehouse is often long enough to rival Disney's popular theme parks, but it's worth the wait.

The Orlando-based bakery serves decadent cookies that are so good you'll want to skip dessert elsewhere. New flavors are added each month, which gives visitors an excuse to keep returning.

Be sure to pair your cookies with Gideon's amazing peanut butter cold brew.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A fence built by Duval Countys School District around the Murray Hill playground is still standing, just days before the citys original deadline to take it down.

Action News Jax told you back in July DCPS started locking the playground during the school day, even though its owned by the city and paid for by taxpayers. And in the citys agreement with the school district to use the park, it never gave express permission to lock it up, though it did allow for a fence to be built.

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Its leaving neighbors like Jose Junior Lazcano on the fence.

It was a waste of money, its been a waste of time and its insulting to the locals of this neighborhood, Lazcano says.

Lazcano moved to Murray Hill back in 2013, now considering himself to be one of the playgrounds strongest advocates. When he says he helped the city get $250,000 together for the parks newer equipment, the fence built by DCPS was never in mind.

They finally get [the new equipment] built and [the playground] is locked off to the general public and that infuriated me, it still does, says Lazcano.

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The park is right across the street from Ruth N. Upson Elementary School. After DCPS started locking up the playground during the school day for safety reasons, some neighbors say the fence it built around Murray Hill playground shouldnt have been built.

Literally the fence has no purpose other than to make it inconvenient for the people of the neighborhood, Lazcano says.

Back in August, city councilman Jimmy Peluso, who oversees Murray Hill, put out a memo saying the fence would be brought down by the end of December.

Today, just days away from the January 1st deadline, it is still up.

Pelusos August memo says the city and DCPS agreed to build a new playground at Ruth Upson Elementary as the fence around the Murray Hill playground was brought down. It added the fence would be taken down if the schools new playground was finished before January. But this was months ago, and theres still nothing built at the site of the new playground.

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Today, when Peluso was asked when the city planned to take down the fence, he stated the deadline has been pushed back to January 8, the start of the spring semester for DCPS.

But some neighbors, like Lazcano, arent optimistic the fence will come down or the new playground will come up anytime soon.

I hope Im wrong, says Lazcano, I hope the fence does come down before January, but it doesnt look like thats going to happen. It just doesnt.

Right now, the fence at the playground is unlocked with DCPS being on winter break. We reached out to the school district to see when the new playground at Ruth Upson Elementary could be finished, but were still waiting to hear back.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
A 23-year-old man originally from New Jersey is now charged with attempting to travel to Somalia (pictured) from Kenya to provide aid to the militant group al Shabaab, according to a federal indictment unsealed on Friday. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A 23-year-old man originally from New Jersey is now charged with attempting to provide aid to the militant group al Shabaab and wage war against the United States, according to court documents released Friday.

Karrem Nasr was arrested in Kenya earlier in December and was scheduled to go before a magistrate judge in Manhattan federal court Friday afternoon, according to the indictment which was unsealed earlier in the day.

Nasr was motivated by the Oct. 7 attacks by the militant group Hamas on Israeli soil, according to court documents.

"As alleged, Karrem Nasr, motivated by the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement in the indictment.

Officials contend Nasr attempted to "provide material support" to al Shabaab, a Sunni Islamist military group based in Somalia.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Karrem Nasr was motivated to join al Shabaab by the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7, and "devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies." File Photo by Win McNamee/UPI

The U.S. government has designated al Shabaab a foreign terrorist organization. The group has claimed responsibility for several attacks and kidnappings, including one this past June in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu that left nine people dead.

Nasr, who also went by the alias of Ghareeb Al-Muhajir, moved from New Jersey to Egypt in July before traveling to Kenya in an effort to join al Shabaab.

He was arrested by Kenyan officials in the capital of Nairobi on Dec. 14 and extradited Thursday to the United States.

Nasr, who is from Lawrenceville, N.J., ultimately planned to travel to Somalia from Kenya to seek military training from al Shabaab.

"Instead of embracing all that the United States had to offer him, Mr. Nasr allegedly moved abroad and committed himself to supporting a foreign terrorist organization," NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said in a statement.

"The provision of support to such a group -- particularly by an American citizen -- is a heinous threat to our entire country and way of life."

Nasr was "bent on joining and training with al Shabaab so that he could execute his jihadist mission of death and destruction. Nasr was prepared to kill and be killed to support the jihadist cause, and in his own words, he described America as 'evil' and the 'head of the snake,'" Williams said in the statement issued Friday, which also includes redacted photos and messages reportedly posted by Nasr online.

Nasr was unknowingly communicating with a confidential FBI source at the time.

"Jihad on your home turf. Coming soon to a U.S. location near you," reads one of the messages shown in the unsealed indictment.

Friday's charges are the result of a joint operation between Kenyan authorities and U.S. federal, state and municipal law enforcement agencies.

"Karrem Nasr traveled across the globe in an alleged attempt to join the ranks of a foreign terrorist organization -- an organization that has repeatedly expressed its desire to harm Americans around the world," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said in a statement.

Nasr is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

A trial date has not yet been set.
A New Jersey man arrested in Kenya last month was charged with attempting to provide material support for the Islamist militant group Al-Shabab in Somalia, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday.

Prosecutors said Karrem Nasr, 23, was motivated by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies.

Nasr was prepared to kill and be killed to support the jihadist cause, and in his own words, he described America as evil and the head of the snake, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the career prosecutors in my Office and our law enforcement partners who led the investigation, Nasrs plan to train with a terrorist organization and wage violent jihad has been disrupted.

Williams said Nasr moved to Egypt in July and then traveled to Kenya in an attempt to join with and train Al-Shabab militants. He was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, earlier this month and extradited to the U.S. on Thursday.

The DOJ said a confidential source who reported threatening posts on X, formerly Twitter, made law enforcement aware of Nasr. In posts the department shared, Nasr pledges a jihad on home turf and said he aspired to be a martyr for the Al-Shabab cause.

You may have F35s and nuclear weapons, and we may only have IEDs and small arms, he wrote in one post. But we fight for god, your fight for your oppressive, materialistic geopolitical agenda.

Prosecutors said Nasr made concrete travel plans, including flights and lodging, from Egypt to Kenya to meet with Al-Shabab militants and travel with them to Somalia. He was arrested upon arrival in Kenya, they said.

The charge of support for a terrorist organization carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Instead of embracing all that the United States had to offer him, Mr. Nasr allegedly moved abroad and committed himself to supporting a foreign terrorist organization, New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban said in a statement. The provision of support to such a group  particularly by an American citizen  is a heinous threat to our entire country and way of life.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Jonathan Bailey may be setting Hollywood on fire with his steamy role as Matt Bomer's lover in the historical political thriller Fellow Travelers, but he's already dreaming of another super gay project.

In a recent interview with GQ to promote his Showtime miniseries, the Bridgerton heartthrob pitched an idea for another period piece he's dying to make. "I'm obsessed with the Sacred Band of Thebes, an army of 300 gay lovers in [ancient] Greece," he revealed. "They partnered in pairs, this gay army, and they overthrew a Spartan army I want to do that as a comedy."

In case you're not up on your Greek history, the Sacred Band of Thebes was a real elite force of soldiers made up of 150 gay couples because it was thought the men would fight more fiercely to protect their lovers.

Bomer was on board with this idea, too, immediately saying, "Oh hell yes!"

As if reading our mind, Bailey announced who he thinks should star in his dream film: "Just get all the queer actors together."

Sold! A movie about gay soldiers in ancient Greece, all played by the most talented queer actors out there? Yes, please!

Bomer gets just as excited about the idea as we are, suggesting Lee Pace as one of the stars. "Oil us up and let's go!" he said.

Now that we know there will be hot-oiled-up men, we're really excited!

Bomer also pitched his dream project of starring as Jessica Fletcher's queer grandson in a reboot of Murder She Wrote. "He's inherited her house and he finds an old journal in her library, and it's a case she never saw and he takes up her mantle," he explained.

The former White Collar star's idea may not be as sexy as Bailey's, but we'd love to see a new queer version of Angel Lansbury's iconic murder mystery show.

Let's hope some producer out there reads this article and hands over the cash to make these projects a reality!
The Boulder Police Department said Thursday that the Colorado Cold Case Review Team has "spent the last year preparing for" a review of JonBenet Ramsey's unsolved, 1996 homicide case, which will include DNA testing when the right technology becomes available.

The Ramsey family reported six-year-old JonBenet missing on the morning of December 26, 1996, and Boulder police  along with JonBenet's father, John Ramsey  later found her strangled to death in the basement of their home. Before discovering her body, police also discovered a ransom note demanding $118,000 in exchange for the girl.

"DNA testing continues to be an investigative focal point. DNA testing was previously completed, but the science behind DNA testing continues to rapidly evolve. [BPD] is working with leading DNA experts from across the county [sic] to ensure the latest forensic techniques are used to analyze remaining DNA samples," BPD said in a Thursday press release. "The evidence has been preserved and will continue to be ready for testing when there is proven and validated technology that can accurately test forensic samples consistent with the evidence available in this case."

Authorities have "digitized all evidence" to create a searchable database that includes thousands of files of information, including more than 21,000 tips, a thousand interviews conducted across 17 states and two foreign countries and identification samples from 200 people. The files also contain nearly 2,500 pieces of evidence and about 40,000 reports, police said.

JONBENET RAMSEY'S FAMILY DIDNT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS' FOR YEARS AFTER MURDER 27 YEARS AGO, FATHER SAYS

On December 26, 1996, JonBenet Ramsey, a child beauty queen, was brutally murdered in her home in Boulder, Colorado.

The department added that a "fresh inventory" of all the evidence collected in the case has been created with help from the FBI, and authorities are in the process of reviewing the Colorado Cold Case Team's recommendations on how to move forward with the 27-year-old murder case.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

John Ramsey told Fox News Digital last week that he thinks "there's still hope for some movement and progress based on the new leadership and in the organization."

JONBENET RAMSEY'S FATHER HAS HOPE NEW LEADERS WILL SOLVE DAUGHTER'S MURDER

"So we're cautiously hopeful that there is some progress and effort being made to do those things we've asked be done," he said.

The 1996 JonBenet Ramsey case is still considered an active and ongoing investigation.

But Ramsey says even if "the killer confessed, was arrested, convicted and in prison," a small percentage of Americans would still "not believe it."

JONBENET RAMSEY'S FATHER UNVEILS PETITION ASKING COLORADO GOVERNOR TO ADVANCE DAUGHTER'S MURDER CASE

"For the people that matter, we have lots of friends, lots of support. And I told people, look, once your reputation is blemished, fairly or unfairly, it never goes back to pure white. There's always going to be doubters and skeptics," he said. "It's the same crowd that thinks Elvis lives in Boca Raton still, and there is no moon landing. . . . The Bible calls them fools."

JonBenet Ramsey, right, was murdered in her family's Boulder, Colorado, home on December 26, 1996. This undated photo provided by the family shows her with her brother Burke.

"I am grateful for the Cold Case Review Teams independent assessment and the recommendations provided regarding this tragic case," Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said in a Thursday statement. "We will continue to pursue all leads and explore technology advancements to identify JonBenets killer. I also commit to providing the community and family with investigative updates as new evidence emerges."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS

Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said he is "grateful for the hard work and collaboration of the multi-agency group that reviewed the entire case file and presented the case to the Cold Case Review Team."

JonBenet Ramsey would have turned 33 on Saturday, August 6, 2023.

"Also, I sincerely appreciate the time, expertise, and input provided by the members of the Cold Case Review Team," he said. "As with any cold case homicide in Colorado, the overarching goal is to look at the facts and evidence with fresh eyes and an open mind, armed with the latest developments in forensic science. The presentation and discussion generated helpful recommendations. Importantly, it also ensures that everything possible is being done to solve this tragic murder."

Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the JonBenet homicide investigation to contact the BPD tip line at 303-441-1974 or email BouldersMostWanted@bouldercolorado.gov.





Original article source: JonBenet Ramsey case 'ready for' DNA testing when 'validated technology' becomes available: police
Tim Burke, a journalist in Tampa, Florida, is asking an appeals court to intervene in his ongoing challenge to the FBIs search and seizure of his digital newsroom, which he believes was a violation of his First Amendment right.

In May, Mr Burke found himself thrown into the centre of an investigation into the leak of unreleased footage from Tucker Carlsons interview with Ye, formerly Kanye West, which was picked up by Vice and MediaMatters.

Though Mr Burke claims he obtained raw footage from the interview through a publicly accessible URL, the FBI seized more than two dozen electronic devices from Mr Burkes digital newsroom using a search warrant obtained through a sealed affidavit.

The seized materials have still not been returned to Mr Burke despite no criminal charges being brought against him.

Now, Mr Burke is asking the 11th Circuit for the Court of Appeals to unseal the affidavit and hold an evidentiary hearing as well as return the seized materials to him.

Though it is unclear what the governments affidavit claimed, the government alleged Mr Burke downloaded confidential information without authorisation and intercepted electronic communications without authorisation when he obtained the raw footage from the Fox News interview.

In the appeal, Mr Burkes lawyers claim he was able to download the raw footage because a confidential source told Mr Burke that an individual with authorized access to the interviews live feed made their login credentials public.

Using the credentials, Mr Burke logged in and the website automatically downloaded a list of the URLs of other active live streams on the site.

When entering the URLs into a browser, Mr Burke allegedly could see and download the videos.

Mr Burkes lawyers argue that he did not hack the website, steal credentials or violate terms of service in doing so. He merely found something newsworthy on a publicly accessible site.

Mr Burke initially asked a lower court to unseal the affidavit but the judge declined to do so.

Several organisations that advocate for the First Amendment penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking for the affidavit to be unsealed and expressed concern that the government could chill lawful reporting through their actions.

The US Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida has not yet responded to Mr Burkes appeal.
This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2022 shows the exhibits of LEGO Group at the consumer goods exhibition area of the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China. [Photo/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.
People linger near the entrance to the Avoyelles Parish Jail on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, after a news conference about the Nov. 4 beating of inmate Jerome Demond Stevenson, who died in a hospital two days later.

MARKSVILLE  Standing in front of the Avoyelles Parish Jail, an NAACP chapter president and others called Friday for the resignation of Avoyelles Parish Sheriff David Dauzat almost two months after a 26-year-old inmate allegedly was beaten inside a cell and later died in a hospital.

The family of Jerome Demond Stevenson has retained attorney Ben Crump, who spoke by phone to more than 50 people who gathered in the parking lot on the chilly morning to hear people talk about Stevenson's death during a news conference.

Crump, who has represented the families of George Floyd, Dexter Wade, Ronald Greene and others, told the crowd he would come to Marksville when his schedule permitted, "but we're gonna be fighting in court while y'all are fighting in the community."

Crump's remarks drew shouts of approval from the crowd.

Who is Ben Crump? Black Americas attorney general on justice, equality and accountability

Stevenson was an inmate at the Avoyelles jail in Marksville on Nov. 4. According to a spokesperson for the family, New Roads NAACP chapter President Monica Fabre, Stevenson was "beaten to death while in protective custody."

Fabre said no one from the sheriff's office contacted Stevenson's family to tell them he had been beaten and was hospitalized. He died two days later, on Nov. 6.

She said no one connected to the sheriff's office has been in touch in any fashion with the family since Stevenson's death and, later during the news conference, said the family found out about his beating and hospitalization from inmates still inside the jail who were using smuggled cellphones.

A request for comment from the sheriff's office Friday on those allegations wasn't immediately available.

"We want justice for Jerome," said Fabre, who was surrounded by members of Stevenson's family at a podium not far from the entrance to the jail.

"There is no justice in the absence of truth," she said. "We have yet to hear any semblance of truth surrounding the brutal murder of Jerome in the Avoyelles Parish Jail."

A sheriff's office statement released after the news conference said the "offender-on-offender" incident happened the night of Nov. 4. Stevenson initially was taken to Avoyelles Hospital in Marksville, but later was transferred to Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria.

He died at Rapides and, on Nov. 8, an autopsy was performed at Parish Forensics in Broussard. The results of that autopsy have not been received yet by the sheriff's office, according to the statement.

The sheriff's office has been investigating Stevenson's death and has been "in communication with the Louisiana State Police" during it, the statement reads. There were surveillance cameras in the area where Stevenson was attacked.

"At the conclusion of our investigation, we will take law enforcement action," the release reads. "There will be justice and accountability."

Jerome Demond Stevenson

Fabre and others who spoke Friday called for action and for people either to vote or register to vote.

"We are here today to serve notice to any and all corrupt leaders of this parish that we have our boarding passes and our tickets in our hands, and our final destination is justice for Jerome," Fabre said.

Fabre said there would be no rest until the killing of Black mothers' sons became as important to everyone as the killing of white mothers' sons. She said the time for the community to unite is now.

What happened to Stevenson was no accident, she said. She detailed what happened to him as a result of the beating, saying that he was hit over and over until "his liver was lacerated, his eyes bulged out of his body, his body was deformed and the connectors to his brain separated."

Alexandria radio host Tony Brown said Marksville "has a problem," and he said the family would be contacting the U.S. Justice Department, too.

Michael McClanahan, the Louisiana NAACP president, said such deaths should not be happening again and again. It's "fighting time," he said.

"You can no longer kill our people and think we're gonna turn the other cheek," he said. "I'm not that Christian. I'm sorry. You hit me, I'm hitting your ass back."

'You're free!' Family awaits Vincent Simmons' release after Avoyelles DA drops charges

He spoke directly to Dauzat, saying voters had elected him to do a job but "obviously we elected the wrong person because you can't get the job done right."

McClanahan said Dauzat, a former Louisiana State Police trooper, was being given the opportunity to resign so someone else who can do the job could be elected.

"This young man did not have to die in jail," he said. "He went to jail because he committed an offense. He should have had his day in court. The jail acted as the judge, the jury and the executioner of this young man. That should not happen in America, but it's happening ... all over this land."

Monica Fabre, spokesperson for the family of the late Jerome Stevenson, speaks while standing to the right of Stevenson's 6-year-old son, Jerome Christopher. The elder Stevenson died on Nov. 6, two days after he allegedly was beaten while an inmate at the Avoyelles Parish Jail.

He called for people to vote and "unelect" those who won't take action after Stevenson's death. He told those not registered to vote to do so.

Dauzat was re-elected to a second term in October, defeating three challengers with 56% of the vote. Voter turnout was just 42.8% of the parish's registered voters, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office.

"Well, here we go again," Reginald Devold, regional vice president of the Louisiana NAACP, told the crowd. "Here we go again. The dirty, lowdown deeds have been going on in this parish for way over 100 years, ever since my grandfather and father was growing up right here in this parish."

People have been afraid to speak up for years, but Devold told them not to be. Things have been hidden in fields and forests, but he said "we are about to expose what's been swept under the rug."

"We will pull the covers back," he said. "We will open the door to the closet, y'all, and expose all of the facts."

The statement released from the sheriff's office rebutted some of the claims made, saying it doesn't "tolerate crimes of violence committed in our jail facilities."

"We have made several arrests in the past, of offenders and even employees that committed crimes of violence and/or excessive force, and sent the case files to the district attorneys office for prosecution," the statement reads

It continued in stating that Dauzat wanted Avoyelles residents to know that the sheriff's office takes their oaths of office seriously and holds themselves to a higher standard.

"The public has entrusted us to perform our duties in a lawful manner with honesty and integrity," it reads. "We will continue to do so."

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Probe continues into death of Avoyelles inmate Jerome Stevenson
K9 Bane was selected to receive the Distinguished Service Medal from the Animals in War & Peace organization. Here he poses with his owner and former handler St. Francis Police Detective Holly McManus.

The famous retired St. Francis K9 Bane has been recognized for his accomplishments with a Distinguished Service Medal.

The medal, awarded by the Animals in War & Peace organization, honors animals for their service both in civilian and military duty.

They give two medals every year and its any animal that has served in the public safety sector or military, said St. Francis Police Detective Holly McManus, Banes owner and former handler. Pigeons have won it and horses and dogs, both military and law enforcement.

Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal will be awarded to three canines by members of Congress at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 6. Additionally, Congress will also present the organization's medal of bravery to four canines at the event.

McManus is glad those officers and soldiers with paws, hooves and wings are now getting recognition through an organization like Animals in War & Peace.

I wish that there was more recognition for those types of heroes so Im glad were starting to see more recognition for the officers, the handlers, who work with these dogs and these dogs who do great things, she said, adding its OK to put your accomplishments out there and be proud of them, and those of your peers.

Bane gets a special local ceremony

While the official award presentation wont take place until March, Bane, a German shepherd, was honored locally with a ceremony Dec. 13 and given a temporary medal as his official one is still being created.

The main reason Bane got special early recognition is that he is battling degenerative myelopathy, a disorder similar to ALS in humans, and its sadly possible he either wont be around or able to travel in March.

I was humbled by (their offer of an early ceremony) because not only are they giving Bane that award, but they are making the effort to make sure hes around to be appreciated for it, McManus said.

McManus might not make it to the ceremony herself if Bane is still alive and cant travel, because there really wont be anyone to take care of him, she said.

On Banes official Facebook page, which has over 11,000 followers, McManus posts regular updates to Banes condition and his day-to-day goings on. In a post on Dec. 28, she outlined how she spends about two hours a day doing special tasks taking care of Bane including cleaning, grooming, and simply moving/carrying him as he cant control the lower half of his body.

But, she said Bane keeps surprising her, so McManus said she hasnt ruled out the trip, saying she was told the hotel would be accommodating to them.

Banes nomination and award criteria

K9 Bane was selected to receive the Distinguished Service Medal from the Animals in War & Peace organization. Here he poses with a temporary medal as his official one is still being created for an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 6, 2024.

The Milwaukee FBI division nominated Bane for the award. McManus and her canine companion served with the FBIs SWAT team for three years, taking on everything from violent crime to domestic terror in the greater Milwaukee area, Waukesha County, Brown County and into northern Illinois.

We did over 36 missions with the FBI in those three years and Bane was on every single one of those and was used in most of them as the first soul in the building, McManus said. We played an active role with that team, and I think thats how this got going.

Additionally, St. Francis Police Chief Kevin Hunter and state Rep. Christine Sinicki also submitted letters of nomination for Bane. In 2021, Sinicki awarded McManus and Bane with the First Responder of the Year Award.

In his nomination letter, St. Francis Mayor Ken Tutaj said Bane was directly responsible for leading to the arrest of over 200 offenders.

"He was the first officer through the door on multiple building searches, placing his life in front of his fellow officers," Tutaj said. "As the Citys very first K9 officer he has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to both local citizens and people throughout the country and around the world through social media.

Criteria for the distinguished service medal, according to the Animals in War & Peace website, include exceptional performance of duty, clearly above that normally expected, which has contributed materially to the success of a unit, command or department or sustained superior performance throughout the course of their duties.

More: St. Francis' K9 Bane is getting his own foundation to help other service dogs and handlers

Finding out Bane was selected

St. Francis Police Detective Holly McManus and her retired K9 partner Bane, pose for photos with sculptor Kristen Douglas-Seitz and the newly unveiled K9 Legacy Statue at St. Francis Police Department on Friday, July 7, 2023. The life-size bronze statue of retired K9 Officer Bane honors his life and service along with former and future K9 Officers serving the community.

It was around Thanksgiving when a call came in on a Sunday night from an unknown number. McManus answered and it was Robin Hutton, founder of Animals in War & Peace informing her Bane was chosen to receive the distinguished service award.

I keep saying that this is the proudest moment of my career; the final chapter of our journey, McManus said. The connection that an animal, a service animal especially, can make with the human soul is incredible and I think that Banes story is not just about a dog with a terminal illness, people are actually connecting with his struggles and his strength and his bravery and his journey and I think thats all a part of this.

"Every time he accomplishes something even in retirement, it just reminds me how lucky and how blessed I am to have taken this journey with him.

While Bane has slowed down physically, mentally hes still the same dog who can sometimes be a little grumbly.

Hes still the Bane I got a decade ago, and thats how I know he still wants to be on this side of the bridge with us, McManus said. He still has his personality.

McManus thought Bane may pass on after his bronze statue was revealed in front of the St. Francis Civic Center because hed feel her relief as that chapter closed. But Bane has continued to push on and McManus said she plans to keep going with him until he tells her hes ready to leave.

I feel like hes saying, Im not done yet, lets see what else we can do, she said.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: K9 Bane of St. Francis honored with national award for service
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Kaitlin Armstrong, the woman found guilty of first-degree murder this year in the death of star professional cyclist Moriah Wilson, claims she was pregnant at or near the time she was arrested for the killing, according to a recent court filing.

The admission of Armstrongs pregnancy is included in a lengthy motion for a new trial filed in Travis County on Dec. 15. Armstrong was sentenced to 90 years in prison on Nov. 17.

Armstrong says there is new evidence that was not available at the time of trial, according to the motion. She also alleges she received ineffective assistance of counsel in the punishment phase of the trial by not conducting a proper mitigation (or sentencing) investigation and not contacting favorable witnesses who were available and willing to testify in support of Armstrong, according to the motion.

RELATED | Slain cyclist Moriah Wilson, 25, exceptional in every way

The motion includes favorable affidavits for Armstrong by relatives and people she knew. Armstrongs new defense attorney says they gathered information from witnesses and others showing powerful evidence about Kaitlins childhood and trauma history that was not brought before the jury that would have mitigated the sentence in this case, according to the motion.

Wilson was found shot to death at an east Austin apartment in May 2022. At trial, the state used electronic and DNA evidence to place Armstrong at the scene of the crime. A jury returned a guilty verdict on Nov. 16, 2023.

The motion for a new trial mentions the divorce of Armstrongs parents and strife in her household growing up. Those issues, along with Armstrongs pregnancy, could have been mitigating factors in her sentencing, according to the motion.

Kaitlin has also been pregnant twice, one occasion of which was during or near the time of her arrest, according to the motion.

Considering the sentence here was 90 years and a maximum fine, there should be no question that this mitigating evidence would have resulted in more lenient punishment, the motion states.

In the motion, Armstrong also raises issues with newly available evidence that was not available at the time of the trial regarding an expert witness who offered rebuttal testimony related to DNA evidence. Armstrongs defense alleges the witness overstated his qualifications and misled the jury about DNA evidence in the case, according to the motion.

A complaint was lodged with the Texas Forensic Science Commission on Dec. 1 against the expert witness because of his testimony in the Armstrong trial, according to the motion. Armstrong also asserts her counsel at trial was ineffective for failing to move for a continuance to allow time to investigate possible challenges to the witness testimony, according to the motion.

Armstrongs trial attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The holidays often bring families together for celebrations, conversations, and  most important  food. Many holiday foods are prepared using family recipes that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Although the food often retains the ethnic flavor of our ancestry, those recipes likely went through a major change: They are now in English.

Thats probably not too surprising, given that 90% of the people in the Kansas City area speak English in the home. What might surprise you is the variety of other languages that are spoken in the homes of our local community: Tagalog, Hindi, Amharic, Swahili, French, German, Vietnamese, Arabic, Chinese and Spanish among them.

My mom used to say, Please and Thank you will get you pretty far in the world. The next time you go to eat at the River Market, try to say Please and Thank you in Portuguese (spoken in Brazil), Tagalog (spoken in the Philippines) or Amharic (spoken in Ethiopia) to experience a delicious family recipe from around the world without leaving Kansas City. Please and Thank you in another language may also unlock a part of your own family history as you travel back in time through the memories of older family members who grew up speaking something other than English in the home.

This holiday season, enjoy the many gifts that language can give you. Embrace the languages of your family. Encourage your children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to learn the languages of your ancestors. Make a New Years resolution to learn a language and reconnect with your own family history. Support foreign language instruction in K-12 schools, colleges and universities to inspire others to break down the barriers that threaten to separate us at a time when we should be coming together.

Because Kansas City is part of a highly interconnected world  1 in every 5 jobs in the U.S. is related to the import and export of goods and services  language is a gift that keeps on giving, not just to you, but to the whole community. Please and Thank you in another language may just be the competitive edge you need to seal the deal with an entrepreneur from somewhere else in the world to bring a new company and more jobs to the Kansas City community, such as the Panasonic electric vehicle battery factory under construction in De Soto. Or, if you already have a seat at the table of a company based here  Oracle Cerner, Smithfield Foods or Black & Veatch, for example  Please and Thank you in another language may open a door to help you bring the products and intellectual assets in Kansas City to other cities around the globe.

I hope you enjoy the holiday season, and the many languages you may hear (or sign) around the dinner table. Now please pass the pierogi and kielbasa (potato dumplings and sausage from Poland). Trust me, pierogi and kielbasa taste much better than potato dumplings and sausage.

Michael S. Vitevitch is a professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing: Sciences & Disorders at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is appealing a federal injunction that will block its troopers from using the two step traffic stop tactic that a judge ruled had resulted in the agency violating the constitutional rights of motorists.

The appeal signals the statewide law enforcement agency will resist in court a mandatory overhaul of its practices. U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Vratil ruled this summer that troopers had violated motorists Fourth Amendment rights and in November effectively placed officers and their leaders under long-term judicial supervision.

The two step refers to the practice of troopers at the end of a traffic stop taking a couple steps away from the stopped vehicle before coming back to ask more questions. The maneuver is designed to initiate a voluntary encounter with motorists, potentially leading to them offering incriminating information.

But Vratil found the questioning wasnt truly consensual. Under her injunction, troopers who want to keep questioning motorists after a traffic stop has ended must now, in many instances, tell them the stop has ended and they dont need to answer additional questions.

Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Erik Smith will argue the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizures, does not require officers to inform motorists they are free to leave at the end of a stop for the additional questions to be consensual, according to a court document filed with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Smith will argue Vratil erred in enjoining the Kansas Two-Step, which is not per se unconstitutional, Dwight Carswell, an attorney in the Kansas Attorney Generals Office, wrote in the Dec. 22 document.

The Kansas Attorney Generals Office first filed a notice that Smith will appeal on Dec. 15.

A docketing statement previews the arguments the Kansas Highway Patrol will make in appealing a ruling against its two step traffic stop tactic.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Smith in June to run the Highway Patrol. In a December interview with The Star, Kelly said motorists can have confidence their civil rights will be respected when theyre pulled over. She added that weve taken responsibility for the bad actors.

But Kelly also said the two-step controversy centered on five incidents over five years and that the way the episodes have been reported has given the impression the incidents were more widespread.

So its not an everyday occurrence. And, you know, weve instituted a number of education training, consequences in the Patrol that hopefully there wont even be the five in the next five years again, Kelly said.

Vratil, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush, wrote in her injunction that the Highway Patrol had engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional detentions based on impermissible criteria and insufficient reasonable suspicion, and without knowing, intelligent and voluntary consent  making the court-ordered changes necessary.

The injunction was the result of a long-running legal challenge brought by the ACLU of Kansas on behalf of motorists. A spokesperson for the organization declined to comment, but ACLU of Kansas legal director Sharon Brett has previously said the Highway Patrol is not above the law.
The Court of Appeals for the State of Kansas rejected an appeal by the Kansas Department for Children and Families that would reunite a 3-year old foster child with her foster family over adoptive parents who sought to adopt the child and her four siblings.

The child, identified as X.L. in court documents, lived with the foster family nearly from birth until she was 3 years old. DCF and Cornerstones of Care, a contractor overseeing the childs case, had sought adoptive parents who would adopt X.L. and her siblings while she was in the care of her foster parents, believing it was in the childs best interest to keep the siblings together.

This belief was consistent with Department procedures that generally prioritized placing siblings together when possible, the court said.

The Kansas Supreme Court said it can't review district court rulings in post-determination foster care decisions.

The foster parents claimed DCF hadnt made efforts to find placement for X.L. to a district court and moved to adopt the child, but a district court denied the motion at a hearing in August 2022. After the court denied the foster parents motion to adopt, the foster parents spoke with the media and legislators to find a way to adopt X.L.

DCF Secretary Laura Howard directed the department to place X.L. with the foster family after learning of the case through the media. The parents seeking to adopt challenged Howards decision in district court.

They argued that the Secretary's abrupt decision to permanently place X.L. with her foster parents was inconsistent with various internal procedures and the previous case plan, court documents said. The court found that it was in X.L.'s best interests to be with her siblings, and it concluded that the Secretary acted against those interests by making a unilateral decision under media pressure.

Though the court documents withheld the identities of the involved parties, the facts and timeline align with the case of Nicole and John DeHavens attempted adoption thats been highlighted in the media since the fall 2022.

The appellate courts rejection stemmed from a lack of jurisdiction in matters of appeals in cases of family custody.

Does this court have jurisdiction to review a direct appeal of the district court's post-termination decision? And if so, did the district court have jurisdiction to make that decision? We answer the first question no  we do not have authority to review the district's court ruling  and thus do not reach the second question, the court said.

More: Despite lawsuit settlement, key report says Kansas foster care system lags

The DeHaven case ignited debate in the Kansas Legislature about the preference given toward adoption of siblings. House Bill 2299 sought to amend the preference, but it didnt receive a vote during the last legislative session.

It also spurred backlash to Cornerstones of Care for its handling of the process. Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, called Cornerstones of Care a bad actor in the foster care system and said she would terminate its contract.

The organization was already in hot water after a compliance report found that the contractor accounted for 60% of foster children who, when a suitable foster parent couldnt be found, slept in offices.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Appellate Court says it can't intervene in foster care case
Success is in the effort, J. Cole raps on his Heavens EP" freestyle. Often, we look to celebrate the destination rather than enjoy the journey. The journey is an emotional rollercoaster littered with highs and lows. However, like a rollercoaster, once the ride is over, you want to hop back in line for another ride. The entertainment industry is ever-changing and continuously reinventing itself.

Antoine Hill, better known as DJ Yodo, has continued to grow and change with the industry since his start in the early 2000s. Hill is a product of "Bucktown," or Raeford. One of Hills most important attributes is his humility and sense of humor. His affinity for telling jokes helped him to navigate life. His mother, Pia Allen-McNeill, is from Colon, Panama, a seaport near the Atlantic Ocean entrance of the Panama Canal. Family has always been an integral part of Hills life.

Raeford is family, Hill says.

Antoine Hill of Raeford, better known as DJ Yodo in the Fayetteville area, got his start in the music industry in the early 2000s.

The journey begins

He describes himself as a class clown but recognizes that his knack for jokes kept him safe. At 14, his father relocated to Atlanta and his mother took a job at the Unilever factory. It was at this time that Hill began to explore his creativity through music.

Initially, he began crafting beats at 15 years old with the music production software Fruity Loops. Some of his early influences include the late J.Dilla; RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan; Virginia native Timbaland; and Snoop Doggs producer DJ Battle Cat. DJ Battle Cat is best known for his production on Banging on Wax, a collaboration with Los Angeles-based Bloods and Crips.

Like Battle Cat, Hill understood unity through the power of music. He would freestyle in school with his classmate and brother, Shaun Weigh. Before relocating to Georgia for a brief period, he connected with Mario McCall, better known as 3-D Straw or The Mutate God. Hill admits that he did not take rapping seriously until he received some critical advice from McCall. That advice prompted him to spend his time recording music while he was in Atlanta with his father.

More from Rakeem "Keem" Jones: Fayetteville rapper, E.E. Smith grad wary of typecasting for female hip-hop artists

Upon returning to Raeford, he gave McCall a CD with his newly recorded material. After listening, McCall approved, and the pair forged a bond that has lasted more than 20 years.

In the beginning of his career, Hill rapped under the name Atlas Trill. However, the name did not resonate with him, so he began searching for a new name. He slept on it (literally). The next morning, he woke up with his new rap name, Yodo Dodo Dang.

It was random, Hill says.

As Yodo Dodo Dang, he produced songs like Cramp My Style by Fayetteville native King Thesis. In addition to producing music, Hill dropped an album titled Cartoons and Cereal in 2013.

While rapping, Yodo stood out because of his appearance. He stands over 6 feet tall with glasses and distinct features. However, it was his signature propeller hat that left people scratching their heads. Hill says the hat confused those who may have thought he was a joke. However, on songs like Man Up, Quote Myself, and 3-D Straws Hollup, Hill shows that his skills are no laughing matter.

Antoine Hill of Raeford has a daily show on of WCCG 104.5 FM called 'The Yodo Show.'

Cultivating a following

Even as a rapper, Yodo never forgot his comedic gift. He regularly posted memes and videos of himself roasting public figures and his peers. Those posts helped him to cultivate a following online. That following caught the attention of WCCG 104.5 FMs program director Kalim Hasan. Hasan offered Hill the opportunity to become an on-air personality, which he seized, creating The Yodo Show, a daily radio program that allowed him to combine his love for music with his comedic talent.

In his free time, Hill created Chopped and Screwed mixtapes. The Chopped and Screwed style of mixing was popularized by Robert DJ Screw Davis, a Houston DJ who brought records to an extremely slow pitch (screwed) and repeated significant parts of the song (chopped).

Hill received a DJ controller for his cousin, Wesley, and began creating mixes that he only listened to with headphones. However, there would be times when he did not have a DJ for the 5 oclock mix portion of his show. To fill the void, he began playing prerecorded mixes that he made with no identifying DJ tag.

With a vote of confidence from Hasan, Hill decided to bring his equipment from home and hone his skills live on his show. As his show grew, his profile as a DJ grew. Hill's grand entrance into the DJ realm was ushered in by one of Fayettevilles top DJs, Tommy Gee Mixx, who offered him a gig at House of Sin, a bar formerly located on Yadkin Road. Hill exceeded Tommys expectations and became a regular fixture at the establishment. He would become highly sought after for his ability to connect with crowds.

A family man who gives back

Hill also understands the power of giving back. He can be spotted in Morrays Trenches video DJing a community event at Westover Park. In addition, he works closely with several community organizations to provide services for free.

Hill's resume continues to grow, including mixing live downtown during Cool Spring Downtown Districts Fourth Friday celebrations and shows like Jeezy and Friends at the Crown Coliseum.

However, when he is not behind the turntables, Hill is just being a father to his children or building RC cars, a hobby he picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every week, Hill is booked and busy.

To stay updated with Yodos growth, add him on Facebook (Antoine Hill) or follow him on Instagram @theyodoshow.

Salute to Yodo and every activist getting active. Peace.

Rakeem Keem Jones is a community advocate and father of three from the Shaw Road/Bonnie Doone area of Fayetteville. He can be reached at keemj45@gmail.com.

Rakeem Jones

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: DJ Yodo of Raeford hosts 'The Yodo Show' on Fayetteville's 104.5 FM.
You are here: China

A pharmacist prepares ingredients to produce traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions at Xi'an TCM hospital in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 3, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese authorities have emphasized the importance of epidemic prevention and control during the winter and spring seasons, especially during the New Year and Spring Festival holidays.

All localities and departments should implement all prevention and control measures well and maintain overall stability in the epidemic situation during the coming holidays, according to a recent circular released by China's State Council inter-agency task force for epidemic response.

Epidemic control efforts should be focused on the Spring Festival travel rush and tourist activities, as well as on key populations and institutions, said the document.

It also stressed advancing vaccination for high-risk populations of infectious diseases, including the elderly and those with chronic underlying diseases.
Sorry, not sorry.

A new study has found that Kentuckians apologize an average of four times a day, more than residents of all but five other states.

But the study found they might not really mean it.

Kentuckians ranked 16th from the bottom in the sincerity of their apologies, according to the study which found 73% of all Americans said they had apologized without really meaning it.

The findings were based on a survey of 2,025 Americans ages 18-76, taken from Oct. 5-11. Half were women, 48 percent were men, and 2% were nonbinary.

North Star Inbound conducted the study for Preply.com, a company that matches students with foreign language tutors.

It found that nearly half of Americans  48%  say their apologies are only sometimes or rarely sincere.

It also found:

Residents of Iowa, Ohio and Utah say Im sorry the most times per day while apologies are harder to come by in California, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Interestingly, it found that:

One in three respondents said the hardest person to apologize to is their spouse or partner

More than a quarter say they struggle to apologize

Nearly one in five say theyve lost a relationship because they didnt apologize

38% said an apology is easier to accept if it comes with a gift

Nearly half  46%  said they are still waiting for an apology from someone in their life

The study was not peer-reviewed but its findings mirror academic research.

The National Institutes of Health says a meta-analysis of 175 academic studies found that apologies fall into two categories. One is a sincere apology, made from the heart in recognition of fault, which requires guilt, remorse and acceptance of responsibility.

The other is an instrumental apology made to avoid punishment or rejection by peers.

The survey for Preply.com found that people are most likely to accept an apology that begins with Im truly sorry or I take full responsibility for my mistake rather than one that says, Im sorry but ...

Faux apologies are so common that it gave rise to the phrase "Sorry, Not Sorry, which the Cambridge English Dictionary says is often used ironically to indicate the speaker is not really sorry at all.

It cites the following as an example; When I found out my parents were separating I felt like calling my mother and saying "Sorry, not sorry. You deserved it for treating dad so badly for 28 years."

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentuckians apologize a lot. But do we mean it?
Chicago woman located after going missing over a month ago

CHICAGO - Chicago police say a 24-year-old woman who was reported missing over a month ago has been located.

Kiara Vergan, who goes by KiKi, was last seen on Dec. 2 near the 5500 block of N. Kenmore Ave.

She was reported missing on Dec. 28.

Police announced that she'd been located on Jan. 6. No further information was made available.
Editors Note: This is a version of CNNs Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britains royal family. Sign up here.

The role of any monarchy is to represent continuity. Something both King Charles III and Prince William showed they understood this year. But if you look closely, they have also both spent the past 12 months developing their individual roles.

In reflecting on a jam-packed year for the British royal family, there can only be one stand-out occasion: the coronation. A seismic moment in British history, it formalized Charles transition from prince to sovereign and saw the new King blend modern elements into ancient rites.

While the focus was firmly fixed on the crowning moment and all the accompanying pageantry, Charles updated some of the more antiquated parts of the ritual to better reflect contemporary society. It was no longer an establishment event and efforts were made to illustrate the diversity of faiths in contemporary Britain.

Some of those tweaks came in the form of a more representative congregation, the acknowledgment of multiple religions, original musical compositions and performances and an attempt to give the public a more active role in proceedings through a pledge of allegiance  a move that proved controversial.

In the months since, the Kings focus has been the day-to-day business of monarchy, with his daily red ministerial box from the government and commonwealth realms in addition to all the walkabouts, audiences and receptions. Its here that royal-watchers can find one of the first noticeable shifts between Charles and his late mother.

While Queen Elizabeth II went to great lengths to avoid any semblance of partiality, Charles has often gone in the opposite direction. Hes been unafraid to shy away from big moments, taking meetings that could be seen as controversial.

King Charles during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey. - Aaron Chown/Pool/Reuters

His leadership style has seen him put the environment at the forefront of his engagements, while using other gatherings to highlight the refugee crisis, acknowledge overlooked communities like the Windrush generation, and confront dark chapters in British history, as he did while visiting Kenya.

Early on, he promised to be the defender of all faiths and has followed through by regularly incorporating interreligious events into his busy diary.

The late Queens position on topical issues remained a mystery to most of us throughout her life. Charles has found a way to make his views known, without exceeding the parameters of his new role. He has leaned on his convening power  an attribute for which he has often been praised  but rather than weigh in on matters publicly, his evolved strategy has been to listen.

By doing so, he has been able to maintain his neutrality while also using what he has learned to inform his conversations in the corridors of power. The shift has allowed him to come across as more approachable, and the openness to confronting the sins of the past has been largely greeted as a positive first step.

King Charles attends an interfaith meeting in Mombasa, Kenya. - Luis Tato/Pool/AP

One convention he has carried over from his mother is never to give interviews, which is where Prince William has stepped in. The Prince of Wales has overhauled the Kensington Palace media strategy in a bid to win support for the monarchy from younger, more apathetic generations by offering highly produced, behind-the-scenes videos for social media.

Williams challenge has been to differentiate his tenure as Prince of Wales from that of his father.

He assumed many of the patronages once held by Charles but didnt take over the numerous charities he founded, which have subsequently been renamed for the King. Instead, hes pushing his own projects, like his five-year initiative to tackle homelessness or his ambitious Earthshot eco-prize, to which he has already dedicated years of his life.

Providing a glimpse of his vision for the years ahead while visiting Singapore in November for his green award scheme, William said he wanted to move beyond spotlighting issues as his family have done in the past. His goal is to be more intentional rather than take on hundreds of causes, and to actually bring change and bring people to the table who can do the change if I cant.

Prince William meets members of the public in Bournemouth, England. - Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection/Chris Jackson/Getty Images

And as those in the direct line of succession reinvent themselves, so too do their spouses. Catherine, Princess of Wales is no longer just standing on the sidelines supporting her husband. In the year since the Queens death, she has narrowed her focus and launched her own projects, which she hopes will define her royal service  for instance, her Shaping Us campaign, which calls on the public to invest in the pivotal early developmental years of a childs life.

For Camilla, 2023 has been about her acceptance as Queen. And as we enter 2024, we can expect to see her diary get busier as she reveals her priorities. One small clue to whats in store came recently with the announcement shell be dipping her toe into the world of podcasting when her literary charity, the Queens Reading Room, launches its own series in January.

But the year hasnt been all plain sailing for the Windsor clan.

While Charles has steadied the ship, there have been challenges. The furor around the fractured relationship with the Sussexes has persisted since Prince Harry released his much-discussed memoir, Spare, in January. He returned to the United Kingdom briefly for the coronation and court appearances as he fights several legal battles with the British tabloid press, sparking renewed headlines about familial animosity.

There have since been suggestions of an olive branch, after the prince reportedly phoned Charles for his 75th birthday, but there doesnt appear to have been any movement between the once joined-at-the-hip brothers.

Camilla and Catherine attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London. - Richard Pohle/Pool/Reuters

The speculation and headlines are unlikely to subside in the months ahead after the Duke of Sussex recently secured a significant victory against one UK publisher over historical phone hacking. The win will undoubtedly bolster his wider mission to reform the British tabloid press, but it remains to be seen if his calls for authorities to explore bringing fresh criminal charges will be answered.

The Firm also found themselves dragged back into the royal race row with the release of a provocative new book from Omid Scobie. The Dutch version of Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchys Fight for Survival named two family members who allegedly discussed the skin color of the Sussexes son, Archie, before he was born. It was briefly pulled from shelves but the damage was done.

As is standard practice, the family maintained a dignified silence and opted against official statements; however, a royal source told CNN at the time that the palace was considering all options, hinting at conversations about legal action within the palace walls.

Theyve also had to contend with increasingly vocal anti-monarchy protesters. London police faced a fiery backlash over what many felt was unnecessarily heavy-handed policing of activists during the coronation. Some campaigners even staged a protest within Buckingham Palace in September.

Protesters demonstrate ahead of the State Opening of Parliament opposite the Houses of Parliament in London in November. - Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images

It wasnt uncommon to see a small contingent of republican demonstrators at the late Queens events. However, there has been a noticeable uptick in protesters waving placards and chanting not my King since Charles took the throne.

CNN polling conducted on the eve of the coronation found support for the monarchy has been in long-term decline, suggesting the republican issue was something Charles would have to grapple with as his reign got underway.

One glaring omission from the coronation year has been a visit to a Commonwealth realm. With Charles the head of state in 14 other countries as well as the UK, it has not been lost on many royal experts that he has yet to travel abroad to one.

In recent weeks, speculation has grown in British media that the King and Queen are eyeing a visit to Canada. Theres also talk of a swing through Australia and New Zealand later in the year when the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is held in Samoa.

Charles and Camilla head home after a trip to Paris and Bordeaux. - Chris Jackson/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Trips to realms in recent years have been marred by a growing sense of anger over Britains imperialist legacy, while local republican movements, bolstered by the decision of Barbados two years ago to sever its own ties to the crown, have gathered pace.

The royal family has maintained that the destiny of any realm is that countrys alone and publicly acknowledged the darker periods of shared history. However, contrition will only get the King so far and may not be enough to preserve the bonds in the future.

As the coronation year draws to a close, the working royals have managed to provide continuity and maintained the momentum of the monarchy. Charles has proven to be a safe pair of hands, managing the transition between sovereigns and avoiding any major disasters in the infancy of his reign. But now the honeymoon period is over, old challenges are resurfacing and the question remains: Will he be able to keep growing support among his subjects?

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Moez Nathu used his own experience to target support for refugees and asylum seekers in Peterborough

Two community stalwarts in Peterborough are among those recognised in the King's New Year Honours List.

Moez Nathu has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to refugees and asylum seekers.

Dedicated volunteer John Sharman is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Peterborough.

This year, 105 people in the East of England have received honours for their exceptional contribution to local communities.

Mr Nathu co-founded the Peterborough Asylum and Refugee Community Association (Parca) in 2002 and runs a community centre where disadvantaged and migrant communities can access support.

The father of three said his experiences "derived from the real-life challenges" he found on his own arrival in the UK from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997.

"Through determination and self-motivation, I dedicated myself to learning English while at the same time helping people overcome the day-to-day difficulties they encountered," he said.

Mr Nathu said the BEM was "God's gift" for his 22-year career helping refugees in Peterborough

Mr Nathu said the most important service Parca provided was "hospitality, to break down isolation and loneliness" felt by people settling in Peterborough.

"The local authority says Parca is a champion of integration in Peterborough and that is true - it helps people gain life skills," he said.

The centre now supports people from 63 different global nationalities.

Mr Nathu said he felt "proud and honoured" that his 22 years of hard work had been recognised.

"I take it as God's gift to do this job," he said.

"I am proud of myself and especially of this team, and very humbled."

Botolph Green in Peterborough is now a thriving green space in the city, thanks to the organising efforts of Mr Sharman

In 2005, Mr Sharman, now a 87-year-old great-grandfather, re-established a leaflet campaign to regenerate Botolph Green, a green space in the city that he said had been "gently deteriorating".

"It was once part of an old farm and needed some sort of protection," he said.

"It didn't have any funding or staff to do anything so we gathered a large number of volunteers to do an awful lot of work in a short period of time."

Botolph Green is now a thriving community space, with play areas, wildflower planting, a newly-restored pond and a bandstand. Since 2007, it has played host to the annual Botolph Green Day Festival.

The event continues today and remains the key funding source for the upkeep of the green.

Mr Sharman said he was "amazed, delighted and surprised" to learn he would receive the award.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830
From the G-File on The Dispatch

Dear Reader (may your holiday weekend be free of fornicating squirrels),

Let me offer an early Happy New Year!

Now with that out of the way, let me forthrightly declare that New Years is the worst holidayand its not even close. Say what you will about the most familiar holidays imposed on us by Big Greeting Card, they actually celebrate things worth celebrating. Fathers! Mothers! America! The Star Wars franchise (okay, thats a close call given Jar Jar Binks and Ahsoka)!

What is New Years celebrating? The turning of a page on a calendar. We made it another year! Of course, thats true every day if you start the countdown 365 days ago. Well, that would be arbitrary, you champions of annualized crapulent bacchanalia might say. Look, Im all in favor of looking for reasons to have a drink. But lets be honest, its a new year everyday just as much as it is always 5 oclock somewhere.

Let me just ask you, strawmen I just invented, what the hell do you think the current date is? I dont mean to sound like Neil deGrasse Tyson, but its not like the Bureau of Weights, Measures, and Machines that Authoritatively Ping (they updated their name in 2017) declared that January 1 is the Go square on the celestial Monopoly board. Seriously, New Years Eve might qualify as the first pseudoevent.

The earliest record of a New Year celebration is from 2000 B.C. in Babylonia, and they celebrated that on the vernal equinox, which back then was on my birthday, March 21 (Marchand my birthdaymight not have existed yet, but the equinox certainly did). The Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians celebrated on that lesser equinox in the fall. And the Greeks smashed plates and did shots of grappa on the winter solstice. The Romans imposed this January 1 thing at the point of a sword. Look at all of you quislings, bending the knee to Roman settler colonialism!

No other holiday combines the three things I hate most: existentialism, getting bumped in packed bars, spilled beer on my shoes, social pressure for date nights, TV specials with the worst people pretending to have a great time, staying up later than I want, waiting in a line to pee, watching performers Ive never heard of lip sync songs I dont like, glitter, trying to get reservations at places I dont want to go to in the first place, forced enthusiasm by very large crowds, and celebrating accomplishments that require no effort.

Did I say three? Whatever. Lets take the first and the last two. While Im ideologically and philosophically a modernisti.e., I like science, markets, democracy, reason, inalienable rights, the rule of law, and (if we ever sell The Dispatch for enough money I can afford one) state-of-the-art Japanese toiletsIm temperamentally and aesthetically a Tolkienist or Chestertonian. I like coziness (Gemutlich), myth, romance, tradition, curses, legends, superstitions, ontological contradictions, forgotten books, richly adorned serif fonts, ancient trees, mysterious scrolls, enchantment, Old Things and other Capitalized Concepts, quirkiness, custom, Cathedrals, unexplainable jokes, cobblestone paths covered with moss, old houses the neighborhood kids are afraid of, and fences no one knows the origins of. I tend to dislike right angles, brutalist and other forms of modern art and architecture, sterility (outside of hospitals, kitchens, and bathrooms), super-efficient sources of heat, eating solely for nutrition, planned communities, and politics as the crow flies.

I think it was perfectly fitting that Evil incarnate in Time Bandits mocked the Supreme Being for the universe he created: If I were creating the world I wouldnt mess about with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers, eight oclock, Day 1!

Now, again, I dont want to go back to medieval times (no matter how plentiful the Pepsi was). I like modern dentistry, air conditioning, and antibiotics too much. But Max Weber had a point when he said, The fate of our times is characterized by intellectualization and rationalization and, above all, by the disenchantment of the world.

The calendar was one of the first great tools of disenchantment. It is a scientific artifact. It helped demystify one of the fundaments of Nature: time itself.

Before the calendar, the passage of time was a profoundly mysterious thing. We may have had a good guess about when the next season was due or how old Uncle Grok was, but it wasnt anything like an exact science. The calendar imposes rationality and, hence, predictability on the fourth dimension. Im glad we have calendars, but I dont worship them. Making the mere passage of time into a celebration is coldly sterile and arbitrarily manufactured to me. You might say, What about birthdays? Well, yes, they celebrate the passage of time, but the object of the celebration isnt a unit of measurementits a real human being. New Years clears the field of any meaningful object of affection other than ourselves, and treats sticking around on this planet as an accomplishment all on its own.

Not only is it our most existential holiday, its like we crammed it in the middle of real holidays out of some misbegotten desire to give the existentialists their own reason to party. Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, celebrates gratitude and all of the comforts of the Hobbit hole. Christmas celebrates a birthday, butnot to get overly theologicala pretty darn special birthday. Easter celebrates a re-birthday of sorts.

I dont really hate existentialism, because there are important insights to be found in contemplating the possibility that the universe doesnt give a rats ass about us. William F. Buckley used to say, The problem with socialism is socialism. The problem with capitalism is capitalists. Thats how I feel about existentialism. I dont mind the philosophy, my disagreements notwithstanding, I just dont like the existentialists very much. Thats because the most forceful proponents of existentialism in everyday life fall into a category best summarized as dicks.

Their dickishness derives from their tendency, like all those proverbial vegans and atheists, to constantly point out that other peoples sources of meaning are in fact meaningless. They take their own rejection of custom, reverence, tradition, and loyalty as an excuse to call you an idiot. Like Will Hunting explaining that meeting for coffee is just as arbitrary as meeting for caramel-eating, they use their arrogant alienation as a way to belittle other peoples commitments. They put the obnoxious LOL in LOL, nothing matters.

What the existentialists miss is that meaning comes from the things we do together, the commitments we inherit from the past, the causes we care about for the future, and the ideals that come from outside ourselves. I firmly believe the right to pursue happiness is an individual right, but the sources of happiness are mostly found in devotion to others.

In other words, the problem of existentialism is the hyper-individualistic self-absorption. Whether its Nietzsche or Camus or the Joker, the emphasis is always on personal authenticity and individual will. It wasnt enough for Nietzsche to reject God, he had to hector everyone else about it, too. Life has no meaning a priori, according to Jean-Paul Sartre. It is up to you to give it a meaning, and value is nothing but the meaning that you choose. Camus says the literal meaning of life is whatever youre doing that prevents you from killing yourself. But Woody Allen said it best: I took a test in Existentialism. I left all the answers blank and got 100.

Which brings me to the celebration-on-the-cheap of it all. Im no fan of Valentines Day, another day of forced enthusiasm and date-panic. But at least it puts the emphasis on precious human interactionsand wildly expensive prix-fixe menus. New Years keeps all the worst elements of Valentines Day while stripping it of sentiment, affection, and commitment.

Its a little like my gripe about generational obsessions with demographic cohorts and youth politics. Young people who take undue pride in being born later than the rest of us are shouting to the world theyve got nothing else going for them to be proud of. I mean, they literally had no say in when they were born. The existentialist underpinnings of New Years turn survival into the equivalent of successfully scratching 365 hashmarks on the walls of the prison cell that is existence. Dont get me wrong, when Alexander Solzhenitsyn literally did that in the gulag, he had every reason to celebrate with an extra crust of moldy bread, provided by a regime that carried the precepts of existentialism to one of its most notorious conclusions. After all, Soviet communism would have been impossible without a rejection of all those capitalized concepts that militate against the unrestrained imposition of will.

Finally, theres the crowds. I fully confess that this is informed by personal grievanceas opposed to the utterly reasonable and dispassionate analysis above. As longtime readers may recall, I dislike crowds, especially passionate crowds. One could even say I suffer from enochlophobia. I wont rehash the dangers of false transcendence that come with crowds. Ill just say that I find the very natural human tendency to find meaning and exhilaration by being part of a really big group off-puttingly atavistic. Its probably my most remnant-y sentiment.

Im a New Yorker by birth and affinity. As such, I take a certain amount of pride in my hatred of the New Years party in Times Square, where thousands of people cram the streets like so many wayward Hebrews awaiting the unveiling of the Golden Calf, or in this case, a sparkly ball that descends maybe 20 or 30 feet at midnight. (At least the mobs in Pamplona risk getting gored by an actual not-so-golden bovine.) The lameness of the ball drop spectacle alone elicits a certain unjustified rage in me. In fairness, there are self-described New Yorkers who attend this most pedestrian of bacchanals: We Manhattanites call them New Jerseyans, though Im sure some of them comevia fittingly subterranean bridges and tunnelsfrom the wilder territories of the outer-boroughs.

I attended just one such celebration. Of course, there was a girl involved. She was from Westchester, of course. A lovely and brilliant womanmy first serious girlfriendshe nonetheless thought it would be fun if I joined her and her suburban friends in Time Square. And I caved to the pressure. She was wrong. It was colder than the meaningless universe the existentialists fetishize. I was bumped by people demonically possessed by the St. Vitus Dance of manufactured excitement. I waited on lines (New Yorkers say on line not in line) to be overcharged for beers at bars exceeding the occupancy dictated by the fire marshal, and I waited on lines to return the beers after internal processing. I held handbags for girlsthe international symbol for men broken of all masculine pride, a sort of code for a failed balls-drop as it wereas they waited on even longer bathroom lines. We had arguments about whether we should go somewhere else. We jumped in place and stamped our feet to chase off the cold in our extremities, made all the more difficult by the spilled beer on our shoes.

And then the ball dropped.

While the people around me cheered because that was the fashionable thing to do, it took no effort for me to contain my excitement. But all that did for me is elicit an arrogant rage at the meaningless of the entire exercise. Thats it? Is that all there is? Why did we bother?

Perhaps this is my real reason for hating New Years. It summoned within me the very demon of existentialist dread the crowd was celebrating evading for one more year, like so many Pamplona survivors. My girlfriend went back to Westchester that night, and while I no longer held her purse, I still felt like I was holding the bag, bitterly chuckling the equivalent of LOL, nothing matters.

Ever since, my idea of the perfect New Years eve is a nice meal at home, with my lovely wife, our dependable enochlophobic beasts, in our own Hobbit hole, enjoying the fact were nowhere near the maddening crowds, and without the slightest concern that, having gone to bed at a reasonable hour, in the morning well be lamenting we missed anything important at all. Happiness doesnt just start at home, it lives there.

Various & Sundry

Canine update: While 2023 wasnt Zoes favorite year given the loss of most of her teeth, shes clearly much happier now than she was prior to the extraction. Indeed, shes mellowed in almost every way. Shes been tolerating Pippas spanielness with more equanimity and even let Pippa get a wayward piece of floor meat intended for Zoe. I say almost because theres no sign of thawing in her Cold War with Gracie. Every evening is a contest of territorial incursions, with each of them trying to seize the spot next to me, making me a kind of armchair Metternich desperately trying to adjudicate their endless irredentist ambitions. Gracie really is quite brilliant at trolling Zoe, taunting her into abandoning her belly-rub redoubt by approaching Zoes food bowl, even though Gracieobligate carnivore that she ishas never evinced the slighted desire to eat canine kibble. Once lured out of her spot, Zoe returns from her food station only to see that the feline has doubled back to my chair. Zoe then jumps up on the ottoman and towers over Gracie glaring at her in the hope that the damned cat will vacate the spot. The only punctuation in this run-on sentence of tit-for-tat is when Pippa seizes the opportunity to take the spot for herself. I would film this cycle more, but I am often put in the position of having to use both hands to placate two or more animals. Other than that, the girls have been very happy to have the full pack at home (not counting bath time). Lucy can get exasperated with the dogs, but they appreciate that she will often distract Gracie with endless affection. Pippa has been doing valuable work, chasing balls and holding up walls. And I have largely surrendered to her morning bouts of extortion.

ICYMI

Last Fridays meritocratic G-File

Last weekends festive Ruminant

How I learned to stop worrying and (sort of) love horseshoe theory

The Remnant with Michael Strain on all things economic

On the left and rights asymmetric nuttiness

The Remnant with Paul Bloom, beloved psychologist and Al Gore body double

And now, the weird stuff

Running on empty

Malpractice

Sweet little lies

License to thrill

Beyond the bubbly

Nomophobia

Yule cat blues

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
Covid hasnt impacted the US as severely as it did in the 2022 winter season, but public health officials are warning Americans to still get vaccinated, as new variants spread and some hospital systems have chosen to return to mask mandates.

Coronavirus cases typically increase during the winter, as more people are inside and travel increases for the holidays.

Cases are once again on the rise  with deaths up 10 per cent and test positivity at 12.7 per cent as of late December, per the CDC  but the 2022 winter of the tripledemic and the Omicron variant was worse.

Its not seeming to be more severe than what we were seeing last year at this time, which is good news," CDC director Mandy Cohen told NBC News.

"Thats exactly why we want folks to get the updated Covid vaccine, because it does map to the changes that were seeing in the virus," she added.

Covid hospitalisations remain drastically lower than the January 2022 peak of the Omicron wave, and about half as high as last winter when a triple wave of Covid, RSV, and the flu hit at the same time, according to a The New York Times analysis.

Nonetheless, Covid remains the primary cause of new hospitalisations for respiratory illness across the US, and is killing about 1,000 people a week.

Its continuing to go up, but its not as dramatic as, certainly, even two winters ago or even last winter, yet. So time will tell if the numbers that we see continue to go up, Dr Nancy Gin, regional medical director of quality and clinical analysis for Kaiser Permanente Southern California told The Los Angeles Times. Its not causing intensive care units to be full of COVID-related illness, which is good.

Despite the guarded optimism overall, officials are still monitoring the ascendant JN.1 variant, now the most dominant strain in the US, which leapt from causing 7 per cent of Covid cases in November to nearly 45 per cent as of mid-December.

The WHO has declared JN.1 a variant of interest.

JN.1s continued growth suggests that the variant is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems than other circulating variants, according to a December CDC update. It is too early to know whether or to what extent JN.1 will cause an increase in infections or hospitalizations.

Its important to know that existing vaccines, tests, and treatments still work well against JN.1, so this variant does not affect CDCs recommendations, the agency added.

Hospital systems in Massachusetts, Washington, and Wisconsin have all returned to masking rules as Covid and other respiratory diseases continue to spread.

The persistence of Covid and its many variants underscores the continued need for vaccination and vigilance, according to experts

I would say the most important thing for people to know is that the virus is out there, as are respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] and the flu, DR Heidi Zapata, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist, said in an interview about JN.1 earlier this month. Any new subvariant is a sign that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still evolving; its still here with us, and we cant ignore it.
By Guy Faulconbridge and Dmitry Antonov

MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin on Friday warned the West that it had a list of U.S., European and other assets that would be seized if G7 leaders decided to go ahead and confiscate $300 billion in frozen Russian central bank reserves.

Leaders of the Group of Seven major industralised nations will discuss a new legal theory that would enable the seizure of frozen Russian assets when they meet in February, two sources familiar with the plans and a British official said on Thursday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any such move by the West would amount to "theft", violate international law and undermine reserve currencies, the global financial system and the world economy.

"It will be a significant blow to the main parameters of the international economy, it will undermine the international economy," Peskov told reporters.

"It will undermine the confidence of other countries in the United States as well as in the EU as economic guarantors. Therefore, such actions are fraught with very, very serious consequences."

When asked if there was a specific list of Western assets that Russia could seize in retaliation, Peskov said: "Yes. There is."

He declined to say which specific assets were on the list.

After President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, the United States and its allies prohibited transactions with Russia's central bank and finance ministry, blocking around $300 billion of sovereign Russian assets in the West.

U.S. and UK officials have worked in recent months to jumpstart efforts to confiscate Russian assets immobilised in Belgium and other European cities, and hope G7 leaders agree to issue a stronger statement when they meet in late February, around the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, three sources told Reuters.

CONFISCATION?

The legality of confiscating Russian sovereign assets is not clear cut - and Russia has repeatedly said it would contest any seizures in the courts.

Supporters of seizing Russian assets say that the war in Ukraine is an illegal war and that the frozen Russian money should be given to Ukraine either for reconstruction or even to fight Russian forces.

Russian officials, though, say that the West has fought several wars of doubtful legality including the 2003-2011 U.S.-led war in Iraq - and some lawyers have questioned if confiscation is even legal in international law.

No decisions had been made, and several countries - including the United States and Britain - would require legislative changes to establish the needed authorities to carry out such seizures, sources told Reuters.

Russia has reduced holdings of U.S. Treasuries since 2014 and some in the United States have warned that confiscating Russian assets could prompt other major powers - including China - to shun U.S. and European currencies and government bonds.

Though the Russian central bank has not detailed exactly which assets have been frozen, most of the bonds and deposits are denominated in euros as well as some in U.S. dollars and British pounds, according to publicly available data detailing holdings at the start of 2022.

Some Russian officials have suggested that if Russian assets are confiscated then foreign investors' assets stuck in special so-called type "C" accounts in Russia could face the same fate. Some foreign assets were effectively locked in the C accounts.

It is not clear exactly how much money is in these accounts but Russian officials have said it is comparable to the $300 billion of frozen Russian reserves.

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said last week that there were significant funds in the C accounts. Russia's central bank declined to comment.

(Reporting by ReutersWriting by Guy FaulconbridgeEditing by Gareth Jones and Nick Macfie)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  KXAN covers news in an in-depth and investigative manner, and while most of our updates are shared on our website, we also share things on social media.

Instagram is a place for us to share small snippets of the stories we cover, and we also use the platform to take the opportunity to interact a little more with our viewers.

To receive news updates on social media, follow KXAN on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Weve compiled our top 10 most interacted with Instagram posts of 2023. (Data was tracked from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 6, 2023).

A wildfire in the Ruby Ranch subdivision in west Buda burned more than 50 acres in July. Video footage shows grass and brush burning, and plumes of smoke rising into the air.

Wildfires are common in the summertime in Central Texas. Read about this fire here.

In April, a Kyle resident got a video of a bobcat wandering around the Plum Creek area while she was out for a walk with her dog. In the video, the chihuahua can be heard growling at the bobcat.

Texas Parks and Wildlife told KXAN that its perfectly normal for bobcats to be in urban areas, and to be active during both the day and night.

From the winter storm to robot shoes: KXANs most-viewed YouTube videos of 2023

Read the story here.

During LGBTQ+ Pride Month, celebrated through June, a Round Rock couples doorbell camera captured someone removing Pride signs and decorations from the front of their home.

One of the signs read Round Rock Pride, and the other said, Pride Lives Here.

Read more from the couple here.

A viewer sent us some videos she captured of foxes out and about on the St. Edwards University campus in July.

Learn more about foxes in Central Texas here.

One of the many issues caused by the late January/early February winter storm was the effect on Austins power lines. Thousands of people were without power for days in the aftermath of the storm.

A viewer took a video of power lines in northwest Austin sparking and catching fire in the midst of those wintery conditions.

Read the details of the mass power outages here.

No. 5: Bobcat explores homes deck in northwest Austin

A northwest Austin resident spotted a bobcat hanging out on their deck and sent us the video.

Read more about bobcats at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments website.

Large, dangerous hail fell in parts of Central Texas on a Sunday night in September as severe storms moved through the area. Several viewers sent in photos and videos of the storms and damage caused in their wake.

The hail storms ended up causing about $600 million in damage to the Austin area, according to the National Weather Service.

Read more about the storm and see photos of the damage here.

In August, a car crashed into a utility pole at the intersection of U.S. Highway 183 and Crystal Falls Parkway in Leander, causing a power outage in the area. A drivers dash camera captured the crash on video.

Leander Police said there were no fatalities or major injuries associated with the crash. Read the story here.

A doorbell camera captured incredible footage of a dust devil spinning up in front of a Georgetown home in July.

Dust devils happen when intense surface heat causes a column of rising air, which then starts spinning due to the rotation of the earth.

Read more on this story here.

March 21 marked the one-year anniversary of KXANs weather cameras capturing a tornado moving over Interstate 35 in Round Rock in real-time.

That day, six separate tornadoes moved through Central Texas causing severe damage and injuries.

Read the story here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Consequences of the Russian attack on Kyiv on 29 December

A massive Russian missile strike in Kyiv killed two people and injured 18 others, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported on Dec. 29.

The Russian military used Shahed drones, X-22/X-32 cruise missiles from Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, ballistic missiles, S-300, X-101/X555 cruise missiles from Tu-95 MS strategic bombers, and X-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles from Mig-31K in one of its biggest attacks on Ukraine to date.

An air raid alert was declared in Kyiv three times, lasting almost five hours in total.

Over 30 air targets were struck by air defense forces over the Ukrainian capital.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the building of the Lukyanivska metro station in central Kyiv was damaged, but the station itself was fully operational.

Kyiv authorities recalled that exactly one year ago, on Dec. 29, 2022, Russia launched one of the most massive combined air strikes against Ukraine. At that time, 16 out of 16 missiles were shot down over the capital.

Earlier, there were reports of damage to a residential building and fires in garages, a business center, warehouses, and non-residential buildings in the Shevchenkivskyi district of the capital. Six people were reported injured.

In addition, there are reports of many injured in the Podilskyi district of the city. One person was reported injured in the Svyatoshynskyi district.

Russia has been massively attacking Ukraine with kamikaze drones since the evening of Dec. 28, and with missiles since the early hours of Dec. 29. Numerous strikes were directed at Kharkiv. There was a hit in Lviv, where a fire broke out at a critical infrastructure facility; and there were reports of a hit in the city of Konotop. Explosions were heard in many cities across Ukraine.

A residential building in Lviv was reportedly hit, killing one person, and injuring eight others. There were also casualties in Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The building of Kyivs Lukianivska metro station was damaged during Russia's largest coordinated missile and drone attack on Ukraine since the war began, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The station was being used as a shelter at the time. The station remained operational throughout the attack.

Multiple fires broke out in various districts of Kyiv, with residential buildings damaged and casualties reported during Russia's massive attack on Ukraine, Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) reported on Telegram.

At least seven people were killed in Kyiv during the attack, with 29 others injured. Bodies are still be recovered from the rubble of a destroyed warehouse.

The death toll in the still ongoing series of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine is now at 26, with at least 132 others injured.



Read also: Russian overnight attack: Weve never seen so many targets on our monitor at the same time

Explosions and numerous damages to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure have been reported in several major cities, including Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhya Dnipro,Cherkasy, Sumy, and Kyiv.

Ukraine intercepted 114 of the 158 drones and missiles Russia launched at Ukraine overnight on Dec. 28-29 in Russias biggest attack on Ukraine of the war, said Ukraines Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

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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.
The road has been closed since Wednesday

The A18 Mountain Road will stay closed until Tuesday following a landslip, the Department of Infrastructure has confirmed.

Caused by heavy rainfall, a stretch of road between Ramsey Hairpin and Waterworks corner has been affected.

A spokeswoman said the "exact size" was not known and warned of a "high risk of further landslips".

Engineers were set to assess the area earlier and work was "under way to try and stabilise the area", she said.

"Public safety is our priority, and we appreciate everyone's patience at this time," she added.

Earlier in the year, a landslide in a similar area of the northern section of the Isle of Man TT course delayed the reopening of the route following maintenance works.

The road, which is the main route between the north and the island's capital, has been closed since Wednesday.

The road will reopen on Tuesday at the earliest

Meanwhile, an amber weather warning has been issued on the Isle of Man on Saturday from 07:00 GMT to 14:00, with warnings for standing water on roads and coastal overtopping at high tide.

Forecasters said heavy rain through the morning could lead to a moderate risk of localised flooding.

Ronaldsway Met Office also said strong to gale force south or southeast winds would mean large waves would break over exposed coastal locations either side of high tide just after 13:15, leaving debris in coastal areas.

Places most at risk include Laxey, Castletown and Ramsey promenades and areas of Douglas Promenade, including an area with temporary parking in the capital.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk
A large-scale air-raid warning has been issued in a number of Ukraine's oblasts.

Source: air alert map; Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram

Quote: "Missile threat in areas where air-raid warning has been issued!

There is a threat of cruise missile launches from Tu-22M3 aircraft!

Do not ignore air-raid warnings!"

Details: At 14:50, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian missiles were heading towards Ukraine's Sumy Oblast from Russia's Kursk Oblast. They said two minutes later that the missiles had changed course and were heading for Cherkasy Oblast.

At 15:30 (Kyiv time), the Air Force reported that a missile was flying towards Kremenchuk. At 15:31 (Kyiv time), they urged Cherkasy residents to find shelter.

Updated: At 15:50, the Air Force gave the all-clear for all oblasts except Donetsk.

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The Russians used 158 means of air attack during a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine, including missiles of various types and attack UAVs, with 27 Shahed drones and 87 cruise missiles downed.

Source: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "Preliminary reports indicate that last night the enemy used 158 means of air attack against Ukraine: missiles of various types and attack UAVs.

The assets and personnel of the Air Force, in cooperation with units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, destroyed 27 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs and 87 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles."

Details: Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Ukraine's Air Force Commander, reported that it was the most massive attack from the air ever.

Quote from Oleshchuk: "The largest air attack ever has occurred. On 29 December, 114 out of 158 aerial targets were downed. Thanks to everyone for their combat efforts! Many lives have been saved! We will retaliate! We will prevail!"

Zaluzhnyi said that the Russians had attacked critical infrastructure and industrial and military facilities. There are killed and injured people as a result of an attack.

Zaluzhnyi reported that the Russians attacked in their usual way, using Shahed drones from the north and south-east, followed by a move to the west. A total of 36 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs were observed.

At around 03:00, the Russians launched strategic aircraft  Tu-95MS bombers. A total of 18 planes took off at around 06:00. They launched at least 90 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 air-launched cruise missiles.

The Russians used Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from Kursk Oblast at around 05:00, with these bombers firing 8 Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles towards the northern and central oblasts.

At the same time, the Russians hit Kharkiv with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. In total, the Russians launched at least 14 ballistic missiles  S-300/S-400/Iskander-M from occupied Crimea, as well as the Kursk and Belgorod oblasts of the Russian Federation.

At 06:30, five MiG-31K fighter jets launched five Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from Astrakhan Oblast.

In addition, the Russians launched 4 Kh-31P anti-radar missiles and one Kh-59 from Su-35 tactical aircraft.

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ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY)  Young drivers in North Carolina are rushing to the DMV this week because of a new law passed earlier this year that goes into effect Jan. 1.

The law states that teens have to wait nine months after getting their learners permit before applying for their limited provisional license.

16-year-old Michaelyn Tory was heading into the Elizabeth City DMV Thursday afternoon to take her test. As the law stands before the Jan. 1 change, drivers only have to wait six months. As a result, DMV waiting rooms are packed as time is running out ahead of the deadline.

Three hours weve been waiting, Michaelyns mother, Anela Tory, said.  there are still 12 people ahead of me, and when we started there was 19.

To qualify, individuals must be at least 16, logged 60 hours of drive time, be insured and pass a road test. The limited provisional license allows teens to drive unsupervised between 5-9 p.m., and when driving with several passengers, only one can be under 21 years of age.

Anela said she wishes the state would make the six month time limit permanent.

They get their license at 16 or 17, Anela said. If were waiting nine months, they could be 18 and going off to college and not having a license.

You can check out all the requirements for a license in North Carolina by clicking here. And for Virginia license requirements, click here.

Click here to read North Carolinas Limited Provisional License Modification Bill that was passed into law May 8.

Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  2023 may be ending, but the crush of migrants on the southern border will continue into the new year with no solutions in sight.

House Republicans are planning a trip to the border next week and in Washington, senators will continue negotiations on border policies.



House Republicans are attacking President Joe Biden for his immigration policies as Washington looks for a way to stem the tide of migrants entering the U.S.



Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales is urging the administration to take executive action at the border now.



The folks that are coming over illegally are being rewarded, he said.



Next week, Speaker Mike Johnson will lead House republicans on a trip to the border to to put public pressure on Democrats like Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar.



Am I a little frustrated with the White House? Of course I am, he said.



Cuellar says the White House isnt doing enough to deter migrants from staying in the U.S. illegally. He also says, If we dont detain people at the border, give them a quick hearing, and then deport people, then that magnet will continue to go on.



Back in Washington, Oklahoma Republican James Lankford and Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy are leading Senate negotiations to write an immigration bill that both parties can support.



New York City Mayor Eric Adams is demanding Congress quit talking and get moving.



We need a real package for the southern border and those cities being impacted, he said.



Mexicos President Andres Lopez Obrador says this is an issue both the U.S. and Mexico will handle but there is no easy solution.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the New Year gathering organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday addressed a gathering organized by the country's top political advisory body to ring in the year of 2024.



Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), delivered an important speech at the gathering of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.

Other Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the gathering.

They were joined by leading officials of the central committees of non-CPC parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of personages without party affiliation, leading officials of central Party and government departments, and representatives from various ethnic groups and sectors of society in Beijing.

Advancing the great cause of building China into a stronger country and rejuvenating the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization is the central task of the Party and the country on the new journey in the new era, Xi stressed.

Xi called for consolidating and developing the broadest patriotic united front, stressing the need to pool strength through unity, forge great achievements through hard work, and jointly write a magnificent chapter on Chinese modernization.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the CMC, Xi extended New Year greetings to non-CPC parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, personages without party affiliation, Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and the friends from around the world who support the development of China's modernization.

The year 2023 marks the first year of the full implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, Xi noted.

Over the past year, we have remained committed to the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, transitioned COVID-19 management to that of a class-B infectious disease, resolutely overcame internal and external difficulties, pushed for economic recovery, and fulfilled the main objectives for economic and social development, said Xi.

We have created new opportunities and won the strategic initiative while overcoming crises, fighting difficulties and responding to changes, which has greatly enhanced our confidence and strength, he said.

Xi pointed out that 2023 saw the CPPCC conscientiously implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and make new contributions to advancing the cause of the Party and the country.

Over the past year, the CPPCC played its due role as a specialized consultative body and carried out in-depth research, consultation and deliberation, and oversight with a focus on the central task, Xi said.

Xi emphasized that the year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and is a crucial year in fulfilling the goals and tasks in the 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development.

He urged efforts to consolidate and enhance the momentum of economic recovery and growth, improve people's well-being, maintain social stability, and make solid and steady progress in advancing the Chinese modernization.

Xi noted that 2024 also marks the CPPCC's 75th anniversary. He called on the advisory body to carry forward its fine traditions, be active in offering suggestions and building consensus, and improve itself so as to open up new horizons for CPPCC work in the new era.

The gathering was presided over by Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Addressing the gathering, Wang stressed that efforts should be made to study and grasp the guiding principles of Xi's speech. He called on members of the CPPCC National Committee to pool their wisdom and strength in deepening reform, advancing development, and facilitating progress in people's well-being.

Wang also called on them to remain confident, break new ground and forge ahead, make new contributions to the cause of the Party and the country, and strive for the advancement of Chinese modernization.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said that while she voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial, he should be allowed to remain on Maine's primary ballot. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle slammed Maine's decision to disqualify Donald Trump from the state's 2024 primary ballot due to his alleged role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Thursday's decision by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to remove Trump's name from the ballot sent ripples across Washington, while throwing another curve ball at the former president with the first primary in Iowa nearly two weeks away.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial, wrote on X that the decision by Bellows to omit Trump from the state ballot should be reversed.

"Maine voters should decide who wins the election -- not a secretary of state chosen by the Legislature," Collins wrote, echoing other Republicans. "The secretary of state's decision would deny thousands of Mainers the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, and it should be overturned."

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, who voted to impeach Trump over the 2021 uprising, issued a statement Thursday night, urging state officials to allow the legal process to play out before taking action to officially remove Trump.

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said he was not surprised by Maine's secretary of state's decision to bar Donald Trump from its primary ballot adding he expected other states to do the same. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 insurrection," Golden wrote. "I do not believe he should be re-elected as president of the United States. However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot."

Bellows cited the so-called "insurrection clause" in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump from seeking the Republican nomination in Maine less than two weeks after Colorado became the first state to declare Trump ineligible as he seeks a second term.

Thursday's decision by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to boot presidential candidate Donald Trump from the ballot sent ripples across Washington, while throwing another curve ball him with the first primary ballot in Iowa nearly two weeks away. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI

The same day, Bellows' office said her decision would not be enforced until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the actions by Colorado's high court and Maine's secretary of state.

So far, most courts have sided with Trump as Michigan, Arizona and Minnesota all ruled against petitions to disqualify the former president.

Fellow Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said that removing Donald Trump from Maine's primary ballot Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

Following Maine's decision, House Oversight Committee chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said he was "not surprised" by the move, adding that he expected other Democrat-led states to "pull stunts like this" in the weeks ahead.

"I fear we're going to see this happen in more states," Comer told Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz.

During the program, Comer claimed that over the Christmas holiday he spoke with several constituents in his district who blamed Democrats for Trump's current predicament.

"They think it's absurd what the Democrats are trying to do in blue states in banning President Trump from the ballot," Comer said. "I mean, this is clearly election interference," he added.

"So I think that the Democrats are trying to do everything they can, in a last-ditch effort to disrupt the Republican momentum right now heading into the presidential election. I think this is another example of that."

Maine's decision also reverberated on the campaign trail, with Republican candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking with Chaffetz about the issue from Iowa, saying the ballot quagmire in two states opens "Pandora's box."

"Well, the idea that one bureaucrat in an executive position can simply unilaterally disqualify someone from office, that turns on its head every notion of constitutional due process that this country's always abided by for over 200 years," DeSantis said before suggesting a similar scenario for President Joe Biden.

"Can you have a Republican Secretary of State disqualify Biden from the ballot? Because he's let in 8 million people, illegally -- a massive invasion, including from enemies of our country, places like Iran, China, Middle East have poured in with his knowledge and ascent basically. So it really opens up Pandora's box."
A federal lawsuit is challenging the validity of Gadsden County's board of county commissioners and school board districts.

The political map of Gadsden County may about to be redrawn.

The county commission has scheduled a workshop for Jan. 8 to ensure that the authority to set the boundaries for commission and school board seats remains in Quincy, the county seat.

An intergovernmental meeting of commissioners, school board members and the public was recommended Dec. 19 by the county administrator, with a federal lawsuit coming a week later by the Gadsden County Republican Executive Committee and William B. Durham of Havana.

The plaintiffs seek to have the county redistrict the commission lines and school board districts or have the court draw a new map. They also seek costs and expenses, including attorney fees.

More than 100 people gathered in downtown Quincy, Florida for the unveiling of the newly restored Coca-Cola mural located on the side of Padgett's Jewelers on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.

The suit, filed in Tallahassee, challenges the validity of the current county commission and school district maps that were drawn in 2003. Edward Dixon, the county administrator, had advised the board that there have been population changes since then that resulted in districts falling out of compliance with legal standards.

To mitigate the risk of potential litigation and ensure that we retain control over the redistricting process, it is imperative that we act swiftly, Dixon wrote in a memorandum to the board.

The legal standard to which Dixon refers is the one-person, one-vote rule that courts have read into the U.S. Constitution, according to the Gadsden REC and Durham.

In a brief filed Dec. 22 by their Tallahassee-based attorneys with the Shutts & Bowen law firm, they argued the 20-year-old maps do not take into account the population changes reflected in the 2010 and 2020 censuses.

Gadsden County divided into five single-member districts

The countys roughly 43,000 residents are divided across five single-member districts. An equitable distribution of the population would be about 8,700, according to the complaint.

Durham lives in District 1, where there are 11,576 people, a deviation of 32% from the ideal, while districts 2 and 5 both have 7,000 residents  and presumably fewer voters.

The 2003 Plan unlawfully dilutes the voting strength and political influence of those living in District 1 and inflates the voting strength and political influence of those living in all the other district in the county, the attorneys told Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in their filing.

Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle of Tallahassee.

A Gadsden County spokesperson declined comment on the suit, saying the commissioners would be reviewing the complaint.

What happens next

Hinkle will hold a hearing Jan. 4 to set a case scheduling order.

The hearing will be followed four days later by the intergovernmental workshop in the Gadsden County Commission chambers in Quincy, 4 p.m. Jan. 8.

That workshop will include alternative maps for consideration by the commissioners, school board members and the public.

James Call can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gadsden County political maps now face lawsuit brought by local GOP
A retired 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department fishes behind his new home on a man-made pond in Eagle, Idaho, on Dec. 5. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: The primary takeaway from your article about retired cops and firefighters taking their pensions and fleeing California is that certain pockets of this nation are riddled with petty  if not delusional  grievances. You get a well-paying job with both union and civil service protections, retire at 50 with a six-figure pension and complain.

Retired Long Beach officer Jorge Grajeda  now living in Eagle, Idaho  griped that he was paying up to $40,000 a year in taxes. Considering he earned nearly $253,000 in 2020 (per Transparent California), that's an overall tax rate of a little more than 15%.

Its a good thing hes not living in a place like Norway, where he'd pay around 40% at his income. Maybe he would then complain about everyone being assured enough retirement income and safety net programs so they don't wind up on the street.

I suppose five years from now, when The Times writes a followup article, I'll get to hear these retirees moan about how cold Idaho is and how there's nothing to do. And that everyone there complains too much.

Ron Shinkman, North Hills

..

To the editor: Being a police officer is a harrowing job when it seems that almost everyone has access to a weapon. When it comes time to retire, your pension should reflect the sacrifices you and your family made.

Still, what struck me about one of the retired California police officers in Eagle, Idaho, was his support for a presidential candidate under indictment on 91 felony counts. The intellectual and moral conflict this represents doesn't even seem to register.

One retired officer complained that California leaders no longer "have their backs," meaning that whatever an officer does in the line of duty should be condoned and protected. This is not unlike former President Trump saying he should have immunity for whatever he did during his presidency.

This mind-set creates problems when public servants and leaders expect loyalty at the expense of protecting society and serving the greater good. Lawyers, doctors, nurses and teachers are held accountable every day for their mistakes, and it should not be any different for police.

Betty Seidmon-Vidibor, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: The Times wrote a story about my hometown, and the only thing I recognize is the photos.

I live in Eagle, where I closely follow local politics. Our mayor's race pitted incumbent Mayor Jason Pierce against City Councilman Brad Pike. The top issue was the annexation of Avimor, a nascent subdivision that lies nine miles up an empty stretch of highway from downtown Eagle.

Pierce, the incumbent, supported annexation; his opponent Pike was the only City Council vote to oppose the plan. In spite of vocal, organized and active opposition, annexation was approved earlier this year.

Just this month, Pierce was defeated in his reelection bid. Between general and run-off elections, greater than 60% of the votes went to candidates against annexation.

Jim Blachman, Eagle, Idaho

..

To the editor: Also deserving of coverage in The Times is the brain-drain of military retirees leaving the state.

California is the only state in the U.S. that fully taxes military pensions, none of which is six figures. Many who collect them are in their 40s, and most would prefer to stay here. In fact, most could afford to stay with their lucrative second careers  which for now are in other states.

Assembly Bill 46, which would repeal the military pension tax for a decade, is being held up because of state budget concerns. This is more shortsighted than the political failures that set up the exodus of government retirees in your article about California cops in Idaho.

The military retirees, in their new careers, would probably pay more in state taxes over the long term than any short-term decrease in state revenue.

Raymond Roth, Oceanside

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A 1787 copy of the U.S. Constitution is held up for display at Sotheby's in New York in 2021. (Richard Drew / Associated Press)

To the editor: All my adult life, I've been a person of the left. Yet on occasion I find myself agreeing with Jonah Goldberg's columns. Such are the times we live in.

His recent piece on the "horseshoe theory" of politics  where the extreme ends of the left and the right bend toward each other, similar to a horseshoe  is a case in point. I've witnessed this phenomenon myself.

Goldberg wrote about the extreme right's "common good constitutionalism" mirroring the extreme left's "living constitution" argument. But he didn't take into account that there is the ability to amend the Constitution within the document itself.

The framers clearly did think the Constitution is a living document that would need to be updated over time to maintain its usefulness.

Steve Tarzynski, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: I couldn't disagree more with Golberg's argument that, in particular, the "right in U.S. politics often become less statist as they become more extreme."

Just look at the recent case of the woman in Texas who was denied, by the state, the liberty to terminate a nonviable and dangerous pregnancy. And keep in mind that the justices who overturned Roe vs. Wade and created this chaotic mess all have ties to that "bulwark of classical liberalism," the Federalist Society.

I would also remind Goldberg that it was the neoliberals Milton Friedman and Ronald Reagan, not the "American left," who advocated for open borders decades ago.

Horseshoe theory of politics? Sounds more like the boomerang theory.

John Eaglesham, Long Beach

..

To the editor: In attempting to justify his theory that the extreme right and left bend toward each other, Goldberg makes some illogical and contrived arguments.

He says the Constitution is a "quintessentially liberal charter." I would say that its provisions (albeit in an indirect way) protecting slavery cannot be thought of as "liberal" in any dimension.

Goldberg also denigrates the left's "living constitution" argument, implying agreement with conservatives who try to apply the Constitution's provisions as the framers wrote or intended them. This defies the concept stated by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 that the Constitution is "intended to endure for ages to come, and consequently, to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs."

As a progressive, I very much disagree with Goldberg's idea that left and right come together in their respective extremes.

Donald L. Singer, Cardiff, Calif.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BOCA RATON  Lev Parnas is telling his side of the story whether a congressional panel wants to listen or not.

The man who was a central figure in the 2019 Ukraine scandal that led to the first impeachment of then-President Donald Trump is now revealing insights into and details of the diplomatic impropriety that is, today, at the heart of the current inquiry into President Joe Biden. But it's a message that House Republicans intent on exposing the so-called "Biden crime family" may not be eager to broadcast to the U.S. electorate.

"The whole motive and the whole Biden stuff was never about getting justice, and getting to the bottom of Biden criminality or doing an investigation in Ukraine," Parnas said. "It was all about announcing an investigation and using that in the media to be able to destroy the Biden campaign and have Trump win."

That much itself is not a novel revelation. The argument was adjudicated in Trump's impeachment probe and trial in the U.S. Senate in early 2020, which ended with the president's acquittal.

But Parnas, a 51-year-old Boca Raton resident, is laying out what he calls a complete story with added pieces of information at a critical juncture as the attempt to impeach Biden rolls into the high-stakes 2024 election year. It all amounts to, Parnas admits, a costly "escapade" which ultimately helped land embattled Ukraine in the crosshairs of U.S. politics.

Whether the House Oversight Committee and its Republican chair, U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, will mind what Parnas has to say seems a highly unlikely proposition. But Parnas is taking his case to the American public.

In December, he will release a book, "Shadow Diplomacy," and a podcast, "Lev Remembers," will follow. He also is cooperating on a documentary. The common denominator among all the productions is a singular narrative, he said, aimed at "getting the truth out" about what happened with Trump and Ukraine.

"It's all because of one individual that wanted to stay in power, that didn't want to relinquish power," he said.

Genesis of Ukraine scandal was a phone call, but not the one you have heard about

Among the twists disclosed in a pre-publication, limited version of "Shadow Diplomacy" was a phone call that kicked off five years of alleged Ukraine political "witch hunts."

In the fall of 2018, Parnas and an associate, Igor Fruman, were busy networking global and Trump administration connections to get their energy trading and exploration company on sure financial footing. Parnas writes that he was working one of his key administration contacts, Trump confidante Rudy Giuliani.

The pair frequented a Manhattan locale, The Grand Havana Room, where Parnas wrote that one evening that November the two "were talking about ways to get my business off the ground." That's when Giuliani, Parnas writes, excused himself to answer a phone call from a former associate with a tip about the former vice president and his son, Hunter.

The associate told Giuliani in that call, according to Parnas, that the Bidens "had been involved in something perhaps a bit shadier than mere conflict of interest in Ukraine." And, Parnas relates, there were receipts  purportedly "a couple of letters, whistleblower complaints."

Lev Parnas with Rudy Giuliani.

Parnas said he capitalized on the phone call. When Giuliani inquired what Parnas, a native of the Ukrainian city of Odessa, knew about his home country, Parnas described offering the former New York City mayor a summary drawn from personal experience, what his contacts in Ukraine were telling him, and what was in the news and social media.

He told Giuliani that the government led by Petro Poroshenko had been friendly to Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama. Then Parnas writes that he showed Giuliani a viral video clip of Biden bragging to the Council of Foreign Relations how he had pressured Ukraine's government to fire a prosecutor named Viktor Shokin.

That was the turning point, Parnas now says, of his relationship with Giuliani and the Trump government.

"When Rudy turned around to me and said, 'Can you get Victor Shokin over?' " Parnas recalled. "And we looked at each other and we said we could probably do that. His eyes lit up and that was it."

Lev Parnas: From donor to a Nixonian White House plumber-like role

In the interview, Parnas said the Grand Havana Room meeting "was the beginning" of his transition from a Trump political donor and hanger-on seeking to jump-start a global business to a Nixon-era-like plumber tasked with digging up dirt on a prospective political opponent.

His particular mission was to locate Shokin and "bring" the ousted prosecutor to Giuliani. The expectation was Shokin would be able to tell the whole story of Biden's meddling in Ukraine, and torpedo the former vice president's widely expected presidential run in 2020.

The reality, Parnas writes in "Shadow Diplomacy," is that Shokin was no star witness. He was "notorious" for inaction on corruption investigations and spent precious time sniping with his predecessor, Parnas writes.

None of that mattered much to him at the time, Parnas concedes. He explains that he was a "deep state"- believing diehard who had drunk the "Kool-Aid" about purported, shady intragovernmental conspirators blocking Trump's White House from key public policy goals.

Boca Raton's Lev Parnas, who tried to ingratiate himself in former President Donald Trump's circle to help get his business off the ground, instead did prison time. Now he wrote a book, and says he wants to warn others about Trump. "... this is not about politics. This is not about what policy you agree upon. It's not about liking Joe Biden. Trump says it himself: 'I'll be a dictator on day one.' Just listen to his words. He's not lying to you."

"We didn't know what actually happened," he said. "We assumed, and Guiliani, me, Trump, all of us assumed 100% that once Viktor Shokin testified, we got Biden red-handed. It's open and shut."

In the end, Parnas concedes, Shokin's allegations were "cockamamie stuff" and the whistleblower information tipped to Giuliani was "bull****."

"There is no Joe Biden fraud," Parnas said. "But the (alleged) Joe Biden fraud, basically, was the key that got everyone together."

What resulted, he describes, was a "perfect storm" of individual but interconnected agendas that has caused enormous suffering in Ukraine, and political distortion in America.

Parnas said that tempest was a combination of his own want to win favor for his oil and gas venture, Trump's obsession with uncovering corruption on Biden, Giuliani's desire to stay in the "spotlight" and the willingness by some Ukraine officials to indulge the U.S. president for their own political benefit.

Partly because of all that, support for Ukraine and the fight led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the face of a savage invasion by Russia, now a nearly two-year conflict, has become another partisan fault line in America with a high cost in lives and suffering in the former Soviet republic.

"It's because of the politics we have here," Parnas said. "If you support Ukraine, you're anti-Trump because Zelenskyy didn't make the announcement. They didn't give us what we needed to beat Biden."

Parnas seeks to counter image of South Florida ne'er-do-well

Lev Parnas, a central figure in the scandal that led to then-President trump's first impeachment, is speaking out.

To Parnas' frustration, the image of him etched into the American public psyche has been that of a South Florida ne'er-do-well of sorts.

That was the depiction presented in much of the reporting about Parnas after he became a news headliner in the fall of 2019. That followed the disclosure and widespread reporting of a whistleblower complaint about another more famous phone call, this one the previous July in which Trump reportedly pressured Zelenskyy to open up an investigation of Biden.

The coverage included profiles of Parnas in The Palm Beach Post.

"The 47-year-old Ukrainian-born Parnas has left a trail of bad blood and crushing debt as a financial adviser, serial entrepreneur and securities broker, including operating a penny stock outfit, shut down by regulators, employing tough characters  who ended up going to prison for fraud along with a man once purported to be a Russian gangster," read a story in The Post in January 2020.

This Facebook screen shot shows, from left, Donald Trump Jr., Tommy Hicks Jr., Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, posted on May 21, 2018. Parnas and Fruman were arrested in October 2019 on campaign finance violations resulting from a donation to a political action committee supporting President Donald Trump's reelection.

Much of his 326-page book is dedicated, Parnas said, to countering those portrayals. "Shadow Diplomacy" offers context to his childhood and business background, as well as the ventures and enterprises that he was involved with, in an effort to dispel the unflattering portrait that he says was painted of him.

"The media had a field day. The first six months, we were plastered all over the TV every day like hardcore criminals," Parnas said.

The book, in a way, reads like a manual about using seemingly disparate relationships to network one's way into the Oval Office.

As Parnas writes in "Shadow Diplomacy": "My ambition of knowing a world-famous tycoon had been upgraded into the reality of befriending that same man, who was soon going to be sworn in as the President."

What the Post reported: Lev Parnas in Palm Beach County: Unpaid bills, failed business deals

Parnas expected Trumpian knighthood. He ended up in prison.

The search for damaging fodder on Biden occluded what Parnas said was his objective all along, the launch of Global Energy Partners, the company he and Fruman started.

His business goals amounted to a more-than-four-year effort propelled by, Parnas said, a series of pivots that landed him, a political unlettered, in the inner circle of the most powerful political office on the planet. How so? A knack for schmoozing complemented by expressions of loyalty, Parnas says and writes.

Finding Shokin, and his political holy grail, Parnas expected, would allow him and Fruman "to write our own ticket"  meaning procuring blank check support for the energy venture.

Instead, he landed a 20-month prison term for campaign finance violations, wire fraud conspiracy, making false statements and falsifying records. He served four months in a federal prison in New York before completing the rest of his sentence in home confinement, which ended in September. These days he is on probation.

Now, he says, he has dual missions. One is personal.

"My main goal right now to is get my family together in a nice healthy way," he said, noting how the stresses of working for Trump, facing criminal charges and then imprisonment put incalculable pressure on his home life.

The other purpose, he said, is to "get truth out about what transpired" with Giuliani and Ukraine  and to warn the country about what another Trump presidency would portend.

"The biggest thing I want our public, and the world, to know is this is not about politics. This is not about what policy you agree upon. It's not about liking Joe Biden," Parnas said. "Trump says it himself: 'I'll be a dictator on day one.' Just listen to his words. He's not lying to you."

Parnas sounds like the many other ex-Trump supporters-turned-critics following their own epiphanies. Yes, the U.S. political system has its deficiencies and imperfections, he said, but it's "the best in the world" and there is an imperative to "save our democracy, not allowing authoritarianism or dictatorship" to supplant it.

He hopes some in the Trump base will heed the warning from yet another former brethren, although he acknowledges it's a painful realization to accept they likely will not.

"They don't want to realize who Trump really is, because if they realize it, they will feel that they lost," he said. "The only way we can get through that is to get past Donald Trump and the divisiveness and the craziness he brings with him."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lev Parnas says no Joe Biden fraud in Ukraine. Will House GOP listen?
Mr Califano himself attended the school where he now teaches (Michael Califano via Facebook)

Parents at a Long Island Catholic school have rallied behind an LGBT+ teacher who says he was fired from his job for not living a "Catholic lifestyle".

Michael Califano, who teaches third grade at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, New York, told local media that he was dismissed on Wednesday after someone sent pictures of him with his boyfriend to the church authorities.

But on Friday more than 100 parents, students, and faculty members rallied outside St Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre calling for Mr Califano to be reinstated, while more than 5,000 people signed a petition to that effect.

The petition's author Karen Greenwood described him as "an immensely beloved, committed and diligent educator" who had been "unjustly dismissed" due to his sexuality.

She further claimed that the school administrators had known Mr Califano was gay when they hired him, and that the decision to sack him was made against their wishes by the local Catholic diocese.

"Michael is the epitome of someone who should be praised as a role model of the Catholic faith," wrote Ms Greenwood. "Despite all of the adversity and tragedy he has faced in his life, his dedication to the church, his faith, and the school has never wavered, and he still attends mass every week."

In response to questions from The Independent, a spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre said: "For privacy reasons, we do not comment publicly on personnel matters, but we can say that the school did not end Mr Califanos employment over his sexuality."

The school's principal Matthew Scannapieco also declined to comment, referring all questions to the diocese. As of Friday, the school's website still listed Mr Califano as a teacher.

Mr Califano himself did not immediately respond to requests for comment but told News 12 Long Island that he did not believe he had broken any of the school's guidelines.

Mr Califano is well known in his area as the son of Michael J Califano, a Nassau County police officer who was killed on duty when a flatbed truck ploughed into his car at high speed during a traffic stop in 2011.

Having attended Maria Regina himself as a child, Mr Califano now helps organise an annual memorial breakfast and raffle that funds scholarships for poor students, according to his Facebook profile.

Mr Califano told News 12 that his trouble began when photos of him and his boyfriend taken from social media were sent to the diocese, and things "escalated" from there.

Ms Greenwood said that the photos were "not inappropriate by any means" and had been taken from his boyfriend's social media account since Mr Califano's had been set to private at the request of the diocese.

By Friday the Nassau County Police Benefit Association had joined in the calls to reinstate Mr Califano, along with about 1,000 people who joined a Facebook group in support of him.

"Long before my son even was born or attended this school, I attended the annual pancake breakfast for their fallen father," said one local parent on TikTok, who said he worked as a police officer.

"I developed a relationship with the family, and [that] was one of the main reasons that I decided to send my son to this school. Unfortunately, I will have to remove him from the school if this situation is not rectified with the bishop."

He added that the school was not to blame and had "tried to save [Mr Califano's] job".

The Catholic Church has softened its stance on homosexuality in recent years. It still officially brands sex between two men or two women as a sin, and strongly opposes gay marriage.

But its current leader Pope Francis has supported visitation and inheritance rights for gay civil partners, criticised laws that criminalise gay sex, and approved Catholic blessings for same-sex couples as long as they do not resemble marriage rites.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has stressed the need to provide Ukraine with all support to combat Russian aggression.

Source: European Pravda, citing his post on Twitter (X).

This is how Nauseda commented on Russia's large-scale missile strike on Ukraine, with numerous casualties and injuries:

"For all those saying they are tired of war in Ukraine  a reminder by the terrorist Russia that there's no limit to its brutality and thirst for blood," the Lithuanian president said.

Background:

On the night of 29 December, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities were hit. There are dead and wounded.

According to the Air Force, the Russian Federation used almost all types of weapons available to it.

Earlier, the US Ambassador to Ukraine and the President of Latvia condemned the Russian attack.

Martin Harris, UK Ambassador to Ukraine, said that Russia's attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure constitute a war crime.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Russia's large-scale missile attack on Ukraine is a reminder that the Kremlin's goals to destroy Ukraine have not changed.

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TAMPA (WFLA)  A memorial procession was held for the postal worker killed in a hit-in-run earlier this month.

Paul Falica, 69, had just celebrated 40 years as a mail carrier prior to the incident.

I would say, Are you still working? and he would say, Im starting my second 30-year career, meaning he was going to stick around as long as he could, said Tony Diaz, a retired mail carrier.

The procession began at Sulphur Springs Post Office on N. Nebraska Ave. and traveled to the intersection of E. River Cove and N. Mulberry Street, where the hit-and-run occurred.

We are deeply saddened by the death of Paul Falica, Letter Carrier at Sulphur Springs Post Office. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends, including the many people he worked with at the Postal Service and whose lives he touched within the Tampa community. The quick efforts and information from customers, Tampa Police Department, United States Postal Inspection Service, and first responders led to a swift capture of the suspect involved in this hit and run tragedy. This helped provide some closure to our team and is truly appreciated. Tampa Postmaster Jackie Villemaire.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
No-one was injured in the fire at the school, which is a short distance from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium

A 16-year-old boy accused of starting a fire at the London Oratory School has denied a charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

At Highbury Corner Youth Court, he also pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer and having a fake ID.

About 100 firefighters attended the blaze at the Catholic school in Fulham, west London, on Wednesday morning.

An atrium in a four-storey building at the school caught light in the alleged arson attack. No-one was injured.

Fire engines at the scene

Firefighters were called out at about 10:00 GMT and had the blaze under control by 11:47. A nearby shopping centre and some residential properties were evacuated as a precaution.

The defendant, from Wandsworth, was reportedly identified in the street at about 11:30 and taken to a police station, where he allegedly committed the assault on the police officer. The boy cannot be named because of his age.

The teenager, who attended court with his parents and siblings, was bailed to the family home and ordered not to leave it unless accompanied by one of his immediate family members.

The defendant, who was also banned from entering the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, is due to appear at Wimbledon Youth Court on 23 January.

The London Oratory School's alumni include actor Simon Callow, trade unionist Mick Whelan, as well as the children of the former prime minister Sir Tony Blair and former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg.

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
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  As the new year quickly approaches, 28/22 News is taking a look back at some of the top stories reported in 2023.

Many began questioning if UFOs or aliens were visiting the planet as reports began coming in about flying objects in the sky. In February, a Page Lake resident recorded images of shiny objects flying over New Milford Township in Susquehanna County. However, questions about those objects went unanswered.

Flyer Objects in Page Lake in Susquehanna County, February 2023

In June, Canada had 413 wildfires burning simultaneously across the country. The smoke from those fires blanketed the sky in NEPA, causing a Code Red Air Quality Action Day across the commonwealth, meaning young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems such as Asthma, Emphysema, and Bronchitis were asked to avoid outdoor activities.

File Image

One of the biggest questions asked during the last decade was, What happened to Robert Baron? The owner of Ghigiarellis in Old Forge went missing in January 2017 for six years. Many speculated about what actually happened to him.

But there was a break in the case in 2023 as Barons remains were found in a wooded area near Pagnotti Park, located in Old Forge. Investigators say Justin Schuback of Old Forge was arrested in connection with Barons murder. Schuback remains in Lackawanna County Prison without bail.

Robert Baron

Justin Schuback

One of the nations most anticipated trials is that of Bryan Kohberger who was arrested in connection to the murder of four Idaho college students. Kohberger was found and taken into custody after a search warrant was executed at a home in the 100 block of Lamsden Drive, Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County.

Kohberger was extradited to Moscow, Idaho to stand trial for the murders. He has pleaded not guilty to the accusations against him and is currently in prison awaiting his trial.

According to Idaho State Law, if found guilty, Kohberger could face the death penalty.

Courtesy: PAcast

Detectives arrested several employees of the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services after an investigation revealed they failed to report neglect.

The Scranton Police Department with Lackawanna County Detectives, and the Lackawanna County District Attorneys Office charged Amy Helcoski, 50, of Scranton, Sadie ODay, of Scranton, Bryan Walker, of Eynon, Randy Ramilk, of Clarks Green, and Erik Krauser, of Dickson City with endangering the welfare of a child and failure to report or refer.

A collision between a school bus and a tow truck in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County sent over 50 children to the hospital, as well as, the drivers of both vehicles. The crash happened on Route 115 around 8:10 a.m. while students were on the way to their second day of school. The driver of the tow truck is believed to have suffered a medical emergency while driving, causing him to strike the bus.

The Bear Creek Community Charter School said that four children sustained moderate injuries and were admitted to the hospital, two remained under evaluation. Also, neither the bus driver nor the tow truck driver suffered serious injuries.

The night sky was illuminated in Montour County when the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights colors danced across the sky in September. According to photographer Tony Bendele, the Northern Lights are very sporadic and theyre difficult to predict when and where theyll pop up. Bendele also explained that in Pennsylvania, its far easier to see the Northern Lights with a camera, rather than with the human eye.

But he says if you want to see the event, the most important thing is to get away from artificial lights, find a dark sky site with no lights, and the further north you go, the better chances youll have at seeing the Aurora Borealis.

Courtesy: Tony Bendele Photography

Courtesy: Tony Bendele Photography

On May 5, 22-year-old Ryan Padovani was found dead inside of his home in Kingston. Investigators said they wanted to talk with the man who lived on the other side of the double-block home in Kingston, 31-year-old Walter Zolner.

A manhunt ensued as police looked for Zolner. On May 12 around 3:30 p.m., Wilkes-Barre police were patrolling the area of South Franklin Street when they located Zolners silver Subaru near the Osterhout Library.

Officers say they entered the library and found Zolner using a computer, quickly placing him under arrest. Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce stated the journal found in Zolners possession during the arrest contained a written statement in which Zolner admitted to killing Padovani.

Ryan Walker Padovani

Walter Zolner III

An incident with a barricaded gunman on Chestnut Street in Wilkes-Barre Township on January 7 turned into an hours-long standoff.

Upon arrival, first responders said they evaluated the man who called them, 66-year-old Daniel Nugent; however, he refused to be transported to a hospital in writing. 911 operators received a call from a woman later on who claimed Nugent was suffering from hallucinations as a result of a medical condition, according to state police.

Police say from 9:30 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. officers said they heard about 30 gunshots coming from Nugents home. Officers attempted to contact him but were unable to reach him. At around 7:00 a.m., 9 1/2 hours later the State Police Special Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) was dispatched to the scene, broke down the door, and took Nugent into custody without discharging a single shot. This incident was also featured on On Patrol: Live on Reelz every Friday and Saturday night for the month of January.

On September 9, NEPA was ravaged by extreme flooding and dangerous storm damage. The storm swept through Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming counties leaving its mark on the communities as one woman died in the deadly flooding. Virginia A. Paoloni of Clarks Summit died after being swept away in the current from the storm. County Coroner Timothy Rowland said when the vehicle started to fill with water, the occupants exited the car. Paoloni got caught in the swift current and drowned.

The flooding that hit Lackawanna County was intense and carried over into Sunday morning. In the Abington area, they saw close to 4 inches of rain, receiving approximately 1 1/2 inches per hour.

28/22 News values and appreciates your viewership and looks forward to seeing you all in 2024. Have a Happy New Year everyone.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Note to readers. This column is not a comprehensive review of 1923. Instead, it is one story from each month of that year. These 12 stories, when taken as a whole, hopefully provide a snapshot view of life in Chillicothe 100 years ago.

January: The new year was barely a week old when perhaps the strangest story of the year appeared on the front page of the Gazette. Chillicothe police were called to the home of W.W. Wilson on 283 S. Paint St. to investigate the alleged assault on two young boys by a ghost, one who pointed to his bloody nose as evidence of the attack. After Chief of Police Fox arrived, he ordered the two boys to bed, pulled up a chair and waited for the ghost to make a reappearance. After five minutes of silence, a series of sharp raps sounded, but when the lights were turned on the source of the noise could not be found. Minutes later a faint scratching was heard from the floor and Fox discovered one of the boys with his arm hanging off the side of the bed and accused him of being the ghost. However, the boys protestations of his innocence were so sincere that the lights were turned off again and the vigil continued. A short time later, one of the boys cried There he comes! There he comes! There he comes. A distinct slap, as in flesh meeting flesh was heard and the boy screamed, He hit me in the face. Police discounted the theory that it was a supernatural occurrence and attributed it to human causes.

A clipping from the Gazette from the year 1923.

February: Prohibition of alcohol was still in full swing in 1923 and stories of moonshiners and bootleggers appeared almost daily on the pages of the Gazette. On the last day of February, state dry agents descended on the city and raided several locations, including a cafe on W. Water St. owned by Harry Hutchinson. Agents had searched the place five times in the previous four days and come up empty, but this time they turned the place upside down and found Hutchinsons hiding place. The authorities confiscated six-gallon jugs of white corn whisky and the frosted white glasses he allegedly used to serve his customers. Interestingly, one of the agents was Hutchinsons uncle and he was forced to arrest his nephew.

March: On the first day of March, John Wargo of East Main St. was backing up a big truck and accidentally bumped into a cylinder of chlorine gas stacked on a platform at a warehouse at Camp Sherman. The shell came crashing down, breaking off the valve and sending a yellow cloud of the deadly gas into the air. The cone-shaped cloud clung close to the ground and slowly spread in the direction of Chillicothe, killing all the vegetation in its path. The wounded war veterans at the camp, according to the Gazette, sniffed at the familiar smell, but few really knew they were going through another gas attack. Luckily, the deadly cloud scattered over a wide area and did no damage.

April: The increasing importance of the automobile in American life sparked a lively debate in Chillicothe about the need for a camp to accommodate auto tourists who preferred to spend the night in their cars rather than hotels or private residences. With Mount Logan one of the show spots in Ohio history, the Gazette argued, coupled with the proposed opening of the Mound City Park, it is believed that many auto tourists will make Chillicothe one of their stops on their seasons itinerary. It was suggested that a camp be built in Yoctangee Park where tourists could build campfires, access clean water and even electric lights. In the end, it was decided there were not enough motor tourists for it to pay off and officials worried that the camp would become a nuisance and a place for loafing.

Looking Back: A review of the year 1922

May: On the evening of May 14, Ross County Sheriff Donald Swepston received an unusual call. A band of about 30 Gypsies were reportedly entering homes, taking what they wanted and scaring children. The nomadic band was led by a woman allegedly 115-years-old, and Swepston escorted the group through the city and shooed them south toward Portsmouth. They returned to Ross County in August claiming they wanted to tell fortunes but instead started picking pockets. The band slipped into Chillicothe but a flanking movement by police rounded them up and pushed them out of the city.

A clipping from the Gazette from the year 1923.

June: Merciful wind, sing us a hoarse, rough song, for there is music made here today that we fain would not hear. In June, this snippet from a poem was on the minds of farmers after the 17-year locusts (cicadas) flocked into Ross County. They first made their appearance in Bainbridge, and according to the Gazette, settled over, under and on everything in sight. Farmers walking through their fields felt the crunch of the insects under their feet as the pests swarmed about their head and shoulders. The noise created by the insects reportedly sounded like the far off hum of battle planes.

July: On Tues. afternoon, July 24, Ross County Sheriff Donald Swepston led a posse of farmers armed with guns, clubs and pitchforks on a manhunt to locate a man described as strange and running amuck in Union Township. It seems that when the boys and men were in the fields or the families at church, the man used a skeleton key to enter homes, lighting lamps, rummaging through drawers, but without ever taking a single item. Before leaving, he would turn the lamps down low and carefully lock the doors. However, on one occasion he confronted a woman who was milking a cow: Thats the last time youll ever milk a cow, he threatened. Although he was not brandishing a weapon, it was enough to launch the angry posse of farmers. There was no follow-up story, so it is likely the stranger successfully hightailed it out of town.

August: FIRST OHIO FLAPPER LIVED IN ROSS ABOUT 7,000 YEARS AGO splashed across the Gazettes front page on Aug. 15. Archeologists at the Hopewell Mound Group unearthed the remains of a woman and 24 earrings, some with pearls inlaid in the design and made from copper, stone, mica and bone. The copper earrings were shaped like hourglasses and the bone and stone ones like barrels. The Gazette could not help but tease the controversial flappers of the day who were fond of wearing lots of jewelry, including dangling earrings. If some Chillicothe maiden could secure a pair of these ornaments, the paper teased, she would certainly have something which would put the modern ones in the shade.

September: In the Autumn of 1923, five years after it had been defeated in World War I, Germany was in crisis and teetering on civil war. Although the monarchy had been replaced by a democratic Republic and the newly drafted constitution, on paper at least, promised a near-perfect democracy, it didnt matter because the people did not want it. On Sept. 25, the Gazette printed the first and only known photograph in existence of Adolf Hitler, who was still largely unknown, even to Germans. Readers came to know Hitlers name better when less than two months later he and his Nazi thugs unsuccessfully tried to overthrow the government and the future dictator was arrested and put in jail.

October: The Mead paper plant had gone two years without a fatal accident but that came to an end Saturday morning, Oct. 20. Lewis E. Huber was pounding out the wrinkles on a roll of paper when the wooden club he was using slipped from his hands. The club started through the machine and Huber reached for it, but his hands got caught between the rolls and he was pulled through the machine to the waist, crushing his head and body. Huber had worked at the plant since 1914 and served in WWI.

November: Increasing automobile ownership resulted in many predictable problems, including accidents, drunk driving, speeding, traffic chaos and illegal parking. However, as the year drew to a close, a front-page story highlighted another issue. Automobile owners were required to purchase new license plates at the end of each year, but almost everyone procrastinated and bombarded the registrar at the last minute. In a November article, the Gazette warned its readers that 250 licenses would have to be sold each day until the end of the year and that if owners put off getting licenses it will be a physical impossibility to distribute all in time. The year before was a disaster and owners were warned that no extension of time will be granted this year.

December: On Dec. 10, the Gazette delivered its first annual Christmas Savings edition to its 8,500 subscribers. With a total of 40 pages, it was one of the largest editions in the papers history. The advertisements in this edition, claimed the Gazette, were not ordinary advertisements but messages concerning the cream of the holiday trade. Shoppers descended downtown, the special edition in hand, saving many steps locating which stores carried the childrens toys they were looking for, or that latest modern phonograph for dad or jewelry for mom. Long before the internet, this cooperation between merchants and customers was innovative and a big hit.

A clipping from the Gazette from the year 1923.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Looking Back: What did the Gazette report on in 1923?
Police officers work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa

One woman was killed and five people injured when a lorry drove into a group of pedestrians in the south-eastern German city of Passau on Friday, police said.

A police spokesman said an investigation was ongoing. He was not immediately able say whether the incident was an accident or intentional.

The driver of the vehicle was taken to hospital, meaning a medical cause could not be ruled out for the time being, he said.

Passau, home to some 50,000 residents, sits on the border with Austria.

Fire and rescue services work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa
Fire and rescue services work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa

One woman was killed and several people injured when a lorry drove into a group of pedestrians in the south-eastern German city of Passau on Friday, police said.

Police said an initial investigation pointed to the crash in Passau's city centre as being an accident. The driver was taken to hospital with injuries.

Four other people were seriously injured, including the 11-year-old daughter of the woman who died at the scene.

The site was cordoned off after the crash took place at around 9:50 am (0850 GMT), with numerous police, fire and ambulance crews responding.

A police spokeswoman was unable to confirm German media reports that the truck had driven into a shop window. Further details such as the speed of the truck and the ages of the other people involved were not immediately provided.

Passau, home to some 50,000 residents, sits on the border with Austria.

Police officers work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) and Park Police rescued a lost hiker after he had been wandering for three hours.

Montgomery County Public Schools cautions staff about social media activity

Pete Piringer said in a post that the hiker had been walking since 3:30 p.m. before MCFRS was dispatched at 6 p.m. Thursday to search for him along the 10 Mile Creek Trail.

(Photo courtesy of Pete Piringer)

(Photo courtesy of Pete Piringer)

MCFRS and Park Police found him at around 7 p.m. using all-terrain and utility task vehicles. The hiker did not have any injuries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Liz Truss has rewarded those personally loyal to her including Ruth Porter, her former deputy chief of staff - Stefan Rousseau/PA

Liz Truss has rewarded Brexiteers and those personally loyal to her with peerages and other awards in her long-awaited resignation honours list.

The former prime minister was reported to have nominated 14 people  one for every three and a half days of her stay in No 10  but only 11 were approved by the appointments commissioners.

Matthew Elliott, the former chief executive of Vote Leave, and Jon Moynihan, its former chairman, both receive life peerages in the list, submitted by Ms Truss in March.

The list, brief compared with the 45 people honoured by Boris Johnson when he left Downing Street, includes a peerage for Ruth Porter, who was Ms Trusss deputy chief of staff during her 49-day tenure as Prime Minister.

But the House of Lords appointments commission appears to have blocked a peerage for Mark Littlewood, the outgoing head of the Institute for Economic Affairs, a think tank that had supported her ill-fated mini-Budget last autumn.

Mr Littlewood was reported to have been nominated for a peerage, but his name did not make the final list.

Ms Trusss close friend Jackie Doyle-Price, the MP for Thurrock who was minister of state for industry for six weeks during her premiership, is made a Dame, as is the novelist Shirley Conran, recognised by the ex-PM for founding the non-profit Maths Anxiety Trust.

Alec Shelbrooke MP, another Truss loyalist who served briefly as a junior defence minister under her, is knighted, while her former special advisers Sophie Jarvis and Shabbir Merali are given CBEs and her former parliamentary private secretaries Robert Butler MP and Suzanne Webb MP receive OBEs.

David Hills, Ms Trusss Conservative association chairman in her South West Norfolk constituency, received an MBE.

Ms Truss said she was delighted these champions for the conservative causes of freedom, limited government and a proud and sovereign Britain have been suitably honoured.

Matthew Elliott, the former chief executive of Vote Leave, receives a life peerage - Shaun Jackson/Alamy

But Jonathan Ashworth, Labours shadow cabinet office minister, said the resignation honours list was proof positive of Rishi Sunaks weakness because he had nodded through these tarnished gongs. Mr Ashworth described them as rewards for Conservative failures.

A government source saidd: Every past Labour prime minister has issued a dissolution or resignation list. The convention is that the incumbent prime minister does not block the political peerage proposals of others.

Separately, Sajid Javid, the former chancellor, has been knighted in the New Year Honours, which are conferred by the King on the recommendation of Mr Sunak.

His resignation, which was quickly followed by that of Mr Sunak, brought about the end of Mr Johnsons premiership and ultimately paved the way for Mr Sunak to enter Number 10.

Sir Sajid, who is standing down at the next general election, has been knighted on Mr Sunaks recommendation after holding six Cabinet roles, including home secretary and chancellor, and becoming the first British Asian to hold one of the great offices of state.

Dame Margaret Beckett will become a Dame Grand Cross after being made a Dame Commander in 2013 - Stefan Rousseau/PA

Labours Dame Margaret Beckett, who is standing down at the next election after 40 years representing Derby South, during which she served as the first female foreign secretary, will become a Dame Grand Cross after being made a Dame Commander in 2013.

Siobhain McDonagh, a Labour stalwart who has been an MP since 1997, becomes a Dame. Her sister Margaret McDonagh, who died earlier this year, was Labours first female general secretary.

She said being notified of the honour was a bit of a surprise and she thought her late sister would have been proud of kind of the work that I have done over the last 26 years as MP for Mitcham and Morden... the place we were born and brought up in.

Yvonne Fovargue, the Makerfield MP, who sits on the privileges and standards committees, receives a CBE, while her Labour colleague Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, has been made an OBE.

Mark Garnier, the Conservative backbencher who represents Wyre Forest, has also been made an OBE, as has Maggie Throup, the Erewash MP, who served as vaccines minister between 2021 and 2022.

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.
Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, the frontman of Ukraines iconic band Okean Elzy (Elsas Ocean), recorded a video message from Lviv, one of the many cities targeted in Russias massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine on Dec. 29.

Read also: Dead & injured in Lviv  1,000+ km from the front  as Russia attacks sleeping civilians and schools

Against the backdrop of the citys famed Lviv Opera House, Vakarchuk addressed Ukrainians, highlighting the nation's resilience in the face of adversity.

"Today in Lviv, much like in countless other cities, towns, and villages across Ukraine, the echoes of chaos and destruction reverberated again. The Russian enemy persists in inflicting pain and havoc on our land. Yet, as I said on the very first day of this war, and I say it again today with unwavering conviction: their missiles may bring destruction to our homes, but they will never crush our spirit. Ukraine will win! We honor the memory of those who lost their lives in Lviv, Kyiv, Dnipro, and all our cities. Our heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery go out to the wounded," Vakarchuk said.

One person was killed in a Russian missile strike on Lviv, while at least 15 more were injured. Three schools and a kindergarten were also damaged in the assault.

The death toll in the still ongoing series of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine has exceeded 20 people, with at least 132 others injured.

Read also: Photo report shows the aftermath of Russias largest missile and drone attack of the war

Explosions and numerous damages to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure have been reported in several major cities, including Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhya Dnipro, Cherkasy, Sumy, and Kyiv.

Ukraine intercepted 114 of the 158 drones and missiles Russia launched at Ukraine overnight on Dec. 28-29 in Russias biggest attack on Ukraine of the war, said Ukraines Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Macedonia man was charged with making a bomb threat after he was kicked out of a bar in Key West, Florida.

The 55-year-old construction worker was arrested Tuesday night on a felony charge of threatening to discharge a destructive device, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

According to a police report, the Ohio man was involved in an altercation at Ricks Bar, yelling at staff and refusing to leave until officers were called. He repeatedly was overheard threatening to blow them up after going to a second bar, which also kicked him out.

Police arrested the man outside after a security worker flagged down officers. According to jail records, the Ohioan was being held without bond at the Key West branch of the Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio man accused of making bomb threat in Key West, Florida
Maines top election official on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the states Republican primary ballot under the 14th Amendments insurrectionist ban.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, issued the decision after presiding over an administrative hearing earlier this month on Trumps eligibility after a bipartisan group of former state lawmakers challenged his candidacy, according to CNN. Bellows halted her decision pending an appeal to a state court, which Trumps team vowed to file.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows wrote. Democracy is sacred  I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

Maine is the second state to remove Trump from the primary ballot after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that Trump was ineligible to appear on the ballot. That ruling has similarly been stayed pending an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Similar efforts have failed in other states and most legal experts believe the U.S. Supreme Court will settle the issue for the entire country.

Bellows wrote that she has a legal obligation to comply with the 14th Amendment and remove Trump.

The oath I swore to uphold the Constitution comes first above all, and my duty under Maines election laws  is to ensure that candidates who appear on the primary ballot are qualified for the office they seek, she said.

Bellows noted that evidence showed that the Jan. 6 Capitol attack occurred at the behest of Trump  and that the US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government.

The record establishes that Mr. Trump, over the course of several months and culminating on January 6, 2021, used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power, Bellows wrote. I likewise conclude that Mr. Trump was aware of the likelihood for violence and at least initially supported its use given he both encouraged it with incendiary rhetoric and took no timely action to stop it.

Trump has yet to comment on the removal but took to Truth Social Thursday night to direct his followers to Bellows official website.

Trumps campaign accused Bellows of being a virulent leftist who has now decided to interfere in the presidential election.

We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, said Steven Cheung, a campaign spokesman for Trump, who has repeatedly sought to throw out votes in areas he lost and argued that former President Barack Obama was ineligible to be president over a false claim that he was born in Kenya.

The pro-Trump MAGA War Room posted a photo of Bellows posing with President Joe Biden, questioning whether followers believed she is impartial.

Do you think Maine's Democrat Secretary of State is impartial? pic.twitter.com/aKToPI45XN  MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) December 29, 2023

I stand with President Trump against the Lefts blatant attack on our democracy, tweeted Trump ally Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

The Maine Secretary of States decision to remove Trump from the ballot is reckless and partisan. I am confident the Supreme Court will reverse it, wrote House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Some Trump opponents also criticized the decision. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie warned that the move will make Trump a martyr.

This should be decided by the voters of the United States. It should not be decided by courts. And the fact is, while there may be  people may think there's a justification for doing this  it's not good in our democracy, he told CNN. "In the end, Donald Trump should be defeated by the voters at the polls and defeated by someone like me, who is willing to tell the truth about him. That's the way we defeat him and we end the scourge of Donald Trump in our party and our country, added Christie, who is polling at about 3% nationally.

CNN legal analyst Elie Honig argued that the matter is not that simple and may be determined by who gets to decide and by what process.

I think theres a question there with regard to what Maine did, because if you look at the hearing, and she details this in the ruling, they heard from one fact witness, a law professor. She based her ruling on a lot of documents, but also YouTube clips, news reports, things that would never pass the bar in normal court, he said Thursday, according to Mediaite. Shes not a lawyer, by the way. Its a smartly written decision, clearly consulted with lawyers, but this is an unelected shes chosen by the state legislature. Chosen, elected by the legislature, but not democratically elected.

CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen, who served as Democratic counsel during Trumps first impeachment, argued that Bellows decision was correct and historic.

"I see this as a proud moment in our democracy," he said. "This is how our checks and balances are supposed to work, he said, adding: "As wrong as some people are saying... that its anti-democratic  it is never against American democracy to apply the United States Constitution."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Former Nixon White House counsel John Dean warned that Trump is in trouble wherever this is raised and addressed."

"I think the Maine decision is very solid," Dean said. "It was fully briefed. There is ample due process in this proceeding. And they just lost by a straight, honest reading of the 14th Amendment."

Dean acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to have the final say but added that he wants to see those strict constructionists and originalists get around that language of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

"How are they going to do it? he questioned. I don't know... I don't know what they can do with it other than take him off the ballot."
In todays newsletter: Maine bars Trump from the states 2024 presidential primary ballot. Why millennials shouldn't expect much from the baby boomer wealth transfer.'' And what drove killer whales' dramatic behavior this year.

Maine rules Trump

Former President Trump (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Maine has become the second state to determine that former President Donald Trump is constitutionally ineligible to appear on the states primary ballot for 2024. The decision by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, follows the Colorado Supreme Court ruling last week that concluded the 14th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits Trump from serving in office again due to his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Trump is expected to appeal those decisions and others like them to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will likely have to settle the issue. He has railed against the effort to remove him from the ballot as politically motivated attempts to undemocratically disenfranchise him and his supporters.

This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your morning. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

The wealth transfer from boomers wont save Gen X and millennials

The generational wealth transfer between baby boomers and their heirs has become a media fascination, both for its eye-popping size and because it may help younger generations with doubts about their financial security. Some $53 trillion is expected to be passed down from boomers to their Gen X, millennial and Gen Z heirs, as well as to charities, according to one wealth management firm.

Baby boomers have collectively benefitted from Americas economic growth  the value of low-cost housing purchased decades ago has increased dramatically, and the stock market has soared roughly 4,000% since 1969. Younger generations have had to deal with student debt, rising cost of living, the Great Recession and the pandemic at some of the most vulnerable stages of their lives, leaving many with doubts about their ability to retire securely.

But the balooning cost of health care for older people means they wont be left with as much as expected to leave to their heirs, even if they seem well-off now.

Chinese spy balloon used a U.S. internet provider, intelligence officials find

The Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. earlier this year used an American internet service provider to communicate, according to two current and one former U.S. official familiar with the assessment. The Biden administration sought a highly secretive court order from the federal Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to collect intelligence about it while it was over the U.S., according to multiple current and former U.S. officials.

The balloon connected to a U.S.-based company, according to the assessment, to send and receive communications from China, primarily related to its navigation. Officials familiar with the assessment said it found that the connection allowed the balloon to send burst transmissions, or high-bandwidth collections of data over short periods of time.

Killer whales seemed to wreak havoc this year. What drove their headline-making behavior?

Image: An orca whale designated J2 pokes her head upward while swimming in the Salish Sea (Mark Malleson / The Center for Whale Research via AP, file)

This year seemed to be a wild one for killer whales. From attacking and sinking several boats off southwestern Europe to hunting great white sharks around South Africa and Australia, the black-and-white behemoths appeared to live up to their moniker in 2023.

Yet for scientists, the recent orca antics have been more fascinating than fearsome, and some say the highly intelligent marine animals have shown us how much there still is to learn about them.

Wisconsin university chancellor fired over ongoing porn career

An entrance sign for the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse. (Education Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images file)

Joe Gow, the former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, has been fired after his porn career with his wife was revealed. Officials at the university learned that Gow and his wife, a former UW-La Crosse professor, had been making pornographic videos together and published two books about making adult films. They used their real photos on social media profiles where they went by the moniker Sexy Happy Couple.

Gow told NBC News that they produced the books and adult films as private citizens  and that none of their public works mentioned the university or his professional career. The tenured faculty member said his termination is a violation of his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.

Politics in Brief

2024 hypotheticals: The White House has an upbeat narrative about Joe Bidens path to re-election, but here are five twists that could upend Democrats best-laid plans for winning.

E. Jean Carroll defamation trial: A federal appeals court rejected Trumps request to delay his upcoming defamation trial in a second lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.

Immigration: The Justice Department is threatening to sue Texas if it enforces a new state law that lets police arrest migrants who illegally cross the border, according to a letter obtained by NBC News.

Alleged swatting incident: Sen. Rick Scott said his home in Naples, Florida was swatted while he was at dinner with his wife.

2023 in Review: The year of the ick

A term first popularized on the U.K. reality show Love Island has come to describe the helplessness many singles felt this year. But experts say theres a shift happening both on dating apps and in real life.

Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Yesterday we brought you the top items purchased by NBC Select readers this year. Today we share 29 products Select editors tried and loved in 2023, from electric tea kettles and sneakers to headphones and cat feeders.

Thanks for reading todays Morning Rundown. Todays newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Both. If youre a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
BALLOT BATTLE  Maines secretary of state removes Trump from Republican primary ballot. Continue reading

LEGAL SHOWDOWN  Biden admin threatens Texas over anti-illegal immigration law as Abbott digs in for fight. Continue reading

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LAURA INGRAHAM  Laura Ingraham talks with guest host Jason Chaffetz, predicting Maine secretary of state's move will be overturned. See video 

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Original article source: Maine drops Trump from primary ballot, DOJ threatens to sue Texas and more top headlines
PROVIDENCE  Unlike his counterpart in Maine, Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore will not try to block former President Donald Trump from appearing on the presidential primary ballot under the U.S. Constitution's insurrection clause.

Amore "believes that the rhetoric of the Trump campaign, as well as the actions that took place on and before Jan. 6, represent a real threat to our democracy," Amore spokeswoman Faith Chybowski wrote in an email Friday.

"With that said, he believes that any qualifying candidate should not be denied access to the ballot. It is not the role of the secretary of states office to litigate constitutional challenges; but, the RI Department of State will certainly adhere to the rulings of the courts."

RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore

On Thursday, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removed Trump from that state's presidential primary ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars any previously sworn elected officials who "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" from holding office.

Earlier this month the Colorado Supreme Court kicked Trump off the ballot under the same insurrection clause, citing his involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The question of his 2024 eligibility is expected to be settled ultimately by the U.S. Supreme Court, and Amore said he will not stand in the way of Trump making Rhode Island's April 2 presidential primary absent relevant court rulings in the meantime.

"As long as former President Trump meets Rhode Islands ballot qualification requirements, and there are not further court rulings to the contrary, he will be included on the ballot as would any other qualifying candidate," Chybowski wrote.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Trump on ballot? RI secretary of state will not block from ballot
Maine has removed Donald Trump from its presidential ballot for his involvement in the 2021 assault on the Capitol.

The disqualification follows a similar ruling by another Democrat-ruled state, Colorado, which also barred Mr Trump under a Civil War-era provision that prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

The nations highest court will need to clarify what powers states have to block a candidate and will therefore ultimately have the final say on whether Mr Trump appears on the ballots.

Louisiana, Rhode Island, Minnesota and Oregon are also considering disqualifying Mr Trump, while courts in an estimated 30 states have been asked to rule on his eligibility.

Mr Trump secured a victory in Michigan on Thursday when its Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from voters who wanted him dropped from the ballot in the state. Minnesota also rejected similar efforts.

We are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court, Michigan justices said in a brief order.

Trump accused of inflaming supporters

Shenna Bellows, Maines secretary of state, concluded in her 34-page decision that Mr Trump had used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power.

The weight of the evidence makes clear that Mr Trump was aware of the tinder laid by his multi-month effort to delegitimise a democratic election, and then chose to light a match, her decision read.

Ms Bellows noted that no one in her position had ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment.

I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection, she wrote.

In all, Mr Trump faces 91 federal and state charges in relation to allegations of election interference, illegally handling classified documents and falsifying business records.

He denies the charges and claims they are politically motivated.

Ms Bellows said Mr Trump had inflamed his supporters - SAUL LOEB/AFP

Steven Cheung, Mr Trumps spokesman, said that he would appeal against the Maine decision.

The Maine secretary of state is a former ACLU attorney, a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat who has decided to interfere in the presidential election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden, Mr Cheung said.

We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter.

Democrats in blue states are recklessly and un-Constitutionally suspending the civil rights of the American voters by attempting to summarily remove President Trumps name from the ballot.

Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy.

Showdown in the Supreme Court

The landmark ruling in Colorado has been stayed until Jan 4 to allow time for Republicans to appeal to the nations Supreme Court.

The case hinges on the 14th Amendment, which was passed in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War.

Section three of the amendment barred anyone engaged in insurrection from holding office.

It was intended to keep former Confederates out of office and had been barely mentioned for decades until August when the possibility of using the clause was raised by two legal scholars, William Baude of the University of Chicago and Michael Stokes Paulsen of the University of St Thomas.

Both men are members of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group that supports a very strict interpretation of the US Constitution.

In Maine on Thursday, Ms Bellows won praise from a group of prominent voters who had filed a petition which forced her to consider the case.

Kimberly Rosen, a Republican, Thomas Saviello, an independent, and Ethan Strimling, a Democrat, said in a joint statement that Ms Bellows showed great courage in her ruling.

We look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court, they said. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles.

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WASHINGTON - Maine's top election official said Thursday she wants to remove Donald Trump's name from the presidential ballot, a decision that will likely be appealed along with a similar ruling in Colorado.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, announced the decision Thursday, saying the "insurrectionist ban" in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution applies to Trump and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The evidence demonstrates that the insurrection "occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President (Trump)," Bellows wrote in her decision. "The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government."

Bellows also said she would delay actual removal of Trump's name from the Maine ballot until the courts finally rule on the question. That means Trump will probably be on the state's Republican primary ballot March 5.

Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, on December 19, 2023. An appeals court in Colorado on December 19, 2023 ruled Donald Trump cannot appear on the state's presidential primary ballot because of his involvement in the attack on the Capitol in January 2021.

Trump campaign attacks Maine decision

The Trump campaign, denying that Jan. 6 was an insurrection, condemned the Maine decision, saying in a statement that Bellows is a "leftist" who has "decided to interfere in the presidential election."

A deeper look: With three major recent losses, is the effort to knock Trump off ballots in 2024 over?

"We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter," said the statement from Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung.

Noting that courts in other states have rejected efforts to disqualify Trump, Cheung said the campaign would file a "legal objection" to the ruling in Maine's state court system.

The U.S. Supreme Court may make final decision

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to have the final say on Trump's eligibility for state ballots sometime next year.

Earlier this month, Bellows presided over an administrative hearing on a challenge to Trump brought by a bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers.

Before the decision, Trump's attorneys had asked Bellows to recuse herself from the decision because of past tweets they said showed political bias.

Colorado and Michigan

The Maine move follows a decision earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court, which said Trump is ineligible for public office because the 14th Amendment disqualifies insurrectionists.

Trump has said he would appeal that ruling to the Supreme Court.

This past week, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected a similar effort to keep Trump off the ballot in that state. Minnesota's high court has also refused requests to remove Trump's name from the ballot.

Bellows said she did not make the Maine decision lightly.

I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment," she wrote. "I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection."

Trump's opponents in the Republican primaries, including Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, have criticized the ballot removal efforts.

Trump won one electoral vote in Maine in 2020

Maine is a small and mostly Democratic state, but it could conceivably have a big impact in a close Electoral College contest.

The state of Maine splits up its four electoral votes in presidential elections, awarding two to the statewide vote winner and one to the winner in each of the two congressional districts.

In the 2020 election, Joe Biden won three electoral votes in Maine.

Trump won one.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maine removes Trump from ballot after a similar decision in Colorado
Maine blocked former President Donald Trump from being included on the presidential election ballot in the state in 2024 on Thursday, issuing the ruling on three voter challenges. This news follows the Colorado Supreme Courts decision on Dec. 19 to remove Trump from the states ballot.

Both decisions fall under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment over Trumps involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows issued her decision Thursday, challenging Trumps eligibility to hold office.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly. Democracy is sacred, Bellows said in a 34-page decision. She noted that a secretary of state has never deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment but added that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

The Trump campaign plans to file an appeal. The state secretary said her decision wont be executed until the states court makes a ruling on the case. As The Associated Press reported, the U.S. Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, will likely make the final decision on whether Trump will appear on the ballot in Maine, Colorado and other states.

The Trump campaign was quick to issue a response, categorizing the state secretary as an ACLU attorney, a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat.

We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, said Steven Cheung, a campaign spokesperson.

He added that the courts in other states like Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Arizona, Florida, Rhode Island and West Virginia, have rejected the bogus 14th Amendment ballot challenges.

The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, and its Section 3, or disqualification clause, bars someone from holding civil or military office if they took an oath to the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion ... or (gave) aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, wrote in a post on X that Bellows ignores the fact that the amendment holds accountable an officer of the United States, which Trump is not.

Thus, even if Trump had engaged in insurrection (to be sure, he has not), he still couldnt be excluded, Lee said.

In another post, the Utah senator said the 14th Amendment refers to senators, representatives, and presidential electors, but not presidents, adding, Theres a reason it doesnt. She didnt bother to ask why.

Earlier in August, Lee told the Deseret News in a statement that using the 14th Amendment against Trump is a legal theory that rests on a tortured reading of the Constitution.

To embrace it would dangerously undermine the First Amendment and  if true  disqualify a veritable flotilla of Democratic politicians from ever holding office again, the GOP senator said.

Hans von Spakovsky, a legal expert at the Heritage Foundation who previously served as a commissioner for the Federal Election Commission and a lawyer at the Justice Department, posted on X Thursday that the decision to boot Trump off the ballot in Maine is biased and partisan.

It also violates the Constitution because Bellows has no legal authority to question the qualifications of a presidential candidate based on the 14th Amendment, especially since criminal charges were never brought forward against Trump regarding Jan. 6 and the Senate voted to acquit him, Spakovsky said.

When the House moved to indict Trump for the insurrection, Maine Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, voted in favor. I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States, he said in a post on X. However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.

Bellows received three challenges to Trumps nomination as the Republican candidate, including a group of former state lawmakers, including GOP state Sen. Kimberly Rosen, independent state Sen. Thomas Saviello, and Democratic state Sen. Ethan Strimling.

Secretary Bellows showed great courage in her ruling, and we look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court, the three former legislators said in a statement on Thursday, per The New York Times. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles.

Bellows in her decision argued that the already-established record establishes Trump made efforts to create a false narrative related to the 2020 election and inflamed his supporters, whom he encouraged to go to the Capitol and prevent a peaceful transfer of power.

Trump was aware of the likelihood for violence and at least initially supported its use given he both encouraged it with incendiary rhetoric and took no timely action to stop it, she concluded.
ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. - Officials are on the scene of a major vehicle collision, blocking all lanes of westbound I-66 in Arlington.

Arlington: Due to a crash blocking all lanes on WB66 closer to Spout Run Pkwy, traffic is currently being diverted onto Langston Blvd (Exit 73) in Rosslyn. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/NKi6iOiO65  VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) December 28, 2023

The collision is located in the area of Spout Run Pkwy, traffic is being diverted onto Langston Blvd.

Officials say the collision occurred at 2:24 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Virginia State Police say the crash involved an overturned vehicle and at least one person was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The 24-year-old driver involved was charged with reckless driving for following too closely. The crash remains under investigation.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) said it was investigating after a man was found shot inside his car.

The shooting happened in the 900 block of St. Michaels Dr. around 3:10 p.m.

Body found close to place where missing Charles County man was last seen

PGPD said it got a report of a shooting and when officers arrived, they found a man inside his car suffering from gunshots. He died there.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Prince Georges County Crime Solvers online or submit a tip through the P3 Tips app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
CANTON  A 53-year-old man who recently lived in Canton and Massillon has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for two rapes that occurred 17 years ago.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Chryssa N. Hartnett sentenced Eddie J. Williams on Dec. 19 after he pleaded guilty to both crimes.

The victims were 25 and 23 years old at the time of the offenses, which occurred in April and August of 2006.

The case involving the older victim was originally filed by Massillon police in Massillon Municipal Court in August, when the defendant was a resident of that city.

The case regarding the younger victim began with a bill of information after Williams waived his constitutional right to be prosecuted by an indictment from the grand jury. The waiver was filed earlier this month, when the defendant was listed as living in Canton.

Williams is to serve five years on parole after his release from prison. If he lives in Stark County upon his release, he will be required to successfully complete the court's reentry program. He will be required to register his home address with the sheriff as a convicted sex offender for life, with in-person verification every 90 days.

Hartnett gave Williams credit against his prison sentence for 146 days already spent in the county jail.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Eddie J. Williams sentenced for raping two adult women in 2006
A helicopter crew rescued a man who had fallen from a cliff, according to the Maryland State Police.

Deputies from the Frederick County Sheriffs Office rushed to the scene in Keymar, Maryland, after getting a call about a man who had fallen from a 30-to-40-foot cliff behind a home in the area, according to a news release from Maryland State Police.

Rescuers performed some first aid and pulled the man from the steep creekside terrain onto a nearby landing. But the man was badly injured, and due to both his state and the terrain, the crew decided that different measures were in order.

At around 10 p.m. Dec. 28 the sheriffs office called Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) to request an aerial rescue.

MSPAC pilots flew to the scene. Then, from an 80-foot hover, they lowered a paramedic. The paramedic assessed the man and fastened him to an extraction bag.

Once he was secured, the crew pulled him up and took him to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, about 45 miles southeast of Keymar.

Two hikers spent hours lost in alligator-filled Florida swamp. See the rescue video

Woman hiking with husband dies after falling off cliff while taking photos, NY cops say

Hiker breaks leg and jaw in 25-foot fall at New York state park, rescuers say
A man who allegedly stabbed two teenage girls at New York Citys Grand Central Terminal this Christmas while shouting, "I want all White people dead" was free despite concerns over his violent mental state, reports said.

Steven Hutcherson, 36, then also reportedly slashed a fellow inmate with a blade after his arrest for the random stabbing of the teens, who were having lunch at the transit hub's dining concourse.

The two teenagers, ages 14 and 16, were visiting from South America and were transported to Bellevue Hospital for evaluation, officials said. The 16-year-old was reportedly stabbed in the back and suffered a collapsed lung, while the 14-year-old was stabbed in the thigh.

Following the stabbing, Hutcherson was charged with felony counts of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first and second degree and attempted assault in the first degree. He was also charged with a hate crime.

TWO TEENAGE GIRLS STABBED INSIDE GRAND CENTRAL ON CHRISTMAS BY MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY WANTED 'WHITE PEOPLE DEAD'

Steven Hutcherson, the man accused of stabbing two teenage girls at Grand Central Terminal, reportedly used a ceramic blade to cut a fellow inmate on Thursday and previously threatened to kill his girlfriend multiple times.

After his arrest and detainment, Hutcherson, who was being held without bail at Rikers Island, allegedly got up from his cot located at the Eric M. Taylor Center and attacked a 43-year-old man who was lying feet away from him around 8 a.m. on Thursday, according to a report from the New York Post.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Citing sources familiar with the unprovoked attack, the Post noted that Hutcherson used a 1.5-inch ceramic blade to slash the other inmate's face and head. Following the incident, a corrections officer reportedly pepper-sprayed Hutcherson and rushed the victim to an infirmary located within the jail.

The inmate who was attacked by Hutcherson was later taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was treated for the slash wounds, which the sources told the outlet were between one and five inches long.

A spokesman for the city Department of Correction told the Post that Hutcherson, who also uses the alias Esteban Esono-Asue, "will be processed for rearrest for this incident."

The department is now investigating how Hutcherson was able to obtain the blade used in the attack after he was screened for weapons upon his arrival on Rikers Island Tuesday.

Hutcherson, who has 17 prior arrests and is considered by law enforcement sources to be an "emotionally disturbed person," was arrested twice in the last six months. Prior to the attack on Monday, Hutcherson was most recently arrested last month after he threatened to shoot someone.

CRIME-FIGHTING AI ROBOCOP IS KEEPING AN EYE ON NEW YORKS SUBWAY RIDERS

Views of the New York City jails on Rikers Island, as seen from a departing flight from LaGuardia Airport on December 10, 2022, in Queens, New York.

Hutcherson pleaded guilty to both of his November 7 and July 24 weapons possession arrests. Hutcherson reportedly received a 15-day sentence following the July arrest. In regard to the November arrest, Hutcherson received a conditional discharge from Judge Matthew Grieco, who was appointed to the bench by NYC Mayor Eric Adams in March. Hutcherson was also issued a temporary restraining order against his victim from the November incident.

The Bronx District Attorneys Office "believed Mr. Hutcherson would benefit from substantial mental health programming, including inpatient treatment," a spokesman said Wednesday, according to the Post.

"Ultimately, through counsel, Mr. Hutcherson declined mental health programming and the transfer of his cases to the misdemeanor mental health treatment court," the representative said. "Three cases were resolved via pleas to the top charge receiving 15 days jail, and in one case, the court delivered a sentence of a conditional discharge over the peoples objection."

A spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration said that neither the DA nor the defense attorney mentioned the one-year mental health treatment program or transferring the case to mental health court during a December 12 hearing.

"The Judge ordered individual counseling as part of a conditional discharge with the aim of further assessing what both parties concurred were underlying anger issues," the spokesman said, noting that Hutcherson had been free since his November 8 arraignment in the case, according to the Post's report.

Prior to the stabbing incidents this week, Hutcherson faced accusations of stalking and mental disorders by his ex-girlfriend.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

Charisma Knight, 37, who dated Hutcherson off and on in 2021 and 2022, told the Post that he had allegedly threatened to kill her "at least five times" in the past year and became more deranged after he stopped taking his medication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

"I called the police all the time and said hes bipolar and schizophrenic, he needs help, he needs help. These people actually do need help. If youre just letting them go . . . he might just kill somebody," Knight said in her comments to the outlet. "He should have been in a mental institution, where he cannot come out, and they can monitor him taking his medication."

Hutcherson, who has 17 prior arrests and is considered by law enforcement sources to be an "emotionally disturbed person," was arrested twice in the last six months.

Knight also said she believes a lot of Hutcherson's actions against others have to do with him wanting to die.

"I feel like sometimes he wants to die," she said. "He says and does these things to people because he wants them to react so that he doesnt have to kill himself."

Knight, who said Hutcherson believed the government was always after him, reportedly obtained an order of protection against Hutcherson last year, claiming that he had threatened to kill her and once even told her mother "Ima kill your daughter."

Speaking Tuesday about the stabbing of the two teenagers from Paraguay, Mayor Adams, a Democrat, admitted that such incidents inside Grand Central Terminal make people feel unsafe.

"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.





Original article source: Man who stabbed teens shouted, 'I want all White people dead' was free despite red flags: report
ST. LOUIS  The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a suspect linked to two recent robberies.

Police shared surveillance photos Thursday of a man accused in robberies at a Dominos Pizza shop and BP gas station in the City of St. Louis.

Police: St. Louis woman Marquisha Williams found deceased in Illinois

Investigators say the suspect entered the Dominos in the 1600 block of Ninth Street around 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 21 with a weapon, but did not display it. He reportedly demanded money from a cash register and took off with an undisclosed amount. A delivery driver spotted the suspect as he attempted to leave, and he allegedly indicated that he had a weapon.

The suspect is also linked to a robbery hours later at a BP gas station in the 300 block of South Jefferson Avenue.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a suspect linked to two recent robberies. (Photos courtesy: SLMPD)

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a suspect linked to two recent robberies. (Photos courtesy: SLMPD)

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding a suspect linked to two recent robberies. (Photos courtesy: SLMPD)

Investigators say he entered the gas station around 6 a.m. on Dec. 22 and informed the cashier he had a gun. The suspect allegedly demanded cash and took off with an undisclosed amount of money.

If you have any information on the suspect or either of these two incidents, contact the SLMPD at 314-444-2500 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A Manatee County Sheriffs Office deputy is on paid administrative leave after firing his weapon and striking a teenage suspect in the leg during a burglary investigation early Friday morning.

The shooting happened just before 2 a.m. in the 1000 block of 47th Ave. Dr. E., Bradenton, and was in response to shots fired by the teen, according to a release.

At around 1:30 a.m., deputies say they responded to a report that someone was seen checking door handles on vehicles in the Grove Mobile Home Park. When deputies arrived, they said they saw a 17-year-old suspect enter a vehicle.

At approximately 1:50 a.m., the sheriffs office says deputies with a K-9 unit gave the teenager verbal commands. Instead of stopping, the 17-year-old fled on foot and then fired multiple rounds at the deputies, according to the sheriffs office.

The teen fired three rounds at the deputy and another two at the K-9, Sheriff Rick Wells said during a Friday morning press conference. He described it as a close-range shooting, somewhere in the range of 20 to 23 yards.

I really want to thank God for protecting my deputy and protecting his K-9, Wells said. Were very lucky to be able to stand here today and for me to be able to tell you that my deputy was able to go home to his family along with his four-legged partner who we love just as much.

Detectives say one deputy then fired multiple rounds back at the suspect, hitting him in the left leg. The deputys name has not been released to the public.

Burglary suspect shot by deputy, sheriff says

Deputies secured the teen and began to render aid until paramedics arrived, according to a release.

Thats what we do, even though he just tried to kill my deputy, Wells said.

A Taurus .38 revolver used by the teen to fire at the deputies was recovered at the scene, Wells said.

With the suspect being a juvenile and therefore unable to legally purchase or possess a firearm in the state of Florida, Wells said he will be shocked if the gun doesnt turn out to be stolen from a previous burglary.

Wells said there has been an alarming trend over the last several years of minors using stolen guns to commit crimes and called upon the community to address it.

What we do know is that he did not obtain that gun legally. So Im gonna preach the way my brother sheriffs have been preaching throughout the community: We have got to do a better job securing our firearms and our vehicles. We have to do a better job locking our vehicles because this is a crime of opportunity, Wells said.

If we work together, we can eliminate the opportunity that we keep giving these criminals because theyre going to keep using these guns and theyre going to keep victimizing innocent civilians and law enforcement, he added.

No deputies or other individuals were injured during the shooting, according to a release.

The sheriffs office says the suspect was taken to a local hospital for further treatment, where he remains in custody at this time.

Suspect faces attempted murder charge

The teenager, whose name has not been released by the sheriffs office, will be charged with two counts of attempted murder while engaged in a felony, use of a deadly weapon on a police animal and armed burglary, the sheriffs office said.

The juvenile, who Wells said will be turning 18 in about a week, has been arrested twice for breaking into vehicles and once for a domestic violence-related offense.

The deputy who fired shots is now on routine paid administrative leave while an investigation into the shooting and an internal investigation is conducted.
Rebecca Adamson, 31, with the help of Keiko, 2, and Leon, 8, makes a batch of chocolate cookies while Chris Watkins, 34, carries their son Lucas, 1. Adamson dreams of opening a bakery and joined the Marines to pay for culinary school. The family has struggled with homelessness.

The kitchen has been Rebecca Adamsons sanctuary for as long as she can remember.

As a foster child who lived with three different families before being adopted by a couple in Omaha, Neb., the 31-year-old Austin mother of three has always considered the kitchen her safe place.

Her biological father died, and she doesn't know her birth mother's whereabouts. Shes blocked out a lot of the painful memories and focused on the things that brought her peace and joy.

I was always baking, Adamson said, lighting up at the sheer mention of it. I was always in the kitchen when my mom was making dinner. And I gravitated to desserts. My mom passed that off to me.

The Watkins Adamson family is part of the Statesmans Season for Caring program, which is in its 25th year and helps hundreds of families each year through local nonprofits. The family was nominated by Foundation Communities, which provides affordable housing.

Read more: Marines try to rebuild their lives after skirting homelessness | Season for Caring 2023

Rebecca Adamson holds Keiko while making a batch of chocolate cookies as Chris Watkins, holding Lucas, looks on. I was always baking, Adamson said. I was always in the kitchen when my mom was making dinner. And I gravitated to desserts.

Baking has been Adamson's passion. She joined the Marines and served in warehouse supply for 4 years to help pay for culinary school. She dreams of opening a bakery. She'd love to start with a food truck.

She and her 34-year-old Marine fiance, Chris Watkins, met in Austin in 2015 when Watkins befriended Adamson and helped her out at a time when she had temporarily lost her car and most of her cash. One shared pizza led to an eight-year dating relationship and an engagement in 2020. They are hopeful they can afford a wedding next summer. Shes already picked out her dress.

They have endured more than their share of hardships. That includes a year of homelessness, three more years with stays in three hotels and three months in a tiny, 65-square-foot shed that sits behind his fathers house in Hutto.

It was tough, recalls Adamson, who was pregnant with her second child at the time and sleeping on a wooden couch.

Learn more: 12 families featured in the 25th Season for Caring program. Here's how you can help.

Adamson is accustomed to adversity. She has degenerative arthritis in her lower spine, anxiety disorder and depression. She had to stop working because of the constant pain that stems from an injury to her back during Marine boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina.

She and Watkins now live in a cramped apartment in North Austin with their 8-year-old son, Leon Adamson; their 2-year-old, curly-haired daughter, Keiko Watkins; 1-year-old Lucas Watkins; and two dogs, Princess and Hunter.

They rely on his salary, but a contract with Applied Materials recently ended and won't start again until February. The veterans disability income Adamson receives and driving for a food delivery service are keeping the family afloat.

When she can, Adamson heads to the kitchen and starts baking. Its always been what shes truly loved.

She took every cooking class her high school offered. She perfected lemon bars, which were her adopted dad Marks favorite.

Id make the whole pan just for him, she said.

She worked for a time as a chef for Great American Cookies but had to quit because of her back pain and trouble lifting the 15-pound boxes of frozen dough.

Shes already conjured up a name for her future bakery and cant wait to patent it  Rebeccas Sweet Treats. Shes even designed a logo character with a chefs hat.

You have to have the chefs hat, she said.

Watkins will vouch for her soft chocolate chip cookies and knows to give her space when shes cooking.

Being in the kitchen quiets my mind, she said. No ones allowed in my kitchen. I kick everybody out.

On the Watkins Adamson family's wish list is a new KitchenAid mixer. The family also needs help paying bills and back debt, a washer and dryer, clothes, and help with day care. They'd love a family trip.

To learn more about the family or to donate an item on the wish list, contact Foundation Communities, 737-267-5738, foundcom.org.

25th Season for Caring

The Statesman will be sharing the stories of all 12 Season for Caring families throughout the holiday season. Find more stories and information at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. You can donate online or use the coupon on Page 2B and mail it to Austin Community Foundation, c/o Statesman Season for Caring, 4315 Guadalupe St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78751. Make checks payable to Statesman Season for Caring.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Season for Caring Marine dreams of opening a bakery
WASHINGTON  U.S. Marines training at home and abroad will see changes in 2024, as an ongoing effort to replace legacy simulators with state-of-the-art systems picks up speed.

Project Tripoli, which started in 2022 as part of the Force Design modernization initiative, aims to create a live-virtual-constructive training environment that Marines can leverage at large training bases and in remote locations.

Already the Marine Corps has married its training network with the Navys more robust version, shifting from large training facilities to laptops and adopting a joint set of training simulations. Marines on the ground will notice more changes in early 2024, Project Tripoli leaders told Defense News.

Improving live training

On the live side, the Corps is set to debut its Marine Corps Tactical Instrumentation System, or MCTIS, which has nearly completed government acceptance trials at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.

Jim Brown, deputy director of the Range and Training Programs Division at the services Training and Education Command, said MCTIS will track every Marine, vehicle and weapon during a training event in the field, as well as their location, heath status and more. That data will be fed to a central location, creating a digital twin of whats happening in the exercise.

Its ability to record every move and every shot  both live and simulated, and against real and simulated targets  will benefit both the Marines on the ground and the commanders back at headquarters, he said.

Capt. Nathan Knowles, left, an explosives ordinance and improvised explosive device instructor, provides feedback to an infantry squad leader during a long-range raid drill in the desert southeast of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., in 2013. (Cpl. William Waterstreet/U.S. Marine Corps)

Brown said having a full view of the live, virtual and constructive actions during the event will allow commanders to see much more during their after-action reviews, leading to better lessons learned.

Col. Dane Salm, the director of the Range and Training Programs Division, said in the same interview that MCTIS would also drastically change the experience of Marines in the field. As they go through patrols, instructors in the field have always been able to pause the action if something is unsafe, to try to adjudicate who shot whom, and more. But now, Salm said, the instructors will be able to show a squad leader on a tablet what they had planned to do versus what they actually executed  giving real-time, visual cues as to what went wrong, while also allowing the squad to start over.

MCTIS will make its formal debut in February at the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Warfighting Exercise 2-24 at Twentynine Palms, Salm said.

More flexible virtual trainers

On the virtual side of the training portfolio, Salm said the Corps is in the midst of an extended user evaluation involving two options to replace the Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer, previously located at the Dome  a large building that was expensive to maintain and only existed at a few locations.

Instead, Marines will move to a Joint Virtual Fires Trainer, where Marines outfitted with goggles and hand-held wands will conduct virtual training scenarios run through an application on a gaming laptop.

The Marine Corps is putting two companies through the evaluation at Twentynine Palms; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona; and Marine Corps bases Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and Camp Pendleton in California.

Salm said this effort will unshackle Marines from having to go to a certain building for training  meaning more Marines could train at once, train from remote posts or their barracks, and run more scenarios.

The new Joint Virtual Fires Trainer will multiply the amount of individuals that were training and certifying as [joint terminal attack controllers] for the fleet, Salm said.

A squad leader calculates distance and elevation of a simulated target during emergency close-air support training at the Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer facility aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., in 2015. (Cpl. Shawn Valosin/U.S. Marine Corps)

Similarly, Joseph Lomangino, action officer for Project Tripoli, said in an interview the service had already discontinued use of its Combined Arms Command and Control Training Upgrade System, or CACCTUS, which similarly involved a lot of computers and server stacks in a large building.

We determined we can achieve the same training and increase the density of that training across the Marine Corps by replacing the CACCTUS with the [Marine Common Virtual Platform], he said, referring to a common laptop with open standards that could be used for a range of live, virtual and constructive training needs.

About 1,600 laptops for combined arms and close-air support training have replaced six CACCTUS locations across the Corps. The Marine Common Virtual Platform will replace those laptops once the service chooses the final hardware, Lomangino said.

That same laptop will also be used in the final Joint Virtual Fires Trainer, he added.

Something better

This move to laptop-based training only works if they are connected to a robust network with realistic simulations and scenarios, Lomangino noted.

The Corps developed the Marine Training Enterprise Network and has since connected it to the Navys larger Navy Continuous Training Environment, itself available globally and around the clock.

Now, instead of units having to pile into a center or fly to a center, they can use laptops to conduct training anywhere  and alongside anyone else in the virtual environment, Lomangino said. You can have units in different, disparate locations train together in that environment.

Brown said the simulations will also be better, as Marines are ditching the MAGTF Tactical Warfare Simulation thats nearly four decades old and moving instead of the Joint Live Virtual Constructive Federation.

[The MAGTF Tactical Warfare Simulation] was a great simulation.  It did everything, but it did it about an inch deep, Brown said. As we move into new training environments that are being dictated by new operational environments, we need something better.

The Joint LVC Federation includes high-quality simulations that all the services and combatant commands will use. Salm said the exercise Steel Knight  a naval, joint and international training exercise that recently concluded at Camp Pendleton  leveraged the Navy Continuous Training Environment network and the Joint LVC Federation.

Every exercise we see, either going on at Twentynine Palms or even in the Pacific, like Balikatan next year, were going to continue to build upon the last exercise and adding more and more and more aspects of [Project] Tripoli to it, Salm added.

U.S. Marines conduct a live-fire and maneuver exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., in 2020. (Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons/U.S. Marine Corps)

The current fiscal year was meant to pave the way for the larger proliferation of laptops and other hardware that would be fielded in fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026, Lomangino said. But the ongoing continuing resolution funding the government has hindered the effort, as the measure doesnt allow the Corps to start new programs nor increase spending on existing programs.

The three officials declined to talk about planned or actual spending for Project Tripoli, due to ongoing budget uncertainty.

However, Lomangino said that by divesting of single-task trainers and replacing them with commercial and government off-the-shelf technology that already exists, the Corps is able to go from a limited LVC capability to an enterprise-level LVC capability without having to go through massive, extreme expenditures.

Brown said the effort would certainly lead to cost savings in the future because the service wont have to maintain massive buildings that house large trainers, and it will be cheaper to upgrade laptops rather than replace entire trainers that become obsolete.

But, he added, those savings are a secondary or tertiary benefit.

The application of virtual [and] constructive alongside the live is meant to produce a better trained Marine and a more combat-ready organization. You can equate it to a pitcher in the bullpen warming up before stepping onto the mound, Brown said.

The reason were doing this is Force Design, and Force Design needs this to be successful. And I dont want to overhype it, but the concepts and the formations and the capabilities  if they dont have a trained Marine with their hands on those and executing those, Force Design would fail.
A Massachusetts hospital confirmed Friday that its investigating a cybersecurity incident that disrupted patient records.

Anna Jaques Hospital on Highland Avenue in Newburyport recently experienced a cybersecurity incident that has impacted various systems, including its electronic health record system, a spokesperson for the healthcare facility said in a statement.

Recovery efforts are still in progress. Patient safety remains our top priority, the spokesperson wrote in an email to Boston 25 News. We appreciate the communitys patience as we work through this investigation.

The hospital will remain open to all patients as the investigation unfolds.

There were no additional details immediately available.

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
Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Friday, December 29, 2023.

 4 dead, many injured, shopping mall targeted in Dnipro in one of Russias largest civilian attacks

Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack using drones on Ukrainian cities on Dec. 29, causing huge destruction and casualties in many cities across the country.





 Russia abducts 10,000 Ukrainian children to Russian health camps in Autumn 2023 alone

Nearly 10,000 Ukrainian children were abducted to Russia from Ukraines temporarily occupied territories for so-called health improvement in the fall of 2023 alone, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reported.





 Russians add pressure on Ukrainians in occupied territory to take enemy passports  NRC

Russian police have conducted a series of raids on villages in occupied Kherson Oblast for "preventive talks" with residents who have refused a Russian passport, Ukraines National Resistance Center reported on Dec. 28.





 Two sailors injured, one hospitalized, after civilian ship flying Panama flag hits Black Sea mine

Two crew members aboard a civilian ship flying the Panamanian flag were injured after their ship struck a mine in the Black Sea, Ukraines Southern Defense Forces reported on Dec. 28.





 NATO aircraft engaging in real-time reconnaissance over frontlines and occupied Crimea

NATO aircraft are actively engaged in reconnaissance missions over both the frontlines and the occupied region of Crimea, the Crimean Wind monitoring group reported on Telegram on Dec. 28.





 Major counter-sabotage security operation underway in Kyiv Oblast

Counter-sabotage and security measures are being intensified in Kyiv Oblast from Dec. 28 to Jan. 6, with more checkpoints being deployed during this period, Kyiv Regional Governor Ruslan Kravchenko reported on Telegram on Dec. 28.





 Three Ukrainian POWs murdered by Russian paratroopers, says war crimes investigator

Three Ukrainian POWs were murdered by Russian paratroopers after surrendering, according to war crimes investigator Yuri Belousov on Dec. 28.





 U.S. proposes G7 working groups find way to seize $300 billion frozen Russian assets  FT

The United States has proposed that working groups from G7 explore ways to seize $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 28.





 U.S., Europe exploring shifting strategy in Ukraine should aid roadblocks continue

The Biden administration plans orient its support of Ukraine toward a defensive approach, following discussions with European allies, Politico reported.





 Why trust in the government is declining  It is just how Ukrainians think

One of the most discussed topics lately is the data from various sociological surveys on the decline in trust in government institutions. What is the reason for this trend?  Fesenko



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
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An injured girl is treated at a hospital near Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 28, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

More than 50 people were killed on Thursday in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip cities of Beit Lahia, Khan Younis and Al-Maghazi, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

The ministry's spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in a statement that dozens of people were injured in the attacks, and the death toll could rise.

More than 30 people were killed in the Israeli bombing of a residential square in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Later on Thursday, the number of Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip has risen to 21,320 with 55,603 injured, al-Qedra said during a press conference.

He added that 210 people were killed within the past 24 hours due to Israeli attacks.
China has denied media reports that its investigation into alleged lip syncing by a popular Taiwanese rock band is politically motivated.

The reports alleged that Beijing asked Mayday to make pro-China comments and that when the band refused, the inquiry was started to put pressure on them.

Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office has dismissed the reports as "fake news" and a "complete fabrication".

Taiwan says it is looking into the claims.

Mayday, known for their "positive rock music", are among the most successful Taiwanese acts in mainland China.

China's National Radio and Television Administration asked Mayday to publicly declare its support for Beijing's position that self-ruled Taiwan is part of China, Reuters news agency reported on Thursday, citing an internal Taiwan security note.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing's control, while Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically elected leaders.

Reports alleged that Beijing wanted to use Mayday to sway voters, particularly the youth, ahead of Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections on 13 January.

The requests for Mayday to issue statements in Beijing's favour went on for a few months and reportedly coincided with the start of the band's tour of China in May, CNN reported, citing a recent briefing on Taiwan's security affairs.

Officials at the security briefing said that when Mayday did not agree to the requests, Chinese authorities co-ordinated with state media to stir up discussion of Mayday's alleged lip-syncing and threatened the band with a penalty.

Commercial regulations in China prohibit lip syncing before paying audiences because it is "deceptive". The offence is punishable by a fine of 100,000 yuan ($14,110, 11,240). Artists can also be banned from performing and their show organisers could have their licences revoked.

However, the ban is rarely enforced and lip syncing is not uncommon for performers in China. This led some Chinese social media users to question why Mayday appeared to have been singled out when many performers, even those who appear on state television, are believed to lip sync.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it was investigating the allegations and that if they were true, they would worsen "negative impressions" of the Chinese Communist regime among Taiwanese youth.

Taiwan's main political parties criticised Chinese authorities for alleged political interference.

Opposition party Kuomintang said it "strongly condemns such actions" if the allegations were true.

"Not only will fans reject such interference, but it will also seriously harm the feelings of people in Taiwan and does nothing to enhance cross-strait exchanges," said its spokesman Wang Min-shu.

The reports show that China will "stop at nothing to intervene in [Taiwan's] election", said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office condemned the accusations as a deliberate move by Taiwanese authorities to "create rumours".

"This is insidious and malicious political manipulation. I hope our Taiwan compatriots will recognise their schemes and will not be deceived," said Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the office.

The investigation against Mayday was made public in early December. The band and its music label have denied that they lip synced, but had said they are co-operating with Chinese authorities.

China has been ramping up military and political pressure ahead of Taiwan's pivotal presidential race, such as by sending a record number of military planes near the island.
Mayor Eric Adams, an avowed booster of New York Citys nightlife scene, is dismantling a decades-old, multiagency enforcement task force that has long been accused of using heavy-handed tactics during inspections at bars and venues across the Big Apple.

The so-called MARCH task force, which has comprised the NYPD, the Department of Buildings, the FDNY, the State Liquor Authority and other agencies, will be replaced by a new initiative called CURE  Coordinating a United Resolution with Establishments  thats going to focus on compliance and education, not overenforcement, Adams told reporters Thursday.

This is an era of no more demonizing successful businesses, but promoting, lifting them up, Adams said during a press conference at the Paragon nightclub in Bushwick, Brooklyn. We want to continue to be the city that never sleeps.

The NYPD-led MARCH initiative, which was launched by Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 1990s, has drawn the ire of nightlife establishment owners for decades over its SWAT team-like surprise raids during peak business hours in response to noise complaints, health code violations and other community grievances. The raids resulted in either fines or mandatory closures of nightlife spots.

It was a very frustrating and confusing process, said John Barclay, Paragons owner, who was subjected to MARCH raids at other establishments hes operated.

CURE, by contrast, will not have such raids be part of its regular operations, according to City Hall.

Rather, itll require police precincts to establish direct lines of communication with bar and restaurant owners and inform them of any suspected violations at their establishments, including noise complaints. Owners will then have 30 days to address any infractions, according to City Hall.

The only venues who can expect to see significant enforcement actions are those that intentionally ignore community concerns, said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, the citys highest-ranking uniformed cop.

We have other things to do in the city than to chase business owners around, Maddrey added. We want to take care of real crime.

Another shakeup is that the CURE effort wont be spearheaded by the NYPD. Instead itll be overseen by Office of Nightlife Executive Director Jeffrey Garcia, the citys so-called nightlife mayor, who was tapped for his paid gig last month despite a hiring freeze enacted by Adams across all municipal agencies due to budgetary concerns.

Adams, whos known to frequent high-end nightclubs across the city, like NoHos Zero Bond, said he was on hand for a MARCH inspection that took place at a Brooklyn bar he was socializing at while borough president.

It was just so disruptive, Adams said.

Adams and members of his inner circle have a history of clashing with agencies policing the citys nightlife sector.

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Adams chief adviser at City Hall, helped East Williamsburg club Avant Gardner get meetings last year with a top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul to resolve issues it had with the State Liquor Authority after the agency accused the venue of turning a blind eye to rampant drug use at its premises that had resulted in multiple fatal overdoses, as first reported by Gothamist. The clubs attorney used to be Frank Carone, Adams former chief of staff and longtime political confidant.

When asked about the Avant Gardner situation earlier this year, Adams suggested the State Liquor Authority should be blacklisted from operating in the city. Im hoping that eventually well get to the day that the state SLA is handled on a city level, he said then.

While Adams abolishment of the MARCH task force was welcomed by business owners, at least one Council member voiced skepticism after Thursdays announcement.

Eliminating MARCH operations might inadvertently send the wrong message to the scofflaws, said Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a conservative Democrat whos typically supportive of Adams. More layers of bureaucracy will only prolong the existing quality-of-life issues. I hope this does not backfire.

_____
Engravings over the facade with the dates 1861 and 1865 and "A Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy" were covered by workers as crews removed the Confederate statues, plaques and pedestal from the "Women of the Southland" monument in Jacksonville's Springfield Park on Wednesday.

Mayor Donna Deegan said her decision to remove statues from the Confederate monument in Springfield Park came after it became clear City Council was unwilling to take any action in the community debate over whether Confederate tributes should be in public spaces.

City Council members pledged two years ago they would take the lead by exploring a range of options, but they did not follow through by determining what the city should do.

"If I have the opportunity to move this city forward, I'm going to do that," Deegan said in an interview at her City Hall office after the removal of the statues Wednesday morning. "This is one of the things I promised to do, and I was grateful for the opportunity to do it."

Social media reaction: Jacksonville trending after pro-Confederate 'Women of Southland' statue removal from park

Public opinion: Moving Confederate monuments from park space gains backing in Jacksonville, poll finds

Nate Monroe: Good riddance to Jacksonville's last major confederate monument

Deegan, a Democrat, faced a backlash from some Republican leaders. Dean Black, the chairman of the Republican Party of Duval County, and City Council member Nick Howland called it an "abuse of power" by Deegan because she did not seek council's approval. Gov. Ron DeSantis also ripped Deegan.

The idea that were going to just erase history is wrong," he said Thursday in Ankeny, Iowa as reported by Florida Politics. "Youve seen it now where they tried to take down Thomas Jefferson, they tried to take down George Washington off schools. It just gets so out of hand. So I dont support taking down statues, particularly if you dont have legal authority to do it."

The Republican-controlled state Legislature still could reverse the removal of Confederate monuments by Deegan and former Mayor Lenny Curry if lawmakers pass legislation that would stop Florida cities from acting on historic monuments and force the reinstallation of any moved in recent years.

Deegan, who told voters during her campaign she supported moving the monument in Springfield Park, said Jacksonville's strong-mayor form of government gave her the legal authority to act.

"I do have the opportunity to do some things through executive order, especially if I can't work through what I have really considered to be a very patient process with council," Deegan said.

She said she understands it's a tough political choice with public opinion split. She compared it to the decision by the city to expand its human rights ordinance to cover LGBT people in 2017 after years of debate.

"When we were looking at HRO, there were a lot of people who didn't want to see the HRO pass, but you can't always wait for public opinion to do what you think is the right thing," she said. "So I wasn't so much focused on the polls as much as I focused on what is the best thing for our city."

The HRO expansion occurred on a vote by City Council that Curry let become law without his signature. The removal of statues from the "Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy" monument differed in that it was a case of executive action.

Jacksonville group of business leaders praises decision

The Jacksonville Civic Council, a group of corporate and nonprofit leaders, praised the move by Deegan.

"Great progress can occur when we all unite around a common vision and move our city forward," Civic Council Board Chairman Eric Mann and CEO Dennis Whittle said in a statement. "To move forward, it is time we put the issue of Confederate monuments behind us."

They said the Civic Council has supported moving Confederate monuments from public land since 2017 and also proposed having public meetings so all sides share their views in forums with an independent moderator.

"Again, no action was taken," they said. "Today, action was taken. We applaud and support the mayor's decisive action."

The fate of the Springfield monument has been before City Council since it withdrew legislation filed by Curry in late 2021 for moving the entire monument  not just the statues  out of Springfield Park at an estimated cost of $1.3 million. Council members said at the time that withdrawing the bill would allow them to create a path forward for a decision.

Council members then committed that the future of Confederate monuments and markers in Jacksonville would be determined by them in summer 2022 after having a series of "community conversations."

The council did not hold any of the community conversations, however. When Curry proposed $500,000 in his 2022-23 budget for moving Confederate monuments, the council agreed to put the money in the capital improvements program but stipulated it could only be used after council undertook "community engagement" and decided what should happen to the monuments.

The conditions attached to the $500,000 did not stop Curry from taking down the obelisk in May 2023 for the Confederate monument in James Weldon Johnson Park in downtown. That came nearly three years after he directed the June 9, 2020, removal of the bronze statue of a Confederate soldier at the top of the monument. He did not seek council approval for either of those takedowns.

Deegan said she began talking three to four months ago with nonprofit leaders about the monument in Springfield Park and whether private fundraising could create the pool of money needed to remove the statutes.

"I know we shared the value of wanting this community to come together, and we all thought that was an important piece," Deegan said.

Deegan says rest of monument can stay after statue removal

ACON Construction had told the city in September 2021 it would cost $1.3 million to carefully cut the granite monument into smaller pieces in a way that the statues, slabs and columns could still be reassembled later at a different site if the city wanted that option.

Deegan said she didn't see a need to remove the entire monument that's been in Springfield Park since 1915.

"To me, that really was just simply a structure that held the statues," she said. "So I think we could repurpose that in a way we could create something unifying for our city."

By Wednesday afternoon, workers had removed the Confederate statues, plaques and pedestal from the "Women of the Southland" monument in Jacksonville's Springfield Park and covered the markings on the large structure. Mayor Donna Deegan, who ordered the removal of those items, said the rest of the monument can stay in the park and be repurposed for continued use.

By reducing the scope of the work, the cost dropped to $187,000 for removing just the bronze statues portraying a woman holding a Confederate flag on top of the monument and a woman reading to two children inside it.

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund and 904WARD, both Jacksonville nonprofit organizations, provided funding for the work, and 904WARD contracted with ACON Construction for the removal. Deegan gave the go-ahead for the work to happen.

No City Council member has voiced support for using taxpayer dollars to move the statues back to Springfield Park, but they have raised questions about what authority Deegan has to use private money for city purposes without getting council approval.

"I don't feel like there's an appetite from the council standpoint to put those back up," City Council President Ron Salem said. "I do think there is a lot of interest in exactly how she (Deegan) did this from a policy standpoint and how can we prevent it from occurring in the future."

"What's stopping the mayor from raising money and going into James Weldon Johnson Park and taking down the Charlie Bennett statue?" Salem said, referring to the statute of the long-time congressman.

He said he's going to file legislation that would clarify that donations of money and in-kind contributions must go before City Council for approval for exactly how they will be used.

Howland, who wrote that "Deegan is our Mayor, not our Monarch" on X while the statues were being removed, said any action on the monument should not have occurred until after council made a policy decision.

Deegan is our Mayor, not our Monarch. Waiting until nightfall before taking a backhoe to the Women of the South monument is blatant overreach.



This was Councils decision to make. Regardless of your opinion of the monument, this is abuse of power & disregard for transparency. pic.twitter.com/8og61rJzoR  Nick Howland (@NickHowland15) December 27, 2023

"My concerns are executive overreach and lack of transparency," Howland said. "To me, what we have to litigate here is whether there was abuse of executive authority."

Deegan said General Counsel Michael Fackler told her she had the legal authority to use the arrangement with the non-profit organizations. The mayor's office released a draft legal memorandum that put forward the legal reasoning.

The undated memo, which does not identify who wrote it, says the restrictions placed by council in 2022 on using the $500,000 in the capital improvement program do not apply to private money. By using "non-city" funding, the mayor can remove or relocate a monument from a city park because the mayor has "exclusive authority over the conduct of departments" in the city and "parks is one such department under executive branch control."

The city does encourage monetary donations to help pay for city activities. Donations for more than $500,000 must get approval by City Council and for donations of less than $500,000, the money goes into the city's general fund, according to long-standing provisions in the city's ordinance code.

The parks department has a community services trust fund that donors can support in order to pay for park enhancements, such as mowing the grass more frequently and adding programs, or for improving facilities at city parks.

Any expenditure from the trust fund exceeding $100,000 must get prior council approval, and the same goes for any in-kind donation with a value of more than $100,000.

Salem also wants to examine why removal of statutes from the Confederate monument did not first go through the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission for it to vote on a certificate of appropriateness.

The creation of the Springfield Historic District in 1992 cited the neighborhood's parks and monuments as "significant characteristics" of the district, but that ordinance did not specifically identify the Confederate monument as a "contributing structure" to the district, according to the draft legal memorandum.

The legal memo said it is the Office of General Counsel's opinion that Deegan does not need a certificate of appropriateness for the Confederate monument.

State lawmakers want to punish cities that remove monuments

While City Council members are calling on Fackler for more elaboration, the state Legislature will convene in January for a session that will bring up votes on legislation that could reverse what Curry and Deegan did on Confederate monuments.

Black, who serves in the state House in addition to being chairman of the Republican Party of Duval County, and state Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, filed related bills that would force local governments that remove historic monuments to cover the full cost for putting them back in their original condition.

Black's bill would enforce that requirement for any historic monuments removed since Jan. 1, 2017 while Martin would make it retroactive to Oct. 1, 2020.

Black wants the governor to be able to boot from office any local elected official involved in that removal, going back to January 2017. Martin would not give the governor the ability to retroactively punish an elected official, but it would allow that ejection from office after July 1, 2024.

Martin and Black use the same justification in their bills that the state must protect and preserve history from local officials who might be swayed by "undue influence by groups who may feel offended or hurt by certain actions" in the history of Florida and the nation.

Deegan said an attempt by state lawmakers to punish local elected officials for moving a monument would be unconstitutional.

"I cannot make decisions in this office based on fear of what somebody else is going to do," she said. "I came into this office to make a difference. I came into this office to try to unify this city, and that's what I'm going to do."

She said she thinks the business community and civic leadership of Jacksonville are with her about Confederate monuments on public spaces. The installation of the monument in Springfield Park occurred during the Jim Crow era of segregation with a system of laws that treated Black residents as second-class citizens.

Deegan said moving the statues means Jacksonville "has decided as a city that in a city park in a Black neighborhood, we're not going to elevate a time in our history (and) glorify a time in our history when those folks didn't even count as full people."

"That's not erasing history," she said. "That's simply saying, 'This is the value of what we place on where we are as a community.'"

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville decision on Confederate monument praised and attacked
A California judge ruled Thursday that state Rep. Vince Fong (R), a former staffer and mentee of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), may run for Congress to replace his former boss, succeeding in a challenge after he was deemed ineligible.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) determined Fong could not be placed on the congressional ballot because he had already declared reelection for the state Assembly, and state law barred a candidate from being on a ballot twice.

But state Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang ruled that Webers determination was in fact a creative use of law wholly inapplicable to him.

Chang said the state law that barred Fong from the ballot only applied to independent candidates for Congress, not partisan primaries.

Fong celebrated the ruling.

Todays ruling is a victory for the voters of the 20th Congressional District, who will now have the opportunity to select the candidate of their choice in the March 5th election, he said in a statement Thursday. I am grateful that Judge Chang upheld the integrity of our elections and sided with Central Valley voters against an overreaching Sacramento politician.

Confusion over ballot eligibility came after state Sen. Shannon Grove (R) turned down a bid for McCarthys seat. She was seen as the favorite to replace the former Speaker, with Fong stepping up the day after she chose not to run.

McCarthy quickly endorsed him.

The judge did warn, however, that her ruling could cause confusion among voters if he is elected to both offices.

It somewhat defies common sense to find the law permits a candidate to run for two offices during the same election, Chang wrote. However, as stated above, the Court is compelled to interpret the law as it is written by the Legislature and finds Elections Code section 8003 is inapplicable to Fongs petition.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LOS ANGELES  California Assemblymember Vince Fongs congressional hopes remain alive after a judge ruled Thursday he could proceed as a candidate to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

The ruling by Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang caps off a chaotic start in the race to succeed the former House speaker, who is retiring at the end of the month.

The decision rejects the argument by California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, whose office said Fong's candidacy violated state election code. Chang said such statute "is inapplicable to Fong and cannot be used as a reason to preclude him" from the primary ballot.

Fong issued a celebratory statement soon after the ruling was handed down.

"Today's ruling is a victory for the voters of the 20th Congressional District, who will now have the opportunity to select the candidate of their choice in the March 5th election," he said. "I am grateful that Judge Chang upheld the integrity of our elections and sided with Central Valley voters against an overreaching Sacramento politician."

At issue was whether Fong could remain on the ballot as a congressional candidate, even though he had already filed for reelection for his Assembly seat after opting not to seek McCarthys seat. Fong changed his mind after state Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), who was widely seen as a strong potential contender, surprised the Central Valley by declining to run.

By that point, the deadline to withdraw from the ballot as an Assembly candidate had passed. Fong filed for a congressional run anyway, which Weber said violated state law against appearing on the same ballot twice for different positions. After Weber said Fong would not appear on the list of certified candidates for the 20th congressional district, Fong sued to stay on the ballot.

Thursdays hearing delved into arcane interpretations of state election law, with Fongs lawyers arguing that state law did not explicitly prohibit a politician from serving in both Congress and the state legislature.

The judge's ruling, while favorable to Fong, contained a distinct note of concern about his candidacy. Change wrote the outcome of her decision "may result in voter confusion and the disenfranchisement of voters if Fong is ultimately elected for both offices but does not retain one. Moreover, it somewhat defies common sense to find the law permits a candidate to run for two offices during the same election."

Chang issued her ruling minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline for the Secretary of State to produce a list of certified candidates for the district.

Fong, who once worked as McCarthys district director and was immediately endorsed by his former boss, is well-positioned as a front-runner, given his established profile in the district and access to the former speakers political network.

But the confusion over Fongs eligibility prompted a number of other hopefuls to enter the race for the solidly Republican district. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Kyle Kirkland, a wealthy Fresno casino-owner and philanthropist, are among those seeking the seat, as well as David Giglio, who entered the race months earlier as a far-right challenger to McCarthy.
Over 34 years after the release of "When Harry Met Sally," Meg Ryan is looking back on her time acting alongside Billy Crystal.

The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts honored multiple artists at the event, which took place on Dec. 3 and was aired Dec. 27, including Crystal, Renee Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah and Dionne Warwick.

Ryan's speech honored her co-star in the fan-favorite rom com  and roasted him, too.

To start off the speech, Ryan touched on the movie's famous New York deli-set scene, in which Sally (played by Ryan) fakes an orgasm while sitting across from her then-friend, Harry (played by Crystal).

Film still or Publicity still from When Harry Met Sally Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (C) 1989 Castle Rock All Rights Reserved File Reference # 31623016THA For Editorial Use Only (Alamy Stock Photo)

"This scene came really naturally to me, and I really have Billy to thank for that," she said. "I've actually never been around anyone who made faking an orgasm easier. So, thank you, Billy."

While the movie came out decades ago, Ryan said she notices and appreciates the ongoing support it continues to receive to this day.

"Somehow, even a million years later, 'When Harry Met Sally' is still at the top of every list when people talk about their favorite rom coms," Ryan said. "Which is flattering, amazing and humbling."

As for why the movie is still so resonant? Ryan praised director Rob Reiner's "brilliant direction," writer Nora Ephron's "perfect script" and Marc Shaiman's "fantastic musical score."

The 62-year-old actor also took a moment to look at the chemistry she and Crystal, 75, shared when filming "When Harry Met Sally."

"And then, there's chemistry. Chemistry is ... well, no one really knows what chemistry is, but Harry and Sally had it," she said.

"And all I know is that acting with Billy was effortless, the characters just came alive and just meeting him, I don't know how could you not love Billy Crystal."

Meg Ryan honors Billy Crystal | 46th Kennedy Center Honors (YouTube)

She went on to do a little bit of character analysis for Sally's romantic match.

"Harry is a very flawed character," she said. "Obnoxious, insensitive and terrified of commitment."

"But if you strip away all of Harry's flaws, what you have underneath is pure Billy, and what he brings to all his characters ... heart."

Crystal has had a long career in Hollywood, with roles ranging from "Monsters Inc." to "City Slickers." He recently adapted and starred in a Broadway version of his movie "Mr. Saturday Night."

Ryan says Crystal is the reason behind Harry's staying power.

"Harry listened to his heart because Billy listens to his," she said.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Running a restaurant has always been tough  but its gotten much tougher since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and many owners had to temporarily close their businesses.

Since then, restaurant owners have been battling staffing problems, and in 2023, food costs skyrocketed. Several restaurants didnt survive.

Its become an end-of-the-year tradition to remember, in memoriam-style, the restaurants Wichita lost over the past 12 months.

A moment of silence, please.

Both locations of The Angry Elephant in Wichita, including this one at 47th and Broadway, closed in January.

JANUARY

Angry Elephant, 756 N. Tyler and 111 E. 47th St. South: Its not clear exactly when owner Santiago Munoz  who once had big expansion plans for his Angry Elephant barbecue restaurants  closed both of his Wichita restaurants. But by January, they were gone.

JAX Restaurant and Bar, 9719 E. 21st St. North: JAX was the second concept that Deanos Grill & Tapworks owner John Arnold tried in this restaurant space at Cambridge Market. In the fall of 2020, he changed the restaurants branding from the higher-end Greystone Steak & Seafood to the more casual Jax. But on Jan. 2, he announced he would close it, too, saying COVID had affected his business. Arnold is now working on a second Deanos Grill & Tapworks restaurant, which should open this spring at 37th and Ridge. Soon, a new tenant will take over the empty Jax building: a Kansas City-based Mexican restaurant called Viva Tacos & Tequila.

Uno Mas, 8841 W. 13th St.: At the start of 2023, Abel Rodriguez was still operating two of his fresh Mex restaurants  plus his then-new Cabron y Vagos restaurant and nightclub downtown at 301 N. Washington. In January, though, he closed the 13th and Tyler Uno Mas restaurant, saying he wasnt sure if he would reopen it. He didnt, and by April, hed partnered with former coworker Deved Mekaeil and opened a new Mediterranean restaurant in the spot called Shawarma URs. (It also did not survive the year in the space but now operates as a food truck.)

FEBRUARY

Tutors Pizza, 524 S. Seneca and 3817 W. 13th St.: David Thompson opened two Tutors Pizza restaurants in the summer of 2022, but neither lasted long. The one in the former Knollas spot on West 13th Street closed in December 2022 followed by the one in the former Clutch House space at Kellogg and Seneca in February of this year. The strip center on South Seneca now has a new owner whos trying to find new restaurant tenants.

Sunflower Espresso, 500 S. Topeka: Kate Hutchens started her business as a food bus in 2014 then announced plans in late 2020 to open a tiny brick-and-mortar cafe in the FireWorx building. But she and her business partner decided to close the business in February. Fairly quickly, the space got a new tenant: Paranormal Cafe.

NuWay, 6404 E. Central and 3441 E. Harry: In late February, NuWay owner Chris Stong closed two of his local chains longtime restaurants, saying that COVID had weakened them both. Now, two remain: the original at 1416 W. Douglas and the NuWay at 7301 W. Central.

Hana Cafe, 325 N. Mead: After 27 years of running her business  both on Rock Road where she opened in 1996 and in Old Town Square where she moved in 2006  Eunice Kim decided she was ready to retire and she closed her sushi and noodle restaurant in late February. A new sushi restaurant called Sushiya has since moved in.

Hana Cafe in Old Town Square closed for good in February.

MARCH

Jenny Dawn Cellars, 703 E. Douglas: Jennifer McDonald opened her urban winery in late 2019 at Union Station. The business survived a pandemic and a December 2022 break-in. But in early March, McDonald said she had to close the business.

Angelas, 300 S. Greenwich: The citys last remaining Angelas cafe closed in early March, with the owner citing personal reasons in a Facebook post. It first opened in the fall of 2021.

Sumo by Nambara, 11233 E 13th St.: This sushi and hibachi restaurant originally opened in February 2000 at 3236 N. Rock Road then moved to the Plazzio in 2006. After years of rumors that it was closing, it finally did in March. A new restaurant called Umi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar has since moved in.

Baskin-Robbins, 2126 N. Webb Road, 8918 W. 21st St.: Wichita became a Baskin-Robbins-free zone in late March when both local stores closed. The west-side space still sits empty. A new dirty soda shop called Just A Sip took over the east-side spot in November.

Town & Country Classic, 2315 W. 21st St.: This restaurant, owned by a former customer of the original Town & Country on West Kellogg, first opened at K-42 and Maize Road in 2020. The owner decided to move it to what he hoped was a busier part of town, and when New Neighbors closed in late 2022, he took the spot. But by late March, it was gone. A new restaurant called Amore Italian Restaurant opened there in November.

Bomber Burger closed in April after the untimely death of owner Chris Rickard.

APRIL

Bomber Burger, 4869 S. Clifton: Chris Rickard was known city-wide for his greasy burgers and surly demeanor. But when he died suddenly after a traffic accident in April, the south-side burger joint hed run since 1997 closed and never reopened.

First Mile Cantine, 320 S. Market: Husband and wife Nick Korbee and Amanda Luginbill opened a sister concept to their upscale First Mile Kitchen restaurant in the summer of 2022. But nine months later, they closed it, saying theyd run out of resources and bandwidth to really execute it at a level it really needed to grow. The space they vacated, which is on the ground level of Fidelity Banks RISE Car Park, is now home to Josh Rathbuns first solo restaurant: Lotte, which opened in October. The Korbees are still running First Mile Kitchen at Bradley Fair.

Los Compas, 4559 N. Woodlawn: The owners of this Mexican restaurant battled road construction from the day they first opened in July 2021. They finally gave up in April and closed. Since then, theyve opened a new restaurant called Casa Mexicana at 6600 W. Central.

Walts All-American Bar & Grill, 5534 W. Central: In the summer of 2022, business partners Hamendra Bhakta and Jason Bradley purchased the strip center that held Walts, and their initial plan was to close the restaurant, which opened in the early 1990s. Instead, they remodeled and reopened it. But by April, it was closed. The partners are now using the restaurants parking lot for their Global Auto Brokers car dealership and the Walts space for their offices.

Hardees: Suddenly and without explanation in April, Denver-based Capstone Restaurant Group closed its three Wichita Hardees  at 1320 N. Tyler Road, 2053 N. Amidon and 3216 E. Harry  as well as the one at 2101 N. Rock Road in Derby. The Amidon space soon will be home to a Popeyes restaurant. The other buildings are still vacant.

Hardees departed the Wichita market in April.

MAY

Linas Mexican Cuisine, 3570 N. Woodlawn: The owners of this Mexican restaurant, which had operated since 2015, announced on social media in May that theyd decided not to renew the lease on their northeast Wichita space. Theyre still running a Linas at 4910 E. Central, though. A new Thai restaurant called Thai Table has since taken over the old Linas spot.

JUNE

Kookaburra Coffee, 9414 W. Central: Rebecca Fox opened this coffee shop in the Westlink shopping center in late 2018. But in June, Fox posted on social media that shed been too busy with her full-time job  a multi-state coffee service company  to give the cafe the attention it needed and said that it was barely breaking even. Theres now paper covering the windows of the shop, which usually indicates that a new business is moving in. But theres no word yet on what it might be.

Fried Pies, 8520 W. 13th St.: A little drive-up shop serving fried pies opened in Northwest Centre in 2018, but owners Bradley and Laura Monahan and Shaker Dakhil closed the shop in June without offering a reason. They also briefly owned a fried pies shop in Park City. The Northwest Centre spot became home to Wichitas first dirty soda shop, Just a Sip, in October.

Las Cabos Cantina & Grill, 3827 W. 13th St.: This 2-year-old restaurant closed in June and was quickly replaced by La Sufrida Mexican Grill, which is still open.

The Albero Cafe near Central and Oliver closed in July after nearly 10 years at the address.

JULY

Albero Cafe, 4811 E. Central: Hassan Ballout first opened his Albero Cafe Italian restaurant in 2014, and it became a College Hill staple. But his landlord has other plans for the area, and Ballout had to leave the space at Central and Oliver. He closed in July but still has his other restaurant  Albero Bistro  at Greenwich Place, 2884 N. Greenwich Ct.

Common Grounds, 2812 E. Douglas: Randy Ecker and Diana Lizarraga opened their coffee shop in a 2,800-square-foot, three-story College Hill house in 2012, and it became a go-to spot for people recovering from addiction. But the two decided to close their shop and focus more on their treatment center, Seventh Direction. Common Grounds last day was July 14. The space is now occupied by a Wichita branch of the Derby-originated coffee shop and co-op bakery The Coop.

Common Grounds had operated in College Hill since 2012.

AUGUST

The Tea House, 3700 E. Douglas: In August, Papas General Store owner Derek Sorrells bought the tea room that had operated next door to him in Clifton Square since August 2020. Hes still working on a plan to turn the old house the tea room occupied into a high-end whiskey, wine and tea bar.

Buffalo Wings & Rings, 2636 N. Greenwich Court: This hot wing restaurant chain came to Wichita in 2018, opening in the Greenwich Place development. But it suddenly closed in August, and the franchisees offered no explanation. The building is still for lease.

The Wichita Fish Co. is closed in August after 33 years.

Wichita Fish Co., 818 N. Mosley: Early in the pandemic, Larry and Judy Towns moved their Wichita Fish Co. from its longtime home at 1601 W. Douglas in Delano to the former Rachels Kitchen spot at 818 N. Mosley, hoping that its smaller footprint would help it focus more on carryout business. But Larry died in January 2022, and the space didnt bring in the business the family had hoped. They closed the restaurant in August after having owned it for 33 years.

SEPTEMBER

Uno Mas, 3242 N. Rock Road: Abel Rodriguez closed his last Uno Mas restaurant in Wichita in September, saying he wanted to put his full focus on his Cabron y Vagos restaurant and nightclub downtown at 301 N. Washington. Uno Mas had been in the space since 2020. A new Indian restaurant called Astoria Biryani House opened there in October.

Shawarma URs, 8641 W. 13th St.: This build-your-own shawarma restaurant took over the former Uno Mas spot at Tyler Pointe in April. But the brick-and-mortar restaurant closed in early September, and owner Deved Mekaeil started work on a Shawarma URs food truck, which he opened in the fall.

OCTOBER

McDonalds, 1050 N. Broadway: Lane Enterprises Michael Lane closed this almost 60-year-old McDonalds restaurant on Halloween. He said the decision came down from McDonalds corporate as part of an occasional screening the company does of all of its restaurants.

San Salvador Cafe, 5518 W. Central: The little pupusa restaurant that opened in 2019 at 5518 W. Central closed in October having lost its lease: The landlord plans to tear the tiny building down to make way for his car lot. But Norma Arteaga and her sister, Hazel, say they are trying to find another space where they can reopen.

California Tortilla closed in October after nearly four years in Wichita.

California Tortilla, 2244 N. Greenwich: This build-your-own burrito chain first entered the Wichita market in January of 2020, and in 2021, the original franchisee closed the restaurant then turned it over to a new one. But Terri Jabara said she quickly realized that Wichita was more of a Chipotle or true Mexican town and tried to find yet another franchisee to take over. Failing to do so, she closed the restaurant in October. But the space didnt stay vacant long. The owners of Social Tap at 4510 E. 19th St. opened a second location in the California Tortilla space in December. The new Social Tap features beers brewed by Nortons Brewing Company

Litos, 756 N. Tyler: When Angry Elephant closed in January, owner Santiago Munozs cousin, Angel Ponce, decided he wanted to try a restaurant that served both regular and vegan versions of dishes like burgers and tacos. He opened in the spring, but by October, the restaurant was gone.

Lotus Leaf in Old Town offered a healthier menu. It closed in November.

Lotus Leaf, 252 N. Washington: Jackie Keefer closed her colorful healthy-eating restaurant, which had been in Old Town since 2014, in late October, saying shed just experienced the worst month in the restaurants history. Rising food costs, she said, were the main culprit.

DECEMBER

West Street Burgers South, 2560 S. Seneca: Dont panic: The original West Street Burgers at 130 S. West St. is open and doing fine. But the owner decided in mid-December to close the south location he opened in 2018.

Las Catrinas, 2330 N. Maize Road: This Mexican restaurant opened in early 2021 but quietly closed in early December. Its the latest in a string of restaurants to have operated in the space for just a short time, and now, the owner is looking for a new tenant  or two  to move in.

Crutch & Biscuit, 550 N. Rock Road: In December, Crutch & Biscuit owner Steven Gaudreau closed the barbecue restaurant he opened in the summer of 2020 and turned it into a Wichita location of the once-popular Lawrence business Quintons. Though the barbecue is gone, people can still get the Crutch & Biscuit brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Villa Del Sol, 2227 N. Arkansas: This Mexican restaurant was the latest tenant of the building near 21st and Arkansas most famous as the longtime home of Taqueria El Paisa. It had a buffet, but that didnt save it. The restaurant closed in December after a little less than a year in business. A new restaurant called Paisa Town, which will have a bar and authentic Mexican dishes, its owners say, will open there in early January.

PourHouse, 711 E. Douglas: PourHouse will serve its last meal on Saturday, Dec. 30. But the owners of Walnut River Brewing, who first opened the restaurant in Union Station in 2018, will keep the property and turn it into a new brewpub concept. Theyll make the beer, and Ziggys Pizza will create the menu. The partners are still thinking of a name for the new business but hope to have it open by spring.

Leslie Coffee Co.s last day in in Wichita will be Saturday.

Leslie Coffee Co., 930 W. Douglas: Sarah Leslie will serve her last cup of coffee at her 5-year-old Delano coffee shop on Saturday, Dec. 30. After that, local entrepreneurs will open a combination coffee shop and bar  Pennant Coffee and Good Company  in the space.

Violas Pantry, 156 N. Cleveland: Kristina Grappo opened this business selling fresh-made pasta and occasional pasta meals to-go back in 2021. But she had to relocate to Phoenix for her husbands job and announced in late December that the markets last day open in Wichita would be Sunday, Dec. 31.
Frigates cleave through waves in training

China Military Online) 08:48, December 29, 2023

A guided-missile frigate attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command steams forward during a training exercise in recent days. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Bin)

A guided-missile frigate attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command steams forward during a training exercise in recent days. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Bin)

A guided-missile frigate attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command cleaves through the waves during a training exercise in recent days. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Bin)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday condemned the United States for its nonstop arms delivery to Israel for use against the Palestinians, reported the semi-official Fars news agency.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks at a gathering in the north-central Iranian city of Qom while commenting on the developments in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israeli attacks, the report said.

"Today, American arms are being delivered to Tel Aviv from all bases across the region without an hour of pause. In addition to these weapons, certain (military) equipment are directly sent from the United States to Cyprus and thence to Tel Aviv," he said.

The Iranian top diplomat slammed the U.S. hypocrisy by claiming that it did not seek to widen the conflict's scope while continuing to send arms and military gear to Israel around the clock.

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. The relentless Israeli bombings and ground offensive in Gaza have so far killed over 21,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the Gaza population.
When it first opened in downtown Miamis historic Seybold Building, Motek Israeli-Mediterranean restaurant faced significant hurdles. It opened during a global pandemic. Indoor dining was shut down. The restaurant didnt even have decent signs to direct customers inside.

None of these obstacles proved permanently damaging. Now, three years later, owners Charlie and Tessa Levy have opened their fifth location of the restaurant, in Miamis Brickell neighborhood.

The new Motek at Brickell City Centre, which replaces Est. 33 Thai Craft Brewery & Kitchen on the fourth floor, is 10,000 square feet, the brands largest restaurant to date and light years from the size of the small Seybold Building location that remains open.

If youve visited the brands other restaurants at the Aventura Mall or on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, youll recognize the restaurants signature yellow accents and decorative flowers (theres also a less atmospheric, fast-casual version of the restaurant called Yalla at the Aventura Malls Treats Food Hall).

Our little cafe has grown up and evolved, Tessa Levy told the Miami Herald earlier this year, when the Gables Motek opened.

The outdoor patio at the newest Motek Israeli Mediterranean restaurant at Brickell City Centre.

The Brickell restaurant seats 255, with indoor and outdoor tables, and theres also a 24-seat bar and a swanky new beverage program run by mixologist and beverage director Randy Perez. The cocktails aim to highlight the best of Israel, the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean.

Foodwise, the menu will be familiar, with some of the items coming from Moteks signature wood-fired oven. Expect shakshuka; hummus; other hot and cold mezzes; salads; kebabs; a killer chicken schnitzel sandwich and a variety of wraps. The Brickell restaurant is also the first Motek with its own in-house bakery, which is good news for pita fans.

Naturally, the famous Arayes burger, which has won the Peoples Choice award at Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival the past two years, will be on the menu. Tessa Levy calls the burgers, which get their flavor from the variety of herbs in the meat, an homage to Middle Eastern and Israeli cooking.

Moteks Arayes burger, served on pita, won the Peoples Choice Award at the South Beach Wine & Food Festivals Burger Bash in 2022 and 2023.

The restaurant also offers vegetarian and gluten-free choices.

Owner Charlie Levy said in a statement that Motek will elevate the areas culinary offerings even further.

Sharing our concept with the dynamic community of Brickell is a significant milestone for both my wife Tessa and me, he said. With the community being so responsive to Motek, our team is honored to extend our presence across Miami.

The brand is also planning to open a restaurant in Miami Beach as well as a new concept, Sesame Bakery, at the SoLe Mia development in North Miami in 2024.

The dining room at Motek Israeli Mediterranean restaurant at Brickell City Centre in Miami.

Motek

Where: Brickell City Centre, 701 S. Miami Ave., Unit 412A

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

More information: www.motekcafe.com or 786-744-5590

Carbone owners open chic restaurant in historic Miami chateau. Can you get a table?
Michael Cohen, former President Trumps ex-fixer and personal lawyer, said in newly unsealed court filings that he accidentally gave his lawyer fake legal citations concocted by the artificial intelligence program Google Bard.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman called three case citations into question earlier this month after they were used in a motion to end Cohens supervised release early. Cohen pleaded guilty to charges including tax evasion and campaign finance violations in 2018 and served some time in prison.

Cohen wrote in a sworn declaration unsealed Friday that he has not kept up with emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology and was not aware that Google Bard was a generative text service that, like Chat-GPT, could create citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not. He instead believed the service to be a supercharged search engine.

He also said that as a non-lawyer, he trusted his counsel, David Schwartz, to vet any suggestions he made before incorporating them into his filing.

It did not occur to me then and remains surprising to me nowthat Mr. Schwartz would drop the cases into his submission wholesale without even confirming that they existed, Cohen wrote.

In his order directing Schwartz to produce evidence the cases were real, Furman suggested the lawyer could face sanctions. Cohen defended his lawyer in his declaration, asserting the error was an honest mistake.

Cohens proclivity to untruths came under harsh scrutiny during his testimony in Trumps fraud trial and could continue to raise issues as the former presidents other legal matters progress. Cohen is expected to be a star witness in Trumps New York criminal case.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trumps former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, accidentally gave his lawyer phony legal citations  which were then used in a motion given to a federal judge  conjured by Googles artificial intelligence chatbot, Google Bard.

Per The New York Times, Cohen pulled the citations when trying to aid his lawyer with a motion related to his 2018 guilty plea for campaign finance violations. Cohen spent just over a year in prison (he was released early in 2020 due to Covid-19) but remained under court supervision. The filing featuring the fake Google Bard citations was submitted in November as part of an effort to convince the court to end this supervision early because Cohen had served his time and complied with the conditions of his release.

Cohens extremely online goof was revealed in a set of court documents unsealed Friday, Dec. 29. Amongst them was a sworn declaration from Cohen, in which he admitted, as a non-practicing lawyer, he hadnt kept up with emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology.

As such, he continued, he was not aware that Google Bard was like Chat-GPT, and could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not. Instead, Cohen said, he thought it was a super-charged search engine.

Cohen went on to claim that after he submitted the citations to the lawyer helping him, David M. Schwartz, the filing underwent several additional rounds of edits. According to Cohen, neither Schwartz nor his paralegal raised any issues with the citations

It did not occur to me then  and remains surprising to me now  that Mr. Schwartz would drop the cases into his submission wholesale without even confirming that they existed, Cohen said. Accordingly, when I saw the citations and descriptions I had sent Mr. Schwartz quoted at length in the draft filing, I assumed that Mr. Schwartz had reviewed and verified that information and deemed it appropriate to submit to the court.

Schwartz, for his part, submitted a declaration of his own claiming he believed the phony case summaries had been found by another lawyer working for Cohen, E. Dayna Perry. Schwartz said that because of Perrys reputation, he did not independently review the cases and failed to review what I thought was the research of another attorney.

He added: I never contemplated that the cases cited were non-existent.

For those curious, the fake court cases cited in Cohens November motion all appear to share names with actual court cases  but the details are obviously drastically different. For instance, United States v. Figueroa-Flores was, in reality, a 2009 case about identity theft that went all the way to the Supreme Court. It was not, as the fake AI citation claimed, a case involving a defendant convicted of cocaine possession who successfully secured early termination of his court supervision by complying with the conditions of his release.

While Cohens AI gaffe technically has no relation to the various legal proceedings against his former boss, Donald Trump, in which he is involved, it could still be a detriment. Cohen has already testified against Trump in a New York civil case, and hell be a key witness in an upcoming criminal case also taking place in NYC. Trump and his legal team have long tried to cast doubts on Cohens reliability as a witness, and using AI  even allegedly accidentally  to cook up phony cases without doing the bare minimum to check your work probably doesnt help too much in establishing credibility.

In the criminal case, Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a scheme intended to cover up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Cohen allegedly paid Daniels out of his own pocket, funneling the money through shell corporations, and prosecutors have alleged that Cohen confirmed with Trump that Trump would pay him back.

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Michael Cohen, Donald Trumps one-time lawyer and fixer used Google Bard, the artificial intelligence program, to provide his lawyer with fictitious legal citations, according to newly unsealed court papers.

The fake citations were then included in a motion filed with a Manhattan federal judge to argue for an early end to Cohens court supervision having been released from prison for campaign finance violation charges that he pleaded guilty to in 2018.

Cohen explained in a sworn declaration released on Friday (29 December) that he had not kept abreast of emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology and did not realize that Google Bard was a generative text service that, like ChatGPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not.

He added that he also didnt realise that his lawyer, David Schwartz, would drop the cases into his submission wholesale without even confirming that they existed.

The existence of the bogus case citations came to light in mid-December when Judge Jesse Furman asked Mr Schwartz to provide the court with copies of them having found that as far as he could tell, none of these cases exist.

Donald Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen at former presidents fraud trial in New York (AFP via Getty Images)

Judge Furman wrote: Moreover, the Court contacted the Clerk of the Court for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, who found no record of any of the three decisions and reported that the one listed docket number ... is not a valid docket number.

Cohens new lawyer, Danya Perry, also told the court that she could not find the court cases cited.

There are wider implications to this embarrassing episode for Cohen.

The former Trump confidant is expected to be the star witness in the Manhattan criminal case against the former president for the hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Mr Trumps legal team  as well as the former president himself  have long portrayed Cohen as a liar and serial fabulist, and mocked his performance on the stand for the plaintiffs in the New York state Trump Organization civil fraud trial.

The new revelation that both Cohen and his lawyer submitted fictitious citations provided by a free AI program will only add ammunition to their attacks and attempts to undermine his credibility on the witness stand.

This is not the first time this year a Manhattan court has had to deal with bogus legal citations generated by AI.

In June, two apologetic lawyers responding to an angry judge in federal court blamed ChatGPT for tricking them into including fictitious legal research in a court filing.

Attorneys Steven Schwartz and Peter LoDuca submitted a filing in a lawsuit against an airline that included references to past court cases that Mr Schwartz thought were real but were actually invented by the AI chatbot.

Mr Schwartz explained that he used the groundbreaking program as he hunted for legal precedents supporting a clients case against the Colombian airline Avianca for an injury incurred on a 2019 flight.

Included in the relevant court decisions were Martinez v Delta Air Lines, Zicherman v Korean Air Lines, and Varghese v China Southern Airlines.

As with the Cohen case, the problem was that several of the cases werent real and others involved airlines that didnt exist.

The Manhattan criminal case against Mr Trump is currently scheduled to go to trial on 25 March 2024.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  This week, the military changed how it investigates allegations of sexual assault, taking that responsibility away from the chain of command, and into the hands of independent investigators.

The new policy comes as sexual assault cases across most of the military continue to rise.

The law is the result of years of work by Congress, which the Pentagon long resisted.

Starting this week, sexual assault allegations will now be investigated by independent lawyers instead of military commanders.

Supporters of the new law say it will make sexual assault allegations in the military be taken more seriously and insulate servicemembers from retaliation by superior officers by removing investigations from the chain of command.

However, some critics argue while the change is a good thing, it wont affect the underlying culture within the military that allows sexual assaults to happen.

Last year, the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy all saw sexual assault reports increase, while the Army saw reports go down by 9%.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called the new law the most important reform to the Military Justice Code since 1950.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who fought for the reform, said the new law will help rebuild trust within the military justice system saying, No one change will end the scourge of sexual violence within the services, but [this] step is a powerful reform toward that goal.

The Pentagon says it also plans to hire around 2400 new personnel to focus on sexual assault prevention at military bases around the world.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committees special military quality of life panel hope to have a slate of recommendations on new housing, daycare and support programs by the start of February.

After that, itll be up to the rest of the committee to turn them into law.

The quality of life panel  led by Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.  was formed in early 2023 as a way to evaluate military policies and shortfalls that may be discouraging individuals from reenlisting.

Over the last nine months, the panel held a host of roundtables with Pentagon leaders, military families and outside advocates on ways to address those concerns. That included a briefing in late November on base daycare options.

Better pay for junior troops will be top focus of new House panel

At a Nov. 15 event hosted by the political action group With Honor, Bacon and Houlahan said they are considering a host of proposals to add into next years defense authorization bill debate, including military sabbaticals for outside job opportunities or family care, more tax exemptions for military pay, and more flexibility for troops in their future duty assignments.

They also are upset over continued reports of housing problems at bases across the country. Bacon blamed some of the problems on a lack of accountability for the issue among senior leaders.

Just how many of those ideas can advance into actual legislation remains to be seen. Senior Republican leaders said the quality of life changes will be key in recruiting and retention efforts. But they also spent most of 2023 focused on social issues in the personnel section of the annual defense budget bill.

Bacon and Houlahan are likely to be key voices throughout the spring in hearings on the quality of life topics. A draft of the authorization bill  including any possible recommendations from the panel  is expected in May or June.
Veterans' Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer says he is taking a break from X following a row with presenter Carol Vorderman.

They had spent days arguing on the social media platform about homelessness among veterans and whether Mr Mercer had promised to eradicate it in 2023.

So who was right?

What was pledged?

On 27 December, the former Countdown numbers expert tweeted that "Mercer swore he'd END veterans' homelessness in 2023" and linked to a Guardian article saying that homelessness among veterans in England was up 14%.

Mr Mercer responded saying he had "made a very clear promise on ending veterans sleeping rough".

Ms Vorderman pointed towards an interview on LBC in February in which Mr Mercer said "we are going to end veterans' homelessness this year".

But in the interview he also said "by the end of this year, I don't want to see a single involuntarily sleeping rough homeless veteran in this country".

In December 2022, Mr Mercer launched a scheme called Operation Fortitude to help veterans find accommodation.

Since then, he's talked about both ending veterans rough sleeping and ending veterans' homelessness.

In this tweet from January 2023, he said: "I'm deadly serious about ending veterans homelessness in the UK this year."

A government press release explaining Operation Fortitude talked about tackling rough sleeping and homelessness among former armed forces personnel. It said the aim was "to ensure no veteran should sleep rough this Christmas, and veteran homelessness is ended in 2023".

The press release also referred to the pledge in the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 to end veteran rough sleeping within this Parliament. And that document is very clear that what it's talking about is rough sleeping.

What is the difference?

The government says that to sleep rough is to bed down in the open air or inside a building not fit for habitation.

But not all homeless people are sleeping rough.

The government's definition of homelessness is a household that does not have a home available or one that is fit to occupy.

While that includes people sleeping rough, it also includes people such as those who:

have a place to sleep but it is only temporary such as in a shelter or B&B

are staying with family or friends

are in inadequate housing such as caravans on illegal campsites or in extreme overcrowding.

The government guidance says: "The term 'homelessness' is often considered to apply only to people 'sleeping rough'. However, most of our statistics on homelessness relate to the statutorily homeless, ie those households which meet specific criteria of priority need set out in legislation, and to whom a homelessness duty has been accepted by a local authority."

What do the figures show?

As part of his response to Ms Vorderman, Mr Mercer tweeted: "I made a very clear promise on ending veterans sleeping rough because of a lack of provision, this year. I met that promise."

We asked the Cabinet Office, where Mr Mercer works, how that pledge had been met.

It said what he meant was that the veterans who had called a hotline through which they could access Operation Fortitude had been helped off the streets and that there were facilities available if any other rough-sleeping veterans were to call.

Mr Mercer said the scheme had housed 400 veterans so far.

Local authorities estimated that 27 veterans were sleeping rough in England between May and September this year.

On the broader measure of homelessness, we have figures going back to 2018 for the number of households in England assessed as homeless, where somebody had served in the armed forces.

In the last full year for which we have figures - 2022-23 - that went up 14% to 2,110 - as reported by the Guardian.

Chart showing number of homeless households including an armed forces veteran. It has risen 14% in the last year.

These figures only go up to the end of March 2023. There are no publicly available figures for the whole of 2023, so we do not know if veterans' homelessness was ended by the end of this year. We have asked the government whether it was.

The latest quarterly figures show that there were 530 households including veterans assessed as homeless in England between April and June 2023.

The government says quarterly figures up to the end of 2023 are due to be published in April 2024.

The figures in the article are for England as homelessness is a devolved issue.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Several new laws will take effect governing multiple aspects of life in Minnesota in the new year, and along with them are increased requirements for property owners renting units.

Here is a list of several new requirements for landlords, and rights for renters, that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Inspections

In 2024, tenants will have a right to request both a move-in and move-out inspection.

Upon move-in, a landlord is required to inspect a unit at the tenants request to identify any existing repair problems in order to avoid money being taken out of the security deposit.

According to Minnesota law, identifying problems at the beginning of a lease should help determine whether the tenant caused any damage through willful, malicious, or irresponsible conduct  which could result in deductions from a security deposit  or whether the damage was preexisting.

Upon move-out, a property owner is required to conduct an inspection within five days of the lease end date, if the tenant requests one, to allow the tenant to correct any damages caused during their residency and avoid deductions from their security deposit.

The tenant also has the right to be present for either inspection.

Lease terminations, renewals

If there is no mention of a lease termination length in a rental agreement, the lease is considered periodic, or month-to-month.

A periodic tenancy can be continued until it is ended by either the landlord or the tenant, with either being required to give a notice that has been agreed to.

If the lease does not specify a notice requirement, Minnesota state law requires a written notice at least one full rental period, plus one day, before the tenancy ends. For example, someone who wants to leave at the end of June would have to give written notice no later than May 31.

But in 2024, a landlord will no longer be allowed the option to terminate a lease by giving 14 days notice if a tenant refuses to pay rent.

A new law will also prohibit a property owner from filing an eviction action in court for non-payment of rent unless they first give the tenant a detailed written notice of an intention to file 14 days beforehand.

When renewing a lease, beginning in 2024, a landlord will no longer be allowed to force a tenant to renew lease terms more than six months before a lease is over.

Fees

Landlords will now need to disclose to potential tenants all non-optional fees as part of their lease.

The sum of the total rent, and all mandatory fees, must be described as the "Total Monthly Payment" and be on the first page of a lease, with optional fees that the tenant will be required to pay in addition to this payment disclosed as well.

Whether or not utilities are included in the rent, must also be present within the terms of a lease agreement.

A property owner who violates this law would be liable to the tenant for damages and attorney fees.

Privacy

Adding to a renters privacy, a new revision to state law requires a tenant be notified at least 24 hours in advance of any entry by a landlord, while also limiting the time frame for entrance between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. However, a tenant can allow their landlord to enter with less notice, if they agree to it.

If the notice is violated, a tenant can take the property owner to court to break their lease, recover their damage deposit and receive a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation.

However, a property owner can still enter a residence without notice if it's necessary to prevent injury to people or property because of conditions relating to maintenance, building security, or law enforcement; when immediate entry is necessary to determine a tenants safety; and when immediate entry is necessary to comply with state law or local ordinances.

Heat

A landlord will be required to heat a unit at a minimum temperature of 68 degrees from Oct. 1 through April 30, beginning in 2024.

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."

Pets

A landlord that accepts pets wont be able to require either declawing or devocalization.
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A British naval ship which took on a load of humanitarian aid for Gaza failed to deliver it and docked in Malta instead for security concerns, Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported on Thursday.

"The conditions for the full implementation of our (humanitarian) initiative, as well as the relative timing, are affected by asymmetric factors beyond our own control," Cypriot government sources said, according to CNA. They added: "We are at a sensitive point, we are doing everything we can to help. And we will continue."

The British ship, the RFA Lyme Bay, was carrying 80 tons of aid, mostly tents donated by Britain and medicines from Cyprus. It sailed from Larnaca port for Gaza on Dec. 16.

However, after several days it diverted its course from the eastern Mediterranean region over security concerns, the Cypriot government sources said.

They added that "it is up to the side in possession of the marine transport means (the UK) to decide about the final point of safe delivery."

Cypriot state radio CyBC reported on Thursday that a British Defense Ministry spokesman had refused to comment on the actual movements of the ship, but repeated that the delivery of the humanitarian aid depended on all parties involved in the Gaza conflict giving their approval.
From our bus, we could see acres of sun-dried grasses in a hot and arid Northern California. On either side of the road: barbed-wire fences, like the ones our family members spent years behind, living in crowded tar paper barracks with little privacy.

How many of you have been here before, or were here during World War II? our tour guide asked. A few Japanese Americansin their 70s and 80s, or olderraised their hands. Many of us were stunned by what the tour guide said next, almost in passing.

Welcome back.

Did the guide just welcome our elders back to the site of their wartime imprisonment? Dismayed murmurs arose among us.

I think what the guidea park ranger partnering with the Tule Lake Committee for this community pilgrimagemeant was, we are honored you have returned. This is just one of the strange rhetorical situations I find myself in, as a direct descendant of a Japanese American concentration camp survivor.

As a society, we are still developing the right vocabulary for recognizing the damage of Japanese American wartime incarceration. Because we do not have the right descriptors or labels, community pilgrimages like the one I embarked on in 2014 are misread, illegible, or invisible. The wrong language can prevent survivors and descendants from visiting former sites of Japanese American incarceration to honor our historyand to heal.

My father and his family members were among the thousands of incarcerated people at Tule Lake during World War II. In total, the U.S. government imprisoned 125,384 persons of Japanese descent living on the West Coast during the war years, roughly half of them American citizens held without due process. The nonprofit Densho has mapped close to 100 sites of Japanese American incarceration across the country.

Today, most sites have faded into the landscape without visible historical markers; those that remain are at risk of closing off access.

One publicized battle is taking place at the Minidoka concentration camp site in Idaho. Most camp buildings are gone, but currently, the site is open to visitors daily, with guided tours on summer weekends. A proposed wind farm would put 12 720-foot-tall wind turbines there, forever disrupting the remote and desolate viewshed that Minidoka visitors experience now. Adding insult to injury, the Bureau of Land Managements 2023 draft environmental impact statement listed Minidoka as a tourist spot. In response, Japanese American survivors, descendants, and allies mounted a powerful campaign against this terminology. I am not a tourist, read one poster by protester Paul Tomita. I am a survivor.

Whats happening in Minidoka is happening across the country. Six years ago, I joined other Japanese American activists organizing protests to stop the construction of a 3-mile long, 8-foot high, barbed wire-topped fence around the Tule Lake airfield that would have effectively closed public access to the site. We lived near the fence all our lives, wrote my uncle, Tule Lake survivor and poet Hiroshi Kashiwagi, in a 2017 poem protesting that construction.

At Tule Lake, the airfield fence is just one problem. Battles between different entities have occupied stewards of the site for nearly five years. Only 37 acres of the thousand-plus-acre site are protected as a national monument.

Language wont solve this tangle but it can clarify the stakes. Tule Lake is perhaps the most infamous of the World War II concentration camps. Its population eventually swelled close to 18,000 after it was designated as a segregation center for disloyalsa label given to people based on their responses to a poorly worded government questionnaire to determine (supposed) loyalty. Because Tule became known as the camp for troublemakers, many survivors did not want to admit that they were incarcerated there. Even within the Japanese American community, those who resisted in any waylike those who intentionally answered no to both loyalty questions, no-nos, including my unclewere shunned and ostracized.

How we recognize these sites matters; how we name the site visitors matters. As Manzanar survivor and researcher Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga once wrote, Words can lie or clarify. Lets take that further: Words have lied about this historyso they should clarify how we remember it.

When I came to Tule Lake in 2014, I didnt come in a traditional pilgrimage sense: to receive blessings, or to see where a miracle happened. But I can say the reasons for my journey was transcendent, spiritual. So much so that Id use, hesitantly, a different word with religious overtones to describe my time there now: communion.

Tamiko Nimura is a creative nonfiction writer and public historian living in Tacoma, Washington, and is completing a book project entitled A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter's Return to Tule Lake.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Misread, illegible, invisible: Searching for a vocabulary for Tule Lake
Five people have been reported killed and 20 injured, including a child, as a result of a missile attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration on Telegram; Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, on Telegram; Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Prosecutors Office on Telegram

Quote: "A tragic morning for the oblast. The enemy attacked with missiles. Almost 15 people have been injured. Four of them were killed."

Details: It is reported that there was a strike on a shopping centre in Dnipro itself, causing a fire.

A private home, a six-storey building, and a maternity hospital were also damaged. The information is being confirmed.

Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, has specified that five dead and 15 others injured have been reported. In addition, State Emergency Service crews rescued four patients after the Russians struck a maternity hospital.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported that 20 people, including a child, had been injured as a result of the Russian attack. The number of casualties is being established.

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UPDATE: Jamar has been located and is safe, police said Friday afternoon.



KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police are searching for a missing 15-year-old boy in need of medical treatment.

Jamar Freeman was last seen around 10:40 a.m. Friday in the area of Vivion Road and N.E. Lancaster Street, police said.

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He is described as 5-foot-7, weighing 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Police said he was last seen wearing a black pullover and gray sweatpants.

KCPD said the 15-year-old needs immediate medical treatment.

Anyone who sees Jamar is asked to call KCPDs Missing Persons Unit at 816-234-5043.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The Jackson County Sheriffs Department posted an update on Facebook on Thursday saying the search for the man who has been missing since Sunday is no longer in its jurisdiction.

Joseph Edwin Ladnier, 60, was last seen on Sunday morning, Christmas Eve, around 8:30 a.m.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Department is looking for Joe Ladnier, 60, who was last seen on the morning of Christmas Eve. (Photo Courtesy of the Jackson County Sheriffs Department)

It was originally reported that he was last seen at his home in Hurley, Mississippi, but the Facebook post said Ladnier was last seen in Wilmer, Alabama, on Sunday morning.

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According to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter, there is no reason to believe foul play is involved in Ladniers disappearance, and information about the case has been shared to agencies in the Mobile County area.

Ladnier is listed as a missing person on the National Crime Information Center.

WKRG News 5 has reached out to the Mobile County Sheriffs Office but received no response.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  The body of a missing Hurley, Mississippi man has been found on Chunchula Landfill Road and the family has been notified, according to the Mobile County Sheriffs Office.

Mobile rapper HoneyKomb Brazy arrested on new gun charge

Joseph Edwin Ladnier, 60, was reported missing on Sunday morning around 8 a.m.; he was last seen at his home and planned to visit his son in Moss Point, according to the Jackson County Sheriffs Department.

The body of Joe Ladnier, 60, was found Friday afternoon, according to the Mobile County Sheriffs Office. (Photo Courtesy of the Jackson County Sheriffs Department)

But the JCSD later reported that Ladniers truck was seen Sunday morning in Wilmer, Alabama. The JCSD then said in a Facebook post on Thursday that the search for Ladnier transferred from their jurisdiction to the MCSO.

Ladniers red 2004 Toyota Tundra truck was found within the 9100 block of

Chunchula Landfill Road in Chunchula, Alabama, according to an MCSO news release.

GENERAL LOCATION OF RECOVERED TRUCK:

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The vehicle had been backed into an abandoned driveway and was discovered by Mobile

County Road and Bridge Personnel, the release said.

MCSO detectives and MCSO crime scene investigators responded to the location and reportedly found several of Ladniers personal items inside the truck.

These included a pillow, a computer bag with a laptop, $146 in cash, and a pistol holster with no pistol, according to the release.

Once inventory of the truck was completed, the truck was transported by a towing service to Mobile County Sheriffs Office Property division, the release said.

The Southern Star Search and Rescue team searched the area with canines and the MCSO Special Operations Unit personnels help.

The animals were able to track the scent of what they believed to be the missing person to 8551 Chunchula Landfill Road, an MCSO news release said. The residence appeared to have electricity but no one was inside 

Eastern Michigan Athletics Director deeply upset about ugly attack after 68 Ventures Bowl

The residence appeared to have been vacant for some time and there was no evidence found inside the residence that Ladnier had been there.

MCSO detectives ended the search, including drone surveillance, after seven hours.

After that official search ended, Ladniers body was recovered.

This is a developing story. News 5 will provide more details as they become available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
A 16-year-old reported missing in North Carolina was found hidden under a trap door inside a mans home in Lincoln County, Kentucky, according to reports from WTVQ.

On Christmas Day, police received a call from the mother of 34-year-old Zackary Jones about an altercation between her son and his girlfriend on Robertstown Road.

At the home, police found Jones but could not find his girlfriend.

According to WTVQ, police found drug paraphernalia with residue after Jones allowed them to walk through the home. He was then restrained and taken to a patrol car.

Upon reentering the home to search for the girlfriend, a trap door was discovered hidden underneath a rug in one of the bedrooms. A 16-year-old girl was found inside that trap door, according to WTVQ.

ALSO READ: Convicted sex offender charged after Union County teen found, police say

The teen had been missing from her home in Fayetteville, North Carolina since Dec. 6., and she told police that Jones had been engaged in sexual acts with her and had strangled her, among other things. The two had also been using crack cocaine and marijuana.

According to WTVQ, Jones had allegedly driven to North Carolina to pick the 16-year-old up after communicating with her online. He was armed with a handgun, according to police.

Jones has been charged with assault, strangulation, two counts of unlawful transaction with a minor, resisting arrest, unlawful imprisonment, drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, rape, sodomy, use of a minor in a sexual transaction by electronic means, and terroristic threatening.

Additional charges may be pending, according to WTVQ.

VIDEO: Convicted sex offender accused of assaulting Union County teen expected in court
The Modesto Chamber of Commerce has launched its own version of Amazon, but this e-commerce platform is for locally owned small businesses and will help them get the word out about their products and services.

It also offers one-stop shopping for customers who want to support local, small businesses in Stanislaus County and the surrounding region. The platform is not limited to chamber members, and there is no charge to be on it.

The e-commerce platform is called Shop Greater Modesto and as of Thursday had 15 merchants on it, including One Hot Mamas Salsa, Rojas Photography, Vintage Faire Fit Body Boot Camp and Lloyds of La Luna, which makes soaps, candles, lotions and lip balms.

This platform is a game-changer ... , said Jessica Casas, owner of One Hot Mamas Salsa, in a city news release. It provides us with the opportunity to reach more customers and expand our operations.

The site is available in English and Spanish. There is a link to switch between the two languages.

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Trish Christensen said in an interview that in its first year, the platform will accommodate as many as 250 businesses at one time, with each displaying as many as 100 products or services. She anticipates that within two or three years, Shop Greater Modesto could have 2,000 businesses on it.

The makers and crafters who sell their wares at the Mod Shop Handmade Market on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in downtown are a good example of who could reach a larger market on Shop Greater Modesto, Christensen said. She added that the site also would help vendors who sell their goods at festivals and farmers markets.

Modesto provided the chamber with a $46,778 grant to cover Shop Greater Modestos first year of operations. Christensen said that covers a $25,000 annual licensing fee with Iowa-based Member Marketplace Inc., which provides e-commerce marketplaces.

Member Marketplace has 27 local marketplace sites, including Shop Oakland County (Mich.) Main Streets and Santa Fe (N.M.) Marketplace, as well as Shop Greater Modesto.

Christensen said the chamber will spend the balance of citys grant to administer the program and help the businesses on the site promote themselves. She said she is talking with banks, credit unions and other financial institutions to provide funding for the e-commerce site in future years.

The Valley Sierra Small Business Development Center also is a partner in the project and will provide free help to businesses. Christensen said the chamber and the development center serve different communities.

Businesses can request to join the site at www.shopgreatermodesto.com/sell. Officials will hold a news conference and ribbon cutting for the platform Jan. 11 at 11 a.m. at the chamber, 1144 J St.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  More rail options may be coming for Kansas City-area travelers.

The Missouri Department of Transportation was awarded two grants of $500,000 from the Federal Railroad Administrations Corridor ID program. The state will use the money to study future Amtrak passenger rail lines.

Cass County community steps up to support teens injured in Christmas Eve crash

The state is proposing a corridor that would connect Kansas City to St. Joseph and improve the existing Amtrak route from Kansas City to St. Louis by adding another daily round trip and new stops. The Missouri River Runner already has two daily round trips and eight stops.

The agency also wants to extend an existing corridor from Chicago to Quincy, Illinois, into Hannibal, Missouri.

Earlier this year, a spokesperson for MoDOT said communities across the state have identified these corridors for years, and they are currently unfunded.

Iconic Silver Dollar City roller coaster to take final ride this weekend

MoDOT has already included $76 million in federal funding and $38 million in state funding in its 2025 fiscal year budget request as a placeholder in case any of these projects are able to move forward, according to the spokesperson.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Ian Russell has been awarded an MBE for services to child safety online in the New Year Honours list - YUI MOK/PA

The father of Molly Russell who is to be recognised in the Kings New Year Honours said his daughter would have been very proud of her legacy of suicide prevention.

Ian Russell, 60, is to be made an MBE for his charity work since the loss of his daughter, Molly, in 2017.

The Molly Rose Foundation connects young people under the age of 25 who may be having suicidal thoughts with help and support.

Mr Russell, who is from London, said he believed Molly, who was 14 when she died, would have been very proud of helping others.

He said: Molly was quite content to get on stage and take part in school plays but she was a quiet person, she didnt like the limelight, so I think she would have found this a bit strange.

But because she was such a caring person, I think she would have been tremendously proud of being able to help people who may be struggling with their mental health and may be beginning to have thoughts about suicide.

If she thought she could help those people live long and stay strong, shed be very proud indeed.

Molly Russell took her own life in 2017 after viewing material on social media linked to anxiety, depression and self-harm - PA

Mr Russell has been an influential campaigner for tough online safety laws to force firms to remove illegal content and protect children from harmful material.

The Telegraph supported his work with a five-year campaign for new laws to protect young people online.

The Online Safety Act, which received Royal Assent this year, aims to police the tech giants whose algorithms Mr Russell blames for his daughters death.

When he found out he was receiving an honour, Mr Russell said he experienced almost a state of disbelief, quickly followed by a smile that spread across my face.

He said: Although honours are individual things, this was for a team of people, this was for hundreds of people in fact that have been involved in making the online world safer and helping to prevent young suicide.

Ian Russell paid tribute to friends and family who have worked tirelessly to establish the Molly Rose Foundation - PAUL GROVER FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Mr Russell said he believed that by accepting it and continuing to raise awareness, it would be a good thing to do and hopefully in the future, there would be far fewer cases like Mollys.

The award was also for the far too many bereaved families who are fighting for a safe digital world, he said, as he paid tribute to friends and family who have worked tirelessly to establish the Molly Rose Foundation.

Campaigners recognised in the New Year Honours also include nine-year-old Tony Hudgell, the youngest recipient, who is to be awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the prevention of child abuse.

Tony was so badly abused when he was an infant that both his legs were later amputated.

He has since raised millions of pounds for charity and has twice met the Princess of Wales, who he recently described as his best mate after they coloured together at Evelina Childrens Hospital.

Survivor of Westminster Bridge attack

Campaigners to be made OBE include Travis Frain, 25, a survivor of the Westminster Bridge attack, who has been recognised for his services to counter-terrorism and to victims of terrorism.

Mr Frain was hit by a car driven by Khalid Masood on Londons Westminster Bridge in March 2017.

He said more support was needed to help victims of terror attacks. My only hope is that with this honour I am able to continue to drive home that message to get changes that are needed, Mr Frain said.

OBE recipients also include Sarah Graham, from Buckinghamshire, a Ukrainian refugee host who founded the Hilltops Ukrainian Support Community to support hundreds of people from Ukraine seeking refuge in the Chilterns.

Among philanthropists recognised this year is Gerald Ronson, 84, a property tycoon who was convicted in the 1980s over the Guinness share-trading scandal.

He is to be knighted for his support for a range of causes, including for Jewish communities and Holocaust commemoration.

Mr Ronson leads the Community Security Trust, which provides security advice and protection to synagogues, Jewish schools and other sites in Britain.

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When Kristina Kelly was pregnant with her second daughter in 2022, she developed terrible hemorrhoids. At first, she didnt worry too much about them because she knew they commonly occur during pregnancy. When they didnt go away months after she gave birth, she visited her doctor who ordered a colonoscopy. Kelly was stunned by the result she had colorectal cancer.

The doctor said, We found a four-centimeter mass in your rectum that Im pretty sure is cancer. It looks cancerous but we wont know for sure until pathology comes back. But I want you to be prepared, the 37-year-old from Atlanta tells TODAY.com. The scary thing is that at the time I was 36  it would have been nine years before I ever had a screening colonoscopy discover it.

Pregnancy and lingering symptoms

Kelly didnt have hemorrhoids during her first pregnancy, but she wasnt too surprised when she got them during her second one. She knew they were a common, but uncomfortable part of pregnancy.

When Kristina Kelly finished chemotherapy to treat her stage 3 colorectal cancer, she rang the bell and then celebrated with husband Sean. She still needs to undergo radiation so she's not finished with treatment, but her tumor is responding well so far. (Courtesy Kristina Kelly)

I had really bad hemorrhoids like painful, bad bleeding when I went to the bathroom, she says. I got all the medication for it, and it helped a little bit. But they never really went away. She delivered her daughter, Siena, and began navigating life as a mom of a newborn and toddler. Still, the hemorrhoids persisted. About 10 months postpartum she visited the doctor for another issue and mentioned she still had hemorrhoids.

(My doctor) was like, Oh, lets get rid of them. No one wants to deal with that, Kelly recalls. I just simply asked her, Can I get a colonoscopy? I just want to make sure everythings OK.

Kelly asked for peace of mind, and didnt think the test would reveal anything new. Her doctor agreed. But the day before her colonoscopy, she learned it would cost $600 because she wasnt yet at the age for colonoscopy screenings.

Im very grateful that I had the money to pay for that because I realize that people dont just have that sitting around, she says. That colonoscopy saved my life ... and not everybody has the opportunity to do so.

Her doctor immediately noticed the mass that looked cancerous. She had her test on a Friday and worried all weekend wondering what the pathology results would reveal.

It was the longest wait of my life that weekend. I would just stare at my daughters and cry, not knowing is this cancer? How far has it spread? Kelly says. Pathology came back as cancer.

The doctors suspected that the tumor created extra pressure that contributed to her lingering hemorrhoids.

We did more digging into the causes of my hemorrhoids, and it turns out it was my tumor, she says.

The cancer only infiltrated one lymph node and did not spread to any of the nearby organs, making it a stage 3 diagnosis. Still, the doctors wanted Kelly to start chemotherapy quickly because they didnt want it to grow elsewhere. She completed nine rounds of chemotherapy infusions and will soon start radiation.

I feel incredibly grateful, she says. The treatments are working; my tumor is shrinking. My blood work is improving.

Before Kristina Kelly had her chemotherapy port placed, she spent the evening holding her youngest daughter Siena. She wouldn't be able to hold her for a few weeks as she recovered for sugery. (Courtesy Kristina Kelly)

Colorectal cancer in younger people

More young people like Kelly are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer and experts remain unsure as to why this trend occurs.

If you went back to not that long ago, in the 90s, only one out of five colorectal cancers are being diagnosed in people under the age of 55, Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, told TODAY.com in 2023. It went from 11% to 20%. Thats a big change in a relatively small period of time.

Screening recommendations now encourage people to start colonoscopies at age 45 to try to capture some of these young patients though some develop the cancer prior to the start of screening. Thats why understanding the symptoms can be important. They include:

Bloody stool

Changing bowel habits

Unexplained belly pain

Unexplained weight loss

Unexplained fatigue

Many people feel awkward addressing their bowel habits, even with their doctors. But experts agree that they should talk to their doctors about any symptoms they notice.

Patients dont necessarily bring up the symptoms, Dr. David Liska, director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at the Cleveland Clinic, told TODAY.com in 2023. Its a topic that people arent comfortable talking about.

Sharing her story

When Kelly completes radiation, her medical team will evaluate whether she also needs to undergo surgery. She feels grateful for the support of her husband, Sean, and her children, Wren, 3, and Siena, 18 months, who motivated her when treatment felt grueling. She hopes others learn from her experience.

I knew something wasnt right and it had been going on for so long that I had to speak up and advocate for myself, Kelly says. I talked to so many women who all had hemorrhoids. Its a very common thing and no one talks about it  people just deal with it.

Kristina Kelly wanted to share her experience with stage 3 colorectal cancer to raise awareness so other young people with bowel symptoms will speak to their doctor for possible early diagnosis. (Courtesy Kristina Kelly)

Kelly encourages others with any troubling bowel symptoms to speak to their doctor about them and not just suffer in silence. While she considered waiting to tell her story until her treatment ended, she knew that raising awareness about early detection could make a tremendous difference for someone else.

Sharing my story might save someones life, she says. This is not something that anybody should have to go through and unfortunately its happening more and more to younger people.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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A Palestinian woman mourns a victim at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 26, 2023. [Photo/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.
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

More heavy rainfall was expected on Friday in some areas in Germany already affected by flooding, the country's weather service DWD said.

Some areas in the western state of North Rhine Westphalia and in the Harz Mountains in the centre of the country would see continuous rain all day Friday and into Saturday, the DWD said. Up to 40 millimetres of rain could fall within 24 hours in these regions.

The situation in the north-western state of Lower Saxony was tense as areas along the Aller, Leine and Weser rivers in the southern and central parts of the state had already flooded, according to the state's Department for Waterway, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN).

The state government plans to give an update on the flood situation at a press conference on Friday morning.

Lower Saxony's Premier Stephan Weil said on Thursday that there had never been flooding of this magnitude in the area before. "Experts have been warning for a long time that the increasingly frequent extreme weather events are linked to climate change," he said.

The city of Oldenburg said there was an ongoing so-called "extraordinary event," enabling districts to access emergency services more easily.

The all-clear has not yet been given to the north-west in Bremen, either.

Water levels were easing on the Elbe in the eastern city of Dresden. On Thursday afternoon, the water rose to 5.92 metres - just below the 6-metre mark, which would trigger the second-highest alert level. The level fell overnight.

A water level of 2 metres is normal in the Elbe in Dresden.
An aerial view of vehicles from the THW and the fire department drive on a partially flooded road not far from the Aller. Philipp Schulze/dpa

Forecasters are expecting more rain for Saturday in several flooded regions of Germany, but the precipitation will not be as heavy, they predicted on Friday.

"There will be a good amount of rain again until Saturday, but it won't rain in such large quantities," said meteorologist Christian Herold from the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach. After that, it will weaken a little.

He expects the largest rainfall on Friday and Saturday to be in the north of the state of North Rhine Westphalia and less precipitation in the northern states of Bremen and Hamburg.

Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens said the flooding had shifted from the south-east to the north-west over the past few days. The floods continue to cause high water levels.

The Serengeti Park north of Lower Saxony's capital Hanover, which had evacuated more than 200 monkeys along with some lemurs, prairie dogs and meerkats on Thursday, was worried about having to move much larger animals and was preparing emergency plans.

A spokeswoman for the zoo said that the antelope and giraffe house, which is surrounded by water, was a particular cause for concern.

"These animals would have to be anaesthetized for an evacuation, which is a major risk," she said.

Near Oldenburg, also in Lower Saxony, the Federal Police and the Navy each deployed a helicopter in the flood operation.

"The state of Lower Saxony has requested one of our helicopters," said a spokeswoman for the Federal Police in Berlin on Friday. The police helicopter was bringing particularly large sandbags to the dykes in the area to secure them, according to a spokesman for the volunteer fire brigade.

The naval helicopter had gone up to get a picture of the situation, said a spokesman for the Territorial Command of the German Armed Forces.

In Meppen near the Dutch border, five people were rescued from a house surrounded by water with the help of a tractor.

Initially, the fire brigade tried to rescue the people from the house with a boat, a spokesman for the fire brigade said on Friday. A farmer was eventually able to drive his tractor through the water and use the trailer to get the trapped people out of the house.

The farmer was on site because he was transporting sandbags to secure the house. According to the spokesman, the flood situation in Meppen is stable, but very tense.

In North Rhine Westphalia the flood defences have held and there was no danger of dams bursting and an uncontrolled overflow. officials there said. But the state's environment minister, Oliver Krischer, still called the conditions "a major flood situation."

In Saxony, the river Elbe flood reached its highest level on Friday, but remained lower than initially forecast. However, the risk of flooding has now been completely averted for the other rivers in Saxony, according to the State Environment Agency.

The city of Dresden, the state capital, began dismantling a flood protection gate. The Elbe water level there rose to 5.95 metres - just short of the 6-metre mark at which the second-highest alert level 3 would have been declared. Two metres is normal.

An aerial view of vehicles from the THW and the fire department drive on a partially flooded road not far from the Aller. Philipp Schulze/dpa

A tracked vehicle is loaded with sandbags on a field at Barnefuehrer Holz to secure a dyke with sandbags. The forest area near the Hunte and the railroad line between Sandkrug and Huntlosen have been severely affected by the flooding. Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a space scientist and science educator, is made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire - MAJA SMIEJKOWSKA/REUTERS

More women should be nominated for top gongs, the Government has said, after men dominated the list for the highest New Year Honours.

The overall proportion of women winning top awards, starting with Commander of the British Empire (CBE), has fallen to 42 per cent, from 44 per cent last year and a record 47 per cent in 2019. Other top honours for women include Dame Commander and Dame Grand Cross.

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office, said: Women routinely make up half of all honours recipients. However, there are often fewer nominations for women at the senior levels than we would expect, particularly from fields where women have high levels of representation such as education and healthcare.

We will continue to expand our targeted outreach activities and will seek to collaborate across all sectors to ensure more diverse nominations are put forward.

This years full list includes a total of 1,227 recipients, 48 per cent of whom are women, and 14 per cent from an ethnic minority background.

Two thirds of recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities, either in a voluntary or paid capacity.

Around two thirds of recipients live outside of London and the South East.

Women who achieved top honours this year include Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a British space scientist, mechanical engineer and science educator.

She is to be made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her work inspiring new generations of astronauts, engineers and scientists, through her public engagement company, Science Innovation.

Judith Weir, the composer, is made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire this year - JOSEPH OKPAKO/WIREIMAGE

Recipients of the honour also include Dianne Jeffrey, the former chairwoman of the charity Age UK, and Judith Weir, the composer.

Meanwhile, Dr Fiona Hill, a key witness at Donald Trumps first impeachment hearing is among 125 people recognised for exceptional service to the UK overseas or internationally, for contributions to foreign policy, international development and charitable work and a range of other areas.

Dr Hill is a miners daughter who grew up in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and from 2017 to 2019 she was senior director for European and Russian affairs on the US National Security Council.

She is to be appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, which recognises service in a foreign country, or in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

Dr Fiona Hill is appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for her work on international relations - DURHAM UNIVERSITY/PA

The suitability of nominees submitted to the Honours and Appointments Secretariat is established through merit and probity and propriety checks.

This vetting process, to avoid bringing the system into disrepute, can involve the input of government departments, regulatory bodies, professional organisations, HM Revenue and Customs and the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

A group of 10 independent honours committees, each covering a specialist subject area such as sport or health, consider nominations.

The recommendations of these groups of independent experts and senior civil servants are passed on to the Prime Minister and, ultimately, the King for approval.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office oversees the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List.

The most senior ranks of the Order of the British Empire are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) and Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE).

The orders ranks, after knighthood or damehood, are Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE).

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A Russian attack on Ukraine on the morning of 29 December has killed at least 18 people and injured 108 others.

Source: Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs; Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration (OMA); Yurii Malashko, Head of Zaporizhzhia OMA; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv OMA; Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitchko; Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi; Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk OMA

Details: Klymenko said that two people had been killed and 18 injured in the morning attack in Kyiv. Civilian infrastructure, cars and warehouses have been damaged.

Later, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitchko reported that the number of victims in the city had increased to 28 people, of whom 25 had been hospitalised. One person died in the capital.

In Lviv Oblast, an explosion damaged an apartment building and infrastructure facilities, and one person was killed and nine more wounded there, with Mayor Sadovskyi later confirming that 15 people had been injured.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Russians hit a shopping centre, killing 5 people and injuring 15. A maternity hospital was also hit. The State Emergency Service rescued four patients. Later, Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk OMA, reported that the number of injured has risen to over 20.

In Odesa Oblast, a three-storey building was hit, with people possibly trapped under the rubble. At least two other buildings were also damaged in Odesa. The State Emergency Service rescued 23 people from a 17-storey residential building. In total, two people were killed and 15 injured in Odesa Oblast.

Later, Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa OMA, reported that the number of people killed in the strike on Odesa had increased to three. Twenty-two people have been injured, including two children (ages 6 and 8) and a pregnant woman.

Klymenko said that in Kharkiv Oblast, one person had been killed and nine injured. Medics are providing assistance at the scene. Later, the head of Kharkiv OMA, Oleh Syniehubov, reported that three men died as a result of the Russian attack. They were employees of one of the civilian businesses. Another 11 people were injured.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Russians launched missile attacks on infrastructure facilities in Zaporizhzhia, and one person was killed and 10 wounded. Later, Yurii Malashko, Head of Zaporizhzhia OMA, reported that the death toll in the oblast had risen to 4, and 12 people had been injured in the attack.

Background:

Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones on the morning of 29 December. Explosions were heard in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Lviv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and other oblasts.

During the massive attack on Ukraine, the Russians used 158 means of air attack  missiles of various types and attack UAVs; 27 Shaheds and 87 cruise missiles were destroyed.

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The BBC Scotland news website has looked back at our most-read stories of the year. This is the top 20 for 2023, with the ranking based on the number of page views.

Nicola Sturgeon

The most-read story of the year came back in February when Nicola Sturgeon announced she was resigning as Scotland's first minister after more than eight years in the role.

The Scottish National Party leader said she knew "in my head and in my heart" this was the right time to step down.

She is the longest-serving first minister and the first woman to hold the position.

2. Storm Babet

Brechin residents were still being rescued from their homes on Friday morning

In October, Storm Babet carried a red "danger to life" weather warning.

The storm brought severe flooding to some areas of north east Scotland, with rescue operations in and around the Angus town of Brechin.

Live page coverage of the event which went on for several days ensured it was one of the most-read stories of the year.

Mr Murrell has been married to Nicola Sturgeon since 2010

At the start of April, Peter Murrell, the husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was arrested in connection with an investigation into Scottish National Party finances.

The ex-SNP chief executive was later released without charge by police, pending further investigation.

4. Ship tips over

In March, 35 people were injured after a ship tipped over at an Edinburgh dockyard.

A major incident was declared after the research vessel Petrel became dislodged from its holding on a dry dock in Leith.

Pictures posted on social media showed the 3,000-tonne vessel, which is owned by the US Navy, leaning at a 45-degree angle.

A month later, two tugs manoeuvred the 3,371-tonne ship and righted it again.

5. Transgender rapist

In January, a transgender woman was found guilty of raping two women in attacks carried out before she changed gender.

Isla Bryson committed the crimes in 2016 and 2019 while known as Adam Graham.

Bryson was remanded to Cornton Vale women's prison in Stirling after being convicted of the rapes but was later moved to HMP Edinburgh.

It came after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that Bryson would not be allowed to serve her sentence at Cornton Vale.

6. Glen Coe deaths

Aonach Eagach Ridge

In August, three climbers were found dead after failing to return from a trip into Glen Coe.

Police Scotland said the bodies of two men and a woman were discovered during a search of Aonach Eagach, a ridge popular with climbers.

7. Funniest joke

The annual funniest gag of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was won by comedian Lorna Rose Treen.

She claimed the prize with her pun: "I started dating a zookeeper, but it turned out he was a cheetah."

Lorna described herself as "blooming chuffed" at learning her joke was the winner.

8. Hotel fire

The new year got off to a tragic start in Perth where three people died after a fire broke out at a hotel.

Emergency services including 21 ambulance crews, 60 firefighters and nine fire engines were called to the New County Hotel on County Place at 05:00.

9. Arthur's Seat murder

Fawziyah Javed was pregnant when she died

In April, a man was jailed for a minimum of 20 years for killing his pregnant wife by pushing her 50ft off a cliff edge at Edinburgh Arthur's Seat beauty spot.

Kashif Anwar killed 31-year-old Fawziyah Javed when she plunged from a rocky outcrop during a holiday in September 2021.

As she lay dying, Ms Javed, from Yorkshire, told a police officer her husband had pushed her.

10. Orkney independence

Stromness

In July, there was a story about the Orkney Islands considering a change to their status in the UK or even becoming a self-governing territory of Norway.

A motion before the council investigated "alternative forms of governance".

Council leader James Stockan said Orkney did not get fair funding with its current relationship within the UK.

11. Colin Beattie arrest

colin beattie

In April, the Scottish Conservatives claimed the SNP was in "total meltdown" after treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested by police investigating the party's finances.

The 71-year-old's arrest was announced just hours before new First Minister Humza Yousaf set out his government's priorities for the next three years.

Mr Beattie was later released without charge pending further investigation.

12. Rutherglen by-election

Michael Shanks

In October, Labour defeated the SNP to win the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.

The party's candidate, Michael Shanks, took the Westminster seat with 17,845 votes - more than double the number polled by the SNP's Katy Loudon.

The by-election was called after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was ousted by her constituents for breaking Covid rules.

13. Humza Yousaf wins SNP leader vote

Humza Yousaf

At the end of March, the SNP chose a new leader to replace Nicola Sturgeon.

Humza Yousaf defeated rivals Kate Forbes and Ash Regan in a leadership contest that exposed divisions within the party.

The 37-year-old also became Scotland's first minister.

14. Proclaimers and the King's playlist

Craig and Charlie Reid's hit was removed from the UK government's coronation playlist

In the run-up to King Charles' coronation, The Proclaimers became involved in a musical row.

In April, they were removed from an official coronation playlist after they were criticised for their anti-royal views.

Craig and Charlie Reid's hit I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) had been featured alongside prominent UK artists.

Weeks later the duo told the BBC the row had passed them by.

"We didn't know it was going on and we didn't know it was coming off," they told BBC Radio Scotland's Afternoon Show.

15. Marelle Sturrock murder

In April, the discovery of the body of pregnant teacher Marelle Sturrock led to a high-profile search for her partner.

The body of David Yates was later found in a reservoir at Mugdock Country Park, near Glasgow.

16. Daughter of sex abuser speaks out

Jenny with her father Hamish Dawson on her wedding day in 1980

Jenny Pearson knew her father was emotionally and physically abusive when she was a child in the 1970s.

But it was just last year she heard the details of the sexual abuse he carried out on pupils while he was a teacher at a top private school in Edinburgh.

Among his victims was the BBC radio presenter Nicky Campbell, who revealed the sexual abuse on his podcast Different last year.

17. Amber Gibson murder

In July, Connor Gibson was found guilty of sexually assaulting and murdering his 16-year-old sister in a park in Hamilton.

Amber Gibson's body was found in Cadzow Glen on 28 November 2021, two days after she was last seen.

Her brother strangled Amber then got rid of clothes he had been wearing and called the children's home Amber was staying at to pretend she was still alive.

18. Kate Forbes quits

Humza Yousaf defeated Kate Forbes in the leadership contest

In March, Kate Forbes finished second in the SNP leadership race and then quit the Scottish government.

Her departure came hours after new SNP leader Humza Yousaf was confirmed as Scotland's first minister after a vote in the Scottish Parliament.

19. The pink door saga

Miranda Dickson

In July, the BBC reported that an Edinburgh woman who was ordered to repaint her pink door was facing a new council investigation over its latest colour.

Miranda Dickson, 48, had recently painted her door in the New Town "an off-white" after a previous green makeover was rejected by planners.

But Edinburgh Council received a fresh complaint that the door was back to pink.

20. Police beards

The clean-shaven policy is to allow officers to wear protective masks

In May, the BBC reported that Police Scotland was planning to introduce a new clean-shaven policy for frontline officers.

It would have meant hundreds of officers having to shave off their beards and moustaches by the end of the month.

However, legal action and staff disquiet meant the policy was not enforced.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN)  A blaze broke out at a Murfreesboro home early Friday morning, causing some serious damage to the structure.

According to the Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD), the incident was reported along Teresa Lane at approximately 5:50 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29.

Family of 5 displaced after fire destroys Murfreesboro home

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they said they saw flames on the right side of the residence, spreading into the attic area. Crews sprayed water on the outside of the house to bring the fire under control.

Fire officials said personnel checked that nobody was inside the home, but the mother and her two children got out safely before first responders arrived, and the father was not home when the blaze broke out.

(Courtesy: Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department)

(Courtesy: Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department)

(Courtesy: Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department)

(Courtesy: Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department)

(Courtesy: Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department)

(Courtesy: Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department)

The MFRD said the Fire Marshals Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the early morning fire.

Meanwhile, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross will help the family whose home was damaged in the blaze, according to officials.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

No additional details have been released about this incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
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China hopes that relevant parties in Myanmar will exercise maximum restraint to realize the soft landing of the situation in northern Myanmar, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to share more information after China's Embassy in Myanmar on Thursday reminded all Chinese nationals in Laukkaing to evacuate soon.

The current security situation in the Kokang self-administered zone in Myanmar is severe and complex, Mao said, adding that "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."

Mao said 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 in 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, said Mao.
Idaho patients pay drastically different prices for the same procedures, even at the same hospitals, according to a new report from Patient Rights Advocate.

The Massachusetts-based nonprofit, which advocates nationwide for price transparency within the health care system, found that prices for common medical services within the same hospital varied tenfold when comparing insurance plan negotiated rates. Prices varied even more, by 31 times, across different hospitals within the same states.

The group analyzed 100 hospital pricing files across 10 states, including Idaho, to determine price variations for five procedures: appendectomy, arthroscopic knee surgery, cesarean section, cataract surgery and MRI of lower extremity without contrast.

In Idaho, the nonprofit looked at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Kootenai Health in Coeur dAlene and Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot.

Researchers found that the cost for an MRI of lower extremity without contrast at Saint Als varied between $133 and $2,074 among insured patients. For a knee replacement at the hospital, the cost ranged from $2,081 to over $6,980. The health system has a price estimates portal on its website.

Thats a three times price difference, said Ilaria Santangelo, director of research at the nonprofit.

She told the Idaho Statesman that insurers negotiate different rates for items and services, so some level of variation is expected. But she didnt expect to see the level of variation that researchers saw. Patient Rights Advocate also found that discounted cash prices are often far lower than insured negotiated rates.

For a C-section at Portneuf Medical Center, the group found prices ranged between $3,115 to over $25,000.

When comparing prices across the four hospitals in Idaho, the biggest discrepancy was for an appendectomy, where some patients paid $2,346 and others up to $66,664. The next biggest gap was for an MRI and for cataract surgery, which ranged from $714 to $10,635.

Santangelo said the vast differences in cost demonstrate an urgent need for transparent hospital pricing so patients can protect themselves from overcharges, billing errors and fraud in their health care payments.

There is wide, wide price variation in Idaho, Santangelo said by phone. Its important to be able to see these actual prices upfront so patients can shop around for the best quality care at prices they know they can afford.

State tells Saint Alphonsus it has 1 year to gain back full trauma-center designation

How safe are Boise hospitals for patients? Check new local medical center report cards

Advocates praise ruling that halts Idaho ban on gender-affirming care. Labrador to appeal
COMMENTARY | Federal prosecutors plan to call dozens of witnesses at the upcoming trial of former JEA executives Aaron Zahn and Ryan Wannemacher, including former city and utility officials, bankers, lawyers, consultants and at least two employees with NextEra, the utility giant that bid $11 billion in an unsuccessful effort to acquire JEA in 2019.

The government's list, filed Friday morning, identified 36 witnesses it plans to call at trial, which is currently scheduled to begin Feb. 5 and could last up to a month. The witness list is neither comprehensive nor binding  prosecutors could add witnesses or never call some of the people it identified  but the filing reveals some insight into the government's trial strategy.

Zahn and Wannemacher were indicted in March 2022 on conspiracy and wire fraud charges, to which they pleaded not guilty. Federal prosecutors accused the two men of planning in secret to skim tens of millions of dollars in profits off the top of a sale of JEA, a 2019 privatization campaign the two were leading but that imploded amid scandal before a transaction was ever finalized. Zahn, JEA's former CEO, and Wannemacher, the utility's former finance chief, are accused of disguising their scheme as a modest employee-incentive program to get sign off from the utility's board of directors, who were appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council.

To prove their case, prosecutors plan to call all of the former JEA board members, some of whom have publicly said they were led to believe the incentive program was only estimated to cost about $3.4 million, not the hundreds of millions that auditors and, later, prosecutors said was its true potential payout.

Prosecutors previewed major aspects of their trial strategy during an eight-day hearing over the summer, when they were required to disclose much of the evidence they'd gathered during the prolonged federal investigation into the privatization effort. That included calling potential trial witnesses, but the list the government filed Friday included a slew of names of people who have never publicly spoken about their experiences working with and for Zahn.

The most substantive  and damning  testimony is likely to come from current and former employees in the City Council Auditor's Office, who first deciphered the opaque and explosive math behind the payout scheme in the fall of 2019. Prosecutors indicated they planned to call Jeff Rodda, the auditor who did the lion's share of the work decoding the payout scheme, as well as the current and former leaders of the office, Kim Taylor and Kyle Billy.

Here are other notable witnesses prosecutors included on their list:

 Pam Rauch and Mark Hickson, vice presidents with NextEra and its subsidiary, Florida Power & Light. NextEra submitted an $11 billion bid to purchase JEA, the highest of any other bidder. When prosecutors unsealed the grand jury indictment in early 2022, they revealed a previously unknown story: In the days just before Zahn announced his intention to put JEA up for sale, he met with the CEO of an unnamed power company in West Palm Beach and disclosed his plans. That company was later revealed to be FPL.

 Former JEA CEO Paul McElroy and current CEO Jay Stowe. Prosecutors accused Zahn of peddling a false narrative about JEA's financial health to make privatization appear to be the only viable option for the city agency. McElory and Stowe could offer testimony about JEA's finances in the years just before Zahn's tenure and after his ouster. They would almost certainly offer starkly different interpretations of JEA's finances.

 Former JEA chief operating officer Melissa Dykes, who worked closely with Zahn during the privatization campaign. Dykes had numerous leadership roles during her tenure at JEA, including stints as CEO, and was once a highly regarded protege of McElroy. The board ultimately selected Zahn over Dykes to serve as the agency's CEO after McElroy's retirement, but she effectively became the agency's No. 2 official in charge of the day-to-day operations. Her testimony is likely to include an admission that she understood the highly lucrative potential payouts possible under the program that Zahn and Wannemacher presented to the board as a more modest incentive. No member of the utility's executive team explained that potential to the board during its vote.

 Tim Hunt, a JEA analyst who was among a group of utility employees who questioned some of the financial and operational justifications Zahn was sharing publicly to justify privatization. Prosecutors are also planning to call Navid Nowakhtar, an official with the Florida Municipal Power Agency. Like some of JEA's own employees, officials in the larger public power industry were perplexed by Zahn's doom-and-gloom forecasting about the direction of JEA, which is generally regarded as a well-run agency. Nowakhtar could give voice to some of that industry skepticism.

 Sam Mousa, the former chief administrative officer for Mayor Lenny Curry who later became a consultant for NextEra.

 Jeff Panger, an analyst for Standard & Poor's, one of the nation's major credit-rating agencies, who peppered JEA executives with pointed questions about the financial projections they were presenting to justify privatization. Instead of answering Panger's questions, JEA's leadership asked its banker to intercede with a more senior analyst over Panger, after which Panger's tone "softened."

 Stephen Amdur, a lawyer with New York-based firm Pillsbury, which was one of the lead law firms JEA hired to help solicit offers from private companies to acquire the utility. Amdur told the FBI that Zahn had mentioned to him in a private conversation that he expected to receive "approximately $40 million" from the payout scheme he's accused of concocting and that other executives were in line to get $10 million payouts.

 Elizabeth Columbo, an attorney at Nixon Peabody and one of the authors of a memo that warned JEA executives against adopting an earlier version of the payout plan that is now at the center of the indictment. JEA leaders disregarded that memo, which said a payout plan like the kind under consideration would likely not "clear legal hurdles under Florida law."

 Various employees with JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and McKinsey  bankers and consultants who helped JEA executives in their privatization campaign and had an insider view of what was happening during the rapidly moving sales process. None of those people have publicly spoken about their time working with Zahn.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Feb. 5, although U.S. District Judge Brian Davis could still delay the trial, a request the defense has made. A status conference is scheduled later this month to sort through the many outstanding pre-trial disputes Davis has yet to rule on.

Nate Monroe is a metro columnist whose work regularly appears every Thursday and Sunday. Follow him on Twitter @NateMonroeTU.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Nate Monroe: More than 30 witnesses on list for JEA fraud trial
Rescue workers at the site of the Yeti Airlines crash that killed 72

A plane crash in Nepal that killed 72 people, including two infants, was most probably the result of its pilots mistakenly cutting the power, said a report by government-appointed investigators.

This caused a loss of thrust that led to an "aerodynamic stall".

The Yeti Airlines flight was flying from the capital Kathmandu to the tourist town of Pokhara on 15 January.

It is the country's deadliest plane crash in 30 years.

The flight on 15 January, which involved an ATR 72, was the flight crew's third sector of the day, shuttling between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The privately owned plane crashed in the Seti river gorge just 1.5km (0.9 miles) from the airport, prompting a rescue operation that involved hundreds of Nepalese soldiers.

"Due to its momentum, the aircraft flew for up to 49 seconds before hitting the ground," aeronautical engineer Dipak Prasad Bastola, a member of the investigating panel, told Reuters.

The pilots had likely put the condition levers, which control power, in the feathering position instead of selecting the flap lever, he explained. Mr Bastola explained that this caused the engine to "run idle and not produce thrust".

"Following the un-intentional feathering of both engine propellers, the flight crew failed to identify the problem and take corrective actions despite the Crew Alerting Panel cautions," the report said.

The report also listed a lack of appropriate technical and skill based training, high workload and stress, and non-compliance with standard operating procedures as contributing factors to the accident.

It added that the aircraft had been properly maintained, had had no known defects and that the cockpit crew had been qualified in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

More than a dozen investigators from the US, Canada, France and Singapore were involved in the investigation.

Local resident Divya Dhakal told the BBC in January that she had rushed to the crash site after seeing the aircraft plunge from the sky shortly after 11:00 (05:15 GMT).

"By the time I was there the crash site was already crowded. There was huge smoke coming from the flames of the plane. And then helicopters came over in no time," she said.

For the past decade, the European Union has banned Nepalese airlines from its airspace over safety concerns.

Aviation accidents are not uncommon in Nepal, often because of its remote runways and sudden weather changes that can make for hazardous conditions. Last May, Tara Air Flight 197, owned by Yeti Airlines, crashed into a mountainside, killing 22 passengers and crew.
A Black passenger who was shot in the head by members of the Capitol Police in Jackson, Mississippi, during a traffic stop has filed a federal lawsuit. The excessive force complaint was filed in the U.S. Southern District of Mississippi on Dec. 20.

According to the lawsuit, Sherita Harris was shot in the head on Aug. 14, 2022, after Officers Michael Rhinewalt and Jeffery Walker shot into the vehicle she was riding in near State Street / Highway 51 in downtown Jackson.

Sherita Harris was shot in the head by officers from the Mississippi Capital Police Department on August 14, 2022. (Photo: 16 WAPT News Jackson screenshot / YouTube)

Harris and the driver of the vehicle were at a traffic light near the intersection of State and Amite when Rhinewalt and Walker pulled up behind them in a police cruiser.

After the light turned green, Walker immediately turned on the emergency lights of the cruiser as he demanded the vehicle pull over, according to the complaint.

The claim further states that after the driver complied and pulled over, Rhinewalt began shooting into the vehicle in short order, prompting the driver to try to flee.

The vehicle complied with Defendant Walkers commands, Harris attorneys say. Shortly thereafter, Defendant Rhinewalt began to shoot into the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle attempted to drive away from Defendants Walker and Rhinewalt to escape the constant firing of bullets.

After the driver noticed that Harris was slumped over in the passenger seat and had suffered a bullet wound to the head, he got out of the vehicle when it came to a stop and ran while holding his cellphone, attorneys say.

According to the Sun Herald, Rhinewalt and Walker claimed that they pulled over the vehicle for running the light, and the driver fled as the officers exited the police cruiser.

Walker and Rhinewalt would further claim that during their pursuit they heard gunshots coming from the fleeing vehicle, which crashed into a curb while being shot at.

The officers also shot the driver of the vehicle as he ran after the crash, claiming that they saw a black object in his hands before discovering it was a cellphone after he was arrested. No weapon was found at the scene.

However, Rhinewalt and Walker claimed later in a court hearing that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation recovered a weapon elsewhere. The driver was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Harris was not charged.

Harris was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where surgeons removed bullet fragments from her head. More than one year after the shooting, Harris still suffers with her speech, gait and cognitive abilities. Harris says she is unable to care for her small children following the shooting and will never be the same.

I dont think any amount of compensation will help me be me, said Harris at a press conference through tears. Nobody even tried to check on me or say anything to me, so it dont feel like I even matter at all, so I just try to keep going  it just breaks me down.

Harris is being represented by the Carlos Moore Law Group, and Moore is calling for an investigation into the case by federal prosecutors.

The lawsuit names the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the Mississippi Capitol Police Department, Walker and Rhinewalt as Plaintiffs and is seeking $3 million in compensatory damages.

The lawsuit also requests attorneys fees, court costs and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish individual Defendants for the intentional, malicious, callous, bad faith, willful, wanton, and reckless misconduct that will deter the Defendants from future extreme and excessive behavior.

Walker and Rhinewalt were cleared to return to duty while the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office reviewed the case.
A newylwed couple had to cancel their honeymoon to Turkey because the groom's passport got wet.

He said an airline employee warned him the water damage might make it difficult to get into Turkey.

The couple spent nearly $3,500 on the trip  and they don't expect to get their money back.

A newlywed couple's dream honeymoon to Turkey was ruined after they said they were denied check-in because the groom's passport got wet.

Muhammad Fikry Bin Azman and his wife, Nur Amira Fatin Binti Norazmi, paid a travel agency 16,000 Malaysian ringgit, which is around $3,482, for a nine-day tour of Turkey to celebrate their nuptials, Malaysian news outlet mStar reported.

Fikry, who had been working as a cleaner in Singapore, told AsiaOne last week that he had started saving for their honeymoon since they got engaged in April.

He said they were unable to get the money refunded.

The unfortunate incident occurred after Fikry got caught in a thunderstorm on December 16.

His passport, which was in a bag that was not waterproof and was not in a protective case, got soaked during the downpour, he told mStar.

When he arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport the next day, Fikry realized his passport was still wet when their tour guide asked to see it.

He desperately tried to dry it in the airport bathroom, using a hand dryer, but it was no use.

Fikry posted about the incident on TikTok, where he wrote in the comments that an airline employee warned him the water damage might make it difficult to get into Turkey, the South China Morning Post reported.

The TikTok video suggests that the couple was due to fly with Turkish Airlines. Neither Fikry nor the airline immediately responded to Business Insider's requests for comment.

In the US, the Department of State makes it clear on its website that "passports that have water damage can no longer be used and should be replaced."

Those needing to replace a water-damaged passport have to apply in person, it adds.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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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.
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.
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.
Californias secretary of state has released its list of certified candidates to be on the March 5 primary ballot for Congress.

The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the Nov. 5 general election. Incumbents  Democrats and Republicans  are largely expected to prevail across areas in and around Sacramento.

Here is a brief breakdown of who is running in each congressional district:

1st District

North of Sacramento County is the solidly red 1st. It presses against both the Oregon and Nevada borders, incorporating Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter and Tehama counties as well as most of Yuba County.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, has held the seat since 2013 and has never had a close election. He has two Democratic challengers: Mike Doran, a lawyer and board member of the Shasta Union High School district, and Rose Penelope Yee, a financial adviser.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., asks questions during a House committee meeting in July.

3rd District

The district held by freshman Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, is the most contentious around Sacramento, according to nonpartisan analysts. Still, most election forecasters believe he will likely keep his seat in 2024.

The 3rd stretches from the northern Sierra Nevada mountains along the Nevada border into Death Valley, covering Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra and portions of El Dorado, Sacramento and Yuba counties.

He faces Democrat Jessica Morse, a wildfire prevention specialist who lost but fund-raised well in the 2018 election against Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove.

An Army veteran and operational programs director, Robert Smith, is running without a party preference.

Kiley, who served in the state Assembly from 2016 to 2022, defeated Navy veteran and physician Dr. Kermit Jones by more than 7 percentage points last year to earn the seat.

4th District

West of Sacramento County is the solidly-Democratic 4th, holding Lake, Napa and parts of Yolo, Solano and Sonoma counties.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, was first elected to Congress from the area in 1998. Hes never had a tough election. His 2024 challengers are Republican John Munn, a farmer and rancher; Democrat Andrew Engdahl, an account executive; and Niket Patwardhan, who has worked in the tech industry and is running without a party preference.

5th District

The 5th, represented by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, runs from Placerville down into Fresno County, covering Yosemite National Park and parts of Kings Canyon National Park. It grabs Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa counties as well as western El Dorado County and eastern Stanislaus, Madera and Fresno counties.

McClintock has represented various Northern California areas in Congress since 2009. The 5th is forecasted as solidly Republican in 2024. Democrat Mike Barkley, a lawyer and perennial candidate, is running against McClintock again, and so is no-party preference candidate Steve Wozniak  a business owner and writer, not the Apple co-founder.

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-California, listens during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration and border security in Washington in May.

6th District

The 6th district, held by Rep. Ami Bera, is entirely within Sacramento County, covering the north side of Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Arden-Arcade and most of Fair Oaks.

Bera, D-Elk Grove, holds this heavily Democratic district. He was first elected to Congress in 2012, unseating a Republican following redistricting based on the 2010 census.

Republican challengers include realtor Chris Bish, who ran there in 2022 and challenged neighboring Rep. Doris Matsui in 2020; Robla school board member Craig DeLuz; and businessman Ray Riehle. Democrat Adam Barajas, a retail worker, and Green Party perennial candidate Chris Richardson, a retired programmer, are also on the ballot.

Rep. Ami Bera, D-California, attends a news conference outside of the West Wing of the White House in 2022.

7th District

The solidly-blue 7th encompasses southern Sacramento County  including downtown Sacramento and Elk Grove  and bits of Solano and Yolo counties, including West Sacramento.

Matsui, D-Sacramento, first joined Congress in 2005; she took over from her late husband, Bob Matsui, who had held the seat since 1979.

Republican Tom Silva, a veteran program coordinator who was a Galt Joint Union Elementary School District trustee, and Democrat David Mandel, an attorney who focuses on human rights efforts, are also running.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui attends the groundbreaking for the Hanami Line project, expected to open in 2024, at Robert T. Matsui Park on June 29 in Sacramento. Matsui, D-Sacramento, has represented the area since 2005.
The heavy rain on Saturday was likely to cause flooding and transport disruption, the Met Office said

A yellow weather warning which brought strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland has ended.

Low pressure moving in from the Atlantic brought widespread and heavy rain on Saturday morning.

Up to 25mm of rain was expected to fall in just a few hours on already very saturated ground.

A Met Office yellow weather warning was in place across Northern Ireland until 11:00 GMT.

Yellow warning of rain affecting Northern Ireland https://t.co/YFrahBnhId pic.twitter.com/K28LQURM7H  Met Office - Northern Ireland (@metofficeNI) December 29, 2023

Very strong winds accompanied the rain, with coastal gusts of up to 60mph (96km/h) in more exposed areas.

Inland areas experienced gusts of up to 50mph (80km/h).

Wind warnings

Disruption and travel delays were also expected across parts of the Republic of Ireland.

Irish weather service Met Eireann issued yellow wind warnings for eight counties along the west and south coasts for Saturday and Sunday.

The organisation is warning of surface flooding, large coastal waves and loose debris.
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB)  The City of Niagara Falls is welcoming new leadership of its police and fire departments.

Nicholas Ligammari will be taking over as Police Superintendent with the departure of John Faso, while Gary Pochatko will serve as the new fire chief with Joseph Pedullas exit.

Faso and Ligammari go way back, and Faso says hes pleased with the choice of Ligammari as his successor.

Nick and I were hired together, attended the Academy together, and were partners in Patrol, Faso said. I know firsthand the kind of person he is and I am confident he will be an excellent leader for this department. Nick has spent the past 28 plus years serving this department and the citizens of Niagara Falls in various roles with the NFPD.

Pedulla also says hes happy with the choice of his successor.

I have served with Gary on both the Union and Mutual Aid Executive Boards over the years and can attest to his professionalism and suitability for this position, Pedulla said of Pochatko. Gary has the right work ethic and mindset to lead this department going forward.

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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. 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.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was accused by a child of flip-flopping on her views about former president Donald Trump  and then was likened to the 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry.

The nine-year-old named Adam began by telling the former UN ambassador at a New Hampshire town hall on 27 December: Chris Christie thinks that youre a flip-flopper on the Donald Trump issue. And honestly, I agree with him. The crowd then erupted in laughter.

Youre basically the new John Kerry  if you remember John Kerry from 2004, the kid added, sparking more laughs from the audience. Mr Kerry, who lost the presidency to George W Bush, was accused of changing his position on a number of topics, including the Iraq War. He now serves as the USs first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

The fourth grader then asked: How can you change your opinion like that in just eight years, and will you pardon Donald Trump?

Ms Haley replied that politics is about distraction. She said that while pro-Trumpers are saying she doesnt love him enough and anti-Trumpers say she doesnt hate him enough, Mr Trumps former UN ambassador said she is just telling you the truth like I see it. Its not personal for me.

She reiterated that she believes Mr Trump was the right president at the right time and said she agrees with some of his policies, but clarified that she doesnt think hes the right candidate for 2024.

Ms Haley then dug into Mr Christie as being obsessed with Trump.

She continued, He sleeps, eats, and breathes it every day. Im thinking bigger than that, Ms Haley said. If we do that, were no different than Trump. Thats what were trying to get away from  is the idea that we obsess about a person. This is about a country. Were better than that. Were bigger than that.

She added, I told my truth just like you told your truth, except I am no John Kerry. The audience broke into a loud applause.

Ms Haley also addressed Adams second question  announcing she would pardon Mr Trump if she were elected and if he were convicted.

A leader needs to think about whats in the best interest of the country, she explained. Whats in the best interest of the country is not to have an 80-year-old man sitting in jail, that continues to divide our country.

The former South Carolina governor has been facing intense scrutiny for other comments she made at the campaign event regarding the cause of the Civil War  since she didnt mention slavery.

She has since tried to rectify her initial remarks. During a radio interview the following day, on 28 December, Ms Haley said Of course the Civil War was about slavery.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.

The former UN ambassador also accused the person who asked the question of being a Democrat plant.
(Bloomberg) -- Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley sought to tamp down controversy over remarks that failed to list slavery as the cause of the US Civil War, following criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

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Of course the Civil War was about slavery, we know that. Thats unquestioned, always the case, Haley said Thursday at a campaign event in New Hampshire.

But it was also more than that, she added. It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government.

Haley at a town hall in New Hampshire on Wednesday was asked, What was the cause of the United States Civil War? by an audience member. Haley didnt mention slavery in her response.

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. It always comes down to the role of government. 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.

Many historians agree slavery was the catalyst for the US Civil War from 1861 to 1865, that ultimately ended with the emancipation of enslaved people.

The incident is the latest to inject debates about race and slavery into the 2024 presidential contest and came at a critical time for Haleys campaign.

Haley has enjoyed new momentum of late, buoyed by a series of strong performances in the Republican debates. Although she still trails former President Donald Trump by a wide margin, she has risen in the polls and drawn interest from prominent Wall Street donors dismayed by the prospect of a Trump rematch with President Joe Biden.

Haley, who is in third place in the race, behind Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has focused her efforts on early voting Iowa and New Hampshire. Polls show her in second place in New Hampshire.

Wall Street Darling Haley Draws Rivals Fire as Bid Gains Steam

DeSantis, who is campaigning in Iowa, lambasted her handling of the matter.

She was asked a very simple question and responded with just a really incomprehensible word salad, DeSantis said. This is not a candidate thats ready for prime time.

DeSantis said it is not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War.

The Republican Party was founded to put a stop to the growth of slavery in this country and the abolition of slavery was to this day, remains, the partys top achievement, he said.

DeSantis, Floridas governor, generated controversy earlier this year when he defended a state educational curriculum that said formerly enslaved Black Americans gained beneficial life skills from chattel slavery.

Democrats also rebuked Haley for her remarks, with the partys chair calling her words a slap in the face to Black voters.

I am disgusted but Im 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, Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement. This isnt hard: condemning slavery is the baseline for anyone who wants to be president of the United States.

Biden posted from his campaign account Wednesday, sharing video of the exchange. It was about slavery, he said.

Black voters are a key part of Bidens coalition and turning them out to cast ballots will be critical for his reelection hopes. Polls show his support among those voters has weakened amid broader anxiety over his economic agenda and frustration over progress on issues including voting rights and police reform.

Bidens favorability among Black voters in seven swing states has slipped 7 percentage points since October, to 61% this month, according to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll. Trumps held steady at about 25%.

Trumps campaign intends to escalate outreach to Black voters in hopes of shaving off enough support to weaken Biden in swing states.

Earlier: Trump Sees Path to Victory as Black Voters Turn Away From Biden

As South Carolinas governor, Haley gained attention when she called on her states lawmakers to remove the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds after a 2015 mass shooting in which a white supremacist targeted people at a historic black church in Charleston. Before that, she had downplayed calls for its removal.

On Thursday, Haley cited her efforts to remove the flag.

By the grace of God we did the right thing and slavery is no more, Haley said. We never want to return back to that place.

(Updates to add DeSantis remarks, starting in 10th paragraph.)

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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley announced that she would pardon former president Donald Trump if she makes it to the White House in 2024 and if he were convicted of any of the many crimes hes accused of committing.

At a New Hampshire campaign event, Ms Haley told the crowd, I would pardon Trump if he is found guilty.

A leader needs to think about whats in the best interest of the country, the former South Carolina governor continued. Whats in the best interest of the country is not to have an 80-year-old man sitting in jail, that continues to divide our country.

She added, Whats in the best interest of the country would be to pardon him, so that we can move on as a country and no longer talk about him.

Mr Trump faces 91 criminal counts across several cases.

He faces RICO charges for alleged election subversion efforts in Georgia, counts of falsifying business records charges in the hush-money case in New York, and charges in two federal cases  one for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and one for his alleged retention of classified documents.

However, its worth noting that presidential pardons only apply to federal criminal convictions  not to state criminal convictions.

Still, Mr Trump is the prominent frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination. Ms Haley has been encroaching on his lead in recent weeks, according to December polls in New Hampshire.

A CBS/YouGov poll showed that 29 per cent of potential Republican primary voters in the state said they would vote for Ms Haley compared to 44 per cent who said they would for Mr Trump.

An American Research Group poll showed an even smaller gap between the two candidates: 33 per cent of likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters said they would support the former president while 29 per cent support Ms Haley.

Although he didnt explicitly say he would pardon Mr Trump, fellow 2024 GOP candidate Ron DeSantis also indicated he would do so if he were elected. He said in July, Im going to do whats right for the country. I dont think it would be good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president go to prison. It doesnt seem like it would be a good thing.

Meanwhile, 2024 hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy was more direct, saying he would pardon the former president on day one.

Former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie took a different approach. He explained in July, To get a pardon, you have to also accept responsibility for what you did...I doubt very highly that Donald Trump would ever do that. And so I cant imagine a pardon being issued.
While campaigning in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley refused to reject the idea of becoming former President Donald Trumps running mate in 2024.

During a town hall in Lebanon on Dec. 28, an attendee asked the former South Carolina governor, Would you be able to say categorically that you will not accept being Trumps vice president?

I could say to you what you want to hear, Haley responded, according to CNN video footage. But Im going to continue to tell you my truth

President Trump and I worked well together. Why? Because I told him the truth, she added. Haley served in Trumps administration for two years as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

While she did leave the door open to a possible Trump-Haley ticket, she reaffirmed that she has every intention of winning the Republican nomination for president.

If you want to talk about vice president, I will tell you this now, she said. Ive said it before, I dont play for second, Ive never played for second. Im not gonna start now.

Voter: This is a chance to redeem yourself after last night's slavery thing. Would you be able to say categorically that you will not accept being Trumps VP?



Haley: pic.twitter.com/JeJ6wmZBI5  Acyn (@Acyn) December 29, 2023

Trump, the far and away leading contender for the GOP nomination, is also open to the possibility of combining forces with Haley, who has gained momentum in recent months, according to Politico.

What do you think of Nikki? Trump reportedly asked people outside his campaign, according to the outlet, citing three individuals aware of the conversations.

But some people close to the former president, including his son, are loath to see him bring Haley in.

I would go to great lengths to make sure that that doesnt happen, Donald Trump Jr. told Newsmax in late December.

Shes a puppet of the establishment in Washington, D.C., he added. Shes the new favorite candidate of the billionaire class  no different than academia and Harvard.

Despite their openness to sharing a ticket, the two candidates have traded barbs in recent months.

Trump, in a Dec. 22 post on Truth Social, dismissed Haleys improved New Hampshire poll numbers and called her birdbrain, a nickname he has used before.

In an Oct. 11 post on X, Haley posted a photo of a birdcage supposedly left outside her hotel room with a sign saying From: Trump campaign. She called the message pathetic.

More recently, in response to Haleys recent comments on the Civil War  in which she neglected to mention slavery as a cause  the Trump-supporting MAGA Pac said in a statement shared with The Hill, Haley is clearly not ready for primetime.

Aside from Haley, there are a number of Republican officials who have signaled they are open to serving as Trumps running mate, including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, according to The Hill.

Noem, along with presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, are the current betting favorites to become Trumps vice presidential pick, according to Oddschecker, an online betting site.

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Nikki Haleys unwillingness, at first, to say that slavery was the cause of the Civil War during an event in New Hampshire town hall this week is proving to be the gaffe she cant escape in the state where she can't underperform.

Haleys comments came during an event in Berlin after a voter asked what she thought the cause of the Civil War was. Haley responded that it was over how government was going to run  the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do. Her answer notably did not mention the freedom that was at the heart of the matter: the ability to own slaves.

In the more than 48 hours since, Haley has tried to walk back the comment, saying the following day on Good Morning New Hampshire that of course the Civil War was about slavery, but she has also continued to center her responses to the question on things like individual freedom and economic freedom as underlying drivers that caused the Civil War. In addition, she has said that the person who asked the question was a plant sent by Democrats, an assertion made without evidence.

We are on day three and she is still trying to get past it, said Matthew Bartlett, a New Hampshire-based Republican operative. Im not sure litigating the Civil War is a top issue for New Hampshire voters, but when you make a mistake you have to get past it.

She needed to make her answer short, simple and patriotic, he added. Instead she is trying to get philosophical and talk about the lessons of economics and capitalism. Just, like, stop.

Compounding the problem is the state where this particular mistake was made. New Hampshire is a huge part of Haleys early state strategy, and a place seen as uniquely well suited to give her a boost and formally transform the race into a two-person contest with former President Donald Trump, who is the overwhelming front-runner in the polls.

It is the state where Haley has spent much of her time and resources, and she has been surging there roughly a month out from the states first-in-the-nation primary. She secured the endorsement of New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, support also eagerly sought by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and has been ascending in most public polling. A recent CBS News/YouGov poll had Haley at 29% with likely GOP voters, a number that represents her closing the gap with Trump, who has led in most public polling, snagging 44% in the most recent New Hampshire survey.

Everyone from Joe Biden to Donald Trump is attacking Nikki for one reason: Shes the only candidate with momentum," said a Haley spokeswoman. "For months, Nikki has been talking to every voter and taking every question, and the excitement around her is real."

The dynamics of the New Hampshire primary are also unique compared to other early states in a way that could cause ripple effects from her Civil War comments.

New Hampshire allows unaffiliated voters to participate in any party primary, giving the generally more moderate slice of the states electorate significant sway. There are nearly 400,000 unaffiliated voters in New Hampshire, which is roughly 40% of the states overall electorate, according to the Independent Voter Project.

Hella Ross, an undeclared voter who was leaning toward voting for Haley, told NBC News on Thursday that she thought it was astounding that the former ambassador to the U.N. flubbed the answer.

Its astounding to me that she got tripped up. However, it proves, once again, that she is concerned about alienating the MAGA crowd/base, Ross said. Shameful, but she cant have it both ways.

In Iowa, the comment didn't seem to be swaying too many voters.

Lisa Kraieg, a 58-year-old from Edgewood who works at a bridal store, remains undecided.

"I think she answered the question well, I do. I feel like it wasnt all just about slavery. The country was divided. So I do think she answered it well," Kraieg said. "I feel like sometimes we focus too much on on that (slavery). Not that thats not important, but there was a lot more than just, thats just one issue."

Dan Corbin, 69, of Cedar Falls said after a Haley event in his hometown Friday evening that he'd decided to caucus for her next month. The self-employed Republican indicated that Haley's record as governor of South Carolina was more important than how she answered the Civil War question.

"There was a controversy about her response about what was the Civil War fought for? I think she explained very well with the Confederate flag in South Carolina where she stood," Corbin said.

Haley was in office when South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from its Capitol following a 2015 mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.

New Hampshires more moderate primary electors, due in part to the inclusion of unaffiliated voters, is also seen as a state where former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies long-shot campaign also has a chance to do well. He has defended Haley from attacks in the past but used the Civil War gaffe to amplify the message that he is the only candidate in the Republican primary willing to tell the truth, a message he is amplifying with a seven-figure New Hampshire TV buy that on Thursday he tied to Haleys Civil War comments.

The ads tone and message stand in stark contrast to what we saw last night in New Hampshire, the Christie campaign said, referring Haleys comment. This is a different campaign because Christie is telling the truth in a way that no other candidate is willing to  no matter the topic.

DeSantis, who is running fourth in most New Hampshire public polling, also attacked Haley for her response.

The minute that she faces any kind of scrutiny, she tends to cave, DeSantis said. I think that thats 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 has himself faced heat for his handling of how schools in Florida teach Black history. This year, his administration's education department signed off on new standards that included contentious language that mentioned "personal benefits" for slaves.

Bartlett, the New Hampshire operative, said the Haley campaign has done a bad job of ending the Civil War controversy, but he remains skeptical that it will materially change the dynamics of the New Hampshire primary.

At the end of the day, I dont know that this is going to get anyone to change their votes, he said.

Others view the Civil War misstep as highlighting Haley's perceived weakness as she tries to dethrone Trump: a fear to cross the Trump-loving Republican primary electorate.

"Unfortunately for Haley, this town hall train wreck was a perfect example of her greatest flaw; she is a fear-based candidate," wrote veteran Republican operative Mike Murphy, who said he is no "fan" of Haley but has been hyping her campaign because he prefers her to Trump. "Unlike Trump, Haley is a victim of fear, not a malicious vendor of it."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The claim: US Marines arrested Colorado Supreme Court justice who ruled against Trump

A Dec. 21 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows a news article about the Colorado Supreme Court and former President Donald Trump.

"Marines Arrest Colorado SCJ Who Voted to Remove President Trump from State Ballot," reads the article's headline.

The article features a picture of Colorado Supreme Court Justice Monica Marquez under the headline.

The post was liked more than 2,000 times in one week. The Real Raw News article it screenshotted was shared another 400 times in one week, according to CrowdTangle, a social media analytics tool.

More from the USA TODAY Fact-Check Team:

Our rating: False

A spokesperson for Colorado's state courts said Marines did not arrest Marquez. There are no credible news reports that the justice was arrested by the military. The claim originated on a website that routinely publishes misinformation.

Justice on Colorado's top court not arrested by military, spokesperson says

Jon Sarche, a spokesperson for Colorado's state courts, said the assertion that U.S. Marines arrested Colorado Supreme Court Justice Monica Marquez is not true.

"That claim is absolutely false," Sarche said in an email.

The screenshot in the Instagram post is from a Dec. 21 story by Real Raw News, a website that routinely publishes fabricated claims about the arrest of high-profile figures. The story does not present any legitimate evidence to substantiate the claim.

The websites of the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Defense and Colorado Judicial Branch make no mention of an arrest of any Colorado Supreme Court justice. And there are no reports from reputable news organizations that any Colorado Supreme Court justice has been arrested.

Fact check: No, pope didn't authorize World Economic Forum to write 'fact checked' Bible

USA TODAY has debunked numerous false claims by Real Raw News about high-profile figures being arrested by the military.

Following the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to disqualify Trump from the state's 2024 primary ballot, an FBI spokesperson, Vikki Migoya, told USA TODAY the agency was working with local law enforcement to investigate potential threats against the court's justices.

The Instagram user who shared the screenshot did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Real Raw News and the U.S. Marine Corps also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Associated Press and Reuters also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marines didn't arrest Colorado Supreme Court justice | Fact check
A family who no longer fly due to climate change has arrived at a relative's wedding in Australia after four months of travel.

Shannon Coggins, Theo Simon and their daughter Rosa, 19, took multiple modes of transport on the epic 10,000-mile (16,000km) journey.

They left home in Somerset on August 16 for the 28 December event in Sydney.

But in South East Asia their travel options ran out and they were forced to take a short flight.

Writing on the family's blog, Rosa said: "It really was tough, having to get on a plane after all we had achieved without one."

However, she added that she hoped she had shown people "that so much is possible without hopping on a plane" and when when you use one "you miss the world that makes up the spaces in between.

"It takes away from what an amazing thing it is to be able to travel halfway across the world and see what an incredible, diverse and endlessly interesting planet we live on."

The family decided to stop flying in 2002 "because of its effect on the climate".

Mr Simon, from East Pennard, said: "We stopped flying a long time ago because of our own carbon footprint, which we looked at and we thought we can't justify it anymore."

But when Ms Coggins' sister, who lives in Sydney, revealed she was getting married, the family started planning how they would get there without using a plane.

They travelled through Kazakhstan, China, Laos, Thailand and Indonesia, before taking a flight from Dili in East Timor's capital to cross the Timor Sea to Darwin, Australia.

Mr Simon said: "The travel was a thing in itself. It was a great experience.

"We wanted to do it with our daughter in her gap year - see the world."

The family thinks they have used five times less carbon travelling than if they had flown all the way.

Ms Coggins said the wedding "was so beautiful" and their journey there was "a fantastic way to meet people and see the world".

"Our mum died when we were young, so we've been really close, so it was really important to get here.

"So I'm flipping glad we did."

Ms Coggins and Mr Simon both gave up their jobs to make the journey with their daughter, which they said required a "monumental amount" of planning.

They said they learnt how to say "thank you" and "sorry" in every language and added that people always stepped up to help them whatever country they were in.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Three non-profit organizations filed an intent to appeal against the City of Portland for approving a building permit for a freight warehouse  raising environmental and health concerns for the community.

Non-profits 1000 Friends of Oregon, Neighbors for Clean Air, and Northwest Environmental Defense Center filed the legal challenge Dec. 19, claiming the city approved the permits for a Prologis warehouse on Northeast 122nd and Sandy without conducting any impact analysis or addressing community concerns.

Students, families and people living in the surrounding neighborhoods have repeatedly asked the city to properly investigate how the development of this distribution center will impact their health and safety. NCA believes the city has the ability to provide one, and the community deserves to know, said Nakisha Nathan, co-executive director for Neighbors for Clean Air.

Mary Stites, a legal fellow with the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, said EPA data and local researchers from PSU corroborated that the area already has four to six times the healthy levels of diesel pollution.

So the clock starts ticking, and you have to act pretty quickly on these land use type decisions, Stites said.

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The non-profits argue that freight warehouses are dangerous to community members because of their negative environmental impacts, including pollution.

The city failed to apply its code or utilize its own environmental justice and equity goals laid out in its 2035 Comprehensive Plan, instead approving the construction of a massive freight warehouse in an already environmentally overburdened community, said Rebeka Dawit, Crag Law Center attorney who represents the groups.

She continued, The neighboring community, local school district, Neighbors for Clean Air, 1000 Friends of Oregon, and NEDC have been advocating for the city to acknowledge and rectify the local communitys concerns about the potential diesel pollution, noise, exacerbation of urban heat islands, and increased semi-truck traffic since 2022. Issuing this building permit despite these real, valid concerns from the community is an outright failure on behalf of the city to apply its own environmental justice and equity initiatives.

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KOIN 6 News has reached out to the city attorney but has not heard back.

In a statement, Prologis told KOIN 6, We have engaged with the City of Portland throughout the sites redevelopment process, meeting all the requirements. The City has provided approval for the projects building permit, and we plan to break ground in January. We look forward to building a new and sustainable logistics facility that will bring jobs and support Portlands local economy.

Highlighting their concerns for the community, the petitioners argue that the warehouse design plan would bring 37 freight truck bays to the neighborhood and would add more trips along multiple high-crash corridors.

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The non-profits also point out that the site is near multiple schools and apartment buildings in the Argay Terrace and Parkrose neighborhoods, which are two of the most racially and ethnically diverse areas of Portland.

Bridging the business interests and community concerns, Commissioner Carmen Rubios office told KOIN 6 News she is facilitating a Good Neighbor Agreement with Prologis representatives, who have been receptive to this proposal.

Rubios office added that, City staff have held meetings with community members  and are in conversations with the company, Multnomah County, and multiple bureaus about road/pedestrian safety, environmental mitigation, and workforce/learning opportunities for students. That engagement continues and will expand after the new year.

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Sam Diaz, executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon, says the city needs to find solutions that can help business grow without compromising community health.

Trust is paramount to public service, Diaz said. Any public servant should take that responsibility seriously. And find creative ways to boost economic development opportunities that also protect and enhance community health, and well being, and safety.

The site was previously home to an old Kmart store before a 4-alarm fire destroyed the building in July.

A class action lawsuit was filed against the owners of the building alleging that their failure to maintain the property led to the fire which impacted thousands of residents of the Parkrose neighborhood.

According to the court documents, the plaintiff  who filed the suit on behalf of himself and other Parkrose residents  claimed the fire impacted the daily lives of residents of the Parkrose neighborhood, preventing them from making use of their yards and causing a concern about the safety of allowing children to play in their yards.

This is a developing story. Stay with KOIN 6 News for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  As we approach the 90th annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, KTSM tagged along with the Notre Dame marching band Thursday morning, Dec. 28 as they held an open practice for the community and local schools.

Besides the amazing presentation, KTSM spoke with El Paso native Linda Lawson, the first female drum major who made history back in 1980.

When I was at Notre Dame in 1980, with the Notre Dame band, I was by myself. I was the individual with so much attention because I was the first female drum major, said Lawson. After the first game, you know, they had to tailor a drum major suit for me because they never had a female; it was either too big or whatever. And so, after the first performance, which it was against Purdue who was nationally televised, the next day the band director Mr. OBrien received some phone calls from an order of nuns that said they would be willing to alter my uniform so that it fit better.

Larry Dwyer, assistant director of the band said that now they have 23-24 female drum majors in the history and Lawson was the first one.

I was a drum major here in high school at Austin High School. And so, I was a drum major for two years here and initially went up to Notre Dame and played in their concert band; then for marching, competition and marching band. I tried out for the drum major role and got it, said Lawson.

Lawson finished saying that its great to see the traditional Notre Dame band again after 43 years since she led it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
NEW YORK  New York City will ban all vendors from the base of the Brooklyn Bridge starting Jan. 3, Mayor Eric Adams office said Friday, aiming to clear the tangle of sellers who have long crowded the bustling pedestrian level of the celebrated steel and stone suspension bridge.

If effective, the citys plan would mark the end of an era for the bridge: For years, New Yorkers and throngs of tourists have passed vendors selling trinkets and souvenirs on the Manhattan-side entrance to the 140-year-old crossing.

The ban on vending is to apply to all of New York Citys bridges and bridge entrances, but the plans are primarily aimed at the Brooklyn Bridge, where vending is particularly popular.

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York Citys most stunning gems, the mayor said in a statement. Tourists and New Yorkers alike deserve to walk across it and enjoy its beauty without being packed together like sardines or risking their safety.

Adams added that the city will not allow disorder to continue in these cherished spaces.

Pedestrian use of the Brooklyn Bridge has returned to and then exceeded pre-pandemic rates after dropping during the COVID years. On an average weekend day in fall 2022, 34,000 people crossed the bridge, up from 17,000 a day in 2021, according to government data.

Vending on the Brooklyn Bridge appears to have proliferated after bikers were relocated in 2021 from the pedestrian level to a separate bike lane on the side of the bridge.

The mile-long landmarked bridge, one of the citys most popular tourist attractions and a vital commuting tool for many cyclists, spans from Manhattans Financial District to downtown Brooklyn. It was once the longest suspension bridge in the world.

The wooden pedestrian path is 16 feet wide, on average, but can narrow to as thin as 5 feet at certain points, according to city records. It is located above the car level, which accommodates more than 100,000 rumbling autos on an average day.

Outreach to vendors began on Friday, the mayors office said. The sellers face a deadline of Jan. 2 at midnight to remove their wares from the bridge, with enforcement planned to start Jan. 3.

Adams said in his statement that vendors were receiving fair warning.

The ban will apply to sellers who have vending licenses. The planned rule was published in the City Record on Oct. 6.

The ability of pedestrians to exit the bridge safely is jeopardized by vendors who display and store their wares, carts, tables, tents, tarps, canopies, coolers and generators along the elevated pedestrian walkway, said the notice.

The city Transportation Department introduced the plan. The proposal was developed with the Police Department and the Sanitation Department, Adams office said.

Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the ban would make the Brooklyn Bridge safer and help pedestrians take in the spans extraordinary views.

The Brooklyn Bridge has been called Americas Eiffel Tower, Rodriguez said in a statement, and its important that all New Yorkers and the millions of people who visit our city each year can enjoy it without impediments to safety and pedestrian mobility.

But not everyone supports the blanket ban on bridge vending.

City Councilman Christopher Marte, who represents the neighborhoods on both sides of the Brooklyn Bridge, suggested the plan was unfair to permitted vendors who have long worked on the bridge. He said unlicensed vendors would likely continue to sell on the span.

We all realize that right now theres a really big problem, Marte said by phone Friday. But if you look a few years back, there were registered vendors, with permits, following all the laws, making sure that the bridge was safe.

Those are the individuals that are going to be most jeopardized, added Marte, a Lower East Side Democrat.

Councilwoman Gale Brewer, an Upper West Side Democrat, recently proposed legislation that would allow limited vending on the bridge, but only in the wider sections of the walkway.

Its a restrictive bill, Brewer said Friday. There wouldnt be any possibility of vending at the entrances.

Under Brewers bill, vendors would need to space out at least 20 feet from each other. The plan, if authorized, would supersede the mayors rule.

Marte declined to support the bill on Friday, saying that he would like to see changes made to it. Its still fairly early with that legislation, he said.

Brewer said the introduction of the bill was the start of a long conversation.

________
NYCs First Golden Corral Goes Viral For Their Brilliant And Fun Marketing Videos On Instagram | Photo: Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images

New York Citys first and only Golden Corral is making waves on social media after several viral videos show that the restaurant chain is taking its marketing strategy to a new level.

One video in particular, featuring four Golden Corral staff members dancing to Burna Boys Ye, was shared on the establishments Instagram account in early December. Since then, the clip has gone viral, with 7.2 million views on the platform, according to News 12 The Bronx.

Charisma Mims, a host and server at Golden Corral, couldnt believe she and other staff members had gone viral online.

My first reaction was, Were really viral right now. Like, this is crazy. I would never know or thought that we would go viral, she told the outlet.

The brands South Bronx location is attracting more business, all thanks to the young staffs creativity and social media presence.

We add our own sauce, our own style, our own moves. You know, give it the Bronx Golden Corral vibe, host and server Uniece Zaney said, per News 12.

On Friday, the clip made its rounds on X, formerly known as Twitter, and some users shared their experience after visiting the restaurant.

The service there is top tier and the food is good! Very clean and the servers are very attentive! 10/10 for me!!!!!! one social media user wrote.

The service there is top tier and the food is good! Very clean and the servers are very attentive! 10/10 for me!!!!!!  The Truth Fairy  (@90sbabyceecee) December 23, 2023

Surprisingly it wasnt a bad experience. The food was pretty good & the servers were nice. A lot of young people do work there which is cool because people need a job.. another tweeted.

Surprisingly it wasnt a bad experience. The food was pretty good & the servers were nice. A lot of young people do work there which is cool because people need a job..  Jackson strong (@strong_1185) December 23, 2023

Everyone thats been there say the customer service is top tier and these girls and other services are very professional. Good food and good service , a third person wrote.

Everyone thats been there say the customer service is top tier and these girls and other services are very professional. Good food and good service   YellowBird (@SmplyCmplicated) December 23, 2023

Other videos from their account have also garnered attention.

According to a press release, the Bronx Golden Corral opened its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, on Sept. 7, 2020. Aside from being the brands first New York City location, it is also one of the few locations that serve alcoholic beverages.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has issued an executive order Wednesday on migrant busing. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Dec. 28 (UPI) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued an executive order Wednesday regulating bus arrivals as Republican governors continue busing migrants and asylum seekers to so-called "sanctuary cities."

A state of emergency, which Adams declared in October 2022, is still in effect as migrants continue to arrive.

"Over the past several months, thousands of asylum seekers have been arriving in New York City, from the southern border, without having any immediate plans for shelter," Adams wrote in Emergency Executive Order 538.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has implemented a policy of sending migrants to other states via chartered buses and flights. According to the mayor's office, more than 161,000 migrants have arrived since 2022.

"The city now faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that requires it to take extraordinary measures to meet the immediate needs of the asylum seekers while continuing to serve the tens of thousands of people who are currently using the Department of Homeless Services' Shelter System," Adams said.

On Wednesday, Adams held a press conference calling on the Biden administration to declare a federal emergency and provide financial support.

"Cities cannot keep doing the federal government's job for them," Adams said.

The order says the entities sending migrants via buses know the migrants will need shelter when they arrive and that they are being dropped off in "random locations."

Any driver who knows, or "reasonably should know," that recent arrivals are being sent via their bus routes by third parties will be required to contact the Office of Emergency Management at least 32 hours in advance.

Drivers also would be required to provide passenger manifests.

The executive order also requires drivers to drop off the passengers between 8:30 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday.
NEW YORK  The union representing the New York Police Department detectives is rescinding its endorsements of two City Council members who voted for a bill intended to increase transparency within the police department  and wont back any of their colleagues who also supported the legislation, The New York Daily News has learned.

The two members, Kamillah Hanks of Staten Island and Oswald Feliz of the Bronx, were among 35 Democrats who recently helped pass the so-called How Many Stops Act, which would require NYPD cops to document all encounters with civilians that are investigative in nature. Under current regulations, city cops only need to document so-called Level 3 encounters, where theres reasonable suspicion of a crime in progress. The bill was introduced by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

While Council members and criminal justice advocates say the bill would prevent biased policing and add needed transparency, NYPD leaders, as well as Mayor Eric Adams, have argued it would place heavy bureaucratic burdens on cops thatd take them away from doing actual police work.

In pulling the endorsements of Hanks and Feliz, the Detectives Endowment Association  which represents 18,000 current and retired NYPD detectives  echoed the mayors argument.

This political stunt will result in fewer cops on our streets, particularly in neighborhoods where crime is the highest and where detectives and unformed personnel are needed most, Detectives Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo told the Daily News in a statement on the decision to pull the endorsements. We want every citizen of this city to know that we stand with those in need, not with the politicians. And our members, the greatest detectives in the world, stand with the citizens we serve. We will remember the politicians who betrayed New Yorks neediest.

Feliz did not immediately return a request for comment.

Hanks, who chairs the Councils Public Safety Committee, called the endorsement pull unfortunate.

We unfortunately and statistically will have more interactions with police  whether we are the bad actors or not, said Hanks, who is Black. This reporting bill is for the hard-working families who live in these communities that have dealt with both the violence and the enforcement  My grandfather, a retired NYPD sergeant, who instilled my deep respect for those who wear the uniform would have agreed with me.

Hank Sheinkopf, a spokesman for the detectives union, said no Council members who backed the How Many Stops Act will get its support when theyre up for reelection in 2025.

Whether the How Many Stops Act will become law remains unclear.

Adams has confirmed hes weighing his options, including vetoing the bill. If he does, the Council could override his veto and force the bill into law as long as such a move has support from two thirds of the chambers members.

The bill passed the Council with support from 35 members  just above the 34 veto-proof threshold.
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Police Commission decided at a special closed session meeting Thursday to start again to find a new list of police chief candidate names to send to the mayor, a day after she rejected their three finalists, which included a man she fired 10 months ago.

"The Oakland Police Commission restarted the hiring process," Commission Chair Marsha Peterson reported out after the meeting.

Peterson said the commission will reopen the open recruitment period on Jan. 1 and the final names will be sent by March 1 for the mayor to review, interview and then possibly hire if she likes the candidates.

Neither Mayor Sheng Thao nor Peterson would speak in detail about the candidates on the list or what happens next, and did not grant requests for interviews. Peterson tweeted that there would be a "media blackout."

Thao announced on Wednesday she would not consider any of the three candidates on the list the commissioners submitted to her, without explaining why.

In a followup statement on Thursday, her office said that she and the police commission are "working collaboratively to expedite the next set of candidates for review" and she intends to do it in a "timely manner."

KTVU first reported the names as: former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, who Thao fired in February over what an outside firm deemed two mishandled Internal Affairs investigations; San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen, who was placed on leave in September amid some sort of investigation into departmental policy violations that the city wouldn't reveal; and Kevin Hall, who is now the assistant police chief in Tucson, Ariz.

In the first round, a total of 16 candidates applied and it's not completely clear if the commission will look at any of these people again. Interim Chief Darren Allison has been filling in ever since, and has previously stated that he is not interested in the top job.

The entire process has upset many in the community, some who blame the mayor for not reconsidering Armstrong, who has the support of the NAACP, many of the commissioners, several council members and civil rights attorney John Burris.

"I'm disappointed that the mayor did not select anyone," Burris said in an interview Thursday.

Others, like civil rights attorney Jim Chanin, are more upset with the commissioners, who sent the mayor a list of names including a man she had already said she had lost trust in.

"It's in your face," Chanin said, specifically referring to passing Armstrong's name along. "Because everyone knew that the mayor wasn't going to accept Chief Armstrong, and we have to get serious about this. This is a serious selection. We have a lot of crime in Oakland. We can't play political games at the expense of the citizens of Oakland."

Both Chanin and Burris sued OPD more than 20 years ago in the infamous Riders scandal, which prompted police reforms and put the department under federal oversight, which still exists today.

Chanin and Burris had long hoped this oversight would end years ago, and the department had come close. In fact, in April 2022, both praised Armstrong's work in successfully achieving nearly 50 reforms, which must be completed before OPD can be free of federal monitoring.

But in February, Thao fired Armstrong after an independent firm found that he had mismanaged two Internal Affairs investigations. Back then, Thao said publicly that she had lost trust in Armstrong after his repeated denials that he had done anything wrong and that there were deep problems and cover-ups in the department under his watch. However, in September, a retired judge sided with Armstrong in his legal claim against the city.

Now, Burris thinks that federal oversight might be extended yet again, as Oakland still lacks a chief who can complete the necessary reforms.

The selection process is already way behind schedule. The Oakland Police Commission had originally said they wanted the top candidates to undergo final interviews with the mayor in October.

"So we basically set this process back, which is not a good thing for the department," Burris said.

While some have questioned who would even want the politically charged job of police chief in Oakland, Burris countered that he believes there are good candidates who would want to come in and turn things around. Armstrong was the 10th Oakland police chief in as many years.

Burris said he'd prefer the candidate come from Oakland and understand how to work with the federal judge and comply with the reforms, rather than an outsider.

Burris reiterated that he thinks Armstrong is a good candidate for chief, and he wishes the mayor and him could come to "some kind of agreement" so that they could patch up any differences that they have.

"And so, what happens now with this going on for almost a year now," Burris said, "it looks like that's going to continue on into the future."


An Oakland police officer responding to a burglary at a cannabis store was shot and killed Friday morning, the department said.

The officer, identified as Tuan Le, "was fatally wounded by gunfire" in the 400 block of Embarcadero. He and another officer were in an unmarked police vehicle when they were ambushed by a suspect out of the line of sight, according to Oakland Police Officers Assn. President Barry Donelan.

"They were taken entirely by surprise," Donelan said in an interview with The Times. "They never had an opportunity to draw their service weapons."

Another officer in the vehicle suffered minor injuries after helping Le out of the car, Donelan said. Le was taken to Highland Hospital, where he died.

It is with a heavy heart that we come together to share the devastating news of the passing of our colleague and friend, who was killed in the line of duty today in the 400 block of Embarcadero.



OPD will hold a news conference at 1pm at Police Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/YNkF4Tqdum  Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) December 29, 2023

At a news conference Friday afternoon, Interim Police Commissioner Darren Allison said the officers, who were wearing civilian clothes, were responding to a burglary at the cannabis business  the second of the night  around 4:30 a.m. when the shooting occurred.

"This senseless murder of a police officer  one of the guardians of our beautiful city  it will not stand," Mayor Sheng Thao said at the conference. "We will work together to bring these perpetrators to justice."

Read more: Oakland police are doubling down on a tough-on-crime plan. Some activists are skeptical

No suspects were immediately identified. Allison said at least one person opened fire on the officers. Numerous bullet casings were found, according to police.

Video from the scene showed a crashed white pickup truck along with numerous officers from the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff's Department. It was not clear to whom the truck belonged.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ohios Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has vetoed the states proposed ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors, telling reporters Friday that such a ban would do more harm than good.

DeWine is only the second Republican governor to veto such a measure. The first was former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), who vetoed the nations first gender-affirming health care ban in 2021.

House Bill 68 also sought to bar transgender women and girls from competing on female school sports teams.

DeWine on Friday said he had spent the last two weeks since House Bill 68 was delivered to him traveling the state on a fact-finding mission that included talks with medical professionals and families with transgender children.

He also spoke to opponents of treatments including puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgery, he said.

These are truly complex issues, and reasonable people draw vastly different conclusions, DeWine said during a press conference on Friday. This bill would impact a very small number of Ohios children, but for those children who face gender dysphoria, and for their families, the consequences of this could not be more profound.

Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life, DeWine said. Many parents have told me that their child would not have survived  would be dead today  if they had not received the treatment they received from one of Ohios childrens hospitals.

Ive also been told by those who are now grown adults that, but for this care, they would have taken their lives when they were teenagers, he said.

I cannot sign this bill as is currently written, DeWine said, and just a few minutes ago, I vetoed the bill.

Ohio Republicans, who overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bill, hold supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature and are likely to vote to override DeWines veto.

If an override attempt is successful, health care providers in Ohio will be barred from both administering gender-affirming care to minors and engaging in conduct that aids or abets in the administering of care. Mental health professionals will be unable to diagnose or treat a minor with a gender-related condition without consent from the minors parents.

DeWine on Friday dodged several questions from media about whether he supported the bills restrictions on transgender athletes, although the governor has said previously that he believes the issue is best addressed outside of government.

I focused on the part of the bill that I thought affected the most people and the most children by far, DeWine said Friday, referring to the bills health care restrictions, and did not even get to the other question.

DeWine on Friday also pushed back against claims that gender-affirming surgeries are being performed on transgender minors in Ohio. Republican state lawmakers this session had argued that House Bill 68 was needed to protect children from undergoing invasive surgical procedures to affirm their gender identity.

Thats, frankly, a fallacy thats out there, DeWine said, citing conversations with Ohio families and health care providers.

Gender-affirming care for transgender adults and minors is considered safe, effective and medically necessary by every major medical organization, although not every trans person chooses to medically transition or has access to care.

Medications including puberty blockers and hormones are not recommended for children that have not begun puberty, according to guidelines set by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society, and most surgeries are reserved for trans adults over 18.

DeWine on Friday also unveiled a plan to address certain goals set in House Bill 68 through administrative rules that he said would stand a better chance of surviving judicial review and being adopted.

One of the rules would prohibit health care providers from performing gender-affirming surgeries on minors, he said, and another would establish additional protections for transgender youths seeking care and their families.

I truly believe that we can collaborate, find common ground and adopt rules to protect our children, adults and families, he said.

Updated at 12:05 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Sallisaw Veterans Center, seen here in a construction rendering, is expected to be complete by late 2024.

Oklahoma has filed a lawsuit against two contractors accused of negligence in designing a new 175-bed facility for veterans.

The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking $20 million from design firm Orcutt Winslow and Cooper Project Advisors after the agency had to redo design work on the Sallisaw Veterans Center.

According to the lawsuit filed in Sequoyah County, the department hired Cooper to represent and advise it during the design phase of the project. Orcutt Winslow was hired as a subcontractor under the primary construction contractor, Flintco.

During construction, Flintco reportedly encountered numerous issues with the documents Orcutt Winslow submitted. For example, the lawsuit alleges Orcutt Winslow failed to incorporate the correct fire rating required by building codes.

The department also claims the design firm failed to identify or account for federally protected wetlands on the property that were eventually disturbed by construction.

"Orcutt failed to perform its architectural services consistent with the professional skill and care ordinarily provided by architects practicing in the same or similar locality under the same or similar conditions," the lawsuit states.

Cooper, hired by the department to be its adviser during the design phase, is accused of failing to recognize Orcutt's errors.

To complete construction without further delay, department officials had to ask lawmakers for supplemental appropriations to cover the additional work needed for a redesign. The lawsuit asks for at least $20 million from Orcutt and Cooper.

The two companies have tendered their first, most basic responses in court but haven't yet had a chance to fully defend themselves in front of a judge. The court has not set a trial date.

Cooper Project Advisors replied to the department's lawsuit by claiming that any damages would have been caused by an unspecified third party, and that it is not responsible for any of the additional costs borne by the agency. In its own response, Orcutt Winslow essentially told the department that if anyone is responsible, it's the fault of someone outside of the company's control. Orcutt's lawyers also made a counterclaim against the agency, saying it owes nearly $138,000 for an unpaid invoice.

The department has not responded to Orcutt Winslow's counterclaim.

What happened with the Sallisaw Veterans Center?

The controversy over construction of the Sallisaw Veterans Center came at a turbulent time for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. The man at the head of the agency as it oversaw these contracts, Joel Kintsel, was drummed from his position during a clash with Gov. Kevin Stitt and the gubernatorial-appointed board that oversaw his work as executive director.

Board members cited several reasons for terminating Kintsel; along with insubordination and refusing to let the board meet in department offices, Kintsel was criticized for his handling of the Sallisaw construction contracts.

The agency's current director, Greg Slavonic, said the new veterans home in Sallisaw is 65% to 70% complete.

"They've got most of, if not all, the outside work completed. Now they're working on the inside with Sheetrock and all the other types of work that goes along with finishing out a building," said Slavonic.

Greg Slavonic, executive director of Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, is pictured at his office in Oklahoma City.

Talihina Veterans Center closed

Slavonic expects to meet soon with local officials in Sallisaw to tour what's already been built. The center is expected to open in about a year.

"I think we're on track for opening of the facility somewhere in the November-December (2024) timeframe, given that there are no other glitches and problems with weather or things of that nature," he said.

The original construction schedule would have seen the Sallisaw Veterans Center open by now.

Sallisaw was considered a replacement for the Talihina Veterans Center, a century-old rural facility about an hour and a half drive south of the new center.

Talihina, however, is already closed after finding new accommodations for the 36 veterans who remained. The only staff left are a skeleton crew to discourage vandalism and monitor the facility's infrastructure.

It's not clear what will happen to the old center, which is now sitting unused on 600 acres of property.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma veterans affairs agency sues design firm for $20 million
SAN DIEGO  The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which provides visitors with an inside look at what its like to be a lighthouse keeper, will close temporarily for restoration, National Park Service (NPS) officials said.

From Jan. 8- 18, park crews will perform interior restoration at Cabrillo National Monuments historic lighthouse, including painting and other minor repairs, NPS said in a news release Thursday.

Park officials aim to protect the masonry walls from the damp coastal environment with the fix.

VIDEO: Daring surfers catch massive waves amid high surf warning

We understand the importance of the lighthouse as a symbol of San Diegos past and rich maritime history, said Amanda Gossard, visitor services program manager at Cabrillo National Monument. This restoration effort is part of our commitment to preserving our national treasures, and we appreciate the publics understanding and cooperation during this brief closure.

Guests can still visit Cabrillo National Monument while the Old Point Loma Lighthouse is closed. Other parts of the park to see include views of San Diego, the coastline, tidepools, hiking trails and educational exhibits.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Like a longtime local band thats hit the big time, Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. rose to another level in 2023.

The company, which has six Western Washington coffee shops and a Seattle bakery that supplies all the locations, began distributing its thoughtfully sourced and carefully processed beans through major retailers, including Costco, Fred Meyer, QFC and World Market, in February.

The company now is in the process of expanding its downtown Olympia location, at 600 Fourth Ave. E., into the space next door, formerly occupied by Arbutus Folk School, which also is moving into a bigger space up the street. Olympia Coffee Roastings 3,096-square-foot expansion will add more warehouse and office space and make room for a larger roasting machine.

The companys broader recognition is the latest chapter in the story of Olympia Coffee, which has been growing steadily under the leadership of self-described super coffee nerds Oliver Stormshak and Sam Schroeder, who both worked at the business before teaming up to buy it in 2010.

We both started working as baristas when we were in high school, and we did it because we needed jobs, said Schroeder of Seattle, whose skill with espresso has been recognized in many competitions. We both fell in love with it over time, and by the time we were working at Olympia Coffee Roasting, we were super passionate about coffee and where the industry was going.

The two got to know one another when Stormshak started working at Olympia Coffee Roasting in 2009, and hit it off immediately. I can say this now because Sam is one of my closest friends: I fell in love with Sam, Stormshak said. I thought he was the coolest person.

The feeling was mutual, Schroeder said. We see eye to eye on so many things. Those things included where the industry was headed  and theyve helped to lead it there since they bought the company with Schroeders brother Andy, who also lives in Seattle.

Weve always been about building our company for good and changing the world to make it a better place, said Stormshak, the companys president and green coffee buyer who lives in Olympia.

Olympia Coffee Roasting goes to great lengths for coffee, visiting individual farmers in Colombia, Kenya and other countries, tasting their coffees and working with them on each step of the process. We are literally driving hours into the mountains visiting tiny little farms, Stormshak said.

Stormshak has the tastebuds to choose coffee and the knowledge to guide growers on how to prepare beans for export, and hes proven himself through testing and certification with the Coffee Quality Institute.

Most coffee out there is a blend of all these different farms in a region, said Schroeder, a graduate of The Evergreen State College. What were buying is specific-day lots from specific farms. Even when we sell a blend, its a blend of specific-day lots from specific farms that Oliver has chosen.

If its a micro lot, its one persons coffee  maybe even one persons single day of coffee  sold under their name, he said. Its really different from most coffees that exist today.

Olympia Coffee Roasting also does business differently than most. Its a B Corp, or benefit corporation, meaning its verified to be working not only to make money but also to make positive social and environmental impacts, and it is accredited as a Living Wage Employer.

The companys consistent growth, whether that means opening new stores or growing its wholesale business, is part of its mission to improve the lives of farmers and employees alike, Stormshak said.

Since 2010, weve basically grown 20 percent year over year every year, he said. Were a small business. The three of us own and operate and work in Olympia Coffee every day.

In the last year, we have expanded into stores like Costco in the region, and that has drawn some attention, but it really isnt outside the growth that weve experienced year over year.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  One man has been taken into custody days after allegedly shooting a convenience store clerk during a robbery in downtown Salt Lake City, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Jose Barajas-Macias, 24, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday, Dec. 29, facing felony charges of aggravated robbery, discharge of a firearm, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.

What do snow plow drivers do when there is no snow?

Police say Barajas-Macias and three others entered the convenience store, located near 400 East and 200 South around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26. According to court documents, surveillance video shows Barajas-Macias take gloves off a shelf and put them on before pulling a gun out of his pocket.

[Barajas-Macias] walked up to the clerk, shot him in the stomach, and left the store, police reported in their probable cause statement.

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The clerk was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a non-life-threatening injury. He was later upgraded to a stable condition and he remains under medical care, according to Salt Lake police.

Police said they recognized Barajas-Macias as a suspect who was wanted for other crimes in the Salt Lake Valley. The motive for shooting the clerk is still under investigation, according to SLCPD, but detectives said Barajas-Macias did steal a pair of gloves from the store.

Baraja-Macias was found at a home in Weber County and safely taken into custody.

Anyone with further information about the robbery is asked to call 801-799-300 or submit an anonymous tip using the City Protect App and reference case number 23-288062.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
One person is dead following a traffic crash near East St. Louis Thursday.

According to Illinois State Police, the crash occurred at the intersection of Illinois 111 (Kingshighway) and Summit Avenue at about 11:23 p.m.

The victim was headed south on Kingshighway, ran through a red light and crashed into another car, according to state police.

St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. said that, as of late Friday afternoon, a positive identity of the victim had not been determined.

Sheriffs deputies and state police troopers investigated.

No other information has been released.
PROVIDENCE  For 13 years, ever since her daughter was born, Alisia Cabral was waiting on affordable housing lists for a spot to open up. When her rent was $800, including utilities, she got by.

It got harder when she started having to pay the electricity bill. When the rent increased to $1,200, she couldn't afford it anymore, but she found a program that set her and her daughter up in a motel about six months ago. Then the money ran out, and in the middle of December they spent two weeks living in her car.

Having recently undergone back surgery, she had to sit up straight in the seat. They would go into Dunkin' or McDonalds to use the restroom and the internet, but only after buying something. After 30 minutes, they'd get kicked out.

After two weeks of living in the car, on Dec. 19, the pair were the first people to move into the new women and children's shelter on Elmwood Avenue, owned and operated by the nonprofit OpenDoors.

Alisia Cabral in the living room of the OpenDoors shelter on Dec. 21. Cabral and her daughter had been living in her car for two weeks before the shelter opened. She was the first resident.

"We slept awesome," Cabral said. "It's been nice to have a warm bed."

The 10,000-square-foot mansion, finished in 1862, still has chandeliers, beautiful wood floors, built-in bookshelves and window nooks, and moulding throughout.

How OpenDoors opened the new shelter

Co-executive director Nick Horton toured the building in June 2022 with a friend who was looking to do something similar with it. By December of that year, Providence awarded OpenDoors $500,000 from an American Rescue Plan Act fund to buy a building. Combined with money from a previously awarded community development block grant, they had enough to buy something.

They approached the seller in January 2023 and were exploring a lease-to-own option when a company owned by developer Dustin Dezube bought the building, subdivided it from the parking lot in the rear, then sold the parking lot.

OpenDoors then paid $910,000, for just the building. Dezube had bought the entire lot a few months earlier for $750,000. As part of the agreement, Dezube and architect Kevin Diamond, who own Providence Architecture and Building Company, are donating their time to do the architectural designs to bring the building closer to compliance with existing fire codes, estimated at $50,000 worth of work. They will also oversee construction for free and will be doing the general contracting required at cost, Horton said.

The federal community development block grant funding OpenDoors used as part of the capital to purchase the building required an environmental review, which delayed their ability to put an offer in before Dezube bought the property, Horton said.

"In the end, it was a pretty big reduction in value for us," Horton said.

OpenDoors also paid for the building with donations from the Rhode Island Foundation and the Champlin Foundation.

"Initially, we were really scared to get into the purchase, worrying that this would be a $1.5-million project," Horton said.

Necessary repairs have been relatively minor, including $5,000 to fix the slate roof, much less than the feared $80,000.

How big a dent will the shelter make?

While a maximum capacity of 12 families, or 44 people, might not seem like a big number, it is huge compared with the number of families with children on the state's Coordinated Entry System list, an estimated 58, per the last monthly capacity report.

Getting 12 families off the list is a reduction of 21%.

OpenDoors will operate the building as a shelter for five months, with funding from the Rhode Island Department of Housing. After that, it will become transitional housing, he said. Across the state, OpenDoors operates 300 shelter beds.

The state shelter contract includes three meals a day per resident, brought in, he said.

Maximum capacity?

On Dec. 21, two days after Cabral became the first resident, OpenDoors Deputy Director Dina Bruce received a text message as she talked to colleague Sharon Ashley, who works in the new shelter. Bruce jumped up and down, a smile on her face.

The third story of the building, with a library, bathrooms and more bedrooms, had been approved to be used as non-living space, she said. That meant the offices on the first floor could be moved to the third, opening up more rooms for families.

This third-floor room in a former mansion will become an office in the OpenDoors shelter for women and children on Elmwood Avenue.

The current maximum capacity of people living in the building at 44 is enough for an estimated 12 families, based on the number of bedrooms.

The third floor cannot be used for living space due to the state fire code: It needs two exits and has only one, and the stairway leading there is one giant open space, which would allow a fire to quickly climb to the third floor.

The perfect spot

Throughout the historical building, orange pipes run along the walls, just under the moulding, with sprinkler heads attached. During the building's previous incarnation as a group home, a sprinkler system was installed.

"That's one of the reasons it's so ideal," Horton said.

Besides the problems of renovation, the building is nearly perfect for the group's needs: in the correct price range, right on a bus line, already outfitted with a sprinkler system.

So far, the group has spent $100,000 on renovations, with an expected budget of $300,000, including work to make it more fire-code compliant.

Not just a shelter, but a home

Sharon Ashley, the lead supervisor, or "lead mama," as she likes to be known, said she wants the women at the shelter to know that it is more than a warm bed and three meals a day. Until they find something else, it is their home, and their children's home.

With a living area next to the playroom, it gives the women a chance to relax while still keeping an eye on their kids.

Dina Bruce stands in a playroom in the new women and children's shelter on Elmwood Avenue that just opened.

That also means freely available snacks and space in the refrigerator, along with access to a microwave, although the oven is off-limits.

"He'd be so proud"

When Bruce started with OpenDoors two years ago, her ultimate goal was to set up a women and children's shelter, but she had no idea it would happen so quickly.

Bruce is the daughter of former Providence City Councilman John Rollins. Talking about her father, and how they used to talk about her work helping people, Bruce started to cry.

Lead Supervisor Sharon Ashley, left, chats with Deputy Director Dina Bruce in the new OpenDoors shelter that just opened.

"He'd be so proud," Ashley said.

Future hopes for the shelter space

The general plan for the space is to move from being a short-term shelter to a long-term transitional living space for women and children, Bruce said.

The expansive basement needs a little work, with one room slated to become an area to study, use computers or do other activities, another for donated clothes and other items and a playroom. Two washing machines and two dryers are also in the basement for the residents to use.

The state contract for the shelter runs through April 2024. OpenDoors has a temporary permit to operate a shelter and would need a permanent variance to operate as a shelter, as Providence's zoning does not allow them anywhere in the city.

OpenDoors would then become a transitional living space for women with children. That means it wouldn't get shelter funding from the state and wouldn't be taking referrals from the state's Coordinated Entry System. By then, the hope is there would be more kitchens in the building, allowing families to cook for themselves and become more independent.

Historical mansion

The building was most recently the Teen Challenge of New England women's group home.

The house was originally built for the surveyor John Howe between 1858 and 1862, according to the Elmwood neighborhood nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1867, the house was remodeled for Joseph Metcalf, in the "academic French manner." Starting in 1944, the building was the M.H. Comstock Funeral Home, which saw the construction of a large canopy extending to the sidewalk.

Neighborhood buy-in

Issues with federal funding, the increased price, the loss of the parking lot, endless problems getting a historical house to comply with a modern fire code, all of these were problems, but none threatened to derail a project that should meet 20% of the state's need for family shelter.

The biggest obstacle was getting the neighbors on board with group-home plans, Horton said.

"It almost killed the project," he said.

Conversations with people in the neighborhood started early, and when plans changed from a women's shelter, the need when the Cranston Street Armory closed, to a family shelter, opposition softened, Horton said.

The people who live closest to the building always supported it, Horton said. He should know, as he knocked on doors every day within the two blocks adjacent to it. Many people offered him support, since they know someone experiencing homelessness, and one woman hugged him, saying that his group was helping people like her.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer.

Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: How a former Providence mansion became a shelter for 12 families
TAMPA, Fla. - The federal government just changed how college students apply for financial aid and how much help they can get.

The goal is to make it easier for a lot of students to get federal grants they do not have to repay. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Education simplified the financial aid process by reworking the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (commonly known as the FAFSA form).

FOX 13 Political Editor Craig Patrick sat down with James Kvall, the U.S. Department of Education under secretary, to explain the new process and which students and families can cash in.

James Kvall: Well, circumstances will vary, but it's much easier than it was before. And for many students families, you basically just need to know who you are and where you want to go to college. We're asking them to let us use information the government already has [your tax information] to calculate your student aid awards. That means you're not going to have to route around for a copy of your tax return and type that back into the computer. So it's going to be a lot simpler and more streamlined.

Craig Patrick: One of the goals is to make it easier to apply for Pell Grants and for more people to receive them. Pell Grants are for students who demonstrate financial need and generally do not need to be repaid. The U.S. Department of Education projects more than 600,000 additional students from low-income families will get Pell Grants. How do you arrive at that projection?

Kvall: Our estimate is there are about a million people nationally who may be eligible for Pell Grants but have never filled out a FAFSA. And of course, no one knows how many people would go to college if they knew this help was available to them. So, we're trying to reduce a lot of headaches for students and families filling out the form. But, our hope also is to get more scholarship money in the hands of students who need it to go to college.

Patrick: The form usually goes online in October. Now we're looking at the end of December. What's the cause of the delay?

Kvall: Well, it's a really very, very different system. We've had a lot of work to do to implement it. And also, we want to make sure that colleges and students and families understand there's new terminology here, a new formula. Most students apply in January and February. Financial aid offers typically go out in the late spring. So this is something we're all going to have to work on together to implement this new system. But it's going to be worth the effort. It's going to be much easier for students and families, and it's going to be more generous for low and middle-income families.

Patrick: Some colleges and universities, especially here in Florida [and I'm specifically thinking of the University of Florida], the application deadline has already passed. So, if students have already applied, is it too late for them? And if they've been accepted already to then fill out this form months after they've applied?

Kvall: No, they should still come and fill out the form. It's typical for application forms and financial aid forms to operate on somewhat different timelines.

The new process no longer gives families an added break for having more than one child in college at the same time.

And under the changes, if a students parents are divorced, he or she must report income from the higher earning parent, whether they live with that parent.

Students can also earn up to $9,000 and not have that money count against them in determining financial aid.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, freshly elected to command the largest law enforcement agency in the Central Valley, chatted and shook hands with dozens adorned in red, white and blue flocking this year to Rancho Cordovas Fourth of July parade and the citys 20-year birthday celebration.

But just a couple of hours later, the countys top peace officer  responsible for more than 2,300 employees and a $695.3 million budget, the most of any one agency in the capital region  managed to be among the first to arrive at Franklin Boulevard to investigate a deadly shooting.

You want to have your finger on the pulse of your agency, Cooper said during a recent wide-ranging interview with The Sacramento Bee one year after taking office.

TCooper, 59, has worked in both the law enforcement as a deputy and in the Capitol as a legislator, and knows the rigors of both worlds. Hes attended briefings for almost every division in the Sheriffs Office to crystallize his vision. His expectations are specific and broad. He said he has told deputies to clean writing off jail cell walls; he has told them to be aware of the intense overall scrutiny they face and how they should act on patrol.

I want to know  I want to see it, touch it, smell, feel it so I know whats going on when Im making these decisions. Because my decisions impact a lot of people, Cooper said from Sheriffs Office headquarters in Old Foothill Farms.

Cooper promised in December 2022 to herald much-needed change upon his controversial predecessors departure. Cooper, a Democrat and former Elk Grove Assemblyman once called law enforcements biggest advocate in the state capital, infuses his politically honed instincts with experience forged by a 30-year career wearing a badge.

Newly elected Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper takes the oath at a swearing-in ceremony at Sacramento State on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. The oath was administered by federal judges Morison England and Troy Nunley.

That approach explains why Cooper showed up to a July 4 shooting in which a man died and another was critically injured near Bowling Green Park in south Sacramento, said Sacramento Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Office. He happened to be nearby and came to stabilize the scene because other units were handling other calls, Gandhi said.

The countys first Black sheriff, Cooper won outright over then-Undersheriff Jim Barnes in the 2022 primary election. Former Sheriff Scott Jones, whose 12-year tenure included locking out the countys inspector general, opted to run instead for a congressional seat. The Republican lost to Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin.

While Cooper has demonstrated a hands-on approach to effecting change, hes also publicly challenged others on hot-button issues. They include community activists on homelessness, the California Retailers Association over retail theft and the Board of Supervisors on fentanyl smuggling in the Main Jail downtown.

Critics have called on Cooper to do more in the fields of equity and transparency. Sonia Lewis, a community activist with Liberation Collective for Black Sacramento and Decarcerate Sacramento, said she hasnt seen much change under Cooper to make the Sheriffs Office, or its records, more accessible to the community.

He has not made the necessary changes to enhance the lives of people of color, Lewis said of Cooper in his first of the four-year term.

Meanwhile, some of the targets of Coopers criticisms have issued sharp rebukes. But others have vowed to keep working with him, saying hes had a positive effect on the Sheriffs Office.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper walks past the departments Rook - configured with an hydraulic breaching ram attachment on the front - on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, before SWAT team members demonstrate the vehicle at their facility in Sacramento County.

Homelessness a top priority as sheriff

In his campaign, Cooper promised homelessness would be a top priority even though he was leaving the Legislature and returning to law enforcement.

The sheriff said being homeless is not a crime, but he continues to push the idea of conservatorships to help those mired in homelessness because of mental illness or drug addiction. He said its awful seeing homeless people languishing, walking in the street in and out of traffic, eating out of a trash can.

That is inhumane, Cooper said. That person needs help. No one wants to be that way.

He said his deputies have not conducted sweeps, moving homeless people out of public areas where they live in makeshift camps. Deputies have had vehicles towed, made arrests and issued citations when necessary. And he said his deputies do move homeless people out of private property.

We go in, and we enforce the law in the (homeless) camps, Cooper said. Obviously, if you have drugs, youre going to be cited. Or if you have guns or weapons or other things, yeah, were going to deal with that. But as far as sweeping and making them leave somewhere else, no.

Coopers predecessor Jones was sued alongside other city and county officials for conducting sweeps during the COVID-19 pandemic that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged authorities to stop such enforcement to help prevent the coronavirus spread. A spokesman for the Sheriffs Office when Jones was sheriff said deputies didnt proactively conduct sweeps.

Crystal Sanchez, president of the Sacramento Homeless Union, said shes noticed the Sheriffs Office has conducted fewer homeless sweeps under Coopers leadership  a lot less than her advocacy groups would see under Jones.

But Sanchez said her group has documented homeless sweeps conducted by deputies in the past year, including a February sweep in which more than 75 unhoused people were moved out of an area behind a county building along Governors Circle in south Sacramento.

The Legislature last year approved Gov. Gavin Newsoms Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, or CARE Court. The program creates a system of civil mental health courts and requires counties to provide treatment for residents struggling with serious mental illnesses.

But CARE Court opponents have pointed out the program did not provide housing for participants, even though it is targeted at the homeless. The program has rolled out in a handful of counties; Sacramento County is expected to bring its CARE Court online before the Dec. 1, 2024, deadline.

Cooper said CARE Court is a part of the solution  he says he believes conservatorships will work for those with severe mental illness and drug courts to compel those addicted to get into rehab programs.

I would argue if youre being fed, youre being clothed and youre in a warm place out of the elements, thats a much better life than letting them just stay where they are and basically die, Cooper said.

Bob Erlenbusch of Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, which releases an annual report on homeless deaths based on its review of data compiled by the Sacramento County Coroners Office, said drug overdose and violence are among the leading causes of death among the unhoused. But, he said, building trust and rapport with a homeless person is the way to steer them to helpful services.

Forced treatment or forced conservatorships simply wont work, Erlenbusch has said. It has to be voluntary to be effective.

Cooper said people opposed to any type of conservatorship are just unrealistic about the issue of homelessness, which has only gotten worse. Different solutions have to be explored, he said.

Sacramento Countys population of chronically homeless people, 4,003, is now the third-highest in the nation, trailing only Los Angeles and New York, according to an annual assessment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In May, Cooper sent deputies to conduct a five-day homeless outreach effort. They went to areas throughout the county including homeless encampments and spoke with 198 people experiencing homelessness. The sheriff said only one person accepted the deputies offer of services to help them get off the streets.

He said part of the outreach effort is to gather information about the danger homeless people face, including danger from other unhoused people. Out of the nearly 200 people contacted, 69 (35%) had violent criminal histories. The deputies found that 87 of them reported being a victim of a crime (44%). The people surveyed reported 150 sexual assaults; 62 of those (41%) were initially unreported.

Cooper said some homeless sexual assault victims were reluctant to speak about the attacks with the presumed perpetrator standing nearby.

Whether youre unhoused or whether you have a house, you should be able to feel safe wherever you live, Cooper said. You have folks that were being preyed upon in that community by others.

The deputies found that 59, or about 30% of those surveyed, were suffering from mental illness; 132, exactly two-thirds, had a drug addiction, the deputies had learned.

The deputies  in patrol uniforms with badges, tactical vests and service weapons  spoke with homeless people during the five-day operation. Cooper said the deputies were out there equipped because they also needed to be ready to investigate any crime they encountered. He said his deputies made 15 felony arrests, along with confiscating guns and drugs.

Sanchez of the homeless union has said its problematic for law enforcement officers to show up in uniform and try to provide services when in the same tone they also show up and sweep individuals experiencing homelessness. She said theres no trust in such an outreach effort.

Cooper disagrees, saying there would be a huge influx of homeless people taking advantage of services to help them get off the streets if community outreach programs were more successful than his deputies. But he said the homeless population keeps growing.

Theres been a lot of money that has been put forth for programs. And what were doing has not worked, the sheriff said. And until we address mental illness, until we address substance abuse, it is not gonna change the status quo. And anyone that tells you otherwise is living in a different reality.

Retail theft: How big is the problem?

It was a series of highly critical social media posts by Cooper that spawned sharp rebukes of apparent increases in retail theft and renewed debates around criminal justice reforms.

The sheriff criticized Target and Walgreens, as well as Rachel Michelin, the president of the states retail organization, for hindering deputies in their efforts to stop shoplifting. Any increase in retail theft, Cooper argues, stems from Proposition 47, the 2014 ballot initiative voted into law by 60% of voters.

Prop. 47 reduced some nonviolent property crimes to misdemeanors, such as theft that doesnt exceed $950. Cooper and other law enforcement officers take umbrage with the measure, saying accountability is lost when thieves get a ticket for shoplifting and arent forced to appear in court.

Its all part of an effort to raise attention for a ballot measure discussed by retailers to change ballot initiative Prop. 47. Millions of dollars are necessary to collect signatures for a referendum, Cooper said. Its why he wants repeat offenders to face a felony charge under the law  just good middle-of-the-road stuff, he said.

He cast doubt, however, on any success to alter Prop. 47  changes would need to be approved by voters.

Im not overly optimistic because Ive been here before, Cooper said.

Coopers seizing his bully pulpit allowed one change to happen: Target, which refused to cooperate with deputies, then worked with the Sheriffs Office to effectuate arrests. Target did not respond to a request for comment about a change in tack.

Lewis, who advocates for the capital regions Black community, said Cooper is misusing Sheriffs Office resources on retail theft operations instead of addressing the root cause behind shoplifting.

Retail theft happens because people cant afford what they need, Lewis said. Youre seeing more of it because people are more impoverished.

Cooper said homeless people were a small percentage of arrests during a recent effort by deputies to stop retail theft dubbed Operation Bad Elf. It included deputies arresting 285 people at 12 stores earlier this month, of which 12% of suspects experienced homelessness, he said. Cooper added that most of the arrests would have never been reported by stores.

The jails run by the Sheriffs Office also cannot house every suspect cited for shoplifting because there must be room to house violent offenders. Cooper said those arrested on suspicion of stealing from businesses often dont show up to court and therefore arent motivated to get treatment help through diversion programs.

The Assembly convened a select committee on retail theft for the first time this year and the Little Hoover Commission, an independent panel, is studying the issue. Both sought data about how retail theft is truly affecting Californians, and noted theres not a lot of data painting an accurate picture. Law enforcement  including Cooper  testified during the meeting that much of the purloined goods go underreported.

Despite the lack of data, Cooper pointed to the visual reactions to such crimes: items locked up behind glass or plastic boxes, and the shoppers who may spot someone stealing.

Those instances show there is a problem, he said.

Jail drug smuggling and medical services

In September, the Sheriffs Office announced the arrests of six people for their alleged involvement in an operation to smuggle drugs into the jail in exchange for money.

Those arrested included Zareonna Harris, who was working on-call as a medical assistant for Avid Healthcare Services, a county contractor. Shes accused of smuggling drugs into the jail. She no longer works for Avid.

The arrests followed a Sheriffs Office investigation into a spike in overdoses at the jail. Through September, six inmates had died, all from medical causes, and three of those deaths were suspected drug overdoses. Cooper has said several of the inmates who suffered fentanyl overdoses this year survived.

In a September news conference announcing the drug smuggling arrests, Cooper expressed his frustration over a 2018 Board of Supervisors decision to move the management of its jail medical unit, known as Adult Correctional Health, out of the control of the Sheriffs Office. He said thats when medical employees stopped undergoing extensive Sheriffs Office-conducted background checks when hired.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper speaks at a press conference Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 about the arrest of Zareonna Harris, a medical assistant assigned to the Main Jail. She is one of six people arrested for their involvement in an operation to smuggle drugs into the jail in exchange for money.

The sheriff suggested that jail medical services be moved back under the control of his office.

Every time someone dies in the jail, its my name on there. ... Ill take blame and Ill own it. And theres plenty of blame for me to own sometimes, Cooper said. But Im not gonna take it for that. I dont control that. I dont control the hiring. I dont control any of that.

A county spokeswoman has said contractors conduct their own background checks, and officials are working with Avid on strengthening the countys vetting process.

Since September, Cooper said, there have been more discussions between county officials and the Sheriffs Office about jail medical services, and the county has included his office in some decisions.

It takes a long time to turn the ship around, Cooper said about the changes he wants to see. So, were still doing that.

Lewis criticized Coopers response to the drug smuggling discovered at the downtown jail, saying the sheriff took no accountability.

Dr. Phillip Summers, an emergency and addiction medicine physician, also fired back against Cooper, penning an op-ed in The Bee.

Summers, who sits on the Sacramento County Public Health advisory board where he has co-chaired the correctional health working committee, said the Sheriffs Office is mismanaging the jail and actively impairing the health care teams efforts.

Sheriff Cooper misrepresents the root causes of Sacramentos failed jail system, Summers wrote in the Oct. 20 op-ed. His words and actions are petty political stunts that distract from the urgency of addressing these deadly serious issues.

Cooper reiterated that he has zero control of Adult Correctional Health, but he sees how that unit is run inside the facility.

That guy knows nothing about it, Cooper said about Summers.Hes not working at the jail.

Cooper now says he was never really pushing to take control of jail medical services but was raising concerns to seek changes in that unit.

Im not trying to land grab or empire build, Cooper said. Whatever works, Im OK with that. But something has to change.

After Coopers highly critical news conference, he met with Board of Supervisors Chair Rich Desmond and the countys executive officer.

Desmond in a phone interview said any public lambasting of the county didnt affect Coopers relationship with supervisors. Theyve started having private conversations rather than expressing their frustrations in public, he added.

So, (I) understand his frustration, but it has not derailed our efforts to work together and to improve correctional (medical services) that we provide in the jail, Desmond said.

The county is looking to hire a new chief physician position who will oversee adult correctional health, Desmond said, adding that the decision shows how the relationship between Cooper and county leaders is successful.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper talks with other marchers during the MLK365 March for the Dream honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Sacramento. The main march began and ended at Sacramento City College in a love loop that included Land Park Drive, Broadway and Freeport Boulevard.

Whats next for Sheriff Cooper?

As he begins his second of six years in office, Cooper said hell prioritize homelessness, retail theft and human trafficking issues; hes just as focused on burnishing the image of the Sheriffs Office from both sides of the badge.

Leaving his imprint on the department includes telling deputies to interact with inmates and talk with them. When theres wrongdoing within the Sheriffs Office, Cooper said he talks about why an employee was terminated. Deputies will watch use-of-force videos to have discussions about a better response, Cooper said.

You want to talk about that  talk about the hard things, Cooper said.

He added that deputies every move can be captured on video, and some residents talk to them like theyre dogs. But he tells deputies to not worry about someone running their mouth.

Desmond  the supervisor who represents a wide swath of Sheriffs Offices territory in Arden Arcade, Foothill Farms, Fair Oaks and Carmichael  said Cooper worked with the county to improve conditions for unhoused residents as well as suspects and victims of crime.

Cooper also has tried to make the working environment better for deputies, which in turn makes a more positive experience for the residents they serve, Desmond said.

Its always been for me ... to leave the place in a better condition than I found it, Cooper said.

Sacramento County Sheriff candidate Assemblyman Jim Cooper greets supporters after receiving early election night results in Sacramento on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Changes are coming to online dating apps in Utah as a new law takes effect on Jan. 1, aimed at making apps safer for Utahns to use.

H.B. 18, otherwise known as the Online Dating Safety Amendments, would require dating apps and services such as Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge to give Utahns several disclosures and advisories to help keep them safe while searching for the one.

What do snow plow drivers do when there is no snow?

The bill was introduced during the 2023 General Session by State Rep. Angela Romero (D-Salt Lake City) and State Sen. Wayne Harper (R-Taylorsville). It passed through the Utah Legislature and signed by Gov. Spencer Cox in March.

A 2022 study published by Brigham Young University found that dating apps in Utah were dangerous if not used safely. According to the study, a shocking 14% of date rape victims met their rapist on a dating app and were raped during their first in-person meeting.

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Students at BYU told ABC4 at the time of the study they had mixed feelings about dating apps. Students either didnt feel safe using dating apps or felt they were safe so long as they went about it the right way with precautions, such as meeting in a public space.

The bill that goes into effect in 2024 hopes to help Utah users go about dating online safely with those precautions in mind.

Under the bill, apps will be required to give several advisories and warnings about protecting personal information, such as home addresses, phone numbers, places of work, and other identifying information. These warnings may also provide safety tips when meeting someone in person for the first time, such as letting a close friend or family member know ahead of time and meeting at a public place without leaving for a second location.

Dating apps will have to alert Utahns about any potential background checks on its members. If the app doesnt do a background check, the new law will require apps and websites to let its Utah members know that a background check was not completed. If the app does do background checks on its members, they will be required to let Utah members know if the check comes back with a criminal history, with the caveat that a check may be inaccurate or incomplete.

If anyone is banned from using the dating app service, the provider will have to alert Utah members if they received and responded to a message from a banned member.

The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) said more than 40 million Americans use online dating services and apps. As most apps dont conduct background checks, RAINN provided several tips to stay safe online, including:

Using different photos on your dating profile from your usual social media accounts

Checking a potential date on social media

Blocking, reporting, and avoiding suspicious profiles and users

Video chat before meeting in person

Meet in public and rely on your own transportation

Trust your instincts

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Members from the Oregon State Beavers, the Sun Bowl Court, along with Tony the Tiger paid a special visit to the El Paso Childrens Hospital on Thursday morning, Dec. 28.

The participants of the 90th annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl shared some holiday joy to the hospitals patients and staff throughout the morning.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A controversial Tri-Cities public official and a pair of banking executives plan to open a new private school this fall that aims to offer an education rooted in Christian patriotism.

Sage Patriot Classical Academy plans to serve K-5 students in a traditional environment with rigorous classical academics and foundational morality. Students will adhere to biblical principles and the Christian-Judeo philosophy, according to its student application on the website.

Its board includes several executives who work at Gesa Credit Union and Columbia Industries, as well as Audra Byrd, the vice chair of the Richland School Board voted out of office in August.

Officials with the proposed school could not be reached by the Herald this week about their plans.

Sage Patriot Classical Academy

Sage Patriot Classical Academy bills itself as a parent partnership school.

Its school philosophy includes a belief that capitalism is the most effective economic system in the world and that our Founding Fathers envisioned a brilliant nation.

Sage Patriot Classical Academy plans to serve K-5 students in a traditional environment with rigorous classical academics and foundational morality.

We believe in love thy neighbor regardless of any real or perceived differences and we expect courteous behavior and civilized interaction always, reads its school philosophy.

The school has registered as a nonprofit with the Washington Secretary of States Office, with a formation date of Dec. 7.

Annual tuition starts at $7,800 for the first child, or about $650 monthly. Thats low compared to other private schools in the area.

Founders say they are still in the process of acquiring a building and plan to be located in the Richland area. The school expects to operate on a four-day, weekly schedule.

There are very few requirements to operate private schools, and Washington state provides little oversight over instruction.

Teachers must hold a valid instructional certification, buildings must pass regular health and safety requirements, and schools must operate for a minimum of 180 days  but thats about it.

Schools offering secondary education are required to self-certify that their curriculum meets the basic requirements for graduation, too.

Were not going to ask if theyre testing for the English state standards. Were just going to look to see if they have four years of English, said Randy Spaulding, executive director of the Washington State Board of Education.

Private schools must be approved by the state board, but the process for accreditation  which grants public recognition to schools that meet specific external standards of being quality  is optional.

Aside from those requirements, private schools mostly have full latitude to decide what to teach and how to conduct instruction.

Sage Patriot says it plans to use Hillsdale Colleges 1776 Curriculum to teach students American civics and history. The curriculum  developed by the Michigan-based private Christian liberal arts college is controversial among circles of educators and historians.

Critics say it is politically slanted and downplays the historical impacts of slavery and racism, while others say that that perspective is misunderstood and slavery and race shouldnt be the guiding element of American history instruction.

Hillsdale offers its nearly 4,000-page curriculum online for free.

Students will adhere to biblical principles and the Christian-Judeo philosophy, according to the student application on the Sage Patriot Classical Academy website.

Private school alternatives

Private schools serve as alternatives to the traditional education model offered by public school districts, according to the Washington State Board of Education.

In the Tri-Cities, about 2,500 students are enrolled in private schools. Statewide, 80,000 students attend classes at some 550 private schools.

Thats about 10% of the total K-12 statewide student enrollment.

Students and families forgo the public school process for a variety of reasons, including for academic purposes or religious affiliation.

The mission of private schools can vary greatly, said Suzie Hanson, executive director of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools.

The Federation of Independent Schools serves as the policy watchdog for private schools. The organization works in Olympia to lobby and advocate for the interests of private school systems.

It really depends on the way to mesh the familys goals and beliefs with the school so that the student is supported in both their home life and school life, Hanson said. Sometimes students attend private schools because theyve had lack of success in a public school. Sometimes its to continue with their community.

After public schools closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families turned to private schools to find a faster return to in-person learning.

Later, well after the pandemic subsided, many kept their students enrolled in private schools for variety of reasons.

Since then, Washington has seen one of the largest spikes in private school enrollment nationwide. Enrollment jumped 26% since the pandemic, according to KUOW.

I think COVID definitely inspired people to want options, Hanson said.

But, Hanson says, many new private schools face more hurdles starting up than they may anticipate.

A lot of people want to start schools, and then they realize that it takes a lot more to open, she said, adding later: Its a 24-hour-a-day job in the beginning.

Gesa, Columbia Industries

The members serving on Sage Patriots board of directors have ties to a local-based credit union and conservative think tank.

Irina Galikeeva and Joan Wacker are high-level executives at Gesa Credit Union. Galikeeva serves as vice president of compliance, and Wacker is vice president of collections and loan servicing, according to a copy of the schools student application.

Another board member, Kim Pierret, is the chief financial officer at Columbia Industries.

Eileen Griffin is a contributing editor at the Heartland Institute, a free-market, conservative think tank based in Arlington Heights, Ill., and the author of several books on politics and finance.

She also runs the local campaign consulting firm One Politician, which helped get two candidates elected to the Kennewick School Board this past election cycle.

Audra Byrd is a home school teacher and former Richland School Board member.

She and two other elected officials, Kari Williams and Semi Bird, were recalled by voters last summer for breaking state law and exceeding their authority after they voted to defy Gov. Jay Inslees indoor COVID mask mandate.

Even after facing intense scrutiny and a review by the Washington Supreme Court upholding the charges, the trio still stand by their actions. Bird is running for governor as a Republican in 2024.
A conservative parental rights activist and former candidate for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor has been charged for providing alcohol to minors at a party in September and then punching one of the attendees.

Clarice Schillinger was charged in late October over the incident at her home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, about an hour and a halfs drive north of Philadelphia. The charges were reported on Thursday. The 36-year-old faces charges of assault, harassment, and furnishing minors with alcohol. Her lawyer has denied the charges.

Schillinger has earned some notoriety in her home state for launching a political action committee in 2021 aimed at preventing schools from implementing lockdowns due to Covid-19. She also made a wildly unsuccessful bid for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor last year.

The October charges stem from a 17th birthday party Schillinger hosted for her daughter the month prior. According to the police report, Schillinger stocked a drinks table with vodka and rum, poured alcohol for the teenage guests, asked them to take shots with her, and played beer pong with them.

Things took a turn for the worse when Schillinger began to fight with her then-boyfriend, Shan Wilson. When a teenager tried to intervene, Wilson grabbed the teen by the neck. Schillingers mother allegedly punched the teen in the eye and chased him around the kitchen.

Wilson later hit another teen during an argument, after which some of the adolescent partygoers began to leave to get away from the adults. But things continued to escalate as Schillinger told them to stay and then grabbed one partygoer who was trying to depart. That teen told police that Schillinger hit him three times with a closed fist but didnt injure him.

One of the partygoers parents called the police early the next morning, on September 30, to report the assault and the underage drinking. As it turned out, this was not the first time police had been called to Schillingers home for an out-of-control party. One week before, police responded to a noise complaint at Schillingers house. Officers saw beer cans thrown all around the front yard and street, and saw about 20 teenagers run into the house when the authorities approached.

Schillinger made a name for herself in 2021 when she launched a PAC to back candidates that opposed closing schools down as a Covid-19 safety measure. She has described her PAC and organization as bipartisan and single-issue, but they only back Republican candidates.

That first year, her organization took credit for flipping six school districts. But they fell victim to the pushback against parental rights activists, which delivered major wins for Democrats nationwide this past fall. Schillinger also ran as a Republican for lieutenant governor in 2022. She finished fourth, with a little more than 148,000 votes out of the 1.2 million cast in total.

Schillinger is the latest case of a conservative activist falling ironically short of the moral standards to which she holds other people. Most recently, the national organization Moms for Liberty has been rocked by a rape allegation. A woman revealed she had engaged in threesomes with Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler and her husband, Christian Ziegler. The woman accused Christian Ziegler of sexually assaulting her.
Tom Dawson has been headmaster of Sunningdale School, in Berkshire, since 2005. It has 110 boys aged from eight to 13 and feeds major public schools. It celebrates its 150th anniversary next year; Dawsons family bought it in 1967. Its alumni include Prince Michael of Kent, Henry Blofeld and the late Bamber Gascoigne. Now, like all independent schools, it faces jeopardy.

If Labour wins the next election it threatens to impose VAT on school fees, supposedly to fund a better state system. Sunningdale, Dawson says, charges just over 30,000 a year. So VAT would be an extra 6,000 before any other extra costs. The VAT would have a significant impact. We are looking at different scenarios and ways of mitigating this. However, if we were to apply 20 per cent VAT a significant number of our parents would not be able to afford it.

Katherine Jeffrey has been principal of New Hall School, in Essex, for 22 years. Formerly girls-only and run by unpaid canonesses, it is now co-educational with 150 teachers, and a similar support staff, and one of the largest local employers. I was the first lay head, and this is the oldest Catholic school in the country that has always taken girls, she says. It has no endowments: every cost is paid out of fees.

It has been housed in a Tudor palace since 1799. There is no help from Historic England to maintain a site of historic importance  we have to find money for that, Jeffrey says. It is one of the largest Catholic independent schools in Britain, teaching 1,400 children from nursery school to sixth form, with 300 boarders from 40 countries.

You do not have to be Catholic to come here: you just have to support our ethos. We have an act of collective worship every day that is central to the school, and not optional. For senior day pupils the fees are over 22,000 a year.

Sunningdale School headteacher Tom Dawson: A significant number of our parents would not be able to afford it - Jeff Gilbert

The charitable purpose of this place is to promote the Roman Catholic faith through a Roman Catholic school, she adds. We are not for profit. It is the right and duty of every Catholic family to be able to access a Catholic education. And our education here has very distinctive features that are not repeated in the state sector.

If people are priced out of our sector, they will not find an equivalent state education. Our local Catholic state school is heavily oversubscribed. Over 50 per cent of our families, I would say, are making a serious sacrifice to send children here, and some can barely afford it, she says.

I think theres a misconception that everybody who sends their children to independent schools has masses of money, says Dawson. Its simply not the case. A lot of parents work really hard to make this work. Its a choice they make because they believe in it. This is not frivolous spending out of spare cash.

For many families, prep school leads to public school: Its not just 6,000 a year: its considerably more than that, says Dawson. The impact on parents would be enormous and a huge number would not be able to do it.

With boarding fees at schools such as Radley, Oundle and Greshams already between 44,000 and 48,000 a year, the extra cost would be at least 9,000 a year: or at least an extra 75,000 over the 10 years of prep and public school.

We shall be trying to reduce costs without reducing quality, says Dawson, looking at the way we structure our fees, whether we can separate the education from the boarding fee  were not sure. Were planning in the dark. The timing is going to be crucial, because if Labour do it with short notice we are going to be really, really up against it.

Jeffrey agrees: There is no real clarity. But a lot of families are saying that were not going to be able to find the education we need.

We are a small school on small margins, continues Dawson. We turn an annual profit but its not huge and its used for developing the school. A hit on our income would be very difficult. Jeffrey describes the mood at the last Head Masters Conference as grim, adding: I didnt speak to a single headteacher who wasnt afraid of losing parents. She too asks: How is any school supposed to plan for this? We are all on very tight budgets.

New Hall head teacher Katherine Jeffrey: We would become a school for richer families, and that doesnt sit comfortably with our Catholic charitable status - Tony Buckingham

Dawson thinks he will lose at least a third of his parents. They will look at their finances and say, We wont be able to do this over the long term. They might take the hit for a year or two, but over 10 [years] would be completely different. And if theyve more than one child in private education the impact becomes greater.

All of this comes in the wake of a pandemic that permanently closed 26 independent Catholic schools. One-hundred-and-twenty-five survive, but around half of those are in deficit or just breaking even, says Jeffrey.

They will have to pass on any extra costs, she says. Between 10 and 40 per cent of families would have to take their children away. Some schools will go under.

She believes New Hall, in a very affluent and expanding area, will get perhaps 10 per cent smaller: the bottom third of my families are going to struggle. We would become a school for richer families, and that doesnt sit comfortably with our Catholic charitable status. She rejects the idea that private education perpetuates material privilege: We encourage a life of prayer and service to others.

The help many schools  even those such as Sunningdale that are not charities  give with fees is also threatened. If schools are forced to absorb some of the VAT theres a real risk to bursaries, says Dawson. The aim of this policy is to level up, but, in fact, [Labour] are going to restrict access to some of these unbelievable schools, because the schools wont be able to afford all their bursary funding. We give considerable bursary funding and that would be seriously under pressure.

Sir Keir Starmer's party intends to impose 20 per cent VAT on private school fees in England in its first year in power - Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images

Jeffrey observes that with 100 overseas boarders, New Hall and schools like it are serious foreign-currency earners. The reputation of the British independent school system is very, very high across the world, says Dawson. It brings in a significant amount of investment.

He is certain schools will close, and names two  Abberley Hall in Worcestershire, which in 2022 was named Tatler School of the Year, and Ashdown House, where Boris Johnson studied  that even before Labour could strike have recently closed. I dont think the state sector has the capacity [to accept pupils coming in from closed private schools].

Independent school staff will set up tutoring companies. Many who were paying for private education will buy extra tutoring for their children, so it wont even things up anyway.

We have excellent state schools round here, but they are full to capacity. There arent the teachers. There arent the buildings. There isnt the infrastructure. We will have to be given some sort of notice period or else it just cant work.

The Labour Partys aspirations for the future of education look unlikely to be fulfilled. Huge receipts from VAT will not materialise because so many parents wont pay the increased fees. And even if there were state-sector classrooms to teach them in, there is no money for more teachers.

And we dont exist as a charity to solve social problems in the country that the government should be fixing, much as we care about them, says Jeffrey. Many private school support staff  secretarial staff, cooks, groundsmen, maintenance men  will be sacked.

In many small communities, the independent school is the biggest employer. I know some unions are getting very worried about this, because of this strange and unusual decision to tax education, Jeffrey says.

Buildings will be converted into gated residential communities or turned into luxury hotels. Grounds will be sold for expensive housing developments. Property developers will thrive, but at every level Britains human resources will be depleted.

Whichever Labour genius had this bright idea clearly didnt get a very good education.

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.
Phoenix City Council is expected to vote on a slew of laws in 2024 related to parking, downtown and climate change.

New downtown design codes, changes to parking requirements at apartments, regulations for big water users and heat safety rules for workers are among the major ordinances the council will consider.

Here's what to know.

Downtown design codes

City staff are working on an amendment to Phoenix's downtown codes that aims to clarify what the council wants downtown to look like: more walkable, more shade. It would clarify what building frontages should look like and where utility infrastructure should go. The city will also be updating its "Downtown Strategic Plan."

When to expect it: Unclear.

Parking reductions at apartment complexes

For months, the City Council has been deliberating how and where to reduce parking requirements at apartment complexes in Phoenix.

The move is intended to improve housing affordability and help the environment by encouraging public transit use. But the change has sparked a debate over how far to take the reduction and whether it's appropriate citywide or solely near downtown and the light rail.

When to expect it: January.

Related reading:

 Phoenix considers allowing fewer parking spaces for apartments in push for public transit

 Phoenix residents debate proposal that would reduce parking requirements at new apartments

 Phoenix is rethinking lower parking requirements for new apartments after backlash

Big water user rules

The council will vote on rules that require new businesses that use a lot of water to submit water conservation plans and, in some cases, use recycled water.

The ordinance adds two tiers of regulations: rules for companies that use between 250,000 and 500,000 gallons of water per day, and rules for companies that use more than 500,000 gallons of water per day.

Users between 250,000 and 500,000: Must submit a water conservation plan that "ensures efficient water use."

Users above 500,000: Must submit a water conservation plan and also make recycled water at least 30% of their daily water use.

The ordinance builds off the city's "Sustainable Desert City Development Policy," which the Council passed in June. The policy set an expectation, while the pending ordinance would make those expectations enforceable.

When to expect it: Spring 2024.

Water shortages: Phoenix approves overhaul of water standards for new construction

Drought and new development rules

Mayor Kate Gallego said she's been working on new rules related to landscaping standards and the preservation of native vegetation. The new rules will also "address outdoor water use standards and introduce green infrastructure/low impact development provisions," Gallego said.

Prevailing wage ordinance

After City Council passed and then repealed an ordinance that would set a prevailing wage standard for certain city workers, City Manager Jeff Barton said he would return in December to propose a new, legally sound ordinance.

The rule would ensure construction workers hired for city projects in Phoenix be paid rates similar to others who do comparable work in the area.

The initial passage occurred in a contentious and controversial March meeting. First, a progressive minority on council used a procedural tactic to force the ordinance on the agenda. Then that group joined forces with former Councilman and conservative Sal DiCiccio to pass it on a narrow 5-4 vote.

This occurred just weeks before DiCiccio and former District 8 Councilman Carlos Garcia were set to depart office. DiCiccio was term-limited and replaced by Kevin Robinson, the mayor's hand-selected candidate. Garcia stunningly lost his bid for re-election to Kesha Hodge Washington, whom the mayor also endorsed.

City staff, at the time, warned of the legal risks and high costs.

Gallego called it "a terrible way to do public policy," noting the short timeframe she had to review the ordinance and bemoaning the lack of input sought from stakeholders.

The mayor said she wasn't opposed to a prevailing wage, but rather the hasty process by which that particular ordinance was forced upon council. She said she would support considering a more carefully thought out prevailing wage ordinance in the future.

Two days after they were sworn in, Robinson and Hodge Washington provided the critically needed votes to repeal the ordinance at their first meeting as elected officials.

Barton said he would return with a new proposal for council to consider by Dec. 13. That date has since shifted to early January.

But the state's repeal of the rent tax, which is a loss of roughly $90 million annually for Phoenix, could complicate consideration of a prevailing wage law as city officials scrounge for ways to cut costs and pinch pennies.

Controversial policy: Phoenix retreats on higher wages for workers. Here's why the policy could return

Worker heat safety ordinance

Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari said she's pushing for a rule that would require businesses in Phoenix to outline heat safety plans they have in place to improve the lives of workers.

When to expect it: To be determined.

ADA accessibility rules

Ansari and Councilwoman Deb Stark are looking into updating a few regulations to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

One update would be to change ADA street parking guidelines in Phoenix's commercial areas. The other would be to require ride-sharing companies to have ADA-accessible options on their platforms, Ansari said.

Stark said as the population ages, it's important for her to make things more accommodating. Stark is interested also in ADA improvements in the home building process.

When to expect it: Before summer 2024.

Reporter Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or by phone at 480-476-6116.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix politics in 2024: Laws on parking, heat and water coming
A fiery new Paso Robles New Years Eve tradition is returning for its second year in the Downtown City Park.

The Paso Robles New Years Eve Bonfire and Concert started last year and is back by popular demand, according to the events website.

Shonna Howenstine, a civic engagement coordinator for the city, said this years bonfire will be even bigger and brighter than last years blaze, burning through dozens of wood pallets stacked more than 20 feet into the air at the park.

Howenstine said the tower was sourced from businesses that wanted to dispose of non-treated pallets and will likely burn for several hours.

The city of Paso Robles has stacked dozens of wood pallets more than 20 feet high in the Downtown City Park for a bonfire and party on New Years Eve.

Festivities and music start at 7 p.m., with the bonfire lighting taking place by 7:30 p.m. The free concert will continue through the evening. Parking is free throughout downtown for the event.

A chance of rain is in the forecast for Sunday, but the bonfire will go on regardless of what the weather does.

Theres not a lot of community New Years Eve events around the county, Howenstine said. Rather than have it go all the way until midnight, were doing the ball drop at 9 p.m. to coincide with midnight on the East Coast for people who want to get home at a decent hour.

Howenstine said last years event drew a couple thousand people, and she expected even more this year with more notice in advance and planning this time around.

The eight-piece Lucky Devils Band will perform at a nearby stage, and dining options will include a lineup of food trucks offering local beer, sparkling wine and cocktails from Paso Robles Distillery Trail, California Coast Beer Co., SLO Meltdown, La Patrona and Central Coast Kitchen, Howenstine said.

The trees in Paso Robles Downtown City Park are decked out in thousands of lights on Dec. 12, 2023.

A portion of beverage sale proceeds will benefit two local nonprofit organizations, the Paso Robles Firefighters Association and the Paso Robles Police Officers Association, according to a news release on the event.

Were very excited to bring back the New Years Eve event this year, Paso Robles Mayor John Hamon said in the release. We really want our residents to feel a sense of belonging to their community, and continuing this tradition is one way we can help foster that feeling.

Howenstine said the free all-ages event will feature face painting and glitter tattoos for children, weather permitting.

The festivities will be emceed by former Up & Adam in the Morning radio show host Adam Monteil.

The event will also be the last night for the holiday lights decorating the park. They will be taken down the next day.

Ummm... it looks like the bonfire might be...bigger this year. See you Sunday night, starting at 7! https://t.co/anAmTCcGtN pic.twitter.com/MsJRbUzKCF  City of Paso Robles (@PRCity) December 28, 2023
Authorities are searching for two men allegedly involved in a stabbing in Bostons Chinatown neighborhood on Monday.

Police say the stabbing occurred in the area of 279 Tremont Street. Arriving officers found a man suffering from stab wounds as well as a second victim with an injury to his face, according to officials. Both victims injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.

The suspects are described as two white males with a medium build.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call District A-1 Detectives at (617) 343-4571.

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

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ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP)  Alfred King was lying in the parking lot of a small apartment building, mortally wounded when police in Alexandria, Louisiana, got to the intersection of 12th and Magnolia streets shortly before 1:30 a.m., Jan. 20.

The 34-year-old was the first fatal shooting of 2023 in the small city where I grew up and a large portion of my family lives.

Alfred's death was similar to some I have covered since my first in 1985, a 38-year period when hundreds of thousands of people of all races and ethnicities have died violently in the U.S.

I know the details of too many of those incidents, from school shootings to a drug hit in a phone booth. I've heard the scream of a mom coming home from work and seeing her son in the street, encircled by yellow police tape. I've watched more than one mother gently touch the face of her teenage son then close the lid on the casket.

Some stories are burned into memory, like the Washington, D.C., teenager who asked his mom to send him out of the region to escape the violence. He spent years away only to come home one weekend to plan his high school graduation party and be randomly stabbed to death by a stranger.

While I know some of those back stories, Alfreds is the one I can personally trace from a decision made years ago by adults to gunshots near the end of a rundown street.

Alfred is my first cousin.

When he was 13 my wife and I tried to get legal custody of him after his mom was murdered, but his guardian said no.

I think about him often and the decision that kept him from reaching escape velocity, the things you need to go right to lift the weight of your birth circumstances off of you. Those include family, education, jobs, friends, neighborhoods, adult interventions, hard work and good luck.

We say people can be whatever they want to be. To a degree that is true, but moving through the socioeconomic levels of America's economics-based caste system is like the Apollo moon missions of my youth. Millions of parts have to work perfectly to get you there, and back.

According to  Race and Economic Opportunity in the United States: An Intergenerational Perspective," part of the groundbreaking Opportunity Insights project based at Harvard, only 2.5% of Black kids born to a parent or parents in the bottom quintile move to the top quintile of household income. For white kids, the figure is 10.6%. What is more likely for both is they will stay in the poorest quintile or, at best, move up one level to lower middle class. For white kids, that figure is 53.4%, and for Black kids, 75.4%.

The focus on the statistics tends to be on the racial disparity. I see the disparity, but what I also see is that Black or white, less than half of the kids born poor move up much. Even if they make it one step, a car repair, a missed day at work or a high utility bill can begin a downward spiral.

And there are millions born into that world, although we treat it like a moral failing. One measure of Census data shows more than 10.7 million children younger than 18 lived below the poverty level in 2022, and that figure is undoubtedly higher because millions more lived in places where the incomes couldn't be determined.

Millions of young people live in homes where social security payments, WIC, SNAP and TANF, various food, nutrition and income assistance programs, are the order of the day.

Poverty isn't the purview of one race. Neither is violent death. Socioeconomics is a good predictor for victimhood and criminal justice involvement, as well as deficient health care and educational outcomes.

Alfred came into the world on the bottom economic rung and when he was 13 the critical decision was made that likely kept him there. His mom had been shot to death months before in Alexandria. My uncle, his dad, had done what he could but was broken down from working hard labor jobs, usually several at once and was living on limited income himself. He couldnt promise his son much future.

The first time I met him Alfred was a thin, gangly, very shy kid who kept his head down, avoiding eye contact. He spoke softly and slowly and was the target of bullies.

I don't remember him smiling  ever. Around me, at least, his nature was melancholy.

For Alfred, I was the cousin who had a charmed life. The truth is, for reasons I will never comprehend, I had nearly everything go right.

We love to talk about people pulling themselves up by their boot straps. A lot of people contributed to my boots and showed me how to use the straps. There were teachers, friends, family, neighbors and luck stirred together. That mixture was added to the foundation, a ninth-grade drop out unwed mom who truly valued education who married a good man who helped her raise me.

Alfred's grades were not good. Something about the way he looked at me made me ask when he'd last had an eye exam. One optometrist visit and a pair of glasses later he could see the blackboard.

My wife and I decided then. We wanted to bring him back to Maryland where we live. We wanted legal custody so my work benefits could cover him. We also wanted to be able to make decisions on his behalf without unforeseen bureaucratic or legal barriers that might arise.

My now dead uncle said yes but his message to me was Alfred's now late-grandmother said no. Alfred was getting a government check of some sort. I don't know how much it paid or what program it was. This year I asked the Social Security Administration what it might have been and there were a couple of possibilities. As a minor, he could have been eligible for benefits because of his dead mom. It also might have been Supplemental Security Income for some health problem he had.

In a place where minimum wage was $5.15 an hour at the time and people lived on the edge of financial ruin, it did not matter how much, or for what. If you are born into a certain economic class everything goes towards basics: food, rent, utilities, clothing.

Alfred stayed in Louisiana.

Over the years, he reached adulthood and when I came home I would give him what cash I had, especially when he had kids of his own. By then he had a criminal record but he treated me the same and he checked on my mom: Aunt Shirley.

I cant and won't judge the decision that was made for the 13-year-old. I sadly understand the necessity of it. But I can wonder what would have happened if we had gotten him. I can't say for certain everything would have been OK but I believe we could have given him more options to a different path. What I want remembered is changing his path would also have changed the lives of anyone he may have wronged, too.

There are abandoned houses and empty lots in the neighborhood where he lived and died. I have been there multiple times this year.

I have seen a few young kids there, born into circumstances they didn't ask for, lives without margin for errors or bad luck. I pray for them and the millions of kids like them, regardless of race or ethnicity, that everything goes right and they reach escape velocity.

___

Gary Fields, an award-winning, veteran journalist, writes about democracy for The Associated Press.
Myxomatosis is spread by bloodsucking insects such as mosquitoes and fleas

Islanders with pet rabbits are advised to keep them in cages amid fears about the spread of myxomatosis.

The Government of Jersey is concerned an outbreak of the virus could spread from the wild population to the domestic.

Owners are also encouraged to ask their vet about vaccinating their rabbits against the disease.

Myxomatosis, a virus which commonly affects rabbits, was introduced to Jersey by farmers as a form of rabbit control in the 1950s and is very often fatal.

'Virus is rife'

It is spread by bloodsucking insects such as mosquitoes and fleas.

When baby rabbits stop feeding from their mothers they lose their immunity, so are more susceptible to the disease which affects the eyes and ears.

The advice if you find an animal that is suffering is to contact the JSPCA.

Caroline Terburgh, deputy chief veterinary officer, said: "This virus is rife at this time of year.

"I would encourage islanders with pet rabbits to keep them enclosed, so that they do not come in contact with wild rabbits.

"You can also speak to your vet about preventative vaccination against myxomatosis."

Follow BBC Jersey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
China-U.S. military video call achieves constructive progress: defense ministry

Xinhua) 08:53, December 29, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Polish President Andrzej Duda is convening an urgent meeting because of an "unknown object" that was spotted in the country's airspace during Russias massive missile attack on Ukraine on Dec. 29, the Presidents Office press team reported.

The head of state will meet with the defense minister, chief of the general staff, and other military officers. The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. EET).

The operational command of the Polish Armed Forces spotted an "unknown object" in the country's airspace on the morning of Dec. 29.

The object came from the direction of the border with Ukraine. From the moment it crossed the border into Poland until the signal disappeared, it was monitored by air defense radars.

Read also: There are dead and injured in Dnipro as Ukraine comes under massive Russian attack  Dnipro mayor

The death toll in the still ongoing series of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine is now at 26, with at least 132 others injured.

Explosions and numerous damages to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure have been reported in several major cities, including Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhya Dnipro,Cherkasy, Sumy, and Kyiv.

Ukraine intercepted 114 of the 158 drones and missiles Russia launched at Ukraine overnight on Dec. 28-29 in Russias biggest attack on Ukraine of the war, said Ukraines Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

A missile fell in the Polish village of Przewodow last November during a massive Russian attack on Ukraine. Initial reports suggested it was Russian-made, but almost a year later, Polish experts concluded the missile was part of Ukraines air defense.

Read also: 4 dead, many injured, shopping mall targeted in Dnipro in one of Russias largest civilian attacks

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Polands Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed solidarity and support for those affected by Russia's large-scale missile and drone bombardment of Ukraine on the night of 28-29 December.

Source: The Polish Foreign Ministry published a statement on Twitter (X), European Pravda writes.

Quote: "The year 2023 ends with a large-scale Russian attack that cost the lives and health of dozens of people in Ukraine, in particular in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia. We express our solidarity and support to the victims and their families and call on the Kremlin to stop its criminal actions in Ukraine," the statement said.

On the night of 28-29 December, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities were hit. According to the latest reports, at least 22 people were killed, and 132 others were injured.

According to the Air Force, the Russian Federation used almost all types of weapons available to it.

Earlier, Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also condemned Russia's latest missile attack on Ukraine.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Russia's large-scale missile attack on Ukraine is a reminder that the Kremlin's goals to destroy Ukraine have not changed.

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Poland's air defence forces have been put on high alert following an incident involving an unidentified object that entered the country from Ukraine.

Source: Polsat News channel, citing Jacek Goryszewski, spokesperson for the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, as reported by European Pravda

Details: "In order to ensure the safety of our airspace ... the combat readiness of our air defence systems and the on-duty fighter jets has been increased," he said.

The command spokesperson noted that the search for the object is ongoing. Work is also underway to establish the causes of the airspace violation and determine the object's trajectory.

"We know that the airspace of Poland was violated in the morning. The operational command has followed all the procedures, and all individuals who should be informed are aware of this fact," added Goryszewski.

Background:

Polish President Andrzej Duda convened a meeting of the National Security Bureau at 13:00 after reports emerged that an unknown object had entered Polish territory from Ukraine.

A flying object moving at high speed was observed by residents of the Gmina Dohobyczow in the Lublin Voivodeship. It was in the vicinity of Przewodow, where a stray missile exploded a year ago.

The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces confirmed the incident.

It happened amidst Russias large-scale attack on Ukraine. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities were hit. There have been casualties.

The Polish defence minister said he was in constant contact with the president, prime minister, chief of the general staff and operational commander of the armed forces.

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(Bloomberg) -- A Russian missile briefly entered Polands airspace on Friday after Moscow attacked neighboring Ukraine with the biggest aerial barrage of the 22-month invasion, army commanders said in Warsaw.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The missile flew over the border at around 7 a.m. and traveled about 40 kilometers (25 miles) deep into the Polish airspace before returning to Ukraine, General Wieslaw Kukula told a news conference.

Poland, a NATO and European Union member, has been on alert ever since a stray rocket killed two people in a village in eastern Poland more than a year ago, following one of Russias previous attacks on Ukraine. Another missile was discovered in the woods in central Poland earlier this year, five months after it entered the countrys airspace.

NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said in a post on X social media platform that the military alliance was monitoring the situation and remains alert following his phone call with President Andrzej Duda. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan pledged technical assistance as needed, according to a readout of a conversation with his Polish counterpart, Jacek Siewiera.

Russias intense aerial attack on Friday hit mostly civilian targets in Ukraine, killing at least 26 people and wounding over 100 others days after Moscow blamed Kyiv for a strike on a military ship in Crimea.

Read more: Russia Slams Ukraine With Record Missile Barrage, Killing 26

Polands military monitored the missile and is currently conducting an on-the-ground search to ensure the missile or its components didnt fall on the ground, Kukula said.

Grazyna Ignaczak-Bandych, head of Polish Presidents Chancellery, told reporters that theres currently no threat from the aerial attacks following a meeting of the countrys National Security Bureau.

--With assistance from Justin Sink and Alisa Parenti.

(Updates with NATO and US response from the fourth paragraph.)

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A missile believed to have been fired by Ukraine landed in Poland in November 2022, killing two people

Poland's armed forces chief believes a Russian missile entered Poland for almost three minutes and then turned back into Ukrainian airspace.

Gen Wieslaw Kukula said the missile travelled about 40km (25 miles) into Polish airspace early on Friday.

The alert coincided with what Ukraine has called Russia's biggest day of air strikes since its war began.

President Andrzej Duda convened an emergency security meeting after the object was picked up on radar.

About 200 police officers have been conducting a search of the area where the object was detected in case the missile landed on Polish territory.

Poland is a member of the Nato alliance, and Polish and Allied aircraft were scrambled in response to the incident at around 07:00 (06:00 GMT) on Friday. There have been no reports of an explosion.

Operational Command spokesman Lt Col Jacek Goryszewski said an unidentified object had entered Poland from Ukraine near the town of Zamosc, in the Lublin region of south-eastern Poland, not far from the border.

He told private broadcaster TVN24 the event may be linked with Russia's missile and drone attack against some of Ukraine's biggest cities.

At least 30 people were killed in the attacks which targeted Lviv, the closest Ukrainian city to Lublin region, as well as Dnipro, Kyiv and other cities.

The Polish military was tracking the Russian missile strikes during the night. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance stood in solidarity with Poland and "remains vigilant".

An unconfirmed report said a search was taking place near the town of Hrubieszow.

The Polish government has not ruled out Russian provocation. "We need to check whether this wasn't a provocation or a test of our reaction. We should check both scenarios carefully," Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Wziatek told TVN24.

Polish military expert Cmdr Maksymilian Dura told TVN24 it was premature to conclude it was a Russian missile because it had not been found, and just because contact had been lost it could not be certain that it had left Polish airspace.

Krzysztof Komorski, the president of the Lublin Voivodship [equivalent to a province or region] wrote on social media: "Please be calm and patient, the services are working."

Map of Poland

Since Russia's invasion and war against Ukraine three missiles have entered Poland.

In November 2022, two Polish farmers were killed by a missile that landed in the village of Przewodow near the Ukrainian border. It was believed to have been fired by Ukrainian air defence forces to repel a Russian missile attack.

In a harmless but more embarrassing incident from December last year, an object believed to have been an unarmed Russian Kh-55 cruise missile was fired from Belarus and crossed around 500km of Polish territory before landing in a forest.

The object, which was detected by Polish air defences at the time, was only found in April this year by a passer-by not far from the city of Bydgoszcz in central Poland.

Another unidentified object that entered Polish airspace this year from the direction of Belarus was probably an observation balloon. Radar contact with it was lost near Rypin in central Poland.

Both sides of Poland's political arena have seized on the latest event to score points.

Poland's new defence minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, stressed in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the security forces "acted immediately" to the latest incident, reassuring Poles, "the state is acting!".

His predecessor, Mariusz Blaszczak, from the right-wing Law and Justice-led government that lost power in an election in October and served as defence minister during the two earlier events, responded: "We don't know what fell in the area of Tomaszow Lubelski. We don't know if anyone was hurt. We don't know why the anti-aircraft defence systems didn't work. Is the state acting?"
As of 1:00 p.m. local time, the morning wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least 18 people and wounded 132 others, Ukraine's National Police reported on Dec. 29.

Russia unleashed a barrage of 158 attack drones and missiles overnight and in the early morning, targeting civilians across Ukraine. Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on air that an attack of this scale "has not been seen for a long time."

In Dnipro, where Russian strikes hit a shopping center and a maternity hospital, five people were killed, among them a child and a policeman. Another 28 were injured, the National Police said.

Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhii Lysak later updated this number to six people killed.

In Odesa Oblast, two people were killed and 27 were injured following strikes on residential buildings.

Four people were killed in Zaporizhzhia, and 12 were injured, the National Police said. The death toll rose to six people shortly after 2:00 p.m., according to Zaporizhzhia Governor Yurii Malashko.

In Kharkiv, three people were killed, and 13 people were injured, according to the National Police.

One person was killed, and 24 people were injured in Lviv Oblast in western Ukraine, where residential buildings and educational institutions were damaged.

Read also: Air Force: Ukraine downed 114 of 158 Russian drones and missiles

The bodies of another two people were found under the rubble of a warehouse in Kyiv, bringing the death toll from Russia's attack on the capital to three.

Another 22 people were injured in the capital, and one person was injured in Kyiv Oblast.

The search for casualties is ongoing amid "destruction on a massive scale," Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said.

Housing, educational buildings, and hospitals were targeted, and Ukraine has launched criminal proceedings into Russian war crimes, Kostin said.

"Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba posted on social media.

"I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world. In all major capitals, headquarters, and parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine."

Read also: US ambassador: Ukraine urgently needs funding after massive Russian attack

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Three people were arrested this week after police served a drug warrant at a popular Lake Norman-area bar, authorities said Friday.

Cornelius police and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments SWAT team seized cocaine, methamphetamine, a .22-caliber firearm, and an undisclosed amount of cash Thursday morning at Jays at the Lake bar in the 18200 block of Statesville Road following a weeks-long investigation, according to a CPD news release.

Charles Edward Logan, 39, and Terrell Jordan Calliste, 30 are in custody on charges of possession with intent to distribute. Michael Joseph Pimental, 51, was charged separately with obstructing a police officer, jail records show.

Pimentel was taken into custody on a $2,500 secured bond. Logan and Calliste are jailed without bond, officials said.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A wanted felon was arrested after a police chase from Astoria to Banks during which a BMW hit speeds of 120 mph and continued on flat tires before the driver allegedly took fentanyl and washed it down with Mountain Dew.

Just before 2:30 a.m., Washington County deputies responded to a call from Astoria police to help find a reckless driver who eluded police from a traffic stop.

Astoria police tried to pull over a silver 2004 BMW for a traffic violation; however, the driver sped towards Warrenton at 120 miles per hour heading east on Highway 26, authorities claim.

Elon Musk agrees with Dogecoin creator: Portland is terrible

Washington County deputies were able to get behind the car near the Highway 26 and Highway 47 intersection, but the driver took off, officials said.

The driver  identified as 30-year-old Joshua Sckeetz of Vancouver, Wash.  continued driving on flat tires heading into Banks after authorities tried to slow the BMW with spike strips, WCSO said.

After authorities pinned the BMW, Sckeetz took a powdered substance, believed to be fentanyl, chased with Mountain Dew, according to the sheriffs office.

Two people were arrested Dec. 29, 2023 after a police chase from Astoria to Banks, according to authorities (Washington County Sheriffs Office.)

Two people were arrested after a police chase from Astoria to Banks, authorities said, noting the driver took what they believe is fentanyl with Mountain Dew after stopping the car (Washington County Sheriffs Office.)

Officials said Sckeetz was taken to a local hospital by ambulance before he was lodged at Washington County Jail.

Portland murder suspect arrested after late-night standoff

Sckeetz faces several charges including unlawful possession of a controlled substance, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving. He also had two Clark County warrants, and a Beaverton municipal court warrant.

Authorities said there were two other people in the car, including 30-year-old Savannah Lalonde, who was booked in jail for a warrant out of Skamania County. The other passenger, who has not been identified, was released at the scene.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The death of a woman at a Grand Rapids apartment complex earlier this week has been ruled a homicide, police say.

The Grand Rapids Police Department says officers were called to Southview Apartments on College Avenue NE near the intersection of Leonard Street NE shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday on a report of someone with a head injury.

When they arrived, they found a man had been stabbed. He was hospitalized.

Another man was soon arrested.

It kind of concerns me, said Mike Whiteside, a neighbor who lives at the apartment complex. This might be the first time some individuals have been murdered, I think. Theres been things that have been happening, small things. Yeah, small things.

Whiteside said Southview Apartments are, for the most part, quiet. He said in the past, theres only been car break-ins.

While at the apartment complex, police found two people who appeared to have overdosed. Its unclear whether that situation was related to the stabbing.

One of the people, a 53-year-old Yushonda Noble, died at the scene. After an autopsy, the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, police said. A spokesperson for GRPD would not provide further information on her cause of death.

The other person, a male whose age was not released by police, was hospitalized.

Both he and the man who was stabbed were last listed in stable condition at the hospital, police said.

A couple nights ago, with the individual getting stabbed, I was also home, said Whiteside. Didnt hear anything. The worst thing you might hear is a few individuals with some loud music, but other than that, its not, theres not a lot going on.

The name of the man who was arrested has not been released. The GRPD spokesperson would not clarify Friday whether or not he is also a suspect in Nobles death, saying only that the circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.

Police said Wednesday that some sort of fight had broken out during a gathering at the apartment. They said Friday that they are still investigating what happened. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 616.456.3380 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.

Nobles death brings the total number of homicides in Grand Rapids in 2023 to 24, News 8 records show.

 News 8s Taylor Morris contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY)  A drunken Surry County woman who fled the scene after running someone over in Williamsburg was taken into custody at the Jamestown Settlement parking lot, police say.

James City County police say it all happened Thursday starting around 11:10 p.m., when authorities were called to the 7-Eleven at 1800 Jamestown Road in Williamsburg. The victim was found at the scene with serious injuries and taken to Riverside Regional Hospitals ICU unit.

Witnesses and surveillance footage revealed the victim was struck after a verbal argument with the suspect, 45-year-old Danita Martin

She was spotted on video backing into and then running over the victim in her 2017 Chevy Silverado, police say. She was found about 20 minutes later down the road at the Jamestown Settlement parking lot, where officers conducted a DUI investigation.

Martin was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, maiming due to DUI and felony hit-and-run resulting in injury. Shes at Virginia Peninsula Regional with bond denied.

Police say the investigation is still underway, and more charges could be brought forward at a later date. Both the victim and suspect knew each other and arrived at the 7-Eleven together.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Traveling with large amounts of cash in the U.S. is perfectly legal, but the head of the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) said in a recent interview that "you've got to be able to demonstrate some level of legitimacy."

The comments came in a recent interview with North Carolina news outlet WCNC Charlotte on civil asset forfeiture, a practice that allows police to seize property even in cases where the owner isn't charged with a crime.

In October, WCNC Charlotte reported on how a sex crime victim was denied a court-ordered settlement from her abuser because police had already seized his cash through civil asset forfeiture and handed it over to the federal government.

WCNC continued its excellent series on civil forfeiture Wednesday, reporting that Charlotte-area police departments had received $20 million since 2018 through the Justice Department's Equitable Sharing Program. The story included a notable interview with Jonathan Thompson, executive director of the NSA.

Thompson's exchange with a WCNC reporter is worth quoting in full:

"You want to assume everybody's innocent of a crime that's carrying $1 million in cash?" Thompson asked. "Isn't that the way the law works? You're innocent until proven guilty?" WCNC Charlotte responded. "You are innocent until proven guilty, but you are not just carrying around $1 million or $10,000 in cash without some level of notification and legitimacy," he replied. "You've got to be able to demonstrate some level of legitimacy." "If it's not illegal to carry the cash, why should I have to prove that it's my cash to begin with?" WCNC Charlotte asked. "How do I know this is yours?" he replied. "You could get probable cause and arrest me," WCNC Charlotte responded. "That's exactly what they do and if they don't, they need policies and procedures," Thompson said. "Let's define the proper guideposts here. That's what we're saying."

There are several issues with Thompson's commentsthe dismissal of the presumption of innocence, and the rather extreme range of what's considered suspicious cash, for instancebut his claim that obtaining probable cause and arresting suspects is exactly what police do in civil forfeiture cases is incorrect.

A 2017 report by the Justice Department Office of Inspector General found that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than $4 billion in cash from people suspected of drug activity over the previous decade, but $3.2 billion of those seizures were never connected to any criminal charges.

Many of those seizures occurred at airports, where local police, often as members of DEA task forces, frequently seize cash from travelers on suspicion of drug trafficking, despite no physical evidence and it being perfectly legal to fly domestically with large amounts of cash. Reason has covered case after case of travelers whose cash was seized despite never being charged with a crime.

A federal court ruled in September that Detroit's asset forfeiture program violated the constitutional rights of vehicle owners by making them wait months, even years, for hearings to challenge the seizure of their car. Of course, they also had an option to pay a hefty settlement to get their car back immediately. One of the federal judges in the case called Detroit's scheme "simply a money-making ventureone most often used to extort money from those who can least afford it."

Four states including North Carolina now require criminal convictions before property can be forfeited because of abusive cases like these. But local police departments can get around strict state laws by partnering with the Justice Department and going through federal court. By participating in the Equitable Sharing Program, the department keeps up to 80 percent of the forfeiture revenue.

Spurred by outrageous stories like those uncovered by WCNC and other news outlets around the country, a bipartisan bill was introduced this year in Congress that would, among other significant reforms, eliminate the Equitable Sharing Program.

The NSA opposes the bill, arguing that it would "dismantle a crucial tool in the fight against the Mexican drug cartels" based on "an incomplete picture of the fight against trafficking."

"No one should support the egregious anecdotes of individual abuses-seizures of valuable real property or vehicles for relatively minor crimes or coercion of out-of-town travelers to surrender their cash with threats of criminal charges," the organization wrote in a letter to Congress. "But focusing on a few anecdotes results in bad policy."

All of this aside, a core principle of the American legal system is that you should be free to go about your business without having to show your papers to some officious, sticky-fingered busybody. The legal fiction of civil asset forfeiturethat it's an action against the property, not the ownerand the Supreme Court's endorsement of pretextual traffic stops were created to get around this principle, and Thompson's comments demonstrate exactly why that's a problem.

The post A Police Group's Comments on Civil Asset Forfeiture Show Exactly Why It Needs Reform appeared first on Reason.com.
After investigating an alleged burglary, Colorado Springs police suspect Kimberlee Singler murdered her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. She has been missing since Dec. 23. Photo by Rob Quirk (KOAA-TV)/Facebook

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Police are searching for a Colorado mother suspected of murdering two of her children and injuring a third.

Kimberlee Singler, 35, is wanted on suspicion of multiple counts of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, child abuse and assault.

Colorado Springs police said they responded to a 911 call about a burglary at Palomino Ranch Point on Dec. 19 and found Singler and her 11-year-old daughter with injuries, as well as the bodies of Singler's 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

Singler and her daughter were treated on site for injuries and transported for local hospitals for further treatment, police said.

Investigators later determined the initial report of a burglary was "unfounded," and police established a probable cause for the murders on Dec. 26 and obtained an arrest warrant for Singler. She was last seen on Dec. 23, authorities said.

Singler's 11-year-old daughter is safe and in recovery in Colorado Springs.

A court set a $10 million bond for Singler, but the details of the arrest warrant are sealed under court order and are expected to be unsealed at a later time, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information in this investigation to the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department is looking for a man accused of aggravated assault in early December.

According to APD, the man forced the victim behind a dumpster and stuck them multiple times before threatening them with a gun. The suspect then fled on foot before officers arrived.

Police said this happened around 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 7 at 2407 South Congress Avenue, which is the address of a shopping center in South Congress Square, at the corner of Congress and East Oltorf Street.

The suspect is described as a white man, 45-55 years old with light hair in a ponytail. He was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans, and a gray and blue ball cap.

Suspect of aggravated robbery on Dec. 7 at 2407 South Congress Avenue (Austin Police Department pohto)

Dec. 7 at 2407 South Congress Avenue (Austin Police Department pohto)

Police noted he possibly lives in the area of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street and could be armed with a handgun.

Anyone with any information should contact APDs Aggravated Assault unit at 512-974-5245. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
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The aerial object that entered Polish airspace amid Russia's mass attack against Ukraine in the early morning of Dec. 29 was likely a Russian missile, Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the general staff of the Polish armed forces, said at a press conference.

"Everything indicates that a Russian missile has entered Polish airspace," Kukula told reporters, as cited by the Polish media outlet RMF24. "We have national and allied radar confirmation of this."

"On the other hand, it is only a technique, we approach it with some distance, so we decided to (verify) it also on the ground. We have sent groups to verify the confirmed missile flight path to see if there was any technical error," Kukula added.

According to General Maciej Klisz, operational commander of the Polish military, the missile likely spent less than three minutes in the country's airspace and then went back over Ukraine.

"The entire flight path over Polish territory was being monitored," Klisz said at the press conference, as cited by Reuters. "At the moment, the scenario that I am recommending is that the missile left Poland's airspace."

Russia carried out a mass attack on Ukraine early on Dec. 29, launching 158 attack drones and missiles at cities across the country, according to the Ukrainian military.

Read also: Russia launches 158 drones, missiles at Ukraine, deaths reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa

During the attack, the Polish army's Operational Command recorded an unidentified object entering Poland's airspace. The incident prompted Polish President Andrzej Duda to convene an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he's discussed the incident with Duda.

"NATO stands in solidarity with our valued Ally, is monitoring the situation and we will remain in contact as the facts are established. NATO remains vigilant," Stoltenberg wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

According to RMF24, witnesses saw the object "moving at great speed" above the village of Dolhobyczow in Lublin Voivodeship, which is less than 5 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Dolhobyczow lies 12 kilometers north of the village of Przewodow, where two people were killed in November 2022 when a stray Ukrainian anti-air missile hit a grain storage facility.

Polish investigators concluded in September 2023 that Ukrainian air defense launched two S-300 missiles with a range of 75-90 kilometers in an effort to intercept a massive Russian missile strike.

Read also: US ambassador: Ukraine urgently needs funding after massive Russian attack

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Polish President Andrzej Duda has called a 13:00 meeting of the National Security Bureau after an unidentified object had flown into Polish territory from Ukraine, although the topic of the meeting has not been officially announced.

Source: European Pravda, citing RMF24

Details: At 13:00, President Duda will meet with National Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Wiesaw Kukua, Chief of the General Staff, and Operational Commander Maciej Klisz.

The topic of the meeting has not been officially announced, but the assumption is that it will be about the incident in the eastern part of Poland.

Background:

Earlier, an "unknown object" was spotted in Poland, which came from the territory of Ukraine on the morning of 29 December.

A flying object moving at high speed was observed by residents of the Gmina Dohobyczow in the Lublin Voivodeship. It was in the vicinity of Przewodow, where a stray missile exploded a year ago.

The incident was confirmed by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

It happened against the backdrop of Russias large-scale attack on Ukraine. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities were hit. There are dead and wounded.

Poland's Defence Minister said he was in constant contact with the president, prime minister, chief of the General Staff and the general of the Operational Command.

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The start of a new year is more artificial construct than actual promise of a clean slate. Just because weve turned the page on the calendar doesnt mean anything has changed  least of all the political divisions that have only magnified since the last election.

By now, our adversarial stances are second nature, our positions and hearts hardened. And while passion is a plus, willful blindness is not.

Carrie Seidman

Which is why the dawn of 2024 seems like a necessary call to action.

At no time in my life has an election year felt so critical and pivotal, the choices so oppositional and the potential outcomes so disparate. Many have said the very future of our democracy depends on this years election and I dont think its overly dramatic to think so.

Yet many of us have distanced ourselves from civic responsibilities. We turn only to news sources that confirm our biases; we stop monitoring the news entirely because its depressing (it is); or we focus all our attention on the presidency when who gets elected locally is more likely to have an impact on our quality of life.

None of us are looking forward to the coming media oversaturation of presidential primaries, polls and promises. But now is a good time to begin researching and evaluating candidates for local office who will get much less attention (and in some cases, none).

Signs direct voters to the combined Election Day polling precinct at Sarasota Square on Nov. 3, 2020. Columnist Carrie Seidman says it's vital for voters to be informed and "election ready" in 2024.

More: The Zieglers face a 'come to Jesus' moment. Let's give them the space to experience it.

To that end, heres a little quiz to assess your election readiness.

Obviously, you can find the answers on Google, but thats not the point. If youre honest, it should give you some idea of what you know and what you need to learn (and where to find answers) before youre faced with that big blank ballot in November.

1. How many days before a primary or election do I need to be registered?

2. Can I vote in the primaries if I am registered as an Independent?

3. When is the presidential primary in Florida and what influence does it have?

4. Why is it important for me to vote in the August primary, regardless of my party affiliation?

5. What offices are up for election locally in 2024?

6. How many seats are up for Sarasota County Hospital Board and why do they matter?

7. What do members of the Charter Review Board do?

8. Where can I find information on local candidates and their positions?

9. How can I research who has donated money to a local candidates campaign?

ANSWERS:

1. Thirty days. Which means Feb. 20 for the March 19 presidential primary; July 22 for the Aug. 20 state and local primary election; and Oct. 7 for the Nov. 5 general election. If you previously signed up for mail-in balloting, new rules say you must reconfirm that choice every two years, so check with the Supervisor of Elections office to make sure youre still registered.

2. In Florida, only registered party members can vote in a political partys primary election. However, in some primaries (for example, the Aug. 20 primary) there are races open to all voters, such as judgeships, school board races and any nonpartisan offices. If you are not registered with a party, you can still vote but your ballot will only include nonpartisan races.

3. Voters registered with Floridas two major political parties are eligible to express their preference for president March 19. Subsequently, designated party delegates formally nominate the states preferred candidate at the partys national convention, typically in July or August.

4. Because there are nonpartisan (even if in name only) races in that primary that are open to any voter and could be the final vote for those positions. For example, unless a run-off is necessary (because of multiple candidates), the Aug. 20 primary could be the final election for Sarasota County School Board seats. And unless youve been living under a rock, you know how important that vote is.

5. Go the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections website (www.sarasotavotes.gov), click on the Election Information tab and select Offices Up for Election in the drop down box. Youll find a list of every office to be decided from president to Sarasota Soil & Water Conservation District seats.

6. Four, one for the central district and three at large seats. If youve been following the news about the medical freedom movement, you know who fills these seats could determine Sarasota Memorial Hospitals future status. The new nonpartisan, grassroots group, Citizens for Healthcare Excellence, is a good source for information.

7. The Charter Review Board examines the countys charter, which lays out rules on such things as the organization of government and land-use and voting requirements. Its proposed changes and recommendations are then subject to a voter referendum. There are seats up in all five districts this year.

8. There is no single place to find all the information you might want or need. Potential sources include: the League of Women Voters guide; local news publications; watchdog groups like Sarasotas CityPac; and candidate forums that will be hosted by the LWV, the CCNA (Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations), Tiger Bay and other community organizations throughout the year. Of course, local Democratic and Republican party offices have information on their own party candidates. Following the Citizens for Sarasota County page on Facebook can also provide insider information.

9. Finance reports for candidates can be found on the Sarasota Supervisor of Elections website under Local Candidate, Committee and Party Reports, which identifies candidates donors and contributions. The city of Sarasota keeps campaign finance records on city candidates. You can also go to the National Institute on Money in Politics tracker at followthemoney.org. or the Florida Division of Elections website (for statewide candidates). For a deeper dive into the dark money Sarasota County candidates receive from PACS (political action committees) with special interests, follow Cathy Antunes blog at thedetail.net.

SCORING: Give yourself one point for every question you knew the answer to (without cheating).

8-10: Congratulations. You take your voting responsibility seriously. But many things can change in the months leading up to an election, so stay attentive and engaged.

5-7: Youre not checked out, but you dont look far past your regular news sources for candidate information. Push yourself to do a little more research and preparation in order to make choices based on solid research this fall.

0-4: Heres the good news; you are a fresh slate. Make a vow now to take your civic responsibility more seriously this year. Our communitys future depends on it.

Contact Carrie Seidman at carrie.seidman@gmail.com or 505-238-0392.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 2024 will be a year like no other
Its probably a little too early for an obituary of the Republic  the MAGA Trumpers wont take command until January 2025  but not so early we cant preview how the new world order might look if they win.

First an assurance: Nobodys going to be kicking in doors looking for evidence of elitist thinking the day after the inauguration. Itll be more of a slow drip  a wink to Putins invasion of Ukraine and the Baltic states here, a nod to Christian nationalisms obliteration of church/state separation there, maybe even a little martial law to energize the base and keep normal people from taking to the streets.

Edgier and more effective than the first Trump go-around, to be sure, but basically a reprise of the cruel ideas and narcissistic ramblings weve heard before. His cognitive decline to the contrary, Trump will continue to squeeze more lies and self-adoration out of a 20-word vocabulary than a B movie publicist.

No, the real work of deploying full-on authoritarianism will happen only later, once Stephen Miller, the pardoned Steve Bannon and Mike Flynn, the white nationalist Nick Fuentes and the soon-to-be-disbarred Jeffrey Clark hit the West Wing and put in motion the Heritage Foundations blueprint for an even more inequitable America.

Trump will shun the hard day-to-day work of the presidency, of course, just as effectively as the House Republicans will avoid legislating, and this will slow the purge and give the more anxious among us time to update our passports and pack our bags. Our best guess  and its just a guess, not poll-driven science  is that well be at least a year into the dictatorship before the Supreme Court endorses Trumps kingly notions of executive power in a 5-4 decision and he pardons himself and the other insurrectionists, censors the press, dismantles federal agencies, freezes the borders, and makes life miserable for anyone not fully on board.

Here in Idaho the consequences of the MAGA-inspired mania will be more keenly felt. Dorothy Moons loyalty oaths and litmus tests will drive the states moderate Republicans into hiding, and the Idaho Legislature, already distracted by the Idaho Freedom Foundation and its statehouse puppets, will become paralyzed and irrelevant. Responsible budgets wont get presented or passed, quaint notions of reason and civility will be erased from the lexicon, and the panhandle, already on the brink of catastrophe, will become a Disneyland and arsenal for every race-baiting, conspiracy-burdened, white supremacist bigot in the country.

Meanwhile, roads and critical infrastructure will continue to deteriorate, the states vital irrigation water will flow past Milner under federal edict for sale to out-of-state bidders, and crop prices will fall through the floor as Trump ignores diplomacy and ignites another costly tariff war with China. Idahos trading partners will steer clear of the chaos and look to more stable sources for commodities and employees. Our kids and grandkids  the real victims in all of this  will graduate from their home schools and private academies armed only with a fake understanding of history and a distrust of science and learning.

For their part, our senators and representatives will silently hole up in Washington, only to emerge briefly, likely on a Friday afternoon, at the nadir of the news cycle, to feign concern about the spreading assault on democracy and test the winds for gutless pathways to political relevance. As Yeats put it, the blood-dimmed tide will have loosed and everywhere the ceremony of innocence will drown; the best will lack all conviction, while the worst will be full of passionate intensity.

It cant happen here, you say? Maybe not. But heres the thing: The odds of a MAGA Trumper dystopian future will certainly go up if they continue to succeed in conning us that our present worries  all indisputably real  will disappear once we trade in democracy and hope for despotism and fear.

Some of us will take the bait, selfishly thinking that what hurts others doesnt hurt them and might even assuage their failures and unhappiness.

Others will be more resolute.

If youre among the latter and have concluded Trump and the MAGA crowd are a clear and present danger, then welcome to the club. And if youre discomfited by the prospect of having to vote for a Democrat, or not vote at all, to keep him out of the White House and preserve the rule of law, then come to grips with it.

Theres nothing easy about the looming decisions were about to make, especially if youre a Republican and it means breaking ranks, at least for now, with a hijacked party that has discarded your beliefs, your heritage and your common decency like so much roadside trash.

The scale of this thing is bigger than you think. These are not ordinary times.

Douglas Siddoway writes and practices law from his farm in southeastern Idaho.
Male prisoners seen from behind in the exercise yard of Wormwood Scrubs, a prison in London

Education, training and rehabilitation need to become the primary focus of jails, the chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales has said.

Charlie Taylor told the BBC that a "fundamental reorientation" of the prison system was the only way to reduce reoffending.

His intervention comes amid growing concern around overcrowding in jails.

The government says its new Prisoner Education Service will improve outcomes for those being released from custody.

But Mr Taylor suggested that jails were failing to reduce the risk of prisoners reoffending, and that many inmates were failing to learn to read.

Others, he said, were taking part in courses which would not help them get jobs in future.

He also argued that the high availability of drugs in some prisons was hindering rehabilitation efforts, as he called for immediate action to give prisoners the skills they need for life in the workplace.

Last week, the prison population of England and Wales - the area Mr Taylor is chief inspector for - was more than 87,000. Mr Taylor believes there is not enough space for prisoners to be provided with the activities they need for suitable rehabilitation.

"It is now more essential than ever that prisons become places of rehabilitation, that we reduce the number of reoffences that take place, that we reduce the number of victims of crime," he said.

"This will only happen if there is a fundamental reorientation of our prisons to become places of rehabilitation, of training and of education."

Mr Taylor was later interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, as part of a special show guest edited by Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit.

Mr Malkinson has spoken of "lots of problems" involving education in prison, including a lack of direct internet access and a poor learning environment.

"People won't want to hear this, but the staff didn't really like us doing higher education," Mr Malkinson said. "There was resistance and it made all kinds of problems over small matters that weren't really important. I felt they put obstacles in the way but I was determined to get through it."

Alongside Mr Malkinson's case, there has been increased scrutiny on the sector following the alleged escape of an inmate from Wandsworth Prison in September. Daniel Khalife has pleaded not guilty to escaping from the London jail.

In a report written before the alleged escape - and published after it - Wandsworth Prison was branded "unsafe and inhumane".

The Independent Monitoring Board suggested the institution's shortcomings reflected "the failures of the prison system as a whole".

Charlie Taylor is calling for a "fundamental reorientation" of prisons

Ahead of his appearance on Today, Mr Taylor told the BBC it was "vital that prisons become places of real purpose".

"I am calling for a fundamental shift in the way that prisons are organised and run so that they become first and foremost places of rehabilitation and education," he explained.

Mr Taylor also called for a "proper" debate over what prisons are trying to achieve, why people are imprisoned, what happens to inmates when they are locked up and what the public want prisoners to be like when they come out.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We know that prisoners who leave custody with a job to go to are less likely to reoffend.

"Reoffending rates have fallen from 31 to 24 per cent since 2010 and we are working to drive them down even further."

The spokesperson also mentioned the Prisoner Education Service, a new scheme the government says will include more education staff in prisons, prisoner apprenticeships in catering and construction and more funds to improve reading and writing skills.

"Our new Prisoner Education Service will improve prisoners' literacy and numeracy, our business-led Employment Advisory Boards ensure they develop skills employers need, and Prison Employment Leads match them to jobs on release."

They also pointed to government statistics showing that the proportion of prisoners in work six months after release more than doubled in the two years to March 2023.

Digital learning company Coracle provides inmates with laptops so they can get access to education. Its CEO, James Tweed, welcomed Mr Taylor's comments and told the BBC that prisoners need help in joining a digital world, suggesting many are released without being able to use a mobile phone.

"As a result, they don't know how to use public transport, book appointments or access benefits," he said.

"Almost inevitably, many revert back to their old ways and reoffend.

"Solving this issue isn't easy as prisoners are barred from using the internet. Also, increasing education is challenging when there's a shortage of prison staff."
Tony Chung, the popular former leader of the defunct pro-Hong Kong independence group StudentLocalism, posted a lengthy statement to Facebook explaining his decision to exile in Britain. File Photo by Alex Hofford/EPA-EFE

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A 22-year-old pro-democracy student activist fled Hong Kong more than a week ago and claimed asylum in Britain to escape rigorous supervision requirements imposed by Beijing following his release from prison in June.

Tony Chung, the popular former leader of the defunct pro-Hong Kong independence group StudentLocalism, posted a lengthy statement to Facebook explaining his decision to exile, saying his life was being controlled by constant surveillance after he served nearly four years in prison for violating the region's strict national security law.

"Their demands effectively stripped me of financial autonomy, paving the way for the financial inducements later offered by the national security department of the Hong Kong police force," Chung wrote.

Chung, who was convicted of secession and money laundering in November 2021 after actively pushing for Hong Kong's independence from Beijing, claimed he was offered money to spy on other activists following his incarceration as the government sought to exploit his desperate financial state.

Chung said he faced obstacles at every turn, including ruinous limitations on where he could safely work and make a living in Hong Kong, putting pressure on him to make a move.

"I feared stepping out of my home, feared using the phone in public, and worried about the possibility of being detained again by national security police officers on the streets," he said. "Every meeting with the national security police officers filled me with dread, fearing that they may accuse me of endangering national security and would demand me to prove my innocence."

On Friday, authorities at Hong Kong's correctional services department said they issued a warrant for Chung's arrest and that he would soon be added to a list of the region's most-wanted fugitives for violating the conditions of his release.

So far this year, Hong Kong authorities have issued bounties for 13 exiled activists, offering $1 million rewards for information that leads to their arrest.

Upon his release from prison last summer, Chung said he was given a set of conditions to follow, which forced him to check in regularly with Hong Kong's national security police and prohibited him from discussing his conviction or sharing any material that could potentially incite national security concerns.

He was also told that he could not leave the territory for a full year without prior authorization.

After arriving in Britain, Chung gave an interview to The Guardian about his plight in which he complained that the "deep surveillance and immense pressure" by Hong Kong's national security police "disturbed my life, and I couldn't withstand such torture, both physically and mentally. So I felt that I had to leave Hong Kong."

Chung said he began to fake politeness to build trust with his handlers, which would sometimes result in relaxed efforts to keep tabs on him.

In recent months, the parole officers offered Chung a tour of mainland China to "learn about China's development."

"I knew that I had to go along with their thoughts to make them drop their guard, in order to get out of Hong Kong more easily," Chung said. "So I told them that China's development is quite nice these days."

However, the officers never followed up with him about it.

Earlier this month, Chung saw an opportunity when Hong Kong's correctional services department granted him permission to take a brief trip to Okinawa, Japan, provided that he confirmed a return fight to Hong Kong after Christmas.

He traveled to Japan on Dec. 20, but a week later he stepped off a flight in London.

Chung arrived shortly after another pro-democracy activist, Agnes Chow, announced she had relocated to Canada and did not plan to return to Hong Kong in violation of her bail conditions.

Chung's political movement dissolved shortly before the national security law went into effect on June 30, 2020, while Chung became one of the first individuals to be detained under the act, which was imposed by Beijing to suppress ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
A politician from the party of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been found dead in a courtyard outside his home, local media reported Thursday, adding to the growing list of Russian elites who have died under unclear circumstances in recent months.

Vladimir Egorov, a Tobolsk City Duma Deputy from the ruling United Russia party, was reportedly 46 at the time of his death, which was reported by Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing the press service of the Investigative Committee for the Tyumen Region in Russia.

There were no external signs of criminal death on Egorovs body, investigators told Kommersant. The committee could not confirm the information about the circumstances of the deputys death to Kommersant, it said, as they are still conducting an autopsy.

Russian state media TASS meanwhile reported on Thursday that Egorov was found dead in Tobolsk, also citing the regional committee. And unofficial Telegram channel Baza  which has links to Russian security services  said Egorovs body was discovered in the courtyard of his house on Kedrovaya Street on Wednesday.

Kommersant and TASS reported that investigators are still establishing the causes of Egorovs death, while the Tobolsk City Duma published an obituary on its social media page Thursday saying that Egorov died as a result of an accident.

The Duma praised Egorov  its deputy chairman before his death  for providing comprehensive support to the participants of the Special Military Operation and the families of military personnel fighting in Ukraine and for taking an active part in the social and political life of the city.

He joins a list of prominent Russians who have died by suicide or in unexplained accidents in recent months and years, including several businessmen with ties to Russias two largest energy companies.

Among that group was Ravil Maganov, the chairman of Lukoil, Russias second biggest oil and gas company, which had previously taken the unusual public stance of speaking out against Russias war in Ukraine. Maganov died after falling out of the window of a hospital in Moscow, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Russian sausage magnate-turned-lawmaker Pavel Antov, another member of the United Russia party who topped Forbes ranking of the 100 richest civil servants in Russia in 2018, died in India last December after falling from the third floor of his hotel, according to the Indian police.

Months before his death he had reaffirmed his support for Putin after denying he posted an anti-war message on WhatsApp, blaming an unfortunate misunderstanding and a technical error.

In May, Russian Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Pyotr Kucherenko died after falling ill on a plane with a Russian delegation returning from a business trip to Cuba. A journalist who said he had spoken with Kucherenko in the months prior to his death said that Kucherenko had felt like a hostage of the Russian government and feared for his own safety.

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When the word purse is mentioned, some people may think about name brands. Others may think about fashion accessories. But for Pilsen resident Maria Castro, purses mean love.

Castro is the founder and CEO of Love Purse, a nonprofit born in 2021 that collects purses, fills them with toiletries and a note of inspiration, and then donates them to shelters and safe havens for women in need, who are often escaping dire situations such as domestic violence or human trafficking.

A lot of times victims leave in the middle of the night with just the clothes on their back, so to be able to come to our shelter and get a purse filled with such wonderful things, some nice journals and inspirational notes is great, said Jane Ukleja, chief development officer at Guardian Angel Community Services in Joliet, a 126-year-old nonprofit agency that offers a domestic violence program, sexual assault treatment and service center, foster care and transitional living, among other services.

Its not just a purse, Castro said. In my purse, I carry everything  a rosary, things my grandkids have made me, photos of my mom and dad, things that mean something to me. This (purse) gives them some hope, an inkling of realization that somebody cared enough.

I never realized the number of women that are trafficked all the time; it wasnt on my radar, Castro said. Now when I hear from shelters that I help that are helping trafficked women, homeless and domestic violence survivors ... I understand the need.

Castro heard about a spike in domestic violence calls since the pandemic started, a marked increase in people who were locked down with their abusers, many suffering in silence because they are not U.S. citizens and worried about deportation.

That was the impetus for the creation of Love Purse, Castro said. A friend called her about the huge influx of women in need of help. Castro, a regional external affairs manager for Comcasts Community Investment team for 18 years, leapt into action. She went out and bought one of everything from a list and asked friends to do the same. Then she looked down at the plastic bag with all the contents.

I thought: How insensitive would that be to say, Here, give these women these plastic bags. It could be delivered in a much more beautifully thoughtful way, she said. So I ordered purses from Amazon, all under $20  large, pretty, and started filling them with toiletries, handwritten notes of inspiration, letting them know that they mattered. And that this too shall pass. I thought, Theyre gonna feel the love that was put into this purse from me. I know they will.

Castro, 66, told her husband the endeavor was producing a little love purse, one filled with love. And the name Love Purse stuck.

The campaign has grown solely from word-of-mouth and social media, with the hashtag #lovepurse. People have started reaching out to Castro to help. Friends challenge friends to honor a loved one by giving a love purse in their name to a local safe haven. Women hold parties to collect and gather purses to donate. Real estate agents and Girl Scout troops have participated in the cause. Those who host events become Angel Ambassadors of Love Purse and get a signature Love Purse T-shirt.

The youngest ambassador just celebrated her bat mitzvah. She used the money she received to get purses. Castro said Oprah Winfrey has donated purses to auction at an annual gala. Angel ambassadors have delivered purses to those in need in Ukraine, Canada, Mexico and in 10 states so far. Numerous corporate supporters can be seen on the Love Purse website, as well as testimonials from organizations that have worked with Love Purse.

Only new purses and toiletries are accepted. Gently used purses are donated to Goodwill.

We just seem to have this momentum, Castro said. My goal is to do this in all 50 states, have an angel ambassador in every single state that can help us find a womens shelter thats in need.

And as Love Purse grows, so do the demographics of the recipients. Women in hospitals who are going through chemotherapy are getting purses filled with special deodorants and lotions. Moms who have lost a loved one to violence can get a purse that includes a prayer card and a journal. Castro keeps purses in her car to have them at the ready to give to migrants. Shell hop out when she sees migrants to give the purses away.

Thats something near and dear to my heart because my dad was a migrant worker, so I understand the complexity of that and what it means to not have, Castro said. I know the need and I see it firsthand now with everybody thats coming here. As I get (purses) in, I give them out.

This is what its supposed to be ... putting love on the shoulders of women in need, one Love Purse at a time., she said. Thats what is happening. As we evolve, we start giving to women who are just in need ... they dont have to be homeless or in a trafficking shelter or domestic violence shelter. It could just be a woman whos going through a horrible time and just needs to be reminded that she matters.

Dignity, value and respect are all things that Castro hopes a purse carries with it.

Gwendolyn McNutt has been a Love Purse board member since its inception. She said the organization has donated close to 12,000 purses. Castro sees that as close to 12,000 lives affected.

Nicole Sancen, a manager at the Hooters restaurant in Joliet, has collected purses to donate to Love Purse for the past two holiday seasons. This year, she reached out to donate purses filled with full-size toiletries to Guardian Angel Community Services.

Ukleja, of Guardian Angel in Joliet, was at the restaurant the morning of Dec. 19 to receive the purses and transport them to her agency. She said it was a phenomenal, generous donation. Ukleja said her organization, whose domestic violence program just celebrated 40 years in October, always has an updated wish list on its website for essential items that are needed.

Its all about women empowerment, Castro said. I have three granddaughters, and Im always telling all of them how strong they are, how beautiful they are and how theyre gonna do great things. Why am I going to say that if Im not gonna lead by example?

When women are given this purse, I have to believe that it may have them turn their thought process around, Like OK, I can do this now. Im going to be OK, Castro said. When these women have to leave everything, they have to start all over again. At least with this purse, they can. And they can start filling it again with the love that they need. My hope and prayer is that it will make a big difference in the life of a woman and one day she will pay it forward.

drockett@chicagotribune.com
Joe Biden has called on Congress to take action so that weapons and vital air defence systems can be sent to Ukraine, in response to a record number of Russian airstrikes.

The US president labelled the indiscriminate Russian barrage on civilian infrastructure, which left 30 dead and more than 150 injured, a stark reminder of Putins unwavering objective.

He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people. He must be stopped, Mr Biden said.

To avoid Russia gaining the upper hand amid waning Western military support for Ukraine, the president urged Congress to deliver more funding for Ukraine.

History will judge harshly those who fail to answer freedoms call, he said.

Meanwhile, the UK has pledged hundreds of British-made air defence missiles to Ukraine and reaffirmed its steadfast support.

07:06 PM GMT

Thats all for today

Thank you for following todays live blog and joining in the conversation in the comments.

Todays headlines:

Russia fired 122 missiles and 36 drones in what Ukraine called the biggest aerial barrage of the war.

In total, 30 people were confirmed dead and more than 150 others were injured.

Russia boasted that all designated targets were hit.

The UK announced plans to supply hundreds of air defence missiles to Ukraine.

Sunak said attacks show why Putin must not be allowed to win the war.

A Russian missile crossed into Nato member Poland during the barrage.

The UN human rights chief demanded Russia halt attacks.

Zelensky visited the eastern city of Avdiivka.

Biden called on Congress to step up and act in response to Russias attacks.

06:24 PM GMT

Ukrainians recall the moment the missiles arrived

Russia fired an estimated 158 missiles and drones on Ukraine in its latest wave of attack, 114 of which were intercepted.

In Boyarka, near the capital, Kyiv, the debris of a shot-down drone fell on Andrii Korobkas home and started a fire.

Mr Korobka said his mother was sleeping next to the room where the wreckage landed and was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

The war goes on, and it can happen to any house, even if you think yours will never be affected, he said.

Tetiana Sakhnenko, who lives next door, said neighbours ran with buckets of water to put out the blaze, but it spread quickly. Its so scary, she said.

Elsewhere, Kyiv resident Mariia awoke to a horrible sound and took shelter in her bathroom.

It was so frightening. A missile was flying and everything was buzzing, whirring. I didnt know what to do, she said.

Kateryna Ivanivna, a 72-year-old Kyiv resident, said she threw herself to the ground when a missile struck.

She said: There was an explosion, then flames. I covered my head and got down in the street. Then I ran into the subway station.

06:12 PM GMT

Kyiv fired US-made missiles on Russia in revenge attack, claims Moscow

Ukraine fired three US-made missiles into Russia, Moscows defence ministry has claimed, after Vladimir Putin ordered an unprecedented rocket attack on Kyiv.

Russia said three Harm anti-radiation rockets were fired by Ukrainian forces on the Belgorod region and shot down by Russian anti-air defences.

The missiles home in on radiation emitted by radar units which detect incoming aircraft.

No images or video footage of the missiles purported destruction has been published online.

Ukraine avoids firing its limited stocks of missiles into Russia unless guaranteed to hit a target.

06:01 PM GMT

Pictured: Ukrainian cities targeted with drones and missiles

An explosion of a missile is seen in the sky over Kyiv - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

Smoke cloaks high-rise apartments after a missile attack on Odesa - Global Images Ukraine

Aftermath of a missile attack on Dnipro which damaged residential buildings, a maternity hospital, and a shopping center - Global Images Ukraine

05:42 PM GMT

Polish government convenes emergency meeting and speaks with White House

President Andrzej Duda called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council after a Russian missile appeared to have flown into Polish airspace for some 40 km before returning to Ukraine under three minutes later.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan also discussed the reported incident in a call with Polish Secretary of State Jacek Siewiera.

Mr Sullivan expressed the United States solidarity with Poland, our close NATO ally, pledged technical assistance as needed and assured his counterpart that President Biden was following this issue closely.

05:23 PM GMT

Biden calls on Congress to 'step up and act' in response to Russias attacks

The US President has urged Congress to take action so that weapons and vital air defence systems can be sent to Ukraine.

Joe Bidens said: It is a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putins objective remains unchanged.

He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people. He must be stopped.

In the face of this brutal attack, Ukraine deployed the air defence systems that the United States and our Allies and partners have delivered to Ukraine over the past year to successfully intercept and destroy many of the missiles and drones.

The American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom, and its independence.

But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defence systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay.

The stakes of this fight extend far beyond Ukraine. They affect the entirety of the NATO Alliance, the security of Europe, and the future of the Transatlantic relationship. Putin has not just attempted to destroy Ukraine; he has threatened some of our NATO Allies as well.

When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly. And the consequences reverberate around the world.

Thats why the United States has rallied a coalition of more than 50 countries to support the defence of Ukraine. We cannot let our allies and partners down. We cannot let Ukraine down. History will judge harshly those who fail to answer freedoms call.

05:01 PM GMT

Pictured: Aftermath of Russian bombing

Smoke rises over a residential building after a Russian strike on Kyiv - STRINGER/REUTERS

A teacher inspects her classroom which was damaged in a missile attack on Lviv - YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP

A local resident walks by his destroyed building and part of Russian missile in the city of Boyarka, near Kyiv - VIACHESLAV RATYNSKYI/REUTERS

04:42 PM GMT

Zelensky fires governor six months after deputies sacked for corruption

Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Volodymyr Trush, the recent head of Ternopil Oblast Regional State Administration (OSA).

It comes after Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office detained Mykhailo Holovko in June, then head of Ternopil Oblast Regional Council, on suspicion of bribery.

Reports also indicated that two deputy heads of the Ternopil Military and Civil Administration, Ihor Demianchuk and Ihor Haiduk, were detained.

04:22 PM GMT

UK to supply 'hundreds of air defence missiles' to Ukraine, Shapps announces

Grant Shapps has announced that around 200 British-made air defence missiles will be sent to Ukraine to protect civilians and infrastructure from drones and bombing.

The defence minister said: Putins latest wave of murderous air strikes are a desperate and futile attempt to regain momentum after the catastrophic loss of hundreds of thousands of conscripts and ahead of the humiliation of his three-day war entering a third calendar year.

We continue to stand by Ukraines defence. Which is why today we are sending hundreds of air defence missiles to restock British gifted air defence systems capable of striking down Russian drones and missiles with incredible accuracy.

Putin is testing Ukraines defences and the Wests resolve, hoping that he can clutch victory from the jaws of defeat.

But he is wrong. Ukraines degradation of the Russian Black Sea fleet has proven it is still in this fight to win. And todays air defence package sends an undeniable message, in the face of Russian barbarity that the UK remains absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine.

Now is the time for the free world to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win.

The air defence missiles, manufactured in Britain by defence contractor MBDA, are designed to be launched from aircraft including Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets, the defence ministry said.

Britain has committed a total of 4.6 billion ($5.9 billion) in military support for Ukraine over two years.

04:06 PM GMT

Zelensky visits eastern city of Avdiivka

Avdiivka. I visited the positions of the 110th Marko Bezruchko Mechanized Brigade. One of the toughest spots of the frontline.



I personally thanked the warriors. We reviewed the defense situation and our troops key needs with the commander. I honored the best servicemen with pic.twitter.com/NRQdoB6tOy  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 29, 2023

04:00 PM GMT

Death and injury toll rises

This is the latest information from regional officials on the number of people killed and injured in Russias overnight attacks, as of 4pm GMT.

Kyiv: Eight dead, 30 injured.

Lviv: One dead, 30 injured.

Dnipro: Six dead, 30 injured.

Odesa: Four dead, 22 injured.

Kharkiv: Three dead, 13 injured.

Zaporizhzhia: Eight dead, 13 injured.

Konotop: None dead, three injured.

Novomoskovsk: None dead, two injured.

Cherkasy: None dead, eight injured.

In total, 30 people are confirmed dead and 151 others were injured.

03:44 PM GMT

Scale of attack should wake the world up, says Ukraine foreign minister

Dmytro Kuleba said the scale of the Russian attack should wake people up to Ukraines continuing needs.

The Ukrainian foreign minister wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions.

I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world. In all major capitals, headquarters, and parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine.

He added: Only greater firepower can silence Russian terror.

03:29 PM GMT

Nato monitoring situation in Poland

Natos Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said the organisation is monitoring the situation in Poland, after a Russian missile appears likely to have entered the countrys airspace.

Spoke with President @AndrzejDuda about the missile incident in #Poland. #NATO stands in solidarity with our valued Ally, is monitoring the situation & we will remain in contact as the facts are established. NATO remains vigilant.  Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) December 29, 2023

03:20 PM GMT

UN human rights chief demands Russia halt attacks

Volker Turk has condemned the wave of Russian strikes and urged Moscow to cease its attacks on Ukraine immediately.

The UN human rights chief said: I am shocked by yet another full-scale set of coordinated missile and drone attacks by the Russian Federation across Ukraine during the night.

International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits attacks deliberately targeting civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, under any circumstances.

The attacks hit a wide range of civilian infrastructure including residential buildings, a maternity hospital, schools, kindergartens, parks, a metro station, and a shopping mall, as well as energy infrastructure, he noted.

02:56 PM GMT

Russian missile crossed into Nato member Poland during barrage

The unidentified object which entered Polands airspace from Ukraine this morning was a Russian missile, the Polish army chief has said.

Gen Wieslaw Kula told reporters that the rocket crossed the border during Russias overnight missile and drone barrage and then later crossed back into Ukraine.

Everything indicates that a Russian missile entered Polish airspace... It also left our airspace, he told reporters.

Polish army radar lost the objects signal and were not able to find a point of impact, despite a reported search near the southern town of Hrubieszow.

There was intense shelling of Ukrainian territory at night so this incident could be linked to that, Col Jacek Goryszewski, an army spokesman, said earlier.

In November 2022, a stray Ukrainian missile struck the southern village of Przewodow in an incident which sparked fears that the war in Ukraine could spill over into Nato member Poland.

In April, an object later reported to be a Russian missile was found in a forest close to the village of Zamosc near the northern city of Bydgoszcz.

02:34 PM GMT

Russian missiles wound six in Cherkasy

A Russian missile attack has this afternoon wounded six people in the central Cherkasy region.

One person is in a serious condition after the strike on 12 houses in a residential area of the city of Smila, said Oleksiy Kuleba, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky.

Regional governor Ihor Taburets said emergency services were at the scene.

The attack occurred at 1.30pm GMT (3.30pm local time) and is separate to Russias overnight missile and drone barrage across the country.

02:20 PM GMT

Watch: Ukrainian priest almost killed in church by missile debris

A Ukrainian priest was almost killed by a falling piece of his churchs ceiling when it was struck by a Russian missile this morning.

Video footage captured the robed Orthodox minister at Odesas Holy Presentation Church walking under the chunk of ceiling just five seconds before it fell to the ground, taking an icon with it.

Lord have mercy, the church posted on Facebook afterwards with pictures of the damage. Thank God no one was hurt.

02:08 PM GMT

Listen to the newest episode of Ukraine: The Latest

02:01 PM GMT

Death and injury toll rises again

This is the latest information from regional officials on the number of people killed and injured in Russias overnight attacks, as of 2pm GMT.

Kyiv: Five dead, 30 injured.

Lviv: One dead, 30 injured.

Dnipro: Six dead, 28 injured.

Odesa: Four dead, 22 injured.

Kharkiv: Three dead, 13 injured.

Zaporizhzhia: Seven dead, 13 injured.

Konotop: None dead, three injured.

Novomoskovsk: None dead, two injured.

In total, 26 people are confirmed dead and 141 others were injured

01:51 PM GMT

Russian attack proves its aim is 'genocide', says Umerov

Russias overnight missile attack on Ukraine proves that its aim in the war is genocide, defence minister Rustem Umerov has said.

For many months, the Russians stockpiled missiles for these purposes: strikes on residential buildings, shopping centres and hospitals in peaceful Ukrainian cities, he said.

He added: Again and again, Russia demonstrates to the whole world that it has no other goal than terror, murder, and genocide of Ukrainians.

There will be a just punishment for each of these crimes.

01:29 PM GMT

Ukrainian describes lucky escape from flat struck by Russian rocket

A man whose apartment block was struck by a Russian missile this morning has recalled his lucky escape from being trapped under rubble, Verity Bowman reports.

Roma, 34, from Odesa, knew at once his building had been hit when he heard the sound of fireworks outside his window in the early hours.

I thought, well, thats it, here we go, he told the Telegraph. I took the cat under my arm and headed out.

The second floor was hit. My apartment was definitely affected. The kitchen is a mess and even the bathroom. But the room where I slept is fine so I turned out to be somewhat lucky.

Anita Raigorodska, a 26-year-old financial adviser from Kyiv, recalled feeling helpless at the thought that her grandmother was in hospital as the missiles rained down.

The scariest part is that its not the last mass attack, she said. Many experts and military friends in Ukraine say it will be even worse on New Years. Am I scared? Very much so, because I understand that every day could be the last.

Oleg, a 32-year-old soldier, smoked a cigarette as he watched missiles land just miles away from his balcony in the capital.

Its heartbreaking to realise that there will be more Russian attacks and more innocent people will become victims, he explained.

Its difficult to comprehend and accept the fact that the joyous holiday season has turned into a terror, turning peaceful cities into scenes of horror.

In Kharkiv, 54-year-old volunteer Oleg counted no fewer than 18 separate strikes on the north-eastern city, a regular target for Russian attacks.

He said: In Kharkiv, we havent experienced anything like this since last summer so it was very frightening. It was scary considering such a high number of explosions one after another.

Natalia, a 73-year-old pensioner, added: This is terror that they are subjecting the whole of Ukraine to, in order to exhaust us.

01:03 PM GMT

Air raid alert issued in Ukraine

An air raid alert has been issued across central and eastern Ukraine due to the threat of incoming missiles.

Explosions have been reported in the north-eastern Sumy and central Cherkasy regions by local media.

12:59 PM GMT

Ukrainian missiles shot down over Russia

A salvo of Ukrainian missiles have been shot down by Russia over the region of Belgorod, Moscows defence ministry has said.

It said three American-made HARM anti-radar rockets were downed at 3pm local time (12pm GMT).

12:41 PM GMT

Poland calls national security meeting after object enters airspace

Poland has called a meeting of its national security bureau after an unidentified object entered its airspace on Friday morning.

President Andrzej Duda will meet defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, army chief Gen Wieslaw Kukula and Maj Gen Maciej Klisz this afternoon.

12:30 PM GMT

France condemns Russia for missile attack

France has condemned Russia for its overnight missile attack on Ukraine.

Russia is continuing its strategy of terror aimed at destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in order to undermine resilience of the Ukrainian population, the French foreign ministry said in a statement.

France will continue to support Ukraine and provide it with the necessary assistance to enable it to exercise its self-defence, in close co-ordination with its partners.

12:00 PM GMT

Latest: Death and injury toll

This is the latest information from regional officials on the number of people killed and injured in Russias overnight attacks, as of 12pm GMT.

Kyiv: Three dead, 23 injured.

Lviv: One dead, 17 injured.

Dnipro: Six dead, 28 injured.

Odesa: Three dead, 22 injured.

Kharkiv: Three dead, 11 injured.

Zaporizhzhia: Four dead, 12 injured.

Konotop: None dead, three injured.

Novomoskovsk: None dead, two injured.

In total, 20 people are confirmed dead and 118 others were injured.

Soldiers and policemen carry a local resident on a stretcher at the site of a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia

11:50 AM GMT

'All targets hit', boasts Russia

Russias defence ministry has boasted that all designated targets were hit in its devastating overnight missile and drone barrage on Ukrainian cities.

The armed forces of the Russian Federation carried out... one massive strike with precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against military-industrial complex facilities, military airfield infrastructure, arsenals and storage sites for: artillery ammunition, uncrewed boats, weapons and fuel for military equipment, it said.

In addition, locations where units of the Ukrainian armed forces, nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries were stationed were hit. All designated targets were hit.

It claimed that only military targets were attacked despite there now being 20 civilians confirmed dead and more than 100 others injured.

11:38 AM GMT

Zelensky vows to strike back after Russian missile barrage

Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to strike back against Russia after it launched the largest missile and drone attack of the war.

An overnight wave of missile and drone strikes left cities burning across the country and killed at least 17 civilians and injured more than 100 others.

We will surely respond to terrorist strikes, the Ukrainian president said.

And we will continue to fight for the security of our entire country, every city, and every citizen. Russian terror must and will lose.

A nationwide air alert was put in place as drones and hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles targeted Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, Lviv and Konotop in the early hours of Friday morning.

Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of the air force, said it was the most massive aerial attack since the war began.

The overnight attacks came just days after Ukraine struck a Russian warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in a major setback for Moscows naval forces.

11:24 AM GMT

Russia deploys Ukrainian POWs to fight against Ukraine

Russia has deployed Ukrainian prisoners of war to fight against Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank has said.

It said soldiers from the Bogdan Khmelnitsky battalion fought in their first battle against Ukrainian soldiers near Uorzhaine in the west of Donetsk.

Russian media reported in late October that 70 prisoners of war had been recruited by Russia from penal colonies.

The battalion is a violation of the Geneva Convention which bans armies from using prisoners of war as soldiers.

10:50 AM GMT

Sunak: Attacks show why Putin must be stopped

Russias overnight attacks on Ukraine show why Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to win the war, Rishi Sunak has said.

These widespread attacks on Ukraines cities show Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy, the British prime minister said.

We will not let him win. We must continue to stand with Ukraine  for as long as it takes.

These widespread attacks on Ukraine's cities show Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy.



We will not let him win.



We must continue to stand with Ukraine  for as long as it takes. https://t.co/cf6aDNwPjD  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) December 29, 2023

10:36 AM GMT

Four women in labour rushed out of maternity hospital hit by Russia

Four women in labour were rushed out of a maternity hospital in Dnipro when a Russian missile struck, the citys mayor has said.

Boris Filatov said his heart almost stopped when he was called on the telephone in the middle of the night with the news.

The rescuers did a good job  they quickly pulled out four women in labour, he said.

No one in the hospital was injured in the attack. Images from the seen showed a portion of its ground floor on fire.

The maternity hospital in Dnipro on fire after being hit by a Russian missile

10:27 AM GMT

Kremlin has drawn up revenge confiscation list of Western assets

Russia has drawn up a list of Western assets it could confiscate in retaliation if the West seizes Moscows frozen assets, the Kremlin has said.

Western countries are reported to be drawing up plans to give Ukraine the 300bn of Russian assets that have been frozen in the West since Vladimir Putin invaded in February 2022.

When asked if there was a list of assets that Russia could seize in response, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: There is.

10:11 AM GMT

Overnight attacks the 'most massive' of entire war

Russias overnight attacks on Ukraine were the most massive of the entire war so far, the commander of the Ukrainian air force has said.

The most massive air attack, Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram.

On December 29, 114 of 158 air targets were destroyed. Thank you for all your combat work.

Many lives have been saved. But there are also losses. Our condolences to the families of the victims and the injured.

We will take revenge. We will win.

10:00 AM GMT

Latest: Death and injury toll

This is the latest official information on the number of people killed and injured in the Russian attacks overnight, as of 10am GMT.

Kyiv: one dead, 23 injured.

Lviv: one dead, 15 injured.

Dnipro: five dead, 20 injured.

Odesa: three dead, 22 injured.

Kharkiv: three dead, 11 injured.

Zaporizhzhia: four dead, 10 injured.

Konotop: none dead, three injured.

In total, 17 people are confirmed dead and 104 others were injured.

09:44 AM GMT

Attacks prove why Ukraine needs Western aid, says US ambassador

Russias overnight attacks on Ukraine prove why the West needs to give Kyiv more military aid, the United States ambassador to the country has said.

Posting an image of air raid alert notifications on her mobile phone, Bridget A. Brink said on X: This is what Ukrainians see on their phones this morning: and as a result, millions of men, women, and children are in bomb shelters as Russia fires missiles across the country.

Ukraine needs funding now to continue to fight for freedom from such horror in 2024.

09:24 AM GMT

In pictures: Overnight strikes on Ukraine

Firemen tackle a burning building in Kyiv hit by the Russian attack

A fireman battles flames at a Kyiv warehouse heavily damaged in the strikes - Valentyn Ogirenko

Apartment blocks in the southern city of Odesa were also hit

09:12 AM GMT

Ukraine shot down 87 missiles and 27 drones, says Zaluzhny

Ukrainian anti-air defences shot down 87 cruise missiles and 27 drones overnight, Gen Valery Zaluzhny has said.

The commander-in-chief said 158 different means of air attack were used against Ukraine in the bombardment.

He said: Lets keep the sky! Together - to victory!

08:54 AM GMT

Russia's 'terrorist strikes' launched 110 missiles, says Zelensky

Approximately 110 missiles were launched on Ukraine in terrorist strikes by Russia overnight, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

A total of around 110 missiles were fired against Ukraine, with the majority of them being shot down, he said.

He added: We will surely respond to terrorist strikes. And we will continue to fight for the security of our entire country, every city, and every citizen. Russian terror must and will lose.

08:34 AM GMT

In pictures: Dnipro damage

A damaged building in Dnipro, where four people are confirmed dead

A fireman scales a ladder to assess the damage in the central Ukrainian city

08:25 AM GMT

Russia launched vast arsenal on Ukraine

Russia launched a vast arsenal of weaponry on Ukraine in its overnight attack, the Ukrainian air force has said.

The enemy launched a large-scale attack using various means, spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said. In fact, everything was launched... except for Kalibr cruise missiles.

Otherwise, we saw Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and other ballistic missiles, S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and cruise missiles, which are still on our radar. In addition, Shahed attack drones were also used.

The enemy also used Kh-22 missiles, and about 18 Tu-95 strategic bombers were also used. According to early reports, they carried and launched Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles.

08:03 AM GMT

Four killed in Dnipro by 'Russian bastards'

Four people are now confirmed to have died and 15 others injured in attacks on Dnipro, governor Serhiy Lysak said.

A tragic morning for the region, he said, adding: There is no forgiveness for the Russian bastards.

07:45 AM GMT

Death and injury toll rises

This is the latest information on the number of people killed and injured in the Russian attacks overnight, as of 7.45am GMT.

Kyiv: Seven injured.

Lviv: One dead. Eight injured.

Dnipro: One dead.

Kharkiv: One dead. 11 injured.

07:41 AM GMT

Pictured: Missile damage in Lviv

An apartment block damaged by Russian missiles in the rarely-targeted western city of Lviv

07:37 AM GMT

Russian attack 'massive', says Ukraine PM

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal has said Russias overnight drone and missile attacks were massive.

There are injured and dead, he said on Telegram. Our condolences go out to their families and friends.

However, the Ukrainian air defence forces have once again demonstrated a high level of professionalism.

Most of the air targets were shot down. We thank the soldiers for saving lives.

A nationwide air alert was put in place as drones and hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles targeted Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, Lviv and Konotop in the early hours of Friday morning.

We havent seen so much red on our monitors for a very long time, said Yurii Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman. In all areas, in all directions.

The overnight attacks came just days after Ukraine struck a Russian warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in a major setback for Moscows naval forces.

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WINCHESTER, Ind.  A Randolph County man has been accused of sexually abusing a pre-teen girl.

Daniel M. Cox, 41, of rural Lynn, was charged Thursday in Randolph Superior Court with child molesting, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison.

In a report, Chad Puterbaugh, a detective with the Randolph County Sheriff's Department, wrote that a juvenile said Cox had touched her inappropriately about two years ago.

During a later interview with Puterbaugh, Cox said he could not recall whether he had assaulted the child because he was intoxicated at the time of the alleged incident.

Cox agreed to submit to a polygraph test, and showed "deception" during that exam, according to an affidavit.

During a subsequent interview with Puterbaugh, he reportedly admitted he had fondled the juvenile. He was arrested and was being held in the Randolph County jail under a $7,000 bond.

An initial hearing in the case is set for Jan. 3.

In other court news:

Sentencing: A Lynn man who had more than 20 grams of heroin in his possession when approached by a Richmond police officer in June has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Dylan G. Resetar, 28, pleaded guilty in Wayne Superior Court 2 to possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 3 felony carrying up to 16 years in prison.

Judge Gregory Horn later imposed the three-year sentence, and gave Resetar credit for 80 days already spent in jail.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, another count pending against Resetar  resisting law enforcement, a misdemeanor  was dismissed.

Resetar  who had earlier been convicted of dealing in meth and possession of meth, both in Wayne County  is being held at the Indiana Department of Correction's reception diagnostic center.

He has a projected release date in September 2025, according to a DOC website.

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: Rural Lynn man charged with child molesting
WASHINGTON  House Republicans are seeking testimony from Biden family business associate Michael Lewitt as part of their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

In a letter Thursday, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan cited Lewitt's ties to James Biden, the president's younger brother and a former business associate of Lewitt.

"The Committees have identified you as possessing information relevant to the impeachment inquiry and seek your testimony regarding related topics," said the letter from Comer, R-Ky., and Jordan, R-Ohio.

Specifically, the GOP chairmen referred to a $200,000 loan the president made to his brother in 2018. NBC News has reported that James Biden repaid the loan a few months later, and Comer has noted that bank records obtained by his committee show that James Biden paid his brother $200,000 the same day he received $200,000 from Americore Health, a company that at the time was embroiled in bankruptcy proceedings.

Given the above, the Committees are interested in your involvement with Americore and your relationship with James Biden, Comer and Jordan said in the letter. In particular, 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.

An attorney for James Biden has also previously described the House Oversight Committee's characterization of the $200,000 check as "highly selective and misleading."

The White House and a lawyer for James Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. Attempts to reach Lewitt for comment were unsuccessful.

Comer and Jordan want Lewitt to voluntarily appear for a transcribed interview. The GOP-led panel reserves the right to subpoena him if he does not cooperate. They asked that Lewitt contact their staff by Jan. 11 to schedule an interview.

Lewitt was sued in October by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which alleged that Lewitt and his group Third Friday Management misled investors and took part in fraudulent conduct and gross breaches of fiduciary duties. Comer and Jordan referred to the lawsuit in their letter as one of the reasons they wanted to interview him. James Biden is not accused of wrongdoing in the SEC lawsuit.

House Republicans voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry into the president this month. Comer has said that Biden family members have been involved in "shady business practices" but that none of the committees involved in the impeachment inquiry have provided evidence of wrongdoing or influence-peddling by the president.

Biden slammed the inquiry as a "baseless House Republican impeachment stunt" in a statement this month.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2023 shows a decoration for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation near the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

by Lyu Hui

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, the BRI cooperation has made remarkable achievements, injecting new impetus into the global economy, creating new opportunities for global development and blazing a new path for all humanity to realize modernization.

In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed to jointly build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which are now known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the trans-national cooperation under the framework of the BRI has ever since extended from the Eurasian continent to Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific.

Ten years on, the BRI has evolved from a vision into reality, from general framework into concrete projects, becoming the worlds most popular international public good and the largest international cooperation platform.

By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents. And over 20 specialized multilateral cooperation platforms were established under the BRI.

Why is the BRI so popular? The answer lies in the fact that the BRI responds to the expectation of all the participating countries to achieve shared development and prosperity and aspiration of all peoples for better life.

The BRI pursues development, promotes win-win outcomes, and inspires hope, President Xi told participants attending the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which decodes the BRIs success in the past ten years.

Pursuing common development

Global development faces multiple challenges, such as sluggish economic recovery, surging de-globalization, imbalanced economic development, and increasing wealth inequality. To make things worse, rising unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism are hampering global cooperation and recovery.

The BRI offers the world a timely and practical solution infused with Chinese wisdom to those challenges.

The BRI is committed to enhancing policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity in an effort to promote global development that is balanced, coordinated, inclusive and shared by all.

Over the past decade, China and BRI partners have endeavored to build a global network of connectivity consisting of economic corridors, international transportation routes and information highway as well as railways, roads, airports, seaports, pipelines and power grids.

The network, known for its multi-channels of the land, the ocean, the sky and the Internet, has effectively facilitated the flow of capital, technology, commodities, and professionals among the countries involved and created better environments for development.

During the ten years, BRI cooperation in various fields such as transportation, agriculture, energy, communication, education and healthcare has helped the participating countries make good returns, which has reinforced their capacity of development, and addressed the significant bottlenecks restricting their economic growth.

They included such BRI landmark projects as the China-Laos Railway which has turned landlocked Laos into a land transport hub, Kenya's Mombasa-Nairobi Railway which contributes 2 percent to the African nation's economic growth, and Indonesias Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia, which plays a pivotal role in narrowing regional development gaps and promoting economic integration of the region, while greatly improving local peoples lives.

As a Chinese saying goes: "Don't just give a man fish; teach him how to catch fish." This is what the BRI aims to help the participating countries create more jobs and reduce poverty as soon as possible. China has so far dispatched more than 2,000 agricultural experts and technicians to over 70 participating countries and introduced more than 1,500 agricultural technologies such as Juncao and hybrid rice in the BRI countries. The establishment of Luban Workshops and vocational schools under the BRI has also helped the countries to cultivate professionals from local poor people.

"I acknowledge that my story and dreams would be irrelevant, were it not for the BRI, which has truly opened doors for my career," said Mirriam Gakii Kirimi, a young woman currently working as an interpreter for Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau which contracts to build road and dam projects in Kenya.

Over the past decade, Belt and Road cooperation has also galvanized up to 1 trillion U.S. dollars of investment globally and created more than 3,000 projects and 420,000 jobs for the participating countries.

The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investments could lift 7.6 million out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, British scholar Martin Jacques described the BRI as an "epic project, epic narrative, and epic reflection on Chinese history," observing that it is transforming the global agenda, offering developing countries a new path to prosperity.

The BRI provides a critical and effective way to help developing countries achieve sustainable development, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

New path to modernization

Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share. The BRI aims to open up a new path for all humanity to realize modernization.

The modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts, Xi said when elaborating Chinas vision to pursue global modernization, adding that it is to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all.

Historically, the economic globalization dominated by a few rich countries has never contributed to the common development and many developing countries have benefited little and even lost their capacity for independent development, making it hard for them to access the track of modernization.

Thanks to the BRI, many developing countries have gained increasing access to global markets, eased their financing problems for much-needed infrastructure projects, filled an "infrastructure deficit," strengthened their comparative advantages, and boosted their capacity for independent economic development.

The BRI dovetails with regional and global development plans and initiatives, including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and the African Union's Agenda 2063.

According to Turkish Ambassador to China Ismail Hakki Musa, only a few imagined that the BRI would have such influence and force to transform the world in economic, infrastructure and development areas. "Today everyone is aware of the fact that this is an unprecedented achievement," he said.

Jiri Paroubek, former prime minister of the Czech Republic, said the BRI will help many countries of the developing world to increase their development, and also the living standards of the people.

Fairer global governance

The BRI's success since its inception is based on its core principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits that promote multilateralism as well as equitable and just global governance.

Those principles have become recognized globally, with reference in important documents from international organizations and bodies like the United Nations and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

The BRI has gradually formed a new vision of global development and governance, with development-oriented, open cooperation, multilateral consultation and harmonious coexistence as the underlying principles, said a research report entitled "The Belt and Road Development Studies -- A Synergy Approach to Global Development".

The BRI is not a solo endeavor by China, but a collaborative effort involving all participating countries. Under BRI framework, all countries, irrespective of size, strength and wealth, are equal participants, contributors and beneficiaries.

Advocating consultation rather than confrontation, removing walls rather than erecting walls, integration rather than decoupling, and inclusiveness rather than exclusion, the BRI sets a new paradigm for state-to-state relations that shapes the international order towards greater justice and equality.

The BRI demonstrates a completely new model of international relations, where countries are able to build mutually beneficial economic partnerships without any political pressure, said Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"What has happened over the last decade then is a profound shift from a unipolar world to a multipolar one," said Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences. "In this China has been a major contributor, for its influence in the world through building new channels of communication has grown enormously."

The BRI does not have a set of broad ideological conditions to which countries must adhere in order to participate. The BRI model allows countries to develop projects with China that are specific to their needs," said Annita Montoute, acting director of the Institute of International Relations at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.

The BRI rejects zero-sum thinking and discards the Cold War mentality of ideological rivalry and geopolitical competition. It transcends differences in ideologies and social systems, enabling different countries to share opportunities, realize common development and prosperity.

At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, Xi announced eight major steps to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, including further improving connectivity, supporting an open world economy, promoting green development, and advancing scitech innovation.

As a long-term, transnational and systematic global project of the 21st century, the BRI, robust and fruitful in its first decade, will be full of dynamism and vitality in the years ahead.

Embarking on the new journey toward its second decade, the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation will demonstrate greater creativity and vitality, become more open and inclusive, and generate new opportunities for both China and the rest of the world. 
After being removed from a Greenville movie theater, the Rev. William J. Barber II is calling for reforms to increase accessibility for people with disabilities.

In a news conference on Friday, Barber said managers at the AMC Fire Tower 12 called the police on him on Tuesday after a dispute about his use of a specialized chair in the theater. The civil-rights activist said he uses the chair everywhere to alleviate pain caused by his disability.

For more than 30 years now Ive suffered from a form of arthritis thats rare, but one of the most dangerous forms, debilitating forms called Ankylosing Spondylitis, he said. I walk now with two canes, I have to carry a high chair with me everywhere I go because... I cannot bend to sit in a low chair, nor rise from a low position.

Barber has led protests against legislation in North Carolina that he and other advocates see as racially discriminatory or as harming poor people, and has sought changes to address economic inequality.

In speaking up Friday on behalf of people with disabilities, the pastor from Goldsboro alluded to the need for systemic changes for that community and suggested specifically that changes are needed to law enforcement policy so that police do not get involved with business managers abusing their power.

What happened to Barber at the theater?

Barber said he had gone to the theater to see The Color Purple with his 90-year-old mother as part of a weeklong celebration leading up to her receiving The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the states highest honors, this weekend.

But our plans were interrupted when the managers of the AMC theater here in Greenville chose to call the police rather than accommodate my visible disability, he said.

According to a news release from the Greenville police, they were called around 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday by someone who said a customer was arguing with theater staff.

The police, in this instance, were asked to do something they should have not been asked to do, Barber said. And in this instance they handled it professionally  as soon as I was outside, they said they were sorry and left.

What is Barber advocating now?

Barber has since spoken with the CEO of AMC Theaters, Adam Aron, and plans to meet with him in person to discuss what changes can be made to avoid similar situations in the future.

Its not about me personally, though it happened to me personally, Barber said. This is about what systemic changes and policy changes to training need to be done to ensure this happens to no one.

In a statement to McClatchy News, an AMC spokesperson said the company 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.

During Fridays press conference, Barber spoke emotionally about his experience with his disability and advocated for further accessibility and awareness for people with disabilities.

When I was disabled by this disease as a young man I had to battle a serious depression. I thought my life was over  people told me you cant be a preacher who cant walk, he said. But it was my mother, whos a pianist and an organist, who came to the hospital and played hymns while a team of doctors and therapists came to show me that though my body was broken, I could learn a new way of moving in the world.

Barber said he has secured legal counsel, but my hope is by meeting with the president (of AMC), none of that stuff will be needed.
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China will respond resolutely to any infringement and provocation and firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday, responding to the Philippines' repeated provocations on China's Ren'ai Jiao.

According to reports, the Philippine armed forces spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar recently said the Philippine government is considering building a permanent civilian structure on Ren'ai Jiao, such as a lighthouse or a marine science research center. The spokesperson also said Ren'ai Jiao belongs to the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, and only the Philippines can build buildings there. In the future, the Philippines will no longer transport military supplies but civilian supplies.

In response to a media query, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that Ren'ai Jiao is part of China's Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands). China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao and its adjacent waters, which were established in the long course of history and are solidly grounded in international law, including the UN Charter.

Mao said the Philippines' claims on Ren'ai Jiao violate the principles of international law, and are legally untenable.

Noting that Ren'ai Jiao is an uninhabited reef, Mao said according to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and the ASEAN countries, all parties should maintain the status of Ren'ai Jiao that there are no people or facilities on it. "The Philippine side has repeatedly broken its commitments, infringed China's rights on Ren'ai Jiao, and complicated the situation," Mao added.

The Philippine armed forces spokesperson's recent remarks are a major move to break the status quo of Ren'ai Jiao, Mao said, adding that China will resolutely respond to any infringement and provocation and firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. 
Video captured the terrifying moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura on Thursday.

The incident happened as locals were being warned about a massive swell pounding the Southern California coastline this week.

The rogue wave submerged bystanders at Pierpont Beach on Seaward Avenue around 11 a.m. That area has been hit the hardest with what the National Weather Service called tremendous wave energy.

A witness, Colin Hoag, captured cell phone video of the explosive wave. As the waters suddenly flooded an observation zone, both people and vehicles were instantly swept away.

Beachgoers were seen frantically running for their lives. The raging waters destroyed the windows of nearby beachfront buildings and hotels on its destructive path.

Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Colin Hoag)

Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Colin Hoag)

Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Ventura Police Department)

Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Ventura Police Department)

Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Colin Hoag)

Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Dukes Ventura)

Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital.

Video captured the moments of calm before beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Colin Hoag)

Nine people were rushed to the hospital by paramedics. Witnesses said several victims suffered broken bones while others were slammed into street posts. Guests staying at a beachfront hotel were also among those who were injured. Two of the victims remain in critical condition on Thursday night.

It was horrific, Hoag recalled. There was a lot of screaming, a lot of yelling. I didnt know how far [the wave] would go. I thought, This is a tsunami, is what it looks like to me.

I think a lot of lessons were learned today when you look at that video, said Andy VanSciver from the Ventura County Fire Department. The importance of heeding the warnings, about giving the ocean some respect.

Warnings of dangerous high surf and flooding are highest for Ventura County along with Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes beaches, according to the NWS.

Waves of 10 to 15 feet with sets to 20 feet are expected along the Ventura County coast. A high surf warning and coastal flood warning are in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Despite the warnings, visitors kept hanging out at the beach and entering the ocean, authorities said. When emergency personnel werent dealing with people on land, they were rescuing surfers and swimmers who had unsuccessfully tried to challenge the dangerous waves.

We ask people to stay out [of the water] because it puts rescuers in harms way as well, explained Capt. Brian McGrath with Ventura County Fire. The sea, its unforgiving and we know what to expect.

Throughout the week, meteorologists warned communities along the central and Southern California coast about the impending dangers  monster waves, life-threatening rip currents, damaging coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.

The high surf will stick around through late Saturday night as locals begin recovering and rebuilding the damaged beachfront businesses in Ventura.

County firefighters will be patrolling the beaches often over the next few days. Crews will be building a 6 to 8-foot high sand berm stretching a mile long to help protect the beach.

All Ventura County beaches and the Ventura Pier will remain closed at this time.

Public safety officials are asking the public to stay out of the water and maintain a safe distance from the shoreline, especially after the destruction caused by the rogue wave.

Footage of the wave can be seen in the video player above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
NAIROBI, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The greater part of the Horn of Africa is expected to receive heavy rains between January and March 2024, with the weather pattern following recent El Nino rains, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC) said on Friday.

The institution, based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, said in the forecast that wetter than usual conditions are expected over southern and equatorial parts of the region, which include Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, southern Uganda as well as southwestern and northeastern Ethiopia.

"Normal to dry than normal conditions are expected over a few areas in central Kenya, and northern and western Tanzania," the ICPAC added.

The Horn of Africa region is generally dry during the period after the October-to-December short rain season, but climate change is altering the weather pattern.

Besides the expected heavy rains, the ICPAC observed that temperatures would be higher than normal during the period.

The worst to be affected regions would include parts of northern Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, where temperatures may rise to between 32 and 40 degrees Celsius.

The Horn of Africa has, in the last year, experienced rapid changes in weather patterns, with the worst drought ending in March 2023, followed by El Nino rains in October and the expected heavy rains from January 2024.

The prolonged drought left 23.4 million people facing hunger and 5.1 million children acutely malnourished, according to the World Food Program.

Similarly, floods caused by El Nino rains killed about 300 people and displaced millions in Somalia, Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, noted the ICPAC. 
Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Dec. 29, 2023. The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to encourage UN member states and other relevant stakeholders to consider the Afghanistan independent assessment and the implementation of its recommendations. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to encourage UN member states and other relevant stakeholders to consider the Afghanistan independent assessment and the implementation of its recommendations.

Resolution 2721, which was adopted with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions (by China and Russia), takes positive note of the Afghanistan independent assessment submitted to the Security Council on Nov. 8.

It encourages UN member states and all other relevant stakeholders to consider the independent assessment and the implementation of its recommendations, especially increasing international engagement in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner.

The resolution affirms that the objective of this process should be a clear end state of an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors, fully reintegrated into the international community and meeting international obligations, and recognizes the need to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of Afghan women in the process throughout.

It requests the UN secretary-general, in consultation with members of the Security Council, relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders, as well as the region and the wider international community, to appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan to promote the implementation of the recommendations of the independent assessment.

The Afghanistan independent assessment report proposes an "architecture for engagement" to guide and bring more coherence to political, humanitarian and development activities, together with a substantive roadmap that will enable more effective negotiation and implementation of the priorities of Afghan and international stakeholders.

The independent assessment report makes four recommendations: a series of measures that can be taken immediately and are aimed at addressing the basic needs of the Afghan people and strengthening trust through a more structured engagement; a call for international attention to and cooperation on issues that have an impact on regional and global security and stability; a roadmap for political engagement designed to reintegrate Afghanistan fully into the international community; a set of mechanisms and formats to ensure the coordination and implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations. 
Terrorists massacred 160 people, many of them preparing for church Christmas programs, Saturday night (Dec. 23) through Monday (Dec. 25) in coordinated attacks on predominantly Christian areas in Plateau state, Nigeria, sources said.

Church pastors were killed and hundreds of houses were destroyed in the massacres in villages of Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu counties, officials and residents said. The assailants killed the Rev. Solomon Gushe of Baptist Church in Dares village along with nine of his family members, said Bokkos County resident Dawzino Mallau.

Some pastors were killed, and another pastor and his wife and five children were killed during these attacks, Mallau told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in a text message. These terrorists who attacked these Christian communities were in the hundreds, and they carried out the attacks as the hapless Christians were preparing for Christmas programs lined up by their pastors.

Most of the Christians killed were women, children and the elderly unable to escape, he said.

Alfred Mashat, another resident of the Bokkos area, said hundreds of houses were destroyed.

About 160 Christians in these villages were killed by the terrorists, Mashat said in a text message to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. We believe they are carrying out these attacks alongside armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen.

Among the predominantly Christian villages attacked, he said, were NTV, Maiyanga, Ruku, Hurum, Darwat, Dares, Chirang, Ruwi, Yelwa, Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani.

Mashat identified some of the Christians killed in the attack on Maiyanga village as Sati Solomon Langweng, David Jallang, Gauis Adamu, Mafulul Langweng, Nafor James Markut, Matawal Gauis Adamu, Fidelis Solomon Jallang, Emmanuel Amos Jallang, Sule Shahu, Mildred James Markut, Maren Paul Mashok, Samuel Mamot and Machief Mangut.

Four Christians slain in Daruwat village he could identify only as Tanko, Haruna, John and Salo.

Local officials on Monday (Dec. 25) confirmed the attacks, reportedly stating that at least 160 people were slain. Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, told AFP that 113 people had been killed there in well-coordinated attacks in at least 20 villages.

More than 300 wounded people were rushed to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos and Barkin Ladi, he said. Dickson Chollom, a member of the state parliament, told AFP that at least 50 people were reported dead in villages in the area, while Bokkos area resident Solomon Musa told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that the bodies of 60 Christians in the Bokkos Council area were recovered and buried.

Another 26 corpses were buried in Barkin Ladi Council area on Christmas Day, Musa said. On Saturday, Dec. 23, Muslim terrorists attacked Christian villages in Bokkos Local Government Area, attacks that continued to Christmas Day.

In Bokkos LGAs Ruwi village, 16 Christians were killed, many others were wounded and many houses were destroyed, he said.

Alfred Alabo, spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, said in a press statement that the assailants on Sunday night (Dec. 24) attacked 12 villages in the Bokkos LGA: Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat and Butura Kampani. That same hour, at about 10:45 p.m. three villages in Barkin Ladi LGA were attacked, he said: NTV, Hurum and Darawat.

In Bokkos LGA, 221 houses were set ablaze, 27 motorcycles and eight other motor vehicles were burned, and more than 79 persons were killed, Alabo said, adding that in Barkin Ladi LGA, 17 deaths were initially recorded.

Plateau Gov. Caleb Mutfwang on Monday (Dec. 25) said that at least 50 persons had been killed in Mangu and Bokkos counties in the prior 48 hours.

This is unacceptable. Enough is enough. These stupid, senseless and unprovoked acts must stop, Mutfwang said, vowing to strengthen security agencies in the efforts in tackling insecurity in the state.

The assailants are described locally as bandits, shorthand for a mix of criminal elements including ethnic Fulani herders hit by drought and dwindling land for their cattle. Riding motorcycles and well-armed with sophisticated weapons obtained from criminal elements outside of Nigeria, some of the predominantly Muslim assailants are said to be mercenaries from Chad or Niger.

Estimated to number in the tens of thousands, such assailants have been active in northern Nigeria for more than a decade but have increasingly expanded into Plateau, Benue and other states, including some in southern Nigeria. Christian leaders and other observers also believe elements of Islamic extremist group Boko Haram and a faction aligned with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) form part of some of the attacking criminal gangs.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people.

In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year.

Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.
Third Silk Road Friendship Ceremony hosted in Beijing

09:41, December 29, 2023 By Qiang Wei, Mao Yufei ( People's Daily Online

The third Silk Road Friendship Ceremony is held in Beijing on Dec. 27, 2023. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

The third Silk Road Friendship Ceremony was held in Beijing on Dec. 27. Twelve individuals received the honorary title of "Ambassador of Silk Road Friendship.

The 12 individuals come from countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America, and were engaged in various sectors such as politics, economy, culture, education and healthcare.

Their stories fully mirror the benefits brought by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to participating countries, as well as the sense of fulfilment, happiness and security generated by the initiative for people in these countries.

The event, themed "Telling the stories of Belt and Road constructors," was co-hosted by the China International Culture Exchange Center (CICEC) and the Global People magazine run by People's Daily, and assisted by China International Culture & Arts Co., Ltd.

Yang Chuantang, vice chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the CICEC, Hu Guo, vice president of People's Daily, and vice chairmen of the CICEC Li Baodong, He Jianzhong and Xu Lirong attended the event.

The ceremony was also attended by more than 300 people including diplomatic envoys from nearly 10 countries in China, as well as friendly people from home and abroad who closely follow the progress of Belt and Road cooperation.

He Jianzhong, vice chairman of the CICEC, delivers a speech at the ceremony. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Freda Korarome, an Ambassador of Silk Road Friendship from Papua New Guinea, came to China in 2020 to learn Juncao planting techniques. Juncao literally means "mushroom" and "grass," and can be used, as its name suggests, to grow edible mushrooms.

She later brought this technology back to her country, and today, her Juncao farm produces 200 kilograms of fresh mushrooms per week, making her a renowned rural entrepreneur.

The Chinese technology has been promoted in several surrounding villages, and Juncao is now called the "grass of happiness" by the locals.

Freda Korarome receives her award at the ceremony. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Currently, the Juncao technology has become one of the important public goods that China provides to the international community, and is used in over 100 countries and regions.

"I am deeply grateful for the BRI, which has changed my life and transformed our country," Korarome said at the ceremony.

Attendees were touched by the story of Alifa Chin, a 13-year-old Bangladeshi girl who won the Ambassador of Silk Road Friendship title.

In 2010, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark went to Bangladesh to provide free medical services. Sheng Ruifang, an anesthesiologist on the ship, helped save a pregnant woman with heart problems and a high-risk pregnancy. Despite the challenges, Sheng and her colleagues performed surgery and successfully saved both the woman and her baby. The family named the baby Chin, which means "China" in Bengali.

Alifa Chin speaks during the ceremony via video link. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Lyu Hong (right), editor-in-chief of Global People magazine, presents the award to Sheng Ruifang. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Today, Alifa Chin dreams of becoming an envoy of friendship between China and Bangladesh. She wants to study medicine in China and save lives, just like her "Chinese mom" Sheng.

Eight years ago, Abderrahmane Salem became involved in building a "Green Great Wall" in Mauritania, which was inspired by China's successful Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. Today, lush green trees stretch along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, turning this once sandy area into a haven for plants and animals.

In 2023, Salem made two visits to China to learn advanced techniques for combating desertification. He was amazed by China's achievements in this field, saying he wanted to bring them back to Mauritania.

The cooperation between China and Africa in fighting desertification has brought Chinese and Africans closer. Together, the two peoples are working towards a harmonious future in which mankind and nature coexist.

Ammar Al-Baadani from Yemen has been living in China for 27 years. When he was 13, his father's illness was cured by Chinese doctors using acupuncture, which inspired him to pursue a medical education in China.

Ammar Al-Baadani speaks at the ceremony. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

He came to China in 1996 and earned his doctoral degree from Zhejiang University in 2013. Later, he became a doctor at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province.

In 2015, he co-founded a Silk Road cultural club with friends from Belt and Road participating countries, aiming to promote Chinese culture among foreigners.

"I have witnessed China's development and the launch of the BRI. The best moments of my life have been spent in China," said Baadani.

Manuel Torres Salazar speaks during the ceremony via video link. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Manuel Torres Salazar came to Shanghai from Spain 12 years ago and decided to make China his home. As a member of the Belt and Road International Lawyers Association, he resolves legal disputes between China and Latin American countries, thus promoting economic and trade exchanges between the two sides.

He has helped Chinese companies open mines, build bridges, and build roads in countries such as Chile, Venezuela, and Colombia. By introducing Chinese technologies and ideas, he has showcased Chinese wisdom and diligence. Thanks to Salazar's assistance, many foreign enterprises have secured funding in China and expanded their markets.

Irene Pivetti, President of the Italy-China Friendship Association, has been devoted to promoting economic and cultural exchanges between East and West over the years. She is a renowned figure in European politics who has achieved many "firsts."

Yang Chuantang (right), vice chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the CICEC, presents award to Irene Pivetti. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Pivetti once served as an economic advisor in various Chinese cities and played a crucial role in launching the China-Europe freight train between Chengdu and Milan. She has also assisted Chinese delegations visiting Italy, fostering collaboration between businesses from both countries.

Pivetti believes that cooperation with China should be a top priority for the European Union. She genuinely hopes that the BRI will continue to make valuable contributions to the international community.

Other winners of the Ambassador of Silk Road Friendship title include Doudou Diene from Senegal, who has made important contributions to Silk Road studies, Brazilian Ricardo Abranches Felix Cardoso Junior from State Grid Brazil Holding, who played an important role in China-Brazil power cooperation, Chinese Russian Fenlan Khu, who established the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Leaders with Aspiration and Respect for one another, Mark Levine, a teacher from the United States who has composed 80 folk songs about China, and Sheradil Baktygulov from Kyrgyzstan, who has hosted a number of academic activities on the BRI and the promotion of China-Kyrgyzstan relations.

Doudou Diene speaks during the ceremony via video link. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Ricardo Abranches Felix Cardoso Junior (left) receives his award at the ceremony. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Fenlan Khu speaks at the ceremony. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Mark Levine performs a song at the ceremony. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

Sheradil Baktygulov (right) receives his award at the ceremony. (Photo provided to Peoples Daily Online)

During the ceremony, two programs on Silk Road health cooperation and youth entrepreneurship were inaugurated.

The Ambassadors of Silk Road Friendship believe that the BRI will once again write a new chapter as it pursues common development, universal security, and everlasting friendship, which mirrors the confidence of people in Belt and Road participating countries in the next golden decade of BRI.

It is believed that more Ambassadors of Silk Road Friendship will emerge to promote people-to-people ties along the Belt and Road and tell the stories of the Silk Road.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Before Sawuba Naigaga succumbed to injuries her 25-year-old son inflicted on her in Uganda this month, she described the assault to a friend from her hospital bed.

The friend said Naigagas son, Ashirafu Basalirwa, returned home to Busia town, Busia District from four years of working in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 15 and found his mother mentioning the name of Jesus as she prayed.

As I was praying with my eyes closed, my son called me, saying Mum, Mum  you are becoming a disgrace to the family and the religion of Allah, the 46-year-old Naigaga told her friend before she died on Dec. 17. I kept quiet, and he pushed me hard to the wall, then I fell down. He then took a blunt object and hit me at the head. Since then, I lost all my consciousness, only to find myself in the hospital bed.

The friend said she had told Naigaga the gospel and led her to Christ.

I preached the Good News of Jesus to Sawuba, who gave her life to Christ in 2022, said the friend, whose name is withheld for security reasons. We had been attending church. One thing which I know is that she kept her faith silent from her family members, including her son.

Basalirwa had gone to Saudi Arabia to look for employment after graduating from an Islamic university in Uganda, the friend said.

She found Naigaga the day of the assault.

I ran to Sawubas home after hearing wailing from her house and an alarm from neighbors, the friend recalled. I dashed quickly to the scene, and I found her in a pool of blood but in an unconscious state. We rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she breathed her last breath after two days on Dec. 17 due to internal bleeding.

Basalirwa has fled and is in hiding, sources said.

Besides her son, Naigaga is survived by a daughter.

The killing 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 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.
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."



Originally published by Christian Today
(CNN)  Boeing has asked airlines to inspect all of their 737 Max jets for a potential loose bolt in the rudder system after an airline discovered a potential problem with a key part on two aircraft.

An unnamed international airline found a bolt with a missing nut in a rudder-control linkage mechanism while conducting routine maintenance  and it found a similar bolt that wasnt properly tightened in a yet-to-be delivered plane. An airplanes rudder is used to control and stabilize the aircraft while in flight.

Boeing said the plane with the missing bolt was fixed, but it wants to ensure all 1,370 737 Max planes in service worldwide are checked for similar problems.

The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied, a Boeing spokesperson 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.

Boeing informed the Federal Aviation Administration, which said Thursday that the inspection involves looking for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system. The task takes about two hours, according to the FAA, and airlines will report progress of their inspections to the regulator.

Boeing said the repair involves removing an access panel and visually validating the nuts and bolts. Boeing will perform the inspection on all new aircraft going forward.

The FAA said it would consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.

The part in question is a critical safety item, for which the FAA requires double inspection. That means two sets of eyes must sign off that it is ready for flight.

Boeings engineering and quality problems have posed major challenges for the company. The crashes of two of 737 Max jets that killed all 346 people on board the flights led to a crippling 20-month grounding of the plane. It also was one of the most expensive corporate tragedies in history, costing Boeing more than $20 billion.

The Max returned to the air carrying passengers in most markets around the globe beginning in late December 2020. But it has encountered other problems, including in April when Boeing said it has discovered a manufacturing issue with some 737 Max aircraft after a supplier used a non-standard manufacturing process during the installation of two fittings in the rear fuselage  although Boeing insisted the problem did not constitute a safety risk.

The Max has faced numerous notices for additional inspections since it returned to service. Boeing says thats a result of its increased focus on safety, but a missing nut on a crucial system cannot be explained away, noted CNN safety analyst David Soucie.

If the airplane left the factory with this missing part, it indicates the past three years of safety culture improvements and improved inspections on critical safety of flight systems at Boeing isnt working, Soucie said.

Boeing has faced problems, delays and financial charges for just about all of its other passenger jets too: The FAA flagged quality problems with the companys 787 Dreamliners, leading Boeing to temporarily halt deliveries last year. Though the Dreamliner was not grounded like the Max, it still hurt the companys bottom line.

Boeing has faced massive operating losses in recent quarters as it tries to deliver the huge backlog of 737 Max planes to customers and racks up cost overruns on other planes, including the aircraft that will replace the current Air Force One jets.
New York (CNN)  Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the LOreal heiress and richest woman in the world, has become the first woman to hold a $100 billion fortune, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which reflects changes as of 5 pm ET of the previous trading day, lists Bettencourt Meyers as the 12th richest person, just ahead of Mukesh Ambani and behind Carlos Slim, who recently became the first person from Latin America to cross the $100 billion threshold.

LOreals stock is at a record high. The stock has risen 35% this year as consumers have continued splurging on luxury products since the pandemic.

According to LOreal, in 2022 Bettencourt Meyers and her family owned more than 34% of the companys stock.

Bettencourt Meyers was the only child of Liliane Bettencourt, whose father, Eugene Schueller, founded the LOreal Group. She inherited her mothers holdings when Bettencourt died in 2017. Bettencourt Meyers is the chairwoman of the familys holding company, Tethys, and is the vice chairwoman of LOreal Groups board of directors.

The worlds largest cosmetics company, which owns a wide portfolio of brands from Lancome to Maybelline, had more than 38 billion ($42 billion) in sales in 2022, according to company reports.

Earlier this year, LOreal bought Australian brand Aesop in a $2.5 billion deal, the biggest brand acquisition ever made by the French beauty giant. Its previous record was its $1.7 billion purchase of of YSL Beaute in 2008, according to data from Dealogic.

Bettencourt Meyers fortune still relatively pales in comparison to LVMH chair Bernard Arnault, the worlds largest maker of luxury goods. Hes the second-richest person in the world according to the index, with a net worth of $179 billion.

 CNNs Michelle Toh contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "LOreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers is the first woman with a $100 billion fortune, according to Bloomberg"
London (CNN)  Some major shipping companies continue to steer clear of the Red Sea, even as others return following a new US-led security operation to safeguard the area  highlighting how fragile the situation remains in one of the worlds trade arteries.

Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen Line, the container shipping arm of Evergreen Group, told CNN Wednesday that they would continue to reroute vessels via the Cape of Good Hope at Africas southern tip. MSC said the same Tuesday.

At the moment we still consider the situation too dangerous to pass, a spokesperson for Germanys Hapag-Lloyd said in a statement. We continuously assess the situation and plan a next review on Friday.

In an update posted to its website at 5 a.m ET on Friday, Hapag-Lloyd said it continued to divert its ships to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

Evergreen Line referred CNN to a December 18 statement in which the company said it had instructed its container ships to suspend navigation through the Red Sea until further notice.

The two firms approach differs from that of other shippers, which have resumed transit in the critical waterway despite ongoing attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militants. The Iran-backed rebels have said the assaults are revenge against Israel for its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

Danish shipper Maersk said Sunday that it would resume transit through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to its southeast following the establishment of a US-led international naval mission to protect commercial shipping in the area.

Operation Prosperity Guardian will once again allow shipping vessels to pass through the area, Maersk said in a statement, in what it called most welcome news for the entire industry and indeed the functionality of global trade.

French firm CMA CGM said Tuesday that some of its vessels had transited through the Red Sea in recent days based on an in-depth evaluation of the security landscape.

We are currently devising plans for the gradual increase in the number of vessels transiting through the Suez Canal, the company added, referring to the narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and typically ferrying as much as 30% of global container trade.

But persistent insecurity in the area was on display Tuesday, when a vessel belonging to container shipping giant MSC was attacked while en route from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan.

Our first priority remains protecting the lives and safety of our seafarers, and until their safety can be ensured MSC will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez transit via the Cape of Good Hope, the company said in a statement.

Shipping costs to rise

Shipping costs look set to rise regardless of whether companies use the Red Sea or send ships on the longer, more expensive route via Africa.

Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd have all announced new charges in recent days to transport goods along many of the worlds busiest trade routes.

The dynamic situation in the Red Sea and the necessary operational adjustments are causing disruptions throughout the network which will impact schedules and equipment supply, Hapag-Lloyd said in a statement last week as it unveiled an Emergency Revenue Charge for cargo traveling to and from the Red Sea until the end of the month.

The new measure will add $1,000 to a common 20-foot container traveling eastbound via the Suez Canal, and $1,500 for one heading west via the Gulf of Aden.

Maersk and CMA CGM have taken similar steps. And with some charges coming into effect only from January, concerns will rise that the shipping disruption could spill over into the price of consumer goods  if companies pass on higher transport costs to customers as demand picks up again.

Israels war in Gaza also underpinned natural gas prices Wednesday. Renewed fears that the war could widen into a regional conflict helped send Europes benchmark natural gas contract almost 5% higher to trade close to 36 ($40) per megawatt hour by 9 a.m. ET.

Record levels of stored gas in Europe and mild temperatures are keeping a lid on prices, despite heading into 2024 with several bullish risks, such as geopolitical tensions (including the Red Sea transit risk), consultancy Timera Energy said in a note last week.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Shipping firms split on return to Red Sea as Houthi attacks continue"
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29)  Being named as the 49th Metro Manila Film Festivals Best Supporting Actor still feels surreal for JC Santos as he continues to take in what he calls the real award for him  the comeback of long lines for local films.

Santos, who plays Father Lucas in the MMFF 3rd Best Picture Mallari, said he did not expect to win an individual award after seeing the big stars that he competed with in his category.

Of course, these are all big stars and really good actorsI really was not expecting it. Sa kanila na yon (Its theirs) Im sure and gulat na gulat kami nung bigla na lang kaming tinawag (we were really surprised when we were called), the actor told CNN Philippines The Source on Friday.

Other nominees for the supporting actor category include Dingdong Dantes in Best Picture Firefly, Enchong Dee in GomBurZa, and Romnick Sarmenta in Becky & Badette.

.

Di pa nagsi-sink in sakin (It has not sunk in yet)I think the award for me is that I see many people lining up for the cinema and that when they see me they dont even remember my name. They call me my character  Mallari. I like that. It means they remember the work, Santos said.

Our focus right now is that sana marami pa manood ng pelikula at bumabalik na yung sinehan. Masaya kami na isa kami sa makakatulong sa pagbalik ng tao sa sinehan and it feels great, he added.

[Translation: Our focus right now is that hopefully more people will watch the movies and that the cinema is coming back. We are happy that we are one of those who can help people return to the cinema and it feels great.]

John Bryan Diamante, President of local film company Mentorque which produced Mallari, mirrored Santos sentiments, feeling proud of the publics positive feedback for the thriller.

Diamante said the team has been overwhelmed with the support and felt that they have executed the film for this generation.

When I bumped into the story, alam namin sa sarili namin na (deep down we knew that) it's gonna be hard. We also know that, I think, Filipinos right now, the audience right now, are really looking for something like this, he said.

Its the film of this generation, we really tried to bring in what this generation is looking for, the director added.

Diamante said Mallari is currently showing in 101 cinemas nationwide with a public clamor for its now-offered midnight screening.

Aside from bagging 3rd Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor, the movie also took home Best Musical Score and Best Visual Effects.

The film delves into the story of Jonathan Mallari as he digs into Severino, his 1800s serial killer priest ancestor, who accidentally unleashes a curse that causes the serial killings to repeat in the present.

Early December, Mentorque sealed a major deal with Warner Bros. Pictures for the theatrical distribution of Mallari.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  McDonalds Philippines returns with its partner Coca-Cola Philippines to brighten the holiday season for its beneficiaries through Share the Light. These are Christmas celebrations wherein they gave away 1.5 million Happy Meal toys to different communities nationwide.

Share The Light is an initiative of McDonalds Philippines and Coca-Cola Philippines which aims to spread kindness and cheer to partner communities this Christmas season. During its launch event in Brgy. Matandang Balara, Quezon City and Brgy. Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, Share the Light brought fun games, various activity booths, and hot meals. Families also took home noche buena packs consisting of a 6-pc McShare Box, 1.5L Coke bottle, and Happy Meal toys. Employees from both McDonalds and Coca-Cola also volunteered to serve meals and help host the festivities.

At McDonalds, it is important for us to make a positive impact in the lives of Filipinoswhether it is to our customers, partners, or families in needespecially during this time of the year. We are very happy to once again partner with Coca-Cola to share feel-good moments with Filipino families through our food, said Kenneth S. Yang, CEO and President of McDonalds Philippines.

During our celebration in Quezon City and Lapu-Lapu City, we were able to spread cheer to over 400 families. Next year, we hope to extend this celebration to more partner communities. Beyond the holidays, our goal is to share the light we experience not only during this season but every day. Through Ronald McDonald House Charities McDonalds Kindness Kitchen, we can serve warm meals to communities in need.

Both Share the Light celebrations were done in communities supported by McDonalds Philippines charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities, through its Bahay Bulilit Learning Center program. Bahay Bulilit stands as one of McDonald's Philippines' flagship programs, offering children a safe space to play and learn while their parents work. The goal is to establish nationwide learning centers in areas where they are most needed, and this is achieved through partnerships with the DSWD and local government units. Currently, there are 39 learning centers nationwide through this initiative.

As part of this years initiative, McDonalds Philippines will also be giving 1.5 million Happy Meal toys to various communities nationwide.

For more information on RMHCs programs and how you can help, visit its official website rmhc.org.ph and the online donation portal at rmhc.org.ph/donate/.

Stay updated on McDonalds Philippines by following McDonalds PH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  For fortune in 2024, people go to Feng Shui masters and astrologers. But for wealth insights, people need to consult with financial experts and assets managers about where to put their money in the New Year.

Where to invest

As were hurtling towards 2024, Ruben Zamora, head of the Institutional Investors Coverage Unit at Metrobank shared that the bank sees the easing of rates by June next year. With potential rate cuts, Zamora is positive that the coming year will be an exciting one for investors in the Philippine Stock Market.

The markets tend to be forward-looking. So if the market anticipates rate cuts from the central bank, youll start seeing some life back into equities and bonds, said Zamora.

Businesses that will remain resilient even in a high interest-rate environment remain a good option for investors. This includes companies in the banking, utility, and property sector.

While Zamora is optimistic for 2024, he encourages investors to be disciplined when it comes to their investment choices.

You need to be quite selective and deliberate with your investment choices because markets dont move in a straight line, and you have to be very sensitive of where the valuations are, he added.

Ruben Zamora, head of the Institutional Investors Coverage Unit at Metrobank. Photo from CNN Philippines' The Final Word

Wealth Insights

As investors, from novice to sophisticated, navigate the investment environment in 2024, Metrobank helps them make informed decisions and manage risks with its online platform, Wealth Insights (wealthinsights.ph).

We want to make sure that every Filipino is empowered to invest and make their money grow. We want them to understand what markets are doing and make sure that they are protecting their wealth for their families, Zamora said.

Through this website, Metrobank provides curated news from reputable news sources like Reuters and BusinessWorld that impact the market; up-to-date commentary calls on the local and global economy and financial markets by the banks pool of market and investment experts; simplified explainers on key economic and financial concepts; and comprehensive actionable ideas across different asset classes particularly stocks, bonds, and foreign exchange currencies.

The platform also has exclusive content for Metrobanks Wealth Management clients. The award-winning bank has partnered with CreditSights to complement its in-house economic and financial markets research and provide exclusive market ideas and investment opportunities in domestic and offshore markets.

Wealth Insights also serves as a gateway to Wealth Manager, a tool that enables Metrobanks clients to actively manage their portfolio anytime, anywhere.

To start your investment journey, you may visit https://wealthinsights.ph. If you are an existing Metrobank client and wish to register with Wealth Insights, reach out to your investment specialist or relationship manager.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29)  Asserting its territorial rights over the entire South China Sea, China said it won't turn a blind eye on Philippines' repeated "provocations and harassment" in the disputed waters.

"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 towards the Philippine's repeated provocations and harassment," Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said in a news conference.

READ: Defense chief says PH 'not stirring up trouble' in WPS

Wu also called the country's resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal a "deliberate move to create an incident, play victim and make a show," adding that the supply vessels carried many journalists and propagated disinformation regarding the geopolitical conflict.

Earlier this month, the China Coast Guard (CCG) once again blasted with water cannon a Philippine commissioned vessel on its way for a resupply mission.

READ: PH vessel suffers 'serious engine damage' in new water cannon incident in WPS

Yet time and again, China kept on stressing that the CCG only took necessary enforcement measures which were "justified, legitimate, and in accordance with the law."

"This is purely false hype," Wu reacted to accusations of China's escalating harassment in the South China Sea.

"The Philippine side, in disregard of repeated warnings from the Chinese side, insisted on sending vessel to intrude into the adjacent waters of China's Ren'ai Jiao, and provocatively rammed a China Coast Guard vessel and caused scratch," he added.

China also continued to deny pointing a military-grade laser at a Philippine vessel in February this year.

"This is [an] entirely groundless accusation. China has no intention or necessity to use such devices," the spokesperson said.

READ: China denies its coast guard ship pointed laser at PH vessel
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29)  Jeepney drivers who may be affected by the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization may avail of a cash aid under a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) program, an official said Friday.

In a news release, DSWD Program Management Bureau Director Miramel Laxa said those affected by the modernization scheme could be categorized as "in crisis," which will allow them to avail of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

"Availing of AICS can help them meet their basic needs through different forms of assistance such as food, and cash aid, among others," Laxa said.

However, the agency said AICS is just a one-time assistance. It is among programs that serve as "a stop-gap measure by providing immediate and temporary aid to individuals and families who are undergoing crisis based on the assessment of social workers," it added.

"It would be better to also consider them for livelihood programs and grants offered by different government agencies," Laxa said.

She added that there is a need to provide sustainable services and programs to "help them cope with the possible loss of their jobs."

The government has set a Dec. 31 deadline for PUV operators to consolidate, or join cooperatives or corporations. Franchise consolidation is a key component of the modernization plan.

Unconsolidated operators would have their permits revoked by Jan. 1, 2024, according to a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) memorandum circular dated Dec. 14. ml

In a circular publicized Thursday, the LTFRB also set conditions allowing unconsolidated operators to ply roads until end-January 2024. This was not a deadline extension and those who cannot comply with the consolidation will be issued with show cause orders.

While the government provides a subsidy of 200,000, Mar Valbuena of transport group Manibela told CNN Philippines' The Source this is still not enough to cover the expenses of a modern unit. From around 1.2 million in 2018, a modern jeepney now costs at least 2.6 million, he noted.

WATCH: Jeepney operators, drivers hope for enough subsidy to buy modern units

The government had said there would be no transport crisis next year after thousands of PUVs, especially traditional jeeps, could stop operating due to the modernization plan.
Trump disqualified from Maine republican primary for role in 2021 attack on U.S. Capitol

Xinhua) 09:55, December 29, 2023

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump was barred on Thursday from Maine republican primary in 2024 for his role in 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, local media reported.

Colorado's top court disqualified him from the state primary ballot on Dec. 19, making him the first candidate in U.S. history to be deemed ineligible for the presidency for engaging in insurrection.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Hong Kong (CNN)  China has named former naval commander Dong Jun as its new defense minister, two months after removing his predecessor Li Shangfu from the role without explanation following Lis extended absence from public view.

The top body of Chinas rubber stamp legislature announced Dongs appointment Friday, following their final session for the year, Chinese state media Xinhua reported.

Dong had served as the top commander of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy since 2021. His appointment ends months of speculation over when Beijing would fill the role left vacant after the same political body approved Lis removal in October.

Li, who was appointed defense minister in March, has not been seen in public since late August, fueling intense speculation about his fate.

His disappearance and subsequent removal followed a series of unexplained personnel shakeups that have roiled the countrys upper ranks, including the dramatic ousting of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July and the removal of two leaders from the PLAs Rocket Force, all without explanation.

Both Li and Qin had taken up their roles earlier this year, hand-picked by Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he stacked important positions with his loyalists upon entering a norm-shattering third term.

Their abrupt dismissals raised questions about the governance of Xi, who has made Chinas political system even more opaque as he concentrates power and enforces strict party discipline.

Weeks before Li vanished from public view, Xi convened the militarys top brass in Beijing for a meeting, where he emphasized political loyalty, discipline and the partys absolute leadership over the armed forces.

The Chinese government has repeatedly declined to comment on Lis whereabouts and reasons behind his absence. The announcement Friday did not provide further details besides announcing Dongs appointment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Li was taken away in September by authorities for questioning, citing a person close to decision making in Beijing.

The Financial Times also reported that the US government believes the defense minister has been placed under investigation, citing American officials. Neither of the reports cited a reason for the investigation.

In July, the PLAs Equipment Development Department announced a fresh crackdown on corrupt procurement practices, calling for tips on questionable activities dating back to 2017  coinciding with the time Li took the helm of the department.

Dong Jun, new minister

The new minister Dong became the top commander of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2021. On Monday, former submarine commander Hu Zhongming was named in that role during a ceremony promoting him to admiral.

Dong was present at the event and sitting in the front row, according to video broadcast by state media.

Prior to taking top command of the navy, Dong was the deputy commander of the PLAs Southern Theatre Command, which oversees operations in the South China Sea.

Beijing has become increasingly assertive in the disputed and strategically important waterway under Xi, militarizing islands and using its expanding navy to assert its power in the region, where a handful of Southeast Asian nations hold rival claims.

In China, the defense minister is a largely ceremonial role, serving as the public face of military diplomacy with other countries. Unlike the US defense secretary and other international equivalents, the Chinese defense minister does not have command power, which resides with the Central Military Commission. The defense minister traditionally sits on the commission.

However, the minster plays an important role in Chinas military diplomacy, and the appointment of Dong could facilitate the on-going restoration of high-level defense dialogue between the US and China.

Top US and Chinese generals spoke last week for the first time in over a year, marking the end of a strained silence between senior US and Chinese military officials.

Beijing cut off communication in August 2022 following a visit from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, the self-governing island Beijings ruling Communist Party claims despite never having controlled.

Chinas former minister Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 over Chinas purchase of Russian weapons, and Beijing had repeatedly suggested that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wont get a meeting with Li unless the sanctions were revoked.
Taipei, Taiwan (CNN)  One hundred and twenty miles off the coast of Palawan in the Philippines sits the Sierra Madre, a rusting World War II-era landing vessel that hosts a small contingent of Philippine marines and serves as the infrastructural backbone of an atoll called the Second Thomas Shoal.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague declared that the shoal belonged to the Philippines and that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea.

Beijing subsequently moved aggressively to underscore its public rejection of the courts ruling, ramping up construction on numerous man-made islands with military facilities to buttress its assertion of control over almost all the South China Sea.

Chinas key tool in all of this has been its huge coast guard  the largest such force in the world.

China Coast Guard ships have rammed, attacked with water cannons, or otherwise forcefully confronted Philippine vessels seeking to resupply or repair the Sierra Madre, and so keep it from breaking up in heavy weather and rough seas  a development that would severely undermine Manilas continuing hold on the Second Thomas Shoal.

This desperate Filipino race against time has attracted the keen attention of the United States, whose increasingly close ties to Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines new pro-American leader, have included plans for an expansion of American access to military bases on the Philippine mainland.

As US President Biden declared on October 26, The US defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad. Any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces would automatically trigger Washingtons mutual defense treaty with Manila.

But Chinese behavior contains a deeper threat.

As the Philippine case illustrates, Beijing has long used its massive coast guard as a force to project power, not only in the South China Sea but elsewhere, ignoring international norms, creating facts on the ground (or the sea,) pushing the envelope while daring others to push back.

And some analysts believe that China could soon start to deploy the coast guard to ratchet up the pressure on Taiwan, the democratic island that Beijing has vowed to bring under its control, by persuasion if possible, and force if necessary.

This is especially true with the forthcoming January 13 presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan.

If the islands ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which views Taiwan as a de facto sovereign nation and not part of China, should for the third consecutive time win the islands presidential poll  it enjoys a small lead in public opinion surveys  the odds of a tough Chinese response will increase significantly.

And even if the more China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) pulls out an upset and prevails on January 13, it is highly unlikely to meet Chinese expectations for rapid movement towards eventual unification with the mainland  heightening the chances for further Chinese muscle-flexing.

This kind of pressure would create an extraordinarily difficult challenge for Taiwan and the US Navy, especially since the coast guard now has the backing of a Chinese law allowing it to use lethal force in waters which China claims.

If one day Chinese coast guard ships appear around Taiwan  and they can range up to 10,000 tons  what do the US or Taiwan do? asks former Taiwan Defense Minister Andrew Yang. They are coast guard, not navy. They arent firing a shot. Do the US or Taiwan fire first?

The coast guard also makes it easier for the Chinese Communist Party to deploy other tools of coercion it has so far not chosen to use, including moves that could directly threaten foreign companies doing business in Taiwan.

Such steps might include insisting that foreign vessels sailing to the island first undergo customs inspections in nearby Chinese ports or demanding that foreign air carriers serving Taiwanese airports first file flight plans with Chinese authorities.

The possibility that Chinese vessels might at some point inspect foreign commercial ships on the high seas to underscore its Taiwan claims could well lead to international insurers linking maritime insurance rates to compliance with evolving Chinese requirements, creating additional legal, political, and financial pressures on foreign companies doing business in Taiwan  all the while steadily undermining Taiwans effort to retain political separation from China.

Beijing has already been conducting almost daily air and naval operations in Taiwans self-declared Air Defense Identification Zone. In September, a record 103 sorties were staged in a single day.

More recent incursions have included Chinese aircraft circumnavigating Taiwan, as well as increasingly crossing an informal Taiwan Strait median line designed to keep the two sides apart and so reduce the danger of an accidental clash.

Beijing has also challenged US ships in the strait, including an incident in June in which a Peoples Liberation Army warship cut across the bow and came within 150 yards of a US guided-missile destroyer as it was transiting the strait with a Canadian frigate. In September, Chinas first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, conducted operations south and then north of Taiwan.

These so-called gray zone activities have so far succeeded in giving China the upper hand in the South China Sea. The situation may soon reach a point where Taiwans friends and allies will have to confront the challenge of whether they will prove equally effective in and around the democratic island.

Peter Enav is the editor of the Taiwan Strait Risk Report and a former Associated Press Taipei bureau chief. Mike Chinoy is a consulting editor at the Taiwan Strait Risk Report and CNNs former senior Asia correspondent.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Are Chinas actions in the South China Sea a harbinger of things to come for Taiwan?"
(CNN)  Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who admitted to helping her boyfriend kill her abusive mother in a case that generated national attention, was released from prison on parole Thursday, a Missouri corrections official told CNN.

Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 after confessing that she convinced her boyfriend to stab her mother Dee Dee Blanchard to death as she slept. Prosecutors sentenced her to 10 years in prison in a plea deal after attorneys uncovered the abuse she experienced at the hands of her mother.

Blanchard was the victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare syndrome in which a caregiver fakes, exaggerates or induces illness in a child to gain attention. Dee Dee was found to have convinced those around her, including doctors, that her daughter was afflicted with leukemia and muscular dystrophy among other ailments  a subject examined in the HBO Max documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest.

Blanchard admitted to being in the house at the time of the murder, knowing her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, was going to stab Dee Dee and doing nothing to stop it, court records show.

Godejohn was convicted of murder and sentenced in 2019 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Court filings show he admitted to stabbing Dee Dee and said he only killed her because Gypsy asked him to.

Speaking about the conditions of Blanchards release, Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson Karen Pojmann said, her original 10-year sentence started in June 2015, so, barring parole violations and other extenuating circumstances, its expected that shell be on parole supervision and reporting to a parole officer until June 2025.

CNN has reached out to Blanchards attorney for comment.

In the days after Dee Dees killing, details started to emerge that revealed a complex and unusual situation, with Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott saying at a June 2015 press conference that things are not always as they appear.

Ive never encountered anything that is even close to what Gypsy has gone through, Blanchards attorney Michael Stanfield says in the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Mommy Dearest. Her mother appeared to have taken great steps to keep Gypsy in a very juvenile role, making her act several years younger than her actual age.

In an interview with People magazine shortly before her release, Blanchard, now 32, said she regretted her role in the killing every single day.

She was a sick woman and unfortunately I wasnt educated enough to see that, she said. She deserved to be where I am, sitting in prison doing time for criminal behavior.

An upcoming book, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom, tells Blanchards story through her own perspective, with the help of writers Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani. It is set to be published on January 9, 2024.

A six-hour Lifetime special, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, featuring interviews with Blanchard from prison, is set to premiere on January 5, 2024. The case was also the subject of the 2019 Hulu miniseries The Act, starring Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard.
(CNN)  Satellite images have revealed severe damage caused to the Russian tank landing ship Novocherkassk following Ukrainian strikes on a port in Crimea on Tuesday.

In images taken by Maxar, the ship can be seen burnt out and detached from the port, seemingly partially submerged, with smoke billowing from the vessel.

Ukraine claimed to have destroyed the ship in its attack on the port of Feodosia in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Moscow claimed the ship had been damaged.

The image, when compared with a previous image showing the ship before the strike, suggests a successful Ukrainian operation targeting the port.

The number of those who may have been killed in the strike may become more clear over time as the peninsula is currently under Russian control, a Ukrainian Navy spokesperson said Wednesday.

This territory, unfortunately, is occupied now, and its not an easy thing to do the relevant intelligence. And I think that over time, we will get at least approximate figures [of casualties] of what happened in reality, Ukrainian Navy Spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Nevertheless, these ships are usually not left without a crew. And, accordingly, even though it was in port at the time, a fairly large part of the crew had to be on board, and the total crew there is about 80 people, he said.

According to a US military fact sheet on the Novocherkassk and the other vessels in its Ropucha class, the 369-foot (112.5-meter) vessel displaces about 3,450 tons, making about the same size as a US Navy littoral combat ship.

The Novocherkassk carries a crew of around 87 with capacity for 237 troops, according to the US military. It was not known how many personnel may have been aboard in the alleged Ukrainian attack.

The ship is designed for beach landings with bow and stern doors and the ability to accommodate up to 25 armored personnel carriers on its vehicle deck.

Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk, who said in a Telegram post after the attack that the ship had been destroyed, also claimed the vessel had been carrying Iran-made Shahed attack drones.

He said the Novocherkassk had followed the Moskva, the guided-missile cruiser that was the flagship of Russias Black Sea Fleet before it sank in April 2022 after being struck by Ukrainian missiles.

The Russian Defense Ministry meanwhile said the Novocherkassk had been damaged in a Ukrainian attack in a statement reported by the state-run TASS news agency.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported the strike and the damage to Novocherkask to President Vladimir Putin, according to TASS, quoting Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

In an update on Wednesday, the Crimea Health Ministry said that one person died and four were injured as a result of the attack, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

CNN is not able to independently verify the claims by either side but videos posted on social media showed large explosions in the Feodosia port.

If confirmed, the Novocherkask alleged destruction would be the third instance of major losses of Russian military hardware in less than a week. In September, Ukraine also claimed that the Novocherkasks sister ship, the Minsk, had been destroyed in an attack on the Sevastopol naval base in Crimea.

The strike comes as Ukrainian encounters difficulties in its ground campaign in the countrys east.

Ukraines top general Valery Zaluzhnyi warned on Tuesday that the city of Avdiivka could suffer the same fate as the decimated city of Bakhmut in the next two to three months, while Ukrainian forces have now withdrawn to the outskirts of the village of Marinka after fighting with Russian troops.
Kyiv, Ukraine (CNN)  Russia has launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian military told CNN, with an unprecedented number of drones and missiles fired at targets across the country, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens more.

The wave of attacks began overnight into Friday and struck nationwide, with blasts reported in the capital Kyiv, as well as at a maternity hospital in the central city of Dnipro, the eastern city of Kharkiv, the southeastern port of Odesa, and the western city of Lviv, far from the frontlines.

Its been a long time since we have seen so many enemy targets on our monitors in all regions and all directions, Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraines air force, told national television. Everything was being fired.

Russia used 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles and Shahed drones, to strike targets in Kyiv, the east, south and west of the country, Ukraines air force said.

Today the enemy has struck a powerful blow. There are downed targets, however unfortunately there are also casualties, Ihnat added.

At least three people were killed and 28 injured, including 25 hospitalized, in Kyiv after Russia targeted a metro station and residential buildings. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people had been pulled from the rubble of a damaged warehouse in Shevchenkivskyi district, adding that rescue operations were ongoing.

Kharkiv was hit by a massive attack, Ukrainian Prime Minster Denys Shmyhal said, with more than 20 strikes reported in the region, including on a hospital. At least three people were killed and 11 injured in the strikes, according to regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov.

At least four people were killed and 10 people were injured in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, the regional military administration head Yurif Malashko said on Telegram. Emergency workers are still working to see if people are trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Malashko said the region had been targeted by 10 missiles, including Kinzhal missiles, of which one was intercepted.

Further south, a school building was hit in Odesa, injuring seven people, including a child. Three people were killed and 22 injured  including two children and a pregnant woman  in strikes elsewhere in the region, according to Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa region military administration. At least 18 people were hospitalized.

And in the central city of Dnipro, at least five were killed and more than 20 injured, officials said.

Ukraines Foreign Ministry said Russia had targeted Ukrainian women, children, the elderly, and civilians in the strikes.

The crimes that Russia has committed in Ukraine today are its revenge for its inability to turn the tide of the battle in the fight against the Ukrainian defense forces, it said in a statement.

Without referring directly to Fridays attacks, the Russian Defense Ministry said its army had carried out 50 group strikes and one mass strike with high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles in the period from December 23 to 29, claiming it had only struck military targets.

The massive overnight assault comes just days after Ukraine struck a Russian Navy landing ship in Crimea on Tuesday, causing severe damage to the vessel in another major blow to Moscows Black Sea fleet.

But the onslaught also came shortly after Ukraine received the last package of military aid from the United States until Congress approves the Biden administrations funding request.

Nearly two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky is facing a largely-stalled counteroffensive while Western aid has begun to dry up.

The head of Ukraines Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, called for support as his country battles Russian airstrikes.

A massive terrorist attack, rockets are flying at our cities again, and civilians are being targeted, Yermak said in a Telegram post on Friday.

Ukraine needs support. We will be even stronger, we are doing everything to strengthen our air shield. But the world needs to see that we need more support and strength to stop this terror.

Prime Minister Shmyhal said the attacks targeted social and critical infrastructure, but praised the work of Ukraines air force.

Ukrainian air defense forces have once again demonstrated a high level of professionalism. Most of the air targets were shot down. We thank the soldiers for saving lives.

The US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, shared a screenshot on X, formerly Twitter, of the numerous air raid warnings sent to Ukrainian phones overnight.

This is what Ukrainians see on their phones this morning, she said. As a result, millions of men, women, and children are in bomb shelters as Russia fires missiles across the country. Ukraine needs funding now to continue to fight for freedom from such horror in 2024.

Bombers in the air

The Ukrainian Air Force said it recorded the departure of 9 Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Olenya airfield in the Murmansk region of Russia.

The Tu-95 bomber is a mainstay of Russias aerial attacks on Ukraine, able to launch cruise missiles against its neighbor out of the range of most air-defense systems.

In Kyiv, officials warned residents to take shelter as a UAV threat was detected in the area, a reference to drones.

Trains were halted as a building was damaged at Lukianivska subway station in central Kyiv, which is also operating as a shelter, Klitschko said.

Many were wounded and a search for victims is underway after a warehouse caught fire in the Podilskyi district of the capital region, the head of Kyivs military administration, Serhiy Popko, said in a Telegram post.

In the northeastern city of Sumy, numerous explosions were heard on Thursday evening local time following Russian shelling of the border territories and settlements, the administration in the area reported.

A residential building was hit and caught fire, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Telegram Friday.

In Lviv, which borders Poland, at least 15 people were injured, with damage reported in 13 residential buildings and two schools, according to the head of Lviv region military administration Maksym Kozytskyi.

Fridays widespread strikes followed Russias launch of 53 attacks across eastern Ukraine on Thursday, according to a Telegram post from the Ukrainian General Staff.

Russia launched dozens of airstrikes, wounding civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure, the post said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he wished the loud sound of explosions heard across Ukraine Friday morning could be heard all around the world.

In all major capitals, headquarters, and parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine. In all newsrooms, which are writing about fatigue or Russia purportedly being ready for negotiations, he wrote on X.

These sounds are what Russia really has to say. Our only collective response can and must be continued, robust, and long-term military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Only greater firepower can silence Russian terror.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Russia unleashes biggest air attack on Ukraine since start of full-scale invasion"
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. 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 New Years Day. For more information, call (434) 455-6226 or visit lynchburgmuseum.org, pointofhonor.org or lynchburgphotos.org.

Dec. 29

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. This months selection is "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan.

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.

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.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy doubled down on his war against wokeism, linking it with transgenderism, climatism and covidism as the cornerstones of an insidious plot to undermine the American dream  a plot that he beieves only he can defeat.

I see a Republican party that has grown lazy, Ramaswamy told a small crowd of about 20 people at Lincolns Pub in Council Bluffs on Thursday, the first of nine scheduled campaign stops for the day.

I don't just mean lazy in the get out the vote operation sense of lazy. I mean lazy in defining who we are and what we even stand for," Ramaswamy continued. "The left is very good at this. I mean, they don't give you the right vision, but they'll give you a vision: race, gender, sexuality, climate."

He said the Republican Party has "grown lazy to just sit here criticizing what they put up, but without offering our own vision of what we actually stand for: individuals, family, nation, God. That beats race, gender, sexuality and climate if we have the courage to actually stand for something."

Ramaswamy added: "We can't anymore just be the party that is running from something. We gotta be running to something, to our vision of what it means to be an American today.

Ramaswamy stands for an isolationist America First policy, echoing the words of former President Donald Trump and others who have used the slogan. Ramaswamy referred to the Ukrainian defense against Russian invasion as a pointless foreign war, suggesting he would no longer aid the nations allies against neighboring aggressors.

Ramaswamy, said he would send U.S. military forces to both the northern and southern borders to stop people from entering the United States without legal permission.

I can't be a father of two sons in the White House and tell them they have to follow the rules when I'm leading a government that isn't following its own rules, he said. Anybody who's in this country illegally will be returned to their country of origin."

He cited a law he says allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "can deputize local law enforcement to serve their warrants. That's how we do it. Use our military to secure our own southern border.

Ramaswamy stands for a nuclear family composed of a husband and wife of opposite genders raising their children together.

Kids born in a two parent household versus a fatherless household -- that's most single parent households -- the ones in single parent households are eight times more likely to end up in jail, 10 times more likely not to graduate from high school, Ramaswamy said.

Right now we are paying single mothers more money not to have a man in the house then to have a man in the house, teaching them to be married to Uncle Sam instead of that other guy who was in their house. That's what we're incentivizing, actually, he added.

Ramaswamy also believes that the best person no longer gets the job, calling it the death of meritocracy, which is a political ideology that believes that people should be rewarded based solely on talent and effort  without considering how wealth, income inequalities and other factors can impede a persons opportunities and, thus, their achievements.

Its based on other attributes, he said. Race, gender or whatever the other popular attributes are. That shrinks the success of our culture. Were penalizing excellence.

If elected president, Ramaswamy would close a variety of government agencies, including the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the federal Department of Education.

Thats how you revive the integrity of a constitutional republic, he said.

He would fire the 20,000 back office bureaucrats at the FBI and fold the remaining agents into the U.S. Marshals Service or the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Ramaswamy would make Election Day a federal holiday and do away with early voting. He would seek to have ballots printed only in English, and voter identification would be mandatory.

Thats not too much to ask, he said. This isnt a Black or a white idea. These arent even Democrat or Republican ideas, not really. These are American ideals that we fought a revolution to secure in this country, and I believe, deep in my heart, that those ideals still exist. Im running for president to revive them.

Also on the campaign trail this week is the wife of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Casey DeSantis. She will appear Friday in Atlantic at Family Table of Atlantic, 609 W. Seventh St., at 2:30 p.m., followed by Barley's at 114 W. Broadway in Council Bluffs at 4:30 p.m.
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. &&
Libyas General Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture has proposed a new commercial crossing on the border with Egypt to facilitate the flow of goods and enhance bilateral trade, separate from the Salum land crossing used by individuals, Libya Observer reports.

Mohamed Al-Raeed, head of the federation, held discussions on the initiative during a meeting with the Head of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce Ahmed El-Wakeel in Cairo, earlier this week, the media noted.

The two sides addressed several issues, including obstacles hindering the flow of goods between the two countries, easing border congestion, offering opportunities for Egyptian companies in Libyas reconstruction field, and exploring ways to overcome the challenges associated with such projects.

The Libyan delegation also invited Egyptian businesspeople to visit Libya and explore investment opportunities.

In October, the Egyptian Customs Authority reached a deal with the Libyan Finance ministry to ban the trade of pharmaceutical drugs, other than Egyptian-made, in Libya via Salum border crossing.

The Libyan ministry presented the step as a solution to deter customs violations as part of efforts to enhance trade exchange between the two countries.
Morocco cut its trade deficit by 7.6% in November thanks to higher exports of the automotive sector and lower energy prices.

Moroccos imports stood at 653 billion dirhams, down 3.3%, while its exports remained almost stable at 392 billion dirhams.

A drop in phosphates and by product sales was compensated by an improvement in sales of the automotive sector.

Moroccos car industry exports rose 30.5% to 130 billion dirhams, nearly double phosphates sector exports at 67 billion dirhams.

Energy imports dropped 21% to 110 billion dirhams, as the market adapts to geopolitical shocks that sent prices skyrocketing two years ago.

Remittances from Moroccans abroad hit 105 billion dirhams, up 4.4%, while tourism revenues rose by 15.8% to 97 billion dirhams.
Moroccan Mohamed Zaouin, from Souss-Massas Education and Training Academy, stands among the winners of the competition organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) for young people in the creation of digital content for learning Arabic.

Zaouin, honored for his smartphone app Boustan Al Arabia, secured the third position in this competition, whose results were announced earlier this week. The first and second spots went respectively to Turkish International Open Arabic Platform, and Kuwaiti application Shorouk Library App.

The three winners were selected by a specialized committee of experts in the fields of computational linguistics, software, and teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

The awards were handed over to the winners by the Director-General of ICESCO, Salim Mohamed Al-Malik, on the sidelines of the international conference themed A Diplomatic Window on the Arabic Language, organized by ICESCO on the occasion of the International Day of the Arabic Language.

In an address during the conference, the ICESCO chief stated that the event is held at the end of a year full of achievements and initiatives, including the leading initiative to coin the concept of civilizational diplomacy, and that language communication is one of the pillars of the civilizational diplomacy ICESCO seeks to anchor.

He added that the creative contributions of the Arabic language in computer and digital applications remain scarce, noting that foresight studies indicate that Arabic can score more outreach on the global linguistic scene, which calls for granting more attention to strategic linguistic planning to disseminate Arabic and consolidate its global status.

The ICESCO Youth Contest for the creation of digital content and Arabic learning, held as part of its Year for Youth, was overseen by the ICESCO Center for the Arabic Language for non-Arabic speakers.

This competition aims to encourage digital creativity and innovation in the Arabic language, support young talents, and allow them to showcase their creative abilities in the production and design of electronic programs, educational applications, platforms, and advanced content for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.
Photo: Humans of New York

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For a brief period in his life, starting when he was 12, Jordan Neely had a home. It was on the first floor of a small yellow two-family house in Bayonne, New Jersey, where he lived with his mother, Christie Neely, and her boyfriend, Shawn Southerland. Jordan was Christies only child, and the two were like peas in a pod, his great-aunt Mildred Mahazu said, wild about each other, like children playing. Christie would wake him each morning by calling his name, and shed fuss over him and insist on washing him before hustling him out the door to meet the bus at 7 a.m. Christie had a light, teasing manner with the people she loved, but with Jordan, she could be strict. Her rules included that Jordan couldnt skip school and that he should never cook while alone in the house. Christie worked nights at a telemarketing firm near Herald Square in Manhattan, and when she got home, usually around 9:30 or 10 p.m., shed poke her head into Jordans room. Jordan would say good night, then stay up playing video games until midnight.

Before moving to Bayonne, Jordan and Christie had stayed in several shelters in New York; Jordans 10th birthday passed at the Regent Family Residence, a transitional shelter on the Upper West Side where people go to right themselves as they find work or try to obtain affordable housing. Christie had family and places to live, but she was proud and independent and wanted a place of her own where she and her son could feel settled. While in the shelter, Christie had enrolled in classes to become a paralegal, and thats how she met Southerland, who sat one seat over. When Christie rented the house in New Jersey, Southerland moved in.

Things werent perfect. Southerland had put a padlock on the main bedrooms door so Jordan couldnt enter. And he was jealous, the kind of boyfriend who would call Christie ten times an hour if she was doing something out of the house with a friend or her own mother. Christie and Southerland argued a lot, and sometimes one of them would leave and spend the night out. Even then, Christie was always in touch with her son by phone, telling him where she was and what time shed be home. In that yellow house, Jordan had all that he needed, including his own bedroom with a PlayStation, DVD player, and television set; a bike in the backyard; and a freezer full of food.

Cover Story Finding Jordan Neely

Then, one morning early in April 2007, when Jordan was 14, Christie didnt wake him for school. Jordan got dressed and headed to his mothers bedroom to say good-bye, and he found Southerland blocking the closed door. Southerland was big and menacing, so Jordan left it alone, and upon returning from school, he inquired again about his mothers whereabouts. But Southerland was not forthcoming, and later that night he departed the house in a borrowed car with a story about an aunt on her deathbed and never came back. For several days, Jordan kept to his routine. (I told my school-bus driver and I told my principal, I havent seen my mom in the house, Jordan said when he took the stand in 2012 during Southerlands trial.) Then he called her work. When a colleague said they hadnt seen her either, my heart beat, he recalled, and he began to be afraid. He was hungry. I dont know what to do. Its cold. The mail keeps coming in. The heat went off, he said. Still, he didnt try to cook for himself. He kept expecting his mother to walk in the door and didnt want to get in trouble.

After a few more days, Jordan got on his bike and cycled to his aunt Carols house in Jersey City. Carol Kasse was not a blood relative but Christies best friend, and Jordan sometimes stayed with her in her doorman building when Christie was working overnight. Single and with no children of her own, Kasse called Jordan my baby. She would arrange a mattress on the floor and get him chicken and fried rice from a Chinese restaurant. But upon arriving in Jersey City, Jordan found that Kasse was out. Upset and not knowing what to do, he ditched his bike and hopped the turnstile at Journal Square, where he got on a path train to 33rd Street, then took the D to the A to 175th Street in Washington Heights to his grandmothers house.

The following day, a Monday, Jordan, together with his maternal grandparents, an uncle, and his great-aunt Mildred, was back at the house in Bayonne. A police officer was there too, to help them file a missing-person report. When Jordans uncle Christopher reached Southerland by phone, Southerland said Christie had gone on vacation. He bought her a suitcase, he said. But Jordan knew this couldnt be right because his mother would never leave town without letting him know. All the while, the TV was on in the living room, and amid the confusion, a news broadcast came on: A womans body had been found in a black expandable duffel bag by the side of the Henry Hudson Parkway in the Bronx. Wrapped in black plastic, clad in jeans and a T-shirt, the corpse was decomposed, and the police were trying to make an ID. There, on the television screen, flashed Christies belongings: a black-and-silver belt and a turquoise ring. Jordan began bellowing and beating the walls.

By the time Jordan testified at Southerlands trial, he was 19 years old. He had built a new life as a Michael Jackson tribute artist in New York City. He owned a Michael wig, which he kept neatly styled; military-type jackets in red and black with gilded trim and epaulets; a white glove. At the trial, Southerland was representing himself pro se, which meant that during his cross-examination, Jordan had to answer questions posed by the same man who had intimidated him and lied to him as a child and who would later be convicted of murdering his mother. Under oath and appearing composed, Jordan relived the morning his mother didnt wake him for school. Southerland referred to himself as the defendant or Mr. Southerland, but Jordan refused to play along, addressing his questioner as you. It was agonizing to watch, recalls Kristen Brewer, then a young assistant prosecutor who observed the trial. Jordan had bounced around in the five years since his mothers murder, and Brewer was struck by the earnest truthfulness with which he took the stand. She says she remembers thinking, If this young man can even manage stability, well have asked a lot of him.

Christie Neely, Jordans mother. Photo: Courtesy of Andre Zachery

Christie Neely met Andre Zachery at Sweetwaters on the Upper West Side, where Zachery was dining with his friend Pharoah Davis. The men composed half of an R&B vocal quartet called Asante. Christie was gregarious with a wide smile, and Davis did the talking, while Zachery  tall, slim, with bladelike cheekbones and perfect pitch  held back. Jordan, the child of Christie and Zachery, was born on December 18, 1992. Zachery asked Davis to be the infants godfather.

Zacherys own mother had died when he was 13, and he had survived as a child by singing with bands in Harlem and the Bronx and living with some older band members. Years later, whenever the members of Asante rode the subway, they would try out tunes in the tunnels and on the platforms and watch peoples reactions. Theres nothing like the acoustics in the subway, Davis says. You can hear your harmonies bounce back off the walls. The group often rehearsed in the large Morningside Heights apartment belonging to Daviss father; women would stop by to hang out, and Jordan, at about 5 years old, would squeeze in beside them. Davis says he remembers thinking, Jordan is smooth without saying a word. When his son was around, Zachery liked to put Michael Jackson tapes in the VHS player. Zachery loved Michael, not just for his perfectionism and his obsessive work ethic but also for the way his music evoked the R&B greats that came before him  David Ruffin, Jackie Wilson, James Brown  and he wanted to familiarize his son with the best, Davis says.

Christie and Zacherys relationship was volatile. She was straightforward and ambitious; Zachery, whose main source of income came from working as a super in buildings uptown and in the Bronx, was more passive  meek, very meek, Davis recalls. Davis remembers having to go to his apartment and rouse him out of bed to come to rehearsal. According to Mahazu, Jordan and Christie lived with her in her Harlem apartment when he was an infant, then Christie and Zachery tried to make a go of it and rented a place together. But by 1995, they were on the outs again. And when Asante broke through with a Billboard Hot R&B single titled Look What Youve Done, a smooth, sexy tune that stayed on the charts for 20 weeks, Mahazu watched with disapproval as Zachery wasted his money and slept around.

When Christie was murdered, it was not immediately clear where Jordan would stay. While Jordan was living in New Jersey, Zachery was not involved in his life. Kasse wanted to take charge of him, but Clara Neely, Christies mother, was next of kin. Immediately after Christies death, Jordan stayed for a while with Kasse. I always promised his mom, Im going to look after your son, no matter what,  she says. For his privacy, she erected a partition in her living room, where he slept.

Jordan lost hold of himself after his mother died. He would stutter, stare off into space; when Mahazu asked what was the matter, he would say, I miss my mama. He had been a gentle, charismatic child, but now he stopped heeding the adults in his life and started skipping school. When Kasse tried to reprimand or discipline him, hed leave her house, hop on the path, and go to his grandmothers apartment in Washington Heights. When Clara did the same, hed travel back to New Jersey.

By the time he was 16, Jordan was living with his grandparents and had enrolled at Washington Irving High School near Union Square, where he was already trying out Michael Jackson routines on classmates. Meanwhile, Kasse was in touch with his family, getting updates, but without legal authority to intervene in his care, she grew frustrated. Then she met the man who would become her husband, and he wanted to move to Florida. Kasse likes a peaceful life, she told me, and her dealings with the Neelys had become contentious. She called Jordan. She said she was moving to Florida and was happy to buy him a plane ticket. Christie had always promised Jordan they would move to South Beach before he finished high school, and Kasse told him he could live with her, get some therapy, and go to school down there. Jordan said he would go, but then he didnt. He told me his family said he couldnt, she says, and she never knew whether they had stopped him or he simply didnt want to. You cant make somebody be somewhere.

Jordan Neely, age 5 or 6 months, in his mothers arms. Photo: Courtesy of Mildred Mahazu

Jordan Neely stood in the crowd at the corner of 40th and Broadway, watching the B-boys dance. He was about 16 years old and dressed in blue. Dwayne Blizzard had been leading this rotating crew since the 1980s  they called themselves the Float Committee  bringing the break-dancing moves he learned as a kid in the Bronx to midtown, where the tourists and commuters were. For Blizzard, break-dancing was better than any day job. It gave him joy, fans, exercise, and an income. The Float Committee were the dancers you saw in the Herald Square subway station or on the wide sidewalks of Times Square, skipping and hollering in call-and-response, spinning and crab-walking, sometimes with a sharp drummer beating on an upside-down tub. Over the years, Blizzard had learned to start off his sets with Michael, who was more pleasing to the masses than this hard-core B-boy shit. In high tourist season, Blizzard could earn $150 to $200 per day.

Jordan approached Blizzard after the show. He said, I like Michael Jackson. I dance. Blizzard asked to see a few moves. He was all right, Blizzard remembers. But he told Jordan, Michael dont wear blue. He wears black. As for his moves, I said, You got to brush up a little bit.

Blizzard saw in Jordan an opportunity. The Float Committee was already dancing to Michael, and Jordan, a handsome kid  nice, respectful  wanted to be Michael. So Blizzard got Jordans number and invited him to his apartment in Harlem and set him up in front of the television with Michaels live concert footage: He was studying it. I said, Bro. See how he did that? Do it with ease; dont even worry about it. From then on, they practiced every day, though Blizzard had a rule: They couldnt start until the school day ended. Jordan was still a teenager, after all, while most of the Float dancers were in their 30s. After school, Blizzard and Jordan would practice Michaels moves in Blizzards apartment or in a nearby park on a smooth piece of folded-up cardboard. Blizzard bought Jordan his first Michael Jackson outfit at a costume shop on 14th Street.

Jordan soon became the headliner in Blizzards show. The act would start with a familiar tune  Billie Jean, Thriller, Dont Stop Til You Get Enough  the B-boys would break, then Jordan would step out from behind the other dancers, spinning, sliding, and moonwalking, before drawing someone out of the crowd to dance circles around them. In a skullcap, sunglasses, and an oversize jersey, Blizzard was the master of ceremonies, pumping the audience up and passing the hat. Jordan was a little shy at times, but once he got into his Michael, hed let it go, Blizzard remembers. The dancing brought him out of his shell, made him feel more love for himself, and made him not worry so much about what was happening in his life. After an evening performing on the streets, Blizzard would accompany Jordan to his grandmother Claras apartment in Washington Heights.

In the years between 2009 and 2012, Jordan became a recognizable person on the streets of New York. Passersby would photograph or record him in the subway: In videos, hed spin and smile as the train hurtled from station to station with everyone in the crowded car smiling in admiration, nodding or clapping along. His celebrity was propelled in part by the superstars death on June 25, 2009. There were so many tribute concerts and performances that year, recalls Moses Harper, another Michael Jackson tribute artist. One day that summer, she had finished a dance rehearsal, changed back into her street clothes, and was walking through Times Square toward the subway. There, she saw Jordan in the middle of a big crowd, not with Blizzards crew but with a couple of teenagers like himself, wearing sweatpants and sneakers and dancing to some of Michaels older songs: Rock With You, Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground). Harper lingered, watching. They were just kids messing around, she says, and she felt their joy. She will never know why Jordan singled her out, beckoning her to join him, not realizing that she  14 years his senior  was already expert in Michaels moves or that she happened to have a white glove in her back pocket. She put on her glove, took the fedora off Jordans head and placed it on her own, and they danced together to Billie Jean. Afterward, they hugged and exchanged phone numbers.

Jackson superfans tend to be misfits, sometimes, Harper says. His embodiment of magic, fantasy, and innocence held special meaning for people who had grown up in some way orphaned. That summer, Harper and Jordan grew close, and one night, as she was walking him back to his aunts apartment in the rain, he told her about his mothers murder. He was crying. We related because we traded stories, Harper says. My mother was a heroin addict and an alcoholic. She drank two quarts of liquor a day before I was even born, and I was born a drug addict. Harper worked in jails and schools mentoring at-risk kids and had experience with teenagers like Jordan.

Michael Jackson impersonators got flak because of his horrific history of abuse. Harper describes regularly being called child molester by passersby. She dealt with this occupational hazard neutrally. Im not Michael Jackson, she would say. Im just wearing this jacket. But Jordan took the hecklers to heart. The first time it happened, he called Harper, aggrieved. He was saying, Why? Why?  she recalls. He had just been out there minding his own business, not robbing people or selling drugs, he complained, just enjoying himself. Harper said, Sweetheart, I dont know. Let them talk.

At Halloween time for several years in a row, Blizzard would take Jordan to New Jersey and theyd enter dance and costume contests at local clubs. Blizzard and his dancers would come onstage dressed all in black, then Jordan would enter as Michael. We would win them all. A thousand here, $2,000, $5,000 here, Blizzard says. Jordan never wanted to take off his costume. One night, the whole group went out to a restaurant in City Island with Jordan still dressed as Michael; the management offered them $500 to perform on the spot, and they did. Their partnership was so profitable that Blizzard was making plans to take their act to Asia. Blizzard had spent a couple of years dancing in Taiwan and Japan back in the 1980s. Theyre more sensitive to icons over there, he says. If he had gone to Japan, he would have never come back.

As he got older, Jordan started disappearing. No one could find him for days or even weeks at a time. Blizzard calls this going ninja. His grandmother was growing frustrated with him. They fought, and sometimes she would lock him out. On those nights, he had to sleep in the hall and a neighbor would bring him a plate of food. It just got so nobody could rule him. Its not like he was thrown away, Mahazu says. He seemed to prefer being outside, in the wild, on his own. He couldnt follow the rules and regulations. He didnt like being told what to do, she adds. Sometimes he would stay with Clara, sometimes with Mildred or his aunt Carolyn or uncle Christopher, but he had ceased being a cute kid. Clara was chronically ill, her marriage was strained, and she had five living children. (Jordans aunts and uncles declined to comment; Clara died last summer.) As an adult, you dont want to wear out your welcome, Pharoah Davis explains. When youre older, when youre not Little Jordan, its different.

At 18, Neely went to live in the Bronx with his father, Andre Zachery. Dre was scratching and surviving, Davis says, and working for the city as a park attendant. Blizzard recalls Zachery asking his son to share the proceeds from his performances. When Neely refused, they fought, and Zachery would take away his house keys. (Zachery denies that this ever occurred.) Neely seemed depressed and introverted, Davis says, but he was proud, like his mother. He wasnt the type of person to constantly leech off somebody, Davis says. The first recorded instance of Neely registering at a shelter as an adult was in April 2011. It was the Bellevue Mens Shelter, a massive temporary dorm that formerly incarcerated men say is more violent than prison. He was 19 years old.

At age 3, at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. Photo: Courtesy of Mildred Mahazu

Not long after, Neely stopped dancing with the Float Committee. Blizzard would call the group to meet at an hour and a place, and Neely would show up late or not at all. He had started performing solo in subway cars and, as time went on, began to hang out alone with a boom box in Times Square, moonwalking on a short stretch of pavement, taking pictures with tourists at $5 or $10 a shot. Blizzard speculates that the money was easier and he could keep to his own schedule, but Blizzard had been worried. His father should have taken better care of him, he says. Neely needed more love, love, love. Blizzard believed the pleasure of dancing with others and the rigor of being part of a crew were good for Neely. Once in a while, Neely would stop by where the group was dancing and Blizzard would encourage him to join. But Neely, embarrassed, would demur. Yeah, man, Im getting it together, hed say. He had begun to look spaced out and disheveled. Blizzard would give him $50 or so. Hed say, Go get yourself cleaned up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ill be back, Neely would say.

And then he didnt come back, says Blizzard, though Neely would sometimes stop by Blizzards to sleep and shower and watch a little TV.

The people who work with those on the streets  outreach workers, social workers, nurses, police, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians  say they frequently notice a pattern of traits. The majority have lived through damaging experiences that may impede their ability to maintain relationships and, sometimes, to care for themselves. Many additionally have a mental illness  schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disease, major depression  which may be triggered or worsened by the underlying trauma and further exacerbated by the experience of being homeless itself: the hunger, the exposure, the loss and theft of belongings and documents, the police, the barriers to housing and help, the cumulative effects of sleeplessness. Many also use substances to quiet their brains or numb their distress. The interplay of these forces on the body and mind is complex, and not every health-care worker encountering a patient will arrive at the same diagnosis.

As an adolescent, Jordan could sometimes be off  raging, depressive, introverted, distractible  but no one who knew him when he was young would have called him severely mentally ill. Yet by January 2013, when he was 20, Neely was telling police on 145th Street that his body was numb and he was hearing voices. Blizzard believes Neely had the seed of mental illness in him since he was a child, especially after what happened with his mother, but what pushed him into his steep decline was K2. He always smoked a little weed, a little regular weed, Blizzard says. But someone gave him that K2 stuff  thats what fucked him.

Hospitalizations from K2 began to surge in New York around 2012. A synthetic cannabinoid that can be composed of hundreds of different compounds, K2 is sold as a cheap alternative to weed, often under the counter in bodegas and dollar-pizza joints as well as in parks and on street corners. K2 is hard to detect in urine tests, it can be extremely addictive, and it doesnt metabolize in the body. Outreach workers and psychiatrists who encounter and treat people with chronic homelessness say nothing in the past decade has changed their jobs more than K2, which can make people aggressive, paranoid, delusional, psychotic, or depressed and totally inaccessible  presentations indistinguishable from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses until sobriety kicks in. Starting in 2016, Neely was arrested on K2-related charges at least twice.

In April 2013, a subway passenger captured Neely on video. He was wearing one of his Michael Jackson jackets, red with gold trim, and a gray fedora pulled over his brow, but the wig was missing and he was unshaven. He was standing, balancing without holding on to a pole, and hollering. Youre a fucking asshole, he said. Youre a cocksucker, and youre fucking cheap. Yeah, I said it. I said the shit. I said it. Youre fucking cheap, man. The people on the train looked at their laps. Six months later, a student posted a warning on Reddit: Try to stay away from the Michael Jackson impersonator if you see him  Used to be all cool, dancing to MJ in the subway train, but as of late hes become a maniac.

The last time Moses Harper saw Neely, it was 2016, and posts were circulating on social media among the Michael Jackson tribute artists: Has anyone seen Jordan? They were both on the D heading uptown. Harper was seated and looking at her phone, and Neely entered the car through the door between trains. He was panhandling, and she recognized him. I had never seen him like that, she says. He was homeless homeless. The clothes, the aroma, the whole thing. Neely recognized her, too. At first, he appeared happy to see her and then he looked down, as if recollecting the shape he was in, and tried to avoid Harpers eyes. The shame hit him, she remembers. And he kind of tried to walk past. He thought I was going to be ashamed to hug him. And I said, Oh, no. Youre not going anywhere. Youre getting off at the next stop with me. 

Neely agreed, and at 161st Street, Harper bought him some fried rice, chicken wings, and a Sprite.

When youre ready to get clean, come to me. I have your back, she said.

No, no, Im going to do it. Im going to get it together. Trust me, he replied.

Schizophrenia often manifests in late adolescence. Neely had been in and out of shelters, jails, and hospitals, and he told Harper that, according to doctors, he might have schizophrenia.

What do you think about that? Harper asked.

I dont know, Neely answered.

Harper gave Neely some money and the warm shirt she was wearing. He was lucid, she says: Rational. Having a conversation. There was so much sorrow in his voice because we had never been in each others presence with him in that condition, and he was so ashamed. It was so heavy on him. That was the same year his arrest record started to chronicle him exposing himself to subway passengers, revealing the intimate parts of his body in a lewd manner to a woman at 4:30 a.m. at the stop by Columbia University, according to court documents, using his hand to stroke his penis in an up and down motion in plain view. He would be arrested for this at least two other times.

At age 6, with Great-aunt Mildred and Aunt Carolyn. Photo: Courtesy of Mildred Mahazu

An army of hundreds of outreach workers  often in their 20s and employed by small nonprofits contracted with the Department of Homeless Services  fans out into the city each day in teams, attempting to make contact with the more than 3,000 homeless individuals who live on the streets and subways. They distribute water, Narcan, and baby wipes. They work in zones, assessing the physical- and mental-health needs of the people on their turf as well as their inclination to accept treatment or housing. If clients do want help, the outreach workers try to connect them with it. The DHSs tracking tool, an enormous database called StreetSmart, tabulates each workers interaction with each unsheltered person, along with any notes, observations, or outcomes. The community organization with the exclusive city contract to do homeless outreach in the subway  all 472 stations and 665 miles of track, including trains, platforms, and tunnels  is the Bowery Residents Committee, or BRC. Because Neely lived mostly belowground, he fell under BRCs purview. The StreetSmart record of BRCs encounters with him is 71 entries long, dating back to a warm, clear June night in 2017. It was 4:26 a.m., and Neely was at the 181st Street stop on the A. Mentally ill, the worker wrote in his notes.

The early records show Neely on trains uptown, near where his family lived, or at Penn Station, close to where his mother once worked, frequently sleeping or malodorous. He welcomed offers of help as often as he rejected them; between September and December 2017, he accepted placement at a safe-haven shelter three times. Safe havens are designed as alternatives to traditional shelters; they are smaller with looser rules about drugs and alcohol and less stringent curfews, the citys attempt to provide temporary accommodation for people who are too vulnerable to survive in rough, densely populated settings like Bellevue. He saw New Years Day 2018 from a safe-haven shelter in the Bronx.

Within a year, Neely had moved downtown to the subway stations on the Lower East Side and in the East Village near or on the F line: Second Avenue, Delancey Street, Bowery, Broadway-Lafayette. People who are homeless often find the longer subway lines more accommodating because they provide the most uninterrupted sleep, and the F, at 27 miles, takes more than 90 minutes to travel from end to end. Many gravitate toward the Second Avenue stop for its expansive, lobbylike entrance, which offers both a roof and a gathering place, and because of its proximity to Sara D. Roosevelt Park, a pit stop for drug dealers and their customers, and the East Village, which is thick with shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries, and treatment centers. Gerry Howard, who lived in the subways and tunnels for many years, told me the subways felt comfortable to him and safe from the judgment of family. He used crack cocaine, and when you get your drugs, you dont want to be bothered, he told me. Underground, nobodys down there but other homeless people, other drug addicts. Youre in your own element.

Neely was growing sicker. In April 2019, BRC outreach workers noted his hair was matted and his skin discolored. On June 14, he was taken to Beth Israel hospital for a K2 overdose and heart and psych issues. On June 21, he was on the J train, where a worker noted feces and inappropriate clothing. Six days later, at the West 4th Street station, he punched a man in his 60s named Filemon Castillo Baltazar in the face while he was looking at the train-arrival monitor. That fall, BRC workers noted that Neely seemed confused/disoriented. That was the year the Department of Homeless Services launched its Top 50 list. Many of the people who live in the subways are well known, by face and name, to the police and MTA workers as well as to BRC, and the Top 50 are among the thousands of street homeless most at risk of needing psychiatric intervention, according to the citys assessment, and who might qualify for and benefit from an involuntary stay at Bellevue or another psychiatric hospital. Among homeless advocates, the Top 50 list is controversial: It seems to make homelessness a crime, punishable by detainment. Neely was on it.

Neely didnt tell his great-aunt Mildred about his stays in shelters and hospitals, but sometimes he would show up at her apartment unannounced. She would make him a big meal, throw away his clothes, and buy him all new. But Neely did stay in touch with Blizzard, and when he was admitted to Bellevue in March 2020, he called him. Id say, When you get out, Jordan, you going to do your dance? Hed say, Yeah, yeah. Im getting there. The social worker at the hospital would call Blizzard and he would put money into Neelys account: I said, Is he going to be all right? But Bellevues job is to stabilize psychiatric patients, not treat them long term. The average length of stay there is about two weeks, and as the pandemic settled on the city, the supply of psych beds contracted when hospitals gave them over to covid patients. Before too long, Neely was back on the street, and we couldnt find him, Blizzard remembers. Homeless-outreach teams were scaling back. That July, Neely was spotted on the Delancey StreetEssex Street platform, shirtless and wearing colorful running shorts and one black shoe. At two in the morning on an August night, he was taken to Queens General Hospital.

Anne Mitcheltree has lived in the East Village in the vicinity of the F line for nearly 50 years, and she encountered Neely in June 2021 on a Saturday afternoon, the same day she saw a movie in a theater for the first time in more than a year. After the matinee, she decided to stop at her local store, the S.K. Deli on Second Avenue. Neely was standing in front of the grill counter staring at the prepackaged fruit. He looked emaciated, and his T-shirt was filthy. Though six feet tall, he gave her the impression of someone much smaller, almost like a child. As Mitcheltree stood at the counter getting ready to pay, Neely approached and stared at her. He said nothing, but what she saw frightened her. His face was frozen. His eyes were glued open, but there wasnt anybody there, she says. He had a small smile on his face. She turned her face away from Neely to break his stare, and thats when he hit her on the right side of her head above her eyebrow. Mitcheltree fell backward, landing gently on a low pallet stacked with bags of sliced bread. Neely ran.

Mitcheltree was rattled and upset, but she did not think about calling the police. You would get a worse injury if you tripped over a pothole, she says. Mitcheltree, who was 63 at the time, works as a dance therapist at a nursing home in East Harlem run by New York Health + Hospitals, and she is familiar with mental illness in all its varieties: It didnt take a genius to see that he was very sick. She changed her mind after a conversation with her friend who works in a homeless shelter. He convinced her that for the safety of all, including her attacker, she needed to report it to the police.

But in the 36 hours between Neelys assault and Mitcheltrees police report, Neely had vanished. On November 12, he struck another woman in her 60s in front of the Bowery Ballroom, causing her to fall down and hit her head hard on the pavement. Two civilians chased him and tackled him to the sidewalk, restraining him until the cops arrived. The two incidents were rolled into one charge. Neely had a long rap sheet, mostly from his early days as a dancer, for turnstile jumping, littering, and moving between cars. Now he was facing felony assault and up to seven years in a state prison. He called Blizzard from Rikers. I think I hit a lady, he said. I didnt mean to do it.

At age 8, in Great-aunt Mildreds apartment building in Harlem. Photo: Courtesy of Mildred Mahazu

That fall, Rikers was at its nadir. The intake pens looked like Amistad, according to Rachael Bedard, a physician who worked there until 2022. Without toilets, men were standing in their own excrement. Theres tons of drugs, but people are also withdrawing. There are fights breaking out, she says. During the pandemic, about a quarter of the Department of Correction staff was on sick leave and those who showed up to work were increasingly overseeing the detainees by video, rather than walking the floor. The court system had nearly ground to a halt.

Roughly half of people detained at Rikers suffer from some mental illness, so the jail, by default, functions as the largest psychiatric-treatment center in the city. For most of his 15-month stay at Rikers, Neely lived in a mental-observation unit intended to provide psychiatric care to detainees too vulnerable to live in the general population but not ill enough to need 24-hour oversight. The units house about 30 men, all with a designation of M (mental illness) or SMI (severe mental illness). Neely was SMI. He lived in a large, open dormitory-style room with dozens of beds.

A team of health-care providers visited the unit every day, checking in with each man for five minutes or so, doing scheduled weekly one-on-one therapy, and sometimes offering art therapy. A few times a day, a pharmacy technician would stand at a window and call meds, and the inmates would line up to receive their prescription drugs.

Neely was beloved by the health-care staff at Rikers. He was quiet and could frequently be found lying on his bed. In an environment that breeds conflict, paranoia, defensiveness, and violence, Neely was gentle, earnest, and stable. He smiled and said Good morning, according to mental-health-care workers on his floor. K2 is everywhere in Rikers, but Neely was not a habitual user, nor did he get into fights. He took his prescription medication. He enjoyed art therapy and did his homework, filling out worksheets to help him learn cognitive behavioral techniques. There was something innocent and vulnerable about him, people who knew him said, which made him extraordinary. He engaged in therapy  rare in Rikers  and openly hoped it would help him. He would say, Oh, I just dont know if Im making friends here, one Rikers clinician told me. He occasionally did his Michael Jackson routines in his tan scrubs when the art therapist brought in a boom box.

The mental-health-care workers I spoke to at Rikers believe jail is more destructive than restorative or healing. (I identify as an abolitionist, one of them told me.) But they acknowledge the paradox. Neely was someone who did better in jail than on the streets, says the clinician. At Rikers, at least, he was not totally on his own.

At age 15. Photo: Courtesy of Andre Zachery

On February 9, 2023, Neely stood before Judge Ellen Biben on the 11th floor at 100 Centre Street. He had taken a plea in the 2021 felony assault, and his case was being heard in the novel Alternative to Incarceration court. Established in 2017, the ATI court has a problem-solving mission, connecting eligible defendants who have knotty issues related to drug use, mental health, or criminal history with a wide range of individualized therapeutic or supportive programs  housing, residential detox, anger management, outpatient therapy, medication compliance  in exchange for a guilty plea. The deal, Judge Biben reminds each defendant, is this: Adhere to the mandated program and the felony is erased from the record; ditch, rebel, or fail to follow its rules and the defendant will be sent upstate to serve their sentence.

Everyone  Neelys lawyer, the states prosecutor, the judge, Neely himself, and the victim  had agreed he was a good candidate for the ATI court. Although he had been arrested for a violent crime, that behavior was related to substance abuse and treatment noncompliance with mental-health medication, the court record said. If he took his prescription meds and stayed off drugs, Neely could be stable. The plan was to conduct Neely directly from the court to Harbor House in the Bronx, a residential facility that specializes in treating people with co-occurring mental illness and drug issues.

After Neely was sworn in, Biben faced him.

Did he understand that he was pleading guilty to a class-D felony?

Yes, Neely said.

Are you pleading guilty because you are, in fact, guilty?

Yes.

Biben set forth the terms of the agreement, then asked Neely if he had left Rikers with his belongings. Neely said he didnt have any. He was free to go. You are going to be escorted to the program, the judge told him. But you actually have to go, physically and mentally, make it to the program, and commit to being in the program. Do you understand what Im saying?

Yes, I do, Neely said.

This is very important, Biben said. Because if you leave the program, if you are discharged from the program, if you are out of touch with us, we will not be able to help you, and Ill have to issue a bench warrant for your arrest. Understood?

Yes, Neely said.

Once out of jail, Neely was forced back into a world that was exactly the same as when he left, says a mental-health-care provider at Rikers, a world of scarce options, where the left hand is out of touch with the right, where payment and insurance rules are byzantine and constraining, where well-meaning stakeholders disagree about the best path forward. From Harbor House, Neely had limited contact with the outside world. Its doors are not locked because it is not a prison  and because Medicaid will not pay for psychiatric treatment within a prison setting. Neely left Harbor House on February 22, 2023, less than two weeks after entering.

The reality for Jordan Neely and others like him is that he needed more intensive care than is available in any voluntary inpatient or outpatient program, and he required a more therapeutic kind of attention than exists in any locked one. The state cant imprison people who arent criminals, and it cant turn mental illness and drug dependence into a crime, a conundrum at the nub of every facile political dispute pitting the civil rights of people with homelessness against perceived threats to public safety. There should be some transition from Rikers that maybe has a secure element to it but is also therapeutic, says a person who met Neely during his stay in Rikers. Were killing ourselves to jerry-rig what doesnt exist because its too much of a hot potato to talk about any kind of secure, residential, therapeutic environment. Blizzard is clearer about this: When he got locked up, that could have saved him.

Biben issued a warrant for Neelys arrest on February 23, and people went looking for him. A state-sponsored support team was out looking for him, as was BRC. But outreach workers dont like the police and are not inclined to work with them, so when BRC encountered Neely twice in March, he wasnt turned in. Once, a BRC worker saw him riding the train but was off duty and, in compliance with BRC rules, did not engage. Another time, BRC found Neely at the end of the A line at 4:30 a.m. Sleeping upright, the workers notes said. Neely accepted BRCs offer of shelter that night and a ride to a converted Days Inn in the Bronx, but he left the next day before any paperwork could be completed. Blizzard ran into him too that spring, on the D train near 181st Street. He looked dusty, Blizzard remembers. Like he was going through hard times. Blizzard gave him $20 and bought him a sandwich.

In the middle of every night, BRC workers engage in an end-of-line operation. They station themselves at a subway lines last stop and try to remove people who are homeless from the trains and take them to shelters  or hospitals, if needed. The Stillwell AvenueConey Island stop on the F is an enormous outdoor station with metal staircases that descend to the blocks below; its teeming by day with tourists and visitors to Nathans and the Wonder Wheel and deserted by midnight. Each train, as it pulls in and waits to be cleaned and taken out of service, looks like a sleeper car to the underworld. Men who are homeless, spread out two or three per car, sleep in otherwise abandoned carriages, some hunched and covered with blankets, others laid out and wearing their shoes from work. On April 8, 2023, at 3 a.m., one of these men was Jordan Neely. A BRC worker encountered him there but didnt recognize him.

Neely was standing in the car, yelling, aggressive, and belligerent. When the BRC worker tried to engage him, Neely exposed himself and urinated in the train. The BRC worker called over police, and Neely shouted, Just wait until they get here. I got something for you, just wait and see.

In the encounter that followed, no one checked for a warrant. No one enlisted the help of the teams nurse who was on the platform and had the authority to admit people involuntarily to the hospital. After some arguing, the NYPD did get Neely to agree to go to a shelter, but then the transport-van driver said he couldnt be alone with him, and while the cops were off looking for a BRC worker to accompany him, Neely disappeared down the big metal stairs and into the night. In his notes, the outreach worker wrote, He could be a harm to others or himself if left untreated. The next day, when the worker showed photos of the incident at a meeting, the mistake became clear. Neely was gone again.

At age 26, with his father, Andre Zachery (top left), his aunt Teresa, and cousins. Photo: Courtesy of Andre Zachery

On May 1, 2023, Jordan Neely almost missed the F train that was carrying Daniel Penny, a former Marine, on his way to the gym. It was almost 2:30 in the afternoon, and when the train stopped at Second Avenue, Neely ran toward it as the doors were closing and stuck his hand into the gap. The doors opened, he got on, and he began yelling. Neelys last words, in addition to howling about his hunger and thirst, were I dont mind going to jail and getting life in prison  perhaps an acknowledgment that he had violated the terms of his release, perhaps a plea to be back in a place where meals and medications were provided, perhaps a sign of his exhaustion or anguish, perhaps an admission of defeat. When the police called Blizzard to inform him of Neelys death, he interrupted the detective before he could even say the words. I already know, he said.

A carful of passengers watched as Penny strangled Neely on the floor. A smartphone video captured their struggle and its aftermath: When the train halted at the Broadway-Lafayette station to wait for police, most of the passengers disembarked, but as Penny brushed the dirt off his pants and looked for his hat, a woman stood by Neelys motionless body, texting on her phone. It was this bystander video, a snuff film, that outraged and divided the city when it went viral the following day, divisions exacerbated by Mayor Eric Adamss remarks that seemed to absolve Penny and blame Neely for his own death. Any loss of life is tragic, Adams said. However, we do know there were serious mental-health issues in play here.

The BroadwayLafayette Street station the day after Neelys death. Photo: Steven John Irby

By the time of Neelys funeral on May 19, the city had faced off in all the familiar ways over what his death meant. Leftists furiously posted about systems and structural failures and the unconscionable lack of affordable housing, while the law-and-order constituency linked homelessness to a constant threat of random violence, calling Penny a Samaritan and a hero. The Reverend Al Sharpton presided over Neelys white coffin blanketed with roses, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in the front row, stood with her hands in the air, immersed in the call-and-response. After Neelys casket was loaded into the hearse, a crowd on the street holding signs chanted, Say his name, but it wasnt too long before his name was forgotten and the rubberneckers moved on.

Blizzard says if he had been in the car that day, he would have stomped on Pennys head. Gerry Howard, the formerly homeless man, thinks Penny was on some kind of ego trip, presuming he had the authority to demonstrate how to deal with people who appear menacing to others on the subway. Howard watched the video multiple times: He had to keep choking? I could see the muscles in his face and neck. Disgusting. It took Moses Harper a while to watch the video. I was in a state of disbelief, she says. What do you mean, They choked him to death? They choked him to death? And when I did watch it, it broke my heart, and not because people stood around and watched. He was always slim, but I had never seen Jordan that small before.

Its hard for Carol Kasse to think about how Neely died, on the floor of a subway car at the hands of a stranger, and devastating for her to consider that Jordan died just as Christie had, in the choke hold of someone much stronger and more powerful. But Kasse has found a way to comfort herself when those thoughts visit her, as they do again and again. Im very spiritual, she says. She believes Christie came back for her baby in the only way she knew. Because she saw her baby suffering. The last thing she remembered was being strangled. And thats how she came back to take her son.
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 Putins 24-year grip on power, it cast a thick cloud over the future of Russias footprint in Africa.

Ever since the West began isolating Russia following Moscows takeover of Ukraines Crimea region in 2014, Putin had attempted to rekindle Soviet-era ties with nations in the Global South, especially in Africa, using Prigozhins 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 Moscows clout in Africa, Wagners 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 Prigozhins demise after nine years at Wagners helm raised serious questions about whether Russia would be able to ensure a seamless transfer of control over the groups 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 [Prigozhins] 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 its 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.

Wagners checkered record isnt helping its cause, Siegle said. Malis 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.

Putins 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 Russias image in Africa, Siegle said.

It was just a very vivid demonstration of Putins 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 Russias 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 Africas 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 nations human rights record, opening doors to more countries.

Wagners presence has focused international attention on Moscows growing role in Africa. But Amaka Anku, who oversees the continent at the risk consultancy firm Eurasia Group, said that Russias 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 continents 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 Councils 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 continents 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'

Russias 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 Russias 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 Bidens 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.

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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 Russias 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 governments 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 Tshisekedis 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 Russias 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.

By RFE/RL

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The escalation of attacks comes amidst stalled negotiations in the U.S. Senate over additional aid for Ukraine, with discussions set to resume after the holiday break.

Ukraine's President Zelensky and Air Force commander Oleschuk have responded to the attacks, acknowledging both the success in intercepting missiles and the tragic losses.

The attack resulted in at least 24 civilian deaths and widespread damage to residential buildings, a maternity ward, and other facilities.

Russia has launched what officials have described as the most massive aerial attack yet on Ukraine, leaving scores dead and dozens of buildings damaged. Russia launched a total of 158 missiles, including 122 missiles and 36 drones, against various Ukrainian targets on Friday night.

The Ukrainian Air Force managed to intercept and destroy 114 missiles; however, dozens of missiles managed to hit their targets, killing at least 24 civilians and damaging educational facilities, multi-story residential buildings, a maternity ward, a shopping mall, commercial storage facilities and private homes in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Kharkiv and Odessa.

Today Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted online.

Thank you all for your hard work! Many lives have been saved! But there are also losses. Condolences to the families of the victims! Air Force commander Mykola Oleschuk wrote on his official Telegram channel.

The previous largest aerial assault by Russia on Ukraine was in November 2022, when 96 missiles were launched. The latest attacks have come just weeks after negotiations in the U.S. Senate to advance Ukraine and Israel aid stalled after Republicans unified to filibuster it due to what they claimed was a lack of immigration limits.

This cannot wait. ... We cannot let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin win. Do they really want a solution? I am willing to make significant compromises on the border, President Joe Biden lamented, accusing extreme Republicans of demanding partisan border policies.

Ukraine has been urging the United States for additional military aid which it says is critical for its defense even as the war approaches a third year. Unfortunately, Zelensky failed to convince Congress to pass the aid bill before it adjourned for a holiday break. Negotiations are set to resume after the Christmas break whereby Congress will debate over a package that combines aid for Ukraine and aid for the United States southern border.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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China plans to manufacture more than half of the worldwide vessels powered by cleaner fuels such as LNG and methanol by 2025, according to government guidelines.

As part of efforts to become a carbon-neutral economy by 2060, China expects to build more ships running on cleaner fuels than on oil-derived marine fuels that currently dominate the global fleets, its Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Thursday, as carried by Reuters.

Implement innovation in ship engines, improve the efficiency of traditional fuel and LNG marine engines, and steadily increase the use of LNG in marine engines at scale, say the guidelines the ministry has issued.

The international shipping industry has been looking for years to lower its carbon footprint and move away from fuel oil in powering ships. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), international shipping accounted for about 2% of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2022.

Per the IEA data, historically, oil products have made up more than 99% of total energy demand for international shipping. In 2022 biofuels met less than 0.5% of global international shipping energy demand.

To get on track with the NZE Scenario, the penetration of low- and zero-emission alternative fuels, including biofuels, methanol, hydrogen, ammonia and electricity, will need to increase in this sector, the agency said in a recent report tracking the clean energy progress in the sector.

New ship orders are increasingly about vessels using alternative fuels, says the IEA, which noted that A.P.Moller-Maersk, one of the biggest shipping companies in the world, announced 19 methanol dual-fuel containerships on order as of October 2022 for delivery between 2023 and 2025. These orders have been followed by others from large companies such as CMA CGM, Cosco, and Cargill.

According to Clarksons Research, in 2022, a record 61% of all newbuild orders by tonnage were alternative fuel capable. Of the total orderbook, 39.9% of tonnage is set to use LNG (825 units), 3.5% to use methanol (64 units), 2.1% to use LPG (88 units), and 2.4% due to use other alternative fuels (around 250 units to run on fuels such as ethane, hydrogen, biofuels, and battery/hybrid propulsion).

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The first batch of fuel export quotas that China has issued for 2024 is basically unchanged from the first batch of allowances for 2023, Chinese consultancies and trading sources told Reuters on Friday.

Chinese refiners are allowed to export diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel under strict quota regulations, with allowances for each refiner that are usually issued three to four times a year.

In the first batch for 2024, Chinese authorities allocated a total of 19 million tons, mostly to top state-owned refining giants Sinopec and CNPC, according to Reuters sources. The volume allowed for exports in the first batch is the same as the first batch for 2023.

Zhejiang Petrochemical continues to be the only private refiner to receive fuel export allowancesof 1.73 million tons in the first batch for 2024.

Toward the end of this year, Chinese fuel exports weakened as refiners had used up their available export quotas.

Analysts have estimated that Chinas diesel export peak for this year was in June.

Between January and August, Chinese refiners tripled their diesel exports as export quotas and rising refining margins in Asia proved incentives enough amid tepid domestic diesel demand. In the first eight months of the year, China's diesel exports soared by 197.2% compared to the same eight months of 2022, according to data from the General Administration of Customs cited by Reuters.

At the end of August, China issued a larger-than-expected fuel export quota in the third batch of allocations for 2023 as authorities sought to incentivize refiners to sustain economic growth and sell more product abroad at a time when China's 2023 fuel demand may have peaked.

But as early as in September, Chinese authorities signaled to the biggest oil refiners in the worlds top crude oil importer not to rely on more fuel export quotas for the rest of 2023.

As a fourth batch of export quotas for this year wasnt issued, Chinese refiners were expected to limit fuel exports due to a lack of quotas for the remainder of 2023, despite the stronger margins on the Asian market compared to the domestic market.

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Crude oil production in the United States fell in the month of October, according to new data released by the Energy Information Administration on Friday.

According to the latest data, average U.S. crude oil production fell from 13.252 million barrels per day in September to 13.248 million bpd in Octoberthe first monthly decline in average daily production rates since April, but still the second-highest production rate in the history of the U.S. oil industry, behind only September. It is also 1.377 million bpd higher than pre-pandemic levels seen in January 2019.

But while the daily average was down month over month, total production for October rose to 410.7 million barrels, compared to 397.6 million barrels in Septembera difference of 13.1 million barrels, which roughly accounts for the extra day.

While production rates were down month over month from September to October, EIA data shows an increase in production rates from January to October. U.S. crude production in January totaled 389.6 million barrelsor 12.6 million barrels per daycompared to the 410.7 million in Octoberor 13.2 million barrels per day.

The EIA had previously forecast that U.S. crude oil production for October would average 13.257 million bpd.

By state, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Alaska account for a 57,000 bpd increase in production, while the largest declines were seen in North Dakota (-31,000 bpd) and the Gulf of Mexico (-40,000 bpd), according to the EIA data.

In the agencys latest edition of its Short Term Energy Outlook published earlier this month, the EIA forecast 2024 crude oil production in the United States at 13.11 million bpd, compared to the forecast for 2023 of 12.93 million bpd.

The Energy Information Administration releases monthly production data on the last business day of the month.

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Japan's prosecutors arrest former senior vice justice minister over vote-buying allegations

Xinhua) 10:20, December 29, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Indias fuel exports rose in November from a month earlier as refineries ramped up crude processing while diesel demand for trucking was lower during the Diwali festival season.

At the same time, imports of fuels into India fell last month compared to a month earlier, data from the countrys oil ministry showed on Friday.

In November, India exported a total of 5.64 million tons of fuels, up from 4.47 million tons in October. Last months fuel exports from India were the second-highest volumes in the April-November period after August.

The rise in fuel exports from India could be partly attributed to higher processing rates at domestic refiners and increased shipments to the EU in recent months after the bloc banned seaborne imports of Russian petroleum products from early February 2023.

Indias fuel imports, on the other hand, fell to 4.15 million tons in November from 4.43 million tons in October, but they were still 3% higher than the imports in November 2022, the oil ministry data showed.

Crude oil imports last month were slightly lower than in October, falling by 0.9%.

Meanwhile, India, the worlds third-largest crude oil importer, has become a major customer of cheaper Russian oil after the EU banned crude imports from Russia in December 2022.

China took in half of all the crude oil that Russia exported this year, with India a close second, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on state TV earlier this week.

China now accounts for 45% to 50% of Russian oil and fuel exports, while India is taking in some 40%, Novak said. The increase is particularly remarkable for India, where Russia exported almost no oil whatsoever until 2022. Now, Russia is Indias leading supplier.

If earlier we exported around 40-45% of our total crude oil and refined products to Europe, by the end of this year we expect this share to have fallen to 4-5%, Novak said.

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A Washington County leader has died following a car crash near Arlington, Nebraska, Thursday night.

Jordan Rishel, executive director of the Washington County Community Foundation, died after the Jeep Wrangler she was driving crashed into another vehicle on U.S. Highway 30 at County Road 15, known as Marshall Nursery Road, according to a county press release.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, officers with the Washington County Sheriffs Office and Nebraska State Patrol were called to the crash site, southwest of Blair, the State Patrol said.

Preliminary investigation showed that Rishels Jeep was westbound on U.S. 30 in slick driving conditions when it lost control, entered the eastbound lane and struck a Ford F-150 pickup.

Rishel, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two occupants of the Ford were transported to the hospital in Fremont with injuries that appeared not to be life threatening, according to the State Patrol. The crash remains under investigation.

Rishel served as director for the Blair Chamber of Commerce for 11 years before becoming the executive director of the county foundation. She also was a member of the Washington County Board of Supervisors from 2018 to 2022.

She was a trusted and valued board member during her four-year term, the board said in the press release. The county has lost a true servant, leader and more importantly a friend. The board expresses our deepest condolences to the Rishel family.

In a statement Friday morning, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said Rishel was a dedicated member of the community who made a positive impact.

Losing someone so involved and dedicated to the betterment of the community is truly a loss for everyone who knew her. Jordan was a light and a leader and she will be greatly missed by all, the office said. Washington County Sheriffs Office sends our deepest sympathy, prayers and thoughts of strength and love to Jordans children, family and friends and the extended community she touched.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israeli forces bombarded cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza on 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. The assault killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

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 is 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 ages 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. The Israeli military 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 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 Wednesday by an airstrike.

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.

A strike Thursday evening destroyed a residential building in the town of Rafah, at the southernmost end of Gaza, killing at least 23 people, according to the media office of the nearby Al-Kuwaiti Hospital said.

Outside of Gaza, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian man who they say got out of his car and stabbed two security workers at a checkpoint between the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The security workers were in moderate condition, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service.

The occupied West Bank has experienced a surge in violence since Oct. 7, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in unrest and clashes with Israeli forces.

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 nowhere 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 Palestinians 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 U.N. humanitarian office said the scale and intensity of the fighting impedes its aid deliveries. The office, known as OCHA, cited blocked roads, a scarcity of fuel and telecommunications blackouts as some of the obstacles hampering the humanitarian response.

Still, it said the U.N. World Food Program provided food parcels to about a half-million people in U.N. shelters in southern and central Gaza since Saturday.

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, Jeffery from London. Associated Press reporters Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Najib Jobain in Rafah, Gaza Strip, contributed.

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
EAGLE PASS, Texas (AP)  Before settling in New York City like thousands of other migrants this year, Abdoul, a 32-year-old from West Africa, took an unexpected detour: Weeks in a remote Texas jail on local trespassing charges after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I spent a lot of hours without sleeping, sitting on the floor," said Abdoul, a political activist who fled Mauritania, fearing persecution. He spoke on the condition that his last name not be published for fear of jeopardizing his request for asylum.

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. But although that operation was also intended to stem illegal crossings, there is little indication that it has done so.

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 already sued to stop the new law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that encroaches on the U.S. government's immigration authority.

On Thursday, the Justice Department told Abbott that it will also bring a lawsuit unless Texas reverses course on the new law by next week, according to a letter that was first obtained by Hearst Newspapers.

Since 2021, Texas authorities have arrested nearly 10,000 migrants on misdemeanor trespassing charges under what 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.

Abbott had predicted the trespassing arrests would produce swift results. When people start learning about this, theyre going to stop coming across the Texas border, he told Fox News in July 2021, when Texas-Mexico border crossings reached 1.2 million that fiscal year.

That number has ticked up even higher over the past fiscal year, topping 1.5 million.

Theyre still coming through here, said Sheriff Tom Schmerber of Maverick County, where Abdoul crossed the border and was quickly arrested in July.

Abbott suggested this month Texas may soon phase out the trespassing arrests as it moves forward with illegal entry charges that can be enforced most anywhere in the state, including hundreds of miles from the border.

The trespassing arrests have been a cornerstone of Abbotts nearly $10 billion border mission known as Operation Lone Star that has tested the federal governments authority over immigration. Abbott has also sent an estimated 80,000 migrants on buses to Democratic-led cities, strung up razor wire on the border and installed buoy barriers on the Rio Grande. Last week, Abbott sent a flight of 120 migrants to Chicago in an escalation of his busing operation.

The mission is visible in Maverick County, where many of the arrests have taken place. Patrol cars are parked every few miles along the two-lane roads leading to the border city of Eagle Pass. Along the Rio Grande, state troopers from Florida, one of several GOP-led states that have sent National Guard members and law enforcement to the border, work in tandem with Texas officials.

Abdoul was arrested in the citys Shelby Park, a small piece of greenery touching the river with a ramp for boaters. It was the Fourth of July when Abdoul set foot on American soil for the first time. Officers standing nearby asked him a few questions and quickly took him into custody.

He said that he was given small food portions in jail and was so miserable he would say anything to get out. He pleaded guilty to trespassing, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail.

Its unknown how many of those arrested on the border for trespassing remain in the U.S., were deported, were allowed to stay to seek asylum, or had their cases dismissed. But Kristen Etter, an attorney who said her legal organization has represented more than 3,000 migrants on the trespassing charges, said the majority of their clients were allowed to stay and seek asylum.

She said many migrants seek out law enforcement at the border because they want to surrender.

If anything, rather than being a deterrent, it is attracting more people, she said.

The trespassing arrests are spearheaded by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which said the state's border operation has resulted in more than 37,000 total criminal arrests. Spokesperson Ericka Miller said officers have stopped gang members, human traffickers, sex offenders and others from entering the country.

Had we not been there, all of it likely would have crossed into the country unimpeded," Miller said in an email. "The state of Texas is working to send a message to those considering crossing into the country illegally to think again.

Rolando Salinas, the mayor of Eagle Pass, signed a blanket trespassing charge affidavit to allow arrests like Abdouls on park grounds during a spike in migrant crossings in July. Following local backlash, he rescinded the affidavit before signing it again weeks later. Ultimately, Salinas said, he supports the operation because it has brought needed law enforcement personnel to the city.

Our force is not big enough to maintain the peace of Eagle Pass if we have 10-15,000 people coming through, Salinas said.

State Rep. David Spiller, who authored the new arrest law Abbott signed this month, said he believes border crossings would be much higher without the trespassing prosecutions. But he said those cases add to prosecutors workloads, depend on cooperation from landowners, and, even if defendants are convicted, the offense is not deportable under federal law.

Those charged, Spiller said, are presumably assimilating into the U.S. population.

Were doing what we can, but were only slowing down that process, Spiller said. We havent stopped anybody.

Abdoul went to New York City after his release, where he said he was allowed to stay at a shelter for a month. He now rents a room with a cousin and is awaiting a work permit. Then, he said, he will get a job and try to go to school until an immigration judge decides his future next spring.

When everything is finished and my case is guaranteed, I want to go to school because I started school and my dream is to be well educated, Abdoul said.

Associated Press video journalist Ted Shaffrey reported from New York.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden ordered the United States military to carry out retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups after three U.S. service members were injured in a drone attack in northern Iraq.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said one of the U.S. troops suffered critical injuries in the attack that occurred earlier Monday. The Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, under an umbrella of Iranian-backed militants, claimed credit for the attack that utilized a one-way attack drone.

Iraqi officials said U.S. strikes targeting militia sites early Tuesday killed one militant and injured 18. They came at a time of heightened fears of a regional spillover of the Israel-Hamas war.

Iran announced Monday that an Israeli strike on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus killed one of its top generals, Razi Mousavi, who had been a close companion of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the former head of Irans elite Quds Force. Soleimani was slain in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020.

Iranian officials vowed revenge for the killing of Mousavi but did not immediately launch a retaliatory strike. The militia attack Monday in northern Iraq was launched prior to the strike in Syria that killed Mousavi.

Biden, who was spending Christmas at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, was alerted about the attack by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan shortly after it occurred Monday and ordered the Pentagon and his top national security aides to prepare response options to the attack on an air base used by American troops in Irbil.

Sullivan consulted with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Biden's deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer, was with the president at Camp David and convened top aides to review options, according to a U.S. official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity.

Within hours, Biden convened his national security team for a call in which Austin and Gen. CQ Brown, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed Biden on the response options. Biden opted to target three locations used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, the official said.

The U.S. strikes were carried out at about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday in Iraq, less than 13 hours after the U.S. personnel were attacked. According to U.S. Central Command, the retaliatory strikes on the three sites "destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants.

"The President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harms way," Watson said. The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue.

The latest attack on U.S. troops follows months of escalating threats and actions against American forces in the region since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the devastating war in Gaza.

The dangerous back-and-forth strikes have escalated since Iranian-backed militant groups under the umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Syria began striking U.S. facilities Oct. 17, the date that a blast at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds. Iranian-backed militias have carried out more than 100 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than two months ago.

In November, U.S. fighter jets struck a Kataib Hezbollah operations center and command and control node, following a short-range ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces at Al-Assad Air Base in western Iraq. Iranian-backed militias also carried out a drone attack at the same air base in October, causing minor injuries.

The U.S. has also blamed Iran, which has funded and trained Hamas, for attacks by Yemens Houthi militants against commercial and military vessels through a critical shipping choke point in the Red Sea.

The Biden administration has sought to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spiraling into a wider regional conflict that either opens up new fronts of Israeli fighting or draws the U.S. in directly. The administrations measured response  where not every attempt on American troops has been met with a counterattack  has drawn criticism from Republicans.

The U.S. has thousands of troops in Iraq training Iraqi forces and combating remnants of the Islamic State group, and hundreds in Syria, mostly on the counter-IS mission. They have come under dozens of attacks, though as yet none fatal, since the war began on Oct. 7, with the U.S. attributing responsibility to Iran-backed groups.

"While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities," Austin said in a statement.

The clashes put the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in a delicate position. He came to power in 2022 with the backing of a coalition of Iranian-backed parties, some of which are associated with the same militias launching the attacks on U.S. bases.

A group of Iranian-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces were key in the fight against Islamic State militants after the extremist group overran much of Iraq in 2014. The PMF is officially under the command of the Iraqi army, but in practice the militias operate independently.

In a statement Tuesday, Sudani condemned both the militia attack in Irbil and the U.S. response.

Attacks on foreign diplomatic mission headquarters and sites hosting military advisors from friendly nations  infringe upon Iraqs sovereignty and are deemed unacceptable under any circumstances, the statement said.

However, it added that that the retaliatory strikes by the U.S. on Iraqi military sites  referring to the militia  constitute a clear hostile act. Sudani said some of those injured in the strikes were civilians.

Abdul-Zahra reported from Baghdad.
LINCOLN  Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers has joined those calling for Gov. Jim Pillen to change his mind about a new federal program that could keep about 150,000 Nebraska children fed throughout the summer months.

The veteran Omaha senator delivered a letter to the Governors Office Thursday, along with a hand-drawn portrait of Pillen as a gesture of goodwill. The letter urged Pillen to accept the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children.

The program would provide an estimated $18 million in food aid during school vacation months to low-income families with children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The benefits are to launch in summer 2024, but states have to indicate interest by Jan. 1.

So far, the Pillen administration has refused to participate in the program, despite pleas from numerous Nebraskans.

Among those calling for reconsideration is Nebraska Appleseed, an advocacy group that had close to 6,000 signers on a petition as of midafternoon Thursday. Signers included people who could benefit from the program, people who work with low-income Nebraskans and many concerned citizens, according to Eric Savaiano, the groups economic justice program manager.

Paul Feilmann, a retired mental health therapist from Omaha, has been holding a daily vigil outside the official governors residence since Dec. 22 to urge state participation. He plans to continue through the day Friday, the last working day before Jan. 1.

Last week, 15 current state senators sent a letter to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services calling for a change of heart. Chambers made his case in a letter that quoted from the Bible and historical figures.

Gov. Pillen, I beseech you in the bowels of Christ to give consideration to the food-insecure children in being and extend to them the same impassioned concern you express for those who are developing in the womb, he wrote, harkening back to a plea made by Oliver Cromwell, who ruled England in the mid-1600s.

But Pillen defended the decision to forgo the aid, saying the idea of summertime food aid for schoolchildren was a pandemic-era idea.

He said he prefers providing food through the Summer Food Service Program, an older federal program that provides free meals and snacks to children and teens at various sites in low-income communities. The sites can be operated by schools, local governments, private nonprofits, camps and other organizations.

Having children appear in person to get food allows people to spot issues of malnutrition, neglect and abuse, which are often missed in the summer months. Pillen noted that calls to the states child abuse hotline dropped during the time that schools closed because of COVID.

Im 100% confident that if every Nebraskan understood everything about why I made that decision, theyd be 100% supportive, he said.

But Savaiano said the older food program reaches only limited numbers of Nebraska children. In 2023, Nebraska ranked 50th for its participation level, according to a national Food Research and Action Center report in July.

In most cases, he said, children have to go to the sites to get a meal, and the sites can be few and far between, especially in rural parts of the state. In 2019, Nebraska had 83 sponsors and 270 sites for the whole state. This year, there were only 58 sponsors and 197 sites.

Under the new summer program, families could get $40 per child per month on an EBT card to be spent on groceries. The money is to replace the lunches that children get during the rest of the year at school. Nebraska Appleseed estimated the state cost would be about $300,000 for administration.

Omaha World-Herald's top news photos of 2023
LINCOLN  A state labor commission placed a partial hold Friday on Gov. Jim Pillens order requiring state employees to return to working in their offices starting on Tuesday.

The Commission of Industrial Relations paused the governors directive while the commission hears and decides a legal challenge filed by the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, the largest state employee union. The delay applies to many but not all state workers.

The unions petition, filed Dec. 13, had asked that the state be ordered to negotiate over Pillens Nov. 13 executive order, which would require state employees to work in their offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some exceptions.

The union also asked for a temporary order delaying the changes, which the three-member commission granted, at least for the more than 8,000 state employees covered by the NAPE contract.

The commission is a state agency designed to resolve labor disputes involving state and local government employees. Nebraska law bars such employees from going on strike.

In its order, the commission noted that both sides argued for maintaining the status quo while the issue is decided. The commission sided with the unions arguments that the status quo, in this case, meant continuing the current mix of in-office, at-home and hybrid work arrangements for state employees.

At a hearing last week, Mark Fahleson, representing the state, said that the collective bargaining agreement with NAPE gives management the right to decide the site of the work force. He said that preserving the status quo means preserving that right.

But the commissions order on Friday said that accepting the states argument would mean deciding the underlying issue. It cited previous cases to conclude that status quo meant the situation just prior to the dispute.

At the hearing, Abby Osborn, an attorney representing the union, said the state had not shown any harm from delaying the change, while the union had presented evidence that a forced return to the office would drive more employees out of state jobs and affect service to Nebraska taxpayers.

On Friday, Justin Hubly, the NAPE executive director, urged Pillen to reconsider his position and to negotiate with the union about flexible working arrangements, rather than continue to litigate the issue.

Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple said the return-to-office order will go into effect as planned for state employees who are not part of the NAPE bargaining unit.

Nebraskans have a commonsense expectation that public servants are coming to work and Gov. Pillen intends to deliver on that expectation, she said.

His order provides for some exceptions to be authorized by agency heads. Those exceptions include employees whose assigned work hours fall outside the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday schedule and situations in which office space is unavailable without additional cost.

Exceptions also can be made to sustain critical operations in a business area with a workforce shortfall, subject to the governors approval. In addition, exceptions can be made for employees who move away from their original office location and no reasonable in-office arrangement is possible, as long as the employee remains in Nebraska.

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A policeman who allegedly raped a woman at an ATM gallery at night in a bank in Awka, Anambra State, has been arrested.

Anambra State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Ladodo, confirmed this to our correspondent in a telephone chat.

He said the suspect has been arrested and detained.

Ladodo added, Soon after the Police received complaint of the alleged rape from the victim, operatives were dispatched and the suspect was quickly arrested and placed under detention.

He said preliminary investigation was yet to establish any case of rape

Ladodo said the matter had been transferred to the states Criminal Investigation Department for proper handling.

While promising that the findings of the investigation will be made public, Ladodo assured that the suspect will face necessary punishment if found guilty.

Our correspondent gathered that the policeman allegedly raped a 35-year-old woman in a commercial bank premises in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The victim (name withheld), it was learnt, had gone to make some transactions at the ATM at night when the incident occurred.

It was gathered that the suspect, employed as security guard at the bank, had approached the lady, demanding to have sexual intercourse with her.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the victim refused the advances, until she was threatened with a gun by the suspect.

The following day, the lady came to the bank with some policemen who arrested the suspect, the witness stated.
The Supreme Court operates independently and is never dictated to by anyone, Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, said yesterday.

He said: We take our time in taking notes and writing judgments to avoid making mistakes. We subject every case before us to intense debates and arguments during our conferences in order to be as dispassionate and objective as possible.

Let me state clearly that we are not answerable to anybody and can never be intimidated by anybody whatsoever in taking our decisions.

But for certain, we are only answerable to God Almighty because he is the owner of our lives. No human being, living or dead can influence the reasoning or judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

We are very independent in Supreme Court because of the enormity of the trust and responsibility reposed in us by the almighty God, the Constitution and our dear nation.

Justice Muhammad spoke in Abuja when he hosted the management of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He noted that the apex court remains the busiest and most hardworking Supreme Court in the world, in view of the number of appeals received and heard on weekly basis as well as the number of judgments delivered within short durations.

The CJN said: I beat my chest to say that there is no Supreme Court in the world that works the way Supreme Court of Nigeria does.

Except when we go on our annual vacation between late July and early September of every year, we keep hearing appeals. It is on record that there is no day of the week, between Monday and Friday that we dont sit.

We deliver judgments on Fridays. Sometimes, we give as much as 35 judgments on some Fridays. We often times over-stretch ourselves, as we work assiduously day in, day out.

If you see the number of appeals that come to this court on a regular basis, it will shock you.

Basically, as it is today, there is nothing we can do about it for now, except there is a Constitutional amendment. Ideally, it is not every case that is supposed to reach Supreme Court. Some ought to be terminating at the Court of Appeal.

Muhammad assured that will always endeavour to bend over backwards, to give all cases involving both private individuals and other critical sectors expeditious hearing and attention, as part of its contribution to the nations economic development.

AMCON Chairman Muiz Banire (SAN) said his agency, established in 2010, acquired over 120,000 toxic loans, valued at N3.8 trillion, from 23 banks.

The AMCON chair further stated that additional N2.2 trillion was paid as financial accommodation for the then ailing banks.

He noted that the total current exposure as at April 30th, 2019, according to him, is N4.19 trillion, with an excess of 7,000 outstanding obligors.

Banire said: Unfortunately, the top 350 obligors account for 82 per cent of the outstanding loans of N4.19 trillion, while just the top 100 made up 67 per cent.

He revealed that top 20 accounts with total current exposure of N1.71 trillion, made 41 per cent of the total current exposure of N4.19 trillion.

Banire noted that the major handicap of the Corporation, he stated, is the delay tactics often employed by the defaulters to frustrate the cases currently pending in various courts across the country.

Other Justices of the Supreme Court at the event were Olukayode Ariwoola, Kekere-Ekun, Musa Dattijo, Ejembi Eko and Uwani Abba-Aji.
Besides, the group said its also a plan to crippled its members from accessing western education in the country.

The lamentation was made by the Zonal Amir Chairman and National Vice-Amir A-Zone, Malam Muhammad Bin Isa at a closing ceremony of 80th National Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) held on Wednesday in Bauchi. Noting that the rising would create a lot of drop out of its members from the region.

According to him who said: Within the world of our Universities there is tragic and astronomically rise in school fees, our universities continue to increase school fees, we are afraid that these will punish many of our members and it will push many of our members out of universities.

While we commend the effort of the government in coming up with students loan scheme we are not sure it will address the challenge of the current crisis on the rise in school fees, we therefore calling on well meaning Nigerians and the government and we passionately reappeal to our meaning Nigerians to consider and see the realities.

We are the one lagging behind in studies and with astronomical rise we would continue to suffer and would continue lagg. We are appealing to our meaning Nigerians particularly Muslims Ummah to look into this matter as a lot of our to Muslim students cannot continue to studies.

The MSSN Vice Amir Zone-A said the Nigerian Muslim Students are very concerned over the illegal attacks on innocent women and children in Palastine by Israel forces must bring to an end. The victims are dire needs of humanitarian support than ever before.

The Muslim World and the International Community must intensify efforts at providing both humanitarian support and mounted pressure Israel government and its allies to end this conflicts.

We are equally concerned by the nature of the involvement of ECOWAS in Niger Republic, the forceful change of government by some Nigeriean Armed Forces is unfortunate and inimical to the regional subregion and West Africa, however, the sanctions that have been enforce by ECOWAS on the country only punishes and make life unbearable for the ordinary people in Niger Republic.

We call on the ECOWAS to lift the sanction it has imposed on Niger and to allow the people to moved on the next stage of national plight.

We are outraged also by the security criss in the country, the senseless attacks by terrorist on rural communities in many parts of North-West and North Central that continue to claim lives of defenseless civilians and destroyed their wealth, kick our children out of schools as well as displaced families.

This act of terrorism has negatively affected farming activities in this region resulting to food insecurity and the countrys food security. We are not unaware of the ongoing operations by our gallant forces, however we call on more efforts to secure the lives and as well as their property.

Equally we are deeply disturbed by the hardship and pain underwent by many countrymen as results of subsidy removal, this has occasion unprecedented rise in price at commodities, the purchasing power of an average Nigerian whose income jas not risen most be looked into.

We call on the government to put in place more effective and workable intervention programmes to cushion these conditions.
It is vital to understand that even if we have helped Governor Alia climb the ladder, as Benue national lawmakers have claimed, your assistance is no longer required. Continuing to interfere could potentially harm or hinder the progress of Benue. It is essential to step back and allow the Governor to work towards successful growth for our State. If you continue to meddle, we risk causing him to veer off course or fail, which would ultimately harm all of us. We call on Austin Achado, Titus Zam, Philip Agbese, Dickson Tarkigh, and Terseer Ugbor to release their grip on the Governor and allow him to take charge for the betterment of the State.

The ongoing strife between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the APC stakeholders in Benue State continues to garner attention. Reports indicate that the Governor and the party are at odds, indicating a growing rift. The party accuses the Governor of failing to show respect and consideration towards them, citing a lack of consultation and exclusion from decision-making. Recently, a group of Benue National Assembly members from the ruling All Progressives Congress, Achado, Titus Zam, Philip Agbese, Dickson Tarkigh, and Terseer Ugbor, held a press conference to express their concerns. They claimed that the Governors leadership style was akin to running a parish and called upon President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to intervene before the situation deteriorated further. However, we should not forget that some of these lawmakers were elected due to Governor Alias reputation for integrity.

Renowned for its fertile soil, dedicated citizens, and top-notch produce, Benue State is often referred to as The Food Basket of the Nation. Despite these abundant resources, the State is impoverished and underdeveloped. A visit to rural areas like Naka, Agasha, Utonkon, Oju, Gbajimba, and Tse-Agberagba reveals the widespread and stubborn poverty plaguing the State. Its a puzzling paradox that a State so richly endowed continues to suffer from poverty. The underlying issue driving poverty in this State is the inability to have effective leadership. Unfortunately, Benue State has suffered from a string of subpar leaders. The selection process often relies on personal connections rather than individuals with a strong sense of purpose and a genuine concern for their constituents. As a result, the area has been stuck in a cycle of ongoing stagnation.

Throughout its history, Benue State has had a succession of leaders. Notable leaders include Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, who assumed office in 1954, followed by Aper Aku and Rev. Moses Adasu, both of whom held the position from 1979-1983 and 1992-1993, respectively. George Akume served as leader from May 1999 to May 2007, followed by Gabriel Suswam from May 2007 to May 2015, and Samuel Ortom from May 2015 until May 2023. However, each of these leaders has encountered series of criticisms and condemnations. From Joseph Sarwuan Tarka to Samuel Ortom, each leader had to navigate a complex web of assaults from every stakeholder. One of the criticisms these leaders had to face include managing political tensions within the parties. This has metamorphized into a stereotype that the Benue people are more prone to hatred towards one another. The current crisis in the Benue chapter of the APC is connected to the ongoing conflict in Rivers State, with some writers suggesting that the political climate in both states is comparable. It is not surprising that Governor Ortom sought refuge in Rivers after stepping down from his position and handing over the reins to Governor Alia.

To better understand this perception, we need to delve deeper into the backgrounds and identities of these political leaders and examine the events that have led to such allegations against the Benue people. The political landscape in Benue is characterized by constant conflict, either among stakeholders or with influential individuals known as godfathers. In the First Republic, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka was elected to represent the Jemgbagh constituency in the Federal House of Representatives under the Middle Belt Peoples Party. Two years later, he became the President of the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) after merging with the Middle Zone League led by David Lot. Tarka also participated in the Nigerian Constitutional Conference of 1957 and represented the Middle Belt zone to the Willinks Commission of 1958. He further served as a shadow minister of commerce in 1958. Tarka contested in the pre-independence election of 1959 and the subsequent election of 1963 against the predominantly Muslim Northern Peoples Congress. Unfortunately, both elections resulted in violent outbreaks in the Middle Belt region, which contributed to Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwus military takeover on January 15, 1966. Tarka was a strong advocate for State creation to empower minority groups within the country both politically and economically. He supported the formation of a Middle Belt State before the republic was truncated. Unfortunately, in April 1961, a year after a crisis in Tiv land, Tarka was detained for three weeks in Jos under investigation for treason and inciting unrest during the Tiv conflicts. He was later forced out of office due to corruption allegations made by Chief Godwin Adzuana Daboh , a member of his own community.

Aper Aku, on the other hand, was known for his efforts towards the development of Benue States infrastructural and educational sectors. Aku is widely recognized as the person who laid the foundation for modern Benue. Mr. Aku was an illustrious politician, educationist, and administrator who dedicated his life to the advancement of the State. In fact, it is worth mentioning that many of the vital institutions that exist in the State today were established by Aku. He spearheaded the creation of various agricultural industries that processed and produced fertilizer, located in close proximity to where the crops were grown. During his time in office, Aku successfully launched a number of commercial enterprises, including the Benue Brewery, Benro Packaging, Benue Bottling Company, Lobi Bank, Ber-Agbum Fish Farm, Ikyogen Cattle Ranch, Taraku Vegetable Processing Industry, and Benue International Hotel in Makurdi. He also played a crucial role in the development of the Makurdi Modern Market and planned to establish a flour mill in the area. Additionally, Aku was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Benue State Secretariat, seven cottage hospitals in different locations, two Teachers Colleges in Oju and Makurdi, and the University of Technology in Makurdi. He also increased the number of secondary schools and provided roads and streetlights in the Makurdi township. Aku awarded the construction of the Art Council Complex and began work on the Makurdi stadium. However, despite his significant efforts, Akus life came to an abrupt and tragic end at the hands of his own people. His death sent shockwaves throughout the entire country and was widely condemned by all. Some of his followers were particularly devastated by the loss of their beloved leader, who had worked tirelessly to improve their lives. Akus story is a poignant reminder of the complexities of leadership and the challenges of bringing progress and change to Benue. His legacy remains unmatched, making him an extraordinary and noteworthy figure in Benue States history. Akus contributions to the State far surpass those of any other leader in Benue.

Rev. Moses Adasu was elected as the second Executive Governor of Benue State in 1992. During his nearly two-year term, he made a positive impact on the States conditions. One of his significant achievements was the establishment of Benue State University in 1991. Additionally, he reactivated and upgraded the College of Education, Oju. Adasu also conceived the idea of the Tarka Foundation, named after Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, and launched it in 1992. Apart from the Tarka Foundation, Adasu initiated other projects such as the BENCO roof tile and the Katsina-Ala fruit juice company. However, given his short period in office, he was not able to accomplish a great deal in these projects. He was a remarkable Catholic priest who devoted his life to serving the community and fighting for human rights and social justice. Reverend Adasu was a champion for those who had no voice and a ray of hope for the oppressed. Despite facing significant opposition from the Benue people, who subjected him to numerous indignities and persecution, he remained unwavering in his commitment to his cause. His tireless activism and advocacy earned him many accolades, including the National Honors Award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice.

Although he passed away in 2007, his legacy continues to inspire countless individuals who seek to promote social justice and equality in Nigeria and beyond. His life and work serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking truth to power and standing firm in the face of adversity. Fr. Adasus story is a testament to the noble qualities of selflessness, dedication, and public service. As governor for nearly two years, he never once sought personal gain or profit. Instead, he devoted his time and energy to improving the lives of the masses. Whats remarkable is that Adasus commitment extended beyond his political duties. He lived humbly in a small dwelling he had built for himself years earlier while serving as a priest. This simple way of life reflected his character and unwavering dedication to his office. Despite his achievements, Adasu faced criticism and ingratitude during his time as Governor of Benue State. Sadly, the late Fr. Adasu also experienced similar attacks from the people of Benue prior to his passing, being bullied and called names. It was only with the intervention of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, then Senate President that Adasu was able to overcome the impeachment threat posed by 17 Members of the House of Assembly. Adasu then worked out strategies that led to the removal of Stephen Tsav as Speaker and other House leaders, paving the way for Emmanuel Jime to become the new Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly on July 7th, 1993. Unfortunately, before the dust could settle, the khaki boys returned in November 1993, and Adasus mandate to govern was terminated.

George Akumes tenure as governor was marked by the development of the States agricultural sector and economy. Before coming to the limelight, he rose steadily from the civil service ranks. He held several important positions, including chairmanships of the Local Govt Area Council and head of directorates, before bowing out of the civil service as a Permanent Secretary to vie for the governorship of the State. In 1999, Akume became governor of Benue State and served two terms of four years. During his time as governor, George Akume prioritized the development of the agricultural industry, which serves as the backbone of the States economy. He implemented several policies and programs aimed at promoting modern agricultural practices, providing farmers with access to high-quality inputs, and improving post-harvest management practices. As a result of his efforts, agricultural productivity increased significantly, leading to improved food security and increased income for farmers. Furthermore, Akumes administration undertook various initiatives to attract private investment, creating numerous job opportunities and driving overall economic growth in the State. Despite these achievements, Tiv youths, under the aegis of Tiv Youth Organization Worldwide, recently accused Senator George Akume of backing Fulani herders in the State for selfish interests. The accusation started when Senator Akume allegedly claimed that the Tiv people were killing themselves. The group accused Akume of working closely with those who invaded communities of the State and attacked innocent people. This is not the first time that Akume has come under fire. Not too long ago, senator Akume re-echoed the accusation that he first made four years ago, absolving herders of any responsibility in the series of attacks on the Benue people. The group noted that the Akume has never shown empathy towards victims of the humanitarian crisis in the State.

Gabriel Suswams administration grappled with several issues in his eight-year term. During his tenure, Suswams administration faced a plethora of challenges ranging from cultism, insecurity, and economic difficulties. To combat the rising incidents of cultism, the government partnered with security agencies, community leaders, and other stakeholders to promote peace and security in the State. This initiative included the establishment of a task force to investigate and prosecute cultists, as well as the provision of support and rehabilitation programs for repentant cultists. Furthermore, the administration implemented measures to improve the States economy, which included investing in agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure development. The government encouraged farmers to adopt modern farming techniques and provided them with the necessary support to boost productivity and profitability. The government also invested in the expansion and development of tourist sites across the State. It developed infrastructure and embarked on several road construction and rehabilitation projects to improve transportation networks and economic growth. Overall, Gabriel Suswams administration made significant progress in addressing vital issues of Benue State. These initiatives implemented had a positive impact on the people of the State. Despite these achievements, Mr. Suswam faced accusations of mismanaging the sum of N4.95 billion raised through a bond placement shortly before the end of his tenure. He was allegedly accused of conspiring with corporate organizations and regulators to embezzle funds, leading Samuel Ortom to declare an N4 billion bond fraud. Ortom alleged that the Suswam administration floated an N4.95 billion bond to fund multiple projects like road construction, water works rehabilitation, rural electrification, and township road rehabilitation three months before the end of his tenure. According to Mr. Ortom, the financial impropriety perpetrated by the Suswam administration significantly impacted the State, contributing to slow development and delayed payment of civil servants salaries. There were reports that Governor Ortom ordered the arrest of Mr. Suswam due to suspicions of possessing car keys, firearms, ammunition, and certificates of occupancy for landed properties found in vehicles parked at his Abuja home. After being detained for 70 days, Mr. Suswam was eventually released by the State Security Service (SSS).

Upon assuming the position of Governor of Benue State in May 2015, Samuel Ortom was confronted with a myriad of challenges that impeded the States progress. Among the most pressing issues was the ongoing conflict between herders and farmers, which led to the loss of countless lives and the displacement of numerous individuals across the State. Governor Ortom worked tirelessly to find a lasting solution to this crisis, including the implementation of the anti-open grazing law, but violent clashes persisted. Additionally, the governor grappled with a salary payment crisis. He took proactive measures to address the issue but ultimately fell short of meeting the workers needs. Despite rising insecurity in the State, Governor Ortom teamed up with security agencies to combat it, launching a community policing scheme that involved local communities in security operations. His administration was further challenged by the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the States economy, including a reduction in revenue and a slowing down of economic activities. Governor Ortom implemented measures to alleviate the pandemics effects, but they proved inadequate. Regrettably, his palliatives for vulnerable groups were later found in a market in Kano.

Despite Governor Samuel Ortoms efforts to address the challenges facing his administration, there were avoidable flaws that hindered his success during his eight years in office. He was accused of owing salaries to Benue State civil servants for more than ten months despite receiving a bailout from the federal government. Rumors of a bailout surfaced, and demands from civil servants shifted, resulting in even more delayed salary payments. Governor Ortom missed a chance to gain the trust of the people and make a definitive impact on the State. Additionally, there were questions about the reasons behind the consistently delayed payment of regular salaries, as previous governors paid salaries as early as the 21st of each month. This lack of payment and transparency eroded the peoples trust in Governor Ortoms administration and cost him his Senate ambition. Despite some laudable appointments, Ortoms administration ultimately failed to address pressing issues such as sanitation, roads, and revenue generation.

The ongoing attacks on our governor have raised concerns about our motivation to vote for him. Evidence suggests that every politician elected in the State has been subjected to bullying, physical assault, or other forms of attacks by Benue people. The Tiv ethnic group, in particular, has been identified as the instigators of these attacks, which often target respected elders. One notable example is Joseph S. Tarka, who, despite his fame and influence in Benue States political history, was ultimately brought down by our people. Political experts have described him as a savvy politician, a survivor of numerous political battles, a confidant of President Shehu Shagari, a fundraiser for the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), and an energetic campaigner. His contributions were invaluable to the partys success in several States. Aper Aku was a diligent and dedicated leader who, unfortunately, did not receive the respect he deserved. His life came to a tragic and sudden end when his own people turned against him. In December 1983, General Muhammadu Buharis coup replaced civilian governors with military officers, which resulted in Akus removal from office. In 1984, Buhari imprisoned Aku, along with other governors. They were subjected to military tribunals to investigate their conduct. During his time in prison, Akus health deteriorated. Aku was released based on his health challenges but unfortunately passed away in 1988. Before his passing in 2007, Governor Moses Orshio Adasu endured numerous indignities from his own people as he tirelessly fought for justice and equality. Despite facing significant opposition and persecution, his legacy continues to inspire those who seek to promote social justice and equality in Nigeria and beyond. Rev. Adasus life and work serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking truth to power and standing up for what is right, even when faced with adversity.

Several years ago, Mr. Robert Orya raised concerns regarding the number of petitions that were filed against him during his time as the managing director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM). Mr. Orya expressed disappointment that a majority of these petitions came from members of his own Tiv community. Mr. Orya pointed out that members of the community have unfortunately become their own worst enemies. This highlights a concerning trend within the Benue political landscape where members of the same tribe are willing to take action against each other. It suggests that there is an underlying issue that requires attention and resolution. Its no surprise that other tribes regard the Tiv people as being self-destructive. They also perceive the Tiv people as destroying their brightest minds. This notion takes us to a deep-rooted belief system of witchcraft. According to this ideology, only the most exceptional individuals are sacrificed or wasted. At the same time, those who are deemed worthless, such as thugs, hoodlums, gangsters, criminals, drug addicts, and hemp smokers  are spared. This regressive practice dictates that young people, irrespective of their brilliance, should remain hidden in the background to avoid drawing attention from older or more authoritative figures. That is why the Tivland today only has fallen heroes, as many of the brightest minds that could have made a significant impact in society are subjugated to this destructive tradition. Unfortunately, this practice continues to stifle and limit the potential of young people, depriving them of the opportunity to excel and contribute their talents to the Tiv community. It is, therefore, imperative that efforts be made to change this narrative and encourage the youth to work without the fear of intimidation. The government can support them through the provision of a conducive environment that promotes creativity, innovation, and intellectual curiosity. By doing so, we are raising a generation of young people who are not afraid to express their ideas, take risks, and make a positive impact on society.

Over the past six months, Governor Alia has raised a number of projects that have made me incredibly proud to be a Benue citizen. Thanks to the generosity of the federal government, the Governor was able to provide financial support to cover the WAEC exam fees for many students in our community. This initiative brought me a great sense of relief, as I would have otherwise needed to fundraise to cover tuition costs for final-year students in Tiv Land. The Governors support came at the right time to help me recover on my sick bed. Throughout the holiday season, it is common for many of us to receive requests for assistance. However, I was delighted to notice a considerable decrease in the number of financial aid inquiries. Upon investigation, it became evident that numerous families and pensioners had received their payments well in advance, allowing them to enjoy the festivities with ease. This has been an enriching experience for public servants and retirees alike. I hope the Governor will continue this trend to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people. When I fell ill at home, I sought medical attention at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, only to discover that most of their equipment was nonoperational. Faced with a life-threatening situation, I traveled to the US and underwent surgery in late November. Fortunately, the appointment of a skilled medical director by the Governor has since transformed the Benue State Teaching Hospitals operations. Medical technologies are now functional, and costs have been reduced, making it possible for women to safely deliver babies without incurring exorbitant fees. Its hard to understand what more the lawmakers could want besides their own self-interested gains.

A few years ago, the Tiv Traditional Council took a noble step by summoning Senator George Akume to appear before it over his alleged uncomplimentary and derogatory remarks against the person and office of the Tor Tiv. The Council, composed of respected members of the Tiv community, held an emergency meeting in Gboko, where they deliberated on the weighty allegations against the Tor Tiv, the custodian of the Tiv tradition. In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iyortyer, and the Secretary, Mr. Shinyi Tyozua, resolved to summon the Minister in writing to come and explain his actions. The Council believed that it was essential to give Senator Akume the opportunity to defend himself on the allegation rather than taking matters into their own hands. This act by the Tiv Area Traditional Council sets an excellent example for other communities, especially those involved in politics, to follow. It is necessary to caution Tiv sons and daughters and their allies to desist from acts that could generate tension, lousy blood, anger, and hatred within the polity. If peace is to reign in the land, it is crucial to avoid actions that could lead to conflicts or misunderstandings. Furthermore, we call on all Tiv sons and daughters to rise in condemning any media attacks on our governor. Our honorable members must lead by example and be cautioned to avoid any public show that could incite violence or hatred. If they do not cease from such actions, they should face sanctions or be recalled to their respective constituencies.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which released its National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report that in 2020, a staggering 75% of people residing in Benue State are grappling with the lack of access to essential resources. This means that three out of four people in the State are unable to afford necessities such as food, clean water, and healthcare, among others. Furthermore, the latest available data reveals that Benue State has a 12% unemployment rate, with 339,311 people being unemployed out of a labor force of 2.83 million people. While this is the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country after Osun State, it is still the highest in the North-Central region. These figures highlight the challenges faced by the people of Benue State regarding poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to essential resources. The Nigerian Constitution bestows upon the legislative arm of the government the authority to oversee and monitor the activities of the executive arm, ensuring that the governments actions and resource distribution align with the countrys developmental goals and the demands of its constituents. It is of utmost importance to keep a watchful eye on government programs to ensure that they meet the needs of all citizens. As such, the legislative arm bears the responsibility of carefully scrutinizing these programs for any indications of nepotism, favoritism, or cronyism. This is crucial in ensuring that government policies are transparent, effective, and efficient and that programs are distributed fairly and equally for the sustainable development and well-being of all citizens. In order to achieve these goals, legislative oversight must be practical and accountable. Unfortunately, the current inefficiencies in the Benue legislative arm are impeding progress toward these essential objectives.

There is a well-known adage that suggests that when you lend a hand in pushing a car, you should let go once it starts moving. This wise saying implies that you should only offer assistance until the person can manage on their own, instead of overstepping and potentially hindering their progress. The message behind this advice is to stress the importance of knowing when your help is no longer necessary or could be detrimental to the other person. In the case of pushing a vehicle, continuing to push it once it is already in motion could cause it to go off course or collide, resulting in damage or injury. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize when to let go and let the other person take control of the situation. Similarly, it is vital to understand that even if we have helped Governor Alia climb the ladder, as Benue national lawmakers have claimed, your assistance is no longer required. Continuing to interfere could potentially harm or hinder the progress of Benue. It is essential to step back and allow the Governor to work towards successful growth for our State. If you continue to meddle, we risk causing him to veer off course or fail, which would ultimately harm all of us. We call on Austin Achado, Titus Zam, Philip Agbese, Dickson Tarkigh, and Terseer Ugbor to release their grip on the Governor and allow him to take charge for the betterment of the State. Failure to do so may result in further division and potentially harm the partys chances in future elections.



Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit Catholic priest and PhD candidate in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA.

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The President of Creative Industry Group (CIG), Felix Duke, has made some new claims about famous actor, Emeka Ike and his ex-wife, Suzanne Emma.

Felix Duke said that Emeka Ike knelt down in court to beg his ex-wife, Suzanne Emma, not to divorce him.

Duke disclosed this while reacting to the recent drama surrounding the Nollywood actors crashed marriage.

He said he was involved in efforts to settle the marital crisis from the beginning, as Emeka had been his close friend before he got married.

Duke said he fixed up an appointment with the former couple before they went to court. The former couple met him in a hotel at Ogudu in Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State.

Duke said Suzanne Emma acted like everything was okay, but after she left, she went back into crisis with Emeka.

He pointed out that all his efforts to settle them didnt work because Emma refused to accept his pleas, because she had made up her mind to leave the marriage for the reasons best known to her.

According to Duke, When Emma took Emeka to court, I was there. I went to court with Emeka.

Emeka truly loved this woman but I believe she never loved him the way he loved her. From day one before Emeka met Emma, I have been friends with him.

When he met Emma, he called me and told me, that it was so many years ago. He said there is this girl I met and I would want you to meet her and he brought Emma and introduced her to me. I was at their marriage when they had Micheal (first child), I was at the naming, Emeka was also at my marriage so many years ago. So we have been friends.

I can tell you what Emeka went through. He was depressed after Emma left him, crying every day. I pet him and sometimes weep with him when he is crying.

We kept praying together and I told him one day you will find love and he asked me: are you sure I will ever find love and I assured him he would.

I followed Emeka to court and the judge told two of them to go outside the courtroom and talk and see if they can reconcile, but if they cant, then they come back in, and he declared his judgment.

When the judge told them that; myself, Emeka Ike and his wife, went out, and Emeka knelt down right in my presence to beg Emma, I even joined Emeka to beg her, but she refused.

Duke said that whatever Emeka had said, was the truth as he witnessed everything. He said that Emeka lost his established school, properties, and had to start his life from scratch to rise again.

Emma abandoned the school to run down because she was already out of the marriage. Emeka did not know that she was out of the marriage. Emeka still thought that he had a wife in Emma, he said.

On Emekas first son Michael, Duke expressed displeasure over his involvement in the case between his father and mother.

Duke said: He will go on social media to insult his father. Tomorrow he will go and beg his father. How is he going to erase all the nonsense he already said on social media?

He expects his father to forgive him and take him back after all these? His mother pushed him to go and say rubbish against his father. This is to show that Emma isnt a good woman. Who will want to do this to her son?

Duke also called out actress, Shan George for supporting Emma. Duke said that while the crisis lasted, people like her never tried to settle the matter.

He said: Has she visited Emeka Ike and his wife in their home at Magodo or did she ever visit their school? How did she know that Emma did not do anything wrong to Emeka?

How can one person that doesnt know anything about this whole saga, just wake up and begin to talk, because she wants to trend?
Me Anthony Uga, Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, who confirmed the incident to NAN on Friday in Ota, said the accident occurred at about 11:00 p.m.

On Thursday night, the Ogun Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that a woman lost her life in the Dalemo area of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway after being crushed by a truck.

Me Anthony Uga, Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, who confirmed the incident to NAN on Friday in Ota, said the accident occurred at about 11:00 p.m.

Uga explained that a truck with registration no.XA 354 WDP and two persons were involved in the accident.

The sector commander said the truck lost control due to excessive speeding and hit a female adult standing beside the road, resulting in the death of the victim.



The corpse of the victim had been deposited at the Ifo General Hospital, Ogun.

The FRSC boss implored drivers against reckless driving and to always conduct routine checks on their vehicles to ensure the brake systems are functional before putting them on the road.

Uga, however, commiserated with the family of the deceased and prayed that God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Bandits have reportedly given the federal govrnment an ultimatum to release their members arrested by security operatives.

They gave the seven-day ultimatum and said refusal would mean death for the students of Federal University Gusau (FUG), Zamfara State, they abducted.

Parents of the abducted students who are now calling on the federal government to act fast and save their children, said the bandits threatened to kill some of the female students if their demands are not met.

In the audios reviewed by Daily Trust, the bandits leader whose name could not be established said;

We are selling our cattle to feed the girls, and we are tired.We are tired of feeding them. You should take this message to those concerned. We are giving them seven days to release our people.

Responding, the informant said, I urge you not to kill the girls because they are innocent.

But the bandits leader said, Then you should talk to the federal government to release our members. They have incarcerated our members for a long time.

Speaking in Hausa, the bandits leader said in another audio clip: We heard that they (security operatives) want to use force to liberate the university students from us. Okay, before they use force, tell them that we would slaughter at least three of the girls in the first instance and share the pictures for the world to see.

What we are saying is that if they think they have superior power to free the girls, why didnt they confront us when we went to abduct them in the first place? We heard all that they were saying because we listened to the radio. They must release our members so that we can release the captives that are with us.

In another audio clip, the informant pleaded with the bandits to exercise more patience: It has been a while since I saw the mediators, but I will try my best and meet with them and ensure an amicable resolution of the problem.

The bandits leader said, You are well aware that they (the government) have not been straightforward in their approach. They would say one thing today and another thing tomorrow.

The informant then said, I still want to assure you that based on our discussions, those in charge have promised that theywould be freed and bring them for exchange with the girls.

It was learnt that one of the commanders the bandits want to be released is called Ibrahim, an elder brother to the killed bandit leader, Ali Kachalla, even as there are over 50 of their members in custody, according to them.

Commenting on the development, Dr Ibrahim Mai Unguwa, the father of one of the abducted girls, called on the government to reconsider its decision to use the kinetic approach in rescuing the students, saying, The move could lead to their death in the hands of the bandits. The children may be faced with two dangerous situations: one, they may be killed by the bandits or killed during a fight between the governments security personnel and the bandits.

Based on this, I am personally appealing to the government to reconsider its decision and go for dialogue with the abductors so that our children can be set free.

The government should honour the request extended to it by the bandits. This is not the first time the government has swapped criminals with citizens. We have all seen what happened in Iraq and recently in Palestine; where prisoners were swapped between government and rebels.

Even here in Nigeria, we have witnessed how members of Boko Haram were swapped with some Nigerians they had abducted. So, the government should consider the plight of both the abducted girls and the parents.

For me, it is not a failure if the government swaps these girls with relations of the bandits as demanded. We hope that the government will listen to our calls and consider the swap option rather than the kinetic approach the government is opting for.

Alhaji Muhammad Malami, another parent, said, The use of power will not work at this critical time because anything can happen to our children. We, therefore, call on the government to think twice on this matter.

The government should not be a cause-agent for the death of our children. Rather, it should be a cause for the rescue of our children. We want them alive. It is now more than three months after the abduction of these girls.

Those in the corridors of power should assume these girls are their children; how are they going to feel? They should fear Almighty Allah and do everything possible to rescue them alive. We dont want them to die in the hands of bandits.

We have been praying for their return and we will continue to pray until they return to us safely. No one would want his child to spend three months in the custody of bandits, especially during this harmattan season.

Remember, these children are spending days in an open space without shelter and medical attention whatsoever. This is terrible. We pray that Allah will return all of them to us very soon. But, sincerely speaking, we are calling on the government to reconsider using the kinetic approach in rescuing our children.
Former military officer and a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has said spending billions of naira to buy outdated weapons to fight insurgency is archaic.

Gumi, who spoke during an interview, emphasized the need for the government to concentrate on devising non-kinetic strategies of dealing with insecurity.



Speaking on the recent mistaken military bombardment of Tudun Biri residents in Kaduna State, Sheikh Gumi said its high time the military stopped interfering in internal security challenges, adding that the country needed a stronger police force to address issues such as banditry.

He said, This is not the first time such is happening. The military should fight the military. Tank by tank. Jet by jet. Military should be out of fighting insecurity. We are not fighting Cameroon or Togo.

And the jet fighters should not be used on citizens. I cannot imagine any American president, no matter how instructive, would use F16 to bombard Americans. Impossible. He would go down the next day.

What we need are very good policies. Then stronger policing. Thats where our money should go. All those people should be involved in community policing.

In every society you have very good people and they are the majority. Nigerians are very humble people; very resilient who can sustain a lot of hardship. So I dont see why good governance and good policing should be a big deal.

All the money we spend on buying all these Second World War aeroplanes and artillery and jets to fight insurgency is an archaic way of dealing with this issue. And billions of naira are spent on that.

Negotiate with these people. Build for them schools and hospitals. Let them have future. Build for them markets. Even the people we call bandits, what they sometimes complain is that they no longer have cattle markets because whenever they establish market, it gets destroyed.

So the military should be out of this picture completely. We are not fighting a foreign country. We should develop our internal security.
Survivors of the recent deadly attacks in Plateau State have bravely shared their harrowing experiences at the hands of the attackers.

The bandit assaults, which occurred a few days ago in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas, have cast a sorrowful atmosphere over Christmas festivities, not only in the affected communities but across the state.

At the Central Stadium Bokkos, where internally displaced persons (IDPs) have sought refuge, survivors recounted their ordeals with expressions of anger, resentment, and depression. Many spoke of the heartbreaking loss of family members, including husbands, children, and siblings, compelling them to abandon their homes in search of safety.

Christian Emmanuel, undergoing treatment at Alheri Clinic Bokkos, tearfully shared his traumatic experience, stating, Realizing that the attackers had already occupied our community, I started running, but they were able to run faster than me. I fell down, cried, and begged them to leave me, but they refused. They caught me and shot me.

Marry Samuel, another victim, vividly recalled the night of the attack, saying, It was in the night, even before we took our dinner when suddenly we started hearing people shouting. Our husbands started running helter-skelter seeking refuge. I lost my husband, brothers, and children. Our farm produce has been destroyed.

Tabita Timothy, who witnessed the gruesome attack, emphasized the need for government intervention, stating, We have lost a lot. The attackers slaughtered our people. Some are in the hospitals receiving treatment. They burned our houses and the food we have harvested.

Rifkatu Sati, who narrowly escaped the attack, expressed deep sorrow and uncertainty about her future, saying, I am a widow. Those who were taking care of me have been killed.

Mary John, who also escaped the attack, described the horrific scene, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of not celebrating Christmas, stating, We didnt go to church. We didnt celebrate Christmas. This is the first time in history that we have not celebrated Christmas.

The survivors accounts paint a poignant picture of the devastation caused by the attacks, highlighting the urgent need for support and intervention in the affected communities.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend berated Senate President Ahmad Lawan for his interference with the challenge of Senator Dino Melaye to Festus Keyamo to recite the national anthem during Senates ministerial screening on Friday. The PDP described Lawan as rubber stamp Senate President. The party noted that in the era of the PDP government, ministerial nominees who failed to recite the national anthem were not screened, adding that the case is different with the APC rubber stamped senate president.

In the good old days when the Senate was not a rubber stamped Senate, ministerial nominees were not screened for their inabilities to recite Nigeria National Anthem but this is not so with Buhari rubber stamped Senate President, PDP declared.

Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, challenged Keyamo during the ministerial screening last Friday to prove his mobile intelligence and recite the national anthem. I know you to be intellectually mobile, I want you to recite the national anthem, Melaye had challenged Keyamo.

Noticing how the Melaye challenge destabilized Keyamo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan interjected and nullified the Melaye patriotism test, saying it is not a question.

The PDP was of the view that the ruling APC is far behind the PDP in handling governance.
According to Sunday Punch, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria may be in for a new ordeal as the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the arrest of all identified Shiite leaders across the country.

He has also directed a team of special police to dismantle the structures of the IMN in the country immediately.

Adamu, in a signal to the operatives dated August 30, 2019, said the force would not allow the Shiite members to violate the proscription of the IMN by the court.

He blamed the violent protest by the group on July 22 for the killing of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Umar Usman, and a youth corps member, Precious Owolabi.

The IG further stated that a special investigation team set up to probe the murder had gone far in its investigations.

The signal, sighted by our correspondent on Saturday, read in part, You will also recall that given the odious activities of the movement, the Federal Government obtained an order proscribing the group.

NIGPOL FORCID (Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department) directs you (to) ensure that identified leaders of the group and their structures are dismantled and their activities contained.

You are to inform me of your action for discreet investigation and possible prosecution of violators of the proscription order. Treat as very important.

The police had earlier arrested 54 Shiite members after the July 22 violent clash between the force and the IMN members in Abuja.

But, the fate of the detainees could not be ascertained as the police have failed to provide information on their status.

The force headquarters informed one of our correspondents that the suspects were being held by the FCT police command, but the command in turn directed one of our correspondents to the FCID for further inquiries.

The Shiites had been protesting the detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who had been in the custody of the Department of State Services for over three years.


The national Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was thrown in panic as the embattled national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, resumed duty on Tuesday after the Court of Appeal on Monday ordered stay of execution the judgment of the FCT High Court which suspended Oshiomhole as APC chairman a fortnight ago. Party sources from the Secretariat revealed that several of the Secretariat staff who celebrated the suspension of Oshiomhole, the court pronouncement and the acceptance to respect the ruling by party leaders, were not comfortable on the return of the chairman. Many were said to be caught in fear.

Some party stakeholders who were on the opposition side were also said to be caught in panic on the arrival of the chairman at the secretariat on Tuesday.

Oshiomhole presided over a meeting with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday afternoon.

Probably, perceiving the palpable fears and panic, Oshiomhole at the NWC meeting at the APC Secretariat in Abuja, acknowledged that conflict is natural in a party of the APC size.

The returnee national chairman noted that APC is united and not divided and will be used as an instrument for the development of Nigeria.

Oshiomhole was of the view that pro-people political parties often encounter challenges than conservative parties.

The chairman stated that despite the challenges, APC remains strong. He pointed out that he is not a perfect being, however, noted that his sincerity of purpose cannot be denied.

Oshiomhole promised that he is willing to reconcile his style of leadership with that of other APC members to enable them work together.

There are indications, however, that most party leaders cannot still trust Oshiomhole, same with some secretariat staff. They still suspect he may go on vengeance war or would want to fight back after settling down from the skirmishes. It would appear that there is still tension in the party.

PV: 0
<! Boris Johnson admitted to hospital >

United Kingdoms Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has been moved out of Intensive Care Unit, ICU, after his health improved.

A spokesman for the UK prime minister said: The prime minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery.

He is in extremely good spirits.

Johnson has been infected with the deadly Coronavirus and was moved to the ICU three days ago when his health deteriorated.

He was moved into the ICU of St. Thomas Hospital as a precaution in case he required a ventilator.

Earlier reports said the Prime Minister was on oxygen and that he was carrying on with the task of governing Britain.
Nollywood star, Prince Iyke Olisa, is a man of many parts. He is multi-talented actor, script writer, film producer-cum-director, who recently shot two scary movies, Snake Mother and Son of Python.

On why he ventured into that kind of movies, the award-winning Olisa maintained that, over the years, he had identified his audience and what they like.

Hear him: Someone brought the script to me. After I studied it, I liked it. Every movie has an inspiration. I was not really particular about the snakes but the interesting story behind it.

The script writer mentioned to me that he is very good in creating snake-related stories, so after we did Son of Phyton, which sequels are being released, we just shot Snake Mother.

I have identified my audience and they like my kind of movies. Although, the posters might look scary, the movies are quite interesting and unpredictable. I dont want to join the crowd to do normal, flat movies, I love to see action in my movies.

However, Olisa asserted that while Son of Python preaches against greed, Snake Mother tackles family and trust issues.

So, its all about thrilling your audience and passing a good message at the end, he stated.
This charming Cape Cod home is ready to go! Move-in ready or perfect for an investment. Centrally located, this home is only 2 blocks away from Downtown Bloomington and Constitution Trail. Entering the home, the interior offers a spacious living room & dining room combo, kitchen with dining table space, 1st floor bedroom, and 1st floor full bathroom with washer/dryer hookups. Going up the steps to the upstairs is the primary bedroom with primary bathroom. Primary bathroom offers a clawfoot tub and built in desk/shelving. Making your way to the outside of the home, the exterior offers a front porch, freshly mulched garden beds, and wrap around brick sidewalk to the fully fenced backyard. Updates include: NEW main floor bathroom toilet in 2023, A/C NEW in 2023, updated furnace components 2023, New water heater within last few years, new soil pipe, reinforced front & back porch and cellar steps. Home being sold in as-is condition. The possibilities are endless!

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An Associated Press examination found that more than half of state legislatures in recent years have passed changes to their state victim compensation programs, where thousands of people turn each year for help with funeral costs, medical bills or other expenses after becoming the victim of 
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









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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Political Analyst, Dr Jonathan Asante Okyere, is entreating President Nana Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to bring to order, 2023 the Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, for his apparent disregard to the Constitution of the country.



Asante Okyere says Mr Kwaning-Bosompems continuous stay in office despite declaring, picking and submitting his nomination forms to contest the January 27 parliamentary primaries in the Akyem Swedru Constituency in the Eastern Region, frawns on the Constitution and the Code of Conduct governing the Civil Service in Ghana.



His comments come on the heels of confirmation by the Akyem Swedru Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. Dominic Fobih to the effect that, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem is one of three persons contesting in the primaries in the area on the ticket of the governing party.



Ghanas Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem

He is one of three aspirants which also include the incumbent MP and I was the one who took their nomination forms to the partys Regional office in Koforidua, Prof Fobih told Angel News on Friday, December 29, 2023.



Asked if he is not aware the constitution frawns on the actions of Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem who is currently the Controller and Accountant General, Prof Fobih said, it is not within his power as Constituency Chairman, to determine that.



The courts are there to do that determination so if anyone feels the aspirant has breached the laws of the country, he or she can seek redress at the courts, the chairman told Angel FM News Anchor, Nana Boi Piesie Kyenkyenhene.



The Supreme Court ruled on July 16 to 2016 that a member of the Civil Service/Local Government Service, does not have the right to remain a member of the Civil Service or Local Government Service after being sworn in as a member of a District Assembly.



It is therefore the worry of many, that Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem continue ls to hold himself in office as the Controller and Accountant General while he is actively campaigning to he elected to represent the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 polls.

Source: Angel Online









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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Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has expressed deep disappointment with former President John Dramani Mahama's recent comments belittling the success of the Free SHS programme, describing it as "woefully disheartening."



Speaking to journalists during the Christmas festivities in Akim Anyinase, Minister Oppong Nkrumah criticized Mahama for attempting to undermine the achievements of SHS graduates.



"It is disheartening to observe how Former President Mahama will go to all lengths to belittle the Free SHS program and its results simply because it didn't emanate from him," stated Minister Oppong Nkrumah.



The recently released 2023 WASSCE results, considered the best since 2015, have been attributed to the positive impact of the Free SHS policy. However, former President Mahama, during his country tour, discredited the outcome of the examination pointing to malpractices and students conniving with teachers to cheat.



Reacting to Mr Mahamas claims, the Ofoase Ayirebi legislator found his accusations of malpractices and cheating "shocking and disappointing," emphasizing that such remarks disregard the hard work and accomplishments of the students who benefited from the initiative.



"While he may not like the entire SHS program, he shouldn't try so hard to denigrate the beneficiaries. Yes, the program may have some challenges, but to say that even the exceptional success of the students is fake is just amazing," the Minister added.



Minister Oppong Nkrumah recounted the stiff opposition from Mahama and the NDC to the Free SHS programme, emphasizing that the former President's comments are a continuation of that stance.



This, he urged constructive discussions to improve the Free SHS initiative and enhance the education sector, emphasizing that Ghana would be better served with ideas rather than attempts to undermine the efforts and achievements of the beneficiaries.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Renowned Nigerian comedian, Basketmouth has revealed that things have been tough for him this year after his divorce, forcing him to take a break from the comedy scene.



As a comedian, Basketmouth made jokes of his challenges during his performance at 1030 Laughs and Music which took place at the Grand Arena of Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) earlier this week.



He joked about how he is wearing grey not because he is aging but rather thinking too much of the bad things that have happened in his life in the last few months.



Most people think I have dyed my hair but that is not so. I have been thinking too much. Imagine going through divorce after 12 years of marriage and things you expect to go well for you are not happening. It has not been easy for me at all, he stated.



Basketmouth also touched on how musicians are making a lot of money performing songs to their fans who end up singing the same songs for them on stage.



If I am taking money like Davido, Burna Boy or Wizkid, I would probably quit comedy. 2 million dollars for just a performance is a big money, he said.



The Ghanaian team of Afia Barcelona, OB Amponsah, Lekzy Decomic did not disappoint when they mounted the stage.



OB Amponsah got everyone laughing when he said people mistake him for Uber driver because he drives a small car, mostly used by the latter.



According to me, anytime he goes to the mall and other pubic places, riders who have ordered Uber rides will be checking the number plate to know if he is their driver.



One time, a guy actually opened the back door and entered my car and said he was going to Nungua, I had to tell him I am not an Uber driver. This is actually not fair to us using smaller cars, he said.



The night also witnessed incredible performances from musicians Nacee and Cina Soul. The other comedians Mic Danfo, Hogan, Gordons also had a good time on stage.



As the compere for the night, Foster Romanus did a great job steering affairs on the night.

Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Popular Nigerian actress, Iniobong Edo Ekim, better known as Ini Edo has explained why she still single at 41 years.



She gave this explanation in an interview posted on social media when she disclosed that she needs a man that can really love her.



When asked she if she had not found love before, the thespian who began her film career in 2000, pointed out that there is different between being loved and being committed with the relationship.



She added that it is not all about money but about how a man can manage a situation and the people around him. (Read also It has been tough for me after my divorce- Basketmouth shares story at Laughs comedy show)



Ini Edo said, Im single because I just want somebody that can really love me. Thats all. Im not asking for too much.



You can love someone and not ready to be committed. They two different things. Maybe thats why Im still single. I cant be in a toxic relationship if you cant give that protective energy that allows me to respect you.



I can be with man I cant respect. If you cant earn my respect then we can be together because what is the point? When it gets to the point that I start to disrespect you that means that you have brought yourself down to that point I begin to talk back at you.



Its not all about money. Its about how you manage a situation and how you manage the people around you. Simply put, it all about kindness.

Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A growing herd of 250 bison, re-introduced at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to help restore toxic wasteland to the native short-grass prairie, often descends through a floodplain to reach First Creek and cross to the northern half of the refuge.

But torrents of water spilling off the rapidly urbanizing parts of Denver and Aurora east of the 25-square-mile refuge have torn into the floodplain, carving a gully that blocks the bison from crossing the creek.

"This is a human-created challenge resulting from all the development," biologist Sarah Metzer, the refuge's supervisory ranger, said. "Bison are nimble animals, but they're going to have a hard time moving across this creek and getting up that other side."

The deepening gully has become an obstacle for both the recovery of a genetically robust herd of bison and the broader mission of revitalizing this land, where the U.S. Army produced chemical weapons, and the Shell Oil Co. produced the pesticide DDT.

"The bison won't graze on the land across First Creek because now they have to go all the way around," Metzer said. "That land is not going to get grazed. All the ecological benefits of having bison here are for naught."

Federal wildlife biologists managing the refuge have a plan to reconstruct the floodplain starting in January, with estimated costs ranging from $40 million to $61 million. They also hope to be ready to withstand additional pressures that will come with continued growth around the refuge and a warming climate.

It must be "restoration on steroids," refuge manager David Lucas said.

Runoff increased gradually over three decades following the development east of metro Denver to create Denver International Airport, housing such as Denver's Green Valley Ranch, Aurora's $800 million Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, along with roads, shops, restaurants and parking lots. Development changed water flows as rain hit roofs, asphalt and concrete.

Historically, First Creek flowed intermittently, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The floodplain reconstruction calls for re-contouring land and creating a curving creek, extending the length from 5.3 miles to 7.7 miles. The new floodplain then would be able to carry far more water toward the South Platte River.

Federal biologists have used bison, herbicides and prescribed fire to restore a native short-grass prairie that existed before 19th-century human settlement. The bisona dozen were introduced in 2006have thrived, with some bulls weighing more than a ton. The toughest challenge for refuge managers, until now, has been crowd control as metro Denver residents and Colorado visitors flock to see the bison. Refuge visitation this past year exceeded 950,000, shattering previous records.

But sustaining the bison, let alone allowing the herd to grow, requires access to sufficient prairie grazing habitat.

Lucas pointed to floodplain areas where runoff this year cut gullies six feet deeper. He recently began training to operate large yellow earth-moving machines himself.

"We have to increase the floodplain capacity. We are building resilience."

The measurements from a USGS stream gauge near Pena Boulevard along First Creek show water flows increasing from "intermittent" around 1991 toward a steady flow of 4 to 8 cubic feet per second. This year, runoff surges pushed creek flows to nearly 800 cfs, a record, exceeding surges up to 420 cfs after northern Colorado's 2013 floods.

To solve the problem, federal refuge managers are working with engineers from the Mile High Flood District, a taxpayer-supported agency charged with managing water runoff across a seven-county area where flows across 40 municipal boundaries create challenges.

"There definitely could be changes in the way land is developed when it comes to stormwater management," said David Skuodas, the MHFD's director of design, construction, and maintenance. "Imagine a neighborhood that looks completely different, with a lot more green space, a lot more open space."

The runoff across the refuge has also created problems for Commerce City, which sits between the refuge and the South Platte River. Last summer, the runoff flooded 96th Avenue, a major thoroughfare, forcing a month-long closure. Public works crews had to install additional concrete culverts to deal with the drainage.

"Closing 96th Avenue definitely was a challenge. It's a major truck route and trucks had to go up to 104th Avenue, which is already congested during peak hours," city engineer Shawn Poe said.

"Commerce City would be receptive" to a reconstruction of the First Creek floodplain, he said. "It would slow down the water and ease our conditions."

Efforts to capture stormwater and reduce flooding have been successful elsewhere in the area. In Denver, for example, the city re-opened buried portions of Montclair Creek in east-central Denver and city spokeswoman Nancy Kuhn said it plans to improve the drainage for the Irondale Gulch area, and the East 56th Avenue and Uvalda Street area, both near the refuge.

The refuge bison herd grew this year with 50 calves. If grazing routes to northeastern prairie grasses are maintained, bison eventually may be more visible for DIA travelers arriving in Colorado and rolling toward Denver at a long-planned turn-out along Pena Boulevard.

However, the completion of the floodplain reconstruction will depend on funding. Refuge officials said they're hoping federal infrastructure grants may be available. Starting in January, crews of existing refuge staffers will begin initial work on an initial $11 million portion of the project

"We desire a natural prairie landscape that will support prairie species, including bison," Lucas said. "Natural systems work better for our wildlife, and they thrive. Natural systems are far more resilient. But we must consider that the larger First Creek Basin is highly altered."

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Application of transfer-free graphene on insulating substrates for III-nitride epitaxy. Credit: Science China Press

In a comprehensive review, researchers from Soochow University, Beijing Graphene Institute and Xiamen Silan Advanced Compound Semiconductor Co., Ltd. have collaborated to provide a systematic overview of the progress and potential applications of graphene as a buffer layer for nitride epitaxial growth.

The paper brings together perspectives from academia, research institutions, and semiconductor industry professionals to propose solutions for critical issues in semiconductor technology.

Graphene, a two-dimensional material known for its exceptional electrical and mechanical properties, has garnered significant interest for its prospective use in the growth of nitride semiconductors. Despite notable advancements in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene on various insulating substrates, producing high-quality graphene and achieving optimal interface compatibility with Group III-nitride materials remain major challenges in the field.

The review provides an in-depth look at the bottlenecks in transferred graphene manufacturing techniques and the latest advancements in transfer-free graphene growth. It also discusses the current progress in growing transfer-free graphene on different insulating substrates and its potential applications in nitride epitaxy.

Ground section of Hypacrosaurus (MOR 548) supraoccipital shows exceptional histological preservation of calcified cartilage. (A) An isolated supraoccipital (So) of Hypacrosaurus in dorsal view. (BD) Ground section of another So showing calcified cartilage with hypertrophic chondrocyte lacunae. (C) Some cell doublets appear empty (green arrow), but others (pink arrow) present darker, condensed material consistent in shape and location with a nucleus (white arrows). (D) Dark, condensed, and elongated material with morphological characteristics of metaphase chromosomes. The limit of the cell lacuna is visible (black arrow). (E) Caudal view of a juvenile emu skull (810 months old) showing the So and exoccipitals (Exo) in articulation. (F, G) Ground section (stained with Toluidine blue) of calcified cartilage from this emu skull showing cell doublets (pink arrows) with remnants of nuclei (white arrows) and others without intracellular content (green arrow). Credit: Science China Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11426-023-1769-y

The paper further outlines the promising future of transfer-free graphene growth technology in the nitride epitaxy sector and identifies the challenges that must be overcome to harness its full potential. With a thorough analysis of existing literature, the review serves as a technical and application guide for using graphene in nitride epitaxial growth, encouraging further research in the area.

This review not only offers valuable information to researchers and practitioners but also charts a course for future research directions and technological innovations in the field of nitride epitaxial growth.

More information: Xiang Gao et al, Transfer-free chemical vapor deposition graphene for nitride epitaxy: challenges, current status and future outlook, Science China Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11426-023-1769-y
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.
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When the sea levels were lower, people could walk from Australia to Papua New Guinea. Girraween lagoon is marked on the map. Credit: Michael Bird/Damien O'Grady, CC BY-ND

First Nations people please be advised this article speaks of racially discriminating moments in history, including the distress and death of First Nations people.

On October 9 1873, George Augustus Frederick Dalrymple reclined in a boat on the glorious North Johnstone River in the coastal Wet Tropics. Dalrymple was in raptures. A riot of palms, bananas, ferns, and lilies descended to the water's edge, and large-leafed taro grew in strips along the riverbank over tens of hectares. He came across a large village with rows of neatly made bark and palm leaf huts. Dappled paths led to managed patches of open forest and groves of fruit trees, bananas, and yams. Nearby, a small fleet of moored catamarans sat bobbing.

In the colonial literature, there are many such descriptions of beautiful and bountiful pre-European tropical landscapes. It was clear that people had helped create such a rich paradise through their land management

By 1886, many rainforest people of tropical north Queensland had been "dispersed"killedand swathes of this biodiversity hotspot began being cleared for sugarcane.

First Nations groups such as Australia's rainforest people had skilfully managed entire ecosystems over the long term, in what has been termed "ecology on steroids". These future-making methods protected landscapes from climate change and buffered them against extinction.

Australia's First Nations did this through the cold and dryness of the last ice age, and as the seas rose through the droughts and floods of the El Nino Southern Oscillation climate cycle.

As we face an uncertain climate future, it's valuable to look at how people weathered such change.

Decoupling landscape from climate change

When people first came to Australia, the Wet Tropics were not wet. The Pleistocene climate was cool and windy, with mega monsoons and long periods of diabolical drought. If you had looked east from what is now Cairns, you would have seen not oceans and coral atolls, but plains and valleys filled with grasslands and forest. The sea lay tens of kilometers off the continental shelf.

The deep mud of Girraween lagoon near Darwin is a window into the past. Credit: Michael Bird/Damien O'Grady, CC BY-ND

The oldest record of human occupation in Australia is found in the Top End. Here, in a magnificent cave system in Arnhem Land, people prepared a meal of native fruits and processed pandanus using an adaptable toolkit. This meal took place 65,000 years ago, when savannah stretched all the way to the island of New Guinea.

Over thousands of years, Australia's people developed a vibrant cosmology. For First Nations people Country was sentient. The land was not a mindless resource but part of your familyand came with family obligations. Everyone, whether you were human, an animal, a plant, a river, fire, the sky or wind, was closely watched. People were embedded within ecosystems.

Recently scientists sampled the deep mud of Girraween lagoon in the Top End searching for pollen and charcoal that would provide a window into this deep time.

Some 13,000 years ago, the landscape was parched. But as the northern hemisphere ice sheets melted, the seas rose and the monsoons began to return. By the mid-Holocene, between 9,000 and 4,000 years ago, the monsoons were arriving regularly. The lagoon filled up, nestled in a landscape of moisture-loving shrubs and brushed by relatively cool fires.

But then, the climate lurched to one of the long periods of horrendous drought instigated by an El Nino weather system.

Curiously, destructive fires did not follow. The deep mud core showed fire became less, not more, intense, as the forest shaded out the volatile grasses that cause intense fires in savanna. Even as drought increased, the Top End landscape filled with layers of diverse herbs and shrubs, with a variety of trees and groves of monsoon forest closer to the lagoon.

This patterning was likely the handiwork of people taming fire and putting it to work. Through patch burning, they created a rich landscape of diverse habitat that sustained people and created niches for a wide range of species.

Today, a quarter of Australia's fire-prone savannahs, mostly managed by First Nations peoples, are returning to patchy fire regimes. These reduce the big wildfires associated with European pastoralism and reduce emissions.

Extinction busters

Mosaic burning reduces fire intensity and promotes fresh growth. Credit: Stefani Crabtree, CC BY-ND

Perhaps few places encapsulate the harshness of Australia's environment more than the Great Sandy Desert. Before the last ice age, the ancestors of today's Martu people would have witnessed great floods rushing down the Sturt Creek into an extensive lake system, Paruku (Lake Gregory). These lakes were ten times larger than today's system, ringed by dunes covered in scrubby vegetation and flammable spinifex.

Over perhaps 50 millennia, the Martu used fire to create mosaic landscapes.

In the 1960s, the Martu were forced to leave to make way for nuclear missile tests. Without cultural burning, it took mere years for fuel to build up and large wildfires to incinerate the landscape.

You can see the change clearly. Satellite images and aerial photograhy showed the size of the average fire went from 64 hectares under Martu management to over 50,000 ha by the 1980s.

In turn, this drove dramatic shifts to the food web. Over the two decades of Martu's absence, ten species of small mammals became locally extinct, including the rufous hare-wallaby, burrowing bettong, bilby, mulgara, and brushtail possum. What's more, 14 mammals, three birds and two reptiles became threatened. Cats, foxes, camels, and buffel grass became widespread.

In the 1980s, the Martu were able to return. Back on Country, they worked with scientists to reconstruct pre-1960s food webs from their memories, recalling not only species hunted but rich detail of the behavior, interactions and life histories.

Today, Indigenous Protected Areas covering millions of hectares have been added to the national estate. The Western Desert Martu Ranger program manages 6.5 million hectares.

This return to First Nations management is long overdue as human-made climate change intensifies. We will need to relearn these ancient techniques of managing the country on a broader scale to cope with the changes to come.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Traces of life in the environment reveal ecosystem health, prompting a scientific hunt for them.

During her doctoral studies in 2009, Professor Kristy Deiner trudged around mountain lakes in the U.S. state of California to help a scientist and park manager study frogs there.

A fungus-like pathogen was tearing through the amphibian population in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. What's more, the frogs were threatened by the introduction of fish in the lakes.

Illuminating pools

"What was really interesting for me was seeing how putting a new species in the lake changed all the other species in that ecosystem," said Deiner, who researches biodiversity and how to preserve it at Swiss university ETH Zurich.

She had her mind on far more than frogs and fish back then, wondering how many other forms of animal and plant lifesome perhaps never documentedexisted in those lakes and how they interacted.

Deiner leads a project that received EU funding to examine biodiversity through an unusual prism: environmental DNA, or eDNA, which gets shed into the environment by living organisms.

Deiner believes that eDNA can offer insights into species that are beyond the ability of the traditional detection method of human field observation. Called LeDNA, her project began in March 2020 and runs through February 2025.

Globally, wildlife populations have declined 69% on average over the past 50 years. In the EU, four-fifths of habitats are in a poor state and one in three bee and butterfly species is in decline.

Scientists are calling the dramatic loss of biodiversity worldwide the sixth mass extinction. Unlike the previous five die-offs dating back millions of years, the current one is driven primarily by human activities, including land, water and energy use and associated pollution.

By collecting eDNA, Deiner hopes to make more accurate assessments of biodiversity and even discover new species.

The EU plans binding targets for restoration of all ecosystems needing it by 2050a goal that the study of eDNA could facilitate.

Because eDNA gets moved around by rivers and streams and often ends up in lakes, Deiner believes they're the best place to collect it.

"If we just sample the lakes, we might be able to get all the life that's living in this entire catchment for a very little amount of effort," she said.

Big idea, big test

To put the idea to the test, LeDNA plans a global "citizen science" survey on 22 May 2024World Biodiversity Day.

People around the world will be enlisted to take samples in a bid to determine whether using lakes to detect eDNA works on a large scale.

The LeDNA researchers have developed a special sampling device that they plan to make available to the participants.

The goal is for 1,200 lakes to be tested. The LeDNA team is still recruiting participants and teaching them how to use the sampling tool.

The device is a capsule that functions the same way as a regular eDNA collection capsule: as water passes through, a filter collects the eDNA.

But unlike the normal device, the LeDNA one can operate without expensive equipment, according to Deiner, who declined to elaborate because of a pending patent application.

"We wanted to try and make something very simple that even somebody who has no scientific background could use," she said.

Once collected, the samples will be sent back to ETH Zurich and data will be shared openly.

New lens

Deiner wishes she had had such an instrument in 2009 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She suspected at the time the lakes would contain eDNA, but no ways existed to extract it.

"I didn't know how to collect the eDNA back then," Deiner said.

If the new method proves successful, she said that a much clearer picture of all the life forms on Earth could emerge.

That life has often evolved over millions of years and can be extremely adaptable, offering the prospect of important new insights into the preservation of biodiversity.

"That's just irreplaceable," Deiner said. "Life is pretty resilient, so if it's given a chance it can regenerate."

Forest focus

While she and her team concentrate on eDNA in lakes, other EU-funded researchers are hunting for it in forests because they too are a potentially rich source.

Called BIOSPACE, this project got underway in September 2019 and is due to run until the end of August 2024. The researchers are focusing on bacteria, fungi and the microarthropod microbiome in forests.

The goal is to determine how certain characteristics like soil acidity, water content, leaf biochemicals and type of woodland influence forest microbiome ecosystems. Of particular interest is understanding how the forest habitat drives microbial species richness and composition.

"By looking at environmental DNA within a teaspoon of soil, or on the surface or inside of a leaf, you can potentially identify the thousands of species teeming in the forest ecosystem," said Andrew Skidmore, a professor of spatial ecology at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

He leads BIOSPACE, which has collected eDNA in temperate forests in the EU, including Finland, Germany and the Netherlands. The team has also used open source data from other research projects in North America.

Satellite support

For help on this front, the researchers are using images from satellites. Pictures from space help experts to draw connections between any specific spot on Earth and a range of areas with similar ecological characteristics.

By combining actual eDNA samples with satellite imagery, the team can predict microbial biodiversity over more extensive areas and timeframes.

That's especially valuable given that myriad places on Earth have had no on-site biodiversity sampling whatsoever.

"There are great areas of the globe with no recorded data at all," said Skidmore.

BIOSPACE has already predicted the relative abundance of microorganisms in three terrestrial ecosystems in North Americaa research first for this field. This sets the stage for future assessments of how these microbes change over time.

Skidmore said that eDNA sampling of the kind being done by the project has another big advantage: it is systematic and unbiased.

He said that traditional information about biodiversity has often reflected what humans find appealing in particular species rather than what might be of most scientific value.

"Much of our knowledge about what's threatened and endangered comes essentially from what's interesting to people," said Skidmore. "It's time to give a voice to the lesser-known species too."

LeDNA BIOSPACE EU biodiversity strategy for 2030
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Clouds of gas and dust in spacelike Rho Ophiuchi, shown heremostly radiate infrared light, which human eyes can't detect. IRAS, the first infrared telescope in Earth orbit, imaged the region in 1983 and revealed previously hidden features, including newly forming stars nestled deep inside the dust. Credit: NASA

The Webb telescope has opened a new window onto the universe, but it builds on missions going back 40 years, including Spitzer and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite.

On Dec. 25, NASA will celebrate the two-year launch anniversary of the James Webb Space Telescopethe largest and most powerful space observatory in history. The clarity of its images has inspired the world, and scientists are just beginning to explore the scientific bounty it is returning.

Webb's success builds on four decades of space telescopes that also detect infrared light (which is invisible to the naked eye)in particular the work of two retired NASA telescopes with big anniversaries this past year: January marked the 40th year since the launch of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), while August marked the 20th launch anniversary of the Spitzer Space Telescope.

This heritage shines through in NASA's images of Rho Ophiuchi, one of the closest star-forming regions to Earth. IRAS was the first infrared telescope ever launched into Earth orbit, above the atmosphere that blocks most infrared wavelengths. Rho Ophiuchi's thick clouds of gas and dust block visible light, but IRAS' infrared vision made it the first observatory to be able to pierce those layers to reveal newborn stars nestled deep inside.

Twenty years later, Spitzer's multiple infrared detectors helped astronomers assign more specific ages to many of the stars in the region, providing insights about how young stars throughout the universe evolve. Webb's even more detailed infrared view shows jets bursting from young stars, as well as disks of material around themthe makings of future planetary systems.

Another example is Fomalhaut, a star surrounded by a disk of debris similar to our asteroid belt. Forty years ago, the disk was one of IRAS' major discoveries because it also strongly suggested the presence of at least one planet, at a time when no planets had yet been found outside the solar system. Subsequent observations by Spitzer showed the disk had two sectionsa cold, outer region and a warm, inner regionand revealed more evidence of the presence of planets.

Many other telescopes, including NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, have since studied Fomalhaut, and earlier this year, images from Webb gave scientists their clearest view of the disk structure yet. It revealed two previously unseen rings of rock and gas in the inner disk. Combining the work of generations of telescopes is bringing the story of Fomalhaut into sharp relief.

NASAs James Webb Space Telescope builds on four decades of work by space telescopes that also detect infrared light, in particular two other retired NASA telescopes: the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Spitzer Space Telescope. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Visionary infrared astronomy survey

When IRAS launched in 1983, scientists weren't sure what the mission would reveal. They couldn't predict that infrared would eventually be used in almost every area of astronomy, including studies of the evolution of galaxies, the life cycle of stars, the source of pervasive cosmic dust, the atmospheres of exoplanets, the movements of asteroids and other near-Earth objects, and even the nature of one of the biggest cosmological mysteries in history, dark energy.

IRAS set the stage for the European-led Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and the Herschel Space Observatory; the Japanese-led AKARI satellite; NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), and the agency's airborne SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), as well as many balloon-lofted observatories.

"Infrared light is essential for understanding where we came from and how we got here, on both the biggest and smallest astrophysical scales," said Michael Werner, an astrophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Werner, who specializes in infrared observations, served as project scientist for Spitzer. "We use infrared to look back in space and time, to help us understand how the modern universe came to be. And infrared enables us to study the formation and evolution of stars and planets, which tells us about the history of our own solar system."

On to Spitzer

If IRAS was a pathfinding mission, Spitzer was designed to dive deep into the infrared universe. Many of Webb's planetary targets in its first year had already been studied with Spitzer, which pursued a broad range of science goals, thanks to its wide field of view and relatively high resolution. During its 16-year mission, Spitzer uncovered new wonders from the edge of the universe (including some of the most distant galaxies ever observed at the time) to our own solar system (such as a new ring around Saturn). Researchers were also surprised to find that the telescope was a perfect tool for studying exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system), something they hadn't expected when building it.

"With any telescope, you're not just taking data for the sake of it; you're asking a particular question or a series of questions," said Sean Carey, a former manager for the Spitzer Science Center at IPAC, a data and science processing center at Caltech. "The questions we're able to ask with Webb are much more complex and varied because of the knowledge we acquired with telescopes like Spitzer and IRAS."

For example, Carey said, "We studied exoplanets with Spitzer and Hubble, and we figured out what you can do with an infrared telescope in that field, what types of planets are most interesting, and what you can learn about them. So when Webb launched, we jumped into exoplanet studies right from the get-go."

Webb, too, is paving the way for future infrared missions. NASA's upcoming SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) mission as well as the agency's next flagship observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, will continue to explore the universe in infrared.

Provided by NASA
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Galaxy M33 (Triangulum Galaxy) as seen by Hubble Space Telescope. JWST was used recently to observe sites in its southern arm where newly forming stars (YSOs) appear to lie.

Our Milky Way bristles with giant molecular clouds birthing stars. Based on what we see here, astronomers assume that the process of star creation also goes on similarly in other galaxies. It makes sense since their stars have to form somehow. Now, thanks to JWST, astronomers have spotted baby stellar objects in a galaxy 2.7 million light-years away. That's millions of light-years more distant than any previous observations of newly forming stars have reached.

The targets of JWST's observations are "young stellar objects" (YSOs) in the Triangulum galaxy (M33). Astronomers used the telescope's mid-infrared imager (MIRI) to study one section of one of M33's spiral arms in the hunt for YSOs. They found 793 of these baby stars hidden inside massive clouds of gas and dust. That's an important discovery, signaling that the processes of star birth we know so well in our galaxy occur as we expect them to in others.

About young stellar objects

To put this discovery into some kind of context, let's take a look at young stellar objects in a bit more detail. Generally speaking, these are simply stars in the earliest phases of their evolution. Starbirth begins when materials in a giant molecular cloud start to "clump together" gravitationally. The densest part of the clump gets denser, temperatures rise, and eventually, it starts to glow.

Young stellar objects can be protostars still sweeping up mass from their giant molecular clouds. They aren't quite stars yetthat is, they haven't ignited fusion in their cores. That won't happen for maybe half a billion years (more or less, depending on mass).

Once the infall of gas onto an infant stellar core finishes, the object becomes a pre-main-sequence stellar object. It's still not officially a star. That happens when fusion ignites inside the star. Then, it becomes a main-sequence star. Generally, it has cleared much of its birth cloud away, making it easier to observe.

Detecting newly forming stars

Stars in the earliest stages of formation are hard to observe, even in our galaxy. For one thing, their birth clouds hide these infant stars. That makes it very hard to detect them in visible light. But, once they're warm enough to glow, they emit infrared radiation. Given the right instruments, astronomers can easily detect that light. Infrared light is a primary tool astronomers use to search for areas where stars are just starting to form.

As they "grow up," young stellar objects often emit jets of material. Those jets stand out in radio emissions, which can also be detected fairly easily. These baby stars also blow off material in outflows of material called bipolar flows. Astronomers detect these by looking for evidence of hot molecular hydrogen or warm carbon monoxide moleculesagain, in infrared wavelengths. Generally, these bipolar flows emanate from the very youngest objects, less than 10,000 years old.

Many young stars have circumstellar disks around them. These are part of the cloud that formed the star and continues to feed material into it. Eventually, this disk becomes the site of planetary formation, which is why astronomers often refer to them as "protoplanetary disks" or "proplyds." These disks are observed in visible and infrared light by a variety of ground-based and space-based observatories.

All of these manifestations of star birth exist in our galaxy, particularly in the spiral arms, and astronomers have cataloged many of them. One of the best-known examples is the Orion Nebula. It hosts a number of these stellar infants, complete with protoplanetary disks, jets, and bipolar outflows.

One particular object, called YSO 244-440, is part of the Orion Nebula Cluster, a grouping of very young stars. This stellar infant is still hidden in the circumstellar disk that gave it birth. Earlier in 2023, astronomers using the Very Large Telescope in Chile announced they'd observed a jet emanating from this object.

In addition, astronomers used the Spitzer Space Telescope to observe these objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to the Milky Way. They've spotted at least a thousand YSO candidates in the Spitzer data, allowing them to trace the process of star birth outside our Milky Way.

A four-color image showing the MIRI data from JWST and HST data from the PHATTER survey. It shows the region of M33 where nearly 800 YSOs lie. Credit: Peltonen, et al.

Finding newly forming stars in other galaxies

Astronomers want to understand the process of star formation in other galaxies because each one has a unique chemical environment and evolutionary history. Star formation helps fill in the story of galaxy evolution. That's why it's so important to look for YSOs in other galaxies.

Until now, looking for infant stars beyond our immediate galactic neighborhood has been nearly impossible. Spotting them requires very high-resolution imaging and infrared detection capabilities to discern these baby stars from their birth clouds. As happens in the Milky Way, the cloud surrounding the young stars absorbs their visible light emissions.

Also, if you have a number of them in one cloud, distinguishing one from another can be impossible at great distances. Telescopes such as Spitzer, Herschel, and ground-based observatories don't have the high-resolution capability to detect all YSOs beyond the Large Magellanic Cloud.

This is where JWST comes in handy. It has high-resolution capability and is infrared-sensitive, which allows astronomers to study star-forming regions at greater distances. That's why a team of observers used the telescope to look at the Triangulum galaxy. It's very similar to the Large Magellanic Cloud in terms of how many stars it makes, its metallicity, and its size. However, unlike the LMC, M33 has puffy spiral arms that are home to star birth regions in giant molecular clouds. So, it made a perfect target.

The team used the MIRI instrument to look at a 5.5-kiloparsec-sized section of M33's southern spiral arms. They used previously made HST observations to identify likely sites of YSOs in the arm. Then, they focused JWST on those sites. The result is a whopping catalog of nearly 800 individual candidate YSOs that they then analyzed.

Analyzing the YSOs in the Triangulum galaxy

After sorting the observations and classifying what they found, the astronomers came to some interesting conclusions about star formation in M33. They found that the most massive giant molecular clouds there host a great many young stellar object candidates.

The numbers are about similar to what's seen in similar clouds in the Milky Way. The spiral arm they studied seems to have a very efficient star-formation mechanism, which isn't necessarily correlated with the mass of the giant molecular clouds there. They're still trying to figure out why the spiral arm is such a star-formation engine.

It's possible that even with JWST, we aren't seeing into the earliest phases of star formation in that section of the Triangulum galaxy spiral arm. It's also likely that M33's spiral arms (which are described as "flocculent") are different in several ways from the spiral arms of the Milky Way (for example).

Flocculence could be caused by multiple episodes of star formation that affect the structure of the gas and dust clouds inside. Our own galaxy's spiral arms are quite well-defined and certainly less flocculent than M33's. That could point to an evolutionary change that takes place as a galaxy continues its star-forming activities. The astronomers also suggest that the region between spiral arms that they studied in M33 isn't as efficient when it comes to star production.

Since this is a "first look" at star formation in a distant galaxy, astronomers will be using those observations to model what they think is happening in M33. Eventually, they should be able to use what they learn to make some very accurate estimates of just how much star formation is happening in the region they studied. Finally, they should be able to extrapolate that star formation rate to other arms in M33. That should give them much-needed insight into that galaxy's evolutionary state and history.
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The promotional image shows the project about the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) All Sky HI survey (FASHI). As the image illustrates, the powerful FAST telescope is observing distant galaxies, recording their HI emission, and revealing the detailed physical properties of the galaxies. Credit: Science China Press

The FAST All Sky HI survey (FASHI) was designed to cover the entire sky observable by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), spanning approximately 22,000 square degrees of declination between -14 deg and +66 deg, and in the frequency range of 10501450 MHz, with the expectation of eventually detecting more than 100,000 HI sources.

Between August 2020 and June 2023, FASHI had covered more than 7,600 square degrees, which is approximately 35% of the total sky observable by FAST. FASHI team has detected a total of 41,741 extragalactic HI sources in the frequency range 1,305.51,419.5 MHz. When completed, FASHI team will provide the largest extragalactic HI catalog and an objective view of HI content and large-scale structure in the local universe.

Lister Staveley-Smith, a professor at the University of Western Australia and a peer reviewer of the paper, says, "That's an impressive milestone. That's is an extremely important contribution to astronomical research, particularly in the field of galaxy evolution."

Helene Courtois, a professor at the University of Lyon 1, says, "The paper is a fantastic news for projects like Cosmic Flows. I didn't know that the FASHI survey was already going so strongly [for] three years. The quality of the spectra that are shown is exquisite, the completeness of the sample is amazing and showing the excellent sensitivity of the instrument. The area surveyed in just three years gives high hopes that the full sky that can be accessed by the FAST will be covered in a record of time. The paper was a total surprise to me , and reading page after page of the article was just like being a child unwrapping slowly and with delight a Christmas gift."

FASHI sky distribution of the currently released 41,741 HI sources (in blue dots) in the galactic hemispheres, showing the coarseness of the limits imposed by practical and scheduling constraints. For comparison, ALFALFA 100 (Haynes et al., 2018) and HIPASS galaxies (Koribalski et al., 2004; Meyer et al., 2004; Wong et al., 2006) are also shown with red and green points, respectively. The two black dashed lines indicate the position of the of the galactic plane at galactic latitude b = 10deg. Credit: Science China Press

The work was recently published in the journal Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy. Researchers from Guizhou University, the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Peking University in China contributed to the study.

More information: Chuan-Peng Zhang et al, The FAST all sky H i survey (FASHI): The first release of catalog, Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11433-023-2219-7
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday vetoed key parts of a controversial law that is set to loosen the rules around the use of pesticides in the country.

Brazil, an agricultural giant, is the world's biggest consumer of pesticides, many of which are classified as highly hazardous.

The Senate approved the law which environmentalists and right activists have dubbed "the poison package" in November after two decades of controversy.

Lula decided to veto 14 sections of a dozen articles of the law aimed at making it easier to approve the use of new pesticides and giving greater decision-making powers to the agriculture ministry.

He did so "to guarantee adequate integration between productive needs, health care and environmental balance," the presidency said in a statement.

However, Greenpeace said in a statement that "the vetoed sections are not enough to ensure that people avoid some of the most harmful aspects" of the law.

The environmental NGO said the bill would "put more toxic agrochemicals in Brazilians' food and pollute the environment even more."

Brazil's agribusiness sector consumed nearly 720,000 metric tons of pesticides in 2021, or 20 percent of the global total, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization.

The pesticide bill was first initiated in 1999, before being revived in 2022 by deputies defending the interests of agro-businessthe most influential pressure group in parliamentwith the support of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.

Human Rights Watch said earlier this month that the bill would open "the floodgates for dangerous pesticides," fast-tracking the registration of pesticides and removing a ban on pesticides "associated with cancer, endocrine disruption, genetic mutation, or harm to the reproductive system."

Now the ban only covers products that present an "unacceptable risk" to humans or the environment, a criterion considered very vague by critics of the text.

"Now a risk analysis will apply, but we don't know who will do that and how," Suely Araujo, former president of the Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency, told AFP.

The law also has international consequences.

The massive use of pesticides by Brazilian producers gives ammunition to those in Europe who oppose a free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur.

"Brazil is a top producer of the world's food, and its lax regulations on hazardous pesticides are a global concern," said Maria Laura Canineu, Brazil director at Human Rights Watch.

 2023 AFP
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Drone photo of Khaltaryn Balgas (MA21). Credit: Journal of Field Archaeology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2023.2295198

A team of archaeologists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, working with a colleague from the National University of Mongolia, has conducted a study of the 405-km wall system in eastern Mongolia known as the Mongolian Arc in order to learn more about its history and purpose. In their paper published in Journal of Field Archaeology, the group describes the techniques and technology they used to study the wall.

There is a section of the Great Wall of China that extends into Mongolia (which is an independent country) that has come to be known as the Mongolian Arc due to its shape. As is noted by the research team, compared to the wall in China, the Arc in Mongolia has received little study. In this new effort, they sought to learn more about the wall using a variety of approaches.

One approach involved mapping the wall, which stretches from the Dornod Province to the Sukhbaatar Province, roughly along the border between Mongolia and China. Prior research has shown that it comprises 34 structures and was constructed using both earthen walls and trenches.

They also found that historical records detailing when the wall was built are unclear, putting its construction somewhere between the 11th and 13th centuries. The team also looked at weather records to learn more about what the wall has endured over the years and satellite imagery to learn more about associations between wall locations and terrain. They also conducted field studies to learn more about the composition and condition of the wall.

The research team found some surprises. The biggest was that the wall had large gaps that suggest it was not built to keep out all invadersit appears it was built quickly in response to certain aggressors. There is also evidence that suggests the wall was built as a means of controlling the movement of people or animals or perhaps as a part of a taxation scheme.

Such theories arose as it became clear that the wall would not have served as much of a barriermany of its outposts, for example, were in places that offered limited views into the surrounding territory.

The researchers acknowledge that they were not able to provide any definitive answers regarding the reason for the construction of the wall or to provide a more accurate time of construction. They plan to continue their work, hoping to learn more.

More information: Ying Tung Fung et al, Unraveling the Mongolian Arc: a Field Survey and Spatial Investigation of a Previously Unexplored Wall System in Eastern Mongolia, Journal of Field Archaeology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2023.2295198 Journal information: Journal of Field Archaeology

 2023 Science X Network
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Schematic diagram of a three-stage model for the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Upper Yangtze, China, through the middle-late Permian. Credit: Wang et al 2024

Mass extinctions are rapid global decreases in Earth's biodiversity, with five key events identified over the planet's history, arguably the most famous of which occurred ~66 million years ago during the Cretaceous, which brought the rein of dinosaurs to an end. However, the largest mass extinction is attributed to the Permian, during which it is estimated that >95% of all life on Earth was eradicated.

The cause of this devasting event is still debated, with advocates for both a large asteroid impact that caused dust to plume into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and generating acid rain, or significant volcanism that released copious amounts of CO 2 into the atmosphere and made the oceans toxic to marine life.

New research published in Chemical Geology lends further support to the latter theory. Yu Wang, of Nanjing University, and colleagues conducted geochemical experiments on sediment samples obtained from Zhigao Quarry, in the region of Upper Yangtze River, China. Within the samples, the scientists identified an important mercury anomaly, hosted in organic matter, associated with a peak in carbon isotopes.

This negative carbon-13 isotope excursion is interpreted as being caused by massive releases of carbon into the atmosphere, likely due to volcanic eruptions, and these events are also a major source of mercury in nature. Indeed, the timing of this excursion coincides with known volcanic activity of the Emeishan Traps, Sichuan, a vast area (>250,000 km2) of flood basalts creating a large igneous province.

Trace elements such as molybdenum, uranium and vanadium within the sediment samples are susceptible to reducing and oxidizing conditions, with three noticeable spikes indicative of anoxic conditions when the oceans were depleted in dissolved oxygen. In addition to this, significant global sea level fall during the Capitanian (~264259 million years ago) is evidenced by terrestrial-derived organic carbon, while lower ratios of the elements cadmium and molybdenum suggest weakened or seasonal upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters.

The geochemical data and decline in calcareous algae and fusulinacean foraminifera in the chert, mudstone and limestone samples indicates marine anoxia and more pronounced stratification of the water column. In such conditions, oxygen minimum zones likely developed, with persistent areas of oxygen-poor conditions that would have inhibited the survival of organisms.

Field study site in Zhigao quarry, China, and thin section slides of sediment samples visualized using a petrographic microscope to identify microscopic marine organisms such as radiolarians, foraminifera and algae. Credit: Wang et al 2024

The research team propose a three-step volcanicclimaticoceanic model to explain how the large-scale volcanism led to a biotic crisis in the oceans during the Capitanian leading up to the ultimate end-Permian mass extinction. In stage 1, the study site was part of a carbonate platform that was connected to the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, located along the northern margin of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. This oxygen-rich shallow marine environment experienced vigorous ocean circulation with upwelling of nutrient-rich waters that were ideal for marine life to thrive, with evidence of algae, brachiopods and corals in the Upper Yangtze sections.

During stage 2, the onset of volcanism began in the early Capitanian, with the significant release of greenhouse gases resulting in climate warming of 3C5C. This coincided with sea level rise caused by regional subsidence, thus exacerbating stratification of the water column and marine anoxia as warmer oceans reduced the concentration of dissolved oxygen. While nutrients were brought to the surface by volcanic activity, primary productivity at the ocean surface used up most of this oxygen for respiration and organic matter decomposition, generating depleted oxygen minimum zones below.

Stage 3 is characterized by a waning of volcanism and a return to shallower marine conditions, with enhanced organic matter transported from land to the ocean, as well as invigorated marine circulation that brought oxic conditions once more. This permitted marine organisms to recover from the hostile anoxic conditions and evolve into new ecological niches.

The scientists arguably suggest we are now in the midst of a sixth mass extinction, and it is vitally important to continue exploring the role volcanism may play in tipping the balance toward another crisis for our marine realm.

More information: Yu Wang et al, Coupled volcanic activity and marine anoxia in the Upper Yangtze region prior to the Capitanian mass extinction, Chemical Geology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121838 Journal information: Chemical Geology

 2023 Science X Network
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Dexter Voisin. Credit: Case Western Reserve University

Black teenagers in urban environments who were more involved in religious activities were less likely to engage in alcohol and substance use and other delinquent behavior, according to two recent studies by social sciences researchers at Case Western Reserve University.

The most recent findings, published this fall in the Journal of Religion and Health, identified the relationship between "religiosity" and positive behavioral outcomes. In other words, staying connected with strong social support groups serves as a "protective factor" for the teenagers studied, said Dexter Voisin, dean of Case Western Reserve's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, the senior author of both studies.

"When we say religion and religiosity, we're really talking about a proxy for social connections," Voisin said. "We're talking supportive institutions that have historical and contemporary relevance to many positive outcomes in the Black communities."

Voisin collected data from 623 youth in Chicago used for both studies.

The most recent study revealed three distinct groups among the teenagers:

15% who reported "low religious beliefs and engagement;"

56% who described themselves as "religious but not super active;"

and 28% who were "highly religious and really active."

Participants in the highly religious group reported engaging in fewer thefts, assaults and physical fightsas well as less alcohol and cannabis use relative to the other two religious classification groups.

The findings suggest that religious environments can provide positive countervailing influences that mitigate negative peer influences that could result in risky youth behaviors, Voisin said.

He said an old adage applies: "Birds of a feather flock together and fly in the same direction. But if you belong to networks with positive peer support, then negative peer pressure isn't as strong."

The first study, published earlier this year in the journal Religions, reached similar conclusions. The data was collected in 2013 and 2014.

The research also delved into questions related to the diversity of religiosity among Black youth residing in low-income urban communities. The findings highlighted links between age, gender, government assistance and religious diversity and the impact of religiosity on substance use and delinquency.

Voisin said the positive findings on religiosity may not translate for other racial groups and ethnicities because the social risks wouldn't be the same. For example, the challenges experienced by white, suburban teenagers are often vastly different than for the Black urban teenagers participating in this research, he said.

"In the presence of threat, protective factors might matter more," he said. "With low threat, the benefits of certain protective factors might not be as salient."

Voisin also emphasized that the research didn't focus on any particular religion or denomination, but rather on "religious beliefs, religious importance and spiritual practices. More research is needed to better understand the mechanisms linking religiosity to less substance use and assaultive behaviors," he said.

The studies were led by mostly Black and other minority researchers from around the country, including the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Texas Tech University, Syracuse University and Wayne State University.

More information: Javari Fairclough et al, Religiosity and Associations with Substance Use and Delinquency Among Urban African American Adolescents, Journal of Religion and Health (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01916-2 Camille R. Quinn et al, The Relationship between Religion, Substance Misuse, and Mental Health among Black Youth, Religions (2023). DOI: 10.3390/rel14030325
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Xenassiminea nana (top) is a novel, rare, molluscan species with a translucent, spiral shell, discovered in mainland Japan. A researcher from Okayama University Japan discusses the anamotical characteristics and classifies it as a member of snails of the family Assimineidae (bottom: Angustassminea sp. from Okinawa as an example). Credit: Dr. Hiroshi Fukuda from Okayama University. Molluscan Research (2023). DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2023.2278070. License information is provided here: biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/180084

In Japan, a peculiar gastropod species was discovered more than three decades ago, gaining attention upon being labeled as "vulnerable" or "near threatened" in several government and local red lists. This species, referred to as Ka-wa-tare-kawa-zansho in Japanese, remained undescribed until recent efforts sought to rectify this omission.

Dr. Hiroshi Fukuda, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Japan, who first discovered this species, meticulously classified it through a comprehensive exploration of its anatomical characters. His research and findings were published in Molluscan Research.

"I found the new species 31 years ago when I was a fourth-year University student. I began the taxonomic revision of the Assimineidae on becoming aware that the species is a member of the family despite the morphological dissimilarity," Dr. Fukuda recounted, shedding light on the motivation behind this study.

For the classification, Dr. Fukuda examined, cataloged, and deposited snail specimens across multiple collections and museums. They were categorized based on their collection sites and preservation methods, ranging from dry specimens to those preserved in solutions such as neutral seawater formalin or ethanol.

Taxonomic analysis defined the newly discovered species as Xenassiminea nana, within the family Assimineidae. The species name "nana," derived from the Latin term "nanus" meaning dwarf, directly reflects the exceptionally small size of this species, which is the smallest among known assimineids.

The species displays unique characters such as distinct omniphoric grooves, specific radular teeth, reproductive system, and a nervous system organization, placing it within the family Assimineidae despite superficial similarities to other gastropod families due to convergence. It shares certain traits with other assimineine members but distinguishes itself through a depressed shell shape and less pronounced cephalic tentacles.

Its tentacular nerve's unique behavior of running parallel to the optic nerve and reaching a triangular bulge around each eye is distinct and unseen in other taxa within the family. These specific anatomical traits and unique shell features prompted the creation of a new genus Xenassiminea, segregating it as a distinct entity within Assimineidae.

Furthermore, the study presents a comprehensive anatomical examination of Xenassiminea nana. It explores the shell characters, noting its small helicoid shape that turns from transparent in youth to opaque in maturity. The creature has translucent skin, prominent tentacles, noticeable black eyes, and is capable of crawling rapidly.

The study also meticulously describes the digestive system, reproductive organs in both male and female specimens, and provides insights into the central nervous system, highlighting ganglia, nerves, and connectives throughout.

Xenassiminea nana is native to the temperate zones of mainland Japan and inhabits narrow spaces under rocks or buried in gravel. Records of this species are documented from various prefectures along the Pacific coast, Japan Sea, and East China Sea coastlines of Japan. Landfilling and reclamation activities have depleted the habitat of these snails.

"Actions undertaken for biodiversity conservation are not yet enough, partly because many people do not know that there are many little-known endangered species, especially minute invertebrates. This newly discovered species is a prime example of such overlooked biodiversity, offering valuable insights into the critical conditions necessary for biodiversity preservation," notes Dr. Fukuda, emphasizing the urgent need for its conservation.

Young researchers must actively immerse themselves in morphological studies to understand the role of smaller invertebrates in marine ecosystems. Without prompt conservation efforts, smaller invertebrates may transition from being endangered to extinct, sooner than anticipated.

More information: Hiroshi Fukuda, A new genus and species of the Assimineidae (Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloidea) from temperate mainland Japan, Molluscan Research (2023). DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2023.2278070
KENS 5 TV anchor and reporter Marvin Hurst poses with one of his Emmy awards. Courtesy KENS 5

News anchor and journalist Marvin Hurst is leaving San Antonios KENS 5 TV newscast after 19 years with the station.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Hurst said he is departing his news job after a 19-year run so he can join his wife in Dallas. His last day with the TV newscast is Friday.

Hurst, 54, noted that he and his wife, Felicia, who works in the health care industry, spent nearly a year living in separate cities, seeing each other whenever they could.

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I am moving to Dallas to be with her, he wrote. Before you ask, my WORK is to continue my journey as a Christian husband and become the Marvin God sees. For me, thats truly exciting.

My JOB, which will always get a primary treatment, is next in line. To quote the late Myles Monroe, Your job is what they train you to do. Your work is what you were born to do. Your job is your skill. Your work is your gift. Its time to do the work!

On Friday, he noted he has two job opportunities in the Dallas area that are nearing completion  one in broadcast media, another in communications.

The Hursts married on July 14, 2021. He has worked in broadcast news for 28 years and leaving San Antonio is a very personal move, he told the Express-News.

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The people here were so transformative to me, just in general  the energy, the friendliness, Hurst said. I could drive around the city and feel like Im in a big place, but it still had the vibe of a small town, where everybody knows everybody  even though were the seventh-largest city in the country. I will miss so many of the people.

He was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Mississippi, holds a bachelor of arts degree from Grambling State University, and launched his TV career at Alexandria, La., at KALB TV, where he was a crime and investigative reporter. He later did the same kind of work at WBRZ TV in Baton Rouge.

For a time, Hurst served as press director for the Louisiana governors Office of Youth Services.

He joined the KENS 5 news team in December 2004, earning accolades from the Texas Associated Press and the Lone Star Emmys. During Hursts career in San Antonio, he battled and defeated throat cancer twice.

I feel like Im losing one of my really, really, really good friends  but Im very happy for him at the same time, KENS 5 morning anchor Sarah Forgany said in a Facebook video.

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Its hard to move away from this kind of a person  but sometimes life and wife calls, and youve got to do what youve got to do, Hurst responded in the video.

In another video posted Friday morning, Forgany said KENS 5 has a special sendoff for Hurst.

Ive known Marvin for going on 14 years now, since I started here, she said. We were always really good friends.  When they renovated the newsroom 14 months ago, he became my desk mate  they put him next to me.
By Prince J Musa in Kenema

Officials from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education have on the 22nd July 2022 engaged Principals of Junior Secondary Schools in both Kailahun and Kenema districts on the placement of pupils that passed the National Primary Schools Examination for entry into Junior Secondary School.

The Chairman Conference of Principals East and also the Principal of Government Secondary School (Senior) in Kenema, Alhaji Mustapha Mansaray described the engagement in the city itself as important and timely for them as school authorities. He said the placement exercise will enable them to put measures in place to surmount some of the difficulties they will be faced with, and called on all to follow the policies forwarded by the ministry.

In her statement, the Deputy Director of Basic Education Kenema district, Agnes Kamara said the governments pass mark is 230 but said some principals of schools regarded as grade A schools do have their own standards and reject pupils indirectly by setting internal exams to discourage the children and their parents.

She appealed to the principals to work with the education ministry in admitting children that got the pass grades in their schools and warned them not to bloat the enrolment list but to take the necessary number according to the available space.

Another senior education official Rev. Sahr Foday told the gathering that the ministry started the placement process last year as a way of accommodating all those that passed the NPSE into junior secondary schools.

He acknowledged that prominent schools are challenged with accommodation which has forced authorities to take the placement system to the provinces.

He told the principals that interviews should be done only after the placement process and they expect all of the school authorities to comply or will face disciplinary actions. The ministry will only do placement at government and government-assisted schools and not private schools

We are not witch-hunting principals for admission of pupils in their schools but we want to ensure no child is left out, he said.

In her statement, senior educationist, Dr. Josephine Ladipo informed the principals to submit the names of schools that do not have codes.

She stated that the ministry has discovered that some schools are using other schools codes while some schools have double codes which she said is unacceptable.

Dr. Ladipo said the placement team will want to correct the issues before the next school year because the ministry now has the legitimacy to give codes to schools and not the West Africa Examination Council.

She reiterated that upon consultation with the Chief Examination Officer, the ministry was able to approve 156 schools last year.

I will take note of all your concerns pertaining to the placement and school code to the chief education officer, she assured.

She encouraged principals to come up with their challenges and to see how best they can deliberate on them for sustainable and quality free education for the children and the country as a whole. She also appealed to them to make provisions for special needs pupils in schools.

The Principal of Government Secondary School (junior) Kenema, Umaru Vandi Kondovoh informed the meeting that over one thousand pupils applied for entry this year and that they are faced with serious accommodation challenges especially when the ministry has instructed that pupils who repeat, be given a second chance.

He stated that the school is expected to undergo rehabilitation and reconstruction with added problems for the administration and therefore drew the attention of the ministry to those difficulties.

Copyright  2022 Politico Online (25/07/22)
A new microbrewery, Upper Hudson Brewing Co., plans to make its mark in Queensbury despite a series of zoning hurdles.

If approved, Upper Hudson aims to be a wholesale brewery that contracts with small, regional breweries, to brew and can their beers for sale to restaurants or in cans on-site.

Upper Hudson will also have a tasting room with about six tables.

Were going to do a real cross range of beers, Owner Ed Ostberg told The Post-Star. I have a spruce tip ale which is my version of what they served the Revolutionary Era soldiers. We also do stouts, porters. We do some really good German and Czech-style pilsners. We can brew pretty much anything.

The plan is to renovate an existing industrial building that sits on 22 acres of land at 639 County Line Road near the Warren County airport in Queensbury.

The primary use will be for production, there are plans for a small tasting room, but the primary use will be to produce beer, project engineer Erik Sandblom said at a recent Planning Board meeting.

Before brewing or renovations can begin, however, the site must first undergo site plan review and a zone change to have microbreweries as an allowable use in a Commercial Light Industrial zone.

Theyre basically shoveling me from zoning to planning to town board, Ostberg said about the difficult development process.

New York State allows for microbreweries to be located within Industrial zones, but the Town of Queensbury does not, which Ostberg says is especially frustrating since Adirondack Winery operates within an industrial zone.

You change it from wine to beer, and its the same thing, Ostberg said.

The building on County Line Road is currently home to Design Function, Inc., a business also owned and operated by Ostberg that designs and builds commercial graphics for trade shows and museum displays. He has owned that for about 30 years.

Design Function will slightly reduce operation to a lower level of the building to make room for the brewery on the top floor, according to Ostberg.

Ostbergs brewery project has been in the making for many years, including an attempt to build an establishment in downtown Glens Falls, which eventually suffered setbacks and did not come to fruition. Once approved, Ostberg estimates it will take around six months or so to repurpose the building on County Line Road into a brewery.

Ostberg already owns 10, 10-barrel fermenters and two 20-barrel fermenters that he bought from Paradox Brewing in Schroon Lake right before the COVID-19 Pandemic hit.

Paradox built a brand new brewery, and we bought their original brewery, Ostberg said. I have everything to brew the beer. I have pipes, pumps, control system, steam generator for the brew kettle, everything except for a way to package it.

Ostberg is expected to use a mobile cannery provider to package his products on site and then ship them off to various locations, he said.

Upper Hudson will be roughly half the size of Common Roots Brewing in South Glens Falls, which operates on a 20-barrel system and has established itself as a brand in the region. Given the size of the production, odors and noise will be extremely limited, Sandblom said.

The byproduct beer waste, including spent grain, from the brewing process will be stored in totes and shipped up the road to a nearby farm for chickens and livestock, according to Ostberg.

The Queensbury Planning Board did not identify any adverse environmental impacts associated with the project and made a favorable recommendation to the Town Board for zone change to have microbreweries as an allowable use in the Commercial Light Industrial zone.

When Upper Hudson Brewing goes before the Queensbury Town Board has yet to be determined, according to Ostberg.
From Warren County Sheriffs Office: Sheriffs arrested a Warrensburg man for allegedly robbing a Della Mazda on Tuesday, holding an employee at knifepoint.

A news release from police on Thursday, Dec. 28 said Jules W. Lyons-Sylne, 35, was charged with felony first-degree robbery, felony third-degree grand larceny, and multiple Vehicle and Traffic Law charges.

Police said that around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, they were called to Della Mazda on Round Pond Road in Queensbury for a knifepoint robbery. While investigating police determined the victim as a salesperson who was out on a test drive when the potential customer stopped the car in the pull off by Round Pond, displayed a knife and robbed him of his personal possessions, the release said.

Police said in the release that Lyons-Sylne fled the scene in the 2024 Mazda CX-9, leaving the victim standing on the side of the road. A sheriff's patrol officer located the vehicle, pursued it down Route 9, and was later joined by a New York State Police trooper on Aviation Road.

State police continued the pursuit South until eventually they were able to stop the vehicle in Delmar and take Lyons-Sylne into custody, police said.

Lyons-Sylne was processed and arraigned on various charges observed by the state police and returned to Warren County where he was charged. He is currently being held in the Warren County Jails Police Lockup, pending arraignment in Warren County CAP Court.
ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a bill that would require limited liability companies in New York to reveal who owns them, but only to government or law enforcement agencies. The original bill required that the database of owners be made public.

The bill has primarily gained attention because, if such ownership were disclosed, greater transparency could curtail money laundering in Manhattans high-end residential real estate market.

But a recent report issued by the Buffalo Common Council also highlighted how the measure as it originally was written could benefit tenants by revealing the identities of negligent landlords.

In a public statement after the signing, the governor said she secured a compromise agreement with the Legislature that will allow law enforcement and regulatory authorities to uncover misconduct, while addressing what she called the legitimate privacy concerns.

For far too long, bad actors have been protected by the loose disclosure requirements of LLC ownership, Governor Hochul said in the statement. Wage theft, money laundering, tenant mistreatment and other unlawful activity has been masked by the opaque ownership structure of an LLC. The new LLC Transparency Act will give law enforcement and State regulators the tools they need to hold bad actors accountable.

The decision to push ahead with the original bill would not have been a politically easy one for Hochul. Among the supporters were influential state building trades union, which have complained that LLCs are used to cheat workers out of wages, as well as organized labor more broadly, community organizations and several district attorneys.

New York Citys real estate industry, which is a major campaign donor to Hochul and other top state politicians, opposed the original bill. While stating it did not oppose disclosing ownership information to state government, the industry argues that public disclosure of the additional information could lead to identity theft.

Late last week, a spokesman for Brooklyn Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, that chambers prime sponsor of the bill, believed Hochul was preparing to offer up amendments to the Legislatures version. That raised concerns among the bills sponsors because the bill is relatively narrow.

John Kaehny, executive director of the government-reform group Reinvent Albany, expressed concern Hochul was planning to gut the bill based on the real estate industrys concerns.

Without a public database of LLC owners, the public will never know if LLC owners are following the law or the state of New York is enforcing it, Kaehny said.

Gallagher supported the bill in the end, adding her statement to the governors press release.

With todays signing, New York now leads the nation in tackling the rise of secret shell companies that abuse tenants and workers and defraud businesses and the government. I have seen up close the frustration and harm wrought by anonymous LLCs in my district. Today marks the first step to ending that impunity. I thank Governor Hochul, Senator Hoylman-Sigaland my Assembly colleagues for getting us over the finish line and vow to continue the fight for transparency, Gallagher said in the statement.

The bills Senate and Assembly sponsors did not respond to requests for comment for this story last week, and its not clear if Hochul is indeed seeking amendments.

In a 2021 speech, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen highlighted New Yorks role in international money laundering operations, stating there was a good argument that the best place to hide ill-gotten gains was in the United States.

And thats because of the way we allow people to establish shell companies, Yellen said. Many corrupt actors can hide their money in Miami or Central Park skyscrapers the same way they do in shell companies. An LLC or trust can be listed as the owner. A lawyer can sign the paperwork. Indeed, sometimes the only thing these luxury properties are home to are ill-gotten gains  theyre money laundromats on the 81st floor.

According to Reinvent Albany, 93% of New York property owners are already disclosed in public databases. But limited liability companies that own real estate do not currently have to publicly disclose who owns the LLCs, and according to Reinvent Albany, 37% of all Manhattan properties are owned by LLCs  five times the state average.

If signed into law, the LLC Transparency Act would make New York the first state in the nation to make LLCs publicly disclose their beneficial owners.

In November, the Buffalo Common Councils Affordable Housing Task Force issued a report encouraging the Council to take its own actions requiring disclosure of the owners of LLCs that own Buffalo property.

As of 2022, 9% of properties in Buffalo were owned by LLCs and according to the report, many deteriorating and neglected properties in the city are owned by LLCs.

Due to the citys inability to track these owners down, conditions may worsen for years, causing health and safety concerns for both tenants and neighbors, the report found.

The report cited the example of Angel Dalfin, a landlord who once owned or controlled 22 Buffalo homes where 29 children suffered lead poisoning.

Dalfin allegedly shuffled his properties among LLCs, helping him avoid accountability.

If inspectors and the courts could have determined ownership of the properties sooner, its likely that many of these children would have been saved the long-term impacts of lead exposure, the Common Council report found.

In April, Dalfin pleaded guilty to a felony charge of falsely stating that he had no knowledge of lead-based paint hazards in 23 rental homes he sold. He was sentenced in November to five years of probation, eight months of home detention, 600 hours of community service and restitution of $115,000.

The Common Council report also found lack of LLC transparency is a problem when properties need repairs and tenants cant reach their landlords.
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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Several cargoes of LNG loaded in recent days at U.S. export facilities and bound for Asia have changed course shortly after departing to avoid crossing the Red Sea, which has become theater of daily attacks on commercial vessels by the Iran-aligned Houthis from Yemen.

Several vessels have indicated they would not transit the Suez Canal and the Red Sea and will travel around the southern tip of Africa instead, Bloombergs ship-tracking data showed on Friday.

The African route adds weeks to the travel time for the cargoes to reach Asiathe biggest importer of LNG  from the U.S., the worlds top LNG exporter.

In a sign that a growing number of energy cargoes are being diverted away from the Suez Canal/Red Sea route, the Vivit Americas LNG ship, which loaded at the Cove Point plant in Maryland on December 16, diverted to Africa after initially pointing to a course via the Red Sea, according to Bloombergs data. The trip around Africa will take longer and the cargo is now expected to arrive in Japan on January 25. The Prism Courage, which loaded from Freeport LNG plant in Texas on December 16 with a destination South Korea, is also avoiding the Red Sea, per Bloombergs data.

The Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are critical chokepoints for international oil and natural gas flows. Total oil shipments via the Suez Canal, the SUMED pipeline, and the Strait accounted for 12% of total seaborne-traded oil in the first half of 2023, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments accounted for about 8% of worldwide LNG trade, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says.

Oil and fuel tankers passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea have declined in numbers significantly following the string of vessel attacks from the Yemeni Houthis.

According to Bloomberg tracking data, since the start of this week only 30 tankers have passed through the chokepoint, which is one of the busiest globally. Thats a 40% decline from the average for the previous three weeks, the news outlet noted.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oil and fuel tankers passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea have declined in numbers significantly following the string of vessel attacks from the Yemeni Houthis.

According to Bloomberg tracking data, since the start of this week only 30 tankers have passed through the chokepoint, which is one of the busiest globally. Thats a 40% decline from the average for the previous three weeks, the news outlet noted.

The Houthis who control most of Yemen started targeting vessels sailing in the Red Sea earlier this month demanding humanitarian aid for Gaza. Initially, the threat was for Israel-bound ships specifically but reports about the attacks so far suggest they are not the only ones being attacked.

All global shipping majors have announced decisions to reroute traffic away from the Red Sea and on Monday BP became the first oil major to make a similar decision. Prices immediately jumped and the U.S. said a few hours later it would organize a group of allies to step up military presence in the area to boost protection for vessels.

The rerouting of ships from the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Suez Canal is a costly undertaking. It adds some 10-12 days to journeys as the alternative route is around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. The delays will add to the costs of transporting goods and it is unclear how long the status quo will remain in place.

According to Vortexa, the increase in journey times for tankers varies between 58% and 129. The biggest increase, 129%, in the time it takes for a cargo to arrive at its destination would be on the Middle East Gulf to Mediterranean route, which would take 39 days instead of 17 days, Vortexa says.

As a result of these developments, oil prices hit a two-week high earlier this week and may even post a weekly gain.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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China took in half of all the crude oil that Russia exported this year, with India a close second, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said today on state TV.

China now accounts for 45% to 50% of Russian oil and fuel exports, while India is taking in some 40%, Novak said. The increase is particularly remarkable for India, where Russia exported almost no oil whatsoever until 2022. Now, it is the subcontinents leading supplier.

If earlier we exported around 40-45% of our total crude oil and refined products to Europe, by the end of this year we expect this share to have fallen to 4-5%, Novak said.

The figures suggest that China has essentially replaced Europe as destination for Russian crude and oil products.

Last week, another Deputy PM said that Russias oil exports are seen rising 7% this year from 2021 levels.

The most pressing problems last year have generally been resolved. This firstly concerns payments and cargo insurance, [and] secondly concerns ensuring seaborne shipping of hydrocarbons by tanker fleet, Alexander Belousov said.

Also last week, Transnefts head, Nikolay Tokarev, reported that the volume of Russian oil shipments to China this year had surged to some 100 million tons, equal to about 2 million barrels daily.

Export volumes to China and India have increased significantly; many times over. I can say that about 70 million tonnes of oil were supplied to India this year, while about 100 million tonnes of oil went to China, Tokarev said.

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Indian imports of Russian crude, meanwhile, hit a four-month high in November, at 1.6 million bpd, according to data Reuters reported it had obtained from trade sources. The November imports were 3.1% higher than Indias intake of Russian crude in October and accounted for more than a third of all Indian crude oil imports last month.

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H-E-B execs gave Cora Kennell a custom tub of ice cream after the fifth-grader wrote a letter to the grocery chain suggesting a new flavor. Courtesy of Boerne Independent School District. Curington Elementary School student Cora Kennell wrote a letter to H-E-B suggesting a new ice cream flavor and received a half-gallon of it  a limited edition just for her. Courtesy of Boerne Independent School District. Cora Kennells letter to H-E-B prompted the grocery chain to produce the ice cream flavor combo she suggested  but only for her. Courtesy

While other kids were sending letters to Santa Claus, 11-year-old Cora Kennell composed a handwritten query to H-E-B.

The fifth-graders favorite dessert is the grocery chains Creamy Creations brand of ice cream, but choosing among her three favorite flavors  Cookies & Cream, the chocolaty Texas Starry Night and the minty Grasshopper  wasnt easy.

So she asked H-E-B to consider merging the three flavors  and H-E-B delivered. Last week, the Curington Elementary School student was presented with a custom tub of it, dubbed Coras Creation.

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But, well, it was a limited edition. You cant buy it. Sorry.

Cora came up with the idea one night at home, enjoying one of her go-to flavors, said mom Karli Kennell.

When she wrote the letter and brought it to me, I thought, Hmm, Im going to see if I can find an address and mail it, because I thought it was really cute and well-written, Kennell said. I didnt expect anything to come of it.

Kennell mailed it early this fall and received a call about six weeks later from H-E-Bs corporate headquarters inviting Cora to tour its ice cream manufacturing plant. That didnt work out; somebody realized visitors must be at least 18.

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So H-E-Bs research and development people produced a single half-gallon batch. Its art department created a custom tub design  purple, with Coras Creation in large lettering and a photo of an ice cream cone, with the three component flavors somehow clearly visible in a single scoop.

Company officials handed it to Cora at her local H-E-B store in Boerne. She also received an empty souvenir carton with the logo, plus a poster of it.

Bryan Benway, director of communications for Boerne Independent School District, said the district is proud of Cora for her wonderful and delicious achievement.

Our students are very talented and should be recognized for their initiative and great ideas, he said in an email.

Kennell said Cora is shy, the least likely of five siblings to seek attention, so shes not often in the spotlight for these sorts of things.

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Chinese state energy giants plan to ask the United States for exemptions from the fresh sanctions on Russias Arctic LNG 2 project in a rare request to the U.S. as LNG deliveries could be threatened, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the issue.

The U.S. imposed last month fresh sanctions on Russias Arctic LNG 2 project, which is close to first production.

The Arctic LNG 2 project is being developed by Russias largest independent natural gas producer, Novatek, and was on track to begin first production later this year.

Novatek holds a 60% stake in Arctic LNG 2. The other shareholders include CNOOC of China and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), French supermajor TotalEnergies, and Japanese firms Mitsui Group and Jogmec.

In September, the U.S. levied some sanctions on the Arctic LNG 2 project, designating Russian services companies connected with its development.

Two months later, the U.S. Department of State designated limited liability company ARCTIC LNG 2, the operator of the Arctic LNG 2 Project, as part of additional sanctions against Russia to further target individuals and entities associated with Russias war effort and other malign activities.

The $25-billion Arctic LNG-2 project is Russias second major LNG project, and the new U.S. sanctions prohibit all related transactions without a special license from OFAC until 31 January 2024.

Now CNOOC and CNPC are preparing to apply for sanctions exemptions to buy cargoes from Arctic LNG 2, to make sure that they dont run afoul of the U.S., from which the Chinese firms also buy LNG, according to Bloombergs sources.

Earlier this week, unnamed industry sources told Reuters that Novatek had issued force majeure on future Arctic LNG 2 supplies for some clients following the sanctions imposed by Washington in November.

A Chinese request for exemptions from sanctions would be a rare occurrence for the worlds top crude oil and LNG importer, which has been importing oil from Iran, Venezuela, and Russia despite Western sanctions on the exports of those countries.

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U.S. drivers are expected to pay 2% less for gasoline next year, according to GasBuddys 2024 Fuel Outlook report published on Friday.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States could still fall below $3 per gallon this winter, according to GasBuddy, before rising in late February, eventually creeping towards $4 per gallon as we head into the summer months.

U.S. drivers could spend $446.9 billion on gasoline next year, with average spending falling to $2,407 for the yearthat would be down 2% from 2023, and 12% below what drivers paid in 2022. GasBuddy predicts that the highest holiday retail fuel prices next year will be seen on Memorial Day, falling in the range of $3.56-$4.04 per gallon, with May delivering the highest national average for gasoline prices at $3.89 per gallon.

As for diesel prices, GasBuddy sees them falling incrementally from 2023 and peaking at $4.13 per gallon in March 2024.

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, GasBuddys head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, said.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.121 as of Friday, according to AAA, compared to $3.133 per gallon this same time last year.

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Iran has exported $26.46 billion worth of crude oil since the start of its calendar year, in March, contributing to a 7% increase in total trade, which stood at $112 billion in the period.

This is according to customs data from Tehran, as cited by Reuters.

For next year, Irans government is making budget plans based on an expected daily average crude oil export rate of 1.35 million barrels, at an average price of $65 per barrel.

Gas exports, meanwhile, did even better, according to the data. These rose by an impressive 139% in the seven months between March and October, topping $2 billion in terms of value, according to the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, a government agency.

Earlier this year, oil minister Javad Owji said the government expected oil production to add 300,000 bpd from the current production rate, to reach 3.6 million barrels daily by the start of the next calendar year.

Iran has recently signed six contracts for the development of oil and gas fields in the past months, including deals to develop joint fields in the west of Karun, such as Azadegan and Yaran. The total value of the contracts is $14.5 billion, according to the minister.

Earlier this month, Owji said that Irans oil production has jumped by 50% percent since the current administration came into office two years ago.

Some analysts have attributed Irans higher oil sales abroad despite the current sanctions to the U.S. not looking to clamp down too much on the exports as it looks to keep oil markets well supplied.

However, Iranian exports could come under pressure as the United States signaled last month that it would tighten the sanctions on Irans oil industry.

This weekend, the U.S. accused Iran of launching a drone strike that hit a ship in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of India. This is the first time the U.S. has accused Iran of direct involvement in ship strikes after claiming it was helping the Yemeni Houthis who are targeting ships passing through the Red Sea.

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Oil prices have added 4% since the start of the week and may book the second consecutive five-day trading period for the past two months.

The biggest reason for the spike is the situation in the Red Sea as cargo traffic gets diverted away from the Yemeni coast where Houthis target ships with ballistic missiles and drones.

The tensions in the Red Sea have largely boosted prices, but thats been countered by uncertainty over supply, Will Sungchil Yun, senior commodities analyst at SI Securities, told Bloomberg. While its more of a wait-and-see for oil now, it will be hard for prices to find support if OPEC+ output cuts come into question.

Meanwhile, Angola dropped a bomb on OPEC with the announcement that it was leaving the group to pursue a more independent production policy. The move came as a surprise because just weeks ago Angola had said it was not considering leaving OPEC despite disagreements about production quotas.

"From an oil market supply perspective, the impact is minimal as oil production in Angola was on a downward trend and higher production would first require higher investments, UBSs Giovanni Staunovo told Reuters following the news.

"However, prices still fell on concern of the unity of OPEC+ as a group, but there is no indication that more heavyweights within the alliance intend to follow the path of Angola, Staunovo also added.

Perhaps in confirmation of that lack of indication for more members leaving, prices reversed the Thursday fall on Friday morning in Asian trade with Brent hovering around $80 per barrel at the time.

Even so, oil seems to be heading for the first annual loss since 2020, Bloomberg noted in a report earlier today, as OPEC+ production cuts failed to fulfil their purpose amid record-high U.S. production and higher output in other non-OPEC producers.

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Crude oil rose on Tuesday following the latest strike by Yemens Houthis on a container ship in the Red Sea and retained the gain when trade began today as well.

Yesterday, crude oil booked its biggest gain in over a week, according to Bloomberg, following the news that the Houthis had struck a container vessel owned by MSC and bound for Pakistan, traveling from Saudi Arabia.

The attack took place despite the increased military presence of U.S and UK forces in the area, after the U.S. announced Operation Prosperity Guardian last week. Several other countries including France, Italy, Spain, Norway, and Denmark pulled out of the coalition saying they would not serve under U.S. command but only under NATO command.

Even with this heightened U.S. and UK presence in the Red Sea, MSC said it will continue rerouting its ships that were previously scheduled to pass through the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Brent topped $80 per barrel, hitting $81 on Tuesday, while WTI remained around $75 per barrel earlier today. At the time of writing, the benchmarks were trending slightly down. Thats evidence that despite the potential for supply disruption, sentiment on the market appears to be still focused on the balance between supply and demand, leaning towards weaknesses in the latter.

"Despite shutting down shipping channels and re-routing vessels, how far the global supplies are impacted is still debatable," Phillip Nova senior analyst Priyanka Sachdeva told Reuters.

Speaking to Bloomberg, however, Sachdeva said that Persistent conflict in the Red Sea is propelling a rally. Thin market depth  owing to the holiday season  is adding further to complexities.

Bloomberg noted in its report that oil prices remain on track to post their first annual decline for the last three years despite the most recent rebound.

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West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices are down over 2% on Wednesday, with Brent crude closing in on similar losses on the day as global shipping giants gear up to resume traversing the Red Sea despite an ongoing Houthi missile barrage.

At 3:43 p.m. ET on Wednesday, WTI was trading down 2.02% at $74.04. Brent crude was trading down 1.86% at $79.56.

Oil prices have continued to track downwards on faith that a U.S.-led international task force, dubbed Prosperity Guardian, will be able to protect merchant vessels from Houthi targeting in the Red Sea, on the way to the Suez Canal.

Earlier on Wednesday, Danish shipping giant Maersk confirmed it had scheduled dozens of vessels for the Suez Canal, via the Red Sea, in the coming weeks after a temporary halt. The Houthis are targeting merchant vessels going through the Bab al-Mandab Strait between Djibouti and Yemen.

U.S. Central Naval Command has released data showing a minimum of 15 commercial ships attached by the Houthis in November and December, with the most recent attack on Tuesday, December 26.

While Maersk and others are resuming shipping in the Red Sea, using evasive maneuver, Germanys Hapag-Lloyd said on Wednesday that it would not be following suit, deeming the Suez Canal route still too dangerous despite U.S. military protection, the BBC reports. Instead, the shipping giant will reroute vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, which adds 3,500 nautical miles to the trip and a concomitant increase in shipping costs.

Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth-largest shipping company in the world by capacity.

Shippers will continue to evaluate the situation, with Maersk also noting that the overall risk in the area is not eliminated at this stage.

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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.

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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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Russia is planning to scale back oil exports from its sea ports next month by between 100,000 and 200,000 barrels per day compared to December levels, according to industry sources familiar with Russias export plans.

The reason for the scaleback, the anonymous sources told Reuters, is increased throughput at its own refineries.

Kpler pegged Russias seaborne crude oil exports at 3.5 million bpd so far in December. Kpler has also predicted that Russias oil exports will fall in January as its domestic refining picks up steam, with its offline refining capacity for December reaching 2.098 million metric tons. It also is in

The export schedule for the first quarter of 2024 is lower than for October-December, one of the sources shared with Reuters.

The sources suggest that the declines will mainly be seen in Russias western ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Novorosslick.

Russia schedules its exports using a three-month schedule in the month prior, giving oil companies time to plan oil flows through the Transneft system.

Russia said yesterday that its crude oil exports will be 7% higher this year compared to 2021 levels, prior to Russias invasion of Ukraine. 2023 exports from Russia are expected to be 250 million tons, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov told Interfax.

So far, Russia has managed to continue exporting crude oil at high levels despite sanctions and price caps through its vast shadow fleet of tankers.

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In November, the country voluntarily promised to increase export cuts as part of its agreement with the OPEC+ group to 500,000 barrels per day total300,000 bpd of which would be crude oil, and 200,000 bpd of which will be oil products.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Potential contract cancellations for the construction of ice-class LNG carriers and U.S. sanctions on the latest Russian LNG export project could hamper Russias plans to boost LNG sales now that its pipeline route to Europe is largely cut off.

There arent enough ice-class LNG tankers built to carry LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project via and Northern Sea Route across the Arctic Ocean to the east, while sanctions on the same project could also impede Russias efforts to sell more LNG abroad, sources in the industry and analysts have told Reuters.

South Koreas Samsung Heavy Industries flagged earlier this year no progress on 10 vessels out of an order for 15 ice-breakers, due to the sanctions on Russia.

In addition, the Arctic LNG 2 project itself is threatened with delays following stricter sanctions imposed by the United States.

The U.S. imposed last month fresh sanctions on Russias Arctic LNG 2 project, which is close to first production.

The Arctic LNG 2 project is being developed by Russias largest independent natural gas producer, Novatek, and was on track to begin first production later this year.

In September, the U.S. levied some sanctions on the Arctic LNG 2 project, designating Russian services companies connected with its development.

Two months later, the U.S. Department of State designated limited liability company ARCTIC LNG 2, the operator of the Arctic LNG 2 Project, as part of additional sanctions against Russia to further target individuals and entities associated with Russias war effort and other malign activities.

Earlier this week, unnamed industry sources told Reuters that Novatek had issued force majeure on future Arctic LNG 2 supplies for some clients following the sanctions imposed by Washington in November.

The $25-billion Arctic LNG-2 project is Russias second major LNG project, and the new sanctions prohibit all related transactions without a special license from OFAC until 31 January 2024.

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The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death of Matthew Guerra, 22, as a homicide. This comes after Police Chief McManus said the manner of his death was still pending in a Thursday press conference. Courtesy

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office officially ruled Matthew Guerras death a homicide days after he and his pregnant girlfriend, Savanah Soto, were found dead inside a vehicle at a Northwest Side apartment complex on Tuesday.

Soto, 18, and Guerra, 22, were both found with gunshot wounds to the head inside Guerras silver Kia Optima on Tuesday. Relatives of Soto said she was found in the front seat with a car seat on top of her, while Guerras body was in the back seat.

The medical examiners office said earlier this week Guerra died from a contact gunshot wound to the head, indicating that the muzzle of the firearm used to kill him was held directly against his head. Sotos cause of death is listed simply as a gunshot wound to the head, and the medical examiner said earlier this week it was a homicide.

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TIMELINE: The disappearance and deaths of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra

In a Thursday news conference, Police Chief William McManus said the manner of death for Guerra was still pending. He said it was likely a homicide, but he didnt rule out the possibility of the incident being a murder-suicide.

When Soto and Guerras bodies were found at a Northwest Side apartment complex in the 5900 block of Danny Kaye, McManus originally called the case perplexing. He clarified Thursday that it wasnt immediately clear if the scene was a murder-suicide or double homicide.

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San Antonio police are investigating the case as capital murder.

Soto was nine months pregnant at the time of her death and was scheduled to be induced into labor last Saturday at the Stone Oak Methodist Hospital for the birth of her son, baby Fabian.

On Thursday, SAPD released surveillance video of the apartment complex where the silver Kia Optima was last seen. The video shows two people of interest driving in a dark-colored Chevy Silverado.

Police said anyone with any information on the truck or the two people of interest is asked to call SAPD (210) 207-7674 or (210) 207-7440. Callers can remain anonymous when providing any information on this case.
Danish shipping giant, Maersk, and scores of leading shipping companies have begun shipping via the Suez Canal weeks after they abandoned the pivotal route following numerous attacks by Houthi rebels.

On Christmas eve, Maersk announced it was preparing a return to the Red Sea, citing the deployment of a U.S.-led military operation to protect vessels against the attacks. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the shipping giant had scheduled dozens of to traverse the Suez Canal, view the Red Sea.

Since Dec. 19, Maresk has rerouted ships around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

Last week, the company announced that it would add charges of $700 for a standard 20-foot container traveling from China to Northern Europe, consisting of a $500 peak season surcharge as well as a $200 transit disruption surcharge.

Since mid-November, Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched attacks on commercial shipping vessels in-transit via the lower Red Sea after Israel began its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Ships traveling through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait have faced persistent attacks by the militants, greatly increasing risk for ships passing through the Suez Canal.

The Red Sea is the most significant waterway connecting Europe to Asia and east Africa and also one of the worlds most densely packed shipping channels. About 12% of global trade, including 30% of global container traffic, passes through the Red Sea. Dozens of companies have stopped shipping in the Red Sea and at the Suez canal. Some of the largest container-shipping companies, namely Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA, CGM and MSC, have paused or suspended their services in the Red Sea.

So far, the shipping disruptions have not significantly affected oil and gas prices.

Two weeks ago, Goldman Sachs told clients that LNG disruptions through the Suez Canal would have limited impact on the global markets but acknowledged that it would result in higher shipping costs for specific routes. Oil freight prices have already been impacted, with insurance war risk premiums having gone up fivefold from $2,000 to $10,000, while rates for booking a Suezmax to transport crude from the Middle East to Europe up 25%.

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Meanwhile, the true economic costs of the disruption can be huge: Lloyds List has estimated that the Ever Given held up $9.6 billion in daily trade for the six days it was stuck in the Suez Canal.

By Michael Kern 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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Energy infrastructure company, the Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE:WMB), has agreed to acquire a portfolio of natural gas storage assets from Hartree Partners for $1.95B, a purchase the company says will improve its natural gas storage operations to meet growing power demand for Gulf Coast LNG and data centers along the Transco corridor.

The gas assets include six underground natural gas storage facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi with total capacity of 115B cf, 30 pipeline interconnects to attractive markets including connections to Transco and 230 miles of gas transmission pipeline. Transco is the largest U.S. natural gas transmission pipeline

"Importantly, this storage will also allow us to provide value to customers in markets with growing renewables adoption as daily peaks for natural gas increases the need for storage," Williams President and CEO Alan Armstrong said in a press release.

WMB has gone on an M&A spree as the company looks to expand and enhance its gas pipeline network. Williams has acquired MountainWest Pipelines consisting ~2,000 miles of interstate pipeline systems and 56 billion cubic feet of storage capacity from Southwest Gas (NYSE: SWX) for $1.07 billion in cash and assumed $430 million of MoutainWest's debt. MountainWests pipeline network runs across Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.

This acquisition has helped to expand the company's services in the Rockies region and also boost its cash flows backed by government-regulated rate structures. Williams says there are significant synergies as it integrates the incoming system into its existing assets, which it says could allow it to offer additional services to shippers.

Earlier, Williams acquired Trace Midstream's Haynesville gathering and processing assets as well as NorTex Midstream.

The company has been using its improved balance sheet to expand its natural gas infrastructure platform.

Last month, Williams CEO Alan Armstrong told shareholders that low natural gas prices are good for the company in the long term because they tend to increase demand for transportation, both on gathering systems and big transmission systems.

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The company delivered a beat in its third quarter earnings report with adjusted EBITDA revenue clocking in at $1.65B, versus its consensus estimate of $1.61B, and EPS of $0.45 (ex-items), compared to its $0.41 consensus estimate.

By Michael Kern 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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Authored by Michael Maharrey via SchiffGold.com,

Bills filed in the Oklahoma and Missouri legislatures for the 2024 legislative session would eliminate state capital gains taxes on the sale of gold and silver. The legislation would also take other steps to treat gold and silver as money instead of as commodities.

In Missouri, Rep Doug Richey filed HB1867 on Dec. 11. Rep. Bill Hardwick filed HB1955 on Dec. 15. The bills are companions to SB735 filed in the Senate by Sen. William Eigel earlier this month.

In Oklahoma, Sen. Shane Jett filed SB1507 and Sen. Nathan Dahm is running SB1508.

The enactment of any of these bills would eliminate state capital gains taxes on the sale and exchange of gold and silver bullion.

Both of these states are already among the 42 that do not levy sales taxes on gold and silver bullion.

Exempting the sale of gold and silver bullion from taxes lowers the investment cost of precious metals. It also takes a step toward treating gold and silver as money instead of commodities. Taxes on precious metal bullion erect barriers to using gold and silver as money by raising transaction costs.

Imagine if you asked a grocery clerk to break a $5 bill and he charged you a 35-cent tax. Silly, right? After all, you were only exchanging one form of money for another. But thats essentially what a sales tax on gold and silver bullion does. By eliminating this tax on the exchange of gold and silver, Missouri and Oklahoma would treat specie as money instead of a commodity. This represents a small step toward reestablishing gold and silver as legal tender and breaking down the Feds monopoly on money.

We ought not to tax money  and thats a good idea. It makes no sense to tax money, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul said during testimony in support of an Arizona bill that repealed capital gains taxes on gold and silver in that state. Paper is not money, its fraud, he continued.

The impact of enacting this legislation will go beyond mere tax policy. During an event after his Senate committee testimony, Paul pointed out that its really about the size and scope of government.

If youre for less government, you want sound money. The people who want big government, they dont want sound money. They want to deceive you and commit fraud. They want to print the money. They want a monopoly. They want to get you conditioned, as our schools have conditioned us, to the point where deficits dont matter.

GOLD AND SILVER AS LEGAL TENDER

Under provisions in the Missouri bill, gold and silver in physical or electronic form would be accepted as legal tender and would be receivable in payment of all debts contracted for in the state of Missouri. The state would be required to accept gold and silver for the payment of public debts. Private debts could be settled in gold and silver at the parties discretion.

Practically speaking, this would allow Missourians to use gold or silver coins as money rather than just as mere investment vehicles. In effect, it would put gold and silver on the same footing as Federal Reserve notes.

Oklahoma took a similar step in 2014. Utah and Arkansas also consider gold and silver legal tender.

The proposed Missouri law also includes provisions authorizing the state to invest in gold or silver greater than or equal to one percent of all state funds and to expressly bar any state agency, department, or political subdivision from seizing gold or silver bullion.

BACKGROUND

The United States Constitution states in Article I, Section 10, No State shallmake any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts. Currently, all debts and taxes in the US are either paid with Federal Reserve Notes (dollars) which were authorized as legal tender by Congress, or with coins issued by the US Treasury  very few of which have gold or silver in them.

The Federal Reserve destroys this constitutional monetary system by creating a monopoly based on its fiat currency. Without the backing of gold or silver, the central bank can easily create money out of thin air. This not only devalues your purchasing power over time; it also allows the federal government to borrow and spend far beyond what would be possible in a sound money system. Without the Fed, the US government wouldnt be able to maintain all of its unconstitutional wars and programs. The Federal Reserve is the engine that drives the most powerful government in the history of the world.

Tax repeals knock down one of the tax barriers that hinder the use of gold and silver as money, and could also begin the process of abolishing the Federal Reserves fiat money system by attacking it from the bottom up  pulling the rug out from under it by working to make its functions irrelevant at the state and local levels, and setting the stage to undermine the Federal Reserve monopoly by introducing competition into the monetary system.

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In a paper presented at the Mises Institute, Constitutional tender expert Professor William Greene said when people in multiple states actually start using gold and silver instead of Federal Reserve Notes, it would effectively nullify the Federal Reserve and end the federal governments monopoly on money.

Over time, as residents of the state use both Federal Reserve notes and silver and gold coins, the fact that the coins hold their value more than Federal Reserve notes do will lead to a reverse Greshams Law effect, where good money (gold and silver coins) will drive out bad money (Federal Reserve notes). As this happens, a cascade of events can begin to occur, including the flow of real wealth toward the states treasury, an influx of banking business from outside of the state  as people in other states carry out their desire to bank with sound money  and an eventual outcry against the use of Federal Reserve notes for any transactions.

Once things get to that point, Federal Reserve notes would become largely unwanted and irrelevant for ordinary people.

These bills make up part of a broader movement at the state level to support sound money.

By Zerohedge.com

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A Pleasant Valley School Board candidate is suing the Scott County Board of Supervisors for rejecting recount results in the closely contested race.

Write-in candidate Tracey Rivera filed a petition for writ of mandamus in Scott County Court last week, asking for the court to require supervisors to follow Iowa law and certify the recount results.

The race between Rivera and Jameson Smith for Pleasant Valley School Board District 6 was close. Initial tallies showed Smith ahead by six votes.

Rivera requested a recount, which was conducted by a three-member recount board. Rivera and Smith each picked representatives and when they couldn't agree on a third, the chief judge selected a retired judge for the board.

The recount resulted in a tie between Rivera and Smith. But just two of the three recount board members signed off on the results.

The Scott County Supervisors, citing what they said was the incorrect inclusion of ballots by the recount board, voted 3-2 to reject the recount results, against the advice of the county's legal staff.

The school board seated Smith following the supervisors' decision.

At the supervisors meeting, the county's legal staff told the board rejecting the recount results could lead to a lawsuit.

Rivera, in the suit, asks the court to compel the supervisors to accept the recanvas  the tie result. A tie would result in drawing a name to win the seat.

The suit cites Iowa code 50.48, which states that if the recount board's report is different than the original results, the county board "shall reconvene within three days after being so notified, and shall correct its previous proceedings."

Rivera's suit states that supervisors themselves acknowledged they did not have the legal authority to reject the recount board's report.

The Scott County Board of Supervisors is named as a defendant. It has not yet responded in court.

Scott County Board of Supervisors Chair Ken Beck declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Rivera also declined to comment.

This story may be updated.
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati is seeking candidates to fill a vacant seat on city council.

The Ward 6 vacancy is due to the recent death of Ald. Pat O'Brien. He began serving on city council in May, 2021, with his term set to expire in May, 2025. The new alderperson will serve the remainder of O'Brien's term.

Candidates must reside in the city's 6th Ward, which encompasses the northeast end of Moline. Applications are available online at the city's website or in person at City Hall, 619 16th Street.

Rayapati will accept expressions of interest and statements of qualifications between Jan. 2 and Jan. 9. She intends to interview candidates between Jan. 15-19 with a goal of informing council of her recommendation by Jan. 19 and an approval vote by council members at the Tuesday, Jan. 23, meeting.

The new alderperson could be sworn in at the Tuesday, Feb. 13, regular city council meeting.

Moline Fire Department receives new engines
Ethelene Boyd was 5 years old in 1954 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down segregation in public schools.

When I started kindergarten, I started under a new situation, Boyd, a longtime Davenport educator said Thursday.

She was attending the 23rd annual Kwanzaa Celebration held Thursday night at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Rock Island.

History of Kwanzaa

Boyd was 17 in 1966, when Maulana Ron Karenga founded and introduced Kwanzaa with its seven principles for life.

It was a time in the country when many things were out of kilter and needed fixing and needed changing, Boyd said. People had started to take notice of the need for change.

Kwanzaa came along at just the right time, she said.

Boyd said Karenga had witnessed the Watts riots in August of 1965, and he had studied on the African continent studying the lifestyles and the people, and the legacy of those cultures on African Americans.

He saw that theres a lot of good that needs to be shared, Boyd said. He saw that we could rise and elevate ourselves and assume our positions as a blessed people. It was a good thing.

From Karengas work came the seven principles of Kwanzaa, celebrated over seven days from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1: Umola, or unity; Kujichagulia, or self-determination; Ujima, or collective work and responsibility; Ujamaa, or cooperative economics; Nia, or purpose; Kuumba, or creativity and Imani, or faith.

On each of the days of Kwanzaa one candle is lit until at the end of the seven-day celebration all of the candles are glowing.

The celebration included drum and dance performances, and an explanation of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Celebrating Kwanzaa 2023

More than 100 people showed up for the event despite the snow and cold. Children made homemade drums and woven placemats, and there was a market where people could shop. Many people brought non-perishable food for the food pantry. The night ended with a dinner.

Elaine Miller, a teacher at Edison Middle School in Rock Island, watched the children doing crafts.

Miller said the placemats are an integral part of the table.

Everything is placed on the mats, she said. The mat is on the table that were all going to gather around. The mats stay with the table and remain with the family. The family placemat holds everything and everyone together.

Miller said that it is important for the community, and especially the youth, to know what Kwanzaa is and what it stands for.

Many of the children have no idea what it is and what it means, she said. But its the younger generation that will be tasked to carry the tradition forward. These are the ones were trying to reach for tomorrow, so that their tomorrow is a little brighter.

We really want people to come out and get a picture of what can go on if we give Kwanzaa a chance, Miller said.

Antoine Smith Sr., of Rock Island and a member of the Taranga Drummers who performed during the ceremony, said Kwanzaa is a celebration of African American and Pan-African history, values, family, community and culture.

Kwanzaa was made for African Americans and Pan-Africans in order for them to understand their heritage because of what had transpired with a lot of us coming over here as slaves, Smith said. We didnt have a lot of roots to the motherland."

The goal is to understand and carry on traditions from their ancestors, he said.

Its always about spreading the principles of Kwanzaa, no matter if you look like us or sound different, Smith said. Its about unity and showing love to everyone and bringing families together and neighbors together and just showing that love.

Alisha Hanes, one of the events organizers, said she first celebrated Kwanzaa in 2018.

Shellie Moore-Guy, a Rock Island community leader and the catalyst for starting Kwanzaa in 2001, got Hanes involved.

Shellie is everywhere, and she reeled me in and had me come as a speaker, Hanes said. I was a bit leery. Even though I had heard of Kwanzaa and had been to an event; but I hadnt been to this event and she had me start out by speaking.

It was a life-changing moment, Hanes said, leading her to get back into theater and acting.

Ive come to every one of the Kwanzaa celebrations since, she said. In fact, in 2020 when we couldnt meet, I was part of the virtual event that kept it going. That let people know its important to have these community events. Kwanzaa is for everyone, and the principles of Kwanzaa are useful to everyone.

The key now is to get the younger generations involved, she added.

Every cultural event that has gone on for years now has the challenge of keeping the young people engaged and passing the torch and letting them be a part of the ceremonies and festivities, Hanes said.

Its difficult because young people have so many things to get their attention these days, she added. It used to be when there was a community event that is what the entire family did. So, the expectation was that as you grew older, you were going to have a role in the event like your parents had. But there are so many things going on and so many other opportunities for kids right now its hard to get them into the event.

Not just during the holiday season

Joseph Williams, 17, a student at United Township High School, played Silent Night on his trumpet for the event.

I really wanted to do this, Williams said. The importance of Kwanzaa to me is showing how the major principles of Kwanzaa are supposed to be practiced throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.

Moore-Guy said she found the original newspaper article for the first public Quad-Cities Kwanzaa celebration held in 2001. Promoting the values of Kwanzaa has been a constant across those 23 years.

I think we do practice these principles in our daily lives even if we dont have the same name for the principles, she said. We go to church, we come to events like this all year around, we help people, were kind to people, so I think we practice the values of Kwanzaa throughout the year.
Anjelica Sasse and Cynthia Robertson of Rapid City, and Stephanie Rissler of Vermillion, have been elected to the Black Hills Playhouse Board of Directors. The Black Hills Playhouse announced the new board members in December. The Playhouses board of directors volunteer their time to set the strategic direction of the organization, raise funds, help with physical plant projects and assist staff.

Board members time and dedication to forwarding the mission of Black Hills Playhouse is essential to its operations. Black Hills Playhouse, located in Custer State Park, provides professional summer stock theater. Its 2024 season Be Part of Our Worlds, opens June 9, 2024. Go to blackhillsplayhouse.com to learn more about Black Hills Playhouse and its 2024 season.

Sasse works for Black Hills Energy. She is a University of South Dakota-appointed Playhouse board member, continuing the strong relationship between the BHP and USD. Sasse is the 2024 chair of the Rapid City Arts Council and sits on the board of the Rapid City Young Professionals Group. She grew up being involved in theater productions at Central High School in Rapid City and she hopes to help connect and engage younger and diverse audiences for the sustainability of the Black Hills Playhouse. Sasse holds degrees from the University of South Dakota and South Dakota Mines. She lives in Rapid City with her husband, Jake.

Robertson is a homeschool educator and former public school teacher. She is excited to work with others who share similar interests and to learn more about theater in general. Robertson believes her passions align with the goals of the Black Hills Playhouses education programs and she hopes to continue to cultivate her childs interest in theater by serving on the Playhouse board. Robertson was born in Korea and was raised in Japan and Italy before making her home in Rapid City. She holds a degree in literature with an emphasis on childhood development and a South Dakota teacher certification. She lives in Rapid City, where she is a frequent volunteer in the community.

Rissler works for the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations as a communication manager. She is currently the chair for the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Commission and was the senior producer of South Dakota Public Broadcasting for 24 years. Rissler hopes to serve as a liaison between the Playhouse and the GF&P Commission, and she hopes that her expertise in marketing and communications will have a positive impact on the Playhouse. She is a native of Wyoming who graduated from Black Hills State University in Spearfish. She is a strong advocate of volunteering and serving the people of South Dakota, and she believes her statewide connections will be an asset to the BHP.
Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. Email Guillermo at guillermo.contreras@express-news.net
One suspect is in custody after hitting a Deadwood police officer with a car and fleeing early Thursday afternoon.

According to a post on Deadwood Police Department's Facebook page, just after noon Thursday officers responded to a report that a vehicle suspected to be connected to a domestic violence incident in Lead had been spotted in town.

Officers located the vehicle in a local casino parking lot, with a suspect inside. DPD said the man refused to comply with officers' commands to step out of the vehicle, instead backing into the patrol car at a high rate of speed. One officer was struck as the car backed up; an officer-in-training was seated inside the patrol car.

The man fled and shortly after stole a vehicle in Lawrence County, according to DPD. The suspect was apprehended in Rapid City after a short police chase. He was driving a different vehicle than the one stolen in Lawrence County. That separate incident is still under investigation.

Both Deadwood officers are okay, and no one was hurt, DPD said in the post.

The Deadwood Police Department extended its thanks to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Sturgis Police Department, Meade County Sheriff's Office and the South Dakota Highway Patrol for their assistance.
For ice fishing aficionados, plans to enjoy that experience during the interlude between Christmas and New Years were rudely interrupted by the snowfall and heavy winds of the past few days.

The interruption, mostly in the Rapid City, central and northern Black Hills areas, didn't phase the most committed ice fishermen.

Diehards were back in action on Wednesday as the upper elevation Black Hills lakes, with the exception of Pactola, are now frozen over and do have safe ice (at least in spots).

Be advised to exercise extreme caution and remember that ice conditions can vary considerably on any body of water, particularly with the presence of snow packs and sunshine.

Also keep in mind that in reality no ice, even seemingly clear, blue ice, is 100% safe.

ICE THICKNESS RECOMMENDATIONS

3 inches--a single person on foot

4 inchesgroup in a single file line

7 1/2 inchespassenger car (2-ton gross)

8 incheslight truck (2 -ton gross)

10 inchesmedium truck (3 1/2-ton gross)

12 inchesheavy truck (8-ton gross).

RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Spud bar or chisel, ice picks, floating ice suit or life jacket, whistle, 50-100 feet of rope, and, or course, cell phone.

With those thoughts in mind, heres a brief look at recent reports.

Angostura Reservoir: Not much has changed from the past week. Cold nighttime temperatures have created patches of ice, though open water remains. Daytime temperatures in the 40s for the next few days will likely maintain those conditions. No fishing activity reported.

Belle Fourche Reservoir (Orman): Lake is slowly icing up, though unsafe conditions prevail and no activity reported.

Black Hills Steams: An excellent trout bite has been reported in Rapid Creek. Activity has been steady from Canyon Lake through Rapid City. Nymphs have been the presentation of choice. Access may be problematic.

Smaller Black Hills lakes: Safe ice reported on Mitchell, Lakota, Center and Horsethief. Limited fishing activity with some catches of perch and trout reported.

Deerfield Lake: Lake has frozen over and some reports of lake trout and perch activity.

Pactola Reservoir: A mix of ice and open water. Jenny Gulch has safe ice reportedly with some northern pike action in play.

Sheridan Lake: Workable ice reported in spots particularly near the highway and Chipper Bay area. Trout and perch activity reported on wax worms.

Stockade Lake: Lake is frozen over and anglers have been active. Some northern pike and perch activity reported.

Missouri River: Winter storm coupled with warmer than normal December temperatures have shutdown most river activity.

SCHEDULED ICE FISHING TOURNAMENTS



Ice conditions permitting

Wild Walleye Outfitters Ice Fishing Tournament: Jan. 13

Whitney Dock Ice Fishing Tournament: Jan. 20

Sheridan Lake Ice Derby sponsored by Walleyes Unlimited: Jan. 28

Annual Rooster Species Select Ice Contest: Cost to participate is $5. Must be pre-registered before catching your fish. ALL proceeds to be donated to Hooked on Hardwater Kids. Only Western South Dakota lakes are eligible.

Registration forms are available at The Rooster in Rapid City and other fine fishing equipment locations. Additional info is available at above websites.

Dakota Angler & Outfitter, 1010 Jackson Blvd., Rapid City; The Rooster, 1441 W. Main St., Rapid City and Wheel in Bait Shop, 18696 Fishermans Road, Fruitdale have contributed to this report.
By: Tajul Islam





In the chronicles of contemporary history, few leaders have demonstrated the extraordinary compassion and resilience exhibited by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. Her profound commitment to humanitarian values became unmistakably evident during the Rohingya crisis of 2017 when over 1.20 million Rohingya refugees sought refuge in Bangladesh, escaping ethnic cleansing and violence in Myanmar. This article delves into the multifaceted aspects of Sheikh Hasina's leadership and Bangladesh's comprehensive response to the Rohingya crisis, shedding light on the nation's unwavering dedication to human rights, global solidarity, and peace.





To comprehend the magnitude of Sheikh Hasina's contributions, it is imperative to revisit the historical context of the Rohingya crisis. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, have faced discrimination and persecution for decades. However, the crisis escalated in 2017 when a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar military forced hundreds of thousands to flee, leading to one of the most severe humanitarian catastrophes of our time.





Bangladesh, under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, responded to the Rohingya crisis with unparalleled humanity. Despite being a densely populated and economically developing nation with its share of challenges, Bangladesh opened its borders to provide sanctuary to the persecuted Rohingya. This act of compassion, however, was not met with proportionate support from the international community.





While the crisis demanded a global response, Bangladesh received minimal financial assistance from Western nations or wealthier Muslim countries, especially the affluent Arab nations. Sheikh Hasina's government, burdened with the responsibility of sheltering over a million refugees, showcased a unique blend of resilience and compassion, addressing the needs of both the Rohingya and its 170 million citizens.





Sheikh Hasina's administration faced the daunting task of establishing refugee camps, mobilizing resources, and providing essential aid, healthcare, and education to the Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh's response went beyond mere humanitarian gestures; it was a testament to efficient governance and an unwavering commitment to upholding human dignity.





The government's efforts were not limited to providing immediate relief but extended to establishing long-term solutions. This included collaboration with international organizations to ensure essential services such as healthcare, education, and sanitation facilities. Sheikh Hasina's government exhibited not only generosity but also efficiency in managing the influx of refugees, setting a global example of proactive and compassionate governance.





Sheikh Hasina's leadership extended beyond the borders of Bangladesh. She tirelessly engaged global leaders and international bodies, advocating for justice and support for the Rohingya cause. Her diplomatic efforts sought to hold the perpetrators accountable for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya, underscoring her commitment to seeking justice for oppressed communities.





Providing shelter to over a million refugees posed significant challenges for Bangladesh, straining its resources and infrastructure. Sheikh Hasina's government, however, exhibited resilience and determination, delivering humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya in their time of need. The challenges were acknowledged, but they did not deter Bangladesh from fulfilling its moral and ethical obligation to protect the vulnerable.





The Rohingya crisis, initially confined to the borders of Myanmar and Bangladesh, soon transcended regional boundaries, becoming a global humanitarian concern. Sheikh Hasina's exceptional response garnered international attention, prompting the global community to recognize the urgency of collective action in resolving the crisis and seeking justice for the victims.





The Nobel Peace Prize has historically been awarded to individuals who significantly contribute to peace and humanity. Sheikh Hasina's unwavering dedication to providing sanctuary to the Rohingya amidst a dire humanitarian crisis embodies the spirit of peace, compassion, and humanity. Honoring her with the Nobel Peace Prize would not only acknowledge her exceptional humanitarianism but also highlight the significance of global solidarity and empathy in addressing the world's most pressing humanitarian crises.





In the face of contemporary global challenges, the Rohingya crisis underscores the urgent need for compassion, solidarity, and an unwavering commitment to humanity. Sheikh Hasina's leadership and Bangladesh's unparalleled generosity in sheltering over a million Rohingya refugees stand as a testament to enduring compassion and peace. Sheikh Hasina's humanitarian legacy is not confined to the borders of Bangladesh; it reverberates globally, urging leaders and citizens alike to recognize the importance of collective action and empathy in the pursuit of a more humane world.




Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury





After 9-month's bloody war, where three million Bengalis were butchered and 400,000 girls and women raped by the Pakistani occupation forces, on December 16, 1971, Bangladesh was born with the firm determination of being a secular country. But unfortunately, during the last 52 years, Bangladesh has been gradually slipping towards the identity of an ultra-Islamist country while there is growing fear of this South Asian nation becoming a neo-Taliban state. It may be mentioned here that, during the war of independence, Bengali Hindus were the worst-ever victims, as Pakistani occupation forces considered them as Kafir or infidels.





As January 7, 2024 election approaches, there is growing fear within the Hindu populace in Bangladesh, as BNP, Jamaat and Islamist-jihadist forces in the country accuse Hindus of being supportive to Awami League and being its key driving force. But unfortunately, Awami League, which is supposed and expected to be protecting the Hindus in Bangladesh has also been accused of allowing persecution on Hindus, while according to several media outlets in Bharat, Hindus in Bangladesh are "facing genocide" while notorious Digital Security Act (now named as Cyber Security Act) has been used to "trap and jail many innocent Hindus".





While the terminology "genocide" may be overstated  there is no argument about continuous persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh  irrespective of whichever party or force be in power. In order to understand the gravity of such continuous cruelty on Hindus in Bangladesh and how the country has been gradually heading towards ultra-Islamism, antisemitism thus destroying its secularist fabric, it is important to understand the exact scenario that deserves attention of the international media in particular.





According to statistics released by the Hindu Mohajote, a horrible picture of Hindu repression is presented to the members of the media. The information said, the members of the Hindu religious community have been subjected to various forms of torture and cruel persecution. This time, ultra-Islamist Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their ideological partner and ally - Jamaat-e-Islami (Jamaat) and pro-Islamist and jihadist forces including Hefazat-e-Islami (Hei) are trying to prevent the election and unseat Awami League government from power with visible blessings of Biden Administration. Since these ultra-Islamist and Hindu-hating forces cannot stop the elections, it is anticipated that they will start vandalism and terrorist acts targeting Hindus as had done in the past.





Hindu Mohajote statistics said, only in 2022, 154 members of the Hindu communities were killed, 849 have received life threat, and 424 have been attempted to murder while 360 have been seriously injured and 39 girls and women were raped in Bangladesh. At least 89,990 acres of land belonging to minority communities  mainly Hindus have been encroached in the last one year while 572 families were evicted from their homes and 445 families were forced to migrate to India.





Apart from this, a total financial loss of BDT 220 crore 89 lakh has been done to the minority community throughout the year.





Islamists have extorted BDT 27 crore 46 lakh and 33 thousand takas from Hindus. During this time, the minorities have suffered a total loss of BDT 22 crores and 89 lakhs of taka.





In 2022 alone, 319 Hindu families and temples were looted, 891 attacks on homes, 519 cases of arson and 173 attacks and vandalism on Hindu businesses took place. Around 57 Hindu houses were encroached, 50 business establishments and 51 temple lands were also encroached.





Following creation of Pakistan on the basis of religious hatred and Islamist bigotry, a notorious law titled 'Enemy Property Act' was incorporated that allowed the Pakistani government to confiscate properties of Hindus by branding them as "enemy of the state". This law is the culmination of several successive discriminatory laws against non-Muslims passed while Bangladesh was part of Pakistan. Unfortunate fact here is  although Awami League is in power for the past consecutive 15 years, it did not take any initiative in scrapping these notorious laws and return Hindu properties to the original owners, as leaders of this party, alongside leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party and other have been beneficiaries of rampant loot of Hindu properties under the garb of "Vested Property Act".





Despite Bangladesh's one of the fundamental principles is secularism, the country has been inclining towards Islamism, Hindu-hatred and anti-Semitism. It may be mentioned here that while the Bangladesh government has been extremely biased towards the Palestinians, it might have forgotten, Palestine and its leaders including Yasser Arafat had been violently and openly opposed to the war of independence of Bangladesh in 1971.





According to documented facts, during the war of independence of Bangladesh, Mohammed Amin al-Husseini, a Palestinian Arab nationalist and Muslim leader in "Mandatory Palestine" had openly called upon the Muslim nations to extend support towards Pakistan.





Yasser Arafat, at the request of Pakistan had travelled to a number of countries with the agenda of getting support towards Pakistani occupation forces. In Arafat's eyes, Bengali freedom fighters were seen as "terrorists".





It should be further mentioned here that, on February 4, 1972, Israel had sent a letter to Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs giving recognition to the newly born country. Earlier, the Jewish State had offered assistance and cooperation to Bengali freedom fighters in its war of independence against the Pakistani occupation forces. According to information, Khondoker Mostaq Ahmed, killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the then Foreign Minister had secretly turned-down the Israeli recognition at the advice of his Pakistani masters.





Despite such documented fact  each of the governments in Bangladesh, including the current Awami League government blindly support Palestinians, including Hamas terrorism in Israel  because  Palestinians are their "Muslim brethren".





Most surprisingly, the Bangladesh government considers Israel as an "enemy state". I have been one of the worst victims of Bangladesh authority's cruel anti-Semitism and Israel-hatred. Commenting on my suffering, a Bharatiya media outlet named Eastern Herald said:





His sin  his views about Jews and Israel and confronting Jihadism, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial, and religious extremism. He was put in prison after being wrongly convicted of blasphemy, sedition, and treason. This is how Israel-hating Bangladesh treated my brother  Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.





Shoaib was put in a condemned cell alongside death row inmates, which was a clear violation of human rights and the rule of law. No country in the world keeps general prisoners inside a Condemned cell.





Human rights are for humans but Shoaib for them was not human anymore. The guy who was regarded as a senior and critical journalist for Bangladesh was not even an equal anymore. I think this was the reason to keep him on cleaning and mopping duty as a convicted prisoner.





Following my arrest, The New York Times in an editorial said:





Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, a Muslim editor and commentator in Bangladesh, has a rare virtue -- he champions dialogue and decency in a culture hemmed in by extremism and corruption. When his weekly newspaper, Blitz, published articles favorable to Israel, it was blacklisted by various companies. Some people demanded that the paper be banned. Mr. Choudhury was thrown out of a private television company.





But all of this pales compared with what happened last month. As he boarded a flight in Dhaka, the capital, on his way to a writers' conference in Tel Aviv, Mr. Choudhury was arrested by security personnel, accused of being a spy and thrown in prison. The charges are a baseless sham. The Committee to Protect Journalists in New York and the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres have vigorously condemned his arrest. Governments, including Washington, need to demand his release.





The Tel Aviv meeting Mr. Choudhury was planning to attend was called ''Bridges Through Culture'' and the lecture he hoped to deliver concerned the role of the media in establishing peace. Mr. Choudhury, who was going to open a Bangladeshi branch of a group called the International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace, would have been the first journalist from Bangladesh to speak publicly in Israel.





Mr. Choudhury's mistreatment is not occurring in a vacuum. Muslim extremism is growing in Bangladesh. Moreover, violence against journalists who stand up to the ruling party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has been increasing, especially in the south and especially for those exposing links between politicians and organized crime. On Dec. 4, a correspondent for a southern regional daily was beaten and stabbed by members of the party's youth wing after publication of an article critical of a key local politician.





On Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Sans Frontieres sent letters to Khaleda Zia, the prime minister of Bangladesh, expressing grave concern over these developments. Their alarm is quite justified. Bangladesh may now be among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. That makes Mr. Choudhury's courageous stand for Muslim-Jewish dialogue all the more admirable -- and vital to defend.





This editorial appeared in print on December 14, 2003, Section 4, Page 10 of the National edition with the headline: The Risks of Journalism in Bangladesh.





Subsequently, the United States Congress passed a bi-partisan resolution (HR-64/2007) in my defense by 409 votes. It may be mentioned here that the European Union Parliament, Parliament of Australia and the UK Parliament had also passed resolutions in my defense.





But nothing could save me from being wrongly convicted with 7-years rigorous imprisonment. Why? Because I speak against radical Islam, jihad, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial and persecution of religious minorities. These are my "crimes" and my "worst crime" is  I defend the State of Israel  a country considered as an "enemy state" by the policymakers in Dhaka.





If such cruelty and notoriety can happen with me, despite being a senior journalist and tremendous international pressure in my favor  just imagine the condition of any Hindu in Bangladesh.





The monstrous Digital Security Act





While my fellow journalist in Bharat has said, the Digital Security Act is being used to "trap and jail many innocent Hindus" here again I would like to present another story as to how even Islamist and anti-Bharat elements are taking undue advantage of this monstrous law.





In March 2021, when Bharatiya Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh to attend country's Golden Jubilee celebration, a staunch supporter of Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI) and notoriously anti-Bharat and anti-Hindu posted a video statement of a controversial Islamist named Moulana Azhari, which contains extremely offensive remarks against Bharatiya Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit, while hundreds of people have left comments in the same post, where some of them have called for waging jihad [against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government]. While none of the newspapers in Bangladesh covered this matter, my newspaper did run several reports exposing such notorious acts of this jihadist female. Subsequently I sent numerous emails and letters to various law enforcement agencies seeking action against this anti-Hindu individual. But to my utter dismay, no action was taken. Instead, some influential figures in the Awami League government helped this woman in filing a case against me under the Digital Security Act for the "crime" of exposing her deeds. Subsequently, she even managed to get a charge-sheet against me with the active help of at least one influential leader of Awami League as well as several Islamist and anti-Hindu officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The case is now under trial and I have to appear in court on a regular basis.





This is not the end. The same woman and her sons seem to be not satisfied even after continuing to harass me with the false case under the Digital Security Act. She and her sons have been continuously publishing posts on Facebook and other social media platforms with vile statements targeting me. Although in this case I also have on a number of occasions sought actions from the law enforcement agencies by providing evidence of ongoing crimes of that jihadist female and her sons  there is just stone-cold silence from the authorities concerned.





With such extremely painful realities  if someone asks  "Is Bangladesh already an ultra-Islamist country?"  I really cannot answer.




Arlington-based Boeing is asking airlines to inspect its 737 Max jets for a potential loose bolt in the rudder control system, the airplane maker and Federal Aviation Administration confirmed this week.

The FAA said it would be closely monitoring the targeted inspections. The agency said Thursday that Boeing issued its inspection guidance to airlines after an international operator found a bolt with a missing nut during routine maintenance. In a separate case, Boeing also discovered an undelivered aircraft that had a nut that was not properly tightened.

The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied, the company told The Associated Press on Friday. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 MAX airplanes and inform us of any findings.

Boeing, which relocated its headquarters from Chicago in 2022, added that it will continue to update both customers and federal regulators on the progress.

The FAA said it will remain in contact with Boeing and impacted airlines as the inspections are performed, and potentially consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.

According to Boeing, there have been no in-flight incidents caused by this condition to date  noting that crews routine checks would signal if the rudder was not working properly before an aircraft pushes back from the gate.

The company added that all airplanes Boeing is set to deliver onward will have the inspection (which is estimated to take about two hours per plane) prior to delivery.

U.S. carriers with 737 Max jets in their fleet include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. All four of these carriers told The Associated Press on Friday that they do not expect operational impacts. Southwest, for example, said it was currently performing all of these inspections during routine overnight maintenance.

A firm timeline for the inspections was not provided for each airline, but Alaska said it expected to complete the process by the first half of January.

Boeings 737 Max jets were grounded worldwide for 20 months after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed a total of 346 people. Investigations focused on an automated flight-control system that pushed the nose of the plane down based on faulty sensor readings. Boeing did not tell pilots and airlines about the system until after the first crash.

The FAA, which also faced criticism for the way it approved the Max jets prior to these deadly crashes, has since moved to provide a more detailed certification process for large planes and required safety disclosures.
A Hanover County Circuit Court judge has ruled for the countys sheriffs office, saying it can withhold the names of police officers from public records requests, a ruling that a police transparency activist plans to appeal to a higher court.

It marks the second time that a county judge has sided with law enforcement on an identical case.

In the Hanover case, Richmond resident Alice Minium had requested a payroll spreadsheet listing the names of the officers from the sheriffs office. Her request was returned with hundreds of redactions.

Lawyers for Hanover Sheriff David Hines contended that any officer under the rank of captain could one day go undercover, and having their name released could jeopardize officer safety.

Minium sued.

But on Dec. 20, Hanover Circuit Court Judge Patricia Kelly sided with the sheriffs office, citing a clause in Virginia state code that allows exemptions for undercover police work.

The exception specifically allows the withholding of this information at the discretion of the custodian, Kelly said.

The Hanover case follows a nearly identical case heard in Chesterfield County. Both cases were initiated by Minium, who runs the website OpenOversightVa. The site offers a public repository of police officers and any alleged misconduct. It was created in the aftermath of protests for police reform in 2020.

Open government advocates view the two decisions as a serious blow to state public records law.

There are so many things about (the decision) that trouble me, said Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition on Open Government, a group that lobbies the legislature on FOIA-related bills and advocates for greater access to public records.

The two cases are beginning to shape what, the activists say, could become legal precedent usable by all Virginia law enforcement agencies.

I would be shocked if we didnt see this more, Rhyne said.

Police agencies approved of Kellys decision, which ostensibly protects officers.

I think shes trying to protect the letter of the law, said Dana Schrad, executive director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. Shes trying to protect officers and sensitive investigations. Were pleased with the ruling in that regard.

Schrad has said the denial was not about having a secret police force but about backing law enforcement officers who feel like they dont have any sense of privacy as an individual.

Minium has already appealed the Chesterfield ruling to Virginias Court of Appeals and said she intends to appeal the Hanover case as well.

No court date has been set for the Chesterfield case.

Naming law enforcement officers isnt a crime; the ability to do so empowers the people and is a common-sense right, Minium said.

I thank Sheriff David Hines for making an example of his county so that this matter can be addressed for the state overall, she added.

Hines and the Sheriffs Office did not return calls seeking comment on Kellys ruling.

When Minium appeals, both cases will be heard by three-judge panels at Virginias Court of Appeals. That court has only recently started hearing public records cases.

That outcome could then be appealed to Virginias highest court, the seven-judge Supreme Court.

In recent years, the state Supreme Court has handed down several decisions in favor of citizens seeking records from government agencies.

A handful of decisions from the past decade illustrate that, Rhyne said. The Supreme Court could rule that Hines has to hand over the records, overruling any decision made at a lower level.

In the Hanover court hearing, Miniums lawyer, Andrew Bodoh, argued that undercover officers use false names, never their real names.

In the Chesterfield case, Bodoh cross-examined a police major who testified that the departments definition of undercover included covert officers who wear police badges or parts of their uniforms.

Even if you have a vest on that says police, you are undercover, Bodoh said. They want to ignore the plain understanding of the law.

Lawyers for Hines questioned Miniums intent, saying that she wanted to post photos of officers online. OpenOversightVa does publish photos of some officers.

But so does the Hanover Sheriffs Office. On Dec. 15, the offices Facebook page posted photos of a deputy hanging Christmas ornaments. In March, the office announced a new deputy in the departments K9 unit, naming him and showing his face clearly.

The department regularly posts photos and videos of deputies across its social media channels for hiring drives and community outreach efforts.

In her ruling, Judge Kelly sided with law enforcement rationale.

Once a name is released ... there is nothing that prevents someone from conducting further research, finding a picture, and publishing on social media the name and photos of all officers for the department, Kelly wrote.

Rhyne said she wished Kelly probed the argument more deeply.

Someones name does not reveal whether they have been or will be an undercover officer, Rhyne said. It just says whether they work for the police force.

PHOTOS: Virginia woman buys vase for $3.99 at Goodwill, sells at auction for $107,100
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.
That Friday started with crises, as do so many days for the mental health workers who keep some of Virginias most vulnerable people in their homes, instead of in overcrowded state mental hospitals.

One of the 77 people the Richmond Behavioral Health Authoritys Assertive Community Treatment team supports had been kicked out of her assisted living facility.

The home had sent her to a hospital emergency room on what the team considered to be a spurious complaint that she had tried to hurt herself, since she smokes her cigarettes to the nub and regularly burns her fingers. Now, the home was saying it would not take her back.

They cant do that, its against the law, Amber Spivey, the ACT team leader, told the team. She asked one of the social workers on the team to call in Adult Protective Services and officials at the Department of Social Services who license adult homes.

I dont want her on the street, Spivey said. But lets try to find her another place; if they dont want her, what kind of care is she going to get?

Waiting lists

The 14-strong ACT team of nurses, licensed clinical social workers and a psychiatrist is among the hundreds of people in Virginias overwhelmed public behavioral health system who are trying to cope with a continuing challenge: a network of state mental hospitals that has been operating at or above capacity for years.

The state hospitals problem is something no other hospital faces.

Virginia state mental health hospitals cannot control their front or back doors, said Nelson Smith, a former Green Beret team leader who now serves as Virginia commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Virginias nine state mental hospitals admit roughly 5,000 people a year, but the hospitals do not have a say in who they admit.

And for hundreds of people a year, getting out is not as simple as getting a treatment teams decision that they are clinically ready to go home.

Think of it like, if you had a stroke and now youre ready to leave the hospital, but you need a little bit of help to move around. You cant do it on your own, Smith said.

The departments stepped-up effort to help state hospital patients find a place in their communities has cut the so-called extraordinary barriers list of people who are ready to go but are still stuck in a hospital.

The list had peaked at 245 people in 2019, but now ranges around 160. The amount of time that people stay on the list is down, too: The median length of stay now is 77 days, compared with 161 days a decade ago.

And what I have said is: I want to get that down to single digits, Smith said.

Getting out

His last stay in a state mental hospital lasted two years, and for several months he was on the extraordinary barriers list, said Ian. A Northern Virginian in his 30s, he now lives in one of the specialized group homes that have played a central role in cutting the barriers list. (He, like many people trying to manage with mental illness, fears what would happen to him if others know his full name; the others the Richmond Times-Dispatch spoke to for this story said the same.)

Its bad, its really bad having to wait that long when you are ready, he said.

But he did not let it discourage him.

I kept working; I kept listening to my doctor, he said. I wanted to get better.

He had been on the street for about a year before a special justice sent him to Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute after finding that Ians mental illness put him or others at risk of serious harm. Before life on the street, he had run away from the group home he had been staying in after an earlier, three-year stay at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute.

I cant really say what got me in there, he said. Ian has schizoaffective disorder, which when not treated includes such symptoms as hallucinations, delusions and depression.

Now, in one of the 16 bedrooms at the Gateway Homes group in Chesterfield County, he has a safe place to live and a range of supports. They include time with a therapist, visits with a psychiatrist and psychosocial programs  his favorites are anger management classes and a class modeled on a 12-step program for people dealing with mental illness and recovery from addiction.

He has friends now among other residents. I can say: Ive been there, I can help. I can ask: Im feeling this, do you know what to do? 

Ians hoping to move to a nearby apartment, where he will still have access to Gateways programs. Beyond that, hes not sure.

But Im ready.

Hospital changes

In addition to group homes like the one Ian lives in, one big change that has brought down the numbers on the extraordinary barriers list is to start looking at the nine hospitals as a system, said Smith, the commissioner.

It sounds like a new bureaucracy, but Smith said it means setting measurable, systemwide standards for patient treatment and hospital operations.

You can look and see if youre out of line with others, he said. We can start asking what the problem is  is email not being answered or paperwork sitting on someones desk?

Setting a trigger for a follow-up call when a request for a community service has been hanging, for instance, has speeded the process of moving people from hospital to community, he said.

Smith has been working with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, which oversees guardianship and conservator programs for adults who cannot always look after themselves, to see if better coordination and faster-track court hearings can overcome another important hurdle.

But perhaps the most important change is not something that can be counted.

We do ask questions differently, said Suzanne Mayo, the departments senior director of patient continuation services.

It used to be: Whats in the system for you?; now it is: What do you want and need?

Hospitalization

Being in a hospital does things for you  and not always good things.

You can see it in the tense, nervous stance of one East End Richmond man who Spivey sees every day to make sure he takes his medications.

He gulps his bottled water in that quick, urgent way people in institutions get, from fear their food or water will be snatched if they do not move quickly enough.

It took Richmonds ACT team awhile to settle him: He does not like to be around people. His paranoia was not helped by living for years in Central State Hospital with other ill people, people who sometimes acted out in ways that would scare anyone.

The team tried adult homes and proposed an apartment with a roommate.

He left after an hour, Spivey said. And was back to the hospital.

Transformation

Theyve made transitioning just transformational, said James, a resident who moved from Central State to the same Chesterfield group home where Ian lives, and from there to a nearby apartment a few months ago.

He still participates in the homes programs  hes especially keen on the fitness class  and sees a Gateway Homes therapist twice a week, and the nonprofit supportive living agencys psychiatrist every three months.

Making sure I keep the issues away, he said.

James plunged into a deep depression when his father and then his mother died. As the fear and blackness grew ever more overwhelming, he lashed out at one point, breaking a window near his home in Chesterfield.

That brought jail. In jail, even more frightened, even more depressed, he no longer saw much point in living. He says the scars on his right wrist are from his suicide attempt there.

That brought medication, and a court order directing Central State to restore him to competency. It is the kind of court order that has flooded state hospitals with new patients in recent years and one of the big reasons Smith says the facilities cannot control their front doors.

He bounced back and forth from jail to the hospital for about four months during this process; at the end of it, a judge found him not guilty by reason of insanity of trespassing and breaking a window  charges that usually draw no more than 30 days in jail  and ordered him to Central State.

He stayed at Central State for an additional four to five months.

I was scared all the time, he said.

During that time, he says another patient attacked him, choking him so severely that James said his voice box was damaged  his voice these days is low and hoarse.

I used to sing, but I cant sing anymore, he said.

But with medication and counseling at the hospital  and a strong will to get healthy again  he bounced back quickly.

His treatment team felt he could skip several of the usual progressive steps of greater and greater freedom. Typically, patients progress from easier movement through the hospital, to escorted day trips to the community, to overnight or 48-hour stays away from the hospital.

But he still had to wait to get out.

It was gut-wrenching, he said. I just prayed every day that the waiting would end; I pray every day. He even prays for the patient who attacked him.

I just didnt feel safe at Central State, he said. Here, I do. I feel confident I can live in the community. I dont feel afraid.

At the hospital door

Magistrates are empowered to issue Temporary Detention Orders to hold people, against their will, for up to 72 hours for evaluation and treatment for mental illness. It is up to mental health workers at the local or regional Community Services Board to find a bed.

If theres no other alternative, a state hospital has to take them.

For the Richmond ACT team, part of that Fridays challenge was that a general hospital in Spotsylvania County  the nearest bed it could find earlier in the week for one Richmond man under a TDO  was about to release him, even though the group home that agreed to take him said his place would not be ready until that Monday.

Didnt they even check? Spivey asked. She added making a call to the hospital, or maybe even several, to the list of work to cut through bureaucracy that she and the team would fit in between their prime mission of keeping severely ill people stable, and helping them get better  if possible.

Also on the Friday list: What do to about the discharge from a Northern Neck hospital of another Richmonder under a TDO. In addition, there was the worry about medicine ordered but not yet delivered for another man due to be discharged later that day from a general hospital in the city.

Then there was the mystery of another Richmonder on the teams list.

He had been in a general hospital in the city for medical treatment, but acting up  the way he tended to when he got ahold of alcohol or drugs  none of which he had had access to. The hospital wanted him out, out, out.

What do they mean, hes on medical respite? Spivey asked his caseworker. Hes usually the politest, nicest man, when its out of his system. ... We need to figure out whats going on with him if hes acting out like this and theyre going to put him out.

The front door

As of last month, the Department of Behavioral Health has opened all 360 state hospital beds it had to close in 2021 because it did not have enough staff to safely care for that many more patients.

Even so, several state mental hospitals are still overcrowded. Three of the largest have been running at more than 100% of capacity for three years. One, Central State, is still at 100% of capacity, while Western State Hospital in Staunton is at 99%, and Eastern State Hospital in James City County is at 98%. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says hospitals should not operate at more than 85% of capacity in order to be able to handle emergency needs for care.

Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, where Ian was hospitalized, and Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Danville are at 100%, even with additional beds.

More than half of the patients in all of the state hospitals are there because of some kind of criminal charge, and most of these are people ordered to the hospital when a judge determines that they are not competent to stand trial  that is, that they are unable to assist in their own defense.

These orders have tripled in the past 15 years. These patients average length of stay, as short-staffed hospitals try to cope with the flood, has climbed from 54 days to 76 days, ending when the judge decides the defendant is ready to be tried. Sometimes, these cases involve such minor misdemeanors as trespassing or disorderly conduct, when a typical jail sentence is around 30 days.

One of Spiveys clients, who she met that Friday at his favorite spot for panhandling, spent months bouncing back and forth from jail to Central State to have his competency restored, as district court judges hearing two different charges of trespassing issued successive competency restoration orders.

It was bad, man. It was bad, he said. I got no money.

He lost his disability benefits while in the hospital  unaware he had to keep up with the paperwork. He said thats why he panhandles.

Another front-door problem: Over fiscal year 2022 and 2023, law enforcement officers dropped off 1,432 people at state hospitals before the hospital staff could accept them for admission. Officers dropped off some 450 even after a January ruling from the Office of the Attorney General that the practice was illegal.

In one case, a hospital staffer told the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the state legislatures watchdog agency, that one person who was dropped off that way was close to death. The hospital had to turn around within 15 minutes to send that person to a general hospital for the urgent medical care required.

Sometimes, magistrates send people to state hospitals for behavior that looks like mental illness but is really a matter of a disorder like dementia or a developmental disability, like autism. Neither can be addressed by any treatment a mental hospital offers.

People like Ian, who land in the mental hospital against their will and without a criminal charge, arrive there when a special justice finds that their mental illness means they are a risk of seriously hurting themselves or others or cannot provide for their basic human needs. The special justices initial order is for 30 days, often followed by another commitment for up to 180 days  far longer than private hospitals like to care for patients.

For people, like James, who land in a mental hospital after a criminal charge, getting out requires a judges agreement with the persons treatment team that he or she no longer needs the intensive service a hospital provides.

Back door

Getting out of the hospital means trying to be sure the patient will be safe and have the help he or she needs to prevent the kind of crisis that results in hospitalizations.

The biggest need is housing, Smith said.

But that can be hard to find; not every landlord is willing.

There are bureaucratic hoops to jump through to line up the money for rent, since many on the extraordinary barriers list are indigent. Support services need to be arranged  perhaps the kind of daily check-ins that Spivey and her colleagues do, or help finding a job, or access to counseling, a psychiatrist and medication.

For mental health workers like Spivey, its not always crisis, paperwork chases and sad daily stories.

Spivey got some good news shortly after pulling up outside the Richmond apartment where one of her clients had finally settled a year after the woman left Central State.

The good news resolved Spiveys worries about where to find medication the ACT team had ordered, but that had not yet arrived, for a man who was about to be discharged from Richmond Community Hospital. The hospital, which had the medication in hand, had agreed he could stay over the weekend.

With a sigh of relief, then, Spivey joined the teams psychiatrist, Dr. Shane Carillo, at her other clients door. There, the news was not as good.

Carillo was worried because when he had visited the week before, the woman had scattered her medications all over the kitchen counter.

You really need to take this as directed, he said.

The dizziness the woman complained of could be because she was not taking her blood pressure medicine the way she should, he added  even as he asked himself if what she was describing was simply another delusion.

He wondered, too, when she talked about some scratches she got in a fight  but her description of the other person with whom she supposedly fought kept changing.

Was it just her clothes? Carillo asked about the scratches.

No, the woman said. Sometimes, the woman she said she fought with was taller, sometimes shorter. Her description of the other womans face kept changing.

When was the last time you had a drink? Carillo gently asked.

Then: And cocaine?

She hung her head.

When you do that, the voices will get louder, he said. You know that ... have you thought about group (a group therapy program)?

Sometimes, he told the woman: We need to be able to talk to someone, to have a network.

From the Archives: Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital Central State Hospital
Is help finally coming for the Virginia State Corporation Commission?

With two of the commissions three seats vacant and Democrats now controlling both chambers at the Capitol, legislative leaders expect the General Assembly to move swiftly to elect two new judges, potentially in the week after the legislature convenes on Jan. 10.

The SCC, created as a constitutionally independent body in 1902 to regulate some of the biggest businesses in Virginia, has been operating without a full panel of judges since early 2022 because of a political stalemate that began in 2018 after the retirement of Judge Jimmy Dimitri. Earlier this year, Dimitri came out of retirement to serve as a replacement judge to ensure that the commission would have a quorum to operate until the assembly elected judges to fill the vacancies.

Weve absolutely got to get people into those positions, said Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, who will become chairman of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

Deeds is working closely with Del. Jeion Ward, D-Hampton, incoming chair of the renamed House Committee on Labor and Commerce, to develop a process for promptly vetting candidates for the two vacant judgeships on the SCC, which regulates public utilities, insurance companies, banks and financial institutions, and registers corporations and other entities doing business in Virginia.

Were trying to position it so we can get people appointed soon after the start of the session, he said.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, expects that to happen as early as Jan. 17, the first date for the new legislature to elect judges, although its customarily been used to reelect sitting judges.

My personal preference is to get it done at the first judicial election, Surovell said Thursday.

Democrats will hold the narrowest of majorities in both chambers after legislative elections last month  21-19 in the Senate and 51-49 in the House  but current House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, also expects the new assembly to resolve the impasse early in a 60-day session likely to be dominated by adoption of a new two-year budget.

I think it would be great to get it sorted out as early as possible in the session, Kilgore said Thursday.

He acknowledges that Republicans will not have the leverage they have held the past two years, when the GOP-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate were unable to agree on candidates to fill first one and then two seats on the powerful commission.

Hopefully, well choose candidates who are middle of the road, Kilgore said.

The partisan battles over election of judges for the SCC began after Dimitris retirement in February 2018. The assembly, then controlled by Republicans on both sides of the Capitol, could not agree on a replacement that year. In the following year, legislators elected former Virginia Beach Circuit Judge Patricia West, who had served in two previous Republican gubernatorial administrations, to complete the final year of Dimitris term, over the strenuous objections of Democrats.

In 2020, after Democrats seized majorities in both chambers, they elected Jehmal Hudson to replace West, angering Republicans who deplored that she did not even receive a hearing in the legislature. Hudson, a former official at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, was the first Black judge elected to the SCC. Since the early resignation of Judge Judy Jagdmann at the end of last year, he has been the only elected judge sitting on the SCC.

Hes done a yeomans job down there, Kilgore said.

In 2021, assembly Democrats elected Angela Navarro, who had worked as deputy secretary of natural resources under then-Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, to serve the unexpired term of Judge Mark Christie after his appointment to FERC. The next year, after Republicans regained control of the House, they refused to reelect Navarro, partly in retaliation for Wests replacement and partly out of concern over implementation of the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

This year, Jagdmanns resignation gave legislators the opportunity to fill two seats, giving both House Republicans and Senate Democrats their pick, but the process broke down because the House balked at Navarro, who was the Senates choice.

The impasse threatened to leave the SCC unable to issue rulings for the first time in its 120-year history. West had been acting as a replacement judge in order to provide a quorum after Jagdmann stepped down, but Youngkin appointed her as chair of the Virginia Parole Board. Jagdmann was unavailable because she had gone into private legal practice in Richmond.

Dimitri did not have to come out of retirement, but did so because of his long history at the SCC. Before serving as a commissioner for 10 years, he had been a member of the SCC legal staff and had worked for the attorney generals office on issues the commission handles.

I called Jimmy and thanked him for stepping up, Kilgore said.

The field of candidates for the two seats on the SCC is not clear. Deeds said the assembly is accepting candidate resumes through Jan. 5.

Legislative leaders generally are not discussing potential candidates, but Kilgore confirmed that retiring Sen. Lynwood Lewis, D-Accomack, could be among them. Hed be fine as far as Im concerned, Kilgore said.

Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, who lost a Democratic primary fight for reelection this year, confirmed that hes been asked about it.

Im happy to put my name in it, Petersen said, although he acknowledged misgivings about potentially giving up his law firm.

Deeds would not speculate, but said, So far, theres been a lot of interest.

He expects the assembly to winnow the field to six candidates for formal interviews and consideration.

We want the process to be as transparent as possible, Deeds said.

From the Archives: Broad Street Station
As the vibrant biotechnology and life sciences industry in Virginia flourishes, our mission at the Virginia Biotechnology Association remains steadfast: to promote innovation and growth through strengthened advocacy, talent attraction, development and retention while advancing the next generation of leaders.

We succeed because Virginia encourages risk-takers to develop new health care and technology treatments.

Virginias biotechnology sector contributes more than $8 billion to our economy. Yet, we could do more. We have seen Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) pursue opaque and often anti-competitive practices that impede additional investment into the biopharmaceutical sector.

We urge those in Washington to reform PBM practices, supporting legislation like the Delinking Revenue from Unfair Gouging (DRUG) Act, introduced by Virginia Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. This reform protects the interests of all Virginians and the innovative spirit that defines our industry.

The DRUG Act realigns PBMs incentives that favor higher-priced medicines. Congress can reform a system so it supports innovation while lowering the cost of prescription drugs for patients.

PBM reform, like the DRUG Act, spurs competition, making the market work as it should  by basing PBM fees on the services they provide rather than the price of medicines. We shouldnt reward behaviors that place profits over patients.

The positive ripple effects of DRUG Act-inspired PBM reform would extend beyond the biotech sector, generating savings for employers and plan sponsors. By incentivizing cost-effective medications, Virginians will have access to more cost-effective treatments for patients, employers and plan sponsors. Most importantly, patients will benefit from expanded coverage of less expensive medicines.

Congresswoman Spanberger should be applauded for introducing the bipartisan DRUG Act to support real reform of PBMs to help lower prescription drug costs.

The Virginia Biotechnology Association is committed to championing our innovators by supporting policies that create a healthier and more prosperous future. We urge our delegation to support this critical reform.

From the Archives: Nurses 20150324_FEA_POD_Red_Cross 20150724_FEA_POD_Sheltering nurses Army Nurses Red Cross march Sheltering Arms Sheltering Arms Sheltering Arms Sheltering Arms Sheltering Arms Sheltering Arms
(Photo : Flickr l Rich Bowen)



Claudinne also known as "Dee Dee" and her 19-yea-old daughter Gypsy Rose Blanchard gripped the nation in 2015 with their tragic tale.

It goes down in U.S. history as one of the most recognized cases of Munchausen by Proxy. USA Today defines munchausen by proxy as a psychological condition that causes a caregiver to engage in attention-seeking behavior by making the person or people under their care ill or making people believe they are ill.

From the age of 8, Blanchard's mother Dee-Dee was able to fool friends, family, and Gypsy herself. The mother created a ruse portraying Gypsy Rose as a severely disabled child with several medical disorders. According to BBC, this included epilepsy, leukemia, and muscular dystrophy. She sought support from her community and multiple charities to help facilitate treatment from numerous doctors. Subjected to unneeded medical treatments, Blanchard was confined to a wheelchair and was always seen with an oxygen tank despite being able to walk and breathe on her own. Dee Dee regularly presented her daughter to be much younger than she was in effort to gain sympathy from the public.

Following years of medical abuse, Gypsy Rose had had enough and with the help of her boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, they plotted her mother's murder. On June 9, 2015, the plan was set into motion. Godejohn traveled to the mother's residence in Missouri and was let inside by Blanchard. Knife in hand, he hid in a bathroom before attacking and stabbing an unsuspecting Dee Dee 17 times.

BBC goes on to report that the couple fled and were later caught 600 miles away in Wisconsin where the boyfriend resided. Gypsy pleaded to second-degree murder and was ordered to serve her sentence in Missouri's Chillicothe Correctional Center. Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence. Gypsy, now 32, has officially been granted parole after only serving 8 years of her 10-year sentence.

Stepmother, Kristy Blanchard revealed to Newsweek their family plans to celebrate her release from prison. "We're going to do Christmas, got a Christmas tree. Got her so many gifts. I went overboard, actually," Kristy said. "We're also doing a spa day[...] We're going to go get her a pedicure, manicure, facial, haircut, colored if she wants, you know, the works, bring her shopping. She can't wait."

Newsweek also went on to say that Blanchard has expressed remorse for her crime. She's due to be released on Thursday, December 28.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
National political pundits pointed to Virginias General Assembly elections this fall for early clues to the 2024 election. They do it every year as presidential campaigns taxi to the runway for takeoff.

Looking to Virginias local-level races in 40 state Senate districts and 100 House of Delegates districts for predictive omens into an election 11 months away is fraught with peril. Like fingerprints, no two elections are identical.

Four years ago, Virginia voters entrusted the House of Delegates and the state Senate to Democrats. With the executive branch in the hands of then-Gov. Ralph Northam, Republicans were completely locked out of elective power in Virginia for the first time since 1993. The following year, in 2020, Democrats had an even better year as Joe Biden defeated incumbent GOP President Donald Trump in Virginia by 10 percentage points, Democrats dominated U.S. House elections and Sen. Mark Warner was comfortably reelected.

Then, in 2021, things took a dramatic turn and dashed the growing national misconception that the commonwealth had become a reliably Democratic state.

Republican Glenn Youngkin, in his first run for elective office, upset former governor and legendary national Democratic fundraiser, Terry McAuliffe. Youngkin avoided the Trump label and, with his easygoing manner, made the case that Democrats had pushed too far left too fast, especially on issues surrounding public schools and law enforcement. The GOP swept all three statewide offices and took back the House majority it lost in 2019.

In November of this year, Democrats eked out one-seat majorities in both the state Senate and House after an unprecedented attrition of highly tenured lawmakers and others who were defeated in primaries.

Population and demographic changes set the stage for Virginia to become a barometer state, one that  unlike her sister southern states  tends to hew toward the political center and not entrust power to either party too long. In such a dynamic political environment, elections are influenced by factors such as prevailing headlines, the personalities and records of the candidates and economic fluctuations.

To assume from 2023s razor-thin legislative election results that Democrats hold the upper hand for 2024 in Virginia is to ignore a handful of factors:

The candidates: Both parties frontrunners are unpopular. Many voters who supported either Biden or Trump in 2020 openly lament so poor a potential choice next year. The situation was different in 2020: Trump had just finished four divisive years in the White House and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic severely wounded him. Bidens popularity was strong then, but it has nosedived since. Even in Virginia, majorities now disapprove of his performance as president, according to an October poll by The Washington Post and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

The issues: Abortion will be a significant 2024 issue, but it wont dominate the race the way it did in 2022 and 2023. It will have to compete with wars in Israel/Gaza and Ukraine, worrisome increases in the nations debt and a recuperating, but still vulnerable economy and negative voter perceptions of it. An immigration crisis at the southern border has worsened to the point that even some Democrats now criticize Bidens stewardship.

Age: Biden and Trump are both old. Biden was the oldest president ever inaugurated at 78 years and two months of age when he took his oath on Jan. 20, 2021. Despite his defenders claims that he remains physically and mentally vigorous, voters often perceive something different when the president appears on television. Trump has faced questions about his own mental acuity and, if elected, would be even older than Biden was on inauguration day: 78 years, seven months and six days.

Joe Manchin: Rather than seeking reelection in heavily Republican West Virginia, the right-of-center Democratic senator is exploring an independent presidential bid, an action that could eat into the moderate, Democratic-leaning vote in Virginias suburbs.

House of (wild) cards: Democratic U.S. Reps. Jennifer Wexton and Abigail Spanberger, both Democrats who have held seats in swing districts, are not seeking reelection. Wexton is leaving the House for health reasons. Spanberger is departing to focus on her 2025 gubernatorial run. Republicans will have an opportunity to flip both seats  their best chance in six years  in a fierce battle for control of a closely divided Congress.

Some of these circumstances may look very different by November 2024. Also, factors not yet foreseeable can quickly turn the arc of the election. Even a single month is an eternity in elective politics. Dont look back to 2023, or even todays circumstances, to discern what will happen 11 months from now.
Lopez Obrador refers to recent U.S. meeting as very good

Mexico City, Mexico  President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says the meeting held at the National Palace with U.S. officials Wednesday was very good. On Wednesday, Lopez Obrador met with high-level public servants of the United States government sent by his counterpart Joseph Biden.

Lopez Obrador referred to the meeting as very good where issues including the migration phenomenon were discussed.

There is more and more movement on the border, on the bridges, and that is why we have to be vigilant so that the crossings are not closed and that agreement was reached. The passages for the railway and border bridges are already being opened to normalize the situation. HW moved forward on that, her reported Thursday.

The President said they also discussed attention to the causes of migration and support for countries where people leave their towns in search of work. In this regard, Mexico reported that it maintains aid to Central America and Caribbean nations through the Sowing Life and Youth Building the Future programs.

After highlighting that the United States government continues the temporary work visa program through which 30,000 migrants have been allowed to enter each month, he highlighted the importance of informing about the risks.

There is also a political issue due to this election season in the United States and migration is encouraged, misinformation is created. There are also human traffickers, they organize caravans to reach the United States, often not providing adequate information.

He added that the meeting was held on very good terms, and confirmed that, now more than ever, a policy of good friendship is essential considering that 40 million countrymen live and work in the United States, in addition to the extensive economic exchange between the two countries for being the main trading partners in the world and for the arrival of new investments.

So the relationship with our neighbors is fundamental. We have to take care of it and we have, at the same time, to also take care of the migrants so there are no abuses, kidnappings, that there are no accidents during the transfer, he explained.

He reported that the Wednesday meeting was proposed by Mexico after President Joseph Bidens call to President Lopez Obrador to express his concern about the arrival of up to 12,000 migrants daily along the northern border, which led to the closure of customs and some border crossings.

President Lopez Obrador confirmed that periodic meetings and constant exchange will be held to address the immigration issue. On the part of Mexico, the Security Cabinet will go to Washington.

U.S. officials are seen at the National Palace in Mexico City for a meeting called by President Lopez Obrador.

Photo: AMLO December 27, 2023.

Now that Mr. Blinken, Mayorkas, Elizabeth have come, we thank them very much, especially President Biden, because we invited them and they came. They met with us to discuss these issues directly due to the importance it has for both nations, that we do not have any difficulties in the transit of people and goods.
Tren Maya Campeche to Cancun service suspended until January 1

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The operating section of Tren Maya between Campeche and Cancun has been temporarily suspended. The only operating section of the Maya Train has ceased operations until the New Year.

In an announcement, the Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) who manages Tren Maya operations, reported the closure was due to the pre-opening of the new Cancun to Palenque route.

In an official notice, Sedena said Due to the upcoming pre-opening of the section from Cancun to Palenque, scheduled for January 1, 2024, we will temporarily suspend operations.

For this reason, the Maya Train will not provide service to the public from 11:00 a.m. on December 28th until December 31st of this year.

For the refund of tickets purchased on said dates and for questions and clarifications, please contact: info@ventaboletostrenmaya.com.mx.

With the confidence that they will be given priority to assign them spaces on the pre-opening dates of the second phase from Palenque to Cancun, if they so wish.

Passengers with Tren Maya tickets are being offered a refund for the December dates. Photo: AMLO

On January 1, 2024, we will restart our operations, reiterating our commitment to providing the best service; Likewise, we appreciate the trust of more than 10,680 passengers who have already enjoyed the experience of traveling on the Mayan Train.

Their contributions have made us improve the service more and more and we are sure that we will continue to receive more and more enthusiastic passengers eager to experience the Maya Train experience.

We thank you in advance for your attention and understanding.

A brief notice was also posted on social media with a similar message. Tren Maya Important announcement! Due to the pre-opening of the new Cancun-Palenque route, Tren Maya will stop regular operations on December 28 (11:00), 29, 30 and 31.

If you purchased a ticket, please write to us at: info@ventaboletostrenmaya.com.mx. We appreciate your understanding.
A lawsuit accusing a Roanoke County woman of damaging the reputation of a Salem pastor fails to state an actionable claim and improperly seeks to silence political debate, the womans attorneys said this week in a response filed in the countys Circuit Court.

Tiffany Sandifer was sued in October by Tom McCracken, who leads the Southern Baptist CommUNITY church. The civil lawsuit, filed amid the uproar about county school policies affecting LGBTQ+ students, said that Sandifer defamed McCracken with social media posts and with a flyer left on vehicles and around the grounds of his church.

The lawsuitalso alleges that Sandifer harmed McCrackens reputation by falsely accusing him of touching her teenage daughters shoulder as audience members left a contentious Roanoke County School Board meeting in August.

McCrackens lawsuit also seeks damages from Roanoke City Councilman Luke Priddy, saying that Priddy was at the August county board meeting as well and defamed the pastor by saying that he saw McCracken touch the teenager.

The lawsuit, amended in November by McCrackens attorney, Melvin Williams of Roanoke, now asks for awards totaling $1.95 million from Sandifer and Priddy. It also asks for triple damages and attorneys fees.

The response filed Wednesday by Sandifers attorney, Jane Ostdiek of Roanoke, asks for dismissal of McCrackens lawsuit and for attorneys fees. Priddy has not yet filed a response. No court date has been set for the lawsuit.

McCracken and Sandifer emerged this year on opposite sides of the Roanoke County school policy debate, with Sandifer speaking out against policies that critics called discriminatory and McCracken, a former school board member and briefly a candidate seeking a county supervisors seat, rallying congregation members outside school board meetings to support the boards adoption of the policies.

Among the policies were a ban on rainbow flags and similar decorations in schools and adoption of Virginias model policy on transgender students, which set stricter requirements for schools to deal with students on the basis of sex assigned at birth.

According to McCrackens lawsuit, Sandifer posted numerous false and defamatory statements about him online, including saying that he had stalked her daughter online and tried to groom her to his religious beliefs.

The in-person confrontation between Sandifer and McCracken occurred at an Aug. 17 school board meeting where  in an incident not directly related to the lawsuit  an opponent of the boards policy decisions was arrested for disorderly conduct.

McCrackens lawsuit said that he was at the meeting to support congregation members who were speaking in support of the board during the public comment portion of the meeting, and that Sandifer and her daughter sat hear him. Various comments and gestures were directed toward the pastor during the meeting, the lawsuit alleges.

After the meeting, Sandifers daughter walked past McCracken, who was still sitting, then turned back toward him and began shouting, the lawsuit alleges. The girl said he touched me or stop touching me, the lawsuit alleges. Sandifer then told McCracken not to touch her child, McCracken denied that he had, and Sandifer said that he had touched the childs shoulder, according to the lawsuit.

Police officers then separated the group. As they did, Priddy announced loudly, I saw you touch her, according to the lawsuit.

Other people began shouting at McCracken and continued as he was escorted to his vehicle by police, according to the lawsuit.

It was after this incident that flyers were left on vehicles and in other locations around McCrackens church, the lawsuit said. The flyers said that the pastor touched and tried to intimidate children and thought their parents would not complicate his life in return, according to the lawsuit.

The flyers included a picture of Sandifers face, taken from one of her TikTok videos, and after the flyers were left at the church, at least one family refused to let their children interact with McCracken, according to the lawsuit.

Sandifers response to the lawsuit said that McCracken improperly included other peoples online posts and statements at the meeting in his claim against Sandifer. In one example, McCrackens lawsuit said that he did not know if Sandifer or someone else made some of the comments about him as the crowd left the meeting.

Sandifers response said that McCrackens lawsuit is missing other needed specifics about the supposed defamation and the damages it caused.

The response noted that several counts of McCrackens lawsuit allege a conspiracy between Sandifer and Priddy. But no evidence of a conspiracy was presented beyond Priddys comment at the meeting and Sandifer later thanking him in an online post, according to the response.

And the response argues that McCracken should be seen as a public figure, meaning that in a defamation case, he would need to show actual malice  that even if Sandifer made false statements, she made them knowingly or with a reckless disregard for their truth.

Sandifers response finished by calling McCrackens claims of harm strange and minimal and tying the lawsuit back to differences of opinion in religious and political belief.

Hurt feelings arising from a political debate are inevitable, Sandifers response said.

Priddy has not commented on the case.
PORTLAND, Maine  Maines Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to return to the White House.

The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows a ruling earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court that booted Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That decision has been stayed until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether Trump is barred by the Civil War-era provision, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

The Trump campaign said it would appeal Bellows' decision to Maine's state courts, and Bellows suspended her ruling until that court system rules on the case. In the end, it is likely that the nation's highest court will have the final say on whether Trump appears on the ballot in Maine and in the other states.

Bellows found that Trump could no longer run for his prior job because his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol violated Section 3, which bans from office those who engaged in insurrection. Bellows made the ruling after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, challenged Trumps position on the ballot.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows wrote in her 34-page decision. I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

The Trump campaign immediately slammed the ruling. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Legal experts said that Thursday's ruling demonstrates the need for the nation's highest court, which has never ruled on Section 3, to clarify what states can do.

It is clear that these decisions are going to keep popping up, and inconsistent decisions reached (like the many states keeping Trump on the ballot over challenges) until there is final and decisive guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court, Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, wrote in response to the Maine decision. It seems a certainty that SCOTUS will have to address the merits sooner or later.

While Maine has just four electoral votes, its one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maines electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there, should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate, could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.

That's in contrast to Colorado, which Trump lost by 13 percentage points in 2020 and where he wasn't expected to compete in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

In her decision, Bellows acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court will probably have the final word but said it was important she did her official duty.

That won her praise from the former state lawmakers who filed one of the petitions forcing her to consider the case.

Secretary Bellows showed great courage in her ruling, and we look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles, Republican Kimberly Rosen, independent Thomas Saviello and Democrat Ethan Strimling said in a statement.

But other Republicans in the state were outraged.

This is a sham decision that mimics Third World dictatorships," Maine's House Republican leader, Billy Bob Faulkingham, said in a statement. It will not stand legal scrutiny. People have a right to choose their leaders devoid of mindless decisions by partisan hacks.

The Trump campaign on Tuesday requested that Bellows disqualify herself from the case because she'd previously tweeted that Jan. 6 was an "insurrection and bemoaned that Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate after the capitol attack. She refused to step aside.

My decision was based exclusively on the record presented to me at the hearing and was in no way influenced by my political affiliation or personal views about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Bellows told the Associated Press Thursday night.

Bellows is a former head of the Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. All seven of the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court, which split 4-3 on whether to become the first court in history to declare a presidential candidate ineligible under Section 3, were appointed by Democrats. Two Washington, D.C.-based liberal groups have launched the most serious prior challenges to Trump, in Colorado and a handful of other states.

That's led Trump to contend the dozens of lawsuits nationwide seeking to remove him from the ballot under Section 3 are a Democratic plot to end his campaign. But some of the most prominent advocates have been conservative legal theorists who argue that the text of the Constitution makes the former president ineligible to run again, just as if he failed to clear the document's age threshold  35 years old  for the office.

Likewise, until Bellows' decision, every top state election official, whether Democrat or Republican, had rejected requests to bar Trump from the ballot, saying they didn't have the power to remove him unless ordered to do so by a court.

The timing on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision is unclear, but both sides want it fast. Colorado's Republican Party appealed the Colorado high court decision on Wednesday, urging an expedited schedule, and Trump is also expected to file an appeal within the week. The petitioners in the Colorado case on Thursday urged the nation's highest court to adopt an even faster schedule so it could rule before March 5, known as Super Tuesday, when 16 states, including Colorado and Maine, are scheduled to vote in the Republican presidential nominating process.

The high court needs to formally accept the case first, but legal experts consider that a certainty. The Section 3 cases seem tailor-made for the Supreme Court, addressing an area of U.S. governance where there's scant judicial guidance.

The clause was added in 1868 to keep defeated Confederates from returning to their former positions of power in local and federal government. It prohibits anyone who broke an oath to support the Constitution from holding office. The provision was used to bar a wide range of ex-Confederates from positions ranging from local sheriff to Congress, but fell into disuse after an 1872 congressional amnesty for most former Confederates.

Legal historians believe the only time the provision was used in the 20th Century was in 1919, when it was cited to deny a House seat to a socialist who had opposed U.S. involvement in World War I. But since the Jan. 6 attack, it has been revived.

Last year, it was cited by a court to remove a rural New Mexico County Commissioner who had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. One liberal group tried to remove Republican Reps. Madison Cawthorn and Marjorie Taylor Greene from the 2022 ballot under the provision, but Cawthorn lost his primary so his case was thrown out, and a judge ruled for Greene.

Some critics of the movement to bar Trump warn that the provision could be weaponized in unexpected ways.

They note that conservatives could argue, for example, that Vice President Kamala Harris is likewise barred from office because she raised bail funds for people arrested during the unrest following George Floyd's 2020 murder at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The plaintiffs in Colorado presented historical evidence that even the donation of small sums to money to those seeking to join the Confederacy was grounds for being barred by Section 3. Why, critics have asked, wouldn't that apply to Democrats like Harris today?

Read more:
LEON  Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Jesus Christ and Reo Hatfield II.

How a boy from Huntington, West Virginia, came to have his name on a list of the greatest acts of forgiveness alongside some of historys greatest figures is a tale of an age-old Appalachian feud  yes, he is one of those Hatfields  and history-changing big moves.

Hatfield has once again made a big move, leaving TA Services, a Texas-based, multimillion-dollar logistics company where he served as vice president of business development, for Prince Michel, a Madison County vineyard and winery where he has been named president and CEO.

It was Prince Michel owner Kristin Easter who made the eyebrow-raising decision to bring on Hatfield to help carry one of the commonwealths oldest and largest wineries into the future. Eyebrow-raising because Hatfield has no prior experience in the wine industry and, more than that, doesnt drink.

It is a leap, but the reality is that any business has similarities in lots of ways, Hatfield told The Daily Progress. What you have to do is acquire the knowledge of actually running a business and, at the same token, understand the circumstances of business. If you can do that, it doesnt matter what business it is as long as you operate the company with reasonable standards.

Hatfield met Easter through his wife. He did some consulting for the winery about five years ago that gave him a taste of what it would be like working in the industry. Now, they are combining Easters love for wine with Hatfields wealth of management knowledge to lead the company into a new era.

Ive been in transportation my whole life, so thought I might as well finish in something else, said Hatfield. I thought I could serve this business even greater than there [at TA Services] because it was a million-dollar company and I thought, Well, my goal is to help other companies, and I thought I could help them.

The learning curve isnt daunting for Hatfield, who brings a realpolitik to the job. His business motto is Success is never final.

Never go into a place thinking you have all the answers, said Hatfield. Go into a place thinking you want to answer all your questions. Ever since Ive arrived all Ive done is ask why when people say theyve been doing it this way for years. I want to give everything a fresh look.

Hatfield considers himself a lifelong learner. He said hes learned a lot about business since taking his first job at 15. Each individual company has a little quirk to it, so the key is to figure out and understand those variations, what works and what doesnt.

While Hatfield has a few things to learn about his new position, Prince Michel has even more to gain from his years in logistics, his management skills and, perhaps above all, his connections.

As part of his job at TA Services, Hatfield was involved in handling international affairs, he said, allowing him to foster relationships with businesses all over the world  businesses he remains in contact with even after leaving logistics.

He was recently awarded an honor from the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in Washington, D.C., for the connections he fostered between Waynesboro and a sister city in China.

Those connections and that experience will help bolster business for a winery that is already one of the more well-known and widely distributed in Central Virginia. Prince Michel is familiar to East Coast grocery shoppers as well as motorists traveling between Washington and Charlottesville. While it advertises itself as situated among the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge, true of dozens of Virginia wineries, it is far more apt to say Prince Michel is situated off a well-traveled stretch of U.S. 29 with its tasting room fronting the busy highway.

Founded in 1982, two years before the neighboring Monticello American Viticultural Area was christened, Prince Michel was the brainchild of Parisians-turned-Virginians Jean and Sylvian LeDucq. The Le Ducqs had a vision for a winery that married the high-end craft wines, as they called them, of viognier, syrah and symbius, with more unique novelty wines, such as peach and chocolate.

Early on it was recognized as the largest winery in Virginia, and while it has been usurped in the intervening years  that title now belongs to Trump  it remains one of the more widely distributed wineries. While pricier Virginia wines coming from the elite Monticello AVA can be difficult to find on shelves outside Central Virginia, Prince Michel can be easily found on shelves from Southside to Northern Virginia and even beyond the commonwealths borders.

This company was built on a great foundation, so all I want to do is try and enhance it and give it more exposure than it has been getting in the past, so were going to grow it that way, said Hatfield. I believe that we can make a big difference to a lot of places who dont even know who we are right now.

Hatfield credits much of his business know-how to lessons learned at an early age.

Ive enjoyed every minute of it, Hatfield said with a slow drawl permanently tethering him to his Appalachian roots. My fun in life is working with people and working towards success for the business and to do it with a heart.

His first job, and one of only a few that didnt involve trucks, was working at a grocery store in Huntington when he was 15 years old. Hatfield was not bagging groceries for long when he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Korea for three years during the Vietnam War. When he returned home as a 20-year-old, he found an entry-level job at Smith Transfer based out of Staunton.

Hatfield started out there as a typist. Eighteen years later, he was the companys vice president and the company was the eighth-largest trucking company in the country.

It was already an accomplishment for a man with no formal education in the industry beyond a two-year degree from Marshall University. But Hatfield wasnt finished.

After leaving Smith, he founded his own company, Reo Distribution, in Waynesboro. He spent the next three decades there, and its there where the lessons he learned at the knee of his father, Reo Hatfield Sr., came into play.

What he taught me was that revenue is one of the most critical parts of running a successful business. You cant just cut costs, youve got to increase revenue, said Hatfield. You can do that with the solutions other people bring with them when they come to work for you.

The elder Hatfield, it may come as a surprise, was a minister. But since he refused to take any compensation for his ministerial work, he also worked full-time as a director of sales for Century Oil.

Like his father, Hatfield has never been satisfied working just one job. On top of his other duties, Hatfield served 25 years as a member of the Waynesboro auxiliary police force and two separate terms as a councilman and vice mayor for the city.

It was his fathers balance between faith and finances that shaped how the younger Hatfield grew to see management.

Youve got to run a business with a heart. Thats what Hatfield said was one of his fathers most valuable lessons.

Hatfield said he prefers to bring everyone to the table to hash out ideas and solutions, rather than issuing edicts.

Its that sort of diplomacy that put Hatfield on national TV in 2003, when he signed a truce with Bo and Ron McCoy, formally ending the 140-year-old feud between their respective families that had lasted so long and cost so many lives that its become shorthand for the very idea of a family feud.

Hatfield said he considers it one of the proudest moments of his career because it wasnt done for anything.

That career of his will come to an end eventually, and it will come to an end at Prince Michel, Hatfield said. But that end wont come for a while yet, he added.

Hatfield is already eager to capitalize off the recent recognition of the Monticello wine country as Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Hatfield said he is looking forward to collaborating with Prince Michels other new hire, winemaker Bryan Jones, who spent a decade as chief winemaker at Lovers Leap Vineyards in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

There are a lot of big moves happening at Prince Michel.

Another one? The teetotaler Hatfield admitted he sampled this years Decadence Chocolate wine. It was pretty good, he said.
Police searching for Colorado mother suspected of killing her 2 children, wounding third

Police were still searching Friday for a Colorado woman suspected of killing her two young children and wounding a third after police initially responded to a report of a burglary in their home
Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1@Gmail.com. Also, visit dennisbeaver.com.
Seguin, TX (78155)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 74F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear with gusty winds developing late. Low 51F. S winds shifting to W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Gary Oldman isnt a big fan of his portrayal of magician Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise.

Speaking to Josh Horowitz on the latest edition of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Oldman claims his work in the role was meh in the three films he did in the series.

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Oldman debuted as Sirius Black in 2004s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He came back for the next two films, ending in 2007s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

I think my work is mediocre in it, Oldman claims. No, I do. Maybe if I had read the books like Alan (Rickman, aka Prof. Snape), if I had got ahead of the curve, if I had known whats coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently.

Oldman is his own biggest critic.

Ill tell you what it is. Its like anything, if I sat and watched myself in something and said, My god, Im amazing, that would be a very sad day, because you want to make the next thing better.

During an earlier appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the actor explained said that he was cast as Sirius Black after becoming a single father.

At 42 years old, I woke up divorced, and I had custody of these boys, and so that, in itself, wasthat was hard, because there was a shift in the industry where a lot of productions were being [filmed in], it was Hungary, Budapest, Prague, Australia, you know, all of these places.

Oldman said he turned down a lot of work in order to be with his children. Thank God for Harry Potter, he told Barrymore. I tell you, the two  Batman (where he played Commissioner Gordon) and Harry Potter  really, they saved me, because it meant that I could do the least amount of work for the most amount of money and then be home with the kids.

Story continues

Oldman is out promoting his Apple TV+ spy show Slow Horses, whose third season has just concluded. Season 4 of the series has already been shot, with Oldman in the role of spymaster Jackson Lamb.

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It was earlier Thursday that the United States imposed new sanctions on a suspected group of money-bartering services based in Yemen and Turkey for alleged financial support to Houthi rebels backed by Iran.

The rebels have been focusing their attention on the Southern section of the Red Sea.Those included in said sanctions are a head financial broker based in Sana'a, Yemen as well as three exchange houses based in Turkey and the aforementioned Yemen.

According to Fatima Hussein of the Associated Press, the United States Treasury "Alleges that the people and firms helped transfer millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Sa'id al-Jamal".

The sanctions themselves prevent access to United States-based property, and bank accounts and prevent the group as well as various companies from doing business with Americans.

This is yet another wave of sanctions from earlier this month when the US introduced sanctions against 13 people including firms that have allegedly been supplying millions from the sale and shipment of Iranian-based goods to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

In a statement to the Associated Press, Brian E. Nelson, the Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, stated that the steps that were taken on Thursday "Underscore 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" and that the US along with its allies will "Continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their backers in Iran".

In the past, the Houthis rebels have only on occasion taken aim at the ships but as the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated so have the attacks. Although, according to the Associated Press, Houthi rebel leaders "Have insisted Israel is their target".

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SIOUX CITY  Plans to construct two separate carbon-capture pipelines through the tri-state area saw a litany of challenges in 2023.

One company, Summit Carbon Solutions, had permitting requests denied in North Dakota and South Dakota, two of the five states the $5.5 billion, 2,000 mile pipeline would cover.

The other, Navigator CO2 Ventures, completely dropped its plan to build a 1,300 mile pipeline through South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. When making the decision in October, the Omaha-based company cited the "unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government process" in South Dakota and Iowa. Regulators in South Dakota denied permitting in September. A number of Iowa politicians, from both parties, including Iowa District 2 Sen. Jeff Taylor (R-Sioux Center), pushed for legislation to severely limit the ability of such companies to use eminent domain for the projects but nothing passed both chambers of the Iowa legislature. Following the fall of the Navigator pipeline, members of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors celebrated.

Summit Carbon Solutions did not drop its project and argued before the Iowa Utilities Board that the pipeline, which would capture the CO2 emitted at ethanol plants and send it underground for storage, would stimulate the state's economy.

"We're an agricultural company building an infrastructure project to help the next generation of agriculture," Summit Carbon Solutions CEO Lee Blank said. Jess Mazour, the conservation program coordinator for the Sierra Club Iowa chapter said such work would put risks in the communities and damage the land.

Estimates are the Iowa Utilities Board will reach a verdict in early 2024.

Stories 5 through 1 will roll out on Saturday.
WALL LAKE, Iowa  David Schultz's missing persons case attracted the attention of locals and online sleuths worldwide.

Last month, the 53-year-old Wall Lake truck driver and father of 10-year-old twin boys, disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Schultz's red Peterbilt semi with white stripes was found the afternoon of Nov. 21 parked in the middle of the northbound lane of County Road N-14, not far from where it intersects with D-15 in northeastern Sac County. The truck was shut off, the lights were off and the key was in the ignition. The trailer Schultz rents was loaded with pigs, but he was nowhere to be found on that stretch of paved roadway, which is flanked by cornfields.

Sac County Sheriff's deputies found Schultz's wallet and cellphone inside the truck. A towel, cellphone charger and pocketknife were found with his coat on the opposite side of the road.

Since Schultz went missing, the United Cajun Navy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit, and volunteers have scoured more than 100,000 acres in and around Sac County.

Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure told The Journal on Dec. 14 that he is confident his office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will eventually solve the case. He said investigators "haven't ruled anything out."

"We're going to run this out until we just can't run it anymore, until we can either find out what happened to David or where he's at and bring him home and give some answers," McClure said.

Schultz's wife, Sarah, has repeatedly called her husband's disappearance "suspicious" and said, "This is not something David would do. He would never leave. His family is his life."

Stories 10 through 6 will release Friday and 5 through 1 will roll out on Saturday.
STORM LAKE, Iowa -- A Storm Lake man who has spent nearly 17 years in mental heath treatment has pleaded not guilty of killing his brother and trying to kill his parents.

Jose Tovar, 35, entered his written plea Thursday in Buena Vista County District Court to one count of first-degree murder and two counts each of attempted murder and willful injury causing serious injury. A trial date has yet to be set.

He is charged with the Feb. 19, 2006, stabbing death of his 21-year-old brother, Miguel Tovar, and the stabbings of his parents Jose Arturo Tovar and Maria Vela Tovar at 207 Seneca St. in Storm Lake.

Jose Tovar's case had been on hold since January 2007, when he was found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial. Since then, Tovar, who was diagnosed with a bipolar type of schizoaffective disorder, was in state custody receiving treatment, at times regaining competency and lapsing back into incompetency.

After reviewing the most recent report from a state psychiatrist, a judge on Dec. 18 ruled Tovar's mental competency had been restored and he was able to stand trial as long as he continued to take his medications.
SIOUX CITY  A relationship expected to last at least 30 years ended abruptly when the USS Sioux City was decommissioned Aug. 14 after less than five years in service.

The Navy's decision caught local officials and residents who had supported the ship since its name was announced in February 2012 off guard.

"I was both surprised and disappointed," Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan, who worked on the committee that raised money for the November 2018 commissioning ceremony and festivities, said shortly after news of the decommissioning became public. "Surprised in that we had been assured by officials in Washington that the USS Sioux City was secure through fiscal 2024, which is over a year from now. I was disappointed because our community demonstrated an unprecedented level of support, and all involved with this ship deserved a better fate."

The USS Sioux City, which cost approximately $362 million, was among a group of littoral combat ships that were conceived as a small, fast ship that could maneuver in shallow, or littoral, waters closer to shore than other Navy ships. But the Freedom class variant to which the USS Sioux City belonged was plagued with mechanical issues that cost millions of dollars to repair. Some military experts said the ships were a waste of money and were no longer wanted by the Navy.

"To maintain our strategic advantage, particularly under fiscal constraints, it is important for the Navy to carefully review our force structure regularly and divest of legacy capabilities that no longer bring sufficient lethality to maximize our effectiveness in deterring and defeating potential adversaries," a Navy spokeswoman said of the ship's decommissioning.

The USS Sioux City's crew members received new assignments. Docked with other inactive ships, the USS Sioux City is eligible for sale to another country's military, and its equipment could be removed for use on similar ships. Future recommissioning is unlikely.

Stories 10 through 6 will release Friday and 5 through 1 will roll out on Saturday.
Here are a few of the top-performing headlines for today, Dec. 28, according to CNN:

Nikki Haleys Civil War backlash

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday sought to clarify her comments about the Civil War a 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.

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.

Democrats and President Joe Bidens campaign quickly seized on the moment. Biden posted on X, It was about slavery, along with a video of the exchange.

Read the rest here:

Cher files for conservatorship

Cher has filed for temporary legal conservatorship of her adult son Elijah Blue Allman, citing his alleged ongoing substance abuse issues.

According to a petition filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court, Cher is seeking to be the sole conservator of her sons estate. Petitioner (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 Elijahs life at risk, it reads.

The 47-year-old is the son of Cher and her former husband, the late rocker Gregg Allman.

Im not suffering from any problem that millions of people in the United States arent, Cher told People magazine in October, referring to her sons substance abuse.

Get more info about it here:

Boeing urges inspections

Boeing has asked airlines to inspect all of their 737 Max jets for a potential loose bolt in the rudder system after an airline discovered a potential problem with a key part used to control and stabilize the aircraft in flight on two aircraft. Boeings engineering and quality problems have posed major challenges for the company. The crashes of two of 737 Max jets that killed all 346 people on board the flights led to a crippling 20-month grounding of the plane.

Find out more here:

Bonus reads: Arsenal, Powerball

Arsenal lost at home for the first time since May as a 2-0 defeat to West Ham cost Mikel Artetas team the chance to return to the top of the Premier League on Thursday. Thats just one win in its last four league matches for Arsenal, which needs to beat Fulham on Sunday heading into 2024.

Arsenal vs. West Ham from every angle:

And an estimated $760 million jackpot will be up for grabs in the next Powerball drawing after no winning ticket was drawn Wednesday night. Heres everything you need to know about the swelling prize.

Get the whole scoop here:
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.

Hello Waterloo vampires,

Ive just finished writing a piece that digs into some of this years Great Men movies. Call them biopics or whatever you want, but in Maestro, Ferrari, Oppenheimer, and Napoleon, great directors tackle men whom history has chosen to revere. While I think Oppenheimer is the only true masterpiece of the four, I have to say I was probably most delighted by Joaquin Phoenixs performance as Napoleon Bonaparte. Im not saying hes better than Bradley Cooper, Adam Driver, and Cillian Murphy, but I am saying I had the most fun watching him. I loved how committed he was to inaccuracy. Ridley Scott does not give a shit about whether something is quote-unquote correct, and neither does Phoenix in this role.

Phoenix is an actor known for his physical transformation, but, perhaps on the instruction of Scott himself, he chose to do very little to change himself when playing the pompous French ruler. He even uses his own American accent. Blind item: I was having a conversation with a wonderful filmmaker at a party earlier this year who said Phoenix in Napoleon reminded him of the late Ryan ONeal in Stanley Kubricks Barry Lyndon. Somehow he feels completely wrong for the role, but that wrongness is right. His out-of-time quality makes Napoleon seem hilariously like the kind of emotionally stunted man we encounter all the time in the 21st century: Napoleon as a bratty internet shitposter.

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This is all to Bilges pointor maybe a bastardization of Bilges pointthat accuracy isnt always the thing, even when playing real-life people. In Maestro, Cooper goes to great lengths to look like Leonard Bernstein, but in some ways, I believe the accuracy of the makeup is a detriment to the movie. (And not because of the nose. I think Mark had the best take on that here.) The moments I adored in Maestro were the ones that broke free from the fetters of reality: for instance, when the camera follows Lenny from the bed hes sharing with a male partner to the stage at Carnegie Hall. I was completely swept away by the dream ballet in which Lenny and his to-be wife Felicia (Carey Mulligan) are basically absorbed by his compositions for Fancy Free and On the Town. (I wrote about that here.) But I could sometimes feel a tug-of-war between actor and auteur. The auteur in Cooper could be expressionistic, while the actor felt he had to be correct. Its a dynamic keeps Maestro a shade away from being a great film, in my book.

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I thought a lot about actors and auteurs when pondering what to write about Lily Gladstones astounding work in Killers of the Flower Moon. Of course, Martin Scorsese is the auteur of the film, and its maybe one of his best of all time, which is a wild thing to say about a director who has had his career. (How does he keep getting better in his 80s? May we all be so blessed.) Yet I think there is an auteurist quality to Gladstones performance. As Mollie Burkhart, Gladstone shapes the film in her image, which is why I take issue with anyone arguing that she isnt a lead or that her character is underdeveloped. Counting how much dialogue someone has is a terrible way to measure their impact on a film.

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Earlier this year I attended the IndieWire Honors, one of the many awards celebrations at which Gladstone has been already feted. (Thanks to pal Kate Erbland for inviting me!) During Gladstones savvy speech she made two points I would like to highlight. In the first, she thanked IndieWire for seeing her performance in the Kelly Reichardt film Certain Women when a lot of people didnt, when a lot of people just assumed I was some ranch hand that they plucked from Montana. You saw the work.

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Its easy to assume, of actors from marginalized backgrounds who didnt go to Juilliard or the Yale School of Drama, that their talent is a flukesomething they just have rather than something they have cultivated. Gladstone wants to combat this prejudice, in the same way she wants to use her newfound status to elevate the filmmakers she is collaborating with who are not Martin Scorsese, like Erica Tremblay, whose indie Fancy Dance premiered at Sundance in January and still does not have U.S. distribution. Its clear that Gladstone sees the attention shes getting as an opportunity, or even a responsibilityto the Osage woman shes playing on screen, and to other Indigenous actors and filmmakers for whom her celebrity can open doors.

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Its this boldness that I think also comes through onscreen in Killers of the Flower Moon. Yes, Gladstone possesses a naturalism that is hard to learn, which is maybe why people wrongly assumed she was a non-actor in Certain Women. She brings a similar quality to Morrisa Maltzs The Unknown Countryher other film this year, for which she won a Gotham Award. That delicate road-trip drama about a woman driving through America to grieve her grandmother does pair her with nonprofessionals. With her open face, ready to listen, Gladstone is able to meld into the fabric of the land that Maltz is portraying.

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What she accomplishes in Killers of the Flower Moon is different. I feel like people keep ignoring her early scenes of flirtation with Leonardo DiCaprios Ernest to make their points about how the movie doesnt serve her. But those beatswhen he first picks her up in his car and she tells him to get a move on; when she invites him inside her home and teases him for his greedare just as crucial as the ones where she is bedridden.

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Related From Slate The Totally Winning, Stupid Comedy That Made Me Feel Better About Hollywoods Obsession With IP Read More

The first time we see Mollie shes asking her guardian for her own money, and you can see her weariness at that racist protocol. But then she sparkles when she meets Ernest. Hes a white man over whom she has power, and she relishes thatyou can hear it in her laugh. Theres been a lot made about whether or not its right to say that there was love between Ernest and Mollie. But Gladstone deftly portrays that love can mean different things to different people. Mollie is hot for Ernest, which leads her to misguidedly trust him, and that cant be underestimated. And then, in their final scene together, you see the same look in her eyes that she had when she was confronting her guardian at the films start. You thought you could own me, just like everyone thinks they can own me. Now you cant.

Mollie, too, is a real person, and yet unlike Leonard Bernstein or Enzo Ferrari, we have little idea of what she was actually like. Gladstone recognizes the responsibility of bringing her to life and shaping her in a way that feels true for generations to come. Its not an imitation. Its something more. Its a revival.

Its been a true honor discussing (but mostly celebrating) movies with you all,

Esther

Read the next entry in Movie Club: Leonardo DiCaprio Never Should Have Been Cast as Ernest Burkhart. Thats Why Hes So Great.
A Maryland tax preparer, Ronald Eugene Watson, known also as Sabir Muhammad, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for preparing and filing false tax returns. This follows his conviction by a federal jury in Greenbelt, Maryland. Watson, operating as a self-employed preparer under SW Accounting Associates (SWAA) in Largo, engaged in fraudulent activities from 2015 through 2017.

Court documents and trial evidence revealed that Watson deliberately prepared and electronically filed tax returns with the IRS for his clients, containing falsified income and deduction details. These inaccuracies often included exaggerated or completely fictitious business and unreimbursed employee expenses. Such deceptive practices led to reduced tax liabilities and subsequently resulted in substantial, unjustified refunds.

Witnesses testified that Watsons fees for tax preparation were contingent on the refund amount, typically ranging between $500 to $1,500. This fee structure further highlights the profit-driven motives behind his unethical practices.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang ordered Watson to serve a year of supervised release and pay approximately $268,634 in restitution to the United States. This case underscores the severe consequences of fraudulent tax preparation and serves as a warning to other tax professionals.

The case was diligently investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation team. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Departments Tax Division, along with U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence. Trial Attorney Matthew L. Cofer of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah B. Grossi for the District of Maryland led the prosecution.

For small business owners, this case is a crucial reminder of the importance of engaging with ethical and compliant tax professionals. The ramifications of fraudulent tax practices not only affect individual taxpayers but can also have broader implications for the integrity of the tax system and the financial well-being of businesses.

Image: Depositphotos
People can rent the old building.

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Who knows what fate would have awaited the iconic building in a small central Slovak village if, after many years of waiting, it had not been acquired by a person who knows exactly how to deal with dilapidated historical buildings.

The 14th century Water Castle in Hronsek, with a dam around it which was rebuilt into its current form at the end of the 16th century, was in a truly deplorable state in 1990: leaky roofs, broken windows, deep cracks in the walls, a tower that has disappeared for good, and especially the gradually disappearing unique items that can hardly be seen elsewhere.

However, its rich fresco decoration makes the castle unique.

Jewels on the walls

It was the wall paintings with hunting and antique scenes, and the frescoes depicting events on the battlefield, inspired by important painters such as Leonardo da Vinci, that caught the attention of Stanislav Rajnoha, an art historian.

He stepped into the devastated building for the first time 40 years ago.

At that time, he had no idea that the ruin would eventually employ him for more than 20 years, investing 5 million into it.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/cause-du-jour-to-yesterdays-news-western-medias-evolving-2023-coverage-on-ukraine-1115862086.html

Cause du Jour to Yesterday's News: Western Medias Evolving 2023 Coverage on Ukraine

Cause du Jour to Yesterday's News: Western Medias Evolving 2023 Coverage on Ukraine

Media reporting on the conflict in Ukraine is a case study of mainstream journalisms propaganda function on behalf of Western militarism.

2023-12-28T23:37+0000

2023-12-28T23:37+0000

2023-12-28T23:33+0000

americas

2023 year in review

volodymyr zelensky

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russia

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Earlier this year, American commentator Bill Kristol observed with distress the growing opposition among Republicans to US funding for Ukraine.An arch neoconservative, Kristol had been central in rallying support for Americas post-9/11 wars. Once democracy had been secured for grateful Iraqis, Kristol hoped to go further, toppling the Islamic Republic in Iran and cementing Western control over a notoriously independent region of the world.Famously, things didnt work out that way. By 2023, the party of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney had grown increasingly weary of war and skeptical of US military involvement. Not only had Irans power grown in the Middle East, but now US hegemony over Europe seemed in doubt as well amid Russias special operation in Ukraine.Alarmed by the development, Kristol set up a pressure group to ensure the GOP remained committed to funding for Kiev. The organizations first television ad urged Republicans to keep the money flowing while sounding all the usual jingoistic notes:When America arms Ukraine we get a lot for a little. Putin is an enemy of America The more Ukraine weakens Russia, the more it also weakens Russias closest ally, China. America needs to stand strong against our enemies. Thats why Republicans in Congress must continue to support Ukraine.The advertising blitz signaled the panic felt by much of Washingtons pro-war establishment as almost half of Americans polled now said the country was sending too much money for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys quixotic endeavor.But how did the United States arrive at this juncture, with a previously hawkish American public now increasingly opposed even to funding a proxy conflict? The answer in part lies in a discredited mainstream medias growing inability to manufacture consent for another forever war.Past is PrologueAnti-Russian sentiment has deep roots in the West. Tensions have grown in the past several years amidst the Russiagate narrative, which sought to distract from the declining popularity of Americas political establishment and discredit former President Donald Trump with claims Russia interfered in the 2016 US election. The accusation played a useful role in asserting US soft power as part of a broader pivot to Asia foreign policy dating back to the Obama administration.Russiagate itself was built on a decades-long foundation of McCarthyism that came to the fore after the United States and the Soviet Union emerged from World War II as dueling superpowers. Anticommunism was the cornerstone of US foreign policy for four decades, with hostility towards Russia at its core.Thus, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the countrys special military operation in Ukraine in early 2022, the notion that Russia was at fault wasnt entirely difficult to sell to Americans. The countrys reintegration of Crimea eight years before had already been portrayed as an act of aggressive conquest, even with ample evidence demonstrating Crimeans wished to rejoin Russia.If the Soviet Unions entry into Afghanistan decades earlier had been characterized as an attempt to preserve Russian power in the region, the operation in Ukraine was Putins attempt to rebuild the former empire. Such was the narrative breathlessly repeated in corporate media.Key to the Western portrayal of the situation was the idea that Putins action was entirely unprovoked. The claim was made emphatically by US President Joe Biden and repeated in editorial pages across the country: Russias action was an act of unwarranted aggression against a blameless western democracy.When outright military force is not an option, the United States often aims to shape global politics through more subtle means. Government-backed institutions like USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy tilt the playing field in the US favor by funneling billions of dollars towards media, activists, and non-governmental organizations around the world. In this way, the US is able to achieve regime change via the astroturfing of protests and opposition movements favorable to the countrys interests.Such background is understood in places like Russia and China, where the media reports on the background of these so-called color revolutions but the context is largely unknown by the US public. Thus, the Biden administration was easily able to sell Russias special operation in Ukraine as an unprovoked attack rather than a response to developments since the 2014 Euromaidan coup installed an anti-Russian government in Kiev.Only several months of adversarial coverage from a few select media personalities amidst heavy political polarization in the United States was able to eventually begin to shift the narrative among the American public.Cracks Beginning to Show2023 began with most Americans still supporting the countrys arming of Zelenskys regime in Ukraine.Some of the first signs of dissent emerged from the anti-war movement. In March, a demonstration was held outside the White House that drew thousands of people. Organized by organizations like Code Pink and the ANSWER Coalition that played a major role in opposing the war in Iraq, the protest explicitly identified the violence in Ukraine as a proxy conflict intended to defend NATO expansion at the expense of Russian interests.The media criticism group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) noted that coverage of the demonstration fell entirely to alternative media as the protest was completely ignored by mainstream US outlets. The Washington Post did not even report on the protest in its local edition despite demonstrators marching to the newspapers K Street building carrying several black coffins.Cracks in Western support for Kiev also began to show internationally. Europe saw a wave of strikes and protests in the beginning of the year over a rising cost of living. Although US-led sanctions on Russian gas played a central role in the crisis, the conflict in Ukraine only received a single brief mention in an article from Reuters about the unrest.In Brazil, newly-elected President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made efforts to reorient his countrys foreign policy in an independent direction when he noted the role of NATO expansion in Ukraines conflict. The Associated Press and Reuters ran interference for the US State Department after Lulas foreign minister met with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, soliciting comments from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby accusing Brazil of parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.Brazilian media picked up on the wire services stories almost immediately with newspaper O Globo editorializing that Lula risks taking a fall by provoking the United States  an unmistakable threat of a coup in a country with a long history of US political interference.Mainstream media also continued to dutifully fall in line with US government interests regarding the September 2022 destruction of Russias Nord Stream pipeline. When respected independent reporter Seymour Hersh released a story in February documenting the United States responsibility for the bombing, it was overlooked by major outlets like The New York Times.After the story proved too juicy to ignore, the US newspaper of record responded almost a month to the day later with a competing narrative absolving the United States of any role, instead citing anonymous new intelligence blaming a Ukraine-aligned group. FAIR noted at the time that major US media outlets ignored Hershs story and unanimously regarded the New York Times report as more credible, even though both were based on anonymous sources.As 2023 continued, dissent over US backing of Ukraine increasingly began to emerge from a perhaps unlikely source. Although the Republican Party had spearheaded the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the Trump-aligned wing of the conservative movement began to question Democratic President Joe Bidens stance in the Ukraine conflict. Whether motivated by mere partisan gamesmanship or by genuine ideological dissent, much of what observers characterize as anti-war sentiment began to emerge from the populist right.Perhaps most representative of the trend was Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who viewed US support for Ukraine with greater and greater skepticism. Carlson became known as an anti-establishment voice on issues of foreign affairs, even once explaining the concept of color revolutions to his audience.The hosts commentary made him a target of particular ire from mainstream US media: The New York Times suggested Carlsons nightly program was the most racist show in the history of cable news, although his foreign policy differences with the consistently pro-US intervention newspaper were impossible to ignore. Carlson took an increasingly anti-Zelensky line throughout the year, even hosting progressive journalist Aaron Mate on his program to discuss Seymour Hershs reporting on the Nord Stream pipeline explosion.Increasingly, a bipartisan consensus against US backing for Ukraine was solidifying among anti-establishment elements of the left and the right. As significant progress in eastern Ukraine eluded Zelensky, his backers were in need of a new strategy to ensure the continued political viability of Western support for the anti-Russia proxy conflict.Propaganda CounteroffensiveEarly in 2023 news spread of an upcoming military counteroffensive that Ukraines supporters promised would reverse the countrys fortunes on the battlefield.More than a year into the conflict Western media noted the significant stakes of the offensives success or failure, recognizing the declining political support for Ukraines effort. Still, mainstream outlets uncritically conveyed Ukrainian President Zelenskys optimistic sentiments. The president expressed confidence that the Ukrainian military could advance, read an article from British state-backed outlet BBC.However, Western efforts to signal faith in Zelensky were damaged in April, when classified foreign intelligence documents were leaked online by Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira. The files undermined the Biden administrations optimistic characterizations of Ukraines position, frankly assessing the balance of forces and poor chances for the counteroffensives success.Rather than using information from the leak to critically examine US foreign policy, most mainstream media instead openly lobbied for Teixeiras punishment. The Washington Post softened up potential support for the leaker by revealing unflattering details about his biography while Time magazine considered the security challenges represented by the unauthorized disclosure.In effect, major media organizations acted as another branch of the government, prioritizing US security state prerogatives throughout the saga. The debacle recalled the plight of imprisoned WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, whos received little solidarity from mainstream journalists as the United States attempts to extradite him to stand trial for his publishing. Since the revelations from Assange and former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, corporate media has consistently worked hand-in-glove with the US government to help ensure leakers are viewed as criminals rather than folk heroes.For major Western media outlets all other considerations became secondary to ensuring the success of Ukraines counteroffensive, even as the Biden administration moved to send internationally-banned cluster munitions to Kiev. The response in major US newspapers ranged from the Washington Posts characterization of the move as a tough but correct call to The New York Times agonizing over the vexing moral dilemma.Neither outlet was willing to condemn the move. A Washington Post editorial by Max Boot ridiculed liberals who opposed the policy as self-appointed humanitarians and concluded the judgment over whether to use the weapons should remain with Kiev.Some 20,000 civilians, about half of them children, have been killed in Laos by unexploded cluster bombs since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Less than 1% of the remaining bomblets have been cleared, meaning the choice to use cluster munitions will likely kill innocent Laotians  and now Russians and Ukrainians  for decades to come.Notably, when NATO alleged that Russia was using cluster bombs earlier in 2022, media coverage of the incident lacked the same moral hangwringing of a vexing dilemma as The New York Times uncritically carried the accusation.Throughout it all the pseudo-McCarthyist labeling of anyone who criticized Ukraine support as a Putin apologist remained a useful tactic for backers of US foreign policy. The charge has been leveled against everyone from Italian Senator Matteo Salvini to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this year in The New York Times.Meanwhile, US-based social media companies featuring veterans of the FBI and CIA in key positions continued to play a role similar to mainstream media in their content moderation decisions.Twitter explicitly aided the US Department of Defense in spreading anti-Russian sentiment, according to reporting by investigative journalist Lee Fang. Facebooks* parent company Meta announced the neofascist Ukrainian Azov Battalion** would no longer be considered a dangerous organization under the sites rules, allowing users to openly support the right-wing group on the platform.The change reflected Western medias consistent downplaying of the Azov Battalions fascist roots even as battlefield photos repeatedly emerged of Ukrainian soldiers sporting Nazi tattoos. After social media users continued to draw attention to the phenomenon, The New York Times finally acknowledged it in a June article  emphasizing the symbols risk of fueling Russian propaganda rather than the ideology they represented.Cold War propaganda historically equated the USSR with Nazi Germany; Now, media coverage seems almost to imply Russia is worse than the Third Reich (former Obama administration official Michael McFaul essentially claimed as much in 2022). But even the most cynical observers of Western medias opportunistic downplaying of the Nazi regime were shocked by what was still to come.In September, Justin Trudeaus government in Canada suffered a major public relations debacle after the countrys parliament offered a standing ovation to Ukrainian military hero Yaroslav Hunka, who was revealed to have fought for the Nazis. What followed can only be described as Holocaust revisionism as Western media attempted to defend Hunka and Ukraine nationalists well-documented association with Hitlers regime.Out of many disturbing editorials minimizing the crimes of people like Hunka, a Politico article entitled Fighting Against the USSR Didnt Necessarily Make You a Nazi likely represented the bottom of the barrel. Keir Giles analysis omitted the fact that Hunkas Galicia Division, which was once visited by Heinrich Himmler, has been found to have committed war crimes by experts in Poland, Germany, and even Ukraine itself. Members of the group explicitly swore an oath to commander in chief of the German Armed Forces Adolf Hitler, eliminating any ambiguity over the ideological affiliations of the Ukrainian collaborators.Mainstream media had repeatedly attempted to dismiss claims of many Ukrainian fighters fascist allegiances as the domain of propagandists and online conspiracy theorists, but the event in the Canadian Parliament signaled that the claim had become impossible to ignore. For many, it served as a clarifying moment for the medias propaganda function throughout the conflict, especially in regards to the much-hyped Ukrainian counteroffensive.Although Western media uncritically repeated claims of the counteroffensives imminent success just months before it was forced to acknowledge it had failed. Zelensky began to be seen as a useful scapegoat with Time magazine reporting aides characterization of the Ukrainian president as delusional, but the West needed a diversion from the catastrophic failure of its central foreign policy effort. In early October, it would receive just that.A New DistractionIn addition to turning Americans attention toward the familiar specter of Middle Eastern terrorism, Israels campaign in Gaza has demonstrated the hypocrisies of Western foreign policy reporting in nearly every way.Somehow self-determination justifies Israels decades-long expulsion of Palestinians from their land but doesnt legitimize Crimeans voting to join Russia. Ukrainian nationalists, we are told, are right to take up arms against Russia but Palestinian children can be arrested merely for throwing stones.In the minds of Western commentators no amount of Israeli violence and oppression seems to warrant Palestinian resistance to their occupation. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are lauded as brave and heroic for opposing Russia  even if they are neo-Nazis.The double standard provides useful confirmation if any were needed that US militarism is beholden to no moral standard, but exists only to serve itself.Earlier this month, the website for The Washington Post removed a link to coverage of the conflict in Ukraine from the masthead of its homepage, confirming for many that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus war has officially supplanted Zelenskys in the public imagination. But fighting continues in the Donbass even if Americans are less aware of it.Columnist David Ignatius offered a contrarian take on the subject recently, arguing the conflict has been a strategic windfall for the West. The US had succeeded in antagonizing Russia while NATO had grown larger with the ascension of Sweden and Finland. Whats more, sanctions had granted America a large new market for their liquified natural gas in Europe.In the cold, unfeeling calculus of media propagandists, the annihilation of Russian and Ukrainian life is justified if it serves the right interests. But support among the US public for arming the conflict is at a low. If Americans are able to effectively organize they may force a peaceful resolution even as military planners devise a new strategy in Ukraine.*Meta and its subsidiaries Facebook and Instagram have been banned in Russia for extremist activities.**The Azov Battalion is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/jeff-monson-us-elite-mutes-russian-media-to-keep-ukraine-conflict-raging-on-1110609400.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231116/how-usaid-spends-american-tax-dollars-in-ukraine---gop-senator-demands-accountability-1114995782.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231216/week-of-disappointment-western-media-admits-ukraine-and-zelensky-losing-ground-1115617993.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/waning-funding-us-voters-and-gop-aligned-on-ukraine-aid-1115517968.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230922/us-intel-insiders-admit-ukraine-counteroffensive-is-lost--seymour-hersh--1113579742.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230907/how-us-media-learned-to-love-depleted-uranium-shells-amid-ukraine-counteroffensive-1113179148.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220901/jon-stewart-us-military-spark-outrage-by-honoring-ukrainian-nazi-at-disney-world-1100250887.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230306/meet-the-nazi-sympathizers-who-organized-biden-admin-endorsed-war-rally-in-dc-last-week-1108076377.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/us-endless-support-of-ukraine-israel-conflicts-worsening-gunpowder-shortage-1115527783.html

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Post of Serbia issues commemorative BRI postage stamps

Xinhua) 10:26, December 29, 2023

Adam Sofronijevic, director of the "Srbijamarka" unit within the Post of Serbia, displays two special editions of postage stamps issued by the Post of Serbia at the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, Serbia, Dec. 28, 2023. The Post of Serbia unveiled two distinctive editions of postage stamps on Thursday, marking the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and highlighting China's profound cultural heritage. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

BELGRADE, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Post of Serbia unveiled two distinctive editions of postage stamps on Thursday, marking the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and highlighting China's profound cultural heritage.

During the ceremony at the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, Adam Sofronijevic, director of the "Srbijamarka" unit within the Post of Serbia, formally presented the special stamp editions to Wang Yanliang, director of the Chinese Cultural Center, and Zhang Zhe, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia.

Sofronijevic said that these stamps symbolize the mutual desire for cooperation and aim to facilitate cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"We want to depict the most beautiful aspects of China on postage stamps. Apart from expressing gratitude for significant investments, quality goods and services from China, we want Serbian citizens to see an image of an attractive tourist destination and hold China in their hearts," he said.

"Postage stamps travel the world and showcase what is important to Serbia at this moment - friendship with China," he said. "They serve as a historical testament to how proud Serbia is of this friendship for future generations."

Emphasizing the strengthening friendship between Serbia and China, Zhang Zhe highlighted the evolving cultural exchanges as a new dimension in their high-quality relations.

The special edition titled "Serbia-China: 10 years since the establishment of the Belt and Road Initiative" features images symbolizing the robust collaboration between the two nations. Artistic elements include the Bell Tower of Xi'an, the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, and the elegant "Belt and Road" inscription in Chinese calligraphy.

Another captivating series, "Cultural and natural heritage of China as an integral part of world heritage," delves into China's rich cultural legacy.

The Post of Serbia has pledged to issue two special editions of postage stamps dedicated to the Serbia-China friendship annually, starting this year.

This photo taken on Dec. 28, 2023 shows two special editions of postage stamps issued by the Post of Serbia in Belgrade, Serbia. The Post of Serbia unveiled two distinctive editions of postage stamps on Thursday, marking the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and highlighting China's profound cultural heritage. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Officials in Zambia have stated they will investigate a video that appears to show Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo accepting piles of cash from a Chinese businessman. Kakubo, who has since resigned, has denied wrongdoing, stating that he stepped as to not be a distraction to the government.

While not going so far as denying that it was him in the video, he says that there were "malicious claims over a business transaction between my private family business and our business partner."

"In due course, we will provide the accurate context," he said. The Associated Press reports that Kakubo would keep his position as a member of parliament despite resigning from his prior role.

The newswire also reported that they Zambian Anti-Corruption Commission said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the video.

The video in question purportedly shows three men counting stacks of money on a table, some in U.S. dollars and some in Zambian kwacha. Though none of the men's faces are visible, the Chinese national in question was identified as the owner of a mining company.

Kakubo has been accused of receiving $200,000 and a Mercedes-Benz in the deal.

It's the second time Kakubo has been accused of taking a payoff. Last year, he was accused of taking payoffs from another Chinese national after being photographed with a bag last year at a cement factory.

It was also reported by Africa News that an online image surfaced displaying a handwritten and signed note that suggested a monetary exchange of $100,000 between a Chinese mining company and a Zambian mining company. Although the note included the names of Mr. Kabuko and a Mr. Zang, further details were not readily available.

Chinese nationals reportedly have over 600 businesses operating in Zambia, according to the Chinese Embassy.

Zambia is one of the top copper producers in the world and also has deposits of cobalt, nickel, and manganese.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/beginning-of-the-end-of-ukraine-conflict-sees-chance-for-diplomacy-negotiation-1115868244.html

Beginning of the End of Ukraine Conflict Sees Chance for Diplomacy, Negotiation

Beginning of the End of Ukraine Conflict Sees Chance for Diplomacy, Negotiation

Analyst Daniel Lazare sees peace and neutrality in Ukraines future if the United States is willing to allow it.

2023-12-29T02:22+0000

2023-12-29T02:22+0000

2023-12-29T02:22+0000

analysis

ukrainian crisis

ukrainian conflict

ukrainian coup

maidan coup

us hegemony

ukraine

russia

china

daniel lazare

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A wind down of fighting in Ukraine could provide the opportunity for compromise, 'Finlandization', and maybe even a role for China, according to investigative journalist Daniel Lazare.Lazare made the claim on the Sputnik's Political Misfits Thursday in a wide-ranging discussion that also touched on US drug and immigration policy.Host John Kirakou noted that Republicans have been remarkably unified in their opposition to more military aid to Ukraine, and Democrats have been unsuccessful in tying that aid to aid to Israel.Are we seeing the beginning of the end of this conflict? asked Kiriakou.But Lazare blamed the United States for the outbreak of the conflict and warned America could still stand in the way of peace.This seems to me to be a case of just a completely ill thought out policy that sort of just flowed from years of neocon arrogance, claimed Lazare.US President Barack Obamas foreign policy circle was dominated by neoconservatives like Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during Ukraines so-called Euromaidan coup in 2014. Western governments cheered on anti-government protests at that time even though polling showed most Ukrainians disagreed with the demands of protesters at Kievs Maidan Square.After neo-Nazi groups forced elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to flee the country, leaked audio emerged of Nuland discussing the United States attempts to shape the interim government. Nuland boasted of sending $5 billion to promote so-called democracy building programs in Ukraine  code for activity designed to promote US interests in foreign governments. The term color revolution has been coined to describe US regime change efforts spurred by the funding of opposition forces, especially in Russias sphere of influence.US interference helped tear the country in two, according to Lazare, and made outright war more or less inevitable.Lazare noted the US will not find it easy to back off from its support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but he proposed a future wherein peace could be brought to Ukraine if the country agrees to demilitarize.I actually visited Finland in 1972 during the period of 'Finlandization' and it was a glorious society, said Lazare. I mean prosperous, egalitarian, socialistic That was the Russian posture for good reason. It couldve been worse. I mean, Russia could have demanded the Mexicanization of the Ukraine, which would mean inclined to get into poverty and crime. But Russia didn't do that. And so the deal they offered this border country was really pretty good. It would have been satisfactory [in Ukraine] to a wide range of interests. But the US blocked it.Kiriakou asked Lazare if there was potential for China to become involved in negotiations in Ukraine, noting the countrys growing influence and recent success in the Middle East bringing together Saudi Arabia and Iran.So I think if I was in Beijing, if I was a Chinese diplomat, I'd be saying, 'this is an area we should keep very close tabs on because there may be opportunities for us to exercise influence.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/ukraines-pm-panicking-over-wrecked-economy-begging-for-aid---report-1115865257.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/euromaidan-color-revolution-that-brought-ukraine-to-ruin-1115104905.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231126/russian-embassy-asks-uk-to-clarify-its-role-in-disrupting-peace-talks-with-ukraine-1115219899.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230225/china-to-unveil-peace-plan-to-end-ukraine-conflict-1107789648.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/beijing-on-zelensky-formula-meeting-china-to-work-on-political-settlement-of-crisis-1115873103.html

Beijing on 'Zelensky Formula' Meeting: China to Work on Political Settlement of Crisis

Beijing on 'Zelensky Formula' Meeting: China to Work on Political Settlement of Crisis

China will continue to contribute to the political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.

2023-12-29T09:56+0000

2023-12-29T09:56+0000

2023-12-29T09:56+0000

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On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sputnik and the Rossiya 24 broadcaster that 10 day ago a secret meeting took place under the "peace plan" proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the participation of western countries, as well as some states of the Global South. "China's position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent and very clear. We have always been committed to playing a constructive role in the ceasefire and political settlement of the crisis. We will also continue to stimulate negotiations in our own ways in order to facilitate an early political settlement of the crisis," the spokeswoman said, answering a question about whether the Chinese side participated in the meeting.Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled his 10-point "peace formula" in late November 2022. The draft suggests that Moscow should hand over Russian regions, including Crimea and territories that reunited with Russia in 2022 after popular referendums. Another issue in energy security guarantees, as well as the exchange of captured military personnel. Russian officials have repeatedly stressed that Zelensky's "peace formula" is obviously out of touch with reality. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an interview with Sputnik and Rossiya 24, described the "peace formula" as "a figment of sick imagination".

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/lavrov-calls-zelenskys-peace-plan-figment-of-sick-imagination-1115849994.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/biden-holds-frustrating-call-with-netanyahu-over-palestinian-tax-revenue---reports-1115878055.html

Biden Holds 'Frustrating' Call With Netanyahu Over Palestinian Tax Revenue - Reports

Biden Holds 'Frustrating' Call With Netanyahu Over Palestinian Tax Revenue - Reports

US President Joe Biden has raised concerns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israels withholding of part of the tax revenue that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, Axios reported, citing US and Israeli officials.

2023-12-29T14:18+0000

2023-12-29T14:18+0000

2023-12-29T14:20+0000

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Biden raised the issue toward the end of a 45-minute phone call on Saturday and proposed that Norway act as an intermediary to safekeep the contested amount of tax revenue that Israel says would reach Hamas in Gaza, the report said on Thursday. These funds would remain with Norway until a suitable arrangement could be found. A US official described the conversation as one of the most "frustrating" exchanges between the two leaders since the start of Israels war on Gaza. Netanyahu said he did not trust Norways proposal, while Israels financial minister has opposed releasing any funds at all. Biden insisted that Netanyahu accept Norways proposal, saying it was backed by the US. The Palestinian Authority has refused to accept a partial transfer thus far. The White House fears this may cause the authority to economically collapse and further escalate the violence in the West Bank if the Palestinian Authority cannot pay the salaries of its security forces. A US official said the Palestinian Authority would accept a partial transfer if the remainder meant for Gaza was kept in Norway, the news outlet reported.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231221/most-us-voters-oppose-military-aid-to-israel-disapprove-of-biden-foreign-policy---poll-1115731280.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/check-out-prototypes-of-russias-jihad-mobile-vehicles-1115877917.html

Check Out Prototypes of Russia's 'Jihad Mobile' Vehicles

Check Out Prototypes of Russia's 'Jihad Mobile' Vehicles

These vehicles will be armed with machine guns and grenade launches to support Russian infantry in offensive operation. In addition, they will be capable of battlefield reconnaissance.

2023-12-29T14:53+0000

2023-12-29T14:53+0000

2023-12-29T14:53+0000

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The head of Russia's Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov was shown prototypes of 'jihad mobile' vehicles, which will be soon delivered to the special military operation zone.'Jihad mobiles' are light and swift maneuverable vehicles that are expected to fight on the frontline. They are assembled in the Chechen Republic, which is predominantly Islamic  so, they are named after a religious concept that implies a struggle for a righteous cause.

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Experimental samples of "jihad mobiles" Experimental samples of "jihad mobiles" 2023-12-29T14:53+0000 true PT0M12S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/eu-believes-it-can-provide-funds-for-ukraine-without-hungary-1115873492.html

Germany Believes EU Can Provide Funds for Ukraine Without Hungary

Germany Believes EU Can Provide Funds for Ukraine Without Hungary

The German government believes the EU will be able to continue to provide financial assistance to Ukraine - even if Hungary is against it, Foreign Ministry spokesman Christian Wagner said.

2023-12-29T10:30+0000

2023-12-29T10:30+0000

2023-12-29T11:32+0000

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ukrainian crisis

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You know that we have once again expanded our bilateral assistance and plan to provide military support worth 8 billion euros [$8.9 billion] next year. The EU will also continue to provide support to Ukraine in any case, Wagner said. He said allocation of 50 billion euros to Ukraine was discussed in December at the EU summit, but then it was not resolved positively due to opposition from Hungary. At the beginning of next year, Germany will continue to actively promote the allocation of this assistance to Ukraine in the EU, he said. The EU will continue its support. The EU-26 [without Hungary] will certainly also be able to act. But I dont want to talk now about how such support can be organized. This also requires further consultations in Brussels, Wagner said. Hungary is opposing most EU decisions on Ukraine, including the eighth tranche worth 500 million euros in military aid, 5 billion euros from the European Peace Facility for military support in 2024, a broader package worth 20 billion in military aid over four years, as well as 50 billion in macro-financial assistance for 2024-2027. EU is desperately trying to allocate funds to provide macro-financial assistance to Kiev regime over the next four years. However, the plans have faced opposition from Hungary, as well as other EU member states.Hungary is skeptical about funding Ukraine and believes that EU may have already handed to Kiev some frozen Hungarian funds.According to Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that EU froze Budapest funds to use them as tool of political pressure to alter its position on migration, sex education, and sanctions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/beginning-of-the-end-of-ukraine-conflict-sees-chance-for-diplomacy-negotiation-1115868244.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/falcon-heavy-carrying-us-secret-orbital-plane-successfully-launched---spacex-1115871743.html

Falcon Heavy Carrying US 'Secret Orbital Plane' Successfully Launched - SpaceX

Falcon Heavy Carrying US 'Secret Orbital Plane' Successfully Launched - SpaceX

US space company SpaceX said Thursday that its Falcon Heavy spacecraft has successfully launched the USSF-52 mission into orbit from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

2023-12-29T06:59+0000

2023-12-29T06:59+0000

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The latest launch marked the fifth launch and landing of these Falcon Heavy two-side boosters, the company added."On Thursday, December 28 at 8:07 p.m. ET [01:07 GMT on Friday], Falcon Heavy launched the USSF-52 mission to orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida," SpaceX said in a statement on the website. The United States Space Force (USSF) said in late November that the US Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with USSF and SpaceX, was making final preparations to launch the seventh mission of the unmanned X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, one of the most secretive projects of the US military, with "a wide range of test and experimentation objectives," including "operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials." US broadcaster reported on Thursday, following the launch, that it was unclear where exactly the "mysterious spacecraft" that would carry out cutting-edge research was going or how long it would stay in space. Russia, China Against Arms Race in SpaceEarlier Sputnik reported that Pentagon is planning to deploy a new constellation of spy satellites, with purpose to observe Russian and Chinese space projects.Moscow repeatedly slammed the very idea of militarization of space. In 2008, Russia and China introduced Proposed Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) Treaty, yet Washington ignored this initiative. In 2017, Pentagon specialists referred to space as to another war-fighting domain. In 2019, Washington established Space Force as separate entity in US army.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/guyana-not-planning-any-offensive-action-against-venezuela---vp-1115872953.html

Guyana Not Planning Any Offensive Action Against Venezuela - VP

Guyana Not Planning Any Offensive Action Against Venezuela - VP

Guyana is not planning any offensive action against Venezuela amid the Essequibo territorial dispute, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo has said, after the recent deployment of a UK warship near the Guyanese coast caused concerns in Caracas.

2023-12-29T09:09+0000

2023-12-29T09:09+0000

2023-12-29T09:09+0000

americas

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Last week, UK media reported, citing a UK Defense Ministry spokesperson, that the country would deploy a naval patrol ship to Guyana as a sign of support for its former colony in the territorial dispute with Venezuela over the Essequibo region. On Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that he had instructed armed forces to start "defensive actions." "We don't have any plan to take offensive action against Venezuela," Jagdeo said at the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) news conference on Thursday, as quoted by the News Room Guyana website, explaining that "whatever we do here has been routine, it has been long planned and part of building a defensive capability in Guyana." In early December, Venezuela held a referendum in which almost 96% of the population voted in favor of incorporating the Essequibo region into the country. Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said that Georgetown was considering Caracas' actions to incorporate Essequibo, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana's territory, as a threat to the country's national security and would raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council. Ali and Maduro met earlier in December in the island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines under the auspices of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community in an effort to defuse tensions over the disputed Essequibo region. Following the talks, the Venezuelan presidency said Maduro and Ali had agreed to continue the dialogue to resolve the dispute.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231224/uk-to-deploy-royal-navy-warship-to-ex-colony-amid-guyana-venezuela-dispute-1115784604.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/israels-netanyahu-cancels-cabinet-meeting-on-post-war-governance-in-gaza-strip---reports-1115872806.html

Israel's Netanyahu Cancels Cabinet Meeting on Post-War Governance in Gaza Strip - Reports

Israel's Netanyahu Cancels Cabinet Meeting on Post-War Governance in Gaza Strip - Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled a war cabinet meeting that was expected to discuss Israel's plan for the Gaza Strip's post-war governance, The Times of Israel newspaper reported.

2023-12-29T08:50+0000

2023-12-29T08:50+0000

2023-12-29T08:50+0000

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israeli-palestinian conflict

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The war cabinet was expected to meet on Thursday. The fact that it has consistently ignored the issue of the Gaza Strip's post-war governance at its meetings has reportedly caused concerns in the United States, where officials believe that Israel's failure to clearly map out the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave's political future risks resulting in the indefinite prolonging of hostilities. Netanyahus decision to cancel the meeting could have been influenced by his far-right coalition partners, who have rejected any possibility of the Gaza Strip going under the control of the Palestinian Authority, the newspaper wrote. 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. 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/20231121/ex-cia-analyst-us-responsible-for-gaza-genocide-by-empowering-netanyahu--1115100230.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/israels-foreign-policy-unlikely-to-change-after-ministerial-rotation-1115870195.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/maine-disqualifies-trump-from-republican-primary-ballot-over-january-6-riot-1115866938.html

Maine Disqualifies Trump From Republican Primary Ballot Over January 6 Riot

Maine Disqualifies Trump From Republican Primary Ballot Over January 6 Riot

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows disqualified former President Donald Trump from the state's Republican primary ballot because of his role in the January 6 riot at the Capitol in 2021.

2023-12-29T00:27+0000

2023-12-29T00:27+0000

2023-12-29T00:36+0000

americas

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"They [challengers] have provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate the falsity of Mr. Trump's declaration that he meets the qualifications of the office of the presidency," Bellows wrote in a document on Thursday. "Therefore, as required by [law], I find that the primary petition of Mr. Trump is invalid." However, Bellows added that the effect of the decision will be suspended until the Superior Court rules on any forthcoming appeal from the Trump defense team. Maine will hold its vote for the Republican primary in March.The appeal will be filed immediately, a Trump campaign spokesman said in a press release.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230802/trump-indictment-shows-free-fair-2024-election-no-longer-possible-watchdog-says-1112336655.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/mammoth-tusk-discovered-in-north-dakota-mine-is-one-of-the-states-most-complete--1115869394.html

Mammoth Tusk Discovered in North Dakota Mine is One of the State's Most Complete Specimens

Mammoth Tusk Discovered in North Dakota Mine is One of the State's Most Complete Specimens

During Memorial Day weekend in a North Dakota mine, coal miners stumbled upon a significant piece of natural history.

2023-12-29T04:03+0000

2023-12-29T04:03+0000

2023-12-29T04:04+0000

beyond politics

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history

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During Memorial Day weekend in a North Dakota mine, coal miners stumbled upon a significant piece of natural history. A long mammoth tusk that had been buried in the Freedom Mine since the Ice Age was discovered while extracting dirt and rock with a bulldozer, the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) said in a news release.Prompted by the discovery, state researchers and paleontologists from the North Dakota Geological survey worked together to turn the minenear Beulah, North Dakotainto an archeological dig site.Working close to two weeks to unearth the specimens from the streambed left them with more than 20 additional bones, including: ribs, a shoulder blade, a tooth, and parts of the hips.According to the DMR, two species of mammoths roamed North Dakota during the Ice Age: the Woolly Mammoths and the Columbian Mammoths. They walked among saber-tooth tigers and giant sloths, and went extinct in this area about 10,000 years ago.The discovery was then transported to the Paleontology Lab at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck, North Dakota, DMR said in their news release. Once at the museum, they will be cleaned and stabilized.The North Dakota Geological Survey and the Freedom Mine are also working together to develop some form of an educational outreach program, and are thinking of locations where the specimen can be viewed by the public, DMR added. And once the discovery is cleaned and examined, researchers will be able to identify which species of mammoth it is.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230521/ancient-aquatic-reptile-with-bizarre-screwdriver-teeth-discovered-off-morocco-1110493976.html

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Israeli troops unintentionally and tragically killed three hostages on Friday in a battle-torn area of Gaza.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli strike just south of the besieged territory. These incidents highlight the severity of Israel's continuous onslaught. Israel provided more information on what is being called a "grave error."

According to an interview with NPR, host Scott Detrow reiterated the country's response to the killings.

In discussion with NPR correspondent Carrie Khan, who is on the ground in Tel Aviv, told Detrow that "A military spokesman briefed reporters today on what the Army knows of now. Khan the revealed that an official said, 'The three hostages were shirtless and carrying a stick with a white flag on it when they were confronted by soldiers. They were in an area of intense fighting, and they were perceived as a threat.'

Khan went on to say that "...one soldier fired on all three. 'Two were killed instantly, and one ran into a building.'

Khan also revealed that, "there were cries in Hebrew for help from the building, and the soldiers were ordered to cease fire. 'But in unclear circumstances, the third hostage was killed.'

The army official went on to tell Khan that the incident was a clear violation of Israel's rules of engagement and the investigation is still underway.

The Associated Press said Israel's declaration for war was triggered by the October 7 attack led by Hamas in which more than 240 Israelis were abducted. The victim's families have spearheaded a powerful public campaign, urging the Israeli government to take further action to bring their loved ones home. AP identified the abducted men as Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Al-Talalka 25, and Alon Shamriz, 26. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described their deaths as an "unbearable tragedy" and promised the government's commitment to returning all the hostages home safely.

A statement published by the Israeli military on Thursday was noted by the news outlet, Reuters. The military concluded through its findings "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." 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.

It was further elaborated by Reuters that the hostages' cries for help were misinterpreted as a ruse by militants to help throw troops off and into an ambush. Halevi was quoted as saying, "The IDF failed in its mission to rescue the hostages in this event," "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."

The government of Israel is facing mounting pressure to broker a deal that would release the over 100 hostages still being held in Gaza. This comes after the recent release of 110 hostages during the week-long truce in November.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/polish-foreign-ministry-says-summoned-russian-charge-daffairs-over-missile-incident-1115881640.html

Polish Foreign Ministry Says Summoned Russian Charge d'Affairs Over Missile Incident

Polish Foreign Ministry Says Summoned Russian Charge d'Affairs Over Missile Incident

The Polish Foreign Ministry said on Friday it summoned Russian Charge dAffaires Andrey Ordash in connection with a missile that had flown into Polish airspace from Ukraine.

2023-12-29T20:00+0000

2023-12-29T20:00+0000

2023-12-29T20:00+0000

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Earlier in the day, the Polish armed forces said that an unidentified aerial object flying from Ukraine had violated Polish airspace. The Polish military stated later that it was a missile, which performed a maneuver in Polish airspace and then returned to Ukraine. Chief of the Polish General Staff Wieslaw Kukula told reporters that, according to Polish radar control systems, the missile belonged to Russia, adding, however, that information was yet to be verified.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/unidentified-aerial-object-enters-polands-airspace-from-ukraine---military-1115873870.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/polish-military-failed-to-scramble-jets-in-time-after-airspace-violation-from-ukraine-1115878691.html

Polish Military Failed to Scramble Jets in Time After Airspace Violation From Ukraine

Polish Military Failed to Scramble Jets in Time After Airspace Violation From Ukraine

The Polish military scrambled jets to intercept and take down a missile that violated the airspace from the territory of Ukraine, but did not manage to do so in time, Polish military Operational Commander Maciej Klisz said on Friday.

2023-12-29T14:34+0000

2023-12-29T14:34+0000

2023-12-29T14:34+0000

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Earlier in the day, the Polish armed forces said that an unidentified aerial object entered Polish airspace from Ukraine, it was monitored by air defense, and then disappeared from the radars. Later, Polish President Andrzej Duda has arranged an urgent meeting with the military leadership after a violation of the country's airspace. "We sent forces, planes, which were supposed to intercept it and, if necessary, shoot it down. But the time of its [missile's] stay in Poland, as well as the nature of its maneuvering, made this impossible. Therefore, the missile left the territory of Poland," Klisz told reporters.The Polish General Staff in turn said that the missile that violated the country's airspace allegedly belonged to Russia, but provided no evidence on the matter."Everything indicates that the Russian missile invaded Polish airspace, we monitored it on the radar, and [it] left the airspace," Chief of the Polish General Staff Wieslaw Kukula told reporters.At the same time, Kukula did not give any additional explanations and did not provide evidence of his claims.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/unidentified-aerial-object-enters-polands-airspace-from-ukraine---military-1115873870.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230926/polish-investigators-confirm-ukraine-fired-missile-found-in-poland-last-fall---reports-1113685877.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/russia-hits-targets-in-ukraine-with-50-group-attacks-one-mass-strike-using-precision-weapon-drones-1115873969.html

Russia Launches 50 Attacks, One Mass Strike Against Targets in Ukraine With Precision Weapon, Drones

Russia Launches 50 Attacks, One Mass Strike Against Targets in Ukraine With Precision Weapon, Drones

All designated targets have been hit as a result of the strikes that were conducted as part of the ongoing Russian special military operation.

2023-12-29T10:39+0000

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2023-12-29T11:42+0000

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The Russian Armed Forces have carried out a spate of missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian military targets, including military-industrial complex facilities, military airfields, arsenals, and weapon depots, Russias Defense Ministry reported on Friday.In addition, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries have been hit, according to the ministry.Similarly, the ministry said ten warplanes and two helicopters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were shot down over the past seven days.The ministry said that Russian forces had also intercepted 33 rockets launched by Ukraines HIMARS and Hurricane multiple launch rocket systems, four HARM anti-radar missiles, a JDAM guided bomb, a Neptune anti-ship missile and 251 drones.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/watch-russian-uragan-rocket-artillery-fire-at-ukrainian-troops-1115857968.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/watch-russian-lancet-drones-hammer-ukrainian-tank-and-artillery-1115847077.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/russia-repels-34-attacks-kiev-loses-1675-soldiers-in-donetsk-direction---mod-1115874888.html

Russia Repels 34 Attacks, Kiev Loses 1,675 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction - MoD

Russia Repels 34 Attacks, Kiev Loses 1,675 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction - MoD

Russia has repelled 34 Ukrainian attacks and Kiev has lost over 1.675 soldiers in the Donetsk direction in the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

2023-12-29T11:37+0000

2023-12-29T11:37+0000

2023-12-29T11:37+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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"Over the past week, in this direction, Russian units repelled 34 enemy attacks and inflicted fire damage on Ukrainian military units in the areas of the settlements of Kurdyumovka, Klishcheevka, Ivanovskoye (Krasne), Andreevka and Georgievka of the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said. The total enemy losses amounted to more than 1,675 military personnel, seven tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, 29 vehicles, a Czech-made RM-70 Vampire MLRS combat vehicle, as well as 49 field artillery guns, the ministry added. Russia repelled three Ukrainian attacks, and Kiev lost 675 soldiers, as well as two tanks in the South Donetsk direction, while in the Krasny Liman direction Russia repelled 13 attacks, and the Ukraine military lost 1,205 personnel, the ministry said. Kiev lost 265 soldiers, one tank and one armored vehicle in the Kupyansk direction in the past week, the MoD said. "Russia prevented the attempts to transfer sabotage groups of the Ukraine armed forces to the islands and the left bank of the Dnepr river in the Kherson direction... As a result of the actions of the Russian troops, the total losses of the Ukraine military amounted to 390 servicemen, 25 vehicles, 17 boats, as well as 22 field artillery guns," the ministry said. In the past week, a total of 43 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered, half of them did in the Kupyansk direction, the ministry concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/russia-hits-targets-in-ukraine-with-50-group-attacks-one-mass-strike-using-precision-weapon-drones-1115873969.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/russian-forces-destroy-10-air-bombs-3-cruise-missiles-fired-by-israel-on-syria-1115881500.html

Syria Destroys 10 Air Bombs, 3 Cruise Missiles Fired by Israel Using Russian Pantsir-S Systems

Syria Destroys 10 Air Bombs, 3 Cruise Missiles Fired by Israel Using Russian Pantsir-S Systems

Russian anti-aircraft missile systems Pantsir-S have shot down ten guided bombs and three cruise missiles launched by the Israeli air force towards Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria said on Friday.

2023-12-29T19:49+0000

2023-12-29T19:49+0000

2023-12-31T08:21+0000

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"The air defense forces on duty shot down 10 guided bombs and three cruise missiles, using Russian-made Pantsir-S systems. As a result of the Israeli air strikes, military infrastructure was damaged. There were no casualties," Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the center, told a press briefing.Earlier on Thursday and Friday, the Israeli forces launched strikes on Damascus and the southern region of Syria. The Syrian Defense Ministry reported that the air defenses shot down several missiles. According to the statement, the attack resulted in material damage, with no casualties reported.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/israel-strikes-several-positions-in-syria-syria-downs-most-of-missiles-1115862546.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/south-korean-president-willing-to-be-us-lapdog--expert-1115876591.html

South Korean President Willing to Be US Lapdog  Expert

South Korean President Willing to Be US Lapdog  Expert

Yoon Suk Yeols attempts to prevent provocations by being provocative may result in far-reaching regional consequences, George Koo, a journalist, social activist, and international business consultant, told Sputnik.

2023-12-29T14:19+0000

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered his countrys armed forces to respond to enemy attacks by retaliating first and report later. "In case of provocations, I ask you to immediately retaliate in response and report it later," he said during his visit to a frontline army unit on Thursday.Yoon added that such a measure was necessary to "smash the enemy's desire for provocations." He specifically pointed to North Korea, claiming that it can undertake provocations at any time and is the only country in the world that reserves the right to a preemptive nuclear strike and invasion under its constitution.According to him, Yoon believes that siding with the US is going to ensure his staying in office and that Washington will have his back.As for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, what he has been saying all along is simply warning South Korea and the US that Pyongyang has the capability of striking back, per the journalist.Separately, the journalist accused the US of considering China a threat to Americas national security. He praised what he touted as Beijings revolutionary approach in terms of how China stands for peace.Relations between Beijing and Washington remain tense as China accuses the US of trying to militarize the Asia-Pacific, where Washington has repeatedly conducted massive military drills with Seoul. The People's Republic of China (PRC) also pointed the finger at the US over the latter sending weapons to Taiwan, seen by Beijing as an essential part of China.Although the US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington has a representative office in Taipei and remains the island's biggest supplier of military hardware.The United States also often sends its warships and surveillance planes to the Taiwan Strait, a move that Beijing condemns as provocative. The Chinese government has lashed out at Washington's actions as simply "a security risk creator in the region."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/south-korea-urges-us-to-boost-defense-cooperation-after-norths-satellite-launch-1115187331.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231218/us-would-exhaust-munitions-within-week-in-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan---congressman-1115670872.html

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us-china tensions over taiwan, south korean president yoon suk-yeol's remarks about stiking first, china's accusations against us, issue of taiwan
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/the-nikki-stumble--1115867515.html

The Nikki Stumble

The Nikki Stumble

Following heated criticism, Haley finally admitted on Thursday morning that slavery was the cause of the US Civil War. But she blamed her gaffe on the person who asked her the question, calling them a Democratic plant.

2023-12-29T01:04+0000

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On Wednesday, Nikki Haley was asked what caused the US Civil War during an event in Berlin, New Hampshire where she was hoping to sway voters ahead of the Republican primary election. In response to the question, she said: 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.Following heated criticism, Haley finally admitted on Thursday morning that slavery was the cause of the US Civil War. But she blamed her gaffe on the person who asked her the question, calling them a Democratic plant.But the attendee who had asked her the question did so multiple times, surprised that she wouldnt name slavery as the cause of the war. In response, Haley said: What do you want me to say about slavery? In response, the voter said: Youve answered my question. Thank you.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/ukraines-pm-panicking-over-wrecked-economy-begging-for-aid---report-1115865257.html

Ukraine's PM Panicking Over Wrecked Economy, Begging for Aid - Report

Ukraine's PM Panicking Over Wrecked Economy, Begging for Aid - Report

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal has reportedly requested an emergency meeting to be held in January with Kiev's donors due to "exceptionally high uncertainty" over the country's budget.

2023-12-29T00:46+0000

2023-12-29T00:46+0000

2023-12-29T00:50+0000

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The development was reported by US media, citing the politician's letter sent this month to the multi-agency Donor Coordination Panel.According to the media, the Kiev regime is unable to fulfill social obligations without urgent foreign financial support.Moreover, Ukraines Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko earlier this month complained that the country is going to experience severe financial difficulties as early as January 2024. On Thursday, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yuliya Sviridenko said that if next year's funding from the EU and the US is delayed, the country's residents may be deprived of social payments. At the same time, she said that in the short term, the government will follow an alternative plan in the first few months. Media previously quoted Sviridenko as saying that Kiev might refuse to pay pensions and salaries to civil servants for the sake of spending on the defense sector in case it fails to receive funding from Western partners.In her turn, Ukrainian Social Policy Minister Oksana Zholnovych noted the government may cancel the planned indexation of pensions from March 1 if Western partners do not send financial aid. In late November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a draft law on the state budget for 2024 with a deficit of more than $43 billion. At the same time, the document allocates $8 billion less for defense than this year, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak claimed. According to Marchenko, Ukraine received more than $42 billion of international aid in 2023.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231216/ukraine-on-brink-of-humanitarian-collapse-authorities-admit-1115617784.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231204/ukraine-faces-50-billion-euro-underfunding-risk--report-1115366279.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/us-lawmakers-failing-to-reach-deal-on-border-ukraine-aid---senator-1115881772.html

US Lawmakers Failing to Reach Deal on Border, Ukraine Aid - Senator

US Lawmakers Failing to Reach Deal on Border, Ukraine Aid - Senator

Lawmakers are failing to reach a deal on security at the US border with Mexico and on providing additional aid to Ukraine, US Senator Chris Murphy said on Friday.

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Members of Congress are still "working through the text" of a potential agreement, Murphy stated, as reported by Politico. The lead negotiators took a brief Christmas break but held meetings on the matter as recently as Friday morning, Murphy was quoted as saying. The US Congress adjourned for the winter holiday break without reaching a deal on border security and additional aid for Ukraine. Republican lawmakers have insisted on the inclusion of more stringent border security measures in the Biden administrations $106 billion supplemental funding request, which includes more than $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. Negotiators hope to have a deal to present to senators by the time they return on January 8, Murphy added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231215/us-senate-delays-recess-in-scramble-to-unlock-ukraine-aid-with-border-deal-1115598083.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/us-scheme-to-use-frozen-russian-assets-wont-work-without-europes-go-ahead--report--1115870586.html

US Scheme to Use Frozen Russian Assets Wont Work Without Europes Go-Ahead  Report

US Scheme to Use Frozen Russian Assets Wont Work Without Europes Go-Ahead  Report

Moscow earlier warned of retaliatory action against those Western countries that would use Russias frozen assets to assist the Kiev regime.

2023-12-29T06:39+0000

2023-12-29T06:39+0000

2023-12-29T06:51+0000

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The Biden administration will be unable to implement a scheme to use frozen Russian assets for supporting Ukraine without a European go-ahead, the Washington Post has cited unnamed sources as saying.The sources claimed that only about two percent of those funds are held inside the US, and that most of Russias frozen assets are in Belgium or Switzerland.They also insisted that "without European buy-in, the [Biden administrations] plan [on frozen Russian assets] wont work. Thats true." The Washington Post noted in this regard that "without Russias seized assets, Ukraine could lose its ability to survive as a functioning country."This comes after a UK newspaper reported that some European countries, including Italy, which takes over the G7 presidency in 2024, were wary of Washingtons plans to confiscate frozen Russian assets, fearing retaliation from Moscow and the potential consequences for global financial stability.The recent developments stem from comments made by Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the European Central Bank (ECB), when speaking to the press. He warned that the possible use of frozen Russian assets to bankroll Ukraine by Europe could tarnish the euro's reputation.Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov last week warned that Western countries would face repercussions if they used Russia's frozen assets to assist Ukraine.Following the start of Russia's special military operation, the US-led West slapped widespread sanctions on Moscow, including freezing Russian assets worth approximately 300 billion euros ($329 billion). The bulk of this sum, approximately 200 billion euros ($221 billion), is being held in the European Union, predominantly in accounts at Euroclear, a European central securities depository.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/ukraines-pm-panicking-over-wrecked-economy-begging-for-aid---report-1115865257.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230626/germany-opposes-use-of-russian-frozen-assets-for-ukraines-rebuilding-1111468802.html

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(Photo : Megan JELINGER / AFP) (MEGAN JELINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

A federal judge has accepted Georgia's new voting maps that benefit Republicans after questions were raised about the fairness given to Black voters in the state.

A federal judge has approved Republican-drawn voting maps for Georgia after ruling that the state legislature had complied with orders to allow Black voters an equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.

During a December special session, the GOP-led legislature had drawn new state and congressional maps. This was done after a federal judge in Atlanta said the original districts created after the 2020 census violated the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Georgia's New Voting Maps

However, Democratic lawmakers and Black voters in the state have objected to the new voting maps. These created an additional majority Black congressional district but were unfavorable to Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democratic congresswoman.

Furthermore, it also ensured that Republican incumbents in both the Statehouse and Washington would be protected from a primary political challenger for their seats. However, Judge Steve C. Jones of the Northern District of Georgia said the legislature has now successfully complied with the Voting Rights Act with the new maps.

The new maps will likely maintain the 9-5 majority Republicans currently hold in the state's congressional delegation. Jones said the court found that the General Assembly fully complied with its order, as per the New York Times.

On top of the question of fair representation for Black voters, the situation also had various political stakes. With how narrowly divided the House of Representatives is and Black voters historically being inclined to support Democrats in the state, a new map is one of several redistricting decisions that could help Washington.

Black voters brought a challenge in Alabama that led to a surprise Supreme Court ruling this summer. It affirmed the core remaining tenet of the Voting Rights Act, which is that a federal court ordered that a new map be independently drawn after finding that the legislature had failed to resolve issues in the state.

Read Also: Mike Johnson Slams New York Times for Platforming Gaza's Hamas-Appointed Mayor

Addressing Black Voter Inequality

Similar challenges are underway in several other states, particularly in the South of the United States. Several plaintiffs, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church and members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brought the challenges to the state and congressional districts in Georgia.

The situation came when McBath said she would seek re-election in 2024 in the new 6th Congressional District in Fulton, Cobb, Douglas, and Fayette counties. According to the Associated Press, this would be done if the current congressional map is not overturned on appeal.

The development marks the second time the Democratic lawmaker has had to run in a second election in a row in a new district. The first was in 2022, when the district she had originally won was redrawn to favor Republicans.

Democrats are more likely than not to pursue a separate claim, either on appeal or in a distinct lawsuit. However, Judge Jones' decision on Thursday means that new maps will likely be used for at least the 2024 elections in Georgia, according to Politico.

Related Article: Nikki Haley Fails to Mention Slavery as the Cause Behind Civil War

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/us-trying-to-convince-shippers-to-resume-sailing-via-red-sea-despite-attacks--reports-1115879500.html

US Trying to Convince Shippers to Resume Sailing via Red Sea Despite Attacks  Reports

US Trying to Convince Shippers to Resume Sailing via Red Sea Despite Attacks  Reports

The United States is taking steps to reassure shipping companies that it is safe to use the Red Sea and Suez Canal for cargo deliveries amid continued attacks by the Houthis, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

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After a war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, Yemen's Ansar Allah rebel movement, also known as the Houthis, has intensified its attacks on cargo ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, vowing to continue the attacks until Israel ends its military actions in the Gaza Strip. The Pentagon is "engaged with industry on a near-daily basis to gauge needs and provide reassurance that the international community is there to help with safe passage," Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry, a Defense Department spokesperson for the Middle East and Africa, was quoted as saying in the report. Last week, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea amid the surge in Houthis' attacks on cargo ships, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission. The Houthis, for their part, vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/watch-russian-mi-28n-helicopters-ravage-ukrainian-positions--1115876195.html

Watch Russian Mi-28N Helicopters Ravage Ukrainian Positions

Watch Russian Mi-28N Helicopters Ravage Ukrainian Positions

Russian Army aviation crews of Mi-28N helicopters wiped out Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk direction in the special op zone.

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The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage showing Mi-28N helicopter pilots launch unguided missiles and hit Ukrainian strongholds in the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR). The crews successfully struck all the targets and returned to a safe airfield upon completing the combat mission.In the course of the special military operation, the Russian army aviation has performed missions escorting military convoys, demolishing armored vehicles, delivering troops and military cargo, and providing air support for Russian military units, the MoD added.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231229/whats-the-us-x-37b-spacecraft-and-what-military-purpose-does-it-serve-in-space-1115877419.html

What's the US' X-37B Spacecraft and What Military Purpose Does it Serve in Space?

What's the US' X-37B Spacecraft and What Military Purpose Does it Serve in Space?

For the first time, SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket launched the US military's uncrewed and reusable X-37B spaceship on its new mission on December 28. What is the mysterious craft tasked with?

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The American mainstream press has reported the US Space Force's X-37B launch with much fanfare, claiming that the spacecraft's seventh mission promises to be "even more intriguing" than its earlier trips. The media boasts that SpaceX Falcon Heavy is one of the most powerful rockets in the world that can carry cargo into Earth's orbit, and beyond.CNN remarked that it's unclear where exactly the spaceship is going, suggesting that the launch via the Falcon Heavy could indicate that X-37B is "destined for more distant orbits, perhaps even to the Moon or Mars.""There is no official information about military purposes - everything is classified, nothing is reported," Ivan Moiseev, the head of the Russian Institute of Space Policy, told Sputnik. What is Its Orbital Test Vehicle?The X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is manufactured by Boeing and operated by the United States Space Force. Typically, it is delivered to orbit to spend several months before returning to Earth.The uncrewed and reusable space plane looks like a smaller version of NASA's famous shuttle. The X-37B is about 8.8 meters long; and 2.9 meters tall, while its wingspan is less than 4.6 meters. At launch, it weighs 4,990 kilograms. Its first mission started in 2010 with the spacecraft staying aloft for 224 days.The spacecraft's seventh mission  initially scheduled to begin on December 7  was announced on November 8. Per the US Space Force's official website, it has a wide range of test and experimentation objectives.However, the Pentagon appears to have partially lifted the veil of secrecy on one of the mission's objectives, saying that the X-37B will expose plant seeds onboard to the critical radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight. The "Seeds-2" experiment is said to pave the way for future crewed space missions.During a previous mission, the spacecraft carried the Naval Research Laboratorys Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module experiment aimed at transforming solar power into radio frequency microwave energy as well as NASA's seed experiments. That said, it's obvious that the secretive X-37B missions are not limited to that.HEO has a low perigee altitude of under 1,000 km and a high apogee altitude of over 35,756 km (a "perigee" is the point of orbit closest to the Earth and an "apogee" is the point farthest from Earth). One of the features of the HEO-launched satellite is that most of the time it is visible from some point at which the apogee is located, the expert explained.Is Russia Monitoring X-37B Launches?The X-37B's first mission kicked off in 2010. Since that, Russia has kept an eye on the secretive American space plane, said the expert. It's not because the spacecraft is of some sinister nature: close monitoring of everything that happens in space is one of Russia's priorities, according to him.When asked whether the spacecraft is used to carry out surveillance of the Russian territory and the Arctic region, in particular, Moiseev noted that he cannot rule this out."One could also use the method of elimination to say that this is clearly not a communications device, obviously not for tracking missiles. But for some reason, the orbit changed from low [to a geostationary one]. Indeed, in previous orbits, the territory of Russia was practically invisible. From this orbit, it may be visible, but it needs to be clarified," he continued.The US is not the only country that launches reusable spacecraft for experimental missions, as Moiseev noted referring to the Chinese. Per the expert, China uses "very similar equipment" with almost the same purpose, i.e. to carry and then deploy small satellites. However, in contrast to the Chinese who are deploying those microsatellites for experimental purposes, the US Space Force is clearly pursuing military objectives, Moiseev concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210522/boeing-x-37-spacecraft-could-carry-up-to-6-nuclear-warheads-russian-defence-tech-company-says-1082966235.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231019/us-allies-use-civilian-infrastructure-in-outer-space-for-military-purposes-1114335244.html

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Closing week in December always brings big handles at Dayton Raceway, and the card on Thursday, Dec. 28 was no exception.

Daytons faithful bettors were out in full force for the final Thursday of the meet, wagering an all-time Dayton record of $1.286 million. This was just the second million-dollar night in Daytons history with the first coming last year when Dayton hosted the Ohio Super Night for the first time. Dayton Raceway thanks the bettors, the fans and the horsepeople for helping make this happen.

As for the racing action on tonights record-setting card, Jeremy Smith continued his hot hand by taking five races over the night, and amazingly enough for Daytons leading driver, none of them were with favourites. He started off by sweeping the early double with Salty Robyn N ($5) for trainer Antonia Storer and Unlikeanyother ($6.80) for trainer Tessa Perrin. He continued with an upset winner in the featured Open Handicap with Barrys Berries (pictured above, $29).

Brookville Bullet left hard from post four to take the field past the opening quarter in :26.1. Favourite Tellmeaboutit, with Sam Widger, then rushed up to take command past a half in :54.2. By that time, Smith was first over and pressuring for the lead as they raced noses apart past three-quarters in 121.2. As they duelled down the stretch, Barrys Berries inched ahead in deep stretch to win by a nose in 1:50. It was his first win of the year in the Steve Carter barn since his recent claim.

Smith picked up his fourth win, and second of the night for trainer Steve Carter, with Beyond Delight ($11) in the seventh. He didnt wait long for number five as he picked it up in the next race, this time with Always At My Place ($14.80) for trainer Larry Finn for a collective total of $66.60 on his winners for the night.

Dayton will be back in action Friday and Saturday night with its final two cards of the year. First post time, as always, is at 4 p.m.

(Dayton Raceway)
Prince Archie earned the royal honours at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Dec. 28) evening as the Laura Toscani-conditioned gelding rallied from last to first in the featured $18,000 condition trot.

Steven Hudon and Prince Archie got away eighth off the car and they were locked on the outside through the opening panel in :27.4. As longshot C S Goldpolicy (Todd Ratchford) continued to set the tempo through the half in :57.4, Prince Archie found a spot on the rail in seventh. He was briefly set back to eighth through the three-quarters in 1:27.4 before kicking into a whole new gear going into the final turn. Clicking off opponents one-by-one, Prince Archie found his way to the top to challenge the pacesetting C S Goldpolicy and pocket-sitting Eternally Hanover (James MacDonald). Coming down to the wire, Prince Archie stepped ahead to win by a neck in 1:57.4. Eternally Hanover took second while C S Goldpolicy rounded out the top three.

The sophomore son of Archangel and the Muscles Yankee mare Belle Of The Ball is owned by Gino Toscani. Unraced as a freshman, Prince Archie has a career record of 5-3-3 in 20 starts made this season with $44,094 in the bank. He paid $8.20 for the win.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
After being ill with mesothelioma, longtime harness racing industry participant Vernon John Blancher of Sarnia, Ont. passed away peacefully on Dec. 24, 2023, at St. Josephs Hospice with family by his side. He was 79.

John was part of a very large family and will be fondly remembered by his six brothers, five sisters and their families.

John loved farming and animals and bought his first farm at Hungry Hollow in 1970. He had a long career as an insulator, working for 45 years as a member of Local 95 Heat and Frost Insulators Union and will be remembered for his dedication and tireless work. Harness racing was also one of his passions and he spent most of his life raising, patiently training and racing standard bred horses and was a lifetime member of OHHA. John devoted his life to helping his family, his friends, his neighbours, and anyone else in need. He was someone people knew they could always count on.

His family will always remember his famous words, "Stay out of trouble."

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Butler, Dr. Crombeem, Bayshore Nursing and St Josephs Hospice for their care and support.

John will be sadly missed by his wife of 58 years, Lynda Blancher. Predeceased by daughter Margaret Marnie Blancher. Cherished father of John Jr. (Melissa), Melissa and Jamie. Very proud grandpa of Brittany, Riley (Caleb), Bryce, Brynn, and Rhett. He will also be missed by his loyal companion Diesel.

Cremation has taken place, and friends and family will be welcomed at Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, for visitation from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at 2:30 p.m.

Sympathy may be expressed through donations to St. Josephs Hospice in Sarnia (cheques only at the funeral home please). Arrangements entrusted to Smith Funeral Home.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of John Blancher.
FFA membership is growing in Nebraska. The 2021-2022 school year marked a record-breaking 10,454 FFA members, according to the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

Yet the same number of agriculture educators and FFA advisers  229  took on 411 more FFA students enrolled compared to the year before.

Even more youth would like to proudly wear the blue jacket but cannot join this powerful agricultural organization due to the shortage of agricultural teachers. For many students, their school does not offer FFA. Others cannot participate because they are homeschooled.

The new Nebraska Agriculture Academy (NAA) has truly made FFA accessible for all students, regardless whether they attend a public, private or homeschool setting.

Launched in September 2022, NAA was formed by three certified Nebraska agricultural educators who share a desire to provide agricultural education opportunities for homeschool students.

From eight to 118 students in the homeschool and public space has been a whirlwind, said Breann Zimmer of Gibbon, head teacher and co-FFA adviser of NAA.

The first year, eight homeschool students pioneered the program. In just a years time, NAA has grown at a significant rate and reached places never imagined. Currently, NAA is serving 27 homeschool students and three public schools that do not have an agricultural teacher.

Zimmer is assisted by Katie Shadbolt of Gordon, who is the behind-the-scenes support in grading papers and assisting with events. After marrying her high school sweetheart, Garrett Shadbolt, she resigned from teaching to raise her three children, all under the age of four.

Ann Dvorak of Newport, takes on the business management duties at NAA, such as processing admissions and creating the students Google accounts. Dvorak also oversees the Schoolhouse Rock Acton Academy, a homeschool network based near Bassett. Her school carries the insurance policy and 501(C)(3) tax exemption for NAA.

Zimmer was in her first year of teaching ag education at Central City High School amidst school closings and remote learning. She said that the experience was a God thing. Teaching her first year during COVID really shined a light for Zimmer. She had a passion for agriculture and education, but after a thorough reflection on COVID and her aspirations to homeschool her future children, Zimmer chose to leave public education. She stayed involved in agriculture by working at Landmark Implement.

Then a parent called Zimmer. The school district required that students take six classes at the public school to participate in school activities. Therefore, her daughter, who was a homeschool student, could not participate in FFA in the district.

The Ag Academy was not an idea at this point, Zimmer said. I just thought it would be great if someone could make FFA and ag classes accessible to families that are running into this obstacle  little did I know that I would help sail that ship.

At the same time, Dvorak resigned after a 14-year career as an ag education teacher and FFA adviser at Rock County High School. During this time, she had also established Schoolhouse Rock to homeschool her children and others. She told how difficult a decision it was to leave the public school but one that she needed to do for her family.

A lot of pressure is put on ag education teachers, with time invested outside of school. I felt I was either shorting my family or shorting my students, said Dvorak.

Moreover, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) was feeling pressure from parents of homeschool children about the class requirements for homeschool students to participate in public school activities.

Dvorak explained how each school district had local control: To be in FFA, some school districts required a student to take four or six classes at the public school. That defeats the purpose of homeschooling.

Dvorak added that as of July 1, a state law was enacted requiring only one class. This eliminates local control, but Dvorak said it is unclear what the scope of the law will be regarding NSAA-sanctioned activities or other extra-curricular activities. FFA is an intra-curricular program, meaning that students take school classes in addition to learning about the organization. Dvorak compared it to taking a band class in school but having to participate in marching band and the district band contest.

The change aligns with the state FFA prerequisites of one semester of agricultural classes to become an FFA member. To be an FFA member through NAA, students must be enrolled in both mini-modules (four weeks each), one mega-module (30-week course) or a minimum of three standard modules (five week modules) offered through the program.

With encouragement from parents and blessing from NDE, the three women initiated the first homeschool FFA chapter in Nebraska. Both Zimmer and Dvorak thanked Stacie Turnbull, who is the agriculture, food and natural resources career field specialist with NDE, for her support in establishing NAA.

A lot of the time in education, we talk about doing whats best for the kids but dont because the system is broken. Stacie Turnbull is actually doing what is best for the kids, Dvorak said.

Zimmer balanced her full-time job at the implement dealer with building her NAA curriculum and teaching the inaugural class of eight students. Surprisingly, meeting at nights worked best for all involved.

The assumption is that homeschool students can meet any time. It really doesnt work that way, said Zimmer. Most of her families focus on core curriculum in the morning, when the brain is typically most active. The rest of the time they can really lean into their SAEs (Supervised Agricultural Experiences).

Zimmer is intentional about taking time to visit each student for his or her SAE. An NAA student and third-generation FFA member from Johnstown commented that this is the first time an FFA advisor has personally made an SAE visit; Zimmer lives 4  hours away from their farm.

Part of the joy in advising FFA youth is seeing students perfect their craft, said Zimmer. NAA students are raising their own cattle herds, running a colt-starting business or honing their skills in leatherwork or woodworking.

I am really looking forward to seeing all 27 SAE projects this year, Zimmer said.

NAA is just like any other FFA chapter, said Zimmer. They have the six traditional constitutional offices and meet monthly. Being a hybrid program, though, the FFA meetings and classes are offered online.

Additional practices are held to prepare for contests. Students met twice weekly prior to the district livestock judging contest. As Zimmer said, she wants the students to practice so they are at a competitive level, especially since many will be traveling a long distance for the contest.

The students want to be at practice, said Dvorak. She described how NAA members seem to be self-driven and passionate about FFA.

When I was teaching in the public school, I was fighting kids to come to practice and do things. I felt like a drill sergeant, whereas with this organization the kids are so excited. Theyre asking to have practice, Dvorak said.

Families join NAA with the understanding that competitions will take place in-person at District 10, located by Bassett in north central Nebraska. Homeschool students originate across Nebraska from Gordon to Elkhorn to Firth. Agriculture curriculum is provided to schools at Hayes Center, Wauneta-Palisade and Hastings St. Cecilia.

Since that means some of the members are traveling more than three hours to compete, NAA offers to pay for overnight stays for those families the night before competition. The chapter received grants from Farm Credit Services and the Turner Ranch for this purpose, said Zimmer. I want to make sure everything is affordable for families, she added.

Students also fundraise for the chapter. They sold fruit, meat, cheese and chocolate through an online holiday sale. NAA t-shirts and other merchandise is also available for purchase.

NAA partners with Big Iron Auctions as a unique spring fundraiser. Each student is responsible for either placing an item on the auction or procuring items from local businesses. Last years auction featured customized metal yard ornaments, as well as planters in the shape of show animals, made by different students. Another member donated a cozy basket filled with items from the boutique she owns and operates. A stud fee was donated by another student.

New members are welcome to join NAA at any time of the year. By offering different module lengths and subjects, NAA curriculum is designed to fit into any homeschool program.

NAA is seeking other certified agriculture educators to join its team. Currently, curriculum is mainly animal-science related, as that is Zimmers area of expertise. There are so many different angles of agriculture that could be added to enhance the students education.

I would love to contract with someone with a background in plant science or agronomy to build curriculum for these students, said Zimmer.

Another goal is to reach enough students to divide into regional NAA chapters across the state of Nebraska. Dvorak said this would be more convenient for the students and families as they could compete locally.

Other states mainly along the East Coast have similar programs, said Zimmer. But these organizations are within private schools and academies. She has been intrigued by how many Midwestern states have contacted her to learn more about NAA, including Colorado, South Dakota and Kansas.

With the influx of students this year in both the homeschool space and public school settings, Zimmer was able to devote her time fully to NAA instead of juggling teaching and an additional fulltime job.

Dvorak praised Zimmers efforts, as well as the students who helped turn an idea into a successful program.

Breann has put in countless hours and worked really hard, but credit also goes to those first students involved last year who put their heart and souls into it, Dvorak said. They set the foundation and expectation for what it means to be part of the Nebraska Agriculture Academy.

FFA membership is growing in Nebraska. The dedicated educators and families who formed the NAA are playing a large part in this positive movement for Nebraska FFA. Zimmer is especially touched by the programs success.

I always wonder if I am doing the right thing, but to see God put all these stepping stones out for me and be obedientfor it to come to fruition in this lightI am baffled in the best way, Zimmer said. It has nothing to do with myself, Ann or Katieit has everything to do with God and His plan of making agricultural education accessible for these kids.

To learn more about the Nebraska Agriculture Academy or the courses offered, visit https://www.neagacademy.com/.

Contact Breann Zimmer at bzimmer@schoolhouserockacton.com or 308-627-2772.
A long-awaited study on market potential for new Nebraska racinos says one in Kimball would maximize the states casino gambling and gaming tax revenue if only one new horse track-casino combination were approved.

The study by The Innovation Group of New Orleans ranked Gering a close second and North Platte a more distant third, followed by Bellevue, Ogallala, Norfolk and York.

The two westernmost of the seven would-be racino sites have the highest net increase for Nebraska and the lowest cannibalization (of state casino income) because of their distance from the existing eligible locations, the study said.

But it also found that moving Hastings quarter horse racetrack operator Brian Beckers license to Ogallala offers the only scenario in which Nebraskas six existing racetracks, including Beckers one-day Hastings meet, wouldnt lose business to new racino sites.

Ogallala has a better potential casino market than Hastings, but racinos at Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Columbus and South Sioux City also would gain from the shift. All would lose if racinos are added at any other new city, the study said.

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, which released the study Tuesday, first must approve a pari-mutuel horse-racing license for any new city. Consideration of a separate casino license would follow, contingent on a required minimum number of racing dates being held.

Voters in 2020 adopted a constitutional amendment allowing casinos at horse tracks. As the 2021 Legislature implemented that directive, it mandated that a market analysis and a study of racinos potential socioeconomic impacts be completed by Jan. 1, 2025.

Racinos in North Platte, Ogallala, Gering and Kimball all were proposed soon after the 2021 laws approval. A Chickasaw Tribe of Oklahoma affiliate owns North Plattes would-be site on East Walker Road between the Interstate 80 exits.

Ogallala interests pursued racino partners separately until Becker gave up in June on an all-new Hastings racino amid local opposition there. He first partnered with the Chickasaw in proposing North Platte and Gering racinos in 2021.

Becker parted ways in 2022 with the Chickasaw, who have said theyre still interested in North Platte. His Gering plans have been endorsed by the Gering City Council and Scotts Bluff County commissioners.

The Becker-Chickasaw combination won a two-year conditional use permit for a North Platte racino in 2021, with Mayor Brandon Kelliher breaking a 4-4 City Council tie. That permit expired this past summer amid the moratorium.

The 2021 enabling law grants existing racetrack operators a one-time option to transfer their license to another city, assuming the Racing and Gaming Commission approves the shift.

State senators in 2022 imposed a moratorium on new racinos until the market and socioeconomic studies were done. But The Innovation Groups study said the latter issue was premature.

Since the industry is very new in the state and concentrated in the more populated eastern portion of the state, where commercial casino have been available for 30 years in Iowa, it is not yet possible to measure impacts of Nebraska casinos, it said.

The study first estimates a 2026 baseline for statewide casino income and gaming taxes at Nebraskas existing tracks, including an assumption that Beckers FairPlay operation at Hastings would have a casino after all.

It didnt factor in revenue from the temporary casinos that opened starting in late 2022 at Lincolns Legacy Downs, Columbus Exposition and Racing and Grand Islands Fonner Park. Temporary casinos at Omahas Horsemans Park and South Sioux Citys Atokad Park have yet to open.

The study estimates Nebraska would see almost $340.5 million in total gaming revenue and nearly $68.1 million from the voter-required 20% tax on gaming proceeds in 2026 if all six tracks have operating casinos then.

Adding racinos at all seven would-be new cities, including moving the Hastings license to Ogallala, would raise statewide casino income by 32.1% to nearly $449.7 million, it says.

But the study projects that Nebraskas current tracks would lose $83.7 million to the new sites. Beckers projected casino income would fall 61% even with a shift to Ogallala.

If only one new racino is approved and all six tracks stay put, putting it in Kimball would lift statewide 2026 gaming revenue to $382.3 million. Thats just ahead of $379.2 million if a new racino instead is built in Gering.

Kimball, with an Interstate 80 exit closest to both Wyoming and Colorado, likely only surpasses Gering due to its closer proximity to more heavily populated markets, the study said.

Putting a racino in either Panhandle city would cost the six current Nebraska tracks the least in expected casino income, it added. Gerings would have the lowest combined impact with a $1.19 million loss, while Kimball would cost the existing tracks $1.71 million.

A North Platte racino would lift 2026 state gaming income to nearly $364.9 million. But the six current tracks would lose nearly $5.7 million to North Platte, with Fonner Park losing $2.2 million, the study said.

Approving only a shift of Beckers racing license to Ogallala and allowing a racino there would raise statewide casino income to almost $358.9 million.

That trails both the studys estimated gain from adding North Platte and the estimated $362.6 million in statewide casino income if Bellevue were the lone city to gain a racino.

But the study says a Hastings-to-Ogallala shift would leave Becker and the other five current racetrack operators with $18.4 million more in casino income among them.

Ogallala has a market potential of nearly $8 million higher than Hastings, while Grand Island would gain $7 million by not having to share the local market with Hastings, The Innovation Group said.

Fonner Park interests joined forces with Ogallala on a racino plan before Becker announced his wish to move his Hastings license west.

The existing six tracks would lose $38.5 million to a Bellevue racino, the market study said. Omahas planned racino would give up $27.4 million and Lincolns nearly $6.8 million.
When one rounds the curve of the driveway at The Village at Regional West, a pond serves as a welcoming sight. Usually, one is fortunate enough to glimpse a swan serenely swimming on its waters.

That swan, named Memphis, has been on his own since September, when a predator killed the second swan, Scottie, that had called the pond home. Wildlife authorities speculate that a mountain lion killed Scottie, according to The Village residents Sheron Dinnel and Judy Leafdale. A mountain lion spotting had occurred in the general area prior to Scotties tragic death.

Dinnel, Leafdale and another resident, Gerald Bacon, are among residents organizing efforts to fundraise to purchase a new swan for The Village. It will be a big undertaking, with a new swan estimated at about $8,000 to $9,000, the residents explained Tuesday.

Swans have lived in the pond at The Village throughout most of its history, according to information gathered by the residents. The first wings of The Village were opened in March 1991, and excavating for the pond took place early that year. In December 1991, two swans were gifted to The Village by Scottsbluff Landscaping, the company that had done the landscaping work for the facility. Through the years, there has always been a pair of swans at the pond. Scotties arrival date at The Village is uncertain, but a former administrator estimated he had lived there since the late 1990s. Memphis arrived in late January 2016, replacing a swan that had died of natural causes. It cost about $8,000 to purchase Memphis, Leafdale said, which included transporting him via plane to Colorado and fees for inspections and other costs.

Leafdale, a former biology teacher, has been researching swans over the last few months. She notes that the swans that have lived on the pond at The Village are mute swans, a species of swan with a different call than other swan species, with a call described as a a hoarse or muffled trumpet that is not as loud as other species.

They have a job, she said, explaining that the presence of the swans isnt solely for the enjoyment of the residents or the community. They keep the geese away.

There have been years when hundreds of Canadian geese and a few ducks took up residence at the pond, she said, but the recent swans have done a good job of controlling them. They also keep the pond clean.

Mute swans arent a native species, so their breeding and other care is controlled. The two swans at The Village were males. To prevent breeding, plans are to continue with having a male pair.

Swans do live longer with a companion so it is important to have a pair, she explained. However, swans, particularly nesting swans, can be territorial so controlling their population is also important because of the impacts they can have on other fish and wildlife.

To ensure that a swan coming to the area is acclimated to the colder temperatures of Nebraska, Leafdale has been consulting with a breeder in Indiana from whom the fundraising group hopes to purchase a swan. The breeder is selective, she said, caring about the homes that swans go to, their care and other aspects that appeal to the group. Also, she said, he will transport the swan and provide any additional consultation that is needed.

Dinnel, who lives in an apartment from which she can view the pond, said, I get such a kick out of it, looking out my window and seeing the swans.

Many of the residents have stories or anecdotes about the swans and some, like Leafdale, could even tell Scottie and Memphis apart by their markings and other features.

Dinnel and Bacon also note that the swans have held a special place in the community. The pathway that wraps around the pond is well-used by Regional West nurses and other health care workers, workers at The Village and other nearby businesses. Also, residents in the area also frequently walk the pathway or visit the pond to see the swans.

People enjoy seeing them, Dinnel said. Ive seen high school seniors pose at the pond, even a ballet dancer in her costume positioned so the swan was in the background. You see cars drive by and you see people poking their heads out of their windows so they can see the swans. It really does serve as a community pond.

Recently, three colored fountains were installed in the pond, which makes viewing of the swans even more enjoyable, especially at night, Dinnel said.

To date, the residents have raised about $2,500 toward their goal. Bacon, who also serves as the independent living board chair, said some of the neighbors of The Village have contributed to the fund, as well as family members of residents who asked for contributions for Christmas gifts, dedicated memorials and other contributions.

A donation or gift in any manner, large or small, is appreciated, he said.

The fundraiser is being promoted with signs, many bearing feathers in memory of Scottie, at The Village. The residents have also posted signs along the pathway near the pond, hoping to make walkers and visitors aware of the campaign.

The timeline of the purchase of a new swan will be dependent on how quickly the residents are able to raise the funds, but they are optimistic theyll be able to complete fundraising by spring. Any remaining funds will benefit the swans maintenance and vet care needs.

Donations can be sent to The Village. Checks should be payable to The Village Activity Fund, 320 E. 42nd St., Apartment W117, Scottsbluff, NE 69361. Donations can also be left with the receptionist just inside the main entrance from 9 a.m.  5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Donations are tax deductible.
India and Russia have started discussions to talk about potentially producing military weapons in coordination with one another as Moscow continues its war on Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said that relations between the two nations are progressing. Jaishankar's trip to Russia will last for five days.

India and Russia Relations

Putin said he would inform the Indian diplomat about the fighting in Ukraine, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held a neutral stance on. The Russian president noted that the Indian official wants to resolve the issue peacefully.

India is increasingly important for Russia as the former is a market for oil exports, the backbone of the latter's economy. This is because Western sanctions have curtailed oil shipments.

In a statement, the Indian foreign minister said that making their trade interaction more sustainable was crucial. He noted they must think hard about achieving such a feat between the two countries, as per Defense News.

On top of meeting with Putin, Jaishankar also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said they discussed the "prospects for military-technical cooperation, including the joint production of modern types of weapons."

The Indian foreign minister also praised the "all-time high" trade turnover between India and Russia, which he said had exceeded $50 billion last year. Jaishankar noted that they expect to exceed that number this year.

Lavrov said that the cooperation between the two nations is strategic and corresponds to the national interests of both states, including maintaining security in the Eurasian continent.

The Russian foreign minister noted that they respected the aspirations of their Indian colleagues in their effort to diversify their military and technical links. He added that they understand that and expressed readiness to support India's initiative to produce military products as part of the "Make in India" program," according to Nikkei Asia.

Read Also: U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Alleged Money-Bartering Network Linked to Houthi Rebels

Joint Military Weapons Production

When Putin met with Jaishankar, he invited Modi to visit Russia, saying he would be happy to see him in his country. He added that the two leaders have "to cover a lot of ground."

Jaishankar and Putin, when talking about Ukraine, discussed Modi's position on "hot spots" and the "situation in Ukraine." The Russian president said he had repeatedly shared information regarding Ukraine with the Indian prime minister.

The Indian foreign minister later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was "honored to call on President Vladimir Putin" and Jaishankar added that he appreciated the guidance on the further developments of the two nations' ties.

Lavrov said that India and Russia's relationship goes beyond bilateral ties, noting that they are interested in "building an international political and economic system that would be open and fair for everyone."

The situation comes as the Biden administration is making efforts to make supporting Russia costly. Despite this, American officials have generally avoided making criticisms of India to the public, said the New York Times.

Related Article: Zambia Foreign Minster Resigns Amid Bribery Claims

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On Wednesday, Dec. 27, more than 52 acres of land near the town of Harmony in Iredell County were permanently conserved. Three Rivers Land Trust worked to conserve this tract of land in partnership with the landowners who donated the conservation easement.

The land is currently a productive tree farm that also provides wildlife habitat. With a stretch of Dutchman Creek running through this tract, this conservation easement will also contribute toward the further protection of the Yadkin-Pee Dee watershed.

The rapid rate of development in North Carolina threatens not only our productive agricultural lands and ability to feed future generations but also our native wildlife that utilize these farmlands as habitat, states Land Protection Specialist Kyle Shores. Once land is converted for development, it is almost certainly never going to be converted back to agricultural land again.

This will be the sixth farm that TRLT has protected this year, states Associate Director Crystal Cockman. Agriculture is North Carolinas No. 1 industry; however, North Carolina ranks second in the nation for potential agriculture land loss, according to the American Farmland Trust. In fact, Iredell County ranks 38th in the nation for farmland loss. This is why it is so imperative to protect these farmlands for the benefit of our local community and all of North Carolina.

This project was made possible through the donated conservation easement by the landowners, and the support of Three Rivers Land Trusts work by its members.

To learn more about how to conserve your lands or how you can support Three Rivers Land Trust in their conservation mission, contact Emily Callicutt, senior land protection specialist, at Three Rivers Land Trust by calling 704-647-0302 or by email at emily@trlt.org.
Cowlitz County sales tax revenue  mostly used to help people in the criminal justice system with mental health and chemical dependency issues  will sunset in March and voters will be asked whether to continue the tax in November.

County commissioners unanimously made this decision earlier this month as a way to have citizens determine whether the sales tax which adds a penny to every $10 purchase should remain in effect. The vote would be an advisory vote and not binding  as the county doesnt have the authority to request such votes  but commissioners said theyd follow citizens wishes.

County staff said at the Dec. 6 meeting the county has enough sales tax revenue to cover services the money currently pays for through 2025, plus leave roughly $1.7 million in reserves.

Staff said money from an opioid settlement could help cover some of the services paid for by the sales tax revenue.

The tax was first approved by commissioners in 2012, before any of the current board members were in office.

What does revenue pay for?

The sales taxs roughly $2.5 million in annual revenue covers services in the county corrections department, therapeutic courts, prosecutors office, public defense office, and sheriffs office.

In 2023, the department that received the most mental health sales tax revenue was the county corrections department with about $1.3 million to cover mental health officers and medically-assisted treatment for opioid-use disorder, as well as expand mental health services for inmates.

The second-largest allocation of mental health tax revenue of about $1 million went to the countys therapeutic courts: adult drug court, mental health court, family treatment court, and juvenile drug court. Part of the money also covers prosecuting and defense attorneys working with therapeutic court clients.

Starting last year, the sheriffs office also received mental health tax revenue to pay for a behavioral health unit to help deputies respond to people in crisis.

County asks for more drug court data

Despite the different programs paid for with the funds, commissioners have reviewed one of the therapeutic courts  adult drug court  more than the rest.

County Commissioner Arne Mortensen questioned again on Dec. 6 if drug court helps enough county citizens to justify its use of public funds. He asked adult drug court representatives to supply real numbers to show the program works  despite court officials previously presenting such findings as the majority of Cowlitz County Adult Drug Court graduates are employed and arent convicted of crimes after graduation.

Adult drug court is a 12-month program where defendants enter treatment for drug addiction, and if they complete the program, current charges are dropped.

Mortensen said a previous presentation to commissioners by a Portland State University professor on behalf of drug court was a sham. Instead, he needs a hard look at where past adult drug court graduates are today.

Show me they are taxpayers and doing their part, he said.

Cowlitz County Superior Court Presiding Judge Gary Bashor told The Daily News, court officials plan to soon meet with the states administrative office of the courts and at least one county commissioner to determine what other data can be collected.

Bashor said he provided commissioners requested data as far back as at least mid-2011. He suggested at the Dec. 6 meeting commissioners had seen more drug court statistics than any other county-funded program.

Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Michael Evans, who covers family treatment and juvenile drug courts, asked at the meeting why drug court faced so much scrutiny.

I feel a little bit singled out, he said.

Evans said science shows drug courts help individuals and families, to which Mortensen replied that tobacco companies have employed scientists to show smoking is healthy.

Cowlitz County Therapeutic Courts Manager Adam Pithan said he contacted all the past adult drug court graduates he could reach to collect the presented information. Evans said the department will likely need more money to collect more data.

Commissioner Dennis Weber suggested the county could track drug court graduates the way public health officials tracked people with COVID through contact tracing.

Commissioner Rick Dahl said data from drug courts across the country show different levels of success, so it cant be proven whether the program works. He questioned whether cities that implemented drug courts had seen a drop in crime or ability to save more municipal funds thanks to the program.

Weber said in a perfect world, crime would be eliminated, but thats not realistic.

One of the things that I get a little concerned about is this concept of making the perfect the enemy of the good, he said. We should be able to support a program that move us towards the goal that makes a difference in peoples lives.

Despite the hesitancy, Dahl said hed help court officials locate the data he is seeking.

I know it sounds like Im against it, but Im really not, he said. I think (drug court) has value because I believe when people make the decision to get help, we have, in my mind, the responsibility to help them.

Drug Court By the Numbers 1999: The year Cowlitz County Adult Drug Court started. 91: Adult drug court members as of July, with 17 in intake. 94% of 49 adult graduate respondents said they have improved their housing since graduation. 90% of 49 adult graduate respondents said they have not received any new felony convictions since graduation. 88% of 49 adult graduate respondents said they have not received any new misdemeanor convictions since graduation. 82% of 49 adult graduate respondents said they are employed. 71% of 49 adult graduate respondents said they had not experienced a relapse since graduation. 59% of 49 adult graduate respondents said they have decreased their use of government assistance since graduation. 51% of 49 adult graduate respondents said they have improved their education since graduation. Source: Cowlitz County Therapeutic Courts
PORTLAND, Maine  Maines Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to return to the White House.

The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows a ruling earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court that booted Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That decision has been stayed until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether Trump is barred by the Civil War-era provision, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

The Trump campaign said it would appeal Bellows' decision to Maine's state courts, and Bellows suspended her ruling until that court system rules on the case. In the end, it is likely that the nation's highest court will have the final say on whether Trump appears on the ballot in Maine and in the other states.

Bellows found that Trump could no longer run for his prior job because his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol violated Section 3, which bans from office those who engaged in insurrection. Bellows made the ruling after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, challenged Trumps position on the ballot.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows wrote in her 34-page decision. I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

The Trump campaign immediately slammed the ruling. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Legal experts said that Thursday's ruling demonstrates the need for the nation's highest court, which has never ruled on Section 3, to clarify what states can do.

It is clear that these decisions are going to keep popping up, and inconsistent decisions reached (like the many states keeping Trump on the ballot over challenges) until there is final and decisive guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court, Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, wrote in response to the Maine decision. It seems a certainty that SCOTUS will have to address the merits sooner or later.

While Maine has just four electoral votes, its one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maines electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there, should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate, could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.

That's in contrast to Colorado, which Trump lost by 13 percentage points in 2020 and where he wasn't expected to compete in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

In her decision, Bellows acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court will probably have the final word but said it was important she did her official duty.

That won her praise from the former state lawmakers who filed one of the petitions forcing her to consider the case.

Secretary Bellows showed great courage in her ruling, and we look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles, Republican Kimberly Rosen, independent Thomas Saviello and Democrat Ethan Strimling said in a statement.

But other Republicans in the state were outraged.

This is a sham decision that mimics Third World dictatorships," Maine's House Republican leader, Billy Bob Faulkingham, said in a statement. It will not stand legal scrutiny. People have a right to choose their leaders devoid of mindless decisions by partisan hacks.

The Trump campaign on Tuesday requested that Bellows disqualify herself from the case because she'd previously tweeted that Jan. 6 was an "insurrection and bemoaned that Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate after the capitol attack. She refused to step aside.

My decision was based exclusively on the record presented to me at the hearing and was in no way influenced by my political affiliation or personal views about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Bellows told the Associated Press Thursday night.

Bellows is a former head of the Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. All seven of the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court, which split 4-3 on whether to become the first court in history to declare a presidential candidate ineligible under Section 3, were appointed by Democrats. Two Washington, D.C.-based liberal groups have launched the most serious prior challenges to Trump, in Colorado and a handful of other states.

That's led Trump to contend the dozens of lawsuits nationwide seeking to remove him from the ballot under Section 3 are a Democratic plot to end his campaign. But some of the most prominent advocates have been conservative legal theorists who argue that the text of the Constitution makes the former president ineligible to run again, just as if he failed to clear the document's age threshold  35 years old  for the office.

Likewise, until Bellows' decision, every top state election official, whether Democrat or Republican, had rejected requests to bar Trump from the ballot, saying they didn't have the power to remove him unless ordered to do so by a court.

The timing on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision is unclear, but both sides want it fast. Colorado's Republican Party appealed the Colorado high court decision on Wednesday, urging an expedited schedule, and Trump is also expected to file an appeal within the week. The petitioners in the Colorado case on Thursday urged the nation's highest court to adopt an even faster schedule so it could rule before March 5, known as Super Tuesday, when 16 states, including Colorado and Maine, are scheduled to vote in the Republican presidential nominating process.

The high court needs to formally accept the case first, but legal experts consider that a certainty. The Section 3 cases seem tailor-made for the Supreme Court, addressing an area of U.S. governance where there's scant judicial guidance.

The clause was added in 1868 to keep defeated Confederates from returning to their former positions of power in local and federal government. It prohibits anyone who broke an oath to support the Constitution from holding office. The provision was used to bar a wide range of ex-Confederates from positions ranging from local sheriff to Congress, but fell into disuse after an 1872 congressional amnesty for most former Confederates.

Legal historians believe the only time the provision was used in the 20th Century was in 1919, when it was cited to deny a House seat to a socialist who had opposed U.S. involvement in World War I. But since the Jan. 6 attack, it has been revived.

Last year, it was cited by a court to remove a rural New Mexico County Commissioner who had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. One liberal group tried to remove Republican Reps. Madison Cawthorn and Marjorie Taylor Greene from the 2022 ballot under the provision, but Cawthorn lost his primary so his case was thrown out, and a judge ruled for Greene.

Some critics of the movement to bar Trump warn that the provision could be weaponized in unexpected ways.

They note that conservatives could argue, for example, that Vice President Kamala Harris is likewise barred from office because she raised bail funds for people arrested during the unrest following George Floyd's 2020 murder at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The plaintiffs in Colorado presented historical evidence that even the donation of small sums to money to those seeking to join the Confederacy was grounds for being barred by Section 3. Why, critics have asked, wouldn't that apply to Democrats like Harris today?

Read more:

Today in history: Dec. 28 1908: Messina, Italy 1945: The Pledge of Allegiance 1972: Kim Il Sung 1975: "Hail Mary" 1981: Elizabeth Jordan Carr 2007: Pakistan 2011: North Korea 2012: Vladimir Putin 2014: Afghanistan 2016: Debbie Reynolds 2017: Apple 2017: Doug Jones 2017: Rose Marie 2020: Adam Coy 2020: Lori Loughlin 2021: Harry Reid 2021: John Madden 2021: Shohei Ohtani
As the year ends, Washington officials are heralding the states efforts to conserve its natural habitats, including segments of Clark Countys forests and wetlands.

In 2023, the state Department of Natural Resources made two land transactions totaling 193 acres in the Washougal Oaks Natural Area, one of the largest remaining Oregon white oak woodlands in Western Washington. A stream weaves through oak-covered hillsides, wildlife habitat and meadows of rare plants. Acquisitions were combined with an existing preserve.

An additional 2-acre transfer provided a buffer for wetlands at the Lacamas Prairie Natural Area from future developments. This preserve contains one of the largest populations of Bradshaws desert parsley, an endangered perennial herb, and five other rare plant species.

Both natural areas are used for research, guided tours and educational activities.

Each of these land acquisitions is a crucial step forward in preserving and protecting our environment, and they provide a great opportunity for Washingtonians to learn more about the lands around us, Hilary Franz, commissioner of Public Lands, said in a news release. This is a win for our environment, a win for the public, and a win for Washington state.

Altogether, the Washington Department of Natural Resources made 10 land transfers for conservation spanning 1,726 acres from the Olympic Peninsula to the Columbia River Gorge. Funding for these acquisitions came from grants administered through the states Recreation and Conservation Office.

The Department of Natural Resources Natural Areas program manages 169,000 acres to protect rare plants and wildlife habitat in 97 different areas.

Acquisitions made in 2023 are part of the states ongoing efforts to conserve natural habitat.

Franz announced in mid-December that the Department of Natural Resources will conserve an additional 2,000 acres of forest in Clallam, Jefferson, King, Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

The agency is also set to purchase 9,000 acres of forests in Wahkiakum County  its largest acquisition in a decade  to prevent Washington from losing its forestland to development.
2023 in Review: Another year, another endless news cycle driven by the world's top corporate executives, with moments ranging from cringe-worthy to downright bizarre. While some CEOs seemed to relish the spotlight, Elon Musk chief among them, others were inadvertently thrust into social media's harsh glare. Elon Musk, Sam Altman to Marc Benioff, here are some of the most high-profile management misadventures:

The Muskiest moment

Of all the jaw-dropping Musk moments this year, the pinnacle came on stage at the New York Times DealBook Summit when he told advertisers that have stopped spending on X to go f themselves. Hey Bob, if you're in the audience he added, calling out Bob Iger, the CEO of Walt Disney Co.  one company among many that distanced itself after Musk endorsed an antisemitic post in November.

Still, if advertisers leave X, the platform's failure will be their fault, not his, Musk said, calling their retreat a form of blackmail. He said he won't tap dance to prove he's trustworthy.

Billionaire cage match bluff

In June, Musk challenged Mark Zuckerberg to what perhaps passes for a duel in 2023, posting on X: I'm up for a cage match if he is lol. The peculiar invitation came shortly after news surfaced that Meta Platforms Inc. was set to release Threads as a competitor to X.

Zuckerberg, who practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, readily agreed. Musk advertised a showdown in Vegas in August, and then started a rumor it might actually be staged in the Colosseum in Rome, which Italy's culture minister promptly debunked. But Musk began making excuses as the summer weeks slid by, saying he might need surgery for his neck/back/shoulder. Zuckerberg eventually called his bluff, saying it was time to move on.

OpenAI's about-face

The abrupt firing and rehiring of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by the board played out over the course of a long weekend. The whole thing was pretty bizarre, with some of the drama unfolding on social media. Between angry investors and employees, virtually all of whom threatened to quit, the board beat a hasty retreat.

As rumors swirled that he might return, Altman posted a photo of himself at the San Francisco office wearing a guest badge: first and last time i ever wear one of these. In an especially strange twist, one of the ouster's leaders, OpenAI co-founder and Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever, later recanted and pledged to do everything he could to reunite the company. Altman replied with three red hearts.

Leave pity city behind

A short video of office furniture maker MillerKnoll Inc. CEO Andi Owen chastising staff for fixating on end-of-year bonuses ricocheted around the internet in April. Spend your time and your effort thinking about the $26 million we need, and not thinking about what are you going to do if you don't get a bonus, Owen said in the video, referring to an internal metric. I had an old boss who said to me one time, You can visit pity city, but you can't live there.' So people, leave pity city.

Owen sent an email to staff and met with leaders across the company after the backlash, according to a person familiar with the situation. Andi fiercely believes in this team and all we can accomplish together, and will not be dissuaded by a 90-second clip taken out of context and posted on social media, MillerKnoll spokesperson Kris Marubio said in an emailed statement.

Management's massage time

In October, Tony Fernandes, co-founder of AirAsia and a top executive there, went to LinkedIn to post a picture of himself, shirtless, getting a massage while sitting at a conference room table. Got to love Indonesia and AirAsia culture that I can have a massage and do a management meeting, he wrote. Online followers quickly spoke out, with some commentators calling it inappropriate for an executive to indulge in bare-chested personal care while also purportedly running the company. One person said she didn't think women at his company would be comfortable or safe in this context, and given you're the boss, they likely won't challenge you or say anything.

Fernandes said he'd just endured an 18-hour flight and was in pain, and that the massage was a spontaneous suggestion by somebody in the Indonesia operation. He deleted the post while apologizing: I didn't mean to offend

The HBO troll

Casey Bloys, CEO of HBO and Max content, apologized for using fake X accounts to troll TV critics who gave bad reviews to the network's shows, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. According to the Times, Bloys said his passion for his company's programming  and too much time on social media during the Covid-19 pandemic  led him to do it and he concluded it was a very, very dumb idea.

The posts, first reported in Rolling Stone, were surfaced in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former HBO employee. Bloys apologized to the journalists named in the article and said he now sends direct messages to those he disagrees with.

Pre-pink slip digital detox

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says he took a 10-day trip to French Polynesia for a so-called digital detox ahead of the company's mass layoff of about 8,000 staff. A digital detox is when someone forgoes phones or computers for a period of time to feel more present and less dependent on technology and social media.

In a letter to employees at the time, Benioff said the company hired too many workers during the pandemic, which he took responsibility for. But Benioff also appeared tone-deaf, arriving late to a meeting the day after the layoff, joking, did I miss something? Some pointed out the irony of the sudden job cuts next to Benioff's frequent characterization of the company as an Ohana, a Hawaiian term for family.
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:

Huawei has been at the center of an intense standoff between China and the United States.

Chinese tech giant Huawei said Friday it "weathered the storm" of US sanctions as it announced a rise of almost nine percent in revenues in 2023, a year that saw it shock Washington with the release of a high-end smartphone.

The Shenzhen-based giant has been at the center of an intense standoff between China and the United States, with Washington warning its equipment could be used for state espionage, an allegation the company denies.

Sanctions since 2019 have cut the firm off from access to US-made components and technologies, forcing it to diversify its growth sources.

"After years of hard work, we managed to weather the storm," rotating chairman Ken Hu said in New Year's remarks released Friday.

In 2023, the group expected revenues of more than 700 billion yuan ($99.2 billion), Hu saidan increase of nearly nine percent from last year.

But the revenue remains much lower than the 891.4 billion yuan it earned in 2020, the year before the company announced a sharp decline in turnover due to US sanctions.

The firm, however, appears to be bouncing back, announcing moderate sales growth for the first nine months of the year in October.

"Shared conviction has helped us break the siege and forge ahead together," chairman Hu said.

He warned the firm faces "serious challenges ahead of us".

"Geopolitical and economic uncertainties abound, while technology restrictions and trade barriers continue to have an impact on the world," Hu said.

But, he added, "changes in the business environment are not caused by geopolitical conflict alone, but also by fluctuating global economic cycles".

Huawei's Mate 60 Pro phone is powered by an advanced domestically-produced chip.

Smartphone breakthrough

During an August visit to Beijing by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the firm released its Mate 60 Pro handset.

The device, powered by an advanced domestically-produced chip, sparked debate about whether attempts to curb China's technological advancements have been effective.

Commerce Secretary Raimondo this month told Bloomberg the development was "deeply concerning", promising the "strongest possible" response to ensure the breakthrough did not harm US national security.

And the Mate 60 Pro has shown the ability to bite into key competitor Apple's profits in China, analysts cited by Bloomberg in October said.

Huawei remains the world's leading equipment manufacturer for 5G, the fifth generation of mobile internet.

The United States is seeking to convince its allies to ban Huawei from their 5G networks, arguing that Beijing could use the group's products to monitor a country's communications and data traffic.

In June, the European Commission ruled that Chinese telecom equipment suppliersincluding Huaweiposed a security risk to the EU.

Beijing in response to US curbs has repeatedly slammed what it characterizes as Washington's "abuse of the concept of national security to hobble Chinese companies" and "discriminatory and unfair practices".

 2023 AFP
Editors note: Mark Welshs hiring as president at Texas A&M is The Eagles No. 2 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 Sundays e-edition.

Amid a season of strife and turmoil, Texas A&M turned to a four-star general to lead the university out of troubled times.

Ret. Gen. Mark A. Welsh III was first chosen as A&Ms acting president after M. Katherine Banks abruptly resigned in July amid a tumultuous summer on the main campus. Welshs successes during his four-plus months in the interim role gave A&M officials enough confidence to peg him as the universitys next president on Dec. 12.

Welsh, who was previously dean of A&Ms Bush School of Government and Public Service since 2016, was named the sole finalist for A&Ms open president position on Nov. 17. His appointment was made official after a mandatory 21-day waiting period passed. Welshs salary will start at $1.1 million.

Before his time at A&M, Welsh had a four-decade career in the U.S. Air Force. He was a fighter pilot, a four-star general and later served as the Air Forces chief. Welsh also commanded the American Air Force in Europe and NATOs Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and served as the CIAs associate director of military affairs along with being commandant of the United States Air Force Academy.

Although Welsh didnt graduate from A&M, he comes from a family of Aggies. His father, Mark A. Welsh Jr., is A&M Class of 1946. His graduation was delayed since he served in World War II alongside a number of other classmates. Welsh has five Aggie siblings and four children who went to A&M. His grandson is currently a student in A&Ms Mays Business School.

The decision to name Welsh the lone finalist for president came at Chancellor John Sharps behest. Sharp told A&Ms Faculty Senate Executive Committee he would recommend Welsh for the permanent position to the regents during a meeting between the two parties and A&M Board of Regents Chairman Bill Mahomes on Nov. 13. Sharp said there was an urgency to reach a final decision and bring further stability to the universitys administration.

Welsh hit the ground running as A&Ms interim president to address issues and open lines of communication between administration and faculty, whose relationship was fractured under Banks regime.

Soon after Welsh took over, he began a two-month assessment of The Path Forward, a Banks-led initiative from 2021 that brought sweeping organizational changes across campus and was met with mixed opinions. During the review, Welsh met with hundreds across campus. In early October, he announced decisions on how to move forward from The Path Forward.

Campus community members have expressed their support of Welshs moves in the interim and have cited his transparency and rationale behind the decisions hes made over the past four months.

On Nov. 29, Welsh highlighted short- and long-term university goals and initiatives during his hourlong State of the University address where over 1,000 campus administrators, faculty and staff, leaders and students were in attendance. Over 5,000 streamed the speech online. Welsh said it was the first time he said he felt able to speak to the broader campus community about university matters other than those that were problematic.

While Welsh discussed where A&M was during a tumultuous summer and where the university currently sits, he spent almost 30 minutes sharing where he sees the campus going and announced two major science projects will commence in January as A&M officials continue to create plans to study the universitys capacity and student experience.

After his appointment was made official, Welsh made one promise to Sharp and the regents: He vowed to do everything in his power to not let A&M down.

I wasnt really worried about getting to this day, Welsh said. That wasnt the objective. It was just to be a good interim president. This is a bonus for me. 

I dont think I deserve applause for anything. The whole idea was get the team working in the right direction and do great things for Texas, for Texas A&M and for Aggies everywhere.
Conditions were mostly nice this year for travelers flying ahead of and on Christmas, but some naughty disruptions again plagued those flying with Southwest Airlines.

For millions of people traveling over the holiday, this year was much better than last. Christmas morning put a bow on a relatively smooth weekend.

Only 157 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been canceled and 2,111 were delayed as of late afternoon on Monday, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

For this holiday season, U.S. airlines prepared for massive waves of travelers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers  in an effort to avoid the delays and cancellations that marred travel in 2022, culminating with the Southwest Airlines debacle that stranded more than 2 million people.

Still, Southwest experienced hiccups again over the weekend that the airline was looking to clear by Monday.

Check out how airline performance has been recently at Texas airports.

See airline performance at Texas airports
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro prepared more than 5,600 military personnel after the UK deployed a warship to waters off the coast of Guyana in a show of support for the former British colony.

Maduro declared his plan of defensive action in response to the provocation and threat of the UK against peace and the sovereignty of their country.

Maduro Prepares Military Effort

On Sunday, the Ministry of Defense announced that the UK would send a patrol vessel HMS Trent to Guyana amid escalating territorial disputes that started when Maduro reaffirmed Venezuela's claim to the oil-rich Essequibo area.

The 62,000 sq mile Essequibo region is generally considered part of Guyana. Following significant oil and gas discoveries in recent years, Venezuela has reaffirmed its claim to the region and its offshore areas.

Tensions erupted this month due to a referendum in Venezuela when voters backed a move to make the Essequibo area a new Venezuelan state. The voters also rejected the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, which is hearing the case on the border dispute.

The MoD did not mention Venezuela or the border dispute when it announced that the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Trent is visiting Guyana, a former colony and ally of the United Kingdom, as part of a series of engagements in the region.

Maduro said on Thursday that it was breaking the spirit of dialogue, diplomacy, and peace of the agreements. He claimed the deployment was practically a military threat from London.

Furthermore, he has ordered the activation of a joint defensive action of the Bolivarian national armed forces off the coast of Essequibo.

He noted that they believe in diplomacy, in dialogue, and in peace. "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 added.

Maduro explained that the threat of the decadent, rotten, ex-empire of the United Kingdom was unacceptable. Venezuela's foreign ministry said the country reserves all actions within the constitution's and international law's framework to defend its maritime and territorial integrity.

A UK foreign minister, David Rutley, visited Guyana earlier this month and reaffirmed the importance of respecting the country's territorial integrity.

Rutley said that the border issue has been settled for more than 120 years, and they welcome the recent agreement by Venezuela to refrain from using force and any further escalation.

Read Also: Moldova's President Calls Out Putin's Actions, Denounces Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Dispute Between Venezuela, Guyana

A border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana currently exists over the Essequibo, an area the size of Florida that is sparsely populated and has significant oil resources off its coast.

The leaders of both countries met on the Caribbean island of St Vincent. They agreed that they would solve their dispute through nonviolent means amid the escalating tensions over the region.

However, Guyana's President Irfan Ali said his nation reserved the right to work with its partners to ensure the defense of his country.

Related Article: Guyana Refuses to Bow to Venezuela Over Oil, Mineral Territorial Dispute





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During Gov. Greg Abbotts March 7 visit to Brazos Christian School, he promoted his then-newly proposed education savings accounts plan. At the event, Texas House District 14 Rep. John Raney introduced Abbott as a governor who has always fought for children.

Gov. Abbott understands the value of a good education and the importance of giving parents control over their childrens education, Raney said. Under Gov. Abbotts leadership, public schools and teachers salaries have received more funding than any governor in our state.

However, over nine months and four special legislative sessions later Raney would go on to author the amendment that would ultimately kill House Bill 1  Abbotts final chance of passing a school choice voucher program in 2023.

Before Raneys amendment passed, HB 1 would have offered eligible students $10,500 to cover the tuition cost of attending private and parochial schools. The bill also would have increased the per-student state funding to public schools, increased teacher wages and provided additional funding for school safety.

After Raneys amendment passed, however, the then-purely public-school funding bill was returned to the education committee where it stayed until the end of the special session.

If any form of a voucher program were to pass it could ultimately cost the state billions in the end, Raney said during a November interview with The Eagle.

If we were to pass that with just the current students enrolled in private schools, the bill would be $21 billion, he said. If you extrapolate that out and add additional students that are currently in public schools [who] then want to transfer to a private school, that cost jumps exorbitantly.

Only 21 of the 84 Republicans present voted for the amendment, which passed with the support of 63 Democrats. Raney said he understands that the majority of Republicans support the bill, but argued his job was to vote for his constituents, not for his party.

I spoke with teachers, I spoke with administrators, I spoke with board members, I spoke with a retired teacher, and I even have spoken with parents, he said. My concern was how are we going to pay for it? We just gave an $18 billion tax relief to homeowners this last session. So, it wasnt like we were just real flush with money.  We should increase the pay that teachers are receiving and encourage them to do a good job.

Despite not receiving the public-school money originally attached to HB 1, Bryan superintendent Ginger Carrabine said a school voucher-like program could be detrimental to the local public schools and that increased school funding should not be held captive by the governors agenda.

Weve actually been held hostage with this whole push for vouchers, she said in November. We have not received a dime of compensation for our staff throughout this entire process and the governor made it clear that he would veto any bill that didnt include the vouchers. So, its disheartening because were trying to do everything that we can to serve our students.

College Station superintendent Tim Harkrider held the same opinion and said that the majority of parents dont want a school voucher-like program  they want proper funding for their public schools.

If parents really wanted that much choice  and Gov. Abbott portrays quite a bit that this is what Texans want  then why has he never had a press conference at a public school; its always a private school, Harkrider said in November. Its a false narrative. This is not something that people across Texas want. This is what a few billionaires and a few politicians want, and they want to convince everyone that they have this figured out and [that] were all wrong.

Mandy Drogin, the Public Policy Foundation campaign director for Next Generation Texas, has campaigned with Abbott promoting education savings accounts and said the state already spends billions on public education every year; so it only makes sense that public school funding should be attached to a voucher-like program.

The governor made it very clear they are tied together, she said. According to the TEA [Texas Education Agency], we spent $15,780 per child in Texas public schools. [The Legislature] also passed the largest funding increase when they appropriated $10.3 billion in the Texas budget this year.  They keep saying, We need more money. And we keep saying, OK, here it is. And yet the scores dont get better.

During his March visit to Bryan, Abbott said parents need more opportunities to choose what their children learn and that public schools have diverted from their original purpose.

There are a lot of parents who are rightfully happy with their children being in public school, Abbott said. At the same time, there are parents who are angry about experiences theyve had in school  Parents are angry about the woke agenda thats being forced on their children in their schools.

Raney said he wasnt worried about any possible backlash for having authored the HB 1 amendment in November. He already had stated his intention not to run for reelection and did not have to worry about an Abbott endorsement come 2024.

House District 12 Rep. Kyle Kacal, however, was still hoping to run for reelection in 2024.

Now we cant afford to pay teachers, Kacal said at a Brenham luncheon, less than 24 hours before the House was set to vote on HB 1. Teachers dont want to work; theyre under so many constraints. Whos going to do that job for nine months?  I hope my friends are working on a deal so were not there all day tomorrow to do this all over again.

The next day, Kacal voted for Raneys amendment, ultimately killing HB 1.

Less than 10 days later, Kacal officially announced that he would not seek reelection after Abbott did not include his name in a press release of incumbent endorsements.

In the same press release, Abbott also thanked retiring Republican House members for their service, but Raneys name was not included in the list of those thanked.

At the time of publication, three candidates are currently vying for the Republican nomination for House District 12: Ben Bius, John Harvey Slocum and Trey Wharton.

Wharton has been endorsed by Abbott and supports the adoption of a school voucher-like program, according to his campaign website. Neither Bius nor Slocum have stated as of yet a definitive stance on the issue.

Raney has endorsed Paul Dyson as his replacement for House District 14. According to Dysons campaign website, he hopes to increase funding for public schools to ensure that every school district has the appropriate resources.
Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Sempra (NYSE:SRE  Free Report) by 94.8% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 6,718 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,270 shares during the quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Sempra were worth $457,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in SRE. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Sempra in the 4th quarter valued at $1,000,291,000. Capital International Investors increased its holdings in shares of Sempra by 11.6% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 27,459,739 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,997,728,000 after acquiring an additional 2,843,930 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Sempra by 109.7% in the 3rd quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 3,158,133 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $214,848,000 after acquiring an additional 1,652,244 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Sempra by 24.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,933,253 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $762,385,000 after acquiring an additional 982,317 shares during the period. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of Sempra by 17.5% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 5,603,494 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $847,024,000 after acquiring an additional 836,059 shares during the period. 84.83% 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 research analysts have recently issued reports on SRE shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Sempra from $91.00 to $82.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. UBS Group dropped their target price on Sempra from $95.00 to $89.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Sempra from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $78.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. StockNews.com downgraded Sempra from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Guggenheim dropped their target price on Sempra from $86.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $81.65.

Sempra Stock Performance

Shares of SRE opened at $74.67 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $72.32 and a two-hundred day moving average of $71.96. Sempra has a one year low of $63.75 and a one year high of $81.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market cap of $46.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.26, a P/E/G ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.72.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.07. Sempra had a return on equity of 9.88% and a net margin of 16.51%. The company had revenue of $3.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.68 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.99 EPS. The firms revenue was down 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Sempra will post 4.57 EPS for the current year.

Sempra Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 6th will be issued a $0.595 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 5th. This represents a $2.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.19%. Sempras dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.03%.

Sempra Company Profile

(Free Report)

Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Gas Company, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The San Diego Gas & Electric Company segment provides to San Diego and southern Orange counties; and natural gas service to San Diego County.

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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 81.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,336 shares of the information technology services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,052 shares during the quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $717,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ashburton Jersey Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Accenture in the first quarter valued at about $143,000. First Foundation Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 6.8% in the second quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 11,574 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,572,000 after acquiring an additional 741 shares in the last quarter. BOKF NA boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 0.6% in the second quarter. BOKF NA now owns 45,759 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $14,120,000 after acquiring an additional 276 shares in the last quarter. TrinityPoint Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Accenture by 12.9% in the second quarter. TrinityPoint Wealth LLC now owns 3,695 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,140,000 after purchasing an additional 422 shares during the period. Finally, New Republic Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture in the second quarter valued at about $606,000. 70.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Accenture from $340.00 to $390.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, September 11th. Piper Sandler Companies cut 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. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Accenture from $340.00 to $356.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on shares of Accenture in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a buy rating and a $410.00 target price for the company. Finally, Citigroup reissued a buy rating and issued a $358.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $348.59.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 9,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $291.41, for a total value of $2,622,690.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 35,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,441,220.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Accenture news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 9,000 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Monday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $291.41, for a total transaction of $2,622,690.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 35,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,441,220.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO John F. Walsh sold 2,500 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $295.60, for a total value of $739,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 21,885 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,469,206. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 39,885 shares of company stock valued at $12,188,860 over the last ninety days. 0.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Accenture Stock Performance

Shares of ACN opened at $351.59 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $220.78 billion, a PE ratio of 32.58, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.23. The firms 50 day moving average price is $326.77 and its 200 day moving average price is $318.02. Accenture plc has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $355.38.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.17 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.08% and a net margin of 10.65%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.08 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 12.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 18th will be given a $1.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 17th. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.82%.

Accenture declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Thursday, September 28th that authorizes the company to buyback $4.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the information technology services provider to purchase up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Accenture Company 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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Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its stake in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) by 0.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 62,370 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings in BlackRock were worth $40,322,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. West Tower Group LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Archer Investment Corp acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock during the second quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.01% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 15,385 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $652.03, for a total value of $10,031,481.55. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 435,260 shares of the companys stock, valued at $283,802,577.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

BlackRock Stock Performance

Shares of BLK stock opened at $814.41 on Friday. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52 week low of $596.18 and a 52 week high of $819.00. The company has a market capitalization of $121.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.84, a PEG ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $715.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $697.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 3.72 and a current ratio of 3.72.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The asset manager reported $10.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.34 by $2.57. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.52 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.65% and a net margin of 30.66%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $9.55 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 36.84 earnings per share for the current year.

BlackRock Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, December 7th were given a dividend of $5.00 per share. This represents a $20.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 6th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is currently 56.10%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on BLK shares. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of BlackRock from $781.00 to $754.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company cut 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Friday, December 15th. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of BlackRock from $921.00 to $868.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on BlackRock in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $771.54.

Read Our Latest Research Report 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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Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its position in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Free Report) by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 179,737 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 5,596 shares during the quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $29,353,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of TRV. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the first quarter valued at approximately $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its position in Travelers Companies by 28.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,934 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,084,000 after buying an additional 1,327 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in Travelers Companies by 1.0% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,210,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL grew its position in Travelers Companies by 40.6% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,551 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $9,420,000 after buying an additional 14,873 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its position in Travelers Companies by 5.0% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,212 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,952,000 after buying an additional 1,286 shares during the period. 81.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Travelers Companies

In related news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 270 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.00, for a total transaction of $48,060.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,421,684. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 270 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.00, for a total transaction of $48,060.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at $45,421,684. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 3,797 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.38, for a total transaction of $643,135.86. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 13,005 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,202,786.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.29% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on TRV. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $172.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. They set a hold rating and a $186.00 target price for the company. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $181.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $193.71.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on TRV

Travelers Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:TRV opened at $189.33 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.34. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $175.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $170.34. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $157.33 and a fifty-two week high of $194.51. The firm has a market cap of $43.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.59.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The insurance provider reported $1.95 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.93 by ($0.98). Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 10.41% and a net margin of 5.45%. The company had revenue of $10.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.42 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.20 EPS. Travelers Companiess revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 11.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Travelers Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is 43.29%.

Travelers Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

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Asset Management One Co. Ltd. trimmed its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 0.5% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 133,627 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 681 shares during the quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $34,547,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BDX. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 98,105.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 6,929,375 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,829,424,000 after buying an additional 6,922,319 shares in the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 25,185.5% in the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,492,216 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $18,147,000 after purchasing an additional 4,474,450 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 95,813.8% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,045,643 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,028,807,000 after purchasing an additional 4,041,425 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter worth about $697,398,000. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1,353.9% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,680,292 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $31,207,000 after purchasing an additional 1,564,723 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.72% of the companys stock.

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Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock opened at $243.03 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $70.58 billion, a PE ratio of 49.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.49. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 52 week low of $228.62 and a 52 week high of $287.32. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $242.36 and a 200-day moving average price of $258.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

Becton, Dickinson and Company ( NYSE:BDX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.42 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate 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 quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.75 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared 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 represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.56%. This is an increase from Becton, Dickinson and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 76.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Citigroup lowered their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 4th. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Becton, Dickinson and Company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, TheStreet lowered Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $279.57.

Read Our Latest Report on BDX

Insider Activity at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 2,156 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 of the companys stock, valued at $982,496.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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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Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV grew its position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Free Report) by 2.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 33,290 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 815 shares during the period. Walmart accounts for 3.5% of Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADVs investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADVs holdings in Walmart were worth $5,324,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its stake in Walmart by 93,272.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 821,003,685 shares of the retailers stock valued at $129,045,359,000 after buying an additional 820,124,410 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 0.4% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 100,364,767 shares of the retailers stock worth $15,775,334,000 after acquiring an additional 430,215 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Walmart by 1.6% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 25,499,791 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,995,749,000 after purchasing an additional 394,797 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Walmart by 112,181.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,854,919 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,240,599,000 after purchasing an additional 22,834,564 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Walmart by 9.4% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,382,688 shares of the retailers stock worth $3,173,642,000 after purchasing an additional 1,923,199 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 33.18% of the companys stock.

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Walmart Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of WMT stock opened at $157.65 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $158.46 and a 200 day moving average of $158.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $136.09 and a 1-year high of $169.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $424.43 billion, a PE ratio of 26.14, a P/E/G ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.48.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 16th. The retailer reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.53. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.20% and a net margin of 2.55%. The firm had revenue of $160.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $159.65 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.50 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Stephens lifted their target price on Walmart from $185.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, November 13th. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Walmart from $187.00 to $177.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 17th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Walmart from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 14th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $210.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Walmart from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $179.44.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Walmart

Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In other Walmart news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 433,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.89, for a total value of $67,500,370.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 235,007,961 shares in the company, valued at $36,635,391,040.29. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 433,000 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.89, for a total value of $67,500,370.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 235,007,961 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,635,391,040.29. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total value of $1,582,306.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,451,801 shares in the company, valued at $236,629,044.99. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 3,479,006 shares of company stock valued at $542,170,741 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 46.51% of the companys stock.

About Walmart

(Free Report)

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications.

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Avior Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,615 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 333 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $171,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 1st quarter valued at $217,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 41.8% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,838 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,022,000 after acquiring an additional 7,616 shares during the last quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. bought a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 1st quarter valued at $243,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 20.7% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 9,918 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $392,000 after acquiring an additional 1,700 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 29,508 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,168,000 after acquiring an additional 891 shares during the last quarter. 71.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director David S. Taylor bought 10,000 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 18th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $33.09 per share, for a total transaction of $330,900.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 17,470 shares in the company, valued at approximately $578,082.30. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 9,390 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.80, for a total value of $326,772.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 98,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,424,041.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director David S. Taylor purchased 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 18th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $33.09 per share, for a total transaction of $330,900.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 17,470 shares in the company, valued at approximately $578,082.30. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.89% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DAL has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com cut Delta Air Lines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $58.00 to $50.00 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Raymond James decreased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $58.00 to $54.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $51.00 to $50.00 in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $54.40.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines Stock Performance

Shares of Delta Air Lines stock opened at $40.63 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $36.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $40.28. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 1-year low of $30.60 and a 1-year high of $49.81. The company has a market cap of $26.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.70, a PEG ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.39.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 12th. The transportation company reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.95 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $15.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.55 billion. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 54.95% and a net margin of 5.94%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.51 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.11 EPS for the current year.

About Delta Air Lines

(Free Report)

Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon.

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Blue Fin Capital Inc. boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report) by 0.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 31,455 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the quarter. Merck & Co., Inc. comprises about 0.9% of Blue Fin Capital Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Blue Fin Capital Inc.s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $3,238,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in MRK. Benin Management CORP increased its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 5.3% in the third quarter. Benin Management CORP now owns 3,964 shares of the companys stock worth $408,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 47.7% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 443,506 shares of the companys stock worth $45,659,000 after buying an additional 143,207 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 4.2% during the third quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 65,980 shares of the companys stock worth $6,793,000 after buying an additional 2,648 shares in the last quarter. Norris Perne & French LLP MI grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.1% during the third quarter. Norris Perne & French LLP MI now owns 173,716 shares of the companys stock worth $17,884,000 after buying an additional 1,848 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Instrumental Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 7.9% during the third quarter. Instrumental Wealth LLC now owns 3,408 shares of the companys stock worth $355,000 after buying an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.59% of the companys stock.

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Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE:MRK opened at $108.77 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $275.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 60.43, a PEG ratio of 9.13 and a beta of 0.34. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $103.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.45. 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 1-year low of $96.36 and a 1-year high of $119.65.

Merck & Co., Inc. Increases Dividend

Merck & Co., Inc. ( NYSE:MRK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.85 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 1.37 earnings per share for the current year.

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 issued a $0.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This is a boost from Merck & Co., Inc.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.83%. Merck & Co., Inc.s payout ratio is currently 171.11%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 43,823 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total value of $4,602,729.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 111,764 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,738,572.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 43,823 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total value of $4,602,729.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 111,764 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,738,572.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen sold 2,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.38, for a total value of $213,052.78. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,191 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,862,394.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. TheStreet upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Monday, November 27th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $132.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, October 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday, December 18th. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $122.00 price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $125.14.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Merck & Co., Inc.

About Merck & Co., Inc.

(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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Asset Management One Co. Ltd. trimmed its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Free Report) by 0.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 668,744 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after selling 1,278 shares during the quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $35,310,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC raised its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 5,322 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $266,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 8.9% during the second quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 2,521 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $136,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co increased its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 1.6% during the third quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co now owns 13,871 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $732,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 0.6% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 38,113 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $2,062,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. increased its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 4.4% during the second quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 5,442 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $294,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. 89.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Boston Scientific Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE:BSX opened at $56.28 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $53.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $52.99. The company has a market capitalization of $82.45 billion, a PE ratio of 68.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Boston Scientific Co. has a 52-week low of $44.35 and a 52-week high of $56.90.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.48 billion. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 15.46% and a net margin of 8.93%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.43 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.01 EPS for the current year.

Several research firms recently issued reports on BSX. TheStreet raised Boston Scientific from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. StockNews.com raised Boston Scientific from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Tuesday, September 19th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Boston Scientific from $59.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on Boston Scientific from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. One investment analyst has 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.com, Boston Scientific currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $61.18.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Boston Scientific

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Boston Scientific news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,356 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.51, for a total value of $5,952,323.56. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,498,922 shares in the company, valued at approximately $78,708,394.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 11,671 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.79, for a total value of $581,099.09. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 51,795 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,578,873.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,356 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.51, for a total value of $5,952,323.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,498,922 shares of the companys stock, valued at $78,708,394.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 238,735 shares of company stock worth $12,457,510 in the last quarter. 0.71% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Boston Scientific Profile

(Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems.

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Maine has joined Colorado in banning former United States President Donald Trump from the state ballot over the Republican businessman's role in the Capitol Hill riot.

The state's top election official made the decision on Thursday, which would most likely be appealed along with the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said that the "insurrectionist ban" in the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution applies to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Maine Disqualifies Donald Trump From Ballot

The evidence against Trump demonstrates that the 2021 attack "occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President." In her decision, Bellows added that the U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government.

On the other hand, the Trump campaign denies that Jan. 6 was an insurrection, condemned the Maine decision, and said that Bellows is a "leftist" who decided to interfere in the presidential election, as per USA Today.

A statement from Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said that they are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter. He noted that courts in other states have rejected efforts to disqualify Trump. He said the campaign would file a "legal objection" to Maine's state court system ruling.

The Supreme Court is expected to have the final say on whether or not Trump is eligible for state ballots sometime next year. Bellows presided over an administrative hearing earlier this month on a challenge to the former president that a bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers brought.

Before Bellows decided on the matter, Trump's attorneys asked her to recuse herself because of previous tweets that showed political bias. The former president has said he plans to appeal the Colorado Supreme Court ruling.

Read Also: Colorado Republicans Urge Supreme Court To Hear Donald Trump's Ballot Disqualification Case

Appealing the Decision

According to CNN, Bellows' decision marks a major victory for Trump's critics, who said they are trying to enforce a constitutional provision to protect the nation from anti-democratic insurrectionists.

The Maine secretary of state said she did not conclude lightly, adding that Democracy is sacred. She noted that she is mindful that no other person in her position has previously deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

The decision underscores the ongoing tensions in the United States over Democracy, ballot access, and the rule of law. It also adds urgency to calls for the US Supreme Court to intervene in the politically explosive dispute over Trump's eligibility.

On the other hand, two other states, Minnesota and Michigan, ruled that election officials cannot prevent the former president from being included in their ballots.

The latter's Supreme Court concluded on Wednesday that an appeals court had properly decided that political parties are allowed to determine which candidates are eligible to run for the country's highest position, said the New York Times.

Related Article: Republicans Tout Win After Federal Judge Approves New Georgia Voting Maps

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LaFleur & Godfrey LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 59,610 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,030 shares during the period. Chevron comprises about 1.6% of LaFleur & Godfrey LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. LaFleur & Godfrey LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $10,051,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC lifted its holdings in Chevron by 247.8% in the second quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 3,400 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 5,700 shares during the period. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in Chevron in the third quarter worth about $35,000. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Chevron in the first quarter worth about $36,000. HBC Financial Services PLLC bought a new stake in Chevron in the first quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Chevron in the second quarter worth about $50,000. Institutional investors own 68.87% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CVX has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Chevron in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Chevron from $175.00 to $169.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Chevron from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $184.00 to $182.00 in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Chevron in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, UBS Group cut their price objective on Chevron from $194.00 to $185.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Chevron currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $186.50.

Chevron Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE CVX opened at $149.77 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $282.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.12, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.25. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $147.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of $156.29. Chevron Co. has a 52 week low of $140.72 and a 52 week high of $187.81.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $3.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.70 by ($0.65). The company had revenue of $54.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $51.41 billion. Chevron had a return on equity of 16.15% and a net margin of 12.11%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $5.56 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 13.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 17th were given 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 4.03%. Chevrons payout ratio is currently 44.84%.

Chevron Profile

(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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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Free Report) by 25.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,754 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,193 shares during the quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $763,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 26,111,483 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,819,710,000 after acquiring an additional 1,338,402 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 4.8% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 25,923,428 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,867,005,000 after buying an additional 1,183,946 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.2% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,532,858 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $454,234,000 after buying an additional 74,997 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.7% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,723,491 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $398,841,000 after buying an additional 98,401 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 5.8% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,612,529 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $403,036,000 after buying an additional 307,231 shares in the last quarter. 90.81% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Up 0.6 %

HIG stock opened at $80.42 on Friday. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $64.25 and a twelve month high of $81.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company has a market capitalization of $24.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.03, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.82. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $76.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $73.59.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Increases Dividend

The Hartford Financial Services Group ( NYSE:HIG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The insurance provider reported $2.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by $0.34. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 9.62% and a return on equity of 19.05%. The business had revenue of $6.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.17 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.44 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 8.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.47 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.34%. This is an increase from The Hartford Financial Services Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. The Hartford Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.79%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on HIG shares. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $75.00 to $77.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $76.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, October 27th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. They issued a hold rating and a $85.00 price objective for the company. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, The Hartford Financial Services Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $85.43.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on HIG

Insider Transactions at The Hartford Financial Services Group

In related news, EVP Stephanie C. Bush sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.74, for a total transaction of $363,700.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,063 shares in the company, valued at $731,982.62. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Christopher Swift sold 69,248 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.09, for a total transaction of $5,407,576.32. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 170,180 shares in the company, valued at $13,289,356.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Stephanie C. Bush sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.74, for a total value of $363,700.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 10,063 shares in the company, valued at $731,982.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 175,544 shares of company stock valued at $13,901,625. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About The Hartford Financial Services Group

(Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 68.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,808 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 2,776 shares during the period. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $659,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the first quarter valued at approximately $131,000. United Bank lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 7.2% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 27,280 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,229,000 after buying an additional 1,826 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 813,253 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $96,257,000 after buying an additional 15,521 shares during the last quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC now owns 19,467 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,304,000 after acquiring an additional 436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 636.2% in the 1st quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,216 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $262,000 after acquiring an additional 1,915 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.70% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on ABT shares. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $118.00 in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Raymond James lowered their price target 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. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $112.00 to $107.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $117.80.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

Shares of ABT opened at $110.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.74 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The firm has a market cap of $191.66 billion, a PE ratio of 37.55, a PEG ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.70. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $89.67 and a 1 year high of $115.83. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $101.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $102.90.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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. The business had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.82 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 20.15%. The companys revenue was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.44 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.55 per share. This is a boost from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.99%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 69.39%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other 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 value of $1,620,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at $7,022,916. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 26th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at $632,515,969.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

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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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 66.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 9,960 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,985 shares during the quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $690,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. GDS Wealth Management grew its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 10.0% in the third quarter. GDS Wealth Management now owns 91,881 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $6,366,000 after purchasing an additional 8,323 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 14.8% in the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 1,324,087 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $91,733,000 after buying an additional 170,300 shares in the last quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 0.9% in the third quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC now owns 390,069 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $27,024,000 after buying an additional 3,542 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 0.5% in the third quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 323,224 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $22,393,000 after buying an additional 1,622 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Czech National Bank lifted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 48.1% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 106,252 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $7,361,000 after buying an additional 34,487 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.25% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on EW. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $86.00 to $82.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Leerink Partnrs reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $78.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $90.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $87.00 to $70.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $81.94.

Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE EW opened at $76.71 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $46.52 billion, a PE ratio of 32.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.59 and a beta of 1.01. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $68.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $76.67. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 1 year low of $60.57 and a 1 year high of $94.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 3.28 and a quick ratio of 2.45.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The medical research company reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.59. The company had revenue of $1.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.48 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 24.59% and a return on equity of 24.54%. Edwards Lifesciencess quarterly revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.61 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Edwards Lifesciences

In related news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.25, for a total transaction of $547,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 23,950 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,874,087.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 7,255 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.66, for a total value of $454,598.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 19,248 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,206,079.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Daveen Chopra sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.25, for a total transaction of $547,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 23,950 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,874,087.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 164,283 shares of company stock valued at $11,498,474. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases.

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Czech National Bank grew its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 47.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 986,797 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 318,589 shares during the period. Czech National Banks holdings in Pfizer were worth $32,732,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer during the first quarter valued at $29,000. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer during the third quarter valued at $37,000. Steward Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Pfizer in the second quarter valued at about $43,000. VitalStone Financial LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 179.3% in the second quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 1,106 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 710 shares during the period. Finally, DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new position in Pfizer in the third quarter valued at about $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.05% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Truist Financial cut their target price on Pfizer from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Pfizer from $39.00 to $35.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Pfizer from $36.00 to $34.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 16th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Pfizer from $42.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Pfizer from $44.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $40.35.

Insider Transactions at Pfizer

In other Pfizer news, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 3,000 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $26.47 per share, for a total transaction of $79,410.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 9,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $238,230. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Pfizer Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE:PFE opened at $28.79 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $162.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $25.76 and a twelve month high of $51.67. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $29.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.41. 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 issued its earnings results 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 return on equity of 16.72% and a net margin of 15.30%. The company had revenue of $13.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.77 billion. Equities research analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This is an increase from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 89.62%.

Pfizer Company 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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Gemmer Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) by 3.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,925 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Gemmer Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $2,974,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of IVV. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 117,228.0% during 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 acquiring an additional 195,415,560 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 212,409.8% during 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 acquiring an additional 53,321,234 shares in the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 38,525.9% during the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 11,421,288 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,783,000 after acquiring an additional 11,391,719 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $2,101,052,000. Finally, IMC Chicago LLC boosted its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 122.2% during the 2nd quarter. IMC Chicago LLC now owns 534,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,242,000 after acquiring an additional 2,941,401 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Performance

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF stock opened at $478.96 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $452.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $446.65. The stock has a market cap of $370.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a fifty-two week low of $379.60 and a fifty-two week high of $479.79.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile

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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Handelsbanken Fonder AB reduced its position in Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC  Free Report) by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 340,700 shares of the companys stock after selling 40,000 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in Brunswick were worth $26,915,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BC. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Brunswick during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in Brunswick by 140.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 41,387 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,496,000 after acquiring an additional 24,171 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake in Brunswick by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 28,255 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,286,000 after acquiring an additional 2,694 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Brunswick by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,426,552 shares of the companys stock valued at $519,843,000 after acquiring an additional 46,519 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its stake in Brunswick by 9.7% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 45,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,746,000 after acquiring an additional 3,992 shares during the last quarter. 94.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Brunswick Stock Performance

BC opened at $98.39 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $80.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $81.33. The stock has a market cap of $6.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.01 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.47 and a quick ratio of 0.60. Brunswick Co. has a 1-year low of $66.47 and a 1-year high of $99.68.

Brunswick Announces Dividend

Brunswick ( NYSE:BC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.36 by $0.06. Brunswick had a return on equity of 32.09% and a net margin of 7.57%. The business had revenue of $1.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.66 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.67 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Brunswick Co. will post 9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 21st. Brunswicks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.79%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on BC shares. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Brunswick from $102.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Brunswick from $94.00 to $93.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Truist Financial cut their target price on Brunswick from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Roth Mkm reissued a buy rating and set a $91.00 target price on shares of Brunswick in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Brunswick from $84.00 to $77.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Brunswick currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.86.

View Our Latest Report on BC

Insider Transactions at Brunswick

In related news, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 414 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.57, for a total value of $28,387.98. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,887 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,500,791.59. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.

About Brunswick

(Free Report)

Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Propulsion, Parts & Accessories, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines for independent boat builders and governments through marine dealers and distributors, specialty marine retailers, and marine service centers; and propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses.

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Jmac Enterprises LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 2,700 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $221,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MS. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Morgan Stanley during the second quarter worth about $25,000. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Morgan Stanley in the third quarter worth $27,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in Morgan Stanley in the third quarter worth $28,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 810.8% in the third quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 337 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, West Branch Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the second quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.09% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

MS has been the topic of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $102.00 to $101.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $85.00 price target on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. HSBC started coverage on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $99.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $93.51.

Morgan Stanley Trading Down 0.0 %

NYSE:MS opened at $93.65 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $153.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.78, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 1.40. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $79.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $83.63. Morgan Stanley has a 12 month low of $69.42 and a 12 month high of $100.99.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.07. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 10.86% and a return on equity of 10.70%. The firm had revenue of $13.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.22 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.53 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Morgan Stanley will post 5.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 31st were given a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.63%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, October 30th. Morgan Stanleys payout ratio is currently 60.93%.

Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley

In other Morgan Stanley news, major shareholder Stanley Morgan sold 135 shares of Morgan Stanley stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50,000.00, for a total value of $6,750,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Morgan Stanley

(Free Report)

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.

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Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO  Get Free Report) Director Michael D. Fascitelli sold 262,945 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.54, for a total transaction of $7,767,395.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,306,546 shares in the company, valued at $38,595,368.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

Vornado Realty Trust Stock Performance

NYSE:VNO opened at $29.39 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a PE ratio of -14.55 and a beta of 1.54. Vornado Realty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $12.31 and a fifty-two week high of $32.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 4.52 and a current ratio of 4.52. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $24.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $22.19.

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Vornado Realty Trust Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 14th. Vornado Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -59.41%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VNO has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $12.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Vornado Realty Trust from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Vornado Realty Trust from $16.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. StockNews.com lowered Vornado Realty Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised Vornado Realty Trust from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and upped their target price for the stock from $25.00 to $31.00 in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $23.55.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on VNO

Institutional Trading of Vornado Realty Trust

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 2.6% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 301,648 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,841,000 after purchasing an additional 7,555 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 0.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 24,458,815 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $554,726,000 after acquiring an additional 116,504 shares in the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 94.1% during the third quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 54,843 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,244,000 after acquiring an additional 26,586 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 41.9% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 158,048 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,585,000 after acquiring an additional 46,630 shares in the last quarter. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust during the third quarter valued at approximately $276,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.86% of the companys stock.

Vornado Realty Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Vornado is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of premier New York City office and retail assets and the developer of the new PENN DISTRICT. While concentrated in New York, Vornado also owns the premier assets in both Chicago and San Francisco. Vornado is a real estate industry leader in sustainability, with over 27 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and over 23 million square feet at LEED Gold or Platinum.

Further Reading

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Mingteng International Corp. (MTEN) is planning to raise $11 million in an initial public offering (IPO) on Tuesday, January 2nd, IPO Scoop reports. The company plans to issue 2,200,000 shares at a price of $4.00-$6.00 per share.

In the last 12 months, Mingteng International Corp. generated $7.8 million in revenue and $1.7 million in net income. The company has a market cap of $35 million.

Univest Securities acted as the underwriter for the IPO.

Mingteng International Corp. provided the following description of their company for its IPO: We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with operations conducted in China by our PRC subsidiary, Wuxi Mingteng Mould, incorporated in the PRC. We are an automotive mold developer and supplier in China. (Incorporated in the Cayman Islands)A Wuxi Mingteng Mould was established in December 2015, focusing on molds used in auto parts. We are committed to providing customers with comprehensive and personalized mold services, covering mold design and development, mold production, assembly, testing, repair and after-sales service.A We provide a wide variety of products. Our main products are casting molds for turbocharger systems, braking systems, steering and differential system, and other automotive system parts. We also produce molds for new energy electric vehicle motor drive systems, battery pack systems, and engineering hydraulic components, which are widely used in automobile, construction machinery and other manufacturing industries. Our production plant is located in Wuxi, China. We use technologically advanced procedures and equipment to produce molds. We use a mold manufacturing processing center, which allocates different machines to manufacture according to the size of the mold and the shape of the accessories. Our mold development and production process are supported by our research and development (asR&Dat) team (including experts such as foundry technologists and mold designers), using advanced Computer Aided Design (asCADat), Computer Aided Manufacturing (asCAMat) and software technologies to analyze feasibility and validity of mold designs and specifications. Our quality and capability have obtained the 2019 Jiangsu High-tech Enterprise Certification and ISO9001:2015 certification.A In order to improve our technical level and service quality, we are committed to developing and producing molds through technological innovation. We believe that the design and quality of our molds are extremely important to the accuracy and efficiency of our customersa manufacturing processes. Our existing technical team consists of 11 people, all with professional knowledge in casting, machining, and automation. They analyze customersa casting and processing technology, and propose solutions and improvement suggestions to customers to enhance the efficiency and safety of their products. In addition, we believe our research and patents in the field of automotive casting molds have earned us recognitionA from our customers, and we have registered 19 authorized utility model and invention patents in China. We are a supplier to leading major customers in the automobile parts manufacturing industry and have established long-term business relationships with them, most of whom have more than 5 years of business relationshipA with us. Our customers include three Chinese listed companies: Kehua Holding Co., Ltd. (ticker: 603161), Wuxi Lihu Booster Technology Co., Ltd. (ticker: 300580), and Wuxi Best Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. (ticker: 300694). Our close relationships with these major customers demonstrate our strengths in technical capabilities, service reputation and product quality.A Our revenue mainly comes from customized mold production, mold repair and machining services. The revenue derived from customized mold production accounted for 84.3% and 80.4% of our total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The revenue derived from mold repair accounted for 13.4% and 15.6% of our total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The revenue derived from machining services accounted for 2.3% and 4.0% of our total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.A The revenue derived from customized mold production accounted for 82.0% and 83.9% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The revenue derived from mold repair accounted for 14.2% and 14.7% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The revenue derived from machining services accounted for 3.8% and 1.4% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. *Note: Net income and revenue are for the 12 months that ended June 30, 2023.A (Mingteng International Corp. filed an F-1/A dated Nov. 22, 2023, in which it increased its IPOs size by 11.25 percent to 2.23 million shares (2,225,000 shares)  up from 2.0 million shares originally  with the disclosure that the selling stockholder, Betty Chen Limited, would sell 225,000 shares. The price range remained the same  atA $4.00 to $6.00  to raise $11.13 million  up from $10.0 million initially. Background: Mingteng International Corp. filed an F-1/A dated Nov. 1, 2023, in which it disclosed the rest of the terms for its IPO. Mingteng International filed its F-1 on March 29, 2023, and disclosed partial terms for its IPO  the price range of $4.00 to $6.00  without stating the number of shares. The company submitted confidential IPO documents to the SEC on Nov.10, 2022.) A A A .

Mingteng International Corp. was founded in 2015 and has 101 employees. The company is located at Lvhua Village, Luoshe Town, Huishan District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China 214189 and can be reached via phone at +86 0510-83318500.

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Amid growing concern surrounding the potential job displacement caused by robots, a new concern has emerged: the alarming possibility of robots engaging in acts of violence against humans.

In an incident report submitted to regulators, it has been revealed that a Tesla engineer working at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, sustained severe injuries. The incident occurred when an autonomous machine unexpectedly pierced the engineer's back and arm with its metal claws, resulting in a noticeable "trail of blood" on the facility floor.

Robot Attack at Tesla's Giga Texas Raises Safety Concerns

The engineer managed to break free only after a colleague pressed the emergency stop button. However, upon release, the engineer tumbled down a scrap-metal chute, further injuring himself.

Tesla, a company led by CEO Elon Musk with a vision of a fully automated factory, has faced criticism for its handling of workplace safety and accident reporting. The Giga Texas plant, crucial to Tesla's goal of building a sub-$25,000 electric car, has shown a higher rate of injuries compared to industry averages, raising concerns about the impact of automation on worker safety.

The incident sheds light on the potential dangers of incorporating robots into the workplace. The Information's report reveals that an engineer, unknowingly working with an active robot, was pinned against a surface, causing open wounds. Tesla, known for its ambitious automation goals, did not provide a comment on the incident.

Workplace safety data indicates that Tesla's Austin factory has a higher injury rate than similar auto plants, with nearly one in 21 workers experiencing on-the-job injuries last year. This raises questions about the effectiveness of safety measures and protocols in the face of increased automation, according to Independent.

Read Also: Groundbreaking 3D-Printed Chip Could Eliminate Need for Animal Testing

Workplace Injuries, Fatalities in the Age of Automation

The incident also brings attention to the broader issue of workplace injuries related to robotics. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 41 US workers were killed in robot-related incidents over a 15-year period, primarily during maintenance activities. As more companies embrace automation to cut costs and boost efficiency, concerns about worker safety are growing.

In the current argument related to the integration of robots into the workplace, proponents claim that their presence can potentially reduce the risk of injury, particularly when it comes to handling hazardous or monotonous tasks. However, recent events, such as the incident at Tesla, serve as a stark reminder of the importance of meticulous planning and thoughtful design to guarantee the safety of human workers.

In response to the incident, questions arise about regulatory oversight, as Tesla's Austin factory received fewer safety inspections compared to its Fremont, California facility. The incident serves as a stark reminder that as companies strive for increased automation, a balance must be struck to prioritize worker safety and adhere to established safety standards.

As the debate over the role of robots in the workplace intensifies, the incident at Tesla's Giga Texas raises critical questions about the potential risks associated with a future dominated by automated manufacturing and the responsibility companies bear in ensuring the safety and well-being of their workforce, Fortune reported.

Related Article: Tesla Robot Attacks Factory Worker With Metal Claws at Texas Facility

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Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given 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 $140.00.

Several research analysts have weighed in on NBR shares. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Nabors Industries from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Nabors Industries from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Susquehanna raised their price target on shares of Nabors Industries from $112.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Nabors Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Nabors Industries

Nabors Industries Price Performance

Shares of NBR stock opened at $82.50 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $781.28 million, a P/E ratio of -7.99 and a beta of 2.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.56, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.54. Nabors Industries has a 1-year low of $75.64 and a 1-year high of $190.90. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $91.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $105.58.

Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 25th. The oil and gas company reported ($5.40) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.20) by ($5.20). The company had revenue of $744.14 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $757.64 million. Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 18.63% and a negative net margin of 2.35%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Nabors Industries will post -10.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Nabors Industries

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NBR. Contrarius Investment Management Ltd lifted its position in Nabors Industries by 392.7% in the 2nd quarter. Contrarius Investment Management Ltd now owns 283,476 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,372,000 after purchasing an additional 225,940 shares during the last quarter. Gendell Jeffrey L lifted its position in Nabors Industries by 75.1% in the 3rd quarter. Gendell Jeffrey L now owns 384,182 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $47,308,000 after purchasing an additional 164,816 shares during the last quarter. Valiant Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Nabors Industries in the 1st quarter valued at about $19,420,000. Webs Creek Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Nabors Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at about $13,872,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Nabors Industries by 158.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 234,826 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $35,863,000 after purchasing an additional 143,840 shares during the last quarter. 80.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Nabors Industries Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells in the United States and internationally. The company operates through U.S. Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running, wellbore placement, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), equipment manufacturing, and rig instrumentation services; and logging-while-drilling systems and services, as well as drilling optimization software.

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Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 21.1% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,859 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after purchasing an additional 499 shares during the quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $739,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. increased its holdings 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 valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc purchased a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the second quarter valued at $37,000. 86.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 2,156 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 4,120 shares in the company, valued at $982,496.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BDX has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. TheStreet lowered Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $304.00 to $269.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued 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 $279.57.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of BDX stock opened at $243.03 on Friday. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $228.62 and a fifty-two week high of $287.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.31. The stocks fifty day moving average is $242.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $258.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.00, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.49.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.42 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $3.42. The business had revenue of $5.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.02 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 13.91%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.75 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.95 per share. This is a boost from Becton, Dickinson and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys payout ratio is currently 76.61%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile

(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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Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC reduced its position in RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX  Free Report) by 4.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,915 shares of the companys stock after selling 729 shares during the period. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in RTX were worth $1,145,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of RTX in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. VitalStone Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of RTX by 136.5% in the 2nd quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 369 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of RTX in the 4th quarter worth $47,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of RTX in the 1st quarter worth $51,000. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of RTX by 122.4% in the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 734 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 404 shares in the last quarter. 79.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

RTX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $79.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Friday, October 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of RTX from $100.00 to $87.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. Bank of America cut shares of RTX from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and cut their price target for the stock from $95.00 to $75.00 in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of RTX from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, DZ Bank downgraded RTX from a hold rating to a sell rating and cut their target price for the stock from $79.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, RTX presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $90.21.

RTX Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:RTX opened at $84.17 on Friday. RTX Co. has a 12 month low of $68.56 and a 12 month high of $108.84. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock has a market cap of $121.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a 50 day moving average of $81.03 and a 200 day moving average of $84.10.

RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.06. RTX had a net margin of 4.76% and a return on equity of 10.05%. The firm had revenue of $19 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.21 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that RTX Co. will post 5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

RTX Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 17th were given a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.80%. RTXs payout ratio is presently 109.77%.

About RTX

(Free Report)

RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through four segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation; and for defense and commercial space operations.

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PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE:PHX  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Buy from the four ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $5.55.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Johnson Rice started coverage on PHX Minerals in a report on Friday, September 15th. They set a buy rating and a $5.50 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on PHX Minerals from $5.40 to $5.70 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 27th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on PHX Minerals in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company.

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Insider Activity

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other PHX Minerals news, major shareholder Edenbrook Capital, Llc sold 1,575,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.11, for a total transaction of $4,898,250.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,679,546 shares in the company, valued at $11,443,388.06. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Corporate insiders own 4.70% of the companys stock.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in PHX Minerals by 2.8% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,261,395 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $3,935,000 after buying an additional 34,810 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in PHX Minerals by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,219,070 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,950,000 after acquiring an additional 11,400 shares during the last quarter. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. grew its position in PHX Minerals by 16.7% during the 3rd quarter. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,161,045 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $4,226,000 after acquiring an additional 165,876 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in PHX Minerals by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 475,933 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $1,447,000 after purchasing an additional 10,080 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its position in PHX Minerals by 1.5% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 416,606 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,275,000 after purchasing an additional 6,046 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 35.17% of the companys stock.

PHX Minerals Trading Up 1.2 %

PHX stock opened at $3.33 on Friday. PHX Minerals has a one year low of $2.33 and a one year high of $4.09. The stock has a market cap of $123.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.12 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $3.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 3.17 and a quick ratio of 3.17.

PHX Minerals (NYSE:PHX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by $0.03. PHX Minerals had a net margin of 28.95% and a return on equity of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $8.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.20 million. Equities analysts anticipate that PHX Minerals will post 0.2 EPS for the current year.

PHX Minerals Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 23rd were issued a $0.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 21st. This is a boost from PHX Mineralss previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.60%. PHX Mineralss payout ratio is currently 29.27%.

PHX Minerals Company Profile

(Get Free Report

PHX Minerals Inc operates as a natural gas and oil mineral company in the United States. The company produces and sells natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. Its principal properties are located in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Arkansas. It sells its products to various purchasers, including pipeline and marketing companies.

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Shares of Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:PB  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the twelve research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation, seven have assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $67.42.

A number of brokerages have issued reports on PB. Citigroup initiated coverage on Prosperity Bancshares in a report on Friday, December 1st. They set a buy rating and a $68.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $65.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. StockNews.com upgraded Prosperity Bancshares to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $61.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Prosperity Bancshares

Prosperity Bancshares Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PB opened at $68.53 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.96. The business has a 50-day moving average of $60.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $58.21. Prosperity Bancshares has a 1 year low of $49.60 and a 1 year high of $78.76.

Prosperity Bancshares (NYSE:PB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The bank reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $419.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $278.16 million. Prosperity Bancshares had a return on equity of 7.09% and a net margin of 30.16%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.49 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Prosperity Bancshares will post 4.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Prosperity Bancshares Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a $0.56 dividend. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This is a boost from Prosperity Bancsharess previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Prosperity Bancsharess payout ratio is 44.62%.

Insider Activity at Prosperity Bancshares

In related news, Director L. Jack Lord sold 2,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.94, for a total value of $132,174.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 31,025 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,952,713.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 4.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Prosperity Bancshares

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PB. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its holdings in Prosperity Bancshares by 29.6% in the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 749 shares of the banks stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Amica Retiree Medical Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 83.6% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 692 shares of the banks stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming boosted its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 25.1% during the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 891 shares of the banks stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 73.2% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 710 shares of the banks stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.70% of the companys stock.

Prosperity Bancshares Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery.

Further Reading

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Rheinmetall (OTCMKTS:RNMBY  Get Free Report) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Rheinmetall 0 1 2 0 2.67 Lockheed Martin 1 10 4 0 2.20

Lockheed Martin has a consensus price target of $484.07, suggesting a potential upside of 7.28%. Given Lockheed Martins higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Lockheed Martin is more favorable than Rheinmetall.

Dividends

Profitability

Rheinmetall pays an annual dividend of $0.63 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Lockheed Martin pays an annual dividend of $12.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Rheinmetall pays out 293.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Lockheed Martin pays out 46.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Lockheed Martin has increased its dividend for 21 consecutive years. Lockheed Martin is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

This table compares Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martins net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Rheinmetall N/A N/A N/A Lockheed Martin 10.29% 75.46% 12.77%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

0.3% of Rheinmetall shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 74.3% of Lockheed Martin shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Lockheed Martin shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martins gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Rheinmetall N/A N/A N/A $0.21 297.21 Lockheed Martin $67.69 billion 1.65 $5.73 billion $27.37 16.49

Lockheed Martin has higher revenue and earnings than Rheinmetall. Lockheed Martin is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Rheinmetall, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Lockheed Martin beats Rheinmetall on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Rheinmetall

(Get Free Report)

Rheinmetall AG provides technologies to the mobility and security sectors worldwide. The company operates in five segments: Vehicle Systems, Weapon and Ammunition, Electronic Solutions, Sensors and Actuators, and Materials and Trade. The Vehicle Systems segment offers combat, support, logistics, and special vehicles, including armored tracked vehicles, CBRN protection systems, turret systems, and wheeled logistics and tactical vehicles. The Weapon and Ammunition segment provides threat-appropriate, effective and accurate firepower, and protection solutions, such as large and medium-caliber weapons and ammunition, protection systems, propellants and international projects and services. The Electronic Solutions segment offers a chain of systems network, such as sensors, networking platforms, automated connected effectors for soldiers, and cyberspace protection solutions, and training and simulation solutions. Its products include air defense systems; soldier systems; command, control, and reconnaissance systems; fire control systems; sensors; and simulations for the army, air force, navy, and civil applications. The Sensors and Actuators segment provides a portfolio of products comprising exhaust gas recirculation systems; throttle valves, control dampers, and exhaust flaps for electromotors; solenoid valves; actuators and valve train systems; oil, water, and vacuum pumps for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and light and heavy-duty off-road applications; and industrial solutions. The Materials and Trade segment focuses on the development of system components for the basic motors, such as engine blocks, structural components, and cylinder heads; plain bearings, and bushes; and replacement parts. It also engages in the aftermarket activities. The company was formerly known as Rheinmetall Berlin AG and changed its name to Rheinmetall AG in 1996. Rheinmetall AG was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany.

About Lockheed Martin

(Get 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. The Aeronautics segment offers combat and air mobility aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, and related technologies. The Missiles and Fire Control segment provides air and missile defense systems; tactical missiles and air-to-ground precision strike weapon systems; logistics; fire control systems; mission operations support, readiness, engineering support, and integration services; manned and unmanned ground vehicles; and energy management solutions. The Rotary and Mission Systems segment offers military and commercial helicopters, surface ships, sea and land-based missile defense systems, radar systems, sea and air-based mission and combat systems, command and control mission solutions, cyber solutions, and simulation and training solutions. The Space segment offers satellites; space transportation systems; strategic, advanced strike, and defensive systems; and classified systems and services in support of national security systems. This segment also provides network-enabled situational awareness and integrates space and ground global systems to help its customers gather, analyze, and securely distribute critical intelligence data. It serves primarily serves the U.S. government, as well as foreign military sales contracted through the U.S. government. Lockheed Martin Corporation was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.

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UMB Bank n.a. lessened its position in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 82.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 37,695 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 175,103 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $2,069,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Signet Financial Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC now owns 49,378 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,111,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Welch & Forbes LLC lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Welch & Forbes LLC now owns 5,797 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $329,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 28,547 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,618,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 6,475 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $367,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV now owns 32,642 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,718,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.61% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Charles Schwab

In related news, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 6,918 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.98, for a total transaction of $345,761.64. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 112,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,617,652.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 6,918 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.98, for a total transaction of $345,761.64. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 112,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,617,652.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,114 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.19, for a total value of $174,975.66. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 41,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,338,122.09. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 33,402 shares of company stock worth $1,945,960 in the last ninety days. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Charles Schwab Price Performance

Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $69.56 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $123.24 billion, a PE ratio of 23.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 0.99. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $59.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $58.61. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $4.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.62 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.58% and a net margin of 30.14%. The companys revenue was down 16.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.10 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 24th. Investors of record on Friday, November 10th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is presently 33.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on SCHW. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $92.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. Barclays increased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. StockNews.com began coverage on Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Charles Schwab from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Charles Schwab currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.44.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on SCHW

Charles Schwab Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report).

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Another eventful year has come to an end in Franklin County with several newsworthy moments. With 2024 just a few short days away, here is a look back at some of the top stories of 2023 involving local government, education, tourism and crime and courts.

Union Hall incumbents unseated

Political newcomer Dan Quinn unseated incumbent Tommy Cundiff for the Union Hall District seat on the Franklin County Board of Supervisors in November.

Quinn, a Smith Mountain Lake resident, won the race by a slim 51% over Cundiff. He said his goal as the new supervisors would be to bring more business to the district where many residents have to travel long distances for groceries and other services.

Teacher Scott Agee defeated longtime incumbent P.D. Hambrick who had held the Union Hall District seat on the Franklin County School Board for 31 years.

Agee won with 65% of the vote. He said during his campaign that the key focus for him is better communication with parents, more transparency with parents and more consistency with student education.

Term limits in Rocky Mount

In March, the Rocky Mount Town Council voted to approve term limits for both the mayor and members of the council.

It was something Mayor C. Holland Perdue campaigned on in 2022. One of his first acts as mayor was the creation of a charter review committee to consider term limits. He was the chairman of the committee overseeing two meetings held in January and February.

If approved by the Virginia General Assembly during the next legislative session in 2024, the mayor and council members will be limited to three consecutive terms of four years each starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The change will not impact previous terms only those going forward. Council members currently serving would still be allowed to be reelected to three terms after term limits are put in place.

Ferrum College names new president

Mirta Martin was named as Ferrum Colleges 13 president this year. What started as an interim position following the resignation of previous president David Johns became official in October. That month the private colleges board of trustees announced her appointment to the position.

As soon as she started early this year, Martin jumped headlong into addressing one of Ferrums biggest challenges  a long term decline in enrollment. Martin has visited high schools and churches across the region to make the case for Ferrum as an option for students seeking smaller class sizes and individualized attention.

In April, Ferrum launched a program called Panther Promise, which will provide free in-state tuition to qualifying students for the 2023-24 academic year. In November, she announced a $10,000 reduction in undergraduate tuition for students as she continues to entice students to the college.

New leadership for county schools

Superintendent Bernice Cobbs announced she would be stepping down from the role late last year after just under three years in the position. A Franklin County native, Cobbs had worked in school system for 25 years before deciding to retire.

With Cobbs contract ending June 30, the Franklin County School Board moved quickly to find a replacement. In May, former Pulaski County Public Schools superintendent Kevin Siers was chosen to take over the role. His contract began July 1.

Siers said the decision to move was not only because of the natural beauty of Franklin County, but also a new challenge. The county has nearly 2,500 more students enrolled than does Pulaski County, as well as six additional schools.

Deadly year at Smith Mountain Lake

It was a tragic year on Smith Mountain Lake in 2023. The year saw three boating fatalities and two drownings, which made it one of the most deadly years in some time.

The year began with the death of two Danville men involved in a boating incident in the Penhook area of Smith Mountain Lake on Jan. 2. It unfortunately was not the only boating fatality this year on the lake. Another boating incident occurred on Sept. 16 when a Penhook man struck a tree while operating a boat near channel marker R11.

The first of two drownings occurred May 15 when a man was recovered near the dock of a home in Moneta. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office said he was believed to have been working on the dock at the time he fell into the water. The second drowning occurred Sept. 10 when a Roanoke man is suspected of falling into the water and drowning at Crazy Horse Marina in Moneta.

Harmful algal blooms dent tourism

The discovery of harmful algal blooms on the Blackwater River arm of Smith Mountain Lake led the state to issue a swim advisory for the area June 6. The advisory remained in areas of the lake until late August and is believed to have had a serious impact on tourism this year.

In water sampling conducted by the Virginia Department of Health, algal blooms were found to contain detectable levels of microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria which is commonly known as blue-green algae. There has been no definitive reason so far for the appearance of the blooms. They often are fueled by phosphorus that comes from organic material as well as fertilizer.

More than 40 potentially harmful algal blooms were sighted and reported during the summer. Slow testing by VDH led to lengthy delays and is believed to extended the advisory. The Smith Mountain Lake Association recently announced they would be working to speed up the process next year if the harmful algal blooms return.

Defamation lawsuit dismissed

A Boones Mill familys libel lawsuit, which claimed ABC News defamed them by including a four-second video of their home in a story about politics and race, was dismissed May 19 by a federal judge.

Crystal Minnix and her father Eugene Muse Jr. had alleged that an online story by ABC News about local reactions to the riots at the U.S. Capitol  and the arrests of two off-duty officers of the Rocky Mount Police Department who participated in the insurrection  branded them as racists who support violence.

The allegations by Minnix and Muse, who did not appear and were not named in the story, find no footing in defamation law, Judge Michael Urbanski wrote in throwing out the lawsuit.

Rather than recovering any of the $67 million in damages they sought, the family members will be required to pay the attorney fees for two other defendants they named in the lawsuit: Bridgette Craighead and the local chapter of Black Lives Matter that she founded.

Ex-chief deputy convicted

Justin Sigmon, a former major with the Franklin County Sheriffs Office, was convicted Nov. 17 of having abusive sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12. The decision came after a weeklong trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Sigmon was arrested in Florida on May 29 following a cruise with his family from the Port of Miami to the Bahamas and back. While on the cruise, a witness saw him touching a 9-year-old female inappropriately while she was sitting on his lap in the ships dining room, according to court documents.

The witness made a video of the incident which was obtained by police. Ship surveillance also recorded Sigmon.

Sigmon resigned from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office on June 2, just days after the arrest. At the time, he was the second-highest ranking officer.

Ex-boyfriend convicted in killing of Heather Hodges

Former boyfriend Paul Reivens Jordan II was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison for the killing of Hodges with another 10 years suspended, as well as five years for the concealment of her body, which still has not been found. The sentencing came in August, two months after his jury conviction.

The verdict came after jurors heard evidence for three days in the countys circuit court  including repeated testimony describing Jordans physical abuse of Hodges during a relationship that began when Hodges was 12 and lasted about 10 years, until she disappeared in April 2012.

During initial investigations, blood was found throughout the Rocky Mount house the couple shared and DNA tests matched it to Hodges. Jordans thumbprint was found in Hodges blood on the underside of a doorknob to their bedroom.

Jordan continued to deny having anything to do with Hodges disappearance or murder during the sentencing. He admitted to having a drug addiction in the past as well as associating with people he shouldnt have, but claimed he still loved Hodges and was not involved in her death.

Ferrum man guilty of killing wifes 2 dogs

Terry Eugene Michel of Ferrum was sentenced to serve 15 months in jail Nov. 2 for killing his wifes two black Labrador retrievers named Caleb and Colby. The sentencing came less than a month after a two-day trial, during which a jury found Michel guilty of two counts of felony animal cruelty.

He had initially reported to police the dogs were stolen near Waid Park in Rocky Mount on Feb. 7. That led to a weeklong search with several in the community helping to locate them.

The search came to an end on Feb. 14 when the two dogs were located dumped on the side of Carolina Springs Road. Police investigation later revealed Michel had taken the dogs to an open field and shot them, then later dumped them on the side of the road. He claimed the two dogs were a detriment to his marriage.
Nation-state actors affiliated to North Korea have been observed using spear-phishing attacks to deliver an assortment of backdoors and tools such as AppleSeed, Meterpreter, and TinyNuke to seize control of compromised machines.

South Korea-based cybersecurity company AhnLab attributed the activity to an advanced persistent threat group known as Kimsuky.

"A notable point about attacks that use AppleSeed is that similar methods of attack have been used for many years with no significant changes to the malware that are used together," the AhnLab Security Emergency Response Center (ASEC) said in an analysis published Thursday.

Kimsuky, active for over a decade, is known for its targeting of a wide range of entities in South Korea, before expanding its focus to include other geographies in 2017. It was sanctioned by the U.S. government late last month for amassing intelligence to support North Korea's strategic objectives.

The threat actor's espionage campaigns are realized through spear-phishing attacks containing malicious lure documents that, upon opening, culminate in the deployment of various malware families.

One such prominent Windows-based backdoor used by Kimsuky is AppleSeed (aka JamBog), a DLL malware which has been put to use as early as May 2019 and has been updated with an Android version as well as a new variant written in Golang called AlphaSeed.

AppleSeed is designed to receive instructions from an actor-controlled server, drop additional payloads, and exfiltrate sensitive data such as files, keystrokes, and screenshots. AlphaSeed, like AppleSeed, incorporates similar features but has some crucial differences as well.

"AlphaSeed was developed in Golang and uses chromedp for communications with the [command-and-control] server," ASEC said, in contrast to AppleSeed, which relies on HTTP or SMTP protocols. Chromedp is a popular Golang library for interacting with the Google Chrome browser in headless mode through the DevTools Protocol.

There is evidence to suggest the Kimsuky has used AlphaSeed in attacks since October 2022, with some intrusions delivering both AppleSeed and AlphaSeed on the same target system by means of a JavaScript dropper.

Also deployed by the adversary are Meterpreter and VNC malware such as TightVNC and TinyNuke (aka Nuclear Bot), which can be leveraged to take control of the affected system.

The development comes as Nisos said it discovered a number of online personas on LinkedIn and GitHub likely used by North Korea's information technology (IT) workers to fraudulently obtain remote employment from companies in the U.S. and act as a revenue-generating stream for the regime and help fund its economic and security priorities.

"The personas often claimed to be proficient in developing several different types of applications and have experience working with crypto and blockchain transactions," the threat intelligence firm said in a report released earlier this month.

"Further, all of the personas sought remote-only positions in the technology sector and were singularly focused on obtaining new employment. Many of the accounts are only active for a short period of time before they are disabled."

North Korean actors, in recent years, have launched a series of multi-pronged assaults, blending novel tactics and supply chain weaknesses to target blockchain and cryptocurrency firms to facilitate the theft of intellectual property and virtual assets.

The prolific and aggressive nature of the attacks points to the different ways the country has resorted in order to evade international sanctions and illegally profit from the schemes.

"People tend to think,  how could the quote-unquote 'Hermit Kingdom' possibly be a serious player from a cyber perspective?," CrowdStrike's Adam Meyers was quoted as saying to Politico. "But the reality couldn't be further from the truth."
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The South Korean Supreme Court ruled that a 3rd Japanese company must compensate its workers for forced labor.

South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a wartime labor ruling and ordered a 3rd Japanese company to compensate its workers for forced labor.

The Thursday decision is the second ruling in the past week and quickly drew rebukes from Japan. However, observers have argued that it is unlikely that the South Korean Supreme Court's ruling will cause any major negative impacts on bilateral relations.

South Korean Court Upholds Wartime Labor Ruling

This is because both countries' governments are serious about improving their cooperation in the face of shared challenges, such as North Korea's nuclear program and China's assertiveness.

The South Korean Supreme Court ruled that Japanese shipbuilder Hitachi Zosen Corp. and heavy equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries must give between $39,000 and $116,000 in compensation. This would be given to each of the 17 Korean plaintiffs, one of whom is a surviving ex-worker, and the rest are bereaved relatives.

Mitsubishi and another company, Nippon Steel, were previously given a similar compensation order by the South Korean Supreme Court. However, as per ABC News, the latest ruling is the first for Hitachi.

Among the plaintiffs in the case are the surviving victim who suffered a serious burn and the bereaved family of a worker who lost his life during an earthquake in Japan in 1944. The death occurred at a time when they worked for Mitsubishi's aircraft-making factory in Nagoya.

Other plaintiffs include the relatives of late Mitsubishi workers who were injured during the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and another wartime event. The ruling that benefits the Korean plaintiffs was widely expected.

This was because of two separate rulings in 2018 where the South Korean Supreme Court ordered Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel to compensate some of their former Korean employees. The court said that they were forced to provide their labor to the companies when the Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan from 1910 to 19145.

The country's top court again ordered Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel on Dec. 21 to provide compensation to other Koreans for similar colonial-era forced labor. In response to the ruling, Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned a senior South Korean diplomat to Japan to lodge a formal protest, according to the Associated Press.

Read Also: Zambia Foreign Minster Resigns Amid Bribery Claims

Compensating Victims of Forced Labor

During the meeting between officials, the director-general for the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Hiroyuki Namazu called the latest South Korean ruling "extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable."

He maintained his country's long-held position that all compensation issues between the two countries were settled when they normalized ties in 1965. The 2018 and this month's South Korean Supreme Court rulings argued that the treaty cannot prevent individuals from seeking compensation for forced labor.

In March, Seoul said that the plaintiffs who have won lawsuits over forced labor during colonial rule would receive compensation from a South Korean government-backed foundation rather than the sued firms.

The South Korean government also said that the plaintiffs in ongoing cases would also qualify for compensation if they win damages. Many surviving victims and the bereaved families who won against Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi agreed to accept money from the foundation. However, there are others who refused to do so, said Nikkei Asia.

Related Article: India, Russia Talk About Potentially Working Together To Produce Military Weapons

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CARBONDALE  Carbondale Chief of Police Stan Reno provided advice Thursday on how residents could stay safe while celebrating New Years Eve weekend, as numerous events are planned in the southern Illinois region.

Reno said one concern the department faces every New Years Eve is celebratory gunfire, especially amid the citys ongoing gun violence issues.

Its important to remember that any time someone fires a firearm, those bullets have to go somewhere, he said. So even if theyre fired into the air, it doesnt remove the possibility of danger that it poses on others.

Reno encouraged citizens to report celebratory gunfire to the police department, though the police department will not be able to respond to all of those instances.

Thats not something that we allow, he said. But we also have limited resources to respond to all that because its unfortunately become a fairly common practice.

Reno said most instances of celebratory gunfire occur at private residences, but he instructs officers to be vigilant of public occurrences as well, and take enforcement actions when possible.

He said the department specifically instructs officers to take extra precautions with intoxicated armed subjects  perhaps engaging in celebratory gunfire  to avoid armed encounters.

We dont want an armed encounter where somebodys out doing celebratory gunfire, and then it ends up in a shootout with the police offers, Reno said.

Using our de-escalation skills, talking to people and letting them know that number one, hey, its the police thats about to approach us,  he said. We want to give them clear directions and do what we need them to do to make sure that theyre safe and that our officers are safe.

He said the department covers these procedures with the officers ahead of time to make sure that theyre not putting themselves  and the community  in a dangerous situation.

Reno also said intoxicated driving is a major concern every New Years. What we see related to bars is people drinking excessively and then making poor decisions to drive.

We want to remind everybody to drive sober, make arrangements ahead of time to have sober drivers, use rideshares if possible, he said. Just make good decisions so that theyre not putting themselves and others in danger.

Reno said the department will be fully staffed on New Years Eve and ready to respond to any emergencies within the city.

Numerous events are happening in the southern Illinois region over the weekend.

Alto Vineyards is hosting a Paint & Sip event on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. Participants can sign up at ProjectHumanX.com.

Tequilas of Carterville is hosting a live music night Saturday at 6 p.m., and Blacktop Junction performs at 8 p.m. at Log Cabin Tavern in Marion.

The Alter Egos New Years Eve Eve drag show will start at 10 p.m. Saturday at Key West Bar & Grill in Carbondale.

The Herrin Civic Center is hosting a Western-themed New Years Eve Western Night at 7 p.m. on Sunday, and The Franklin County Rockin New Years Eve Star Drop will start at 8 p.m. Sunday in the Benton Public Square.
CAIRO  January first means more than just a new year. In Illinois, it also means new laws, including Senate Bill 850  which aims to provide food insecurity relief to residents living in food deserts.

The bills definition of food desert is complicated  some exist in rural communities, others in urban  but for rural Illinois it is any community of 500 or more people who live more than 10 miles away from the nearest grocery store.

The Illinois Department of Commerce is responsible for administering the bill and it begins in 2024 with a survey of the states communities. They will use criteria outlined in the bill to determine which communities qualify as a food desert.

Once the report is completed, the Department will begin the process of determining how to support local food sellers through grants and other programs.

The law allows the grants to be issued for a variety of challenges, from updating equipment to be more energy efficient to helping train and pay for staff and managers.

Robert Edwards, the manager of Rise Community Market in Cairo, said a bill like this may have been able to help them when their walk-in cooler went down.

Its going to help in a lot of different areas of the state; the purpose is to help eliminate food deserts, Edwards said. Also [it will] help prevent new food deserts from [forming] by helping to those communities keep or maintain their local stores.

Sometimes people think those who live in food deserts cant access food, but in reality it means they may have to travel to get it. This is why Edwards said having local access is so important.

Its enormously important when youve got areas that turn into food deserts, Edwards said. Youve got a lot of people that cant always access fresh food, maybe they have to pay for transportation to get access to fresh fruit.

Edwards said it harms the health outcomes in those communities when all they have access to is what you might get at a convenience store, which he said is not healthy.

The report that identifies food deserts is to be submitted by Dec. of 2024.
A house that burned in the past experienced its last blaze on Christmas Eve in Orangeburg.

A concerned citizen called 911 at 1:39 p.m. to report a fire at the house, located at 850 Five Chop Road.

Within three minutes, firefighters from the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety arrived at the home, according to the agencys fire report.

Smoke was visible from Chestnut Street, a firefighter noted.

Firefighters on Engine 56 reported heavy smoke and fully involved flames coming from the wooden one-story house.

Ladder truck 59 helped block northbound traffic and Engine 1 halted traffic headed south.

Trees and other outside areas caught fire, according to the report.

The fire was brought under control at 2:20 p.m.

The 1,300-square-foot house didnt have any doors or windows because of a previous fire there. There wasnt any electricity or natural gas supply to the house.

The fire report calls the house an abandoned structure.

Firefighters were unable to determine the cause of the Christmas Eve fire because the structure previously burned.

Firefighters spoke with workers at a nearby business. The workers told them that theyd seen people in the house from time to time.

The house was valued at $10,000 before the Christmas Eve fire and is a total loss now.
Its not fair when some people pay for a business license and others dont, Eutawville Mayor Brandon Weatherford says.

At his recommendation, the town council voted during its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 12, to sign an agreement with HdL Companies.

Harry Lee Brown Harry Lee Brown, left, who was re-elected to the Eutawville Town Council on Nov. 7, takes the oath of office on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Police Chief

HdL will identify and contact businesses that are required to pay a business license fee but are not doing so. HdL will also report its findings to the town.

In exchange, the town will give HdL 50 percent of the business license fees and penalties generated by HdLs efforts, for up to two years per business.

This costs us zero dollars, Weatherford said. Were losing nothing to do this, and gaining half (of the revenues) for the first two years and after that, were gaining all of it.

Adkins Roger Adkins, left, is sworn in as a Eutawville Town Council member while his wife, Ruby, holds the Bible and Municipal Judge Margo Banks admi

The mayor noted that the nearby Town of Holly Hill also signed a contract with HdL.

Councilman James Nutt abstained from the vote.

Later in the meeting, his wife, Cindy Nutt, expressed her opinion that Holly Hill is being overly aggressive in its efforts to sell business licenses. She said its stupid and unreal to require delivery truck drivers to buy a business license in every town where they work.

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Weatherford replied: I promise were not going to turn into Holly Hill.

Town Clerk Casey Hill, who has an integral role in the business license process, said that Eutawville is targeting bigger companies ... not the small mom-and-pops.

She added: A lot of what theyre doing in Holly Hill is not HdLs (activities). It's the town (employees).

Others who need to get right with the town are the people for whom the police have outstanding arrest warrants, Police Chief Sean Hopkins said.

He added that the judge will soon send them letters suggesting that they might prefer to make arrangements to turn themselves in instead of being arrested during a traffic stop or getting an untimely knock on their door.

In other business, the council held a public hearing on the towns $840,724.37 budget for 2024  no one made any comments  and then gave final approval to the spending plan.

Rounded to the nearest thousand dollars, the plan anticipates general fund revenues of $391,000 and expenses of $609,000; community center rental income of $193,000 and expenses of $9,100; police revenues of $56,000 and expenses of $80,000; water income of $130,000 and expenses of $73,000; and festival fund revenues of $70,000 and expenses of $70,000.

Our budget for this year is a good bit higher, the mayor noted. The reason is that we have the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) COVID relief funds.

On paper, the budget has to show that the money was both received and spent, but in reality, it isnt going anywhere. Were going to save it, he said.

The only way were going to spend it is if we get the opportunity for (installation of a) sewer (system), he added.

The towns of Eutawville and Holly Hill are jointly funding a study to see if it would be financially feasible to build a sewer system in Eutawville and to install a pipe from Eutawville to pump the sewage to the treatment plant in Holly Hill.

The community centers anticipated income and expenses in 2024 should be viewed with the knowledge that the town spent a significant amount of money in 2023 to renovate the facility with new lighting, new flooring, and more.

In other action, the council issued Brightspeed a 15-year, renewable, non-exclusive franchise to operate and maintain a telecommunications system in the Town of Eutawville.

Its a standard agreement that requires the utility to pay a percentage of their revenues instead of buying a business license.

Nearly all towns have franchise agreements with their utility providers, but Eutawville officials could not find one with Brightspeed in their files.

Brightspeed is a relatively new company that purchased certain assets of CenturyLink. It provides both telephone and Internet services.

Also during the meeting:

Councilman Harry Lee Brown reported that some wooden boards on the pedestrian bridge at the park were discovered to be rotting. They were replaced.

Nutt reported that the water department distributed 872,659 gallons of water in November, including 18,500 gallons used by the fire department. The fire department had 13 runs that month, including a structure fire, a debris fire, a recreational vehicle fire, two motor vehicle accidents with injuries, and one landing zone set-up.

Weatherford reported that the Orangeburg County School Board voted to give the St. James-Gaillard Elementary School property to the town in the fall of 2025.

Hill reported that the towns Christmas parade on Friday, Dec. 8, went well, with plenty of participants, spectators, and candy.

The oaths of office were administered to Brown and Roger Adkins, who won the two available council seats in the Nov. 7 election.

The mayor announced council member portfolios for 2024. Nutt will oversee the police department. Adkins will oversee the water department. Brown will continue to oversee streets, roads, and maintenance. Richard Chaz Miller wont be assigned a portfolio until he returns from active military duty.

After an executive session, closed to the public, the mayor announced that Nutt agreed to continue to serve as mayor pro tem  the person who is authorized to perform the mayoral duties in the absence of the mayor.

The mayor said that Eutawville is seeking to create a planning commission and needs to recruit five citizens to serve as members.

Sharon Mims announced that she had sold Bogators, a pool hall that she opened less than four years ago. In that relatively short amount of time, Bogators earned an excellent reputation for attracting prize-winning players and having zero tolerance for misbehavior. Mims said she anticipates that the new owners will maintain that positive atmosphere.

The Eutawville Town Councils next monthly meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in the Community Center, 419 Porcher Ave. Contact Town Clerk Casey Hill at 803-492-3374 for more information.
This has been a landmark year for the Caribbean Community (Caricom), as we marked the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the original Treaty of Chaguaramas with festivities across the region.





The occasion allowed us to reflect on our accomplishments, and recommit to the vision of Caricoms founders.

The past 50 years have taught us that with collective action we can achieve significantly more. With one voice we decried the devastating wars that have precipitated humanitarian crises and signalled our support for the adherence to the fundamental principles of international law, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity, most recently in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. We continued our strident advocacy for international support to help return our sister Member State, Haiti, to peace and stability, and for support to the War on Guns which is negatively impacting security across our region.





Caricom Member States made progress on programmes and policies agreed by Heads of Government, to positively impact the lives of the people of our region. We made commendable progress on the 25% by 2025 initiative to reduce the regions food import bill, thereby taking us a step further towards the attainment of food security in our region. Purposeful engagements with regional and international partners, and forums such as our flagship event, the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, allowed for meaningful interaction with the private sector and other stakeholders.





Our advocacy for decisive action to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change continued throughout the year, including at COP28 where we emphasised the vulnerabilities of our region, the need to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund, and the special case for acknowledgement of the extreme vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and countries with low-lying coastal communities who do not contribute significantly to the cause of climate change but bear the greatest burden.





We welcome the call to Parties for a just transition, to renewable energy and reduced methane emissions, but this does not go far enough. The transition must be wider and it requires much greater urgency of action by the major emitters in order to keep 1.5 alive. Peaking emissions before 2025 and timelines for elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, starting now, are needed to safeguard the 1.5 global warming temperature limit.





We continued to advance international partnerships and mechanisms to protect and promote the regions socio-economic interests. Deliberate efforts were made, such as through the regional Youth Forum held in Jamaica in November, to include the perspectives and participation of our young people, whose input is critical to the sustainability of our efforts.





As we enter 2024, the Secretariat will continue to diligently administer the Communitys priorities of deepening economic integration and trade, strengthening foreign policy coordination and community relations and human and social development, sustainable development, and regional security. In particular, we are focused on efforts to implement the free movement of all Caricom nationals within the Community by March 2024 as determined by Heads of Government.





I extend sincere thanks to Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, their Ministers and senior officials, for their commitment to regional integration and the implementation of programmes and policies to improve the lives of the people of the region. Special thanks also to our international partners, the private sector, labour organisations, and to the civil society groups which have responded so positively to the Secretariats efforts towards more structured engagement.





Through it all, the staff of the Caricom Secretariat have been propelling the initiatives crafted to improve the quality of lives of our people. My heartfelt appreciation to all.





Underpinning all we do is a deep desire for a "Community for all, that is safe, increasingly prosperous and where our men, women and young people will flourish for generations to come. I invite your continued participation in the process to advance this goal.





I wish for one and all a happy and safe end to this year, and peace and prosperity for 2024. (Source: Caricom)
Symcy Barth Williams was shot and killed while in the company of his girlfriend.

A man who was questioned in relation to two recent murders was himself shot and killed two days before Christmas Day.





Symcy "Barth Williams, 33, was gunned down in Edinboro by two masked gun men, while he was in the company of his girlfriend, a seventeen (17) year old Store Clerk.





His death took the homicide count for the year so far to 54.





The shooting is said to have taken place in the vicinity of the Edinboro Hard Court that marks the entrance to Ottley Hall.





The girlfriend sustained gunshot injuries to her hands and was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital for treatment, while Williams lifeless body remained on the ground for a long period as detectives carried out their on scene investigation.





Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was in the company of his girlfriend (the store clerk) who was on her way to work when they were accosted by two (2) men with guns, and wearing hoodies and face masks.





The men fired shots at both of them. The store clerk was shot in both of her hands and collapsed to the ground. Williams ran away from the scene in the direction of Fort Charlotte, according to a police report.

The assailants pursued him and shot him multiple times in the torso and head. He was later pronounced deceased on the scene by a medical practitioner.





When THE VINCENTIAN arrived in Edinboro shortly after the shooting, a number of residents from the Edinboro and Ottley Hall communities were already at the scene, and the police moved swiftly to cordon off the area.





All this time, Williamss lifeless body could be seen on the ground. He could be seen on his back with his opened eyes looking to the sky and his hands extended as if he was begging his killers for mercy.





According to an eye witness, the gunmen turned and shot William multiple time, once more, before they fled the scene.





A police source confirmed to THE VINCENTIAN that Williams was picked up and questioned in relation to two recent shooting incidents in Edinboro and Rose Place.





On December 2nd, a gunman shot Olando Guy, a 36-year-old farmer and part time worker with the Port Authority. While fleeing the scene the gunman encountered Deejay Howard, 29, and shot him. Both men were transported to the MCMH for medical attention but Guy succumbed to his injuries. Reports are that Howard recognized the gunman and revealed his identity.





On Thursday 21st December, 2023 Dwayne "Stevie Barnfield, AKA Dules, 35, and Allan "2 Black Lewis, 25, were making their way home to Edinboro when they were ambushed at Rose Place, in the area of Nine Steps. Both men were shot multiple times and were taken to hospital where Barnfield succumbed to his injuries. His death was counted as homicide 53.





Williams was questioned in relation to both killings but was not charged. Many residents in Rose Place were of the view that Williams was not involved in the Rose Place shooting.





A postmortem examination was expected to be carried out on the deceased to ascertain the exact cause of death.





As has become the norm, the Police made a public appeal for persons with any information related to the two recent murders, to come forward.





Information shared with the Police, it is assured, will be handled with the strictest confidentiality.
Monsignor Karel Choenniem, the R.C. Bishop of Paramaribo, in keeping with the teachings of his Church, suggested that the idea of reconciliation in a politically thorn Suriname was not an illusion. (Photo Source: AEC)

The Bishop of Paramaribo, Monsignor Karel Choennie, says reconciliation is still possible in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country even after the judicial system carries out the sentences imposed on former president Desi Bouterse and four others by the Court of Justice last week.





Last Wednesday, the Court of Justice dismissed Bouterses appeal against a 20-year jail term for his involvement in the murder of 15 men on December 8, 1982.





Bouterse, the then commander of the Surinamese National Army (SNA) and de facto head of government at the time of the murders, was the main suspect. The other suspects, Ernst Gefferie, Iwan Dijksteel, Stephanus Dendoe and Benny Brondenstein, were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.





The lawyer of the five men, all ex-army officers, formally informed the Public Prosecution Service that they are considering asking for clemency from the President of Suriname.





Observers here note that in 2018 and 2019, the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations (UN) and the Vatican were willing to look for a solution to the situation and the Bishop said that it is the churchs responsibility to continue working towards reconciliation and peace in these difficult circumstances.




The Ministry of Defence, UK, confirmed that the HMS Trent has been re-directed to Guyana where it will be involved in joint exercises with the GDF.

Venezuela has ordered its armed forces to hold military exercises in response to the UK's decision to send a warship to support neighbouring Guyana, South America's only English-speaking nation.





Venezuelas response comes as the UK is preparing to send a warship to Guyana in a show of diplomatic and military support for the former British colony, the BBC reported.





It comes after neighbouring Venezuela renewed its claim for a disputed part of Guyanese territory that is rich in oil and minerals.





The Ministry of Defence, UK, confirmed that HMS Trent would take part in joint exercises after Christmas.





HMS Trent - an offshore patrol vessel - had been deployed to the Caribbean to search for drug smugglers but was re-tasked after Venezuela's government threatened to annex the Essequibo region of Guyana earlier this month.





And last Sunday, the UK confirmed HMS Trent would take part in joint exercises with Guyana after Christmas.

Venezuela has long claimed ownership of Essequibo, a 61,000 square mile region which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana.





Its hills and jungles are rich in gold, diamonds and bauxite, while huge oil deposits have been found off its coast.





Venezuela prepares





Meanwhile, military leaders in Venezuela said 5,600 soldiers would take part in "defensive" exercises on Venezuela's eastern Caribbean and Atlantic coasts.





Earlier this month, Venezuelan voters backed the creation of a new state in oil-rich Essequibo.





Guyana has administered the area for decades.





In a television address on Thursday, President Nicolas Maduro said the exercises were being launched "in response to the provocation and threat of the United Kingdom against peace and the sovereignty of our country.





He added that the move was "practically a military threat from London" and broke the "spirit" of a recent agreement reached between Venezuela and Guyana not to use force to settle their dispute.





But Guyanas Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said the ship's presence was "routine" and part of building a defensive capability.





"We don't plan on invading Venezuela. President Maduro knows this and he need not have any worry about that," he told a press conference.





Venezuela has long claimed ownership of Essequibo, a 61,000 sq-mile region which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana.





It disputes the border which was established under an international agreement in 1899.





Guyana, and British Guiana before it, have administered Essequibo for more than a century. (Source: BBC News; Credit: Alys Davies and James Landale)




Australia's acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus announced on Thursday that Ibrahim Bazzi and his brother Ali Bazzi, two Australians from Canberra, including a suspected Hezbollah fighter, were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.

Hezbollah is an ally of the Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas, which is at war with Israel.

Israeli Airstrike Killed 2 Australians, Suspected Hezbollah Fighter

Recently, Ibrahim Bazzi had arrived in Lebanon from Sydney to accompany his Lebanese wife, Shorouq Hammoud, to Australia. According to ABC News, Hammoud, who had recently received an Australian visa, was also killed in the attack.

Their three coffins were covered in the flag of Hezbollah. According to Dreyfus, Australia is currently looking into Hezbollah's allegation that Ali Bazzi is one of its fighters.

"Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organization under Australian law. It's an offense for any Australian to cooperate with, to support, let alone to fight with a listed terrorist organization like Hezbollah," Dreyfus said.

Dreyfus claimed that his government had already talked with Israel about the airstrike but declined to disclose the details of their discussion. He said that in the context of the current conflict, Australia has consistently called for civilian lives to be protected. They have also consistently raised their concerns about the risk of the conflict spreading.

The AP News reported that he reiterated an Australian government warning not to visit Lebanon. Australians who have already arrived in the country must depart when commercial flights are accessible. Dreyfus noted that the Australian embassy in Beirut was ready to provide consular assistance to the Bazzi family if required.

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Hezbollah's Role in Israel-Hamas War

Hezbollah is an Islamist movement supported by Iran that possesses one of the strongest paramilitary groups in the Middle East. With its primary base on the border between Israel and Lebanon, the group has the potential to play a major role in the Israel-Hamas war and ignite a larger regional conflict.

After Israeli soldiers seized nearly half of Lebanon in 1982 during their invasion, Hezbollah rose to prominence. The attack included Beirut, where Israeli forces encircled the western portion of the capital to drive out Palestinian militants, accompanied by Christian Lebanese militants with ties to the right-wing Israel.

Hamas' deadly strikes on Israel claimed 1,400 lives. The conflict has already had a significant impact on the Middle East and sparked protests and diplomatic rifts across the globe.

According to Palestinian health authorities, the Israeli strikes on the October 7 attack have killed more than 5,000 people.

The consequences were evident along the border between Israel and Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israel have been fighting back and forth in low-rumbling tit-for-tat skirmishes since the war began, leaving the entire region on edge.

Related Article: Israeli Forces Mistake Hostages for Ambush, Killing 3





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Nuclear energy appears to be having a moment.

The U.S. and 21 other countries at the climate talks in Dubai last month made a supercharged pledge to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. The announcement was anticipated by U.S. lawmakers whove earmarked billions to spur the industry at home. Even cultural tastemakers are spreading the word, as seen in filmmaker Oliver Stones documentary Nuclear Now, which aims to destigmatize the hot-button topic and make the case that nuclear is our greatest hope for averting climate catastrophe.

Despite the groundswell of support, recent examples show the industry still likes to give folk more than they bargain for, and that the road to a safe and economically viable nuclear energy system remains highly uncertain.

For instance, the Georgia Power Company this year stood up a new nuclear generating facility at its Vogtle power plant. The project is seen as both a major win and simultaneously a glaring disappointment: though it marks the first such reactor project in the U.S. in more than 30 years, it came in years behind schedule with exorbitant cost-overruns, which are now being shouldered by begrudging ratepayers.

Whereas out west, NuScale, a pioneer in small reactor design, pulled the plug on its decade-in-the-making Carbon Free Power Project, which was slated to provide electricity from its Idaho-based generators to as many as 27 cities around the west. Instead its project costs jumped by almost double to more than $9 billionall before it could deliver a single commercial watt.

What concerns me quite a bit is the ability of the industry to deliver nuclear plants, of any type and any size, Jacopo Buongiorno, director for the Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), told the Star-Tribune.

In terms of support, I think they are in a good place, but in terms of execution...these projects have to deliver to gain confidence and credibility, not just from the public, but from the investors, regulators, stakeholders and policymakers, etc, he continued

The setbacks have chipped away at industry morale and have now put more pressure on the Cowboy State to successfully shepherd its nuclear project partnerships.

Earlier this year, Wyoming notched a win with the agreement between Tata Chemicals Soda Ash Partners (TCSAP) and BWXT Advanced Technologies (BWXT) that sets the stage for the use of small-scale nuclear reactors at trona mines in Green River. Albeit that came on the heels of a major holdup for the states most prominent partner, TerraPower, who recently announced delays for its hotly anticipated reactor project in Kemmerer.

However, each of these nuclear projects are unique, and they each shed light on a different challenge facing the industry. Unlike Vogtle or NuScale, for instance, the delay for TerraPower stems primarily from the nuclear fuel supply chain.

The company initially intended to procure nuclear fuel from Russia, one of the worlds largest exporters of uranium and only commercial provider of the high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) needed for the new generation of small modular reactor designs, including TerraPowers Natrium reactor. (HALEU is sold by the TENEX subsidiary of Russian state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom)

When Russia invaded Ukraine, it became an option that wasnt tenable for us. So weve had to push our expected service date from 2028 to 2030, said Jeff Navin, director of external affairs for TerraPower.

The layered supply chain places much beyond the companys control, Navin says, but if federal programs and earmarks work the way they are intended, nuclear fuel will soon be obtainable domestically.

Some of it is out of our hands, meaning we need our enrichment partners to take on the same urgency to get this stuff up and running as quickly as possible. And we need the federal government to get this program money out the door.

The U.S. still procures as much as 12% of its uranium from Russia, which Navin would like to see zeroed out as a way to both level the playing field and incentivize domestic supply. An uranium ban is amongst other initiatives that have recently won bipartisan support.

President Biden last week signed into law the Nuclear Fuel Security Act (NFSA), which directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to onshore nuclear fuel production. The law is a big industry win and will fast track nuclear-fuel trade with allied countries, while making money available to expand enrichment capacity and reinvigorate the domestic uranium mining industry.

Its time for America to ramp up uranium production so we can eliminate our dependence on Russia. We are stronger and safer as a nation when our nuclear fuel supply chain starts at home. Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY, one of the bills architects, said in a statement.

Uranium mining in the United States has decreased 92% since 1980, according to testimony from John Wagner, Director of the Idaho National Laboratory. And data from the EIA shows that the U.S. in 2021 produced only 5% of the uranium it purchased, most of which is derived from four Wyoming mines. But mining is only one piece of a much wider supply chain atrophy.

The supply chain for nuclear power was completely depleted by the fact that we didnt build any new reactors for more than two decades. So literally, we didnt have suppliers, said Buongiorno, who in 2019 led a research project called Future of Nuclear Energy. Now all of that is being painfully rebuilt, but it takes time, and until we fix those things Im afraid well continue to see cost overruns and schedule delays.

On top of federal efforts to bolster the industry, Wyomings local leaders are pushing nuclear issues up the priority list. The Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA) is now inviting bids for nuclear-related projects to tap its $37 million Energy Matching Funds, a program with an impressive record of bringing private capital to the state.

We produce uranium, but then we send it all over the place to be milled and converted and enriched  all that before its actually used in a reactor. Something were focusing on heavily in the next year is how to get that fuel cycle here in Wyoming from cradle to grave, said Rob Creager, executive director of the WEA. Obviously power is a big thing, but were really focused on the whole value chain of nuclear power and what that could mean to the state given our uranium reserves and our expertise in mining.

In the meantime, TerraPower and others are looking for bridge solutions. One idea is to repurpose nuclear material from decommissioned warheads, whose highly enriched fuel at over 90% enriched can be down blended into the 19.75% high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) material needed to fuel the new generation of modular reactors. TerraPower and federal leaders have begun negotiations for the use of warhead material.

Nuclear is really unique. It might be the only thing in energy that has broad bipartisan support. We have full support of the Biden administrationthe Senate Energy Natural Resources Committee the House Energy Committee, said Navin, who previously served as chief of staff for the DOE.

Theres a lot of things that they dont agree on, but this is one that they are totally aligned on. Democrats and Republicans across the board have been supportive. Honestly, everything that the nuclear industry has asked for in the past 10 years, weve essentially gotten.

Yet theres one thing the industry has not gotten. Most legislative efforts are focused on the front-end of production, but with nuclear theres a significant backend too: radioactive waste.

The current framework for managing spent nuclear fuel comes from a 40-year-old Nuclear Waste Policy Act. The law requires reactor operators to store waste on site in the short term and contract with the federal government to dispose of waste material permanently. However, the storage provision has been woefully unrealized.

The federal government is now 25 years overdue in meeting that statutory obligation to begin removing fuel from sites, Joseph Dominguez, President & CEO Constellation Energy, then nations largest nuclear power plant operator, testified to congress.

Constellation stores its spent fuel in 30-inch-thick concrete casks underground. And while such methods are considered safe in the short term, experts agree that in the long term the waste must be permanently stored in deep geologic formations. The trouble is no one is eager to host spent fuel.

There have been blue ribbon commissions, there have been studies, there have been debates, but when it comes down to it, there isnt a state in the country that wants to be the place for nuclear waste disposal, said Shannon Anderson, attorney for the Powder River Resource Basin Council, a Wyoming-based advocacy group that is urging policymakers to find a permanent storage solution before moving forward.

In 1987, the federal government legislated a permanent repository site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. But fierce local pushback has prevented the site from being used. The Department of Energy now emphasizes consent based siting, and has begun offering grants for local communities to explore the viability of hosting spent fuel.

The importance of smart storage is underscored by a 2019 federal report tying cancer to nuclear-waste exposure in St. Louis Missouri.

In addition to the plight of these communities, Inaction by the congress [to find a permanent solution] is fiscally irresponsible. More than $8.6 billion has been paid in settlements and final judgements because congress has not provided a solution. Thats about $2 million a daydue to our inability to establish a program to permanently handle our nuclear waste, said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, Chairman of Senate Natural Resources Committee, during a committee hearing earlier this year.

Buongiorno hopes the sector as a whole will meet the moment with heighted levels of credibility.

Ive been in this business or in this for 25 years and its probably the best context Ive seen in my career in terms of support, support from governments, private investment, media, the stars seems to be aligning, he said.

But what frustrates me is the lack of accuracy in the initial estimates. People understand that first of a kind projects are expensive and take a long time. But if you promise them it will take this amount of time and it takes three times as long, thats what will destroy credibility.

Close Bill Gates, center, stands outside a hotel in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer as Bill Gates looks on. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates speaks with a group of people outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, right, was one of the many officials who were on hand for Bill Gates' visit to Kemmerer. Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates looks on during a TerraPower presentation Friday in Kemmerer. Tara Neider, a senior vice president at TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer to discuss a planned nuclear reactor there. Illustrations of a planned nuclear reactor are displayed at an event Friday in Kemmerer. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Bill Gates speaks with a group of men outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday. PHOTOS: Bill Gates visits Wyoming for his nuclear project Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited Kemmerer on Friday as part of his effort to build a nuclear reactor there. Here's a look at his time in Wyoming. Bill Gates, center, stands outside a hotel in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer as Bill Gates looks on. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates speaks with a group of people outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, right, was one of the many officials who were on hand for Bill Gates' visit to Kemmerer. Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates looks on during a TerraPower presentation Friday in Kemmerer. Tara Neider, a senior vice president at TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer to discuss a planned nuclear reactor there. Illustrations of a planned nuclear reactor are displayed at an event Friday in Kemmerer. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Bill Gates speaks with a group of men outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday.
The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Dec. 28 that law enforcement can legally search an individuals home, papers and effects, as long as they reasonably believe they have consent  verbal or nonverbal  from a person with authority.

Darrell Alexander pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, the ruling states. On appeal, Alexander argued that the Laramie County District Court made a mistake when they denied his motion to suppress evidence law enforcement obtained after they entered his apartment without a warrant or his consent.

Physical entry into a persons home is the chief evil against which the wording of the Fourth Amendment is directed, the ruling states.

Cheyenne Police Department officers were dispatched to Alexanders apartment in March 2022 for a report of domestic violence, the ruling states.

When officers arrived, they found the alleged victim sitting on the stairs directly outside of Alexanders apartment, the ruling states. An officer asked her what happened, and she motioned to an injury on her face near her eye.

Alexander was allegedly intoxicated and kept hitting her, the ruling states.

The woman opened Alexanders apartment door and called to him, the ruling states. She stepped further inside, and while holding the door open, said, here you go, the police are here for you.

Alexander denied any wrongdoing initially, but later admitted they had an argument, the ruling states. He had blood on his nose but declined to tell officers why or how.

He was ultimately arrested and transported to the Laramie County Detention Center, where officers found approximately 39 grams of suspected cocaine-based crack cocaine and approximately 26 grams of cocaine in his underwear, the ruling states.

Alexander was charged with domestic battery, strangulation of a household member and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

He filed a motion to suppress any evidence that flowed from the search and seizure, arguing that the officers violated his Fourth Amendment right by entering his apartment without his consent, a warrant or exigent circumstances, the ruling states. The Laramie County District Court denied his motion.

In the end, Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance in exchange for a reduced sentence and dismissal of the other charges, the ruling states.

He appealed this outcome to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Alexander argued that the district court made an error when it found that officers had a reasonable belief that the woman had the authority to consent to a warrantless entry, the ruling states.

The states highest court concluded that the woman had the believed authority to consent to the officers entry into Alexanders apartment. And she implied consent to that entry based on her nonverbal gestures, the ruling states.

No Fourth Amendment violation occurs when law enforcement reasonably believes that a person who consents to a warrantless search has authority over the place or thing being searched, the ruling states.

The question is whether the facts available to the officers at the time they entered Mr. Alexanders apartment would warrant a man of reasonable caution to believe [the woman] had apparent authority over the apartment and consented to that entry, the statement said.

A warrantless search is legal if the answer is yes, the ruling states. In this case, the woman called from that location, was at the residence, had come from inside the apartment and freely reentered the apartment. It was reasonable to believe she had authority over the home.

Alexander also argued that the woman never consented to the officers entry into his apartment, the ruling states.

Although consent must be clear, it does not need to be verbal.

The woman, instead of verbally responding, grabbed the apartment doorknob, opened the door, stepped in and confronted Alexander, the ruling states. While holding the door open, she said, police are here for you.

The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled her actions would lead a reasonable officer to believe that she consented to entry of Alexanders apartment.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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.
It was one of the best tributes (eulogies) I saw or heard, and perhaps the best speech Presi
Google settles a massive $5 billion consumer-privacy lawsuit over its alleged improper tracking of "Incognito mode" users.

The lawsuit alleged that the tech giant secretly tracked millions of people who believed that they were browsing the internet privately. The legal challenge initially sought at least $5 billion and while settlement terms were not disclosed, the lawyers said that they expect to present a formal settlement for court approval by Feb. 24, 2024.

Google Settles $5 Billion Lawsuit

The plaintiffs in the case claim that Google's GOOGL, -0.10% GOOG, -0.11% analytics, cookies, and apps let the tech giant track user activity. This was true even when they set Google's Chrome browser to "Incognito" mode and other browsers to "private" browsing status.

They assert that this turned Google into an "unaccountable trove of information" to learn about their friends, shopping habits, and "potentially embarrassing things" that they sought on the internet. The company and lawyers for the plaintiffs were not immediately available for comment regarding the situation, as per Market Watch.

Lawyers from both sides have said that they signed a binding term sheet as part of the mediation process. They would then submit the agreement for final approval by a federal judge in Oakland, California.

Despite the accusations, Google has denied wrongdoing in the case and the proposed class-action suit was slated to head to trial on Feb. 5, if a settlement was not reached between the two sides.

United States District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers placed the trial on hold pending final review of the agreement. In August, the judge handling the case denied a bid by the tech giant to have the lawsuit dismissed.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs were seeking to recover at least $5,00 in damages per user for the alleged privacy violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws that date back to June 1, 2016, according to the New York Post.

Rogers' rejection of Google's dismissal claim was made because the lawsuit was an open question into whether or not the tech giant made a legally binding promise not to collect users' data when they browsed in private mode.

Read Also: Law Enforcement Investigate Swatting Call Made on Marjorie Taylor Greene's Home

Violation of User Privacy

The federal judge cited Google's privacy policy and other statements by the company's officials that suggested limits on what information it could collect from users. The latest lawsuit was filed in 2020 and covers millions of Google users, said Reuters.

While the massive $5 billion lawsuit is being settled, Google is still facing a number of legal challenges, including several antitrust cases that target various parts of the tech giant's business empire.

U.S. District Judge James Donato will hold hearings in January on potential remedies after a federal jury determined that the company had maintained an illegal monopoly through its Android app store and its closely linked in-app billing system.

Donato could order the tech giant to change business practices or even break up part of its business depending on how the situation develops. The tech giant has also reached a $700 million settlement with all 50 U.S. states in a related case.



Related Article: Texas Man Admits To Hiding Mom's Dead Body in Trash Can for Several Years After Being Arrested on Separate Warrant

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Santa Cruz Elementary School District in the Nogales area received an A from the Arizona Department of Education for academic performance but the Arizona auditor general says its finances are failing.

The single-school, kindergarten-through-eighth-grade district in Santa Cruz County is the only Southern Arizona school district among four deemed at highest risk in a new report from the Arizona Auditor Generals Office.

The designation is based on 10 financial risk measures determined by the auditor, including budget reserves.

Santa Cruzs capital reserves went from more than $70,000 in 2019 to just under $13,000 in 2023.

The districts budget reserve for maintenance and operation also dropped between 2020 and 2023, going from more than $80,000 to just over $23,000.

Santa Cruz Elementary School District was awarded $1.3 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. The auditor general said the district reported spending $1.2 million of that from 2020 through 2023.

It had roughly $84,000 remaining to spend as of June 30, 2023. Districts have until Sept. 30, 2024, to spend awarded COVID relief funds or lose the money.

The district allocated 48% ($445,940) of its relief funds to maintaining operations. More than half of that amount was reserved for classroom salaries and benefits.

In their response to the Auditor Generals Office, district officials said part of the financial woes came from cost-of-living increases for faculty and staff, along with increased medical premiums.

They said the district posted 100% teacher retention over the last three years.

The districts student count, which makes up part of the auditors equation, has not seen the same positive trend.

In the past four years, Santa Cruz had an 11.2% decrease in students, meaning a significant loss in per-pupil funding from the state.

There were 180 students enrolled in the district as of school year 2021-22, according to the Arizona School Report Card.

Santa Cruz Elementary is working to increase student numbers, its officials said in their response to the auditors report.

We have advertised/recruited for new students at the preschools, sending out mail postcards, radio advertisement, put up bulletin boards, used our social media, and used word of mouth with no positive results, the district said.

Santa Cruz Elementary District also received unfavorable reviews for its general fund operating margin ratio and general fund change in balance. The Auditor Generals Office also dinged the district for its frozen tax rate, which has been unchanged since 2018.

Still, the districts general fund operating reserve ratio was up to snuff, the office determined. In 2022 Santa Cruzs balance was about $285,000. The following year it was nearly $101,000.

In its response, Santa Cruz stated: The district will continue to maintain a close watch on unnecessary spending and do what is necessary to keep the district in line with its budget. The district is working diligently to identify expenditures to reduce and ensure budget limits are not overspent for FY 23-24 and moving forward. District has taken steps as far as reduction in force and reduced hours.

The other districts on the Arizona Auditor Generals list of financially high-risk districts are: Antelope Union High School District (Yuma County), Isaac Elementary School District (Maricopa County) and Tonto Basin Elementary School District (Gila County).
The city of Tucson is arguing that neighbors of the Navajo Wash have no legal right to sue it for allowing homeless people to camp in the area.

"The city is immune from liability for its policy determinations,'' Bernardo Velasco, an attorney for the city, told Pima County Superior Court Judge Greg Sakall in response to a lawsuit brought by three residents of the Hedrick Acres neighborhood.

Velasco said that under state law, Tucson can't be sued for deciding "fundamental governmental policy,'' which he said includes not only whether to provide resources but whether and how to spend them.

In this case, Velasco said, Tucson has adopted policies that determine when it will intervene in situations where there are homeless people camping on city property. Only when that activity reaches a certain level does the city intervene.

There will be implications if the judge grants the neighbors the relief they want, he also said.

"Plaintiffs ask the court to enjoin the city to implement their preferred policy: a zero-tolerance for camping in public spaces,'' versus decisions made by City Council members, Velasco wrote.

He warned it would lead to a spate of similar lawsuits, citing a comment made by Ilan Wurman, the lead attorney for the Navajo Wash neighbors in Hedrick Acres, when they filed suit in September.

"We're hoping to get a court judgment and a court precedent that others can use around Tucson,'' Wurman told the Arizona Daily Star then.

Velasco told Sakall he needs to be aware of that goal.

"By placing the city under such an injunction, plaintiffs would be entitled to preferential treatment to compel the city to clear the wash on their whim, or face the contempt of this court, with the long-term intent to enable all property owners across the city to commandeer city resources to drive people living in public space out of sight (even though they admit thee are not sufficient shelter beds) or out of the city altogether,'' Velasco wrote in court documents.

"Leaving aside the inhumanity of such an approach  a question properly reserved for the city's administration  any individual plaintiff with a chip on their shoulder could take over policy decisions throughout the cities, towns, and unincorporated areas of Pima County," he said.

No date has been set for a hearing, though there is a closed-door settlement conference between the parties set for Jan. 11.

Neighbors: City created nuisance

The city has a three-tiered policy.

In Tier 1 are former encampments that have no individuals living there, where the city cleans up the sites.

Sites designated Tier 2 are those Tucson calls "self-governing encampments,'' where residents are "able to govern themselves and keep the area free from disruptive activities.'' There, outreach services are offered and there is a schedule for trash pickup.

"High problem encampments'' are in Tier 3, areas with violence and crime towards both the surrounding community and the camp residents. That area is cleared out after residents are given 72-hour notice to vacate.

And while Velasco acknowledged the Hedrick Acres/Navajo Wash site had been designated Tier 3 at least twice, there was no such designation in place when the lawsuit was filed on Sept. 20.

He suggested the lawsuit was filed that day because that is the same day Wurman, in a separate case representing businesses in the Phoenix area, got a judge to order Phoenix to clean up an area known as "The Zone'' as a public nuisance  the same argument being used in the Tucson lawsuit.

Wurman, however, said the issue is simpler than that.

In his response to the city's request that Sakall throw out the request for an injunction, he said Tucson, in setting up the tier system, has admitted it is creating a nuisance.

He said state law prohibiting the maintenance of a nuisance applies to all landowners. And in this case, Wurman said, the city owns the park.

"It admits that it allows on its land, with its knowledge, the erection of public camps so long as they are not too obnoxious from its perspective, even if those encampments otherwise constitute nuisances,'' the neighbors' attorney told the judge.

"As far as plaintiffs can tell, the city has no argument for why it cannot permanently ban camping in Navajo Wash notwithstanding the history nuisances there, except for a misguided ideology that unsheltered individuals have a right to camp in public, even if there are sufficient shelter beds available for them,'' Wurman wrote.

"But that ideological preference cannot trump the laws of the state of Arizona, which declare conditions such as those in Navajo Wash to be a nuisance," he said.

Velasco, however, said there are several problems with that conclusion.

He said the law defines "nuisance'' as "an unreasonable interference with a right common to the general public.''

But not all interferences with public rights are public nuisances that allow someone to sue for damages, Velasco said.

"The law does not concern itself with trifles, or seek to remedy all of the petty annoyances and disturbances of everyday life in a civilized community or even from conduct committed with knowledge that annoyance and inconvenience will result,'' he said.

No injury caused, city says

Velasco also said that for the city to be liable, those filing suit must show that it "engaged in conduct that set in motion forces that resulted in an injury.''

So, for example, a city can be held liable for operating a sewage treatment plant that frequently broke down and spilled waste, causing noxious odors to spread to nearby property which, in turn, made them physically ill, caused them to loose sleep and destroyed the value of their property, he said.

Ditto, he said, of a soup kitchen whose daily meals resulted in people frequently trespassing onto residents' yards and engaging in behaviors such as urinating, defecating, drinking and littering on their property.

Here, however, Velasco said the city did nothing to attract people to gather in or near Navajo Wash.

He also said there is a significant difference between what is happening here and the case that Wurman won against Phoenix.

In the Phoenix case, Velasco said, police brought people to the area so they could receive services. Not so here, he said.

Tucson "has not designated Navajo Wash as a place for encampments, does not bring people there, and does not inform them that they will receive lenient or preferential treatment in the Wash,'' Velasco told the judge. "To the contrary, the city regularly deters residents from camping in Navajo Wash, cleans up refuse in and around the Wash, and evicts individuals from Navajo Wash as needed.''

"People are not nuisances"

The lawsuit could get more complicated. Community Care Tucson and Community on Wheels, both of which provide services for the homeless, want Sakall to let them intervene in the case.

"Critically absent from the lawsuit ... is anyone speaking for the vulnerable unsheltered people at the core of this dispute,'' wrote attorney Paul Gattone.

He told Sakall their interests need to be represented because any decision he reaches would have "grave constitutional implications'' for them.

"Without adequate alternative shelter, houseless persons have a constitutional right to be free from criminalization for unavoidable human activity, like sleeping and sheltering from the elements,'' Gattone wrote.

He also said they have a property interest in their belongings, "even those left temporarily unattended in public spaces.''

Gattone said there's an even more basic concept the judge needs to consider.

"People are not nuisances,'' he wrote. "Full stop.''

Neighbors chopped down trees

There's a side issue facing Sakall.

Velasco said the three plaintiffs, through the Hedrick Acres Neighborhood Association or some other manner, have participated in or paid for the recent unauthorized destruction of 75 trees in Navajo Wash. That, he said, is "gross misconduct'' which weighs against the judge ruling in their favor.

Wurman does not dispute the tree cutting. But he called it "totally irrelevant'' to the lawsuit.

Even if it were relevant, Wurman said, the association's volunteers have cleaned and landscaped the wash for years in coordination with Tucson Clean and Beautiful. And Wurman said the action is consistent with a "master plan'' that says the area cannot host a high volume of vegetation because that could hinder or divert water flow.

"And, of course, the overgrowth was leading to severe fires as a result of the encampments, and the association had every right to take acts consistent with the master plan to mitigate that risk, and the risk of public camping," he wrote.
PHOENIX  An attorney for a failed candidate challenging the 2022 election results used his unrelated position as chairman of a legislative panel to elicit testimony Thursday that ultimately could benefit his client in court.

But the top legislative leader who appointed attorney Alexander Kolodin to head the panel, House Speaker Ben Toma, said later he sees nothing improper in his use of the role.

Kolodin is a Scottsdale Republican lawmaker as well as a privately hired attorney for losing GOP attorney general candidate Abe Hamadeh. Toma named him to head the special legislative committee looking into government censorship, including attempts to censor social media posts; big tech manipulation of internet platforms; and the use of artificial intelligence.

At Thursdays committee hearing, Kolodin grilled former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor on her investigation of printer failures at Maricopa County vote centers in the 2022 election Hamadeh is still challenging in court.

Kolodin told Capitol Media Services the line of questioning fits within the charge Toma gave the Ad Hoc Committee on Oversight, Accountability and Big Tech when he formed it in August.

All of the stuff we were talking about was with the technology, the printers and how theyre configured and is there something about them thats causing it, Kolodin said. So, its totally a technology issue.

The questions deal with the issue of oversight in general, he said.

But Kolodins questions went specifically to the issues of what McGregor found after Maricopa County asked her to discover why tabulators at vote centers failed to read some ballots from on-site printers. Hamadeh, who lost by 280 votes to Democrat Kris Mayes for attorney general, contends those problems depressed the vote for him because some voters left the centers without casting ballots.

Hamadeh raised that issue along with others a year ago when he first filed suit to overturn the election. A trial judge dismissed the challenge, saying Hamadehs attorneys failed to prove their claims that he did not lose to Mayes.

Kolodin was brought in more recently to represent Hamadeh in his bid to get the state Court of Appeals to grant him a new trial where he would be able to present new evidence.

Moreover, Hamadeh has hired another attorney who filed a separate lawsuit last month asking that the race be re-run in Maricopa County based specifically on claims county officials botched how the handled Election Day procedures.

Toma, the House speaker, defended Kolodins use of the committee chairmanship.

This was an ad hoc interim committee that was designed to be fairly broad in scope, Toma, a Peoria Republican, told Capitol Media Services on Thursday.

It is my understanding that Rep. Kolodin asked Justice McGregor about her publicly available investigative report report and whether legislative reform is necessary to prevent future printer problems in the 2024 elections, said Toma, who acknowledged he did not watch the hearing. I have no reason to believe that anything improper occurred or will occur as a result of this hearing.

Kolodin did not represent Hamadeh at the initial trial where the candidate asked, unsuccessfully, that the election results be set aside. But Kolodin does represent him now in his efforts to get that ruling set aside so he can offer new evidence at a new trial. He also said his representation of Hamadeh does not extend to the new lawsuit, which specifically argues the election should be re-run because of those printer issues.

A ruling in Hamadehs favor on the issue of Election Day problems and the resultant voter lines, however, could negate the bid for a new trial. And Kolodin questioned McGregor on precisely that issue Thursday.

Says 2024 election is his focus

In her investigation earlier this year, McGregor said the problems of tabulators not reading ballots resulted from equipment failures and were not caused by human error or an intentional act.

More to the point of Kolodins questions, she responded that 6% of the ballots were rejected by the tabulators. That led to confusion, angry voters and a scramble by county officials and contractors to fix the issue. It also led to lines at some vote centers that resulted in some people deciding to leave without casting a ballot.

McGregor told Kolodin Thursday that every voter whose ballot was rejected by the tabulator had the option of depositing it in a secure drawer, to be counted later at election offices.

And it would have been counted, McGregor said, whether by a more sensitive tabulator at the election office or, if necessary, copied onto a new ballot by election workers and then fed into the counter.

She also said that the lines at vote centers mostly were very, very short.

Kolodin pursued the issue.

Well, youd agree that its very difficult to reassure voters of anything when theyre seeing this problem with their own two eyes, when theyre experiencing these lines, when they have to stick a ballot in a tabulator eight times before its accepted, its pretty hard to reassure those voters unless I can tell them this is how its going to be fixed, he said. Kolodin said that fix for the 2024 election is his focus.

McGregor said, though, that poll workers already tell voters about the option of depositing the ballot into the box to have it counted later.

Some voters dont believe that because of the misinformation they were receiving, she said.

The former chief justice did not spell out what that includes.

But at least part of the Election Day problems and the lines were caused by exhortations of Kelli Ward, then the chair of the Arizona Republican Party, who told people to vote in person versus by mail. Ward echoed the claims of Donald Trump and others that early voting was inherently insecure and subject to fraud.

While Kolodin said he called Thursdays hearing to look at possible legislative changes ahead of the 2024 election, he specifically inquired into whether McGregor was qualified to do the review of Election Day problems for Maricopa County in the first place  the one that found no intentional acts.

McGregor acknowledged she had not practiced election law nor handled technology cases before becoming a judge. Her inquiry never was designed to find out to what extent voters left polling places because of malfunctioning printers and long lines, she also acknowledged.

We were conducting a very narrow, fact-specific investigation into the problems that were seen in the printers on Election Day, dealing with why some of the printers put out ballots that could not be read, she said.

The conclusion, she said, involved two factors: the use of a paper weight heavier than used in the primary election months before, and a ballot that was an inch longer than the one in the primary. That led to other problems, including the toner not being affixed to the ballots, causing them to be rejected, though she repeated that, in every case, there was an option for voters to have them tallied later.

Kolodin also questioned findings in McGregors report that many of the problems were specifically related to printers made by Oki, with no similar issues reported with ballots from printers from another manufacturer. He said the company sent a letter to the county disputing some of her findings.

McGregor questioned some of the companys allegations. Anyway, she said, Okis letter did not come until after she filed her report.

Kolodin was recently placed on probation for 18 months by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in representing clients who challenged the results of the 2020 election. He agreed to the sanction to settle allegations he pursued election cases with no merit, including claims of massive election fraud done for the purpose of illegally and fraudulently manipulating the vote count to manufacture and election of Joe Biden ... and down-ballot Democratic candidates.
WASHINGTON  In the 1980s, Fu Xiangdong was a young Chinese virology student who came to the United States to study biochemistry. More than three decades later, he had a prestigious professorship in California and was conducting promising research on Parkinsons disease.

But now Fu is doing his research at a Chinese university. His American career was derailed as U.S.-China relations unraveled, putting his collaborations with a Chinese university under scrutiny. He ended up resigning.

Beginning in 1978, U.S.-China academic cooperation expanded for decades, largely insulated from the fluctuations in relations between the two countries. Today, its in decline, with Washington viewing Beijing as a strategic rival and there are growing fears about Chinese spying.

The number of Chinese students in the U.S. is down, and U.S.-Chinese research collaboration is shrinking. Academics are shying away from potential China projects over fears that seemingly minor missteps could end their careers.

Analysts say the decline will undercut American competitiveness and weaken global efforts to address health issues. Prior collaborations led to significant advances, including in influenza surveillance and vaccine development.

Thats been really harmful to U.S. science, said Deborah Seligsohn, a former U.S. diplomat in Beijing and now a political scientist at Villanova University. We are producing less science because of this falloff.

For some, the prospect for scientific advances needs to take a back seat to security concerns. In their view, such cooperation aids China by giving it access to sensitive commercial, defense and technological information. They also fear the Chinese government is using its presence in American universities to monitor and harass dissidents.

Those concerns were at the core of the China Initiative, a program begun in 2018 by the Justice Department under the Trump administration to uncover acts of economic espionage. While it failed to catch any spies, the effort had an impact on researchers in American schools.

Under the initiative, Gang Chen, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was charged in 2021 with hiding links with the Chinese government. Prosecutors eventually dropped all charges, but Chen lost his research group. He said his family went through a hard time and has yet to recover.

Chen said investigations and wrongful prosecutions like his are pushing out talents.

Thats going to hurt U.S. scientific enterprise, hurt U.S. competitiveness, he said.

The Biden administration ended the China Initiative in 2022, but there are other efforts targeting scholars with Chinese connections.

In Florida, a state law aimed at curbing influences from foreign countries raised concerns that students from China effectively could be banned from labs at the states public universities.

This month, a group of Republican senators expressed concerns about Beijings influence on American campuses through student groups and urged the Justice Department to determine whether such groups should be registered as foreign agents.

Miles Yu, director of the China Center at Hudson Institute, said Beijing exploited U.S. higher education and research institutes to modernize its economy and military.

For some time, out of cultural, self-interest reasons, many people have double loyalty, erroneously thinking its OK to serve the interests of both the U.S. and China, Yu said.

The U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement  the first major pact between the two countries, signed in 1979  was set to lapse this year. In August, Congress extended the agreement by six months, but its future hangs in the balance.

If there is a new agreement, it should take into account new advances in science and technology, Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China, said recently.

There were only 700 American students studying in China, Burns said, compared with nearly 300,000 Chinese students in the U.S., which is down from a peak of about 372,000 in 2019-2020.

By October, nearly all Confucius Institutes, a Beijing-backed Chinese language and culture program, closed on American university campuses. Their number fell from about 100 in 2019 to fewer than five now, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

The National Institutes of Health in 2018 began an investigation into foreign ties by asking dozens of American institutions to look into whether their faculty members might have violated policies regarding use of federal money, usually in cases involving partnerships with Chinese institutions.

Then a professor at the University of California, San Diego, Fus links with Wuhan University were the focus of the NIH investigation. Fu insisted federal money was never used toward work there, according to news outlet La Jolla Light, but the university ruled against him.

Chen, the MIT professor, said once-encouraged collaborations suddenly became problematic.

Very few people in the general public understand that most U.S. universities, including MIT, dont take on any secret research projects on campus, Chen said. We aim to publish our research findings.

Disclosure rules had been unclear, he said. People are so fearful that, if you check the wrong box, you could be accused of lying to the government.

In June, an academic study published in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal said the China Initiative likely caused widespread fear and anxiety among scientists of Chinese descent.

The study, which surveyed 1,304 scientists of Chinese descent employed by American universities, showed many considered leaving the U.S. or no longer applying for federal grants, the researchers wrote.

An analysis of research papers in the PubMed database showed that, as of 2021, U.S. scientists still co-wrote more papers with scientists from China than from any other country, but those with a history of collaborating with China experienced a decline in research productivity after 2019, after the NIH investigation started.

The study, to be published in the PNAS journal by the years end, found the impact of U.S.-based scholars in collaboration with China, as measured by citations, fell by 10%.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

George Santayana wrote that, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Is it time to heed that warning?

We are facing what many claim will be the death of democracy and the rise of a dictatorship if Donald Trump is re-elected president in 2024.

There are some alarming resemblances between current events in America and similar developments in 1930s Germany before its descent into Nazism.

Parallel one: Stabbed in the back. German nationalists claimed for years after WWI that the German loss in 1918 was caused by elites. This was the enduring myth of being stabbed in the back which motivated Nazis to take horrible revenge on political opponents. Today we have far-right groups like QAnon, aligned with Trump. If America is indeed being stabbed in the back by elites, Trump has claimed that he will be  your justice  I am your retribution.

Parallel two: Institutions destroyed. In 1933 the German parliament building was destroyed. Hitler blamed the Communist Party. There were arguments that Nazis destroyed the building themselves in order to blame others and foment chaos. On Jan. 6, 2021, the United States Capitol was desecrated by Trump loyalists. It was the first time that the battle flag of the Confederate States of America was carried through the Capitol. Trump allies claim that the whole Jan. 6 affair was a false flag event created by the Federal government. Trumpists are unrelenting in blaming something called The deep state. Trump has called these and other opponents vermin, an often-used Nazi term.

Parallel three: Scapegoating. Nazis used relentless propaganda to direct hate towards Jews, homosexuals, and non-aryans (non-whites). In the U.S., Trump has relentlessly attacked Muslims and immigrants and plans to deport millions a year using detention camps. The new pro-Trump Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, spent years fighting gay rights. Anti-Asian hate crimes are up over 300% in some parts of America.

Parallel four: Martyr. Horst Wessel was a violent German fascist criminal who was killed after a street fight in 1930. He became a martyr for the Nazi cause. In the U.S., violent insurrectionist Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed by a Capitol Police Officer at the Jan. 6 riot. Trump and his allies have spoken of her death as a martyrdom for their cause.

Parallel five: Politicizing the military. Hitler had the military kill his political opponents. Trump has said that he will use the Insurrection Act to order the U.S. Army to do his bidding in his second term.

If you believe that the U.S. is very, very close to becoming a presidential dictatorship, we might be cellmates in the coming gulag.
Ginnie Graham Tulsa World Editorials Editor Follow Ginnie Graham 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

Those in my house the day after Christmas stirred only to the noise of birds chirping and a light wind rustling the last leaves off our trees. It was bliss after what seemed like a flurry of action for weeks.

Quiet, calm and that bit of nature did more to set a harmonious tone than any amount of traditional casseroles, songs, cookies, gifts or parties leading up to that moment. My teens woke up without loud music, television shows or parents barking orders to get them moving.

Some call Dec. 26 a post-holiday letdown. For me, it was a realization of how each day ought to begin  a sign to change not who were are but how we live. It struck me that I needed to give each morning time to breathe so everyone can walk into the day in better balance.

A new year begins this week, and this change became my new years resolution.

In 2024, a presidential election will dominate national headlines, with expected divisive talking points sinking into our local governance. That corrosiveness has crept into our homes, schools and faith institutions. The tenor of the past decade of politics has done great harm to our families and communities.

Looking ahead, how weak it would be to allow that damage to continue. That we, as Americans, cannot demand a better way to communicate and care for each other  that we do not turn away from those spewing hateful and malicious rhetoric.

This past year, a reader from Bartlesville sent me a book written by the late Rev. William K. Skeehan, known as Father Bill, who served at St. James Parish in Bartlesville and was the founding pastor at Tulsas Church of the Resurrection. The Catholic priest had a reputation for his inspirational homilies, or sermons, and for his dedication to faith in action.

He was a co-founder of Neighbor for Neighbor and founding board chairman of the Dan Allen Center for Social Justice. He died in 2014, but his words remain a beacon.

The book, At the Time: A Seasonal Walk Through the Liturgical Year, was self-published 20 years ago and contains scriptural readings, some of his homilies and reflections to ponder at different times through the year.

The introductory first page hooked me: Back in the days when the Mass was still celebrated in Latin, the priest would begin each Sunday gospel proclamation with the phrase: in illo tempore, roughly translated as at that time.

We tended then to keep the gospel locked into the past, at that time, forgetting that the Word must always be proclaimed as a living Word since the resurrected Jesus lives at this time, and must necessarily speak to the world of this time, speak to a greedy, racist, devalued society.

Those words resonated because our communities are divided between what was and what is. That gap creates obstacles as we try to plan for what could be  the type of society that allows for all to flourish in whatever traditions and lives they choose.

Our country is a secular society, full of beautifully diverse religions, races, ethnicities, beliefs, traditions and types of families. Our past prosperity came from leaders talented in finding common ground, building bridges between people and being willing to learn and adapt to new ideas.

We have drifted far from those expectations of our leaders. But that is a reflection on all of us.

This doesnt mean we have to change our beliefs  just be open and respectful of others, listen to the aggrieved to find understanding and solutions. That is not giving in, as I hear others say, but rather a step to co-existing peacefully.

A writing by Skeehan for the Epiphany ruminates on this idea. The Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas to commemorate the arrival of the Magi at the birth of Jesus. Skeehan makes the point that the Magi could imagine a grace-filled world, but King Herod could not.

The Magi brought gifts and hope; Herod slaughtered innocents.

Because of the difficulties involved in discerning Godly from ungodly vision, we end up putting a damper on all imagination. On the level of secular society, we see great confusion toward creative, yet untried solutions to vexing problems.

We are cautious by nature, tending to tinker with what we know,  making some adjustments to what is. The Star Trek folks may go boldly where no man has gone before, but our pattern is usually going exactly where others have gone before.

A new year naturally births an optimism for changes to the better. There will be changes in the next year  some we know and some unforeseen.

For me, another faith-based guiding principle comes from the Most Rev. Bishop Michael Curry, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church famously known for marrying Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. His theological focus has been on the power of love.

Curry has repeatedly said, If its not about love, its not about God. He said every action we take ought to be rooted in love. If youre wondering whether something is coming from God, then look for love.

Love is certainly not about name-calling, division or obstinance. Its not about harming the public good, limiting another persons rights, tolerating violence or encouraging conflicts that tear families apart.

Starting each day with a pause instead of a jolt is my small adjustment to rooting myself in love and encouraging that for my family. Its a small change but one I hope causes a greater wave.

As many Christians remain in the Christmas season through Epiphany, Skeehan offers this reflection:

Christmas should allow us to see beyond our pettiness and small vengeances, and to stand above the unpredictable tides that sweep across our lives. The truth about Christmas is that it knows the truth about us, that we are imperfect and unfinished, that we have only begun our great journey toward the fullness of time, when we will have fulfilled the promise of Christmas in history itself, that there is still hope for all who dare to be truly human, as truly human as Jesus was.

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There is growing concern about foreign ownership of land in Oklahoma (and states nationwide), particularly ownership by Chinese entities. That trend is real, but not at a crisis level yet.

That means policymakers have time to act. The only question is whether they have the will to do so.

Nationwide, it is estimated about 40 million acres of U.S. agriculture land is now owned by foreign investors, which comprises 3.1% of agricultural land nationwide.

Thats not substantial enough to threaten national food security, but it is also a dramatic increase since 2000, when 1.2% of land was owned by foreign purchasers.

Furthermore, officials expect that a significant amount of agricultural land could be sold in the coming years. The average age of a U.S. farmer is now 57, and officials estimate up to two-thirds of all farmland will be sold in the next decade as farmers retire.

Oklahoma has experienced significant growth in foreign-owned land. Between 2015 and 2021, the amount of foreign-owned land in Oklahoma increased by more than 300%. Foreigners/foreign businesses now own around 383,000 acres in Oklahoma.

In 2020, our state ranked first for land purchases by foreign entities.

Foreign land purchasing occurs for many reasons, including food production, wind farming, carbon offsets and speculative investments.

But in Oklahoma some purchases have been linked to the drug trade. The 2018 vote to legalize medical marijuana, with few regulations, caused thousands to purchase land to grow marijuana, often for illegal sale elsewhere. By 2022, officials with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics said Oklahoma had become the top supplier of marijuana to states around the nation.

State lawmakers are trying to address this problem. This year they passed Senate Bill 212, which bans foreign investors from buying Oklahoma land for marijuana production.

But even without the link to the drug trade, there are other issues associated with foreign ownership.

For example, in water-scarce regions, outside use of freshwater resources can affect water availability for local farmers and communities. And there are reasons for long-term concern regarding food supply.

In 2013, Smithfield Foods (now called WH Group) was purchased by a Chinese entity. The company is the nations largest pork producer and vertically integrated, meaning the company owns all aspects of its supply chain, including over 146,000 acres of farmland.

When COVID-19 hit, Smithfield increased pork exports to China.

Security concerns have also been raised. In 2020, a Chinese entity purchased land in North Dakota, supposedly for a corn-milling plant. Notably, that property was next to a U.S. Air Force base.

Under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, foreign entities must report transactions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But that regulation is seldom enforced, in part because the federal government uses a paper-based approach for data collection to enforce AFIDA.

The USDA currently has no way to electronically identify the geographic location of the AFIDA filings.

Six states forbid foreign farmland investors. Oklahoma has a state constitutional prohibition. But exceptions have been carved out.

In the 1970s, state lawmakers exempted swine and poultry producers, hoping to attract the industry to our state. In 1981, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled foreign firms could purchase land in the state so long as a company was otherwise qualified to do business in the state.

Put simply, there is much room for improvement. There is reason for concern today about foreign ownership of Oklahoma land.

However, unless policymakers act swiftly and prudently, current trend lines suggest we may soon reach the point that Oklahomans are justified in viewing the situation not just with concern, but alarm.

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The administration of Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam has passed a proposal according to which the aging Nha Trang international tourism port, located in the provincial capital city of Nha Trang, will suspend operations for around six months to undergo renovation.

The port will stop receiving domestic passenger vessels during the six-month period, Nguyen Van Dan, director of the provincial Department of Transport, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The provincial administration asked Nha Trang Port JSC, the port operator, to inform relevant travel agencies of the suspension and work out a port renovation plan for submission to the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

The port still receives international tourist ships during the suspension period, as proposed by the transport department.

The Maritime Administration of Nha Trang City and Nha Trang Port Company were told to jointly adopt measures to ensure public safety, security, and hygiene in the port area to serve international visitors during the renovation hiatus.

International cruise ships are too big to enter the port, therefore smaller boats are used to transport cruise passengers to the port. Photo: Tran Huong / Tuoi Tre

According to the companys proposal to upgrade the port, many facilities there have severely deteriorated and thereby posed a risk of accidents since the port was put into service in 2013.

As it was originally designated as a commodity port, its infrastructure system failed to satisfy the needs of tourists after it was transformed into an international tourism port, the company elaborated on why it is in need of renovation.

Echoing the companys viewpoint, the provincial Department of Tourism stressed the need to upgrade the port to better service international visitors.

In 1976, the Ministry of Transport decided to establish Nha Trang-Ba Ngoi Port.

In 1985, the port operator borrowed loans offered by a domestic credit institution to build a 172m-long and 10,000-DWT wharf, whose work reached completion in 1991.

In 1997, the Ministry of Transport approved a project upgrading the ports phase one until 2002.

The upgraded port came on stream on December 26, 2013.

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The operator of the Da Lat-Trai Mat rail route in Da Lat City, which is the capital of Lam Dong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands region, will offer train cars for rent for conferences, wedding parties, and other celebrations from now on.

Saigon Railway Transport JSC launched the service on Thursday as part of its ongoing program to serve visitors to the iconic Da Lat railway station, with the goal of celebrating the 130th anniversary of the citys establishment and development.

The railway company also provides free-of-charge Wi-Fi, drinking water, and photography services on the train.

During the trial period of the program, the music performances and wedding parties hosted on the train this month have garnered considerable attention from visitors.

These unique events appear to have successfully captured the interest and enthusiasm of those experiencing the innovative offerings provided by the program.

On December 22, the company added a festive touch by decorating a 21m-long railway car, transforming it into a charming setting for a wedding ceremony.

In related news, the company said it had sold 136,000 train tickets for rides scheduled for the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, due in February.

Tickets for the pre- and post-Tet trips are still available for all rail routes, the company noted.

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Police in Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands region and the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism are stepping up efforts to hunt for South Korean tour guides without work permits in Da Lat City.

A police officer said on Thursday that the provincial police agency is reviewing the illegal working of South Korean tour guides in the tourist city.

As part of the review, police will investigate travel firms to see whether or not they are employing South Korean tour guides without work permits or guide certificates rather than using Vietnamese tour guides.

A few days ago, the provincial police took a man in for questioning after he was found to be guiding a group of South Korean tourists at Linh Phuoc Pagoda in the citys Ward 11.

The man was identified as K.D., a 35-year-old South Korean who later admitted that he has worked for a travel firm in Nha Trang City, south-central Khanh Hoa Province since October.

K.D. also admitted to previously having guided three groups of tourists on trips to Khanh Hoa and Da Lat.

A South Korean tour guide shares incorrect knowledge about the history of Bao Dai Summer Palace in Da Lat City to South Korean tourists. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre

He confessed that he works as a tour guide but holds neither work permits nor international guide certificates.

Police in the province are continuing to review illegal labor employment and other problems linked to inbound tourism.

A South Korean tour guide had previously been discovered providing tourists with incorrect information and knowledge about the history of a tourist site in Da Lat.

In 2023, Lam Dong Province welcomed an estimated 400,000 international visitors, with arrivals from South Korea accounting for 53.3 percent of the total.

The sheer number of South Korean tourist arrivals has contributed to boosting the provinces tourism revenues, but the province is focusing on tourism sustainability, so it is vital to clamp down on illegal work among South Korean tour guides, said Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

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English ceramicist fulfills artistic dream in E China's Jingdezhen

People's Daily Online) 11:01, December 29, 2023

English ceramicist Guy Thompson has lived in China for 18 years and runs a porcelain design company in Jingdezhen, a world-famous "porcelain capital" in east China's Jiangxi Province.

During his first visit to Jingdezhen in 2008, Thompson was captivated by the unique charm of this artistic city. It offered him not only sources of inspiration for his creations but also opportunities to collaborate with master artisans.

Looking ahead, he hopes to continue living in Jingdezhen, a place where his dreams have been realized.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Bulgaria and Romania have struck a deal with Austria to let them partially join the Schengen area of free movement by air and by sea after the latter vetoed the two countries' entry.

The agreement would allow the two nations' entry into the European Schengen area of free movement in March 2024. On Wednesday, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote on Facebook that after more than a decade, it is finally able to join Schengen, touting the new political agreement.

Bulgaria And Romania Partially Join Schengen

In a statement, the Romanian interior ministry said that a "political agreement" had been reached between the three nations 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 delayed until discussions that will be held next year. Austria, which had previously vetoed the two country's entry into the Schengen a year ago, put forward the idea of what it called "Air Schengen" at the beginning of this month, as per Le Monde.

The nation said that it was prepared to ease the rules governing air traffic for Bulgaria and Romania if Brussels strengthened the EU's external borders. Bulgaria and Romania have both been members of the US since 2007 and were rejected at the end of 2022 from the area of free movement.

Schengen is an area where more than 400 million people are allowed to travel freely without internal border controls. Austria vetoed the two countries' applications after 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 area of free movement in question was initially created in 1985 and includes 23 of the 27 EU member states. It also includes their associated neighbors, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

The situation comes as Bulgaria and Romania are on major routes for illegal arms trade and drug and human trafficking. However, the European Commission argued that a thorough investigation showed that the two nations met all Schengen requirements, according to Reuters.

Read Also: Polish Government Refuses To Accept Defeat, Takes Public News Channel Off the Air

Austria Strikes Agreement With Bulgaria and Romania

Romania has previously argued that Austria's objections were unjustified, citing EU border agency Frontex data that showed illegal migrants were mainly entering the EU from the Western Balkans, not through its own territory.

For years, Austria's ruling conservative People's Party prioritized fighting illegal immigration as a key campaign issue. The far-right Freedom Party leads in opinion polls ahead of a parliamentary election scheduled for next year.

On Thursday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov confirmed that they have reached an agreement after "complicated negotiations." He added that after 12 years without much progress on Schengen, they achieved indisputable success.

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner previously requested for increased presence of Frontex officers along the Bulgarian-Turkish and Romanian-Serbian borders. He also urged for more EU funds to protect these borders from irregular migrant surges.

Denkov also confirmed on Thursday that as part of the upcoming negotiations on joining Schengen by land, the European Commission would provide support to protect the EU's external borders with Turkey and Serbia, said EuroNews.



Related Article: Eiffel Tower Closed to Public on Founder's 100th Death Anniversary Due to Workers' Strike

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A Vietnam Airlines (VNA) plane carrying 94 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Japan safely landed at Narita Airport with a cracked cockpit window on Tuesday, and the aircraft returned home two days later after a windshield replacement.

The Boeing 787 aircraft was flying at an altitude of 12,300 meters, about 50 kilometers east of the island of Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, at around Tuesday noon when the left front cockpit window glass cracked, Japan's Mainichi newspaper reported on Thursday.

The plane continued its flight and safely touched down on runway A of Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture at 1:31 pm the same day, according to the Narita Airport Office under the Japanese transport ministry.

All of the planes 94 passengers and crew were safe.

Upon landing, the runway underwent a three-minute closure for safety checks, during which no anomalies were detected.

The scheduled return flight of the aircraft, from Narita to Ho Chi Minh, was canceled following the incident.

While the incident was not deemed serious, the damaged cockpit window was nonetheless replaced in Japan, Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper, citing VNA.

Subsequently, the aircraft returned to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Thursday.

The carrier confirmed the incident, saying that the preliminary cause was strong winds that cracked part of the surface of the cockpit window glass.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam classified the incident as 'Level D,' indicating a low-risk level, as reported by VNA.

Aircraft window glass is multilayered and made of light, super hard, and tempered materials.

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Nine will announce Tracy Grimshaws return to television next month.

The project under wraps will be confirmed at a Nine event in Melbourne on January 19 along with two new reporters for 60 Minutes.

This follows Tom Steinforts return to Melbourne to co-host the 6pm news with Alicia Loxley.

Tracy Grimshaw departed A Current Affair in November 22 after 17 years, but indicated she hoped to return to television after a break.

Hopefully the new series will draw upon her unrivalled interviewing skills, potentially in a long-form show with politicians, celebrities, newsmakers in Australia and around the world.

As a random suggestion I might also throw in the idea of a return to Sunday, famously fronted by Jim Waley on Nine, which might work as a possible vehicle for Grimshaw, given much of that audience is going to Insiders at present.

I dont envisage any hope of a return to Midday, given the expense and that talent usually prefers to move forward rather than backwards.

My money is on a primetime interview format of some sort.
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
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Maine goes Colorado way, blocks Trump from presidential ballot

The US state of Maine Thursday December 28, 2023 blocked Donald Trump from the presidential ballot over the former US Presidents alleged involvement in the January 2021 Capitol riots. Read More

Friday December 29, 2023 10:14 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Washington: The US state of Maine Thursday December 28, 2023 blocked Donald Trump from the presidential ballot over the former US Presidents alleged involvement in the January 2021 Capitol riots .

The events of January 6, 2021 "occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in her ruling, according to AFP.

"The US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government and (Maine law) requires me to act in response," she added.

Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, announced the ruling after presiding over an administrative hearing earlier this month about Trumps eligibility for office. A bipartisan group of former state lawmakers filed the challenge against Trump, according to CNN.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung meanwhile has announced ro challenge the decision pronunced by Bellows.

In a statement Thursday, Cheung accused Bellows of being a virulent leftist who has now decided to interfere in the presidential election.

Maine is the second American state that found Trump ineligible for the 2024 US elections. The Colorado Supreme Court had earlier similarly disqualified Trump from the states ballot under the 14th Amendments insurrection ban.

However, taking a different view, the Michigan Supreme Court had ruled otherwise.

The U.S. Presidential Elections is slated to be held on November 04, 2024. Before that the Americans in 50 states will participate in the primary elections and indicate their preference for their party's candidate.

The rulings in Colorado and Maine if not revoked mean Trumps name will not appear in the primary ballots of the two states.

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New York: Hundreds carrying dolls mourn Israeli massacre of Palestinian babies

Thursdays Mourn with us silent procession, organized by Jewish Elders for Palestine was supported by a number of organisations. Read More

Friday December 29, 2023 11:39 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

New York: Hundreds of New Yorkers carrying baby dolls Thursday December 28, 2023 participated in a silent march along Bryant Park to mourn the brutal killing of Palestinian babies at the hands of the Israeli Occupation Forces in the Gaza Strip.

Holding the banners that read Every dead child is a loss for all, the New Yorkers dressed in all black and carrying baby dolls wrapped in shrouds to represent dead Palestinian children demanded ceasefire and end to the ongoing war.

Thursdays Mourn with us silent procession, organized by Jewish Elders for Palestine was supported by a number of organisations.

We are gathering at Bryant Park now to join fellow New Yorkers, led by Jewish elders, for a silent march to mourn the thousands of Palestinian children who have been killed in the past 3 months", Jews for Racial & Economic Justice wrote on social media platform X, tagging the images of the participants and using hash tags #CeasefireNow #SilentMarch.

Videos posted on social media show the mourners carrying bundles wrapped in white cloth silently heading to north on 6th Avenue from Bryant Park in Manhattan. They then systematically put the baby dolls on the pavement to show solidarity with the Palestinian children.

Also seen in one of the images is a baby doll wrapped in a traditional Palestinian scarf or Keffiyeh  a symbol of Resistance .

Watch Video

The march is proceeding to march two-by-two up 6th Avenue. A crowd has gathered on the steps of Bryant Park as the silent processional marches by. pic.twitter.com/esHEDhAnAR  katie smith (@probablyreadit) December 28, 2023

A similar protest was organised on December 22, 2023 when a large crowd gathered on the steps of the New York Public Library (NYPL) in Bryant Park for the pro-Palestine rally organised by the labor unions and other worker groups to mourn the killings of civilians, including journalists, in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli Occupation Army.



More than 21,300 Palestinians, over 70 percent of them women and children, have been killed in the relentless bombing by the Israeli Occupation Forces that began following the Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood on Oct 7, 2023 launched in response to the continuous aggression by the Zionist regime in Israel and illegal settlers wreaking disturbances in the occupied Palestine territories.

In a similar vigil on December 20, 2023, the mourners in the Netherlands mobilised at the iconic Binnenrotte Square in Rotterdam over 8,000 pairs of shoes each symbolizing a Palestinian child killed by the Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza.

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UP Revenue Official converts to Islam, suspended

Ashish Gupta was removed from his post on Thursday and attached to the collectorate as an initial inquiry found him breaching the employee code. Read More

Friday December 29, 2023 3:17 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Lucknow: Ashish Gupta, a Revenue Officer in Uttar Pradesh posted as Naib Tehsildar in Maudaha city of Hamirpur district of the state, has been suspended for embracing Islam even as the government ordered a probe into his religious conversion.

Ashish Gupta was removed from his post on Thursday and attached to the collectorate as an initial inquiry found him breaching the employee code, Hindustan Times reported citing officials.

He (Ashish Gupta) has been removed from his post and attached to the collectorate fill further notice", ADM, Hamirpur Dr Arun Mishra said.

Mishra added that a report on his conduct had also been sent to the government.

Mosque Imam alerted UP Police

The news that Ashish Gupta has converted to Islam and changes his name to Mohammad Yusuf after local Muslims found a stranger visiting the mosque and ardently daily mandatory prayers.

The curious locals later found the stranger was actually Maudaha Naib Tehsildar Ashish Gupta who has embraced Islam and changed his name to Mohammad Yusuf.

Realising the sensitivity of the matter as the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has strict laws against forced religious conversion the mosque's cleric alerted the police and district administration.

Police complaint, FIR

Even as the district administration was probing the matter, a complaint was filed against Ashish Gupta by his wife, Aarti Yagyasaini.

In her complaint Aarti Yagyasaini alleged that Gupta was forced to change his religion for marrying another woman named Rukhsar.

In her complaint lodged at the police station, Aarti alleged that Rukhsar's father, identified as Munna, along with a cleric from the mosque and several others, orchestrated the conversion on December 24, before the alleged forced wedding.

Taking note of the Aartis complaint, the Uttar Pradesh Police registered a case and arrested three persons, including the cleric, according to The Indian Express.

As of now this is unclear if Ashish Gupta was indeed forced to convert his religion. More details on what made him to convert to Islam is still not yet been disclosed.

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HA NOI - The Hyundai Solati and the Mighty N250 are to be among the first of many models, manufactured and assembled in Viet Nam, to be exported to global markets such as Peru and the Philippines.

The vehicles are products of the joint venture Hyundai Thanh Cong Trading (HTCV).

A shipment of Solati vehicles to the Philippine market has completed 40 out of 60 units. For the batch of 62 N250 vehicles exported to Peru, Hyundai Thanh Cong Trading has delivered 2 sample vehicles to its partner. In December 2023, HTCV is in the process of production and is expected to complete the delivery of a total of 122 vehicles, according to HTCV.

It is anticipated that in 2024, HTCV will continue to sign export contracts for 1,000 vehicles. The Hyundai Solati falls within the segment of passenger vehicles with less than 16 seats, while the Mighty N250 belongs to the small-sized commercial truck segment.

Hyundai Thanh Cong Trading (HTCV) is the exclusive manufacturer, assembler, and distributor of Hyundai commercial vehicles in Viet Nam. According to a report by Nextgen earlier this year, Hyundai is the "Top of Mind" brand for commercial vehicle customers, with high brand recognition in Viet Nam. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam this year continued to achieve a trade surplus for the eighth consecutive year, being estimated at US$26 billion, three times higher than in 2022. This is a trade surplus record for many years.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), total import-export turnover in 2023 is estimated to reach $683 billion, including $354.5 billion from exports and $328.5 billion from imports.

The trade surplus of $26 billion has helped increase foreign exchange reserves, and stabilise exchange rate and other macroeconomic indicators of the economy.

From the beginning of the year until now, Viet Nam has faced many difficulties in import and export activities. Exports, one of the three important pillars of economic growth (investment, export and consumption) had double-digit reduction since the first quarter of 2023, with a decrease of almost 12 per cent compared to the same period last year.

However, continuously in the last seven months of the year, exports regained growth momentum after a previous period of deep decline. In particular, from July to the end of the year, export value reached more than $30 billion each month.

Ministries, including the MoIT, and sectors along with businesses and associations deployed many trade promotion solutions and utilised free trade agreements (FTAs) to maintain exports to main markets, reaching the target of 2023. Thanks to those efforts, exports gradually regained their growth rate.

Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Import-Export Department, MoIT, said in the difficult situation, many export products have still maintained significant turnover. For example, fruit and vegetable exports and rice exports are bright spots. Their positive results have showed the business's strong recovery and market expansion.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2023, the agricultural, forestry and fishery export value is estimated to reach over $53 billion, fulfilling 96.3 per cent of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister at the beginning of the year.

The agriculture sector's trade surplus in 2023 is over $11 billion, the highest level in recent years and accounting for over 42.5 per cent of the country's trade surplus.

Especially, according to the General Department of Customs, by the first half of December, Vietnam exported more than 7.9 million tonnes of rice, worth over $4.5 billion, an increase of 11 per cent in volume and 29 per cent in value compared to the same period in 2022.

Experts estimate that in 2023, rice exports could reach 8.2 million tonnes worth nearly $4.8 billion, reaching the highest level since 1989 - the year Viet Nam started exporting rice.

Viet Nam's previous rice export record was only about 7.1 million tonnes in 2011 and 2022.

This result also shows the quality of the country's rice is increasing and meeting strict requirements from demanding markets. It also reflects that traders are well taking advantage of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Government trade promotion programmes.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association forecasts fruit and vegetable exports in 2023 will reach $5.6 billion  an industry record. This figure surpasses the original years plan by 40 per cent and is up about 66 per cent from the same period in 2022.

Fruit and vegetable exports have the leading export turnover among agricultural products, including key products such as rice, cashew nuts, coffee and cassava. Notably, durian has become the "champion" in the group of exported fruits and vegetables with very high growth rate because Viet Nam has promoted the licensing process for official export to China for Vietnamese durian products.

Phung uc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the VN15 trillion support package for the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector has helped businesses have more financial resources to reserve raw materials, increase processing and enhance trade promotion.

The agriculture expects to reach the export target of $53 - 54 billion in 2023.

However, Le Quoc Phuong, former deputy director of the Industry and Trade Information Centre, MoIT, said that the trade surplus of $26 billion is partly caused by the sharp decrease in imports.

According to Phuong, Viet Nam is mainly to process and assemble products, so it must import a lot of components and raw material, for example exported products such as phones, electronic components, textiles, garments and footwear. Therefore, the decrease in imports shows that the production situation of enterprises is still facing many difficulties.

Therefore, Phuong held that it is necessary to increase the localisation rate and promote high technology use to have sustainable development in exports.

Some economic experts believed that Viet Nam needs to focus on promoting key export products such as agricultural products. At the same time, it should pay attention to quality issues. Particularly for seafood exports, Viet Nam must actively work to remove the European Union's yellow card warning.

In addition, the agriculture should promote processing of added value products.

Meanwhile, the MoIT will promote green export promotion solutions.

Vu Ba Phu, director of the Department of Trade Promotion, MoIT, said green transformation is a vital trend, so the ministry has been focusing on solutions to support businesses, industries and localities to implement green transformation in 2024 and beyond.

Relevant ministries and branches will have to quickly supplement and improve the legal framework, providing standards and regulations on green transformation for each specific field.

To develop export markets, the ministry will promote negotiations and sign new agreements, commitments and trade links, such as FTAs with other potential partners (UAE, MERCOSUR...) to diversify markets, products and supply chains.

It will also coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to negotiate with China to open markets for other Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products such as green-skinned grapefruit, fresh coconuts, avocados, pineapples, star apple, lemon and melon.

In 2024, the MOIT aims to increase total export turnover by over 6 per cent compared to 2023.  VNS
In February, the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon that flew across the United States. At first, the US Department of Defense said that the surveillance aircraft didn't collect intelligence.

Now, some US intelligence officials have shared new information about this alleged spy balloon from China. Two current authorities and one former official claimed that the Chinese spy balloon used an American internet service provider. Based on the assessment they are familiar with, the Chinese spy balloon allegedly connected to a US-based firm-was able to receive and send communications to Beijing.

Chinese Spy Balloon Allegedly Used US Internet Provider

The US intelligence officials familiar with the latest Chinese spy balloon assessment said that the Chinese spy balloon could send burst transmissions or high-bandwidth data collections over short periods because of the American internet service provider it used.

According to NBC News' latest report, the U.S.-based ISP can't be named as of writing since the company's identity needs to be protected.

But, the latest assessment revealed that the American internet firm claimed that the Chinese spy balloon couldn't use its network. The ISP argued that this is based on their investigation and discussions with the US authorities.

However, further investigation is needed since experts said Chinese intelligence officials are known for using commercially available internet service providers in the US and other countries.

Numerous former US officials stated that China relies on these foreign internet firms for backup communication networks. They added that Beijing seeks out encrypted networks or internet services with strong security protocols to communicate securely.

Read Also: Taiwan Announces How It'll Handle Chinese Spy Balloons-What Handling Based on Threat Level Means?

Pentagon Claims Chinese Spy Balloon Didn't Collect Data

In June, the Pentagon claimed that the Chinese spy balloon the US government shot down in February wasn't able to collect sensitive data.

"It's been our assessment now that it did not collect intelligence while it was transiting the United States or overflying the United States," said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder via The Guardian.

He added that the US Department of Defense took drastic measures to mitigate the intelligence collection activities that the Chinese spy balloon was possibly doing when it was still active.

But, before Pat Ryder released this statement, multiple senior US intelligence officials warned that the surveillance aircraft of China was able to collect sensitive information about military sites.

As of press time, it is hard to believe that the Chinese spy balloon wasn't or could gather critical data about the US since new details are being released about it.

As an American citizen, the best thing you can do is wait for further US government announcements.

Related Article: Chinese Spy Balloon Appears in Taiwan Strait, Defense Ministry Claims-Is China Trying To Disturb Presidential Election?

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HA NOI  The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that to date it has coordinated with importing countries to issue 6,997 growing area codes and 1,613 packaging facility codes for export.

Fresh fruits, such as dragon fruit, mango, star apple, banana, grapefruit, passion fruit, seedless lemon, longan, lychee, chilli, and black jelly were given codes for export to China, America, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, China and Japan.

The department also worked with the departments of agriculture and rural development of provinces and cities to promote the establishment of qualified planting areas and proactively inspect and closely monitor approved growing areas and code-issued packaging facilities. At the same time, it also directed and urged localities to implement Directive 1838/CT-BNN-BVTV and Document 1776/BNN-BVTV dated March 23, 2023, on granting and managing codes of growing areas and packaging facilities for export, development and management of growing area codes and facility codes for packaging agricultural products for export.

The department has actively coordinated with localities to develop, expand and supervise the number and planting areas of codes as well as the number of packaging facilities meeting the requirements of importing countries.

Therefore, the department assigned its units to inspect some growing areas and packaging facilities in 13 provinces and cities, including Hai Duong, Bac Giang, Son La, ak Nong, ak Lak, Long An, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Can Tho, An Giang, ong Thap, ong Nai and Binh Thuan.

Along with developing growing areas and packaging facilities for export products, the department also removed technical barriers and opened the market for fresh vegetables and key fruits.

Typically with Japan, the department agreed with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on the requirement to import Vietnamese mangoes and dragon fruits to Japan as well as the use of new stamps for Viet Nams exported goods to the Japanese market from August 1, 2023. It also agreed with MAFF on a plan to transfer plant quarantine supervision and treatment of Vietnamese fresh fruits before exporting to Japan as of April 2024.

For the Chinese market, the department exchanged information with the General Department of Customs of China to complete the draft protocol on import requirements for chilli, fresh coconuts, frozen durian and other traditional Vietnamese fresh fruits (except fresh bananas) exported to the Chinese market and continue the negotiation process for citrus fruit products and medicinal herbs.  VNS
HCM CITY  The 13th VINACAS Golden Cashew Rendezvous to be held from February 26 to 28 in Quang Binh Provinces ong Hoi City will seek to redefine the global supply chain after the Covid pandemic and this years economic downturn, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association.

Vietnamese and foreign businesses would sit together to review market fluctuations and supply chain changes and reshape the worlds cashew value chain for 2024 and subsequent years towards a more sustainable, efficient direction, Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas) chairman Pham Van Cong said.

Participants would have the opportunity to access the latest information on crops, markets and prices, he added.

Organised by Vinacas and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, the conference is expected to attract 400-500 participants.

Cong said around 300 foreign delegates have registered, including from Japan, an emerging but promising market for Viet Nam's cashew industry.

The event will feature a number of activities such as networking programmes, signing of deals and panel discussions on production and trading of raw nuts and kernels.

There will be a half-day tour for all participants to Quang Binhs stupendous cave system, a UNESCOs world natural heritage, on February 26.

The event has been an important trade promotion event for Viet Nams cashew industry since it was first held in 2008, according to the association.

It is also a major global event in the global cashew industry since for over 10 years Viet Nam has been the world's largest importer of raw cashew and largest exporter of cashew kernels, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of global exports, it said.

The country also has the world's most advanced cashew processing equipment and technology, it added.

Statistics from the General Department of Customs show that Viet Nam earned US$3.31 billion from exporting 582,000 tonnes of the nut in the first 11 months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 23.1 per cent in volume and 17.4 per cent in value.  VNS
HCM CITY  Dozen of businesses from 18 cities and provinces nation-wide are showcasing their products at the Indigenous Specialties - Traditional Craft Villages exhibition that opened in HCM City on December 29.

They include producers of Vietnamese high-quality goods, start-ups and businesses involved in regional/local specialty clubs, who are displaying herbal teas, cosmetics extracted from rice and avocado, products made from nipa palm, Sa Pa dried shiitake mushrooms, regional foods, handicrafts, and others.

Vu Kim Hanh, chairwoman of the Business Association of Vietnamese High quality Products, said on display at nearly 40 booths this time are unique products made from local natural resources, OCOP products, those with geographical indication, typical rural items from various localities, and Vietnamese high-quality goods that meet Vietnamese and international quality standards.

According to the organisers, the event also includes experiential activities, product sampling and traditional games.

From 9am to 10am every day chefs from the Golden Spoon Chef Club and the Culinary Conservation Centre will demonstrate how to make dishes from every region.

At the workshop and experience area, from 2pm to 3pm visitors can learn from artisans how to make handmade products such as to he (folk figurines from glutinous rice), items made from loofah and lepironia articulate grass.

Artisans from craft villages will also demonstrate how they create embroidery pieces, weave silk and make beeswax painting in Thai and Hmong ethnic style.

Hanh said on December 29 a VietNam One stop Specialty Store Chain" was opened at Grand World in Phu Quoc to showcase specialities to local and international visitors.

Organised by the Business Studies and Assistance Centre, the Business Association of Vietnamese High quality Products and Vinamit Joint Stock Company, the programme, being held at the Reunification Hall in District 1, will go on until December 31.  VNS
HCM CITY  HCM City, known for its vibrant nightlife and stunning fireworks, has been ranked third among the top 10 global destinations for an unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration, as selected by AI technology.

Digital travel platform Agoda utilised AI technology to compile a list of the ultimate global destinations for New Year's Eve celebrations. The list caters to both partygoers and families, promising scenic views, electrifying parties, and an unmatched vibe to welcome the New Year.

From the iconic fireworks over Sydney Harbour to the legendary ball drop in Times Square, the list features a range of cultural experiences and breathtaking displays. It includes revelling the night away in Rio de Janeiro or embracing the traditions of Edinburgh's Hogmanay.

According to Lam Vu, country director Vietnam at Agoda, the list aims to inspire and ignite a sense of wonder among aspiring travellers. Whether it's a short getaway within Asia or a trip to the other side of the world, Agoda provides the best deals for all.

HCM City, ranked third on the list, is recommended by AI for its festive atmosphere, fireworks over the Saigon River, and vibrant nightlife in District 1.

Singapore secured the top spot on the list, offering travellers a chance to marvel at the dazzling fireworks display in Marina Bay and indulge in vibrant street parties and carnivals. Bali, Indonesia takes second place, with beachside celebrations featuring festive fireworks and traditional Balinese performances.

Travellers looking for a cultural experience are encouraged to visit Tokyo, Japan, where they can embrace the Japanese tradition of watching the first sunrise of the year, alongside cultural celebrations and modern countdown parties.

Other destinations on the list include Sydney, Australia, famous for its world-renowned fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House; New York City, USA, where visitors can join the masses in Times Square for the iconic ball drop or attend countless parties and concerts throughout the city; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to enjoy the vibrant energy of Copacabana Beach with samba rhythms and spectacular fireworks show.

London, England offers the opportunity to watch the night sky light up with fireworks along the river Thames, accompanied by a variety of boat parties and events.

Edinburgh, Scotland, is recommended for historic Hogmanay celebrations, complete with processions, concerts, and the unique Loony Dook traditiona fancy dress New Year's Day swim in the chilly Firth of Forth.

For a truly unique experience, visitors can head to Reykjavik, Iceland, where they can join locals in community bonfires and enjoy fireworks displays set against a snowy landscape, with the chance to witness the majestic Northern Lights.

Agoda utilised ChatGPT 4.0 to identify the list of travel destinations and create the first draft of the release.  VNS
HA NOI  In the solemn and beautiful space of Cua Bac Church in Ha Noi, artists performed classical music and songs on December 28 to pray for young patients who are facing difficult circumstances and are currently being treated at Ha Nois hospitals.

This is the second concert under the Viet tiep uoc mo (Keep Writing Dreams), a charity concert project to raise funds to support poor patients at Ha Nois hospitals. The concert aimed to ask God's blessings on unfortunate children and introduce classical music genres to audiences in Ha Noi.

The concert was attended by many famous artists in the classical music industry, such as opera artists Ngo Huong Diep, ao To Loan, pianist ao Thu Le, pianist Nguyen My Dung, cellist Bui Ha Mien, violinist Khuc Van Khoa, young pianists Luu Danh Khoi, Khanh Linh and conductor Dustin Tieu from HCM City.

Here, the audience enjoyed familiar melodies, such as "Hallelujah," "Ave Maria," "Alleluja", and Chaconne in D minor (Johann Sebastian Bach).

Everyone's busy life makes us forget the hidden corners of life. Therefore, the "Keep Writing Dreams" concert was born, with the desire to help needy children undergoing surgery and treatment at the National Children's Hospital and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Ha Noi, said the concert founder, artist Nguyen My Dung.

Dung added that with support from the audience, the programme is expected to donate hospital fees, each from VN3 to 5 million, to 10 pediatric patients on the occasion of the new year 2024.

Luu Danh Khoi, a young pianist studying piano in the US, returned home to attend the programme. He expressed his excitement when he first played music at Cua Bac Church: I am extremely happy to be able to join the artists and contribute a small part to a meaningful programme like the Keep Writing Dreams concert.

The Keep Writing Dreams concert has been cherished for many years by Nguyen My Dung, a lecturer of Piano - Symphony Department, Hanoi College of Arts, and the artists.

The first Keep Writing Dreams concert, called "Spring Melody", was successfully held in Ha Noi on January 10, 2023. The contribution from the concert was used to pay treatment fees for three paediatric liver transplant patients at the National Children's Hospital.  VNS
Can you provide insights into the notable achievements of the Viet Nam Association for Victims of Agent Orange / Dioxin (VAAV) in implementing the Resolution of the 4th Congress, term 2018-2023?

In the 2018-2023 term, VAVA has displayed concerted efforts across all levels to overcome various challenges, successfully achieving the comprehensive goals and tasks outlined by the 4th Congress.

The central association and regional entities, including provinces and cities, have excelled in advising and proposing initiatives to the Party, State, Party Committees, and authorities at all levels. Their focus has been on continuing the implementation of Directive No. 43-CT/TW issued by the Secretariat, aligning with the Party and State's guidelines and policies to address the consequences of toxic chemicals. They also emphasise providing basic and sustainable care and assistance to the victims.

Communication efforts have been intensified through various appropriate and effective channels. The "For Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange" emulation movement, closely associated with the "Action for victims of Agent Orange" campaign initiated by the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, has been deeply, widely, and effectively deployed.

The entire Party, the entire populace, and the entire political system have engaged in numerous effective and high-quality activities to support victims of toxic chemicals, with resource mobilisation yielding higher results compared to the previous term.

From the term's initiation until November 2023, associations at all levels nationwide have mobilised funds exceeding VN2.27 trillion, inclusive of both monetary contributions and in-kind donations.

Notably, the Agent Orange Victims Fund has been established at the Central Association and across 40 out of 63 provinces and cities, encompassing over 610 districts. Most communes and wards have initiated voluntary funds, reflecting a widespread and proactive approach to addressing the needs of Agent Orange victims.

Activities of the Fund, spanning from the central to grassroots levels, strictly adhere to the Charter and are marked by transparency, public disclosure, and effective management and utilisation.

Throughout the fourth term, the entire Association actively contributed to the construction of Social Protection Centres in provinces and cities, with an investment reaching nearly VN38 billion. Moreover, significant efforts were dedicated to upgrading VAVA's Center and supporting the construction of boarding facilities in provinces and cities, involving a cost of nearly VN36 billion.

To date, the Association oversees 26 Centers, organised into two models. These centres serve as nurturing grounds for close to 1,900 children and have evolved into indispensable "homes" for victims, also functioning as rehabilitation facilities for veteran victims.

The unwavering commitment to seeking justice for victims will persist, with the adoption of new forms and measures aligned with the Party and State's perspectives, policies, and foreign policy. This steadfast effort has significantly influenced the awareness of the U.S. Congress and Government. Their increased responsibility is evident in their active involvement in the treatment of residual dioxin at a Nang Airport and Bien Hoa Airport (ong Nai), along with their humanitarian support for people with disabilities, including victims of Agent Orange.

Associations at all levels have embraced innovation, enhancing their roles and responsibilities, genuinely representing the legitimate rights and interests of victims. They have proven to be organisations that promptly address the aspirations of victims, reaffirming their roles and responsibilities within party committees, government structures, and society.

During the term, have there been new developments in the fight for justice for victims and people's diplomacy?

VAVA has consistently focused on directing and effectively implementing activities to fight for justice for victims in alignment with the foreign policy, guidelines, and policies of the Party and State. Simultaneously, close coordination with authorities has been maintained to both engage in the fight and mobilise The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for programmes that give heightened attention to victims of Agent Orange.

The Association has actively engaged with US officials, leveraging forums and participating in international seminars and discussions to articulate requests and suggestions to the US Government and chemical companies.

These efforts aim to hold the US accountable for the victims of Agent Orange, emphasising it as an issue that the US Government must address.

These activities have contributed to a shift in the stance of US authorities toward victims of Agent Orange, resulting in policies and activities directly benefiting those affected, including victims and their families. The Association has expanded the survey of victims in seven provinces and has successfully advocated for the addition of three more provinces to a project supporting people with disabilities, including victims in heavily sprayed provinces.

Furthermore, during Ms. Tran To Nga's lawsuit in France (Nga is a Vietnamese French victim of AO), the Association closely collaborated with the French Law Office. It actively campaigned to support Nga in her legal actions against American chemical companies, issuing timely statements supporting the lawsuit and sending open letters to domestic and international organisations and individuals protesting the initial court decision. In the upcoming period, we will continue to stand alongside Nga in her appeal at the Court of Appeal of the city of Paris (France).

In response to the new situation, people's foreign affairs work aligns closely with the Association's tasks. There is an ongoing effort to promptly develop a plan to implement Directive 12-CT/TW dated January 5, 2022, of the Secretariat, focusing on strengthening the Party's leadership, enhancing the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy in the current circumstances.

The Association maintains relationships with traditional friends in the US, France, UK, Japan, Korea, and actively expands connections with government organisations in some countries such as Japan, Belgium, and several other national organisations.

Furthermore, the Association continues to participate in numerous foreign affairs activities, including those of the A and H bomb prevention council in Japan, and the US Institute of Peace. Active involvement in conferences, seminars, discussions, and forums related to overcoming the consequences of war is ongoing.

VAVA has organised several delegations to countries like the US, Japan, and Korea to mobilise help, support, and advocate for justice for victims, garnering international public opinion. Simultaneously, numerous foreign delegations, comprising over 1,000 individuals, have visited Viet Nam to engage with victims, work, and provide assistance.

The United States Agency for International Development is actively implementing a project supporting people with disabilities, including victims of Agent Orange, in heavily sprayed provinces. Additionally, they are undertaking various other projects directly benefitting victims of Agent Orange.

In the upcoming period, could you outline the key tasks that VAVA will prioritise?

It can be affirmed that the attention of the Party, State, Party committees, and authorities at all levels is a prerequisite for the Association to successfully and excellently fulfil the tasks assigned by the Party and State. Consensus, close coordination, affection, and responsibility for victims from various agencies and units are crucial factors in implementing the Association's central mission of caring for and assisting victims and advocating for their justice.

In the next term, we will persistently implement Directive 43-CT/TW of the Secretariat, actively promoting the emulation movement "For Victims of Agent Orange." We will continue to prioritise attention, care, and assistance to help victims overcome challenges, facilitating their integration into the community with a standard of living equal to the local average. We are committed to preventing victim families from falling back into poverty and ensuring they are not left temporarily displaced or residing in dilapidated homes.

VAVA will further innovate both the content and forms of domestic and international resource mobilisation. We will deploy sponsored projects with a strong emphasis on legal compliance, publicity, and transparency. Our approach will be proactive and dynamic in advocating for justice for victims of Agent Orange, adapting to the new situation and conditions.

Specifically, for activities related to justice for victims, we will supplement and refine the plan to determine goals and a roadmap for fighting for justice for victims and people-to-people diplomacy in the current scenario, which will be submitted to competent authorities for approval.

Furthermore, the Association remains committed to maintaining traditional relationships with international organisations, foreign individuals, and Vietnamese people living abroad. During the development term, we aim to expand our connections to include 5-10 additional international organisations that consistently care for, support, and aid victims in Viet Nam. VNS
HA NOI  Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viet A Technologies JSC Phan Quoc Viet has been sentenced a total of 25 years in prison on charges of "abusing position and power while on duty" and violating bidding regulations, causing serious damages, in the COVID-19 test kit case at the Viet A Technologies JSC and the Viet Nam Military Medical University (VMMU).

The military court of Ha Noi capital announced the verdict on Friday, following a three-day trial and deliberation.

Ho Anh Son, former Deputy Director of the Military Medical Academys Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, received a 12-year prison sentence while former Director of the Department of Science and Technology for Economic-Technical Sectors under Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) Trinh Thanh Hung was sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Four other defendants, charged with "violating bidding regulations, causing serious damages", faced jail sentences of between 4-7 years.

According to the indictment, amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, the Board of Directors of the VMMU sent a document to the MoST, proposing the task of developing COVID-19 test kits.

The accused managed to engage the Viet A Technologies JSC into the test kit development project worth nearly VN19 billion (over US$781,400) and helped it get a licence to illegally produce the test kits.

Their wrongdoings caused an economic loss of nearly VN18.5 billion ($762,260).  VNS
HA NOI  Politburo member, President Vo Van Thuong on Friday attended and delivered a speech at the national military-political conference in 2023, during which he requested the entire army to coordinate with other forces to maintain security and order throughout the country, and proactively, effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges.

President Thuong lauded the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence as well as officers and soldiers of the whole army for achievements they have made in 2023, thus contributing to concretising the Party's policies and guidelines into the State's policies and laws on military and national defence, and meeting the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland in the new period.

He asked the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to continue well performing the function of advising the Party and State on military and defence affairs, improving research and forecasting capacity, and having flexible and effective solutions to handle problems and avoid being passive or surprised.

It is necessary to continue to deeply grasp the policy of all-people defence, people's war, and national protection in the new situation, with the viewpoint of relying on the people, and the people being the root, the centre, and the subject, President Thuong stressed.

The entire army must focus on improving the overall quality and combat strength, strictly maintain combat readiness, monitor and firmly protect the airspace, sea, border, inland, cyberspace and key areas, and firmly safeguard the country's sovereignty and territory.

The State leader underlined the need for the army to propose mechanisms, policies, and solutions to attract and train talents, and improve the quality of human resources to meet the requirements of building the army in the new situation.

Special attention must be paid to building a truly clean and strong Party Organisation of the Viet Nam Peoples Army in terms of politics, ideology, ethics, organisation and personnel, President Thuong said, stressing the need to ensure the Party's absolute and direct leadership in all aspects of the army.

The leader also required the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to exert greater efforts to improve the material and spiritual lives of officers and soldiers, especially in remote, border and island areas; and implement international integration and defence diplomacy concertedly, comprehensively, and effectively to ensure national interests at the highest.  VNS
HA NOI In response to the evolving economic and social landscape in the country, Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has announced measures to address the deteriorating air quality in major cities, industrial zones and craft villages. The worsening environmental conditions pose serious threats to public health, inflict damage on the economy, and jeopardize the overall well-being of the environment.

The Ministry of Finance recently proposed a method and formula to calculate the Environment Protection Fee for emissions in a draft decree to the Government.

According to the draft, there are two methods for emissions fee calculation.

Method one is for organisations that need regular emission monitoring. These organisations must pay a quarterly fee of VN750,000 (US$31), plus a variable cost in accordance with this table:

PollutantCost in VN per tonnes (US$/tonnes)Fine dust particlesVN800 (US$0.033)Nitrous oxides (includes NO2 & NO)VN800 (US$0.033)Sulphur oxidesVN700 (US$0.029)Carbon oxideVN500 (US$0.021)

Method two is for organisations that do not require constant emission monitoring. These organisations only have to pay a fixed annual fee of VN3 million (US$123.7)

The draft also proposed bonuses for organisations that restrict pollutant emissions.

Organisations that have a pollutant concentration level lower or equal to 30 per cent of the amount regulated in the National Technical Standards of Industrial Emission only have to pay 75 per cent of the fee, in accordance with the aforementioned formula.

Organisations that have a pollutant concentration level from 30 per cent to less than 50 per cent of the amount regulated in the National Technical Standards of Industrial Emission only have to pay 50 per cent of the fee, in accordance with the aforementioned formula.

Fee collecting organisations must transfer all collected fees to the state budget.

Currently, the nation boasts approximately 5.1 million cars and a large number of motorcycles in circulation. There are also numerous industrial complexes, including those focused on bauxite production, steel manufacturing, oil refining and power plants, which discharge substantial industrial emissions daily. Additionally, there are around 120,000 industrial production facilities, with 138 identified as causing serious environmental pollution.

According to the draft regulations, two sources of pollution  dust and industrial emissions  require management and control. These sources include: vehicles, machinery, equipment, and construction projects emitting dust and industrial emissions, as well as production, business and service facilities emitting industrial emissions.

Some suggestions propose imposing environment protection fees on all types of emissions causing environmental pollution and all emission sources mentioned above. However, determining environment protection fees for emissions must ensure feasibility, effectiveness, and alignment with the current economic and social conditions.

The establishment of an environment protection fee for emissions is deemed necessary to institutionalise the Party and the State's policies, construct a comprehensive legal system on fees suitable to practical environmental protection conditions, and gradually raise awareness about environment-impacting activities among pollutant-emitting organisations and individuals, and society as a whole.

Timely and reasonable mobilisation of resources from emission sources will create funding for environmental protection activities related to air quality. VNS
HA NOI  The average score on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of Vietnamese people in 2022 ranked 23rd out of 40 countries organising the IELTS exam.

The average score is 6.2 out of 9.0, the same rank as South Korea, Pakistan and India, according to the data from the 2023 annual report on foreign language teaching and learning, issued by the Viet Nam National Institute of Educational Sciences and Management Board of the National Project on Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages.

The annual report highlights notable figures related to the IELTS exam.

After five years, the proportion of students aged 16-22 among all IELTS test takers increased to 62 per cent, particularly, the 16-18 year old group accounts for 30 per cent, an increase of 20 times compared to 2018, said Nguyen Thi Mai Huu, head of the Management Board for the National Project on Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages.

According to the report, since 2017, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has approved the use of scores from several international exams such as IELTS and TOEIC (test of English for International Communication) for English subject in high school graduation exams.

Specifically, MoET gives exam exemption and calculates a score 10 out of 10 for the foreign language subject in graduation exams for candidates with an IELTS certificate of 4.0 or higher or equivalent.

In 2021, more than 28,600 candidates were eligible for exam exemption, in 2022 the number increased to more than 35,000 and this year it is nearly 47,000.

In addition, dozens of universities accept candidates with IELTS and equivalent certificates. These are the reasons why the group of candidates in this age group is increasing, the report said.

The report also showed that the age of Vietnamese people taking the IELTS exam is getting younger and younger.

In 2018, more than 50 per cent of IELTS test takers were over 23 years old, only nearly 1.5 per cent of test takers were 16-18 years old and more than 13 per cent were in the 19-22 year old group, while in 2023 the test takers aged from 16-18 accounts for 30 per cent.

According to the report, the results of Vietnamese students were not really outstanding in international English exams. Vietnamese students showed strengths in reading and listening tests and have the most difficulty with speaking, in which the average score is 14 out of 30 and 5.8, for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS certificates, respectively.

For the national high school graduation exam, the average test score of students in 2021-23 period reaches 6 out of 10 points, of which 42-50 per cent of students score below 5 points.

Therefore, for many years, researchers, educators and policy makers have paid special attention to the barriers Vietnamese students are facing in the process of acquiring and using foreign languages, offering solutions to help Vietnamese students achieve breakthroughs in their language abilities, especially English.

Prof. Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Viet Nam National Institute of Educational Sciences, said that the trend of learning foreign languages among high school students today is increasing.

This comes from their own needs. They consider foreign languages an important tool to learn about the world, Vinh said.

According to survey results and evaluation of English teaching and learning under the 2018 General Education Programme, students were interested in learning English and the trend of integrating technology in English teaching.

English teaching was paid more attention in the context of global citizenship and social-emotional intelligence education.

On that basis, the research team proposed solutions to increase the effectiveness of foreign language teaching and learning in Viet Nam.

Vinh highly appreciated the pioneering role of the team of English teachers according to the 2018 General Education Programme in updating new teaching methods and applying information technology.

This has contributed to improving English proficiency over the past 10 years, gradually changing the perception of students, families, schools and society about learning foreign languages in Viet Nam, the professor said.  VNS
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has announced her withdrawal from the competition for Colorado's 3rd District congressional seat.

Instead, she intends to enter the crowded Republican primary for the more conservative 4th District. Boebert, 37, revealed her decision via a Facebook post and video on Wednesday, expressing her commitment to serve the 3rd District until the current term concludes, as per New York Post.

Lauren Boebert's Strategic Move

cited her determination to gain the trust of grassroots conservative voters in the 4th District, emphasizing her dedication to represent them starting in 2025. Her departure from the 3rd District is seen as a strategic move, given the challenges she faced, including a potential loss in the upcoming election, fueled by discontent within her party over her controversial approach.

The decision to switch districts was accompanied by Boebert's assertion that she won't permit external influences, particularly what she referred to as "dark money," to compromise the integrity of the seat she aims to vacate. She accused donors from Aspen, George Soros, and Hollywood actors of attempting to manipulate the election dynamics.

The move, characterized as a "fresh start" by Boebert, acknowledges the tumultuous year she experienced, marked by a divorce and a highly publicized incident during a performance of the musical "Beetlejuice" in Denver. Despite facing criticism for her behavior, she apologized to her constituents, framing her departure as a positive step forward.

Boebert's decision alters the political landscape, as she abandons the competitive 3rd District seat, setting the stage for a potential rematch between Boebert and Democrat Adam Frisch. Previously, Frisch came close to unseating Boebert in 2022, garnering significant support.

In the 4th District, Boebert aims to succeed retiring Rep. Ken Buck, entering a race that features multiple Republican candidates. The shift signals a change in Boebert's residence from the western Rocky Mountain peaks to the eastern prairie grasslands. While representatives are only required to reside in the state, Boebert affirmed her intention to move, according to Associated Press

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Boebert's District Change Alters Election Dynamics

Boebert's decision to step down from the 3rd District has brought about a shift in the dynamics of the upcoming election. This change is expected to have an impact on potential contenders, including Jeff Hurd, a candidate representing a more traditional Republican stance. Hurd has garnered backing from prominent Republicans within the district.

Boebert's political journey has been marked by controversy, including her surprising primary victory in 2020 and subsequent clashes with prominent Democrats. Despite her vocal promotion of false claims regarding the 2020 election, her decision to step into the 4th District introduces a new chapter in her political trajectory.

The decision not only paves the way for a strong Republican primary in the 4th District but also brings about a transformation in the electoral dynamics of both the 3rd and 4th Districts. As Boebert embarks on her political journey, the unfolding dynamics of her experience will be closely monitored. She will face the challenges of navigating a different political terrain, and observers will be keenly watching her every move, The New York Times reported.

Related Article: Nikki Haley Fails to Mention Slavery as the Cause Behind Civil War

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HCM CITY  HCM City's Sai Gon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) and US-based Ansys Software Pvt Ltd. (Ansys) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate to foster electronic design expertise and advance the semiconductor industry in Viet Nam.

Through this collaboration with the leading high-tech hub in Viet Nam, Ansys, a company specialising in designing technical simulation software, plans to explore the opportunity to provide its Academic Teaching Lease license and relevant Coursework to local universities through the Ansys Innovation Space.

The universities involved in the collaboration are known for their strong engineering departments and provide access to a valuable talent pool for the growing engineering simulation industry in the region.

The collaboration is intended to enable these students to gain practical experience in IC design and learn how to solve complex technical challenges while using simulation software.

Rafiq Somani, vice president of South Asia and Indian Ocean, Ansys, said his company is excited to collaborate with SHTP and the prestigious universities to support the expansion of electronic design expertise in Viet Nam.

SHTP plays a vital role in fostering the development of the high-tech industry and promoting innovation and creativity in the region.

By providing access to our software tools, we aim to equip the next generation of engineers with the skills they need to contribute to the growth of the high-tech industry in Viet Nam, he said.

Nguyen Anh Thi, head of SHTP's Management Board, said this collaboration will contribute significantly to strengthening the capability of the Electronics and Semiconductor Center (ESC) in SHTP, the development of the local semiconductor industry and the growth of the Vietnamese economy.

With a strong commitment from Ansys to promote training and research activities in this field, SHTP looks forward to a fruitful collaboration.

The programme will enable our students to gain access to the latest technology and methodologies in engineering simulation and acquire practical experience that will help them succeed in the high-tech industry, he said.

Established in 2002, SHTP is located in Thu uc city and covers an area of 913 hectares with the aim of fostering the development of high-tech industries and promoting innovation and creativity in the region.

The park is home to more than 160 companies, including multinational corporations, research institutions, and startups.

With the goal of becoming a key driver of economic growth in the region and attracting local and foreign investment, it is promoting technology transfer, talent development, and collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate innovation and sustainable development.  VNS
Since Catholicism was first introduced to Viet Nam in the early 16th century, many churches with unique architecture have been built throughout the country.

According to the Viet Nam Catholic Church, there are over 5,400 churches across the country, and many magnificent new ones are being built or have been completed, attracting not only Christians but also tourists near and far.

Prominent among the newly built cathedrals are Lang Van in the northern province of Ninh Binh, Tam Toa in the central province of Quang Binh and Song Vinh in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau.

Lang Van: the biggest cathedral

Lang Van Cathedral, located in Gia Lap Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh, within the Phat Diem Diocese, has been under construction since 2014 and is almost complete.

Nguyen Huu Rong, a local Catholic, told the Dan Viet newspaper: "Lang Van has around 3,800 Catholics. The cathedral, under construction since 2014 will be 40m wide, 94m long and have a 1,000sq.m basement. Its most notable structure is the bell tower, including the cross, measuring 110 metres high."

"The main bell tower, with piles of up to 1.6-metre in diameter, penetrates multiple layers of soil down to the bedrock, reaching a depth of 40-50 metres. There are two additional towers with a height of up to 60 metres," he said.

Once completed, the cathedral will accommodate about 5,000 people at a time.

Beneath the main sanctuary, there is 15m-deep basement with a capacity of 700-800 guests, providing convenience for organising large social events.

Established in 1885 under the title of uc Me Vo Nhiem (Immaculate Conception), Lang Van is a devoutly Catholic parish.

The original Lang Van Cathedral, an ancient architectural structure, was built around 1933. It was designed with a seating capacity of 1,000, but couldn't accommodate all the parishioners, especially during extreme weather conditions.

The new Lang Van Cathedral has therefore been constructed to meet the needs of worship and conduct the rituals of the Holy Mass of local Catholics.

Tam Toa: cathedral of stone

Located in Nam Ly Ward of ong Hoi City in the central province of Quang Binh, the recently inaugurated Tam Toa Cathedral not only serves as a place of worship for Catholics but also attracts many tourists due to its unique architecture, predominantly constructed with stone.

The building began in April 2016 and finished after seven years, having a spacious campus covering an area of 2,000 square metres.

One distinctive feature of Tam Toa Cathedral, which sets it apart from many other churches in Quang Binh, is its primary construction materials consisting of 1,000 blocks of granite and marble stone.

The interior of the cathedral is designed in the Romanesque architectural style, which was prominent in medieval Europe. It has three spires, and inside, there are three bells imported from France, with a total weight of about one tonne.

Currently, in addition to regular religious activities and worship services, the church also opens its doors to visitors who wish to explore and appreciate its beauty.

About 3km away from the new church, there are relics of the first Tam Toa Church located in ong Hai Ward by the picturesque Nhat Le River. It was built in 1886 by priest Clause Bonin but was destroyed by US bombardment in 1964. Only the bell tower stands as the last remaining relic of war, and now it has become a tourist attraction in ong Hoi City.

Song Vinh Cathedral

Officially opening on December 12, 2022 after 11 years, one month, and one day of construction, Song Vinh Cathedral is a remarkable architectural landmark in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau.

The building, located on National Highway 51, attracts attention with its grand and elegant appearance. The majestic cathedral embodies the Gothic architectural style.

The cathedral is built on a foundation of 82 metres long and 35 metres wide. The striking feature of its Gothic architectural style is the presence of two tall towers on either side, along with the classic pointed arches.

The construction has multiple large windows compared to traditional Gothic architecture, allowing ample natural light to flood the interior of the building. The cathedral's structural system, with load-bearing frames, ribbed vaults, and high columns, creates a spacious and airy interior.

In addition, the use of carefully crafted stone bricks throughout the construction, including the window frames and statues, enhances the durability and resilience of the building against the harsh environmental elements such as wind and salty moisture in the coastal region.

"Everyone hopes the cathedral will endure for generations to come, hence the attention to detail and craftsmanship in every aspect of the building," the local parish priest said.

At night, it becomes enchanting and ethereal, illuminated by characteristic golden and white lights emanating from its large and small windows.

During the Christmas season, the cathedral is adorned even more splendidly, shining brightly and standing out from afar, attracting believers and non-Christian visitors alike. VNS
By Thu Ngan

A young woman from Ha Noi, To La, has shared her experiences of a solo visit to four European countries over three weeks on a big fanpage.

For the first time I put aside the fear of loneliness. I decided to pack my suitcase for a three-week trip wandering around France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Vatican City, she posted.

The post received thousands of likes and comments, most of them admiring and surprised.

Solo travelling is not rare in western countries, but in Asian countries including Viet Nam it is somewhat of an oddity.

La tells Viet Nam News that as an introvert she really wanted to travel alone but it was not an easy task.

Waste of money and time is what people dub solo travelling, she said.

Nevertheless, it has become increasingly popular among young Vietnamese in recent years.

La says travelling alone helped her more confident and make friends from all over the world.

Travel booking online platform Agoda says it has seen more people travelling solo this year.

Going on a solo trip is arguably one of the best gifts one can give oneself. Whether it is to explore new cultures, to make new friends, or to reconnect with those across the globe, going on a trip alone often requires stepping out of ones comfort zone. But those who set out on an adventure of their own are usually rewarded with the creation of the most special memories, Vu Ngoc Lam, country director, Vietnam, Agoda, says.

In Asia and the Pacific, the top three destinations for single travellers on Singles Day on 11 November were Tokyo, Bangkok and Seoul in that order.

For Vietnamese however the order was Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo, Agoda says.

It also reveals the list of foreign and domestic destinations Vietnamese solo travellers will visit between December 23 and 31 based on bookings they made.

They include Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, and Sydney.

The top five domestic destinations are HCM City, Ha Noi, a Nang, a Lat, and Phu Quoc Island.

Southeast Asian travel platform Traveloka also confirms a surge in search for single travellers.

Solo travel encompasses a diverse group of individuals, spanning various age groups and genders. It is not limited to a specific demographics but rather attracts a broad spectrum of travellers seeking independent adventures," Caesar Indra, president of Traveloka, tells Viet Nam News about the trend.

In the third quarter of 2023 we observed a remarkable surge in the search for flights for single people. This surge reflects a growing inclination among solo travellers to explore destinations independently, relying on single-flight bookings to tailor their journeys to personal preferences.

"On the Traveloka platform, there is a notable interest in solo travel experiences," he says.

"The top tours for which customers buy only one ticket per transaction, mostly outbound, include snorkelling and fishing in the south of Phu Quoc, SUP rowing during sunrise in Nha Trang, Komodo tour packages, Phu Quoc island camping, Ha Noi Old Quarter cyclo tours.

Recognising the significance of this trend, the tourism industry must prioritise specialised and personalised services tailored to the preferences of solo travellers.

Catering to the needs of solo travellers, who typically value flexibility, entails providing services that align with their distinct preferences. Personalised services can include tailored itineraries, solo-friendly accommodations, and activities that promote a sense of independence.

In its seven predictions for travel in 2024, Booking.com said recently: When things are falling apart back home amid global instability and an ever-hectic world, dishevelled travellers are booking one-track trips that are focused on self-improvement to bring themselves back to the life they truly want again.

For those who are used to sleeping solo, 62 per cent of Vietnamese travellers said they would be willing to make time for a matchmaking holiday.

On the flip side, frazzled parents are surprisingly seeking solace through completely solo holidays, with the majority of APAC parents (66 per cent ) planning to travel alone without spouses or kids in 2024, Booking.com said.

The study sought to explore how travel will transport people out of autopilot and into unleashing their best life.

Booking.com polled more than 27,000 travellers in 33 countries and territories, and combined it with its insights as a digital travel platform.

For safe solo travel

One reason preventing people, especially women, from travelling alone, is apprehension about safety.

Seeking advice from people who have travelled solo is also recommended and travel insurance is imperative.

La suggests looking up and reading various reviews about the destinations you want to visit, not only in Vietnamese but also in English where possible.

Professional western travellers are more knowledgeable about independent travel than many of us Vietnamese, La remarks.

She suggests making detailed and meticulous plans and itineraries, and booking accommodation and transportation to feel confident and at ease.

"Solo travellers must choose hotels with good reviews about location, service and safety and always research and steer clear of areas considered unsafe in cities," she says.

At a time when information is available everywhere, solo travelling is no longer all that difficult.

Many companies offer products designed specifically for solo travellers.

Traveloka says it collaborates closely with local partners to promote destinations for lone travellers, and these have proven effective in driving solo travel interest.

"Travelling teaches you wisdom, La says.

By stepping out and experiencing the world, you will gain wisdom, courage and maturity.  VNS
Boeing shares lower as it urges 737 MAX inspections, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

The airplane maker recommended airlines undertake the inspection after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance, said a spokesperson for the US Federal Aviation Administration.

"The FAA will consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware," said the FAA spokesperson, adding that Boeing had also found an undelivered aircraft with a bolt not properly tightened.

The Boeing plane "has been remedied," said a company spokesperson.

"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 inspection only lasts about two hours, but the issue comes on the heels of other manufacturing and production problems that forced the company to lower its delivery targets for the 737 MAX this year.

Shares of Boeing were down 1.2 percent at midday.

Vietnam Airlines orders 50 Boeing 737 MAX planes On September11, Boeing and Vietnam Airlines announced that the carrier has selected the 737 MAX family to expand its single-aisle fleet, with a commitment to order 50 737-8 aeroplanes.
Coca-Cola's limited edition Tet packaging features zodiac signs for the first time

In addition, for the first time, Coca-Cola brings 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 Lunar New Year to millions of Vietnamese families and conveys the spirit of optimism to consumers on the threshold of the upcoming Lunar New Year.

30 years accompanying Vietnamese families and culture

"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 occasion," said Leonardo Garcia, general director of Coca-Cola Vietnam and Cambodia.

"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, simultaneously implying the wishes for a fulfilled, sufficient new year to every family and individual, Garcia added.

In celebration of Lunar New Year, 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 Lunar New Year cans, each with a special wish, in an attempt to convey a message of a beautiful, cohesive, and complete New Year. These special products can be purchased at any retailer or e-commerce platform.

In their latest campaign, Coca-Cola has rolled out a new physical-digital engagement activity, inviting consumers to connect and celebrate online.

For each new greeting generated, Coca-Cola will contribute VND15,000 (approximately 6.3 US cents) to the Vietnam Red Cross Tet Fund, which organises a zero-VND market initiative aimed at supporting Lunar New Year meals for the underprivileged.

Market brings magic to the underprivileged

From January 20 to February 3, the 0 Dong Market programme will be jointly held by the Vietnam Red Cross and Coca-Cola. The programme aims to support underprivileged households in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Long An, and Danang with a voucher valued at VND600,000 ($25) which can be redeemed at the market for Lunar New Year products.

This is the second collaboration between Coca-Cola and the Vietnam Red Cross in the project, focusing on delivering support and optimism as the New Year approaches.

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," Garcia added. "The Lunar New Year meals hold a 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. Through this partnership, we have been able to offer each family a special meal for Lunar New Year, reflecting the values that Coca-Cola upholds."

Thums Up 'Charged' is officially launched by Coca Cola in Vietnam The brand-new drink, Thums Up 'Charged', from the globally known Thums Up brand of caffeine supplement drinks, was officially launched on June 15 by the Coca Cola Company. To celebrate the launch, Thums Up will organise a series of innovative activities for the dynamic, vibrant, and ambitious young generation of Vietnam.
A submerged object, suspected to be an ancient ship, lies close to the coast near Cam An ward, Hoi An city. (Photo: plo.vn)

Quang Nam  The collection of carbon isotope samples has been ordered to determine the age of a sunken wooden ship recently discovered near the coast of Cam An ward in the central province of Quang Nams Hoi An city.

The move is part of a series of activities launched by Hoi An authorities, which include cordoning off the area and safeguarding it around the clock to prevent unauthorised salvage operations.



In accordance with the heritage law, the city-level administration does not have the authority to carry out excavation or archaeological work. Hoi An has reported the findings to and requested the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism formulate the next steps, said Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Lanh.



The incident unfolded on December 26 in the area where an emergency coastal embankment project was underway to combat erosion at Cua Dai beach. Local residents discovered an object believed to be a long-lost vessel. The impact of tidal surges and ocean waves caused a portion of the ship to protrude above the water surface.



According to Lanh, upon receiving reports of the discovery, specialised personnel from the citys cultural heritage conservation centre were sent to the scene to conduct an initial check. Observations have indicated multiple dark brown wooden beams protruding between 10  30cm above the sea surface, resembling the shape of a boat with a pointed end. The boats width and length were estimated to be approximately 3m and 15m, respectively.

Hoi An enters top 15 cities in Asia The ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam has entered the top 15 cities in Asia selected by Travel+Leisures World's Best Awards 2021.
Need a job, go to Texas.

Apparently that advice is getting around, as the state in November enjoyed its 33rd straight month of job growth, according to Gov. Greg Abbotts office. The state also reached a historic high for the number of Texans working, including self-employed, with 14.57 million holding jobs, or 14.09 million seasonally adjusted.

Texas dominates as Americas jobs engine, again adding more jobs over the last 12 months than any state in the nation, Abbott said in a press release. I am proud that more Texans are working than ever before, thanks to employers who continue to invest and grow jobs here.

Specifically, Texas has added 407,100 jobs the past 12 months, a 3% annual growth rate compared with the nations 1.8%.

Waco gets to celebrate with the rest of Texas, perhaps more robustly. The November jobless rate dropped to 3.1% in the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes McLennan and Falls counties. Thats down from 3.5% in October and 3.4% in November last year, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The Workforce Commission reported 133,994 people had jobs across the Waco MSA in November, which is 4,074 more than the 129,920 a year earlier.

That is good news or bad news, depending upon perspective. Businesses may find filling positions a challenge.

Labor shortages have been an issue since the recovery from the pandemic began, Waco economist Ray Perryman said by email. While the severity has varied over time and by geographic area and industry, no region has been spared.

The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that there are still more than 800,000 job openings in Texas. Although thats an improvement from a year prior, its still indicative of a significant need for more workers.

Kyle Citrano, managing partner at Georges Restaurant & Catering No. 2 on Hewitt Drive, said the dining industry continues grappling with labor shortages, higher pay expectations and rising operating costs. His coping mechanism at Georges No. 2 has been raising the price of lunch specials from $5.99 to $7.99 over four years, he said.

Some restaurants limit staffing to control labor costs, closing off areas to dining, Citrano said. He said ideally the quality of service would match the higher pay cooks, dishwashers and wait staffers receive these days.

No matter what, youre always looking for people, said Citrano, who also serves as president of the Waco Restaurant Association. He said the industry accommodates employees by offering flexible schedules, while also examining programs to provide affordable health insurance and child care.

Perryman agreed that employees find themselves in an enviable position.

Given that the labor force participation rate has been on a downward trend for more than two decades, it is also sensible to do things to encourage people to return to or remain in the workforce, Perryman said, mentioning higher wages, flexible hours and locations, child care support and incentives.

He said Texas needs to increase the proportion of people in the state capable of performing in-demand jobs. Enhancing literacy rates can open doors to new opportunities for Texans while improving the workforce, he said. Access to affordable training and higher education will become critical.

Texas is in a better position than many parts of the country due to our younger population and higher rates of both immigration from other countries and movement in from other states, Perryman said.

Kris Collins, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce senior vice president for economic development, said the local labor force has grown by more than 13,000 from pre-pandemic numbers, and the number of people working and available to work remain in healthy ranges for a community this size.

Employers continue to seek skilled workers, but feedback weve received indicates more normal hiring practices have returned and companies are more focused on retention strategies, Collins said.

New companies to Greater Waco have been pleased with the labor pool and have been able to staff their operations from within the area, perhaps going outside the area for specialized positions not commonly found in the region or state or relocating individuals within their own companies to the area, she said.
Iowas community colleges are seeing returns on recruiting efforts and partnerships with schools and businesses in the form of rising enrollment in 2023.

Enrollment in community colleges grew by 3.8% from last year, according to the Iowa Department of Education 2023 Fall Enrollment Report, with a total of 85,362 students spread across the state. Part-time student numbers reached an all-time high, making up two-thirds of total enrollment.

While enrollment isnt back to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic began, with more than 88,000 students attending community colleges in 2019, the report stated this is the second year of increased enrollment in the state.

I think that despite challenges facing higher (education) nationally, were faring well, Community Colleges for Iowa Executive Director Emily Shields said.

Out of the states 15 community colleges, nine saw increased enrollment. Des Moines Area Community College saw the highest number of enrolled students at 24,418 and the largest over-year increase of almost 13%. Indian Hills Community College saw the largest decrease in enrollment, dropping by 3.7% to 3,236 students.

Iowa falls behind the national average with its enrollment trends, according to the report. National enrollment in two-year institutions increased by 4.4%, helped by a 9% increase in part-time students. In Iowa, part-time student enrollment increased by 0.8%.

Full-time enrollment also dropped in both Iowa and across the country, with the state reporting a 0.8% decrease and the U.S. seeing a 0.2% drop.

Joint enrollment, in which students are simultaneously taking high school and college credit classes, increased in Iowa by 7.9%, while the national average increased by 8.8%. Shields said she doesnt like to compare the state and national numbers with joint enrollment, as she believes Iowa has been ahead of other states with tapping that market and has already seen major growth.

The biggest issue four-year universities and community colleges alike are up against is predicted drops in enrollment, Shields said, and it is a two-pronged problem. The first factor is that there will be fewer students graduating high school in the coming years, making the pool of applicants to colleges smaller. The other challenge is that fewer high school graduates are choosing to seek any post-secondary education, despite the majority of careers requiring a certification or degree of some kind.

Were facing a lot of pressures that are kind of driving down enrollment nationally, that were trying to address locally in different ways, but they are making it more challenging to kind of keep enrollment where it needs to be and keep college affordable and continue to attract students, Shields said.

Efforts on the national level to expand financial aid for certain programs could help bolster enrollment in certification and other non-degree training programs, Shields said. The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which has passed out of the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, would extend Pell Grant eligibility to some short-term workforce programs like those implemented by Iowas community colleges.

With the looming enrollment cliff and fewer students interested in pursuing an education after high school, Community Colleges for Iowa and the institutions it works with are trying to spread recruitment programs to a variety of areas.

Shields said community colleges dont have the luxury of trying to target specific types of students, whether they be just out of high school or working adults, and thus are using career and college transition counselors embedded in high schools and partnerships with businesses to try and reach traditional and nontraditional students.

Judging by the 7.9% increase in joint enrollment and 3.1% jump in Iowa Career and Technical Education enrollment, Shields said these strides seem to be paying off.

I think that really reflects where weve made a lot of efforts to align with the states workforce to partner even more with high schools and just to offer lots of different options for Iowans to start and continue their education, Shields said.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence.

Best public colleges in Iowa Best public colleges in Iowa #3. University of Northern Iowa
CEDAR FALLS  Several days a week, Korbin Hoffmann walked by a house, an eyesore, on his way to class at the University of Northern Iowa.

The 2022 real estate and finance graduate remembers the lawn being overgrown, a sapling coming up through the front porch and vines along the side sprawling in through a window.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he had a class in the spring of 2021 at the Rialto dining center building  a stones throw away from the house at 1227 W. 22nd St.

He didnt know it at the time, but it was one of the worst-maintained houses in Cedar Falls. It was on a city watch list and demolition was a possibility if the violations were not addressed.

Hoffmann would walk by and wonder why nothing was being done.

It was the same thoughts every day, and I wondered what was going on here, he said.

Hoffmann, then a junior, eventually turned his thoughts into action. He acquired the house  about 100 years old  and fixed up the four bedrooms, two bathrooms and basically every inch of the 1,300 square feet spread out over two floors.

He now rents the house to four students at the University of Northern Iowa.

The Charlotte, Iowa, native and 2018 Goose Lake Northeast High School graduate had never renovated a house, but had experience with his hands. He had worked on a farm, for his familys agricultural construction business and as a helicopter mechanic.

However, there were more issues with the property than were evident at first glance.

He found out it was the focus of a city condemnation hearing and considered for demolition due to structural deficiencies and the overgrowth.

Hoffmann was the only person who went to speak during a hearing on the property in November 2021, but was not allowed because he wasnt associated with ownership. After eventually getting the deed and reportedly laying out a plan to Building Official Jamie Castle, he found out first-hand why the property was considered a nuisance.

I quickly realized I would have to remodel every square inch of this house. It needed plumbing. It needed wiring, he said. It needed a brand new roof. It needed a brand new furnace, and AC unit, and it needed a cement driveway. All the floors had to be redone. All the walls had to be repainted. The whole kitchen and the bathrooms needed to be remodeled.

The property was one of five in Cedar Falls in recent years so dilapidated it was deemed a public hazard. The others were 2208 Coventry Lane; 710 W. 13th St. and 1303 Walnut St.; 315 E. Dunkerton Road; and 1312 Clay St.

Theyre all still standing. At least one of the others, on Coventry Lane after being sold, had its nuisances addressed, according to the city.

Ive always been interested in real estate and fixing up old houses. Its always been what I wanted to do, and I saw this as an opportunity to do that and to solve a problem, he said.

Acquiring the deed in March 2022 took some persistence. He took it over from a financial institution paying the taxes on the property after continually asking about it. The owner had moved out and was not maintaining the house because of health limitations.

Hoffmann eventually convinced the company to sell him the tax certificate after coming across an article in The Courier about the house facing demolition and bringing it to the attention of a company executive. They made a decision to relinquish it because of the risk, he said.

He poured his life savings into acquiring the property. He had little college debt compared with the average student; he joined the Iowa Army National Guard after high school and received tuition assistance in return for his service.

Hoffmann credits his UNI professors and the Black Hawk County Treasurers Office for helping him learn about real estate, and YouTube videos for advice on home renovation. It was an eight-month job.

Hoffmann leaned on contractors for the biggest aspects of the job, like plumbing and electric. Smaller jobs he took on himself with the support of family and friends.

He completed most of the work after graduating in May 2022. The house became his full-time job.

I worked 14 hour days. Whenever I woke up, Id start working. I went to bed when I was too exhausted from working, Hoffmann said.

I never built steps before in my life. I was out there so late at night with a protractor, solving math equations figuring out what angle they needed to be at. You can see theyre still not perfectly level and slope down, he added.

Hoffman now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he works as a commercial real estate analyst.

Cedar Falls City Council - Last Meeting of 2023 & Reception - Dec. 18, 2023 Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (b) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (a) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (c) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (r) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (e) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (f) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (h) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (m) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (q) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (i) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (j) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (k) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (l) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (o) Cedar Falls City Council - 12/18/23 (p)
Boeing discovered an alarming 737 Max airplane loose bolt flaw. Because of this, the American aircraft manufacturer is urging airlines to conduct inspections.

The airplane design announced this alarming information after an airline, which was unnamed, told Boeing that it found a missing nut in a rudder-control linkage mechanism. The anonymous airline said that it identified the issue while conducting routine maintenance. Aside from the missing nut, a loose bolt in a yet-to-be-delivered airplane was also discovered.

Boeing Discovers 737 Max Airplane Loose Bolt Flaw

Boeing confirmed that the airplane with a missing nut and loose bolt was already fixed. However, the American plane manufacturer wants to ensure that all new 737 Max airplanes are safe from this issue.

According to NBC News' latest report, the international aerospace company is urging airlines to conduct serious inspections into all 1,370 units of 737 Max airplanes that travel companies use.

"The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied," said Boeing's spokesperson via CNN Business.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend operators inspect their 737 Max airplanes and inform us of any findings," the official added.

Boeing also informed the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the loose bolt and missing nut they identified. FAA officials said inspecting this latest aircraft flaw could take around two hours.

The transportation agency said that once airlines complete their investigations, they must report the progress to regulators. FAA also announced that it would consider additional measures based on further discovery of missing or loose hardware in 737 Max airplanes.

Read Also: Boeing Data Breach: Lockbit Ransomware Group Leaks Aerospace Firm's Internal Data

Airlines Confirm To Start 737 Max Inspections

One of the airlines that confirmed it'll start the recommended 737 Max inspection is Alaska Airlines. The American travel company's spokeswoman said they expect their inspections to be completed in the first half of January 2024.

The Alaska Airlines official clarified that although they'll conduct inspections, they don't expect any operational impact. This is also the statement of United Airlines' spokesperson, claiming that the results of their 737 Max inspections are expected not to affect their flight operations.

Aside from Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, American Airlines confirmed that it will investigate the latest 737 Max loose bolt and missing nut flaws.

The 737 Max airplanes halted operations after two deadly crashes involving over 340 deaths. In December 2020, this aircraft model became active again.

But, ever since 737 Maxes returned to service, the Boeing-designed aircraft faced numerous inspections. However, the aerospace firm clarified that airplanes only face more notice because the airline industry is increasing its focus on passenger safety.

Related Article: New Fake Airplane Spare Part Scandal Shakes Airline Industry; New Lawsuit Filed Against Obscure UK-Based Supplier

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WATERLOO  A Cedar Valley family is especially grateful this holiday season as they continue to celebrate the premature birth of twins.

Fraternal twins Laken and Crew were born at 31 weeks to first-time parents Kelsey and Taylor Kettman of Waterloo in late November.

We had no idea they were coming, Kelsey Kettman said. We did not have much warning at all. Taylor and I called MercyOne around 8, they had us come in, and by 10:50 we had two babies.

Laken, a girl, and Crew, her little brother, were both breech and born by caesarean section at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center. Laken weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces and was 14.5 inches in length. She now weighs 4.5 pounds and is 17.3 inches in length. Crew weighed 3 pounds, 8 ounces and was 15.5 inches in length. He now weighs 5.1 pounds and 17.7 inches long.

As they continue to grow the babies are starting to show their personalities. According to their mom, Laken, a big sister by three minutes, knows what she wants and when she wants it, like her mom. Crew is definitely more laid back, like his dad.

Its been exhausting, but also so great. Its crazy to see them change and how quickly they have adapted to the outside world, Kelsey Kettman said while feeding Crew.

Since both babies were born around nine weeks premature they have been staying in the MercyOne Waterloo Birth Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the past month.

Kettman is thankful for the around-the-clock support.

NICU life is definitely something we havent experienced before, but staff at MercyOne has made it a seamless process, she said.

Since residents often stay in the NICU for an extended period of time, families have plenty of time to develop relationships with the NICU staff. The NICU staff is a small team, allowing staff to bond not only with the babies but with the families as well.

Lily Ward, a registered nurse, said working in the unit is special. It is fantastic being here. I cant imagine being anywhere else, Ward said.

Kettman hopes to have both babies home in a few weeks but does not have a time frame. First time grandmother Linda McGarvey of Jesup, who also is a twin, cannot wait to spoil her grandbabies.

I wasnt able to hold them for the first couple of weeks but now Im able to hold them, which I love. I also make sure that Kelsey sends me a picture every day, McGarvey said.

Unique baby names in your state last year The most unique baby name in your state last year Alabama: Abner Alaska: Huxley Arizona: Stone Arkansas: Draven California: Genesis Colorado: Zephyr Connecticut: Sincere Delaware: Kashton Florida: Billion Georgia: Chancellor Hawaii: Rush Idaho: Jagger Illinois: Tzvi Indiana: Knowledge Iowa: Royal Kansas: Zayd Kentucky: Bellamy Louisiana: Kyng Maine: Orion Maryland: Nova Massachusetts: Ocean Michigan: Jetson Minnesota: Divine Mississippi: Mahogany Missouri: Chesney Montana: Cedar Nebraska: Wilhelmina Nevada: Emberly New Hampshire: Milani New Jersey: Wolf New Mexico: Cruzito New York: Lovely North Carolina: Cirilla North Dakota: Bexlee Ohio: Sultan Oklahoma: Ripken Oregon: Love Pennsylvania: Lakelyn Rhode Island: Atlas South Carolina: Marigold South Dakota: Lettie Tennessee: Lyrik Texas: Johnluke Utah: Savvy Vermont: Archer Virginia: Jupiter Washington: Zeppelin West Virginia: Legacy Wisconsin: Andromeda Wyoming: Daxton Washington DC: Princeton
WATERLOO  A lone bagpiper greeted visitors to the Waterloo Airport Army Aviation Support Facility on Friday morning, his solemn skirl matching the mood of those gathering at the site.

In support of a NATO peacekeeping operation, a portion of a battalion of Iowa National Guard soldiers is deploying to Kosovo for a nine-month tour.

Thirty-three members of Detachment 1, Company C (Medevac), 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, based in Waterloo, departed following a community send-off ceremony held at the support facility on Big Rock Road.

According to a news release, Their primary mission will be to conduct live aerial medevac operations, refueling and maintenance support to U.S., coalition and Kosovo security forces. ... The peacekeeping mission ... is focused on local and regional stability within the country and Eastern Europe.

NATO has been leading a peacekeeping operation in Kosovo since June 1999.

Those being deployed, 30 men and three women, will spend a month completing pre-mobilization training at Fort Cavasos, an Army post near Killeen, Texas, before heading to Kosovo.

The last time the unit deployed was in 2017 to Afghanistan.

Eighteen-month-old Emery Graham sat on a folding chair munching fruit, oblivious to the fact that her father, Dwayne Graham, was preparing to leave. Her mom, Mariah Graham, tried to hold back tears as she kept her daughter occupied.

My husband has been on two previous deployments, but this is the first one for me, she said. It doesnt feel great.

Mariah said her husband has prepared her to the best of his ability.

Weve had a lot of conversations, she said. My family is my support system, and my job has been really great.

Alongside military dignitaries, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart addressed those in attendance.

This is one of the most humbling opportunities of my life, as the son of an Army veteran who passed away almost exactly a year ago, he said.

He thanked unit members for their service, dedication, bravery and sacrifice and quoted the Seventh Beatitude, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

When you go, you are not alone, Hart said, citing the support of those who have previously served, neighbors and family members.

The city of Cedar Falls was represented by Councilmember Gil Schultz.

Lindsey Fuller of Waverly was on hand to see the unit off. A member of the 186 MP Company, she and her unit will be deployed to Kosovo next week.

Im just here to support this unit today, she said. Our missions are different. They will be doing aviation, and we will be doing law enforcement.

Fuller, 24, said she feels good about what will be her first deployment.

This is what I signed up to do.

Capt. Grant Grosskruger, commander for the medevac unit, said he was excited for the guard members and they felt supported, loved and embraced by the community.

I am extremely proud of them, he said. They have put in a lot of a time and a lot of training. Im excited for them for the opportunity to get better and to complete their mission.

Grosskruger will stay behind with the remaining 36 members of the medevac unit.

I wish I was going with them, he said.

Photos: Iowa National Guard Detachment 1, Company C (Medevac) send-off Iowa National Guard Send-Off 1 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 2 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 3 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 4 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 5 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 6 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 7 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 8 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 9 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 10 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 11 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 12 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 13 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 14 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 15 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 16 Iowa National Guard Send-Off 17
MARION  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis enlisted the help of conservative South Carolina state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, in Iowa as he scrambles to head off Republican presidential rival Nikki Haley.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor and former United Nations ambassador, has gained ground in Iowa, the leadoff nominating state, pulling even with DeSantis for second place in recent polling of likely Republican Iowa caucusgoers.

DeSantis and Kimbrell stopped Thursday evening at Mr. Beans coffee shop in Marion, where they addressed and took questions from a crowd of less than 100 supporters and media.

The reason I'm here today is because our state is a red state and its redder because of Gov. DeSantis being governor of Florida than Nikki Haley being the governor of South Carolina, Kimbrell, who represents South Carolinas deeply conservative Upstate region, told the crowd.

Governor DeSantis stands better for South Carolina values than Nikki Haley stood for South Carolina values, he continued.   Because in Florida, he stood up for parental rights. He stood up for the notion that you can raise your kids better than a government bureaucrat can.

He stood up for the radical notion there are two genders in the United States of America. We shouldn't be teaching your 4-year-old to change everything. He has stood up to cut taxes and to promote school choice.

South Carolina state lawmakers also have passed multiple school choice and parental rights bills, because we emulated what Ron DeSantis did.

I can say as a South Carolinian, and its not personal  its not about personalities  its about youve got a governor in Florida who has a consistent record on the issues, Kimbrell told reporters afterward. Haley says the right stuff, but the record doesnt back it up.

Haleys campaign told CNN: Heres a quick refresher: Nikki is a conservative outsider who took on the establishment to put votes on the record.

Its sad to see Ron DeSantis stooping to such desperate, lame attacks, but nothing will save his dying campaign, her campaign spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik told CNN.

Surrogates

Kimbrell is the latest DeSantis ally to join him on the campaign trail as he makes his closing pitch to Iowa voters just weeks from the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses.

DeSantis and surrogates such as Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt barnstormed Iowa before Christmas.

DeSantis will be joined Friday at an event in Clayton County by Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed his campaign.

Former President Donald Trump continues to hold a consistent and commanding lead over the Republican presidential primary candidates, both nationally and in Iowa, ahead of the first-in-the-nation Iowa Republican caucuses. He is just over 50 percent in the rolling polling averages at both Real Clear Politics and fivethirtyeight, with roughly 30-point leads over the rest of the field in both.

'Lame duck'

DeSantis argued Republicans nominating Trump in 2024 is a high-risk choice with low reward for the party and said Trump would be a lame duck if elected for a second term.

If you look at what is going to happen in 2024, you know, we have we have a couple of options.

We can have the option with the former president being the nominee for a third time in a row and the whole election will be about him  and will be about all these different investigations and legal cases which, look, I think they're unfair. I will fire Jack Smith on Day One when I'm president, DeSantis told the crowd.

Nevertheless, the media and the Democrats that's what they want the election to be about. They do not want Biden to face any accountability.

He said Trump would be a drag on the party in a general election, as he was for Republicans in 2020 and 2022.

Even if somehow he could surmount that, you have a lame duck president on Day One, DeSantis said. How are you going to be able to get things done? How are you going to be able to recruit the personnel that you need to?

The Florida governor said Trump failed to drain the swamp in Washington while serving in the White House and lacked many legislative accomplishments while in office, instead using executive orders that can be overturned by a new administration to advance his policies and agenda.

DeSantis pitch

DeSantis said, if he is elected, Republicans would expand their majority in the U.S. House and wrest back control of the Senate. And he would adopt a tactic used by President Joe Biden, the budget reconciliation process, to pass his agenda in Congress.

Ultimately, you either produce these results or you don't, DeSantis said.

To sit here and have slogans and campaign and say all this stuff, that's fine. I want to bring it all in for a landing. And that's what I did in Florida.  I delivered on 100 percent of the promises  finished, done and delivered.

And I'm the only one running that has beaten the left across the board on issue after issue. That's what it's going to take to turn this country around.

He said Iowans have an opportunity to change the trajectory of politics in this country.

This will reverberate  the Iowa caucus  not just across the country, but really across the world, DeSantis said. So you have an opportunity to do that.

And I'm motivated to run because I see us be in jeopardy of being the first generation of Americans to leave to our kids and grandkids and America less prosperous and less free than the one we inherited.

PHOTOS: Ron DeSantis Visits Bettendorf 121923-qc-nws-desantis-1.jpg
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

A suggestion that three republicans were on holiday in Colombia rather than training rebels was said to be insulting to (the) intelligence of diplomats, archive documents show.

There was concern at the time that the arrest of the so-called Colombia Three in 2001 could damage the Northern Ireland peace process.

The incident happened after the IRA agreed on a way of disabling its arsenal, following months of slow progress.

Colombian authorities alleged that the men were training members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as Farc.

The men were convicted of training rebels and sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2004; they were granted amnesty in 2020 as part of Colombias peace process.

In 2022, it was reported that their amnesty had been revoked.

The Colombia Three have always denied wrongdoing, maintaining they were in the country to observe Colombias peace negotiations.

The three men, who were travelling on false passports, Niall Connolly, James Monaghan, and Martin McCauley, were arrested on August 11th, 2001, at Bogota International Airport.

In newly released State documents, the discussion between top Irish and US officials in the aftermath of the arrests show that the US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Richard Haass was angry at the incident.

In a meeting between Mr Haas and Irelands Ambassador to the US Sean O hUiginn, he said the men were not on vacation, they were not promoting a peace process.

It was not only implausible to try to put across such explanations but insulting to our intelligence.

A far better course would be to admit that a mistake had been made and say that it would not happen again.

It was far more likely that the detainees were involved in some kind of transfer of knowhow about bomb-making.

A briefing document written for the Department of Foreign Affairs detailed a meeting in Washington DC between Mr Haass and Irelands Ambassador to the US Sean O hUiginn.

The document notes that the Irish and British governments were obviously in stocktaking mode to work out a strategy in relation to developments in the peace process, including of course the Colombia dimension.

The benign explanation that the three might have been engaged in peace education was not sustainable.

Rather the choice was from the malign menu, for example, of some kind of weapons dealing, testing or training, the note dated September 7th, 2001 said.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2023/53/29
At present, Im researching and writing a chapter for a book to be published in America this year (2024). The book is the third in a series entitled, Heroes. It seeks to identify men and women who can be considered unsung heroes of the Great Irish Famine.

I was invited to contribute 7,000 or so words on my heroes of the Famine because of my two books on that famine: Ocras, The Great Famine in Killala diocese, 1845-1852 (2021) and On Our Knees, Famine in the Parishes of Killala diocese, 1845-1852 (2022). Heroes, not saints, as the people who surfaced during the Great Famine and in retrospect qualify as heroes had their own idiosyncrasies and failings.

After my research on the Great Famine, I had no problem in identifying local heroes in KIllala diocese though I was surprised to discover that, in the main, they were comprised of clergy of the then Established Church or the Church of Ireland, as it became known after its disestablishment in 1871. The reason may be that, when history is written (or is understood) mainly through the prism of denominational bias, we can end up loyally cheer-leading our own side rather than giving credit where credit is due. For good reason, Bishop Thomas McDonnell used to forewarn historians that "to falsify history is an unpardonable sin".

I dedicated On Our Knees, my second book on the Famine, to Rev Francis Kincaid, a curate in Ballina and Rev James Burrows, rector in Castleconnor, both clergy of the Established Church and it can be said without any qualification that both, though their selfless dedication to feeding the hungry of all creeds and none, saved thousands of lives and both lost their own lives by contracting famine fever. Many have been sainted for less.

Kincaid, a native of Dublin, was appointed curate in Ballina in 1837 and died in 1847 at the age of 35. Respected and admired in equal measure by both Catholics and Protestants, Kincaid was an impressive presence in Ballina and its hinterland, through his founding of a loan society in 1838 which organised loans to the poor man, a category that included all creeds. In 1844, the society dispensed 1,940 loans  which suggests that, with Protestants numbering just 1,400 (or 14 per cent) out of a total population in Ballina parish of 10,000, Catholics benefited overwhelmingly.

When the Famine hit in 1845, Kincaid was in pole position to respond to the human tragedy that was about to unfold and with his friend, Fr Hugh Conway, the Catholic Administrator of the cathedral parish, they decided to set up the Ballina Relief Committee formed with representatives from across the religious divide. An indication of the success of the committee was that the week before Kincaid died, the managers of the soup kitchen informed a meeting of the Relief Committee that each day they were distributing 1,387 quarts of soup to 563 families. And on the day after Kincaid died, the Castlebar Telegraph reported that the Committee was distributing 3,427 gallons of soup every day to 1,309 people in Ballina and Ardnaree.

After Kincaids death, Conway described him as "decidedly the most charitable, the most benevolent and the most philanthropic man that ever I met". And to mark his death, an inter-church committee, including Kincaids friend, Hugh Conway, sought contributions towards a plaque in Kincaids memory which was erected in St Michaels Church, Ardnaree.

James Annesley Burrowes, a native of Longford, came to Killala diocese as private tutor to Bishop Josephs children, was appointed rector of Castleconnor and Kilglass in 1804. By 1847, Burrowes and his family were the sole providers of relief in Castleconnor and provided Indian meal for 80 families. Later, they were issuing nearly two tons of meal a week from the rectory in Killanley.

For Burrowes, providing relief derived not just from a religious obligation to feed the hungry but because as part of the Established Church he accepted a civic responsibility not just for his own parishioners but for all citizens.

After years of struggling mightily side by side with his wife, Catherine and their daughters, as much of the actual relief work fell to him and his family, Burrowes died of exhaustion and famine fever in 1849. A daughter, Helen, was also taken by the fever, two years before her father. She was 28. In recording his death, the Ballina Chronicle commented: "Seldom have we had to record the departure of one whose removal will be (more) regretted than that of the vicar of Killanley."

Other clergy of the Established Church whose relief extended beyond their own denomination included Archdeacon George Trulock, rector of Skreen. Trulock was regarded as a friend of the poor and was indefatigable in alleviating their sufferings during the Famine years. Having exhausted himself in his service of the distressed, Catholic and Protestant, he died suddenly in September 1847 from an apoplectic fit. He was aged just 55.

Francis Little, rector of Doonfeeney (Ballycastle), served for 32 years and was friendly with Martin Hart(e), the parish priest of Ballycastle, for 31 years. Littles wife, Jane, helped out in the soup kitchen in St Johns School in Ballycastle as a result of which she contracted the fever and died on March 20, 1848. Another was Henry Knox, a curate in Moygownagh/Kilfian, who with his wife, Fanny, ran an effective soup kitchen in Fahy, where they were at one point spending 200 from their own resources to feed 200 families as well as an estimated 300 beggars who arrived every day at the family home.

In understanding the context of the time  especially the official effort of the Established Church to convert Catholics to Protestantism, a campaign that was particularly vigorous in Erris and generally caused huge resentment among Catholics  Protestant clergy, in general though not all, made a significant contribution in sustaining the Catholic population in the diocese of Killala during the Great Hunger.

It was not, in the words of famine historian, Donal A. Kerr, "an ecumenical age".
Question from RIA Novosti agency: The collective West, having spent almost all its weapons, began to push the Kiev regime towards negotiations in 2024. Is this possible?

Answer: What about negotiations in 2024? Everything is quite obvious.

1. The special operation will continue, its goal will remain the disarmament of Ukrainian troops and the rejection of the current Ukrainian state from the ideology of neo-Nazism.

2. The removal of the ruling Bandera regime is clearly not declared, but the most important and inevitable goal that must and will be achieved.

3. Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Nikolaev, Kyiv are Russian cities, like many other temporarily occupied ones. All of them are still marked in yellow-blue on paper maps and on electronic tablets.

And so  yes. Negotiations are, of course, possible. Russia has never rejected them, unlike the crazy Ukrainian authorities. Such negotiations are not limited by time. They can continue until the complete defeat and capitulation of the Bandera troops of the North Atlantic Alliance.

And by the way, I want to inform you that since January 1, 2023, half a million people have been accepted for contract service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
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In 2024, about 12,000 Americans a day will turn 65 as those born in the peak years of the baby boom continue to hit that milestone, says the Retirement Income Institute. They reach that age in a fast-changing world in which technology plays an increasingly important role in their ability to stay healthy, financially secure and socially connected.

The influx adds stress to systems designed to help people as they age, such as Social Security and Medicare, and shines a spotlight on the need to address caregiving and brain health.

AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now

Here are some of the ways AARP will address these issues in the year ahead.

As the 2024 election year officially kicks off with the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, AARP is launching a nationwide voter engagement campaign to keep people informed with factual, unbiased information about when, where and how to vote as well as where candidates stand on the issues. This year, our voter engagement campaign will focus attention nationwide on protecting Social Security and supporting family caregivers.

Increased longevity means little unless we also increase good health. This year, we will continue our fight to lower the cost of prescription drugs as big companies sue to stop Medicare from negotiating for lower prices on some drugs. Were also stepping up our efforts to support the growing number of family caregivers as demands on them take an even greater toll on their physical, financial and mental health.

Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

We work with a wide range of organizations to help people maintain their brain health as we invest in the search for better treatments and a cure for Alzheimers.

An AARP survey found that more than 1 in 5 adults have no retirement savings and nearly 2 in 3 adults are worried they will not have enough money to last in their later years. To address this problem, AARP has partnered with the Ad Council for a new public service announcement campaign, This Is Pretirement, to encourage people in their 40s and 50s to start planning their retirement. The campaign features a website providing a free personalized action plan to help you build retirement savings.

AARP will again have a significant presence at the tech event CES 2024 in January to encourage companies to invest in AgeTech. This includes showcasing smart technologies to assist people in living longer in their homes, monitoring and managing their daily activities, and keeping them connected to family and friends.

Innovation is driving more imaginative uses of digital technology for better health  products to monitor and track vital signs, help manage older adults care and facilitate long-distance caregiving. Such advances also aid communities in developing comprehensive strategies to become more livable and age-friendly. Our AgeTech Collaborative from AARP will continue to lead the way in this emerging field.

These are just some of the ways AARP will work to empower people to live better as they age. To learn more about how aging is changing the way we live, see our 65th anniversary bonus issue at aarp.org/bonusissue.

Happy New Year, everyone! 
For many of us, food is a big part of the travel experience. Food can reveal so much about a destination. It has the power to articulate the vibe and, yes, the flavor of a city or region.

We checked in with chefs for the scoop on what they do to find great food when they travel. When youre ready to sink your teeth into something delicious, heres how to find your next favorite dish while on vacation.

AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now

1. Research on reservation sites

Many travelers default to Tripadvisor and Yelp when searching for a good meal. You may want to add dedicated reservation sites such as OpenTable and Resy when researching where to go, says James Beard Awardwinning chef Janos Wilder, formerly of Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails in Tucson, Arizona. From a chefs perspective, more serious diners [leave] reviews on reservation sites, he says.

2. Look to locals online

If you love to eat, its a good idea to research the favorites of local foodies. Chef Mandy Dixon, owner-manager of Tutka Bay Lodge and La Baleine Cafe in Homer, Alaska, says she will visit TikTok or Instagram and search for keywords such as best brunch New Orleans or best soup Seattle for short videos. It gives me a locals view of the area, the restaurant and the food, Dixon says.

3. Ask your server

When youre on the ground, ask your server where you should eat next. Its always smart to ask those who have a sensibility about food, though you may want to be discreet. Not all restaurants and hotels are keen on staff letting patrons know where else to go to eat.

One time I was in New Orleans  I asked the waiter what his favorite spot to eat authentic local food was. He didnt say much at first but then came by later ... and slipped me a folded-up piece of paper, Dixon says. On the slip of paper was his favorite ribs joint, and it was a winner. The food was the best barbecue I have ever tasted to this day.

Farmers markets are one way to sample the flavor of a destination. Ariel Skelley / Getty Images

4. Visit the farmers market

Eat your way through a street market or farmers market. Across dozens of stalls, markets can captivate the senses with the smells, sights, sounds and tastes of a destination.

While youre browsing, talk to the vendors. They often supply restaurants and are likely to know about great eats across town. I find that ... local markets [are] great place[s] to hear about great places to dine and sample the local bounty, says executive chef Richard Crespin of the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs in California.

5. Step outside the tourist zone

Look to restaurants at least a few blocks away from popular attractions and seek out cafes and dining opportunities in neighborhoods, not major tourist thoroughfares.

Above all else, avoid touristy areas, says Thomas Melvin, executive chef at Vida in Indianapolis and a James Beard Award semifinalist. When in doubt, talk to someone who lives there. Find locals and ask for their recommendations, Melvin says. Word of mouth is, in my opinion, still the best recommendation.
Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt pleaded guilty and was arrested after physically and emotionally abusing the children of the parenting advice vlogger Ruby Franke on YouTube on Wednesday.

Hildebrandt was Franke's business partner, a mother of six who ran a once-popular YouTube channel called '8 Passengers.'

Hildebrandt Pleads Guilty

Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse for abusing Franke's children. The two collaborated at Hildebrandt's counseling business, ConneXions Classroom, where they gave parenting workshops, launched another YouTube channel, and posted content on their joint Instagram account, 'Moms of Truth.'

They doled advice and promoted honest lifestyles, using their brand as parenting role models to conceal what was happening behind the scenes. According to a 911 call released by the St. George Police Department on August 30, Franke's son fled through a window of Hildebrandt's home in the southern Utah community of Ivins. He urged a neighbor to contact the police.

Franke's son had duct tape wrapped around his wrists and ankles and was covered in wounds. He told authorities that Hildebrandt dressed his cuts with honey, chili pepper, and strapped cords around his limbs.

Douglas Terry, Hildebrandt's lawyer, stated that his client pleaded guilty rather than waiting for a later time because she did not want Franke's children to be forced to testify.

"She takes responsibility, and it is her main concern at this point that these children can heal, both physically and emotionally," Terry said.

Following their arrests at Hildebrandt's residence, the two women faced six felony counts of severe child abuse. Hildebrandt entered a guilty plea to four charges, and two counts were dismissed on Wednesday as part of her plea deal.

Franke also pleaded guilty to four of her six charges and not guilty to two on the December 18 hearing. A prison sentence of one to fifteen years was imposed for each charge.

After accepting the plea deals, Judge John J. Walton scheduled the sentencing for both women on February 20. The judge will determine Franke and Hildebrandt's sentencing, as they have agreed to serve prison terms.

Read Also: Venezuela Prepares Military Effort After UK Deployed Warship to Support Guyana

Hildebrant, Franke's Confession of Abuse

Hildebrandt revealed that she had intentionally caused two little children who lived at her house considerable physical harm and had permitted another adult to do the same. The documents reveal new information regarding Hildebrandt's repeated physical coercion of Franke's youngest daughter to jump into a cactus.

She claimed she kept the girl alone and made her run barefoot on dirt roads for long periods. Furthermore, she admitted that she had assisted Franke in torturing her younger son. According to their confessions, both women told the two kids that they were evil, possessed, and in need of punishment to turn around.

The plea bargains stated that the son was informed that everything being done to him was a gesture of love. Franke confessed earlier this month that she had subjected her kid to heavy labor for long hours in the summer heat without enough food or water, which had resulted in sunburns and dehydration. He was confined to an isolated room without access to books or devices.

Following his failed attempt to flee in July, he was frequently restrained by ropes and occasionally handcuffed on his hands and feet. In her plea deal, Franke admitted that she had kicked her son while wearing boots, submerged his head, and covered his mouth and nose with her hands. The boy and girl were taken to the hospital in August and were eventually placed in state custody along with two more of their siblings.

Related Article: Prosecutors Charge Youtube Mom Ruby Franke With 6 Felony Counts of Child Abuse







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Pennys Find Resource Update

Perth, Dec 29, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Company's 100% owned Pennys Find project located 50 km northeast of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in the heart of the Western Australian goldfields (Figure 1*).



- Horizon Minerals owns 100% of the fully permitted Pennys Find gold mine located 50km northeast of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields of Western Australia



- The 2022 independent Mineral Resource estimate stood at:



o 270,000t grading 4.99g/t Au for 43,000 ounces with 81% in the Indicated Category



- During 2023, a total of 10 RC and diamond tail drill holes were completed for 3,298.4m to expand and infill the resource at depth and convert some of the Inferred ore to the Indicated Resource classification category.



- An updated underground (<260 m RL) Mineral Resource Estimate has now compiled by the Company and stands at:



o 429kt grading 4.57 g/t Au for 63,000 oz at a 1.5g/t Au lower grade cut-off



- Over 80% of the resource is now in the Indicated Resource category and can now be incorporated into the ongoing mine optimisation and underground design work. The Indicated Resource stands at:



o 305kt grading 5.19 g/t Au for 51,000 oz at a 1.5g/t Au lower grade cut-off



- A feasibility study shall be undertaken with a maiden Ore Reserve for Pennys Find is expected in the June Quarter 2024.



- The mine is permitted for development via a previously approved Mining Proposal and Project Management Plan.

The Company acquired the remaining 50% interest in the project from joint venture partner Labyrinth Resources Ltd ( ASX:LRL ) in December 2021. The project presents an early underground development and production opportunity to generate cash under a toll milling and underground contractor / JV arrangement.



The infill and extension program aimed to improve resource classification and test extensions with excellent results and new mineralisation intercepted to the north. The deposit also remains open at depth and will be tested from underground drilling positions.



Project Geology



The high-grade gold mineralisation at Pennys Find is hosted in thin quartz veins at the contact between footwall sediments including black shale and siltstone and a hanging-wall basalt. The quartz veins dip about 60deg to the northeast and collectively average 1 m to 5 m true width.



Open cut mining to 85 m depth (242 mRL) was completed by Empire Resources in 2018 with toll treatment processing at Lakewood (Kalgoorlie) and Burbanks (Coolgardie). Production from the open pit totalled 18,300 oz at 4.47 g/t Au (as announced to the ASX by Empire ( ASX:ERL ) on 25 July 2018). Metallurgical test work and toll milling data has shown fresh mineralisation to be free milling with a high gravity recoverable gold component and a total gold recovery which has exceeded 90%.



Resource Update



An eight-hole RC and diamond tail drill program for 2,550m was completed in Q2 2023, and an additional four RC holes drilled in Q3 2023 for 906m. The total resource drilling, mostly RC with diamond tails, completed by Horizon at Pennys Find since 2021 stands at 8,085.1m.



The 2023 drilling primarily focussed on the inferred or peripheral ore zones, especially to the north.



In addition to the assaying, the diamond core was subsequently used to confirm geotechnical observations and interpretations and further structural assessment.



Significant downhole intercepts reported in 2023 include:



- 1.45m @ 2.61g/t Au from 314.75m and 3.2m @ 4.19g/t Au from 318.3m (PFRCD23003)



- 1.05m @ 6.36g/t Au from 355.5m (PFRCD23001)



- 1.0m @ 7.49g/t Au from 363.9m (PFRCD23002)



- 2.90m @ 1.73g/t Au from 292.0m (PFRCD23007)



- 0.78m @ 12.85g/t Au from 331.48m (PFRCD23006



- 5m @ 2.97g/t Au from 370m (PFRC23012A)



- 2m @ 1.27g/t Au from 305m (PFRC23011)



Commenting on the resource upgrade, Chief Executive Officer Mr Grant Haywood said:



"It is pleasing to see the Resource growth at Pennys Find on the back of the 2023 drill programmes, including extensions at depth and to the north of the existing resource, which still remains open. We look forward to completing the underground mining study and economic review in the June 2024 quarter for a development decision to be made shortly thereafter."



Next Steps



The updated resource will now be incorporated into a feasibility study for mine design and financial analysis and incorporate a maiden Ore Reserve for Pennys Find. The results of the study are expected in the June Quarter 2024, with a financial investment decision (FID), pending favourable study results, made thereafter.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/76958V8U





About Horizon Minerals Limited





Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.

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The pop rock band receives heartwarming messages from numerous social media users for their kindness towards 14-year-old Sashko, who appeared in their 'Crushed' music video.

Dec 29, 2023

AceShowbiz - In a world often plagued by conflicts and destruction, it's rare to find stories that restore peoples faith in humanity. However, when Imagine Dragons heard about the plight of a Ukrainian teenager named Sashko, they made a difference that would leave an indelible mark and earned them praise for their kindness.

The pop rock band, whose members consist of Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, and Daniel Platzman, garnered an outpouring of heartwarming messages after dedicating themselves to the task of helping Sashko rebuild his house in the aftermath of the devastating Russian war.

In the comments section of their new Instagram post, which featured a video of Sashko and his rebuilt home, one Instagram user gushed, "I take my hat off to you Imagine Dragons who make it all happen. Please use your music to connect people for Good to prevail." Another joined in, "Every time I think I couldn't be more proud to be your fan, you guys prove me wrong."

The positive online responses did not stop there. A third wrote, "A story of hope for the new year - I hope that thousands of Ukrainians will be able to return to their rebuilt homes too - thank you so much for all your amazing work." A fourth added, "You are our voices in the whole world and it means a lot. a huge thanks to @imaginedragons, your entire team and especially to @ty__arnold !"

In the post itself, a video featuring Sashko's house before and after it was rebuilt was uploaded. The footage also documented the 14-year-old teenager cheerfully opening the door of his rebuilt house for the first time. In the clip, he was seen flashing his radiant smile while taking a look at the kitchen and bedroom, among other parts of the house.

Accompanying the footage, a caption read, "One year ago, our friend @ty__arnold met a 14-year-old boy named Sashko in Ukraine," referring to Ty Arnold, the band's Director of Photography. "He was wandering the streets of his destroyed town of Novohryhorivka, still in disbelief at the complete destruction of his home, his neighborhood, and his school. "

"@ty__arnold captured Sashko's story in our music video for 'Crushed'," it continued. "Thanks to UNITED24 (which we support) and their donor @avrora.multimarket, Sashko and his mother's house has been rebuilt."

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Instagram Celebrity

The 26-year-old 'Thotiana' rapper makes use of his social media account to document himself shooting his shot at a pair of restaurant workers while going on a drive-thru.

Dec 29, 2023

AceShowbiz - Blueface is single and ready to mingle. On Wednesday night, December 27, the rapper made use of his social media account to document himself shooting his shot at a pair of restaurant workers.

In a video posted on his Instagram page, Blueface and a friend could be seen picking up food from a drive-thru restaurant. The Los Angeles native rapper then asked his friend to ask the woman at the window for her phone number before he decided to do it himself.

"How you doin'? Can I get your number?" the "Thotiana" rapper asked the lady, who screamed out of excitement alongside her co-worker. "Put your number on the receipt - both of ya'll [] don't charge me, baby, get that feed later."

The flirty clip came after Blueface questioned the real father of her son Chrisean Jr. with ex Chrisean Rock. "I think it's her ex, honestly," the Southern California native opined during his opinion on Local Hood News on Christmas Eve.

"They been known to deal longer than we been known to deal, while we was continuing to deal," he continued. "I think the baby looks like him. I got kids already so I'm expecting something."

Blueface revealed that he's already taken a DNA test that ruled him out of the running to be the father of the child. "It's been scientifically proven that's not my child. Swabbed him," he added. "I got paid to do that first lil issues. If somebody were to pay me $100,000 to show the DNA test, shoot it."

While he continues beefing with Chrisean, Blueface recently spoiled his other baby mama with a lavish gift. The Los Angeles native made use of his Instagram page to reveal that he had bought a 4-story house for Jaidyn Alexis for Christmas.

"Merry Christmas!" Blueface told his baby mama, who seemed to be amazed as she took a look around the new house. "What do you think?" he asked Jaidyn's opinion, before she replied, "I think it's great." Treating fans to a house tour, he said, "New house for the fam. It's my Christmas present for Jaidyn Alexis. She deserves it. She's earned it."

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CNBC-TV18 and Moneycontrol, in association with Palo Alto Networks, conducted the highly anticipated Global AI Conclave. This trailblazing event brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries.

The event started with a warm welcome address by Anil Valluri, MD & VP of Palo Alto Networks, setting the stage for a day filled with insightful discussions and presentations. He said, "Diverse perspectives will be shared, leading to insights, conversations, and approaches that will shape the future course of AI. Participants from various sectors, including technology, academia, startups, investors, and scientists, are engaging in the CNBC-TV18 and Moneycontrol Global AI Conclave. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to CNBC-TV18 and Moneycontrol for their role as the title sponsor of this esteemed event."

One of the highlights of the event was the Fireside Chat on 'AI Unleashed: View from Cerebral Valley,' where Andrew NG, an AI Pioneer and Co-Founder of DeepLearning.AI, Coursera, AI Fund & Google Brain, shared profound insights about artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. Regarding Indias progress in AI, Andrew NG said, According to recent research conducted by Stanford University, findings from a LinkedIn AI index report indicate that India has achieved the highest penetration score in the field of artificial intelligence, surpassing even the United States." He added, "In contrast to countries implementing stringent regulations on Big Tech and AI, India has embraced a more flexible approach. A balance is vital in formulating a regulatory framework that encourages innovation while addressing potential risks. India's adaptable regulatory stance is poised to play a pivotal role in nurturing the growth of AI technologies and their various applications."

The conclave continued with engaging Fireside Chats, including 'The Atmanirbhar AI playbook' featuring Sridhar Vembu, Founder and CEO of Zoho, and Sharad Sharma, Founder of iSPIRT. Talking about the automotive industry, Shirdhar Vembu, Founder - ZOHO, said, "I will discuss a broader spectrum since we are investors in Ultraviolet. As I delved into the domain, I realized a substantial learning curve encompassing fundamental technologies ranging from instrumentation and panels to essential elements like cell chemistry. It's not just about AI or security; there's a lot of catching up to do. That's why I see AI as part of a bigger picture of technological advancements.

'Navigating Cybersecurity in the AI Era,' with Swapna Bapat, Vice President of Product Management at Palo Alto Networks, and 'The Chipmaker Challenger Cerebras' Story,' with Andrew Feldman, Founder and CEO of Cerebras Systems, were also on the schedule. Another notable discussion revolved around 'Rising Star: Sarvam AI,' backed by Khosla Ventures, Peak XV, and Lightspeed, featuring Vivek Raghavan, Co-Founder of Sarvam AI

The event showcased a special keynote and Fireside Chat on 'AI Innovation and Regulation: A Fine Balance' with Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Honble MoS, Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti. He said, AI stands out as the most remarkable invention of our era, serving as the ultimate empowering technology. We firmly believe in its potential to revolutionize various sectors such as healthcare, disease management, agriculture, and governance in ways that would have otherwise taken years, if not decades. However, the world should now recognize the overlooked aspects of safety, harm, criminality, and user harm that have unfolded over the past decade in the realm of social media. It is imperative to awaken to these issues and establish not just an American, European, or Indian framework but a global framework to address them."

The event featured a dynamic panel discussion on 'AI as India's Genie Bottle,' featuring leaders like Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini; Sriram Raghavan, Vice President, IBM Research AI; Dr.Manish Gupta,Director-Research, Google; Kalika Bali, Microsoft Research India, and Tanuj Bhojwani, People+AI. The discussions were followed by a panel discussion on 'Responsible AI,' which featured Mary Snapp, Vice President of Strategic AI Initiatives, and Sindhu Gangadharan, MD of SAP Labs India. In the Fireside Chat on 'India's AI Moonshot,' prominent people such as Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Founder and President of IITM Research Park, and Umakant Soni, Chairman of AI Foundry and Co-founder of ARTPARK, offered their insights. Monika S Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, gave insights into How the Government is Reimagining Education Using AI Skills in Schools.

The event included a panel discussion on 'Injecting AI into Healthcare,' which featured speakers  Tathagato Rai Dastidar, Sigtuple; Viren Shetty, Vice Chairman, Narayana Health and Tushar Vashisht, Co-Founder and CEO, Healthify . This was followed by a panel discussion on How AI can Turbocharge India with Priyank Kharge, Karnataka minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj; Mahesh Makhija, EY India Technology Consulting Leader; Dilip Jose, MD & CEO, Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt. Ltd; Kaivalya Vohra, Co-Founder & CTO, Zepto and Arindam Banerrji, Executive Vice President & Country Head, India, State Street India. Speaking about the growth of Bengaluru in the field of AI, Mr. Priyank Kharge, "Bengaluru has a strong presence of approximately 400 Fortune 500 businesses, solidifying its status as the AI Capital. It has consistently secured the top position in the national innovation index and currently holds the 8th spot globally, aiming to elevate itself to the 5th rank. The city's flourishing startup ecosystem is noteworthy, boasting an impressive unicorn valuation of $384 billion, with Bangalore contributing significantly at $186 billion."

Subsequently, Pandu Nayak, VP-Search at Google, highlighted 'AI and the Future of Search' in a fireside chat with him. This was followed by a panel discussion on AI-powered Cybersecurity: Charting the future with Ashu Kakkar, Chief Information Officer, LTTS; Kavitha Kadambi, VP & Chief Information Security Officer Infosys Ltd and Huzefa Motiwala, Director, Systems Engineering, India & SAARC, Palo Alto Networks. Alternatively, Sunil Gupta, Co-Founder, Managing Director, and CEO of Yotta Data Services, and Ganesh Mahabala, Director, Strategic Business, Nvidia spoke about 'Building an AI Supercomputer for India,' in the Fireside Chats.

The conclave concluded with a series of engaging discussions, including Building and AI Supercomputer for India with 'Can AI Uplift Bharat?' with Karya.AI's Founder and CEO, Manu Chopra, and Prashant Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel following Fireside Chat on 'The AI Funding Cycle - Truth vs Hype' with Shailendra Singh, Managing Partner of Peak XV Partners. The day concluded with a Fireside Chat on 'AI and Chips in Geopolitical Cocktail' with Chris Miller, Author of 'Chip Wars,' and Rohan Murty, Founder of Soroco.

The Global AI Conclave proved to be a groundbreaking platform, bringing together industry leaders, visionaries, and experts to explore the limitless potential of artificial intelligence in shaping the future.
UGRO Capital is delighted to announce the triumphant return of Rajni Khurana, a seasoned Human Resources professional, as the Chief People Officer (CPO). Rajni's homecoming is marked by her passion for empowering the MSME ecosystem and reinforcing UGRO Capital's commitment to becoming the largest Small Business Financing Institution driven by Data and Technology.

With over two decades of diverse experience in Global Human Resources Management and Strategic Business Advisory, Rajni brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She has a proven track record in creating platforms for growing organizations, particularly in the financial services sector.

Rajni Khurana was an integral part of the foundation team at UGRO Capital, where she played a pivotal role in scaling up the people function, establishing culture, values, and policy frameworks. Her previous stint saw her working closely with the Board on strategic people agendas, contributing significantly to scaling the organization to 45 branches and 500+ employees.

As UGRO Capital embarks on its next phase of growth, Rajni's return is timely. The company, now present in 105 branches with over 2000 employees, plans to add 75 branches in the next quarter. Rajni will play a crucial role in continuing to establish a meritocratic culture, enabling cross-functional synergies, fostering a non-hierarchical environment, and enhancing rewards and recognition programs.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Mr. Shachindra Nath, Founder and Managing Director of U GRO Capital, said, At UGRO Capital, our strength lies in the foundation of our robust management team. Over the past few years, we have been diligently building a best-in-class team with the capability to construct India's largest small business financing platform. We are delighted to welcome Rajni back to UGRO Capital. She built the initial people-centric culture framework of UGRO and her rejoining would bring continuity in building the entrepreneurial culture required for our journey to build best in class financial institution. Her extensive experience and unwavering commitment to our mission align seamlessly with our organizational goals. As a founding member who shares our passion, Rajni's leadership will undoubtedly be instrumental in shaping the next chapter of our growth. Together, we look forward to achieving new milestones and further solidifying UGRO Capital's position as a leader in the small business financing landscape.

Rajni Khurana, on her appointment, stated, Returning to U GRO Capital feels like coming back home. I am excited about the shared vision of empowering the MSME ecosystem. UGRO Capital's journey to become the largest Small Business Financing Institution is both inspiring and challenging, and I am eager to contribute to its success.

Rajni Khurana was most recently associated with IndoSpace as Executive Director & Head - Human Resources. Her impressive career also includes impactful roles at CRISIL, Birla Sunlife Insurance, HDFC Bank, and WNS.

UGRO Capital looks forward to achieving new heights with Rajni Khurana's leadership and commitment, as she goes beyond the ordinary to contribute to the company's mission.
As we step into the third decade of the 21st century, the digital domain continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, reshaping the way businesses operate and individuals interact with technology.

It is safe to say that Artificial Intelligence (AI) took off in a big way in 2023; the word AI became fashionable, dancing on everyones lips. From streamlining customer service in businesses with voice-activated interfaces, to booking appointments in healthcare with intelligent scheduling algorithms, chatbots and virtual assistants equipped with AI proved their versatility across diverse fields.

OpenAIs ChatGPT kept driving innovation and efficiency across industries. In 2023, we witnessed the continued integration of AI into various aspects of business operations, customer service, marketing, etc.

Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, powered by vast datasets, enable AI systems to learn and adapt, making them indispensable tools for decision-making processes.

One notable area where AI made major strides is in predictive analytics, enabling businesses to leverage advanced AI algorithms to analyze historical data, identify patterns, and predict future trends. This proactive approach enhances strategic planning, minimizes risks, and optimizes resource allocation.

AIs capability in transforming customer interactions through Natural Language Processing (NLP) and sentiment analysis is bound to revolutionize myriad fields in the days ahead. These intelligent systems can understand context, interpret user queries, and deliver human-like responses, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

We also witnessed the rise of text-to-video tools, allowing users to generate videos from text prompts. Startups like Runway and Pika AI are pioneering this technology, making filmmaking and video creation more accessible.

AI comes with its own challenges such as biases. However, the year also showcased the potential pitfalls of unchecked AI. Concerns regarding deepfakes, AI-generated misinformation, and the ethical implications of autonomous weapons dominated headlines. The debate surrounding bias in AI algorithms, particularly in facial recognition software, intensified, triggering conversations about inclusivity and responsible development.

The rise of generative AI tools like DALL-E 2 and Midjourney sparked both awe and alarm. These tools, capable of creating hyper-realistic images from mere text prompts, raised concerns about copyright infringement and the potential for creating harmful content. The lines between reality and AI fabrication became increasingly blurred, demanding a critical re-evaluation of how we consume and trust information in the digital age.

As we head for 2024, innovations like Constitutional AI are expected to address the challenge of aligning AI systems with human values. Constitutional AI involves creating a "constitution" showcasing the desired values for AI behaviour. The AI is then trained to align its responses with these values, reducing reliance on human feedback and potentially making AI behaviour more precise and human-like.

In 2024, experts predict that AI will become culturally aware, showing a far better understanding and sensitivity to cultural nuances, and diversity in their everyday interactions.

The integration of Web3 technologies like blockchain and the metaverse showed early promise. Blockchain technology, originally developed for cryptocurrencies, is now playing a crucial role in enhancing digital security.

However, technical limitations and scalability issues remain hurdles to be overcome before Web3 truly disrupts the social media landscape. Embracing Web3 technologies holds promise for decentralization and user control, but caution is required to ensure inclusivity and address potential security vulnerabilities.

Despite all the hype, metaverse did not take off in 2023. We heard about Meta incurring nearly $50 billion in total metaverse losses. The losses have accumulated in its Reality Labs division since 2019. While Zuckerberg has championed the metaverse, there is uncertainty regarding whether Meta's big bet on the metaverse will ultimately pay off, given the substantial losses incurred in this space.

Search technologies

In 2023, search engines evolved beyond traditional keyword-based algorithms, incorporating AI-driven techniques to understand user intent and deliver more accurate results. Google unveiled "multisearch" letting users combine text queries with images and videos, ushering in a new era of intuitive information retrieval. Indeed, the future of search lies in understanding these nuanced contextual cues.

As voice-activated devices become ubiquitous, search engines are adapting to conversational queries. Natural Language Understanding (NLU) enables search engines to comprehend context, dialects, and user preferences, making voice search a more intuitive and user-friendly experience.

The integration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) also hold potential.

Another major development in the realm of search in 2023 was the historic antitrust case against Google in the US, with concerns raised about its control over the search and search-advertising markets. Lawmakers are focused on Google's strategic agreements with smartphone manufacturers and internet browser developers, which make Google the default search engine on most devices.

Google contends that default settings enhance user experience and that users generally prefer them, which, they argue, is not an antitrust violation. Contracts between Google's parent company, Alphabet, and tech giants like Verizon and Samsung establish Google as the default search choice. Google pays Apple billions of dollars annually to remain the default search engine on iPhones.

The year 2023 in social media witnessed significant changes, including the transformation of Twitter into "X" under Elon Musk's leadership. Musk's changes faced challenges, including allegations of misinformation, racism, and declines in usage.

Experts predict that in 2024 the focus will shift to the integration of AI into social media platforms. AI will play a role in driving usage, ad performance, subscriptions, and commerce.

In conclusion, 2023 was a year of exhilarating progress and sobering challenges in the digital world. As we weave the threads of these trends into the tapestry of the future, let us strive for a digital landscape that fosters innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
The United Methodist split in which 7,600 congregations left the denomination the past four years  5,600 in 2023 - has reached an end-of-year deadline for disaffiliation that makes it harder to leave and take church property along in 2024.

Nationwide, about a fourth of all churches left under 2019 guidelines that made it possible for churches to negotiate to leave and take their property with them until the end of 2023.

In Alabama, more than half of United Methodist congregations disaffiliated  about 555 churches. Most of those departures have taken place since 2022, when 198 congregations left in one day in North Alabama.

Alabama is the epicenter of this, said retired United Methodist Bishop William Willimon, who led the North Alabama Conference from 2004-2012. I think it seems more traumatic in Alabama than it does elsewhere.

Willimon, a leading United Methodist theologian, blames former President Donald Trump for the national mood that led to one of the largest schisms in American church history.

People are in a separatist mood, he said. Whos leading the separation of the United Methodist Church? Ive said a non-Methodist, Donald Trump. Donald Trump is greatly responsible.

Division over LGBTQ issues and transgender rights has led to lines in the sand between Democrats and Republicans that have become part of the zeitgeist of the nation, with Trump rallying Republicans angered by cultural changes.

It was the right cultural moment for that kind of stupid argument to hold sway, Willimon said.

The ordination of Bishop Karen Oliveto in 2016 as the first openly lesbian bishop, and clergy including bishops conducting same-sex weddings despite the ban in the United Methodist Book of Discipline became rallying points for conservatives against denominational leadership.

Theres a lesbian bishop in Colorado, so therefore we cant stay United Methodist, or some United Methodist in California has a different view of Jesus than we do, Willimon said. You wonder: Why now? The truth is: LGBTQ issues are paramount in peoples minds.

Willimon called Book of Discipline paragraph 2553, passed in 2019 to allow congregations to leave and pay to take their property with them if they disagreed with the denominations handling of human sexuality issues, one of the biggest mistakes and saddest moves ever for United Methodists.

What organization develops procedures for destroying their organization? Willimon said. They did that.

The irony is that many conservatives who defended the denominations still-standing ban on same-sex marriage hoped that passing 2553 would prompt liberals to leave, Willimon said.

That rule was devised by some to say to so-called progressives that were very unhappy about the continued stand against same-sex unions and LGBTQ clergy, Hey, if youve got a problem with that, we dont want to keep making you stay, youre free to leave. They were hoping they would leave. Well, they didnt. Then the conservatives said, We arent going to win the next vote at General Conference. Its not going our way. Theyre going to continue to talk and agitate about it, so were going to use that paragraph as a means of leaving and taking our churches with us.

By the end of 2022, conservative churches were leaving in droves and that continued into 2023.

Willimon predicted that Alabamas two United Methodist regional conferences, North Alabama and Alabama-West Florida, will have to merge due to shrinkage caused by disaffiliations.

They can have a future as a combined conference, but they cannot have the same future they had, said Willimon, now professor of Christian ministry at Duke University. Itll be a radically different future. Thats clear.

In May, Bishop David Graves of the Alabama-West Florida Conference declared that Division is of the devil as 193 churches disaffiliated in one day. In June, the conference changed rules to make disaffiliation more difficult.

As a result, a group of 45 churches filed a lawsuit against the conference. They lost at the circuit court level when a judge ruled it was an internal church matter, but appealed to the state Supreme Court and are hoping for a hearing. The churches have filed a brief with the court and the conference now has to reply, and the court will then determine if and when to set a hearing, said Jonathan Bailie, an attorney for the churches who sued.

The churches accused Graves of trying to run out the clock on their disaffiliations before the Dec. 31 deadline to leave and take their property with them.

The courts hate to get involved in church fights. and for good reason, Willimon said.

The bishops seem to be trying to put a positive face on things, which I guess is understandable, Willimon said. I think thats a bit disingenuous because I dont think there are many positive aspects of church division, separation, schism.

Long-term membership decline

Willimon said that long-term demographic trends and continued membership loss in the millions since the 1970s meant that the denomination was already in deep trouble.

The United Methodist Church, founded from a merger of Methodist churches in 1968, has dropped from 10.6 million U.S. members in 1970 to about 5.7 million in 2021, reflecting a broader decline in attendance and membership across mainline Protestant denominations.

The decline was already leading to toxic circumstances with people blaming each other and the church trying and not succeeding in most cases to reach out to a new generation, Willimon said. Now weve got this.

The problems with membership loss existed before disaffiliation, he said. The disaffiliations have probably subtracted more than another million members nationwide.

Our problem as a church is not disaffiliation, Willimon said. Our problem is our high median age as Methodists is like 65 years old, 66 maybe. You cant be that old and have a future.

But he said that the Global Methodist Church, founded last year by many of the more theologically conservative congregations leaving the United Methodist Church, faces the same long-term dilemma.

Sadly, part of this is symptomatic of a church that couldnt figure out how to address the problem that weve lost touch with three generations of young Christians, Willimon said. So, what we do is we decide to split up and form another aging mainline (predominantly) white denomination. That to me seems sad and ironic.

Some staying in the United Methodist Church point to the fact that many of the congregations that left are small, aging congregations in rural areas across the state.

Theres some truth in that, Willimon said. But also, in North Alabama, theyve lost some of their most vital, active, large congregations. Its going to hurt. That not only takes money and numbers away; it takes ministry away.

The disaffiliation of large churches such as Clearbranch in Trussville and Vestavia Hills Methodist are alarming because the conference poured so much into those churches to help them thrive, Willimon said. The conference planted Clearbranch, financed it and nurtured it for years, he said. The Vestavia church thrived under the leadership of pastors trained and assigned to it by the denomination, he said.

The bishops naively didnt expect so much dissatisfaction with the church, Willimon said. They also showed they had very few skills dealing with conflict and argument and dissension, so the bishops kept talking about charitable exit, gracious discussions, and then the bishops took it upon themselves to help churches leave or, just about as bad, said Yall prayerfully consider what you want to do, then let us know, then well cut a deal with you to leave.

Willimon said bishops should have fought harder to keep their flocks intact.

Well, thats just absurd that the bishops would not have fought, defended, argued, pled, bargained, do whatevers necessary to keep these churches committed to our trust and the United Methodist Church, Willimon said. Theres no organization that would ever permit that kind of thing to happen. Thats sad.

What comes next

Willimon has written more than 50 books on Methodism, most recently Dont Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next, published last year by Abingdon Press based on interviews with about 200 Methodist pastors.

I told them theres no criticism of the United Methodist Church that I havent made before you, in print, without all the homophobic stuff, Willimon said. Ive read through the proposed Book of Discipline for the Global Methodist Church and I agree with so much of it. Its wonderful. Its a third the size of the current United Methodist Discipline. Good move. I could have made it shorter. I think its sad so many of the reforms needed in the organization of the church, the United Methodist Church couldnt bring itself to reform itself better, and it led to this split.

Willimon said his book, Dont Look Back, attracted criticism from both sides.

I expected to get hammered by conservatives because I mock them and pointed out the hypocrisy, he said. My shock when the book came out was to get hammered by the more aggressive of the so-called progressives who said, How dare you try to keep them in the church. Let them go. We dont want them. You cant make that decision as a Christian. You cant say, Well be better off without you. Leave. Its horrible.

Thats giving up on Christian unity, Willimon said.

What it means is Im made uncomfortable by having arguments with people who disagree with me, he said. I dont want to have an argument with you on this subject, so its just easier for me if youll leave.

Now, in many small towns across Alabama, one struggling United Methodist church has become two competing struggling Methodist churches. Churches that left are rapidly changing their signs to eliminate the United in their names.

You take a weak aging congregation that decides to split, and we divide ourselves into two weak aging congregations, Willimon said.

Promoting continued opposition to same-sex marriage wont work for a younger audience, he said.

If you go out there and say to a younger generation, were going to reach you on the basis of our opposition to LGBTQ issues, just try that, he said. Youll find even conservative Christians, thats not their issue. They dont get it.

See also: United Methodist split: changing signs reflect upheaval

United Methodist split: 45 churches who sued bishop to disaffiliate file appeal to state Supreme Court

United Methodist split: 8 more churches disaffiliate, including 1 of Mobiles largest

United Methodists urge repeal of ban on same-sex marriage, openly gay clergy

United Methodists ask for loyalty from leaders, tighten rules on disaffiliation and downsize

Another 132 North Alabama United Methodist churches disaffiliate: Trussville, Helena, Gardendale

Division is of the devil, United Methodist bishop says as 193 churches disaffiliate
The 'General Hospital' star Steve Burton finalized his divorce from his pregnant ex-wife Sheree Gustin, as the judge finally signed their settlement on Wednesday.

Burton filed for divorce in July 2022, ending their 23 years of marriage.

Burton Finalizes Divorce From Gustin

According to TMZ, Burton revealed that they had broken up in May 2022 when he claimed Gustin was expecting a kid and found out that he was not the father.

He wrote on his Instagram about his split with Gustin. He said, "She recently announced that she's expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine."

Gustin gave birth to her daughter, Izabella, in February. She revealed her pregnancy in October last year, with the father's identity remaining a secret.

She posted on Instagram that she was unexpectedly expecting her fifth baby. She wrote, "If you would have told me I was going to have 5 kids with 2 of them being born in my 40s I would have laughed and said you were crazy but God has a plan, and here I am and I couldn't be happier or more grateful for my life and the people in it."

Burton noted that they were still co-parenting their three beautiful kids and would appreciate privacy now. The two agreed to joint legal and physical custody of their two minor children, Jack and Brooklyn.

He has been providing Gustin with $12,500 a month for child support. He was also paying $10,000 for Brooklyn, and $2,500 for Jack.

When Jack reaches 18 at the end of March, Burton will no longer be obligated to pay for child support. However, he ensured that he would keep paying Brooklyn $10K until she turned 18.

The ex-couple has consented to give up any and all claims to spousal support. However, he said he would give her $50,000 in installments of $2,500 each month.

Read Also: Israeli Airstrike Killed 2 Australians, Suspected Hezbollah Fighter in Lebanon

Burton Leaves 'General Hospital'

Burton portrayed Jason Morgan on 'General Hospital' from 1991 until his character was killed in 2012, then returned in 2017.

However, he was fired from the ABC soap opera in November 2021 after refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

He explained in a video that he knows there have been many rumors and speculations about him and his show, 'General Hospital.' Unfortunately, he has confirmed that the show has let him go because of the vaccine mandate.

Burton continued to defend himself and said that the production rejected his requests for exemptions from the rule on the grounds of religion and health. He thanked the audience and mentioned that he almost grew up on the program.

He added that one day, if these mandates are lifted, he can return and finish his career as Jason Morgan, which would be an honor to him.

Related Article: Maren Morris Opens Up About Pospartum Depression, Divorce From Ryan Hurd





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Authorities have released the name of a young man killed in a drive-by shooting in Midfield.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office Friday identified the victim as Jordan Tyler Johnson. He was 22 and lived in Adamsville.

The deadly shooting happened at 1:58 p.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of Griffin Drive.

Authorities said Johnson was sitting in a vehicle at a friends house when another vehicle drove by and opened fire.

Johnson was pronounced dead on the scene at 2:16 p.m.

Midfield police Chief Jesse Bell said investigators believe Johnson was targeted.

No arrests have been announced.

Anyone with information is asked to call Midfield police Sgt. Michael Jeffries at 205-745-3554, the tip line at 205-745-3559 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
An Athens man faces multiple charges in connection with the 2022 death of a pregnant Illinois woman in a car crash in Alabama.

Hayden B. Rose, 21, was arrested on Christmas Day, according to court records. A Limestone County grand jury charged him with two counts of reckless murder, two counts of reckless manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, and a charge of driving under the influence.

Laurina Hernandez, of Quincy, Illinois, was a passenger in a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe that Rose was driving when the crash happened around 2 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2022, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Troopers said the vehicle struck a ditch and flipped over near Athens.

First responders took Hernandez to a hospital, where she died of her injuries. She was not wearing a seatbelt, troopers said. Hernandez was seven months pregnant with a baby girl.

Rose is being held without bond, according to court records.
For three months, protesters have gathered in downtown Decatur and outside the mayors house to call for justice for Stephen Perkins, a Black man killed by police in late September.

Today, Tab Bowling, the mayor of Decatur, announced that demonstrators will need to get a permit for future protests, effective this evening.

Since the protestors first arrived in my neighborhood I have shared my concerns with many of my trusted advisors, the mayor explained in a statement.

Understanding that this is a necessary step in the process of healing I asked our police chief to allow demonstrators to remain unhindered outside of my residence even though some of their behavior was alarming and certainly disruptive to many of my neighbors, and to them l apologize.

Shortly thereafter I began receiving many phone calls and complaints from residents in the downtown area. I consulted with our Legal Department and then asked our police chief to enforce the local noise ordinance that limits the loud and disruptive behavior to 10pm, he added. After several weeks of continued protests outside of my home I want to assure those concerned that I have heard your voices.

The mayor said he is now ready to follow the advice that the citys legal department and police chief have given him to prevent disruptions in neighborhoods.

After again consulting with our Legal Department I have conceded to what they and law enforcement have been advising me from the beginning, that the right to protest should not and may not infringe on the rights of others and the rule of law must be restored to allow peace for all of our citizens, he said in the statement.

I absolutely respect our Constitutional Rights to free speech, to petition the government for a redress of grievances but legal precedent is clear that the government has the ability to place certain restrictions on public speech when it infringes upon the rights and peace of others.

Breaking: Decatur Mayor says protesters must obtain permit, complains of "disruptions." Protests have been ongoing after the police shot and killed Stephen Perkins on his front yard on Sept 29. pic.twitter.com/4zmoGfO2AL  Kayode Crown (@kayodecrown) December 28, 2023

There are existing Alabama State laws concerning disorderly conduct, disorderly persons and failure of disorderly persons to disperse that may pertain to this situation. Those and all other applicable federal and state laws and local rules and ordinances will be enforced for the purpose of providing a peaceful atmosphere for all residents of the city.

Perkins died after an officer shot him in the front yard of his home on Sept. 29.

During the early days of the protests, police arrested some demonstrators on charges of disorderly conduct. But since then the protests have mostly continued without arrests.

The mayor has fired three police officers involved in the shooting and put a fourth on indefinite suspension without pay on Dec. 7, following an internal investigation. They have all appealed the decision to the Citys personnel board, with hearings expected in the next few weeks.

The family has sued in federal court. And the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has completed its investigation into any possible criminal culpability by the officers and forwarded the files to the Morgan County District Attorneys office.

The City had identified the officers as Bailey Marquette, Christopher Mukkadam, Joey Williams. The familys lawsuit said Marquette shot Perkins. An attorney for the officer previously declined to provide any comments to AL.com

The familys suit against the officers also names towing company AllStar Recovery, LLC and Pentagon Federal Credit Union, which financed Perkins vehicle, as defendants. AllStar and Pentagon Federal did not respond to earlier requests for comment.

Security camera footage released by the Perkins family showed that it was dark outside when Perkins walked out into his yard while shining a light and shouted for the tow truck driver to put his vehicle down. Police appeared to emerge from the dark as an officer shouted for Perkins to get on the ground. A split second later, 18 gunshots rang out.

On the night of his death, police said, Perkins had a gun and threatened a tow truck driver who was trying to repossess his vehicle. The tow truck driver left but returned later with police, who shot and killed Perkins, a 39-year-old husband, father, and gym enthusiast.
Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson on Thursday night issued a temporary restraining order to stop the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing licenses to companies that will dispense medical cannabis.

Anderson granted a request by Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, which was awarded a dispensary license twice by the commission, in June and in August, but was denied during the third round of awards on Dec. 1.

The commission rescinded the first two rounds of awards. It was scheduled to issue the licenses awarded on Dec. 1 on Friday.

Anderson, in granting the request for a temporary restraining order, said Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries showed at least a reasonable chance of succeeding on its claim that the commission acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, and abused its discretion when it awarded the licenses Dec. 1 under different rules than the first two rounds.

One change for the third round was that the commission discarded scores from third-party evaluators that were used to rank the applicants during the first two rounds. Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries had the highest score for dispensary applicants. The commission discarded the scores after other applicants objected to them in lawsuits against the commission.

By law, the commission can issue only four dispensary licenses. Each dispensary licensee can operate three dispensaries. Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries plans to operate dispensaries in Birmingham, Owens Cross Roads, and Demopolis.

Andersons order putting a hold on the issuance of licenses applied only to the dispensary category. The commission is also scheduled to issue licenses for cultivators, processors, transporters, and testing labs on Friday.

In his order, Anderson declined to put a hold on cultivator licenses after a request by one of the applicants, Pure by Sirmon Farms. The company, which intends to cultivate cannabis in Baldwin County, made arguments to the court similar to Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries.

Like Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, Pure by Sirmon Farms was awarded licenses in June and August, only to see those rescinded, but was denied on Dec. 1.

Anderson wrote in his order that Pure by Sirmon Farms showed a reasonable chance of success on its claims.

But the judge said Pure by Sirmon Farms has an administrative remedy because it can request an investigative hearing before the commission and because the commission did not issue the full allotment of 12 cultivator licenses. The commission issued eight licenses out of 11 applicants considered. Anderson said that gives Pure by Sirmon Farms a chance to receive a license through the hearing process, so he declined to block the commission from issuing cultivator licenses.

As for the delay for dispensary licenses, Anderson wrote that he was sympathetic to the public interest in getting medicine to patients.

That said, the Commissions third round of licensing awards is at issue, and the prior two award rounds remain the subject of ongoing litigation  meaning that the Commissions effort to issue licenses now, based on the third round, is already on uneven ground, Anderson wrote. Additionally, any balancing of the equities here weighs heavily in favor of Yellowhammer, whose injury will very likely be irreparable if immediate injunctive relief is denied and the Commission issues licenses, thus virtually eliminating any reasonable chance for Yellowhammer to obtain any meaningful review of the adverse licensing decision.

Anderson wrote that he would set a hearing on the Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries and Pure by Sirmon Farms requests for a preliminary injunction.

The judge also noted there are similar motions pending from applicants for integrated licenses. Integrated companies will cultivate, process, transport, and dispense medical cannabis. The commission is scheduled to issue those licenses Jan. 9.

Officials have said products could be available next year if licenses can be issued to allow companies to begin growing, processing, and selling them.

The Legislature approved medical marijuana in 2021 and created the commission to oversee seed-to-sale regulation of the industry, which will be fully intrastate.

Products can include gummies, tablets, capsules, tinctures, patches, oils, and other forms allowed by the legislation.

Patients who receive a recommendation from a certified doctor and receive a medical cannabis card from the AMCC will be able to buy the products at licensed dispensaries.

The products can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, weight loss and nausea from cancer, depression, panic disorder, epilepsy, muscle spasms caused by disease or spinal cord injuries, PTSD, and others.

Read more: Alabama aims to get its medical cannabis program started while lawsuits continue
The former model who disappeared after leaving rehab in Pensacola and who was spotted in Alabama has reportedly been found safe in Arizona.

Isabel Anna Lawson, 24, was found safe Friday in Phoenix, police told WEAR.

Lawsons parents are her legal guardians but she cant be returned home to Florida because the guardianship is not enforceable in Arizona, police told the station.

The ex-models parents fear Lawson is headed to Los Angeles, where she worked and where her addiction struggles began, according to WEAR.

Lawson 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 had been searching for her since her Tuesday disappearance.
Lauderdale County authorities on Thursday said that skeletal remains discovered earlier this month have been identified as belonging to a man missing for almost five years.

Sheriff Joe Hamilton said at a news conference that the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences has identified bones and a skull found near County Road 6 as the remains of Bradley Eugene Lard.

Lard, 39, was reportedly last seen on Feb. 28, 2019 in the Cloverdale community at a gas station, Hamilton said. He was reported missing in April of 2019.

According to authorities, Lard had been at the home of an acquaintance when he reportedly just walked off.

Authorities said the bones, which were about 60% to 70% of the body, were discovered by a hunter on Dec. 13. Clothing found at the scene was also consistent with what Lard was reportedly wearing at the time of his disappearance.

Hamilton said investigators are still awaiting forensic results before determining whether Lards death was a result of foul play. He characterized the investigation as very open, as authorities found new evidence at the scene. When questioned, Hamilton would not disclose the nature of the evidence.

A $5,000 reward issued in 2019 for information in the case is still in effect.
Every Friday night in the early 70s, one could find Theuda Nmosa Tusajiwe and a friend dancing with big afro puffs in handmade bell bottoms, crop tops with bell sleeves, halter necks, hip huggers and elephant leg flare pants.

Today, Tusajiwe, owner of Nmosa Designs and Fabrics in Woodlawn, sits at a desk, her sewing machine humming. Shes wearing pink corduroy flared pants. A pair of pink-rimmed eyeglasses perch on the tip of her nose. Her long locs are tied into pigtails and hang far past her dangling, tortoise shell hoop earrings.

I started sewing when I was 16. Which I love with every fiber of my being, I love sewing more than anything, Tusajiwe said. Everytime we walked into the club, people just waited to see what we had on. It was so exciting. Thats when I started sewing. I fell in love with it out of a need because I could never, ever find anything for me in the stores that was long enough or stylish enough.

Tusejiwe has made a home in Birmingham, but she said the city was very slow to grow, especially for the Black community.

Ive moved in and out of Birmingham so many times, waiting for something to happen in this city, and it just took a very long time, she said.

According to a recent Brookings Institution study, Black women owned more than 19% of all women-owned businesses in the U.S. in 2017, higher than their proportion in the population. However, representation lags in the Birmingham metro, according to a report from Prosper, a Birmingham non-profit that helps grow Black owned businesses.

One of the ways that we lagged behind in Birmingham is not just in the number of black owned businesses, but the number of black owned businesses that have more than one employee relative to the size of our population, J.W. Carpenter, president of Prosper, said.

He said Prosper is working to ensure Birminghams Black business owners have opportunities to get contracts for new employees, connections to funders and educational opportunities to grow their businesses.

The only shot weve got to be the most inclusive and thriving economy in the southeast is if all of our residents and business owners have opportunities to grow. And so thats something based on the Brookings data we saw that we were behind and thats why were laser focused on making sure that those Black owned businesses have those opportunities, Carpenter said.

Theuda Nmosa Tusajiwe, owner of Nmosa Designs and Fabrics in Woodlawn, stands among the brightly colored fabrics in her store on Dec. 12, 2023. Tusajiwe has been sewing since she was 16 and dreamed of starting her own business.Alaina Bookman

Former president of the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association, Valencia King, said the neighborhood has been becoming a more diverse and inclusive space.

The growth of the minority and Black owned businesses, you have to look at what used to be the history of our community. Our community was not always accepting of African American people. The growth of their businesses and them coming back and reviving Woodlawn is wonderful, King said.

Originally, Tusajiwe grew up in Sipsey, a small town in Walker County.

Fashion, style, outlet stores, we were far removed from everything. We didnt have any fashion sense in that community, but my girl friend and I were very fashionable. We were just not satisfied with the ordinary, she said.

She changed her name 28 years ago from Linda Annette Sims. She said her name was too country. Theuda Nmosa Tusajiwe, derived from Swahili, means benevolent and charitable, sharing and giving, blessed by God.

I changed my name because it fits who I am. It describes who I am as a person. African names describe your character or what you strive to be, things you want to develop in your character.

Tusajiwe and her friend started sewing and making clothing at the kitchen table of the only person in their community that knew how to sew.

Eventually they saved enough money to buy their own sewing machine. They frequented the only fabric store in the community and made new outfits to go dancing.

After graduating from high school, Tusajiwe went into the military. She continued sewing and even hosted fashion shows in the barracks.

It was just something that never left me. Every aspect of my work has been centered around sewing, she said.

While stationed in Germany, Tusijiwe got married. She moved back to Birmingham and had children.

Over time, she worked in different alteration shops across the city to develop her skills. In her late 30s, she was the first Black woman to work at the Birmingham Childrens Theater as a costume designer.

I never could, ever work for anyone too long. I could only stay for a short period of time. I left that job, which was a good job, to open up my own shop, she said. I was never satisfied working for somebody else because Im working and contributing all my skills, and all of my time and all of my energy into somebody elses business. I wanted to do my own thing.

In 2018, Tusajiwe opened up her own shop, in the vacant space above a business where she also tailored clothing.

I always wanted a location where I could do everything under one roof. Where I can teach classes, I can sell fabric and I could sew as much as I wanted to, she said.

In 2020, she found the perfect space for her business, a large building in Woodlawn.

Her shop is large and bright, each wall a different color. The entrance is a summertime yellow, her office a springtime green, the fabric shop is a deep, royal purple. Rolls of brightly colored fabric sit in silver bins and hang from rods. Hundreds of spools of thread sit neatly in her office.

In her shop, she makes dresses, tailors and alters clothing and teaches one-on-one sewing classes.

Tusajiwe said she hopes to receive more financial aid from the neighborhoods business associations to help grow her business. She is renting the building for her shop, but has invested in renovations and hopes to one day own it. She and her team hope to also do small scale manufacturing and design their own clothing line.

We want to do all those things but it takes time, it takes a lot of patience and it takes a team of people to do it, not only the people that work in the building, but the people that help support us and keep up afloat when things get hard. And they do get hard, she said. We want to be here and we feel like we deserve it because weve earned it.

Tusajiwe said she loves being part of the Woodlawn community. She often collaborates with local business owners and offers odd jobs to those in need.

We want people to understand that Woodlawn is safe. We love it. We appreciate it. And we recognize its growth and we understand that it takes a village to make it happen. We understand that people want a nice place to go. Thats why we wanted to make our shop very warm and open and welcoming, she said.

We try to reach our customers wherever they are. If you have an event, if you have an emergency, a funeral, she said. We dont price gouge. We consider our neighborhood and where we are, who our customers are. We try to work with people.

The store reaches its peak during prom season. High schoolers stream into the shop with their families requesting extravagant gowns with pearls, diamond studs, velvet and feathers. She said she gets the most business from young men looking to get their suit jackets embellished.

We live for prom season, she said.

On the other hand, older men are also a big part of her client base. Many walked into the shop wanting to get their church pants hemmed or a button replaced on their suit jackets.

One man came in to pick up a blue jean shirt, a red panel was sewn to the back with a photo of Elvis imprinted on it. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he held the shirt in front of him, smiling widely as he exited the store.

We want to make peoples dreams of what they want to look like come true. Its a process, from the beginning of measurements to deciding the fabric, to deciding the style, the fit, all of that. Its hand tailored, she said.

Tusajiwe said her favorite part of owning her own business is knowing that her grandchildren look up to her.

I love being a Black woman business owner because I think it speaks to a lot of young people who come in and see me do this. Thats really why I want to set a good example for them to see that its possible, Tusajiwe said. I would love to be a mentor to other Black women who have a love for this industry.
An Athens man has been indicted on murder and other offenses in connection with a Limestone County crash that killed a pregnant Illinois woman last year.

A Limestone County grand jury indicted Hayden Rose, 21, on two counts of reckless murder, two counts of reckless manslaughter, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident, court records showed.

The October 2022 wreck occurred on Zehner Road south of Highway 72, when Laurine Hernandezs car left the road, hit a ditch and flipped over, ejecting one passenger.

Hernandez, of Quincy, Illinois, was seven months pregnant at the time of the wreck.

She was transported to Athens Limestone Hospital where she later died from her injuries.

The charges against Rose were filed Wednesday.
A murder inmate serving a life sentence died in an Alabama prison Wednesday after exhibiting erratic behavior, the state Department of Corrections said Thursday.

DeMarcus McCloud, 45, entered the Limestone Correctional Facilitys dining hall exhibiting erratic behavior and had to be subdued by officers, ADOC said.

McCloud, who committed murder in Calhoun County, was taken to the prisons health care unit for an assessment.

After the assessment, McCloud became unresponsive, the agency said.

Life-saving measures were attempted but unsuccessful.

McCloud was declared dead by an attending physician at the prison.

The inmates death was being investigated by ADOC, and a cause of death is pending an autopsy and the conclusion of the probe.
Alabama lawmakers have a two-pronged approach in their attempt to reverse the Biden administration decision to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado instead of the plan to move the headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

One involves Donald Trump, should the former president win in 2024.

Under the defense policy bill passed by Congress earlier this month, the inspector general for the Pentagon has to conduct an audit into the decision.

The provision was secured in the bill by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee.

Weve got two paths, both of which are good, Rogers told Politico in a story published Thursday. One, the IG  inspector general  can come back and say what we know theyre gonna say, which justifies us going forward with building in Huntsville.

Should that scenario not play out exactly how the Alabama congressman envisions, Rogers and the rest of the states congressional delegation will turn to Trump, whose administration selected Huntsville to be the permanent headquarters of Space Command before Bidens about-face.

And if that [does] not happen, Trumps gonna be there. Hes going to enforce what the secretary of the Air Force said under his administration and the secretary of the Air Force said under Bidens administration, Rogers told the outlet. That is, Huntsville won the competition  and thats where it should be and thats where hes going to build it.

The headquarters has been in Colorado since the command was started while a review process was under way. That review concluded Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal was the best place for the command and the two states have gone back and forth since then as to whether the headquarters should move.

When the decision to keep the command in Colorado was made public, an NBC report indicated Alabamas strong anti-abortion laws factored into the decision. The Biden administration maintained that politics did not play a role.
French police have apprehended a 33-year-old man on suspicion of murdering his 35-year-old wife and their four children in their Meaux home, a quiet suburb near Paris.

The grim discovery was made on Christmas Day after concerned friends and family alerted authorities about the family's unresponsiveness, as per Reuters.

Paris Family Massacre

Local prosecutor Jean-Baptiste Bladier has disclosed distressing details surrounding the tragic incident. The victims, consisting of two boys and two girls aged nine months, four, seven, and 10 years old, were discovered in their family apartment situated at Square Adam-de-la-Halle. Shockingly, they were found with multiple stab wounds, adding a harrowing dimension to this heart-wrenching case.

The suspect, who had previously come under the radar of authorities due to past incidents of 'domestic violence,' was apprehended in Sevran during a police search conducted on Tuesday morning.

Geolocation data from the suspect's phone indicated that he left the family flat on Christmas Day around 8:07 p.m. Subsequently, he visited his father in Sevran and his grandmother in Garges-les-Gonesse.

The bodies, bearing signs of violent attacks, were discovered at around 9 p.m. The two younger children, aged four and nine months, showed no apparent wounds, leading investigators to consider drowning or suffocation as possible causes of death.

The arrested man has a troubling history, having been investigated for domestic violence in 2019, including an incident where he attacked his wife with a knife. However, criminal proceedings were closed, citing his 'mental deficiency.' The suspect, who had spent time in a psychiatric hospital in 2017 and was on regular medication for mental problems, was already on the radar of authorities, according to Mail Daily

Read Also: Readout of President Biden's Call with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar

Blood-Stained Door Handle in Happy Home

A concerned neighbor, who had engaged in conversation with the mother at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday, made an alarming discovery on Christmas Day. The neighbor, taken aback by the sight of blood on the front door handle of the family flat, promptly raised the alarm. In a shocking turn of events, a neighbor expressed their disbelief and horror at the incident, describing the mother involved as a person who exuded a remarkable sense of joy and kindness.

In the Paris region, an awful crime happened, further contributing to a series of infanticides. This distressing incident provides light on a concerning trend that has been observed. An investigation into the intentional killing of minors and a partner has been launched by the Paris prosecutor's office. If convicted, the charges could result in life imprisonment.

In a statement, the public prosecutor, Bladier, characterized the crime scene as a site marked by "very great violence," underscoring the imperative for a comprehensive inquiry. The suspect's mental health and history of violence are expected to play crucial roles in uncovering the motive behind this heinous act.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are expected to release further details, shedding light on the circumstances that led to this heart-wrenching tragedy. The incident also raises concerns about the prevalence of domestic violence and the need for effective intervention to prevent such devastating outcomes, The Guardian reported.

Related Article: Israel-Hamas Conflict: Dozens of Dead Palestinians Burried in Rafah Mass Grave in Southern Gaza

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In 1933, four weeks after winning the German national election, Hitler leveraged the burning of the German Reichstag (parliament) building to gain public support for seizing absolute power, dismissing his cabinet, his chancellor, and the legislature. Are we now seeing the transformation of another democracy into a dictatorship?

The weaponization of Washington, D.C. has been going on for decades, but the pace is accelerating. We saw it when J. Edgar Hoovers FBI collected intelligence files on politicians and with Nixon trying to avoid impeachment. But the real acceleration began during Clintons term, with Clinton initiating a pay to play scam, where interested parties and foreign governments donated to the Clinton Foundation in exchange for favorable government treatment, and he used presidential executive orders to usurp congressional authority. It is reported that the Clinton Foundation accumulated close to $3 billion in donations, but less than 20% was given to charitable causes, and the rest enriched the Clinton family. Sound familiar?

Under President Obama, House speaker Nancy Pelosi passed the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) without reading or voting on the act as required; she deemed it passed in spite of 1.2 million protesters in front of the Capitol demanding its repeal. As a result, voters punished the Democrats in the 2010 midterm election, costing them 63 House seats, which flipped control to the Republicans. In the Senate, they lost six seats but retained control. Obama admitted that the Democrats took a shellacking. He blamed the opposition TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party for their loss and targeted them with IRS audits, which drove them underground.

The tyranny didnt stop there. With Obamas approval, Hillary Clinton, the Democrat National Committee, and the FBI paid over $9 million to Christopher Steele to create the faux Russia-Trump collusion Steele Dossier. The U.S. federal government was weaponized against their political enemies: Trump and his supporters. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Rule of Law were null and void.

But to their shock, Trump defeated Hillary. During Trumps four-year term, the Democrats used a special counsel, who investigated Trump for two and a half years and found no high crimes or collusion. So they tried to impeach him twice, which failed.

Under the tyranny of Obama and Biden, they also accepted bribes from foreign government agents, which raises the questions. What did these governments receive in exchange for their millions? Are they compromised?

The weaponized DOJ/FBI allowed Black Lives Matter rioters to loot and burn in over 200 major cities, causing $2 billion in damages, 35 violent deaths, and 1,500 injured police, but few were arrested. Black Lives Matter activists executed a shocking $83 billion shakedown of American corporations.

But after the January 6 demonstrations at the Capitol, 300 legal unarmed protesters were arrested. Under the Constitution, these people were peaceably assembled, with the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Our tyrannical government is now prosecuting presidential candidate Trump to convict and jail him so Democrats can hold onto their dictatorial powers and avoid prosecution after the next election.

Speaker Pelosi organized the House January 6 Select Committee to investigate and charge the protesters who entered the Capital. They hired a professional movie producer to edit over 40,000 hours of video and assemble video proof that January 6 was a Trump-led insurrection. And the raw video was not released to the public to determine if it was an insurrection or mostly a peaceful demonstration with some bad ANTIFA actors fighting police and damaging the Capital building.

But was there a second purpose to the Jan. 6 Select Committee? With the Democrats controlling both the House and Senate, they chose not to investigate election fraud in the swing states, since their candidate, Joe Biden, won. Although the voters in all states were legally harmed if there was voter mail-in ballot fraud, which denied them of their constitutional right to a fair and impartial election, the Supreme Court refused to take the case.

But what if there is proof of significant mail-in voter ballot fraud in 2020? Just released, the Heartland/Rasmussen Poll found that one in five (20%) of mail-in voters admit to committing at least one kind of voter fraud during the 2020 election, and 8% were paid to commit fraud.

Bidens margin of election victory in the six swing states was only 2.5%, or 312,600 votes. In another poll of Democrat voters, 16% answered that they would have switched their vote from Biden if they had known that Hunters laptop from hell was not Russian disinformation, as the FBI-controlled media reported several months before the 2020 election, which would have suppressed or flipped 2,039,055 Democrat votes to Trump, and he would have won! And We the People would have avoided the Biden disaster we are forced to live with.

Americans have repeatedly been told that the 2020 election was the most secure in history, but if this polls findings reflect reality, the exact opposite is true.

A democratic republic cannot survive if election laws easily allow fraud, and thats exactly what occurred in the 2020 election.

The left is terrified of Trump winning with more than half the countys support. More than half of Americas citizens are unitedly opposed to the lefts liberal policies, a weaponized federal government, the goal of fundamentally transforming America, and anti-Trump judges twisting laws to convict him or remove him from the ballot (as in Colorado). The voters clearly see this Leftest Insurrection, and they will save America!

Image via Picryl.
Playing to what amounted to a friendly home crowd at the Dubai U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP28), NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg went there to deliver a message touting a relationship between global security and climate change, while emphasizing the necessity of shifting military resources to combat global warming.

In his speech, set against a backdrop of the Ukraine war, he was adamant about the influence of climate change on international security with conflict actually undermining our capability to combat climate change because resources that we should have used to combat climate change are spent on our protecting our security with our military forces." He would even become apologetic about the Alliances reliance on fossil fuelintensive military machinery, telling the audience, If you look at big battle tanks and the big battleships and fighter jets, they are very advanced and great in many ways, but they're not very environmentally friendly. They pollute a lot, so we need to get down the emissions.

Stoltenbergs address at COP28 comes not long after President Bidens September declaration in Vietnam that the only existential threat humanity faces even more frightening than a nuclear war is global warming. Then, just two days after the October 7 attack on Israel, instead of talking about hostages and the U.S. response, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby went in front of TV cameras defending that statement: the president believes wholeheartedly that climate change is an existential threat to all of human life on the planet.

But do world events  present or past  justify such inordinate interest by political leaders in climate change shaping the global security environment who go so far as to deem it an existential threat to humankind? Does the still uncertain and arguable science of climate change cross a threshold to influence, even justify, Alliance or national decision-making to link defense and security policy, actions, and investments? World events reminds us it does not.

The current centurys major conflicts  Iraq, Afghanistan, Assads Syria, Ethiopias Tigray war, Yemens and South Sudans civil wars, and more recently Ukraine and Israels war against Hamas  have no compelling environmental or climatological links, just as all other international conflicts in the post-WWII era did not. ISIL, which once controlled large swaths of some of the planets most inhospitable desert areas in Syria and Iraq, professed no regard for climate change in its worldview, nor has Hamas or Hezbollah today, both of which also inhabit arid, hot desert lands. Arguably, no conflict in human history, modern or otherwise, has a causal (or effectual) relationship with climate change, despite the planet undergoing periods of both warming and cooling.

Todays foremost security threats  e.g., great power competition, cyber-attacks, piracy, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, financial crises, dictatorships, nationalism, drug-trafficking, insurgencies, revolutions, Iran, North Korea, etc.  all continue to fester. None can be persuasively linked to climate change, even as a worsening effect. Further, climate change does not appear to drive the agendas or motives of global antagonists like Putin, Xi, Al-Shabaab, the Taliban, Kim, Khomeini, Assad, al-Qaeda, cartels, Hezballah, Hamas, the Houthis, Boko Haram, or others.

Instead, consider that environmental factors rarely incite conflict within or between nations. In fact, the opposite  international cooperation  is the more likely outcome in concert with the human races innate ability to adapt to its environment. The climate-security link Stoltenberg wants us to accept can be greatly overstated and instead aimed to serve political agendas and economics more than addressing real security threats. What climate advocates further ignore or overlook is the slow, gradual process over years, decades, even centuries by which environmental phenomena occur, while ignoring empirical evidence of the pace, causes, and drivers of current events. Climate change is not the catalyst determining whether conflict occurs or its severity.

Of more practical importance is that, should a military response be required, military forces must be prepared to operate and prevail in whatever weather extremes are encountered at that moment. Their equipment and resources must best perform their military function, regardless of environmental sensibilities. In one telling example, if U.S. or NATO forces had been required to operate in Russia in 2012 along similar routes as the Wehrmacht in 1941 and Napoleon in 1812, they would have encountered worse cold and weather than in either of those campaigns, so infamously ravaged by winter.

In fact, Russia endured its harshest winter in over 70 years and had not experienced such a long cold spell since 1938, with temperatures 1015 degrees below seasonal norms nationwide. Like Russia, Chinas 2012 winter temperatures were the lowest in almost three decades, cold enough to freeze coastal waters and trap hundreds of ships in ice. Even today, had the COP28 conference been held at a European location, Stoltenberg may have become snowbound while traveling, with more of the continent under snow cover in Decembers first week than in any year for more than a decade.

A NATO alliance currently facing epic regional challenges cannot lose focus on core security and defense priorities or its profound grasp of the true origins, causes, and motives for human conflict. Both military and political leaders cannot be distracted from true security threats  i.e., antagonists and competitors willfully and purposefully directing adversarial, often military, actions against a member nation with malicious intent  or not be prepared to operate and prevail in whatever weather or climatic conditions are encountered at that time.

With such clarity  absent the narrative, politics, uncertainty, and rhetoric of climate change  NATO, its member nations, and their leaders can then best direct its substantial enterprise towards those more numerous, serious, and pressing security threats facing the Alliance.

During his Air Force career, Colonel Krisinger served as military advisor to the assistant secretary of state for European affairs at the Department of State while working from the NATO Policy Office. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Naval War College and was also a National Defense Fellow at Harvard University. If you would like to continue the conversation: cjkrisinger@gmail.com.

Image: 358611 via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
With elections on and Joe Biden hovering at around a 40% public approval rating, everyone can see that Joe Biden's starting to get desperate over his polls.

Vying for issue number one among voters is an out-of-control open border with illegal immigration now hitting record highs as hundreds of thousands pour in. Cities are going bankrupt with the onslaught. Border Patrol agents are shutting down legitimate trade to "process" migrants. Hospitals are flooded with diseased and injured migrants, and schools are overwhelmed with indigent pupils speaking more than a hundred languages.

Instead of change his policies to match what's written in law, Biden has sent his men down to Mexico to try to talk Mexico's anti-U.S. president, Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador, into taking care of his migrant problem for him. AMLO, of course, is actually helping the migrants get in, which is a situation requiring assertiveness but there was none of that from Joe, just the image of a pleading lapdog.

According to the New York Post:

The White House sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday to meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, hoping to obtain his assistance in slowing the wave of migrants crossing through his country on their way to ours. The resulting Joint Communique from that parley reveals Mexico City has no interest in assisting an administration that wont secure US borders. The trip itself, scheduled during a holiday week when little gets done in either capital, reeked of desperation, and nothing in that communique dispels the stench.

Here's the main section of the declaration that came of it:

The two countries reaffirmed their existing commitments on fostering an orderly, humane, and regular migration. This includes reinforcing our partnership to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, inequality, and violence, and for the two countries initiative for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. Ongoing cooperation also includes enhanced efforts to disrupt human smuggling, trafficking, and criminal networks, and continuing the work to promote legal instead of irregular migration pathways. Also, both delegations agreed on the importance of maintaining and facilitating the vital bilateral trade at our shared border. President Lopez Obrador highlighted the commitment of President Biden to pursue regular, orderly, and secure migration. He stressed the need to continue the diplomatic and political engagement with all countries in the region, as well as investing in ambitious development programs throughout the entire hemisphere of the Americas. Both delegations underlined the efforts that the Biden administration is pursuing through development assistance and humanitarian aid, as well as advancing new private investments in the region.

Which is garbage, pretty much regurgitated palaver about 'root causes' from Biden's border czar, Kamala Harris and her vaunted migration report, which mean nothing. We notice that she wasn't invited to this all-important meeting for Biden. She was just there in spirit.

More specifically, it's about money, and dropping sanctions for AMLO's crummy little socialist friends running the Nicaraguan, Cuban, and Venezuelan dictatorships. AMLO saw his opportunity with Biden, recognizing how desperate he was for Mexico to stop the migrants, and decided that now was the time to get the U.S. to drop sanctions on those countries, which is what they want, and get their hands into the money pots of the big greedy gringo capitalists with so-called "investments."

The Post points out that AMLO gets $55 billion in untaxed remittance cash each year, mostly from the U.S. and its illegal migrants, and he'd like to have more of that coming. That goes doubly so for the regimes of Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela, which don't have much of any cash coming in except migrant remittances. Nicaragua, for one, reported record remittances this week from its illegal migrants.

It's telling that Mexico dropped the words "democratic decline" as one of its root causes of illegal migration in the official statement, apparently on its own, in the Spanish version of the document. Someone noticed, and then Joe Biden rolled again, dropping those words from the U.S. version of the statement in English as if following Mexico instead of sticking to the agreed-upon statement.

The Hill described that embarrassing rollover here.

The Mexican version, identical save for the phrase democratic decline, caused an uproar among the countrys opposition, which has raised red flags over Lopez Obradors institutional reforms. Lopez Obrador has derided institutions such as the countrys independent electoral authority as neoliberal, conservative and too costly for the country, pushing reforms and budget cuts to weaken them. To Mexicos opposition, Lopez Obradors actions are the very definition of democratic decline. Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, the top foreign policy adviser to opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez, accused Mexicos government on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, of shaving off the term after the White House published its initial version. But the White House reissued the English language version of the statement hours later, this time without democratic decline.

We might note that democratic decline is present here, too, in the migrant-receiving country, but that's not what this is about.

It's about political cover for AMLO and his dictator-y acts, and AMLO's pals, in socialist hellholes such as Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. They're all happy the heat's off on their increasingly oppressive dictatorships and the migrants are flowing outward.

Joe was happy to roll for them there.

Worse still, there was talk of amnesty for illegals in the document, an interesting switch for AMLO who historically has opposed illegal immigration of Mexicans to the states, viewing them as traitors to the motherland.

Now he likes that illegal immigration, which, as the Post notes, has brought him billions in remittances to play around with though the banking system. Who needs poor Mexicans to support when gringo will do it for him and the money is rolling back to him instead of the protests? Who needs potential rioters who otherwise would stand up against his own bad economic policies if they have to live in their own homeland? Migration is always a cash cow for Mexican governments and for more reasons than one.

What's bad here is that amnesty -- for DACA kids and longtime illegal migrants -- will encourage more illegal immigration, not less. After that, AMLO will stand there with his hand out again, knowing that Feckless Joe will come to him, ready to roll over again.

What an ugly disaster this meeting was, and what counterproductive things -- none good for Americans -- went on there.

Back when President Trump was in office, the U.S. was able to stand tall and hit Mexico with the right incentives to get it to change its behavior on illegal migrants and the border, shutting down the border and warning AMLO that there would be no trade until he played ball. AMLO was able to read Trump clearly and decided it wasn't worth his while to end trade with one of his top trading partners.

Now it's different. For AMLO, it's time to shake concessions out of the feckless gringos. He knows Joe Biden won't change his policies, so now he calls the shots. What a satisfying thing is it for him to see Joe Biden rolling over for him again and again, pleading for for one last belly rub from the Mexicans.

Image: J. Wynia, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0
Ive said this before and Ill say it again, just because a person flees the hard-left policies of California does not automatically mean he or she is a conservativein fact probably not really at allcase in point, from a story published at Fox News today, in which we find conservatives who apparently think socialism is politically acceptable:

Retired California public employees are flocking to Idaho with their pension funds and becoming the financial "lifeblood" of at least one Idaho town, ruffling feathers with some locals who are taking issue with the liberal baggage of the new residents. The Los Angeles Times reported this month the town of Eagle, Idaho, has seen an influx of retired cops and firefighters moving to their town with many of them identifying as conservative but who seem practically socialist to the old guard with their large pensions.

Eagle, Idaho is situated in the Boise Foothills just ten miles outside of the capital city, and the historically modest community has always been distinctly Idaho; but not so anymore:

Two California transplants squared off in the most recent mayoral race, and the key issue between the two former Golden State residents was who was the least Californian. Former Eagle, Idaho, Mayor Jason Pierce arrived in Idaho more than 20 years ago with no public pension and lost an election to a more recent arrival with a six-figure California fire captains pension. Pierce told the outlet it was ludicrous the new residents call themselves Republicans.

For context, California is currently facing a $68 billion deficit.

Pierce also noted that the six-figure pensions these retired government employees bring in are more than the working people in Idaho make; recent Census data show that the median household income in Idaho is $70,214, while the median individual income in 2021 was $30,621. Also from Fox:

They want to give the same kind of benefits to officers and state employees here, Pierce told the outlet. And its like, Wait a minute, you literally created a huge deficit in California, and now you want to do the same thing here?  Californians have been programmed in a way that they think they're conservative, but then they move to a place like Eagle, Idaho, and they start asking for the same things that the government was providing them in California, Pierce said. Honestly, they don't even realize what theyre doing, but you have to kind of go, Wait a minute, so you want your taxes to go up? Oh, Id be willing to pay a little bit more, and its like, wait a minute, you just left all this.

It shows how low our low threshold for a win is when we opt for the socialist-lite version instead of the fiscal conservative; could it be because all too often we treat politics like a social club, and embrace the get along to go along mentality?

This story serves as the perfect reminder that political purity tests (to a greater magnitude than most might think) absolutely ought to be implementedits not a lot to expect that a person running for an American office believe in the Constitution, embrace individual responsibility instead of government handouts, and agree that at a time when were $34 trillion in debt, adding more debt to the taxpayers breaking back is unequivocally unacceptable.

Image generated by AI.
As questions arise as to whether Jack Smith was even legally appointed as President Trump's special prosecutor, and a judge messes up Smith's Super Tuesday timetable for Trump's trial, Smith is showing signs of desperation now.

He's asked the court to wipe out President Trump's defense of himself from insurrection-related charges, and wants his court to allow Trump to defend himself only as Smith wants him to defend himself.

NEW: Jack Smith, in likely vain attempt to keep March 4 trial date, filed another pretrial related to what the jury should be allowed to consider. (All pretrial deadlines now on hold)



Smith wants to preclude the jury from hearing evidence about Jan 6 in his Jan 6 case: pic.twitter.com/m8hgn6eGoJ  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) December 27, 2023

What does Smith not want the stacked favorable D.C. jury to hear about?

Undercover agents -- doing the things agents provocateurs do, which is to provoke. There are probably a lot of deep-staters in that jury pool who know all about this:

Smith wants to prevent jury from learning about presence of undercover agents: pic.twitter.com/Z4fCQN4o9P  Julie Kelly  (@julie_kelly2) December 27, 2023

Haven't there been a few cases in Michigan where juries ruled that undercover agents provocateurs lured people into commiting crimes they would never otherwise commit and acquitted the defendants?

Such as this case, and this case?

Seems like a credible pattern to any reasonable juror to consider actually, and once the facts and discovery are out on Trump's case, it's possible that even a stacked jury would rule to acquit Trump.

Smith can't take that chance. He's a fanatic with a political agenda, so now he's wheeling out the Alice in Wonderland tactics, going Soviet. This explains the extremism of his tactics, his insistence on winning despite having a case that is steadily falling apart.

Now he's getting mean and crazy and surreal, like the old Soviet show trial prosecutor, Andrey Vyshinsky.

That's despite his having a favorable judge, a friendly jury, a stacked court district brimming with Washington swamp things, and an unlimited federal budget.

This isn't a valid appointment, which is supposed to be about justice. This is about a political show trial -- of the party, by the party, for the party, and nothing outside the party, as the Bolsheviks in various ways used to say.

Smith is showing himself an outrageous practitioner of show trials, and sentence first, trial later. He's the ultimate kangaroo court king, deciding what each side is going to say.

It's time for Congress or the courts to declare his appointment illegal and throw this clown out. Or if it has to be, the voters will decide on Election Day.

Image: Commons RIA Novosti, via Wikipedia // CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
The Nikki Haley slavery tempest in a teapot continues to roil some circles.

Im certainly not bearing the torch for Haley, but the episode seems to offer lessons all Republican candidates should learn.

For those who have a life and have been spending it with family and friends this Christmas, some background: The candidate for the Republican presidential nomination is in political hot water for her answer to a questioner at a New Hampshire campaign event in which she failed to list slavery among the causes of the American Civil War.

Shes subsequently admitted slavery was among those causes, while adding that she thought the question was posed by a Democrat plant in the audience.

The New York Times continues to stoke the story, claiming her answer could dent her crossover appeal to independents and moderate Democrats.

Three thoughts:

First, NEWS FLASH: For many of us challenged by the cost of living, the rise in crime, the influx of illegal aliens, and the woke agenda being pushed on cultural-social issues, the enumeration and hierarchy of causes for why something happened 163 years ago is something we do not care about. Ill even venture to say that unless those independents caucus with the Democrats in legislative bodies, they also probably are not burning with concern about the ranked causes of the Civil War.

Second, the Democrat reaction to of course it was about slavery is rather rich. Given the historical illiteracy that dominates our schools (we have no time to teach history after spending time on gender, sex, and critical race theory lessons), lets recall a few facts.

It was South Carolina Democrats, not a South Carolina Republican, who initiated the treason of secession.

It was mostly Democrats who, in the last days of the Democrat Buchanan administration, tried to amend the U.S. Constitution to preserve the Missouri Compromise and, thus, preserve slavery.

It was Democrats who were for popular sovereignty, i.e., whether slavery would exist in a territory would depend on the vote of its residents. Popular sovereignty was the standard of the 1860 Northern Democrat presidential nominee, Stephen Douglas.

The real insurrectionists whom the South sent back to Congress under the terms of Lincolns moderate Reconstruction planthose for whom section 3 of the 14th Amendment was writtenwere Democrats.

The party that wanted to preserve slavery were the Democrats, especially southern Democrats.

Third, regarding the accusation of a plant, two observations:

Part of the purpose of a campaign is to see how a candidate reacts spontaneously to the unexpected, how he deals with a curve ball. Life, unlike politics, does not come with talking points. The ability to think on ones feet is a vital presidential skill.

And even if the questioner was a plant, so what? I very much support closed primaries, i.e., only the voters of a particular party should have a say about whom the standard-bearer of that party is.

But campaign events are not primaries. They are open, not closed events. Even before the primary, campaign events are preparation for the main event: post-convention campaign season. So, if a plant raises a tough question, be ready to answer, because those questions will come up later.

And, if whats good for the goose is good for the gander, how about some GOP plants at Democratic campaign events (if such things still happen) asking some of the real tough questions the party faithful and mainstream media (but I repeat myself) do not? Questions like:

I know you say you are for the 'right to choose.' In every state, parents must provide consent for medical treatment of their minor child. Explain to me why I should have no say - in some states not even be told - that my minor daughter is getting an abortion.

Do you support or oppose a school district concealing from or lying to a parent about the name and 'pronouns' used to address a child in school? Do I or do I not as a parent have a right to know those things?

Do you think America began in 1776, when we declared independence, or you do support the version of U.S. history that ties America to slavery and the '1619 Project'?

Do you believe a child living today should have to pay, either through future taxes for 'reparations,' or by his rank for admission to college, or by whether he receives a scholarship, for historical events 160+ years ago supposedly connected to slavery?

Im sure our smart readers can add to the list.

I dont see what happened to Nikki Haley as a debacle as much as an opportunity that a smart politician will know to turn to their advantage and their persecuting plants pain.

Ready?

Image: Screen shot from Forbes Breaking News video, via YouTube
Persecutor Jack Smith is rightly worried. Even with a Trump Hanging Judge, and an all-but-certain DC hanging jury, things arent going his way. Hes moving Trump be denied the right to bring up anything about January 6 in a January 6 trialnone of this silly right-to-mount-a-defense nonsense--and that Trump generally be entirely muzzled about pretty much everything else. Hey, you can put innocent Americans in pre-trial detention for years, so why not? But his biggest problem is Presidential Immunity. Smith would have us believe Trump doesnt have any of that ephemeral, never-before-imagined power. At American Greatness, Paul Ingrassia explains why Smith is wrong:

Showcasing their [the medias] ignorance of both the Constitution and history, the mainstream media has framed [presidential immunity] as something of a novel innovation for President Trumps lawyers, who are advocating for broad immunity, implying that no other presidential officeholder has ever made that claim. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Americans who remember their study of the Constitution from high school may recall the Constitution establishes a single POTUS, in whom all executive power is invested:

This construction is reinforced by the Federalist Papers, which stipulate that energy in the executive is the leading character in the definition of good government (Federalist 70). Further down in that same article, Hamilton asserts that the executive power is more easily confined when it is one. In other words, the Founding Fathers called for an energeticthat is, a strong and vigorouspresident. An energetic executive might only exist with (what the media terms) broad immunity; otherwise, it would prove itself impotent in the face of a national crisis.

Sadly, that essential fact of the Constitution may not be taught in contemporary history classes, where deconstruction and reinvention of history seems to be the norm. A single executive is part of our three-branch balanced republic, and the executive is restrained by impeachment and having to stand for election for a maximum two terms. Unfortunately, the contemporary democrat/Socialist/Communist Party recognizes no restraint, and impeachment has become a favored strategic harassment, a weapon employed for the first time in history against Donald Trump when he was no longer in office.

The president is the one officeholder in the entire modern Executive Branch, which comprises millions of unelected bureaucrats and officeholders, many of whom operate secretly and subversively, who is directly accountable to the people because he is democratically elected. In this regard, the president is the most (and perhaps only) truly legitimate authority within the executive department.

Considering Congress has delegatedabandonedmuch of its power to an entirely unaccountable and increasingly aggressive and totalitarian Deep State, that point cant be underestimated.

Thus, the need for broad executive immunity should be construed not so much as protecting the presidents interests against civil or even criminal culpability. But instead, it is a check against the permanent ruling class over the interests of the American people, whose only true representation within the largest and most powerful branch of government, by far, is that of the President.

Image: George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, wikimedia.org, public domain

George Washington is often rightly called the indispensable man. There was no question he would be the Presiding Officer of the Constitutional Convention. Apart from a brief invocation, he said nothing. His mere presence lent to the assembly the necessary, solemn, purpose. There was also no question Washington would be our first president. Displaying selfless wisdom for the ages, he set the precedents of the office, and though he could have been president for life, retired to his farm when his two terms ended.

Since the dawn of the republic, every presidentfrom Washington to Obamahas invoked presidential immunity and executive privilege on items that went far beyond the scope of what was requested by President Trump in his case. George Washington famously refused to give the House of Representatives critical documents concerning the authorization of the recently negotiated Jay Treaty. It was Washingtons view that such documents could only be handed over as part of an impeachment process, and claimed executive privilege as an absolute right to withhold records in all other cases.

Another president displayed selfish arrogance for the ages:

Far more damning, Barack Obama frequently asserted executive privilege in scenarios that had no legal or historical precedent. In the famous Fast and Furious case, Obama asserted executive privilege to protect his Justice Department from taking a contempt action before a grand jury, despite evidence that his administration had been unlawfully allowing firearms and other military-grade weapons to enter Mexico without congressional oversight.

How can a POTUS function if his actions in office are not immune? I suspect the Supreme Court will soon decide the question. Until a 9-0 affirmation of presidential immunity, the republic hangs in jeopardy.

Mike McDaniel is a classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor and retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Not since Gavrilo Princips assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 has the politically-motivated action of a single individual threatened to plunge an entire nation into strife and crisis like the decision by Maines Democrat Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, to keep Donald Trump off of the states primary ballot.

Does that sound like hyperbole? Allow me to explain.

Donald Trumps path to re-election in 2024 is simple: Hold the red states that he won in 2020, which he should do with ease, and win back the swing states of Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia. That outcome would result with him receiving 270 electoral votes, the exact margin needed to regain the presidency.

The push to remove Trump from state ballots is largely irrelevant. Hes not going to be removed from any red state ballots and there are no signs he will be removed from the aforementioned swing states. Even if every blue state were to keep him off the ballot, the scenario laid out above would remain not just possible, but likely with one exception: the state of Maine. Unlike most states which apportion their electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis, Maine divides its four electoral votes by Congressional districts; in 2020 Biden won three, while Trump managed to win one from the more rural, conservative region of the state.

Now lets assume that the election plays out in the highly likely possible manner as suggested, with the caveat that Trump is not on the ballot in Maine. This means he will lose one of the votes he held in 2020 bringing his electoral vote count to 269, one vote short of the number needed to win. The result will be an electoral college tie meaning the election will be thrown to the House of Representatives to decide.

This is not an ideal situation, but it would be advantageous to the GOP by virtue of the fact that the vote in the House will be taken by congressional delegations. Trump would seem to have a lock on re-election, except the GOPs advantage is only a single delegation, and if you think Democrats will accept that, you havent been paying attention for the past eight years.

Biden could go into that House election with a massive lead in the national vote total, not only due to the voting imbalance in condensed urbanized areas like in California and New York, but by virtue of the fact that other blue states could keep Trump the ballot. So they will make the case that Biden, having received say, ten million more votes nationally than Donald Trump, rightfully deserves to be elected. And when I say will make the case I am of course speaking euphemistically. The post-election 2016 riots, the George Floyd riotsthose will seem like childs play. The Democrats will resort to maximum pressure including violence (they always do) knowing that, whatever happens, no one will prosecute them. Cities will burn and Republican House members in blue states will have their lives threatenedjust ask Steve Scalise and Brett Kavanaugh about that.

All the while you can expect the media to make excuses for the rioters while pushing the narrative that Trump should not be made president again. The Democrat mob will dox electors and congressmen at the drop of a hat if they think those people can be intimidated into changing their votes, and will wave away any violence that might take place in the effort to intimidate people who still believe in the rule of law.

Republicans will face the choice of fighting back with force or surrendering to the mob. But even if the spineless members of the GOP did in fact give in to Democrat demands and put Biden into office, this would set off a chain reaction amongst Republican voters who simply could not abide by such an abdication of duty, which would largely result in a massive restructuring of the country in a way that is not even comprehensible. It is almost impossible to imagine a scenario where Republicans, as weak as they are, would accept this, leading to an intractable divide in our nation.

Of course people will argue that the Supreme Court will intervene and mandate that Trumps name be placed on the ballot in every state, but what if they dont? Its a low percentage chance that they do not, but nonetheless it's a real one. After all, they declined to intervene in any of the post 2020 election lawsuits, including ones brought by multiple states, so theres no reason to assume that they will take action in this particular case.

And if they dont, and Donald Trump is denied that one vote in Maine because of the unilateral decision of Democrat partisan Shenna Bellows to bar Trump for asserting that he engaged in an attempt to overthrow the U.S. government, consisting of 2.7 million employees, then America will face a nightmare scenario which will permanently tear our country apart.

Image: YouTube video screen grab.
is that it stands in the way of tyranny. Some years ago, there was a minor revolt within the ranks of the Sierra Club. A rogue faction wanted the club to declare unchecked immigration to be harmful to the environment. The San Francisco Chronicle, in pursuit of its own agenda, recruited a member of the clubs board of directors -- who just happened to have a Hispanic surname -- to compose a statement denying the environmental significance of immigration, checked or unchecked. In the statement he blamed personal freedom and not immigration as being the actual threat to our natural world. How? Because we get to eat what we want to eat; live where we want to live; do what we choose to do to make a living. If there was more authority controlling our behavior the world would be a much nicer place.

This frame of mind has been expanding on steroids ever since. Berkeley has already banned all new natural gas hookups. Gas cooking stoves and space and water heaters are now threatened with being outlawed. Various municipalities are forbidding the opening of new gasoline filling stations. The perceived villain here is, of course, fossil fuels: petroleum, natural gas and coal. If we were really supposed to use them, they wouldnt have been buried so deeply in the bowels of the Earth. Humans, being both clever and evil, have managed to get their mitts on them anyhow in order to make their unworthy lives considerably more comfortable.

A glaring flaw in the push for electrifying cars, stoves, and home heating is that electricity is still mostly made by the combustion of fossil fuels. Its just that this process happens far away from where the electricity is used. A basic fact of physics is that a pipeline is the absolutely most efficient way to transport a gas or liquid. Whatever goes in one end, comes out the other in its entirety. Meanwhile, a significant amount of the energy put into electrical transmission is lost due to resistance in the wires through which it travels. This is sort of mitigated by stepping up the voltage and then stepping it down just before it goes into your home. What about clean burning hydrogen used in fuel cells that power some cars and busses? Well, about 96% of commercially available hydrogen is made from fossil fuels -- a.k.a. hydrocarbons. The residual carbon often takes the form of CO2 which can at least be used to put the fizz in Pepsi or just fly out the window.

A day hardly goes by without a new spate of obnoxious edicts being proposed by members of the political class. Some actually make it into law, but the laws are often so ill-conceived that they go unenforced. In California it is illegal for a person to use more than 55 gallons of water per day inside his home. The worms who drafted the law left it up to the various water districts for enforcement. The various water districts have no idea as to how many persons occupy each address on their grid let alone how much water is used indoors versus outdoors. It would cost billions of dollars to install new meters and other necessary plumbing so as to meet the requirement. Bottom line: What California really needs in order to deal with the normal oscillation between wet years and dry years is more storage capacity for its reservoirs.

The twisted logic behind this flood of tyrannies was elegantly demonstrated a few years ago when a couple of city planners, in a broadcast on my local CBS radio station, provided a discussion on improving urban traffic congestion. Rather than suggest increasing road capacity, especially at choke points, they both agreed that elimination of a large portion of available parking spaces was the proper solution. Should parking be harder to get, then public transportation would be the preferred option. Yeah, theyve been pushing us onto public transportation for years so they can control where we go and how. The pandemic kind of threw a monkey wrench into that; and internet-enabled ride-sharing provided a price competitive and much more convenient alternative.

Just for the record, the one technologic innovation that has improved human personal freedom more than anything else is the affordable automobile. Thank you, Henry Ford. Now, we get to easily visit grandma and grandpa even if they live over a hundred miles away. We get to go shopping at the really nice mall just across the county line whenever we feel like it. Also, we get to choose to live in bucolic suburbs while keeping our jobs downtown.

Image: John Enghart
The Deep State has been working to sexualize children for decades; in recent years these efforts have become increasingly pathological. Yes, parents have every right to protest books in schools that are plainly pornographic; these books are unsuitable for adults, much less for grade-school children. This Book is Gay is available throughout the United States, and gives details on how to find homosexual partners online; its glossary provides the terms for licking the bottom and ingesting feces, and advises children about anal and oral sex. Gender Queer includes photos of sexual acts between a boy and a man, and illustrations of masturbation and oral sex. Beyond Magenta includes passages about a six-year-old little boy performing oral sex on other little boys and talking to pedophiles who masturbated in front of him. It also claims a 6-year-old can enjoy performing oral sex on an adult without it having anything to do with pedophilia. There are countless other award-winning best sellers catering to depraved educators, but space is limited.

But along with protest, we need to get to the root cause. The education establishment is firmly behind this agenda. The president of the American Library Association, Emily Drabinski, is a self-described Marxist lesbian whose agenda to sexualize children is obvious across her social media. And, the establishment is supported in its efforts by the federal government. The Biden administration rules force schools to comply with progressive ideology or risk losing federal aid. The Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights is monitoring book challenges across the country for discriminatory actions. Bidens DoE established a new position to combat what the Democrats consider Nazi-like book bansbut the books in the crosshairs are nothing more than smut for kids.

Theres also a section of the judiciary thats been captured by the Deep State. A federal judge rejected a request from a group of Maryland parents to require Montgomery County Public Schools to allow them to opt their children out of lessons with LGBTQ books.

The media portrays opponents of school pornography as far right book burners, and remind us that the Nazis made a show of burning books in order to make that association. California Democrats proposed legislation that would require elementary schools to provide students access to books about radical gender ideology and other leftwing ideologies; as the bills author said, the bill is an initiative against the national Christian white supremacist movement. This accusation did not register with the Muslims of Dearborn, Michigan. They complained about a book that talks about a variety of apps that children and students can use to meet up with strangers and have sex with them.

One opposition group, Moms for Liberty, was labeled an anti-government extremist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center; the moms join the Singing Nuns. The SPLCs designations are important because the FBI relies on the list (e.g., the bureaus investigation of traditionalist Catholics). Merrick Garland testified that the FBI has never been in the business of investigating or harassing the parents at school board meetings, but mother Stacy Langton posted images of unmarked cars, along with DHS vehicles and police cruisers at a school board meeting; she also claimed that a helicopter was circling overhead. Langtons claims could be dismissed as patent paranoia. However, in light of the fact that the FBI routinely uses absurdly excessive force when making arrests, her claim is completely believable. Also, former FBI agent Steve Friend testified that he was sent to a school board meeting parking lot to take down license plate numbers. FBI officials even interviewed a member of Moms for Liberty for telling a school board member, we are coming for you.

Pornographic schoolbooks are just one tool of the many tools used in the sexualization process. While its a great start, removing pornography will not entirely solve the problem. The educational establishment is populated nationally by a large number of very disturbed individuals. Shannon Ashby claimed, I figured living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, we would be safe. She was wrong. Ashbys reading of the schools sexual material before the school board was deleted by district officials because they feared YouTube would suspend the districts account. Superintendent Margaret Crespo said opponents at school board meetings represent a small fraction of the community; people like Crespo do their best to minimize the opposition.

Suing school boards or school districts only punishes the taxpayers. Every jurisdiction has laws dealing with providing pornography to children. An example is this New York State law, Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree is a class E felony. (Class E felonies are punishable by up to four years in jail.) The decisions to provide this material to children are made by individuals. Police reports should be filed, and the perpetrators should be held accountable and categorically, and permanently barred from the public school system. It should not require many convictions to put a stop to the pornographic material in schools.

John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from St. Marys University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBCs program Things We Forgot to Remember: Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany.

Image generated by AI.
A Colorado man, identified as Mohammed Reza Mesmarian, has been sentenced to a two to 10-year prison term in Nevada. His arrest, dating back to January of the previous year, stemmed from an incident where he set his car on fire at a remote facility.

Initially labeled a potential terror attack on the electric system supporting multiple Las Vegas Strip casinos, Mesmarian pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges of felony arson and property destruction, as per ABC7 Denver .

Colorado Dentist Faces Scrutiny

According to court records, Mesmarian's sentencing followed his plea in November, and he received credit for nearly a year already spent in custody. The possibility of parole looms for early 2024. Despite Mesmarian's attorney, Jeffrey Nicholson, arguing that the act was more a manifestation of personal issues exacerbated by the challenges of COVID-19, the loss of marriage, and business setbacks, the judge, Ronald Israel, upheld the prison sentence, deeming it a fair decision.

In Aurora, Colorado, a dentist named Mohammed Reza Mesmarian, aged 35, has recently come under scrutiny. It has been revealed that Mesmarian had encountered disciplinary measures from the Dental Board, resulting in restrictions placed on his license to practice in July 2022.

Mesmarian has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2022, according to records. The current status of his dental license remains uncertain. Originally charged with terrorism, arson, destruction of property, and escape, Mesmarian spent months in custody while court proceedings assessed his competency to stand trial.

Authorities reported that the incident, which occurred at a remote desert solar array about 25 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas, did not result in injuries. The fire on January 4 went undetected initially, leading to Mesmarian's arrest a day later at a campground near Lake Mead, according to US News.

Read Also: Iran Releases Animated Assassination of Netanyahu-Here's How They Envision Killing Israel's Leader

Mesmarian's Arson, Previous Misconduct

Mesmarian engaged in a number of deliberate actions. These actions involved forcefully driving his car through a fence, subsequently colliding with a transformer, and intentionally igniting the vehicle. Shockingly, Mesmarian then proceeded to calmly observe the ensuing flames for an estimated duration of approximately 15 minutes before nonchalantly departing from the scene.

The Nevada incident occurred in the context of heightened concerns about the security of electrical infrastructure. It followed closely on the heels of the arrest of two individuals charged with vandalizing electrical substations in Washington state. Additionally, a month prior, federal regulators had ordered a review of security standards in response to shootings that damaged two electric substations in North Carolina.

The Mega Solar Array, the Las Vegas-area facility affected by Mesmarian's actions, is operated by Chicago-based Invenergy. It serves several MGM Resorts International properties, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Aria, and Park MGM.

Despite the disruption caused by Mesmarian's attack, MGM Resorts International promptly switched to the statewide electric grid, ensuring no impact on the casino resorts. Officials confirmed that the power facility returned to full service within days, Sentinel reported.

Related Article: Utah Therapist Jodi Hildebrandt Arrested After Abusing Children With YouTube Mom Ruby Franke

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Apple products have a name for saving peoples lives. Just recently, an iPhone X guarded and saved the life of an Israeli soldier. And there are multiple reports available of how Apple Watch has saved lives by reporting on time. Its time we collect one more story about Apple Watch having saved two men  who needed heart surgery  to survive. These two individuals shared their stories when writing a letter to Tim Cook. And the best part is Apple CEOs heartfelt response to these messages.

How Apple Watch saved two lives

There are two cases. The first one comes from Wichita, Kansas, as reported by KAKE. Nick Gallegos gave his dad, Michael, this watch as a thoughtful gift. One day, the watch signaled an alarming drop in Michaels heart rate. It was prompting an immediate alert to Nick due to their Family Sharing feature. He acted swiftly on this warning and took his father to the emergency room. There, doctors diagnosed Michael with a critical heart condition that urgently required a pacemaker. Thankfully, the timely intervention of the Apple Watch likely saved Michaels life. After the successful surgery, Michael expressed immense gratitude, feeling as if hed been given a second chance at life.

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Similarly, in Asheville, North Carolina, another Apple Watch played a pivotal role in a medical emergency. KAKE (via PhoneArena) reported the story of Christopher Oakley, a 61-year-old who ended up in the ER due to chest pain, nausea, and breathlessness. His symptoms had somewhat eased by the time he arrived, and the medical team initially found no immediate issues. Just as they were considering his discharge, Christopher remembered his Apple Watch had been tracking his heart rate, shedding light on a potentially dangerous situation. Such incidents live rent-free in your mind and soul, and those whove experienced them know better than most of us.

Tim Cooks response to the kind emails

Michaels son Nick reached out to thank Tim Cook for saving his dads life. Michael recounted that he was pretty lucky and a good choice for my son for getting me the watch. Tim Cook, in response, said, Im so glad your father sought medical attention and received the treatment he needed. Thanks so much for sharing his story with us. Please give him my best.

Christopher, also, reached out to Tim Cook via email to convey his heartfelt gratitude. He candidly noted (via 9to5Mac), I just really appreciate all the work you and your folks have put into this in order to create a product that not only tells you the time but also saves your life.

Tim Cook replied to Christophers email, expressing his relief that Christopher had received the necessary medical attention and wishing him good health. Thanks for sharing your story with us. Im so glad you received the treatment you needed. Be well, wrote Cook. Sent from my iPhone, the email concluded.
Samsung will introduce a groundbreaking AI feature with the Galaxy S24 series next month. The new flagships can translate calls in real time. If the other party doesnt speak a language known to you, you can translate their voice to the desired language. The phone will also translate your response into their language. The feature works irrespective of whether they have a Galaxy phone or some other brands device.

Non-Samsung users will also benefit from Galaxy S24s AI call translate

Samsungs new generative AI model Samsung Gauss is the brain behind the Galaxy S24s call translate feature. It builds on the existing Bixby Call Text tool that transcribes calls when you cant speak. You can type your response and the device will read it out to the other party. The translation tool works similarly. Your Galaxy will translate the incoming audio to a selected language. When you speak, it will translate your voice into the language they speak.

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According to Nikkei Asia, Samsung will initially support commonly spoken languages such as English and Spanish. So, a Spanish-speaking person who doesnt know English can easily have a conversation with someone who only knows English, as long as one of them has a Galaxy S24. It doesnt matter what phone the other person uses. As Samsung adds support for more languages, the tool will get more powerful.

The report states that the new flagships will come with proprietary AI chips to enable this function. We already know that Samsung will ship the Galaxy S24 Ultra with Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor globally. The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ may get its in-house Exynos 2400 chipset in Europe and some other markets. It appears the processors will be paired with another chip for on-device AI processing.

This likely means that the AI-powered call translation tool wont be available on older Samsung flagships. The likes of Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 will get One UI 6.1, the updated One UI version that the Galaxy S24 series will ship with out of the box. It will bring several new AI features, among other things. Most of them should trickle down to older models. But those that rely on dedicated chips may not make it into them.

Samsung is just weeks away from unveiling its new flagships

The Galaxy S24 series with all its AI features will go official in less than three weeks. If leaks are accurate, Samsung will unveil the new flagship trio on January 17, 2024. The Korean firm is reportedly hosting the launch event, aka Galaxy Unpacked, in San Jose, USA. It may soon start sending media invites for the event. We will let you know when we get an official confirmation from Samsung.
NVIDIA is ending another successful year of GeForce NOW with a whopping 40+ new Xbox games for its 2023 wrap-up. These are all joining the service as of today which means you have a metric ton of additional choices for games to play leading into the new year. While NVIDIA no doubt has plenty of exciting titles coming in 2024, you can look forward to a total of 46 new Xbox games for the time being. There are still a few days left before the new year begins, and if youve got nothing pressing to fill your time, why not sit back and relax with a new game?

Worth noting is that these are all Xbox PC Game Pass games. Youll need a PC Game Pass subscription to stream them via GeForce NOW. But luckily NVIDIA is still offering its GeForce NOW and PC Game Pass bundle. If you end up subscribing to the 6-month plan for the Ultimate membership, which is $99.99, you get three months of PC Game Pass for free. Or, if you use the free GeForce NOW membership, you can sign up for Game Pass for $9.99 a month. Either method will let you stream these new games. But youll get better fidelity and more uninterrupted play time with the Ultimate tier.

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GeForce NOW 2023 wrap-up: 46 new Xbox PC Game Pass games to enjoy

There was already a hefty number of awesome Xbox games to play via GeForce NOW. But after this week there are some really amazing titles to sink your teeth into. Some of my personal favorites include Control and Chorus. Chorus in particular has been one of my under-the-radar favorites. For one, I love space games. But space games that are done well and provide ample levels of exploration are on another level. And youre going to get that with Chrous.

Whats really cool about Chrous is the combat. You fly a sentient ship that you have a personal connection with and this plays a big role in the ships abilities as you progress. Its a little tough to get used to the combat and the flying at first. But stick with it because it doesnt take long to get good at it.

Aside from these two awesome titles, youll also be able to stream Remnant: From The Ashes and Remnant II. Youll also get access to Sable, The Medium, Mortal Shell, Metro Exodus, and Darksiders III. Plus a whole bunch of other games. You can view the full list of games dropping today in the image below.
Google has reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed in 2020 over its controversial practice of tracking user activity during Chromes incognito mode. Google has apparently designed incognito to allow users to browse and search the internet without saving the browsing history or information entered in forms.

However, many users believe that incognito mode provides complete anonymity from both their Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the websites they visit. The lawsuit sought damages exceeding $5 billion, arguing that Googles covert data collection from users in incognito mode violated user privacy on a massive scale.

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In August 2023, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that the case would proceed, citing concerns about Googles privacy notice and the incognito mode splash screen. The judge questioned whether these communications created a binding promise from Google not to collect user data during private browsing sessions. Additionally, she expressed reservations about Google logging data from users in incognito mode in the same logs as users without incognito mode enabled. Despite Googles defense that the Chrome browser clearly notifies users about potential data collection when opening a new incognito tab, the case continued.

The terms of the settlement for Chromes tracking inside incognito remain undisclosed

Rather than proceeding to a full trial, Google has chosen to settle the lawsuit. While the terms of the settlement remains unrevealed, the agreement is expected to be presented to the court at the end of January, with approval anticipated in February. Google had previously asserted that it would vigorously defend itself against the claims, emphasizing that the Chrome browser explicitly informs users about the possibility of websites collecting information during incognito sessions.

The lawsuit has drawn attention to the perceived discrepancy between user expectations of Google Chromes incognito mode and Googles data collection practices. In response to the legal scrutiny, Google briefly tested a redesigned incognito page in 2021 but ultimately retained the original design. The settlement reflects Googles decision to address the legal challenges rather than prolonging the dispute through a trial.
Microsoft Edge is striving hard to gain momentum. This year, the company has packed its browser with several useful tools, including Copilot. This follows Microsofts in-app attempt to bash you when you try downloading Google Chrome. But thats the least to speak of. Microsoft recently released the Edge stats for 2023, showing how people use the browser in everyday life. Some revelations that caught our eyes are, as follows. First, Edge and Bing users used Copilot more than 1.9 million times. Its the era of AI. So, here comes another: the users generated over 1.8 billion AI-generated images. The best part of this report is, Microsoft Edge notably saved users from over 127 million phishing attacks.

Microsoft Edge saved users from over 127 million phishing attacks

As the internet advanced and technology became more accessible, it also opened doors for scammers, data thieves, and others alike. In its latest report, Microsoft claims it stopped over four phishing attacks every second throughout the year.

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Microsoft Edge comes with built-in shopping assistants to help users save a few bucks. It released Copilot Shopping services in November which helps find the best deals for any product using prompts. The released stats say the US saved an average of $400 annually, while global shoppers received over $4 billion in savings through Edge.

It doesnt stop here; Microsoft also offered over 148 million reward points to gamers throughout the year. Thats about the cost of 1,000 years of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, as per the company. You can read the full report here for more interesting stats.

All in all, Microsofts web browser is surpassing the expectations of users, making a place for itself amid the dominating competition, and trying to reclaim the lost crown. And as Microsofts co-founder Bill Gates once said, Competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry is intensely competitive. While its plans remain under wraps, Microsoft Edge is likely to integrate more AI tools in the coming monthsand years.
Using computers is notoriously unsafe, as there are always people out there looking to inject your system with harmful software. Not to fearmonger, but thats the case, and we rely on companies delivering fixes to software that put us at risk. Thankfully, Microsoft patched a critical vulnerability in Windows 11 that could have compromised a lot of people.

The company posted about this issue in a recent blog post letting people know that it addressed the issue. It centered around the ms-appinstaller URI scheme. Basically, this is a protocol in the system that would install apps directly onto your computer without you needing to download the install packages. It saves space on the computer and makes getting apps much easier.

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Microsoft said that threat actors were using engineering and phishing techniques to target Windows OS users and utilizing the ms-appinstaller URI scheme. Using this protocol, the threat actors could then install malicious software onto the victims computer. So, several users could have malware installed on their computers without even knowing.

Microsoft fixed this Windows 11 vulnerability

Rest assured, the issue has been fixed. The company wouldnt release information about it if it wasnt already patched up. In order to fix the problem, Microsoft had to disable the protocol. This means that the software wont automatically install the MSIX packages. People who want to install those files will need to download the packages to their computers and install them manually. This way, your systems local antivirus software will be able to scan the package before the installation.

Its unfortunate that the company had to disable this feature in order to keep the system safe, but its important that the software is safer for users. Were not sure if the company is working on bringing that feature back to Windows 11 in the future with security improvements.

If you want to know if your system is at risk, you can read this section of the blog post.
As the tech world eagerly awaits the grand unveiling of Samsungs Galaxy S24 series next month, leaks have become the heartbeat of anticipation. Each passing day brings a new leak, counting down to the moment the Korean firm takes wraps off its latest flagship. Today, we have another set of official-looking renders of all three models.

Another leak shows us Galaxy S24 renders

Thanks to a myriad of leaks over the past few weeks, we already know what the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra look like. The former two models arent seeing any notable design change. Samsung is keeping the same core design with minor refinements. The Ultra model, meanwhile, is switching from a curved display to a flat display, making it wider in the process.

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The latest leak reiterates this. As shared by X user @MysteryLupin, the fresh Galaxy S24 renders show the base model in its Amber Yellow color. The Plus model is seen in Marble Gray. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is seen in Marble Gray and Cobalt Violet colors. In addition to these, all three models should also come in Onyx Black. Samsung hasnt officially announced these colorways but leaks have hardly left anything covered.

There are also rumors about the company selling the Galaxy S24 trio in a few more colors exclusively through its official website. Blue, Green, and Orange may be among these exclusive options, with Samsung potentially adding more later. Unlike the standard colors, they may not be available globally. The Korean behemoth has a habit of keeping those limited to select major markets.

Based on leaks, the violet variant of the Galaxy S24 Ultra will have a gray frame. The other three variants have their frame painted in the same color as their back. The same may apply to the S Pen as well. The violet variants of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ do have a violet frame, though. Note that the Ultra features a titanium frame while Samsung is using Armor Aluminum on the other two models.

Samsung pulls back the curtain on its latest flagship in three weeks

This isnt the first time we have seen the Galaxy S24 trio in leaked renders. However, this is another indication that the official unveiling is approaching fast. We are expecting Samsung to pull back the curtain on its next-gen flagships on January 17, 2024. That is less than three weeks away now. It shouldnt be long before the company starts sending out media invites for the launch event, allegedly taking place in San Jose, USA.
Samsung is gearing up to address battery health with the upcoming One UI 6.1 battery protection update, expected to debut on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. A recent leak shed light on a new Battery Protection feature hidden within the Settings menu. While details about One UI 6.1 remain scarce, it has been revealed that this feature is already available in the current One UI 6.0, based on Android 14.

Users can access it through apps that manually launch app activities, such as the Activity Launcher app. Named BatteryProtectionActivity, this activity unveils a menu offering three levels of battery protection to enhance longevity.

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You can find the Battery Protection feature in the latest One UI 6.0 patches. It aims to provide users with more control over their devices battery health. Discovered through app activities, the feature offers three distinct levels of protection catering to different user preferences and habits.

OneUI 6.1 will offer three different layers of battery protection

The first level, Basic protection, ensures that the charger does not force the device to remain at 100% charge. It will allow the battery to drop to at least 95% before recharging. This basic safeguard prevents constant charging at maximum capacity and ensures a minimum charge of 95%.

Adaptive protection, the second level, implements a pause in fast charging at 80% and slowly charges the device to 100%, based on the users typical phone usage habits. This feature is designed to cater to those who charge their phones overnight. It helps reduce the temperature when the battery nears 100%.

For users seeking the highest level of protection, the third level, Maximum protection, limits charging to 80%. Once the battery reaches 80%, charging halts until it drops below that threshold. With this setting enabled, 80% becomes the highest charging state the battery will ever reach, which will ensure a better battery life in the long run.

These battery protection options aim to extend the overall lifespan of the devices battery by preventing prolonged exposure to high charge levels, a known factor in battery degradation. Aside from the battery protection feature, the One UI 6.1 update will also bring a bunch of AI features such as the AI call translate to make the speculated AI Phone branding of the Galaxy S24 series justifiable.
The US is set to broaden its regulations to include Chinese-made general-purpose semiconductors. It is a move that could prove advantageous for South Korean memory semiconductor giants like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The focus of the regulations is on NAND flash and DRAM, where the technological gap with China is less significant.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the US Department of Commerce is planning to survey more than 100 companies across sectors. It includes automotive industries, aerospace, and defense and will start in January next year. The goal is to assess the dependence of US companies on Chinese-made general-purpose semiconductors.

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Following the survey, the Department of Commerce is likely to consider imposing tariffs on these Chinese semiconductors, with potential measures to ban US defense companies from importing them. Significant in context, Apple has already canceled its deals with YMTC amid the US ban.

The US regulations are particularly aimed at companies like YMTC for NAND, CXMT for DRAM, and SMIC as a foundry

The regulations from the US Commerce Department may cast a shadow over Chinas DRAM and NAND export front. US companies may reduce their reliance on Chinese semiconductors to mitigate the uncertainty of additional regulations. The regulations are aimed particularly at companies like YMTC for NAND, CXMT for DRAM, and SMIC as a foundry.

The anticipated outcome is a shift in US procurement towards South Korean products as an alternative to Chinese ones. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, with semiconductor factories in China, may be designated as exceptions to export controls. Because it will be necessary to maintain the semiconductor supply chain.

This development is also seen as a positive turn of events for NAND businesses in the US, which have struggled amid the continuing downturn in IT demand. The NAND market, encompassing solid-state drives and other data storage devices, is fiercely competitive. There is very little technological disparity between companies leading to an oversupply.

With the potential reduction in supply from Chinese competitors due to regulatory challenges, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to increase their supply, deplete their inventory more rapidly, and witness a turnaround in their NAND business from the second half of the next year.
Kaitlin Armstrong, the convicted murderer sentenced to 90 years in prison for the May 2022 killing of professional cyclist Anna "Mo" Wilson, now finds herself entangled in new and startling details that have emerged in her case.

Armstrong's legal team has dropped a bombshell by asserting that Armstrong might have been pregnant when she was apprehended in Costa Rica and extradited to Texas. This revelation comes as part of a new court filing seeking a retrial, where the defense argues that knowledge of Armstrong's pregnancy might have resulted in a more lenient sentence.

Kaitlin Armstrong's Murder Trial

Armstrong, aged 35, allegedly shot Wilson in a fit of jealousy upon discovering her connection with cyclist Colin Strickland. According to documents obtained by the DailyMail, it has been stated that Kaitlin has been pregnant on two occasions, with one of them occurring during or around the time of her arrest. According to the defense, the information in question has the potential to sway the jury towards a more lenient verdict.

In the recently filed document, crucial information regarding the stage of the pregnancy or the potential paternity of Strickland remains undisclosed, leaving a multitude of unanswered inquiries. During a temporary separation from Armstrong, Strickland engaged in a prior romantic encounter with Wilson.

Armstrong's legal team presents additional arguments aimed at portraying her in a more sympathetic light. These arguments shed light on her troubled childhood, revealing that she grew up with an alcoholic mother and was a victim of sexual abuse. During Armstrong's trial in Austin, certain aspects were not presented.

The pregnancy claim made by Armstrong has garnered attention and skepticism. This skepticism stems from Armstrong's recent plastic surgery in Costa Rica, which has raised eyebrows among observers. However, her lawyer strongly emphasizes the importance of the jury's limited awareness regarding her delicate condition, as per New York Post.

Read Also: Colorado Dentist Gets 2-10 Years Sentence After Damaging Nevada Power Plant Initially Described as Terror Attack

Armstrong's Plastic Surgery Despite Suspected Pregnancy

Armstrong has recently undergone a nose job and brow lift, two procedures that are typically not recommended for pregnant women. In a surprising turn of events, Armstrong, initially hesitant about undergoing lab work to detect pregnancy, ultimately yielded to the insistence of her cosmetic surgeon.

This latest development introduces yet another layer to her attempts to evade the consequences. In a previous incident that captured widespread attention, she gained notoriety for her audacious bid to escape from prison in October. Employing a clever ruse, she managed to persuade guards to accompany her to a fictitious medical appointment, causing a stir among the public and the media. In a turn of events, despite meticulous planning that spanned several months, she was swiftly apprehended mere moments after her daring escape.

Legal experts remain skeptical about the viability of Armstrong's latest claim, emphasizing that it appears to be a desperate move to overturn the conviction. Austin attorney Adam Loewy stated, "The fact is she's just trying, or her new lawyers are trying, any kind of desperate move to try to overturn the conviction."

Armstrong's shocking actions, both during and after her trial, continue to captivate public attention, underscoring the complexity and drama surrounding this high-profile case.

Related Article: YouTuber Discovers Human Remains From 13 Years Ago in Submerged Vehicle in Private Pond

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A driver has been caught behind the wheel while disqualified 20 times within four years, an investigation found.

The motorist, who has not been publicly identified, was among 37,595 British drivers convicted of the offence during that period, figures obtained by the PA news agency revealed.

There were 8,025 repeat offenders, including 123 who were caught more than five times.

A senior police officer said the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) statistics, released in response to a Freedom of Information request, represent selfish lawbreaking actions.

They are a snapshot of the number of BA10 endorsements on driving records on November 11.

The endorsements  which last for four years from the date of the offence  are given to motorists convicted of driving while disqualified.

Slade, from Newport, should never have been behind the wheel  he'd been banned for drink-driving six months before. Despite telling police he had no knowledge of the collision, he later pleaded guilty to six driving offences and has received a sentence of 19 years and 8 months. pic.twitter.com/iIAgwX1M82  Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) December 1, 2023

At least two men have been jailed this month for causing fatal incidents when they got behind the wheel despite being banned.

Liam Slade, of Newport, South Wales, was filmed driving in excess of 100mph minutes before a crash that killed two women on the M4 near Bristol in the early hours of July 17.

The 33-year-old, who had been disqualified since January due to drink-driving, was handed a prison sentence of 19 years and eight months at Bristol Crown Court on December 1.

Relatives of one of the victims, Suad Ahmed, 68, described in a statement how Slade had affected all of our familys hearts and left them in complete agony.

Darren Jacques, 42, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court to six years imprisonment on December 4 for killing a five-year-old boy.

Layton Darwood had climbed on to a trailer being towed by Jacques van while it was parked in Newcastle on August 25 2020.

He fell off and was crushed when Jacques, of Penrith, Cumbria, pulled away.

Jacques was halfway through a three-and-a-half-year ban for drink-driving.

Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Cox, the national lead for fatal road crashes at the National Police Chiefs Council, said driving is not a right but a privilege.

Mr Cox, who has called for the introduction of lifetime driving bans, told PA: Disqualified drivers have already committed road crimes, endangering safety in a manner sufficient to lose their licence.

Those individuals who continue to drive whilst disqualified brazenly ignore the punishment handed down to them, and in doing so risk the safety of themselves and others.

These selfish lawbreaking actions can have fatal consequences, needlessly cutting lives short and causing lifelong trauma for bereaved families.

The public understandably expects these serious offences to be recognised as such when habitual disqualified drivers are brought to justice.

Via deterrence we can reduce danger on our roads and ultimately save lives.

AA president Edmund King said: Many of these serial disqualified drivers think they are outside the law.

We need more cops in cars to target these offenders and increase the perception that they are more likely to be caught.

Unfortunately there has been a general decline in traffic police numbers over the last decade and this needs to be reversed to keep our roads safe.

 This is the number of BA10 endorsements on driving records as of November 11:

Number of BA10 endorsements  Number of drivers

1  29,570

2  5,630

3  1,588

4  502

5  182

6  64

7  25

8  13

9  11

10  5

12  2

13  2

20  1
Tonys Blairs Labour government considered setting up a holding camp on the Isle of Mull in an attempt to drive down the numbers of asylum seekers entering in the UK, according to newly released official papers.

The plan, put forward by one of the prime ministers closest aides, was part of a nuclear option for tackling the asylum issue which would have seen illegal migrants put straight back on the plane they arrived on with little or no right of appeal.

Drawn up just months before the US-UK invasion of Iraq, the scheme also called for the creation of a series of regional safe havens in countries such as Turkey and South Africa  where refugees who could not be returned to their own country could be sent.

Although in the event it was not taken up, it echoes the debate still taking place more than 20 years later around Rishi Sunaks plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Tony Blair expressed his frustration at the failure to get asylum numbers down (Stephen Kelly/PA)

The proposals, contained in files released by the National Archives in Kew, west London, reflect Mr Blairs frustration that ever-tougher controls in northern France had not had an impact on the number of asylum claims  which reached a new monthly high of 8,800 in October 2002.

We must search out even more radical measures, Mr Blair scrawled in a handwritten note.

Following a brainstorming session with senior officials and advisers, the prime ministers chief of staff Jonathan Powell produced a paper entitled Asylum: The Nuclear Option, in which he questioned whether the UK needed and asylum system at all.

As an island, people who come here by sea have by definition already passed through a safe country. And very few of those who apply at airports are genuine refugees, he wrote.

So in fact what we should be looking at is a very simple system that immediately returns people who arrive here illegally. Uttering the word asylum should not allow people to opt out of this system and give them the right to remain here for months or years while their cases are heard.

No 10 chief of staff Jonathan Powell wanted to end asylum hearings (Fiona Hanson/PA)

Ideally we should not have an asylum hearing at all, simply a decision by an immigration officer to return someone followed by a one tier fast appeal against that decision if that is necessary.

Mr Powell said that it should form part of a big bang solution that would send a shock through the system.

In particular, he pointed to the great success the Australians had had by housing all asylum seekers in one place, with many asking to be returned to their own country.

He said that officials in the office of the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, had suggested setting up a camp on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides where people could be detained until they could be removed.

I doubt that is going to work because of the nimby factor, but we have commissioned work to look at tagging, detention etc to help deter people and ensure we are able to return them as soon as their appeals have been heard, Mr Powell wrote.

Elsewhere, other officials suggested claimants could be sent to the Falkland Islands, 8,000 miles away in the south Atlantic.

Mr Powell said they were also looking at establishing a series of safe havens in Turkey, South African and Kenya  where asylum seekers from Iraq, Zimbabwe and Somalia could be returned to.

Attorney general Lord Goldsmith: his aides proposed a holding camp on the Isle of Mull (Max Nash/PA)

The Foreign Office said it believed Turkey in particular could be persuaded to set up such a centre quite rapidly in return for financial assistance, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees would back such an approach.

Mr Powell said they should also legislate incompatibly with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights to allow the removal people despite the risk of persecution  even though it would be challenged by the court in Strasbourg.

We would like to extend this to return any illegal immigrant regardless of the risk that they might suffer human or degrading treatment, he advised.

We would almost certainly lose this case when it got to Strasbourg. But we would have two to three years in the meantime when we could send a strong message into the system about our new tough stance.

And we would make clear that if we lost in Strasbourg we would denounce the ECHR and immediately re-ratify with a reservation on Article 3.

Home Office lawyers warned that the measures would fall foul of the Geneva Convention on refugees.

An exasperated Mr Blair scrawled just return them, adding: This is precisely the point. We must not allow the ECHR to stop us dealing with it.
Prime minister Tony Blair resisted calls for a public inquiry following the Soham murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, according to newly released official files.

The killing of the two 10-year-olds in the summer of 2002 in a quiet Cambridgeshire village by school caretaker Ian Huntley shocked the country.

Following his arrest, it emerged Huntley had been able to get a job working with children, despite having been the subject of a series of complaints of rape and other sexual offences made to police in Humberside.

Home secretary David Blunkett wanted to order a public inquiry after HM Inspector of Constabulary said it was unclear if Cambridgeshire Police had ever asked if there was any intelligence on Huntley, while Humbersides data was so poor the result of any check would have been negative.

Papers released by the National Archives show Mr Blairs initial response was that any inquiry should take place behind closed doors.

I am wholly against a full, overt public inquiry. Why not get a sensible person reasonably eminent, to do it on a short and quick basis, he wrote.

But under pressure from Mr Blunkett, Mr Blair agreed that Sir Michael Bichard, a former senior civil servant, should be able to conduct hearings in public.

His subsequent report, which heavily criticised police failings, led to the creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the introduction of mandatory checks on the potential criminal background of anyone applying to work with children.
A British woman who died as a combat medic in Ukraine devoted her life to helping others, her family said.

Katherine Mielniczuk went to Ukraine after Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, compelled to use her medical skills to help those in need.

The 26-year-old, who graduated in chemistry at the University of Bristol, spent almost two years risking her life to provide medical supplies and emergency care to injured Ukrainian and foreign fighters, travelling to the most volatile stretches of the frontline and earning herself the nickname Apache.

She died in the early hours of Christmas Eve in eastern Ukraine, her family said on Friday.

Ms Mielniczuk was an inspiration in resilience and grace and the kindest and most selfless person one could hope to meet, her family said (Family handout/PA)

Her death is not being treated as suspicious, they said.

Ms Mielniczuk was an inspiration in resilience and grace and the kindest and most selfless person one could hope to meet, her family said.

An online fundraiser has so far garnered almost 3,000 of 10,000 to repatriate Ms Mielniczuk, also known as Kasia, to the UK.

Her family said: It is impossible to truly convey what an incredible woman Katherine was or how deeply and widely she was loved and will be missed.

Kasia is gone, but the endless warmth, love and grace she brought to the world will never be lost.

The 26-year-old, who graduated in chemistry at the University of Bristol, spent almost two years risking her life to provide medical supplies and emergency care to injured Ukrainian and foreign fighters (Family handout/AP)

In a Facebook post on December 23, a day before her death, Ms Mielniczuk asked her followers to keep Ukrainian volunteers in their thoughts, writing that many of us cannot return home or celebrate Christmas.

She wrote: The mental, physical, financial consequences of war are catastrophic and a kind word can hold tremendous power for us when we are losing hope and seeing tragedies daily.

We prioritise fighting for a free Ukraine, for a prosperous and fruitful future for Ukrainian children.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Ukraine and are in touch with the local authorities.

To support repatriation and funeral costs for Ms Mielniczuk, visit: https://donorbox.org/katherine-mielniczuk
House Republicans are intensifying their scrutiny into President Joe Biden's potential foreknowledge of his son Hunter Biden's decision to defy a congressional subpoena.

Representatives James Comer (R-KY) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) have formally requested information from White House counsel Ed Siskel, seeking any communications between the President, his son, or Hunter's defense attorneys related to the subpoena, as per Washington Examiner.

GOP Probes Joe Biden's Knowledge of Hunter's Subpoena

The inquiry, led by House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, is fueled by a White House statement claiming President Biden was aware in advance of Hunter's intent to defy two congressional subpoenas. The Republicans aim to determine whether the President played a role in his son's refusal to comply with the congressional order.

The formal letter to White House counsel Ed Siskel requests all documents and communications concerning Hunter Biden's deposition, as well as records related to President Biden's statement about his family's business associates on December 6, 2023. Notably, the lawmakers admit their lack of awareness regarding the existence of such communications, prompting the need for further investigation.

The GOP chairmen assert that the President's advanced knowledge of Hunter's non-compliance raises troubling questions about whether he sought to obstruct Congress. In their letter, Comer and Jordan state, "Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense," emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Despite the House Republicans' inquiry, the White House has chosen not to comment on the matter. Additionally, attorneys for Hunter Biden, Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris, have not provided immediate responses to requests for comments, according to NBC News.

Read Also: NASA Launches Mission To Intercept 'God of Chaos' Apophis Asteroid as it Approaches Earth

Hunter Biden's Legal Challenges

The investigation hinges on a specific statement made during a White House press briefing on December 13. At that time, Hunter Biden chose to address reporters outside the Capitol instead of participating in a closed-door deposition, as requested by Republicans.

The Republicans point to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's response to a question about President Biden's awareness of his son's statement. Jean-Pierre noted that Hunter Biden is a private citizen and suggested reporters consult his representatives, adding that the President was familiar with his son's intended remarks.

In response to Hunter Biden's defiance of the closed-door deposition, Comer and Jordan had previously announced their intention to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings. However, with the House not expected to reconvene until the second week of January, the timeline for any such proceedings remains uncertain.

It's worth noting that House Republicans recently disclosed records indicating 54 email exchanges between President Biden and his son's business associate during his tenure as vice president.

Hunter Biden faces multiple legal challenges, including recent federal charges related to tax offenses. Despite allegations of "shady business practices" made by Rep. James Comer, concrete evidence linking the President to illegal activities has yet to be provided.

As the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees demand further communication records between Hunter Biden and White House employees, the specter of a formal impeachment inquiry looms large. The White House has been given a two-week deadline to produce the requested documents, intensifying the ongoing political drama surrounding the Biden family, The Daily Beast reported.

Related Article: Prosecutors Oppose Sen. Bob Menendez's Plea To Delay Bribery Trial

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Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, who thought she was going to die after a brain bleed, has been made an MBE for setting up a charity to help others with similar conditions.

The 37-year-old and her mother Jenny have both been recognised in the New Year Honours for their work setting up the brain injury charity SameYou.

The actress said she still briefly feels as though she is having another brain haemorrhage every time she gets a headache, and described how not being able to speak after surgery made her think let this end now.

Speaking from her London home, Clarke told the PA news agency that surviving two brain haemorrhages, which happened while she was filming the hit fantasy series, made her realise how misunderstood and under-represented brain injuries are, even though they affect one in every three people.

Her first brain haemorrhage, a bleed on the brain, happened while working out in a north London gym in 2011.

Emilia Clarke and her mother set up a charity (PA)

Clarke said she felt fragile, sensitive and scared after her brain injury and was shocked to find out how understaffed rehabilitation services are  with rehab becoming a key focus for the charity.

Her mother, Jenny Clarke, said that in the UK youre lucky if you get a few weeks of rehab, and then its just like falling off a cliff, as she urged people to donate to the charity to help fund vital online rehab services.

Another focus for the charity for 2024 is mental health support, with Clarke saying that her second brain haemorrhage in 2013 just took the wind right out of me from a mental health point of view.

Clarke, who has set up a production company with exciting projects in the pipeline for 2024, said she did not want to go public about her brain injury, and largely kept it a secret from her Game Of Thrones colleagues.

Emilia Clarke and her mother Jenny set up the charity SameYou (SameYou/PA)

But since she launched the charity and shared her story thousands of other people who have had traumatic brain injuries have approached her and she now feels less alone.

She said that the MBE was wonderful awareness-building for the cause, while Mrs Clarke said she believed she was being pranked when she first heard about it.

In an exclusive interview with PA, Clarke, who played Daenerys Targaryen in Game Of Thrones, said she knew she was being brain damaged during the first brain injury.

I had just finished filming season one of Game Of Thrones, feeling very stressed, but optimistic and young, and I had no idea what I was hurtling towards, she said.

Your voice is more powerful than you think If you have experienced a brain injury, or if you care for someone who has, we need your help: https://t.co/h6LRwbD9X9#SameYouCharity pic.twitter.com/iCDh0ZRchT  SameYou (@SameYouOrg) December 20, 2023

I was doing the plank and I just was kind of crippled with pain.

I dont know what science class I actually paid attention in, but I just had an understanding that I was being brain damaged.

So I was moving my fingers and my toes, trying to remember lines from my show, saying my own name, saying my parents names, my friends names, just trying to stay conscious, because I knew I could slip into a coma very easily in this scenario.

So I knew I needed to fight. (I thought) Ive just got a show, just got my first job, it cant go wrong now.

She described feeling a catastrophic amount of agony which felt like like an elastic band just snapping around my brain.

She was whisked to a London hospital but medics did not immediately spot that she had suffered a brain haemorrhage and it took some time before she was sent to a specialist hospital where she received life-saving care.

I remember just thinking No, Ive got to go, Ive got a job, I got a life.

In recovery she was woken every two hours and was asked to say her full name aloud  Emilia Isabelle Euphemia Rose Clarke.

Emilia Clarke and her mother have set up the charity SameYou (SameYou/PA)

One night, very late at night, I couldnt say it, I was able to speak but it was no sense, she said.

I remember that was the only point where I just thought lets end this now, because if I cant communicate then I cant be an actor, which is the only thing Ive ever dreamed of being, so that was quite dark.

Three weeks after first being admitted to hospital she was sent home but 24 hours later I found a reason to go back to hospital because I was so terrified, Clarke said.

Thats one of the bigger things that resulted in us having a charity that deals with rehabilitation, because while everyone is good at dealing with the problem, (there is less attention on) the repercussions of living with something that has gone wrong and youre so fragile and so sensitive and so scared.

Mrs Clarke, who left her senior role in a global tech firm to become chief executive of the charity, added: So many thousands of people have written to us and echoed what Emilia said.

The clinicians are fantastic, the therapists are wonderful, but there just arent enough of them and there arent enough resources.

If youre lucky in the UK you get a few weeks rehab and then it just its like falling off a cliff.

Clarke said: Its so profoundly understaffed  I was given a remarkable nurse after I left hospital the first time but I was one of 300 people that she had (on her list), and Im calling her saying help I think Im going to die, Ive got a headache.

I still have it now, every time I get a headache there is at least four minutes where Im like Am I? and then you remember no, no, brain haemorrhage results in throwing up, agony.

But the Solo: A Star Wars Story actress said that despite symptoms of fatigue and anxiety she returned to work quickly because she was hell bent on living the life that I dreamed of.

Clarke also had to have a second procedure in 2013 when surgeons in New York had to remove a brain aneurysm which was found through routine check-ups.

The second one just took the wind right out of me from a mental health point of view, she said.

I really started to just close in on myself and kind of I didnt want to look anyone in the eye, it was literally just such profound anxiety and worry and fear.

Mrs Clarke said that one of the charitys big crusades is to promote mental health and neuro-psychological support for people with brain injury.

Asked whether she had a lot of support on the set of Game Of Thrones, Clarke said she kept her brain injury quiet and only told people who needed to know.

My HBO family took remarkable care of me and kept my secret, she said.

Ahead of her Seagull debut, our Founder spoke about her decision to write about her brain aneurysms. Please donate to help us with our work to create the missing emotional & mental health recovery services essential for brain injury & stroke survivors: https://t.co/EKsj8eUEpW pic.twitter.com/lGG97AKrEO  SameYou (@SameYouOrg) June 29, 2022

The night before we launched the charity, I turned to mum and said I cant do it, I cant tell people.

Were it not for the charity, I wouldnt have said anything to anyone, but when we launched it and thousands of people who responded, which made me feel less alone.

Mrs Clarke prides herself on being her daughters number one fan, and described how she and other family and friends met Clarke at Heathrow with a sign and balloons, just to welcome her back from her first audition.

Meanwhile, when visiting her daughter on the Star Wars set, Clarke said her mother got chatting to the person in charge of merchandise and within about three weeks, I still got that 25 boxes with my face on.

And then mum thought it would be really funny to dress my whole bedroom with pictures of me the duvet cover, the pillows, she laughed.

Her mother replied: While Im really proud of her acting, its much more of who she is as a woman, just the the approach that she has to life.

As a child, Emilia was always happy, always really buoyant, always full of sunshine and love, she added.

The women have both been made an MBE in the New Year Honours for the work they have done setting up their charity.

It is believed they are the first mother and daughter to receive the same award in the same honours list.

Mrs Clarke said: Its such an incredible honour, such an incredible privilege, and the most important thing for us is that its for everybody with brain injury.

To have this near-death experience and to have gone through the sort of the darkness of it all, and then come out of it, were so lucky.

Its just so fantastic to be able to get up in the morning and really feel that you are, in some tiny way, really helping people.

Clarke said the honour was remarkable and felt it was life-enhancing and magical to see her mother, who has also had brain surgery to remove a brain aneurysm, recognised for the work.

She added: One in three people will get a brain injury  for that huge statistic to be so unknown and underrepresented, we feel like if we bring about an awareness and therefore an empathy and an understanding for those people, then weve done a huge amount.

Our goal is to try and allow people to feel that after a brain injury, they are still the same person, the fundamental thing that makes them who they are, has not changed and will not change.

What they need is they need care and kindness and they need a hand to be held and attention and voice and treatment and rehabilitation.

SameYou has launched a new fundraising appeal to help provide neurorehabilitation to patients online.

Mrs Clarke said that the programme, currently operating out of London and Lancashire, would be rolled out across the UK as she urged people to donate 10 to fund one session for one patient.

Almost 1,000 people have benefited from the online support so far.

Clarke added: The results that weve seen have been frankly life-changing.

 To donate 10 to the appeal, and learn more about the charity, visit SameYou.org.
Gregory Doran, the artistic director emeritus of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), has spoken of his joy at been given a knighthood in the New Year Honours list.

The theatre boss, 65, is honoured for services to the arts, having been officially appointed artistic director at the RSC in September 2012, taking over from the late Sir Michael Boyd.

I am delighted to have received this honour, Sir Gregory said in a statement to the PA news agency.

Charles watches a performance of Henry IV Part I by secondary school students from Stratford-up-Avon alongside artistic director Gregory Doran (left) at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre (Joe Giddens/PA)

Shakespeare has been a passport through my life, and I have been privileged to be able to spend so much of career working with the very greatest company dedicated to his work, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and sharing his genius with as many as possible around the world.

Sir Gregory announced in September 2021 that he was taking a period of compassionate leave from the RSC to care for his husband Sir Antony Sher.

The theatre star died in December that year at the age of 72 from cancer and Doran confirmed he was stepping down from the RSC position in April 2022.

He is the artistic director emeritus of the RSC until December 31 2023.

Sir Gregory began his career as an actor with the RSC in 1987, before becoming associate director in 1996 and chief associate director a decade later.

In 2002, he led a season of five rarely-performed Jacobean and Elizabethan plays and directed The Island Princess by John Fletcher at the Swan Theatre and a run at the Gielgud Theatre in Londons West End and received an Olivier Award for outstanding achievement of the year.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate hosted Shakespeare Live! From The RSC (Ian West/PA)

In his role as RSC artistic director, he reunited with Scottish star David Tennant, after Twelfth Night in 2008, to direct the production of Richard II which became the first RSC production to play live to cinemas around the world in November 2013.

A year later he directed The Witch Of Edmonton, which saw Dame Eileen Atkins return to the RSC for her 80th birthday year, while in 2015 Sir Gregory directed Death Of A Salesman starring Sir Antony and Dame Harriet Walter, which later transferred to Londons Noel Coward Theatre.

In April 2016, Sir Gregory directed Shakespeare Live! From The RSC in a collaboration with the BBC to mark Shakespeares birthday and the 400th anniversary of his death, hosted by Tennant and Catherine Tate and included stars Dame Judi Dench, Dame Helen Mirren, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sir Ian McKellen.

The event was later nominated for a Bafta for best live event.

While Sir Gregory opened The Boy In The Dress in 2019, a new musical from David Walliams comedy about the story of a star striker and fashion lover with new songs from Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers.

The theatre director has also been awarded honorary doctorates from seven different universities, including the University of Bristol and the University of Warwick.
The founder of a charity which gives donated second-hand shoes to children in need said it has seen a huge surge in demand amid the cost-of-living crisis, as she was made an OBE in the New Year Honours list.

Camilla CJ Bowry, 43, founder and chief executive at Sals Shoes, which redistributes footwear to children all over the world whose parents cannot afford it, has been honoured for services to young people, education and the environment.

Over the past decade, the charity says it has found new feet for over five million pairs of Sals Shoes in 61 countries around the world, including increasingly here in the UK.

Why we do what we do But we couldnt do it without all of you Your preloved @Crocs have been finding their new feet in the village of Ankoma in Ghana, West Africa, thanks to @ankoma_outreach  pic.twitter.com/B1zS34YuWd  SalsShoes (@sals_shoes) December 27, 2023

Ms Bowry, of Oxted, Surrey, told the PA news agency: Children tend to outgrow their shoes before they outwear them and childrens shoes are expensive but also actually quite difficult to recycle because of all the different components theyre made up of and just over 10 years ago, having accumulated a bag full of my son Sals outgrown shoes, and unable to find a charity that could tell me where exactly they would end up if I donated them, I founded Sals Shoes.

I think there are an estimated 300 million children around the world for whom walking with shoes is a rarity.

Feet in shoes are protected feet, feet protected from injury and infection.

We have always worked in the UK on a much smaller scale to begin with, for a variety of reasons, but over the last few years we have seen a huge surge in demand, so we have distributed over 180,000 pairs of childrens shoes nationwide just this year.

Its a cost-of-living crisis, people are worried about feeding their families and heating their homes and winter coats and school shoes.

Sals Shoes is able to track every pair of shoes it supplies and let the previous owner know where they end up.

On being made an OBE, she said: I think as someone working in the charity sector any acknowledgment is quite uncomfortable when really all were able to achieve is down to the less fortunate position of others. That said, I think it validates our work and is one for the whole team.

Ms Bowry said her family will only learn she has been honoured when the list is published.

Ive risen to the challenge and seen it as a personal challenge and Ive been the best secret keeper ever, in fact I forgot I knew the secret, she said.

I dont think theyll believe it, I think it will be lovely for my mum and dad, Im quite excited for them to know about it.
Veteran broadcaster Tony Blackburn has described being made an OBE in the New Year Honours as the icing on a very lovely cake after almost six decades in the best job on BBC and commercial radio stations.

The 80-year-old, who became a household name as the first DJ on BBC Radio 1 when it launched in 1967, is honoured for his services to broadcasting and charity.

In a statement given to the PA news agency, Blackburn said: Receiving this honour is truly unexpected and very humbling.

Tony Blackburn presenting his Radio 1 programme in 1972 (PA)

When I first replied to a New Musical Express advert looking for DJs, back in 1964, I never imagined that nearly 60 years later, I would still be doing something I love so much.

To still be in a radio studio a few times a week, being welcomed in to so many listeners homes, sharing mine and their memories, and playing the music I love is simply wonderful.

To be recognised for my work in broadcasting in this way is testament to all those Ive had the pleasure of working with over the years, on both the BBC and in commercial radio.

It really is the best job and to receive this award is the icing on a very lovely cake.

Tony Blackburn was crowded king of the jungle on Im A Celebrity in 2002 (PA)

Born in Guildford, Blackburn rose to fame as a DJ on pirate broadcaster Radio Caroline South in 1964, before joining Radio London where he introduced the first soul programme in the UK.

Blackburn later became the first voice on BBC Radio 1 when it began broadcasting on September 30, 1967 with his breakfast show. In the same year, he began his run as a regular presenter on popular TV programme Top Of The Pops.

Blackburn, who hosted his breakfast show until 1974 when he took over the morning show, remained with BBC Radio 1 until 1984 and in his time changed the face of British music.

The DJ spent time at BBC London, where it is said he commercialised soul music, leaving in 1988 to join Capital Radio to launch its Gold Station, where he presented his soul shows until December 2002.

Tony Blackburn during celebrations marking his 50 years in radio, in 2014 (PA)

In the same year, he appeared on the first series of Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and was crowned king of the jungle by hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

His other TV appearances include hosting his own show Time For Blackburn in 1968.

After stints at different radio networks, Blackburn returned to BBC Radio 2 in 2010 to take over its long-serving Pick Of The Pops programme, and he currently hosts Sounds Of The 60s and Golden Hour.

Blackburn also recorded his own music, hitting the UK singles chart with So Much Love, which was his highest placing track peaking at number 31 in 1968, Its Only Love a year later, and featuring on The Wurzels I Am A Cider Drinker in 2007.

Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, said: Everyone at BBC Radio 2 is thrilled that Tony is receiving this wonderful recognition for his remarkable contribution to broadcasting, which goes back to the earliest days of pirate radio right through the decades to the present.
Felicity Dahl, widow of Roald Dahl, has said she is amazed and grateful to be given a damehood in the New Year Honours List.

The 85-year-old, who founded The Roald Dahl Museum And Story Centre and co-founded Roald Dahls Marvellous Childrens Charity, is recognised for services to philanthropy, literature and young people.

Dame Felicity said in a statement to the PA news agency: I am amazed and grateful for this extraordinary honour.

Being the founder of two charities and helping to keep my late husbands work alive has been a pleasure.

Of course, I have been supported by so many wonderful people to achieve this

Dame Felicity set up the childrens charity in 1991 in memory of her late husband Roald Dahl, who died on November 23 1990 aged 74, and was known for writing books including The BFG, The Witches and Fantastic Mr Fox.

Roald Dahls Marvellous Childrens Charity works in partnership with the NHS to provide specialist nurses and support for seriously ill children with lifelong conditions.

In 2001, Dame Felicity established the charity The Roald Dahl Museum And Story Centre, a museum and literature centre, based around Dahls works, that was set up for educational purposes.

In 2020, a set of stained glass windows were unveiled at a hospital in Birmingham featuring famous characters from Dahls books, following a collaboration between Dame Felicity and the illustrator Sir Quentin Blake.

Roald Dahl and Dame Felicity had wed in 1983 when the author was in his late 60s.

They had both been married before and Dame Felicity had three children from a previous marriage while Dahl had five, shared with his first wife, American actress Patricia Neal, whom he wed in 1953.

Since his death, Dame Felicity has been involved in the adaptations of Dahls work, and co-produced the film Matilda, released in 1996.

The Queen with Dame Felicity Dahl during a visit to Birmingham Childrens Hospital (Jacob King/PA)

In recent years, Dahls body of work has hit the headlines following conversations around offensive language and censorship.

While he has previously topped lists of the nations favourite authors and his stories continued to be beloved by children around the world, anti-Semitic comments he made have cast a shadow over his personal legacy.

In 2020 his family apologised for his antisemitism and a statement was posted to the website of The Roald Dahl Story Company under the title: Apology for anti-Semitic comments made by Roald Dahl.

It said: The Dahl family and the Roald Dahl Story Company deeply apologise for the lasting and understandable hurt caused by some of Roald Dahls statements.

Those prejudiced remarks are incomprehensible to us and stand in marked contrast to the man we knew and to the values at the heart of Roald Dahls stories, which have positively impacted young people for generations.

We hope that, just as he did at his best, at his absolute worst, Roald Dahl can help remind us of the lasting impact of words.

Earlier this year it was revealed that books by the much-loved, but controversial childrens author have been rewritten to cater for the sensitivities of modern audiences.

Wes Anderson and Dame Felicity Dahl arriving for the world premiere of Fantastic Mr Fox (Yui Mok/PA)

The Roald Dahl Story Company and Puffin Books confirmed they had carried out a review of Dahls classics to ensure they can be enjoyed by all children.

This meant the removal or rewriting of content deemed offensive, such as references to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race.

Critics including acclaimed author Sir Salman Rushdie and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were among those who condemned the changes, with Sir Salman writing on X, formerly Twitter: Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship.

Puffin UK then announced that The Roald Dahl Classic Collection would sit alongside the newly released Puffin Roald Dahl books for young readers and readers will be free to choose which version of Dahls stories they prefer.

A statement from the publisher said: By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahls magical, marvellous stories.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with arson after a fire at a prestigious 160-year-old Catholic school in west London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters were called to the London Oratory School, which admits boys aged seven to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, on Seagrave Road in Fulham at around 10am on Wednesday.

The teenager will appear in custody at Highbury Youth Court on Friday.

The fire was brought under control and no injuries have been reported, but part of an atrium in the four-storey building was damaged by fire, the London Fire Brigade said.

The schools alumni include actor Simon Callow, trade unionist Mick Whelan, as well as the children of the former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, Harriet Harman and former deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg.
The increasingly desperate, and futile, attempts by Margaret Thatchers government to suppress Spycatcher, the memoir of a renegade ex-MI5 officer, are laid bare in official files made public for the first time.

Peter Wright caused a sensation in the 1980s, with his lurid allegations that a former head of the Security Service had been a Soviet mole and that M15 officers had plotted against Labour prime minister Harold Wilson because they believed he was in the pay of Moscow.

After ministers blocked release of his book in the UK, his publishers turned to Australia triggering the start of a lengthy international legal battle as the Government fought to keep it off the shelves.

However, their efforts were effectively rendered meaningless by its publication in the United States where the First Amendment right to free speech meant they were unable to stop it becoming a runaway bestseller.

Margaret Thatcher was determined to block publication (PA)

Nevertheless, papers released by the National Archives in Kew, west London, show ministers refused to give up on their attempts to prevent the British public learning of it contents.

Pressure was put on the Commons speaker to stop debate among MPs, public libraries were threatened with legal action if they stocked it while ministers considered invoking emergency wartime powers to prevent people bringing copies into the UK.

Mr Wrights most sensational claims were largely discredited: an official investigation had already concluded there was no evidence Sir Roger Hollis, who was MI5 director general in the 1950s and 1960s, had been a Soviet agent while Mr Wright himself admitted there was no plot against Mr Wilson.

However, what seemed to many to be the governments heavy handling of the case ensured it became a cause celebre among campaigners for free speech, leading to a humiliating defeat in the Australian courts.

Mr Wrights claims had already been the subject of one book, Their Trade Is Treachery by journalist Chapman Pincher, which had been published uncontested.

But while ministers had suspected he had been the unnamed source for that volume, when in 1985 he attempted to publish openly under his own name Mr Thatcher was adamant they had to act.

I am utterly shattered by the revelations in the book. The consequences of publication would be enormous, she wrote in a handwritten note.

Trade and industry secretary Lord Young warned an import ban was unlikely to be effective (PA)

Right from the start, their efforts were flawed, with an injunction they obtained blocking publication in England and Wales but not Scotland.

Mrs Thatchers private secretary Nigel Wicks said that, while London-based newspapers had felt unable to report details of the legal proceedings taking place in Australia, The Scotsman had published a substantial account.

There is therefore much talk in the press about one law for the English, another for the Scots etc, he said.

As travellers returning from the US began arriving back in the UK with copies, ministers scrambled to see if they could impose an import ban.

Trade and industry secretary Lord Young of Graffham advised that, while it was technically possible using emergency powers passed at the outbreak of the Second World War, it was unlikely to be effective.

The use of these powers in the Spycatcher case could well be challenged, he warned.

Speaker Bernard Weatherill refused to block debate in the House of Commons (PA)

I am also advised that, even if the book were banned, it would not in practice be possible to catch all copies of the book brought in from the United States either by mail or by individual travellers.

Meanwhile arts minister Richard Luce said that a international conference of librarians, being attended by a number of Americans, could see a further influx of books from the US.

We know that at least one British librarian has arranged to receive a copy of Spycatcher from a colleague for his library, he wrote.

At Westminster, solicitor general Sir Nicholas Lyell expressed frustration that Speaker Bernard Weatherill was refusing curtail debate among MPs, on the grounds the case was sub judice, in the way ministers wanted.

The speaker expressed concern about the credibility of his position given that practically everyone he met had already read the book, Sir Nicholas complained.

I replied that most people in the country had not read the book and that every newspaper, bookshop and library was at risk of contempt proceedings if they published extracts, quoted from, or sold or stocked the book.

There was particular concern that HM Stationery Office was importing copies of the official journal of the European Community, including proceedings of the European Parliament, after Labour MEPs read extracts from the book into the record.

Mr Wicks told the prime minister they could look very foolish indeed if a government agency was found to be the very material it was trying to block.

She agreed, noting: We must do everything we can to ensure that one hand of government foot does not distribute what the other hand is trying to stop.

Home secretary Douglas Hurd, however, warned the UK could be in breach of its European treaty obligations if it tried to stop them.

As an alternative he suggested that, with HMSO only importing 10 copies, they could arrange for a government department to acquire the lot and then procrastinate if a member of the public wanted to buy one.

He added however that such an elaborate stratagem would run the risk of seeming ridiculous.

There was however one dissenting voice in No 10. Bernard Ingham, Mrs Thatchers press secretary, warned that the governments position was riddled with self-delusion.

I consider that a far more effective remedy would be for the secret services (who have, after all, largely got themselves into this mess) publicly to shut up, and secretly to grit their, teeth, pull themselves together and get on with it, he wrote.
Bird flu has had a devastating impact on UK seabirds this year killing thousands of animals, according to The Wildlife Trusts annual roundup.

The last two years have seen the most severe outbreak in the UK since the virus emerged from a Chinese poultry farm in the 1990s.

Vast numbers have died, with the only nesting tern colony in Wales at Cemlyn Nature Reserve having halved since last year.

Hundreds of dead kittiwakes, herring gulls and guillemots washed up along the coast of Aberdeenshire this year while over 1,000 dead birds were removed from beaches in Pembrokeshire in July.

Dorset Wildlife Trust also found 600 mostly dead sandwich and common terns and black-headed gulls on Brownsea Island during the breeding season.

The Wildlife Trusts said there has been some cause for optimism in that northern gannets with black instead of pale blue eyes are more likely to be immune to the virus and that monitoring on Alderney near Guernsey suggests there has been no bird flu on the island this year.

The NGOs found other marine species to be recovering around the British Isles, notably the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which was fished almost to extinction in the 20th century.

It has been seen off the coasts of Devon and Cornwall as well as Scotland while dolphins and humpback whales have also been making comebacks.

There were multiple sightings of these animals in what are called bait ball feeding frenzies, when predators force fish into a tight ball near the surface to trap them and several species plunge in to feed at the same time.

Having so many sightings could be a sign that these populations are recovering after decades of being hunted by humans.

The humpback whale has returned to the UK after whaling was outlawed decades ago (Richard Shucksmith/scotlandbigpicture.com/PA)

Dr Lissa Batey, head of marine conservation at The Wildlife Trusts, said: Regulation is vital for protecting the natural world and reversing wildlife declines.

The end of commercial whaling has brought humpbacks and fin whales back to UK waters, and measures to protect bluefin tuna has led to a spike in sightings.

This fantastic fish has returned from the brink of extinction and the risk of decimating the population for a second time remains high, so it is vital that commercial fishing quotas are set realistically and rigorously enforced.

When we give nature space, wildlife can recover, its as simple as that.

We must act faster to protect the UK target of 30% of seas by 2030.

Other threats also need to be resolved, such as that from pollution from sewage, plastic and industrial processes, The Wildlife Trusts said.

Atlantic bluefin tuna was fished almost to extinction in the 20th century (Mark Mitchell Henry/PA)

Thousands of small blue rubber balls used in an EDF power station were found washed up on beaches in Teesside and nurdles, tiny, raw forms of plastic that are fatal if eaten by wildlife  have washed up on UK beaches and are thought to have spilled from container ships.

This year also saw the introduction of highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) in Allonby Bay, Cumbria, Dolphin Head, Sussex and north-east of Farnes Deep in the North Sea.

Destructive practices such as trawling are banned in these areas and The Wildlife Trusts celebrated their introduction but said there needs to be a massive expansion if they are to have any serious impact as they cover just 0.4% of English seas.

Dr Batey said: This new gold-standard of protection will stop all damaging activities such as trawling and enables marine wildlife to recover, benefiting fishers and carbon storing habitats.

These special places cover less than half a percent of English seas, so its a tiny first step towards more designations.
James Whale has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours list, recognising his services to broadcasting and to charity.

The broadcaster and talk show host has been a popular voice on radio and TV for five decades, and still hosts a regular Saturday slot on TalkTV and TalkRadio.

Whale began his career with Metro Radio in 1974 where he pioneered the late-night radio phone-in.

The 72-year-old rose to fame in the 1980s with his frank style, dry wit and no-nonsense approach on late-night programme The James Whale Radio Show, gaining a legion of loyal listeners.

James Whale becomes MBE for services to broadcasting and charity (Ian West/PA)

Whale then spent 13 years at TalkSport before hosting the drivetime show on LBC and the breakfast show on BBC Essex.

During his career he also hosted Whale On, Dial Midnight and Central Weekend Live for ITV, and Talk About for BBC One.

Whales autobiography Almost A Celebrity: A Lifetime Of Night-Time was published in 2008 and he later launched a new version of The James Whale Radio Show.

Earlier this year, he was awarded the first ever Tric Recognition Award for his 50 years in broadcasting.

Richard Wallace, head of TalkTV, said about the MBE: There are legends  and then theres James Whale. This award is a fitting acknowledgement of a maverick talent who has entertained TV and radio audiences with inimitable style for more than 50 years.

Radio legend James Whale has been awarded an MBE in the Kings New Year Honours list for his outstanding contribution to broadcasting. 'A Lifetime Of Night-Time: The James Whale Story' will be broadcast on Saturday at 10pm.@THEJamesWhale pic.twitter.com/LSBtVnSSZD  TalkTV (@TalkTV) December 29, 2023

Dennie Morris, director of audio and news broadcasting, said: James is not only a giant of radio and television, but one of the loveliest men Ive ever met.

His contribution to the industry and to charity over the years has been remarkable. I can think of no one more deserving of this honour.

In 2016, Whale appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Christopher Biggins and Frankie Grande  the brother of US pop star Ariana.

Whale was the sixth housemate to be evicted, alongside The Only Way Is Essex star Lewis Bloor, and on his exit admitted the show had been a bigger challenge than he had expected.

I went in thinking it was the easiest money I would ever earn in my entire life, he said.

James Whale is seen entering the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2016 (Ian West/PA)

Whale was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and had to have one of his kidneys removed.

In 2018, his wife Melinda died after being diagnosed with lung cancer and in August 2020, Whale revealed cancer had returned in his kidney, spine, brain and lungs.

The radio DJs past experience with cancer led him to form the James Whale Kidney Fund in 2006, which merged with Kidney Cancer UK in 2015.

Whale now hosts a weekly podcast with his second wife Nadine Talbot-Brown talking about their journey together with his stage four kidney cancer.

Appearing on Talk TV for A Lifetime Of Night-Time: The James Whale Story, which will air on Saturday at 10pm, Whale said his cancer is a bit bad at the moment but spoke of his desire to continue hosting his Saturday night show.

His wife described the show as his reason for being at the moment.

Whale said: If I have a few more months that would be great, if I have until next Christmas or this coming Christmas would be nice wouldnt it, but if I die tomorrow Ive had an amazing time and I married an amazing lady.

And Ive had a lifetime of not having to have a job, I dont work.
Belfast Harbour shipping cranes

A 39-year-old man arrested at Belfast Harbour on Thursday is wanted in Spain over his alleged role in large-scale drug trafficking, a court has heard.

Hassan Ibrahim Gomaa, an Egyptian national, is accused of being part of an international network involved in transporting more than 20m (17.4m) of drugs from Morocco into Europe in 2013.

Mr Gomaa, who lives in Dublin, was remanded in custody on Friday.

His lawyer told the court he would fight extradition.

Ben Thompson, counsel for the Spanish authorities, told Belfast Extradition Court the warrant for Mr Gomaa's arrest included "particularly serious" alleged offending.

'Pirate ship'

"It relates to an international network involved in large-scale trafficking of hashish, of which the accused was a member," he said.

"It carried out an operation to transport a large stash of hashish to the European market, for which a pirate ship was launched."

Mr Thompson said the vessel which was spotted after it left Morocco.

The National Crime Agency, Belfast Harbour Police and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were involved in Mr Gomaa's arrest at Belfast Harbour.

A spokesperson from the PSNI's International Policing Unit said: "The police service will continue to work with our international partners to identify and arrest those sought for arrest and extradition.

"Our message is clear: there is nowhere to hide in Northern Ireland and we will actively pursue all wanted persons believed to be in this jurisdiction."
Chinese university holds free feasts with 2.5 tonnes of fish

Xinhua) 11:12, December 29, 2023

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. (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. (Photo by Cai Wenlong/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the woman who was fooled by her mother that she had leukemia, is finally free after seven years in prison. If you already watched the popular 2019 crime drama series "The Act," then you will know what Gypsy had to go through.

She was a child abuse victim by her mother. Court documents revealed that her mother, Claudine "Dee Dee" Blanchard forced her to use a wheelchair, as well as take unnecessary medical procedures as she fooled the innocent woman that she was sick.

Because of this, experts concluded that Gypsy was a victim of the Munchausen syndrome by proxy; a condition in which a caretaker, parent, or guardian falsifies illness in an infant or older child.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Murder Case Timeline

Newsnation reported that it all started when Dee Dee and her daughter moved to Missouri after Hurricane Katrina devastated areas of New Orleans in 2005.

After moving to a new home in Aurora, her mother claimed that all her medical records were destroyed in flooding and that Gypsy was diagnosed with multiple conditions, such as leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

2008 : The Blanchards had a pink house in Missouri, thanks to the help of the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity. In their pink house, they had a wheelchair ramp, an oxygen tank, and a feeding tube.

: The Blanchards had a pink house in Missouri, thanks to the help of the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity. In their pink house, they had a wheelchair ramp, an oxygen tank, and a feeding tube. 2007-2009: Dr. Bernardo Flasterstein, Gypsy's former neurologist, revealed that there's no evidence of her condition. Another doctor called the authorities to inform them that he couldn't find any symptoms to prove the claims of Dee Dee.

2011 : The abuse victim said that she met a man at a convention, who helped her try to run away from her abusive mother. She shared what Dee Dee did to her, such as destroying her gadgets and chaining her to a bed.

: The abuse victim said that she met a man at a convention, who helped her try to run away from her abusive mother. She shared what Dee Dee did to her, such as destroying her gadgets and chaining her to a bed. 2012 : Gypsy and Godejohn, the man she via a Christian singles website, were contacting each other via a Christian app.

: Gypsy and Godejohn, the man she via a Christian singles website, were contacting each other via a Christian app. 2014 : Gypsy confessed to one of her friends that she was in love with Godejohn.

: Gypsy confessed to one of her friends that she was in love with Godejohn. 2015 (March): Gypsy finally met Godejohn in person at a Springfield movie theater; the man dressed as Prince Charming and the woman dressed as Cinderella.

(March): Gypsy finally met Godejohn in person at a Springfield movie theater; the man dressed as Prince Charming and the woman dressed as Cinderella. 2015 (June): Gypsy was taken by Dee Dee to a hospital appointment while Godejohn checked into a motel. After that, the man went to the mother's house. Gypsy gave him duct tape, a knife, and some gloves. When Dee Dee and Gypsy went home, Godejohn went into the mother's bedroom and stabbed her 17 times.

(June): Gypsy was taken by Dee Dee to a hospital appointment while Godejohn checked into a motel. After that, the man went to the mother's house. Gypsy gave him duct tape, a knife, and some gloves. When Dee Dee and Gypsy went home, Godejohn went into the mother's bedroom and stabbed her 17 times. 2015 (June): Godejohn surrenders to the authorities and the police found Gypsy unharmed and could mysteriously walk. She was also arrested.

Read Also: Colorado Dentist Gets 2-10 Years Sentence After Damaging Nevada Power Plant Initially Described as Terror Attack

2016 (April): Godejohn admitted that he killed Dee Dee and that the murder was planned by him and Gypsy.

(April): Godejohn admitted that he killed Dee Dee and that the murder was planned by him and Gypsy. 2018 : Gypsy and Godejohn both went on a murder trial. The abused daughter said that she learned that she wasn't sick when she was 19. But, she only knew the full extent of her health when she was arrested.

: Gypsy and Godejohn both went on a murder trial. The abused daughter said that she learned that she wasn't sick when she was 19. But, she only knew the full extent of her health when she was arrested. 2018 : Godejohn, who argued that she only killed Dee Dee to free Gypsy, was sent to prison after he was found guilty of first-degree murder.

: Godejohn, who argued that she only killed Dee Dee to free Gypsy, was sent to prison after he was found guilty of first-degree murder. 2022 : Unfortunately, Godejohn wasn't the man Gypsy married. Instead, she tied the knot with Ryan Scott Anderson despite being in prison.

: Unfortunately, Godejohn wasn't the man Gypsy married. Instead, she tied the knot with Ryan Scott Anderson despite being in prison. 2023 (September): The release of Gypsy was confirmed by the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Although she was already happy after her mother died, Gypsy Rose Blanchard finally achieved true justice after getting released on Thursday, Dec. 28, as reported by The Guardian.

Related Article: Texas Killer Kaitlin Armstrong Could Receive Light Sentence if Jury Knew She Was Pregnant During Arrest

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Prime minister Tony Blair was warned that the No 10 press office had lost all credibility under his combative communications chief Alastair Campbell, according to newly released official files.

Papers released by the National Archives show Mr Blairs private secretary, Jeremy Heywood, advised him that his own authority was being undermined because Downing Street was seen as a politically-dominated spin machine.

The warnings followed a series of bruising rows between the Labour government and the BBC over its coverage of the US-UK invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Tony Blair complained about the BBCs Iraq coverage to chairman Gavyn Davies (PA)

After Mr Campbell announced he was standing down after nine years as one of Mr Blairs most trusted aides, Mr Heywood urged the prime minister to take the opportunity to carry out a complete overhaul of the No 10 press operation.

The No 10 press office has lost all credibility as a reliable, truthful, objective operation. Even respectable journalists treat it with caution  part of a relentless politically-dominated spin machine, he wrote.

Although we all know this is monstrous, it has become the settled view of the entire British media and political establishment. This is disastrous for the authority of your own office.

Mr Campbells departure came after months of increasingly acrimonious relations between the government and sections of the media amid the failure to uncover Saddam Husseins supposed weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which had been the justification for the invasion.

Tony Blair wrote to BBC chairman Gavyn Davies to complain (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)

On March 19, the day the invasion began, Mr Blair sent BBC chairman Gavyn Davies a blistering letter complaining about the corporations coverage.

I believe, and I am not alone in believing, that you have not got the balance right between support and dissent; between news and comment; between the voices of the Iraqi regime and Iraqi dissidents; or between the diplomatic support we have, and diplomatic opposition, he wrote.

I have never written to you or your predecessor in this way before, but I have heard and seen enough to feel I should do so now.

Anji Hunter, another of the prime ministers close aides, suggested Mr Davies  a former Labour Party member  probably thought Mr Blair has a point but would feel compelled to respond with a magisterial rebuke because BBC director general Greg Dyke had been copied into the letter.

GD clearly feels in a difficult position viz this  think he would have preferred a quiet phone call from you, she wrote.

Alastair Campbell had suggested threatening the BBC with legal action over a Radio 4 Today programme report that the government had sexed up an intelligence dossier (PA)

The papers also show Mr Campbell suggested threatening the BBC with legal action over a Radio 4 Today programme report that the government had sexed up an intelligence dossier on Iraqi WMD issued in the run-up to the conflict to strengthen the case for war.

If the BBC remain belligerent, I think the rhetoric has to be stepped up, up to and including the threat of putting the issue in the hands of lawyers, he wrote.
After an international airline discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance of a Boeing 737 Max, the airplane maker is urging airlines to inspect its 737 Max commercial airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday.

"The FAA is closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 Max airplanes to look for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system," a news release from the FAA said.

Boeing also discovered a nut that was not properly tightened in an aircraft that had not yet been delivered, according to the FAA.

A Boeing 737 Max is displayed during the Farnborough Airshow, in Farnborough, England, on July 18, 2022.

No damages have been reported so far and Boeing said that the advisory was issued out of an abundance of caution.

"The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied," the statement from 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 aircraft manufacturer said that the inspection is not particularly difficult and involves removing an access panel and visually validating proper installation. The entire process could take approximately two hours per airplane, said Boeing.

Boeing further said that they are not expecting any "significant impact to our operations" and that all aircrafts are being inspected prior to delivery.

Boeing added that there have been no in-service incidents caused by the condition.

FAA said that it will "consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware".

Watch: Fluffy, 400-pound therapy llamas ease travelers' stress at Portland International Airport

What airlines fly Boeing 737 Max airplanes?

Major American airlines, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, operate Boeing's 737 Max, a single-aisle workhorse aircraft built for short and intermediate distances.

All of the airlines told USA TODAY Friday that they do not expect any impact to their operations.

Alaska Airlines added that they began inspections on Thursday and expect them to be completed in the first half of January. Southwest Airlines is currently conducting inspections of the Max aircrafts in their fleet during routine overnight maintenance. And American Airlines noted their team will complete the recommended inspections but did not give a specific timeline.

Boeing 737 Max airplanes grounded in 2019

In March 2019, the Boeing 737 Max was grounded in the United States following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia within a span of 5 months which killed a total of 346 people.

It was cleared to fly again in late 2020 by the FAA after Boeing made changes to the plane, including to M.C.A.S., the flight control system behind the crashes, according to the NYT.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FAA: Boeing 737 Max planes should be inspected for 'loose bolt'
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 MAX airliners for a possible loose bolt in the jets rudder control system, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Thursday.

The FAA said that it is "closely monitoring targeted inspections" of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes after Boeing notified operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to look at specific tie rods that control rudder movement to see if there is any loose hardware.

Boeing recommended the inspections after an international operator of the 737 MAX found a bolt with a missing nut during routine maintenance on a mechanism in the rudder control linkage. The company also found an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that wasnt properly tightened.

"The issue on the particular airplane has been remedied," Boeing said in a statement provided to FOX Business. "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."

BOEING ELIMINATED FROM AIR FORCES DOOMSDAY PLANE COMPETITION

Boeing and the FAA are requesting that airlines operating the 737 MAX inspect the aircraft for a loose bolt that could impact its rudder control system.

Boeing noted that there have been no in-service incidents caused by this issue and that flight crews routinely conduct checks before departing the airport gate that would alter them if the rudder werent functioning properly.

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

The company also plans to inspect all new 737 MAX airplanes for this issue before delivery. It added that the process for this inspection is relatively straightforward, requiring the removal of an access panel and visually validating that the part is installed properly, a process that it estimates would take about two hours per plane.

CHINA-MADE C919 LANDS IN HONG KONG IN MAIDEN FLIGHT OUTSIDE MAINLAND, VIEWED AS FUTURE BOEING COMPETITOR

The Boeing 737 MAX's crew alerting and flight control systems were reconfigured in the wake of fatal crashes that occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The FAA said it will remain in touch with Boeing and the airlines while inspections are underway. The aviation regulator is asking airlines to go through their approved Safety Management Systems to identify whether they have previously detected any loose hardware and to give the FAA details about how quickly the airlines can complete the two-hour inspections.

The agency added that it will consider additional action based on any further discoveries of loose or missing hardware.

The Boeing 737 MAX was grounded for 20 months around the world after it was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia. The accidents resulted in Boeing revamping its crew alerting and flight control systems on the 737 MAX.

The company has retrofitted the existing fleet of MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft and is awaiting FAA certification of the smaller MAX 7 and larger MAX 10 variants. The company also paid a $2.5 billion settlement, including a $500 million fund to compensate victims families, to resolve charges related to defrauding regulators who approved the 737 MAX.

Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: Boeing, FAA urge operators to inspect 737 MAX jets for loose bolt
Police issued an arrest warrant and are searching for a 35-year-old Colorado mother, accused of killing two of her young children before vanishing, authorities said Thursday.

Kimberlee Singler, 35, will be booked on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, child abuse and assault when she's caught, according to a statement by Colorado Springs police.

Kimberlee Singler. (Colorado Springs Police Dept.)

Officers responded to a 911 call about a burglary in the 5300 block of Palomino Ranch Point at 12:39 a.m. Dec. 19 and found a girl, 9, and a boy, 7, dead at the scene, police said.

The victims' mother, Singler, and another daughter, 11, were taken to the hospital.

"As the investigation into this case unfolded, it was determined the initial report of a burglary was unfounded," according to the police statement.

The 911 burglary report came from inside the mom's condo, but Colorado Springs police spokesperson Ira Cronin on Friday declined to reveal who investigators believe made that phone call.

The arrest warrant was obtained Tuesday but police have not been able to find Singler, who was last seen Saturday, officials said.

The missing mother and her estranged husband have been locked in a years-long divorce case thats included one parent accusing the other of brandishing a knife, court consideration of polygraph testing and visitation exchanges at police stations, according to court records.

Family law attorneys for both the suspect and her husband could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday.

The 11-year-old girl is safe and in Colorado Springs now but not with her father, Cronin said.

The FBI is assisting in the search for Singler but police don't believe she's in or near Colorado Springs.

"She could be anywhere," Cronin said.
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.
The Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state  applying their state's respective election laws  both recently held that the application of the insurrection clause  Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States  to Donald Trumps conduct on Jan. 6, 2021 barred him from ever again standing for office as a federal elected office holder. The provision of the Constitution, part of the post-Civil War amendments to our founding document, is as follows:

No personhold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Christopher Cole

As factual predicates to its decision, the Colorado court found that then-President Trump engaged in or acted in aid of insurrection; in fact, six of the seven justices of the Colorado Supreme Court confirmed this factual finding. A majority of that court also found that the presidency is an officer of the United States and that Trump was therefore prohibited from standing for office and was barred from being on the states ballots in the upcoming primary. The court explicitly stayed the effect of the decision pending an appeal to, and decision of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Maine secretary of state likewise applied the procedure mandated by that state's election laws. Not surprisingly, her decision tracks the Colorado decision on the issues presented by federal constitutional law. It will now be appealed to the Maine Superior Court and likely to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Republicans in Congress and among the populace have excoriated these rulings as anti-democratic and election interference. Putting aside the partisan thrall in which most of these people are stuck, they are simply wrong that the court decision is any of those things.

In the widely anticipated appeal, the Supreme Court will be faced with a panoply of serious questions of constitutional law, and not only whether the presidency is an office of the United States and whether Trump triggered the insurrection clause by his conduct leading up to and on Jan. 6. Trumps campaign rolled out numerous defenses in the trial court and the Colorado Supreme Court, including whether this question poses a political question unsuitable for treatment by the courts; whether these plaintiffs have standing to bring such a suit and pursue this remedy; and whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment is self-executing or requires state or federal enabling legislation or some action by Congress rather than the courts.

It is not clear if the court can creditably dodge these questions. And just as murky whether the court can creditably avoid affirmation of the essential factual findings made by the Colorado courts  after a five-day trial at which all parties were represented by competent counsel and introduced evidence and legal arguments for their side of the case. For its part, the Maine secretary of state held a three-day hearing, and the anticipated appeal to the Maine Superior Court will likely involve a longer, fact-intensive series of trial days. The Supreme Court has a potentially rough task ahead of it, and one it would certainly rather have left to the ballot box than its docket. But this is a constitutional case, and the courts role in our democratic republic is to say what the law is, and apply that law to the facts of record.

But none of what has transpired or is upcoming is anti-democratic in our system of constitutional government, or unlawful interference with the election or the right to vote. This is the process by which the rule of law is actualized in our system of government. The creators of the post-Civil War constitutional amendments provided a standard against which the qualification of office-seekers would be measured (just as the original framers imposed qualifications for the office of the presidency in the Constitution of 1787 in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5: the President must (1) be at least 35 years of age, (2) be a natural born citizen, and (3) must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years). The standard follows from another qualification, amended into the Constitution in the aftermath of the Civil War: that she or he cannot have, during their time in a state or federal office, engaged in insurrection or given aid or comfort to the enemies of the Constitution.

Democracy in our republican system of government is not limited to elections and counting votes. Our democratic republic is based on rules, on pre-established, functional standards against which activities and conduct are measured; that is what the courts do in the service of our democratic republic under our Constitution. It is neither anti-democratic nor election interference to establish a Constitution as law, create a constitutional standard that conditions office holding on certain characteristics and good conduct, hold a trial at which that conduct is evaluated pursuant to the legal standard so established, and for the court to thereafter make findings of fact and rulings of law and fashion, if necessary, the remedy called for by the law and the Constitution itself. This is the basic stuff of a democratic republic with free and independent courts  application of the law to the people applying for a pretty important job. The process is ordinary; only the subject matter makes it momentous.

Reasonable people can differ on the question of whether this is the best way to remove, to me anyway, the vulgar, divisive malignant cancer of the former president from our politics. A sound vote rejecting him and his message may well be the best course for the health of the country  although it is clear that only a vote making him the president will suffice to the part of the populace in thrall to the lies of a stolen 2020 election. But this process of law through the courts systems created by our state and federal constitutions is not anti-democratic, and does not constitute unlawful interference with an election. Here, the Colorado trial judge held a five-day long trial at which evidence was submitted by both sides, defenses were interposed, and argument was made by both parties. The trial judge and the Colorado Supreme Court made their factual findings under an enhanced clear and convincing standard, more rigorous than the standard of proof in ordinary civil trials. On appeal, the states highest court made a ruling.

The Maine secretary of state likewise followed the procedure mandated by Maine election law. She held a three-day hearing, in which the interested parties submitted evidence and argument. Now the issues will go to the courts.

This course of conduct  this excellent example of due process of law  is the envy of most nations and a hallmark of the system that makes this country so very special. No matter what the ultimate outcome, it is the vindication of the rule of law. And the politicians who ridicule it are either ill-informed, or partisan hacks, or both of these things.

Christopher Cole is a lawyer from Portsmouth.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: Trump insurrection rulings are legal, not political
Folks who forked out over $100 for a ticket to see Dave Chappelle Wednesday night at Hard Rock Live near Hollywood didnt get even get to see the entire show. The controversial comedian reportedly stormed off the stage after a man in the audience whipped out a cellphone.

Theres no video of the incident (the guy obviously didnt sell the footage to TMZ or another gossip outlet  yet) but, according to widespread media reports, Chappelle was not happy, and scolded the fan.

The aborted show was Chappelles second in a five-night stand at the Seminole Hard Rock between Christmas and New Years Eve. The Half Baked star takes the stage Friday and Saturday nights at the same 7,000-seat venue inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Broward.

On Hard Rock Lives website, the venue states in its Frequently Asked Questions section that select events are device and electronics free, per the artists request.

That means no recording devices will be permitted, including cellphones, smartwatches, cameras, tablets, laptops and even FitBits. Before entering, guests must leave all their mobile toys secured in Yondr neoprene pouches that will be unlocked as you leave.

Its a Celebration B!%?#&S! is a jubilant recognition of a golden milestone year for the comedic genius, reads the shows description. Renowned for his unparalleled wit, razor-sharp commentary and fearless approach to tackling lifes most absurd moments, Dave Chappelle promises to ignite the stage with his larger-than-life presence.

This isnt the first time the comics shows have gone awry. Back in August 2013, during the Comedy & Curiosity Festival in Hartford, Conn., he bailed soon after his set started due to hecklers.

And just last May, Chappelle was attacked onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The audience member, who was armed with a replica gun that could eject a blade, was arrested on a felony assault charge. The legendary funnyman was unharmed and continued the performance.

The Hard Rock did not immediately respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment about the matter.
Composite: Getty Images, EPA

The lonely political vigil of long-shot Democratic presidential candidates Marianne Williamson and Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips will be transformed on to the debate stage early next month in New Hampshire  without Joe Biden, who is neither on the state ballot nor agreeable to any debate interaction with competitors.

Related: US supreme court under pressure to rule swiftly on states Trump ballot bans

The debate between self-help author Williamson and Phillips is set to be held at the New England College on 8 January, and moderated by Josh McElveen, former political director of radio station WMUR, two weeks before the state holds its primary.

Biden elected to skip the New Hampshire primary after a spat between state election officials and the Democratic National Committee, after the DNC opted to move South Carolina to the top of the primary calendar. New Hampshire, which has held its primary first for more than a century, pushed ahead anyway.

Like the Republican candidates who have been debating without their frontrunning candidate, Donald Trump, the mission is something of a death watch, lest either the Democrat or the Republican frontrunner fail to make it to next years presidential vote, and as a symbolic marker of the widespread dissatisfaction with both candidates.

Williamson is polling at 12% and Philips at 4%, according to a Quinnipiac University poll published last month. Another puts Phillips at 17% and Williamson at 6%.

Williamson said in a statement to the Hill that her expectations of the debate were that it will be substantive and my definition of success is that I blow it out of the park.

Last week, Phillips quoted a poll that found 60% of New Hampshire voters didnt want Biden to stand. His approvals are cratering to historic lows, he posted on X. The DNC is ignoring reality, deluding Democrats, suppressing competition, and handing 2024 to the GOP.

Both participants will have 90 seconds for opening and closing statements and one minute for answers, the Hill reported. If a candidate invokes the other, they will be given 30 seconds to respond.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for National Association of the Deaf

Professional dancer Britt Stewart and CODA actor Daniel Durant are engaged after falling in love during Dancing With the Stars season 31 last year.

Ending 2023 engaged! Stewart, 34, shared via Instagram, sharing photos from their proposal. Im still pinching myself.

The couple was surrounded by family and friends when Durant, 34, got down on one knee on Christmas Day. He and Stewart were on a hike in Lake Arrowhead, California, when the actor popped the question.

We were both emotional, overwhelmed with joy and at peace knowing that this would eventually be part of our story, Stewart told People on Friday, December 29. It felt like magic, but at the same time, it felt right and normal.

The couple took their Christmas Day hike with Stewarts mom and stepdad, Jasmin and Lonnie Speed, along with Durants moms, Lori Durant and Mary Engels. They all shared their hopes for the new year, and when went last, he proposed.

I started talking about the year, about us meeting and everything that happens in life. I just feel like theres balance, he explained to People. She sees me. She knows my culture, my language, and understands everything about me.

Britt Stewart, Daniel Durant at Sandals Barbados June 2023

Less than one year after Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant competed together on Dancing With the Stars, they sparked a real-life romance. My Valentine.



Happy Valentines Day, Durant wrote via Instagram in February 2023 when they debuted their relationship, sharing a selfie with the DWTS pro on a boardwalk. Durant and Stewart initially met the previous September []

The actor recalled welling up when sharing his love.

Stewart and Durant announced their relationship this past February when celebrating Valentines Day together. The couple met in 2022 when they were paired up together on DWTS. They placed fifth during season 31, which aired late last year.

After going public, Stewart told Us Weekly exclusively that she had hope that Durant would be her forever dance partner.

Steven Simione/Getty Images

We still like to dance together. We got very lucky because he was able to come on the Dancing With the Stars Tour this winter. And spent two weeks with us. So that helped the transition from dancing together all the time to not, she told Us in August. And then I  surprised him with a surprise tango date, which was so much fun. He absolutely loved it. And then every once in a while, his favorite dance is [the] cha cha so hell, like, grab me in the kitchen or Ill grab him in the kitchen and well do a [bit of the cha cha] together.

Dancing With the Stars Couples

Since its 2004 debut, Dancing With the Stars has awarded many mirrorball trophies  and has led to engagements, babies and lasting love. For the pros, its not surprising that they find love with their colleagues after spending time together while filming, rehearsing and performing on the DWTS tour. Although its more rare, sometimes a []

Durant, who is deaf, previously told Us that Stewart started learning American Sign Language after being partnered up with him on DWTS.

She knows how to sign, shes learning how to sign, he gushed in September 2022. Before, my interpreter  hed be there interpreting for us at practice, and now he fades away during practice and its nice. She understands me.
Chad Nasir

Chad Nasir grew up in Libya, where Toyota Land Cruisers are admired and revered. He says only wealthy businessmen, government personnel, and drug dealers could afford the SUVs in his country. Financing wasnt available, so Land Cruisers belonged to people with a lot of cash on hand.

When he moved to the United States, he made himself a promise: when he became successful, hed start buying them. A little over a year ago, Nasir bought his first Land Cruiser. Now he owns a little over two dozen of them.



Chad Nasir

Nasir lives in Michigan now and owns a business called Midnight Protective Films, installing window tint, vinyl wrap, and ceramic coating. Nearby in a warehouse, his collection of Land Cruisers waits for the next one to join the crew. Every one of Nasirs Land Cruisers has been imported, all are left-hand drive, and every one of them has a manual transmission. He doesnt finance a single one of them; he pays cash for each.



His first Land Cruisers were a 2013 and 2015; one for Nasir and one for his dad. After that, he started hunting for the classics. He found a 70-Series Land Cruiser pickup in Saudi Arabia with only 60,000 miles on it, and he had to figure out how to buy it, register it there, then import it to the US and register it here. The Land Cruisers are inspected locally through Nasir's network and approved for purchase.



Chad Nasir

Every [Land Cruiser] purchase has very low mileage, he says. The one with the highest has 180,000 miles but its still super clean, a 1997.



Nasir buys one or two Land Cruisers every month for the last 15 months, with no end in sight. He's in the process of buying three more: one from Qatar, one from Yemen, and one in Oman. All are imported to Michigan, where Nasir mostly just enjoys them. He drives the models with higher mileage (his 2015 has more than 200,000 miles on the clock) and keeps the other ones for fun.



Looks like he's finally made it.

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A strong wave flooded the area and carried people and cars up the street in Ventura, California, while many people observed the high surf at the end of an avenue.

A representative from the Ventura County Fire Department said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that eight individuals were sent to the hospital on Thursday, December 28, as a result of the incident.

Pacific Storm Creates Wild Waves

Coastal cities in California have issued a warning to their citizens, stating that a Pacific storm this week has created turbulent waters that might easily become extremely dangerous waves. "Stay away from rocks, jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure. Never turn your back to the ocean," warned the National Weather Service (NWS) in the Bay Area via a post on X.

The Bay Area was under a high surf warning until 3:00 AM local time on Friday, December 29, according to NWS authorities. The waves, they said, may be very dangerous and up to 40 feet high in some areas.

On Thursday, the surf was predicted to reach its peak, but the hazardous conditions would persist until Saturday, December 30. With waves of 15 to 20 feet and local sets of 25 feet, a high surf warning was in effect for Southern California all the way into Saturday night.

According to ABC News, the rain is predicted to begin in the northwest on Friday morning and make its way to the Bay Area by afternoon. Evening traffic in and around San Francisco may be affected. Friday may see gusts of up to 50 mph in the coastal areas, where the storm is most likely to make landfall.

See Also: Strongest Storm: Hurricane Otis Wreaks Havoc on Mexico's Acapulco

Reports From Coastal Cities

In Ventura County, public beaches were blocked after a wave hospitalized eight people. Oxnard said that its beaches will be closed until Sunday, December 31.

County fire officials worked Thursday night constructing a barrier around the beaches using bulldozers and heavy equipment to protect them from strong waves. Officials have said that the completed berm, which begins at San Pedro St. and extends about one mile to Greenock Lane, is seven feet high and one mile long.

Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz Fire Department also sent a critical warning, stating, "The big surf we have been talking about is here! Please help us keep you and our teams safe!"

Not only did the city of Southern California shut Main Beach and Cowell Beach, but Santa Cruz Wharf as well. Officials said that low-lying regions along West Cliff had experienced flooding, with large waves slamming into the coast and debris strewn around.

A 25 to 30-foot wave was predicted to crash on Santa Cruz, according to the NWS. There are storm surges, rip currents, and "sneaker" waves in the region, as per the agency.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department published an Instagram post on Thursday urging everyone to stay inside and away from the beach for their safety.

See Also: Philippine City of Tacloban Remembers 10th Anniversary of Wrath of Supertyphoon 'Haiyan'

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Maybe the new oil and gas methane rule has a silver lining for New Mexico. That is, if Texas and other oil-producing states have to comply with the same rule as New Mexico, its no longer a competitive disadvantage for New Mexico oil production.

The new federal rule was announced Dec. 2 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai. The EPAs press release says implementation of the rule will prevent an estimated 58 million tons of methane emissions from 2024 to 2038, the equivalent of 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide  nearly as much as all the carbon dioxide emitted by the power sector in 2021.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was at the conference, celebrated New Mexicos contribution to the new rule.

The governors press release said: The EPA worked closely with New Mexico in developing the new rule, which closely resembles rules that New Mexico adopted to curb the release of methane and ozone precursors in 2021 and 2022. Since adopting its own emissions rules, New Mexico has seen its average monthly amounts of methane released into the air decrease by 55%, while routine venting and flaring by New Mexico oil and gas producers has decreased by 70%  A recent independent study found that the emissions related to the oil and gas production in New Mexico is just half that of neighboring and less-regulated Texas.

Merilee Dannemann

Some commentators think oil and gas are going to be around for longer than electric car advocates would like. I suspect theyre probably right. So, what if there is a completely different approach to reducing greenhouse gases?

Maybe there is a way to put enough carbon back into the ground to compensate for the amount we generate. And maybe some of that can be done in New Mexico.

Its called regenerative agriculture. Its farming the old-fashioned way, mixing crops and livestock, trapping enough carbon in the ground that it might buy the human race a few additional years of transition.

I am neither a farmer nor a scientist so I cannot judge whats practical, but Im listening to scientists who say this can work and farmers who have made it work on their own land  while also producing superior crops, saving water and making money. This information comes in part from a documentary film called Kiss the Ground, which explains how regenerative agriculture works.

According to this film, about one third of the earths topsoil has been lost over the last century or so, due to the destructive farming practices that created the 1930s Dust Bowl. More is being lost every year, reducing the lands capacity to absorb carbon, adding to climate stress and forcing increased reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Regenerative agriculture means reversing these trends by using a mix of crops and grazing animals on the land in rotation, nourishing the soil instead of tilling it. The practice is being promoted by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service.

New Mexico has a Healthy Soil law (Chapter 76, Article 25, adopted in 2019) and a Healthy Soil program based on this law, administered by the state Department of Agriculture at New Mexico State University. The program awards grants to local governments and other entities that adopt these practices. An interactive map at nmhealthysoil.org shows participation so far is sparse, and theres a lot of room for expansion.

The possibility of making New Mexico a little less of a desert deserves serious examination by the people who could potentially make it happen.

As long as New Mexico is going to continue producing oil and gas and releasing carbon into the air, we should support whatever can be done to minimize both environmental and health impacts of that production.

Contact Merilee Dannemann through www.triplespacedagain.com.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Greenhouse gases and the new methane rule
PEOPLE obtained a copy of the lawsuit which claims that the Plaintiff "feared for her life" during the alleged sexual assault

Samuel de Roman/WireImage Jermaine Jackson attends 'Forever Jackson' Madrid premiere in January 2018

Jermaine Jackson has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in or around the spring of 1988.

A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court by Rita Butler Barrett alleges sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual battery, negligence and rape by Jackson, now 69, according to papers obtained by PEOPLE. Jermaine L. Jackson Music Productions, Inc. and Work Records, Inc. were named co-defendants alongside Jackson.

A rep for Jackson did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment on the allegations.

Toni Anne Barson/FilmMagic Jermaine Jackson during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in May 2017

Related: Brothers Blanket and Prince Jackson Pose for Rare Jackson Family Photo

In the lawsuit, Barrett contends she knew Jackson for several years before the alleged sexual assault took place due to "professional and personal connections." The papers state that her husband, Ben Barrett, worked closely with Berry Gordy, whom she believes was "in a business and/or management relationship" with Jackson at the time of the alleged assault.

Jackson allegedly arrived at Barrett's home in or around the spring of 1988 unannounced and forced himself inside. Barrett claims he then sexually assaulted her with "force and violence" and left when he was "satiated."

"During the assault, Plaintiff, a woman of faith prayed to God for help. During the assault, Plaintiff feared for her life," the lawsuit reads.

Barrett claims she reported the assault the following day to Gordy, whom she alleges "withheld and concealed the acts." Barrett asserts that by doing so, Gordy, Jackson, and "others in the business relationship" were able to gain profits from Jackson's work "for years to come."

Barrett alleges a cover-up was in place to "prevent disclosure of information relating to the abuse for the purpose of profit and preservation of reputation."

Fin Costello/Redferns Tito, Jackie, Michael, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson of the Jackson 5.

Related: Remembering Michael Jackson's Life in Photos

The lawsuit states that Barrett has "suffered severe emotional, physical, and psychological injury, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, economic capacity, and permanent emotional distress" after her interaction with Jackson.



Jackson rose to fame as a member of the Jackson 5, later known as The Jacksons, which featured his younger brother, Michael Jackson.

In a statement, Barrett's attorney Jeff Anderson said that his client "suffered an egregious and violent sexual assault."

"This is about her power and the declaration of it when she learned something could be done under the law, and she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others," his statement added.



If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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Read the original article on People.
A New Jersey man motivated by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel "devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies" and sought to join a foreign terror group, federal prosecutors in New York said Friday.

Karrem Nasr, 23, was arrested in Kenya earlier this month and brought to New York to face charges of attempting to provide material support to al-Shabab, the Somalia-based terror group affiliated with al-Qaida.

PHOTO: Karrem Nasr, 23, was arrested in Kenya earlier this month and brought to New York to face charges of attempting to provide material support to al-Shabab, (Andrey Denisyuk/Getty Images)

Nasr is expected to make an appearance later Friday before a federal magistrate in Manhattan federal court.

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: IDF publishes findings after 3 hostages accidentally killed

"As alleged, Karrem Nasr, motivated by the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies. Nasr, a citizen of this country, traveled from Egypt to Kenya bent on joining and training with al Shabab so that he could execute his jihadist mission of death and destruction. Nasr was prepared to kill and be killed to support the jihadist cause, and in his own words, he described America as 'evil' and the 'head of the snake,'" U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.

Nasr moved to New Jersey from Egypt in July, according to the criminal complaint, and repeatedly expressed a desire to join al-Shabab during communications with someone he thought was an al-Shabab facilitator, but who was really a confidential FBI source.

PHOTO: The Department of Justice seal is displayed on a podium during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York, July 2, 2020. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty , FILE)

The complaint quotes messages with the confidential source and postings online in which Nasr said he had been thinking about engaging in jihad for a long time and was particularly motivated by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel. In recent public social media posts, Nasr warned "Jihad" was "coming soon to a US location near you," posting airplane, bomb and fire emojis.

Nasr flew from Egypt to Kenya on Dec. 14, according to federal officials. Prosecutors said he planned to transit into Somalia before Kenyan authorities took him into custody.

Nasr, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

New Jersey man motivated by Hamas threatened attack on US: Feds originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
We already know that Queen Letizia is a style icon. (Have you seen her chic black coat?) However, there's more to the Spanish monarch than her impressive sartorial choices.

The queen, 51, made quite a few headlines during her royal visits this year, from her appearance at the Women's World Cup to her rapping debut in Madrid for World Mental Health Day. (In case you missed it, she rapped a verse from El Chojin's song, No es Egoismo, meaning "it's not selfishness.")

In her speech, the royal said, This is a day to reflect what the last 364 days have been like, a day where people with mental health problems look at us in the face and tell us what we should do to improve society, administrations, institutions. So, it is advisable to listen to know where the action should go, because investment in mental health is the guarantee of a more prosperous, fairer and more equitable future for all people.

Although we've enjoyed keeping up with the queen's latest outings, we're still curious to learn more about her pre-royal life, her transition and her meet-cute with King Felipe. Heres everything we know about Spains leading lady, Queen Letizia.

1. Who Is Queen Letizia?

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Queen Letizia, aka Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, is the wife of King Felipe VI of Spain. After marrying her husband (formerly Prince Felipe of Asturias) in May 2004, she received the title of Princess of Asturias. Then, on June 19, 2014, following her husband's accession to the throne, Letizia became the queen consort, making her the first Spanish queen born as a commoner.

Her Majesty the Queen has since received many Spanish and foreign honors, including the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown from the Netherlands and Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit from France.

2. What Was Her Pre-Royal Life Like?

Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images

The queen was raised in a middle-class family in Otezia, Northern Spain. Born to journalist Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez and Maria de la Paloma Rocasolano Rodriguez, she followed in her father's footsteps by studying journalism at the Complutense University of Madrid and the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism.

Prior to meeting and marrying King Felipe, she found major success in her field. The royal worked as a reporter for ABC and EFE, then became a news anchor at CNN+ and Television Espanol. She was also previously married to a writer named Alonso Guerrero Perez, but they got divorced a year later.

3. How Did Queen Letizia Meet King Felipe?

TVE/AFP via Getty Images

We don't know exactly when they first crossed paths, but we do know that Letizia met the then-Prince of Asturias while she was working as a news anchor. King Felipe must have seen one of Letizias broadcasts, because he asked a mutual friend, Pedro Erquicia, to set them up. According to reports, Letizia gave the prince her number, but they didn't start dating until a few months later.

The pair secretly dated for a few years before the Royal Household made a surprise announcement about their engagement in November 2003. Two days later, the couple appeared at the prince's residence for a press conference, and the King said, "We are very much in love and we wanted to show our great joy for our commitment."

4. Was Queen Letizia Welcomed by the Royal Family?

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Letizia was previously married to Alonso Guerrero Perez. Although the marriage only lasted a year, her status as a divorcee reportedly didnt sit well with the royal family, which explains why the couple kept their relationship under wraps at first.

Fortunately, though, Letizia's previous marriage was a just civil ceremony, which allowed her and Prince Felipe to have a Catholic ceremony at the Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena in Madrid.

5. When Did Queen Letizia and King Felipe Get Married?

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

On May 22, 2004, Queen Letizia and King Felipe tied the knot at the Catedral de la Almudena in Madrid, making it the first royal wedding to occur in this cathedral. The brides dress was designed by Spanish couturier Manuel Pertegaz and featured heavy embroidery and a high-standing collar.

Meanwhile, the veil, which she received as a gift from Felipe, was made of silk tulle and her bridal shoes were made by Pura Lopez.

6. How's Her Sense of Style?

Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images

Apart from her role in the royal family, Queen Letizia is known for her impeccable fashion choices. From eye-catching floral dresses and chic pantsuits to fuzzy jackets, the monarch has redefined what it means to dress like a queen.

For example, the queen turned heads in a pink Carolina Herrera suit dress at King Charles's coronation in 2023. And in 2022, she dazzled in a form-fitting Nina Ricci dress at the National Orchestra and Choir of Spain Concert.

7. Does She Have Any Children?

Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images

Queen Letizia shares two daughters with King Felipe: Leonor, Princess of Asturias (18) and Infanta Sofia (16). Princess Leonor is first in the line of succession to the Spanish throne, followed by her sister.

At just 13 years old, Princess Leonor gave her first public speech at an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Spains Constitution, and in 2019, she presided over the Princess of Asturias Awards. In her speech, she said, In my house, the words Spain and Asturias are always united with the same force with which history has united them. Thats how I feel it in my heart and that today is a very important day in my life that I have looked forward to.

The princess also did her two-year International Baccalaureate program at UWC Atlantic College in Wales. Meanwhile, Infanta Sofia, who was named after her grandmother, started an International Baccalaureate at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales in 2023.

Listen to Royally Obsessed, the Podcast for People Who Love the Royal Family
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Maines Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to return to the White House.

The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows a ruling earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court that booted Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That decision has been stayed until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether Trump is barred by the Civil War-era provision, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

The Trump campaign said it would appeal Bellows' decision to Maine's state courts, and Bellows suspended her ruling until that court system rules on the case. In the end, it is likely that the nation's highest court will have the final say on whether Trump appears on the ballot in Maine and in the other states.

Bellows found that Trump could no longer run for his prior job because his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol violated Section 3, which bans from office those who engaged in insurrection. Bellows made the ruling after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, challenged Trumps position on the ballot.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows wrote in her 34-page decision. I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

The Trump campaign immediately slammed the ruling. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Legal experts said that Thursday's ruling demonstrates the need for the nation's highest court, which has never ruled on Section 3, to clarify what states can do.

It is clear that these decisions are going to keep popping up, and inconsistent decisions reached (like the many states keeping Trump on the ballot over challenges) until there is final and decisive guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court, Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, wrote in response to the Maine decision. It seems a certainty that SCOTUS will have to address the merits sooner or later.

While Maine has just four electoral votes, its one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maines electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there, should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate, could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.

That's in contrast to Colorado, which Trump lost by 13 percentage points in 2020 and where he wasn't expected to compete in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

In her decision, Bellows acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court will probably have the final word but said it was important she did her official duty.

That won her praise from the former state lawmakers who filed one of the petitions forcing her to consider the case.

Secretary Bellows showed great courage in her ruling, and we look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles, Republican Kimberley Rosen, independent Thomas Saviello and Democrat Ethan Strimling said in a statement.

But other Republicans in the state were outraged.

"The Secretary of States decision would deny thousands of Mainers the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, and it should be overturned," U.S. Sen. Susan Collins wrote on the social media site X.

This is a sham decision that mimics Third World dictatorships," Maine's House Republican leader, Billy Bob Faulkingham, said in a statement. It will not stand legal scrutiny. People have a right to choose their leaders devoid of mindless decisions by partisan hacks.

The criticism wasn't just along normal partisan lines, though. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who represents Maine's 2nd congressional district that Trump won in 2020, noted on X that he'd voted to impeach Trump for the Jan. 6 attack and doesn't believe he should win next year's election.

However, we are a nation of laws, and therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot, Golden wrote.

The Trump campaign on Tuesday requested that Bellows disqualify herself from the case because she'd previously tweeted that Jan. 6 was an "insurrection and bemoaned that Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate after the capitol attack. She refused to step aside.

My decision was based exclusively on the record presented to me at the hearing and was in no way influenced by my political affiliation or personal views about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Bellows told the Associated Press Thursday night.

Bellows is a former head of the Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. All seven of the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court, which split 4-3 on whether to become the first court in history to declare a presidential candidate ineligible under Section 3, were appointed by Democrats. Two Washington, D.C.-based liberal groups have launched the most serious prior challenges to Trump, in Colorado and a handful of other states.

That's led Trump to contend the dozens of lawsuits nationwide seeking to remove him from the ballot under Section 3 are a Democratic plot to end his campaign. But some of the most prominent advocates have been conservative legal theorists who argue that the text of the Constitution makes the former president ineligible to run again, just as if he failed to clear the document's age threshold  35 years old  for the office.

Likewise, until Bellows' decision, every top state election official, whether Democrat or Republican, had rejected requests to bar Trump from the ballot, saying they didn't have the power to remove him unless ordered to do so by a court.

The timing on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision is unclear, but both sides want it fast. Colorado's Republican Party appealed the Colorado high court decision on Wednesday, urging an expedited schedule, and Trump is also expected to file an appeal within the week. The petitioners in the Colorado case on Thursday urged the nation's highest court to adopt an even faster schedule so it could rule before March 5, known as Super Tuesday, when 16 states, including Colorado and Maine, are scheduled to vote in the Republican presidential nominating process.

The high court needs to formally accept the case first, but legal experts consider that a certainty. The Section 3 cases seem tailor-made for the Supreme Court, addressing an area of U.S. governance where there's scant judicial guidance.

The clause was added in 1868 to keep defeated Confederates from returning to their former positions of power in local and federal government. It prohibits anyone who broke an oath to support the Constitution from holding office. The provision was used to bar a wide range of ex-Confederates from positions ranging from local sheriff to Congress, but fell into disuse after an 1872 congressional amnesty for most former Confederates.

Legal historians believe the only time the provision was used in the 20th Century was in 1919, when it was cited to deny a House seat to a socialist who had opposed U.S. involvement in World War I. But since the Jan. 6 attack, it has been revived.

Last year, it was cited by a court to remove a rural New Mexico County Commissioner who had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. One liberal group tried to remove Republican Reps. Madison Cawthorn and Marjorie Taylor Greene from the 2022 ballot under the provision, but Cawthorn lost his primary so his case was thrown out, and a judge ruled for Greene.

Some critics of the movement to bar Trump warn that the provision could be weaponized in unexpected ways.

They note that conservatives could argue, for example, that Vice President Kamala Harris is likewise barred from office because she raised bail funds for people arrested during the unrest following George Floyd's 2020 murder at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The plaintiffs in Colorado presented historical evidence that even the donation of small sums to money to those seeking to join the Confederacy was grounds for being barred by Section 3. Why, critics have asked, wouldn't that apply to Democrats like Harris today?
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  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, being 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 thrown in jail 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 Africas 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.

___

AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
Meghan McCain

Meghan McCain is remembering her time on The View, and shared some strong thoughts on her former colleagues.

Since leaving the daytime broadcast in Aug. 2021, McCain has been vocal about her perceived experience during her time on the show, namely with former cohosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sunni Hostin, Joy Behar, Ana Navarro, Alyssa Griffin, and Sara Haines.

The political commentator recently visited Michael Malice's You're Welcome podcast, where she shared even more disdain toward the group of women, expressing she feels it is "bullying" that they've allegedly brought her name up following her exit over two years ago.

Related: Why 'The View Co-Hosts Think Travis Kelce Is 'Hiding' Something

McCain also showed disappointment toward management and show-runners. When asked by the host at what point she realized that the producers hired her to be the bad guy and object of derision to facilitate more drama, McCain responded, Its weird that were talking about The View because I dont know if youve seen what happened today.

She then referenced a Dec. 14 episode of the show from earlier this month, stating that Navarro compared her to Hunter Biden while discussing his foreign business dealings that are currently under investigation.

This afternoon I was picking my daughter up from school, and I had a few friends text me that Ana Navarro had compared me to Hunter Biden and alluded on air that I had basically done the exact same thing Hunter Biden has done," she said.

The TV personality confirmed she hadn't done anything illegal and was discussing a potential lawsuit with her legal team because Im being accused of crimes on ABC News and its serious, however added that she "cant go like a week without something being said about me on this show.

Continuing, she added, The thing about The View is that I didnt know when I signed my contract with ABC that this is forever, that for the rest of my life, Im going to be bullied, yelled at, abused, and brought up for years. I havent been on that show in years!

McCain went on to say that, in her opinion, she was unaware of what she was signing up for, doubling down on her alleged continued negative experience. I just didnt know that when I signed to do this show that Id have to deal with, like, these crazy old people just yelling about me all the time, she expressed. Apparently, I am just on their minds every day. And its pathetic.

Related: Meghan McCain Slams Seth Meyers After Awkward 2019 Interview: 'Horrific Experience'

The rant didn't stop there, though. Following her appearance on the podcast, McCain went on with the tirade, taking to social media to call out Navarro, specifically.

I dont understand why my former colleagues @TheView @ABC bring me up and slander me on an almost weekly basis. It has been years  move on, I have. I have never been accused of a crime in my life and am a patriotic American  I would never and have never influenced peddled in my life, let alone with foreign adversaries. Not all politicians children are the same  and I am no Hunter Biden. All accusations are absurd, defamatory, and slanderous, she wrote on X.

She also promised, I will be consulting my lawyers regarding what was libeled against me on The View this morning.

I dont understand why my former colleagues @TheView @ABC bring me up and slander me on an almost weekly basis. It has been years - move on, I have.



I have never been accused of a crime in my life and am a patriotic American - I would never and have never influenced peddled  Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 14, 2023

One user in the comment section replied, "They didn't drop your name," along with a shrugging emoji, while someone else said, "You're a public figure. The rules are different for public figures and you'd get laughed out of court."

On the other hand, some suggested that she does go through with her desire to "sue," while adversely, many urged her to take the "high road."

Next: 'The View's Sunny Hostin Responds to Criticism From Former Co-Host
Social media is on the cusp of visceral change  and its biggest players will have to adapt or be left behind.

Regulation looms in the European Union, while long-simmering concerns about privacy and safety are gaining visibility in the US. Elon Musk's chaotic acquisition of Twitter, now X, has thrust the sector even further into the spotlight.

European privacy and safety regulations  headlined by the European Digital Services Act, currently applied in phases  has become a built-in risk for Meta (META) and its competitors.

"What's going on with Meta in Europe  could potentially have ramifications for our Facebook, Instagram, and all of its various subsidiaries, Miami University professor Matthew Crain told Yahoo Finance.

Meta, which saw its shares climb 184% over the course of 2023, is well positioned as changes loom  the company has gotten past Apple's rattling privacy changes and has started rolling out options to meet the EU market, like a no-ad subscription offering.

Meanwhile, lagging competitors like Snap (SNAP), which struggled to recover from Apple's App Tracking Transparency, have updated their advertising business to, for example, limit advertising to minors in Europe.

Snap shares rose more than 90% throughout 2023, though its still trading at less than a quarter of its record high in September 2021.

French Secretary of State for the Digital Sector Cedric O (L) is talking with the EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton (C) and the Dutch State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Maria Cornelia Gezina Keijzer (R) prior a Competitiveness Ministers meeting on May 27, 2021. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images) (Thierry Monasse via Getty Images)

These shifts in advertising from Meta and Snap belie a deeper reality  that the traditional model isn't cutting it anymore, said Hussein Fazal, co-founder and CEO of Super.

"Fundamentally social media companies relying on pure advertising is tricky," said Fazal. "I think that if there are ways to expand revenue, that's going to be beneficial for them as companies, because then that gives them more flexibility."

One potential diversification is e-commerce. TikTok, for one, launched "TikTok Shop" in September, with 200,000 sellers signed up at the time.

The feature brings shoppable videos directly to users feeds, provides fulfillment services to merchants, and allows users to make purchases from a brands profile or a TikTok marketplace.

Through Black Friday and Cyber Monday, more than 5 million new customers made a purchase through TikTok, according to the company and Insider Intelligence.

Meta first introduced Shops for Instagram and Facebook in May 2020, as the pandemic shuttered brick-and-mortar retail. In November, it partnered with Amazon to allow users who click through ads to purchase the product via Amazon, while remaining on Meta apps.

E-commerce was the biggest contributor to boosting ad revenue, Meta CFO Susan Li said in October. Hosting the entire shopping journey gives social media companies their own data on how well ads convert to purchases, an ability that was kneecapped by Apples "Ask App Not to Track" function.

Snap, for the last couple years, has linked its augmented reality capabilities to e-commerce, featuring tie-ins with brands like sneaker maker Puma and glasses company Zenni Optical.

Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, has also proven to be a flashpoint. The microblogging platform has pivoted hard towards a subscription model  something that other social media firms have tried with varying degrees of success.

Data from Apptopia and reported by TechCrunch shows that X downloads dropped by about 30% in the first two months following the company's rebrand. In November, Apptopia data showed that X's subscription offering pulled in $6.2 million, marking the most per-month subscription revenue for the company to date.

However, its ad sales for 2023 have fallen to $2.5 billion, a giant drop from the $4.5 billion it clocked in 2021, prior to Musks acquisition.

The billionaires hope, as he's said many times, is to push the subscription strategy further and create an "everything app." Its a tactic thats unlikely to succeed in the US, Fazal said.

"I believe that we are not going to have a super app like WeChat over here in the US," said Fazal. "WeChat in China came from a very specific time, set of government regulations, and circumstances, creating one app to chat with your friends, pay government bills, book travel, and do just about everything else."

Unlike WeChat, which launched in January 2011, American apps are competing in a crowded marketplace, where user preferences are varied and features like messaging, travel booking, and ridehailing already have dedicated apps with their own audience.

Profit, privacy, and safety

There's an essential tension in social media businesses as they currently exist  the best targeted advertising requires access to users' data. That access, by its nature, makes privacy complicated or impossible, and can degrade trust quickly.

Providing benefits to the users, not just the corporations, may be one way to maintain trust. Microsoft-owned (MSFT) LinkedIn, for example, says its business model isn't a growth-at-all-costs proposition.

"Our goal is for you to come here, get something out of LinkedIn that's useful to you  knowledge, a job, a connection," Daniel Roth, LinkedIn editor in chief and VP, told Yahoo Finance. "We're very focused on what the economic outcome is of something that you've done on LinkedIn."

Vero, a social media startup that focuses on high-quality media content and connecting creators with users, is trying to stand out by eschewing ads and algorithmic feeds. It reportedly has 6 million users and is planning to launch a subscription next year.

"We're looking at our users as our customers, we're building a platform for them, not for anybody else," co-founder and CEO Ayman Hariri told Yahoo Finance. "We have no other agenda. We want them to be satisfied."

To date, there are more than 900 million users on LinkedIn, though the company doesn't disclose how many of those are monthly or daily active users.

Meta, in comparison, has more than 3 billion monthly active users for Facebook, and nearly 4 billion monthly active users across its family of apps, according to its Q3 report. But the no-holds-barred growth strategy can also be a liability.

The Wall Street Journal, for example, has reported substantially on Meta's troubles ensuring children's safety on its platforms.

Going forward, social media companies will need to figure out the subscription and e-commerce puzzle, while assuaging concerns about invasive and harmful practices.

And the landscape, with all its problems, is also ripe for disruption. Safety solutions will come from further down the Silicon Valley food chain, said Hari Ravichandran, founder and CEO of Aura, a personal cybersecurity app.

"If you take a platform, and look at the biggest problems it's facing, I would venture a guess that there would be a lot of small startups, a lot of smart people that are community-oriented, that have a lot of technical chops and start working on solutions for that platform," said Ravichandran.

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @agarfinks and on LinkedIn.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market.

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Since Danny Sanchez came to the United States in December 2021, the Venezuelan lawyer has traveled to over 30 American states.

His favorite so far has been Montana, where cold weather in the summer and the Rocky Mountains remind him of the Andean landscape of his home state back in Venezuela.

Sanchez has found his work stocking grocery store aisles overnight fascinating, learning about consumer psychology and how organizing the shelves a certain way can make a product more attractive to shoppers. Hes grateful for the opportunity to be in the United States, and has spent the last two years focused on how he can contribute to society and the economy.

The less of a burden we are to the state, the more opportunities well have too, said Sanchez, who first came to South Florida after entering the United States from Mexico during winter of 2021.

But hes also felt in limbo, navigating immigrant life without a work permit and unable to return home because of his activities as a member of the political opposition, he said. He applied for employment authorization and Social Security through his asylum case nearly a year ago, but told the Herald he hadnt yet received the documents. His case, like many others, is years away from being resolved.

Then came the announcement in September from the Biden administration: Over 472,000 additional Venezuelans already in the United States could apply for Temporary Protected Status, an immigration relief for people from countries in turmoil that allows them to live and work in the United States while shielding them from deportation.

READ MORE: Biden administration expands Temporary Protected Status for nearly half a million Venezuelans

Sanchez was among those eligible.

Nearly half of the nationwide population of Venezuelans is concentrated in Florida, according to the Pew Research Center. In South Florida alone, advocates estimate that some 30,000 Venezuelans will benefit from the September TPS expansion.

TPS is temporary and does not lead to permanent legal status. But since the Biden administration announced the expansion of the program for hundreds of thousands more Venezuelans, recipients say the protection has offered them stability as they make their lives in a new country, given them the possibility to pursue their dream careers, and opened the doors to bring family over.

There are people who have been here for 20 years and havent had the opportunity to become documented, so I think its a blessing that allows us to do things better in this country, said Sanchez, who applied for the immigration protection shortly after it was announced.

Many third-country arrivals

The Biden administration first granted Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans in March 2021. In this latest round, Venezuelans are eligible to apply if they were in the United States since July 31, 2023. Before the expansion, there were already about 243,000 beneficiaries through the program, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The latest designation runs through September 2025.

READ MORE: If youre a Venezuelan immigrant in the U.S., could you be deported? What you need to know

READ MORE: Here is everything you need to know about TPS for Venezuelans

The economic, political and humanitarian situation in Venezuela has displaced over 7 million people, according to the United Nations. Over the last two years, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have shown up at the U.S.-Mexico border, such as Sanchez, while others have come through visas or a parole process for people from Nicaragua, Haiti, Venezuela and Cuba.

Sanchez fled Venezuela in 2017 after authorities searched his home, and lived in several South American countries. In December 2021, he flew to Mexico and made his way to the U.S. border where he turned himself in to American border authorities. As he went through the immigration process, he settled in South Florida among the Venezuelan community. Since the summer, hes also been staying with a brother in Georgia.

After two years, when a light at the end of the tunnel showed up and allowed me to have this legal protection, the joy is incredible, said Sanchez.

To curb irregular migration from Venezuela, the Biden administration restarted deportations to the South American country, prompting anger from many Venezuelans in South Florida, who say that the federal government is exposing returnees to human rights violations and strengthening the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Many Venezuelans have applied for asylum, often on grounds of political persecution. But those cases can take years to process, and getting the protection is not guaranteed. Fifty-one percent of asylum claims from Venezuelan nationals were rejected between 2001 and 2021, according to a report from Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

Vicente Perez, an immigration attorney and legal coordinator for Casa de Venezuela in Orlando, said that many of the Venezuelans who are now eligible under the new TPS designation had previously been in a country other than Venezuela before arriving in the United States, such as Chile, Panama or Colombia.

The idea was to work hard in that third country to save a little money and get the whole family to the United States, Perez told the Herald.

Perez noted that the process to get TPS for first-time applicants in this new round has been relatively quick.

His organization has provided Venezuelans workshops and seminars to help them apply for the immigration benefit. Many already had family in Miami or elsewhere in Florida who could host them and help them.

Dilia Milano, 43, from the southern state of Sucre, decided to leave with her husband and young daughter amid the countrys challenging economic circumstances. She had a tourist visa, and stayed with friends in Homestead while the family figured out their next steps.

Milano received Temporary Protected Status this month. She dreams that her daughter will have a professional career in the United States some day.

Milano can now sponsor her mother to come to the United States through the Biden administration parole process, which allows people from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti to come to the United States as long as they have a financial sponsor and pass background checks. People with TPS are allowed to be supporters of people who come through that program.

Having the legal protection has given Milano an unexpected possibility: reuniting her family again.

I have not seen her for two-and-a-half years. I am feeling overjoyed, she said.
The largest U.K. police forces confirmed that antisemitic and Islamophobic crimes are alarmingly increasing. Ever since the Israel-Hamas war officially began after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, many people have been fighting each other.

Some are supporting Israelis and others are siding with Palestinians. In the United States, government officials and law enforcement authorities warned about the rising antisemitic crimes.

It turns out that the United Kingdom is also facing this same issue. Here are the latest details that British police departments revealed.

UK Police Forces Reveal Rising Antisemitic Hate Crimes

According to The Guardian's latest report, numerous U.K. police forces recorded drastic increases in antisemitic hate crimes as well as Islamophobic offenses.

One of the police forces that confirmed this alarming situation is the Greater Manchester police, which announced that it recorded over 74 antisemitic offenses in just a month after the deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

This is definitely higher compared to the same period in 2022 when there were only 15 antisemitic crimes; around 14 in the same month in 2021. The West Yorkshire police also shared the rising antisemitic crimes it recorded.

The law enforcement department said that there were 53 antisemitic hate crimes in October; in October 2022, there were only 10 records and 14 in October 2021.

Aside from the Greater Manchester and the West Yorkshire police forces, here are other law enforcement departments that confirmed the rise of antisemitic hate crimes and Islamophobic offenses in their areas:

West Midlands police: recorded 22 antisemitic offenses from Oct. 7 to Nov. 7 (only one in 2022 and eight in 2021 on the same month). Recorded 25 Islamophobic offenses.

The British Transport police: recorded 87 antisemitic hate crimes (only eight in 2022 and 11 in 2021). Recorded 22 Islamophobic crimes.

West Yorkshire police: recorded around 50 Islamophobic offenses.

Greater Manchester police: recorded 34 Islamophobic crimes.

Read Also: England: Teachers Granted Autonomy to Reject Student's Request to Change Gender Identity

UK's Increasing Antisemitic, Islamophobic Crimes are Alarming

Tell Mama's Director Iman Attac said that the rising antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes in the United Kingdom are deeply worrying.

"We should never allow such hatred and intolerance to take root in our communities and at this time," she said via BBC News.

Atta urged people in the U.K.whether they are Jewish or Muslim or notto look out for each other. She added that the British people must stand together against hate, racism, and intolerance.

A spokesperson for the Home Office (the British government's ministerial department) said that they are expecting the police forces to fully investigate all hate crimes.

The official added that they must work with the CPS to make sure the "cowards" who commit these abhorrent crimes would feel the full force of the law.

Related Article: Russian Spies Allegedly Using Cyber Interference to Target UK Politicians, Journalists-Compromising Private Conversations

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Jimmy Carter gave his last Sunday school lesson several years ago, but Jan Williams still fields emails and calls from people who want to hear the 39th president teach the Word.

For years, Williams has been a familiar face to those who journeyed to Plains and the red-brick Maranatha Baptist Church to hear Carters lessons, which usually drew hundreds. Carter taught Sunday school in the church since leaving Washington in the early 1980s. It is something he has done for most of his adult life, including as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy and even occasionally at First Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., when he was president.

For some, seeing Carter at the recent funeral of his beloved Rosalynn, his wife of 77 years, who died Nov. 19, has renewed interest in hearing his teachings.

Its amazing how many people contact the church and ask what Sunday hes teaching in a certain month, said the 74-year-old Williams, who serves as the churchs clerk, secretary, piano player and member of the choir. She said even today some people dont realize Carter, 99, who has been in home hospice since February, is no longer teaching Sunday school.

His niece, Kim Carter Fuller, teaches Sunday school class there now.

When they find out Jimmy Carter is no longer teaching, Williams said many people burst into tears. ...They cry and weep. They said, We kept putting off coming here and I guess we missed out.

When Carter was still teaching, there were many weekends when Williams husband, George, could be found in the parking lot directing eager visitors. Some arrived Saturday nights and others in the wee hours of Sunday mornings to make sure they got through a Secret Service checkpoint to grab a coveted seat in the sanctuary. And if you arrived too late which could be as early as 2 a.m. on some Sundays  you might have sit in an overflow room to hear the lesson.

For those who missed Carter teaching or want to hear it again, there are books, audio books and CDs of his Sunday school lessons available. Some of the lessons are on YouTube.

There are also collections of his lessons housed at the church, which Williams estimates are in the hundreds, and the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta has some audiotapes of Carter teaching Sunday school.

You can order lessons from Maranatha at https://mbcplains.org/order-dvd/

So what made the lessons so popular? For one, they were taught by a former U.S. president, one known for his strong faith and public service. His lessons touched on the Bible and theological questions, but were peppered with practical thought. Many revolved around how to treat others and what you can do the make the world a better place.

Tony Lowden, the Carters personal pastor and a former Maranatha pastor, has another reason for their popularity:

Lowden said hed joke with Carter that people loved to come down to see J.C., a private nickname he sometimes called the president. They both agreed that people should come down for the real J.C.  Jesus Christ.

Lines waiting to get inside the church would often extend into the churchs pecan orchard, like people were making a pilgrimage to Plains and Maranatha. This was on a lot of peoples bucket list, Lowden said said. Visitors included people of all political stripes and sometimes included people who werent Christian or hadnt attended church in years  or ever.

In 2017, the Rev. Joseph Howard and his wife, the Rev. Bianca Howard, his in-laws and parents were able to land a front-row seat during Sunday school.

It was amazing to be in the space, said Howard.

Humble and approachable

Carter was very humble, approachable and comfortable, he recalled, treating every stranger like a friend. He might ask where people lived and their answers reflected the reach of his popularity: Alaska, Hawaii, Ohio, Spain and Panama. They came from all over.

He would ask the crowd whether there were any pastors or missionaries in the church, their church and denomination. Then he would asked a female minister to pray, as a nod to inclusion in the pulpit.

Howard recalled the lesson was very practical, nothing overly complicated.

The lesson touched on what kind of person did those in the audience want to be. We have a choice in how we show up in the world, Howard recalled. I knew this was something he lived. He was the embodiment of kindness and Christ-like character.

Leonard Wright Jr., a native of Plains who currently lives in Summerville, S.C., attended a couple of lessons.

Wright, a former Sunday school superintendent for Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, said Carter was very knowledgeable on Scripture.

Theres a difference, he said, between lecturing and teaching. Carter taught.

Everything was Scripture-based and you had the opportunity for regular back and forth, said Wright Everybody had the opportunity to dialogue with him. It was not just him reading Scripture.

Sitting in on one of Carters Sunday school lessons was also on the bucket list of Jennifer Ayres, a professor of religious education, at Emory Universitys Candler School of Theology.

While attending church with the former president of the most powerful nation in the world is an attraction, people are not necessarily packing churches to hear just any government leader teach Bible study, she said.

I think that especially when youre talking about the education of adults, one thing that is really important is a sense of authenticity, she said.

People most likely wanted to be close to someone who had such a spirit of integrity. Its such a powerful force that makes people want to come, listen and be present.

I cant teach like him

Kim Carter Fuller, the former presidents niece, began teaching Sunday school more often after Carter fell and broke his hip in 2019, although he still came in to teach a few times after that.

Fuller, a retired English teacher, said she occasionally uses lessons that her uncle taught but its a different spin on it because I cant teach like him, obviously. He put his own spin on all of that. Fuller said he was able to talk about places because he had visited those places when he was president and afterwards working with the Carter Center.

Fuller said her uncle knew the lessons being taught and had the information at this fingertips.

Shes not surprised people still come to Maranatha hoping to see her uncle.

Sometimes when they find out hes not teaching, they turn around and leave. Others stay for the lesson.

She said he often gave her advice. Sometimes he would send her an email after her lessons. He might write, Heres a good example of such and such, or show me how to pronounce things because some things in the Bible are hard to pronounce. Or he might say, I dont agree with how you did that, but if thats your take...

What made Jimmy Carter a good Sunday school teacher?

Hes passionate about the Bible and passionate about his faith, she said. I think he just thoroughly enjoys the studying of his faith.

This story comes from our partners at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For more on the news and events in metro-Atlanta and Georgia, visit AJC.com.
With the eyes of the world on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, an unprecedented number of potentially catastrophic conflicts are going under the radar, analysts have warned.

The International Rescue Committee earlier this month released its emergency watchlist for 2024, documenting the 20 countries at the greatest risk of security deterioration. These countries account for around 10% of the worlds population but around 70% of its displaced persons, along with approximately 86% of global humanitarian need.

The U.N. estimated in October that more than 114 million people were displaced by war and conflict worldwide. That figure is now likely higher.

IRC President and CEO David Miliband said that for many of the people his organization serves, this is the worst of times, as exposure to climate risk, impunity in an ever-growing number of conflict zones and spiraling public debt collide with diminishing international support.

The headlines today are rightly dominated by the crisis in Gaza. There is good reason for that  it is currently the most dangerous place in the world to be a civilian, Miliband said.

But the Watchlist is a vital reminder that other parts of the world are on fire as well, for structural reasons relating to conflict, climate and economy. We must be able to address more than one crisis at once.

Isabelle Arradon, research director at the International Crisis Group, told CNBC earlier this month that conflict fatalities globally are at their highest since 2000.

All the red flags are there, and on top of that, there is a shortage of means to resolve conflict. Theres a lot of geopolitical competition and less appetite for resolving these deadly conflicts, she added.

Sudan

No. 1 on the IRCs watchlist is Sudan, where fighting erupted in April 2023 between the countrys two military factions, and internationally brokered peace talks in Saudi Arabia yielded no solution.

The conflict has now expanded into large-scale urban warfare that is garnering minimal international attention and poses a serious risk of regional spillover, the IRC said, with 25 million people in urgent humanitarian need and 6 million displaced.

The Rapid Support Forces  led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti) and allegedly supported by the UAE and Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar  has expanded a multipronged offensive from the conflicts epicenter in the capital of Khartoum, leaving a trail of alleged atrocities in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF reportedly pushed into central Sudan for the first time in recent days, prompting further mass exoduses of people from areas previously held by the Sudanese Armed Forces.

The ICGs Arradon told CNBC that alongside the ongoing risk of further mass atrocities in Darfur is the possibility of an all-out ethnic conflict that draws in more armed groups from the region.

Peace initiatives are very limited right now. Clearly, at the global level, there is a lot of distraction, and so the situation in Sudan is one where I dont think theres enough serious engagement right now at a high level for cease-fire negotiations, and so there needs to be a greater push, she said.

The flow of refugees into neighboring South Sudan and Ethiopia, themselves blighted by internal conflict, the effects of climate change and extreme economic hardship, amplifies the risks of spillover, analysts believe.

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda

Last weeks chaotic election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo marked just the start of a new electoral cycle that will continue through 2024 against a brittle backdrop.

Voting was marred by long delays at polling stations, with some failing to open all day and voting extended into Thursday in some areas of the massive mineral-rich country with 44 million registered voters.

Several opposition candidates called for the election to be canceled, the latest controversy after a campaign blighted by violence as 18 candidates challenged incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi for the leadership.

Partial preliminary results suggest Tshisekedi is well ahead in the vote, but the government on Tuesday banned protests against the election that were called for by five opposition candidates.

The political turbulence comes amid ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC and widespread poverty, and precedes further regional elections early next year.

The likely prolonged contestation of the results, born out of long-held suspicions among Tshisekedis fragmented opposition about the independence of the electoral commission, could set off further conflict with implications for the wider region, crisis analysts believe.

Were very concerned about the risk of a serious crisis. We saw in 2018 already how the contestation of the vote was a big problem, but now we have on top of that M23 [rebels], backed by Rwanda, that is increasing its fighting and coming very close to [the city of] Goma, Arradon said.

M23 rebels reappeared in the province of North Kivu in eastern DRC in November 2021, and have been accused by human rights groups of multiple apparent war crimes since late 2022 as they expand their offensive.

Neighboring Rwanda has allegedly deployed troops to eastern Congo to provide direct military support to M23, stoking tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa, and prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to repeatedly voice concern about the risk of a direct confrontation.

The combination of a fractured and distrustful political backdrop, an ongoing armed rebellion and extreme socioeconomic pressures render the region fertile ground for conflict next year.

Arradon described the situation in the DRC and other active and potential conflict zones around the world as catastrophic.

DRC, were talking about 6 million displaced. If you look at Myanmar, of course youve got this huge population in Bangladesh of displaced Rohingyas, and also displaced within Myanmar itself, she said.

Weve never seen so many people on the move globally, largely due to conflict. Its not just people on the move, its the fact that often civilian populations live side by side with armed groups, and thats the case in Myanmar, thats the case in the east of DRC, also in Sudan, in the west and Darfur.

Image: TOPSHOT-MYANMAR-COUP-CONFLICT-WOMEN (STR / AFP - Getty Images)

Myanmar

The civil war in Myanmar has been underway since a February 2021 military coup, and subsequent brutal crackdown on anti-coup protests, set off an escalation of long-running insurgencies from ethnic armed groups throughout the country.

Government forces have been accused of indiscriminate bombing, and both the IRC and ICG fear the tactics may be ramped up in 2024 as ethnic armed groups and resistance forces have made significant gains in the north of the country.

The military currently faces challenges from an alliance of three ethnic armed groups in northern Shan state, along with one of the countrys largest armed groups in the northwestern Sagaing region and smaller resistance forces in Kayah state, Rakhine state and along the Indian border in the west.

For first time in decades, military will have to fight numerous, determined and well-armed opponents simultaneously in multiple theatres; it may double down on brutal efforts to reverse tide on battlefield, including scorched-earth tactics and indiscriminate bombing in coming weeks, the ICGs latest CrisisWatch report assessed.

The Sahel

Countries across the Sahel have experienced a series of military coups in the past couple of years, partly in response to heightened instability as governments struggle to tackle Islamist militant insurgencies spreading throughout the region.

The Sahel encompasses north-central Africas semiarid belt between the Sahara Desert and savanna regions, and includes Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal.

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Chad have all endured coups and severe instability in the last three years. ICGs Arradon said security issues had been deepened by the fallout from civil war in Libya to the north, which saw a deluge of weapons move south to supply armed groups in countries with large proportions of their populations in peripheries that have felt neglected.

So this overall security context of populations feeling neglected, plus easy access to weapons, has indeed created a growing security risk in the Sahel region, and the dissatisfaction from these populations has grown, she added.

... and many more

Alongside these, the ICG also has grave concerns about potential outbreaks of armed conflict in Haiti, Guatemala and Ethiopia, along with the well-documented risk of a Chinese incursion into Taiwan and its global geopolitical implications.
Both Andrew Malkinson and John McCarthy have been deprived of their liberty. One spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, the other was held hostage for more than five years.

When he was invited to guest edit Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Malkinson asked to meet Mr McCarthy. Face-to-face they discussed the "shock and surreality" of having been prisoners.

Short presentational grey line

From the confines of his British prison cell, Andrew Malkinson would lose himself in astronomy books.

"What's it like to be a light beam, travelling for over 1,000 years to get somewhere?" he would wonder.

He said reading would offer some brief escape from the grim reality of being behind bars after being wrongfully convicted of rape.

"You can bang on the walls, you can scream and it won't make any difference... so you retreat into your own mental space," the 57 year old said.

He was released in 2020 on a strict life licence, but it would take another three years until he was finally cleared by the Court of Appeal. Advances in forensic testing had linked another man to the crime.

Andrew Malkinson was cleared by the Court of Appeal after new DNA evidence was discovered

Books were more of a rarity for John McCarthy, a journalist who was held hostage in Lebanon between 1986 and 1991. But, occasionally, one would land in his cell with a welcome thud.

Once his captors had left, he was allowed to pull his blindfold down and would eagerly take a look. "If you got a thick book, that would be brilliant," he said.

At one point he got the novel Vanity Fair, which he described as "a treasured possession". Mr McCarthy and his cellmate Brian Keenan eagerly read the hefty tome as quickly as possible, knowing it could be snatched away again at any moment.

"To lose yourself into a story was amazing," he said.

Less popular was a copy of "The Complete Guide to Breastfeeding". "I think Brian read it, I'm afraid I didn't," Mr McCarthy explained.

'This cannot be happening to me'

During their conversation, Mr Malkinson and Mr McCarthy discussed how surreal it felt to be held prisoner while knowing they had done nothing wrong.

Both men described repeatedly thinking, "this cannot be happening to me".

As the civil war in Lebanon escalated, Mr McCarthy had been trying to get to the airport to fly home when he was bundled out of the car at gunpoint by Islamic Jihad militants.

He described how his initial "bubble of denial" was punctured by "a sense of dread and shock" once he was left alone in a filthy underground cell.

"I realised there is no handle on the inside of a cell door... and that really hit me," he said.

Even though Mr Malkinson knew why he was being arrested, he said he recognised that same sense of bewilderment.

"I said to myself, 'this is going to end soon - it has to, they've got the wrong guy'."

That was in 2003 when he was 37 - it would take 17 years for him to be released.

During the interview, Mr McCarthy said he had been struck by the fact it was Mr Malkinson's olive skin which helped make him a police suspect, while Mr McCarthy's blonde hair had been the reason he was targeted, according to a guard he once asked.

Mr Malkinson's conviction had hinged on identity evidence, including being picked out of a video parade he had volunteered to take part in.

"My blonde hair and your darker skin put us in the frame for total shock and surreality," said Mr McCarthy.

The Court of Appeal's decision to clear Mr Malkinson came after DNA evidence - found by charity Appeal in 2021 following advances in science - implicated another man in the crime. No forensic evidence had linked Mr Malkinson to the attack.

'I'm happier when I'm not here'

As the years passed for Mr McCarthy he "desperately thought of getting back to London, to the Home Counties, to family and friends".

"England was my choice of destination," he explained to Mr Malkinson.

"But that's because I got away from them [the kidnappers]. You were still here [in the UK] and they were still trying to deny you the justice that you were after."

In contrast, for Mr Malkinson, being released did not feel like a homecoming.

"I don't hate this country, but it doesn't feel like home to me, it feels like I've been betrayed very badly," he explained.

Despite his release in 2020, he still felt the weight of being a convicted sex offender until he was finally cleared this year.

"You're walking the streets but you're far from free," he said.

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Andrew Malkinson is guest editor of BBC Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programme on 29 December.

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Mr McCarthy had never left Europe before his fateful foreign assignment to Lebanon in 1986 - whereas by the time Mr Malkinson was arrested in 2003, he had travelled extensively and used those memories to keep him going.

In prison, he dreamt of his travels in South East Asia and told himself he would return to Railay Beach in Thailand.

"I'd revisit it in my mind when I was incarcerated [and think] 'I have to go back there. If I ever get evidence to prove I'm innocent, I'm going' - and it helped."

Now his conviction has been overturned, travelling to far-flung places is back on the cards, though he is still waiting for his government compensation.

Ministers said they would end the practice of deducting prison board and lodging costs from pay-outs after a public outcry after he was cleared. But Mr Malkinson told Today the compensation rules were "still grossly unfair" as the change did not apply to people affected by earlier miscarriages of justice.

"I'm happier when I'm not here," he said, having just returned from camping in a pine forest in Turkey. "It feels a bit easier [to be away] I can breathe."
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)
Maine pitched the 2024 election into deeper chaos and constitutional confusion Thursday by becoming the second state to throw Donald Trump off the ballot over the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot.

The move from the Maine secretary of state  following a similar decision from the Colorado Supreme Court earlier this month  worsened a growing crisis for Trumps campaign and strengthened the rationale for the US Supreme Court to take up the issue, arising from the 14th Amendments insurrectionist ban. It has already exacerbated the havoc already surrounding the election and could cement ever wider national divides.

The increasing uncertainty urgently needs a resolution, with Iowa poised to kick off voting in the Republican nominating race on January 15 and other key ballot deadlines looming. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, paused her decision pending a potential appeal in state court, which Trumps team said they intend to file.

The decision came on the same day that Trumps ascendant rival in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley, tried to stop her gaffe over slavery from turning into a momentum-killer.

The idea that a presidential candidate cannot plainly state in 2023 that the enslavement of humans is what tore the country apart more than 160 years ago is stunning in itself.

But the drama surrounding the former South Carolina governor less than three weeks before voting starts is also having the effect of easing the scrutiny on Trump  who has caused many more scandals and outrages during his gravity-defying political career, many of which are related to the 2020 election denialism behind his swirling legal exposure.

Maines decision only deepened the unprecedented legal and political tangle surrounding the 2024 campaign  all of which stems from Trumps refusal to accept defeat and his historic challenge to the fabled US transfer of power. After all, two states have now found that a former president engaged in an insurrection against the US government  an unheard of state of affairs at any other moment in history.

The controversy, however, also raises new questions over whether efforts to make Trump pay for January 6 are justified on the grounds of protecting Americas democracy from a uniquely pernicious challenge or could backfire politically against President Joe Biden and Democrats next fall. The multiple criminal charges Trump is facing have tended to hike his popularity among base voters even if his wild anti-democratic conduct in 2020 could be a major general election liability.

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie told CNN This Morning on Friday that actions like those in Colorado and Maine make the former president a martyr.

While there may be  people may think theres a justification for doing this, its not good in our democracy. In the end, Donald Trump should be defeated by the voters at the polls and defeated by someone like me, who is willing to tell the truth about him, he said.

Democracy is sacred

Bellows wrote in her decision that the circumstances were so outlandish that the Constitution left her no choice but to disqualify the Republican front-runner from the ballot.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows said. Democracy is sacred  I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

Trumps team lashed out in response, with the former president demanding that the country protect the the exact foundational American privilege that he tried to destroy three years ago  the right of voters to choose their president.

We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, Trumps campaign said in a statement. Democrats in blue states are recklessly and un-Constitutionally suspending the civil rights of the American voters by attempting to summarily remove President Trumps name from the ballot.

The claim is richly ironic, since Trump is still denying the result of the 2020 election, which was followed by his attempt to disenfranchise voters, including in key swing states that voted for Biden. Trumps false claims of voter fraud were thrown out of multiple courts and denigrated by his administration. But that has not stopped him from putting them at the center of his 2024 campaign, which has become a vehicle for accusing Biden of the very transgression which Trump perpetrated  election interference.

The dramatic news from Maine also emerged hours after an exclusive CNN report revealed fresh details of the extent of the ex-presidents election meddling in early 2021. Recordings showed that Trump advisor Kenneth Chesebro said the Trump camp got freaked out that fake elector ballots were stuck in the mail days before Congress was due to certify the result of the election. Arrangements were swiftly made to get them to Washington on January 5 to bolster a scheme to declare Trump the rightful president in which then-Vice President Mike Pence refused to participate.

The new evidence further undermined Trumps latest and increasingly far-fetched legal defense  that his frantic efforts to stay in the White House in fact represented a proper use of presidential power to protect voters after a fraudulent election.

Haley fights to stabilize her campaign

The ever-widening reverberations of Trumps behavior in 2020 unfolded Thursday alongside another extraordinary controversy  over Haleys failure to name slavery as the cause of the US Civil War.

Haleys misstep  and her somewhat clumsy efforts to clean it up  revived unflattering criticisms that have trailed her during her career, including an impression that on issues like race and the Civil War, she has often equivocated about historys truths for her own political gain.

The controversy is also a reminder of the scrutiny of a presidential campaign since it came in her first event back on the campaign trail after her Christmas break and is allowing her rivals to argue that shes not ready for the biggest political stage. While her comments may not be a big deal in deep red state primaries, they could complicate her effort to win over independent voters who can join the GOP primary in New Hampshire and who she needs to help her trim Trumps lead in the polls. The Granite State has a proud record of sending regiments to fight the Confederacy in the Civil War.

Haleys rivals tried to capitalize on her discomfort. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who earlier this year was stuck in a controversy over the teaching of slavery in his states schools, declared that she is not a candidate thats ready for prime-time.

The minute that she faces any type of scrutiny, she tends to cave, he said.

And Christie seized on her troubles to bolster his refusal to bow out of the race. Ill make it easy for you. If someone asked me what the cause of the Civil War was  Its easy, its slavery, Christie said in New Hampshire on Thursday. Ive been really fair to Nikki, but let me say this, shes smart, he added. She didnt say what she said last night and today about this because shes dumb. Shes not. Shes smart, and she knows better.

What the Trump legal morass and Haleys troubles have in common

Haleys troubles and Trumps legal morass tell a tale about the modern Republican Party.

Haleys refusal to talk openly about the obvious, historic implications of slavery appeared to be an attempt to appease hardline conservative voters in a party that has marched far to the right in recent years. She has been similarly reticent to openly confront Trump over his attempt to overturn US democracy in 2020, apparently to avoid alienating voters who have bought into the ex-presidents falsehoods about the election.

While Haleys discomfort is far from over, Trumps legal shadow is also darkening though his campaign is taking steps to challenge his ballot disqualifications.

The Republican Party in Colorado has already challenged the state Supreme Courts decision to bar him from the ballot over the 14th Amendment.

In Maine, the Trump campaign said it would quickly file a case in state court to stop the atrocious decision from taking effect.

But Bellows argued that she had the authority to disqualify Trump over his conduct.

The oath I swore to uphold the Constitution comes first above all, and my duty under Maines election laws  is to ensure that candidates who appear on the primary ballot are qualified for the office they seek, she said. Bellows wrote that the challengers presented compelling evidence that the January 6 insurrection occurred at the behest of Trump  and that the US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government.

Before Colorado, several other states, like Michigan and Minnesota, rejected similar efforts. And Californias secretary of state released a certified list of candidates Thursday night that included the former president. The fact that different states now have a divergent view of the Constitution and Trumps eligibility to run again means that it is almost incumbent on the US Supreme Court to step in, even if wading into this political tsunami could further expose an institution that has been battered politically in recent years to further strain.

Two key questions will be before the justices. First, whether the constitutional ban on insurrectionists holding office also applies to the president. Second, the top bench will be under pressure to rule on whether a single state can simply decide that a candidate engaged in an insurrection without offering them due process.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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"What's in the best interest of the country would be to pardon him so that we can move on as a country and no longer talk about him," Nikki Haley said of former President Donald Trump. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images; Scott Olson via Getty Images

Nikki Haley says she would pardon former President Donald Trump if elected president.

Haley was formerly Trump's ambassador to the UN. She's now challenging Trump for the GOP nomination.

Haley said it wasn't in the country's best interest "to have an 80-year-old man sitting in jail."

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley says she'd pardon Donald Trump if she wins in 2024.

"I would pardon Trump if he is found guilty," Haley said at a campaign event in New Hampshire on Thursday, per NBC News.

"A leader needs to think about what's in the best interest of the country," Haley continued. "What's in the best interest of the country is not to have an 80-year-old man sitting in jail, that continues to divide our country."

Haley added that pardoning Trump would allow the country to break clean from the embattled former president.

"What's in the best interest of the country would be to pardon him so that we can move on as a country and no longer talk about him," Haley told the audience.

Haley had served as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018. She is now vying for the GOP presidential nomination with her ex-boss.

Haley's remarks on Thursday were in line with what she had previously said about Trump's legal troubles.

"When you look at a pardon, the issue is less about guilt and more about what's good for the country," Haley said in a radio interview in June, adding that she "would be inclined" to pardon Trump.

Trump, who is the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, has been indicted in four separate prosecutions. He faces 91 criminal counts, ranging from election interference to falsifying business records.

Haley isn't the only GOP presidential candidate who has offered to pardon Trump if elected.

Fellow presidential hopeful and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that he didn't think "it would be good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president go to prison."

"At the end of the day, it's like, do we want to move forward as a country? Or do we want to be mired in these past controversies?" DeSantis said in an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show in July.

Representatives for Haley and Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Nordic workers took on Elon Musk in 2023. Heres what could happen next

What began nine weeks ago with a group of mechanics in Sweden demanding that Tesla agree to collective bargaining has evolved into a broader fight for the Nordic regions way of work and life.

The stakes are high, too, for the carmaker and its CEO Elon Musk, the worlds richest man.

Bowing to union pressure in Sweden could embolden Tesla (TSLA) workers in Germany  home to the companys only European factory  who, likewise, want a collective agreement on pay and other terms of employment. It could also fire up unionization efforts by Teslas US workforce.

For labor unions across the Nordics  a region encompassing Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland  the tussle with Tesla and Musk, a vocal critic of unions, is existential.

If a large international company is allowed to (impose itself) on the Swedish labor market and not sign a collective agreement, then whats to say that other companies in the future will accept this (existing) model? Jesper Petersson, a spokesperson for IF Metall, which represents the Tesla mechanics, told CNN.

For more than a century, Nordic labor unions have helped set their members terms of employment by negotiating with employers and signing collective bargaining agreements.

According to the most recent data from the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on average, 83% of all workers in the five countries are covered by such negotiations.

Governments in the Nordics prefer collective bargaining to legislating a minimum wage, which exists in most other European nations.

But a Tesla subsidiary in Sweden refused to sign a collective agreement with IF Metall. In response, some of the 120 mechanics employed by Tesla to service its cars in the country went on strike in late October and have not returned to work. The union declined to say how many mechanics were still on strike.

The role of collective agreements in Swedens labor market is fundamental and profound, according to Mikael Hansson, an associate professor specializing in labor law at the countrys Uppsala University.

So a wave of sympathy strikes has followed. Swedish dockworkers have blocked deliveries of Tesla cars at the countrys ports, electricians have refused to service charging stations, and postal workers have even stopped delivering license plates. This is insane, was Musks response to the latter development.

An IF Metall banner saying "We demand a collective agreement!" displayed outside a Tesla service center in Segeltorp, Sweden, on December 5. - Erik Flyg/Bloomberg/Getty Images

By early December, unions representing dockworkers in Denmark, Norway and Finland had announced plans to block all exports of Tesla cars to Sweden from their ports.

IF Metall is paying the striking mechanics up to 130% of their usual wages, including contributions to their pensions and vacation funds, said Petersson at the union.

We are prepared to go on (for) as long as it takes.

Investors back the workers

Swedish workers have fought  and won  this battle before. Toys R Us attempted to resist collective bargaining when it arrived in the country in 1995, but relented following three months of industrial action, which included sympathy strikes.

This time, Nordic investors have also joined the fray. A group of 16 institutional investors, including pension funds and asset managers , urged Tesla in a letter, sent earlier this month and seen by CNN, to respect the regions tradition of collective bargaining and expressed deep concern over the companys attitude to unions.

PensionDanmark, a Danish fund, which co-signed the letter , has voted with its feet. It announced earlier this month that it had sold its $70 million stake in the carmaker, citing Teslas very categorical denial of collective agreements.

Laura Carlson, a law professor at Stockholm University, cant recall another case of a divestment aimed at upholding the Nordic regions labor traditions. And she thinks Tesla is unlikely to prevail in its attempt to bypass them.

Collective agreements are the foundation of labor law in Sweden, she told CNN.

Hansson at Uppsala University agrees.

I have difficulty seeing the trade unions lose. They have invested too much. They really cant lose this battle, he said.

Tesla told CNN in a statement that its employees are rewarded with fair terms and working conditions. This is why Tesla, like many other companies, has chosen not to enter into a collective agreement, it added, declining to answer specific questions.

Next stop Germany?

The stakes are relatively low for Tesla in Sweden.

The country represented just over 6% of Teslas sales in Europe in the first 10 months of the year, according to Matthias Schmidt, an independent auto market analyst.

The bigger risk to the companys bottom line lies further south, in Germany, a country that accounted for almost 20% of its European sales over the same period, based on Schmidts data, and where the automaker has a factory capable of producing 375,000 cars a year for customers across the continent.

German law makes it prohibitively hard for workers to strike in solidarity with those elsewhere, but sympathy action in the Nordics may act as a catalyst for Teslas German workers to join local unions, Schmidt said.

For more than a year, workers at the Berlin plant have complained of grueling work schedules, staff shortages and strict production targets, according to Markus Sievers, a spokesperson for IG Metall, Germanys biggest labor union.

He declined to say how many of the plants reported 11,000 workers had joined his union, but noted that it was adding members quickly, and that a lot had signed up this year.

We are not yet at the point where we can arrange for a strike, he told CNN. We are still building up strength (in numbers).

A demand on some of IG Metall members lips? A collective agreement, according to the union.

The German trade unions are waiting for Tesla to give in, said Hansson of Uppsala University. And then they have a strong argument: If you can make an exception in Sweden, then (you can make) an exception in Germany.

The road ahead

For Tesla and Musk, negotiating with unions would mean losing face.

The worlds biggest maker of electric cars has crushed several efforts by its US workforce to unionize. The countrys National Labor Relations Board has accused Tesla of interrogating, disciplining and discriminating against implicated workers.

Musk himself has made no secret of his disdain for unions. The federal agency has directed him to delete a 2018 tweet that hinted Tesla employees would lose their stock options if they formed a union.

More recently, he told the New York Times: I disagree with the idea of unions, adding that he thought they naturally try to create negativity in a company.

But protections for organized labor in the United States are much weaker than in Europe.

Carlson at Stockholm University said a realistic alternative to entering into a collective agreement in Sweden would be for Tesla to hire a contractor, which would then sign such an agreement. That would allow Musk to keep the union at arms length.

Amazon (AMZN) did something similar when it entered the Swedish market in 2020, contracting a German-Swiss logistics firm already signed up to a collective agreement with the Swedish Transport Workers Union to operate its warehouse in the country.

Emma Hansson, an IF Metall executive, stands on strike outside Tesla's service center in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 27. - Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/Reuters

For now, Tesla has dug in. Earlier this month, it advertised for a role in Nordic legal and government affairs  specifically, someone with a proven track record of getting regulatory changes made in the region.

The successful candidate will help ensure political, regulatory and fiscal frameworks in the Nordics support Teslas mission, according to the advert posted on LinkedIn.

For Carlson, the new role shows ignorance of the Swedish context.

That shows a complete lack of understanding with respect to what the system (of collective bargaining) is about, and with respect to how foundational it is in Swedish society  not just in the legal system, she said.

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A loyalist protest at a Catholic girls school in north Belfast in 2001 was a sign of a deeper malaise in Northern Ireland according to Bertie Ahern, new archives show.

Officials who compiled documentation of efforts to resolve the protest also noted criticisms of DUP MP for Belfast North Nigel Dodds for his actions, and said that then First Minister David Trimbles efforts were integral.

For months in 2001, locals at Holy Cross primary school in north Belfast stood outside the school as girls and parents walked in

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern talks with Father Aidan Troy, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Holy Cross Primary School, Ardoyne, Northern Ireland, at Government buildings in Dublin (Chris Bacon/PA)

The protest began following a clash in June 2001 as a man collected his child.

He was, according to nationalists, attacked by loyalists when he objected to them putting up paramilitary flags on the Ardoyne Road, a briefing note stated.

Efforts to resolve the issue over the summer break failed, and the protests resumed in the autumn.

Loyalists said they were protesting because of attacks on their community, which they claimed were prompted by the larger Catholic population and wanted better security in the Ardoyne area as a result.

The note from November said: The hate-filled aggression the loyalist protesters showed to the primary school girls and their families has disturbed, dismayed, and angered people throughout Northern Ireland and in the wider world beyond.

On October 18 2001, Fr Aidan Troy had an hour-long meeting with Mr Ahern in which he discussed the impasse over the protest, which had been ongoing for months.

Fr Troy, parish priest of Ardoyne and chair of the board of governors of the Holy Cross school, said that there were around 20 people on both sides of the road in the morning, and 60-70 people on each side in the afternoon.

An armed policeman by his vehicle, as security was tightened for the ongoing Loyalist protest against catholic schoolchildren going to Holy Cross Primary School in North Belfast (Paul Faith/PA)

A hard core of local residents took part in the protests and there was also a sinister loyalist paramilitary involvement, as well as people from other loyalist areas taking part, according to notes taken of the meeting.

Fr Troy said that some residents from Glenbryn, the protestant and loyalist area around the school, expressed support for his work, usually anonymously because of the climate of fear surrounding those who opposed the protest.

He said that some children and parents had been subjected to abuse including balloons filled with dog excrement and urine, scalding water, stones and a blast-bomb.

A blast bomb attack had taken place the day before the meeting on Alliance Avenue.

Of the 220 pupils at the school, 35 were stressed and receiving counselling and medication, and 10 had been transferred to other schools.

The priest expressed concern that the protest could drag on indefinitely, as it was a no-cost effort from protesters, and said this could put an intolerable strain on the school community.

He also said that there was a leadership vacuum in Glenbryn, which was an impediment to progress, and the referral to a committee of 14 people with no common agenda made it difficult to find a resolution.

Fr Troy also said that while he appreciated the work of police to protect children on the way to school, he was unhappy that protesters were allowed to be so close that they were able to spit at the children and was confused as to why armed soldiers faced towards the parents and children.

Mr Ahern said that the root causes of the protests were a symptom of a deeper malaise within Northern Ireland.

Protestant residents protest behind an RUC cordon as they demonstrate against pupils and parents making their way to the Holy Cross Girls School in Belfast (John Giles/PA)

He offered to raise the issue during a meeting with the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair the next day, but said that genuine progress could only be achieved through engagement and agreement at local level.

Fergal Mythen, an Irish official in the Security Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs, compiled the notes of the meeting on October 22 2001.

In notes taken by the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat, dated November 21, it said Fr Troy was reasonably confident of an end or suspension to the protest ahead of a meeting with Mr Trimble and deputy first minister Mark Durkan.

Mr Dodds, who was to chair a meeting of residents at Stormont, was noted as a sign of a possible deal, as Dodds has sat on the loyalist fence on may issues and is not known to stick his neck out unduly.

In a briefing dated November 26, it called Mr Trimble and Mr Durkans meeting with Glenbryn residents the previous week, as well as a prompt follow-up letter instrumental in creating the climate for a discontinuation of the protest.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2023/53/67.
China announced on Friday, December 29, that Dong Jun, a former head of the navy, will be taking over as defense minister, succeeding the previous minister who vanished from public view four months ago.

Legislators in China made the appointment at a time when President Xi Jinping is bolstering the military in an effort to elevate China to the status of global power, something that has worried many of the nation's neighbors.

China's New Defense Minister

Meeting with members of foreign militaries and the media on behalf of the People's Liberation Army is part of the defense minister's crucial job description in China.

Dong, 62, is well-versed in the ins and outs of the South China Sea and Taiwan, two hotspots that he must constantly monitor and negotiate with the United States military in order to keep tensions down, as reported by Reuters.

He held the position of deputy commander of the East Sea Fleet until becoming leader of the People's Liberation Army Navy and was promoted to full general in 2021. The fleet is the foundation of the current Eastern Theatre Command, the primary combat force over Taiwan, an island that China claims as its own.

The Southern Theatre Command, which conducts operations in the contested South China Sea--a region that China claims for the most part--was under his supervision as vice commander.

According to Li Mingjiang, an expert in international relations from Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies, "Dong would be familiar with managing near-encounters between Chinese and US military. This is useful when he has to manage crises between both militaries."

Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist and non-resident associate at the Global China Hub of the Atlantic Council, said the appointment of Dong may indicate that the Rocket Force and Equipment Development Department is now undergoing purges.

Both of the previous defense ministers, who were appointed from these two branches, are now completely out of the public eye.

See Also: South China Sea Dispute: Philippines Denies China's 'Provoking Claims,' Condemns Beijing's Behavior

Replacing Li Shangfu

Dong takes over for Li Shangfu, who was director of the department responsible for research and equipment acquisition until becoming defense minister in March. After August 25, Li disappeared from public view. As per Reuters' stated sources, Li is facing corruption charges involving equipment development and acquisition.

In October, Beijing removed Li from his positions as defense minister and state councilor, but the Chinese capital has provided no explanation for his departure.

Li did not get the opportunity to meet with his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his short time as minister. The government agency detailed the process by which the US would have to lift the sanctions imposed on Li in 2018 in response to his involvement in the acquisition of Russian military hardware.

Dong would not be subject to such a restriction since he is not believed to be a target of US sanctions.

See Also: 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.
Russia has launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian military told CNN, with an unprecedented number of drones and missiles fired at targets across the country, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 150 others.

The wave of attacks began overnight into Friday and struck nationwide, with blasts reported in the capital Kyiv, as well as at a maternity hospital in the central city of Dnipro, the eastern city of Kharkiv, the southeastern port of Odesa, and the western city of Lviv, far from the frontlines.

The strikes continued Friday afternoon, Ukraines air force said, as a barrage of missiles targeted the northern Cherkasy region, with one hitting the city of Smilla. Other missiles were detected from Russias Kursk region heading towards the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy.

Its been a long time since we have seen so many enemy targets on our monitors in all regions and all directions, Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraines air force, told national television. Everything was being fired.

The attack drew condemnation from several western nations and from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

I condemn in the strongest terms the overnight large-scale missile & drone attack by Russia on Ukrainian cities & towns across the country, he wrote on X. Attacks against civilians & civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable & must end immediately.

Russia used 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles and Shahed drones, to strike targets in Kyiv, the east, south and west of the country, Ukraines air force said.

Today the enemy has struck a powerful blow. There are downed targets, however unfortunately there are also casualties, Ihnat added.

The Polish military reported an unidentified airborne object entered Polish airspace from Ukrainian territory early Friday morning.

Chief of the General Staff, General Wiesaw Kukua, said everything indicated that a Russian missile had entered and then left Polish airspace, official Polish news agency PAP reported.

Polish deputy foreign minister Wadysaw Teofil Bartoszewski has summoned the charge daffaires of the Russian Federation, Andrei Ordash, on Friday and handed him a note requesting an explanation, the Polish foreign ministry said in a statement.

But Russia said that it will not give explanations until concrete evidence is presented, Russias state media RIA Novosti reported.

Ordash told RIA Novosti that the note contained only unfounded accusations, adding that the Polish side refused to provide evidence that the missile was of Russian origin, RIA reported.

Congress must step up

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal in the terrorist strikes, to which he pledged Ukraines military would respond.

The massive overnight assault comes just days after Ukraine struck a Russian Navy landing ship in Crimea on Tuesday, causing severe damage to the vessel in another major blow to Moscows Black Sea fleet.

But the onslaught also came shortly after Ukraine received the last package of military aid from the United States until Congress approves the Biden administrations funding request.

On Friday, Biden called again on Congress to pass additional assistance to Ukraine, saying US-provided defense systems had intercepted many of the Russian drones and missiles launched Friday.

The American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom, and its independence, he wrote. But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay.

Biden has requested nearly $60 billion in new assistance for Ukraine, but the funding has stalled amid negotiations over toughening US immigration rules.

Nearly two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zelensky is facing a largely-stalled counteroffensive while Western aid has begun to dry up.

In a separate development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to troops fighting in one of the most fiercely contested parts of front, the ruined city of Avdiivka.

Video released by the Ukrainian Presidency showed Zelensky standing on a muddy track with the towns name behind him. As he speaks, two detonations in the distance are heard. He is also shown presenting medals to troops in an underground bunker.

Ukraine is defending its own here, he said. Defending our entire nation. Just as on the entire front line.

Workers clear the road near a maternity hospital in Dnipro that was destroyed by a Russian missile strike, December 29, 2023. - Thomas Peter/Reuters

A series of strikes

Russias ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya, claimed that Moscow was aiming for military targets and that its operation was not against civilians, even though Ukraine said many of the buildings struck were civilian, including at least two hospitals.

He boasted that Ukraine does not have the resources to achieve a breakthrough and claimed that its military plans are a total fiasco.

So very soon, you and your Ukrainian proxies can expect the very worst news, he warned.

In Kyiv at least seven people were killed and dozens injured after Russia targeted a metro station and residential buildings.

Kharkiv was hit by a massive attack, Ukrainian Prime Minster Denys Shmyhal said, with more than 20 strikes reported in the region, including on a hospital. At least three people were killed and 11 injured in the strikes, according to regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov.

At least four people were killed and 10 people were injured in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, the regional military administration head Yurif Malashko said on Telegram. Emergency workers are still working to see if people are trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Malashko said the region had been targeted by 10 missiles, including Kinzhal missiles, of which one was intercepted.

Further south, a school building was hit in Odesa, injuring seven people, including a child. At least three people were killed and 22 injured  including two children and a pregnant woman  in strikes elsewhere in the region, according to Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa region military administration. At least 18 people were hospitalized.

And in the central city of Dnipro, six people have been confirmed killed, and thirty people were injured in the missile strikes. Elsewhere in the city, 12 pregnant women and four newborn babies had a lucky escape, with video showing extensive damage to a maternity hospital after a Russian missile strike.

Among those who were killed on Friday was Viktor Kobzystyi, a celebrated basketball player in the country, who had played twice in the European Championships before becoming a leading coach, according to Ukrainian officials.

A 53-year-old primary school teacher, described by her colleague as a very energetic person, a great hard worker, and a loving mother, was also killed in Zaporizhzhia on Friday, local authorities said, with the education minister calling it a tragedy for the entire educational family.

Iryna Kulbach, the head of the obstetrics department at the hospital, said Windows were smashed in the building and the ceilings were broken. But all the patients and medical staff are safe.

Ukraines Foreign Ministry said Russia had targeted Ukrainian women, children, the elderly, and civilians.

The crimes that Russia has committed in Ukraine today are its revenge for its inability to turn the tide of the battle in the fight against the Ukrainian defense forces, it said in a statement.

Without referring directly to Fridays attacks, the Russian Defense Ministry said its army had carried out 50 group strikes and one mass strike with high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles in the period from December 23 to 29, claiming it had only struck military targets.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Kyiv warned Americans Friday that it anticipates there may be an increase in Russian drone and missile attacks during the New Year holiday weekend.

The head of Ukraines Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, called for support as his country battles Russian airstrikes.

A massive terrorist attack, rockets are flying at our cities again, and civilians are being targeted, Yermak said in a Telegram post on Friday.

Ukraine needs support. We will be even stronger, we are doing everything to strengthen our air shield. But the world needs to see that we need more support and strength to stop this terror.

Firefighters respond after a building was damaged following a Russian attack in Kyiv on December 29, 2023. - Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union will support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

We have stood by Ukraine since day one of Russias war of aggression. With almost 85 billion [$94 billion] in financial, humanitarian and military support, she wrote on X.

The latest proposed package of EU aid to Ukraine was blocked by Hungary earlier this month, but a majority of members are exploring the use of different mechanisms to continue providing financial assistance to Ukraine. Von der Leyen said Brussels was working very hard to reach an agreement between 27 member states.

Following the attacks the United Kingdoms defense minister Grant Shapps said the UK is sending hundreds of air defense missiles to Ukraine, to restock British gifted air defense systems capable of striking down Russian drones and missiles with incredible accuracy.

The house was shaking

The Ukrainian Air Force said it recorded the departure of 9 Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Olenya airfield in the Murmansk region of Russia. The Tu-95 bomber is a mainstay of Russias aerial attacks on Ukraine, able to launch cruise missiles against its neighbor out of the range of most air-defense systems.

In Kyiv, air raid sirens sounded for several hours overnight. Residents told CNN later Friday how they were woken by the attacks.

It was very loud, the house was shaking, it was very scary, said Viktoria Krasyuk. It seems like youve been living in this for many months, but it still causes emotions, its still very difficult, its very hard to decide whether to stay or go somewhere, or even leave (the country).

A man named Sehiy told CNN the attack was a reminder that Russias goal is the same  to destroy Ukraine as a state.

Unfortunately, Russia is learning to fight. It is learning to fight, including from us Ukrainians. They are accumulating ammunition, everything else they need, he said.

Smoke rises from a building damaged in Russia's missile attack in Kyiv, December 29, 2023. - Efrem Lukatsky/AP

A firefighter arrives at the scene of a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv, December 29, 2023. - Yevhen Titov/Reuters

Trains were halted as a building was damaged at Lukianivska subway station in central Kyiv, which is also operating as a shelter, mayor Klitschko said.

Many were wounded and a search for victims is underway after a warehouse caught fire in the Podilskyi district of the capital region, the head of Kyivs military administration, Serhiy Popko, said in a Telegram post.

In Lviv, which borders Poland, the head of the regional military administration said that at least 15 people had been injured, with damage reported in 13 residential buildings and two schools. The National Basketball Federation later announced that one of the countrys most celebrated basketball players, Viktor Kobzystyi, had died in the strikes on the city.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he wished the loud sound of explosions heard across Ukraine Friday morning could be heard all around the world.

In all major capitals, headquarters, and parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine. In all newsrooms, which are writing about fatigue or Russia purportedly being ready for negotiations, he wrote on X.

These sounds are what Russia really has to say. Our only collective response can and must be continued, robust, and long-term military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Only greater firepower can silence Russian terror.

CNNs Tim Lister, Radina Gigova, Catherine Nicholls and Jennifer Hansler contributed reporting.

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Burkina Faso's military ruler Capt Ibrahim Traore attended a Russia-Africa summit in July

Russia has reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso after it was shut more than 30 years ago, officials have said.

Burkina Faso was a close ally of former colonial power France, but has pivoted towards Russia since the military seized power in a coup in 2022.

The junta has expelled French diplomats and has shut France's military base in the country.

At the same time, it has been strengthening military and diplomatic ties with Russia.

France had condemned the coup in Burkina Faso, as well as in neighbouring Mali and Niger.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to reopen the embassy during the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg in July.

The embassy was closed in 1992 as Moscow reduced its involvement in Africa following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The embassy was reopened at a ceremony in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, Russia's state-owned news agency Tass reported.

Russia has not yet named the head of the mission.

Russia's ambassador to Ivory Coast, Alexei Saltykov, said he would head it until Mr Putin made an appointment, AFP news agency reports.

He described the West African state as "an old partner with whom we have solid and friendly ties".

Under Mr Putin, Russia has made a huge push in recent years to regain influence in Africa.

Burkina Faso's Defence Minister, Col Kassoum Coulibaly, held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow last month, in the latest meeting between military officials from the two countries.

Col Coulibaly said the talks had reached a "practical phase" as Burkina Faso's army tried to strengthen its capabilities.

Along with Mali and Niger, Burkina Faso has been battling an Islamist insurgency.

Mali's junta has called in Russia's Wagner mercenary group to help fight the militants while expelling French troops.

Burkina Faso's junta has denied allegations, made last year by Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, that it too has brought in Wagner.

In other areas of co-operation, Burkina Faso signed a deal with Russia in July for the construction of a nuclear power plant to increase its energy supply.

Less than a quarter of the country's population has access to electricity.

Last month, Russia also sent a team of doctors to help Burkina Faso deal with deadly outbreaks of dengue fever and chikungunya.
In a 1908 article, British artist, illustrator and costume designer Pamela Colman Smith shared how she thought paintings should be viewed. Learn from everything, see everything, and above all feel everything! Find eyes within, look for the door into the unknown country.

Smith could well have been describing how to use a deck of tarot cards. After all, she was responsible for creating the illustrations used in the worlds most popular tarot card design. In 1909, Smith and poet and mystic Arthur Waite met through a secret society known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Their mutual belief in spiritualism, rituals, symbolism and psychic practices led to them to join forces and create a tarot card deck, combining Waites concepts with Smiths Art Nouveau-style illustrations.

Sea Creatures by Pamela Colman Smith, painted in 1907. The artist brought her flair to the tarot cards she designed with Arthur Waite. - Alfred Stieglitz/Georgia O'Keeffe Archive, Yale Collection of American Literature/Taschen

Published in 1910, the cards are known today as the Waite-Smith or Rider-Waite-Smith deck (Smiths contribution was largely erased from the title and overshadowed by Rider, the name of the original publisher, until the 1990s) but a new edition published by Taschen, The Tarot of A.E. Waite and P. Colman Smith: The Story of the Worlds Most Popular Tarot, featuring both a complete deck of the original cards and a series of contextual essays about Smith, Waite and the decks creation, delves into the decks history, importance and popularity.

A tarot deck contains a pack of 78 illustrated cards, each depicting specific symbols and characters and originated in Italy during the 15th century. The Waite-Smith decks creation reflects an important cultural junction of the early 20th century, explained the books editor Johannes Fiebig, whose own relationship with studying tarot began more than 40 years ago. There was a positive sense of personal liberation, of living freely, more artfully (at this time), he said. Yet these uprisings were interrupted by the First and Second World Wars.

Pamela Colman Smith's illlustrations for her tarot deck took inspiration from symbols and characters that originated in Italy during the 15th century. - Public domain

In the 1970s, there was a resurgence of interest in tarot, and the Waite-Smith deck rose in popularity alongside feminist, anti-war and international human rights movements, explains Fiebig. Today, tarot is often used as a tool by people to understand themselves on a personal level, often through practices such as readings, interpreting dreams and selecting a card of the day.

Fiebig says that each card can be interpreted and seen differently depending on the individual. Tarot is an offer for people. Its more than just fortune telling, he said in an interview with CNN. You as the reader of the cards are invited to come in and have a dialogue with (the cards) image, and so it becomes a mirror.

The image itself then is crucial to any journey with tarot, and is a major clue to understanding the enduring popularity of the Waite-Smith deck. (Waite and Smith) were geniuses, but at the time, few people recognized that, said Fiebig.

A preliminary edition of the Waite-Smith tarot cards dating to 1909. - Courtesy Saskia Jansen/Taschen

Smiths own creativity was influenced by the colorful, international life she led. Born and raised in Manchester, England, she moved with her family to Jamaica as a child, before enrolling in a college in Brooklyn, New York, as a teenager. She later settled in London, and became intertwined in the capitals artistic scene, counting writers W.B. Yeats, Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling, and composer Claude Debussy among her contemporaries and fans of her work.

In an essay about Smith as part of the new book, author Mary K. Greer writes that Smiths artistic style  with its bold, vivid colors and intricate details  was influenced by factors including her exposure to Jamaican folktales and Japanese prints, and her involvement in theatrical performances and set design. Greer writes that Waite and Smith likely visited an exhibition of a 15th century Italian tarot deck at the British Museum in 1907, which inspired them both.

Arthur Waite was a poet and mystic who met Pamela Colman Smith at a secret society. A few years later the pair began working together on a tarot deck. - Alamy Stock Photo

The cards, created during the summer months of 1909, depict characters, motifs and symbols set against backdrops often associated with the English landscape, such as rolling hills and coastlines. The beauty of the illustrations, says Fiebig, is that their contents can be interpreted in myriad ways, with each card representing both a recommendation and a warning.

For example, the Hanged Man card is not necessarily something to fear, but can be seen as an opportunity to share, and the Star may not only represent light and purity, but also narcissism and rigidity. That is the wisdom of Pamela and Arthur, said Fiebig, referring to the quality of openness or blankness in the illustrations.

That openness has meant that the Waite-Smith deck has been reinterpreted numerous times, especially during the last decade, alongside an increasing interest in tarot practice. Creators have made decks with characters reflecting their own often-underrepresented communities across race, sexuality, gender, class, disability and more. Yet as tarot expert Rachel Pollack writes in an essay for the new book, these reinterpretations are almost always rooted in the designs, symbolism and motifs of the Waite-Smith deck.

The story of the world's most popular tarot is explored in a new book by Taschen. - courtesy Taschen

For Fiebig, the enduring attraction and appeal of the Waite-Smith deck stems from the cards ability to encourage people to encounter their own personal truths especially in times of crisis. Many people are unsatisfied with the given order and are looking for new ways of life, new identities, and new collective values, he said. People (want) answers. Its a sentiment that seems in keeping with Smiths original way in which she wanted art to be viewed: Learn from everything, see everything, and above all feel everything.

The Tarot of A. E. Waite and P. Colman Smith is published by Taschen and out now.

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The Biden administration has approved a new emergency weapons sale to Israel, again bypassing Congress, despite growing international calls for a cease-fire and U.S. pressure on Israel to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress he approved the $147.5 million sale Friday, the second time this month that the administration has bypassed the congressional process to approve an emergency sale to Israel.

"The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self defense capability," the State Department said in a statement.

The approval was for the sale of "M107 155mm projectiles and related equipment," the statement said.

President Joe Biden and top administration officials have firmly supported Israel's right to defend itself following the deadly Oct. 7 attacks in Israel border communities by the militant group Hamas, which killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 people hostage.

The U.S. has continued to supply weapons to Israel while urging the country to do more to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip, where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding.

An estimated 1.9 million people, about 85% of the population, have been displaced across the besieged enclave, some multiple times, the U.N.'s humanitarian affairs office said. Areas designated safe zones by the Israeli military have been bombarded by airstrikes.

Since the start of the war, more than 21,600 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Saturday. About 70% of those killed were reported to be women and children. More than 56,000 Palestinians have been injured and thousands more remain missing, many believed to be under rubble, according to the Health Ministry, which does not different between the deaths of militants and civilians. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said Saturday that 165 people were killed in the last 24 hours.

About 130 Israeli and foreign hostages remain in captivity in Gaza. Israel's military said Saturday that two of its troops were killed, bringing the total to 170 military deaths since the start of Israel's ground invasion.

A picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment on Dec. 30, 2023, as battles between the Palestinian Hamas movement and Israel continue.

Developments:

 Israeli strikes hit two the urban refugee camps of Nuseirat and Bureij in central Gaza overnight and into Saturday.

 Thomas White, the director of affairs for the UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, said Israeli soldiers "fired at an aid convoy" as it was coming back from northern Gaza "along a route designated by the Israeli Army." White said none of the convoy's crew members were injured but added that the vehicle was damaged and that "aid workers should never be a target."

 At least 308 people taking shelter in UNRWA shelters have been killed and over 1,000 injured since Oct. 7, the agency said on Friday.

 A Palestinian rammed his car into four Israelis in the occupied West Bank, injuring them, the AP reported. The four people, all in their 20s, were struck near a military post in the southern West Bank.

Humanitarian crisis grows as Palestinians flee to Rafah

Amid intense bombardment and evacuation orders, tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled to Rafah, Gaza's southernmost area, as the Israeli military expands its operations in the region and citizens increasingly face dire living conditions.

According to the United Nations' humanitarian affairs office, at least 100,000 people seeking to be spared from bombardment have escaped into Rafah over the past few days. As of Dec. 20, there were more than 12,000 people per 0.6 miles, making Rafah the most densely populated area in the Gaza Strip.

People are using any empty space to build shacks, Juliette Touma, director of communications at UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, told the Associated Press. Some are sleeping in their cars, and others are sleeping in the open.

Last week, the U.N. warned of a report saying the entire population of Gaza faces acute hunger. Nearly one in four households are experiencing the most catastrophic phase of hunger, which is described as an extreme lack of food, leading to starvation, alarmingly high acute malnutrition rates among children under five, and significant excess mortality, according to the U.N.

US citizen accused of seeking to join terrorist group

A U.S. citizen inspired by Hamas and seeking to attack the United States was charged with attempting to provide support to a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization Al-Shabaab, federal prosecutors announced Friday.

Karrem Nasr, 23, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, was arrested Dec. 14 after flying from Egypt, where he was living, to Nairobi, Kenya, where prosecutors say he was planning to meet with Al-Shabaab members before traveling for training to Somalia, where the terror group is based.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Nasr was motivated by Hamas Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and had described America as evil and the head of the snake, according to Williams.

Karrem Nasr traveled across the globe in an alleged attempt to join the ranks of a foreign terrorist organization  an organization that has repeatedly expressed its desire to harm Americans around the world, said James Smith, assistant director of the New York FBI office.

The suspect was scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Friday. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

South Africa asks UN to order Israel to stop Gaza operation

South Africa launched a case Friday at the United Nations top court accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks.

According to South Africas submission to the International Court of Justice, acts and omissions by Israel . . . are genocidal in character as they are committed with the intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.

It also asks the Hague-based court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the government has rejected with disgust South Africa's allegations, calling it "blood libel." The statement said the case has no legal or factual basis and constitutes a vile exploitation and cheapening of the court. Israel also accused South Africa of cooperating with Hamas.

South Africa can bring the case under the Genocide Convention because both it and Israel are signatories to the convention.

-The Associated Press

UNICEF: Deadliest year on record for children in the West Bank

At least 83 children have been killed in the West Bank over the last three months, marking this year as the deadliest on record for children in the region, according to UNICEF.

"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," Adele Khodr, UNICEF's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement.

Violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has spiked to record levels since Oct. 7. The U.N. recorded 370 Israeli settler attacks in which at least 36 Palestinians have died. Israeli forces have injured 3,812 Palestinians, including at least 580 children since the start of the war, mostly during search-and-arrest operations, the U.N. said.

In early December, the U.S. government announced visa restrictions against those who engaged in violence in the West Bank. The decision followed weeks of U.S. officials urging the Israeli government to hold violent extremists accountable.

Biden reacts to death of US hostage killed by Hamas

President Joe Biden said he and the first lady were devastated to learn an American citizen believed to be a hostage in Gaza had actually died in the Oct. 7 attacks by militants.

The death of New York native Judih Weinstein, a 70-year-old citizen of the U.S., Israel and Canada, was announced Thursday by Kibbutz Nir Oz. Less than a week before, the kibbutz had said her husband, Gad Haggai, 73, was also killed in the Hamas rampage that started the war. Their bodies have not been returned.

I will never forget what their daughter, and the family members of other Americans held hostage in Gaza, have shared with me, Biden said in a statement. They have been living through hell for weeks. No family should have to endure such an ordeal.

Weinstein was a mother of four and grandmother of seven. She and her husband were attacked while out on an early-morning walk, but she managed to call emergency services and report they'd been shot. She also sent a message to her family.

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. She will be remembered for her compassion, her peaceful nature and the creative life she built with her husband.

 John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortiz

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war live updates: US sells Israel more weapons
An estimated 150,000 Palestinians are being forced to flee areas of central Gaza, the UN has said, as Israeli forces advance on refugee camps there.

Witnesses and Hamas's armed wing reported that tanks had reached the eastern outskirts of Bureij camp.

Israel's military recently expanded its ground offensive to target Bureij and nearby Nuseirat and Maghazi camps.

Israeli bombardment also killed dozens of people across Gaza on Thursday, the Hamas-run health ministry said.

Egypt has confirmed that it has put forward a three-stage proposal to stop the fighting which ends with a ceasefire.

A Hamas delegation is said to have arrived in Cairo to give its response to the plan.

The war was triggered by an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel on 7 October, in which 1,200 people were killed - most of them civilians - and about 240 others taken hostage.

More than 21,300 people have been killed in Gaza - mostly children and women - during 11 weeks of fighting, according to the health ministry.

The Israeli military has called for the evacuation of a strip of land stretching across central Gaza that includes Bureij and Nuseirat camps, and told the almost 90,000 residents and 61,000 displaced people in the affected areas to move southwards to the town of Deir al-Balah.

However, the UN warned on Thursday that they had nowhere to go because Deir al-Balah was already overcrowded, with several hundred thousand displaced people sheltering there.

The UN says that Rafah - which had already become the most densely populated town in Gaza - has seen about 100,000 new arrivals in recent days as Israeli ground forces have pushed into new neighbourhoods.

Omar, 60, said he had been forced to flee Bureij along with at least 35 members of his family.

"That moment has come, I wished it would never happen, but it seems displacement is a must," he told Reuters news agency by phone. "We are now in a tent in Deir al-Balah because of this brutal Israeli war."

Tom White, Gaza director for UN relief agency UNRWA, said more and more people were being pushed into the southern Gaza town of Rafah, "so more people into a very small strip of land that cannot support them".

On Thursday evening, Gaza's health ministry reported that 20 people had been killed in an Israeli air strike on a building in Rafah that was reportedly housing displaced civilians.

Map showing Israeli ground operations and evacuation zones in the central Gaza Strip (27 December 2023)

On Thursday morning, the ministry's spokesman announced that 50 people had been killed in Israeli strikes in Maghazi, the northern town of Beit Lahia and in the southern city of Khan Younis.

The deadliest incident was in Beit Lahia, where Palestinian media reported that 30 were killed when a block of four residential buildings was destroyed.

A local TV journalist, Bassel Kheir al-Din, told the Associated Press news agency that 12 members of his family were buried beneath the rubble of one of the buildings and presumed dead, and that nine of their neighbours were missing.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said 10 people had been killed when Israeli shellfire hit an apartment near al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis, a day after a similar incident in front of the facility reportedly left 31 dead.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters on Wednesday that the city was "a main Hamas terror centre".

He also said troops were fighting in the Bureij area for a third day, adding that they were "eliminating many terrorists and destroying terrorist infrastructure".

Residents told Reuters that the heavy fighting continued on Thursday, with Israeli tanks advancing on the densely populated Bureij camp from the north and east. Hamas posted a video showing what it said was its fighters targeting Israeli soldiers and vehicles.

In a separate development, the IDF said it regretted the "harm caused to uninvolved civilians" resulting from an air strike in Maghazi on Sunday that killed at least 70 people, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Its statement said fighter jets had "struck two targets adjacent to which Hamas operatives were located".

In Israel, thousands of teenagers took part in a march to demand a new deal to return the more than 100 hostages still being held by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. Many of the demonstrators were from the communities worst affected by the 7 October attacks.

"I'm from Kibbutz Kfar Aza," Shiri Khiyali told the BBC. "I was there on 7 October. My people were kidnapped. We want them back. We want them back now."

Separately, there was a new call from UN human rights chief Volker Turk urging Israel to stop what he called "unlawful" killings in the occupied West Bank.

A report said the UN had verified the killing of 300 Palestinians by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since 7 October.

A spokeswoman for Israel's prime minister dismissed the report as quite ridiculous and said it belittled the major security threats to Israelis.
The details underlying former President Trumps and Hunter Bidens prosecutions may be worlds apart, but both men are turning to an unlikely gambit in bids to have their cases tossed: arguing the cases themselves amount to unfair targeting.

Trump is facing charges over efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election, while Biden has been accused of failing to acknowledge drug use when purchasing a firearm.

But in both the men say they have been selectively and vindictively prosecuted, asking judges to dismiss their cases.

To Trump, the claim rests at the heart of his defense both in court and on the campaign trail, that his prosecution represents an effort to stymy his prospects as he seeks reelection.

To Biden, the gun charges brought after a previous plea deal evaporated show that special counsel David Weiss caved to pressure from House Republicans probing his ongoing investigation.

To lawyers, the move is a hail mary  one that courts are unlikely to bless.

Jeff Robbins, an attorney now in private practice who has served as both a federal prosecutor and a Senate investigative counsel, said defendants who file such a motion are fighting against long-standing practice giving prosecutors the power to determine who should face charges.

The standard is you begin with the strong presumption that prosecutors are permitted discretion in choosing who to prosecute and who not to prosecute. So anybody raising this argument begins with that presumption and the need to somehow overcome that, he said.

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Bidens legal team acknowledged the motion seldom succeeds, citing the difficulty of proving what is in the mind of prosecutors, but it said publicity around the case offers evidence on steroids to back the claim.

The announcement that this case would be resolved through a Diversion Agreement and a Plea Agreement drew a sharp rebuke from former President Trump (who appointed Mr. Weiss), extremist House Republicans, and the far-right media. They made it clear that they wanted Mr. Weiss to keep this litigation alive through the presidential election, they wrote.

Because the facts in the case did not change and the law only became more difficult for such prosecutions, the public record supports no conclusion other than Mr. Weiss changed his decision because he buckled under political pressure to bring more severe charges.

Trump, who has made similar claims of prosecutorial bias in his other prosecutions, has filed the motion only in his election interference case, which has been brought to a halt while the court system weighs another bid from him to toss it, arguing he is immune from prosecution as a former president.

Biden has thus far only filed the motion in his Delaware gun case, doing so before authorities brought significant tax crime charges against him in California.

Selective and vindictive prosecution motions are slightly different, though both men have said each applies to their circumstances.

Selective prosecution usually encompasses those who say they have been unfairly targeted, an argument often made on the basis of race or religion, as well as speech.

At a minimum, the burden on somebody raising that argument is going to be to show that there are extremely similar circumstances among two defendants or sets of defendants and the prosecution has pursued group A and not group B, Robbins said.

Vindictive prosecutions require a different test from the courts.

Vindictive prosecution requires essentially a showing that the government is retaliating against a defendant for exercising a constitutional right, something that could include increasing the severity of the charges, said Mary McCord, a former top Justice Department official who now runs Georgetowns Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection.

That dynamic makes for a difficult argument for Trump, whose prosecution lagged hundreds of others who were charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot and who is not facing the insurrection charges brought against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

In his motion, his team argues his efforts to offer an alternative slate of electors should not result in charges because there is a track record of similar, unprosecuted, efforts [that] dates back to 1800 and includes at least seven other elections.

The charges are also vindictive, Trumps team argues, because they are a straightforward retaliatory response to President Trumps decisions as Commander In Chief in 2020, his exercising his constitutional rights to free speech and to petition for the redress of grievances, and his decision to run for political office.

While Robbins said you virtually never see such motions be successful, he pointed to one recent case where defendants scored an initial win.

Anti-abortion activists who protested alongside Black Lives Matter protesters in Washington following the death of George Floyd in 2020 challenged their charges for defacement of public property after scrawling their viewpoints in sidewalk chalk.

The District may act to prevent the defacement of public property, but it cannot open up its streets and sidewalks to some viewpoints and not others. During the summer of 2020, the District arrested individuals chalking Black Pre-Born Lives Matter on the sidewalk, while making no arrests against the many individuals marking Black Lives Matter on sidewalks, streets, and other property, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals court ruled earlier this summer.

The Foundation has plausibly alleged that its members were similarly situated to individuals against whom the defacement ordinance was not enforced, and that the District discriminated on the basis of viewpoint when enforcing the ordinance, it added, referring to the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America, which organized the anti-abortion protest.

But the success of such motions typically kicks off more review, including the exchange of discovery to further vet the claim.

McCord said that may not be a favorable outcome for the former presidents selective prosecution motion.

For Trump, that doesnt really work because there is no one who is really similarly situated to him. The closest would be those that I dont think he wants to be compared to: the Jan. 6 defendants, she said.

In Bidens case, prosecutors have yet to respond, and its unclear whether the presidents son will make similar arguments in his pending tax case.

But in Trumps, prosecutors have vigorously denied he was improperly targeted, arguing the former president has failed to provide evidence the prosecution is an effort to hinder his electoral prospects, writing the incumbent president has no role in this case, and the career prosecutors handling this matter would not participate in this prosecution if it were otherwise.

They mocked Trumps team for turning to historical episodes dating back to the time of Thomas Jefferson to make their case and argued that none of the historical examples the defendant points to involved deceitful and corrupt efforts to defeat a government function.

Despite his search through history, prosecutors wrote, the defendant has not identified a similarly situated person.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Texas National Guard position themselves on the banks of the Rio Grande, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in El Paso.

The U.S. Department of Justice has threatened to sue to stop a new Texas law that allows state police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border  unless Gov. Greg Abbott backs off of enforcing the law.

The new law, known as Senate Bill 4, is unconstitutional and will disrupt the federal governments operations vis-a-vis immigration and border enforcement, an agency official told Gov. Greg Abbott in a letter first reported Thursday by the Houston Chronicle and later posted on social media by a CBS News reporter.

If Texas does not formally refrain from enforcing the law by Jan. 3, the agency will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government.

A person with knowledge of the letter confirmed that it had been sent.

An Abbott spokesperson said Thursday that Texas is prepared to fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of the law, adding that the governor signed the law "to help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas." On X, formerly known as Twitter, Abbott said the Biden administration "not only refuses to enforce current U.S. immigration laws, they now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration."

"Ive never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America," Abbott wrote. "Biden is destroying America. Texas is trying to save it."

The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment.

The new law makes crossing the Texas-Mexico border between ports of entry a Class B misdemeanor. If a migrant agrees to return to Mexico, a judge can drop the charges. Otherwise, a suspected offender faces a potential six-month jail sentence  with longer sentences for repeat offenders.

More: Why we spent a year telling human story of deadly disaster at El Paso, Juarez border

Abbott signed the law Dec. 18 and its slated to take effect March 5.

The DOJ said in its letter that only the federal government can enforce immigration laws  an assertion backed up by federal court rulings, including by the U.S. Supreme Court. That argument is at the heart of a lawsuit brought last week by El Paso County and immigrants rights groups to overturn the law and stop it from taking effect.

Abbott has said that the federal government is shirking its duties when it comes to immigration enforcement  and has therefore left that job to the state.

Even so, the law has drawn the ire of Mexican officials. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has also threatened to challenge the law.

The DOJs threat came as welcome news to Democrats.

Asking local police to hunt down Texans who look like immigrants doesnt make us safer: in fact, it takes police away from investigating real crime, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, said in a statement. The federal government must block this unconstitutional anti-immigrant policy before it takes effect.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Federal government says it will sue if Texas enforces new immigration law
In 2000, two years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair were still dealing with its outworkings

On The Runs (OTRs) were seen as "a major problem" by the British government, just two years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

By July 2000, all remaining prisoners eligible for release on licence under the 1998 agreement were to be freed.

But OTRs were not covered by this as they were not in prison at the time.

Correspondence about OTRs and how to deal with them have been released in files dating from 2000 and 2001 by the UK's National Archives.

The fact that Sinn Fein's general secretary at the time was an OTR heightened sensitivities around the issue.

Rita O'Hare had absconded to the Republic of Ireland in 1972 while facing charges for the attempted murder of a British soldier.

Efforts to extradite her failed and by the time of the Good Friday Agreement, she was a key supporter of the process and held an influential role as Sinn Fein's representative in Washington DC.

IRA prisoners on early release emerge through the Maze Prison turnstile in 2000

It was then prime minister Tony Blair's special advisor who identified OTRs as a problem, when then secretary of state Peter Mandelson warned of "the head of steam that [Gerry] Adams is getting up on the subject with the White house and the Irish".

Mr Blair felt that it was in the public interest to drop the pursuit of O'Hare.

"Rita O'Hare has played a crucial and positive role in furthering the peace process That role would be furthered if she could return to Northern Ireland."

He also supported her case on humanitarian grounds - her father, who was in his 80s, was too ill to visit her in the Republic and she "wishes to see him before he dies".

The OTR issue would drag on for more than a decade, before coming to national attention in 2014 when the trial of a man accused of killing four soldiers in 1982 collapsed as he had been given a guarantee that he would not face trial.

It then came to light that more than 180 Irish republicans were given so-called "comfort letters" by the government, designed to give them assurances that they were not being sought by police.

Gerry Adams and Rita O'Hare pictured at a press conference in New York in 1998

Six substantial files from the Prime Minister's Office dealing with Northern Ireland in the year 2000 have been released along with five relating to 2001.

There is a missing file in the 2001 sequence, covering the dates from 5 August to 20 September inclusive.

Momentous moments in that timeframe included the arrest in Colombia of three republicans travelling on false Irish passports, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and the most intense phase of the Holy Cross Primary School stand-off.

When the file sequence resumes on 21 September, the impact of these events becomes clear.

In a telephone call with the prime minister on 8 October, taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern said that "the Colombia arrests, the events of 11 September and the US reaction to them were all putting intense pressure on the IRA" to decommission.

A further "useful consequence" of 9/11, according to Mr Ahern, was that "even the very limited degree of public support enjoyed by dissident republican groups" had been undermined.

The papers reveal that Bertie Ahern "preferred dealing" with Martin McGuinness (left) over Gerry Adams

Martin McGuinness "admitted frankly" to the taoiseach "that the events of 11 September had altered the political context and that the IRA had been wrong to act as they did in early August".

On personal relationships, Mr Ahern "preferred dealing with McGuinness: Adams was pleasant enough, but hard to get clear answers out of; McGuinness was more straightforward".

And while Mr Ahern felt there was mounting pressure on the IRA to decommission, General John de Chastelain, the chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, provided the downbeat assessment that "an event was not about to take place", despite "cautious optimism" from the Irish.

Sinn Fein wanted some reciprocal benefit for the IRA in response to any act of decommissioning, which would only happen "in the context of decent responses from the British government, the Irish government and the UUP".

The Irish government refused flatly to contemplate the release of the four republicans imprisoned in 1999 for the manslaughter of Detective Garda Gerry McCabe in return for movement on decommissioning.

Their release was "simply not on".

The much-anticipated IRA statement on decommissioning finally came on 23 October 2001 but as the files released do not go beyond 9 October, the archives charting the immediate lead up and response remain closed.

Professor Marie Coleman is Professor of Twentieth Century Irish History at Queen's University Belfast
The Venezuelan army march during a military parade to celebrate independence day in Caracas in July 2023

Venezuela has ordered the armed forces to hold military exercises in response to the UK's decision to send a warship to support neighbouring Guyana.

Military leaders said 5,600 soldiers would take part in "defensive" exercises on Venezuela's eastern Caribbean and Atlantic coasts.

Earlier this month, Venezuelan voters backed the creation of a new state in oil-rich Essequibo.

Guyana has administered the area for decades.

In a television address on Thursday, President Nicolas Maduro said the exercises were being launched "in response to the provocation and threat of the United Kingdom against peace and the sovereignty of our country".

He added that the move was "practically a military threat from London" and broke the "spirit" of a recent agreement reached between Venezuela and Guyana not to use force to settle their dispute.

Guyanese Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said the ship's presence was "routine" and part of building a "defensive capability".

"We don't plan on invading Venezuela. President Maduro knows this and he need not have any worry about that," he told a press conference.

On Sunday, the UK confirmed HMS Trent would take part in joint exercises with Guyana after Christmas.

It had been deployed to the Caribbean to search for drug smugglers, but was re-tasked after Venezuela's government threatened to annex the Essequibo region of Guyana.

Venezuela has long claimed ownership of Essequibo, a 61,000 sq-mile region which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana.

It disputes the border which was established under an international agreement in 1899.

Guyana, and British Guiana before it, have administered Essequibo for more than a century.
Wisconsin election officials have declined to review a complaint attempting to remove former President Trump from the states primary ballot, citing the 14th Amendment.

Madison, Wis., brewery owner Kirk Bangstad filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission on Thursday, claiming Trump should be removed from the ballot due to his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The commission said the complaint was thrown out for procedural reasons, and it lists members of the commission itself as respondents.

The complaint was disposed of without consideration by the Commission, spokesperson Riley Vetterkind said in a Thursday statement to the media. 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.

Bangstads complaint relies on the same arguments as removal efforts in Colorado and Maine, which have been accepted, pending legal appeals.

The 14th Amendment bars those who engage in insurrection from holding office. The Maine Secretary of State and the Colorado Supreme Court found that Trumps Jan. 6 conduct fell under that definition.

The Hill has reached out to the election commission and Bangstad for additional comment.

Other states have also rejected similar 14th Amendment claims. On Wednesday, a Michigan court ruled that its Secretary of State does not have the authority to determine the eligibility of candidates using the insurrection clause of the amendment.

Trumps campaign denounced the Maine decision Thursday as election interference.

We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said. Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The U.S. achieves a nuclear fusion breakthrough. This time, a team of scientists from California produced repeated nuclear fusion ignition for the first time.

For the past few years, scientists and other experts across the world have been making efforts to achieve nuclear fusion. Unlike the sun, Earth doesn't have the immense gravitational force needed to confine hydrogen nuclei to achieve nuclear fusion.

However, thanks to the efforts of scientists, nuclear fusion reactions can now be achieved. Although humanity is still far from harnessing it, these achievements are still a big leap.

Now, a U.S. lab was able to repeatedly produce nuclear fusion ignition for the first time in history.

US Achieves Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

According to Independent UK's latest report, a group of scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) achieved fusion ignition in December 2022.

Thanks to this, they were able to produce a net energy gain from a fusion reaction for the first time. This achievement was hailed by physicists as a "moment of history."

Now, LLNL researchers claimed that they repeated nuclear fusion ignition three times this 2023. To make this possible, the U.S.-based laboratory relied on NIF (National Ignition Facility) to fire over 190 laser beams at a frozen pellet of isotopes.

This isotope pellet was held within a diamond capsule, which was suspended in a gold cylinder. Thanks to this, the reaction they acquired was very similar to the processes found within the Sun.

Aside from this, the nuclear fusion ignition also resulted in a record energy increase of almost 90%. Although the energy was just enough to boil a kettle, experts said that scaling up this proof-of-concept could lead to a new era of energy.

"I'm feeling pretty good. I think we should all be proud of the achievement," said LLNL's inertial-confinement fusion science program leader Richard Town.

Read Also: South Korea Says Nuclear-Capable Submarines are Needed Against NoKor, ChinaHere's What ROK Admiral Argues

Why Nuclear Fusion is Big Deal in Achieving Clean Energy

CNN World explained that nuclear fusion is quite different from nuclear fission. The latter is the process used in the world's nuclear plants.

Nuclear fission is generated by the division of atoms, which leads to unstable nuclei. Because of this, most nuclear fission power plants are radioactive (and will remain to be for millions of years).

On the other hand, nuclear fusion doesn't generate long-lived radioactive waste, making it safer for the environment. This is why numerous countries are making drastic efforts to harness the energy that nuclear fusion can provide as the climate crisis worsens.

Related Article: China Makes Breakthrough Ahead of Other Nations in Crucial Fusion Reactor Technology That Promises Endless Source of Power

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS/BTA.Commemorative ceremonies were held in Bulgaria to mark the 20th anniversary of the Kerbala bombings in Iraq. Five Bulgarian troops were killed by Iraqi suicide bombers who drove a truckload of explosives towards the perimeter wall of Camp India, in the city of Kerbala, on December 27, 2003. Four Bulgarian soldiers died on the spot, and one more a day later. Twenty-seven others were injured. The fallen Bulgarian servicemen are Major Georgi Kachorin, Lieutenant Nikolai Saruev and Officer Candidates Ivan Indjov, Anton Petrov and Svilen Kirov.

The political and military leadership, the Land Forces Command, the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and servicemembers honoured the memory of those who died in the line of duty during the 2003-2008 operation for Iraq's stabilization and reconstruction.

On December 27 in Karlovo, Minister of Defence Todor Tagarev and Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov took part in a military ritual - memorial service at the Monument to the Fallen in the Fight against Global Terrorism.

In his speech, Minister Tagarev pointed out that the protection of international peace and security is the main task of the Bulgarian Army. On this day 20 years ago, five servicemen were killed and dozens injured in the attack on Camp India in Kerbala, Iraq," he said, recalling that Bulgaria lost thirteen heroic servicemen in the operation in Iraq. "We appreciate the efforts of our servicemen and their contribution to international peace and security and bow deeply before their heroism and sacrifice," the Defence Minister said.

In his address, Admiral Emil Eftimov noted that the military profession is a service for the sake of society and the homeland. "It poses risks and challenges and in order to reduce them to the maximum extent, we are working purposefully for the social security of the servicemen, their training, interoperability and standard procedures," said the Chief of Defence.

(This information is being published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA.)
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, has signed a decree appointing Mkhitar Hayrapetyan as Minister of High-tech Industry, the Presidential Office said.

According to another presidential decree, Robert Khachatryan has been relieved from the post of Minister of High-tech Industry.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted on Friday that the organization is closely monitoring the recent occurrence where a missile violated Poland's airspace, originating from the shared border with Ukraine.

"I spoke with the Polish President Andrzej Duda about the missile incident in Poland. NATO stands in solidarity with our valued ally, is monitoring the situation and we will remain in contact as the facts are established. NATO remains vigilant," Stoltenberg said.
Court documents were unsealed on Wednesday after a coalition of news outlets, including The Associated Press, moved to publicly release records in the case of Pennsylvania man, Samuel Lazar.

Records show Lazar cooperated with authorities investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack and provided information in another unrelated case. The documents reveal details in the unusual secrecy surrounding Lazar, who was released from federal custody in September after having completed his sentence.

Even after his release, the case stayed confidential, leaving no record of any conviction or punishment.

The Associated Press reported the unsealed records show that Lazar, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, confessed to spraying a chemical irritant at police officers who were trying to defend the Capitol and to using a bullhorn to rile up other rioters to take officers' weapons as he yelled, "Let's get their guns!" Over 1200 individuals have faced charges related to events from Jan. 6, and among them, hundreds of already pleaded guilty.

NBC News confirmed Sam Lazar had assisted prosectors with cases against other rioters, as well as a federal criminal defendant charged in a murder case. The documents also indicate that prosecutors urged the judge last year to show leniency for Lazar with a prison term below the federal guidelines range, citing Lazar's "fulsome" cooperation with the government and the "valuable information" he provided to authorities investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to assaulting officers using a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 30 months in prison during a sealed hearing last March.

As stated by the Associated Press, the attorney told the judge that her client's behavior on Jan. 6 "was completely out of character for him as he is an extremely respectful, law-abiding citizen who has deep respect and appreciation for law enforcement."

Lawyer Hope Lefeber wrote in a court filing, "He blindly followed President Trump's cry to 'fight like hell to take back the country,'"

An attorney for Lazar declined to comment on Thursday.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write."

Controversial Banter: UK Home Secretary's Ill-Advised Joke Sparks Outrage and Calls for Resignation

His son was an addict

His wife was a slut

The goats of the village

Danced in his hut

But the village wizard didnt give way

To the tiniest fragment of dismay

He was a masochist if you must know

He really enjoyed the status quo

From The Panga of Boond, by Bachchoo

A fierce row has broken out over a joke made in a speech at a dinner reception by a known clown. What this clown said was that he secretly gave his wife in her drink each day a small dose of the rape-drug Rohypnol. He went on to say it was the secret of a long marriage, as being drugged and doped she wouldnt realise that there must be more attractive men out there.

The joke, though made at a private occasion, went what they call viral. Several womens organisations objected in the strongest terms. Some of them called for the clown to be beheaded through the adoption of the French Revolutions decapitation machine, the guillotine!

OK, OK -- by now, gentle reader, you may have guessed that the above paragraphs are a bit tongue-in-cheek. They are not the truth. Yes, all right, they are deceptive about calls for the guillotine but my excuse is that it was a sort of metaphor. All the stuff about the joke and its purported justification is absolutely true, and the clown is an unwitting and not a professional one. And so, to the revelations (not of course for those whove followed UK media).

The clown is none other than a fellow called James Cleverly. He happens to be the present home secretary in the British government. He stupidly, actually, literally made that clumsy attempt at humour at a Downing Street gathering. I suppose he was fumbling around for something which he thought would amuse his Cabinet colleagues and their underlings and, of course, the rape-drug and its uses came to mind because the UK home office -- his home office -- is at this very time considering strong laws to criminalise the use of several of these rape-drugs, that charmless men use to knock women into a virtual state of unconsciousness in order to rape them. What a great subject for a spot of vile banter. What Mrs James Stupidly thought of her husbands joke has not been reported in the press. Is she suing for divorce?

And the guillotine metaphor? Well, when this sordid piece of what Stupidly thought was funny (Did Hedgie and gang laugh?), there were widespread calls, from organisations which campaign against violence to women, and from the Opposition benches, for him to resign.

Perhaps he does believe that this rape-drug business and the proposed legislation is a bit of a joke. Oh -- as an appendix to the joke, this clown added that small quantities of the rape-drug were OK.

This Cleverly was foreign secretary before being moved to the home office and he is reputed, while there, to call the policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda batshit, or words to that effect. And now as home secretary hes the Rwanda policys chief advocate!

Laugh? I couldve cried!

Humour is subject to cultural convention. The stereotyping of national or gender characteristics were deemed legitimate targets of jokes: Scots were frugal, the Irish stupid the West had jokes about blondes, mothers-in-law That was then!

In India, the jokes were about different regions -- each supposed to have characteristics of intelligence or behaviour which set them apart. The most common was, of course, the Sardarji joke. In my short and happy life, as I grew up, I shared these with several of my Sikh friends. Khushwant Singh, the most prominent Sikh writer in English, actually compiled a book of Sardarji jokes. There was an ability to laugh at oneself and with it came an ironic ability to laugh at the stereotype that various cultures had constructed about oneself, however absurd. But alas, a wave of righteousness now invades these linguistic shores -- and I know many others. There has been born a culture of precociousness which puts a taboo -- an argumentative capital sentence -- on humour about race, class, nationality, gender, hair-colour, family status, sexual orientation name it!

Of course, there are some attempts at humour which are deeply, deeply offensive as in the attempt of Stupidly. And yes, the insult to race and class, etc, in a joke ought to be assessed for its actually, or even probably, offensive connotations. That being emphatically asserted, the entire point of humour -- without which human existence is boring and stale -- is ironic criticism and an awakening to self-awareness.

I am, absolutely, aware that any statement about transgenders is bound to lead to social media assaults and cautionary dread. Even so, I venture an ironic joke: What would Karl Marx have said to the transgender community? He may have said: Transgender people Unite! -- You have nothing to lose but your pronouns!

I tried this joke on my 39-year-old son and my 42-year-old daughter. They said they found it offensive, but couldnt say why. The conspiracy of fear of being morally on the wrong side seems to prevail in our time.

So here, then, in defiance of the conspiracy, as a born Parsi, I give you an old Parsi joke:

One Parsi gentleman says to his friend: My wife is pregnant!

His friend replies: Oh Im so sorry! Whom do you suspect?
Today's news: High Court allows party members to visit Imran Khan ahead of February 8 elections; Iran executes four people linked to Mossad, Israel's missiles continue to kill civilians in Gaza; Beijing revives deal with Myanmar for Kyaukphyu port; Activist Tony Chung seeks political asylum in Britain after 43 months in prison

BANGLADESH

Bangladeshi garment factories have fired hundreds of workers following protests in October demanding higher wages, report three unions representing half a million workers. In November the government - which will go to elections on January 7 - agreed to increase the minimum wage by 56% to 12,500 taka (4) a month, which many workers still consider too low. Bangladesh has become the world's second largest garment exporter after China, thanks to low wages.

PAKISTAN

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) today granted Pakistan Justice Movement (PTI) leaders and lawyers permission to visit former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was detained in Adiala to hold election meetings ahead of the Pakistan elections. February 8th. The order was passed by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb on a petition filed by Imran, who intends to strategize ahead of the elections. With the publication of the electoral programme, activities related to the elections in the political parties have begun and the deadline for submitting candidatures expires on Sunday.

IRAN - ISRAEL

Iran has executed four people the court identified as "saboteurs" linked to the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. This was reported today by the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the country's judiciary. "Four members of a sabotage team, which committed actions against Iran's security under the leadership of Mossad officers, were executed this morning following legal procedures," it said. Meanwhile overnight, an Israeli airstrike on a house in Maghazi camp in the town of Khan Younis killed eight Palestinians, the Red Crescent said.

MYANMAR - CHINA

China and the Burmese military junta have signed a supplementary agreement under the Belt and Road Initiative for the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port. Both sides are trying to get the long-stalled project off the ground in Rakhine state where there are clashes between rebel groups and the ruling coup junta, prompting repeated security warnings from the Chinese state group's mission Citic Group which will have a 70% stake in the port. China sees Myanmar as a window to further open itself to trafficking in the Indian Ocean.

RUSSIA

The President of the Central Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, said that the exclusion of Russian credit institutions from the international Swift system, and the freezing of assets in foreign banks, are measures due to sanctions that are particularly painful for Russian finances, which no alternative solutions have yet been found, "there are active chains that are constantly adapting, but many companies don't know how to do it".

HONG KONG

The former leader of a pro-independence group and Hong Kong rights activist, Tony Chung - 22 years old today - was sentenced to 43 months in prison in 2021 under the national security law imposed by China. He stated that he had fled to Great Britain and had formally requested political asylum. He finished serving his sentence last June.

MOLDOVA

Moldova has definitively left all the agreements that still tied it to the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States, and the head of the parliamentary commission for foreign policy in Chisinau, Dojna German, assured that from this detachment "we have nothing to lose, or rather there will be a gain, no longer having to pay the fees.

AUSTRALIA

Australia is bracing for an intense heatwave in the North and West over the New Year weekend, with temperatures expected to hit more than 45 degrees Celsius (113F), while severe thunderstorms are expected to hit the 'East of the country. The heat wave follows the violent floods that hit the east of the country during Christmas, killing 10 people and cutting off electricity to tens of thousands of homes.
by Melani Manel Perera

In 2008 Father Nandana Manatunga set up the Human Rights Office in Kandy for victims of torture, gender-based violence, and the families of the missing or unjustly detained. The Christmas season, he told AsiaNews, is a time to share joy with everyone, not only Christians, but also Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.

Kandy (AsiaNews)  Father Nandana Manatunga is the director and founder of the Human Rights Office (HRO) in Kandy, an organisation that helps victims of torture and gender-based violence, as well as families of the missing or unjustly detained.

Christmas is something that all these people wish for every year, he said speaking to AsiaNews. They want to be happy together and build up good bonds between themselves.

This year the HRO held a meeting on Christmas Day at the Shrine of Fatima in Padiwatte, Kundasale (Kandy) with those who take part in its projects and those who have passed through them over the years.

During the COVID period, we were not able to do this Christmas get-together for about two or three years, noted Father Nandana Manatunga. But all these people were looking forward to it very earnestly and with great joy.

In fact, Even though they live in different parts in Kandy Diocese, they like to share their lives together, because they have faced the same kind of pain and suffering.

What is more, not only Christian families came to the Christmas gathering to share the joy of Christmas, but also did non-Christians: Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and their families.

Indeed, Christmas is a festival that gives us space to experience more sharing, understanding, forgiveness, and love, explained the HRO director.

We have been holding this Christmas get-together for about 10 years. And another goal of this Christmas gathering is to let them feel that they are not alone.

Everyone who participated said that they were happy, from seniors to small children; the same thing for the families followed by the HRO  many of them shared their life experiences, starting with their happiness on Christmas.

I was able to come to this event today because of the great help given to me by the Human Rights Office, including the Reverend Father, said one of the victims of unjust detention followed by the HRO. The latter, the person said, contributed to my medical examinations on various occasions and built me up.

 Photo by Melani Manel Perera
The all-new Porsche Panamera has already started the New Year party. It dances around on social media and shows its got the moves. It's all thanks to its new active air suspension.

Active Body Control

Porsche uploaded a video on Instagram to show what the new air suspension of the third-generation Panamera can do. The car goes up and down, lifting either the entire body or one corner at a time while it is stationary. The way it moves makes it look like it is dancing on its 21-inch Turbo Design wheels, which are optional equipment for the new Panamera.It is unclear if the video is a computer-generated image or the real deal, which would mean this 'dance' feature is supposed to go into production.The video indicates that the new active air suspension can be controlled individually on each of the four wheels, reducing body roll and enhancing comfort on board.Unveiled in November, the 2024 Porsche Panamera drives out of the factory in Zuffenhausen with a two-chamber, two-valve air suspension as stock, while the Porsche Active Ride air suspension is optional with the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid The system integrates a newly designed one-chamber air suspension with active shock absorbers and an electrically operated hydraulic pump. The suspension can lift the Panamera 2.16 inches (5.5 centimeters) from the ground.It would not be that far-fetched for Porsche to put the feature into production. The Mercedes-Benz GLE has a similar function. Its E-active air suspension enables the car to bounce when trapped in sand or mud and eventually drive itself out. But the Porsche Panamera is not exactly an off-roader, so equipping the car with the function would probably be just for showoff.The Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid is powered by the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 engine, which works in collaboration with an electric motor, for a total system output of 671 horsepower (680 PS) and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque. The car does the 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) run in 3.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 106 mph (315 kph).The Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid that shows up in the video uploaded on Instagram wears the Madeira Gold Metallic paintwork, the launch shade of the third-generation Panamera. A car in the same color has recently been built for a gentleman in Dubai. At his request, it was equipped with 21-inch centerlock wheels, performance tires from Michelin, and carbon ceramic brakes.The 2024 Panamera is estimated to start at $101,550, but Porsche has not released any information regarding the pricing of the Turbo E-Hybrid variant. The Germans are most likely going to make it public closer the market launch date of the model.
Arguably the most exciting B-segment hot hatchback in production today, the GR Yaris will receive a facelift in January 2024. Or so claims Magazine X, which understands that Toyota will unleash the mid-cycle refresh at Tokyo Auto Salon on January 12.

AMG

Photo: Toyota

Toyota will hold a press conference on January 12, 2024 at 9:30 Japan Standard Time, but alas, the Japanese automaker didn't mention whether the GR Yaris is up for a facelift or not. Fellow motoring publication Best Car also claims that the mid-cycle refresh is due in January 2024 , yet  for the time being  this information hasn't been confirmed.In addition to stylistic updates, Toyota has reportedly bumped up the power to 300 ps. The Japan-spec RZ makes 272 ps and 370 Nm of torque, meaning 268 horsepower and 273 pound-feet. 300 metric ponies is pretty close to the 300 mechanical horses of the GR Corolla for the US market, which  coincidentally  features the same three-cylinder engine. What's more, the Corolla's engine also makes 273 pound-feet.Based on the aforementioned, this particular rumor holds water. The most important addition to the GR Yaris for 2024, however, is the long-rumored automatic transmission. Magazine X reports that it's called GR-DAT , which stands for GAZOO Racing  Direct Automatic Transmission. A torque-converter auto, said transmission is tuned for high-performance driving. Think of it this way: 9G-Tronic for Benzes and SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G for AMGs.Mercedes-replaces the 9G's torque converter with a wet start-off clutch to lower weight and lower inertia. The GR-DAT, on the other hand, is said to feature a torque converter that locks up immediately when changing gear. By comparison, conventional automatics usually lock when the vehicle stops acceleration. Still, is the GR-DAT a thing or not?Back in October 2023, the folks at Toyota Times published a story in which none other than Akio Toyoda confirmed to have driven "a GR Yaris equipped with the new technology at Round 5 of the 2023 ENEOS Super Taikyu Series." Racing driver Hiroaki Ishiura claims that the direct automatic transmission "senses when youre braking hard and downshifts for you to prepare for acceleration."Japanese motoring publications are notorious for unrealistic rumors. But as far as the 2024 Toyota GR Yaris is concerned, both Magazine X and Best Car appear to be spot on. The GR-DAT  or whatever it will be called  will obviously add some complexity to the GR Yaris. The price tag will go up as well.As of December 2023, the manual-equipped GR Yaris for the Japanese market is 3,960,000 yen for the RZ and 4,560,000 yen for the RZ High Performance. In other words, 27,985 and 32,225 freedom eagles at current exchange rates. Over in Europe, the GR Yaris is much, much pricier at 34,000 (circa $37,700).Then again, the GR Yaris is the most capable subcompact hot hatchback of the lot at the moment of reporting. It also has massive tuning potential, with Powertune Australia extracting a staggering 552.5 kW (751.2 ps or 740.9 hp) at 8,117 revolutions per minute.
One of the main benefits of Apple's AirTag is the lack of a direct Internet connection, which allows the iPhone maker to optimize energy consumption heavily and, therefore, provide months of battery life.

The approach recently paid off in Canberra, where the police managed to recover 21 stolen e-bikes and scooters thanks to an AirTag that pinged its owner after one year.The Canberra police explained that an e-bike owner whose vehicle was stolen in December 2022 alerted the officers at the Gungahlin Station that their AirTag shared its location earlier this month. The general deputy's officers requested a search warrant and executed it earlier this month, rushing to a home in Ngunnawal where the AirTag was believed to be planted.The officers discovered six e-bikes, 15 electric scooters, a car trailer, and several number plates. All were believed to be stolen, and police estimated the value of all goods at more than $30K. They couldn't find a suspect, but the investigation continues.While the case shows how important the AirTag has become , sometimes helping law enforcement recover very expensive goods, it also raises two big questions: how come the AirTag battery lasted for a whole year, and why didn't the device ping its owner during the entire time.Apple's tracker comes with a CR2032 battery. It doesnt support recharging, providing a battery life per unit of approximately six months. It rarely lasts for a year, and I haven't seen anyone claiming the battery went for a full year without replacing it. However, the lack of a nearby iPhone to share its location probably allowed this AirTag to save a lot of power, eventually increasing the battery life to one year.This gets us to the second question. Without a nearby iPhone, the AirTag couldn't communicate with the master device, though it's a little surprising to see the tracker not finding an Apple smartphone for nearly one year.Apple's AirTag has become a must-have device for vehicle owners , and police themselves recommend installing a tracker in a hard-to-spot place. The AirTag helps law enforcement recover the vehicle if it gets stolen, sharing up-to-date location information if it connects to a nearby iPhone.Apple is already working on the second-generation AirTag, with the launch expected to take place in 2024 or 2025. The company is aiming for improved accuracy and even better battery life, with an increased focus on anti-stalking protections.Canberra police recommend bike and scooter owners register their vehicles at Bikelinc, as the database helps with a potential recovery should they get stolen. Police also recommend that owners whose e-bikes and scooters got stolen and recovered as part of this latest investigation contact them and provide proof of ownership. You can get more information at 131 444, quoting reference 7631621.
The United States military's super secret X-37B space plane launched from Kennedy Space Center on Thursday on a mission that is expected to last for several years. The reusable plane looks like a miniature space shuttle in appearance and has carried out experiments on prior missions that are still considered to be classified.

According to the Associated Press, this will be the seventh flight for the X-37B which has been in orbit for 10 years total since its 2010 debut. The space plane was launched into orbit by the Falcon Heavy rocket created by SpaceX. The last flight was in orbit for more than two years.

Space Force would not say how long this orbital vehicle would remain in orbit and would only elaborate so far as to say that the NASA experiment it will undertake is gauging the effects of radiation on materials.

The X-37B is built by Boeing and is one-quarter the size of the now antiquated space shuttles and no astronauts are needed as the space plane has an autonomous landing system.

Designed to reach orbits as high as 500 miles above the Earth's surface, there are currently two working X37Bs known to the public, both of which are housed at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Schematic details for the X-37B, gleaned from the Boeing Aerospace website, are as follows.

Avionics designed to automate all de-orbit and landing functions.

Flight controls and brakes using all electro-mechanical actuation; no hydraulics on board.

Composed for a lighter-than-aluminum composite structure.*New high-temperature wing leading-edge tiles and toughened uni-piece fibrous refractory oxidation-resistant ceramic (TUFROC) tiles (relative to the space shuttle).

Advanced conformal reusable insulation (CRI) blankets.

Earlier this month HNGN reported that the space plane's current mission, which was initially supposed to launch two weeks ago, was scratched after SpaceX revealed that it would be postponing the launch due to "a ground-side" issue that could affect the rocket's launchpad or fueling systems. However, no further details were provided.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Curiosity rover is at the time of writing the oldest operational piece of technology on the surface of Mars. Having left Earth in 2011 with the goal of seeing whether the Red Planet is habitable, the machine exceeded all expectations in terms of durability and stamina  it was only meant to be operational for four years.

The rover departed our world with no less than 11 science instruments in tow, including cameras, spectrometers, sample analyzers, and environment monitoring sensors. They all helped the rover complete its main task and find "evidence of a past environment well suited to supporting microbial life" in the first 23 months it spent up there.What that means is that the rover found in 2014 the first instance of organic molecules on Mars, and one year later it proved the existence of nitrogen on the surface.It is now tasked with studying the geology and environment of the places it reaches up there, but from time to time it does seem to find the time to prove its more artistic nature.Despite its longevity, Curiosity has somewhat been overshadowed by its younger and more sophisticated sibling, Perseverance, who arrived there in 2021. Yet the veteran still packs a punch, as made clear by this most recent release of stunning images captured on the neighboring planet.Before getting into it, a bit of context. Because of the orbits of the Earth and Mars around the Sun, there are moments when direct communication between the two planets is not possible. NASA calls these moments, which take place every two years, Mars solar conjunctions, and they technically mean that the Sun is smack down between the two planets, not allowing a direct line of sight.These moments usually last for about two weeks, and NASA has always chosen to stop direct communication with its hardware on Mars during this time (health check-ins are however being conducted).Before this year's conjunction, which took place back in November, NASA instructed Curiosity to do something it has never done before: take 12 hours' worth of images of its surroundings, in the hopes it will catch clouds or dust devils moving into view.Turns out the moment chosen for the experiment, the rover's 4,002nd Martian day, was not at all inspired, because nothing exciting happened on the surface of Mars. The experiment did, however, result in what may very well be the first true look at how a Martian day plays out from sunrise to sunset (5:30 AM to 5:30 PM local time, according to NASA).There are two videos NASA shared with us this week, both of them black and white because they were compiled based on images snapped by the rover's Hazard-Avoidance Cameras (Hazcam). Those would be the eyes of the rover, the ones that allow operators here on Earth to spot hazards on the surface and avoid them.Both videos have a total of 25 frames, and they capture the passage of time on an alien world in a way I personally have never seen before.The first clip was recorded with the camera looking southeast along Gediz Vallis in the vicinity of Mount Sharp, where the rover has been slowly climbing since 2014. The second one shows the location northwest of the rover's position, down to the floor of the Gale Crater.If you really pay attention to the two videos, you'll notice a few peculiar things about them, including white snow, artifacts, and bright flashes. There's an explanation for each of them, and aliens are not involved.As per NASA, the white snow that can be seen in the second video as night descends onto the Martian surface is actually a collection of hot pixels, sensor noise that occurs when exposure time increases  in this case, it had reached more than a minute.At one point, about halfway through the same second first video, the camera seems to capture a small black artifact to the left. That's not some piece of alien tech or a Martian crow, but nothing more than a cosmic ray hitting the camera sensor.The bright flashes the camera captured toward the end of its mission are not the result of some explosion but the effect of the rover's own power systems interfering with the operation of the Hazcam image sensor.Last but not least, the "speckled appearance of the images," more obvious in the video facing from where the rover came from, is owned to nothing more than the dust that has settled over time on the camera lenses.So, despite a camera looking at the Martian wasteland for 12 straight hours, nothing truly amazing popped into view. The two videos, which can be seen here , do however paint a more comprehensive picture of a place that looks not unlike our own, and one day might just as well become our own.
Photo: Instagram | libertywalkkato

CFRP

The Italian company's supermini hot hatch has received the tuner's typical styling, so there's no mistaking it for anything else if you're familiar with their work, as it is all about that swollen-up design, sprinkled with a few other things, too.Up front, the Abarth 595 has had its bumper modified and extended to the sides to blend with the fender flares, which surprisingly don't feature a bolt-on design. It also has a pair of flicks and a new apron that was attached to the lower part.Further back, the tuner based in the Land of the Rising Sun also left its mark on the side skirts, which were extended to match the muscular wheel arches. A new diffuser with a multi-fin design can be seen at the rear, alongside a generously sized wing attached to the upper part of the tailgate.Looking pretty much like a rally homologation special, this Abarth 595 from Liberty Walk also comes with a set of aftermarket wheels. The alloys have wide lips and a six-spoke design and sport a black finish. As for the rest of the car, it has a white look and will likely be decorated by the tuner's typical decals once it is ready.Liberty Walk says this Abarth 595 will be on display at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon, which will be hosted between January 12 and 14. It's likely not the tuner's sole model on display, as they should have quite a few special projects sitting under the spotlight and breathing the same air as the Italian supermini hot hatch.Now, this build may not be ready yet, but the complete body kit for it is and can be ordered for domestic and foreign markets. The FRP andversions are priced at $15,070 and $17,050, respectively, and they comprise the front bumper complete with the canards, hood, side skirts, rear diffuser, wide fenders, and rear wing.The tuner also allows interested parties to order just the hood, rear wing, and/or rear diffuser separately, and these cost $2,970, $1,980, and $1,870, respectively, made from FRP. The CFRP wing and diffuser are also available separately, priced at $3,080 and $2,970, respectively.As you can imagine, Liberty Walk hasn't disclosed the price of the wheels equipping the pictured car, nor the air suspension. Moreover, this being Liberty Walk, a power boost won't be on the menu, so you will have to turn to a different tuner should you want such an upgrade.
The new biopic Ferrari tells the story of the founder of the brand and focuses on the year 1957, when the crisis began for Enzo. What is true and what is fake about everything that shows up in the movie scenes? Piero Ferrari, the second and only living son of Enzo Ferrari, dissects the movie.

1957 was the year that everyone found out that Enzo Ferrari was living two separate lives. He was married to Laura and had Dino, who had died the previous year. But he had a long-term affair with Lina Lardi, Piero's mother.It was also the year of the Mille Miglia tragedy when the Ferrari driven by Alfonso de Portago blew a tire, spun out of control, flew off the road and into the spectators killing nine. Both the Spanish racing driver and his co-driver Edmund Nelson were killed in the crash.The film shows Enzo Ferrari and Alfonso de Portago meeting right before the Mille Miglia. But Piero says it was not like that. They had known each other since 1956. One more hit-and-miss in the movie is the fact that Piero never asked de Portago for an autograph. Back then, people did not ask for autographs, he explains.Asked if Enzo Ferrari would have sacrificed everything to win, his son says he was not like that. "He wanted to win, but did not want to win at any cost." And the safety of the drivers was not negotiable for him. After the tragedy at Mille Miglia, he wanted to retire from motor racing. But on Monday, in the office, he had a totally different approach. He wanted to continue but avoid such incidents.As the movie shows, Enzo Ferrari did indeed use to spend a lot of time in the factory. He used to get involved in the technical details, to inquire about everything, to check the cars and production. Yet he kept away from everything he was not good at, leaving it to the engineers.Piero says that, as depicted in the movie, many famous customers used to visit Maranello in order to buy a Ferrari. The list of exclusive guests includes Prince Bernard of the Netherlands, who was married to the Queen.He went to the factory in Italy every two or three years, left his old Ferrari there, and went home with a new one. Enzo used to invite him to lunch at the home where he lived with Lina and then very young Piero.Italian film director Roberto Rosellini was also a constant visitor to the factory in the company of his wife, actress Ingrid Bergman.The movie Ferrari is already in theaters, with Adam Driver playing the legendary Enzo Ferrari.
In 2023, the US and European car industries warned about the imminent influx of cheap Chinese electric cars flooding Western markets. Maybe that's why the Chinese car industry seeks to keep momentum from the beginning of 2024, announcing another premiere meant to spook the Western. But you should not be fooled by pompous announcements, as the sodium-ion battery is still far from being a valid option for electric cars.

What does the sodium-ion technology promise?

kWh

Photo: BloombergNEF

ICE

Photo: Chemical Society Reviews: Sodium-ion batteries: present and future

EV

The real deal. Or just a marketing stunt

WLTP

Photo: Farasis Energy

Let's keep our feet on the ground

Photo: JAC

First, let me share that although I use a small, cheap Chinese electric car for my daily commute, I don't trust Chinese electric cars and the propaganda behind them. I also don't dig conspiracy theories, but there's something fishy about these too-affordable Chinese electric cars.So, when I heard the news  that two Chinese companies were the first to put on the market the first sodium-ion battery cars  I had to find out more about what many out there call a "breakthrough" or a "historical milestone." I'll try not to be biased, but forgive me if I won't be as objective as you would expect.The first thing Na-Ion tech could solve is the price barrier. Lithium-ion batteries are still costly, although their price has dropped significantly in the last decade. According to BloombergNEF, in 2023, the average price is around $139/, more than five fold less than in 2013 when it was around $780/kWh.For the EVs to close the gap withvehicles in terms of price parity, the Li-Ion battery price must be well below $100/kWh. This is almost the case with the low-cost cathode chemistry lithium-ion batteries  the LFP (lithium-ion phosphate)  which cost, on average, a third less than similar NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt) batteries.The problem is that LFP batteries' performance and reliability are worse than NMC ones, but that's a reasonable trade-off given the lower costs. Of course, Chinese companies are at the forefront of the LFP race, so their electric cars have an edge over American and European electric cars.Still, there needs to be a logical explanation for the price gap, as transporting EVs from China to Europe or the US is very expensive. At the same time, presumably good manufacturing quality and the overwhelming trims require high investments and costs. So, is it fishy or what?Back to sodium-ion batteries , their average price is already less than $80/kWh in 2023, and by 2030, it is expected to get to $40/kWh, which is impressive. But don't hold your breath: these batteries are mainly used in stationary grids or low-performance vehicles, such as two- or three-wheelers.Compared to Li-Ion technology, the Na-Ion tech has much lower energy density. On average, NMC batteries have energy density between 150-200 Wh/kg (the best "recipes" can offer even more than 300 Wh/kg). LFP batteries' energy density varies between 90-160 Wh/kg; in some cases, it is close to 200 Wh/kg (at least, this is what CATL claims).Sodium-ion batteries' energy densities range from 78-80 Wh/kg to 150-160 Wh/kg, but most Na-Ion batteries in use today have less than 100 Wh/kg. Many companies hope to achieve 200 Wh/kg by 2030-2035, but that's still a big if.One of the most significant advantages of Na-Ion batteries is the abundance of resources needed. This tends to become crucial in the recent aftermath of supply chain bottlenecks. Many predicted lithium dependence would lead to some nations' dominance, like oil supplies. There's no such problem with salt, is it?The bottom line is that there are high hopes in the battery industry that sodium could pave the way for a faster transition to electromobility . This leads us to our subject: the JAC Yiweiand Jiangling JMEV EV are the first mass-production sodium-ion battery electric cars the Chinese will buy early in 2024.As I said before, this news is meant to be another blow to the Western car industry, and at first, it looks like the Chinese industry once again proved its dominance in the current rEVolution. Well, I hardly think it's a revolution; it's merely an evolution, if I may.The most popular story about the first mass-production sodium-ion battery car on mass media and social media is about the new JAC YiWei model. It is fitted with a Na-Ion battery developed by HiNa Battery, a Chinese company known (in China) for its batteries used in buses, small vehicles and home energy storage.JAC is particularly interesting to us because its parent company, JAG, is 50% state-owned, while the other 50% is owned by Volkswagen. In 2020, this joint venture spawned a new brand, Sehol (or SOL), and launched the E10X electric city car.It wasn't a completely new car, as it was basically a facelift of the previous JAC iEV6E, launched in 2016. In context, the E10X exported to the South American market received 0 (zero) stars in the Latin NCAP safety test. Well, it was cheap; who cared it was a coffin-on-wheels?Oh, but wait, the previous JAC iEV6E was actually another facelift of the original JAC Yueyue, which debuted at the 2010 Beijing Show. So, the Sehol E10X was pretty old at the beginning of 2023, when VW decided to kill the Sehol brand and transform it into YiWei.This way, the 2024 YiWei EV, powered by a sodium-ion battery, will be a more-than-ten-year model with some upgrades. This is the most essential factor for an affordable price  which we don't know at the moment. The previous E10X, powered by a 25 kWh LFP lithium-ion battery, had a starting price of RMB 72,900 (around $10,600 / 9,570 euros), so I expect the new car with a Na-Ion battery to be less in China.There are no specs for the "first mass-production sodium-ion battery EV," and I can only relate to the demonstration car HiNa Battery presented back in February. It was called Hua Xianzi (Flower Fairy), the battery had a total capacity of 25 kWh and the maximum range was 250 km / 155 miles, according to the very permissive CLTC Chinese cycle.Under the newEuropean cycle, its range will probably be less than 200 km / 125 miles, but I doubt this car will ever come to Europe or the US. Like the Dacia Spring, a safer Renault K-ZE, the YiWei EV for Europe would require costly modifications to improve its safety for the more demanding Euro NCAP.This city car has a length of 3.65 meters / 143 inches. This is 10 cm / 4 inches less than the Dacia Spring, which many don't even see as a proper car. I can hardly see this YiWei EV as a spearhead for Chinese invasionThe rival for this YiWei EV comes from JMEV, a joint venture between Jiangling and Groupe Renault. This "new" model is based on the JMEV EV3, with a 31 kWh lithium-ion battery and a CLTC range of 301 km / 187 miles. It has the same length as a Dacia Spring, and the starting price in China is RMB 62,800 (around $8,800 / 8,000 euros).Now, the Na-Ion battery version is credited with a CLTC range of 251 km / 156 miles, 16% less than the Li-Ion battery version. Of course, the sodium-ion battery is also smaller, with only 21.4 kWh. However, the starting price is only 6% lower than the Li-Ion battery version. You do the math if the savings are worth it.According to the company producing the batteries, Farasis, they have energy densities of 140-160 Wh/kg, which is astounding. Moreover, in 2024, the company claims that the second generation of its sodium-ion batteries will have energy densities of 160-180 Wh/kg. Astounding! By 2026, it will reach 200 Wh/kg. I'm speechless, really.Ok, I'm not exactly speechless, but I'm more skeptical that the company is able to achieve the objective of improving its sodium-ion batteries' energy density by 25% in just a couple of years. It sounds more like propaganda marketing.The sodium-ion battery has a future, that's for sure. It can be a solution for more affordable EVs, but I doubt they will be superior to lithium-ion batteries. For now, these Chinese premieres are nothing but some evolutions that still have to prove themselves.These cars are only affordable because they use new battery tech in old but upgraded boxes. Of course, the sodium-ion car tech is in its infancy, and I hope to see substantial evolutions over the next few years. But I doubt Na-Ion batteries will go beyond city cars this decade.Maybe Volkswagen and Renault will use this technology in the cheaper EVs they want to sell in Europe in the following years. Possibly, at some point, the Chinese brand will indeed flood the European market with cheap EVs thanks to the Na-Ion batteries.But, for now, these YiWei and JMEV EVs fitted with sodium-ion batteries are just some lab rats. They are far from revolutionary, groundbreaking, or historical. They might increase China's market share in Asia, South America, and Africa if their prices are much more attractive. But that's all.A comprehensive electric car fitted with a compelling sodium-ion battery is still years away. Will it come from China? The odds favor the Chinese industry, but we should not underestimate Americans and Europeans. I'll keep the "historical breakthrough" syntax for another time.
Wasting time at the charging station until your electric car gets enough electricity for your next drive is indeed disheartening. But there is a car that can help you get rid of that because it is able to drive from Washington to Boston after spending 15 minutes at the charging station

EV

kWh

kW

AWD

The Zeekr 007, with no connection whatsoever with the British Secret Service agent , is a mid-size sedan with impressive figures. Ready to compete with the Tesla Model 3, the Chineseis underpinned by an 800-volt architecture and is built on the PMA2+ platform.It measures 191.5 inches (4,865 millimeters) in length, 74.8 inches (1,900 millimeters) in width, and is 57.1 inches (1,450 millimeters) tall, sporting a wheelbase of 2,928 millimeters.The model is powered by either a silicon carbide motor mounted on the rear axle or a dual-motor powertrain. The single-motor variant comes with 416 horsepower and 326 lb-ft (440 Nm), while the all-wheel drive does 637 horsepower and 524 lb-ft (710 Nm) of torque.The rear-wheel drive accelerates from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 5.4 seconds, while the all-wheel drive only takes 2.8 seconds for the same run.Customers can select one of the two battery options. The entry-level variant gets the 75-lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Golden Battery, which is able to store enough energy for up to 428 miles (688 kilometers) in the generous CLTC test cycle. With a peak charging power of 500, the pack can add 311 miles (500 kilometers) of range in just 15 minutes.There is also a larger battery available. The CATL-sourced 100-kWh Qilin battery has a capacity of 100 kWh and provides the vehicle with 541 miles (870 kilometers) of range. The unit is capable of getting enough energy for a drive of 379 miles (610 kilometers) in just 15 minutes. Zeekr claims that it is the fastest among the production electric cars.It must be one of the reasons Zeekr has already received 51,569 orders in the last 40 days. The Tesla Model 3 rival entered production last week, and deliveries are slated to start in January.The entry-level version starts at 209,900 yuan, which is the equivalent of $29,526. At the opposite end of the lineup sits the Zeekr 007 Performancewhich starts at 299,900 yuan, which translates to $42,367 at the current exchange rates.Zeekr operates 401 fast charging stations with 2,261 charging poles in China. Each features a minimum power of 360 kW. The target is to set up 1,000 charging stations in 2024 and 10,000 charging poles by 2026. The company representatives say that charging should be as convenient as going to the convenience shop, and that is what they are trying to do.Zeekr has not yet penetrated the US market, but the Chinese carmakers models 001 and X are available in European markets such as Sweden and the Netherlands.
Misak Balasanian was recalled through a presidential decree initiated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. It came less than four months after Balasanian, who had no prior diplomatic experience, was appointed as ambassador.

The appointment was widely linked with the agreement reached following the October 2021 municipal elections in Gyumri. Armenias second largest city was run until then by Balasanians father Samvel, a local wealthy businessman.

Although Samvel Balasanian decided not to seek another term in office, a newly created bloc bearing his name participated in the elections and garnered most votes. But it fell short of a majority in the local council electing the mayor.

The Balasanian Bloc teamed up with Civil Contract, to install a relative of Balasanian, Vardges Samsonian, as new mayor of Gyumri. In return, two Civil Contract figures became deputy mayors. Three dozen other members of Pashinians party were also given posts in the municipal administration.

All those officials stepped down after Civil Contract unexpectedly announced on December 6 the end of the power-sharing arrangement. It said it does not want to be part of shady governance, implying that Balasanian Sr. is continuing to pull the strings in Gyumri.

Commentators suggested that the ruling party will try to gain control of the municipality despite holding only 11 seats in the 33-member city council. The Balasanian Bloc indicated that it will not give up the post of mayor.

In another sign of mounting tensions between the two political forces, council members representing Civil Contract blocked on Friday the passage of the citys 2024 budget drafted by Mayor Samsonian. The latter rebuked them as well as councilors from two opposition groups who also voted against the budget.

Samsonian secured the insufficient backing of the third opposition force represented in the Gyumri legislature, the former ruling Republican Party (HHK) to which Balasanian was allied before Pashinians rise to power. Knarik Harutiunian, who leads the Civil Contract group in the council, scoffed at this fact.

Incidentally, Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid travelled to Gyumri on November 23 during an official visit to Armenia. Misak Balasanian, who accompanied him on that trip, was sacked less than two months after handing his credentials to Rashid.
29 December 2023 22:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Elnur Enveroglu and Abbas Ganbay, AZERNEWS

Armenian lobby organisations trying to gain influence in Western circles are constantly increasing their provocations in the field of information about the alleged "Armenian genocide" and insisting on the return of the voluntarily departed Armenians from Azerbaijan's Garabagh to Khankandi. In America, the "love for Armenian gold" among American presidential candidates is manifesting itself. The first installment was for US presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to promote anti-Azerbaijani statements, in which he screwed up the plans of the lobbyists by confusing the South Caucasus region with the African Continent.

Despite the successive failures, the stakes are rising; the Armenian lobby keeps selecting the next victim and currently, they are betting on American presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr.

In society, there has always been an urge and attraction to find an idol to emulate. A group of people who once sought happiness and kingdom in idols, today find that happiness in bribery and corruption as a means of easy profit. Like Ramaswamy, Kennedy envisages his future happiness in the pockets of Armenian lobbyists.

However, looking at the truth, they are not interested in what is happening, nor the future fate of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the South Caucasus. The main thing is that, regardless of the source, there is money for them, and the forces that will eventually support them and elevate them to the presidency are around them. This is the disgrace of the political circles in the West.

The huge interest and thirst for the resources of the South Caucasus region have prompted the Western world to take advantage of the protracted conflict in the region. Of course, the prolongation of the issue is also due to the so-called initiatives of the proxy forces who draw up Pashinyan's road map from abroad. Yerevan has reciprocated Baku's offer to sign a peace treaty but continues to act as an enemy behind the scenes, waging an information, political, and legal war with Azerbaijan.

Robert Kennedy Jr, son of Robert Kennedy and nephew of US President John F. Kennedy, posted in his X page (formerly Twitter) a 2.44-minute video with surprising information for the public. In his speech in the video, Kennedy tries to justify the so-called problems of the separatists by taking a completely different approach to Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. The American candidate who allegedly demanded the return of Armenians to Khankandi said they were "forced out" from Garabagh. With such a ridiculous scenario, the politician makes the USA look like a puppet state.

It is interesting that all candidates who wish to become the president have the same story in the wrong way and whatever it is worth they try to win the sympathy of the people who will change their fate in the elections. Is this the political strategy of a state based on a bag of lies? Why is it that the only interest of the presidential candidates in America is the South Caucasus and the domestic problems of the Armenians living there unnecessarily?

"Unlike the 1915 genocide, this genocide is reversible. The U.S. government needs to organise and mobilise the global community to take action to ensure the safe return of Armenians to Artsakh and protect their right to self-determination," the US presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy Jr said.

The candidate's statement stirred joy in Armenian lobby circles as well as in Armenia itself. The Armenian National Committee of America-"ANCA welcomes Robert Kennedy Jr's calls to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan and support the rights of Artsakh Armenians to self-determination and safe return to their "ancestral homeland"," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

The nephew of the famous US President John F. Kennedy, Robert Jr. decides to imitate his uncle, who in one of his last speeches spoke of a secret world government of "Nazi character" that existed as a state within a state in America. Imitation of one's idols clouds reason and encourages the buildup of power. Robert Kennedy over the past few years has appeared to most people as a man fighting against vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, and Astra-Zeneca, which in the wake of Robert Jr.'s "research" have resulted in the deaths of millions of lives around the world. But as time and circumstances passed, his speeches and statements began to undermine faith in him. It should be noted that this is the first such case when presidential candidate Robert K. Jr. voiced a "call" to prevent a "war" in Armenia, as well as a reference to Armenia itself. No such statements have been made before today nor during his uncle's time.

The attempt of Vivek Ramaswamy, another presidential candidate, who raised the issue of "Armenian genocide" and accusations against Azerbaijan failed due to the candidate's lack of knowledge about the geography. It is precisely for this reason that Robert Kennedy Jr. was chosen as the next rupor for the Armenian lobbyists to cry out the lies about the "poor Armenians.

"We should also seek the lifting of the blockade of Armenia by Turkiye and Azerbaijan. Armenia is a landlocked country and needs access to ports and surrounding countries" said R. Kennedy.

The candidate's statements were welcomed by the Armenian National Committee of America, which in its ideology of revanchism pushed the candidate to make such a statement. However, the statements of both Robert K. and V. Ramaswamy contain the same text with an appeal, where they both made mistakes, by using the expression - 'Armenia is under blockade by Turkiye and Azerbaijan".

The candidates operate based on donations from the Armenian lobby. They meet at events organised by the ANCA. Ramaswamy actively covered the voluntary Armenian walkout during the election campaign and participated in the "120,000 people" protest organised by the ANCA Eastern Region and the AYF Easter region. He also attended an Armenian reception at Armenian Estates in Genoa Township, Ohio, organised by Tigran and Viola Safarian and others. Long-time ANC-Ohio leader David Krikorian introduced Ramaswamy at an event attended by Armenian Americans from all over Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. Presidential candidate Robert K. reportedly joined supporters of Armenia and "Artsakh" at a reception hosted by Mike Sarian on January 8 in California.

As was to be expected, the revanchists succeeded in luring the candidates to their side and securing their votes and statements about the "liberation of Artsakh" and other fantasies. Although he tried to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy marred himself in the jungle of politics by making the wrong choice in his first step.

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29 December 2023 12:49 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

Tax relief for medical institutions will be applied, Azernews reports. This is stated in the information released by the State Tax Service.

It was reported that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed a decree on the implementation of the law dated December 5, 2023, On Amendments to the Tax Code and the regulation of several issues arising from it.

"As in previous years, the main target directions of the changes made in the Tax Code this time are optimisation of the tax burden of entrepreneurial activity subjects, promotion of entrepreneurial activity, reduction of the tax burden of the population with social tax concessions, and improvement of measures to combat the shadow economy.

The State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy presents the changes and their justification to the attention of the public in part.

One of the important changes in the direction of reducing the tax burden of business and promoting entrepreneurship is related to the introduction of tax relief for medical institutions. For transparency of operations in the field of healthcare and optimisation of the tax burden, VAT concessions were given to medical institutions and persons engaged in private medical practice.

According to the latest changes in the legislation, 50 percent of the turnover of healthcare institutions and individuals engaged in private medical practice during the reporting period, formed based on cashless payments made through POS terminals for medical services provided to the population, will be taxed for 3 years from January 1, 2024. It is intended to be deducted from the total turnover. At the same time, when calculating the state budget, the income obtained from the reduction of the VAT amount is exempt from income and profit taxes.

This change, which envisages significant tax relief for medical institutions, will have a positive effect on increasing transparency in that sector as well as stimulating non-cash payments."

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29 December 2023 14:23 (UTC+04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order to allocate funding for the major renovation of the Gandob-Kachmaz-Yalama-the Russian Federation state border (11km)-Aghalig-Dashliyatag-Gunashli highway of the Shabran district.

Under the presidential Order, the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads is earmarked 1 million manat for the major overhaul of the road connecting 3 residential areas with a total population of 4,000 people.

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29 December 2023 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The International Mugham Centre has celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Honored Art Worker, Professor Mammadagha Karimov.

The event also highlighted the 55th anniversary of his pedagogical activity, Azernews reports.

Musicologist and Honored Cultural Worker Saadat Tahmirazgizi congratulated the jubilee and spoke about Mammadagha Karimov's activities.

People's Artists Siyavush Karimi, rector of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, conductor Aghaverdi Pashayev, tar player Mohlat Muslimov, as well as professor Lala Huseynova, Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, director of the College of Music under the Conservatory, Honored Art Worker,Nazim Kazimov, director of the Mugham Centre, and Honored Art Worker, Sahib Pashazade, congratulated Mammadagha Karimov a musician who has significantly contributed to the promotion of Azerbaijani music.

They underlined that, thanks to the tar-playing styles that Mammadaga Karimov touted his students, the national music is today highly appreciated at the international level. Note that Mammadagha Karimov headed the Department of Folk Musical Instruments of the National Conservatory for 13 years.

The anniversary night continued with a concert program presented by the teacher's students, including People's Artist Mohlat Muslimov, Honoured Artists, associate professors of the National Conservatory Sabuhi Jafarov, Alakbar Alakbarov, Rovshan Gurbanov, head teachers Arslan Novrasli, Natavan Hasanova, teacher of Music College Humay Gadimova and other students.

Their performances were greeted with a storm of applause.

Since 2008, the International Mugham Centre has successfully demonstrated the art of mugham, a unique form of traditional Azerbaijani music that holds deep historical roots.

The design of the building was based on the elements and shapes of the tar, an Azeri musical instrument used in performing mugham. The centre was built with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The Mugham Centre regularly organises large-scale music festivals and concerts by highly acclaimed cultural figures.

Mugham Evenings, Treasury of Secrets, Unforgettable, Pearls of Ethnic Music, and Vocal Music Evenings are among the center's most popular projects.

The cultural institution also hosts master classes and conferences and actively cooperates with international partners.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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Iran has executed three men and one woman on charges of suspected ties to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, according to media linked with the court.

A report by Al Jazeera, the Mizan news agency of Iran's judiciary stated on Friday, December 29, that four members of a sabotage group linked to the Zionist government were hanged in the northwest region of West Azerbaijan in the early hours of that day.

The individuals who were put to death were three men named Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, and Rahman Parhazo, and a woman named Nasim Namazi. They were found guilty of "moharebeh," an Islamic legal term that means "waging war against God" and "corruption on Earth" due to their partnership with the Zionist regime, which refers to Israel.

Compromised Security

Reportedly guided by the Mossad, the four individuals perpetrated several acts that compromised Iran's security.

Along with being suspected of burning down some agents' vehicles and houses, the four were also charged with abducting Iranian security officers in order to get information.

Mizan said without giving any more information that many other individuals associated with the same organization were each given a 10-year prison term.

The four were under Iranian intelligence's watchful eye for a minimum of four months, beginning in January 2022, until they were apprehended in May of the same year. They initially said they were transferred from a neighboring country to Iran, according to the state-run news agency IRNA.

Conflict Between Nations

For years, the two nations have been engaged in a covert conflict due to Iran's refusal to recognize Israel.

In the southeast region of Sistan-Baluchistan in Iran, Reuters reported that a man found guilty of working with Mossad was put to death on December 16.

In December 2022, four individuals accused of cooperating with Israel's intelligence agencies were also executed by hanging, according to Al Jazeera.

Israel is being held responsible by Iran for a series of strikes and killings that were aimed at its nuclear program. Israel was allegedly involved in one of the largest sabotage plots against Iran's missile and defense industries in August, claimed Iran.

See Also: Tehran Blames Israel for Airstrike That Killed Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Senior Advisor

Iran's Execution Record

Human rights organizations claim that, with the exception of China, Iran is the country that carries out the most executions annually.

In May, Volker Turk, a United Nations' senior human rights investigator, asserted that Iran's execution record for 2023 was "abominable," with almost ten individuals being beheaded weekly on average.

Iran has carried out more than 600 executions this year, the highest number in eight years, according to a study released in November by the Iran Human Rights organization headquartered in Norway. The UN said 972 death sentences were carried out by Iran in 2015.

See Also: Iran Releases Animated Assassination of NetanyahuHere's How They Envision Killing Israel's Leader

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29 December 2023 15:03 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A play, "The Treasurer", based on the play "From Morning Till Midnight" by German playwright Georg Kaiser, will premiere in Baku with the support of the German Embassy.

The premiere of the play will take place at the concert hall of Khazar University in Baku on December 30, Azernews reports, citing Cinex Film Company.

The screenplay was written and directed by young Azerbaijani director and actor Elvin Adigozal. The play will be performed in Azerbaijani and translated into German.

"The Treasurer" tells the story of an ordinary bank employee whose life takes a dramatic turn after impersonating a wealthy girl to borrow money. This encounter leads to both the sudden acquisition of freedom and its loss.

The production includes various forms of conveying the plot, including pre-recorded video footage and staged performances by actors. The cast of the play includes Parviz Mirza, Mahir Mirishli, Ilqara Tostka, Fatima Alif, Zulfiyya Nazar Mammadova, Zarif Bakirova and Eltakin Khan.

The director of the play, Elvin Adigozal, said that theatre has always been an exciting creative endeavour for him.

"As my main passion and profession is filmmaking, I approach theatre with a different perspective. I enjoy adapting and presenting works in my own unique style. Georg Kaiser's play 'From Morning Till Midnight' was a piece that I could change in this form. That's why I decided to stage it, adapting it to the reality of today or the future, where the setting and time are not necessarily the main focus," he added.

The production is also supported by Cinex, the Azerbaijani cinema company represented by producer Maria Ibrahimova. This is not the first collaboration between Elvin Adigozal and Maria Ibrahimova.

The duo formed three years ago and have since worked together on two films by Elvin Adigozal. This play marks their first joint venture in the theatrical field.

The venue for the play is the concert hall of the Khazar University, located at 122 Bsir Sfroglu Street in Baku. The event starts at 19:00. Admission is free. For more detailed information about the play, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/events/s/x%C9%99zin%C9%99dar-teatr-tamasas%C4%B1/1097809338298522

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29 December 2023 10:37 (UTC+04:00)

Asim Aliyev Read more

The prestigious publication "The Guardian" published an article about Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The author of the article, Patrick Wintour, first of all recalled that these days, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in St. Petersburg. It was noted that Azerbaijani officials said that the country is close to signing a peace agreement with Armenia. This will put an end to the long-standing conflict. According to Patrick Wintour, as a result of anti-terrorist measures, Azerbaijan has fully regained control over the Karabakh region.

It was stressed that the two countries have accelerated negotiations on signing a peace agreement with mutual recognition of borders and normalisation of relations.

It was brought to the attention of the readers that recently both sides showed goodwill and exchanged prisoners of war. In doing so, the two sides issued a joint statement without a mediator.

The article stated that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Pashinyan in St. Petersburg on December 26.

The two sides have already exchanged several potential and relatively short-term drafts of a peace agreement. Elchin Amirbekov, the Azerbaijani president's representative for special assignments, said that the country is currently awaiting Armenia's response to the proposals made in the latest draft of the peace agreement.

Elchin Amirbekov said: "It is important to realise that at such a crucial stage of negotiations we are not so far from signing the final agreement, and in this case we need efforts that will lead to the result. I know that after three decades of negotiations that have not yielded any serious results, there is a certain fatigue on each side, as well as frustration that the parties will continue to meet with each other without any real results."

The author notes that, according to E. Amirbekov, the five principles of the draft peace agreement include the following points: mutual respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of internationally recognised borders, and any territorial claims and conflicts against each other. now and in the future to refuse any actions contrary to the UN Charter.

As the issue of border demarcation is complex, it can be resolved at a later stage.

Azerbaijan also wants the agreement to include a dispute resolution mechanism. Quoting Emirbekov's words, the publication writes: "We are also in favor of reaching an agreement that reflects the ability to resolve all possible misunderstandings and disagreements that may arise."

At the same time, the author touches upon the issue of Nakhchivan in a statement signed in November 2020. According to the author, Pashinyan agreed to open a transportation link connecting the main part of Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan, passing through Armenian territory.

"We cannot waste any more time. In three years, Armenia has not even started the feasibility study of the 42-kilometer road. Of course, we cannot force Armenia to do the work it has committed to do; moreover, it is very ridiculous to assume that we will interfere in the territory of this country to realize this project even by force. That is why we have asked Tehran to build a road and railroad line passing through Iran," said the Representative-at-Large.

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29 December 2023 11:19 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Elchin Amirbayov, representative of the President of Azerbaijan for special assignments, said in an interview with the French Le Monde newspaper, which devoted an article to the aggravation of French-Azerbaijani relations, that France cannot digest the victory of Azerbaijan in any way, Azernews reports.

The reason for the observed deterioration of bilateral relations, he noted, is the unfair, biased pro-Armenian position taken by France on the issue of the Armenian-Azerbaijani confrontation.

Elchin Amirbayov added that for a long time, France, which has been providing all kinds of diplomatic, economic, and recently military support to Armenia, has been undermining the prospects of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia with its malicious actions.

"Attempts to use various international platforms such as the UN Security Council, the European Union, and its institutions to promote blatantly anti-Azerbaijani initiatives have not only permanently undermined France's already dubious reputation as a possible mediator but have also seriously damaged Baku's confidence in the European Union itself, where France is assigned one of the leading roles," the Representative said.

Amirbayov stressed that Paris' deliveries of lethal weapons to Yerevan destabilise and undermine security in the South Caucasus region, pushing it towards new military conflicts, a senseless arms race, and artificially distancing the prospects for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"France cannot digest the victory of Azerbaijan, which has restored historical justice and put an end to thirty years of illegal Armenian occupation of Garabagh and other regions of its territory," Amirbayov concluded.

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29 December 2023 16:28 (UTC+04:00)

Asim Aliyev Read more

At an extraordinary general meeting held on December 29, the Western Azerbaijani Community adopted a statement on the extraordinary presidential elections to be held in Azerbaijan on February 7, Azernews reports.

The statement says that today's Azerbaijan, where the ideas and dreams of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, were realised, is experiencing the strongest period in the history of its statehood. "The resolute and wise policy of Ilham Aliyev, who continues the work of the national leader with honour and dignity, is the hope and support of Azerbaijanis all over the world," the statement says."Today's Azerbaijan, shining on the world like the sun, is the most perfect creation of Ilham Aliyev."

The authors of the statement emphasised that by achieving the historic achievement, President Ilham Aliyev made the greatest contribution to the history of Azerbaijani statehood, thus rendering an unparalleled service to the past, present, and future generations: "Victory in the Patriotic War ensured not only the return of our IDPs to their homeland, but also created confidence that refugees from Western Azerbaijan will be able to return to their homeland in peace."

It was noted that the instructions and recommendations given by the President at the meeting with a group of intellectuals of West Azerbaijan on December 24, 2022, became a turning point in the nationwide struggle of the Azerbaijani people to secure the rights of Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from Western Azerbaijan: "President Ilham Aliyev's statement on the issue of human rights and return to Western Azerbaijan, which he considers one of the main goals of our people, as a peacekeeping mission, mobilized not only us, the Western Azerbaijanis, but also the Azerbaijani people. We are confident that the President, who has returned thousands of IDPs to Garabagh and East Zangazur, will also return us to our homeland, Western Azerbaijan, in a peaceful way. Therefore, the united hundreds and thousands of members of the community of Western Azerbaijan support Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev in the presidential elections to be held in our country on February 7, 2024".

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29 December 2023 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

The information spread in the mass media about the marriage of a 12-year-old girl in Mamishli village of Sabirabad district was investigated and taken into custody by the Ombudsman, Azernews reports.

Relevant requests were sent to the Azerbaijani Science and Education Ministry, the Sabirabad District Executive Authority, and the Sabirabad District Police Department in order to take the necessary measures to ensure the rights of the minor and keep the matter under control.

The relevant structural unit of the Ombudsman's Office held an informative conversation with the child's family members, explained the requirements of the legislation, the consequences of early marriage, and emphasised the importance of continuing the child's education.

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29 December 2023 19:10 (UTC+04:00)

Final meetings on summing up of 2023 were held at the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Main Departments, Departments, Services, and independent branches of the Defense Ministry, as well as all types of troops and special educational institutions, Azernews reports.

During the meetings, the activities of the Azerbaijan Army in the current year were extensively analyzed. The tasks assigned to the Azerbaijan Army by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev were once again delivered to the personnel.

It was emphasized that the combat readiness and moral-psychological state of military personnel is high. The work carried out in educating the personnel in the spirit of patriotism, comprehensive provision, and equipping the troops with professional personnel were discussed.

Achievements as a result of successful reforms in the Azerbaijan Army were noted, and the readiness of the personnel at any time to carry out any task of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was emphasized.

The meetings discussed upcoming measures and plans for organizing service and combat activities at a high level, improving social and living conditions, and increasing the knowledge and skills of military personnel during the next year.

In the end, a group of distinguished personnel was awarded following the year.

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29 December 2023 18:41 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

Azerbaijan reduced natural gas exports to Turkiye in October 2023 by 5.53 percent compared to the same period in 2022, from 760.97 million cubic metres to 718.91 million cubic metres, Azernews reports.

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The Bahrain National Day Festival at the Heritage Festival, which is part of Celebrate Bahrain 2023, will be extended till New Year's Day on Monday, Jan. 1, 2023.

The decision has been taken by the Ministry of Information because of the huge public turnout at the National Day Festival.

This extension means that families and friends can celebrate the last few days of 2023 at the Bahrain National Day Festival to ring in the New Year with a bang!

The Bahrain National Day Festival features fun recreational activities and magnificent heritage markets, which reflect the rich cultural heritage of Bahrain.

New Year's Eve in Bahrain

Various venues in Bahrain will host magnificent New Year's Eve fireworks shows on Dec. 31

Crowne Plaza will host New Year's Eve celebrations with a feast and live music so that guests can ring in the New Year with a bang.

If you're looking to welcome the New Year with some wonderful music, Exhibition World Bahrain is hosting a live concert featuring Myriam Fares and Ragheb Alama on Dec. 31

For the latest updates about New Year's Eve, check out Bahrain Moments!
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro directed armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after the United Kingdom deployed a warship to Guyana's territorial waters.

This move comes amid a dispute between the South American neighbors over a large border region.

Maduro addressed the plan of action in a nationally televised address on Thursday. The Associated Press reported that 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including both air and naval forces, will carry joint operations with the Bolivarian national armed forces off the nation's eastern coast near the border with Guyana. Maduro describes this as an action "of a defensive nature in response to the provocation and threat of the UK against peace and the sovereignty of our country," and that it is "the breaking of the spirit of dialogue, diplomacy and peace of agreements."

Reuters confirmed both leaders from Guyana and Venezuela reached an agreement earlier this month to abstain from the use of force and to mitigate escalating tensions in their longstanding border dispute over the oil-rich territory. The Essequibo region is 160,000 square km in size and is widely acknowledged as a part of Guyana. However, in recent years, Venezuela has renewed its claim to the territory and offshore areas following the discovery of substantial oil and gas resources. Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters "Nothing that we do or have done is threatening Venezuela," during a press conference in Washington.

On Sunday, The Guardian announced that the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD) declared it would be sending the patrol vessel to Guyana amid rising pressure. This treads on the heels of a referendum Venezuelan voters backed to create a new Venezuelan state in the Essequibo territory.

UK foreign minister, David Rutley, visited Guyana earlier this month and reaffirmed the importance of respecting its territorial integrity. He added that the UK would work internationally "to ensure the territorial integrity of Guyana is upheld".

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Sweet Suites and Insanely Cool Oregon Coast Waves in Lincoln City This January

Published 12/27/23 at 3:35 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Lincoln City, Oregon)  Right now is storm season, with breakers-busting tempests barreling in all the time. In fact, this week there's a series of them. There is nothing quite like the fresh smell of sea air, even in winter when it's a raging storm out there. (Above: Shearwater Inn, Lincoln City)

The Oregon coast's biggest draw is likely Lincoln City, even in storm season, and three of the numerous reasons that's so are a trio of much-loved hotels that have their devotees, yet they manage to be a bit of a secret at times. All three are always finding ways to spoil those who stay the night, and each features an array of magnificent views and amenities. Each holds a different connection to that wild, beachy world. Each gives a new side to the major wave-pounding that occurs here throughout January.

At one you can gaze more closely at the wilderness of Siletz Bay, while another stands tall, looking down on the popular D River access. The third provides a clifftop vantage point to check out whales and other natural wonders of this part of the central Oregon coast.

All three have just made this kind of getaway insanely inexpensive for January as well.

Right on Siletz Bay sits the Looking Glass Inn with a presence that slightly evokes a lighthouse. The wooden exterior has a distinctive classiness as well as a rugged charm, overlooking the tidal madness that can be the bay. During storm season this is one amazing spot to be, watching those waves shove giant logs onto the beach, creating that vast, dense forest of sea-bleached tree parts that the bay is known for.





In summer or other calmer moments, this bay is overflowing with serenity and peace, with less wave action than the ocean (which is often also in view from Looking Glass Inn).

Most of the rooms have a view, and those are all extraordinary. If it's not watching seals or sea lions across the bay or swimming around (and it turns out they watch you as well), then it's bird or wave drama of some kind.

Each of the rooms at this famed Oregon coast hotel comes with a large selection of pleasantries, which can include a whirlpool tub, one- or two-bedroom suites, rooms with a fireplace  and a lot more.

From now through the first of February they have quite the deal going. It's called Two Night Special. "Stay two nights or more from Sunday  Thursday in a Two Queen Studio most with bay view for $89 per night or a bay and ocean-view Whirlpool Suite for $99 per night," managers said. "This is excluding holiday school breaks." 861 SW 51st Ave. Lincoln City, Oregon. 800-843-4940. www.lookingglass-inn.com

A little ways up the road, in the middle of Lincoln City, the D River access hosts a large variety of fun stuff, including major kite festival events about twice a year or more. Towering above it is the oceanfront Shearwater Inn, an upscale hotel with outstanding views on all the oceanic action.

The D River itself is right below the posh building as well, which can be raging in winter but in summer you may actually find it dried up. It gets so low it doesn't make far from its thicker stretch a couple hundred feet to the east. That's a curiosity not many know about.

Another intriguing aspect about the D River is this spot can suddenly open up for agate hunting. Even in summer, when sand levels remain quite high, for some reason gravelly areas sometimes just appear, which is the telltale sign of agates among those gray and black stones.





The somewhat swank Shearwater Inn provides a lot of lovely amenities, including spacious rooms, decks and balconies to watch all the fun, as well as outdoor hot tub and rooms with gas fireplaces. Perhaps most interesting to some is how pet friendly the place is, providing means to spoil your pup.

The Shearwater Inn is also making it extremely thrifty to hit these rooms during the weekdays, offering some units for $89 a night. Good through February 1, it's another two-night special.

Managers told Oregon Coast Beach Connection: "Stay 2 nights or more Sunday  Thursday in a Standard King Room with partial ocean view for $89 per night or an ocean-view King Studio with deck for $99. Excluding holiday school breaks. The rate is for two people and cant be combined with other discounts." 120 NW Inlet Court. Lincoln City, Oregon.(541) 994-4121. 800-869-8069. www.theshearwaterinn.com

At the northern, much-less populated section of Lincoln City, Pelican Shores Inn is also hosting a similar, budget-friendly proposition.





Stay 2 nights or more Sunday  Thursday in the Oceanfront King Deluxe Studio for $89 per night. Available 1/26/23  2/1/24, excluding holiday school breaks. The rate is for two people and cant be combined with other discounts.





The Pelican Inn sits up on a high bluff, offering great opportunities for sighting whales. They're much easier to see from elevated spots like this, and they're still coming through in decent numbers in January. Although they start to trail off after the middle of the month.

Amenities: Suites come with oceanfront patios or gas fireplaces. King studios have sliding glass doors to oceanfront patios at the lawn level. 2645 NW Inlet Ave. 800-705-5505. www.pelicanshores.com

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Coos Bay's Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge: History, Construction of S. Oregon Coast Landmark

Published 12/28/23 at 5:05 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Coos Bay, Oregon)  [UPDATED] "As you approach this magnificent mile-long bridge along U.S. Route 101, you know that you are about to cross into someplace very special," says Oregon's Adventure Coast.

The agency overseeing tourism in the Charleston / Coos Bay / North Bend area sums up what many have thought for decades about the Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge.

As many have said or written in the past, this was the beginning of the end of isolation between Oregon coast towns. Highway 101 had been largely completed by the mid 1930s, but these little burghs were about to go from pioneer posts that barely had contact with each other to true tourism destinations once the five big Oregon coast bridges were completed. Florence, Newport, Gold Beach and Waldport were the other four: the fifth at Coos Bay was the most ambitious and glorious of them all at the time. (Above: the Coos Bay Bridge construction, 1935, courtesy Oregon State Archives)

What was officially named the Coos Bay Bridge at the time began construction in 1934, as part of the New Deal's Public Works Administration (PWA) and its employment programs, bringing together various bodies from various industries to create many of America's landmarks. It was a big part of the answer to the Great Depression, helping it fade away.

The designing architect was Conde B. McCullough, who was hailed for this one especially, though many of his bridges snagged much attention  and still do. He was known for being a pioneer in bridge building around the world, and in fact after this one was finished the State of Oregon lent him and his genius to a bridge project in South America.

These days, what's known as the Conde B. Mccullough Memorial Bridge is a wonder and a masterful feat of great beauty, stretching 5,305 feet across Coos Bay, with a steel cantilevered design that was new back then, and a truss some 1,708 feet. Its road is 150 feet off the water.



Courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast

It was finished in 1936 and dedicated with a week-long celebration in what were then called Marshfield, Empire and North Bend. Unlike many origin stories on the coast, this landmark had few dramas or intrigue during construction. Well, maybe there was one quirk in that tale.

The first week in June of '36, as the opening celebrations began, The Coos Bay Times noted how at the beginning of the whole planning process, the State Legislature was urged by local timber companies to make the bridge out of wood instead of the concrete and steel that it became. They estimated over four million feet of lumber would be needed, which would feed a lot of timber industry families in the region.



Library of Congress

The state went for the steel and concrete, which the Times noted wound up using more wood than if they had built it out of that material. It was a humorous paradox, the newspaper called it: the building of the scaffolds and other structures required some six and a half million feet of lumber (some later accounts differ on that number). A steel and concrete structure actually brought more payroll dollars to the area  still suffering from the Great Depression  than a wood bridge. Besides, the newspaper noted, they got a better bridge.

In the '30s, as it was getting completed, it was considered one of the longest cantilever bridges in the world, and by far the longest on the Oregon coast (until the Astoria-Megler Bridge in the '60s). Its blend of Art Deco, Gothic, and Modern design elements still illicit reaction today as people drive above and over Coos Bay. McCullough designed it so when you enter, it feels as if you're driving under arches. He painstakingly designed a lot of elements both large and small to achieve this, while also keeping it all functional in a cutting edge manner.

This hand-colored print of a drawing by Frank G. Hutchinson was made in 1935, the year he began working with the Oregon Highway Department. Frank's drawings for this agency and others are quite revered, almost as much as MucCullough himself.

Everyone called it a jewel, even then. That term gets thrown around a lot in historical accounts and travel media, and it was so since its construction. McCullough himself called it the most important of his career, and certainly others echoed that then as they do now. Back then, national magazines covered the bridge's creation, especially design and engineering publications.



Library of Congress

It and he were rock stars for awhile.

The Coos Bay Times at the time reported how the structures holding it down from above were called wind anchor shoes, keeping it steady in the windiest of Oregon coast moments. Roller bearings allow the span to move back and forth a few inches and as temperatures change. But the shoes penetrate into the concrete above, allowing it to slide back and forth but not sidewise, the paper wrote. They check a tendency for one end of the steel span to blow away from the bridge.

Resistance for each shoe was was over 100,000 pounds, enough that, as they put it: all the the trees in the bay would be blown to the earth before the Coos Bay Bridge even groaned.



Library of Congress

Most historical accounts of the bridge say it was officially named the Conde B. McCullough Bridge in 1947, not long after he died. That's true, but it's also true that more often than not the media referred to the bridge as the McCullough Bridge as early as a year or so before construction began. Newspaper clippings in the '30s reporting on his talks to various groups called it the McCullough Bridge rather than its intended Coos Bay Bridge.

Fun Facts (according to Oregon State Archives): the Conde B. McCullough Bridge was constructed with 12 million pounds of steel and 48,000 cubic yards of concrete. Each of the four towers weigh 34 tons.

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Six Rescued from Stranded Crabbing Boat on N. Oregon Coast's Tillamook Bay

Published 12/23/23 at 7:25 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Garibaldi, Oregon)  There are quite a few rocky areas along the north Oregon coast's Tillamook Bay, but most are a ways out of the main channel in and out. However, one unlucky group of crabbers managed to get stranded on an area of rocks Friday evening, bringing out the Tillamook County Sheriff's Office to rescue them. (Photo courtesy TCSO)

Six people aboard the boat were pulled to safety, according to a post on social by the TCSO, after it lodged itself onto a stretch of rock in the north Oregon coast bay that's famous for fishing and crabbing.

No one was injured.

TCSO said the boat lost power while crabbing on Friday night, and as they tried to restart the motor, the boat had drifted onto the rocky ledge near an area called Lyster's Corner.

Personnel from the Tillamook County Sheriff's Office, Garibaldi Fire Rescue, Oregon State Police and United States Coast Guard responded to the area - as Tillamook 911 dispatchers helped coordinate the response, TCSO said.

About 5 p.m. on Friday, a TCSO marine patrol boat headed out from Garibaldi to assist.

Deputy Dennis Greiner said the boat was finally floated again utilizing oncoming swells. This enabled rescuers to latch a bow line to the vessel and then tow it off the rocks. Crews were able to successfully bring it back to the docks and onto its trailer.



Tillamook Bay, courtesy TCSO

Also assisting were deputies Billy Cloud and Terrance Watters.

"It was nice to be able to rescue the boat, before it accrued any more damage, or became a navigational hazard to other boaters," said Deputy Cloud.

TCSO's Marine Patrol is funded by the Oregon State Marine Board, TCSO said. TCSO Marine Deputy's are Criminal Patrol Deputies that receive specialized training in emergency operation of motorized and non-motorized boats, water rescue, and the enforcement of marine and fishing laws.

More on the Area: Garibaldi on the Water's Edge: Sights and Sites on N. Oregon Coast's Tillamook Bay

It's a place with three Graces, seemingly miles of shoreline, numerous marvel-filled lookout spots and dozens of wonders hiding in plain sight. Garibaldi, on the north Oregon coast, is often one of those just passing through kind of spots on Highway 101, and not always a destination on its own. However, it is well known for boating adventures, getting your seafood straight from vessels, crabbing, clamming and some intriguing historical landmarks.

Yet there's one thing it really should have spotlighted on its resume: just chillin' on the bay. Tillamook Bay......full story

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In a Tuesday evening press conference at the N.C. General Assembly, Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, announced an agreement to abandon, for now, efforts to legalize casinos through the state budget.Focusing on tax cuts and development projects in the over $30 billion budget, the leaders announced that the Senate will vote on the conference report at 2:00 PM Thursday with final votes at 9:30 AM Friday. The House is planning to hold budget votes on the floor on Wednesday and Thursday.Berger told reporters.said Moore.Berger did tell reporters that the casino issue is not dead, though. Leadership plans to bring it back up in a later session for more discussion.Senate Leader Phil Berger originally wanted to include casinos in the state budget. However, the House never garnered the support necessary to get a budget with casinos over the finish line, with only 42 of his Republican colleagues expressing a willingness to do so. After a new plan was floated that would have paired Medicaid expansion with casinos through House Bill 149, most Democrats indicated they would likely vote against it.Berger pointed to highfrom certain lawmakers as the reason for the change.Medicaid expansion is still tied to passing the budget. However, now that casinos are not in the budget, legislative leaders are nearing a final agreement, and Governor Cooper is now more likely than not to sign the budget. Moore and Berger both said they expect the budget to pass with at least supermajority margins and bipartisan support.Here's what was inside the leaked draft, which legislative leaders have confirmed is very close to the final agreement:Personal income tax drops to 2.49%: North Carolinians' personal income tax could drop to as low as 2.49 percent in the next five years, but only if revenue triggers are hit each year. There will be a 0.50% PIT reduction each FY revenue triggers are hit.If there are years where North Carolina does not hit revenue goals, the PIT rate will remain the same, but no PIT cuts will be reversed once they occur. The soonest PIT could drop to 2.49 percent would be 2029, on the condition of revenue hitting theevery year. With large-scale gambling revenue not kicking in until the Senate figures out how to get its desired casinos and VLTs, North Carolina is unlikely to hit all of the revenue triggers every year.For reference, North Carolina revenue for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year was $33.535 billion.Franchise tax capped: The franchise tax will be capped starting in 2025 and will affect corporate income tax filings starting in 2024. ForCorporations, for the first one million dollars of their tax base, they will pay a flat fee of $500. For any amount of their tax base that exceeds one million dollars, they will pay $1.50 for every $1,000 of that excess amount.Corporations will pay $200 for the first one million dollars of their tax base and $1.50 for every $1,000 of the excess amount. ets minimum tax for all corporations at $200 and a maximum of $150,000.Privilege tax repealed: The budget's tax package includes a repeal of the privilege tax, but keeps certain exceptions for financial and lending businesses.Extends sales tax exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are extended from their previous expiration date from Jan 1, 2024 to 2028. These exemptions include retail sales and use taxes on motorsports, senior care facilities, aviation, fuel for freight boats, and breast pumps.Vape tax: The budget allows for vape products containing nicotine to be taxed similarly to other products. They are also shifting the tax from being cost-based to weight-based.Rideshare service tax: The General Assembly is implementing a new excise tax on Uber, Lyft and other rideshare services of 1.5 percent for exclusive rides and 1 percent for shared rides.NCInnovation: Lawmakers have settled on giving NCInnovation $500 million, or $250 million a year for two years. It will still be set up as an endowment. NCInnovation is a private, non-profit corporation that focuses on facilitating the commercialization of research from North Carolina universities. This decision contrasts with the Senate's earlier proposal of a $1.425 billion endowment, significantly diverging from the House's $50 million allocation.The budget also includes stipulations to cap salaries funded by NCInnovation at $140,000, introduces enhanced reporting requirements to the legislature's Joint Government Operations Committee, and mandates reporting on outcomes, regional hub expenditures, unaudited overhead reports, and more. The State Auditor gains explicit audit authority, while the North Carolina General Assembly is granted the power to repeal NCInnovation's charter and reclaim assets. Additionally, the budget outlines extensive functional and job description parameters for NCInnovation's operations.Regional Economic Development Reserve: The budget establishes a Regional Economic Development Reserve within the General Fund, allocating $1.25 billion in nonrecurring funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.Golden LEAF: The budget increases Golden LEAF funding from $17 million annually to $25 million annually. Golden LEAF is a nonprofit that worksaccording to its website.Universal School Choice: Opportunity scholarships will be awarded to eligible students based on household income levels and the average State per pupil allocation. For reference below, North Carolina's per pupil allotment as of 2022 is $7,426, and the income threshold for free and reduced lunch varies based on number of children in the household.Students from households with income levels qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program are eligible for a grant of up to 100% of the prior fiscal year's average State per-pupil allocation.Students from households with income levels between 100% and 200% of the federal free or reduced-price lunch program are eligible for a grant of up to 90% of the prior fiscal year's average State per-pupil allocation.Students from households with income levels between 200% and 450% of the federal free or reduced-price lunch program are eligible for a grant of up to 60% of the prior fiscal year's average State per-pupil allocation.Students from households with income levels above 450% of the federal free or reduced-price lunch program are eligible for a grant of up to 45% of the prior fiscal year's average State per-pupil allocation.There will be an annual audit on 4% of opportunity scholarship recipients in order to verify North Carolina residency requirements are met. The General Assembly will also require opportunity scholarship school recipients to contract with a CPA to perform annual financial reviews.Free lunch and breakfast for more low-income students: Mandates that the Department of Public Instruction expand public school participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program to increase the number of students with access to healthy, cost-free school breakfast and lunch.School safety: This budget allocates $3.2 million for New Hanover County and $2 million for Davidson County for an Artificial Intelligence school safety pilot program.Teacher pay raises: The budget gives teachers an average increase in pay of about 7 percent over the next two years. Increases in base salary are larger for early-in-career teachers than for more experienced teachers, with raises ranging from 3.6% to 10.8% depending on the number of years worked.Bus drivers: Bus drivers will get an extra two percent more than most state employees, for a total of about a 9 percent raise over the next two years.UNC School of Civic Life and Leadership: In Chapel Hill, the UNC School of Civic Life and Leadership will be established and will be run by the provost rather than being directly under the chancellor.Water and sewer: Nearly $2 billion is allocated to over 200 individual water and sewer related projects all across the state.Highway Fund: For the Fiscal Year 2023-24, the budget allocates almost $3 billion. For 2024-25, the budget allocates almost $3.2 billion.Prohibition on state or regional emissions standards for motor vehicles: Prohibits any requirements on controlling emissions on new motor vehicles and reduces the number of vehicles currently subject to emissions inspections.Prohibit cap and trade requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: No state agency, governor, or the Department of Environmental Quality, may require certain public utilities to engage in carbon offset programs.
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.
By Jeff Louderback at The Epoch Times

The independent presidential candidate spoke out about the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot.

Mr. Kennedy, who announced on Oct. 9 that he would run for president in 2024 as an independent instead of as a Democrat because the Democrat National Committee was rigging the primary, has expressed his disapproval of the decision several times since.

He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: Colorado Supreme Court ruling makes America look like a Banana Republic. Why doesnt every American understand that if they can do this to a former US President, EVERYONE is vulnerable to punishment for crimes with which they have never been convicted. Democracy would be a total shambles.

In another post on the platform, Mr. Kennedy wrote: If Trump is kept out of office through judicial fiat rather than being defeated in a fair election, his supporters will never accept the result. This country will become ungovernable.

He reiterated his stance in an interview with The Epoch Times.

I think we are seeing more and more this sinister and troubling trend of democracy being downgraded. Were headed to a system where the elites pick our leadership, Mr. Kennedy said.

Its like the old Soviet Union, where party leaders pick the leadership. Federal agencies have been weaponized as political tools against the American public to suppress anyone from running except the chosen leaders.

Im not a fan of Trump, but I want the American people to decide who represents them, and I want to win on a level playing field and in a fair fight, not by a judicial intervention coming in and getting rid of people they dont like.
As the complex negotiations persist, the ongoing tough talks between China and the United States underscore the diplomatic challenges shaping the global landscape.

The US and China are no exception to this, as of the 28th of December this year, according to Reuters, China's military officials have taken verbal swipes at the US despite progressive talks "Criticizing it's continued meddling in the Aisa-Pacific". Spokesperson Wu Qian stated the following "The United States continues to strengthen it's Aisa-Pacific deployments, this is full of a cold-war mindset. Its goal is for it's own selfish gains and to maintain its hegemony. Its nature is to stoke confrontation.

On a more uplifting note, it was revealed by Aljazeera that top military representatives from both countries, Charels Q Brown of the United States and General Liu Zhenil of China, respectively, met last week via virtual meetings. Both officers had positive things to say with Brown "Reiterating the importance of the People's Liberation Army engaging in substantive dialogue to reduce the likelihood of misunderstanding." General Liu Zhenli stated, "The key for the US and China to develop a healthy, stable, and sustainable military-to-military relationship was for the US to have a correct understanding of China."

In addition to engaging in dialogue with the US, CNN reported earlier today, December 29, 2023, that China has named former naval commander Dong Jun as its new defense minister while the former minister Li Shangfu has taken a step back from public view for reasons unknown.

As one can see while both superpowers will share verbal swipes from time to time neither one wants to engage in conflict with the other which is ultimately for the best, not just for the two superpowers but also for various parties around the globe. As we've seen multiple conflicts break out across the globe in this year alone one can hope that tough words are all that are exchanged between the US and China.

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States across the U.S. are starting to bring back mask mandates in healthcare settings as COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses spread at rapid rates, according to a Dec. 28 report from Newsweek.

In New York City, hospitals have reinstated mask wearing policies following a CDC-reported spike in COVID cases in the area. NYC Health + Hospitals also reinstated a mask policy across all of its facilities, including at its outpatient and ambulatory care centers.

As New York hospitals begin to reimplement mask policies, it's likely that other health facilities, including ASCs, will follow.

On Dec. 14, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a statement advising all healthcare facilities to "step up mitigation efforts." The department said it supports the CDC's recommendation to mask at health facilities in counties where COVID and respiratory virus transmission rates are high.

UW Health, which has facilities across Wisconsin and Illinois, has started reinstating a mask mandate at many of its care sites.

In California, a number of counties, including Yolo, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Alameda and San Mateo have ordered all healthcare workers to begin masking again at work.
Two Miami men were sentenced for a multistate scheme that used rural hospitals to bill for medically unnecessary urine drug testing.

Jorge Perez, 63, the owner and manager of hospitals and the owner of a billing company, and Ricardo Perez, 60, the manager of a billing company, conspired to unlawfully bill for lab testing service in rural hospitals in Missouri and Florida, rather than the laboratories where the testing took place, according to a Dec. 15 news release from the Justice Department.

The pair targeted and obtained control over hospitals in financial distress and then fraudulently billed private insurers, which provided higher reimbursements for the hospitals than the laboratories. The claims were submitted to appear that the hospitals did the testing when in most cases it was done by testing laboratories.

Additionally, according to the report, the fraudulent testing was for vulnerable addiction treatment patients with samples often obtained through kickbacks.

The hospitals involved were Graceville, Fla.-based Campbellton-Graceville Hospital, which declared bankruptcy in 2017, the now-shuttered, Williston, Fla.-based Regional General Hospital Williston and Unionville, Mo.-based Putnam County Memorial Hospital.

Jorge Perez was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison, and Ricardo Perez was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.
Here are five new ASCs opened or announced in December:

If you'd like to add an ASC, please email pnewitt@beckershealthcare.com.

1. 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. Lafayette-based Louisiana Orthopedic Specialists has a $16.2 million ASC in the works.
From the acquisition and expansion of One Medical to the introduction of drone delivery services for prescriptions, here are 12 moves Amazon made in 2023 to grow and develop its healthcare footprint.

One Medical

Amazon bought virtual and in-person primary care company One Medical for $3.9 billion in February.

The tech company sold discounted memberships for One Medical as part of the annual sales event in July.

Amazon began offering Prime members a discounted membership to One Medical in November. Members can access primary care through One Medical's on-demand virtual care platform at no cost beyond the membership and through in-person office visits at any of One Medical's locations across the United States.

One Medical formed a collaboration with Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health in November. This move allows specialists from Hackensack to deliver care to the primary care patients of the tech company.

A similar partnership was made earlier in November between One Medical and CommonSpirit Health's Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

Other launches

Amazon launched Amazon Clinic, its virtual care platform, across all 50 states and the District of Columbia in August. The service, which was announced in November 2022, offers care for 30 common health conditions, such as urinary tract infection, pink eye and erectile dysfunction.

Amazon Pharmacy released RxPass, a $5 per month medication prescription service, in January. The subscription provides access to commonly prescribed generic medications for more than 80 common health conditions.

Technology

Houston Methodist introduced a pilot program in October that connects Amazon's Echo Dot with its Epic EHR system, allowing prescriptions placed within the system to trigger an audible notification in the pharmacy, alerting pharmacy personnel to prepare the medication.

Amazon Pharmacy launched a drone delivery service for customers in College Station, Texas, in October that is administered by Prime Air.

Amazon opened a $100 million generative artificial intelligence center in June. Generative AI could be used by healthcare and life sciences customers in drug research and discovery, the company noted in the announcement.

Closures and layoffs

Amazon shut down Halo, its health and fitness device line, on July 31.

Amazon conducted a layoff spree in an effort to eliminate 18,000 jobs throughout the organization, including its healthcare branches. The layoffs included 80 employees with Amazon Pharmacy, 159 people with Amazon Care and 236 employees with Care Medical.
Carthage (N.Y.) Area Hospital and Ogdensburg, N.Y.-based Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center are taking legal action to recover patient data stolen in a September ransomware attack, local news outlet WWNY reported Dec. 28.

So far, the information of 30 patients has been breached, but hospital officials said it could have been more if the IT team hadn't caught onto the hack. The hospital has filed the paperwork to recover some of the stolen data from a server owned by Boston-based Wasabi Technologies.

Ransomware gang LockBit attacked the hospital. The hospitals are working with the FBI to find the hackers.
A group of legislators representing Ulster County, N.Y., have urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to resolve the dispute with Westchester Medical Center Health Network to avoid service cuts at HealthAlliance Hospitals in Kingston and Margaretville, N.Y., which the health system owns, the Daily Freeman reported Dec. 28.

Valhalla, N.Y.-based WMCHealth, a 12-hospital system, plans to significantly reduce services at HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, N.Y., unless it secures a state bailout to address a projected $24 million budget gap for 2024.

"As you are aware, we are facing a dire situation regarding the commitment of delivery of healthcare services at the HealthAlliance Hospital locations in Kingston and Margaretville," New York state Sen. Michelle Hinchey wrote in a letter to Ms. Hochul. "It is incumbent upon all partners, Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) and the state, to come to an immediate financial agreement and keep our hospital on track to continue the services currently provided and to continue the expansion of healthcare services promised by both institutions."

WMCHealth claims that it required tax dollars primarily because of unexpected financial challenges during the pandemic, and these challenges exceeded projections outlined in a 2019 government funding deal with the state for consolidating two hospital campuses in Kingston into HealthAlliance Hospital.

Ms. Hochul and her team, which previously accused WMCHealth of waging a "misinformation campaign," argue that the health system has ample funds  including $160 million in state taxpayer dollars over the last five years  to avoid the hospital service cuts.

As of Dec. 28, more than 40 elected officials and over 500 community members have signed similar letters of support to the governor's office calling on the state to maintain its financial commitment to HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley and to prioritize preserving services at HealthAlliance Hospital, Margaretville Hospital and Mountainside Residential Care Center.

WMCHealth said it is in talks with state officials over a new financial stabilization plan for HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley to address the challenges that have strained its finances and threatened investments the system has made to improve care quality in the region.

"The last thing we want is to compromise that progress, and the millions of dollars WMCHealth has invested in programs, services and a new hospital," a spokesperson for the health system shared in a statement with Becker's. "If we cannot reach a viable resolution with the state in the immediate future, our responsibility to communities across our entire network will force us to address the budget gap by exploring expense reduction options."

A spokesperson for Ms. Hochul's office told Becker's that WMCHealth received more than $160M in funding from state taxpayers in the last five years  which exceeds the $104.7M commitment made in 2019  and ended 2023 with $109M in cash.
Statement by Rev. Mark Creech on the Passing of Rev. Don Wildmon of AFA NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Action League of N.C.

Dec. 29, 2023



RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 29, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Mark Creech, Executive Director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Don Wildmon, Founder of the American Family Association: On the occasion of the death of Texas Senator Sam Rayburn, Senator Tom Corcoran of New Hampshire wrote a letter to his colleague Lyndon Baines Johnson, then presiding over the Senate. In the letter, he took a quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes, which reads, "It is November and the leaves that shelter my generation are falling fast." Corcoran went on to write, "Once our world was full of older men who were magnificent individuals in the grand manner. Many big oaks sheltered us. Like the leaves in November, they fall fast, and we are now our own front line."



I have been away visiting with my wife's family in Norfolk, Virginia, this week, when my dear friend and brother in Christ, Ron Shank, head of Optimus Media, telephoned me about the passing of Don Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association.



Ron and I briefly talked about how so many of the older individuals who were magnificent in the grand evangelical manner, individuals whose ministries were like big oaks that sheltered us, have now fallen: Rev. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005), Rev. D. James Kennedy (1930-2007), Rev. Jerry Falwell (1933-2007), Chuck Colson (1931-2012), Rev. Rev. Tim LaHaye (1926-2016), Phyllis Schlafly (1924-2016), Rev. R.C. Sproul (1939-2017), Rev. Billy Graham (1918-2018), Rev. Pat Robertson (1930-2023), and now Rev. Don Wildmon (1938-2023). These people were modern-day prophets to our times, providing messages that addressed our current spiritual needs and issues. In my estimation, if it had not been for their faithfulness, America would already be on the ash heap of history.



I have not given up on my country, but it seems to me that her time to turn back to God is quickly running out. There have been pockets of revival here and there, for which we are thankful. Still, we wait and earnestly pray for wholesale repentance by the church of her worldliness and a spiritual awakening that ushers hundreds of thousands into the Kingdom of Christ. The individuals previously mentioned, and Don Wildmon, yearned for the salvation of our beloved country, they prayed for it, and they sacrificially gave of themselves to make it happen. Their legacy is that so much of what they did sheltered us, but they are gone now and we are quickly becoming our own front line. Heavenly Father,



We come before You with grateful hearts for the life and legacy of Don Wildmon and the other great evangelical leaders who have gone before us. They were faithful stewards of your Holy Word and served as strong oaks, providing spiritual stability, protection, legacy, and continuity in an ever-changing world.



Lord, we acknowledge the responsibility that now rests upon us as we become the front line in this ongoing battle for the soul of our nation. Grant us the strength, wisdom, and courage to carry on the work they began. May their examples continue to inspire us to live lives that honor you and advance your kingdom.



We humbly ask for a widespread repentance within the Church, a turning away from worldliness, and a mighty spiritual awakening that will draw multitudes into the Kingdom of Christ. Use us, Lord, as vessels of your grace and agents of your truth in a world that so desperately needs your love and salvation.



In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. In this time, our sympathies and prayers are with Don Wildmon's family, as well as with the ministries and individuals who have been touched by his life's work. May his legacy of faith and dedication continue to inspire us all. Rev. Mark Creech is the executive director of the Raleigh-based Christian Action League of North Carolina.



For more information, contact:



Phone: 919-915-3033



6325 Falls of Neuse Rd.,



Suite 35-106



Raleigh, NC 27615



SOURCE Christian Action League of North Carolina



Share Tweet Rev. Mark Creech is the executive director of the Raleigh-based Christian Action League of North Carolina.For more information, contact:Phone: 919-915-30336325 Falls of Neuse Rd.,Suite 35-106Raleigh, NC 27615 rev.markcreech@christianactionleague.org SOURCE Christian Action League of North Carolina
China guards against new variant of COVID-19

Xinhua) 11:19, December 29, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- China is taking proactive measures to counter new COVID-19 cases caused by the JN.1 variant of the virus, which is spreading globally, China's health authority said Thursday.

"China is routinely monitoring COVID-19 infections to determine the trend of infection spread and virus mutation," said Li Zhengmao, an official with the national administration of disease prevention and control.

Li noted that COVID-19 infections in China are at a low level at present. The number of infections related to the JN.1 variant is relatively small, added Li.

The variant exhibits increased immune escape and spreading capability but does not appear more pathogenic, said Li, adding that current vaccines targeting the XBB variants are still effective against the new variant.

Disease control and prevention authorities in China will continue to enhance the monitoring and early warning of COVID-19 infections. In the meantime, they will advance vaccination among key groups, including seniors and patients with underlying health conditions, and ramp up medical preparation against possible waves of infection, especially in rural areas, said Li.

Speaking of the recent wave of respiratory diseases, Peng Zhibin, another official with the administration, said that multiple pathogens cause these diseases. He added that monitoring results showed that influenza viruses are the pathogen type causing the most cases.

In most provincial-level regions, the influenza outbreak has peaked and will wane in the days to come, said Peng.

Peng advised the public to pay close attention to the issue of infectious diseases when making plans for the upcoming New Year and Spring Festival holidays. He also called on the public to maintain good personal hygiene and receive vaccination against infectious diseases.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Russian "almost naked" party, which was hosted by popular blogger Anastasia Ivleeva, was criticized by pro-Kremlin lawmakers, Orthodox Church leaders, as well as pro-war activists.

Well, this is not surprising since Russia is a very conservative country. Aside from this, Russia already outlawed the LGBTQ movement as an extremist in November.

A scandal at Moscow's Mutabor nightclub, where a provocative "Almost Naked #Party" took place, draws outrage in #Russia, especially among pro-Kremlin supporters, resulting in arrests, fines, and legal actions against the organizer Nastya Ivleeva and celebrity attendees. pic.twitter.com/4sIPYVZgj3  Fabulous Beings (@fabulousbeings) December 28, 2023

This is why Ivleeva's controversial party, which invited celebrities and LBGTQ members, is a big deal for Russian conservatives. Since the social event was heavily criticized by Kremlin officials, some guests were even sent to prison just for attending the party.

Russian 'Almost Naked' Party Criticized by Lawmakers

According to CNN World, the controversial "almost naked" party happened on Dec. 20 and ended on Dec. 21. Ivleeva hosted her social event at the Mutabor Club in Moscow.

What's questionable about this controversial party is that it was conducted while Russia is at war with Ukraine and the Russian government is further cracking down on the LGBTQ movement.

To give you an idea about the party, reports stated that top Russian influencers, celebrities, as well as socialities attended the gathering barely wearing clothes.

Some wore super revealing attires or underwear. Meanwhile, others decided to take their outfits to the next level by only using socks to cover their private parts or wearing shoes (and nothing at all).

One of the guests was even arrested. This is specifically rapper Vacio (real name Nikolay Vasilyev), who was only wearing a sock to cover his genitals. He was arrested by law enforcement authorities and was sent to prison for 15 days.

Aside from this, the rapper was also fined 200,000 rubles or around $2,200. He faced this fine because a Moscow court ruled the event was aimed at "propagating non-traditional sexual relationships."

"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," stated the court ruling.

The Moscow court added that all these illegal activities were done to encourage non-traditional sexual relationships in mass media on the internet.

Read Also: Carlsberg Cuts Ties with Russia After Kremlin's Attempt to Take Over Business

What Pro-War Russians Say About 'Almost Naked' Party

Russia used its anti-LGBTQ+ laws to convict a rapper who showed up to a celebs almost-naked party in just a sock https://t.co/xpdE1XVb2j pic.twitter.com/Wiwko6D1ZP  Gay Travel & Tourism (@gaytourism) December 28, 2023

Some critics said that celebrities who posted videos and photographs of the controversial party could be seeking support from other Russian residents.

Unfortunately, they did this in a country with a patriotic community and with rising supporters of war against Ukraine. Many military bloggers and propagandists shared their opinions about the almost naked party.

They said that those who participated in the event, as well as organizers, are spreading moral corruption while Russian soldiers are dying on the front lines.

"There is a war going on in the country, but these creatures, scum, are organizing all this," said Vladimir Solovyov, a top Russian propagandist, via NBC News.

"How morally deaf do you have to be?" he sarcastically asked.

Related Article: Russia Allegedly Putting Ukrainian Children in Military Training; Thousands of Kids Possibly Relocated in Belarus

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Hospitals and health systems around the country are being sued for their use of the pixel tracking technologies, which plaintiffs say shared their protected health information with the various tech giants, allowing them to tailor ads based on their medical conditions.

Currently, more than 18 hospitals and health systems are facing lawsuits for allegedly installing the pixel technology on websites and patient portals.

Here is how much three health systems are paying to settle those suits:
Greenwich (Conn.) Hospital's lawsuit against the town's planning and zoning commission for rejecting the hospital's bid to develop a cancer care center has been dismissed by a state Supreme Court judge, the CT Insider reported Dec. 28.

The commission originally denied the hospital's proposal for the 55,700-square-foot center in November 2022, which was followed by a lawsuit from hospital administration attempting to reverse the commission's decision. Ruling in favor of the commission, a state Supreme Court judge has now dismissed the hospital's lawsuit, the publication reported.

"The court does not find that the process engaged by the Commission are in any way a violation of fundamental fairness or Connecticut law," the judge's ruling determined, according to CT Insider.

Amy Souchuns, the hospital's lawyer, filed a legal complaint suggesting that the commission's denial was based on the surrounding neighborhood's "character," and was a violation of Connecticut law. Ms. Souchuns argued that the commission was also not focusing enough on other zoning documents, and too concerned with its "Greenwich Plan of Conservation and Development."

Additionally, the hospital administration reportedly accused the commission of ignoring evidence that proved a need for the cancer care facility, along with raising procedural issues.

"The Commission denied the application based on a confluence of factors which are well articulated in its decisions. A few factors were deemed more persuasive than others. The Commission determined that the Plaintiffs (the hospital) did not provide enough compelling data to support how specific current and future town of Greenwich residents' needs are not being met by existing local cancer care facilities," Laura McGeachy, attorney for the commission wrote in a court filing shared by CT Insider.

Robert Genuario, a judge trial referee, concluded that the commission was right to look into the surrounding neighborhood where the facility would go, as many area residents had raised traffic congestion concerns and other issues with the area.

Becker's has reached out to the hospital for comment regarding their lawsuit rejection.
The judge overseeing a Florida civil case made famous by a Netflix documentary has issued an order for the examination of a juror's conduct during the eight-week trial, the Tampa Bay Times reported Dec. 22.

Judge Hunter Carroll declared on Dec. 20 attorneys for the St. Petersburg-based hospital are permitted to subpoena juror Paul Lengyel for a hearing Jan. 3. This decision follows the filing of four post-verdict motions by Johns Hopkins attorneys against Mr. Lengyel, citing numerous instances of juror misconduct that they argue justify a new trial.

Mr. Lengyel was a member of the six-person jury that found on Nov. 9 that the hospital had falsely imprisoned and battered 10-year-old Maya Kowalski in 2016. The verdict included findings of inflicting emotional distress on the Kowalski family and contributing to Maya's mother's suicide. The decision garnered international attention, partly due to its portrayal in a Netflix documentary titled "Take Care of Maya," which was released in June.

The documentary has garnered millions of views.

In response to post-verdict motions filed by hospital attorneys, Mr. Carroll issued an order limiting the interview with Mr. Lengyel to four specific issues. The interview will investigate whether Mr. Lengyel shared case information with his wife, who actively posted about the trial on social media and attended it in person. Additionally, it will explore whether Mr. Lengyel violated instructions by conducting research on the case.

The hearing will also delve into whether Mr. Lengyel failed to disclose his involvement in a Broward County child welfare case on a jury questionnaire, potentially influencing his perspective on the Florida Department of Children and Families, the agency that placed Maya under Johns Hopkins All Children's care.

The juror interview will also address whether Mr. Lengyel provided misleading information to the court when indicating on a jury questionnaire that he had no knowledge of Debra Salisbury, an attorney representing the Kowalski family. The defense contends that Ms. Salisbury had previously represented Mr. Lengyel's wife in a 2007 domestic relations proceeding.

The newspaper said Mr. Lengyel could not be reached for comment.
The justice advisor for the soon-to-close Northern Ireland-Co-operation Overseas (NI-CO), who oversaw child justice reform in Bahrain, has been recognised with an MBE in the Overseas and International New Year Honours List.

Paula Jack joined the NI-CO, part of economic development agency Invest NI, in 2014 and has led projects on the reform of child justice systems in Bahrain. Her work has included the establishment of a commissioner for children's rights - the first in the region.

Ms Jack has also trained Bahraini judges, prosecutors and social experts focusing on children's rights and protection.

She was nominated by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which together with the European Union, funded the projects Ms Jack worked on while in Bahrain.

Ms Jack said: I am honoured to be given an MBE in recognition of my work as justice advisor with NI-CO over the last nine years. It has been my privilege to work internationally to reform child justice and protection systems.

"Our aim in NI-CO is to share the Northern Ireland experience and to challenge and create reforms promoting compliance with international standards for human rights. Seeing real changes in law, policies and practices through reforms that improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable children across the world makes this work incredibly rewarding.

"I am delighted to receive this honour as it recognises the importance of ensuring childrens rights are upheld.

It was revealed earlier this month that the not for profit organisation, which is owned by the Department for the Economy, would be shutting down with the loss of 18 jobs as a result of Brexit.

After more than 30 years in operation the public body said that it was unable to continue operating after Brexit made it unable to bid for EU projects.

A plan to wind up NI-CO is underway, with its Belfast Gasworks headquarters Landmark House listed for sale at 1.6m.

The company was established in 1992 to showcase public sector best practice internationally and promote UK participation in international development.
Derry Girls star Siobhan McSweeney has said she forgot how to be vulnerable while filming the second season of the hit series.

The actress, who played Sister Michael in the Channel 4 comedy, said a loved ones death, an accident and a fire at her house all hit her during that period.

My father died during the second series of Derry Girls, the 43-year-old told Radio Times. Then my house burned down and then I had the accident [in which she broke her leg].

The Cork woman is known for playing a battleaxe but said she eventually had to ask for help.

I forgot how to be vulnerable. Every day I just thought, I havent died, brilliant, keep going, but eventually enough bad things happened that I asked for help. All the horrible stuff that happened has taught me I have a great support network: the best friends and family in the world, she said.

Siobhan McSweeney

McSweeney said this year she was spending Christmas at home with her brother.

Ill be back in Cork, where Im from, with my brother and his family, she added. To be honest with you, Im a little bit of a Grinch and Id be very happy doing nothing for Christmas, but hes got kids and its nice. Were still able to do the whole Santa Claus thing.

She hosts the Channel 4 programme The Great Pottery Throw Down, the Christmas special of which was quintessential viewing for many.

McSweeney said: It wasnt as hot as last year  that was particularly grim  but I do think Gladstone (the pottery museum in Stoke-on-Trent, where the show is filmed) has that sort of Dickensian feel. It was beautiful, with fake snow and loads of Christmas trees.

Its only our second festive episode, and I think its a lovely thing to do. You get these brilliantly funny, charming and beloved celebrities usually making an absolute pigs ear of it.
Dame Amanda Blanc, left, was one of those included on the New Year Honours list (Dilantha Dissanayake/PA)

The bosses of TalkTalk, Aviva and TV business personality Mary Portas topped the listings of business people on the New Year Honours list.

The boss of arms manufacturer BAE Systems Charles Woodburn was also made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in a year when weapons companies have become increasingly important with the war in Ukraine set to enter its third year in February.

TalkTalk boss Dame Tristia Harrison said that she was humbled to have been recognised for her work recruiting and promoting more women in the technology sector.

Mary Portas has been made an OBE (Anthony Devlin/PA)

She was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours list.

I am humbled to have been nominated for this honour, Dame Tristia said.

I have spent over 20 years in telecoms and as a team at TalkTalk we have been proud to champion affordable connectivity, invest in Greater Manchester and encourage more women into telecoms and technology.

Dame Amanda Blanc, the chief executive of insurance giant Aviva was also recognised on the list for services to business, gender equality and net zero.

Dame Amanda was born in Wales and worked most of her career across the insurance industry before becoming one of the most high-profile female chief executives in Britain when she was appointed to lead Aviva in 2020.

They joined Mary Portas, a retail consultant and broadcaster known for her TV programmes as well as leading a 2011 review for the Government into the state of the British high street.

She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to business, broadcasting and charity.

Sir Stephen Hester, the former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland said that he was delighted to be on the list.

TalkTalks chief executive Dame Tristia Harrison was named on the list (TalkTalk/PA)

Sir Stephen, who was made a knight for services to business and the economy, helped steer the struggling bank back from the brink after it came close to collapse during the 2008 financial crisis.

He now chairs easyJet and Scandinavian banking giant Nordea and has previously led RSA Insurance and British Land.

I suppose this is very cliched, but Im absolutely delighted, pleased and delighted, he told the PA news agency.

Mr Woodburn was made a CBE for services to international trade and skills development.

The international trade he has been involved in has included supporting the Ukrainian armed forces.

Mr Woodburn said: I am humbled to receive this award  its a huge honour that belongs to the entire team at BAE Systems, who work tirelessly day in, day out to provide critical capabilities and services to our armed forces, security services and other customers around the world.

Other prominent business people on the list include WPP boss Mark Read, Anglo American chief executive Mark Cutifani and AJ Bell founder Andy Bell who were all made CBEs.

Addison Lee founder Sir John Griffin was knighted for services to business and charity.
Jamie Dornan has revealed he would be very intrigued to know what a united Ireland would mean for health, education and the economy.

The Holywood-born actor said he was very open-minded to the idea of it.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Dornan said: The wrong language has been used for too long and they need to tell people how it would look for health and education and economically, and the actual everyday things of life, rather than the sentimentality of it, the flag in it, and all that bulls**t thats been wrecking the place for many, many years.

He said of a united Ireland: Id be very intrigued to know what that looks like. Theres more of a willingness to talk about it than there has been in my lifetime and Im very open-minded to the idea of it.

The actor, who is married to Amelia Warner and has three daughters, was speaking ahead of the airing of a new season of the hit thriller series The Tourist on New Years Day.

The second series will focus on Jamie Dornans 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.

Speaking to the Irish Post, Dornan said the production is like a Tourism Ireland advert for how it showcases the Emerald Isle and spoke of his appreciation for the Irish crew he worked with on the production.

The Tourist follows amnesia-ridden car crash survivor Elliot from Northern Ireland, who attempts to retrace his life before unravelling a larger mystery. All the action in season one took place while Elliot was stranded in Australias outback.

Dornan is an executive producer for the new series. On the producer experience, he said: Its been great. It was one of those opportunities that presented itself to me and I was excited to do it.

Its 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.

Its been nice to have a bit more say over the creative aspects of the show and its something Im proud of.

The stunts in 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 couldnt 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 Im an old man and my shoulders dont work.

All episodes of series two of The Tourist will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday, January 1, with episode one airing on BBC One at 9pm.
Stained glass artist Brian Clarke has said he is delighted that his work has been recognised (Jonathan Brady/PA)

British artist Brian Clarke has said he is feeling very surprised and grateful at being given a knighthood in the New Year Honours.

Painter and architectural artist Clarke, 70, who has been described as the most celebrated stained glass artist in the world today, is honoured for his services to art in a career that has spanned 50 years.

His work has appeared in landmarks worldwide including the Al Faisaliyah Center in Riyadh, the Royal Mosque of King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, and the 14-metre-high, stained glass pavilion, The Stamford Cone in Connecticut.

Sir Brian, who is believed to be the first stained glass artist to receive a knighthood for the artform, said in a statement: I am working class by birth and by inclination.

My art is for the working class and my public art in stained glass is intended to beautify the corners of the world it occupies.

I feel so grateful that my lifes work has been noticed, being honoured for it is more than I could have imagined.

Over the years, he has also created stained glass for commemorative works including the Holocaust Memorial Synagogue (Neue Synagogue) in Darmstadt, Germany, and also designed an artwork in 2010 for the Papal Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature in London, for Pope Benedict XVIs state visit to the United Kingdom.

He told the PA news agency of being given a knighthood: Im feeling very surprised and grateful really. Its wonderful to get noticed for ones work, but to get honoured for it too is really very encouraging.

Sir Brian Clarke at an exhibition of his Vespers collection at the Phillips auction house in London (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Sir Brian was born in Oldham, Lancashire, into a working class family, with his father, Edward, a miner, while his mother, Lilian, worked at the local cotton mill, according to his official website.

He received his first commission at the age of 17, for a Grade II listed property and, by the early 80s, had become a major figure in contemporary international art as both a painter and stained glass artist.

He added of the honour: To get ones art noticed in this kind of way, in any way, is a privilege, but to be honoured too is fantastic.

The medium that Im best known for, I used to be best known as a painter, but I think theres been more attention paid to my stained glass in later years.

And its a medium that this country has had a thousand years of tremendous history (with), this medium has impacted on our culture in a substantial way.

Its a wonderful, wonderful medium. It lifts the spirits and helps articulate the nature of architecture. Its a thrilling medium, and I want it to last as long as it possibly can.

And so, anything like this, of course, will contribute to supporting the continuation of what is a unique and special part of our visual arts culture.

Over the years, he has been commissioned by leading designers including British architect Lord Norman Foster; Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and the late British architect Dame Zaha Hadid, to design stained glass for buildings across the world.

Last year, he designed and fabricated a series of large-scale stained glass windows for the Brian Clarke Church of England Academy, a co-educational secondary school in Oldham, which is named after him.

His current exhibition, A Great Light, has been on show at Damien Hirsts Newport Street Gallery in London, and celebrates Clarkes 70th year with a collection of works from 2002 to the present day, the gallery said.

The year 2024 will see him working on a commission for Bahrain Airport.
Single-family rentals continue to attract would-be home buyers as rent prices and leasing activity rose throughout 2023. A for rent sign is shown at a home Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Houstons homebuying market may have slowed considerably this year, but single-family rentals continue to attract many would-be buyers who are putting off purchasing a home.

Single-family rental leasing surged by at least 10 percent year over year for each of the first eight months of the year, peaking in July with almost 4,400 homes leased, according to Houston Association of Realtors. Leasing activity cooled in September but it remained higher than in 2022.

In November, Houstonians signed rental leases for an additional 3,133 single-family homes  about 6.6% more than a year earlier, according to Houston Association of Realtors. Town home and condominium rentals also jumped by 9.7% year-over-year to 520 leased units, according to HAR.

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Increased single-family-home leasing activity is occurring even as rental rates rise. The average lease price for a single-family home in the Houston area in November was $2,220 monthly, up 5% compared to last year, according to HAR. Average lease prices for town homes and condos rose by 3% to $1,849, year-over-year.

The Houston rental market remains strong as we wrap up 2023 and has been the silver lining to a market that, throughout the year, posed inventory, affordability and mortgage rate challenges to many consumers, said HAR Chair Cathy Trevino with LPT, Realty, in a statement. Theres no saying what mortgage rates will do in 2024, but inventory of both resale and rental homes has grown considerably, so consumers will have ample selections available no matter which direction they choose to go.

November marked the first time in 19 months that Houston home sales increased, and with mortgage rates beginning to stabilize, real estate agents are hopeful that 2024 could bring more buyers back to the market.

A rendering of the new Porsche dealership in Sugar Land. Indigo Auto Group

Sugar Land's new Porsche dealer

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Luxury auto retailer Indigo Auto Group recently opened a new Porsche dealership in Sugar Land.

The 150,000-square-foot campus was built at 13426 Southwest Freeway, near Highway 90. About 50 employees are expected to work at the new location, which will also offer a Porsche maintenance and repair center.

The dealership is expected to offer concierge style, white-glove service, said General Manager Bram Zeeger, who previously served as General Manager of Porsche Palm Springs, in a news release.

The dealership was partially built with low-carbon cement made by Terra CO2 Technology. Terras proprietary process uses widely available silicate-based raw materials, resulting in 70% lower carbon dioxide emissions and 90% lower nitrogen oxide emissions compared to standard cement, according to Indigo Auto Group.

The dealership's design included using light-colored concrete and roofing to reduce solar heat gain, among other sustainable design features.



Indigo Auto Group acquired its first Texas store, Porsche North Houston, in 2010. Now, with 26 franchised dealerships in six U.S. markets, the company describes itself as the largest Porsche franchisee nationwide.

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Shea Homes has started construction of The Arbor, a $10 million amenity village in Evergreen in Conroe. Shown here at the groundbreaking are, from left, Rebecca Sumers, Keith Luechtefeld, Scott Villarreal and Bob Keller. Jenny Baugh with JW Baugh Photography

Amenity complex underway at Evergreen

A 740-acre master-planned community in Conroe is continuing to grow with the addition of a $10 million, 8.7-acre amenity complex that recently broke ground at Evergreen.

Evergreen, by developer Shea Homes, is being built at the northwest corner of FM 242 and FM 1314 in Conroe, about 40 miles north of Houston.

The amenity complex is expected to feature a pool, recreation center with a fireside nook and indoor and outdoor lounge areas, an event lawn, splash pad and playground area, and in the future, pickleball courts. The complex is expected to open by fall 2024.

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Eight model homes in Evergreen opened in spring 2023 by builders Shea Homes, Perry Homes and Chesmar Homes.
A man arrested at Belfast Harbour is wanted in Spain over his alleged role in large-scale cannabis trafficking by a pirate ship, a court heard today.

Hassan Ibrahim Gomaa is accused of being part of an international network involved in transporting more than 20 million euros worth of drugs from Morocco into Europe.

The 39-year-old Egyptian national was remanded into custody after confirming that he intends to fight extradition.

Gomaa, whose current address in Dublin remains unknown, is being sought to stand trial in Spain on charges of importing cannabis in May 2013.

PSNI officers detained him at a ferry terminal in the docks area on Thursday evening.

Counsel for the Spanish authorities told Belfast Extradition Court the warrant for Gomaas arrest included particularly serious alleged offending.

Ben Thompson disclosed: It relates to an international network involved in large-scale trafficking of hashish, of which the accused was a member.

It carried out an operation to transport a large stash of hashish to the European market for which a pirate ship was launched.

The vessel which was spotted after it left Morocco, according to the barrister.

Gomaas lawyer confirmed that he does not consent to extradition.

No application for bail was made by the accused at this stage in the process.

He currently resides in Dublin and we do not have an address in this jurisdiction to offer, the solicitor added.

Gomaa was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link on January 12.
The Western Health Trust has appealed to family members of those in hospital to work with their medical staff to speed up discharging patients as they say their Altnagelvin and South West Acute hospitals are extremely busy.

In a post on social media, the Trust said both hospitals emergency departments are extremely busy with large numbers of people attending on Thursday evening alongside a high volume of patients requiring admission to already full wards.

The Trust is appealing to those who have urgent but non-emergencies to phone first on 0300 020 6000.

In a video statement, the Trusts community director Maura ONeill also reiterated the hospitals are under pressure and that one of the key issues is delayed discharges of patients.

"As you know our hospitals are under extreme pressure, and we continue to do all we can to support your loved ones when they are in our hospitals. One of the reasons for these key pressures is that we have more admissions than we have beds available to us, she said.

The delayed discharges in our system are also compounding this so I am really imploring you to work with us, particularly our discharge teams to ensure that your loved ones have safe and timely discharges from our hospitals.

Delayed discharge refers to when a patient is medically fit to leave hospital but is not discharged for several different reasons including hospital staff being reassured proper after care can be provided after a stay in hospital.

The Western Trusts appeal comes just weeks after the Department of Health (DoH) issued an appeal to the public to do all it can to help the health service get through this winter.

DoH said practical steps the public can take to support the health service this winter include getting your COVID-19 and flu vaccines if you are eligible.

The Western Trust also said it was facing unprecedented pressures due to the record number of patients in the local community needing hospitalised earlier this month, including at one point in early December its South West Acute Hospital being already at 117% of its unscheduled bed capacity.
A convicted killer has been remanded in custody on Friday after he was extradited back to Northern Ireland from the Republic.

Standing in the dock of Craigavon Magistrates Court, James Meehan was charged with being unlawfully at large on October 9 last year. The 54-year-old confirmed he understood the charge and a police officer gave evidence that he believed he could connect the defendant to the charge.

In 2009 Meehan, whose address has been given as c/o HMP Maghaberry, was handed a life sentence with an order to serve a minimum of 14 years in jail for the murder of Londonderry man Jim McFadden.

The 42-year-old victim was repeatedly punched in the chest and died from a ruptured heart in an attack that took place after the wedding reception of Mr McFaddens sister-in-law in Donegal in May 2007.

According to legal proceedings in Dublins High Court where Meehans lawyers unsuccessfully applied for a stay on extradition proceedings, Meehan had been freed in October last year and allowed to live at an address in Limavady but warrants were issued for his arrest when he was found not to be there.

While his lawyers contended that he had been released on his lifelong licence, one of the warrants issued states that Meehan was on temporary release so when he absconded from his address, he was in fact unlawfully at large.

Meehans appearance at court on Friday is as a result of extradition proceedings and at the conclusion of the brief hearing, District Judge Brian Archer remanded Meehan back into custody and adjourned the case to January 15.

In an earlier PSNI statement, Sergeant Davey from the International Policing Unit said: This demonstrates our continued and effective working with An Garda Siochana to track down wanted persons and return them to Northern Ireland.

Should offenders fail to comply with the terms of their release from prison, then the Police Service of Northern Ireland will take all possible steps to have them arrested and returned to prison here in Northern Ireland.
Bishop Patrick Walsh photographed alongside King Charles, then Prince of Wales in Belfast in 2011.

Tributes have been paid to former Bishop of Down and Connor Patrick Walsh, who has died at the age of 92.

His passing was announced by St Peters Cathedral Parish in Belfast.

The church asked for prayers for the happy repose of the soul of Bishop Patrick Walsh who passed away peacefully on Thursday evening in Nazareth House Care Village in Belfast.

Bishop Donal McKeown, Apostolic Administrator of Down and Connor, said: It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Bishop Patrick Walsh yesterday evening in Nazareth Care Village, Belfast, where he had resided in his later years of retirement.

He recalled a gifted academic who was utterly dedicated and faithful in his service of the church.

A former president of Belfasts St Malachys College and maths teacher, Patrick Walsh became a bishop in 1983.

Born in Cobh, in Co Cork in 1931, Bishop Walshs family moved to Belfast when he was 11. He would go on to attend St Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School in west Belfast.

In 2005, Bishop Walsh called for the Catholic Church to put in place measures to protect the welfare of children following a response which detailed the abuse by 21 priests in Wexford, which he told the BBC was shameful reading.

In 2019, television presenter Eamonn Holmes recalled receiving a detention from Bishop Walsh while he was a pupil at St Malachys after a bus hijacking during the Troubles made him late for school.

Bishop Walsh would later call the future GB News presenter the most tenacious and argumentative young man he had ever come across and but said he would go far in his profession as a journalist.

In 2011, Bishop Walsh was one of the first to greet King Charles when the then Prince of Wales visited St Malachys Church in the Markets to view the results of a major 3.5m restoration project.

During the visit the future monarch chaired a discussion to consider the role of redundant and distressed churches and church estates in the heritage-led regeneration of communities in what then First Minister Peter Robinson called a new era for Belfast.

He stepped down from his role as Bishop of Down and Connor in 2008.

Saint Peters Cathedral Parish Belfast continued in their post that Bishop Walshs funeral details would be made in due course.

"May he rest in peace, they added.
A Belfast city councillor has hit out at the vandalization of an Irish language street sign in south Belfast, saying the destruction is a lack of respect.

SDLP councillor Gary McKeown took to social media website X, formerly Twitter, this afternoon (Friday) to post a photograph of the sign for Haypark Avenue near the Ormeau Road showing the Irish language translation of the street name appeared to have been torn off.

"Disappointed that the bilingual street sign on Haypark Avenue has been vandalised. This achieves nothing and shows a lack of respect for things that matter to people. I've asked the council to repair it as soon as possible, he wrote.

The sign is just one of several dual language street signs which have been vandalised over the years. In 2021, two bilingual signs at Crannog Way in Enniskillen were targeted by black paint in a sectarian attack.

Earlier this year Belfast City Council also said they would fix several of the signs after they were reported to contain spelling mistakes  including the translation of Haypark Avenue.

The sign was spelt Ascaill Pharie an Fheir when the correct spelling is Ascaill Phairc an Fheir.

Signs in La Salle Park in west Belfast, Ashgrove Park in north Belfast also contained spelling mistakes, with Belfast City Council stating a contractor was appointed to fix the errors.

While earlier this month, Sinn Fein Councillor Tomas O Neill pointed out a further mistake in west Belfast in the Mount Eagles area.

I know we said that signs will be double and triple checked, but the Mount Eagles sign went in recently, and that had mistakes on it. An n was mistakenly separated to an r and an n and a fada was missing on the o, he said at a council meeting.

We are getting a bit down the line with this, it is getting a bit repetitive. Its the same argument every month.

In February over 100 streets in Belfast were put forward for application to become bilingual, while last month Belfast City Council confirmed further dual Irish language versions will be added to signs in west and north Belfast.
Officers arrested a man who is wanted in Spain on drugs charges (PSNI/PA)

Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a 39-year-old man who is wanted to stand trial in Spain on drugs charges.

Hassan Ibrahim Gomaa, an Egyptian national, has been charged with importing cannabis worth more than 20 million euro (17.3 million) into Europe in 2013.

He was detained under the Extradition Act on Thursday in the Belfast Harbour area and was brought before an extradition court in Belfast on Friday.

Gomaa was remanded in custody following an appearance at Laganside Courthouse.

A spokesperson from the PSNIs International Policing Unit said: This arrest was as a result of our collaborative working with the National Crime Agency and the Belfast Harbour Police.

The police service will continue to work with our international partners to identify and arrest those sought for arrest and extradition.

Our message is clear  there is nowhere to hide in Northern Ireland, and that we will actively pursue all wanted persons believed to be in this jurisdiction.
An American social media account belonging to Bushmills Whiskey has been ridiculed after it highlighted the Belfast Wheel as one of Northern Irelands most scenic locations  despite the structure not being present in Belfast for more than 10 years.

In a post on Thursday on the website X, formerly Twitter, Bushmills USA, which is the American account for the North Coast whiskey brand, wrote: Among the many scenic locations in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Wheel remains a holiday favourite.

"Located only an hour away from our distillery the market square hums with travellers and locals alike. Schedule a visit this winter using the link in our bio.

The post was later removed while the link in the accounts bio takes users to a website where they can arrange a visit to the famous brands distillery in Bushmills.

Read more New role for Civil Service if no Stormont return, says NI Secretary

Bushmills USA posted the tweet on Thursday

Opened in December 2007, the Belfast Wheel was a significant attraction in the city centre for a short time in the grounds of City Hall. However, it was removed by its operator Great City Attractions just over two years later in 2010.

Alliance Party leader and then-Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long said it had been a real asset for the city, adding that its loss will be a blow for tourism and told the Belfast Telegraph the wheels removal would be a loss to the city.

Despite its popularity, the Belfast Wheel wasnt without controversy. Shortly after it was unveiled Titanic enthusiasts called for it be removed to another location in the city claiming it overshadowed a memorial to the 1912 disaster within the City Hall grounds.

The Environment Agency also had objected to its presence as it wanted to ensure it did not become a permanent feature beside a listed building.

Shortly before it was removed, a man also climbed to the top of the wheel causing widespread panic and emergency services at the scene.

After it was removed there was speculation about plans it would be relocated to Titanic Quarter, however these plans never came to fruition.

The post attracted several comments from NI residents pointing out the confusion in the brands post.

"An hour from your distillery? This hasnt been there for years, yall on the booze today, wrote one user.

While another said: Long gone folks.
Dublin feared economic impact of such a transfer, papers show

The Irish government considered a range of possibilities in the wake of the outbreak of the Troubles

The Irish Government examined the possibility of redrawing the border in the 1970s, taking up to 60% of Northern Irelands territory and up to 500,000 its citizens.

But Dublin feared that any redrawing of the border with Northern Ireland that led to a large population transfer to the Republic would be unaffordable for an economy already struggling to fight off recession.

The remarkable revelation came in confidential documents released from the State Archive on the implications of any changes to the 1921 border in the wake of the escalating Troubles.

In the early 1970s, as Northern Ireland was gripped by an escalating campaign of sectarian violence, the Fine Gael-Labour coalition examined all possible options in the wake of the collapse of power sharing in Belfast.

Dublin civil servants were ordered to consider options for a number of different potential political developments.

These ranged from the continuation of the status quo through to an independent Northern Ireland and a possible redrawn border to put heavily nationalist areas in the Republic.

Dublin was concerned about what might happen if the UK decided, in the wake of the escalating violent and civil strife, to withdraw its military and administrative personnel from Northern Ireland.

Civil servants quickly advised the government that any question of a military intervention by the Republic was out of the question.

There were concerns that, in the event of a British military withdrawal, unionist politicians in Northern Ireland may opt to declare independence.

However, the option was examined by civil servants and it was determined that any question of military intervention by the Republic was effectively impossible.

This is beyond our military and administrative capabilities, it warned.

The scenario revolved around the Irish Defence Forces being deployed to subdue loyalist paramilitary groups and to ensure Northern Ireland was brought within the control of the Republic.

Civil servants also warned that another option  that of redrawing the border  would also involve significant resources for the Republic.

One study examined a new border which would see over 60% of Northern Irelands territory being included in the Republic  and up to 500,000 former Northern Ireland citizens finding themselves living in the Republic.

Civil servants warned that the economic fall-out of any such plan would be potentially enormous for the Irish government.

It estimated a cost of close to 900m for the plan to be fully enacted.

Civil servants stressed that the UK would almost certainly not agree to underwrite any of the costs involved  and would, in any event, almost never agree to any border redrawing that resulted in large swathes of UK territory being handed over to the Republic.

The study, drawn up in 1975, would cost almost 9bn in todays money  roughly one twelfth of Irelands annual Exchequer receipts.

Civil servants also warned that any attempt to include largely nationalist areas of Northern Ireland in the Republic would prove problematic given that the areas almost certain to remain within the UK  such as Belfast  also contained large nationalist populations.

In such an event, only a population transfer would avoid the issues which prompted the border redrawing in the first place.

The study indicated that, if a border redrawing were to be proposed, the minimum to be considered by Dublin would involve 40% of the existing Northern Ireland territory.

This would involve largely nationalist areas of Tyrone, Down, Derry, Fermanagh and Armagh transferring to the Republic.

If such a minimum scheme were ever to come about, it would involve almost 330,000 people switching from Northern Ireland to the Republic  two thirds of which would be Catholic.

Under a maximum territorial transfer, the Republic would integrate over 60% of Northern Ireland territory and almost 500,000 people.

Civil servants stressed in their analysis of the scheme that the scheme would only benefit both the UK and the Republic if it were agreed, if it ended the sectarian violence and if it was implemented by agreement and voluntarily.

The document  entitled Negotiated Repartition of Northern Ireland  bluntly warned of the economic and security consequences of any such border redrawing as a direct consequence of uncontrolled sectarian violence. Its conclusion stressed that, if such a measure was implemented in the wake of escalating sectarian violence, it would inevitably involve major population transfers.

(This) could impose a tremendous economic burden (on the Republic).
NI Secretary also hinted at further budget cuts should Executive remain dormant

The Government is preparing to take a bigger role in the running of Northern Ireland if an Executive is not formed, the Secretary of State has warned.

Chris Heaton-Harris also suggested he may not call an election on January 18, as set out in legislation.

He said that while there is a limit to how far the government would intervene in running Northern Ireland, preparations are under way to support civil servants in stabilising public finances and services via a sustainable budget.

That is the role the Stormont Executive would have played had it accepted the 3.3bn financial package from the government to restore power-sharing.

2023: A year in politics

Writing in todays Belfast Telegraph, the NI Secretary said the government cannot and will not just stand by and allow public services and finances to decline further.

Which is why, just like last year, we are preparing a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support the Northern Ireland Civil Service in stabilising public finances and services via a sustainable budget, should the Executive not be back in place to do so itself, he said.

But we are clear that there must be a limit to how far the UK Government can go without an Executive in place.

That is because the financial package we have offered requires decisions on how to improve and modernise the public services and these must be taken by locally-elected politicians with the mandate to do so.

The return of the Executive could help halt public sector strike action next month, he added, by unlocking money made available by the government to address public sector pay.

The Executive collapsed in February 2022, when the DUPs then-First Minister Paul Givan resigned in a dispute over the trade arrangements in the NI Protocol, which later was revised as the Windsor Framework.

A series of pre-Christmas talks failed to find agreement on a return to devolved government, with Mr Heaton-Harris insisting the talks were completed following his financial offer.

The DUP have insisted talks have not yet reached a conclusion.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the financial package was fair and generous and included provision to satisfy the public sector pay disputes.

Its disappointing that the discussions concluded without the return of a devolved government in Northern Ireland, he said.

This funding remains on the table for a returned Executive to take up on day one, and really would set Northern Ireland on a sustainable footing with a bright future ahead.

Thousands of public sector workers from a number of different trade unions are due to take part in simultaneous strike action on January 18, 2024.

The date also marks the deadline for the Secretary of State to call for a new election at Stormont.

Following his appointment in 2022, Mr Heaton-Harris set an October deadline for an election, which came and went without the poll happening.

The deadline was then pushed back until January 2023, when further legislation delayed the impasse for a further year.

Mr Heaton-Harris has now said he will not be treating January 18 as a deadline, but as a target.

He added: I am considering all options carefully.

However, I want Stormont to return as soon as possible so I am not treating this date as a target and will be relentlessly working with all parties to find a way forward.
Competition for retail real estate in Houston has been fierce, helping keep vacancy rates low at shopping centers across the region.

That's according to Rachel Alexander, director of the Texas research team at real estate services firm JLL. The firm reported for the third quarter that Houston asking rents climbed, which Alexander linked to tight vacancy and slowing construction activity.

"The market is generally landlord-favorable, though that will vary greatly by location and center type," she said in an email.

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Here is a rundown of leasing highlights from five retail centers in the region that announced or opened new tenants this year.

Post Oak Plaza

Post Oak Plaza retail center continues to undergo a multiyear renovation on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

The 50-year-old Post Oak Plaza shopping center near the Galleria is wrapping up remodeling in the first quarter of 2024. Since the revamp spearheaded by Houston-based Levcor began, businesses including Balboa Surf Club, Nando's Peri Peri and Il Bracco have opened.

More are slated to arrive in 2024, including Arhaus, Houston-based Local Foods and luxury mattress retailer Saatva, said Levcor Vice President Sasha Levine.

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POST OAK PLAZA REMODEL: Local Foods, Arhaus, Saatva addition

West on West

Owner Feng Chen, inside his Jusgo Supermarket at 9280 Bellaire Blvd. in Chinatown, Houston, Texas on Jan. 31, 2020. With the new "West on West" redevelopment project, Houstonians will soon have another commercial area to shop for international groceries. Olivia P. Tallet / Houston Chronicle

The West Houston retail development welcomed Gen Korean BBQ House this year, with California grocery chain 99 Ranch Market expected to open before the end of the year. The additions are part of a revamp by NewQuest Properties of the 1980s-era strip mall between South Dairy Ashford and South Kirkwood.

Teso Life, a Japanese department store, will open in early 2024, Caitlin Jones, NewQuest's marketing director, said in a statement. West on West will also add Tsujita Artisan Noodle, Korean bakery chain Paris Baguette, bubble tea store Alley Tea, Lady M, Kaiten Sushi by Ginza Onodera, dessert shop SomiSomi, T-Swirl Crepe, Osha Thai and Shoo Loong Kan Hot Pot. Most likely, all businesses will open in 2024, Jones said.

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NEW WEST HOUSTON CENTER: 99 Ranch Market, Korean BBQ

The Market at Katy Park

A rendering of The Market at Katy Park, developed and managed by Read King. Courtesy of Read King

The Market at Katy Park, developed and managed by Read King, is set for a series of openings in 2024, including a 109,000-square-foot H-E-B.

Read King started construction this year on two retail buildings of more than 17,000 square feet, which are expected to see business openings in the latter half of 2024, wrote Sarah Gregory, Read King's vice president of operational services.

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Once the development is completed, it will have 220,000 square feet of retail space, she said. The development is expected to have local and national retailers. A site plan provided by Read King includes Crust Pizza Co., Great Clips and Chase.

THE MARKET AT KATY PARK: New H-E-B to anchor five new retail buildings

Valley Ranch Town Center

A photo of Valley Ranch Town Center, owned and managed by Woodlands-based Signorelli Company. Signorelli Company

Valley Ranch Town Center in New Caney, northeast of Houston, is a 240-acre development owned and managed by The Woodlands-based Signorelli Co.

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The development added 19 tenants to fill more than 200,000 square feet in 2023, according to Taylor Blagrave, Signorelli's commercial marketing and events manager. New retailers at the site included Target, LensCrafters and Carter's/OshKosh B'gosh.

The mixed-use development has more retail that is under construction and scheduled to open in 2024, including Batteries Plus, Marble Slab/Great American Cookie and Community Resource Credit Union.

NEW RETAILERS: Valley Ranch Town Center

Manvel Town Center

Customers line up outside the new HEB store in Manvel, as they wait for the grand opening early Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Shoppers lined up in the early morning for the much-anticipated October opening of H-E-B in Manvel Town Center. The opening of the development's anchor tenant heralds more openings in 2024.

The 273-acre retail development by Weitzman, located on the corner of Texas 6 and Texas 288, saw H-E-B and McDonald's open this year. Smoothie King, Heartland Dental, Great Clips, Marble Slab, Jersey Mike's and Aki Steak & Sushi are scheduled to open in 2024, according to Ian Pierce, Weitzman's senior vice president of communications.
Revealed | State papers: London aware DUP intended to take up ministerial posts even if IRA kept its guns

Decommissioning row: partys move confirmed a year later, and although it boycotted Executive meetings, a key compromise had been made by Ian Paisley

The Government privately knew that Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson would be agreeing to DUP ministers entering Stormont (Photo: Jonathan Porter)

Sam McBride Fri 29 Dec 2023 at 07:20

Almost a year before the DUP appointed its first Executive ministers, the NIO privately knew Ian Paisleys party was planning to take up the positions regardless of whether the IRA decommissioned, declassified government files reveal.
Loyalist attacks could be mounted in Dublin, he warned

A senior unionist leader warned the Irish government in advance of the Good Friday Agreement that Northern Ireland faced the threat of a civil war  with the potential for loyalist attacks to be mounted in Dublin.

The stark warning came as negotiations intensified between the Irish and British governments as well as unionists, nationalists and republicans.

Ulster Unionist deputy leader John Taylor  whom some in the Northern Ireland Office suspected harboured leadership ambitions  was stark in his assessment of the challenges and threats facing all parties in 1997/8.

In February 1998, Mr Taylor  now Lord Kilclooney  delivered a briefing to Irish Embassy diplomat Philip McDonagh on the threats he perceived if the proposed peace agreement stalled or failed to deliver on its promises.

Mr Taylor said that unionist leaders, as part of their consultation process, had met with men with tattooed shoulders in Northern Ireland prisons.

Loyalist paramilitary leaders were adamant about what might happen if the talks process did not overcome logjams. (There could be) a huge intensification of violence and even something like civil war, he warned.

(There was a risk such violence would) leave no nationalist alive in Northern Ireland.... (with the potential for) attacks mounted in Dublin.

Mr Taylor bluntly warned the Irish civil servant that everyone would be a loser in such a scenario.

Not all of us live in East Belfast... if you lived in Armagh, you would know that in a civil war, we are not sure to win.

The UUP warning came as pressure mounted for clear concessions on IRA weaponry in any long-term peace agreement.

A consistent element in any loyalist threat was the targeting of cities and towns in the Republic.

However, both British and Irish officials were also briefed that, even if such an agreement was hammered out, there was still the potential for an upsurge in loyalist violence from paramilitary leaders unhappy with any deal and who may perceive such an agreement as weakening their position within the UK.

UK diplomats consulted with Army and security officials who determined that while IRA violence could be assessed and quantified, the problem was that the potential for loyalist attacks was largely unknown.

One Irish memo referred to a British security briefing which indicated that an upsurge in loyalist violence was something that could potentially pose a threat in the wake of a deal.

Some feared that, if loyalist paramilitaries reacted badly to any peace deal, the violence could prove the worst experienced in Ulster since the Drumcree standoff two years earlier.

The Irish briefing memo noted that loyalist violence was a dangerous unknown quantity which should not be underestimated in terms of its potential threat.

However, the same memo noted that security analysts were often liable to talk up rather than talk down such a threat.

It advised that all the indicators from the UK were that Prime Minister Tony Blair was committed to the Northern Ireland peace process and was willing to face down such a threat of loyalist violence in the face of any peace deal: (He has) decided to face down the loyalist card.
Civil Service head baulked at price quoted for journalist to host gathering aimed at preparing fledgling ministers for office

The Head of the Civil Service was appalled at the outrageous sum being quoted for journalist Jon Snow to lead a seminar to prepare Stormonts new ministers for office after the Good Friday Agreement.

Papers declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast show that the then Channel 4 News presenter was expected to cost as much as 73,000 in todays money - taking the vast majority of the cash available for the task even though for most of the time he would only be chairing proceedings.
Violent incident left one gunman dead, and another seriously injured

The scene in Blanchardstown after Tristan Sherry (inset) was confronted, shot with his own gun and stabbed repeatedly

Gardai have arrested a man in relation to a violent incident at a well-known restaurant in a Dublin suburb on Christmas Eve, which resulted in one man being killed and another suffering serious injuries.

Gunman Tristan Sherry opened fire with a sub-machine gun in Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown shortly after 8pm, seriously injuring a 47-year-old man who was enjoying a meal with his family.

Sherry attempted to escape from the restaurant but failed to open a locked door at the back of the building. He was then confronted, disarmed and stabbed several times. He died as a result of his injuries.

The Irish Independent 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.

Gardai have now arrested a man in relation to the investigation.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in West Dublin.

Gardai said investigations are ongoing.

Read more Dublin steakhouse gunman fatally stabbed in botched hit tried to flee through back door but found it locked

A significant garda operation will be put in place for the funeral of Tristan Sherry (26), a father-of-one who 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.

Tristan Sherry was killed in Blanchardstown last weekend

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.

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.
Leo Varadkar said recent high-profile incidents of crime in Dublin are not the norm for the city (PA)

Dublin is a safe city when compared with others in the western world, the Taoiseach has insisted.

Leo Varadkar said while it is important to acknowledge and listen to the experiences of those who have fallen victim to crime in Dublin, he insisted such incidents are not the norm for Irelands capital.

There has been an increased focus on safety in Dublin following a series of well publicised random attacks and assaults on people in the city.

That scrutiny intensified after the events of November 23, when rioting broke out in the city centre following a knife attack on three young children and their care assistant outside a primary school.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made the comments during his end of year media briefing (Niall Carson/PA)

Opposition parties claim a reduction in Garda numbers has contributed to a situation where parts of the city are no longer safe. It is a charge the Government has rejected.

Mr Varadkar was asked about the issue of safety in Dublin at his end of year media briefing with political journalists.

Theres no city thats 100% safe, he said.

If you look at something like the murder rate, for example, in Ireland or Dublin, compare that to other countries or other major cities, youll see that Dublin and Ireland are relatively safe relative to other countries and other cities in the western world.

But theres no place thats 100% safe and I acknowledge that. What I say to people is that were taking actions in all of these areas, increasing Garda numbers and Garda resources, making our laws tougher, with tougher sentences in particular, appointing more judges, expanding our prison places.

(There is) also a big focus now on community safety partnerships, because it cant be all just about a law and order response. Other things are important too, including things like street lighting, like cameras, like engaging with different services around addiction and mental health and so on. Thats the approach that were taking.

A burned out bus is removed from OConnell Street in Dublin in the aftermath of violent scenes in the city centre on November 23 (Brian Lawless/PA)

Asked how he responded to accounts from individuals who have been assaulted in the capital, the Taoiseach added: Of course I am concerned about individual negative experiences that people have in Dublin or anywhere else. Thats something youre very aware of and very exposed to as a politician.

Somebody would have maybe a very bad experience of our health service. But Im also aware of the counterfactual or the other sides of the story, if youd like, the huge number of people who have a very positive experience of our health service, for example and say so when surveyed.

The same thing applies to people coming into town, coming into our cities and coming into our country.

Most people, thankfully, dont experience being victims of violent crime in Dublin or anywhere else.

While its really important that we listen to and acknowledge the stories of people who have a very bad experience, we have a responsibility as politicians and journalists not to make the mistake of thinking that bad experiences are the majority or are the norm.
A couple have been arrested after pouring fake blood on gates outside Downing Street (James Manning/PA)

A married couple has been arrested after pouring fake blood and putting bloody handprints on the gates outside Downing Street as part of a protest to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The Metropolitan Police said two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after paint was thrown at the gates.

Virginia Moffat, 58, and Chris Cole, 60, were named by campaign group FigTree as the arrested pair.

A man was detained outside Downing Street (James Manning/PA)

The couple, from Dorset, said the Government had blood on its hands after refusing to demand Israel end its bombing of Gaza, according to a statement by FigTree.

The Christian protesters called it a massacre of biblical proportions.

In a statement, Ms Moffat and Mr Cole said: Britains and Israels justification for this slaughter is that Israel is acting in self-defence; that the deaths of innocents are to be regretted, but Israel must be allowed to act in its own defence.

This is nonsense. Again and again, leading international lawyers have clearly stated that self-defence cannot justify the slaughter of so many innocent Palestinians.

They added: As bombs rain down on Gaza, destroying homes, hospitals, families, schools, cultural centres, mosques, churches and civic buildings, we cannot help but act.

By refusing to back a ceasefire, and continuing to supply arms to Israel, our government is complicit with this slaughter.

The incident occurred at around 11.45am on Friday, according to the Met Police.

Chief Superintendent Joseph Mcdonald said: We have been clear that we will facilitate lawful protest but where this strays into criminality we will take swift action.

Arrests were made within minutes of this incident taking place and both people are now in custody.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or X @MetCC and quote CAD2366/29Dec.
The weather will remain unsettled in the lead up to the new year (Jeff Moore/PA)

New Years Eve revellers have been urged to wrap up warm as conditions across many parts of the UK could feel close to freezing as the clock strikes midnight.

The weather is expected to remain unsettled with further strong winds and heavy rain throughout the last weekend of 2023.

A yellow weather warning for wind covering parts of Wales and the east of England has been issued and will come into force between 11am on Saturday and 3am on Sunday.

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A spell of strong and gusty winds will move east across England and Wales, bringing some disruption to travel and services, the Met Office said.

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued covering Wales between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, which may lead to flooding and transport disruption.

A yellow weather warning for rain will also come into effect at 4am on Saturday for Northern Ireland, due to be in force until 11am the same day.

The fresh warnings come on the heels of a gusty few days brought on by Storm Gerrit.

Hundreds of homes in Scotland remain without power as the post-storm clean up begins, but electricity bosses are very confident that the remaining 750 properties will be reconnected on Friday.

Thousands of properties in Ceredigion were without power on Thursday after lightning struck supplies in Wales.

Screengrab taken from PA Video of a damaged gate in Stalybridge after the Tameside tornado (Richard McCarthy/PA)

The Met Office said its Irish counterpart, Met Eireann, could name another storm  Storm Hank  as a deep area of low pressure pushes strong winds across the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.

Meteorologist Alex Burkill said Saturday is going to turn wet and windy across the UK with a band of intense rain pushing its way eastwards and north-eastwards to bring a risk of gales and possibly severe gales in exposed spots.

In a forecast video, Mr Burkill said northern areas as well as high ground areas in Scotland are likely to see significant snow, with possibly 10 to 20cm of snow building up on the highest grounds.

Theres a potential for some snow accumulations, even as low as perhaps 100m up, we could see some slushy snow, so likely to see some travel disruption again, because of the wind, the rain and some snow like weve seen over some recent days, he said.

Blustery and showery conditions are set to continue into Sunday, with the heaviest and most frequent rainfall across western parts of the UK.

The mercury is expected to drop on Sunday.

Mr Burkill said: As we look towards the end of the day on New Years Eve, and the blustery showery theme does continue, some of those showers should start to ease as we head towards midnight.

So perhaps a bit more drier weather around, some clearer skies but do watch out for those showers and you will also want to wrap up quite warm because although it hasnt been particularly chilly recently, when you factor in those strong blustery winds, its going to feel close to freezing for many places.

So definitely a chilly feel to things as the clock strikes midnight.

New Years Day should turn drier for many, particularly across more central southern parts of England and across Scotland with the central slice of the UK most likely to have showery rain.

As we look through the rest of the first week of 2024 and at the moment Tuesday looks like itd be a largely dry day with some fine weather around before the return to something more unsettled  some heavy rain, some strong winds, and that does bring the potential for something a little bit colder and possibly wintry, Mr Burkill said.

Three men died after their 44 vehicle was submerged in the River Esk, near Glaisdale, on Thursday, North Yorkshire Police said.

(PA Graphics)

A supercell thunderstorm that moved across the northwest of England on Thursday after a similar storm is thought to have resulted in a tornado that damaged around 100 homes in Stalybridge, in Tameside, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday.

Damage will be covered by standard property insurance policies, the Association of British Insurers has said.

ScotRail said many lines have been reopened but urged passengers to check for the latest information before travelling, a message echoed by LNER, Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway who suspended or cancelled services due to damage or system faults.

Friday will see significant disruption for travellers wishing to travel on the London Euston and Watford Junction lines with services expected to be up and running by the end of the day.

In Wales, the aftermath of the recent severe weather will see rail services hampered until Monday.
Humza Yousaf took over as SNP leader and First Minster when Nicola Sturgeon stepped down early this year (PA)

First Minister Humza Yousaf is nothing like as popular with voters as his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon was and some independence supporters are now switching from the SNP to Labour, elections expert Professor Sir John Curtice has said.

Sir John said Ms Sturgeons fateful decision in February 2023 to step down as SNP leader and first minister has had quite substantial political consequences for her party.

Mr Yousaf replaced her in both roles, but Sir John said the leadership contest which saw him elected exposed divisions within the party, with the public now much more likely to think the SNP are divided.

With a general election almost certain to take place in 2024, Sir John told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme it could result in radical change south of the border, with victory for Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party.

He added: North of the border, also we could see Labour making significant progress and thereby increasing Labours chances of being able to get an overall majority at Westminster.

As 2023 draws to an end, Sir John said the SNP has found itself challenged for the position of Scotlands most popular party in a way they have not really been since they first entered power at Holyrood in 2007, or indeed became Scotlands dominant party at Westminster at the 2015 general election.

The expert, who is professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde and a senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research, said support for the SNP was still running at around 43% when Ms Sturgeon stepped down and was only a little bit down on what it was in the 2019 general election.

But he added SNP support is now running at about 36%, and the party is only just ahead of Labour in the opinion polls.

Sir John continued: The SNP now finds itself with a leader, Humza Yousaf, who is nothing like as popular as his predecessor.

Elections expert Professor Sir John Curtice said the SNP is now only just ahead of Labour in opinion polls (Strathclyde University/PA)

People dont think he is doing the job as well as people thought Nicola Sturgeon was doing it, even towards the latter days of her role as first minister.

He also said concerns over the state of the NHS are helping to drive down support for the SNP.

Sir John said support for independence has not changed, however, with polls continuing to show that on average almost half of Scots would vote Yes in another referendum.

But he added: The SNP are no longer dominating the support of those who are in favour of independence, some of them are now saying theyre going to vote Labour, as illustrated by the Rutherglen by-election.

Labours Michael Shanks won the Rutherglen seat in October with a swing of more than 20% from the SNP.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Bailie has said 2024 will be a year her party has long waited for.

Writing in the Scotsman newspaper, she said: Labour will be ready to replace a scandal-ridden Conservative Government whenever an election is called.

Michael Shanks, right, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election for his party with a dramatic victory over the SNP (Jane Barlow/PA)

We are working hard, preparing to do the same in Scotland when the time comes.

But SNP MP Deidre Brock accused Scottish Labours two MPs  Mr Shanks and shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray  of acting to prop up the failing Westminster system and to deny Scotland a permanent alternative to the Tories.

Ms Brock said: Ian Murray and Michael Shanks have consistently supported the grim status quo where our economy is in ruin and our status on the world stage dwindles every day, proving beyond a doubt they dont hold Scotlands interests at heart.

In the face of Tory attacks on workers rights and protections, they have refused to join us in real opposition, instead siding with the Conservatives to oppose giving powers over employment law to Holyrood.

Theyve even both supported the policy positions of Sir Keir Starmer over the moral obligation to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza  going completely against the position of Anas Sarwars Scottish Labour.

Despite enormous compounding economic damage, Scottish Labour has backed Brexit all the way, refusing to even entertain the notion of reversing Boris Johnsons great calamity.

They are not a party or a pair that can be trusted to stand up for Scotland, or to promote the policies that would make meaningful changes to peoples lives.
Michael Cohen says he unwittingly passed to his lawyer bogus artificial intelligence-generated legal case citations he got online before they were submitted to a New York judge (Stefan Jeremiah/AP)

Michael Cohen, Donald Trumps one-time personal lawyer and fixer, says he unwittingly passed on to his lawyer bogus artificial intelligence-generated legal case citations he got online before they were submitted to a judge.

Cohen made the admission in a court filing unsealed on Friday in Manhattan federal court after a judge earlier this month asked a lawyer to explain how court rulings that do not exist were cited in a motion submitted on Cohens behalf.

Judge Jesse Furman had also asked what role, if any, Cohen played in drafting the motion.

The AI-generated cases were cited as part of written arguments a lawyer made to try to bring an early end to Cohens court supervision after he served more than a year behind bars.

Cohen had pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, saying Mr Trump directed him to arrange the payment of hush money to a porn actor and to a former Playboy model to fend off damage to his 2016 presidential bid.

Cohen, who was disbarred five years ago, said in a declaration submitted to the judge on Thursday that he found the citations by doing research through Google Bard and was unaware that the service could generate nonexistent cases.

He said he uses the internet for research because he no longer has access to formal legal research sources.

As a non-lawyer, I have not kept up with emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology and did not realise that Google Bard was a generative text service that, like Chat-GPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not, Cohen said.

Instead, I understood it to be a super-charged search engine and had repeatedly used it in other contexts to (successfully) find accurate information online.

He blamed his lawyer and longtime friend David Schwartz for failing to check the validity of his citations before submitting them to the judge, though he asked that the judge dispense mercy toward Mr Schwartz, calling his failure to check the citations an honest mistake and a product of inadvertence, not any intent to deceive.

Mr Schwartz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a declaration filed with the court, Mr Schwartz said he thought drafts of the papers to be submitted to the judge to dissolve Cohens probation early were reviewed by E Danya Perry, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice who also represents Cohen. He said he never reviewed what he thought was another lawyers research.

Ms Perry, who discovered that the cited cases were bogus after seeing the court filing, said Mr Schwartzs claim that he came to believe that the citations came from her were incorrect and I believe, far-fetched, as I had no involvement in any back-and-forth  not directly with Mr Schwartz or his paralegal and not even indirectly through Mr Cohen.

When she learned of them, Ms Perry reported the false case citations to the judge and federal prosecutors.

Mr Cohen engaged in no misconduct and should not suffer any collateral damage from Mr Schwartzs misstep, Ms Perry wrote in her submission to the judge.

In discussing possible sanctions earlier this month, the judge noted that it was the second time this year that a judge in Manhattan federal court has confronted lawyers over fake citations generated by artificial intelligence.

Michael Cohen at the New York Supreme Court for former President Donald Trumps civil business fraud trialin October (Yuki Iwamura/AP)

Two lawyers in an unrelated case were fined 5,000 dollars (3,921) for citing bogus cases that were invented by ChatGPT, the AI-powered chatbot.

In entering the 2018 guilty plea, Cohen did not name the two women who received hush money or even Mr Trump, recounting instead that he worked with an unnamed candidate to influence the 2016 election.

But the amounts and the dates lined up with 130,000 dollars (102,000) paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and 150,000 dollars (117,600) that went to Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to buy their silence in the weeks and months leading up to the presidential election, which Mr Trump, a Republican, won over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Ms Daniels and Ms McDougal claimed to have had affairs with Mr Trump, which he denied.

Mr Trumps personal lawyer at the time of Cohens 2018 guilty plea, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, noted in a statement that there was no allegation of any wrongdoing against the president in the governments charges against Mr Cohen.
Famed TikTok food critic Keith Lee has been reviewing Houston restaurants, including the iconic Breakfast Klub, left, and Stick Talk Staff, Getty and ALife Hospitality photos

Keith Lee, one of social medias most influential stars, confirmed what we have long known: Houston is a first-rate food city.

Five months ago, the TikTok food critic kicked off a nationwide tour, which he dubbed the Keith Lee and Family Food Tour. To recap his reviews, which garnered national attention, Lee dropped his ranking of eight cities last night. Houston beat out the likes of New York City, Chicago and even Las Vegas, where Lee lives and first started reviewing restaurants. New Orleans barely edged out the only Texas city featured on Lees tour for the top spot.

There wasnt a restaurant in Houston he didnt love, Lee said.

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HOUSTON EATS: The Chronicles top 100 restaurants

Lees TikTok clip gave the following ranking, including an honorable mention to Miami:

1. New Orleans

2. Houston

3. Chicago

4. Las Vegas

5. Los Angeles

6. Detroit

7. New York City

8. Atlanta

New Orleans set itself apart with its friendly customer service, where Lee said, everywhere we went, we felt like family.

While Lee gave Houston high marks all around for its food and hospitality, it was a dessert shop in Pearland that helped boost the citys ranking.

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"There was one place that carried Houston for me: the Puddery," Lee said. "I've always been very picky on desserts because I'm not a huge sweets person. I like sweets but they gotta be very good for me to like them."

Lee was referring to the Puddery owner Janel Prator, who calls herself the Chief Pudding Officer, and her line of banana pudding and assorted desserts, including the Keith Lee Croffle, a croissant waffle teeming with whipped cream, Oreos and powdered sugar, which the critic with 15.5 million followers loved.

MORE FROM BAO ONG: The 18 Houston restaurant and bar closings that defined 2023

The 24 million or so views for Lees review of the Puddery is one of his most-watched clips since he started reviewing restaurants nearly a year ago in Vegas.

But it was Lees visit in Atlanta that thrust him into the national spotlight. He called on the city to step up its customer service, from complaints about add-on charges to orders to unfriendly cashiers, and jump-started a conversation locally and afar about the citys restaurant scene.

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When Lee announced he was headed to Houston, businesses started tagging him left and right on social media to get his attention. He arrived in Texas around Thanksgiving to drop his first reviews  and big tips for workers.

Lee went from Houston to New York City but his tour was short-lived. He found New York unwelcoming after he reviewed a salmon chopped cheese, which spurred a slew of criticism online.
A Hong Kong pro-independence activist who was jailed under a sweeping Chinese national security law has fled to the UK to seek political asylum, according to his social media posts.

Tony Chung was among the first to be convicted under the Beijing-imposed law that was introduced after the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

He was found guilty of secession and money laundering in 2020 and sentenced to 43 months in prison.

In two Instagram posts on Friday, Mr Chung detailed how authorities closely watched him after he was released from prison.

He said he was asked to meet regularly with national security authorities and report to them on where he had been, whom he had met with as well as his conversations. He also claimed authorities offered to pay him to inform on others to prove he had reformed himself.

They also proposed he should go to mainland China.

Mr Chung said he was made to sign a document that barred him from disclosing his conversations with the authorities, so he could not seek help from any lawyers nor tell anyone about his situation.

Under enormous stress and fear, I can only endure silently, he said.

The intimidation faced by Hong Kong dissidents like Mr Chung reflects the drastic erosion of the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to China in 1997.

But both the Beijing and Hong Kong governments have hailed the security law for bringing stability to the city.

Hong Kong police have offered rewards for information leading to the arrests of 13 overseas-based activities and drew criticism from Western governments.

Earlier in December, prominent pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, who left Hong Kong for Canada and does not plan to return to fulfil her bail conditions, reported similar pressure from authorities.

Her passport, confiscated earlier by police, was only returned to her upon meeting certain conditions, including a visit to mainland China with authorities, she said.

In an email reply to the Associated Press, Hong Kong police said Ms Chow failed to show up at a police station on Thursday as required and violated her bail terms, pledging they would spare no effort in bringing her to justice.

They strongly condemned the breach of supervision orders or bail conditions by individuals who have fled the city.

Not only have they failed to reflect on the harms they have caused to Hong Kong and members of the public, but they have also shamefully begged for assistance from foreign anti-China forces under the guise of being victims, the police said.

They did not confirm Mr Chungs claims that they had offered to pay him informant fees but said the national security department has been effectively collecting intelligence through various channels and individuals.

Local media, including the South China Morning Post, quoted unnamed sources saying that her parents went to a police station to assist their investigation on Friday.

Mr Chung was convener of the now-dissolved pro-independence student organisation Studentlocalism before being arrested in 2020 near the United States consulate in Hong Kong, where media reports said he was hoping to seek protection.

According to his Instagram posts, Mr Chung was under a supervision order by the citys Correctional Services Department for a year after his release from prison, and was banned from speaking publicly.

In September, he said national security authorities asked him to take a trip to mainland China, but he told them he was unwilling to do so. The authorities then asked him if he was being reluctant because he was still involved in activities endangering national security.

Mr Chung said he started feeling sick from time to time since October. Western and Chinese doctors told him that his immune system weakened because he was under huge mental stress.

He later persuaded correctional services authorities to let him travel to Okinawa, Japan, for a holiday to manage his emotions. During the trip, he sought help from organisations and people based overseas.

He arrived in Britain from Japan on Wednesday to seek asylum.

This also means I can no longer return to my home, Hong Kong, in foreseeable future, he said.

Although I had anticipated the arrival of this day in the past, I had a heavy heart when I made up my mind.

In the future, Mr Chung said he would devote himself for his city as a Hongkonger in exile.

I believe only when Hong Kong people dont give up, the seeds of freedom and democracy will sprout again one day, he said.
Palestinians salvage belongings from the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli strike in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip on Friday (Adel Hana/AP)

South Africa launched a case at the United Nations top court on Friday accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks.

South Africas submission to the International Court of Justice alleges that acts and omissions by Israel  are genocidal in character as they are committed with the intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.

It also asks the Hague-based court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza.

A hearing into that request is likely in the coming days or weeks. The case, if it goes ahead, will take years.

It is the first such challenge made at the court over the current war and Israel swiftly rejected the filing with disgust.

The Peace Palace which houses World Court at The Hague in the Netherlands where South Africa has launched a case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza (Peter Dejong/AP)

South Africa can bring the case under the Genocide Convention because both it and Israel are signatories to the convention.

The Israeli government rejected with disgust the South African genocide accusations, calling it a blood libel.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the case lacks a legal foundation and constitutes a vile exploitation and cheapening of the court.

Israel also accused South Africa of co-operating with Hamas, the militant group whose October 7 cross-border attack in southern Israel triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

The statement also said Israel is committed to, and operates according to, international law and focuses its military actions solely against Hamas, adding that the residents of Gaza are not an enemy.

It asserted that it takes steps to minimise harm to civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the territory.

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa (Rafiq Maqbool/AP)

Whether the case will succeed in halting the war remains to be seen. While the courts orders are legally binding, they are not always followed.

In March 2022, the court ordered Russia to halt hostilities in Ukraine, a binding legal ruling that Moscow flouted as it pressed ahead with its devastating attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities.

South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israels military campaign in Gaza.

Many, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have compared Israels policies in Gaza and the West Bank with South Africas past apartheid regime of racial segregation.

Mr Ramaphosa has accused Israel of war crimes and acts tantamount to genocide.

South Africas foreign ministry said in a statement that the country is gravely concerned with the plight of civilians caught in the present Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip due to the indiscriminate use of force and forcible removal of inhabitants.

The ministry added that there are ongoing reports of international crimes, such as crimes against humanity and war crimes, being committed as well as reports that acts meeting the threshold of genocide or related crimes as defined in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, have been and may still be committed in the context of the ongoing massacres in Gaza.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed South Africas accusations against Israel. In a statement on social media, it urged the court to immediately take action to protect Palestinian people and call on Israel, the occupying power, to halt its onslaught against the Palestinian people.

The ICC prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, while the International Court of Justice settles disputes between nations.

Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said South Africas case provides an important opportunity for the International Court of Justice to scrutinise Israels actions in Gaza using the Genocide Convention of 1948.

She said South Africa is looking to the United Nations highest judicial body to provide clear, definitive answers on the question of whether Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

Ms Jarrah stressed that the ICJ case is not a criminal case against individual alleged perpetrators, and it does not involve the International Criminal Court (ICC), a separate body. But the ICJ case should also propel greater international support for impartial justice at the ICC and other credible venues.
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on a large group of money exchange services based in Yemen and Turkey.

The United States claim several Middle Eastern financial brokers have funded Iranian-based Houthi rebels who have launched attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the southern Red Sea.

Middle Eastern agencies impacted by Thursdays sanctions include the head of a financial intermediary in Sanaa, Yemen, and three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey.

The US Treasury alleges the people and firms helped transfer millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Said al-Jamal.

The USS Mason is helping to defend shipping from Houthi rebels

The sanctions block access to US property bank accounts and prevent those targeted and their affiliated companies from doing business with Americans.

Earlier this month, the US 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.

US Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian E Nelson said 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.

Mr Nelson added the US and its allies will continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their backers in Iran.

While Houthi rebels have sporadically targeted ships in the region in the past, attacks have increased since the war between Israel and Hamas began.

In the wake of an attack on a Gaza hospital on October 17, Houthi leaders have insisted Israel is their target with their attacks on commercial tankers.

The most recent attack on freighters in the Red Sea involved a drone and a missile that was shot down on Thursday at around 6pm local time by the US military.

US militarys Central Command said the naval destroyer USS Mason shot down one drone and one ballistic missile.

There was no damage to any of the 18 ships in the area or reported injuries, Central Command said, adding it was the 22nd attempted attack by Houthis on international shipping since October 19.
UK Government's 3bn-plus package offers a sustainable financial footing to ensure a brighter future for all, so lets grab it, writes Secretary of State

I was hoping that, as I wrote this, Northern Ireland would have just seen its devolved Government start working again in Stormont.

Alas, as we move into 2024 Northern Ireland will have been without a fully functioning Executive for 23 months.

Thats just under two years without the locally elected politicians you voted for delivering for you. Thats meant hundreds of decisions and opportunities havent been taken by the people you voted for and the issues facing your public services havent been addressed.

Earlier this month the UK Government held intense discussions with the political parties in an attempt to get them to agree how the Northern Ireland Executive can return on a stable financial footing and ensure public services are able to meet the needs of people here.

I put a fair and generous package on the table worth over 3 billion.

Its a package that provides solutions to many important issues raised by the parties, including a new method for deciding how much money Northern Ireland receives from the UK Government; hundreds of millions of pounds of assistance for public sector pay; and over 1bn to stabilise Northern Irelands public services.

2023: A year in politics

Its disappointing that the discussions concluded without the return of a devolved government, but this funding remains on the table for a returned Executive to take up on day one, and really would set Northern Ireland on a sustainable footing with a bright future ahead.

Some are now looking to the 18th of January as a deadline. It is a matter of fact that this is the date when I will once again fall under a legal duty to call a new election at Stormont and it will no longer be legally possible for an Executive to form.

I am considering all options carefully, however, I want Stormont to return as soon as possible so I am not treating this date as a target and will be relentlessly working with all parties to find a way forward.

January 18 is also the date when thousands of public sector workers will go on strike over pay. A returned Executive could stop these strikes and the disruption it brings to people.

By getting back to work they will unlock the 584m made available by the UK Government to address public sector pay.

People in Northern Ireland expect and deserve devolved government back as soon as possible, to make use of the financial package we have put on the table.

In its absence, however, the UK Government cannot and will not just stand by and allow public services and finances to decline further.

Which is why, just like last year, we are preparing a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support the Northern Ireland Civil Service in stabilising public finances and services via a sustainable budget, should the Executive not be back in place to do so itself.

But we are clear that there must be a limit to how far the UK Government can go without an Executive in place.

That is because the financial package we have offered requires decisions on how to improve and modernise the public services and these must be taken by locally-elected politicians with the mandate to do so.

It should not just be for local politicians to dispense funding from the UK Government.

They should take active and sometimes difficult decisions about where priorities lie, because they know the place and the needs of their constituents better than anyone else.

As Secretary of State I have focused on getting Stormont back up and running and upholding the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its strands.

I will never stand down these efforts.

I am confident the support that would be provided by the UK Government to an incoming Executive will allow the devolved institutions to be set up for success rather than failure.

Now it is time for people in Northern Ireland to see those they elected back in place taking decisions on the issues that matter most to them.

2024 is the year when Northern Irelands potential could be completely unleashed  for that to happen Stormont needs to return.
A man looks at a boat that was used by Rohingya refugees who came ashore at Lamnga beach in Aceh province, Indonesia, Jan. 12, 2023.

The Indonesian military has no idea about the fate of a boat carrying Rohingya passengers that its navy followed this week, a spokesman said Friday, amid rising resentment in the Southeast Asian nation over an influx of the persecuted Myanmar refugees.

Describing the wooden boats occupants as suspected Rohingya victims of human trafficking, the navy said one of its warships on Wednesday shadowed the vessel until it safely left Indonesias exclusive economic zone, although it had earlier said it drove away the boat.

I have not monitored their position now, Brig. Gen. Nugraha Gumilar, the head of the militarys information center, told BenarNews.

In a statement released late Thursday, the navy said its warship spotted the boat named Shwe Ya Danar 3 in waters between Indonesia and India.

It said it deployed a helicopter to monitor the boat and confirmed that it was not in distress. The boat continued its voyage out of the Indonesian exclusive economic zone, the navy said.

The navy took down an earlier statement posted on its website that it had turned away the boat.

BenarNews asked a navy spokesperson why the description of the warships activity had been changed. The spokesperson wouldnt say why, merely asking BenarNews to refer to the new statement on the navy website.

Newly arrived Rohingya refugees are stranded on a boat as the local community where they came ashore decided not to allow them to land in Pineung, Aceh province, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2023. [Amanda Jufrian/AFP]

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, urged the Indonesian government to let the boat dock and to provide assistance to the refugees, who have fled decades of violence, persecution and displacement in Myanmar and neighboring countries.

UNHCR is very concerned about the safety of the refugees on the boat, Faisal Rahman, the agencys representative in Aceh, told BenarNews.

For those seeking international protection, safe docking permission and access to asylum procedures and humanitarian assistance must be granted, he said.

He added that Indonesia had a humanitarian tradition of providing protection for refugees, and he hoped to see the same solidarity and spirit now and in the future.

According to the refugee agency, there are about 2,000 Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, compared with 105,000 in Malaysia, 22,000 in India and about 1 million in Bangladesh.

On Wednesday, a group of students stormed a shelter for Rohingya refugees in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, and forced them to move elsewhere. The students accused the refugees of being a burden on the local economy.

Some 137 refugees, mostly women and children, were transported by truck to another location under police escort.

Aceh, a predominantly Muslim province that has special autonomy status in Indonesia, has a history of assisting arriving boatloads of Rohingya refugees, who are also Muslim.

However, as more than 1,500 Rohingya have arrived since mid-November, some villagers have been demanding they be sent back, claiming there werent enough resources for the refugees as well.

Indonesian Navy sailors ferry supplies to a navy ship destined for a boat carrying Rohingya that was intercepted in waters off Bireuen, Aceh province, Indonesia, Dec. 29, 2021. [Handout/Indonesian Navy/via AFP]

Activists and observers suspect that the students were influenced by a disinformation campaign that portrayed the Rohingya as a threat to Indonesias economy, security, and sovereignty.



[The posts] accused the refugees of taking their food and land, and of sexual harassment and other bad behavior. But these are all false accusations, said Hendra Saputra of Jesuit Refugee Service Indonesia, an NGO in Aceh.

Atika Yuanita Paraswaty, the chairwoman of Suaka, a refugee rights group, said the government should treat refugee boats in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Indonesia has ratified, and its own statutes.

The government should help when there are refugees who need help at sea, she told BenarNews.

She said if there were indications of crime, such as human trafficking, the perpetrators should be prosecuted in Indonesia, but the refugees should still be accepted and treated according to a presidential regulation on handling of refugees.

Uli Parulian Sihombing, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights, said the option of returning the refugees to their country of origin was not feasible if they faced potential threats of persecution, torture or other inhumane treatment.

This is in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement contained in the Anti-Torture Convention that has been ratified by Indonesia, Uli said in a statement.

Nazarudin Latif in Jakarta contributed to this report.
The cheeseburger at Hudson House in the River Oaks Shopping Center on West Gray Alison Cook/Staff The cheeseburger, served with an Old Bay-seasoned pickle, at Hudson House Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A martini at Hudson House Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Two women are reflected in the window of Hudson House as they walk through River Oaks Shopping Center. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Hudson House Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

The long bar at Hudson House, the new Dallas import in the River Oaks Shopping Center, was packed to bursting at 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before Christmas.

The bursting part was me, wedged into a standing-room spot where the bar curved toward a far corner. I had asked the hostess if there was a waiting list for bar seats, or whether I should be prepared to pounce. She seemed reluctant to agree with the pounce phrasing, but more questions revealed that pouncing indeed was the deal.

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So I waited, leaning against a wooden under-shelf, with a view of the blue-cheese-stuffed olives that grace the Hudson Houses advertised Worlds Coldest Martinis. Unable to resist a dare, I ordered a gin-only version from an obliging barman. He shook the cocktail so vigorously and poured it into a glass kept so cold that the drink clouded up for a few minutes, like a liquid haze, before settling into clarity.

It was good. I didnt say to myself, Wow, that really is the worlds coldest martini, but it definitely took the edge off my anxiety as I waited  and waited  and waited for a chair to open up.

I wasnt there for the touted martini  I was there for the touted burger.

The cheeseburger  is what kind of exploded the concept, Vandelay Hospitality Group CEO Hunter Pond (that really is his name) had told Paper Citys Laurann Claridge back in September. Houston is number six for the upscale American grill that styles itself as northeast coastal and inspired by the Hudson Valley  which is kinda perfect for a Dallas company, since Big D has long looked toward New York as a guiding light.

Anyway, there was a special bun and a special sauce involved, and you know me  I had to check it out. At long, long last, a kind bartender helped me nail down a seat, and here is how it went.

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PRICE: $16 on the regular menu for the double-double cheeseburger, a la carte; but $10 during happy hour, 3-6 p.m. weekdays at the bar only. Add half-price on martinis and wine by the glass, and its clear why the bar was so packed.

ORDERING: Its full service at booths and bar.

ARCHITECTURE: No salad stuff. On a modest-sized, sesame-seeded bun that has been toasted a bit on its rim goes a big swipe of pinkish Hudson Sauce, followed by a half-inch beef patty and a skinny layer of melted white cheese. A second-half-inch beef patty comes next, draped in another skinny layer of white cheese, a paving of corrugated dill pickle slices and a crowning melt of cheddar. A generous splodge of pink Hudson Sauce finishes things off, and the edifice is held in place by a pineapple-logo pick.

QUALITY: While this burger looked impressive, it never clicked for me in terms of flavor and texture. The beef was ground fine, producing an unpleasantly dense patty texture. And the dominant salt flavor  amplified even more by those thick-cut dill pickles  all but obliterated any beefiness.

The Hudson sauce had a red-peppery afterburn and a nice pickle-relish component, but it just couldnt save the day. If this is the burger that launched Hudson Houses success, I must presume that something has been lost in the translation.

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OOZE RATING: Condiment-based.

LETTER GRADE: D.

BONUS POINTS: The service is great here, an indicator of the Vandelay partners experience with the Hillstone group (operators of Houstons here, once upon a time). Plus my neighbor offered me a bit of the chicken parm she had returned to eat, and it was terrific.

VEGETARIAN OPTIONS: Plenty on the regular menu.

LOCAL COLOR: A subset of those in attendance were the Ralph Lauren-friendly crowd Hudson House courts, swizzled with a colorful mix of Houston strivers of all ages. People were still waiting to be seated when I left a little before 7 p.m., and the holiday merriment looked set to continue well into the night.
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.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
Richmonds new Town Hall and Library opened in September. At a recent tax classification hearing, Select Board members voted to continue a single rate for all property categories since the town has only a handful of commercial businesses. On average, homeowners can expect an average 6 percent increase in their real estate tax bills.
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PITTSFIELD  Bird e-scooters were rounded up from Pittsfield streets on Friday, kicking off a delayed hibernation after an unseasonably mild start to the Berkshire winter season.

Its unclear if the scooters will return for a third season in Pittsfield, though, as Bird Global Inc. begins bankruptcy proceedings in the federal bankruptcy court in Florida.

Bird scooters landed in Pittsfield to great buzz in May 2022. In the first season  from May to December 2022  the fleet of e-scooters completed over 25,000 rides across Pittsfield in a deal that netted nearly $4,000 for the citys general fund.

Ricardo Morales, the citys commissioner of public services and utilities, said when the Birds returned to city streets in April, there was a decrease in ridership. In its second season, Bird scooters were averaging about 2,000 rides a month around Pittsfield  barring the summer months when rides peaked at around 3,200 a month.

The commissioner said that thanks to the citys agreement with Bird, which nets the city 15 cents for every ride, this season should bring in close to $3,000 to city coffers.

Whether any more money comes from the scooters is still up in the air.

Bird made news just before the holidays when it filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Florida on Dec. 20.

The Miami-based company released a statement to the media and its municipal partners that said seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection allowed it to secure $25 million in financing from MidCap Financial, a division of Apollo Global Management, and the firms second-lien lenders.

The company said in the statement that it plans to use that money over the next 90 to 120 days to continue business as usual in hundreds of cities throughout the United States while it undertakes a major restructuring  one that may include selling off its assets.

"We are making progress toward profitability and aim to accelerate that progress by right-sizing our capital structure through this restructuring, said Bird Interim CEO Michael Washinushi. We remain focused on our mission to make cities more livable by using micromobility to reduce car usage, traffic and carbon emissions."

In Pittsfield, the charging, placement and storage of the scooters is handled by a local contractor. Morales said it's his understanding that if the company decides to fold, the scooters would be returned to Bird to sell along with its other assets.

Birds 2017 launch by former Uber and Lyft executive Travis VanderZanden set off a rush of investment in the micromobility sector, which focuses on providing people with a transportation alternative to cars and larger means of public transit.

For several years, Bird appeared to be a success, with outlets like Quartz reporting it had claimed the title of the fastest startup ever to reach a $1 billion valuation. In 2021, the company went public, but its fortunes turned earlier this year when it was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in September.

The delisting followed a series of bad news from the company. Bird announced in a news release in November 2022 that it reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had inflated its revenue for more than two years. VanderZanden left Bird in June.

In the midst of this turbulent time for the company, Bird arrived in Pittsfield. The company approached Morales in 2021 asking if the city would be interested in partnering. After months of negotiations the scooters arrived on city streets, giving Morales and his department a new window into movement data in the city.

Bird took the initiative  and I am really glad they did  because it allowed communities like Pittsfield and similar communities to experiment in how micromobility can be a part of the transportation system in a way that it's unprecedented, Morales said.

Before Bird got in touch with the city, Morales said Pittsfield had completed a feasibility study on a bike share program. That study estimated that it would cost Pittsfield $1 million a year to support a bike share program  an expense officials werent ready to take on.

The partnership with Bird has been a boon to Pittsfield, Morales said. The commissioner said hes been contacted by other cities in Massachusetts, like Shrewsbury, that want to talk about the data his department has from Bird and how micromobility could work in their cities.

The biggest win for us, even if it doesn't pan out to another year, is having the information gathered about how micromobility works in a place like Pittsfield, Morales said.

Data provided to the city through its partnership with Bird has given officials a birds-eye view of what ridership and profitability looks like for more human-scale models of transportation. The data paints a picture of where people are going and the routes theyd like to use to get there.

Morales said the citys time with Bird has basically served as a pilot program.

The commissioner said that the last two years with the e-scooters has shown that micromobility serves as an option for people to move around when they dont have a vehicle or when owning a vehicle is out of their reach  I think thats an important part of a holistic transportation network.
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GREAT BARRINGTON  Bodycam footage shows a police officer in an eighth grade classroom asking to see a copy of the book Gender Queer, and informing the teacher and school principal that though he doesnt want to, he could go through every room in the school to find it.

The visual footage  obtained by The Eagle from the American Civil Liberties Union  of the Dec. 8 visit to W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School by a plainclothes police officer is largely obscured due to the officers clothes covering the camera's lens.

But the audio from the 8 minute, 11 second video shows how Great Barrington Police Investigator Joseph OBrien attempted to secure and review the book, in response to an anonymous complainant that it contains images "they felt [were] inappropriate."

According to a police report, those images had been provided in person by the complainant  the only person who is not identified in the report  who apparently took pictures of the book "located on a desk in the teacher's classroom in the last two weeks." The photos, shown in the report, appear to have been taken from inside a school classroom. The hand of the person holding the book are in the pictures.

The video shows the classroom teacher, standing next to Principal Miles Wheat, telling OBrien that the book was not in the room and might have been borrowed by another teacher. OBrien then asks which other teacher might have it. He then suggests the book be turned over to Wheat upon its return.

When it does return, I think it needs to be turned over to [Wheat] and well go from there at that point, OBrien says, according to the footage. Like I said, its not the general material itself, its the images that are in it that constitutes material that you cant disseminate to children.

I would make it a point yourself, as a teacher, to go through the books that are there to make sure theres no other images that would be deemed stuff like that, OBrien says. We could sit here and search every room and ask every teacher. Id rather not go that route and, you know, disrupt everything over one book.

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe is a memoir of Kobabes coming of age and discovering that they are non-binary. It has become one of the targeted books in the recent Moms for Liberty-led wave of school censorship, in part because its comic book-style art includes some sexual content and illustrations recommended for readers ages 14 and older.

The Great Barrington case has caused alarm over free speech issues and out of concern for law enforcement's overreach in such matters. "Gender Queer" is one of the most targeted books for banning in the country.

According to the police report, on Dec. 8, the citizen who complained said they "observed a book on a table within the teacher's classroom that depicted illustrations of sexual content." The complainant reported to police overhearing the teacher telling students to "not tell their parents."

After police were notified, Police Chief Paul Storti notified Berkshire Hills Regional School District Superintendent Peter Dillon that police were investigating the complaint and were referring it to the Berkshire District Attorneys office.

A message left at Storti's office phone on Thursday was not returned by press time.

The Eagle sought the footage and police report through a public records request, as did the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and The Daily Beast. The Eagle obtained the footage and the report from the ACLU on Thursday, as Great Barrington police had yet to provide the footage to The Eagle.

Ruth Bourquin, the senior and managing attorney at the ACLU of Massachusetts, said the incident, including many of its details as confirmed by the body camera footage  is a deeply concerning escalation of a vocal minority's attempts to ban books that are by and about LGBTQ people, communities of color, and other marginalized groups.

These assaults on free expression and students right to learn have no place in our Commonwealth  or any free society. As a matter of law  not to mention good judgment  law enforcement has no role in policing materials in Massachusetts schools or educational programs, Bourquin said.

According to the report, Storti spoke with Dillon and Wheat about the complaint, and informed Dillon that because a complaint had been lodged, the department had an obligation to follow up. Storti asked OBrien to change out his duty uniform and into plain clothes and take an unmarked car to the middle school to investigate.

In the footage, OBrien explains to Wheat and the teacher that certain images in the book  not its overall content  are the reason for the visit.

Its not the general idea of what the books about. It's you can't present that kind of material to people under 18, he says.

OBrien asks if there are books with similar content on the shelves, to which the teacher says hes welcome to flip through them if he cares to do so.

OBrien also asks if Gender Queer is kept in a general circulation area where anyone could see it, or if its kept in an area where a student would have to request it.

I do keep the material separate on purpose, the teacher says.

OBrien also asks if the teacher knows of anyone who might have the book. It doesnt mean theyre in any kind of trouble, he says.

The police visit led to a walkout and demonstrations by LGBTQIA+ students and their allies at Monument Mountain Regional High School, as well as criticism from the ACLU and a strongly worded statement by Gov. Maura Healey decrying book banning.

The fallout also led to a joint letter of apology from Dillon and Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee Chairman Steve Bannon. In the statement, they expressed regret for the way the situation was handled and clearly and unequivocally" opposed book-banning.

According to the report, on Dec. 13, Storti spoke with Assistant District Attorney Andrew Giarolo, who said the department might have to plan for a search warrant.

A day later on Dec. 14, Dillion advised Storti that hed received a media inquiry, and that the incident was becoming public knowledge on social media. Later that day, District Attorney Timothy Shugrue indicated that his office would not be pursuing the investigation as they determined a crime was not committed and that the school district will manage the situation.

On Dec. 22, Storti apologized to anyone who was negatively affected by the departments involvement. 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, he said.

The school district has said it will hold several meetings to discuss the situation, including a School Committee meeting scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 11.
A pair of puppies peer out from their kennel at BARC Houston on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Houston. Area shelters expect more dogs to arrive on their doorstep as post-holiday returns  an annual intake influx that usually begins after New Years Eve. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A litter of 10 bottle puppies were left on the doorstep of the SPCA of Brazoria County on Tuesday night. Five families picked up two puppies each to help foster on Wednesday. Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Brazoria County

A litter of 10 bottle baby puppies were left on the doorstep of Brazoria Countys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tuesday night.

The puppies were in desperate need of foster homes. At just a couple weeks old, they required round-the-clock care and attention, the organization said in a Facebook post asking for volunteers.

Five families came to the rescue Wednesday and agreed to foster two puppies each, said Nicole Hardesty, executive director of the SPCA of Brazoria County. The organization gave each family the supplies needed to care for the puppies.

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The fur babies may soon find permanent homes when they become available for adoption in February. However, the shelter expects dozens more to arrive on their doorstep as post-holiday returns  an annual intake influx that usually begins after New Years Eve.

At a time when shelters across the country are grappling with capacity issues, the organization is finding new ways to help animals find and stay in their forever homes.

Holiday adoption trends

The SPCA of Brazoria County, located at 141 Canna Lane in Lake Jackson, had roughly 200 animals adopted from its shelter in December.

The shelter only has room for 138 dogs, depending on the size, and about 100 cats. It had 330 animals in its care as of late December.

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That's a reasonable number of animals for us to be caring for in the shelter and in foster homes," Hardesty said. Some of the animals were also transported to partner shelters in the Pacific Northwest, she added.

But the influx in adoptions during the holiday season only lasts for a couple weeks.

About 10 to 15% of animals adopted during the holidays are returned to the shelter after New Year's Eve by families who decide they dont have the means to take care of an animal, according to Hardesty.

Changes in housing or finances are some of the most common reasons people surrender their pets to shelters, she said.

Families in Brazoria County who are worried about the ability to keep their pets due to financial struggles can reach out to the SPCA to receive free food and other supplies for their dogs or cats.

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"We're piloting a new program now where we're trying to help people keep their pets," Hardesty said. "We'll give them dog food and minimal veterinary care. We've partnered with local groomers and local trainers to be able to get them grooming and training services."

What to expect when adopting

Families who are looking to adopt an animal should do their research and spend time with animals they're planning to adopt, Hardesty said.

The SPCA of Brazoria County allows potential adopters to take a dog out for the day or let them sleep over at their home with all necessary supplies through its Doggie Day Out and Doggy Sleepover programs.

"It takes three days for them to get used to their new surroundings, three weeks to acclimate to their new situation and three months to really settle into their new life," she said. "They really need to have time to decompress and to really feel safe in their new environment."

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How to help animals at the shelter

Volunteering, donating supplies and monetary donations are some ways people can help the shelter.

Volunteers complete tasks such as walking dogs and playing with cats to keep the animals active. Interested potential volunteers must fill out an application.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to reporters Dec. 15 as he leaves his defamation trial in Washington. A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued Giuliani for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that upended their lives with racist threats and harassment.
Given the troubling trends in insurance reimbursements as well as ballooning budgets and expectations for EMS organizations, these are questions and assessments that should be made sooner rather than later  hopefully before another Berkshire EMS service flatlines.
Ezekiel 34:12

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is

among his sheep that are scattered

That is, when they have been scattered, and are got together again; then he goes among them, to see if there are any missing, and in wheat condition they are, and what they want: so will I seek out my sheep, and deliver them out of all places where

they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day;

such as, in a literal sense, the time of the captivity was, when the Jews were dispersed in the various provinces of Babylon, and other countries; and which was a time of darkness and affliction to them. The time of Adam's fall was a dark and cloudy day; when all sinned in him, and were made sinners by his disobedience; when the sentence of condemnation and death passed upon all, and they became liable to utter ruin and destruction; when darkness and ignorance seized all human nature; when all mankind were separated from God, and set at a distance from him; in consequence of which the children of God, his sheep, were scattered abroad. A time of unregeneracy is a cloudy and dark day with God's elect; they are in darkness, and walk in darkness, and are darkness itself, till made light in the Lord: and so is a time of desertion; when the Lord's people are laid in darkness, and the deeps, and both sit and walk therein, and see no light; when they can neither see the Lord, nor hear from him, nor have any communion with him; when the sun of righteousness is withdrawn or eclipsed; and they cannot see their interest clear in spiritual and eternal things: as is also a time of persecution with the churches of Christ; when both ministers and people are scattered abroad, and their eyes cannot behold their teachers; and moon and stars are not seen for many days, Gospel ministers and Gospel ordinances: and the same is a time of blasphemy and error; and when it is neither day nor night, as is the present season; but there is no day so cloudy and dark but the shepherd can see his sheep, and will look them out, though they cannot see him.
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South Africas deployment of firefighters internationally this year, has yet again proven that our countrys ability for wildfire firefighting is becoming more and more recognised.

Our multiple deployments to Canada in 2023, is a vote of confidence in our wildfire firefighting capacity and abilities. We must be extremely proud of our deployees who have been selected, Working on Fire managing director Trevor Abrahams told SAnews.

Working on Fire (WoF) has had four deployments of firefighters and management to Canada since June 2023.

Abrahams who was the leader of the first group to head to Canada on 3 June, said 2023 has been Canadas worst fires season in recorded history. The north American country has had over 6,330 fires which have destroyed at least 17 hectares of forest.

Working on Fire is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) aimed at providing work opportunities to young men and women. It resides under and is funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Asked about the process followed prior to the deployment of teams, Abrahams said firefighters and management within WoF were given an opportunity to apply to be placed provided that they met the minimum criteria.

The criteria that firefighters needed to meet included being in possession of a valid passport; being qualified with a minimum of three-years of firefighting experience, as well as being in possession of a valid yellow card.

A yellow card in South Africa indicates that one has undergone recurrency certification and is fit to be on the fire line and trained in the use of Canadian water pump machines.

All WoF teams were assembled in Mbombela in Mpumalanga at the Kishugu Training Academy, where they underwent a three-day refresher training camp prior to departure.

This years deployment was the fifth collaboration between South Africa and Canada in terms of the exchange of personnel. Previous deployments to Canada were in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021.

Memorandum of Understanding and deployment

The deployment of South African wildland firefighters to Canada came in response to a request for assistance from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) in terms of the existing emorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the governments of the two countries.

Signed in 2019, the MOU provides for the exchange of wildland fire management resources between the two countries.

Working on Fire has had four deployments totalling 860 firefighters and management to Canada since June and Abrahams whose team returned on 8 July 2023, said South African firefighters received huge praise from Canadian wildfire authorities as well as other international firefighters who were deployed in Canada.

Bringing the fiery South African soul to camp

Our firefighters were lauded for their energy, their strong work ethic and observance of safety measures on the fire line, as well as for the way they have accustomed themselves to the conditions in Canada, where wildland firefighting conditions are different from what they were used to in South Africa.

He added that the 2023 deployment was the largest ever with 30% of the deployed personnel being women.

The teams were hailed for their commitment and atmosphere they brought to the firefighting camps.

Their infectious spirit, witnessed through viral videos on social media, ignited international curiosity about these dedicated South Africans who journeyed thousands of kilometres to confront Canada's wildfire challenge.

He adds that firefighters from the United States, Australia, France, Mexico, South Korea and Portugal among others, joined in the firefighting efforts.

He said the South African firefighters dancing and singing prior to going to the fire line and when returning in the afternoons had made them a great hit.

This rich harmony of our firefighters who come from all over South Africa, with different languages and cultural practices, has also served as an inspiration for many Canadians. Singing and dancing is part of our tradition and even at wildfires in South Africa. Our firefighters are doing this as part of preparing themselves mentally for the days work and to show unity and commitment. It serves to uplift them but also importantly, to raise the morale of the communities and land owners where they go to fight wildfires.

A different terrain

As the second largest country in the world and one of the worlds most forested countries, Canada's massive fires are quite different from what we are used to fight in South Africa, Abrahams said.

In South Africa, wildland fires are typically much smaller than those seen in Canada and without nearly as much fuel, and they're usually fought by firefighters carrying backpacks with 20 liters of water and tankers nearby to resupply them. Fire beaters and rakes are also a common part of the equipment carried by South African firefighters during wildland fires here at home.

Fuel loads are also quite different as in South Africa our firefighters encounter mostly fynbos, veld, grassland, and vegetation fires, as well as forest fires in commercial plantations, whereas in Canada, it is the forest fires which are the predominant fuel which is burning, he explained.

In addition, Canada arms its firefighters with more advanced and detailed weather forecasts, and with information on moisture content in vegetation, to predict fire behaviour at any point in time. The Incident commanders also use infrared scans to identify hot spots  technology not routinely used in South Africa.

Canadian fires also have different features from fires in South Africa, with smoldering peat fires that can burn below ground in the Canada woods. Safety risks are also different in that the shallow plate root system of Canadian arboreal forests results in huge trees toppling over after fires have affected their shallow root system.

He adds that the Canadian deployments have become routine enough that Working on Fire trains its firefighters in how to operate a particular pump that is a fixture in fighting Canadian fires, but little used back home.

Our firefighters adjusted to these differences fast, and our crews are divided into smaller teams who work in different areas, and we team experienced firefighters with those new to Canada.

While South Africas wildland fires do not (yet) take on the dimensions of some of the fires experienced in Canada, the experience in being deployed amongst international teams results in learning how to fight mega fires; learning different weather patterns; learning different techniques when dealing with fuel types not experienced in South Africa, he said.

Climate change

Asked about how climate change is affecting the work of firefighters, Abrahams said the Canadian wildfires and the deadly and catastrophic wildfires seen in Maui (Hawaii), Algeria, and Europe and those seen in the North West and Free State provinces are sounding alarm bells on the growing risks posed by global warming and climate change and warning governments across the world to put in place wildfire risk reduction measures.

His comments come amidst the recent fires that hit Simons Town and the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM).

With global warming propelling climate change, temperatures will rise over the next couple of decades which will lead to dryer conditions, and this will lead to more frequent fires fuelled by hotter conditions as temperatures rise.

Meteorologists and weather experts have all concluded that a combination of climate change and the global weather phenomenon El Nino is believed to be contributing to these extreme weather events.

He added that South Africa has not and will not be spared these impacts of climate change.

The 2022 catastrophic and unprecedented flooding experienced in KwaZulu Natal has been widely attributed in part to the impact of climate change.

The 2023 released UN [United Nations] Environment programme (UNEP) study on climate change, Spreading Like Wildfire suggests that the increase in extreme wildland fires is likely to grow by 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050 and 50% by the end of the century, he adds.

It is our belief that these successful 2023 Canadian deployments will go a long way in ensuring that our firefighters and management are more capable and ready to respond to mega wildfire threats in South Africa.
The NHI Bill presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa cannot be permitted, as in its current form, it will infringe the rights of all South Africans by destroying the South African healthcare system.

Source: Supplied. Craig Comrie, chairperson of the Health Funders Association (HFA).

This is according to the Health Funders Association (HFA) which has petitioned the President to withhold assent of the Bill on constitutional and procedural grounds. It intends to take the matter as far as necessary and to the Constitutional Court if need be.

We have taken a strong stand by respectfully urging the President to withhold assent of the Bill, citing constitutional and procedural concerns that pose a significant threat to the integrity of the countrys healthcare system," remarks HFA chairperson, Craig Comrie.

Should the need arise, the HFA is prepared to escalate the matter to the courts. Our goal is to meticulously align the legislation with the authentic objectives of Universal Health Coverage and the principles enshrined in the South African Constitution.

"Our action in opposing the NHI Bill being signed into law protects the interests of all South Africans who will require healthcare in future, including the people we are duty-bound to safeguard through the medical schemes and healthcare administrators we represent, Comrie says.

While expressing unwavering support for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in South Africa, the HFA questions Parliament's endorsement of a bill that raises significant constitutional and procedural concerns and fundamentally cannot achieve a sustainable system of UHC.

Some of the primary concerns outlined in the letter include:

Constitutional concerns: The NHI Bill's clear infringement on constitutional rights, particularly the right to access healthcare and freedom of choice for South Africans, and by implication, the right to life. The Bill is seriously flawed in that regard, undermining the rule of law.

The NHI Bill's clear infringement on constitutional rights, particularly the right to access healthcare and freedom of choice for South Africans, and by implication, the right to life. The Bill is seriously flawed in that regard, undermining the rule of law. Procedural concerns: Questioning the extent and effectiveness of public consultation during the drafting and review of the NHI Bill, where thousands of submissions resulted in no meaningful changes to the Bill, the HFA advocates for a more inclusive and consultative approach.

The letter implores President Ramaphosa to exercise the powers granted by the Constitution to refer the NHI Bill back to Parliament for review.

In addition to petitioning the President directly as guardian of the Constitution, the HFA will oppose the NHI Bill in its current form through every possible avenue, including approaching the courts to set aside the Bill on constitutional and procedural grounds.

The HFA will also seek a High Court interdict against implementation of the NHI Act until the merits of our case have been heard and ruled upon by the High Court.

Craig Comrie concludes, "It is with a heavy heart that we make this plea, urging the President to secure the rights and wellbeing of our people. We will persist to ensure that what is right triumphs in our nation. South Africa deserves leadership that prioritises the welfare of all of its citizens, above all."
The home at 2414 Rosedale Street caught fire early on Christmas morning. Courtesy: OnScene.tv

A Christmas Day fire that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to Beyonce's childhood home was an accident, the Houston Fire Department said Thursday.

The cause of the Dec. 25 fire at the home at 2414 Rosedale was determined to be electrical, the fire department said.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston Chronicle's top photos from 2023

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The fire started around 2 a.m. on the home's second floor, and was put out thanks to the help of 34 firefighters, the department said. The family who lives in the house now got out safely and there were no reported injuries.

The fire department estimated the blaze caused $300,000 in damage.
The Harris County Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin St., is shown Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Prosecutors have dismissed 2019 charges against a man once accused of killing a friend and seriously injuring his girlfriend during a boating crash along the San Jacinto River in east Harris County.

Galan Ruiz, 46, was charged with felony murder and intoxicated assault with a vehicle, causing serious bodily injury, in connection with the June 30 river crash. Luis Gonzalez, 33, vanished in the water, and search crews found his body two days later.

Ruiz was hospitalized after the crash and ultimately lost a leg, said his defense attorney, J. Julio Vela.

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The deadly crash and other drownings around that time fueled stern warnings from law enforcement that boaters and motorists should not drink and drive during the Fourth of July weekend.

The charges against Ruiz were dismissed Dec. 5, with prosecutors citing insufficient evidence of defendants guilt as their reason in court records.

The case was set for trial last February and later in May, but those proceedings were postponed, court records show. In the months that followed, prosecutors continued to seek records related to the crash, including toxicology testing.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office defended tough prosecution of alcohol-related cases but acknowledged it did not have evidence to win the case against Ruiz.

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We believe in evidence-based prosecution, and based on our evaluation of the evidence, we did not believe a successful prosecution was possible in this case, said prosecutor Lauren Bard, head of the Vehicular Crimes Division.

Ruizs defense attorney identified issues with the case, including a possible mechanical problem with the boat, that may have led to the dismissal. A crash reconstruction expert told Vela that the boats motor did not fit the vessel and that it may have malfunctioned, causing a so-called circle of death boating phenomena after hitting strong wakes.

Gonzalez was flung from the boat as the uncontrolled spinning continued, Vela said.

Only one of the two blood draws taken from Ruiz showed signs of alcohol, he said.

Because of the backlog, it wasnt until the eve of trial that the state took a real good look at the case, Vela said. Had the decision been made years ago, it could have spared a lot of heartache.

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The lawyer said his client lost his job in auto repair after his arrest.

Former prosecutor Sean Teare, who is running against District Attorney Kim Ogg, touted the 2019 charges while previously leading the Vehicular Crimes Division in Oggs office at the time they were filed.

Surveillance footage showed Ruiz losing control of the vessel and crashing into a retaining wall, Teare said in 2019. Residents in nearby homes at Sandbridge Court and Rio Villa Drive rescued Ruiz and his girlfriend from the water. Beer cans were found in the crashed boat, Teare said.

Teare, while no longer involved in the case, said the investigation into Ruiz helped prosecutors in his division understand the results of field sobriety tests on water, as opposed to land.

He recalled the case as one that should be tried when he oversaw the Vehicular Crimes Division but noted that new evidence since his departure in February could have changed that.
Houston Chronicle

A standoff between a barricaded burglary suspect and law enforcement ended Thursday evening after multiple hours of negotiating in San Jacinto County.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including SWAT units, were at the Holiday Villages subdivision attempting to arrest the suspect, the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.

The suspect was taken into custody around 6 p.m. without incident, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said in a subsequent Facebook post. The sheriff told KHOU 11 that a vehicle connected to the suspect was found elsewhere around 12:30 p.m.

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Law enforcement was seeking the suspect due to a possible connection to a burglary and arson case in Polk County, KHOU 11 reported. Details of the case and the suspect's identity have not been released.

During the standoff, the suspect was in a trailer negotiating with law enforcement, according to multiple reports. The suspect's girlfriend was inside the trailer at some point but was allowed to leave and go home safely, ABC 13 reported.




MUMBAI (PTI): India is aiming to launch 50 satellites in the next five years for geo-intelligence gathering which will include the creation of a layer of satellites in different orbits with a capacity to track the movement of troops and image thousands of kilometers of area, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath said in Mumbai on Thursday.



For realising India's aspiration to become a strong nation, the current size of its satellite fleet is not enough and it should be "ten times what we have today", he said, speaking at Techfest, an annual science and technology event organised by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.



It was important to improve the ability of satellites to detect changes, to bring in more of AI-related and data-driven approach to analyse data, reduce data downloads and get only the necessary information, he said.



Spacecrafts are capable of observing a country's borders and neighbouring regions, the ISRO chief noted.



"All of it can be seen from satellites. This capability gives us enormous potential. We have been launching satellites to handle this, but there is a different way of thinking now and we need to look at it in a much more critical manner because the power of (any) nation is the ability to understand what is happening around it," Somanath said.



Many satellites are being designed and configured, he said.



"We have already configured 50 satellites to be realised in the next five years and this is going to be launched for India for supporting this particular geo-intelligence capability over the next five years plus (period)," the ISRO Chief added.



If India is able to launch satellites at this scale, threats to the country can be better mitigated, Somanath said.



"We have found out a way by which a layer of satellites can be launched starting from GEO (geostationary equatorial orbit) to LEO (lower earth orbit) and also (in) very low earth orbit where we need very critical assessment of some situation," he said.



This is a new domain which is coming up not only in optical, but also in SAR (synthetic aperture radar), thermal and various other technologies, Somanath pointed out.



"We will have communication between satellites, so that if some satellite detects something, which is at GEO at 36,000 kms, it can have a large view. If you find some activity happening, you can task another satellite in the lower orbit (to check) much more carefully and then give more information," he said.



"We are also looking at imaging, not a very small area (but) thousands of kilometers of area and we would like to cover entire borders in everyday cycles. This is a tremendous capability that we are building if we are able to launch these satellites in the next five years," he said.



Somanath noted that the overall satellite fleet of the country, with its current strength of 54, is "just not enough" for a nation like India which is aspiring to be powerful and strong.



"I think it must be ten times what we have today," the ISRO Chief said.


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Postal Code
Maine on Thursday became the second US state to bar Donald Trump from a Republican presidential primary ballot, part of a flurry of legal challenges to his eligibility to run for president in 2024.

The challenges are being filed under a provision in the US Constitution banning officials who have engaged in "insurrection" from holding public office.

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Here is a look at some of the notable challenges under the provision known as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and where they stand:

What is section 3 of the 14th amendment?

Passed after the US Civil War, Section 3 bars anyone from holding public office if they engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" after previously swearing an oath in support of the United States.

The provision was enacted in 1868 to prevent former members of the pro-slavery Confederacy from serving in the US government.

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Advocacy groups and some anti-Trump voters have brought legal challenges to Mr Trump's 2024 presidential campaign in several states based on Section 3, arguing that then-president Trump engaged in insurrection when he urged his supporters on January 6th, 2021, to go to Washington and stop Congress from certifying the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden.

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A mob of his supporters then stormed the US Capitol and were unsuccessful in blocking the certification.

What did Maine rule?

The state's top election official, Democrat Shenna Bellows, granted a challenge from a group of former state lawmakers who argued that Mr Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, was not qualified to serve as president again under Section 3.

Ms Bellows ordered Mr Trump be kept off the ballot for the March 5th Republican primary, but put her ruling on hold to allow Mr Trump to appeal to a state court.

Have any other states disqualified Trump?

Colorado become the first state to exclude Mr Trump from a primary ballot. The state's highest court ruled on December 19th that Mr Trump engaged in insurrection.

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Colorado is viewed as a safely Democratic state in the November 2024 general election, meaning Mr Biden would be expected to carry the state regardless of whether Mr Trump is on the ballot.

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The court paused its ruling to allow Mr Trump to appeal to the US Supreme Court, which the former president indicated he would do. The Colorado Republican Party filed its own appeal to the Supreme Court on December 27th, clearing a path for Mr Trump to remain on the primary ballot despite the state court ruling.

What is Trump's defence?

Mr Trump and his allies have criticised disqualification cases as undemocratic and part of a conspiracy by his political rivals to keep him out of office.

His lawyers have argued that only Congress can enforce Section 3 and that presidents are not subject to disqualification. A lower court judge in Colorado agreed that Section 3 does not apply to presidents before that ruling was overturned by the state's top court.

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Mr Trump's legal team also disputes that Mr Trump engaged in insurrection, arguing that he was exercising his First Amendment right to free speech on January 6th.

Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges accusing him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results but has not been charged with insurrection.

What happens next?

The Maine decision will be reviewed by state courts.

The US Supreme Court is likely to take the Colorado case given its political importance and the unsettled legal questions it raises.

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It is not clear how the Court would rule, but it is dominated by a conservative majority that includes three Trump appointees. The court may not need to decide whether Mr Trump engaged in insurrection and could rule narrowly that Section 3 does not apply to presidents or that it cannot be enforced by courts.

A ruling that Mr Trump is disqualified from the presidency would be a momentous step with seismic political implications.

Which states have rejected ballot challenges?

Lawsuits in several states seeking to keep Mr Trump off primary ballots have failed. Courts in Minnesota and Michigan ruled that Mr Trump could not be excluded from the primary, but allowed challengers to revive their cases for the November 2024 general election if Mr Trump is the Republican nominee.

Courts in both states ruled that Mr Trump's eligibility for the presidency under the US Constitution was not relevant to internal party primaries.

Michigan is considered one of the hotly contested states that can swing to either Democrats or Republicans and likely to decide the outcome of the general election.

Where else are cases pending?

Challenges to Mr Trump's eligibility have been filed in at least 12 states. One of the more closely watched cases is in Oregon, where the state Supreme Court is poised to decide in the coming days whether to consider a lawsuit seeking to disqualify Mr Trump from the state's primary ballot.
The UK government will not stand by and allow public services to deteriorate in Northern Ireland while Stormont remains suspended, Chris Heaton-Harris has said.

The UK Northern Ireland secretary said he was preparing a budget to support civil servants in stabilising public finances if the powersharing impasse is not resolved, but warned there must be a limit to how far the UK government could go.

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Talks between Mr Heaton-Harris and Northern Ireland political parties over finances, which included the offer of a 3.3 billion financial package, broke up at Hillsborough Castle earlier this month without any agreement to restore the devolved Assembly and Executive.

Mr Heaton-Harris had also said that his talks with the DUP over their concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements had concluded. However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted the negotiations will continue.

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The Stormont Assembly has been suspended for almost two years (Liam McBurney/PA)

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The powersharing institutions have been suspended for almost two years as the unionist party seeks further legislative assurances from the Government of Northern Irelands trading position within the UK.

Under current rules Mr Heaton-Harris is obliged to call new Assembly elections on January 18th if the powersharing Assembly has not returned.

But writing in the Belfast Telegraph, he said he would not be treating that date as a deadline.

He said: I am considering all options carefully, however, I want Stormont to return as soon as possible so I am not treating this date as a target and will be relentlessly working with all parties to find a way forward.

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January 18th is also the date when thousands of public sector workers will go on strike over pay. A returned Executive could stop these strikes and the disruption it brings to people.

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By getting back to work they will unlock the 584 million made available by the UK government to address public sector pay.

People in Northern Ireland expect and deserve devolved government back as soon as possible, to make use of the financial package we have put on the table.

He added: In its absence, however, the UK government cannot and will not just stand by and allow public services and finances to decline further.

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Which is why, just like last year, we are preparing a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support the Northern Ireland Civil Service in stabilising public finances and services via a sustainable budget, should the Executive not be back in place to do so itself.

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But we are clear that there must be a limit to how far the UK government can go without an Executive in place.

That is because the financial package we have offered requires decisions on how to improve and modernise the public services and these must be taken by locally-elected politicians with the mandate to do so.

It should not just be for local politicians to dispense funding from the UK government.

They should take active and sometimes difficult decisions about where priorities lie, because they know the place and the needs of their constituents better than anyone else.
Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner and Mayor Sylvester Turner comment during a press conference, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, about the dangers and penalties for shooting off illegal fireworks and celebratory gunfire in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Pena stands in the rear as Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner and Mayor Sylvester Turner comment during a press conference, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, about the dangers and penalties for shooting off illegal fireworks and celebratory gunfire in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner and Mayor Sylvester Turner stand with Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg during a press conference, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, about the dangers and penalties for shooting off illegal fireworks and celebratory gunfire in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

With New Years Eve approaching, more than a dozen Houston and Harris County leaders gathered Thursday to issue a plea to residents who are thinking about firing guns in the air to ring in 2024.

Don't pull the trigger.

We all will have individuals out, marked and unmarked, plain clothed and uniformed, looking for those individuals who dont yield to our warning, said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. Our warning is not to do it. Please dont do it. Its just a really dangerous thing to do.

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MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: 6 things to do in Houston as the year comes to an end

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he hoped city residents would notice a more aggressive response to gunshot calls over the holiday.

I hope people are getting the message this year that we are taking this thing very, very seriously, Turner said, while acknowledging the multiple agencies that were present at the news conference, including the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety. There will be much more coordination. The focus will be on addressing it.

Finner said he knew some people in Houston planned to stay home on New Years Eve, because other people were being stupid.

Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering $5,000 rewards for people whose reports about New Years shooters leads to convictions, said Andy Kahan, the groups executive director.

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Its easy to think of yourself as not a criminal, or that youre just having a good time, said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. But you have a responsibility when you fire a weapon, and that responsibility can lead to criminal accountability. What we want people to remember is that you can hurt other people by shooting weapons for any reason.

Reports from people saying they see a person actively shooting a gun will be a Priority 1 call, the highest level of response the police department has, Finner said. But he encouraged people not to clog up emergency lines by calling to report simply hearing gunshots. Calls about gunshots being heard should go to the police departments non-emergency number, Finner said.

People who call about someone they see firing a gun should be prepared to give a description of what the person looked like, Finner said.

Indiscriminate gunfire can have serious consequences, officials said. In 2020, Phillipa Ashford, was killed when she was hit by a stray bullet on New Years Day. On Christmas Day this year, a Houston man was wounded in the shoulder when he was hit by a so-called celebratory round.

The warnings about gunfire came along with other warnings typical before the holiday. The Texas Department of Public Safety warned its troopers with be looking for drunken drivers, and Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena reminded the public that fireworks are illegal inside Houston city limits.

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A man has been arrested following a shooting incident in a restaurant in Dublin on Christmas Eve.

A man, named locally as Tristan Sherry, died after he was assaulted and stabbed during the gun attack at Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown.

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A Garda spokesperson said: Gardai have arrested a male in relation to the investigation into a serious incident that occurred at a premises on the Main Street in Blanchardstown.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in West Dublin. Investigations are ongoing.

Gardai stepped up uniformed patrols in Dublin following the killing (Niall Carson/PA)

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A man in his 40s was also injured when he received gunshot wounds in the incident.

It is understood gardai are investigating whether Mr Sherry was a participant in the initial shooting and was tackled and stabbed after the shots were fired.

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Gardai stepped up uniformed patrols in Dublin after the incident amid fears of reprisal attacks.

Uniform patrols in the Dublin region, with support from armed patrols including the Garda armed support unit, have been increased.

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The incident unfolded inside a restaurant filled with customers, including families out for Christmas Eve celebrations.

An incident room has been established at Blanchardstown Garda Station and the investigation is being led by a senior investigating officer (SIO).

The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is also providing assistance and a Garda family liaison officer has been appointed to both families.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described his shock at the incident, revealing he had visited the family-run restaurant many times, while Minister for Justice Helen McEntee condemned the violence as disgusting.
Gardai are continuing to question a man over the discovery of a body at a house in Co Tipperary on Wednesday.

Detectives arrested the 27-year-old in Dublin at around 4.30pm on Thursday, and brought him to a Garda station in Co Tipperary for questioning.

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The dead man has been named locally as Polish national Maciej Nowak (32), who worked in construction and was one of a number of Polish nationals renting the house at Ballycrana.

According to The Irish Times, gardai believe Mr Nowak was celebrating his 32nd birthday on St Stephens night with a number of other people when a row broke out.

The body of Mr Nowak was found shortly after 4am on Wednesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was later removed to University Hospital Waterford.

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Gardai later issued a statement confirming that a postmortem had been completed. It is understood Mr Nowak had suffered injuries consistent with an assault.

Investigators have appealed to anyone who attended the party and has any information regarding the assault on Mr Nowak to contact them at Tipperary Garda station.

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, a Garda spokesperson said in a statement issued this week.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin's call for tougher sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers guilty of targeting Palestinians in the West Bank, and a Covid and flu surge, are among the stories on Friday's front pages.

The Irish Times leads with the comments from the Tanaiste.

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Micheal Martin's comments also make the front page of the Irish Examiner, along with a story on a flu and Covid surge putting hospitals under pressure.

The Irish Independent leads with a story on a rural burglary gang that used Airbnb as a base.

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Childline volunteers in Cork have been left 'heartbroken' as they respond to a large volume of calls linked to child sex abuse, The Echo reports.

The Irish Sun leads with a story on burglars stealing 1 million worth of jewellery from Manchester City footballer Jack Grealish's home.

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Advertisement Today's Irish Sun. pic.twitter.com/TS9MM26ks4  The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) December 29, 2023

The Herald leads with a story on mystery surrounding the death of a Dublin woman in Luxembourg.

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In the North, the Belfast Telegraph leads to problems at the business owned by Irish boxing promoter Barry McGuigan.

Despite the Christmas break, stories from Westminster dominate the front pages of Fridays UK newspapers.

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The Times runs with a study suggesting a Whitehall hiring ban has pushed underqualified staffers into senior roles.

THE TIMES: Civil service beats wage freeze by overpromoting #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/vgxk8zASAn  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 28, 2023

Inheritance tax is emerging as a pre-election issue and the Daily Mail says UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt is considering cutting it by half.

Daily Mail: Hunt plan to slash death tax by half #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/GrjTFpUX9f  George Mann (@sgfmann) December 27, 2023

The i focuses on former prime minister Boris Johnson as he urges Rishi Sunak to speed up the transition to nuclear power.

Friday's front page

'Get on with it': Johnson hits out at Sunak over nuclear power delays



Exclusive by @BenGartside https://t.co/fT5y2mtVIH#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/qxLqs5m2DM  i newspaper (@theipaper) December 28, 2023

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The Guardian looks at burnout in the health sector with doctors airing concerns over moral distress.

GUARDIAN: Doctors raise alarm over moral distress from NHS overstretch #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/lZFuiFxAAn  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 28, 2023

An investigation into police procedures features on the front of the Daily Telegraph with a study suggesting officers across Britain do not meet minimum standards when booking criminals.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Half of police not probing crime properly'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/5UfAfyDrF6  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 28, 2023

The Daily Mirror and Daily Express lead on the tornado that damaged 100 homes in Greater Manchester.

Tomorrow's front page: Manchester tornado leaves family safe amid chaos and damage #tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/cjdmRpj7yr pic.twitter.com/Ca1eMRrxLS  Daily Express (@Daily_Express) December 28, 2023

The Financial Times concentrates on efforts to starve Houthi rebels of funding after a string of attacks on shipping.

FT UK: Washington steps up effort to choke funding for Tehran backed Houthis #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/L1bwaa3JMu  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 28, 2023

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The Independent gives over its front page to a special report on the jailed former leader of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi.

And for something completely different, the Daily Star uses mans best friends struggle with holiday weight gain.

The New York Times leads with a story on Israel admitting fault in two strikes which killed civilians in Gaza.
Heavy rain, strong winds, ice and snow are forecast for the final weekend of 2023, with weather warnings in place for 17 counties.

Met Eireann has issued an alert for wind and snow-ice in Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo on Saturday until 10am.

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The forecaster said rain will turn to sleet or snow in places for a short time on Saturday morning, especially over higher ground. The rain, sleet and snow will be accompanied by strong and gusty winds, it said.

The UK Met Office has also warned of heavy rain for all counties in Northern Ireland on Saturday morning, which may lead to some travel disruption.

A wet & windy start on Saturday with widespread rain, heavy or thundery at times with some localised flooding possible



Some falls of sleet or wet snow are possible for a time early in the morning in north Ulster



The rain will clear eastwards during the morning pic.twitter.com/d06N3Zi6Fq Advertisement  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) December 29, 2023 Advertisement

A separate status-yellow wind and rain warning has been issued for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Mayo and Wexford on Saturday from 2am to 11pm.

Met Eireann said southwest winds would be strong and gusty at times coupled with heavy rain and thundery showers. Difficult travelling conditions are expected.

A further wind warning has been issued from 11pm on Saturday until 5pm on Sunday in Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

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Heavy downpours are not expected to continue into Sunday night when many open-air concerts are due to get under way as part of New Years Eve celebrations.

In Dublin concerts are due to take place in Collins Barracks, Dublin Castle and Meeting House square in Temple Bar. Met Eireann said showers should be expected.

Those planning a New Years Day swim in the Dublin area have been reminded to consider the 48-hour rule which advises bathers not to swim within two days of a heavy downpour, which carries a danger of run off from drains.

Met Eireann forecaster Rebecca Cantwell told The Irish Times that the worst of the rain should have passed by Sunday evening, but she did not rule out the possibility of further showers.
Russia has launched about 110 missiles as well as drones against Ukrainian targets in what appears to be one of the biggest aerial barrages of the war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Most of the incoming missiles and drones were shot down, but at least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number of people were buried under rubble, Ukrainian officials said.

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Scores of people are reported to have been injured.

Several civilians have been killed and scores injured (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Among the buildings damaged across Ukraine were a maternity hospital, apartment blocks and schools.

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Mr Zelenskiy said the Kremlins forces used a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said Russia apparently launched everything they have against targets across Ukraine.

The roughly 18-hour onslaught that began on Thursday and continued through the night hit six cities, including the capital Kyiv, and other areas from east to west Ukraine, according to authorities.

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A maternity ward, educational facilities, a shopping mall, multi-story residential buildings and private homes, a commercial storage, and a parking lot. Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities.



Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its pic.twitter.com/q5q8Q98Njr  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 29, 2023

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Mr Zelenskiy said on X: Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal.

If the Ukrainian leaders count is confirmed, it would be the largest aerial attack by the Kremlins forces since their full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to the Ukrainian air force, the previous biggest assault was in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles against Ukraine.

The bombardment came as fighting along the front line is largely bogged down by winter weather, and following Ukraines summer counter-offensive failed to make a significant breakthrough along the roughly 620-mile line of contact.
Argentina formally announced on Friday that it will not join the Brics bloc of developing economies, the latest in a dramatic shift in foreign and economic policy by Argentinas new far-right populist President Javier Milei.

In a letter addressed to the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa  all members of the alliance  Mr Milei said the moment was not opportune for Argentina to join as a full member.

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The letter was dated a week ago, December 22, but released by the Argentine government on Friday, the last working day of 2023.

Argentina was among six countries invited in August to join the bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to make an 11-nation bloc. Argentina was set to join January 1, 2024.

The move comes as Argentina has been left reeling by deepening economic crisis.

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Mr Mileis predecessor, former center-left president Alberto Fernandez, endorsed joining the alliance as an opportunity to reach new markets. The Brics currently account for about 40% of the worlds population and more than a quarter of the worlds GDP.

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Argentinas President Javier Milei after he was sworn in earlier in December (Matilde Campodonico/AP)

But economic turmoil left many in Argentina eager for change, ushering chainsaw-wielding political outsider Mr Milei into the presidency.

Mr Milei, who defines himself as an anarcho-capitalist  a current within liberalism that aspires to eliminate the state  has implemented a series of measures to deregulate the economy, which in recent decades has been marked by strong state interventionism.

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In foreign policy, he has proclaimed full alignment with the free nations of the West, especially the US and Israel.

Throughout the campaign for the presidency, Mr Milei also disparaged countries ruled by communism and announced that he would not maintain diplomatic relations with them despite growing Chinese investment in South America.

However, in the letter addressed to his counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in neighbouring Brazil and the rest of the leaders of full Brics members  Xi Jinping of China, Narenda Mondi of India, Vladimir Putin of Russia and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa  Mr Milei proposed to intensify bilateral ties and increase trade and investment flows.

Mr Milei also expressed his readiness to hold meetings with each of the five leaders.
Russia has launched 122 missiles and 36 drones against Ukrainian targets, killing at least 30 civilians in what military officials said was the biggest aerial barrage of the 22-month war.

The Ukrainian air force intercepted 87 of the missiles and 27 of the Shahed-type drones overnight, Ukraines military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said.

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Air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his official Telegram channel that it had been the most massive aerial attack since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.





A maternity ward, educational facilities, a shopping mall, multi-story residential buildings and private homes, a commercial storage, and a parking lot. Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities.



Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its pic.twitter.com/q5q8Q98Njr  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 29, 2023 Advertisement

According to the Ukrainian air force, the previous biggest assault was in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles against Ukraine.

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This year, the biggest was 81 missiles on March 9, air force records show.

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Fighting along the front line has been largely bogged down by winter weather after Ukraines summer counter-offensive failed to make a significant breakthrough along the roughly 620-mile line of contact.



At least 13 civilians have been killed (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Ukrainian officials have urged the countrys Western allies to provide it with more air defences to protect itself against such aerial attacks.

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Their appeals have come as signs of war fatigue strain efforts to keep support in place.

At least 144 people were injured and an unknown number were buried under rubble during the roughly 18-hour onslaught, Ukrainian officials said.

Among the buildings reported to be damaged across Ukraine were a maternity hospital, apartment blocks and schools.

In Kyiv, the bombardment damaged a subway station that lies across the street from a factory belonging to the Artem company, which produces components for various military-grade missiles. Officials did not say whether the factory was directly hit.

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It is thought to be the biggest aerial barrage since the war began (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Kremlins forces used a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

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Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal, Mr Zelensky said on X.

Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia apparently launched everything they have, except for submarine-launched Kalibr missiles, in the attack.

The aerial attack that began on Thursday and continued through the night hit six cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and other areas from east to west and north to south Ukraine, according to authorities.

Reports of deaths and damage came in from across the country.

Five people were killed and 20 injured in the eastern city of Dnipro where four maternity hospital patients were rescued from a fire, officials said.



People cleared debris at the site of Russias air attack in Zaporizhzhia (AP)

In Odesa, on the southern coast, falling drone wreckage started a fire at a multi-storey residential building, according to the regional head, Oleh Kiper. Two people were killed and 15, including two children, were injured in the course of the Odesa attack, he said.

The mayor of the western city of Lviv, Andrii Sadovyi, said one person was killed and eight injured and three schools and a kindergarten were damaged in a drone attack in the region.

Several dozen missiles were launched towards Kyiv during the night, with more than 30 of them intercepted, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration.

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The attack started a fire at a warehouse in the capitals Podil district where five people reportedly were pulled from the rubble. Three people were killed in the capital.

In north-eastern Ukraine, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city was subjected to at least three waves of aerial attacks overnight that included S-300 and Kh-21 missile launches. One person was killed and at least nine injured, officials said.





US President Joe Biden said the bombardment showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin must be stopped.

The American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom and its independence, he said.

But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defence systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay, he said in a statement.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Russias attack in the strongest terms and said attacks against civilians are unacceptable and must end immediately, according to a statement from his spokesperson.

The UN Security Council hastily convened later on Friday to discuss the attack, which Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari called appalling.

Tragically, 2023 is ending as it began  with devastating violence against the people of Ukraine, he said, and noted that international humanitarian law forbids attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure.
A British Conservative MP has been criticised for suggesting most children who struggle in an English town are the products of crap parents.

James Daly was accused by his Labour rival of insulting the parenting skills of people in Bury after the remark was made in a newspaper piece analysing election prospects for the Greater Manchester town.

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Mr Daly, speaking to the i newspaper, stressed the importance of stability offered by the family unit as he outlined what the New Conservatives group of British MPs stands for.

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The Bury North MP said: I think New Conservatives represent very much working-class conservatism.

Were not a strange right-wing sect. Its just people who want to give people the best chance to succeed and thrive in life.

When you think about the family, its about stability.

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Most of the kids who struggle in Bury are the products of crap parents and so what do we do to try to address that issue?

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On the left it would just be well throw money at this and hope something sticks, somebody like me thinks about this more fundamentally.

James Frith, Labours prospective parliamentary candidate for Bury North, said: It is revealing to see how little James Daly thinks of his own constituents.

Rather than insulting the parenting skills of people in Bury, he should look closer to home.

Over the last 13 years the Conservatives have failed to grow our economy, protect our public services or provide opportunities for young people in Bury and across the UK.
Two British skiers have died after an avalanche swept through an off-piste area of a French ski resort.

The pair are reportedly a 54-year-old mother and her 22-year-old son.

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Another skier, reportedly an instructor, has been left injured and a hiker was killed in a separate area after the avalanche on Mont Blanc.

An British government spokesperson said: We are supporting the family of two British people who died in France and are in contact with the local authorities.

The avalanche hurtled through an off-piste section of the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains ski resort on Thursday, according to the administration for the Haute-Savoie region.

A man and a woman were found dead, and another person discovered injured, by mountain rescuers while five other people were taken to safety.

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The cause of the avalanche is being investigated.

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The Associated Press (AP) reported that Saint-Gervais mayor Jean-Marc Peillex called weather conditions too unstable for such outings.

He told BFM television: It rained, it snowed, it was warm. There are enough marked paths to ski on.

Its terrible what happened. A family is decimated, and we are very sad in Saint-Gervais.

A 31-year-old hiker was found dead after falling on the slope of the Ecrins mountain range, AP reported.

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According to the news agency, local broadcaster France-Bleu said rescuers explained the hiker had stepped away from hiking paths to look at mountain goats.
An unidentified aerial object entered the airspace of Nato-member Poland from the direction of the border with Ukraine on Friday morning, the Polish army's Operational Command said.

"In the morning, an unidentified aerial object entered the airspace ... and from the moment it crossed the border until the signal disappeared, it was observed by the radars of the country's air defence system," it said on social media platform X.

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"In accordance with applicable procedures, the operational commander of the armed forces mobilised the available forces and resources at his disposal."

Private broadcaster TV Republika had reported that a search for the object was happening near the town of Hrubieszow in southern Poland. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm this information.

"We received information that an object appeared on the radar near Hrubieszow," Krzysztof Komorski, governor of the Lublin region said on X. "We have no confirmation that it fell within our region."

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Russia targeted Ukraine with 158 drones and missiles overnight in one of its biggest air attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, targeting critical infrastructure, industry and military facilities, the Ukrainian military said.

A stray Ukrainian missile struck the Polish village of Przewodow in southern Poland in November 2022 in an incident that raised fears of the war in Ukraine spilling over the border.

In April, a military object was found in a forest close to the village of Zamosc near the northern city of Bydgoszcz. It was later reported to be a Russian missile.
China supports displaced persons in South Sudan

Xinhua) 14:01, December 29, 2023

JUBA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said Thursday that trucks carrying humanitarian aid donated by China to support refugees and returnees displaced from Sudan have started to arrive in Juba, South Sudan's capital.

Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Albino Akol Atak said six trucks carrying a total of 26,145 pieces of plastic sheets arrived in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, to support the returnees and refugees.

"This has been a generous donation by the government of China to the people of South Sudan and is a result of our engagement with the international community and donors for them to help the government and to support the efforts of the government in its responses to the influx of refugees and returnees that have come as a result of the conflict in Sudan," Akol told reporters in Juba.

He said more than 460,000 people have already been displaced to South Sudan as a result of the Sudanese conflict and are in dire need of shelter, food, and medicines in the transit centers and their final destination.

Akol said the donation by China will be used to shelter the returnees and refugees at the transit sites and the final destinations.

He noted that there will be another support from the Chinese government for the displaced persons totaling 1.4 million U.S. dollars, which will be delivered before the end of January 2024.

Akol expressed gratitude for the generous contribution of the government of China, affirming the true friendship between South Sudan and China.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Members of the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Departments work the scene of a fatal accident after a police chase involving two suspect in a stolen vehicle ended at Martin Luther King Boulavard and Ben Fleet Street, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Houston. Gloria Collins, the mother of an HPD sergeant, died. Two others were injured. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Houston Police Chief Troy Finner and members of the HPD Command Staff announce and released a more stringent vehicle pursuit policy during a press conference at HPD headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer A firefighter investigates a car that caught fire after crashing through a gas pump at the end of a police chase at the corner of Elysian Street and Collingsworth Street Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 in Houston. The suspect got out of the car and ran into the Chevron convenience store where he was apprehended. Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle Firefighters remove the hood of a car that caught fire after crashing through a gas pump at the end of a police chase at the corner of Elysian Street and Collingsworth Street Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 in Houston. The suspect got out of the car and ran into the Chevron convenience store where he was apprehended. Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle Authorities work the scene of a crash where a police chase ended, at the intersection of 59 And Aldine Mail Route Road, Friday, August 12, in Houston. The man reached speeds of 60 mph in a truck missing two wheels, according to authorities. Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle Houston Police Chief Troy Finner and members of the HPD Command Staff announce and released a more stringent vehicle pursuit policy during a press conference at HPD headquarters on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Houstons police chief unveiled sweeping changes to the departments vehicle pursuit policy Thursday that might have prevented hundreds of crashes, had those changes been made earlier.

From 2018 through 2022, eight people died and 137 were injured after officers chased 2,200 drivers suspected only of traffic violations or failing to stop for police. Now, those practices are banned, Chief Troy Finner said.

Weve got to do even better, and the system as a whole has to do better, the chief said.

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Under the new policy, officers can no longer chase drivers suspected of Class C offenses, such as theft and minor traffic violations  the leading cause of HPD vehicle pursuits in the past five years, a Houston Chronicle analysis found.

HPD will also stop chasing people suspected of having traffic or nonviolent misdemeanor warrants, although supervisors can continue to approve chases of suspects in ongoing investigations and people driving vehicles with stolen license plates, no plates or plates that belong on another vehicle.

The policy changes come at a time when high-speed chases have skyrocketed in Houston. Over the last five years, at least 27 people were killed and 740 people were injured in 6,300 police pursuits, a Chronicle investigation late last month found. At least 240 of the dead and injured were bystanders.

One in three chases ended in a crash.

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And this year wasnt looking any better.

In 2023, HPD has averaged five pursuits per day, far more than other law enforcement departments in large cities in Texas and across the country. In the first eight months of this year, chases rose another 26 percent. Those wrecks have killed three more people and injured more than 170 others, including 61 bystanders.

Chases gone wrong have devastating consequences. One week ago, Gloria Collins, the mother of an HPD sergeant, died after an alleged auto thief fleeing police crashed into several cars sitting at a red light in southeast Houston. Police noted that the crash happened despite them halting the pursuit when they lost sight of the stolen Dodge Charger about a mile from the wreckage.

Other bystanders have been killed while walking to the barbershop, driving home from the grocery store and heading to work.

Finners changes replace a 2018 policy that was among the loosest in the state.

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Community activists had been lobbying for changes for months.

Until Thursday, HPDs policy gave officers the discretion to escalate (incidents), to be violent and  act as a predator in our communities, said Christopher Rivera, a criminal justice advocate at the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Ray Hunt, executive director of the Houston Police Officers Union, said he has no worries about the policy changes. Officers will still be able to go after potentially dangerous subjects because they will likely have committed other crimes, he said.

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There are cities that are foolishly saying were not going to stop anybody. The only person that punishes is the people that stop.

The new policy also prohibits parallel pursuits by unauthorized law enforcement vehicles and encourages officers to use new tactics to prevent pursuits.

Finner declined to provide further details on those tactics.

I will not give you the playbook, Finner said. Criminals already have the upper hand.

City Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who has long supported policy changes that limit pursuits of nonviolent offenders, has said such changes would save lives.

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This is more than just numbers, she said. By revising policies and fostering transparency, were making a commitment to intelligent action, putting safety at the forefront of our efforts, and ensuring that the heartbeat of our community remains strong and secure.

Some Black and brown residents in her district, which has seen a disproportionate number of vehicle pursuits since 2018, have been traumatized in the past by bad interactions with law enforcement, she said. Others may fear retaliation for infractions as minor as a busted tail light.

But the policy revisions do not address several other concerns raised by civil rights advocates over the years.

Finner left largely unchanged sections in HPDs vehicle pursuit policy that regulate officer conduct during pursuits.

Officers in pursuit can still drive at any speed, drive the wrong way on most roads, and bump, block or deflate the tires of fleeing vehicles during certain approved stopping maneuvers.

In an analysis of the pursuit policies of more than four dozen law enforcement departments in the Houston area, the Chronicle found that dozens of agencies bar some or all of those practices.

The danger those techniques pose to drivers is immense, said Alfredo Dominguez, an advocate with Civil Rights Corps and a member of RISE Houston.
President Nicolas Maduro has ordered Venezuelas armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after the UK sent a warship towards Guyanas territorial waters as the South American neighbours dispute a large border region.

In a nationally televised address on Thursday, Mr Maduro said 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including air and naval forces, will conduct joint operations off the nations eastern coast  near the border with Guyana.

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Mr 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, Mr Maduro said in a room where he was accompanied by a dozen military commanders.

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This is an unacceptable threat to any sovereign country in Latin America.

Venezuela and Guyana are involved in a border dispute over the Essequibo, a sparsely populated region the size of Florida with vast oil deposits off its shores.

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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 Irfan Ali said his nation reserved its right to work with its partners to ensure the defence of his country.

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On Thursday, Guyanese officials described the visit of HMS Trent as a planned activity aimed at improving the nations defence capabilities and said the ships visit will continue as scheduled.





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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.

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It can accommodate up to 30 sailors and a contingent of 18 marines and is equipped with 30mm 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 Guyanas shores.

The UKs Ministry of Defence said the ship would be conducting joint operations with Guyanas defence 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.
Lamego then resigned from Apple in July 2014, just months after joining. Masimo argues that he left after Apple got what it needed. The reality, according to longtime Apple executive Steve Hotelling, is that Lamego didnt fit in at the company. He clashed with managers, demanded multimillion-dollar budgets and wanted the ability to hire his own engineers without approval, Hotelling said in a deposition that was part of a court fight between the companies. After weeks of discussions, Lamego left Apple. The first Apple Watch was announced three months later, in September 2014. It didnt have the blood-oxygen sensor and instead relied on more basic technologies, such as a pulse reader. Loading Apple first approached Lamego to join about a year before his email to Cook. The overture happened around the time executives from Apple and Masimo met in 2013, a moment that has become another focal point in the dispute between the two companies. Lamego declined to join Apple at the time, but his tune changed after Kiani refused to make him the chief technology officer of Masimo as well, lawyers for the medical company argue. When Apple met with Masimo, it was seeking technology and talent that could bolster its work on the watch. At the time, Masimo believed Apple was interested in doing a deal. The company alleged in a 2020 lawsuit that Apple used the meeting to instead learn about its technology and lay the groundwork for hiring its people. In addition to enlisting Lamego, Apple hired Masimos former chief medical officer and about 20 other staffers, the medical device company said. Masimo failed to convince a jury of its claims this year.

While the Lamego email was a key piece of evidence for Masimos lawyers, the effort didnt make much headway with the judge after a senior Apple engineer testified that development of the blood-oxygen feature started in late 2014  after Lamego had already left. Further, the judge threw out parts of the case relating to Apples practice of hiring Masimo employees, saying that recruiting or hiring employees from another company, including from a competitor, does not on its own constitute improper means. The judge also dismissed the idea that Apple stole trade secrets and a jury sided with Apple six-to-one. After his stint at Apple, Lamego ended up starting his own company, True Wearables. In 2016, he released a device called the Oxxiom, which he called the worlds first continuous and disposable blood-oxygen sensor. Masimo sued the start-up and won a court order blocking it from selling the product. Lamego didnt respond to requests for comment. Masimo accuses Apple of stealing trade secrets and improperly using its inventions for health monitoring in the Apple Watch. When Masimo filed its initial lawsuit, Apple hadnt yet brought a blood-oxygen sensor to market. But eight months later, the Apple Watch Series 6 was introduced with the feature  known in the industry as pulse oximetry  as its key new addition. That led Masimo to file a separate complaint with the US International Trade Commission in 2021 alleging that the feature infringed its patents. The ITC concurred in October and ordered Apple to remove infringing models from the US, including the current Series 9 and Ultra 2. That prohibition took effect this week after the White House declined to intervene.

Apple said it strongly disagreed with the ITC decision and was taking all measures to return Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to customers in the US as soon as possible. A representative for Masimo declined to comment. Wednesdays ruling by an appeals court in Washington paused the ITCs ban while Apple seeks a longer stay. Loading Blood oxygen is frequently called the fifth vital sign. A proper level of oxygen saturation  the percentage of oxygen floating in ones bloodstream compared with the maximum it could be  is a requirement for functions such as breathing, moving and thinking. It has long been one of the first diagnostics when a patient arrives at a hospital or doctors office. And the measurement became key at the height of the COVID pandemic, when doctors said that a reading under 95 per cent could suggest a person was struggling to breathe due to the virus. Apple argues that Masimo sued it to clear the field for its own consumer-focused wearables. Masimo recently released the W1, a square smartwatch with an array of health sensors. And its planning to soon release the Freedom watch, which has more health capabilities and a round, more modern-looking design. In an attempt to reach more consumers, it acquired Sound United, owner of speaker maker Bowers & Wilkins, for more than $US1 billion last year. Apple countersued Masimo in 2022, saying that the W1 took the design of the Apple Watch. Masimo copied from Apple Watch and is freeriding on Apples hard work, the company said.

Kiani said earlier this month that Apple should have done things differently. They didnt have to steal our people  we could have worked with them, he said. These guys have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, and  instead of being embarrassed and doing the right thing  theyre blaming everybody and fighting everybody. Kiani said that Apple executives once called him the Steve Jobs of healthcare. Maybe its time they think different, he said. Masimo is a fixture in hospitals. Its equipment for tracking blood oxygen, blood management and other measures is used on more than 200 million patients a year, the company says. But part of its revenue over the past two decades has stemmed from lawsuits against medical device competitors, including Royal Philips NV, that turned into settlements or licensing agreements.

Kiani migrated from Iran when he was nine and started Masimo in 1989, five years after the original Mac went on sale. While his company now has thousands of workers globally, a market valuation of $US6 billion and annual revenue of about $US2 billion, Kiani says Masimo started as an underdog just like Apple. He says he took out a second mortgage in his 20s to fund development of the start-up in his garage. Though there was already medical gear to monitor blood oxygen, Kianis breakthrough was tracking it during movement or on people with weak pulses  key features for mass-market wearable devices. Hes also friends with US President Joe Biden, one person who could have stopped the Apple Watch sales ban. The White House has the ability to veto import bans to the US, a power it has rarely used. One case came in 2013, when former president Barack Obama overturned an iPhone ban spurred by a patent dispute with Samsung Electronics. But that was an easier move politically: it involved picking a homegrown American company over a South Korean competitor. The headquarters of Apple and Masimo are both in California. Loading Masimos goal, people close to the matter say, was for the trade commission to impose its ban in the summer. That would have probably led Apple to delay the release of its new models, which are typically unveiled in September, and wiped out the holiday season. Instead, the ban only affected about a week of sales in Apples December quarter. It also only applied to Apples own stores; outside retailers like Best Buy could still sell the watches  at least until their inventory ran out. And Apple believes its well on its way to a fix apart from its appeal of the trade commission ruling. The company had engineers race to change the software algorithms and presentation of its blood-oxygen app to sidestep Kianis claims. Its now up to the US customs agency to determine if those tweaks are sufficient to allow the smartwatches back on the market. A decision is expected on January 12.

For his part, Kiani doesnt believe a software fix will resolve a dispute that involves hardware patents. I dont think that could work, he said. In any case, Kiani and Masimo have gone further than anyone before them. Many companies have made arguments that Apple has stolen their technology and poached staff, putting them out of business or sending them into bankruptcy. But theyve rarely gotten much traction. The Apple Watch Ultra 2. Credit: Bloomberg A further mark of success for Kiani would be a settlement, which would bring a payday but also vindication. Masimos website touts all the companies that license its technology and adding Apple to that list would be a triumph. It also would give Masimo marketing muscle for promoting its own products. Apple says it has held mediation talks with Masimo and that it expects to hold more. In its earlier suit, which ended with a deadlocked jury, Masimo wanted Apple to pay more than US$3 billion in damages. Kiani isnt saying how much money it would take to reach a licensing agreement now. But he does plan to insist on one concession: There needs to be an apology. If that doesnt happen, the two companies are scheduled to return to court  again over patents  in late October.
For most of his 20s and into his early 30s, Matthew Lopez partied hard. As a young, gay man living in New York, he was determined to extract every ounce of fun from his adopted home, a wonderland that seemed the antithesis of the dull Florida city where he was raised.

Oh, I drank and did a lot of drugs, says the 46-year-old American playwright with a shrug. I did f--- all work for quite a long time. Theres a period of my life where theres really not much to report.

Naturally, it was a lot of fun for a while. But as his life began to resemble a Rufus Wainwright album, he knew a day would come when the record would stop spinning one way or another. For the author of The Inheritance, one of the most acclaimed plays of recent years, that moment was October 6, 2010, his first day of sobriety.

Playwright Matthew Lopez, whose play The Inheritance opens in Melbourne next month. Credit: Emil Cohen

About the time I got sober, I heard a line in a play: alcohol is the thief of time. That went into my head like a heat-seeking missile. It was the beginning of the end of my drinking, he says. I dont do anything half-arsed, even my flame-outs. I turned that corner [quitting drinking] very sharply. The neer-do-well years ended just like that and the years of work started almost immediately.
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 Season one of The Tourist, which was set in outback Australia, was the most-watched drama in the UK in 2022, as an amnesia-addled man played by Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey) rattled his way from one near-tragedy to another, all the while unearthing details of his shady past with the help of a rookie cop played by Danielle Macdonald. Season two begins 14 months later, with the pair engulfed in a fog of marijuana smoke and each others arms as they rattle across some exotic locale by train. Clearly a lot has happened since a text message from Helen (Macdonald) arrived just in time to stop a guilt-riddled Elliott (Dornan) from ending it all in a swill of booze and pills. So how exactly did we get here? Helen and Elliot have been frolicking around the world, travelling and ignoring reality and just being in a happy little honeymoon bubble, Macdonald says of the off-screen in-between-time. Theyre not actually married, she hastens to add. Theyve just been living very happily and in love and ignoring the real world. Its quite a leap of faith, and of logic, given some of the things Elliott either did or was accused of doing in the first season. And Macdonald admits it did on occasion give her pause while they were shooting season two in Ireland.

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I was like, do we remember when he kidnapped her  does anyone else remember that?, she says with a laugh. Helen may have the sleuthing instincts of a born detective, but she also has the desire to be happy. And with Elliott, she has decided to embrace what she knows about the man in the present rather than be steered by what others have said about who he may or may not have been in the past. Shes like, were happy. This is who he is now. None of it existed, she says. And we dont even know if its necessarily true. He just was told this [information about his criminal past, including as a heroin trafficker] by a random person. There is no confirmation. In other words the show demands its protagonist, and its audience, address a central dilemma: Do you judge someone by their past, or by their actions in the present? The running man: In season two of The Tourist, Elliott (Jamie Dornan) is again trying to escape a past he can barely comprehend. Credit: Stan While its dramatic elements are rather heightened (increasingly to comedic effect in season two), the fact Elliott is a tabula rasa  his mind continually being written over with new information that erases the old  offers a kind of allegory about relationships in general. When you come into a new one, you have, to a degree at least, the opportunity to reset, to wipe out the person you were in past relationships. Or do you? The funny thing is, if you dont deal with things they always come back and rear their ugly heads, says Macdonald. And that is what we see in season two: There was a fresh slate, but you cant really run away from things that have happened, you have to confront it at some point and make peace with it. Thats really what season two uncovers.

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Macdonald is talking to this masthead at the Sydney Opera House, on a day off production of the latest Liane Moriarty project to make the transition to screen (Foxtels The Last Anniversary, which also stars Nicole Kidman, Teresa Palmer and Miranda Richardson). Though she was born not far away on the northern beaches, this is only the second time she has worked in her hometown, the first coming in the 2019 Helen Reddy biopic I Am Woman. Aged just 18 and realising she was unlikely ever to be cast in Home and Away or Neighbours, Macdonald  who is now 32  packed her bags and tried her luck in Hollywood. It took time and a host of smaller roles, but her performance as a working-class girl with dreams of becoming a successful rapper in 2017s Patti Cake$ put her on the map, critically speaking at least. Breakout role: Macdonald had a critical hit in 2017 as aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski in Patti Cake$. Credit: Sundance Institute Did it feel too hard, did it feel like maybe it would never happen? Sure, she says of the early years of struggle. But there was nothing in me that was ever like, Im going home. It just never felt that way. Im a big believer in trusting your gut instinct, and for some reason my gut instinct was always, this is where you should be, just keep going. And I still feel that way. Loading The roles have come with gratifying regularity since Patti, though few have been as big as Helen in The Tourist. And shes positively revelling in the fact she is finally able to base herself professionally (for a little while at least) in the city in which she was raised. This is so exciting because I get to be home, living life in a way that feels really familiar, but also quite long ago, she says. This is really special. I love getting to film here.

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Her regular base is LA, but she has been there only a few weeks in the past 12 months, leaving the care of her rescue animals (dogs and cats) to her housemates. I have amazing friends that I live with, which makes my life so much easier because I can leave and come back, she says. Id never want this situation to change because Im gone so much and I want to be around my friends when Im back. When brothers Harry and Jack Williams (The Missing, Liar) created The Tourist they envisaged it as a one-and-done project. It took two years for the idea of a second season to percolate to the surface, and the fact it did owes much, Macdonald suspects, to the fact Harrys wife grew up in a town that straddled Northern Ireland and the Republic, on the front line of The Troubles. He could definitely draw from his wife elements of this combativeness that Ireland has in its history, says Macdonald, noting that sectarian conflict is replaced by family rivalries in the show. Shes no longer working the beat, but Helen hasnt lost her nose for a clue. Credit: Stan Now that the difficult second season is out of the way, what chance that Helen and Elliott might keep up the travels, and the troubles, in a season three? I dont know. I know as much as you do, she says. But I know one thing about them  they dont do something just because someones throwing money at them to do it, which is quite rare. So if they had a story they really wanted to tell, I think they would do it. But otherwise I cant imagine them doing it. So, if Macdonald got a call: hey, we want to do a third season, where should it be, what would the answer be?

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You know whats funny, Harry Williams actually did ask me this, she says. And I said Greece, because of the Greek element in season one. We dont know why he was ever in Greece, do we? So that was just my logical brain working. Loading But if her tourist brain was working, where would it be? Oh my gosh, for the landscape and just for the complete madness that could ensue, I would say Iceland, says Macdonald. That would be an entirely different thing from Australia and Ireland, but also you can imagine some really crazy stuff going on there. So personally, Id be saying, lets go to Iceland. The Tourist season 2 is on Stan from January 2. Stan and this masthead are both owned by Nine. Contact the author at kquinn@theage.com.au, follow him on Facebook at karlquinnjournalist and on Twitter @karlkwin, and read more of his work here.

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If life turned out the way Misha Zelinsky once envisaged, the trained economist would be serving as a member of federal parliament right now.

In February 2022, Zelinsky was trying to parlay his experience as assistant national secretary of one of the nations most powerful unions, the Australian Workers Union, into preselection for the safe Labor seat of Cunningham on the NSW South Coast.

Misha Zelinsky with his book The Sun will Rise, a novel based on stories he heard while covering the war in Ukraine. Credit: Kate Geraghty

But his candidacy fell apart when a satirical female advice book he co-wrote 10 years earlier resurfaced and was blasted as demeaning to women. Just 10 days after dropping out of the race, Zelinsky popped up in The Australian Financial Review reporting from Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine was still a few days away but Zelinskys Ukrainian heritage and Russian language skills helped him get a head start on much of the worlds media.
If one were to pen a grand theory on the state of the world as 2023 draws to a welcome close, perhaps it would be entitled The End of Progress. The notion that things can only get better  the lyric from the British pop group D:Ream in the early 1990s and an intellectual lodestar since the Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries  has looked ever more shaky as the 21st century has gone on.

Pessimism, not progress, abounds. It is not just that everything feels out of kilter; the world seems to be spinning in reverse.

Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit:

This has been another regressive year. After the barbarism of Hamas on October 7 and the brutality of Israels response, the Israel-Palestinian question looks more intractable than ever. In Ukraine, the much-vaunted counteroffensive did not achieve the breakthroughs hoped for or required. The delay in agreeing on fresh US funding to Kyiv  a downside of the political chaos in Washington and a symptom as well of Western war fatigue  could tilt things decisively in favour of Vladimir Putins Russia. That could embolden Xi Jinpings ambitions towards Taiwan.

Twenty-five years ago, when the West was basking in the end-of-history theory that liberal democracy had forever triumphed, the idea that there would be lasting peace in the Middle East, based on a two-state solution, was a credible proposition. So, too, that Russia could become a Western partner. In China, political liberalisation looked like being the corollary of economic liberalisation.
Israeli online newspaper The Times of Israel reported the rocket attack on Kiryat Shmona on December 28, and shared images showing a hole blown in a wall, and a crater in a street. There were no reports of injuries, the publication said, and said the attack was carried out presumably by Hezbollah or an allied Palestinian terror group. A Hezbollah-linked Telegram channel, on Friday, posted a map of Kiryat Shmona, in northern Israel, claiming they had attacked with rockets after Australian Hezbollah fighter Ali Bazzi was killed in an airstrike. Credit: Telegram Other Hezbollah-linked Telegram channels, on Friday, released photographs and heavily produced videos of the trio, confirming the elder Bazzi brother was a fighter linked to the militant group. From the funeral of the martyred fighter on the path to Jerusalem, Ali Ahmad Saeed Bazzi  and the oppressed martyrs, Ibrahim Ahmad Saeed Bazzi and his wife Shorouk Saleh Hammoud, in the city of Bint Jbeil, a translation of one video caption reads.

The footage showed a military funeral, in which men in military fatigues carry three coffins with the trios photographs on each casket. The coffins are draped in Hezbollahs yellow and green flag, which bears the Arabic script for Hizb Allah, or Party of God, and an assault rifle. A massive crowd chants and surges through a town centre behind the funeral procession. Ibrahim Bob Bazzi and his wife Shorouq Hammoud. Credit: Wael Kassir Photography The wording of the messages suggest Ibrahim Bazzi, known to friends as Bob, and his wife Hammoud, were not connected to Hezbollah  confirming what their friends and families had told The Sydney Morning Herald following their deaths. I told Bob I want you to be careful in Lebanon, its not safe there  but we never thought his house would be bombed, he had nothing to do with this conflict, his friend Ali Saab said.

Asked on Friday morning about the reported links of one of the brothers to the Hezbollah, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said the government was still working to get all the facts. Were investigating that question, trying to get to the bottom of it, assemble our facts, he said on Nines Today show. The reality is Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation. They are currently launching attacks into Israel. Its against the law for Australians to travel overseas to join proscribed terrorist organisations, but I must say we dont have all the facts yet. A screenshot from Hezbollah Martyrs, eulogising Australian Ali Bazzi, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Bint Jbeil, Lebanon. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australians should not travel to Lebanon, and warned commercial flights out may not be available as the conflict continues.

The Australian Government continues to advise do not travel to Lebanon due to the volatile security situation and the risk of the security situation deteriorating further, a department spokesperson said in a statement. Australians in Lebanon who wish to leave should leave now while commercial flights remain available. The Australian Government may have limited ability to assist you to leave. While the numbers are still small, the amount of Australians registering for consular updates has doubled since early October to about 800. Thousands of Australian citizens are in Lebanon, many of whom live there permanently. Ray Najar, who is president of the Australian Lebanese Association but was speaking in a personal capacity, said those who can should leave Lebanon now before it becomes too difficult. Foreign Minister Penny Wong will visit Israel and other Middle Eastern countries next month in a bid to help secure an end to hostilities and prevent them from spreading further.
New York: The United Nations Security Council met on Friday to discuss the situation in Ukraine after Ukraine and its supporters requested an urgent meeting to address missile and drone strikes by Russia, after Moscow launched its biggest air attack of the war.

Russian strikes across Ukraine on Friday killed 31 civilians and wounded more than 160 others, according to officials, and Poland said a Russian missile appeared to have flown into its airspace before returning to Ukraine.

Firefighters work on a site of a building damaged after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday. Credit: AP

After the meeting got underway , council members including the United States, France and Britain condemned the attacks on Ukraine.

The attacks were a desperate and futile attempt by Russia to regain momentum in its war with Ukraine, Britains ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward told the council. They will not succeed.
This chart shows forecast high and low temperatures for the next 10 days according to model data from the National Blend of Models. Temperatures briefly warm up this weekend, but cooler weather arrives in time for the start of 2024. WeatherBELL

If you havent switched the heat on yet, you may be shivering a bit early Friday morning. Another cold night is ahead Friday after a chilly afternoon. The chill wont last too much longer. A warming trend is in store for the Houston area in time for the final weekend of 2023.

Temperatures early Friday are going to be quite frosty, especially north and west of downtown Houston. If you're starting your commute in The Woodlands or Katy, youre likely going to need to let your vehicle's engine preheat to get frost off the windshield, as temperatures in these areas will be between 32 degrees and 36 degrees.

CHILLIEST OF THE YEAR? : Temperatures in Houston have yet to hit the freezing mark in 2023

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In Houston, Friday mornings temperatures are generally going to be between 34 and 38 degrees, which means frost may not be as widespread. Regardless of what your exact temperature is early Friday, youll want to bundle up if you have to head outside.

By Friday afternoon, temperatures across Southeast Texas will mostly be in the lower to mid-50s. Northwesterly winds of 5 to 10 mph will likely add extra bite to the cold air, particularly if you find yourself in the shade. Sunny skies will help alleviate some of the chill, but the bone-dry air mass could have you reaching for lip balm or hand lotion.

This map shows forecast low temperatures according to the National Blend of Models. The coldest temperatures will be found outside of Houston and Harris County, where low temperatures through Saturday morning could fall to around freezing. WeatherBELL

After sunset, clear skies and light winds will allow for optimal radiational cooling. This means whatever warmth were able to enjoy Friday afternoon will get radiated back to space Friday night into early Saturday.

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Morning low temperatures by the time you wake up early Saturday will be in the lower 30s north of Huntsville, with mid-30s likely in and near Houston. The one spot exempt from temperatures in the 30s will be along the coast, where lows in Galveston will settle into the lower and mid-40s.

Warming up before 2023 departs

Houston will trade in Fridays chill for gradually warming temperatures for the last weekend of the year. After a cold start Saturday, highs warm into the lower 60s in Houston, which is pretty close to average for late December. Abundant sunshine sticks around Saturday, but clear skies will result in overnight lows Saturday night falling to around 40 degrees. While this is still chilly, it isnt likely to result in frost in Houston or Harris County.

Even warmer weather is expected Sunday because Southeast Texas will find itself in the warm sector ahead of an approaching cold front. Temperatures on Sunday afternoon top out near 70 degrees, thanks to southeasterly winds.

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Few showers possible New Years Eve

New Years Eve is Sunday and it appears as though some of us will ring in 2024 dodging a few raindrops. As mentioned above, Southeast Texas will be ahead of an approaching cold front on Sunday. While much of the day will remain dry under scattered clouds, the night will feature a bit more cloud cover and the risk of scattered showers.

The European forecast models projection of how weather radar could look Sunday night shows few showers across Southeast Texas as a cold front approaches from the northwest. Heavier rainfall is more likely in East Texas, well north of Houston. Pivotal Weather
"Our service members and national security are more important than politics," Democratic congressman Adam Smith, who chairs the House Armed Services panel, said in a statement. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sean Lynch/Handout via REUTERS./File Photo)

In the wake of escalating conflict and subsequent threats to global shipping in the Red Sea, the newly formed 20-nation escort alliance, led by the U.S., faces a test of unity and effectiveness. Despite the formation of this alliance, Yemen's Houthi rebels continue their aggressive attacks on commercial vessels, defying the intended deterrent effect and causing widespread concern among shipping companies and regional players.

Ten days after the alliance's announcement, it has become evident that the risk of broader regional conflict is escalating. The U.S. Central Command's recent engagement, where the USS Mason intercepted drones and missiles from the Houthi rebels, marks a significant increase in military activity in the region. This series of assaults, including one targeting a Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel, is the latest in a line of over 22 attacks since mid-October. Despite these efforts, the Houthis have demonstrated their capability and willingness to confront even a U.S. carrier strike group, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The response within the alliance is far from unified. Countries like Spain and Saudi Arabia have expressed reservations or outright refusals to participate actively. France maintains its naval independence, and Australia has limited its involvement to non-combat roles, focusing on the Indo-Pacific. Even Saudi Arabia, directly impacted by the conflict, is seeking a diplomatic resolution to the Yemeni civil war rather than military escalation.

Shipping companies are also divided on how to navigate these treacherous waters. While Maersk is preparing to resume transportation in the southern Red Sea, others like Hapag-Lloyd continue to reroute their vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, incurring additional costs and extended travel times. This divide reflects the broader uncertainty and the weighing of risks versus economic pressures within the industry.

The Houthis' continued aggression and the alliance's internal rifts present a complex challenge. The U.S. is keen to avoid a new Middle Eastern war, especially in an election year, opting for a defensive strategy that intercepts attacks without directly targeting Houthi strongholds. However, experts like Salvatore Mercogliano warn that if the Houthis escalate their tactics to more sophisticated "drone swarm" attacks, the limited U.S. naval presence might be overwhelmed, leading to potential casualties and significant disruptions.

As the situation evolves, the Red Sea remains a volatile flashpoint with implications for global trade, regional stability, and international diplomacy. The world watches closely as the escort alliance navigates these troubled waters, balancing the need for security with the desire for a peaceful resolution to a complex and dangerous conflict.
C.B. Ananthakrishnan, CMD (Additional Charge), HAL said, "The development of this facility marks a key milestone in HAL's growth trajectory. It is a testimony of HAL's commitment towards achieving Aatmanirbharta in aero-engine design and development."

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurated a new design and test facility at HAL's Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) in Bengaluru on Friday.

Hailing the important work being done by HAL, Aramane said, "HAL has received applause at the highest levels and the government trusts your capability to deliver and make the country self-reliant. The manufacturing sector is the future of our country and in the coming decades, HAL should focus on mastering technologies for all types of aircraft. Think ahead as the entire paradigm of warfare is changing."

Thrusting on the role of unmanned aircraft in future warfare, he encouraged HAL to collaborate with other private companies to develop new platforms.

"HAL is the largest DPSU in India and I want it to become the top ten companies in the world," he added. He had a look at the manufacturing range of various engines and test beds. He also paid a visit to HAL's Aerospace Division.

C.B. Ananthakrishnan, CMD (Additional Charge), HAL said, "The development of this facility marks a key milestone in HAL's growth trajectory. It is a testimony of HAL's commitment towards achieving Aatmanirbharta in aero-engine design and development."

The new facility spanning over 10,000 square meters has been established under the modernisation plan.

Dr D.K. Sunil, Director (Engg, R & D) outlined the design perspectives of HAL's R & D initiatives.

The AERDC is currently involved in the design and development of several new engines including two strategic engines -- the Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE) of 25 kN thrust for powering trainers, UAVs, twin-engine small fighter aircraft or regional jets and Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE) of 1200 kN thrust for powering light and medium weight helicopters (3.5 to 6.5 tonnes in single/twin-engine configuration).

The new state-of-the-art facility houses special machines, advanced setups leveraging computational tools, an in-house fabrication facility and two test beds for testing HTFE-25 and one testbed each for testing HTSE-1200 and upcoming JV engine for IMRH to be co-developed by Safran, France and HAL.

In addition, the newly developed facility has setups for testing Air producer of Jaguar, Gas Turbine Starter Unit (GTSU) -110 M2 and 127E of LCA, Auxiliary Power Units of IMRH and AMCA, Gas Turbine Electrical Generator (GTEG) -60 for An-32 aircraft.

Setups to carry out various critical tests for engine components and LRUs have also been established within the new facility.

The Centre, established in the 1960s, holds the unique distinction of being the only design house that has developed test beds for engines of both Western and Russian origin.

The Centre has successfully developed and certified PTAE-7 engine, the first indigenous turbojet engine of India powering Lakshya (Unmanned Aircraft), Gas Turbine Electrical Generator GTEG-60 for starting An-32 aircraft, Air starter ATS 37 and Air producer for starting Adour-Mk 804E/811 on Jaguar Aircraft and Shakti engine for powering ALH to support Ad804/811 engine of Jaguar aircraft.

Senior officials from HAL, IAF, GTRE ADA, NAL, CEMILAC and ADE were present on the occasion.
Jharkhand police on Friday said 397 Maoists were arrested, nine killed, and 26 surrendered before security forces across the state this year.

A special area committee member, a regional committee member, five zonal commanders, and 11 sub-zonal commanders were among those arrested. These individuals had a combined bounty of Rs 1.01 crore on their heads, a statement said.

Police also seized 152 arms, including 27 police weapons, 10,350 ammunition, and 244 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) over the past 12 months.

The state police headquarters released the data on the occasion of the Hemant Soren government's four-year anniversary.

Police said over the past four years, 1,617 Naxals have been arrested, including members from banned outfits such as CPI (Maoist), People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), and Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP).

Since January 1, 2020, a total of 74 Maoists surrendered before the security forces, and 792 arms, including 158 police arms, and 1,882 IEDs have been recovered.

Additionally, 40 Naxals have been killed in encounters with security forces, and a levy amount of Rs 160.81 lakh was confiscated from them, according to the release.

The department also claimed to have launched a major crackdown against cybercriminals this year.

Since January 1, a total of 1,172 FIRs have been filed against cybercrime, and 834 individuals have been arrested for such crimes.

Furthermore, operations have resulted in the recovery of 1,417 mobile phones, 2,328 SIM cards, 470 ATM cards, 128 passbooks, 23 laptops, 37 cheque books, Rs 54.31 lakh, and 3,300 Taiwan dollars.

As part of actions against organised crime, 248 criminals have been arrested and 129 arms and 1,677 cartridges have been seized, according to the release.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been elected as president of the Janata Dal (United) at a meeting of the party's national executive in Delhi on Friday. Kumar was appointed the JD(U) 's top post minutes after Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh stepped down from the post.

Speaking to reporters immediately after the meeting, Singh dismissed reports of a rift in the party, saying, "Anger? What anger? Why should I be angry? This is the first time I am hearing this word." Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel

Sources also told NDTV that Lalan Singh was ousted because he was seen as being a little too close to the JDU's alliance partner in Bihar, Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), at a time when RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Yadav's son and Deputy Chief Minister, is being groomed to take over.



The change in the JDU's top leadership also comes months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election and speculation over Nitish Kumar's prime ministerial ambitions in that race. The JDU chief was reportedly turned up as potential PM candidate for the INDIA bloc earlier this month.

Following that episode, Nitish Kumar and the JDU brushed down rumors of rifts within INDIA bloc, when it was suggested that the Congress chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, be the bloc's prime ministerial candidate.

Publicly, Nitish Kumar insisted he only wanted to unite parties opposed to the BJP, and had no personal ambitions. "I felt no disappointment....no resentment," he said.

"At the meeting the issue [of naming a leader came up]. I made it clear at the outset that I was not interested. Then another name was proposed, I said it was okay with me", the Bihar chief minister added.
Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday said the BJP-led central government has rejected the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab for the Republic Day parade to "exact revenge on the AAP", which is in power in the capital and the border state.

Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said the Centre has rejected Delhi's tableaux for three years now.

The last time Delhi's tableau featured in the Republic Day parade was in 2021. It showcased the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project, according to officials.

Bharadwaj said Delhi's tableau this year would have showcased schools in the city and the Mohalla Clinic model.

"The tableau of Delhi, which is the capital of the country, was rejected by the Centre. Its tableau was rejected for the 2022 parade and then for the 2023 parade and now it has been rejected again for the 2024 parade," the minister said.

The theme of the Republic Day parade was 'Nari Shakti' in 2023 and it is 'Viksit Bharat' for the 2024 parade, he said.

"No one can say it's a design competition. The Centre had given us some suggestions and we had incorporated them (into our tableau proposal) and if it would have given us more suggestions, we would have included them too. Our tableau would have showcased schools and the Mohalla Clinic model," he added.

Bharadwaj said it's not a coincidence that Punjab's tableau proposal was also rejected.

"The Centre is doing this to exact revenge on the AAP," he charged.

On Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had attacked the Centre over the non-inclusion of his state's tableau in the parade and accused it of discrimination.

Eighty per cent of the selected states are the ones ruled by the BJP, he alleged.

The Punjab BJP hit out at Mann on Thursday for politicising the non-inclusion of the state's tableau in the parade, claiming that the AAP government insisted that the tableau carry photos of him and party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
Government doctors in Haryana went on a strike on Friday to press their demands for formation of a specialist cadre and a reduction in the bond amount for postgraduate courses, impacting outpatient department (OPD) services in some hospitals.

This is the second time this week that government doctors in the state have gone on a strike. They first went on a strike on Wednesday.

They resumed emergency duties after they were assured that a meeting will be arranged between the health minister and representatives of the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMS), a body representing government doctors in Haryana which is leading the protest.

The HCMS had on Wednesday said that doctors would go on an indefinite strike from Friday with a complete shutdown of all services if the government did not accept their demands.

Among the doctors' demands are formation of a specialist cadre for doctors, reduction in the bond amount for postgraduate courses and a dynamic assured career progression scheme at par with central government doctors.

Dr Anil Yadav, general secretary, HCMS said OPD services remained suspended in government health institutions on Friday while emergency services functioned as usual.

"In view of the assurance of a meeting with the government pertaining to our demands and keeping in view the larger public interest, we did not proceed with a complete shutdown of services and emergency services are being attended to.

"However, OPDs and elective surgeries remain suspended. The next course of action will depend on the outcome of the talks with the government," he said.

Yadav said the doctors' demands are not new.

"We were given an assurance by the health minister earlier too but our demands were not met," he said.

On Wednesday evening, Director General of Health Services R S Punia had held a video conference with all state civil surgeons, giving necessary instructions to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services.
"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," Boeing said in the statement. (Photo: Bloomberg)

Boeing has recommended airlines to conduct an inspection of their B737 Max fleet, after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance.

In a statement, Boeing said the issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied.

In India three airlines -- Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express -- have B737 Max planes in their fleet.

Earlier on Thursday, the US aviation regulator, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement, saying it was closely monitoring "targetted inspection," of Boeing 737 Max planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system.

"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," Boeing said in the statement.

The aircraft maker said it has informed the FAA and will continue to keep the regulator aware of the progress.

Queries sent to Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express remained unanswered.

Under consultation with it, the FAA said, Boeing has issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM), urging operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware.

The FAA will remain in contact with Boeing and the airlines while the inspections are underway, the regulator said.

The agency is asking the airlines to work through their approved Safety Management Systems to identify whether any loose hardware has been detected previously and to provide the agency with details on how quickly these two-hour inspections can be completed.

The FAA also said it will consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.

Boeing, according to the FAA, 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 company discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened, it said.



Akasa Air spokesperson said, We have been made aware of this issue by Boeing. Like all operators around the world, and in accordance with our highest standards of safety, Akasa will be following the same checks and procedures that the manufacturer or regulator recommends. Our operating fleet and deliveries are not impacted so far.
The five invitees sent senior-level representatives to a Brics sherpa meeting in Durban, South Africa, earlier this month.

By Ana Monteiro

Membership of the Brics group of emerging-market nations is set to double, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt to join its ranks on Jan. 1, South Africas envoy to the bloc said.

Membership of the Brics group of emerging-market nations is set to double, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt to join its ranks on Jan. 1, South Africas envoy to the bloc said.

Current members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in August invited six other nations to become part of their group, pairing some of the planets largest energy producers with some of the biggest consumers among developing countries. Only Argentina declined the invitation after President Javier Milei, who took office this month, reversed his predecessors membership bid.

The five invitees sent senior-level representatives to a Brics sherpa meeting in Durban, South Africa, earlier this month and they fully participated in the gathering, a clear indication that they have accepted the invitation to join, Anil Sooklal, Pretorias ambassador to the bloc, said in an interview Friday.

The new members will also send officials to a sherpa meeting in Moscow on Jan. 30, he said.

BRIC was coined in 2001 by economist Jim ONeill, then at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., to draw attention to strong economic growth rates in Brazil, Russia, India and China. The term was intended as an optimistic scenario for investors amid market pessimism following the terrorist attacks in the US on Sept. 11 that year. The group held its first leaders summit in 2009 and invited South Africa to join a year later, adding another continent and the letter S.

About 30 countries want to establish ties with the bloc, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov was cited by news agency Tass as saying this week.

Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, will seek to become a member of Brics within the next two years, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar said in November.

Except for India, the Brics have underperformed their emerging-market peers over the last five years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. US-led sanctions have put Russia off limits for many foreign investors, and some sectors in China  especially technology companies  have also been sanctioned or face potential investment bans.
Irans flag at the IAEA headquarters. Iran is now enriching small amounts of uranium to its closest-ever levels to weapons-grade purity as its stockpile continues to grow

Iran executed on Friday four people, including a woman, whom it accused of being "saboteurs" with links to Israel's Mossad intelligence service, the Mizan news agency affiliated to the judiciary said.



The executions took to five the number of people put to death this month in a decades-long shadow war that has seen Iran accuse Israel of attacks on its nuclear effort, charges the latter has never confirmed or denied.



"Four members of a sabotage team associated with the Zionist regime ... were executed this morning following legal procedures," the news agency said, accusing them of "extensive" actions, guided by Mossad officers, targeting Iran's security.

Friday's executions in West Azerbaijan province followed Iran's mid-December execution of a fifth accused Mossad agent in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.



The semi-official Tasnim news agency identified the four executed on Friday as Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, and Rahman Parhazo, along with the woman, named Nasim Namazi.

They were the principal convicts in a case that involved 10 offenders, it added, but it was not immediately clear if the rest would also face execution.



The official IRNA news agency posted a video clip nearly eight minutes in length, that showed the men confessing to their alleged co-operation with a Mossad officer in neighbouring Turkey, who used two names, Tony and Arash.

It said their mission entailed kidnappings, threatening and setting fire to vehicles and homes of unnamed targets and stealing their mobile phones.



Iranian intelligence put the group under close surveillance for at least four months, from around January 2022 until their arrest sometime that May, when they were "transferred from a neighbouring country" to Iran, the video clip showed.



"They were training us for bigger assignments," an unidentified young man in a blue striped shirt said in the clip.



At the time of the arrests, Iranian media said the 10, who were in video communication with Mossad officers, "set fire to cars and homes of people affiliated with the security apparatus and received cash for taking photos they sent to Mossad agents".

Iran has accused Israel of carrying out several attacks on facilities linked to its nuclear programme and of killing its nuclear scientists over the past years. Israel has neither denied nor confirmed the allegations.

In August, Iran accused Israel of being behind "one of the largest sabotage plots" targeting its defence industry and the production of missiles.



In July, its intelligence ministry said it had arrested a network of agents working for Israel before they were able to carry out sabotage in sensitive locations.

In January last year, Israel said it had broken up an Iranian spy ring that recruited Israeli women via the social media platform Facebook to photograph sensitive sites.

In April 2021, Tehran blamed an act of "nuclear terrorism" for a disruption of power at its Natanz uranium enrichment facility in the desert in the central province of Isfahan.
The bilateral meetings saw the two nations reach an understanding in various areas including trade, transit, energy cooperation and expanding railway links etc

After experiencing a turbulent 2022, Nepal witnessed much-needed political stability this year that enabled Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda' to focus on improving relations with its two important neighbours India and China even as he faced the regular staple of Himalayan problems - earthquakes, corruption scandals, and air crashes.

After becoming Prime Minister in December 2022, Prachanda secured the vote of confidence from the House of Representatives on January 10 ending the political impasse amid a power tussle among Nepali political parties with the third largest party CPN-Maoist Centre gaining power and garnering support from the largest party Nepali Congress.

However, Nepal's second-largest party in Parliament, the CPN-UML, on February 27 withdrew its support to the Prachanda-led government following a rift over backing the main opposition party's candidate for the presidential poll. It has had no significant impact on the government.

On March 9, Nepal's Parliament elected Nepali Congress leader Ramchandra Poudel, a common candidate of an eight-party alliance that included Nepali Congress and the CPN-Maoist Centre, as the country's third president after the erstwhile Hindu kingdom turned into a democratic, secular republic in 2008.

Nepal-India relations got a renewed boost as Prime Minister Prachanda met India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra here on February 13. Matters relating to cooperation on energy, trade, commerce, connectivity, culture, agriculture, and education were discussed between the two sides.

Starting from May 31, Prachanda was accompanied by Foreign Minister N P Saud on the four-day trip to India, his first foreign trip after assuming office. Prachanda and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi discussed further strengthening cooperative ties existing in diverse areas of Nepal-India relations.

The bilateral meetings saw the two nations reach an understanding in various areas including trade, transit, energy cooperation and expanding railway links etc.

A few weeks down the line, the foreign ministers of Nepal and India met on the sidelines of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in Bangkok on July 17. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart Saud agreed to work closely to implement the agenda of cooperation set out by the top leadership of the two countries.

Nepalese and Chinese leaders during high-level visits reiterated their commitment to implement the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a 10-year-old project, initiated by China for building land and sea infrastructure in multiple countries.

Nepal and China reached an agreement to accelerate the completion of pending projects previously announced by the Chinese government in 2018 and 2019 to boost infrastructure in the landlocked Himalayan nation.

Prime Minister Prachanda paid an official visit to China in the first week of October during which he held bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping with the discussion mainly focussing on matters relating to bilateral interest and mutual cooperation.

As part of a 10-day China trip, Prachanda and Saud both visited the Kailash Mansarovar region in Tibet and declared to open more routes from western Nepal for which it initiated talks with China for allowing more pilgrims, mainly Indians, that can add much-needed foreign exchange to their exchequer.

Indian mountaineers made headline news in May when four Indians succeeded in scaling Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. India's Yashi Jain, Mithil Raju, Sunil Kumar and Pinkhi Haris Chhed reached the peak of Everest on May 17. However, a woman climber from India, Suzane Jesus, died on May 18 near the Everest base camp.

In the second half of the year, there was tangible progress in NepalIndia energy cooperation as the Government of India on September 6, in principle, agreed to purchase 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal within the next 10 years.

Apart from routine governance issues, the Prachanda government also faced a major corruption scandal. On May 24, the Nepal government took action against at least 30 people, including influential political leaders and top bureaucrats, on charges of taking bribes in the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and senior leader of CPN-UML Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former Home Minister and senior leader of Nepali Congress Balkrishna Khand were among those who were imprisoned for sending Nepalese people to Bhutan providing them Bhutanese citizenship certificates on fake documents.

The year 2023 started with a tragedy as the Yeti Airlines aircraft that took off from Kathmandu on the morning of January 15 crashed in the Seti Gorge of Pokhara with all 72 people on board, including five Indian nationals, and ten other nationals, dead.

Tragedy struck in October too when Nepal evacuated 257 of its stranded students residing in Israel under the Learn and Earn Scheme' as the Hamas terror group launched an unprecedented attack in the Gaza area. Ten Nepalese, who were working there, were killed, and one person is still held captive by the Hamas militant group in Gaza.

Being a Himalayan nation, earthquakes are not new to Nepal. Apart from the multiple smaller magnitude quakes, there were more than half a dozen quakes of over 5.0 magnitude, including those on January 24 (5.9M), February 22 (5.2M), April 1 (5.2M), October 3 (5.3M, 6.3M and 5.1M), October 7 (5.3M), October 22 (6.1M), November 6 (5.8M) but with hardly any deaths.

But nothing could surpass the catastrophic high-magnitude quake in the western Nepal mountain region when at least 154 people were killed in a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit the Jajarkot district on November 3 leaving hundreds injured and thousands rendered homeless. This tremor was followed by multiple quakes over the next few days.

If this was not enough, at least 31 earthquake survivors, living in makeshift tents, died in Jajarkot and Rukum districts due to severe cold soon after the quakes hit western Nepal.

Given the high-altitude topography, especially the Mt Everest region, helicopter crashes are not new either. In 2023, there were three major such crashes: on April 9 with no casualty, on May 5 with three injured, and on July 11 which saw five Mexican and one Nepali pilot dead.

On the financial front, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on June 29 approved a USD 50 million loan to the Nepal government to support the implementation of policy reforms and help improve the Himalayan nation's domestic and international trade with its key economic partners such as India and Bangladesh.

India continued to help Nepal on multiple fronts including building schools, and providing vehicles, not to mention the re-construction of a 5th-century Buddhist Stupa, severely damaged during the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

India was amongst the first to provide at least four sorties of quake relief material after the November quakes to help its immediate neighbour.

On November 29, Nepal became the first South Asian country to officially register same-sex marriage, five months after the country's Supreme Court legalised such marriages.

Ending the last month on a positive note, on December 14, Sewa Lamsal, joint secretary and spokesperson at Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, became the first woman foreign secretary of Nepal.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent checks vehicles for the occupant's identification at the Eagle Pass/Carrizo Springs interior checkpoint near Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, July 3, 2014. Eddie Seal/Bloomberg

LAREDO  I cant remember the first time I got the Talk. No, not that talk (that one is buried somewhere deep in my embarrassed-and-uncomfortable-tween archive).

Im talking about the Checkpoint Talk: the one every non-U.S. citizen has gotten or given before being screened by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. Whether at an airport, an international bridge or at one of the nations 113 interior checkpoints, my parents instructions have always been the same: Dont speak unless spoken to. Dont crack jokes. Dont over explain. Yes and no answers only.

Even when youve done everything right as an immigrant, its hard not to grip the steering wheel a little tighter or to feel the cold pricks of sweat from your armpits as you approach the officer. You know, as soon you step into the checkpoint, youre guilty until proven innocent.

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My family and I are incredibly grateful that, now that we have green cards, those screenings go by far quicker and with much kinder interactions.

That wasnt always the case when we were in the process of applying for permanent residency  a yearslong limbo known as adjustment of status. The status allowed us to apply for and receive work authorization as well as advance parole, a document that granted us permission to travel temporarily in and out of the country. Because we didnt have just one straightforward visa, we often found ourselves having to explain the nuances of immigration policy to officers.

Like clockwork, as wed near any checkpoint window, my mom would make sure each family members manila folder was neatly stacked and at the ready with our documents. Sitting up straight, we would put away our snacks, phones and books. Wed hold our breath: Would the officer be in a good mood? Would he or she meet our eyes?

Most officers took our explanations well. But Ill never forget the one who, misunderstanding our situation, angrily threatened us with immediate deportation  until a colleague swooped in and explained that our status was, in fact, perfectly legal.

Its the kind of anxiety-inducing interaction that will only become more common when  and if  Senate Bill 4, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last week, goes into effect March 1. The bill, authored by state Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, empowers local law enforcement to arrest, and judges to order removed, anyone determined by a standard of probable cause to have entered Texas unlawfully.

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Spiller has insisted its not a show me your papers law, but how local police and troopers across the state will determine legal status without demanding evidence is beyond me. Even with documents, asking officers to interpret complex federal and state immigration law with constantly changing caveats when theyre already stretched thin all but sets them up for failure, and leaves them vulnerable to lawsuits.

If you're granted asylum in the United States there's about 10 different documents that you could produce if you were stopped that would show that you in fact, were granted asylum, Erin Corcoran, a professor at Notre Dames Keough School of Global Affairs, told the National Desk. To ask cops to understand all of those documents is a nightmare. Its an administrative nightmare for cops to decide who actually has a right to be here and whos illegal.

Many cops agree. The new Texas law offers no resources or guidance on how law enforcement should train to comply with it while avoiding racial profiling. In border cities, where police often make do with limited budgets, few departments can afford to take on the added burden.

Speaking at a Laredo City Council meeting on SB4 earlier this month, Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez explained that his department already receives 200 calls for service a day, and theres no jail space available for the expected uptick in arrests. More importantly, SB4 will only make his officers' jobs harder by fraying an already delicate trust between law enforcement and the community they serve.

Domestic violence is one of the calls we most respond to that involve people not from here, Rodriguez said. Its a major concern for us because we know people would stop reporting it, and our major priority is safety no matter where you come from.

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Thats the thing with these sorts of laws. The lawmakers who write them seem to have never stepped foot in a border community for longer than a photo op allows. Spiller is a lifelong resident of Jacksboro, which is at least six hours from the border.

Perhaps, if he were to attend Christmas Mass like I did this past weekend in Laredos historic cathedral just minutes away from Mexico, he might be surprised to see a Border Patrol agent give the sign of peace to his sons schoolteacher, a woman whose parents carried her through the murky waters of the Rio Grande when she was just a kid. Or watch him shake the hand of a Venezuelan who crossed last year and is awaiting his asylum hearing.
Sharekhan, one of India's most trusted full-service online brokerage houses, unearthed a worrying trend in the findings of its Serious About The Markets pan-India study, conducted in conjuncture with Kantar. The study found that 32% of Newbie Futures & Options traders claim they couldnt judge the market movement & 13% claiming that lack of enough trading knowledge are the primary reasons for losses incurred, leading to an aggregate of 45% of them hinting not knowing enough is at play. Additionally, more than half, i.e. 55% of traders buy more to average out their losses in trades.



This report comes in the wake of the SEBIs findings that a high percentage of investors are losing money in F&O trading. The report revealed 9 out of 10 individual traders in equity F&O segment incurred an average loss of Rs. 1.1 lakh during FY 2022. Most of them were operating in the Options segment. Taking note of this SEBI study Sharekhan wanted to understand how seriously new comers were approaching the F&O segment and the challenges being faced by them, and therefore it commissioned this pan-India survey called Serious About The Markets.



Jean-Christophe Gougeon, Chief Marketing Officer, Sharekhan, comments: While we were happy to find out that new comers are quite aware of the risks and their own lack of knowledge we are concerned about the surveys findings on the approaches taken to decide where to trade in F&O and the lack of required discipline when it comes to trading. We sincerely urge everyone to not take a casual or short-cut approach and to do either take help from SEBI registered professionals, full-service brokers or do their own proper research before they enter the F&O segment. Our new campaign is in this direction to help new comers be more aware about the casual approaches that one should avoid.



The survey, methodically conducted by Kantar pan-India, spanned a diverse group of participants across various demographics and geographies, lending credibility and depth to the findings.



Key Findings from Sharekhans Serious About The Markets survey:

Misplaced Expectations: 40% of newbie traders claim that their main reason for entering the Futures & Options segment is due to the chance of making quick and easy money and 48% of them believe that 30% to 50% of people are consistently making good returns from the F&O segment

Dependence on Non-Professional Advice: A significant portion of traders (53%) are spending their trading capital most often basis inputs from family & friends and mentions on social media/ websites/YouTube videos which can lead to ill-informed trading decisions and increased risk.

Lack of Applying Strategies: A startling 35% of traders do not use or apply any specific trading strategy, which can often lead to risky trading decisions. This includes strategies such as Straddle and Strangle being known but found difficult to implement. Only 5% of traders claim they are using Algo strategies provided by specialized companies/ websites

Inadequate Use of Stop-Loss: Only 42% of traders claim to use Stop-Loss in half of their trades whereas 16% claim they use it very rarely, indicating a key component in managing trading risks effectively is not being used enough

In light of the findings from this Serious About The Markets survey, Sharekhan has partnered with Stocktwits to put out an educational video series with experts called Lets get serious. This series will also be complemented with infographics that take parts of the survey and provide the right guidance via SEBI registered professionals. Stocktwits is the largest social network for investors and traders whose mission is power the global conversation for investors & traders of all levels in order to connect, learn, profit and have fun.



Gaurav Dua, Head of Capital Market Strategy at Sharekhan, adds: The recent study's findings serve as a crucial wake-up call for traders, particularly those new to the F&O market. It starkly highlights the urgent need for robust advisory services and comprehensive education in the trading community. At Sharekhan, we recognize the critical nature of this gap and are deeply committed to bridging it. Our focus is on providing our clients with highly informed and strategic research recommendations, tailored to various risk profiles. We aim to empower our clients with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the F&O market more effectively and confidently. Our goal is to transform their trading journey into a more successful and sustainable one, underpinned by solid strategies and sound decision-making.



Anand Parameswaran, Executive Director & Head of BFSI Practice at Kantar, adds This study done in partnership with Sharekhan has uncovered many interesting but concerning trading practices of newbie traders in the Futures & Options segment. It is important for investors to have a more disciplined approach and incorporate more diligence & rigor in their research before investing their hard-earned money.



Initiatives to educate & train them on the fundamentals of investing in Futures & Options market are quite likely to be beneficial. The newbie trader community need to be better equipped for risk management and can thus take informed & well researched investing decisions. The Futures & Options market which could see increased interest and wider participation in the future.



In light of these findings, Sharekhan strongly encourages F&O traders to seek professional advice and education. And to that extent Sharekhan's investor education strategy goes beyond conventional marketing. The in-house Sharekhan Classroom modules and its subsidiary Sharekhan Educations Power Money Webinar offer a range of learning modules, emphasizing the brands commitment to an informed approach for succeeding in the stock market. This initiative aims to improve trading outcomes and foster a more informed and strategic trading community.
In the contemporary world, company leaders encounter various challenges. Outdated methods of data management, downtime, and an increase in dissatisfied customers are all consequences of ineffective company management. Cutting-edge software platforms play a pivotal role in transforming operations, enhancing customer service, and stimulating business growth. Thanks to them, companies become more flexible and efficient in customer service and communication. Research conducted in 2023 by the American consulting company Gartner revealed that 80% of businesses are investing in digital technologies. Let us delve into the impact of software using the example of a car leasing company.

The Evolution of Auto Leasing Management: From Manual to Digital

The auto leasing industry has faced numerous challenges throughout its existence. These include outdated systems, market competition, the need to enhance efficiency, speed, and quality of customer service, workplace safety, process optimization, and company scalability. An innovative approach to auto leasing business management allows companies to thrive in both their traditional and digital realms.

Vehicle leasing software has significantly altered the rules of existence in the industry and modernised the methods of operation for auto leasing companies. The following changes, outlined below, enable enterprises to enhance efficiency, reduce operational costs, improve customer service, and be more adaptable to changing market conditions.

* Automation: With the help of software, it is possible to automate the processes of deal creation, management, and monitoring. This reduces the risk of errors, especially with large volumes of data, and improves the efficiency of administrative tasks. Automation is also beneficial for sending personalised messages to the entire customer base.

* Enhanced Customer Interaction: The presence of a CRM system integrated into the software allows tracking payments, handling user requests, and providing customers with access to necessary functions. In this scenario, the company's manager simply oversees the process, making necessary corrections.

* Data Analysis Accuracy: Proper use of the program allows for precise data analysis. The auto leasing management system collects and processes data on all company operations. Business owners can analyse the situation and make decisions based on the analysis results, as well as respond quickly to unforeseen circumstances.

Moreover, auto leasing software integrates with banking systems, ensuring secure and uninterrupted payment operations. Integration is also possible with accounting systems, CRM systems, and even asset monitoring modules, creating a unified ecosystem for the efficient provision of leasing services.

Key Features of Auto Leasing Management Software

1. The Fleet Management function is essential for monitoring the condition of vehicles. It allows configuring the system to receive alerts about upcoming maintenance and completed reservations. This function reduces downtime, thus improving communication quality with users.

2. The Transaction Automation function helps create, manage, and monitor deals with customers, as well as contracts with suppliers. Having this function makes it possible to sign documents electronically, automates message sending, and allows monitoring the fulfilment of obligations by parties.

3. The Customer Management function (CRM system) is necessary for comprehensive user data management. With its help, the manager sees the history of customer interactions, preferences, and can contact them to resolve any issues.

4. The Analytics function is a crucial element of the business. This tool allows analysing the current situation in the company or specific moments. Using the analytics function, businesses can better understand their activities, identify current trends, forecast results, and make more informed decisions.

How can these tools help optimise operations and improve decision-making processes, you may ask? Firstly, by reducing costs. Having quick access to information about the status of vehicles, current deals, and other data, a company can more efficiently utilise resources and reduce operational costs. CRM systems help better understand customer needs to personalise services and increase customer trust. By automating processes with car leasing software, businesses can significantly reduce time expenditures and decrease the likelihood of errors. This is a significant contribution to the company's development and increased competitiveness.

Increasing Efficiency and Productivity

Software for leasing is an integral part of the business. The system must be flexible, secure, capable of integration with other programs, and scalable to ensure process optimization, eliminate redundancy, and enhance operational efficiency. There are two ways to use such software: purchasing a licence or using cloud solutions. The former is more outdated, as the program is installed directly on employees' computers within the office. In contrast, cloud solutions allow the program to be used from anywhere globally, significantly improving work quality. Meanwhile, data is stored in the cloud and securely protected from cyber attacks.

Auto leasing software accepts online applications from clients and even processes them automatically. For instance, a client applies for car leasing, and the program requests input of driving licence details. If the client leaves this field blank or enters incorrect data without a valid licence, the program processes the request and rejects the application. The same applies to processing financial parameters, as the system integrates with banking programs. The software accelerates the workflow through automation, minimising paperwork and ensuring data security. Even contracts are signed using electronic signatures.

Few people know that the software enables effective customer interaction. Firstly, by storing all transaction and personal information. Secondly, through automatic tracking of transactions and debts. Managers can schedule communication to remind clients of upcoming payments or notify them if a monthly payment is missed. Automating the process reduces the risk of human error in forgetting such information and optimises company operations. Communications can be related not only to debts; messages can be sent to offer a personalised discount, making the offer unique and enhancing customer trust.

Auto leasing software has special encryption code, ensuring the security of the company's financial data and clients' personal information. Encryption prevents information leaks and helps comply with data protection requirements.

Improving Customer Service: Personalization and Convenience

Car leasing software also positively influences the quality of customer service. With fast solutions, convenient online interaction, accurate analytics, and compliance support, more efficient communication with users can be built. Advanced software solutions never cease to amaze. With the development of digital technologies, business management systems grow, ensuring high customer satisfaction and strengthening long-term loyalty. And all thanks to the following aspects:

 Personalised experience: When you approach a company, is it pleasant to receive the necessary service? Of course, yes. But when unnecessary things are added, it becomes annoying. The auto leasing program has special machine learning algorithms. It analyses customer data and actions, creating personalised offers based on them. This way, customers receive a service that meets their needs and preferences.

 Seamless communication is the ability to choose a convenient communication channel with the client to increase loyalty. The program can integrate with chats, email, social networks, providing convenient interaction with customers. Additionally, bots can be connected for automatic responses. Just try to make the response as close as possible to a response from a live person.

 Convenient self-service portals are an opportunity for the customer to independently submit an online application for auto leasing. Users can choose from available cars, submit an application, and monitor its status. The availability of services for customers has never been so transparent.

 Analysis and feedback are equally important functions for an auto leasing company. Analytics systems read customer behaviour, preferences, and ratings, then provide analysis results. This function allows business owners to see weak points and improve the quality of services provided. Additionally, vehicle leasing software considers customer feedback on the services provided by the company.

 Ensuring security and confidentiality helps keep all company data, client applications, and banking processes confidential. Software solutions must provide a high level of security to protect customers' confidential data and strengthen trusted relationships with them.

Implementation and Integration: Leading Experience in Successful Implementation

When implementing software for leasing, companies already possess some customer base and a method of data accounting. To avoid losing all accumulated information, a skilled data transfer is necessary. With the correct approach to this process and software configuration, the company ensures operational efficiency and maximises the advantages of new technologies. Additionally, it is important to remember that a new program always intimidates employees. Therefore, providing the opportunity for training in new functionalities is essential. Let us systematically examine the main features of each of these aspects.

Data transfer begins with an audit. The owner or administrator of the company must identify key and essential data that require urgent transfer. After completion, verify their integrity and correct placement in the system. The most effective method of transfer is through API (Application Programming Interface). This key links various applications. In addition to this, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) or database migration tools can be used for data transfer. With these tools, the risk of data loss can be minimised, ensuring the accuracy of the transfer.

Training opportunities for personnel in new software are limitless: training sessions, webinars, individual online and offline guides. The method depends on the ability of company employees to perceive information in one way or another. Training is necessary to enhance colleagues' competence and confidence in working with new tools. To ensure that employees always receive new training information, make sure to regularly update documentation and FAQs.

Individual system configuration for a smooth transition to the new program. Software that can be tailored to a specific type of business is highly valued among auto leasing management companies. Launching the new system should be done gradually, starting with a limited set of functions or tools. Such caution helps reduce the risk of malfunctions and ensures a smoother implementation.

Maximising the benefits of software is possible through integration with other systems. Cloud solutions for auto leasing are often compatible with the CRM systems already used by the company. This improves coherence and the efficiency of the enterprise. With regular updates, business process analysis, and system performance, the operation of companies of any scale can be significantly optimised.

Conclusion

Vehicle leasing software provides companies with business process automation, significantly increases efficiency and decision-making accuracy, and reduces the risks associated with human factors. The implementation of software for leasing should occur gradually to minimise the risks of failures and information loss. By using such a system in your company, you can enhance customer service levels and ensure compliance with legislative norms. Ultimately, this allows you to create a more successful and competitive business.
John Whitmire, second from left, laughs alongside Jovanka Gonzalez, center, and other members of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association after the organization announced its endorsement of him for the Houston mayoral race at UPFFA Union Hall, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2023, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

State Sen. John Whitmire's landslide mayoral victory this month not only marks a triumph for his campaign but could also pave the way for a wide array of groups  from the firefighters union to the Pappas family  to potentially benefit from his new position at City Hall.

As the city's top office is set to change hands for the first time in eight years, here are the five groups likely to emerge as winners under the new Whitmire administration.

Firefighters union

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Marty Lancton, the head of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, stands with his membership during a march on City Hall over the labor dispute related to Proposition B in March 2019. Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The Houston firefighters union has been embroiled in a bitter contract dispute with the city for most of outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner's tenure. A judge last week ordered the city and the union to enter collective bargaining within the next month, a task that will fall to Whitmire when he assumes office in January.

FIREFIGHTER LAWSUIT: Judge orders city to bargain with Houston firefighters union after yearslong contract stalemate

Whitmire has maintained close ties with firefighters throughout his career. He declared help is on the way for firefighters at his campaign launch last year. He also successfully championed a bill in the Legislature in May that mandates binding arbitration for such disputes in the future.

We will meet with them and give them a contract that is fair to Houstonian taxpayers and the firefighters, Whitmire said at his victory party earlier this month. Can you imagine a city suing their first responders? We couldnt make it without them.

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Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341, has expressed optimism about the prospects of Whitmire's administration.

Whitmire is not running from the problem but has instead promised to face it head-on, Lancton recently told the Houston Chronicle. We welcome this collaborative approach that does not involve the courts and look forward to resolution of what Mayor Sylvester Turner has kicked down the road.

Houston Police Department

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and Houston Police Chief Troy Finner on the sidelines of Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

The Houston Police Department has fewer officers now than it did a decade ago despite growing budgets and active recruitment by the Turner administration.

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While nearly all of this year's mayoral candidates vowed to support Houston police, Whitmire, who has decades-long experience making criminal justice policy, was one of the most vocal and consistent in his tough on crime rhetoric.

He made a name for himself crafting Texas criminal justice laws in the 1990s and has since chaired the Senate Criminal Justice Committee under four governors.

Whitmire said he would more aggressively hire cadets to boost the Police Departments ranks and reenergize the concept of community policing to improve response times, which have sunk to their slowest point in decades.

The mayor-elect also promised to bring in 200 troopers from the Department of Public Safety to assist local policing efforts, a more controversial proposal that garnered criticisms from his opponents.

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We will make this a safer city, Whitmire said during his victory speech. Well do it by recruiting more officers, supporting the officers we have (and) coalition-building with other agencies.

Pappas family

Chris Pappas, CEO of Pappas Restaurants, Inc., and other team members stand as Christina Pappas speaks to Houston City Council and Mayor Sylvester Turner about an airport vendor contract for Hobby Airport on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

This year, the City Council approved a contentious $470 million concession contract that ousted Pappas Restaurants from Hobby Airport, where it had previously operated for two decades. The popular restaurant chain soon filed a lawsuit against the city, which is still ongoing.

An internal newsletter from Whitmires law firm in 1998 shows that the Pappas family was once a client of the mayor-elect. Four Families of Houston, which included the Pappas family, retained Whitmire in connection with its bid for a food and beverage concession contract at Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to the newsletter.

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Whitmire's spokesperson clarified that he only offered legal advice to Pappas in the 1990s and did not lobby for the company at City Hall.

Several members of the Pappas family donated to Whitmires mayoral campaign, according to his campaign finance reports. Christina Pappas, a spokesperson for Pappas Restaurants, told the Chronicle these donations reflect the family members personal choice.

Though the mayor-elect never indicated he would bring the restaurant chain back to Hobby Airport, he recently aligned himself with Pappas in its dispute against the city. Citing the Pappas case as an example, Whitmire accused Turner of favoring friends of the administration and vowed to overhaul Houston's procurement process. Turner has repeatedly refuted any claims of favoritism.

The Pappas brothers had a very viable family business at Hobby Airport. The Turner administration and city government went out three times for another bid so they could get their friends in Hobby Airport, Whitmire said at a mayoral debate. Not only is it wrong to the Pappas family, it's wrong to Houstonians.

Underrepresented city employees

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena speaks on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 in Houston. Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Another recent disagreement between Turner and Whitmire centered on issues of diversity in top positions at City Hall.

Whitmire criticized the demographic makeup of department heads under Turners leadership, noting the relatively small numbers of Latino and Asian department heads.

Among the 41 past and current department heads appointed by Turner, 18 are Black (44%), 16 are white (39%), five are Hispanic (12%) and two are Asian (5%), data provided by the mayors office shows. Yet Houstons overall population is 22% Black, 24% white, 45% Hispanic and 7% Asian, the latest U.S. Census data shows.

However, research indicates that the underrepresentation of Hispanic and Asian senior city officials is not unique to Houston. Turner also has touted many Asian and Hispanic appointed officials who are not department heads but have served under his tenure  including Metro Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran and Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz.

Still, Whitmire said he would increase the presence of Asian and Hispanic leaders in top city positions.

We are the most diverse city in the nation, something to be proud of, he said. Lets practice what were so proud of.

City Council members

Mayor Sylvester Turner presides over his final City Council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 in Houston. Turner, who has served eight years as Houstons mayor and is term limited, leaves office at the end of the year. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

In Houston's "strong mayor" system, councilmembers often have to rely on the mayor's goodwill to influence city policies.

Until recently, the Houston mayor held almost complete control over the City Council's weekly agenda. A newly passed proposition now allows any three councilmembers to band together and add a proposal to the agenda. This change does not significantly undermine the mayors power, as he still retains complete administrative authority, according to City Attorney Arturo Michel.

The new proposition aside, during a recent forum about improving neighborhood infrastructure, Whitmire promised he would delegate more responsibilities to councilmembers, granting them the freedom to spearhead plans to tackle issues such as homelessness and illegal dumping.
Texas National Guard sign up migrants for a free Chicago-bound bus provided by Gov. Greg Abbotts office, at Mission: Border Hope in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. The bus was scheduled for a day earlier but didnt have enough migrants interested. But Thursday, 34 migrants, including families and single men, made the trip. Abbott started busing migrants from South Texas to Chicago in late August in response to what he called a lack of federal government action on the border issue. The arrival of migrants in New York City and Chicago came as a surprise. Migrants in Chicago have been housed at area hotels and the Salvation Army. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News FILE  Migrants wait outside the Roosevelt Hotel to be processed in New York, Aug. 1, 2023. For more than 600 days, New York City has scrambled to house thousands of migrants arriving from the southern border, throwing the city into a crisis made even harder by missed opportunities. (Jeenah Moon/The New York Times) JEENAH MOON/NYT FILE  Adult and children asylum seekers arrive on a bus from El Paso, Texas, to NYC Porth Authority in New York on May 3, 2023. We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night, Mayor Eric Adams said. (Juan Arredondo/The New York Times) JUAN ARREDONDO/NYT Migrants wait for busses at Mission Border Hope, a shelter that helps migrants get to the next step in their journey. Jessica Phelps

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is imposing new restrictions on charter buses coming into the city specifically to stop those sent by Gov. Greg Abbott bearing migrants who have crossed the Texas-Mexico border.

Effective immediately, charter buses will have to provide 32 hours notice before arriving in New York City when they carry groups of migrants from Texas and other states. The buses will also be required to provide information on who they are transporting and drop them off at designated locations in Manhattan during specified hours.

And we need Gov. Abbott to stop playing games with innocent lives, Adams said in announcing the new program.

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Adams accused Abbott of using migrants as "political pawns."

Renae Eze, Abbotts director of communications, fired back: The sheer hypocrisy of these Democrat mayors knows no bounds, she said.

New York is going to extreme lengths to stop buses when they have declared themselves sanctuary cities for migrants, Eze said, and those mayors should be calling on their own party leaders to secure the border instead of attacking Texas efforts.

Abbott has bused more than 80,000 migrants to U.S. cities run by Democratic mayors to put pressure on President Joe Biden to do more about the record surge of border crossings over the last year. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said for 2023 they encountered 2.5 million migrants along the border with Mexico, the most ever recorded.

Abbott's administration said after migrants are processed by federal officials, they are offered free bus rides to other cities. Just over 30,000 of those migrants have been sent to New York City.

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Texas border busing mission provides vital relief to our overwhelmed border communities, Abbott, a Republican, said earlier this month in defending his program.

While Texas has added to New York Citys problem with accommodating its own surge of migrants, Abbott is by no means responsible for all of it. The New York Times reported earlier this month that more than 150,000 migrants have arrived in the city since spring 2022, overwhelming city shelters and social service networks.

Chicago, under Mayor Brandon Johnson, is also fighting back against Abbotts program. The city has imposed tough new penalties against bus companies if they fail to drop migrants off in designated locations or fail to fill out city paperwork. Those measures have resulted in dozens of lawsuits against bus companies already.

Abbott responded to the changes by instead flying migrants to Chicago from El Paso.

In a statement in support of Adams, Chicago Mayor Johnson said he and other mayors are pushing for more help from the federal government to deal with growing influx of migrants.

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Chicago will always be a welcoming city, but we need collaboration at all levels of government and our federal partners to provide the necessary coordination and resources so that cities like Chicago, Denver and New York have what is needed to do this crucial work, Johnson said. We are united in our continued call for federal support to ensure that all those seeking asylum in this country are treated with dignity and humanity.

Adams, a Democrat, and Abbott have been in a cross-country feud over the busing program for months. In May, Adams suggested on national television that Abbott is racially motivated because hes picking cities that have Black leaders  a charge Abbott has denied, saying hes simply sending migrants where they want to go.

Every one of these migrants who gets on a bus, they volunteer to go and they choose the cities they go to," Abbott told Fox News. "They want to go to New York. They want to go to Chicago."

In September, Abbott went to New York City and agreed with Adams that the city's migrant surge was unsustainable.

The lead importer of migrants to New York is not Texas, its Joe Biden, he said at a breakfast event held by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. Abbott said he began the busing program in response to the plight of the small border towns in his state that do not have the resources to deal with border crossers.

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State Sen. John Whitmire visits with supporters after defeating U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee to become Houstons 63rd mayor at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Mayor-elect John Whitmire has submitted his resignation from the Texas Senate days before he will take over the states largest city.

Whitmire, the Senates longest tenured member, served for 50 years under seven governors, six lieutenant governors and eight speakers, according to a letter submitted to Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday morning.

I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Houston as the 63rd Mayor of the great City of Houston, Whitmire wrote. I also look forward to strengthening the bond between the City of Houston and the State of Texas so Houston can continue to be a world class city where people love to live, work, and visit.

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WHITMIRE WINS: John Whitmire elected Houston mayor in race he dominated from start to finish

Whitmires resignation will take effect at 10 p.m. Sunday.

He will take his oath of office as Houstons next mayor at 12:01 a.m. Monday in a private ceremony at City Hall. Whitmire, 74, will be inaugurated with the rest of the newly elected officials and incumbent council members in a public ceremony at Wortham Theater on Tuesday.

Whitmire, the oldest person to be elected mayor in at least 100 years, fended off 17 candidates to win the position. He eventually defeated U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in a December runoff.

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Whitmire, once in office, has said he will focus on the citys budget, public safety and negotiating a deal with the firefighters union, which has been locked in a contract stalemate.

Candidates for Whitmires now-open Senate seat may have to prevail through up to five elections before getting to work on any Texas law.

OPEN SENATE SEAT: Whitmires mayoral win opens his Senate seat for the first time in 40 years

Whitmires term was set to expire in 2024. But with the outgoing senators resignation, there could be a special election, a runoff to the special election, a primary and a primary runoff before the November election.

A special election for Whitmires seat has yet to be called, but six Democrats and one Republican have filed to fill his seat in the March primary.

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The Democrats who have filed include social entrepreneur Michelle Anderson Bonton, attorney Alberto Beto Carendas Jr., emergency room nurse Molly Cook, state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, attorney-mediator Todd Litton and Karthik Soora, who is a former Houston ISD teacher and renewable energy developer.

The sole Republican filer is investor Joseph L. Trahan.

Staff writer Jen Rice contributed to this report.
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First Cumberland Presbyterian under construction Vintage interior shot of First Cumberland with different choir seating from today Altar/chancel area of First Cumberland Presbyterian photo by John Shearer First Cumberland Presbyterian organ photo by John Shearer Sanctuary of First Cumberland Presbyterian photo by John Shearer Ceiling of First Cumberland Presbyterian photo by John Shearer One of First Cumberland Presbyterians stained-glass windows photo by John Shearer Dr. Courtney Krueger, left, and Gerald Peel photo by John Shearer Dr. Courtney Krueger in his office photo by John Shearer 1960 portrait of Dr. J. Fred Johnson by Ernest Seagle photo by John Shearer Shadow-covered First Cumberland Presbyterian courtyard photo by John Shearer Arch-covered breezeway at First Cumberland Presbyterian photo by John Shearer Cornerstone photo by John Shearer North wing exterior of First Cumberland Presbyterian photo by John Shearer North wing exterior of First Cumberland Presbyterian photo by John Shearer Exterior of First Cumberland Presbyterian sanctuary photo by John Shearer Exterior of First Cumberland Presbyterian sanctuary photo by John Shearer Grace Episcopal Church photo by John Shearer Grace Episcopal Church photo by John Shearer Grace Episcopal Church photo by John Shearer Photos of magazine cover and main stained-glass window photo by Courtesy of Dr. Courtney Krueger Previous Next

Driving alongside North Moore Road, a visitor might think he or she has been transplanted to the fields of England or elsewhere in Europe when the eye-catching and Gothic revival First Cumberland Presbyterian Church comes into view.

Towering over the expansive and mostly grassy landscape, the stone-covered church appears to be from a classic era of architecture rather than the mid-century period in which it and the surrounding homes were mostly built.

As I found out, there is a reason why it is so large, or maybe multiple reasons.

Although I had passed it for decades, I had never been inside of the sanctuary/nave at 1505 N. Moore Road until attending a communitywide Christmas concert there about 2019. I have also attended some other community events in the fellowship hall, helped wife Laura pick up a young relative from the day care facility there, and even went to another community Christmas concert earlier this month.

After the latter, I decided to try and do a story to learn more about this church and its architecture. And with the help of pastor Dr. R. Courtney Krueger, I was graciously given a tour a few days before Christmas.

I learned, or maybe verified what I possibly suspected, that it was designed by a firm from Knoxville now known as BarberMcMurry Architects and headed for years by Charles Barber. He was a prolific architect there of larger homes from the early 20th century as well as churches and University of Tennessee buildings.

While living in Knoxville from 2005-17, I attended a church with which he was the co-designer: Church Street United Methodist Church in downtown Knoxville, a structure with similar looking stone and Gothic arches. It had been built in 1931 during the usual end of the more classic style of church architecture.

Although the Barber firms buildings were not quite as numerous around the South as those of Chattanoogan R.H. Hunt, who was a generation older, Mr. Barber was still similarly the renowned architect for a certain time in that city. He had toured the classic buildings of Europe at a young age, and his architect father, George Barber, had come up with some mail-order house plans that were used in several communities.

Brainerd actually has two churches designed by the firm that was then known as Barber & McMurry. The other is Grace Episcopal Church, which opened a little sooner. Located at Belvoir Avenue and Brainerd Road, the tan-brick building but with a Gothic-arched breezeway like at First Cumberland opened in 1956 after a 1955 ground-breaking ceremony. The tower and other sections on the front and elsewhere opened in 1961. The church, named for Grace Richmond, the daughter of industrialist Theodore Richmond, dated to the 1800s but in 1941 had moved from Highland Park to the former Brainerd Road home of Chattanooga Mayor and State Senator W.R. Crabtree.

Learning how the Charles Barber firm was chosen to do the two Chattanooga churches would require some further digging, but the word of Barbers skills had obviously spread down the Tennessee River by the 1950s. Although this is pure conjecture, in the case of Grace Episcopal, it might have also been influenced by the fact that the longtime Grace rector, the Rev. Dr. Battle McLester, liked Gothic architecture. And the Barber firm was known for being a leader in creating that style in East Tennessee.

After his death in 1968, Dr. McLester had left a good part of his above-average estate to the church, including for a reredos, or partition or panel behind the altar. Dr. McLester had hoped that the designer of that would be someone who was Episcopalian and loved Gothic architecture. Mr. Barber had died in 1962, although his firm continues today and is headed by 1979 Hixson High graduate Chuck Griffin.

So, perhaps Mr. McLester was a leader in helping Grace secure the services of the Barber firm in the 1950s. A man with an interesting theological past, the former Columbus, Ga., resident had begun as a Methodist pastor and filled in some at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church before becoming attracted to the Episcopal faith.

The contractor for Grace Episcopal was lifelong church member John William Batterham Lindsey, a former World War I officer who died in 1993 at the age of 99.

Since the initial part of Grace Episcopal was built a couple of years before the first phase of First Cumberland Presbyterian, Grace officials had likely been in contact with the BarberMcMurry firm first.

But the longtime pastor of First Cumberland, Dr. J. Fred Johnson, was likely very familiar with Mr. Barbers work from having spent some of his earlier years in Knoxville. A top graduate of Knoxville Central High, he had served in the Marines in World War I and later. During his military service, he saw and admired some cathedrals in Europe, and they had reportedly put an idea in his head that later came to fruition.

Married to the former Josephine Mathis, whose brother, George Mathis, was principal of Brainerd High in the 1960s, he started out in accounting. But some health scares and successful recoveries from two of his family members pulled him into ministerial work and personal accounting in a thankful and grateful manner. The couple had two sons, J. Fred Johnson Jr. and Howard L. Johnson, who graduated from Baylor School in the 1940s and later entered the insurance field.

After preaching at some small churches outside Knoxville, Dr. Johnson came to Chattanooga in 1933 as pastor of First Cumberland Presbyterian, which at the time was located at the northeast corner of Oak and Lindsay streets in a now-razed building that featured red brick. A non-descript office building now stands in this lot across Oak Street from the back of First-Centenary United Methodist Church.

The First Cumberland membership was about 220 when he came, but his appealing preaching and ministering skills quickly became apparent, and the church membership grew. Standing room only became common, as was the case for some other Chattanooga churches with dynamic pastors and/or healthy congregations around that time.

As a result, the church with him directing the way began looking for a larger facility, and a large tract of land was secured off North Moore Road. With him at least verbally drawing the specifications for the Barber/McMurry firm, the south wing and fellowship hall opened in 1958, and the sanctuary/nave and the north wing opened in 1963. A tower was originally part of the design, but it did not come to fruition.

Dr. Johnsons family had lived for several years at 627 Vine St., where the UTC student center now sits, but after the move to Brainerd, he and his wife located to the church-owned property at 4600 Maria St. a short distance across North Moore Road.

The general contractor when the current church was built was the John Martin Co., while the Garland Sherman Co. did the masonry. The Hubbuch Glass Co. installed the stained-glass windows designed by Wilbur Burnham of Boston. The parquet flooring in the nave and chapel was done by Logan-Moore Inc. of Chattanooga.

And in a unique gesture of ecumenical goodwill, the steel was reportedly donated by the Jewish brothers, Mose and Garrison Siskin, who had also contributed the steel for the construction of the Warner Park Fieldhouse for a 1953 Billy Graham Crusade.

An organ was built in later years by Fratelli Ruffatti of Italy, and current pastor Dr. Krueger said that resulted in the reconfiguration of the chancel area where the choir sits. First Cumberland Presbyterians longtime organ master has been Bruce Clark, who has been on staff since 1975, before Dr. Johnson retired.

Dr. Krueger, who said he heard Dr. Johnson was also inspired by the Duke University chapel where Dr. Krueger attended divinity school to get his masters after graduating from Furman, pointed out other features of the sanctuary during a tour. They included 12 columns depicting the 12 tribes of Israel in the Bible, and painted symbols on the wood ceiling that Dr. Johnson had also wanted. Dr. Krueger said those can be seen well when candlelight events are held in the nave.

He added that the outside of the structure is of Tennessee stone and the interior features Appalachian wood. We were locally sourced before being locally sourced was cool, he said with a laugh.

He also pointed out that the stained-glass windows, some of which may have been installed later, tell specific stories on each side, with the main one behind the altar depicting the resurrection of Jesus. The amicable Dr. Krueger, who is also a nationally successful competitor in ride and tie, which involves endurance running and horseback riding, said he often comes into the nave to pray for members. And that window is particularly inspiring.

It is really helpful to me when Im here praying for someone needing to experience resurrection in one way or the other, he said.

He also loves the fact he has been able to work since 2015 in such a handsome church sanctuary, which he says he often passes through during the week on the way from one wing to another because that is the clearest path. Visitors have also told him they feel like they are in Europe when they come in the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is easy to see from the outside from all sides due to the minimal landscaping. While trees are normally a positive in adding aesthetics to a nice example of architecture, as they seem to do at Grace Episcopal, here the setting allows for greater examination of the structure.

While some Christians historically believe the people and ministries and lessons and sermons are of utmost importance in worship, Dr. Johnson was a believer that a nice church building could also certainly be an asset to draw those closer to Christ and God and enhance the worship experience. Dr. Krueger hinted that the structure is definitely soothing on the soul and not just the eyes.

Dr. Johnson, the inspiration behind it, said that it was supposed to be an architectural prayer and that is just so perfect, he said of this man who retired in 1978 and died in 1985 and, according to Dr. Krueger, wanted his elders to sit just to his right in the cross-shaped room.

But while Dr. Johnson liked and admired great cathedrals, he was also known to be focused on the humbled as well. He had noticed while downtown the importance of his church reaching out positively to youth, and he became a champion of recreation opportunities for them. As a result, the Cumberland Youth Foundation program that included ballfields and, uniquely for a church, an outdoor swimming pool, was developed when the church relocated.

Although the sanctuary was built to hold about 1,200 and attendance was high at one point, First Cumberland Presbyterian, like many other congregations around Chattanooga and the United States, has struggled to keep its membership up in recent years. Although, it still has a somewhat healthy 150 in attendance on most Sundays, Dr. Krueger said. The attendance included a much larger crowd recently for Christmas Eve, as people not even members of the church wanted to enjoy such a nice setting at a special time.

Dr. Krueger, who received his doctorate from the Presbyterian-based Columbia Theological Seminary, said the Cumberland Presbyterians are somewhat in the middle theologically and socially among the various Presbyterian denominations. They were the first Presbyterian church to ordain women in ministry in 1889, he said. They are fierce champions of women in ministry, but in other social issues they dont take hard and fast stands.

First Cumberland Presbyterian has certainly also tried to be outward in its focus and has a very open-door policy regarding outside music groups around Chattanooga wanting to practice or perform there. Music director Gerald Peel, who was in the church during the tour, said the room has great acoustics for those who use it.

Its a big space, and because its a large space and it is enclosed, you might hear the reverb or reverberation, he said. Its a long sanctuary, so if youre in the middle and the music happens in the front, you can actively hear it travel past you to the rear. It speaks for itself, and if youre in a room and just having a conversation, youll notice it, too.

For everyone from lovers of good architecture to those who want to enjoy worship or music in a special place, this structure created in a drawing room in Knoxville has become quite a draw over the years in the Brainerd part of Chattanooga.

I sometimes walk in the sanctuary and say, Thank you, God,  Dr. Krueger said.

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Click here to hear Dr. Courtney Krueger discuss the architecture of First Cumberland Presbyterian.

* * *

Jcshearer2@comcast.net
(Photo : Unsplash/ Jose Matute )

Out There Media, a global leader in Rich Communication Services (RCS), revealed the outcomes of its first U.S.-based RCS campaigns with Verizon, which was actively promoted within the myWorld community during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in partnership with myWorld, recognized as America's best loyalty program by Newsweek Magazine. The initiative featured affiliate partners like Guess, The Home Depot, Hotels.com, booking.com, Priceline, HP, Logitech, and Philips Hue.

Debut of Rich Messaging Campaign in the U.S.

Out There Media's first rich messaging campaigns in the U.S. achieved remarkable read rates of 50% to 70%, surpassing expectations. This success solidifies the company's pioneering role in using RCS to enhance engagement, conversion, and loyalty. It highlights the effectiveness of Rich Messaging in connecting with audiences and fostering meaningful interactions, surpassing the capabilities of advertising channels like web banners, SMS, or social media ads.

Kerstin Trikalitis, co-founder and CEO of Out There Media, expressed delight at the remarkable results of the company's debut rich messaging campaigns in the United States, sharing with Business Wire that the outstanding numbers emphasize the effectiveness of rich messaging in engaging audiences and fostering meaningful interactions with leading global brands.

READ ALSO: Facebook-Owned Messaging App 'WhatsApp' Tests A New Feature Similar To Snap Stories

Recent industry developments highlight the strength and success of RCS. Google's announcement of 1 billion active RCS users demonstrates the increasing impact of rich messaging, and the imminent entry of Apple into the RCS arena is anticipated to be the ultimate game-changer next year. Out There Media remains at the forefront, transforming digital advertising with RCS and providing unmatched engagement, conversion, and loyalty to major global brands.

Google Celebrated Booming RCS Users

Google celebrated a major achievement with 1 billion monthly active users for its RCS (Rich Communication Services), unveiling seven new features in the Messages app to enhance personal expression. However, for iOS users, RCS bubbles won't turn blue.

RCS is not just another tech acronym; it's a game-changer in messaging meant to upgrade SMS and MMS, not a total replacement. It's like Android's version of iMessage, featuring typing indicators, read receipts, threaded replies, high-quality media sharing, improved group chats, and better privacy features.

About Out There Media

Out There Media, the global leader in Rich Messaging (RCS), is the latest messaging technology that provides brands and advertisers with unmatched customer engagement, conversion, and loyalty and is described as the long-awaited game-changer in the industry by Mobile market intelligence firm, Mobilesquared.

The company's award-winning platform, MobucksTM, empowers operators to play a major role in digital advertising and unlock significant revenue streams for operators and agencies to reach their audiences in a highly targeted, effective, and measurable way, utilizing the mobile phone as the medium.

Out There Media is relied upon by globally recognized brands like Unilever, Disney, Starbucks, Budweiser, Netflix, and McDonald's, as well as major mobile operators including Vodafone, Vodacom, Starhub, O2 Telefonica, BT, Orange, Verizon, Telcel, and MTN Group. The company is based in Vienna, Austria, with operations worldwide.

RELATED ARTICLE: Ericsson Secures $14 Billion AT&T Contract, Ousting Nokia in Network Upgrade

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A car driving 100 mph while being chased by law enforcement wound up slamming into a telephone pole and landing on its top early Friday morning.

The driver was injured and a passenger was in critical condition.

At approximately 2 a.m., a Hamilton County Sheriffs Office deputy observed a silver sedan driving in excess of the speed limit in the 4200 block of Bonny Oaks Drive.

The HCSO deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, at which point the suspect began to drive recklessly, veering into the oncoming lane and passing vehicles in a no-passing zone.

The suspect continued to evade law enforcement, reaching speeds of approximately 100 mph. The pursuit continued onto Lightfoot Mill Road and Birchwood Drive, with the deputy losing sight of the suspect vehicle on New York Avenue.

The HCSO deputy then observed a large electrical surge and sparks from what appeared to be an electrical pole. Upon further investigation, the HCSO deputy observed the suspect had struck an electrical pole and the vehicle had rolled over onto its top.

Local EMS and Fire Departments also responded to the scene. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was notified and responded to work on the crash and damage to the electrical pole, which was broken in two.

The driver, Kenneth Lamar Dixon Jr., was taken into custody before they and one additional passenger were transported to a local medical facility. The passenger was listed as in critical but stable condition. The driver suffered from what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries and was held for further assessment.

Dixon, 38, is being charged with the following charges:
This photo taken on Dec. 14, 2023 provided by Sarah Burks shows a paper mockup of the street signs that will go up next year in some parts of Cambridge, Mass. and include the language of the Massachusett Tribe.
Parents who have had babies stay in the neonatal intensive care unit or NICU after being born know how difficult it can be, as not being able to take your baby home right away is a hard pill to swallow.

But can you imagine your baby spending 548 days in the NICU? Jagger Nathan, an 18-month-old from Nebraska, recently spent that long in the NICU due to some setbacks after his birth but was finally able to go home.

Jagger was born to parents Justin and Torie Nathan on April 9th, 2022, and was immediately sent to the pediatric hospital, Childrens Nebraska, in Omaha. While pregnant with Jagger, Torie wasnt told there were any complications.

But after her water surprisingly broke while 31 weeks pregnant, she was rushed to the emergency room where, via ultrasound, she and Justin found out Jagger had congenital heart disease. Upon arriving at Childrens Nebraska, Jagger went through a series of genetic tests, and doctors discovered he had CHARGE Syndrome.

CHARGE Syndrome is a disorder that can affect several areas of the body and can cause birth defects, as well as problems with the heart, esophagus, etc.

Jaggers syndrome can cause a variety of physical issues, but the Nathans were under the impression that he would only be in the NICU at Childrens Nebraska for six to eight weeks.

However, he ended up staying for 548 days. Doctors were immediately concerned with Jaggers heart issues, including a problem with his food and windpipes.

He had a hole in his heart, the left side was underdeveloped, and the pathway that allowed blood to flow from his heart to his body was small.

Jagger was quickly put on a breathing machine and given medications, and at first, doctors thought his chance of survival was very low.

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For decades, experts believed that early humans first arrived in North America around 13,000 years ago by crossing Beringia, a piece of land that served as a gateway between continents. It connected Alaska with the northeastern tip of Asia. Then, the people would walk through an ice-free corridor that briefly opened up between ice sheets.

However, new archaeological finds, such as the remains of human footprints in New Mexico, suggest that people actually first reached North America using a sea-ice highway as far back as 24,000 years ago.

The footprints date back to around 23,000 years old. These early Americans most likely came from northeast Asia and made their way to North America in boats along the Pacific coastline.

This would have been the only available route to take them farther south during that time period since the ice-free corridor did not completely open until thousands of years later.

However, traveling through the sea-ice highway seemed like a difficult journey during the late Pleistocene era, which lasted from 2.58 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago.

In 2020, researchers found that freshwater from melting glaciers at the time may have created a strong current that caused traveling along the coast to be a challenge.

To learn more about ocean conditions during this significant phase of human migration, Summer Praetorius from the U.S. Geological Survey and her team produced a computer-simulated model of the climate during the late Pleistocene era. Their goal was to narrow down the best points in time humans were able to venture along the coast.

They gathered data from ocean sediments collected on the coast, most of which consisted of tiny, fossilized plankton. These organisms helped the scientists reconstruct ancient ocean temperatures, salinity, and sea ice cover.

They discovered that the ocean currents during the height of the last glacial maximum (LGM) 20,000 years ago were two times stronger than they are today because of glacial winds and low sea levels. This would make paddling against the current very strenuous work.

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After hitting that coveted growth spurt around the time of middle school, young men typically look forward to the development of one specific feature: facial hair.

Whether or not you choose to rock a beard now, you probably yearned for one at some point. For many, beards mark that theyve become a man.

But this once-coveted look might set you up for some hygiene-related criticism now. According to a study published in 2019, beards could actually harbor more germs than the fur of dogs.

Scientists at the Hirslanden Clinic near Zurich, Switzerland, aimed to find out if using the same MRI scanner for both humans and dogs was hygienic.

In order to assess this, they compared the bacterial load in terms of colony-forming units (CFU) of human-pathogenic microorganisms, analyzing samples from 18 men with beards and 30 dogs with fur.

The study also involved comparing the level of bacterial contamination in an MRI scanner shared by dogs and humans to that in two other MRI scanners used solely by humans.

The results? Men with beards had high microbial counts, in contrast to just 23 out of the 30 dogs. Moreover, seven of the bearded men actually had such high levels of beard bacteria that they were at risk of illness.

On the basis of these findings, dogs can be considered as clean, compared with bearded men, said Andreas Gutzeit, the studys author.

This perhaps shocking discovery caused some beard defenders to crack comments and cast doubts about the research.

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Home Politics Donald E. Wildmon, founder of American Family Association and American Family Radio, dies at 85 'God does not require that we be successful. He only requires that we be faithful.'

The Rev. Dr. Donald Ellis Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association (AFA) and the American Family Radio network, died Dec. 28 in Tupelo, Mississippi, following a battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was 85.

Wildmon, who was born in 1938 in Dumas, Mississippi, became an ordained United Methodist minister in 1964 after serving in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963. He received his Master of Divinity from Emory University's Candler School of Theology in 1965.

He served various churches in Mississippi and Georgia until leaving the ministry in 1977 to found the National Federation for Decency, which later became the AFA, according to an obituary posted by the organization.

Wildmon founded the grassroots organization after growing alarmed at the increasingly questionable and unbiblical content on television. He drew national media attention for urging his congregation to turn it off for a week.

"The soft-spoken minister from a small-town church in Mississippi launched a far-reaching ministry that inspired millions to join their voices together on issues of ultimate consequence to our nations future  life, marriage and family, religious freedom, public policy, justice, and more," his obituary reads.

Wildmon wielded his influence through his watchdog group to steer advertisers away from inappropriate TV programming and often appeared on prominent talk shows to promote Judeo-Christian values.

"Under his visionary leadership, AFA developed a broad range of resources, strategies, and media outlets aimed at promoting Christian values in all areas of public life," AFA said.

In 1991, Wildmon founded the influential American Family Radio network, which rapidly expanded to almost 200 radio stations.

In 2002, he and Free Congress Foundation chairman Paul Weyrich founded the Arlington Group, a coalition of conservative Christian leaders that endeavored to establish its consensus goals regarding marriage, abortion, and judicial appointments within the Republican Party.

Wildmon received many awards throughout his life for his work on behalf of Christian values, including the 2017 National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame Award.

Wildmon wrote 22 books and traveled widely, guiding more than 30 tours of the Holy Land and Western Europe.

Republican Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves praised Wildmon's impact on X, writing, "His impressive legacy of Christian ministry will live on for many years to come."

Wildmon emphasized the importance of faithfulness over worldly success. "God does not require that we be successful," he wrote in 1995. "He only requires that we be faithful. Whether or not we are successful isnt always within our determination. Being faithful is."

Wildmon's son, Tim Wildmon, who now serves as president of AFA after his father stepped down in 2010 after 33 years, said in a statement that his father "was a man with great conviction and vision."

"He knew how important it was for Christians to remain firmly entrenched in their faith in the face of an openly immoral society, and he lived his life for the Gospel every single day," Wildmon said. "His heart for Christ and his passion for the American family will be sorely missed, but we on Earth can take comfort in knowing that he is at peace with his Heavenly Father, hearing the words, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.'"

Wildmon is survived by Lynda, his wife of 62 years, as well as four children, six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, one sister, one sister-in-law, and one brother-in-law.
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 World USCIRF denounces Denmark's 'blasphemy law,' warns against suppression of human rights

A religious freedom advocacy organization that works directly with the United States government is expressing concern about a recently passed measure in Denmark that it classifies as a blasphemy law, warning that it is incompatible with a democratic society and contrary to international law.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released a statementcondemning the Danish Parliaments Dec. 7 vote amending Denmarks Criminal Code to include a prohibition of inappropriate processing of writings with significant religious significance for a recognized religious community. The measure passed with 94 votes in favor and 77 votes against it.

The amendment would criminalize inappropriate treatment of a text that has a significant religious importance to a recognized religious community, or an object, that appears to be such a text.

The bill points to recent Quran burnings in the country and a resulting terrorist threat as the reason why the changes to the Criminal Code were necessary. Violators of the new law could find themselves subject to a fine or imprisonment of up to two years.

USCIRF, which identifies itself as an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad that makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief, characterized the measure as a blasphemy law.

The agency defines blasphemy as the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things. Noting that blasphemy laws punish expressions or acts deemed blasphemous, defamatory of religions, or contemptuous of religion or religious symbols, figures, or feelings, USCIRF insisted that such laws are inconsistent with human rights law, which protects the rights of individuals, but not religious feelings, figures, or symbols from behavior or speech considered blasphemous.

USCIRF condemns the burning of religious texts or other objects of religious importance  such as the Quran, the Bible, the Torah, the Vedas, and the Tripitaka (Pali Canon)  as deeply uncivil and disrespectful, said USCIRF Commissioner David Curry. Criminalizing blasphemy is the wrong approach and not effective in addressing either security concerns or the underlying hatred experienced by religious communities.

Curry predicted that this amendment will only serve to propagate harmful stereotypes that could worsen the situation of religious minorities in Denmark. USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck offered a similar analysis of the amendment to Denmarks Criminal Code, citing it as an example of how governments suppress human rights protected under international law in pursuit of national security concerns.

Denmark, as a democracy, should not compromise fundamental rights to manage such aims, Schneck added. The Danish government must instead work with communities to address religiously-motivated hatred and intolerance, and support freedom of religion or belief.

As USCIRF noted, the amendment to the Danish Penal Code comes six years after the countrys Parliament repealed a blasphemy provision dating back more than 100 years. A factsheet compiled by the agency reveals that blasphemy laws are not uncommon in Europe. Specifically, Andorra, Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lichtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine each have blasphemy laws.

For its part, the Danish Parliament rejects the accusation that the change to the countrys penal code runs afoul of its obligations under international law, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights in particular. The bill states that the protection of freedom of expression under Article 10 is not absolute.

Freedom of expression can be interfered with if the intervention is prescribed by law and is necessary in a democratic community in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, to prevent disorder or crime, to protect health or morals, to protect the good name and reputation of the rights of others, to prevent the dissemination of confidential information or to ensure the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

Before the implementation of the changes to the Danish Penal Code to include prohibitions on inappropriate treatment of religious texts, existing Danish law declares that anyone who publicly insults a foreign nation, a foreign state, its flag, or other recognized national emblem or the flag of the United Nations or the Council of Europe is punished with a fine or up to two years in prison.
Home World Christian woman allegedly killed by her Muslim son for accepting Christ

NAIROBI, Kenya  Before Sawuba Naigaga succumbed to injuries her 25-year-old son inflicted on her in Uganda this month, she described the assault to a friend from her hospital bed.

The friend said Naigagas son, Ashirafu Basalirwa, returned home to Busia town, Busia district from four years of working in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 15 and found his mother mentioning the name of Jesus as she prayed.

As I was praying with my eyes closed, my son called me, saying Mum, Mum  you are becoming a disgrace to the family and the religion of Allah, the 46-year-old Naigaga told her friend before she died on Dec. 17. I kept quiet, and he pushed me hard to the wall, then I fell down. He then took a blunt object and hit me at the head. Since then, I lost all my consciousness, only to find myself in the hospital bed.

The friend said she had told Naigaga the Gospel and led her to Christ.

I preached the Good News of Jesus to Sawuba, who gave her life to Christ in 2022, said the friend, whose name is withheld for security reasons. We had been attending church. One thing which I know is that she kept her faith silent from her family members, including her son.

Basalirwa had gone to Saudi Arabia to look for employment after graduating from an Islamic university in Uganda, the friend said.

She found Naigaga on the day of the assault.

I ran to Sawubas home after hearing wailing from her house and an alarm from neighbors, the friend recalled. I dashed quickly to the scene, and I found her in a pool of blood but in an unconscious state. We rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she breathed her last breath after two days on Dec. 17 due to internal bleeding.

Basalirwa has fled and is in hiding, sources said.

Besides her son, Naigaga is survived by a daughter.

The killing 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 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.
A funeral was held for "Parasite" actor Lee Sun-kyun on Friday, as his family, friends and colleagues said their final goodbyes to the beloved actor.

His portrait was carried out of Seoul National University Hospital's funeral home by his oldest son, followed by his actress wife, Jeon Hye-jin, who held hands with her younger son. Lee's friends and colleagues observed the funeral procession in deep sorrow and tears.

Mourners also gathered at the hospital to pay their respects to the star.

On the wall of the funeral home, fans stuck memos, with messages that included "Goodbye My Mister" and "Now please rest in peace," remembering the brilliant actor and the works he left behind.

The acclaimed actor, best known internationally for his role in the Oscar-winning "Parasite," was found dead in his car Wednesday amid an investigation over his alleged drug use. He was 48.

He will be cremated, and his remains will be placed at a memorial park in Gwangju, 32 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Earlier this week, his agency asked the public to respect the bereaved family's privacy, saying the funeral will be held in private.

The actor is survived by his actress wife, Jeon Hye-jin, whom he married in 2009, and two sons. (Yonhap)
Home World World Council of Churches slammed for Cuba trip, claiming govt respects religious freedom

The World Council of Churches' recent visit to Cuba, led by General Secretary Rev. Prof. Jerry Pillay, has drawn the ire of religious freedom advocates. Critics say the visit, which included a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, overlooked the Cuban government's violations of religious freedom.

Teo Babun, President and CEO of Outreach Aid to the Americas, expressed "serious concerns" about the visit in a Thursday letter to Rev. Pillay, highlighting the Cuban government's systematic violations of religious freedom and citing harassment, threats and imprisonment of faith leaders and parishioners.

"It troubles me that it seems your visit, apparently closely orchestrated by the Cuban government, has failed to provide you an accurate understanding of the state of the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief in Cuba," Babun wrote. "Worse, we are seeing that the Cuban government is using your visit, and specifically your statements celebrating religious freedom in Cuba, to bolster its absurd claim that Cubans do enjoy this fundamental freedom."

Cuba is listed by the U.S. State Department as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom. This list also includes some of the world's worst human rights abusers, including but not limited to China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea and Burma.

According to a survey by OAA, 52 of 56 Cuban independent faith leaders reported regular government repression. The communist regime of Cuba, through the Office of Religious Affairs, favors compliant religious groups while punishing those critical of the regime.

The Christian Post reached out to WCC for comment on Babun's letter. A response is pending.

During his visit from Dec. 17 to 19, Pillay praised Cuba's religious freedom, citing meetings with the Presbyterian Church in Cuba and other churches. He noted a large statue of Christ in Havana as evidence of religious expression. Pillay also emphasized the WCC's stance against the U.S. blockade of Cuba and called for Cuba's removal from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

"The WCC 11th Assembly called for the removal of Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism," said Pillay, according to a WCC statement. "We at the WCC will continue to accompany the churches as prophetic voices of peace, hope, cooperation, and mutual respect."

WCC is an inter-church organization founded in 1948 with several international church bodies as members.

In his first visit to Cuba as WCC general secretary, Pillay "expressed appreciation for religious freedom in Cuba, in particular meeting with foreign affairs minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla to talk about the positive relationships between the WCC and religious organizations in Cuba," the statement said.

However, independent organizations like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Open Doors paint a different picture. They report widespread repression, including crackdowns on the Ladies in White, a group of women advocating for imprisoned family members. Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo and Yoruba leader Loreto Hernandez Garcia, both imprisoned for participating in protests, are cited as examples of religious leaders facing mistreatment.

The Cuban Observatory on Human Rights reported over 1,000 repressive actions against religious practice in 2022. A survey by the observation found that 68% of Cubans have experienced or know someone who has faced harassment or repression in practicing their faith.

In addition to placement on the U.S. State Department's religious freedom violators list in 2022, the European Parliament condemned Cuba's human rights abuses against religious leaders.

Open Doors, a Christian watchdog group that monitors persecution in over 60 countries, notes that Cuba's government targets Christian activists and church leaders, often labeling them as "counter-revolutionaries." Churches face difficulties in registration, forcing many to operate illegally. The state's control extends to social issues, with churches forced to comply with new legislation or face threats and monitoring.

In his letter, Babun detailed the Cuban Communist Party's tactics, including physical attacks, detention, property confiscation and restrictions on movement. Babun's organization found that Cuba's laws fail to meet most freedom of religion indicators set by the United Nations.

Pillay's visit and subsequent statements amounted to an endorsement of the Cuban government's narrative on religious freedom, critics say, arguing that these visits, when not accompanied by a critical assessment of the host country's human rights record, can inadvertently lend legitimacy to governments accused of serious violations.
Home World Christians arrested in Mauritania for holding baptism ceremony that outraged Muslims released

Officials in Mauritania have released all Christians arrested after a video of a baptism ceremony in November prompted Muslims to call for their punishment, Christian leaders in the region said.

The Christians do not appear to have been charged with any crime, the Christian leaders indicated.

They have been asked to go home and believe what they want, but in private and discreetly, a Christian leader in the region told Christian Daily International. It seems that our brothers have more to fear from the Islamists than from their government. Thank God for this happy ending.

At least 15 and possibly as many as 18 Christians were arrested along with their families, and the regional leader said that by Dec. 18 they had all been released. There is no law against evangelism in the northwest African country, though officials ban any public expression of faith except Islam.

At least three of the Christians were initially arrested on or shortly before Nov. 30 in Selibaby, more than 600 kilometers (373 miles) south of the capital city of Nouakchott, according to Spanish news service EFE. The arrests stemmed from protests calling for Christians to be killed after a video of a baptism ceremony appeared in social media, according to Christian leaders in the region.

Only foreigners are allowed to hold non-Muslim religious services in Mauritania, and it is illegal for citizens to attend, according to the U.S. State Departments latest International Religious Freedom Report (2022). While Mauritanians are thus prohibited from holding church services, the government does not usually prevent non-Islamic groups from holding religious gatherings in private spaces, according to the report.

Though there is no law against evangelism in Mauritania, officials nevertheless forbid non-Muslims from proselytizing, according to the State Department report.

Apostasy, or leaving Islam, is punishable by death in Mauritania, where the population is 98% Sunni Muslim, 1% Shiite Muslim and the constitution designates Islam as the sole religion of the citizenry and state. The estimated 11,000 Christians in the country of 4.9 million people make up 0.2% of the population, according to Open Doors.

Mauritanias laws and legal procedures derive from a mix of French civil law and sharia (Islamic law), but there have been calls from the public for increased application of the countrys sharia-based criminal code, according to the State Departments 2022 religious freedom report.

The law prohibits apostasy and blasphemy, the report states. The criminal code mandates a death sentence for any Muslim convicted of apostasy or blasphemy, but the government has never applied capital punishment for apostasy or blasphemy.

Faith-based Non-Governmental Organizations must refrain from proselytizing or otherwise promoting any religion other than Islam. While the government typically allows private non-Islamic worship, technically the government must pre-approve all group meetings, including non-Islamic religious gatherings and those held in private homes, according to the report.

Possession of non-Islamic religious materials remained legal, although the government continued to prohibit their printing and distribution, it adds.

Although Mauritania is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which provides everyone the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of their choice, the government continued to ban any public expression of religion except that of Islam, according to the religious freedom report.

Authorized churches were able to conduct services within their premises but could not proselytize, the report states. An unofficial government requirement restricted non-Islamic worship to the few recognized Christian churches.

Mauritania ranked 20th on Open Doors 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Originally published at Christian Daily International
Home U.S. Franklin Graham slams Christianity Today for article claiming Jesus was Asian

Evangelist Franklin Graham criticized Christianity Today on Wednesday after the magazine his father founded published an article claiming that Jesus Christ was Asian.

In a Dec. 18 article by art curator Victoria Emily Jones titled "How Asian Artists Picture Jesus Birth From 1240 to Today," CT showcased how Jesus has been depicted by various Asian cultures, though Jones' assertion that Jesus was Asian because he was technically born on the continent prompted pushback from Graham and others on social media.

"Jesus was born in Asia. He was Asian," Jones wrote in a quote that CT used to promote the article on X on Christmas Eve. "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."

Jones claimed the nine artists showcased in the article "bring [Jesus] back to Asia  but not to ancient Israel," and "make the birth a local event, translating the story into their own cultural contexts."

She went on to say that artists who represent Jesus as Japanese, Indonesian or Indian convey "a sense of Gods immanence, his 'with-usness,' for their own communities  and for everyone else, the universality of Christs birth," and noted "many fine examples" of Christ being depicted by Muslims out of "their own faith traditions reverence for Jesus."

She also claimed "Hindu and Buddhist artists" have been "significant contributors" to depictions of Jesus in the 20th century.

Linking to a Fox News Digital article about the fallout to Jones' claims, Graham posted a statement to social media asking why CT "would publish something so far off base."

.@CTmagazine is being criticized for their article about artists depicting Jesus as Asianand I also have to ask why they would publish something so far off base. We dont have to wonder or speculate about thisthe Bible gives us very specific details about Jesus earthly lineage  Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) December 27, 2023

"We dont have to wonder or speculate about this  the Bible gives us very specific details about Jesus earthly lineage and where He was born and grew up," Graham wrote. "We know that Jesus was Jewish. However, if you dont believe the Bible or accept it as the Word of God, then everything is in question."

"Guess what  we dont get to make God in our own image," Graham added. "He is Who He is! We must be on guard against anything or anyone who attempts to undermine the authority of the Word of God."

CT took flak from many others on social media for the article, which prompted some to accuse the publication of "going woke."

Graham has been critical of CT before, such as when the publication invoked his father's name in a 2019 editorial that called for then-President Donald Trump to be removed from office amid his first impeachment.

Mark Galli, who was editor-in-chief of CT at the time before retiring in 2020, wrote that Trump's 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy exhibited an attempt "to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the presidents political opponents."

"That [Trump] should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments," Galli wrote, adding that Trump-supporting Christians should consider "how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior."

Grahamsaid at the time that while his father founded the magazine, he would have been "very disappointed" in Galli's editorial, noting that Trump was the last presidential candidate his father voted for before he died in 2018.

Graham maintained that CT "has been used by the left for their political agenda," adding, "It's obvious that Christianity Today has moved to the left and is representing the elitist liberal wing of evangelicalism."
Home U.S. Judge dimisses lawsuit against Dave Ramsey as class-action complaint moves forward

A lawsuit alleging that popular Christian financial advisor Dave Ramsey and his company engaged in religious discrimination and wrongful termination has been dismissed, while a class-action lawsuit alleging that the company defrauded thousands of his followers continues to move forward.

The Ramsey Solutions CEO and Christian radio host has been named as defendants in lawsuits in recent years. Ramsey Solutions, which falls under the umbrella of the Lampo Group, describes itself as a provider of "biblically based, commonsense education and empowerment that [gives] HOPE to everyone in every walk of life."

A lawsuit alleging that the Lampo Group wrongly terminated video editor Brad Amos for seeking to abide by COVID-19 preventative measures as the company and Ramsey allegedly urged employees to "pray away the disease" was dismissed by U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Judge Eli Richardson in a Dec. 13 order.

The complaint accused Lampo of "retaliatory discharge" over Amos' questioning of the company's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, contended that his dismissal constituted a violation of his religious beliefs and maintained that the company misrepresented itself when he first sought to obtain employment there.

Among other things, Amos accused the company of not instituting policies recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic and ridiculing those who wore masks and wanted social distancing enforced.

In an accompanying memorandum opinion, Judge Richardson stated that Amos and his lawyers didn't adequately show that he had been misled about his employment and that any guarantees of a drama-free work environment are matters of opinion.

Aclass-action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington earlier this year will continue to move forward per a judge's order.

The class action lawsuit, bought on behalf of more than 10,000 individuals, contends that the Lampo Group and Happy Hour Media were paid tens of millions of dollars over more than five years by Reed Hein & Associates to advertise the services of the Time Share Exit Team on Ramsey's programming.

The lawsuit contends that the aim of the promotion was to "convince Ramsey's loyal followers to buy into this scheme through the use of deceptive, incomplete, and false information that Defendants knew or should have known was false and deceptive in violation of Washington State's Consumer Protection Act and the common law tort of negligent misrepresentation."

The lawsuit claims, "Defendants have been unjustly enriched by their participation in this scheme and are subject to disgorgement of their profits" and is asking a federal court to grant them more than $150 million in damages as well as attorneys' fees and costs.

The complaint alleged that Reed Hein & Associates "devised a scheme to convince thousands of unsuspecting working-class and middle-class consumers to pay more than two-hundred million dollars in exchange for a hollow promise to terminate those consumers' timeshare contracts."

Anorder issued on Dec. 5 by U.S. District Judge James Robart granted the plaintiffs' motion to amend their complaint. However, Robart also upheld an earlier decision handed down by the court granting The Lampo Group's motion to dismiss their unjust enrichment claim.

Robart noted that Washington court precedent has determined that unjust enrichment claims only apply in cases where plaintiffs "confer a benefit on the defendant." Since plaintiffs did not "confer a benefit" on Ramsey or The Lampo Group, the unjust enrichment claim did not hold up.

While the plaintiffs' motion to reconsider suggested that they could "plausibly allege a direct transfer of ownership" of their funds to the Lampo defendants, Robart did not agree. On Oct. 26, the same day they submitted their motion to reconsider, the plaintiffs also sought to amend their original complaint to "(1) add new claims for conversion and constructive trust; (2) include additional factual allegations related to their claims; and (3) correct typographical and formatting errors."

The claims for conversion, defined as "the unjustified, willful interference with a chattel which deprives a person entitled to the property of possession," were directed at all defendants. The defendants responded to the allegations of conversion by asserting that "plaintiffs' own allegations show 'that Reed Hein mixed customer funds with other money, and treated these comingled funds as general revenue, before ever paying money to the Lampo Defendants.'"

Therefore, the defendants concluded, "it is impossible to identify 'specific' and 'identical' money belonging to Plaintiffs, and subsequently received by the Lampo Defendants." Robart denied the plaintiffs' request to "add a stand-alone claim for constructive trust" while granting their request to amend their complaint to include additional allegations and correct typographical and formatting errors. He gave the plaintiffs until Dec. 15 to file an amended complaint that complies with his order.

Theamended complaint, filed on Dec. 15, accuses Ramsey of violating the Washington Consumer Protection Act and insists that he "knew that Reed Hein cheated the Ramsey followers he referred to Reed Hein." Additional charges directed at all defendants include negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy and conversion. The lawsuit also includes a count of unjust enrichment directed at Ramsey and the Lampo Group.
Home World Over 70 children under 5 referred to shuttered Tavistock gender clinic: report

Among the 382 children ages 6 and under referred to the Tavistock gender clinic in London over the past decade, more than 70 were as young as 3 and 4, according to a recent report on the now-shuttered facility that pursued "gender-affirming" interventions for minors.

The Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, began operating in North London in 1989. The clinic recommended puberty blockers to gender dysphoric children, and a 2022 report by Dr. Hilary Cass, a retired pediatrician, found the clinic performed services that were "not safe or viable."

Figures from the trust, first reported this week by The Daily Mail, show that the number of young people seen by the clinic went from 136 in 2010-11 to 3,585 in 2021-22. In addition to 12 3-year-olds, 61 4-year-olds, 140 5-year-olds and 169 6-year-olds were referred to the clinic.

The NHS Trust that operates GIDS stated that in cases involving 3-year-old children, the children didn't receive "treatment," and staff consulted with parents to provide support and advice. But former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention Jackie Doyle-Price argued that the clinic should never have seen children that young in the first place.

"There needs to be a clear message that goes out to let kids be kids. Let them play and use their imaginations," Doyle-Price told The Daily Mail. "We shouldn't be medicalizing something which is just growing up."

The Tavistock clinic is set to be replaced by two regional hubs in April, according to the outlet.

"From now on, only NHS general pediatric services or young people's mental health services will be able to make referrals to the national waiting list after a backlog of 8,000 built up under GIDS," the outlet reported.

The clinic faced scrutiny, particularly after NHS England commissioned Dr. Cass to investigate the services at the clinic. The findings of the report appeared to validate whistleblowers' claims that the clinic did not follow prescribed safeguards and clinical standards.

Psychiatrist David Bell previously released a report in 2018 about the clinic's experimental procedures on children, claiming that it fast-tracked young adults into medically transitioning without exploring other issues that may have caused the desire to transition.

In June, NHS announced new interim guidelines for treating children with gender dysphoria, outlining the alternative approach in a 25-page document. The NHS announced that under the new guidelines, it would only commission puberty-suppressing hormones as part of clinical research.

The institution also warned that many children who profess that they identify as the opposite sex may be going through a "transient phase," or they have other mental health issues that need to be addressed.

"A significant proportion of children and young people who are concerned about, or distressed by, issues of gender incongruence experience coexisting mental health, neuro-developmental and/or personal, family or social complexities in their lives," the NHS document stated.

The NHS explained that the main objective should be to "alleviate" the distress a child feels if they are experiencing discomfort with their sex. In addition, the new provision addressed the impact of allowing a child to socially transition, stressing that not all young people with gender dysphoria benefit from it.

"The Service will aim to maintain a therapeutic relationship with young people and their families throughout any subsequent social changes or physical interventions," the protocols explained.

"This ensures that decisions about gender expression and the treatment of gender incongruence are thoughtfully and recurrently considered," they continued. "The same reasoning applies if a young person has already socially changed gender role prior to being seen by The Service."

Regarding children who had already begun taking puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, the NHS advised that their medical providers assess them on a case-by-case basis. The protocols also strongly recommend against sourcing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones from online providers.

In October 2022, England's NHS warned doctors against being too quick to encourage young people to socially transition during what may be a "transient phase."
Home Education Christian parents sue Michigan school district for hiding daughter's gender transition

Two Christian parents in Michigan are suing their daughter's school district for allegedly socially transitioning her without their knowledge or consent and hiding it from them.

Dan and Jennifer Mead allege in a federal lawsuit filed last week that district employees at East Rockford Middle School started treating their 13-year-old daughter as a boy and referring to her with masculine pronouns and a male name after she reportedly told a school counselor that she identified as a male last year.

The Meads allege the school hid their daughter's social transition from them by deceptively changing the girl's records before they were sent home and claim they only found out by accident when an employee neglected to change one of the records.

"The Meads were stunned when they discovered that the District had  without seeking their consent and while actively concealing information from them  begun to treat [their daughter] as a boy, referring to her with male pronouns and a masculine name at school," according to the lawsuit.

The parents, who attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom are representing, allege that the district violated their "sincerely held religious beliefs and parental rights" by concealing their daughter's gender dysphoria. They have since pulled her out of the school she attended since sixth grade in 2020.

The girl, referred to as "G.M." in court documents, was 11 years old in 2020 and reportedly began to see the school counselor that year because she was struggling academically. Over the next two years, G.M. regularly met with the counselor, identified in the lawsuit as Erin Cole.

Cole was very open with G.M.'s parents about her well-being until the girl claimed to identify as a boy in 2022 in seventh grade, according to the suit. G.M. had requested that Cole notify her teachers that she wished to be referred to with a boy's name, and by the beginning of her eighth-grade year in August 2022, every staff member was reportedly complying.

The girl's social transition took place after she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder in 2022, the lawsuit claims.

The Meads allege they were never informed of the arrangement. They did not discover it until October 2022, when a district employee inadvertently gave G.M.'s father a document that included teacher comments referring to his daughter using male pronouns and a different name.

The employee later went back and scrubbed the male pronouns from the record even after G.M.'s parents found out, according to the suit.

When her father asked district employees to refrain from treating his daughter as a boy, they allegedly refused, citing district policy. The Meads allege that the district's "constitutional violations destroyed [their] trust in the counselors, administrators, and other District employees with whom they had shared intimate details about G.M.'s and their lives."

"Parents, not the government, have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children," ADF Senior Counsel Kate Anderson said in a statement. "Schools should never deliberately hide vital information from parents, yet that's exactly what the Rockford Public School District did."

Rockford Public School District Superintendent Steven Matthews told The Christian Post: "In my opinion, we have an obligation to continue to protect the privacy of this family and their child. As such we will not comment on the case nor try the case in the media. We will respectfully decline to comment and let the legal process run its course."

The issue of public schools keeping gender transitions a secret from parents has proven to be a flashpoint issue in other school districts. A report from the advocacy group Parents Defending Education released in August shows that over 1,000 school districts across the United States have enacted policies permitting or advising staff to withhold information from parents related to their children's desires to transition to the opposite sex or identify as nonbinary.

TwoChristian teachers in California who blew the whistle on their school district's gender policies filed for civil contempt sanctions earlier this month against the Escondido Unified School District for allegedly keeping them from safely returning to work in violation of a court order.

Pamela Richard, a retired teacher in Kansas, received a $95,000 settlement in 2022 following a lawsuit against the Geary County School District, whose administrators allegedly expected her to deceive parents about students' gender identity.
Islamic terrorists kill 10 Christians in western Uganda, sources say

Islamic terrorists on December 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 Uganda's 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 DRC's 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 People's 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.

Uganda's constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate one's faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Uganda's population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.

 Morning Star News
When Jesus himself was a refugee from the holy land

As we watch the news of people fleeing the holy land, it reminds us that Jesus himself was also a refugee from that area. This is the story...

Summary

As we have watched the news over the last few years, we have seen many stories of refugees fleeing strife or persecution in the Middle East, from Iraq, from Syria, and now Gaza. Some are displaced and seek sanctuary in safer parts of their own countries, and others flee their own country for other lands.

At Christmas time, we also remember that after the birth of Jesus, he too was a refugee from Bethlehem to another land. The story is recorded in Matthew 2:13-23.

How old was Jesus when they left Bethlehem?

It was after the Magi had left Bethlehem that an angel appeared to Joseph and warned him to flee and avoid Herod. And so it was that Joseph took Mary and Joseph to Egypt (Matthew 2:11-13). They escaped an infanticide just in time, because King Herod "gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi" (Matthew 2:16 NIV). If Herod wanted to be sure he caught his potential rival, this may suggest that Jesus was just under a year old, or about a year old when the wise men visited Herod. It is not always easy to tell how exactly old a child is, so to make sure he got him, it would make sense that Herod would target all boys under the age of two, just to be sure.

Why did they go to Egypt?

Egypt made sense as a safe place to find refuge. Egypt and Judea were both in the Roman Empire, and were linked by a coastal road known as the Via Maris (The Way of the Sea). Egypt was outside the dominions of King Herod, but had large Jewish communities. Possibly Joseph knew people there, or at least would have found a welcome amongst fellow Jews.

Jews in Egypt

The Israelites in Egypt date back to the time of Joseph (Genesis 47:1-12), but they left during the Exodus. Jewish settlers returned to Egypt at the time of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 41:17 and 44:1).

These Jewish communities had their own synagogues, and after a time adopted Greek as their everyday language, keeping Hebrew as the liturgical language. The first translation of the Scriptures from Hebrew was made in the 3rd century BC at Alexandria in Egypt, originally for these Greek-speaking Jews, and is today known as the Septuagint, often abbreviated to LXX. When the New Testament was originally written, it was in the Greek language, and when it quotes the Scriptures it usually quotes this Septuagint translation from Egypt.

Where did they stay?

The narrative in the Gospel of Matthew is very brief, and it does not state where in Egypt the holy family lived. As often happens, this gap in knowledge has been supplemented by tradition. The Coptic Church, which is the historic ancient Christian Church of Egypt, recalls with pride that Egypt was the first place that Jesus went to after he left Bethlehem. In many historic parts of Egypt, there are churches and shrines marking reputed places where tradition states that the holy family stayed. In Old Cairo the Coptic Church of St Sergius has a crypt underneath the church, which marks the traditional spot where the family stayed. In fact around Egypt are 25 places which claim they were places visited by the holy family. The time in Egypt is said to have fulfilled a prophecy in the Old Testament in Hosea 11:1. Some people also apply Isaiah 19:1 and Isaiah 19:19-25. The story is told in many Coptic icons.

How did they pay for it?

We know that Joseph and Mary were poor. When Jesus was taken to the Temple for the ritual of purification (Luke 2:22), it is indicated that Mary and Joseph made the sacrifice which was specified in the Leviticus 12:1-8 as the alternative to a lamb, for poor people. This was two pigeons or two turtledoves (Luke 2:24), as perhaps recalled in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas? Therefore this must have been before the Magi came and brought them gold. The gold that the wise men brought might have been used to pay for their travel and stay in Egypt. Certainly, the gold is not mentioned again.

How long were they in Egypt?

It is not sure how long Joseph, Mary and Jesus were in Egypt, but the Bible tells us that they stayed there until King Herod died. The story of Herod's death is told in "The Antiquities of the Jews" by Josephus, where it is stated as being just after a lunar eclipse. Estimates for Herod's death are 4 BC, 1 BC or 1 AD, depending on which eclipse is chosen to fit the events. The reliability of Josephus's writing was shown in 2007, when following his description, King Herod's tomb was found as described at Herodium, just south of Bethlehem. Estimates and theories of how long Jesus was in Egypt prior to his death vary from a few weeks, to a number of years.

Actually, a clue is given in the biblical narrative because after King Herod died, his son Herod Archelaus took over as ethnarch of Judea. In Matthew 2:22, it says that when Joseph heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea, he was still afraid to return to Bethlehem, and was warned in another dream, and so went to Nazareth in Galilee. Archelaus was not well liked. In fact there may be an allusion to him in the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19:12-27. In any case, most histories have Archelaus reigning until 6 AD, when he was deposed by Caesar Augustus. Then by the time Jesus is twelve, we have the family in Nazareth attending Passover at Jerusalem "as usual", which they did "every year" (Luke 2:41-42 NRSV) which implies that they have been in Nazareth a number of years. So that means that they may have been in Egypt a short time or a few years when Jesus was a child, and possibly he remembered it.

Refugees

The time Jesus spent in Egypt reminds us of the biblical imperative to care for outsiders. The Bible may not use the word "refugee" but they are certainly included when the Bible says "The foreigners residing among you must be treated as native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt..." (Leviticus 19:34 NIV). We may not know much about Jesus's exile in Egypt, but it does remind us that we need to care for refugees, just as Jesus was himself a refugee from the Middle East. Perhaps his exile in Egypt was in his mind when Jesus said from experience: "for I was hungry and you give me food, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25:35 NRSV). In the letter to the Hebrews 13:1-2, we are reminded "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers."
By Dong Sun-hwa

Music fans are set to be thrilled in 2024, with a slew of much-anticipated theatrical shows gearing up to meet audiences next year.

Rock musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" will start its 14th run in March at the Charlotte Theater in southern Seoul. Based on the book by John Cameron Mitchell, "Hedwig" centers on the life of genderqueer rocker, Hedwig Robinson.

The musical has been basking in immense popularity since its premiere in Korea in 2005, attracting an accumulated audience of 630,000 here as of 2021  in its 13th run. To date, some of the most celebrated actors including Cho Seung-woo, Cho Jung-seok, Yoo Yeon-seok and Jeon Dong-suk have assumed the role of Hedwig.

Starting March, the second season of the Broadway musical, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"  also known as "Great Comet"  is scheduled to be presented at the Universal Arts Center in eastern Seoul. It has taken about three years for the show to return, following its Korean premiere in 2021.

Inspired by Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel, "War and Peace," the upcoming theatrical show zooms in on the love story of 19-year-old Natasha and Anatole, while depicting how Pierre, the illegitimate son of a Russian aristocratic family, struggles to find meaning in his life. It is a sung-through musical with no spoken dialogue.

Another Broadway musical, "Dear Evan Hansen," which follows a high school student suffering from social anxiety, will have its Korean premiere at the Chungmu Art Center in Seoul from March to June, before heading to the southern port city of Busan. After opening on Broadway in 2016, it has bagged several prizes, including Best Musical at the Tony Awards (2017).

Also in the pipeline for 2024 are "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" and "Aladdin." They will be staged at the Kwanglim Arts Center in southern Seoul and the Charlotte Theater, respectively. The former will run from March to June, and the latter will begin its first run in Korea in November. In the case of "Aladdin," based on Disney's 1992 animated movie of the same name, it plans to meet audiences in Busan after wrapping up its shows in Seoul.












A federal judge ruled on Thursday that cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon and his company Terraform Labs violated U.S. law by failing to register two digital currencies that collapsed in 2022.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan sided with the Securities and Exchange Commission in its case stemming from the implosion of the TerraUSD and Luna currencies.

Rakoff also denied summary judgment to both sides on the SEC's fraud claims, which will proceed toward a scheduled Jan. 29, 2024 trial. He dismissed SEC claims that the defendants illegally offered security-based swaps.

A Terraform spokesman said the company strongly disagreed with the decision, did not believe its tokens were securities, and would continue defending against the SEC's "meritless" fraud claims at trial.

The SEC had no immediate comment.

Kwon, a Korea native, has also been charged with fraud by U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan.

He has been fighting extradition to the United States from Montenegro, where he was arrested in March several hours before the criminal fraud charges were announced.

Kwon had designed TerraUSD, a "stablecoin" designed to maintain a constant $1 price, and Luna, a more traditional token whose value fluctuated but was closely linked to TerraUSD.

Both cryptocurrencies lost an estimated $40 billion or more when TerraUSD proved unable in May 2022 to maintain its $1 peg.

Their collapse also dragged down the value of other cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin.

The SEC contended that four of the defendants' crypto assets, including TerraUSD and Luna, were unregistered securities because they qualified as "investment contracts."

It also accused Terraform and Kwon of repeatedly misleading investors about the stability of TerraUSD, including by claiming that their cryptocurrencies would increase in value.

'No genuine dispute'

In a 71-page decision, Rakoff said there was "no genuine dispute" that the four crypto assets were securities under a 1946 U.S. Supreme Court decision defining investment contracts.

The Court ruled in that case, SEC v WJ Howey Co, that an investment of money in a common enterprise, with profits to come solely from others' efforts, was an investment contract.

But the judge also said reasonable jurors could disagree over whether the defendants intended to defraud investors in multiple statements about Terraform's business.

These included statements about TerraUSD's temporary May 2021 failure to maintain its $1 peg, and how a popular Korean mobile payment app used the Terraform blockchain to settle transactions and supported Luna's value.

Rakoff said the SEC's remedies for the sale of unregistered securities would be decided once the defendants' liability on the fraud claims has been resolved.

The cryptocurrency industry has fiercely denied that its tokens qualify as securities.

It won a victory in July when another judge on the Manhattan federal court said some tokens sold by Ripple Labs did not qualify as securities because purchasers did not know if their money went to Ripple or third parties.

The case is SEC v Terraform Labs Pte Ltd et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-01346. (Reuters)
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Iran's FM denounces U.S. arms supply to Israel for use against Palestinians

Xinhua) 14:04, December 29, 2023

TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday condemned the United States for its nonstop arms delivery to Israel for use against the Palestinians, reported the semi-official Fars news agency.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks at a gathering in the north-central Iranian city of Qom while commenting on the developments in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israeli attacks, the report said.

"Today, American arms are being delivered to Tel Aviv from all bases across the region without an hour of pause. In addition to these weapons, certain (military) equipment are directly sent from the United States to Cyprus and thence to Tel Aviv," he said.

The Iranian top diplomat slammed the U.S. hypocrisy by claiming that it did not seek to widen the conflict's scope while continuing to send arms and military gear to Israel around the clock.

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. The relentless Israeli bombings and ground offensive in Gaza have so far killed over 21,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the Gaza population.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The United States has "no hostile intent" toward Pyongyang and remains committed to diplomacy, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for beefed-up war preparations.

During a plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party on Wednesday, Kim made the call, pointing to the security situation on the Korean Peninsula that he claimed has become "extremely dangerous" due to "unprecedented" U.S.-led confrontational moves against the North.

"The United States harbors no hostile intent toward the DPRK," the spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency via email, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "The United States has been very clear  we seek dialogue with Pyongyang without preconditions."

The official stressed that Washington remains committed to diplomacy even as the North has launched an "unprecedented" number of ballistic missiles.

"We have also been clear that we will seek to cooperate on humanitarian issues, regardless of the status of WMD and missile-related discussions," the official said. WMD stands for weapons of mass destruction.

The spokesperson also criticized North Korea's bellicose rhetoric.

"The DPRK has engaged in threatening and irresponsible rhetoric regarding its weapons programs, including by characterizing some of its missile launches and other military activities as trial runs for the use of tactical nuclear weapons," the official said.

"We continue to consult closely with the Republic of Korea, Japan and other allies and partners about how to best engage the DPRK, deter aggression and coordinate international responses to the DPRK's violations of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," the official added.

Pyongyang has been ratcheting up tensions with its spy satellite launch last month and that of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile this month.

The moves have seen Seoul, Washington and Tokyo tightening their security cooperation, which culminated in the launch of a trilateral system for the real-time sharing of North Korean missile warning data last week. (Yonhap)
Rishi Sunak, chancellor of the exchequer, has announced a multi-million pound bailout package for the UK charity sector.

Charities said the announcement is a good start, but more support is needed and urged the government to keep things under review.

He unveiled 750m in new funding for charities this afternoon. Sunak committed 350m to smaller community charities, some of which will be distributed using the Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund.

Some 60m of this will be spent in Scotland and Wales, he said.

A further 360m will go directly to charities providing frontline services, including 200m to hospices and funding for organisations such as Citizens Advice.

The government will also match the money raised when Comic Relief and Children in Need hold a joint evening fundraising broadcast later in April.

The chancellor said that one of our greatest strengths as a society is our civil society, adding that charities have not been forgotten.

He said that today the government will do our part with what he called a plan to support our social fabric.

Sunak also acknowledged that the existing furlough scheme for businesses is not always suited to charities, which cannot consider shutting up shop when so many people need help from civil society organisations.

The government is also donating 20m to the National Emergencies Trust appeal.

Weeks of pressure

The announcement came after weeks of pressure from charity leaders and politicians across the political spectrum, who had been calling on government to provide the sector with urgent financial support.

However, the money made available falls short of the 4bn identified by NCVO as the financial black hole facing the sector. Last week Danny Kruger, Conservative MP and former government adviser on civil society, said the sector needs a package in the low billions.

In a statement, culture secretary Oliver Dowden said: "Our brilliant charities are already playing a crucial role in our national effort to fight coronavirus - backed up by an army of volunteers. We're determined to support them and match the generosity being shown by the British people.

"This package will make sure those on the front line are able to reach people who need help most, support communities and take pressure off our NHS.

NCVO: Funding not enough to stop some charities closing

NCVO warned that some charities will struggle without additional support, and called on the Treasury to keep the level of support under review.

Karl Wilding, chief executive of NCVO, said: With charity shops shut and fundraising events cancelled, we estimate charities stand to lose around 4bn in 12 weeks as a result of the crisis. We have been pushing for government support because we know how many people and communities rely on the services charities provide, many of which are now at risk.

Todays announcement is an important first step, though it will not be enough to prevent good charities around the country from closing their doors. Even many that survive will look very different in a few months time, with a severely reduced capacity to provide the support that people rely on.

At a time of crisis, charities want and need to be able to give their all to supporting people who need it most. They cannot do that if they have to suspend their work or close altogether. We know this is not something that the government wishes to see any more than we do, so we will continue to push for the support needed so that charities can keep serving the public.

We would welcome a commitment from the government to review the level of this support as the crisis continues.

CFG: 'We need a commitment to review'

The Charity Finance Group also called on the Treasury to keep the level of support under review.

Caron Bradshaw, chief executive of CFG, said: "Across the sector we have pulled together to ensure that government came forward with a package to enable charities to keep operating to support communities and deliver the services on which they rely, and although it's taken the government over three weeks to acknowledge and respond to the need charities are experiencing, this package looks like the first steps of support for those charities which are directly involved in the immediate Covid-19 response.

"However, we will be considering the detail of whats been put forward before we can say whether the government package offers the protection the people we serve so desperately need. We need a commitment from government to review this support as the crisis continues."

Hospice UK: Unprecedented funding recognises the vital role that hospices play in supporting the NHS

Matt Hancock, secretary of state for health and social care, said: The entire charity sector has stepped up as part of our national effort to tackle coronavirus  from helping our NHS heroes to ensuring the most vulnerable among us are cared for properly.

Hospices have suffered a huge challenge to their funding due to the outbreak of coronavirus, but at the same time continued to play a vital role in delivering compassionate, quality end-of-life care for many people. I am delighted that this cash boost will provide further financial stability and support them to increase capacity of NHS services and provide stability as we manage our response to coronavirus.

Its vitally important we all continue to support our fantastic and hardworking hospices and their staff during this unprecedented time, and the whole country is grateful for the incredible work they do.

Tracey Bleakley, CEO from national charity Hospice UK, said: Hospice UK is delighted that the government is providing up to 200m of funding per quarter to hospices to help support the NHS and respond to the Covid-19 emergency.

Hospices are on the frontline of providing care and support to almost a quarter of a million vulnerable people every year at the end of their lives. This unprecedented funding recognises the vital role that hospices play in supporting the NHS in its fight against Covid-19, and means hospices across the country can keep providing beds, specialist clinical care and staffing to relieve pressure on the NHS at this critical moment.

Hospices depend on the generosity of their local communities to care for people and families affected by terminal illness. This incredible government support is very welcome but its still important that people continue to support their local hospice.

Hospice UK is working with the NHS to disburse this much-needed funding as soon as possible so we can continue to protect the most vulnerable people in our country during this national emergency.

Sir John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), said: The Charities Aid Foundation knows only too well that charities on the front line are facing incredible demands for their services just as income is squeezed. This set of measures from the Treasury will offer important and welcome support for civil society at this very difficult time for us all.

Recognising the humbling generosity of the British public right now is so vital as we rally together in the face of such a national challenge.

Charities at the front line and all those working to support our society need help to perform their vital function bringing people together at this time of enormous challenge. They will need this type of support now and into the future as we come out of this crisis.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,




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.
A divided Ohio Supreme Court on Thursday drew a bright line around the states statute of repose for medical malpractice claims, ruling in separate cases that an absolute four-year deadline to bring an action applies to both wrongful death claims and derivative claims that stem from alleged negligence by medical providers.

We reiterate here that R.C. 2305.113(C) is a true statute of repose and that it means what it says, the majority decision says.

The high court reversed decisions by the 1st District, 6th and 10th District Court of Appeals that held the statute of repose does not apply to wrongful death claims and affirmed a decision by the 12th that held it does. The court also affirmed a ruling by the 10th District that a derivative claim, filed by the children of a couple whose medical malpractice claim was filed too late, is also barred by the statute of repose.

Machelle Everhart challenged a trial court decision to dismiss a malpractice suit she filed against the Coshocton Hospital and other medical providers after her husband, Todd, died from lung cancer. Her suite alleges that chest x-rays taken in 2003 after Todd was hurt in a car accident revealed an abnormality in his right lung, but doctors at the hospital did not investigate. Todd learned three years later that he suffered advanced-stage lung cancer. He died two months later.

The 10th District Court of Appeals revived Everharts suit, holding that a wrongful death claim is not the same as a medical malpractice.The court noted that Ohio has a specific statute that governs wrongful death actions that makes no mention of the medical malpractice statute of repose.

The Ohio Hospital Association, State Medical Association and Osteopathic Association filed an amicus brief after the Coshocton Hospital appealed the 10th Districts ruling to the Supreme Court. Lawyers for the organizations urged the high court not to accept any unwritten exceptions to the statute of repose.

The brief says statutes of repose are not the same as statutes of limitations, for which the clock starts ticking when the plaintiff discovers the injury. Statutes of repose emphasize a defendants entitlement to be free of liability after a certain time, the brief says.

Ohio is one of at least 18 states that have adopted statutes of repose for medical malpractice claims, according to a chart compiled by the White and Williams law firm. The deadline to file claims range from two years after injury in Arkansas to 10 years for Missouri and Massachusetts.

The Ohio high court said in its ruling that it saw no reason exempt wrongful death claims from the statute of repose.

Wrongful-death claims based on medical care are clearly and expressly included in R.C. 2305.113(E)(3)s broad definition of medical claim,' the high courts opinion says.

The high court reversed two similar decisions by the 1st and 6th District appellate courts and affirmed a decision by the 12th District in three short slip opinions.

The other case decided by the Supreme Court on Thursday involved a loss of parental consortium claim filed by the children of Kathleen and Brett McCarthy against Dr. Peter K. Lee and the OhioHealth Physician Group.

The McCarthys alleged that Lee failed to properly diagnose Kathleens colon cancer, leading to her death. A trial court dismissed the couples medical malpractice claim because it was filed after the four-year deadline in the statute of repose.

The couple then filed an action on behalf of their children. Their attorneys argued that the childrens derivative claim for loss of consortium is not barred by the statute of repose because it is not a medical malpractice claim.

Both the 10th District and the Supreme Court disagreed.

Essentially, the statute of repose eliminates the cause of action, the high courts 4-3 decision says. Without a primary claim, there can be no derivative loss of consortium claim. Permitting a derivative loss of consortium claim where the underlying claim from which it is derived no longer exists would be inconsistent with this basic principal.
North Korea has discussed ways to develop the light industry and reviewed a state budget proposal for next year at a key party meeting, state media reported Friday.

In the third-day session of the plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for "fresh innovation" in producing necessities for schoolchildren, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim analyzed the party's 2023 policy on supplying quality school uniforms, bags and shoes to all students and called for enhancing the sense of responsibility in the light industry for the production of necessities for students, the report said.

Kim apparently seeks to promote the youths' welfare in a bid to create an image of a leader caring for North Koreans' lives and tighten the control on the people on the ideological front.

At the party meeting, North Korea also examined the execution of the state budget for this year and discussed a budget proposal for 2024, the KCNA said.

The Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament, will confirm the state budget for next year at its meeting set for Jan. 15.

North Korea opened the year-end party meeting Tuesday to review state policies for this year and set those for 2024. The North's leader is expected to use the ongoing meeting as a venue to deliver his key messages on external ties and nuclear weapons to replace his annual New Year's Day address.

On Wednesday, Kim called for stepped-up efforts to prepare for war, saying the United States is engaged in "unprecedented" acts of confrontation against the country. (Yonhap)
North Korea's total fertility rate is presumed to have been far lower than a U.N. estimate amid a delay in marriages and women's increased economic activities, a report from South Korea's central bank showed Friday.

North Korea's total fertility rate  the average number of children that are expected to be born to a woman over her lifetime  is estimated to have reached 1.38 in the 2010s, down from 1.59 in the 2000s and 1.91 from the 1990s, according to the report by the Economic Research Institute at the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The report was written based on a survey on North Korean defectors who escaped the repressive regime in the years before 2019. A BOK team asked questions about experiences of marriages and child births of their 1,137 relatives and friends in North Korea.

The BOK's projected figure is far lower than the U.N. population fund's estimate of 1.8 for 2023. It is much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep North Korea's population stable at 26 million.

"A country's birthrate tends to fall when income levels rise. But even though North Korea is a low-income country, its total fertility rate unusually remains very low," the report said.

It cited a delay in marriages in North Korea and an increased number of women engaged in economic activities at market places as the main reasons for the fall in the birthrate. Growing individualism that emerged in Pyongyang and other cities is also attributable to the decline.

Accordingly, North Korea's working-age population, or people aged 15 to 64, is forecast to decline from 2021-2030 and the country's total population could fall, the report said.

In light of this demographic situation, it would be difficult to expect that a potential unification of the two Koreas could slow the pace of a sharp fall in South Korea's working-age population or the South's rapid aging, it added.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for measures to prevent a fall in the country's birthrate in the first national meeting of mothers in 11 years.

Seoul's unification ministry said Kim publicly mentioned a decline in the birthrate for the first time, an indication that the nation is grappling with the issue. (Yonhap)
Korea's proposed regulations to prevent unfair market activities by major online platform businesses would be a "gift" to China, a former White House advisor said Thursday, warning they could cause friction with the United States if enacted.

Robert O'Brien, who served as national security advisor for then President Donald Trump from 2019-2021, made the case in a contribution to U.S. news outlet The Hill, as Seoul pushes for the rules that would step up oversight over market-dominant players to ensure fair competition.

O'Brien said that the regulations appeared to be "Korea's own version of the European Union's Digital Market Act (DMA)," which he said would have security consequences by "unevenly" regulating the digital market apparently in favor of Chinese tech giants.

"There is much debate on the wisdom of these bills. But one factor must be considered: their national security consequences," he wrote.

"A closer look shows DMA-style regulations actually make countries more vulnerable to nefarious actors. In Korea's case, such a move would be a gift to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," he added.

O'Brien enumerated negative effects from the proposed rules, which he claimed would undermine the competitiveness of Korean and U.S. firms.

"For Korea, such regulations would most certainly drive up compliance costs for just a few tech companies, likely leading to diminished investment, stymied innovation, fewer consumer choices and higher prices for customers," he said.

He went on to say, "This would set American and Korean companies back years while giving CCP-controlled companies the edge in the development of the digital platforms of the future."

If enacted, Korea's regulations could produce "unnecessary friction" between Seoul and Washington, he warned.

"This friction would come at a time when the U.S.- ROK bilateral relationship is exceptionally important to maintaining security and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," he said, referring to Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.

O'Brien reportedly continues to work as a foreign policy advisor for Trump who is seeking a second White House term.

He is currently chairman and co-founder of American Global Strategies, a strategic advisory firm. (Yonhap)
HANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 23: People learn about Baidu's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot service ERNIE Bot during the 2nd Global Digital Trade Expo at Hangzhou International Expo Center on November 23, 2023 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. (Photo by Wang Gang/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

BEIJING  Chinese tech company Baidu said Thursday its ChatGPT-like artificial intelligence product, Ernie bot, has surpassed 100 million users.

Baidu shares closed 3% higher in U.S. trading, keeping the stock mildly higher for 2023. The company did not specify whether the Ernie bot user numbers were active or for a specific time period.

Microsoft -backed OpenAI said in November that ChatGPT had about 100 million weekly active users. The chatbot isn't officially available in China, but can be used in the Chinese language.

Ernie bot, which can be used in English in addition to its primary language of Chinese, requires a China mobile number for user registration. The app is called "Wenxinyiyan" in Mandarin Chinese.

Baidu released its chatbot in March but didn't get regulatory approval for mass rollout until late August, when several local players also received the green light.
Cafes de Colombia Expo, the most important specialty coffee fair in Latin America, takes place in Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2023.

You might have seen yet another influencer coffee brand launch on social media, have noticed your colleagues making their own drip coffee in the office kitchen rather than using the machine, or even seen lines form at your local independent coffee shop.

Whatever way, it's clear that coffee drinking has become a trend, something more than just getting a caffeine hit.

"With drinks and snacks becoming must-have items with cool currency, coffee has become a steady go-to as a vehicle for affordable luxury and lifestyle expression," Claire Lancaster, head of food and drink forecasts at consumer and product forecasting company WGSN, told CNBC.

"We've seen a trend over time towards premiumization," she explained, adding that this has been reflected in a growing preference for higher quality coffee, both in how it is brewed and where it originates from, as well as different types and flavors.

The Bean Shop, an artisan coffee roastery in Scotland that offers online ordering, has noticed a surge in customers.

"There has a been a big increase in people making speciality coffee at home," one of it's owners, Lorna Bruce, told CNBC. "People love to try something new."

Elsewhere, AeroPress, a company that produces popular coffee makers, told CNBC that it has seen sales increase, as well as a "dramatic" rise of interest from second-party retailers. In the past year, the company has gained two major retail partners including Walmart , Chief Marketing Officer David Cole told CNBC.

As consumers pick up new ways of brewing, they continue buying the necessary accessories like filters, Cole added.

In the U.K., AeroPress sales between December 2022 and December 2023 grew by 40%, and the company now distributes its products to over 400 retailers like roasters and small coffee shops, a company representative said.

Besides AeroPress, other popular coffee-making methods include pour-over or drip coffee makers (like V60s or Chemex coffee makers) as well cafetieres and moka pots that boil coffee on the hob.

Many of these methods are historically popular in certain regions, like cafetieres in France and moka pots in Italy, but have recently gone global.
Tom Werner | Digitalvision | Getty Images

If you left behind a small 401(k) plan account at a former job, odds are your former employer has moved those funds out of the plan. That move may hurt your retirement savings over the long term, experts say. Current law allows employers to "force out" 401(k) accounts of $5,000 or less if their owners leave the company, perhaps for another job or due to a layoff. The smallest balances, less than $1,000, can be cashed out while the rest can be rolled to an individual retirement account.

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Why companies often roll out small balances

A recent law, Secure 2.0, raised that upper limit from $5,000 to $7,000 in 2024. That means more small balances can be rolled out starting next year. However, that's not automatic, as employers must update their plan rules accordingly. Companies have an incentive to do so. For one, having many small balances can make plan administration more difficult, since companies must issue notices to a larger number of people. Small balances can also lead to higher fees, said Ellen Lander, founder of Renaissance Benefit Advisors Group. Record keepers  the firms that track account holders' savings, investments and other metrics  often charge based partly on a 401(k) plan's average balance. A smaller average balance generally leads to higher fees, Lander said.

Investors should take action
All the dominant technology companies are integrating generative AI into their online services, from Google to Meta, Microsoft and Apple.

Google's recent integrations of Bard, its chat-based AI tool, with a host of Google apps and services is one example of moving generative AI more directly into consumer life via text, image, and voice interactions. Bundled with everything from Gmail, Docs, and Drive to Google Maps, YouTube, Google Flights and hotels, Bard has the potential to act as a super-charged version of Google Assistant, culling enormous amounts of data online but personalizing responses to individual user data, all while working in a conversational, natural-language mode. Summarizing emails, booking trips, creating shopping lists  anything that might be done by a personal assistant  for people who don't have a personal assistant.

After 2023's major leap in the public consciousness about generative AI, next year individuals and businesses will be making even more decisions with AI at the center. One good example: how people travel. Generative AI will move from a behind-the-scenes driver of efficiency to the foreground, with the concept of an intelligent concierge changing consumer searches, payments, and decisions. "It will make trips more accessible, with fully voice-enabled chatbots offering instant translation and acting on behalf of a traveler," said Eduardo Schutte, senior vice president at Amadeus, a global travel technology company.

For planning, the process will be more like talking to a travel agent, but one with access to a nearly unlimited amount of data, data that can be searched instantly and aligned with the individual. Beyond simple data points like price and date, more holistic concepts such as purpose will enter into the search process. "With generative AI, the purpose of a trip, expectations, willingness to pay, and more, can be more easily identified through chatbot conversations," Schutte said.

The interactions won't end while on trips. Coming to a fork in the road on a hiking trail, a user might take a picture of the signage and ask Google Bard which way is a better bet for someone with an already-tired eight-year-old in tow. "Content will be adapted to what the traveler is looking for, while conversational generative AI chatbots will be used to ask the right questions to understand traveler preferences," Schutte said.

But with the increasing use of AI, and the ease of incorporating it into daily life for individual benefit, concerns about consumer privacy are receiving fresh attention. At the most basic level, tools like Bard and the ability to improve the online shopping experience via personalized recommendations and streamlined product searches can create potential security risks, according to Tal Zamir, CTO of cybersecurity company Perception Point. "The AI's deep integration into users' data raises concerns about unauthorized access and misuse, making it crucial for shoppers to balance convenience with data protection measures," Zamir said.

By now, after decades on the internet, consumers should mostly realize this and take the security measures that are available. And for the most part, consumers have accepted the risks in favor of the apparent rewards.

"Consumers who use Bard are giving up some of their personal data in exchange for the benefits of the tool," Zamir said.

AI use within online experience has been growing for years already, even if not in as transparent a way as gen AI tools specifically for the consumer.

Google has been using AI in search algorithms for years without consumers focused on opt-in provisions related to AI specifically, said Max Starkov, hospitality and online travel industry technologist, consultant and digital strategist. The results generated by AI, he says, are the next phase in the "zero click" search results world that Google has been moving closer to in recent years. "Google is already implementing gen AI behind the curtains to improve the precision of their 'no click required' answer boxes," he said.

Whether ChatGPT  which is also dealing with questions of data exploitation  or Google, gen AI models are moving from early advances being trained on "dead" data to gaining more knowledge from the ever-evolving internet and real-life search and pathing behavior of users. Online shopping and travel booking is a repository of individual user psychology and preferences, with aspirations and goals layered into seemingly innocuous research for a new camping tent.

What did you search? When did you search? Was the answer box sufficient to answer your question/query or did you click on a link? Which link did you click on from the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).

A search for camping gear by someone who has also searched in the past a lot for Star Wars and climate change might get recommended sustainable campaign bags featuring Han Solo. Or planning a trip to Florida may turn up Airbnbs near the Hemingway House for someone who has ordered "A Farewell to Arms" or "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

Google is positioning Bard as a complement to online search rather than a new enhanced version of it. "A creative collaborator," said a Google spokeswoman, which she added is being used in ways that are different from how people typically look for information with Google Search.

"People are coming to Bard for help with all sorts of projects  like writing resumes, creating workout routines and planning dream vacations," she said.

The company says it is also clear about the protection of personal information with content from Gmail, Docs and Drive, "not seen by human reviewers, used by Bard to show you ads or used to train the Bard model."

And the spokeswoman said users are in control of privacy settings  deciding how to use these extensions, including the ability to turn them off at any time.

Internet privacy watchdogs remain wary.

For Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization  who has been tracking the internet from a consumer privacy standpoint since the 1990s  the latest AI is an extension of a business model that has more or less been the same for decades. Clearly, AI has a host of positive implications, Chester said, in health innovation, for example. "But basically, it's just another shattering of the glass in terms of privacy and identity and autonomy," he added. And its powers of persuasion make a focus on the consumer tradeoffs even more critical. Implicit in the corporate view that AI will understand you better than ever before is a potential rewiring of society, "and what you buy and consume," he said.

In the case of Google, some old privacy scores have just been settled. Regulators continue new work on the underlying issues  on a broad scale. The FTC started a "commercial surveillance" rulemaking process in late 2022, with an update expected in the first quarter of 2024. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing rules to rein in data brokers. President Biden's executive order on AI also calls on regulators to act.

But Chester, who speaks directly with FTC officials, and describes the current leadership as notable for being "privacy forward," says that despite the significant regulatory promise of the FTC and CFPB efforts, AI and privacy has not yet been "on the map" in the way it should be.

"I don't look at it as a new innovative approach but a continued evolution in the interests of companies and advertisers to know exactly who you are, and what you are doing," Chester said. "AI will up the ante on all of it."

Consumers have always had options  such as removal of cookies, privacy-aware browsers  but practically speaking, most individuals accept what they get in return for sharing. "It's the original sin of the internet and it's too late to repent all digital sinners," Chester said. "Who is going to say, 'I don't want my supermarket to have data, so I don't get discounts? Or Waze, so I don't know where the pharmacy is?" Chester said.

Bard extensions are expected to become even more personalized and integrated with the online shopping experience, according to Zamir, including automatically filling out checkout forms, tracking shipments, and comparing prices automatically. All of this entails risk, he said, from unauthorized access to personal and financial information during the automated form-filling process, malicious interception of real-time tracking information, and even potential manipulation of price comparison data.

"The benefits of Bard should be weighed against the potential dark consequences, and consumers must exercise caution and prioritize their privacy before embracing Bard or other AI-powered tools," Zamir said.
The overwhelming, and unsurprising, response from franchisors is that they plan to raise menu prices , a tactic they've been using lately to contend with inflation, higher interest rates and supply-chain costs and previous wage increases triggered by the success of the nationwide Fight for $15 movement launched a decade ago. "They're still figuring out how much, but we know everyone is going to increase prices," said Brian Harbour, an industry analyst at Morgan Stanley, noting, however, that franchisees generally have discretion on the prices they charge.

They're also dealing with the likelihood that an energized SEIU will step up its long-standing goal of unionizing fast-food workers, something the industry has thus far mostly avoided, while simultaneously keeping a wary eye out for similar minimum wage legislation and union organizing efforts in other states.

Although they dodged some bigger bullets, McDonald's , Chipotle Mexican Grill , Starbucks , Yum! Brands' Taco Bell , Shake Shack , El Pollo Loco, In-N-Out Burger and other fast-food chains  operating nearly 30,000 franchised and company-owned restaurants in California  are nonetheless busy strategizing how to mitigate the certain bump in their labor costs.

"Anyone looking at this in the industry, now that emotion has been removed from the negotiation, sees this as the least bad option or worst good option, depending on which side you're on," said Matt Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association, a trade group that represents franchisors, franchisees and franchise suppliers. In exchange for concessions, and staring down a very uncertain outcome on the referendum, "We have this very predictable business environment for our members moving forward," he said.

AB 1228 overrode a previously passed  and highly contentious  bill, AB 257, that would have raised the hourly minimum to $22, created a Fast Food Council with authority to mandate working conditions and imposed a joint-employer rule making franchisors liable for franchisees' infractions. And in the process, the industry and the SEIU each saved millions earmarked to lobby voters on a November ballot referendum to decide the matter.

The pay raise exclusive for that workforce, estimated at more than 500,000, is the centerpiece of Assembly Bill 1228 , a compromise law hammered out last summer by fast-food companies, the Service Employees International Union and Governor Gavin Newsom's administration. All three sides hailed the negotiated outcome, though the industry knows the alternative could have been calamitous.

There will be no fooling California fast-food workers come April 1. That's the day they can honestly believe the minimum wage in the Golden State will jump to $20 an hour from $16, and only in that sector.

Indeed, when Harbour asked McDonald's executives, during the company's third-quarter earnings call in October, about possible price increases post-1228, CEO Chris Kempczinski said, "There is going to be a wage impact for our California franchisees. I don't think, at this point, we can say exactly how much. Certainly, there's going to be some element of that, that does need to be worked through with higher pricing." The world's largest fast-food chain, McDonald's has 9% of its nearly 13,500 U.S. locations in California, most of them franchises.

That sentiment was echoed by Chipotle, which operates about 460 company-owned locations in California. "We have not made a decision to raise prices in California to offset the anticipated labor increase in California next year," said a company spokesperson in an email to CNBC, "but our CFO, Jack Hartung, said on the Q3 earnings call that we are studying it and anticipate we would need to increase prices mid-to-high single digits, (i.e. mid is 4-5-6% and high is 7-8-9%), and that means prices will be that much higher as a percentage."

Other recent earnings calls have elicited similar remarks. "We will rely on pricing," said Jack in the Box CEO Darin Harris, anticipating a rise in menu prices between 6% and 8%. How consumers react to this latest round of price hikes, he added, raises uncertainty in the chain's sales projections for the coming year.

"Everybody who's doing business in California, and is subject to this new mandate, is going to [raise prices]," Haller said, adding that the consensus is in the 10% range. "The question is, how far can you take price until you turn off your value [to customers]?"

Order kiosks, drive-thru chatbots and automation

Beyond increasing prices, California's fast-food restaurant operators are exploring other measures to counterbalance the wage hike, such as automating certain tasks as a way to increase workers' efficiency and productivity and potentially eliminate some jobs altogether. For example, automated drink dispensers and robotic burger flippers are being tested around the country. Chipotle, Starbucks and Sweetgreen are experimenting with automated food and beverage preparation systems.

Earlier this year, Wendy's began testing generative AI chatbots to take drive-thru orders and is now offering the human-free technology to all its franchisees, including nearly 300 in California. Among others jumping on the chatbot bandwagon are Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Del Taco, McDonald's and Sonic Drive-In.

Inside fast-food restaurants, self-order kiosks are trending after nearly a decade of testing by Panera Bread, McDonald's and Burger King. Yum Brands, the owner of fast-food chains KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and The Habit, is aggressively installing them. "On average, kiosk sales see 10% higher checks compared with front counter sales and excellent profit flow-through," Yum CEO David Gibbs told investors in August.

During El Pollo Loco's November earnings call, interim president and CEO Maria Hollandsworth reported positive tests with kiosks, "resulting in reduced restaurant-level labor hours per day," she said. Along with rolling them out across the chain, she said the company is also "driving labor efficiency" with new salsa processing equipment and is testing "additional initiatives, such as automated dishwashers."

By definition, automation minimizes human input, a reality the SEIU hopes won't overly affect California's fast-food workers as a result of AB 1228. "We're hopeful the companies genuinely appreciate the value and the contributions of their workforce as part of the customer experience," said Joseph Bryant, international vice president of the SEIU. "It's on all of our minds what will be the impact of this next wave of technology, driven by AI, and at the end of the day, I don't think anybody thinks it's a better experience to deal with pads versus people."

The impact of the new law is already being felt by some workers in California directly, with Pizza Hut saying this week it would lay off 1,200 delivery drivers as a result of the new minimum wage, a strategy that could benefit delivery companies such as DoorDash and Uber .

Fast-food workers and unionization

Regardless, the time is ripe to accelerate union organizing among fast-food workers in California and possibly beyond, Bryant said, citing not only the passage of 1228 but also growing support for unions across the country. According to recent polling by Gallup, 67% of Americans approve of labor unions, the highest reading since the 1960s. "In general, there is a different kind of perception or appreciation into what the labor movement means, what labor unions do, particularly as the wealth gap in this country continues to grow," Bryant said.

Conversely, only about 10% of all U.S. workers are unionized, and barely 1% of fast-food workers. The glaring outlier is Starbucks, with employees at nearly 370 of its company-owned stores electing for unionization. Still, that leaves more than 16,000 Starbucks nonunionized. Starbucks recently said it wants to resume talks with union representatives early next year.

Bryant acknowledged that the disparity between union support and actual membership is an impediment to organizing fast-food workers in California and other states. He's hopeful that AB 1228 could provide some momentum, but also admitted that companies won't make it easy. "Even looking at 1228, [they] spent millions to defeat those efforts," he said.
Tajikistan joins list of countries allowed to send workers

By Jung Min-ho

Non-Koreans with E-9 visas will now be allowed to work at hotels in Seoul and other popular destinations for tourists.

The change in visa policy was approved by the Office for Government Policy Coordination on Friday to address labor shortages in the hospitality industry as part of the countrys broader efforts to embrace more foreign workers amid a falling birthrate.

According to the government department, holders of the non-specialized work visa can now be employed at hotels and other types of accommodation facilities in four areas  Seoul, Busan, Jeju and Gangwon Province  as cleaners or kitchen assistants.

The department said it will decide whether to expand the policy to other areas or additional industries after collecting opinions from workers and employers in 2024.

It also added Tajikistan to the list of Koreas partner nations allowed to send workers under the Employment Permit System, through which employers here can hire people by granting them E-9 visas.

Tajikistan has been designated as the 17th partner country after conducting evaluations, the department said in a statement. We have concluded that the operation of a transparent system, in which workers are selected and trained, is possible as the government and public institutions are to take charge of it.

If everything goes well as planned, Korea will begin receiving workers from the Central Asian country from 2025. The department noted it plans to continue to expand the list of partner countries. Currently, all the partners are located in Asia: the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Myanmar and Laos.

The permit system was introduced in 2004 to allow small businesses to hire foreign workers in certain industry sectors shunned by Koreans, such as agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, construction and some labor-intense service areas.

The hotel industry was once popular among young Koreans. But the industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the losses of many jobs. The number of tourists began to recover as pandemic travel rules were eased. But many of the workers who left during the health crisis have not returned, causing labor shortages.

According to the Korea Hotel Association, the number of guests staying at hotels nationwide jumped to 44.79 million in 2022, similar to the more than 40 million of 2018, the year before the outbreak. As many employers struggled to find Koreans willing to work, the organization called on the government to allow them to hire more foreigners, which eventually led to the visa expansion measure.

As the number of babies born in the country remains at its record-low levels, calls for more foreign labor are expected to continue increasing.

We have promptly responded to the calls from many industries suffering from shortages of workers, Bang Ki-seon, chief of the coordination department, said. To grasp the situation correctly, we will continue to listen to the voices of employers and workers.
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang holds one of the company's new RTX 4090 chips for computer gaming in this undated handout photo provided September 20, 2022.

U.S. chipmaking giant Nvidia is set to launch an adjusted version of a gaming processor with slower performance in China to comply with U.S. export restrictions.

A product page on Nvidia's website for Chinese consumers shows that the new Nvidia RTX 4090D  which a spokesperson says will be launched in January, according to Reuters  has 11% fewer "CUDA" (Compute Unified Device Architecture) cores than versions of the chip that are sold outside of China.

RTX is Nvidia's line of advanced gaming GPUs, or graphics processing units. The company's CUDA architecture is essentially a GPU equivalent for CPU cores, which are processing units.

Nvidia was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC, but a company spokesperson told Reuters that the chip has been "designed to fully comply with U.S. government export controls."

Nvidia "extensively engaged with the U.S. government" while developing the product, the spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

Washington has imposed export restrictions on China that prevent companies in the country from accessing some of the most advanced chips from American firms.

The export rules primarily target chips that enable AI applications, but gaming-focused processors are also in the firing line as many also have potential uses in artificial intelligence.

The Nvidia RTX 4090 was included on the list of banned U.S.-made chips, according to an Oct. 17 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. On its website, Nvidia says the RTX 4090D chip leverages AI to enhance performance.

Shares of Nvidia have surged in 2023, more than tripling in price year to date. The company has benefited from a rush of demand for AI, thanks in no small part to the immense buzz caused by OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot.
A driver pumps gas at a Sunoco gas station in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images

U.S. crude oil closed out the year more than 10% lower as bearish sentiment has taken over due to worries that the market is oversupplied from record production outside OPEC. The West Texas Intermediate contract for February shed 12 cents, or 0.17%, to settle at $71.65 a barrel on Friday. The Brent contract for March lost 11 cents, or 0.14%, to settle at $77.04. U.S. crude and the global benchmark booked the first annual decline since 2020 despite ongoing geopolitical risk in the Middle East due to the devastating war in Gaza. WTI is down 10.73% for the year, and Brent has lost 10.32%. Oil prices rose nearly 3% on Tuesday on worries that militant attacks on shipping in the Red Sea would disrupt global trade and crude supplies. While fears of escalation in the Middle East have triggered brief spikes in crude prices, traders are primarily focused on the supply and demand balance.

Record U.S. production

The U.S. is producing crude at a record pace, pumping an estimated 13.3 million barrels per day last week. Output is also at a record in Brazil and Guyana. The historic production outside OPEC has collided with an economic slowdown in major economies, above all China. OPEC and its allies, meanwhile, have promised to cut production by 2.2 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2024, but traders apparently have little confidence that the bloc's policy will bring the market into balance. Oil production outside OPEC, above all in the U.S., is expected to more than cover demand growth in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. Global oil demand growth is expect to fall by half to 1.1 million barrels per day next year, while output outside OPEC is expected grow by 1.2 mbd.

Profound impact on oil

The shift in crude supply from the Middle East to the U.S. and other Atlantic countries is "profoundly impacting the global oil trade," the IEA said in its December outlook. The U.S. was responsible for two-thirds of the growth in supply outside OPEC this year. This is challenging efforts by producers in the Middle East to defend their market share and lift oil prices, according to the IEA. OPEC seems to have little room to maneuver, with production cuts falling on deaf ears. Brazil has agreed to ally itself with the bloc, but it is not clear what that means for markets. Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub told CNBC in December that U.S. production this year has reached levels that surprised even her. She had a message of caution for the industry. "It would be prudent of U.S. producers to be careful in terms of putting too much supply in the market," Hollub said. The Occidental CEO and Morgan Stanley do see U.S. crude prices bouncing back next year with a barrel of WTI averaging about $80. Wells Fargo has a lower forecast with WTI averaging $71.50 a barrel next year.

Mideast escalation threat
An aerial view of a destroyed building after Russian strikes hit the city center in Dnipro, Ukraine on December 29, 2023. A mall, maternity hospital and many other buildings were damaged in the attack. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

Russia on Friday launched one of its worst aerial attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war, killing at least 31 civilians, officials said. Ukraine's foreign affairs minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said around 110 Russian missiles and numerous drones targeted areas across the country, including a maternity ward, schools, hospitals, residential buildings and commercial areas. The number of deaths is being updated following the strikes in the morning local time. A CNBC tally of reports from local authorities puts the current total at least at 31.

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire inside a destroyed building after a missile attack in Odesa, on December 29, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia launched drone and missile strikes across Ukraine on December 29, 2023, killing at least 12 people and wounding over 70 in one of the biggest air attacks of the war. Oleksandr Gimanov | AFP | Getty Images

Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk called it "the most massive attack from the air" on the messaging app Telegram. "Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal: 'Kindzhals,' S-300s, cruise missiles, and drones. Strategic bombers launched X-101/X-505 missiles. A total of around 110 missiles were fired against Ukraine, with the majority of them being shot down," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X, formerly Twitter. "We will surely respond to terrorist strikes. And we will continue to fight for the security of our entire country, every city, and every citizen. Russian terror must and will lose," he added.

A woman walks past a damaged business centre after a rocket attack in the centre of Kyiv on December 29, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sergei Chuzavkov | Afp | Getty Images

The Kyiv City Military Administration said the death toll in the capital was now five, after bodies were pulled from the rubble of a warehouse. A metro station and business center were damaged and scores were injured. Other deaths and injuries were reported in Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Dnipro and beyond. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office said three died after the city was hit 22 times over three hours starting at 5 a.m. local time. Odesa's governor said four people died and 22 were injured, including two children aged 6 and 8, and a pregnant woman. U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Denise Brown condemned the attacks, which she said had killed and injured civilians in "almost every region of the country." The Russian Ministry of Defense said in its daily briefing Friday that it had carried out "50 group and one massive strike" between Dec. 23 and Dec. 29 using "precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles." It claimed the strikes were against military facilities and storage units, and Ukrainian armed forces units. Kuleba said he wished the "sounds of explosions" could be heard "in all major capitals, headquarters, and parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine."

A teacher inspects her classroom that was damaged after a missile attack in Lviv, western Ukraine, on December 29, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yuriy Dyachyshyn | AFP | Getty Images
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft launches from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Oct. 13, 2023.

Elon Musk's SpaceX smashed its previous annual record for orbital rocket launches, pulling off 96 successful missions in 2023 at a blistering average launch pace of every four days.

SpaceX this year achieved 91 launches with its Falcon 9 rocket and another five with the Falcon Heavy, topping its previous annual record of 61 orbital launches in 2022. For context, SpaceX launched Falcon 9 more times this year than in the entire first decade after the rocket's debut.

Along the way this year, SpaceX landed its 250th orbital rocket booster as well as launched and landed a single rocket 19 times, continuing to push the boundaries of reusing rockets. This week, SpaceX also set a new company record for shortest time between orbital launches, at just under three hours, which represents the tightest time between Florida launches since NASA's Gemini 11 mission in 1966.

What's more, SpaceX's launch count for the year does not include its pair of Starship test flights, which were not carrying commercial payloads bound for orbit.

Jon Edwards, SpaceX vice president of Falcon launch vehicles, wrote in a social media post that just a few years ago, Musk suggested "a goal of 100 launches as a thought experiment."

"Here we are. I'm so incredibly proud to work with the best team on earth, and so excited to see what we achieve next year," Edwards wrote.

SpaceX officials have said the company aims to launch as many as 144 Falcon missions in 2024, as it continues to deploy satellites for the Starlink system that drives a major portion of its $180 billion valuation.
The River Danube burst its banks in Budapest on Thursday, with water levels at their highest in a decade as heavy rain and snow followed by mild weather triggered unusually early winter floods.

Hungary's General Directorate for Water Management said the Danube peaked at 6.93 metres late on Wednesday, below the 8.91 metres recorded in 2013 when extreme flooding in Central Europe began after heavy rains in late May.

While this year's Danube flooding has not caused any major damage in Budapest, experts cautioned that climate change could make early floods more frequent.

"If we look at the bigger picture, we can see that winter precipitation is growing and with the rise of temperatures we will see less snowfall plus it can melt earlier," said climate researcher Anna Kis, who works for the 1.5 degrees climate project.

"Thus we can assume that in the future the floods caused by snow melting that used to occur in the spring could happen earlier, possibly during the winter months.

The water authority said the last time the Danube's level exceeded 6 metres in a month of December was in 1987, but then it did not flood the embankment roads.

"There was a great amount of rainfall in the tributaries of the Danube and snow melted due to the mild but wet weather, so the flood came earlier," it said, adding that renewed flooding in the spring could not be excluded.

People in Budapest walked along the river in the sunshine, enjoying the rare sight of waves splashing the embankment below the parliament building.

"I remember big floods but not in December. In December the Danube used to freeze. I remember times when I was very young and the ice around the Chain Bridge had to be broken up with explosions," said Miklos, who declined to give his family name.

Also Read: South Korea inflation eases slightly in sign of further cooling
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29)  The Philippine government remains cautiously optimistic on the release of long unpaid wages to Filipinos who worked in Saudi Arabia, as some claimants received communication that they will get the payments through checks.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Friday said it has yet to see the claims actually released to the over 10,000 displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Were keeping close watch doon sa [on] Saudi claimants who have been receiving communication from the Saudi side and have been informedna supposedly ay mare-release yung sums of money [that the sums of money will supposedly be released] through checks, DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said in a media briefing.

Were helping them out with the encashment of the checks, but we're keeping our expectations modest at this stage, he added.

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said there are some challenges, including making sure that the widows of workers who already died are still able to receive the payments issued to their deceased spouse.

The department added that not all displaced OFWs entitled to the claims have been contacted by the Middle Eastern country.

Cacdac earlier said he plans to visit Saudi Arabia in January to again discuss the matter with officials there.

Last year, the Saudi government committed around 2 billion riyals (about 29.7 billion) to settle the unpaid claims of Filipinos left jobless after the construction firms they worked for declared bankruptcy in 2015 and 2016.

The DMW reported that it has received emails from more than 12,000 people after it asked claimants to send their details. The department submitted the list to the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development for validation, Cacdac said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29)  The provincial government of Quezon has reinstated the mandatory wearing of face masks due to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases and respiratory illnesses.

An order signed by Provincial Governor Angelina Tan on Dec. 27 but made public on Friday said "face masks shall continue to be worn for indoor settings and in outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained."

This comes amid an increase in mobility and mass gatherings during the holiday season, and a reduction in minimum public health standards; both of which are projected to lead to an increase in respiratory illnesses, the resolution said.

This month, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed four cases of walking pneumonia in the Philippines, a respiratory illness which surged in China and in parts of Europe in late November.

The agency also recorded 18 cases of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant JN.1, the leading cause of coronavirus infections in the United States. All patients have recovered, but health experts warned members of the vulnerable population to mask up anyway.

The DOH reported a 50% increase in new COVID-19 cases in December: from 1,821 cases monitored between Dec. 5 and 11, up to 2,725 were recorded between Dec. 12 and 18.

Aside from the mandatory mask mandate, citizens with flu-like symptoms are instructed to isolate.

In principle, testing of suspect cases and individuals with mild symptoms shall be optional, it said.

The general public was also told to update their flu and pneumococcal vaccines.
By Lee Hyo-jin

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik has apologized over a recent controversy about some of the ministry's education material, which is provided to soldiers and describes the nation's easternmost islets of Dokdo as "disputed territory," a statement that prompted widespread criticism.

"It is our government's official position that we should not be involved with Japan's attempts to make Dokdo a source of international conflict ... Since I gave the final decision to publish the books, I will take all the responsibility and will apologize," he said during a press briefing held on Thursday afternoon.

Shin's apology came hours after it was found that the ministry's "Moral Strength Education Textbook," which was published earlier this month, stipulated that "regional powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula such as China, Russia and Japan, are engaging in territorial disputes involving the Dokdo islets, the Kuril Islands and the Senkaku Islands, which may easily lead to a military conflict."

This is in contrast with the official stance of the Korean government, which states that the nation has long maintained effective territorial control of Dokdo  which Japan claims as its own  and thus, there is no territorial dispute over the islets.

Shin told reporters that he was reprimanded by President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier in the day. According to Yoon's office, soon after the controversy arose on Thursday, the president ordered the ministry to immediately rectify the situation, saying that "this mistake should have never happened."

"I had nothing to say (to the president). I apologized for failing to thoroughly review (the material) before it was published," the minister said.

During the press conference, Shin also said that the ministry has decided to recall all 20,000 copies of the textbooks, apologizing for having wasted 40 million won ($31,000) of taxpayers money used to publish them.
Whoever had Daniel Tosh becomes the latest edgy white guy comic to launch a podcast, but its actually thoughtful and interesting on your 2023 Bingo Card, youre fucking lying.

In August, 2020, Comedy Central struck a deal with one of the longest-running show hosts in the channel's history for him to quietly bow out of his time slot and slink off into the internet with his pockets full. At the time, Tosh was contracted to film four more seasons of Tosh.0, his hit show about viral videos and internet obsessions, but with Comedy Central changing course toward adult animation and the pandemic complicating the shows tapings, Tosh accepted a buyout to break his contract. Following the airing of the 12th and final season of Tosh.0, Tosh ended his show in November of that year.

Almost exactly three years after the finale of Tosh.0, the German-born, L.A.-based comedian who hadnt added a single credit to his IMDb page in the intervening time surprised his fans with the announcement that, in collaboration with the iHeart podcast empire, he was launching his latest project, a toned-down talk show called Tosh Show, admitting that the name sounds very similar to Tosh.0. Said the comic in the pilot episode, Its almost like were intentionally trying to be confusing.

The format is a familiar one that many other white guy comedians continue to utilize  Tosh brings on a person whom he finds interesting and asks them a series of questions relevant (or not) to their field or their personal life. However, unlike the Rogans or the Marons of the podcasting world, Toshs guest list follows one rule (with loopholes)  no celebrities. Instead of bringing on an A-lister to drive early engagement and establish a listener base from the jump, Tosh decided to launch his inaugural show by interviewing his wifes OB-GYN and asking the doctor playfully invasive questions about his own spouses genitals.

Since then, Tosh has hosted a Paralympic world record sprinter, a wellness guru, his French neighbor Pierre, a professional animal communicator and, most recently, actor Luke Macfarlane, who Tosh says does not break his no famous guests rule since starring in a Hallmark Christmas movie automatically makes you not a celebrity. Tosh starts every episode by asking his guests if they believe in ghosts (and mocking them if the answer is yes), and toward the end of each show, Tosh gives his guest a present in the form of an item (or items) taken from his own home. For instance, to the Paralympic champion, Tosh gifted a skateboard.

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Just weeks into the experiment, clips from the show have already gone viral  Toshs take in stunning support of so-called cancel culture raised eyebrows considering the comedian's history with deliberately offensive material and ensuing blowback. Toshs surprisingly contemplative views on a contentious issue that has directly affected him more than most podcasting comedians who waste multiple episodes on the topic represents the tone and intention of Tosh Show. In this project, Tosh uses his comedy to explore meaningful truths in a way that the old Tosh, with his caustic stage persona and addiction to virality, never attempted.

With Tosh Show, Tosh has created the first podcast hosted by a canceled comic to buck the expectations of provocation and attention-begging that come with the medium by grounding the show equally in curiosity and comedy. As such, its the only edgy white guy comic podcast Im interested in following in 2024, unless Rogan goes back to talking about aliens every week.
Everyone knows that tragedy plus time equals comedy  and according to Trey Parker and Matt Stone, times up on a national tragedy.

The question of, How soon is too soon? when it comes to comedy is an important one that, historically, South Park has habitually ignored. Parker and Stone have never shied away from ruthless topicality, but when it comes to the absolute touchiest of subjects, they have a simple rule established in the 2002 episode Jared Has Aides  it takes exactly 22.3 years for something horrifically tragic to become funny (AIDS). The town of South Park, Colorado is so completely in agreement on this statute of limitations that they even erected a monument to the occasion. How are Parker and Stone so sure that this oddly specific waiting period is universally appropriate? Well, for starters, theyre not just sure  theyre HIV positive.

As many online South Park fans are rushing to point out, this weekend marks the 22.3-year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, meaning that, according to the laws of South Park, its now acceptable to laugh about the massive loss of life. Because Parker and Stone totally werent making 9/11 jokes before now.

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Obviously, anyone familiar with the show (or the greater works of its creators) knows that there hasnt exactly been 22.3 years of solemnity about the simultaneous attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In Team America: World Police, the running joke about every imminent threat was that the newest danger would be some multiplication of 9/11, starting with 91,100.

Additionally, in 2006, South Park devoted an entire episode to 9/11 jokes with Mystery of the Urinal Deuce, in which Cartman attempts to pin the terrorist attack on Kyle. Somehow, Cartman manages to convince most of the school that Kyle is the true perpetrator, though its later revealed that, just as so many of us expected, George W. Bush was behind the attacks all along  though the validity of that conspiracy theory turns out to be another conspiracy.

Because Parker and Stone havent been following their own rule when it comes to joking about 9/11, this anniversary doesnt actually mean anything for the shows choice of topics. However, we havent heard anything from the South Park universes Jared Fogle since the airing of Jared Has Aides. Maybe Parker and Stone are still waiting to joke about what was on his computer.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said Friday that lawmakers had conducted virtual asset transactions totaling over 125.6 billion won ($97.6 million) over the past three years, with Rep. Kim Nam-kuk alone trading nearly 90 percent of the total amount.

The agency conducted a 90-day inspection into virtual asset transaction records of all 298 sitting lawmakers between May 30, 2020, and May 31, 2023, after questions arose earlier this year over Kim's once-massive coin holdings.

Kim is now an independent after leaving the main opposition Democratic Party at the time.

According to the results, 18 lawmakers have records of virtual asset possession during the period and 11 of them actually traded virtual assets during the period, with the accumulated buying and selling amounts reaching 62.5 billion won and 63.1 billion won, respectively.

Notably, Kim bought and sold virtual assets worth 55.5 billion won and 56.3 billion won, suggesting a net profit of around 800 million won, according to the inspection findings. The volume of his trading amounted to nearly 90 percent of the total.

Of all lawmakers involved, only Kim was disclosed.

Among the 10 lawmakers, the biggest net profit was recorded at 83 million won, and the biggest loss was at 150 million won.

Lawmakers collectively held 107 types of virtual assets, with Bitcoin being the most popular choice.

The inspection also revealed discrepancies in the holdings and transaction records of 10 lawmakers compared to what they voluntarily declared earlier this year. The National Assembly passed two bills mandating that lawmakers and high-level government officials declare their virtual assets.

One lawmaker, whose identity was withheld, conducted 49 transactions through the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb but did not report them to the National Assembly. The lawmaker later claimed that his Bithumb account was closed at the time of the report.

The inspection also showed that changes happened in the virtual asset holdings of three lawmakers when they were attending standing committee meetings deliberating bills related to virtual assets.

The commission said, however, that the coin-related activities of the three did not violate the conflict of interest prevention law governing lawmakers, since the related bills on virtual assets are governing random subjects not an individual.

Despite the findings, there are some limits, as the scope of investigation did not cover the asset holdings of family members of the lawmakers and transactions through overseas cryptocurrency exchanges.

The commission said some lawmakers' receipt and withdrawal records regarding virtual assets were unclear, and there was a need for additional checking. However, due to the limitations of investigative authority, it was challenging to do so.

The agency has recommended the National Assembly establish a parliamentary rule mandating lawmakers to report their virtual asset holdings before the commencement of a new National Assembly that will begin its term after the April 10 general elections. (Yonhap)
The hiring of foreign nationals will be further expanded in Korea's labor-intensive industries, beginning next year, the government said Friday, finalizing a plan to bring in an all-time high of 165,000 non-professional migrant workers in 2024 to tackle growing labor shortages.

Hotels, condos and restaurants, among others, will be newly allowed to employ the foreign workers arriving here with non-professional employment visas (E-9) under the Employment Permit System, the government said after a meeting of the Foreign Workers Policy Committee.

Under the decision, for instance, hotels and condos in Seoul, Busan, Gangwon Province and the southern resort island of Jeju plan to hire foreign workers as cleaners and kitchen assistants on a pilot basis next year, the government said.

The hospitality industries have complained about labor shortages, saying they cannot find people to hire despite the recovery in the number of tourists.

In addition, the number of E-9 visa holders working in local nursing facilities and as domestic helpers will be steadily increased, according to the government, which already announced last month that the industries in which the E-9 visa holders can work will be expanded to include the restaurant, mining and forestry sectors in 2024.

The Employment Permit System was introduced in 2004 to allow small and medium-sized businesses facing a manpower shortage to legally hire foreign workers. They have taken jobs shunned by Koreans, such as in agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, construction and the so-called 3D (dirty, difficult and dangerous) sectors. But the steady decline in the nation's working age population has increased the presence of foreign workers in a growing number of labor-intensive industries.

The government also decided to designate Tajikistan as the 17th labor-sending country under the Employment Permit System. Since 2015, 16 countries, including the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Uzbekistan, have sent labor here under the system.

The government said it will designate additional labor-sending countries after receiving applications from aspirants.

The hiring of foreign caregivers will also increase at local nursing homes and care centers, as the welfare ministry plans to provide permanent residency-related incentives to foreigners who hold the D-10 job seeker visa and work at local nursing facilities for more than two years. The ministry estimates that there are about 3,000 D-10 visa holders who graduated from health and welfare-related university departments.

In accordance with the government policy, the Seoul city government said it plans to start arranging the hiring of about 100 foreigners as domestic helpers for households in the capital this month. (Yonhap)
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Friday it has provided accommodations and mental counseling to 371 victims of stalking crimes this year and will expand the support program next year.

In a pilot operation, run from July to November, 311 stalking crime victims received mental counseling and treatment programs, 52 people in urgent need of protection were given temporary lodging, and eight others were offered rental housing for up to six months, according to the ministry.

The gender ministry plans to expand the temporary housing support from six cities and provinces to 17 next year, citing relevant budget increases. Currently, those in need of urgent protection are offered one-room bedrooms or studios in six cities for up to 30 days.

It also said some 1 billion won ($ 779,062) was newly allotted next year to expand the personnel at 55 counseling centers for victims of domestic and dating violence nationwide to provide custom counseling for the victims. (Yonhap)
A model of the USS Amsterdam at the home of Stanley Krolikowski in Amsterdam on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.
The veterans ministry on Friday named Rhee Syng-man, Korea's first president, as the independence activist of next month, citing his involvement in the movement against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.

Rhee held various leadership posts in the movement, most notably as the first president of the Provisional Government from 1919 to 1925. He went on to become Korea's first president in 1948.

Rhee, however, is considered a divisive figure in Korean history, with supporters crediting him for laying the foundation for a free democracy and critics accusing him of being a dictator during his 12-year rule.

He was ultimately forced out of office in 1960 following a massive pro-democracy civil uprising touched off by public anger over vote rigging. The protests culminated in the April 19 Revolution that left more than 100 demonstrators dead in clashes with armed police.

A veterans ministry official said Rhee's selection was based on his merits as an independence activist and not on his activities as president.

A committee of officials from the veterans ministry and independence activist organizations selects the activist of the month based on recommendations from civic groups and other organizations, according to the ministry.

It said it marked the first time Rhee was recommended since the title was first given in 1992.

Rhee died in exile in Hawaii in 1965. (Yonhap)
The thank you letters have already been written and those multiple changes of clothing  so much a part of a Sandringham Christmas  have been packed away for another occasion.

And judging by the warm words from old friends, an invitation to the next big Windsor gathering to a woman not simply ostracised, but also blamed for many of the ills heaped on the Royal Family, won't be long coming.

She's been here before, of course, but no one has perfected the art of the comeback quite like the Duchess of York. Usually, one step forward is followed by a misstep and, as if she is a player in a game of snakes and ladders, she slithers back down to start again.

But there was something about her presence and her conduct as a guest on the King's Norfolk estate last week that suggested that, this time, she won't be making those same mistakes.

Confident with well-wishers who gathered to exchange seasonal greetings with Charles and his extended family, but not over-confident.

Overjoyed: Fergie (second left) at Sandringham this Christmas with the royals

Sarah Ferguson gestures as she attends the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church

Princess Diana with Sarah Ferguson wearing Winter clothing in September 1988

Prince William and Kate and their three children were the big draw but there was an appreciation of the duchess from the crowd that went beyond mere curiosity. Her redemption has been a long time coming.

The woman once amusingly dubbed a breath of fresh air whose indiscretions and extravagances  not to mention two flirtations with financial catastrophe  threatened to blow the whole royal apparatus apart, has come a long way.

So, this was not fun-loving Fergie of old who, days after I witnessed what turned out to be her last public appearance at a royal Christmas 32 years ago, astounded fellow passengers in the first-class compartment of an American Airlines trans-Atlantic jet by putting a bag over her head and sticking out her tongue.

All those years of exclusion that followed, when she was sequestered alone in an estate cottage while the festivities went on in the big house without her, suddenly seem a distant memory.

Those were the days when Prince Andrew would collect their daughters on Christmas morning to go to church and then lunch with their grandmother the Queen before returning them after tea to their mother.

Just what has happened and why the sea-change in family attitudes that were encapsulated by Prince Philip, who described her as 'pointless' (and a lot worse besides) and whose disdain for his former daughter-in-law was such that he once vaulted a sofa in his haste to get away from her?

For the answer, one needs to look no further than the man who was striding alongside her in that churchgoing group on Monday  her ex-husband and devoted companion Andrew, the Duke of York.

In the four years since Andrew's fall from grace, no one has been more supportive than the former publishing company Girl Friday with whom he fell in love as they fed each other profiteroles at a Royal Ascot house party almost 40 years ago.

Separated after less than six years of marriage and divorced soon after, they have remained contentedly together ever since. They have lived  off and on  under the same roof, and when Andrew suffered the humiliation of having to give up his royal duties over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Sarah publicly defended him.

Deprived of his military affiliations and charitable patronages and mired in the scandal over claims  that he denied  of having sex with teenager Virginia Giuffre (with whom he later reached a multimillion-pound settlement), Andrew's public image cratered.

He became an embarrassment to the Royal Family and, after his calamitous Newsnight interview, in which he failed to express sympathy for Epstein's victims, a laughing stock.

Sarah Duchess of York and Prince Andrew on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during their wedding on July 23, 1986

The Duchess of York on Loose Women on ITV on April 5, 2023

But the loyalty of his ex-wife has been unquestioning. And it is that, I understand, that was at the heart of the simple gesture from the King to bring his one-time sister-in-law in from the cold.

'He has always prized allegiance and he appreciates all Fergie has done for his brother,' says a friend of Charles. 'It may be an exaggeration to say she has been keeping him alive, but she has certainly been keeping him sane. Imagine what Andrew would be like without Sarah who, despite everything, is one of life's optimists?'

Andrew, say friends, could easily have become a recluse, doing nothing but binge-watching television. Fergie refused to allow that to happen. She encouraged him to exercise and to continue with his love of horse riding.

The King also admires the way the duchess has gone about restoring her own reputation while keeping her family together.

Thirty years ago, she was the most reviled person in Britain  an overweight, overwrought loose cannon. Her marriage had come to an inglorious end amid tales of infidelity, she had been pictured topless having her toes kissed by her 'financial adviser' and her profligacy had left her 4 million in debt.

The Royal Family cast her out. It was a situation that would have crushed most people and she admits it did drive her to the brink of a nervous breakdown. Somehow Fergie survived. She took herself in hand, cleaned up her private life, shed four stone, went to work and paid off her debts.

And then it happened all over again. More extravagance and more debts from money-making schemes gone wrong, compounded this time by her falling victim to a grubby tabloid sting in which she attempted to sell access to Prince Andrew in exchange for 500,000.

The yo-yo of downfall and dishonour followed by survival and rehabilitation became a well-worn path for her. But more than a decade later and she has, as one friend puts it, 'kept her nose clean, very clean'.

Then it was Andrew who bailed her out, helping to pay off her debts and allowing her to move back into Royal Lodge, where she has her own suite of rooms. Now older and wiser  she will be 65 next year  Fergie has grown into a considerate mature woman.

The couple's daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie  now with children of their own  were also part of the King's decision-making process. 'He has always been extremely fond of his nieces,' says one of his circle.

The King has also been touched with the way in which Fergie has dealt with setbacks over her health. After a routine mammogram earlier this year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

Rather than say nothing about such an upsetting issue as royals traditionally do, Fergie spoke out and her action is said to have encouraged more women to make screening appointments.

Princess Diana and the Duchess Of York watch a polo match in Windsor, Berkshire

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, arrives to attend the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham

So, what are we to make of Charles's kingly gesture and what does it tell us about Fergie's future? 'I think we will see more of Sarah at those extended family events,' says a friend. 'Don't expect to see her on the Buckingham Palace balcony after Trooping The Colour, but Royal Ascot on the other hand could feature.'

There is another intriguing part to this new dynamic  the role of Queen Camilla. 'It's in no small part thanks to the new Queen that the Royal Family treat newcomers very differently these days. She's also one of those "let bygones be bygones" people and has a lot of time for Fergie whom she finds amusingly eccentric.'

One thing, however, is most certainly not happening: the duchess is not resuming a royal life. She has her own charity streams. Earlier this month she went on an unheralded visit to Burnley, where her Sarah's Trust charity distributed presents to underprivileged children. She has also made three visits to Ukraine, accompanying lorry-loads of aid.

Away from philanthropic matters, there will be more television  she appeared on Loose Women and Lorraine Kelly's show this year as well as co-hosting This Morning  and more Mills & Boon romantic fiction, talks are under way to adapt her first two books into potential screenplays.

As for Andrew, having Sarah as a more visible presence at his side may not transform his reputation overnight but it may be a start.
So Putin continues his murderous onslaught on the innocent  rocket after rocket, bomb after bomb. He sends them slamming into homes, into maternity wards, still hoping that he can terrorise the Ukrainians into submission.

After almost two years of hideous conflict, I am more confident than ever that he will fail. He will fail because he has lit an unquenchable flame in the hearts of a great European people.

He has kindled new patriotism in Ukraine that will outlive Putin or any Russian tyrant that may come after him. Propelled by that phenomenal ardour the Ukrainians have already done things that we once said were impossible.

They have kicked Putin's troops out of more than 50 per cent of the territory he claimed in early 2022. This is Ukraine, remember, the country that was supposed to be gone in five days.

The Ukrainians are steadily degrading Russia's Black Sea Fleet, with, I am proud to say, significant British help. They now need more help, from us and from all our friends, and we should give it as fast as possible because as we head in to 2024 I still believe  in spite of all the pessimists  that Ukraine can win, must win, will win.

Video released on social media showed a Russian missile attack Kyiv. A high-rise building was hit in the capital

They are fighting for their country, and they are fighting for all of us  for the values we prize the most.

If you have not been to Ukraine, let me tell you the fundamental difference between modern Russia and modern Ukraine. Russia is a tyranny, where elections are a farce, where Putin's political opponents are jailed or poisoned, or  to take the recent ludicrous example of his ex-crony Yevgeny Prigozhin  blown up spectacularly on global TV in what Putin later described as an aircraft malfunction.

In Ukraine, elections are genuine. In Ukraine, there is a real uncertainty about the outcome. Yes, the crucial difference between Russia and Ukraine is that Ukraine is a democracy.

With every day that goes by, the Ukrainian people are more determined on their settled path  a completely different path from Russia  towards a free, liberal, democratic, capitalist country.

They are completely right to choose that future. Look around the world, at the most prosperous, most successful, most dynamic, most innovative societies. Look at the countries that produce the most danceable pop songs, or that make the most watchable TV series or the biggest blockbuster movies.

Look at the countries with the best nightclubs, the best restaurants, the best live music. Look at the countries that have the best universities with the most intellectual buzz and the most genuine scientific breakthroughs.

What is it that unites these countries? They are all liberal capitalist democracies. It is the democracies, the places with free speech and a free Press and free politics, that overwhelmingly tend to have the highest per capita GDP.

What is the magic ingredient of democracy? Simple. It is people power. A democracy is different from an oligarchy or an autocracy or a tyranny in this most basic sense  that the people are sovereign, that the people alone can choose who rules them and who makes the laws.

An explosion of a missile is seen during a Russian missile and drone strike in Kyiv, on December 29, 2023

Emergency services work at the site of an overnight rocket attack on a shopping mall in Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk region, southeastern Ukraine, on December 29, 2023

It is vital that this power should be vested with the people, and only the people, because every few years the people must have the right to kick out their rulers, and choose entirely new ones  because that is their single biggest safeguard against the corruption, the stagnation, the fear and the oppression that is currently holding back the non-democracies of the world.

It seems so simple, doesn't it  put like that?

All those popular freedoms are indivisible  freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of religion, freedom to spend your money how you choose, freedom to elect and remove from office those who are set in authority over you. All the evidence suggests that these democratic freedoms contribute to a happier and more productive society. So why is it so hard to sell this model around the world?

We are now almost at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, and the world is still stuffed with autocracies, with societies that are far from free. How do they get away with it?

Well, the autocrats are not just ruthless, and vicious in exercising their will. They are also cunning in their propaganda. They listen to people like me, extolling democracy  and then they smirk and point to what they see as the weaknesses or hypocrisies of our system.

Democracies are unstable, they say. The people who run them seem to change so often that it is hard to keep track. Is it true David Cameron is back?

We are now almost at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, and the world is still stuffed with autocracies, with societies that are far from free, writes Boris Johnson

Democracies are no good at taking big decisions, they say, no good at long-term infrastructure planning. Look at HS2!

Anyway, they say with a wink, who are you kidding, when you say that the people are really in charge, and that ultimate power remains with the voters? All societies are really run by elites, whatever happens at elections  always have been and always will be. Let's face it, they say  passing you a date, or a glass of slivovitz, or a slice of baklava  your vaunted democracy is not that different from our own system.

I am afraid, there are worrying signs that they have a point. Can we really say, hand on heart, that in a modern Western democracy it is the sovereign people  and only they  who choose our rulers?

Can we really say that it is the sovereign people, and the people alone, who get to decide who makes the law?

I don't think we can say that of the United States, today, where another court has just decided that Donald Trump's name should not appear on the ballot paper for next year's Presidential election. The judges of Maine have joined the judges of Colorado in effectively banning former President Trump from presenting himself as a candidate. I am amazed that this is not causing more general consternation.

I believe Trump was completely wrong to try to call the result of the 2020 election into question.

As I said at the time, he should have gracefully accepted defeat. He was, after all, about 7 million behind Biden in the popular vote, and I have seen no convincing evidence that the Democrats stole the election.

There is a long day's march from Trump being a sore loser, to being held legally responsible for an attempted insurrection, writes Boris Johnson

In so far as he egged on his supporters to protest, he was also very wrong. But there is a long day's march from being a sore loser, to being held legally responsible for an attempted insurrection.

The judges are trying to ban him from standing, on the grounds that he fomented a coup. But whatever you think of the events of January 6  dismaying though they were  they did not prevent the peaceful transfer of power. They did not lead to a criminal prosecution of Trump, and he has not been convicted of an insurrection, or an attempted insurrection. So how can it be right to ban him  still, in the eyes of the law, an innocent man  from standing for office?

I appreciate that the judges think that they are actually protecting democracy; but think how this looks in the eyes of the rest of the world  all the places where they are fed up with being lectured about the joys of Western liberal democracy.

Across the world there are dictatorial and sometimes brutal leaders who use a corrupt judicial system to disbar their opponents from seeking elective office.

That is to say, they fabricate some charge against them at least to tie them up in legal knots  and, if necessary, actually send them to prison.

It's what they do in Venezuela  President Nicolas Maduro did it to his opponent. It's what Putin did to the oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. It's what the Tatmadaw* in Burma have done to Aung San Suu Kyi. It's what they used to do in Ukraine  the Kremlin lackey Yanukovich locked up his opponent Yulia Timoshenko.

Why do they lock them up? Because they are frightened of their potential popularity; because they will do anything they can to stop them appearing before the electorate.

So across the world these ugly regimes  and there are many more  can look at what is happening in the U.S., and even if you think it is absurd, they can draw a comparison.

Look, they say: they are doing exactly the same thing. The American liberal elite is using the law to try to screen out a candidate they don't like  to obliterate him from the democratic process.

Why shouldn't I do the same? Why shouldn't I put my opponent on trial? Why shouldn't I bang him up?

I am not suggesting that Western democracies have sunk to the level of these regimes; I am just saying that we pay a big price  in our argument with the autocracies  if we are seen to allow the elites to tamper with democracy, and frustrate the popular will.

On both sides of the Atlantic, we see the same phenomenon, of an increasing judicial willingness to intervene in the democratic process.

We see it over the Rwanda policy, where the government seems to be on a collision course with judges hell-bent on stopping a perfectly sensible policy, approved by parliament, to tackle cross-Channel people-trafficking.

We saw it over the 2019 Supreme Court decision to reverse the prorogation of Parliament.

It was, I fear, a piece of naked political expansionism that had no foundation in law, and simply had the effect of weakening the government's negotiating position as we desperately tried to follow the people's instruction to leave the EU. It did nothing to encourage more parliamentary 'debate' about Brexit. Parliament had been debating Brexit for three years, and as later proceedings showed, had nothing more to add.

On both sides of the Atlantic, we see the same phenomenon, of an increasing judicial willingness to intervene in the democratic process. We saw it over the 2019 Supreme Court decision to reverse the prorogation of Parliament, writes Boris Johnson

It was about stopping Brexit, pure and simple, and it failed. So, I expect the attempt to ban Trump will fail, and I believe the judges are wrong even to try it.

It is three years since the deplorable events of January 6, 2021. The American public have had lots of time to decide what they think of Trump's handling of the matter.

They, and they alone, should decide whether he is fit for another term.

I expect that some of these Maine or Colorado judges don't much like the cut of Trump's jib, any more than some judges in the UK are enamoured of Brexit or the Rwanda policy.

But when judgments of the courts take precedence over the sovereign will of the people  as expressed in parliament  they don't make our country look more free. They make it look less so, and more like less fortunate places  like the old Ukraine, for instance.

One of the things that the Ukrainians admire about us is that our judges are independent, and above politics.

Let's keep it that way.
Possibly the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history happened in one of Britain's most trusted institutions.

Between 2000 and 2015, the Post Office falsely accused 3,500 subpostmasters of theft, fraud and false accounting. Over 700 were prosecuted. Some went to prison. Many lost their homes and life savings paying back money the Post Office claimed was missing.

A Daily Mail investigation found the scandal was linked to four suicides, and it's claimed that 60 victims died before they found any justice at all.

Yet they'd done nothing wrong  the fault lay with the Post Office's own malfunctioning Horizon computer system which wrongly reported financial discrepancies.

Now a major new ITV drama, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, starring Toby Jones, Monica Dolan and Katherine Kelly, lays bare the full horror of this story and champions the stoic subpostmasters who stood up for themselves and fought to expose the shocking actions of Post Office bosses, who continued to pursue them despite warnings that Horizon was to blame.

Mr Bates Vs The Post Office tells the true story of how the Post Office falsely accused 3,500 subpostmasters of theft, fraud and false accounting between 2000 and 2015

Following a landmark Court of Appeal decision to overturn their convictions, dozens of former subpostmasters have been exonerated on all counts after 20 years of fighting. An independent public statutory inquiry into the matter is ongoing, expected to end in early 2024.

'In three years working on this project, I've never got over that initial shock of disbelief,' says writer Gwyneth Hughes, who was also behind real-life dramas Honour and Three Families.

'To this day, every victimised subpostmaster I meet, every appalling story I hear, makes me squeal with astonishment and rage.'

Toby Jones plays Alan Bates, the subpostmaster who organised the fightback, setting up the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) in 2009.

He ran the Post Office in Craig-y-Don, a suburb of Llandudno in Wales, for five years until he was fired for refusing to comply with Post Office policy.

His scenes were filmed in the shop that the real Alan worked in, alongside his partner Suzanne Sercombe (Julie Hesmondhalgh).

Toby, 57, hopes that the drama will amplify this shocking national scandal  one he admits that he didn't know much about before taking the role. 'To my shame, I hadn't understood the full severity of the story,' he says.

The Detectorists and Indiana Jones star adds, 'I assume it's because when you hear 'Post Office' you take for granted what it does. It's shocking how appalling this scandal is.

'If we've done our job, when people watch it will make them see a senselessness and vindictiveness that makes you wonder how on Earth it isn't being spoken about more.'

W1A actress Monica Dolan has a pivotal role as real-life Hampshire subpostmaster Jo Hamilton, driven to despair by discrepancies in her accounts. 'She kept thinking it was her fault,' explains Monica, 54.

'She remortgaged her house and got into huge debt. She was so ashamed. She kept ringing the helpline but they kept saying, as they did to all the other subpostmasters, 'It's only you that this is happening to.'

Gwyneth attempts to tell the Post Office's side of the story too, asking who knew the Horizon software was faulty and when.

Toby Jones stars as Alan Bates, the subpostmaster who organised the fightback, setting up the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) in 2009, while Julie Hesmondhalgh plays his partner Suzanne

Few employees were willing to talk, so she had to create scenes featuring CEO Paula Vennells (The Crown's Lia Williams) from emails and a transcript from a 2015 Select Committee hearing.

Lia, 59, says, 'It was one of the hardest things I've had to do as an actor. Paula's dialogue is literally transcripts that I had to try to make fit in my mouth and sound natural.

'It was very important I didn't present her as some evil monster when I don't know what was going on behind closed doors. We only know she lost control of a situation she had no idea how to manage.'

Ex-Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi was on the Select Committee in 2015, and he plays himself. 'There was an issue of whether we should use the real footage, but the real Alan Bates was behind Nadhim,' says director James Strong.

'So we thought, 'Shall we ask Nadhim if he'll do it?' And he said yes. He did exactly what he did on the day, which is one of the only times the Post Office has been taken to task in a public setting. To see him give them both barrels was great.'

Toby considers it a privilege to play Alan Bates. 'It's a very uplifting story, it shows that people can unite and take action. I'm honoured to have anything to do with Alan Bates. He's an extraordinary man.'
When Vera Schaufeld was nine in 1939, her mother took her to a park near their home in Prague and told her she was going on a train with other children to a country called England where she'd be looked after by kind people.

A tearful Vera was told her parents would hopefully join her later, but she had to go now because Czechoslovakia was dangerous for Jews.

That reunion never happened. For a few months Vera's family would speak by phone to Leonard and Nancy Faires, her new guardians in Bury St Edmunds. 'I could barely talk to my parents because I was crying so much,' recalls Vera.

One day the calls stopped when they were sent to concentration camps and murdered.

After the war, Vera became determined simply to help people as she'd been helped. After meeting her husband Avram, an Auschwitz survivor, she became a teacher specialising in giving English lessons to refugee children.

Johnny Flynn as the younger Nicholas, a British stockbroker who came to save the lives of 669 German-Jewish children from the Nazis via the Kindertransport programme

Vera hadn't really thought about how she had arrived in England as part of the Kindertransport programme, or who had been behind it, until her husband heard a news report on the radio appealing for people who had been brought from Czechoslovakia by train as children.

'I rang them and discovered I'd been brought over here by Nicholas Winton. I then ended up on That's Life, meeting Nicholas and all the other children,' says Vera.

The incredible story of how Nicholas saved 669 children was first made public in 1988 when Esther Rantzen and the That's Life team tracked down Kindertransport children and their descendants to be part of the audience with an unsuspecting Nicholas.

Now it's been made into a film called One Life starring Johnny Flynn and Anthony Hopkins as the younger and older Nicholas, dubbed the 'British Schindler'.

Told over two timelines covering his exploits in 1939 and the That's Life revelations in 1988, the film is based on a book by Nicholas's daughter Barbara.

It was her mother Grete who had first come across an old scrapbook in their attic, detailing many of the children Nicholas had helped. She spoke to a Jewish historian who passed the story on to a newspaper, which is when That's Life looked into it.

Nicholas was a stockbroker born to German-Jewish parents who'd emigrated to Britain. When the Nazis took over the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in 1938, a friend of his persuaded him to go to see the dire situation the mainly Jewish refugees from Germany found themselves in.

He was shocked by what he saw and realised there was nowhere for most of these refugees to go. The Kindertransport scheme for German-Jewish children had already been set up by a group of churches, humanitarians and British Jews.

Anthony Hopkins plays the older Nicolas while Helena Bonham Carter plays Nicholas's mother Babette, who helped raise the 50 per child the government insisted on for their upkeep

Nicholas knew that separating the children from their parents (who mainly couldn't get visas) and sending them on trains to Britain would be their best hope for survival, so he made a list of children needing rescue and set about finding homes and sponsors for them.

The film tells Nicholas's story and those of some of the children, as well as those of fellow Britons who risked everything to help him.

Helena Bonham Carter plays Nicholas's indomitable mother Babette, who helped raise the 50 per child the government insisted on for their upkeep.

It was Nicholas's daughter Barbara who wanted Anthony Hopkins to play the older version of her father.

'She felt he has the same presence,' says Laurence Watson, the now late Barbara's son. 'My sister Holly and I were extras in the film, and seeing him dressed as my grandfather took us straight back to being with him.

The real Nicholas Winton with one of the children he saved

'Anthony also brought home his mischievousness. My grandfather was a serious person but also really enjoyed life. That comes through in the film.'

As the movie shows, there were actually two That's Life sessions with Nicholas. In the first, Esther Rantzen surprised him in the audience with the scrapbook and then revealed some other audience members were Kindertransport children.

In a follow-up show a tearful Nicholas realised the entire audience was made up of either Kindertransport children or their descendants, and Laurence and Holly were among those who took part in the reconstruction of that famous moment.

In fact, most of the audience in the film are real-life descendants of those saved by Nicholas and filming the scenes was emotional for everyone.

'It was like a kick in the chest when all the descendants came in,' recalls Anthony Hopkins. 'It was very moving.'

Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines was sitting next to Nicholas at the first That's Life show. She was on the last train out of Prague in July 1939. There was meant to be one more but war broke out as it was leaving the station and the children never made it out of Prague.

Most are believed to have perished, which is said to have haunted Nicholas. Lady Milena recalls that first meeting in the studio. 'What do you say to a man who saved your life? Simply thank you.'

The That's Life team then managed to find scores of others who'd been on the trains for a follow-up a few nights later. Many had lost their entire families but found a new family within the group known as 'Nicky's Children'. Today there are some 6,000 people alive thanks to Nicholas and his colleagues.

For Laurence, Nicky's Children became a sort of extended family. 'He loved to bring them together for his birthday parties  he was a very good organiser and I think that's what made him so effective. I think they helped keep him going  he lived until he was 106.

'Nicky was an ordinary person who did an extraordinary thing  and I hope people will be moved by the story to make a positive change in the world.'
A woman has expressed her regret after telling her 10-year-old son she 'hated' him because she caught him being 'awful to his younger brother'.

The mother-of-two took to British parenting blog Mumsnet to explain how guilty she felt for blurting out the strong words and even branded herself the 'worst mother in the world'.

She recounted how on the night in question, her emotions had been running high due to the sudden loss of her mother, causing her to say aloud to her husband: 'I hate that child sometimes' - which her son overheard.

She said she immediately apologised to her son and that the ordeal has deeply affected her to the point she is no longer able to sleep.

But a wave of support has since poured in for the mum, with many sending their condolences for her deceased mother. Meanwhile others have debated whether the pre-teen had learnt a valuable lesson for being naughty.

A woman has expressed remorse at telling her 10-year-old son she 'hated' him after catching him misbehaving and being 'awful to his younger brother' (Stock image)

Taking to the forum, she wrote: 'I cant sleep. Tonight my son, 10, was really misbehaving and being awful to his younger brother.

'My mum has just passed away as well so emotions are running high. I went into the kitchen and said to my husband: "You deal with him. I hate that child sometimes".'

She then revealed that unbeknownst to her, the young lad had been trailing right behind her, and unfortunately overheard everything she said.

She was then consumed with an overwhelming sense of regret, as evidenced by her post. She continued: 'I feel awful. Obviously I didnt mean I hated him.

'I hated how he was acting in that moment. I apologised straight away. I told him it was unacceptable for me to speak that way about him.

'I said I didn't mean it and that it was said in frustration. I said I was upset with his behaviour but I loved him and always would.

'I know I'm the worst mother in the world and expect to be told so'.

She concluded by asking the forum for advice on how best she could 'put this right,' as well as for guidance on what to do next.

The mother-of-two took to British parenting blog Mumsnet to explain how guilty she felt for blurting out the strong words and even branded herself the 'worst mother in the world'

One person, believed to be a parent, didn't see anything wrong: 'Oh love, you have dealt with it completely right. I am so sorry for the loss of your mum. Your son will be okay. Take care of yourself'.

Alluding to the outburst being her son's fault, another person said: 'Perhaps now he will think twice before being horrible to his little brother'.

While one mum gave a pass for the one-time offence, she also warned the user to 'never' do it again. She wrote: 'Don't over apologise. He will get suspicious! Make sure that he knows what exactly youre apologising for. Make sure he knows that you don't hate him, that you love him more than anything, but also make him understand that his behaviour has consequences.

'This is different from him being responsible for your feelings! He's not. But he's not too young to know that pushing people can have consequences (as he's learned tonight) and that he needs to learn to be aware of people other than himself. He's 10, it'll take time, but we all impact the people around us.

She concluded: 'Never, ever say it again. This was your one pass. You didn't mean it anyway, don't say things you don't mean. He doesnt deserve this uncertainty. Sorry for the loss of your dear mother'.

A wave of sympathy has since poured in for the parent, with many sending their condolences for her deceased mother. Meanwhile others have debated whether the pre-teen had learnt a valuable lesson for being naughty

Agreeing that it wasn't best to over-apologise, another person wrote: 'I'm very sorry to hear about your mum.

'I would have said "I don't hate you, I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry. I am very very frustrated with you, I am fed up with your nasty behaviour to your brother. You are 10, old enough to know better! I expect better from you!"

'Don't go on and on apologising or you'll effectively be giving him permission to act like a little sh**'.

Another added: 'I'd tell him you love him but you hate his behaviour at times'.

Elsewhere one person praised her parenting skills: 'You sound like an amazing parent. My mother would've never apologised to me for something like that or taken the time to try and rectify the situation. I'm really sorry to hear about your mum'.

Meanwhile someone else advised: 'Don't you teach your children to use the word "hate"? Maybe apply that to the whole household. You're now going to have to deal with him thinking you prefer the younger sibling'.
China's national legislature to convene annual session on March 5

Xinhua) 15:25, December 29, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) will open its second annual session in Beijing on March 5, 2024, according to a decision made by the NPC Standing Committee on Friday.

The decision was adopted at the end of an NPC Standing Committee session held from Monday to Friday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Economic boost expected as digital nomads embraced

By Jung Da-hyun

The Ministry of Justice announced, Friday, that it will initiate a test phase of a visa allowing foreign nationals to travel here to work, starting in 2024.

This new plan aims to encourage individuals to stay in Korea for an extended period.

"Workation," a term created by combining work and vacation, refers to a contemporary working trend where individuals continue their regular work routine while embarking on long-term travel. Countries in Europe, Central and South America and Southeast Asia have recently introduced workation visas for digital nomads in response to the emerging trend.

Korea did not have such visas available previously. Foreign nationals interested in working and traveling in Korea have to obtain a tourist visa, which limits stays to less than 90 days.

The newly proposed workation visa, set to be introduced on Monday  the first day of 2024  will allow foreign nationals engaging in a workation in Korea to stay for up to one year from their entry date and can be extended for a further year.

Eligibility for the visa includes those affiliated with foreign companies who have worked in the same industry for over a year. The visa can also be extended to their families, excluding children aged 18 or older, and the children of accompanying family members.

Their income should be more than twice Korea's gross national income from the previous year. Requirements such as purchasing personal medical insurance and home evacuation coverage of more than 100 million won ($7,750) must also be met.

Recipients of the workation visa are prohibited from engaging in employment with a local company or taking part in for-profit activities in Korea and must obtain a separate work visa for profit-related activities.

Visa applications can be submitted at Korean embassies abroad, and those currently on short-term stays in Korea can also change their visas if they meet the requirements.

The introduction of the workation visa is anticipated to stimulate economic activity as high-income foreign nationals explore various regions of Korea and it presents an opportunity to enhance the global promotion of Korea, according to the justice ministry.

Meanwhile, the ministry unveiled the fourth edition of its foreign nationals-related policy plan on Thursday, which will be applied in 2027.

The plan encompasses the creation of an immigration office tasked with establishing a comprehensive government-wide system to promote immigration policy. The primary objective is to streamline the development of strategies for effectively managing the inflow and integration of immigrants.

In addition, to prevent the social exclusion of vulnerable immigrants, such as women and children, a system allowing all foreign children to apply for birth registration, regardless of their residence status, will be introduced.

This move aligns with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) recommendation for a universal birth registration system.

The fourth edition of the foreign nationals-related policy plan outlines five goals: promoting economic and regional development through immigration; implementing a safe and orderly society; fostering social integration among people and immigrants; respecting the human rights values of immigrants and establishing a foundation for immigration administration in line with global standards, according to the justice ministry.

At the same time, the government also announced its plan to reduce the number of illegal aliens from 420,000 to 200,000 by promoting a five-year plan to halve illegal stays.
From Prince George's godfather to the King of Norway's daughter, a host of royals, well-connected socialites and aristocrats are tying the knot in 2024.

The next 12 months look set to be a bumper year for high-society nuptials, with Princess Martha Louise, Hugh Grosvenor's fiancee Olivia Henson and the granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran all preparing to walk down the aisle.

Elsewhere, Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, will wed his partner Anisha Isa Kalebic in an lavish 10-day ceremony in the New Year.

Princess Beatrices husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's half-brother Albemarle Alby Shale, meanwhile, announced his engagement to partner Chelsea in September. The couple could be set for a 2024 wedding.

From bona fide royalty to aristocratic socialites, here are the details of the weddings worth swooning over this year.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett

When: 31 August 2024

Where: Union Hotel in Geiranger

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her partner Durek Verrett in June 2022

Princess Martha Louise - the daughter of King Harald of Norway and Queen Sonja and fourth in line to the Norwegian throne - decided to step back from royal duties in November 2022 in a move labelled Norway's 'Megxit'.

The princess, who describes herself as 'spiritual' and claims to be a clairvoyant, quit her royal role to work alongside her self-proclaimed 'shaman' fiance.

She is set to marry Durek Verrett at the Union Hotel in Geiranger on August 31 2024, the couple announced on Instagram in September.

Posting an identical professional snap of themselves on their social media accounts, the couple said they were 'extremely happy' to have found their wedding venue - while Verrett referred to the princess as his 'goddess'.

The announcement comes after several years of difficulty for the Norwegian royals which culminated in Martha Louise's decision to step down as a working member of the family - which she revealed has been filled with 'turmoil'.

Eyebrows were raised when the princess first began dating Verrett, who holds some controversial and pseudoscientific views, including that cancer in children can be caused by 'being unhappy'.

Announcing the wedding venue for next year's ceremony on Instagram, Verrett posted a professional photo in which the couple look loved-up, with himself dressed in a pink tuxedo with a sparkling button, while Martha opted for a flowing white, Grecian-style dress.

He wrote: 'My beloved Princess Martha Louise and I are happy to announce our upcoming wedding at the Union Hotel in Geiranger in Norway on August 31st 2024. '

Verrett went on to explain the hotel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which 'represents Norways rich culture and striking nature'.

He continued: 'Martha and I are extremely happy to celebrate our love in Geirangers beautiful surroundings.

'It means a lot to us to gather family and friends in a place so rich in Norwegian history and with such a spectacular nature surrounding our big moment. Geiranger is the perfect place to embrace our love.'

Princess Martha posted a near-identical announcement on her Instagram profile which accompanied the same photo.

As the couple plan their big day, the dust appears to have settled among the Norwegian Royal Family following Princess Martha's decision to step down.

In an interview with the BBC earlier this year, she praised her parents, King Harald an Queen Sonja, for keeping the dialogue open while she made her decision and they worked out the details about how the arrangements would work.

When asked about her decision in comparison with Harry and Meghan, who also stepped down as senior royals, she spoke about her 'amazing' family, including King Harald and Queen Sonja, and how the dialogue between them has always remained open.

The princess, who describes herself as 'spiritual' and claims to be a clairvoyant, quit her royal role to work alongside her self-proclaimed 'shaman' fiance

Princess Martha Louise of Norway announced her engagement to Durek in June

'What I think has been amazing through this whole cycle has been the conversations we have had through it all,' she said.

'From a very young age I remember my mum and dad saying (the King and Queen saying) that we always have to stick together. We always have to talk things through even if it's hard, we have to put all the cards on the table because we are family and we have to work things through.'

The Norwegian royal also discussed how her fiance's controversial 'views' had contributed to how the public viewed her position in the royal family.

She said: 'The Norwegian people I guess... have decided it's best for me to step down because of his views about things.'

Durek, who describes himself as a 'Shaman', was dropped by his publisher shortly after the couple announced their engagement in June 2022 over pseudoscientific claims he made in his book 'Spirit Hacking'.

Among the claims were that children 'can get cancer from being unhappy'.

Durek has also claimed he once came back from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by letting his soul 'burn' and he has also spoken of having to undergo a kidney transplant from his sister as a child.

It is unclear why he needed the kidney or how he became wheelchair bound, as he has described. The illness which sent him into a coma is also undisclosed.

Hugh Grosvenor and Olivia Henson

When: 7 June 2024

Where: Chester Cathedral

The 7th Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor proposed to his girlfriend of two years Olivia Henson at his family home at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, it was announced on April 23rd (The couple in an official photo released to mark their engagement)

Prince William (R) is greeted by General Timothy Granville-Chapman (2R), Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster (2L) and John Peace (L) as he arrives to attend the official handover of the newly built Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre in 2018

Billionaire aristocrat the Duke of Westminster, who is Prince George's godfather, announced his engagement to his girlfriend of two years in April this year.

Hugh Grosvenor, 32, who is thought to own more land than the King, proposed to Olivia Henson at his family seat, Eaton Hall in Cheshire.

The aristocrat, who inherited his title and estate from his father, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the sixth Duke of Westminster, upon his death in 2016 released a statement about the happy news.

It read: 'The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson are delighted to announce they are engaged to be married.

'The couple, who have been together for two years, recently became engaged at the Duke's family home at Eaton Hall in Cheshire. Members of both their families are absolutely delighted with the news.

'Hugh Grosvenor, The Duke of Westminster, is Grosvenor's Chair as well as Chair of the Westminster Foundation. Miss Henson works for Belazu, a B-Corp certified food company based in London.'

The Duke's father Gerald Grosvenor suffered a sudden heart attack while out on a country walk, and died aged 64 in 2016.

Hugh succeeded his father, becoming an instant billionaire. As the 7th Duke of Westminster, he inherited a fortune of 9.3billion.

Kate, William, Harry and Meghan view tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor in September 2022

He also inherited 300 acres across London's Mayfair and Belgravia  two of the most expensive areas in the world  as well as estates in Oxford, Scotland and properties around the globe - including the 10,872-acre family estate at Eaton Hall in Cheshire.

Close friends with the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke is the youngest of Prince George's godparents.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's absence from the guest list for the high society nuptials at Chester Cathedral attracted significant interest recently, not least because the Duke of Sussex and Hugh are childhood friends.

Hugh, who invited the Prince and Princess of Wales, was said to have wanted to ask the Sussexes too but decided against it to avoid clashes on his big day between the warring royal brothers.

He was also believed to be mindful of a row that complicated his sister's wedding at the same venue in 2004, when Camilla Parker Bowles was invited but told to sit away from Prince Charles to avoid the Queen seeing them together.

However, a different account later emerged in Page Six, with an insider claiming that Harry had been sent a 'save the date' for the wedding only for the prince to phone Hugh and tell him it would be 'too awkward' for him and Meghan to attend.

'Harry actually got a ''save the date'' card a few months ago but called Hugh and said it would be too awkward if he and Meghan Markle attended, so he made his apologies and Hugh understood,' the Sussex insider was quoted as saying.

Hugh is to marry his partner at Chester Cathedral on June 7. The King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince George, who is the Duke's godson, are all invited.

But Hugh was worried about anything 'overshadowing' the day, a friend of Harry and William said.

'Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry's who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both,' the friend told the Times.

'He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it's unlikely to happen before the wedding. He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn't want any awkwardness.'

A spokesman for the Duke said: 'We are not in a position to comment on the guest list.' Buckingham Palace also declined to comment.

Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and Anisha Isa Kalebic

When: January 2024

Where: TBC

The Sultan of Brunei and Prince Abdul Mateen attended the wedding of Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Rajwa Alseif in June

In October, the Sultan of Brunei announced that his son, Prince Abdul Mateen, will marry Anisha Isa Kalebic in January 2024.

Prince Abdul Mateen, 32, is the son of The Sultan and his former second wife Hajah Miriam Abdul Aziz.

He is the youngest of three siblings to get married, following his two older sisters Princess Fadzilah and Princess Azemah, who tied the knot in January 2022 and January 2023 respectively.

'By the royal command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam, the palace has announced the upcoming wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen and Anisha Isa Kalebic will be held from 7 to 16 January 2024,' read an official announcement.

The celebration will start with the proposal of marriage ceremony to receive the Royal Command, followed by performances from royal court musicians to officially mark the beginning of the wedding.

The matrimony will be solemnised at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque on January 11.

After this, the royal wedding reception will be held, featuring an opulent banquet attended by guests from across the globe.

Alby Shale and Chelsea Peters

When: TBC

Where: TBC

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi took to Instagram to celebrate the happy news of Alby Shale's (left) engagement to his fiance Chelsea (right)

Earlier this year, Albemarle Alby Shale - the godson of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York - got engaged to a woman called Chelsea Peters.

Alby is the son of Nicola Williams-Ellis, who is also the mother of Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, husband of Fergies daughter Princess Beatrice.

Albys father, Christopher Shale, who died at Glastonbury Festival in 2011, was a close associate of former prime minister David Cameron.

I am so delighted and proud of my godson, the Duchess told The Daily Mail's Richard Eden.

His father would be skipping with joy and happiness. Alby and Chelsea are a superb couple. Chelsea is magical and I wish them all the happiness for their future.

Elsewhere, property mogul Edo, 39, took to Instagram to celebrate the happy news of his New York-based, half-brother Alby's engagement to his fiancee Chelsea.

Sarah Ferguson (pictured right, with Edo, left, and Alby, centre, in March 2016 in London), Duchess of York celebrated the news that her godson, Albemarle Alby Shale, has got engaged, to a woman called Chelsea Peters

The caption also hinted towards Edo's feelings for Beatrice as he wrote: 'Finding that special someone is truly the greatest blessing in life.'

Edo's post showed Alby as he smiled behind his partner while donning a shirt with the top buttons casually undone. Chelsea shared a big grin while leaning on the shoulder of her fiance.

She sported a metallic strappy top with a pair of tortoise-shell shades. Alby, who maintains a low profile, is a social entrepreneur and founder of Life is Meeting.

In the caption, Edo gushed over his 'little bro Alby' and said: 'Your engagement news fills my heart with so much happiness.'

The caption read: 'So happy for my little bro Alby and Chelsea! Finding that special someone is truly the greatest blessing in life. Your engagement news fills my heart with so much happiness.

'Wishing you both a lifetime of love, laughter, and endless adventures!'

Iman Pahlavi and Bradley Sherman

When: TBC

Where: TBC

This year, Princess Iman Pahlavi - the granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran - got engaged to her boyfriend of three years

This year, Princess Iman Pahlavi - the granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran - got engaged to her boyfriend of three years.

In loved-up photos shared in August, the royal, 29, appeared full of joy with her fiance Bradley Sherman, who seemed to have organised a romantic beach proposal.

Shots of the tender moment showed Bradley down on one knee, surrounded by torches and flower petals, as a visibly emotional Iman covered her face in surprise.

Other snaps pictured them embracing by the shore, and posing with family members including her parents Yasmine Pahlavi and Reza Pahlavi - the former Crown Prince of Iran - and her sisters Noor and Farah.

'Our sweet Iman got engaged this weekend,' Yasmine wrote in a joint Instagram post with her husband.

'She and Bradley have been dating for three years. Weve watched their relationship blossom and are so happy that they have made a commitment to share their lives together.'

The royal, 29, appeared full of joy in loved-up photos with her fiance Bradley Sherman, who looks to have organised an elaborately romantic beach proposal

According to Town&Country Magazine, Iman is currently understood to be working at American Express and both reside in New York City.

The couple first met in 2017 through mutual friends, EUROdayFR reports, and are understood to have moved in together during the Covid-19 pandemic. The outlet also says Bradley is originally from Chicago.

While details of the upcoming nuptials are yet to emerge, Iman's family has a history of elaborate celebrations.

In 1959, her grandfather Mohammad Reza Shah - the last Shah of Iran - had a lavishly memorable wedding to the 21-year-old Farah Diba, while he was 40.

As a young Queen of Iran, Farah's December 1959 wedding was the object of much curiosity and received worldwide press attention.

Her gown was designed by Yves Saint Laurent, then a designer at the house of Dior, and she wore the newly commissioned Noor-ol-Ain Diamond tiara.

Louisa Wentworth-Stanley and Ludovic de Ferranti

When: TBC

Where: TBC

Louisa Wentworth-Stanley (pictured right, with Georgia Rothman, in 2018) is engaged to Ludovic de Ferranti, the founder of a gold mining business

Louisa Wentworth-Stanley is engaged to Ludovic de Ferranti, the founder of a gold mining business.

The whole family is thrilled, one of their friends told The Daily Mail's Richard Eden in January 2023.

The couple could exchange vows at the Hampshire estate of Ludovics father, businessman Adrian de Ferranti.

He once caused a stir when he erected a 9ft-tall nude sculpture of the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes in the grounds. Some neighbours claimed it was offensive and could cause a car crash.
She has amassed a huge social media following from documenting her trip

She decided to make the most of life and has embarked on a nine-month cruise

After losing both of her parents to cancer and discovering she inherited a gene for breast, ovarian and skin cancer, Angie Linderman is determined to live her best life.

The 38-year-old, who was told she had the BRCA2 gene mutation, underwent a preventative double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery to lower her risk of cancer.

Realizing how short life is, the Pacific Northwest native decided to also embark on the Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise and spend a whopping nine months at sea.

'There is no way I'm waiting to do s*** till I retire,' Angie told her followers in a now-viral TikTok video. 'Because that's not promised to any of us.'

After losing both of her parents to cancer and discovering she inherited a gene for breast, ovarian and skin cancer, Angie Linderman (pictured) was determined to live her best life

The 38-year-old decided to also embark on the Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise and spend a whopping nine months at sea

The freelance marketing consultant left for her journey earlier in December, and will spend 274 days at sea onboard the Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas.

The cruise will visit more than 60 countries, with passengers seeing 11 wonders of the world - on a vacation that cost anywhere between $53,000 to more than $105,000.

While Angie won't be back on dry land until late 2024, she's sprung to social media stardom with her TikTok videos, amassing more than 160,000 followers on the app from documenting her journey on the ship.

Her decision to board the mega-cruise came after a tumultuous few years. Angie's father passed away at 65 from prostate cancer in 2013, and her mother died at the same age from breast cancer in August 2021.

'My family's genetics aren't lining me up to let me have a terribly long life so doing all the things I can now is kind of the motto,' Angie explained in a TikTok video.

Angie made the decision to continue working while on board the ship, but scaled back to part-time to enjoy her travels, with her brother, sister-in-law and his children also on board.

In a TikTok, Angie explained she could afford the trip, and to cut back on work, as she inherited some money from her parents when they passed.

'I've always really loved to travel and always wanted that to be how I spend my time and money,' she explained.

The freelance marketing consultant left for her journey earlier in December, and will spend 274 days at sea onboard the Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas

Angie is traveling with her brother, sister-in-law and their three children (pictured)

Angie has amassed more than 160,000 followers from documenting her cruise travels

Angie admitted her genetic makeup has spurred her to embrace the now, rather than waiting until she's older to tick things off her bucket list.

'[The cruise] seemed like the most logical way to do it,' she added.

Before embarking on her journey, Angie often shared her health updates to social media.

'I had a double preventative mastectomy, which means removing all breast tissue including my nipples,' she explained.

She continued saying she had reconstructive surgery and now has implants.

'I will do the same with my ovaries when I get back from the cruise,' she added.

Angie also told USA Today: 'It was nice to have those moments when I was recovering and not myself to know this trip was happening and to be looking forward to all those experiences.'

Angie regularly shared updates about her day-to-day life on board the giant vessel

The ship departed from Miami, Florida on December 10, 2023, and will return on September 10, 2024.

There are four legs of the mega-cruise, which lasts for 274 nights, visiting 11 world wonders, and 60-plus countries.

The first leg, the Ultimate Americas Cruise, passengers will travel to islands in the Caribbean to Antarctica.

They'll then embark on the Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise, where they'll travel to Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

This is followed by the Ultimate Middle East and Med part of the cruise, spotlighting Dubai, Egypt, Greece and Croatia, before looping around Europe and across to New York.

The 90,090-ton, 2,100-passenger vessel has a spa pool, library, cinema, slot machines, plenty of decking space, a two-floor dining space, and a shopping arcade.
A bride has reflected on her 'over the top' decision to wear four wedding dresses when she married her husband this year.

Londoner Monique Amaka, 30, married her husband Bunmi, 31, in July and wanted to up the style stakes on her big day.

To bring maximum glamour to the affair, the TikToker picked out the four gowns for the wedding, and then asked her partner to pick four outfits of his own to match each dress.

Throughout the day they made the outfit changes, taking approximately 30 minutes at a time.

Her first dress, which she wore for their western ceremony, and cost 1,600, was a white Mikado silk wedding gown, and the couple's three-year-old daughter Aaliyah wore a bridesmaid dress from the same material.

Monique Amaka, 30, who married her husband Bunmi in July, wore a total of four wedding gowns to celebrate the occasion

Her second was a white and gold beaded dress in a nod to her Igbo heritage, which was handmade in Nigeria and gifted by her family.

Monique, who works as a content creator, picked a cornflower blue number, traditional to Bunmi's tribe, Yoruba, for her third outfit.

This one was also gifted to Monique - who admits she is an 'extra' person which is slang for someone who can be over the top - as a wedding present and was also made for her in Nigeria.

Londoner Monique wore dresses that were tailored for her on her wedding day, including a form-fitting white beaded gown

After picking out her wedding dresses, Monique asked her now-husband Bunmi to choose outfits that coordinated with hers

Monique and Bunmi tied the knot in July - and Monique joked her husband didn't have a choice but to go along with the bespoke outfits

The couple's three-year-old daughter Aaliyah wore a bridesmaid dress made from the same material as one of her mother's gowns

The couple first got together while they were both students at the University of Bedfordshire in 2011

Both traditional outfits were worn for their Nigerian wedding that followed after their western ceremony.

The bespoke dresses took eight months to make and Monique didn't see them until the week of the wedding.

Her last dress change was a form-fitting, white, beaded garment which was also tailored for her in Nigeria.

Monique, from London, said: 'I'm quite an extra person so our wedding day wasn't going to be an exception.

'I knew I wanted to honour our Nigerian culture and having multiple dresses is part of that - plus it was really fun.

Monique said it was 'really special' to see her daughter, who was bridesmaid, wearing a gown that had been made from the same material as her mother's dress

The family had many of their outfits made in Nigeria, but the gowns and suits were later shipped over to London where the pair married

Monique said that the dress changes were not rehearsed but she was relieved that they went 'smoothly'

'We didn't have any rehearsals for the dress changes, but they surprisingly went smoothly.

'I didn't see my second and third dresses until the wedding shoot, five days before the big day because they were tailored in Nigeria.

'The dress I had made as a symbol of my husband's tribe was still on the plane the morning of our wedding shoot but luckily it made it to London in time.

'I think my favourites were my classic white wedding gown or my blue Yoruba wedding dress with the matching head tie.

'Seeing our little Aaliyah in matching material was so special- she looked like an angel.

'Bunmi went along with it all - like he really had a choice though!'

The couple who met whilst studying at the University of Bedfordshire in 2011, welcomed their daughter, Aaliyah in May 2020.

Bunmi, who works in property management, proposed in March 2022 in Dubai while the family were on holiday.

Deciding they didn't want a 'long engagement' the couple got straight to wedding planning, which included dress shopping.

Monique relied on help from family members who arranged for her traditional dresses to be made in Lagos, Nigeria, which were given as bridal gifts.

'Bunmi and I are from different tribes, so it was important that we had traditional outfits to represent that,' Monique said.

'I put a lot of trust in the process because all we gave the Nigerian seamstress were my measurements and preferences over WhatsApp and I didn't see the dresses in person until the month of the wedding.

'I was nervous that they wouldn't get here in time or wouldn't fit but all worries melted away when I was able to try them on.

'I was able to go dress shopping with my mum, sister, grandma and auntie for my white wedding dress and I tried on over 20 which was incredibly fun.'

On 20 July 2023, the couple had 450 guests at their wedding venue, Meridian Grand, North London, starting with their western wedding ceremony in the morning and their traditional Nigerian ceremony straight afterwards at the same venue.

Monique said: 'Don't get me wrong, it was manic behind the scenes but I had such an amazing bridal crew that helped me.

'I'd definitely recommend any brides who are thinking of having multiple outfit changes, to make sure they have pragmatic and calm people around them.

'Any bride will tell you; the whole day goes by in a flash but the outfit changes helped break up the day.

'I was able to take 30 minutes to step away and put on a different gown.

'However, I was glad when I had my fourth and final dress on because it was the sparkiest thing I've ever worn and it meant party time!'
Prince Harry portrayed his older brother a 'villain' in his memoir Spare, Rebecca English has told Palace Confidential.

Speaking on the Mail+'s weekly talk show, the Daily Mail's royal editor said the Duke of Sussex, 39, surprised audiences by depicting the Prince of Wales, 41, as a villainous figure in the story.

'We thought it might be the King and the Queen who were the villains of the piece, but it actually turned out to be his older brother,' Rebecca said.

In conversation with the Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden and show host Jo Elvin, Rebecca made a link between William's villainous depiction and Harry's detailing of an explosive brotherly argument detailed in the book.

Harry claimed he was left with visible 'scrapes and bruises' after allegedly being attacked by his brother. He claimed: '[William] grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor.'

Rebecca English (pictured) discussed Prince Harry's memoir Spare on this week's episode of PALACE CONFIDENTIAL

The father-of-three's highly anticipated memoir reached bookshelves across the globe in January this year, and it became the biggest selling memoir ever for its first week of publication, according to publishers Transworld, the UK division of Penguin Random House.

From colourful disclosure about Harry's frost-bitten penis to more serious subjects of a brotherly rift and intricate details of a private argument between Kate Middleton, 41, and Meghan Markle, 42, the book raised eyebrows across the globe.

For Rebecca, it was information about a specific argument between William and Harry that painted the Prince of Wales as a 'villain'.

'They did everything together, so to see that explode once and for all so nastily was actually really sad to see,' Rebecca said.

She added that the explosive details in Spare have resulted in William's radio silence towards Harry  a reality unlikely to change any time soon, according to the royal editor.

It also contained an allegation that William and their father Charles confronted him after Prince Philip's funeral 'looking for a fight'.

Harry also alleged that William and Kate urged him to wear his infamous Nazi fancy dress outfit.

In addition, the Duke revealed his father's medical ailments and the fact the King still carries around his favourite teddy bear.

According to the London-based journalist, Prince Harry (pictured above at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023) painted Prince William as a 'villain'

Harry's memoir Spare, which was released in January, included a number of eyebrow raising details

He cast William as his 'arch-nemesis', Queen Camilla as a 'wicked stepmother' and Charles as an emotionally-stunted and ineffectual 'old man'.

Elsewhere on the show, the panel discussed the effects Omid Scobie's bombshell book Endgame.

On the topic, Rebecca said: 'It's raised uncomfortable situations again for the family, I include Harry and Meghan in that, that they were hopeful in trying to bury.'

She added: 'The issue of trust has come up again because people have spoken to Omid Scobie, and I can tell you now that it's not people at Buckingham palace.'

Endgame, a follow-up to Scobie's 2020 book Finding Freedom, dropped to 215th on the Amazon bestseller list after just a week on the shelves.

It was widely pilloried even by normally sympathetic media outlets such as the New York Times, which described one chapter as 'like a press release cooked up by ChatGPT'.

Most of the reaction to the book has focused on its Dutch language edition, which included the names of the two family members accused by the Duchess of Sussex of 'unconscious bias'.

The book claimed Meghan had named the King as well as daughter-in-law Kate in letters she wrote to him on the issue.

Yet even this controversy has done little to boost its success, with Nielsen putting British sales figures for the first five days at 6,448.
You've probably heard about pheromones attracting potential romantic partners, but have you considered certain scents could be catching the attention of spiders?

Beauty lovers have taken to the Sephora website to claim that the wildly popular Sol de Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter doesn't just hydrate - it also attracts wolf spiders.

The comments quickly went viral on X, formerly Twitter, and Reddit, where amateur arachnologists investigated the rumors.

FEMAIL spoke to experts to find out whether there's any truth to the creepy crawly claims.

Beauty lovers flocked to the Sephora website to claim that the wildly popular Sol de Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter doesn't just hydrate - it also attracts wolf spiders

Samantha Ruddy brought the rumors to light when they tweeted on X, 'They're doing spider science over on the Sephora Reddit,' sharing screenshots of comments on the store's site

Reviewers of the Delicia Drench Body Butter for Intense Moisture and Skin Barrier Repair claimed that the body butter attracts wolf spiders

On December 26, Samantha Ruddy brought the rumors to light when they tweeted, 'They're doing spider science over on the Sephora Reddit,' sharing screenshots of comments on the beauty chain's site.

Creepy crawly alert! What ingredients DO attract spiders Pheromones are chemicals that humans and animals secrete

Wolf spiders are not a threat to people, although it's possible to be allergic to their venom

According to a Spiders FAQ article on pheromones in wolf spider mating, there are several chemicals that attract female wolf spiders

Linalool oxide is one, which is often used as a scent in lotion

The scent has floral and fruity notes Advertisement

Reviewers of the Delicia Drench Body Butter for Intense Moisture and Skin Barrier Repair claimed that the cream attracts wolf spiders, with one person declaring that after using the lotion they saw one wolf spider a day.

Another person wrote, 'If you're a fan of soft, hydrated skin with a tropical scent that screams vacation (and spiders), then this is the cream for you. Had to call multiple people because I can't even sleep in my own house anymore. There is a literal family of wolf spiders living in every room in my house.'

A third review read: 'I like the smell and the consistency. However, every time Ive worn this Ive noticed spiders. Google image named them as wolf spiders.'

Despite the spider-mentioning reviews, the cream has 4.6 stars out of 5 on the beauty site.

In the frequently asked questions section on the site, a concerned shopper asked, 'Does it actually attract spiders? I am deathly afraid of spiders so I wanna know before I buy it,' to which a commenter accused the same reviewer of writing 'two long upsetting reviews about spiders' for different products, calling the reviews 'unhinged' and 'defamatory.'

Despite the FAQ answer, commenters had a field day on Twitter with the ridiculous reviews. One person quipped, 'So for a mere $48, I can send my enemies a cream that has them attacked by spiders. Noted.'

'For a mere $48 I can no longer be lonely,' one X user joked, as another jested, 'Absolutely gifting my boss this.'

Although there were only a few negative reviews on Sephora, people on X had a field day with the comments, and some were worried about buying the cream

'Attacked see I saw this as a magical cream that shows me how to gather mystical spider friends. To each their own,' another popular X comment read.

One body butter fan asked, 'Is it just this purple one, or the yellow and blue ones??? If it's all of them from this brand, I'm tossing mine,' to which someone else assured them it's only the purple tub.

Another deterred potential beauty buyer tweeted, 'Thank god you posted it because I hate critters and I've been looking at this brand recently.'

Some were simply confused about the ingredients, saying, 'The person who made that has got to be a witch or something, like, how do you just make a lotion that attracts spiders?!'

Others suggested people use the same brand's Brazilian Bum Bum cream ($48), writing, 'Get the Bum Bum cream. Years of use. No spiders chased me.'

The rumor reached Reddit, where one person asked the Sephora community if anyone had used the now-infamous body butter

The rumor then reached Reddit, where one person asked the Sephora community, 'anyone who's used the Sol de Janeiro wolf spider cream' to 'please come forward with your results.'

'This is now a Sephora urban legend and I adore it,' a commenter replied.

Others fancied themselves amateur arachnologists, and took it upon themselves to research the ingredients, claiming that certain chemicals 'might bring all the thirsty boy spiders to your yard.'

'The only thing worse than a spider running at me would be a spider running at me due to arousal, thank you for your research,' a Reddit user joked.

Some people shared their own personal arachnid anecdotes.

One wrote, 'My coworker has been finding random spiders roaming her desk for weeks. I asked her if she used the Sol de Janeiro body butter and she pulled it out of her desk.'

Dr. Sadick explained that no skincare has been shown to attract insects, and the only way body butter could attract spiders or bugs would be if the products had a particularly pungent odor

Neil Sadick, a clinical professor of dermatology at Weil College Cornell with his own private practice in Manhattan, told FEMAIL that no clinical studies had been done that prove the ingredients in the cream lured spiders.

Dr. Sadick went on to explain that no skincare had been shown to attract insects, and the only way body butter could potentially attract any spiders or bugs would be if the products had a particularly pungent odor.

Amarillo, Texas-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rouzbeh Kordestani agreed with Dr. Sadick, and told DailyMail.com that there was 'no evidence or studies that would support those ingredients alone attract male spiders.'

'However, it could be the mix and match of the person's natural pheromones,' Dr. Kordestani explained, adding, 'That could be the attraction.'

'A person's pheromones could also be an insect deterrent,' Dr. Kordestani continued.

'It all depends on the individual's body chemistry.

'Unfortunately, or fortunately, this is a case-by-case situation entirely decided by the person wearing it.'

Board certified dermatologist Joseph Del Priore in San Diego, California, agreed and explained that while one study in the Journal of Chemical Ecology in 2009 concluded that certain ingredients attract male spiders, it's not referring to wolf spiders.

'According to the ingredient list found online, this specific combination is not found in this Sol de Janeiro body butter cream,' Dr. Priore continued. 'There is no evidence that shows that the ingredients found in this product attract any type of spider.'
The water-based fruit is said to help balance your nutrients

One doctor has even given her stamp of approval

People on the web have claimed eating a cucumber helps prevent a hangover

The latest TikTok trend sees people chomping on a whole cucumber to avoid the throbbing headache that comes after a night of drinking.

People on the web have turned to the water-based fruit to stop them from getting a hangover.

And not only is the unusual hack loved by content creators, it has also been given the stamp of approval by doctors.

So, the next time you find yourself struggling with post-alcohol agony after having one too many drinks, this ultimate hangover cure can help save you.

The latest TikTok trend sees people chomping on a whole cucumber to avoid the throbbing headache that comes after a night of drinking

People on the web have turned to the water-based fruit to stop them from getting a hangover

So, the next time you find yourself struggling with post-alcohol agony after having one too many drinks, this ultimate hangover cure can help save you

Content creator Chloe Ellen took to the video-sharing app to share footage of herself eating a cucumber before a night out.

Although many users suggested you eat the whole fruit at once, Chloe had a slightly different approach.

While chomping on a cucumber, she said: 'Eat half a cucumber before you start drinking and another half before bed and thank me later.'

In the comments section, she referred to the hack as a 'life-saver.'

Another content creator Kerry Denevan also took to TikTok to gush about the benefits.

'Eat a cucumber before you go out if you don't want to be hungover,' she said.

After a night out of drinking, Kerry once again took to the video-sharing platform and told viewers she felt 'fantastic.'

One doctor even chimed into the conversation to reveal if cucumbers really did help prevent hangovers.

People on the web flooded the comments section and raved about the hack

Dr. Janine Bowring explained: 'Did you know that an amazing benefit of cucumbers is that you can use them for preventing a hangover?'

She added that the B vitamins and calcium in cucumbers can help balance your nutrients after having too much alcohol so 'that you don't get a hangover.'

People on the web flooded the comments section and raved about the hack.

One person said: '[I've] been doing this for the last two years and [it's worked] fab.'

Someone else wrote: 'That's smart.'

'That's actually a great idea,' another commented.

In the past, Dr. Chris Jackson, a doctor of pharmacy from Austin, Texas, went viral on TikTok after offering insight into how to get rid of post-alcohol illness

'Done this for years. So good for hydration,' someone else added.

In the past, doctors have raved about another hangover hack.

Dr. Chris Jackson, a doctor of pharmacy from Austin, Texas, went viral on TikTok after offering insight into how to get rid of post-alcohol illness by submerging your face in a large bowl of ice water.

He was praised for his 'hack' that sees people dunking their face in a bowl of ice water to help relieve the pounding headaches, nausea, dizziness and sensitivity to light and sound that come along with a hangover.
The Prince and Princess of Wales reveal their highlights from the year

The Prince and Princess of Wales have released a sweet photo round-up of the year, sharing pictures of their royal engagements and unseen family pictures with their children.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, their official account posted a video with the caption: '2023 [tick emoji]. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our year.'

The snaps showed William with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a sweet unseen photo from their Father's Day shoot.

The image also contains a subtle but poignant tribute to the children's great-grandmother, because they are posing on a bench installed at Windsor to commemorate the late Queen's 90th birthday on April 19, 2016.

It was taken by photographer and family friend Millie Pilkington earlier this year on the Windsor Estate  possibly at the same time she took the images of Louis in a wheelbarrow to mark his fifth birthday in April.

The snaps showed William with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a sweet unseen photo from their Father's Day shoot

Another picture showed William with well-wishers

The video was titled 'This is 2023' and showed clips of the family at the Coronation

Another snap showed William with Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings in Sheffield for World Mental Health Day

Snaps of Kate in at the Irish Guards' St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot show her, fittingly, in green

Many photos show Kate in her Shaping Us campaign - including with broadcaster Roman Kemp

Another showed William meeting well-wishers, as well as Kate Middleton with broadcaster Roman Kemp, at a beehive and watching the Six Nations.

Other pictures included the Coronation, various events of the Shaping Us campaign and St Patrick's Day.

Snaps of Kate at the Irish Guards' St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot show her, fittingly, in green.

At the time, the princess said: 'I really couldn't be prouder to stand in front of you here today. It really is a true honour to be your Colonel. I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do  this is a responsibility I do not take lightly.'

Another showed her enjoying her lesser-known passion of beekeeping - a hobby she shares with her brother.

The mother-of-three, 41, fully embraced the endeavour for World Bee Day in May, wearing a beekeeper's suit as she tended to a busy hive in the grounds of Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The image, taken by Matt Porteous, the royal photographer behind Prince William and Kate's official family photographs, last year, shows the princess lifting a part of the hive to collect honey.

She grins from inside the beekeeper's helmet as she does, glancing down at the group of honeybees who have crowded around the board.

The photograph was posted on Kensington Royal's Instagram to mark World Bee Day.

The pictures show how William met hundreds of well-wishers throughout the year

The competitive couple took part in a spin class during a visit to Wales

In June, they headed to the Jordanian royal wedding

Another snap showed Kate looking glamorous at a state banquet

Wearing a suit, Kate launched her early childhood Shaping Us campaign

Pictures showed the busy working royals at various official events

In this snap the couple are dressed to the nines for a diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace

One photo showed the royal children posting letters at Kate's royal carol concert

The prince and princess at the Royal Variety Performance, with Kate in a sleek Safiyaa gown

Their infectious smiles helped them break the ice during their visits around the country

Another shows the couple taking part in a spin class during a visit to Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre in Port Talbot.

Challenged to a 45-second race in which Kate even asked if she could turn the bike's resistance up and 'make it harder', the pair battled it out as they were cheered on by onlookers.

Another snap shows Kate playing the piano during the Eurovision song contest in April.

Princess of Wales opened the final of Eurovision in spectacular fashion, with a touching piano performance tribute to Ukraine.

Other sweet snaps showed the Wales children posting letters during Kate's carol concert, as well as their Christmas card shoot.

The round-up also included their Christmas card photoshoot

Another snap shows Kate at the Royal Naval Air Station in Yeovil, Somerset

Wrapped up against the cold, William and Kate applaud during a sporting event

One picture showed George on his tenth birthday
She accessorized with a silver necklace that had a letter B pendant on it

Jeff Bezos' fiancee showed off her stunning curves in the shot

Lauren Sanchez put on a busty display as she soaked up the sun in a white, lacy bikini.

The former TV personality, 54, uploaded a snap that featured her sitting in a two-piece swimsuit to Instagram on Friday.

The journalist showed off her stunning curves in the shot as she sat on a lounge chair and smiled away from the camera.

She accessorized the ensemble with a silver necklace that had a letter B pendant on it, a sparkling choker, big shades, and a straw sun hat.

Lauren Sanchez put on a busty display as she soaked up the sun in a white, lacy bikini

Jeff Bezos' fiancee uploaded a snap that featured her lounging in a two-piece swimsuit to Instagram on Friday. The couple is seen together in March

One day prior, she posted a picture on her Instagram Stories that showcased her posing on a small white vessel in a blue bikini and denim shorts alongside her sister, Elena Sanchez Blair

The photo seemed to have been taken on a floating vessel, presumably her fiance Jeff Bezos' $500 million superyacht.

Lauren didn't caption the image, but it quickly raked in hundreds of likes.

The mom-of-three has been flaunting her toned physique a lot on her social media recently.

One day prior, she posted a picture on her Instagram Stories that showcased her posing on a small white vessel in a blue bikini and denim shorts alongside her sister, Elena Sanchez Blair.

Last week, she also shared a slew of photos from her 54th birthday celebration, during which she wore a barely-there red dress.

The figure-hugging gown boasted a revealing cut-out right below her chest, a sheer section over her midriff, and a long, flowing skirt.

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 billionaire Amazon founder, 59, 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.

Last week, she also shared a slew of photos from her 54th birthday celebration, during which she wore a barely-there red dress

Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to other people

The businessman - who is the third richest man in the world and has a reported net worth of $175 billion - and the former TV star 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 the mogul 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.'

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)

The couple celebrated Christmas together in Miami, Florida, as photographers caught them walking with their arms around one another during the holiday season (seen)

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.'

The couple celebrated Christmas together in Miami, Florida, as photographers caught them walking with their arms around one another on the holiday.

The spotting came one month after Jeff 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 celebrated Lauren's birthday on the Caribbean island St. Barts.

The couple partied alongside a slew of other celebrities, moguls, and entrepreneurs on Jeff's yacht. The pair was also photographed exploring the island.
A popular Aussie food reviewer has named what he believes to be the eight worst products to hit supermarket shelves and takeaway menus in 2023.

Russ Eats is known for his hilarious and brutal food reviews online and shared his 'Stinker Awards' of the most terrible products released this year.

Topping the list was Coles' Special Burger Sauce Hot Cross Buns which he said 'makes him sick' to think about, while the foodie also hated the much-hyped Prime energy drink and Green's Vegemite chocolate brownie mix.

Russ said Coles' bizarre burger sauce-flavoured hot cross buns earned his number one spot as the worst product of 2023 thanks to the pieces of dried pickle in the dough.

'I still remember the smell opening the packet, it was like when you leave your washing in the washing machine for a few days,' he said.

Scroll down for video

A popular Aussie food reviewer has named what he believes to be the eight worst products to hit supermarket shelves and takeaway menus in 2023

Topping the list was Coles' bizarre Special Burger Sauce flavoured Hot Cross Buns with bits of dried pickle. Second was the McDonald's controversial potato scallop

Fanta released a new soft drink but kept the flavour under wraps. It was later revealed to be apple strudel flavour but Russ likened the taste to 'gumption'

Russ Eats' Stinker Awards: The top eight worst food and drink products of 2023 Coles Special Burger Sauce Hot Cross Buns McDonald's Potato Scallop Fanta WhatTheFanta mystery flavour Prime Energy drink Green's Vegemite Choc Chunk Brownie Mix New V Energy Drink recipe Hungry Jack's Fried chicken boneless pieces Monster Java Loca Mocha Advertisement

Coming in second was McDonald's potato scallop released back in January for a limited time.

Russ said the potato cakes tasted like a 'sponge of oil' and an 'old man's heel' - but he had a bigger gripe than the taste.

'The reason these are so high up on the list is because they released them when we were having a potato shortage around the country,' he said.

The scallops also sparked debate among Macca's fans as Aussies in the southern states were outraged McDonald's went with the name 'scallop' instead of 'potato cake'.

Russ' bronze medal went to Fanta's mystery-flavoured drink.

In September, Fanta announced it was releasing a new purple zero-sugar soft drink but kept the flavour under wraps.

After weeks of Aussies guessing what flavour it could be, it was revealed as Apple Strudel.

Russ did not rate the drink, likening it to 'gumption' and joked he thought it could be used to 'clean your toilet'.

'It was maybe green apple Little Tree air freshener for your car but it wasn't apple strudel,' he said.

Making fourth place in Russ' list was Prime Energy drink which sent Australian teens into a frenzy when it hit convenience stores late last year before it was released at Woolworths months later.

'What an absolute letdown, these were so hyped, people were paying $50 a bottle and then when we finally got to try them they tasted like p***, like straight cordial,' Russ said, before admitting the orange flavour was 'okay'.

Russ did not rate V Energy Drinks' new formula, the much-hyped Prime Energy drink or Monster's coffee flavoured Java Loca Mocha beverage

Russ did not rate Hungry Jack's Jack's Fried Chicken Boneless Pieces likening it to 'home brand airfried processed chicken'

YouTube star Logan Paul and famous boxer KSI released the energy drink that fans were scrambling to get their hands on despite being priced at $12.

Australian stores were being inundated with calls and messages from customers asking if the drink was in stock and there were even rumours of teens selling bottles to their friends at inflated prices.

The hype around Prime has now well and truly died down and it is available at convenience stores and supermarkets for a more reasonable $4.50.

Green's Vegemite Choc Chunk Brownie Mix was Russ' number five worst food of 2023

Green's Vegemite Choc Chunk Brownie Mix was Russ' number five worst food of 2023.

'I'm ashamed I actually baked these in my oven,' he said.

'It tasted like normal brownies that were a little bit salty and a little bit suss that you had cut with the knife you left in the sink that still had vegemite on it.'

V Energy Drink's packaging design changed back in September sparking rumours the brand had also tweaked it's much-loved recipe.

Russ managed to find a can of each of the old and new formulas and put them to the taste test.

He said the old one had the 'classic V twang' but the other had an 'apple sweetness' and tasted like an 'Aldi spin off'.

For a limited time back in April, Hungry Jack's added the Jack's Fried Chicken Boneless Pieces to its menu nationwide.

But Russ did not rate the new snack likening it to 'home brand airfried processed chicken'.

'Permanent brand damage happened because of this launch,' he quipped.

Finally, Russ awarded eighth place to Monster's Java Loca Mocha coffee flavoured energy saying it was like 'instant coffee that went cold'.
Sales of caviar have surged 74 per cent in the last three years

Sales of caviar are booming thanks to a Gen Z trend of taking 'bumps' of the ultra-expensive fish.

Sales of sturgeon roe are up 74 per cent since 2020 globally, according to 360 Research, with British teenagers and those in their early twenties driving the trend.

The industry is expected to grow even further and with the marketed expected to expand by a further 40 per cent by 2027.

Selfridges has seen the sales surge 15 per cent in December, according to the Times, while chefs across the UK are adding the black gold to their menus.

In part, the trend is thanks to millions of people watching videos of people taking 'bumps' of caviar on TikTok.

A bump entails putting a pile of the roe onto the back of your hand and licking it.

Sales of caviar are booming thanks to a Gen Z trend of taking 'bumps' of the ultra-expensive fish (pictured a Tiktoker doing a 'cavair bump')

The industry is expected to grow even further and with the marketed expected to expand by a further 40 per cent by 2027. Pictured: People trying caviar on TikTok

Chefs say eating off skin provides the 'purest tasting' as the flavour is not polluted by cutlery of other foods.

While the trend started with influencers - mostly in high end restaurants - before picking up to ordinary people, with many videoes now on millions of views.

Andrew Bird, head of food at the Selfridges, told the Times that caviar has been seen 'as the preserve of the rich' but now younger people are seeing 'what all the fuss is about'.

'We expect this trend to continue into 2024, with more chefs putting it on their menus and our customers buying it to serve as an impressive appetiser at their dinner parties.'

Beluga cavair, the most expensive type, cost around 600 for a 125g tin. A 'bump' is usually around 7g.

The UK's 'Caviar Queen' Laura King MBE. Renowned for being the UK's leading caviar brand, the Royal Warranted King's Fine Food, is now the UK's leading caviar importer.

She believes that caviar can cure a hangover and says 2023 has been 'absolutely manic'.

'Caviar works very well on the back of your hand,' Laura recently told Tom Parker Bowles.

'However, you need to be very careful about the quality. And, if it's really cheap, whether it's even caviar at all.'

'Beautifully formed eggs, which gently burst between the tongue and roof of the palette. Fresh and clean aroma. Certainly not fishy. And a taste of the sea. But creamy and nutty, too.'

People have taken to TikTok to explain 'how to do a caviar bump'

People put the row of eggs on their hand and lick it in the latest craze to take over the app

Many people are taking caviar with shots of vodka for an added element of luxury

Top restaurants also give 'bumps' of cavair

The price, Laura says, is all down to age of the fish.

'It's all down to the age you have to wait for the sturgeon to produce the eggs,'

What is caviar? Caviar is salt-cured eggs of numerous species of the sturgeon fish. Wild caviar always came from the Black (Russian) and Caspian (Russian and Iranian) Seas, where sturgeons (beluga, oscietra and sevruga caviar are all named after the fish from which they were harvested) once flourished. A beluga could take up to 25 years to reach maturity and produce eggs, its relative rarity meaning prices were sky high. But rampant corruption and overfishing decimated stocks and, since 2008, it's been illegal to sell wild caviar. Everything is now farmed, with Wild caviar always came from the Black (Russian) and Caspian (Russian and Iranian) Seas, where sturgeons (beluga, oscietra and sevruga caviar are all named after the fish from which they were harvested) once flourished. A beluga could take up to 25 years to reach maturity and produce eggs, its relative rarity meaning prices were sky high. But rampant corruption and overfishing decimated stocks and, since 2008, it's been illegal to sell wild caviar. Everything is now farmed, with China 's main supplier providing 200 out of the world's 600-ton annual market, some of it (from Belgium and Italy , as well as China) being of very high quality indeed. Advertisement

'Even for the baeri [kaspia, a species of sturgeon native to Russia], which farms the quickest, it's a minimum of five years. The investment is huge and you lose up to 30 per cent of your initial fingerlings [juvenile fish], which don't mature to produce eggs.'

Waitrose sells an 'affordable' caviar by premium seafood brand Elsinore at 5 per 100g. It's made from lumpfish, native to the North Atlantic and parts of the Arctic Ocean, which matures much more quickly. But it doesn't taste anything like the real thing. Don't expect to be seeing cut-price Imperial Gold in your local Aldi any day soon.



Carla Sora, general manager of Italy's Agroittica Lombarda, Europe's largest caviar farm, told the BBC that the the surge began in lockdown.

Leonid Shutov, chief executive of top London restaurant Bob Bob Ricard told the Telegaph: 'You see it everywhere, cropping up in places you wouldn't expect.

'Most frequently it's a garnish, which is not necessarily doing the most justice to it.

'But sometimes it's justified and delivers an enhanced experience. Gen Z seems to love the idea of caviar, which is surprising.'

In the US, Pringles launched a collab with a cavair brand.

The #CaviarAndPringles TikTok hashtag began after an episode of The Real Housewives of New York City.

In season 14 of RHONY, Erin Lichy raved about the sumptuous Pringle and caviar combination to fellow cast member Jenna Lyons, who tried it and did not mind it.

Unfortunately, there is a catch to the new Pringles collection - the price tag.

Three sets at different price points will be available for $49, $110, and $140.

People have taken to TikTok to share themselves trying caviar

The Pringle and The Caviar Co collection was created shortly after the blowup of the #CaviarAndPringles TikTok trend - which started after Season 14, episode 2 of The Real Housewives of New York

The $140 set comes with Smoked Trout Roe and Classic White Sturgeon caviar, and Original, Sour Cream & Onion and Barbecue Pringles

Those who choose to spend $49 will get a 1.3-ounce container of Pringles Sour Cream & Onion and a jar of The Caviar Company's Smoked Trout Roe with creme fraiche.

For $110, food lovers can get Pringles with the Classic White Sturgeon - caviar that starts at $60 on the company website.

Foodies who can't decide which caviar they prefer can spend $140 to try both - with three containers of Original, Sour Cream & Onion and Barbecue Pringles.

Head of Marketing for US Pringles Mauricio Jenkins said: 'Our partnership with The Caviar Co. not only embraces the trending snacking behavior in an approachable manner, but expertly curates our beloved crisp flavors with this seafood delicacy for a Pringles tasting experience unlike one you've ever had before.'
By Jung Da-hyun

Beginning in 2024, Seoul Metropolitan Government officials with childcare responsibilities will have the flexibility to customize their work schedules according to their children's age groups.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced, Thursday, the implementation of a new system for its workers, empowering them to effectively balance work and childcare.

The system grants pregnant employees the flexibility to prioritize self-care by reducing their daily working hours by two, enabling them to work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This adjustment aims to help them avoid congested commuting hours.

Parents with children aged up to five will be able to manage their working hours flexibly, either leaving work three hours early or arriving three hours late, facilitating time for childcare.

Parents with elementary school children, aged six to eight, who return home early from school, will benefit from the introduction of flexible working hours in the city. This initiative allows them the option to leave work four hours early for four days a week, facilitating their engagement in educational guidance for their children. Compensatory work hours can be extended on another day to ensure overall work commitments are met.

In contrast to the limitations of the existing childcare support system, which faced challenges, the new system will automatically enroll officials to allow them to choose the most suitable work time based on each child's age group.

To further incentivize and recognize employees utilizing these flexible work arrangements, departments with a higher proportion of parents will receive priority in new employee assignments. Additionally, during regular personnel evaluations, employees with childcare responsibilities will be prioritized for placement within their respective departments, thereby reducing their overall workload.

"We hope these efforts will inspire similar initiatives in the private sector, fostering a societal culture where childcare concerns are collectively addressed rather than being solely the responsibility of individuals," said Jung Sang-hoon, the head of the local autonomy administration bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Louise was able to find out who someone was by using PayID

A woman has revealed the 'creepy' reason why you should never give out your phone number to a stranger following a bizarre encounter at her apartment.

Louise, from Melbourne, was home late on a Saturday evening when her intercom buzzed - but she wasn't expecting guests.

Downstairs at the front door to her building was a 'strange' man who insisted she let him up to her apartment floor.

'I tried to take the call but I can't hear him, he can't hear me, so I just hang up thinking he'll realise he's got the wrong apartment,' Louise said in a video.

But the man buzzed again and claimed he had something to tell her.

Instead, at her request, he left his number in her letterbox and Louise was able to find out all his information within minutes. While it helped her in this scenario, it showed just how easy it can be to find out personal details about a stranger.

Louise, from Melbourne, felt unsettled when a man she didn't know rang her apartment doorbell and insisted she let him into her building. She was able to find out who he was after he left his number

'So we have this back and forth when I'm asking him to tell me whatever he needs to say over the intercom because it's 9.30pm on a Saturday night. I don't know who he is and I'm not letting him up to my apartment,' Louise continued.

'I tell him to leave him number in my mailbox, I'm happy to have a conversation with you tomorrow but I'm not letting you up to my floor.

'A little while later he buzzes me to tell me he's left his number in my mailbox and I asked him, 'Why can't you just tell me now?' and he says in a very creepy voice, 'It's complicated' and starts laughing.'

The next day Louise and a friend collect the number and start to do some detective work to try find out who the man is.

She put the number into her PayID which showed a business name. With a quick Google search, she found the business website and social media pages. She was able to find who the man was via the pictures of the people who were tagged in the profile

She put the number into her PayID which showed a business name. With a quick Google search, she found the business website and social media pages.

'We looked up the social media and were able to find the followers and pictures of people who were tagged on the profile,' she said.

'From there we were actually able to find the person and exactly who it was. And then I was able to report it to my building.

'And just like that, I know exactly who that person is, I know where they work, I've been able to connect all these things in their life that no one should really have access to, especially a complete stranger.'

Bearing this in mind, Louise warned singles not to give their mobile number out to people you don't know - especially if they use the same number for PayID.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Louise described the situation as 'bizarre' and she finds it strange that someone would think that kind of 'evasive behaviour' is acceptable.

'It was very unnerving at the time; I knew I was safe in my apartment but I didn't feel okay leaving, not even the next day,' she said.

'I'm still super aware of my surroundings and the times of day that I come and go. I shouldn't have to be so concerned for my safety.

'But the world we live in is a dangerous one, there are far too many men who view women as objects making modern dating very difficult.

READ MORE: Scammer's shocking confession to Aussie who called him out Advertisement

'I'm fortunate to say that the majority of men in my life appreciate women in their right and view women as their equals. It's devastating knowing this isn't the case for a lot of women out there.'

Louise encouraged singles should offer their Instagram instead of a personal number.

'You can simply unfollow or block on Instagram if it doesn't go anywhere,' she said.

But the Instagram account should not contain personal information such as your full name, pictures with street signs or building numbers, work lanyards or name badges with a company logo.

'These precautions are a bit like a locked front door, the lock keeps the innocent out, but it doesn't stop the crazy from trying to get in so the more steps we can take to protect our identity the better!' Louise said.

Louise warned singles not to give their mobile number out to people you don't know - especially if using the number for PayID (stock image)

On TikTok the video has since been viewed more than 86,000 times and many thanked Louise for sharing the advice.

'If he lived above he would be able to get into the building,' one person wrote.

'This is why I use a GoogIe number for dating until after the third or fourth date at least,' another said.

'Such good advice!' a third added, someone else wrote: 'Wow, good to know.'
A thread proved just how far people will go after they're pushed too far

A woman's petty confession resulted in hundreds spilling their guts about the 'pettiest' things they've ever done for revenge.

The first woman saw red when one of her acquaintances crossed a line and made unsavoury comments about her marriage - which led to many confessing their own shameful moves.

'A friend of a friend would bring a specific snack to every event/gathering. She would make a massive deal about how this was her signature recipe and she would never share it, regardless of whether anyone asked,' she shared on X.

'It was tasty and everyone liked it, but on repetition number 20, it got annoying. One day, she got super sh*tty at me about how she felt bad for men with wives with busy careers, since obviously they couldn't be 'well taken care of'.

'So, I went home and spent six hours reverse engineering the recipe, which I then started giving out as Christmas gifts with the recipe attached.'

A woman reverse-engineered a friend's 'signature' dish and gave out recipe cards to everyone

A few confessions were petty but ultimately harmless.

'About 20 years ago, a customer of mine was located in a very high rise building (42nd or 44th floor). I would ride the elevator to the basement and press all the buttons, making it stop at every floor going up,' one man revealed.

'When I wrap presents, I put a prettier bow on depending on how I feel about you right then. If I am mad at you, I will pick out a bow that doesn't match the wrapping paper,' a woman wrote.

But others played devious mind tricks.

'I replaced (some of) my roommate's underwear with one size down,' one said.

'Had a truly terrible roommate who was quitting caffeine so I switched her decaf for regular. And then when she got used to the regular, I switched it back to decaf,' another added.

A few played 'pranks' on ex-partners.

'Cancelled my now ex-husband's first class ticket back to medical school the night before his flight after I found out he had a girlfriend,' a woman said.

'When I was annoyed at my ex, I went in to use the bathroom before he wanted to take a shower. I turned on the hot water in the bathtub until it ran cold. This was in the days before 'on demand' water heaters, 35 years ago!' another revealed.

A third shared, 'During my divorce, I changed all the passwords for Apple ID, Google, and canceled his YouTube TV access during a close Alabama game (his favourite team). When he tried to log in it sent all the verification codes to me. I denied it.'

A woman put laxatives in her lunch because she was sick of a colleague stealing her food

While others truly went the extra mile and made a statement.

'I gifted my neighbour a bag of their dog cr*p from my yard. I had a shared back yard with them and their three large dogs crapped everywhere. I talked to them multiple times, but to no avail. So I got a gift bag and put every scrap of dog poo in it from my yard and hung it on their door knob with a note that said 'for you',' one said.

'In high school, a girl wrote an article for our school paper about how hard it was to be popular. My best friend and I wrote a letter to the editor about how her whole argument was meritless because 'she wasn't even popular',' another wrote.

'Someone kept eating my lunches out of the office fridge so I put large amounts of laxatives in my smoothie. Soon found out who had be eating my lunch,' a woman revealed.
NHS hospitals have carried out illegal 'virginity repair' surgery, campaigners fear.

Officials last year banned the unnecessary operation, which crafts women a fake hymen so they can bleed the next time they have sex.

Yet MailOnline can today reveal that 19 hymenoplasties  the medical name of the 'barbaric' procedure  were seemingly performed in 2022/23. One was done on a girl under 10.

Armed with our 'hugely worrying' revelation, outraged campaigners and experts have demanded an immediate investigation.

This chart shows the number of 'virginity repairs' recorded in the NHS per year. Charities are alarmed about the number of procedures recorded in 2022/23, the year the procedure was banned, as being suspiciously high for the small window it remained legal. Source: NHS

A MailOnline investigation suggests NHS medics may have illegally carried out 'virginity repair' surgery on over a dozen women and girls in England

A hymenoplasty aims to create an artificial layer of scar tissue which bleeds when torn, mimicking the tearing of the hymen during sex. Before it was banned last July, private clinics charged up to 3,000 for the 30-minute op.

Muslim women and girls were one group that felt pressure to have the procedure, with relatives and spouses insisting they should be virgins on their wedding night.

But now, anyone found to have performed, or helped arrange, the procedure in the UK faces up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

NHS figures examined by this website found 19 hymenoplasties were carried out in hospitals in England between April 2022 and March this year.

READ MORE: Revealed: Almost 40,000 Brits visited A&E for penis or vagina 'problems' last year as figure jumps by a third in a year (and that's on top of 70,000 who got a 'foreign object' stuck...) NHS data shows there has been an increase in men and women needing treatment for injuries sustained during sex (stock) Advertisement

This leaves a three-month window where the procedure was technically legal.

For context, however, only 29 hymenoplasties were carried out in the entirety of 2021/22, the equivalent of around 2.5 per month.

Similar rates were seen before Covid, further implying that an unusually high number of ops were carried out shortly before the ban was enacted.

Data is only available by year, meaning a month-by-month breakdown is impossible.

These figures also only relate to NHS procedures, not private clinics.

Karma Nirvana, a charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse, said surgeons could have 'rushed through' the ops before the ban came into force so that they didn't break any law.

Ministers formally announced the ban in January 2022, six months before it was enacted.

Natasha Rattu, executive director of Karma Nirvana, told MailOnline: 'This is a safe-guarding red flag.

'It was clear what the intention of the law was, the Government were clear on that.

'If there were procedures that were carried out just before the law was brought in, that's really worrying. Those children and those individual adults should have been safeguarded.'

Had surgeons not rushed through the ops then either the numbers logged by NHS trusts are incorrect, or some were illegally carried out.

Ms Rattu, a law graduate, added: 'There needs to be Parliamentary intervention to review this.

'I don't know how independent the NHS can be to scrutinize its own practice, I feel there needs to be some independent scrutiny of how this happened.'

Her calls for an immediate probe were echoed by Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

She added: 'The NHS should investigate all cases of hymenoplasties recorded after this procedure was made illegal.

'It may be that some legitimate medical procedures are being incorrectly coded as hymenoplasty on NHS data systems. However, it is crucial there is a clear picture of what is happening, as part of safeguarding women from these harmful procedures.'

Data reveals the average age of girls treated was 26.

However, one hymenoplasty was performed on a girl between the age of five and nine.

Another four were recorded on girls aged between 10 and 14.

Ms Rattu said: 'It is hugely concerning that the NHS has allowed that to happen to a child.

Heshu Yones (left) was 16 when she had her throat slit by her strict Kurdish Muslim father, Abdalla Yones (right), at their family home in Acton, west London, in October 2002

'We have duties in place to protect and safeguard children, it's entirely unacceptable it's been allowed to happen.

'[The NHS] is endorsing the idea that it's okay to have hymenoplasty.'

NHS England refused to reveal exactly when or where the 19 surgeries were carried out, citing rules around patient confidentially.

READ MORE: Revealed: The 10 most Googled sex questions in 2023 (including THAT position Love Island star Tom Clare raved about) Tom Clare (left) who partnered up with Samie Elishi (right) on Love Island Season 9 in 2023, revealed his favourite sex position was the 'speed bump' in a game of Knowing Me, Knowing you  a Mrs & Mrs style challenge on the show Advertisement

And when originally alerted to our findings, the service insisted that all procedures recorded would have been carried out for clinical reasons.

However, Government guidance explicitly states there is zero clinical justification to ever carry out the procedure.

In the wake of our revelation, NHS chiefs are now seeking further information from the trusts involved.

But a spokesperson said that the cases were probably due to reporting errors from NHS staff.

An NHS England spokesperson said: 'There is no clinical reason a doctor would repair a hymen, which is why such a procedure is now illegal.

'And the cases recorded are likely a result of the data being inputted incorrectly  not because such procedures actually happened.'

Hymenoplasty in the NHS is recorded under a specific procedure code, which was scrapped in April due to the op being finally banned.

But Ms Rattu called for the code to remain in place to track any continued cases in the future and to avoid such operations being hidden in another category.

As well as the ops potentially being misreported, individual procedures can potentially be recorded more than once, meaning the numbers could be inflated.

The data could also include some procedures related to follow-up care for previously carried out hymenoplasties but, under Government guidance, they shouldn't be recorded using the specific code in NHS records.

Hymenoplasty, alongside a practise called virginity testing, was banned over fears of honour-based abuse present in some Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, and Orthodox Jewish communities.

It is both illegal for hymenoplasty to be performed in Britain and to arrange for it to be performed on a Briton overseas.

Hymenoplasty and virginity testing have no medical or scientific basis, as virginity is a cultural construct not a biological one.

While widely believed to only tear during penetrative sex, the hymen can actually be torn through other circumstances such as sporting activity or tampon insertion.

Because a hymenoplasty has no medical benefit, women subjected to the procedure can suffer post-surgical complications, like an infection, for no reason.

The surgery also carries the risk of creating scarring that makes sexual intercourse in the future painful.

Karma Nirvana warn women and girls pressured to have hymenoplasties and virginity testing can often fall victim to other forms of abuse, like forced marriage.

In 2002 Heshu Yones, just 16 at the time, was killed by her father at their family home in Acton, west London after allegedly failing a virginity test. Her murder was the first in the UK to be recognised by police as an honour killing.
Comes as almost 90k ops and procedures were cancelled due to striking medics

Covid, flu and other seasonal bugs are battering hospitals ahead of the upcoming junior doctors' strike.

NHS bosses warned the 'storm of pressure' threatens to cause chaos for millions of patients.

Cases of flu in hospitals have doubled in a fortnight, straining NHS services that are already incredibly stretched.

Covid has also ripped through wards and sickened thousands of staff at the busiest time of year, fuelled by the emergence of a new variant.

Hundreds of beds are also being occupied by norovirus patients, further adding to the misery faced by hospitals across the country.

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Next week thousands of junior doctors will embark on a six-day strike, which will be the longest in the NHS's 75-year history.

The long-running pay dispute has seen over a million appointments and operations cancelled over the past year, when the row began.

NHS statistics covering the week ending Christmas Eve revealed an average of 942 beds were occupied by flu patients.

This is six times the numbers recorded towards the end of November and more than double the 402 seen in the week ending December 10.

Around 450 beds were occupied by norovirus patients last week, about two-thirds higher than the levels seen last winter.

READ MORE: Nurses could strike AGAIN in the New Year to get larger pay rises, head of the Royal College of Nursing warns 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 Advertisement

However the numbers being sickened by the diarrhoea and vomiting bug have dropped from a peak of almost 800 earlier this month.

Meanwhile, there was an average of 3,631 patients testing positive for Covid each day in the week to December 24, up 12 per cent from the previous week and 57 per cent higher than the equivalent week in November.

Not all of these patients are necessarily ill with the virus, and may have tested positive while in hospital for another reason, like, for example, a broken leg.

However, they still pile additional pressure on NHS hospitals as they must be kept away from other patients to stop them transmitting the virus to others.

The virus, which has been largely blunted thanks to vaccines, is also playing havoc on staffing rotas.

An average of 2,597 NHS staff were off work with the virus each day last week  an increase of 51 per cent compared to levels seen at the end of November.

It coincides with emergence of JN.1, a new Covid variant, which has caused rates to explode over the festive period.

Separate data estimates up to one in 16 people were infected in the worst-hit parts of the UK ahead of Christmas.

Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: 'These figures demonstrate the storm of pressure the NHS is facing.

'So as always I would urge the public to get their Covid and flu vaccines if they are eligible.'

Official data shows around 88,000 operations and appointments were postponed last week due to a 72-hour walkout by junior doctors.

Medics from the British Medical Association (BMA) will embark on another round on strike carnage from January 3 next week.

Sir Stephen warned the impact of next weeks walk-out is 'likely to be much more severe'.

He said it comes at a time when hospitals 'usually experience the most pressure with high demand and higher levels of virus admissions'.

Junior doctors in England voted to stage fresh strikes in December and January after talks between the Government and British Medical Association broke down

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Weekly NHS statistics also showed a slight improvement in ambulance handovers in England, despite the strike disruption.

Only 14,262 hours were lost to handover delays at A&Es across the country last week, half the total of the week before.

Under NHS guidance, patients should only have to wait 15 minutes before being transferred to casualty units. During this time, they might wait in ambulances or hospital corridors.

However, almost 61 per cent of 999 crews endured waits longer than this last week.

Separate NHS data also suggests 10,000 patients were stuck in hospital on Christmas Day because of a simultaneous social care crisis.

Covid and vaccines are being offered to over-65s this year, as well as care home residents and NHS staff

Wes Streeting, Labours Shadow Health Secretary, said: '13 years of Conservative cuts to social care and district nurses left 10,000 patients in hospital for Christmas Day who didnt need to be there.

'The misery faced by families and patients this Christmas was entirely avoidable. The Tories are the grinches who literally stole Christmas from these people.'

However, NHS insiders warned the first junior doctors' strike, from December 20 to December 23, slowed discharges.

Trusts were urged to do 'everything they can' to send medically fit people home ahead of Christmas.

NHS Providers chief executive Sir Julian Hartley said: 'These figures give an insight into the scale of the challenges faced by trusts and frontline staff heading into the festive period.

'They are in the grip of seasonal pressures with a worrying rise in winter viruses on top of a surge in Covid cases requiring hospital admission.

'Careful planning and hard work are making their mark, but there is every prospect of the challenges intensifying in the coming weeks.

'As we head towards the new year we urge the government and unions to think afresh, and find a way to resolve the damaging and demoralising industrial dispute which has caused so much disruption for patients.'

The latest round of NHS winter data comes as a survey suggested two thirds of UK doctors are suffering moral distress due to the overstretched NHS.

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'Moral distress' is a term reflecting the stress a medic feels from being unable to provide the care patients need or deserve.

Examples include having to treat patient in a corridor due to a lack of beds or having to rush through providing care due to lack of staff.

Of the 2,000 medics who took part, 65 per cent said they had experienced moral distress while working for the NHS.

By specialty, 78 per cent of GPs said they had experienced this type of psychological strain, with 56 per cent of hospital doctors reporting the same.

One medic reported: 'Patients (particularly the elderly) lined up on trolleys along corridors asking for help when you walk past is probably the thing that distresses me most about work at the moment.'

The survey was carried out by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS), an organisation offering legal advice to medics.

Its chief medical officer Dr John Holden said the findings were 'wholly unacceptable' and 'alarming'.

Thea Stein, chief executive of health thinktank the Nuffield Trust said: 'Ultimately if doctors continue to feel stressed and burnt out this will result in staff being driven out of the NHS.'
The dairy farm believed to be at the centre of a major E.coli outbreak that has left one person dead and 11 hospitalised is a traditional family run firm that supplies Waitrose, Neal's Yard Dairy and Booths.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, which is located in the picturesque village of Goosnargh, was established in 1978 by Ruth and John Kirkham before they handed it over to their son, Graham.

The artisan producer is the last cheesemaker in Lancashire that uses raw milk - which comes from their own herd of 100 Holstein Friesian cows. This means it doesn't go through the pasteurisation process that kills potentially harmful bugs.

The site is believed to be the source of an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) that has led to at least 30 people falling ill across the country, including children as young as seven.

Four of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese products have been recalled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as a precaution. They are mild and creamy Lancashire, tasty Lancashire, mature Lancashire, and smoked Lancashire.

Booths, known as the 'northern Waitrose', and Neal's Yard Dairy have recalled all the cheeses they sell from the farm. All sizes of No 1 Waitrose and Partners, Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire cheese with use by dates from Oct. 30, 2023, to Jan. 16, 2024 have also been withdrawn from sale.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is located in the picturesque village of Goosnargh. It was established in 1978 by Ruth and John Kirkham before they handed it over to their son, Graham (pictured)

The company has a loyal local following, with scores of customers vowing to buy more of its cheeses once its current troubles are over. Pictured are John and Ruth Kirkham

Some of the company's festive cheese products. There is no suggestion any of the cheeses pictured were affected by the outbreak

A biography on the company's website describes how Ruth Kirkham began making cheese in 1978 after learning the skills from her mother, Ruth Townley.

She and her husband John then set about turning what had been a piggery into a cheese making dairy, which remained in use for 30 years until 2008.

At this point the farm was a small-scale operation which produced 44lbs of cheese a day from a herd of 40 Holstein Friesian cows. In the mid-1980s they began selling to Neal's Yard Dairy in London.

Revealed: The cheese being recalled Waitrose & Partners No 1 Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, 200g, is being recalled for the following use by dates: 30/10/2023, 02/11/2023, 07/11/2023, 10/11/2023, 20/11/2023, 28/11/2023, 04/12/2023, 11/12/2023, 13/12/2023, 20/12/2023, 23/12/2023, 02/01/2023, Products purchased between October 1 and December 24 are also being recalled for the following: Mrs Kirkham's Mild & Creamy Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Tasty Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Mature Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Smoked Lancashire Advertisement

By the 2000s the couple's son, Graham, had joined the family business and oversaw and increase in production. By 2008 he had opened a new milking parlour and increased the size of the herd to 100.

In an interview with the Guardian, Graham described how his cheeses are 'made by hand, cloth-bound and finished with full-cream clarified butter' to give a 'moist, creamy finish'.

He said they were usually sold after being matured for between three and six months.

'Making cheese is bloody hard work, but it isn't just a job, it's a way of life,' he added.

A description of Mrs Kirkham's flagship Lancashire cheese on the Neal's Yard Dairy's website hails its 'inimitable crumbly-yet-creamy texture' and 'bright, full flavour finished off by a light, yoghurty tang'.

The company has a farm shop, which currently only appears to be selling three types of pickle, oatcakes and one 'guest cheese'.

Mrs Kirkham's has a loyal local following, with scores of customers vowing to buy more of its cheeses once its current troubles are over.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said some people may have been given Mrs Kirkham's cheeses unknowingly in festive hampers and charcuterie boards. The affected products can be sold as full blocks or individual portions.

MailOnline understands the death was reported in Scotland. The victim's age was not revealed.

A seven-year-old child is among those ill, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The oldest was 81.

All tested positive for a specific type of E.coli called 0145, with tests suggesting the strain was more severe than standard ones.

Their son Graham Kirkham posing for a photo in a field of cows

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is located in the picturesque rural village of Goosnargh

Health chiefs are still probing the outbreak to determine whether any other sources could be to blame.

STEC is spread by eating contaminated foods, such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat.

The very infectious bacteria can also be spread by touching infected animals or their faeces and coming into contact with other people who are sick.

READ MORE - One dead in E-coli outbreak linked to artisan cheese sold at Waitrose and in Christmas hampers Advertisement

Symptoms include vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, the UKHSA says.

But in up to 15 per cent of cases, the bug can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.

Children under the age of five are most commonly affected by HUS.

However, it can also affect other vulnerable groups, including the elderly and immunocompromised.

UKHSA chiefs said people should take extra care to both avoid infection and potentially passing it on to others.

Amy Douglas, UKHSA's incident director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said: 'There have been at least 30 confirmed cases of this specific outbreak strain of STEC in the UK.

'If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends over the festive period.

'Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading.

'Don't prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop.'

Safety chiefs have since urged the public not to eat four varieties of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese, which is made using raw cow's milk

Symptoms of Shiga Toxin producing E.coli include severe diarrhoea and vomiting, according to the UK Health Security Agency

Mrs Kirkham's originally recalled four types of cheese: Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Tasty Lancashire, Mature Lancashire and Smoked Lancashire.

The manufacturer, which is based in the village of Goosnargh and claims to be the last remaining raw milk Lancashire cheesemaker in the world, has since recalled all of its products as a precaution.

Yesterday, Waitrose also recalled its No.1 Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire product, which is made by the same family-run business.

The FSA first issued a 'precautionary' recall alert of the four Mrs Kirkham products on Christmas Eve.

Waitrose & Partners No 1 Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese sold in 200g packs is being recalled over fears it could case food poisoning following the E. coli outbreak. This comes after four varieties of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese were urgently recalled and slapped with a 'do not eat' alert over contamination fears

Mrs Kirkham's said: 'We are working very closely with our local Environmental Health Officers and the FSA to fully understand the situation, and whether our products have been correctly implicated.

'This recall relates to new testing techniques designed to better identify potentially dangerous strains of Shiga Toxin producing E. coli.

'Unfortunately, these new testing techniques are not currently industry standard.'

The statement also said that due to many laboratories currently being closed over the festive period the business had been left in 'limbo'.

'We will be suspending all orders until investigations are completed and we have some answers,' it added.

At the time, the agency cautioned that further recalls of other products might be issued as investigations continue.

Tina Potter, head of incidents and the FSA, said: 'We are aware this recalled product may be popular over the festive period, especially as it has been sold as part of a Christmas gift hamper.

'So we are urging consumers to check whether they have bought or been given this product.'

The UKHSA, FSA, Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Food Standards Scotland are working together with other partner agencies to investigate the outbreak.

A PHS spokesperson said: 'PHS can confirm there has been one death associated with E.coli O145 in Scotland.

'We are continuing to monitor the situation in Scotland and are working with UKHSA, who are investigating at a UK-wide level.'

Antonia Hay, 17, is believed to have tested positive for a separate strain, numbered O157

The type of E.coli linked to this outbreak is different to the one which hospitalised a teenage girl who fell seriously ill over the festive season.

Antonia Hay, 17, is believed to have tested positive for a separate strain, numbered O157.

The aspiring actress spent almost two weeks in intensive care, only coming home temporarily on Christmas Day.

She has had multiple operations, including to remove part of her bowel, and a blood transfusion as kidney failure meant she required dialysis.

Antonia's father, Steve Hay, believes it was caught from food bought from a local market in Great Missenden, Bucks, around November 25.
As a new Covid variant gains speed, scientists are noticing more unexpected symptoms of illness, including anxiety and trouble sleeping.

The omicron offshoot JN.1 accounts for about 44 percent of Covid cases circulating in the US right now, up from just 21 percent two weeks ago.

And as well as the familiar symptoms: runny nose, cough, and headache, scientists say there are now two more signs to add to the list.

According to new survey data collected by health officials in the UK - where the JN.1 strain makes up 10 percent of cases - anxiety and insomnia have only recently become hallmarks of the infection.

Meanwhile, the loss of the sense of taste or smell, previously considered common symptoms of Covid, is not as frequently reported as it used to be.

The characteristics of UK outbreaks have traditionally offered a glimpse of what's to come in the US.

Feelings of anxiety, as well as difficulty sleeping, have not previously been seen as symptoms of infection. But UK health officials are now reporting these as such in the midst of a new variant gaining speed worldwide

A rise in hospital admissions in the US in recent months has corresponded with increased prevalence of the JN.1 subvariant, but hospitalization rates are still far lower than those seen this time last year

Now, scientists are suggesting that anxiety can also be a sign that someone has become infected - though why that is remains in question.

Over 10 percent of Brits with Covid have consistently reported anxiety or excess worrying since early November, according to the winter Covid report from the Office For National Statistics in the UK.

JN.1 began appearing in the UK in late October, suggesting that a significant share of people surveyed from mid-November may have been infected with this subvariant.

Trouble sleeping is also becoming more common. Roughly nine percent of people reported this as a symptom in November. That proportion has since risen to nearly 11 percent.

UK scientists suggested that the most common symptoms of infection with the JN.1 variant were runny nose, with 31 percent of patients reporting, and cough, with 23 percent, as well as headache, with 20 percent.

Nearly 20 percent reported weakness and fatigue, and 16 percent reported experiencing muscle aches.

Interestingly, since the start of the pandemic, reports of changing senses of taste and smell, which have declined 42 percent.

But whether a person will experience some or all of these symptoms, including those that have not previously been commonly reported, largely depends on each individuals health and immunity to the virus.

Symptoms of Covid in general tend to be similar across variants, according to the CDC.

The rising prevalence of less expected symptoms suggests that the virus could be getting better at evading peoples immune systems. Still, it does not prove that the strain is more virulent and deadly than previous strains.

There are signs Covid is on the rise. The CDC has listed COVID activity in wastewater as 'very high'  the highest measure by agency metrics.

Meanwhile, daily hospital admissions due to Covid have risen about 17 percent over the last two weeks.

The new variant was first detected in the US in September, and in October, it made up just 0.1 percent of Covid cases.

JN.1 is very similar to the previous BA.2.86 variant, with only a single change mutating in the virus' spike protein.
The boss of a family-run cheesemaker at the centre of an E.coli outbreak has blamed a new variant 'no one knew about' as he tonight spoke of his 'nightmare' after the bug left one Brit dead.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, a dairy farm near Preston, is suspected by officials of being the epicentre of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare strain of the diarrhoea-causing bug, linked to artisan cheese sold in Waitrose and contained in Christmas hampers.

Tonight Graham Kirkham, who took over the reins of the business from his mother and father Ruth and John Kirkham, told MailOnline the E.coli outbreak is a 'new strain' that 'no one really knew about'.

'This is going to change the dairy industry,' he said as he confirmed eight people out of those affected 'have eaten our cheese'.

Some 30 cases have been reported across the country, some involving children as young as seven - according to UK health and food watchdogs - with eleven in hospital and one dead.

Graham Kirkham of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese told MailOnline the outbreak 'is a new strain that no one really knew about'

John and Ruth Kirkham set up the dairy farm in 1978. There is no suggestion that any of the cheese pictured in the image are affected

The Food Standards Agency said some people may have been given the cheeses unknowingly in festive hampers and charcuterie boards. File photo of some of the farm's cheeses

Four of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese products have been recalled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as a precaution. They are mild and creamy Lancashire, tasty Lancashire, mature Lancashire, and smoked Lancashire.

And all sizes of No 1 Waitrose and Partners, Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire cheese with use by dates from Oct. 30, 2023, to Jan. 16, 2024, have also been withdrawn from sale.

The company itself has recalled all products sold between October 1 and Christmas Eve.

Mr Kirkham told of his 'nightmare' and said he felt like 'we seem to have taken the brunt of it'.

'We feel we have been hung out to dry a bit,' he said.

'We are devastated but we don't think we are linked to any kids being ill.

'We are part of a bigger investigation and we need to know we are clear and we have stopped any more cheeses going out. We have the first set of results back and we are negative so that's a good.

Revealed: The cheese being recalled Waitrose & Partners No 1 Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, 200g, is being recalled for the following use by dates: 30/10/2023, 02/11/2023, 07/11/2023, 10/11/2023, 20/11/2023, 28/11/2023, 04/12/2023, 11/12/2023, 13/12/2023, 20/12/2023, 23/12/2023, 02/01/2023, Products purchased between October 1 and December 24 are also being recalled for the following: Mrs Kirkham's Mild & Creamy Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Tasty Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Mature Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Smoked Lancashire Advertisement

'But now we need to do further testing on the farm. However it is all slowed down because of the time of year.'

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is located in the picturesque village of Goosnargh. It was established in 1978 by Ruth and John Kirkham before they handed it over to their son, Graham. It is the last cheesemaker in Lancashire that uses raw milk.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said some people may have been given the cheeses unknowingly in festive hampers and charcuterie boards. The affected products can be sold as full blocks or individual portions.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is made with raw milk, meaning it doesn't go through the heating pasteurisation process that kills potentially harmful bugs.

MailOnline understands the death was reported in Scotland. The victim's age was not revealed.

A seven-year-old child is among those ill, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The oldest was 81.

All tested positive for a specific type of E.coli called 0145, with tests suggesting the strain was more severe than standard ones.

Health chiefs are still probing the outbreak to determine whether any other sources could be to blame.

STEC is spread by eating contaminated foods, such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is located in the picturesque rural village of Goosnargh

One of the company's festive cheese hampers. There is no suggestion any of the cheeses pictured were affected by the outbreak

The very infectious bacteria can also be spread by touching infected animals or their faeces and coming into contact with other people who are sick.

Symptoms include vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, the UKHSA says.

But in up to 15 per cent of cases, the bug can cause haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.

Children under the age of five are most commonly affected by HUS.

However, it can also affect other vulnerable groups, including the elderly and immunocompromised.

UKHSA chiefs said people should take extra care to both avoid infection and potentially passing it on to others.

Amy Douglas, UKHSA's incident director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said: 'There have been at least 30 confirmed cases of this specific outbreak strain of STEC in the UK.

'If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends over the festive period.

'Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading.

'Don't prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop.'

Mrs Kirkham's originally recalled four types of cheese: Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Tasty Lancashire, Mature Lancashire and Smoked Lancashire.

The manufacturer, which is based in the village of Goosnargh and claims to be the last remaining raw milk Lancashire cheesemaker in the world, has since recalled all of its products as a precaution.

Yesterday, Waitrose also recalled its No.1 Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire product, which is made by the same family-run business.

Symptoms of Shiga Toxin producing E.coli include severe diarrhoea and vomiting, according to the UK Health Security Agency

The FSA first issued a 'precautionary' recall alert of the four Mrs Kirkham products on Christmas Eve.

At the time, the agency cautioned that further recalls of other products might be issued as investigations continue.

Mrs Kirkham's said: 'We are working very closely with our local Environmental Health Officers and the FSA to fully understand the situation, and whether our products have been correctly implicated.

Waitrose & Partners No 1 Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese sold in 200g packs is being recalled over fears it could case food poisoning following the E. coli outbreak. This comes after four varieties of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese were urgently recalled and slapped with a 'do not eat' alert over contamination fears

'This recall relates to new testing techniques designed to better identify potentially dangerous strains of Shiga Toxin producing E. coli.

'Unfortunately, these new testing techniques are not currently industry standard.'

The statement also said that due to many laboratories currently being closed over the festive period the business had been left in 'limbo'.

'We will be suspending all orders until investigations are completed and we have some answers,' it added.

Tina Potter, head of incidents and the FSA, said: 'We are aware this recalled product may be popular over the festive period, especially as it has been sold as part of a Christmas gift hamper.

'So we are urging consumers to check whether they have bought or been given this product.'

The UKHSA, FSA, Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Food Standards Scotland are working together with other partner agencies to investigate the outbreak.

A PHS spokesperson said: 'PHS can confirm there has been one death associated with E.coli O145 in Scotland.

'We are continuing to monitor the situation in Scotland and are working with UKHSA, who are investigating at a UK-wide level.'

Antonia Hay, 17, is believed to have tested positive for a separate strain, numbered O157

The type of E.coli linked to this outbreak is different to the one which hospitalised a teenage girl who fell seriously ill over the festive season.

Antonia Hay, 17, is believed to have tested positive for a separate strain, numbered O157.

The aspiring actress spent almost two weeks in intensive care, only coming home temporarily on Christmas Day.

She has had multiple operations, including to remove part of her bowel, and a blood transfusion as kidney failure meant she required dialysis.

Antonia's father, Steve Hay, believes it was caught from food bought from a local market in Great Missenden, Bucks, around November 25.
Women struggling to conceive have been hit with a 'cruel' age limit of 35 for IVF treatment in some parts of the country.

The NHS should offer three free cycles of IVF for patients up to the age of 40 if they have been trying for a baby unsuccessfully for two years, or have repeated failed attempts at artificial insemination.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also say fertility treatment should be offered up to the age of 42 under certain criteria. But some areas are flouting the guidance by insisting women can get IVF only up to the age of 35, which forces many couples to pay thousands of pounds to private clinics or abandon their hopes of starting a family.

Fertility Network UK, a support group, keeps track of the criteria imposed for IVF within integrated care boards (ICBs) organisations that arrange health services and manage local NHS budgets.

Emma Buck, who paid 15,000 to have a baby at 39, is pictured at home in Southampton with her 9 week old baby Austin

The NHS should offer three free cycles of IVF for patients up to the age of 40 if they have been trying for a baby unsuccessfully for two years, or have repeated failed attempts at artificial insemination (stock photo)

It found the age limit was 35 within NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire ICB and NHS Frimley ICB.

I paid 15k to have baby at 39 Had she lived 20 minutes away, Emma Buck would have been able to get IVF for free. She didn't qualify for funding in the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight area, meaning she paid 15,000 for two private cycles of fertility treatment, almost wiping out her life savings. Luckily the second cycle worked and the 39-year-old NHS manager now has a son Austin. Mrs Buck, who lives with husband Gavin in Southampton, said: 'It was always at the back of our minds that if we lived 20 minutes down the road, we would have been eligible for NHS funding. 'An age limit of 35 feels ageist and it should no longer be in place. I don't want anyone else to feel as isolated going through it, and having to research and pay privately, as we did.' Advertisement

All three boards say their policies are under review. But Dr Catherine Hill, of Fertility Network UK, said: 'Making 35 the cut-off age for women to have NHS-funded IVF is one of the most cruel and ignorant ways ICBs ration access to NHS-funded fertility treatment  and it goes against national recommendations which place the cut-off age at 42. Most women or their partners are not aware that at least three areas in England have this extremely strict policy, and are understandably shocked and devastated when they discover it.'

A GP working in Oxfordshire, who asked not to be named, said the age limit in her area had left many patients distraught. She added: 'I have had patients sob in consultations when they realise that, because they are now 35, they will have to find 8,000-plus for a cycle, which frankly is a sum of money that is out of reach for many people.'

Reasons for NHS-funded fertility treatment being denied have included couples not having been in a relationship for long enough, the weight of the father or one partner having a child already.

Many campaigners have criticised the postcode lottery, which means some couples get three attempts at IVF for free on the NHS while others living elsewhere are denied even one cycle.

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB said: 'We understand how important IVF is for couples... and to ensure our policy is consistent with best clinical practice, national policy and other commissioners of this service, our policy is currently under review.'
British American Tobacco has been hit with a 100million fine after breaking competition rules in Nigeria.

The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has brought the penalty after a three-year probe revealed the group abused its dominance, seeking to frustrate competitors.

The maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill has agreed to pay the fine and will allow the commission to monitor its activities for two years to ensure appropriate behavioural and business practices.

Nigeria is a crucial market for cigarette companies, with one out of ten Nigerians smoking, according to research published by BMC Public Health.

The fine is also the highest ever levied by the Nigerian competition commission and adds to the misery for BAT, which is the worlds second-biggest tobacco group.

Smokescreen: The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission found BAT had abused its 'dominance, seeking to frustrate competitors'

In April BAT agreed to pay 511million to US authorities after a subsidiary pleaded guilty to charges that it conspired to violate US sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and commit bank fraud.

The US authorities said the settlement related to BAT activity in North Korea between 2007 and 2017. BAT said we deeply regret the misconduct.

And the fine was shortly followed by the departure of chief executive Jack Bowles, who stepped down with immediate effect after 20 years at the business.

The FTSE 100 group, which is valued at around 51billion, provided few details on the abrupt exit of Bowles, who was replaced by finance director Tadeu Marroco.

And in a further blow, BAT revealed it had taken a 25billion hit earlier this month after writing down the value of some of its US brands as tobacco sales tumble.

The company said Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport and Pall Mall  which were acquired in a 40billion takeover of cigarette giant Reynolds American in 2017  are now worth far less than anticipated.

The write-off sent shares down over 8 per cent, wiping 4.7billion off its value in one day.

Big smoking firms have been on a mission to move away from tobacco as the number of regular smokers continues to slump.

But the shift towards vapes and nicotine alternatives is often a costly operation.

City analysts have previously slammed BATs performance as sluggish compared with its larger US competitor Philip Morris International (PMI), the maker of Marlboro. BAT shares remained flat yesterday but have fallen over a third this year.
Norways biggest pension fund has blacklisted Gulf companies over human rights abuses, including state surveillance and treatment of migrant workers.

KLP yesterday said it will boycott firms in the real estate sector in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, where it said migrant workers have faced human rights violations.

The fund manager, which has 55billion of assets under management, also targeted Gulf telecoms companies over concerns they have suppressed freedom of expression.

It has separately blacklisted Aramco, the worlds largest oil company, citing a lack of green transition planning and its close ties to the Saudi government.

It has withdrawn around 12million from the 12 Gulf companies.

Human rights abuses: Riyad in Saudi Arabia. Norway's biggest pension fund said it will boycott firms in the real estate sector in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait

The Oslo-based pension scheme said investing in Aramco did not align with its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Aramco is 90 per cent state-owned, which has made it difficult for other shareholders to influence the company through the exercise of active ownership, KLP said.

In a statement yesterday the scheme said: Close links between the state and the company result in a significant overall ability to leverage power and influence in favour of a climate and energy transition policy that runs counter to KLPs goals.

Aramco has been contacted for comment.

The other firms were excluded due to KLPs concerns about human rights abuses.
President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed four ministers and the chief of the broadcasting watchdog on Friday, his office said.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as deputy prime minister for the economy, Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung, Ocean Minister Kang Do-hyung and SMEs Minister Oh Young-ju were appointed, the office said.

Kim Hong-il, a former chief of the anti-corruption agency, was also appointed as the head of the Korea Communications Commission, it said.

The five were nominated earlier this month and went through parliamentary confirmation hearings. (Yonhap)
Harland & Wolff  the Belfast shipyard that built the Titanic more than a century ago  has moved closer towards raising 200million.

The company was granted permission by the Government to advance talks with UK Export Finance over a new loan facility.

Harland & Wolff is hoping to shore up its finances by accessing funds under the export development guarantee scheme.

History: Harland & Wolff built the Titanic more than a century ago

The scheme is a measure that is designed to help firms that export from the UK.

Having received approval to progress negotiations, the firm will now finalise key details.

These will range from the banks involved to the credit and guarantee agreements and the security package offered.

Harland & Wolff added that it should now have enough cash to run its business until the new loan facility is completed.

It has said that it needs fresh funds after its half-year losses widened and debt ballooned.

Harland & Wolff shares soared 17.4 per cent, or 2p, to 13.5p.
Google has settled a 4billion lawsuit over claims the tech giant secretly tracked the internet use of millions of consumers who thought they were browsing privately.

A trial in the US has been put on hold after lawyers for Google and the internet users reached a preliminary agreement. The terms were not disclosed but lawyers had sought 4billion, including at least 4,000 in damages per user.

The case alleged Google's analytics, cookies and apps tracked online activity even after users set their browser to 'incognito' mode, which is supposed to be private.

Settlement: The case alleged Google's analytics, cookies and apps tracked online activity even after users set their browser to 'incognito' mode, which is supposed to be private

Alphabet-owned Google was able to access personal data and 'potentially embarrassing things'.

In a document filed in a California court, complainants said: 'Through its pervasive data tracking business, Google knows who your friends are, what your hobbies are, what you like to eat, what movies you watch, where and when you like to shop, what your favourite vacation destinations are, what your favourite colour is, and even the most intimate and potentially embarrassing things you browse on the internet  regardless of whether you follow Google's advice to keep your activities 'private'.

'Google has made itself an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed it.'

But US district judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers put the trial, scheduled to begin in February, on hold.

The parties are expected to provide a formal settlement for court approval by February 24. The lawsuit was filed in 2020, covering millions of Google users since June 2016.

Judge Rogers rejected Google's bid to dismiss the lawsuit in August. She said that it was an open question whether it had made a legally binding promise not to collect users' data when they browsed in private mode.

Google declined to comment.

The settlement comes after it became caught up in several legal battles in the US over alleged anti-competitive practices involving its Android apps.

It has agreed to pay 550million over allegations that it had been stifling competition against the Google Play store.

The terms were not revealed until earlier this month in documents that were filed in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, a federal court jury rebuked Google this year over competition concerns, forcing it to pay 495million in compensation to US consumers.

In a separate legal case, Fortnite maker Epic Games won a competition battle over Google's Play app store, alleging it was an illegal monopoly.
Shares in Ferrexpo climbed as the Ukrainian iron ore miner set its sights on ramping up exports through the Black Sea.

Ships leaving the port of Odesa have been at risk of Russian attack since Moscow scrapped a deal that allowed the safe export of Ukrainian grain.

Kyiv has since opened a temporary corridor to allow vessels to come and go. But Russia has said it regards all cargo ships in the Black Sea bound for Ukraine as potential targets.

Digging deep: Ferrexpo produces iron ore pellets, but only half its four pellet lines have been used due to the reduced export capacity

Ferrexpo chairman Lucio Genovese plans to resume exports via the route, and laid bare the 'hugely challenging situation' it has faced since Russia invaded Ukraine.

This has 'sharply reduced opportunities to ship significant product volumes to the Middle East and Asia,' Genovese said.

Ferrexpo produces iron ore pellets. But only half its four pellet lines have been used due to the reduced export capacity.

The group also said 34 employees have died in the conflict while 754 others are serving in Ukraine's armed forces. Shares gained 6.6 per cent, or 5.55p, to close at 90.25p.

The London stock market shut early on the final trading day of the year as the FTSE 100 was up 0.1 per cent, or 10.5 points, to 7733.24 while the FTSE 250 fell 0.2 per cent, or 29.53 points, to 19,689.63.

While the top index has risen nearly 4 per cent in 2023, it has underperformed global peers with America's S&P 500 and Germany's Dax up by at least a fifth.

Oil prices recorded a first annual loss since 2020. Brent crude started the year at around $86, fell to $71 in June and peaked at nearly $97 three months later. Yesterday it was almost $78. BP rose 0.2 per cent, or 0.95p, to 466.15 and Shell by 0.9 per cent, or 22.5p, to 2571.5p.

Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'The price has whipsawed this year as expectations of sluggish demand, inventory build-ups and conflicts in key locations amalgamated into volatility.

'The overall theme of the year though seems to indicate that heat has come out of the price for now but that can change at very short notice.'

Formerly known as National Express, Mobico gained 7.9 per cent, or 6.2p, to 84.6p after Northern Express Enterprises Limited disclosed a 3 per cent stake.

British American Tobacco made gains a day after it was slapped with a 100million fine for breaking competition rules.

Shares in the maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill, which were flat on Thursday, rose 0.6 per cent, or 13p, to 2295.5p.

Also clawing back some losses was Sondrel. The chipmaker crashed 53.7 per cent on Thursday after it saying it needed more cash following a 1.7million contract delay.

But it shot up 29.3 per cent, or 1.1p, to 4.85p yesterday.

The son of the chairman who founded Naked Wines in 2008 has bought nearly 8,500 worth of shares in the firm.

Luke Gormley snapped up 14,392 shares in the online alcohol seller at almost 59p each, as the stock slid 3.5 per cent, or 2p, to 55p.

Saietta, which makes parts that can be fitted inside electric vehicles, has moved closer towards transitioning from a research and development company into large-scale manufacturing.

Its half-year results showed a slight increase in revenues while losses narrowed. Shares fell 2.8 per cent, or 0.5p, to 17.5p.

AIM-listed Duke Royalty, which provides funds to company owners to help them retain control of their business, expects to have made 6.3million of revenue in the three months to the end of December  12 per cent higher than the same period last year. It rose 2.3 per cent, or 0.75p, to 33.25p.
A British couple have ditched their life in the UK to travel and are now spending their time living in strangers' homes, tending to animals and working odd jobs as they see the world.

Hannah Bull, 35, and her husband Rob left their jobs and home in Peterborough, Cambs. in January 2022 to become digital nomads after the pandemic forced them to 'take a pause' and re-evaluate their futures.

Hannah and Rob, 38, decided to take a 'leap of faith' and pick up odd jobs, such as house and pet sitting, to fund their international adventures.

The couple have looked after horses on a ranch in Arizona, taught English to pupils at a kindergarten in Budapest, helped to edit a book in Costa Rica and even had to run interference between feuding chickens in a coop in Montenegro.

The Bulls, who initially planned to travel for just a few years, now expect to maintain their wanderlust lifestyle for the foreseeable future and are encouraging other travel lovers to 'open yourself up new to opportunities'.

Hannah Bull (left), 35, and her husband Rob, 38, (right) have ditched their life in the UK to travel the world as digital nomads. The couple are pictured together at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado

The couple pick up odd jobs, such as house and pet sitting, to fund their international adventures. Rob Bull is pictured during a hike in Montenegro

The couple also regularly volunteer during stays that were longer than one month. They helped out at food banks in North Carolina and Tuscan and volunteered at a dog shelter in Texas. Hannah is pictured tending to dogs at the shelter in Texas

While in Fot, Hungary - which is located just outside of Budapest - Hannah and Rob helped teach English to kindergarteners. During their first week on the job, 'we had to dress up as Minnie Mouse and cowboy for their traditional festival' (pictured)

The Bulls, who initially planned to travel for just a few years, now expect to maintain their wanderlust lifestyle for the foreseeable future. They love the freedom that their digital nomad lifestyle offers and the excitement of new opportunities. Hannah is pictured learning to make Gnocchi in Brescia, Italy

Hannah, a PR and marketing specialist, and Rob have 'always had the travel bug' and would go on holiday as much as their jobs and annual leave balances allowed.

They first went on an extended holiday about six years ago after taking a sabbatical from work and spent two months on the beach in San Diego, California.

Hannah claims that trip 'cemented in our minds that we wanted to do this long term' and the pair began saving up money to do pursue their dreams. However, they didn't actually take the leap to quit their jobs and go abroad until 2022.

'Covid allowed us to step back and gave us a change in our normal lives and career wise,' Hannah told MailOnline. Rob had been working in a wedding band at the time and Hannah's marketing job went remote.

'The pandemic forced us to take a pause and really see what we wanted to do, take a leap of faith and just do it. It taught us you never know what's around the corner and so we just went for it.'

The Bulls initially planned to spend two to three years travelling, surviving on their savings, but have now been able to expand their travel timeline by picking up freelance work on a workaway website.

The couple often apply for longer term house and pet sitting jobs because it allows them to 'live like a local, not a tourist'.

One of their first sitting gigs involved looking after horses on a ranch in Arizona. They had no prior experience with horses, but applied anyway and 'didn't expect to be accepted' for the role.

Hannah works as a freelancer for a PR firm in the UK, but the couple save on costs by picking up odd jobs, such as pet or house sitting, while travelling. Hannah is pictured trying to work on her computer while cat sitting in France

One of their first sitting gigs involved looking after horses on a ranch in Arizona. They had no prior experience with horses, but applied anyway and 'didn't expect to be accepted' for the role. Rob is pictured with the horses on the ranch

Another position saw them tending to wild tortoises while in Montenegro. Hannah and their host decided to number the animals 'to keep track of them and look after them'. Pictured is the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

Hannah (pictured in Turin, Italy in January 2020) and Rob decided to take a 'leap of faith' and become digital nomads after the coronavirus pandemic forced them to 'take a pause' and re-evaluate their futures

Hannah and Rob have said that Costa Rica is one of their favourite destinations thus far. Hannah is pictured at a home in Santa Theresa, Costa Rica, where the couple were pet sitting

Hannah is seen snuggling with a dog during a pet sitting gig in Texas, USA

Rob (left) and Hannah (right) are pictured enjoying beers on a porch in Durham, North Carolina

Another position saw them tending to wild tortoises while in Montenegro. Hannah and their host decided to number the animals 'to keep track of them and look after them'.

'We spray painted a number on their shells,' she said, adding that her host' husband later pointed out that 'we were probably making them much more visible to predators'.

The couple also managed a chicken coop during another homestay in Montenegro, during which one of the chickens got attacked by dogs.

'The chickens started turning on each other,' Hannah recalled. 'We had to run interference with the chickens.'

She said the healthy chickens could 'sense weakness' in the injured chicken and would peck it and 'really go for it'. The couple routinely put the injured chicken in 'isolation to keep her safe' and even had to tale her to the vet.

Hannah added: 'The owner loved the chickens and wouldn't let nature take its course. The vet would nurse her back to health and then the chickens would attack her again. It really was pecking order behaviour.

'When we left though all the chickens were alive and well.'

Rob is pictured reading a book while snuggled with dogs he and Hannah were pet sitting in Nashville, Tennessee

Hannah is pictured during a hike in the Rocky Mountains, USA. The couple have said that one of the challenges they face during their travels is visas. In Europe and the US, they can only be in the country for 90 days on a tourist visa

Hannah is seen all cozied up with a dog during a pet sitting workaway in Costa Rica

Pictured is a sunset over Santa Theresa beach, Costa Rica

Hannah and Rob spent Christmas 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The pair are pictured enjoying a traditional American PBR beer at a bar on the Broadway

But not all of their jobs involve animal-related labour. One of Hannah's odd jobs in Costa Rica involved helping an American author wrote and edit a self help book on San Soo, a Chinese-American martial arts form.

'He lovingly called me the "hatchet woman" as I would cut a lot of his words - he had too many!' she said.

While in Fot, Hungary - which is just outside of Budapest - they helped teach English to kindergarteners.

'On our first week we had to dress up as Minnie Mouse and cowboy for their traditional festival. Talk about in at the deep end,' Hannah joked.

The Bulls also stayed with a man that they have hailed as a 'true Texan' while in Waco in 2022 on a workaway assignment. They were tasking with helping with the upkeep of his properties.

'On our last day, he drove us out to his ranch with what Rob thought was a guitar case. Turns out it was a shotgun and we got to shoot empty beer cans for an hour or so,' Hannah recalled. 'We then went to a tiny Amish diner for lunch  quite a weird day but we loved it.'

The couple would also regularly volunteer during stays that were longer than one month. They helped out at food banks in North Carolina and Tuscan and in Texas volunteered at a dog shelter.

'We love doing this as you really get to know a community and we've met some lovely people,' Hannah explained.

Although the couple picks up workaway assignments to help save on costs, Hannah is still working for a freelance PR agency in the UK which has been 'extremely flexible' with her travel situation.

Her freelance work also earns a decent amount of monthly income so the couple have not had to touch much of their savings pot. This has allowed them to extend their travels plans.

The Bulls went to Vietnam for Christmas 2023, marking their first trip to Asia. They then plan to head to Cambodia and Thailand before making their way to New Zealand and Australia by the end of 2024.

Rob and Hannah celebrated the 4th of July in Tuscon, Arizona. The couple are pictured together during the Independence Day festivities

Rob is pictured during a hike in Tuscon, Arizona

The Bulls, who initially planned to travel for just a few years, now expect to maintain their wanderlust lifestyle for the foreseeable future and are encouraging other travel lovers to 'open yourself up new to opportunities'. Pictured: A photo Hannah took in Mexico City

'We have plans to stop doing this,' Hannah said. 'We want to keep travelling and our not adverse to returning to places we've been before.

'The hardest part is missing friends and family at home, but we have been lucky that friends and family come to visit. Balancing visas is also hard. Post-Brexit we only get 90 days in EU and in America we only get 90 days.'

The couple says that it can also be 'daunting' to be pushed out of their comfort zone, especially as arrive in a new country, stranger's home or new workaway assignment. But they noted it is 'exciting at the same time because it's a new adventure' and 'keeps adrenaline pumping'.

'Our best advice is take the leap,' Hannah said of others interested in a digital nomad lifestyle. 'Along the way opportunities have come up. Just believe in yourself and your travel partner.

'This has exceeded our expectations. We left our home, jobs and family, but we have learned if you open yourself up to opportunities, you'll be rewarded along the way.'
The Windsors are well-known for their home-spun, jokey gifts at this time of year. They rarely involve expense.

For her first Christmas at Sandringham in 2011, Catherine, now Princess of Wales, got into the spirit of things by giving Her Late Majesty a jar of marrow chutney, that she had made using her own grandmother's recipe.

Prince Harry is reported to have once given the Queen a shower-cap with Ain't life a bitch embroidered on it, while Meghan is said to have proffered a singing hamster toy - which captivated the corgis.

And who could forget the Big Mouth Billy Bass singing fish that delighted Queen Elizabeth one year, a present from Prince Andrew?

It wasn't always this way, however. Presents were somewhat more extravagant in times past with some featuring jewels and gold of such quality they are now in the Royal Collection.

The Queen and Catherine arriving for the Sandringham Christmas Day Service in 2013. Princess of Wales gave Her late Majesty a jar of marrow chutney made using her grandmother's recipe

George III and Queen Charlotte with their children. They exchanged presents at 6pm on the 24th, a custom started by the then Queen, based on the German tradition of heligabend bescherung

The royal Christmas tree is admired by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children - an illustration depicting December 1848 which created a national tradition

In 1842 Prince Albert designed an exquisite brooch featuring a miniature enamel portrait of Princess Victoria, their first child

Since the time of George III and Queen Charlotte, presents are exchanged at 6pm on the 24th, a custom started by the then Queen, based on the German tradition of heligabend bescherung meaning, almost literally, the exchange of presents on Christmas Eve.

In the 19th century a table was set up for each person, on which their presents would be placed.

Queen Victoria who wrote a journal almost every day of her life - first described the tables from Christmas Eve 1836 when, still a princess, she received from dear Uncle Leopold, a beautiful turquoise ring; [and] from the Queen a fine piece of Indian gold tissue.

It was after her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840 that Royal Christmases started to become the sort of thing we recognise today.

An 1848 engraving of the Prince and Queen with their children decorating a tree proved an inspiration and marked the effective start of what has become a tradition.

Albert gave his wife a gold and champleve enamel bracelet, with each link containing a miniature portrait of one of their children at the age of four

On the reverse side, the names were engraved and a lock of their hair encased

Prince Albert was particularly keen on giving his wife sentimental jewels.

In 1842, he designed an exquisite brooch featuring a miniature enamel portrait of Princess Victoria, their first child. It became one of Queen Victoria's most treasured piece.

Vicky is painted as a winged cherub looking upwards, with her hands together holding a pearl necklace from which is suspended a real ruby and diamond cross.

The delicate be-jewelled wings are set with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and yellow topazes in gold.

In her journal that evening the Queen wrote: One of the things I value the most is an enamel of 'Pussy' [...], dear Albert was so pleased at my delight.

Three years later, Prince Albert gave his wife a gold and champleve enamel bracelet, with each link containing a miniature portrait of one of their children at the age of four.

When he gave it to her in 1845, it featured Princess Victoria alone. But this was added to with each of the next five children - with their names engraved and a lock of their hair encased, on the back.

Each portrait had four natural pearls at the corners of the blue enamelled square link

Perhaps however the most sumptuous of bejewelled Christmas presents is not in Britain but the Netherlands. This is the Ruby parure created by the oldest surviving jeweller in the world - Mellerio, in Paris.

Princess Juliana of the Netherlands wears the ruby parure tiara, a pair of earrings and stomacher

Queen Maxima is pictured in Amsterdam wearing the ruby parure tiara, necklace, bracelet and the earrings

Henry VIII would take anyone, who gave him a present to the Tower of London to choose a reciprocal present

At Christmas 1888 King Willem of the Netherlands gave his second wife Emma, the diamond and ruby parure, which consisted of a tiara, a necklace, a stomacher, a pair of earrings, a bracelet and a brooch was designed with the classic motifs of the Belle Epoque - festoons and scrolls. The tiara is often worn by Queen Maxima.

Henry VIII was perhaps the most generous to his noble subjects, according to Louise Cooling in A Royal Christmas - anyone who gave him a Christmas gift, was invited to the Jewel House at the Tower of London on New Year's Day to choose a reciprocal present.

Not the crown jewels I hasten to add!
Chicago officials were warned two months ago that conditions inside a troubled migrant shelter could be deadly after a toddler almost died.

The seriously ill two-year-old boy had to be rescued by volunteers from the Pilsen shelter, south of downtown, after staff allegedly refused to help and threatened his family with deportation if they complained.

The shelter is the same site where five-year-old Jean Carlo Martinez Rivero, fell ill and then later died on December 17 after days of sickness with similar symptoms alongside 2,300 other asylum-seekers.

Volunteers warned the city about the unidentified toddler's near-death in an email on October 15, along with a list of other concerns, but said conditions did not improve.

The child had a fever of 105F for three days straight, was bleeding from his nose, and had diarrhea and was so dehydrated he stopped urinating.

Five-year-old Jean Carlo Martinez Rivero fell ill while at the Pilsen migrant shelter and was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital on December 17, days later

His family pleaded for days with the private contractors running the shelter for an ambulance to hospital, or proper medical care, but said they received no help.

'Staff refused to call an ambulance or delivery and medical care, threatened family with deportation if they complained,' Annie Gomberg, with the Police Station Response Team, wrote in the October 15 email.

'Private citizens are once again stepping in to do the work of this multibillion dollar company and getting the child medical attention.'

WhatsApp group messages between volunteers detailed the little boy's condition after his aunt put one of them in touch with his mother.

The volunteer told her colleagues shelter staff told his family they would receive a huge medical bill if they called an ambulance, which they could not afford.

'She will not be billed, the staff are lying to her, so needs to call an ambulance immediately. Or her child could die,' one of them replied.

They explained hospitals had financial assistance policies that would waive the fee, and the city would pay it instead.

After the toddler was taken to hospital, the volunteer in contact with the family said he was believed to have a pulmonary infection and a stomach virus causing dehydration.

He has since made a full recovery and was healthy and happy, according to an update form his family last week.

A photo of a small girl bundled up in a pink puffer jacket and matching pants and beanie showed the warehouse was not keeping out the winter chill

One video showed a young boy with what appeared to be a bandage on his head lying on a thin fold-out bed, distracting himself with a tablet

Volunteers later discussed how the incident 'showed how kids could eventually die in the shelters without proper attention'.

'Imagine where that baby could have been today without our intervention... and unfortunately there are hundreds of cases like that,' the one who helped the toddler wrote.

'So many of the kids are having similar symptoms... blood from the nose, diarrhea, fever, pains... and unfortunately many of these could be prevented with having a nurse/doctor/clinic available to them.

'But staff at shelters are not helping and at the stations we (volunteers) are not equipped to advise, make appointments, drive them around, etc.'

The shelter is run by Favorite Healthcare Staffing, a Kansas-based contractor, which the city paid $100 million to operate since September 2022.

The company did not respond to questions from DailyMail.com.

Chicago is struggling to care for 25,300 immigrants sent from Texas on buses after crossing the border over the past year.

The city has spent $138 million on the crisis that is only expected to get worse as temperatures drop as winter goes on.

This video shows different child coughing and crying as they had their temperature taken and were examined by volunteers

Jean was sick with a fever and a pain in his left leg for two or three days before he died and began vomiting on Sunday morning

Mayor Brandon Johnson has blamed both Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Biden Administration for the crisis over the past 18 months.

He called Abbott's practice of busing thousands of immigrants to Chicago 'reckless and dangerous', and said the federal government wasn't providing enough funding.

Chicago earlier this month began impounding buses and fining their operators if they didn't follow rules to drop migrants off in designated spots and times.

Some operators responded by dumping their asylum-seekers as far away as 60 miles from Chicago, leaving them stranded - which Johnson called inhumane.

Towns near Chicago this week responded with their own crackdowns, passing laws to fine and impound buses showing up unannounced.

'The message is don't just drop off individuals into our community. Don't do that to anyone. It's inhumane to do that,' Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currie said.

Faced with escalating costs and what Johnson said was insufficient federal funding, the city pulled $95 million in federal Covid relief funds to deal with the crisis.

A third video showed water leaking from the roof and pooling on one of the beds

The shelter is run by Favorite Healthcare Staffing, a Kansas-based contractor, which the city paid $100 million to operate since September 2022

The money has effectively already been spent on leases, staffing, food and supplies for some of the city's 27 migrant shelters.

'[W]e are allocating federal funds to deal with a federal problem. By allocating ARPA funding for this mission, we are meeting the city's financial obligations without cutting the critical services that Chicagoans rely on every day.' Johnson said.

However, he said the city would still require massive federal funding to take care of the many more migrants that would arrive next year.

After Jean's death, four other children, aged between one and 14, were hospitalized this week after suffering fevers and other ailments at the Pilsen shelter.

The Chicago Fire Department said a three-year-old boy was taken to hospital vomiting, a seven-year-old girl with an ear infection, and one-year-old, a four-year-old, and 18-year-old with other medical complaints.

Shocking videos showed sick and distressed children crammed into the converted warehouse with no heating alongside thousands of other migrants.

One video showed a young boy with what appeared to be a bandage on his head lying on a thin fold-out bed, distracting himself with a tablet.

Another shows a different child coughing and crying as they had their temperature taken and were examined by volunteers.

A third video showed water leaking from the roof and pooling on one of the beds.

'When the water is thrown up here... since all that the wood is rotting from the water that fell here - look, it has water,' a man said in Spanish as he filmed.

The warehouse appeared to be doing a poor job at keeping out the Chicago winter chill, which fell as low as 30F this week.

A photo showed a small girl bundled up in a pink puffer jacket and matching pants and beanie.

Video shot by a passerby showed rubbish piled up outside the shelter. The converted factory was the subject of numerous complaints about unsanitary conditions

Volunteers on October 15 sent an email detailing their concerns about conditions in the shelter to two City of Chicago officials.

'Dozens of sick people, including children, denied analgesics and other palliative measures,' Gomberg wrote.

'If a resident needs medical help, they are on their own with no advice other than to call 911, and told that it will 'cost them a lot of money' to use an ambulance and go to a hospital as a deterrent.

'I thought we were paying for doctors and nurses?'

Gomberg described how drinking water was rationed in 4 to 6oz cups and there was insufficient food and bathrooms for the 2,300 migrants living there.

Another volunteer in WhatsApp group discussions described a day when the water ran out and migrants were told 'it was a factory and the manager said not to drink the tap water'.

Gomberg warned children were not given any vaccinations, which combined with everyone living in close quarters, could be deadly.

'I predict a disease outbreak like measles within the next six months without further intervention,' she wrote.

'They don't provide clothes or sufficient blankets and bedding, all are supplied by private citizens committed to alleviating suffering.'

Videos from inside the Pilsen shelter (pictured) showed coughing and crying children, some so cold they were wearing snow jackets, and water leaking from the ceiling onto the cots below

O'Hare International Airport accommodated hundreds of migrants in a screened off area as the crisis gathered steam this summer

There was also no access to a laundry, at least one the broke migrants could afford, so everyone was wearing dirty clothes.

In the WhatsApp group, another volunteer said a migrant recently moved to the shelter 'called crying that they had no clothes and her two-year-old is really cold and his jacket was stolen by others'.

Migrants have previously described outbreaks of chickenpox, the flu, and upper respiratory infections inside the shelter.

They said some children got eye infections from fiber-like debris falling from the ceiling, and were not given any medication if they were sick.

Food was the same chicken and rice every day, often too spicy for children to eat, and sometimes spoiled. Other food couldn't be kept and was thrown away by staff if discovered during regular inspections.

Jean Carlo Martinez Rivero was sick with a fever and pain in his left leg for two or three days before he died and began vomiting on Sunday morning.

His lips turned blue and his family claimed to police that staff said it was 'probably because of the cold' and refused to call an ambulance.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has blamed both the Biden Administration and Texas for his city struggling to care with thousands of migrants

Chicago has spent $138 million on the crisis that is only expected to get worse as temperatures drop as winter goes on

While his father was pleading for an ambulance, Jean had a seizure and shelter staff gave him CPR, according to a police report seen by the Chicago Tribune.

He was rushed to Comer Children's Hospital about 3pm and pronounced dead at 3.47pm. His family were not allowed to ride with him and were instead patted down and driven in a police car.

Jean was bleeding from his mouth and nose with a 100F fever and suffered from diarrhea for days before his death.

The mayor's office said Jean's family arrived in Chicago on November 30 and were placed in the shelter on the same day.

They left the shelter for part of the morning and early afternoon the day he died, reportedly to beg for money, and returned at 2.32pm.

'Approximately 13 minutes later, shelter staff witnessed a medical emergency and immediately responded by calling 911, after which staff began administering first aid to the child,' the mayor's office said.

'Shelter staff performed chest compressions while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

A young migrant girl eagerly shows what she made from the overnight snowfall, in a small tent community in Chicago

Chicago's mayor claimed since he was elected seven months ago, poor coordination between federal, state, and local government had made the crisis worse

'Chicago firefighters and paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and immediately transported the child to Comer Children's Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

'The child does not appear to have died from an infectious disease, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health, and there is no evidence of an outbreak at the shelter.'

Jean's death is being investigated and an autopsy by the Cook County medical examiner on Monday was inconclusive, pending further investigation.

Chicago and other northern American cities have struggled to find housing for tens of thousands of asylum-seekers, many of whom have been bused from Texas throughout the past year.

Earlier this month, hundreds of asylum-seekers still awaited placement at airports and police stations in Chicago, some of them still camped on sidewalks outside precinct buildings.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said the blame for Jean's death lay squarely with southern governors for busing in thousands of immigrants to the 'sanctuary city'.

'They're just dropping off people anywhere. Do you understand how raggedy and how evil that is... and then you want to hold us accountable for something that's happening down at the border? It's sickening?' he said.

The mayor's office said an investigation was ongoing and any changes to safety protocols for staff would be made based on the findings.

Johnson said about 15,000 asylum-seekers were crammed into 27 shelters across the city after being bused in from the US-Mexico border, particularly Texas.

Officials from the City of El Paso have been working with state officials to bus over 17,000 migrants out of the West Texas city

About 10,000 migrants are crossing the border every day and many of them are sent to 'sanctuary cities' like Chicago, New York, and Denver.

Johnson renewed his feud with Abbott, calling his actions 'reckless and dangerous', but also bemoaned the lack of federal support.

'I've said repeatedly that we need more resources and I've asked for $15 billion for the entire country,' he said on CNN on Wednesday.

Texas spent $86.1 million so far sending migrants to 'sanctuary cities' around the country, about $1,650 per person.

'In no way what the state of Texas is doing is helping the cause,' Johnson said on Wednesday.

'As much as we recognize there are significant challenges at the border... sending buses all over Illinois and all over the country is reckless and, quite frankly, dangerous.'
Rishi Sunak has effectively staked his premiership on being able to get immigration under control.

After long-term net migration was revealed to have reached a new record of 745,000 in 2022 - roughly equivalent to the population of Nottingham - the PM laid out drastic measures to curb numbers.

The plans include cracking down on the number of dependants students and workers can bring with them - one of the main causes of the dramatic spike in recent years.

But some of the moves will not be reflected in official statistics until at least November, by which time the election might already have happened. And others, such as hiking the minimum wage for workers bringing dependants, already look like being watered down.

Mr Sunak's efforts to get legal migration down - which are separate to his struggle on Channel boats - come against a starkly different historical context.

Figures compiled by the Bank of England and dating back to 1850 show that significant inflows to Britain are a very modern phenomenon.

Emigration dominated for well over a century, with UK population growth entirely due to there being more births than deaths.

MailOnline has combined historical data from the Bank of England with ONS estimates to give an indication of how migration has changed over the years

Rishi Sunak has effectively staked his premiership on being able to get immigration under control

Long-term net migration reached an eye-watering record of 745,000 in 2022, according to the ONS

In some years before the First World War the net outflow from the UK was more than 300,000 people.

It was not until the late 1990s, when Tony Blair was elected, that immigration began to add significantly to numbers in the country.

Among the key changes were loosening of work permit and international student rules.

The expansion of the EU then sparked a sharp rise in the mid-2000s, with large numbers coming from countries such as Poland and Hungary to work.

By the time of the Brexit referendum in 2016 official figures for net immigration were running at 323,000 a year - something that is thought to have contributed to the Leave result.

However, since then there has been another dramatic spike, only interrupted briefly by Covid travel lockdown.

Office for National Statisics (ONS) figures released last month showed net migration to the UK was 745,000 across 2022.

That was far higher than the 488,000 level for 2021.

The jump was fueled by arrivals from outside the EU, largely coming to study or work, as well as to seek refuge from chaos in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

The points-based system introduced under Boris Johnson was praised as fairer than EU free movement, but critics say it was too generous.

Many economists argue that workers need to come in from abroad to drive UK plc, but there have been calls for firms to attract more Brits into jobs.

A strong economy and labour market makes the country more appealing for would-be migrants.

The methodology for migration figures has changed over the years, and the Bank of England stresses that its historical dataset should be regarded as estimates based on 'best endeavours' rather than official statistics.

Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands.

The number of dependants accompanying people on work visas has been rising sharply

In 2022 care workers and home carers became eligible for health visas, which now dominate the work visa route

Studying and work dominate the reasons for non-EU citizens coming to the UK, while numbers of dependants has been rising

The eye-watering level for 2022 - roughly equivalent to adding the population of Bristol or Glasgow in a single year - sparked a furious political row.

For the year to June 2023 net migration was slightly lower at 672,000, with the ONS pointing to evidence that numbers were easing. However, previously figures have been revised upwards.

The Conservative manifesto in 2019 pledged 'numbers will come down'. At that point the level was around 240,000.

With Mr Sunak's migration crackdown projected by the government to cut net inflows by 300,000, that looks unlikely to be achieved.

The PM will have to hope that signs of progress will convince voters that he, rather than Keir Starmer, is a safer bet for managing the country's borders.
Australia's criminal underworld has been rocked by rumours another secure messaging app used by bikies and gangsters may have been compromised by police.

Threema is an easily available Swiss-designed encrypted messaging app which runs on almost any device, with versions available for iPhones, Android phones and desktop and laptop computers.

Although intended for everyday use by anyone, the app has become a favourite of Australian gangsters due to its high security end-to-end encryption, with no messages saved on a central server.

Threema's use by criminals sky-rocketed after hundreds of arrests worldwide when another messaging app, AN0M, was revealed to have been created and secretly run by cops.

But now the underworld is abuzz with rumours Swiss-based Threema has also now been hacked or somehow breached by detectives.

One man on the periphery of Sydney's crime scene says he has been raided three times after he accidentally included his name and address in one Threema message.

Australia's criminal underbelly has been rocked by fears Threema (pictured), another secure messaging app used by bikies and gangsters, may have been compromised by police

Threema's use by criminals sky-rocketed after hundreds of arrests worldwide when another messaging app, AN0M, was revealed to have been created and run by cops

One man on the periphery of Sydney 's crime scene says his Sydney unit has been raided three times after he accidentally included his name and address in one Threema message

He sent a document to one contact on the app which included his personal details, and was then raided by officers from NSW Police's Magnus and Raptor task forces.

Both of the elite operations are focused on organised crime, with access to all levels of intelligence in NSW, and work closely with the Australian Federal Police.

A few days later, he says he was also targeted by Taskforce Erebus which was set up to investigate Sydney's spate of fatal shootings and associated organised crime.

'There is no other way they could have traced me,' the man told Daily Mail Australia. 'They have been harassing me endlessly ever since.

'Cops have obviously infiltrated Threema. I do not call anyone or go anywhere. Threema has been my only way of communication since May.'

He added: 'The person I sent the document to has never been raided or arrested by police so they could not have recovered it from his phone either.'

In the wake of the raids, the man is now subject to a firearms prohibition order, and his apartment block is trying to evict him over the repeated police activity.

It follows allegations a Sydney contract killing was organised in a series of messages over Threema, before the alleged attack was foiled by Raptor squad detectives.

Ali Sweid, 38, has been charged with conspiracy to murder after he allegedly revealed his plan for a gangland execution to an associate over the app.

'Im gonna empty the whole clip 16 in him  stomach first, he drops to the floor from the pain straight away like a body shock. Then Ill empty it in his face,' he allegedly messaged.

Court documents allege police found the Threema messages on the accused's phone during a raid on his home on December 12, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Some online experts insist the app is only insecure if users let police or anyone else access it on their phone, or if they simply don't delete messages after reading them.

But others insist career criminals would never willingly unlock secure messaging apps for investigators to read if they contained potentially incriminating messages.

The claims come after an undercover NSW Police operation was launched last year to investigate criminals using Signal, another encrypted messaging app, to buy drugs and weapons.

Sydney man John Martin Ferrer, 31, pleaded guilty to selling almost half a kilogram of meth after he was arrested in January during the undercover Signal operation.

It follows the dismantling of international drug cartels and organised crime figures using the AN0M app-based phones, created in a joint operation with the FBI and AFP.

The sting seeded the apparently high security messaging app with crime figures worldwide but allowed FBI agents and Australian detectives to track all messages.

The AN0M sting seeded the apparently high security messaging app with crime figures worldwide but allowed FBI agents and Australian detectives to track all messages (pictured)

police swooped to make 800 arrests in 16 countries worldwide in 2021, including alleged mafia bosses, drug syndicates and bikie gangsters

More than 220 people were arrested and millions recovered in Australia alone in the massive swoop, but some arrests have been challenged in court over the legitimacy of the police sting

After three years of intelligence gathering, police swooped to make 800 arrests in 16 countries worldwide in 2021, including alleged mafia bosses, drug syndicates and bikie gangsters.

Included in the haul was former Australian Olympian Scott Miller who pleaded guilty to supplying 4kg of ice in a $2.2million deal after he used the AN0M app.

More than 220 people were arrested in Australia alone in the massive swoop, but some arrests have been challenged in court over the legitimacy of the police sting.

NSW Police declined to comment on the claims about Threema being infiltrated for 'operational reasons'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Threema for comment.
Almost six in 10 voters believe that Donald Trump should not be given immunity from prosecution ahead of this year's election.

The former president was charged in four criminal cases last year and his lawyers have argued that he should be allowed immunity in those that arose from his position in the White House.

However, in a survey of 1,000 likely voters only one third agreed.

The results showed a strong partisan divide.

More than half of Republicans surveyed (58 percent) said Trump should be afforded immunity while the vast majority of Democrats (81 percent) said he should not be.

And when asked whether Trump was guilty of the four sets of charges, more respondents said he was guilty than said he was innocent.

J.L. Partners polled 1,000 likely voters from December 15 to 20. The results carry a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. Most respondents said Trump should not get immunity

More voters say former President Donald Trump is guilty than not in the four cases he faces. But he has still managed to extend his lead over President Joe Biden to four points

Even so, there was good news for the former president as he tries to juggle his legal woes with campaigning for a second term. Our poll also found he had extended his national lead over President Joe Biden to four points.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Voters describe Trump and Biden's plans for a second term as REVENGE or NOTHING Advertisement

Pollster James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners, said the charges had been something of a mixed blessing for Trump's electoral chances.

'At the moment voters do not seem swayed by Trump's charges,' he said. 'Indeed, independent voters actually warmed up to him after the mugshot moment in Georgia, as it made real what many of them see as political over-reach in the courts system.'

He added that the recent Colorado ruling, where the Supreme Court said his role in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress disqualified him from running, had embedded that view.

'Other Trump voters  one in three of whom say Trump is likely guilty of a crime  think his first-term record is more important,' he added.

'But this could all shift with a conviction. However egregious such a moment might feel to many voters, if Trump is actually a felon come the election or  worse  behind bars, that is going to put a significant number of people in the middle of the political spectrum off.

'A life-long Republican from a recent New Hampshire focus group sums it up: how can you be president from jail? It is that devastatingly simple view that will have more sway with voters than any indignation about the judicial process.'

Respondents were asked for their thoughts on whether Trump was guilty in each of the four cases against him.

A majority believe he is guilty in all four. But it turns out that voters are most forgiving in the cases related to the 2020 election and his attempts to hold on to power.

A majority of voters also said they believed Trump was guilty in all four criminal cases. They were more forgiving in the cases related to the 2020 election, but not by much

Some 54 percent think he is definitely or probably guilty in the federal case that he tried to overturn the election; and 53 percent think he is guilty in the Georgia racketeering case related to similar allegations in the state.

The number rises to 59 percent who think he was guilty of mishandling government documents, charges relating to the raid on his Mar-a-Lago home in 2022.

The same proportion believe he is guilty in the New York case where he is accused of faking business documents to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump's lawyers have tried to argue that he cannot be prosecuted in the election cases because his actions stem from his responsibilities as president.

On Saturday they made a filing U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, claiming he is immune to charges.

In a 55-page briefing, Trump's lawyer John D. Sauer suggested that under the Constitution, courts are not able to hold the president accountable for any acts undertaken while in office.

'Under our system of separated powers, the judicial branch cannot sit in judgment over a president's official acts. That doctrine is not controversial,' Sauer wrote.

J.L. Partners polled 550 voters in Arizona, in Georgia and Wisconsin last month. The results showed Joe Biden in danger of losing two states that helped him win in 2020

Biden has seen his narrow lead in national polls disappear since the start of the year. Trump is also head in a series of swing states that will likely decide the result

The judge in the case has already said that Trump does not have 'a lifelong ''get-out-of-jail-free'' pass.'

Trump may face legal jeopardy as he battles a string of court cases but that has not stopped him extending his lead over Biden.

The results show the former president winning over independent voters while Biden has seen his support fall within his own party and among women.

The numbers will reignite debate about whether or not Biden, 81, can generate enough excitement among Democrats to make good on his promise that he is the best candidate to beat Trump, 77.

And it comes after a separate DailyMail.com poll showed he was losing to Trump in two out of three key battleground states.

Biden has struggled with questions about his age and voters continue to say they are worried about the economy under his stewardship, despite a series of key indicators all moving in the right direction.

His overall approval rating remains well under water.

In contrast, Trump seems not to have suffered from indictments in four criminal cases during the past year.

Whether a conviction would finally strip away his non-stick coating remains to be seen.

Our new poll offers further insights into the race. J.L. Partners also asked respondents for one word to describe each candidate's plans for a second term.

The results suggest voters expect a miserable choice at the ballot box next year: A candidate seeking 'revenge' versus a candidate with no real plans for his second term.
What happens if 81-year-old Joe Biden or 77-year-old four-times indicted Donald Trump drop out of the 2024 election race?

Democrats say they would like to see Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, or former first lady Michelle Obama take up the mantle.

Republicans opt for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the candidate they would like to see get their nomination.

These are the results of a Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll, which found that there is no white knight candidate waiting in the wings to excite either side by replacing two ageing candidates with low favorability ratings and a high meh factor.

Things get a little more interesting when independent voters are asked the question. They would prefer former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to take on the Republican nomination, and Obama (who has made clear she has no interest in running) leapfrogs ahead of Harris as the pick of 16 percent.

J.L. Partners asked 1000 likely voters who they would like to see take up the Republican nomination if Trump quit. Republicans said Ron DeSantis, Independents went for Nikki Haley

The question is not entirely academic with on the one hand an 81-year-old incumbent who is slowing year-by-year and a 77-year-old challenger facing four criminal trials

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Voters describe Trump and Biden's plans for a second term as REVENGE or NOTHING Advertisement

Other potential headline names, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, are further down the Democratic field.

On the other side former Fox News host Tucker Carlson manages only four percent.

It leaves both sides favoring more establishment figures rather than a bold new name to turn things upside down and lead the party for another generation.

The question is not entirely academic. Biden is already the oldest president in history and shows clear signs of slowing down; meanwhile Trump is facing legal attempts to disqualify him from the ballot and would become the second oldest on his inauguration day if he won a second term.

When voters were asked for a single word to describe each candidates plans for a second term, the results were not inspiring.

For Trump the word was 'revenge'; for Biden the word was 'nothing.'

Julian Gallie, research associate at J.L. Partners, said: 'Questions are swirling over Joe Bidens re-election bid, but this poll shows that among the Democratic base there is a lack of an obvious successor. One in five go for the deeply unpopular Kamala Harris, with Michelle Obama the next favorite.

'The fact that Democratic voters are reverting to past establishment figures, with one in three opting for either Hilary Clinton or Michelle Obama, suggests that the direction of travel is still unclear until a natural successor appears.'

J.L. Partners polled 1,000 likely voters for their views. The results come with a margin of error on 3.1 percent.

Democrats would stick with Kamala Harris while independents like Michelle Obama if Joe Biden were to drop out of the 2024 race

Harris and Obama edge out the likes of Hillary Clinton and Pete Buttigieg

'The Republican base remains at odds with Independents over the future of the GOP,' said Gallie. 'When asked who would be the best replacement for Donald Trump, Republicans back Ron DeSantis who has almost double the support of Vivek Ramaswamy in second, with Nikki Haley left languishing in fourth place.

'Independents back Haley, but despite her ability to win over this part of the electorate, her position amongst Republican voters highlights her struggle to win over the post-Trump GOP base to her side even in a head-to-head with Biden.'

The race on the Republican side will begin to solidify in January, when voters in Iowa and New Hampshire will become the first to pick their preferred candidate.

For now, Trump remains the clear frontrunner although Haley has picked up momentum during the past two months.

J.L. Partners polled 984 likely voters nationwide. The results show Donald Trump has a four-point lead over Joe Biden. The results carry a 3.1-point margin of error

The poll, gave Trump a clear lead in a hypothetical 2024 matchup against Biden.

Trump may face legal jeopardy as he battles a string of court cases but he now leads Biden by four points.

The results show the former president winning over independent voters while Biden has seen his support fall within his own party and among women.

When asked who they would vote for if the election were tomorrow, 40 percent of respondents picked Trump and 36 percent chose Biden.

Independents Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cornell West won 4 percent and one percent respectively, while Green candidate Jill Stein's share was rounded down to zero.
By Jhoo Dong-chan

DSF L&I won the 1st Korea ESG Award in the small- and medium-sized manufacturer category, the company said in a press release, Tuesday.

The logistics service provider emphasized its commitment to fostering an ESG culture, citing initiatives such as the development of reusable cups and a container circulation service utilizing Near Field Communication technology.

We are a pioneer in the sector, said a DSF L&I official. Our commitment to carbon reduction in the consumer sector is evident through our extensive production of reusable cups and containers.

The company added it is also satisfying the EUs supply chain due diligence and the U.S.s climate disclosures in logistics where a number of domestic firms are still experiencing difficulties.

This years Korea ESG Awards was hosted by the Korean ESG Association jointly with the National Assembly ESG Forum. A number of domestic organizations, including the Korea Automobile Environment Association, also sponsored the event.
It was once associated with crusty old cardigan-wearers insisting 'it just sounds better'  but Generation Z's obsession with snapping up vinyl records and showing them off on TikTok is fuelling Britain's renewed desire for physical music.

Industry statistics suggest vinyl sales are at their highest level in 33 years after declining in the 1980s and 1990s with the advent of the compact disc  which itself is enjoying a resurgence after losing out to MP3 players and services like Spotify.

More than 250,000 vinyl records were sold last week  the most sales in a seven-day period this century  and 5.9 million were bought throughout 2023, according to trade body BPI.

Stores say younger audiences are responsible for buying the majority of LPs, snapping up releases from the likes of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Lewis Capaldi as well as classics from the likes of Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac.

But experts say the Gen Z push is also driven by a desire to support their favourite artists and to escape 'streaming fatigue', overwhelmed by the endlessly perfect curation of music attuned to their tastes that is served up by algorithms.

Vinyl is more popular than ever, with the most LPs shifted in 33 years over the course of 2023

HMV says the majority of turntables bought at Christmas were either purchased by or for Gen Z-ers (pictured: the re-opened HMV on Oxford Street in London)

Music producer Peter Litchfield says Gen Z is suffering from 'streaming fatigue', overwhelmed with choice on platforms such as Spotify

Keith Ingram, owner of Scottish record stores Assai Records, says younger buyers are driving the sales of vinyls and turntables

Three of the top 10 vinyl albums sold in the UK this year were by Taylor Swift (pictured)

Olivia Rodrigo's album Guts was also a big seller. Record store bosses say vinyl sales are being largely driven by Gen Z music fans (pictured: the cover art)

Young adult and teenagers have been taking to TikTok to share their Christmas vinyl 'hauls', with many showing off special edition records and album sleeves

Peter Litchfield, a music producer, told MailOnline: 'Younger generations are also experiencing streaming fatigue.

'Like most online media, music consumption is algorithmically driven. It is cultivated for us. Much of the experience is passive.

'Many are seeking a new, independent experience; something you feel more in control of, something you can take physical ownership of.

'Showing your appreciation of vinyl on your social media channels is a way to express identity and taste, a way to stand out from the crowd.'

The best-selling vinyls of 2023 Pending confirmation on January 3 2024, these are the top 10 best-selling vinyl albums in the UK in 2023: Taylor Swift  1989 (Taylor's Version) The Rolling Stones  Hackney Diamonds Lana Del Rey  Did You Know There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Taylor Swift  Speak Now (Taylor's 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 Advertisement

He added there still remains a nostalgia factor for the pops, crackles and warmth that come with playing a vinyl via an analogue needle.

'Where vinyl is concerned, audiophiles enjoy the analog nature of vinyl, appreciating the imperfections and unique character, and also make a case for its warmer, more authentic sound when compared to digital formats,' he said.

'There is this notion that "real music fans listen to vinyl". In essence, vinyl has become cool again.'

Patrizia Leighton, director at HMV, told MailOnline the majority of turntable sales bought at Christmas were either purchased by or for Gen Z-ers  adding that other physical formats were also back in vogue.

She said: 'Vinyl  as well as CD and to an extent cassette  has been strong all year, as the BPI results found.

'HMV now makes up around 50 per cent of all physical sales in the UK and Christmas trading was strong for us across vinyl in particular. We also saw continued growth in CD and cassette, albeit the latter from a pretty low base.

'We can be fairly certain that the upward trend will have continued to the end of the year across the industry.

'We also saw really strong sales of turntables over the festive season with Gen-Z customers buying the bulk of those  or having them bought for them as gifts  which suggests there's a healthy future for vinyl as new fans go on to build their collections.'

Sales data appears to confirm the theory Gen Z is driving the vinyl boom. BPI says sales have risen for the 16th consecutive year, up 11.7 per cent on 2022, spurred on by modern pop artists such as Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo.

Three of the UK's best-selling vinyls are Swift releases with albums from Rodrigo, Lewis Capaldi and Lana Del Rey also making the top 10 list.

Other record store owners believe the appeal of the vinyl lies in supporting artists directly, rather than via streaming revenues  and the sense of ownership fans get by buying something they can call their own, beyond a Spotify playlist.

Chris Hawes, founder of second-hand collectors' website Atlas Records, believes younger listeners are attracted to the idea of collecting vinyls

The best-selling vinyl records of 2023 are a combination of brand new pop albums and iconic classics

Fleetwood Mac's Rumours (left) and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (right) were each a top 10 bestselling vinyl in 2023, despite being 46 and 50 years old respectively

Keith Ingram, owner of Scottish independent record stores Assai Records, says the majority of vinyl sales across his stores are driven by younger buyers.

'The weeks we do really well tend to be when there's a good pop release: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan. It's young people buying those albums,' he said.

'If you're a fan of an artist you want to own something, you want to support them.

'The people we sell turntables to in our Dundee store tend to be younger  and once you've got a record player you want records.'

The best-selling CDs of 2023 Pending confirmation on January 3 2024, these are the top 10 best-selling CD albums in the UK in 2023: Take That  This Life Taylor Swift  1989 (Taylors Version) The Rolling Stones  Hackney Diamonds Lewis Capaldi  Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent Ed Sheeran  - (Subtract) P!nk  Trustfall Foo Fighters  But Here We Are Metallica  72 Seasons Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds  Council Skies Kylie Minogue  Tension Advertisement

Mr Ingram added the collectability and physical experience of owning and listening to vinyl may also be attractive to Gen Z-ers suffering from so-called 'streaming fatigue'  growing tired of having an endless supply of curated music on tap.

The notion of raking through a record shop to discover a new favourite album for themselves, rather than having it served up via an algorithm, is exciting.

'Finding a record you don't expect to find is an experience in itself,' he added. 'You don't get that from streaming.'

Physical releases  particularly those with intricate cover art, liner notes or specially coloured discs  are regularly showcased by young adult and teens on TikTok's vinyl-collecting hashtag, #VinylTok, which has been viewed 1.2 billion times.

The videos usually feature young collectors fawning over the album art, enjoying the physical motion of slipping the disc from the sleeve, and admiring the coloured discs accompanying limited edition releases.

Independent stores often get exclusive releases, particularly on Record Store Day, the annual celebration of music shops which was established at the start of the vinyl resurgence in 2007.

Getting your hands on exclusive pressings, stores say, taps into the desire to stand out from your friends.

Assai's Mr Ingram added: 'You're spending money on subscriptions and there's so many, isn't there? But a record? You've got that for life.

'Music is very emotional. That's the difference  it's the same with books. There's a difference between reading a book and using a Kindle.'

Matt Benn, CEO of dance music record label Soundplate, said: 'With all the music in the world so readily available, vinyl is also a way for fans to separate themselves from casual listeners  it's a badge of honour for their true fandom.'

Cassette tapes have also been making an unlikely comeback after being killed off by advancements such as compact CD players and later, MP3 players

Interest in cassettes spiked between the releases of the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, which prominently feature a Sony Walkman and cassette tapes (pictured: the artwork of the soundtrack to the first film)

Releases from modern artists are acting as a gateway into vinyl collecting as a hobby  and even younger listeners are tuning into the classics.

Iconic albums from Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac also made 2023's top 10 vinyl sales chart, suggesting the classics are gathering legions of new fans.

Chris Hawes, founder of second-hand collectors' shop Atlas Records, said: 'Theres nothing quite like the listening experience of vinyl  the ritualistic process of choosing a record, placing it on the turntable, and reading the album sleeve notes while you listen.

The best-selling cassettes of 2023 Pending confirmation on January 3 2024, these are the top 10 best-selling cassette albums in the UK in 2023: Olivia Rodrigo  Guts Ed Sheeran  - (Subtract) Kylie Minogue  Tension Inhaler  Cuts & Bruises Blur  The Ballad Of Darren Lana Del Rey  Did You Know Theres A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Sleep Token  Take Me Back To Eden Lewis Capaldi  Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent Hozier  Unreal Unearth The 1975  Live With The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Advertisement

'People will always love collecting anything, and records offer a brilliant solution to that desire.

'Whether youre a huge fan of a particular artist or want everything from a certain label, there is a journey for anyone and everyone in the act of collecting.

'If you had asked me four years ago if young people were buying older records we would have said no, but now our second-largest group of buyers is 25-34 year-olds.'

But vinyl is not the only format enjoying a boom  CD sales are steading from a years-long decline, buoyed, the charts would suggest, by older listeners.

The top 10 CD chart includes albums by Take That, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, P!nk, Foo Fighters and Kylie Minogue  acts popular with older millennials and Gen X-ers.

But cassettes are continuing to prove popular, long after their assumed death in the wake of compact CD players and later MP3 players such as the iPod.

Fewer albums were given a mainstream cassette release than on other formats but those that did make it to tape, and the charts, included records by Olivia Rodrigo, Ed Sheeran, Irish rock band Inhaler and anonymous post-rock band Sleep Token.

But there may be other pop-culture factors at play  including an unlikely superhero ally. Google Trends data suggests interest in cassettes surged at the end of 2016, between the release of the first and second films in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

In the space-hopping saga main character Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt, carries a Sony Walkman loaded with tapes of songs from Earth. Tapes of the films' soundtracks were among the top five cassette sales of the 2010s in the UK.

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.'
Hundreds of American XL Bully dogs are being abandoned, sent to Scotland or left on death row in animal shelters  as the clock ticks down to a ban on the killer breed on New Year's Eve.

Under plans announced by Rishi Sunak earlier this year, it will be illegal to sell, abandon, give away or breed dogs that meet the XL Bully definition from December 31, and dogs must be muzzled in public and legally registered by the end of January.

The plans, announced in September following a wave of fatal attacks linked to XL Bully-type animals, have led to reports of animals being abandoned all over England and Wales. Researchers say the dogs have a propensity for violence.

Just this week, two XL Bully dogs were found seemingly abandoned in the streets of Trerulefoot, southeast Cornwall, and had to spend the Christmas period caged up in kennels.

Meanwhile, a shelter based in Rotherham called Helping Yorkshire Poundies shared photos of 11 unclaimed XL Bully puppies in a desperate appeal to find them new homes ahead of the ban.

It comes as MPs have warned the government and police are not ready to enforce the ban when it comes in, as it emerged that almost 2,000 exemption applications were made in the first week that the scheme was open.

Dogs have reportedly been abandoned in the streets by owners who cannot keep their pets or have been unable to put them down (pictured: a suspected XL Bully type believed to be abandoned in Harlow, Essex)

A shelter based in Rotherham called Helping Yorkshire Poundies shared photos of 11 XL Bully puppies (pictured) in a desperate appeal to find them new homes ahead of the ban

These puppies, which are believed to fall under the XL Bully criteria, are around six weeks old

Pen Mehmet, 45, has been trying to rehome XL Bully dogs before the ban comes into effect on December 31 in order to avoid seeing them be put down

Cora Woolard (above), 24, from Cwmbran in Wales, rescued XL Bully type dog Tyson (above) after he was abandoned by his last owner

XL Bully type dogs have been linked to a spate of attacks this year (pictured: a Bully-esque dog attack in Mansfield earlier this month)

Ian Price (left) and Ian Langley (right) both died in suspected XL Bully dog attacks earlier in 2023

Figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) under Freedom of Information laws show there were 1,846 applications in the week of November 14 and and 349 were approved, reports the i.

More than 6,000 have been approved to date, according to a government statement, and ministers estimate there are 10,000 XL Bully dogs in England and Wales. Some charities believe this to be a conservative estimate.

MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee have written to Defra expressing 'significant concerns' about its introduction.

In the letter, the committee said it was particularly concerned about the ability of 'frontline workers, including the veterinary sector, police and local authorities' to cope with enforcing bans and putting dogs to sleep.

The Dog Control Coalition (DCC)  a group of animal organisations opposed to the ban  says more than 200 dogs are still waiting for a new home at rescue shelters. They face being put down if they cannot be rehomed before December 31.

The RSPCA, part of the DCC alongside organisations such as Blue Cross, Battersea, Dog's Trust and the Scottish SPCA, said it was a 'very distressing time' for animal rescue centres  but the government maintains the dogs must be controlled.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: 'Unfortunately, rescue centres have had to assess whether dogs are XL bullies themselves as there aren't dog legislation officers available to do it, so it is difficult to confirm the number of XL bullies in our care.

'Based on the standard available, we suspect that within the Dog Control Coalition there is a significant number, more than 200, with a large proportion at the RSPCA.

'Our teams and volunteers are working hard to find the right homes for XL Bully dogs in our care who are ready to be rehomed before the 31 December deadline and we have had success with a number of dogs who are now happily in their new homes.

'Sadly not all of the dogs in our care are ready to be rehomed before the government deadline, due to behavioural or medical reasons, and it's heartbreaking for the staff and volunteers who have been caring for them.'

The ban on XL Bully type dogs was announced following a spate of fatal and serious attacks in the UK earlier this year.

Among those to have been killed this year were Ian Price in Stonnall, Staffordshire in September, and Ian Langley in Sunderland in October.

A ban on rehoming, breeding and selling XL Bully dogs comes into effect on December 31 this year, with an outright ban on unregistered dogs following a month later (stock picture)

An example of a post on Facebook seeking a new home for dogs that are at risk of being put down. It reads: 'They will be killed in their thousands'

Tyler Mabel Rose, 28, took in an XL Bully type dog at her home in Scotland, where the ban does not apply

She says Bobby is a 'big daft softy'  and claims flaws with XL Bully type dogs come down to bad owners rather than the animals themselves

A complete ban on people owning XL bullies will then come into force on February 1, 2024, unless the owner applies before the end of January for an exemption

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XL Bullies  which has their roots in the American Pit Bull Terrier breed, which is banned in the UK  have also killed children, including ten-year-old Jack Lis in November 2021 and 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch in March 2022.

Campaign group Bully Watch claims Bully breeds, popular on social media and adored by celebrities such as rapper Drake and Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock, have been linked to 14 fatal attacks since 2021, and 351 attacks this year alone.

The Centre for Evidence-Based Regulation of Dangerous Dogs, a voluntary research group, estimates that XL Bully dogs make up less than one per cent of all UK canines, but were responsible for 44 per cent of attacks in 2023 and 75 per cent of deaths in the last three years, reports the Guardian.

The pattern of attacks prompted the government to legally define XL Bullies in order to include it as a banned breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

What is an XL bully? The dog is not a recognised Kennel Club breed and it comes from the bloodline of the American Pit Bull Terrier, which are banned in the UK. An official definition of the XL bullies has been published by Defra, with features including a 'heavy, large and broad' head and a 'blocky or slightly squared' muzzle. The dog is also described as being 'heavily-muscled' with a 'large, blocky body giving impression of great power for size', and a glossy, smooth and close coat. An adult male is around 20in (51cm) at the withers and an adult female is 19in (48cm) at the withers - which is the highest point of body immediately behind the neck where height is measured. The breed also has a heavy, large, broad head. The length from the tip of the nose to a well-defined stop (indentation between muzzle and the head) is equal to around a third of the length from the stop to the back of the head. The neck is muscular, slightly arched and tapers from the shoulders to the base of the skull. The shoulder blades are long and well-muscled. Its upper arm length is about equal to the length of the shoulder blades and joined at a 35 to 45 angle to the ground. An XL bully's body is large, blocky and heavily-muscled with a broad, deep chest and well sprung ribs. The tail is medium length and low set and the coat is smooth and glossy. Advertisement

Dogs that fit certain physical characteristics must be registered as an XL Bully on the Index of Exempted Dogs and neutered. Exemption certificates cost 92.40 and require insurance.

Those who opt to put their dogs to sleep can claim up to 200 compensation from the government to cover the costs of euthanasia, but many are trying to rehome their dogs to either avoid putting down their pets or because of a lack of vets.

With a ban on breeding, and remaining dogs expected to be neutered, the breed should disappear altogether with proper enforcement.

But online communities are full of posts from XL Bully owners begging for help with covering the cost exemption or reporting abandoned dogs, while others have resorted to sending their dogs to Scotland, where the ban does not apply.

One post, put up by a woman seeking homes for two XL Bullies in Nottingham, wrote: 'They will be killed in their thousands.'

Cora Woolard, 24, from Cwmbran in Wales, is among those to have rescued an abandoned XL Bully and paid to register it with the government.

Her new dog Tyson had been given up by his previous owner in Bristol because she lived in a small flat with a baby.

Ms Woolard told MailOnline: 'Since rescuing Tyson he has melted our hearts. We weren't looking to rescue a puppy this soon as we had only just moved into our own house but after meeting Tyson and just seeing how sweet he was we couldn't say no.

'As it was such last minute, with all the new restrictions and it being during Christmas our pockets were hit hard.

'Rishi (Sunak) has made it impossible for a lot of people to keep these precious dogs, setting a fee of 92 out of greed, all because he doesn't like a certain breed.

'We had to seek help from others to get the funds for exemption.

'How can he ban an XL Bully when there have been more attacks by Jack Russells?' she asked, referring to a claim made in September by James McNally, known as 'The Dog Bite Solicitor', that the tiny terriers are more likely than XL Bullies to attack.

She continued: 'Rishi has never lived a day in the real world, it's all just a scapegoat to get votes at the next election.

'Someone who offers you a reward to put a member of your family to sleep shouldn't be given that much power.'

But the ban has been fiercely contested by fans of the breed, who say it can be managed by responsible owners.

Pen Mehmet, 45, from Boreham Wood, has been trying to get abandoned or unwanted XL Bullies into new homes ahead of the rehoming ban.

'I'm having to rehome dogs through no fault of their own,' she told MailOnline.

'They are a strong dog, and in the wrong hands they can be a weapon. But so can a chihuahua.

'But I've taken in dogs that have been tied up and my God, they're so friendly. There's no reason for them to be tied up.

'Why do 98 percent of these dogs have to suffer because of the two per cent that caused a problem?'

Some owners have sent their dogs to Scotland, where the ban does not apply.

Tyler Mabel Rose, 28, from Kirkcaldy, is among those to have rehoused an XL Bully north of the border, with wife Ruth.

Their dog Bobby came from an owner in Sheffield, who paid 300 to send the dog up the road.

Campaigners have sought to claim that XL Bully dogs are safe  but Bully type animals have been linked to several fatal attacks in the last three years (pictured: an anti-ban rally in London in September)

'Don't bully my breed' campaigners opposing the XL Bully type ban outside the Houses of Parliament last month

She said: 'He's a big daft softy. So lovely, he behaves well and is just a sweet dog. It's been an adjustment taking him in because we haven't had a dog here in years. We work on training daily and he's very well behaved.'

She added that while she felt the ban was 'ridiculous', she did not oppose more stringent controls on what she saw as irresponsible owners.

'It's the owners, not the dogs. It's exhausting to think the government thinks that dogs are inherently bad, inherently aggressive. They're trained to be aggressive.

'I think that instead of banning the dog they should give training to the owners of all big dogs. It's heartbreaking that any bully owners in England and Wales are at risk of losing a precious loved one because the government can't put restrictions in place on the people housing the animals.

'An exemption shouldn't be for the dog, but a letter stating that the owner is responsible for proper training, the owner is capable and the owner will do what's necessary to keep everyone and the dog safe.'

Campaign group Dont Ban Me - Licence Me has sought a judicial review of the ban in a bid to overturn it. It expects to makes its case in January.

The government, however, maintains that it has taken 'quick and decisive action' to protect the public from XL Bully dogs.

A spokesperson said: 'We urge XL Bully owners to take the appropriate action to make sure they comply with new restrictions that come into force this Sunday 31 December, when XL Bully dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

'We also encourage owners to apply for an exemption certificate before the ban comes into force on the 1 February, 2024, and join more than 6,000 owners who have already done so.'
The family of a British female volunteer in Ukraine who was found dead in her bed in the country's capital says she 'devoted her life to helping others.'

The body of former chemistry student Katherine Mielniczuk, 26, was found in the early hours of Christmas Eve by members of her unit, the 151st unit of the Special Operations Forces.

Her family, from Westerham in Kent, said in a statement today: 'She devoted her life to helping others, as a medic, as a scientist and researcher, and as a friend.

'She volunteered her last 18 months in Ukraine, working in logistical aid and as a combat medic all over the country.

'It is impossible to truly convey what an incredible woman Katherine was or how deeply and widely she was loved and will be missed.

'Kasia is gone, but the endless warmth, love and grace she brought to the world will never be lost.'

The body of former chemistry student Katherine Mielniczuk (pictured) was found in the early hours of Sunday morning by members of her unit

'All we know is that she was discovered in her bed this morning (24 December 2023), the cause of her death at this stage is not being treated as suspicious,' the Ukrainian volunteer organisation Project Konstantin said

According to a post on her blog, she had spent the last 18 months volunteering in Ukraine in a 'medical and operational capacity, primarily with StaySafeUA

The Ukrainian volunteer organisation Project Konstantin said earlier this week: 'It is with deep regret that we announce the passing away of Katherine Mielniczuk.

'We learned of this dreadful news a couple of hours ago and after talks with her family, we have offered to help.

'All we know is that she was discovered in her bed this morning (24 December 2023), the cause of her death at this stage is not being treated as suspicious. Further information will be released later by the authorities.

'For now, we're focusing on the pain that her family is enduring and we're trying to appease their suffering by affording them the chance to fly out to Ukraine and we want to assist with repatriation costs.'

The post finished: 'Rest in peace, Apache,' referring to her call sign.

'Kat', as she was affectionally known, served as an instructor and combat medic with a group calling itself Menace Medics.

Writing on her blog, the volunteer, who graduated from the University of Bristol, said before her death: 'At Menace Medics, our goal is to assist the medics on the ground with critical medical equipment and vehicle repairs/fuel, which will transcend our ability to operate, thus saving the lives of courageous foreign combatants and relentless Ukrainian soldiers.'

According to a post on her blog, she had spent the last 18 months volunteering in Ukraine in a 'medical and operational capacity, primarily with StaySafeUA, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting those 'living on the frontlines of Russia's invasion.'

In a post on November 28, she said she had spent her 'first days [in an] ambulance donated for me', sharing a photo of a puppy that appeared to be inside the vehicle with her.

In a video posted in July, she gave an interview to a local reporter in which she said she had been working in Bristol when she decided to sign up for Ukraine saying she felt it was her 'duty to help.'

She added: 'I will stay as long as until it's perhaps not safe to be here or until I need to go back to my brother or my mother.'

Authorities are now trying to establish cause of death.

Katherine volunteered with StaySafeUA for 13 months

Andriy Depko, her former boss at StaySafeUA, exclusively told MailOnline that she was a dedicated volunteer who always put others before herself

'Kat', as she was affectionally known, served as an instructor and combat medic with a group calling itself Menace Medics

'Kat' gave an interview to a local reporter in which she said she had been working in Bristol when she decided to sign up for Ukraine saying she felt it was her 'duty to help'

Andriy Depko, her former boss at StaySafeUA, a support organisation she worked for for 13 months, exclusively told MailOnline that she was a dedicated volunteer who always put others before herself.

'From the beginning, she would volunteer to go to the very front lines of the invasion,' Andriy said.

'We always told her to stay safe, but she insisted on going to the most dangerous places to help.

'We told her "you need to be safe", but she was insistent, and kept saying "I need to be helpful."

'She did so much for Ukraine in the 13 months she was with us, before she left to be a military paramedic.

'She wanted to be on the very front lines, saving soldiers and using the education and skills she had. She wanted to be there 24/7.

'She wanted to show how brave she was.'

He said he didn't believe the news of her passing upon hearing it.

'At first, I thought it was impossible. I was thinking, "this is not real. We'll hear the news that she's fine".'

'It's very hard to understand that a kind and active person could disappear. It tears my heart apart.

'It was very tough for my team. We had a meeting to talk about [her passing], and we shared memories of her.

'Everyone liked her. She was still part of our team [even after she left].

'I want people to remember as the kind, involved, woman she was.

'Her involvement will never be forgotten. She wanted to help children, soldiers, everyone. I want everyone to remember her for that.'

News reports from 2013 revealed she helped save a terrified fox pup up that was trapped in a 10-ft drop outside a terraced house in London.

News Shopper reported that at 15, Katherine risked her safety by climbing over a fence, scooping up the young animal in a hat and climbing back over to make sure it was safe.

After she handed it over to a member of the RSPCA, she said: 'As soon as I saw the fox, I was determined to help it  I didnt want to let it die. After all, it ended up trapped through no fault of its own, so why should it have had to suffer?

'At first I was apprehensive climbing over the fence as I wasnt sure if I would be bitten or otherwise attacked, but the cub showed no threat and went willingly into a strangers hat and had no objections to being held.

'I feel like I did a good deed and Im grateful that there are people in the world who still have some compassion for foxes that are often seen as violent pests.'

Project Konstantin has set up a fundraiser to support Katherine's repatriation and funeral costs.
A cousin of the Bibas family, Tomer Keshet, is holding out hope that his loved ones are still alive after they were taken captive by Hamas 83 days ago.

Yarden Bibas, 34, was separated from his wife Shiri, 32, and his two young sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, who is 11-months old and the youngest hostage in captivity.

The family of four were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 when terrorists ambushed their community and other regions in the south, slaughtering at least 1,200 people and abducting 240.

Late November, Hamas claimed that baby Kfir, Ariel and Shiri Bibas were killed during an Israeli airstrike, but the Israeli military told Reuters the information was not verified.

Keshet told DailyMail.com that Israeli officials never confirmed with him that they were killed at all.

'There is no way I can know if this is misinformation that they were killed from an Israeli airstrike,' Keshet said. 'I don't know until I am sure because my perspective is that they are alive.'

Kfir, who was 10-months-old when he was abducted, has spent the last eleven weeks in captivity. Keshet said he will be turning one on January 18.

The Bibas family - Yarden, 34, his wife, Shiri, 32, and their children, Ariel, 4, and baby Kfir, 11- months, were all taken hostage on October 7 when Hamas terrorists rampaged their kibbutz

Yarden Bibas is pictured on October 7 during his capture by Hamas. He is bleeding from a head wound and has blood on his hands. His family members have not heard from him since

Yarden's wife, Shiri, 32, appears distraught as she clutches both of her young sons in this grainy photo during their abduction by Hamas on October 7

Keshet spoke of a video he saw of his cousin Yarden sitting in a room as he is being told by Hamas that his family is dead.

Israel's military called the video a 'cruel documentation' and 'an act of psychological terror,' Reuters reported.

Keshet said Yarden, who appeared gaunt and distraught, is heard telling his captors, 'I need to come back to Israel and grieve.'

'I couldn't bring myself to watch the whole video,' the family member said. 'We can see he is alive. That is the first time we got confirmation that he is alive.

'You can see he is mentally broken and not in good shape. He lost half of his body weight, and he is not going to make it for much longer.'

The video was released more than a month ago.

He told DailyMail.com that 'he does not know if his cousin is still alive, and has no no indication about Shiri and the children's status.'

'We believe in our hearts that they are still alive,' he uttered. 'We can never lose hope.'

Shiri's parents - Margaret and Yosi Silverman, who lived on the same kibbutz, were murdered. Their bodies were found near the Gaza border.

Keshet said for the first few days that followed the attack, he thought Shiri's parents were also kidnapped.

He also found out that Tony, the Bibas' family beloved dog, Tony, was shot dead by Hamas.

On October 7, the day many Israeli's now refer to as 'Black Shabbat', Keshet, whose home is in Kresba in central Israel, said he rushed his wife and two young children to their safe room when they heard the sound of rockets.

As they hid, he said that he was speaking to Yarden in a group chat on What's App around 7am. He said, Yarden gave him a thumbs up and texted that his and his family were okay.

It wasn't until hours later when Keshet learned the grim news from Yarden's sister, Ofri Bibas Levy, that the family was kidnapped.

Keshet said Ofir told him that Yarden told her that the terrorists were shooting with their automatic rifles, and he told her, 'This is the end. I love you.'

She responded, 'Don't be ridiculous. You are going to make it. I love you too.'

When Yarden told her the terrorists were breaking into his house, she advised him to 'be quiet' and then they lost the connection,' Keshet recalled.

That was the last time anyone heard from them.

Kfir, who was 10-months-old when he was abducted, has spent the last eleven weeks in captivity. His family member said he will be turning one on January 18

Four-year-old Ariel was also taken captive as his family members hold out hope that he is alive

Shira's parents, Margaret and Yosi Silverman, who lived at Kibbutz Nir Oz, were murdered on October 7. Keshet said that he initially thought they were kidnapped because they were missing, but their bodies were found near the Gaza border

Keshet, who was also trying to keep himself and his family safe during the atrocity, had no idea at the time the magnitude of what had taken place.

Hours later, he saw a video that was posted by Hamas of Shiri looking terrified as she was holding her two babies.

Then he saw the images of Yarden getting taken by the terror group. 'You can see he was injured on his head. He was bleeding.'

During the ceasefire, he hoped that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir would make the list and was heartbroken when he learned they were not.

'Each day that came we thought maybe today will be the day until the end of the deal.'

'Yarden was not eligible, but Shiri as a young mother, her young son and baby met the criteria and should have been released as part of the the deal.'

Then he heard by an IDF spokesperson that Shiri and the children were being held in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza strip.

A few days later, Hamas posted that they were dead, and more messages revealed that they were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Keshet said that he recognizes that Israel is doing a lot for the hostages' release but also said 'it is is their moral responsibility to bring them home.'

Earlier this month, Keshet went to Washington, DC, to meet with elected officials from both sides. The support for the hostages is bipartisan, he said.

'I met congressmen and congresswoman to share the hostages' story first hand and advocate for their release,' he said.

He also traveled to New York to meet with other leaders in congress, as well with former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Earlier this month, Keshet went to Washington, DC, to meet with elected officials from both sides. The support for the hostages is bipartisan, he said. He is pictured shaking Chuck Schumer's hand

Keshet also met with the former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when he traveled to New York to advocate for his family members release from Hamas captivity

Keshet stands with other family members who traveled to Washington, DC, earlier this month holding up signs of their loved ones, who are still being held hostage in Gaza

Keshet said that Yarden's parents are hanging on by a thread, and are struggling.

'His mother is visibly shaking it has taken a toll on her mental state,' he said.

'I can't imagine how it is to know that your son and your grandchildren and daughter-in-law are taken away and you have no proof of life.'

One of the hardest things for him and other families, he explained, is the uncertainty - the not knowing whether your family member is dead or alive or what condition they are in.

He expressed his frustration.

'The International Red Cross had been doing coordinating releases but they did not go into Gaza to check on them,' he said. 'We have no other way to know their condition.'

'I think what Hamas did on the 7th of October - murder, rape, mutilate, kill babies- I cannot describe them as nothing but utter evil - taking hostages to be used as bargaining chips is revolting.'

As 2023 comes to a close and the new year begins, he doesn't want people to forget.

'It is an election year and the news will go towards the elections, but each day that passes more of them (the hostages) are discovered dead and their health deteriorating getting them out is dire.'

Keshet added: 'We need to keep sharing their stories and keeping them on top of mind.'

According to officials, there are 129 hostages, including the Bibas family, still in Hamas captivity.
Several TikTokers say the North Sea, which lies between seven countries, is the location of 'the most dangerous job in the world.'

A video that's amassed nearly 100 million views on TikTok in less than a week shows the North Sea's deadly waves, which can sometimes cause oil rig accidents and be a contributing factor to sleep disorders.

The video includes clips of men working on oil rigs, which are subject to environmental hazards, physical dangers, and long-term health risks, according to Morrow & Sheppard Trial Attorneys.

Each worker in the North Sea must be highly trained and know how to respond quickly to emergencies.

A video posted by @deepseamysteries on TikTok has gotten nearly 100 million views on TikTok in less than a week shows

Men and women have several tasks when working on oil rigs not just in the North Sea, but also throughout large bodies of water worldwide

The waters featured in the video are the North Sea, which is located between the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, and German waters

According to the National Whistleblower Center, there are currently 184 rigs in the North Sea alone.

Injuries and fatalities can happen, with 23 deaths and 1,654 injuries caused by more than 4,000 oil rig related accidents from 2012-2020 via the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

Incidents that can cause the injuries and deaths include malfunctioning equipment, falls, explosions, fires, and exposure to toxic chemicals.

Drowning is also a huge possibility.

Other than physical injuries and fatalities, oil rig workers can also have shift work disorder (SWD).

The disorder is usually caused by work hours during usual sleep periods.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information indicates the main symptoms of the disorder being excessive sleepiness and insomnia temporally associated with the working schedule.

Professionals like Norwegian researcher and professor Siri Waage and Bente Elisabeth Moen had a study published in 2009 involving 103 oil rig workers in the North Sea.

The employees worked 12-hour shifts everyday for each week and were then given four weeks off.

The study concluded that 24 of the men were classified as suffering from SWD and those individuals had poor sleep quality and health complaints during their four weeks off.

Oil platforms men and women work on can occasionally be considered rigs. The Texeco Tartan A is a platform on a steel jacked fixed to the sea bed

Although Morrow & Sheppard Trial Attorneys employees recommend workers be highly trained, any from unskilled laborers to professionals can work on a rig

Some rigs, including semi-submersibles, are designed for deep offshore drilling into the ocean that can support heavy machinery

Catastrophic oil rig accidents can occur, two of the worse being in the North Sea.

The North Sea disaster on the Piper Alpha oil platform in the UK claimed the lives of 167 workers on July 6, 1988 due to miscommunication and multiple explosions.

61 workers survived, but the fire took three weeks to control, and it remains the the worst oil rig disaster in history.

Another incident eight years earlier on the Norwegian Alexander L. Kielland drilling rig.

High winds created 12m high waves in the North Sea, which began to destroy the rig and kill 123 of the 212 workers.

Most of the 1980 deaths were from drowning, but during the investigation, it was found out there had already been an undetected crack in one of the structure's leg braces.

A more recent incident was the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion on April 20, 2010, which killed 11 workers and injured 17 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Scottish hospitals are running out of sheets and blankets for patients in the latest crisis to engulf the NHS.

A leading medic says bed linen shortages are a common issue in emergency departments.

Dr Lailah Peel, a member of the British Medical Associations Scottish Junior Doctors Committee, says it comes on top of shortages of nurses, doctors, beds and cubicles for patients.

And she said the winter A&E crisis is only going to get worse.

Bed linen shortages come on top of a staffing crisis

Last night critics branded the revelation shameful for the SNP. It comes as patients face huge waits in A&E in what is turning out to be another difficult winter, with weather-related injuries and seasonal illnesses piling pressure on overstretched wards.

Dr Peel, who works in A&E in the West of Scotland, said: I see lots of shortages working in the emergency department. Not enough nurses or doctors. No beds on the ward.

No cubicles for patients. But tonight was a first  no linen.

She added that having no sheets or blankets available was not a first for colleagues but a common issue over long weekends, apparently.

She hit out on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, after completing Christmas shifts as a locum in A&E where she had to apologise to patients for long waits  including being stuck in ambulances waiting to get into the department.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: It is deeply alarming to hear that hospitals are running out of such a basic supply as linen.

Easy access to fresh supplies of bedding is the least dedicated staff on the frontline deserve to have. It is shameful that appears not to be routinely the case in Scotlands hospitals.

It is time for the discredited and distracted SNP health secretary Michael Matheson to get a grip on this situation.

Invercyde Royal Hospital in Greenock ran short of towels in July.

Also that month, at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the laundry facilities were out of use following damage. Sheets, towels and surgical scrubs were brought from elsewhere.

Raigmore Hospital, in Inverness, was hit by a bed linen and patient gown shortage earlier this year.

There are eight NHS laundries in mainland Scotland.

Plans to close four of them and centralise the service were shelved shortly after the start of the pandemic.

Dr Lailah Peel has said the winter A&E crisis will 'only get worse'

Across the UK, hospital linen supplies have been hit by a variety of problems including staff shortages, hold-ups with linen imports, and increased infection control measures.

In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, there were 4,000 vacancies out of a total 24,000 laundry jobs in the UK, including laundry firms providing healthcare and hospitality services.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Dame Jackie Baillie said: It is deeply concerning to hear reports of linen shortages in Scottish hospitals.

Medical and other staff are working tirelessly to help patients but they are not being supported in their work.

She added: The health secretary must act to ensure staff are supported in their work and have access to all materials necessary.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Every patient coming into hospital deserves to have access to the appropriate care and treatment as well as ensuring their comfort and dignity is taken care of, regardless of the setting. Our laundry service delivers a safe and consistent linen management and reprocessing practice throughout NHS Scotland.

It is the responsibility of local health boards, hospitals and wards to ensure that they have sufficient levels of laundry to meet local demand.
A man who allegedly hit a hotel worker after breaking a window and setting off a fire alarm has been arrested.

New South Wales Police were called to the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park hotel on Elizabeth Street, in Sydney's CBD, shortly before 8am on Friday following reports of a disturbance.

'Police have been told a 35-year-old man, who was a guest at the hotel, allegedly smashed the hotel window and set off the fire alarm in his room, causing his floor to flood,' police said in a statement.

'Staff from the hotel went to check on the man's welfare, before allegedly being hit by the man.'

The man was arrested at the scene and taken to St Vincent's Hospital for assessment.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at Sydney's Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park (above) on Friday after allegedly damaging his room and hitting a staff member

The man allegedly broke a window and was throwing items outside to the street below (pictured, damage on the street)

Sydney Fire and Rescue told Daily Mail Australia the man had allegedly damaged the sprinkler head in his room and was throwing items out of the broken window.

Prices for one night at the five-star hotel start at $350.

Elizabeth St was closed in both directions while police investigated but was reopened at 9.40am.

'Elizabeth St is now clear in both directions however police remain in the northbound bus lane. Traffic has eased,' Live Traffic advised.
Number of 16-24-year-olds on long term sick has doubled to 235,000 since 2010

The number of young people out of work due to long-term sickness has doubled since 2010.

When the Conservatives came to power in 2010-11, there were 116,000 16-24-year-olds economically inactive because of long-term sickness. But that has now risen to 235,000.

Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall revealed the figures and said: 'By neglecting the foundations needed for a healthy economy, the Tories are writing off hundreds of thousands of young people.

'Labour will transform mental health services, drive down NHS waiting lists, boost skills, bolster employment rights and provide tailored job support.'

But the Tories hit back, with a party spokesman pointing out that youth unemployment is down by over 400,000 since 2010, when Labour left power.

The number of young people out of work due to long-term sickness has doubled since 2010, Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall (pictured) has revealed

When the Conservatives came to power in 2010-11, there were 116,000 16-24- year-olds economically inactive because of long-term sickness. But that has now risen to 235,000 (Stock Image)

They added: 'It's some brass neck from Labour to comment on employment given they have never left office with unemployment lower than what they inherited. Keir Starmer will always take the easy way out and park people on benefits, while our fair approach to welfare has seen four million more people in work.'

The spokesman added that ministers are investing 2.3billion into mental health services and supporting more 16 and 17-year-olds to participate in education in a bid to get more into work.

The country has been branded 'Sick Note Britain' because of the number of people taking time off work due to illness.

The figure is at a 15-year high and up sharply from just before the pandemic.

Figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reveal that the average worker took 7.8 days off sick over the past year  the highest since 2008.

And in an Office for Budget Responsibility report in September, the watchdog predicted the explosion in those out of work due to long-term ill-health will cost almost 16billion this year alone.

The number of Britons in this category has surged by more than 400,000 in the past three years, bringing the total to a staggering two million.

The OBR expects this to add 7billion to the annual benefits bill, while slashing the revenues the Treasury can expect to see by 9billion.
Bonza airline has cancelled all of its flights between Darwin and the Gold Coast for the next three months.

Customers who have flights booked on the route from January 2, 2024 to March 18, 2024 started receiving text messages on Thursday telling them their flights had been scrapped.

The latest announcement came less than a month after the budget airline said its Darwin-Gold Coast flights were cancelled for all of December.

Customers were told the reason for the extended cancellation was 'due to a delay in obtaining regulatory approval'.

Bonza said affected customers would be able to get a full refund or a transfer to/from the Darwin-Sunshine Coast route.

Customers who have booked Bonza flights on the Darwin-Gold Coast route from January 2, 2024 to March 18, 2024 started receiving text messages on Thursday telling them their flights had been scrapped

Bonza said customers with flights booked during the period would be able to get a full refund or a transfer to/from the Darwin-Sunshine Coast route

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said the decision to delay the commencement of flights between Darwin and Gold Coast had been difficult.

'We want to be certain that we can provide a service that is reliable and to a standard that we're proud of,' he said

'Operating the Gold Coast-Darwin route prior to March would mean that we'd be putting a strain on our current capacity.

'We owe it to our customers and our Bonza legends to learn from our previous missteps by putting measures in place so that we can deliver reliable low cost air travel.'

Mr Jordan added customers do not have to contact the airline about refunds or transfers, as their team had already started reaching out to them.

When Bonza cancelled the flights in December, the company said it was due to a delay in approval from Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to use two planes and crew from Canadian sister airline Flair.

Approval for two extra aircraft was granted on December 19 and Bonza announced discounted flights to and from the Gold Coast.

'This is our way of acknowledging we could have done better and also shouting from the rooftops that Bonza is back!' Mr Jordan said at the time.

'Now that we have approval for the two additional aircraft we're scaling up our operations and servicing our new routes from our Gold Coast base,' he said.

Bonza had promised to have two return services between the in-demand Gold Coast-Darwin route each week

Bonza had promised to have two return services between the in-demand Gold Coast-Darwin route each week.

Mr Jordan said the airline is still committed to providing affordable Darwin-Gold Coast flights.

'[It] will boost domestic tourism and give customers the opportunity to experience the best that both these popular destinations have to offer,' he said.

'We've seen a really encouraging response to the service to/from Darwin - Sunshine Coast and we're grateful to the local communities for supporting these routes.'
Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators have marched on Times Square and the World Trade Center, continuing protests in a week where anti-Israel marchers have shut down traffic at JFK Airport.

Chants of 'Biden you will see, Palestine will be free' and 'Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids did you kill today?' was part of the rhetoric used by the protesters.

Effigies representing children killed in Gaza were seen after people took part in silent procession which was organized partly by elderly Jewish groups through Midtown Manhattan earlier Thursday.

The march to the World Trade Center was targeted around the entrance to the Oculus, a massive shopping center that also houses the PATH train.

The rail system carries about 45 million passengers a year between Manhattan, Jersey City, Hoboken and Newark. It is the fifth-most used rail system in America.

Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators marched at Times Square and then in a walk from Zuccotti Park to the World Trade Center Thursday

The groups were unequivocal in calling for a ceasefire as Israel continues to fight against Hamas terrorists.

Dozens of police officers were out at both marches attempting to keep the peace as pro-Israel protesters also made their voices heard.

It's unclear if any arrests were made or injuries suffered due to the demonstrations.

The Zuccotti Park protest was deemed an 'emergency' one by the pro-Palestine group Within Our Lifetime.

'This is a critical moment to voice our opposition against U.S. funding & support contributing to the genocide of our people,' the group wrote on Instagram.

'Let's flood the streets of New York City with our message of ending not just the bombs on Gaza, but the siege, blockade, occupation and colonization of all of Palestine.'

They called the Thursday afternoon march an attempt to 'FLOOD NEW YORK CITY FOR PALESTINE.'

'We will settle for nothing less than complete liberation from the river to the sea in our pursuit of freedom,' added the organization, who says they are a 'Palestinian-led community organization.'

Chants of 'Biden you will see, Palestine will be free' and ' Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids did you kill today?' was part of the rhetoric used by the protesters

Effigies representing children killed in Gaza were seen after people took part in silent procession through Midtown Manhattan earlier Thursday

The groups were unequivocal in calling for a ceasefire as Israel continues to fight against Hamas terrorists

Effigies representing children killed in Gaza are seen after people took part in silent procession through Midtown Manhattan

Protestors, dressed in black and holding shrouded dolls, perform a silent demonstration for children killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza

Pro-Palestinians demonstrators march demanding a cease fire

The Zuccotti Park protest was deemed an 'emergency' one by the pro-Palestine group Within Our Lifetime

There have been over 500 demonstrations across the city since the Hamas terror attack in Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Adams, a Democrat, admitted that it was likely that protesters would attempt to disrupt the annual New Years Eve party in Times Square, where over a million people often gather to celebrate at midnight

One protester, Katie Unger, referenced the preparation for the celebration in a post on X as she marched.

'They are setting up to celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square. We are here to insist that the people of Gaza and Palestine too have the right to a thriving living peaceful new year.'

It comes a day after police arrested pro-Palestinian protesters that blocked entry to New York City's John F. Kennedy airport on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Travelers were forced to get out of their cars and walk to the airport with their luggage in New York after activist demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked the road leading to one of the country's biggest and busiest airports on Wednesday.

Port Authority Police Department were notified of the protest activity on the Van Wyck Expressway inside JFK airport around 11:30 a.m.

Police said 26 arrests were made for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic and the roadway was reopened at 11:50 a.m.

The march to the World Trade Center was targeted around the entrance to the Oculus, a massive shopping center that also houses the PATH train

New York Police Officers block an entrance of World Trade Center, while Pro-Palestinians demonstrators march demanding a cease fire

Police arrested 26 pro-Palestinian protesters that blocked entry to New York City 's John F. Kennedy airport on one of the busiest travel days of the year

Port Authority Police said they were called to the scene on the Van Wyck Expressway inside JFK airport around 11:30 a.m. and were able to reopen the road at 11:50 a.m.

Police said 26 arrests were made for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic

Travelers were forced to get out of their cars and walk to the airport with their luggage

'During the disruption, the Port Authority dispatched two airport buses, offering rides to travelers involved in the backup to allow them to reach the airport safely,' said Port Authority media relations.

Video shows protesters joined hands to create a line blocking traffic while holding signs calling for a free Palestine and chanting 'From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever.'

Port Authority Police are seen arresting the demonstrators and loading them onto an airport bus and taking them into custody.

In Los Angeles, video shows protesters gathering near the LAX sign at the airport.

Los Angeles Police Department said, 'The LAPD is aware of an ongoing protest within the LAX area. Traffic in the area is currently impacted. Please avoid the area and continue to monitor for updates.'

FOX 11 reported authorities declared an unlawful assembly when the pro-Palestine protesters blocked traffic outside the Los Angeles International Airport.

A dozen protesters were detained outside Los Angeles International Airport while blocking off entry to the airport

'Crew at the scene said the group of protesters carried signs that read messages such as 'Ceasefire is not enough,' and 'Free Palestine,'' said FOX 11.

It turned into a chaotic scene when police arrived around 9:30 a.m. and protesters reportedly ran off into different directions while some were taken into custody. Officials said by 10:10 a.m. a dozen protesters were detained.

Video showed heavy traffic along Century Boulevard and travelers were encouraged to use Sepulveda Blv, Arbor Vitae Street and Airport Way as alternatives. Century Boulevard has since reopened but traffic is reported to remain heavy.

Around 39 million passengers are expected to jet to destinations during the next two weeks, with airports preparing to receive up to 2.5 million every day.

The TSA expects a six per cent increase on the number of passengers compared to last year, with the busiest days projected to be December 21, 29, and January 1.
By Park Jae-hyuk

POSCO Group made an unusual comment on Friday, refuting the National Pension Services (NPS) claim that the steelmaker is suspected of using unfair methods to reappoint the incumbent chairman, Choi Jeong-woo, to lead the nations fifth-largest business group over the next three years.

Even if the incumbent chairman seeks a third term, he has the right to make the decision, Seoul National Universitys mechanical engineering professor Park Heui-jae, who heads the POSCO Holdings CEO recommendation committee, said in a press release issued at 1 a.m. on Friday. Regardless of the incumbent chairmans decision, our committee will review all candidates without bias for the sake of POSCOs future and shareholders.

The remarks came as NPS Chairman Kim Tae-hyun raised questions on Thursday about the process of selecting the next POSCO Holdings chairman, considering the CEO recommendation committee is comprised of outside directors appointed under Chois leadership.

As we said when KT searched for its next CEO, companies with dispersed ownership should maximize their shareholders interests by avoiding discrimination against outsiders in favor of insiders when appointing their chief executives, Kim told reporters, indicating the state pension funds intention of putting the brakes on Chois attempt to serve another term.

The NPS is the largest shareholder of POSCO Holdings with a 6.7 percent stake.

Even before the pension fund leveled the criticism, the government and the ruling People Power Party maintained a negative stance on Choi, who was appointed under the presidency of Moon Jae-in.

Although POSCO was privatized in 2000, the government has continued exercising its influence over the steelmaker and its affiliates through the NPS, forcing Chois predecessors to step down after political turnovers.

Industry officials raised concerns over the repeated replacement of the CEOs of companies with a multiple ownership structure, pointing out the possible inefficiency that it causes to their management.

It may cause a problem if the NPS meddles excessively with management of private enterprises, said Yoo Hwan-ik, head of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) corporate policy division. The NPS should be more cautious about its interference in management, although it should request transparent governance structures.

There is speculation that POSCO Group may follow suit concerning KT, which failed to reappoint former CEO Ku Hyeon-mo after facing opposition from the NPS, the largest shareholder of the telecommunication firm.

Although KT proposed Yun Kyung-lim, head of the group transformation division, as Ku's alternative, the state pension fund also opposed the appointment of Yun, who was regarded as Kus close aide. KT eventually appointed former LG CNS CEO Kim Young-shub as the new CEO back in August.
Margaret Thatcher's government feared embarrassment if extracts from the controversial Spycatcher book were read in the Commons, files released today reveal.

The papers, made public for the first time after nearly four decades, tell how pressure was put on the Speaker to stop debate among MPs.

Peter Wright's MI5 memoir was banned in the UK and injunctions against newspapers in England and Wales prevented them reporting its contents, but the files revealed how desperate the struggle remained to prevent the British public learning of its lurid claims.

In a handwritten note, Mrs Thatcher expressed her dismay at Wright's breach of confidence, writing: 'I am utterly shattered by the revelations in the book. The consequences of publication would be enormous.'

Wright claimed in the book that MI5 had 'bugged and burgled' its way across London.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during an official state visit to Moscow, Russia on March 29, 1987

Peter Wright's MI5 memoir was banned in the UK and injunctions against newspapers in England and Wales prevented them reporting its contents. Pictured: Peter Wright

His major allegations  including that M15 plotted to oust former PM Harold Wilson and that a former head of the Security Service, Sir Roger Hollis, had been a Soviet mole  have been discredited.

The attorney general took action to prevent the book's publication in Australia, but the British government lost its case there in 1987. The book was also published that year in the US.

Some of Mrs Thatcher's papers on the Spycatcher affair were released by the National Archives in Kew, London, yesterday following a Cabinet Office review. They also tell how:

 Ministers discussed banning imports of the book from the US  relying on 'sweeping powers' derived from an emergency Second World War measure. But they decided it would be 'highly controversial';

 There were fears an international conference of librarians, being attended by a number of Americans, could see an influx of copies from the US;

 Mrs Thatcher's private secretary Nigel Wicks said that, while London-based newspapers had felt unable to report details of the legal proceedings taking place in Australia, The Scotsman had published a 'substantial' account. 'There is therefore much talk in the Press about one law for the English, another for the Scots etc,' he said;

 Mrs Thatcher's press secretary Bernard Ingham thought the government should oppose an inquiry, saying 'a far more effective remedy would be for the secret services (who have, after all, largely got themselves into this mess) publicly to shut up';

 An 'unknown hand' delivered a postcard to 10 Downing Street offering a copy of Spycatcher for sale for 20 along with the message 'will deliver' and the phone number of the seller 'Robert'.

Some of Mrs Thatcher's papers on the Spycatcher affair were released by the National Archives in Kew, London, yesterday following a Cabinet Office review. Pictured: Spycatcher by Peter Wright

The Home Office warned Mrs Thatcher how 'embarrassing' it would be if extracts of the book were included in reports of proceedings of Parliament.

The solicitor general Sir Nicholas Lyell approached Commons Speaker Bernard Weatherill to 'impress upon him' what could be said, the files show.

The Speaker feared for the 'credibility' of his position given that 'practically everyone he met' had already read the book, Sir Nicholas wrote in a memo in October 1987.

Sir Nicholas said: 'I replied that most people in this country had not read the book and that every newspaper, bookshop, and library was at risk of contempt proceedings if they published extracts, quoted from, sold or stocked the book... If the book were quoted in the House, every newspaper in the country... would be able to publish such material in plain frustration of the purpose of the injunction.'
The search for a 45-year-old Alaska mom who disappeared while swimming in a frozen river in a desperate bid to save her drowning dog has been suspended today.

Amanda Richmond Rogers, 45, was hiking north of Anchorage with her dog Groot and her husband Brian Rogers on December 23 - their 18th wedding anniversary.

Groot fell through a small hole in the ice of the frozen Eagle River after stopping to take a drink, and first Brian, and then Amanda followed it into the water.

After four days of search, the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team and Wildlife Troopers announced they were ending the search for Amanda.

Officials said there are no further areas of interest that are accessible to search at this time and will now only review new evidence.

The search for mom-of-four Amanda Richmond Rogers and her Irish Wolfhound Groot who disappeared just two days before Christmas on the North Fork Eagle River Trailhead north of Anchorage has been suspended today

Rescue efforts included helicopters, drones, divers, K-9 teams, sonar, and remote-operated vehicles

Rescue efforts included helicopters, drones, divers, K-9 teams, sonar, and remote-operated vehicles.

Amanda is now registered as a missing person with the Anchorage Police Department. The dog has not been found.

In a statement, officials confirmed: 'The Alaska Wildlife Troopers, in coordination with the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team, Anchorage Police Department, and Solstice Search Dogs, have ended the active search for 45-year-old Eagle River resident Amanda Richmond.

'During four days of searching from the air with drones (sUAS) and helicopters and within the water using divers, K9 teams, sonar, and remotely operated vehicles (ROV), search teams have determined that there are no further areas of interest that are accessible to search at this time.

'If new information or evidence is received by law enforcement, that evidence will be reviewed and a determination on additional search efforts will be made at that time. The Anchorage Police Department has entered Richmond as a missing person, and her next of kin have been notified.

Officials said there are no further areas of interest that are accessible to search at this time and will now only review new evidence

The dog too remains missing despite both its owners risking their lives to save it

Relatives were heading to the family's home nearby for the first Christmas since the death of her father earlier this year.

The couple had dropped in on friends along the route of the North Fork Eagle River Trailhead and were having an 'amazing time' in one of Amanda's favorite places, Rogers said.

But their joy turned to horror when their beloved Irish Wolfhound toppled through the hole, and they dashed across the ice.

'I thought I saw a flash of a big white paw underneath the ice,' Brian, 49, said in a statement.

'Before even thinking, I was jumping into the water to save our dog. I held onto the edge of the ice as I frantically ducked under the ice reaching into darkness trying to feel and grab our dog.

'I felt nothing. I ran out of breath and jumped out of the opening.

'I took four steps downstream to look for the dog through the ice again. I turned around and Amanda was getting into the water.

'I knew from the look on her face she was going in to save our dog.

'She is an emergency room nurse, trained to help and save people. I yelled but doubt she even heard me as she was completely concentrating on saving the dog.

'Before I could get back to the opening to try and grab her I could see her swimming downstream under the ice and then out of sight.

'She did not jump in to save 'just a dog'; it was a family member. To me and our four boys she died a hero.'

Amanda Richmond Rogers with her family Liam Rogers, 16, Leif Thurmond, 25, August Rogers, 15, Brian Rogers, 49, and Bodhi Rogers, 10

Brian said he was overwhelmed by the 'incredible' support his family has received from their community and that they are 'blessed to live in such a special place'

The couple met when they were both working as medics in Texas but made their permanent home in Alaska when Brian was deployed there by the Air Force.

'Amanda loved her dogs nearly as much as our kids, they were our family,' he said.

'We have a room in our house dedicated to the memory of all our previous dogs. We have tattoos of our dog's paws.

'Amanda has around 35 thousand photos and videos on her phone from our 18 years of marriage and a majority of them of our dogs.'

Brian said he was overwhelmed by the 'incredible' support his family has received from their community and that they are 'blessed to live in such a special place'.

'Amanda was an amazing mother and has raised four tremendous children,' he added.

'She worked as an emergency room nurse, a death scene investigator and a pediatric hospice nurse but the job she excelled at was mom.

Amanda is survived by her sons Liam Rogers, 16, Leif Thurmond, 25, August Rogers, 15 and Bodhi Rogers, 10.
Tony Blair's government considered establishing a Rwanda-style detention camp on the Isle of Mull in an effort to drive down the huge number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain, newly released files reveal.

The measure, proposed by the Labour former prime minister's right-hand man, was part of a 'nuclear option' for tackling the asylum issue which would have seen migrants deported immediately with little right of appeal.

The radical scheme was never made reality  but the revelation could prove awkward for Sir Keir Starmer after Labour under his leadership consistently voted against Rishi Sunak's plan to remove asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Papers released today by the National Archives at Kew, in west London, disclose Mr Blair's growing frustration with his government's lack of progress on tackling the asylum issue.

He often told aides 'it's not good enough' as he pushed them to come up with tougher measures to curb the rising number of claims.

Tony Blair's government considered establishing a Rwanda-style detention camp on the Isle of Mull (pictured)

The plans would have seen the Scottish island utilized in an effort to drive down the huge number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain

Papers released today by the National Archives at Kew, in west London, disclose Mr Blair's growing frustration with his government's lack of progress on tackling the asylum issue

In a note from aides, the prime minister was told that, despite 'ever tougher controls' in northern France, asylum applications had hit a new monthly high of 8,800 in October 2002.

The aides suggested 'solutions' including sending asylum seekers to the Falkland Islands, 8,000 miles away in the South Atlantic.

But, apparently uninspired by these proposals, the prime minister scrawled in a handwritten note: 'We must search out even more radical measures.' Mr Blair later held a discussion with top officials and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, on the issue.

Mr Powell produced a paper in January 2003 about the 'nuclear option' on asylum, questioning whether the UK needed an asylum system at all and whether it could be replaced with a 'very simple system that immediately returns people who arrive here illegally'.

He wrote: 'Ideally we should not have an asylum hearing at all, simply a decision by an immigration officer to return someone followed by a one-tier fast appeal against that decision if that is necessary.'

In his paper, Mr Powell suggested a detention camp on the Isle of Mull in Scotland's Inner Hebrides could form part of a 'big bang solution that would send a shock through the system'.

He noted that one of the 'great successes' of Australia's migration policy was to hold asylum seekers in one place before deporting them, which he said had 'driven down the number of new applications enormously' and led to many in the camps asking to return to their own countries.

Jonathan Powell suggested a detention camp on the Isle of Mull in Scotland's Inner Hebrides could form part of a 'big bang solution that would send a shock through the system'

The island in the Inner Hebrides had a population of just over 2,500 people in the 2001 census  which rose to more than 3,000 by 2020

Mr Powell said the attorney general's office had suggested the UK government should 'set up a camp in the Isle of Mull and detain people there till they could be returned'.

The island in the Inner Hebrides had a population of just over 2,500 people in the 2001 census  which rose to more than 3,000 by 2020  and from 2002, its capital Tobermory was the home of the much-loved children's television programme Balamory.

Mr Powell conceded the plan may not work due to 'the Nimby factor' but said officials had commissioned work on tagging and detention 'to help deter people and ensure we are able to return them as soon as their appeals have been heard'.

The chief of staff's paper also suggested the government should legislate 'incompatibly' with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to allow asylum seekers to be deported, despite the risk of persecution  and even though it risked legal challenge at Strasbourg.

Mr Powell advised that even if the government lost in Strasbourg, as was likely, 'we would have two to three years in the meantime when we could send a strong message into the system about our new tough stance'.

He added: 'And we would make clear that if we lost in Strasbourg, we would denounce the ECHR and immediately re-ratify with a reservation on Article 3.'

When Home Office lawyers warned the measures would flout the Geneva Convention on refugees, an exasperated Mr Blair wrote, 'just return them' and added: 'This is precisely the point. We must not allow the ECHR to stop us dealing with it.'

He also agreed with an aide that it was 'mad' that the UK's safe third-country return system for asylum seekers to the EU was 'less straightforward' than with non-EU countries.
Tony Blair was 'wholly against' holding a public inquiry after the Soham murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the newly-released files reveal.

The Labour prime minister was under pressure from then-home secretary David Blunkett to hold a probe into the vetting blunders that allowed Ian Huntley to work as a school caretaker despite being accused of multiple rapes and other sexual offences, which were reported to Humberside police.

Huntley killed ten-year-old Holly and Jessica in the Cambridgeshire village in August 2002, and was later jailed for life.

Mr Blunkett pushed for an inquiry after HM Inspector of Constabulary voiced uncertainty over whether Cambridgeshire Police asked Humberside for any intelligence on Huntley.

Humberside's data was so poor the result of any check would have been negative.

Tony Blair was 'wholly against' holding a public inquiry after the Soham murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman

Ian Huntley killed ten-year-old Holly (left) and Jessica (right) in the Cambridgeshire village in August 2002, and was later jailed for life

Papers released by the National Archives show Mr Blair was initially resistant to holding a public inquiry, telling an aide: 'I am wholly against a full overt public inquiry.

'Why not get a sensible person, reasonably eminent, to do it on a short & quick basis?'

But the PM ultimately gave the green light to a public inquiry led by former Whitehall mandarin Sir Michael Bichard.

His subsequent report delivered a damning criticism of police failings and led to the creation of the police national database - which allows forces to share local crime information - as well as the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the introduction of mandatory checks on the potential criminal background of people applying to work with children.
The No10 Press Office had lost 'all credibility' under the combative communications chief Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair was warned.

Jeremy Heywood, the prime minister's private secretary, advised him that his own authority was being undermined because Downing Street was seen as a 'politically dominated spin machine', the National Archives papers show.

The warnings followed a series of bruising rows between the Labour government and the BBC over its coverage of the US-UK invasion of Iraq in 2003.

After Mr Campbell announced he was standing down after nine years as one of Mr Blair's most trusted aides, Mr Heywood urged the PM to take the opportunity to carry out a complete overhaul of the No10 Press operation.

It 'has lost all credibility as a reliable, truthful, objective operation. Even respectable journalists treat it with caution  part of a relentless politically dominated spin machine,' he wrote. 'This is disastrous for the authority of your own office.'

The No10 Press Office had lost 'all credibility' under the combative communications chief Alastair Campbell (left), Tony Blair (right) was warned

Jeremy Heywood, the prime minister's private secretary, advised him that his own authority was being undermined because Downing Street was seen as a 'politically dominated spin machine'

After Mr Campbell announced he was standing down after nine years as one of Mr Blair's most trusted aides, Mr Heywood urged the PM to take the opportunity to carry out a complete overhaul of the No10 Press operation

Mr Campbell's departure came after months of increasingly acrimonious relations between the government and sections of the media amid the failure to uncover Saddam Hussein's supposed weapons of mass destruction, which had been the justification for the invasion.

On March 19, the day of the invasion, Mr Blair sent BBC chairman Gavyn Davies a letter complaining about coverage.

He wrote: 'I have never written to you or your predecessor in this way before, but I have heard and seen enough to feel I should do so now.'

The papers also show Mr Campbell suggested threatening the BBC with legal action over a Radio 4 Today report that the government had 'sexed up' a dossier on Iraqi WMD.
Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 Max jets 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 the inspections after an international operator conducting routine maintenance discovered a bolt with a missing nut on a mechanism in the rudder-control linkage, the FAA said.

Boeing then discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut not properly tightened, the agency said.

The planemaker has recommended that airlines inspect their Max jets within two weeks, but delivered 737 Max planes can continue to fly safely, Boeing said.

Airplane maker Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 Max jets for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday

'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.'

Production and delivery of the Max will continue without interruption. The issue does not affect older-model 737 Next Generation planes, Boeing said.

Boeing shares dropped 0.67 percent at the closing bell on Thursday.

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.

Boeing recommended the inspections after loose bolts were found on two jets. CEO Dave Calhoun is seen above

'The FAA will remain in contact with Boeing and the airlines while the inspections are under way,' the agency said, asking airlines to respond 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.

Both crashes were linked to an issue with automated flight stabilization software in the Max, which was subsequently fixed to regain FAA approval.

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.
Tony Blair faced a quandary about what to do with John Prescott when he complained about not having a proper role in government, the files show.

The former prime minister was told by his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, that the then-deputy prime minister 'does not like the Press accusing him of having no job'.

Mr Powell continued: 'And he does not like having other ministers being able to answer questions he cannot in the House.'

He warned that if Mr Prescott became accountable to Parliament for the Cabinet Office, 'he will also start to meddle in it', which could result in at least one aide leaving government.

Mr Powell branded Mr Prescott's complaints a 'status issue' and suggested that the only solution was to transform the key elements of the Cabinet Office into a 'PM's department' and create a 'separate Deputy Prime Minister's Department with local government, constitutional issues and eventually Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland'.

Tony Blair faced a quandary about what to do with John Prescott (pictured) when he complained about not having a proper role in government

Mr Blair was also warned, this time by Peter Mandelson, that his chancellor and long-time political rival Gordon Brown (left) would not help Labour win the 2001 election

In an election-planning memo, Mr Mandelson (pictured) reminded Mr Blair that he had 'the supreme role in providing our direction and setting public opinion'

Mr Blair was also warned, this time by Peter Mandelson, that his chancellor and long-time political rival Gordon Brown would not help Labour win the 2001 election because he was 'ploughing his own furrow', the papers show.

In an election-planning memo, Mr Mandelson reminded Mr Blair that he had 'the supreme role in providing our direction and setting public opinion'.

He added: 'It is evident that Gordon is not going to help you in this very much. He is busy ploughing his own furrow.'

He told the PM that Labour was in an 'exceptionally poor state because we have failed to thoroughly debate, let alone implement systematically, the campaign plan that you and Gordon have barely agreed'. Labour won a landslide victory in 2001.
Tony Blair backed an idea to use the Elgin Marbles as a 'bargaining chip' in London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics, files released today reveal.

New Labour hatched a plan to 'encourage' the British Museum to overcome what an aide called its 'blinkered intransigence' and loan the 5th century BC sculptures to Greece in the hope it might sway it and other countries to vote for the UK capital, documents show.

As ministers weighed up the 'winnability' of a bid for the 2012 games, Sarah Hunter, Mr Blair's lead adviser on culture, media and sport, wrote in a memo to him in April 2003 that 'our line till now has been that this is a matter for the British Museum Trustees, not Government' but there were 'good reasons for us to change tack'.

She said: 'The Marbles could be a powerful bargaining chip in IOC [International Olympic Committee] vote building for a 2012 Olympic bid.

'The publicity attached to this move could secure the Greek nomination and help garner a wide range of other IOC votes, although we would have to guard against other nations asking for reciprocal acts.'

Tony Blair backed an idea to use the Elgin Marbles as a 'bargaining chip' in London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics. Pictured: Sections of the Elgin Marbles in London's British Museum

Visitors at the British Museum view the Elgin Marbles also known as Parthenon Sculptures last month

The files also show the Greek Prime minister Costas Simitis had a few months earlier asked Mr Blair if the British government would return the sculptures to Greece for display in its planned new Acropolis Museum on a 'long-term loan'.

Mr Simitis said doing that in time for the Athens Olympics of 2004 'would be an internationally applauded gesture befitting the Olympic Spirit', and Greece would put aside questions of the marbles' ownership.

Ms Hunter warned in her memo of the British Museum's 'blinkered intransigence to consider any compromises' and its 'suspicion' that once the Marbles were back on Greek soil they would never be returned.

She added that 'a government persuasion exercise in the BM's 250th anniversary year will be met with resistance and much broadsheet angst.'

Describing her proposed solution, Ms Hunter said David Owen, the foreign secretary in James Callaghan's Labour government in the late 1970s and ex-SDP leader, had written to the Cabinet Office suggesting the UK and Greek governments could become co-signatories to a treaty about the Marbles that would govern a sharing arrangement.

New Labour hatched a plan to 'encourage' the British Museum to overcome what an aide called its 'blinkered intransigence' and loan the 5th century BC sculptures to Greece in the hope it might sway it and other countries to vote for the UK capital. Pictured: Tony Blair

Ms Hunter said culture secretary Tessa Jowell was 'reluctant' to make the Marbles an issue for the government and 'resistant to taking the BM on'.

Asked if he wanted to explore the plan further, Mr Blair wrote: 'Yes. Why not put David Owen in charge of negotiating this? It would give it profile, he has clout and could probably help with the BM whilst distancing it a little from Govt.'

But Andrew Adonis, head of the No 10 policy unit, appears to have quashed the scheme after writing on a post-it note included in the files: 'This needs v careful handling: let's speak.'

Yesterday Lord Owen said the Blair government made 'no contact' with him about negotiating with the British Museum or the Greek Government about a loan over the Marbles.
Harvard's crisis communications team was sidelined ahead of the president's disastrous Congressional testimony, it has emerged - with a lawyer who until recently was the leader of the Harvard Corporation preparing her instead.

Claudine Gay, 53, has been embroiled in an ever-worsening storm since her December 5 testimony before the House Education Committee.

Gay and two other university heads - the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania - were called to testify about efforts to combat anti-Semitism, which has surged following the October 7 terror attack and Israel's subsequent response.

The trio gave legalistic responses, and were unable to provide a straight answer when asked whether calling for the genocide of Jewish people was considered hate speech. The president of UPenn, Liz Magill, was forced to resign after her testimony, and Gay has faced similar pressure.

On Thursday, The Harvard Crimson revealed the unusual circumstances surrounding Gay's testimony.

Claudine Gay is pictured testifying before Congress on December 5. It emerged on Thursday that she was guided before her appearance by a lawyer who was previously the chief of the Harvard Corporation, the university's governing body

William F. Lee, a co-managing partner at Washington DC law firm WilmerHale, was revealed on Thursday to have assisted Gay in preparing for her December 5 testimony before Congress

Harvard Public Affairs and Communications - the university's public relations division - had hired three firms to help them deal with the fallout from the October 7 attack, and their uncertain response to it. Gay was criticized for being slow to condemn students justifying the attacks, and appeared uncertain when anti-Semitic activity on campus was reported.

The university's PR team hired the outside PR firm Edelman; crisis communications firm Risa Heller; and media strategy company A.H. Levy & Co to help.

But the three outside companies were not involved in helping Gay prepare for the December 5 appearance, the Crimson reported.

Instead, the preparation was led by William F. Lee, a Harvard graduate who until last year was the Senior Fellow - the top leader - of the 12-person Corporation.

Lee, a co-managing partner at Washington DC law firm WilmerHale, specializes in intellectual property cases.

His law firm is well known for advising high-profile clients ahead of testimony in Congress - among them Mark Zuckerberg, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and Richard Nixon.

Lee's involvement and the role played by other WilmerHale lawyers perhaps explains why Gay's testimony was so full of legalese, and why it seemed so rehearsed and carefully worded.

Gay, 53, took over as president of Harvard in June, and has had an intensely tumultuous first six months

Gay was unable to give simple yes or no answers, and repeatedly said: 'It depends on the context.'

Her answers sparked widespread anger, and fueled the perception that she was unable or unwilling to condemn anti-Semitism.

But, The Crimson says, 'Lee's influence at the University raises the prospect that no other firms were even considered for the work.'

The paper continues: 'Lee's lasting involvement as Harvard's legal counsel will fuel further speculation about the Corporation's role in Gay's hearing preparation and the board's responsibility for the aftermath.

'It could also help explain why the Corporation ultimately opted to maintain its support of Gay after she faced calls to resign over her testimony.'

Lee was head of the Harvard Corporation, which manages the university, until 2022

The Corporation on December 12 said that Gay's job was safe.

They issued a statement acknowledging Gay had made mistakes, but deciding that she would remain in her job.

The Corporation also referenced plagiarism allegations that emerged after the Hamas attack, thanks to the intense spotlight on Gay and her record.

Gay has been accused of lifting several phrases from other academics' works, and of using dubious data in a 2001 paper that helped her secure tenure at Stanford.

Gay and Harvard's attorneys have insisted that there was no plagiarism - but they have issued 'corrections' to two of her academic papers, inserting speech marks and citations.
Spanish revellers dressed in military uniform pelted each other with flour and eggs as they celebrated a 200-year-old festival.

The small town of of Ibi, Alicante hosts the Els Enfarinats festival every year, where partiers take part in a battle outside the town hall.

The traditional festival involves participants dressing in military outfits before they batter each other with flour, eggs and firecrackers, instead of weapons.

Activities on the day include celebrations such as fireworks and a mock election.

Celebrators stage a mock coup d'etat as they battle as part of the celebrations of the Day of the Innocents, a traditional day in Spain for pulling pranks.

Spanish revellers dressed in military uniform pelted each other with flour and eggs as they celebrated a 200-year-old festival

Boom, headshot! A 'fighter' sets off firecrackers at someone's helmeted head as eggs splatter past them

Two fighters in Idi, Alicante pelt each other with flour during the traditional festival

Flour power! A group of soldiers armed with eggs and flour prepare for battle

Viva la EGGolucion: A brave 'soldier' marks the 'fight for freedom' during the Els Enfarinats festival

At 8am, the Els Enfarinats take the city under the slogan 'New Justice'

And an hour later the 'Race for Mayor' takes place in which they decide who will be the 'leader; of the Els Enfarinats.

They exercise their authority under a blaze of fireworks, flour bombs and eggs.

At 5pm the authority of Els Enfarinats comes to an end giving way to the celebration of the traditional Dansa.

The Day of the Innocents name is reference to the Bible's story of the first Christian martyrs in Bethlehem.

The name for the festival Els Enfarinats comes from the Valencian word for breading, and roughly translate to 'the breaded ones' or 'the floured ones'.

Photos show hundreds of locals charging down the streets as they pelt each other with the raw ingredients of a pancake batter.

Epic sights of splattered eggs and firecrackers streaming across the streets of Ida, on the south east of Spain, show the epic fun being enjoyed by the revellers.

Every single 'fighter' is shown covered in flour from head to toe

The Spanish are known for their bizarre food-throwing traditions.

Every year they launch tomatoes at each other during the Tomatina Festival which takes place in the town of Bunol in August every year.

Splat! A senior officer has a box of eggs dumped on his head during the traditional festival

The mock coup d'etat takes place in the southeastern town of Idi in Spain every year

A reveller lets of two flares during the raucous celebrations on December 28

Revellers in their pristine military uniforms during the festival

You're battered! A participant gets a jug of flour dumped on his head during the celebrations

Partiers hold their mock election inside the town hall in Ibi

Locked and loaded! A fierce soldier ready to launch a box of 30 eggs at anyone who tries to halt the revolution
Israeli forces bombarded cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza on 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. The assault killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

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 is starving , according to U.N. officials.

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 ages 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. The Israeli military 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 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 Wednesday by an airstrike.

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.

A strike Thursday evening destroyed a residential building in the town of Rafah, at the southernmost end of Gaza, killing at least 23 people, according to the media office of the nearby Al-Kuwaiti Hospital said.

Outside of Gaza, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian man who they say got out of his car and stabbed two security workers at a checkpoint between the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The security workers were in moderate condition, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service.

The occupied West Bank has experienced a surge in violence since Oct. 7, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in unrest and clashes with Israeli forces.

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 nowhere 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 Palestinians 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 U.N. humanitarian office said the scale and intensity of the fighting impedes its aid deliveries. The office, known as OCHA, cited blocked roads, a scarcity of fuel and telecommunications blackouts as some of the obstacles hampering the humanitarian response.

Still, it said the U.N. World Food Program provided food parcels to about a half-million people in U.N. shelters in southern and central Gaza since Saturday.

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. (AP)
A grieving family has paid tribute to their son and brother who tragically drowned after being caught in a rip that nearly claimed the lives of his three friends.

Kyrus Macalalad, 33, was swimming with friends when they got into trouble at Stockton Beach, in Port Stephens, NSW's Hunter region, on Wednesday afternoon.

While one member of the group was able to make it back to shore safely, Mr Macalalad and his two mates had to be pulled from the surf by bystanders.

Mr Macalalad was unable to be saved despite the desperate attempts of first responders and he died at the scene.

A female friend was taken to hospital in a critical condition while another man was transported in a stable condition.

Kyrus Macalalad, 33, was swimming with three friends when they got into trouble at Stockton Beach, in Port Stephens, NSW on Wednesday afternoon

Rescuers could not revive Mr Macalalad and he died at the scene

A third man was treated at the scene but did not need any further treatment.

Mr Macalalad's heartbroken family have remembered the 33-year-old as someone who was 'loved by everyone'.

'Thank you for being such a good person inside and out, you are loved by everyone for your goodness and your kindness,' his parents Dolan and Marlo Macalalad told 7 News.

'Kyrus is a perfect example of what a big brother is, he always looked after his friends and family,' his brother Lexus said.

Mr Macalalad's parents have thanked him for 'being such a good person inside and out'

'I will miss you, we love you so much, fly high Kyrus,' his other brother Jeko said.

Mr Macalalad's death was the third drowning at the same beach over the last four weeks.

A 47-year-old man drowned on December 16 at Birubi Beach, which is just kilometres north of Stockton Beach.

A Sydney man is also believed to have drowned after he was swept away at Stockton Beach on November 26.

Stockton Beach is located on a large stretch of coast that extends from the Newcastle suburb of Stockton into the Worimi Conservation Lands area of Port Stephens.

It is known at times for treacherous conditions and has strong currents and sudden drop offs.

Surf Life Saving NSW duty officer Glen Dunkley said surf lifeguards were unable to patrol the entire stretch.

He said extra surf lifesaving crews from Sydney arrived on Thursday to help patrol the area, bringing additional jet skis and watercraft.

'They'll be supporting our team and lifeguards over the next few days until New Years,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Stockton beach can look calm with small waves but lifeguards have warned of dangerous rips

'They'll be active on Birubi doing water patrols. They'll also be helping to educate people - talking to people on the beach and communicating where it is safe to go in the water.

'They have also brought additional vehicles for duty officers as well as two additional duty officers to support ours.'

He said the issue with Stockton beach, especially the 20km stretch from Birubi Beach to Lavis Lane, is it can look calm.

'That stretch is some of the best in the world but some of it is unpatrolled,' he said.

'It looks inviting, so flat with little waves. But swimmers can't see what's going on underneath the water, especially with rips. That's when they get into trouble.'

Mr Dunkley said the drownings have taken a toll on lifeguards and paramedics.

'It is distressing and upsetting. It's a huge toll and the flow goes on to our families and impacts everyone,' he said.

'We are doing everything we can do at the moment to make it possible for everyone to enjoy the beach safely.'
A Welsh Labour council is lobbying to reintroduce tolls on the Severn bridges in a fresh attack on hard-up motorists.

Monmouthshire County Council wants to persuade the UK Government to bring back the controversial levy to try to reduce traffic between Bristol and south Wales, five years after the hated tolls were scrapped.

Critics have said the move would have a 'devastating' impact on families, businesses and private vehicle owners.

It follows the devolved Labour government approving powers that could be used to make drivers pay a pollution charge on the M4 and major A roads, and scrapping all major road-building projects due to environmental concerns.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies told the Mail: 'People are sick of Labour's war on motorists in Wales, and this is another sucker punch.'

A Welsh Labour council is lobbying to reintroduce tolls on the Severn bridges (pictured) in a fresh attack on hard-up motorists

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies (pictured in July) told the Mail: 'People are sick of Labour's war on motorists in Wales, and this is another sucker punch'

The tolls were scrapped in 2018 with much fanfare, saving car users 5.60 and HGV drivers 16.70 to make the westbound crossing on either the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, or the old Severn Bridge.

But Monmouthshire council, on the Welsh side of the crossings, has floated the idea of campaigning to reimpose the charges.

Money raised would not go directly into its coffers. Instead the suggestion  in the council's five-year transport plan  appears to be for environmental reasons.

The council says the tolls 'would reduce journeys to/from Bristol by private car and subsequently would reduce traffic on the M4 and M48'. But it admits it would 'likely attract significant public and business opposition'. Mr Davies has ruled out a Tory government reintroducing the levy.

Richard John, leader of the council's Conservative group, said: 'I think it would be a tax on businesses and communities... the impact on families who rely on the bridges would be devastating.'

Consultation on the transport plan closes on January 5. A Monmouthshire County Council spokesman said the consultation's purpose is to 'align proposals with national policies that encourage sustainable transport'.

A Labour spokesman said it 'has no plans to support the reintroduction of Severn bridge tolls'.
Maine has become the second state to disqualify Donald Trump from the primary ballot, citing the 14th Amendment's ban on anyone who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

The decision by Maine's secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, follows a similar conclusion made on December 19 by Colorado's Supreme Court.

Trump's team on Thursday night said they will appeal the decision, as they will in Colorado. On Thursday, the Republican Party in Colorado appealed against their Supreme Court's decision, meaning that he is back on the ballot until an expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Bellows, a Democrat, concluded that Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2024, incited an insurrection when he spread false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election and then urged his supporters to march on the Capitol to stop lawmakers from certifying the vote.

Bellows suspended her decision until the state Supreme Court ruled on the matter.

Shenna Bellows, Maine's secretary of state, on Thursday ruled that Donald Trump should be disqualified from their March primary ballot

The decision came after a group of former Maine lawmakers said that Trump should be disqualified based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment - a provision of the U.S. Constitution that bars people from holding office if they engaged in 'insurrection or rebellion' after previously swearing an oath to the United States.

The ruling, which can be appealed to a state court, applies only to the March primary election, but it could affect Trump's status for the November general election.

It likely will add to pressure on the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve questions about Trump's eligibility nationwide under the constitutional provision.

Trump has been indicted in both a federal case and in Georgia for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election but he has not been charged with insurrection related to the Jan. 6 attack.

He leads opinion polls by a large margin in the race for the Republican nomination in 2024.

The Colorado Republican Party on Wednesday asked 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.

Jena Griswold, Colorado's secretary of state, announced on Thursday 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 on December 19 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.

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 on 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.
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.

Lawyers for both sides said on Thursday they had reached a preliminary settlement, and US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers paused a scheduled February 5 trial in the proposed class action.

The lawsuit had sought at least $5 billion, including at least $5,000 in damages per user for those who used private browsing modes between 2016 and 2020.

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 February 24, 2024.

Neither Google nor lawyers for the plaintiff consumers immediately responded to requests for comment.

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

The lawsuit alleged that Google's analytics, cookies and apps let the Alphabet subsidiary track their activity even when they set Google's Chrome browser to 'Incognito' mode and other browsers to 'private' browsing mode.

They said this allowed Google to illicitly learn about their friends, hobbies, favorite foods, shopping habits, and 'potentially embarrassing things' they seek out online.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs accused Google of becoming 'an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed it.'

The complaint states: 'Through its pervasive data tracking business, Google knows who your friends are, what your hobbies are, what you like to eat, what movies you watch, where and when you like to shop, what your favorite vacation destinations are, what your favorite color is, and even the most intimate and potentially embarrassing things you browse on the internetregardless of whether you follow Google's advice to keep your activities 'private.'

'Indeed, notwithstanding consumers' best efforts, Google has made itself an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed it.'

The document, filed in the federal court in San Jose, California, alleges that Google gathers data through Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager and other applications and website plug-ins, including smartphone apps - regardless of whether users click on Google-supported ads.

This helps Google learn about users' friends, hobbies, favorite foods, shopping habits, and even the 'most intimate and potentially embarrassing things' they search for online, the complaint said.

'Google must be held accountable for the harm it has caused to its users in order to ensure it cannot continue to engage in the covert and unauthorized data collection from virtually every American with a computer or phone,' the complaint said.

The lawsuit alleged that Google's analytics, cookies and apps let the Alphabet subsidiary track their activity even when they set Google's Chrome browser to 'Incognito' mode

In August, Judge Rogers rejected Google's bid to dismiss the lawsuit, which was set to go to trial in federal court in Oakland, California.

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 settlement comes a week after Google agreed to pay $700 million and make several other concessions to settle allegations that it had been stifling competition against its Android app store.

Although Google struck the deal with state attorneys general in September, the settlement's terms weren't revealed until December 18 in documents filed in San Francisco federal court.

The disclosure came a week after a federal court jury rebuked Google for deploying anticompetitive tactics in its Play Store for Android apps.

The settlement with the states includes $630 million to compensate U.S. consumers funneled into a payment processing system that state attorneys general alleged drove up the prices for digital transactions within apps downloaded from the Play Store.

That store caters to the Android software that powers most of the world's smartphones.

In a separate case, 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games prevailed earlier this month in its high-profile antitrust trial over Google's Play app store, after alleging it operated as an illegal monopoly.

Jurors found for Epic on all counts after more than a month of trial in Epic's lawsuit, which accused Google of taking action to quash competitors and charge unduly high fees of up to 30 percent to app developers.

The court will reconvene in January to consider what remedies to implement in that case.
Two sisters who paid hundreds of dollars to stay at a luxury resort in the Whitsundays have left a scathing review after claiming they saw mould in the buffet breakfast and staff were 'rude'.

The pair shared a TikTok video on Wednesday showing the fruit available at the breakfast buffet at the Daydream Island Resort & Living Reef in Queensland's Whitsundays region.

'Check out the mould at the buffet at Daydream Island,' the pair said.

'Don't ever stay here, the place is so run down and the staff are so rude.'

The sisters shared another video on Thursday where they claimed they saw staff pour the coffee overflow container back into the pot.

Two sisters who paid hundreds of dollars to stay at a luxury resort at Daydream Island have left a scathing review after claiming they saw mould in the buffet breakfast and staff were 'rude'

The pair shared a series of TikToks about their stay at the Daydream Island Resort & Living Reef in Queensland 's north

The pair claimed they didn't see any staff at the buffet for hours, but many commenters said this was perfectly normal

In a third clip, the duo claimed the food wasn't changed once in the three hours they spent at the breakfast buffet with no staff in sight.

'Never stay at Daydream Island. Share this video to everyone you know so they don't make the same mistake I did!' they captioned one video.

Many commenters claimed the resort, which was bought by China Capital Investment Group in 2015, was better years ago.

'So not quite the daydream then?,' one said.

'That watermelon is literally rotting,' another said of the fruit.

'We called it nightmare island after our stay,' a third wrote.

'Daydream Island in the 90s was the best! Such a shame it went downhill,' one said.

'Daydream and Hamilton Island, they were good maybe 20ish years ago. Now they're both ridiculously overpriced garbage,' another said.

But others said they'd never experienced any issues at the resort, and accused the sisters of creating drama.

'Daydream island isn't the problem,' one said.

They also claimed they saw staff putting the spilled over coffee back into the pot

'Obviously nothing better to do than take footage and create a bad name for a place that is beautiful,' another wrote.

Fellow social media users also pointed out it was perfectly safe for food to be left out if it was for no longer than four hours.

'It's all on warmers, get on with your life,' someone commented.

'That's how buffets work, it's self serve and the food is all kept warm. You must not get out much,' another said.

'Your holiday seems so boring,' one commented.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the resort and its parent company, China Capital Investment Group, for comment.
A Kentucky man faces rape and several other serious charges after a missing North Carolina 16-year-old was found inside a trap door hidden underneath the rug at his house.

Zackary Jones, 34, was arrested after Lincoln County deputies responded to a report of domestic violence at his home on Christmas Day.

Jones answered the door of his home on Robertstown Road in Kings Mountain and told authorities the victim was not there.

Deputies were soon after taken through the home by Jones, according to a police citation.

The officers noticed drugs in plain view, which Jones then tried to get rid of in a wood stove in his bedroom.

Zackary Jones, 34, was arrested after Lincoln County deputies responded to a report of domestic violence at his home on Christmas Day

Authorities then took Jones into custody, leaving him in the backseat of a police vehicle.

They then returned to try and find the missing girl when they noticed a trap door hidden underneath a bedroom rug.

The girl - a missing 16-year-old from Fayetteville, North Carolina who has yet to be identified - was found.

Officers said that the victim was 'very high' when Jones was arrested.

The 34-year-old man admitted to doing drugs and 'engaging in sexual activity' with the girl. The age of consent is 16 in Kentucky.

However, the girl then stated Jones had taken her from North Carolina and brought him back to his home.

She told police that he had contacted her about two to three weeks earlier and claimed he was 19.

When he arrived at her home, she said he looked older and he admitted he lied. However, he then lied again, saying he was 25.

Jones answered the door of his home on Robertstown Road in Kings Mountain and told authorities the victim was not there. They soon found her in a trap door in his bedroom underneath a rug

The victim only found out Jones' actual age when she got to his home and met his family.

She told deputies that after she found this out, he threatened her and made her promise to tell anyone who asked that she was 18.

The teen then alleged that Jones was armed with a gun and had, on multiple occasions, threatened to kill her.

She also said that they were stopped by a deputy in Lincoln County the night he trafficked her and said he would shoot the officer if he tried to take one of them from the vehicle.

Jones faces about a dozen charges, including rape, sodomy, strangulation, terroristic threatening, and resisting arrest.

He could also potentially face charges back in North Carolina, according to WKYT.

Jones is currently being held in a county jail.
L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers has become the first woman to accumulate a $100billion fortune.

The French businesswoman, 70, reached the milestone after shares in beauty giant L'Oreal - founded by her grandfather in 1909 - hit a record high.

A recent share price surge has taken Ms Bettencourt Meyer's wealth to around $100.2billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index published yesterday.

Ms Bettencourt Meyers, who is the richest woman in the world, inherited her wealth after the death of her mother Liliane Bettencourt in 2017.

It followed a huge legal battle which developed into a political scandal over whether her mother was able to manage the family's fortune.

L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers has become the first woman to accumulate a $100billion fortune

The French businesswoman, 70, reached the milestone after shares in beauty giant L'Oreal - founded by her grandfather in 1909 - hit a record high (stock image)

A three-part Netflix documentary on the bitter public row was released last month.

The reclusive billionaire has reportedly written two books - one on the Bible and the other on Greek gods - and plays the piano for hours a day.

Paris-based L'Oreal suffered during the pandemic as consumers bought less make up and other beauty products during global lockdowns.

But sales have bounced back in the years since, which has pushed up the Garnier and Maybelline owner's share price.

The company also owns luxury brands such as Lancome, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent.

The 114-year-old beauty group's stock has surged 35 per cent over the last year, adding around $28billion to Ms Bettencourt Meyer's personal wealth.

Ms Bettencourt Meyers and her family own a 35 per cent stake in L'Oreal and she is vice-chair of the company's board. Her sons Jean-Victor Meyers and Nicholas Meyers are also directors.

Despite Ms Bettencourt Meyer's huge fortune, her wealth still lags far behind Bernard Arnault, the founder of French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH.

A recent share price surge has taken Ms Bettencourt Meyer's wealth to around $100.2billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index published yesterday (stock image)

Arnault had a fortune of $179.4billion on Wednesday evening, Bloomberg's index showed.

The index, which is updated every day, currently lists Elon Musk as the world's richest man.
Australia is renowed worldwide for its spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks displays.

But did you know that setting off your own explosives could land you in jail, rushed to hospital or see you slapped with a fine of up to $52,000?

Millions will flock to parks and waterfront venues around the country this Sunday night to watch the skies explode in a beautiful display of light to welcome in 2024.

Authorities have warned revellers to leave the fireworks to the professionals this New Year's Eve to avoid hefty penalties, serious injuries, or even jail.

Thousands will flock to Sydney Harbour on Sunday for the city's world famous NYE fireworks

Letting off fireworks this Sunday night will likely result in serious consequences

In NSW the use of illegal fireworks could see you handed an on-the-spot fine of up to $1000, with a maximum fine of $27,500 and 12 months in prison.

'Fireworks in the hands of unlicensed users is a sure fire way to put people and property in danger,' SafeWork NSW's Natasha Mann said.

Unauthorised fireworks have been illegal in Queensland since 1972 with those caught using or handling explosives facing fines of up to $52,220 and six months in jail.

In Victoria, it is a crime for anyone but a licensed pyrotechnicians to use or carry fireworks.

Anyone else caught using fireworks could face criminal charges attracting penalties including jail time for up to 15 years and thousands of dollars in fines.

WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Narelle Beer said fireworks were potentially deadly in the wrong hands.

'It's deeply concerning to see the number of people seeking emergency treatment for fireworks-related injuries rising again for the first time in recent years,' Dr Beer said.

Australia is renowed worldwide for its spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks displays. Pictured is Sydney

New Year's Eve revellers are urged to leave the fireworks (pictured) to the professionals

Last summer CFA firefighters were called to 27 fires and explosions across the state caused by illegal fireworks.

'Enjoy your celebrations, but please don't let illegal fireworks ruin the fun - there's a very real risk that you or someone nearby could be seriously hurt,' she said.

In the Northern Territory, anyone over the age of 18 can legally buy and set off fireworks one day of the year on July 1, Territory Day also known as 'Cracker Night'.

There are strict rules that apply to anyone taking part in the explosive celebrations, those who don't follow them could risk a fine of more than $1200.

If you're caught using illegal fireworks in South Australia you can face a maximum fine of $5000.

Fortunato Foti spent Friday preparing for Sunday night's spectacular NYE fireworks in Sydney

In Western Australia, the public is banned from using fireworks except for throwdowns and sparklers.

Using illegal fireworks in WA could result in thousands of dollars in fines.

According to a study by the Monash University's Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, 191 people have been treated for fireworks-related injuries since July 2015.

Males accounting for four out of every five injured and almost a quarter being aged 20-24.

The most common injury type was burns (87), followed by eye injuries (30) and open wounds (20).

Summer is the most dangerous season for fireworks with 71 per cent of injuries happening from December to February.
More than a fifth of the top jobs at the BBC are filled by people who were privately educated, new figures show - despite working class viewers complaints that the broadcaster is out of touch.

Some 22 per cent of the corporation's biggest earners attended fee-paying schools, according to the data, including director-general Tim Davie, top presenter Laura Kuenssberg and royals correspondent Nicholas Witchell.

This is, by comparison, more than three times the percentage of the British population as a whole that to private school - at around seven per cent.

Pay figures from the BBC reveal that nearly a quarter of the staff earning more than 150,000, putting them well into the top tax bracket, went to private schools as children, a report claimed.

The broadcaster's director-general Tim Davie, who is on a tidy salary of 525,000 per year, went to the Whitgift School in South London, paid for by a scholarship.

New figures show that more than a fifth of the top jobs at the BBC are filled by people who were privately educated (pictured: Director-general Tim Davie, who attended private school)

Sunday morning presenter and ex-political editor Laura Kuenssberg attended private school

Fees at the elite educational institution currently stand at as much as 43,500 per year.

The BBC's chief content officer Charlotte Moore, who earns 425,000 a year, went to Wycombe Abbey school in Buckinghamshire, where a place will set parents back up to 40,000 annually, The Sun reports.

Sunday morning presenter and former political editor Laura Kuenssberg also attended a private school.

World affairs editor John Simpson, royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell, security correspondent Frank Gardner also all went to private schools, The Sun reported.

Earlier in December, a report by watchdog Ofcom found that the BBC's 'politically correct' programmes show the broadcaster is out of touch.

Lower-income audiences increasingly prefer to use rival streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify, which offer more 'engaging' and 'light-hearted' shows, the media regulator found.

Ofcom's report said it was felt that the BBC's portrayal of the working class used 'extreme stereotypes' such as emphasising 'criminality, drink and drug cultures' and 'financial hardship'.

Royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell is also a top BBC personality who attended private school

In the review, lower-income audiences said the 'reported salaries' of some presenters 'contributed to a sense that the BBC is out of touch with ordinary people', notably during a cost of living crisis.

Viewers from poorer backgrounds believed staff at the corporation earned 'disproportionately high salaries', adding to the sense that it is run by an 'exclusive, upper-class group of white men'.

The BBC told The Sun that 21 per cent of its staff come from 'low socio-economic backgrounds'.

A BBC Spokesperson said: 'We want the BBC to be for everyone and the latest figures show that 21% of staff are from low socio-economic backgrounds, with a target of 25% by 2025. We continue to invest in talent schemes and youth outreach projects, and we increased apprenticeships to record levels in the last year.'
An early review of late chef Bill Granger's original Sydney cafe rated the food as only 'average' and there was no mention of scrambled eggs or avocado on toast.

Granger, who died of cancer in London on Christmas Day aged 54, would eventually win international fame for his brand of casual dining but his first venture had a modest start.

At the time, Sydney Morning Herald critic Ruth Ritchie awarded both Granger's food and service a paltry 4 out of 10 and declared his coffee 'not good enough'.

The self-taught cook opened his eponymous bills with little fanfare in October 1993 after renting a re-modelled old inner-city hotel at 433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst.

An early review of Bill Granger's original Sydney cafe rated the food as only 'average' and there was no mention of scrambled eggs or avocado on toast. Granger is pictured (left) with fellow chef Michele Cranston at his first restaurant, bills

There was no sign yet that Granger would become 'the king of breakfast' and lead a cafe revolution which would see him establish outposts in Tokyo, London and Seoul.

Granger dropped out of university at 22 and started his cooking career at French bistro La Passion du Fruit in Surry Hills before taking a chance on bills with a budget of $30,000.

Ritchie reviewed bills in the Herald on January 4, 1994, weeks after the first coffee and light meals had been served.

Some of the features that would make bills so popular were there from the beginning, such as the sun-filled open spaces and communal dining.

'The kitchen is open and the room is flooded by sunlight and sparsely decorated with Swedish-look blond timber tables and chairs,' Ritchie wrote.

'An enormous oak table that seats about 14, where lone diners can chat or read, dominates one room.'

Ritchie noted there were separate menus for two sittings and the timings were strict - breakfast was served 7.30am to midday and lunch from midday to 4pm.

'The food isn't revolutionary,' she wrote, 'but there are some surprises: a wake-up call of freshly squeezed orange juice, wheatgerm, yogurt and bee pollen; toasted coconut bread, made on the premises and delicious.'

Granger, who died of cancer on Christmas Day, opened his eponymous cafe bills with little fanfare in late 1993 after renting a re-modelled inner-city hotel at 433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst 9above)

Ritchie liked the lamb rump with roasted peppers, tapenade and rocket, 'only to feel cheated when I saw the steak sandwich with roasted garlic and watercress served to someone else'.

Those options were considered a bargain, even back then, at $6.50, and desserts were priced at $3.50.

But Ritchie was unimpressed with bills' version of a cafe's most important offering.

'The coffee was standard Darlinghurst fare and was not good enough for the excellent citron tart,' she wrote.

The Sydney Morning Herald's summary of bills in its first review of the cafe

Overall, Ritchie gave both the food and service 4/10 - which was 'average' on the newspaper's scoring scale - with atmosphere and value rated 7/10.

The review ended on a positive note with a reference to an absence of one of the staples of 1990s cafe culture.

'Bills is not just a great room it is a completely focaccia-free zone and for this we give praise and thanks,' Ritchie wrote.

An August 1995 review in the same publication put bills on a list of Sydney's 20 hottest breakfast venues, referring to 'the queues, the big table, the library of magazines, and overly groovy crowd'.

'Wrong,' it continued. 'Breakfast at bill's is about one thing: corn fritters... fluffy batter, golden ears and plump capsicum piled up with roasted tomatoes, shoehorns of bacon, and rocket.'

Granger dropped out of university at 22 and started his cooking career at French bistro La Passion du Fruit in Surry Hills before taking a chance on bills with a budget of $30,000

The coffee had apparently improved and eggs made an appearance - 'only scrambled, always perfect'.

A year later bills had made it into the the Herald's Good Food Guide and he expanded with a second cafe, bills2, in Surry Hills.

By 1999, food connoisseur Terry Durack was writing about 'the most famous scrambled eggs in the world'.

The New York Times would dub Granger the 'egg master of Sydney' and he would be credited with making avocado on toast the popular breakfast dish it is today by The Washington Post.

The first reference to bills in the media seems to have been published in late November 1993 in a piece by the Herald's Short Black columnist Leo Schofield.

Schofield mentioned ex-Ravesis chef Michele Cranston was 'rustling up simple food at Bill's Cafe (Bill being Bill Granger, ex-La Passion du Fruit, ex-art student)'.

Some of the features that would make bills so popular were there from the beginning, such as the sun-filled open spaces and communal dining. Granger is pictured at bills

After Granger's death from cancer, Cranston remembered those early days of bills in an Instagram post.

'Just days before opening the doors on the first bills, we were standing near the big table talking about chairs, looking much as we do here,' she wrote next to a picture of Granger and herself

'A kindly neighbour passed by and seeing us standing in an empty cafe with our aprons, said "Don't worry, they will come". And werent those words prophetic.

'Bill and bills became synonymous with sunshine, fresh flavours, welcoming spaces, stylish rooms and a friendliness that decades later still beams from the glowing interiors that now dot the planet.

'Bill exported to the world Australian sunshine and a fresh approach to food and its hard to sit here today, on a typically sunny summers day and not remember the exuberance and fun of those early, busy, crazy days.'
Maines Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause , becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to continue his campaign.

The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows a ruling earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court that booted Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That decision has been stayed until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether Trump is barred by the Civil War-era provision, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

The Trump campaign said it would appeal Bellows' decision to Maine's state courts, and Bellows suspended her ruling until that court system rules on the case. In the end, it is likely that the nation's highest court will have the final say on whether Trump appears on the ballot in Maine and in the other states.

Bellows found that Trump could no longer run for his prior job because his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol violated Section 3, which bans from office those who engaged in insurrection. Bellows made the ruling after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, challenged Trumps position on the ballot.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows wrote in her 34-page decision. I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

The Trump campaign immediately slammed the ruling. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Legal experts said that Thursday's ruling demonstrates the need for the nation's highest court, which has never ruled on Section 3, to clarify what states can do.

It is clear that these decisions are going to keep popping up, and inconsistent decisions reached (like the many states keeping Trump on the ballot over challenges) until there is final and decisive guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court, Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, wrote in response to the Maine decision. It seems a certainty that SCOTUS will have to address the merits sooner or later.

While Maine has just four electoral votes, its one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maines electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there, should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate, could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.

That's in contrast to Colorado, which Trump lost by 13 percentage points in 2020 and where he wasn't expected to compete in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

In her decision, Bellows acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court will probably have the final word but said it was important she did her official duty.

That won her praise from the former state lawmakers who filed one of the petitions forcing her to consider the case.

Secretary Bellows showed great courage in her ruling, and we look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles, Republican Kimberly Rosen, independent Thomas Saviello and Democrat Ethan Strimling said in a statement.

But other Republicans in the state were outraged.

This is a sham decision that mimics Third World dictatorships," Maine's House Republican leader, Billy Bob Faulkingham, said in a statement. It will not stand legal scrutiny. People have a right to choose their leaders devoid of mindless decisions by partisan hacks.

The Trump campaign on Tuesday requested that Bellows disqualify herself from the case because she'd previously tweeted that Jan. 6 was an "insurrection and bemoaned that Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate after the capitol attack. She refused to step aside.

My decision was based exclusively on the record presented to me at the hearing and was in no way influenced by my political affiliation or personal views about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Bellows told the Associated Press Thursday night.

Bellows is a former head of the Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. All seven of the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court, which split 4-3 on whether to become the first court in history to declare a presidential candidate ineligible under Section 3, were appointed by Democrats. Two Washington, D.C.-based liberal groups have launched the most serious prior challenges to Trump, in Colorado and a handful of other states.

That's led Trump to contend the dozens of lawsuits nationwide seeking to remove him from the ballot under Section 3 are a Democratic plot to end his campaign. But some of the most prominent advocates have been conservative legal theorists who argue that the text of the Constitution makes the former president ineligible to run again, just as if he failed to clear the document's age threshold  35 years old  for the office.

Likewise, until Bellows' decision, every top state election official, whether Democrat or Republican, had rejected requests to bar Trump from the ballot, saying they didn't have the power to remove him unless ordered to do so by a court.

The timing on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision is unclear, but both sides want it fast. Colorado's Republican Party appealed the Colorado high court decision on Wednesday, urging an expedited schedule, and Trump is also expected to file an appeal within the week. The petitioners in the Colorado case on Thursday urged the nation's highest court to adopt an even faster schedule so it could rule before March 5, known as Super Tuesday, when 16 states, including Colorado and Maine, are scheduled to vote in the Republican presidential nominating process.

The high court needs to formally accept the case first, but legal experts consider that a certainty. The Section 3 cases seem tailor-made for the Supreme Court, addressing an area of U.S. governance where there's scant judicial guidance.

The clause was added in 1868 to keep defeated Confederates from returning to their former positions of power in local and federal government. It prohibits anyone who broke an oath to support the Constitution from holding office. The provision was used to bar a wide range of ex-Confederates from positions ranging from local sheriff to Congress, but fell into disuse after an 1872 congressional amnesty for most former Confederates.

Legal historians believe the only time the provision was used in the 20th Century was in 1919, when it was cited to deny a House seat to a socialist who had opposed U.S. involvement in World War I. But since the Jan. 6 attack, it has been revived.

Last year, it was cited by a court to remove a rural New Mexico County Commissioner who had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. One liberal group tried to remove Republican Reps. Madison Cawthorn and Marjorie Taylor Greene from the 2022 ballot under the provision, but Cawthorn lost his primary so his case was thrown out, and a judge ruled for Greene.

Some critics of the movement to bar Trump warn that the provision could be weaponized in unexpected ways.

They note that conservatives could argue, for example, that Vice President Kamala Harris is likewise barred from office because she raised bail funds for people arrested during the unrest following George Floyd's 2020 murder at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The plaintiffs in Colorado presented historical evidence that even the donation of small sums to money to those seeking to join the Confederacy was grounds for being barred by Section 3. Why, critics have asked, wouldn't that apply to Democrats like Harris today? (AP)
A US Air Force sergeant has been caught in chilling footage pointing a gun at a terrified 19-year-old motorist during a wild road rage incident.

Charles Bass, 40, was arrested after allegedly being seen in shocking footage filmed by Shi'Anna Bamba, 19, berating the young woman for her driving before asking: 'Do you want to f****** die?'

Bamba told ABC15 the chilling moment on December 5 came after she was accused of cutting off a truck, which she denies, and she rolled up to a stop light alongside Bass.

The Arizona teen said she started recording as they stopped next to each other out of fear, with part of the recording showing Bass raise the gun and aim it directly at the 19-year-old.

The shocking footage saw the furious road rage driver pointing his gun at the Arizona teenager and asking her: 'Do you want to f****** die?'

Shi'Anna Bamba, 19, said she was left terrified by the incident, and said 'there's nothing I could say out of my mouth that could threaten you that much to have a finger on the trigger'

Bamba said when she was first confronted by the Air Force veteran, she didn't realize the danger she was in.

'The first time he pulled it up, it didn't really hit me,' she said.

She said she had just dropped her siblings off at school when she tried to change lanes. Court records reportedly say she cut off a truck, but Bamba claims she 'didn't even attempt to switch lanes yet.'

After the near-miss, Bamba said she saw another driver gesture at her as he raced past her, and her heart sank as she saw she was pulling up along side him at the stop light.

'Then I heard him say, 'Did you want to die?' Bamba said.

The teenager said she panicked at the sight of the weapon and called her mom as soon as she pulled away, still in a daze. Only moments later did she realize what had happened.

She said she then contacted police and showed them the video, and Bass was subsequently arrested on December 15.

He was reportedly taken into custody by the Surprise Police Department, US Marshals and the Air Force.

Charles Bass, 40, a US Air Force sergeant, was taken into custody on December 15 and faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon

Bamba said she is still shaken by the incident, and can't understand what led the veteran to allegedly threaten to kill her over road rage.

'There's nothing I could say out of my mouth that could threaten you that much to have a finger on the trigger, and I was in the car by myself,' she said.

Once in custody, Bass reportedly admitted to police he was involved in the road rage confrontation, but claimed the teenager was driving erratically.

He said he raised the gun in the heat of the moment 'because of his PTSD and hypervigilance issues', which he says alarmed him when he saw Bamba's car window go down and he didn't know what could happen.

When questioned why he still pointed the gun at her after seeing it was a 19-year-old woman, he reportedly answered that he 'did not know why.'

Bass was booked in on multiple charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The US Air Force told ABC15 that the incident is under investigation, but declined to offer any statement.
New Year's Eve revellers have been told they must travel today or risk missing their parties.

Rail network Northern, who operate at more than 450 stations across the country, have told customers with rail tickets for December 31 they can use the ticket from today as they warn that anyone using the service the day after should 'expect disruption'.

They say they are running a reduced service across the North West as traincrews are unavailable - with some services finishing earlier than usual and others not running at all.

And Cross Country, who call at 120 stations in England and Scotland, have warned punters that their services may be 'subject to last-minute cancellations' as they are 'extremely busy' on New Years Eve.

They added that their services will finish earlier than usual and their timetables may be changed at late notice - so passengers must allow extra time for their journey.

But the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street has slammed the 'self-inflicted' cancellations as he urges rail firms to 'come clean' about what is going to happen well in advance of the date.

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

'Come clean now, that's what people need. I would prefer to know well in advance what is happening so it can be communicated to passengers amd they can make their plans. The worst possible thing is a last-minute change, particularly late trains being cancelled,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Chiltern Railways has blamed engineering works as it told customers its service between Amersham and Aylesbury would be affected.

Travellers will instead have to travel by bus from Beaconsfield, which will connect trains to and from London Marylebone.

Tricia Williams, the CEO of Northern, 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 these days.'

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.
Over the last year, the actor's firm has effectively been earning 20,000 a day

Daniel Radcliffe has doubled his cash reserves to more than 16 million as company filings reveal the Harry Potter star has property worth more than 3.3 million.

The 34-year old actor's balance sheet shows that he had 8,832,790 in the bank in 2022, before the star's already enormous fortune doubled to a whopping 16,085,209 this year.

The accounts belong to Gilmore Jacobs, a firm run by Radcliffe and his parents which generates income from several lucrative investments, including a property portfolio worth nearly 3.4 million.

Over the last year, the firm has effectively been earning 20,000 a day over the last year, and last year paid corporation tax of 456,00, meaning that it turned around a profit of 2 million.

However, this does not reflect all of the wealthy actor's vast and profitable assets. Radcliffe, who rose to fame as the boy wizard in 2001, has amassed an enormous 89.7 million fortune since landing the lead role in the hugely successful franchise.

The 34-year old actor's balance sheet shows that he had 8,832,790 in the bank in 2022, before the star's already enormous fortune doubled to a whopping 16,085,209 this year

Radcliffe, who rose to fame as the boy wizard in 2001, has amassed an enormous 89.7 million fortune since landing the lead role in the hugely successful franchise

Over the last year, Radcliffe starred in the 1981 Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along

But not even the boy-who-lived can be unsusceptible to the instability of global markets which did see the value of assets fall by 2.5 million in the year ending March 2023. Radcliffe's fortune dropped from 91.5 million to 89.1 million.

The accounts were signed off by his his mother, Marcia, 66, and his father Alan, who have been looking after the actor's earnings ever since he received his first cheque of 800,000 after the first Harry Potter film.

Radcliffe who owns homes both in West London and in New York, made a tidy sum of 40 million for the last two Potter films.

The actor has been plagued with rumours that he is set to take over Hugh Jackman 's role Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe teased X-Men movie - all because of his ripped new physique.

Over the last year, Radcliffe starred in the 1981 Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along and in the film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
A transgender 10-year-old girl in Ohio has described her concern at her state's bid to block access to gender-affirming care for minors.

On Friday, Ohio's governor, Mike DeWine, a Republican, will announce his decision on whether to ban the treatments.

DeWine had 10 days to make a decision on the bill, House Bill 68, that was approved by the Ohio House and Senate earlier this month.

Astrid Burkle told ABC News, in an interview with her family, that she was angry at the 'mean' people who sought to prevent the treatments.

Her mother, Alicia Burkle, said that while her daughter was currently too young to have surgery, she was receiving extensive therapy and mental health care, and was concerned that Ohio could ban more significant treatment such as puberty blockers before her daughter was old enough to receive it.

'It's been really frustrating at times,' said Astrid. 'Because there's just so many people out there who are just really mean.'

Astrid Burkle, aged 10, is seen with her sister Abs, mother Alicia and father Aaron

Astrid Burkle, aged 10, told ABC News she is worried about 'mean' people blocking her healthcare

Aaron Burkle, her father, said their local community has been supportive, but her sister Abs said they may leave Ohio if trans treatment for minors is blocked.

'We want to be able to support our communities and the state of Ohio, but like, people are going to leave,' said Abs Burkle.

'People are going to be hurt. They're not going to want to come back to Ohio.'

Alicia Burkle agreed with her daughter, and said they would move if they had to.

'Just because you've said that you're not going to allow us to get the care here in Ohio doesn't mean we're suddenly going to stop getting the care for our kids,' said Alicia Burkle.

'We trust the science, we trust her healthcare providers. And so we're going to do what we have to do and whether that is travel out of state to get it, whether it's leave the state and move - that's what we'll do.'

Ohio is considering following 22 other states and banning gender-affirming care for under 18s.

The Human Rights Campaign says that 22 states so far have banned access to gender-affirming care

Aaron Burkle and his wife Alicia says they are considering moving away from Ohio if DeWine approves the bill

The term refers to medical treatment, ranging from therapy to puberty blockers to surgery, for transgender people.

Neighboring Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia have all banned such treatments.

House Bill 68 bans not only access to gender-affirming treatment, but also prevents transgender student-athletes from participating in girls and women's sports.

DeWine has previously said it is a complex issue. He has also spent time visiting hospitals and speaking with families both helped and harmed by gender-affirming care.

'The one thing I think is clear is to me is both sides want what is best for children,' DeWine said.

He said his decision will ultimately be based on what he thinks is in the best interest of the children who will be impacted by it.

More than three-fifths of legislators have voted in favor of the bill, and can override his veto.

The Burkle family are seen in a photo from 2017

Gender-affirming care has been called safe and effective by more than 20 major national medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association (AMA), ABC reported.

The AMA has said this care can be medically necessary to improve the physical and mental health of transgender people.

During the December 13 debate, state senator Paula Hicks-Hudson argued against the bill, saying that it prevented parents from acting in their child's best interests.

'When we look at this legislation, let's be clear, it is not necessarily about preventing children from being exposed to these types of procedures, but it is preventing parents who are making decisions about the health care of their children,' she said.

'It also removes that decision for health care from professionals and parents and gives it again to government.'

But Terry Johnson, another state senator and a retired physician, said he was in favor of blocking the treatments.

'If you don't know if something you're doing is going to hurt someone 10, 15, 20 years down the road - or maybe even one year down the road - don't do it,' he said.

'The medical evidence is not there to support what we're doing in the country.'
A Federal Court judge has ordered a man to front court after it is alleged he unlawfully posted multiple videos to YouTube about Bruce Lehrmann's defamation trial.

Towards the end of the five-week hearing earlier this month, Justice Michael Lee ordered tech giant Google to reveal who was behind an account uploading videos showing the broadcast of the court.

The court has now ordered Glenn Logan to front court.

It is claimed he is behind the account which allegedly breached a Federal Court prohibition order on rebroadcasting the YouTube livestream of the defamation proceedings. The conduct could amount to contempt of court.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson (right)

Despite the Federal Court being closed over the Christmas break, Justice Lee on Friday made orders for Mr Logan to front court in February.

'The court orders that: Mr Glenn Logan appear in person before the Federal Court of Australia at 9.30am on 13 February 2024,' the orders state.

According to the orders Mr Logan, either personally or by his legal representative, will have to tell Justice Lee why proceedings for contempt should not be instituted against him for the alleged contravention of the prohibition orders.

Mr Logan has not been charged with contempt.

The account allegedly contravened the orders by publishing nine videos on a YouTube channel, Feminism Debunked.

Of the nine videos identified by Justice Lee, only two remain online.

One was posted on December 11, where the video tells its followers: 'YouTube has predictably removed all but one of my videos from the Lisa Wilkinson defamation trial, that's the bad news.'

The account urges its followers to watch its videos on other platforms, as it claims every video on his channel has been demonetised as a result of the website being run 'by extreme feminists'.

In addition to broadcasting the defamation trial, the account has hundreds of videos attacking women and feminism.

Common subject of the videos include sexual assault survivor Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins, and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.

Brittany Higgins is seen at court. She has since moved to Lunas, France

Mr Lehrmann is suing Ms Wilkinson and Network 10 over an interview with Ms Higgins which aired on The Project, which he claims conveyed he was guilty of raping Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.

He consistently denies the allegations, and plead not guilty with the charge dropped in 2022 after a criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.

In the final five weeks of the court's sitting year the defamation case has played out before the court.

Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins, their friends, family and colleagues, as well as Ms Wilkinson and others who worked on the story, gave their versions of events.

Justice Lee has reserved his decision in the matter.
Public sector workers in the Australian Capital Territory could soon be enjoying a four-day work week as the government joins private companies trialling the switch.

The ACT under Chief Minister Andrew Barr has committed to establishing a working group from 2024 that will spearhead a shift to a three-day weekend with employees keeping their normal pay provided that their productivity remains the same.

Some private companies in Australia are already testing the waters with Bunnings earlier this year telling its 40,000 employees they could condense their weeks and Medibank announcing in October they would let 250 staff try it for six months.

While the pilot program will only involve government workers, Mr Barr has said if it was successful it could have a wider effect on all businesses in the ACT.

'My view is if we're going to do this, it's for everyone,' Mr Barr said.

'If we're fair dinkum about discussions for four days, then it needs to be four days across the [entire] system.

'We can't have our cake and eat it too.'

The ACT government will test four-day work weeks for its employees with chief minister Andrew Barr (pictured) saying it could spread to the whole economy

The ACT government confirmed the four-day work week trial in response to a September report from the Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality.

The committee was investigating which model of a shorter work week would be most successful.

Options such as a 'compressed' model in which workers do the normal 40 hours over four longer days, a 'reduction' model in which hours are reduced but productivity is expected to be increased, and a 'hybrid' model were all on the table.

The committee recommended the reduction model with 'a shift to a four-day work week being considered full time employment' and acknowledging that would bring with it widespread 'societal repercussions'.

Private companies are already testing the waters with both Medibank and Bunnings allowing workers to do four-day weeks to test their productivity

While it has agreed to the trial the ACT government said it was still wary of the challenges.

'A trial within the ACTPS [ACT Public Service] will test the reduction model of the four-day work week where there is no loss of pay or conditions for ACTPS employees,' the ACT government said in a statement.

'While productivity may increase, it may not increase sufficiently or with enough longevity to fund the model in the longer term,' the statement continued.

'Further, staffing in many frontline areas will most likely have to increase to ensure adequate roster cover and ensure service delivery is maintained.'
Shocking footage captured the moment a daring nature enthusiast evicted a bear from under a home by shooting the bruin multiple times with a paintball gun.

Toogee Sielsch, an environmentalist in South Lake Tahoe, California, shared a clip of himself this week descending into a crawl space in an outlandish - and successful - attempt to move the bear from under an occupied home.

The video opens with Sielsch hunched by an opening of the crawlspace, pointing his paintball gun into the darkness in preparation.

'Don't even THINK about doing what I did there unless you have YEARS of training and experience,' he warned.

Toogee Sielsch shared daring footage this week of himself descending into a bear-inhabited crawlspace, armed only with a paintball gun

The environmentalist said he evicted the bear because it was under an occupied home, although he used a braver strategy than most

The nature enthusiast was seen moving into the dark crawlspace, before several shots could be heard ringing out as he peppered the bear with paintball shells

The nature lover, who frequently shares clips of his encounters with animals around Lake Tahoe, in particular bears, then withdrew his gun as he took a brave step inside.

After crawling on all fours into the cramped space, several paintball shots can be heard underneath the home, with only the opening visible in the clip.

As Sielsch remained inside with the bear, a last shot could be heard before the beast came bounding out of the home.

Another person outside the home exclaimed, 'He's a big bear, oh my goodness', while Sielsch called the bear a 'good boy' as it scurried away.

'Oh yeah he's 500 pounds easy,' Sielsch added.

Although some may not like to see the bear being shot by a paintball gun, the environmentalist insisted in an Instagram post that the huge animal would not have been hurt.

'I promise he's just fine,' he said. 'And will surely find another safer spot over winter.'

As a final shot was fired, the bear came racing out of the crawlspace, while a witness exclaimed: 'He's a big bear, oh my goodness'

Sielsch remarked that the bear must weigh '500 pounds easy' as it came storming out of the space

He said that the encounter left him with 'good news, and tough love news' - with the good news that he finally saw the bear, branded B33, again for the first time since November.

But while he loves the giant bruins, Sielsch said he had no choice but to kick the creature out of its home.

'I had to evict him from under an occupies house that he ripped into - Boo!' he said.

While many may have been way ahead of him, Sielsch also warned viewers not to copy him by entering a confined space with a bear.

'Don't even THINK about doing what I did there unless you have YEARS of training and experience!'

Toogee Sielsch (pictured) frequently shares clips of his encounters with nature - particularly bears - around Lake Tahoe in California

Sielsch revealed that he has a long track record of following B33, which he named after an earlier encounter where he found it had a collar on its neck after it was tagged.

He told Fox News that the bear weighed only around 150 pounds at the time, before he found it a year later weighing 400 pounds - still with the tag around its neck.

The pain the animal was in led him to call wildlife officials and they were able to tranquilize the bear and remove it, a move that may have saved its life.

He said he performs around 30 bear evictions a year, although his aggressive approach to removing B33 may be down to the years the two have known each other.
A 24-year-old former model who vanished from a Florida treatment center has been spotted in Alabama with a homeless man.

Isabel Lawson reportedly snuck out of a Pensacola addiction treatment center on December 26.

Pensacola police, her parents and an anti-trafficking group called The Shepherds have been searching for her since her disappearance.

According to her family, she was spotted with an unidentified homeless man at a gas station Thursday in Mobile, Alabama.

Isabel Lawson reportedly snuck out of a Pensacola addiction treatment center on December 26.=

Her mother told officials that the model has mental health issues that make her 'childlike and vulnerable'.

She does not have any identification with her or her cell phone.

According to one of the treatment center's employees, Isabel was last seen at Circle K on Cervantes Street and N Davis Highway in Pensacola and was asking people for rides.

Father Lance Lawson told WearNews after Isabel was spotted in Alabama: 'She is being tracked. We could see the direction she is going in.

Her mother told officials that the model has mental health issues that make her ' childlike and vulnerable'

The distressed father said he believed that she had been taken to a local Greyhound bus station to go to Los Angeles, where she fell into addiction even though she has been sober for the last six months

'We thought she might try to go to South Florida. It's like she's trying to make her way back to Los Angeles.

'Los Angeles is not a good place for her to be, but I know she is there. I don't know, i just want to know where she is.

'She just needs help.'

The distressed father said he believed that she had been taken to a local Greyhound bus station to go to Los Angeles, where she fell into addiction even though she has been sober for the last six months.

Anyone with information on Isabel Lawson's location is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department or The Shepherds
A Melbourne taxi driver who has driven cabs for more than three decades has been praised for his honesty after returning a large stash of cash found left behind in his vehicle.

Charanjit Singh Atwal recently found a wallet and $8,000 in cash scattered across the backseat of his taxi.

Instead of pocketing the cash for himself, the Sikh driver immediately handed it into police so the rightful owner could be tracked down.

The honest cabbie said it never crossed his mind to keep the money.

Astonishingly, the rightful owner was reunited with his cash.

Mr Singh Atwal did not ask for a reward from the grateful owner.

Charanjit Singh Atwal recently found $8,000 on the backseat of his taxi

READ MORE: Mystery winner of $4.8million lottery prize finally found right before Christmas Advertisement

'No, no. I don't need it. Never, ever,' the 13cabs driver told Nine News.

He told the Herald Sun: 'I remember the passenger who lost it was in a hurry; he was very lucky as I had many passengers after him.'

'Needless to say, he was very grateful.'

Aussies were quick to praise the cab driver after his story was posted online and went viral.

'A good and honest man. This speaks volumes about his character. May he be blessed abundantly,' one wrote.

'He is blessed, and his honesty and good deed will be returned to him tenfold,' one said.

'Yup! Great morals, great ethics ! Respect,' another wrote.

Others were disapppointed to learn that the owner of the cash didn't give Mr Singh Atwal a reward.

'No reward? What an a*****le,' one wrote.

'The man obviously has a good heart and probably didn't expect a reward but it is disappointing that the owner of the money didn't bless him with one,' another said.

Some were more cynical.

'Let's face it there was camera in the car and he knew if he kept the money he'd lose his job or worse prosecuted,' one wrote.

'If he didn't he could have been charged with theft,' another said.

The honest cabbie said it never crossed his mind to keep the stash

In Australia, Larceny by Finding is a law which requires people who find items and money to try and find the rightful owner. If the owner doesn't come forward, the finder can make a claim.

If a person instead keeps the goods or money a person can attract a prison-sentence.

In NSW, Section 117 of the Crimes Act 1900 states the punishment for larceny is a maximum penalty of five years.

In 2010, a couple purchased a second-hand suitcase from a Melbourne Salvation Army store for a few dollars.

The woman who donated the suitcase wasn't aware her husband had sewn their $100,000 savings into the lining.

'The distraught man contacted the Salvation Army in a bid to retrieve the suitcase but it had already been sold,' Salvation Army spokesman Major Brad Halse told The Age at the time.

Victoria police later charged a man, 44, and a woman, 34, who had divided the money up into multiple bank accounts, whilst spending some of it.
Conditions in San Diego will continue to worsen through Saturday as storm moves closer

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Huge waves pounded California on Thursday, as a big swell generated by storms over the Pacific Ocean pushing toward shorelines caused coastal flooding and prompted evacuation alerts.

In Ventura, bystander video showed a rogue wave slam into a seawall, sending a crowd of onlookers fleeing inland in panic as the water rushed toward them. Eight people were injured, KETY-TV reported.

Evacuation warnings were issued in coastal Marin County Thursday morning and extended to Santa Cruz County and Capitola Village later in the day.

Waves could range from 28 to 33 feet, and up to 40 feet at some locations, the National Weather Service said in a flash bulletin, adding that there were reports of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

Forecasters urged people to stay off rocks and jetties, and to not turn their backs to the ocean because of the danger of 'sneaker waves' - occasional much bigger waves that can run far up the sand and wash someone off a beach.

Conditions could get worse into the weekend as the storm system moves in from the Pacific, particularly in southern California, where San Diego is expected to see the highest surf on Saturday.

In Ventura, bystander video showed a rogue wave slam into a seawall, sending a crowd of onlookers fleeing inland in panic as the water rushed toward them.

Eight were injured in the incident as huge waves pounded California on Thursday

Conditions near San Francisco are expected to improve early on Friday, while Los Angeles is under high surf and coastal flooding advisories until 10pm on Saturday.

'Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions. Stay off of jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure,' the NWS urged.

In Aptos on the north end of Monterey Bay, surf overran the beach on Thursday and swept into a parking lot, leaving the area strewn with debris.

Local business Venus Spirits Cocktails and Kitchen Beachside posted security camera footage showing waves rushing into the outdoor dining area.

In a GoFundMe campaign, the owners said that they had not been able to return to the business to assess the damage, and were still recovering from similar flooding nearly one year ago.

'Mother Nature's angry,' said Eve Krammer, an Aptos resident for several years. 'I mean these waves are gnarly. They're huge.'

The same area was battered by the ocean last January as the West Coast was slammed by numerous atmospheric rivers.

'I feel for the people that are down low here,' said Jeff Howard, also an Aptos resident.

Conditions near San Francisco are expected to improve early on Friday, while Los Angeles is under high surf and coastal flooding advisories until 10pm on Saturday

People run for cover as high tides hit the coastline of Ventura, California

While not quite as huge, the waves along Southern California were also described as hazardous, with life-threatening rip currents

A storm system is seen moving toward the Pacific Coast on Thursday, generating huge waves

Coastal flood warnings and high surf advisories are in place in Ventura County, CA for the remainder of the week

The streets are flooded in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

The streets are flooded in Capitola, California on Thursday. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines

Storm debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos on Thursday after storm-powered waves caused flooding

A man carries a woman through storm debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos after the area was flooded

Men ride horses along Pacific Highway 1 as high surf and coastal flood warning issued in Half Moon Bay, California

While not quite as huge, the waves along Southern California were also described as hazardous, with life-threatening rip currents. Nonetheless, surfers couldn't resist.

Patience was key, according to Alex Buford, 27, who was catching waves just north of Manhattan Beach on the Los Angeles County coast.

'I was waiting for awhile because the waves were really sick, and they're kinda hard to get into even though I have a really big board,' he said. 'Just waited for a good one and I got it and it was a long one. Pretty big. It was sick.'

In Hawaii, the weather service forecast surf rising to 30 to 40 feet along north-facing shores and 18 to 22 feet along west-facing shores of five islands.

Professional Hawaii surfer Sheldon Paishon was getting ready to surf Thursday morning at Makaha, a world-famous surfing beach on Oahus west side.

Paishon, 30, has been surfing at various spots around Oahu this week, taking advantage of waves during this weeks high surf warning in effect till Friday morning.

'Its always big waves in the winter time in Hawaii,' he said.

Hundreds of people hike to trailhead to watch massive waves and surfers at Mavericks Beach of Half Moon Bay as high surf and coastal flood warning in California

A front end loader removes debris along a flooded road due to high waves in Pacifica, California

High tide and rains brought large waves pounding the coastline and caused flooding in Capitola Village in California

Large waves break near the beach on December 28, 2023 in Ventura, California

Dangerous surf churned up by storms in the Pacific is impacting much of California's coastline with coastal flooding possible in some low-lying areas

A person attempts to clean up debris washed up by large waves which impacted the beach

Large waves crash near Capitola, which was under an evacuation warning due to coastal flooding

Crews worked to clear the damage in Ventura even as more powerful storms and rain move toward the coast

Coastal flood warnings and high surf advisories are in place in Ventura County, CA for the remainder of the week

A utility worker runs from incoming water while inspecting downed power lines at The Venetian motel in Capitola

Waves splash under a house in Stinson Beach, which was under an evacuation warning on Thursday

A beachgoer standing on a sand berm watches high surf near Manhattan Beach, California on Thursday

He warned that novice surfers should check with lifeguards before heading into the water and 'make sure you got some people around you and stay safe.'

Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards, posted at beaches across Oahu, rescued 20 people along the islands famed North Shore on Wednesday, said spokesperson Shayne Enright. They were also busy with thousands of 'preventative actions,' she 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.
Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies expects to report revenue exceeding 700 billion yuan ($98.5 billion) for 2023, according to comments from rotating chairman Ken Hu in an internal new year message seen by Reuters.

The figure indicates around 9 percent year-over-year revenue growth from the 642.3 billion yuan reported in 2022.

The forecast offers further evidence that Huawei is rebounding after U.S. sanctions starting in 2019 crippled some of its business lines by restricting access to critical global technologies such as advanced chips.

"Thanks to our partners across the value chain for standing with us through thick and thin. And I'd also like to thank every member of the Huawei team for embracing the struggle  for never giving up," Hu said.

"After years of hard work, we've managed to weather the storm. And now we're pretty much back on track."

In the message sent to staff, Hu said Huawei's device business segment, which includes its smartphone business, had performed better than expected in 2023.

In a surprising move in August, Huawei launched its Mate60 series of smartphones, which are believed to be powered by a domestically developed chipset. The release was widely viewed as marking Huawei's comeback into the high-end smartphone market after years of struggling under U.S. sanctions.

Huawei's smartphone shipments surged 83 percent in October year-on-year, helping the overall Chinese smartphone market to grow 11 percent over the same period, according to Counterpoint.

Looking ahead to 2024, Huawei said in the letter the device business would be one of the major business lines it would focus on for expansion.

"Our device business needs to double down on its commitment to developing best-in-class products and building a high-end brand with a human touch," the letter said.

Still, Huawei acknowledged in the letter that it faces significant challenges.

"Geopolitical and economic uncertainties abound, while technology restrictions and trade barriers continue to have an impact on the world," Hu noted.

To tackle these challenges, Hu said Huawei would focus on strengthening the efficiency of its business operations. This included initiatives to "streamline HQ, simplify management, and ensure consistent policy, while making adjustments where needed." (Reuters)
Desperate migrants were seen clinging to the side of 'The Beast' train as it barreled towards the US-Mexico border, part of a huge 6,000-strong caravan currently headed towards America.

Footage of the packed train showed it moving through Chihuahua, Mexico, at breakneck speed, with several dozen additional migrants finding space on the roof in hopes of continuing their journey to the border.

A large portion of the migrant caravan is expected to be headed towards El Paso, Texas, one of several border areas that have seen thousands of asylum seekers pass through each month.

It comes as border agents reported an average of over 9,600 migrant crossings per day in December, the highest number ever recorded. In November, the figure stood at 6,800, meaning the border has seen over 3,000 more arrivers per day this month.

Over 6,000 migrants are making their way in a huge caravan towards the US-Mexico border, with officials sounding the alarm at the unsustainable levels of border crossings this year

Migrants depart from Tapachula, Mexico, and head north towards the border. Many are believed to be heading towards El, Paso, Texas

Footage captured several large groups of migrants desperately clinging to a train, hoping to join the over 9,600 migrants crossing the border every day this month

The 6,000 migrants in the caravan have been moving steadily towards America for weeks, taking a similar route to hundreds of thousands before them traveling through difficult terrain.

Over Christmas, thousands spent the holiday period in shelters and camps in Chihuahua, after the latest wave moved into the area several days prior.

According to Mexican news outlet El Dario de Chihuahua, the day after Christmas a camp named 'El Alamillo' - close to the Alamillo train station - was already empty, as the flood of people moves on to its next stage in Juarez.

The outlet also noted that a large amount of trash and discarded belongings were left strewn across the area as the migrants made a hasty exit.

While the caravan moves north, the city of Jimenez, at the southern tip of Chihuahua, saw another 2,500 migrants over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, reports KFOR.

Because trains in many areas on the typical migrant route were halted over Christmas, some reportedly told officials they hopped off trains further south at Durango, Mexico, and walked five hours to Chihuahua to avoid missing the next move forward.

The caravan notably started its trek through Mexico days before US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited the city.

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.

A migrant bows while awaiting Border Patrol transport at the U.S.-Mexico border near Lukeville, Arizona on Christmas

Over Christmas, thousands spent the holiday period in shelters and camps. To keep warm, some are seen starting fires at one camp in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on December 28

Migrants gather near the border wall after crossing the Rio Bravo river, as a border patrol agent commands the group

But Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that both US and Mexican officials agreed to keep border crossings open.

'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.

With anger growing in America at the unrelenting tide of migrants heading to the border, Mexican authorities have been accused of doing little to find a solution to the crisis.

When the 2,500 migrants arrived at Jimenez, the town's mayor shared on Facebook his pride in helping the influx move north towards the border.

'Let us remember that the purpose of life is to serve, to show compassion and be willing to help others,' said Mayor Marco Juarez Torres. 'Thus, we availed the Manuel Gomez Morin Gym as a temporary shelter for the migrants newly arrived to our city.'

Although the number of migrants in the caravan reportedly stands at 6,000, there are fears it could continue to grow significantly as Mexican residents join the group in hopes of entering America.

Officials have been warning for some time that resources are stretched thinner and thinner by the unrelenting numbers of migrant crossings

Migrants walk to a processing facility as directed by Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border near Lukeville

Local media indicates that Juarez is the final destination for many as it provides access to El Paso, Texas.

While El Paso struggles, it is not alone, with two other border towns not considered migrant crossing hotspots as they set continue to set records.

Lukeville, Arizona saw nearly 20,000 migrants illegally cross the border in just one week.

Eagle Pass, Texas, has also bore the brunt of the crisis, leading billionaire Elon Musk to visit the town in September.

Musk was toured around the stricken camps by Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, an outspoken critic of Biden's border policies. After December's record setting crossings, he said the crisis is 'historic.'

'Yet, more people are coming. And there's more people in the pipeline,' he said last week.

'Our entire southern border is being dismantled by the cartels. While mass migrant caravans pull CBP personnel off the front lines, multiple Border Patrol checkpoints have been shut down--allowing contraband and criminals to flow in without resistance,' Gonzales said in a statement.

'Trade is slowly coming to a standstill, and our law enforcement officers are exhausted ahead of a demoralizing holiday season that will keep them working overtime. If there were ever a time to sound the alarm, this would be it.

'For the sake of our national security, Washington must put politics aside and deliver on policy solutions that fix this border crisis once and for all.'
A Vermont driver who was prosecuted for 'flipping the bird' at a state trooper during a traffic stop is suing the officer and the department for breaching his First Amendment rights.

Police dashcam footage has now emerged of Jay Riggen pulling over Gregory Bombard on a snowy street north of Burlington nearly five years ago.

Riggen let him go after Bombard insisted the officer must have been mistaken, but booked him for disorderly conduct when Bombard did it again as he drove off - calling the trooper an 'a**hole' to boot.

The prosecution was eventually dropped but Bombard has launched a test case in the Washington County Superior civil court backed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

'Police are charged with protecting the public, not their own bruised egos,' said ACLU attorney Jay Diaz.

Vermont State Trooper Sergeant Jay Riggen pulled Gregory Bombard over claiming he feared that the middle finger he had just seen might be a plea for help on Bombard's part

Bombard initially denied making the gesture but told Riggen 'you must be really sensitive'

'It's obvious from the footage that the officer wasn't concerned about Greg's safety. He just wanted to punish him for mouthing off.'

Sergeant Riggen, a 17-year veteran of the department, told Bombard he stopped him because he feared the finger might an appeal for help.

'You need something?' he asked.

'Looked like you looked right at me and you stuck your middle finger up my face.'

Bombard denies making the gesture but adds 'You must be really sensitive.'

The trooper denies being 'overly sensitive', adding: 'That's the first time in 12 years I've ever stopped someone who I saw flipping me off so I don't like that insinuation.

'You may not have been doing that but I think you can agree that if someone was looking for the attention of a trooper they're probably going to find it by giving them that kind of negative signal. Do you agree with that?'

'No I don't because I don't understand that,' Bombard replies.

Riggen eventually accepted Bombard's denials but pulled him over again as the driver made his exit.

'It looks like as he pulled away, he called me an ahole and said 'f*** you,' Riggen radioed through. 'Flipped the bird. I'm going to arrest him for disorderly conduct.'

This time Bombard was ordered out and cuffed on the bonnet of the police cruiser.

'How is that disorderly conduct?' Bombard demanded.

'Although the first interaction may have been an error, the second one certainly was not.'

'Everyone understands what the middle finger means, so that it's totally unreasonable for an officer to pull someone over just because of that,' Diaz said.

'It just seemed like a completely unnecessary stop in the first place and unnecessary arrest after that. 'Here, it was done in retaliation for someone expressing their feelings to a public official.'

It is not the first time the gesture has been tested in court.

Nearly five years after the February 2018 arrest footage has been released as the case heads for court with Constitiutional rights at stake

In 2017 Debra Cruise-Gulyas was pulled over for speeding in Michigan and given a citation for a 'nonmoving violation'.

That was upgraded to a speeding ticket when she drove off making 'an all-too-familiar gesture at (the officer) with her hand and without four of her fingers showing.'

Judge Jeffrey Sutton of the US Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit insisted the gesture was protected by the Constitution

'Any reasonable officer would know that a citizen who raises her middle finger engages in speech protected by the First Amendment.'
I travelled for over an hour to see it for myself

New man-made beach has opened in Penrith

The opening of a new man-made beach about an hour's drive from Sydney's CBD has been met with feverish excitement from locals.

Penrith Beach has answered the prayers of many western Sydney residents who previously had to spend over an hour in the car to cool off at their closest beach.

The new swimming spot, which is formed from an old quarry, received mixed reviews from visitors when it opened to the public for the first time last week.

Critics complained there was duck poo in the water and that the queues to enter stretched back hundreds of metres along Castlereagh Road.

I decided to drive to Penrith from my home in Manly - home to one of the world's best rated surf beaches - to check out 'Pondi' for myself.

And I was pleasantly surprised.

Daily Mail Australia reporter Olivia Day (pictured) took a dip in Penrith's new man-made beach located about an hour's drive from Sydney's CBD - and dispells rumours of 'duck poo'

Tahnee and Steve, who wore matching swimsuits with their children to the new Penrith Beach said the new swimming spot was a win for residents

Western Sydney locals previously had to drive for over an hour to their closest beach

One lifeguard said most people were following the rules at the new swimming spot

When I arrived at the beach at about 11.30am on Friday, the first thing I noticed was the incredible, panoramic views of the Blue Mountains.

I walked down a steep grassy hill to where a stretch of sand dotted with tents and umbrellas gave way to a large blue lake.

Poll So would YOU take a dip at the new Penrith Beach? Yes No So would YOU take a dip at the new Penrith Beach? Yes 493 votes

No 531 votes Now share your opinion





Even on a grey day, it was 26 degrees by the time I had completed the long drive and I was keen to go for a dip.

The water was clean, cold and contrary to my expectations had no unpleasant odour.

At least four lifeguards stood along the 200metre stretch keeping a keen eye on weaker swimmers and conversing with each other on radios.

A sign on the sand warned parents: 'Lifeguards are not babysitters'.

A heated back-and-forth between a lifeguard and a paddleboarder erupted after he came too close to the designated swimming area.

However, according to one lifeguard, it has mostly been smooth-sailing at the beach.

'Apart from that one incident,' he said, in reference to the father-of-five who tragically died at the beach just days after it had been opened.

Mum Andrea visited the beach for the first time with her daughter on Friday

Visitors were seen lining up to grab hot chips and a cold drink from the one food truck on site

'I'm really happy they've done this,' a Rooty Hill father (pictured) said at the beach on Friday

Mums Ashley and Lee said they were a 'bit nervous' to visit the beach after the mixed reviews

The body of Seti Tuaopepe, 35, was recovered at the inland beach on Wednesday after he went missing while paddle-boarding with his kids.

'Seti Tuaopepe unfortunately lost his life while at Penrith Beach trying to save his kids,' a fundraiser set-up for his wife Mina said.

PROS and CONS of the new Penrith Beach PROS Supervised Soft sand Toilets and change-rooms Views of the Blue Mountains Safe for children CONS Muddy water Crowded Only one food truck ($$$) Having to pre-book parking No waves Advertisement

'His kids meant the world to him, and he cherished the life they had together.'

The beach was closed on Wednesday after a major search operation was launched.

But on Friday, Penrith Beach was back in full-swing.

Andrea, who was visiting the beach for the first time, was chuffed to report she had only driven for 20 minutes to get there.

She said she and her young daughter usually spent an hour in the car to drive to coastal hotspots like Bondi.

A Rooty Hill father told Daily Mail Australia: 'I'm really happy they've done this'.

He said the beach could be improved with more food trucks and said the beach was too small for the number of people that being let in.

Up to 700 people can visit Penrith Beach from 7am-7pm every day, with gates at the top of Castlereagh Road locked after the last visitor has left.

Currently, only one food truck is in operation which offers hot food like quiches, sausage rolls and pies as well as cold and hot drinks.

Young mum Sam and daughter Henley had been planning to battle the traffic for over an hour to La Perouse in Sydney's east for a dip.

However, upon arriving at Penrith Beach they were glad they didn't.

A couple with two young children gave the new swimming spot the tick of approval

A single food truck offers hot food like chips and sausage rolls as well as hot and cold drinks

The 200m stretch of sand on the man-made beach was dotted with tents and umbrellas

'My sister wishes she had come with us now,' Sam said.

'The water's clean, the kids are loving it.'

Sam said the spot could be improved by allowing visitors to book a parking spot further ahead than three days in advance.

'I've already booked for the next two days,' she said. 'We're really enjoying it.'

Mums Ashley and Lee said they were a 'bit nervous' to visit the beach after hearing about the alleged duck poo floating in the water.

'There's no duck poo, it's a great space. The kids are having a ball,' Ashley said.

A couple with two young children said the swimming spot was 'never going to beat the ocean, but it's a great close second'.

They typically spend over $100 on tolls, petrol and snacks to drive for over an hour to Umina Beach south of Gosford - but it's only 15 minutes to the new spot.

Tahnee and Steve, who wore matching swimsuits with their children to the beach, said it was a win for Penrith residents.

'I understand some of the bad reviews, but some of the things that were said got quite malicious,' Steve said.

'Anything that's good for Penrith we like. Good for Penrith.'

A man was seen teaching his daughter to paddle-board on the calm water

This young swimmer gave the new Penrith Beach two thumbs up

A police van was seen briefly in the carpark at Penrith Beach on Friday
A 16-year-old Brooklyn boy has been caught by police for pulling a gun on another teen and stealing his dog on Christmas morning in Queens.

According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, the unidentified dognapper has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, petit larceny and other crimes in the gunpoint theft.

Officials said the accused approached a 15-year-old who was walking his French bulldog named Six outside of the Queensborough Houses in Long Island City at around 9am and pointed a gun at him.

Officials said the accused approached a 15-year-old who was walking his French bulldog named Six outside of the Queensborough Houses in Long Island City at around 9am and pointed a gun at him

Approximately 15 minutes later, an NYPD officer saw the kidnapper with the dog a short distance away from where the theft had happened

The suspect then pushed a gun into the boy's chest and told him that he had five seconds to run.

The terrified boy dropped his dog's leash and ran away, according to prosecutors.

The startled victim managed to call the police and the NYPD Housing Unit cops began their search of the area.

Approximately 15 minutes later, an NYPD officer saw the kidnapper with the dog a short distance away from where the theft had happened.

The officer saw the dognapper toss a 9 mm gun containing 12 rounds of ammunition over a fence.

The officer saw the dognapper toss a 9 mm gun containing 12 rounds of ammunition over a fence

The suspect was arrested, and the dog was returned to its owner

The suspect was arrested, and the dog was returned to its owner.

He was held on $20,000 bail after a brief arraignment in Queens Criminal Court.

The DA's Office said in a statement: '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.

'The defendant will have to answer for the charges against him.'

The dog knapper is set to appear in court on January 9, according to the DA's office.

Officials confirmed that no one sustained any injuries.
Maine's secretary of state has said she would welcome the Supreme Court reviewing her decision to disqualify Donald Trump from the primary ballot, admitting the move was unprecedented.

Shenna Bellows on Thursday ruled that Trump could not be on their ballot, in a move which mirrored the December 19 decision made by Colorado's Supreme Court.

Both Colorado and Maine found that Trump had participated in an insurrection, and so was ineligible to hold office, under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

But Michigan on Wednesday found the opposite, and California on Thursday night sided with Michigan, ruling that Trump could remain on the ballot.

Bellows told CNN on Thursday evening that she knew her decision was historic, but stood by it.

Shenna Bellows, the Maine secretary of state, on Thursday defended her decision to remove Trump from her state's primary ballot

Shenna Bellows after removing Trump from the ballot: No secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on section 3 of the 14th amendment. But no presidential candidate has ever engaged in insurrection.



pic.twitter.com/pSkqlZ4rPR  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 29, 2023

'The oath I swore uphold the constitution comes first and foremost,' she said.

'The textual analysis of the constitution and the facts laid before me at the hearing that I was obligated to hold under Maine law brought me to this decision.'

Asked by host John Berman about the Trump campaign accusing her of 'theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter', Bellows said that she made her decision with great care.

'I am so mindful - and I said this in my decision - that it is unprecedented.

'No secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on section 3 of the 14th amendment.

'But no presidential candidate has ever engaged in insurrection and been disqualified under section 3 of the 14th amendment.'

Bellows, who ran her own non-profit consulting business before entering politics, is not legally trained, but said she was fulfilling her duty under Maine law.

'The weight of the evidence brought forward under Maine law in the section 336 challenge that was brought made it clear that Mr Trump was aware of the tinder he laid in a multi-month efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election,' she said.

'And then, in an unprecedented and tragic series of events, chose to light a match.'

Trump's campaign accused Bellows of attempting the 'theft of an election'

She said that, under Maine law, it did not matter that he had not been criminally convicted of insurrection.

'At the hearing, we reviewed the evidence. We reviewed the facts and the law.

'And certainly the question of whether Mr Trump engaged in the insurrection is a closer one than whether January 6th 2021 was an insurrection, which I also ruled.

'But the question of whether Mr Trump was found guilty, the applicability of section 3 of the 14th amendment, does not turn on whether an office seeker has been convicted of a crime.

'We looked at precedent in the Civil War. We looked at the law, we looked at the facts, we looked at what was brought forward in this hearing that is specific to Maine law.'

Bellows said that she was 'duty bound' to assess whether voters were eligible, for example insuring they met age and citizenship requirements. Equally, she had to assess whether candidates were eligible - and she pointed out that she determined Chris Christie was ineligible, because he did not have enough signatories to get on the ballot.

And she said she would welcome the U.S. Supreme Court from making the ultimate decision on the legal issues.

Trump is expected to refer the decision in Colorado and Maine to higher courts.

'I certainly do think the United States Supreme Court is the ultimate interpreter of section 3, of the 14th amendment,' she said.

'So yes, I think ideally they will rule. And they haven't yet.

'But certainly, should they rule, we will abide by their ruling.'

Bellows' decision does not go into effect immediately, because she is giving Trump time to appeal.

Trump's team on Thursday night said they will appeal the decision, as they will in Colorado. On Thursday, the Republican Party in Colorado appealed against their Supreme Court's decision, meaning that he is back on the ballot until an expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Shenna Bellows, Maine's secretary of state, on Thursday ruled that Donald Trump should be disqualified from their March primary ballot

The decision came after a group of former Maine lawmakers said that Trump should be disqualified based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment - a provision of the U.S. Constitution that bars people from holding office if they engaged in 'insurrection or rebellion' after previously swearing an oath to the United States.

The ruling, which can be appealed to a state court, applies only to the March primary election, but it could affect Trump's status for the November general election.

It likely will add to pressure on the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve questions about Trump's eligibility nationwide under the constitutional provision.

Trump has been indicted in both a federal case and in Georgia for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election but he has not been charged with insurrection related to the Jan. 6 attack.

He leads opinion polls by a large margin in the race for the Republican nomination in 2024.

The Colorado Republican Party on Wednesday asked 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.

Jena Griswold, Colorado's secretary of state, announced on Thursday 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 on December 19 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.
Bodycam footage shows a Massachusetts cop hunting a middle school for a book suspected to be inappropriate, before the police chief apologized for the search.

The search was performed after someone reported that a book with explicit material was being read in an eighth-grade classroom.

The plain-clothes cop was reportedly wearing a bodycam when he entered W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School in Great Barrington. The footage released is largely obscured by some of the officer's clothing.

The officer was looking for the graphic novel, Gender Queer: A Memoir, after police received a complaint on December 8 about 'concerning illustrations' in the book.

The officer, believed to be Joseph O'Brien according to the Berkshire Eagle, begins the video speaking to Principal Miles Wheat and the teacher in question, who tells him the book is not in the room and may have been taken out by another teacher.

Bodycam footage shows a police officer searching a Massachusetts middle school for a book suspected to be inappropriate , as the town's police chief is apologizing for the search

O'Brien then asks who might have borrowed the book before saying that it should be turned over to the principal when they bring it back.

'When it does return, I think it needs to be turned over to [Wheat] and we'll go from there at that point,' O'Brien says in the clip.

'Like I said, it's not the general material itself, it's the images that are in it that constitutes material that you can't disseminate to children.'

He then suggests that he could potentially search and remove any book in the school for inappropriate material.

'I would make it a point yourself, as a teacher, to go through the books that are there to make sure there's no other images that would be deemed stuff like that,' O'Brien said.

'We could sit here and search every room and ask every teacher. I'd rather not go that route and, you know, disrupt everything over one book.'

O'Brien tells Wheat that the problem is not the book's content but certain images inside it.

'It's not the general idea of what the book's about. It's you can't present that kind of material to people under 18,' he tells Wheat.

The officer, believed to be Joseph O'Brien according to the Berkshire Eagle , begins the video speaking to Principal Miles Wheat (pictured) and the teacher in question

The plain-clothes cop was reportedly wearing a bodycam when he entered W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School in Great Barrington.

The teacher then tells O'Brien - after being asked if there are any other books with similar content in the room - that he's welcome to look through them.

The principal had told Boston.com the book is not included in the curriculum, but a teacher had made it available in her classroom.

The teacher then notes that the book is kept 'separate on purpose' upon request from a general circulation area.

O'Brien makes clear that if any teacher has the book, 'it doesn't mean they're in any kind of trouble.'

Great Barrington Police Chief Paul Storti initially said the person who made the complaint provided an image that showed illustrated characters in sexual acts.

The anonymous complaint included that teachers were 'discussing subjects related to LGBTQ material and telling them not to tell their parents about it,' according to The Daily Beast.

The tipster even alleged that they once saw a student sitting in a teacher's lap and kept a book with 'illustrations of sexual content' on their desk.

The teacher, who is remaining anonymous, called the tip 'a horrific lie-riddled homophobic attack on the only queer teacher, and our brave LGBTQ+ and ally students who enjoy a safe space in our voluntary Gender & Sexuality Alliance club.'

The book received condemnation from both the ACLU and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey

The search led to a walkout and protests by students at the nearby Movement Mountain Regional High School

However, on December 22, Storti posted an apology to the Great Barrington Police Department Facebook page.

'As the Chief of Police for the Great Barrington Police Department, I apologize to anyone who was negatively [a]ffected by our involvement at the WEB Dubois Middle School on December 8, 2023,' he wrote.

'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.'

'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.'

'We are aware every day of larger issues that can stoke anger, hatred, and lead to discrimination. It's been my personal goal as your police chief to head a department that can act as an ally to our community in times that can be polarizing.'

'Whatever your race or gender, ethnicity, legal status or mental health, we strive to serve you all equally. I wish to emphasize again to our residents, teachers, students and wider community that it is not our role to seek out, censor, or 'ban books' in our schools.'

'I appreciate that I cannot take our alliance with our community for granted. The professional actions of police do, and will, come under scrutiny. It is our job to act with integrity and professionalism. We make our best efforts to be transparent about our work.'

'If there is an opportunity to be included in these discussions going forward, we welcome a seat at the table,' he concluded.

Great Barrington Police Chief Paul Storti initially said the person who made the complaint provided an image that showed illustrated characters in sexual acts



Berkshire Hills Regional School District Superintendent Peter Dillon and Berkshire Hills Regional School Committee Chairman Steve Bannon also issued a joint letter of apology for the incident.

The search led to a walkout and protests by students at the nearby Movement Mountain Regional High School, as well as condemnation from both the ACLU and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who also praised the student protesters.

'Book banning has no place in Massachusetts,' wrote Healey, the first openly lesbian governor in America.

'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.'

Managing attorney with the ACLU Ruth Buorquin told The Berkshire Eagle that 'Police going into schools and searching for books is the sort of thing you hear about in communist China and Russia.'

The book by author Maia Kobabe, who uses 'e/em/eir' pronouns, explores gender and sexual identity from an adolescent's perspective. According to publisher Simon & Schuster, 'it started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual.'

'Are you really calling the cops over a book?' read a student's protest sign

The graphic novel has previously sparked backlash, particularly after a Louisiana lawmaker read explicit passages out loud during a Senate hearing.

The book by author Maia Kobabe, who uses 'e/em/eir' pronouns, explores gender and sexual identity from an adolescent's perspective

According to publisher Simon & Schuster, 'the book started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual.' Author Maia Kobabe is pictured

Senator John Kennedy, 71, read aloud from Gender Queer during the hearing because it is currently allowed in Illinois schools.

He was making his point amid the continuing Republican fight to keep inappropriate subject matter out of the reach of young children at public schools and libraries.

Kennedy read out loud during the debate: 'I got a new strap-on harness today. I can't wait to put it on you. It will fit my favorite dildo perfectly.

'You're going to look so hot. I can't wait to have your c**k in my mouth. I'm going to give you the b****w**b of your life, then I want you inside of me.'

But in an interview with the Washington Post, Kobabe said the book is not recommended for kids.

Kobabe refuted: 'It keeps being called a children's book. Senator Kennedy implied it was a children's book.

'But I think that's coming from a misreading of the comic-book form. 'Gender Queer' is a comic, and in full color, but that doesn't mean it's for children.

The book's publisher, Lion Forge, initially marketed it toward older teens and adults, and Kobabe previously said that the memoir is for 'high school and above,' meaning it could be read by 14-year-olds.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) read graphic and sexually explicit passages from Gender Queer during a Senate Judiciary Hearing

It is advertised currently by Simon and Schuster as a guide 'for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere' - without providing age-limit guidelines.

Kobabe has two new books set to come out - Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding with Dr Sarah Peitzmeier, and Saachi's Stories.

In April this year, The American Library Association announced that Kobabe's 'Gender Queer' was the most 'challenged' book of 2022 - the second consecutive year it has topped the list.

It faced 151 challenges last year for its explicit content.
Locals from a small beachside town have been left shattered after a teenager was killed by a shark on a popular beach as harrowing new details emerged.

Khai Cowley was fatally mauled by the suspected great white while surfing off remote Ethel Beach on the Yorke Peninsula, west of Adelaide, about 1.30pm on Thursday.

Emergency services rushed to the popular surfing spot in Innes National Park but were unable to save the 15-year-old's life.

Devastated residents who live nearby are struggling to come to terms with his death following the shocking incident.

Ryan Valente, a local skipper with Reef Encounters who knows the Marion Bay region well, said it was unusual to see great whites in the area and could not recall any similar incidents.

Locals have been left shattered following the death of teen surfer Khai Cowley (pictured centre) who was mauled by a suspected great white shark

READ MORE: Woman rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a shark attack Advertisement

'It's stuff nightmares are made of,' Mr Valente told ABC Radio on Friday.

'Yesterday itself conditions-wise was a very grim day - lightning, strong winds and it was quite a dark day.

'The town's in a bit of shock, I guess. Our hearts go out to the family that are involved in the tragic incident.'

Sean Hanna, who has been coming to the beach for four decades visited the beach on Friday morning after he heard about the boy's death.

'I came down here to pay my respects to a young surfer,' he told the The Advertiser.

Mr Hanna praised Khai for doing what he loved even though he said conditions in the water weren't ideal at the time the teen was killed.

'It wasn't the best, there was a lot of whitewater but he wanted to be a part of it and that's something any surfer could understand.'

Luke Winter who lives in Port Noarlunga about a four hour drive north of Ethel beach said he knew Khai for most of his life.

'They're very well known in the surf community, which just makes this news so much more tragic,' he told the newspaper.

The 38-year-old man who has two boys of his own said there were other children on the beach on Thursday afternoon who saw the terrifying incident unfold.

Khai was surfing at Ethel Beach (pictured) a popular spot near the Yorke Peninsula, west of Adelaide on Thursday afternoon when he was killed by the shark

Earlier, another local told the newspaper that the shark had grabbed the boy's leg before another man paddled out into the water to rescue him but he couldn't be saved by the time he was bought back to shore.

They said the shark was circling the pair and there was a lot of blood in the water.

Surfing SA paid tribute to the talented surfer 'grom' from Maslin Beach in Adelaide's south.

'Khai was very involved in our surfing community with his passion for surfing stemming from a family with deep surfing roots in SA,' the group said on Instagram.

'He was a happy, kind and respectful kid, very much loved by his surfing peers and he will be greatly missed out in our community and on the water.'

Andrew Fox, a researcher at the Rodney Fox Shark Museum, said great whites are ambush predators and murky conditions on Thursday may have increased their activity.

'They're more motivated - bigger swell, dirty water,' he told ABC Radio.

'Anything that increases the chances of an ambush predator.'

Residents paid tribute to the talented surfer (pictured) who had a passion for surfing

Emergency crews couldn't save the 15-year-old (pictured) after first responders pulled him from the water following the shark attack

Khai's death rounds out a horror year for SA beachgoers, with three people killed by sharks and another two injured in the state's waters in 2023.

Teacher Simon Baccanello, 46, died in a suspected shark attack while surfing at Walkers Rock Beach, about 365km west of Adelaide, in May before 55-year-old Tod Gendle was killed surfing at Granites Beach on the state's west coast in October.

Their bodies have not been recovered.

Professor Charlie Huveneers, a shark expert at Flinders University, said the number of bites had risen globally over the past four decades but they still occurred infrequently.

Human population growth, habitat destruction, declining water quality, climate change and the changing distribution of sharks and their prey were all likely contributors.

Dr Huveneers said there were three main ways to mitigate shark attacks and serious injuries, including reducing the overlap of sharks and humans by establishing swimming enclosures or aerial surveillance, the use of personal electrical deterrents and the use of bite-resistant wetsuits.

Locals said conditions were not ideal for a surf at the time Khai was attacked by the animal with a local skipper saying he couldn't recall shark attacks at the beach in recent times

Premier Peter Malinauskas said his thoughts were with Khai's family.

'I can't think of anything more horrific, particularly at this time of year,' he told Channel Nine.

Mr Malinauskas said the government was looking at a range of deterrents but the remoteness of South Australian beaches made it a difficult task.

'We've got a coastline in South Australia that's basically the equivalent of NSW and Victoria combined,' he said.

'It's impossible to net the entire area.

'But we've seen 11 fatal shark attacks in South Australia since the year 2000, so the fact we've seen three across this summer is startling and it is of concern.'

A GoFundMe set up by Khai's family to help pay for his funeral costs had raised more than $40,000 by Friday afternoon - more than five times its target.
Parts of Britain will endure 75mph wind gusts on New Year's Eve while other areas face heavy rain and snow as 2023 ends with a washout weekend, forecasters say.

The Met Office issued a wind warning for southern England and Wales from 11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday; while rain warnings were activated for Wales from 10am and 6pm tomorrow and Northern Ireland between 4am and 11am tomorrow.

An active cold front will move east across England and Wales tomorrow and into Sunday which will widely bring gusts of 45 to 50mph, but some reaching 60mph and the strongest near coasts in the west and south with 65 to 75mph in places.

Meteorologists expect flooding, power cuts and disruption to roads, trains, planes and ferries as well as delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges.

Up to 50mm (2in) of rain could fall in North West Wales with 25mm (1in) quite widely elsewhere in the country, while Northern Ireland was told to brace for up to 25mm (1in) in a few hours with warnings that the downpours will fall on saturated ground.

Separately, a warning for sleet, snow and rain in Scotland was issued for Scotland tomorrow between 8am and midnight, with up to 10cm (4in) of the white stuff across higher ground and 3cm (1.2in) even on lower ground as well as 25mm (1in) of rain.

The Met Office said its Irish counterpart, Met Eireann, could name another storm - Storm Henk - after Storm Gerrit sparked days of travel chaos following Christmas.

Rail operators told revellers to travel to parties today amid concerns over further disruption and staff shortages when severe weather strikes in the next two days - with one operator issuing a 'do not travel' alert for some routes on New Year's Eve.

The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for southern England and Wales from 11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday; while rain warnings were activated for Wales from 10am and 6pm tomorrow and Northern Ireland between 4am and 11am tomorrow. A warning for sleet, snow and rain in Scotland was issued for Scotland tomorrow between 8am and midnight

Storm Gerrit hammering the seafront at Porthcawl on the South Wales coast this morning

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire today after heavy rain from the storm

A Knottingley Canoe Club member makes their way down the River Ouse in flooded York today

People under umbrellas as they go for a punt on the River Cam in the Cambridge rain today

Travel continued to be affected by the storm today, with rail disruption in Wales and Scotland - while LNER cancelled some trains this morning due to staff shortages and other services faced speed restrictions due to a signalling fault north of Newcastle. CrossCountry was operating a reduced service due to a 'shortage of train crew'.

Avanti West Coast passengers also faced further cancellations today after all London Euston trains were axed yesterday afternoon amid four separate incidents including a person being hit by a train, a points failure, a tree falling on the line and flooding.

Other disruption today included on London Underground's Central and Circle lines due to train shortages and cancellations; Merseyrail due to a signalling fault; and on East Midlands Railway due to a broken down train at Grimsby. Southeastern was also delayed between Ebbsfleet and St Pancras due to a signalling issue. It comes as:

Northern, which runs 2,500 services through 500 stations daily, said customers with tickets for New Year's Eve could use them today or tomorrow to avoid disruption.

The UK's second largest train operator issued a 'do not travel' warning for six routes with no service on New Year's Eve - including Morecambe or Heysham to Lancaster; Preston to Colne; Manchester Victoria to Chester; Manchester Piccadilly to Chester via Altrincham; Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge; and Clitheroe to Bolton.

Water is pumped out of a house in York this morning after the River Ouse burst its banks

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire today after heavy rain from the storm

Knottingley Canoe Club members make their way down the River Ouse in flooded York today

Flooding in the city centre of York this morning where the River Ouse has continued to rise

Tewkesbury Cricket Club's pavilion is surrounded by floodwater today following heavy rain

Dawn breaks over the Oxfordshire countryside in the village of Dunsden this morning

A Knottingley Canoe Club member makes their way down the River Ouse in flooded York today

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire today after heavy rain from the storm

The midwinter sunrise at Roker in Sunderland this morning as walkers exercise their dogs

Flooding around Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire today after heavy rain from the storm

Sunrise at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning after Storm Gerrit passed through Britain

Other routes across North West England will also have a reduced service on New Year's Eve 'due to train crew unavailability' and are expected to finish early at 4pm.

UK rail disruption on December 29, 2023 Avanti West Coast: Cancellations today after major disruption yesterday following four separate incidents LNER: Some cancellations across the network due to staff shortages. Other services face speed restrictions due to signalling fault north of Newcastle Merseyrail: Signalling fault between Hamilton Square and James Street CrossCountry: Reduced service due to a 'shortage of train crew' East Midlands Railway: Broken down train causing delays between Cleethorpes and Barton-on-Humber ScotRail: All lines now reopen apart from Dumfries to Kilmarnock, but other lines still face speed restrictions and cancellations with buses in place Transport for Wales: Train services remain impacted until Monday due to severe weather including the Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Swansea to Shrewsbury lines Southeastern: Delays between Ebbsfleet International and London St Pancras due to a signalling issue London Underground: Delays on Central and Circle lines due to train shortages and cancellations Advertisement

Fellow operator CrossCountry, which calls at 120 stations over its 1,500-mile network and has faced recent staff shortages, said New Year's Eve trains would be 'extremely busy', also warning of 'last-minute cancellations' and an earlier finish than usual.

And Chiltern Railways told of a 'high risk of short notice cancellations and disruption' on all routes this weekend 'due to a shortage of train crew'. Engineering works at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire on New Year's Eve will compound the misery.

ScotRail warned services will 'begin to wind down' from 7pm on New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile engineering works continued to affect Greater Anglia trains through Chelmsford and London Victoria station has no Southeastern services until New Year's Day.

But Andy Street, Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, criticised 'self-inflicted' cancellations from crew shortages and urged rail firms to provide more clarity.

He told the Daily Telegraph: 'Come clean now, that's what people need. I would prefer to know well in advance what is happening so it can be communicated to passenger and they can make their plans.

'The worst possible thing is a last-minute change, particularly late trains being cancelled.'

Mr Street said he understood it would be 'tricky' for operators who are replying on voluntary working, but added: 'My insistence is that we know early what is happening.'

Northern chief executive Tricia Williams 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 these days.'

The Environment Agency issued 128 flood alerts (in amber) and 34 warnings (in red) today

ScotRail said many lines have been reopened but urged passengers to check for the latest information before travelling due to speed restrictions and some replacement buses.

Met Office weather warnings this weekend Wind - Southern England and Wales 11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday  up to 75mph gusts

11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday  up to 75mph gusts Rain - Wales - 10am tomorrow until 6pm tomorrow - up to 50mm (2in) of rain

- 10am tomorrow until 6pm tomorrow - up to 50mm (2in) of rain Rai n - Northern Ireland - 4am tomorrow until 11am tomorrow  up to 25mm (1in) of rain in a few hours

- 4am tomorrow until 11am tomorrow  up to 25mm (1in) of rain in a few hours Rain and snow  Scotland  8am tomorrow until 11.59pm tomorrow  up to 10cm (4in) of snow and 25mm (1in) of rain Advertisement

It confirmed this morning that the only line that had not yet reopened was Dumfries to Kilmarnock, where Network Rail engineers needed to check the area following further bad weather.

Transport for Wales said the aftermath of the recent severe weather will see rail services hampered until Monday  including the Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog line. The Swansea to Shrewsbury line was also closed.

LNER, Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway were among the other operators urging customers to check before they travel today.

As for the forecast, meteorologist Alex Burkill said tomorrow is going to turn 'wet and windy' across the UK with a band of 'intense rain' pushing its way eastwards and north-eastwards to bring a risk of gales and possibly 'severe gales' in exposed spots.

He added northern areas as well as high ground areas in Scotland are likely to see 'significant snow', with possibly 10cm (4in) or even 20cm (8in) of snow building up on the highest grounds.

'There's a potential for some snow accumulations, even as low as perhaps 100m up, we could see some slushy snow, so likely to see some travel disruption again, because of the wind, the rain and some snow like we've seen over some recent days,' he said.

Blustery and showery conditions are set to continue into New Year's Eve, with the heaviest and most frequent rainfall across western parts of the UK. The mercury is also expected to drop.

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Mr Burkill said: 'As we look towards the end of the day on New Year's Eve, and the blustery showery theme does continue, some of those showers should start to ease as we head towards midnight.

UK weather forecast for final three days of 2023 Here is the forecast from today until New Year's Day from Meteogroup UK: Today: Showers are expected today across the UK, but these are set to remain quite scattered and also light in nature. There is the chance of sleet too in North England and North Wales. There will be patchy clouds and sunny spells across South England. Mostly fresh westerly winds, heavier in the North. Tonight: Tonight will begin dry yet cloudy for most of the UK, except North England, where there may be occasional showers or even sleet. The winds will be light and variable, feeling slightly stronger in parts of Scotland and North England. Rain is expected from the early hours of tomorrow morning. Tomorrow: Unsettled weather is forecast for tomorrow, with heavy rain and widespread cloud across much of the UK. Strong coastal winds can be expected, particularly in North England and South England. Feeling very overcast, with little to no clear breaks. Snow is also expected across most of Scotland. Sunday (New Year's Eve): Light showers throughout the day on Sunday, with plenty of cloud and grey skies. There is a chance of these showers turning wintry in parts of North England and Scotland. Becoming mostly dry by evening. Monday (New Year's Day): Monday will start mostly dry, with some snow in Scotland. Heavy rain over South England by evening. Advertisement

'So perhaps a bit more drier weather around, some clearer skies but do watch out for those showers and you will also want to wrap up quite warm because although it hasn't been particularly chilly recently, when you factor in those strong blustery winds, it's going to feel close to freezing for many places.

'So definitely a chilly feel to things as the clock strikes midnight.'

New Year's Day should turn drier for many, particularly across more central southern parts of England and across Scotland with the 'central slice' of the UK most likely to have showery rain.

'As we look through the rest of the first week of 2024 and at the moment Tuesday looks like it'd be a largely dry day with some fine weather around before the return to something more unsettled - some heavy rain, some strong winds, and that does bring the potential for something a little bit colder and possibly wintry,' Mr Burkill said.

Earlier, the Met Office said an area of low pressure pushing in from the west tomorrow will be the 'most dominant feature' in the forecast leading up to the New Year.

While the severe conditions brought by Storm Gerrit have now eased, today will continue to be blustery with showers and central locations were likely to see the brightest conditions.

During the early hours of tomorrow morning, a 'potentially deep area of low pressure' will move in from the west to affect Ireland and western parts of the UK.

As this system moves eastwards, forecasters said the boundary between the area of low pressure and the relatively colder conditions further north and east will lead to a band of transient snow across some of the high ground of northern England and Scotland.

The Met Office added that it was 'possible this snow could fall to lower levels for a brief period of time across Scotland'.

Met Office chief forecaster Steven Ramsdale added: 'This system is likely to bring a range of weather including hill snow.

'Heavy rain will spread across all but the far north on Saturday affecting similar areas previously affected by Storm Gerrit. However, this rainfall will be a step down from that seen during Storm Gerrit.'

Chaotic scenes at London Euston once again yesterday as passengers wait for travel updates

Rail passengers queue to get inside Glasgow Central yesterday for a London-bound train

Passengers wait at a barrier at London Paddington yesterday while all services are suspended

Damaged houses in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, yesterday after Wednesday's tornado

Residents in the Kinloss Park area of Cupar in Scotland clean up yesterday after flooding

Flooded fields on the Somerset Levels yesterday after Storm Gerrit brought severe weather

Looking further ahead into 2024, Met Office deputy chief forecaster Nick Silkstone said: 'Through to mid-January, there is a signal for a shift in the pattern compared to the winter so far, with more settled and colder-than-average conditions becoming increasingly likely.'

READ MORE Dramatic moment pilot battles Storm Gerrit crosswinds to land Boeing 777 at Heathrow Advertisement

It comes as electricity bosses said they 'very confident' that the remaining 750 properties in Scotland without power after Storm Gerrit will be reconnected today.

Graeme Keddie, the director of corporate affairs at SSEN, said 'hard work' by its staff has reconnected more than 45,000 properties who had lost power as a result of the latest storm to hit the UK.

High winds, heavy rain and snow damaged electricity networks in some parts of the country, but Mr Keddie said that by this morning there were 750 homes remaining without electricity, describing that as a 'much improved picture'.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, he told how SSEN staff had 'made a tremendous effort in restoring power to customers affected by Storm Gerrit, battling some very tough weather conditions'.

He said: 'We have now restored power to over 45,000 homes and there are now 750 homes still to be connected.

'And we're confident through the resource levels we have we can reconnect these customers throughout today.'

He thanked those affected for their 'ongoing patience' as the power firm makes its 'final push' to restore electricity.

Storm Gerrit resulted in a 'lot of localised faults' to the power network, Mr Geddie said, adding there were a 'lot of points of multiple damage'.

This he said was 'down to the ferocity of Storm Gerrit', adding that wind speeds had been up to 10mph higher than had been forecast in some areas.

He insisted SSEN had been 'well prepared' for this latest blast of wintry weather, but added that 'we saw some wind speeds five to 10 miles per hour higher than predicted'.

Winds at Inverbervie, on the Aberdeenshire cost, reached 86mph during Storm Gerrit, he said - adding this was higher than the 78mph winds that hit the town during Storm Arwen in November 2021.

The latest storm was 'more ferocious than forecast', Mr Geddie stated. But he stressed: 'We're very confident of getting all homes reconnected through the course of today.

'We're got enough people and resource and we are absolutely committed in this final push.'

It comes after three men died after their 4x4 vehicle was submerged in the River Esk, near Glaisdale, yesterday, North Yorkshire Police said.

A 'supercell thunderstorm' moved across the North West of England yesterday after a similar storm is thought to have resulted in a tornado that damaged around 100 homes in Stalybridge in Greater Manchester on Wednesday night.

Around 100 properties were damaged by what police called a 'localised tornado' in Stalybridge, Tameside and in the badly-hit village of Carrbrook.

Hayley McCaffer, 40, who lives in Carrbrook, said that some of her neighbours' houses 'are an absolute disaster' with missing roofs and 'squished' cars.

Damage will be covered by standard property insurance policies, the Association of British Insurers has said.

Ferry services also experienced cancellations and delays due to the storm yesterday with operator DFDS confirming sailings between Dover and France were delayed due to strong winds in the English Channel.

Air travel in and out of the UK saw cancellations but most services have returned to normal.
A crook driving a stolen box truck led police on a wild chase in Staten Island on Thursday, damaging at least 25 cars and injuring two police officers.

The five-mile chase began shortly before 6pm near Bishop Street and Cranford Avenue, where NYPD officers spotted a W.B. Mason delivery truck stolen from New Jersey and attempted to make a stop.

'We immediately started shutting down the bridges throughout Staten Island and closing down different locations to try and slow this down,' said NYPD Assistant Chief Joseph Gulotta, according to WCBS-TV.

The fleeing car thief slammed into more than two dozen vehicles, including three cop cars, during the roughly 40-minute pursuit, police said.

A crook driving a stolen box truck led police on a wild chase in Staten Island on Thursday, damaging at least 25 cars and injuring two police officers

The W.B. Mason delivery truck was stolen from New Jersey, before fleeing police in NYC

At one point, the stolen truck smashed into a row of parked cars on Ven Duzen Avenue near Beach Street, causing them to pile up.

'It was really loud, just a loud crashing noise, and all the neighbors could hear a loud noise and screeching,' Shaw-nee Dixo, who owns a nearby restaurant, told WABC-TV.

'All we just saw was the chaos and it was turning into a crime scene, all the cop cars in every direction.'

The chase concluded when the driver jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot, but was apprehended.

The suspect is wanted on charged in New York and New Jersey. Charges were pending on Thursday night and the suspect has not been named by police.

At one point, the stolen truck smashed into a row of parked cars on Ven Duzen Avenue near Beach Street. The driver fled on foot but was arrested

'We immediately started shutting down the bridges throughout Staten Island and closing down different locations to try and slow this down,' said NYPD Assistant Chief Joseph Gulotta

The NYPD recently revised its policy on car pursuits, requiring a supervisor to sign off that the danger of letting the suspect escape outweighs the risks to officers and the public of conducting a chase.

In this case, police believed that the driver of the stolen truck was driving so erratically that he had to be stopped.

There were no reports of injuries to civilians in the incident.
Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly jailed for 17 years for a rape he didn't commit, has revealed that the UK 'doesn't feel like home' because he feels 'betrayed very badly'.

Mr Malkinson, who was finally cleared in July after being convicted in 2003, was released on a strict life licence in 2020 but said he still felt the weight of being a convicted sex offender: 'You're walking the streets but you're far from free.'

He was discussing life behind bars for the BBC with journalist John McCarthy, who was imprisoned by Islamic Jihad militants in Lebanon between 1986 and 1991.

The 57-year-old revealed in October that he was living in a tent on benefits in Spain as he feared he could have to wait two years to receive any compensation from government.

It comes as the government announced plans for a major inquiry into how he was convicted and spent so long in prison before the truth came to light.

Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly jailed for 17 years for a rape he didn't commit, has revealed that the UK 'doesn't feel like home'

Andrew Malkinson (right) and John McCarthy (left) were both imprisoned for years despite having done nothing wrong

Mr Malkinson is today guest editing BBC Radio 4 Today, and met John McCarthy as they both discussed being in prison having done nothing wrong.

He said astronomy books kept him going throughout the 17 years because it offered a brief escape from reality.

'You can bang on the walls, you can scream and it won't make any difference... so you retreat into your own mental space,' he said.

He added that at the beginning of his sentence he would think: 'This is going to end soon - it has to, they've got the wrong guy.'

Mr Malkinson said he now does not see the UK as home: 'I don't hate this country, but it doesn't feel like home to me, it feels like I've been betrayed very badly,' he said.

By the time he was cleared this year, forensic advances had linked another man to the crime.

There was no forensic evidence linking Mr Malkinson to the rape, and a court found that Greater Manchester Police withheld crucial exonerating information during his trial.

Following his release, he went to stay with his ex-girlfriend Karen on her houseboat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, who never doubted his innocence.

He then set off on a road trip using a friend's van through France and Portugal before landing in Seville.

Mr Malkinson, who was wrongly convicted in 2003 for the rape of a woman in Salford, Greater Manchester

Meanwhile for journalist Mr McCarthy, he dreamed of coming home to the UK throughout his imprisonment.

READ MORE: Former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland calls for a public inquiry into the case of Andrew Malkinson who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit Advertisement

He also relied on books to escape from his cell, which he shared with his cellmate Brian Keenan - a particular favourite being Vanity Fair.

He had been fleeing the country as the civil war in Lebanon escalated and had been on the way to the airport when he was snatched out of his car at gunpoint.

Both men described thinking 'this cannot be happening to me'.

Mr Malkinson previously said he has lost trust in British authorities. He said: 'I have no faith in any British authority higher than a traffic warden. I don't trust the British, Hillsborough, Bloody Sunday - they can't face the truth.'

Plans for a public inquiry to investigate why he spent almost two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit were revealed in August by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.

The non-statutory inquiry is set to investigate the roles of Greater Manchester Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Criminal Cases Review Commission to ensure lessons are learned.

But as it is a non-statutory inquiry, investigators will have no legal power to compel witnesses to attend - instead they will rely on the cooperation of people and organisations involved.

Mr Chalk said at the time: 'The core function of our justice system is to convict the guilty and ensure the innocent walk free.

'Yet a man spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit while a rapist remained on the loose. It is essential that lessons are learned in full.'

A MoJ spokesperson told the BBC: 'The Lord Chancellor has been clear Andrew Malkinson suffered an atrocious miscarriage of justice and he deserves thorough and honest answers as to how and why it took so long to uncover.

'The Criminal Cases Review Commission, Crown Prosecution Service and Greater Manchester Police have all pledged their full cooperation to the independent inquiry into the handling of his conviction and subsequent appeals.'
Hong Kong democracy activist Tony Chung, who once called for the city's independence and was the youngest person to be jailed under its national security law, said on Friday he would seek asylum in the United Kingdom.

Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in the former British colony.

In 2021, Chung, then 20, became the youngest person to be jailed under the security law after he pleaded guilty to "secession" and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Chung said he had "safely arrived in the United Kingdom and have formally applied for political asylum upon entry", according to a statement posted on Facebook early Friday but dated Dec. 27.

He said he had been closely watched by Hong Kong's national security police despite his jail term having ended in June and was blocked from taking up work.

The Washington Post reported he was released early for good behavior.

Authorities also stopped him from seeking legal assistance by citing a confidentiality clause under the security law, Chung added.

He said he got permission to leave Hong Kong by saying he wanted to go on holiday in Okinawa, Japan, and sought help once he was outside Chinese soil.

Calling himself a "Hong Kong exile," Chung said it was impossible for him to return home in the foreseeable future.

"I believe that only with the collective efforts of the Hong Kong people can Hong Kong once again become a home that we can be proud of," he wrote.

"I believe that as long as the Hong Kong people never give up, the seeds of freedom and democracy will sprout alive again."

AFP has contacted the police for comment.

Chung was previously the convenor of Student Localism, a small group he set up five years ago as a secondary school pupil to advocate for Hong Kong's independence from China.

Separation from China was then a fringe view in Hong Kong, although calls for self-rule became more vocal during the 2019 protests.

In 2020, Chung was nabbed by plainclothes police from a coffee shop opposite the US consulate, where he was allegedly planning to seek asylum. (AFP)
Democrat 'Squad' member Rashida Tlaib has sparked fury by branding Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu a 'genocidal maniac' - and told her own party colleagues they are supporting a war criminal.

The outspoken Michigan representative was censured by Congress and denounced as anti-Semitic last month for defending the October 7 attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead as 'resistance'.

But she upped her rhetoric against the Israeli Prime Minister claiming he is 'working to move Palestinians out of Gaza' as the death toll in the enclave passed 21,000.

'Genocidal maniac,' the Palestinian-born activist wrote on Instagram Stories.

'Every member of Congress who sits down with this murderer is supporting a war criminal.

In November Tlaib was slammed after she accused Joe Biden of supporting genocide and demanded a ceasefire as she threatened electoral consequences in 2024

Her remarks came as pro-Palestinian demonstrators continued marching across the country demanding a cease fire in Gaza

Effigies representing the thousands of children killed in Gaza are seen after people took part in silent procession through Midtown Manhattan last night

'I am so sick and tired of our country funding and supporting a genocide and war on children,' she aded later.

'Please don't stop talking about Palestine.'

Hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Times Square and the World Trade Center last night, continuing protests in a week where anti-Israel marchers have shut down traffic at JFK Airport.

Chants of 'Biden you will see, Palestine will be free' and 'Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids did you kill today?' was part of the rhetoric used by the protesters.

Effigies representing children killed in Gaza were seen after people took part in silent procession which was organized partly by elderly Jewish groups through Midtown Manhattan earlier Thursday.

There have been over 500 demonstrations across the city since the Hamas terror attack in Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Adams, a Democrat, admitted that it was likely that protesters would attempt to disrupt the annual New Years Eve party in Times Square, where over a million people often gather to celebrate at midnight

Joe Biden is struggling to keep a lid on dissent from the left of his party over his public support for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

A preview of the interview showed Mia Schem speaking about her experience for the first time

Mia Schem being released to the Red Cross after 54 days spent in captivity in Gaza

One protester, Katie Unger, referenced the preparation for the celebration in a post on X as she marched.

'They are setting up to celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square. We are here to insist that the people of Gaza and Palestine too have the right to a thriving living peaceful new year.'

It comes a day after police arrested pro-Palestinian protesters that blocked entry to New York City's John F. Kennedy airport on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Travelers were forced to get out of their cars and walk to the airport with their luggage in New York after activist demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked the road leading to one of the country's biggest and busiest airports on Wednesday.

Port Authority Police Department were notified of the protest activity on the Van Wyck Expressway inside JFK airport around 11:30 a.m.

Police said 26 arrests were made for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic and the roadway was reopened at 11:50 a.m.

But freed Israeli hostage Mia Schem, 21, who spent 54 days in the hands of Hamas said 'everyone' in Gaza is a 'terrorist' as she her first interview since her release on November 30.

'I wanted to project the real situation about the people living in Gaza, who they really are and about what I've been through over there,' she told Israeli Channel 13

'I went through a holocaust,' she said. 'Everyone over there is a terrorist.'

Schem, a French-Israeli tattoo-artist from Shoham in central Israel, claimed that she was held with a civilian family, with children, while in Gaza.

'It is families under the Hamas regime, you know. I realised that I was staying with a family. And then I start asking myself questions why am I staying with a family? Why are there children here? Why is there a woman here?'

Before she was freed, she was made to film a video speaking about her experience, in which she said: 'People very good, very kind to me... Food good and the kindness and everything good.'

The report was made headlines as it contradicted accounts of other hostages who recounted abuse in captivity, prompting concerns she had been made to speak against her will.

The 21-year-old has since shared pictures of herself on Instagram with a new tattoo reading 'We will dance again. 7.10.23'

The post, uploaded two weeks ago, read: 'I will never forget the 7.10.23.

'The pain and fear, the hard scenes, the friends who won't come back and the ones we have to bring back.

'But we will still win, We will still dance!'
The number of antisemitic hate crimes across Britain increased dramatically in the weeks after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, new figures revealed today.

Islamophobic offences also rose for some forces, although the picture was more mixed across the country.

Greater Manchester Police saw the number of anti-Jewish hate crimes rise five times, while the British Transport Police saw offences spike more than tenfold.

The Community Security Trust (CST) described the figures as 'shocking' and said they made clear 'the extent of the unacceptable rise in anti-Jewish hatred across the country since the Hamas terror attack on October 7'.

The Home Office also condemned the rise in offences, adding: 'There is no place for hate in our society.'

Figures show a dramatic increase in antisemitic hate crime across police force areas in England and Wales

The figures have been obtained using Freedom of Information requests. They show that:

Greater Manchester Police recorded 74 antisemitic offences in the month following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, compared with 15 for the same period in 2022 and 14 in 2021, while West Yorkshire Police recorded 53, compared with 10 (2022) and 14 (2021).

West Midlands Police recorded 22 antisemitic offences from October 7 to November 7, compared with one (2022) and eight (2021), while Merseyside Police recorded 20 compared with four (both 2022 and 2021).

The British Transport Police had one of the largest increases, recording 87 antisemitic offences in the month after October 7, up from eight in the same period in 2022 and 11 in 2021, as well as a jump in Islamophobic offences with 22 (2023), up from two (2022) and eight (2021).

West Yorkshire recorded 49 Islamophobic offences in this period in 2023, up from 29 (2022) and 38 (2021), but the pattern was not so clear for Greater Manchester (34 in 2023, 43 in 2022 and 42 in 2021) or West Midlands (25 in 2023, 33 in 2022 and 23 in 2021).

A spokesman for the CST said: 'This wave of antisemitism was triggered by the mass murder, rape and kidnapping of Jews in Israel, and is fuelled and sustained by extremist hatred online and on our streets.

'It is essential that perpetrators are identified and prosecuted, and that wider society shows its disgust for this racist hate crime.'

READ MORE - Anti-Semitic hate speech is investigated at four mosques around Britain after footage of preachers calling for Jews to be killed and for Israel to be destroyed Advertisement

Tell Mama, which monitors and works to tackle anti-Muslim sentiment and abuse in the UK, told PA that 'levels of anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination are deeply worrying, impacting trust in authorities and their sense of identity and belonging'.

Iman Atta, the organisation's director, said there had been a 'significant spike in anti-Muslim hate since the atrocities on October 7', adding: 'The nature of many offline cases sent to our service is often overtly racist - targeting Arab and Palestinian communities with dehumanising slurs, anti-Muslim slurs or in some cases targeting their homes, or when speaking Arabic in public, as well as targeting Muslim communities across all ages and gender.

'We should never allow such hatred and intolerance to take root in our communities and at this time, please look out for each other, whether Muslim or Jewish. We must stand together against intolerance, hate and racism.'

The Metropolitan Police, the largest force in the UK, said delays prevented it from supplying full figures until the new year, but it had previously reported 218 antisemitic and 101 Islamophobic offences between October 1 and 18 this year, compared with 15 and 42 respectively in the same period in 2022.

Full responses were obtained from 31 of the 46 forces across the UK, with the data representing a snapshot of what has currently been recorded by forces and is therefore subject to change.

Anti-Semitic calling Jews 'evil' was recently sprayed on skate ramps used by children in a park in Notting Hill, west London

Methods for recording hate crime are not consistent across forces, so the data cannot be used to compare the number of offences between different areas or provide an overall total for the whole of the UK.

But the figures do point to a jump in antisemitic offences recorded by forces concentrated mostly in cities or across built-up areas, while the pattern for Islamophobic offences was more varied.

Some forces that operate across a mix of urban and less populated areas tend to show a similar pattern, although with lower volumes of offences - for example Hertfordshire Police (17 antisemitic offences for the period in 2023, compared with six in 2022 and three in 2021) and Thames Valley Police (21 antisemitic offences in 2023, one in 2022 and four in 2021).

READ MORE: 'Anti-Semitic' hooligans smash Jewish festival lights in a night of sickening attacks during Hanukkah Advertisement

Data obtained from smaller forces, or those covering areas with few towns or cities, typically showed low numbers of offences, often in single figures, meaning a clear trend was hard to determine.

A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the findings 'provide further evidence of the huge upsurge in antisemitism following the Hamas massacre of October 7'.

The board, seen as the voice of the British Jewish community with over 300 deputies directly elected by the synagogues and communal organisations they represent, told PA the rise in antisemitism had 'caused enormous anxiety for Jewish people, particularly children and Jewish students on campus or indeed anyone easily identified as Jewish by their dress'.

A spokesman added: 'We call on police to take strong action against anyone found to be perpetrating hate crimes.'

The Muslim Council of Britain said: 'Despite the extremely low reporting rate from Muslim communities, the huge increase in Islamophobic hate crimes recorded with the police reflects what we are seeing from third-party reporting groups.

'The Government's laissez-faire attitude to Islamophobia contrasts strongly with its no-tolerance approach to antisemitism. We are hopeful this will now change.'

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: 'There is no place for hate in our society and we condemn the recent rise in reported antisemitic and anti-Muslim hatred.

'We expect the police to fully investigate all hate crimes and work with the CPS to make sure the cowards who commit these abhorrent offences feel the full force of the law.

'Following recent events, we have also made further funding available to Jewish and Muslim communities, to provide additional security at places of worship and faith schools.'
Axed ABC presenter Antoinette Lattouf has taken to social media to accuse Israel of 'genocide' and 'slaughtering women and children' just a week after she was sacked by the national broadcaster.

The author and journalist took to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday to upload a post labelling 2023 as a year that will be remembered as a time when 'it seemed more offensive' to 'scrutinise war and propaganda' and call for a ceasefire.

The post was in reference to the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas after the terrorist grouped launched a devastating attack on October 7 that killed around 1200 Israelis.

Ms Lattouf's post which was captioned 'Reflecting on 2023' accused Israel of 'disproportionately' killing women and children.

The broadcaster went on to claim to her almost 21,000 followers that it was deemed less offensive not to call Israel out for justifying a 'genocide in the making' by using 'propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation'.

Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) accused Israel of 'slaughtering women and children' in a post that was uploaded to X on Friday

The broadcaster and columnist (pictured) also accused Israel of justifying a 'genocide in the making' using 'propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation'

READ MORE: Antoinette Lattouf is suing the ABC for unfair dismissal over her social media posts Advertisement

Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Lattouf for comment.

The post which has been viewed thousands of times comes after Ms Lattouf was axed from presenting the ABC Sydney's Mornings program.

She was filling in for regular host Sarah Macdonald on the show before she was sacked over a series of social media posts about the ongoing conflict.

Her posts which were put up on various online platforms are understood to have breached the ABC's social media policies.

Ms Lattouf did not return to present her scheduled shifts on the mornings program.

An ABC spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia at the time that she would not return.

'ABC Sydney casual presenter Antoinette Lattouf will not be back on air for her remaining two shifts this week,' the spokesperson said.

The ABC has strict editorial policies and requires staff to be impartial in their reporting.

Ms Lattouf's post (pictured) shared on Friday was captioned 'Reflecting on 2023'

She was axed from her role filling in as the presenter for the ABC Sydney Mornings radio program over a series of social media posts about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

'A thoughtless post or tweet can instantly compromise this perception of impartiality,' the ABC's rules state.

Ms Lattouf later hit back and said that she was 'considering her legal options'.

'I am very disappointed by the ABC's decision today,' she said.

'I believe I was terminated unlawfully. This is not a win for journalism or fair, critical thinking.'

Ms Latouf attempted an analysis of the conflict between Israel and Palestine in an Instagram video that was posted in October and called both Hamas and the Israeli government 'extremists'.

While she condemned anti-Arab and anti-Semitic rhetoric she added in the video that 'you can and should condemn illegal military occupation of Palestine thats been happening for 75 years.'

Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission told Daily Mail Mrs Lattouf's Twitter post described the 'atrocities' of Hamas and was reflective of anti-Israel sentiments.

'If her intention is to condemn the depravity of October 7 and to deplore the guerilla warfare of pro-Hamas activists, I commend her,' Dr Abramovich said.

'However, if her tweet is blasting Israel's defence of its citizens in trying to free Gaza of the satanic tactics of Hamas, than I would urge her to check the facts.'

Since the October 7 attacks Israel has attacked the Gaza strip with a series of merciless aerial bombardments that his killed more than 20,000 people, almost 9000 of whom are children.

Ms Lattouf has since lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission, claiming she had been 'unlawfully terminated' by the ABC.

She also announced that she will now focus on her latest career venture - a new podcast titled 'The Antoinettes'.
Freed Israeli hostage Mia Schem has broken her silence to share a harrowing account of captivity in Gaza, claiming children were sent to taunt her with food as she was left to starve.

Speaking to Israel's Channel 12, Schem explained how she and her fellow hostages were left alone in a locked room 24 hours a day, not knowing whether they would be fed.

The interview came on the heels of her first public broadcast in which she described her ordeal and declared: 'Everyone [in Gaza] is a terrorist.'

'You're afraid that something will happen at any moment. They would throw me food once a day, some days they wouldn't. The children would open the door and look,' she said.

'You are talked about and laughed about. Once this little boy, my sister's age, entered the room with a bag of sweets. He came to me, opened the bag, closed it and left. It's evil how evil.'

In the same interview, Schem described how she was shot in Israel before being dragged into Palestinian territory, as Hamas terrorists 'treated her like an animal'.

'I was screaming, ''My hand is gone!'', Schem said.

'[The terrorist] started touching me in my upper body, then suddenly someone pulled me by my hair, threw me in a vehicle, and we went to Gaza.'

Schem, 21, spent 54 days as a prisoner in the Palestinian enclave after being shot and taken hostage at the Nova festival massacre in southern Israel on October 7, before finally being released as part of a ceasefire and swap on November 30.

Speaking to Israel's Channel 12, Schem explained how she and her fellow hostages were left alone in a locked room 24 hours a day, not knowing whether they would be fed

Schem, 21, spent 54 days as a prisoner in the Palestinian enclave after being shot and taken hostage at the Nova festival massacre

'You're like an animal in the safari,' Schem said, before going on to share the feelings of survivor's guilt she has experienced in the weeks since her release

In first official proof of life of Israeli hostage, Hamas released a video of Mia Schem after she underwent an operation on her arm

Upon her arrival in Gaza, Schem was bundled into a building where someone operated on her hand. Her family members claimed she had been operated on by a vet.

'There was no anaesthesia, no nothing... I choked up from the pain, and [the person performing the operation] looks at me and says, ''Stop it! Or I'll send you to the tunnels''.

'You're like an animal in the zoo,' Schem said, before going on to share the feelings of survivor's guilt she has experienced in the weeks since her release.

'It was the hardest thing in the world... [The other hostages] said, ''Mia, please, don't let them forget about us''. And I'm apologising for being freed. ''Sorry, sorry''.'

Her interview with Channel 12 came shortly after she told Israeli outlet Channel 13 earlier this week: 'I wanted to project the real situation about the people living in Gaza, who they really are and about what I've been through over there.'

Schem, a French-Israeli tattoo-artist from Shoham in central Israel, claimed that she was held with a civilian family, with children, while in Gaza.

'It is families under the Hamas regime, you know. I realised that I was staying with a family. And then I start asking myself questions why am I staying with a family? Why are there children here? Why is there a woman here?'

Before she was freed, she was made to film a video speaking about her experience, in which she said: 'People very good, very kind to me... Food good and the kindness and everything good.'

The report made headlines as it contradicted accounts of other hostages who recounted abuse in captivity, prompting concerns she had been made to speak against her will.

A preview of the interview showed Mia Schem speaking about her experience for the first time

Mia Schem being released to the Red Cross after 54 days spent in captivity in Gaza

Mia Schem, 21, reunites with her mother and brother following her release after being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip

The tattoo artist became one of the most high-profile captives after Hamas released a video in the early days of the conflict showing her recovering from surgery.

In the clip, Schem said in Hebrew that 'everything is fine', that she received medical treatment for injuries, and pleaded for her release.

'Hi, I'm Mia Schem, 21-years-old from Shoham,' she said in the first clip. 'Currently, I'm in Gaza. I was seriously injured in my hand. I underwent surgery on my arm at the hospital for three hours.

'They are taking care of me, giving me medicine, everything is fine,' she was heard saying at the time.

Upon her release from captivity, her carers raised concerns she had received improper treatment.

'She is thin, she is weak,' Schem's aunt Vivian Hadar told media. 'A vet operated on her arm. She did not receive physiotherapy,' she declared.

The nature of the injuries has not been reported, but Schem says she underwent a three-hour surgery in Gaza.

She was seized by Hamas gunmen at the Nova music festival along with her friend Elia Toledano, 27.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described Schem as 'a young woman with an old soul' who was studying tattooing and worked at a tattoo parlour prior to her kidnapping.

The 21-year-old has since shared pictures of herself on Instagram with a new tattoo reading 'We will dance again. 7.10.23'

The post, uploaded two weeks ago, read: 'I will never forget the 7.10.23.

'The pain and fear, the hard scenes, the friends who won't come back and the ones we have to bring back.

'But we will still win, We will still dance!'

Some 240 hostages were taken from southern Israel into Gaza when Hamas launched its sudden assault on October 7.

More than 1,200 were also killed in the attack as armed gunmen struck residential kibbutzim and the Nova music festival near Re'im.

Hamas released more than 100 hostages during a week-long ceasefire at the end of November, most of them agreed as part of a deal with Israel.

A total of 110 hostages had been released by December 1, only women and children. A number still in captivity have been reported dead in the weeks since.

The 21-year-old has since shared pictures of herself on Instagram with a new tattoo reading 'We will dance again. 7.10.23'

Mia Schem pictured in a video she was made to make before her release from Hamas' captivity

Schem, 21, reunites with her family following her release after being held hostage by the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip

Mia is seen walking with family members at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel after her release

Few civilians returning from Gaza have given extensive accounts of their time spent as hostages.

The reports that have been shared have been somewhat varied.

Israeli captive Ruti Munder, 78, told Channel 13 upon release that conditions were reasonable at the start of the conflict.

Initially, they ate 'chicken with rice, all sorts of canned food and cheese,' she said, as reported by AP. 'We were OK.'

But the menu changed when 'the economic situation was not good, and people were hungry.'

She said hostages slept on plastic chairs and had limited provisions, some lacking a cover to sleep with at night.

Israel has maintained a tight siege on Gaza since the war erupted, leading to shortages of food, fuel and other basic items.

An 84-year-old woman was also hospitalized in life-threatening condition after not receiving proper care in captivity, doctors said.

Aviva Siegel reportedly told hostage relatives and members of Israel's war cabinet upon her return how guards had broken her husband's ribs and described how he languishes in prison 'barely' able to sit or eat.

'They touch girls, and everyone knows it. I won't recount details, but we had a procedure that no one moves without someone guarding them,' another female hostage said, as reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

'Medications ran out, and they gave us the wrong drugs,' she added.

Non-Israelis released as part of separate deals also warned of the conditions endured by hostages in Gaza.

Yelena Trufanov, a Russian citizen released separately in a nod to Vladimir Putin, described her fears as Israeli airstrikes rained down on the besieged enclave.

'You have no idea what you're doing there,' she said. 'And I know the conditions they're holding the men in are worse, worse than for the women.'

Mia Schem, 21, is seen in a convoy near Ofakim, Israel, Thursday, November 30, 2023

Mia Schem is seen dancing and smiling at music festival in footage before her kidnapping

On December 6, a doctor treating hostages said at least ten had been sexually abused while in captivity.

The medic claimed men and women had been physically abused while held hostage, after treating some of the 110 released as part of a week-long truce in late November.

The doctor did not provide additional details and spoke on condition of anonymity to protect the identity of the hostages.

But his claims aligned with the testimonies of other freed hostages, who told a closed meeting of government officials on December 5 how women were 'touched' by Hamas guards, pleading for Israel to do more to secure the release of the remaining hostages.

Former hostages have recounted being deprived of food, water and medicine while being held underground, putting mounting pressure on Israel to go back to the negotiating table.

'I was dehydrated for 51 days, they didn't give us water, they are inhumane,' one unnamed woman said.

Former hostages described how boys would sit up at night talking while some of the girls would cry.

Some of the boys would sleep on the floor, Munder said. She said she would wake up late to pass the time.

The room where she was held was 'suffocating,' and the captives were prevented from opening the blinds, but she managed to crack open a window.

'It was very difficult,' she said.
A Tory MP has sparked a row after hitting out at 'cr** parents' bringing up children who struggle to make their way in his constituency.

James Daly was arguing for a focus on family stability rather than the Left's approach of 'throwing money' at the problem when he made the comments.

But the backbencher was accused by his Labour rival of 'insulting the parenting skills of people in Bury'.

Mr Daly was discussing the election prospects in his Greater Manchester seat when he stressed the New Conservatives bloc of MPs was making the case for a strong family unit.

The Bury North MP told the i newspaper: 'I think New Conservatives represent very much working-class conservatism.

James Daly (pictured in the House of Commons) was arguing for a focus on family stability rather than the Left's approach of 'throwing money' at the problem when he made the comments

A general view of Bury in Greater Manchester. Mr Daly said 'most of the kids who struggle in Bury are the products of crap parents'

'We're not a strange right-wing sect. It's just people who want to give people the best chance to succeed and thrive in life.

'When you think about the family, it's about stability.

'Most of the kids who struggle in Bury are the products of crap parents and so what do we do to try to address that issue?

'On the Left it would just be we'll throw money at this and hope something sticks, somebody like me thinks about this more fundamentally.'

However, James Frith, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Bury North, said: 'It is revealing to see how little James Daly thinks of his own constituents.

'Rather than insulting the parenting skills of people in Bury, he should look closer to home.

'Over the last 13 years the Conservatives have failed to grow our economy, protect our public services or provide opportunities for young people in Bury and across the UK.'

The New Conservatives group has been calling for the tax burden on families to be reduced, including scrapping the rules withdrawing child benefit where one earner has a higher income and the other stays at home.
A grieving father has pleaded with his daughter's killer to tell him the truth about what happened the night she died.

Charlotte Brown, 24, suffered fatal injuries when Jack Shepherd flipped the boat they were both in after losing control in a champagne-fuelled crash in December 2015.

Following the incident, which saw the boat they were on hit a log and capsize, throwing them into the river near Wandsworth Bridge in London, her killer fled the country to Georgia.

When he returned to Britain, Shepherd was given a six-year determinate prison sentence after being convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence as well as a further four years after admitting hitting a barman over the head with a vodka bottle in a hotel in Devon.

There have been reports that Shepherd is due to be eligible for early release in the coming weeks.

Charlotte's father, Graham Brown, has called on Shepherd to give the family a full explanation as to what happened the evening she was killed.

Charlotte Brown (pictured), 24, suffered fatal injuries when Jack Shepherd flipped the boat they were both in after losing control in a champagne-fuelled crash in December 2015

Jack Shepherd (pictured) fled the country to Georgia after Charlotte's death

He told Sky News: 'I wish he would just be able to tell the truth and state clearly what happened. I feel that he will never do that.'

The grandfather-of-three said that despite Shepherd apologising to the family, he still blamed Charlotte for the crash by claiming she was behind the wheel of the defect-laden 14ft Fletcher Arrowflyte GTO which he had bought from Gumtree.

He added that the killer's actions after Charlotte's death, which saw him get married, have a child and flee the country, reveal Shepherd's true nature.

Speaking of that night, he added: 'My daughter would not have been driving that boat. In my own mind, I'm fairly confident that she thought it was just going to meander, turn around, and go back.

'[Charlotte] would have had no idea what he was going to do. She would have been absolutely terrified.'

Charlotte and Shepherd met on a dating app and had dined out at a Shard restaurant before taking her on a late-night ride along the river in his defective speed boat.

They were both rescued, but Charlotte was unconscious and later died.

Mr Brown previously told The Mirror: 'The only one who knows what really happened is Shepherd. We want to know what happened.

'In my mind he murdered my daughter and should be doing a proper life sentence. He shouldn't be released until he tells us what he did.'

Shepherd had fled Britain after being charged with Ms Brown's manslaughter, and was given a six-year prison sentence in his absence.

The fugitive finally handed himself into Georgian police after an international manhunt was sparked and the Daily Mail put up a 25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

In July 2020, Shepherd had 78 days cut from his 10-year jail term because of time he served waiting for extradition after fleeing the UK to Georgia.

Shepherd's defect-laden 14ft Fletcher Arrowflyte GTO which he had bought from Gumtree

Three appeal judges said the 78 days Shepherd spent in custody awaiting extradition in Georgia should count as part of the jail term he is serving.

Shepherd's trial in July 2018 heard how he had bought the 1980s boat on Gumtree and had tried to impress women with it.

Shepherd sparked outrage by launching an appeal against the conviction while on the run in Georgia - and he was awarded funds to do so.

After spending ten months on the run, Shepherd was finally extradited and ordered to serve six years with six months consecutive for skipping his bail in April 2019.

The web designer then admitted hitting a barman over the head with a vodka bottle in a hotel in Devon and was given four more years.

In 2019, Shepherd was moved to a different high-security jail after being bullied by other inmates.

He was transferred for his own safety to HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes.
Donald Trump's campaign has unleashed a furious attack against Maine's top election official after she banned him from running for the Oval Office in the state, with both Republican and Democrat rivals backing the former president.

Maine's secretary of state Shenna Bellows last night ordered that Trump would not be allowed to appear on the ballot in the 2024 election.

Her decision made Maine the second state to make a concerted effort to stop the former president from running for high office.

Both Colorado and Maine found that Trump had participated in an insurrection, and so was ineligible to hold office, under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

But Michigan on Wednesday found the opposite, and California on Thursday night sided with Michigan, ruling that Trump could remain on the ballot.

Maine's secretary of state Shenna Bellows last night ordered that Trump would not be allowed to appear on the ballot in the 2024 election

Trump's campaign has released a statement that excoriates the secretary of state's decision

Bellows, a Democrat, told CNN on Thursday evening that while she knew her decision was historic, she stood by it, though she chose to suspend the decision until the Supreme Court decides to rule on the matter.

But Trump's campaign has released a statement that excoriates the secretary of state's decision.

'The Maine Secretary of State is a former ACLU attorney, a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat who has decided to interfere in the presidential election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden,' Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said.

'We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter,' he added.

'Democrats in blue states are recklessly and unconstitutionally suspending the civil rights of the American voters by attempting to summarily remove President Trump's name from the ballot.

'Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy. Biden and the Democrats simply do not trust the American voter in a free and fair election and are now relying on the force of government institutions to protect their grip on power.

Trump's campaign accused Bellows of attempting the 'theft of an election'

Sheena Bellows, the Maine secretary of state, on Thursday defended her decision to remove Trump from her state's primary ballot

'State courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected these bad-faith, bogus 14th Amendment ballot challenges, as have federal courts in New Hampshire, Arizona, Florida, Rhode Island, West Virginia, along with ten other federal jurisdictions.

'We know both the Constitution and the American people are on our side in this fight. President Trump's dominating campaign has a commanding lead in the polls that has dramatically expanded as Crooked Joe Biden's presidency continues to fail.

'We will quickly file a legal objection in state court to prevent this atrocious decision in Maine from taking effect, and President Trump will never stop fighting to Make America Great Again.'

Despite polling data showing that Donald Trump has held a consistently large lead over his Republican rivals, several spoke out in support of Trump within hours of the decision being made public.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis said on Fox News shortly after the Maine decision was announced: 'It opens up Pandora's box. Can you have a Republican secretary of state disqualify Biden from the ballot.'

Vivek Ramaswamy, another presidential rival, said: 'This is what an actual threat to democracy looks like. The system is hellbent on taking this man out, the Constitution be damned.'

He has been accused of inciting an insurrection at the Capitol in 2021

Trump currently faces several civil and criminal cases in courts across the country

Nikki Haley's campaign, meanwhile, said: 'Nikki will beat Trump fair and square. It should be up to voters to decide who gets elected.'

But Democrats were also vocal in their criticism of Maine's decision to ban Trump from the ballot.

Jared Golden, a congressman from Maine, said in a statement: 'I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection.

'I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States. However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.'

Bellows told CNN: 'The textual analysis of the constitution and the facts laid before me at the hearing that I was obligated to hold under Maine law brought me to this decision.'

Asked by host John Berman about the Trump campaign accusing her of 'theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter', Bellows said that she made her decision with great care.

'I am so mindful - and I said this in my decision - that it is unprecedented.

Trump's lead in the Republican primaries has consistently been growing

Colorado's Supreme Court decided to ban Trump from the ballot in the state

Nikki Haley's (pictured) campaign said: 'Nikki will beat Trump fair and square. It should be up to voters to decide who gets elected'

'No secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on section 3 of the 14th amendment.

'But no presidential candidate has ever engaged in insurrection and been disqualified under section 3 of the 14th amendment.'

Bellows, who ran her own non-profit consulting business before entering politics, is not legally trained, but said she was fulfilling her duty under Maine law.

'The weight of the evidence brought forward under Maine law in the section 336 challenge that was brought made it clear that Mr Trump was aware of the tinder he laid in a multi-month efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election,' she said.

'And then, in an unprecedented and tragic series of events, chose to light a match.'

She said that, under Maine law, it did not matter that he had not been criminally convicted of insurrection.

'At the hearing, we reviewed the evidence. We reviewed the facts and the law.

'And certainly the question of whether Mr Trump engaged in the insurrection is a closer one than whether January 6th 2021 was an insurrection, which I also ruled.

'But the question of whether Mr Trump was found guilty, the applicability of section 3 of the 14th amendment, does not turn on whether an office seeker has been convicted of a crime.

'We looked at precedent in the Civil War. We looked at the law, we looked at the facts, we looked at what was brought forward in this hearing that is specific to Maine law.'

Bellows said that she was 'duty bound' to assess whether voters were eligible, for example insuring they met age and citizenship requirements. Equally, she had to assess whether candidates were eligible - and she pointed out that she determined Chris Christie was ineligible, because he did not have enough signatories to get on the ballot.

Vivek Ramaswamy, another presidential rival, (pictured) said: 'This is what an actual threat to democracy looks like. The system is hellbent on taking this man out, the Constitution be damned'

Aggregated polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows that Trump's lead in race for the 2024 Republican nomination has consistently been growing since the beginning of the year

Trump is set to stay on Colorado's ballot while the Supreme Court decides on whether he should be allowed to stay

And she said she would welcome the U.S. Supreme Court from making the ultimate decision on the legal issues.

Trump is expected to refer the decision in Colorado and Maine to higher courts.

'I certainly do think the United States Supreme Court is the ultimate interpreter of section 3, of the 14th amendment,' she said.

'So yes, I think ideally they will rule. And they haven't yet.

'But certainly, should they rule, we will abide by their ruling.'

Bellows' decision does not go into effect immediately, because she is giving Trump time to appeal.

Her decision came after the Colorado Republican Party on Wednesday asked 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.

Jena Griswold, Colorado's secretary of state, announced on Thursday 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 on December 19 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.

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.

Aggregated polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows that Trump's lead in race for the 2024 Republican nomination has consistently been growing since the beginning of the year.

His closest rival, DeSantis, has been falling out of favour with the public, and now holds just 11.7% of votes, while Trump holds 61.7% of votes.
Booze cruises have soared in popularity despite fears that Brexit would kill off the tradition.

Ferry operators have reported record numbers of people getting the ferry to France for a day to stock up on duty free alcohol.

Concerns had risen that Britain's departure from the EU would mean an end to the convention which saw people flocking across the Channel to get their hands on cheap alcoholic beverages.

But Brexit also signalled a reemergence of duty-free allowances in January 2021, enabling Brits to enjoy a VAT refund on products. The decision to leave the EU also allowed for duty-free sales on ferries in the Channel and at ports.

Steve Newbery, director of onboard services at the ferry line DFDS, told The Times: 'We can definitely see an increased demand in the number of people wanting to go across to France in order to reap the benefits of duty free.

Customers pack up their cars with wine boxes in the car park of the Calais Wine Superstore on April 7, 2019 in Calais, France

Staff prepare stock at a Majestic Wine warehouse in Calais, France

'Since 2021 demand for our short-break fare has more than tripled, while day trips have more than doubled since we started them in 2022.'

DFDS opened the doors to two massive duty-free stores in the ports at Calais and Dunkirk at the end of 2021, igniting fears from wine merchants located around those areas.

Britons are allowed to carry 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still wine and 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of sparkling wine, fortified wine or other alcoholic drink less than 22 per cent ABV back to the UK without paying tax under new laws.

Huge savings on offer in Calais include a 1 litre bottle of Jose Cuervo Especial tequila being sold for 13.99 by DFDS - the same bottle costing 33.93 on Amazon.

Meanwhile, P&O Cruises also said they have received a boost due to duty free sales, The Times reported.

British shopper David Thomas from Kent fills his trolley with cheap wine and beer in Calais, France

Businesses around Calais have taken advantage of the recent rules, which also apply to items which cost more than 100.01.

In 2019 it was reported that Brits were dashing across the Channel to stock up on cut-price French alcohol in what was being dubbed the last 'booze cruise' before a potential no-deal exit from the European Union

The 'booze cruise' phenomenon first took off in the 1990s, when British families would make the journey to Calais to grab bargains or stop on the way back from holidays.

Tracey Keane-Charlut, the duty free shop manager at DFDS, said: 'Since the reintroduction of duty free we can clearly see that our customers are changing their spending behaviour and buying more products when visiting the Continent.'
A carer who was sacked after reporting her boss for stuffing a sock in a care home resident's mouth to 'stop him from shouting' has lost her case for unfair dismissal.

Jodie Pelling also reported the female manager for using a lighter to frighten another person being cared for at the home in Eastbourne, an employment tribunal was told.

Following these incidents, the 'gobsmacked' carer told the home's owners she could no longer work under the woman.

Ms Pelling was so upset and 'appalled' at the manager that she didn't attend work for one shift, the tribunal heard.

At a meeting with the owners, she was called 'brave' for reporting what she had witnessed.

However, the carer was sacked after the meeting due to her missing work which was labelled 'unacceptable'.

Complete Care Group's headquarters (pictured) in Eastbourne, East Sussex which employed Ms Pelling for four months

She took bosses to the tribunal, claiming unfair dismissal, but a judge ruled the 'principle reason' for her sacking had been her absence from work, and not her disclosures relating to the manager's conduct.

The hearing in south London was told Ms Pelling started working at The Complete Care Group Limited as a community development worker in August 2021 before her dismissal just four months later in November.

The care home was run by Paul and Joanna McWall and was 'very short staffed' during October and November 2021.

The hearing was told Ms Pelling didn't attend work on November 18 as she was 'very upset' with her manager - identified only as ZB.

The tribunal heard this was the only shift she had ever missed.

Two days later, Mrs WcWall messaged Ms Pelling, asking if she wanted to talk or whether she could 'assume you have left'.

However, Ms Pelling responded saying she would like a to speak with Mrs McWall and told her she was 'very sorry' for letting down the care home with 'no warning'.

Later that week, Ms Pelling texted Mrs McWall again, saying she was 'absolutely appalled and gobsmacked' at the 'behaviour and blatant rudeness' from staff at the care home.

Their meeting was brought forward, where Ms Pelling apologised again for not attending work without telling anyone, but said she had been upset with her boss.

Mrs McWall said her behaviour had been 'unacceptable'.

Explaining why she hadn't attended work, Ms Pelling said: 'There is a reason why I can't work with ZB and what I've seen her do before - I feel she has behaved unprofessionally.

She said ZB used a lighter to move one of the residents along by 'frightening him' and 'pushed a sock into a resident's mouth to stop him from shouting'.

Mrs McWall called Ms Pelling 'brave' for reporting this but dismissed her the next day due to her 'missing a shift'.

She told her she was 'very sorry', but said her 'hands were tied' because that was their policy for anyone who missed a shift.

The tribunal accepted that Ms Pelling had been right to blow the whistle on her superior.

'The Tribunal considers that [she] held a reasonable belief that the disclosures she made were true and that, in respect of each, there was some form of wrongdoing by ZB.

'The Tribunal has considered that the [care home company] is a residential care establishment and is therefore, in the public interest, subject to high scrutiny and regulatory requirements over the treatment of its residents.

'In the case of the sock and lighter disclosures, ZB was the alleged wrong doer. She led a relatively prominent role within the [care home company] and could therefore have a significant impact on the lives of those in residential care.

'It would be reasonable to believe that she could continue to have such an effect.'

However, as Ms Pelling's meeting with the owners to discuss her absence had already been arranged, the tribunal found that her sacking was not connected with her whistleblowing.

Employment Judge Helen Rice-Birchall said: 'The tribunal concludes that the reason, or principal reason, for dismissal was her absence and that the disclosures were not a material factor in the decision to dismiss.

'The fact that the dismissal was in time proximate to the protected disclosures being made is not in itself sufficient to conclude that the disclosures led to the dismissal.'

Dismissing her claim of unfair dismissal due to making a protected disclosure, she added: 'The Tribunal does not consider that the reason for dismissal was the fact that she made the protected disclosures.

'It further does not conclude that it was the principal reason for dismissal.'
Britain has been warned not to 'mess with Venezuela' as President Nicolas Maduro slammed the 'decadent, rotten, ex-empire of the UK' for sending a Navy warship to protect Guyana.

President Maduro on Thursday ordered more than 5,600 military personnel to participate in a 'defensive' exercise near the border with Guyana, in response to Britain sending a warship to the area.

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.'

Britain said on Sunday that it would divert the patrol vessel HMS Trent to Guyana, a former British colony, amid the South American country's simmering territorial dispute with neighbouring Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region.

The South American neighbours, during a meeting between Maduro and Ali earlier this month, agreed not to resort to force to settle the dispute.

'We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue, in peace,' said Maduro.

'But no one should threaten Venezuela, no one should mess with Venezuela. We are a people of peace, but we are warriors and this threat is unacceptable for any sovereign country,' he said.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday ordered more than 5,600 military personnel to participate in a 'defensive' exercise near the border with Guyana (FIle Photo)

HMS Trent - a vessel used for 'defence diplomacy', according to the government - will take part in joint exercises with Guyana later this month

'The threat of the decadent, rotten, ex-empire of the United Kingdom is unacceptable.'

A Guyana foreign ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ship from the UK was due to arrive on Friday and would be in its territory for 'less than a week' for open sea defense exercises. The ship will not dock in Georgetown.

The television broadcast accompanying Maduro's announcement showed fighter jets participating 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.'

Guyana President Irfaan Ali sought to soothe tensions, saying on Thursday that 'neither Venezuela nor any other State has anything to fear from activities within Guyana's sovereign territory or waters.'

'We harbour no ambitions or intentions to covet what does not belong to us. We are fully committed to peaceful relations with our neighbours and all countries in our Region,' he said in a statement on Facebook, sending 'best wishes to the people of Venezuela, our neighbours.'

Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said earlier that the HMS Trent's visit was part of 'long-planned' and 'routine' measures to build the country's defenses.

Guyana and Venezuela agreed earlier this month to avoid any use of force and not to escalate tensions in the long-running dispute. Pictured Guyana (File Photo)

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during the notification ceremony for the referendum about the future of a disputed territory with Guyana, in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 4, 2023

Venezuela earlier this month published a new map showing Esequiba under Venezuelan control

Maduro claims that Essequibo - which makes up about two-thirds of Guyana's territory - is actually Venezuelan land, a decades-old contention that has flared since massive oil deposits were found in its waters.

The rising tensions have raised fears in the region of a potential conflict over the remote area of 160,000 square kilometres (62,000 square miles).

A UK foreign minister, David Rutley, 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.'

Maduro's government held a controversial referendum on December 3 in which 95 per cent of voters, according to officials in the hard-line leftist government, supported declaring Venezuela the rightful owner of Essequibo.

He has since started legal manoeuvres to create a Venezuelan province in Essequibo and has ordered the state oil company to issue licenses for extracting crude in the region.

Guyana's Ali has branded the moves a 'grave threat to international peace and security.'
The world population grew by 75 million people over the past year and on New Year's Day it will stand at more than 8 billion people, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday.

The worldwide growth rate in the past year was just under 1 percent. At the start of 2024, 4.3 births and two deaths are expected worldwide every second, according to the Census Bureau figures.

The growth rate for the United States in the past year was 0.53 percent, about half the worldwide figure. The U.S. added 1.7 million people and will have a population on New Year's Day of 335.8 million people.

If the current pace continues through the end of the decade, the 2020s could be the slowest-growing decade in U.S. history, yielding a growth rate of less than 4 percent over the 10-year-period from 2020 to 2030, said William Frey, a demographer at The Brookings Institution.

The slowest-growing decade currently was in the aftermath of the Great Depression in the 1930s, when the growth rate was 7.3 percent.

Of course, growth may tick up a bit as we leave the pandemic years. But it would still be difficult to get to 7.3 percent, Frey said.

At the start of 2024, the United States is expected to experience one birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.5 seconds. However, immigration will keep the population from dropping. Net international migration is expected to add one person to the U.S. population every 28.3 seconds. This combination of births, deaths and net international migration will increase the U.S. population by one person every 24.2 seconds. (AP)
Peep Show star Sophie Winkleman has revealed her favourite members of the British royal family and the Queen's touching gesture after she almost died in a car crash after marrying Lord Frederick Windsor.

The actress, who shot to fame as Big Suze in the cult British comedy, spoke with particular fondness about her relationship with King Charles and the Queen in a new interview for Tatler.

Praising the monarch for his hard work and calling him a 'very dear friend', she praised his work ethic and said he regularly stays up until 4am writing letters.

Sophie, 43, who is the half-sister of Strictly host Claudia, said she has developed close relationships with all the Windsor clan, but added she 'loves' the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The revealing interview also showed how the family rallied behind her after a horror crash in 2017.

Peep Show star Sophie Winkleman spoke with particular fondness about her relationship with King Charles and the Queen

Lady Sophie Winkleman and King Charles III attend day five of Royal Ascot in June

Sophie Winkleman shot to fame as 'Big Suze' in the hit comedy series Peep Show

Sophie married the King's second cousin in 2009 and the couple have two children - Maud, ten, and Isabella, seven.

Speaking about the close relationships she has with the royals since marrying into the Windsor family, she said: '[I'm] really good friends with all of them  that's a really daft thing to say, but behind the camera they're really fun, clever, kind people.

'I love Sophie Edinburgh, Sarah Chatto, Zara, the York girls, Tim and Princess Anne, Fergie, all the Kents and Gloucesters.

'I love Kate and William, but they're so busy and don't live in London, so I don't see them much.'

Giving special credit to King Charles, the daughter-in-law to Prince Michael of Kent said: 'I spend a bit of time with him. You see how he works all day long, has a quick supper and then disappears until about 4am to write letters.

'He cares about so many things and he comes up with brilliant solutions.'

But in 2017, Sophie's new life turned upside down after she was involved in a car crash which left her fearing she was in her final moments.

She was a back-seat passenger in a chauffeur-driven car when another vehicle struck it after swerving to avoid a deer.

Sophie married Lord Frederick Windsor, the King's second cousin, in 2009

Lord Frederick Windsor, Isabella Windsor, Sophie Winkleman and Maud Windsor arrive at the Princess of Wales' carol concert in December

Sophie said she loves the Windsors, including Zara Tindall (pictured laughing with Sophie at Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee)

The car she was riding in was thrown up into the air before crashing down and causing life-threatening injuries.

She said: 'I was completely lucid throughout.

'I assumed I was a goner and you just go into a strangely un-romantic mode of thinking, "Right, this is my last few minutes. I've got to do something practical."

'So I was thinking things like, "Hope my parents stay well to help Freddie take care of the children, hope he meets someone nice."'

Paramedics managed to rescue her from the vehicle and rush her to hospital, where they discovered she had sustained a broken foot and two broken bones in her back.

It was three days before it was confirmed that she wouldn't be left paralysed.

Sophie said the rehabilitation period, which lasted over a year, was 'miserable' and left her unable to pick up her daughters.

Sophie said it wasn't until the Queen allowed her to use her swimming pool at Buckingham Palace that she began to properly recover from the car crash

Lord Freddie Windsor and Sophie Winkleman accompany the Tindalls to the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh

Sophie said: 'I love Sophie Edinburgh, Sarah Chatto, Zara, the York girls, Tim and Princess Anne, Fergie, all the Kents and Gloucesters'

But the royal family rallied around her, with Prince William asking an air ambulance colleague to 'take good care' of her.

Sophie, the then-Duchess of Wessex, visited her in hospital and Prince Charles supplied her family with two meals a day cooked by his Clarence House chef.

It was Queen Camilla's kind gesture, however, which Sophie recalls with particular fondness.

She told how after a year of physiotherapy she was still 'in so much pain, it wasn't working'.

But at a function attended by Camilla, she asked Sophie how she was doing.

'She said: "We can't have that. You have to go in the water."

'She told us that when horses had broken backs, they swam, and so she let me use her pool at Buckingham Palace. That's the reason I got better. It was so typically thoughtful'.

Sophie has now made a full recovery and returned to her acting career, most recently featuring in a cameo role in Wonka.

See the full feature in the February issue of Tatler available via digital download and on newsstands from Thursday.
The FBI has joined the hunt for a mother accused of killing two of her young children, and injuring a third.

Kimberlee Singler, 35, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is wanted for alleged murder, attempted murder and child abuse.

Police, responding to a 911 report of a burglary at an apartment complex on the 5300 block of Palomino Ranch Point, in the northeast of the city, at around 12.30am on December 19 found her and her still-living daughter, 11, lying next to the bodies of her other daughter, nine, and son, seven.

Singler and her 11-year-old daughter, both injured, were treated at the scene by emergency responders, before being taken to local hospitals for further treatment.

But police said that upon investigating, they found that the 911 call was fake.

Kimberlee Singler, 35, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, (pictured) is wanted for alleged murder, attempted murder and child abuse

Police, responding to a 911 report of a burglary, found her and her still-living daughter, 11, lying next to the bodies of her other daughter, nine, and son, seven

While the young girl is still 'recovering from her injuries and being cared for,' her mother is currently on the run

While the young girl is still 'recovering from her injuries and being cared for,' her mother is currently on the run, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Police Department said.

She is currently wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault.

A Colorado court has set a $10 million bond.

Authorities told the New York Times they had 'reason to believe' Singler, last seen on Christmas Eve, was no longer in the state.

They have cordoned off the apartment she lived in, and are still investigating her disappearance.

It is not currently known whether she went on the run on her own or with another person, nor is it known whether there was another parents who helped raise Singler's children.
More than half of police forces are failing to investigate crime properly, damning watchdog reports have revealed.

Out of the 43 constabularies in England and Wales, 22 were found by inspectors to be 'inadequate' or 'requiring improvement' in the way they investigate crime.

These are the two lowest levels of performance. None made the top category of 'outstanding', nine were 'good' and 12 were 'adequate'.

Officers have missed leads that could have solved assaults, thefts and burglaries, and are arriving late at crime scenes - according to the reports.

Forces receiving the two worst ratings will be investigated by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) next year.

Out of the 43 constabularies in England and Wales, 22 were found by inspectors to be 'inadequate' or 'requiring improvement' in the way they investigate crime

Figures show that more than a third of all recorded crimes  representing 2.3million cases  were dropped last year without officers identifying a suspect.

'If the police are to rebuild public trust and confidence, it is vital that forces work quickly to rectify these issues and provide the high level of service that the public deserves,' a HMIC spokesman told the Telegraph.

'We intend to carry out a thematic inspection of police investigations in 2024.'

Forces inspected by the watchdog are ranked across a series of metrics, including treating the public fairly, protecting vulnerable people and responding to the public.

The best rated force overall was Humberside, with an average score of 4.8 across all metrics and the worst Wiltshire and Greater Manchester, which received just 1.6.

The analysis by the Telegraph was based on inspections from 2021/22.

Five forces - the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands, Devon and Cornwall, Staffordshire and Wiltshire  have performed so poorly they are in special measures.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE - Police give up on four crimes a minute without tracking down the culprits as the number of rapists, violent thugs and burglars who evade the law rises Advertisement

Nine forces have received new ratings for inspections covering the period 2023-25.

Out of those, five have got worse in investigating crime, including Durham, Merseyside, Surrey, Thames Valley and West Midlands - which is now inadequate.

Just one, Greater Manchester, has improved.

It comes as separate figures revealed that the number of inquiries closed by forces without identifying a suspect has rocketed by nearly 250,000 year-on-year.

Forces ended their investigations into 2,306,623 reported crimes in the year to June without collaring the perpetrator, 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.

It 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 police forces over their failure to deliver results.

And one expert said it showed criminals were increasingly getting away scot-free.

The 2.3million jettisoned 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 number of crimes going unsolved has increased, even though the number of police officers has surged to record levels over the period.

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.

Wiltshire Police was jointly ranked the worst in England and Wales, according to an analysis of official inspection reports

Earlier this month [DEC] 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.

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 the Government has given them.

'It's even more troubling that victims are not getting the results they expect and deserve.

'We need a proper explanation from police forces about why so many investigations end in this unsatisfactory way.'

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 fewer are being charged than ever before.

'A culture of impunity has emboldened law-breakers right across the country.

'Although the number of police officers plummeted in the years to 2018 there are now more police officers than ever before - many people will be asking when we will see a return on that investment.

'The police, with the government's backing, need to be working smarter so more criminals are arrested, charged and taken off our streets.'

Katie Kempen, chief executive of charity Victim Support, called for police to be 'held to account'.

'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,' she said.

'The wheels of justice rely on victims reporting crimes and co-operating with investigations - they deserve better than this.'

She added: 'These figures make it abundantly clear that too many victims are not getting the justice they deserve. The police must be held to account for the service they deliver to victims.'

Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove said the figures raised 'significant questions' for the police.

'Victims should expect that everything possible will be done to investigate their crime,' she said.

'Yet it seems cases are routinely closed with no suspect identified. This trend raises significant questions for the police and new concerns for victims.

'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.'

Officers have missed leads that could have solved assaults, thefts and burglaries, and are arriving late at crime scenes - according to the reports

A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesman said: 'Police forces conduct thousands of successful investigations every year, ensuring that offenders are prosecuted, and victims get the justice they deserve.

'Incidents where there is a threat to life will always be prioritised and in every report, officers will assess what evidence and investigative lines may be available.

'This depends on a number of factors and in some cases, there may not be enough information for police to act upon or bring about criminal proceedings.

'The National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing have worked together to update the guidance on reasonable lines of inquiry, which aims to further improve investigation standards and deliver even more consistency across forces, ultimately improving the service victims receive.'

He added: 'Victims are at the heart of what we do in policing. Protecting victims and delivering justice for them is why so many hard-working officers, staff and volunteers dedicate their lives to policing.'

A Home Office spokesman 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, more victims of rape and sexual assault are coming forward to get justice, and we are seeing a rise in the number of individuals charged for rape.

'We have been clear that police must take a zero tolerance approach to all crimes and have secured a commitment from forces to follow all reasonable lines of enquiry to ensure more criminals are caught and justice is delivered for victims.'
Locals on the Isle of Mull have reacted angrily to the notion that Tony Blair's government planned to use the picturesque Scottish island as a 'dumping ground' for asylum seekers while their applications were being processed.

Newly unsealed National Archives have revealed the then PM's right-hand man Jonathan Powell had suggested sending applicants to the isle, inspired by Australian migration rules that resemble the present government's Rwanda policy.

Blair had told aides their ideas for dealing with rising asylum applications  over 8,000 in October 2002  were 'not good enough', before Mr Powell highlighted the suggestion of using the threat of detention on Mull as a deterrent in January 2003.

'Flabbergasted' locals who spoke to MailOnline today said the plan would have been ignorant of local concerns, and would have used the remote Hebridean community as a means of keeping the problem removed from the rest of the UK.

Mr Powell's paper, entitled Asylum: The Nuclear Option, took inspiration from Australia's migration policy, which detains illegal entrants to the country in one place until their application has been assessed.

Tobermory, the capital of Mull. The Inner Hebrides isle was touted as a site for a potential asylum seeker detention camp

Brian Swinbanks, a founding member of the Tobermory Harbour Association and long-time Mull resident, branded the plan 'ridiculous'

The plan was put forward as part of a 'nuclear option' to tackle rising asylum applications by Tony Blair's chief of staff (pictured: Blair in 1999)

Another resident told MailOnline: 'Asylum seekers, whatever has happened in their lives, I'm sure it's shocking...but you can't just dump people somewhere'

He claimed the Aussie rules had driven down applicant numbers 'enormously' and even led to some asking to return to their country of origin. The plan bears a similarity to the present plan to detain asylum seekers in Africa.

But residents of Mull have hit out at the idea of the isle  known best for the rainbow-hued homes along the coast in the capital, Tobermory and for its appearances in BBC children's series Balamory  being used as a deterrent.

Brian Swinbanks, a founding member of the Tobermory Harbour Association and a resident of the island for decades, said the notion of displacing people to Mull, which has a population of just 3,000, was 'ridiculous'.

Mr Swinbanks, a 79-year-old still in work, added: 'I was flabbergasted  where did they get the idea from? It's the lack of consultation for me. I'd be disappointed if there was no consultation.

'It would have also been very unfair on people coming from warmer climates. We love this climate, but you have to be a special kind of breed to live here.

'We all love it if you like fishing and going out to sea, but the idea of displacing people to Mull is ridiculous.'

A manager at the local post office, who gave her name as Wendy, said: 'It sounded as though Mull would be used as a dumping ground.

'What would all these people do here? They would just be hanging about, there would be nothing for them to do.

'I don't think it would do much for the area, and I don't think it would have been very fair on the people.

'There would be enough jobs for them, there wouldn't be a lot to do.'

Wendy added that there was a feeling among locals that the area was used as a wider 'dumping ground' by the government, citing the placement of the UK's nuclear missiles at the Faslane naval base around 50 miles away.

She continued: 'It feels like a suggestion of using Mull as a dumping ground because it's far away, a bit like putting the nuclear bases up north (in Scotland).

'It is if it's just out of sight, out of mind. It wouldn't just be Nimbys (stopping the plan)  it's as though it wasn't looked at sensibly at all.'

Another local shop worker, who asked not to be named, slammed the 'sleekit'  sneaky  manner in which the discussions were held.

She said: 'I was appalled to hear this this morning. Locals would not have been happy.

'I can't hate people that have done nothing wrong, but if you're going to bring people in (to Mull) would the government have listened to local people with concerns? I doubt it.'

Jonathan Powell served as Tony Blair's chief of staff from 1997 until 2007 (pictured: Powell entering Downing Street in 2003)

Powell (right) pictured with Blair's former director of communications, Alastair Campbell, at a dinner marking the 25th anniversary of the the Good Friday Agreement earlier this year

Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands Donald Cameron said the plan was evidence of the 'contempt' Labour holds for remote Scottish communities

Mull is best known to many as the setting for children's TV series Balamory (pictured), which was screened from 2002 to 2005

She continued: 'No government listens to anybody, whether it's Labour or the SNP, who I don't vote for either. They're an entity unto themselves.

'It's the smoke and mirrors of it all  these people in governments think they can do this without speaking to us. It's that great Scottish word, sleekit.

'This island is beautiful. Asylum seekers, whatever has happened in their lives, I'm sure it's shocking...but you can't just dump people somewhere.'

Politicians, including Scotland's first Minister Humza Yousaf, scorned the plans  with some accusing Blair's government of harbouring 'contempt' for the Hebridean community and drawing parallels with the current Rwanda plans.

Donald Cameron, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, said: 'Islanders are rightly outraged by this secret plan cooked up by Labour.

'It's a reminder for people across Scotland, especially rural and island areas, the contempt with which Labour regards them.'

Jenni Minto, SNP MSP for Argyll and Bute, said: 'This shows a lack of sensitivity to the people of Mull and has worrying parallels to the Tory Rwanda plan.

'However, Argyll and Bute is a welcoming place and once Scotland becomes independent and gets full control of immigration policy I am sure many more people will want to choose to make their home here and have an opportunity to contribute to our communities and society.'

Mr Yousaf accused Labour and the Conservatives of a 'race to the bottom' on immigration in remarks to reporters in Glasgow on Friday.

He added: 'It's also very disparaging to Scotland - and to those on the Isle of Mull or elsewhere - to suggest that, "Well, let's just fling people in the far reaches of the country and forget about them, and leave them there".'

The Mull measure was part of a series of papers unsealed by the National Archives this week under the 20-year rule, under which government records are released into the public domain two decades after they are filed.

It was reportedly thought up by officials in the office of the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, who had suggested setting up a camp on the island where people could be detained until they could be removed.

Mr Powell, Blair's chief of staff, said of the idea: 'I doubt that is going to work because of the Nimby factor, but we have commissioned work to look at tagging, detention etc to help deter people and ensure we are able to return them as soon as their appeals have been heard.'

It was one of a number of measures he put forward as part of a 'big-bang solution' to send a 'shock' through Britain's immigration system.

The proposal may also prove embarrassing for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has consistently ordered his MPs to oppose the present government's Rwanda plans and branded them a 'gimmick'.

SNP MSP Jenni Minto said the abolished Mull plan had shown a 'lack of sensitivity' to locals

The notion of a Labour government displacing asylum seekers may embarrass current leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has consistently opposed the current plan to send them to Rwanda

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is still fighting to push through legislation that will allow asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda while their applications are being considered

The papers were released by the National Archives in Kew (pictured) under the 20-year rule

Mr Powell had even posited immediately rejecting people seeking asylum from the UK altogether, writing in his report: 'Uttering the word 'asylum' should not allow people...the right to remain here for months or years while their cases are heard.

'Ideally we should not have an asylum hearing at all, simply a decision by an immigration officer to return someone followed by a one-tier fast appeal against that decision if that is necessary.'

He also suggested the government should legislate 'incompatibly' with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to allow asylum seekers to be deported, despite the risk of persecution.

Even if the government lost a legal challenge at the court in Strasbourg, as was likely, 'we would have two to three years in the meantime when we could send a strong message into the system about our new tough stance,' he said.

Mr Powell added: 'And we would make clear that if we lost in Strasbourg, we would denounce the ECHR and immediately re-ratify with a reservation on Article 3.'

When Home Office lawyers warned the measures would flout the Geneva Convention, an exasperated Mr Blair wrote, 'just return them' and added: 'This is precisely the point. We must not allow the ECHR to stop us dealing with it.'

Powell served as Blair's chief of staff from 1997 until Blair resigned in 2007.
The US military's secretive X-37B robot spaceplane blasted off from Florida on Thursday night on its seventh mission, the first launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket capable of delivering it to a higher orbit than ever before.

The Falcon Heavy, composed of three liquid-fueled rocket cores strapped together, roared off its launch pad from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in a spectacular liftoff carried live on a SpaceX webcast.

The launch followed more than two weeks of false starts and delays attributed to poor weather and unspecified technical issues, leading ground crews to roll the spacecraft back to its hangar before proceeding with Thursday's flight.

It came two weeks after China's own robot spaceplane, the Shenlong, or 'Divine Dragon,' was launched on its third mission to orbit since 2020, adding a new twist to the growing US-Sino rivalry in space.

The Pentagon has disclosed scant details about the X-37B mission, conducted by the US Space Force under the military's National Security Space Launch program.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida

The Falcon Heavy, composed of three liquid-fueled rocket cores strapped together, roared off its launch pad from NASA 's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in a spectacular liftoff

The Pentagon has disclosed scant details about the X-37B mission (pictured), conducted by the US Space Force under the military's National Security Space Launch program

The Boeing-built vehicle, roughly the size of a small bus and resembling a miniature space shuttle, is built to deploy various payloads and conduct technology experiments on years-long orbital flights.

At the end of its mission, the craft descends back through the atmosphere to land on a runway much like an aeroplane.

It has flown six previous missions since 2010, the first five of them carried to orbit by Atlas V rockets from United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and most recently, in May 2020, atop a Falcon 9 booster furnished by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Thursday's mission marked the first launched aboard SpaceX's more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, capable of carrying payloads even heavier than the X-37B farther into space, possibly into geosynchronous orbit, more than 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above the Earth.

The X-37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, has previously been confined to flights in low-Earth orbit, at altitudes below 1,200 miles.

The Pentagon has not said how high the spaceplane will fly this time out. But in a statement last month, the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office said the mission, designated by the Space Force as USSF-52, would involve tests of 'new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies.'

At the end of its mission, the craft descends back through the atmosphere to land on a runway much like an aeroplane

The X-37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, has previously been confined to flights in low-Earth orbit, at altitudes below 1,200 miles

Such comments have led industry analysts and amateur space trackers to speculate that the X-37B may be bound for a highly elliptical orbit around Earth or even a path that could swing it out to the vicinity of the moon, a region of space in which the Pentagon has taken an increasing interest.

'Maybe this thing's going go out toward the moon and drop off a payload,' said Bob Hall, director of space traffic monitoring firm COMSPOC, who analyses the trajectories of orbital objects. The closer the spacecraft flies to the moon, the more difficult it could be to safely return to Earth.

Left unclear from Thursday's webcast, which SpaceX said it curtailed at the military's request, was whether the X-37B reached its intended destination in space.

But the company later posted photos of the liftoff on social media platform X with the headline: 'Falcon Heavy Launches USSF-52 to orbit.'

The X-37B also is carrying a NASA experiment to study how plant seeds are affected by prolonged exposure to the harsh environment of radiation in space. The ability to cultivate crops in space has major implications for keeping astronauts nourished during future long-term missions to the moon and Mars.

China's equally secretive Shenlong was carried to space on December 14 by a Long March 2F rocket, a launch system less powerful than SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and believed to be limited to delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.

Still, Space Force General B. Chance Saltzman told reporters at an industry conference earlier this month he expected China to launch Shenlong around the same time as the X-37B flight in what he suggested was a competitive move.

'These are two of the most watched objects on orbit while they're on orbit. It's probably no coincidence that they're trying to match us in timing and sequence of this,' Saltzman said, according to remarks published in the journal Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The planned duration of the latest X-37B mission was not made public, but it will presumably run until June 2026 or later, given the prevailing pattern of successively longer flights.

Its last mission remained in orbit for well over two years before landing in November 2022.
A 16-year-old boy charged with setting fire to the atrium of a prestigious London Catholic school has denied arson with intent to endanger life, assaulting a police officer and having a fake ID.

Appearing at Highbury Corner Youth Court on Friday, he pleaded not guilty to the offences which allegedly occurred on December 27.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the London Oratory School, which admits boys aged seven to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, on Seagrave Road in Fulham at 10am on Wednesday.

The teenager was arrested at around 11.30am in the street and taken to a police station, where he allegedly assaulted a police officer.

The 160-year-old school in west London is favoured by politicians including Tony Blair and Nick Clegg.

The teenager was arrested following a fire at the prestigious 160-year-old school in west London

Smoke was seen in the air as firefighters tackled the blaze on Wednesday

On searching his Wandsworth home, officers allegedly found a fraudulent ID card.

The young man, who attended court with his parents and siblings, was bailed to the family home and ordered not to leave the house without being accompanied by one of his immediate family members.

He was also banned from entering Hammersmith and Fulham.

The defendant will next appear at Wimbledon Youth Court on January 23.

Ten fire engines and more than 70 firefighters rushed to the scene on Wednesday, along with Ambulance and Police services.

The atrium, which consists of four classrooms and a library, was added to the school in 2016. All the books in the library have reportedly been damaged in the blaze.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is said to be a 'pupil' at the school, which caters for 1,400 students.

The fire was brought under control and no injuries have been reported, but part of an atrium in the four-storey building was damaged by fire, the London Fire Brigade said.

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.'

The London Oratory School is a top Catholic school where competition for places is steep

Ten fire engines are at the scene of the blaze at London Oratory School in Fulham, south west London

Fire engines and police officers on Seagrave Road in Fulham, west London, as firefighters tackle a blaze at London Oratory School

The Roman Catholic 'outstanding' school has nearly 1,400 pupils between the ages of seven and 18

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.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

At the 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.'

Fire crews from Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Hammersmith, Clapham, Lambeth and Soho fire stations were in attendance.

London Ambulance Service said they did not treat any patients at the scene.

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, Harriet Harman and former deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg.

The 'outstanding' school is located just a short walk from Stamford Bridge.

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
A truck in Germany has crashed into pedestrians, killing a mother and injuring her daughter and three others.

The truck driver drove into a group of pedestrians at around 9.50 a.m. in downtown Passau in southern Germany, a police spokesman told Bild.

A 37-year old woman died of her injuries at the site and the other four pedestrians were severely injured, including the 11-year-old daughter of the woman killed, police said.

The truck driver also received medical treatment and had to be freed from the driver's cab, the publication reports.

The police said in a statement: 'On Friday morning a serious traffic accident occurred on Bahnhofstrasse in Passau. A truck hit several people, a woman died and four other pedestrians were seriously injured. The truck driver was also injured.

Fire and rescue services are at the scene in the city center. A truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman, in Passau, Bavaria on 29 December 2023

Police officers stand at the scene in the city center of Passau, Bavaria

Emergency services from the police, fire department and ambulance stand at the scene in the city center in Passau, Bavaria

Fire and rescue services are at the scene in the city center in Passau, Bavaria

'According to previous findings, the 63-year-old truck driver continued his journey after making a delivery, drove past a stopped vehicle and hit six pedestrians.'

Police, fire and ambulance services attended the scene. The injured were taken to hospitals in rescue helicopters, the Mirror reports.

A spokeswoman told German news agency dpa that police are 'currently assuming that this was an accident situation'. Police said an investigation was ongoing.

An eyewitness told Bild: 'As far as I know, a truck drove into a group of people. In the middle of the pedestrian zone in the train station district near the H&M and Woolworth shops.'

Another said: 'It was a red 7.5-tonne truck.'

In an update, Lower Bavaria Police said: 'Currently only Bahnhofstrasse is closed.

'The accident truck was seized for a detailed technical inspection and is currently being towed away. As soon as new information is available, we will report promptly.'

Passau Mayor Jurgen Dupper said in a statement: 'I am deeply affected and shocked by today's truck accident. In such events, our full sympathy goes out to the people affected and their families.

'I would like to say a sincere thank you to the police, the emergency doctors, the paramedics, the fire department and all other rescue organisations who carried out their work in an exemplary manner under the dire circumstances. This misfortune means the worst possible end to 2023.'

Passau, in lower Bavaria, has around 50,000 residents and sits on the border with Austria.
Australia's most popular politician is Penny Wong, with Jacqui Lambie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price not far behind.

And while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is viewed slightly unfavorably, no politician is disliked more than his predecessor, Scott Morrison.

Those are the findings of a new Resolve Political Monitor poll that canvassed Australians' views of the country's Federal politicians.

Senator Wong, the nation's Foreign Minister, was viewed most favorably overall with the survey commissioned for Nine finding that she had a +14 positive rating.

By comparison, Mr Morrison scored an extremely negative -35 rating and Mr Albanese a mild -3.

A new Resolve Political Monitor poll of 1605 voters found Foreign Minister Penny Wong (above) is Australia's most popular politician

Barnaby Joyce (pictured with wife Vikki Campion at their November wedding) was the third least-liked politician, scoring -27

Mr Morrison, once hailed as the 'Messiah from the Shire' for his 2019 defeat of Bill Shorten's Labor party, ranked worse than two of the country's most divisive figures.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson scored -25 while Blak Sovereign independent Senator Lidia Thorpe was viewed unfavorably with a -29 ranking.

The former PM was viewed worse than Ms Thorpe even despite her antics including getting kicked out of a strip club and having a fling with a top Rebels bikie.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton ranked at -12 despite the conventional wisdom he had a strong political year with the defeat of the Voice to Parliament.

Potential future Labor leadership contenders Jason Clare and Tanya Plibersek scored +3 and +2 in total, while voters were neutral on Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Dr Chalmers, the figure spearheading the government's response to the rising cost of living, scored 0 - meaning he was viewed neither favourably or unfavourably.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison (above) was voted the Australia's least-favourite politician, evening falling behind controversial figures Lidia Thorpe and Pauline Hanson

Ms Thorpe (above) received the second-worst ranking at -29 after she was kicked out of a strip club and had a fling with a top Rebels bikie

The survey was carried out for Nine newspapers by Resolve Strategic and polled 1605 voters.

Independent pollster Kevin Bonham tweeted that foreign ministers - such as Julie Bishop - have previously done well in surveys such as this.

'They get to sound serious and important and be out of the country a lot,' Mr Bonham explained.
A widower who thought he'd hit the jackpot when he won $60,000 on the Lotto has been dealt a brutal blow as he issued a warning to Aussies.

Frank Kemmler who lives in Adelaide picked up the phone to tell his family to pack their bags for a holiday as soon as he learned about the surprise windfall.

But his life-changing moment was snatched away after a visit to his local Centrelink to fill out some paperwork regarding his disability support pension.

A shocked Mr Kemmler was told his Lotto prize was considered a form of income as his winnings would be paid out to him every month, therefore making him ineligible to receive the pension.

'It was certainly a nice feeling when I checked me numbers,' Mr Kemmler told A Current Affair on Friday.

Frank Kemmler (pictured) was told he was no longer be eligible for his pension after he won $60,000 on Lotto

READ MORE: Barnaby Joyce's tough words to Aussies on Centrelink payments Advertisement

'I rang the family. I said, 'pack up, we're going on a holiday!''

'[It] was a bit of a disillusionment. You think you win on the one hand, but they take it away with the other hand.'

He currently has to pay full price for GP appointments and medication which previously covered under his pension.

Mr Kemmler urged Aussies to be careful what they wish for and that they too could be in line to lose their government benefits if they are lucky enough to snare a Lotto windfall.

'The pension is not really my main worry, because I'm just trying to stop other people from falling into the same trap,' he said.

'These people that are buying these [lottery] tickets, there's no warning anywhere...to say that you're going to lose your pension.'

'If I'd known then what I know now, I would've given the win to my daughter and kept the pension for myself.'

Mr Kemmler issued a warning to Aussies they could be in line to lose their pension if they win Lotto (pictured, stock image of people queuing outside a Centrelink office)

Mr Kemmler has spent his winnings.

He reapplied to receive the pension again but has been told he may have to wait for up to six months before he's put back on the program.

A services Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they will 'work directly with Mr. Kemmler to ensure hes getting the support he is eligible for.'

Disability pensioners who win the Lotto and receive their prize money through monthly instalments are considered income earners.

This could mean that if the amount they get paid by The Lott exceeds the amount of pension they get, their income would be to high in order to continue receiving the pension.
Furious Brits have slammed train operators as thousands cram into packed carriages as storms and staff shortages threaten to cripple Britain's rail lines ahead of New Year's Eve.

Rail passengers were today warned over further chaos over the coming days due to widespread staff shortages as Britons scramble to get home before New Year's Eve.

One major operator warned its customers not to travel - while others closed routes, reduced service and told punters to stay alert for last minute cancellations.

The decision caused fury among passengers, with former MP Ivor Caplin tweeting: 'A disastrous end to 2023. Let's remember this rail company cancelled all its trains on Pride weekend in Brighton and now ruins those who want to enjoy the last weekend of the year. Time for the CEO and management to resign - they are a disgrace.'

Vincent Masterson, a bank worker from St Albans, wrote: 'Happy New Year from Thameslink. Incredibly poor service on one of the busiest nights of the year, costing people time with family and friends, and potentially hundreds of pounds on taxis.'

Passengers at London Victoria station today as multiple rail operators warn of major disruption

And actor Adam Lines said: 'The train service in the UK is absolutely diabolical. So, so unreliable. Dread to think how much money I've lost through missed shifts this year.'

Operators told revellers to travel now instead of this weekend amid concerns over disruption and last-minute cancellations due to a lack of crew and severe weather.

Northern, which runs 2,500 services through 500 stations daily, said customers with tickets for New Year's Eve could use them today or tomorrow to avoid disruption.

The UK's second largest train operator issued a 'do not travel' warning for six routes with no service on New Year's Eve - including Morecambe or Heysham to Lancaster; Preston to Colne; Manchester Victoria to Chester; Manchester Piccadilly to Chester via Altrincham; Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge; and Clitheroe to Bolton.

Other routes across North West England will also have a reduced service on New Year's Eve 'due to train crew unavailability' and are expected to finish early at 4pm.

Some staff at Northern, which is under Government control, only work Sundays as voluntary paid overtime, creating a risk of not having enough available employees.

Fellow operator CrossCountry, which calls at 120 stations over its 1,500-mile network and has faced recent staff shortages, said New Year's Eve trains would be 'extremely busy', also warning of 'last-minute cancellations' and an earlier finish than usual.

* Facing rail chaos today? Email your photos to: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk *

One passenger on board a Chiltern Railway train from London Marylebone to Oxford this morning said the service is 'absolutely packed to capacity'

James Smith tweeted a photo from an Avanti West Coast train today, telling of 'cancelled and delayed trains all day', adding: 'Now a three-hour stand up to London from Birmingham'

Passengers at London Waterloo station today as rail operators warn of major disruption

A platform board at Tulse Hill station in London today indicates a cancelled train to St Albans

Thameslink warned of 'major disruption' from the afternoon of New Year's Eve due to 'availability of train crew', with a 'significantly reduced' timetable and cancellations expected to most affect the route between Bedford and London. The operator warned passengers 'should expect to wait for several hours between departures'.

There will also be 'far fewer trains between London and Brighton and trains that do run will be exceptionally busy and you may not be able to board the first train to your destination, further extending your wait'. Replacement buses will not be provided.

Thameslink will not run overnight on New Year's Eve - meaning passengers can no longer travel back from London during the night towards Bedford or Brighton.

It said anyone with a ticket dated New Year's Eve can use it on any Southern, Thameslink or Great Northern service at no extra cost either tomorrow or on New Year's Day.

Chiltern Railways told of a 'high risk of short notice cancellations and disruption' on all routes this weekend 'due to a shortage of train crew'. Engineering works at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire on New Year's Eve will compound the misery.

London Northwestern Railway warned passengers it is 'anticipating crowding and disruption to services on New Year's Eve'.

It said this is due to the 'combined impact of recent storms damage across the network, higher than usual rates of sickness absence within our teams as well as reduced capacity within our Sunday timetable'.

A group of passengers with luggage wait for train information at London Waterloo today

A passenger tweets a photograph of a board at London Euston showing a cancelled train today

Passengers at London Waterloo station today as rail operators warn of major disruption

Passengers at London Victoria station today as multiple rail operators warn of major disruption

Some platforms at London Victoria railway station are closed off today due to upgrade works

UK rail disruption on December 29, 2023 Avanti West Coast: Cancellations today after major disruption yesterday following four separate incidents LNER: Some cancellations across the network due to staff shortages. Other services face speed restrictions due to signalling fault north of Newcastle Merseyrail: Signalling fault between Hamilton Square and James Street CrossCountry: Reduced service due to a 'shortage of train crew' East Midlands Railway: Broken down train causing delays between Cleethorpes and Barton-on-Humber ScotRail: All lines now reopen apart from Dumfries to Kilmarnock, but other lines still face speed restrictions and cancellations with buses in place Transport for Wales: Train services remain impacted until Monday due to severe weather including the Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Swansea to Shrewsbury lines Southeastern: Delays between Ebbsfleet International and London St Pancras due to a signalling issue London Underground: Delays on Central and Circle lines due to train shortages and cancellations Advertisement

The operator has cancelled all services between Stafford and Crewe, and warned that trains on other routes such as between London Euston and Northampton are 'subject to alteration and possible cancellation'.

ScotRail warned services will 'begin to wind down' from 7pm on New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile engineering works continued to affect Greater Anglia trains through Chelmsford and London Victoria station has no Southeastern services until New Year's Day.

Andy Street, Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, criticised 'self-inflicted' cancellations from crew shortages and urged rail firms to provide more clarity.

He told the Daily Telegraph: 'Come clean now, that's what people need. I would prefer to know well in advance what is happening so it can be communicated to passenger and they can make their plans.

'The worst possible thing is a last-minute change, particularly late trains being cancelled.'

Mr Street said he understood it would be 'tricky' for operators who are replying on voluntary working, but added: 'My insistence is that we know early what is happening.'

Northern chief executive Tricia Williams 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 these days.'

Travel continued to be affected by the aftermath of Storm Gerrit today, with rail disruption in Wales and Scotland.

Passengers posted photographs of packed trains today as people scrambled to get home, with the BBC's business editor Simon Jack among those impacted.

He tweeted this afternoon: 'On a train. Standing room only for three hours - all seat reservations void. Tannoy apologising saying it's been reduced from nine coaches to five but not information as to why? Why would you cut number of carriages in half if you have the staff to run five? Any insights welcome.'

The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for southern England and Wales from 11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday; while rain warnings were activated for Wales from 10am and 6pm tomorrow and Northern Ireland between 4am and 11am tomorrow. A warning for sleet, snow and rain in Scotland was issued for Scotland tomorrow between 8am and midnight

London North Eastern Railway (LNER), whose services are controlled by the Department for Transport, cancelled at least six long-distance trains today due to a lack of available staff.

Met Office weather warnings this weekend Wind - Southern England and Wales 11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday  up to 75mph gusts

11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday  up to 75mph gusts Rain - Wales - 10am tomorrow until 6pm tomorrow - up to 50mm (2in) of rain

- 10am tomorrow until 6pm tomorrow - up to 50mm (2in) of rain Rai n - Northern Ireland - 4am tomorrow until 11am tomorrow  up to 25mm (1in) of rain in a few hours

- 4am tomorrow until 11am tomorrow  up to 25mm (1in) of rain in a few hours Rain and snow  Scotland  8am tomorrow until 11.59pm tomorrow  up to 10cm (4in) of snow and 25mm (1in) of rain Advertisement

The same reason meant several other services were severely delayed or only ran part of the planned route.

LNER also suffered disruption today due to 'severe weather', with strong winds affecting parts of the East Coast Main Line. This meant a service due to run from Aberdeen to London King's Cross started from Newcastle.

A fault with the signalling system between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed meant some southbound lines were blocked.

This was also affecting CrossCountry, Lumo and TransPennine Express services.

And a 'shortage of train crew' at Edinburgh meant CrossCountry cancelled a number of trains to and from the station.

Avanti West Coast also axed several of its services to and from London Euston due to a staff shortage.

It comes after all London Euston trains were axed for a period yesterday afternoon amid four separate incidents affecting the West Coast Main Line in one day including a person being hit by a train, a points failure, a tree falling on the line and flooding.

Other disruption today included on London Underground 's Central and Circle lines due to train shortages and cancellations.

Merseyrail had delays due to a signalling fault, while there were problems on East Midlands Railway due to a broken down train at Grimsby.

Southeastern trains were also delayed today between Ebbsfleet and London St Pancras due to a signalling issue.

ScotRail said many lines have been reopened but urged passengers to check for the latest information before travelling due to speed restrictions and some replacement buses.

It confirmed this morning that the only line that had not yet reopened was Dumfries to Kilmarnock, where Network Rail engineers needed to check the area following further bad weather.

Transport for Wales said the aftermath of the recent severe weather will see rail services hampered until Monday  including the Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog line. The Swansea to Shrewsbury line was also closed.

LNER, Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway were among the other operators urging customers to check before they travel today.

Ferry services experienced cancellations and delays due to the storm yesterday with operator DFDS confirming sailings between Dover and France were delayed due to strong winds in the English Channel.

Chaotic scenes at London Euston once again yesterday as passengers wait for travel updates

Rail passengers queue to get inside Glasgow Central yesterday for a London-bound train

Passengers wait at a barrier at London Paddington yesterday while all services are suspended

Air travel in and out of the UK saw cancellations especially at London Heathrow where some British Airways flights were axed earlier this week, but most services have since returned to normal.

READ MORE Dramatic moment pilot battles Storm Gerrit crosswinds to land Boeing 777 at Heathrow Advertisement

Meanwhile forecasters said parts of Britain will endure 75mph wind gusts on New Year's Eve while other areas face heavy rain and snow as 2023 ends with a washout weekend.

The Met Office issued a wind warning for southern England and Wales from 11am tomorrow until 3am on Sunday; while rain warnings were activated for Wales from 10am and 6pm tomorrow and Northern Ireland between 4am and 11am tomorrow.

An active cold front will move east across England and Wales tomorrow and into Sunday which will widely bring gusts of 45 to 50mph, but some reaching 60mph and the strongest near coasts in the west and south with 65 to 75mph in places.

Meteorologists expect flooding, power cuts and disruption to roads, trains, planes and ferries as well as delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges.

Up to 50mm (2in) of rain could fall in North West Wales with 25mm (1in) quite widely elsewhere in the country, while Northern Ireland was told to brace for up to 25mm (1in) in a few hours with warnings that the downpours will fall on saturated ground.

Separately, a warning for sleet, snow and rain in Scotland was issued for Scotland tomorrow between 8am and midnight, with up to 10cm (4in) of the white stuff across higher ground and 3cm (1.2in) even on lower ground as well as 25mm (1in) of rain.

The Environment Agency issued 128 flood alerts (in amber) and 34 warnings (in red) today

The Met Office said its Irish counterpart, Met Eireann, could name another storm - Storm Henk - after Storm Gerrit sparked days of travel chaos following Christmas .

It comes after three men died after their 4x4 vehicle was submerged in the River Esk, near Glaisdale, yesterday, North Yorkshire Police said.

A 'supercell thunderstorm' moved across the North West of England yesterday after a similar storm is thought to have resulted in a tornado that damaged around 100 homes in Stalybridge in Greater Manchester on Wednesday night.

Around 100 properties were damaged by what police called a 'localised tornado' in Stalybridge, Tameside and in the badly-hit village of Carrbrook.

* Facing rail chaos today? Email your photos to: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk *
China's top procuratorate orders arrest of former Shanghai senior legislator

Xinhua) 15:26, December 29, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has ordered the arrest of Dong Yunhu, a former senior legislator of Shanghai, for suspected bribery.

Dong was a former secretary of the leading Party members' group of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and former chairman of the committee.

Following the completion of an investigation carried out by the National Commission of Supervision, his case was transferred to the procuratorial authorities for assessment and prosecution, the SPP said on Friday.

Further handling of the case is underway.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Chinese coffee consumption is growing quickly, spurring cut-throat competition between local and foreign coffee chains that have opened thousands of branded shops in recent months and surpassed the number of coffee stores in the United States.

Analysts expect China's growing thirst for coffee to be a key driver of future demand for the beans as coffee shops expand beyond Beijing and Shanghai to dozens of mid-sized cities where young professionals have warmed to the beverage.

China's rising coffee demand is an opportunity for international chains like Starbucks and Tim Hortons that are investing heavily in China, though they face a steep challenge from rapidly expanding local brands.

Data from the International Coffee Organization sent to Reuters shows coffee consumption in China grew 15% in the year-long season ended in September from the previous cycle to 3.08 million bags.

"The Chinese consumer is increasingly adopting Western life styles and coffee is obviously one of the beverages that represent that," said Jason Yu, greater China managing director of market research firm Kantar Worldpanel.

The number of branded coffee shops in China grew a staggering 58% in the last 12 months to 49,691 outlets, according to Alegra Group, a company that tracks growth of coffee chains.

There is harsh competition between the local chains and international chains, said Matthew Barry, a beverages analyst for Euromonitor. Each one is trying to grab as big a share as they can of the growing market, he said.

Alegra Group estimates China's Luckin Coffee added 5,059 stores in the last 12 months, while another Chinese chain, Cotti Coffee, opened 6,004 outlets in the period.

"The scale of the opportunity is such that both (local and international chains) will have to be very aggressive in facing off against the other and I think that should ensure a very dynamic marketplace in the next few years," Barry said.

U.S.-based Starbucks opened 700 stores in China in the last year and said it is on track to operate around 9,000 stores in the country by 2025, while Canada's Tim Hortons plans to have 3,000 stores in the country in four years.

Seizing market share is one of Luckin's core targets, Chief Executive Jinyi Guo said during the firm's third quarter earnings call.

Store openings are now happening in China's smaller cities, Jason Yu said, which still have millions of inhabitants each.

"So that basically means in those places there's still a lot of white space for coffee chains to grow," he said.

Zixi Zhao, a 20-year old Beijing student, said he drinks coffee every day.

"I started drinking when I went to college," he said. "I don't drink much tea in general, but my mom, my dad, my grandmother they all drink tea."

Ruoxuan Zhao, a 19-year-old student from Beijing, said drinking coffee was part of the fast-paced lifestyle of young people in China, who welcome the caffeine boost.

Happy growers

The development is good news for coffee producers already benefiting from high prices due to adverse weather in some growing regions. Arabica coffee futures are trading near the highest in eight months, while robusta coffee hit the highest in 15 years last week.

China imports coffee mostly from Africa and South America.

Brazil's coffee exporters group Cecafe said that shipments to China will nearly triple in 2023 to surpass 1 million bags for the first time, making China its eighth-largest market.

The United States Department of Agriculture sees China using 5 million bags of coffee in the new season (2023/24), which would make it the world's seventh-largest consumer.

Chinese coffee consumption still pales when compared to top consumers the United States and Brazil that use more than 20 million bags per year. But the growing demand signals China is undergoing a cultural change similar to other tea-loving Asian countries including Japan and Korea. (Reuters)
Unidentified airborne object is said to have entered from direction of Ukraine

Poland's armed forces are hunting an unidentified airborne object that entered its airspace and then vanished off radars.

The Operational Command of the Armed Forces said the object entered from the side of the border with Ukraine and was observed by radars of the country's air defense system from the moment it crossed the border until the signal disappeared.

It added that troops have been mobilized to identify and find the object, as local authorities said it crossed the border near the town of Hrubieszow.

There were no immediate reports of any explosion or casualties.

It comes as Russia conducted one of its biggest attacks overnight in Ukraine since the launch of its invasion - targeting the country with 158 drones and missiles.

Polish President Andrzej Duda has called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (BBN) after the object entered Poland's airspace.

Polish soldiers patrol near Sosnowa-Debowa village, eastern Poland, on December 29 after an unidentified object entered the country's airspace

The Operational Command of the Armed Forces said the object entered from the side of the border with Ukraine

Polish President Andrzej Duda has called an emergency meeting after an unidentified object entered Poland's airspace. Pictured: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, chief of General Staff Gen. Wieslaw Kukula (left) and the forces' operational commander Gen. Maciej Klisz (right)

Russia conducted one of its biggest attacks overnight in Ukraine since the launch of its invasion. An explosion of a missile is seen during a Russian missile and drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on December 29

Polish armed forces operational commander Gen. Maciej Klisz speaks next to Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz during a press conference after the National Security Council (BBN) meeting in Warsaw, Poland, on December 29

The Operational Command said on social media platform X: 'In the morning, an unidentified aerial object entered the airspace... and from the moment it crossed the border until the signal disappeared, it was observed by the radars of the country's air defence system.

'In accordance with applicable procedures, the operational commander of the armed forces mobilized the available forces and resources at his disposal.'

Private broadcaster TV Republika reported that a search for the object was happening near the town of Hrubieszow in southern Poland.

'We received information that an object appeared on the radar near Hrubieszow,' Krzysztof Komorski, governor of the Lublin region said on X. 'We have no confirmation that it fell within our region.'

One owner of the orchards in the Komarow-Osada commune in the Lublin region claimed the object was black, between one and two metres long and was flying quite low.

General Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the general staff of the Polish armed forces, said: 'Everything indicates that a Russian missile entered Polish airspace... it also left our airspace.

Polish President Duda has called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (BBN) after an unidentified object entered Poland's airspace from the side of the Ukrainian border

Polish soldiers patrol near Sosnowa-Debowa village, eastern Poland on December 29

Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army Gen. Wieslaw Kukula speaks next to Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz (left) and Armed forces' operational commander Gen. Maciej Klisz (right) during a press conference after the National Security Council (BBN) meeting

'We have national and allied radar confirmation,' he told reporters.

The missile was in Polish airspace for three minutes, said Maciej Klisz, operational commander of the Polish army.

'We sent our forces, fighter jets, to intercept it and shoot it down if necessary but the duration and the flight path... made this impossible and allowed the missile to leave Polish territory,' Klisz said.

Klisz said Poland's air defence system had been put on alert because of a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine.

The army said it had also carried out a ground search in the place where the signal from the missile was lost.

Polish civilian and military authorities have held emergency meetings and Polish President Andrzej Duda has spoken to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg following the incident, officials said.

In November 2022, a Ukrainian air defence missile fell in the Polish village of Przewodow near the border, killing two civilians.

The explosion occurred at a grain storage site near a school about six kilometres from the border during another intensive Russian bombardment of Ukraine.

Smoke rises in the sky over the city after a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 29

There was initial doubt about whether the missile was Russian, raising concern that NATO could become directly involved in the war as member state Poland is covered by the alliance's collective defence agreement.

Russia targeted Ukraine with 158 drones and missiles overnight, aiming for critical infrastructure, industry and military facilities, the Ukrainian military said.

A stray Ukrainian missile struck the Polish village of Przewodow in southern Poland in November 2022 in an incident that raised fears of the war in Ukraine spilling over the border.

In April, a military object was found in a forest close to the village of Zamosc near the northern city of Bydgoszcz. It was later reported to be a Russian missile.

Polish officials said emergency services, including police and volunteer army units, were scouring the area but it was unclear whether the object had landed on Polish territory. There were no reports of casualties.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk was due to meet with army and security services chiefs around midday local time.
A blustery winter storm that brought a blizzard to millions of Americans in the Great Plains over the Christmas holiday is now sweeping across the country, as a dozen states could experience snow in the upcoming New Year's weekend.

The storm, which had endangered holiday travelers and compelled crews to clear treacherous roads in the Plains region, is now advancing eastward, bringing snow to as many as 12 states in the Midwest and Northeast.

According to a map by the Weather Channel, Eastern Missouri, Southeastern Iowa, Illinois, Southern Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee could see some snow by Friday night.

Patches of snow will also be blown in for residents in West Virginia, Vermont, upstate New York and Maine by Friday night.

'If you missed out on a white Christmas in some spots, well, you're going to get some snow in the Midwest,' Weather Channel meteorologist Kait Parker said.

A blustery winter storm that brought a blizzard to millions of Americans in the Great Plains over the Christmas holiday is now sweeping across the country, as a dozen states could experience snow in the upcoming New Year's weekend

The storm, which had endangered holiday travelers and compelled crews to clear treacherous roads in the Plains region, is now advancing eastward, bringing snow to as many as 12 states in the Midwest and Northeast. St. Louis, Missouri, pictured in 2022

Those heading to Boston, New York City (pictured in 2022), and Washington for New Year's celebrations can breathe a sigh of relief, as only one to two inches of rain is expected in the area through Saturday

The snow forecasted for the Midwest is expected to be smaller in scale compared to the storm that struck Nebraska, where multiple vehicles collided and slid off Interstate 80 highway on Christmas day.

'We are not looking at tremendous amount out of this storm,' Parker said in the forecast video.

Five to eight inches of snow is expected to fall in far northern Maine, and up to three inches are expected in most areas.

'For the most part of the I-95 corridor, it's rain. It's whenever you are in the higher elevations like the Appalachians that we see - more of that snowfall,' Parker added.

Despite a little snow and rainfall in the forecast, few areas of the country are expected to experience dangerous weather on New Year's Day that could delay holiday travelers.

'Apart from the Great Lakes, most of the country looks absolutely fantastic. It will be weather-free,' Weather Channel meteorologist Ari Sarsalari said.

Five to eight inches of snow is expected to fall in far northern Maine, and up to three inches are expected in most areas

Despite a little snow and rainfall in the forecast, few areas of the country are expected to experience dangerous weather on New Year's Day that could delay holiday travelers

The snow forecasted for the Midwest is expected to be smaller in scale compared to the storm that struck Nebraska, where multiple vehicles collided and slid off Interstate 80 highway on Christmas day

The East Coast

Those heading to Boston, New York City and Washington for New Year's celebrations can breathe a sigh of relief, as only one to two inches of rain is expected in the area through Saturday.

New Year's Eve is not expected to be a washout, as a weak ridge forms over the Northeast, bringing dry conditions, FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan said.

But inland areas from West Virginia through Pittsburgh to Buffalo may experience a mix of rain and snow while the coast remains clear.

'There will be a corridor from about Connecticut down into Jersey, maybe even closer to the Delmarva, where this rain is enhanced by a coastal low,' he said.

'Don't be deceived by this  these next three days  because in New York City, things are going to be improving,' he continued.

'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.'

Patches of snow are expected to arrive in Bangor, Maine, by Friday night, while regions south of the city can anticipate rain.

Hodgdon, a rural town bordering Canada and the US, is forecasted to receive up to eight inches of snow.

The Plain state is one of the hardest hit by Christmas snow storms

Blowing snow in the Great Plains compelled crews to scramble to clear treacherous roads during the holiday weekend

Midwest

The powerful storm, which wreaked havoc in the central US with its icy grip and blizzard conditions last week, is bringing snow to much of the Midwest in the upcoming weekend.

In fact, snow was already falling in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Thursday morning through Friday morning, as reported by the National Weather Service.

'Light snow showers continue early this morning, mainly across Western and Southwestern Indiana along the IL border,' the office wrote in a social media post.

'Accumulations around an inch with two inches locally are possible, mainly on grassy and elevated surfaces,' the office wrote, adding that 'widespread travel hazards are unlikely.'

'Watch out for patchy slick spots and briefly snow covered roads. Expect temps to rise above freezing after sunrise,' officials warned on Friday morning.

Missouri faces a similar circumstance, as St. Louis residents wake up to a blanket of snow on Friday with roads remaining wet and white.

Snowfall is expected to taper off to flurries in the afternoon, gradually ending from the north to the south. The skies will remain cloudy and are anticipated to clear up further into Saturday, FOX weather reported.

Locally dense fog has formed across parts of central Indiana. One quarter mile or less visibility is possible in the region around Frankfort, Delphi and Lafayette. Valleys across south central Indiana may also have some patchy fog. #INWX pic.twitter.com/tJIMXR1nfV  NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) December 27, 2023

Light snow showers continue early this morning, mainly across Western and Southwestern IN along the IL border. Watch out for patchy slick spots and briefly snow covered roads. Expect temps to rise above freezing after sunrise. #inwx pic.twitter.com/2dvR19oQKM  NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) December 29, 2023

South

In the Southeast and Southwest, Mother Nature seems to be taking a holiday break, with most areas staying cold yet clearing up by Saturday night.

A mix of rain and snow will fall Nashville and the surrounding Middle Tennessee area as the region is expected to see its first winter weather.

'We are still on track to see a mix of light rain/snow starting tonight & continuing Friday before ending early Saturday,' the NWS said on Thursday afternoon.

However, most of the region has very low chances to see any snow accumulate and will see the clouds cleared by Saturday night.

Northern Alabama and Georgia might also see some snow as temperatures plummet to 20 degrees below normal.

Besides the frigid temperatures, most areas in the region are expected to be dry and clear by Saturday night.

On New Year's Day, 'a couple of showers will be going down along the Gulf Coast, New Orleans, Mobile and places like that,' Sarsalari said.

'Maybe check some of your flights, but I think for the most part you should be fine even in that situation,' he added.

Most weather problems will take place along the California coast bringing travel headaches for those heading to Los Angeles and San Francisco

Conditions near San Francisco are expected to improve on Friday, while Los Angeles is under high surf and coastal flooding advisories until 10 pm on Saturday

Coastal flood warnings and high surf advisories are in place in Ventura County, CA for the remainder of the week

The streets are flooded in Capitola, California, on Thursday. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

Storm debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos on Thursday after storm-powered waves caused flooding

The West Coast

Most weather problems will take place along the California coast bringing travel headaches for those heading to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

On Friday, coastal flooding and waves reaching up to 30 feet are anticipated, with a high surf warning in effect for the coastal area through Saturday.

High surf warnings have been issued for more than six million people in the area, following the impact of massive waves that pounded California on Thursday.

Waves could range from 28 to 33 feet, and up to 40 feet at some locations, the National Weather Service said in a flash bulletin, adding that there were reports of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

Forecasters urged people to stay off rocks and jetties, and to not turn their backs to the ocean because of the danger of 'sneaker waves' - occasional much bigger waves that can run far up the sand and wash someone off a beach.

Conditions could get worse into the weekend as the storm system moves in from the Pacific, particularly in southern California, where San Diego is expected to see the highest surf on Saturday.

Conditions near San Francisco are expected to improve early on Friday, while Los Angeles is under high surf and coastal flooding advisories until 10 pm on Saturday.

'Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions. Stay off of jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure,' the NWS urged.
President Joe Biden held a 'frustrating call' with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend where he pushed him to release tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority, according to a new report on Friday.

The call is the latest sign of tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv as the war against Hamas continues.

A U.S. official told Axios the call was one of the most difficult and 'frustrating' conversations Biden has had with Netanyahu since the war in Gaza began on October 7.

While Biden publicly supports Israel and the war, tensions have emerged behind the scenes as he has urged Netanyahu to tone down the attacks and raised concern about the number of civilians being killed. There is also growing international pressure on Israel to declare a cease fire.

President Joe Biden held a 'frustrating call' with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend

Additionally, the president cannot afford to have America pulled into a prolonged Middle East conflict as he prepares to run for a second term next year. U.S. troops in Syrian and Iraq have already faced attacks by Iranian proxy groups.

He also can't afford to have the Palestinian Authority collapse, which it could if it doesn't get the funds.

Israel collects monthly tax revenues on imports and exports, and transfers those funds to the PA, which is one of their major sources of income.

But they have started to hold off on some of the transfers, citing concerns the money could reach Hamas. In return, the PA said it would accept all the funds or none of them.

Biden and his administration, however, are worried without the money the Palestinian Authority will collapse, leading to an escalation of violence in the West Bank.

During their conversation, Biden pushed Netanyahu to go ahead with a proposal the prime minister has already indicated was acceptable: transfer the tax revenues to Norway for safekeeping until an arrangement can be made to reassure Tel Aviv the money won't go to Hamas.

The Palestinian Authority has already accepted this proposal.

But Netanyahu backtracked, Axois reported, and said he doesn't think this is a good idea anymore. Biden, in return, told Netanyahu to solve the issue, noted 'this conversation is over' and ended the call.

'The feeling was that the president is going out on a limb for Bibi every day and when Bibi needs to give something back and take some political risk he is unwilling to do it,' a U.S. official said.

Israeli armored perssonel carrier moves near the border with Gaza

President Joe Biden, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, to discuss the the war between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023

The situation in Gaza has developed into a humantarian crisis as aid workers struggle to get into the area and to bring in much needed food, water and medical supplies.

The international aid group Mercy Corps is warning about famine and disease affecting the civilian population.

At least 21,320 people have been killed in Gaza and 55,603 wounded since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Among the dead is Judi Weinstein Haggai, a citizen of Canada, the United States and Israel.

Fewer than 10 Americans remain in captivity in Gaza, according to the White House.
One of Maine's Democratic congressmen on Thursday night slammed the decision by his state's top election official to bar former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot.

The reaction illustrates how even many Democrats feel uncomfortable about using legal means to keep Trump out of power rather than relying on the verdict of the electorate.

'I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 insurrection,' said Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. 'I do not believe he should be reelected as president of the United States.

'However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.'

His response joined a bipartisan backlash after Maine's decision, part of a string of challenges to Trump's position on the ballot.

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden joined the chorus of concern about Maine's decision to keep Donald Trump off the ballot, saying the former president had not been convicted

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Republicans would pick Ron DeSantis if Trump quits the race or is disqualified - poll Advertisement

A ruling earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court barred Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits those who 'engaged in insurrection' from holding office.

That ruling is on hold while higher courts review the question.

But that did not stop Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, following suit on Thursday evening.

'I do not reach this conclusion lightly,' she wrote.

'Democracy is sacred  I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment.

'I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.'

She made her decision in response to state residents and a group of former Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

The Trump campaign immediately said it would appeal.

'Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy,' said spokesman Steven Cheung.

'Biden and the Democrats simply do not trust the American voter in a free and fair election and are now relying on the force of government institutions to protect their grip on power.'

Shenna Bellows, Maine's secretary of state, on Thursday ruled that Donald Trump should be disqualified from their March primary ballot

And Republicans lined up to attack the decision.

Sen. Susan Collins, also of Maine and who is not backing Trump for reelection, wrote on X: 'Maine voters should decide who wins the election  not a secretary of state chosen by the legislature.

'The secretary of state's decision would deny thousands of Mainers the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, and it should be overturned.'

Trump has been indicted in both a federal case and in Georgia for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election but he has not been charged with insurrection related to the Jan. 6 attack.

He leads opinion polls by a large margin in the race for the Republican nomination in 2024.

The latest DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners poll shows he also has a four-point lead over Biden in a 2024 match-up.

J.L. Partners polled 984 likely voters nationwide. The results show Donald Trump has a four-point lead over Joe Biden. The results carry a 3.1-point margin of error

Republicans said they would like Ron DeSantis to be the nominee if Trump quits

The question of insurrection is a tricky one for Democrats, who fear that every legal challenge only bolsters Trump's position in the polls.

However, many spoke out to back Maine.

'The text of the 14th Amendment is crystal clear: anyone who participates in insurrection is permanently barred from public office,' Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) said.

'Donald Trump incited a violent riot to overthrow American democracy. Of course he should be banned from the presidency forever.'

And there are challenges all across the country arguing that he should not be on the ballot.

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.
Do YOU know the couple?

An elderly British couple have been killed in a house fire at a Spanish resort near Benidorm.

Firefighters and other emergency responders raced to the scene after being alerted by a neighbour at the property in the Costa Blanca resort of Denia.

But there was nothing they could do to save the pair's lives and they were pronounced dead at the scene after their bodies were found inside.

The victims have been identified locally as a British couple aged 84 and 78 from the UK.

Spain's National Police are leading an ongoing investigation into the blaze.

Firefighters and other emergency responders raced to the scene after being alerted by a neighbour at the property in the Costa Blanca resort of Denia (pictured)

Sources said they found the inside of the property already gutted and believe the fire could have occurred several days ago

Although officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, it is believed to have started accidentally.

Local reports are pointing to it possibly starting because of a cigarette butt which wasn't put out properly.

The alarm was raised shortly before 11am this morning, but well-placed sources said they found the inside of the property already gutted and believe the fire could have occurred several days ago.

The neighbour who raised the alarm is understood to have told the emergency services she saw no flames but was concerned because the inside of the windows were blackened.

Local reports are pointing to the fire possibly starting because of a cigarette butt which wasn't put out properly

The property where the couple's bodies were found is on a residential estate known locally as Urbanizacion Betlems near the landmark Montgo Mountain

The property where the couple's bodies were found is on a residential estate known locally as Urbanizacion Betlems near the landmark Montgo Mountain.

It was not immediately clear this afternoon if they lived permanently in the house, or used it as a holiday home.
The six-year-old pageant queen was reported missing then found strangled and beaten to death in her family's upscale Boulder home in December 1996

Colorado Police have announced they are following new recommendations from a team of cold case experts in the 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsay

Fresh hopes have been raised that the notorious cold case of murdered child pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey may be solved after Colorado police said they are reviewing new 'recommendations' in the 1996 case.

Six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was reported missing after her family found a ransom note inside their Boulder home on December 26, 1996.

Her body was later found by her father John Ramsey in the basement of the family's upscale home, brutally beaten and strangled to death. Her death was ruled a homicide but has remained unsolved for 27 years.

However, Boulder Police Department (BPD) announced on Thursday that it was in the process of reviewing and prioritizing recommendations from a team of outside experts convened to review with case.

The Colorado Cold Case Review Team spent the last year working to digitize all existing evidence in the case, including more than 21,000 tips, over 1,000 interviews, samples from more than 200 different individuals, including handwriting, DNA, fingerprints, and shoeprints.

Pictured: JonBenet Ramsey, 6, was a child beauty queen and the victim of a homicide. Her killer has not yet been identified by the investigation remains open. JonBenet would have been 33 years old today

The crime scene at the Ramsey's upscale Colorado home following the killing of their six-year-old

John and Patsy Ramsey appeal for information resulting in the arrest of JonBenet's killer on May 1, 1997

Police said in a statement that DNA continues to be an investigative focal point as the science behind the testing of samples taken at the time continues to develop.

The team was comprised of professional, investigative, analytical, and forensic experts from across Colorado, including the FBI, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Boulder County District Attorney's Office, and 'numerous other entities with expertise in cold case homicide investigations.'

The BPD explained that the panel of outside experts was convened to review the high-profile case to 'generate additional investigative recommendations and determine if updated technologies and/or forensic testing might produce new intelligence or leads to solve the case.'

Although the panels specific recommendations will not yet be made public the department said it is committed to following the recommendations generated from the review.

'I am grateful for the Cold Case Review Team's independent assessment and the recommendations provided regarding this tragic case,' Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said.

Adding: 'We will continue to pursue all leads and explore technology advancements to identify JonBenet's killer.

'I also commit to providing the community and family with investigative updates as new evidence emerges.'

The grim murder case gripped Colorado and the rest of the nation due to the shocking nature of the crime and the prominence of JonBenet in her local community, where she known as the winner of Little Miss Colorado.

The well known pageant queen was later found by her father John Ramsey in the basement of the family's upscale home (pictured) beaten and strangled to death.

New DNA testing which could unlock the mystery of the brutal 1996 murder of Colorado child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey has finally been completed

A undated photo of John and Patricia 'Patsy' Ramsey with their children JonBenet (left) and Burke (right)

Burke Ramsey, now 36, was only nine-years-old when his sister was brutally murdered

John Mark Karr was extradited from Thailand and arrested for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey after he confessed, however police could not link him to the scene and his confession was largely discredited

The coroner determined that the pageant girl's cause of death was 'asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma,' meaning she had been choked and beaten. Her death was ruled as a homicide, but nobody was ever charged with the murder

The child was found covered by a white blanket with a nylon cord around her neck, and her wrists bound above her head and her mouth covered by duct tape.

There was no clear-cut evidence of rape, but police did not rule out sexual assault.

A bizarre ransom note was also uncovered demanding $118,000 from her family.

The coroner determined that JonBenet died from 'asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma,' meaning she had been choked and beaten.

The Boulder City Medical Examiner revealed after an autopsy was conducted that the little girl had an 8 1/2-inch fracture to her skull and was bludgeoned in the head.

Nobody has ever been formerly charged with the murder but there have been several suspects over the years.

Among them was John Mark Karr, 58, who claimed 17 years ago that he was with JonBenet when she died.

Karr was extradited from his home in Thailand following his 'confession', in which he claimed JonBenet had died 'accidentally.'

JonBenet's brother sued CBS for $750 million over a documentary it broadcast which pointed the finger at him for his sister's death

John Ramsey, 80, said it took him years before his family could celebrate Christmas again after his daughter was found strangled and beaten to death the basement of the family's Boulder, Colorado home the day after Christmas, December 26, 1996

John Ramsey in a recent interview with Fox. He said the family is now ready to celebrate Christmas again

In 2006, Karr claimed he drugged JonBenet and then had sex with her, but her autopsy said a blood screening showed no drugs or alcohol in her body.

Under questioning he knew details about the murder which had not been released to the public.

But authorities could not link him to the scene of the crime and he was let go. Karr later suggested that he had lied about his confession to cover for someone else.

And despite his claim of sexually assaulting Ramsey, no semen was found on her body. However, the little girl did have small vaginal abrasions.

Karr's admission ultimately came to be viewed as an elaborate lie by investigators.

For years, JonBenet's parents and brother, Burke, who was just nine-years-old at the time of his sister's death, were also under a cloud of suspicion.

However, in 2008, they were finally exonerated and formally taken off the suspect list.

In 2019, Burke sued CBS for $750 million over a documentary it broadcast which pointed the finger at him for his sister's death.
Arizona National Guard Brigadier General John Conley sent Abodeely a letter expressing concern about statements the senior made during a tour

The Arizona Military Museum was then shut and the nonprofit overseeing it no longer has state support

Vietnam vet Joe Abodeely, 80, was forced to step away from the museum he curated for over 40 years after making the offensive remarks

A Vietnam War veteran has been ousted from the military museum he curated for decades after suggesting he would be replaced by 'some gay, black, woman, woke Jew.'

Joe Abodeely, 80, spent half his life overseeing the Arizona Military Museum which was a personal passion for the Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War - his own uniform was even on display.

But for more than four months, the museum has been closed to the public, and the nonprofit overseeing it no longer has state support.

Arizona National Guard Brigadier General John Conley sent Abodeely a letter in February expressing concern about statements the senior made during a tour.

'Eventually they will replace me with some gay, Black, woman, woke Jew who will ruin the place,' Abodeely said, according to the letter obtained by the Arizona Republic.

Joe Abodeely, 80, oversaw the Arizona Military Museum for 40 years - but was forced to step away due to 'unprofessional language'. He is pictured next to a mannequin of a soldier with its hand on its hip that he suggested was gay

The museum was shuttered after the state severed ties with the nonprofit overseeing it and ordered them to vacate the building

Abodeely, a Vietnam War veteran, had personal ties to the museum, even displaying his own uniform

He was alleged to have called 'all Americans' stupid and 'told the members of the tour group that they knew nothing of the realities of the Vietnam era because they were too young, brainwashed, stupid, duped, uneducated, or uncaring.'

The 86-year-old museum is run by the Arizona National Guard Historical Society, a nonprofit that Abodeely led for decades, and sits on military property.

Following the incident, the state's Department of Emergency and Military Affairs ordered Abodeely to attend two hours of diversity, equity and inclusion training. He obliged.

Major General Kerry Muehlenbeck, the adjutant general of the guard in Arizona, also wanted to meet with him.

But the offensive language didn't stop there, despite Abodeely attaining a certificate of completion for the course. In an interview, he remarked that a museum mannequin with a 'hand on its hip' represented gay soldiers.

A day later, Abodeely issued an apology, attributing his erratic behavior to the combined stress of undergoing tests for cancer and the museum fiasco.

'I'm arrogant, and I know that,' the 80-year-old said. 'I am somewhat egotistical, but I care about other people. I care about other things. I care about my nation, my state and I care about the museum.'

Abodeely's remarks during the tour are at odds with posts on the museum's Facebook page where he condemned racists and spoke out about division in the country.

Abodeely was reprimanded for telling a tour: 'Eventually they will replace me with some gay, Black, woman, woke Jew who will ruin the place'

He allegedly told the group that they were 'too young, brainwashed, stupid, duped, uneducated, or uncaring' to understand the 'realities of the Vietnam era'

The 86-year-old museum was formerly run by the Arizona National Guard Historical Society, a nonprofit that Abodeely led for decades

'It is not about economics, or politics, or ideology, or the haves vs. the have nots - it is clearly about RACE,' he wrote of the motivations behind the January 6 siege of the Capitol.

'Those people are simply ignorant, despicable racists; and their actions have brought the race issue to the forefront. It took a racist President and supporters to do it.'

In an interview, he claimed he was being pushed out due to a personal vendetta held by Muehlenbeck, a claim that her spokesperson denied.

Mike Snozek, a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran, was on the board of the Arizona National Guard Historical Society for more than a dozen years before the turmoil.

He said Abodeely misrepresented Muehlenbeck's views about the museum to the board and the public.

Snozek said he was acting at the request of the majority of board members when he called a meeting last summer and they voted him in as the new leader to replace Abodeely.

Abodeely, in turn, held that the vote was illegitimate and named his own new board.

The guard forbade him from interacting with guests at the museum, but spokesperson Captain Erin Hannigan said he continued to use 'unprofessional language.'

'In turn, the Adjutant General lost confidence in Mr. Abodeely's ability to interact professionally, and respectfully with members of the public,' she said.

The army veteran was ousted from his leading role at the Arizona National Guard Historical Society (pictured: Abodeely, third from left, and his platoon)

When he refused to step down alongside the newly-appointed leader, the state announced that it would find a new group to oversee the museum and reopen it

The nonprofit must provide a written plan for the removal of its property from the museum by December 18

While Snozek expressed understanding for why Abodeely wouldn't want to part with the museum, he added: 'There's a way to conduct oneself and a way not to conduct oneself, and we have rules, and we follow them.

'And there's what's socially acceptable and there's what's absolutely not socially acceptable.'

In an effort to preserve the museum in its current location, Snozek volunteered to step down if Abodeely would, too. But the Vietnam vet, who served as a deputy county attorney and a criminal defense lawyer later in his life, refused.

Muehlenbeck ultimately announced her decision to sever state ties with the group on November 17.

Now, the nonprofit must provide her with a written plan for the removal of its property from the museum by December 18, according to a spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the Arizona National Guard plans to find a new group to run the museum and reopen it.
A married couple and their daughter were found dead at their luxury mansion in Massachusetts in what police are describing as 'a deadly incident of domestic violence'.

The family of three was discovered dead at their $6.7 million, 27-room home in Dover on Thursday night after police received a 911 call from a family member who went to check on them just before 7:30 pm.

Once there, he discovered one of the family members dead. Police later found the two other bodies. A firearm was also found at the scene.

They were identified by Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey on Friday morning as Teena Kamal, 54, her husband Rakesh, 57, and daughter Ariana, 18, who attended Middlebury College. She was a recent graduate from the prestigious $64,800-a-year Milton Academy.

Morrissey said that a gun was found on the property near the husband, and that all three family members were found dead.

Wilson's Way is a private road in Dover, about 19 miles from Boston. With a population of about 6,000 people and median income of $250,000, it's considered the wealthiest town in the state. The Kamals' home was assessed at $6.7 million, according to town records.

A member of the Wilson's Way Homeowners' Association also confirmed to DailyMail.com that the family was found dead.

Teena Kamal, 54, her husband Rakesh, 57, and daughter Ariana, 18, were found dead in their $6.7 million home in Dover, Massachusetts. A firearm was found on the property and it is being described as a 'domestic incident'

The family of three was discovered dead on Thursday night after police received a 911 call from a family member who went to check on them just before 7:30 pm

Wilson's Way is a private road in Dover, about 19 miles from Boston. With a population of about 6,000 people and median income of $250,000, it's considered the wealthiest town in the state.

At a press conference on Friday morning, Morrissey said: 'This is an event to remember that the domestic violence crisis crosses all socio-economic and social situations.

'During the search of the premises the police did find a firearm on the premises.

'It's clear that this is a confined situation and is no threat to the residents of the town.'

The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death as soon as today, he added.

'This is very unfortunate and our hearts goes out to the entire Kamal family on this terrible tragedy.'

Morrissey said that there was no threat to the public and that 'it is safe to believe that this is a domestic incident'.

'It's a safe neighborhood and the neighbhors were not aware,' he added.

Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey said the deaths were a tragic reminder that domestic violence 'crosses all socio-economic and social situations'

Dover, the richest town in Massachusetts, recorded its last homicide in 2020.

'It's very rare to have this kind of violent situation in any community in Norfolk county, particularly Dover, it's a small, well-run and policed community.

'A lot of times the violence we see in Norfolk county is people who are known to each other, unfortunately.'

In 2020, local doctor Ingolf Tuerk, 58, was indicted for the murder of his wife Kathleen McLean, who was found dead in a pond not far from their home in Valley Road.

McLean's body was discovered two days after she was last seen alive. Police believed she was killed during an argument with her husband.

The medical examiner found 'injuries and bruising consistent with strangulation.'

Tuerk allegedly told police he strangled his wife, and then when he realized she was dead he panicked and dumped her body in a pond.

Records revealed the mother-of-three had told cops that her husband repeatedly abused her during their marriage, just months before her murder.

She had accused him of 'strangling' and 'cutting her with scissors' and was so afraid of his 'abuse' that she'd taken out a restraining order against him.
California's top election official issued her list of approved candidates for party primaries on Thursday evening, complete with the name of former President Donald Trump.

It meant Democrat Shirley Weber shrugged off pressure from activists and some state officials to exclude Trump on the grounds that he was guilty of 'insurrection' for his actions in the run-up to the Jan. 6 attack on Congress.

She made her decision as the question roils other states and divides Democrats.

On Thursday evening, Maine followed Colorado in saying Trump was not eligible to stand, although those rulings are on hold amid legal challenges.

In California, the state's lieutenant governor last week urged Weber to do the same.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber shrugged off pressure from activists and some state officials to exclude Trump on the grounds that he was guilty of 'insurrection'

Activists around the country are trying to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Republicans would pick Ron DeSantis if Trump quits the race or is disqualified - poll Advertisement

'I am prompted by the Colorado Supreme Court's recent ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state's ballot as a presidential candidate due to his role in inciting an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021,' wrote Eleni Kounalakis.

'This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy.'

Several senior Democrats added their voices to her demand, although Gov. Gavin Newsom said the question of Trump's fitness for office should be left to voters.

California is the nation's most populous state.

Although its electoral college votes are certain to go to the Democratic candidate in the presidential election, excluding Trump from the March 5 primary could eat into his lead over Republican rivals in the race for the nomination.

In the end, Weber included his name on her certified list of candidates.

She did not offer any explanation for how she reached that decision.

Trump has been indicted in both a federal case and in Georgia for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election but he has not been charged with insurrection related to the Jan. 6 attack.

He leads opinion polls by a large margin in the race for the Republican nomination in 2024.

The latest DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners poll shows he also has a four-point lead over Biden in a 2024 match-up.

Weber issued her list of approved candidates Thursday for the March primaries

It included the name of Donald Trump, after Maine and Colorado excluded him

The question of insurrection is a tricky one for Democrats, who fear that every legal challenge only bolsters Trump's position in the polls.

A ruling earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court barred Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits those who 'engaged in insurrection' from holding office.

That ruling is on hold while higher courts review the question.

But that did not stop Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, following suit on Thursday evening.

'I do not reach this conclusion lightly,' she wrote.

'Democracy is sacred  I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment.

'I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.'

Shenna Bellows, Maine's secretary of state, on Thursday ruled that Donald Trump should be disqualified from their March primary ballot

She made her decision in response to state residents and a group of former Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

The Trump campaign immediately said it would appeal.

'Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy,' said spokesman Steven Cheung.

'Biden and the Democrats simply do not trust the American voter in a free and fair election and are now relying on the force of government institutions to protect their grip on power.'

And even some state Democrats were unhappy with her decision.

'I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 insurrection,' said Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. 'I do not believe he should be reelected as president of the United States.

'However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.'

The reaction illustrates how even many Democrats feel uncomfortable about using legal means to keep Trump out of power rather than relying on the verdict of the electorate.
Do YOU know the Good Samaritan?

Do YOU know the Good Samaritan? Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk

This is the shocking moment a furious customer starts a brawl with a security guard in a busy Tesco store before being floored by a have-a-go hero.

The enraged shopper was caught on camera as he threw punches and beer crates at the guard in the middle of the fruit and veg aisle.

The footage, uploaded on social media, was filmed at the Tesco Extra branch in Fratton, Portsmouth, yesterday evening.

In it, the man is seen ripping off his jacket before wildly swinging punches at the guard, snarling; 'Who's stupid, who's f***ing stupid?'

The startled security guard is filmed backing off as the seething man barrels forward, shouting, before being shoved back by the shop worker

The furious shopper was caught hurling crates of beer and swinging punches wildly towards a security guard

The brawl erupted in the Tesco Extra store in Fratton, Portsmouth, with the guard appearing to kick out at the angry customer during the clash

After a scuffle, a have-a-go-hero steps in and throws the enraged customer to the floor, pinning him

Do YOU know the Good Samaritan? Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk

After one push, the furious man picks up what looks like an onion and hurls it at the guard as perplexed shoppers watched the drama unfold.

Continuing with his onslaught, the enraged customer is then seen launching a crate of beer at the guard - moments before a have-a-go hero charges in and bundles him to the floor.

'Stay f***ing down, there's f***ing kids in here, do not f***ing stand,' yells the Good Samaritan, as he wrestles the man to the floor, pinning him.

Surrounded by Tesco staff and security guards, the angry customer is allowed to his feet before a further small scuffle ensures and he walks away.

Footage of the fight was uploaded yesterday evening and has been viewed by hundreds of people online.

Social media users were quick to praise the Good Samaritan for stepping in and stopping the scrap.

One person wrote: 'The geezer who floored him is a security guard himself well done for protecting the others.'

The fight started with the man yelling at the security guard (left) before a have-a-go hero steps in (right) and throws him to the floor

The angry customer is seen being pinned to the floor by the other man, who shouted: 'Stay f***ing down, there's f***ing kids in here, do not f***ing stand'

Later, the male was restrained on the floor as security staff and Tesco workers surrounded him, before the male was allowed to stand up and walk away

Another added: 'Good on the bloke flooring him - done more then his colleagues standing around.'

A third person asked: 'Who's the legend that took him down?'

It's not known what caused the drama to explode inside the Tesco Extra store, which occurred at about 6pm.

A spokesman from Tesco confirmed the supermarket chain was aware of the fight.

The company said it was assisting police with their inquiries following the incident, with Tesco insisting the safety of colleagues and customers was its 'number one priority'.

Hampshire Police confirmed it attended the incident at 6.03pm following reports that a security staff member had been assaulted.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'Officers attended and shortly afterwards made an arrest.

'A 29-year-old man from Havant has been arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, theft from a shop and possession of a controlled drug of class B.

'He has been given police bail with conditions until Thursday, March 28, 2024, pending further enquiries.'

Do YOU know the Good Samaritan? Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk
China named former navy commander Dong Jun as its new defence minister on Friday, replacing a predecessor removed after just months as Beijing and Washington restart critical military-to-military talks.

Dong's promotion comes at a sensitive time, as Beijing ups military pressure on the self-ruled island of Taiwan ahead of presidential elections next month and grows increasingly assertive in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

China and the United States are also in the process of re-establishing military lines of communication -- crucial if the two powers are to stop competition from turning into conflict.

Dong was appointed at a meeting of the standing committee of China's National People's Congress, state news agency Xinhua said.

Beijing has not given an official reason for the removal of Li Shangfu, Dong's predecessor, who was ousted after seven months in the role following a lengthy disappearance from public view.

His dismissal was one in a series of high-level demotions in the country's military establishment.

Three executives at leading Chinese missile defence firms were removed from Beijing's top political advisory committee this week, according to state media.

Fighting alleged corruption has long been a central theme of Chinese President Xi Jinping's rule, which has been punctuated by high-level removals and disappearances of officials.

Recent months have also seen an overhaul in the leadership of China's secretive Rocket Force, the army unit that oversees Beijing's nuclear arsenal, following media reports of a graft probe involving its former chief.

Surprise promotion

Dong, born in 1961, was made commander of the navy in August 2021.

He was replaced by Hu Zhongming earlier this month.

Dong previously served as deputy commander of the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command, which includes as its area of operation the South China Sea, where Beijing has territorial disputes with neighbouring countries.

Dong's appointment "is a sign of China seeing South China Sea as a new priority area of geopolitical contestation between China and the US", Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist at Australian National University, said in a post on social media platform X.

It "also follows existing tradition of appointing non-Army generals to lead China's military diplomacy", he added.

His promotion comes as a surprise, however.

Many analysts had expected Liu Zhenli, a 59-year-old general and head of China's joint staff department, to become the new defence minister.

He notably spoke last week with his American counterpart during the first high-level call between military personnel from the two leading world powers in more than a year.

That followed an agreement by President Joe Biden and Xi at a summit last month to restore military communications between their two countries, which China severed after then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022.

Biden at the time said the move was "critically important" to avoid possible conflicts.

But that summit also saw Xi warn the US president against supplying further arms to Taiwan, insisting China's reunification with the island was "unstoppable". (AFP)
The married father of four boys is facing 10 years to life in prison for the drug trafficking charge and up to 20 for money laundering

Gutierrez, a former Congressman for the Dominican province of Santiago, also accepted responsibility for laundering money

Court records show that Miguel Gutierrez accepted a plea deal for conspiring to traffic cocaine to the United States from the Dominican Republic

Former Dominican Republic Congressman Miguel Gutierrez has accepted a plea bargain deal for conspiring to traffic drugs to the Unites States.

Gutierrez, who was arrested in May 2021 at Miami International Airport after arriving on a flight from the Dominican Republic, acknowledged that he was part of a network operating in his native country Colombia that conspired to distribute at least five kilos of cocaine from 2014 to 2020, court records show.

The plea bargain deal, which was entered December 2022 in the Southern District of Florida, also indicated that Gutierrez conspired to launder money.

The former congressman for the province of Santiago is facing 10 years to life in prison for the drug trafficking charge and up to 20 years for the money laundering.

He is also facing a fine of up to $10 million for the drug conspiracy count and up to $500,000 for the second charge.

Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of 16 years for both charges.

Miguel Gutierrez, who was elected Congressman in the Dominican Republic in 2020, reached a plea bargain deal with federal prosecutors in Miami on December 22. Gutierrez, who was arrested at Miami International Airport in May 2021, accepted responsibility for conspiring to traffic at least 5 kilos of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to the United States from 2014 to 2020

U.S. federal agents intercepted and arrested former Dominican Republic Congressman Miguel Gutierrez at Miami International Airport in May 2021 after he arrived on a flight from the Dominican Republic

Gutierrez and his accomplices shipped cocaine to the United States, including the South Florida counties of Monroe, Broward and Miami-Dade, on shipping containers and vessels.

The former congressman was in charge of receiving cocaine from suppliers in the Dominican Republic and also invested money in shipments to the United States. He was also responsible to overseeing his co-defendant and brother, Miguel Emilio Gutierrez, who is also facing similar charges, and other members of the smuggling ring package cocaine for shipments, court records show.

Gutierrez sold the cocaine to co-conspirators in the South Florida area, New York and Philadelphia.

In turn, he made more than $7.5 million in drug sales from network members in the Dominican Republic and the Unites States, and also earned a commission 'for introducing and allowing other drug traffickers and co-conspirators' to use their organization's network of distribution.

The embattled lawmaker and his co-conspirators laundered more than $6 million, hiding the money in bank accounts that were set up under his name and his family, and diverting it to his businesses.

Former Dominican Republic Congressman Miguel Gutierrez admitted being part of a cocaine trafficking ring that operated in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. He reported made more than $7.5 million in drug proceeds and laundered more than $6 million

As part of the plea bargain, Gutierrez will be required to relinquish property that was purchased with drug proceeds from 2014 to 2020.

He will also be handing over two Rolex watches and a 14 karat gold chain with a 4 karat gold crucifix. He also agreed to forfeit $446,000, 20 Rolex watches and 11 six vehicles that he was holding in the Dominican Republic at the time of his arrest.

He owes the U.S. government $2,171,00 as part of the drug trafficking charge he accepted.

Gutierrez, a married father of three young boys, was elected in 2020 and did not resign from the post until September 2023.

The lower house did not remove him following his arrest because he had not been convicted on any of the charges.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday that his 2024 rival Nikki Haley didn't want to offend any potential voters, which is why she didn't say slavery when asked what caused the Civil War.

The GOP presidential hopeful appeared at a campaign rally in Epping, New Hampshire, and brought up Haley's gaffe to laughs.

Christie noted that Haley didn't exclude slavery 'because she's dumb.'

'She's not, she's smart and she knows better,' the ex-governor told the crowd. '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.'

But Christie warned that '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,' Christie said.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday that his 2024 rival Nikki Haley didn't want to offend any potential voters, which is why she didn't say slavery when asked what caused the Civil War

At her own campaign stop in New Hampshire, presidential candidate Nikki Haley said that Christie was 'obsessed' with Trump. 'He sleeps, eats and breaths it, every day,' the former South Carolina governor said

'And so she isn't willing to say the same things about abortion in New Hampshire that she says in Iowa because she doesn't want to offend people in Iowa who have a different feeling than people in New Hampshire,' Christie said.

'But then she comes to New Hampshire, she doesn't want to offend them either,' he continued. 'And she's unwilling to tell the truth about Donald Trump. She says he was the right president for the right time.'

Christie charged that Haley said Trump 'should have been given a break' after the January 6 Capitol attack.

'She says that for some reason chaos and drama follow him wherever he goes. This is like the arsonist saying, "For some reason burning buildings follow me wherever I go." Chaos and drama follow him because he creates it,' Christie said.

As an example, the former New Jersey governor encouraged audience members to check out Trump's Christmas post.

'Where he said, for anyone who disagrees with him, they can rot in hell. And then he said, "Merry Christmas,"' Christie said to laughs.

Haley, Christie said, was 'unwilling to stand up and say that slavery is what caused the Civil War because she's afraid of offending constituents in some other part of the country.'

He also hammered her for refusing to say that Trump was unfit to serve.

Christie questioned how Haley could be an effective leader against Democrats in Congress or Russian President Vladimir Putin, if she's 'unwilling to stand up to this.'

'She's not a racist, it's worse in some respects. When you want to be president, it's worse to be able to be dishonest with people, and that's what's happening here, she's holding back,' he continued.

'I'm sure Nikki will see this, so I want to talk directly to her, okay. The Civil War was not a choice between change and tradition. It was a choice between right and wrong, and that's it, and we got to stand on the side of right,' Christie added.

Christie has positioned himself among the Republican primary contenders as being the toughest Trump critic, despite working for the ex-president during the 2016 transition and helping him in 2020 with debate prep.

While he's defended Haley at times - including on the Alabama debate stage earlier this month - he's also gone after he for not being more critical of her ex-boss.

She served as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

At a campaign stop Thursday, also in New Hampshire, Haley said that Christie was 'obsessed' with the former president.

'I mean God bless him, he's a friend. He's obsessed with Trump,' Haley said. 'He sleeps, eats and breaths it, every day.'

'I'm thinking bigger than that,' Haley said. 'If we do that, we're no different than Trump.'

Haley's remark came after a 9-year-old compared her to John Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee who was criticized for being a 'flip-flipper' on issues.

'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 child said to laughs.

'How can you change your opinion like that in just eight years and will you pardon Donald Trump?' the 9-year-old then asked.

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.'
Caged cartel drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman 'is toast' following his doomed bid to get a judge to review his life sentence, a famed former DEA boss and undercover agent tells DailyMail.com.

Mike Vigil, an ex-head of international operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, said in an exclusive interview: 'I don't believe he'll ever see daylight again now. And his influence is gone.'

Guzman, former leader of Mexico's murderous Sinaloa cartel, has been languishing in the supermax jail in Florence, Colorado  dubbed the Alcatraz of the Rockies  since 2019.

New York City judge Brian Cogan, who presided over his headline-grabbing trial in Brooklyn, on Tuesday threw out the request to review the ruling that sentenced the notorious crime boss to life behind bars for drug trafficking.

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is seen on January 19, 2017, being handed over to U.S. law enforcement. Guzman was sentenced to life in prison in 2019 and a judge this week denied his request for an appeal, insisting his trial was fair and correct

Legendary former DEA undercover agent Mike Vigil told DailyMail.com, 'I don't believe he'll ever see daylight again now'

Vigil, who incredibly survived years working undercover posing as a cartel member in both Mexico and Colombia, said: 'Guzman's influence on the Sinaloa cartel has vanished  his lines of communications are pretty much zero now.

'He doesn't have any of the access or contact to the cartel that he enjoyed when he was previously incarcerated in Mexico and escaped.

'He's now toast. And I believe he'll be resigning himself to the fact that his life is over with.

'In fact, he won't even know exactly where he is in the supermax. That is deliberately kept from all prisoners.

'The cell windows are just slits, so it doesn't allow someone like him to determine a fixed location for, maybe, an assault force to free him. And that's if he could get information out, which is virtually impossible. He has no interaction with other inmates and it's minimal with guards.'

Despite the final nailing of El Chapo, the Sinaloa cartel's reach and power has become even more fearsome, publicly aided by the emergence of his four kingpin sons known as Los Chapitos (the little Chapos).

But Vigil warned against believing a highly publicized DEA war on the brothers will dent the power of Mexico's most feared crime organization.

The once-mocked siblings have helped create the fentanyl scourge now blighting the United States  with one, Ovidio Guzman-Lopez, currently being held in the US after his September extradition.

Their Chapitos faction is led by Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar followed by Jesus Alfredo, with Ovidio next in the pecking order and then Joaquin Jr.

However, Vigil insisted: 'The DEA administrator Anne Milgram has made it appear that if they capture all the Chapitos, it's going to have a major impact on the trafficking of fentanyl to the United States.

'And it's not. Because the Chapitos don't run the cartel, they're members, but the cartel is going to continue producing fentanyl without them.

'Even if you arrest all of them tomorrow it's not going to have an impact because Sinaloa is the most powerful cartel that has ever existed.

'It currently operates in six of the seven continents. It only doesn't operate in Antarctica because nobody lives there.'

Mike Vigil pictured on a 'seek and destroy' mission for drugs in Colombian jungle in the early 1980s

Vigil (center) with Colombian national police in front of 25 tons of marijuana they seized on one of many missions in the 1980s

Mike Vigil rose to become the DEAs head of international operations. 'Guzman's influence on the Sinaloa cartel has vanished  his lines of communications are pretty much zero now,' he told DailyMail.com

Vigil told DailyMail.com the reason Sinaloa has been operating terrifyingly smoothly since El Chapo was deported to the United States in 2017 is, in fact, primarily down to elusive real boss Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada.

'The guy is a very, very capable leader and he has been running the show since Guzman has been incarcerated,' said Vigil.

Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada is leading the Sinaloa Cartel while his former associate and cartel co-founder El Chapo serves a life sentence in a U.S. prison

'Zambada is the equivalent of Carlo Gambino, the Mafia's boss of bosses, in that he has never spent one minute in a jail. He has never been captured.

'Security forces have come close about three times to snaring him, but he never comes down from the Sierra Madre mountain range.

'And if Chapo Guzman had stayed up there as well, he'd probably still be a free man. Make no mistake, Zambada is running things.'

Vigil also blamed Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for the cartel's continued rise  saying he has deliberately hampered US efforts to fight the killer waves of drugs entering America, including Zombie drug Xyalzine, also known as tranq.

'Lopez Obrador has basically curtailed the activities of DEA and other US law enforcement agencies in Mexico and he continues to follow that policy of abrazos no balazos (hugs not gunshots),' he said.

'He did that because he felt that by not confronting the cartels that it would minimize violence. Mexico was suffering from about 33,000 killings a year and he felt that if he didn't confront the cartels, they wouldn't kill as many people.

'Well that didn't work. Because the six-year term of Lopez Obrador is going to be the bloodiest one in the history of Mexico. The cartels now operate with complete impunity. They murder people like it's going out of style.

'Lopez Obrador is a very narcissistic leader and he refuses to admit that his policy is a failed policy.'

Sinaloa cartel bosses have turned to flooding the US with synthetic drugs because they are so cheap and easy to produce, said Vigil.

The effects can now be witnessed in horrifying scenes in American cities such as Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, where Zombie drug users lie collapsed on the sidewalks or are barely able to stagger around.

'It costs cartel members pennies to make these drugs,' said the former DEA chief. 'They import the precursor chemicals from China and don't have to rely on an opium poppy harvest.

'But I always cringe when people say cartels are producing fentanyl and similar in super labs. That gives you the illusion that they're like a pharmaceutical lab.

'They're not super labs. They're metal tubs with someone using a piece of wood to stir the chemicals. It's that simple and that cheap.'

Vigil told DailyMail.com the reason Sinaloa has been operating terrifyingly smoothly since El Chapo was deported to the United States in 2017 is, in fact, primarily down to elusive real boss Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada

Vigil also blamed Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for the cartel's continued rise  saying he has deliberately hampered US efforts to fight the killer waves of drugs entering America, including Zombie drug Xyalzine, also known as tranq

El Chapo had filed habeas corpus petitions  civil suits to assess if an imprisonment was lawful  and asked for legal representation in his appeal in the Eastern District of New York.

Judge Cogan threw it out, writing: 'This was perhaps the most notorious criminal prosecution of the decade, and the charges of which the petitioner was convicted could well have resulted in the death penalty but for the terms of the extradition.'

The ruling rejected arguments that El Chapo's defense did not sufficiently explore a plea bargain and cites sealed evidence suggesting the drug lord still controls billions of dollars in assets, even if not in his name.

Guzman, who was responsible for thousands of deaths in his decades-long reign as cartel boss, escaped from Mexican prisons twice.

His most spectacular freedom bid was in July 2015 in an elaborate and ventilated one-mile tunnel at a maximum-security jail in Almoloya, west of Mexico City. He was recaptured in January 2016.

He lost his latest legal freedom attempt months after his former beauty queen wife Emma Coronel, 34, was released after serving less than two years of a three-year sentence imposed in November 2021 for drug trafficking.

Coronel celebrated walking out free September with a party at a Los Angeles nightclub arranged by her attorney Mariel Colon Miro. She had been transferred to a half-way house in Long Beach, California, after spending about 18 months in a federal prison in Texas.

Having twice escaped from Mexican prisons, El Chapo has been held since 2019 at the supermax prison in Colorado known as the 'Alcatraz of the Rockies'

Guzman is currently in the supermax prison in Florence, Colorado

Guzman, who was responsible for thousands of deaths in his decades-long reign as cartel boss, escaped from Mexican prisons twice

Mike Vigil with half a ton of seized cocaine in Mexico during an operation in the mid 1980s

However, Vigil believes the dual US and Mexican citizen may now be fearing cartel bosses could take vengeance because of her plea deal.

She agreed to turn over about $1.5million in illicit proceeds from her husband's illegal operations as part of her sweetheart bargain.

Despite admitting helping El Chapo move at least 450 kilograms of cocaine, 90 kilograms of heroin and nearly 90,000 kilograms of marijuana into the United States, she received what is considered a light sentence even in light of the deal.

'Three years was relatively minimal and then she didn't even serve the three years, she served close to two years,' said Vigil.

'She's potentially in a situation where she'll be fearing for her life at the moment.

'When you talk about drug lords and drug organizations, you're talking about people that suffer from severe paranoia.

'I don't suffer from extreme paranoia, but if I were a cartel leader or member and I saw that they only gave her three years and she got out in less than two, I'd wonder what else was going on.'

He continued: 'She's got access to a lot of Chapo Guzman's fortune. She's got dual citizenship.

'She would not be as vulnerable in California where she could reasonably hide. I'm sure she'll have different apartments and things of that nature. They could probably get to her, but not as easy as in Mexico.'

Coronel has 11-year-old twin daughters with El Chapo, who she married on her 18th birthday in 2007. She was arrested a Dulles International Airport in February 2021.
A Las Vegas father of seven young adopted childrenwas shot and killed by a carjacker who had just murdered his own mother.

Jerry Lopez, 39, a driver for a medical company, was on his way to work early Wednesday morning when he was shot dead after his white van was carjacked in the southwest valley, authorities said.

The suspect, who has not been named and only described by police as in his 30s, was involved in multiple carjackings after a fight with his parents where he also shot dead his mother.

He was shot dead in a shootout with cops, officials said.

Lopez, whose children ranged in age between 3 and 11 years old, was recently promoted and celebrated his 13th year of being an American citizen.

Jerry Lopez, 39, pictured with his seven children- six were fostered and one was adopted - and wife Karen, was described as a devoted 'family man' was recently promoted and celebrated his 13-year of United States citizenship

The white van that Jerry Lopez was driving before he was carjaced and shot dead early Wednesday morning

Lopez's distraught wife, Karen Lopez, said that she collapsed when she learned the news of her husband of 13 years and said 'no... no... this isn't real'

Lopez's distraught wife, Karen Lopez told Fox5 News Vegas that her husband had just left for work and was about four minutes up the street from their house, and most likely pulled over because he saw the police cars coming down the street.

'The guy just walked up shot my husband and threw him out of the vehicle ran him over and took our vehicle,' Karen said.

She said she went to look for her husband when he never showed up at work that is when she was told by officers that the the van her husband was driving was involved in the chase and shoot out the suspect had with police.

Karen said that her and her husband fostered eight of their children through the Clark County foster care system, and loved being a dad.

'He'd just come (home from work), throw his stuff down, not even change and just jump into the chaos of our day, roll around the floor, play with the kids,' she told 8News Now.

'All the kids would always scream, 'Daddy's home!' as soon as they heard the garage go up.'

She said when she had to share the heartbreaking news that daddy was gone she said their oldest child, who is 11, just 'kept texting' her husband's phone.

He said, 'Mommy, I know he's not going to answer, but I just want  hopefully he can still read them and I want him to know that I love him.'

And he said, 'I guess now I'm going to have to be a father for all of the babies,' ' Karen said.

A GoFundMe was created to help the family during this traumatic time. As of Friday afternoon more than $190,000 was raised towards their goal of $300,000.

She said her husband just found out that he was promoted and they went big for Christmas this year, and said, 'we were able to spoil the kids like we never have before'

At a news conference earlier this week, Metro Homicide Police Lt. Jason Johansson said 'this was not a random act, what happened here.'

'There is a direct family connection to that,' he said.

The first incident where the suspect's mother was killed happened near 7500 block of Placid where the road dips into a wash.

Johansson said 'the suspect was our suspect who was in the wash who is our shooter and that late last night he was at his family's residence which is in this area he knows very well.'

'When those gunshots went off his mother and father drove over here looking for their son and drove to the area of the wash,' he said. 'The son shot at them and struck his mother.

He said when officers cleared the wash they saw that the suspect's mother, police described in her 50s,' was dead.

Around 3:46 am on Wednesday morning, officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMP) were dispatched to an area near Placid Street and Maulding Avenue.

Officer were responding to reports of an illegal shooting that had been reported by multiple residents who heard gunshots, LVMP said in a news release.

When officers arrived they heard shots coming from an unknown direction.

As they searched the area they spotted a police car that was not occupied that was struck by gunfire.

Officers then saw a man enter the police vehicle and flee. Officers pursued the suspect who abandoned the car at 7300 block of South Durango Drive.

The suspect then carjacked a person at gunpoint and fled with his truck. As police continued the pursuit, the suspect then fled to the 8500 block of Blue Diamond Road where he abandoned the stolen truck.

After he exited the truck, police said he attempted to carjack another person in an SUV. When the suspect pointed a gun at the civilian, officers from the LVMPD discharged their weapons.

The suspect managed to get away and fled in the SUV.

As officers continued their pursuit, and suspect abandoned the SUV and carjacked a citizen in a van in the area of Durango Drive and Windmill Lane.

Officials said they witnessed the suspect remove the injured citizen from the van after hearing a gunshot.

Officers from LVMPD officers and Nevada State Police officers started shooting at the suspects vehicle as it was fleeing.

Emergency responders were called to the area where the man in the van was shot, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man was later identified as Jerry Lopez.

The assailant still armed and driving the van around Durango and Agate Avenue. When SWAT and crisis negotiators arrived to the scene they saw the suspect had been injured.

When medical personnel arrived they confirmed the suspect was dead.

Officials said there were no officers injured in the shooting rampage.

According to the LMVPD, the is ninth officer-involved shooting of 2023. The identity of the officers involved will be released after 48 hours, as per the release.

A public information officer with the LMVPD told DailyMail.com on Friday that the Clark County Coroners Office will release the names of the deceased once next of kin have been notified.
The BBC is set to hand over documents related to the Martin Bashir scandal after a judge ordered the corporation to give them up earlier this month  but may redact some before surrendering them to a tribunal.

An information rights tribunal has told the corporation to hand over 3,000 emails relating to Bashir's interview with Princess Diana within weeks more than two years after journalist Andrew Webb used freedom of information (FOI) laws to ask for them.

The broadcaster initially resisted, only handing over a handful of the 3,288 documents it said it had found, but the tribunal has since said it must hand over the full stack of material. The BBC will have the final say on blotting out its contents.

The scandal, over how he secured the Panorama chat with the Princess of Wales in 1995, emerged after the former BBC head of news Lord Hall of Birkenhead wrongly claimed that Diana's brother Earl Spencer had given Mr Bashir bank statements.

Mr Bashir was found to be in 'serious breach' of the broadcaster's guidelines when he recruited a graphic designer to create misleading bank statements that he then showed to Earl Spencer to secure the interview.

Martin Bashir's infamous 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana at Kensington Palace

Martin Bashir was found to be in 'serious breach' of the BBC's guidelines after it emerged he had used a graphic designer to create bank statements that helped him snag the interview

The scandal came to light in 1996 after ex-BBC head of news Lord Hall of Birkenhead (pictured) wrongly claimed Earl Spencer colluded with Bashir to help him get the interview

The mocked-up statements appeared to suggest associates of the Earl were receiving payments from a tabloid newspaper, presumably in exchange for spying on his sister.

Bashir also peddled false claims to the princess, including that her son Prince William's watch had been bugged in order to listen in to her conversations.

The lies secured what was, at the time, heralded as an earth-shattering interview.

Timeline of the scandal that shames TV chiefs November 20, 1995 Martin Bashir's sensational Panorama interview with Princess Diana is aired on BBC1 in a scoop that goes around the world. April 7, 1996 The Mail on Sunday reveals that Bashir had two fake bank statements made just weeks before the interview. The BBC falsely claimed the documents were not connected to the Diana interview. But it was confirmed 25 years later that Bashir used the fakes to convince Diana that people close to her had been paid to spy on her. 1999 Bashir moves from the BBC to ITV. September 2016 Despite long-standing rumours about Bashir's methods, he is rehired by the BBC and later becomes religious affairs editor. October 19, 2020 The BBC releases a 67-page dossier of memos to journalist Andy Webb which detail its botched internal investigation into Bashir in 1996. But some incriminating documents are omitted. November 7, 2020 The Daily Mail reveals how Earl Spencer has 37 pages of handwritten notes which exposed, for the first time, the lies Bashir peddled to land his scoop. May 14, 2021 In a damning report, Lord Dyson, a former Supreme Court judge, says Bashir engaged in 'deceitful behaviour' and the BBC 'covered up' what it knew. December 2023 Judge Brian Kennedy orders the BBC to disclose large numbers of emails bosses sent in 2020, when the scale of Bashir's deceit emerged. Advertisement

Diana famously told Bashir of Charles' then-mistress, Camilla: 'There were three of us in this marriage so it was a bit crowded.'

She also spoke openly about her struggles with post-natal depression and bulimia  but it later emerged that Bashir had secured the conversation by duplicitous means.

The tribunal heard on Friday that the BBC will release the documents, but will redact some under section 42 of the FOI Act, which covers 'confidential communications' between lawyers and their clients.

Mr Webb told the hearing: 'We all know that some documents, roughly 300, will be claimed by the BBC to be withheld under section 42.'

He said earlier: 'I have been waiting two-and-a-half years for these documents.

'We have been told this whole mass of data was initially meaningless, irrelevant and nothing to do with a cover-up etc. The BBC has been fairly forcefully told that is not good enough.

'The whole ... let's call it Bashir scandal, (happened because) 11 words appeared in a mass of emails.'

Jason Pobjoy, representing the BBC, told the hearing 'a huge amount of work' had been done reviewing the material and that the broadcaster was 'very, very anxious' to avoid appealing the judge's decision.

He said of expected next steps: 'We provide all the documents. The BBC then has two weeks to provide submissions on any exemptions, which I think primarily will be submissions on section 42.'

He added that other exemptions would also be relied on and said that, in a bundle of around 400 emails which had been looked at, a 'significant number' contained 'third-party personal data' such as email addresses and phone numbers.

The lawyer said: 'This is not giving us free rein just to redact without consequence.

'(The BBC is) only claiming when there is a legitimate exemption that applies.'

The BBC must hand over the documents by January 24 and, if any are redacted, Mr Webb must be told which exemptions the broadcaster relied on as justification.

Full submissions about why they were redacted would be provided two weeks later.

Mr Webb can challenge any of the redactions if he wishes and, if he does so, the tribunal will be able to access the unredacted emails when coming to a decision on whether they should be disclosed in full.

Judge Brian Kennedy said that if Mr Webb did challenge any of the redactions, the case was 'right open at the starting point again'.

The judge added that he was 'pleased with the co-operation that seems to be emerging' between Mr Webb and the BBC as he adjourned the case to a date to be fixed.

The Mail on Sunday published claims about Bashir's use of illicit bank statements to gain access to the princess in 1996, a year after the interview aired.

But the full extent of Bashir's deception only came to light in 2020 when the BBC was forced to release a damning 67-page dossier of memos and minutes from 1995 and 1996 on his methods and means of accessing the royal to Mr Webb.

Mr Webb has continued to lobby the BBC using FOI laws to gain more insights into how much the corporation knew, later uncovering a memo from former executive Anne Sloman that indicated the corporation's appetite to kill the story.

'The Diana story is probably now dead, unless Spencer talks,' she concluded in the memo that only came to light in 2021.

Another subsequent request is at the centre of this legal battle; the BBC's legal team includes barrister Jason Pobjoy, who represented Boris Johnson during the storm of Partygate allegations.

Webb said earlier this month of the ruling compelling the BBC to hand over the documents: 'I firmly believe that last week's judgment is a sign that the last remaining cover-up of this sordid saga has begun to unravel. The remaining secrets surrounding the Bashir scandal might now finally see the light of day.'
A Virgin Atlantic plane carrying up to 264 passengers came within 50ft of smashing into 'a large black drone' just five minutes after taking off from Heathrow, a report has revealed.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was flying at more than 330mph at the start of its flight to New York when the illegally flown drone suddenly loomed into view.

The pilot told air traffic controllers that the device passed just 50ft above the aircraft when it was at a height of 9,500ft at 12.55pm on September 12 this year.

The close call happened just north of Woodley near Reading, Berkshire, as the plane was climbing to its cruising altitude, according to a report by the UK Airprox Board.

The Board which assesses near misses in UK airspace described it as a Category A incident where there was a serious risk of a collision.

Aviation experts have repeatedly warned in recent years of the dangers of drones hitting a cockpit or being sucked into a jet engine.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner (stock image) was flying at more than 330mph at the start of its flight to New York when the illegally flown drone suddenly loomed into view

The report said that police were informed of the sighting, but it is believed that the operator of the drone was never located.

If they had been caught and convicted, they could have been jailed for up to five years for endangering an aircraft.

The drone was being flown at more than 23 times the normal legal height for the devices in the UK which is just 400ft.

It is believed that the operator may have deliberately flown in the flight path of jets departing Heathrow to try and get dramatic video footage of them passing by.

Software built into drones normally restricts them from flying above the legal height, but it can be over-ridden with patches purchased on the internet.

Drone operators can also fit extra batteries to their devices to allow them to reach greater heights without running out of power.

The report said the pilot was flying in clear visibility when 'they saw a large black drone ahead which passed directly above the aircraft'.

The device did not trigger the plane's traffic collision avoidance system, according to the report.

The pilot who rated it as a medium risk of collision reported the sighting to air traffic controllers who then informed police.

The Virgin Atlantic plane came within 50ft of smashing into 'a large black drone' just five minutes after taking off from Heathrow (stock image)

The plane was carrying up to 264 passengers (a stock image of inside the plane)

Other aircraft passing through the area were warned of the drone sighting, and the pilot gave a direct report to police on landing.

The report concluded: 'Analysis of the radar by Safety Investigations indicated that there were no associated primary or secondary contacts associated with the drone report, visible on radar at the approximate time of the event.

'In the Board's opinion the reported altitude and/or description of the object were sufficient to indicate that it could have been a drone.

'The Board considered that the pilot's overall account of the incident portrayed a situation where providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed.'

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: 'We're aware of reports of a drone flying near our flight, the VS47, travelling from London Heathrow to New York on 12 September 2023.

'The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our number one priority and we treat incidents such as this incredibly seriously.

'The pilots immediately reported the incident to Air Traffic Control in line with our procedures and our teams have subsequently informed the relevant safety authorities.'
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has posted her first post-prison selfie on her Instagram account as she celebrates her 'freedom' after spending eight years behind bars for orchestrating her mother's death.

The 32-year-old posted a picture of herself smiling in a blue and white faded sweater and jeans with the caption 'First selfie of freedom!' on Friday morning.

By Friday afternoon the post had been liked more than 1.4 million times.

The Munchausen by proxy victim was spotted leaving a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Chillicothe, Missouri on Thursday  where she had crashed overnight shortly after walking free from prison almost 12 hours earlier.

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.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has set up an Instagram account and posted her first post-prison selfie

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

Blanchard spent her first day of freedom shopping for shoes, buying two pairs of sneakers at a nearby mall.

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.

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.

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

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

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'

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.

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.

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

'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 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.

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

'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.

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

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 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 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.'
Prominent faculty members at Harvard University are urging the institution to abandon its longstanding practice of taking official positions on political or social issues - and it seems that the university's board is responding to their plea.

In a private gathering just before winter break, four top Harvard professors hosted a dinner with two influential members of Harvard's powerful governing board, Tracy Palandjian and Paul Finnegan.

The mission? To combat what they see as a rise in self-censorship, intolerance for dissent, and the university's penchant for taking stances on hot-button issues.

The four professors - Jeffrey Flier, former Harvard Medical School dean; Steven Pinker, psychology professor; Jeannie Suk Gersen, Harvard Law School luminary; and Flynn Cratty, Harvard research program associate director - reportedly made their case at the swanky Dec. 19 dinner at Bar Enza in The Charles Hotel.

They argued for Harvard to ditch official positions on political and social issues, create a space for diverse opinions, and reaffirm a commitment to free speech, as reported by The Boston Globe.

In a private gathering just before winter break, four top Harvard professors hosted a dinner with two influential members of Harvard's powerful governing board, Tracy Palandjian and Paul Finnegan

Flynn Cratty, Harvard research program associate director, was one of the four professors advocating that university abandon official positions on hot-button issues

Jeannie Suk Gersen, Harvard Law School luminary, was present at the dinner as well

They also called for clear rules against disruptive protests and criticized the university's diversity and inclusion bureaucracy for overstepping its bounds.

When it was launched in March, the faculty members' campaign might have seemed like a long shot - but recent campus turmoil over debates on antisemitism, pro-Palestinian speech, and the fate of Harvard's president, Claudine Gay, has thrust their cause into the spotlight.

The dinner proved their initiative was gaining traction at the highest levels of academia, potentially shaping the future of other institutions.

Palandjian and Finnegan reportedly engaged in a lively exchange, expressing sympathy for the faculty members' views, according to the Boston Globe.

As co-presidents of the Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard, they shed light on instances where Harvard academics faced backlash over their views on controversial topics.

Steven Pinker, psychology professor, was also a member of the four-person cadre meant to convince governing board members

Jeffrey Flier, former Harvard Medical School dean, attended the exclusive meal as well

The dinner occurred as Harvard grapples with reputational challenges tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict and plagiarism allegations against President Claudine Gay

Swain called the dinner a 'constructive and positive conversation,' according to the Globe.

During the dinner, Pinker allegedly told Palandjian and Finnegan that Harvard was in crisis, 'with unprecedented hits to its reputation,' he told the Globe.

The dinner occurred as Harvard grapples with reputational challenges tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict and plagiarism allegations against President Claudine Gay.

Steven Pinker emphasized that the council's proposed guidelines could steer Harvard away from such turmoil and prevent future crises by championing institutional neutrality and clearer speech codes.

While the council's proposals find support, critics, including some Harvard professors, question its motives and the conduct it aims to protect.

The editorial board of the Harvard Crimson student newspaper, claimed their members faced 'reasonable backlash' for, in one case, teaching an 'unethical course on policing (that) completely disregarded racial concerns,' after the council's launch.

Similar initiatives are starting at other universities, like the University of Pennsylvania, where faculty members presented guidelines aligning with the priorities of the Harvard council.

It was revealed this week that Harvard's crisis communications team was sidelined ahead of the president's disastrous Congressional testimony - with a lawyer who until recently was the leader of the Harvard Corporation preparing her instead.

Claudine Gay, 53, has been embroiled in an ever-worsening storm since her December 5 testimony before the House Education Committee.

Gay and two other university heads - the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania - were called to testify about efforts to combat anti-Semitism, which has surged following the October 7 terror attack and Israel's subsequent response.

Claudine Gay is pictured testifying before Congress on December 5. It emerged on Thursday that she was guided before her appearance by a lawyer who was previously the chief of the Harvard Corporation, the university's governing body

The trio gave legalistic responses, and were unable to provide a straight answer when asked whether calling for the genocide of Jewish people was considered hate speech. The president of UPenn, Liz Magill, was forced to resign after her testimony, and Gay has faced similar pressure.

On Thursday, The Harvard Crimson revealed the unusual circumstances surrounding Gay's testimony.

Harvard Public Affairs and Communications - the university's public relations division - had hired three firms to help them deal with the fallout from the October 7 attack, and their uncertain response to it. Gay was criticized for being slow to condemn students justifying the attacks, and appeared uncertain when anti-Semitic activity on campus was reported.

The university's PR team hired the outside PR firm Edelman; crisis communications firm Risa Heller; and media strategy company A.H. Levy & Co to help.

But the three outside companies were not involved in helping Gay prepare for the December 5 appearance, the Crimson reported.

Instead, the preparation was led by William F. Lee, a Harvard graduate who until last year was the Senior Fellow - the top leader - of the 12-person Corporation.

Lee, a co-managing partner at Washington, DC, law firm WilmerHale, specializes in intellectual property cases.

His law firm is well known for advising high-profile clients ahead of testimony in Congress - among them Mark Zuckerberg, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and Richard Nixon.

William F. Lee, a co-managing partner at Washington, DC, law firm WilmerHale, was revealed on Thursday to have assisted Gay in preparing for her December 5 testimony before Congress

Gay, 53, took over as president of Harvard in June, and has had an intensely tumultuous first six months

Lee was head of the Harvard Corporation, which manages the university, until 2022

Lee's involvement and the role played by other WilmerHale lawyers perhaps explains why Gay's testimony was so full of legalese, and why it seemed so rehearsed and carefully worded.

Gay was unable to give simple yes or no answers, and repeatedly said: 'It depends on the context.'

Her answers sparked widespread anger, and fueled the perception that she was unable or unwilling to condemn anti-Semitism.

But, The Crimson says, 'Lee's influence at the University raises the prospect that no other firms were even considered for the work.'

The paper continues: 'Lee's lasting involvement as Harvard's legal counsel will fuel further speculation about the Corporation's role in Gay's hearing preparation and the board's responsibility for the aftermath.

'It could also help explain why the Corporation ultimately opted to maintain its support of Gay after she faced calls to resign over her testimony.'
A new map reveals how more than half of police forces in England and Wales are failing to investigate offences properly after watchdogs branded their crime-solving efforts 'inadequate'.

Analysis of inspection reports published by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) reveals that 22 out of 43 police services in England and Wales were rated either 'inadequate' or 'requiring improvement' in their detecting efforts.

MailOnline has created a map showing how constabularies across the country are performing  with those receiving the two lowest grades shaded in dark and light shades of red, with adequate forces' regions coloured orange.

The nine constabularies ranked 'good', the second highest rating, are green, while outstanding forces would be shaded in gold  except none achieved the top mark in the last wave of inspections.

Officers have missed leads that could have solved assaults, thefts and burglaries, and are arriving late at crime scenes - according to the reports.

Out of the 43 constabularies in England and Wales, 22 were found by inspectors to be 'inadequate' or 'requiring improvement' in the way they investigate crime

Forces receiving the two worst ratings will be investigated by HMIC next year.

Figures show that more than a third of all recorded crimes  representing 2.3million cases  were dropped last year without officers identifying a suspect.

'If the police are to rebuild public trust and confidence, it is vital that forces work quickly to rectify these issues and provide the high level of service that the public deserves,' a HMIC spokesman told the Telegraph.

'We intend to carry out a thematic inspection of police investigations in 2024.'

Forces inspected by the watchdog are ranked across a series of metrics, including treating the public fairly, protecting vulnerable people and responding to the public.

The best rated force overall was Humberside, with an average score of 4.8 across all metrics and the worst Wiltshire and Greater Manchester, which received just 1.6.

The analysis by the Telegraph was based on inspections from 2021/22.

Five forces - the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands, Devon and Cornwall, Staffordshire and Wiltshire  have performed so poorly they are in special measures.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE - Police give up on four crimes a minute without tracking down the culprits as the number of rapists, violent thugs and burglars who evade the law rises Advertisement

Nine forces have received new ratings for inspections covering the period 2023-25.

Out of those, five have got worse in investigating crime, including Durham, Merseyside, Surrey, Thames Valley and West Midlands - which is now inadequate.

Just one, Greater Manchester, has improved.

It comes as separate figures revealed that the number of inquiries closed by forces without identifying a suspect has rocketed by nearly 250,000 year-on-year.

Forces ended their investigations into 2,306,623 reported crimes in the year to June without collaring the perpetrator, 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.

It 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 police forces over their failure to deliver results.

And one expert said it showed criminals were increasingly getting away scot-free.

The 2.3million jettisoned 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 number of crimes going unsolved has increased, even though the number of police officers has surged to record levels over the period.

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.

Wiltshire Police was jointly ranked the worst in England and Wales, according to an analysis of official inspection reports

Earlier this month [DEC] 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.

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 the Government has given them.

'It's even more troubling that victims are not getting the results they expect and deserve.

'We need a proper explanation from police forces about why so many investigations end in this unsatisfactory way.'

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 fewer are being charged than ever before.

'A culture of impunity has emboldened law-breakers right across the country.

'Although the number of police officers plummeted in the years to 2018 there are now more police officers than ever before - many people will be asking when we will see a return on that investment.

'The police, with the government's backing, need to be working smarter so more criminals are arrested, charged and taken off our streets.'

Katie Kempen, chief executive of charity Victim Support, called for police to be 'held to account'.

'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,' she said.

'The wheels of justice rely on victims reporting crimes and co-operating with investigations - they deserve better than this.'

She added: 'These figures make it abundantly clear that too many victims are not getting the justice they deserve. The police must be held to account for the service they deliver to victims.'

Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove said the figures raised 'significant questions' for the police.

'Victims should expect that everything possible will be done to investigate their crime,' she said.

'Yet it seems cases are routinely closed with no suspect identified. This trend raises significant questions for the police and new concerns for victims.

'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.'

Officers have missed leads that could have solved assaults, thefts and burglaries, and are arriving late at crime scenes - according to the reports

A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesman said: 'Police forces conduct thousands of successful investigations every year, ensuring that offenders are prosecuted, and victims get the justice they deserve.

'Incidents where there is a threat to life will always be prioritised and in every report, officers will assess what evidence and investigative lines may be available.

'This depends on a number of factors and in some cases, there may not be enough information for police to act upon or bring about criminal proceedings.

'The National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing have worked together to update the guidance on reasonable lines of inquiry, which aims to further improve investigation standards and deliver even more consistency across forces, ultimately improving the service victims receive.'

He added: 'Victims are at the heart of what we do in policing. Protecting victims and delivering justice for them is why so many hard-working officers, staff and volunteers dedicate their lives to policing.'

A Home Office spokesman 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, more victims of rape and sexual assault are coming forward to get justice, and we are seeing a rise in the number of individuals charged for rape.

'We have been clear that police must take a zero tolerance approach to all crimes and have secured a commitment from forces to follow all reasonable lines of enquiry to ensure more criminals are caught and justice is delivered for victims.'
A leading animal rehoming centre says it has imposed a minimum price on the re-selling of XL Bully dogs ahead of the pets being banned  amid fears that cruel traders are snapping up the pups for pennies to profit from their euthanasia.

Pets4Homes says it will not allow owners of the breed, which has been linked to swathes of attacks and fatalities across the UK, to sell their dogs for less than the 200 the government will pay out to owners who elect to have their pets put down.

It says it has instigated the policy amid fears that traders are exploiting owners' refusal to put down their dogs for cash. MailOnline reported today how owners are abandoning dogs or even sending them to Scotland to give them a chance at life.

From December 31, it will be illegal to abandon, sell or rehome XL Bully dogs after the crossbreed, which is derived from the banned American Pit Bull Terrier, was added to the list of varieties banned by the Dangerous Dogs Act.

As the deadline draws closer, owners have been scrambling to get help from online communities to spare their dogs from death  despite research suggesting the canines are behind a disproportionate number of attacks across the UK.

Adverts on Pets4Homes are offering the dogs for less than 200, potentially giving anyone who snaps up the dog and elects to put it down a profit from the government compensation

A shelter based in Rotherham called Helping Yorkshire Poundies shared photos of 11 XL Bully puppies (pictured) in a desperate appeal to find them new homes ahead of the ban

Dogs have reportedly been abandoned in the streets by owners who cannot keep their pets or have been unable to put them down (pictured: a suspected XL Bully type believed to be abandoned in Harlow, Essex)

XL Bully type dogs have been linked to a spate of attacks this year (pictured: a Bully-esque dog attack in Mansfield earlier this month)

Campaigners have sought to claim that XL Bully dogs are safe  but Bully type animals have been linked to several fatal attacks in the last three years (pictured: an anti-ban rally in London in September)

Pets4Homes said it had grown concerned at heavily discounted adverts on its platform in the weeks following the announcement of the ban in September.

Most adverts do not allude to the impending ban, with owners instead claiming they 'dont have the space' or have to rehome their pets 'due to work commitments'.

One Pets4Homes listing offered an XL Bully in Walsall, West Midlands for 10, claiming the animal had to given away due to 'personal circumstances'.

Another read: 'She has to go to a good home. Home is more important than money.'

The price speaks to the dog's plummeting popularity, and the desperation of owners, as the ban looms. At their peak, XL Bully puppies could sold for hundreds if not thousands of pounds at a time.

Earlier online adverts seen by MailOnline, shortly after the ban was announced, continued to offer bullies for rehoming for upwards of 500.

Anyone who has an XL Bully put down is eligible to claim 200 compensation from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) after submitting a form that must be validated by the vet that administers the euthanasia treatment.

Some estimates suggest dogs can be put down for as little as 50  suggesting that twisted traders could actually profit from euthanising the dogs en masse.

Pets4Homes told The Times that it had imposed the 200 minimum price 'to ensure that there are no attempts made to purchase animals in order to benefit from the government compensation scheme for owners'.

It added that this was 'not a legal requirement, but one which Pets4Homes voluntarily adopted to ensure the wellbeing of British animals'.

The classified pet ad website says it has seen interest in XL Bully type dogs plummet in recent weeks with the looming advent of the ban, which also comes with a requirement for owners to muzzle their dogs in public.

Ian Price (left) and Ian Langley (right) both died in suspected XL Bully dog attacks earlier in 2023

A ban on rehoming, breeding and selling XL Bully dogs comes into effect on December 31 this year, with an outright ban on unregistered dogs following a month later (stock picture)

A complete ban on people owning XL bullies will then come into force on February 1, 2024, unless the owner applies before the end of January for an exemption

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Between November 20 and 26 this year, 79 XL Bully dogs were uploaded to the site for sale, down from 215 in the same week in 2022.

However, MailOnline has found that desperate owners are continuing to offer their dogs for free elsewhere online  and in some cases are even covering the costs of sending XL Bully animals to their new companions.

Just this week, two XL Bully dogs were found seemingly abandoned in the streets of Trerulefoot, southeast Cornwall, and had to spend the Christmas period caged up in kennels.

What is an XL bully? The dog is not a recognised Kennel Club breed and it comes from the bloodline of the American Pit Bull Terrier, which are banned in the UK. An official definition of the XL bullies has been published by Defra, with features including a 'heavy, large and broad' head and a 'blocky or slightly squared' muzzle. The dog is also described as being 'heavily-muscled' with a 'large, blocky body giving impression of great power for size', and a glossy, smooth and close coat. An adult male is around 20in (51cm) at the withers and an adult female is 19in (48cm) at the withers - which is the highest point of body immediately behind the neck where height is measured. The breed also has a heavy, large, broad head. The length from the tip of the nose to a well-defined stop (indentation between muzzle and the head) is equal to around a third of the length from the stop to the back of the head. The neck is muscular, slightly arched and tapers from the shoulders to the base of the skull. The shoulder blades are long and well-muscled. Its upper arm length is about equal to the length of the shoulder blades and joined at a 35 to 45 angle to the ground. An XL bully's body is large, blocky and heavily-muscled with a broad, deep chest and well sprung ribs. The tail is medium length and low set and the coat is smooth and glossy. Advertisement

Meanwhile, a shelter based in Rotherham called Helping Yorkshire Poundies shared photos of 11 unclaimed XL Bully puppies in a desperate appeal to find them new homes ahead of the ban.

Posts on social media from those who oppose the ban suggest that some owners are even trying to 'hide' their dogs.

The ban on XL Bully type dogs was announced following a spate of fatal and serious attacks in the UK earlier this year.

Dogs that fit certain physical characteristics must be registered as an XL Bully on the Index of Exempted Dogs and neutered. Exemption certificates cost 92.40 and require insurance.

Following the rehoming ban on December 31, an outright ban on keeping the animals unless they are registered will come into effect at the end of January.

Among those to have been killed this year were Ian Price in Stonnall, Staffordshire in September, and Ian Langley in Sunderland in October.

XL Bullies were also implicated int he deaths of ten-year-old Jack Lis in November 2021 and 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch in March 2022.

Campaign group Bully Watch claims Bully breeds, popular on social media and adored by celebrities such as rapper Drake and Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock, have been linked to 14 fatal attacks since 2021, and 351 attacks this year alone.

The Centre for Evidence-Based Regulation of Dangerous Dogs, a voluntary research group, estimates that XL Bully dogs make up less than one per cent of all UK canines, but were responsible for 44 per cent of attacks in 2023 and 75 per cent of deaths in the last three years, reports the Guardian.

However, there are concerns that enforcement of the new law will prove difficult for overstretched local authorities, vets and police forces.

MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee have written to Defra expressing 'significant concerns' about its introduction.

In the letter, the committee said it was particularly concerned about the ability of 'frontline workers, including the veterinary sector, police and local authorities' to cope with enforcing bans and putting dogs to sleep.

And owners trying to do right by the law by registering their dogs at a cost of 92 have spoken of their frustrations at the loose legal definition of the XL Bully itself, as it is not a recognised Kennel Club breed.

The Dog Control Coalition (DCC)  a group of animal organisations opposed to the ban  says more than 200 dogs are still waiting for a new home at rescue shelters. They face being put down if they cannot be rehomed before December 31.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA, a member of the DCC, told MailOnline earlier today: 'Sadly not all of the dogs in our care are ready to be rehomed before the government deadline, due to behavioural or medical reasons, and it's heartbreaking for the staff and volunteers who have been caring for them.'
British Gas has been forced to apologise to a widower after he was wrongly quoted more than 13,000 for his annual electricity bill.

David Hordon, 67, had been paying 147 a month for gas and electricity at his home in Boscombe, near Bournemouth in Dorset, and so was shocked to find the cost breakdown in an email.

The energy company had slapped the retired music teacher with an estimated annual tariff of 13,268 - the equivalent of 36 a day.

In the breakdown the bill showed he had been quoted just 795.74 for gas but 12,472 for electricity.

The pensioner called British Gas for an explanation only for the call centre staff to double down on his bill.

David Hordon, 67, was handed an estimated annual tarriff of over 13,000 by British Gas. Pictured: Mr Hordon holding the bill

The energy company gave the retired music teacher an estimated annual tariff of 13,268 - the equivalent of 36 a day

Mr Hordon said: 'I told the manager how monumental that figure was and that I was single, living on my own and on a pension and that I simply cannot afford it.

'He said he could put me on another tariff that would bring it down to around 10,000.

'Even if it was that, it would take away my pension so how would I eat, cook, pay for anything?'

Mr Hordon, who receives 8,500 a year pension, ended the 30 minute phone call fearing he would have to sell his home in order to pay his bill.

But a spokesman for British Gas has now admitted an error had been made when its engineers recently replaced Mr Hordon's meters, resulting in the inflated tariff.

The spokesman said: 'This is clearly an error and we've contacted Mr Hordon to apologise and offer a gesture of goodwill.

'We recently replaced his meters and unfortunately, we entered information incorrectly in relation to his annual energy usage projection when recording the new meter details.

'What Mr Hordon received was not a bill or a tariff quote, and we've reassured him that his direct debits haven't changed.'

But Mr Hordon said: 'I'm not hopeful it will be corrected, I utterly expect it.

'There must be other OAPs in this situation who are absolutely petrified and don't know what to do.

'If this is happening to me it must be happening to other people.'
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold slammed conservative firebrand Lauren Boebert for switching congressional districts for the 2024 election, saying she is just trying to 'hold on to power.'

'She knows that she has failed the citizens of her district. She has failed to deliver for Coloradans on the western slope on issues that matter to them,' Griswold told MSNBC. 'She has failed to deliver legislatively. There's scandal after scandal after scandal.'

'I do think this is her trying to hold on to power,' she added.

Boebert, a 37-year-old grandmother and mother of four sons, made the switch after scraping to re-election in 2022 by only 546 votes. She said that she had made the decision to continue her fight against 'the socialists and communists taking over our country.'

Rep. Lauren Boebert announced she was switching congressional districts after scraping to re-election in 2022 by only 546 votes

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold slammed Boebert for switching congressional districts for the 2024 election

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'.

But Griswold said that Boebert moving to more conservative seat doesn't necessarily mean she'll be back in Congress.

'The bigger picture is that MAGA Republicans are vulnerable to defeat in swing districts and conservative districts,' she said.

'I think that Americans generally do not like extremism,' she noted. 'They like people who say they're gonna go get things done and go do it.'

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

'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.
Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Thursday night refused to categorically rule out becoming former President Donald Trump's running mate.

Haley has been in damage control mode since Wednesday when she didn't mention slavery when asked what caused the Civil War at a New Hampshire campaign stop.

Since then, she's continued to make appearances in the Granite State, ahead of the January 23 primary.

In Lebanon, New Hampshire, a town hall attendee gave Haley a 'chance to redeem yourself after last night's slavery thing.'

'Would you be able to say categorically that you will not accept being Trump's vice president?' the potential voter then asked.

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley wouldn't nix becoming former President Donald Trump's running mate, answering a question about it at a town hall in Lebanon, New Hamsphire

Haley would not.

'I could say to you what you want to hear, and you could go check that box and go do whatever, but I'm going to continue to tell you my truth, and the truth that I have always told the truth, even when I was in the administration,' Haley said. 'President Trump and I worked well together. Why? Because I told him the truth.'

'If you want to talk about vice president, I will tell you this now - I've said before, I don't play for second. I've never played for second. I'm not gonna start now,' she added.

Before her Civil War gaffe this week, Haley was on the ascent and appeared to be solidifying herself as the No. 2 Republican behind Trump, a position that has long been held by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Polls have yet to show if her stumble did any major damage, but DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have relished it.

At a campaign stop Thursday in Ankeny, Iowa, DeSantis called Haley's answer 'a really incomprehensible word salad.'

The Florida governor said Haley is 'not a candidate that's ready for prime time.'

Allies of former President Donald Trump, including his son Donald Trump Jr. and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, have discouraged the ex-president from picking Haley as his running mate, should he win the 2024 Republican nomination

'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.'

Christie said Haley's problem was not that she was 'racist' or 'dumb' but that she was afraid to offend any of her potential voters by taking strong positions.

The former New Jersey governor said the same thing could be applied to Haley's stance on Trump.

'She's not a racist, it's worse in some respects. When you want to be president, it's worse to be able to be dishonest with people, and that's what's happening here, she's holding back,' Christie said.

Both Christie and DeSantis said they would not serve as Trump's vice president, should the ex-president become the 2024 Republican nominee.

At the same time, some of Trump's top allies have discouraged him from considering Haley as vice president, even if there's a protracted Republican primary.

'I would not only not vote for that ticket, I would advocate against it as strongly as I could,' said former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview with conservative media personality Tim Pool.

Donald Trump Jr. said he would go 'great lengths' to prevent his father from picking Haley, who served as Trump's United Nations ambassador.

'Nikki Haley wants never-ending wars,' Trump Jr. said on Newsmax. 'She's a puppet of the establishment in Washington, D.C. She's the new favorite candidate of the billionaire class, because they want control - no different than academia at Harvard and using, you know, their billions to exercising influence. They want someone they control. Ron DeSantis has proven that he doesn't have what it takes to be on that stage. He's embarrassed himself that way. She's now the preferred candidate.'
A handful of close friends were also seen arriving with gifts for their newly released gal pal

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show her father Rod Blanchard taking out boxes and Christmas gift scraps from the garage of the Airbnb rental on Thursday

Christmas came a couple of days late for newly released Gypsy Rose Blanchard  but she still managed to celebrate with family and friends.

Her dad Rod and stepmother Kristy were both on hand at a secret safehouse outside Kansas City on Thursday evening, less than 24 hours after her release from a Missouri prison, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Munchausen by proxy victim Gypsy was freed from custody Thursday morning after serving seven years for the murder of her abusive mom Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard in 2015.

Her post-incarceration life kicked off with a night in a budget hotel with husband Ryan Anderson, followed by a trip to Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse  where she posed for DailyMail.com in new sneakers and giggled: 'I love them.'

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Gypsy Rose's father Rod Blanchard taking out boxes and gift wrapping paper from the garage on Thursday after a belated Christmas celebration at an Airbnb rental outside of Kansas City

Rod and his wife Kristy reunited with Gypsy for the first time since she was released from prison on Thursday after serving a seven-year sentence

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has set up an Instagram account and posted her first post-prison selfie

The family gathered for an emotional Christmas reunion Thursday night at the rented home near Kansas City where she's staying with teacher-husband Ryan, 36

Gypsy is now ready to put her years of incarceration behind her and begin post-prison life as an unlikely reality star.

Her to-do list includes a book launch, filming a docuseries and reportedly snagging tickets to Sunday's Kansas City Chiefs game for an improbable meet-up with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

But before that she enjoyed an emotional Christmas reunion Thursday night with her dad and stepmom Rod and Kristy Blanchard at an Airbnb rental in Overland Park where she's staying with teacher Ryan, 36.

A handful of close friends arrived bearing gifts for their newly released gal pal while a TV production crew filmed Gypsy's every move.

In an interview last week Kristy mentioned how much Gypsy was looking forward to Christmas surrounded by family  even if Santa would have to wait an additional three days to pay her a visit.

'We're going to do Christmas. I've got a Christmas tree, I've got her so many gifts. I went overboard, actually,' Kristy told NewsNation.

'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.'

Rod and wife Kristy left the house early Friday morning, believed to be on their way back home to Louisiana.

Gypsy and husband Ryan made a pit stop at a McDonald's drive-thru near Kansas City, Missouri on Friday to pick up lunch for themselves and their film crew

The abuse victim has been on the go since being released, traveling around the Kansas City area as they capture footage for her upcoming Lifetime film

The pair picked up lunch and then appeared to be heading towards Springfield, Missouri, where Gypsy lived with her mother

Gypsy and her husband were seen heading out later that morning  with their film crew in tow  and appear to be en route to Springfield, Missouri, where she lived with her late mother Dee Dee.

Driving off in their white Cadillac sedan, the couple stopped at a McDonald's drive-thru south of Kansas City where they ordered food for themselves and the production crew.

On Friday Gypsy celebrated her freedom by taking to Instagram to post her first post-prison selfie.

The 32-year-old shared a mirror picture of herself smiling in a blue and white faded sweater and jeans with the caption 'First selfie of freedom!'

In the first hour of the image being posted Blanchard gathered more than 160,000 likes and thousands of messages of support.

Blanchard spent her first day of freedom shopping for shoes, buying two pairs of sneakers at a nearby mall.

She was spotted leaving a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Chillicothe, Missouri, on Thursday  where she had crashed overnight shortly after walking free from prison almost 12 hours earlier.

Rod and his wife Kristy left the house early Friday morning, believed to be on their way back home to Louisiana  but not before clearing away the wrapping paper and packaging

In interviews last week, relatives described how much Gypsy had been looking forward to Christmas surrounded by family

Gypsy (pictured right as a child with her father) is seen left in a prison photo with dad Rod and stepmom Kristy Blanchard

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 local 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 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.

A handful of close friends arrived bearing gifts for their newly released gal pal while a TV production crew filmed Gypsy's every move

Guests arrive to visit at the secret safehouse to visit Gypsy Rose following her release

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'

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.

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'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

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

The two spent the remainder of the night at a hotel in Chillicothe, before checking out later that morning to head to Kansas City

The network's cameras have already been following 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.

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.
It is eleven months since a freight train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, spilling thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals and triggering an environmental crisis.

Rivers were polluted and hundreds of locals complained of ill health.

The White House insists President Joe Biden will visit the scene of the disaster, but still won't say when.

Now residents say that is simply not good enough and that their community has been ignored.

'I feel like I dont matter,' Jessica Conard, who voted for Biden in 2020 but said she was upset that the president has prioritized political swing states over people in need.

President Joe Biden arrived in St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, for a vacation on Wednesday. The White House says he will visit East Palestine but has yet to set a date - 11 months on from crash

Debris from a Norfolk Southern freight train lies scattered and burning along the tracks

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Voters describe Trump and Biden's plans for a second term as REVENGE or NOTHING Advertisement

She was one of a string of locals who set out their grievances to the New York Times.

Krissy Ferguson, who lives within a mile of the derailment, said: 'I believe that if we were in a blue area, he would have come, and that hurts.'

In fact, her county voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump in 2020 and no-one thinks that Ohio is a winnable state for Biden next time around.

The White House insisted that Biden is still planning 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, White House spokesman Jeremy M. Edwards told the newspaper.

Frustrations in East Palestine, with a population of nearly 5,000, have run high ever since the 150-car Norfolk Southern Corp. train derailed Feb. 3. It was carrying 700,000 pounds of vinyl chloride, a carcinogen.

Democrats say the problems come from rail deregulation under Trump.

Conservative commentators quickly seized on the accident to accuse the Biden administration of neglecting blue-collar communities.

Trump brought the 2024 presidential campaign to town, three weeks later. He reprised his role as champion of the forgotten, delivering pallets of his own branded water and throwing red MAGA hats to fans.

A large plume of smoke rises over East Palestine, Ohio, after a controlled detonation of a portion of a derailed Norfolk Southern train to burn off hazardous chemicals

Clean-up work seen here in March. Residents want to know why Biden still hasn't visited

Donald Trump brought his 2024 campaign to East Palestine in February, distributing water and handing out red MAGA caps while bashing the Biden administration's response

'Have fun, everybody, Mr. Trump told them after signing autographs at a McDonalds where he bought Big Macs for first responders.

But he had a more serious point.

'What this community needs now are not excuses and all of the other things youve been hearing but answers and results,' he said wearing one of his red hats above a black overcoat and brown boots.

Administration officials insist they have taken action, putting hundreds of officials on the ground to assess the risk to the environment and human health.

Biden signed an executive order in September to continue to hold Norfolk Southern to account.

'The president will go to East Palestine,' said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in September. 'He promised that he would, and he will.' She did not say when

But critics want to know why he has not issued a disaster declaration which pour more federal money and resources into recovery efforts.

That is the real issue, added Conard.

'The fact that the president hasnt come is disappointing,' she said. 'But every day that Biden doesnt declare an emergency puts my community at risk.'

The president and his team have repeatedly parried questions about a visit.

'I haven't had the occasion to go to East Palestine,' he said in September. 'There is a lot going on here and I haven't been able to break.'

And his press secretary promised a visit.

'The president will go to East Palestine,' said Karine Jean-Pierre. 'He promised that he would, and he will.'
The UK is to send hundreds of air defence missiles to Ukraine after Rishi Sunak slammed a wave of attacks on cities.

Britain is moving to restock Kyiv's arsenal in the wake of the barrage overnight - said to be the biggest of the war so far.

An estimated 122 missiles and 36 drones were launched, killing at least 13 civilians.

The Ukrainian air force intercepted 87 of the missiles and 27 of the Shahed-type drones, officials said.

In a post on social media, Mr Sunak said: 'These widespread attacks on Ukraine's cities show Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy.

'We will not let him win.

An estimated 122 missiles and 36 drones were launched by Russia overnight, killing at least 13 civilians. Pictured, destruction in Dnipro

The UK is to send hundreds of air defence missiles to Ukraine after Rishi Sunak slammed a wave of attacks on cities

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said he wanted to make sure Ukraine 'has what it needs to defend itself'

'We must continue to stand with Ukraine  for as long as it takes.'

The delivery from the UK includes about 200 air defence missiles and aims to increase the country's defence capability.

Fighting along the front line has been largely bogged down by winter weather after Ukraine's summer counter-offensive failed to make a significant breakthrough along the roughly 620-mile line of contact.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spent recent weeks urging western allies to provide the country with more air defences to protect itself against such aerial attacks.

It comes as signs of war fatigue strain efforts to keep support in place.

Mr Zelensky said the Kremlin's forces used a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

'Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal,' Mr Zelensky said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Putin's latest wave of murderous airstrikes are a desperate and futile attempt to regain momentum after the catastrophic loss of hundreds of thousands of conscripts and ahead of the humiliation of his three-day war entering a third calendar year.

Mr Sunak warned Vladimir Putin that the world 'will not let him win' in Ukraine

'We continue to stand by Ukraine's defence, which is why today we are sending hundreds of air defence missiles to restock British gifted air defence systems capable of striking down Russian drones and missiles with incredible accuracy.

'Putin is testing Ukraine's defences and the West's resolve, hoping that he can clutch victory from the jaws of defeat. But he is wrong. Ukraine's degradation of the Russian Black Sea fleet has proven it is still in this fight to win. And today's air defence package sends an undeniable message, in the face of Russian barbarity that the UK remains absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine.

'Now is the time for the free world to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win.'
A married couple has been arrested after pouring fake blood and putting 'bloody handprints' on the gates outside Downing Street in protest over the war in Gaza.

Virginia Moffat, 58, and Chris Cole, 60, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after they threw paint and left handprints on the gate and pavement outside the Prime Minister's official residence.

They were arrested 'within minutes' of the incident, which took place at around 11:45am today, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The couple, from Dorset, said the Government had 'blood on its hands' after refusing to demand Israel end its bombing of Gaza, according to a statement by campaign group FigTree who revealed they were the ones arrested.

The Christian protesters called it 'a massacre of biblical proportions' and accussed the Government of being 'complicit with this slaughter' for not backing a ceasefire.

A married couple has been arrested after pouring fake blood and putting 'bloody handprints' on the gates outside Downing Street in protest over the war in Gaza

Two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after they threw paint and left handprints on the gate and pavement outside the Prime Minister's official residence

Police officers detain a person outside Downing Street in London, following a protest calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas

In a statement, Ms Moffat and Mr Cole said: 'Britain's and Israel's justification for this slaughter is that Israel is acting in "self-defence"; that the deaths of innocents are to be regretted, but Israel must be allowed to act in its own defence.

'This is nonsense. Again and again, leading international lawyers have clearly stated that 'self-defence' cannot justify the slaughter of so many innocent Palestinians.'

They added: 'As bombs rain down on Gaza, destroying homes, hospitals, families, schools, cultural centres, mosques, churches and civic buildings, we cannot help but act.

'By refusing to back a ceasefire, and continuing to supply arms to Israel, our government is complicit with this slaughter.'

The incident occurred at around 11.45am on Friday, according to the Met Police.

It is unclear whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in No10 at the time of the protest but pictures taken earlier today show him leaving Downing Street from the rear entrance.

Chief Superintendent Joseph Mcdonald said: 'We have been clear that we will facilitate lawful protest but where this strays into criminality we will take swift action.

'Arrests were made within minutes of this incident taking place and both people are now in custody.'

A man is arrested after throwing paint outside Downing Street at around 11.45am on Friday, according to the Met Police

It is unclear whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in No10 at the time of the protest but pictures taken earlier today show him leaving Downing Street from the rear entrance

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or 'X' @MetCC and quote CAD2366/29Dec.

Hamas gunmen launched an attack against Israel on October 7 that left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

They also took about 250 people hostage, more than half of whom remain captive inside the war zone, some of them believed dead.

Israel's relentless military campaign since then has killed at least 21,507 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Israel's army says 168 soldiers have been killed inside Gaza.
Chilling surveillance camera video has revealed the moment a lawyer greeted her ex-boyfriend's father in front of his home in Brazil before she allegedly poisoned him and his mother to death.

The footage showed Amanda Partata stepping out of a taxi and carrying grocery bags containing the cakes she allegedly poisoned before she fed them to police officer Leonardo Ferreira and Luzia Alves during a breakfast at their Goiania home on December 17.

Partata, who dated Ferreira's son, Dr. Leonardo Ferreira Jr., for a month and a half, could be seen embracing the elder Ferreira and handing him one of the bags.

She then followed Ferreira into the residence, where she allegedly carried out her macabre plot because she refused to accept the end of the relationship to his son, Civil Police investigators reported.

Brazilian lawyer Amanda Partata is facing double homicide charges after she allegedly poisoned and killed her ex-boyfriend's father and grandmother

Surveillance camera captured the moment Amanda Partata hugged her former boyfriend's father, Leonardo Ferreira, before she poisoned him and his mother to death

A forensics report released by Brazilian police Wednesday showed that police officer Leonardo Pereira (left) and his mother, Luzia Alves (right) ate cake that was allegedly poisoned by the ex-girlfriend of Pereira's son

Partata gifted an orchid to Alves and posed for a photo, which was taken by her former boyfriend's father.

Ferreira and Alves ate two of the cakes while Alves' husband did not consume any.

The day of the murders, Partata visited a sweets shop at around 8 am and purchased grape juice, cheese biscuits and four cakes, which were placed in jars.

Partata returned to her hotel and arrived at the victims' home at around 9 am and remained there until 12 pm before requesting a ride share app taxi to her home in the municipality of Itumbiara.

Ferreira reached out to Partata to tell her that he and his mother had fallen ill and advised her to visit a hospital, showing concerns because she had previously told the family that she was expecting a child from his son.

Ferreira and Alves were rushed to a hospital, after experiencing vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains.

At around midnight on December 18, Partata went to a hospital after learning that her former boyfriend's father had died.

Alves died during the early hours of December 18.

Investigators analyzed all of the foods that were purchased and left over, and only found large traces of a venomous substances in two of the four cakes, according to a forensic reported that was released Wednesday.

The name of the poisonous substance has not been revealed.

Brazilian lawyer Armanda Partata is facing double homicide charges following her arrest December 20, three days after she allegedly poisoned her ex-boyfriend's father and grandmother to death

Amanda Partata (left) exits a ride share app taxi carrying bags containing the cakes she allegedly poisoned that led to the death of her ex-boyfriend's father (right) and grandmother

Partata, who was arrested December 22, is facing double homicide and attempted murder charges.

Her defense team said in a statement that she was illegally placed in police custody at a psychiatric clinic, where she was admitted after she attempted suicide.

Partata alleged that she was beaten by cops. The Civil Police's internal affairs unit is investigating the claim.

'I believe her intention was to kill anyone who consumed the food,' Civil Police chief Carlos Alfama said in a press conference.
A Jewish New Yorker who survived the Hamas attack at the Nova Music Festival has reunited with the man who saved her life.

Natalie Sanandaji, 28, returned to Israel for the first time since the harrowing October 7 massacre and met Israeli hero Moshe Sati, who, alongside his son, rescued more than 100 festival-goers, including herself, by driving into the terrorist attack multiple times, transporting them to safety.

In the touching reunion filmed by CNN, the two embrace each other while Sati can be seen tearing up.

Sanandaji, who only recently learned Sati's name, expressed deep gratitude, describing him as one of the kindest souls she has ever met.

Despite Sati's modesty and reluctance for recognition, Sanandaji considers herself fortunate for his selfless actions, emphasizing that he is known in his hometown for always helping others without hesitation.

Natalie Sanandaji, 28, returned to Israel for the first time since the harrowing October 7 massacre and met hero Moshe Sati, who saved her life

Israeli hero Moshe Sati, who, alongside his son, rescued more than 100 festival-goers by driving into the terrorist attack multiple times, transporting them to safety

In the touching reunion filmed by CNN , the two embrace each other while Sati can be seen tearing up

Sati's son, an observant Jew who celebrates the Sabbath - meaning, he cannot drive or work on Saturday, joined his father in the rescue mission despite these limitations.

Sanandaji recounted the emotional reunion, capturing the genuine bond formed between them due to the shared trauma. She said Sati's acts of heroism went beyond expectations.

Despite the terrifying ordeal at the festival, Sanandaji conveyed feeling safer in Israel than in the United States.

She voiced concerns over the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the US, particularly in her hometown of New York, citing various acts of hate targeting the Jewish community.

Sanandaji ran for her life while getting gunned down by terrorists on October 7, ultimately surviving the horrific massacre.

Although she made it out alive and returned to her home in Long Island a week later, she said she does not feel any safer back in the US.

On October 7, she and three friends were camping overnight at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering near Re'im, an event billed as a night of 'friends, love and infinite freedom' to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot with electronic music.

On the first evening, nothing was out of the ordinary. But moments before dawn broke on Saturday, explosions appeared in the sky.

'We were woken up by one of our friends who came to tell us some rockets had been sent over. For many of her friends, this is normal. But this is not something that I am used to seeing.'

In October, Sanandaji told DailyMail.com many were still in the crowd dancing when the first salvoes of rockets passed overhead. For a time, it was not clear what was happening. Some festival-goers were seen walking away from the disruption. Others carried on, unaware.

Despite the terrifying ordeal at the festival, Sanandaji conveyed feeling safer in Israel than in the United States

'Many people who were in the crowd had told me that they thought the noises were coming from the music,' Natalie said.

'After a few minutes, we started to realize that the rockets just kept coming and kept coming and kept coming. Though first time I really realized how severe the situation was becoming was when they shut off the music.'

Security guards reacted quickly, at first telling guests to get down and cover their faces. As the missiles closed in, they told guests to pack what they could and evacuate as soon as possible.

'They were there until the end,' Natalie explained. 'Most of them had died, guiding us and trying to get us to safety.'

'Everybody started driving in one direction. There was traffic from so many cars being in such a confined space all trying to leave at the same time.

'Even at that point, in my head I was thinking, "OK, if it's just rockets, if they're not in our vicinity, we have the Iron Dome. Some scrap from intercepted rockets could hit our cars. But we'll be in our cars. We'll be okay. We'll get out of here. It might take a few hours because there's so many people, but we'll be fine."

'When we started driving in one direction, security started telling people to drive in another direction. That's when we realized that there must be something else going on other than just the rockets.

'Security started yelling at everybody "get out of your cars," "park your cars on the side of the dirt road and run!"

'I didn't understand why at first... and then we heard the first gunshots.'

Within moments, gunmen had entered the festival on motorbikes, in vans and by motorized paraglider and started shooting at the event's 3,500 attendees with Kalashnikov assault rifles.

At least 260 people died in the massacre, with many victims shot in the back as they tried to run. Countless were injured, and many more taken back into Gaza as hostages.

Natalie only knew that she had to keep moving.

'The security told us to pull over to the side of the road: "Being in the cars is making you too easy of a target - get out of your car and start running."

Natalie Sanandaji escaped the massacre with a group of friends on Saturday, October 7, 2023

"These are the only photos I have from the festival. Obviously didn't have much time to take any other photos or videos since we were running for our lives." - Natalie Sanandaji, 28

Destroyed cars and personal items are still left scattered around the festival site, on October 13

'As soon as we heard the first gunshots... I was there with three people, we were in the car together. We opened the doors and we started running for our lives.

'After that we just ran. I remember at a certain point there was a bit of a ditch. And we were contemplating if we should go into the ditch and hide, or if we should keep running. And we kept running. A lot of people that went into the ditch are not here today. Every decision we made ended up saving our lives. But we had... no one had any idea what decision to make. You just had to make a decision in that moment.'

'We ran for about four hours, on and off. In between the gunshots, anytime the gunshots would subdue for a little bit, we would say, "Okay, we're going to, we're going to walk a little slower, we're going to catch our breath."

'The scariest thing for me was running in a certain direction - thinking that you're running to safety - and then suddenly seeing dozens of other kids running in your direction and realizing that they're running from a terrorist, that they are running from shooting.

'These were innocent children. We had nothing to protect ourselves. Imagine you're in an open field with nowhere to hide and they are coming at you from every direction.

'Kids were running in all different directions and you had to make a split-second decision on where to run, to where you thought it would be safe.

'And that decision would either save your life or get you killed or kidnapped.'

The group of four continued to follow the road out of Re'im. Their last instruction from camp security had been to push on to the nearest town. For miles, they walked along the banks of short grassland and fields with little in the way of protection.

An Israeli officer walks around a campsite at the festival near Re'im kibbutz on October 17

'The scariest thing for me was running in a certain direction - thinking that you're running to safety - and then suddenly seeing dozens of other kids running in your direction and realizing that they're running from a terrorist, that they are running from shooting.'

Destroyed cars are seen at the party site near the Kibbutz Re'im on Tuesday, October 10, 2023

'The only time we had someone near us to guide us was about two hours in. We saw a police officer and his direction was to go in the direction of the sun. That was the direction the town was in.'

The police officer walked with Natalie and her group for a while, armed only with a handgun. He explained he could not call for backup because Hamas had taken over the nearby police station. Over the radio, 'you could hear the terrorists yelling'.

They could only keep moving.

'There was just an exodus of hundreds and hundreds of kids walking in the same direction. And then every time we heard gunshots, some people ran this way, some people ran that way.

'You're in an open field and there's almost nowhere to hide. It felt hopeless. It really felt hopeless. There's just simply nowhere to hide, there was nowhere to go. There's stories of some people that hid in drains, in trees and fields. A lot of those people... they ended up finding them and killing most of them.

'The ones that survived were the ones that hid under the dead bodies and pretended to be dead.'

Exhausted, Natalie's group eventually stopped to rest in the shade of a tree. Four hours had passed and they were still miles from the nearest town, an endless journey with no way to know how far they had gone.

As they paused, they saw a large white van coming towards them.

'At first we thought it might be a terrorist so we fought to get up and run... but then we realised, "where would we run to? What would we do?"'

The group could only wait by the side of the road. The vehicle pulled up and a man got out.

He offered them a lift. They still had an hour to go.

Vehicles were abandoned after security guards told attendees to leave their cars and run

Fleeing for their lives, people had no time to react when told the abandon their cars and run. Pictured: car keys are left in the ignition of a destroyed car at the festival on October 12

Charred and damaged cars along a desert road after an attack by Hamas militants at the Tribe of Nova Trance music festival near Kibbutz Re'im in southern Israel on Saturday, October 7

'The people that risked their own lives to try to save us was incredible to see. I couldn't believe that these people were going out of their way to risk their lives to save all of us. If that man didn't come with his car, I don't think I would be here today.

'It's very hard for me to comprehend these stories that I am seeing now, every day, someone else that was kidnapped, that their friends and family had a little bit of hope that maybe they are still alive. Every day people are posting that they have been found dead.'

Natalie and her friends were fortunate to escape to Patish, a nearby moshav. There, she says the town came together to help those still flooding in.

'They gave us food. They gave us shelter. We hid in their bomb shelters.'

She described the horror parents were undergoing all the while as they acted quickly to take in more children.

'When the rockets started going off, all the children there were messaging their parents, telling them what was happening. To tell them that they were safe and trying to escape.

'Many people, after a while, couldn't get in touch with their kids anymore. Either their kids were kidnapped or killed. So a lot of people in the town were receiving lists of names of people that were at the festival that... weren't answering their family and friends anymore.

'And they were walking around reading off lists of names hoping that maybe somebody was saved and maybe somebody was in the shelter and then they could inform their families that they are okay.'

Natalie managed to get in touch with her mother, who lives in New York.

'I honestly did not tell my mom where I was until after I got home safe because I couldn't stand the idea of her worrying about me about my life that way.'

Soon after, Natalie made plans to return home, coming home via Athens. There, she contacted the press, feeling she needed to share her story.

She said there is now nowhere she feels entirely safe, amid heightened reports of antisemitism globally. Anti-Jewish threats on Telegram surged 488 percent in the first 18 hours after Hamas' incursion, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The first four days of the conflict also saw anti-Semitic incidents in the United Kingdom surge by more than 300 percent, according to Community Security Trust.

'I have a lot of friends in New York right now who are afraid to leave their homes,' Natalie said. 'I had a friend who tried to call an Uber and the Uber driver messaged her and asked her, "Are you Jewish?" And then said, "If you are, I will kill you."

'It doesn't feel safe to be anywhere right now. The fact that I'm not in Israel doesn't make me feel safe.

'I'm incredibly scared for what's to come. Because everything that has happened so far is not the end it is only going to get worse and that's what scares me the most.'

In spite of all she has gone through, Natalie's message to the world is to avoid the conflict descending into further unnecessary factional violence. She says she wants people to 'understand that we have the same common enemy' in Hamas, as distinct from the Palestinian people.

'[Hamas] is a terrorist organization that does not care though about the lives of Palestinian people, or any people,' she said. 'We have to come together against this common enemy.'

'I am seeing a lot of support online from a lot of countries, from a lot of governments, from a lot of people I know personally, from people I don't know personally. But I think there is still a lot of confusion as to who Hamas is, what they are doing.

'Especially as an Iranian Jew, just a year ago the Iranian government was killing innocent children in their own streets. And I feel that a lot of Iranians even don't realize that we are fighting against the same people. We need to come together and realize that we have the same common enemy.'

'I also want people to understand the fear that Jews are feeling all over the world, whether it's in London or Paris, or New York, or Israel.

'The things that I'm seeing that are happening in New York - I don't actually feel safe going home,' she said.

'Everyone keeps telling me "it's so great that you're almost back in New York, you're almost home". But I don't feel safe going back to New York.

'And that's the scariest part. That's the saddest part - that I don't feel safe.'
President Joe Biden on Friday pushed Congress to 'step up' and send more aid to Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a massive aerial strike against the embattled nation.

Russia hit six major cities and the surrounding countryside with 122 missiles and dozens of drones in the most intense, brutal air attack since Putin's invasion began 22 months ago.

At least 144 people were injured and an unknown number were buried under rubble during the roughly 18-hour onslaught, Ukrainian officials said.

Biden responded in a lengthy statement issued while he was on vacation on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. In it, he blasted the attacks and used the ocassion to re-up his appeal to Congress to pass his $61 billion aid package.

President Joe Biden with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Dec. 12

President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and their granddaughter Natalie arrived in St. Croix on Wednesday for a vacation

'Strikes reportedly hit a maternity hospital, a shopping mall, and residential areaskilling innocent people and injuring dozens more. It is a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin's objective remains unchanged. He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people. He must be stopped,' Biden said.

'Unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay,' the president added.

Biden has asked Congress for $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.

With US aid in doubt, Russia tried to overwhelm Ukraine's air defences across most major cities. The Ukrainian air force intercepted 87 of the missiles and 27 of the Shahed-type drones overnight, Ukraine's military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said.

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would continue the fight.

'Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal: 'Kindzhals,' S-300s, cruise missiles, and drones. Strategic bombers launched X-101/X-505 missiles. A total of around 110 missiles were fired against Ukraine, with the majority of them being shot down,' he wrote on X.

'My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured. We will surely respond to terrorist strikes. And we will continue to fight for the security of our entire country, every city, and every citizen. Russian terror must and will lose,' he added.

Video released on social media showed a Russian missile attack Kyiv. A high-rise building was hit in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 2nd left, looks at a map during his visit to Ukrainian 110th mechanised brigade in Avdiivka, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Friday

Smoke rises over a residential building after a Russian missile and drone strike in Kyiv

Western officials have warned that Russia limited its cruise missile strikes for months in an apparent effort to build up stockpiles for massive strikes during the winter, hoping to break the Ukrainians spirit.

That appeared to come to pass on Friday. Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk called it the 'most massive aerial attack

It topped the previous biggest assault, in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles, and this years biggest, with 81 missiles on March 9, according to air force records.

Ukrainian officials have urged the country's Western allies to provide it with more air defenses. Their appeals have come as signs of war fatigue strain efforts to keep support in place.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the attack should stir the world to further action in support of Ukraine.

'These widespread attacks on Ukraines cities show (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy,' Sunak said on X. 'We must continue to stand with Ukraine - for as long as it takes.'

Britain is sending around 200 air defense missiles to Ukraine to help protect civilians and infrastructure from Russian drones and bombing, the British ministry of defense said on Friday.

Officials believed Russian President Vladimir Putin (above) was stock piling missiles for the past several months to launch Friday's massive invasion

A business center damaged by Russian shelling nearby Lukianivska subway station in Kyiv

Firefighters work at a site of a warehouse heavily damaged during Russian missile strike in Kyiv

Meanwhile, Biden, on Wednesday announced a $250 million weapons package to Ukraine in what officials said could be a final amount of aid from the U.S. unless Congress approves new funding.

The White House has warned that unless Congress appropriates additional aid for Kyiv, the funds will run out by the end of the year.

The package included air defense munitions, anti-armor munitions, ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, and more than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition.

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.

are expected to resume in early January. Congress also faces a January 19th deadline to fund the U.S. government.

Negotiations 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 aid.

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.
An outspoken Covid scientist who pushed for longer and tougher lockdowns is to be knighted in the New Year's Honours.

Professor John Edmunds will be recognised for services to epidemiology, including the modelling work that made the case for lockdowns.

His is one of several nominations likely to cause controversy. There is also a knighthood for convicted fraudster Gerald Ronson and an award to a former Passport Office chief who faced criticism for working from home amid a giant backlog of applications.

The honours citation says the work by Prof Edmunds and his team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was 'vital for the UK response' to the pandemic.

In the early days of the crisis, he publicly suggested that so-called 'herd immunity' was 'the only way to stop this epidemic'.

Professor John Edmunds will be recognised by the King for services to epidemiology, including his modelling work which made the case for lockdowns

Today's citation says the modelling work by Professor Edmunds and his team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was 'vital for the UK response' to the pandemic

He then became a convert to lockdowns and irritated some ministers by using frequent media appearances to push for tougher restrictions. But last year Prof Edmunds appeared to acknowledge that 'too much weight' was given to scientific models  and not enough to the economy and wider society.

The scientist yesterday insisted he was a 'bit embarrassed' by the honour as he was 'not really one for the spotlight'.

However, during the pandemic he frequently headed for the TV studios in a 'private capacity' to make the case for more stringent restrictions. In the summer of 2020 he said failure to lock down earlier had 'cost a lot of lives' and accused Boris Johnson of 'taking a risk' by easing restrictions.

Months later he warned that the UK needed 'even tougher' restrictions to hold off another wave of the virus. In early 2021 he said easing the third national lockdown would be 'a disaster'.

At one point the interventions by Prof Edmunds and others so irritated government ministers that Boris Johnson considered scrapping the Sage scientific committee on which they sat. One former Whitehall official said Prof Edmunds was one of a number of pro-lockdown scientists who used media performances to try to 'bounce' the Government into imposing tougher restrictions.

At the time, the Tory MP and lockdown sceptic Sir Charles Walker said he was 'cross with Sage experts thinking they can advise both the Government and the [BBC Radio 4] Today programme', adding: 'You can do one or the other, but not both.'

Prof Edmunds later attacked Rishi Sunak's Eat Out to Help Out initiative, describing it as 'spectacularly stupid'. The scientist yesterday paid tribute to his team, saying: 'It was an incredible time and we did amazing work over such an extended period of time. I'm very honoured that that's being acknowledged.'

The honours list also includes a knighthood for businessman and philanthropist Mr Ronson, who was jailed for fraud in 1990.

In the summer of 2020 he said that failure to lock down earlier had 'cost a lot of lives' and accused Boris Johnson of 'taking a risk' by easing restrictions

At the time, the Tory MP and lockdown sceptic Sir Charles Walker said he was 'cross with Sage scientists thinking they can advise both the government and the Today programme', adding: 'You can do one or the other, but not both'

A number of senior politicians have also received honours. Former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid, whose resignation helped trigger Boris Johnson's downfall, is awarded a knighthood

Veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret Beckett, who oversaw the controversial hunting ban, is made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

Author Kate Mosse, 62, best known for the Languedoc Trilogy, receives a CBE for services to literature, women and charity

He was one of the so-called Guinness Four, who were convicted of trying to inflate the drink company's share price during its takeover of Scottish drinks group Distillers. The property tycoon was fined 5million and handed a one-year jail sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy, false accounting and theft.

One of his co-defendants, Jack Lyons, was stripped of his knighthood following the trial.

But Mr Ronson appears to have rehabilitated himself through charity work and he was awarded a CBE in 2012. His latest citation states that he has given more than 100million to charity and helped raise a further 200million. Causes include the UK Police Memorial and the National Holocaust Memorial.

He also founded the Community Security Trust, which works to tackle anti-Semitism.

Other names on the honours list include former Passport Office chief Abi Tierney, who is made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. Ms Tierney held a number of senior roles in the civil service before quitting this year to become the Welsh Rugby Union's first female chief executive.

Last year she faced controversy when it was reported she was working from home 100 miles away at a time when the Passport Office was struggling to clear a backlog of 700,000 applications.

At the time, the Home Office said it was 'ludicrous' to suggest she needed to be in the office to get a grip of the situation.

A number of senior politicians have also received honours. Former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid, whose resignation helped trigger Boris Johnson's downfall, is awarded a knighthood.

Veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret Beckett, who oversaw the controversial hunting ban, is made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.

Fellow Labour MP Yvonne Fovargue, who was one of Boris Johnson's Partygate inquisitors, is made a CBE.

Roald Dahl's widow, Felicity Dahl, 85, is made a dame for services to philanthropy, to literature and to young people

Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright, 69, receives an MBE for services to broadcasting

Glastonbury co-founder Michael Eavis, 88, is made a knight for services to music and charity

The group is limited to just 65 living members and counts Sir Paul McCartney and Dame Maggie Smith among its number

Leona Lewis has been made an OBE in the New Year Honours list, for services to music and to charity

Veteran BBC Radio DJ Tony Blackburn, 80, is made an OBE

Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, 37, has been made an MBE after she set up brain injury charity, SameYou, after suffering two life-threatening haemorrhages

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood is set for a legendary 'Hollywood handshake' with a senior Royal as he is made an MBE for services to baking and broadcasting

Bonkbuster author Jilly Cooper, 86, also cements her place as a national treasure as she is made a dame for services to literature and charity

Dame Shirley Bassey 's legacy will shine forever as she is made a Companion of Honour in the New Years Honours

Broadcaster James Whale has been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) For services to broadcasting and to charity

Mubarak Mahmed has been awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal)
Like so many young people in France, the hugely enthusiastic teenager was looking forward to a long and happy career in the country's fabled restaurant industry.

She would spend a few years in a respected Paris bistro, before working her way up to a Michelin-starred establishment favoured by gourmets.

Except that the former apprentice pastry chef, who cannot be named for legal reasons, instead ended up as a key prosecution witness in a rape case that eventually saw the first cook she worked for imprisoned for eight years.

The head chef preyed on new members of staff at his restaurant in the upmarket Paris suburb of Neuilly, sexually assaulting them constantly, and then shaming them if they dared to complain.

He was one of the numerous 'abusers from behind the swing doors' who are bringing shame to chefs and other senior restauranteurs across France.

This extremely dark side of a country that prides itself in producing the best cuisine in the world came into focus this week when a chef left his job at the five-star Hotel du Palais, in Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast, after an allegedly sexually-charged hazing ritual.

The dark side of France's world-renowned restaurant industry came into focus when French star chef Aurelien Largeau (pictured) quit his luxury hotel job after an alleged hazing ritual

The accusation was that a member of staff was tied up naked, and had an apple placed in his mouth, and a carrot forced up his backside, while being filmed.

The Michelin-starred chef, Aurelien Largeau, 31, denies any wrongdoing and has threatened legal action against the complainants, saying the claims are 'false and defamatory'.

But the local prosecutor in Biarritz has opened an investigation for sexual assault and violence.

Footage of the ritual  known as a bizutage and banned in France  was allegedly shared on social media, but has since been withdrawn, with detectives saying they are trying to find it.

There was no film in the Neuilly case, and a lack of firm evidence meant it was some seven years before the case got to court, after an initial complaint in 2014.

The key witness  one of two  was just 19, and had been working for just a month at the restaurant when she was first attacked.

Referring to her boss  a long established chef  she said: 'He touched me all the time during the services.

'It could be hands on the buttocks or on the chest, he even tried to kiss me by force on several occasions.'

The accusation was that a member of staff was tied up naked, and had an apple placed in his mouth, and a carrot forced up his backside, while being filmed. The incident is said to have happened at the Hotel du Palais (pictured) in Biarritz - and is strongly denied

After she tried to tell colleagues about what was happening, the chef became more abusive.

'From there, he became even more manipulative,' she said. 'He told me that I would achieve nothing in this profession, he took advantage of his status to demean me while continuing the touching.'

The chef was proved to be doing this regularly to other young staff, before finally being arrested in 2019, placed on remand for two years, and then tried and found guilty.

His conviction was 'a strong message for the world of catering,' said his principal victim.

And a prosecuting source said: 'What happened in the Neuilly restaurant is typical of what goes on day after day across the country.

'Youngsters on very low money work massively long hours, and the mainly men who run kitchens humiliate and abuse them.'

The situation has got so bad that there are now #MeToo style groups focusing solely on the French restaurant trade.

One is called 'I Say No Chef' (Je Dis Non Chef), and the other is the Bondir association.

Both receive hundreds of testimonies every day from those who are suffering, and it is women in particular who get the worst treatment.

Complaints range from sexual assault to other forms of violence, including fist fights between kitchen staff.

Bondier co-founder Laurene Barjhoux said: 'In recent years, thanks to social media, tongues have started to loosen and numerous testimonies of violence in the kitchen have been brought to light by the press.'

Discussing her personal experiences, Ms Barjhoux said: 'For my part, when I arrived in the world of cooking at 30, after my retraining, I took a slap - particularly in relation to the atmosphere in the kitchen.

Footage of the ritual  known as a bizutage and banned in France  was allegedly shared on social media, but has since been withdrawn, with detectives saying they are trying to find it. Pictured: Grande Plage beach and Hotel du Palais in Biarritz

'It wasn't at all the same atmosphere as when I was a graphic designer and working in a design studio.

'In short, we have all experienced violence in one way or another.'

Marine Ricci, director of the Jean Drouant hotel high school, said sexism against women was particularly rife in the kitchen.

She said: 'It seems to me that men feel much less concerned about this subject. I see it every day, in my professional career  it's a completely macho environment.

'It's obvious that when you're a woman, to access positions, you have to do a lot more than others. We are often given the pastry and pantry stations.

'It's much more difficult for us to access a cooking station. As a result, women compensate by working enormously hard to prove themselves, and never feel legitimate.'

But Ms Ricci added: 'However, according to the testimonies we receive and from what I have seen, violence in the kitchen also affects men. But usually, it is linked to homophobia or racism'.
A man has been arrested after police raided a suspected bomb factory on a residential road in south London.

Emergency services raced to the scene after locals raised concerns about a large quantity of explosive chemicals at a property on Daneby Road in Catford this afternoon.

The Metropolitan Police were alerted at around 1:20pm and attended the address where a 26-year-old man was arrested and taken into police custody.

Two fire engines and two fire and rescue units from the London Fire Brigade were later sent to the scene where a 'quantity of chemicals' was also recovered.

Officers from the Met's Criminial Investigation Division are now investigating the incident, which is not being treated as terror related.

A man has been arrested after police raided a suspected bomb factory at a house (pictured) on a residential road in south London

The Metropolitan Police were alerted at around 1:20pm and attended the address (pictured) where a 26-year-old man was arrested and taken into police custody

Two fire engines and two fire and rescue units from the London Fire Brigade were later sent to the scene where a 'quantity of chemicals' was also recovered

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We were called at around 1.20pm to concerns about chemicals stored at an address in Daneby Rd SE6.

'A quantity of chemicals was recovered. A 26-year-old man was arrested and taken into police custody. CID officers are investigating.

'This is not being treated as terror related.'

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson added: 'We were called at 1441 to assist the Metropolitan Police at an incident on Daneby Road in Catford this afternoon.

'Two fire engines and two fire and rescue units were sent to the scene. Firefighters liaised with emergency service partners but no action was required by the Brigade.

'The incident was left in the care of the Metropolitan Police.'

The area around the property was reportedly cordoned off, and an RV point was established near Bromley shopping centre to manage the operation.
A teenage groom was among five people injured after a car ploughed into a crowd as his wedding celebration turned into a 'bloodbath', leaving a 'Good Samaritan' neighbour who tried desperately to help the wounded dead, MailOnline can reveal.

Newly wed Hasan Khan, 19, suffered stab wounds and his father Riasat Khan, 42, received head injuries, his mother said today.

The pair have both been released from hospital and allowed home after police lifted a cordon surrounding the premises.

The groom's shaken mother Shareen Khan, spoke from her corner semi in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where Wednesday afternoon's melee had spilled into the street, leading to the killing and injuries.

She said: 'What happened was a terrible thing. We are all very shocked.'

Father-of-two Christian Marriott, 46, was killed after being rammed by a car as he was trying to revive an unconscious woman lying in the road.

Newly wed Hasan Khan, 19, suffered stab wounds and his father Riasat Khan, 42, received head injuries, his mother said today. Pictured: The incident in Sheffield

Father-of-two Christian Marriott, 46, was killed after being rammed by a car as he was trying to revive an unconscious woman lying in the road

He was trying to administer first aid when a speeding car - said by neighbours to be travelling at 59-60mph - ploughed into the crowd gathered around

That woman, aged 32, who has been left fighting for her life is understood to be a member of 19-year-old bride Amani Jhangur's family.

A visibly shocked Mrs Khan, speaking to MailOnline, said: 'I am the groom's mother. He was hurt and so was my husband.

'We don't know why. We are a good family. It started as a happy day but things got out of hand.'

The family - which includes the groom's four siblings aged 22 to seven - are being supported by police officers as a murder investigation is underway.

A 23-year old man arrested on suspicion of the father-of-two's murder and attempted murder of the woman remains in custody and continues to be questioned.

A second suspect, a man aged 55, arrested over the same alleged crimes, has now been freed on bail pending further inquiries, South Yorkshire Police have stated.

A force spokesperson told MailOnline that the woman injured was in a 'critical' and 'life threatening' condition.

She declined to say if the victim was related to the bride.

A 23-year old man arrested on suspicion of the father-of-two's murder and attempted murder of the woman remains in custody and continues to be questioned

But she is the woman Mr Marriott - who lives nearby and had been out on a post-Christmas walk with his wife and two young sons - had been trying to save.

As well as the groom - described as 'the stabbing victim' by police - and his father, two other women, aged 51 and 58, were injured.

All four have been discharged from hospital.

Mrs Khan said she understood the seriously injured woman was 'from the bride's family.'

She said: 'What happened was very sad and we pay our condolences to the man who lost his life.'

She said her husband and son were both back home, saying: 'They are sleeping. They are OK but very shocked and saddened.'

She declined to discuss the bride or her family or the events leading up to the horror as a female police officer inside her house advised her not to talk about the devastating events.

Mr Marriott, a finance, operations and project manager, who more recently had devoted his time to charities and voluntary causes, died as he stopped to help the injured woman lying motionless in the street.

Christian Marriott and his wife Bryony Marriott. They had two children, aged six and eight

The scene on College Close in Burngreave yesterday as the police cordon remains in place

Forensic officers on Scott Road near the scene on College Close in Burngreave yesterday

He was trying to administer first aid when a speeding car - said by neighbours to be travelling at 59-60mph - ploughed into the crowd gathered around.

According to one resident in the normally peaceful cul-de-sac in the Burnsgreave suburb, 'the shouting, hysterical screaming, mainly from women, and fighting was still going on while a body lay on the floor nearby the collapsed victim'.

A tearful friend of Mr Marriot called Nicky, who visited the scene today with her two sons to pay their respects and lay flowers, said: 'He was an amazing person, there was no one else like Chris.

'He was pure gold and amazing in every way and the world is a worse place without him.'

The mother, who declined to be fully named, said: 'It is heartbreaking.'

She said she had not yet spoken to his widow but explained: 'She is surrounded by family and friends and is very much loved and supported.'

Among tributes placed beside a smashed street sign where the horror had occurred was one one saying: 'Chris taken from us to soon by a mob of savages.

'Loved and missed John.'
A black former law professor has said the recent attacks on Harvard President Claudine Gay's credibility are 'well deserved' after she allegedly destroyed the careers of two African-American scholars.

Winkfield Twyman Jr., a former professor at the California Western School of Law in San Diego, has argued that Gay has 'made a career of attacking black scholars' in a blistering op-ed for Newsweek.

Twyman, who graduated from Harvard law school in the 1980s, writes that the criticisms of Gay's presidency, particularly in light of her damning campus antisemitism testimony in congress, are valid.

'Many are defending Gay by claiming that the attacks against her are racial in nature. They are not. They are all well deserved' he wrote.

Gay, the first black woman to lead the prestigious institution, has been widely criticized after failing to unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism on the Ivy League's campus.

She has also faced scrutiny over claims she plagiarized other academics work during her career.

Claudine Gay has been widely criticized following her damning campus antisemitism testimony in congress earlier this month

Winkfield Twyman Jr. (pictured), an ex-professor at the California Western School of Law in San Diego, has argued that Gay has 'made a career of attacking black scholars'

'And yet, many are coming to her defense' Twyman wrote, 'having finally got their wish of a Black president of Harvard, Harvard seems unwilling to let her go'.

He added that the 'racial wagons' have been circled around Gay, which, he argues, 'is not only misguided, but deeply ironic.

'Did you know that Claudine Gay during her Harvard career has repeatedly targeted and disrupted the careers of prominent black male professors?'

The author continued: 'No one in good faith should defend President Gay because she is the first black president of Harvard. Even if you don't agree with me that our racial struggle is in our past, someone who has targeted black male professors has waived any benefit of the 'first black' defense.'

Twyman, who wrote the race-related book Letters in Black and White: A New Correspondence on Race in America, claimed Gay previously sacked one black professor and 'tarnished' the reputation of another.

Twyman alleged that gay fired Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. as dean of Harvard's Winthrop House in 2019 after he joined Harvey Weinstein's legal team.

He also claimed Gay coordinated a 'witch hunt' against economics professor Roland G. Fryer Jr. after his research into the killings of unarmed black men in Houston, Texas, found no racial disparities.

'He made the mistake of undercutting the racial narrative that the Left has adopted, and as a result, Gay did her best to remove all of his academic privileges, coordinating a witch hunt against him,' Twyman said.

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

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

'Fryer survived Gay's crusade of discharge but Fryer's lab was shut down, his reputation tarnished.'

Twyman's criticism comes just days after Harvard History professor James Hankins likened the college to a Medieval dictatorship in its handling over the 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.

The defense of Gay, wrote Hankins, seems to reveal a 'shift' in the university's priorities.

'Harvard's 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 said 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.

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

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?'

The Harvard Corporation stated that an independent review into the plagiarism allegations uncovered three instances of 'inadequate citation' in Gay's academic work but no misconduct.

Gay has also subsequently issued two apologies following the backlash to her congressional testimony 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.
South Africa has accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The country has filed an application to the International Court of Justice at the Hague - the United Nations' court for resolving conflict - calling for an order to halt the Jewish state's attacks.

But the Israeli government has 'rejected with disgust' the accusations, calling it a 'blood libel' and accused South Africa of collaborating with Hamas.

The African nation alleges that 'acts and omissions by Israel... are genocidal in character' as they are committed with the intent 'to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group'.

South Africa's foreign ministry said in a statement that the country is 'gravely concerned with the plight of civilians caught in the present Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip due to the indiscriminate use of force and forcible removal of inhabitants'.

Israeli soldiers take up positions near the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel today. South Africa has accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

(Pictured: Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip) Israel said it takes steps to minimise harm to civilians

The ministry added that there are 'ongoing reports of international crimes, such as crimes against humanity and war crimes, being committed as well as reports that acts meeting the threshold of genocide or related crimes as defined in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, have been and may still be committed in the context of the ongoing massacres in Gaza'.

It also asks the court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza.

A hearing into that request is likely in the coming days or weeks. The case, if it goes ahead, will take years.

South Africa can bring the case under the Genocide Convention because both it and Israel are signatories to the convention.

Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement in response in which it said the case lacks a legal foundation and constitutes a 'vile exploitation and cheapening' of the court.

The statement also said Israel is committed to, and operates according to, international law and focuses its military actions solely against Hamas, adding that the residents of Gaza are not an enemy.

It asserted that it takes steps to minimise harm to civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the territory.

'Israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by South Africa and its application to the International Court of Justice,' the statement read.

'South Africa's claim lacks both a factual and a legal basis, and constitutes despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the court.'

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously accused Israel of war crimes and acts 'tantamount to genocide'

Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said South Africa's case 'provides an important opportunity for the International Court of Justice to scrutinise Israel's actions in Gaza using the Genocide Convention of 1948'.

She said South Africa is looking to the United Nations' highest judicial body 'to provide clear, definitive answers on the question of whether Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people'.

Whether the case will succeed in halting the war remains to be seen. While the court's orders are legally binding, they are not always followed.

In March 2022, the court ordered Russia to halt hostilities in Ukraine, a binding legal ruling that Moscow flouted as it pressed ahead with its devastating attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities.

South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Many, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have compared Israel's policies in Gaza and the West Bank with South Africa's past apartheid regime of racial segregation.

Mr Ramaphosa has accused Israel of war crimes and acts 'tantamount to genocide'.
Police have yet to establish a motive or suspects surrounding the violent murder of a grandmother found dead before Christmas as they issued a fresh an appeal for witnesses.

Ann Coll, 61, was found with serious injuries at a flat on Newfield Place in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, at around 12.45am on Friday December 22. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives from Police Scotland's major investigation team have asked members of the local community to come forward with any details that could help identify who was responsible.

Ms Coll is believed to have left her home at around 5pm on Thursday December 21 to walk her dog.

Ann Coll, 61, was found with serious injuries at a flat on Newfield Place in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, at around 12.45am on Friday December 22 and was pronounced dead at the scene

CCTV of Ann Coll on the December 19 at her local shop in Rutherglen

Flowers left in tribute to grandmother Ann Coll on Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire

She left her home again at 8pm and returned around 8.30pm, and was safe and well when she spoke to family members at 9.15pm the same evening.

Police do not believe she left her house again.

Speaking to the media in Rutherglen on Friday, Detective Chief Inspector Lynsey Watters said: 'Our thoughts remain with Ann's loved ones who have been left devastated by her death.

'As a family they should have been enjoying the festive season and instead are grieving a terrible loss.

'We continue to provide them with support at this very difficult time.

'We are fully committed to tracing the person or people responsible as soon as possible, and I am asking the public for their help.'

Ms Watters urged anyone who knew Ms Coll or witnessed anything 'suspicious or unusual' on the evening of December 21 to contact police 'as soon as possible'.

She added: 'This area is one of the main routes from Rutherglen to the south side of Glasgow and has several bars and restaurants nearby.

'It would have been busier than usual due to the time of year.'

She said officers have been carrying out 'extensive inquiries' to piece together Ms Coll's last movements and the circumstances which led to her death.

Press conference with Detective Chief Inspector Lynsey Watters and Local Area Commander, Chief Inspector Gary Ferguson today to update the media on the investigation into the murder of Ann Coll

Forensic officers at the property in Rutherglen as part of the investigation into Ann Coll's murder

Forensic investigators at the door of the property where Ms Coll was murdered

A police officer at the front door of the the property where Ms Coll was found dead

Ms Watters added: 'We are studying a wide range of CCTV from the local area and have been speaking to residents and friends of Ann.

'If you hold information and haven't yet spoken to police, I ask you to get in touch with us urgently as it may be vital to our inquiry.'

Chief Inspector Gary Ferguson said: 'We understand the local community will be concerned, but I would like to reassure them there is an additional policing presence in the area as our inquiries continue.

'If you have concerns or wish to pass information to the inquiry team, these officers can be approached at any time.'

An online portal has been set up to allow members of the public to send information directly to police. This can be accessed at: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT23S45-PO1

Anyone with information can also call 101, quoting reference number 0110 of December 22, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said if elected president he would fire special counsel Jack Smith on 'day one' of his administration.

Smith has charged former President Donald Trump on crimes related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and for hoarding classified documents he moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago.

Despite being one of Trump's Republican primary rivals, DeSantis echoed Trump's complaints in a Fox News interview Thursday that Smith's criminal probes were political in nature.

'I think that a guy like me as the nominee will be able to keep the focus on Biden, keep the focus on the Democrats' failures but then, more importantly, after you win the election, start holding these people accountable, who have weaponized the legal system to go after their political enemies,' DeSantis told former Rep. Jason Chaffetz on Fox.

'And that starts with day one, firing somebody like Jack Smith,' the Florida governor continued. 'That goes to dealing with people who are violating constitutional rights at the state and local government area.'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, captured campaigning in Iowa Friday, said Thursday night on Fox that he would fire special counsel Jack Smith on 'day one' if he was elected president

'Republicans have turned a blind eye to abuses of power for far too long,' DeSantis added.

DeSantis and former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley are currently vying for second place in the 2024 Republican race, which Trump is leading by 51.2 points nationally, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.

Neither DeSantis nor Haley has used Trump's 91 criminal charges against the ex-president to gain ground politically.

Of the remaining Republican candidates, only New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has pointed to the four separate criminal probes to make the case Trump is unfit to serve another term in office.

Trump made history in April as the first former U.S. president to be indicted for a crime.

He's since been charged in three other cases.

In a separate interview, DeSantis expressed annoyance that Republican voters have seemingly coalesced around Trump due to the prosecutions.

Special Counsel Jack Smith (left) has been charged with investigations into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and the classified documents case

'I would say if I could have one thing change, I wish Trump hadn't been indicted on any of this stuff,' DeSantis told the Christian Broadcasting Network in an interview last week.

The Florida governor argued that since 'Alvin Bragg on' - referring to Trump's April indictment in the Stormy Daniels hush-money probe - Trump has had the upper hand with GOP voters.

'I've criticized the cases. I think, you know, someone like a Bragg would not have brought that case if it was anyone other than Donald Trump,' DeSantis said. 'Someone like that's distorting justice, which is bad, but I also think it distorted the primary,' he said.

The indictments, the Florida governor observed, 'just crowded out ... so much other stuff.'

'It sucked out a lot of oxygen,' he added.
Dairy-lovers have been warned to look out for E.coli symptoms after one person has died and 11 taken to hospital amid an outbreak linked to artisan cheese.

The victims are among 30 cases reported across the country, some involving children as young as seven - according to UK health and food watchdogs.

Officials suspect a dairy farm near Preston, Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, to be the source of the outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare strain of the bug.

Victims of the deadly bacteria can become seriously ill - with cases caused by eating contaminated food including severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and even kidney failure.

Typical symptoms include stomach crams, diarrhoea and occasionally fever. About half will have bloody diarrhoea.

These usually appear three to four days after infection but it can take as much as a fortnight before they arise.

Symptoms of Shiga Toxin producing E.coli include severe diarrhoea and vomiting, according to the UK Health Security Agency

The Food Standards Agency said some people may have been given the cheeses unknowingly in festive hampers and charcuterie boards. File photo of some of the farm's cheeses

A slim minority of those infected go on to develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) - a serious condition that may lead to kidney failure and can be deadly.

The under fives are at the highest risk of this developing.

Revealed: The cheese being recalled Waitrose & Partners No 1 Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, 200g, is being recalled for the following use by dates: 30/10/2023, 02/11/2023, 07/11/2023, 10/11/2023, 20/11/2023, 28/11/2023, 04/12/2023, 11/12/2023, 13/12/2023, 20/12/2023, 23/12/2023, 02/01/2023, Products purchased between October 1 and December 24 are also being recalled for the following: Mrs Kirkham's Mild & Creamy Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Tasty Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Mature Lancashire

Mrs Kirkham's Smoked Lancashire Advertisement

Amy Douglas, UKHSA's incident director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said: 'There have been at least 30 confirmed cases of this specific outbreak strain of STEC in the UK.

'If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends over the festive period.

'Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading.

'Don't prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop.'

While an amount of the E.coli bug can be found in the bowls of most people, it poses a particular risk to older people, diabetics and people who are dehydrated.

Others whose threat of the bacteria is heightened are people who use a urinary catheter, people with an intravenous device, those with gallbladder or kidney stones and people with prostate problems.

Doctors warn those suffering from these symptoms not to take antibiotics, as these may increase the victim's risk of complications - and say the sympoms can usually be cared for at home.

But if you or your child has bloody diarrhoea, NHS Inform recommends that you contact your GP.

They must also avoid anti-diarrhoea drugs, as these may mean the toxin stays in the body for longer.

Instead, the NHS suggests drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, which can be a risk with diarrhoea.

John and Ruth Kirkham set up the dairy farm in 1978. There is no suggestion that any of the cheese pictured in the image are affected

Their son Graham Kirkham posing for a photo in a field of cows

If you or your family have any of the symptoms, you must avoid sharing towels or nappy changing mats, and you must not leave clean soiled items in the kitchen.

Instead, you should make sure you are being completely hygenic - washing your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water, washing soiled items separately from everything else, wiping down surfaces with hot water and detergent and using thick household bleach where possible.

Officials suspect a dairy farm near Preston, Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, to be the source of the outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare strain of the diarrhoea-causing bug.

Four of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese products have been recalled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as a precaution. They are mild and creamy Lancashire, tasty Lancashire, mature Lancashire, and smoked Lancashire.

And all sizes of No 1 Waitrose and Partners, Farmhouse Kirkham's Lancashire cheese with use by dates from Oct. 30, 2023, to Jan. 16, 2024, have also been withdrawn from sale.

The company itself has recalled all products sold between October 1 and Christmas Eve.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is located in the picturesque village of Goosnargh. It was established in 1978 by Ruth and John Kirkham before they handed it over to their son, Graham. It is the last cheesemaker in Lancashire that uses raw milk.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said some people may have been given the cheeses unknowingly in festive hampers and charcuterie boards. The affected products can be sold as full blocks or individual portions.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is located in the picturesque rural village of Goosnargh

One of the company's festive cheese hampers. There is no suggestion any of the cheeses pictured were affected by the outbreak

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese is made with raw milk, meaning it doesn't go through the heating pasteurisation process that kills potentially harmful bugs.

MailOnline understands the death was reported in Scotland. The victim's age was not revealed.

A seven-year-old child is among those ill, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The oldest was 81.

All tested positive for a specific type of E.coli called 0145, with tests suggesting the strain was more severe than standard ones.

Health chiefs are still probing the outbreak to determine whether any other sources could be to blame.

STEC is spread by eating contaminated foods, such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat.

The very infectious bacteria can also be spread by touching infected animals or their faeces and coming into contact with other people who are sick.
A new mother orca was spotted by researchers swimming with her beautiful newborn calf off the coast of northwest Washington.

Whale researchers Maya and Mark Sears saw the Southern resident orca calf, and newest member of the J pod on December 26.

Wildlife biologist Brad Hanson told The Spokesman-Review that the calf was spotted near President Point in Puget Sound.

The calf was likely born on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day since the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor hadn't spotted it before then.

The center wrote in a social media post that its mother was likely a J40 orca named Suttles and confirmed that the calf is a boy.

A newborn orca calf was spotted by whale researchers Maya and Mark Sears on December 26 in Washington

The calf was spotted swimming near a J-pod whale referred to as Suttles, who is the suspected mother of the calf

The Center for Whale Research confirmed in a Facebook post that the Southern resident whale calf is a boy

The Center for Whale Research called the new calf J60 and have yet to pick out another name for him.

Besides the Sears', more than 10 other people saw the calf swimming in the water.

Schoolteacher Neil Davis alerted his husband and a friend's family of the sighting on Tuesday while standing on the beach at Fay Bainbridge Park on Bainbridge.

J60 is the 26th member of the J pod family group of Southern resident orcas that are commonly seen in Washington and British Columbia.

The Orca Conservancy indicates that the youngest whale prior to J60's birth is Sxwyeqolh, who was born just last year.

The calf, the latest member of the J-pod, was seen in Puget Sound, which is located off the coast of northwestern Washington

Mark has been researching Orcas since the 1970s and had seen all members of the J-pod with his daughter Maya on the 23rd.

After spotting the calf on the 26th, the duo took their boat and went back to the water the next day with hopes of scooping up fecal samples.

'When calves are really young, they have a peach-ish tinge to the white parts of their body,' Maya Sears said during an interview with KUOW.org.

'We saw a tiny little fin that was just more peachy.'

Mark added that the calf was 'quite active' and was 'attempting to tail slap.'

Mark and Maya Sears saw every J-pod whale except for the baby on December 23. After spotting the whale, the two went back to the water to try and collect fecal samples

According to The Seattle Times, Southern resident orcas are endangered because of a lack of chinook salmon in their range, pollution, and underwater noise that makes it harder for them to hunt and communicate.

Researchers found that two-thirds of Southern resident whale pregnancies end in loss because of lack of food.

If J60 lives past its first birthday, it could bring the estimated endangered orca population up to 75.

'In order for the population to grow, you really need them to have five or six successful calves,' Hanson told The Seattle Times.

'And thats just not been happening in the population.'
Universities may be increasingly dependent on steep overseas student fees to pay the bills, but at least one college seems to be doing very nicely, thank you.

Cambridge University college Corpus Christi has just recruited a cellar worker to look after its finest clarets and 'assist with wine selections'.

Reporting to the college fellows' butler, the assistant will be in charge of managing stocks and making sure that the right vintages are served up to students and staff.

The part-time recruit will be paid 12,921 for the 21.5 hours-a-week post.

A recruitment advert placed last month said applicants must 'possess knowledge and passion for fine wines' and lists their main duties as 'ensuring adequate refreshments are selected and available'. Many Oxbridge colleges have vast wine cellars. Trinity College, Cambridge, was said in 2010 to have a collection worth more than 1.5 million  double the value of the Government's collection.

Cambridge University college Corpus Christi has just recruited a cellar worker to look after its finest clarets and 'assist with wine selections'

Many Oxbridge colleges have vast wine cellars. Trinity College, Cambridge, was said in 2010 to have a collection worth more than 1.5 million  double the value of the Government's collection

The cellar job comes as many other universities are facing an unprecedented financial black hole.

According to the sector's regulator, 30 universities reported financial losses in the last academic year, with fears that this number could triple next year.

The Government sets the cap on tuition fees, which rose in 2017 from 9,000 to 9,250. A recent House of Lords report concluded that 'the current system of funding higher education is not sustainable'. Last year a collection of rare Burgundies from the cellars of King's College, Cambridge, fetched 1,365,125 at a Christie's auction in London.

In the three academic years from 2010 until 2013, a total of 30 Cambridge colleges spent 7.9 million on wine, a Freedom of Information request found.

Colleges' cellar stocks are used for events put on for external groups, for purchase by past and present members of the college or for use at internal dinners to mark events such as graduation or admission as a fellow. Some of the wine is also sold on.

In 2006, a former Oxford college cellar master told the Spectator magazine that wines were rarely bought in quantities of less than six dozen, and it was not uncommon to see shipments of 50 cases arriving at the college.

Formal dinners for 100 guests could consume six to eight cases, taking into account an aperitif, claret, dessert wine and port.
Police face questions over performance after it emerged nearly 4.8million crimes went unsolved in a year.

It comes after the Daily Mail reported yesterday how forces abandoned investigations into 2.3million crimes without tracking down the culprit  equivalent to four every minute.

In addition, an analysis of official crime figures by the Labour Party showed just under 1.6million investigations were abandoned because the victim withdrew their support  indicating a lack of faith in the justice system. A further 872,000 inquiries were dropped due to 'evidential difficulties' despite a suspect being identified.

The 4,772,503 total amounted to 87 per cent of the crimes reported to police in England and Wales in the year to June.

Police face questions over performance after it emerged nearly 4.8million crimes went unsolved in a year (Stock Image)

A stock image of police officers on duty in Parsons Green, London

Two British Police Officers guard the entrance to the arena of a Summer Fair

It came even as the number of police officers surged to record levels over the last four years.

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.

The Home Office spent 3.6billion up to March on an election pledge to hire 20,000 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.

However Labour's Yvette Cooper said the surge in unsolved crimes was the Government's fault. The Shadow Home Secretary added: 'This is the Tories' disgraceful record on law and order. Across the UK are millions of victims of crime who have been failed by a criminal justice system that has been destroyed by the Conservatives.

'The Home Secretary has no plan to turn this around and is instead obsessed with gimmicks rather than a serious plan to catch more criminals. In the meantime, criminals are being let off and victims are being let down.'

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the surge in unsolved crimes was the Government's fault

Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire Chris Philip MP hit back at Ms Cooper saying this was 'hypocrisy' from the Labour Party

Labour said that in the 4,772,503 crimes reported in the year to June that are unsolved were 1.7million violent crimes and 1.6million thefts. The figure has rocketed in eight years  in the year to June 2015 it stood at 2.3million.

The number of crime victims who withdrew their support from police investigations was up more than 75,000 on the previous 12 months.

But police minister Chris Philp hit back at Ms Cooper, saying: 'This is more hypocrisy from the Labour Party that has consistently voted against tougher sentences, as well as new measures to keep rapists in prison for longer and extra funding to help our police officers crack down on crime.

'Labour have no plan to improve policing... Only the Conservatives are taking the long-term decisions needed, giving our police the resources they need to drive down crime and catch criminals.'
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after allegedly killing his parents and trying and failing to murder his little sister.

Se Vang and her husband Lue Yang, both 37, were found dead in their isolated rural home in Fresno County, California, on Wednesday night.

The boy allegedly tried to kill his 11-year-old sister but she is expected to recover from her injuries. Another brother, aged 7, was also home but wasn't injured.

He called 911 and claimed an intruder broke into the home, killed his parents, and attacked his sister before fleeing in a pickup truck, police said.

Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said deputies arrived at the scene on the 4700 block of Dunlap Road, near Miramonte, about 7.40pm.

Se Vang and her husband Lue Yang, both 37, were found dead in their isolated rural home on the 4700 block of Dunlap Road, near Miramonte, Fresno County

They found the bodies of the parents and the critically injured girl, who was rushed to hospital, and spoke with the teenager.

Deputies found inconsistencies in the boy's story of a murderous intruder and formed the view he allegedly made it up to cover his tracks.

He used multiple weapons to murder his parents and attempt to kill his sister, Zanoni alleged.

The boy was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. He will not be named because he is a minor.

A motive for the alleged attacks is not yet known.
A pram was spotted in the wreckage

Two male drivers, 42 and 49, were killed

A pram has been spotted in the debris of a crash that killed two drivers, hospitalised a dozen people and left a girl, aged nine, fighting for life west of the Blue Mountains.

Police said Friday's holiday pile-up on the Great Western Highway at Wallerawang, about 15km north of Lithgow, appeared to have unfolded when a car crossed onto the wrong side of the road.

Photos from the devastating scene show how the crash so severe several items were flung from the vehicles - including a black pram and holiday items such as pillows.

Investigators on Saturday morning said an eastbound Isuzu D-Max, towing a motorcycle trailer, collided with a westbound Toyota Hilux.

That Toyota then struck a Hyundai Tuscan - hurling it from the highway and trapping the occupants.

In the chaos, the Isuzu then struck a Kia Carnival head-on. A Nissan Patrol, towing a caravan, then collided with the Isuzu's trailer.

The Isuzu and Kia drivers were both trapped and died at the scene.

A black pram (pictured in the pile of debris, left) was spotted amongst the carnage from the five-car crash outside Lithgow on Friday

Two people were killed and up to 15 people were injured in a crash near Lithgow (pictured, emergency services at the scene)

A nine-year-old girl is fighting for life in hospital with critical injuries (pictured, ambulance officers are seen wheeling away a patient from the crash scene)

The Kia's six passengers - including five children and a woman, 41 - were all injured.

A nine-year-old girl is in a critical but stable condition, while the other four are stable, and the adult has been released from hospital.

Many of those caught up in the fatal crash were heading off or returning from holidays for the Christmas/New Year's period.

Images from the scene show more than a dozen ambulance vehicles, with paramedics and SES officers helping the injured.

Several vehicles were crumpled wrecks with debris strewn across the 110km/h stretch of highway, including suitcases, pillows and dirtbikes.

The impact of the crash was so powerful that a minivan was completely totalled, while another vehicle ended up in a ditch.

The five-vehicle crash occurred along the Great Western Highway at Wallerawang, about 15km north of Lithgow in NSW, with emergency services responding about 12.50pm Friday

Motorists were urged to avoid the area as the Great Western Highway closed in both directions (pictured, emergency services at the scene of the crash)

The Great Western Highway has since reopened.

NSW Police Superintendent Paul Glinn said: 'It would appear that a vehicle has crossed to the incorrect side of the road.'

Fire crews arrived at 'a confronting scene of carnage'.

'Crews with the assistance of ambulance and volunteer rescue association had to make critical decisions triaging patients,' Fire and Rescue NSW Duty Commander Phil Vaiciurgis said.

'We had to do two complicated rescues from severe entrapment injuries and provide fire protection and assist police and ambulance rendering the scene safe.'

Friday's tragedy takes the NSW road death toll to 352 in 2023  82 more than last year.

Six passengers in a Kia Carnival - including five children and a woman, 41 - were all injured (pictured, aftermath of the crash)

Fire and Rescue NSW Duty Commander Phil Vaiciurgis described the crash site (pictured) as a 'a confronting scene of carnage'

Several of the vehicles involved in the five car pile-up (one above) were left crumpled wrecks

Up to 15 people were injured in the crash, including several children, and two male drivers were killed (pictured, emergency services at the crash site)

The crash takes the NSW road death toll to 352 in 2023  82 more than last year (pictured, one of the injured being loaded onto a helicopter)

The tragedy has rocked the region west of the Blue Mountains.

'It is shocking news and everyone is sending their condolences to those families and loved ones that have been involved in that serious accident,' Bathurst MP Paul Toole, told ABC News.

'It has a far-rippling effect in our local communities.

'I know the police have not identified those that have been involved in the incident, but we know it is going to cause a lot of heartache and loss.'

Investigators urge anyone with information or dash cam footage to contact police.
A policeman who successfully campaigned for a law to protect service animals from violent criminals has quit after being wrongly accused of breeding a dog for financial gain.

PC Dave Wardell fought for stricter penalties for those who injure police support animals after his dog Finn only just survived a vicious stabbing in the line of duty.

The duo went on to take part in Britain's Got Talent in 2019 and made it to the final thanks to their special bond.

But Mr Wardell's 20-year career was called into question earlier this year when he was accused of illegally breeding police animals for financial gain.

The allegation related to Pearl, a police spaniel in his care, when she had been staying in kennels and became pregnant.

PC Dave Wardell fought for stricter penalties for those who injure police support animals after his dog Finn (pictured together) only just survived a vicious stabbing in the line of duty

Mr Wardell's 20-year career was called into question earlier this year when he was accused of illegally breeding police animals for financial gain. Pictured: Mr Wardell with nine-year-old dog Max

Weeks later, he was told he was also being investigated about animal welfare because another spaniel, Hero, for which he was responsible, had a 'scruffy' coat. He said: 'I was broken at that point. Everyone, including my solicitor and police union rep, told me I would be cleared... Anyone can see how much my animals mean to me.'

Both dogs and a German shepherd were removed from his care after an inquiry was launched in January. Last month, he was placed on restricted duties until he was cleared.

Yet Hertfordshire Police confirmed in November there was 'no case to answer' on any of the allegations, and Mr Wardell began applying to have the dogs back  only to learn Pearl had developed cancer and died, Hero had been rehomed, and the German shepherd had been assigned to another force.

Devastated by his treatment and suffering suicidal thoughts, Mr Wardell resigned from Hertfordshire Police in disgust.

His misery was compounded by the death of Finn, aged 14, in July. Mr Wardell, 47, yesterday claimed he was singled out because of an 'outdated macho culture' in the force and because colleagues turned against him after he alerted bosses of 'daily abuse' of female officers.

Mr Wardell has now moved to Cornwall with his wife, where they run a dog rehoming charity and training centre

The father-of-three has now moved to Cornwall with his wife, where they run a dog rehoming charity and training centre.

In 2016, Finn saved Mr Wardell's life when both were stabbed on duty. Finn almost died from head and chest wounds but the attack on the dog was dealt with only as criminal damage, leading Mr Wardell to fight for an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act.

Finn's Law, passed in 2019, made it more difficult for offenders to claim they had harmed a service animal in self-defence.

A Hertfordshire Police spokesman said: 'We have an absolute duty to respond when allegations of police misconduct emerge and to investigate thoroughly. This work is often complex and can be protracted.'
Liz Truss nominates 3 close associates for peerages and 8 for honours in list

Liz Truss announced her resignation honours tonight, despite being prime minister for just 49 days.

She nominated three of her close associates for peerages and eight for honours in a scaled-back version of her original list.

There had been reports that she had originally recommended at least 14 people for honours  though at least two were said to have refused them.

This evening, Ms Truss said she was delighted that the 'champions for the conservative causes of freedom' had been honoured.

She nominated life peers including Sir Jon Moynihan, a Conservative party donor, Matthew Elliott, who ran the Brexit campaign in 2016, and Ruth Porter, her deputy chief of staff in No 10.

However, Mark Littlewood, the former head of the Institute of Economic Affairs, a thinktank that had supported her mini-budget, was not on the list.

Liz Truss (pictured) announced her resignation honours tonight, despite being prime minister for just 49 days

Liz Truss nominated Ruth Porter (left), her deputy chief of staff in No 10 and Tory donor Sir Jon Moynihan for peerages

Ms Truss nominated Sir Jon and Mr Elliott  key figures in the Vote Leave campaign  despite campaigning for Remain in the referendum, though later embracing Brexit.

She also put forward Tory MPs Jacqueline Doyle-Price for a damehood and Alec Shelbrooke for a knighthood for their political service.

Ms Doyle-Price was made industry minister under her close friend Ms Truss, while Mr Shelbrooke served as defence minister. Novelist Shirley Conran, who has donated money to Ms Truss, is also nominated for a damehood for her services to maths.

The former prime minister's long-serving aide Sophie Jarvis will be appointed Commander of the British Empire, as will Shabbir Merali.

Tory MPs Robert Butler and Suzanne Webb who worked for Ms Truss's government are made Officers of the British Empire, while Ms Truss's local Conservative chairman David Hills is made a Member of the British Empire.

The publication of the list drew criticism from opposition parties with Labour describing them as rewards for 'Tory failure'.
A study has revealed the fastest internet speeds in Europe  and the UK is trailing way behind.

Researchers from BusinessComparison.com tested how long it took to load a web page on a mobile or desktop in 30 European countries.

Britain comes in at 15th on mobile loading times and performs even worse on desktop, coming in at 17th.

While British broadband is still faster than the European average, Brits experience load times almost a full second longer than countries at the top.

Sweden tops the tables for both desktop and mobile internet speeds, the experts found.

Internet speeds in Europe are much slower on mobile than on desktop, with the UK ranking at 15th

Sweden ranks top for fastest desktop internet as well as mobile, while the UK trails behind

Sam White, digital content executive at BusinessComparison.com, says the study 'analysed the average web page loading speed over both desktop and mobile devices for each country in Europe, using the figure for how long it would take the page to load for a visitor in the domestic market.'

Using this method, the study found that the average time taken to load a webpage in Europe is 5.17 seconds on desktop and 8.78 on mobile.

Mr White suggests that this may be due to the UK's ageing mobile infrastructure, citing Ofcom data showing only 48 per cent of homes have full-fibre broadband.

Recently, London was ranked 76 out of 200 cities for the fastest internet speed worldwide.

Other studies have also shown that adventurers in the Arctic Circle have broadband ten times faster than half a million households in rural Britain.

Britain ranks 15th out of 30 for the internet speeds in Europe, according to the study

For desktop, Sweden came out on top with the fastest load speeds in Europe and was followed by Finland, Denmark, and Latvia

Britain might rank in the middle of the table for fastest speeds but it is still a good deal faster than average.

In the UK it takes an average time of 4.67 seconds to load a desktop page and 8.26 seconds to load a mobile page.

For desktop loading times, Sweden is the fastest by some distance, taking only 3.74 seconds to load a page.

This is followed by Finland at 3.84 seconds, with Denmark and Latvia both on 4 seconds.

It takes considerably longer to load a page on a mobile than it does on desktop  3.6 seconds longer, on average.

Mobile loading times were 3.6 seconds longer on average than on desktop, but Sweden still ranks first for the fastest loading times

Mr White said: 'There are several reasons for this - while desktop browsers are able to cope with media and image files, these will often cause mobile browsers difficulty due to the larger size of these files.

'Mobile devices can also be slow to load internet pages if there is a poor connection in the area or if the user has a large number of web browsing tabs or even other apps open.'

However, even with slower speeds compared to desktop, Sweden still has by far the fastest mobile internet speeds, with a page loading in 7.48 seconds.

In second place is Denmark with average times of 7.65 seconds, followed by Finland and Latvia with 7.8 and 7.93 second load times respectively.

At the bottom of the table is Turkey, where BusinessComparison.com says that outdated copper wires contribute to slower speeds on desktops

The bottom three countries were the same for both mobile and desktop browsing, with Turkey being followed by Bulgaria and Romania

At the bottom of the table is Turkey for both mobile and desktop move speeds, taking 10.22 seconds to load a page on desktop and 13.19 seconds on mobile.

In addition to having suffered devastating earthquakes in February which have disrupted services, Mr White says that Turkey has outdated internet infrastructure.

Mr White writes: 'There are issues with Turkeys internet connectivity on the whole, with much of the country relying on 30-year-old copper cables rather than more modern cables, which can transmit more data faster and further with less signal loss.'

Bulgaria comes in second last for both desktop and mobile, with speeds of 9.38 and 12.89 seconds respectively.

Finally, Romania has the third lowest speeds at 8.59 seconds for desktop and 11.91 seconds for mobile.
READ MORE: Tesla recalls over TWO MILLION vehicles due to Autopilot issue

As any Tesla customer will know, the company's vehicles do not quite offer fully autonomous driving.

Tesla's Autopilot mode takes over certain tasks such as lane centering, but the driver needs to keep touching the wheel to show he or she is ready to take over at all times.

However, it seems a hidden mode  known as 'Elon Mode'  built-in to Tesla cars overrides this and if activated it could lead to more accidents.

German researchers have hacked a Tesla Model 3 by manipulating its inner circuitry, using equipment costing around 600 euros (520).

Not only were they able to access 'critical data' about the car, but they found code that confirmed the setting, which hasn't been officially acknowledged by Tesla.

Tesla's Autopilot mode takes over certain tasks such as lane centering, but the driver needs to keep touching the wheel to show he or she is ready to take over at all times. However, it seems a hidden mode built-in to Tesla cars overrides this - known as 'Elon Mode'

German researchers hacked into the inner circuit board of Tesla's Autopilot, its advanced driver-assistance system

What is Elon Mode? Elon Mode is a secret mode in Tesla vehicles named after CEO Elon Musk. When engaged, it reduces the frequency of alerts prompting drivers to put hands on the wheel. This allows for hands-free driving, although this is against Tesla's official recommendations and potentially dangerous. Advertisement

The research was conducted by Christian Werling, Niclas Kuhnapfel and Hans Niklas Jacob, three PhD students at the Technische Universitat Berlin (TU Berlin).

They presented their results at the Chaos Computer Club hacking congress in Hamburg, Germany on Wednesday.

'We demonstrate our voltage glitching attack on Tesla Autopilot, enabling us root privileges on the system,' they said in a statement.

'The attack enables us to extract arbitrary code and user data from the system.'

According to the team, 'voltage glitching' requires physical access to the car's circuitry and so their hack cannot be done remotely.

Voltage glitching involves intentionally causing brief fluctuations in the power supply of a circuit, which, in a Tesla car, can cause glitches.

These glitches allowed the German hackers to gain unauthorized access to car data and extract sensitive data from the device's memory.

Model 3 (pictured) is one of the cars made by Elon Musk's company Tesla, first produced in 2017

'Elon Mode', named after the Tesla boss (pictured), is an unofficial driving mode discovered within Tesla's systems

Not only were they able to access 'critical data' about the car, but they found code that confirmed the setting (right)

READ MORE Tesla recalls more than TWO MILLION vehicles A system that ensures drivers are paying attention when using Autopilot is defective Advertisement

This included personal information about the driver such as contacts in the phonebook and calendar appointments, but also data about the car such as locations it visited.

But the experts also found code that confirmed the existence of the Elon Mode setting that reduces driver monitoring alerts.

This allows for hands-free driving, although this is against Tesla's official recommendations and is potentially dangerous.

It's unclear how exactly Model 3 drivers can activate Elon Mode; MailOnline contacted the researchers for more information.

It's been speculated that Elon Mode is reserved for the Tesla CEO himself and a few select customers of his choosing.

Tesla's Autopilot uses camera and sensor data to create a representation of the world around the car, which is presented virtually on an in-car screen.

Hacking into the system also allowed the team to take video clips of what the car was seeing along the road, complete with GPS coordinates.

Much like other electric carmakers, Tesla is making customers pay extra for additional features like faster acceleration or rear heated seats.

Voltage glitching involves intentionally causing brief fluctuations in the power supply of a circuit, which, in a Tesla car, can cause glitches and confusion

Hacking into the system also allowed the team to take video clips of what the car was seeing along the road, complete with GPS coordinates

Hacking the embedded car computer could allow users to unlock these features without paying, according to the German team.

Tesla's driving assistant Autopilot has been 'subject to public scrutiny' for good and bad reasons, they add.

They point out that the firm is recalling more than 2 million vehicles fitted with Autopilot in the US, following a series of deadly crashes.

So far 19 fatalities involving Tesla's Autopilot have occurred, along with hundreds of non-fatal crashes, according to a Washington Post analysis.

Tesla warns that drivers using the systems must be ready to intervene at all times, as per any Level 2 autonomous driving system.

MailOnline has contacted Tesla for comment.
From Cher to Priyanka Chopra, many of the most famous women in Hollywood are known for dating younger men.

And now a study suggests that these so-called 'cougars' may be on to something.

Research shows that women with younger boyfriends score more highly for emotional intelligence, sexual self-efficacy, and happiness than ladies with partners of the same age.

According to scientists from London Metropolitan University, this suggests their romantic relationships are more fulfilling.

'This study questions the preconceived notion that women in relationships with younger men are any less fulfilling or successful than those in similar relationships,' the researchers wrote.

From Cher to Priyanka Chopra, 40, (pictured with her husband, Nick Jonas, 30), many of the most famous women in Hollywood are known for dating younger men. And now a study suggests that these so-called 'cougars' may be on to something

Research shows that women with younger boyfriends score more highly for emotional intelligence, sexual self-efficacy, and happiness than ladies with partners of the same age. Pictured: Cher (77) with her boyfriend, Alexander Edwards (37)

READ MORE: What makes the perfect partner? Scientists reveal how women of different ages envisage the man of their dreams Advertisement

The term 'cougar' originated in the bars of Vancouver back in the early 2000s and refers to an older woman who prefers to date younger men.

Several celebrities have earned the title thanks to their relationships with younger men.

For example, Demi Moore famously dated Ashton Kutcher who was 15 years her junior, while Priyanka Chopra, 40, is married to Nick Jonas, 30.

Despite its prevalence in Hollywood, society still tends to view these women more critically than older men who date younger women.

'There needs to be more research in the literature looking at older women who date younger men, and we wanted to understand more about the qualities of these women compared to women who date men of a similar age group,' the researchers, led by Samantha Banbury, wrote in their study, published in Sexual and Relationship Therapy.

In the study, the team recruited 24 women via social media platforms.

This included 17 'cougars' who were significantly older than their partner.

Demi Moore (right) famously dated Ashton Kutcher (left) who was 15 years her junior

The survey results revealed that the 'cougars' scored higher across all three categories. Madonna (65), is pictured with her boxer toyboy Joshua Popper (29)

The women were surveyed across three categories - sexual self-efficacy (SSE), emotional intelligence (EI), and subjective happiness (SH).

Sexual self-efficacy relates to sexual confidence and satisfaction, while emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, express and regulate emotions.

Finally, subjective happiness is the personal perception of your own wellbeing and life satisfaction.

The survey results revealed that the 'cougars' scored higher across all three categories.

'We found that "Cougars" had higher scores among these measures than women in age-matched dating groups,' the researchers wrote.

'Since SSE, E.I., and S.H. are associated with fulfilling intimate relationships, this study questions the preconceived notion that women in relationships with younger men are any less fulfilling or successful than those in similar relationships.'

The researchers hope the findings will encourage further research into relationships with large age gaps.

'We argue that further research is needed to understand the age gap in dating among couples, including the development of suitable interventions that extend to sexuality and relationship-diverse individuals,' they added.
Chances are you'll be popping one or two champagne bottles in just a few days' time to ring in the new year.

But what you might not appreciate as you open your fizz is that you're dealing with a supersonic mechanism akin to a powerful aircraft.

That's according to scientists in Austria, who have finally revealed the fascinating physics behind the champagne pop.

They say a supersonic shock wave blasts gas through the bottle at up to 400 metres per second at -202F (-130C)  far colder than even the North Pole.

Meanwhile, the cork ejects out at much slower speeds, but still fast enough to cause serious injury if pointed in the wrong direction.

Time for a fizzics lesson: Scientists say 'complex supersonic phenomena' occurs when you open your champagne bottle on December 31

The gas that flows out of the champagne bottle is much faster than the cork. The point in this jet of gas where the pressure changes abruptly is known as the Mach disk

The reason Champagne bubbles fizz up in a straight line - READ MORE Proteins in Champagne act as a surfactant, keeping its bubble chains stable Advertisement

The new study was led by Lukas Wagner, a doctoral student at Vienna University of Technology's Institute of Fluid Mechanics.

Wagner and colleagues say 'complex supersonic phenomena occur' whenever you open a bottle of champagne.

Champagne bottles are thicker and heavier than normal wine bottles to contain the immense pressure within.

This pressure is generated by the CO2 bubbles produced during fermentation and is why the cork has to be literally sealed with a wire cage ('the 'muselet').

When it's finally opened, the stopper is driven outwards by the compressed gas in the bottle and flies away with a powerful pop  but the physics behind this has been unclear, the team say.

Using complex computer simulations, they were able to calculate the behaviour of the ejected cork and the flow of CO2 gas that accompanies it.

While the cork is ejected at around 20 meters per second, the flow of gas is much faster  up to 400 metres per second, the team found.

Pictured is a visualization of the cork coming out of a champagne bottle in black. The champagne cork itself flies away at a comparatively low speed - around 20 meters per second

READ MORE Corks can fly out at blind people, experts say It can take just 0.05 seconds for a cork to travel from a 75cl bottle to the face, as one cyclist experienced Advertisement

Therefore the gas is officially supersonic, meaning it travels faster than the speed of sound (343 metres per second).

There is a point in the gas flow where the pressure changes abruptly  known as the 'Mach disk', as also seen in supersonic aircraft.

'Very similar phenomena are also known from supersonic aircraft or rockets, where the exhaust jet exits the engines at high speed,' said study author Stefan Braun, also at Vienna University of Technology.

As for the audible pop when the bottle is opened that often heralds the start of celebrations, this a combination of two different effects.

Firstly, the cork expands abruptly as soon as it has left the bottle, creating a pressure wave, and secondly, a shock wave is generated by the supersonic jet of gas.

This is very similar to the well-known phenomenon of the sonic boom, which aeronautics experts are trying to eliminate to make quieter aircraft.

The study, published on the pre-print server arXiv, could be important for other applications involving gas flows, such as ballistic missiles, projectiles or rockets.

The cork ejects out at much slower speeds, but still fast enough to cause serious injury if pointed in the wrong direction (file photo)

'In many technically important situations you are dealing with very solid flow bodies that interact strongly with a much faster gas flow,' the authors conclude.

Another team of researchers revealed earlier this year why bubbles in Champagne fizz up perfectly straight while those in beer do not.

It was found that larger bubbles and the addition of special proteins in the bubbly stabilise the bubble chains, allowing them to rise in a straight line.

Other research has shown there's more bubbles in champagne than beer, when comparing the same volume of both drinks.

This is because champagne and other sparkling wines contain about twice as much dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) from extra sugar.
New Year's Eve is just a few days away, which will see the world set off impressive fireworks displays.

A new brainteaser incorporates colorful explosions but features three hidden Catherine Wheels fireworks designed to create a circular flame.

This firework was named after Saint Catherine of Alexandria, condemned to death by the 'breaking wheel,' which the person was tied to while an executioner broke their bones.

The puzzle challenges people to find all pinwheel fireworks in under 30 seconds.

The image's creator said those who pass the test could notice every small detail in their environment.

The puzzle challenges people to find all pinwheel fireworks in under 30 seconds. The image's creator said those who pass the test could notice every small detail in their environment

According to legend, Catherine was sentenced to be executed on a spiked wheel, but when she touched it, the wheel miraculously broke, sparing her life.

The fireworks' name and circular spinning motion are believed to be inspired by this story.

Records show the first Catherine Wheel was set off in England during the 18th century and was designed with a wooden wheel strapped with fireworks around the circumference.

The wheel would rapidly spin when the explosives were lit, creating a stunning show of sparks and flames that appeared as a circle.

But the iconic fireworks are still used to this day.

Did you find all three in under 30 seconds? Let us know how you did in the comment section below

The online gambling site created the brainteaser Betway and challenged people to find the three hidden Catherine Wheel fireworks among the fireworks display set over a bonfire.

Setting off fireworks on New Year's Day started around the second century BC in China, where people would throw flaming bamboo into the air to ward off evil spirits.
Satellites are searching for alien life on distant planets, but a scientist's strange encounter suggests we may want to look deeper into our world.

Bob McGwier, a professor at Virginia Tech and with the Institute for Defense Analyses, was carrying out classified work on the USS Hampton submarine when he heard the sound of 'something whizzing by.'

The onboard sonar determined the unidentified submerged object (USO) was traveling through the water faster than the speed of sound, he has calimed.

Such speeds underwater should have crushed the submarine, according to McGwire, but he said it was as if they were standing still.

Bob McGwier, a professor at Virginia Tech and with the Institute for Defense Analyses, was carrying out classified work on the USS Hampton submarine. He took a picture of himself on the bow before the sub went underwater

McGwier said he urged the naval team to report the encounter, but they determined it would hinder the mission.

'When I left there with the knowledge in my head, not having been told to be quiet, not having been told it was classified... It is mine to tell whoever I want. They blew it,' McGwier said, noting he would not discuss the classified work done on the sub.'

The strange incident happened in the late 1990s, but McGwire recently came forward with the story on the YouTube channel UAP Society, where he wanted to 'blow the whole thing wide open.'

The story has also resurfaced online, sparking the attention of many people on social media who 'wonder what it was.'

McGwier has not shared what he was doing on the the Navy submarine, the location and depth it was at due to the information being classified.

The engagement lasted for just a few seconds, he said.

'We were underway, and, all of a sudden, I heard a sound. It is really strange and clear that something is whizzing by us,' said McGwire.

The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) is assigned to Submarine Squadron 11 in San Diego, California.

McGwier boarded the sub from an undisclosed location and snapped a picture before heading down into the depths of the sea.

The strange encounter happened in the late 1990s, but McGwire recently came forward with the story on the YouTube channel UAP Society, where he wanted to 'blow the whole thing wide open'

The USS Hampton is limited by how fast it can travel due to the incompressibility of water in front of it, but the USO 'blew by' the sub.

'A person with knowledge of onboard systems' who was likely monitoring the sonar tech is said to have announced that something just soared past the submarine faster than the speed of sound, McGwire said during the YouTube interview.

Sound travels faster in water, about 3,330 miles per hour because the liquid is about 1,000 times denser than air.

The only manmade object comparable would be Russia's Shkval torpedo, but this can only hit speeds of 230 miles per hour.

And the fastest sea animal is the sailfish, which can swim 68 miles per hour.

Lehto said that McGwier 'has extensive experience in the Navy' and has done work with classified radio frequencies.

The USS Omaha filmed a round object in 2016, which was making a controlled flight above the water for an extended period of time before it finally entered the ocean

McGwier has also served as a high-security-clearance intelligence officer and has a Ph.D. from Brown University.

While the account is bizarre, McGwier's statements echo the 2021 video showing US Naval personnel having a close encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO).

The object was filmed by a camera aboard the USS Omaha as it sailed off the coast of San Diego in July 2019.

Two unidentified crew members could be heard exclaiming: 'Wow, it splashed,' after the ball made a controlled flight over the ocean, then splashed into the sea and disappeared underwater.

They filmed the object making a controlled flight above the water for an extended period of time before it finally entered the ocean.

Investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell shared the footage on Mystery Wire.
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Talk about a captive market.

The Old Forge on the Knoydart peninsula in Scotland enjoys complete dominance of the local pub trade  because its the sole boozer in the village of Inverie on the shore of Loch Nevis. And there are no roads in or out.

The pub is the most remote in mainland Britain, with Inverie  population not much more than 100 - accessible only by a 40km (24-mile) hike over notoriously wild, mountainous terrain or a six-mile journey by ferry from Mallaig.

But even though its the only public-house option in Inverie, it doesnt take business for granted.

I discovered on a recent visit that it has great service, offers superb comfort food  and generally relishes being at the heart of the unique community.

MailOnline Travel Editor Ted Thornhill visited The Old Forge on Scotland's Knoydart peninsula, the most remote pub in mainland Britain

The Old Forge is located in the village of Inverie, accessible only by a 40km (24-mile) hike over notoriously wild, mountainous terrain or a six-mile journey by ferry from Mallaig. During his visit Ted snapped the picture above, which shows the view from the pub across Loch Nevis

For starters, it puts on a very impressive Halloween party.

The day before we donned our zombie make-up and made our grand entrance, we gathered  my partner, six-year-old daughter and an assortment of French friends and their daughters  at London Euston on Friday, October 27, for stage one of our journey to Knoydart... the Caledonian Sleeper.

We journeyed along the epic West Highland Line, which meanders through breathtaking glens, passes over Rannoch Moor and includes Britain's highest and most remote railway station, Corrour, 408m (1,338ft) above sea level.

The sleeper terminates in Fort William, 'the outdoor capital of the UK'.

After a two-hour pause there, we jumped on a Sprinter train and travelled along the final stretch of the West Highland Line to Mallaig, past the highest staircase lock in Scotland, over the Glenfinnan Viaduct (aka the 'Harry Potter viaduct'), and along the shores of jaw-dropping Loch Eilt, which makes an appearance in two Harry Potter movies - the Prisoner of Azkaban and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

The next segment was a 40-minute voyage on a Western Isles Cruises ferry from Mallaig to Inverie.

Our base was a beguiling self-catered four-bedroom holiday home called Creag Eiridh. Its like a grand abode from an Agatha Christie novel  and even has some celebrity status. Rowan Atkinson stayed there in 2009.

There are no roads in or out of Inverie, above, which has a population of just over 100

The Old Forge is on the main drag in Inverie, which you can walk in about five minutes

We got wind that The Old Forge was throwing a childrens Halloween party. The youngsters excitement for it was infectious and before we knew it, we were all applying make-up to give us the appearance of a zombie posse.

The atmosphere inside the community-owned pub was terrific - toy bats and spiders hung from the ceiling and everyone, from toddlers to adults, had made a big effort to dress for the occasion, with pirates, caped superheroes and a dad dressed as Rambo all revelling in the Halloween celebration.

What's more, the pub had rustled up a free feast - a buffet of Scotch eggs, pasties, burgers and more, all laid out on a table for guests to help themselves to.

We left as the childrens party fizzled out and the pub filled up with more and more adults  including one whod seemingly placed a plastic buoy over his head.

The entire peninsula seemed to be in attendance.

It was much quieter when we arrived for an evening meal a couple of days later, when we had a chance to properly drink in the surroundings.

During Ted's visit, the pub was decorated for Halloween celebrations

During its Halloween party, the pub laid on this free Halloween feast for customers

The Old Forge is on the main drag in Inverie, which you can walk in about five minutes.

The pubs website explains that the building started its life in the 1770s as a cottage, before evolving into a smiddy's forge, then a workers social club and finally a pub.

The pub went up for sale in 2021, with the locals deciding to launch a community ownership bid, which was ultimately successful.

The keys were handed to the community on March 28, 2022.

This year it was given a full refurb, emerging as a venue with an inviting appearance that belies its remote location.

Its one huge room, so no nooks or crannies to nestle in  but there are lashings of wood and huge tables to sit at that encourage communal eating and drinking.

We commandeered one such lengthy table for our evening meal, discovering that the pub offers a solid range of comforting pub crowd-pleasers, from fish and chips to chicken burgers and from lasagne to mac 'n' cheese.

The pubs website explains that the building started its life in the 1770s as a cottage, before evolving into a smiddy's forge, then a workers social club and finally a pub

The pub went up for sale in 2021, with the locals deciding to launch a community ownership bid, which was ultimately successful

Ted praised The Old Forge's fish and chips (left) and its cullen skink (right)

The bar is made from wood embossed with the names of people who helped renovate and finance The Old Forge

There are also some Scottish classics - cullen skink, haggis bites and venison stew made from locally shot wild deer.

I opted for the fish and chips, which was fresh and tasty.

We had table service, too - which was efficient and friendly.

Even though its the only public-house option in Inverie (view from the village above), The Old Forge doesnt take business for granted

The inviting Knoydart Tea Room is a great place to warm up with hot coffee, Ted discovered

Drinks have to be ordered at the bar, which is made from wood embossed with the names of people who helped renovate and finance the pub.

My tipple of choice was a local ale from the Knoydart Brewery called Seven Men, which refers to the heralded 'Seven Men of Knoydart', war veterans who in 1948 tenaciously staked a parcel of peninsula land to settle on.

The landowner, Nazi sympathiser Lord Brocket, obtained a court order to have them removed. But while the Seven Men of Knoydart lost this battle, their land raid became the inspiration for a community Knoydart Foundation buyout of 17,200 acres of peninsular land in 1999.

This stunning picture was posted to the Knoydart Brewery Instagram page. It shows Loch Bhraomisaig in the foreground, which feeds the turbine for the Knoydart power supply, with Inverie on the shoreline beyond. Some of its white houses are just visible. In the far distance - the Isle of Skye

Above is Inverie's 'main drag'. When this picture was taken it was, for Inverie, a hive of activity

Wonderfully, one of the 'Seven' lived long enough to see the handover.

Today, it's an impressive operation. As well as the welcoming pub, there's a hydro-electric system, wi-fi, a school with a handful of children, and a bunkhouse with accommodation for 26 people and electric mountain bike hire.

We spent the rest of the week exploring the awe-inspiring surrounds using the trusty Land Rover that came with the house, electric bikes from the bunkhouse  and leg power.

Inverie nestles in a bay of Loch Nevis in the north-west of Scotland, just 13 miles from the Isle of Skye, as the crow flies

Ted's rental in Inverie came with a Land Rover. This picture was taken on a drive to a (very) remote beach

Ted and his group completed a hike to the summit (above) of the dramatic 2,611ft (796m) mountain Sgurr Coire Choinnichean. In the distance are the isles of Skye (to the right), Rum (middle) and Eigg (to the left)

Sgurr Coire Choinnichean rises imperiously behind Inverie, which is hidden by the ridgeline in this photo taken by Ted

The Inverie village shop, which sells a fairly wide range of food, including venison from the local deer herds

The best way of reaching Mallaig (above) is along the breathtakingly scenic railway line from Fort William

We explored stunning  completely empty  beaches, pootled in the Land Rover along gloriously lonely roads that led nowhere, thoroughly enjoyed a guided tour of the local ancient forest with a Knoydart ranger, sheltered from the elements with hot coffee in the inviting Knoydart Tea Room, and completed a hike to the summit of dramatic 2,611ft (796m) mountain Sgurr Coire Choinnichean, which rises imperiously behind Inverie.

At the top, clear weather afforded us jaw-dropping views to the Isle of Skye, beyond to the Outer Hebrides and to the majestically lumpy prehistoric Knoydart wilderness.

A land that time forgot  but thankfully not the pub trade. Not quite.
Tegan Martin has revealed a surprising new career change ahead of the new year.

The former Miss Universe Australia, 31, took to Instagram on Wednesday to showcase several of her achievements from the last year and announced she's been studying a Bachelor of Health Science - and she is now in her final year.

She also explained her lack of social media presence and said she enjoys living a 'private life'.

'This year I've struggled to care for showing up on social media the way I used to,' Tegan began.

'Despite what you may think, sharing all facets of my life has never come naturally to me and I've had to dig deep to keep up (give me privacy and being present with my people any day).'

Tegan Martin has revealed a surprising new career change ahead of the new year

The Newcastle model went on to list her major accomplishments from 2023, which included delivering her 'first key note "Health is Wealth" to over 80 business women at a Fiji Conference', as well as co-authoring published papers and mini-series about health.

Tegan also revealed she is planning a 'secret project' with her best friend that is set to launch next year.

'If you had asked me 5 years ago, I was "busy" but not aligned with my passion for health and wellness at all,' she added.

The former Miss Universe Australia, 31, took to Instagram on Wednesday to showcase several of her achievements from the last year and announced she's been studying a Bachelor of Health Science - which she is now in her final year

'This year everything became crystal clear. I'm finally living my purpose which brings more joy than I can put into words.'

Tegan concluded: 'If you've not yet found your "thing" don't give up, it's worth the goddamn wait.'

Tegan competed in the 63rd annual Miss Universe competition in 2014 and finished in the top ten.

That same year, she was crowned Miss Universe Australia after representing her hometown Newcastle in the national competition.

Tegan competed in the 63rd annual Miss Universe competition in 2014 and finished in the top ten

She made headlines in 2017 when she claimed she was 'too fat' for Australia's Next Top Model.

'I was too fat for Next Top Model. They just said, like, they made out like I was 'too commercial,'' she said during her stint on I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

'I have always had curves like boobs and a bum ... and that's why when I lived in Paris I had to, like, starve myself to work.

She added: 'It is disgraceful but lucky I am out of that patch now.'
Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne are ending 2023 on a high note, after their Life Uncut show topped the Spotify charts as one of Australia's biggest podcasts.

The podcast hosts shared a gallery of photos to Instagram on Friday, revealing their 'Spotify Wrapped' statistics for their program, which showed it resonated with many.

Laura, 37, and Brittany, 36, were thrilled that thousands of people were listening to their show and thanked their fans for their phenomenal success.

'We are 4.5 years and 500 episodes deep and have loved every second. To have that love reflected back means everything to us,' they began.

'Some highlights: Top one percent of charted podcasts. Played in 115 countries! A top 10 for 85.2k people! Huge growth of 999.9% on streams and listens.

Brittany Hockley (left) and Laura Byrne (right) are ending 2023 on a high note, after their Life Uncut program topped the Spotify charts as one of Australia's biggest podcasts

'We won the Champions Award at the Australian Podcast Awards. That you guys care so much about us personally means the world to us,' they added.

The pair then promised listeners that Life Uncut would be back and better than ever in 2024.

The best friends are Australia's biggest female podcasters and in February, ARN's iHeart Radio network re-signed the duo in a new multi-year deal to continue their hit podcast.

The podcast hosts shared a gallery of photos to Instagram on Friday, revealing their 'Spotify Wrapped' statistics for their program, which showed it resonated with many

Life Uncut is currently available in podcast format, but is also broadcast as a radio show on the KIIS Network.

'We are super excited to continue the Life Uncut journey with the iHeart and ARN family,' Brittany and Laura said in a statement.

'We can't wait to continue bringing the laughs and the important stuff to all of our podcast listeners each and every week. To be able to add to the podcast with our new radio show THE PICKUP really is the icing on the cake!'

Laura and Brittany were thrilled that so many people were listening to their show and thanked their fans for their phenomenal success

Britt and Laura have continued to expand into radio, landing their own show The Pick Up on KIIS FM, which airs each weekday.

The former Bachelor stars were reportedly offered a multimillion-dollar deal to do the show, which replaced The 3pm Pick-Up hosted by Kate Langbroek, Yumi Stynes and Monty Dimond.

Life Uncut is currently the most-listened to female-hosted podcast in Australia, with more than 450,000 listeners a month.

No other female-fronted, lifestyle or reality TV podcast comes close to their monthly listens or downloads.

The pair then promised listeners that Life Uncut would be back and better than ever in 2024
Oprah Winfrey explained Whoopi Goldberg's cameo in the musical remake of The Color Purple.

The former daytime talk show host, 69, produced the film and in the process decided to drop a little inside joke for fans of the 1985 film in which she played Sofia.

In the remake  which had the second highest Christmas Day opening of all time  Whoopi Goldberg, 68, makes a cameo as a midwife during the scene when Celie  who she played in the original film  is having her second baby.

'[We] just thought it was a wonderful Easter egg for audiences who have appreciated the film over the years, for the diehards,' she told The Hollywood Reporter.

She added: 'And we also thought it was a lovely homage to Whoopi.'

Oprah Winfrey explained Whoopi Goldberg's cameo in the musical remake of The Color Purple

Winfrey was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Steven Spielberg film.

But she decided only Goldberg's cameo was necessary.

'Actually, I thought about it, it would've been good in the church scene, but I thought it would also be distracting when Sofia is getting married that if the old original Sofia was just one of the people in the church, and then they were shooting that in the middle of Georgia when COVID was [spreading] like, 'OK, well I ain't sitting in that church all day anyway,'' she told the outlet.

'And also I just think it's more special that it's just Whoopi,' she added.

1985's The Color Purple was Oprah's first film and her first time on a film set. In a separate interview she recalled her nerves and the mistakes she made.

'I had never done a film, been in a film, knew anything about filming but wanted to be in The Color Purple more than anything in my life,' Winfrey said on a recent interview on the Drew Barrymore Show.

She said she looked straight into the camera on her first day of filming alongside costar Goldberg.

'Steven yells, "Cut! Cut! Cut! What are you doing?"' the media mogul explained.

'[I said], "Uh. I was just doing my lines." He said, "What are you doing looking in the camera?" I go, "I'm not supposed to look in the camera?" He goes, "No! Ms. Celie's over here!"'

'I didn't know. I didn't know. I had never been on a movie set,' she added.

In the remake, Whoopi Goldberg, 68, makes a cameo as a midwife during the scene when Celie  who she played in the original film  is having her second baby (Goldberg pictured in the original film)

The former daytime talk show host, 69, produced the film and in the process decided to drop a little inside joke for fans of the 1985 film in which she played Sofia

The remake had the second highest Christmas Day opening of all time

'[We] just thought it was a wonderful Easter egg for audiences who have appreciated the film over the years, for the diehards,' she told The Hollywood Reporter

She added: 'And we also thought it was a lovely homage to Whoopi'

The media mogul played Sofia in the 1985 film and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role

And now she's produced the show alongside Spielberg.

'So full circle!' Winfrey said about reuniting with Spielberg. 'Look at God looking at me! I think it's so incredible.'

The new movie musical stars Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson and Colman Domingo.

The film had the largest Christmas opening since 2009's Sherlock Holmes with $18 million on opening day.
Molly-Mae Hague looked as incredible as ever as she cuddled up to her baby daughter Bambi in adorable snaps.

The former Love Island star, 24, took to Instagram on Thursday to give an insight into her lavish Maldives holiday with Bambi, 11 months, and her fiance Tommy Fury.

Molly-Mae stunned in a burgundy two-piece as she lounged on a chair by the swimming pool as she cradled Bambi.

She sweetly gazed lovingly at her daughter as they relaxed at the 4,300 a night Ritz-Carlton in the Maldives.

Molly-Mae has been giving fans a glimpse into the trip, starting with snaps from the plane journey over with Bambi and her boxer fiance Tommy, 24.

Molly-Mae Hague looked as incredible as ever as she cuddled up to her baby daughter Bambi in adorable snaps

The former Love Island star, 24, stunned in a burgundy two-piece as she lounged on a chair by the swimming pool as she cradled Bambi, 11 months, on her chest

Her fans launched to her defence this week after she came under fire for saying she was 'proud' after her first class trip to the Maldives with Bambi.

The couple, who have sparked rumours of relationship drama over the last couple of months, touched down in the Maldives with their daughter on Wednesday.

Sharing an insight into their most luxurious trip yet, the loved-up couple took to Instagram to show off their private ocean pool villa.

Overlooking the stunning crystal clear waters, Molly-Mae and Tommy made sure to splash out on one of the best villas in the resort.

The waterfront pad features a private pool, with a double-bed sun lounger and a king-size bed overlooking the Maldivian sea.

It boasts a stunning interior, a mini bar, a huge walk in wardrobe, including a stone-washed bathtub.

Elsewhere, Molly-Mae has been open about her body image struggles since welcoming Bambi at the end of January.

In August, Molly-Mae admitted she 'struggles to accept her post baby body' and hit back at trolls for leaving cruel comments on her social media.

Molly-Mae has been giving fans a glimpse into the trip, sharing loved-up snaps with her fiance Tommy, 24, and their daughter Bambi

Sharing a glimpse into their most luxurious trip yet, Molly-Mae and Tommy showed off their private ocean pool villa

The star, who recently said she is 'finally happy' in size 14 Zara jeans, admitted she had been struggling to look at herself naked after giving birth.

'I am struggling massively with my body at the minute, as much as I've just had a baby, I'm truly not helping myself,' she said back in June.

'Every day I wake up and look in the mirror and I'm not comfortable with the way I look and that's just me being honest.

'I do find it hard to look at myself in the mirror naked and think, 'You look great' or 'I love my body.

'I'm trying to erase it and I'm definitely accepting it but it doesn't mean I love it and it doesn't mean I'm happy with it and I know I can be a lot happier.'
Jade Thirlwall has reportedly teamed up with Dan Smith as part of a new songwriting partnership.

The former Little Mix star, 31, and the Bastille frontman, 37, are said to have spent time at a writing camp together earlier this year.

The powerhouse songwriting duo have already offered their songs to a selection of other acts, according to The Sun.

A source told the publication: '[Jade and Dan] ended up on this retreat together with a load of other songwriters and they teamed up to come up with ideas.

'They hit it off and produced some strong tracks. Some of them have already been offered to other artists, so it's only a matter of time before they get snapped up.

Jade Thirlwall has reportedly teamed up with Dan Smith as part of a new songwriting partnership

'They have both been busy writing for their own projects too, with Jade making her debut solo album and Dan shaping Bastille's fifth LP, so they could well pop up with those records too.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Jade and Dan for comment.

Dan has had huge success with Bastille's tracks Pompeii and Of The Night, while he has also penned songs for the likes of Rag'n'Bone Man, James Arthur and Foxes.

Jade has co-written many of Little Mix's smash hits and she has also been involved in songs for stars including Britney Spears, Iggy Azalea and Billy Porter.

Her latest songwriting venture comes as fans are eagerly awaiting the release of her debut solo album, after Little Mix went on hiatus last year.

Jade, who is dating Rizzle Kicks' Jordan Stephens, is believed to have signed a deal with RCA Records last year to kick off her solo career.

Little has been confirmed about her solo career so far, but she did tease new music as she shared a snap of herself behind the microphone in November.

The former Little Mix star, 31, and the Bastille frontman (pictured in December 2018), 37, are said to have spent time at a writing camp together earlier this year

Her latest songwriting venture comes after her bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock said Little Mix 'definitely will reunite' despite their solo plans.

Jade and Leigh-Anne rose to fame in the band in after their formation on The X Factor in 2011 alongside Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson before they disbanded in 2022, following the departure of Jesy in 2020.

Ahead of her performance at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball earlier this month, Leigh-Anne told The Sun that while they are focusing on their own music, they will reunite.

Speaking to the publication, she admitted: 'We definitely will. But I mean, we've literally been solo for like two seconds and the other guys haven't even released yet, you know?'

'So we have like time that we need to just be on our own. I guess,' she added.

'We always said that and joked about like featuring on each others albums, but I definitely feel like we're enjoying this time on our own you know to like grow and but yeah, I mean never say never.'

Jade has co-written Little Mix's hits and has been involved with songs for stars including Britney Spears (Jade is pictured with Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards)

Her latest songwriting venture comes after her bandmate Leigh-Anne said Little Mix 'definitely will reunite' despite their solo plans amid their hiatus

Little Mix went on hiatus after wrapping up their Confetti tour, as the trio decided to pursue their own solo careers.

Leigh-Anne currently splits her time between the UK and Greece since her husband Andre signed up for Aris FC in Thessaloniki.

Meanwhile, Perrie Edwards is planning to split her time between England and Turkey following her fiance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's new career move.
Angelina Jolie was joined by her kids as she visited her Atelier Jolie store in New York City on Thursday.

The Tomb Raider actress, 48, was seen leaving the store with son Pax, 20, and daughters Vivienne, 15, and Zahara, 18.

The Hollywood leading lady opted for a stylish black coat and matching pants for the outing.

Jolie  who was also pictured visiting the store with her kids earlier this week  completed the look with black shades.

The Academy Award winner  who shares her kids with ex-husband Brad Pitt  wore her brunette tresses flowing down her back in a straight style.

Angelina Jolie was joined by her kids as she visited her Atelier Jolie store in New York City on Thursday

The Tomb Raider actress, 48, was seen leaving the store with son Pax, 20, and daughters Vivienne, 15, and Zahara, 18

Like his mom, Pax sported a black coat underneath which he wore a blue t-shirt and black jeans. He completed his look with a black beanie and converse sneakers.

To document the family outing he had a classic 35mm camera hung around his neck.

Meanwhile his younger sister Zahara kept warm in a black puffer jacket and blue jeans.

Vivienne was effortlessly cool in a grey sweatshirt and jeans.

Jolie shares a total of six children with ex-husband Brad, 60.

Aside from Pax, Zahara, and Vivienne, the former couple  who split in 2016  are also parents to Maddox, 22, Shiloh, 17, and Vivienne's twin brother Knox, 15.

Since their split they have been involved in a very public and contentious custody feud.

Jolie launched her new fashion brand Atelier Jolie earlier this year and in July announced her store would be opening at 57 Great Jones St. in New York City, a building closely connected to two late art legends.

The Hollywood leading lady opted for a stylish black coat and matching pants for the outing

Jolie  who was also pictured visiting the store with her kids earlier this week  completed the look with black shades

The Academy Award winner wore her brunette tresses flowing down her back in a straight style

Like his mom, Pax sported a black coat underneath which he wore a blue t-shirt and black jeans

He completed his look with a black beanie and converse sneakers

To document the family outing he had a classic 35mm camera hung around his neck

The mother and son duo were pictured exiting the store

The graffitied building was once the live-work space of art greats Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat

The graffitied building was once owned by Andy Warhol and occupied by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Warhol purchased the building in 1970 and later rented the second floor to Basquiat, his friend and protege.

'A privilege to be in this space. We will do our best to respect and honor its artist legacy with community and creativity. Hope to see you there,' Angelina posted to Instagram back in July.

'Jean-Michel Basquiats sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveauxex illuminate his contribution to the history of art at the exhibit King Pleasure,' she added.

Accompanying the message was a video of her store's name being spray painted onto the building as Angelina stood close by.

Speaking to Vogue of her fashion brand, she said back in September: 'I dont want to be a big fashion designer, I want to build a house for other people to become that.

'I'm hoping to change many aspects of my life. And this is the forward-facing one.'

Angelina told the outlet that she hopes Atelier Jolie will inspire women to 'feel safe enough' to be 'soft,' something she herself has had a hard time doing.

Jolie launched her new fashion brand Atelier Jolie earlier this year and in July announced her store would be opening at 57 Great Jones St. in New York City

She looked stunning as she took a phone call inside the store

She was captured in deep conversation

She communicated something to her eldest daughter during their visit

The actress told Vogue that she hopes Atelier Jolie will inspire women to 'feel safe enough' to be 'soft,' something she herself has had a hard time doing

'Sometimes the way you dress says, "Dont mess with me - Ive got my armor on." But I want a woman to feel safe enough that she can be soft,' she continued.

'After I went through something where I was hurt, I had a therapist ask if I would try wearing a flowing garment.

'Sounds silly, but I assumed that pants and boots projected a "tougher" look, a stronger me.

'Was I strong enough to be soft? At the time, no. I felt vulnerable. Now I wonder if... I dont know what my style is because Im still understanding who I am at 48.'
Veteran Channel Seven presenter Kendall Gilding has hinted at her next steps after announcing she would be leaving the network after 12 years.

The newsreader, 32, shared a montage of photos of her at work to Instagram on Tuesday and captioned it with some informative words.

'This Friday will be my final day. I'm reading the 6pm news all week. Praying this isn't a moment of insanity, but rather a radical step of bravery,' she began.

Kendall then quashed rumours she was stepping away from the role to become a full-time mother.

'I'm not becoming a stay at home mum, I don't plan on leaving media. I'm looking forward to a huge 2024 - ready to work harder than ever! Stay tuned,' she added.

Veteran Channel Seven presenter Kendall Gilding (pictured) has hinted at her next steps after announcing she would be leaving the network after 12 years

Many of Kendall's celebrity friends were quick to send her their well-wishes.

'Here to cheer you on all the way and super excited for what comes next,' wrote veteran TV presenter Melissa Doyle.

'Unbelievable talent destined for the top. Can't wait to see what you do,' added radio host Mel Greig.

The newsreader, 32, shared a montage of photos of her at work to Instagram on Tuesday and captioned it with some informative words

Earlier this month, it was reported that Kendall won't be continuing behind the Queensland news desk 'after failing to come to terms on a new contract' according to TV Blackbox.

The exit is not the result of a redundancy, according to the website.

Kendall is well-known to Queensland viewers, hosting the 4pm News bulletin each weekday.

'This Friday will be my final day. I'm reading the 6pm news all week. Praying this isn't a moment of insanity, but rather a radical step of bravery,' Kendall began

She began her journalism career in 2011 as a presenter on Brisbane radio station 96five Family Radio and later that year she began working for Seven.

In October 2022 the TV star delivered her son, named Moses Morgan, in the shower at Mater Mother's Hospital in South Brisbane, with her husband Tim Morgan catching the tot as he exited the birth canal.

'I only had a three hour active labour which is awesome and he was born in the shower and Tim was able to catch him,' she told The Courier Mail.

The couple, who previously struggled with fertility issues, announced the exciting news via Instagram, sharing a heart-melting photo with their bundle of joy.

Kendall was quick to quash rumours she was stepping away from the role to become a full-time mother. Pictured last year with husband Tim Morgan and newborn son Moses
The soap opera actor Steve Burton has reached the end of the road on his long divorce journey.

The 53-year-old former General Hospital star has finalized his divorce from his estranged wife Sheree Gustin, 45, nearly two years after their messy public split, according to court records obtained by Us Weekly.

The drama from Burton's regular gig seemed to have spilled over into his own life when he announced that his wife was having a fourth child that was not his in May of 2022.

The shocking revelation came six months after the television star was fired from General Hospital after refusing to get a Covid-19 vaccination, which he claimed he wouldn't do due to his support for 'personal freedom.'

The documents indicated that the divorce was settled earlier in December.

Steve Burton, 53, has finalized his divorce from ex Sheree Gustin, 45, nearly two years after their separation began, according to court filings obtained by Us Weekly; seen in 2021

Burton announced his separation from Gustin in May 2022 when he revealed she was expecting a fourth child with another man; seen in 2019

In the filings, the former spouses noted that their divorce is uncontested.

Sheree has also asked the judge overseeing the divorce to permanently terminate any spousal support for both her and Burton.

The actor had previously filed for joint custody of the three children they share, and custody and visitation of Makena, Jack and Brooklyn will not change now that the divorce is finalized.

In his original divorce filing, Burton claimed that he and his ex had separated in March of 2022, and he cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split.

Unlike her performer husband, Sheree has kept a low profile since the separation, and she doesn't appear to have ever publicly discussed their split or divorce.

She gave birth in February to her fourth child, a daughter named Izabella.

Sheree is now 30 weeks along with her fifth child, but she has not revealed its father, or clarified if it has the same father as her previous child.

Back in October, she joked that she would have 'laughed and said you were crazy' if someone had told her she would end up having five children, with two of them born when she was well into her 40s.

The same month that Burton revealed their separation, a source told People that he and Gustin had been in the 'coasting stage' of their marriage 'for a while.'

The insider indicated that his choice not to comply with the Covid-19 vaccine mandate on the set of General Hospital contributed to their eventual split.

Sheree requested a judge permanently end any spousal support for either party. Their custody arrangement of their three children will be unchanged

A source previously told People that the relationship soured after Burton was fired from General Hospital (pictured) in 2021 after refusing to get a Covid-19 vaccination

Burton had been on the show on and off since 1991, but his character Jason Morgan appeared to be killed off when a tunnel collapsed on him

'Their lives were changed when he went through some upheaval and anger over what he considered his freedoms being in jeopardy,' they shared diplomatically. 'He had to leave a show that he loved, which caused chaos in his life.'

They added that his actions left Sheree 'unhappy,' and she started looking for 'something more.'

The couple originally tied the knot in 1999.

Steve had played the character Jason Morgan on and off on General Hospital going back to 1991, but the character appeared to be killed in 2021 when a tunnel collapsed on him.
Kate Hudson showed off her flawless complexion during a nighttime outing in chilly Aspen, Colorado.

The Fool's Gold star, 44, was pictured makeup-free as she browsed high-end stores with her fiance Danny Fujikawa, 37, and friends.

The couple  who got engaged in 2021  walked side-by-side, with Danny carrying three large shopping bags.

Hudson was bundled up in a stylish white coat, baggy blue jeans and a navy blue beanie cap.

Her bright blonde hair was worn down and she appeared to layer her coat over a pastel blue shirt.

Kate Hudson showed off her flawless complexion during a nighttime outing in chilly Aspen, Colorado

The Fool's Gold star, 44, was pictured makeup-free as she browsed high-end stores with her fiance Danny Fujikawa and friends

Hudson was bundled up in a stylish white coat, baggy blue jeans and a navy blue beanie cap

She completed her winter look with green, suede, lace-up boots.

The Almost Famous star fueled up for the night by sipping on a to-go cup of coffee, which she carried in one hand.

As for her fiance, he looked ruggedly handsome in a fleece jacket over a pink tee and olive green cargo pants.

Kate was photographed browsing the racks at the 'high-end Western wear' store Kemo Sabe.

They offers pricey cowboy hats, cowboy boots and jewelry along with stylish dresses, coats and cloaks.

One suede shearling-lined coat  aptly named after Hudson's Almost Famous character 'Penny Lane'  retails for a whopping $1,575, as per the brand's website.

She had a huge smile on her face as she made her way down the two-story shop's stairs with her paper coffee cup in hand.

After picking up their items, the couple and their friends chatted and strolled the sidewalk together.

Kate was photographed browsing the racks at the 'high-end Western wear' store Kemo Sabe

Danny was seen carrying three large shopping bags

The Almost Famous star fueled up for the night by sipping on a to-go cup of coffee, which she carried in one hand

After picking up their items, the couple and their friends chatted and strolled the sidewalk together

Their shopping trip comes one day after Kate brought fans into her home and shared just what her and her family got up to for Christmas.

She took to Instagram on Tuesday to post a round-up of her wholesome festivities.

Kate packed on the PDA with Danny as they shared a sweet kiss, while donning matching Christmas onesies.

She spent Christmas with her brother Wyatt Russell, 37, and her mother Goldie Hawn, 78.

Goldie's partner Kurt Russel, who is Wyatt's father, 72, and Kate's stepfather, was also in attendance.

She also posted doting photos of her son Ryder Robinson, 19, and her daughter Rani, five, having fun with their close friends and family.

The whole of Kate's clang were dressed in matching pyjamas and spent the day cooking and playing games together.

Kate also shares a son Bingham with her former fiance Matt Bellamy - but he wasn't seen in her Christmas snaps.

Their shopping trip comes one day after Kate brought fans into her home and shared just what her and her family got up to for Christmas on Instagram

Kate packed on the PDA with Danny as they shared a sweet kiss, while donning matching Christmas onesies

The actress took to Instagram to post a round-up of her wholesome family festivities (pictured with her friends and family)

Kate spent Christmas with her brother Wyatt Russell, 37, (left) and her mother Goldie Hawn, 78, (right)

Goldie's partner Kurt Russel, who is Wyatt's father, 72, and Kate's stepfather, was also in attendance (putting the angel on the tree)

She also posted a doting photo her daughter Rani, five, who was dressed in a pretty red satin pyjamas set

The Out Of Sight star shares son Ryder with her ex-husband Chris Robinson and daughter Rani with current partner Danny.

She has previously opened up about her blended family, as she welcomed her first child Ryder in 2004 with Chris Robinson and welcomed Bingham in 2011 with Matt.

The Academy Award-nominated further grew her modern family when she gave birth to Rani in 2018.

She got engaged to Danny in 2021 but it seems the couple is in no rush to get married as they still haven't tied the knot.

Danny and Kate had been friends for over a decade, but things didn't turn romantic between them until December 2016.

The actress has been vocal in several interviews after giving birth to Rani that she hasn't ruled out the possibility of having more children with Danny in the future.

In December, she revealed she had not even started to think about planning their wedding.

Kate confessed that she was still 'going back and forth' between whether or not she wants to plan a lavish celebration, before joking it's 'not really a golden ticket' due to her large family.

She also posted doting photos of her son Ryder Robinson, 19, (right) and having fun with their close friends and family (pictured with Danny, left)

Earlier in the day, Kate was dressed in gorgeous satin red personalised pyjamas to match her daughter Rani

Danny and Kate looked more than loved-up as they were pictured beaming for a photo

The whole of Kate's clang were dressed in matching pyjamas and spent the day cooking and playing games together

As for co-parenting with with three partners, Kate stated that her blended family is 'seriously strong.'

'Chris and I just need to check in once in a while, Matt is so wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better co-parent.

'You can have an amazing time with an ex-partner because you are really only focused on the love of your child,' she told the Sunday Times last year.

She continued: 'It might not look traditional from the outside but non the inside I feel like we're killing it. The unit that I've created with three children with three different fathers is a seriously strong unit and it's ours.'
Gogglebox Australia faves Matty and Sarah Fahd looked to be in good spirits when they were reunited with his Dubai Bling star brother Kris Fade at Sydney Airport.

The reality star lovebirds were spotted eagerly waiting at the arrivals lounge on Wednesday for Kris, 42, to visit them from his home in the United Arab Emirates.

Sarah, 33, and Matty, 36, were all smiles as they played with their young sons Malik, three, and Lyon, seven months, while waiting for Kris to arrive.

Matty rocked a sporty look in a loose fitting grey t-shirt which he paired with white Nike shorts and matching sneakers.

He debuted his bold new look on the outing - short bleach pink dyed hair which he paired with a black beard.

Gogglebox Australia faves Matty and Sarah Fahd looked to be in good spirits when they were reunited with his Dubai Bling star brother Kris Fade at Sydney Airport. Pictured: Matty and Sarah with sons Malik and Lyon

Meanwhile, Sarah turned heads in a stylish all-black outfit consisting of a plunging blouse, which showcased her stunning cleavage, and matching pants.

The couple kept themselves busy entertaining their young sons until Kris made his grand entrance.

Upon greeting Kris, the brothers were seen wheeling carts of luggage to the carpark while chatting.

The reality star lovebirds were spotted eagerly waiting at the arrivals lounge on Wednesday for Kris (left), 42, to visit them from his home in the United Arab Emirates

Sarah, 33, and Matty, 36, were all smiles as they played with their young sons Malik, three, and Lyon, seven months, while waiting for Kris to arrive

Matty rocked a sporty look in a loose fitting grey t-shirt which he paired with white Nike shorts and matching sneakers

Kris showcased his unique fashion sense in an unbuttoned denim t-shirt which highlighted his muscular frame and bulging biceps.

His black hair was freshly styled and he completed his look with a thick matching beard and accessorised with stylish white sunglasses.

The brothers looked to be having the time of their lives as they laughed it up while wheeling their trolleys to a waiting vehicle.

He debuted his bold new look on the outing - short bleach pink dyed hair which he paired with a black beard

Meanwhile, Sarah turned heads in a stylish all-black outfit consisting of a plunging blouse and matching pants

The couple kept themselves busy entertaining their young sons until Kris made his grand entrance

Matty looked thrilled to be enjoying some quality time with his family, just two months after he revealed the emotional trauma of the miscarriage he and wife Sarah suffered in May 2022.

He candidly delved into the difficult period following the loss, which occurred between the birth of their first child, Malik, three, and their newest addition, Lyon, seven months old.

Speaking on The Dads and The Docs podcast alongside his former co-star Adam Densten, Matty confessed, 'When she found out the news, she took it really hard'.

Upon greeting Kris, Matty was spotted wheeling a cart of luggage to the carpark with his stylish brother

Kris showcased his unique fashion sense in an unbuttoned denim t-shirt which highlighted his muscular frame and bulging biceps

His black hair was freshly styled and he completed his look with a thick matching beard and accessorised with stylish white sunglasses
Anitta gave her Instagram followers a show on Thursday as she appeared on the app in a black thong and skimpy top.

The 30-year-old Brazilian powerhouse  who spent time in Aspen, Colorado last week  tantalized her nearly 65 million followers as she danced enthusiastically in a pool.

She was scantily clad in her swimwear, which flashed her pert bottom as she twerked to her and Peso Pluma's song BELLAKEO.

The star, real name Larissa de Macedo Machado, flashed a small heart-shaped tattoo on her backside as she splashed around with tall palm trees in the background.

Her long, red-tinted hair was loose and damp as it flowed over her chest while she basked in the sun.

Anitta gave her Instagram followers a show on Thursday as she appeared on the app in a black thong and skimpy top

The 30-year-old Brazilian powerhouse tantalized her nearly 65 million followers as she danced enthusiastically in a pool

Coordinating with her swimsuit bottoms, the bombshell teased her cleavage in a red bikini top, which she covered with a light-colored, long-sleeved, pastel top.

The low-cut number had a deep v-shaped neckline and complemented her dip-front bottoms.

Drawing attention to her toned tummy, the superstar accessorized with a thin chain draped around her hips.

Anitta flipped her locks to and fro as she covered her eyes with a pair of aviator-shaped, ombre-tinted sunglasses.

Using her native Portuguese language, she wrote in the caption: 'Bella keo keo keo e TOP10 global, Brasillll!'

The songstress, who performed at MTV's Video Music Awards this past summer, excitedly shared that her song reached the top 10 on the global music charts.

So far, the post has racked up more than 1.1 million liked from her admiring fanbase.

Moving to her Instagram Stories, the sultry music artist uploaded behind-the-scenes outtakes as well.

She was scantily clad in her swimwear, which flashed her pert bottom as she twerked to her and Peso Pluma's song BELLAKEO

The star, real name Larissa de Macedo Machado, flashed a small heart-shaped tattoo on her backside as she splashed around with tall palm trees in the background

The latest social media post comes after rumors swirled that Anitta is dating Mauricio Umansky, RHOBH star Kyle Richards' estranged husband.

The gossip was ignited after the music sensation and real estate mogul posted social media content during their trip to Aspen, where they were joined by Umansky's Dancing With the Stars co-contestant Lele Pons.

Kyle later cleared up the chatter as she stated, 'No, that's not true,' when asked about it on the street.

She added that The Dealmaker author is 'allowed to do what he wants' now that they are no longer a couple.
Kylie Minogue has revealed she is readying plans for a massive stadium show.

Still, the beloved 55-year-old Melbourne born hitmaker remained tight-lipped about the exact location for what she said would be a 'one-off' event.

But the pop superstar has been outspoken about her ambition to crack the difficult U.S. market ever since her mega-hit Padam Padam shot up the charts in Europe and Australia.

Kylie made the comments backstage in an interview with The Sun in a break during her recent residency in Las Vegas reported The Music.

'I don't know if I am a stadium artist but maybe now is the time to put it on the table. I would love to do that one amazing show and bring it all together,' she said.

Kylie Minogue has revealed she is readying plans for a massive stadium show. Pictured: The superstar appearing on the U.K. special 'An Audience With Kylie' earlier this month

The star said she was thinking about a big scale gig after wowing fans with a surprise performance at Capital's Summer Time Ball show at the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium in the U.K.

'When I did Capital's SummerTime Ball I was just there for a couple of songs but I have to admit it did feel good to be in a stadium,' she said.

She also spoke about her bold ambition to crack the U.S. charts saying it 'matters a little' to her.

The beloved 55-year-old Melbourne born hitmaker remained tight-lipped about the exact location for what she said would be a 'one-off' event

Back in July the megastar achieved unprecedented success with Padam Padam, which topped the charts in Europe and Australia.

The song has become her first top 10 UK hit as a lead artist since 2010, and Minogue is the first woman over 50 to make BBC Radio 1's playlist as a lead artist.

Padam Padam was also Kylie's first-ever top 10 Dance/Electronic song on the US Billboard chart.

Meanwhile, Kylie has been taking a break from her Las Vegas residency with a trip home for a Christmas holiday with her family.

Last Friday Kylie was spotted in Melbourne with her mum Carol.

After more than 30 years living in Britain, where she moved in 1990, Kyle returned back to Australia to be closer to her loved ones in 2021, but she regularly zips overseas for work.

Kylie is enjoying an amazing late career success with her latest album Tension

When asked about rumours she was returning to her home country permanently, Kylie told BBC Radio 2: 'It is true, I will be basing myself in Australia. I can't believe the reaction it's had. I've had friends call me.'

Kylie reassured Brits she 'won't be a stranger' and will still visit regularly.

'Of course I've lived here for 30 years. I'm always going to be back,' she added.

Kylie told friends she wanted to live closer to her family, including her parents Carol and Ron, siblings Brendan and Dannii and nephew Ethan, who are all in Melbourne.
Chris Harrison says he's satisfied with the way he left The Bachelor after nearly two decades hosting the ABC reality romance.

The TV personality, 52, appearing Monday on the Trading Secrets podcast, said he was proud of the way he handled things in parting with the series in 2021.

The Dallas native, who hosted the ABC series from from 2002 to 2021, left amid a controversy after he came to the defense of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after pictures of her at a plantation-themed sorority event surfaced.

'I knew I had to remove myself from what became a very toxic situation, and I did, and that was a very difficult situation,' he told the podcast's host, The Bachelorette alum Jason Tartick. 'I'm proud of that decision.'

Harrison told Tartick, 35, that the 'show was a blessing' in his life, and changed things for him 'on so many levels,' including 'financially.'

Chris Harrison, 52, says he's satisfied with the way he left The Bachelor after nearly two decades hosting the ABC reality romance. Pictured in LA in 2022

Harrison said that his exit from the series 'was hard at first, obviously,' as it wasn't a case where he 'felt great about everything' amid the 'tumultuous' circumstances.

'I don't wish it on anybody,' Harrison said of the controversy preceding his exit from the series, which he described as 'horrifying on a lot of levels.'

Amidst the scandal nearly two years ago, Harrison initially stepped back from the series, said he was sorry and went on a temporary hiatus. He officially exited the series in June of 2021.

Harrison said that a number of his friends he met during the time with the show were present at his November nuptials to Lauren Zima, 36.

He added of the series: 'I hold those things dear. It was a blessing. It changed my life, but at the same time, I can also be grateful that I'm gone. That's a relationship I don't need to be in anymore because it wasn't healthy.'

Harrison said that his exit from the series - he was replaced by Jesse Palmer in September of 2021 - opened the door for other similarly-themed shows to try and recoup the portion of audience the show might have lost in parting ways with its longtime host.

'Once I left, people started taking their shots at the champ, and they've succeeded, and now there's competition, and now there are shows in the zeitgeist, they're being talked about, they're getting press that we used to get,' he said.

Harrison continued: 'Again, it's hard to survive when you don't have those eyeballs anymore because people will talk about another show.'

The Dallas native hosted the ABC series from from 2002 to 2021. Pictured in 2020

Harrison said that while he's happy with how things turned out in hindsight, he wasn't emotionally prepared at the time for the severance. Pictured in 2020

Harrison said that while he's happy with how things turned out in hindsight, he wasn't emotionally prepared at the time for the severance.

'I had to mourn the loss of something that I didn't intend to exit then,' Harrison said. 'I would have probably soon, but not then, like that.

'And so there was mourning a loss there and I had to realize, like when I left my marriage, take your time and don't just jump back into the next relationship. That's not the Band-Aid that's gonna heal that wound.'
Matthew McConaughey shared a rare glimpse at his son Livingston in honor of the boy's 11th birthday this week.

The A-list actor shared a candid snap of himself lying on a couch with his youngest son smiling in his lap.

'Double one's, we love watching you grow,' the Dallas Buyer's Club star wrote Thursday. 'Thanks for puttin so many smiles on our faces. love. Papa's.

Later, Matthew's wife Camila Alves gushed over Livingston's impact on their lives after reading their eldest son Levi's, 15, birthday tribute to his brother.

Levi had shared seven photos of himself, Livingstone and their sister Vida, 13, which Camila reposted on her own Instagram.

Matthew McConaughey shared a rare glimpse at his son Livingston in honor of the boy's 11th birthday this week

'Happy 11th lil bro, you're growing up so fast! #happybirthday,' Levi captioned.

Four hours later, Camila praised her eldest for the 'great post' honoring Livingston after trying to come up with the words herself.

'Well When your oldest son has such a great post for his little brothers birthday, I give up coming up with my own! re-posting it!' the Brazilian model explained.

'Today we celebrate, our youngest, turning 11!!! He bring so much joy and learnings to our lives. It is hard to put into words!!'

For the cover photo, there's a picture of Livingston reaching towards the camera during a day spent on a beach.

There's also images of the two brothers sitting and standing together that appears to be several years old, as well as a closeup of sister Vida making a funny face while seemingly in the family's kitchen.

In a more recent photo, Levi and Livingston can be seen frolicking on the beach together.

The last two images show the brothers posing for a couple of photos after getting their long hair cut shorter.

Later, Matthew's wife Camila Alves gushed over Livingston's impact on their lives after reading their eldest son Levi's, 15, birthday tribute to his brother

Camila's repost of her son Levi's birthday tribute to Livingston included a few of the two brothers enjoying Mother Nature together

Most of the pictures in the birthday post appeared to be several years old

Just last month, when Levi took to Instagram to wish his dad a happy 54th birthday, Levi sounded like a young man with far more wisdom then most 15-year-olds.

'People know Matthew McConaughey as an Actor and now a writer, but I know him as my father; The man who always makes time for us no matter what, the man who's always there for us no matter what, and the man that taught me to appreciate the journey and not just the destination. The journeys just getting startedHappy birthday Papai.'

The loving and kind words were shared on November 4, along with a series of pictures, including a family shot of all five of the McConaugheys.

There will be some more celebrating in their family's household in the new year when Vida turns 14 on January 3.

Alves, a native of Itambacuri, Minas Gerais, Brazil, first met McConaughey in 2006, which ultimately led to them getting married in a private Catholic wedding ceremony on June 13, 2012, in Austin, Texas.

Sister Vida, 13, made a funny face while seemingly in the family's kitchen

The brothers also sported long locks in an picture taken of them on the beach

Levi and Livingston posed for the camera making silly faces after shedding their long hair

McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, Texas, had his breakout role with a supporting performance in the coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused (1993).

After a number of supporting roles, his first success as a leading man came in the legal drama A Time to Kill (1996).

Since then his career soared with roles in such films as Contact (1997), U-571 (2000), The Wedding Planner (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Failure To Launch (2006), Fool's Gold (2008), Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past (2009), Magic Mike (2012), Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Interstellar (2014), as well as season one of True Detective (2014).

As for Alves, she moved from Brazil to New York City in 2002, when she was 19, to pursue a career as a fashion model.

She ended up gracing the pages and covers of many of the top fashion magazines before fate came into play and she met McConaughey four years after her move to Manhattan.

'Happy 11th lil bro, you're growing up so fast! #happybirthday,' Levi wrote of his brother

Just last month, when Levi took to Instagram to wish his dad a happy 54th birthday, Levi sounded like a young man with far more wisdom then most 15-year-olds

The celebrity couple are also the proud owners of the organic tequila brand Pantalones

The duo both signed an assortment of tequila bottles as part of the launch

The mother of three has also co-written a children's book, Just Try One Bite, with Adam Mansbach that landed on the New York Times Best Seller list after it was released in March 2022.

Together, the couple helped create a organic tequila brand, Pantalones, which launched this past October.

'No. The world doesn't need another celebrity Tequila. But goodness gracious the Tequila industry sure could use a shot of fun. And thats exactly what Pantalones is: Really good, really clean fun,' the celebrity couple write on the company's website.

'Pantalones Tequila is all about having the guts to make that next move, to have fun and not take things too seriously. We all put our pants on one leg at a time, and just like pants our Tequila is for everyone.'
Jacob Elordi was spotted back in Sydney after a whirlwind period during which he's starred in a series of massive films.

The Australian actor was seen in the trendy suburb of Paddington earlier this month in a video shared by TikTok user kristentikmytok.

'POV: Jacob Elordi ordered a B&E Roll and orange juice from your stall in Paddington,' Kristen wrote.

She explained after browsing her stall at the iconic market venue, Jacob picked up a bacon and egg roll and juice for breakfast.

Paddington Markets is known for its homemade wares, art and vintage goods and is one of Sydney's shopping hotspots.

Jacob Elordi (pictured) was spotted back in Sydney after a whirlwind period during which he's starred in a series of massive films

Jacob's career has gone from strength to strength with recently lauded roles in runaway hit Saltburn and the Sofia Coppola biopic drama film Priscilla.

The trailer for his upcoming thriller movie He Went That Way was released on Thursday.

In the clip, the 26-year-old performer starred as a serial killer telling the story of the one man, played by Zachary Quinto, whom he let live during his crime spree.

The movie's star  who recently bonded with his Euphoria costar Colman Domingo  was also joined by performers such as Patrick J. Adams and Troy Evans in the upcoming feature.

The Australian actor was seen in the trendy suburb of Paddington earlier this month in a video shared by TikTok user kristentikmytok

She explained after browsing her stall at the iconic market venue, Jacob picked up a bacon and egg roll and orange juice for breakfast

Development on He Went That Way was announced in 2021, when the feature's stars were first attached to the project.

The movie is based on Conrad Hilberry's nonfiction novel Luke Karamazov, which is based on the crime sprees committed by brothers Larry and Danny Ranes.

The feature was directed by Jeffrey Darling, who passed away in a surfing accident in March of 2022.

He Went That Way made its official debut during the most recent Tribeca Festival, which took place in June.

The film is scheduled for a limited release on January 5, and it will be released on demand on January 14.

Jacob's career has gone from strength to strength with lauded roles in Saltburn and Priscilla. The trailer for his upcoming thriller He Went That Way (pictured) was released on Thursday
Skye Wheatley has undergone a breast enhancement following her botched Thai breast surgery.

And the 29-year-old revealed on Friday that she is very happy with the results.

'Yes it's all fixed happy got them done sooner' she replied to a fan who asked her is she was pleased with her 'double bubble' fix.

Skye posted the caption alongside an image that showed her updated chest as she posed with her partner Lachlan Waugh.

The former reality star has also been showing off her boob job while on holiday in Fiji, posing in a series of bikinis.

Skye Wheatley (pictured) has undergone a breast enhancement following her botched Thai breast surgery. And the 29-year-old revealed on Friday that she is very happy with the results

The controversial influencer is got another boob job after she spent years trying to fix a botched breast enlargement she had in 2015 when she cut a promotional deal with a medical tourism company in Thailand.

She wanted bigger implants inserted to save herself from having to get a breast lift to try and fix her 'double bubble' - which is when a breast implant sits lower than the original breast fold.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the mother-of-two said she wishes she could show her breasts online so her followers could see how deformed they are and why she wants to have more surgery.

To get around this, Skye said she would happily send pictures or videos to any of her fans who wanted to see, and they could also send her photos of their boobs.

'Yes it's all fixed happy got them done sooner' she replied to a fan who asked her is she was pleased with her 'double bubble' fix. Skye posted the caption alongside an image that showed her updated chest as she posed with her partner Lachlan Waugh

Skye said to her fans: 'It's time, we are getting the girls revamped next week, I am going to see Dr Richardson, he had so many photos on his page of boobies which I loved looking at.

'The plan is I have to go a little bigger to avoid the lift, I wish I could show you all the problem but I am doing that with girls in my DMs so if you want to see a picture or video of my boobies DM me, we will exchange piccies of our boobies.'

Skye said she was getting 500cc implants, which, according to The Aesthetics Society is on the upper range of large.

She continued: 'So my right breast is 425cc and left is 350cc and I honestly feel like they look same size so going 75ccs bigger won't make too much of a difference.

'I really trust @brisbaneplasticsurgery, I trust his judgement.'

The controversial influencer is got another boob job after she spent years trying to fix a botched breast enlargement she had in 2015 when she cut a promotional deal with a medical tourism company in Thailand

In 2015, Wheatley travelled to Thailand to have her breasts enlarged as part of a promotional deal with a medical tourism company.

She had claimed for years that she didn't like her uneven breasts with one an A-cup and the other a C-cup.

The Instagram model had hoped the augmentation would fix her asymmetrical chest - but after waking up the next day with D-cups, she complained of puckering in the crease below the right breast.

Previously speaking to Daily Mail Australia about the ordeal, Wheatley warned young girls not to be lured by the promise of cheap plastic surgery abroad, saying: 'Don't, it's not worth it, stay in Australia.'

She added: 'If something goes wrong you have to pay for another flight to more costs to get it fixed. Do your research, I wish I had done mine better.'

'I want my old boobs back as it will cost too much to fix and will be so much hassle than if I had got them done in Australia.'
Teresa Palmer is celebrating ten years of marriage to husband Mark Webber.

And the 37-year-old mother-of-five posted to Instagram this week to share a loving tribute to the man she calls her 'soul mate'.

The Hacksaw Ridge beauty included a gallery of images and a touching message in the post.

'10 years of marriage. The magic. The dreams. The babies. The places. The adventure. The creations. The connection. The growth. The goals. The life force,' the Australian actress wrote.

'I love you, I love you, I love you. Anything is possible with you' she added.

Teresa Palmer is celebrating ten years of marriage to husband Mark Webber. Both pictured

'Happy ten years of this incredible life together. My soul mate. Happy 10 year wedding anniversary Mark Allen Webber.'

Meanwhile, Mark, clearly touched by his wife's tribute to their milestone, shared his own response on the post.

'Time stood still for a moment tonight, looking into your eyes. I saw it all. Everything before and everything to come. Together. Forever' he wrote.

Teresa shared ten images in the post - one for each year of marriage.

Included in the gallery were a number of pictures featuring the four children they share - Bodhi Rain, nine, Forest Sage, six, Poet Lake, four, and Prairie Moon, two.

The Hacksaw Ridge beauty included a gallery of images and a touching message on Instagram

Teresa, meanwhile, is also a dedicated stepmother to Mark's 15-year-old son Isaac Love, whom he shares with his ex, SMILF actress Frankie Shaw.

The couple wed in 2013, while Teresa was still pregnant with their first child.

Mark, 43, also an actor, has appeared in the film Scott Pilgrim vs The World and co-starred in the animated Netflix spin-off Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

Meanwhile, on the eve of their ninth wedding anniversary last year, Teresa said she was aiming to add more children to her brood.

The Hollywood star says she wants at least three more kids and is hoping she falls pregnant with twins.

Included in the gallery were a number of pictures featuring the four children they share - Bodhi Rain, nine, Forest Sage, six, Poet Lake, four, and Prairie Moon, two

'Twins run in the family. I might get two for one next time,' she said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

Teresa said she told Mark on their first date she wanted six kids.

'He said he also wanted six,' she added. 'So I am holding him to that number.'

Teresa said the pressures of raising five kids has meant juggling the demands of a career.

'I don't think I've slept properly in about eight years,' she joked.
She's been making the most of her annual festive trip to the Caribbean.

And Emma Forbes continued to show off her svelte physique in a black swimuit as she headed to the beach during her trip to Barbados on Thursday.

The presenter, 58, cut a stylish figure in a black high-necked swimsuit as she headed into the ocean for a cooling dip.

Emma cut a chic figure in her tight swimsuit as she headed into the water for her swim, teamed with stylish sunglasses.

A day earlier, Emma was seen catching up with her pal Andrea Corr as they headed to the beach together.

Emma Forbes continued to show off her svelte physique in a black swimuit as she headed to the beach during her trip to Barbados on Thursday

The presenter cut a stylish figure in a black high-necked swimsuit as she headed into the ocean for a cooling dip

The presenter looked effortlessly chic in a white linen cover-up as she hosted Sandy Lane Hotel's annual sandcastle competition.

Emma was recently spotted splashing around in the sea on Christmas Eve with her husband Graham.

The star enjoyed some quality time with Graham over in the Caribbean, soaking up the sun rays.

Emma cut a more modest figure, after she showcased her ample cleavage in a plunging black swimsuit last Thursday.

The holiday comes just days after her daughter Lily Clempson's swanky wedding to American financier James Moross in a lavish ceremony in New York.

The proud mother gushed: 'I couldn't be prouder of Jamie and Lily, and I couldn't be happier to celebrate their love.'

Lily, 27, wore a fur wrap over her white wedding dress as she walked down the aisle at Cipriani's grand restaurant in the Big Apple, which had been transformed into a candlelit winter wonderland.

'It was a moment I shall never forget,' added Emma.

Emma has been making the most of her Christmas break with her husband Graham after relocating to the US in 2018

The broadcaster and her husband Graham Clempson sold their 25 million home in Chelsea, London, and moved to New York in 2018.

Emma married Graham in 1987 and they are proud parents to two children and are now based in East Hampton, New York.

Speaking about living in America, Emma told Hello! last year of moving abroad: 'I've always loved America.

'We've always had a connection with it - I find it an exciting place to live, it ignites my feeling of anything is possible, and it felt right for part two of life with my two children, one on each coast, to be nearer them.

'So with my own family here that makes it feel like home, and we've created a life that works for us all here.'
Disney+ is reportedly reviving its reboot of The Full Monty for a second series despite scathing reviews from critics.

The streaming service are said to be in talks about making a second run of the TV series, after the first season aired earlier this year, 25 years after the original film.

A source told The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column: 'It looks like Disney+ are considering the go-ahead on a second series of The Full Monty.'

Robert Carlyle played the leader of the troupe of Chippendale wannabes who were desperate to make a buck after falling on hard times following steel mill closures in Yorkshire in the 1997 British comedy film.

And several members of the original cast reunited for the eight-episode limited series which aired in June on Disney+ including Robert Carlyle as Gaz, Mark Addy as Dave, Lesley Sharp as Jean, Hugo Speer as Guy, Paul Barber as Horse, Steve Huison as Lomper, Wim Snape as Nathan, and Tom Wilkinson as Gerald.

Disney+ is reportedly reviving its reboot of The Full Monty for a second series despite scathing reviews from critics, The Sun has reported

The original cast of The Full Monty returned for the new television series (pictured L-R: Steve Huison as Lomper; Mark Addy as Dave; Robert Carlyle as Gaz; Hugo Speer as Guy; and Paul Barber as Horse) which aired in June

Disney chiefs are thought to be considering 'a few tweaks' to improve the series ahead of a potential second season.

The source added: 'Talks are ongoing about whether it will make it, but everyone felt there was so much promise behind revisiting the story and a few tweaks could make a second series land better.

'Discussions are under way, with some influential people behind the scenes trying their best to make it happen.'

Simon Beaufoy, who wrote the movie, joined forces with Alice Nutter - who was part of the music group Chumbawamba - to pen the eight-part TV series, and the pair would be up for a second series.

He recently told The Sheffield Star newspaper: 'We would be up for another series as would the cast so it's up to the mysterious powers that be at Disney+.

'Disney+ were really good partners and we really enjoyed working with them.

'They were really supportive of everything we tried to do so it would be hard to do it with anybody else.'

Peter Cattaneo's 1997 comedy made waves at the time, winning an Oscar for best original musical or comedy.

Disney chiefs are thought to be considering 'a few tweaks' to improve the series ahead of a potential second season

The source added: 'Talks are ongoing about whether it will make it, but everyone felt there was so much promise behind revisiting the story and a few tweaks could make a second series land better

The Full Monty reviews The Guardian, Lucy Mangan Rating: 'It feels neither as real nor as uplifting as its progenitor, showing us less of the characters, society, the deep malaise and human potential than before. ' The Evening Standard, Martin Robinson Rating: 'What it doesn't have is that flash of magic. The original Full Monty had the final striptease as both a narrative driver and a cathartic big ending  there is no striptease in this one, I'm afraid, only a nod to it.' The Mirror, Ian Hyland 'Where the movie was a warm-hearted, uplifting caper with a side order of politics, the TV series ladles on the politics and despair from the very beginning, pausing only to offer the occasional comedy moments.' Time, Judy Berman 'The overall randomness and dearth of joy in this Full Monty, whose full season arrives June 14 on Hulu, make it a puzzling follow-up to a film that charmed millions with its lighthearted social commentary.' Advertisement

Yet despite the anticipation surrounding the series, it didn't receive great reviews from critics.

The Guardian described it as 'boring and badly written' with 'endlessly irritating characters and a distinct lack of stripping'.

Meanwhile The Evening Standard wrote that it was 'lacking that flash of magic' of the original and Times Magazine described it as a 'muddled tribute'.

Yet not all reviews were completely negative, as The Hollywood Reporter did manage to 'retain much of its predecessor's unassuming charm.'

The men's striptease was the saucy climax of the movie, and back in June the stars discussed whether it would be recreated for the series.

'No one wants to see that, let's be honest,' chuckled Robert, 62. 'But it's kind of addressed in the final episode. There's a lovely moment when all the guys are together and You Can Leave Your Hat On starts to play.

'Honestly, it was a very emotional moment for us all, because that track is synonymous with the film and it just took us right back to that moment. And what was lovely was that after the scene, the crew all started clapping. Everyone was smiling. I'm hopeful it has the same effect on the audience emotionally.'

Robert, who's been a busy leading man since then in TV hits including Once Upon A Time and Cobra, was easily persuaded to reprise his role.

'It's not a reboot,' he insisted over Zoom from his home in Vancouver. 'It would be insane to try to redo the film  it was so well-loved.

'I knew Simon had been asked to make a Full Monty 2 movie, but it was never something he or I were interested in, because the end of that film is so triumphant.'
Ioan Gruffudd's girlfriend Bianca Wallace has hit back at speculation she's pregnant, after catching the eye with a white illusion dress.

The actress, 31, took to Instagram to share a beaming selfie in a pretty white sundress, gushing in the caption she was 'a happy gal living life.'

However, later Bianca shared a comment replying to another user saying she'd been 'smashed' with messages asking if she was expecting.

She noted that her pinstriped white dress was 'giving her tummy that illusion,' and clarified that she was not pregnant.

Captioning her post, Bianca wrote: 'Just a happy, happy gal living life.'

Ioan Gruffudd 's girlfriend Bianca Wallace has hit back at speculation she's pregnant, after catching the eye with a white illusion dress

One fan then commented: 'I had a dream that you are pregnant and that you and Ioan have a beautiful little girl.'

Bianca then replied: 'That is a cute dream, I've been absolutely smashed in my inbox this morning by people asking me if I am!

'Apparantly the lines on my dress are giving my tummy that illusion! It's just the dress!'

Bianca has been dating Liar star Ioan since 2021, after he split from his wife Alice Evans in March of that year.

The Daily Mail reported earlier ths month that Alice is in dire financial straits  and has told friends that she cannot pay her rent or afford food, and is contemplating taking a job in Starbucks.

Alice announced in January 2021 that Ioan was walking out on her after 20 years of marriage and in October that year he went public with Bianca.

She has told pals that the money which she got from the sale of the marital home, believed to amount to $100,000 is all gone, much of it on lawyers, and she is now in a financial crisis.

A friend said: 'Alice has been extremely upset and says that she can't afford to make rent when it is due later this month  at least not if they want to eat - and has just hit a financial rock bottom. She says she has nothing  not even medical insurance.'

The actress has been dating Liar star Ioan since 2021, after he split from his wife Alice Evans in March of that year

Bianca shared a comment replying to another user saying she'd been 'smashed' with messages asking if she was expecting

They continued: 'She's been told that she should get a job but has not found any acting work and in any case she needs to look after their children who are school age.

'This week she has been discussing trying for a job in Starbucks but she thinks they might not want her as she is probably too old for them at 55. Also her agent doesn't want her to do it in case it looks bad.'

The friend added: 'She is feeling desperate and is out of ideas about how she can get along. She has been crying herself to sleep.'

She and Gruffudd finally divorced in July this year but custody, spousal and child support have yet to be settled and the next hearing in the case is due in March next year.

The ex couple share daughters Ella, 14, and Elsie, 10.

The outing also comes amid news that the Fantastic Four star will reunite with his daughters at least once a week after claiming his ex-wife had kept the girls away from him for almost a year.

In new court filings obtained by DailyMail.com, a judge ordered Evans to take the girls to weekly 'reunification therapy' sessions with their father.

And Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Josh Stinn also decreed that the warring former couple could not trash or insult each other in front of their children during therapy sessions.

According to court papers, the two girls now use the last name Griffith, the Anglicized version of their Welsh father's last name.

Gruffudd, who met Evans when they co-starred in the 2000 Disney movie, 102 Dalmatians, filed for divorce in March 2021, shortly after the blonde actress claimed on social media that her husband of 14 years was walking out on her and their two daughters.

Evans announced on Twitter in January 2021: 'Sad news. My beloved husband/soul mate of 20 years, Ioan Gruffudd, has announced he is to leave his family, starting next week.

'Me and our young daughters are very confused and sad. We haven't been given a reason except that he "no longer loves me". I'm so sorry.'

Alice announced in January 2021 that Ioan was walking out on her after 20 years of marriage and in October that year he went public with Bianca

Gruffudd, famous for the ITV drama Liar and the Fantastic Four film, went public in October 2021 with new girlfriend Bianca, an aspiring actress who had a role as an extra in the drama Harrow which was filmed in Australia.

They now live together in Los Angeles, while Evans lives with their daughters Elsie and Ella.

In June 2022, she launched a Go Fund Me page asking for $25,000 to try and pay her bills, saying: 'I never in a million years thought I would be doing this. However in August 2020, just as the pandemic was really kicking in, my entire world fell apart.

'Since that date I have been not only struggling as a single mother to my babies, but also trying to cover bills and food and legal fees (ha! don't even talk to me about legal fees) which dwarf any other expense in my life and have finally drained everything - savings, accounts, pension, the lot.

'Yesterday all my accounts ran out and I couldn't buy anything. On the same day, my husband's lawyer sent me a letter telling me I was due in court on 2 August to argue "my case" in the divorce. I currently have no lawyer and no funds to pay one.

'If I don't turn up at court I will be in contempt, and I have no idea what will happen to me or my kids at that point.'
Her fashion and beauty empire has racked up losses of over 66 million since it launched in 2008.

But Victoria Beckham has turned a profit for the first time in 15 years - with the help of an 890 clutch bag, a 30 eyeliner and a carefully orchestrated social media strategy which sees her post make-up tutorial videos on TikTok which are watched by millions.

The former Spice Girl, 49, is said to be 'thrilled' at the turnaround after her latest financial accounts showed it was 200,000 in the black in 2022, as shoppers bought up her accessories after she launched a line of leather goods last year.

The chain pouch clutch bag, which comes in several colours including black, cream and lilac, has become a must-have item. While most of them are priced at 890, more specialised versions cost up to 1,550.

Meanwhile, her beauty arm, which Victoria began in 2019, has also been a huge success - in particular her satin kajal eyeliner, priced at 30.

Victoria Beckham has turned a profit for the first time in 15 years - with the help of a carefully orchestrated social media strategy which sees her post make-up tutorial videos on TikTok which are watched by millions

The former Spice Girl, 49, is said to be 'thrilled' at the turnaround after her latest financial accounts showed it was 200,000 in the black in 2022, as shoppers bought up her accessories after she launched a line of leather goods last year

Available in 16 colours, it has sold so quickly that the star's team has struggled to source them quick enough for their demand.

Sources close to Victoria say their popularity comes from posts on TikTok and Instagram that show potential buyers how to apply them.

Her success has been such that earlier this month she opened her third store in Paris in the department store Galeries Lafayette - something of a dream for the star who shows her collections at the annual Fashion Week in the city, alongside the industry's most successful designers.

A friend of Victoria's says that she is 'so happy' to have turned around the business, which she launched in 2008 with a small collection of dresses.

She is especially thrilled because she is about to turn 50 in April next year. The friend told the Mail: 'It feels like two special milestones have come together. Victoria is just so happy.'

Despite its famous founder, the brand has struggled to make any money.

Auditors have warned that it risked going bust without further financial support from shareholders, which include the Beckhams and private equity firm Neo Investment Partners.

The luxury label has borrowed more than 30 million from other parts of the Beckham business empire over the past 15 years.

However, last year's results mark 'a turning point where the group became profitable'.

Revenue surged 44 per cent to 58.8 million in 2022 compared to 40.9 million in the previous year.

The company said sales have continued double-digit growth in 2023 with 'unprecedented' demand for beauty products and the new fragrance collection.

In an interview with Vogue France in October, Victoria revealed the brand had turned a profit saying 'this is just the beginning, I have lots of ambitions and I work hard to achieve my goals.'

She went on: I never wait for things to just fall into my lap. It's such an exciting time. This year, we made a profit! This takes time, especially for an independent brand. My perfume isn't a license - I own it.

'Now that I have laid down the groundwork for the house, the real work can begin.'

Earlier this year, her brand's investor, David Belhassen, shone a rare spotlight on the inner workings of Posh's empire in an interview with industry bible Women's Wear Daily (WWD).

He said revenues were up by a huge 42 per cent to 58 million  and predicted that when the business files accounts for the 2022 financial year in December, the former Spice Girl would make her critics eat their words.

The luxury fashion business expanded to Europe and the Middle East, with the annual accounts previously saying the brand was also expanding into new products, with the launch of leather goods and the VB Body range.

However, another measure of profit showed the company had lost around 3 million during the year, although that was less than the nearly 6 million loss recorded in 2021.

In 2020, it was revealed by The Mail on Sunday that Mrs Beckham was to use the government's furlough scheme to pay her staff during the pandemic - despite her and husband David's estimated 360 million fortune.

However, after much criticism, she did a U-turn, meaning UK tax payers were saved from funding her employees' salaries.

In accounts submitted in 2021, auditors warned of 'significant doubt' about Victoria's fashion company's ability to continue operating when it was reported the company had racked up debts of more than 46million since it launched.

A friend of Victoria's says that she is 'so happy' to have turned around the business, which she launched in 2008 with a small collection of dresses

Friends of the star said at the time Victoria was determined to continue with her company even though her detractors have dismissed it as a vanity project.

One said: 'This is what gives Victoria her identity, she loves it and despite its obvious obstacles, she is a grafter and hugely passionate about it.'

A spokeswoman for Victoria previously said of losses in 2019: 'Whilst 2019 was a challenging year, the business halved its losses - a significant step in the road to profitability.

'The launch of the hugely successful beauty line in the same year helped drive overall revenues up 7% on 2018 and both businesses are focussed on profitable growth.

'The showcase of the recent AW21 fashion collection has been well-received by fashion critics and the beauty business has seen multiple sell-out products in recent months.'

The fashion label, which has a flagship store in Mayfair and sells items such as coats for up to 2,900 each, filed a loss of 12.2million in 2018, 4.6million in 2017 and a 8.4million loss in 2016.

Meanwhile, Victoria's husband David has raked in a huge 72m in a year - after having a huge hit with his Netflix documentary.

Company figures released on Friday revealed David Beckham Ventures Limited and Seven Global LLP made a 72.6m profit through sponsorships and his production company.

A source told The Sun: 'It's been a golden year for Goldenballs. The Netflix documentary deal was worth over 20 million alone and its huge success has been vindication.

'David continues to be flooded with commercial and partnership offers and has never been more in demand - despite retiring 10 years ago.

'The couple are on course to make over 100m next year which is quite astonishing.'

In 2006, Victoria started to dabble in fashion, lending her name to a range of jeans by Rock And Republic, and bringing out a budget fragrance.

There was also an association with the ultra-flashy designer Roberto Cavalli, which made the fashion elite snigger into their sleeves.

Victoria's husband David has raked in a huge 72m in a year - after having a huge hit with his Netflix documentary

It was in 2009 that she opened her own label and her first collection appeared to some to be derivative of Roland Mouret's sleek outlines.

Mouret said: 'I gave her some advice, some names, some people and allowed her to call me whenever she wants. That's all.'

He added: 'She is not a designer like me, but she has something I don't have: that unique sense of wearing what she is doing, and that picture will go around the world and sell it.'

Victoria made one-on-one appointments with the editors of fashion magazines in her private suite at Claridge's hotel and won them over.

The late Karl Lagerfeld was a fan, saying in 2012: 'I know her from her days as a Spice Girl. Her designs are not bad at all; they're good. She's totally unpretentious.'
A Dutch thriller series that debuted in the Netherlands on October 23, 2022 has gotten stellar Season 1 reviews by social media.

X (formerly Twitter) users have spoken highly of the series The Golden Hour (Het Gouden Uur) this month after it became available to stream On Netflix in the US on December 15.

The show revolves around a detective of Afghan descent named Mardik Sardagh who searches to find his friend Faysal that may have something to do with terrorist attacks in the Netherlands.

Dutch actors Nasrdin Dchar and Abbas Fasaei portray Mardik and Faysal.

Season 2 is now possibly in the works but NL Film has seemingly kept quiet on what to expect.

The Golden Hour (Het Gouden Uur) has been praised by social media users this month after it became available to stream On Netflix in the US on December 15

The show revolves around a detective of Afghan descent named Mardik Sardagh who searches to find his friend that may have something to do with terrorist attacks in the Netherlands.

One report via Comingsoon.net have indicated that NL Film announced Season 2 of The Golden Hour last May, while another said it was only a limited series.

Season 1 ends with Mardik realizing that a police officer may have helped Faysal in his attacks.

The revelation comes after agent Joelle Walters (Ellen Parren) noticed a man who appeared to be a cop driving in a van to the location of an attack.

Joelle tries to have Mardik identify the driver while he's in jail, but there was no luck.

The identity of the man has not yet been revealed, which may be a big part of Season 2 if it does indeed happen.

If The Golden Hour Season 2 gets the green light, it will come out on AVROTROS and NPO Plus in the Netherlands before debuting on Netflix in the US and other regions.

Dutch actor Nasrdin Dchar portrays Mardik. Season 2 is now possibly in the works but NL Film has seemingly kept quiet on what to expect.

X users have recommended people watch The Golden Hour since its December 15 release.

'It's got my approval was a really good series,' wrote an X user.

Others have rated the show '10/10' despite one user saying it's 'crazy.'

Some users that haven't praised the show believe that the show is promoting racism.

One user wrote: 'The golden hour on netflix has to be one of the most racist propoganda shows ive sent in a minute.'

Another X user who responded to the negative post also agreed with racism and dissed police officers who they said are 'cowardice.'

Seen "The Golden Hour" on Netflix yet?https://t.co/adrgcco65V  Butterfly (@Butterf59470574) December 28, 2023

Social media users have praised the show but some have also accused the show of promoting racism and called police officers 'cowardice'

Actors who starred in The Golden Hour have not yet announced if they would return for a second season of the hit show

None of the actors have discussed if they would definitely return for a second season.

Daily Mail has reached out to NL Film for comment.
Celebrity Masterchef viewers descended into a flurry of debate on Thursday as they questioned the debate of one dish that's been a Ukranian staple.

In a one-off Christmas Special, viewers saw five food critics go head-to-head with dishes to win over the judges.

In the kitchen was Leyla Kazim, Grace Dent, William Sitwell, Jimi Famurewa and Jay Rayner, with the latter eventually crowned the winner.

But it was another contestant that left some fans scratching their heads, as they questioned the pronunciation of his chosen dish.

During the segment, William Sitwell delivered a homemade Chicken Kiev, but the dish was repeatedly pronounced as 'Chicken Kyiv.'

Celebrity Masterchef viewers descended into a flurry of debate on Thursday as they questioned the debate of one dish that's been a Ukranian staple

During the show, William Sitwell delivered a homemade Chicken Kiev , but the dish was repeatedly pronounced as 'Chicken Kyiv'

The pronounciation, which has been re-adopted by Ukranians following the country's invasion by Russia in February 2022, caught many viewers off-guard.

One posted: 'WTH... have I been saying it wrong all thes years???,' and another shared: '#masterchef we all been calling it wrong should be chick keev not chicken kieyev.'

A third posted: 'So, are there any other obviously uncultured souls out there, who still pronounce it chicken kiev, rather than chicken keeev?'

'I've just learned I've been pronouncing chicken Kiev wrong,' one added.

'Kiev' was the standardised spelling for the city under Soviet rule, but recent Russian aggression has seen more Western institutions heed calls to abandon it in favour of the Ukrainian alternative.

And after the invasion began last year, many shoppers called for supermarkets to rename the dish as chicken kviv.

Scott Clarke agreed, asking Marks & Spencers if they could make the change 'as a small gesture of solidarity to our Ukrainian friends'.

The UK Government has been referring to its embassy as being based in 'Kyiv' for years, with an Internet archive showing this had been the case until records began in 2014.

The pronounciation, which has been re-adopted by Ukranians following the country's invasion by Russia in February 2022, caught many viewers off-guard

Ukraine's capital is known as  in Ukrainian and  in Russian. Both terms do not have a direct translation into the Roman alphabet, with Kiev, Kyiv, Kyyiv or Kiyev all being possibilities.

But the spelling 'Kiev' is intrinsically linked with the old USSR due to its widespread use by the British and Americans while the city was under Soviet rule.

Poll How do YOU pronounce the breaded dish? Kiev Kviv (Kee-ev) How do YOU pronounce the breaded dish? Kiev 510 votes

Kviv (Kee-ev) 475 votes Now share your opinion





This continued after independence in 1991, until 'Kyiv' was legally approved by the Ukrainian government.

It was not until the Maidan uprising of 2014 the issue hit the public consciousness, with the ousting of pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych and the creation of a new administration seeking closer ties to the West.

Young Ukrainians see 'Kiev' as a relic of the Soviet past, and this view is now shared by the government, which launched a 'KyivNotKiev' campaign in 2018.

Earlier in the show, Grace Dent broke down in tears after judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace praised her food on the show.

It comes after Grace appeared in this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! but left on medical grounds after just a few days in camp.

She is a regular critic on the BBC's MasterChef and so took part in the festive special where she made a butter chicken.

John told her that he 'loved' her curry, while Gregg added: 'I could honestly just eat that by the ladle full. Well done you!'

A shocked Grace then became emotional and said thank you.

Gregg then reacted to her emotion as he said: 'God, you're speechless. I've never seen you like this before. You alright, kid?'

She replied holding back tears: 'Oh don't, honestly. In my head, I was going to say lots of witty things here and there was going to be lost of banter but I'm just sitting here with my lip wobbling.'

Before wiping her tears away Grace added: 'I'm so sorry. I don't know what's up with me.'

She then told the cameras: 'I didn't realise how emotional I was about it all until they said they liked my food at the end.

'It lifts all the pressure off you. I just felt lighter and giddy and certainly a little it proud of myself.'
Nick Cannon showed his devotion to his family while spending time with Brittany Bell and their three children at Disneyland on Thursday.

The 43-year-old television personality pushed a stroller as he made his way through the Anaheim theme park in the company of the 36-year-old model and his sons Golden, six, and Rise, one, as well as his daughter Powerful, three.

The comedian, who recently opened up about the amount of money he spends at the Magic Kingdom each year, donned a red flannel shirt underneath a leather jacket during his time at the tourist attraction.

Cannon also donned a pair of slim-fitting black pants and tri-tone sneakers that matched his outfit's color scheme.

The Wild 'N Out star completed his look with a multicolored hat and a black N95 mask, and he later donned a trench coat as he made his way through the theme park.

Nick Cannon showed his devotion to his family while spending time with Brittany Bell and their three children at Disneyland on Thursday

Bell opted for a puffy red zip-up jacket that was worn on top of a black blouse as she spent time with her family.

The fashion industry figure kept a red flannel shirt tied around her waist, and she contrasted her jet-black and knee-high socks with her bright white Converse sneakers.

The former Miss Guam accessorized with a pair of hoop earrings and a pair of Minnie Mouse ears.

The performer went on to share a video that had been taken during his family's visit to the Magic Kingdom on his Instagram account Thursday.

In the clip, Cannon, Bell and their children made the most of their time at the theme park and interacted with several costumed characters while celebrating their daughter's birthday.

The actor and the model were first linked in 2014, and they started their family with Golden's birth, which took place three years later.

The television personality has received much notice for welcoming a total of twelve children with various partners, including Mariah Carey and Bre Tiesi.

Cannon and Bell expanded their family with Powerful's arrival in 2020, and they welcomed Rise last September.

The 43-year-old television personality pushed a stroller as he made his way through the Anaheim theme park in the company of the 36-year-old model and his sons Golden, six, and Rise, one, as well as his daughter Powerful, three

The comedian, who recently opened up about the amount of money he spends at the Magic Kingdom each year, donned a red flannel shirt underneath a leather jacket during his time at the tourist attraction

The actor and the model were first linked in 2014, and they started their family with Golden's birth, which took place three years later

Cannon and Bell expanded their family with Powerful's arrival in 2020, and they welcomed Rise last September; they are seen in 2022

The performer discussed his large family during an interview with People and told the media outlet that he remained dedicated to raising his children above all of his other concerns.

'I believe that's what we're put on this planet here to do, is to guide and usher in your offspring. So fatherhood is my number one and first priority when I open my eyes, when I get up every morning,' he said.

While Cannon admitted that the size of his family was concerning to some, he was happy to have been able to welcome so many children.

'I understand that my lifestyle isn't typical to society and can be viewed as unorthodox in some ways. But my goal in life is just to love my kids and be there for my kids and provide for them,' he stated.
Catastrophe star Sharon Horgan's father passed away earlier this week.

The Irish actress and writer, 53, is mourning her father John, a farmer from New Zealand, after he died following a battle with cancer.

The family, including Sharon's mother Ursula and four siblings, are set to bury John in the village of Termonfeckin in Lough on Tuesday.

His heartbroken family announced this week: 'The death has occurred of John (Donald) Horgan of Strand Rd, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, formerly of Bellewstown, London and Christchurch, New Zealand.

'He was a hugely loved husband of Ursula, father to Maria, Sharon, Lorraine, Shane and Mark and grandfather to Sadhbhy, Amer, Marianne, Charlie, Sadie, Neala, Joni and Aoibh.

Catastrophe star Sharon Horgan's father John (both pictured) passed away earlier this week

The Irish actress and writer, 53, is mourning her father John (pictured), a farmer from New Zealand , after he died following a battle with cancer

'The funeral to celebrate the life of a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and good friend will be held at The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Termonfeckin, on Tuesday, 2nd January, 2024 at 1pm.'

A source close to the family told The Sun that John had been ill for some time before his passing, explaining: 'All the family were with him when he died. He was a very proud dad, they are a very tight unit as families go.

'He loved that none of his children let their fame go to their heads and ate all very level headed.

'He was firm but fair and they all loved him. They are a very private family and not sure how they will cope with his passing.'

Sharon previously reflected on her father's unlikely career change when she moved home from the UK at a young age.

She recalled: 'I was born in London and when I was very small my family owned a pub in the East End  the deep East End where the Kray brothers worked.

'One day someone came to my father and asked him to give an alibi for something very serious.

'That's when my parents decided to move my sister and me to Ireland.'

'I don't know how you make that jump into turkey farming. But I guess he was trying to find something that would work for us as a family.'

Sharon later made a short comedy film, The Week Before Christmas, about the busiest time of the year in the Horgan household.

The family, including Sharon's mother Ursula and four siblings, are set to bury John in the village of Termonfeckin in Lough on Tuesday

Sharon previously joked that despite earning critical acclaim for her TV work - including her BAFTA winning show Bad Sisters - she could never match up to her brother Shane's sporting achievements in the eyes of her rugby-mad father

Sharon supported her Catastrophe co-star Rob Delaney (both pictured on the show), after his son Henry died in 2018 when he was just two years old, after battling a brain tumour

She also went onto joke that despite earning critical acclaim for her TV work, she could never match up to her brother Shane's sporting achievements in the eyes of her rugby-mad dad.

Sharon said: 'As for Shane, well our dad's a New Zealander, so can you imagine how proud he is of a rugby player son?

'They're proud of me, too, of course. But it's only the telly, you know, it's not like I'm doing something important, like saving the world! Or playing rugby!'

Sharon also supported her Catastrophe co-star Rob Delaney, after his son Henry died in 2018 when he was just two years old, after battling a brain tumour.
Matt LeBlanc's ex-girlfriend Aurora Mulligan has revealed she's welcomed her first child, after splitting from the Friends star in 2020.

The Irish producer, 38, shared the news of her new arrival on Instagram, posting a snap of the newborn with the caption: 'Best Christmas Present Ever.'

Just hours earlier, Aurora revealed her pregnancy by sharing an Instagram snap of her growing bump, clad in a pink sequinned dress.

Aurora and Matt split in 2020, long before their separation was publicly announced.

The former Friends star worked with Aurora on the long-running BBC show after he was drafted in to revive its ailing fortunes in 2016, before walking away three-years later.

Matt LeBlanc's ex-girlfriend Aurora Mulligan has revealed she's welcomed her first child, after splitting from the Friends star in 2020

Sources have since confirmed the couple quietly drew a line under the relationship months ago.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'They haven't been together in over a year.'

A separate source told The Sun: 'Matt and Aurora's relationship has run its course. It's all over. It's a huge shame and Matt has taken the news particularly hard, as anyone would.

'He and Aurora fell for each on Top Gear and although there was a pretty big age gap they were a really great match.

'But when he announced he was leaving Top Gear and took on other work, it was hard for them. He's mainly based out of LA and was travelling a lot while Aurora was working in the UK.'

The couple were first linked in May 2016 when onlookers said they looked 'besotted' as they attended the Hickstead Derby in West Sussex in June that year.

They walked the red carpet together at the New York film festival in 2017 and made their first appearance as an official couple at the UK launch of Top Gear's 25th series in 2018.

Born in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, the pretty brunette studied politics, political science and government at Liverpool University before launching a successful career in TV production.

Aurora and Matt split in 2020, long before their separation was publicly announced

Just hours earlier, Aurora revealed her pregnancy by sharing an Instagram snap of her growing bump, clad in a pink sequinned dress

The couple were first linked in May 2016 after they met while working on Top Gear together

After stints at ITV and Channel 5, she eventually settled at BBC in July 2015 as assistant producer on Top Gear, shortly after former host Jeremy Clarkson left.

Aurora is believed to have met Matt in early 2016, shortly before he was announced as one of the show's new producers in February.

She was not the first European woman to have caught his eye; he was married to British model Melissa McKnight for three years, with whom he has a daughter, Marina.

It comes after LeBlanc paid an emotional tribute to Matthew Perry following his shock death aged 54.

Friends icon LeBlanc, who played Perry's character Chandler Bing's best friend Joey Tribbiani, wrote on Instagram: 'Matthew. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life.

'It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and Ill never forget you. Never.

'Spread your wings and fly brother youre finally free. Much love. And I guess youre keeping the 20 bucks you owe me.'

LeBlanc shared a heartbreaking photo of the Friends cast - also comprising Jennifer Aniston, 54, David Schwimmer, 57, Lisa Kudrow, 60 and Courteney Cox, 59, embracing with Perry at the finale taping in 2004 - a snap previously shared in 2021.

He posted photos of Joey and Chandler embracing during the show.
Helen Flanagan suffered a holiday nightmare within first few minutes of touching down in Bali on Thursday.

The former Coronation Street star, 33, had reunited with her three children Matilda, seven, Delilah, five, and Charlie, two, after they spent Christmas with her ex-fiance Scott Sinclair, 34.

Helen and her three children are jetted off to enjoy a delayed Christmas as a family with her best friend.

Sharing an update to her Instagram Story upon arrival, the actress revealed she had made it Bali but without her luggage after mistakenly collecting the wrong one.

Smiling for a selfie, she explained: 'Not the best start to the holiday I took the wrong suitcase back to the hotel.'

Helen Flanagan, 33, suffered a holiday nightmare within first few minutes of touching down in Bali on Thursday

Sharing an update to her Instagram Story upon arrival, the actress revealed she had made it Bali but without her luggage after mistakenly collecting the wrong one

Helen continued: 'But the suitcase I took had a mobile so I gave it back to the guy, who was super nice about it. Felt so bad and managed to get mine back at the airport.'

After previously revealing she wasn't in the festive spirit, Helen looked in full spirits on Tuesday as she posed with her children at the airport.

Taking to Instagram the soap star had shown how she spent the week without them, admitting she 'wasn't really feeling it.'

Addressing her one million followers, she confessed: 'Wasnt really feeling Christmas this year, felt weird without the kids but next year Ill be festive My week around Christmas on my camera roll '.

She then proceeded to explain the circumstances around each snap, with the first image showing the mother-of-three wowing in a plunging scarlet dress with a racy thigh split.

Helen said of the occasion: 'Dolling myself up for a night out but probs drank too much (never helps when you feel rubbish)'.

In her next snap, Helen was seen flashing a peace sign in the back of a cab as she revealed she was addressing her premenstrual dysphoric disorder and thanked Vicky Pattison - who has been vocal about her issues with the severe premenstrual syndrome - the symptoms women can experience in the weeks before their period.

Helen explained: 'Finally doing something about my PMDD Thankyou @vickypattison for being a support x I get SO emotional just before I bleed x other women that have this condition please comment '.

Smiling for a selfie, she explained: 'Not the best start to the holiday I took the wrong suitcase back to the hotel'

The former Coronation Street star had reunited with her three children Matilda, seven, Delilah, five, and Charlie, two, after they spent Christmas with her ex-fiance Scott Sinclair, 34

The next snap saw her posing makeup-free with her rarely-seen brother Tom, writing: 'Christmas shopping with my brother for his wife x love him so much and always funny x'.

Another makeup-free image cradling a McDonalds delivery was up next as she explained: 'Me as a skatty mess at my friends apartment. Loosing my keys ect. I do have ADHD and Im managing it really badly at the moment [sic].'

She was glammed up for the next image but admitted: 'Having to keep my coat on at dinner because my dress ripped in two.'

Helen then moved onto a candid selfie in the tub as she mused: 'Spotty and hungover in the bath, WHY am I still spotty at 33, hope my hormone meds help .'

Later on her Stories, Helen revealed she was set for a reunion with her children as she snapped a picture of herself packing for their family trip to Bali.

Earlier this month, it was alleged that Helen was set to spend Christmas in Bali with David Haye and his girlfriend Sian Osborne.

However close friends of the star dismissed the claims and insisted she is 'very single'.

Friends of Helen's told MailOnline: 'She's happily single and happily dating and it's completely false that she's in a throuple. She's not going away with David'.

It was previously alleged that Helen and David, 43, were planning to meet up on the Indonesian island for Christmas where his girlfriend Sian would also be present.

She made sure to make up for lost time as she shared pictures on Instagram of her larking around in the airport with her kids

A few days earlier, Helen revealed she was packing up the children's clothes and belongings ahead of their exciting trip away

Helen and her three children are jetted off for a 15 hour flight to Bali with her best friend to enjoy a delayed Christmas as a family

Among the images was a candid selfie in the tub as she mused: 'Spotty and hungover in the bath, WHY am I still spotty at 33, hope my hormone meds help '

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Helen revealed she wasn't in the festive spirit without her brood but showed how she spent the week without them

The former soap star split from her fiance Scott last year and spent her first Christmas without their children as he had custody of them for the day

In one In snap, Helen flashed a peace sign as she revealed she was addressing her premenstrual dysphoric disorder

The next snap saw her posing makeup-free with her rarely-seen brother Tom, writing: 'Christmas shopping with my brother for his wife x love him so much and always funny x'

Another makeup-free image cradling a McDonalds delivery was up next as she explained: 'Me as a skatty mess at my friends apartment. Loosing my keys ect. I do have ADHD' [sic]

She was glammed up for the next image but admitted: 'Having to keep my coat on at dinner because my dress ripped in two'

Earlier this month, it was alleged that Helen was set to spend Christmas in Bali with David Haye and his girlfriend Sian Osborne yet the star's friends denied the claims

Yet Helen revealed she would not be spending the day with her children for the first time and she would be staying in Bolton with her parents.

She told Closer: 'My children really miss their daddy and they're very close to their nanna, so they're going to spend Christmas with them.

'I won't have them for about four days. It will actually be the first Christmas that I don't have my children.'

Helen added that she will have the kids back after December 25, and will be whisking them away to Bali with her friends - not David - to ring in the New Year.
Jeremy Renner appeared to hint at his return to acting by reposting a photo on his Instagram Story on Thursday.

The 52-year-old performer - who is currently preparing for the release of his debut album - appears to be working on the next season of Mayor of Kingstown.

He sparked a buzz by sharing a photo originally posted by Emma Laird, his co-star on Mayor Of Kingstown.

The actor's castmate also wrote a short message that read 'it's happening,' and she added a note to let her followers know that she would be 'back with my favourite guy next week.'

Renner has starred as Mike McLusky in Mayor Of Kingstown ever since the show premiered on the Paramount+ streaming service in November of 2021.

The program is centered on the unofficial head of a company town where the main form of business is the management of prisons.

Jeremy Renner appeared to hint at his return to acting by reposting a photo on his Instagram Story on Thursday

In addition to Renner and Laird, Mayor Of Kingstown stars performers such as Dianne Wiest, Taylor Handley and Kyle Chandler, as well as Hugh Dillon, who co-created the program alongside Taylor Sheridan.

The first season of the program ran for a total of ten episodes, and the show's second run, which premiered this past January, also lasted for ten installments.

The program has received mixed to negative reviews from critics, although it has become a hit with audiences.

According to TVLine, Mayor Of Kingstown was renewed for a third season this past September.

The premiere date for the program's third set of episodes has not been revealed publicly as of yet.

Renner has been taking a break from his acting career in order to recuperate from injuries he sustained in a snowplow accident that took place this past January.

The performer was spending time with his family at his residence in the Reno, Nevada area when he was run over by a snowplow after pushing his nephew out of the vehicle's way.

The actor was listed as having been in critical condition after being airlifted to a hospital, although he eventually stabilized under medical care.

The actor's castmate also wrote a short message that read 'it's happening,' and she added a note to let her followers know that she would be 'back with my favourite guy next week'; Renner is seen in September

Renner has starred as Mike McLusky in Mayor Of Kingstown ever since the show premiered on the Paramount+ streaming service in November of 2021

According to TVLine, Mayor Of Kingstown was renewed for a third season this past September

Renner has been taking a break from his acting career in order to recuperate from injuries he sustained in a snowplow accident that took place this past January

Renner suffered numerous injuries in the accident, and over 30 of his bones were broken after being run over.

The Hawkeye star has since shared several photos and videos on his Instagram account to document his recovery process.

The actor spoke to ABC News earlier this year and told Diane Sawyer that he had 'lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience.'

However, the actor expressed that he had 'been refueled and refilled with love and titanium' in the months since the incident.
Bling Empire's Jessey Lee won a victory in court against his ex-wife Crystal Hoang Lee.

The former reality star, 47, who left the Netflix show before it was cancelled, has been vindicated after Crystal Hoang's request for a restraining order against him was dismissed, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

Hoang went to court earlier this month alleging Jessey abused her and their children.

At the time the judge denied the restraining order, but scheduled a hearing for last week, but has now thrown out the appeal, citing lack of evidence.

Among her claims, Hoang said her ex struck one of their two daughters during a dispute over bedtime.

Bling Empire star Jessey Lee has won a victory against his ex-wife Crystal Hoang after a judge dismissed her allegations of domestic violence against the reality star

Lee vehemently denied the accusations and claimed to have sole custody of their children as well as a restraining order against her.

'He has been awarded full exclusive custody of the children and they currently live with him. Ms. Hoang has no access or parental rights.'

Hoang confirmed that in a December 4 post writing, 'This is the first time in my life that I have ever lost parental rights. It is a new one on me. I truly love being a mom and every piece of it is already a fight, but when you have the man that gave you the greatest gift of your life trying to fight to take away your babies. All you can see is a broken man.'

A long post on Hoang's social media posted December 12 complained she had been prevented her from taking daughters Joella and Jazlyn to see Santa.

In a video on Instagram Stories posted late Thursday, she said, 'I worked until 4am last night filling in all the paperwork and to have the judge look at it and within 10 minutes,' she said the judge couldn't look at it during the slow holiday period, but she seemed to believe a new hearing date would be determined.

She also wrote she moved with the girls from Texas to California, so they could 'be closer to his family in Manhattan Beach to improve their relationship with their father.'

In a video in her Instagram Stories, Hoang alleged Lee was angry she had made the move because 'he only pays $2,000 in child support.'

Hoang and Lee share daughters Joella and Jazlyn. Hoang claims she has not been allowed to speak to the girls for 25 days nor see them for a month since they have been in their father's custody

Hoang said she moved with the girls from Texas to California in order to be 'closer to family in Manhattan Beach to improve their relationship with their father'

She also claimed that while living in Texas, she and her daughters had to rely on government support to survive.

'For years, my daughter would return home from school with provisions of oatmeal, tuna, and Ramen, just enough to sustain us through the weekend,' she wrote.

Hoang also claims she hasn't been able to speak to her children for 25 days and hasn't seen them for 30 days.

The former couple married in 2011, and filed for divorce in 2015, but didn't work out their financial issues to finalize their split until 2019.

Lee is a 'trust fund' kid according to his ex, and reportedly owns a lucrative furniture store and a tequila company.

Lee and his current wife, Cherie Chan, 47, are believed to have begun seeing each other in 2015, but say there was no cheating going on.

Lee, 47, is now married to 47-year-old actress Cherie Chan and they share two children, J'adore and Jevon (seen in Los Angeles in May 2021)

They welcomed their first child, J'adore in 2016, and their second Jevon, in 2019. Chan proposed to Lee during Jevon's 100 day party and the couple secretly wed in September 2021 at Moet & Chandon's restored Chateau de Saran castle in Champagne, France.

In a statement to TMZ Lee's attorney said, 'Its deeply concerning to witness how the media can be swayed by sensationalist claims, especially in light of the overwhelming evidence against Crystal Lee.'

The lawyer said she was 'Found guilty on 73 counts of contempt,' and that Hoang's 'actions not only sought to unfairly malign Jessy Lees character but also blatantly disregarded the well-being of their children.'

'Jessey, known for his gentle and loving nature, has been a victim of malicious defamation, an attempt to overshadow his true identity as a devoted father and respected businessman.'
A Married At First Sight former couple have fuelled rumours they have secretly rekindled their romance.

Personal trainer and mother-of-two Marilyse Corrigan, 39, wed military man and fellow fitness fanatic Franky Spencer, 48, on the 2021 series but they split just before the final episode aired.

Marilyse later moved on with Matt Murray, 33, who also appeared on the Channel 4 show in 2022, but they split in March.

Sharing a cosy photo with her former 'husband' Franky this week, she looked incredible as they smiled for a photo.

Fans flooded the comments section with their well wishes, with one adding: 'Awww hope its not out of place but I always think you two should give it another go you seem so good together, its all in the vibes xx'

Married At First Sight former couple Marilyse Corrigan, 39, and Franky Spencer, 48, have fuelled rumours they have secretly rekindled their romance

Personal trainer Marilyse wed military man and fellow fitness fanatic Franky on the 2021 series but they split just before the final episode aired (pictured together while on the show)

Another added: 'So nice yo see you both together if not partners, best friends.'

The former couple split after their relationship 'went a bit dry' after 'spending too much time together'.

During the show Marilyse had decided to stay with her Dubai-based husband, who had been dubbed 'controlling' by fans, after the programme ended in the couple's vow renewal.

But speaking to The Sun after the show, the contestant revealed her relationship with Franky ended when it turned into more of a friendship.

'Its really sad as we got on really well and Franky has a heart of gold,' said Marilyse, explaining that it was a mutual decision to end their relationship.

Adding that the experience was 'full-on', she admitted: 'I saw a lot of Franky and that probably spoiled it because we spent too much time together.

'Eventually things just went a bit dry and we ended up being more like friends than people in a relationship.'

Following the show, Franky moved to Beverly, while he looked for a job in Leeds, amid planning his return to the UK from Dubai.

After sharing a cosy photo with her former 'husband' Franky this week fans flooded the comments section with their well wishes

Marilyse later sparked romance rumours with Matt in October 2022 when they jetted off to Turkey together but they split after six months together

Marilyse later sparked romance rumours with Matt in October 2022 when they jetted off to Turkey together.

However, they both announced on social media in March they have decided to break up due to being 'too different' to one another.

Marilyse told her Instagram followers: 'I've received multiple messages asking if Matt and I are still together.

'Out of respect to you guys and the support you've given us, of course it's only fair to be clear. So the answer to this is no we are no longer together anymore but I do wish Matt all the best for his future.'
Outwardly there is very little that is flashy about the L'Oreal beauty giant heiress who has just become the first woman to amass a $100billion fortune.

The family firm owns brands including Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as Lancome. But French businesswoman Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, granddaughter of the L'Oreal founder, and now the world's richest woman, has a more understated style.

The 70-year-old's favoured accessories are a pair of large, heavy-rimmed glasses and a bright scarf, typically worn with a practical trouser suit. Save for a slick of black eyeliner, she wears little make-up, and when not dealing with business affairs she writes books.

Not glamorous, escapist fiction, but heavy tomes including five volumes of A Look At The Bible and another tackling Greek mythology.

She does, however, have one notable indulgence: two grand pianos, a Steinway and a Yamaha, which take pride of place in her elegant two-storey apartment in the wealthy Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Outwardly there is very little that is flashy about the L'Oreal beauty giant heiress who has just become the first woman to amass a $100billion fortune

The family firm owns brands including Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as Lancome. But French businesswoman Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, granddaughter of the L'Oreal founder, and now the world's richest woman, has a more understated style

The piano, it would seem, has been a lifelong outlet for this low-profile member of the tiny group of individuals who can really call themselves mega-rich (her $100.2 billion fortune puts her at 12th in Bloomberg's Billionaire Index).

Francoise began playing as a child, having lessons from Yvonne Lefebure  a woman who counted the composers Faure and Ravel among her friends  at the exclusive Marymount School, in Paris, run by American nuns.

She hit the $100 billion-dollar milestone after shares in the firm, founded by her grandfather Eugene Schueller in 1909, hit a record high. But her status as the world's richest woman was inherited from her mother Liliane Bettencourt, the glamorous grand dame of the beauty conglomerate, who died, at 94, in 2017.

As low profile as Francoise may like to remain, Liliane's death brought to a close a chapter in Bettencourt history that could rival TV's Succession for rivalry, in-fighting and drama.

What began as a family row over love and money and the vulnerability of an ageing matriarch, developed into an explosive wrangle that captured headlines and spiralled into a political scandal, involving allegations of tax evasion and illegal donations to the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

The 'affaire Bettencourt' (it was so seismic it had its own name) has recently been turned into a three-part Netflix documentary.

So just what is the background to the woman who has just become a billionaire 100 times over?

The story of Francoise Bettencourt Meyers is marked out by the long shadow cast by her mother Liliane, who had a strong bond with her own father, a chemist who began his business by manufacturing and selling synthetic hair dyes to Parisian salons.

The 70-year-old's favoured accessories are a pair of large, heavy-rimmed glasses and a bright scarf, typically worn with a practical trouser suit

Her mother died when she was five, and Liliane first went to work for L'Oreal at 15, sticking labels on shampoo bottles in a factory.

She inherited the L'Oreal empire when her father died in 1957, but running the company fell to a man, the company's CEO Francois Dalle, and for most of Liliane's nine decades she was better known for who she was than what she did.

Married to Andre Bettencourt, a government minister of the 1960s and 1970s under President Charles de Gaulle, Liliane's was a life of luxury. She even bought an island in the Seychelles.

Francoise, an only child, was born in 1953  but the mother-daughter relationship was put under strain from the start, when Liliane contracted tuberculosis and had to leave her infant daughter while she recovered in a sanatorium.

Later, little Francoise was withdrawn from school and educated at home because her parents were plagued by fears she might be kidnapped and held to ransom. Her piano was a solace.

Of her preference for solitude over glitzy parties, she said: 'I have always loved moments shared between friends, in small groups, that's how the best friendship is created. I still don't like big dinners, I prefer cosy brunches.'

In his 2017 book The Bettencourt Affair, journalist Tom Sancton reflects that Francoise was never comfortable with her status as heiress and rich girl, and could not have been less like her enthusiastic socialite mother. She, however, has always insisted they were once a very 'close-knit family'.

Sancton's book quotes childhood friend Arielle Dombasle: 'Francoise doesn't like luxury. She likes her Labrador. She adores her children and she loves her husband.'

Born and raised a Catholic, Francoise met the man who would become her husband at just 19. Jean Pierre-Meyers was five years older, the son of a L'Oreal manager, from a wealthy French Jewish banking family.

The couple opted for a quiet wedding in Tuscany, in Italy, with just nine guests in total ('We didn't get married in secret,' insisted Francoise), followed by a larger reception back home in France.

Five years later it emerged that both her maternal grandfather, Eugene Schueller, and her father, Andre Bettencourt, had worked for the extreme-Right, anti-Semitic La Cagoule movement before World War II. Did this fuel ill-feeling? It certainly may have done. Francoise's husband Jean-Pierre is the grandson of a rabbi who was murdered at Auschwitz and the couple have two children, Jean-Victor and Nicolas Meyers, who were raised Jewish.

(L'Oreal, remains a family business; both Jean-Victor, 37, and Nicolas, 35, are on the L'Oreal board. When he replaced his grandmother on the board of directors, Jean-Victor was 25, making him the youngest director of a publicly listed company in France.)

Whatever awkwardness may have been created, Francoise remained close to her father until his death in 2007 and the couples' respective homes in Neuilly-sur-Seine were just a stone's throw apart.

It was soon after her father's death that Francoise accused one of her mother's closest friends, the society photographer Francois-Marie Banier, of manipulating the elderly widow into lavishing him with gifts worth more than 1 billion, including artworks, cash and life insurance policies.

She argued that her octogenarian mother was mentally unfit and being manipulated by her entourage, particularly Banier.

The row exploded into a political scandal in 2010 when it emerged Liliane's butler had secretly taped many of her conversations.

Liliane Bettencourt with her daughter Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers in Paris, France in 2011

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers standing between her husband Jean-Pierre Meyers and their son Jean-Victor Meyers attend 'La Traviata' - Opera en Plein Air, produced by Benjamin Patou, 'Moma Group' in 2015

The recordings, revealed that Liliane held more than 100 million in secret Swiss bank accounts, an undeclared island in the Seychelles, discussions about various tax evasion strategies and had ties to Sarkozy's government. In 2015 eight members of the old lady's entourage, including Banier, were convicted of fleecing her.

Banier was convicted of 'abuse of weakness', sentenced to two and a half years in prison and ordered to pay 158 million in damages. He appealed, and his conviction was upheld but his sentence and fine were reduced

Liliane, meanwhile, was ruled to be suffering from dementia and placed under the control of her daughter and two grandsons, a fate which she had declared would be her 'worst nightmare'. They were ultimately reconciled.

Francoise said before her mother's death: 'I have always been close to my parents and perhaps more so to my mother. My father was in politics and was often absent, but she was the bridge.

'I saw her constantly, before some people interfered in our life and our relationship to change things.'

Since her mother's death, Francoise has cut a dignified figure, her long black hair unmarked by grey. In his book, Tom Sancton describes her as a low-key woman who 'lives inside her own cocoon'.

While she has served on L'Oreal's board of directors since 1997 and is chairwoman of the family holding company (the family holds a 33 per cent stake in the firm), Francoise is not solely focused on the business.

She is also president of her family's philanthropic foundation, which supports French endeavours in the sciences and arts. She pledged 173 million to repair efforts after fire that ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in 2019.

Above all, though, the richest woman in the world is happiest not surrounded by luxury and sycophants  but at the keys of her piano.
Fans of McDonald's new CosMc's spin off have described how they are happy to wait as long as FOUR hours in line to try the colourful new drinks.

And to deal with the bigger-than-expected demand at the first - and, so far, only - outlet in Boingbrook, near Chicago, requires a team effort between CosMc's staff, security guards, local officials and even other retailers lending a parking lot.

A fascinating photograph taken last week with 50 cars lined up in a 'holding pen' - before they even get to CosMc's - shows the scale of the operation. A parked Bolingbrook Police SUV keeping tabs on things is also seen in the picture.

Each morning in the neighbouring parking lot, normally used by customers of Best Buy and Dollar Tree, CosMc's staff lay out cones - which act as stanchions to guide cars as they wait.

Security guards in hi-vis yellow jackets are then on hand to direct cars as they snake around the cones - and also to direct them across a road to CosMc's lot. Here, customers get into one of four small lines for the ordering kiosks.

CosMc's new outlet in Bolingbrook is so popular cars have to wait in line in a parking lot next door

This is the photo that our graphic is based on - and shows 50 cars waiting in the parking lot next to CosMc's

Weeks after opening on December 7, the lines still build up every day. Unless a customer begins to line up before opening, the wait time to get food is typically 30 minutes up to four hours.

A CosMc's source said: 'It is a real team effort. Local officials love having it here and have really helped out with ways to manage the amount of customers we are attracting. The mayor has been supportive and so have the local police.'

Staff try to deter people from joining the line after 4pm, ahead of the outlet closing at 8pm.

CosMc's differs from McDonald's in that it focuses heavily on drinks, with limited food - and NO fries. It is seen as a competitor to Starbucks.

Kristina Alkass was happy to wait four hours to try out CosMc's

One woman was very happy to wait four hours - after already having driven 45 minutes from her home - to try out the creamy avocado tomatillo sandwich and a citrus and cream shake.

'It was worth the wait,' Kristina Alkass told DailyMail.com. 'The food was delicious, and it was also great to see the new concept. The CosMc's colours and logo look great - and the staff are really excited to be working there.'

Alkass was already a big fan of McDonald's, and had written about the fast food giant in a previous role as a senior editor for Restaurants and Institutions magazine.

In a review on Facebook, she wrote: 'In just one bite, I was reminded that McDonald's makes a darn good sandwich. The egg was great, the bacon was thick, the sauce was spicy and creamy without overwhelming the other flavors. The steamy brioche was the MVP.'

'I was surprised at how many items are in the $2 to $4 range. It's a very good deal to get a custom beverage and a hot snack for less than $10 per person.'

She said there were about 20 staff members directing traffic - and estimated there were about 200 cars in front of her when she joined the line.

Alkass waited for four hours at CosMc's. She took this photo showing the long lines of cars, and CosMc's staff helping to direct traffic

When Alkass visited the CosMc's in Bolingbrook she said there were about 20 staff members helping to direct cars in line

Alkass - who waited four hours to get food and drinks at CosMc's - said there were more than 200 cars ahead of her when she began to wait

'I had time to wait so it wasn't a problem for me', she told DailyMail.com. 'With time, they will get the wait down. For now everyone has to order via the kiosks then wait to be given a window to pick up food and drinks. With time, people will no doube be able to pre-order via an app - and only a fraction will use the kiosks.'

Others have been happy to wait too since CosMc's opened on December 7. Kevin Jackson, 32, of Westmont, ran low on gas when he was halfwaythrough the line, according to the Chicago Sun Times. He rejoined after refuelling.

'It's worth it,' Jackson said. 'It's probably better to go today than any of the other days. Most people are probably at work today.'

While Alkass and Jackson were happy to wait, others have not been, according to reviews left on Google.

Melissa Tomany wrote: 'I wasn't going to wait four hours. I'll try again in a few months once the hype dies down.'

A few factors are causing the long waits - for now at least. Firstly, the Bolingbook CosMc's is the only one in the world so far - and is attracting customers not just from area but from outside of Chicago too. A tourist on holiday from the UK drove out to it.

Secondly, the concept is new so bosses are still finetuning how customers order and then pick up food and drinks. Unlike McDonald's there is no pre-ordering by app - but that will come.

Thirdly, many of the drinks are personalised which holds things up too.

CosMc's is drive-thru only at Bolingbrook, with no indoor space to eat. There will ten more CosMc's in Texas by the end of 2024.

The CosMc menu currently features six hot coffee options, a selection of teas and a standard hot chocolate

In a press release, CosMc said it would offer drinks with 'customizations at every turn: popping boba, flavor syrups, energy or Vitamin C shots, and so much more'

Andrea Hernandez, the founder of food and beverages platform Snaxshot, said the offerings will appeal to a different audience to Starbucks and Dunkin/' Pictured: A drinks menu at the CosMc restaurant in Bolingbrook, Illinois

Retail analysts say the chain is attempting to capture the so-called 'TikTok generation' with its playful menu.

Flavorful, personalized beverages from the likes of Starbucks frequently go viral among Gen Z on TikTok. The trend has become so pervasive the hashtag #DrinkTok has more than four billion views.

The new brand - named after the chain's alien mascot in the 1980s and early 90s - certainly appears to be emulating Starbucks with its range of colorful drinks including a Churro Frappe, Popping Pear Slush and a Berry Hibiscus sour-ade.
Burger King is seeing in 2024 by giving out free food to fans.

This weekend, the fast food chain is handing out free burgers and sandwiches to customers - so long as they buy something else costing $1.

Today, customers can celebrate the end of the year with a free original chicken sandwich. And tomorrow, on Saturday, December 30, fans can get a bacon cheeseburger free of charge.

To get the free food, customers need to order via the Burger King app and be signed up to the chain's Royal Perks rewards scheme.

Burger King items that cost around $1 include two chocolate chip cookies for $1.50 or four chicken nuggets for $1.69 at a location in Manhattan, New York City.

On Friday, December 29, customers can celebrate the end of the year with a free original chicken sandwich if they make a $1 purchase

This weekend, the fast food chain is handing out free burgers and sandwiches to customers. On Saturday, it's a free bacon cheeseburger if customers spend $1 on something else

It is one of many deals that the burger joint has offered this year - including giving out free food every Friday in December.

Throughout the month, the chain has offered $3 Whopper sandwiches every Wednesday.

In September, in honor of National Cheeseburger Day, Burger King gave out free cheeseburgers to customers who spent $1.

The cost of the chain's bacon cheeseburger and original chicken sandwich vary by location, but can cost as much as $4.37 and $8.49, respectively, in Manhattan.

The latest deal comes after Burger King welcomed back some returning items to its menu this month.

Cheese-filled tater tots - known as Cheesy Tots - returned to the menu for the first time since 2021.

Available in four and eight-pieces, these make for a 'warmly delicious snack or comforting addition to any BK meal', the company said.

BK Melts have also returned to menus nationwide at the fast food mega-chain. These are a specialty burger sandwich on rounded bread, rather than a hamburger bun.

BK Melts - including a new Shroom n Swiss flavor (pictured) have returned to the menu

Back on the menu is the Classic Melt, which features two slices of toasted bread, layered with two flame-grilled patties, melted American cheese and caramelized onions, and the Bacon Melt, which also adds bacon to the mix.

An all new Melt was also added to menus this month.

The Shroom n Swiss features two slices of toasted bread, two flame-grilled patties, Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms and the company's signature Stacker Sauce.
It marks the reversal of the 'Great Migration' which has seen California and New York lose residents to lower-cost states like Florida and Texas

Experts at Redfin said trend was driven by rising house prices and the decline of WFH which gave buyers less flexibility

Share of Americans looking to relocate has fallen from 26% to 23.9%

America's so-called 'Great Migration' appears to be waning as the share of homebuyers looking to relocate fell to its lowest level in 18 months.

Some 23.9 percent of buyers were looking to move to another town or city in November, down from a high of 26 percent over the summer, according to a new report by property portal Redfin.

It comes after droves of residents in New York and California fled to the likes of Florida and Texas in search of lower taxes and cheaper living costs.

But Redfin's analysis of user searches suggests the trend is dying, largely driven by the decline of working from home which has given employees more flexibility to relocate in recent years.

Surprisingly, of those looking to move, Sacramento (CA) was named the most popular area to relocate to - despite reports California in general is losing residents. It was followed by Las Vegas (NV), Nort Port Sarasota (FL) and Cape Coral (FL) respectively.

Some 23.9 percent of buyers were looking to move to another metro area in November, down from a high of 26 percent over the summer, according to a new report by Redfin

Redfin analyzed how many home searchers were looking to move to metro areas and subtracted the number of those want to move out. Figures are for the month of November

Meanwhile Los Angeles (CA) came out as the top metro area where homebuyers were fleeing.

Redfin analyzed how many home searchers were looking to move to LA and subtracted the number of those want to move out.

It found Los Angeles would lose 26,100 residents if all of those searchers went ahead with their relocation.

San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C and Seattle were also listed in the top five metro areas where residents were exiting. All were predicted to lose 11,000 or more citizens.

The report notes: 'Theres less flexibility to work remotely as employers call workers back to the office.

'That means the flow of homebuyers moving from the Bay Area to Austin (TX) or Boise (ID) for example, has slowed.'

It added that home prices had increased in popular migration destinations have shot up since the pandemic - putting more people off moving.

For example, the median house price in popular destination Sacramento was $491,500 in November - up around 35 percent from before the pandemic.

By comparison, the Bay Area in general had only seen an 8 percent increase in house prices.

Nevertheless the migration rate remains above pre-pandemic levels when only 19 percent of homebuyers looked to move states on average.

It found Los Angeles would lose 26,100 residents if all of those searchers went ahead with their relocation

Vered and Ido left California amid rising costs and crime (Pictured: The couple at their favorite local restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee)

The movement was sparked by soaring living costs which prompted many citizens to move to more affordable metros.

California and New York were among the states worst-hit by the trend, with experts blaming their high tax rates.

US Census Bureau data - published last week - suggests California lost 75,400 residents in the 12 months to July 1 this year.

There are a range of income tax rates in California, but the highest earners face a punitive 12.3 percent levy - plus an additional 1 percent surcharge on those making over $1 million a year.

New York's highest earners similar face a 10.9 percent state income tax. Wage earners have to pay this on top of their federal and local taxes.

Back in October, former California resident Vered DeLeeux told DailyMail.com that rising living costs and crime rates in the Golden State forced her to relocate to Memphis, Tennessee.

DeLeeux, who used to live in Palo Alto with her husband IDo, said: 'Real estate prices are so crazy that if you want to buy a standard family home you have to spend millions of dollars.

'We just felt that the cost of living kept climbing and taxes kept climbing - but our quality of life was slowly going down.'
Fuelled by demand, manufacturing activities, and investments, the horizon of the country's logistics industry looks "promising" for 2024, though Red Sea might cast a shadow of global supply disruptions and push up freight costs.

Not just the market tailwinds, the government's key initiatives spanning from PM Gati Shakti to the maritime policy to the Sagarmala project will also set the tone for the logistics landscape next year, according to experts.

"In 2023, India's logistics sector showcased commendable progress. The government's strategic investments and commitment to digitalisation have been instrumental in this growth. As we step into 2024, the sector's outlook remains promising," Gregory Goba-Ble, Managing Director for UPS in India, said.

To complement the PM Gati Shakti, the government, in 2022, rolled out a comprehensive national policy for the logistic sector to address the issues of high logistics cost and inefficiencies, among others.

The policy helped India climb six places to the 38th position among 139 countries in the seventh edition of the World Bank Logistics Performance Index 2023.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the e-commerce boom has driven a heightened demand for logistics services, emphasising the importance of speed in order fulfilment, storage flexibility, and customer satisfaction.

Last-mile delivery and returns processing/reverse logistics have been the buzzwords throughout the year, with companies focusing on solving these challenges to meet customer expectations.

In 2024, the logistics sector is poised for significant advancements and transformative shifts in response to emerging trends, experts said.

Nirav Doshi, Founder & Managing Director of NIDO Group, said tier-II/III cities will be game changers as SMEs come to the growth's forefront while warehouse automation, a driving force in recent years, is set to continue revolutionising the warehousing industry.

The general elections are scheduled for early 2024 and it will be keenly watched by global investors and manufacturing companies.

The upcoming regime has the potential to enact policies that not only mitigate risks highlighted by recent crises but also position India as a global logistics hub, Flomic Global Logistics Managing Director Lancy Barboza said.

According to Homi Katgara, Partner at Jeena & Company, government initiatives promoting inland waterways, developing smaller ports, and increasing the number of airports, present exciting avenues for growth.

'The global trade is witnessing a slowdown in demand due to subdued macroeconomic environment. However, on the domestic front, India has emerged as a bright spot," Allcargo Group Chief Strategy Officer Ravi Jakhar said.

The sustained revival of manufacturing activities and consumer demand have increased the logistics service demand in India, he added.

Noting that the geopolitical developments will continue to keep the trade on its toes, he said owing to the subdued global demand scenario, the capacity is expected to remain underutilised in the first half of 2024. Jakhar also said sustainability is another key driver as more and more companies are becoming ESG conscious and that sustainable or green logistics practices will become more dominant in 2024.

However, the Red Sea crisis has directly impacted India, which heavily relies on maritime trade, Ambrish Kumar, Founder-CEO of ZipaWorld Innovation Pvt Ltd, said.

The Red Sea, accounting for 12 per cent of global trade and 30 per cent of container traffic, serves as a crucial link in the global supply chain. With the Suez Canal shortening voyages between the East and West, the Red Sea acts as a bridge for millions of containers carrying everything from electronics and garments to oil and agricultural products.

With 20 per cent of Indian exports passing through the Suez Canal and Red Sea route, the disruption translates to significant economic repercussions, Kumar said.

He also said vessel insurance costs are skyrocketing and freight charges are surging 30-40 per cent.

The latest attacks on Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea have exposed the vulnerability of global supply chains. "As we enter 2024, business outlook remains uncertain," Amit Maheshwari, Founder & CEO of Softlink Global Pvt Ltd, said.

Globally, business outlook depends on how long supply chain disruptions, energy price volatility and geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea region persists, he said, adding that the drone attack in the Indian Ocean also highlights evolving asymmetric threats.
Womens participation in the technology sector presents a mixed scenario. While some women have been important players, general progress has been disappointing

With the Lok Sabha elections not so far away, and political parties gearing up to select candidates to contest on their behalf, one needs to remember that womens representation in the National Parliament, state legislatures, as well as the corridors of power, has been rather poor. Things are, doubtless, no betterand, in some cases, much worsein most other countries, including the much-vaunted western democracies. Nor is politics the only sector in India and the world where women suffer a raw deal. Between 1901, when it was first awarded, and 2023, 965 individuals and 27 organisations received the Nobel Prize, some twice. Of them only 64 were women, with one of them, Marie Curie receiving it twicein 1903 and 1911. The gender disparity has been particularly staggering in some areas. Women, for example, have accounted for only five out of the 225 recipients in physics, 13 out of 214 in medicine, eight out of 186 in chemistry and three out of 90 in economics.

Even in areas where more women have been recipients, the figures are 19 out of 92 in peace and 17 out of 103 in literature. There has, of course, been of late, an upward trend, but women still have miles to traverse to achieve something even close to parity with men in this area.

It is not just the case of the Nobel Prize. Compared to men, women are grossly under-represented in every domain of human activity outside the confines of domesticity. It is not possible to examine the situation in all of these in a column. Given, however, the fact that these multiple disciplines have many common parameters and function in the same defining environment, it will be useful to focus on any one of them for a picture roughly indicative of how things generally are. In this context, it would be both interesting and instructive to look at the technology sector, the cutting edge of civilisational progress both globally and nationally.

Gitanjali Singh, global head of strategy and new business growth of a transnational IT company, cites a survey by womenintech.co.uk as stating that women accounted for 26 per cent of the workforce in the technology sector globally. While this marked an improvement over the figure of 19 per cent in 2019, it has by no means been enough for uncorking champagne bottles. Turning to the US, Singh refers to a Forbes magazine report stating that women held a mere 26.7 per cent of the technology jobs. She further points out that, even in the case of women committed to building careers, it was harder for them to pitch their ideas, get equal wages and timely promotions, access mentoring, and networking opportunities, and earn a seat at the boardroom table. She refers to a report by the global management consultancy firm, McKinsey and Company, as stating in 2022 that for every 100 men promoted to managerial positions across all industries, 86 women were promoted. The number was lower in the technology industry52 women promoted for every 100 men.

In India, womens participation in the technology sector presents a mixed scenario. While some of them have been important players at the highest level, general progress has been disappointing. According to a report by Deutsche Welle published in Frontline (August 29, 2023), over 100 women scientists and engineers contributed to the Chandrayaan 3 mission landing a lunar rover on the moon. Not only that, India became, in the process, the first country to place a spacecraft near the moons south pole. The report mentions S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is in overall charge of Indias space programme including projects like Chandrayaan 3, talking about how women were involved in conceptualising, designing and executing the mission, and adding, Some of them played a significant role in navigation during the landers critical descent.

All this could, doubtless, happen because there were women with adequate qualifications and leadership capabilities. The Deutsche Welle report cited above, mentions World Bank data indicating that women made up nearly 43 per cent of the total STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduates in India, one of the highest in the world. Further, Gitanjali Singh refers to NASSCOM's 'Strategic Review 2023,' stating that out of 5.4 million IT workers in India, 30 per cent were women. Other figures project a dismal picture. According to the Deutsche Welle report, a nationwide survey found that women made up only 13 per cent of scientists and science faculty at Indian higher education and research institutions. Even at ISRO, women employees accounted for 20 to 25 per cent of its total workforce of over 16,000 persons.

Finally, the inevitable question: what is to be done? The exhortation that government and research institutions, and business undertakings, need to make a special effort has acquired the status of venerable cliche. Nevertheless, it has its kernel of truth. What one needs are specific and carefully calibrated measures. The main thrust has to come from the political arena. Hence the importance of having more women Members of Parliament, and their actively pursuing the cause of gender equality and justice.

(The author is Consulting Editor, The Pioneer. The views expressed are personal)
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
Poet Allama Iqbal had called Lord Rama "Imam-e-Hind", and yet it took Hindus 45 years after Independence to make a serious attempt to recover his birthplace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the Swarveda Temple in Varanasi on December 18, right called for the restoration of cultural symbols hit by invading tyrants. The Babri edifice at Ayodhya was arguably the beginning of such a reconstruction.The poet Allama Iqbal had called Lord Rama Imam-e-Hind, and yet it took Hindus 45 years after independence before making a serious attempt to recover His birthplace. Whereas a proud and self-respecting nation should have retrieved within three or four years of becoming free. That the Hindus did not display their pride early enough was not only a case of delayed recovery but also a matter of poor communication.That the Muslims did not hand over the birthplace of Ramachandra meant that they did not realize how serious a matter it was for the Hindus. The latter have seldom communicated that to them, a temple is a residence of the divine. It is far more sacred than a mosque or church, which are only prayer halls. They can be shifted about without causing outrage. In fact, in Europe, churches are known to be even sold. A big church in Leicestershire was sold to the local Jain community, which then replaced it with its temple.Prophet Moses on Mount Sinai, while delivering his ten commandments, clearly stated: Thee shall have no gravel image of thy Lord the god. Moses also commanded: Thee shall not take the name of thy Lord the God in vain. Whereby, he asked the Jews not to expect to try to mingle with the divine in any way.It is in this spirit that Islam does not permit the making of any statue or image. This means a prohibition of what is normally referred to as spirituality. It is in this vein that neither a synagogue; nor a church or mosque is considered a residence of the divine. Not many Muslims realize that when a temple is desecrated a Hindu is mortally hurt, unlike the demolition of a prayer hall. Surely, a Hindu must clarify this, loud and clear. Instead, he prefers to indulge in litigation and long legal battles.Well before demanding Partition, Mohammad Ali Jinnah had made it clear to all Indians that Hindus and Muslims cannot co-exist in the same country. In March 1940, he told the Muslim League members at Lahore: Notwithstanding a thousand years of close contact, nationalities, which are as divergent today as ever, cannot at any time be expected to be transformed into one nation merely by the method of subjecting them to a democratic constitution and holding them forcibly together by the unnatural and artificial means of a British parliamentary statute. What the unitary government of India had failed to achieve in 150 years cannot be realized by the imposition of a central federal government. It is inconceivable that the fiat or the writ of a government so constituted can ever command willing and loyal obedience throughout the subcontinent by various nationalities, except using the armed force behind it.It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Hindu friends fail to understand the real nature of Islam and Hinduism. They are not religions in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders. It is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality. This notion of one Indian nation has gone far beyond the limits and is the cause of most of our troubles and will lead India to destruction if we fail to revise this misconception in time.

The Hindus and Muslims have different religious philosophies, social customs and literature. They neither intermarry nor interdine and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their views on life and of life are different. It is also quite clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration, from different sources of history. They have different epics and different heroes in different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one a numerical minority and the other a majority must lead to growing discontent and the final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.As the rush of Hindu refugees from East Bengal after Partition was continually rising, even till 1948, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerji accompanied by Dr Rajkumari Amrit Kaur rushed to see Gandhi. Their mission was to appeal to the great man to accept Jinnahs proposal for an exchange of populations. Gandhi rejected this appeal categorically by stating that Partition was on territorial lines and not on religious grounds. What an astounding thing to say! As a result, most Hindu leaders were hesitant in telling the people that Pakistan was for Muslims and Hindustan was for others. This meant that all communal issues stood settled and India was now predominantly a Hindu country. On the contrary, the repeated use of the word secular has confused Muslims to this day. They, therefore, do not feel embarrassed at holding on to sacred properties that were wrongly and forcibly acquired from the Hindus. Didnt the Hindus tail to communicate clearly and properly?

(The writer is a well-known columnist, an author and a former member of the Rajya Sabha. The views expressed are personal)
The Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a confluence of different verities of the cultural, philosophical, artistic, linguistic and literary manifestations

The Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS) 2022 reconnected the age-old interrelation between Rameshwaram and Kashi and rejuvenated the ageless bonds between Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The KTS 2023 being held from 17th to 30th December is a Sangamam of arts and architecture, languages and literature, philosophies and practices, shastras and sciences, tradition and technology. The connections that exist between Kashi and Tamil Nadu are countless. If the connecting stories start from Maharshi Agastya, who, as directed by Lord Vishwanath at Kashi, went down to Dravida Desha and wrote Tamil grammar a few thousand years ago, the latest connect is IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation partnering with Vidya Shakti scheme to provide Science and Maths education to rural, less-privileged students in and around Kashi. About 450 Kashi Vishwanath Temples all over Tamil Nadu including Shivakashi, Tenkashi, Vriddhakashi, etc. are the invigorators of the continuum of aadhyaatmika and saanskritika paramparaa originating from Kashi for several millenniums. From the Vaigai River to the Gangai River, from Madurai Meenakshi to Kashi Vishalakshi, the innate oneness in the cultural and civilisational manifestations is boundless and timeless. The KTS 2023 is for experiencing that oneness.

While inaugurating the KTS on the 17th of December, Honble PM Narendra Modi said that the Aatmiyataa in Vividhataa (Affinity in Diversity) is unique and could not be seen in any other civilisation outside India. Diversities like linguistic, philosophic, traditional, architectural, artistic, cultural, etc. of these two regions of India are innumerable and unparalleled. That is the bonding beauty of Bharat. This beauty of diversity can be sustained only by the strength of unity, and hence, unity is paramount. Affinity among the people is the cementing factor of the unity of the nation. PM Modi said that while the concept of nation is political in other countries, it is spiritual and cultural in India, and this is what has made our nation remain as one for thousands of years. Knowing each other and sharing each others life experiences strengthen the affinity.

Seven batches of delegates from Tamil Nadu are named after the seven most sacred rivers of India  Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri which symbolise the civilisational unity and cultural harmony of Bharat. Altogether 64 stalls and exhibitions in the most modern Ghat, the NaMo Ghat, at Varanasi are like 64 Kalaas of ancient India. Cultural programs being held every day are a blend of both Tamil Nadu and Kashi traditions of Arts. The replica of the Sengol, Learn and Enjoy Tamil language Corner, Silk Saris of Kanchipuram and Banaras, ODOP, handloom and handicraft products, etc. are the star attractions of the exhibitions. The launching of 40 Classical Tamil texts in the Braille script by the Prime Minister is the reaffirmation of inclusive education. The release of Tirukkural in seven foreign languages shows the commitment of the Govt. of India to spread Tamil all over the world. Seven academic interactive sessions for exchanging ideas and best practices by the delegates and their counterparts in Kashi opened up new avenues for collaboration. Minister for Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dr Dharmendra Pradhan, while welcoming the first batch of students, which comprised students from Tamil Nadu, emphasised multilingualism for Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Most of the delegates from Tamil Nadu didnt know Hindi and most of the Kashi people didnt know Tamil. But that wasnt in any way an impediment for them in communicating with and understanding each other because the affinity as fellow Bharatiya, the oneness within everyone, knowledge of some common vocabulary, common cultural understandings, common moorings, and the absence of any type of divisive walls in their minds made them experience the immense love in each others hearts transcending all the barriers.

Bharatiya languages are the primary vehicles of Bharatiya culture, arts, music, thoughts, and the bonds of unity and harmony of the people of Bharat. All are intertwined with each other. The Kashi Tamil Sangamam is not the confluence of two cultures, it is the confluence of different varieties of the cultural, philosophical, artistic, linguistic and literary manifestations of the same one all-inclusive culture, all-pervading and all-encompassing throughout Bharat. Ragas are many, Bhakti is one. Rupas are many, Satya is one. Names are many, Ishwar is one. Systems are many, purpose is one. Languages are many, Bhav is one. Paths are many, destination is one. Regions are many, Bharat is one. It is time to shred off all divisive thought processes and work for Oru Bharatam, Unnata Bharatam.

In the history of Classical Tamil literature, there were three great Sangamams of highly learned men at Madurai. Triveni Sangamam at Prayagraj is well known to all. The Ministry of Education has been celebrating Yuva Sangam, Sourashtra Tamil Sangamam and Kashi Tamil Sangamam. Now again it is history in making and Vikasit Bharat in shaping.

(The writer is Chairman Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti views are personal)
Firdaus Kharas, an India-born entrepreneur and thought leader, has been appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest honours, for advancing social change through human-centred media.

The annual list of 2023 appointees to the Order of Canada was released by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon on Thursday.

The Order of Canada is one of our country's highest honours. It recognises people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada.

Simon's office announced three new appointments of "companions"  the highest level of the Order of Canada  15 officers, including one honorary officer, and 59 members.

Kharas, 68, had been appointed officer of the Order of Canada for advancing social change through human-centred media as a social entrepreneur, humanitarian and mass communications media producer.

I am deeply moved to receive this high honour, which is especially meaningful to me as an immigrant. Although a high achieving community, Parsis are a minuscule community numbering only 3,600 in Canada, so it is extremely satisfying to be noticed in this way," Kharas said in a statement.

Appointees will be invited to an investiture ceremony at a later date to receive their insignia. The dates of these ceremonies will be announced in due course.

Kharas is a renowned producer of social and behavioural change communications which has been seen by over a billion people. He founded Chocolate Moose Media in 1995, a social enterprise, to create mass communications to better the human condition.

His work has been used in 198 countries, including in several languages throughout India. He is the recipient of 125 awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award and several honourary doctorates from universities.
In a major reprieve on Thursday for eight former Navy personnel sentenced to death by a Qatar court, they will now face reduced punishment. It could involve serving a sentence in jail. However, details are awaited since the judgment has not been released.

The commutation of the death sentence by an appellate court in Qatar comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the sidelines of the CoP28 summit in Dubai. Details of the conversation were never made public, but there was speculation that this issue was raised. After the meeting on December 1, Modi said they discussed the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar.

The eight Indians were awarded the death penalty in October, reportedly on charges of espionage. The charges were not made public. The eight Indians are Purnendu Tiwari, Sugunakar Pakala, Amit Nagpal, and Sanjeev Gupta, who are Commanders, and Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, and Saurabh Vasisht, who are Captains. The eighth individual is Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar.

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 judgment is awaited, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Thursday.

Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present at the Court of Appeal today, along with 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.

Noting that a detailed judgment was awaited, the ministry said it was 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 in this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture, the MEA said.

Some of the arrested individuals are highly decorated military personnel who once commanded Indian warships and were working for a private firm providing training and related services to Qatars armed forces.

All eight have been in jail since August last year and were handed death sentences on October 26, after a brief trial in March. Bail was denied numerous times during their incarceration and trial.

An appeal was immediately lodged, and last month, the Qatari court accepted that appeal. The eight were working for Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services when arrested.

The Navy veterans were awarded death sentences on October 26, and India had then described the ruling as deeply shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case. In its reaction to the ruling by the Qatari court, the MEA last month said it is attaching high importance to this case. The charges were filed against the Indian nationals on March 25.

Meanwhile, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, earlier this month, said the government is putting all-out efforts to bring back all incarcerated ex-Navy personnel from Qatar. We are working closely to ensure that their interests are looked after, Admiral Kumar said at a media briefing.

Earlier this month, the MEA said two hearings had taken place in connection with 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, MEA spokesperson Arindham Bagchi had said.
Vijayakanth, once rated as the future Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the founding leader of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, breathed his last on Thursday morning. The seventy-one-year-old Vijayakanth had been suffering from a series of ailments since 2016 and was not in the best of health for the last five years. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly during 2011-2016. He was diagnosed with Covid-19 and pneumonia and was on life support in a private hospital in Chennai for the last four days. Vijayakanth is survived by his wife, Premalatha (who was elected as MDMK general secretary earlier this month), and two sons.

Known as Black MGR and the poor mans Rajnikanth, the actor who had a series of hits in low-budget movies turned to politics in 2005 with the launching of DMDK. The party won 8.38 per cent of popular votes in the 2006 Assembly poll despite contesting without any alliance.

Though the DMDK fielded candidates in all the 234 constituencies, Vijayakanth was the lone winner. He forged an alliance with the AIADMK in the 2011 assembly election and bagged 29 seats, making the DMDK the second-largest party in the House after the AIADMK. This saw his rise as Leader of the Opposition. But the camaraderie with Jayalalithaa ended soon, and since then, the DMDK failed to win any seats in the assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who always maintained a special relationship with the actor-turned politician, expressed his sorrow over the demise of Vijayakanth. 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, said the Prime Minister in his social media post. Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, senior BJP leaders, and Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed their condolences and pain over the death of the DMDK leader. Deeply pained by the passing away of the accomplished actor, dedicated leader, and great humanitarian Vijayakanth. His outstanding contributions to cinema, politics, and service to society will ever be remembered. My prayers are with his family and countless followers, said the Governor in his message.
About 25 per cent of the population in India is experiencing dense fog, with visibility dropping to less than 50 metres for the fourth consecutive day. In Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, visibility ranged from 50 to 25 metres. Satellite imagery reveals the presence of fog in the north India region.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense fog is expected over Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab until January 1, 2024. A total of 134 flights and 22 trains were delayed, with visibility dropping to as low as 50 metres in some parts of Delhi. Passengers were seen queuing up at the gates of the Indira Gandhi International Airport and railway stations amid intense fog.

The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration on Thursday ordered the closure of all schools across Noida and Greater Noida on Friday and Saturday due to cold weather conditions.

This is a yearly ritual of sorts when air and rail traffic is severely affected for days as fog engulfs the northern part of the country, and near-zero visibility disrupts the operations of trains and flights, despite the myriad old as well as new technology being used to minimise the impact.

At 5:30 am, IMD reported that visibility at Delhis Safdarjung Observatory dropped to 50 metres, while Palam, near Delhi airport, recorded a visibility of 25 metres. In Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, visibility ranged from 50 to 25 metres.

The IMD had issued an orange alert, forecasting dense to very dense fog. It also predicted cold day conditions in isolated parts of Delhi. The minimum temperature in Delhi stood at 8.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, two degrees above normal, compared to 7.8 degrees Celsius a day earlier.

Delhi airport reported delays in flight operations, affecting approximately 134 flights, including both arrivals and departures (domestic and international), due to fog. Among them, 35 international flight departures and 28 international arrivals were delayed. Additionally, 43 domestic departures and 28 domestic arrivals faced delays. The airport classifies a flight as delayed when it is late by more than 15 minutes.

The four-airstrip Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport currently has only one CAT-III runway, allowing planes to land during very low visibility. The main runway, 28/10, is currently closed for repairs. Due to insufficient low-visibility operation-trained crew rostered by airlines and the closure of the main runway, delays and diversions have become common at Delhi, Indias busiest aviation hub, especially on days with dense fog. Once an aircraft is delayed, other flights scheduled across the airlines network for that day may also face delays or cancellations. Other contributing factors include fog at other airports, airlines not deploying the right planes and crew for low-visibility landings, and typical engineering issues.

The problem lacks an easy fix, as the location makes North India, particularly Delhi, susceptible to fog. As winter arrives, the ground cools rapidly at night, especially over the Indo-Gangetic Plain, causing the air close to the ground to cool down as well. Since cold air can hold less moisture, the water vapor present condenses into tiny water droplets, forming fog.

A Northern Railways spokesperson mentioned that at least 22 trains were delayed by more than one hour on Thursday morning. This included the Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express, which was running late by more than six hours.

In winters during dense fog, trains are run at reduced speeds to avoid any mishaps, the spokesperson explained.

Meanwhile, Delhis air continued to remain very poor on Thursday, showing marginal improvement in the past 24 hours. The average air quality index (AQI) was 377 (very poor) at 9 am, settling at 358 at 4 pm. Forecasts indicate that Delhis air quality is likely to remain very poor till December 30. In the Anand Vihar area, PM2.5 levels remained in the severe category at 500, while PM10 reached 495. CO plummeted to 108, classified as moderate, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Bawana station recorded alarming PM2.5 at 450 and PM10 at 398, falling into the severe and very poor categories, respectively. Although CO levels were marked satisfactory at 98. The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport T3 witnessed PM2.5 levels at 411 and PM10 at 323, both again falling under the severe and very poor categories. The CO level was recorded at 111, maintaining a moderate rating. ITOs monitoring station reported PM2.5 at 500, categorised as severe, while PM10 touched 458. CO levels were moderate at 127, with NO2 at 49, falling into the good category. At the New Moti Bagh station, the air quality was severe, with PM2.5 at 465.

The IMD also mentioned that Cold Day conditions are very likely in some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh and in isolated pockets over East Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

IMD, however, stated that the city is unlikely to witness a cold wave in the remaining days of the month, and the minimum temperature is expected to stay around 6 to 8 degrees Celsius until December 31. Under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance, light rainfall/snowfall is very likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on Saturday and Sunday, said the IMD.
The Special Judge CBI (Vyapam Cases) at Bhopal and Gwalior have sentenced 10 different accused to various quantum of Rigorous Imprisonment (03 to 07 years) in three separate cases related to examinations conducted by Vyapam.

The Special Judge, CBI (Vyapam Cases), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) has sentenced Hardik Patel, Srawan Sonar, Dhananjay Kumar, Rakesh Kumar Patel & Mukesh Mourya, all to undergo seven years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs 10,000 each in a case related to fraud/impersonation in Pre Medical Test (PMT)-2013.

CBI had registered the instant case on 12.01.2016 in compliance to the orders of Supreme Court of India and had taken over the investigation of FIR No. 07/2014 of Police Station STF, Bhopal against the accused including beneficiary candidate; Middlemen; impersonator/solver and father of said candidate on the allegations that a beneficiary candidate resident of Gujrat, cleared PMT-2013 examination & took admission in MBBS at Private a College in Bhopal by cheating, impersonation & forgery in conspiracy with the accused middlemen/solver against consideration of Rs 20.25 lakh (approx) which was given by the father of the candidate to middleman and others. The State Police filed a chargesheet and also 03 supplementary chargesheets.

After taking over the case, CBI conducted thorough investigation and filed supplementary chargesheet against the said accused. Subsequently, CBI had also filed another supplementary chargesheet on 31.08.2018 against Juvenile (beneficary candidate) before the Juvenile Justice Board, Bhopal.The Juvenile Board, Bhopal, vide judgement dated Oct 29, 2021, convicted the Juvenile with fine of Rs 15,000 and a probation period of 2 years.

The Trial Court found the said accused guilty and convicted them.

In second case, the Special Magistrate, CBI (Vyapam Cases), Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) has sentenced Arvind (beneficiary candidate) & Vipin (impersonator), both to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 4000/- each in a case related to Patwari Recruitment Examination -2012.

CBI had registered the instant case on Dec 12, 2015 in compliance to the orders of Honble Supreme Court of India and had taken over investigation of the FIR 134/12 dated March 26, 2012 earlier registered at Jhansi Road Police Station, Gwalior on complaint against impersonator/solver Vipin Kumar and beneficiary candidate Arvind Singh on the allegations of fraudulent selection of said candidate in the Patwari Recruitment Examination -2012. It was further alleged that while checking the Admit cards and ID proofs of the candidates during Patwari Recruitment Examination  2012, one person Vipin Kumar was caught who was found appearing in the examination in place of actual candidate Sh. Arvind Singh. Voter ID & Admit Card of Arvind Singh were seized from the impersonator/solver Vipin Kumar. The State Police filed a chargesheet against the accused Arvind & Vipin.

During CBI investigation, it was found that Sh. Arvind Singh (candidate) had filled up the application form of Patwari Recruitment Test, 2012, as per the expert opinion of CFSL. After investigation, CBI filed supplementary chargesheet on July 31, 2018 against Arvind (beneficiary candidate) & Vipin (Impersonator). The Trial Court found the said accused guilty and convicted them.

In third case, the Special Judge, CBI (Vyapam Cases), Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) has sentenced Santosh Sharma (beneficiary candidate), Jitendra Kumar (impersonator/solver) & Ranveer Singh (middleman), all to undergo four years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs 13,100 each in a case relating to Forest Gaurd Examination-2013.

CBI had registered the instant case on Dec 12, 2015 in compliance to the orders of Supreme Court of India and had taken over the investigation of FIR No. 78/13 earlier registered at Police Station Kampu, Gwalior on March 03, 2013 against Sarvan Kumar and Santosh Sharma on the allegations of impersonation in Forest Guard Examination, 2013 conducted by Vyapam, Bhopal on March 03, 2013.
The Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements across the city in view of New Year celebrations with more 10,000 personnel slated to be on ground to rein in hooliganism and traffic violations. Police will work in two different shifts and all SHOs have been ordered to be on road to maintain law and order. Additionally, Delhi Traffic Police will deploy 2,500 personnel to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and 250 teams will be tasked with checking drunken driving on New Years eve.

To ensure the smooth flow of traffic on New Years Eve, the Delhi Police have issued a traffic advisory for a smooth regulation of traffic in the entire national capital, saying people will throng restaurants, malls and other public places on New Years eve, which may cause road congestion.According to the police, hidden cameras are installed to catch the violators as part of a special drive across Delhi. Vehicular traffic will not be allowed in the inner, middle, or outer circle of Connaught Place except for those carrying valid passes.

We have prepared two different shifts for deployment. First shit will start from 5 pm to midnight 12 am. Another shift will be 12 am to 6 am, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said. Police have also made elaborate security arrangements to prevent stunt-biking and hooliganism on the New Year eve. I will not allow any motorcycle rider showing stunt or triple riding at any cost. Our teams will impound motorcycle immediately if anyone found guilty and strict action will be ensured, said the DCP Tirkey. Another senior police officer said that more than 10,000 police personnel -- from traffic and different unit of the Delhi Police -- will keep a strict vigil on December 31.

Special Commissioner of Police (traffic) SS Yadav said the traffic moving towards Connaught Place will be regulated after 8 pm on Sunday. Around 2,500 traffic personnel will be deployed for smooth vehicular movement and 250 teams will be deployed to check drunken driving. Around 450 motorcycles will also be positioned at different places, Yadav said. Dangerous and stunt driving or riding will not be tolerated. Vehicles will be towed away if found parked improperly, Yadav said. Police will also carry alcometres to determine whether or not a person has alcohol in his blood, he added.

Adequate personnel will be deployed in the areas where high footfall is expected, police said. Around 450 motorcycles will also be positioned at different places, said the Special Commissioner. Another police officer said that they have already strengthened the security at high-footfall market areas.

To ensure the safety of the common man and prevent hooliganism or traffic violations on the occasion of New Year, we have already identified more than 500 vulnerable points. Special checking teams will be deployed at 287 major intersections and 233 drunken points (vulnerable points) to detect and prosecute traffic violations, said the officer. Police urged people not to drink and drive on New Year and observe traffic signals and stay within prescribed speed limits.

Not to indulge in racing or competition with other vehicles. Especially two-wheeler riders to wear helmets and avoid triple-riding and not indulge in reckless, dangerous or zig-zag driving, a senior police officer of south district said.

As per traffic police advisory, no vehicle will be allowed to proceed towards Connaught Place beyond Mandi House roundabout, Bengali Market roundabout, north foot of Ranjit Singh Flyover (Barakhamba Road - Tolstoy Marg Crossing), Minto Road - Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg crossing, Chelmsford Road, near Munje Chowk (New Delhi Railway Station), RK Ashram Marg - Chitragupta Marg Crossing, Gole Market roundabout, New Delhi GPO roundabout, Patel Chowk, Kasturba Gandhi Road - Ferozshah Road Crossing, Jai Singh Road - Bangla Sahib Lane, Panchkuian Road - Bangla Sahib Lane, Windsor place roundabout, Buta Singh Marg roundabout, and State Entry Road - New Delhi Railway Station.

Motorists can park their vehicles at the following places in the vicinity of Connaught Place: Near Gole Dak Khana on Kali Bari Marg, Pt. Pant Marg, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, near Patel Chowk on Rakab Ganj Road behind AIR, Mandi House on Copernicus Marg up to Baroda House, Minto Road on Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg and Press Road area, Panchkuian Road on RK Ashram Marg, Chitragupta Road and Basant Road towards Paharganj, and KG Marg - Ferozshah Road Crossing on Copernicus Lane as well as KG Marg towards C Hexagon.

According to the advisory, parking will also be allowed near the Bengali market roundabout on Babar Road and Tansen Marg, Windsor Place on Rajender Prasad Road and Raisina Road, Gole Market at Peshwa Road, Service Road along Bhai Veer Singh Marg and RK Ashram Road, and near Buta Singh roundabout on Jantar Mantar Road and Raisina Road.

Limited parking space will be available near Connaught Place on a first come first serve basis. Improperly parked vehicles will be towed away and prosecuted. Alternative routes have been made for commuters travelling to New Delhi Railway Station. Routes to the Old Delhi Railway Station, though, will not be affected.

People can travel via Ram Manohar Lohiya Park Street, Mandir Marg, Rani Jhansi Road, Jhandewalan roundabout, and Deshbandhu Gupta Road. Commuters can also use the GPO roundabout, Kali Bari Marg, Mandir Marg, Rani Jhansi Road, Jhandewalan roundabout, and Deshbandhu Gupta Road. The third option is the Winsor Place roundabout, Ferozeshah Road, Mandi House, W Point, A Point, DDU Marg and BHAV Bhuti Marg.

Entry from Connaught Place, Chelmsford Road shall be prohibited. The traffic police advisory said that motorists can take the second entry gate of Ajmeri Gate side. They can reach the station via Paharganj, Shiela Cinema or through Ajmeri Gate, JLN Marg side via BSZ Marg, Delhi Gate, and JLN Marg.

Commuters can take the Ring Road from ISBT to the Ashram or via Delhi Gate, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Mathura Road to reach Ashram and vice-versa or via ISBT, Rani Jhansi Marg, Panchkuian Road, Mandir Marg, Park Street, Mother Teresa Crescent Road & beyond or via Rani Jhansi Marg, Panchkuian Road, Hanuman Murti, Ring Road.

The Noida Police also issued a traffic advisory for December 31, cautioning the public about diversions that will come up near crowded markets and shopping malls on New Years Eve.
Four Air India SAT Airport Services Private Limited (AISAT) staffers and an Indian passenger bound for the UK were apprehended at the Delhi airport by CISF personnel for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking racket, a senior officer said Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport when the activities of a passenger, supposed to fly to Birmingham on an Air India flight, were found suspicious, he said.

The security personnel scanned CCTV footage and found that immigration officials first refused to allow the passenger as his travel documents were doubtful and they asked him to come back with airline officials for clarification, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) spokesperson said.

The passenger, however, did not go to the airline staff but approached an AISATS staffer, he said.
A man who was on the run in connection with an illegal online betting app has been arrested in Durg district in Chhattisgarh, police said on Thursday.

Deepak Kumar Singh alias Deepak Nepali was held on a tip off from his home in Vaishali Nagar on Wednesday, Durg Additional Superintendent of Police Abhishek Jha said.

He is a history-sheeter and faces 17 cases including those related to murder, abduction, assault, cheating and gambling. He was absconding for a long time. The police have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against him.
Police crack over 6,500 criminal cases in Yangtze River protection campaign

Xinhua) 15:30, December 29, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have solved over 6,500 criminal cases and captured more than 11,000 suspects in a campaign to protect the Yangtze River, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday.

The ministry launched the campaign in March this year to clamp down on criminal activities involving fishing, sand mining, and water transport logistics in the Yangtze River Basin, Luo Ji, an official from the ministry, told a press conference.

Efforts to curb large-scale illegal fishing in the Yangtze River have yielded positive results, Luo said.

More than 5,600 criminal cases related to illegal fishing have been cracked by police this year, with 585 vessels and around 141,000 kilograms of catch involved in these cases seized.

In a six-month joint operation against illegal sand mining in the river, law enforcement authorities have cracked 232 cases involving a confirmed amount of 5.91 million tonnes of sand with an estimated value exceeding 250 million yuan (about 35.3 million U.S. dollars).

The number of sand-related criminal cases in the river this year has dropped 33.2 percent from last year, marking a decline for three consecutive years, according to Luo.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
An Almora resident died after the vehicle he was travelling in fell into a 300 metre deep gorge in the Dehradun district's Chakrata area on Wednesday. The officials informed that the Chakrata police called the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and asked for a search and rescue team to recover a man whose vehicle had fallen into a deep gorge in Chakratas Koti Ichhadi road near Kwanu. A team under the supervision of additional sub inspector of SDRF Manish Chauhan left for the spot soon after getting the information. The officials said that it took a considerable time for the team to reach the victim down in the gorge. The team finally reached the victim who was found dead at the spot. The SDRF handed over the body to the police after retrieving it from the deep gorge. The police took the body to the hospital in an ambulance to carry out the required procedures before handing over the body to the deceaseds family. The officials said that the deceased has been identified as Trilok Singh (40), a resident of Jaiti village in Almora district. He was going to Vikasnagar from Chakrata when his vehicle fell into the gorge near Kwanu, as per the officials. According to them, it appears that the man suddenly lost control of the vehicle due to which it fell into the gorge.
Team of anti-encroachment squad was threatened by locals during removal encroachment on New Jail Road; incharge was threatened by encroachers and a case was registered by Nishatpura police.

Police said people surrounded the Municipal Corporation team that had gone to remove encroachment on New Jail Road, Bhopal. They threatened encroachment in-charge Nasir Khan for taking action. In this matter, Nishatpura police station has registered a case against Pappu Maulana and Firdous. An FIR has been registered for obstructing government work, threatening to kill and abusing.

Following the instructions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), action is being taken to remove encroachment from 692 locations in the Green Belt area of Bhopal. Action has been taken at many locations including Asharam Bapu Square, IT Park Bairagarh, 11 Mill Bypass, Neelbad, Barkheda Nathu Road, Khajuri Bypass, Saket Nagar Sector, Banskhedi, Cancer Hospital, while on Thursday at 12 noon the Municipal Corporation team reached New Jail Road. Reached Motilal Nagar Gate.

During this time some people arrived and started protesting against the action. Seeing the siege taking place, the officers called the police.

Anti -encroachment squad in-charge Nasir Khan said that on Wednesday the encroachment of a youth named Pappu Maulana was removed from the New Jail Road area. The action continued near Motilal Nagar Gate on Thursday also.

Meanwhile, Pappu and his friend Firdous along with 25 to 30 other people came and surrounded them. He also threatened to kill him. After this information was given to Nishatpura police. Police are taking action against Pappu and Firdosh.

Nishatpura police have registered a case under sections 353, 294, 506 and 34 of the IPC. This case has been registered on the report of encroachment in-charge Khan.
The police are searching for the culprits after a businessman who was also the brother-in-law of a BJP councillor was shot dead by three men in Haridwars Roorkee area late on Wednesday night. The culprits allegedly opened fire at the deceased Joginder in Roorkees Paniyala area under Gangnahar police station area and fled from the spot. He was reportedly shot five times and died when he was being taken to hospital, said the Haridwar senior superintendent of police Pramendra Dobhal. Joginder was the brother-in-law of BJP councillor Geeta Chaudhary. According to the police, Joginder used to deal in the property business. They said that as per the locals, three men on a bike reached his office and opened fire at him. The accused had fled the scene by the time locals rushed there after hearing the gunshots. The locals and family members found the victims body lying in a pool of blood and rushed him to a private hospital but he died on the way. The doctors confirmed his death to the family in the hospital. On the question of the cause of the murder, the SSP said that so far the police only know that the three accused allegedly jumped over the boundary wall to enter the victims office and open fire at him. He said, We have been analysing the murder spot and have gathered some evidence in the case. The body has also been sent for post mortem examination. All we know at present is that the victim had five bullet wounds but we will be clearer about his death only after getting the post mortem report. The SSP further said that the police are also analysing footage of CCTV cameras installed near the incident site to identify the culprits. Dobhal said that the police understand the sensitivity of the situation and ask locals and others to be assured that the accused will be nabbed soon and brought to justice.
Jharkhand BJP on Thursday released a 20-page Arop Patra (charge sheet) highlighting the alleged failures of the Hemant Soren government in the state during the four years of its reign.

Releasing the 'charge sheet' here a day ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Soren government, BJP Jharkhand chief Babulal Marandi said the tenure of the JMM-led government is marked by corruption, deteriorating law and order and unfulfilled promises.

Issuing the 20-page charge sheet, BJP state president Babulal Marandi said that in this government, thugs are getting rich, while the state of Jharkhand is getting worse. Marandi said that after the formation of the state, the UPA coalition government lasted for ten years. In these 10 years, law and order, development and employment have never been an issue for the JMM/Congress government. He has brought disgrace to the state for as long as he has ruled. He said that if there is no corruption in the state then what is it? If CM is not corrupt then what is Hemant Soren afraid of? If he did not feel that he had done anything wrong, he would go to the investigating agency and answer their questions.

Addressing journalists during the release of the charge sheet, Babulal Marandi said that this government has not fulfilled even a single promise. There would hardly be any class in this state which was not cheated by them. He said that this government had promised to provide five lakh jobs. He had said that if he could not provide a job, he would retire from politics. But he neither gave a job nor did he leave aside retirement. On the issue of localism, Babulal Marandi said that the government's planning policy 2021 was cancelled by the High Court. Instead of bringing a resolution and making local and planning policy, it has shown its false intentions by bringing the excuse of the 9th Schedule. The 1932 Khatian Bill has already been declared unconstitutional by the Law Commission.

Babulal Marandi said that CM Hemant Soren keeps roaming from district to district saying that the Center is not cooperating. Thousands of crores of rupees are lying with the Centre. This allegation of the government is baseless. On the basis of data in his charge sheet, Babulal Marandi said that the state has been getting the support of the Centre. He said that the benefit of PM Ujjwala Yojana has been given to 9 crore 59 lakh people in the country while in Jharkhand it has been given to 32 lakh 27 thousand 135 people. 3 crore people in the country have got the benefit of PM Awas Yojana (Rural), while here 15 lakh 84 thousand 185 have got it. In Jharkhand, 40 lakh 8 thousand 283 people have benefited from the toilet scheme. 11 crore 27 lakh farmers have got the benefit of Kisan Samman Nidhi across the country. In Jharkhand also 27 lakh have been benefited.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav today rushed the district hospital Guna immediately after he got the sad news of bus accident and met the families of the deceased passengers and those injured the accident that occurred near Bajranggarh while the bus was en-route from Guna to Aaron. He prayed the God for granting peace to the departed souls and give strength to bereaved families to bear the loss.

Chief Minister Yadav met the families of the injured passengers and inquired about the condition of the passengers who received burn injuries. He gave instructions to hospital authorities for treatment and prayed the Almighty for speedy recovery of the injured.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the government and administration will ensure all arrangements for the treatment of the injured. Dr. Yadav met every person receiving treatment in the ward of District Hospital Guna and apprised himself about their status wishing them speedy recovery. The MP KP Yadav, MP Dr Rodmal Nagar, MLA Guna Pannalal Shakya, Dharmendra Singh Sikarwar and people's representatives were present.

Mohan Yadav said that financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each will be provided to the families of those died in the accident and Rs 50 thousand each to the seriously injured.

He ordered suspension of Guna's District Regional Transport Officer Ravi Barelia and Guna's Chief Municipal Officer BD Katroliya for their negligence and not providing fire brigade services immediately after the accident.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Yadav, Collector Guna Tarun Rathi has constituted a four-member investigation committee under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate Mukesh Kumar Sharma to probe the causes of the bus accident. Guna's Sub-Divisional Officer Dinesh Savle, Divisional Deputy Transport Commissioner Arun Kumar Singh and Assistant Engineer Electrical Safety Pran Singh Rai will be the members of the investigation committee. This committee will submit the investigation report in three days.

Mohan Yadav said that the Guna incident is sad and heart-rending. Orders have been given to investigate the causes of the accident. Whoever is responsible will not be spared. We will try to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. We are with the families of all the deceased in this hour of grief. We extend our sympathies to those injured.






Additional Chief Secretary Arun Singh today handed over letter of allotment of CME credit hours to Chairperson Scientific Committee Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society Dr. Bharti Kashyap for the annual conference of Jharkhand Ophthalmic Society to be held in Hazaribagh from March 31 to April 2 for the first time in Jharkhand. Along with this, for the first time in 20 years, availability of CME credit hours for medical conferences of all specialties began in Jharkhand.

C.M.E. Credit Hours is a measure to certify the continuous quality improvement of doctors' diagnostic, medical treatment and surgical treatment. If a doctor has sufficient C.M.E. credit hours, it means that the doctor is continuously maintaining his quality in his diagnostic, surgical and medical treatment and is aware of the latest technical knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient and this increases the trust of the patients in the doctor.

In a 3 hour conference 1 CME Credit hours are given; if a conference is of 6 hours in a day, then 2 C.M.E. Credit hours are given; if a conference is for 3 days and there are 6 to 8 hours of sessions per day, then 6 to 8 CME hours are available in it. In this way, if a doctor attends one or two conferences in a year, he can easily get 6 to 8 CME Credit hours and he can easily get 30 credit hours in 5 years.

There is also a need for some modification in credit hours rules made by NMC as CME credit hours earned in one state are not valid in another state. Apart from this, even after attending online conferences, CME credit hours are not valid in other states.

It is also required in government jobs, but there is a provision for different hours in every state and in some states, CME is required. There is no provision for renewal of credit hour registration and government jobs.
The vision for a developed India and Atmanirvar Bharat by 2047 demands more steel to meet the growing need for core sectors like infrastructure, construction and automobiles etc. The mining industry in Odisha has been moving at a high volume. In the case of iron ore, production has increased ten times in the last two decades. It is 14.38 million tonnes in the year 2000-2001 and 140.43 million tonnes in 2022-23. Indias largest iron ore producing State, Odishas output will grow to over 200 million tonnes in 2024 as projected by PSUs such as NMDC and OMC. Among the iron ore reserve/producing States, such as Chhatisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Goa, Odisha has a more than 50 percent share.

The operation demands more land, not just for mining but also for ancillary work such as dumping, transportation, storage and many other related works in the buffer and periphery zones. Its ultimate impact will affect most locals, habitations, eco-system and the overall social-economic and social-political environment. A majority of locals who are struggling to cope with the changing conditions have become vulnerable. It is worst in iron ore mining areas, such as Keonjhar district, having been mined for the last few decades with many major iron ore mines. It is observed that, the State and corporate sector which are supposed to have enforced their legal, environmental and social responsibility for the affected areas and communities are rather becoming the violators of such laws and responsibilities.

The people who are already historically marginalised for many social and political reasons and have been denied a dignified life that is assured in independent Indias constitution are further pushed to the margin. It is the process of genocide of the indigenous people in Odisha. Our development models do not care for the people in the lowest rank of the society and economic structure. This corporate led development model is not inclusive of the people and destroys the future of marginalised sections.

Land is the basic resource of development and dignity of any individual or social group. It gives social identity and political power as well as a base for socio-cultural and customary practices. Unfortunately, in spite of a constitutional mandate, there are hundreds of families without homestead land for a dignified living and the rights of farmers-forest dwellers over the agricultural land have not been recognised, though they have cultivated the land for generations. Revenue related surveys in mining areas show that primarily it is the Adivasies and Dalits, about 70 percent of the population of the district, are supposed to enjoy such rights over land in areas they lived in as early settlers.

Land is the primary reference for caste and tribe certificates as well for getting residential proof, while these days it is required for citizenship also in CAA and NRC. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 recognises land as the primary source of claim for compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement. The rules by the Government of Odisha in 2016 say before commencement of any project, the local revenue authority has to proactively settle land rights dues. The process of recognising and vesting of the Forest Rights Act must also be undertaken for STs and other traditional forest dwellers. The updating of land records must be done through periodic surveys and settlement. But the reality is that, historically, the upper caste/class dominated revenue administration is proactively working for mining companies while neglecting the locals who are largely unaware of their rights and remain unorganised for a political bargain over land rights.

But a close interaction by this writer with ST and SC communities in mining areas of Keonjhar in Zoda,Barbil, Banspal and Daitari mines areas found serious lacuna in ensuring land for them. Even the upper part of Keonjhar district is a 5th scheduled area where the STs have a legal right over land and forest. In the change process, when the local communities convert themselves from farmers - forest dwellers to causal mining workers ,they find themselves in mining town slums and live a sub-human life without basic amenities. They are suffering from air and water pollution, though funds are available under DMF/PMKKKY. The mining slums in Joda -Barbil paint a pathetic situation and the lives of women, children and elderly people is miserable. The new slum dwellers are largely the Adivasies of the area of Munda, Bhuya, Santal, Saunti and Juanga category. Some of them are primitive /particularly vulnerable groups. A major chunk of Dalit communities is among the landless families. A few decades back, a majority of them were weavers and marginal farmers, but slowly they got converted to casual workers. The locals mostly belonging to STs, SCs and OBCs are partly engaged as agriculture workers and casual labourers with low wage rates. They complain that some of the mining companies carry out transportation and dumping on their private agricultural land without compensation and most illegally and forcefully occupy their land. Pollution has also affected agricultural activities, particularly paddy cultivation, which is all going to be closed in the coming days with a drastic decrease in production. The free flow of mining waste water over the agriculture field has made the top soil barren for farming. But the farmers are not being compensated for their huge loss.





The loss of forest forced the elephant population to move to the crop fields and habitation areas abruptly and caused the loss of agriculture and human habitation. So, the direct and indirect impact of mining on land-based activities matters the most. While moving towards a developed India, it is equally important to recognise and implement the Constitution that speaks of justice -social and economic, to all our citizens and ensures protection of the marginalised sections for their equal participation in development.

(manasbbsr15@gmail.com).
Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said that as soon as the state government was formed global pandemic Covid-19 hit the country and the world. Due to the global pandemic, there was a long lockdown in the country. Jharkhand is counted among the backward states of the country, hence a disaster like Covid-19 was like a curse for the State. He said that even during the global pandemic, our government did a better job in Jharkhand than other states and faced the pandemic boldly while providing security to everyone including the poor, labourers and farmers. Two ministers of our cabinet were also martyred due to the global pandemic. As soon as the clouds of the global pandemic cleared, our government tried to give a new direction to the state as per the promises. The CM was addressing a press conference organized at the Chief Minister's residential complex on Kanke Road, Ranchi on Thursday.

The CM said that the present government is the government of the entire Jharkhand. Right from the initial days, our government has worked for the advancement of every section and every society of the state. Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar-Aapke Dwar has been an important and effective campaign of the state government. Under this campaign we have reached the last person standing in the way of development. The last stop of the third phase of this campaign is on 29 December 2023. He said that due to Jharkhand being the most backward state of the country, there have been many disparities here including at the economic and educational level. Our government has made a strong effort to work on these disparities through the Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar-Aapke Dwar campaign.

Soren said that our government has tried to sensitize the state employees. To fulfill the objective with which we formed the government, this government has till now worked at least in step with the people of the villages and with the sentiments of the people of the state. The CM said that the challenges are not over yet, we have to face many more challenges in future but we are fully prepared to deal with these challenges. He said that the all-round development of any state happens through mutual coordination between the Central Government and the State Government, but I believe that the cooperation that we should have received from the Central Government has not been as per expectation. Despite getting less support from the central government, the government did not stop its steps but kept moving forward.

The CM said that our government has made continuous efforts to connect all sections of Jharkhand including farmers, labourers, youth, women and unemployed people with various future schemes of the government and will continue to do so in future also. He said that 80 per cent of the population in Jharkhand lives in rural areas. I believe that all-round development of the state is possible only when we strengthen the villages, when the villages are strong then only the city and the state will be strong. The CM said that it is our resolve that by strengthening the village economy of Jharkhand, we will definitely succeed in removing the tag of backwardness from the state.

The CM said that in the year 20-25, Jharkhand will be counted among the young states. In the last 20 years, the previous government could not live up to the expectations that the state had from the previous governments that is why today Jharkhand is facing the brunt of backwardness. He said that in the last 20 years no such work has been done in Jharkhand on which we can rely today to fight every challenge, but slowly but surely our government is working on strengthening the roots of Jharkhand. In the coming few years, we are moving forward with the aim of making this state stand on its own strength.

The CM said that we have worked to fulfill the old demands of many categories of employees, police personnel, teachers, Anganwadi workers and contract workers working as important parts of the state government. The CM said that not only in the state but in the entire country, government employees have protested on the streets demanding restoration of old pension. Jharkhand is the first state in the country where the old pension scheme has been implemented. Our government has done the work of implementing the Sarvajan Pension Scheme in Jharkhand. Jharkhand is the first state in the entire country to implement Sarvajan Pension Scheme. At present, the work of connecting all the elderly men and women above 60 years of age, widows and disabled people with social security has been done in our state. Our government has emphasized on increasing the scope of social security by taking it as priority.

Soren said that our government is working to empower the coming generation. The state government has increased the scholarship amount for students studying in government schools of Jharkhand, while girls have been linked to the Savitribai Phule Samriddhi Yojana. Under this scheme, all eligible girls are being provided financial support so that their studies do not get interrupted. The Chief Minister said that students who want to study abroad for higher education are also being given 100 percent scholarship under the Marang Gomke Overseas Scholarship Scheme. Loan waiver of farmers in the state, Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme, appointment to various posts in government undertakings, appointment in each department.

A lot of work has been done in many different areas including making rules, running excellent schools, better industry policy etc. Jharkhand is the first state in the country where hydrogen engines will be manufactured and an MoU has been signed with Tata Cummins. Action plans to set up industries are in the pipeline by many industrial institutes. The CM said that to relieve the residents of Ranchi city from the problem of traffic jams, a network of flyovers is being laid in Ranchi city. The flyover construction work is going on at a fast pace and will be ready soon.
Uttar Pradesh has marked an extraordinary leap in digital transactions, showcasing an impressive threefold increase in speed over the course of just one year. Over a five-year period, the state has witnessed a six-fold acceleration in the adoption of digital banking by its residents, securing the fourth position nationally in per capita digital transactions.

Uttar Pradesh has now surpassed states like Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as per the DigiDhan dashboard of the Central government. The per capita digital transaction in UP is 7.73 while it is 17.68 in Andhra Pradesh, 12.42 in Haryana and 9.31 in Delhi.

Remarkably, even as digital transactions surged, there has been a simultaneous rise in cash transactions, effectively doubling after the aftermath of demonetisation. According to data from the State Level Bankers Committee, the tally of digital transactions in UP soared from Rs 426.68 crore last year to an impressive Rs 1,174.32 crore this year, surpassing the growth witnessed during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rapid advancement in digital transactions in Uttar Pradesh is attributed to several factors, including the widespread availability of digital banking, improved internet connectivity in rural areas, increased financial literacy and a sufficient number of transaction devices. To bolster the shift towards cashless transactions in the post-COVID-19 era, banks are placing special emphasis on Aadhaar and Rupay card-based deposits and payments, according to the State Level Bankers Committee.

Banks across all districts in the state have launched customer-centric campaigns, promoting various digital transaction methods such as mobile banking, UPI, BHIM app, internet banking and debit cards. The concerted efforts have yielded positive results, significantly increasing the number of people engaging in digital transactions across Uttar Pradesh.

In a targeted initiative, a special campaign was launched in eight digitally backward districts  Bahraich, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar and Sonbhadra. The outcome revealed that Fatehpur, Chitrakoot and Sonbhadra achieved success rates, on average, twice the set targets, indicating the effectiveness of such localised campaigns.

Contrary to the rise in digital transactions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports that there has been no reduction in the printing of currency since demonetisation. Cash continues to circulate in ample quantities in the market, with a cash flow of approximately Rs 33 lakh crore until September this year. Notably, Rs 25.81 lakh crore of this total is in the form of Rs 500 notes alone. After demonetisation, in the fiscal year 2017-18, about Rs 17 lakh crore was in circulation, with Rs 7.70 lakh crore worth of Rs 500 notes. The sustained availability of cash indicates a coexistence of both digital and cash transactions in the state.

BOX

State Per Capita Digital Transactions (According to DigiDhan Dashboard)

Andhra Pradesh: 17.68

Haryana: 12.42

Delhi: 09.31

Uttar Pradesh: 07.73

Maharashtra: 06.94

Karnataka: 06.53

Rajasthan: 02.30

Madhya Pradesh: 02.10
On the second day of the three-day 38th Indian Engineering Congress - 2023, organized under the aegis of Institution of Engineers (India) Local Center Jabalpur, on Thursday, renowned experts from India and abroad expressed their views on many current and future issues. Experts brainstormed on the growing challenges of Artificial Intelligence in computer science and discussed ways to deal with the dangers posed by its misuse. Expert concerns about job displacement due to AI , bias and privacy, security risks from hacking, etc. were discussed in detail.

Media in-charge of the organizing committee, Tarun Anand and Mr. Rajeev Jain said that on the second day of the Engineering Congress organized on the theme "Reimagining Tomorrow: Shaping the Future through Disruptive and Interdisciplinary Technologies", a total of 59 technical papers from various branches of engineering were presented today. In which future health care products, low-cost manufacturing of chassis for heavy electric vehicles, charging EV batteries with renewable energy, smart energy grid, AI in solar power generation. Topics included use of power transmission, importance of real time data in power transmission systems etc.

In Congress ,faculty of Madan Mohan Malviya technical university Gorakhpur , Kritika Singh Somvanshi told about the important technology of making fiber bags from rice, sugarcane leaves etc. as an alternative to polythene, which is going to become an alternative to polythene in future.

Jagat Bahadur Singh Annu and industrialist Kailash Gupta met the famous scientists and engineers who had come to participate in the 38th Indian Engineering Congress - 2023.

Mayor Annu honored world famous Defence scientist and engineer Sudhir Kumar Mishra and presented him a memento. Mayor Annu sought opinion from all the experts for the development of Jabalpur and assured that there will be no hesitation in implementing the suggestions of the Institution of Engineers in the interest of Jabalpur. Kailash Gupta welcomed all the visiting guests and made complete arrangements including vehicles for them to visit Bhedaghat and Dumna Nature Park.
TOKYO, Dec 29 ( East Asia Forum ) - In September 2023, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology nominated Tohoku University as a candidate to be a 'University for International Research Excellence' (UIRE). This program is supported by Japan's 10 trillion yen (US$68.7 billion) University Fund (UF).

The UF is an excellence initiative managed by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The agency established the UF as an investment fund mainly by borrowing from the Fiscal Investment and Loan Program. Ten trillion yen in stocks and bonds are invested in the UF, and its annual return is expected to be 300 billion yen. The UFs return will be provided to the UIRE program.

According to a government paper, world-class universities such as Harvard and Oxford develop their own visions, autonomously expand their budgets and conduct innovative research. On the other hand, Japanese universities seemingly cannot change their traditional ideas and management styles.

The government is demanding that Japanese universities manage themselves like world-class universities. National universities in Japan were corporatised in 2004. This idea comes from New Public Management theory, which posits that governments should encourage better performance by empowering agencies management.

But the 2004 corporatisation differed substantially from management theory in practice. The ministry instead strengthened its control and regulation of universities. For instance, universities are not allowed to change the number of students they enrol or the structure of their faculties and subjects without bureaucratic approval.

Large national universities are now required to establish a managing board as a decision-making body and to oversee their executive. But with a new management board added to existing organisations, the governance structure of universities has become even more complicated and fragmented.

The government has also been strengthening the power of university presidents since the corporatisation reforms. But the new management boards reduce university presidents power. This apparent contradiction in policy direction has not yet been adequately explained by the government.

A major problem in the UIRE program is the lack of any assessment of previous similar programs. The government has implemented various programs over the last two decades, but the research performance of Japanese universities has continued to fall. The same failures risk being repeated.

Another area of concern is the source of the UF. JST borrowed money to fund the UF and must repay its debt with interest. The government assumes an annual rate of return of 4.38 per cent, while the UIRE program needs to make a 3 per cent annual return. But the annual return of the UF for the 2022 financial year was negative 2.2 per cent. The Japanese government also has a public pension fund, the Government Pension Investment Fund. Its average annual return for the last 22 years is 3.59 per cent, less than the UFs expected return.

The final issue is whether the UF will actually support universities. Japan was ranked 12th in the world in terms of the number of adjusted top 10 per cent papers by citation count between 20192021. Japan was ranked 4th between 19992001.

Why is Japans research performance deteriorating? Block grants to national universities have been cut over the last two decades, reducing actual research spending. The number of full-time researchers has also been decreasing. The number of PhD candidates has decreased and Japans PhD per population figure is now about one third that of the United Kingdom and Germany. The time available for research has also been decreasing, while the time allocated for teaching and administrative procedures has been increasing.

Many believe that competition improves research performance, but excessive competition could bring about negative consequences. It could undermine motivation by categorising the time and resources devoted to failed projects as wasteful. Academics dont undertake challenging and innovative research when they are overly concerned about avoiding risk and beating the competition for funding.

There is some evidence supporting these observations about excessive competition. Sweden increased competitive research funds but saw research productivity decline since 2000. The biggest reason was that excessive reliance on competitive funds made young researchers employment unstable. Several statistical analyses also suggest the productivity of publication depends on a high level of basic grants and comprehensive post-publication evaluation. Stronger executive control over academics and higher levels of competitive funds could reduce overall research performance.

The UF supports only a few universities. Even if such universities increase their publication output, Japans overall research performance wont necessarily improve. According to analysis by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy, Japans top universities perform better than German ones in terms of publication output. But Germany performs better than Japan in producing highly-cited publications. That is why German universities develop their own specific strengths in different academic fields.

The UF scheme is inconsistent. The UF is also likely to lose money, meaning that taxpayers will have to take responsibility for funding the UIRE program. This program could be justified if Japan invested in developing human resources across Japan, rather than at just a few universities. That is something the UF is not doing in its current form.

Hideaki Tanaka is Professor at the Graduate School of Governance Studies, Meiji University.
Delhi Governments Department of Vigilance has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for a CBI inquiry into the spurious drugs supplied to hospitals in the national capital. Five medicines- amlodipine, levetiracetam, pantoprazole, cephalexin and dexamethasone have been found spurious during laboratory tests. These medicines were supplied to Delhi government-run hospital-Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain, Deen Dayal Upadhayay, Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS) .

 Lt. Governor, Delhi, considering the aforesaid facts based on material records, has directed that the matter of Mohalla Clinics is already entrusted to CBI, this case, which may, inter alia, also involve supply of these failed Not of Standard Quality drugs to such clinics, may also be entrusted to the Central Agency, especially in light of the fact that the investigation therein involves multi inter-state stakeholder including Central Procurement Agency, Directorate of Health Service Delhi government, suppliers/dealers, manufacturers in other states and other state agencies, Department of Vigilance said in a note to MHA. The vigilance department said that a meeting was held on 24th December in which the Controller of Drugs and Deputy Controller of Drugs, GNCTD and Drug Inspectors were present. Subsequently, a joint exercise was undertaken by the Drugs Control Department on 25.07.2023 to collect the samples of medicines on random basis from Delhi Government Hospitals for the purpose of sending them to approved labs for test/analysis as per the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 1940. Three teams were deployed to lift samples from Delhi Government Hospitals that includes IHBAS, LNJP and DDU.

The samples were lifted as per the procedure prescribed under law and thereafter the samples were sent for testing to various laboratories. The reports of the Government Analyst have substantiated the fact that the efficacy of the medicines being distributed to various patients in Delhi government hospitals are Not of Standard Quality.

It further said that as per Section 25 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the report by the Government Analyst is the conclusive and is accordingly punishable under section 27 of the said act. It is noticed that various companies were involved in the distribution chain between the manufacturers and the end users i.e. hospitals (patients).

The vigilance departments stated 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.

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 vide PE No. PE-DAI-2018-A-0002 dated 13.02.2018. It needs to be investigated whether the same drugs which have been procured by Central Procurement Agency (CPA) are also being distributed to the patients through Mohalla Clinics or not, read the note.

The government analyst have substantiated the fact that the efficacy of the medicines being distributed to various patients in Delhi Government hospitals are Not of Standard Quality. Providing medicines which are Not of Standard Quality to the citizens of Delhi is a serious issue and amounts to compromising with public health and safety besides spending huge budgetary resources on such drugs which are Not of Standard Quality. The implications of distributing drugs which are Not of Standard Quality is far and wide with reference to the public health, it added.
On the occasion of the 139th Foundation Day of the Congress, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee's working president Bandhu Tirkey hoisted the party flag at the party headquarters and the guard of honour was given by the state general secretary of the Seva Dal, Chhotu Singh. On this occasion, Congressmen congratulated each other on the All India Congress Foundation Day. The 139th Foundation Day of Congress was celebrated with great pomp at all the district headquarters of the state including the capital Ranchi.

Working President of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee, Bandhu Tirkey, while congratulating the present Congressmen on the Congress Foundation Day, said that the challenge of the Congress established 138 years ago on 28 December 1885 has increased a lot today. It is a very important responsibility of Congressmen to save the country from divisive forces as well as separatist ideology and to protect those values on the basis of which the freedom struggle was fought or the great construction of the country started immediately after independence.

He said that after independence, the great campaign to develop India started under the leadership of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru is why today our country is included among the important powers of the world. Today there are more than 5.5 crore Congress members, our ideology spreads from Kashmir to Kutch and from Kanyakumari to Manipur. Our roots are in every particle of the soil of India. Secularism, civic nationalism, liberalism, economic liberalism are our basis, Congress gives top priority to international cordial relations and progressive alliance.

Tirkey said that today the country needs the policies and principles of Congress the most, the aim of the Congress Party is not just to gain power, but to keep the country united and move it on the path of development. He said that we are members of a national party which has a glorious history. Today the party is struggling to provide the rights of the weaker sections under the leadership of its National President Mallikarjun Kharge. We have given many examples of renunciation and sacrifice. The coming year 2024 is important for the party. There are to be general elections in the country and there are to be elections in Jharkhand too. We would urge the Congressmen present to convey our policy principles to the people through our programmes.

On this occasion, Keshav Mahato Kamlesh, Amulya Neeraj Khalkho, Madan Mohan Sharma, Vinay Sinha Deepu, Satish Paul Munjani, Geeta Shree Oraon, Abha Sinha, Rama Khalkho, Dr. Kumar Raja, Dr. Rakesh Kiran Mahato, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, Abhilash Sahu, Amarendra Singh. Jagdish Sahu, along with many eminent leaders were present.
Declaring zero tolerance for any laxity or lethargy in the implementation of Central and State Government schemes at the grassroots level, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday directed the district administration officers to assume direct responsibility for vigilantly overseeing schemes within their purview, emphasizing the paramount importance of efficient public service delivery.

Chairing the State Level Disha Committee meeting with Administrative Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners who participated via video conferencing, Khattar said that the quarterly meeting of the Disha Committee must be called at the district level. If for some reason the local MP is unable to give time for the meeting, then in that case the Deputy Commissioner has the right to call the meeting. Therefore, all meetings should be held within the stipulated period, he added.

In a reevaluation of decisions made during the previous meeting, Khattar expressed dissatisfaction with the Public Health Engineering Department's handling of road repairs following pipeline work. Consequently, EIC Ashim Khanna and EC Rajeev Batish were asked to leave the Disha Committee meeting and asked to take a five-day compulsory leave. The Chief Minister emphasized the crucial need for contractors to strictly adhere to road construction standards outlined in the tender documents.



State Development and Panchayats Minister Devender Singh Babli, Lok Sabha MP Dharmbir Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Krishna Lal Panwar, Karthikeya Sharma, MLAs Harvindra Kalyan, Nayanpal Rawat, Naina Chautala and Seema Trikha, Dr Arvind Sharma were present. During the meeting, various schemes of the Central and State Governments were reviewed in detail.



Highlighting the government's commitment to housing, Khattar announced the formulation of a dedicated Rural Housing Scheme, modeled after the successful Mukhya Mantri Shehri Awas Yojana. Aiming to provide housing solutions to economically disadvantaged families, the urban scheme plans to distribute one lakh houses or plots. He directed officials to draft a blueprint for the Mukhyamantri Gramin Awas Yojana, extending similar benefits to rural inhabitants.



In districts with mining areas, the Chief Minister directed Deputy Commissioners to utilize the PMKKKY Fund to ensure the execution of Shivdham Scheme works in villages within a 20-kilometer radius of the mining area. Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani, Yamunanagar, and Mahendragarh districts each have over Rs 17 crore as mining funds.



Khattar instructed the Bhiwani Deputy Commissioner that, as a result of mining, Khanak village faces serious pollution problems, causing health issues for villagers. Therefore, along with sprinkling water in the mining area, a plan should also be made to install special water-sprinkling plants around the crusher zone.



During the meeting, public representatives discussed the problems faced by children traveling long distances to attend school under the Buniyaad program. In response to this, the Chief Minister, while instructing the officials concerned, emphasized that children should not face any difficulties. He stated, "It is our responsibility to ensure their well-being. Therefore, bus passes should be issued for Buniyaad program children who travel long distances to school. The transport department should also issue instructions to field officers, ensuring proper arrangements for smooth implementation."



The Chief Minister further declared that children should not face any difficulty in reaching school. He reassured everyone, saying, "The government has made a plan for this. We are providing transportation facilities to children attending schools located over 1 kilometer from their villages. For this purpose, a teacher in each school has been designated as the School Transport Officer, whose responsibility is to coordinate with children who need such facilities."
Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on Thursday approved a proposal to implement the amended Medical Termination of Pregnancy(Amendment)Act,2021 providing for universal access for women to comprehensive abortion care and termination of certain Registered Medical Practitioners(RMP).

Giving details here, officials said Parliament had amended the MTP Act two years back and the central government wrote to all states and Union Territories(UT)to notify the amendments.

Saxena expressed grave displeasure and surprise that the matter was presented for approval after a lapse of more than two years, the communication for which was mailed by the Central Government to the GNCTD in December 2021.

While considering the significance of the issue and agreeing to the proposal, the LG directed the Health Department, GNCTD to ascertain the lapses leading to inordinate delay in processing the matter and asked to assign the responsibility and exercise caution in future.

Reacting on the LGs move, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said though the note of LG saab has not reached his office yet, however, like earlier occasions contents of official note have been leaked to Media. So his response is based on assumption that Media got the contents from some Senior Government officials working at LG office. Though its a prevalent practice to leak official notes to Media/social media, however, the attempt of CS Naresh Kumar to intimidate my office staff for alleged release of official note to Media/social media is laughable.

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.It appears that Honble LG has not been informed that 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 the amended MTP Act,2021, Bharadwaj said.

In the year 2021 major amendments were made in the MTP Act by the Central Government by which opinion of only one RMP will be required up to 20 weeks of gestation and of two RMPs for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation under special circumstances
Madhya Pradesh getting the leadership of Mohan Yadav as Chief Minister with an unprecedented mandate, historic state visits of President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unique development schemes, historic meetings of G-20, 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, 7th Global Investors' Summit have made the year 2023 as a year of unprecedented events for Madhya Pradesh. The State remained on top in many sectors of development.

Notable events had started being recorded in the contemporary social, economic, political and cultural history of the State right from the beginning of 2023. In the last month of the year, on 13 December, Mohan Yadav sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and on 25 December, a 28-member Council of Ministers was formed. With this, the new government is entering 2024 with new hopes and new energetic leadership.

The year 2023 began with the inauguration of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Sammelan held at Indore, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concluded by President Draupadi Murmu.

In the beginning of February, Swaraj Policy 2023 came into existence to serve the interests of the homeless and economically weaker sections. Khelo India Youth Games was organized in a grand manner. Madhya Pradesh won 39 gold medals. Islamnagar near Bhopal got its original name Jagdishpur and regained its identity after 308 years.

Indore Municipal Corporation created a history by issuing green bonds for solar energy. Making another record this month, Madhya Pradesh stood second in the country by building 2657 Amrit Sarovar units.

The month of March began with the Seventh International Dharma-Dhamma Conference, which was inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu. Apart from this, Madhya Pradesh remained at the forefront in the country in distributing relief amount for crop damage. Kundalpur Siddha area and Jageshwar Nath area of Damoh were designated as sacred areas and declared as sacred areas.

It was decided to launch Madhya Pradesh State Millet Mission. In the month of April. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the National Panchayat Raj Day program organized in Rewa and reiterated his resolve to strengthen the social, economic and Panchayat Raj system of the village. Burhanpur district became a model district in the country under Jal Jeevan Mission. In this month, the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's famous "Mann Ki Baat" was completed.

In the beginning of May itself, loans worth Rs 2123 crore of more than 11 lakh defaulter farmers were waived off. The state received the best state award for management, conservation and promotion of water resources. Adding a new dimension to the Chief Minister Teerth Darshan Yojana, for the first time in the country, elderly people were taken on pilgrimage by plane. They had darshan Prayagraj pilgrimage. Taking another important decision, the state government legalized all unauthorized colonies developed till 31 December 2022. Further construction of illegal colonies was also banned.

At the end of May, 2752 colonies were declared legal. Also, Swaraj Colony Scheme was implemented to utilize 23000 acres of land free from encroachment. Trial run of metro rail was conducted from Indore and Bhopal, which is important phase of urban infrastructure development. The historic decision to provide gas refill for Rs 450 to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was also taken this month.

In the month of June, an important decision was taken to give e-scooties to the students securing first position in higher secondary school exam. About 9000 such students got e-scooties. Taking forward the cooperative movement, the State Government announced a comprehensive Cooperative Policy. The month of June was also important for infrastructure development when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged-off five Vande Bharat trains from Rani Kamalavati station.

In the beginning of July, President Draupadi Murmu visited Sir Jiwaji Rao Scindia Museum, Gwalior. Vikas Parv was celebrated from 16th July to 14th August, in which the people were informed about development initiatives and progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission from Lalpur in Shahdol.

The month of July will be notable in the contemporary history of the state as NITI Aayog released its data announcing that 1 crore 36 lakh poor people of Madhya Pradesh have come out of the poverty line. Madhya Pradesh also made a big achievement in digital land record management.

It has scored remarkable achievement in wildlife management and gained international recognition by retaining Tiger State status.

In the beginning of the month of August, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the festival of folk tribal expression "Utkarsh and Unmesh" in Bhopal. In the same month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his resolve to develop 34 Amrit Bharat Railway stations with Rs 1000 crore.
A marauding tusker trampled a man to death and critically injured a woman on Wednesday night under the Panposh Forest Range under Rourkela Forest Division in Sundargarh district.

The deceased was identified as Birshu Binjhia (41) of Ramjodi village under Panposh Forest Range while the injured woman was identified as Jamuna Lohar (40), a resident of Nuatoli Mundajore, Lathikata

After the death of Binjhia, irate villagers staged a demonstration and did not allow the forest officials to send the body for postmortem. After the Range Officer gave a written assurance to the locals to drive away the tusker, the latter allowed the officials take the body.

The critically injured woman was admitted to the Rourkela Government Hospital.
A meeting of the Chief Ministers of Haryana and Punjab was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to address the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) though no headway could be made.



Shekhawat expressed concern over the diminishing groundwater levels in both states and emphasized the necessity for concerted efforts to address this concern. Acknowledging the strides made by the Haryana Government in implementing a micro-irrigation system, he highlighted that Haryana has achieved a remarkable 1000 percent increase in micro-irrigation management. He urged the state of Punjab to draw inspiration from Haryana's success and actively promote the adoption of micro-irrigation practices.



During the meeting, representing Haryana's perspective, 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 issue, whereas we should collectively move forward on this subject. He highlighted that the Bhakhra Channel, presently in operation for approximately 66-67 years, is aging, and 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 that as per the agreement, Haryana is not getting its legitimate share of water but Haryana is managing the avail water at its own. But despite these efforts, sufficient water is not reaching South Haryana and Aravalli region. Accordingly, as per the decision of the Supreme Court, if Punjab constructs SYL, it does not mean that we will snatch the 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 that SYL meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, but Mann doesnt agree, (baithak manohar mahaul mein hui, lekin Mann hain ki mane hi nahi) on the issue of construction of SYL. He said that the issue of SYL has been pending for several years. In the recent Supreme Court hearing, it was suggested that the Central Government, along with Haryana and Punjab, should collaboratively resolve the matter. Khattar also pointed out that Punjab also faces losses due to excess water, emphasizing the necessity of an alternative channel for the natural flow of water, thereby underscoring the importance of constructing the SYL.



The CM said that a joint committee in both Punjab and Haryana to address various water management issues such as water availability, crop diversification, and DSR technology should be formed. He mentioned that a committee focused on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) has already been formed, chaired by the Chief Secretaries of both states. By broadening the scope of this existing committee, collaborative efforts can be undertaken to address broader water management concerns.



He said that both Punjab and Haryana are facing issues of over-exploitation of groundwater due to the widespread use of tube wells and expressed the belief that water is a fundamental need for everyone, and equitable distribution should be ensured. However, he also noted that obstructing the construction of the SYL is not the right approach to address these concerns.



Khattar stated that according to the agreement, Haryana is not receiving its complete share of water. During the meeting, the Punjab government acknowledged that some water is flowing into Pakistan, and they plan to redirect it by constructing a dam. From this perspective, it appears that Haryana's rightful share of water has been inadvertently redirected to Pakistan.
: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), Baleswar Chapter convenor Uday Ranjan Das has written to the district authorities to have the wall of the British Cemetery at Barabati reconstructed and have the place cleared of all vegetations.

It is one of the oldest colonial era cemeteries of the State. The dilapidated and abandoned graveyard has 33 gravestones including spires and tombs dating back to the 18th century.

For the British, Baleswar was a favoured maritime centre. The strategic location of the place bordering the Bengal province had also drawn the Dutch, French and Portuguese maritime traders to this coastal town. Besides many merchants and mariners, the graveyard also has the tombstones of both Sir Henry Rickett, the first Collector of Baleswar (1827-36) and his wife Lady Rickett. Lady Rickett died in Baleswar while Sir Henry Rickett died in England in 1886. As per his last wish, his mortal remains were ferried by sea to this place and buried beside his wifes grave. Henry neither forgot Balasore nor Oriya is inscribed on the then British administrators tomb.

The cemetery also has the graves of Captain Morgan who had freed Baleswar from the Marathas and of Sir Francis Walter, the hero of British Royal Navy who led several battles in Madras, Goa, Harispur, Pipili port and Baleswar. It also houses tombstones of five clergies. The inscriptions have corroded with the passage of time.

The cemetery was built between 1776 and 1881. Intach had been entrusted to restore the old place a few years ago and a boundary wall was constructed with the MPLAD funds of Dr Manmath Nath Das under the supervision of the then Collector Ashwini Vaishnaw. Intach, Baleswar Chapter, has listed the site as a heritage site along with 73 other built heritages of the district.

However, in recent months the place has become a den for anti-social elements who have vandalised the historically important place by demolishing the compound wall, exposing the cemetery to the vagaries of street dogs and cattle. Some of the marble head stones of the tombs too have been removed. The overgrown vegetation is also spelling the ruin of the heritage site.

The future administration of British cemeteries in India had been repeatedly raised during the Transfer of Power before Independence. Before 1947, most were maintained by the local Executive Engineer in consultation with the local Chaplain. In 1949 the British Government decided not to support the maintenance of the European cemeteries in India and to leave the task of caring for the graveyards to the Christian congregations. The Government of India had given assurances that it would protect cemeteries from destruction and desecration. A few graveyards were placed under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and of State authorities. However, many of these extraordinary legacies of British India lie strewn across the nation, most of them in forgotten, weed-covered cemeteries that have little or no future in modern India, said Intach Bhubaneswar chapter convenor and historian Anil Dhir.
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police has arrested an operative of Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang from Mohali, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said on Thursday.

The arrested operative has been identified as Vikramjit Singh alias Vicky, a resident of Satiyewala in Ferozepur. The accused has a criminal background and was wanted in at least 20 cases of heinous crimes including murder, attempt to murder, Arms Act and UAPA registered in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Police teams have also recovered one Chinese .30 calibre Pistol along with eight live cartridges from his possession and impounded his Toyota Fortuner car.

DGP Yadav said that acting on the reliable information, teams of AGTF headed by ADGP Promod Ban under the supervision of AIG Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and led by DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar, followed the trail of accused Vicky and arrested him from an apartment located at Sector 91 of Mohali, where he was taking shelter.

He said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused Vicky, backed by Pak agencies, was in touch with Pak-based weapon/drug smugglers through Goldy Brar and Saba (USA) and used to receive consignments of weapons and drugs from across the border. The accused was tasked to eliminate rival gang members of the Davinder Bambiha gang, said the DGP.

AIG Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said that accused Vicky was one of the shooters/co-accused of deceased gangster Ankit Bhadu in the sensational murder of their rival Jordan, who was shot dead at a Gym at Ganganagar, Rajasthan in 2018.

He said that after Ankit Bhadu was neutralised in police action at Peermuchalla in February 2019, accused Vikramjit Vicky took his place in Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang, and got actively involved in criminal activities in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Further investigations are on to dig deeper into his criminal activities to crack down weapon/drug smuggling chain of this gang.
The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has established a Gender and Inclusion Cell.

The dedicated cell is poised to implement gender transformative strategies aimed at fortifying disaster risk resilience.

The catalyst for the transformative initiative is a recently unveiled road map document, officially launched by OSDMA Managing Director Gyana Das and other senior officials in Bhubaneshwar.

The road map, a collaborative effort between OSDMA and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), incorporates valuable contributions from various organisations, individuals and agencies. During the launch ceremony in Bhubaneswar, OSDMA MD Dr Gyana Ranjan Das expressed the groundbreaking nature of integrating gender transformative approaches.

The strategic document, titled 'Roadmap for Gender and Inclusion Cell: Strategizing a Gender Transformative Approach in Disaster Risk Resilience,' delineates five primary focus areas such as Program Review and Alignment, Capacity Building, Community Resilience, Knowledge and Data Management and Multi-stakeholder Engagement and Coordination. The roadmap is envisioned as a guiding document for stakeholders across Government departments, civil society organisations, and individual contributors involved in disaster management.

Stakeholders shared their thoughts, ideas, experiences and suggestions during the event. The insights will aid in implementing the roadmap and addressing societal disparities at the grassroots level.
TOKYO, Dec 29 ( News On Japan ) - Friday marks the peak of the New Year travel rush, as people head to their hometowns or vacation spots to celebrate the end-of-year and New Year holidays. Congestion is expected in the air, on railways, and on highways.

According to JR East, the "Nozomi" and "Hikari" bullet trains departing from Tokyo Station this morning are fully booked, and there are few seats available for the afternoon.

Until January 4, all seats on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen's "Nozomi" service will be reserved.

Air travel is also reaching its peak for domestic flights. According to airline companies, many flights departing from Haneda Airport are nearly fully booked throughout Friday.

International flights are also reaching capacity. All Nippon Airways has reported a record number of reservations for its Hawaii flights, about double that of last year.

On the highways, a 40-kilometer traffic jam is anticipated this morning near the Hadano-Nakai Interchange on the Tomei Expressway. Highway companies are urging travelers to check the latest traffic conditions.
The Delhi Police Special Cell took the Parliament security breach accused to places where they assembled and the shop from where they bought flags before the security breach on December 13. In a related development, the Delhi Police on Thursday moved a court here seeking permission to conduct the polygraph test of all six people arrested in this connection.

According to sources, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, who had entered the parliament, were on Wednesday taken to Sadar Bazar where they bought Indian flags and India Gate where they assembled before entering the Parliament. The accused had distributed the flags and smoke canisters at India Gate before the parliament, a source said.

The two were also taken to the Maharani Bagh area in New Friends colony where they had held a meeting to discuss their plan, the person said. An official privy to the investigation said that the accused were being taken to these places to establish the sequence of events that culminated with the Parliament security breach.

The Delhi Police has arrested six people - Sagar Sharma, Manoranjan D, Neelam, Amol Shinde, Lalit Jha, and Mahesh Kumawat  for allegedly breaching the Parliament security. All six have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

On Thursday, the Delhi Police moved an application to conduct a polygraph test, also called a lie detector test, before the court. The application was moved before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeeep 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 --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.
Punjab BJP and ruling AAP on Thursday hit out at each other on the issue of non-inclusion of Punjab's tableau in the Republic Day Parade.

BJP hit out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accusing him of politicising the issue and alleged that the AAP government insisted that the tableau carried his and Arvind Kejriwal's photos. State BJP President Sunil Jakhar told reporters here that one of the reasons the tableau was not shortlisted was its "crude" make.



"Second, the AAP government was adamant that Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann's photos should be on it, which is not allowed as per protocol. This was one of the reasons for the rejection of the Punjab tableau," Jakhar said.



Mann had on Wednesday slammed the BJP-led Centre for not including the state's tableau in the Republic Day parade. Mann had said that like last year, this time too, Punjab's tableau was not going to be a part of the Republic Day parade on January 26. "The Centre has discriminated against Punjab," Mann had alleged, adding that both Punjab and Delhi are not on the list.

Jakhar said that it was unfortunate that Mann chose to "politicise" the issue. Punjab is a border state, a sensitive state, and the Chief Minister is trying to whip up sentiments with his claim that the Centre discriminated against Punjab, he said. Jakhar, who had joined the BJP, defecting from Congress, said that every state's tableau does not every year find a place in the Republic Day parade and sometimes some are not included for various reasons, including technical ones.



In the past 17 years, there have been nine occasions when Punjab's tableau has not been included for the Republic Day parade, including in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, he said.

Mann had on Wednesday said the entire world wants to see Punjab's rich culture and contribution of Punjabis in the freedom struggle, but the Centre does not want tableaux that depict this and display pictures of freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Uddham Singh.



BJP is a product of lies produced in Make in India Factory': Punjab AAP



Responding to the statement of Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, chief spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party, Malvinder Singh Kang said that Sunil Jakhar lied about the Republic Day tableau. There was no photo of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal anywhere in the tableau.



On Jakhar's statement that previous Chief Ministers never raised questions about this, Kang said that Captain Amarinder Singh and Badal did not have concern for the heritage of Punjab, but the current Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann cares about the culture and heritage of Punjab and its representation.



On Jakhar's statement that the tableau would have made a joke of Punjab, Kang questioned how showing the tableau of martyrs like Bhagat Singh and Kartar Singh Sarabha, who sacrificed their lives for the country, can be a joke.



Kang said that Punjab was discriminated against twice in such a big event, whereas Punjabis have laid maximum lives for the country, for our country's independence and even after independence. Still, step-motherly behaviour towards Punjab shows what is the real intention of the BJP.



Kang said that this time the tableau was unique. One had the concept of Mai Bhago with the message of women empowerment. The second was related to the culture of Punjab and the third was about the life and history of our martyrs. Kang said that the country is proud of Punjab and its great freedom fighters like Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Kartar Singh Sarabha.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday reiterated his state's old stand that there is no surplus water to share.



As a chief minister, I am saying we do not have any water (to share). We apprised Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat about it in the meeting..We are firm on our earlier stand that we do not have water, " Mann told reporters after the meeting on the issue.



The meeting took place at a five-star hotel here in which senior officials from the two states also took part. It was the third meeting between the two chief ministers during the past one year on the issue and the second one during the current year being presided over by Shekhawat in which both CMs are present.



Presenting the case of Punjab in the meeting, Mann said that the state needs more than 54 MAF water to cater to its irrigational needs. However, he said that the situation is so grim that Punjab only has around 14 MAF of water, which it is providing to the food growers. He said that 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 said that 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 that Punjabs 76.5% blocks (117 out of 153) are over-exploited where the stage of groundwater extraction is more than 100%, whereas in Haryana only 61.5% (88 out of 143) are over-exploited.



Mann said that 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, he said that it is 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 groundwater in the state. He said that in such an alarming situation how construction of the SYL canal can be allowed for the sharing of waters of the state.



He said that Satluj river has already dried up and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water from it. Rather, Mann said that water from Ganga and Yamuna should be supplied to Punjab through the Satluj river adding that he has raised this issue with the Union government too.



Mann said that the state Government has emphatically presented the issue of less availability of water and it has been recorded too in the decision of the Apex Court. He said that in the coming hearings too Punjab will solidly present its case in the Supreme Court to protect its rights. He said that the Punjab government is duty bound to ensure that the interests of the state and its people are safeguarded by all means and no stone will be left unturned for it.



CM Mann added that though these states always claim for their right on water of the state but when Punjab was flooded due to excess water from the hilly areas these states had refused to take water from Punjab. He said that Punjab had borne the brunt of the floods due to excessive rain in the hilly areas but these states who claim their right on our waters were unfazed by it. Mann said that Punjab had suffered huge losses but these states who demand water from the state were unaffected by it.



Ahead of the meeting, a few farmers' outfits from Punjab held a protest in Mohali against the meeting, saying Punjab does not have any surplus water to share with anyone. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Punjab), and BKU (Mansa) were among the outfits taking part in the protest.



The SYL canal issue has been a bone of contention between the two states for the past several years. The canal was conceptualized for the effective sharing of water between the two states from the Ravi and Beas rivers. The project envisages a 214-kilometre canal, of which a 122-kilometre stretch was to be constructed in Punjab and the remaining 92 kilometres in Haryana.



Haryana has completed the project in its territory but Punjab, which launched the work in 1982, shelved it.



All political parties in Punjab had earlier asserted that the state does not have a single drop of additional water to share with any other state, though political outfits in Haryana had welcomed the apex court directions.
/



Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan held a review meeting with Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, inquiring about the law and order situation in Faridkot district.



After receiving information from the DGP regarding police arrangements in the villages, cities, and towns of Faridkot district, Sandhwan emphasized the need to intensify police patrols, increase blockades, and maintain a vigilant watch on suspicious elements.



Highlighting recent incidents of robberies against passers-by in Faridkot district, the Speaker conveyed to the DGP that such elements should not be spared under any circumstances. He asserted the state government's commitment to ensuring the safety of the common people and maintaining an effective police system, declaring that stringent action will be taken against anti-social elements and no stone will left unturned to maintain law and order situation.



According to a statement, DGP Gaurav Yadav, during the meeting, said that no one would be allowed to disrupt the law and order situation in Punjab, including Faridkot district. He reiterated the Punjab Police's dogged commitment to deal firmly with miscreants including gangsters.

Governor prorogues Haryana Vidhan Sabha



Chandigarh: Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya on Thursday prorogued the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. A notification to this effect has been issued by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, said the government official spokesperson in a statement.



Hry Minister emphasizes public participation for development



Chandigarh: Haryana School Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar on Thursday attended a programme organized under the Viksit Bharat Jan Sankalp Yatra in villages Piruwala and Feruwala of Yamunanagar. Addressing the gathering, he said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, development initiatives are uniformly progressing across the state and the nation. Both the country and the State are steadfastly advancing on the path of growth. The government has effectively rolled out welfare schemes benefiting various sections of society, including farmers, laborers, women, businessmen, and workers. Gujjar stressed the importance of public participation in achieving Prime Minister Modi's vision of a developed India by 2047. He administered an oath, underscoring the government's proactive approach in addressing citizens' concerns.



Hry Urban Local Bodies commissioner inspects waste to energy plant



Chandigarh: Haryana Urban Local Bodies Commissioner Vikas Gupta on Thursday inspected Murthal-Tajpur Waste to Energy Plant and reviewed the production capacity of the plant. He directed the officers that all the garbage from the concerned areas should be sent to the plant so that it can be used to generate electricity. Gupta inspected the plant along with Municipal Commissioner Sonipat Vishram Kumar Meena, and other officers. He reviewed the production capacity and other necessary arrangements. He said that the plant should be operated smoothly so that the garbage can be disposed of properly, which will strengthen the cleanliness system.



25 lakh people attended Viskit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Hry so far



Chandigarh: Haryana Government official spokesperson on Thursday said that 25 lakh people have attended Viskit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Haryana so far. Out of this, over 4.81 lakh people have visited health camps and got their health checked. Out of these, 3.23 lakh people have undergone TB screening. Over 5 lakh 92 thousand people have been issued Ayushman Bharat cards and 5956 farmers have been issued Kisan Credit Cards during the Yatra. More than 1.28 lakh applications were received under Ayushman Chirayu Scheme and 22531 Svamitva cards were distributed. In addition, 7370 people have sought information about the PM Svanidhi scheme and 3038 people took information related to natural farming. During the Yatra, 20326 women, 32510 students, 4492 local athletes and 4293 local artists were also awarded, the spokesperson added.
Contrary to the usual trend of people flocking to popular holiday destinations like Goa, Kerala or even international locales such as Malaysia for New Year celebrations, the turn of the year 2024 sees a notable shift. Ayodhya, Banaras and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh are witnessing a significant influx of tourists, particularly from states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

The surge in visitors is poised to propel the hotel and travel business, including Lucknow, beyond the Rs 150 crore-mark in the very first week of the year.

Travel agencies attribute this shift to the improved development of religious sites in Uttar Pradesh, drawing tourists in large numbers. The New Year festivities are witnessing a substantial increase in the number of tourists from the South, with travel agencies reporting that inbound interest surpasses outbound requests.

Anurag Singh, a tour operator, remarks on the rapid increase in tourists to Ayodhya and Banaras, indicating a more than 100 per cent growth in bookings for the year 2024.

He highlights the positive impact on the travel industry and tourism in Uttar Pradesh, emphasising that the surge is a significant boon after a decline in tourist numbers post-2019.

Singh says that the company facilitates complete travel arrangements for individuals from Uttar Pradesh traveling to places like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while travelers from other states are increasingly reaching out to book tours.

The estimated business generated by the influx of tourists is anticipated to exceed Rs 150 crore, with over a thousand small and large travel agents operating in cities like Lucknow, Varanasi and Prayagraj.

Manoj Chaudhary, a travel agency operator, identifies the primary influx from three states  Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana. Additionally, visitors from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are contributing to the surge, with Ayodhya, Banaras and Prayagraj being the preferred destinations.

He says a 5-day, 4-night trip costs a minimum of Rs 15,000 per person, excluding flight or train tickets. However, this figure does not include their commuting expenses. The travel agency provides comprehensive packages covering accommodation, food and transportation for the entire journey. He emphasises that the minimum expenditure is set, but there is no upper limit for those willing to spend more.

As the holidays align with Saturday and Sunday, people from outside Uttar Pradesh and other districts within the state are also contributing to the surge in tourists. The high demand for hotels in Banaras, Ayodhya and Prayagraj is leading to booking challenges, with good hotels in Banaras already fully reserved. Tourists are resorting to booking hotels in Lucknow for their visit to Ayodhya, and similar scenarios are observed in Prayagraj.

The unprecedented demand is not limited to accommodations but also extends to transportation. Amrendra Shukla highlights the shortage of available vehicles, leading to increased bookings of traveler trains and vehicles for destinations like Ayodhya, Banaras and Prayagraj. Shukla notes the high demand for various types of vehicles, with rates ranging from Rs 11 to Rs 32 per kilometer, and reveals that they are struggling to meet the overwhelming demand for transportation.
Given the upcoming Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22, the Yogi Adityanath government has deployed the water police personnel in Ayodhya to ensure proper management of the crowd of devotees, provide guidance and promptly address any untoward situation.

After Varanasi, Prayagraj and Mirzapur, Ayodhya is the fourth city where water police have been deployed at the ghats for the safety of devotees.

After the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30 for handing over several major projects, the attraction of devotees towards Ayodhya will tend to increase further. The water police have undertaken comprehensive preparations for the forthcoming movement of VVIPs from various parts of the country and the world who will be participating in the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram's idol in the grand Ram temple on January 22.

The water police are well-prepared to take swift action in any adverse situation at all ghats, including Jamthara Ghat, a government spokesman said here on Thursday.

One head constable and 19 constables are on duty, overseeing security. The equipment in use comprises four boats, each equipped with a 50 HP engine, along with 10 throw balls, 10 life buoy rings, 15 life jackets, 10 rescue tubes and two dragon lights.

In addition, two platoons of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) with a total of 35 personnel will remain on alert from Naya Ghat to Guptar Ghat. More facilities are likely to be added by January 20, including six boats, life jackets and other necessary equipment.

Since their deployment, water police have saved more than 400 people in the last four years. They work as a ray of hope for people who accidentally enter the deep water of the river and those who are in trouble in flood-affected areas. With the increasing number of devotees reaching Ayodhya, their challenges are expected to grow. A comprehensive plan has been prepared for this, and work is in progress.
A 50-year-old woman and her 3-year-old granddaughter are battling for their lives after they were allegedly shot at by a 15-year-old boy, who is their distant relative, in Sitapur.

Though the police believe it to be a case of accidental firing, the FIR lodged by the womans husband alleges that the minor opened fire as he was annoyed over some issue.

The incident took place in a village under Talgaon police station of Sitapur.

The police said that the investigation so far had revealed that the boy got a country-made firearm from one of the villagers and fired it accidentally while trying to open it.

The police said the woman and her granddaughter were injured in the accidental firing and the boy did not intentionally shoot at them.

They said the .312 bore firearm had been recovered and the police were making efforts to arrest the person who gave the country-made pistol to a minor boy.

However, the womans husband Rana Pratap Singh, who runs a grocery shop near his house in Shadipur village, has lodged an FIR against the minor boy for an attempt to murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code at Talgaon police station. The woman, Kiran Devi, whose condition is stated to be serious, has been referred to the Trauma Centre of King Georges Medical University in Lucknow while the granddaughter, Aaradhya Singh, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Sitapur.

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 the gunshots and found the boy coming out of the house, carrying a firearm in his hand, while his wife and granddaughter were lying in pools of blood. He said they rushed the injured to the hospital from where his wife was referred to KGMU in Lucknow.

Rana, however, failed to give any reason for a dispute with the boy which made him attempt to kill Kiran Devi and Aaradhya Singh.

Further investigations are on in the case.

Meanwhile, three labourers died after the roof under construction of a marriage hall collapsed in Rudrapur under Kolhui police station of Maharajganj district on Wednesday night.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and a police team rescued 10 labourers. More labourers were said to be buried under the rubble and the rescue operation was going at the time of filing the report.

District Magistrate of Maharajganj, Anunay Jha, also reached the spot and ordered an investigation into the entire matter. The district magistrate said financial assistance would be given to the labourers who were victims of the accident.

The police have detained the owner of the marriage hall and the contractor doing the construction work.

Those killed in the mishap were identified as Yash (30), Ramashankar Bharti (30) and Neeraj (25).

The seriously injured Santosh Paswan, Suryaman, Shivnath, Ravindra, Sohan, Ajay Giri have been admitted to the district hospital.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the matter and has given instructions to help the victims.
To ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modis forthcoming visit to Ayodhya becomes an unforgettable event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath laid out detailed instructions during a virtual meeting on Thursday.

Joined by senior state government ministers Surya Pratap Shahi and Dayashanker Singh, as well as local authorities, including the mayor of Ayodhya, the chief minister meticulously reviewed preparations for the scheduled programme of the prime minister and provided crucial directives.

The chief minister stressed the importance of infusing the spirit of Lord Rama throughout Ayodhya, with directives to erect a grand archway and organise captivating cultural presentations at various locations.

Ensure robust security and cleanliness along the designated route for the prime ministers roadshow, he said.

Acknowledging the eagerness of the residents of Ayodhya to welcome the prime minister, the chief minister directed the authorities to provide adequate space for the public. Sages and saints are expected to shower flowers during the roadshow, emphasising the importance of effective communication with them, he said.

The roadshow is designed for the general public and requires utmost respect for public sentiments, he added.

Highlighting the prime ministers visit, which is poised to bring substantial projects to Ayodhya, the chief minister urged the local administration to collaborate with the Government of India to ensure timely completion of all necessary preparations for this landmark event.

A public meeting to be addressed by the prime minister is scheduled, with an expected attendance of 1.5 lakh to two lakh citizens from neighbouring districts. Comprehensive preparations, including proper parking facilities along major roads, are imperative. The focus will be on providing basic amenities and effective crowd management, Yogi observed.

The chief minister further emphasised that given the scale of the event, robust security measures, including aerial surveillance, were imperative. Uniformed security personnel and undercover police should be deployed, strictly adhering to the prime ministers security protocol, he added.

Traffic management strategies, in coordination with nearby district administrations, should be implemented to avoid jams on the Lucknow-Gorakhpur road. Timely communication and publicity regarding traffic diversions are essential, the chief minister said and added, As Ayodhya braces for the historic visit, these meticulous preparations aim to make Prime Minister Modis presence a significant moment in the citys history.
The BJP on Friday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar coming back at the helm of the JD(U) as its president is its "internal matter", but the way it has happened has further reduced people's faith in the party.

"The era of cheating is now over. The public will not accept the group of thugs now," BJP legislator and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha told PTI here.

His reaction came after Kumar was elected as the president of the Janata Dal (United) at a meeting of the party's national executive on Friday.

Senior JD(U) leader Lalan Singh stepped down as the party chief at the closed-door meeting and proposed Kumar's name, saying his leadership will be needed at this crucial juncture in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, while he (Singh) will be busy contesting the election.

Singh, who was made the JD(U) president in July 2021, represents Bihar's Munger constituency in the Lok Sabha.

Asked for his comments on the development, Sinha said, "Congratulations to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on becoming the president of the JD(U). It is an internal matter of the JD(U)."

But the "cycle of events" in the party has exposed the atmosphere of "confusion, mistrust and infighting", he added.

"Somewhere or the other, people's faith in them has gone down further with the atmosphere of confusion and mistrust (in the party)," Sinha said, adding that such an atmosphere is not right for any political party in a democracy.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also took potshots at Singh and said he should have tendered his resignation from the JD(U) chief's post long ago.

He alleged that Singh had become closer to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and was "cheating" both RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Kumar.

"That time the chief minister's responsibility was bigger (when Kumar stepped down as the JD-U president). This time there was a much bigger fear of losing the chief minister's post," Sinha claimed when asked if there were differences within the JD(U) owing to which Singh was made to step down.

"I feel sorry for Lalan Singh, who is an MP from my area. The way he has been removed from the post, anybody who has self-respect would not let others embarrass him in such a manner. He should have resigned long ago. There was no point in continuing to hold the post when the party leadership did not have faith in him," the BJP leader said.
Union Minister Smriti Irani Friday alleged that former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi ignored the development of Amethi, a constituency he represented in the Lok Sabha for 15 years, but built a guest house for himself.

During an interaction with people in Munshiganj here, the villagers drew her attention to the drainage.

Irani, a Lok Sabha MP of the BJP from Amethi, said, "It has only been four-and-a-half years for me. Rahul Gandhi has been MP for 15 years but he did not pay any attention to this. He did not even think about development and only built his guest house in Munshiganj.

"His government was at the Center for 10 years but he did not even think about the development of Amethi. Here, work was being done only on paper. Rahul Gandhi could not even build a drain properly in Amethi," she said.

The Union minister said that under the BJP government, work has been done on the ground in Amethi and development works were being done at a rapid pace. Amethi is moving forward on the path of continuous development, she stressed.

During her visit to the constituency, Irani listened to the problems of the people through public dialogue programmes in Ramdevpur, Munshiganj, Sarai Khema, Loniapur, and Pithipur and directed the officials concerned to solve the issues.

Her plan to return to Delhi on Friday has been cancelled and she will continue to tour the constituency on December 30 also.
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MaxLinear has higher revenue and earnings than ams-OSRAM. MaxLinear is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than ams-OSRAM, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

38.1% of ams-OSRAM shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.7% of MaxLinear shares are held by institutional investors. 11.0% of MaxLinear shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

MaxLinear beats ams-OSRAM on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ams-OSRAM

(Get Free Report)

ams-OSRAM AG designs, manufactures, and sells LED and optical sensor solutions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia/Pacific. The company operates in Semiconductors and Lamps & Systems segments. The Semiconductors segment offers semiconductor-based products and solutions, such as high-performance LEDs, lasers, and optical sensors for automotive, consumer, and industrial end markets. The Lamps & Systems segment provides lamps and lighting systems for the automotive, industrial, and medical end markets. The company was formerly known as ams AG and changed its name to ams-OSRAM AG in January 2022. ams-OSRAM AG was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Premstatten, Austria.

About MaxLinear

(Get Free Report)

MaxLinear, Inc. engages in the provision of communications systems-on-chip solutions for the connected home, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multi-market applications worldwide. Its products integrate various portions of a high-speed communication system, including radiofrequency, high-performance analog, mixed-signal, digital signal processing, security engines, data compression and networking layers, and power management. The company's products are used in various electronic devices, such as cable Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications, fiber and DSL broadband modems and gateways; Wi-Fi and wireline routers for home networking; radio transceivers and modems for 4G/5G base-station and backhaul infrastructure; and fiber-optic modules for data center, metro, and long-haul transport networks, as well as power management and interface products. It serves electronics distributors, module makers, original equipment manufacturers, and original design manufacturers through a direct sales force, third-party sales representatives, and a network of distributors. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.

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NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:NWHUF  Get Free Report) and National Health Investors (NYSE:NHI  Get Free Report) are both real estate companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability and dividends.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust and National Health Investors, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust 0 1 0 0 2.00 National Health Investors 0 6 0 0 2.00

NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust currently has a consensus target price of $13.38, suggesting a potential upside of 251.05%. National Health Investors has a consensus target price of $53.86, suggesting a potential downside of 4.98%. Given NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trusts higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust is more favorable than National Health Investors.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust N/A N/A N/A ($0.56) -6.81 National Health Investors $278.19 million 8.84 $66.40 million $2.43 23.33

This table compares NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust and National Health Investors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

National Health Investors has higher revenue and earnings than NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than National Health Investors, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust pays an annual dividend of $0.87 per share and has a dividend yield of 22.7%. National Health Investors pays an annual dividend of $3.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.4%. NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust pays out -155.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. National Health Investors pays out 148.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

15.5% of NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 62.1% of National Health Investors shares are held by institutional investors. 7.3% of National Health Investors shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust and National Health Investors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust N/A N/A N/A National Health Investors 33.90% 8.25% 4.20%

Summary

National Health Investors beats NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

(Get Free Report)

Northwest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: NWH.UN) (Northwest) is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust established under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The REIT provides investors with access to a portfolio of high-quality international healthcare real estate infrastructure comprised as at September 30, 2023, of interests in a diversified portfolio of 229 income-producing properties and 18.2 million square feet of gross leasable area located throughout major markets in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The REIT's portfolio of medical office buildings, clinics, and hospitals is characterized by long-term indexed leases and stable occupancies. With a fully integrated and aligned senior management team, the REIT leverages over 300 professionals in ten offices in eight countries to serve as a long-term real estate partner to leading healthcare operators.

About National Health Investors

(Get Free Report)

Incorporated in 1991, National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) is a real estate investment trust specializing in sale, leasebacks, joint-ventures, senior housing operating partnerships, and mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical investments. NHI's portfolio consists of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities, entrance-fee retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, and specialty hospitals.

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Ballast Advisors LLC decreased its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 18.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 8,340 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 1,836 shares during the quarter. Ballast Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $277,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 89.3% in the third quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 27,655 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $917,000 after buying an additional 13,046 shares during the period. SOL Capital Management CO boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 17.8% in the third quarter. SOL Capital Management CO now owns 85,582 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,839,000 after purchasing an additional 12,906 shares during the period. SWAN Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the third quarter worth $343,000. Benin Management CORP lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Benin Management CORP now owns 40,716 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,351,000 after buying an additional 2,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Powers Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Powers Advisory Group LLC now owns 13,759 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $456,000 after buying an additional 329 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock.

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Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of PFE stock opened at $28.79 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $29.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $33.41. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $25.76 and a 52-week high of $51.67. 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 $162.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.61.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.17) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.32) by $0.15. The business had revenue of $13.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.77 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 16.72% and a net margin of 15.30%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 26th will be given a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. This is a positive change from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.84%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 89.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on PFE shares. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Pfizer from $39.00 to $35.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Pfizer from $42.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $39.00 to $37.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $40.35.

View Our Latest Report on PFE

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $26.47 per share, with a total value of $79,410.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $238,230. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

About Pfizer

(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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Benin Management CORP cut its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 6.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 754 shares of the companys stock after selling 50 shares during the period. Benin Management CORPs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $405,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,878,417 shares of the companys stock worth $15,888,300,000 after acquiring an additional 642,274 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings 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 worth $8,938,609,000 after acquiring an additional 19,056,108 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,205,501 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,111,568,000 after buying an additional 338,077 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in 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 during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at $3,416,206,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of LLY stock opened at $581.28 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $309.20 and a 1-year high of $629.97. The stocks 50-day moving average is $585.16 and its 200 day moving average is $539.29. The company has a market cap of $551.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 105.30, a PEG ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued 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. 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. Research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Investors 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 represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.88%.

Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

In related 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now 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 available through the SEC website. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 $2,688,738.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LLY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $535.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $650.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $583.24.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Eli Lilly and Company

About Eli Lilly and Company

(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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Koshinski Asset Management Inc. lowered its position in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED  Free Report) by 6.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,111 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 364 shares during the period. Koshinski Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $437,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 21.2% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 28,457 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,573,000 after acquiring an additional 4,983 shares during the period. First County Bank CT lifted its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 36.6% during the 2nd quarter. First County Bank CT now owns 6,678 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $604,000 after acquiring an additional 1,788 shares during the period. Penserra Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 11,130.0% during the 2nd quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 2,246 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $202,000 after acquiring an additional 2,226 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Consolidated Edison during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Finally, United Asset Strategies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Consolidated Edison by 11.6% during the 2nd quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. now owns 5,760 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $521,000 after acquiring an additional 601 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.53% of the companys stock.

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Consolidated Edison Stock Performance

NYSE:ED opened at $90.65 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.43, a PEG ratio of 9.01 and a beta of 0.38. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $90.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $90.36. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a twelve month low of $80.46 and a twelve month high of $100.92.

Consolidated Edison Announces Dividend

Consolidated Edison ( NYSE:ED Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $3.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.82 billion. Consolidated Edison had a net margin of 15.57% and a return on equity of 8.16%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Consolidated Edison, Inc. will post 5.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 15th were given a dividend of $0.81 per share. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 14th. Consolidated Edisons dividend payout ratio is presently 48.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Argus dropped their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $104.00 to $93.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Consolidated Edison from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $96.00 to $94.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $85.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Consolidated Edison in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, KeyCorp dropped their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $77.00 to $73.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. Four 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 companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $88.08.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ED

Consolidated Edison Company Profile

(Free Report)

Consolidated Edison, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.6 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of AECOM (NYSE:ACM  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 3,357 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $279,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of AECOM by 8.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,199,288 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,456,608,000 after acquiring an additional 1,317,576 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in AECOM by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,833,820 shares of the construction companys stock worth $409,376,000 after purchasing an additional 269,202 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in AECOM by 39.2% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,456,275 shares of the construction companys stock worth $265,478,000 after purchasing an additional 972,449 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in AECOM by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,427,423 shares of the construction companys stock worth $290,268,000 after purchasing an additional 112,357 shares during the period. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AECOM by 106,750.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,422,418 shares of the construction companys stock worth $290,666,000 after purchasing an additional 3,419,215 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.79% of the companys stock.

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AECOM Stock Performance

Shares of ACM opened at $92.94 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $12.64 billion, a PE ratio of 238.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $85.85 and a 200-day moving average price of $85.57. AECOM has a 12-month low of $74.40 and a 12-month high of $94.01.

AECOM Increases Dividend

AECOM ( NYSE:ACM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 14th. The construction company reported $1.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.01. The firm had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.70 billion. AECOM had a return on equity of 20.01% and a net margin of 0.38%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 49.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.89 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that AECOM will post 4.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 19th. Investors of record on Monday, December 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.95%. This is a boost from AECOMs previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 3rd. AECOMs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 184.62%.

AECOM declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Monday, November 13th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the construction company to purchase up to 8.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on ACM shares. Citigroup cut their target price on AECOM from $105.00 to $93.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. StockNews.com upgraded AECOM from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on AECOM from $102.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $99.17.

Read Our Latest Analysis on ACM

Insider Activity at AECOM

In related news, CEO Troy Rudd sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total transaction of $2,319,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 259,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,040,423.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO Troy Rudd sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total transaction of $2,319,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 259,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,040,423.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, President Lara Poloni sold 30,692 shares of AECOM stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.50, for a total value of $2,839,010.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 53,752 shares in the company, valued at $4,972,060. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 65,333 shares of company stock valued at $5,994,463. Corporate insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

AECOM Company Profile

(Free Report)

AECOM, together with its subsidiaries, provides professional infrastructure consulting services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Americas, International, and AECOM Capital. The company offers planning, consulting, architectural and engineering design, construction and program management, and investment and development services to public and private clients.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC lowered its holdings in Polaris Inc. (NYSE:PII  Free Report) by 36.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,691 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,543 shares during the quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in Polaris were worth $280,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Polaris by 71.2% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 250 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp raised its holdings in shares of Polaris by 89.1% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 312 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in shares of Polaris by 30.4% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 395 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of Polaris by 526.0% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 313 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Employees Retirement System of Texas bought a new position in shares of Polaris during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $47,000. Institutional investors own 87.36% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. TheStreet lowered shares of Polaris from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on shares of Polaris from $90.00 to $77.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 15th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Polaris in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Polaris from $138.00 to $110.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Polaris from $140.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $109.55.

Polaris Price Performance

NYSE PII opened at $95.86 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.41. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $89.75 and its 200 day moving average price is $106.72. Polaris Inc. has a 1 year low of $82.00 and a 1 year high of $138.49. The company has a market cap of $5.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.37 and a beta of 1.61.

Polaris (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $2.71. Polaris had a return on equity of 51.02% and a net margin of 6.57%. The firm had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.25 EPS. The firms revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Polaris Inc. will post 9.81 earnings per share for the current year.

Polaris Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st were given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.71%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 30th. Polariss dividend payout ratio is currently 25.42%.

Polaris Profile

(Free Report)

Polaris Inc designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets powersports vehicles worldwide. It operates through three segments: Off-Road, On-Road, and Marine. The company offers off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; moto-roadsters, quadricycles, and boats; and aftermarket parts and apparel.

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Czech National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 45.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 93,699 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 29,225 shares during the quarter. Czech National Banks holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $7,067,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 41.9% in the 2nd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 491 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 3rd quarter worth about $43,000. 77.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on ADM shares. StockNews.com lowered Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $115.00 to $104.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $77.00 to $75.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets lowered Archer-Daniels-Midland from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their target price for the company from $90.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $76.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $89.80.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance

Shares of ADM opened at $72.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.69. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $73.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $76.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.07 and a beta of 0.82. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 52 week low of $69.31 and a 52 week high of $94.21.

Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $1.63 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $21.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.69 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 16.63% and a net margin of 4.05%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.86 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th were paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.49%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands payout ratio is presently 25.07%.

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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Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC raised its stake in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Free Report) by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,314 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the period. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in Duke Energy were worth $646,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in Duke Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $118,000. Adviser Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the third quarter worth about $304,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 8,760 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $783,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares during the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 13.1% in the 2nd quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 191,379 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $17,174,000 after purchasing an additional 22,100 shares during the period. Finally, Coastline Trust Co grew its stake in Duke Energy by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Coastline Trust Co now owns 4,925 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $475,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.68% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Duke Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $104.00 to $101.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Duke Energy from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, KeyCorp upped their price target on Duke Energy from $96.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Duke Energy has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $98.82.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Duke Energy stock opened at $96.92 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.76. Duke Energy Co. has a one year low of $83.06 and a one year high of $106.43. The company has a market cap of $74.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 61.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.45. The business has a fifty day moving average of $91.85 and a two-hundred day moving average of $91.23.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.02. Duke Energy had a net margin of 4.47% and a return on equity of 8.24%. The firm had revenue of $7.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.78 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 18th. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th were issued a $1.025 dividend. This represents a $4.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.23%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 16th. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 261.15%.

Duke Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity.

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Exchange Traded Concepts LLC reduced its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Free Report) by 58.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 109,544 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 152,568 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLCs holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $1,903,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of HPE. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 98,554.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 9,067,367 shares of the technology companys stock worth $152,332,000 after purchasing an additional 9,058,176 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 12.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 59,288,867 shares of the technology companys stock worth $944,472,000 after purchasing an additional 6,572,347 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 27.8% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 27,661,680 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $440,651,000 after acquiring an additional 6,019,701 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 184.9% in the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 8,114,000 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $129,256,000 after acquiring an additional 5,265,487 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 1,591.9% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 4,939,064 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $82,976,000 after acquiring an additional 4,647,141 shares during the last quarter. 81.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE HPE opened at $17.18 on Friday. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 52-week low of $13.65 and a 52-week high of $18.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $16.10 and a 200-day moving average of $16.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.33 billion, a PE ratio of 11.16, a P/E/G ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Increases Dividend

Hewlett Packard Enterprise ( NYSE:HPE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 28th. The technology company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.02. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a net margin of 6.95% and a return on equity of 9.83%. The company had revenue of $7.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.36 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.23) EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.58 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 13th will be given a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.03%. This is a boost from Hewlett Packard Enterprises previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 12th. Hewlett Packard Enterprises dividend payout ratio is 33.77%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on HPE. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Barclays cut their price target on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Raymond James boosted their price target on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, October 20th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $17.67.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on HPE

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Jeremy Cox sold 4,887 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.37, for a total transaction of $80,000.19. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,934 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $490,019.58. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Hewlett Packard Enterprise news, CFO Jeremy Cox sold 4,887 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.37, for a total value of $80,000.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,934 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $490,019.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 26,127 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.07, for a total transaction of $419,860.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 26,130 shares of the companys stock, valued at $419,909.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 303,575 shares of company stock valued at $4,989,141. Company insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Profile

(Free Report)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE  Free Report) by 162.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,733 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 6,650 shares during the period. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in ONEOK were worth $681,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quent Capital LLC lifted its holdings in ONEOK by 97.7% in the third quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 437 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of ONEOK in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of ONEOK during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of ONEOK during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, First Command Bank raised its holdings in ONEOK by 401.0% in the 2nd quarter. First Command Bank now owns 491 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 393 shares during the period. 68.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

OKE has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Scotiabank upgraded shares of ONEOK from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Bank of America upgraded ONEOK from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $72.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Monday, December 4th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on ONEOK in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Raymond James boosted their price objective on ONEOK from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, Pickering Energy Partners began coverage on ONEOK in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They set an underperform rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $75.67.

Insider Transactions at ONEOK

In related news, Director Eduardo A. Rodriguez sold 800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.29, for a total transaction of $56,232.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 25,154 shares in the company, valued at $1,768,074.66. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock.

ONEOK Stock Down 0.6 %

OKE stock opened at $70.54 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $67.23 and its 200 day moving average price is $65.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.94, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.67. ONEOK, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $55.91 and a fifty-two week high of $71.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.97.

ONEOK (NYSE:OKE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.02 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.96 billion. ONEOK had a net margin of 14.05% and a return on equity of 26.44%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.96 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ONEOK Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st were issued a dividend of $0.955 per share. This represents a $3.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.42%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 31st. ONEOKs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 70.09%.

About ONEOK

(Free Report)

ONEOK, Inc engages in gathering, processing, fractionation, storage, transportation, and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States. It operates through four segments: Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids, Natural Gas Pipelines, and Refined Products and Crude.

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Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Free Report) by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 228,246 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 995 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. owned about 0.06% of Waste Management worth $34,794,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WM. Czech National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 47.0% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 64,424 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $9,821,000 after acquiring an additional 20,599 shares during the last quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 55,815 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $8,508,000 after acquiring an additional 327 shares during the last quarter. Oak Thistle LLC grew its stake in Waste Management by 170.7% during the 3rd quarter. Oak Thistle LLC now owns 4,535 shares of the business services providers stock worth $691,000 after buying an additional 2,860 shares during the last quarter. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC grew its stake in Waste Management by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC now owns 128,885 shares of the business services providers stock worth $19,647,000 after buying an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd grew its stake in Waste Management by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd now owns 44,961 shares of the business services providers stock worth $6,854,000 after buying an additional 2,122 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.34% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 4,167 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction on Friday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total value of $716,724.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 177,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,499,212. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Waste Management news, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 9,550 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $177.00, for a total transaction of $1,690,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 162,388 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,742,676. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 4,167 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total value of $716,724.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,499,212. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 43,598 shares of company stock valued at $7,517,269 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Waste Management Stock Performance

Shares of WM stock opened at $178.14 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $170.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $164.91. The stock has a market cap of $71.75 billion, a PE ratio of 31.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.70. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1 year low of $148.31 and a 1 year high of $179.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.84.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The business services provider reported $1.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.02. Waste Management had a return on equity of 34.14% and a net margin of 11.47%. The company had revenue of $5.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.27 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.56 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 5.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st were given a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 30th. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is currently 49.56%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on WM shares. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Waste Management from $160.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Raymond James lowered their target price on Waste Management from $179.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. They issued a peer perform rating on the stock. Erste Group Bank upgraded Waste Management from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Waste Management from $160.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Six 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.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $179.93.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Waste Management

Waste Management Company Profile

(Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site; and owns and operates transfer stations, as well as owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.

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Criminals in Britain have never had it so good. Half of Britains police forces do not investigate crimes and Home Office figures show that just one in 18 offences reported to police led to a suspect being charged in the year to this June, compared with one in six resulting in a charge a decade ago.

Crime pays these days

People are choosing crime as a profession these days because the coppers have switched off. I been doing this game for forty years and never seen it so good. Bank robbery, burglary, drugs, racketeering, bribery, kidnap, loan sharking, betting scams, its all hunky fuckin dorey kushti, a seasoned criminal revealed from his Essex mansion.

Another criminal from Whitechapel, East London, had nothing but praise for the police.

I was up the apples and pears when I heard a bottle and stopper comin. In me hand was a load of bees and honey, he must have heard a box of toys, well, I knew I was going to cop it hot, so I took out me berk. He came up and took a butchers, and it was obvious he didnt want a Barney or be brown bread. Just then an old bag came out of her room with the biggest fuckin Bristols my mince pies have ever seen. The rozzer just stood there with his north and south hangin wide open. I made the first move and moved my bottle and glass out of there, when I dropped some of the bees and honey on me daisy roots the bottle picked up the stolen sausage and mash and handed it to me. He even gave us a wink and waved me on. Soon after down the battle cruiser me and the lads celebrated, we had a good bubble.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. (Image: Twitter)

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will lead a high-level delegation to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), to be held in Davos from January 15 to 19 to attract investments, according to official sources.

This will be the first visit of a Telangana state Chief Minister to the WEF as Reddys predecessor K. Chandrashekar Rao never attended the event and deputed industries minister K.T. Rama Rao in his place.

Industries and IT minister D. Sridhar Babu and principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan will be a part of Reddys delegation.

The Congress government has decided to give priority to the growth of manufacturing and service sectors.

Towards this, Revanth Reddy and Sridhar Babu have been holding review meetings in the last three weeks to chalk out a strategy to attract more investments in IT, ITeS, electronics and pharmaceutical sectors.

The Chief Minister had recently met representatives of Foxconn, who proposed to expand their operations in the state. Reddy assured the state government's complete support for the growth of industrial sector and job creation.

The TS delegation will in Davos hold meetings with CEOs and heads of global companies and seek investments into Telangana. The state government is also working on various options, including putting up a pavilion in the host city, to showcase TS as the best investment destination.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to hold the Global Investors Summit in Hyderabad in 2024 to promote Telangana as an ideal investment destination for companies and industries across the globe.

The previous Congress government in the undivided Andhra Pradesh headed by then Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had hosted the Global Partnership Summit in Hyderabad in 2012. It was planned as an annual event then but due to political uncertainty in the state due to the statehood agitation, the event was put off in 2013.

Post-bifurcation, and since coming to power, the BRS government virtually shelved investors' summits.
With the High Court's suspension of the censor certificate, the film will not be released in theatres as scheduled on Friday. DC Image

Hyderabad: In a late night judgment on Thursday, the Telangana High Court suspended the censor certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification to director Ram Gopal Varmas movie Vhyuham.

The suspension will be in force for three weeks. With the High Court's suspension of the censor certificate, the film will not be released in theatres as scheduled on Friday.
Former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. (File Image: Twitter)

Hyderabad: It is official! The previous K. Chandrashekar Rao-led government moved a proposal to pay for the cost of repairs, running into crores of rupees, to the flooded Bahubali pump house in Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KLIS), in sharp contrast to their claims that the contractor Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited would bear cost under the "defect liability" provision.

Referring to the inundation of the pump house in the July 2022 floods, revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy revealed that a file recommending payment to the contractor was under circulation and was with the finance department.

He was speaking at the much-publicised meeting of group of ministers with KLIS engineers, contractors and the media at the Medigadda barrage site, where some piers sank in October, on Friday.

The minister questioned the decision to construct the pump house at 110 metres above mean sea level, instead of the recommended 126 metres, which he said led to the inundation.

He wanted to know why the stop lock gates did not operate during the floods, and what action was initiated against the officials responsible for substandard works.

Roads and buildings minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy alleged that the pumps supplied by the contractor were of substandard and made in the local markets but the government paid exorbitant rates for the same. He wanted a thorough investigation into the pump house contract.

The Chandrashekar Rao government made similar claims just before the elections that the contractor L&T would bear the cost of repairs to the sunken Medigadda barrage.

When asked about this, irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said: "This information is something which we can not reveal to the media at this stage."

Srinivas Reddy stole the show by raising several issues even while claiming that he was not technically competent to comment and was only passing on the observations made by village elders at the "rachabanda".

Transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar ridiculed the previous government for floating the conspiracy theory for which engineer-in-chief C. Muralidhar Rao replied that a huge sound led to some doubts. All suspicions were later ruled out by the police.

Muralidhar Rao, however, put the ministerial delegation in an embarrassing situation by explaining elaborately the non-viability of the Pranahita-Chevella, the brain child of Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy government which the present-day Congress government has been batting for, and remaining silent on the design or quality deficiencies that led to the sinking of the Medigadda barrage.
Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the leaders of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) after signing a memorandum of settlement with them in New Delhi (AP)

New Delhi: The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) on Friday signed a peace accord with the Centre and the Assam government, agreeing to shun violence, disband the organisation and join the democratic process.

Union home minister Amit Shah, who was present along with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma at the signing of the accord here at North Block, said it was a very big day for the people of Assam.

At the signing ceremony, a Ulfa representative said: This will bring lasting peace in Assam. I apologise for any wrongdoing from our side.

He also said in the Ulfa conflict, about 10,000 people from both sides, who were citizens of this country, had been killed, but today this problem was being completely resolved. He said the Centre had agreed to provide a huge package and several big projects for the development of Assam.

Assam has suffered for a long time due to the violence of Ulfa and 10,000 people have lost their lives in this violence since 1979, he said.

Shah said that Ulfa, the oldest insurgent group of Assam, had agreed to abjure violence, surrender arms, disband the organisation, vacate their camps and join the democratic process.

A big development package will be given to Assam as part of the accord, he said, pledging every clause of the pact will be fully implemented.

The agreement is a significant milestone to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a peaceful, prosperous and insurgency-free Northeast and bringing everlasting peace, prosperity and all-round development of Assam, he said, adding that the accord will be implemented in a time-bound manner.

Shah also said the home ministry, under the PM's guidance, worked with the vision of a Northeast free from extremism, violence and conflict. In the last five years, nine peace- and border-related agreements have been signed with several insurgent groups in different Northeast states, establishing peace in large parts of the region, the home minister added.

Over 9,000 cadres have surrendered and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been lifted from 85 per cent of Assam, he said.

The Assam chief minister said the accord was historic and that it had fructified due to the guidance and leadership of the Prime Minister and home minister Amit Shah.

Nobody has answers why their sons and husbands were killed, those who were killing were also not aware why they were killed. The home ministry took a decisive step that they negotiated with Ulfa and brought a closure. This accord will fulfil the aspirations of the people. Modi's outreach has brought peace to Assam, Sarma said.

He said among the 10,000 people killed in Ulfa violence, around 400 to 500 were security personnel while the rest were native people of Assam.

Under the accord, about Rs 1.5 lakh crore will be invested in Assam in various development projects. Besides, in future delimitation exercises, the existing principle will be applied in Assam so that the interests of the indigenous people of the state are protected, he said.

The accord will give political security and constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people of Assam by way of delimitation, land rights, Sarma said, adding that 726 more cadres will join the mainstream now.

Ulfa leader Sashadhar Choudhary, thanking the PM, Shah and Sarma, expressed the hope that the pact will bring durable peace and stability in Assam.

Besides the 16-member delegation led by Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, representatives from 13 civil society organisations were present. The accord came after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the Rajkhowa-led Ulfa faction and the government, the officials said.

However, Ulfa's hardline faction headed by Paresh Baruah is not a part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. The Assam CM said Baruah is likely to join the peace process now, and that state government representatives are in touch with him.
The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the worlds largest standing military, is undergoing a period of significant upheaval. The sudden disappearance of Defense Minister Li Shangfu, followed by the unexpected appointment of Admiral Dong Jun, a figure with a predominantly naval background, has brought Chinas military leaderships inner workings and intentions into sharp focus. This change is part of a broader pattern of purges and reassignments within the military and defense sectors, signaling a significant shift in the PLAs structure and strategy.

The PLA is undergoing a significant reorganization, focusing on increasing the role of the Navy and Air Force. This aligns with Chinas growing military ambitions as it seeks to project power further in the field. The changes also reflect the increasing importance of technology in warfare as the PLA seeks to develop a more modern and capable military.

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The upheaval in the PLA leadership will likely significantly impact the militarys operations. How the new leadership will handle the challenges facing the PLA remains to be seen, but it is clear that the Chinese military is entering a new era.

The purge and its motivations

The recent shakeup in Chinas military leadership has raised several questions about the motivations behind these changes. President Xi Jinpings ongoing anti-corruption campaign, a central theme of his tenure, has expanded into the military, targeting what was once considered an untouchable bastion of power and privilege. The removal of high-ranking officials and their replacement with figures perceived as more loyal to Xi suggests an effort to consolidate power within the PLA. This move may serve multiple purposes: eliminating potential rivals, ensuring unwavering loyalty to Xi, and aligning the military more closely with his strategic vision.

At the same time, these changes hint at an attempt to address internal factions and dissent within the military. By installing leaders aligned with his policies, Xi Jinping could aim to create a more cohesive and unified military structure, free from the internal strife and factionalism that have historically plagued the PLA.

Impact on military capabilities

The repercussions of this internal restructuring are significant for the PLAs operational capabilities. The purge has led to the departure of experienced military leaders, raising concerns about a potential gap in expertise and institutional knowledge. The abrupt leadership changes could disrupt established command structures and decision-making processes, potentially leading to inefficiency and a slow response to strategic challenges.

The uncertainty and shifts in leadership may also impact the morale and cohesion of the PLAs personnel. The perception of instability and the focus on political loyalty over military expertise could lead to a decline in discipline and a loss of confidence among the ranks.

International relations and regional dynamics

The changes in Chinas military leadership will likely have far-reaching implications for international relations, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Neighboring countries, already wary of Chinas military assertiveness, may view the current instability as an opportunity or a threat, depending on their strategic interests and alliances.

The United States, in particular, is likely to monitor these developments closely. The lack of transparency surrounding the recent changes could exacerbate existing tensions and mistrust between China and the U.S., impacting diplomatic relations and potentially influencing military strategies in the region.

Future prospects and challenges

The future trajectory of the PLA is shrouded in uncertainty. A more centralized command under Xi Jinpings control could increase assertiveness in territorial disputes and a more pronounced military presence on the global stage. However, this centralization may come at the cost of professional military expertise and institutional stability.

Conversely, the ongoing purges and leadership changes could provide an opportunity for systemic reform within the PLA. This transition period might pave the way for modernization efforts, fostering a more professional and efficient military better equipped to face contemporary challenges.

The ongoing transformation within the Chinese military represents a critical juncture with significant implications for Chinas domestic politics, regional stability, and global power dynamics. While the immediate effects of these changes are becoming evident, their long-term impact on the PLAs effectiveness, Chinas foreign policy, and regional security remains to be seen.

As the world observes these developments, the direction China chooses to take will play a decisive role in shaping the geopolitical landscape. Whether this period marks the beginning of a profound reform within the PLA or a mere consolidation of power under Xi Jinping will be a key factor in determining Chinas future role on the global stage.
The East Derry Ulster Unionist Association, in its New Year message to constituents, called for tougher health workers protection laws.

The Party said it is 'absolutely vital' to have a fully functioning devolved Assembly as soon as possible so that steps can be taken at Stormont, which would make 'attacks on health workers and the emergency services an even more serious criminal offence'.

Mr Robert Carmichael, the Constituency Association Chairman, said:

"We regularly hear about shocking and deplorable attacks on our mercy workers, and this clearly emphasises the urgent need for the creation of even more tougher laws making it a very specific criminal offence to attack the emergency services as well as staff in hospitals.

But this can only be effectively achieved if we have Stormont back in business.

The UUP Association Chairman said if the yob culture of attacking mercy workers was not urgently addressed, a serious situation could arise across the North whereby martial arts-style self-defence training would have to be given to firefighters and to doctors and nurses working in hospital Accident and Emergency units.

Mr Carmichael added: The people who work for the emergency services also need to have their human rights recognised, too. We urgently need the introduction of even more radical measures to protect fire fighters and paramedics when they are on their mercy missions.

No democratic society should tolerate any type of attack - whether physical or verbal - on those whose job it is to save lives. There must be a zero tolerance attitude adopted towards the mindless thugs in our community who are perpetrating these attacks on fire appliances, ambulances, their crews as well as on GPs, nurses and other health workers.

There must be greater use of cameras and video recording equipment on emergency vehicles in the short-term. We do not want the situation to deteriorate to the level that emergency crews cannot respond to a call because of a danger to their own lives.

Similarly, in A and E units, we do not want the situation to arise where hospitals have to provide American-style panic rooms, which are secure units where medical staff can lock themselves away in the event of serious attacks breaking out.

"If words are not followed up effectively by solutions which work practically for the benefit of the emergency staff, then the nightmare scenario could become a reality where armed guards are required to either patrol A and E units, or escort fire engines and ambulances during their mercy missions. Again, this nightmare scenario can only be avoided if devolved government is again restored at Stormont, said the Association Chairman.

Mr Carmichael also wished every constituent a very Happy New Year and a prosperous 2024 and said he hoped the North in general, and East Derry in particular, would witness good governance in 2024.
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Residents in Derrys Abbey House have staged a protest at the gates of their building, where the lift has been out of operation for the past four weeks.

Abbey House, in the Little Diamond area of the city, is housing with care for older people - managed by Apex Housing Association.

Tony Sheerin and his friend John, who live in Abbey House staged the protest to draw attention to the difficulties residents were having using the stairs in the absence of the lift.

Speaking to Derry Now, Tony said all of the residents living in Abbey House were senior citizens and the physical demand of being forced to use the stairs was taking its toll on their health.

Tony said: The lift broke down on December 1 and since then we have had to use the stairs. As you can imagine, when some of us use the stairs we get a shortage of breath. This has happened to me.

John and I both have health problems and both of our flats are upstairs. Using the stairs is a problem for us physically, especially if we are carrying messages.

The oldest person who lives here is 92 and she has to get her family down every time she needs to get up or down the stairs. There is no-one here in Abbey House to help her.

Tony claimed that staff and Abbey House had been told not to help residents up and down the stairs.

He said he did not know why this decision had been taken.

He said: Last Saturday, I came in with a couple of messages and I said to one of the staff in the office, Would you please help me? They replied that they had been told not to help us.

As a result, I could not get up the stairs with my messages. I had to wait until a stranger came in and I asked them to help me. I think the whole situation with the lift being out of operation is a disgrace, said Tony, who added that it was only after his protest at the gates of Abbey House, a member of Apex staff came to discuss the lift situation.

He added: They said someone would now be present in Abbey House for two hours every day, Monday to Friday, to help us.

They have sent us a letter confirming this but I am not sure if this system is in place yet. They did nothing for three weeks, so we are hoping they stick to this.

It is absolutely disgraceful that older people have had to put up with such an intolerable situation - especially people with health problems which would make climbing stairs extremely challenging. It was shocking that we had to protest in the street to get some resolution to the problem.

Apex has told us the lift should be fixed in the first week of January. I hope this is true.

A spokesperson for Apex told Derry News: In order to repair the lift at Abbey House, bespoke parts have had to be sourced from Sweden.

We have continued to update those affected and are doing all we can to assist our older tenants through the installation of a stair lift and providing additional staff support.

We apologise for the inconvenience and will ensure the lift is repaired as soon as the bespoke parts are delivered.
From the archives: Article taken from the Derry News, Monday, 21st January, 2023

A Derry News reader recalls their time at Rossville Flats in Derry; the difficult memories and those cherished to this day. She remembers the heartbreak and her hero. A cumulation of fondness and fear of a time so many have etched in memory forever.

"My first memory of the flats; I was about seven and we lived at the houses at the back of the walls called Nailors Row. Unfortunately, they were getting demolished. So I remember walking along the railings and my aunty holding my hand tight and me balancing on them. At the end of the railings was Butcher's Gate.

"I remember her saying, 'Look up.' They were so high. They were the Rossville Street Flats. She had secured a flat on Donagh Place; the highest floor. We walked up the stairs; they were never ending. My legs were getting sore. We finally arrived at our destination. Little did I know what was going to happen in later years.

"We put in the key in the door and I walked in with her. I used to go everywhere with my auntie; she had me spoiled. She seemed to know everyone. All the people were talking about the march for Civil Rights. I was nine years old; I didn't understand. That day would change everyone's life forever.

"The march was a peaceful march but many innocent people were killed."

She said that the day after the march, everything was so silent, "It was as if my auntie and I were the only people living. I still vividly remember seeing bloody rags, blood stains and the smell of blood," they recalled.

"My father came to go to the march but, luckily, he was coming up the steps to get a cup of tea. He met a man he knew on the way down and told him he'd be down soon. Little did he know the would be the last person to speak to him. He was shot dead. Fate has a lot to do with life, I think.

"I remember the rioting after that; it was never-ending. We used to stand on the balcony- we felt safe because we were so high up. So became the men they called the IRA - fighting for our cause. We were always second class citizens. My auntie told me that only a few Catholics were in the Council and if you were looking for a job, the employer's first question was, 'What school did you attend?'

"I still didn't really understand at the time but later on, I did."

She recollects a time, they were around 13 years old at the time and she and her friend were going to Molly Barr's shop. The shop sold magazines, papers and sweets, "I loved the walnut whips and the pink and white nougat yoghurt," she recalled. A man approached us. He told us he was from America and he wanted to go to the cemetery. Being well warned about strangers, I asked my auntie if we could.

"My auntie said yes, but she was coming too. We walked up to the cemetery. He took photographs of the Bloody Sunday graves. We walked back down to Waterloo Street. He thanked us very much. My auntie missed her calling; she would have made a good tour guide.

"He reached into his inside jacket pocket and brought out his leather wallet. It was bulging with notes. He went and took out a wad of notes to give to my friend and I, 'No, no Mr,' my auntie said, 'It was a privledge.' We were so deflated; what we could have done with that money.

She recalls another day. The first time she truly began to be afraid of the soldiers, "I remember going down the back steps, running down the stairs at fifth floor, A Block," she said.

"A soldier was standing with a large rifle. He pushed the rifle handle into my side. It took the wind out of me. I was bruised for months and eating painkillers. I hid it well and never told my auntie. My ribs ached for months. I began to be afraid of them.

"My auntie was a very holy religious woman. On several occasions we would hear the cathedral bells as we rushed up William Street. A whole row of derelict houses were on the street on our way up. One time, suddenly, gunshots rang. She told me to lie flat on the ground.

"I was wearing a beautiful white, lace dress. By the time we got to Mass, it looked like I came there on the back of a coal lorry. The dress was bogging. I was so embarassed. I remember my auntie saying, 'God doesn't care about your dress as long as you come to Mass.'"

She can to this day recall her auntie's flat inside and out and describes it as immaculate. "Every Saturday, she cleaned the aluminium footstep with Brasso and a yellow cloth. One day, soldiers were passing and they spat on the step. She looked up at him and smiled. 'Oh, Mr, thank you,' she said. 'That will put a better shine on it.'

"Back in the day, my auntie worked but she was a wee bit more financially secure than others. Every week, we went to John Deery's and got our hair and nails done. There was always a waiting list but because we were regulars, we got to see him.

"He crimped my long black hair and fringe; he always referred to me as Cleopatra. I was the only one who had that hairstyle. I won beauty competitions and modelled for John Deery in the Guildhall. I always had the latest style; I like to stand out from the crowd. My auntie would tell me as you have you hair and nails nice and nice shoes, you can get away with anything in between.

"I had two good friends from the flats; one I still know and one I lost touch with. I had another two friends from Lawrence Hill. Little did I know, my auntie had handpicked them for me. She always said, 'You can't go wrong having lovely friends like them.' She was right."

Our reader had a large family who also lived in Nailors Row. They were relocated to a new housing estate a few miles away. She unfortunately had an underlying health problem that she kept hidden well, but when she was getting a flare up, her auntie would take her back to them, "I loved and still loved my brothers and sisters; but my memories aren't their memories," she said.

"Going back to the troubles, we used to visit my other auntie and uncle. They lived in a top flat in Meenan Square. They never had any children. They were religious and so kind too. One day, going into Meenan Square we got caught up with the soldiers and tear gas.

"There was a key for the whole building and we couldn't even see to get the key in the door. We locked the ground floor which secured the four flats inside. I'll never forget the pain of my eyes; watering, stinging, excrutitating pain. My other auntie ran into the kitchen and got a tea towel soaked with water. For a few days our eyes were bloodshot.

"We used to go on bus runs on a Sunday to several wee villages down South. One time, we came back and the flat was burgled. My auntie knew who it was but it was a far out relation and to prevent shame on the family, she didn't do anything about it.

"Unfortunately, my memory isn't as good as it once was. What I have told, I hope some of you can relate to my story. Maybe not, as this is my own recollection. It was the best time of my life; I'd go back in a heartbeat."

Sadly her beloved auntie has since passed away; a lady she describes as "the best."

"She would do anything for anybody but was so discreet," she added. "The flat was never raided and was always a place of refuge to anyone who needed it. She helped whoever she could and didn't seek the credit.

"The manners, the faith, the honesty, everything she instilled in me, I carry it with me to this day. But, that is my story, my mansion; The Rossville Flats."
Every Christmas since moving into my own house, bales of briquettes were almost as important as the turkey and ham on the list of things that needed to be bought for Christmas.

For convenience of being able to throw a few bales in the back of the car and store them in a shed, the iconic Bord na Mona product was hard to beat.

With a strap which made it convenient to carry, the bale of briquettes was really unrivalled.

The ubiquitous briquette stand outside almost every shop in the country, meant that humble bales of briquettes were very much part of the rural and urban landscape.

The ease in which bales could be stacked in a shed and then lit without fuss in a stove or open fire, also made it almost unrivalled.

While we know that we must move away from carbon-based fuel products, the lack of bales of briquettes this year was not ideal for many, particularly the elderly.

In its place, there has been some welcome carbon neutral heating alternatives including Willow Warm briquettes, marketed as Ireland's carbon neutral briquette. There are also a number of products including E-briquettes.

Amongst others, Arigina Fuels are also producing carbon neutral biofuel, Harvest Flame.

However, it may take some time for them to be embraced to the same level as the iconic peat briquette, captured so evocatively in the advert featuring the Marino Waltz.

And the end of the availability of peat briquettes in almost all shops highlights the issue of Just Transition and the job losses experienced, particularly in the midlands, from the end of peat harvesting and fuel production. This is an even bigger issue as Ireland aims to reach its climate change targets while also having a secure and reliable fuel source.

In the meantime, we can feel a pang of nostalgia for a warm briquette fire, even if it was not in the environment's best interest!
The experience of victims of crime in Northern Ireland will fall further behind the rest of the UK while the Stormont Assembly remains suspended, commissioner Geraldine Hanna has warned.

Northern Irelands Victims of Crime Commissioner designate said she was frustrated with the slow pace of change within the criminal justice system and warned about chronic underfunding of key agencies.

The role was established by former justice minister Naomi Long in March 2022 to give an independent voice to all victims of crime and to make recommendations for change.

However, the Stormont Executive has been collapsed during all of Ms Hannas time as commissioner and departments have been dealing with significant budget shortfalls.

Ms Hanna told the PA news agency that not having a functioning Assembly was impacting criminal justice legislatively and in terms of oversight.

She said: There is work that needs to be brought forward, hangovers from the last mandate, hate crime legislation that needs to be progressed, disclosure legislation.

What inevitably is happening is that whenever it (the Assembly) comes back we are going to be playing catch-up in a lot of these issues.

The other impact significantly for me of having no Assembly is that we have lost a key scrutiny body, a key level of accountability for our criminal justice agencies.

They would be asked by the Justice Committee to give accounts of progress in certain areas and implementation of recommendations.

The absence of that body is failing victims and the absence of the Assembly means that victims in Northern Ireland are going to be falling behind, their treatment is going to be worsened compared to those in the rest of the UK.

Ms Hanna said an Assembly was vital to making the case for increased funding for criminal justice agencies.

She said: Inevitably victims will fall further behind if there is not the funding available.

Thats the same for all of our public services. If we cant meet the needs of service users, Northern Ireland will be the poor relation compared to other jurisdictions in the UK.

We need an Assembly back to be making the argument of why we need a different funding formula to increase the funding that is available.

Stormont coming back tomorrow isnt the magic bullet but having our political representatives holding our justice agencies to account is a strong scrutiny mechanism and we really need to be sending out the message that the treatment of victims needs to be improved and needs to be of a consistently good standard.

Ms Hanna said she believed the current system is failing victims of crime in Northern Ireland.

She added: We are saying all the right things when it comes to victims of crime and our support for them.

Unfortunately I dont believe that is translating into practice on the ground.

There may be lots of reasons why that is but none of those are good enough.

We make promises to victims, we encourage them to come forward to report and the very least we can do is that when they do take that brave step to report a crime to the police, the system rallies around them and ensures that they are supported.

Unfortunately I am not seeing that happening consistently.

I am frustrated because I meet the people impacted by this practically daily in my role and I am seeing the impact that failure is having on them and their mental health. It is not just them but also their families.

What we are doing now is not good enough in my opinion.
Delays in the criminal justice system are leaving victims of crime in Northern Ireland waiting years for justice, Geraldine Hanna has said.

The Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate said she had dealt with a case where a victim had waited nine years from reporting an incident to police to a court resolution.

Ms Hanna said this was increasing trauma for victims and warned that the situation had got worse since the pandemic.

She said: For every victim of crime that I meet they have been waiting normally a few years, worst case scenario nine years, from reporting the crime to police right through to the court experience.

The impact of that, it increases the trauma that individual experiences and their ability to readjust and move on following the crime because it is always hanging over them.

Throughout that time there are lots of adjournments and false starts.

Delay is a significant issue. It was significant before the pandemic, but the levels of delay have increased since then so Im calling for more funding to the justice system.

We have been chronically underfunded in justice really since the devolution of justice, which means that we have significant capacity issues across criminal justice so we need money just to stand still but we also need transformational money to address some of the systemic issues.

We need to reshape the system to make it more fit for purpose.

Ms Hanna said the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland had not kept pace with society and was struggling to cope with an increased caseload.

She said: We have made great strides in terms of legislation around domestic violence, sexual violence, but while our reported crime levels are going down, the more serious, complex cases are increasing.

What victims are finding is a system that hasnt reformed appropriately enough to meet it.

We are too far behind other jurisdictions in my view. We havent made progress at pace, some of the issues around delay are around how the system is set up and the processes.

There was a significant piece of work done on committal reform, the process that a case has to follow in order to get to the court itself.

We have just recently put through legislation. We have been talking about the removal of oral hearings for victims in pre-trial hearings from as far back as 2013/14, but yet we only introduced that last year.

That was removed in England and Wales probably 15-20 years ago.

So, again we are not learning the lessons from others and implementing them at pace.

There are many cultural issues there but also a failure to invest and possibly a bit of resistance in terms of implementing things in the way they were intended.

Ms Hanna also said more work needed to be done to allay public perceptions about the leniency of sentences handed down by courts in Northern Ireland.

She said: The impact of sentencing can be significant for victims in terms of their experience of the system and their confidence in the system and their willingness to come forward.

Obviously sentencing is a complex issue, that is why judges do it and they are weighing up a range of factors. It is very difficult for someone standing outside the system to just look in and see whether a sentence is right or not.

But I do think for some victims there is a sense that when we see what seems like strong sentences from other jurisdictions compared to what we are seeing here, I think there is more work that we need to be done to ensure that people understand the sentencing process and also understand how to flag a case to the Public Prosecution Service if they believe it to be a lenient sentence.

I think there is also a potential that when it comes to issues such as violence against women and girls where we have a very strong, clear message coming from our government that this wont be tolerated.

When the public then see that there seems to be potentially a lenient sentence that those two dont marry, so there is work to do there to bring them into closer alignment.
ASUS reveals innovative AI-powered LU800 Handheld Ultrasound, prize-winning smart healthcare team solution sets new benchmark for mobile health

Extending healthcare services from hospitals to homes and rural regions by providing patients with more accessible mobile healthcare is gradually becoming a key policy of governments and healthcare institutions today. ASUS COO and Global Senior VP Joe Hsieh stated that the company has focused on mobile healthcare since it first began expanding into the smart healthcare field a decade ago. The goal was to integrate high technology with medicine in order to assist the public with personal health management and improve the diagnostic efficiency of health units. ASUS VivoWatch wearables and ASUS handheld wireless ultrasound solutions embody the success of this philosophy and have been recognized with the Symbol of National Quality (SNQ) and National Innovation Award.

ASUS Smart Healthcare has long worked to supply high-quality healthcare solutions that integrate AI algorithms, medical image processing technology, and a powerful hardware R&D capability to bring about innovations in healthcare technology. One of the mobile healthcare solutions is the LU800 Handheld Ultrasound, which features wireless communications technology and lightweight design. By expanding the scope of ultrasound examinations and effectively improving medical diagnostic efficiency, the product is now not only ISO 13485 and GMP quality certified but has also won domestic and overseas awards including the 25th National Biotechnology and Medical Care Quality - Bronze Award, the iF Design Award, and Red Dot Award.

The main factor behind LU800's award-winning performance is the use of AI technology to greatly boost the efficiency of ultrasound scans for clinical physicians. The AI-assist function integrated into the ASUS LU800 Handheld Ultrasound can now carry out all the measurements in just a few seconds, greatly reducing the scanning time required. ASUS also enhanced the user experience by applying AI technology to "Voice Control." Physicians can use verbal commands to switch between ultrasound functions, freeing their hands for the medical procedure at hand. Furthermore, with "Smart Preset" This one-click image optimization" with AI technology can automatically detect the location being diagnosed and work out the most appropriate visual representation. The clinical physician does not need to manually adjust the imagery being presented as the most readable format is automatically presented by the device.

According to Hsieh, ASUS hopes to use information and communication technology to overcome the constraints of legacy healthcare, provide the public with a better healthcare experience, and improve the productivity of health workers. Using the LU800 Handheld Ultrasound as an example, Hsieh said that the product was designed to promote the "visual stethoscope" concept. Common diagnostic techniques include auscultation, palpation, visual inspection, and inquiry. While the stethoscope is now an essential diagnostic tool for all physicians, visual inspections must be scheduled separately due to the bulk of the instruments and the need for qualified operators. The LU800 Handheld Ultrasound eliminates the inconvenience with large ultrasound equipment as it can be carried by physicians on their person like the stethoscope. The ability to carry out visual inspections quickly and easily translates into improved healthcare quality and efficiency.

Hsieh added that ASUS had adopted a holistic approach in its smart healthcare strategy rather than focusing on individual hardware products. The LU800 Handheld Ultrasound "Visual Stethoscope" is a perfect example. In addition to its lightweight design, ease of use, and high precision, the embedded 5G wireless communication and imaging technology can be seamlessly integrated with hospital PACS. It can even be used on ambulances or in remote rural areas to deliver more comprehensive and detailed healthcare services.

On future ASUS plans in smart healthcare, Hsieh explained that the COVID-19 epidemic over the past 3 years led to many hospitals experimenting with the provision of telehealth services via information and communication technology. The development of new hospital software/hardware and their integration with healthcare platforms during this process led to the emergence of the digital health concept. Taiwan boasts world-class healthcare quality, outstanding medical personnel, comprehensive national health insurance coverage, and highly flexible and innovative medical information systems compared to other countries. It is therefore without a doubt the best place in the world for smart healthcare trials. Local initiatives and accomplishments have now attracted global attention in the healthcare sector. ASUS products have already repeatedly won government awards for their product quality and innovation. In the future, ASUS will continue to concentrate on its original mission of greater R&D investment, expansion of inter-disciplinary cooperation, and building complete industry ecosystems to provide the public and healthcare industry with high-quality mobile healthcare solutions.

Led by ASUS COO and Global Senior VP Joe Hsieh (third from the right), the team at ASUS leveraged their years of technical expertise and professional experience to develop the latest smart healthcare solution LU800 Handheld Ultrasound that improves the efficiency of healthcare services

The LU800 Handheld Ultrasound is a series of lightweight, wireless and AI-enabled products that expand the scope of ultrasound examinations. The product has now received ISO 13485 and GMP certification as well as several domestic and overseas awards
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Simon Sze is remembered for paving the road for Taiwan's semiconductor industry

Semiconductor legend and scholar Simon Min Sze was commemorated in Taiwan by his students, friends, colleagues, and semiconductor industry celebrities including executives from TSMC, UMC, Macronix, Etron Technology, Phison Technology, etc., in a memorial held at the National Chiao-Tung University (NCTU) on December 28, 2023. More than a hundred people came together to pay their condolences to the Sze family and celebrate the extraordinary life of Simon Sze and his influence on them.

NCTU president Lin Chi-hung presented an honorary citation furnished by the President's Office, a government recognition of those with exemplary contributions to the country.

Sze was best known for inventing the floating-gate MOSFET with Korean electrical engineer Dawon Kahng in 1967, which was the basis of EPROM, EPROM, and nearly all flash memory before the advent of 3D NAND. He passed away on November 7 in California and was dearly missed by his loved ones.

While working at Bell Labs in the United States, Sze gave lectures in Taiwan five times. National Chiao Tung University (now Yangming Chiao Tung University) awarded him the honor of a lifetime appointment as a distinguished professor. Many of his students were inspired by him to devote their work to semiconductor research and development and later became innovators, entrepreneurs, and company executives.

Sze applied for a leave of absence and agreed to take half-pay from Bell Labs while he taught at NCTU. At the time, there were no well-organized textbooks for semiconductors. Sze spent that year completing and subsequently proofreading and editing his seminal work "Physics of Semiconductor Devices" after work. It became the semiconductor "bible" that is used by university professors all over the world.

However, when he first taught at Chiao Tung University in 1968, the school facilities and living environment were poor. Sze rode an old bike to work and took his children to school. His wife took a photo of Sze and his son and daughter on a bicycle, and they would do so every 10 years to share with their family and friends.

Credit: Sze biography author Wang Li-chuan

Planting the seeds of Taiwan's semiconductor industry

Nicky Lu, chairman and CEO of Etron Technology, said Sze also played a pivotal role in Taiwan's status as a manufacturing hub in global semiconductor supply chains today. Sze and IBM's Bob Evens were among the 7-people Scientific Advisor team whose advice started Taiwan's decision to develop its semiconductor industry. Sze's meeting with Y. S. Sun, the then Minister of Economic Affairs, jumpstarted the later program that sent 19 Taiwanese engineers to RCA for training in 1976.

Shih Chin-Tay, former chairman of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), who was among the 19 engineers, recalled that Sze was also the person who helped Taiwan pick the right path when there was yet a technological standard in the semiconductor market.

"If Sze hadn't started the semiconductor education in Taiwan during 1967-1976 and had brought back the latest technology knowledge from the US, how would there be any engineers in Taiwan with enough knowledge to learn from RCA years later? The 10 years of Cze's devotion to semiconductor education planted the seeds of high-tech talent, which built the foundation of Taiwan's semiconductor industry for the next hundred years," said Lu.

Jack Sun and Philip Wong, who both worked at TSMC as CTOs, also attributed Sze as the mentor who had inspired them to pursue their career in the semiconductor industry and chose to challenge themselves to advance the technology with relentless efforts.

Simon Sze (front, left) and Nicky Lu (front, right). Credit: Nicky Lu

Lu describes Sze as an extremely humble, soft-spoken, down-to-earth person who rarely talks about his contributions and achievements. Lu recalled that when he attended the Flash Memory Summit (FMS) in the United States and found that the origin of flash memory was mentioned to have started from Intel and then spread to Japan, he asked the conference to correct the information, because Intel's development began in 1972, 5 years later than Sze and his Korean colleague Kahng's discovery of "Floating Gate Memory" in 1967. Therefore, FMS awarded Sze the Lifetime Achievement Award the following year and put Sze's picture on the first photo of flash memory's development history.

As a student of Sze, Nicky Lu has kept close contact with Sze for decades. Sze took lightly his achievement in discovering the floating-gate memory effect has any chance of being recognized by the Nobel Physics Prize, said Lu. When Sze learned that he had been ill and may only have two more months to live, he told Lu over the phone that he knew his days were numbered, but he had had a happy and content life and had completed what he was destined to do during his lifetime.

During his 87 years of life, Cze also received honors including IEEE Fellow (1977), J. J. Ebers Award (1991), Academician of Taiwan's Academia Sinica (1994), Member of the US National Academy of Engineering (1995), Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (1998), IEEE celebrated member (2017), The Future Science Prize, China (2021), etc.

Sze family and friends. Credit: DIGITIMES
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By WAYNE PARRY

Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.  Five Boardwalk casinos and a hospital want a judge to prevent Atlantic City from completing a controversial program to narrow the main road running through the city's downtown, saying such a move could hurt business and endanger lives during traffic-choked periods.

The AtlantiCare hospital system, and Caesars, Tropicana, Bally's, Hard Rock and Resorts casinos, are asking a state Superior Court judge to order an end to the project, which began Dec. 13.





. . .
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SEATTLE  An Uptown office building at 201 Queen Anne Ave. N., likely bound for conversion to apartments, just sold for $7 million, according to King County records.

The buyers were Brook VIII LLC, associated with Stream Real Estate, and its junior partner, Marymoor Storage Partners LLC. With architect Board & Vellum, Stream filed an apartment conversion plan in September for the four-story building, which dates to 1985. The DJC then reported obliquely on the plan. Subsequent permit records indicate that self-storage could be included as well.





. . .
Jay Mercado, left, and Shirley Tan became unlikely crusaders for LGBT immigrant rights when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Tan at the couples Pacifica home in 2009. The couple reluctantly went public with their fight to keep their family together, drawing both political support and criticism. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle Jay Mercado, left, and Shirley Tan were almost separated by immigration authorities 15 years ago when Tan was ordered deported. Tan finally won legal residency this year, but the battle to get there still haunts them. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado can recall every moment of the January 2009 morning when Tan was taken from their Pacifica home by federal immigration authorities.

Mercado was making breakfast. Tan was in the shower. Their twin boys, age 12, were sleeping. It was 6 a.m. when the knock came. The two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the door were huge. When they put handcuffs on Tan before sticking her in the back of an SUV, Mercado threw a coat over her pajamas and ran outside to beg them to stop.

They were told that Tan had been ordered deported; both women were from the Philippines, but Mercado was a naturalized citizen and Tan was not. Tan remembers feeling humiliated and shaking with fear. Mercado remembers one of the agents telling her, before taking Tan away, that if Mercado were a man they probably wouldnt be in this situation.

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Fifteen years ago, two women couldnt get married  the easiest path to legal residency.

The events that morning were a dramatic turning point in what would be a decades-long immigration battle. Not long after Tans arrest, she and Mercado, in a bold attempt to keep Tan from being deported, would cast themselves and their boys under a national spotlight, making them key actors in the campaign to secure same-sex marriage in the U.S.

The couple and their sons were on the cover of People magazine and profiled on CNN. The late Sen. Dianne Feinstein personally intervened. Future Trump administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions derided one of the couples sons for crying during a congressional hearing.

Now the specter of deportation no longer haunts them: In August, a judge granted Tan permanent residency.

It feels surreal, Tan, 58, said a few weeks later. Mercado, 63, was more celebratory. For her, its Merry Christmas, Tan said with a laugh.

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Tan and Mercados case illustrate both the fragility and resilience of an LGBTQ immigrant community thats experienced true triumphs over the past four decades but remains uniquely vulnerable. Roughly 1.3 million foreign-born LGBTQ adults lived in the U.S. as of 2021, according to the UCLA Williams Institute School of Law, and almost 290,000 of them were undocumented.

Shirley Tan, left, and Jay Mercado walk along a path near Mussel Rock Park in Pacifica, the spot where the couple got married in 2014. Tan, who emigrated from the Philippines, fought for decades to become a legal resident because same-sex partners werent able to marry in the U.S. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Tan and Mercado have been together for almost 40 years, married for nearly a decade. They raised two boys. They still marvel at the love they found in one another.

But six months after Tans case was resolved, the couple is still figuring out what it means to no longer live under the threat of deportation. Tan hasnt left the country in 34 years, not when her father died in the Philippines, not when Mercado took the boys there as babies to meet her mom. She wants to go to Italy, she thinks.

Shes always teasing me about how our friends have been to this place or that place, Tan said, smiling at Mercado as the couple sat in their sun-washed living room.

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I havent been either, Mercado said with a defensive chuckle. Someday, theyve always said.

Falling in love, coming out

Its a bit of a running joke that Tan fell head over heels for Mercado at first sight.

It was a pleasurable meeting, said Tan, but Jays always saying, You liked me from the start. I think for her, maybe. But for me, it was kind of organic or gradual.

It was 1986, and Mercado had been in the United States for two years, first taking a few college courses on the East Coast, then moving to San Francisco to live with an aunt.

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In a photograph from a family album, Shirley Tan, left, then 21, and Jay Mercado, 26, visit Yosemite National Park in the summer they met in 1986. They fell in love during that visit, but immigration issues would weigh heavily on their relationship for nearly 40 years. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Their families were old friends in the Philippines, and Mercado and Tan knew of one another but had never met. When Tan and her father came to California for a vacation, they spent a week with Mercado and her aunt.

My aunt picked them up at the airport, and I was at home, and I saw her getting out of the car and thought, Hmm, I like her,  Mercado said. Right from the start, there was something inside me I couldnt explain, but I wanted her.

Mercado, 26 at the time, had dated a few women in college, but always in secret. Tan, 20, had never dated at all.

Tan ultimately stayed a few months with Mercado. They played tourist together, taking road trips, visiting Yosemite National Park.

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Their first kiss was on July 18  they marked it as their anniversary. By the time Tan returned to the Philippines in January 1987, they were in love. Mercado came out to her aunt when they dropped Tan off at the airport and Mercado burst into heartsick sobs; her aunt was very cool about it, Mercado said.

For the next year and a half they kept in touch with letters and long-distance phone calls. When Mercado flew out for a long visit, they came out to their families.

Mercados father accepted the relationship but told them they could show affection only in the four corners of this house. Her mom was in deep denial; for years she referred to Tan as Mercados good friend, like a sister.

Tans father, at first, was furious. He took Tans passport so she couldnt leave the country with Mercado, but ended up returning it after Tan moved in with Mercados family.

After Mercados visit, I decided that really, my happiness is with Jay, Tan said. So in September 1989, she moved to the U.S. permanently.

They lived in San Francisco with Mercados aunt before getting their own place in Daly City. It felt a little like playing house, they said.

She taught me how to cook, Tan said.

And I didnt even know how to cook, Mercado said, laughing. But I knew more than she did.

In a photograph from a family album, Shirley Tan, left, and Jay Mercado pose with their twin boys shortly after they were born in August 1996. The couple was forced to go public with their story after Tan was threatened with deportation. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

They registered as domestic partners in 1991 and bought the Pacifica house in 1998. Mercado worked in commercial insurance and Tan kept house. The boys were born in 1996. They used a sperm donor; Mercado provided the egg and Tan carried the babies.

Tan had always wanted a large family, but she bled badly after a cesarean section and Mercado was too scared to go through that again, so they stopped with the twins.

During that time, we were just happy together, Mercado said.

An asylum bid, a protest wedding

Always in the back of their minds, though, was Tans immigration status. When shed returned to the U.S. to be with Mercado, it was on another tourist visa, which she quickly overstayed. In 1994, they were watching a news show from the Philippines and heard something about political asylum; they formally applied in 1995.

Tan had a violent history in the Philippines. When she was 14, a cousin enraged over his share of a family inheritance fatally shot Tans mother and sister, and shot Tan in the head; Tan was hospitalized for weeks but fully recovered. The cousin had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, and by 1995 was due to be released.

An immigration judge was sympathetic, but ruled that hers was a family issue, not a case for asylum. Tan appealed. Her lawyers said it might be years before a ruling, so they waited and lived their lives.

The idea that I will be taken away from my family, uprooted, was in my mind not until that morning when I was taken by ICE, Tan said.

Also not much on their minds was the issue of LGBTQ rights. Neither woman was involved in the larger queer community  in fact, they didnt know any other gay couples. It would occur to them, sometimes, that theyd like to be married, but it wasnt a pressing concern.

Still, when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom spontaneously began allowing same-sex couples to marry in San Francisco in February 2004, Tan and Mercado decided to do it. The first day they showed up, a line wrapped around City Hall and they were told theyd arrived too late to make the cutoff. The next day, they lined up at 3:30 a.m. with the twins. For the boys, then age 6, it was their first time seeing other families with two moms or two dads.

It felt like a daylong celebration, everyone recalls. But the marriage license signed by Newsom was just a piece of paper  same-sex marriage wouldnt be federally recognized for another decade. And five years later, that marriage couldnt prevent ICE taking Tan from her family.

Going public

A handcuffed Tan was driven all over the Peninsula as agents picked up other immigrants before depositing them in a facility in San Francisco. For most of the day, Tan didnt know why shed been taken. It came down to a clerical error.

Tans appeal for asylum protection had been turned down by the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals in 2002  and no one had told her. Her lawyers hadnt even been notified.

At home the morning Tan was taken away, Mercado got the boys to school. She told them Tan had to go to the doctor  the first time I ever lied to them, Mercado said. Then she called their lawyer. In the afternoon, she was able to see Tan. They spoke by phone, a panel of glass between them like in a movie.

I didnt even think that was a real thing, I thought it was just theatrical stuff, Mercado said. She could barely speak, she was crying too hard.

Tan was released that night, with an ankle monitor and orders to leave the country within a month. Her immigration status was no longer a background issue for the family  it was everything.

Their lawyers connected them with Immigration Equality, a New York-based national nonprofit, whose lawyers told Tan and Mercado that their best hope was to go public.

First they had to sit the boys down and explain their mothers predicament and what it could mean for their family. Tan wouldnt return to the Philippines alone if she were deported, their mothers said. The whole family would go  the boys to a country theyd only visited as babies.

I told them, In order for Mommy not to leave the country, we have to do some interviews,  Mercado said. She explained it might feel like a terrible invasion of privacy, that everyone  their friends and family, strangers  would know all about their lives. I said, Is that going to be OK with you? If not, we wont do it. And they just cried, Were going to do everything for Mommy. 

It was brutal for everyone.

It just kept sticking in my mind, what that ICE guy had said, about how if I were a man, Mercado said. For Tan, she felt great shame exposing herself as an undocumented immigrant. The boys, now 27, hated being in the public eye.

It was a complete nightmare, handling this as a kid, said Jashley Mercado. I was really confused as to why this was happening to my mom. My mom wasnt a criminal, shed never done anything bad, shes a really good human being.

For Joriene Mercado, fear was the dominant feeling, he said. But then I started to feel very upset with the government and the country that we lived in, just feeling like everything was so unfair.

A 2009 photo shows the family with the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Shirley Tan, from left, son Joriene, Feinstein, Jay Mercado and son Jashley. Feinstein sponsored a bill that allowed Tan to stay in the country while she fought for legal residency. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Going public paid off. Days after their story went national, then-U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, got them a temporary stay on the deportation. Then, in April 2009, Feinstein sponsored a bill that essentially blocked the deportation for the duration of that congressional session; she would reintroduce the bill at the start of every session until Tans case was resolved.

Feinsteins backing pushed the threat of deportation to the back of their minds, though they were eager to settle the case for good.

In 2014, Tan and Mercado married again  and this time it was legal. The wedding was on a bluff near their home: Tan wore an ivory dress, Mercado a tuxedo; their boys, 18 and towering over their moms, walked them down the aisle. The ceremony was officiated by Speier, who had become a close family friend.

Now, at least, Mercado could sponsor Tan and keep her in the country legally. But, technically, the deportation order still stood.

It takes a really long time to undo old immigration problems. And this is the longest case weve ever had, hands down, said Aaron Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality.

The court acknowledged its mistake in never sending the deportation ruling to Tan. Still, the case dragged on, and just as they seemed to be nearing a resolution, the pandemic hit.

Finally, this past spring, the Board of Immigration Appeals lifted the deportation order. At a hearing in May, a judge said everything was in place to grant Tan permanent residency  except for proof of a recent physical exam. Get the physical, the judge said, and hed make everything official.

The ruling granting Tan permanent residency was signed Aug. 10.

They paved the way

One night in September, police officers knocked on the door. Tan panicked. She called Mercado, who was in the Philippines but answered immediately, having seen the police on a doorbell security camera.

And I said, Oh, God, honey, dont open the door,  Mercado said.

Tan didnt. As it turned out, the officers were there to talk to their tenant. But the moment underscored the scars that remain. Tan has been skittish around law enforcement since the morning she was taken away in 2009. Mercado still hears the echo of a voice telling her this wouldnt have happened if she were a man.

Tan still doesnt have the physical green card. She plans to throw a party when it arrives in the mail. Until then she refuses to fly, still fearful of the very unlikely scenario of being diverted to another country and not being allowed back in the U.S.

Not having the card in hand also means that her relief, for the time being, is somewhat tempered, compared with Mercados big grins and occasional celebratory whoops. Shes the happiest among the four of us, Tan said fondly.

For me, its a mixture of feelings, Tan added. When I see a black van or an SUV, sometimes I tremble. Even seeing a police officer feels sketchy to me, like is there something wrong, could they get me again? But its a relief, finally, after so long.

There remains much hard work to secure basic rights for LGBTQ people and to repair deeply rooted inequities in the immigration system, Morris said. And the work is even more challenging at the intersection of queer immigrant rights. Among other concerns is the specter of another Donald Trump presidency and the potential for ending or severely curtailing asylum for LGBTQ immigrants.

But I also think we need to celebrate our victories, Morris said.

People visit lookout points near Mussel Rock Park in Pacifica, the location where Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado held their wedding in 2014, soon after same-sex marriage became legal in California. Tan was nearly deported 15 years ago because they werent able to marry. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Its remarkable how determined Shirley and Jay were to stay together, during the time when the LGBTQ community were deemed second-class citizens, Morris said. That they fought and they fought for years to ensure that their family could stay safe is proof of the resilience of the queer community.

Tan and Mercado are grateful to the vast support system they found and all of the people who helped them  Feinstein and Speier, plus an army of pro bono lawyers and LGBTQ activists and families from their boys school and kind strangers they met on the street.

But no one in the family can forget what they were put through. Two years ago, Joriene married a man, and his mothers walked him down the aisle.
MASKS are likely to become mandatory once again in Emergency Departments (ED) around the country.

This is according to the HSE Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Colm Henry, masks may be compulsory again for those going in and out of ED.

Speaking on Morning Ireland this Friday, a very steep rise in influenza and Covid-19 cases in hospitals is to blame, with the HSE reporting more than 800 people attending EDs around the country this week were diagnosed with Covid or flu.

When asked if we are witnessing the start of a viral storm hitting our hospitals, Dr Henry said: We always expected to see a rise and what we are seeing now is a steep incline in the number of cases of influenza and Covid-19 presented to our EDs.

The latter is driven largely by a subvariant Jn.1, which is considerably more transmissible than the previous Covid-19 variant.

Saying that he expects to see a considerable rise in people becoming sick, Dr Henry continued by saying that the HSE expects around 3,000 or more people to present to hospital for influenza alone in the new year.

Masks have never left, despite having removed the mandatory protocol in March this year, they have always been advised and recommended. We expect to reintroduce, and in some cases, have already reintroduced masks in higher risk settings and EDs.
March 7th 2023

Two Dundalk Gardai were awarded the Scott Medal Commendation for their actions in the arrest of Mohamed Morei in Dundalk in 2018. Garda Damien Welby and Garda Alan Lynch were commended for their bravery.

Morei, an asylum seeker who claimed to be fighting for Isis when he stabbed 24 year old Japanese man Yosuke Sasaki to death on the Long Avenue, Dundalk was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court.

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Hopes were rising in Cooley that US President Joe Biden might pay a visit to north Louth during a trip to Ireland that is reportedly set to happen next month.

Councillor Andrea McKevitt, who is a distant relative of President Biden, told the Dundalk Democrat that reports that plans are underway for a visit have caused a lot of stir both in the Cooley Peninsula and among Cllr McKevitt's family.

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A fire that saw around 30 hectares of gorse burned on the Cooley Mountains in north Louth in March almost probably was deliberate ignition a Senior Fire Officer with Louth Fire Service told the Dundalk Democrat.

The Louth Fire Service sent four fire engines, two tankers and a Senior Fire Officer to deal with the blaze, which the Senior Fire Officer says, was probably about 2km past the Lumpers pub in the Ravensdale area, and was well away from any houses.

March 14th 2023



The contract signing for the 7 million Mount Avenue Link Road Scheme in Dundalk took place, in what the Council said is a major milestone in upgrading the western road network in the town. The successful contractor is Gibson Ireland JV.

The construction contract will involve the construction of a new road from Lis na Dara, on the Carrick Road, to the Mount Avenue Road, known locally as the back of the wall.



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Just 1,316 out of 3,115 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued by Louth County Council between the years 2018 and 2022 have been paid, it was revealed at the Dundalk Municipal District March Meeting, through a question submitted by Cllr Antoin Watters.

March 21st 2023



Rain did not dampen the spirits of the hundreds of people who marched in the Dundalk St Patricks Day parade, which was watched by thousands who braved the incessant rain to view more than 50 groups take part.

The first parade in four years was one of the largest ever, with a huge number of groups, businesses and organisations taking part under the theme Urban Green. Boxer Amy Broadhurst and athlete Kate OConnor were the parade grand marshals .

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Forsa members working at the Louth County Group of hospitals backed industrial action by an overwhelming majority.

The ballot of hospital staff, which concluded on Thursday 16 March, took place due to an ongoing dispute because of what Forsa describes as the failure by hospital management to recruit urgently needed staff.

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Representatives of Louth County Council, who were in New York for the St Patricks Day period, met with senior executives from Tourism Ireland on Wednesday, 15 March.

They were briefed at the meeting on Tourism Irelands promotional programme in the United States for 2023.

March 28th 2023

Louth politicians on both a local and national level came out to call a halt to the lifting of the ban on no fault evictions, set to come into force on 1 April.

Four out of the five TDs representing Louth and East Meath voted in the Dail to halt lifting the eviction ban.

At the Louth County Council March meeting, councillors passed a motion, calling on the Government to extend the ban on evictions, with no opposition put forward by councillors from Government parties.

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Minister for Education Norma Foley said she is committed to getting a planned project, that will see a new eight-classroom school building built at Ardee Educate Together National School, delivered as quickly as possible.
Louth based MEP, Colm Markey, is calling on the Government to develop a comprehensive action plan to deal with the imminent threat of fentanyl on our streets.

Recent global trends indicate a shift towards the increased use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, especially in the wake of the Taliban's crackdown on heroin production in Afghanistan.

The Midlands-North-West MEP is warning of a crisis far more severe than the heroin epidemic in Dublin in the 1980s and 1990s.

Fentanyl, known to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and heroin, has emerged as a leading cause of death in the United States. Europe is not immune, as criminal gangs aim to introduce the drug into the market.

"To safeguard our communities, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive action plan before it devastates cities and towns across the country, he said.

Markey emphasised the need for a multi-faceted approach:

Prevention: Implement measures to prevent the influx of fentanyl onto the island. Awareness: Launch an awareness strategy to educate the public about the risks associated with fentanyl use Testing facilities: Establish facilities to test the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs Treatment: Explore emergency treatment options for individuals experiencing overdoses such as the use of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.

Last summer, the HSEs Safer Nightlife campaign achieved notable success in enhancing safety measures at Irish music festivals. The campaign, which included the innovative trial of on-site drug testing, proved instrumental in promoting a safer festival environment. We need to look at this type of project but on a wider scale in preparation for a fentanyl outbreak.

We need to be open and empathetic to this issue. By engaging with affected communities, policymakers can better understand the challenges and concerns surrounding the potential arrival of fentanyl in Ireland. A robust action plan will safeguard public health and prevent the devastating consequences of widespread fentanyl consumption, MEP Markey concluded.
A five-year-old girl seriously injured in an attack outside a Dublin school is out of danger, her mother has said.

Through a message on a GoFundMe page, the childs mother gave an update, saying the youngster is more alert and has smiled.

She said: Just to wish everyone a delayed Christmas and a happy new year.

Our angel has been out of the PICU (paediatric intensive care unit) for two weeks now. She is more alert and even smiled.

We still have a long time in hospital, but she is out of danger. Thank you everyone for all the help and support.

A number of people were hurt in the attack in Parnell Square East on November 23.

The five-year-old girl and a creche worker are still receiving treatment for their injuries in hospital.

Another girl, six, and a boy, five, were also treated in hospital but later discharged.

A riot in Dublin city centre followed the attack, which led to a man being charged and put before a Dublin court.

Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed address, is accused of trying to murder the two girls and boy.

He is also charged with the assault causing serious harm to a care worker.

He is further charged with three counts of assault causing harm and the possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
The chairman of the body in charge of decommissioning as part of Northern Irelands peace process considered standing down from the role in June 2001 after months of slow progress.

Documents released from Irelands state files this year show a downbeat view of the pace of attempts to ensure the IRA and other paramilitary groups disabled their arms after the Good Friday Agreement.

Officials from Irelands Department of Justice and from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) met the three commissioners of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) on June 27.

Despite six meetings with the IRA representative since March, IICD chairman John de Chastelain said that we are no nearer actually decommissioning.

William Fittall of the NIO noted that, more provocatively, the three commissioners were proposing to be released from their roles by September 24, on its fourth anniversary.

John de Chastelain stressed that he and his colleagues did not want to be irresponsible or walk away from their commitments. But they had personal lives they needed to get on with.

He also expressed concern about the commissions credibility given the impasse and growing unionist scepticism.

They thought that putting the date in the public domain might produce a helpful jolt to the system.

Nevertheless, they were open to discussion on this. They understood that the governments might want the commission still to exist with a staff member there to answer the phones.

But the present three commissioners did not want to remain in Belfast beyond September.

Mr Fittall noted that their restlessness is something which we can exploit privately with Sinn Fein.

A week prior, Irish diplomat Niall Holohan recounted a meeting he had in Belfast with Clifford Garrard, who was Mr de Chastelains deputy.

Mr Garrard told Mr Holohan that the waiting game had been an exasperating experience for the commission.

Garrard was of the view furthermore that nothing less than an act of putting arms completely and verifiably beyond use would be enough to save David Trimbles scalp on July 1, the note said.

It added: If David Trimble proceeds with his threat to resign on July 1 and the Good Friday institutions were to collapse as a result, it might prove difficult for de Chastelain to justify his continued presence in Belfast.

The commission remained in place for four more years until it was verified that all IRA materiel was decommissioned.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2023/155/6.
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.
Meet the town of Meicheng in East China

(People's Daily App) 15:46, December 29, 2023

Meicheng township in East Chinas Zhejiang Province boasts picturesque landscapes and abundant cultural relics. Explore the charm of the town in this promotional video.

(Video source: the government of Meicheng township)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Jordan Parker is a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. He graduated from Sacramento State University in May 2022 with a degree in journalism. During his time there, he spent three years as a reporter and editor for the university's award-winning student newspaper, The State Hornet. He spent his senior year of college serving as The Hornet's first Black editor in chief, leading the organization to two Pacemaker awards and several other national honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. When he's not chasing down a story, he likes watching movies, traveling and trying new restaurants.

He can be reached at Jordan.Parker@sfchronicle.com.
Thieves broke into an AM-PM store in West Oakland apparently using a backhoe and fled with an unknown amount of loss on Monday morning, according to police officials and news reports. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

An undercover Oakland police officer was shot and killed while responding to a reported burglary at a cannabis dispensary near Jack London Square early Friday morning, officials said.

The killer apparently remained at large Saturday.

The slaying of the officer, identified as Tuan Le by the Police Department, has sent waves of consternation throughout the city, which continues to struggle with a rise in violent crime and burglaries. Le, 36, was surrounded by his wife, family and members of the department when he died at Highland Hospital in Oakland, said Barry Donelan, president of the police union.

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Le was hired by the Oakland Police Department in 2019 and graduated from the 183rd police academy in February 2020. He is survived by his wife and his mother.

His passing leaves a void in the law enforcement community, the city of Oakland, and in the hearts of those who knew him, the Police Department said in a statement. He will be remembered for his kindness, his smile, and the positive change he brought to the lives of those around him. He is a true hero who dedicated his life to making our community safer.

KTVU Channel 2 TV reported late Friday night that at least two suspects in the burglary had been arrested, but added that it had no word that the shooter was among them. Officials vowed to bring the killer to justice.

I know that all of Oakland feels the impact of this loss, Mayor Sheng Thao said during a news conference at Oakland police headquarters.

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Oakland police officer Tuan Le was shot and killed while responding to a reported burglary at a cannabis dispensary near Jack London Square early Friday morning. Le had been with the department for four years. Oakland Police Department

She asked residents to stand with the Police Department and the slain officers family during this extremely difficult time.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also expressed his sadness in Les death, and ordered flags at the State Capitol to be flown at half-staff.

Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the tragic loss of one of Oaklands finest, Newsom said in a statement. On behalf of the entire state, Jennifer and I offer our deepest condolences to Officer Les family, colleagues, and the entire community of Oakland as we mourn the loss of a courageous public servant.

The events leading up to the shooting began about 1 a.m. when a team of officers assigned to an overnight burglary suppression operation responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a dispensary on Embarcadero near Fifth Avenue, although nothing came of it, Interim Police Chief Darren Allison said. Officers took a report, investigated and left.

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It was not clear whether the officer who was killed was part of the team that responded to the initial burglary call.

About 4:30 a.m., a report of another burglary in progress at the same business came in, Allison said.

Officers in plain clothes and uniform responded. They found several people, including one who fired a gun multiple times, striking one of the plainclothes officers, who was driving an unmarked vehicle, Allison said.

The partners of the injured officer rushed him to a hospital, where medical staff tried to save him, but the officer died about 8:45 a.m.

Homicide detectives were investigating the officers killing, Allison said, adding that there was a lot of evidence officials were following up on.

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The incident prompted a huge police response on Embarcadero, which was closed to the public into the afternoon.

Oakland Interim Police Chief Darren Allison speaks during a news conference after the killing of an Oakland officer Friday. Sarah Ravani/The Chronicle

Allison said the shooting underscores that the dangers and demands of this profession are real and come with significant sacrifice. He extended his condolences to the officers family and friends.

Donelan said officers were anguished by the unwarranted attack and loss of one of their own.

As every Oakland police officer grieves the loss of our colleague, lets be clear that no stone will be left unturned in an effort to find the culprits to bring them to justice in this case, Donelan said.

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The mayor and City Administrator Jestin Johnson said the shooting death of the officer thrust the entire city into mourning.

We are devastated. We are angry. We are united in mourning, Johnson said, adding that the incident underscores the courage and bravery of officers.

Thao added that the senseless killing will not stand.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price called the incident a tremendous tragedy for our entire community and said her office stands ready to prosecute the officers killer.

The deadly violence that we have experienced in Oakland in recent years has no place in Alameda County, Price said in a statement.

Le was born in 1987 in Saigon, Vietnam and later moved to Oakland, according to the police department. He became a naturalized citizen on Sept. 11, 2001. Over the past two years, Le worked as a community resource officer in West Oakland, the department said.

The shooting comes as the city continues to struggle with a rise in violent crime, driven largely by an increase in robberies. Gun robberies are up 37% this year compared with the same period last year, according to Police Department data. Commercial burglaries are up 9%.

The incident marked the 54th killing of an Oakland police officer in the line of duty.
One person has been taken to hospital following a fire at a house in the Hollyhill area this morning.

The alarm was raised shortly before 10.20am and two units from Ballyvolane Fire Station made their way to the scene at Hollyhill Heights.

Cork City Fire Brigade told The Echo that the fire occurred in a bedroom in the house.

The firefighters entered the building with breathing apparatus and three people were taken from the building, a spokesperson said.

One of them has been taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and the other two were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

The spokesperson confirmed that the fire has been extinguished and that crews have left the scene.

Meanwhile, a Garda spokesperson said that Gardai remain on scene at the house in Hollyhill Heights.

They said no further information is available at this time.
Two referenda regarding gender and the family will take place on March 8, 2024, International Womens Day. The Government approved the wording for the two proposed changes to the 39th Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023 and the 40th Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023 on December 7.

The first of four changes would be deletion in its entirety of article 41.2: In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.

The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.

This article has long been criticised by a range of groups, including the joint committee on gender equality, with committee cathaoirleach Labour Party TD Ivana Bacik saying: It has long been agreed that the way in which women and mothers are referred to in article 41 is based on outdated gender stereotypes and should have no place in a constitutional text.

The second proposed change is to article 41.1, which currently reads: The State recognises the family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.

The proposed changes would see nine words added, making it: The State recognises the family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships, as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.

The third proposed change is an addition to Article 41.3, which currently reads: The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage, on which the family is founded, and to protect it against attack.

The Government is proposing removing the words on which the family is founded, leaving the wording as just: The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage, and to protect it against attack.

Both of these changes have been proposed to acknowledge that there are many different types of families outside of the traditional two married parents and children, and to ensure that single parents and unmarried parents among other types of nontraditional families are recognised and given equal treatment.

Fourthly, an entirely new article, article 42B, would be added, stating: The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision.

Corks only female TD, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, told The Echo: The removal of anachronistic language from the Constitution in relation to a womans role in the home and the expanded definition of family is long overdue.

However, we have concerns that the proposal on care is not as ambitious as it should be. The language lacks substance and limits constitutional protection of care to care within families  and not the wider community, as recommended by the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality.

Referendums should not be merely symbolic  changes to our Constitution should have legal weight and be of practical support.

The Social Democrats are examining the wording of the referendums and will consider putting down amendments to the legislation if necessary.

The news was welcomed by civil society organisations who between them cover topics such as gender equality, family, and carers, though they noted that the wording didnt go as far as recommended by the report of the joint committee.

One such organisation is Treoir, the national information service for unmarried parents, those who are not married to each other, solo parents, single parents, parents who are cohabiting or those who are sharing custody.

It also offers support on kinship care for family members who take over caring for a child, and a young parents support program.

Treoir communications officer Sinead Murray told The Echo that the referenda are very important to them, saying: Theres a lot of issues around the fact that unmarried parents do not have the same rights as married parents.

Unmarried fathers dont have an automatic right to guardianship, cohabitating couples not entitled to widows pension even if they are clearly in a committed, loving, family dynamic.

Its important for us that the government expand what the family means, this new wording could be really important  durable relationships could apply to cohabitating parents, siblings or grandparents taking care of a child, or lone parents, recognising them as a family unit.

The other aspect is the care piece, which could be very important for kinship carers, they suffer a lot of issues around getting adequate support from social welfare when they take over care of a child.

She explained that the organisation are still assessing their position on the wording that has been published, as they are a membership-based organisation so need to talk to their members.

They are also getting legal advice to help them ascertain what impact the proposed changes would have.

However, Ms Murray added: It is an important acknowledgement that Irish family life has drastically changed over the last few decades, compared to when it was written  now over 40% of children are born outside of marriage, and it is increasing every year, so we need to have a more flexible constitution.

There are lots of different types of families now, stepparents, foster families, same sex couples; Irish family life has diversified in a huge way, but the important part about a family is the love and care between them.

Sharing an example of why the current wording needs to be amended, she mentioned the Supreme Court case John OMara v the Department of Social Protection.

John and his partner Michelle were together for 18 years, and though they never married, they had three children and a mortgage together, they both worked and paid tax.

Sadly, Michelle passed away from covid in 2020, and when John applied for widows pension and bereavement grant, it was denied on the basis of the constitution.

Its about a financially significant weekly payment for his children who just lost their mother but also a symbolic recognition, the state was saying that their family wasnt a family, Ms Murray explained, saying that there will be a ruling in the new year.

Theres a lot of misconceptions around the referendums. A lot of people dont know that some families arent treated the same, and the families themselves dont know until it happens to them.

Finding out you are not going to be supported and not even recognised as a family unit, it could happen to anyone, we also often talk to fathers who dont realise they have no legal rights in relation to their children until theres a breakup or conflict.

A lot of people were surprised by the term durable relationships but theres a flexibility there, lots of people know of a lone parent family or a family sharing custody, or someone who was taken care of by another family relative at some point, or stepparents and blended families; when you think about all the different types of families, its important to have an inclusive word to allow for flexibility.

Ms Murray added that compared to the last two referenda this one can be trickier to get ones head around, so she said: I think its going to be really important that theres good, clear information available.

She added that anyone struggling with any of the issues mentioned above could get in touch with the organisation at treoir.ie or on 01 6700120.

In Cork, female councillors welcomed the news of the referendum, and encouraged people to vote in favour of the updated wording.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Green Party councillor Colette Finn told The Echo: I am very pleased that article 41.2 is to be deleted. It was a very narrow view of what women have to contribute to society.

I am pleased with the expansion of the definition of the family to include durable relationships as well as marriage - real people have different relationships but no less valid because they are not married.

I understand that marriage underpins a significant commitment between two people. However, people do choose not to get married and their relationships are no less worthy for that.

I welcome the addition of the new article which values the care within the home. This can be provided by any sex. We all need care, and that unpaid care is the very bedrock of a well-functioning society.

She added: I would like to see paid care being valued and remunerated at a much higher level than at present. This new article should see a recalibration of paid care in the future.

Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin told The Echo: The gender equality referendum is a great opportunity to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all, regardless of gender.

Supporting this referendum shows our commitment to creating a more inclusive world  its important that we work towards a society where everyone can thrive and contribute fully.

I would encourage everyone to vote in favour of gender equality for a more just and fair future for everyone.

Fellow Fine Gael councillor Una McCarthy added: The overarching aim of the referendums is to update our Constitution to reflect the values of a modern, inclusive Ireland. Words are important.

One amendment will recognise the value of the care and support which family members give to one another and which is a foundation for solidarity and cohesion within our society.

The other will make it clear in our Constitution that the family extends beyond the marital family and includes one parent families and cohabiting couples and their children.

In the past, non-marital families  and single mothers, in particular  were discriminated against and made to feel like they were not a full part of our society. Thankfully, we have grown as a society.

The amendments seek to ensure that our Constitution reflects our commitment to a modern Ireland which is equal, caring and inclusive and I very much look forward to hearing and participating in all the debates around these issues  I expect that these are issues that everyone will engage with because they pertain to each and every one of us.
NEW research from APC Microbiome Ireland (APC) at University College Cork (UCC) has discovered that the microbes in the gut may be playing a key role in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) - a finding that has been described as a significant breakthrough.

The findings in the study Social Anxiety Disorder-Associated Gut Microbiota Increases Social Fear suggest that gut microbiota can play a role in the heightened social fear response tied to SAD and represent a potential therapeutic target, according to the authors.

The analysis casually builds on recent findings that SAD patients have distinct microbiomes compared with healthy individuals by showing that transplanting microbiota from six patients with SAD into mice resulted in the mice exhibiting increased sensitivity to fear conditioning during social interactions, as well as changes to immune and brain functions.

The research, led by APC principal investigator and vice president for research and innovation at UCC, Professor John F Cryan, states: SAD is an increasing issue for the human population, so it is vital to explore new treatments to address the condition.

Discovering a link between the microbiota and the SAD condition is a significant breakthrough that the microbiota represent a potentially therapeutic target.

Researcher Dr Nathaniel Ritz, who worked on the study while at APC, suggests the microbiome could be leveraged to devise therapeutic interventions to combat SAD.

Our study shows that the microbiota in SAD is capable of driving symptoms characteristic of the disorder, he said.

This makes for exciting possibilities in the effort to develop therapeutics for patients suffering with SAD.

Director of APC Prof Paul Ross said they are continuing to discover how the microorganisms in our gut can affect a wide variety of human illnesses and conditions including those involved in mental health and wellbeing.

Social Anxiety Disorder can be a crippling condition, and this new discovery opens up new therapeutic avenues which take the microbiome into account with the possibility to change its composition to improve health, said Mr Ross.
A LABOUR Party candidate running for a seat on Cork City Council next year has called on the Government to establish a new central fund for the provision of playgrounds.

Peter Horgan, a candidate in the citys South East ward, said current grants available are insufficient to provide enough play spaces in the city.

What we need to see is a statement of play and recreation ambition from Government.

Local authorities cannot fund the establishment and expansion of playgrounds, so we need to see central Government funding  real funding  to establish new play spaces.

No one is taking away from the marquee sites  like the Marina and Fitzgeralds Park  but when you look at areas such as Blackrock, Maryborough Hill, Ballintemple, Garryduff, and Rochestown, all without playgrounds and play spaces, we have to ask why, he said.

We must future proof these communities, and play spaces are one aspect that must be funded  by this or the near future Government.

His comments come as figures provided to the party by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth in April this year showed that  between 2017 and 2022  Cork City Council received a total of 59,711 under the Departments Capital Grants Scheme for Play and Recreation.

Cork County Council received 75,673 from the department over the same period.

The party also submitted a parliamentary question at the time, asking Minister for Children Roderic OGorman the reason the capital grant scheme for play and recreation is limited to one application per local authority, given local authorities cover very different population sizes across the country.

Mr OGorman said:

The policy aim underpinning this scheme is to manage the allocated funding, which amounts to 450k, with a view to maximising the impact of the funding; so that as many communities as possible are able to benefit from the projects supported by this scheme.

Mr OGorman said he acknowledged that there are population density discrepancies associated with the Local Authority subdivision, but said the current apportionment model is the most transparent and equitable option available.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

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.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry (Brian Lawless/PA)

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.
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.
By Mead Gruver, Associated Press

James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has been charged with stepping out of bounds in a thermal area during a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park in the US.

The Irish actor walked in an off-limits area at Mammoth Terraces, in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana border, on November 1st, according to two federal citations issued on Tuesday.

Brosnan (70), who played Bond on the big screen four times before Daniel Craig took on the role, is set to make a mandatory appearance on January 23rd in the courtroom of the worlds oldest national park.

The 007 star, from Drogheda in Co Louth, was in the park on a personal visit and not for film work, the US Attorneys Office for Wyoming said.

Mammoth Terraces in Yellowstone (Alamy/PA)

Mammoth Terraces is a scenic spot of mineral-encrusted hot springs bubbling from a hillside.

They are just some of the parks hundreds of thermal features, which range from spouting geysers to gurgling mud pots, with water at or near 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 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.
THIS morning at about 2.30am, a number of men visited the residence of Mr. F. Daly, Ardnalee, on the Lee Road, the Echo reported 100 years ago today, on Saturday, December 29, 1923.

The house has, in recent times, been raided more than once, and valuable possessions stolen. A surprising reception, however, was accorded this party. Mr Daly was roused by the sound of a falling flowerpot outside and, going to the window, saw the men below. Silently he took his shotgun and returning to the window discharged four shots in quick succession.

Having no more ammunition convenient, he went to a drawer for some, and, going back, saw a motor car departing. To complete the rout, he fired two further shots after it.

A party of military from the Courthouse were quickly on the scene, but the raiders had fled. Two panes of glass at the side of the house had been broken, illustrating their intent.

Turkey Troubles

We (Echo editorial) find that so far from being a slow Christmas business-wise, it was a really good one for most traders.

Those we spoke to have told us it was the best for several years past. In more than one instance, owing to the rush, shopkeepers were unable to attend to all who came to buy.

It is very gratifying to be able to say this, and we are sure that if prices could be revised in a certain direction, many more orders would be kept at home that go to London establishments.

We think we are right in saying the greatest loss to the shopkeepers was caused by the slump in turkeys. The high price at the start was a mistake because it had to be revised later owing to the glut in the market.

In many cases, traders who bought high for a rise were left with them, and unless cold storage was widely available many birds must have gone off, to use the nicest term.

Many farmers say turkeys do not pay, an observation that has also been applied to pigs. Neither will pay if not fed systematically. Otherwise, the waste in feed will discount the ultimate profit.

Of course, it is well known that turkeys are most uncertain birds. The breeder may raise a flock of 100 and not succeed in saving 20 for market. On the other hand, he may not lose a single bird, or an epidemic may sweep the lot away last moment.

There is one thing worth inquiring into, why it should not pay the Irish farmer to raise turkeys for the home market when it pays the French farmer to raise and send them to England for sale. We think the loss to the home farmer is caused by wasteful, unscientific, unsystematic feeding. The Agricultural Department should concern itself with this if it has not done so already.

Waste of Water

At Cork Corporations meeting, Councillor Allen drew attention to the waste of water that was going on in the city. He gave one instance in which a tap was torn off and the water was flowing at full bore. In another case, a tap was left flowing on a bag of cabbage. He stopped this tap but when he passed again five hours later, it was again on and flowing on the cabbage.

Cllr Allen said a gentleman told him that a tap at a rented house was broken and flowing freely for three weeks. The tenant reported the matter to the landlords agent, but nothing was done until the gentleman got the Waterworks Department to attend.

Councillor Egan said: I wonder was the tap flowing as long as you are talking about it! (laughter). Mr Allen thought the landlord in this instance should be prosecuted. The issues raised were referred to the Waterworks Committee.

Pantomime Success

Judging by the continuous applause from packed houses each night at Fr. Mathew Hall, the Mathew Players have once again scored a hit.

Miss Lalor as Aladdin, and Miss Fogarty, as the Princess, filled their parts with distinction and their solos and duets were simply delightful.

Mr Foley, as Mr. Mustapha, Aladdins mother, gave a very fine performance and was greeted with hearty applause at each appearance. Mr Mahony, the bad man, gave a splendid characterisation, and Messrs Carroll as Emperor Winkey Wum and Doyle as Prime Minister Phatman, were all that could be desired.

Mr Townsend as So So, Phatmans son, and Mr Murphy, the slave of the lamp, also won the audiences appreciation.

As many of the public were unable to gain admission, a special performance will take place tomorrow night with more during the week.

Sunday Hurling League

At the Castletreasure grounds, Douglas, on St Stephens Day, the final of the Sunday Hurling League for boys under 16 was brought to an issue between St Annes and Geraldines.

St Annes were the stronger lot, and though the Geraldine lads figured unfavourably on the score - 6 goals to 1 goal - they played a really sound game.

International Snippets

London: Radio listeners in the British Isles had the unique experience of listening to a programme broadcast from America late last night.
(Photo: Ecumenical News / Peter Kenny)Ecumenical Center, Geneva where the World Council of Churches is headquartered. Picture taken on May 10, 2013.

The Geneva-based World Council of Churches says a ransomware attack has disrupted its communications systems, which has shut down it website.

In an initial contact on Dec. 26, the group hacked the systems of the WCC, which represents more than half a billion Anglican, Orthodox, and Protestants said the world church body on Dec. 28.

The hackers asked for a payment, but the WCC did not elaborate on the identity of the cyberattackers.

"The group also threatened to share material worldwide and compromise all the systems. All systems went down on 26 December," said the WCC in an emailed statement.

On Dec. 28 the WCC's system was still down.

The WCC said its IT Team was working hard to restore all the systems, including the WCC website, which have been protected over the years by increasingly robust security.

WCC general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay condemned the criminal attack.

"It is terrible to experience such things as this, but public roles can lead to attacks like these," said Pillay.

The WCC said it continues to take the necessary steps to protect its security, and has already informed the Swiss police and other relevant Swiss authorities.

"We will continue our work," said Pillay. "The WCC will never give in to such threats. These people must be investigated and stopped."

Pillay noted he is convinced, more than ever, that a strong voice for digital justice is needed.

"In pursuit of technological progress, human beings cannot misuse these for personal gains," he said.

Pillay has called on all staff, member churches and partners of the WCC to remain vigilant and alert of any hoaxes that may be spread in the name of the WCC by the hackers.

Across the border from Switzerland the Vatican is no stranger to ransomware attacks.

The Vatican was forced to take down its main vatican.va website on Nov. 15 and soon admitted it had detected apparent attempts to hack it, Cybernews, citing news agencies had reported.

"Technical investigations are ongoing due to abnormal attempts to access the site," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told Reuters on November 30, without elaboration.

The website was down for at least two days. Attempts by Cybernews to access the Latin version of vatican.va were met with "404" error messages.

It's not clear who the alleged hackers are, although there is precedent for hacking groups targeting the Vatican because of statements by Pope Francis, commented Cybernews.

It said a Turkish hacker broke into the Holy See's website after the pope called the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Turks a "genocide."

"The educated guess this time would be that Russians did it  the attack came a day after Russian politicians criticized Pope Francis for his comments about Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a recent interview with a Jesuit magazine," said Cybernews.
Megan Fan Munce is a reporter who joined the San Francisco Chronicle as part of the two-year Hearst Journalism Fellowship, spending her first year of the program at the Houston Chronicle.

Munce grew up in San Jose before attending Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, graduating with a B.S. and M.S. in journalism and a second major in political science.

She previously worked as an audience engagement fellow and a reporting fellow at the Texas Tribune, as well as an audience intelligence intern for KQED.

She can be reached at Megan.Munce@sfchronicle.com.
The Oakland Police Commission agreed Thursday to reopen its application process for picking a new police chief after Mayor Sheng Thao rejected the three candidates that the commission suggested. Amaya Edwards/Special to the Chronicle

The Oakland Police Commission announced Thursday that it will reopen its application process for the position of the citys police chief and send another list of finalists to the mayor in March.

Chair Marsha Peterson made the announcement after the commission met behind closed doors and hours after Mayor Sheng Thaos office said she had asked the commissioners to take another look at the current pool of applicants, as well as consider new ones.

The commissions timeline, however, conflicts with a request by Thao, who had asked the commission to send her a new list of finalists by the end of January.

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We are committed to finding the best candidate for Oakland, Peterson said after the commissions closed-door session.

The development comes after Thao rejected the commissions list of three nominees for the next chief, one of whom she previously fired and another whos on leave and under investigation in his current job.

Mayor Thao and the Police Commission are exercising their duties under the City Charter and working collaboratively to expedite the next set of candidates for review, Francis Zamora, Thaos spokesperson, said Thursday before the commission meeting.

Finding the right leader for the Police Department is a priority, and Mayor Thao intends to work with the Police Commission to conduct this process in a timely manner, Zamora added.

To allow for an equitable and substantive process, Peterson said, the commission agreed to recruit for the job throughout January and evaluate the applicants in February. The commission then will send names to Thao on March 1, Peterson said.

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She declined to comment further, saying the commission was to observe a media blackout to respect the confidentiality of applicants.

The mayors office did not respond directly to questions about her stance on the commissions newly established March deadline. Zamora instead referred the Chronicle to his earlier remarks about working collaboratively in a timely manner.

Under the citys charter, the police commission is in charge of setting the hiring process for the chief, going through the applicants, narrowing the list and sending finalists to the mayor by a date of its choosing.

In June, the commission worked with the citys human resources department to hire a search firm, the Byers Group, to help with the application process. The Byers Group has helped other localities with job placements, including the city of Berkeleys director of police accountability and Emeryvilles city attorney.

Once Thao receives the list, it will be her first opportunity to review the finalists, Zamora said. The mayor then can decide whether to appoint one of them or choose to reject the list and request a new one, according to the charter. Before her rejection of their most recent list, Thao received updates from the commission on their timeline and review process, Zamora said.

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Earlier this month, the police commission sent Thao a list of its three finalists, which included former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, whom Thao fired in February; Kevin Hall, an assistant chief from Arizona; and San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen, who has been on leave while under investigation from that department.

Some political experts criticized the police commissions list, saying the panel was playing politics after Thao had publicly stated she would not rehire Armstrong after firing him in February. At the time, Thao said she was troubled by Armstrongs statements that officers did not behave poorly in two misconduct cases and that he did not believe the incidents reflected systemic problems. An independent arbitrator sided with Armstrong in his legal claim against the city, but stopped short of calling for his reinstatement.

There is no mayor that would say, Im going to take a chief I already fired and reappoint him and no mayor in Oakland would say, Im going to appoint a chief thats currently under investigation,  said Jim Ross, a political consultant in Oakland. It feels like (the Police Commission) is disconnected from the reality of what would be acceptable for the chief of police in the city of Oakland.

The mayors rejection of the finalists is the latest delay in the search process. The department has been without a permanent police chief for almost a year. A few months ago the city extended the application deadline by two weeks in part to be better suited to find qualified candidates, City Administrator Jestin Johnson said.

In October, the police commission  under a different chair  sent a list of seven finalists to Thao, but the list wasnt unanimously approved by the full commission, as required by the city charter. Armstrong was also on that list of finalists. Three commissioners, Peterson, Regina Jackson and Karely Ordaz, boycotted meetings until the former chairs term was completed.

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In late October, Peterson was appointed as the commissions chair and she, Jackson and Ordaz created a committee to take over the police chief search.

In a statement before the commission meeting Thursday, Peterson said the commission will work with the mayor to find exceptional candidates for Oakland.

Thaos office said earlier this week that the mayor will take the time that is necessary to fill the role, although the office also said Thao intends to conduct this process in a timely manner.

The city has gone through 12 police chiefs over the past two decades.
What Is a Shareholder Activist?jackpot ca white label gambling

A shareholder activist is a person who attempts to use their rights as a shareholder of a publicly-traded corporation to bring about change within or for the corporation.

Key Takeaways

Shareholder activists are shareholders of companies who bring about change within or for a corporation.

These changes span a vast range, from environmental concerns to governance to profit distribution to the internal culture and business model of a company.

Shareholder activists typically buy up a minority stake in a company and, subsequently, employ a variety of tactics, from media pressure to litigation threats, to force a conversation and bring about change.

Understanding a Shareholder Activist

Shareholder activism is a way that shareholders can influence a corporation's behavior by exercising their rights as partial owners. Classes of shares allow for distinct voting privileges, in addition to dividend entitlements.

While minority shareholders don't run the day-to-day operations, several ways exist for them to influence a companys board of directors and executive management actions. These methods can range from dialogue with managers to formal proposals, which are voted on by all shareholders at a company's annual meeting.

Shareholder activists also employ a variety of offensive tactics to force changes. For example, they might make strategic use of media channels in order to publicize their demands and prompt greater pressure from other shareholders. They may also threaten companies with lawsuits if they are not allowed to have their say.

Some of the issues addressed by shareholder activists are for social change, requiring divestment from politically sensitive parts of the world, for example, greater support of workers' rights (sweatshops) and/or more accountability for environmental degradation.

But the term can also refer to investors who believe that a company's management is doing a poor job. This class of activist investors often attempts to gain control of the company and replace management or force a major corporate change.

Use of Shareholder Activism

Over the years, shareholder activism has increased in total capital deployed as well as the number of campaigns mounted. According to the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, 2018 was a record year for shareholder activists. Approximately $65 billion in capital was deployed throughout the year, with an increase in initiated campaigns to 250, and an increase in the number of investors from 110 in 2017 to 130 in 2018.

These figures represent a "modest" increase in figures from the previous year, another one for the record books. Shareholder activists are also reaching out across borders to conduct campaigns. The same report noted that 60% of campaigns were aimed at U.S. companies while 25% aimed at European companies and 10% targeted Asian Pacific companies.

Examples of Shareholder Activists

Carl Icahn is one of the financial industrys most notable activist shareholders, along with his work as a businessman, traditional investor, and philanthropist. In the 1980s, Mr. Icahn developed a strong reputation as a corporate raider.

This stemmed from his hostile takeover of TWA airline in 1985, among other milestones. Along with Texaco and American Airlines, TWA was one of the nations largest airlines at the time. Mr. Icahn successfully took over the company, steering it away from the brink of bankruptcy over a multi-year period.

Similarly, Bill Ackman considers himself an activist investor (although some would deem him primarily a contrarian investor). One of Ackmans most high-profile positions was his short position and issuance of an enormous public relations campaign against the company Herbalife in 2012.

In contrast with Mr. Icahn and Mr. Ackman, many hedge funds have been recently pushing for change, related to their partners environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. Trian Partners, Blue Harbour Group, Red Mountain Capital Partners, and ValueAct Capital are among the top funds that have prioritized ESG in various forms.

Some of these funds are being pushed by their own investors, who seek to own firms that demonstrate a commitment to corporate social responsibility. This responsibility can take the form of environmental concerns such as climate change or governance concerns, such as boardroom diversity.

For example, the NYC Pension Fund began a Boardroom Accountability Project about board diversity that requires companies to disclose the race, gender, and skills of their directors.
For most Chinese workers, the ongoing Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays have been a welcome opportunity to relax, but 43-year-old Chen Yonglun prefers to work over the holidays.

Chen works at a feedstuff factory in Guiyang, capital of southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. Unlike previous holidays when workers could get a chance at overtime, the factory decided to suspend production during this years holidays spanning Sept. 30 to Oct. 7.

The break, however, did not please Chen.

We want to earn money. Thats what were working for, he said, not knowing where to go during the holidays.

Chen left his hometown in Sichuan Province a decade ago, and since then, he has always worked through holidays.

I was happy that I could earn over 500 yuan as overtime salary in the past, he said. (500 yuan is equal to 79 U.S. dollars.)

According to Chinese law, employers have to pay three times workers daily wages if they demand that employees work on national holidays, which, under the current unfavorable economic situation, is too heavy a burden for many enterprises.

Wei Jian, chairman of the feedstuff factory, said the factory had prepared enough inventory ahead of the holidays so it could save on doling out overtime salaries for the 100-plus workers it employs.

The prices of grain and raw materials have kept going up and production costs have been increasing, making it difficult for the factory to survive, said Wei.

He said pork prices have been down since the beginning of this year due to an oversupply from last year, resulting in farmers being unwilling to raise pigs and, thus, a decline in feedstuff orders.

Chen and his colleagues filed an application to the factory to allow them to continue working during the holidays. Eight days is quite a long period, and we cant just sit there, doing nothing, said Chen.

Through negotiations, the factory finally agreed to let them work during the holidays.

Overtime means 10,000 yuan or more in extra salaries. We probably cannot make a profit this year, sighed Wei.

Mid-Autumn Day, which fell on Sept. 30 this year, is supposed to be a Chinese holiday for family reunions, but Chen was reluctant to return home, as travel costs and others expenses would have cost him more than one months salary.

My son will enter college soon, and I have to save money for his tuition, he said.

Despite the news that he could continue to work over the holidays, Chen did not feel relieved. The problem was solved this year, but what about next year?

Xinhua

Around China: Chinese workers long for holiday laboradded by chinatimesonline on

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What Is Keiretsu?palms bet bonus 5 lv

Keiretsu is a Japanese term referring to a business network made up of different companies, including manufacturers, supply chain partners, distributors, and occasionally financiers. They work together, have close relationships, and sometimes take small equity stakes in each other, all the while remaining operationally independent. Translated literally, keiretsu means headless combine."

Key Takeaways

Keiretsu is a Japanese term referring to a business network made up of different companies, including manufacturers, supply chain partners, distributors, and occasionally financiers.

Keiretsus work together, have close relationships, and sometimes take small equity stakes in each other, all the while remaining operationally independent.

Keiretsus rose to prominence after World War II and the destruction of the Japanese zaibatsu.

A horizontal keiretsu is an alliance of different companies, led by a bank that provides them with finance.

A vertical keiretsu refers to manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors partnering up to cut costs and become more efficient.

Understanding Keiretsu

Powerful families, known as zaibatsus, once ran the majority of Japans major industries. That all changed after World War II when the United States came in and busted up these structures. Zaibatsus were seen as monopolistic and undemocratic, reportedly buying politicians in exchange for contracts and using pricing mechanisms that exploited the poor. Faced with economic hardships after the war, Japanese companies responded by reorganizing themselves as keiretsus.

Japanese corporations value having close ties with one another. Working together, rather than keeping others at arms length, is believed to be mutually beneficial for all parties. In fact, decades after its formation, keiretsus still represent major parts of the countrys economy.

Keiretsu has even gone on to influence business practices in other countries, albeit in a looser form. In Japan, where companies are expected to cooperate, keiretsus are regulated by specific laws. Outside the country, the term generally refers to informal alliances between more than two organizations.

In 1996, academic Jeffrey Dyer wrote in Harvard Business Review that Chryslers teaming up with suppliers to cut the cost of manufacturing cars meant it had created an American keiretsu. Many other companies in the United States and Europe are viewed to have borrowed something from keiretsus, too.

Types of Keiretsu

The keiretsu system is traditionally structured along a horizontal or vertical integration model.

A horizontal keiretsu is characterized by an alliance of different companies from various sectors, including a bank. The bank is the centerpiece of the network and is responsible for providing the other companies with financial services.

The purpose of horizontal keiretsus is to distribute goods around the world. Keiretsus seek new markets for keiretsu companies, help establish keiretsu companies in other countries, and sign contracts with other international companies that supply commodities used in Japanese industry.

In contrast, a vertical keiretsu refers to manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors partnering up. With a common goal, they work together to cut costs and become more efficient. Vertical keiretsus are a group of companies within the horizontal keiretsu.

The automobile company Toyota is an example of a vertical keiretsu. Toyota relies on suppliers and manufacturers for parts; employees for production; real estate for dealerships; steel, plastics, and electronics suppliers for cars; and wholesalers. While these ancillary companies operate within the vertical keiretsu of Toyota, they are members of the larger horizontal keiretsu, (although much lower on the organizational chart).

Research has suggested that Toyota has benefitted from the trust, collaboration, and educational support that are hallmarks of the keiretsu system: Its supplier relationships are more open, international, and cost-efficient than ever before.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Keiretsu

Working closely together can bring many benefits. Companies in the keiretsu can leverage each others expertise to become stronger and better; information shared among customers, suppliers, and employees within the keiretsu can lead to increased efficiency. As a result of this information-sharing, investment decisions can be made faster, and suppliers, employees, and customers know the purposes and goals of those investments.

The key to successful keiretsu-like partnerships is support, cooperation, trust, and goodwill. While it may not be intuitive, in a hypercompetitive, cost-obsessed environment, these relational elements are critical because they cut down on some of the hidden costs of arms-length supplier relationships that are characteristic of the Western business model.

Forming an alliance also limits the threat of competition and makes it more difficult for its members to be subject to takeover attempts by outsiders. In addition, the reduction of costs due to dealing with intra-keiretsu firms can increase efficiency within the supply chain.

However, there are also several drawbacks. Critics point out that their large size makes it difficult for keiretsus to adjust quickly to market changes and that limited competition leads to inefficient practices. Another potential issue is easy access to capital. Close relationships with a bank might encourage a company to embark on risky, debt-fueled strategies that an outside institution would probably never help to finance.

Working together can bring benefits

Leverage other company's expertise

Limits threat of competition

Increased efficiency within the supply chain

Cannot adjust quickly to market conditions

Limited competition leads to inefficient practices

Easy access to capital can encourage risky behavior

How to Engineer Your Own Keiretsu

Pros of KeiretsuCons of Keiretsu

The keiretsu system can be a useful model for a company that wants to deepen its relationships with its suppliers in order to gain long-term benefits. In the West, companies typically have relationships with suppliers that are distinct from the keiretsu system in that they take an arm's length approach.

However, a few manufacturers in the West have engineered their own unique, hybrid sourcing programs that borrow certain elements from the keiretsu system. For example, Scania, the Swedish bus and truck maker, has tried to deepen its loyalties to its manufacturers in order to improve the company's supply chains. It has accomplished this by holding workshops for its suppliers on the Scania Production System, which emphasizes continuous improvement and lean production.

Scania has incorporated an additional element of keiretsu into its purchasing system: Suppliers identify with the hub company, and the hub company works with them to improve their processes and make them more competitive (although it doesnt hold shares in them).

IKEA's approach to supplier relationships also resembles the structure of keiretsu. The company works to build committed partnerships with its suppliers based on mutual advantage, trusts its vendors with significant tasks, and collaborates with its vendors in order to maximize efficiency.

Companies interested in engineering their own form of a keiretsu should keep these general principles in mind.

Incorporate Short-Term and Long-Term Thinking

If you want to develop long-term relationships with suppliers, it's important that they are competitive today. You can work together with them to help them achieve this, and demonstrate your commitment to forming a lasting relationship by showing them that the benefits of cost-reduction strategies will be shared.

Get to Know Your Suppliers

There's no way you can improve a supplier's processes without first understanding them. You should visit suppliers' workplaces, and, instead of outsourcing all components, establish joint ventures with your suppliers on key parts.

Build Trust With Your Suppliers

You can build trust with your suppliers by communicating that the relationship is mutually beneficial: the relationship will help them improve their operations and become more competitive.

Practice Explicit and Implicit Communication

If you only emphasize explicit communication, it can lead to mistrust; if you only emphasize implicit communication, it can result in misunderstanding.

Assess Your Portfolio of Suppliers

Once you've identified your portfolio of suppliers, decide which ones are worth improving. You might ask which ones have the greatest potential to be globally competitive, and assign performance scores according to quality, cost, delivery, people, and development. It's important to keep in mind that suppliers that demonstrate a willingness to learn and understand the root causes of mistakes are the most likely to improve.

Build Personal Relationships With Your Suppliers

Cultivate personal relationships between your company and the management and the employees at your suppliers. Meet your suppliers and find ways to collaborate with them; perhaps this means shadowing your suppliers on the shop floor. This kind of relationship can cultivate a willingness on the part of your vendors to make suggestions for problem-solving.

Give Suppliers Opportunities to Improve

Rather than switching suppliers, if a supplier is underperforming, give them opportunities to show how they could improve.

Involve Suppliers in Product Development

Your suppliers' engineers should be involved in your development teams, in addition to implementing process improvement activities in their factories in order to increase your competitiveness across the supply chain.

Example of Keiretsu

Mitsubishi is the driving force behind perhaps the largest and best-known Japanese horizontal keiretsu. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi sits at the top of the keiretsu. Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Trust and Banking are also part of the core group, followed by Meiji Mutual Life Insurance Company, which provides insurance to all members.

Together they aim to help each other distribute goods all over the world. They may seek new markets for keiretsu companies, help incorporate keiretsu companies in other nations, and sign contracts with other companies around the globe to supply commodities used for the Japanese industry. As you might have already noticed, many companies within this keiretsu have "Mitsubishi" as part of their name.
It seems that Margaret Chan (), current Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), will continue her work in the absence of any other candidate for the position. Chan was elected in the 2006 election in a process with 13 other applicants. However, the current poll has found no competition.

The deadline for nominations for the post of Director General of WHO expired on November 15, 2011. The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Rahhal The Makkaoui, opened the sealed envelopes for applications on 16 November and now has informed Member States that there has been a single nomination, that of Dr Margaret Chan, whose name has been proposed by China.

The 194 Member States have been able to field candidates from 4th July until November 15, 2011. The WHO Secretariat will translate the proposal and resume to the six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, English and Russian), and transmit them to all countries by 15 December.

The Executive Board will meet in Geneva from 16 to 23 January 2012 and will decide by vote whether or not to propose a candidate for the Health Assembly. The Assembly, which will meet from 21 to 26 May, makes the final decision on the appointment of the next Director General of WHO.

Margaret Chan, who charges more than 170,000 euros per year for leading the WHO, is a doctor and began her career in the field of public health in 1978. Her election in 2006 led China for the first time, to be in charge of a responsible position in one of the most important bodies of the UN.

I have the commitment, passion and humility to put at the service of all members of the organization and achieve many accomplishments towards global health, she said then. However, her tenure has been punctuated by some controversy.

For the management of influenza A, the agency was accused of lacking transparency and promote the interests of pharmaceutical companies, which Chan refused.

There have also been cases of financial mismanagement problem in some countries with funds of the institution.

But the crisis of credibility is not the only one that affects the WHO, which is not unrelated to the economic downturn. After removing 300 jobs, Chan has confirmed that WHO is going to embark on more ambitious financial reform.

Margaret Chan will continue to lead WHOadded by chinatimesonline on

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People with university degrees have suffered far fewer job losses during the global economic crisis tab afl odds 2021 espn shark ncaabthan those who left school without qualifications, according to the latest edition of the OECDs annual Education at a Glance. Good education and skills are crucial to improving a persons economic and social prospects.

Unemployment rates among university graduates stood at 4.4% on average across OECD countries in 2009. But people who did not complete high school faced unemployment rates of 11.5%, up from 8.7% the year before. This adds to the huge problem of youth unemployment that today exceeds 17% in the OECD area.

The cost to individuals and society of young people leaving school without a qualification keeps rising, said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria. We must avoid the risk of a lost generation by all means. Despite strained public budgets, governments must keep up their investment to maintain quality in education, especially for those most at risk.

Investment in education is not only about money, its also an investment in people and an investment in the future.

Based on current graduation trends, 82% of young people today will complete upper secondary education, but those who do not will face ever greater challenges in entering and staying in the job market.

Over fifty per cent of 15 to 19 year-olds who are not in school are unemployed or out of the labour force. In most countries, youth not in employment, education or training receive no welfare support. And compared with older age groups, they are twice as likely to give up looking for work and lose touch with the labour market entirely.

Governments therefore need to invest in education. In the long-run, their budgets will benefit from investment in education. The better educated are less likely to need unemployment benefits or welfare assistance, and pay more tax when they enter the job market.

A man with a tertiary education will pay back an average USD 91 000 in income taxes and social contributions over his working life,over and above what the government pays for his degree.

Education pays for individuals, too: the gross earnings premium for an individual with a tertiary degree exceeds USD 300 000 for men and USD 200 000 for women across the OECD.

The OECD report also illustrates how the global talent pool is changing: the more educated workforces of Japan and the United States, which together have nearly half of all tertiary-educated adults in the OECD area (47%), have given them a head-start in many high-skill areas.

But the picture is changing  at present, one in three university-educated retirees resides in the U.S. but only one in five university graduates entering the workforce does. Conversely, while only 5% of adults in China have a tertiary degree, because of its population size, the country now ranks second behind the U.S. and ahead of Japan in the percent of the population with tertiary attainment among OECD and G20 countries.

Education at a Glance provides comparable national statistics measuring the state of education worldwide. This years report includes indicators on the human and financial resources invested in education, on how education systems operate and evolve, and on the returns to educational investments.

For the first time, it includes analysis of education systems in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa.

KEY FINDINGS

Education spending

OECD countries spent 6.1% of their GDP on education in 2008. Between 2000 and 2008, expenditure increased at a faster rate than GDP in 25 of the 32 countries for which data are available (Chart B2.1).

Expenditure per student by tertiary educational institutions increased 14 percentage points on average in OECD countries from 2000 to 2008. Spending per tertiary student fell in 7 of the 30 countries with available data as expenditure did not keep up with expanding enrolments. (Chart B1.6, second chart).

The share of private funding at tertiary level increased in 20 of the 26 countries for which comparable data are available between 2000 and 2008. The share increased by six percentage points, on average, and by more than fifteen percentage points in Portugal, the Slovak Republic and the United Kingdom (Chart B3.3, first part).

Spending on teachers salaries in 2009 accounted for an average 63% of current expenditure on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education combined in OECD countries (Table B6.2b). Between 2000 and 2009, teachers salaries increased in real terms in most countries. The largest increases  of well over 50%  were seen in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Turkey. The only exceptions to this trend were Australia, France, Japan and Switzerland where salaries declined (Table D3.3 and Chart D3.2).

International students

Over the past three decades, the number of international students has risen dramatically, from 800, 000 worldwide in 1975 to 3.7 million in 2009 (Chart in Box C3.1). Australia, the UK, Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand have the highest percentage of international students at tertiary level.

China contributes 18.2% of all international students from non-OECD countries enrolled in the OECD area (not including an additional 1.3% from Hong Kong, China).

Gender equality

Young women are now more likely than men to finish upper secondary education in every OECD country except for Germany and Switzerland.

Women make up the majority of students and graduates in almost all OECD countries and largely dominate in the fields of education, health and welfare, and humanities and arts. Men dominate in engineering, manufacturing and construction (Chart A4.1).

Journalists are invited to contact Andreas Schleicher (tel. + 33 1 45 24 93 66) in the OECDs Education Directorate. The report is available to journalists on the OECDs password-protected site.

Further information on Education at a Glance, including country notes and key data, is available atwww.oecd.org/edu/eag2011

Country briefings are available for Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Germany (in German), Greece, Italy, Japan (in Japanese), Mexico (in Spanish), Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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Communist Party of China (CPC) chief Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for courage like wading through a dangerous shoal to help deepen reforms in the countrys development.

While joining national legislators from Chinas economic hub of Shanghai to deliberate the government work report, Xi compared the difficulty facing the countrys deepened reform and opening up to that in storming a fortification.

The report was delivered Tuesday morning by Premier Wen Jiabao at the parliaments annual session.

We must have the courage like gnawing at a hard bone and wading through a dangerous shoal, said Xi, who is general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

The government should give more respect to the law of the market and play a better role in advancing reform and opening up, Xi said.

While deliberating the government work report, Xi stressed again the importance of innovation and technology in breaking through the bottleneck restriction for development and solve deeply rooted problems.

Government and society should facilitate innovation with a global vision to come up with core technologies to drive industrial development, he added.

Xinhua

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China supports Russia draft resolution on Syria, announced Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin at a press briefing.

China supports the positive efforts of Russia, aimed at resolving the Syria crisis and is ready to continue participating in the consultations on the basis of the proposed project by the Russian side, said the diplomat.

China calls on all parties in Syria to cooperate with the Arab League, stop the violence, begin an inclusive political process and promote reform in order to overcome differences, said Liu Weimin.

In addition, the diplomat said Beijing supports the decision for Syria in the Arab League and the constructive efforts of this organization.

Liu Weimin also expressed his hope to continue to work with the Arab League observers in Syria.

The diplomat also noted that consideration of the Syrian issue in the UN Security Council should contribute to ease tensions in the country and promote political dialogue and reduce conflict, maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.

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What Is a Juris wild casino no deposit bonusDoctor (JD)?

The American law degree, called a Juris Doctor (JD), is a three-year professional degree. Until the latter half of the 20th century, the degree was called a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). However, due to the length of study required in the United States to attain a law degree, the name was changed to reflect its status as a professional degree. A J.D. degree confers recognition that the holder has a professional degree in law.

Key Takeaways

The American law degree, called a Juris Doctor (JD), is a three-year professional degree.

Law school applicants must already have a bachelor's degree.

It typically takes three years to complete the J.D. degree, after which the graduate must pass the bar exam to practice law.

Drexel, Rutgers, Columbia, and Fordham are among the schools that offer a two-year J.D. degree option.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median pay for a lawyer was $126,930.

Understanding Juris Doctor (JD)

Some schools offer a joint J.D. and MBA degree so that students can complete both degrees in less time than it would take to complete each separately. Other combined graduate degrees include public policy, medicine, and bioengineering.

Law school applicants must already have a bachelor's degree. It typically takes three years to complete the J.D. degree, after which the graduate must pass the bar exam to practice law. Each state and the District of Columbia has its own bar exam.

History of the JD Degree

The first lawyers trained in the United States underwent an apprenticeship and training with a lawyer who served as a mentor. Required studies, interpretation of the law, and practical experience varied sharply. The first formal law degree granted in the country was a Bachelor of Law from the College of William and Mary in 1793. Harvard University changed the name of the degree to the Latin "Legum Baccalaureus," known as the LL.B., and led the 19th-century movement for a scientific study of law. The LL.B. remains the standard degree in most of the British Commonwealth.

The faculty of Harvard Law School first suggested changing the degree from LL.B. to J.D. in 1902 to reflect the professional nature of the degree. In 1903, the University of Chicago, which was one of only five law schools that required students to have a bachelor's degree before enrollment, granted the first J.D. degree. Many law schools offered both an LL.B. to students who entered without a bachelor's degree and a J.D. to students entering with a bachelor's degree.

By the early 1960s, most students entered law school with a bachelor's degree. In 1965, the American Bar Association recommended the standard law degree be the J.D., and that decree took effect by the end of the decade.

Requirements for a JD Degree

In order to get into law school, you must have an undergraduate degree, have passed the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), request your official transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s), obtain letters of recommendation, and write a personal statement.

Complete a Bachelor's Degree

While many graduate programs require the completion of certain prerequisite courses, there are no such requirements for prospective law students. However, you must have earned (or be on track to earn) an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Your undergraduate grade point average (GPA) is a key indicator law schools consider when evaluating applicants.

Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

You'll also need to take the LSAT. The basic fee for the LSAT during the 2020-21 academic year is $200, although this cost increases for each law school you apply to. Most people end up paying $500 or more in total LSAT fees. The score you receive on your LSAT is the most important factor in determining your admission into law school.

It is generally recommended that you spend at least three months studying for the exam, although many people dedicate up to a year studying for the exam. There are many resources online to help you study for the LSAT, including free resources. Organized prep courses that guide you through the different components of the LSAT can be quite expensive. Some individuals opt to hire a private tutor to help them prepare for the LSAT.

Request Your Official Transcripts

Law schools require official transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. Each copy of your official transcript can cost between $10 and $20, so depending on how many schools you apply to, this amount can add up. The process of requesting your transcript and then getting them sent to the appropriate institution can take several days, so make sure that you give yourself adequate time.

Write a Personal Statement

A personal statement is your opportunity to reveal your personality to the admissions committee. It's a good idea if your personal statement covers your career goals and academic achievements, although there are many different approaches. Some schools may have specific prompts they want you to address in your personal statement.

Obtain Letters of Recommendation

Most law schools will require at least one letter of recommendation. Your letters of recommendation can be from undergraduate professors or former employers that can speak to various elements of your success.

Future lawyers who attended a public, ABA-approved school in their state paid an average of $28,186 in tuition and fees in 2019, while out-of-state students paid an average of $41,628. Those who attended private law schools paid an average of $49,312.

Two-Year JD Degrees

Job prospects for lawyers fell sharply following the 2008 financial market collapse, and law school enrollment dropped by 24% from 2010 to 2013. With tuition continuing to rise, some schools have looked at shortening the program. Drexel, Rutgers, Columbia, and Fordham are among the schools that offer a two-year J.D. option or allow students to start their first year of law school after completing the third year of college.

Job Prospects for JD Degrees

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median pay for a lawyer was $126,930. In 2019, there were 813,900 jobs in this field. The projected percent change in employment from 2019 to 2029 for this profession is 4%, which is average. (The average growth rate for all occupations is 4%.)

JD Degree FAQs

What Is a JD Degree Equivalent To?

A J.D. degree, the American law degree, is a three-year professional degree. A J.D. is the minimum educational level for lawyers. The J.D. is considered a professional doctorate. The United States Department of Education and the National Science Foundation do not consider a J.D. degree equivalent to a research doctorate, which would confer the recipient the title of "Doctor."

Is a JD a Lawyer?

To become a lawyer, you'll need to earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Once you graduate, you are entitled to take the bar exam and begin the practice of law. Obtaining a J.D. degree alone does not permit you to practice law. You must also pass the bar exam. Every state (and the District of Columbia) has its own bar exam.

Is a JD Higher Than a Masters?

While the J.D. is the only degree necessary to become a professor of law or to obtain a license to practice law, it is not a research degree. However, there are two types of research degrees available to individuals who are interested in studying law. These are the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, which typically requires a J.D. as a prerequisite before pursuing study, and the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D./J.S.D.) degree, which typically requires a Master of Laws as a prerequisite.

Is Someone With a JD a Doctor?

It is not customary in the U.S. to address individuals that hold a J.D. as a "Doctor." In the late 1960s, the Canons of Professional Ethics issued a full ethics opinion regarding whether lawyers could ethically use the title "Doctor." The organization came down against this usage, with some exceptions. It is permissible for lawyers to use the title "Doctor" when dealing with countries where the use of "Doctor" by lawyers is standard practice. In addition, lawyers are allowed the use of the title in academia as long as the school of graduation considers the J.D. degree a doctorate degree.

How Many Years Is a JD Degree?

A traditional, full-time J.D. program lasts three years. There are some accelerated programs that allow individuals to complete their degrees in just two years. Part-time J.D. programs usually take four years (or more) to finish.
China and India, the main buyers of Iranian oil plan to cut down oil imports from the Islamic Republic by 10 percent or more.

According to received information, the company Unipec, a subsidiary of Chinas largest oil and gas corporation Sinopec Corp., Will reduce the import of Iranian oil by 10  20 percent of contracts for delivery in 2012. Quantities of energy coming from Iran to China in the first quarter has decreased sharply because of a price dispute between the parties on the annual supply contract. According to the experts, taking into account the constant level of supply for the corporation, Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, and the company Chinaoil, China will reduce oil imports from Iran about 14 percent.

Meanwhile, Indian authorities are trying to reduce purchases of Iranian oil by 10  15 percent, according to sources in the industry.

January 23 this year, foreign ministers of EU countries have decided to completely stop importing Iranian oil. This solution leads to a ban on new contracts and renewals of existing agreements. However, previous transactions are still effective. A full embargo will be introduced by 1 July  by which time all existing contracts will be terminated.

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In this golden autumn, a joint drill among multiple arms of the Army and the Air Force troops of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) was carried out on the plateau with an elevation of more than 4,500 meters in west China. It is the first joint actual-troop drill of the PLA air and ground troops under information-based conditions in the frigid area with a high altitude.

At the very beginning of the drill, the new-type warplanes of the PLA Air Force conducted accurate strikes at the main targets of the enemy with various new weapon systems. Shortly after seizing the commanding point, the long-range guns launched full-scale shooting at the command post and the artillery position of the enemy. Thereupon, under the cover of the army aviation troops and ground anti-aircraft missiles, the armored vehicle group and infantry combat vehicles branched out into various columns and made a sudden and violent attack on the mountain passes occupied by the enemy. The special operation detachment outflanked the enemy and raided the enemys command post.

At a mountain pass 5000-odd meters above the sea level, the armored vehicle group and the infantry combat vehicles broke through the interdiction barrage of the enemy in succession, advancing into the depth of the mountains. At another mountain pass with an elevation of 5,000-plus meters hundreds of kilometers away, the aviation troops of the PLA Air Force screened the ground troops to seize the commanding point.

Conducting military operations on plateau with an elevation of more than 4500 meters is an extreme challenge to both human health and weaponry performance. To ensure the success of the air-ground joint drill, the chemical defense support group, engineering support group, logistics support group, equipment support group and field first-aid support group took relevant actions in succession.

Liu Xingan, Guo Fengkuan and Liu Yinghua

Photo by Liu Yinghua

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A Seattle fertility doctor has surrendered his medical license after facing accusations that he used his own sperm to impregnate a California woman while he was treating her as a fellow at UCSF in 2009. Ivan Couronne/Getty Images 2019

A Seattle fertility doctor has surrendered his medical license after facing an accusation that he used his own sperm to artificially inseminate a California woman while he was treating her as a fellow at UCSF 14 years ago.

The allegation, made public in December, prompted UCSF to send letters to women treated by the doctor advising them of the situation and offering genetic testing for their own families.

Christopher Herndon voluntarily gave up his Washington state medical license on Nov. 29 after resigning in September from the University of Washington, where he specialized in reproductive medicine since 2017. He does not have an active medical license in California.

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UCSF officials said they learned he had surrendered his license and of the allegation against him on Dec. 1, and began contacting former patients on Dec. 7. The university has hired an outside law firm to conduct an investigation into Herndon, which is ongoing.

Herndon was a fellow at UCSF focused on reproductive endocrinology and fertility from 2008 to 2011, according to the university. He was a part-time doctor at San Francisco General Hospital from 2011 to 2014, and also in private practice during that time, according to UCSF.

The actions Dr. Herndon is accused of are inexcusable and we are exploring all legal options against him, including potential civil and criminal actions, UCSF said in a statement Friday.

Herndons case was first reported Dec. 5 by the Seattle Times; his affiliation with UCSF was not made public at that time.

The allegation was reported last summer to the Washington Medical Commission. After its own investigation, the commission decided that Herndon should surrender his license. Herndon agreed to give up the license but did not admit to the allegation.

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According to the former patients allegation, which was summarized in a report from the commission, Herndon was working as a clinical fellow in training in California when she was treated by him in November 2009.

The woman had previously used donor sperm for artificial insemination to become pregnant with her first child, according to the medical commission. Shed come to UCSF for the same procedure for a second child and requested the same donor sperm.

The woman became pregnant, and her second child was born in 2010, according to the commission. Later, DNA testing showed that her two children did not share paternal DNA  they didnt have the same biological father. Further testing found that the second child was not born from the sperm donor the patient had selected for both of her children.

The woman then signed up her second child with a genetic testing and ancestry service. That service identified a potential family connection with the last name Herndon, according to the medical commission. The genetic match was 25%, meaning the person was a grandparent or aunt or uncle. The woman hired a private investigator, who eventually determined the person shed found online was a sibling of Herndon  her childs biological uncle or aunt.

Herndon replaced the donor sperm chosen by the woman with his own sperm for the artificial insemination procedure, without the womans knowledge or consent, the medical commission stated. This was a purposeful violation of the trust placed in (Herndon) as a physician which had a profound impact on the patient and the patients family.

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Officials with the UW Medicine health care system in Washington said they have no evidence of inappropriate behavior while Herndon worked there, but they were also alerting former patients and offering free genetic testing to women who underwent artificial insemination procedures.

Based on what we know at this time, the safeguards in place at UW Medicines medical centers should prevent an incident like the one alleged to have occurred in California in 2009, university spokesperson Barbara Clements said in a statement Friday. The university has in place numerous safeguards including multiple identity checks, careful chain of custody practices, and separate labs for egg and sperm specimens, she said.

We are reviewing our safeguards and procedures to continue to ensure the highest level of specimen security. We do not believe that our patients were at risk.

Herndon is a graduate of Yale School of Medicine and did his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Bostons Brigham and Womens Hospital, which is affiliated with Harvard University. Herndon could not be located for comment. The woman who made the allegations has not been identified.

Megan Heller, who underwent fertility procedures at UCSF at the time Herndon was there, said she received a letter from UCSF informing her of the situation Wednesday. She said the university has offered her free counseling, testing for sexually transmitted infections and genetic testing for her family.

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Herndon had performed artificial insemination procedures on Heller, now 43, that did not result in pregnancy. She later used in vitro fertilization, in which eggs are fertilized in a lab and the embryos inserted in the uterus, to become pregnant. Herndon was not directly involved in the IVF procedures, Heller said, though he would still have been at UCSF at the time.

I did not get pregnant from those particular procedures (Herndon performed), but I did go on to have IVF at UCSF, under the same attending (doctor), with the same group of fellows, and I did get pregnant, Heller said. I was unconscious and sedated for so many procedures. I dont know if (Herndon) was in the room. I dont know what role he played during his tenure.

Her son is now 12, and Heller said she plans to use the genetic testing offered by UCSF.

Fertility fraud, and specifically cases of doctors using their own sperm to impregnate patients, has been a troubling aspect of reproductive medicine since artificial insemination took off more than 50 years ago.

The practice has become more widely known in recent years with the widespread accessibility of genetic testing. In many cases, individuals have signed up for testing out of curiosity only to find that their paternal DNA isnt what they expected.

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Donor Deceived, a website that tracks such cases, has identified nine doctors accused of using their own sperm to artificially inseminate patients in California, resulting in 18 pregnancies, some dating back to the 1970s. One Indianapolis doctor used his sperm to impregnate dozens of women in the 1970s and 80s and is the biological father of more than 90 children.
The Chinese authorities are studying the invitation to the meeting of so-called Friends of Syria, created with support from the West and the Arab League in order to stabilize the situation in Syria. This was announced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei. The meeting will take place on February 24th 2012. in the capital of Tunisia.

China is studying the size and other parameters of this group,  said Hong Lei.

The Russian authorities have refused the invitation to attend the conference, as the representatives of current authorities in Syria was not invited. Moscows official position on this matter was announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich: According to incoming reports, representatives of Syrian Government are not invited to the conference. This means that the interests of a large segment of Syrias population, which supports the authorities will not be calculated. In this case, the meeting will do little to find the way to overcome the internal crisis.

On the contrary, he said, it seems that we are talking about coming together to form a kind of international coalition, as was the case with the creation of a contact group of Libya, in order to support one side against another in an internal conflict.

At the same time A.Lukashevich noted that there are serious questions about the outcome of the meeting. According to reports, a narrow group of countries is already working on the meeting without the knowledge of other guests who were asked to simply play the role of rubber-stamp.

16 February 2012. The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) overwhelmingly approved a non-binding draft resolution on Syria which supports peace initiatives of the Arab League, and calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign. As the result of voting for the resolution, 137 in favor, 12 voted against, including Russia and China, abstained  17.

4 February 2012. UN Security Council held a vote on the draft resolution on Syria, made by the Delegation of Morocco, together with a number of Western and Arab countries. Russia and China voted no by using veto power, as the result, the resolution was not adopted.

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China has expressed support to the mediation efforts of the Arab League in Syria without specifically commenting on sending peacekeepers advocated by the organization in Cairo.

The Arab League passed a resolution Sunday calling on the UN to send the UN and Arab countries joint peacekeeping force to Syria, which continues repression against the opposition to President Bashar al Assad.



The UN should offer constructive assistance

This call increases pressure on Russia and China, permanent members of the Security Council. Their veto of a resolution calling for Assad to give up his powers has been criticized by Arab and Western countries.

Asked about the resolution of the Arab League, the spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Liu Weimin, said nothing about the joint peacekeeping force.

China supports the ongoing efforts of political mediation of the Arab League, which plays an active and constructive role in seeking a peaceful settlement of the Syrian issue, he said. We believe that the UN should offer constructive assistance on the basis of the UN Charter and norms of international relations, said Liu Weimin.

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What Are Raw Materials?scatter slots by murka free coins

Raw materials are materials or substances used in the primary production or manufacturing of goods.

Raw materials are commodities that are bought and sold on commodities exchanges worldwide. Businesses buy and sell raw materials in the factor market because raw materials are factors of production.

Key Takeaways

Raw materials are the input goods or inventory that a company needs to manufacture its products.

Examples of raw materials include steel, oil, corn, grain, gasoline, lumber, forest resources, plastic, natural gas, coal, and minerals.

Raw materials can be direct raw materials, which are directly used in the manufacturing process, such as wood for a chair.

Indirect raw materials are not part of the final product but are instead used comprehensively in the production process.

The value of direct raw materials inventory appears as a current asset on the balance sheet.

Raw Materials

Understanding Raw Materials

1:16

Raw materials are used in a multitude of products and can take many different forms. Raw materials are the input goods or inventory that a company needs to manufacture its products. For example, the steel used to manufacture vehicles would be a raw material for an automobile manufacturer.

For manufacturing companies, raw materials inventory requires detailed budgeting and a special framework for accounting on the balance sheet and income statement.

Examples of raw materials include steel, oil, corn, grain, gasoline, lumber, forest resources, plastic, natural gas, coal, and minerals.

Accounting for Raw Materials

Manufacturing companies take special steps to account for raw materials inventory. This includes three distinct inventory classifications on their balance sheet compared to just one for non-manufacturers. The current assets portion of the balance sheet represents the assets that are likely to be used up in less than one year and include:

Raw materials inventory

Work-in-process

Finished goods

All inventory, including raw materials inventory, should be valued at its comprehensive cost. This means its value includes shipping, storage, and preparation. The typical journal entries in an accrual accounting system for the initial purchases of raw materials inventory include a credit to cash and a debit to inventory. Debiting inventory increases current assets, and crediting cash will reduce cash assets by the inventory amount.

When a company uses raw materials inventory in production, it transfers them from the raw materials inventory to the work-in-process inventory. When a company completes its work-in-process items, it adds the finished items to the finished goods inventory, making them ready for sale.

Direct vs. Indirect Raw Materials

In some cases, raw materials may be divided into two categories: direct and indirect. Whether a raw material is direct or indirect will influence where it is reported on the balance sheet and how it is expensed on the income statement.

Direct Raw Materials

Direct raw materials are materials that companies directly use in the manufacturing of a finished product, such as wood for a chair. Direct raw materials are placed in current assets and are expensed on the income statement within cost of goods sold.

Manufacturing companies must also take added steps over non-manufacturing companies to create more detailed expense reporting on costs of goods sold. Direct raw materials are typically considered variable costs since the amount used depends on the quantities being produced.

Direct Raw Materials Budget

A manufacturer calculates the amount of direct raw materials it needs for specific periods to ensure there are no shortages. By closely tracking the amount of direct raw materials bought and used, an entity can reduce unnecessary inventory stock, potentially lower ordering costs, and reduce the risk of material obsolescence.

Raw materials may degrade in storage or become unusable in a product for various reasons. In this case, the company declares them obsolete. If this occurs, the company expenses the inventory as a debit to write-offs and credits the obsolete inventory to decrease assets.

Indirect Raw Materials

Indirect raw materials are not part of the final product but are instead used comprehensively in the production process. Indirect raw materials will be recorded as long-term assets. They can fall under several categories within long-term assets, including selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) or property, plant, and equipment (PP&E).

Long-term assets usually follow a depreciation schedule that allows them to be expensed over time and matched with revenue they help produce. For indirect raw materials, depreciation timing will usually be shorter than other long-term assets like a building expensed over several years.

Example of Raw Materials

Below is an example that illustrates the use of direct and indirect raw materials as well as the top countries that produce and export natural resources.

Furniture Manufacturer

A company manufactures tables and chairs, and below are the materials used in production.

Direct raw materials

Timber or wood

Cushions and padding for the chairs

Cloth fabric to cover the cushions

Indirect raw materials

Fittings and nails

Wood glue

Equipment for the workers, such as gloves

Since the wood, padding, and fabric can be directly tied to the production of the tables and chairs, they are considered direct raw materials. When calculating the cost on a per-unit basis, the direct raw materials could be traced to each unit.

The glue, nails, and worker equipment would likely be considered indirect materials since the quantities used would not be significant, nor would they be directly tied to each unit produced.

Countries that Produce Raw Materials

According to 2020 World Bank data, below are the worlds top natural resource producers as a percentage of their gross domestic product (GDP):

The Congo Republic - 37.4%

Iraq - 32.4%

Guyana - 32.4%

Kuwait - 32.0%

Mongolia - 28.1%

Sudan - 26.2%

Angola - 25.5%

Liberia - 24%

Equatorial Guinea - 23.4%

Iran - 23.3%

The World Bank calculates these percentages using natural resource rent. Natural resource rent is the revenue remaining after deducting the cost to access and produce the resources.

What Are the Types of Raw Materials?

Raw materials can be classified in several ways, but one common classification is:

Mined raw materials: Extracted from the earth, such as ores, stones, metals, minerals, lime, sand, soil, oil, and coal.

Extracted from the earth, such as ores, stones, metals, minerals, lime, sand, soil, oil, and coal. Plant-based raw materials: Come from trees or plants, including fruits, nuts, flowers, vegetables, resins, wood, cotton, and latex.

Come from trees or plants, including fruits, nuts, flowers, vegetables, resins, wood, cotton, and latex. Animal-based raw materials: Such as milk, meat, furs, leather, and wool.

What Are Raw Materials in Food?

Raw materials in food can be standalone items like meats, milk, fruits, and vegetables. They can also refer to the ingredients that go into a food item or recipe. For instance, milk is a raw material used in the production of cheese and yogurt.

Is Water a Raw Material?

Yes, water can be thought of as a raw material that is used in a wide range of products and production processes, from beverages to agriculture to industrial uses.

The Bottom Line

Raw materials are the inputs used in the production process to create finished products that are ready to sell to consumers. This makes raw materials a vital piece of the global economy and international trade. Having natural resources that can serve as raw materials can boost exports and help a country grow its GDP. Businesses and investors can engage in raw trading markets through commodities markets.
Two senior Chinese and Brazilian officials agreed to further promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer co-hosted the second session of the China-Brazil High-level Coordination and Cooperation Committee here Monday, and reached the agreement.

Both sides agreed to further promote the two countries strategic partnership by continuing to use the committee as a platform to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

In a bid to boost the world economic recovery, the two countries pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation in multilateral mechanisms and firmly oppose all forms of protectionism as well as avoid any moves to politicize economic issues.

The two sides vowed to make joint efforts to implement the two countries Joint Action Plan and set out the formulation of a 10-year cooperation plan on economy and culture.

They promised to maintain the good momentum of the rapid growth in bilateral trade and continue to improve trade structure. They also agreed on further investment in such fields as infrastructure and emerging industries.

The two sides would also strengthen bilateral cooperation in science, technology and innovation, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as nanotechnology, biology, telecommunications and agriculture.

They agreed to maintain high-level visits and deepen political mutual trust between the two countries, as well as enhance exchanges and coordination over macro-economic policies.

They would also strenthen cooperation and information exchanges concerning cross-border supervision of their banking industries.

The two countries also reached consensus on promoting cooperation in the fields of telecommunication, software and hardware, high-tech innovation and Internet security.

Speaking at the session, Wang said since China and Brazil established diplomatic ties 38 years ago, the bilateral relationship has increasingly matured and gained strategic significance.

The successful visits of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Brazil in 2010 and of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to China in 2011 injected vigor into the development of the bilateral strategic partnership, he said.

Wang also said the committee, as the top comprehensive cooperative mechanism between the two governments, has earnestly implemented the consensus reached by top leaders of both sides and played an important role in promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields.

In the complex international financial scenario, both countries are facing numerous challenges, he said, adding tighter cooperation is not only in the interests of both countries, but also of the world.

Both sides should take the opportunity to expand their cooperation in such sectors as commerce, investment, finance, energy resources and infrastructure construction, and seek further possibilities of cooperation in space science, technology, education, agriculture and tourism to step up practical cooperation, he said.

China and Brazil should also defend the interests of developing countries in multilateral mechanisms, such as the Group of 20, BRICS, and the World Trade Organization by enhancing coordination on major issues, he said.

Temer said Brazil would deepen the two countries political mutual trust, increase bilateral trade, promote technological and cultural exchanges and enhance coordination in international and regional affairs with China in order to drive bilateral ties to a new phase.

Xinhua

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A new report from Human Rights Watch titled, Youll be Fired If You Refuse: Labor Abuses in Zambias Chinese State-owned Copper Mines is urging Zambias new president to live up to his campaign pledges. After his election, Michael Sata promised to ensure that workers in Chinese-owned copper mines are adequately protected. Meanwhile, China defends its practices.

We found that across the four Chinese-owned copper mines in Zambia, there were persistent labor abuses, particularly in regards to health and safety, long hours of work and anti-union activities, said Matt Wells, with Human Rights Watch in Lusaka, summarizing the more than 100-page report.

The report says safety and labor conditions at Chinese-owned mines in Zambia are worse than at other foreign-owned mines. It also accuses Chinese mine managers of violating Zambian laws by forcing employees to work more than legally allowed.

President Sata recently told Chinese businessmen in Zambia that it is his governments responsibility to make clear what their obligations are. At the same time, he thanked China for its investment.

Wells says workers in Zambias so-called copper belt were a large part of Satas power base. The researcher acknowledges what he describes as the Zambian leaders softening of language, but adds that the next two months are a crucial time to see if President Sata will work for improved conditions for Zambian workers.

The companies are all starting negotiations right now, through the end of the year, to set the terms for 2012, noted Wells. And I think how strongly the government is behind the workers will come through, through these negotiations at the end of the year.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the report is inconsistent with the facts.

Hong says China expects enterprises to abide by local laws and regulations. He added that China has formulated laws and regulations to ensure that the lawful rights and interests of local employees are protected, although he gave no details.

He says Chinese-African cooperation is based on mutual benefit and equality. He said Chinese companies have promoted employment in Africa and have contributed to economic and social development there.

The Chinese spokesman also said Beijing appreciates Zambias expressions of desire for continued cooperation.

Human Rights Watch says Chinas investment in copper mining accounts for 75 percent of Zambias exports. Wells says the Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation, the state-owned company that oversees Chinas copper mining operations, has promised to investigate the groups findings.

Stephanie Ho

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The Chinese government is prepared to work closely with Russia to bolster their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Tuesday.

China will increase mutual political support with Russia and enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination in regional and international affairs, Yang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.

Following incumbent Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putins victory in the countrys presidential election on Sunday, Chinese President Hu Jintao has sent a congratulatory message to Putin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Monday.

Yang said China will ensure the success of high-level contacts and mutual visits between the two countries this year. According to the mechanism of annual exchange of visits by Chinese and Russian heads of state, Russias president will visit China in 2012.

China will intensify practical cooperation between the two countries, in fields such as economy and trade, energy, science and technology, infrastructure and at local levels, said Yang.

We are confident that with the joint efforts of the two countries, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination will achieve even greater results, the foreign minister said.

Xinhua

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Two Chinese abducted in Cairo on Thursday by gunmen demanding a ransom were released after a few hours, said an official of the Chinese Embassy, an incident that illustrates the growing insecurity in Egypt since the revolt last year.

They are free, said the spokesman of the embassy, Lu Jingchun, without specifying the conditions of release.

Another embassy official had earlier said that two Chinese workers were kidnapped by gunmen Thursday morning in Cairo.

They want money, he had said, adding that the two Chinese worked in a plant for the manufacture of building materials, mainly of marble.

According to Xinhua news agency, they were abducted in the district of Maadi, a suburb south of Cairo, as they left their homes for their work.

Agency quoted Chen Jiannan, vice president of the Chinese Peoples Association in Egypt, said the ransom was 500,000 Egyptian pounds (more than 60,000 euros).

According to security sources, this is the first time that foreigners were abducted in the capital for money.

Recently, several foreigners were shortly held hostage in the Sinai by Bedouins demanding the release of jailed relatives.

Twenty-five Chinese working in a cement factory have been abducted Jan. 31 by Bedouins requiring five of their prisoners, arrested in connection with the attacks on the peninsula between 2004 and 2006. Those Chinese had been released after several hours of detention.

Since the revolt that toppled President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, Egypt has experienced sporadic violence, sometimes deadly, coupled with an increase of crime.

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What Is Regulatory Capture?triple double diamonds free slots

Regulatory capture is an economic theory that says regulatory agencies may come to be dominated by the industries or interests they are charged with regulating. The result is that an agency, charged with acting in the public interest, instead acts in ways that benefit incumbent firms in the industry it is supposed to be regulating.

Key Takeaways

Regulatory capture is an economic theory that regulatory agencies may come to be dominated by the interests they regulate and not by the public interest.

The result is that the agency instead acts in ways that benefit the interests it is supposed to be regulating.

Industries devote large budgets to influencing regulators, while individual citizens spend only limited resources to advocate for their own rights.

Click Play to Learn About Regulatory Capture

Understanding Regulatory Capture

1:54

Regulatory capture, also known as the economic theory of regulation or simply capture theory, was introduced to the world in the 1970s by the late George Stigler, a Nobel laureate economist at the University of Chicago. Stigler noted that regulated industries maintain a keen and immediate interest in influencing regulators, whereas ordinary citizens are less motivated. As a result, even though the rules in question, such as pollution standards, often affect citizens in the aggregate, individuals are unlikely to lobby regulators to the degree that regulated industries do.

Regulated industries devote large budgets to influencing regulators at federal, state, and local levels. By contrast, individual citizens spend only limited resources to advocate for their own rights. This is an extension of the concept of concentrated benefits and dispersed costs of regulation, public policy, and collective action in general, described by economist Mancur Olsen.

In many cases, the regulators themselves come from the pool of industry experts and employees, in part due to the complex and specialized knowledge needed to regulate an industry, and may also then return to work in the industry after their government service. This is known as the revolving door between government and special interests. In some cases, industry leaders trade the promise of future jobs for regulatory consideration, making revolving doors criminally corrupt.

Regulatory agencies that come to be controlled by the industries they are charged with regulating are known as captured agencies, and agency capture occurs when that governmental body operates essentially as an advocate for the industries it regulates. Such cases may not be directly corrupt, as there is no quid pro quo; rather, the regulators simply begin thinking like the industries they regulate, due to heavy lobbying.

Even well-organized groups in favor of tougher regulationssuch as the Sierra Club, a well-known environmental advocatehave only modest resources relative to industry interests.

Examples of Regulatory Capture

Regulatory capture is common across the economy and throughout history. Many argue that it is a ubiquitous tendency whenever any industry is regulated because even regulation that harms or imposes costs on existing firms also tends to create barriers to entry to new firms.

Regulation inherently tends to raise the cost of entry into a regulated market because new entrants have to bear not just the costs of entering the market but also of complying with the regulations. Oftentimes regulations explicitly impose barriers to entry, such as licenses, permits, and certificates of need, without which one may not legally operate in a market or industry. Incumbent firms may even receive legacy consideration by regulators, meaning that only new entrants are subject to certain regulations.

Regulatory capture can, in some cases, even result in deregulation of the behavior of the supposed subjects of the regulation themselves, while maintaining regulations that benefit them, such as barriers to entry, subsidies, and taxpayer bailout guarantees.

Transportation

The transportation industry in the U.S. can be considered a classic example of regulatory capture. In the late 19th century, as the industrial revolution created vast new wealth, government trade regulators openly advocated for the industries they oversaw, including railroads. Large railroad companies themselves advocated for regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) under the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, and the ICC allowed the railroad industry to function as an effective cartel.

Finance

Modern financial regulatory bodies, likewise, tend to consist largely of industry insiders, have overlapping interests with industry, and act primarily in the interests of those whom they regulate. Financial market deregulation, at the behest of the industry, in the run-up to the financial crisis, combined with the retention of taxpayers guarantees for banks and the dramatic series of monetary and fiscal bailouts, are widely believed to have contributed greatly to the U.S. housing bubble and ensuing Great Recession of the late 2000s.

Criticism of Regulatory Capture

Some economists discount the significance of regulatory capture. They point out that many large industries that lobby regulators, such as industries in the fossil fuel sector, have experienced lower profits due to regulation. In other words, these economists argue that the lobbying efforts have failed to capture agencies.
President Xi Jinping on Saturday met with visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss bilateral ties and issues of common concern.

Xi first recalled Kerrys last visit to China as chairman of the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee in May 2009.

Xi described Kerry as a veteran U.S. statesman, adding that he appreciates Kerrys commitment to developing U.S.-China ties.

Kerry is the second U.S. Cabinet member Xi has met since becoming president in March, following U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who visited Beijing in March.

These meetings have reflected the great importance both China and the United States have placed on bilateral ties, Xi said.

Xi said China-U.S. relations are in a new historic period, referring to the inception of the new governments of both countries.

Xi recalled a telephone discussion with U.S. President Barack Obama on the day Xi was elected, saying they reaffirmed their commitment to developing new China-U.S. relations.

Xi called on both countries to take a strategic and long-term view of China-U.S. relations, carry out dialogue and cooperation in a positive attitude, deal with their differences in the spirit of mutual respect and substantiate their partnership.

We should blaze a trail for a new type of relations between major powers that features equality, mutual trust, tolerance, mutual learning, cooperation and common prosperity, Xi said.

Xi highlighted the importance of high-level communications, saying he would like to maintain contact with President Obama and calling for the two countries to make the best of China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogues and high-level consultations on people-to-people exchanges.

On the economic front, Xi called for more cooperation in new areas and positive measures that can address mutual concerns and discourage the politicization of economic issues.

Xi said the two countries should observe the three China-U.S. joint communiques, respect each others core interests, properly tackle differences and protect overall relations from major intervention.

Xi urged the two countries to interact positively in the Asia-Pacific region, step up communication and coordination on regional and international issues and safeguard regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.

Xi said he expects Kerrys visit, his first to China since taking office in February, will maintain momentum for the development of bilateral relations.

This is obviously a critical time with some very challenging issues, Kerry told Xi. Issues regarding the Korean peninsula, the challenge of Iran and nuclear weapons, Syria and the Middle East, and economies around the world are in need of a boost.

Kerry said the United States would like to work with China to follow the requests of the presidents of both countries, increase high-level visits and jointly tackle challenges.

Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also spoke with Kerry during his visit.

China is the second leg of Kerrys four-day east Asia tour, which has also taken him to the Republic of Korea. He will fly to Japan on Sunday.

Xinhua

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Thebet9ja 0ld mobile genting free bet 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded its seventh plenary session in Beijing on Wednesday with a communique issued.



Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made an important speech at the four-day session, which was presided over by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.



It was decided at the plenary session that the 20th CPC National Congress will open on Oct. 16 in Beijing, according to the communique.



Entrusted by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi delivered a work report to the plenum.



The plenary session also discussed and adopted a report to be made by the 19th CPC Central Committee to the 20th CPC National Congress, a work report of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) to the congress, and an amendment to the CPC Constitution.



The three documents will be submitted to the upcoming congress for examination and deliberation, read the communique.



During the session, Xi delivered explanatory remarks on the draft report by the 19th CPC Central Committee to the 20th CPC National Congress. Wang Huning made explanations on the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution.



The seventh plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee opened in Beijing on Oct. 9, with 199 full members and 159 alternate members present. Members of the CCDI and leading officials of related departments were also present in a non-voting capacity.




Animal-protection groups have sued the Biden administration to safeguard leatherback sea turtles like this one from being fatally ensnared in fishing nets. Courtesy Geoff Shester

Animal protection groups sued the Biden administration Thursday in San Francisco for opening nearly 2,000 square miles of West Coast offshore waters to pot fishers, saying their nets will fatally entangle an already endangered turtle species.

The leatherback sea turtle was classified as endangered in 1970, and its population has been declining by 6% a year, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration network said in their federal court lawsuit.

They said the Dec. 1 decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service to allow sable pot fishing in areas off Oregon and Northern and Central California that had been closed since the early 2000s increases the risk of leatherback entanglement, injury, and death.

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Its horrific that hungry leatherback sea turtles have to navigate a vast maze of fishing pot strings after migrating thousands of miles to California, Catherine Kilduff, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement announcing the suit. Leatherbacks are on the verge of extinction, and we cant let them be killed by commercial fishing gear.

With only a couple of thousand adult leatherbacks left in the Pacific, every single leatherback is critical to the survival of the species, said Todd Steiner, founder of Turtle Island Restoration Network. Their fate is in our hands, and time is running out.

The suit contends the action violated the Endangered Species Act, and asks the court to block the agencys action and order it to reassess the impact of opening the waters.

The National Marine Fisheries Service declined to comment.

Leatherback sea turtles, which weigh as much as 1,500 pounds, migrate 7,000 miles from Indonesia to the West Coast and feed on jellyfish before returning west. Some of their largest foraging grounds are in waters off San Francisco, Monterey County and Fort Bragg, as well as Astoria and Newport, Ore., the animal protection groups said.

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Sablefish, a soft-fleshed, bottom-dwelling species, are caught by commercial vessels in tens of thousands of ocean-floor pots connected by long lines.

In a separate case, also filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled in March that the National Marine Fisheries Service had failed to protect endangered Pacific humpback whales off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington when it issued a three-year permit to the sablefish industry in 2021. The agency then agreed to assemble a team by the end of October 2025 to protect the whales from entanglement.

In another whale-protection case, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife agreed in 2019 to limit the duration of the states Dungeness crab-fishing season, which also uses potentially entangling equipment. That case has led to some use of ropeless fishing gear, also known as pop-up gear, which lifts the underwater pots by pressing a button rather than leaving the lines in place.
What Is Investment Management?jazz grizzlies game 3

Investment management refers to the handling of financial assets and other investmentsnot only buying and selling them. Management includes devising a short- or long-term strategy for acquiring and disposing of portfolio holdings. It can also include banking, budgeting, and tax services and duties, as well.

The term most often refers to managing the holdings within an investment portfolio, and the trading of them to achieve a specific investment objective. Investment management is also known as money management, portfolio management, or wealth management.

The Basics of Investment Management

Professional investment management aims to meet particular investment goals for the benefit of clients whose money they have the responsibility of overseeing. These clients may be individual investors or institutional investors such as pension funds, retirement plans, governments, educational institutions, and insurance companies.

Investment management services include asset allocation, financial statement analysis, stock selection, monitoring of existing investments, and portfolio strategy and implementation. Investment management may also include financial planning and advising services, not only overseeing a client's portfolio but coordinating it with other assets and life goals. Professional managers deal with a variety of different securities and financial assets, including bonds, equities, commodities, and real estate. The manager may also manage real assets such as precious metals, commodities, and artwork. Managers can help align investment to match retirement and estate planning as well as asset distribution.

In corporate finance, investment management includes ensuring a company's tangible and intangible assets are maintained, accounted for, and well-utilized.

According to an annual study by research and advisory firm Willis Towers Watson and the financial newspaper Pensions & Investments, the investment management industry is growing. When based on the combined holdings of the 500 biggest investment managers, the global industry had approximately US$93.8 trillion assets under management (AUM) in 2018. This figure was over US $100 Trillion by year end 2019.

Key Takeaways

Investment management refers to the handling of financial assets and other investments by professionals for clients

Clients of investment managers can be either individual or institutional investors.

Investment management includes devising strategies and executing trades within a financial portfolio.

Investment management firms handling over $25 million in assets must register with the SEC and accept fiduciary responsibility toward clients.

Running an Investment Management Firm

Running an investment management business involves many responsibilities. The firm must hire professional managers to deal, market, settle, and prepare reports for clients. Other duties include conducting internal audits and researching individual assetsor asset classes and industrial sectors.

Aside from hiring marketers and training managers who direct the flow of investments, those who head investment management firms must ensure they move within legislative and regulatory constraints, examine internal systems and controls, account for cash flow and properly track record transactions and fund valuations.

In general, investment managers who have at least $25 million in assets under management (AUM) or who provide advice to investment companies offering mutual funds are required to be registered investment advisors (RIA). As a registered advisor, they must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and state securities administrators. It also means they accept the fiduciary duty to their clients. As a fiduciary, these advisors promise to act in their client's best interests or face criminal liability. Firms or advisors managing less than $25 million in assets typically register only in their states of operation.

Investment managers are usually compensated via a management fee, usually a percentage of the value of the portfolio held for a client. Management fees range from 0.35% to 2% annually. Also, fees are typically on a sliding scalethe more assets a client has, the lower the fee they can negotiate. The average management fee is around 1%.

Pluses and Minuses of Investment Management

Though the investment management industry may provide lucrative returns, there are also key problems that come with running such a firm. The revenues of investment management firms are directly linked to the market's behavior. This direct connection means that the company's profits depend on market valuations. A major decline in asset prices can cause a decline in the firm's revenue, especially if the price reduction is great compared to the ongoing and steady company costs of operation. Also, clients may be impatient during hard times and bear markets, and even above-average fund performance may not be able to sustain a client's portfolio.

Professional analysis

Full-time diligence

Ability to time or outperform market

Ability to protect portfolio in down times

Sizeable fees

Profits fluctuate with market

Challenges from passively managed vehicles, robo-advisors

ProsCons

Since the mid-2000s, the industry has also faced challenges from two other sources.

The increase of robo-advisorsdigital platforms that provide automated, algorithm-driven investment strategies and asset allocation The availability of exchange-traded funds, whose portfolios mirror that of a benchmark index

The latter hinderance exemplifies passive management since few investment decisions have to be made by human fund managers. The former challenge does not use human beings at allother than the programmer writing the algorithm. As a result, both can charge far lower fees than human fund managers can charge. However, according to some surveys, these lower-cost alternatives will often outperform actively managed fundseither outright or in terms of overall returnprimarily due to them not having heavy fees dragging them down.

The pressure from this dual competition is why investment management firms must hire talented, intelligent professionals. Though some clients look at the performance of individual investment managers, others check out the overall performance of the firm. One key sign of an investment management company's ability is not just how much money their clients make in good timesbut how little they lose in the bad.

Real World Example of Investment Management

The top 20 investment management firms control a record 43% of all the global assets under management, according to the Willis Towers Watson report mentioned earliersome $40.6 trillion worth. In the U.S., the five leading firms include, in descending order:
Thejudi slot 777 wimbledon 2021 odds leaders of Britain, France and the United States say the NATO coalition will continue its military campaign in Libya until Moammar Gadhafi leaves power, while rebels said loyalist attacks killed 23 people in the besieged city of Misrata.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday that leaving Mr. Gadhafi in power would be an unconscionable betrayal of the Libyan people.

In a joint article published in several international newspapers, The Times of London, Frances Le Figaro and The Washington Post , the leaders wrote it is unthinkable that someone who has tried to massacre his own people can play a part in their future government.

Mr. Gadhafi, meanwhile, gave no sign he is willing to relent. His forces pounded Misrata with dozens of rockets for several hours Thursday. Anti-government rebels said at least 23 people were killed and many more wounded in what they called a massacre in Libyas third-largest city.

The main target of the assault was Misratas port, the only lifeline for rebels to the outside world. Residential neighborhoods near the port were also shelled.

Meanwhile, Libyan state television reported that NATO warplanes had launched air strikes Thursday on targets in Tripoli. Witnesses in the capital said a series of explosions rocked the area shortly after NATO warplanes flew overhead.

Despite the bombing, Mr. Gadhafi was shown on state television Thursday, defiantly cruising through the streets of Tripoli, pumping his fists and waving from an open-top vehicle.

In Washington, State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. remains confident in NATOs ability to oversee air operations in Libya. He commented after France asked for the United States to resume air raids.

France made the request on Thursday at a NATO meeting in Berlin. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen, however, told alliance members that their forces have maintained a high operational tempo against legitimate targets in Libya. He said NATO needs more high-precision attack aircraft for the mission.

Another conference about Libya took place in Cairo. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the African and Arab and European delegates attending that meeting had agreed on a unified approach to finding a lasting solution to Libyas turmoil.

The talks in Berlin and Cairo occurred a day after an international contact group of U.S., European and Arab partners pledged more monetary and political support for the Libyan opposition at a meeting in Doha. In its final statement, the group called on Mr. Gadhafi to leave power, saying he and his government had lost all legitimacy.

In Brussels, the European Union announced Thursday that it has removed former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa from a sanctions list, in an apparent bid to entice other Libyan officials to break ranks with the government. Koussa is the most senior official to flee Libya.

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Switzerland will consider the recommendations of the Global Forum,roulette simple simulator who said on Wednesday that the federal government does not fulfill all the required standards for information exchange.

The Forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes has certified that the country has made a major change for administrative assistance. Switzerland has successfully completed the first phase of its review procedure administrative assistance, says the government.

The Global Forum, which brings together one hundred countries to assess themselves, welcomed on Wednesday the rapid progress made by Switzerland to emerge from the gray list of tax havens published in spring 2009 by the Organisation and Development (OECD).

However, like many other countries, the country is not fully met all the criteria. The World Forum recommended to take several steps. Switzerland will examine the implementation of these recommendations,  promised the authorities.

The Confederation has signed a series of new double taxation agreements providing for a relaxed exchange of information. But such agreements would only consider administrative assistance in the event that Switzerland received specific requests including the identification of suspects of tax evasion by their country and their bank.

While Switzerland is said on the track, the Forum warned Wednesday that the federal government will move to the next phase of evaluation, scheduled during the second half of 2012, only if they have a significant number  agreements compliant.

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What Is the Small Business Administration?free bet calculator app

The term Small Business Administration (SBA) refers to a U.S. government agency that is designed to bolster and promote the economy by assisting the country's small businesses. Established in 1953, the SBA's largest function is to counsel individuals who want to start and grow their own businesses. It provides a series of tools on its website to assist new and existing small business owners. The agency is headed by an administrator and deputy administrator and also has a chief counsel for advocacy and inspector generalall of which are confirmed by the Senate. The SBA has at least one office in every state.



Key Takeaways

The Small Business Administration is a government agency designed to bolster and promote the economy by providing assistance to small businesses.

The agency was established in 1953.

The SBA is headed by the administrator and deputy administrator who are confirmed by the Senate.

The agency offers various resources to small businesses including access to capital, entrepreneurial development, government contracting, and advocacy services.

The SBA's loan guarantee program is among its most visible elements.

Understanding the Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration offers substantial educational information with a specific focus on assisting small businesses to develop and grow. As noted above, the agency has numerous tools for businesses that can be accessed on its website, including a small business planner and additional training programs.

According to its website, the SBA provides the following services to small businesses:

Access to Capital: The agency offers a variety of financial resources for small businesses including microlending, or small loans that are issued to those who wouldn't otherwise qualify for financing. Loans are issued by partner banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions.

The agency offers a variety of financial resources for small businesses including microlending, or small loans that are issued to those who wouldn't otherwise qualify for financing. Loans are issued by partner banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. Entrepreneurial Development: This is driven by counseling services and low-cost training provided by the SBA. This is available to both new and existing business owners in more than 1,800 locations across the United States. There's also a mentor program that connects new business owners with retired and/or existing entrepreneurs.

This is driven by counseling services and low-cost training provided by the SBA. This is available to both new and existing business owners in more than 1,800 locations across the United States. There's also a mentor program that connects new business owners with retired and/or existing entrepreneurs. Contracting: The SBA reserves 23% in government contracting dollars for small businesses with the help of other federal departments and agencies. The agency guarantees 5% of these contracting dollars for women and another 3% for business owners who are disabled and veterans.

The SBA reserves 23% in government contracting dollars for small businesses with the help of other federal departments and agencies. The agency guarantees 5% of these contracting dollars for women and another 3% for business owners who are disabled and veterans. Advocacy: The agency acts as an advocate by reviewing legislation and protecting the interests of small business owners across the country. The agency also advocates are presents business owners at the state and federal government levels.

The agency has helped small businesses across the country get access to loans, loan guarantees, contracts, and other services.

Isabel Guzman is the administrator of the Small Business Administration. Prior to holding this office, she had served as the director of California's Office of the Small Business Advocate.

The SBA Loan Program

The loan programs offered through the SBA are among the most visible elements the agency provides and come with longer repayment periods for small businesses. Keep in mind that the agency doesn't actually issue loanswith the exception of disaster relief loans. Instead, loans are backed or guaranteed by the SBA and issued directly by lenders that meet the agencys guidelines.

Loans backed by the SBA include the:

504 Loan (or the grow loan), which provides small businesses with up to $5 million in financing to buy the fixed assets they need to run their operations, including real estate.

7(a) loan, on the other hand, is the agency's primary loan program. The maximum loan amount guaranteed under this program is $5 million.

Disaster loans and microloans

Small businesses qualify for loans more easily when they are guaranteed by the SBA. The agency also allows entrepreneurs to make lower payments for a longer period of time. Despite numerous attempts to do away with the SBA entirely, many political officials and offices continue to support the agency. The SBAs ability to offer loans has also been significantly strengthened by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.

The SBA has local offices throughout the United States and associated territories, which provide more personalized special events for small business owners. These offices provide in-person, one-on-one counseling services that include business plan writing instruction, and assistance with small business loans.

How the SBA Can Help Start Your Business

The SBA has many resources available for people who want to start their own small businesses. If you're one of those people, this section highlights some of these resources that can take you from start to finish.

Business Planning

This section of the website includes steps and resources related to the development of your business. This includes conducting relevant market research, developing a business plan, and funding.

You can also learn about what you need to do to choose a:

Location for your business

Suitable business structure

Business name

The agency also provides key information about what you need to register your company, getting the appropriate tax documents, as well as permits and licenses. You can also get some insight into what you need to open a business bank account.

Launching Your Business

Launching your business is just as important as starting it, which is why you'll find some of the same resources from the section above seeping into this one. For instance, choosing your location will depend a lot on zoning ordinances and laws. It will also affect the kind of incentives and taxes that apply to your organization.

The SBA's website has more information on these but also provides information on business insurance, which is a very important part of protecting your interests. This helps protect your business from any unforeseen losses that take place during normal operations.

How the SBA Can Help You Manage and Grow Your Business

The agency doesn't just help people start and launch their own businesses, but it also has resources available to help manage and grow them, too.

Management

You can learn valuable tips and tricks on how to manage your finances, hire employees, and pay taxes. Other important information includes staying compliant, how to purchase assets, along with marketing and sales strategies.

Because cybersecurity is a key threat to many businesses, the SBA also provides some common sense tips to stay safe. This section includes helping business owners spot some of the most common scams (like malware and ransomware) and how to understand and assess your risk. You can also use some of the agency's best practices to avoid cyber attacks and access SBA training and events.

This section also deals with certain circumstances like hiring people with disabilities, what to do when you must close your business, and how to recover from disasters.

Growing Your Business

It isn't enough to just learn how to start your business. That's why the SBA also has resources to help you grow. Some of the aids in this section include how to access additional funding, how to expand, and what to expect from mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

As per the agency's mandate, it guarantees a certain percentage of federal contracts to small business owners. As such, the SBA encourages businesses to become federal contractors and has an easy registration process. You can also get the resources you need to improve your bottom line by connecting you with partners to help export your products and services.

You can also find useful information about different types of businesses, such as women-owned, LGBT-owned, and those in rural areas.



The History of the SBA

The SBA was established by President Dwight Eisenhower when he signed the Small Business Act in the summer of 1953. It replaced the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), which was created under President Herbert Hoover in 1932 after the Great Depression. The newly-formed SBA's mandate was to aid and protect the country's small businesses and ensure they received a fair portion of government contracts and surplus property sales.

The SBA has had a rocky history. In 1996, the agency was under threat of being eliminated by the House of Representatives. However, the agency survived this threat and went on to receive a record budget in 2000. There was also a lot of resistance to its loan program, which led to repeated cuts between 2001 and 2004. That's when certain SBA expenditures were frozen altogether.

Small business owners were among some of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBA helped these owners, providing them with two different types of funding. These included the:

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL): This program was designed for businesses to use approved funds for working capital and other day-to-day expenses. Since capital is loaned, it must be repaid. The SBA stopped accepting applications as of Jan. 1, 2022, but loan increases will be approved until funds are depleted.

This program was designed for businesses to use approved funds for working capital and other day-to-day expenses. Since capital is loaned, it must be repaid. The SBA stopped accepting applications as of Jan. 1, 2022, but loan increases will be approved until funds are depleted. EIDL Advance Programs:Funds are granted to people who filed for EIDL assistance as long as they meet certain criteria. Unlike the loan program, funds approved through this program don't have to be repaid.

What Does the Small Business Administration Do?

The Small Business Administration is a U.S. government agency that provides assistance to small business owners. It has a series of tools available for new and existing entrepreneurs. Its goals include providing business owners with access to capital, developing entrepreneurial spirit, reserving contracting dollars for certain business owners, and advocating on behalf of small business owners.

Where Does the SBA Get Its Funding?

The Small Business Administration receives an annual budget approved by the federal government. This money goes toward salaries, grant and certain loan programs, as well as administration costs. Keep in mind that the SBA doesn't actually provide loans to small businesses. Instead, the majority of loans issued to small business owners through SBA programs are guaranteed by the agency and issued by approved financial institutions and other lenders. This source of capital helps individuals start and grow their businesses

Who Qualifies for an SBA Grant?

The Small Business Administration generally doesn't issue grants. But it does to certain organizations, namely those that promote entrepreneurship in their communities. These include nonprofit organizations, organizations that provide their communities with training and funding (known as Resource Partners), and educational organizations. Grants are not provided to owners who want to expand an existing business or to startups.
Typhoon Haikui has left six people dead and forced more than 2.17 million people to be relocated in four provincial-level regions in east China,is right now a good time to buy crypto the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Friday.

In Anhui Province, Haikui killed three people and affected nearly 2.17 million residents, as well as destroyed more than 2,400 houses, the ministry said in a report.

In Shanghai, the typhoon killed two people and affected 361,000 others, the ministry said, adding that more than 50 houses were destroyed.

The typhoon also killed one person and forced 126,000 others to be evacuated in Jiangsu Province, as well as forced the relocation of nearly 1.55 million people in Zhejiang Province, according to the ministry.

Haikui, the 11th typhoon of the year, is the third typhoon to wallop Chinas eastern coast in a week after storms Saola and Damrey hit the region over the weekend.

Xinhua

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What Is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?fixed horse races game joker gacor

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent federal government regulatory agency responsible for protecting investors, maintaining fair and orderly functioning of the securities markets, and facilitating capital formation. It was created by Congress in 1934 as the first federal regulator of the securities markets. The SEC promotes full public disclosure, protects investors against fraudulent and manipulative practices in the market, and monitors corporate takeover actions in the United States. It also approves registration statements for bookrunners among underwriting firms.

Generally, issues of securities offered in interstate commerce, through the mail or on the Internet, must be registered with the SEC before they can be sold to investors. Financial services firmssuch as broker-dealers, advisory firms and asset managers, as well as their professional representativesmust also register with the SEC to conduct business. An example: they would be responsible for approving any formal bitcoin exchange.

Key Takeaways

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a U.S. government oversight agency responsible for regulating the securities markets and protecting investors.

The SEC was established by the passage of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, largely in response to the stock market crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression.

The SEC can itself bring civil actions against lawbreakers, and also works with the Justice Department on criminal cases.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

How the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Works

1:40

The SEC's primary function is to oversee organizations and individuals in the securities markets, including securities exchanges, brokerage firms, dealers, investment advisors, and investment funds. Through established securities rules and regulations, the SEC promotes disclosure and sharing of market-related information, fair dealing, and protection against fraud. It provides investors with access to registration statements, periodic financial reports, and other securities forms through its electronic data-gathering, analysis, and retrieval database, known as EDGAR.

The Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) was created in 1934 to help restore investor confidence in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash.

The SEC is headed by five commissioners who are appointed by the president, one of whom is designated as chair. Each commissioner's term lasts five years, but they may serve for an additional 18 months until a replacement is found. The current SEC chair is Gary Gensler, who took office on April 17, 2021. To promote nonpartisanship, the law requires that no more than three of the five commissioners come from the same political party.

The SEC consists of five divisions and 23 offices. Their goals are to interpret and take enforcement actions on securities laws, issue new rules, provide oversight of securities institutions, and coordinate regulation among different levels of government. The five divisions and their respective roles are:

Division of Corporate Finance: Ensures investors are provided with material information (that is, information relevant to a company's financial prospects or stock price) in order to make informed investment decisions.

Ensures investors are provided with material information (that is, information relevant to a company's financial prospects or stock price) in order to make informed investment decisions. Division of Enforcement: In charge of enforcing SEC regulations by investigating cases and prosecuting civil suits and administrative proceedings.

In charge of enforcing SEC regulations by investigating cases and prosecuting civil suits and administrative proceedings. Division of Investment Management: Regulates investment companies, variable insurance products, and federally registered investment advisors.

Regulates investment companies, variable insurance products, and federally registered investment advisors. Division of Economic and Risk Analysis: Integrates economics and data analytics into the core mission of the SEC.

Integrates economics and data analytics into the core mission of the SEC. Division of Trading and Markets: Establishes and maintains standards for fair, orderly, and efficient markets.

The SEC is allowed to bring only civil actions, either in federal court or before an administrative judge. Criminal cases fall under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies within the Department of Justice; however, the SEC often works closely with such agencies to provide evidence and assist with court proceedings.

In civil suits, the SEC seeks two main sanctions:

Injunctions, which are orders that prohibit future violations. A person or company that ignores an injunction is subject to fines or imprisonment for contempt. Civil money penalties and the disgorgement of illegal profits. In certain cases, the SEC may also seek a court order barring or suspending individuals from acting as corporate officers or directors. The SEC may also bring a variety of administrative proceedings, which are heard by internal officers and the commission. Common proceedings include cease and desist orders, revoking or suspending registration, and imposing bars or suspensions of employment.

The SEC also serves as the first level of appeal for actions sought by the securities industry's self-regulatory organizations, such as FINRA or the New York Stock Exchange.

Among all the SEC's offices, the Office of the Whistleblower stands out as one of the most potent means of securities law enforcement. Created as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the SEC's whistleblower program rewards eligible individuals for sharing original information that leads to successful law enforcement actions with monetary sanctions in excess of $1 million. The individuals can receive 10% to 30% of the total sanctions' proceeds.

History of the SEC

When the U.S. stock market crashed in October 1929, securities issued by numerous companies became worthless. Because many had previously provided false or misleading information, public faith in the integrity of the securities markets plunged. To restore confidence, Congress passed the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which created the SEC. The SEC's primary tasks were to ensure that companies made truthful statements about their businesses and that brokers, dealers, and exchanges treated investors in an honest and fair manner.

In the years since additional laws have aided the SEC in its mission:

Trust Indenture Act of 1939

Investment Company Act of 1940

Investment Advisers Act of 1940

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010

Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012

Today the SEC brings numerous civil enforcement actions against firms and individuals that violate securities laws every year. It is involved in every major case of financial misconduct, either directly or in conjunction with the Justice Department. Typical offenses prosecuted by the SEC include accounting fraud, the dissemination of misleading or false information, and insider trading.

After the Great Recession of 2008, the SEC was instrumental in prosecuting the financial institutions that caused the crisis and returning billions of dollars to investors. In total, it charged 204 entities or individuals and collected close to $4 billion in penalties, disgorgement, and other monetary relief. Goldman Sachs, for example, paid $550 million, the largest penalty ever for a Wall Street firm and the second-largest in SEC history, exceeded only by the $750 million paid by WorldCom.

Still, many observers have criticized the SEC for not doing enough to help prosecute the brokers and senior managers who were involved in the crisis, almost all of whom were never found guilty of significant wrongdoing. So far, only one Wall Street executive has been jailed for crimes related to the crisis. The rest either settled for a monetary penalty or accepted administrative punishments.

How Does the SEC Make New Rules?

A new SEC rule starts with a concept release, which leads to a proposal. Both a concept release and subsequent proposal are published for public review and comment. The SEC considers the publics input on the proposal as it determines its next steps. The SEC will then convene to consider input from the public as well as industry or other subject-matter experts are considered. They then vote to adopt the rule.

Is the SEC the Same as FINRA?

No. The SEC is a government organization that sets rules and regulations regarding the issuance, marketing, and trading of securities. The SEC is also charged with protecting investors. FINRA (formerly NASD) is a non-profit self-regulatory industry organization that oversees broker-dealers and issues licenses to securities professionals.

Who Is the SEC Accountable to?

The SEC is an independent federal agency that is headed by a bipartisan five-member commission, comprised of the Chairman and four Commissioners who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The SEC is accountable to Congress as it operates under the authority of federal laws including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley Act), among others.
Judges and contestants,

Distinguished guests,

It is a real pleasure for me to be with you again at this Chinese Bridge competition.

As a way of introduction, let me share the thoughts I had as I travelled here.

I was wondering how British young people might surprise me again!

I have been really impressed in the past two years by contestants in this competition, with their mastery of the Chinese language.

I was really surprised two years ago by Stewart Johnson. Then he was a third year Chinese and Law undergraduate:

 Stewart was studying at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

 He was the champion in the UK round of the Ninth Chinese Bridge competition.

 Then Stewart survived numerous rounds in China.

 I was so delighted when he won top prize in the final, beating contestants from all around the world.

That was the best record of any British contestant.

Last year, Peter Dolby from the University of Edinburgh at this stage of the contest impressed me. He stood out along with three other students in this UK round of the competition.

They later collected one first prize, two second prizes and one third prize. Together, that was a truly golden team from the UK.

So, I look forward to your outstanding performance in this years competition!

The bar has been set high in the past two years! So, your challenge will be to create a bumper harvest! That means bringing home prizes for the UK for three years in a row.

I have also wondered about why British contestants have done so well in this international competition.

I am afraid that is not a matter of pure talent!

I have found three reasons why UK students do well in this competition. These are taken from my experience in Britain since I came more than two years ago.

The first reason is an immense interest among British young people in learning Chinese:

 Chinese language course is available in nearly 600 primary and middle schools in the UK. Some schools even included Mandarin in their curriculum.

 Children from over 60 schools entered the recent Panda Pals Speaking Contest hosted by the Chinese Embassy. Their Chinese proficiency was both impressive and encouraging.

 Fifty-four British universities offer Chinese language courses.

 Chinese studies is chosen as a field of study by 85 universities.

I have more figures to show the popularity of Chinese learning:

 From 2009 to 2010, nine prestigious British universities alone registered 556 undergraduates majoring in Chinese.

 These universities included Oxford, Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh.

 Also in these universities, 537 double degree students took Chinese as one of their majors.

 214 candidates studied Chinese teaching for their graduate degree.

 A total of 19 Confucius Institutes and 60 Confucius Classrooms were opened in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are indeed around the UK.

 No other European country can compete in this regard.

The second reason is strong support for Chinese learning in the UK. This comes from all sectors, from royalty to academics. Let me share with you some examples:

 Last year, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales unveiled the Confucius Classroom in Llandovery College. I had the honour of accompanying him there.

 The First Minister of Scotland the Right Honorable Alex Salmond attended the launching ceremony of the Confucius Institute of Glasgow University.

 The All Party Parliamentary China Group and the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine of the London South Bank University jointly hosted the UK Confucius Institutes National Conference.

 The Schools Network is also committed to promoting Chinese learning in British primary and middle schools.

The third reason why I think you as British contestants do well is this:

 Our two countries have worked closely to improve Chinese teaching in the UK.

 The result is in all Confucius Institutes and Classrooms, the number of students is growing.

 We made huge efforts in training teachers and selecting teaching materials.

 We encourage sharing digital and distance teaching resources.

 We increased scholarships for studying in China.

I have wondered also about why British young people are so interested in learning Chinese.

I believe it can be explained in two ways.

First, they are fascinated by the Chinese culture.

Literally, Chinese Bridge means Chinese language is a bridge. Its abutment is the rich traditional Chinese culture. Its floor is a dynamic modern China. This bridge will lead you to a colourful China.

Second, they see great opportunities in learning Chinese.

As China grows, the UK and other countries will need to engage more with China. Naturally, the demand for Chinese speakers will grow.

For example, HSBC plans to set up 800 branches in China. A Chinese company Huawei wants to employ 1,000 people here in the UK.

You can imagine that companies like these would want people speaking both English and Chinese. They need talented people who understand both Chinese and British culture. That is the key to being able to add value to business and increase prosperity.

I am delighted that so many British young people are learning Chinese. The reason is simple. You young people are the future. You are the future of China-UK relations.

Recently on 13th March, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of China-UK full diplomatic relations.

We share pride in what we achieved in the past 40 years. We have every reason to be confident about the future of our relations.

The responsibility of continuing the success of our relations for the next 40 years will rest with future generations. In other words, the young people of today.

The future of our relations needs more Chinese young people to understand Britain. It also needs more British young people to understand China.

The future of China-UK relations need all our young people to work together in building a bridge of China-UK friendship.

In conclusion, I want to thank all Chinese teachers, volunteers and teaching assistants in the UK.

I wish all contestants great success in todays competition and the coming finals in China.

I assure you that I will be your cheerleader!

Now, I declare open the UK Regional Final of the 11th Chinese Bridge Competition.

Thank you!

From Chinese Embassy in UK

The UK Regional Final, British Museum

17 March 2012

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and the other newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, meet the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 23, 2022.Photo: Xinhua

On Sunday noon, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee appeared before the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This event marks that a series of important political agendas surrounding the 20th CPC National Congress came to a successful conclusion. Like a huge ship, China will move forward under the leadership of the new CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. The course the Party has charted has a global significance: It not only reflects the maturity and stability of the CPC as a major party, but also injects certainty into a world beset by changes and turmoil.China is a major country with nearly one-fifth of the world's population and more than 18 percent of the global economy. Its political stability is good news for the whole world. The 20th CPC National Congress not only provides a clear plan for the next step of development, but also ensures a strong leadership core can guarantee its implementation. This gives the world stabilized expectations in observing and understanding China. We note that many analysts outside China have emphasized the continuity of China's development direction and policies after the 20th CPC National Congress, which is rare in the current international situation full of uncertainties.At present, many countries are in chaos. The instability and uncertainty brought about by political chaos are continuously increasing, leading to a frequently seen situation where countries' development is in confusion. There are sharp turns in these countries' domestic and foreign affairs as well. This has caused huge damage to peace and development. Against this background, as the world's largest political party, which leads the world's second-largest economy and has more than 96 million Party members, the CPC's political firmness, continuity and stability not only concerns the 1.4 billion Chinese people, but also the entire human society. The great changes taking place in the first decade of the new era have once again proved that the CPC can not only lead the people to achieve the "governance of China," but also create a new form of human civilization with Chinese modernization.The prosperity of the country and the happiness and well-being of the people are the common pursuits of all mankind, and China is no exception. However, what is unique about China is that it has embarked on a new path that suits its own national conditions and has achieved remarkable results. The great changes taking place in the decade of the new era further show how important it is to choose a pair of shoes that fit the forerunner's feet and walk down the right path. The success of the Chinese path to modernization has fundamentally broken the uniqueness of the Western modernization model and demonstrated the diversity of the world's modernization models. The 20th CPC National Congress has proposed to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts "through a Chinese path to modernization," and underscored it as the "central task" of the CPC on the new journey of the new era. And this great process will also have a profound impact on the world and benefit mankind.During Sunday's event, General Secretary Xi reiterated that "China will open its door wider to the rest of the world," and pointed out that "just as China cannot develop in isolation from the world, the world needs China for its development." This displays the global vision and the care for the world of Chinese communists in the new era. At the 20th National Congress of the CPC, "holding dear humanity's shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom; and advancing the building of an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity" was approved to be written into the Party Constitution. Such a mind-set and ambition are rare in the history of world political parties."China is embarking on a long journey, one filled with glories and dreams." In the face of changes in the world, times, and history, China's determination to take the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics will not change, its determination to learn from others and practice win-win cooperation with other countries will not change, and its determination to walk hand in hand with the world will not change. The CPC has provided both China and the world with a clear sense of direction and great certainty. This is very rare and extremely valuable for a world entering a new phase of turbulence and transformation.
For Wang Jing,twin online casino a computer saleswoman in Chongqing, the latest level two national heat alert issued on Monday told her something she already knew: it is really hot.

According to the forecast from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), temperatures will climb as high as 42 degrees Celsius in several provinces in east and central China and up to 39 degrees Celsius in southwest Chongqing Municipality.

With a severe heat wave lingering across China, low-income earners like Wang who can not afford air conditioning are finding it a luxury to beat the heat, no matter how briefly.



HOT, RESTLESS NIGHTS

Wang spends one-third of her monthly salary of 1,000 yuan (about 158 U.S. dollars) on a room in a rented apartment in downtown Chongqing.

Early this summer, Chongqings hottest in 61 years, Wang started throwing water onto the floor in an attempt to cool her place down. Her trick worked until the downstairs neighbors complained that water was leaking through their ceiling, threatening to force her to pay for any damages if it didnt stop.

After the neighbors complained, Wang started spritzing her summer bed mat with cool water.

Its too hot to endure. I have to constantly sprinkle water onto the floor. I am having a water sprinkling festival at home every day, she said.

Though the high temperatures are at the root of Wangs troubles, drywall room dividers, a lack of ventilation and the absence of a night breeze in her apartment are not helping matters.

Her neighbor has made it a habit to sleep on the balcony, which offers a bit of coolness at no cost.

Its noisy on the balcony, but its definitely better than being baked inside, said the neighbor, who works at a supermarket and decided that it would not be worth it to buy an air conditioning unit for a rented space.



COOLING DOWN FOR FREE

During World War II, air raid shelters were built in Chongqing, the countrys wartime capital and primary target of Japanese air strikes. Decades later, these shelters have become free cool venues for a sweaty public.

Over 100 such shelters are open to the public, and each can hold up to 10,000 people at a time. Desks, chairs, drinking water, newspapers and TV are available there, allowing for even greater comfort.

Meanwhile, shopping malls and subway stations also provide respite from the heat. In an underground shopping mall in Chongqings Yuzhong District, children and the elderly can be found hiding out from the sizzling temperatures above ground.

A 92-year-old man surnamed Rong said the mall is the coolest place around and many of his neighbors frequently go there to get a free dose of air conditioning. My family of four lives in an old, tiny apartment and its too hot to stay there without an air conditioner.

Another person at the mall complained that there used to be over 100 benches, but now only about 20 are left. The mall removed them so we wont come.

At a nearby subway station, people can be found just sitting on the ground and cooling off without ever stepping onto a train. A 93-year-old resident surnamed He is said to sit there every day to conserve electricity during the day.



WORKING IN THE SUN

Though air-conditioned shopping malls, subway stations and supermarkets are dotted throughout the downtown area, outdoor laborers often still cant make it inside to cool down.

We, of course, want to stay indoors with air conditioning, but we just cannot. We always have to pick up rubbish whenever it appears, said two sanitation workers whose faces were dripping with sweat as they sat in the shade of some trees in downtown Chongqing.

Freelance stick men, who tote luggage on bamboo poles up and down the citys steep hillsides, however, are caught in a dilemma: catch a cool break or make some money? To get a bit of work, stick men have to be at places with heavy foot traffic, which often lack air conditioning, like old-fashioned farmers markets.

Liu Minsheng, a stick man who was waiting for customers at the entrance to such a market, said, There is a shelter nearby to relax, but I cannot get any work there.

A migrant worker from a rural area, Liu said he stays at cheap and non-air-conditioned inns at night. There is nothing I can do about the heat, but a whole day of exhausting work makes me fall asleep as soon as I go to bed.

Xinhua

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Venezuela and China adopted 6,covers mlb scores nba000 million dollars together for the China-Venezuela Bilateral Development Fund, created to finance projects in the country of Bolivar.

President Hugo Chavez annouced that Venezuela has approved the transfer of 2,000 million from the National Development Fund to the bilateral fund, while China provided 4 billion for the same purposes.

More details here.

Chavez said Venezuela will soon receive a $4 billion loan from China to boost joint development projects between the increasingly close international allies. The money will finance projects such as railways in this South American country, Chavez said during a Cabinet meeting that was broadcast live on state television. Venezuela will put $2 billion of its own into the projects.

China and Venezuela Approved 6 billion Dollars to Bilateral Fundadded by chinatimesonline on

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Then-President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office on March 20, 2018. Among the discrepancies the Chronicle discovered in OpenSecrets foreign lobbying data was an inaccurate number for income reported by foreign agents of Saudi Arabia in 2022. Evan Vucci/Associated Press

WASHINGTON  OpenSecrets, a critical source for understanding how money influences U.S. politics, says it is auditing its foreign lobbying database after correcting several errors found by the Chronicle and a UC Berkeley researcher.

The research nonprofit is a widely used source of campaign finance and lobbying data cited by lawmakers, journalists and researchers. But since at least Dec. 11, some of its foreign lobbying data has differed from the amounts published by the Justice Department, and some of the contribution totals have not matched its own desegregated data.

Lobbying firm ThirdCircle Inc. listed $486,156 in payments from the government of Qatar in 2022, according to DOJ filings. As of Dec. 28, OpenSecrets reported the firms 2022 income was $729,121.

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A 2018 payment made by the government of Nicaragua was listed as foreign lobbying by Nigeria until the error was raised by the Chronicle. Its not clear how long the error existed on the site.

OpenSecrets reported Saudi Arabian entities spent $33,947,203 on U.S. lobbying in 2022, but corrected that to $25,314,087 after the Chronicle found the difference of about $8.6 million in OpenSecrets own data.

After the discrepancies were raised, OpenSecrets updated the foreign lobbying section of its website to include a red banner reading We are currently in the process of updating and auditing this section of the OpenSecrets site. If you are utilizing this data for research, kindly reach out to us at press@opensecrets.org. (A prior banner said the organization was currently working on that section.) The banner does not include any disclosures about potential data errors.

OpenSecrets Executive Director Sheila Krumholz told the Chronicle that errors in its data are rare.

When OpenSecrets finds issues with its data, we try to correct them as soon as possible, Krumholz said in a statement. We run corrections if our articles have an error, which seldom happens despite being a public interest research group that processes hundreds of millions of records annually.

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After this article initially published, Krumholz clarified that OpenSecrets identified that there were issues within the foreign lobbying database in September.

Any person in the United States lobbying or advocating on behalf of foreign interests is required to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department and semiannually report their relationships, activities and financial income on behalf of that foreign entity.

The Justice Departments database, however, is clunky and requires a user to read several lengthy documents to find the income for just one foreign agent. OpenSecrets compiles that data into an easy-to-read format with top-line numbers and summaries, which is why academics, journalists and lawmakers often rely on it.

UC Berkeley visiting scholar Michael Walsh first noticed problems with OpenSecrets foreign lobbying data the week of Dec. 11 while reviewing information for an upcoming paper. He posted on LinkedIn Dec. 16 to inform others of the issue and said that OpenSecrets took down the Foreign Lobby Watch section of its website as a result. On Dec. 18, he wrote that OpenSecrets had thought it fixed the problem over the weekend, but had then put the matter back under investigation.

Krumholz initially acknowledged the potential problems with the data in an interview with the Chronicle and said the organization would suspend the Foreign Lobby Watch section. But soon after, she said the data was accurate. A review by the Chronicle found there were still discrepancies.

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We obviously, as a data and transparency and accountability watchdog  we are greatly concerned about having and maintaining our reputation for accuracy in our data. If were not adding value, but detracting, then that would be very serious indeed to us. We will have to look into this, she said.

With increasing concerns about the influence of foreign countries in U.S. politics since the 2016 election and two major wars with U.S. involvement, having accurate data is critical for decision-makers and voters.

If this is a small error  its OK, theres no harm.  But if there is a systematic issue in this process, then we have some issues, said Dinesh Hasija, a professor at Georgia State University who has studied U.S. political lobbying by foreign firms.

Foreign interference in the U.S. democratic process is of a particularly heightened concern right now, and it makes it all the more important that public reporting on this be accurate, Daniel Pickard, an attorney specializing in foreign lobbying at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, told the Chronicle.

Walsh wrote on LinkedIn that he spoke to Krumholz on Dec. 20. She explained that (they) have been able to diagnose a couple of issues.  She also clarified that they are not sure when this problem first arose, he wrote.

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The Chronicle compared the 2022 income reported by several registered foreign agents to the Justice Department against the most recently available OpenSecrets data.

Public relations firm Karv Communications reported payments from UAE entities in 2022 of $520,000, according to DOJ filings. OpenSecrets reported that firms 2022 income from UAE entities was $480,000 as of Dec. 19. In an email to the Chronicle on Dec. 21, Krumholz acknowledged the Karv Communications error, which has since been corrected.

Krumholz also told the Chronicle that the sites explanation of its methodology  which says its data is updated daily  is not correct.

We are actually collecting new filings daily. That is correct. But they have not been pushed to the website, so we will have to amend the methodology, she said.

During the Trump administration, foreign lobbying received increased scrutiny and longtime operators like RT America (funded by the Russian government) and Xinhua News Agency (the official state news agency for the Peoples Republic of China) registered as foreign agents.

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New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging he is an unregistered agent of the Egyptian government. Manuel Rocha, who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, was charged this month with acting as a foreign agent of Cuba for more than four decades. He has not entered a plea.

When foreign lobbying data becomes corrupted by human error, machine error, or malicious actions, it negatively impacts the effectiveness of safeguards against covert foreign influence, Walsh wrote in an email to the Chronicle.

OpenSecrets data is regularly used by national news outlets  including Reuters, the New York Times, Fox News and CNN  and has been cited in legislation and by several members of Congress, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Sen. Steve Daines, D-Mont., former Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.

Krumholz, the OpenSecrets executive director, has been asked to testify before the Senate on foreign lobbying twice. The group has also been asked to provide written testimony on foreign lobbying several times, including in remarks entered into the congressional record in December.

The Obama administration made strides in making more government data publicly available and accessible, but usability is still a problem. Outside entities like OpenSecrets and Bloomberg often provide more intuitive and user-friendly information.

OpenSecrets contains other significant data collections, including money raised by lawmakers, candidates and political action committees on both the state and federal levels. There is no evidence at this time that any of that data has been inaccurate.
Themiccosukee tribe of indians of florida casino governments of Iran and China have signed a cooperation agreement to block the entrance of low quality products from the Asian giant to the Islamic Republic, as reported by the Iranian television channel Press TV.

The document, signed in Beijing on Saturday, is a regulation of products entering into the country and aims to control and regulate the goods that cross national boundaries, according to IRNA agency reported.

The agreement came after years of negotiations on the matter. In practice, affects the 4,500 consumer and industrial goods imported from China to Iran. According to the text, all products entering the country must meet the Iranian law and must have received the validation of its quality by both countries.

The document is an important step in developing economic and trade cooperation between Iran and China, said the Iranian ambassador in Beijing, Mahdi Safari.

The bilateral trade volume reached 30,000 million dollars annually. Safari has said that it is hoped that through this agreement this amount will increase by another 10,000 million in the remainder of the year.

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Ever since German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that he will visit China in November,there have been endless discussions in public opinion in Germany and the West. Scholz will be the first EU leader to visit China in more than three years if the visit takes place.In an interview with the German media, Scholz said that going to Beijing is very important to him, and that no one wants to "decouple" from China at the EU summit. This is an objective statement of fact as well as a pragmatic attitude toward China.This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. The achievements the two countries have made in the past 50 years are phenomenal. The Volkswagen Santana cars were almost one of the iconic projects of China's reform and opening-up in the 1980s and 1990s. By 2021, Beijing has been Berlin's largest trading partner for six consecutive years. It is normal for Scholz to choose a monumental day to keep his country's friendly relations with its largest trading partner going on through a visit.However, while Scholz himself and the German business community have repeatedly expressed high expectations from the China visit, some radical forces have been picking fault with Scholz's trip from the very beginning. They threatened Scholz not to "bend over" to China and even intimidated German companies that had accepted Scholz's invitation to visit their Chinese counterparts. To some extent, Scholz's planned visit has become a target for these ideological snipers.A Chinese company's acquisition of shares of a container terminal in the Port of Hamburg is the latest material these forces have found. The Port of Hamburg is the largest in Germany, and it had been hoping to attract investment for a long time, but no one had shown interest in it. It was Chinese shipping company COSCO that offered an olive branch to the port. And although COSCO only acquired a small amount of stake in one of the port's four container terminals, some forces have made a big deal out of it, claiming that the project would deepen Germany's "economic dependence" on China and threaten the security of Germany's commercially sensitive information. The most absurd claim is that China will use the Port of Hamburg to complete its "encirclement" of the European coastline, which could be used by China to "blackmail the EU" if a "war" between China and the US begins.Anyone with some basic knowledge of water transportation and logistics knows that an international port often has multiple terminals and the Chinese enterprise's acquisition of a minority stake in one of the thermals, which is equivalent to renting a store in a large shopping mall, cannot impact the ownership of the entire port anyhow. The imports and exports of Chinese and German commodities rely on the Port of Hamburg, which is a good thing for both the local region and Germany as a whole. Local officials in Hamburg scoffed at those who lack basic common sense, calling them "self-appointed port experts." This is a befitting title. Not only that, they become "communication experts" when it comes to the Huawei equipment, and they turn into "labor experts" when it comes to the Xinjiang cotton. They seem to know everything, but in fact, they are only good at manipulating ideology.No matter what kind of prejudice and malice these people harbor toward China, their actions are actually creating trouble for Scholz and digging Germany and Europe into a hole. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has exacerbated the predicament facing Europe, and some external forces have taken the opportunity to distort the narrative and stigmatize links with China as "dangerous" or even "a threat." For this kind of fraudulence, Europeans, including Germans, need to fight it and be vigilant of being fooled. Let's think it in another logic: If Europe weakens or even cuts off its ties with China, can it really be more "independent" and "secure?" And who is the most impatient one, waiting to eat the cake left by the "decoupling" between China and Europe?For US and Western politicians, it is easy to unilaterally stage a show of "being tough on China." They only need to shout into the microphone. What is difficult to do is promote pragmatic cooperation and truly improve the well-being of the general public. The latter is worthy of being recorded and written into history. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1990, China accounted for less than 1 percent of Germany's trade volume. By 2021, this figure has risen to 9.5 percent. What has driven China-Germany relations forward are not only the intertwining interests, but also profound insight into the trend of the times. China and Germany joining hands to support economic globalization and multilateralism and making the bilateral relations continue to play a stable, constructive and leading role will not only benefit the two peoples, but also make important contributions to world peace and tranquility.Among those absurd remarks over Scholz's visit to China, the most arrogant argument is that Germany is throwing a life-saving buoy to China's diplomacy. Arrogance is the twin brother of inferiority. The sense of superiority of these people is crumbling, but occasionally it has an outburst.This is what we want to say: By adhering to economic globalization and practicing multilateralism, the big ship of China has always sailed on the right side of the historical trend. As for the life-saving buoy, leave it to those sailing against the currents; we simply don't need it.
July 4,spina zonke hollywoodbets login 2011, Pyongyang, Kim Il Sung Square, 100,000 people gathering, condemned South Korean Lee Myung-bak government as Gang of unprecedented traitors.

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Thailands first Hong Kong Film Festival, which will display 10 internationally awarded HK movies, was launched in Bangkok Thursday night.

The event, organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore, will present those selected HK movies to Thai for free in downtown Bangkok from April 27 to April 30.

Speaking at the gala premiere, which attracted some 300 Thai government officials and representatives from trade associations and the film industry, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong government John Tsang said Hong Kong films have gained worldwide acclaim over the years as outstanding performances by HK actors, directors and producers have grabbed with over 300 international awards.

As home to more than nine million overseas Chinese, which is more than the entire population of Hong Kong, Thailand offers huge opportunities for our citys film productions. Bangkok, with its own proud cinematic history, is also a prime location for exchange and information-sharing in the field of film art, said Tsang.

This is why we are organizing the first Hong Kong Film Festival here in Bangkok, he said. Hong Kong boasts a total population of 7.1 million.

The opening movie, A Simple Life, has scooped awards at regional and international film festivals, including the Venice Film Festival, Taipeis Golden Horse Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards which was held earlier this month.

In recent years, Hong Kongs film industry has broadened its horizons through closer collaboration with its counterparts in China Mainland. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has vastly expanded access to the Mainlands movie market, said Tsang.

I encourage Thai film companies to use Hong Kong as the gateway to tap the growing business opportunities in the Mainland. 

Xinhua

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China has strongly protested against the landing on the Diaoyu Islands by Japanese government security personnel. A number of Japanese security personnel landed on the islands illegally on Friday evening, in the name of preventing Taiwan activists from doing so.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei says the move constitutes a severe violation of Chinas territorial sovereignty and the Chinese side has made solemn representations to the Japanese side on the issue.

Hong Lei urges the Japanese side to stop all activities that infringe upon Chinas sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. He notes that China will continue to take measures to defend its sovereignty over the territory.

Xinhua

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What Is NEXUS?cryptocurrency coins to buy now

NEXUS is a government-sponsored Trusted Travelers Program that allows pre-screened U.S. and Canadian citizens to expedite border crossings. U.S. and Canadian citizens using NEXUS experience expedited border crossings into the United States and Canada with less immigration and customs questioning. NEXUS is valid for air, land, and sea travel, and a NEXUS ID can be used in lieu of a passport.

NEXUS also helps the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reduce travel risks by increasing the number of known safe travelers.

Key Takeaways

NEXUS is a government-sponsored program that eases travel bureaucracy for pre-screened citizens of the United States and Canada across air, land, and sea.

NEXUS members can use the Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs without applying separately to each.

Membership to NEXUS is valid for slightly more than five years and is available by paying a $50 fee and consenting to a background check and personal interview.

Understanding NEXUS

NEXUS members experience more efficient border crossings between the United States and Canada through dedicated lanes, airport kiosks, and land and sea border checkpoints. NEXUS members do not have to remove their shoes, belts, or light outerwear for airport security screenings and can keep their laptops and 3-1-1 compliant bag of liquids in their carry-on bags.

NEXUS members can use the Global Entry and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Precheck traveler programs without applying separately to each. Global Entry members can use the NEXUS program to cross the border from Canada into the United States without becoming NEXUS members. However, expedited crossing from the United States into Canada requires NEXUS membership.

Applying for NEXUS

NEXUS applicants must pay a $50 fee (USD or CND) and submit to a background check and a personal interview. If approved by both the United States' and Canadian governments, applicants receive a NEXUS ID card with their photo and radio frequency identification document (RFID) functionality. The card is valid for slightly more than five years and can be renewed following the same procedure as outlined above. The date of expiration is calculated from the next birthdate after the cardholder's last interview. NEXUS participants can also have their irises scanned as an alternative form of identification at border crossings.

NEXUS is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent U.S. residents, Canadian citizens, and lawful permanent residents of Canada. Individuals with a criminal history, customs violations, or immigration violationsor who do not meet criteria for admission to the United States or Canadamay not be approved for NEXUS. Either country can deny an individuals application, but both must approve it.

Reasons for NEXUS Ineligibility

You may not be eligible for participation in the NEXUS program if you:
Theotc crypto stocks myst crypto price debt crisis in Greece is a good opportunity for Chinese companies to invest in the privatization plan that will reorganize the country, said Sunday the Chinese ambassador to Greece.

Ambassador Luo Linquan (), whose remarks were reported by the Xinhua news agency, estimates that the impact of the debt crisis on trade between China and Greece will be limited and that Chinese companies should consider how to take this opportunity.

Greece needs structural reform and privatization. Amenities in transport, new energy, electricity, water will gradually open to foreign companies, he added. There are projects where Chinese companies are very good at, he said.

The Greek privatization program will begin with the sale of the company OPAP Paris, number one in its sector in Europe.

China has mentioned several times to have faith in the euro and the ability of Europe to address the crisis.

The governor of Chinas central bank Zhou Xiaochuan said on Saturday that China welcomed the second bailout plan for Greece and China would still trust in the euro area and its currency.

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U.S. President Barack Obama is facing sustained pressure from his counterparts at the Summit of the Americas in Colombia to include Cuba in future meetings.

Both leftist and conservative-run nations are pushing for communist-run Cuba to be included in the next summit. The summits host, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, told the gathering that there is no reason in the current climate to exclude the island nation.

Isolation, the embargo, indifference, turning away, have all already shown their ineffectiveness, he said. In todays world, thats not a justifiable path. Its an anachronism that ties us to the era of the Cold War that was overcome decades ago.

Ecuadors President Rafael Correa is boycotting the gathering in Cartagena to protest Cubas absence.

The United States has argued that Cuba is ineligible to attend because it lacks democratic credentials and does not respect the human rights of the Cuban people.

More than 30 heads of state and government are taking part in the sixth Summit of the Americas. The two-day regional meeting ends Sunday.

Drug legalization is another divisive issue that has emerged at the summit. President Santos and other leaders say it should be considered as a more effective and less expensive alternative to the U.S.-led war on drugs. President Obama reiterated his opposition to the move, though he recognized the brutal toll of drug violence and said he is open to legitimate discussions.

On Saturday, Obama said Washington wants deeper economic relations in the Western Hemisphere, but that existing barriers hamper greater integration.

Obama spoke of impressive economic growth in Latin America and highlighted two U.S. free trade agreements  one with the host country, Colombia, and the other with Panama. But he also said stark inequalities endure in the region, with far too many people still living in poverty.

Santos has urged his fellow leaders to be partners for prosperity, which is part of the official theme of the gathering.

Washingtons influence in Latin America has waned since the last summit in 2009, as the region increases its economic and diplomatic ties with emerging economies such as China and India.

Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly and his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, are not attending the summit for medical reasons.

VOA

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Mayor urges business support for 'inspiring' young people

The Mayor of the Islands capital is asking for businesses to come forward and help empower young people to learn new skills.

Councillor Natalie Byron-Teare, J.P. made the call during a visit to Ballakermeen High School where she met students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Speaking to pupils in years 9-13, she urged local companies to assist students with placements in the New Year as they seek volunteering opportunities which benefit the local community.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme has inspired and continues to inspire generations of young people, she explained.

It was so enjoyable to meet Ballakermeen students who are currently participating at various stages and their fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and boundless energy really shone through.

To become involved in a project or with an organisation to help others change things for the better is highly rewarding and helps participants learn about teamwork, how to overcome challenges, achieve goals and grow in confidence.

Of course, volunteering plays such an important role and opportunities have to be provided so I would ask businesses to get in touch with the youth service which runs the scheme in the Island about providing such openings.

The Department of Educations youth service delivers the award through secondary schools, voluntary youth organisations and independent groups in which students work towards their bronze, silver and, ultimately, gold awards via a series of sections  volunteering, physical and skills  and tackle and complete a number of expeditions.

At any one time around 800 young people in the Isle of Man can be working towards the awards.
A federal judge in California has shot down Elon Musks attempt to invalidate a state social media law, first reported by The Verge. The states AB 587 requires social companies to publish their content moderation policies, something Musks X (formerly Twitter) claimed violated the First Amendment. US District Judge William Shubb wrote on Thursday, It does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law.

Xs lawyers had argued the law was unconstitutional and would lead to censorship. AB 587 has both the purpose and likely effect of pressuring companies such as X Corp. to remove, demonetize, or deprioritize constitutionally-protected speech, the company wrote in its lawsuit, filed in September. The company claimed the laws true intent was to pressure social media platforms to eliminate certain constitutionally-protected content viewed by the State as problematic.

Judge Shubb saw things differently. The reports required by AB 587 are purely factual, he wrote. The reporting requirement merely requires social media companies to identify their existing content moderation policies, if any, related to the specified categories.

He continued, The required disclosures are also uncontroversial. The mere fact that the reports may be tied in some way to a controversial issue does not make the reports themselves controversial.

Shubb concluded that Californias Attorney General Rob Bonta met the burden of demonstrating the law was reasonably related to a substantial government interest in requiring social media companies to be transparent about their content moderation policies and practices so that consumers can make informed decisions about where they consume and disseminate news and information.

Its been a rocky year for X in Musks first year of ownership. The company changed its name, hired a new CEO, launched a snarky AI chatbot, brought back a notorious conspiracy theorist and bled money as the ad industry got cold feet about brands sitting next to content from Nazi sympathizers. Oh, and the EU has opened formal infringement proceedings against the company formerly known as Twitter.
Google has tentatively settled a $5 billion lawsuit accusing the Mountain View-based tech company of secretly tracking the internet activities of millions of users. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Google has tentatively settled a $5 billion lawsuit accusing the Mountain View tech giant of secretly tracking the internet activities of millions of users who believed its Chrome browser protected their privacy while in incognito mode, according to court documents.

The class action lawsuit, scheduled for a Feb. 5 trial, was temporarily halted by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland on Thursday after a preliminary settlement was reached between Google and the consumers lawyers.

The legal action sought at least $5 billion in damages for alleged violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws, averaging $5,000 per plaintiff.

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Although the specific terms of the settlement were not revealed, the attorneys stated that they had reached a binding term sheet through mediation. A formal settlement proposal is expected to be submitted for court approval by Feb. 24.

Neither Google nor the plaintiffs lawyers had publicly commented on the settlement by Thursday evening.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, claimed that users in incognito mode were misled by Googles Chrome browser, thinking their searches and viewing history were untraceable. However, legal representatives for the plaintiffs cited internal emails among Google executives, claiming that the company was able to monitor its customers in Incognito mode through its analytics and other tools, leading to the creation of an unaccountable trove of information.

Google has denied the claims.

Earlier this month, Google settled a lawsuit for $700 million over allegations of anti-competitive practices in its Android app store. Additionally, Google faces a significant antitrust case over its dominant search engine, with closing arguments scheduled for early May in Washington, D.C.
NVIDIA is set to release a low-powered version of the GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card specifically for the Chinese market to comply with US export rules, as reported by The Verge. The RTX 4090D already has a product page on the companys Chinese website and it boasts fewer CUDA cores than its similarly-named cousin. It also features a lower power draw of 425W instead of 450W.

Most of the other specs remain the same between the two versions, but the fewer CUDA cores and decreased power draw force a five percent reduction in speed when gaming and using creative applications, according to Reuters. Even with the performance dip, NVIDIA still says the 4090D is a "quantum leap in performance, efficiency and artificial intelligence-driven graphics.

This is all due to US export restrictions on high-end computer chips shipped to China and Russia, in an attempt to curb both nations from developing technology that could be used in applications like weapons making and surveillance. These rules were announced back in 2022 but officially put into place this year, leaving manufacturers like NVIDIA scrambling to find a solution that met the needs of both Chinese consumers and US regulators.

We knew that the company was going to make new chips specifically for the massive Chinese market, as the restrictions prevented it from selling the original RTX 4090 and a bevy of AI-related GPUs. NVIDIA says the updated GPU has been designed to fully comply with US government export controls and added that it extensively engaged with the US government throughout development of the chip.

The RTX 4090D will be available throughout China at some point in January, at a price of 12,999 or around $1,836 USD. This should help lessen demand for powerful graphics cards in the country, as the aforementioned restrictions have reportedly led to the repurposing of factories to focus on AI accelerators instead of the banned RTX 4090.
The last few years have been, to put it mildly, rough. And 2023 continued to bring sad tidings. Amid the humanitarian crisis that is the Palestine-Israeli conflict, plus increased fears around the credibility and reliability of AI and Elon Musks ongoing meltdown, techs biggest players also suffered their fair share of losses. This year, we saw the demise of the E3 gaming convention, the deterioration of popular online forums and the decline of cryptocurrencies, Silicon Valley banks and financial institutions. Not to mention the poor neighbors of the Twitter office in San Francisco who had to endure obnoxious, potentially epilepsy-triggering lights flashing from the building. While we can happily say good riddance to many of these things, it is with some sadness that we bid farewell and condolences to some of this years worst developments.

The X, Twitter and Elon Musk fiasco

No Losers in 2023 list is complete without mentioning the fiasco that is Elon Musks Twitter (or X). Last year, shortly after Musk acquired Twitter, some of us were asked to make predictions about how Musks new venture would fare. I felt that it was a high-risk, high-reward move that might work due to Musks combination of luck and smarts, based mainly on his previous success heading up Tesla and SpaceX.

However, I also said that Twitter might devolve into the most chaotic social media platform around, which is pretty much what happened. In hindsight, what I failed to account for was that unlike Tesla and SpaceX, Musk doesnt seem to give a crap about running X like a business and has treated the company more as an expensive toy meant to call attention to the sins (at least in his mind) of social media. And when you combine his increasingly unhinged personality with shortsighted decisions, what you get is an organization in turmoil. So while not all of these things occurred in 2023, here are just a few of the dumbest things that Musk and X have done in the last 18 months.

A little over a year ago, Musk blew up Twitters verification system, which promptly led to fake accounts sporting seemingly legit handles doing things like posting an image of Mario flipping the bird, the pope spreading conspiracy theories and more. Then earlier this year in June, Musk decided to block users who werent logged in from seeing tweets, which caused Google and others to remove Twitter content from search results. Thats not a very smart move for a company that relies heavily on traffic to generate ad revenue, so it wasnt a big surprise when Musk backtracked a week later.

But perhaps Musks biggest blunder was changing Twitters name to X in July, a move so silly that most people continue to pretend like the rebranding never happened. Oh and lets not forget that the name change was commemorated with a sign that was mounted on the companys HQ in San Francisco that blinded its neighbors and didnt have proper permits, resulting in an installation that lasted barely more than a weekend. More recently, citing a rise in hate speech, major companies including Apple and Disney decided to pull ads from X, which later prompted Musk to tell Disney CEO Bob Iger to Go fuck yourself. Another clearly wise business move made by a very grounded individual. (Thats sarcasm, in case its not clear.)

At this point, its hard to imagine how much worse X can get, but given everything thats happened in 2023, its plain that the company formerly known as Twitter hasnt even hit rock bottom yet.  Sam Rutherford, Senior reporter

David Imel for Engadget

Microsofts Surface tablet

No offense to the Surface Laptop Studio 2, which is a mighty powerful and uniquely convertible laptop, but this year felt like a low point for Microsofts iconic Surface tablets. The Surface Pro 9 hasnt been upgraded at all since last, so its still running either an older 12th-gen Intel chip. There is a 5G-equipped model with a custom ARM-based Microsoft SQ3 chip, but we recommend staying far far away from that thing. And beyond the Laptop Studio 2, we only got the Surface Laptop Go 3 for consumers(the tiny Surface Go 4 tablet is now firmly targeted as business users, it doesnt even show up on the main Surface site).

It almost seems like Microsofts dream of creating a true tablet/laptop hybrid is dead  or at the very least, its on pause as the company focuses on shoving its AI Copilot into all of its products. Lets face it: While the Surface business has earned a bit of money for Microsoft, its a pittance compared to what the company sees from its Azure cloud revenue. Instead, the Surface devices proved that Microsoft could produce high-end Windows hardware that occasionally pushed the PC industry forward.

Its been 11 years since Microsoft announced its first Surface devices, but it turns out most consumers didnt want to replace their laptops with tablets. Simpler 2-in-1 convertible devices, like HPs Spectre x360 16, are far less common these days (and notably, they also work best in their notebook modes). And it doesnt help that Windows 11 is still far from tablet friendly. If you really want to get work done on a slate, it simply makes more sense to get an iPad and a keyboard case instead.

With Microsofts Surface visionary, Panos Panay, now at Amazon, there doesnt seem to be much hope left for the companys tablet concept. But who knows, maybe the Surface Neo will finally make a return as a true foldable some day. (Remember the Surface Duo, another failure?) A Windows user can only dream.  Devindra Hardawar, Senior reporter

Amazon

Amazons Halo hardware products

Speaking of dreams, mine were dashed by Amazon in July this year when the company pulled support for its Halo line of health-related hardware products. In fact, my sleep itself might have been affected, since I had just gotten used to checking my Halo app each morning to see the amount of rest I got the night before.

Amazons Halo division has been plagued with controversy since it launched the screenless Halo wearable in 2020. The device was a barebones activity tracker, but stood out for an opt-in feature that used onboard mics to listen to you speaking and tell if you sound stressed, upbeat or emotional. This caught a lot of attention, with people saying this was akin to Amazon trying to police your way of speaking. Many other reviewers, myself included, were more critical of the fact that, though the Tone feature did flag times when wearers sounded happy or sad, it did not present enough information for that data to be useful.

The Halo app also offered a way for you to use your phones camera for a body composition scan. Youd have to enter your height and weight, before stripping down to your underwear and posing for four pictures, showing your front, back and sides. The app would then tell you how much of your body is fat or muscle.

If it sounds dubious, its probably because it is. Though Amazon said its Halo body fat measurement is as accurate as methods a doctor would useand nearly twice as accurate as leading at-home smart scales. Spoiler: It wasnt. I used the Body feature every few months for about two years, comparing it to the bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) sensor on Samsungs Galaxy Watch when that became available. Over time, as my body composition changed, I also got BIA scans at the F45 gym I go to, which uses a more sophisticated machine. Amazons scans were wildly off, while the Samsung watch came closer to the data gleaned from the machine at my gym.

Photo by: Cherlynn Low / Engadget

All that is to say that Amazons Halo products havent been great. But that seemed to start to change when the company launched the Halo Rise bedside sleep tracker this year. I loved it for the way it accurately detected when I fell asleep, calculated the different stages I was in (REM, Deep, Light etc) and more importantly how it did all that without requiring me to wear something to bed or install a new mattress. I finally had a feasible way to track my sleep and use that to figure out how hard or easy I should take each days workout, along with other activities and stresses.

Alas, that joy was short-lived. Despite Amazon acquiring healthcare companies and clearly investing more into becoming a pharmaceutical provider, it gave up on the Halo business this year. Maybe thats not such a bad thing, since one good product doesnt an entire profitable endeavor make. Amazon not having access to my sleep, heart rate, steps and tone is probably for the best, as we contemplate a future where the online shopping giant is also our doctor and pharmacist.  Cherlynn Low, Deputy editor

E3

For as long as I can remember, Ive been reading and talking about games, but the internet expanded my horizons beyond the confines of the UK magazine industry. In the late 90s, at age 13, I started writing (very badly) for a popular game site, covering release dates, special editions and other unimportant things.

Within a couple of years Id lost interest in writing, but I still hung out in the same IRC channels talking about games with likeminded people. IRC started my obsession with E3 and the Tokyo Game Show; weeks where Id talk about these huge events with a weird milieu of fans and industry professionals.

In 2000, the fever around Metal Gear Solid 2s E3 debut was out of this world. The first-person reports from the show were unbelievably positive. When the trailer finally became available to download a few weeks later, it quickly spread across the internet. I can still remember the mix of frustration and excitement as I downloaded it from an IRC bot at 7KB a second to finally get a glimpse of next-gen gaming.

MGS2 was peak E3 for me, and in hindsight it was also the moment E3 began to die: Why did I need to read a 1,000-word breakdown of a trailer when I could just download and watch it myself? Why should Konami spend big money on a booth when it could just release a trailer directly to its potential customers?

Back then, I was the only person I knew IRL who was extremely online. Now, everyone is. By the 2010s, when I started to attend E3 myself, the role of press and the show had shifted. Nintendo E3 Directs were in full swing, and the big shows from Sony, Microsoft, Bethesda, Ubisoft and EA were all beamed live to fans. Sure, I got to play some games and interview some developers, but thats something that happens throughout the year now.

E3 remained one of the highlights of my calendar, and there were always some memorable moments  the PS4 and Xbox One reveals were probably the highlight of my in-person years  but by 2019, my excitement was more tied to seeing farflung colleagues and old industry friends than it was the event itself. When the pandemic canceled the 2020 event, it was obviously it would never recover. Wed written about how the industry didnt need E3 years before.

Summer Game Fest will happen again next year. It will never hit the scale of the show its replacing, but I hope that it becomes a strong enough brand to keep the idea of E3 going. Theres still something exciting for fans, and journalists, about a week of gaming announcements to predict and dissect. If more companies spread their events throughout the year, that last bit of E3 magic will be gone.  Aaron Souppouris, Executive Editor

Cryptocurrencies and finance in tech

Much as we pretend mathematics represents an immutable truth, we must remember its not without its loopholes. Centuries from now, historians researching crypto may assume humanity forgot that as it decided to substitute math for truth in its entirety. That the prodigies of this world sought to engineer out human fallibility between League of Legends sessions. Uncertain, wooly and hard-to-quantify concepts like truth and trust would be tossed out in favor of the certainty of pure math. Thats the PR line: The Bitcoin white paper describes the virtual currency as a system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust. Its ironic, then, that so many high-profile people who hitched their mast to crypto are either in prison, or are awaiting trial for fraud.

Those same historians may wonder if crypto was merely a vehicle ripe for hijack by unethical types, or if its inherent fraudiness was written into its DNA. 2023 will offer plenty of material to scrub through given the number of figures who wound up face-to-face with law enforcement. Coinbase started the year accused of leaving gaps in its systems big enough to enable fraud, money laundering and drug dealing. Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky was sued and later arrested  alongside the companys chief revenue officer, Roni Cohen-Pavon. Not long after, Terraform Labs was charged by the SEC for securities fraud after it wiped out $45 billion or so. Bear in mind, this is a year-in-review story, and Ive only managed to make it as far as February.

Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange by volume, dominated headlines this year much as FTX had in 2022. Regulators accused it, and its founder Changpeng CZ Zhao of deliberately undermining its own controls and processes to not-so tacitly enable users to break the law. Zhou would plead guilty, step down as CEO and pay a hefty fine which enabled the company to keep running. Oh, and we should mention the Winklevoss Twins, their exchange and its partners, who were accused of defrauding investors to the tune of $1 billion. Ironic then, that Ferrari finally decided to try to appeal to the Lambo-and-Tendies demographic by opening up crypto purchases for its cars just as things started to get tough.

Of course, the real loser in all of this has to be Michael Lewis who, with an MA in Economics and experience as a bond trader for Salomon Brothers in one hand, and a ringside seat with Sam Bankman-Fried in the other, managed to miss what was going on at FTX. Lewis has doubled down in support of his latest muse but now that SBF has been found guilty of fraud, it looks like his reputation as the most credible financial journalist of the age is in tatters.  Daniel Cooper, Senior reporter

STRF/STAR MAX/IPx

Reddit

I've been a longtime Reddit lurker, occasional poster and always a first-party app user. But when the drama about the company's decision to start charging for API access started to unfold in April, my eyes were opened to the wonderful world of third-party Reddit clients. Too bad, though, that the company proceeded to then botch it all.

Because API access was no longer free, many apps like Apollo, RIF, BaconReader and Narwhal had to reconsider their pricing or shut down altogether. Reddits policy change didnt just challenge these apps, which mostly offered superior browsing experiences to the companys own. It also created problems for clients that were built for more accessible use, rendering them unusable unless their developers ponied up the fees, which could go up as much as tens of thousands of dollars (or, in Apollos case, an estimated $20 million a year).

While Reddit did eventually seem to concede that the API fees would shut out some users with disabilities and ended up working with some unnamed developers to give them free access, the company dug in its heels in the wake of public outrage and subreddit blackouts. In the second half of the year, subreddits all over the platform either stopped posting, changed their settings to private or NSFW or dedicated themselves to only putting up salacious images of Last Week Tonight host John Oliver.

Reddit didnt just ignore the protests and carry on with its planned fees. It went as far as to forcibly take over some communities that went dark, while looking for volunteers to take over certain subreddits that it deemed to have violated its Moderator Code of Conduct.

According to internet analytics company Similarweb in June, Reddit saw a 6.6 percent drop in average daily traffic. We dont have the latest statistics on how the company is doing now, but I can tell you from personal experience that the first-party app on iOS is a complete shitshow. Like many other Redditors have pointed out before, videos will autoplay unmuted out of nowhere for no reason, while Ive encountered numerous infuriating bugs, including one where a video on a post was repeatedly going on and off mute while I was also trying to stream Spotify to a speaker. It just sucks.

After the mass subreddit blackouts spawned a bunch of duplicate communities with different moderators, the quality of posts have noticeably fallen, as well. Not to mention the company got rid of trophies and then attempted to bring them back again in a confusing format. Throw in the fact that the community now seems to be a mix of karma-farming bots and commenters who copy and paste the same jokes over and over again, the days of enjoyable Reddit scrolling seem to have come to an end in 2023.  Cherlynn Low

This article contains affilate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
Sixteenth-century French astrologer and seer Nostradamus -- nicknamed "the prophet of doom" -- has predictions about events and things that could happen to the royal family in 2024.

As 2023 comes to a close, many are looking into the book of prophecies published by Nostradamus in 1555 to see what may happen in the following year. In his book titled "Les Propheties" ("The Prophecies"), his predictions are written in four lines of rhyming verses called quatrains.

One of the passages in Nostradamus' big book of prophecies talks about a "King of the Isles" being "driven out by force," per IFL Science.

Another passage reads, "Soon afterward [a disastrous war] a new King shall be anointed / Who, for a long time, will appease the earth."

Mario Reading, a British author and Nostradamus commentator, provided an analysis of the predictions of the French astrologer, who may have foreseen Queen Elizabeth II's death too, per Daily Mail.

According to Reading, the predictions point to King Charles III. The "King of the Isles" being "driven out by force" allegedly refers to the king "abdicating due to 'persistent attacks on both himself and his second wife.'"

Another line that says, "one who will have no mark of a king," allegedly refers to Prince Harry replacing him, not Prince William or any of the latter's children.

However, it should be noted that the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, officially announced through a statement in February 2021 that "they will not be returning as working members of the royal family."

Meanwhile, Nostradamus' predictions also include a climate catastrophe, as indicated in this line, "The dry earth will grow more parched, and there will be great floods when it is seen."

A great famine is also predicted: "Very great famine through [a] pestiferous wave."

According to Nostradamus' predictions, Pope Francis could also be replaced soon.

"Through the death of a very old Pontiff / A Roman of good age will be elected / Of him it will be said that he weakens his see / But long will he sit and in biting activity."

The 87-year-old pope is currently having health issues. Recently, he had a flu and an inflammation of his respiratory airways.
Anwar provides rides in his cycle rickshaw in the backstreets of Tiljala, a neighbourhood in south-eastern Kolkata. Known as one of the largest minority-dominant slums in the city, Tiljala is now developing into an area occupied by a lower-middle-class populace despite persisting precarious conditions. However, the emerging housing development is pushing settlers like Anwar towards the peripheries, away from the urban labour markets, in search of low-priced accommodation. Unable to afford the room rent in the building that replaced his slum hutment in the city, Anwar moved to Mallikpur, in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Every day, he parks his rickshaw in the alley in Tiljala, where his hutment once stood, in return for a negotiated payment to the landlords confederates. His earnings have shrunk. He has to wind up business early and return home on an overcrowded train, the paltry income leaving little for the family, including his childs medical needs.

Nevertheless, there are otherssocial workers like Shaukat and backstreet entrepreneurs like Golapwhose social networks and the ability to negotiate rent generation have enabled them to expand political stakes and earning opportunities amid daily survival struggles. We highlight their stories in the following pages as we discuss why such an urban transformation is expanding in Kolkatas low-income neighbourhoods. We refer to this ongoing change as slum verticalisation to explain the growth of dense vertical slumssmall- to medium-sized multistorey tenements in open slum hutments in Kolkatas thika tenancy lands. We ask, what kind of social relations are produced by and through this socio-spatial transformation? What implications does the interplay of social networks carry for the lives and livelihoods of settlers inhabiting low-income settlements in the city?
Friday, December 29, 2023

Many member countries of the UN seem not to notice that one of the Security Councils permanent members that is leading calls for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza is unfit to do so. Or perhaps it has become acceptable for any country, even one that is currently actively bombing power plants, water systems, non-military dwellings, and other civilian infrastructure in an unprovoked invasion of another country, to request a humanitarian ceasefire in another war.

The Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and Israels response to it have intensified the long-running debate about Americas historical role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Biden administration has been widely criticized, both in America and around the world, for giving blanket support to Israel in its current war with Hamas. The war, and Americas official stance on it, are expected to be pivotal issues in next years U.S. presidential elections. The rest of the world has meanwhile loudly expressed its displeasure through a variety of avenues.

But why didnt the global community extend the same level of sympathy to the Ukrainians who lived through hell during the Russian siege of Mariupol and Bakhmut? Russia has bombed hospitals, killing pregnant women, the elderly, and children in the process. It has bombed schools and apartment building all across Ukraine. According to a UN report, at least 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, including 560 children, have been killed since the start of the war, with over 18,500 wounded.

The Wall Street Journal just reported that earlier today, Russia unleashed a barrage of drones and missiles on major Ukrainian cities in one of the largest attacks in that war thus far. Kinzhal ballistic as well as cruise missiles were reportedly used in the attacks. At least 18 people are said to have been killed, with over 100 injured. According to the report, a maternity ward, educational facilities, and multi-story residential buildings were among the structures destroyed.

The numerous votes that have been held at the UN on the Ukraine war have mostly called for the condemnation of Russias wanton aggression. Shockingly, many countries couldnt even vote for something as straightforward as that. There were some who actually blamed Ukraine for provoking Russia into attacking it. To the extent that anyone called for anything remotely resembling a ceasefire, it was only to allow grain shipments from Ukraine to far-flung countries whose citizens were starving because of the war. Many of those needy nations had earlier said that the war was a European problem and none of their business. It turns out it was their business all along.

There is clearly a selective outrage problem at the UN. Whataboutism is the primary instrument that many countries use to rationalize this hypocrisy. They say because America has had its own share of bombings and invasions of other countries in the past, they should not be called upon to criticize Russia or any other major power that does similar things. Circumstance and passage of time dont matter to these people.

The problem is that this bending over backwards to justify some wrongs while loudly calling out others of similar nature creates moral confusion. Without a clear and universally consistent set of principles, sooner or later, everyone starts to find ways to absolve themselves of their deeds, regardless of how evil they are.

Last winter, Russia deliberately and systematically bombed power plants and other energy infrastructure in an attempt to freeze Ukrainians to death. The goal was obviously to sap Ukraines will to fight. As far as war crimes go, it is one of the worst, but there was no universal outcry over it. Russia has resumed this sinister campaign this winter, and again there is deafening global silence.

I lived through six Ukrainian winters during my time there as a student so I am quite familiar with the severity of that wintertime weather. The cold is bone-chilling. Even with the war still raging, there are reportedly hundreds of foreign students who have remained in Ukraine to continue their studies because that is the only option they have. Many of these students grew up in tropical climates so I can only imagine how dire their situation is as they shelter in their freezing dormitory rooms and apartments without heat.

The world seems to be imploding right now. Someone or something is desperately needed to hold it together, and the UN is about the only hope there is. By its treatment of Russia as a normal member at this particular time, as it just did during the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, the UN risks letting its moral inconsistency turn it into a joke.
by M. K. Bhadrakumar





Russias special military operation in Ukraine is entering a new phase. President Vladimir Putin lifted the fog of war and hinted at what can be expected going forward in a landmark speech at the National Defence Control Centre while addressing a meeting of the Russian Defence Ministry Board on December 19.





Russia has gained the upper hand in the proxy war while the United States is struggling to recreate a new narrative. For Putin, this is a moment of triumph where he has no reason to take advantage of the fog of war in Ukraine, whereas, for President Biden, the fog of war continues to serve a useful purpose of dissimulation in the crucial election ahead where he seeks a second term.





President Putin addressing the expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board. [ Photo: Kremlin]





Putins speech exuded a buoyant mood. The Russian economy has not only regained its pre-2022 momentum but is accelerating toward a 3.5% growth rate by the yearend, marked by rising incomes and purchasing power for millions of its citizens and an increase in living standards. Unemployment is at an all-time low and Russia has beaten back the Western sanctions and the attempts to isolate it in the international arena.





The leitmotif of Putins speech is that this is a war that Russia never sought but was imposed on it by the US. Putin had listed last year in February five clear-cut objectives of the Russian military operation  security of the Russian population; de-nazification of Ukraine; demilitarisation of Ukraine; striving for a friendly regime in Kiev; and, non-admission of Ukraine into NATO. These are of course interlocked objectives. The US and its allies know it but continue to pretend otherwise with their focus in the proxy war has been a military victory and regime change in Russia.





Putins message is that any new Western narrative on the war is doomed to meet with the same fate as the previous one unless there is realism that Russia cannot be militarily defeated and its legitimate interests are recognised.





The heart of the matter is that the West all along perceived Ukraine as a geopolitical project targeting Russia. Today, even with defeat staring at its face, the Wests priority lies in forcing Russia to agree to a ceasefire on the basis of the existing line of contact without any geopolitical or strategic obligations on the part of Washington or the transatlantic alliance  which, de facto, would mean leaving the door for the rearmament of the battered Ukrainian military and for Kievs accession to NATO through the back door.





Suffice to say, the discredited agenda of using Ukraine as a pawn to pursue the Wests anti-Russian policy is still very much around. But Moscow will not fall for the US trap a second time, risking another war that may erupt at a time that suits NATO.





Unsurprisingly, Putins speech paid great attention to revving up Russias defence industry to meet any military exigencies that might arise. But towards the end of his speech, Putin also dwelt on Russias politico-military options under the circumstances.





On the military side, clearly, Russia will press forward the attritional war to its logical end of pushing the Ukrainian military into a strategic dead-end, which would mean seeking tactical improvements along the frontline, undermining Ukraines economic potential, inflicting military losses, and boosting Russias own defence industry on a scale that tips the balance of forces to weigh against any military adventures by the NATO.





In the final analysis, Putin asserted, Russia is determined to reclaim the vast historical territories, Russian territories, along with the population that the Bolsheviks transferred to Ukraine during the Soviet era. However, he drew an important distinction as regards the western lands of Ukraine (west of Dnieper) that are a legacy of World War II over which there could be territorial claims from Poland, Hungary and Romania, which at least in the case of Poland is also linked to the transfer of eastern German lands, the Danzig Corridor, and Danzig itself following the defeat of the Third Reich.





Putin took note that people who live there (western Ukraine)  many of them, at least, I know this for sure, 100 percent  they want to return to their historical homeland. The countries that lost these territories, primarily Poland, dream of having them back.





That said, interestingly, Putin simply washed his hands off any territorial disputes that may arise between Ukraine and its eastern neighbours(all of whom are NATO countries.) Looking ahead, this is going to be a can of worms for the US. Recently, Russias intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin used a powerful metaphor, warning that the US may face a second Vietnam in Ukraine that will come to haunt it for a long time.





The bottom line, as Putin framed it, is as follows: History will put everything in its place. We (Moscow) will not interfere, but we will not give up what is ours. Everyone should be aware of this - those in Ukraine who are aggressively disposed towards Russia, and in Europe, and in the United States. If they want to negotiate, let them do so. But we will do it only based on our interests.





Putin concluded saying that if the final arbiter is military prowess, that explains why Russia is focusing on a strong, reliable, well-equipped, and properly motivated Armed Forces backed by a strong economy and the support of the multi-ethnic people of Russia.





There is a strong likelihood of Russian military operations moving further westward toward the Dnieper in the coming months, well beyond the four new territories that joined the Russian Federation last year  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhia, and Kherson. In the absence of any negotiated settlement, Russia may choose to unilaterally liberate those southern regions of Ukraine that were historically part of Russia, which would presumably include Odessa and the entire Black Sea coast, or Kharkov to the north of the Donbass region.





Russia is expecting that the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian forces will sharply diminish in the near future and the army faces difficulty already to get new recruits. That is to say, through the year ahead, the balance of forces at the front will shift due to the Ukrainian militarys heavy losses and the drop in Western aid, and, at some point, Ukraines defences will begin to crumble.





Russias recent gains in military operations  eg., Soledar, Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), Avdeevka, Maryinka, etc.  already testify to a shift in the balance of forces between the two armies. This shift will further accelerate as Russias military-industrial complex is functioning optimally and Russia is massively deploying new types of weapons, such as gliding aviation bombs, which have altered the role of the Russian Air Force in the conflict.





Dozens of heavy aerial bombs are dropped every single day and similarly, there is increase in the use of modern barrage ammunition and some other systems, including precision-guided munitions. T-90M tanks and new types of light armoured vehicles have also appeared on the battlefield.





In comparison, Ukraine faces a decrease in arms supplies due to limited production capacities in the West where sustainable production growth on an industrial scale is not attainable in the near term. Meanwhile, the Middle East crisis and the tensions around Taiwan become major distractions for the US.





All these factors taken into account, a decisive shift in the balance of forces against Ukraine is entirely conceivable by the end of next year, leading to an end of the conflict on Russias terms.





M. K. Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat by profession. Roughly half of the 3 decades of his diplomatic career was devoted to assignments on the territories of the former Soviet Union and to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Other overseas postings included South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey. He writes mainly on Indian foreign policy and the affairs of the Middle East, Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific.
Friday, December 29, 2023

NO HOLIDAYS FOR CANDIDATE WORRIES



Author and Global Political Consultant Examines Thoughts of Incumbents and Challengers as Races Ignite

Zurich, Switzerland Global political consultant Louis Perron, author of the forthcoming book, Beat the Incumbent, knows that as soon as New Year's Day has passed, the fight for political office becomes more fierce.

The reality of electoral politics is different and often brutal. Candidates will spend hours every day asking strangers for money like a beggar and spend more time with their campaign staff than their families. Once they are seen as rising in the polls, and become a danger, they will become the target of attacks. Get ready to see stories appear about your love life, private life, your children or business matters from twenty years ago.

Questions candidates need to be asking themselves right now:

Do I really want to do this to myself? Challengers and new candidates come to me with honorable ideas on how to save their city, district or constituency.

Do I need strategic adjustments to manage the chaos? If candidates don't have a plan now, they will likely end up not having one once the campaign starts (again) for real, and their operation will be a shot-gun attack and likely end in complete chaos.

"I remember when I presented results of a survey to a campaign team a few days before Christmas," said Dr. Perron. "When I started to present, they all grabbed their cigarettes. By the end of my presentation, which I assume was physically painful, one could barely see across the room, that's how smoked filled it was. The team later told me that they spent the worst Christmas ever. But it was the wake-up call they needed."
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - In Montana, black bear hunters must pass the Bear Identification (Bear ID) Test in order to obtain their license from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP).

In years past, you used to have two options for completing the Bear ID Test; online and in person on paper at your local FWP, but this month (December 2023) they changed it so you can only take the test online.

FWP says this change is to help streamline the licensing process.

The test is 15 multiple choice questions and you have to get an 80% or higher to pass; on their website they say you can retake the test until you pass.

The Bear ID Test is used to help prevent the killing of grizzly bears since sometimes hunters can mistake them for black bears from a distance.

The color and size of bears can be misleading; so some of the better ways to distinguish between a grizzly and a black bear include looking at the size and shape of their claws, ears, faces, and shoulders.

According to Montana law, if you kill a grizzly, you could be fined anywhere between $500-$2,000 and face potential jail time.

FWP recommends taking the test on a laptop or desktop computer, as the test doesn't work on every mobile device.

Click here for Montana Bear ID tips from Montana FWP.

Black Bear season starts in April and you have to show proof of having passed the Bear ID Test before purchasing your license.
SALEM, Ohio  No one can predict the weather, but it hasnt stopped us from trying, particularly when it comes to snow and cold temperatures.

What the winter weather will look like depends a lot on who you ask. Based on long-range outlooks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ohio and Pennsylvania are leaning toward above-normal temperatures, but according to the Farmers Almanac, we can expect cold, stormy weather this winter.

The technology used in modern forecasting has become much more sophisticated in recent years, making them more representative of the actual climate system, said Johnna Infanti, a meteorologist with NOAAs Climate Prediction Center. But some people still prefer traditional weather forecasting methods, like those used in the Farmers Alamanc or enshrined in old wives tales.

Even the meteorologist admits that Mother Nature can always throw some curveballs.

Theres always something we dont know about nature, Infanti said.

The science. To make their seasonal outlooks, NOAA meteorologists rely on a suite of dynamical climate models from modeling centers across the U.S. and Canada called the North American Multi-Model Ensemble. They also use models from international modeling centers, including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model.

Those are just computer models that use a lot of equations to simulate what the climate could look like, Infanti said.

They also use statistical models to look at the influence of factors such as sea surface temperatures, climate change trends, soil moisture levels and active climate states, such as El Nino events.

NOAA updates its 90-day seasonal outlooks around the middle of each month and they are available online at nws.noaa.gov/predictions.php.

They use temperature and precipitation maps to show the probability of above-normal, near-normal or below-normal conditions across the country. For those comparisons, normal conditions for any given region are determined using data from the 30-year period from 1991 through 2020, Infanti said.

According to NOAA Climate Prediction Centers outlook for December through February, the chances of a warmer-than-average winter are higher than the chances of a cooler-than-average winter across much of the northern part of the country. Most of Ohio is predicted to have below-average amounts of precipitation.

NOAAs winter weather outlook falls in line with trends for the past couple of years. The last two winters in Ohio have displayed what meteorologists call above-normal temperatures. According to the State Climate Office of Ohio, temperatures were between 4-7 F warmer than normal this past winter.

The old-fashioned approach. Sandi Duncan, managing editor for the Farmers Almanac, said the publication continues to use an analog forecasting formula developed by the almanacs founding editor in 1818. The formula is proprietary, so the almanac does not share the details.

The weather prediction rules the Farmers Almanac uses have been updated over the years but they continue to rely on astronomical and mathematical factors including sunspot activity, the tidal action of the moon, the position of the planets and lunar cycles, Duncan said.

The past several years weve really been concentrating a lot on the moon, she said. Were looking at lunar cycles and how they line up with weather patterns years ago.

The Farmers Almanac includes long-range forecasts for all four seasons, however, the winter forecast seems to attract the most interest because people want to be prepared for winter weather, Duncan said.

People still depend on us, she said.

The staff of the Farmers Almanac has to start working on long-range forecasts as much as two years in advance to meet production schedules. Then before finalizing their forecasts, they refer to NOAA forecasts to see how El Nino or La Nina climate patterns might influence their predictions and then make appropriate adjustments, Duncan said.

In fact, in this years almanac, we did say that, based on the idea that El Nino was forming for winter, we do feel that the forecast will be pretty much spot on.

Although the Farmers Almanac reports on weather folklore such as woolly worms and persimmon seeds, the publications long-range prediction formula does not take such signs into account. We do respect the fact that weather folklore was based on years and years of observation, Duncan said.

She questions the accuracy of those nature signs for long-range forecasting, but some observations people have made over the years can be helpful for short-term forecasts. For instance, a halo around the moon is said to indicate rain or snow on the way. Those halos appear because of ice crystals that form when high altitude temperatures are low, she pointed out. So, the precipitation prediction often holds true.

People today are more connected to their cell phones and computers than the natural world, so theyre less likely to connect signs in nature to weather phenomena, Duncan added.

Lets face it, years ago people were just much more observant of nature, she said.

Even if they dont have a scientific basis, it can be fun to see how accurate folklore predictions can be, Duncan said. She doesnt consider woolly worm predictions to be particularly accurate, but she said shes intrigued by the persimmon seed prediction method.

Cutting open a persimmon seed and taking a look at the cotyledon is said to give the winter forecast. A spoon shape indicates lots of snow, a fork points to mild weather and knife means the winter will be harsh. Feedback from almanac readers indicates many people were seeing spoons this year, so the persimmon prediction seems to point toward a wet, snowy winter.

However, Duncan cautions that its important to use a local persimmon if youre looking for a forecast. Otherwise youll just end up with a forecast for the place the persimmon was grown.
Two men who were found with 20 pieces of stolen farm machinery have been sentenced to prison amid growing concern over thefts in rural areas.

Harry Hollowell, 25 and Vincent Bruce, 23, appeared at Bristol Crown Court just before Christmas Day after pleading guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods.

In October 2020, Somerset Police's Operation Remedy team  who specialise in dealing with rural burglaries  carried a stolen goods search warrant at a farm near Sparkford.

They discovered and seized 20 stolen machines, with further machines since recovered throughout the investigation.

The court heard that Hollowell and Bruce had been purchasing agricultural machinery stolen from farm burglaries in the Sedgemoor area of West Somerset throughout 2020.

They also bought and sold stolen plant machinery which had been taken from building sites in the Cardiff area in 2020.

All of which caused significant financial losses to many farmers, landowners and small businesses, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Hollowell was sentenced to three years and 2 months imprisonment and Bruce for one year and four months. Bruce had his sentence suspended for two years.

In sentencing, the judge said Hollowell had "played the leading role in a professional and sophisticated enterprise and he had profited from the loss and stress of people who were almost like neighbours".

A third man, Piotr Szor, 43, was also sentenced at the same time as Hollowell and Bruce after pleading guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods for an unrelated incident.

The court heard how in October 2020, a tractor and telehandler worth around 80,000 were stolen from a farm burglary in East Somerset.

Szor had organised for the machinery to be loaded onto a lorry bound for Poland. However, officers intercepted the lorry, recovered the machinery, and arrested him for his involvement.

Szor was sentenced to one year imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Speaking following the sentence, Det Supt James Raphael said: The needless acts of Hollowell, Bruce and Szor has cost the victims hundreds of thousands of pounds in both materials and time.

We are dedicated to supporting our rural communities and this case is a great example of the work carried out by our Operation Remedy and Rural Affairs Unit, working in collaboration with our vehicle examiners.

We hope it is reassuring to people in the rural community that action is being taken against criminals who steal the livelihoods of others.

Figures show that the cost of rural theft in the UK shot up by nearly a quarter last year as highly organised gangs of criminals continued to plague the countryside.

The UK cost of GPS theft increased by 15% to 1.8m in 2022, while quad and ATV theft cost 3 million, a 34% rise on the previous year.

The NFU said the huge increase in criminal activity was significantly impacting farm businesses.

The union's vice president, David Exwood said: Over the past 18 months highly organised gangs of criminals have continued to plague the British countryside.

The huge increase weve seen in criminal activity is significantly impacting farm businesses and farming families both financially and emotionally, with many rural communities left feeling vulnerable and intimidated."
Ariana Grande has had a "challenging" year.

Ariana Grande has reflected on her 2023 and admitted she is looking forward to next year

The 30-year-old pop star divorced Dalton Gomez in October after two years of marriage but has also been filming the role of Glinda the Good Witch in the upcoming movie adaptation of the smash-hit Broadway musical 'Wicked' and reflected on her "transformative" 12 months that have turned out to be one of "the most special years" of her whole life.

On Friday (29.12.23), she wrote on Instagram: "one of the most transformative, most challenging, and yet happiest and most special years of my life. there were so many beautiful and yet polarized feelings.

"i've never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me. i've never felt more fulfilled by or present in my work, being able to cherish every moment. i gave everything i could have possibly given of my heart and of myself to the projects i was fortunate enough to be a part of and learned so much from every brilliant, beautiful, soul that i had the privilege of creating art with and crossing paths with this year.

"i have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don't know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life. i have learned how much more important one of those things is than the other."(sic)

The 'Into You' hitmaker went on to add that she has felt "tightly held and fiercely protected" by those close to her as well as her millions of fans and is making sure she "trusts" herself as she moves forward and vowed to "protect" herself from things that are not worth her time.

She added: "i have never felt more tightly held or fiercely protected by those who love and understand me (friends, family, and fans alike). i feel safe, even amidst so many things i'd usually be afraid of. i am listening to and trusting myself, even when fear or trauma tells me not to.

"i am reacting to things that deserve my energy only and removing and protecting myself from things that do not." (sic)

The former Nickelodeon star - who is thought to now be living with boyfriend Ethan Slater, 31, in New York City - is "eternally grateful" for everything she was able to experience this year and is looking forward to the future.

She added: "i am so eternally grateful for all of the feelings i was lucky enough to feel so deeply this year. mine and Galinda's alike. the unfathomably hard ones and the inexplicably happy ones. i feel more human than ever. i feel more deeply than ever. i feel softer and stronger, all at once.

"i am wrapping you all in a cocoon of love and wishing you a very happy, healthy new year. if you ever feel misunderstood or alone, just remember that it will pass and you are not. take a deep breath and know that you are so incredibly loved.

"i cannot wait for next year." (sic)
EQS-Ad-hoc: Enapter AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Enapter AG: Co-CEO Sebastian-Justus Schmidt resigns from the Management Board for personal reasons



29-Dec-2023 / 19:35 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Co-CEO Sebastian-Justus Schmidt resigns from the Management Board for personal reasons The Co-CEO of Enapter AG, Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, informed the Supervisory Board today that he would like to step down from the Management Board for personal reasons as of 31 December 2023. Mr Schmidt will continue to be available to the company as a consultant. In preparation for Mr Schmidt's possible departure, the Supervisory Board had already appointed Dr Jurgen Lackmann as Co-CEO with effect from 1 July 2023. Dr Lackmann will continue to manage the company as CEO together with CFO Gerrit Kaufhold. The Supervisory Board would like to thank Mr Schmidt for his many years of trusting cooperation and is pleased that Mr Schmidt will remain closely associated with Enapter AG not only in an advisory capacity but also as a major shareholder.



About Enapter

Enapter is an innovative energy technology company that manufactures highly efficient hydrogen generators - so-called electrolyzers - to replace fossil fuels and thus drive the energy transition globally. The patented and proven anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology enables the mass production of cost-effective electrolyzers for the production of green hydrogen on any scale. The modular systems are already used worldwide in the energy, mobility, industry, heating and telecommunications sectors, among others. Enapter has its headquarters in Germany and a production site in Italy.

Enapter AG is listed on the regulated market of the Frankfurt and Hamburg stock exchanges, WKN: A255G0, ISIN: DE000A255G02

Further information:

Website: https://www.enapter.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Enapter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enapter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enapterenergystorage

Press contact:

Ralf Droz / Doron Kaufmann

edicto GmbH

Tel.: +49 (0) 69 90 55 05-54

E-mail: enapter@edicto.de







End of Inside Information

29-Dec-2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Bangladeshs commerce ministry recently unveiled the draft of a proposed economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan covering 17 sectors, including trade in goods, customs procedures, trade facilitation, investment and e-commerce.

Both sides have decided to sign the EPA by December 2025.

Bangladesh's commerce ministry recently unveiled the draft of a proposed economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan covering 17 sectors, including e-commerce. Both sides have decided to sign the EPA by December 2025. The ministry's senior secretary Tapan K Ghosh said Bangladesh will be easily included in the global value chain as a result of the EPA.

"As a result of this agreement, Bangladesh will be easily included in the global value chain. At the same time investment, and trade will increase," the ministrys senior secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh told a press conference in Dhaka.

Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori said the proposed agreement will facilitate development on both sides.

The two countries have already completed a joint feasibility study on the matter, media outlets in Bangladesh reported. The study assessed the status in various sectors on both sides.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Cambodia has witnessed reduced customs and excise revenue collection due to a fall in tariffs for partner nations with which it has bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements.

The general department of customs and excise (GDCE) collected $2.8 billion in the first 11 months this year, representing a loss of $400 million compared to the corresponding period last year.

Cambodia has seen reduced customs and excise revenue collection due to a fall in tariffs for partner nations with which it has bilateral and multilateral free trade pacts. The general department of customs and excise collected $2.8 billion in the first 11 months this year, representing a loss of $400 million compared to the corresponding period last year.

GDCE director general Kun Nhem attributed the decline in customs revenue collection primarily to the implementation of the FTAs.

Development in the countrys manufacturing sector have also led to reduced imports as domestic products replace imported ones, he was quoted as saying by a Cambodian newspaper.

The Cambodia-China FTA, implemented from January 1 last year, made nearly 98 per cent of the countrys exports to China and 90 per cent of imports from China exempt from tariffs.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership also boosting exports, but reduced some import tax revenue.

The country will soon implement the Cambodia-South Korea FTA.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Renowned filmmaker Kabir Khan, known for his directorial gems such as Kabul Express, New York, Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and '83, is currently filming for Chandu Champion, a Sajid Nadiadwala production starring Kartik Aaryan. This upcoming movie is slated for a June 2024 theatrical release.

According to reports, Kabir Khan and his writing partner, Sumit Arora, have crafted an ambitious drama titled Babbar Sher. Khan revealed that the story centres around a lion-hearted individual, and he aspires to cast an A-list star for the lead role. The foundational elements of the script are finalised, and the casting process is set to commence in January.

According to reports, Kabir Khan and his writing partner, Sumit Arora, have crafted an ambitious drama titled Babbar Sher. Khan revealed that the story centres around a lion-hearted individual, and he aspires to cast an A-list star for the lead role. The foundational elements of the script are finalised, and the casting process is set to commence in January.





Meetings for Babbar Sher are scheduled for January once the filming for Chandu Champion concludes. Kabir Khan aims to begin production for Babbar Sher in the latter half of 2024, displaying confidence in securing a top-notch superstar to lead this character-driven narrative.

Chandu Champion stands as a social drama slated for release during the Bakri Eid 2024 weekend. This project marks the first collaboration between Kartik and Kabir, while it's the second venture for the actor alongside producer Sajid Nadiadwala after Satyaprem Ki Katha.
On Thursday, Kareena took to Instagram stories and gave a sneak peek into her vacation. She first posted a picture of herself wearing striped pyjamas while capturing a photograph of her lovely morning scenery. She wrote, "Chasing the light. 4 days to 2024."

She posted a second image that showed the lush green scenery, mountains covered in snow, and a beautiful blue sky. The caption read, "Find your light."

Kareena Kapoor Khan is all set to welcome the new year at her favourite travel spot, accompanied by Saif Ali Khan and their children Taimur and Jeh. After visiting London recently, Kareena shared a photo of the stunning snow-covered mountains, announcing that they will be celebrating the new year in Switzerland.Lastly, she shared a picture of herself posing with her friend Natasha Poonawalla with the caption, "This is how we keep warm in the snow."Meanwhile, on the work front, Kareena Kapoor Khan will next be seen in Hansal Mehta's The Buckingham Murders. She also has The Crew with Kriti Sanon, Tabu and Diljit Dosanjh. She will also be seen in Rohit Shettys Singham Again.
Male Debutants Of 2024: Like every year, the Indian film industry is set to roll the red carpet and welcome a fresh wave of talent, with promising male debutants gearing up to make their mark on the silver screen in 2024.

From star kids to newcomers, the impressive line-up is packed with the vision to make it big, along with their passion for cinema. 2024 promises to be a landmark year for male debutants in Bollywood, waiting to leave an indelible mark on the industry.

As these young talents embark on their cinematic journeys, the future of Bollywood seems bright, waiting to unfold on the silver screen!

Let's take a closer look at the rising stars that are set to shine in 2024.

Junaid Khan

Aamir Khan's son, Junaid Khan, will make his debut with Yash Raj Films' 'Maharaj'. As per reports, the film will premiere on Netflix as a part of YRF's collaboration with the OTT giant. Amid this, Junaid has started shooting for his second film, co-starring Sai Pallavi.

New Year 2024: Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun & Others Fly Away To These Countries For Their Celebrations, Deets In

Veer Pahariya

Recently, 'Sky Force', a film based on India's first and deadliest air strike against Pakistan, has been released. The teaser then introduced Veer Pahariya, who is making his acting debut with the Sandeep Kewlani directorial alongside Akshay Kumar. It seems that his debut in 2024 is quite promising.

Ibrahim Ali Khan

Keeping up with the legacy of the Pataudi family and his family of stars, including Sharmila Tagore, Saif Ali Khan, and Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan is gearing up to make his foray into Bollywood. With a lineage of talent and charm, all eyes are on Ibrahim as audiences eagerly anticipate his debut, hoping to witness the same charisma and acting prowess that runs in the family.

Ahaan Panday

From the illustrious Panday family, boasting names like Chunky Panday and Ananya Panday, Ahaan Panday is ready to carve his niche in the film industry. With a blend of style, passion, and determination, Ahaan's debut has been the talk of the town, with audiences and industry insiders eagerly awaiting his maiden performance on the big screen.

Aaman Devgan

Adding to the list of promising debutants, Ajay Devgn's nephew, Aaman Devgan, is set to make his mark with a fresh perspective and dedication. He is set to pair opposite Raveena Tandon's daughter, Rasha Tandon, in Abhishek Kapoor's untitled action adventure. Aaman's entry into Bollywood is surrounded by anticipation and high expectations, setting the stage for a memorable debut.

Sidharth Malhotra, Shantanu Maheshwari, Kartik Aaryan, KSG: Performances To Look Out For In 2024

Jibraan Khan

Known for his childhood role in 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', Jibraan Khan is set to make his debut as a leading man in the sequel of 'Ishq Vishq' titled 'Ishq Vishq Rebound'. With experience on his side and a fresh opportunity to showcase his talent, Jibraan's comeback is eagerly awaited.
Mumbai December 29, 2023: - Amazon miniTV, Amazon's free video streaming service, recently premiered its coming-of-age drama series, Dehati Ladke. Ever since the series premiered, it has been receiving immense love from the audience. Based on a best-selling Hindi novel, the narrative not only evokes a sense of nostalgia for college days but also imparts valuable life lessons about embracing life to the fullest. The series follows the journey of Rajat, a simple boy from a small village, who embarks on a quest to chase his dreams in the glare of Lucknow city. This young adult series features Shine Pandey, Raghav Sharma, Tanish Neeraj, Saamya Jainn, Aasif Khan, and Kusha Kapila in pivotal roles.

Kusha Kapila, who brings the character of Chhaya to life in Dehati Ladke, recently shed light on her role in the series. She shared, "Chhaya is a liberal and progressive woman, who is an assistant professor at Rajat's university. She finds love in Rajat's mentor, Prashant. Chhaya has a mind of her own; she is a strong-headed yet amicable person, and people find it easy to open up to her. Besides being progressive, she is also unafraid to make mistakes in life."

Speaking about taking up a role unlike any other she has played in the past, Kusha added, "Interestingly, my character in Dehati Ladke is unlike any other roles that I have done in the past. I have mostly essayed extremely urban characters. I've never really played a professor, especially somebody who quotes poets and imparts wisdom at the drop of a hat. So, that was very interesting. I like the fact that the show is a coming-of-age drama about a guy who moves out of his village to make it in a big city. Additionally, working with my co-actors was fantastic. I had a ball working with Shine and Asif. Shine and I had the most number of scenes in the series. I must admit, he's a great scene partner, and he's performed wonderfully in the show, too."

You can relive your college days with Dehati Ladke on Amazon miniTV, available on Amazon's shopping app, on Fire TV, and on Play Store.
Tamil Nadu Mourns Loss of Vijayakanth - Iconic Actor And Political Leader Bid Farewell: Chennai bids farewell to actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth, founder of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), who passed away at the age of 71 in Chennai on December 28. The veteran leader, hospitalised for pneumonia, succumbed to his illness. His death was confirmed after the party revealed his critical condition on ventilator support due to COVID-19 complications.

Originally named Vijayaraj from Madurai, he gained prominence in the film industry as Vijayakanth, courtesy of director M.A. Kaja, for his debut in Inikkum llamai. His portrayal in the film Captain Prabhakaran, loosely inspired by the life of the infamous forest brigand Veerappan, led to him being fondly referred to as 'Captain.'

Venturing into politics, Vijayakanth shook the political landscape by establishing DMDK in 2006, challenging the supremacy of M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa. His independent electoral debut in 2006 secured a noteworthy 8.38% vote share, contesting against the powerful DMK and AIADMK alliances.

Forming an alliance with AIADMK in 2011, DMDK surged to become the second-largest party in the Assembly, relegating DMK to third place. Vijayakanth, heading a group of 29 MLAs, assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition.

Honoring Vijayakanth: Funeral With State Honours In Chennai

The public paid their final respects as his mortal remains were kept at Island Grounds from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. After that, his funeral procession began and reached the DMDK headquarters in Koyambedu through Poonamallee High Road. The cremation and funeral, held with state honours, took place at the party headquarters in Koyambedu.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: A large number of people gathered to pay tribute to DMDK President and Actor Vijayakanth. His mortal remains are being taken from Island ground, Anna Salai to Koyambedu DMDK office for the last rites. pic.twitter.com/cbSweIhY7z  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

The public paid their final respects as his mortal remains were kept at Island Grounds from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Following that, the funeral procession commenced, traversing through Poonamallee High Road and reaching the DMDK headquarters in Koyambedu. The cremation and funeral, conducted with state honours, took place at the party headquarters in Koyambedu at 7:00 p.m.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Eureka Lithium Corp. (CSE: ERKA) (OTCQB: UREKF) (FSE: S580) ("Eureka Lithium" or "Eureka" or the "Company") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Private Placement") of up to 2,000,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.50 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000.

Each Unit shall consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company ("Share") and one-half (1/2) of one (1) Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase a Share at an exercise price of $0.65 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

Closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on or about the week of January 31, 2024. Closing is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals. The net proceeds of the Private Placement are intended to be used to advance the Company's Quebec mineral exploration assets for general corporate purposes. Finders' fees may be paid to eligible arm's length persons with respect to certain subscriptions accepted by the Company.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units issuable under the Private Placement will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada and other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A.2 of NI 45-106 (the "LIFE Exemption"). Because the Private Placement is to be completed pursuant to the LIFE Exemption, the securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will not be subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document dated December 27, 2023, related to the Private Placement that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.eurekalithiumcorp.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The Company also announces a renewal agreement with MIC Market Information & Content Publishing GmbH ("MIC") (Address: Gerhart-Hauptmann-St. 49b 51379 Leverkusen; email: contact@micpublishing.de; phone: +49 2171-7766628) for marketing services which will continue to February 28th, 2024 or until budget exhaustion. MIC will utilize their online programs with the aim of increasing investor awareness and interest in the company through various online platforms and methods of engagement in consideration of EUR 200,000. The marketing activity will occur by email, Facebook, and Google. MIC will not receive any shares from the Company as compensation.

MIC does not have any prior relationship with the Company, other than previous marketing engagements and is an arm's length transaction.

The Company also announces that it has renewed its arm's length marketing agreement effective January 1st, 2024 (the "Marketing Agreement") with Sideways Frequency LLC ("SFLLC"). As consideration for SFLLC's marketing and investor awareness services (the "Services"), the Company has agreed to pay SFLLC a fee of $100,000 (USD) for a term of one month (the "Term"). The Company may elect to renew the agreement at any point during the Term.

The Services will include, but are not limited to, email campaigns, native advertising, display ads, lead generation, creation of content, strategic planning, digital advertisement placement, and overseeing progress and results of digital campaigns.

Consideration offered to SFLLC does not include any securities of the Company. Aside from previous engagements, the Company does not have any relationship with SFLLC and Mr. Wesley De Souza, CEO of SFLLC.

About Sideways Frequency LLC

Sideways Frequency LLC is in the business of preparing, from publicly available information, advertisements consisting of profiles overviewing publicly traded companies, running marketing campaigns including PPC marketing, email marketing, native advertising, and display ads, and maintaining or updating clients' websites as the client sees fit. Sideways Frequency LLC's business address is 1389 Center Drive, Suite 200, Park City, Utah, 84098. Sideways Frequency LLC can be contacted by email at info@sidewaysfrequency.com.

Corporate Video

To view a new Eureka Lithium corporate video, visit www.EurekaLithiumCorp.com (https://eurekalithiumcorp.com) or the following URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vvm0zfNFp4

Corporate Presentation

Visit the Eureka Lithium homepage or click on the following URL to view the Company's Corporate Presentation:

https://eurekalithiumcorp.com/EurekaLithium_Q3_2023.pdf

About Eureka Lithium Corp.

Eureka Lithium is the largest lithium-focused landowner in the northern third of Quebec, known as the Nunavik region, with 100% ownership of three projects comprising 1,408 sq. km in the emerging Raglan West, Raglan South and New Leaf Lithium Camps. These claims were acquired from legendary prospector Shawn Ryan and are located in a region that hosts two operating nickel mines with deep-sea port access.

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey Wilson

Chief Executive Officer

Email: info@eurekalithiumcorp.com

Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Private Placement, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192667

SOURCE: Eureka Lithium Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Nexus Uranium Corp. (CSE: NEXU) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 3H1) (the "Company" or "Nexus") is pleased to announce a renewal agreement with MIC Market Information & Content Publishing GmbH ("MIC") (Address: Gerhart-Hauptmann-St. 49b 51379 Leverkusen; email: contact@micpublishing.de; phone: +49 2171-7766628) dated December 22, 2023 (the "Agreement") for marketing services which will continue through February 15th, 2024 or until budget exhaustion. Pursuant to the Agreement, MIC will utilize their online programs with the aim of increasing investor awareness and interest in the Company through various online platforms and methods of engagement in consideration of EUR 250,000. The marketing activity will occur by email, Facebook, and Google. MIC does not have any prior relationship with the Company, other than previous marketing engagements and the Agreement constitutes an arm's length transaction.

About Nexus Uranium Corp.

Nexus is a multi-commodity development company focused on advancing the Wray Mesa uranium-vanadium project in Utah in addition to its precious metals portfolio that includes the development-stage Independence mine located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in Nevada, the Napoleon gold project in British Columbia, and a package of gold claims in the Yukon. The Wray Mesa project covers 6,282 acres within the heart of the prolific Uruvan mining district in Utah and has extensive historical drilling of over 500 holes defining multiple mineralized zones. The Independence project hosts an M&I (measured and indicated) resource of 334,300 ounces of gold (28M tonnes at 0.41 g/t gold) and an inferred resource of 847,000 ounces (9M tonnes at 3.22 g/t gold) of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,078 (U.S.) per ounce of gold. The Napoleon project comprises over 1,000 hectares and prospective for multiple forms of gold mineralization, with exploration in the area dating back to the 1970s with the discovery of high-grade gold. The Yukon gold projects are comprised of almost 8,000 hectares of quartz claims prospective for high-grade gold mineralization with historical grab sampling highlights of 144 g/t gold.

Nexus cautions investors the preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. The Company further cautions investors mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability and further cautions investors the quantity and grade of the reported inferred mineral resources are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred mineral resources as indicated mineral resources.

The Company cautions investors it has yet to verify the historical data and further cautions investors grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades of sampling on the entire property.

--

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier

Chief Executive Officer

info@nexusuranium.com

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. 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". Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the business to be carried on by the Company and the expected growth of the Company, including advancing of the Wray Mesa uranium-vanadium project in Utah and other projects. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary include, without limitation, uncertainties affecting the expected use of proceeds. 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 outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192671

SOURCE: Nexus Uranium Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Neotech Metals Corp. (CSE: NTMC) (OTCQB: NTMFF) (FSE: V690) ("Neotech" or "Company") wishes to clarify certain technical disclosure relating to its TREO Property contained in its news releases dated November 9, 2023, December 1, 2023, and December 12, 2023 (collectively, the "News Releases"), in its 2023 investor presentation ("Investor Presentation"), and on its website ("Website") as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The Company has made reference in the Investor Presentation, Website, and the News Releases to Defense Metals' Wicheeda Property and to the preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") conducted in respect thereof. The Wicheeda Property is adjacent to the Company's TREO Property; however, the Company wishes to reiterate that the proximity of the Wicheeda Property to the TREO Property does not mean the properties share similar mineralization attributes, nor that any mineral resources or mineral reserves that may be contained in the Wicheeda Property are indicative of any mineralization at the TREO Property. The Company notes that the Companion Policy to National Instrument 43 - 101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") states that an issuer should clearly distinguish between information from an adjacent property and its own property.

The Company also disclosed on its Website and the Investor Presentation reported figures from the PEA conducted in respect of the Wicheeda Property. The Company retracts this disclosure in its entirety.

The Investor Presentation, Website, and news release dated December 12, 2023, also disclose certain exploration results. Pursuant to NI 43-101, the disclosure of such results is to be accompanied by the information required by Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of NI 43-101, particularly with regard to the data verification and quality assurance / quality control procedures applied in relation to exploration data. Following is a description of the data verification and quality assurance / quality control procedures applied in respect of the exploration results previously disclosed by the Company.

K.J. Zaka, P.Geo., a consultant of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101, visited the TREO Property on October 17, 2023. Mr. Glazier, a geologist and the CEO of Neotech, accompanied Mr. Zaka and gave a tour of the general layout of the TREO Property, visited several outcrops, and demonstrated how he and the Company's contractors conducted the Fall 2023 exploration program that consisted of soil, stream sediments, and rock sampling.

Historical exploration work areas with significant reported mineralization showings or carbonatite outcrops were not visited as they were not readily available due to time constraints. No drill cores from 2010 and 2011 drilling were available for examination as previous operators removed them from sites.

Mr. Zaka visited the sample storage facility in a barn in Prince George's suburb, where samples collected in the Fall of 2023 were securely stored. He photographed the stored samples and took notes of security procedures for storing and shipping them to Actlabs in Kamloops, B.C. for geochemical analysis.

A logistical report describing the Fall 2023 sampling program by the Company's contractor, Anomalous Exploration Limited (AE), was also made available to Mr. Ike Osman, a consultant of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101.

Geologist Ellen Hunter-Perkin and staff completed the geochemical sampling under the supervision of a professional geologist, Trever Tamburri (P.Geo, P.Eng.).

For quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC), rare earth element certified reference materials (CRMs) were purchased from the Canadian Laboratories by Neotech, including CDNRE-1201 and CDN-RE-1202. The blank samples were barren coarse quartz samples obtained from a nearby quarry. Before shipping to the lab, the blanks and standards were randomly inserted into the sample stream for soil, sediment, and rock samples. All samples were securely stored in rice bags at camp before being driven to Revelstoke, where a local shipping company transported them to Actlabs in Kamloops. The samples will be prepared and analyzed at the lab with a 4-LITHO package.

The labs referenced above do not have any relationship with the Company apart from a commercial relationship for the provision of laboratory services.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Ike Osmani, P.Geo., a consultant of the Company, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101.

About Neotech Metals Corp.

The Company is a mineral exploration company based in Vancouver, B.C., which owns 40 rare earth mineral claims comprising the TREO Property, located in Northern, British Columbia. Canada. The Company also holds options on the EBB nickel-cobalt property located in British Columbia, Canada and 22 mining claims comprising the Thor REE Project, a mid-stage exploration property located in the eastern Mojave Desert Region, approximately 119 kilometers south of Las Vegas .

Contact information

For More Information please contact:

Reagan Glazier, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: info@neotechmetals.com

Telephone: 604-832-5609



Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192694

SOURCE: Neotech Metals Corp.
Officers patrol border on horseback in freezing weather in North China

(People's Daily App) 15:49, December 29, 2023

Not afraid of the freezing cold, two police officers patrol the border on horseback in Ulgai, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. As the temperature dips to minus 39 C, frost appears on their hair and eyebrows.

(Video source: China's National Immigration Administration)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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.
London Finance & Investment Group Plc - Related Party Transaction

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 29

Date: 29 December 2023

London Finance & Investment Group PLC

("the Company")

Related Party Transaction

London Finance & Investment Group PLC (LSE: LFI, JSE: LNF) refers to the announcement on 28thDecember 2023 from Western Selection PLC ("WSL") with regards to its proposed capital reduction.

The Company is pleased to support WSL's proposed capital reduction and return of 80.5p per cancelled share through the following means:

The Company has committed to retain at least 25,029 Ordinary Shares and, depending on the number of Ordinary Shares that other WSL Shareholders wish to retain, intends to retain the minimum number of additional Ordinary Shares so that the number of Ordinary Shares remaining in issue in WSL is at least 57,143 and the Company's percentage holding does not fall below 43.8 per cent.

The Company shall provide a Loan Facility to WSL for a value of up to 200,000 to fund its working capital.

The Company has provided irrevocable undertakings, relating to its 43.8% holding in WSL, to vote in favour of all resolutions it is entitled to vote on at the WSL general meetings to be held on the 25 January 2024 and 31 January 2024.

On completion of the proposed capital reduction the Company will receive approximately 6,307,566 if it retains 25,029 Ordinary Shares only. The Company intends to reinvest these funds in its portfolio of international blue-chip securities.

The Loan Facility is considered to be a related party transaction. The terms of the Loan Facility are as follows:

The amount that will be available to borrow by WSL under the Loan Facility will be 200,000, of which 150,000 may be drawn down immediately following the approval of the Capital Reduction.

The balance of 50,000 will be available for draw down by WSL at any time prior to 31 December 2027 (the "Expiry Date").

The Loan Facility, which will be unsecured, will bear interest at a fixed rate of 3 per cent. per annum above the Bank of England base rate payable quarterly and will be repayable in full by the Expiry Date. Interest shall accrue daily, and WSL shall pay the accrued interest, on the amount of loan taken, on the interest period dates.

The Directors consider that, having exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence, the Loan Facility is fair and reasonable as far as its Shareholders are concerned.

The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

Enquiries to:

London Finance & Investment Group PLC: 020 3709 8741

(David Marshall/Edward Beale)

JSE Sponsor to the Company:

Questco Corporate Advisory Proprietary Limited
VOZOL'S SWITCH PRO: Swap&See with the new Clear Pod Innovation

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing the growing demand for prefilled pod kit in the European vape market, and as a strategic move to cater to the changing preferences of European vape users, VOZOL is proud to announce the launch of a new product, Switch Pro, designed specifically for the European market. We are committed to bringing a refreshing experience to our users in the European market. While continuing the charm of the VOZOL switch series, this iteration also provides users with a more refined taste and a more elegant appearance.

Visual Oil Chamber Replacement: A Clear View

An innovative feature of the Switch Pro is its Visual Oil Chamber Replacement capability. This cutting-edge technology allows users to monitor the status of the vape's oil chamber in real-time and facilitates easy replacement when needed. This feature not only enhances the convenience of vaping but also empowers users with a clear understanding of their device, making them true vaping connoisseurs.

Flavor Enhancement: A Taste Sensation

Another significant upgrade lies in the flavor experience. The SWITCH PRO introduces a revolutionary atomization structure, breaking away from traditional liquid storage cotton structure, effectively mitigating the persistent issue of burnt coils. This breakthrough ensures an unparalleled pure and fresh flavor. Coupled with the use of a mesh coil, it efficiently absorbs and vaporizes the e-liquid, ensuring every drop is completely atomized. In comparison to conventional cotton coils, the liquid utilization rate has surged by 50%, resulting in a significantly elevated atomization efficiency and delivering a more stable and long-lasting vaping experience.

Attention to Detail: Meticulous Craftsmanship

Drawing inspiration from the success of previous products like Switch Pro and Neon 800, VOZOL consistently provides innovative vaping experiences. In a highly competitive market, the Switch Pro stands out as a sophisticated and groundbreaking statement.

Switch Pro is not just an upgrade, it's a revolution, it is set to redefine your vaping expectations. We believe that vaping should be an interactive journey, captivating your senses and elevating your mood. With our exceptional Switch Pro pod, every inhalation becomes a moment of pure pleasure and immersion in the art of vaping.

For inquiries and further details, reach out to:

Business Contact: sales@volzoltech.com,

Marketing Cooperation: marketing@vozoltech.com

For more information on the range of products, visit https://www.vozol.com/

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vozols-latest-upgrade-switch-pro-will-officially-enter-the-european-market-in-january-2024-302023601.html
EQS-News: PlusPlus Capital Financial S.a.r.l. / Key word(s): Legal Matter

PlusPlus announces Reorganisation Petition filed on 27 December 2023 by AS PlusPlus Capital



29.12.2023 / 10:00 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





PlusPlus announces Reorganisation Petition filed on 27 December 2023 by AS PlusPlus Capital

Tallinn/ Luxembourg, 29 December 2023

PlusPlus Capital ("PPC"), a leading Pan-Baltic and Finnish technology-driven receivables management group hereby informs that its parent company Aktsiaselts PlusPlus Capital (the "Parent") encountered challenges in making payments that were meant to be serviced before the end of this year, such as payments for the EUR 2022/2026 Bonds coupon and for various bond buybacks.

Despite the Parent's best efforts and due to several unforeseeable reasons, it was unable to conclude a financing agreement that it had been working on and which directly impacts the Parent's ability to make the agreed payments by the end of this year.

In light of these circumstances, the Parent has taken a proactive step by submitting a petition for the commencement of reorganisation proceedings under the Reorganisation Act (Saneerimisseadus) to the Harju County Court in Estonia on 27 December 2023.

This decision has been made in order to safeguard the interests and to achieve the best possible outcome for the Parent and all stakeholders. PlusPlus Capital looks forward to receiving the court's ruling in this regard and starting the reorganisation proceedings.

Given the current situation, PlusPlus Capital Financial S.a r.l. (the "Issuer") will not be able to make payments under the EUR 100,000,000.00 11 % senior secured bonds 2022/2026 (ISIN: XS2502401552) (the "Bonds") after the standstill period which has been granted to it by the holders of the Bonds and shall end on 31 December 2023. Hence and with a view to protect the interests of investors and stakeholders it is contemplated to apply for similar measures for the Issuer under Luxembourg law.

PlusPlus Capital will keep you informed on the upcoming steps (including the Estonian court's ruling and filing of reorganisation proceedings in Luxembourg for the Issuer) in a timely manner and look forward to your continued support until a positive resolution of the situation is achieved.

Contact:

PlusPlus Capital AS

Kaarel Raik, Member of the Management Board

Email: kaarel.raik@plusplus.ee

Phone: +372 56 606 148



About PlusPlus Capital:

PlusPlus is a pan-Baltic and Finnish technology-driven receivables management company with offices in Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, and Helsinki. The company acquires overdue loans and other non-performing exposures from financial institutions and non-financial sector merchants. With its core competence in handling claims against private individuals, PlusPlus prefers diversified portfolios balanced by geography, portfolio type, and other metrics.

Since its inception in 2010, PlusPlus has bought over 120 thousand claims with nominal value of approximately EUR 300 million. The company offers its clients affordable recovery solutions and aims to avoid litigious scenarios. In doing so, PlusPlus pursues win-win solutions that allow sellers to focus on their core business, provide affordable solutions for borrowers, and ensure adequate returns for investors.

PlusPlus is a transparent and socially responsible company set to assist people in resolving problems connected with their insufficient solvency. The ambition of PlusPlus is to increase its market share and further strengthen its position as a leading player in its regional market.

29.12.2023 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


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Macnica Inc. headquartered at Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Kazumasa Hara, hereinafter referred to as "Macnica" is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with Orangeleaf Consulting, CEO, Ellice Ng Pui San, a renowned digital transformation consultancy in Malaysia. The collaboration aims to strengthen Enterprise Digital Transformation (DX) capabilities and drive innovation within the Japanese manufacturing market. Orangeleaf Consulting brings a wealth of experience in guiding global organizations through successful digital transformations, with a proven track record of implementing cutting-edge technologies and strategies in the global market.

At Orangeleaf Consulting, helmed by visionary, Ellice Ng, "We are honored to collaborate with Macnica, a leader in the technology solutions space in Japan. Together, we look forward to driving meaningful digital transformation outcomes and contributing to the success of Macnica's clients in the manufacturing industry. We aim not just to influence, but to revolutionize the way people think and act in the enterprise software industry through advance technology. Our ultimate aspiration: Operate dynamically, pushing boundaries to achieve audacious goals, instilling a culture of relentless innovation and unparalleled success."

In addition, Ellice also mentioned the manufacturing industry is a significant and integral part of Japan's economy. Japan has long been recognized as a major global player in manufacturing, particularly in sectors such as automotive, electronics, machinery, and precision equipment.

Problem Statement: Why is Digital Transformation (DX) in Japan's manufacturing industry not progressing? The challenge is to cultivate DX culture and develop human resources.

The wave of Industry 4.0 (Fourth Industrial Revolution), which was born in Germany in 2011, greatly shook the manufacturing industry in Japan. Many companies in Japan have been calling for "DX (digital transformation) in the manufacturing industry and have set up DX promotion departments and managers to make investments. DX is a strategic initiative that involves the adoption and integration of digital technologies to drive organizational growth, improve operations, and deliver enhanced value to customers.

However, many companies face obstacles in cultivating a DX culture and developing human resources for effective implementation. The lack of alignment in mindset and culture between top management and business departments is identified as a major internal barrier. A true DX requires in-house capabilities, highlighting the importance of developing internal leaders who can design business processes across departments. Macnica, a key player in the DX field aim to advocate for the use of the latest technology platform low-code tools to involve individuals without coding knowledge in projects, fostering collaboration between business and IT departments.

Digital Transformation (DX) team is crucial in the modern business landscape to enhance business processes, improve efficiency, and foster innovation.

Macnica's vision focuses on an "experience-first" approach, encouraging trial and error to address challenges in manufacturing sites. The company believes that in-house initiatives are crucial for the success of DX, allowing for greater speed, flexibility, and response to site-specific needs. Macnica recently introduced its Digital Synergy Factory-low-code development support service as a means to materialize its vision and accelerate manufacturing DX support services. The company has also welcomed a knowledgeable partner to further enhance its efforts in this domain.

Macnica's decision to collaborates with its partner, Orangeleaf from Malaysia - the leading low-code expert, to provide comprehensive Digital Transformation (DX) consulting using low-code technology. Having successfully implemented over 100 DX projects in manufacturing, insurance, and retail across Europe, Singapore, and Malaysia, Orangeleaf Consulting focus is on empowering clients to drive their DX initiatives without lock-in contract. The support spans from long-term planning to agile application development, including information on cutting-edge technologies. Macnica and Orangeleaf aim to contribute to the advancement of DX in the Japanese manufacturing industry by leveraging best practices and offering holistic assistance in consulting, human resource development, and organizational building.

Orangeleaf impressed the "experience-first" using low-code tools with Macnica Employees

Macnica had a challenge in their semiconductor business - it used to take 15 minutes for sales people to set delivery dates for certain customers using a mix of data from ERP and Excel. To solve this, Macnica teamed up with Orangeleaf to create a simple app using low-code technology. The amazing part? The whole process, from planning to using the improved system, only took 14 hours! Now, instead of 15 minutes each time, they get things done in just seconds. It worked so well that now more ideas for improving their business keep popping up.

About Macnica's Smart Manufacturing Business

Macnica is also involved in DX support for the manufacturing industry based on the technological capabilities it has cultivated as a semiconductor trading company and its experience in implementing cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT. In the future, as DX accelerates in the manufacturing industry, security issues will also emerge. Macnica has also introduced the world's most advanced technology in the field of security to Japan. Japan's manufacturing industry faces a unique set of challenges. Macnica will strive to create new business opportunities and develop society by discovering issues together and promoting DX while staying close to customers' concerns.

About Orangeleaf Consulting

Orangeleaf Consulting, a trailblazing digital transformation consultancy headquartered in Malaysia, stands at the forefront of empowering organizations to embrace innovation and navigate the evolving landscape of technology. With a commitment to driving impactful change, Orangeleaf specializes in advance technology such as low-code solutions, offering a swift and effective approach to application development and process improvement.

Orangeleaf Consulting believes in more than just technological solutions; we strive to instigate meaningful cultural shifts within organizations, fostering innovation and paving the way for sustainable success.

About us: www.orangeleaf.com.my

About Macnica Inc

Macnica is a service/solution company that handles the latest technologies in a comprehensive manner, centered on semiconductors and cyber security. Developing business in 81 locations in 23 countries/regions around the world, leveraging the technological capabilities and global network cultivated over a history of more than 50 years, we discover, propose, and implement cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, and autonomous driving.

Please visit: www.macnica.co.jp

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Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2308773/image_5018243_6478837.jpg

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/macnica-inc-selected-leading-innovation-consultancy-orangeleaf-consulting-in-malaysia-to-propel-accelerated-digital-transformation-excellence-in-japan-302023742.html
The Project Empowers La Palma's Sustainable Energy Transition and Drive Tazacorte Port as a Hub for Decarbonization in the Canary Islands

SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA, Spain, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, GCL SI and Ocean Sun once again joined forces to successfully complete the BOOST floating solar demonstrator ("BOOST" or "The project"). On December 14, 2023, the project culminated at the port of Tazacorte on La Palma, with an installed capacity of 270 kWp. BOOST showcases the utilization of the GCL MS/60GT Ocean Sun PV modules ("The Module") and aims to drive innovation in floating solar photovoltaics (FPV) technology. Celebrating their fifth year of collaboration, GCL SI and Ocean Sun continue to push the boundaries of renewable energy innovation.

"The long-term collaboration with GCL SI and other independent research partners and institutes has been instrumental for the qualification and bankability of this new PV module installation technology for both fresh and salt water. With GCL SI's growing manufacturing capability, we look forward to serving the growing international FPV market," said Brge Bjrneklett, CEO of Ocean Sun.

Since 2018, Ocean Sun and GCL SI have forged a strong alliance, collaborating closely to create a PV module specifically tailored for Ocean Sun 's membrane-based floating solar solution. This partnership has involved a rigorous testing process, jointly developed by Ocean Sun, GCL SI, and TUV Rheinland. The modules underwent an extensive examination, including the immersion of panels in heated seawater under 1500V tension for an extended duration, ensuring the design's impeccable quality and durability.

The solar module is built with waterproof materials for long-lasting use in moisture-prone areas. Its frameless design reduces aluminum usage, cutting raw material costs by nearly 10%, making it a more affordable and durable choice for solar installations.

The module's flat back surface enables optimal contact with membrane, effectively reducing operating temperatures and significantly increasing overall system power output. It also underwent rigorous benchmarking at DNV labs in Singapore. The testing involved a comprehensive comparison with ground mount systems and other floating technologies, specifically focusing on validating the superior cooling effects offered by the membrane solution.

GCL SI has been actively involved in providing on-site support throughout the entire project. Additionally, they will utilize this opportunity to conduct further testing on the panels, closely observing how the modules perform in the face of larger waves and exposure to saltwater. This collaborative effort involves the expertise of GCL SI's technical team, aiming to gain valuable insights and enhance the module's resilience in challenging marine conditions.

Furthermore, Ocean Sun and GCL SI have a history of successful collaboration on previous projects. One notable example is the installation in Magat, Philippines, in 2019. Moreover, they joined forces for a significant 2 MWp FPV project at Banja dam in Albania. This project was successfully commissioned in January 2023, further solidifying the partnership between the two brands.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2308872/Figure_1_OS_50m_diameter_system_at_Tazacorte__La_Palma.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/long-term-partners-gcl-si-and-ocean-sun-illuminate-the-boost-floating-solar-demonstrator-in-spain-302023747.html
Inaugurated in 2020, TADS Awards is the world's first annual international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities ("TADS") sectors.

The TADS Awards 2023 has selected a total of 15 winners and a number of Rising Stars for three award categories, out of the nominees from 19 countries and territories around the world.

The TADS AWARDS 2023 Award Presentation Ceremony will be held in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport

HONG KONG, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TADS Awards, the world's leading international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities (TADS) sectors, is delighted to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. This prestigious event recognizes and honors outstanding contributions and achievements in the TADS industry worldwide.

The TADS Awards 2023 celebrated the remarkable advancements and transformative power of tokenization. The winners were selected through a rigorous judging process, with industry experts and thought leaders carefully evaluating each nomination based on their expertise and insights. The participating countries and territories (listed alphabetically) include Australia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, China, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. This international representation ensures a wide range of perspectives and expertise in the evaluation process.

A total of fifteen winners were carefully chosen across three award categories: "Best of Class TADS," "Ecosystem Excellence," and "Web3 Innovations." These winners represent the pinnacle of excellence in their respective fields, and their contributions have significantly impacted the TADS industry.

The TADS Awards 2023 Awards Presentation Ceremony will bring industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries together to celebrate the advancements and transformative power of tokenization. It will take place in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport.

The TADS Awards 2023 winners, Rising Stars winners and Student Award winner are:

1) "BEST OF CLASS TADS" category, for issuers of different types of Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities -

Winners:

Private Equity Award - PUBLISH

Fixed & Commercial Asset Award - Real-X-Token

Tokenized Debt & Bond Award - Helix

Arts & Collectible Award - GemSet

Tokenized Fund Award - Frictionless Markets

Rising Stars:

Farming Online

Defi-Data

XECO

Victory Securities

Propcap

2) "ECOSYSTEM EXCELLENCE" category, for service providers and vertical solution providers along the TADS value chain -

Winners:

Identity & RegTech Solution Award - Shufti Pro

Tokenization & Brokerage Solution Award - Hamsa

Custodian & Trust Solution Award - Manta Network

DeFi & Asset Management Solution Award - Harbour Industrial Capital

Trading & Liquidity Solution Award - Matrixport

Rising Stars:

AEM Algorithm

Alta Alternative Investments

Blocksquare

GK8

Niftyz

3) "WEB3 INNOVATIONS" category, for technology companies and service operators from different key areas in Web3 space -

Winners:

Artificial Intelligence Solution Award - Node Nexus Network

Metaverse, AR/ER, NFT Solution Award - CanvasLand

Game, IOT & Robotic Award- LOST (Lemniscate Imagination)

(Lemniscate Imagination) SDG / ESG Solution Award - MetAmazonia

DLT, Blockchain & Cyber Security - XDC Network

Rising Stars:

TheStage AI

Solageo

FAM3

iSHANG

4) "STUDENT" category (in collaboration with Fintechstic organized by The School of Business and Management of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School))

Winner: MDB - Tokenized Bond for the Blue Economy

Samson Lee, Chairman of the Organization Committee of TADS Awards 2023 and Founder & CEO of CSpro, expressed his excitement about the winners, stating, "We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. Congratulations to all the winners who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the sector." He added, "This year, we are very pleased to expand the ecosystem to student communities with collaboration with The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Their knowledge and ingenuity in the TADS area are very impressive."

Christy Yeung, Head of Fintech and Green Finance Projects at Business School of The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology commented, "In this 4th edition of Fintechstic, we are very delighted to collaborate with TADS Awards." She added, "This year, we have reached a record participation in the award with more than 800 students taking part in this annual event. Big congratulations to the champions, Ananth Dhananjay, Thomas Beaudet and Xinyue Ma from the MDB team."

Prof. Haitian Lu, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in Accounting and Finance, Director of Mainland Development Office and Co-Director of the Center for Economic Sustainability and Entrepreneurial Finance (CESEF) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) commented, "The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been ranked No. 1 university for blockchain in the world, according to the latest "Best Universities for Blockchain 2022" rankings by CoinDesk and is a leader in blockchain technology education and research in Hong Kong. We are very pleased to collaborate with TADS Awards to allow students to gain research experience at the forefront of the industry with real-life projects in the TADS sector, and on the other hand contributing our unique research skills and resources to support the growth of the industry."

"Since TADS Awards have been launched in 2020, as one of the organizers of this award, we are very glad to see this award has been very well-received and recognized by the international community in the TADS industry. The quality and diversity of nominees this year have been exceptional, showcasing the dynamic and innovative nature of the Tokenized Asset & Digitized Securities industry." Peter Yip, Director of Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, added, "In view of the growing new TechFin era, we not only promote the excellence and best practices in tokenization transformation, but also developing education and training programs for TechFin talents. Future talents are instrumental in supporting the growth and development of the blooming Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. We are committed to groom new talents for the new economy!"

Stephen Law, JP, CPPCC National Committee Member and Vice Chairman at Coinstreet Group, commented, "Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities, TADS, are global opportunities. Hong Kong has a good track record being the international financial hub because of its financial, legal and monetary systems and is the ideal city for building next generation digital asset hub. TADS Awards originated from Hong Kong, being the world's first international awards of such space and with 4 years of encouraging growth rate and successful track records enhance such vision of Hong Kong."

TADS Awards is co-organized by Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, Coinstreet, and DAS (Digital Asset Series) Seminars. It has received strong support from strategic partners, including (alphabetically): Accenture, Association of Family Offices in Asia, Crypto Valley Association, Deloitte Hong Kong, DLA Piper, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Cyberport, IBM, InvestHK, Microsoft Hong Kong, Morningstar, Somerley Capital, The Tokenizer, and West Park Capital, among many others, plus support from its Global Ambassadors from over sixteen countries.

For more information about TADS Awards and results from the previous years, please visit https://tadsawards.org/

About TADS Awards

First launched in 2020, the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities Awards ("TADS Awards") is the world's first annual international award for the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. Hosted annually, TADS Awards aims to nurture the growth of Web3 industries by gathering leaders and experts from across the world's financial technology and financial service sectors to establish best practices and performance standards through recognizing and honoring individuals and businesses for their distinguished achievements and contributions in TADS sectors. For more information, please visit - www.tadsawards.org

About Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute (APDEI) aims to create a center of excellence, leadership, and partnership to incubate new thinking and innovation in practice; advance thought-leadership; generate new growth opportunities; enhance the competitiveness and productivity of business; and cultivate talents to accelerate the digital economy. APDEI is a co-organizer of the Digital Asset Series ( www.digitalassetseries.org ) - a series of seminars that provides free education for the general public about the ever-growing landscape of digital assets and facilitates mass adoption. For more information, please visit - www.apdei.org

About Coinstreet - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning financial services and professional consulting firm focused in the Digital Asset sector. Coinstreet offers innovative fintech services, and business and operation solutions, covering four key business segments including: Tokenization Business, Asset Management, Web3 Enterprise Solutions, and Ecosystem Development. Over the past years, Coinstreet has helped 20+ Blockchain, Digital Asset and FinTech projects in the global market. For more information, please visit www.coinstreet.group

About CSpro (Hong Kong) Limited - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

CSpro is a joint venture between Coinstreet Holdings Limited, an award-winning technology financial services group focused in the digital asset sector, and Somerley Capital Holdings Limited, a leading financial services group in Hong Kong. CSpro provides issuance and distribution services for security token offerings to professional investors (as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance) and is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission to carry out Type 1 (dealing in securities) regulated activities having CE registration number BSH213. For more information, please visit https://hk.cspro.io

About DAS Seminars

Digital Asset Series (DAS) is a series of educational seminars covering twelve (12) key topics in Digital Asset space the general public, aiming to facilitate mass adoption of digital assets. DAS is co-organized by seven (7) leading professional organizations in the digital asset ecosystem in Hong Kong, namely (alphabetically) the Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute ("APDEI"), the Asia Security Token Alliance ("ASTA"), the Hong Kong Blockchain Association ("HKBA"), the Hong Kong Digital Asset Society ("HKDAS"), the Hong Kong Digital Finance Association ("HKDiFi"), the NFT Association of Hong Kong ("NFTAHK") and the Society of Registered Financial Planners ("HKRFP"). DAS is also supported by Invest Hong Kong, the HKSTP - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Cyberport , and five (5) leading universities including the HKUST Crypto-Fintech Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Research Academy (CEFAR), the LITE-lab (Law, Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship Lab) of Faculty of Law at The Hong Kong University, the Faculty of Digital Transformation Centre at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the EMBA Programme at the City University of Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.digitalassetseries.com

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Aztec Minerals Corp. (TSXV:AZT),(OTCQB:AZZTF) announces the appointment of Blaine Bailey as CFO and Priscilla Ikani as Controller. Mr. Bailey is a Chartered Professional Accountant, CGA working with public and private companies listed on the TSX, TSXV and NYSE over the past 20 years. He brings complementary skills to the team in areas of finance, administration, and financial reporting.

Mr. Bailey received his Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours) from the University of Manitoba in 1977, and qualified for the CPA, CGA designation in British Columbia in 1983. He has served in the capacity of accountant for Molson Brewery B.C. Ltd. and controller for Nabob Coffee Co. with head offices in Zurich, Switzerland.

Priscilla Ikani has over a decade of experience in financial administration and management for both private, and in more recent years, public companies in the mining sector. Mrs. Ikani holds a BCom from the Sauder School of Business at UBC with a specialization in Finance. She has been working along with Blaine Bailey for several years.

The company thanks outgoing CFO, Phillip Yee for his many years of service and contributions to Aztec Minerals and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

"Simon Dyakowski"

Simon Dyakowski, Chief Executive Officer

Aztec Minerals Corp.

About Aztec Minerals - Aztec is a mineral exploration company focused on two emerging discoveries in North America. The Cervantes project is an emerging porphyry gold-copper discovery in Sonora, Mexico. The Tombstone project is an emerging gold-silver discovery with high grade CRD silver-lead-zinc potential in southern Arizona. Aztec's shares trade on the TSX-V stock exchange (symbol AZT) and on the OTCQB (symbol AZZTF).

Contact Information - For more information, please contact:

Simon Dyakowski, President & CEO, Director

Tel: (604) 619-7469

Fax: (604) 685-9744

Email: simon@aztecminerals.com

Website: www.aztecminerals.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects" or "it is expected", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Aztec Minerals Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
BANGKOK, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Velo, one of the major players in the cryptocurrency trading and crypto-wallet world, is excited to introduce a new amazing update for Lightyear -- a cutting-edge Web3 Trading Bot developed ingeniously by Velo Labs.

The all-new Lightyear Bot Dashboard is designed to streamline and simplify your trading experience. It is seamlessly integrated with popular wallet like MetaMask, and, notably, Velo's very own Universe Wallet. This integration ensures a secure and user-friendly experience for all traders.

Velo's commitment to delivering top-notch trading solutions is evident in the launch of its flagship Grid Trading Bot and Rebalancing Bot. Meticulously updated with users' convenience in mind, Velo unveils an intuitive and user-friendly Bot Dashboard.

The newly updated Bot Dashboard is a game-changer, providing traders either novice or professional with an all-in-one platform to manage their portfolios and bots seamlessly. With a few clicks on the dashboard, users can effortlessly create their Grid or Rebalancing Bot (or both!), tailored to their specific risk tolerance and preferences.

But that's not all! Setting up, tracking, managing, and stopping your bot has never been easier. Thanks to Velo's streamlined interface, you can perform these actions without the hassle of navigating to different pages. In today's fast-paced crypto trading ecosystem, Velo understands well the need for speed and efficiency.

Here are some glimpses of the freshly upgraded Bot Dashboard:

Grid Trading Bot: Designed for efficiency and effectiveness, it operates on a sophisticated algorithm that automatically buys low and sells high within a predefined price range. This bot is ideal for capitalizing on market volatility, ensuring you remain profitable in varying market conditions.

Rebalancing Bot: Maintain the perfect balance in your portfolio with our Rebalancing Bot. It regularly adjusts your asset allocation to align with your set target, ensuring your investment strategy stays on course regardless of market movements. This bot is the key to a well-maintained, risk-adjusted portfolio.

For traders seeking more information or assistance, you can do so in Velo's telegram at https://t.me/veloprotocol where their dedicated team members are ready to address any questions or concerns you may have.

About Velo:

As a global brand originating from Thailand, Velo takes the lead in the world of blockchain trading, offering a wide range of products tailored to diverse demographic segments, including individuals, novice and experienced traders, merchants, corporations, and businesses. With several significant products already in their portfolio and additional releases on the horizon, Velo is dedicated to its mission of bridging businesses with global funds and expanding accessibility for individuals worldwide.

Media Enquiry: info@velo.org

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EQS-Ad-hoc: CPI PROPERTY GROUP / Key word(s): Real Estate

CPI PROPERTY GROUP ("CPIPG", the "Company" or the "Group") - Addition of Residential Properties



29-Dec-2023 / 13:09 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Luxembourg, 29 December 2023

CPI PROPERTY GROUP ("CPIPG", the "Company" or the "Group") - Addition of Residential Properties

Today, CPIPG's subsidiary Endurance Hospitality Finance S.a.r.l ("EHF") entered into an agreement with our primary shareholder, Radovan Vitek, concerning the transfer of all the issued share capital of Rising Falcon Holding Limited ("Rising Falcon"), an Abu Dhabi Global Market free zone company, to EHF.

Rising Falcon owns 20 residential properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which were recently valued at EUR 349 million. The purchase price for the Rising Falcon portfolio was EUR 273 million, or a discount of about 22%. No cash consideration was paid for the transaction; the purchase price has been offset against shareholder loans previously provided to Mr. Vitek. As a result, the year-end shareholder loan balance for 2023 will show a meaningful reduction versus previous reporting periods. The Group intends to benefit from the strong market in Dubai and will gradually dispose of the assets.

The transaction qualifies as a related party transaction, since Mr Vitek holds 88.67% of CPIPG.

Notifying Person:

David Greenbaum

d.greenbaum@cpipg.com

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations

Moritz Mayer

m.mayer@cpipg.com

Important Information:

This announcement has been issued by CPI PROPERTY GROUP solely for information purposes.

This announcement may contain statements, assumptions, opinions and predictions about the anticipated future development of CPI PROPERTY GROUP. All forward-looking statements express current expectations based on the current business plan and various other assumptions and therefore come with risks and uncertainties that are not insignificant. All forward-looking statements should not therefore be taken as a guarantee for future performance or results and, furthermore, do not necessarily constitute appropriate indicators that the forecast results will be achieved. All forward-looking statements relate solely to the day on which this announcement was issued to its recipients. It is the responsibility of the recipients of this announcement to conduct a more detailed analysis of the validity of forward-looking statements and the underlying assumptions. CPI PROPERTY GROUP accepts no responsibility for any direct or indirect damages or losses or subsequent damages or losses, as well as penalties that the recipients may incur by using the announcement, its contents and, in particular, all forward-looking statements or in any other way, as far as this is legally permissible. CPI PROPERTY GROUP does not provide any warranties, guarantees or assurances (either explicitly or implicitly) in respect of the information contained in this announcement.

CPI PROPERTY GROUP is not obliged to update or correct the information, forward-looking statements or conclusions drawn in this announcement or to include subsequent events or circumstances or to report inaccuracies that become known after the date of this announcement.

29-Dec-2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


EQS-News: Traum-Ferienwohnungen / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Schleswig-Holstein claims the top spot as the most visited state in 2023.



29.12.2023 / 13:30 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Press Release

Schleswig-Holstein claims the top spot as the most visited state in 2023: Traum-Ferienwohnungen Travelopedia 2023

Bremen, Germany, 29 December 2023: As the year draws to a close, Traum-Ferienwohnungen, one of the leading online vacation rental platforms in Europe, has released first edition of its year-end annual travel trends index- Travelopedia 2023. Drawing insights from Traum-Ferienwohnungen's booking and inquiry data, the report unveils key trends that have shaped travel experiences for guests, spanning from January 1st to December 15th, 2023.

In 2023, the states situated along the Baltic Sea and North Sea garnered the highest influx of travellers. Among these, Schleswig-Holstein stood out as the preferred destination for German tourists, owing to its pristine beaches and timeless charm. Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania followed closely as popular choices for exploration.

Bavaria, renowned for its vibrant music and theatre scene as well as its rich cultural heritage, secured the fourth position among the most visited states in 2023. Trailing behind, Rhineland-Palatinate also captured the attention of travellers, adding to the diverse tapestry of sought-after destinations within Germany.

Netherlands emerged as the most popular international destination, with Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Spain following suit.

Among the regions that experienced the most significant growth, the Bay of Lubeck emerged as the frontrunner with 28% increase in inquiries compared to 2022. Following closely behind were Allgau and the Mecklenburg Lake District, registering a growth of 26% and 22%, respectively.

Rebounding from the slowdown induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, German travellers exhibited increased confidence in their travel plans in 2023, organizing their trips well in advance. First quarter of the year saw the maximum number of inquiries, with January taking the lead. The first week of January recorded the highest volume of inquiries compared to any other week throughout the year. This trend suggests that a significant number of travellers strategically mapped out their journeys for the entirety of the year within the first week of January. This approach reflects a newfound assurance and eagerness among German travellers to explore and make the most of their travel experiences.

Commenting on the travel trends, Gautam Swaroop, CEO - OYO Vacation Homes (parent entity of Traum-Ferienwohnungen) said: "2023 marked a significant year for the travel sector, symbolizing a potential resurgence of full normalcy following the disruptions caused by COVID. It brings us joy to witness an increasing confidence among Germans regarding their travel plans. The coming year holds a lot of promise for the industry. It should be interesting to watch how the travel trends shape in 2024. As we consistently adapt to the evolving needs of our guests, our dedication to providing outstanding holiday experiences remains unwavering. Our aim is to guarantee that each traveler discovers their perfect retreat with us."

About Traum- Ferienwohnungen:

Established in 2001, Traum-Ferienwohnungen is an online vacation rental platform with 100,000 vacation homes in its portfolio. Traum-Ferienwohnungen's subscription-based model allows for more transparency, enabling homeowners to connect directly with guests and come to an arrangement beneficial for both. In addition to conventional apartments or houses, the portfolio also offers unique holiday accommodation such as tree houses, houseboats, windmills, and castles, for the guests to choose from.

Since May 2019, Traum-Ferienwohnungen is part of OYO Vacation Homes, one of the leading vacation rental companies in Europe. In addition to Traum-Ferienwohnungen, TUI-Ferienhaus, the Dutch full-service holiday home provider, Belvilla and the Danish company DanCenter also belong to OVH.

For more information, visit www.traum-ferienwohnungen.de

29.12.2023 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


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.
TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Impact Development Group Inc. ("IDG" or the "Company") (TSXV: "IMPT"), a leading Panamanian developer of affordable housing solutions, is pleased to announce operational updates relating to its core business of building and delivering affordable homes, the approval of the issuance of secured debentures for proceeds up to USD$4,500,000 (the "Financing"), and changes to the Company's board of directors. Closing of the Financing is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V").



Operational Updates:

1,067 Homes Delivered Since Inception:

In continuing its leadership in the development and delivery of affordable homes, IDG is pleased to announce that it has successfully delivered its 1,067th home across all phases at the completed Sona and in-progress Santiago projects. This marks a critical milestone for IDG in establishing a recognized brand with its growing base of affordable housing customers in Panama.

Continued Home Delivery Progress at Santiago Project:

Despite home delivery and collection challenges associated with the protests related to the Cobre Panama mine dispute during the month of November, IDG has successfully maintained normal development operations and has resumed home deliveries beginning in December. As of the end of the November, a total of 285 homes have been delivered to customers, accounting for an approximate combined 57% of the Company's development inventory in Phases 4,5 Reserva Social and La Reserva ("Legacy Phases").

Reached 172 Pre-Sold Homes at Legacy Phases:

Reflecting strong market demand and customer confidence, IDG is pleased to report that 172 of the 211 homes in development at the Legacy Phases, representing 81% of remaining in-progress inventory, have been pre-sold for delivery in 2024. Including deliveries, the pre-sold homes bring the total sold homes to 457 at the Santiago project, representing 92% of the 496 Legacy Phase homes at various stages of construction and delivery.

Listing on TSX Venture Exchange

IDG is pleased to report the successful listing of the Company's common shares on the TSX-V. Marking another significant milestone of the Company, IDG's common shares began trading under the symbol "IMPT" on December 12, 2023.

Tom Wenz, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company commented: "I am proud of the tremendous progress IDG has achieved in the past year, and I extend my deepest gratitude to our dedicated team. Their unwavering dedication has been evidenced in maintaining operations during a challenging environment posed by the Cobre Panama protests and successfully achieving new home delivery and pre-sales milestones. I look forward to our team's continued success as a publicly traded company on the TSX-V as we reinforce our commitment to transparency and accountability while opening new avenues for growth."

Debt Financing:

IDG is pleased to announce that it has approved a Financing by way of the issuance of a senior secured debenture for up to USD$4,500,000 with a Panamanian institutional investor to fund ongoing affordable home development activities and general working capital. The Financing will be funded in 9 monthly tranches ("Tranches"), with the final Tranche ending in July, 2024. Each Tranche will be equal to the projected capital requirements for continued development of the Legacy Phases. The Financing shall bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum, payable quarterly, with a scheduled maturity date of November 30, 2025. Interest payments shall be deferred and accrued with the first interest payment occurring on January 31, 2025. The Financing is subject to the approval of the TSX-V and no funds representing the Tranches will be advanced to IDG prior to approval by the TSX-V.

In connection with the Financing, the Company shall issue Warrants exercisable for the purchase of common shares upon receipt of each Tranche. The amount of Warrants issued by the Company in connection with each Tranche will be equal to the Canadian dollar value of the Tranche divided by the closing price of the Company's common shares on the funding date of each Tranche. The Warrants shall have an exercise price equal to a 10% premium to the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of IDG's common shares on the TSX-V on the 10 trading days prior to the funding date of each Tranche. The Warrants shall be exercisable for a period of three years from the date of issue, subject to accelerated expiry in accordance with the policies of the TSX-V.

Changes to Board of Directors

IDG announces the resignation of Raymond Harari as Director of the Company. The Company would like to thank Mr. Harari for his contributions during the public listing process.

About IHC and IHC Panama

Impact Development Group is a Panamanian based real estate developer that provides affordable housing solutions to Panama's growing middle-class supported by a longstanding subsidized government program. The vision of IHC Panama is effectuated by a vertically integrated model which coordinates all services necessary to develop high-quality residential and commercial buildings, including land acquisition, financing, architectural, engineering, off-site manufacturing, general contracting, property management, and administration.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Tom Wenz, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Phone: + 1 (406) 370-2603

Email: twenz@ihcpanama.com

Forward-Looking Information

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to trading in the common shares of the Company.

Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: the limited business history of IHC; reliance on key management; risks related to IHC's growth strategy, including that previous and future acquisitions do not meet expectations or potential acquisitions cannot be completed; dependence on and availability of third party financing; the TSX-V may not approve the Financing; the business of IHC is subject to broader economic factors; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; financial results of IHC's operations; unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions.

The forward-looking statements, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the Financing will be approved by the TSX-V and the Company will be able to carry out its business plan as contemplated. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces it has closed a non-brokered flow-through private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$450,240 (the "Offering") with a single investor. Under the Offering, the Company issued flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of CAD$0.28 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit is comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company that qualifies as a "flow-through share" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Common Share") and one-half of one (1/2) non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) non-flow-through common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") at price of CAD$0.37 per Common Share until December 28, 2025. The proceeds from the Offering will be used for expenditures that qualify as Canadian Exploration Expenses, within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), to carry out exploration programs on the Company's Canadian properties.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid a finder's fee of $27,014 to a qualified non-related party, in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange").

All securities issued under the Offering, including securities issuable on exercise thereof, are subject to a hold period expiring April 29, 2024, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada.

For more information, please contact:

David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (604) 398-4493

info@kuyasilver.com

www.kuyasilver.com

Reader Advisory

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering, is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US 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/192588

SOURCE: Kuya Silver Corporation
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Danavation Technologies Corp. (CSE: DVN) (OTCQB: DVNCF) ("Danavation" or the "Company"), a Canadian-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology company and provider of micro e-paper displays, is pleased to highlight some achievements in 2023 and future plans heading into 2024 and how we intend to grow the business and gain market share.

New Customers

Danavation is proud to announce strategic partnerships with brands such as Grady White Boats, MPL Group, Greco Fresh Markets and more. As we approach the new year, the increase of information about Digital Smart Labels among customers is increasing along with demand. With the consistent rise in goods, businesses need to stay competitive by creating efficiencies at the store level by minimizing costs spent and achieving more output that benefits a customer or the bottom line. Digital Smart Labelshelp stores meet those challenges head-on by providing businesses with the capabilities to react quickly to price changes, streamline operations and ultimately boost their revenue.

Growing customers:

Building on the successful deployments with industry giants such as ACE and True Value, Danavation continues to deploy their Digital Smart Label solution across these banners and along others in the home renovation and hardware industry. Across the industry verticals including grocery, hardware, retail and warehousing, our deployments have opened opportunities to scale as we continue to provide value and solutions that bring operational efficiencies. The

The shift to digital is not just a trend but a strategic move that brings about operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and a heightened customer experience. This industry recognition is a testament to the value that Danavation brings to the table and highlights our commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

Verticals



Danavation is rapidly expanding its footprint, not only in the hardware industry but also in warehousing, manufacturing, and more. The transition to digital labelling solutions in each sector is unlocking immense value, revolutionizing traditional processes, and bringing forth unparalleled benefits.

Sector-Specific Benefits:

Hardware Industry: Streamlining operations and inventory management through digital labelling solutions, automating promotions and in-store specials, and enhancing overall efficiency for hardware retailers.

Warehousing: Implementing digital labelling solutions to optimize logistics, automate repetitive tasks, and ensure seamless inventory tracking and management.

Manufacturing: Improving production line processes by eliminating paper with digital signage, and optimizing supply chain operations through inventory management.

This diversification underscores Danavation's commitment to tailoring solutions that address the unique needs of each sector. The company's digital offerings are not just a one-size-fits-all solution but a versatile suite of tools designed to maximize efficiency and drive growth across various industries.

Expanding the sales team

Danavation proudly announces the expansion of its sales team in western regions, with a particular emphasis on the liquor, home renovation and hardware industries in Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon. Our dedicated team in the west will bring specialized expertise to the liquor industry, collaborating closely with businesses to enhance their retail experiences, optimize inventory management, and drive overall efficiency. Simultaneously, a significant emphasis will be placed on the hardware sector, where our team will actively engage with businesses to provide tailored solutions that automate pricing processes, streamline operations, and elevate customer satisfaction.

This expansion not only underscores Danavation's commitment to supporting local businesses but also positions the company to offer a distinct advantage in terms of local sales and support. By having a dedicated team on the ground in these regions, Danavation can provide personalized assistance, fostering strong relationships and driving growth in these key industries and beyond.

About Danavation

Danavation Technologies Corp. is a Canadian-based, Internet of Things (IoT) technology company, providing micro e-paper displays to organizations across North America. The Company's Digital Smart Labels, powered by IoT automation technology and software Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), enables companies across various sectors to automate labelling, price, product, and promotions in real-time, enhancing data accuracy and improving performance by removing high labour costs and low productivity associated with traditional labour-intensive workflows. By empowering the adoption of smart retail, smart cities and industry 4.0, our goal is to create a sustainable and profitable business for shareholders while advancing sound environmental, social and governance practices, including by significantly reducing paper usage. Danavation has introduced its solution to retailers across North America, including big box and boutique grocers, while also targeting new markets including healthcare providers, manufacturing, and logistics companies. Learn more about the background of Danavation and our vision for the future on our website at www.danavation.com.

For further information, please contact:

John Ricci

President & Chief Executive Officer

905-605-6702

hello@danavation.com

investors@danavation.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating, the future business of the Company, potential roll outs of the Company's products and services, further business from the Company's clients, industry outlook and potential and other matters. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since

forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192654

SOURCE: Danavation Technologies Corp.
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions



29.12.2023 / 14:13 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 29 December 2023 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020231229692175511038.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Progress%20of%20A-Share%20Repurchases%20through%20Centralized%20Bidding%20Transactions





IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk



Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

29.12.2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Boeing has urged various airline companies to inspect its 737 Max airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the aircraft's rudder control system.



Under consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing has issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM), urging operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware.



Boeing 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 company discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.



The aircraft manufacturer said the technical glitch identified on the particular airplane has been resolved, but did not reveal the name of the airline.



FAA said it is closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, the fourth generation of the Boeing 737 series.



The FAA will remain in contact with Boeing and the airlines while the inspections are underway.



The federal aviation authority said it is asking the airlines to work through their approved Safety Management Systems to identify whether any loose hardware has been detected previously and to provide the agency with details on how quickly these two-hour inspections can be completed.



The FAA will consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.



An airplane's rudder is used to control the aircraft while in flight.



Boeing 737 MAX airplanes were grounded after hundreds of passengers were killed in an accident in Indonesia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia five months later.



FAA gave clearance for the narrow-body airliner to restore passenger flight operations in 2020.



Boeing has delivered more than 1,370 aircraft in the 737 MAX series.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM) (FSE: HLI) (OTCQB: HUSIF), (the "Company" or "Nicola") announces that it has agreed with certain debenture holders to prepay 22% of the current principal amount of $5,296,706 (the "Principal Prepayment Amount") of certain convertible debentures (each, a "Debenture") maturing on November 21, 2025 (the "Maturity Date"), pay a prepayment premium of 10% of the Principal Prepayment Amount and prepay interest (the "Prepayment of Interest Amount") on the Debentures to the Maturity Date. The Company intends to pay an aggregate of $1,165,275 in Principal Prepayment Amount, an aggregate of $116,527.50 in Prepayment Premium Amount and an aggregate of $233,055 in Prepayment Interest Amount, leaving a balance of an aggregate of $4,131,431 in Debentures.

This marks the second prepayment of outstanding debenture obligations, as the Company previously announced, on July 12, 2022, the prepayment of $1,329,176 of the principal and $81,936 in accrued interest.

About Nicola Mining

Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the Exchange and Frankfurt Exchanges that maintains a 100% owned mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has signed Mining and Milling Profit Share Agreements with high grade gold projects. Nicola's fully permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes.

The Company owns 100% of the New Craigmont Project, a high-grade copper property, which covers an area of 10,084 hectares along the southern end of the Guichon Batholith and is adjacent to Teck Resources Ltd.'s Highland Valley Copper, Canada's largest copper mine. The Company also owns 100% of the Treasure Mountain Property, consisting of 29 mineral tenures covering 2,178 hectares (ha) and a mining lease covering 335 ha.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Peter Espig"

Peter Espig

CEO & Director

For additional information

Contact: Peter Espig

Phone: (778) 385-1213

Email: info@nicolamining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192656

SOURCE: Nicola Mining Inc.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - ImmunoTech Inc. (AIM) Friday announced the Delaware Court ruled that the nomination notice submitted by an activist group was properly rejected for being invalid under the Company's Bylaws. The activist group was seeking to nominate three candidates for election to ImmunoTech's four-person Board of Directors. The Company plans to adjourn the AGM until Friday, January 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m ET. In the pre-market session, the stock is up more than 7 percent, from the previous close of $0.48. The AIM Board had unanimously determined that the Activist Group's nomination notice was invalid because it omitted key information and included misleading information, ignoring what the Company's Bylaws require to be disclosed. Further to the ruling, the Company will disregard the activist Group's director nominations, and no proxies or votes in favor of their three nominees will be recognized at the AGM 2023. Thomas Equels, CEO said, '...We are pleased that the Court has validated the Board's determination that the Activist Group omitted and misrepresented critical information related to its members' backgrounds and intentions for AIM.' 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.
"1506" has slogan based on the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: "October 7 did not happen in a vacuum."

PORTO, PORTUGAL / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / The Jewish community of Porto has released to the general public the trailer for a full-length historical film about the massacre of the Jews of Lisbon that took place in the Portuguese capital in 1506.

Mekor Haim Kadoorie synagogue in Porto, Portugal

The Porto Jewish community has been active over the past decade to promote Jewish culture, among which is the feature film "1618," which recounts the story of the Inquisition and won the largest number of international awards for a Portuguese film.

The premiere of the film "1506," which will be available for free viewing, will take place on April 19, 2024 - exactly 518 years since that traumatic event occurred. The film will be available in a variety of languages and platforms for online viewing.

More than 3,000 Jews were brutally murdered in the massacre between April 19 and 21,1506. A simple spark was enough for popular sentiment to cause a catastrophe. The fires into which the bodies were thrown reached the height of houses - even babies were thrown into the fire in the heart of the city, where for three days a brutal mass slaughter of the city's Jewish residents took place.

"To know the massacre of 1506 in Lisbon is to know the events of October 7, 2023 in Israel and the historic massacres perpetrated against the Jewish people throughout Europe. The only change is the weapons used. 'October 7 did not exist in a vacuum,' Antonio Guterres said, and he is right," said Gabriel Senderowicz, president of the Porto Jewish community and a member of the European Jewish Association.

The Portuguese company LightBox was chosen to produce the film, and the script recreating the historical events, written in 2021, was based on in-depth research carried out at the Alberto Benveniste Research Center for Sephardic Studies at the University of Lisbon.

The Porto Jewish community has been active over the past decade to promote Jewish culture, history and education. Among its notable achievements during this period is the feature film "1618," which recounts the story of the Inquisition in the city and won the largest number of international awards for a Portuguese film.

The Jewish community of Porto was only officially reestablished in 1923 by Captain Barros Basto, known as the "Portuguese Dreyfus" after he was persecuted for his efforts to reestablish a Jewish community in Porto, some four centuries after it had been destroyed by the Portuguese Inquisition.

Among the important projects led by the community over the past decade are the Jewish Museum in Porto and the Holocaust Museum, which in the past two years have hosted more than 100,000 schoolchildren, constituting 10% of all schoolchildren in Portugal.

Contact Information

SHEPAZ Comms

PR Agency

shepaz@shepaz.com

972-50-240-9757

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4k2ChHxnY0

SOURCE: The Jewish Community of Porto

View the original press release on newswire.com.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Defense Department has decided to prosecute cases of sexual assault and several other serious crimes at new Offices of Special Trial Counsel.



The Offices of Special Trial Counsel will consist of general or flag officer leaders who report directly to the secretaries of the military departments.?



Beginning Thursday, the trial has been moved from an accused service member's chain of command.



This military justice reform is an important step in restoring faith that the system is fair, just and equitable, said senior Defense Department and military officials. They emphasized that the offices will be staffed by specially trained, independent military attorneys uniquely qualified to address complex cases.



The OSTCs will handle cases professionally, applying the best practices and procedures of civilian prosecution offices, a senior DOD official said.



The covered offenses that fall under the authority of the new OSTCs include murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography and most sexual assault and sexual misconduct. -



Sexual harassment will become a covered offense on Jan. 1, 2025, for crimes committed after that date where a formal complaint is made and substantiated.?



In the case of sexual assault, the reform applies to unrestricted reports. A service member making an unrestricted report has decided to participate in a criminal investigation and support actions taken to hold the alleged offender appropriately accountable. Individualized, confidential help is available to understand these changes from special victims' counsel in the Army; victims' counsel in the Department of the Air Force; and victims' legal counsel in the Navy and Marine Corps. Sexual assault response coordinators can assist in contacting the attorneys and other assistance services.



Service members filing a restricted report of sexual assault may continue to report allegations confidentially without triggering an investigation, while still connecting with medical, legal and advocacy services and submitting information to the CATCH a Serial Offender Program, if they choose.?



This is one of the reforms recommended by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the U.S. Military.



After considering the commission's recommendations, DOD proposed historic military justice reforms, leading to congressional passage and presidential approval of the new system that took effect Thursday.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
ALSIP, IL / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Capstone Holding Corp. (OTCQB:CAPS) ("the Company")

Effective December 28, 2023, the Company accepted the resignations of Frederic R. Feldman, PhD, and Elwood D. Howse, Jr. from its board of directors. The Company thanks Mssrs. Feldman and Howse for their many years of dedicated and valuable service.

John M. Holliman, III, will assume the lead independent director role and will serve as Chairman of the Company's Audit Committee effective as of this date.

Please see the Company's Annual Report filed with the OTCQB Markets for further information.

About Capstone Holding Corp.

The Company's primary business activities presently include the operations of TotalStone, LLC, a construction materials company.

Capstone's corporate headquarters is located in Alsip, Illinois. For more information, please visit the Company's website: www.capstonethx.com.

Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to Capstone regarding our business that are not historical facts are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted results. These risks include the factors discussed in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and other documents we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or OTCQB Markets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Investor Relations

(708)371-0660

investorinquiries@capstonethx.com

SOURCE: Capstone Therapeutics Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The United States has sent Ukraine over a hundred 30-ton M2 IFVs (Infantry fighting vehicles). These arrived in early 2023 and were armed with a 25mm autocannon and two TOW ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) launchers as well as a coaxial (with the autocannon) 7.62mm machine-gun. M2 has a crew consisting of a driver, gunner, and vehicle commander. The M2 can also carry six infantrymen in the back, or nearly a ton of cargo

The M2s proved very effective in combat. Their night vision equipment enabled them to operate effectively at night and ambush Russian vehicles or infantry seeking to move under cover of darkness. The Russians appear to have ignored the fact that most of the armored vehicles Ukraine receives from NATO countries have night vision capability. In theory, this severely restricts Russian mobility. If there is heavy fog, especially at night, the Russians can move safely, although slowly.

The M2s are more mobile than a tank and their 25mm autocannon is more effective against infantry and light armored vehicles than the main gun of a tank. Moreover, tanks only carry a few dozen shells for their 125mm main gun compared to 600 or more 25mm shells on the M2. Ukrainian forces use their M2s frequently and nearly 20 percent of them have been lost in combat. One M2 was captured intact by the Russians, who had never had possession of an intact M2 before. Russian technical exports are examining the M2 in detail to so if they can find any unknown, to them, weaknesses.

Ukraine has also received many more of the M2s predecessor, the M113. The M113 has been around since the early 1960s and is still used as an armored transport. The current version is the M113A3 version, which is the standard for most of the 10,000 M113s still used by the U.S. Army. The U.S. sent hundreds more M113s after Ukraine found the initial shipment suitable. About 30,000 M113s are still used by several dozen nations. Most M113s still operational are used for support roles although Israel still uses them in combat. Ukraine also found the M113 very useful as a support vehicle. For combat the M2 is far superior.

The M113 is a boxy armored vehicle that entered service in 1961 with American army armored units and from 1963 on saw combat in Vietnam. It served effectively during the Vietnam War and was the main American APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) throughout most of the Cold War. About 80,000 M113s were manufactured between 1960 and 2007. At 13 tons, although often closer to 15 tons with added armor and other accessories, the M113 is lighter than the M2 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) and wheeled Stryker that replaced it in the combat role after the 1980s.

The major shortcoming of the M113, as well as the M2, is the time and expense of keeping them running compared to wheeled armored vehicles. Thats because they run on tracks like a tank. The lighter M113 has a max speed of only 65 kilometers an hour compared to at least 100 for wheeled armored vehicles. M113 tracks wear out quickly and have to be replaced at great expense, over $10,000 a set, every 6,000 kilometers or less. Traveling on roads wears out the tracks faster. The tracks also limit how much weight you can add. All American M113s have gone through the RISE, or reliability improvements for selected equipment upgrades. This included a new, more powerful engine, several other improved mechanical components as well as new electronics. RISE began in the late 1980s when the U.S. Army had 20,000 M113s in service. Export customers carried out similar upgrades or had the Americans do it.

The M113 is still in use because it proved to be a very flexible and reliable platform, lending itself to modifications by many of the dozens of armed forces that still use it or once did. Some countries have added turrets, mounting 25mm autocannon. By the 1990s an updated M-113 cost less than $2 million each. This late model M-113 had much better armor protection and reliability but was still inferior to the M-2 that replaced it as an infantry combat vehicle.

In the 1980s the M113 was joined, but not replaced by nearly 5,000 25-ton M2 Bradley IFVs. The M2 required more maintenance to keep it operational and, like the M113, required regular track replacement after every. The M2 cost $3 million each, compared to $200,000 for a late model M113.
CANGZHOU, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Cangzhou, a city in north China's Hebei Province, has accelerated the transformation and upgrading of ports and resource integration, promoted the planning and construction of Huanghua Port with high quality, and made every effort to build a multi-functional, comprehensive and modernized port in 2023, according to sources with Cangzhou municipal government.

Huanghua port

From the Jan-Nov period in 2023, Huanghua Port completed the throughput of goods of 305 million tons, with a year-on-year growth of 6.15 percent.

In 2023, the container routes from Huanghua Port to Japan, Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Xiamen opened successively. Many "firsts" have been completed in Huanghua Port in the past year: the launch of the first 10,000-ton liquid chemical berth and the first port railway central station was completed and put into use.

Cangzhou strives to promote infrastructure construction and enhance Huanghua Port's carrying and service capacity. With the rapid development and construction of Huanghua Port, a number of significant projects have been accelerated. Xinhai Chemical New Materials Complex Project with a total investment of 12.9 billion yuan (about 1.8 billion US dollars), Hebei Kemai New Materials with a total investment of 3.5 billion yuan (about 490 million US dollars), and a Jinchangxing Petroleum Products Co., Ltd. project with a total investment of 3 billion yuan (about 490 million US dollars) completed and put into use. These projects are influential supporters of Cangzhou's coastal economic growth.

Huanghua Port has become a major coastal port, and the coastal effect of Cangzhou provides a more robust fundamental capacity in the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Xiong'an New Area.

In 2023, Cangzhou continued to promote transforming and upgrading traditional industries, especially the emerging strategic industries, which grew more assertive. Throughout the year, the city organized four on-site promotion meetings for key project construction, with 1,230 projects started and over 360 billion yuan (about 50.6 billion US dollars) invested.

The "friend circle" of Cangzhou's opening to the outside world grew more prominent. China -Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) (Cangzhou) Small and Medium-Sized (SME) Cooperation Forum, Bohai Rim (Cangzhou) -- The Gulf Cooperation Forum, the 19th Maritime Day of China, and many other international events were held in Cangzhou, which not only enhanced the visibility and reputation of the city, but also attracted investment.

Cangzhou will further its development to the sea and constantly inject energy and vitality to speed up the construction of a solid coastal economic city. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this historical northern starting point of the Maritime Silk Road has gradually emerged into a leading economic city in North China.

Contact Information

Grace Shi

PR

graceshi@xinhuanetus.com

6465712146

SOURCE: Cangzhou Municipal Government

View the original press release on newswire.com.
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces the exercise for cash of 871,400 outstanding warrants to purchase common shares at a price of $0.39 per share (each a "2020 Warrant"). The Company has received consideration of $339,846 in respect of those 2020 Warrants exercised.

Gabriel has the following securities outstanding:

1,035,976,840 common shares;

25,723,372 warrants which are exercisable at a price of $0.49 and expire on January 15, 2024;

76,504,263 warrants which are exercisable at a price of $0.645 and expire on August 23, 2024; and

5,225,970 warrants which are exercisable at a price of $0.645 and expire on September 13, 2024.

For information on this press release, please contact:

Dragos Tanase

President & CEO

Phone: +40 730 399 019

dt@gabrielresources.com Richard Brown

Chief Financial Officer

Mobile: +44 7748 760276

richard.brown@gabrielresources.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.

About Gabriel

Gabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal business had been the exploration and development of the Ro?ia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Ro?ia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Ro?ia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company.

Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has unlawfully blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.

In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation,the ability to obtain stock exchange approval, where applicable, to effect the grant of rights. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this press release that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies which can be viewed online at www.sedarplus.ca.

SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's third-largest crypto exchange by volume, is excited to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of its Bybit P2P service. Over the past two years, Bybit P2P has empowered users to buy and sell crypto directly with each other in a secure and efficient environment. Today, we commemorate this milestone with the P2P Festive Duo Event, offering up to 17 USDT in P2P coupons to fuel your crypto journey while witnessing our explosive growth!

In just 2 years, Bybit P2P has experienced remarkable growth, processing over 45 million transactions to date and welcoming a daily active user base of 42,000 traders. Recently, we shattered records by surpassing 80,000 transactions in a single day, highlighting the platform's immense popularity and unwavering appeal.

Bybit P2P is more than just a platform; it's a thriving community of crypto enthusiasts united by their passion for digital assets. Join us for exclusive events, connect with fellow traders, and share your crypto journey.

Join the Festivities: P2P Festive Duo Event Details

Event Period: December 26, 2023, 10:00 AM UTC - January 17, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC

Complete simple tasks: Like placing your first P2P trade, inviting friends, and making referrals.

Earn up to 17 USDT in coupons: Redeem them for fee discounts, transaction boosters, and more!

Visit Bybit's website for more details and to unlock your P2P Festive Duo privileges! : https://announcements.bybit.com/article/p2p-festive-duo-grab-up-to-17-usdt-p2p-coupons--blt766f5350f9452d73/

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

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Treasuries showed a modest move to the downside during trading on Friday, extending the notable pullback seen in the previous session. Bond prices regained ground after seeing initial weakness but slid back into the red going into the close of trading. Subsequently, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, inched up by 1.6 basis points to 3.866 percent. The ten-year yield added to the 6.1 basis point jump seen on Thursday, climbing further off the five-month closing low set on Wednesday. The modest weakness among treasuries came as traders continued to cash in on recent strength in the markets, although selling pressure remained relatively subdued. While treasuries moved notably higher over the past several months, the ten-year yield was little changed for the year. In U.S. economic news, MNI Indicators released a report showing a substantial downturn by Chicago-area business activity in the month of December. MNI Indicators said its Chicago business barometer tumbled to 46.9 in December from 55.8 in November, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. Economists had expected the index to drop to 51.0. 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.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, has lost a legal challenge to block a California law that requires content moderation disclosures. The state law mandates social media companies to issue semi-annual reports detailing their content moderation practices and their enforcement, along with data about objectionable posts. The law, signed in 2022 by California Governor Gavin Newsom, aims to address issues like hate speech, disinformation, harassment and extremism on social media sites. X had sued the state to undo the law stating that it violated its free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment and California's state constitution. The legal challenge was dismissed by U.S. District Judge William Shubb on Thursday. In an eight-page ruling, the Judge stated: 'While the reporting requirement does appear to place a substantial compliance burden on social media companies, it does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law.' Shubb has planned a meeting with lawyers on February 26, 2024, for a scheduling conference. X has been facing many challenges regarding content moderation. Recently, many prominent companies have pulled out their advertisements from the site citing content moderation issues. Earlier this month, X was investigated by European Union agencies under the Digital Services Act. 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.
Swift Response and Assurance: Customer Accounts and Security Uncompromised Despite Third-Party Service Provider Cybersecurity Incident

TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The INX Digital Company, Inc. (NEO: INXD, OTCQB: INXDF, INXATS: INX) (the "Company" or "INX"), a security token and digital asset trading platform, U.S. broker-dealer, alternative trading system, transfer agent, and inter-dealer broker (through its subsidiaries), announced that on December 20, 2023, it learned of a cyberattack that occurred on the computer systems of a third-party vendor providing services to one of the Company's subsidiaries.

As a result, a malicious actor managed to access the third-party vendor's servers and executed unauthorized trades which resulted in a loss of funds of the Company's subsidiary of approximately $1.6 million. The Company took immediate actions to remediate the security vulnerability and to investigate the nature and scope of the incident. The Company also notified relevant law enforcement in the appropriate jurisdictions and is working with the affected trading venue to investigate this incident and take appropriate legal action.

INX customers were not affected by the incident, and the security breach at the third-party provider did not have any impact on the platforms and servers of INX. No personal information or other data of INX's customers was compromised, and INX.One remains fully operational. The Company placed additional security measures in place and continues to actively monitor any suspicious activity.

The Company holds a "Reserve Fund" (which is not part of the Company's operational capital) in the amount of $36,023,000, which is restricted and specifically designed to cover customer and INX losses, if any, that result from cybersecurity breaches or theft, errors in execution of the trading platform or its technology, and counterparty defaults, including instances where counterparties lack sufficient collateral to cover losses. The Company will seek to recover the lost funds through any means necessary. If unsuccessful, and after these efforts are exhausted, the Company will utilize the Reserve Fund for the recovery of the loss that resulted from this security incident. There is no assurance that any such lost funds will be recovered.

The Company does not expect this incident to have a material impact on its business operations or its financial results.

About INX:

INX provides regulated trading platforms for digital securities and cryptocurrencies. With the combination of traditional market expertise and a disruptive fintech approach, INX provides state-of-the-art solutions to modern financial problems. INX is led by an experienced and dedicated team of business, finance, and technology veterans with the shared vision of redefining the world of capital markets via blockchain technology and a disciplined regulatory approach.

About The INX Digital Company, Inc.:

The INX Digital Company, Inc. is the holding company for the INX Group, which includes regulated trading platforms for digital securities and cryptocurrencies. The INX Group's vision is to be the preferred global regulated hub for digital assets on the blockchain. The INX Group's overall mission is to bring communities together and empower them with financial innovation. Our journey started with our initial public token offering of the INX Token, in which we raised US$84 million. The INX Group is shaping the blockchain asset industry through its willingness to work in a regulated environment with oversight from regulators like the SEC and FINRA. For more information, please visit the INX Group website at https://www.inx.co/ .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Disclosures

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. In disclosing the forward-looking information contained in this press release, INX has made certain assumptions, including with respect to, the continuous development of the INX trading platform, the completion of the transactions described herein, and the development of the digital asset industry. Although INX believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to regulatory developments, the state of the digital securities and cryptocurrencies markets, and general economic conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, INX disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking information or otherwise.

Neo Exchange is not responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For further information, contact:

The INX Digital Company, Inc.

Investor Relations

+1 855 657 2314

Contact: Alan Silbert

Email: investorrelations@inx.co

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Sanatana Resources Inc. (TSXV: STA) ("Sanatana" or the "Company") has, further to its news releases dated December 15, 2023, December 19, 2023 and December 27, 2023, closed the second tranche of the Company's 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 Company has now closed the flow-through portion of the Private Placement.

The second tranche closing of the Private Placement consisted of 1,680,000 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $168,000. 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 second tranche closing of the Private Placement, the Company paid aggregate finders' fees of $7,800 and issued an aggregate of 78,000 compensation warrants (each, a "Compensation Warrant"), pursuant to a finder's fee agreement 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 29, 2026.

In connection with the second tranche closing, insiders of the Company subscribed for a total of 900,000 Units, for a subscription price of $90,000, under the Private Placement (the "Insider Subscription"). The Insider Subscription constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, in respect of the Insider Subscription as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the Units issued to insiders in connection with the Private Placement does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, 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 Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Private Placement in an expeditious manner.

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 the non-flow through portion of the Private Placement in January of 2024.

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

President and Chief Executive Officer

For additional information on the Company, please contact Mr. Peter Miles, Chief Executive Officer at (604) 408-6680 or by 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/192771

SOURCE: Sanatana Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Newpath Resources Inc. (CSE: PATH) (FSE: 0MZ) (OTC PINK: RDYFF) ("Newpath" or the "Company") announces, further to its news release on December 20, 2023, it has closed its non-brokered flow-through private placement (the "Offering"). The Company issued 1,045,000 flow-through shares (each a "FT Share" and collectively, the "FT Shares") at a price of $0.115 per FT Share for total gross proceeds of $120,175.

All FT Shares issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four-month hold expiring April 30, 2024, under applicable securities laws in Canada.

The proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for exploration activities on the Company's Alpha/ Bravo and Northshore projects.

The Company's CEO and director, Alexander McAulay, subscribed for a total of 175,000 FT Shares under the Offering. Mr. McAulay's participation in the Offering is a "related-party transaction", as defined in Multi-Lateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation requirements contained in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and the minority shareholder approval requirements contained in section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on specified markets and the fair market value of Mr. McAulay's participation in the Offering does not exceed 25% of the 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 closing date of the Offering was not immediately known and the Company wished to close on an expedited basis.

About Newpath Resources Inc.

Newpath is a Canadian exploration company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol PATH. Newpath's early-stage Orefield critical metal exploration project, which is composed of three claim groups (Alpha/Bravo, Charlie and Delta), totals 3,180 claim units covering approximately 67,448 hectares (approximately 674 square kilometres) west and southwest of Lake Nipigon in Northern Ontario. The company also wholly owns the Northshore gold project located in the Schreiber-Hemlo greenstone belt.

On Behalf of the Company,

NEWPATH RESOURCES INC.

"Alexander McAulay"

Chief Executive Officer

Email: amcaulay@newpathresource.com

CEO Direct Line: +1 (604) 365-0425

www.newpathresource.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain certain "forward-looking information". Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "aim", "aims to", "may", "would", "could", "will", "will be" "likely", "expected", "anticipated", "proposed", "believe", "intend", "intent", "looking", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook", "hope". Forward-looking information included in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking information is based upon the assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by management of the Company as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that 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. Risks that may cause the forward-looking information contained herein to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein include, but are not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals if required, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company, the competitive conditions of the industries in which the Company operates, the availability of material projects, capital expenditures and other costs, repayment of debt, financing and additional capital requirements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Any statement containing forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192785

SOURCE: Newpath Resources Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture data company in North America, is pleased to announce it has granted an aggregate of 2,500,000 stock options (the "Options") to purchase common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company exercisable at a price of $0.185 per Common Share and expiring on December 23, 2028, to employees of the Company. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a four-month hold period from the original date of grant.

About Deveron:

Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to better manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide, and other farm inputs. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone, that build a basis of our best-in-class data layers. Our focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres of farmland are actively farmed annually.

For more information and to join our community, please visit www.deveron.com.

Philip Linton

VP Corporate Development

plinton@deveron.com

Tel: 647-622-0076

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward-looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192779

SOURCE: Deveron Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Barksdale Resources Corp. (TSXV: BRO) (OTCQX: BRKCF) ("Barksdale" or the "Company") announces that further to the Company's news release dated December 13, 2023 wherein it announced that it was seeking TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") acceptance to further extend the maturity date of the secured convertible debenture ("Debentures") held by Delbrook Capital Advisors Inc. ("Delbrook") for an additional year until December 31, 2024 (the "Extension"), Delbrook has agreed to temporarily waive the payment obligations on the Debentures until January 15, 2024 in order to give the parties time to obtain the requisite approval of the TSXV for the Extension, the issuance of the Extension Warrants and the Interest Debt Settlement and to enter into definitive documentation with respect to such Extension. The Debentures have a remaining principal amount of $1,500,000 and all other terms of the Debentures including the conversion price will remain unchanged.

Additionally, Delbrook and the Company have agreed to a securities for debt settlement (the "Interest Debt Settlement") whereby the interest accrued under the Debentures in the aggregate amount of $187,083.00 will be exchanged for 467,708 units of the Company (each, a "Unit"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of Barksdale (each a "Common Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.60 for a period of 3 years from the date of issuance. Any subsequent interest accrued under the Debentures after December 27, 2023 shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Debentures.

In exchange for the Extension, the Company will also issue to Delbrook 2,777,777 common share purchase warrants (the "Extension Warrants") as an extension fee. Each Extension Warrant shall entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.60 until December 31, 2024.

Barksdale Resources Corp., a 2023 OTCQX BEST 50 Company, is a base metal exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., that is focused on the acquisition, exploration and advancement of highly prospective base metal projects in North America. Barksdale is currently advancing the Sunnyside copper-zinc-lead-silver and San Antonio copper projects, both of which are in the Patagonia mining district of southern Arizona, as well as the San Javier copper-gold project in central Sonora, Mexico.

ON BEHALF OF BARKSDALE RESOURCES CORP

Rick Trotman

President, CEO and Director

Rick@barksdaleresources.com

Terri Anne Welyki

Vice President of Communications

778-238-2333

TerriAnne@barksdaleresources.com

For more information please phone 778-558-7145, email info@barksdaleresources.com or visit www.BarksdaleResources.com .

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192783

SOURCE: Barksdale Resources Corp.
The Ukraine War has made NATO countries aware that the Cold War-era Russian threat has returned and is not likely to go away. This means NATO countries will have to return to Cold War levels of defense spending, which averaged 3.5 percent a year for all NATO members. In the 1990s that shrank to two percent. Now it's going back to 3.5 percent. In Russia the situation was worse. At the end of the Cold war, in 1991 when the Soviet Union fell apart, the Soviet Union was spending over $70 billion a year on defense.

Russia is not only more aggressive but is putting its economy on a permanent war footing. Russia cannot afford that, mainly because it was hit with extensive economic sanctions. This hurt Russia economically and the government tells the Russian people that the current economic depression in Russia is the result of NATO aggression. Russia tells its people that its troops went into Ukraine to prevent NATO from taking control of Ukraine and using it as part of an attack on Russia. The assertion seems absurd to Westerners, but Russians have had over a century of government paranoia about the West and are more inclined to accept it as reality.

The problem is that NATO nations can afford this expense, without hurting their economies, more than Russia can. In 2021, the year before Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian defense budget was $66 billion. Russia expected a short and victorious war in Ukraine. That did not happen so Russia military budget for 2022 rose to $75 billion and then to between $84 billion and $100 billion in 2023. As a result of this Russia is expected to spend at least $600 billion on defense between 2022 and 2025. This means less money for non-defense operations. That includes government employees, infrastructure costs and government services in general. Russia has done this before. During World War II the deprivation inflicted on civilians led to hunger and some starvation deaths. American aid to Russia helped alleviate that. These shipments were delivered to the Russian Pacific Ocean port of Vladivostok via American transports that were transferred to Russia, which was not at war with Japan. Much of this aid was food and without it there would have been a lot more starvation in Russia. Without this aid, especially the military component, Russia might have lost the war or seen it go on longer than it originally did.

All this is remembered by many Russians who know about their own history. No one is supplying Russia with military or food aid. During World War II Russia lost control of most of its food producing territories to the German invaders. While Russia can feed itself this time and is in no danger of losing territory, the economic sanctions are doing a lot of damage. Ukraine is the one getting all the foreign aid and Russia does not like this situation at all. NATO countries can afford to send Ukraine lots of aid and keep doing so both with and without (depending on the vagaries of the U.S. Congress) much participation from the Americans. Russia has got itself into a war it cant win but cannot, because of internal politics, afford to withdraw from.

Russia is profiting in some ways from its lost war. It does this by forcing Western firms to leave Russia and seizes the assets of these foreign firms. This has led to Russia obtaining billions of dollars from the departing Western companies. Russia believes that Western firms will not abandon the Russian market forever, despite their huge losses during their 2023 departure and will eventually return. Russia underestimates the widespread use of risk assessment by Western corporations based on Russian outlaw behavior. Russia is now assessed as a high risk and unreliable place to do business. Financial and risk management firms in the West now consider Russia an undesirable place to do business and it can take decades for that to change. Russia never had a particularly good reputation as a place to do business and now Russia is considered a place to avoid. Western risk assessment firms have compiled lots of evidence to back that up and major corporations will consult that data before considering any return to Russia.

For NATO countries, this means recent Russian behavior justified the formation of NATO in the first place, as an organization of Western nations determined to defend themselves from Russian aggression, be it military or financial. The United States missed an opportunity to stop Russia early and was slow to get Ukraine the military aid it needed in the beginning. Now NATO is easing up on aid to Ukraine just as the Ukrainians are pushing the Russians back. This will get messy because the Russians plan to do whatever it takes to absorb Ukraine back into a Russian empire that no one but Russian wants.
Shield AI, a San Diego, CA-based defense technology company, raised additional $100M in Series F funding, and $200M in debt from Hercules Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate deployment of AI pilots to different classes of aircraft.

Founded in 2015 and led by CEO Ryan Tseng, Shield AI is a defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its flagship product, Hivemind, is an AI pilot that enables teams of intelligent aircraft to operate and complete missions autonomously in high-threat environments, without the need for remote operators or GPS. Hivemind is an aircraft agnostic autonomy stack similar to the self-driving technology found in cars. It has flown quadcopters, the MQ-35A V-BAT, and the F-16.

Next year it will fly Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie. Shield AI has accumulated more autonomous flight hours executing fighter jet maneuvers, like dogfighting, than any company in the world.

The company has offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and abroad.

FinSMEs

29/12/2023
With the new year just around the corner and BTown celebs jetting off to their favourite destinations, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has also all set to ring in the New Year at one of her favourite travel destinations along with her family. Kareena who recently jetted off for a vacation with her husband Saif Ali Khan and kids Taimur and Jeh took to her Instagram handle to share pictures of her vacation in Switzerland. Apart from her family, Kareena was also joined by her close friend Natasha Poonawalla. The latest pictures from the snowclad mountains are enough to show that they are indeed having a blast.

Taking to her Instagram stories, the actress began by sharing a picture of herself as she attempts to capture the beauty of the mountains from her balcony. Dressed in a comfy night suit, Kareena kept her back towards the camera. Chasing the light 4 Days to 2024, she wrote.

Next, she shared the picturesque view of the mountains, showing the lush green landscapes, snow-clad mountains, and a pristine blue sky and wrote, Find Your Light.

In the third IG story, Kareena shared a picture with her friend Natasha, as they stood in the jawdropping location, surrounded by snow-covered mountains. This is how we keep warm in the snow, the actress wrote.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is clearly savouring every moment of her vacation and the Instagram stories are a delightful proof of that. Notably, the Udta Punjab actress has been known for visiting the Alps with hubby Saif Ali Khan almost every year since they got married. This year too, they took off for their New Year vacation a few days back. Before heading to Switzerland, the family spent some time in London around Christmas, pictures of which were also shared on her Instagram handle.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan)



On the work front

Last seen in the Netflix thriller Jaane Jaan alongside actors like Vijay Varma, Jaideep Ahlawat and Saurabh Sachdeva, Kareena Kapoor will be next seen in Hansal Mehtas The Buckingham Murders.

Jaane Jaan marked the actress OTT debut. She also has Rohit Shettys Singham 3 in the pipeline.
Veteran Tamil actor and DMDK chief Vijayakanth passed away at the age of 71 on Thursday, 28 December due to ill health. The actor-turned-politician was recently admitted to a private hospital in Chennai due to pneumonia, however, he died after his condition deteriorated and was put on a ventilator. While condolences and tributes from fans, supporters, and celebrities have been pouring across social media platforms, legendary actor Rajnikanth has now also paid his heartfelt tribute to the late actor. Rajinikanth who was in Tuticorin, shooting for his upcoming film immediately halted his work and headed straight to Chennai.

On Friday, the actor met Vijayakanths family and shared condolences with his wife Premalatha and his two sons. He was also seen paying floral tribute to the late actor.



Videos going viral on social media show the superstar getting emotional as he paid his last respects to his old friend. Later, Rajinikanth also spoke to the media after having a last look at his friend. From highlighting the selfless qualities of Vijayakanth to sharing his grief, the Jailer actor also recalled some fond memories with Captain.

Rajinikanths emotional speech on the demise of DMDK chief

Earlier at the Tuticorin airport, Rajinikanth while sharing his grief recalled that he saw Vijayakanth last time at the DMDKs general body meeting and hoped he would bounce back after battling his health issues.

His death is a huge loss to the people of Tamil Nadu He would have done so many good deeds for the people. The people of Tamil Nadu have now lost him. May his soul rest in peace, he added.

Later after paying his tributes at the Island Grounds where the mortal remains of Vijayakanth have been kept before the last rites, the actor once again addressed the media and gave an emotional speech.

My heart aches. I could go all day talking about him. He was the epitome of friendship. Once you become friends with him, youll never be able to forget him. the actor said.

Rajinikanth also recalled a few fond memories with the late actor, revealing how he had multiple times helped in clearing the crowd, once when he was admitted to the Ramachandra Hospital and next in Singapore.

1000s have lived and 1000s have died, but whos in the hearts of the people? Only people like Vijayakanth, he concluded.

Despite having never worked in any films together, Vijayakanth and Rajinikanth were extremely fond of each other and shared a great bond.
Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth passed away on Wednesday, 28 December, leaving a deep void in the industry. While his mortal remains were placed at the DMDK office on Friday for fans and celebrities to pay their final respects, heavyweights like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Vijay were also spotted arriving at the Island Ground in Chennai, bidding their final farewells. Amid the grief and sorrowful environment, an unexpected incident has now caught the internets attention, leaving fans pretty furious. Actor Vijay who paid an emotional tribute to Vijayakanth on Thursday night had a startling encounter after an unidentified individual seemingly threw a slipper at him.

Vijay was among the few celebrities who came early to pay their tributes to the late actor. He was surrounded by an unruly crowd and media personnel as he arrived at the venue. Amid the chaos, as the actor was retreating back to his vehicle, a slipper came across directly towards him.

While the police and security personnel made enough efforts to safeguard him, helping him navigate through the throng of enthusiastic fans, a few individuals managed to touch the actor and one also hurled a slipper at him. Luckily, it was intercepted by his security personnel who tossed it back into the crowd.

Watch:



Fans furious at Vijay being attacked at Vijayakanths funeral

While such instances have now become common during celebrity appearances in public, the particular incident has left many of his fans furious over the lack of restraint and dignity among them the actors. Some also called out the amount of disrespect that fans displayed at the time of loss and the kind of mistreatment that Vijay had to deal with.

Did someone really throw shoes on vijay? Condemnable behaviour!, one wrote, while another one commented, Another video of slipper being thrown at vijay. This is wrong!

pathetic to see fans are so hate mongers, a third one commented.

The video is being largely shared across social media platforms, with fans strongly condemning such actions.

Vijayakanths funeral

Captain Vijayakanth was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai due to health issues a few days back. However, he breathed his last at 6:10 AM on Thursday, leading a wave of grief across his fans and supporters.

His mortal remains were earlier taken to his residence and were later kept at the DMDK party office in Koyambedu.

The journey for his final rites has begun as he will be laid to rest with full state honours on Friday, 29 December.
LOreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers was already the richest woman in the world.

However, she has achieved a new milestone by becoming the first female to accumulate a staggering fortune of over $100 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

This new feat was made possible by the record-breaking $100.2 billion valuation of the shares in the cosmetics empire, which her grandfather started in 1901.

Lets take a closer look.

A surge in share price adds a new feather to Meyers crown

Just ahead of Mukesh Ambani and behind Carlos Slim, who recently became the first person from Latin America to reach the $100 billion mark, Bettencourt Meyers is listed as the 12th richest person in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

With a 35 per cent increase this year, LOreals stock, based in Paris, is at an all-time high as a result of people continuing to spend lavishly on high-end goods following the pandemic.

As a result, Bettencourt Meyers personal wealth has increased by about $28 billion.

Notably, with about 35 per cent of the $268 billion global firm, the Meyers family is the single largest shareholder.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 114-year-old beauty group struggled because fewer people purchased makeup and other beauty items while the world was under lockdown.

However, in the years that have passed, sales have increased, driving up the share price of the company that owns Maybelline and Garnier.

According to business reports, the largest cosmetics company in the worldwhich also owns Lancome, Prada, and Yves Saint Laurentreported revenues of almost $42 billion in 2022.

Earlier this year, the French company bought Australian brand Aesop in a $2.5 billion purchase, the largest brand acquisition ever.

According to Dealogic, the $1.7 billion acquisition of YSL Beaute in 2008 set a previous record.

Who is Bettencourt Meyers?

Holding the position of vice chair on the LOreal board, Bettencourt Meyers carries on the family legacy started in 1909 by her grandpa, Eugene Schueller, a chemist.

Both of her sons, Nicholas and Jean-Victor Meyers, work as directors.

The 70-year-old businesswoman chooses to live a remarkably quiet life rather than participate in the glitzy social scene that many of the worlds wealthy find appealing.

After her mother, Liliane Bettencourt passed away in 2017, Meyers became the only heir to her fortune, though they didnt always get along.

A significant legal dispute involving the family that resulted in a political scandal is documented in the new documentary, LAffaire Bettencourt. The three-part Netflix documentary explores the family conflict and features recordings made by a butler.

Aside from her work at LOreal, she is said to be the author of two books: a five-volume Bible study and a genealogy of the Greek gods.

She also receives praise for her commitment to practicing the piano for hours every day.

Even with her enormous wealth, Bettencourt Meyer is still far behind her husband, Bernard Arnault, who founded the French luxury goods company LVMH.

According to Bloombergs index, Arnaults net worth as of Wednesday night was $179.4 billion.

Elon Musk is presently ranked as the richest person in the world, according to the ranking, which is updated daily.

With inputs from agencies
Its been three days since the Israeli embassy in New Delhi was rocked by a low-intensity blast. Authorities have been working hard to trace the culprits involved in the explosion, and investigating officials have discovered eerie similarities between the 26 December incident and a similar blast that took place in January 2021 at the same location.

As of now, authorities have questioned 12 people in the blast, which Israel has called a possible terror attack, prompting it to issue a travel advisory to its citizens.

Heres what has been uncovered so far.

Culprit who cant speak Hindi properly

Investigators have reportedly made a breakthrough in the 26 December blast and narrowed down one of the culprits to be a man who came to the spot by an autorickshaw and couldnt speak proper Hindi.

People related to the matter told the Indian Express that authorities have been scanning the CCTV footage of the area and found that a dozen people had visited the crime scene in the hours leading up to the blast.

This included civil department labourers who were working at the spot, a porter, and a couple, all of whom were questioned and eventually given a clean chit. Police then zeroed in on a man seen coming out of an autorickshaw around 2.30 pm, the source told Indian Express.

After further digging, they were able to trace the auto driver. The auto driver revealed to the investigating officials that the man believed to be the mastermind of the blast approached him at Jamia Nagar Metro station and two struck a deal for Rs 150 for him to be ferried to the spot where the Israeli embassy is situated.

The source further told Indian Express that the man was not able to speak Hindi properly and asked the auto driver to drop him at Prithviraj Road. It was from here that the reported culprit took another auto, which then made its way to Kartavya Path.

Similarities between two blasts

Investigators have also found similarities between the blast on 26 December and the one that took place on 29 January 2021. For those who dont remember, a crude bomb had gone off near the Embassy of Israel in New Delhi on the same day that the two countries marked the 29th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Firstly, neither blasts caused injuries or casualties.

Theres also the fact that in both cases, the accused reached the spot by auto rickshaw and even fled the scene in the same mode of transportation. Moreover, both involved suspects conducting reconnaissance before carrying out the attacks to avoid detection by CCTV cameras. Investigators have also revealed that a timer device was used in the two blasts.

Additionally, in the matter of both blasts, authorities found letters at the scene of the crime. In this weeks blast, a letter, which was addressed to the Israeli ambassador, was recovered from the scene. While its full contents havent been revealed yet, sources had earlier said that it was abusive and spoke of Israels actions against Palestine and in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the 7 October attack by Palestinian group Hamas.

And it has now been revealed that the lesser-known outfit called Sir Allah Resistance has claimed responsibility for the letter. However, a source has been quoted as saying that authorities have no information about such an outfits existence.

In the previous blast, the letter, addressed to the Israeli ambassador had said that the explosion was just a trailer and referred to Irans general Qasem Soleimani and nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, as martyrs.

Recounting the 26 December blast

A day after Christmas, a low-intensity blast had occurred in the high-security area of Delhi where the Israel embassy is located. Israels deputy chief of mission, Ohad Nakash Kaynar was quoted as saying after the blast, This evening, several minutes after 5 pm, an explosion occurred in close proximity to the embassy. All our workers are safe, all our diplomats are safe. Our security teams are working in full cooperation with the local Delhi security, and they will investigate the matter further.

Security officials, including the Bomb Disposal Squad as well as the canine unit, quickly rushed to the spot of the explosion and revealed they had found shrapnel and ball-bearings. They also revealed that they had spotted two persons of interest on CCTV footage and were trying to locate them.

The blast had prompted Israel to issue an advisory, urging their nationals to be alert and vigilant in India. Security was also increased at other Israeli embassies across the world in the aftermath of the blast.

In light of the incident, it was also found that the Israel embassy in New Delhi had received threats about two months ago, which it had relayed to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Print had reported that on 16 October, the Israel embassy had requested intervention after receiving threats.

The blast came even as Israel continues its heavy bombardment of the Gaza Strip in its attempt to wipe out Hamas. A total of 21,320 Palestinians have been killed and 55,603 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October, a spokesperson from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said on Thursday. The number is only expected to rise with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing that they wont stop until each hostage is rescued and all of Hamas is wiped out.

With inputs from agencies
Ayodhya is getting ready for its big day  the inauguration of Ram Mandir.

Ahead of the consecration ceremony on 22 January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the temple town tomorrow (30 December), where he will inaugurate the redeveloped railway station and the new airport.

The prime minister, who is slated to flag off a Vande Bharat Express train, will also address a public meeting and likely to oversee the progress of the Ram Temple construction.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the temple town to check preparations for the PMs visit. Heres how Ayodhya is being decked up with flowers, lights, and sculptures to give it a divine look ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit.

Floral splendour adorns Ayodhya

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 the top that depict religious symbols.

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 of these decorations are inspired by the image of Lord Ram, his bow and arrow, Lord Hanuman and religious tilak, among other patterns.

The decoration will be carried out on Friday as well.

Also Read: Ram temple event: Who has been invited? Whos giving it a miss?

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 30 December.

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 seven-eight kg of flowers, he told PTI.

These items will be used for decoration along Ram Path, Dharm Path, at the airport and the railway station, among other places.

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 at 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 flowers and leaves and another depicted different aspects of Lord Rams life.

Also Read: Stone from Rajasthan, granite from Telangana: How Ram Temple in Ayodhya will have features from across the country

Largely marigolds, chrysanthemums, orchids and anthuriums are being used for the decorations, another worker said.

Grand preparation underway

As the city prepares for the great consecration ceremony next month, the prime minister will also inaugurate four freshly reconstructed, enlarged, and beautified roadways in Ayodhya, including the Ram Path, to improve accessibility to the citys future Ram Temple, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said in a statement on Thursday.

A massive crowd is expected to descend in Ayodhya close to the consecration ceremony and the city is being 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.

Temples and ashrams have also made special arrangements to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Residents of Ayodhya and the surrounding areas are also looking forward to welcome prime minister to Ayodhya.

The chief saint of Ayodhya, Rajkumar Das, has stated that saints will shower flowers on PM Modi.

Roses and marigold flowers for the flower shower are also being brought in from neighbouring districts. Special flower arrangements are being made along the projected tour route to beautify the residences, he told ANI.

Surendra, a Gonda native, praised PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, saying the pair had restored Ayodhya to its former splendour.

Under their leadership, Ayodhya not only regained its spiritual and majestic essence, but also saw significant developmental initiatives. Ayodhya will also receive a gift of development initiatives on the 30. As a result, we are all looking forward to welcoming them, he told ANI.

With inputs from PTI
It is believed there are over a thousand temples of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

However, the consecration of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple has drawn the worlds attention.

In a heartening tale, a young Muslim woman named Shabnam Shaikh has embarked on a padayatra from Mumbai to Ayodhya.

Her unwavering devotion to Lord Ram, while being a Muslim, is what sets her path apart.

Who is Shabnam?

Shabnam Shaikh, a young Muslim woman living in Mumbai, is an ardent devotee of Lord Ram.

On 21 December, she and her two companions, Vineet Pandey and Raman Raj Sharma, set out to cover 1,425 kilometres on foot.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shabnam Shaikh (@shernishaikh8291)

Her faith in Lord Ram is strong since she believes that the world brims with people who worship him regardless of their religion or location.

According to NDTV, she said, Lord Ram belongs to everyone, irrespective of their caste or religion.

She also wants to debunk the common belief that only boys are capable of making such difficult trips, as per Mashable India.

More on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya:

Flowers, lights, and sculptures: How Ayodhya is preparing for PM Modis visit on Saturday

Stone from Rajasthan, granite from Telangana: How Ram Temple in Ayodhya will have features from across the country

Ram temple event: Who has been invited? Whos giving it a miss?

Ram Mandir inauguration: Did Nihang Sikhs start the temple movement over a century back?

A spiritual quest

After travelling 2530 kilometres per day, the three young people have now arrived in Sindhava in Madhya Pradeshs Barwani.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shabnam Shaikh (@shernishaikh8291)

The three pilgrims, who have already gained popularity on social media, claim that their devotion to Lord Ram motivates them in spite of the exhaustion that comes with a long pilgrimage, reported NDTV.

Contrary to rumours, Shabnam also clarified that there is no fixed date for her arrival in Ayodhya.

She underlines that her path is an inner quest for spiritual fulfilment and an expression of the unity of devotion that cuts beyond religious lines.

Numerous challenges

Shabnams pilgrimage has not been an easy one.

The police have played a crucial role in organising her food and accommodation while also ensuring her safety.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shabnam Shaikh (@shernishaikh8291)

The police made sure she was safe on her trip through sensitive areas in Maharashtra and assisted them in getting out of some difficult situations.

Moreover, despite some hateful comments on social media platforms, Shabnam is still unaffected and delighted since many responses online have been supportive and positive.

According to her, there have also been encouraging moments of solidarity as she marches forward while carrying the saffron flag, with many people, including Muslims, greeting her with a Jai Shri Ram.

About Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

The consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is scheduled for 22 January. Preparations are in full swing, and invitations have been sent to esteemed saints and prominent individuals.

The under-construction grand temple is said to be atmanirbhar in its own way. According to media reports, it has a pan-India appeal, with inspiration from north as well as south Indian temple architecture.

Materials used in the construction have been sourced from various parts, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and more.

The grand temple will have 392 pillars, a 14 feet-wide percota periphery which will span 732 metre, Ram temple trust general secretary Champat Rai said, sharing the landscape plan with a group of journalists.

The complex will also feature a fire brigade post, which will be able to source water from an underground reservoir.

The Ram temple complex will have a lift facility and two ramps at the entrance to facilitate elderly, specially-abled visitors.
For many, theres no better way of celebrating New Years eve than popping open a bottle of champagne.

But unfortunately, saying goodbye to the year with a bit of the bubbly may soon become a thing of the past.

Why you ask?

Its because of whats becoming a familiar foe  climate change.

Lets take a closer look:

CNN, quoting data from Silicon Valley startup ClimateAi, reported that three grape varieties used in nearly all champagne could go extinct by 2050.

The grapes, chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, are just a few of the hundreds of varieties under threat.

ClimateAI used global climate models, satellite data and field data to analyse wine growing region.

Will Kletter, vice president of operations and strategy at ClimateAi, told CNN, If we think about champagne specifically, its a very unique beverage.

It requires warm, sunny days for robust flavour and cool nights to build up that acidity, which gives it that kind of crisp, refreshing taste that that we love.

But as the climate warms, those warm sunny days can get maybe a bit too warm, and those cool nights go away.

The problem, of course, is something that were all familiar with  climate change.

CNN quoted a 2020 study as saying that the regions where wine grapes are grown across the world would reduce by half if global temperatures increase 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The UN has warned that the world will cross this threshold sometime this century if humans dont clean up their act.

If global temperatures increase 4 degrees Celsius, around 85 per cent of these regions would no longer be able to grow grapes.

But you dont have to wait till 2050 to see that wine lovers are in trouble.

The famed Champagne region in France, which has been growing grapes and making the drink for centuries, is already witnessing changes.

Impakter.com quoted Comite Champagne, the industrys joint trade body, as saying that champagne yields had come down by 26 per cent over the past 12 years.

This, a result of climate hazards, vine decline and the ageing of vineyards.

Our vines are becoming less and less adapted to this environment. We are approaching the limit of our ecosystem if global warming continues at this rate, Felix Bocquet, Moet & Chandons director of technical development and sustainable viticulture warned in a Forbes piece.

Meanwhile, global wine production, in 2023, has reached its nadir in 60 years.

CNN quoted a report from the International Organization of Vine and Wine as attributing much of this to extreme weather events.

Italy lost its pole position as the leader wine maker of the world due to many such weather events, the report stated.

This is very much a now problem, Kletter told CNN. That means more expensive wine, or maybe the wine thats produced is not of the same quality, and maybe you cant even access some of the wines that youre used to enjoying. And thats a problem that were facing today.

Anyone who says there is no climate change is lying, Alexandre Chartogne, from the maison of Chartogne Taillet, told Vice.

In the future, were likely to get a lot more ice around here.

I think were at the turning point, Charles Philipponnat, president of the family-owned Philipponnat Champagne winery told Reuters. So far, global warming has helped: harvest in good weather conditions without rain, without too much cold, with ripeness and little rot.

Whats coming now is possibly over-ripe grapes, Philipponnat said. Possibly too dry summer seasons that will cause other problems, that well need to adapt to. Well need to adapt our viticulture, and adapt our oenology  the way we make the wines.

Meanwhile, the workers are suffering greatly.

Enduring difficult and exhausting working conditions, the persistence of the winegrowers who cultivate grapes on hillsides or at altitude pays off when you taste the results, often marked by a long finish and memorable character.

What do Prosecco, Vin Jaune du Jura, Iruleguy, Champagne and Port wine have in common? Theyre all made from grape varieties grown at altitude. And while the height of the hills or mountains is totally different from one region to another, the elevated location of these vineyards jeopardizes their very existence.

This mountainside environment is claimed to be one of the secrets behind the quality of these wines. On steep slopes, far from the arable land of the plains, vines have to be tough to survive. And thats what gives them their strength, which is reflected in the grapes.

Mountain wines are often long on the palate. Their character is generally the fortuitous consequence of atypical, well-drained land with thin and eroded soils, marked by extreme climatic conditions that make it impossible to mechanize the work in the vineyards. In addition, sunshine is optimal, and the grapes thrive between the warm days and cool nights, helping them to ripen.

Unfortunately, if these conditions have contributed to the quality of such wines, these wine-growing areas are now paying the price in the face of climate disruption.

In a study published on a scientific platform, iScience, researchers from the University of Padua in Italy point to two reasons for fearing the disappearance of such vineyards. The first is that the increased frequency of weather extremes driven by climate change accelerates soil degradation, even though high-altitude vineyards are characterized, among other things, by soils that have already suffered from erosion. Episodes of heavy rainfall also accentuate the phenomenon.

This concern is compounded by hot spells, which are all the more problematic when droughts are prolonged, as was the case in Europe in 2022.

These landscapes are under threat by changing climate, warns the study lead author, Dr Paolo Tarolli. Managing water for irrigation on agricultural slopes greater than 50 per cent (in extreme situations) is difficult; it costs and requires a very efficient and sustainable strategy.

This problem is all the more complicated to solve since the new generation of growers is reluctant to take on these vines, which are synonymous with harsh working conditions. The study even refers to this profession as heroic viticulture.

The last half past century has been characterised by rural exodus and a gradual abandonment of mountain landscapes. The new generation is not attracted to continue working under extreme conditions if economic benefits are insignificant, the researchers write.

With inputs from agencies
They have been languishing in a Qatar prison since 2022, with the sword of death looming over them. However, on Thursday (28 December), the eight naval veterans, who were facing a death sentence in Qatar, heaved a sigh of relief when the government announced that their sentences had been commuted.

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a press release saying, 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 judgment is awaited. We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps.

The press release did not make any mention of the new quantum of punishment.

What happens next? We get you the answers.

Veterans to continue prison term in India?

The families and the eight naval veterans, who were detained in August of 2022 without being given a reason and sentenced to death in October, can heave a sigh of relief now that the Qatari court has commuted their death sentences.

An official who wished to remain anonymous told the Hindustan Times, The death sentence is off the table. The prison terms vary from a few years to several years.

For the families of the veterans the fact that the court has struck down the death sentence is the first positive development. However, those close to the families told The Hindu that they were disappointed that the original guilty verdict in the case  believed to involve charges of espionage  had been upheld, and said they would continue to fight to prove their innocence.

While neither the MEA or Qatar has mentioned the new quantum of punishment, a Hindustan Times report citing people familiar to the matter said that the former Indian Navy veterans  Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Purenendu Tiwari, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar  will remain in prison, serving terms ranging from three years to 25 years.

And here comes the most important aspect; theres a huge possibility that the veterans could serve out their prison terms in India rather than Qatar.

How so? Former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash has pointed towards a treaty that New Delhi signed with Doha in 2015 during the visit of Qatari foreign minister Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah to India. The pact allows convicted individuals to serve out the sentence at home. The deal also allowed for Qatari citizens convicted in India to be brought to Qatar to serve their sentence.

According to an official statement, this deal would enable the sentenced people to be near their families and would help in their social rehabilitation.

The MEA said the Indian side is in close contact with the legal team and the families of the eight men to decide on the next steps. Notably, the Indian ambassador to Qatar was present in the Court of Appeal with family members when the verdict was delivered.

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, a statement from the government said.

What were the charges against the veterans?

On 26 October, the eight Indian Navy veterans, who had been arrested in August last year, were sentenced to death in the Dahra Global case. Interestingly, neither Qatar nor India have revealed the specific charges against the men.

However, reports have stated that the men had been charged with spying for Israel. The men, on the other hand, maintain that they were employed by a Qatar company named Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services to provide training and services such as logistics and equipment maintenance to the Qatari Emiri Navy.

On 30 August 2022, the eight of them were arrested by Qatars State Security Bureau, the countrys spy agency. Following their arrest, they were put in solitary confinement during which some of them faced health concerns.

When asked about the spying allegations, a spokesperson for Israels embassy in India refused to comment, saying it was not an Israeli matter.

At home, the MEA said that it was made aware of the arrests and they were extending all possible support to the arrested men. Some news reports said that besides the official legal means, New Delhi was also attempting to secure their release through diplomatic channels.

In December, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament that the detention of eight former Indian Navy officers was a very sensitive case and assured MPs that their interests are foremost in our minds. Ambassadors and senior officials are in constant touch with the Qatar government. We assure they are our priority.

What have been the reactions now?

The commutation of the death sentences by Qatar was welcomed by all in India. The family members have reacted cautiously, saying the verdict is not yet a vindication or success.

The Congress has also expressed relief over the decision. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on X, The Indian National Congress shares its immediate relief along with the entire nation that the Court of Appeals in Qatar has decided not to go ahead with the death penalty on eight former Indian Navy officers. While fuller details are awaited we express the hope that even the jail sentence that has replaced the death penalty will be set aside and the officers will be set free.

The ruling BJP also hailed the commutation and said that it was a victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modis foreign policy and diplomatic efforts under it. This development has once again made it clear that the entire world recognises the strength of Indias foreign policy under the leadership of Modi, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said in a post on X.

It is left to be seen what happens next. As of now, the ball is in Qatars court.

With inputs from agencies
LUDZIDZINI- Bamba phansi.

This was a phrase used by His Majesty King Mswati III as he taught Ingatja an Incwala song during the delivery of Lusekwane inside the Ludzidzini Cattle Byre yesterday. The phrase simply means do not rush and is commonly used and understood by warriors. The King would now and again urge the warriors not to rush the young boys to ensure that they took the song from Bayeskhulu.

Shields

The King also provided shields for all Ingatja to ensure that they danced appropriately as they delivered the shrubs.

Worth noting is that one cannot dance Incwala song properly without a shield, as there is a time when it is required. The King also showed appreciation for the quality shrubs delivered by the young boys.

The Ingatja was also appreciated by Lutsango and Imbali as they passed by with their quality shrubs. Members of Lutsango and Imbali regiments ululated and shouted in jubilation as the regiment from His Majestys Correctional Services and Hhohho entered the cattle byre with their shrubs.
In one of her first interviews since being released at the end of last month, freed Israeli hostage Mia Schem opened up about the horrific conditions she lived in while being held captive in Gaza.

The 21-year-old spent 54 days as a hostage in the Palestinian enclave after being shot and dragged at the Nova festival massacre in southern Israel on 7 October.

She was among the last eight captives to be freed as part of Israel and Hamas seven-day cease-fire agreement, which began and ended last month.

Lets take a closer look.

Went through a holocaust

While speaking to Israels Channel 13, Mia Schem said, It was important for me to reflect on the real situation about the people living in Gaza  who they really are, and what Ive been through over there.

I went through a holocaust. Everyone over there is a terrorist.

The French-Israeli tattoo artist, who is from the central Israeli town of Shoham, claimed that she was held with a civilian family, with children, in Gaza.

These are families under the Hamas regime. I suddenly realised that I was staying with a family. I started asking myself questions, why am I staying with a family? Why are there children here? Why is there a woman here?

She was taken hostage at the Nova music festival by Hamas gunmen, along with her 27-year-old friend Elia Toledano.

Vet operated on the arm

Before being freed, she said in a video, People very good, very kind to me Food good and the kindness and everything good. The video raised suspicions that she had been forced to talk against her will since it contradicted the testimonies of other captives who had described abuse during Hamas captivity.

Schems case was massively covered by the media, among other captives, after Hamas released a video in the early stages of the conflict that showed her recovering from surgery. Hi, Im Mia Schem, 21 years old, from Shoham. Currently, Im in Gaza. I was seriously injured in my hand. I underwent surgery on my arm at the hospital for three hours. They are taking care of me, giving me medicine, everything is fine, she said in Hebrew at the time.

Although the extent of the injuries is unknown, Schem claims that she had a three-hour surgery in Gaza.

Speaking about the surgery with Israels Channel 12, she revealed there was no anesthesia or anything while adding, I choked up from the pain, and (the person operating) looks at me and says, Stop it! Or Ill send you to the tunnels.

Further describing her ordeal, she said, Youre like an animal in the safari. She recalled the moment she was abducted by Hamas gunmen while covered in her own blood, I was screaming, My hand is gone! (The terrorist) started touching me in my upper body, then suddenly someone pulled me by my hair, threw me in a vehicle, and we went to Gaza, as per Sky News.

Her family expressed concerns that she had not been treated properly after her release from captivity.

She is thin, she is weak. A vet operated on her arm. She did not receive physiotherapy, Schems aunt Vivian Hadar told reporters.

Survivors guilt

Speaking of the survivors guilt she feels since her release, Schem said, It was the hardest thing in the world. (The other hostages) said, Mia, please, dont let them forget about us. And Im apologising for being freed. Sorry, sorry.

Schem, who was studying tattooing and working at a tattoo shop before she was abducted, was referred to by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as a young woman with an old soul.

Since then, the 21-year-old has posted photos of herself on Instagram with a fresh tattoo that says, We will dance again. 7.10.23.

Two weeks ago, the post was uploaded, with the caption I will never forget the 7.10.23. The pain and fear, the hard scenes, the friends who wont come back and the ones we have to bring back. But we will still win, We will still dance!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by   (@mia_schem)

Also read:

There is no time Now! Now! Now! Netanyahu heckled by families of hostages during Parliament speech

Behind the scenes of the Israel deal with Hamas for the release of 50 hostages

Why disappearance of Israels Noa Argamani remains a mystery

Slept on chairs, hours of wait for bathroom: What hostages went through during 50 days of captivity in Gaza

Other hostages recount horrific details

Several freed hostages have provided in-depth narratives on their captivity, however, the available reports were not all the same.

After being released from captivity, Israeli captive Ruti Munder, 78, told Channel 13 that the conditions were reasonable when the conflict began. They first had chicken with rice, all sorts of canned food, and cheese. We were OK, she said, according to The Associated Press. However, when the economic situation was not good, and people were hungry, the menu was modified. She said hostages slept on plastic chairs and had limited provisions, some lacking a cover to sleep with at night, as per Dailymail.

The room where she was held was suffocating, and the captives were prevented from opening the blinds, but she managed to crack open a window. It was very difficult, she said.

Some of the boys would sleep on the floor, Munder said, adding that she would wake up late to pass the time.

For those unaware, Israel has tightened its grip on Gaza ever since the conflict broke out, which has resulted in a shortage of essential supplies like food and fuel.

Doctors claimed that an 84-year-old woman who had not received the required care while in captivity was also admitted to the hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Upon her release, Aviva Siegel allegedly informed the Israeli war cabinet and relatives of the hostages about how guards had broken her husbands ribs and that he was barely able to sit or eat.

Released non-Israelis under different agreements also conveyed a note of caution about the conditions in which hostages are held in Gaza.

As Israeli airstrikes rained down on the besieged enclave, Yelena Trufanov, a Russian citizen freed separately, expressed her concerns. You have no idea what youre doing there. And I know the conditions theyre holding the men in are worse, worse than for the women.

I was dehydrated for 51 days; they didnt give us water; they are inhumane, one unnamed woman said.

Incidents of sexual assault

They touch girls, and everyone knows it. I wont recount details, but we had a procedure where no one moves without someone guarding them, another female hostage said, as reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, who added, Medications ran out, and they gave us the wrong drugs.

At least 10 captives had reportedly experienced sexual abuse during their time in captivity, according to a doctor treating them.

Following the treatment of some of the 110 hostages released during a week-long truce in late November, the medic declared that both men and women had suffered physical torture while being held captive.

But his statements were consistent with those of other released captives, who described at a closed-door gathering of government representatives on 5 December how women had been touched by Hamas guards and begged Israel to take further action to ensure the release of the other hostages, as per Dailymail.

Israel-Hamas war

After Hamas launched its deadly attack on 7 October, over 240 hostages were taken away from southern Israel into Gaza.

As armed Hamas gunmen targeted residential kibbutzim and the Nova music festival near Reim, more than 1,200 people were also killed in the attack.

During a week-long ceasefire at the end of November, Hamas freed around 100 hostages, the majority of whom had consented to be released as part of an agreement with Israel.

Only women and children were among the 110 hostages who were freed by December 1st. In the weeks that followed, some captives were declared dead.
After Colorados Supreme Court, a top election official in Maine has now removed former United States president Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot. Maines Democratic secretary of state Shenna Bellows announced the decision on Thursday (28 December) invoking the insurrectionist ban in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution to bar the Republican candidate.

According to USA TODAY, Bellows wrote in her decision that evidence showed that the insurrection occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President (Trump). The US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government.

This comes after the Colorado Supreme Court earlier this month ruled that Trump cannot run in that states presidential primary as he was involved in the insurrection on 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

What is the insurrectionist ban that is being used to disqualify Donald Trump? Can he still run for president? Lets take a closer look.

What is the insurrectionist ban?

A rarely used provision of the US Constitution  Section 3 of the 14th Amendment  has been used to bar Donald Trump in Colorado and Maine.

The US ratified the 14th Amendment after the Civil War to guarantee rights to former slaves and more, as per Associated Press (AP). The amendment included Section 3 which was formed to stop secessionists from returning to public office once southern states re-joined the Union, noted BBC.

The provision states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

This legislation was used against Confederate president Jefferson Davis and his vice-president Alexander Stephens, but was hardly invoked since, reported BBC.

It was most recently used last year when a county commissioner in New Mexico was removed from office for participating in the 6 January attack on the US Capitol. This was reportedly the first such ruling since 1869.

Arguments for and against the law

Several conservative scholars argue that Section 3 applies to Trump following his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, as per ABC News. The former US president is already facing two separate criminal cases for the attempt to overturn his 2020 loss.

In August, conservative legal scholars William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen wrote in a law review paper that Section 3 is self-executing, operating as an immediate disqualification from office, without the need for additional action by Congress.

They concluded that Trump could thus be ineligible for election, according to the BBC report.

The case in Colorado was filed by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) watchdog group on behalf of six residents of the state. The group is also petitioning top election officials in several other states to kick Trump off the primary ballot.

Dozens of lawsuits before had failed until the Colorado ruling.

The Trump campaign has rejected that the 6 January attack was an insurrection. His lawyers argue that it is unclear whether Section 3 applies to the president. In case it does apply to presidency, they say it is a political question that must be left for voters to decide and not unelected judges, reported AP.

Speaking to ABC News, constitutional scholar and political science professor Kevin Wagner said the legal challenge to Trumps candidacy faces an uphill task partly because of the lack of consensus on whether 6 January was an insurrection.

The challenge here is that the 14th Amendment isnt necessarily self-executing. In other words, it doesnt just automatically happen and there is some question about what it means to be engaged in insurrection or rebellion and how that is defined. The challenge for us is that historically, it hasnt been well-defined, Wagner, a professor at Florida Atlantic University, said.

Will it affect Trumps candidacy?

Both the Colorado and Maine orders are stayed until the ruling of the US Supreme Court on the matter. The former president has already said he would appeal the Colorado ruling before the US Supreme Court.

In 2020, Trump lost Colorado and he does not need to win the state to establish an Electoral College majority next year. He bagged one of Maines four Electoral College votes in 2020, so the Maine ruling could have a direct impact in a close fight.

Trumps electoral future is in the hands of the US Supreme Court now, which is expected to take the final call on his eligibility for state ballots next year. Notably, the top court has never given a verdict on the meaning of Section 3.

Legal experts say there are little chances for the US Supreme Court to uphold the Colorado courts ruling. However, if it does, the decision would apply to all states and not just Colorado, effectively ending Trumps candidacy, as per AP.

Republican primary voters will head to polls within two months and thus the US Supreme Court must take a decision before that. Despite his multiple legal woes, Trump continues to be the dominant frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

It is imperative for the political stability of the US to get a definitive judicial resolution of these questions as soon as possible. Voters need to know if the candidate they are supporting for president is eligible, AP quoted Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, as saying.

With inputs from agencies
China has appointed a new defence minister.

Dong Jun, 62, will replace Li Shangfu  the minister who disappeared four months ago without any explanation.

But what do we know about Dong? And what happened to Li?

Lets take a closer look:

What do we know about Dong?

Dong, 62, was most recently the Peoples Liberation Army Navy chief.

As per Bloomberg, Dong is a navy veteran.

This is the first time China will have a defence minister from a naval background.

He was previously deputy commander of the Southern Military Command.

This command handles the South China Sea  which China almost entirely claims as its own and which has led to friction with other nations including Vietnam and the Philippines.

Dong was also deputy commander of the Eastern Military Commands navy force  which deals with the East China Sea including Taiwan.

As per SCMP, Dong also served in the Northern Sea fleet.

The appointment by Chinese lawmakers comes as President Xi Jinping upgrades the military as part of his push to make China a dominant world power, a goal that has alarmed many neighbours.

The role of Chinas defence minister is to be the public face of the Peoples Liberation Army in its engagement with the media and with other militaries.

Unlike other countries, the ministry has little say in defence policy or military management, areas that fall under the purview of Central Military Commission, an elite group led by Xi.

A crucial element of Chinas defence minister job is to engage with the United States military to lower the risk of conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea, two flashpoints that have seen increasing brushes in recent years.

Yet during his brief tenure as minister, Li did not meet his US counterpart defence secretary Lloyd Austin. The ministry explained that Washington would have to first remove the sanctions it placed on Li on 2018 over his role in purchasing Russian aircraft and equipment.

Dong would face no such constraint, as he is not known to be under US sanctions.

What happened to Li?

Li, who took up the defence minister job in March, has not been seen in public since August.

As per SCMP, Li was last seen addressing the China-Africa forum in Beijing.

United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel first highlighted Lis absence.

Emanuel posted on X:

President Xis cabinet lineup is now resembling Agatha Christies novel And Then There Were None. First, Foreign Minister Qin Gang goes missing, then the Rocket Force commanders go missing, and now Defense Minister Li Shangfu hasnt been seen in public for two weeks. Whos going   (@USAmbJapan) September 8, 2023

Beijing stripped Li of his title as defence minister and state councillor in October.

According to the sixth meeting of the standing committee of the Peoples Republic of Chinas 14th National Peoples Congress, it was decided on October 24, 2023 to remove Li Shangfu from the positions of State Council member and Minister of Defence, state broadcaster CCTV said.

It has not explained his disappearance.

Reuters cited sources to report that Li was under investigation for corruption related to equipment procurement and development.

China previously also ousted former foreign minister Qin Gang from its cabinet as part of a major reshuffle of its top leadership.

Qin was last seen in public on 25 June with Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko.

He was supposed to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in July, but China cancelled the event without giving any reason

Qin also failed to turn up for meetings with US treasury secretary Janet Yellen and climate envoy John Kerry.

Chinese foreign ministry, queried about his absence, blamed health reasons.

However, that explanation went missing from official transcripts.

Chinese officials have since dodged questions about Qins health and whereabouts.

When President Joe Biden and Xi met in San Francisco , both leaders agreed to resume senior military talks that were suspended following then-House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to self-ruled Taiwan in August 2022.

With inputs from agencies
Just two days remain, and the world will enter 2024. This is the time to look back and reflect on the positives and negatives that we have learned, not only as individuals but also as nations. While the US is getting ready for the grand welcome of the New Year with its famous ball drop, Sydney in Australia is preparing for spectacular fireworks display at the Harbour Bridge. Venice is gearing up for celebrations at St. Marks Square, Pakistan has completely banned New Year celebrations.

But why?

In order to express solidarity with the people in Gaza, Pakistan caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has announced a ban on the New Year celebration in the country, on Thursday.

In his address to the nation, PM Kakar said: Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year.

He requested the nation to show solidarity with the Palestinians and exhibit sobriety and humility at the New Year.

The prime minister said that over 21,000 Palestinians were killed so far by the Israeli forces that crossed all limits of violence and injustice with around 9,000 children dead since the Israeli bombardment began on 7 October.

The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a sheer state of anguish over the massacre of innocent children and genocide of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

He said Pakistan had dispatched two aid packages to Palestine while a third package was being prepared.

He said Pakistan was engaged in talks with Jordan and Egypt to provide timely aid to Palestine and to evacuate the injured present in Gaza.

Kakar said Pakistan tried to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people on various global forums and would continue to do so in the future as well to stop the Israeli bloodshed.

Pakistans New Year celebrations are traditionally not huge due to the influence of Islamic groups who try to stop the festivities through various methods, including the use of force.

With inputs from PTI
The Indian Navy has unveiled its new design of the Admirals epaulettes, an ornamental shoulder piece depicting the rank of an officer. Inspired by the naval ensign, the new design includes features from the Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during the Navy Day address on 4 December at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra that the new epaulettes of the navy will reflect the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

What is the significance of the new design of Admirals epaulettes? Why was it needed? Lets take a closer look.

Who is it for?

The new design has been revealed for the ranks of Admiral, Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral  the top three positions in the naval forces. Admiral is a four-star ranking officer, followed by Vice Admiral  a three-star rank officer, and Rear Admiral  a two-star-rank officer.

What does the new design signify?

There are four noteworthy details on the new design.

The octagon-shaped Rajmudra or royal stamp in red symbolises the eight-cardinal directions to represent an all-round long term vision, according to the Indian Navy. The national emblem with the words Satyamev Jayate, meaning Truth alone Triumphs, is engraved on the octagon.

Adding the Rajmudra to these shoulder pieces is significant. This emblematic seal was used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for his official correspondence. As per a Times of India (TOI) report, it was given to the Maratha ruler by his father Shahajiraje Bhosale and has featured in many historical documents.

As we usher in the new year #2024, #IndianNavy proudly unveils the new Design of Admirals Epaulettes. Announced by @PMOIndia during #NavyDay2023 at Sindhudurg  the  in the new Design, drawn from the Naval Ensign & inspired from Rajmudra of #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj, is a pic.twitter.com/Ssxq8ZLOZd  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 29, 2023

The Golden Navy Button represents the forces resolve to put an end to the ghulami ki maansikta or colonial mindset. This golden button has replaced the golden shoulder board on the previous epaulettes, reported NDTV.

The Sword below the Rajmudra highlights the Navys purpose to be the cutting edge of national power and winning wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge.

According to the Navy, the Telescope signifies the long-term vision, foresight and a weather eye in an ever-changing world.

The sword and telescope are in a cross formation on the new epaulette. With this, the telescope has taken the place of a baton present in the earlier epaulettes, as per NDTV.

Why was the change needed?

The Navy said in a post on X that the new design reaffirms our commitment to the two pillars of Panch Pran  Virasat Par Garv & Ghulami ki Mansikta se Mukti.

The statement further said it is a reflection of our rich maritime heritage.

Under PM Modis rule, India has been actively working to shed colonial customs, especially in the military. The armed forces, especially the Navy, have adopted several measures to indigenise their practices in the last few years.

The redesigned epaulettes of the Admirals is one such effort. The new design has done away with the Nelsons Ring, a colonial legacy.

Addressing the Navy Day celebrations earlier this month, PM Modi said, Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the nation is moving forward, leaving the mentality of dependence behind. I am happy that the epaulettes worn by our Naval officers will now have a sight of the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

New epaulettes will now have a symbol of Shivaji Maharajs army. It is my fortune that I had the opportunity to connect the Naval flag with the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, TOI quoted him as saying.

Other changes

The Navy has reportedly completed a review of ranks held by sailors, which it plans to replace with Indianised designations. Over 65,000 sailors will get new ranks, as per the Hindustan Times (HT) report.

The ranks that will be changed are Master Chief Petty Officer Ist Class, Master Chief Petty Officer IInd Class, Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Leading Seaman, Seaman Ist Class and Seaman IInd Class, the report added.

Modi had confirmed during his Navy Day address that the nomenclature of the naval ranks will be updated soon to bring them in line with Indian traditions.

Other changes brought by the Navy to discard colonial legacy include stopping the practice of carrying ceremonial batons for all its personnel and adopting a new ensign. The new naval ensign, which replaced the old one which had Saint Georges Cross with the Tricolour in the canton, was also inspired by the Maratha ruler Shivaji.

With inputs from agencies
China has unveiled its first ocean drilling vessel.

The Mengxiang, which means dream, in Chinese has been given a mammoth task  drilling through the Earths crust and reaching its mantle.

But what do we know about the Mengxiang? And why is this significant?

Lets take a closer look:

What we know about the Mengxiang

As per SCMP, the vessel was constructed by the China Geological Survey as well as 150 research institutes and companies.

It can hold around 33,000 tonnes of cargo.

It is 590 feet and 32.8 metres wide.

It can travel around 15,000 nautical miles (27,800km) and operate for three months after every port of call.

The Mengxiang is built to survive even the strongest tropical cyclones  allowing it to operate anywhere around the world.

Its drilling power is top of the line  it can reach 11,000 metres (10.94 kilometres) below the seas surface.

For comparison, the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the worlds oceans, has been measured at 11,034 meters.

As per CTGN, the ship will also host the worlds biggest and most complete laboratory.

It will thus contribute to exploring how marine energy resources, national energy security and maritime power construction can be used.

Its digital twin system will allow intelligent collaboration in scientific experiments and the monitoring of the drilling operation.

The outlet quoted Zhang Haibin, chief designer of the Mengxiang, as saying, It is because of its design highlights, such as small tonnage, multiple functions and modularity, that the ship is able to meet the docking requirements of most wharves worldwide. Its construction and operation costs are over 40 percent lower than those of its kind.

Why this is significant

First, lets take a brief look at the Earths mantle.

The Earth comprises of its core, mantle, and crust

The mantle lies between Earths innermost and outermost layers.

The crust is where we humans live  along with all other life.

It is merely 15,000 metres thick.

The mantle, by contrast, comprises a whopping 2,900 kilometers.

It consists of around 84 per cent of the Earths volume, as per National Geographic.

It also accounts for around 75 per cent of the Earths land mass.

The mantle itself is divided into the upper mantle, the transition zone, the lower mantle, and D double-prime.

As per National Geographic, Earths mantle is yet to be explored.

Even our most sophisticated drills have not penetrated the Earth beyond its crust.

As per BNN Breaking, exploration of the mantle could yield unparalleled insights into the workings of plate tectonics.

It could also allow humans to monitor what sorts of life forms  if any  could exist under such harsh conditions.

Li Chun-feng, a marine geologist at the Department of Marine Sciences at Zhejiang University in eastern China, told SCMP, Rock samples from ultra-deep boreholes have become crucial for understanding plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, ancient ocean climates and seabed resources.

The mantle is composed of peridotite, which can produce methane and hydrogen through microscopic reactions with water, providing energy for life forms. The deep underground ecosystem is a fascinating field to explore. Only by reaching the mantle can we truly understand these rock and hydrothermal conditions, Li added.

But its not science alone that is driving China to explore the mantle.

As per Interesting Engineering, the ship is set to explore the possibility of extracting flammable ice.

These are ice-like compounds of water molecules containing trapped natural gas  mainly methane.

However, this is not considered environmentally-friendly source of energy.

Beijing estimates that it has around 80 billion tonnes of potentially flammable ice in its waters.

But others warn that the ship faces a daunting task.

Wan Buyan, a professor at Hunan University of Science and Technology, told SCMP, Theres a gap between theoretical design depth and practical operations, high temperature and pressure at the seabed pose difficulties for drilling beneath 7,000 metres.

Wan, who led the development of Chinas first deep-sea drill equipment and is an expert in seabed engineering, added, For resource exploration, we place drills on the seabed, assisted by a few thousand-tonne ships at a daily cost below $30,000. Ocean drilling, operated from ships weighing tens of thousands of tonnes, could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars daily.

This has also raised the risk of potential geopolitical conflict.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of commercial shipping annually, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Philippines refers to the part of South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippines Sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said Chinas claims had no legal basis, a ruling the United States supports but Beijing rejects.

Earlier in December Manila and Beijing traded accusations over a collision of their vessels in the South China Sea, with the latter saying the incidents were entirely caused by the Philippines.

Following the incidents, Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr said a paradigm shift was needed in how his country deals with the South China issue because diplomatic efforts with China were headed in a poor direction.

Tensions between the Philippines and China have grown under Marcos, who has increasingly complained about Chinas aggressive behaviour, while he sought closer ties with the United States, Manilas treaty ally.

With inputs from agencies
The buzz surrounding the seat-sharing arrangement within the oppositions INDIA bloc reached its peak on Friday as some coalition partners hinted at contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections independently or refusing to make concessions in their respective states.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that their party holds the dominant position in Maharashtra and suggested a reluctance to compromise on seat-sharing negotiations.

This is Maharashtra, and Shiv Sena is the biggest party here. Congress is a national party. Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal. We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and that will be firm, ANI quoted Raut as saying.

Preceding Shiv Sena (UBT)s stance, Mamata Banerjee expressed her inclination on Thursday to go solo in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bengal.

INDIA alliance will be there across the country. In Bengal, the TMC will fight and defeat the BJP. Remember, in Bengal, only TMC can teach a lesson to the BJP and not any other party, Mamata said while she was speaking at a gathering in North 24 Parganas.

However, the Trinamool Congress supremo said that INDIA alliance will contest on all seats across the country.

Meanwhile, Congress has said that talks on the agreement with all the parties will be held with an open mind.

Speaking to ANI on Monday, Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, said, Khule mann aur band muh se hi hum seat sharing pe baat aage chalaenge (We will carry forward seat-sharing talks with an open mind and refraining from public statements).

The Congress leader added that different states would pose different challenges with regard to advancing seat-sharing talks and the discussions, hence, be held, taking all aspects into consideration.

The seat-sharing talks are ongoing and will continue. We will do what needs to be done. There are different conditions and challenges in different states. We will be having discussions on seat sharing, keeping in mind the different (political) realities there, Ramesh said.

While the INDIA partners came together for their fourth meeting in the national capital recently, the potentially thorny issue of seat-sharing was left unaddressed.

The opposition parties have forged forces to put up a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls under the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance umbrella.

With inputs from agencies
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India values the free movement of commercial shipping and is closely evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in the Red Sea.

Addressing the media, Bagchi said that New Delhi is not part of any multilateral initiative or operation in or around the Red Sea. Notably, tensions have brewed in the Red Sea after Houthi rebels stepped up attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea as a mark of protest against Israels military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Addressing the weekly briefing, Bagchi said, As we said earlier, we value the free movement of commercial shipping, which is one of the fundamental principles underpinning global commerce. We are carefully evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in that region. Our defence forces are taking necessary measures in this regard.

But Im not aware that India is part of any multilateral initiative or operation presently in or around the Red Sea, he added.

Notably, the Iran-backed Houthis have attacked numerous vessels over recent weeks, saying they are targeting ships in the Red Sea with links to Israel in protest against its military offensive in Gaza. The group has warned against sailing towards the area, Al Jazeera reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US said that it had shot down twelve attack drones and five missiles, which it claimed were launched by the Iran-backed Houthis.

There was no damage to ships in the area or injuries reported, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

The USS Laboon, a guided-missile destroyer, and F-18 fighter jets from the Eisenhower carrier strike group are in the southern Red Sea as part of a US-led coalition meant to protect shipping lanes from attack by the Houthis in the key Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to The Times of Israel.

In a major development, oil major BP temporarily paused all transit through the Red Sea citing security concerns. The alternative route for ships avoiding the Suez Canal is to take the much longer trip around Africa, Al Jazeera reported.

In the wake of the situation, the US announced the creation of an international coalition against Houthi attacks on international maritime trade in the Red Sea, earlier this month, The Hill reported.

Operation Prosperity Guardian will involve the navies of Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain, the UK and the US. The task force falls under the Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational alliance tasked with defending the worlds shipping lanes.

With inputs from ANI.
India has conveyed a request with relevant supporting documents to the government of Pakistan to extradite 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Friday.

Addressing a press briefing, Bagchi said Saeed is wanted in numerous cases in India and is also a UN-proscribed terrorist.

We have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said.

India has been flagging the issue of activities that Saeed is wanted for, Bagchi said, adding that This is a recent request

#WATCH | On extradition request to Pakistan to hand over 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request along with pic.twitter.com/L5K1EvmFdM  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

Pakistan-based Geo News channel on Wednesday (27 December, 2023) reported that New Delhi has demanded Islamabad for handing over Saeed, who was detained in 2019 by Pakistani authorities in connection with charges of terror financing.

He has been convicted and sentenced in at least five cases of terror financing since 2020.

Sources to News18 said a Letter of Rogatory has been sent to Pakistan and has Hafiz Saeed's name as the accused in several NIA cases, including terror attacks and funding of terror groups in Kashmir.

Also Read: Pak dragging feet on extraditing LeT founder 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to India: Sources

India has repeatedly demanded Saeeds extradition to face trial for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but there has been complication in the process as both the countries do not have an extradition treaty.

A new political front of 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.

Also Read: How Hafiz Saeed became one of India's most wanted terrorists

Saeed was listed under the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee on Al-Qaida and ISIL in December 2008, following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

He has also been designated as international terrorist by the United States and the EU. The US has placed a $10 million bounty on him.

With inputs from agencies
India has logged 797 new cases of COVID-19, the highest in 225 days, while the number of active cases of the infection has been recorded at 4,091, the health ministry said on Friday.

Five new fatalities due to Covid two from Kerala and one each from Maharashtra, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu  have been reported in 24 hours, according to the ministrys data updated at 8 am.

Manipur reported its first case of COVID-19 new sub-variant. The infected individual, who hails from Paomata in Senapati district, had travelled from Delhi to Dimapur by air and subsequently from Dimapur to Senapati by road, reported news agency ANI.

Hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and cafes in Delhi are preparing to celebrate the new year with precautionary measures in place after the national capital reported its first case of the new JN.1 Covid sub-variant on Wednesday, December 27. These establishments aim to provide a safe and enjoyable experience with sanitation and hygiene.

The country had recorded 865 new cases on May 19. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but the cases have again gone up after the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.

The daily numbers were in lakhs at the peak of the pandemic, which began in early 2020 and has seen more than 4.5 crore people getting infected and over 5.3 lakh deaths in about four years since then across the country.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease stands at over 4.4 crore with a national recovery rate of 98.81 per cent, according to the ministrys website.

According to the website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccines have so far been administered in the country.

With inputs from agencies.
MBABANE  Governments efforts to procure emergency drugs and medical supplies is meeting intense resistance from a supplier, who holds a valid tender for two years.

The decision to take the emergency route was conceived after Cabinet appointed a sub-committee to work out a strategy to alleviate the acute shortage of drugs and medical supplies in public hospitals. Cerium Scientific, whose Managing Director is businesswoman Zinhle Matsebula, has threatened to take legal action, if government continues to ignore its contractual obligation to procure the medical supplies through her company.

Warning

Matsebula has since written two letters to government, warning that her company does not take kindly to the issuance of a new order for emergency medical supplies. The letter addressed to the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health Khanya Mabuza, states that government, through the Ministry of Health and an Eswatini-based company  Asavela Investments (Pty) Ltd t/a Cerium Scientific, had a valid tender for the supply of the pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

Matsebula said her company was awarded the tender for the supply and delivery of medical supplies, surgical dressings and sutures under Tender Reference No.10 of 2023/24. It has come to the attention of the company (Cerium) that an emergency procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies process was initiated on November 23, 2023, at the instance of the ministry, and a distribution list of members was appointed on December 5, 2023 to evaluate the appointment of suppliers for emergency orders.

She said the emergency order was initiated, allegedly because of failure by those awarded the tender for the supply and delivery of pharmaceuticals and vaccines, which is Tender No.9 as well as those awarded Tender No.10 for the supply and delivery of medical supplies, surgical dressings and sutures. She said her company had received neither verbal nor written instruction to deliver the products and supplies subject to its bid. Similarly, at no point, did government or the ministry issue any purchase order for delivery by her company, she said.

Communication

At this stage, the company requires copies of the communication from government and the ministry, including the relevant purchase orders, in terms of which the company was instructed, or by which it was required, to deliver the products and supplies  pursuant to which it either failed, or expressed its inability to perform, she said.

Cerium further stated that while the procurement of emergency orders was the prerogative of government, the company believed that there ought to be compliance with contractual stipulations, as the products and supplies earmarked under the emergency procurement comprised of products and supplies, which the company was contractually required to deliver.

Matsebula affirmed that the company had the capacity to deliver the order. She said the company had complied with a provision in the contract with government, which prohibited price variation, including price increment from the quoted amounts in the bid response, for the duration of the tender validity period.

In the circumstances, any emergency procurement appointment, which will be made contrary to the contract, and which will be in excess of the approved pricing by which the company secured appointment  will be impeachable and actionable at the instance of the company. It may be prudent for government and the ministry to exercise caution against further processes, which may potentially undermine the interests of existing suppliers, pending an inquiry of what is raised herein, Matsebula said.

On December 21, Matsebula wrote a follow-up letter to government, asking for further clarity. She said though she noted the seriousness of the shortage, as stated by the PS in a letter dated December 19, her company was concerned with the ongoing process of emergency procurement, being conducted without its participation and involvement, as an entity appointed in terms of the countrys procurement laws. Crisply put, Cerium is being excluded from supplying items within its scope of delivery, in circumstances where it has capacity to do so, she said.

Instance

She said it was clear that the emergency procurement process was initiated at the instance of the Procurement Unit on November 23, 2023. In other words, government could only engage with potential suppliers of emergency orders after November 23, 2023, when the emergency procurement process was initiated, not before. There is no record of any communication from government to Cerium on any date from November 23, 2023, where an instruction or request to procure was issued. Likewise, Cerium has no record of communication, where it expressed its inability to deliver the emergency orders, Matsebula wrote to government.

She asked the PS to confirm whether or not the appointment of suppliers had been made under the emergency procurement process, in order that Cerium may consider its options and possible remedies. Cerium has passed a resolution to challenge the emergency procurement process, if the requested information is not produced conditional on any appointment made  if this has not already occurred. She said Cerium was awaiting receipt of the relevant purchase order(s) for urgent delivery, because the company was able to deliver the products earmarked under the emergency order.
Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the targeting of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea by Iranian proxies, the Indian Navy has deployed five advanced guided missile destroyers in order to minimise the threat to sea lanes of communication in the Arabian Sea.

According to a Hindustan Times report, these vessels have been strategically positioned to monitor the situation from the Red Sea to the western coast of India.

INS Kolkata is stationed near the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint, INS Kochi south of Yemens Socotra Island, INS Mormugao in the western Arabian Sea, and INS Chennai in the central Arabian Sea. INS Visakhapatnam patrols the north Arabian Sea, having left the Indian coast two days ago after an Iranian loitering ammunition Shahed 136 struck the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto 210 nautical miles off Dwarka in Gujarat, added the report.

The Indian Navy has deployed these vessels into the Arabian theatre independent of the US-led coalition in the Middle-East region, added the report.

The navy has also been carrying out surveillance using Boeing P8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and an unarmed version of the Predator drone with a focus on vessels that could be used by Iranian proxies to target commercial ships.

On its part, the Indian Coast Guard has employed Dornier surveillance aircraft and offshore patrol vessels to uphold deterrence in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) along the western coast.

Simultaneously, the US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, accompanied by its strike force, is operating in the Mediterranean Sea, while the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier is positioned off the Gulf of Aden to counter the Houthi ballistic missile and drone threat in the Red Sea, added the Hindustan Times report.

Despite the success of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian in intercepting Houthi missiles, countries like Spain, Italy, France, and Japan are operating under their command, with Chinese warships off the coast of Djibouti maintaining a cautious distance from the fallout of Israels conflict with Gaza.

While the Chinese have three warships deployed off Djibouti, they seek to avoid potential conflict points.

The drone strike on MV Chem Pluto prompted an expanded Indian vigilance. Besides deterring Iranian proxies from attacking commercial shipping, the Indian Navy has been taking action against black shipping and is safeguarding commercial vessels from Somali pirates near the Socotra Islands. MV Chem Pluto is currently undergoing repairs in Mumbai.

According to the report, the five top-of-the-line destroyers are currently being fuelled by MV Swarnmala, a 25,000-tonne oil tanker, which has been hired by the Indian Navy. The civilian tanker has a massive fuel and lubricant capacity as compared to Indian Navys tankers such as the INS Deepak.

Indian ships, deployed across the extended EEZ up to 200 nautical miles off the coastline, dominate the Arabian Sea. Boeing P8I multi-mission aircraft and long-endurance unarmed Predator drones constantly survey vessels in the sea up to the Gulf of Aden, identifying suspicious ships and dhows used for targeting commercial shipping by the Shia Houthis in Yemen, Shia Kaitab Hezbollah in Iraq, and Tehran.

The Iranian proxies, particularly the Shia Houthi militia, target vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea due to Israels conflict with the Sunni Hamas group in Gaza.

The Iran-backed Shia Hezbollah group has also engaged in a conflict with Israel on its northern border. Despite the US Navys success in thwarting Houthi missile attacks, the Maersk mega-shipping company plans to resume operations through the Red Sea, rather than taking a roundabout route via the Cape of Good Hope.

The Suez Canal, through which nearly one trillion dollars worth of oil and goods trade passes annually, faces increased transportation costs and higher insurance premiums for commercial shipping in the event of any threat.

With inputs from agencies
Drawing inspiration from the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Indian Navy unveiled a new design for Admirals epaulettes on Friday.

The unveiling of the epaulettes, a shoulder piece worn to show the rank of an officer, came three-and-a-half weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement on it.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been an inspiration to all of us. The new Admirals Epaulettes design which was unveiled today by the Indian Navy is also inspired by the Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is adapted from the Naval Ensign, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis said on X.

The new design was announced by the Hon. PM Narendra Modi ji during the Navy Day ceremony in Sindhudurg, reflecting our strong maritime heritage.

Virasat Par Garv and Ghulami ki Mansikta se Mukti, the two pillars of PanchPran, are reaffirmed by the adoption of the new design, he added.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been an inspiration to all of us  The new Admirals Epaulettes design which got unveiled today by the Indian Navy is also inspired by the Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is adapted from the Naval Ensign.

The new design was announced pic.twitter.com/RRWTrqz2PU  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 29, 2023



In his address at the Navy Day celebrations at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra on December 4, Modi expressed happiness that the epaulettes donned by the naval officers will now highlight the heritage and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also recalled unveiling the naval ensign last year.

With the feeling of taking pride in ones heritage, the prime minister announced that the Indian Navy is now going to name its ranks in line with Indian traditions. As we usher in the new year #2024, Indian Navy proudly unveils the new design of Admirals Epaulettes, the Navy said on X.

As we usher in the new year #2024, #IndianNavy proudly unveils the new Design of Admirals Epaulettes. Announced by @PMOIndia during #NavyDay2023 at Sindhudurg  the  in the new Design, drawn from the Naval Ensign & inspired from Rajmudra of #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj, is a pic.twitter.com/Ssxq8ZLOZd  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 29, 2023



Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Navy Day 2023 at Sindhudurg  the new design is drawn from the Naval Ensign and inspired by Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and is a true reflection of our rich maritime heritage, it added.

Admirals epaulettes now have the golden Navy button along with an octagon, and an Indian sword and a telescope crossed, followed by stars reflecting the ranks of rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral.

The Navy is in the process of renaming some of the ranks from the British nomenclature to reflect an Indian connect. The force said the golden button reiterates our resolve to do away with Ghulami ki Maansikta (slave mentality).It said the octagon represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision.

The sword emphasises the very essence of our raison detre namely be the cutting edge of national power and win wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge, the Navy said.It said the telescope symbolises long-term vision and foresight.

The telescope replaced the baton in the new epaulette. Earlier, a sword and the baton were in cross formation.

With PTI inputs.
After conducting a three-day inquiry into the explosion near the Israeli Embassy in Delhi, sources have reveal that the Delhi Police is set to file an FIR in the case.

The decision comes in the wake of the discovery of crucial evidence indicating a conspiracy to threaten the envoy.

According to PTI, citing Delhi Police sources, discussions are underway among security agency officials regarding the specific charges under which the FIR will be lodged.

Additionally, there is contemplation about the possibility of transferring the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

During the investigation, Delhi Police officials, examining multiple CCTV recordings from the vicinity of the low-intensity blast, identified a suspect who arrived at the site in an auto-rickshaw from Jamia Nagar.

As part of their inquiries, the police have interviewed various auto-rickshaw drivers, including the one responsible for transporting the suspect to the location just before the incident occurred on December 26.

We found some crucial evidence suggesting a blast at Prithviraj Road. The way the letter was put at the spot also suggests that there was a conspiracy to threaten the Israeli envoys because of the Israel-Hamas conflict, PTI quoted a police officer privy to the investigations as saying.

Although no one was injured in the low-intensity blast, an abusive letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was found near the site, officials had said.

According to them, Tuesdays blast and the recovery of the letter is a grim reminder of the 2021 blast near the embassy in which some cars were damaged. The NIA had probed the case.

Investigating officials are awaiting reports from the National Security Groups laboratory where samples have been sent to ascertain the components used in the explosion that occurred in the area between the boundary walls of the house on plot number 4  Nandas House  and the Central Hindi Training Institute on plot number 2A on Prithviraj Road.

The NSG has a dedicated forensic lab that is trying to find out the components and chemicals used in the blast. It may take a few more days to submit the final report, a source said.

Police sources said they have recorded statements from a dozen people who claimed to have heard the loud noise of the blast. The statements reveal that the witnesses spotted a vehicle which broke down near the blast location.

With inputs from agencies
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is all set to return as the Janata Dal (United) president after he was unanimously backed by his party leaders to take over the top post during the national executive meeting held in the national capital on Friday.

According to reports, Lalan Singh voluntarily stepped down as the party chief and endorsed Kumars candidacy for the top post.

The national council meeting of the party, scheduled to be held later in the day, is likely to ratify decisions taken in the executive meeting which is currently underway at the Constitution Club in Delhi.

Key leaders within the party expressed consensus that Kumar, as the most prominent figure, should lead the organisation, especially given the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Notably, the party is a member of the opposition INDIA bloc.

Criticism of Singhs leadership style by several party leaders in recent interactions with Kumar was also highlighted by sources.

Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary also confirmed the news about Lalan Singh handing over the post to Kumar.

#WATCH | Delhi: Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary says There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the pic.twitter.com/qz4cqh7p8e  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

On being asked if Nitish Kumar has been officially named the JD(U) chief, Choudhary said, There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept the proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the post of party president to him and Nitish Kumar accepted it.

Interestingly, Lalan Singh had on Thursday dismissed rumours about him stepping down while interacting with reporters.

If I have to resign, I will consult you, he had said.

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.

According to NDTV, citing sources, Lalan Singh was removed because he was seen as being a little too close to the JDUs alliance partner in Bihar  Lalu Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal  amid talk that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is Lalu Yadavs son and the Deputy Chief Minister, is being prepped to take over.

With inputs from agencies
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)s pro-talks faction on Wednesday signed a tripartite peace accord with the Centre and the Assam government in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah who assured time-bound implementation of pact.

The agreement came after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the ULFA faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa and the government, marking a significant breakthrough in northeasts insurgency problem.

#WATCH | Delhi: United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)s pro-talks faction signed a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement with the Centre and the Assam government in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. pic.twitter.com/NRouYpTbxV  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

Apart from Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and more than a dozen top leaders of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA, headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa, were present during the signing of the peace agreement.

This is a new start of a period of peace for the whole Northeast especially Assam. I want to assure ULFA representatives that the faith you have kept in Govt of India, from the side of Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA), a programme will be made in a time-bound manner to fulfill everything, without you asking for it. Under MHA, a committee will be formed, which will work with the Assam govt to fullfill this agreement, said Shah.

#WATCH | On United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) signing a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement with the Centre and the Assam government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says,  This is a new start of a period of peace for the whole Northeast especially Assam. I want to assure pic.twitter.com/Pv3rX3lseZ  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

The accord will take care of a host of long-standing political, economic, and social issues concerning Assam, besides providing cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people, the officials said.

The peace pact is expected to end decades old insurgency in Assam.

However, the hardline faction of the ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah is not part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border.

The ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a sovereign Assam.

Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990.

The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on 3 September, 2011, after an agreement for Suspension of Operations (SoO) was signed between it and central and state governments.

With inputs from agencies
2023 was an exceptional year for India: A successful G20 presidency; Chandrayan-3s moon landing near the lunar south pole, a global first; and an economy growing at 7 per cent in a world hit by recession and torn by wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the year though began with a loss in the Karnataka assembly election but ended with sweeping wins in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

Not surprisingly, the Opposition looks at the 2024 Lok Sabha election with foreboding. It knows that another five years in political oblivion could spell the end of several family dynasties that run most political parties in India, including the Congress.

Opposition leaders  ranging from Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee to Nitish Kumar and Arvind Kejriwal  put aside their political differences to patch together a united 28-party bloc called Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.).

Can the idea of I.N.D.I.A. strike an electoral chord in 2024? Seat sharing is the key. But in important states like West Bengal and Maharashtra, dissent among I.N.D.I.A. partners is already brewing.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for example, has offered Congress just two seats out of the states 42 Lok Sabha seats. In Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, without consulting its allies, the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, has announced that it will contest 23 of the states 48 Lok Sabha seats. That assertion is likely to be strongly contested by Sharad Pawar and the Gandhis.

Banerjee and Kejriwal floated the idea of Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress 81-year-old president, a Dalit from Karnataka, as the prime ministerial face of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. The Opposition wants to send a signal to scheduled caste voters and those in the south that their interest will be taken care of.

The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 meanwhile will set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. By boycotting the inauguration, the Opposition could be walking into a self-made trap.

The narrative

Despite the Modi governments majority in Parliament, the political and social narrative is still often set by the Opposition. The Left-Congress-Islamist ecosystem has powerful friends in the media and among retirees in the chattering classes.

The fallacious trope that Indian democracy is in danger has long been buried by robust state and parliamentary elections over the years, several won by the Opposition. The old ecosystem, however, exhumes the trope periodically with agenda-driven journalism. Take a recent example of three articles appearing on the same editorial page in a leading daily on Sunday, December 24, 2023.

Exhibit one: An article titled What is it like to be a Muslim in India? The columnist bases his piece on a new book by Ziya Us Salam called Being Muslim in Hindu India: A Critical View. He writes: Muslims are 15 per cent of the population but only 4.9 per cent of state and central government employees, 4.6 per cent of the paramilitary forces, 3.2 per cent of IAS, IFS and IPS and, perhaps, as low as 1 per cent of the Army.

The columnist doesnt add that Muslims account for nearly 30 per cent of jail inmates but form less than 1 per cent of start-up founders. The reason? After 70 years of being treated as a vote bank, Indias 220 million Muslims are more impoverished and backward than SC/STs.

The article ends with a comment that is communal and can inflame religious sentiments: (The book) What is it like to be a Muslim in India? could threaten the integrity and future of our country.

This is appalling journalism and does not belong in a respectable newspaper.

Exhibit two: On the same editorial page, a former governor bemoans why Indians of different faiths seek jobs abroad without stating the obvious reason: after 190 years of ruinous British colonial rule that impoverished India (while enriching Britain), Indians still struggle to find jobs and are often forced to seek employment overseas. The writer, like the ecosystem he inhabits, misses the point entirely.

Exhibit three: On the same editorial page again, a former BBC India correspondent calls the three new crime bills legislated last week a reversion to the colonial police that (author) Kripal Dhillion wrote about.

Several clauses in the new crime legislation remove draconian elements in the 150-year-old criminal codes written for a colonised country by its coloniser. But several clauses in the new legislation give the police more powers than warranted. They need to be amended.

Police reforms are obviously overdue. The Supreme Courts seven-point directive issued in September 2006 in the Prakash Singh case hasnt been complied with. A properly nuanced article would have pointed this out while seeking compliance with the SC order by states since law and order is a state subject.

The purpose of citing these three articles on a single editorial page in a single leading newspaper is that India has been subjected to a misleading narrative for far too long.

On the flip side, its true that a large section of the media unabashedly toes the government line. The task is to balance tough but constructive criticism of the Modi government with clear-eyed acknowledgment of its achievements over the past near-decade in power.

The achievements

What are those achievements and how will they transform India in 2024?

First, infrastructure. The advances made in building infrastructure have been transformative: airports, sea terminals, highways, bridges, power plants, metros, housing.

Second, digitalisation. Indias public digital stack led by the UPI and ONDC, has made India the worlds most cashless payment society after China. Astonished foreign CEOs visiting India say it has left the West far behind.

Third, healthcare. Apart from successfully fighting the Covid pandemic, gifting vaccines to developing countries and producing its own homemade vaccine, Indias Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme has helped millions of poor patients receive free medical treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh per family.

Fourth, technology. By placing every infrastructure project on the Gati Shakti Masterplan web portal, firms can pinpoint exactly what parcels of land are available for new projects while the government monitors in realtime the progress of each of several thousand public and private infrastructure projects.

Fifth, taxation. Reducing the corporate tax rate to 22 per cent has moved India closer to the low-tax regimes of Singapore and several countries in Europe. Tax revenue (corporate, personal, customs and excise) in 2023-24 is likely to exceed Rs. 30 lakh crore, 15 per cent above Union Budget estimates. With GST collections trending at an annualised Rs. 20 lakh crore (of which the centres share is Rs. 11 lakh crore), Indias fiscal position is gradually recovering to pre-Covid levels.

Sixth, economy. At a GDP growth rate of 7 per cent in 2023-24, India is the worlds fastest growing major economy. At this pace, India will be the worlds third largest economy well before 2029. Merchandise and services exports are likely to cross $1 trillion by 2026-27, making India the worlds fourth largest exporter after China, the US and Germany.

Rising from penury

At Independence in 1947, colonised Indias GDP was a puny Rs. 2.70 lakh crore. In 2023 it is Rs. 325 lakh crore  a growth of 125x in 76 years.

By purchasing power parity (PPP), the fairest comparison of living standards according to the IMF, Indias per capita income in 2023 is $9,133. That is still a fraction of US per capita income (PPP) in 2023 ($66,062) but the gap is narrowing.

India still has appalling poverty and sanitation. Both metrics are improving. But much more needs to be done. As 2024 beckons, the real work lies ahead.

The writer is an editor, author and publisher. 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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As late December unfolds, a bitter battle is brewing in the world of software, revolving around a critical element  talent. At the centre of this conflict is Cognizant, a prominent US-based software giant that appointed Ravi Kumar as its new CEO earlier in the year. However, Kumars aggressive recruitment strategy, involving the hiring of around 20 vice presidents and four senior vice presidents, has sparked controversy and legal actions from rival companies Wipro and Infosys.

Wipro and Infosys have taken legal action against departing executives accusing Cognizant of engaging in poaching  the act of hiring employees from competitors. Poaching is a common practice in the corporate world, where rival companies vie for the best talent to gain a competitive edge. However, the ethical implications of poaching have long been a point of contention.

Understanding poaching

Poaching, in a corporate context, is the act of recruiting employees from competing companies. Its a strategy employed by organisations to strengthen their workforce by acquiring skilled professionals from rivals. Though legal, it is often deemed unethical and immoral by companies who believe in traditional notions of loyalty.

The term poaching carries dual meanings  the corporate practice and the illegal hunting or catching of animals. While the former is legal, it remains a subject of ethical debate within the business community. Companies argue against poaching, citing loyalty and moral concerns, but the underlying issue lies in the traditional mindset that values company loyalty over individual career growth.

Despite the frowning upon poaching, studies show that approximately 30 per cent of job changes can be attributed to this practice. Companies must recognise that employees, like market forces, respond to demand and supply dynamics. The price of an individuals work is determined by their skills and experience and if a competitor is willing to pay a higher price, employees may choose to make a move.

Data supports employee choices

Surveys conducted in the United States reveal that 32 per cent of job changes occur for better pay and 23 per cent for more opportunities. These numbers highlight the importance of financial incentives and career growth in employee decision-making. If a competitor offers better prospects, it becomes challenging for the current employer to retain talent without matching these offerings.

Corporate leaders must adopt a more hands-on approach, engaging with employees to understand their needs and expectations. Instead of resorting to legal actions, companies should focus on talent retention by addressing the concerns that prompt employees to consider external opportunities.

In the digital age, where talent is readily visible and accessible, companies need to adapt their approach. Living in fear of poaching is counterproductive. Instead, organisations should concentrate on nurturing talent and creating an environment that fosters professional growth. In this evolving job market, both companies and employees should embrace change and navigate the landscape collaboratively, recognising the value each brings to the table.

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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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said that Russia carried out a substantial assault on Ukrainian targets, utilising approximately 110 missiles and drones overnight, marking one of the most extensive aerial barrages witnessed in the ongoing 22-month conflict.

The attack, spanning about 18 hours, resulted in the death of at least seven civilians.

Zelenskyy noted that a significant portion of the incoming missiles and drones were successfully intercepted during the onslaught.

He also underscored the diverse array of weaponry employed by the Kremlins forces, ranging from ballistic missiles to cruise missiles, emphasizing the severity and multi-faceted nature of the attack.

Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal: Kindzhals, S-300s, cruise missiles, and drones. Strategic bombers launched X-101/X-505 missiles. A total of around 110 missiles were fired against Ukraine, with the majority of them being shot down, Zelenskyy said on social media platform X.

However, the relentless assault left numerous individuals injured, with an undisclosed number trapped beneath the rubble, as confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.

The damage inflicted across Ukraine encompassed various structures, including a maternity hospital, residential buildings, and educational facilities.

Unfortunately, there have been fatalities and injuries as a result of the strikes. All services are working around the clock and providing the necessary aid. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured, he added.

He said Ukraine will surely respond to terrorist strikes and will continue to fight for the security of our entire country, every city, and every citizen.

Russian terror must and will lose, said Zelensky.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia apparently launched everything they have in the attack.

If Zelenskyys count is confirmed, it would be the largest aerial attack by the Kremlins forces since their full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to the Ukrainian air force, the previous biggest assault was in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles against Ukraine.

The bombardment came as fighting along the front line is largely bogged down by winter weather and after Ukraines summer counteroffensive failed to make a significant breakthrough along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) line of contact.

The roughly 18-hour onslaught that began Thursday and continued through the night hit six cities, including the capital Kyiv, and other areas from east to west Ukraine, according to authorities.

With inputs from agencies
A Russian court has sentenced Ksenia Fadeyeva, who led jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalnys now-banned organisation in the Siberian city of Tomsk, to almost 10 years in prison.

The information was released by her supporters Friday just days after it was revealed that Navalny has been stashed in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle after supporters lost contact with him for more than two weeks.

Navalny, 47, was tracked down to the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, also called the Polar Wolf colony, in the Yamal-Nenets region, about 1,900 km north east of Moscow, his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said.

Navalnys lawyer managed to see him last Monday Monday, Yarmysh said.

This prison will be much worse than the one that was before, Yarmysh told the media in Vilnius via video call. They are trying to make his life as unbearable as it possibly can be.

They definitely try to isolate Alexei and to make it more difficult to access him, said Yarmysh, who refused to disclose her location due to security concerns.

Navalnys allies, who had been preparing for his expected transfer to a special regime colony, the harshest grade in Russias prison system, said he had not been seen by his lawyers since December 6 and raised the alarm about his fate.

The Polar Wolf colony, is considered to be one of the toughest prisons in Russia. Most prisoners there have been convicted of grave crimes. Winters are harsh  and temperatures are due to drop to around minus 28 Celsius (minus 18.4 Fahrenheit) there over the next week.
According to authorities, Russia unleashed a flurry of missile attacks on Friday throughout Ukrainian cities, including the capital, and issued a national air alert.

We are doing everything to strengthen our air shield. But the world needs to see that we need more support and strength to stop this terror, Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak wrote on Telegram.

AFP reporters in central Kyiv heard several powerful explosions in the early hours of Friday.

Explosions in Kyiv. Air defence operating. Stay in shelters, the citys mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a post on Telegram.

Later thereafter, Klitschko said that a warehouse was ablaze.

The director of Kyivs military administration, Sergiy Popko, said that there was fire in a residential apartment block and that rubble had fallen in two different areas of the city.

The strikes occurred throughout the night, following a significant defeat for the Russian navy when Ukraine attacked a Russian cruiser in the captured Crimean port of Feodosia.

At least five additional Ukrainian cities, including Odesa in the south, Lviv in the west, and Kharkiv in the northeast, were hit by missiles and drones on Friday, according to the mayors and police of those towns.

Today, at five oclock in the morning, the fascists followers hit the peaceful city with S-300 missiles. Ten explosions rang out in Kharkiv, Kharkiv region police said.

Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov later said there had been three waves of strikes on Friday.

 We must respond 

In the southern port of Odesa, a high-rise building caught fire after being struck by debris from a downed drone, the citys mayor said.

As a result of another enemy attack, one of the high-rise buildings was damaged. The fire was promptly extinguished, mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov said on social media.

Ukraines southern command said 14 attack drones had been destroyed in the south of the country and there were no casualties reported.

The attacks came after Kremlin on Tuesday acknowledged a Ukrainian attack had damaged one of its warships.

Ukraine said its air force destroyed the Novocherkassk landing ship, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joking on social media that the vessel had now joined the Russian underwater Black Sea fleet.

The Kremlin said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin about the damage to our large landing ship.

Russias defence ministry said that the ship was damaged by guided aerial missiles.

On Thursday, Zelenskyy thanked the United States for releasing the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorisation, as uncertainty surrounds further aid to his war-torn country.

Zelenskyy had warned that any change in policy from the US  Kyivs main backer  could have a strong impact on the course of the war.

I thank President Joe Biden, Congress, and the American people for the $250 million military aid package announced yesterday, Zelenskyy 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.
MBABANE  It is now possible for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to institute investigations as an acting commissioner has been appointed.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, has appointed Maphevu Mkhatshwa as Acting Commissioner of the ACC. Mkhatshwas acting appointment, according to Legal Notice No.371 of 2023, is for a period not exceeding six months. The legal notice came into force on December 21, 2023.



Mkhatshwas appointment comes after his appointment as Deputy Commissioner- Investigations and Assets Recovery for a further five years last month. That appointment was in terms of Legal Notice No.301 of 2023.

All along, it was not possible for the ACC to institute any investigations in the absence of a commissioner or one who was in office on an acting basis.

This was because the five-year contract of the ACC Commissioner, Daniel Dlamini, came to an end on October 16, 2023. Section 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006 states that: It is the commissioner who may authorise in writing any officer of the commission to conduct an inquiry or investigation into alleged or suspected offences under this Act.

The lapse of Dlaminis contract came at a time when the ACC was being called upon to investigate bribery allegations, involving the recent Senate elections. The deputy commissioners contract also came to an end and last month he was appointed for a further five years.

Appointed

While no one is appointed permanently or to act in these positions, the ACC cannot fully execute its primary mandate as per Section 10 of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006; which among others, is to receive and investigate complaints of alleged or suspected corrupt practices made against any person and further refer appropriate cases to the director of public prosecutions.

In the past few days, this publication reported at length about claims of bribery between aspiring senators and Members of Parliament (MPs). The claims were that the aspiring senators were made to fork out as much as E1 million in exchange for being voted for, a practice which has put into doubt the integrity of some of the legislators forming Parliament.

Investigations

A source informed this publication previously that in terms of laws governing the ACC, only the commissioner authorised investigations, which meant while the commissioners position was not filled with someone who could act in the interim, no investigations could be carried out.

This is provided for in the Prevention of Corruption Act No. 3 of 2006, in Section 11 Subsection 1, which states that in the performance of the functions of the commission under this Act, the commissioner may authorise in writing any officer of the commission to conduct an inquiry or investigation into alleged or suspected offences under this Act.

The source also mentioned that in the absence of a commissioner, the ACC could only carry out preliminary investigations and then present it to the commissioner for a full-blown investigation.
China amended its criminal law on Friday to punish those giving bribes to officials as part of its anti-corruption campaign. The amended law, effective from March 1, intensified the fight against bribe-givers, stating that those offering bribes repeatedly, to multiple people, or parties involved in major national projects should be harshly punished.

The move came days after President Xi Jinping exhorted people to maintain personal integrity. An amendment to the Criminal Law was passed by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC), Chinas top legislature.

People who give bribes to staff members of supervisory, administrative, or judicial departments, or bribe in fields such as environment, finance, safety production, drug and food, social insurance, rescue relief, education, or healthcare, also need to face severe punishment, the law added.

On December 4, President Xi warned senior ruling Communist Party officials to maintain personal integrity, set strict rules for relatives to keep them away from corruption and refrain from blindly following foreign examples and reckless actions.

The top officials must set strict rules for their family members, relatives, and staff workers around them when it comes to the efforts against corruption, Xi told a meeting of the Politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China.

Since he took over the leadership of the party in 2012, Xi has been continuing with the anti-corruption campaign, in which, according to official media accounts, over a million officials, including several top military generals, were punished.

The intensity of the campaign also attracted criticism that Xi made effective use of it to silence his critics and rivals within the party and the government.

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee of the NPC, which is restricted to a smaller number of legislators, also announced that the annual session of the Parliament will be held on March 5, next year.

The NPC, along with the national advisory body, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) every year will hold their annual sessions to conduct legislative business for about a fortnight.

During the session NPC, regarded as the rubber stamp parliament for its routine approval of the proposals of CPC, will pass the annual budget for the country, including the defence expenditure, besides the work report of Premier Li Qiang.

With inputs from agencies.
Berlins conservative-led government is pushing forward plans for a driverless magnetic train aimed at enhancing the citys environmental sustainability. The proposal, backed by sufficient political support, aligns with Berlins goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.

As per reports, the proposed 5-7km pilot stretch of magnetic levitated railway (maglev), estimated to cost 80m-85m (70m-74m), could be operational within two years.

Dirk Stettner, the parliamentary faction leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), highlights the advantages of a maglev train over existing underground and overground networks, emphasising its self-driving capability and cost-effectiveness.

Amid a shortage of drivers leading to a 7% reduction in the BVG timetable, Stettner argues that the maglevs self-driving feature, along with its lower construction costs compared to underground lines, presents a significant advantage.

However, environmentalists criticize the plans, labeling the trains as expensive, energy-intensive, and frivolous. The project aims to revive the M-Bahn, a magnetic levitation rail from the 1980s, connecting Kreuzberg to Tiergarten in the western part of the city.

Stettner, presenting the plans with architectural sketches, emphasises the need for a practical test route that integrates seamlessly into the existing network. Ute Bonde, head of the VBB transport network, supported the idea, citing its potential as a quiet, cost-effective mode of transportation that could run on solar power.

Environmentalists challenge the claim that the M-Bahn would contribute to climate protection, advocating instead for the expansion of the current overground and underground infrastructure. Tilmann Heuser of the Association for Environmental and Nature Protection calls for a more thoughtful use of climate funds, expressing concerns about financing what he deems an absurd project.

The history of magnetic levitation rail development is briefly explored, highlighting past initiatives and their challenges. However, doubts loom over the funding of the M-Bahn project, given uncertainties about the federal governments climate funds, raising questions about its feasibility and potential opposition.

Berlins daily, Taz, criticises the financing of the project from climate funds, characterizing it as an effrontery and emphasizing the need for funds to support efficient measures to reduce CO2 emissions and adapt to climate change, rather than pursuing perhaps nice-to-haves.
Beijing has vowed to seize strategic opportunities and enhancing its international influence, appeal, and power in order to shape the swiftly changing global landscape and hopes to achieve this through a reinforced Communist Party control of foreign affairs, steadfast opposition to Western bullying and hegemonism.

According to a South China Morning Post report, citing a recently-concluded rare closed-door party meeting on Chinas future foreign policy, President Xi Jinping, addressing the two-day Central Conference on Foreign Affairs Work, emphasised the need for diplomats and cadres to break new ground, unite the majority of the world, and maintain a resilient fighting spirit.

The conference, last convened in 2018, drew participation from top party leaders, including Politburo members, senior government officials, and numerous Chinese ambassadors.

The timing of the meeting is deemed significant in light of domestic socio-economic challenges and escalating international scrutiny, despite recent efforts by Beijing to ease tensions with the US-led West.

Xi, in his address, portrayed China as a responsible global power that has risen under his leadership since 2012, overcoming various difficulties and challenges in the past decade of external engagements.

However, he cautioned about the high winds and choppy waters ahead, signaling a new period of turbulence and transformation, likely alluding to the ongoing feud with the US and its allies over ideological and geopolitical differences.

China has become a responsible major country with enhanced international influence, stronger capacity to steer new endeavours and greater moral appeal, South China Morning Post quoted Xi as saying, citing a readout by Xinhua.

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, he added.

Xi highlighted Chinas comprehensive approach to engaging with various parties, emphasising the establishment of a broad and high-quality global network of partnerships.

He praised the Belt and Road Initiative, his prominent foreign policy and investment project, as the worlds most extensive platform for international cooperation. Xi asserted that China has led the way in reforming the international system and order.

This meeting followed Xis recent remarks celebrating Mao Zedongs legacy and expressing his commitment to strengthening China and revitalising the nation through modernisation efforts on all fronts.

Having secured a third leadership term, Xi, now Chinas most influential leader since Mao, reiterated on Tuesday his determination that the motherland must be reunited, coinciding with the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan.

This is part of the CCPs efforts to further centralise decision making, to highlight Xis contribution to Chinas diplomacy in the new era, and to elevate Xis political status to the level of Mao, South China Morning report quoted Zhiqun Zhu, an international relations professor from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, as saying.

He said it was clear Xi called the shots on all important matters, raising some concerns about whether the party had completely departed from collective leadership.

Its unclear what Chinese diplomats can do to address serious external challenges. The partys total control over foreign affairs leaves professional diplomats with little room to manoeuvre, Zhu said.

The readout made no mention of former foreign minister Qin Gang and former defence minister Li Shangfu, whose removal this year grabbed international headlines, while the men are yet to be accounted for.

In the face of unprecedented challenges at home and abroad, Xi was confident China still faced new strategic opportunities and said Chinas diplomacy will enter a new stage where much more can be accomplished.

We must unswervingly uphold the CPC central leaderships ultimate authority over foreign affairs, he said, while urging governments at all levels to keep in mind the big picture and implement Beijings decisions in both letter and spirit.

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 Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests, he said.

We will explore new frontiers in Chinas diplomatic theory and practice, foster new dynamics in the relations between China and the world and raise Chinas international influence, appeal and power to shape events to a new level. We will create a more favourable 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 modernisation, Xi was quoted as saying.

He said Beijing would continue to hold the international moral high ground and unite and rally the overwhelming majority in our world, carry forward our fighting spirit, reject all acts of power politics and bullying and leverage our institutional strengths amid external uncertainties.

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, he said.

It is important to resolutely oppose the attempt to roll back globalisation and abuse the concept of security, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, firmly promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, overcome the structural problems hindering the healthy development of the world economy, and make economic globalisation more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, Chinas president said.

Changes of the world, of our times and of historical significance are unfolding like never before, Xi said.

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.

With inputs from agencies
Reports of gunfire inflicting property damage at the Surrey, British Columbia, home of an Indian businessman have prompted Canadian police to open an inquiry.

Gunshots were fired on Wednesday at the Surrey home of Satish Kumars son, the president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, according to multiple media reports.

The temple made headlines last month when its adherents quashed a Sikhs for Justice protest against the secessionist organizations demonstration over the June 18 murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey.

Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is investigating a report of shots fired at a residence in the early morning of December 27, according to a press release released by the police on Thursday.

According to Surrey Polices Media Relations Officer, Constable Parmbir Kahlon, shots were fired at a house in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue on Wednesday morning at around 8:03 a.m. The Surrey RCMP responded to the complaint.

No one was injured during the incident, but the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes, the release said without divulging the identity of the resident.

While they were still there, police continued to investigate the site, talk to witnesses, and search the neighbourhood for CCTV evidence. According to the announcement, investigators are still trying to figure out why this incident happened.

Over the past few years, Hindu temples in Canada have allegedly been vandalised numerous times by supporters of Khalistani.

Amid the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada about the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil, Khalistani activists have placed placards on the gate and walls of the Surrey temple that are directed at Indian diplomats.

(With agency inputs)
As part of its anti-corruption campaign, China on Friday changed its criminal code to punish individuals who pay authorities. This came days after President Xi Jinping urged citizens to uphold their personal integrity.

Chinas upper house of parliament, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), enacted a change to the Criminal Law.

The new law, which goes into effect on March 1, has made bribery more illegal by declaring that those who offer bribes frequently, to several individuals, or to parties involved in significant national initiatives would face severe penalties.

Bribery in the areas of the environment, finance, safety production, drug and food, social insurance, rescue relief, education, or healthcare is also a problem for those who bribe employees of supervisory, administrative, or judicial agencies.

President Xi issued a warning to senior Communist Party officials on December 4th, urging them to uphold their own integrity, establish stringent guidelines for their relatives to prevent corruption, and desist from mindlessly copying foreign examples and hasty decisions.

According to Xi, the top officials must set strict rules for their family members, relatives, and staff workers around them when it comes to the efforts against corruption, during a meeting of the Chinese Communist Partys Politburo.

Since assuming the partys leadership in 2012, Xi has persisted in his anti-corruption campaign, which has resulted in the punishment of over a million officialsincluding numerous senior military generals  according to official media accounts.

There was criticism directed at Xis exploitation of the campaigns intensity to effectively quiet his opponents and critics within the government and party.

The annual session of the Parliament will take place on March 5, 2023, according to the announcement made by the Standing Committee of the NPC, which is limited to a smaller group of lawmakers.

Every year, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a national advisory body, and the NPC convene for their annual sessions to perform legislative business over around two weeks.

In addition to the work report, the NPC, which is known as the rubber stamp parliament because it often approves the CPCs plans, will also pass the nations yearly budget, which includes defence spending.

(With agency inputs)
Two months after General Li Shangfu was summarily fired without cause, China on Friday appointed General Dong Jun, a former naval commander and rumoured personal friend of President Xi Jinping, as the new defence minister.

Dong was named in Lis stead by the National Peoples Congress (NPC), Chinas highest legislature, which verified Lis removal in October, according to official media reports.

As one of the highest-ranking officers still in active duty, Dong, the former commander of the Chinese navy, was elevated to the rank of general in September 2021, according to the China Daily.

Considered a close friend of President Xi, Dong was elected in October of last year to the Communist Party of China (CPC).

He served in the Northern Sea Fleet, which is currently a regular participant in joint drills with the Russian Navy, the Eastern Sea Fleet, which concentrates on potential conflicts with Japan, and the Southern Command Theatre, which is in charge of the South China Sea, prior to rising to the rank of top commander in the navy in 2021, according to the South China Morning Post of Hong Kong.

President Xi, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and the head of the Central Military Commission (CMC), approves appointments to the top defence positions.

Prior to Li, Qin Gang, the foreign minister, was also dismissed without cause. Wang Yi took Qins post as Foreign Minister. Wang was replaced earlier this year by Qin as the nations senior diplomat.

We do not know what became of Qin or Li.

In late August, Li had vanished from view and no explanation had been provided for his departure.

Li, the commander of the nations missile force, was the second senior minister to be unexpectedly removed from office this year and the first Chinese defence minister to be put on a US sanctions list due to Russian arms sales.

In late August, Li had vanished from view and no explanation had been provided for his departure.

Li, the commander of the nations missile force, was the second senior minister to be unexpectedly removed from office this year and the first Chinese defence minister to be put on a US sanctions list due to Russian arms sales.

Following Xi and US President Joe Bidens recent summit, the US and China recently agreed to restart their delayed discussions between top defence officials. This coincides with the nomination of Dong as the new defence minister.

In retaliation for former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis August 2018 travel to Taiwan, China severed military ties.

General Liu Zhenli, the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission in China, and General Charles Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military, had a video conference on December 21 to rekindle negotiations between their forces.

The video call yielded positive and constructive outcomes, Chinese Defence spokesman Sr. Col. Wu Qian told the media.

Under Xi, the Chinese navy has surpassed the army in importance thanks to a significant increase in the number of warships and conventional and nuclear submarines in its fleet.

Notably, neither Li nor Dong were in the armed forces.

In competition with the US military, the Chinese Navy is at the forefront of Chinas global outreach to increase its influence, with three aircraft carriers at various degrees of operational readiness.

In relation to Chinese naval operations in the disputed South China Sea, Xi elevated two naval officers on Tuesday, including a specialist in submarines to the position of senior naval commander.

The highest rank available to Chinese officers serving in the field is general.

Among the promoted officers were Hu Zhongming, the Commander of the PLA Navy, and Wang Wenquan, the Political Commissar of the PLAs Southern Theatre Command.

Hu was a skilled submarine specialist who had participated in multiple drills and the Chinese navys inaugural worldwide expedition.

(With agency inputs)
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, 41 Palestinians have died as a result of Israeli bombardment near a hospital in southern Gaza during the last two days. This is after Israel increased its strikes in the centre and south of the besieged region.

According to the UN humanitarian office, fighting in Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis has intensified recently, and as a result, an estimated 100,000 additional displaced persons have arrived in the already overflowing southern border city of Rafah.

Additional displacements occurred as Egyptian authorities readied themselves to host a high-level Hamas team in Cairo on Friday to discuss a fresh plan meant to terminate the nearly three months of fighting that have decimated Gaza.

The Palestinian Red Crescent on Thursday condemned what it said was Israeli shelling near the Al-Amal hospital in Khan Yunis that led to the martyrdom of ten people and the injury of at least 21 others, adding the attack followed one in front of the hospital the day before that killed 31.

Among the casualties are individuals present in front of the hospital and displaced persons seeking shelter at the PRCS (Red Crescent) premises, the group said in a statement.

Later in the day, Gazas Hamas-run health ministry said Israeli shelling had killed 20 people, most of them women and children, at the Shaboura camp in Rafah, on the southern border with Egypt.

AFP footage from the city showed bloodied people being rushed through the streets to the nearby Kuwaiti hospital, where medical staff raced to treat a flood of wounded patients, including children. AFP could not immediately confirm whether they were victims of the same strike.

The war in Gaza, which started with Hamass October 7 attack on Israel, has left much of the territorys north in ruins, while the battlefront has shifted ever further to the south.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the attack, which left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Around 250 hostages were also taken during the attack, more than half of whom remain captive  a source of intense anxiety for their families, who protested in Jerusalem on Thursday with the demand to bring them home.

Israels relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The Israeli army says 167 of its soldiers have been killed inside Gaza in its fight against Hamas, which Israel, the United States and the European Union consider a terrorist group.

My daughters were screaming

The Israeli army recently said it had deployed an additional brigade to Khan Yunis, hometown of Hamass Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, where AFP correspondents reported sustained air and artillery strikes.

The missions that our forces are carrying out in Khan Yunis are unprecedented  our forces reach areas that we have never been before, taking over control rooms and eliminating terrorists, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant told soldiers on Thursday.

Israel has repeatedly said that one of the chief goals of the war is the return of the hostages.

On Thursday a kibbutz announced that a 70-year-old US-Israeli national thought to be the oldest woman held captive had died in the October 7 attacks.

US President Joe Biden said he was devastated by the news that Judith Weinstein Haggai was dead, and pledged that Washington would not stop working with its ally Israel to bring the remaining hostages home.

More than 80 percent of Gazas 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 Rafah.

Residents there combed through rubble for survivors on Thursday after an air strike that one witness said left several casualties.

We were sitting [at home] peacefully and all of a sudden we heard a loud explosion and debris started falling on us. The apartment was completely destroyed and my daughters were screaming, said Tayseer Abu Al-Eish.

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.

Israel said Thursday it had given preliminary approval to the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus for a maritime lifeline to ship aid to Gaza.

Ceasefire plan

A Hamas delegation was due in Cairo on Friday to give its observations about an Egyptian plan for a ceasefire recently put to officials from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which is also battling Israeli forces in Gaza.

Sources close to Hamas say Cairos three-stage plan provides for renewable ceasefires, a staggered release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and ultimately a ceasefire to end the war.

It also provides for a Palestinian government of technocrats after talks involving all Palestinian factions, which would be responsible for governing and rebuilding in post-war Gaza.

A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Thursday that the delegation would give the response of the Palestinian factions, including several observations regarding details of the exchanges and guarantees for a complete Israeli military withdrawal.

Diaa Rashwan, who heads Egypts State Information Services, said the plan was intended to bring together the views of all parties concerned, with the aim of ending the shedding of Palestinian blood.
France is set to implement high-security measures on New Years Eve, with 90,000 law enforcement officers scheduled to be deployed, according to domestic intelligence chief Celine Berthon.

In Paris alone, 6,000 officers will be stationed as Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin anticipates over 1.5 million attendees for celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.

The heightened security measures are in response to a very high terrorist threat facing the country, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday.

Darmanin said there would be around 90,000 police deployed across France, with 6,000 of them in Paris. There would also be 5,000 soldiers deployed from the Sentinelle unit, set up to deal with terrorist threats.

I have called for an extremely high turnout of police and security forces given the context of the very high terrorist threat due to, clearly, what is happening in Israel and in Palestine, Darmanin told reporters.

European security officials have stated that there is a growing risk of attacks by Islamists radicalised by the Israel-Hamas war.

With inputs from agencies.
Google has reached a settlement in a US lawsuit accusing the tech giant of invading users privacy by tracking their activities even when using the private mode feature. The class action, seeking at least $5 billion, targeted Google and its parent company Alphabet, amid growing scrutiny of technology firms practices in the US and globally.

The legal proceedings, filed by law firm Boies Schiller Flexner in 2020, claimed that Google tracked users actions despite settings such as Incognito mode on Google Chrome or private mode on other browsers. The lawsuit argued that this turned Google into an unaccountable trove of information on user preferences, potentially revealing embarrassing details.

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who had previously denied Googles attempt to dismiss the case, postponed the trial after lawyers reported a preliminary settlement. The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, with a formal presentation expected for court approval by February 2024.

Google defended its data collection practices, asserting transparency about collected information even in private viewing modes. The company stated that gathering search history, even in private mode, aided site owners in assessing content, products, and marketing performance.

This settlement follows Googles recent $700 million agreement to resolve a lawsuit from US states accusing the company of anti-competitive practices related to its Play Store on Android devices. Additionally, Google faced legal challenges over its search and digital advertising practices, including a notable case against Fortnite maker Epic Games, where the tech giant lost a 2020 court battle.
Tony Chung, a Hong Kong democracy activist who formerly advocated for the citys independence and was the youngest person imprisoned under the citys national security statute, said on Friday that he will seek asylum in the United Kingdom.

After months of massive and often deadly pro-democracy protests in the former British colony, Beijing implemented the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020.

Chung, then 20, became the youngest person to be imprisoned under the security law in 2021 after pleading guilty to secession and receiving a three-and-a-half-year term.

Chung said he had safely arrived in the United Kingdom and have formally applied for political asylum upon entry, according to a statement posted on Facebook early Friday but dated December 27.

He said he had been closely watched by Hong Kongs national security police despite his jail term having ended in June and was blocked from taking up work.

The Washington Post reported he was released early for good behaviour.

Authorities also stopped him from seeking legal assistance by citing a confidentiality clause under the security law, Chung added.

He said he got permission to leave Hong Kong by saying he wanted to go on holiday in Okinawa, Japan, and sought help once he was outside Chinese soil.

Calling himself a Hong Kong exile, Chung said it was impossible for him to return home in the foreseeable future.

I believe that only with the collective efforts of the Hong Kong people can Hong Kong once again become a home that we can be proud of, he wrote.

I believe that as long as the Hong Kong people never give up, the seeds of freedom and democracy will sprout alive again.

AFP has contacted the police for comment.

Chung was previously the convenor of Student Localism, a small group he set up five years ago as a secondary school pupil to advocate for Hong Kongs independence from China.

Separation from China was then a fringe view in Hong Kong although calls for self-rule became more vocal during the 2019 protests.

In 2020, Chung was nabbed by plainclothes police from a coffee shop opposite the US consulate, where he was allegedly planning to seek asylum.
Chinese lawmakers weighed in on a heated online debate on Friday regarding the use of fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year in February, expressing that a complete ban on pyrotechnics in the country credited with their invention would be challenging to enforce.

In an unusually candid response, lawmakers acknowledged that air pollution prevention laws and fire safety regulations have created differences in understanding regarding the fireworks ban, which was never absolute.

Official data from 2017 revealed that 444 cities had prohibited fireworks. Since then, some cities have relaxed restrictions, permitting fireworks during specific times of the year and at designated locations.

However, this month witnessed several counties issuing notices reinstating the prohibition on fireworks, reigniting discussions about the ban.

Weve the right to fireworks, wrote a user of Weibo, a popular Chinese microblog.

According to folklore, the earliest fireworks were invented 2,000 years ago to drive away the nian, a mythical beast that preyed on people and livestock on the eve of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival.

Since then, fireworks have been used to celebrate other occasions: this January, after three years of COVID-19 curbs were lifted, some people defied bans  and authorities  and set off firecrackers.

But some Chinese said the firework bans were necessary to protect the environment.

It should be regulated due to pollution and safety (fire) hazards, a Weibo user said.

In an online poll by the official Beijing Youth Daily this week, however, over 80% of respondents expressed support for fireworks during the Spring Festival, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.

Some also said the ban was ironic after the United Nations last week adopted the Spring Festival as an official holiday, a move cheered by Chinese officials.

The Spring Festival belongs to the world, but Chinas is almost gone, wrote another Weibo user.

In southern Hunan province, a major fireworks manufacturing hub, exports totalled 4.11 billion yuan ($579 million) from January to November, state media reported, far exceeding domestic sales.

With inputs from Reuters.
India fulfilled its annual pledge of 5 million US dollars for the year 202324 by releasing the second tranche of 2.5 million US dollars to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) on Thursday, amid the continued conflict in Gaza.

Operating since 1950, UNRWA provides direct assistance and employment opportunities for officially recognised Palestinian refugees.

Nearly all of its funding comes from voluntarily donated funds from UN member nations.

About a month before, in November, the Indian government had released the first installment of its yearly commitment.

The UN agency, which is fighting to continue operating in the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, acknowledged and appreciated Indias generous contribution last month, which came at a trying time, especially in Gaza.

The Islamist group Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Following its attack on Israel on October 7, which prompted Israel to continue bombarding the region to its southwest with air and ground strikes, Hamas has placed the burden of this awful struggle mostly on the Palestinian people living in Gaza.

UNRWA received a very generous contribution from India which is most welcome during these difficult times and in the face of huge needs across the region, particularly in Gaza, a spokesperson for UNRWA, Tamara Alrifai, had told PTI last month in a text message from Amman.

The primary initiatives and services offered by the organisation, such as social assistance, healthcare, education, and relief for Palestinian refugees, are intended to be aided by Indias support.

According to a press release from the Representative Office of India in Palestine, Charge dAffaires Elizabeth Rodrigues gave UNRWA the second tranche of the donation.

The government of New Delhi has emphasised its sustained support for the organizations regional operations and the services it offers to Palestinian refugees.

Through the El-Arish Airport in Egypt, India had earlier on November 19 supplied 32 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine.

India has donated USD 30 million to UNRWA since 2018.

Indias Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, declared during the June 23, 2020, Extraordinary Virtual Ministerial Pledging Conference for UNRWA that his country will provide USD 10 million to UNRWA over the following two years.

Around 2.3 million people live in Gaza, but since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and Israel retaliated, more than two thirds of the population has left their homes and moved south.

For hundreds of thousands of people living in shelters, the UNRWA has been struggling to deliver basic services.

Prior to the Gaza War, UNRWA was dealing with a rise in service requests as a result of an increase in the number of officially registered Palestinian refugees, the severity of their vulnerability, and their increasing poverty. Approximately 5.6 million Palestine refugees are registered with the organisation, and it is its duty to safeguard and support them throughout its five operational domains.

In the interim until their situation is justly and permanently resolved, its goal is to assist Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in realising their full potential as human beings.

Services provided by UNRWA to Palestinian refugees include microfinance, protection, education, health care, relief, and social services, as well as improvements to camp infrastructure.

India has also strongly urged non-donor member states to think about supporting UNRWA in solidarity with the Palestine refugees, as well as other longtime donors to think about increasing their payments.

(With agency inputs)
In a recent development, Iran carried out execution of four individuals accused of spying for Israels Mossad, as reported by local media.

The group, which included a woman, was hanged after being found guilty of kidnapping Iranian security forces with the intent to extract intelligence. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with Irans judiciary, revealed that the convicted individuals were also charged with setting fire to vehicles and apartments belonging to Iranian intelligence agents.

The executed individuals were identified as Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, Rahman Parhazo, and Nasim Namazi. According to Mizan, they were members of a sabotage group linked to the Israeli government, accused of engaging in activities against the countrys security under the guidance of Mossad, Israels spy agency.

The charges leading to their death sentences included moharebeh, meaning waging war against God, and corruption on Earth.

The Mizan report highlighted that the group had undergone surveillance by Iranian intelligence for about four months, starting in January 2022, until their arrest in May of the same year.

A video released by the official IRNA news agency featured confessions from the individuals, revealing their alleged cooperation with a Mossad officer in Turkey known by the names Tony and Arash.

This execution follows the hanging of another accused Mossad agent in December in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. The Mizan report did not provide detailed information on several others connected to the group who received decade-long jail sentences.

Iran and Israel, longstanding rivals, have frequently accused each other of espionage and engaged in a shadow war. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previously expressed concern about Irans high rate of executions, with at least 419 people executed in the first seven months of the year.

Amnesty International and other rights groups note that Iran has one of the highest execution rates globally, second only to China.
Six days after authorities had killed a man for identical charges, Irans judiciary said on Friday that four persons found guilty of espionage for Israel, the countrys worst enemy, had been hung.

Four members of a sabotage group related to the Zionist regime (Israel) were hanged this morning in Irans northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, the judiciarys Mizan Online website reported.

They were named as Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, Rahman Parhazo, and Nasim Namazi, a woman. They had all been found guilty of moharebeh, or waging war against God, and corruption on Earth due to their collaboration with the Zionist regime. They were all given the death penalty.

According to Mizan, the organisation performed extensive actions against the security of the country under the guidance of the Mossad, Israels intelligence service.

Iran and Israel have been fighting a covert war for many years since Iran does not acknowledge Israel.

A man accused of working with Mossad was also killed on December 16 in the Sistan-Baluchistan region in the southeast.

The judiciary at the time did not identify the man but said he had been convicted of intelligence cooperation and espionage for the benefit for the hostile Zionist regime.

In December 2022, the Islamic republic hanged another four people who had been convicted of collaborating with Israels intelligence services.

Tehran accuses Israel of carrying out a wave of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear programme.

According to rights groups including Amnesty International, Iran executes more people per year than any other nation except China.
Israeli soldiers ignored cries for help from three hostages who they killed by mistake on 15 December. As per the recently concluded military investigation, the troops heard the people in captivity shouting in Hebrew and interpreted that as deception attempt by Hamas terrorists to lure them into the building in Gazas Shejaiya district.

The military investigation, published on Thursday, further said the Israeli soldiers believed the building was rigged with explosives. On 10 December, they exited the premises and killed five Hamas terrorists who were trying to escape.

The military probe report further said the hostages  Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer El-Talalqa (all men in their twenties)  were also believed to have fled the building and on 15 December, Israeli soldiers shot them after mistakenly identifying them as a threat.

Two hostages killed instantly

The probe further found out that two of the hostages were shot dead instantly. However, the third hostage managed to flee and soldiers were ordered to hold fire in order to identify him.

The third hostage said help! and theyre shooting at me. He was then asked by the Israeli commanders to advance towards the soldiers. But two personnel who did not hear the order because of noise from a nearby tank shot him dead.

The three hostages were all shirtless and one had been carrying a white flag.

The probe further found out that on 14 December, an army drone had identified signs of SOS and help, three hostages on a building close to where the hostages were shot.

Army failed in its mission

Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi, in a statement published along with the investigation report, said his army failed in its mission to rescue the hostages in this event.

The three fatalities could have been prevented, Halevi added.

Broke whole nations heart

After the report of killings of the hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it broke my heart and broke the whole nations heart.

The killings the three hostages have sparked protests in Tel Aviv, where demonstrators demanded that the authorities come up with a new plan to bring home the remaining 129 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

As per reports, as many as 250 people were taken hostage during Hamass 7 October 7 attacks in Israel.

With inputs from AFP
On Thursday, Israeli troops pounded cities, villages, and refugee camps across Gaza, killing scores of people as part of a broader air and military onslaught against Hamas that has driven thousands more Palestinians to evacuate their homes and shelters in recent days.

The battle has already killed over 20,000 Palestinians and displaced almost 85% of the 2.3 million-person population. Much of northern Gaza has been levelled, leaving it mainly depopulated and cut off from the rest of the region for weeks. Many worry that the south may suffer a same fate as Israel advances its attack to encompass the majority of the small enclave.

Israel has pledged to demolish Hamas, which is still putting up a fight even in the north, and return the more than 100 captives still held by the terrorists following their Oct. 7 incursion into southern Israel. The attack killed around 1,200 individuals, the majority of whom were civilians.

Israeli authorities have dismissed international pleas for a cease-fire, claiming that it would be a win for Hamas.

While giving critical backing for the attack, the US has encouraged Israel to take extra precautions to protect civilians and allow in more aid. However, humanitarian workers say the amount of food, fuel, and medical supplies entering Gaza is still much below what is required, and according to UN authorities, one in every four Palestinians in Gaza is malnourished.

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 ages 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. The Israeli military 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 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 Wednesday by an airstrike.

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.

A strike Thursday evening destroyed a residential building in the town of Rafah, at the southernmost end of Gaza, killing at least 23 people, according to the media office of the nearby Al-Kuwaiti Hospital said.

Outside of Gaza, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian man who they say got out of his car and stabbed two security workers at a checkpoint between the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The security workers were in moderate condition, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service.

The occupied West Bank has experienced a surge in violence since Oct. 7, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in unrest and clashes with Israeli forces.

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 nowhere 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 Israels creation. They have since grown into crowded residential neighborhoods.

Some 700,000 Palestinians 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 U.N. humanitarian office said the scale and intensity of the fighting impedes its aid deliveries. The office, known as OCHA, cited blocked roads, a scarcity of fuel and telecommunications blackouts as some of the obstacles hampering the humanitarian response.

Still, it said the U.N. World Food Program provided food parcels to about a half-million people in U.N. shelters in southern and central Gaza since Saturday.

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 21,300 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.
Maines Democratic secretary of state unilaterally removed former President Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot on Thursday, becoming the first election official to do so as the United States Supreme Court prepares to rule on whether Trump is still eligible to run for president.

The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows the Colorado Supreme Courts decision earlier this month to remove Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That ruling has been delayed until the United States Supreme Court considers whether Trump is prohibited from holding office under a Civil War-era rule that forbids individuals who engaged in insurrection from doing so.

The Trump campaign said that it will appeal Bellows judgement to Maines state courts, and Bellows postponed her decision until that court system made a decision on the issue. In the end, the Supreme Court is likely to have the last word on whether Trump is on the ballot in Maine and the other states.

Bellows determined that Trump could no longer compete for his previous position since his involvement in the 6 January 2021, attack on the US Capitol violated Section 3, which prohibits individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding office. Bellows issued the decision after several state citizens, including a bipartisan group of former politicians, contested Trumps ballot position.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows wrote in her 34-page decision. I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

The Trump campaign immediately slammed the ruling. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Legal experts said that Thursdays ruling demonstrates the need for the nations highest court, which has never ruled on Section 3, to clarify what states can do.

It is clear that these decisions are going to keep popping up, and inconsistent decisions reached (like the many states keeping Trump on the ballot over challenges) until there is final and decisive guidance from the US Supreme Court, Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, wrote in response to the Maine decision. It seems a certainty that SCOTUS will have to address the merits sooner or later.

While Maine has just four electoral votes, its one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maines electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there, should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate, could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.

Thats in contrast to Colorado, which Trump lost by 13 percentage points in 2020 and where he wasnt expected to compete in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

In her decision, Bellows acknowledged that the US Supreme Court will probably have the final word but said it was important she did her official duty.

That won her praise from the former state lawmakers who filed one of the petitions forcing her to consider the case.

Secretary Bellows showed great courage in her ruling, and we look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles, Republican Kimberly Rosen, independent Thomas Saviello and Democrat Ethan Strimling said in a statement.

But other Republicans in the state were outraged.

This is a sham decision that mimics Third World dictatorships, Maines House Republican leader, Billy Bob Faulkingham, said in a statement. It will not stand legal scrutiny. People have a right to choose their leaders devoid of mindless decisions by partisan hacks.

The Trump campaign on Tuesday requested that Bellows disqualify herself from the case because shed previously tweeted that Jan. 6 was an insurrection and bemoaned that Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in the US Senate after the capitol attack. She refused to step aside.

My decision was based exclusively on the record presented to me at the hearing and was in no way influenced by my political affiliation or personal views about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Bellows told the Associated Press Thursday night.

Bellows is a former head of the Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. All seven of the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court, which split 4-3 on whether to become the first court in history to declare a presidential candidate ineligible under Section 3, were appointed by Democrats. Two Washington, D.C.-based liberal groups have launched the most serious prior challenges to Trump, in Colorado and a handful of other states.

Thats led Trump to contend the dozens of lawsuits nationwide seeking to remove him from the ballot under Section 3 are a Democratic plot to end his campaign. But some of the most prominent advocates have been conservative legal theorists who argue that the text of the Constitution makes the former president ineligible to run again, just as if he failed to clear the documents age threshold  35 years old  for the office.

Likewise, until Bellows decision, every top state election official, whether Democrat or Republican, had rejected requests to bar Trump from the ballot, saying they didnt have the power to remove him unless ordered to do so by a court.

The timing on the US Supreme Courts decision is unclear, but both sides want it fast. Colorados Republican Party appealed the Colorado high court decision on Wednesday, urging an expedited schedule, and Trump is also expected to file an appeal within the week. The petitioners in the Colorado case on Thursday urged the nations highest court to adopt an even faster schedule so it could rule before March 5, known as Super Tuesday, when 16 states, including Colorado and Maine, are scheduled to vote in the Republican presidential nominating process.

The high court needs to formally accept the case first, but legal experts consider that a certainty. The Section 3 cases seem tailor-made for the Supreme Court, addressing an area of US governance where theres scant judicial guidance.

The clause was added in 1868 to keep defeated Confederates from returning to their former positions of power in local and federal government. It prohibits anyone who broke an oath to support the Constitution from holding office. The provision was used to bar a wide range of ex-Confederates from positions ranging from local sheriff to Congress, but fell into disuse after an 1872 congressional amnesty for most former Confederates.

Legal historians believe the only time the provision was used in the 20th Century was in 1919, when it was cited to deny a House seat to a socialist who had opposed US involvement in World War I. But since the Jan. 6 attack, it has been revived.

Last year, it was cited by a court to remove a rural New Mexico County Commissioner who had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. One liberal group tried to remove Republican Reps. Madison Cawthorn and Marjorie Taylor Greene from the 2022 ballot under the provision, but Cawthorn lost his primary so his case was thrown out, and a judge ruled for Greene.

Some critics of the movement to bar Trump warn that the provision could be weaponized in unexpected ways.

They note that conservatives could argue, for example, that Vice President Kamala Harris is likewise barred from office because she raised bail funds for people arrested during the unrest following George Floyds 2020 murder at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The plaintiffs in Colorado presented historical evidence that even the donation of small sums to money to those seeking to join the Confederacy was grounds for being barred by Section 3. Why, critics have asked, wouldnt that apply to Democrats like Harris today?
NATO air forces across Europe scrambled well over 300 times to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching alliance airspace in 2023, with most intercepts occurring over the Baltic Sea, the treaty organisation said on Friday.

NATO has standing air-policing missions that call for Allied jets to scramble when there are signs of Russian military planes approaching Allied airspace in unpredictable ways.

The vast majority of aerial encounters between NATO and Russian jets were safe and professional. Breaches of NATO airspace by Russian military aircraft remained rare and generally of short duration, NATO said, adding most intercepts occurred over the Baltic Sea.

Russias war against Ukraine has created the most dangerous security situation in Europe in decades, said acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White. NATO fighter jets are on duty around the clock, ready to scramble in case of suspicious or unannounced flights near the airspace of our Allies. Air policing is an important way in which NATO provides security for our Allies.

In the wake of Russias war in Ukraine, NATO has substantially reinforced its air defences on its eastern flank including more fighter jets, surveillance flights and ground-based air defences.

After repeated Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure very close to NATO territory, the allies deployed extra fighter jets to Romania. In October, after subsea pipelines ruptured in the Baltic Sea, NATO sent additional capabilities to the region.

This year, NATO also held its biggest-ever air exercise, with over 250 aircraft training for the collective defence of the Alliance during Air Defender 23.

Earlier on Friday, Russia launched one of its biggest missile attacks on Ukraine of the war so far, killing 12 civilians, wounding dozens more and hitting residential buildings in Kyiv, the south and west of the country.
In a devastating incident that took place on January 15th, a Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara crashed near the airport, resulting in the loss of 72 lives, including two infants. Government-appointed investigators, in their official report, reported that the crash was likely caused by the pilots inadvertently cutting the power, leading to an aerodynamic stall.

The flight, operated on an ATR 72, marked the third sector of the day for the flight crew, shuttling between the capital and the tourist town. The privately owned plane crashed just 1.5km from the airport, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving hundreds of Nepalese soldiers.

Aeronautical engineer Dipak Prasad Bastola, a member of the investigating panel, revealed that the aircraft flew for up to 49 seconds before impact due to its momentum. He explained that the pilots mistakenly placed the condition levers, responsible for power control, in the feathering position instead of selecting the flap lever, causing the engines to run idle.

The report highlights contributing factors such as a lack of appropriate technical and skill-based training, high workload, stress, and non-compliance with standard operating procedures. Despite these findings, it emphasizes that the aircraft was properly maintained, had no known defects, and the cockpit crew was qualified according to the regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

International investigators from the US, Canada, France, and Singapore played a crucial role in the investigation. This tragic event adds to Nepals history of aviation accidents, often attributed to remote runways and sudden weather changes. Notably, the European Union has banned Nepalese airlines from its airspace over safety concerns for the past decade.

Eyewitnesses, including local resident Divya Dhakal, described the horrifying scene as the plane plunged from the sky. Dhakal rushed to the crash site, witnessing the flames and smoke, while helicopters quickly arrived for rescue efforts.
South Koreas defence minister said that a light-water reactor at North Koreas primary nuclear facility is expected to be officially operational by next summer.

This has raised concerns about the North potentially utilising it as a fresh source of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. The unease over North Koreas nuclear program has intensified following reports from the U.N. atomic agency and foreign experts, suggesting signs of the operationalization of the light-water reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said last week that his agency had observed increased levels of activity at and near the reactor and since mid-October, a strong water outflow from its cooling system.

He said the reactor is a cause for concern because it can produce plutonium  one of the two key ingredients used to manufacture nuclear weapons, along with highly enriched uranium.

The South Korean Defense Ministry said Friday that Defense Minister Shin Wonsik told local reporters a day before that his country had also spotted similar cooling system-related activities associated with the reactor last summer.

Shin said the reactor appears to be in the stage of a trial operation and that its expected to be officially operational around next summer. North Korea has long produced weapons-grade plutonium from its widely known 5-megawatt reactor at Yongbyon. The light-water reactor would be an additional source of bomb fuels. Yongbyon has a uranium enrichment facility as well.

There are questions about the reactors reported operation, as light-water reactors are best-suited for electricity generation. Shin noted there has been no country which has used light-water reactors to produce weapons-grade plutonium. However, many observers say North Korea could adopt one at Yongbyon to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

(North Korea)s commissioning of a new light water nuclear power plant raises serious concerns, including safety, the US Mission to the UN in Vienna said Saturday in a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

(North Koreas) unlawful nuclear, ballistic missile programs continue to pose a grave threat to international peace & security.Grossi also noted the Norths operation of the light-water reactor violates UN Security Council resolutions.

The IAEA and foreign governments have no access to Yongbyon and other suspected nuclear sites in North Korea, and they typically rely on satellite imagery to monitor the Norths nuclear activities. North Korea kicked out IAEA inspectors from the country in 2009.

Outside estimates on the size of North Koreas nuclear arsenal vary, ranging from 20-60 to more than 100. Since his diplomacy with the US collapsed in 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeatedly vowed to build more nuclear weapons and introduce high-tech weapons to cope with what he calls intensifying US hostility.

Foreign experts say Kim would ultimately hope to use his expanded nuclear arsenal to win sanctions relief from the US when diplomacy resumes. In response to the Norths latest intercontinental ballistic missile test last week, the US, South Korea and Japan urged other countries to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions that have imposed punishing sanctions on the North for its past banned weapons tests.

With inputs from agencies.
Six Senses, a leading operator of luxury hospitality projects in 18 countries and a part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has announced that work is moving at a steady pace on its premium development in Diriyah region - Six Senses Wadi Safar - being developed in co-ordination with Diriyah Company.

Just 41 km from Riyadhs King Khalid International Airport and 15 minutes northwest of the city, Six Senses Wadi Safar will feature 80 guest rooms spread across five clusters on top of a hill with panoramic views over the dramatic valley.

True to the regions deep cultural roots and original Najdi-style palatial architecture, the resort will pair the vibe of a traditional gathering place with the ultimate in luxurious and contemporary living.

This latest Six Senses project forms part of a 60-sq-km gated Wadi Safar community, a secluded, discreet, and peerless lifestyle destination for Saudi society and international visitors.

Diriyah Company said plans are afoot to host flagship international sporting, arts, cultural, retail, and fashion events alongside social enterprise to support Saudi Arabias Vision 2030.

This bold blueprint is intended to harness the potential of its younger generations, open to tourism, and turn the nations greatest strengths into a vibrant society and diverse and sustainable economy, it stated.

Alongside the royal residences, the exclusive resort, recreation, and leisure assets will be set against a vast and breathtaking landscape of natural beauty, it added.

A major player in the global hospitality sector, Six Senses operates 23 hotels and resorts in 18 countries and has signed a further 43 properties into the development pipeline.

"As the Kingdom evolves and opens to tourism, it is garnering strong interest among international visitors to explore its heritage sites and outstanding natural beauty," remarked Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs.

"We are excited to be working closely with Diriyah Company as we align visions and invite guests to explore the Kingdom," he added.

When the Diriyah Company announced a unique giga-project with distinctive cultural, historical, and tourism landmarks, it invited international partners to come together and construct a new legacy for Saudi Arabia.

Six Senses garbbed the opportunity and is now helping bring this to life through the new Wadi Safar property, which lies just west of Diriyah and northwest of Riyadh.

"Diriyah presents hospitality operators with a unique opportunity  to redefine their guest experience within the context of nearly three hundred years of cultural heritage. From design and location to local cuisine, materials, and customs, Diriyahs hospitality portfolio is differentiated by an unreplaceable vibrancy and depth of culture," remarked its Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo,

"We are thrilled that Six Senses is joining our portfolio, and we look forward to welcoming guests from all corners of the planet to sample its sumptuous offering," he added.

With space in abundance, guest accommodations at Six Senses Wadi Safar will extend across 199,364 sq m. Offering the utmost in security and seclusion and only two hours from the six GCC countries, the resort will host special events, weekend retreats, and longer-stay breaks for history explorers and wellness seekers alike.

"Six Senses Spa will be a sensory experience with dedicated suites for sight and touch, treatment rooms, a hammam, a salon, a gym and studio, and a separate yoga studio. From yoga programmes, signature massages and biohacking tools to multi-day retreats and brand standards such as Sleep With Six Senses and Eat With Six Senses, there will be something for everyone," remarked Jacobs.

The regions history goes back thousands of years: it was once an ancient trade and pilgrimage route and a meeting spot for people traveling to or from Asia, Africa, or Europe, sharing food and stories around the night fire.

"While the guest rooms are secluded, the restaurants incorporate this community aspect and extend traditional hospitality, inviting guests to gather and enjoy seasonal sharing plates themed to the location. The main restaurant will open out to the pool and will be complemented by a signature restaurant, grill, and brew bar," explained Jacobs.

"There will be a multi-use events space with an outdoor amphitheater and a boutique in the style of an artisan souk," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Top military officials in Pakistan have claimed that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)  also known as the Pakistani Taliban  was receiving latest weapons and liberty of action from a neighbouring nation.

The two-day 261st Corps Commanders Conference was chaired by General Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, at GHQ, Rawalpindi.

The commanders also announced that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will receive the essential support for the upcoming general elections, which are set for February 8.

The meeting was briefed on the prevalent geo-strategic environment, challenges to national security and own strategy in response to evolving threats, as per a statement released by the military.

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.

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, was the resolution reached at the conference.

Among other illicit economic activities, the meeting reviewed comprehensively the current measures being taken against power theft, smuggling, money laundering, and stockpiling of necessities.

The statement read, Pakistan Army will continue to give all-out support to relevant government institutions to curb such crimes.

The Pakistan Armys commitment to protect Pakistans sovereignty and territorial integrity from both direct and indirect threats was reaffirmed at the meeting.

The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a combined civil-military forum established last year to attract investment, is the umbrella organisation for the forums continued efforts to boost socioeconomic progress and foreign investment. The forum reaffirmed its support for these initiatives.

During the meeting, it was reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to provide its fellow Kashmiris with all the political, moral, and diplomatic support necessary to see the issue of Kashmir resolved in accordance with international law and pertinent UNSC resolutions.

The forum reiterated the governments appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a peaceful conclusion to the ongoing conflict, while also expressing full sympathy with the people of Palestine and denouncing the egregious abuses of human rights and war crimes occurring in Gaza.

(With agency inputs)
34 additional Baloch protestors who were detained during a police operation in the federal capital of Pakistan last week have been released by the caretaker government.

The proclamation states that after meeting all legal criteria, the protestors who had been arrested were released.

It added that, at the recommendation of a negotiation commission led by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, all imprisoned Baloch demonstrators had been released.

Caretaker Privatisation Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad led the PMs negotiation team, which spoke with the demonstrators, according to a report from Geo News.

In addition, the demonstrators called for the detained individuals instant release.

Prior to this, during the first round of negotiations, the administration issued an order for the release of every woman protestor who had been detained during the police crackdown.

The extra-judicial killing of a Baloch youth by Counter-Terrorism Department agents in Turbat earlier this month sparked protests among the Baloch people, according to Geo News.

Baloch women embarked on a protracted march on December 6 in response to the event, and they arrived in Islamabad on December 20.

But as soon as they arrived in the nations capital, police broke up the protesters camps outside the National Press Club and began to crack down on them. The police arrested the majority of the protestors during the crackdown, which infuriated people around the country.

In the meantime, the administration justified its decision to begin a crackdown by saying it was an essential step to prevent a catastrophe.

Furthermore, lawmakers, analysts, and human rights groups also harshly denounced the police crackdown on the Baloch marchers, according to a report by Geo News.

The Pakistani government was given a seven-day ultimatum by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a well-known organiser of the Baloch protest march in Islamabad, to comply with their demands, which included the elimination of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Among the demands was the signature of a document aimed at ending enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings under the supervision of the Working Group. In addition, she called for the termination of state-sponsored death squads, limitations on the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and the release of all victims of enforced disappearances.

It was suggested that the Ministry of Interior confess the deaths of people who went missing during fictitious meetings, along with a news conference listing all of the victims and an appreciation letter.

The activists from Balochistan also underlined that in order for the state to show that it is serious about putting an end to human rights abuses and unlawful actions in Balochistan, it must establish that it is committed to addressing the Baloch genocide.

(With agency inputs)
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was arrested again, and as a result, Pakistan police have linked him to at least 12 separate charges that the district police have opened in relation to the incident on May 9.

He was placed on two weeks of remand at Adiala Jail by a magistrate on Thursday in connection with an attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

The former foreign minister was sentenced to two weeks in prison after the judge denied the Punjab polices request for a 30-day remand.

After declaring that he had been mentally and physically tortured in prison, PTI Vice Chairman Qureshi was taken by the police on Wednesday.

According to Dawn, he was being held in connection with the May 9 attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ).

The PTI leader has allegedly been named by the Rawalpindi police in 12 separate FIRs that have been filed with the district police in relation to the violence on May 9.

The PTI leader was brought to the court of Magistrate Syed Jhangeer Ali in the judicial complex in an armoured police vehicle.

Furthermore, Dawn claims that although Qureshi was shackled when he appeared in court, the magistrate gave the police the order to take off his handcuffs.

Reportedly, he was produced in the judicial complex amid high-security measures and the media were also not allowed to enter the courtroom.

Later, the police drove him to jail following the courts order for his judicial remand.

Qureshi stated at the beginning of the hearing that he wished to have his statement recorded. He told the judge that although his bail in the Cypher case had been authorised by the Supreme Court, he had to be detained under the Maintenance of Public Order before being released.

He was then taken into custody from the prison in a new case.

The PTI leader alleged that despite having chest pains, the police had kicked and made fun of him. He further said that he had not been transported to a hospital.

A team came to me saying that they wanted to record a statement in connection with the May 9 violence. These people want to nominate me in cases related to May 9. I was in Karachi on May 9  my wife was undergoing surgery, he said.

He further highlighted that he was kept in a cold cell last night and was not allowed to sleep.

I was tortured mentally, he added.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi was detained again outside the Adiala Jail on Wednesday. Last week, the Pakistan Supreme Court granted Qureshi bail in the Cypher case. The party later distributed the video, which showed Qureshi being physically abused outside the jail, from inside its grounds.

The PTI earlier on Thursday denounced the detention and torture of the partys vice chairman, Qureshi, and further sought the Supreme Court to consider the case on a suo motu basis.

PTI referred to Qureshis most recent arrest as illegal, given that the Supreme Court had granted him a bail and that the orders for his imprisonment under the 3-MPO had been quickly revoked.

(With agency inputs)
On Friday, a Pakistani court denied a lawsuit alleging that all former premiers, including Nawaz Sharif and former parliamentarians, as well as Imran Khan, had received Toshakhana presents from state heads.

Petitioner Tanveer Sarwar had asked Justice Raheel Kamran of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to order the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allow criminal complaints against all former premiers and lawmakers, who are running in the polls on February 8, 2024. However, Sarwar had failed to provide the ECP with any information about the gifts they received from Toshakhana, which they had declared as assets in their nomination papers.

According to Mr. Sarwar, Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, received a three-year prison sentence in the Toshakhana case for non-disclosure of the specifics of state gifts in his assets.

As for former president Asif Zardari, he said, they are contesting upcoming polls, but former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and others did not reveal the specifics of their Toshkhana gifts.

The ECP is prejudiced only against Imran Khan but is not taking any action against the above-mentioned persons, the petitioner said and requested the court to stop the ECP from selective prosecution. After hearing the arguments of the petitioner, the judge dismissed the petition as being not maintainable.

Nawaz Sharif has had his nomination papers accepted for the national assembly seats in Lahore and Mansahra, despite the fact that the top court in 2017 decided to either permanently ban him or disqualify him for ten years in instances involving corruption.

There are many rumours that Mr. Sharif will be appointed prime minister for a fourth time with the support of the military establishment, which is charged with engaging in widespread election tampering to prevent Imran Khans PTI from winning back control. Pakistan has been dominated by the formidable army for the majority of its more than 75-year history.

(With agency inputs)
According to the Pentagon, the US has expanded the extent of its military cooperation with India and strengthened its plans for modernising defence, highlighting the groundbreaking accomplishments and collaboration with partners in 2023 that are intended to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific area.

The Pentagon stated that it is now deploying state-of-the-art military capabilities and building the capabilities required to maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific in the future, in response to Chinas aggressive actions in the South China Sea.

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, the Department of Defence said in a fact sheet on a Decisive Year in the Indo-Pacific region.

The department stated that by bolstering Indias defence modernisation plans, including by advancing the priorities outlined in the Roadmap for US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation to co-produce fighter jet engines and Stryker armoured vehicles, as well as launching the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to promote partnerships between US and Indian researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors, it is also supporting allies and partners as they invest in their own capabilities, citing specific country examples.

According to a fact sheet from the Defence Department, the US is collaborating with friends and partners in the Indo-Pacific to enhance peace and security in the area, including by working together more than in the past.

Key examples include India, modernising the scope (of) 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 US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of Chinas rising military manoeuvring in the resource-rich region.

In the South and East China Seas, China is embroiled in bitter territorial disputes. In recent years, Beijing has also made significant strides towards militarising its artificial islands.

China asserts its dominance over the whole South China Sea. However, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei have rebuttals. China and Japan have territorial disputes in the East China Sea.

The example of exercise MALABAR, which was held in Australia for the first time this year and involved Australia, Japan, and India, was also mentioned. It facilitated high-end training in anti-submarine exercises, communications, and air defence. United States Secretary of security Lloyd Austin was reported in the fact sheet as stating, 2023 will be remembered as a decisive year for implementing US defence strategy in Asia in this decisive decade. Other Indo-Pacific alliances and partners, including Japan, Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Indonesia, were mentioned in the fact sheet.

It mentioned that Secretary Austin travelled to eight countries in the Indo-Pacific area on four separate occasions in 2023.

For the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue this year, Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew to New Delhi in November.

Austin had gone to India in June in advance of Prime Minister Narendra Modis formal state visit to Washington with the goal of reinforcing the major defence partnership and advancing cooperation in critical domains.

(With agency inputs)
After terrorist assaults on ships in the Red Sea, the team at Toymaker Basic Fun, which is in charge of managing the maritime shipments of Tonka trucks and Care Bears for Walmart and other shops, is rushing to divert freight from the Suez Canal.

According to insiders in the logistics sector, suppliers to companies like Amazon, Home Depot, IKEA, and others are acting similarly as they struggle with the largest shipment disruption since the COVID-19 outbreak threw international supply chains into turmoil.

CEO Jay Foreman of Florida-based Basic Fun stated in a phone interview from his Hong Kong office that the company typically transports all toys intended for Europe from its factory in China via the Suez Canal, which is the fastest route for moving products between both regions.

Approximately one-third of all container ship freight worldwide travels over that trade route, and it is anticipated that rerouting ships to avoid the southern point of Africa may result in up to $1 million in additional fuel costs for each round journey between Asia and Northern Europe.

Shipping preparations have been disrupted by the Houthis of Yemen, who launched missile and drone assaults in the Red Sea to demonstrate their support for Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organisation that is battling Israel in Gaza.

Now, Basic Fun is putting in extra effort during the holidays to ship toys from China via the lengthier route to ports in Rotterdam and the UK.

It is also diverting some goods bound for ports on the US 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.

Its just going to take longer and its 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 Switzerlands Kuehne + Nagel.

You cant 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, Japans 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 whats 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 companys contracts with customers dont include a way to recover the extra expense. The price is fixed. (Most suppliers) are going to have to eat those costs.
A top German military official stated in an interview that was released on Friday that Russia has lost a great deal of soldiers and equipment in the fight in Ukraine and that its force will be weaker once it is over.

The interview was conducted as Kyiv is battling to keep the West behind its military campaign against Russian soldiers that invaded in February 2022.

You know that according to Western intelligence figures, 300,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or so seriously wounded that they can no longer be mobilised for the war, Christian Freuding, who oversees the German armys support for Kyiv, told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Disclosed 315,000 Russian soldiers have lost their lives or sustained injuries in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, according to US intelligence earlier this month.

The Russian losses of men and material are enormous, said Freuding, who is also a key advisor to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

Russia is also believed to have lost thousands of battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, he added.

The Russian armed forces will emerge from this war weakened, both materially and in terms of personnel, he said.

However, Russia is succeeding in continuing to recruit troops including the use of prisoners, Freuding said.

And, of course, we are seeing massive investments in the arms industry.

President Vladimir Putin recently said that Moscow had voluntarily recruited 486,000 men for the army in 2023 and that efforts to build up the military next year would accelerate.

And he promised to bolster Russias defence capabilities, with the economy turned towards the war effort and the Kremlin shrugging off the impact of sweeping Western sanctions.

The German general acknowledged that Russia was demonstrating a greater resilience than Western allies had expected at the start of the war.

We perhaps did not see, or did not want to see, that they are in a position to continue to be supplied by allies, he said.
Russian airstrikes hit Ukraines northeastern city of Kharkiv as well as the western city of Lviv on Friday morning, according to the mayors of the two cities.

At least six explosions were heard in the city, Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov said in a Telegram post, while Lvivs Andriy Sadovyi reported information about 2 strikes on the city, which lies just 70 kilometres from the Polish border.

A massive missile attack was how Terekhov put the attack on Kharkiv.

The regional military authority of Kharkiv said that Russia had made about 10 strikes on the city and that specialists were still identifying the specific weaponry employed.

Both cities did not immediately announce any casualties.

A 66-year-old lady lost her life and another was injured when Russian soldiers shelled Vovchansk in the Kharkiv area on Thursday.

According to authorities, three ladies, ages 58 to 76, were injured in an airstrike that targeted the Kharkiv regions Glushkivka hamlet.

The mayor of Odesa, in southern Ukraine, reported around midnight that a fallen drones wreckage had struck a high-rise structure in the city, causing it to catch fire.

As a result of another enemy attack, one of the high-rise buildings was damaged. The fire was promptly extinguished, Mayor Gennady Trukhanov said in a social media post.

The Kremlin has not commented on Kyivs claims but said it had thwarted an attempted Ukranian drone attack that targeted the Kursk region in the countrys west.

The latest attacks come a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for releasing the last remaining package of weapons for Ukraine that had been previously authorised.
In a shocking revelation, a recent report, following a comprehensive two-month investigation into the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, uncovered disturbing details of widespread sexual violence against women.

The attacks, carried out by Hamas terrorists, targeted various locations, including a rave, military bases along the Gaza border, and kibbutzim.

The Woman in the Black Dress

The New York Times article spoke about the heartbreaking account of Gal Abdush, a mother of two, who became a symbol of the atrocities inflicted on Israeli women during the attacks.

A video, widely circulated online, captured her harrowing last moments, lying half-naked on a road, her face burned beyond recognition. Israeli police officials believe she was raped.

Patterns of Gender-Based Violence

The investigation identified at least seven locations where Israeli women and girls appear to have been sexually assaulted or mutilated. Witness accounts, video footage, photographs, and GPS data were analyzed, revealing a disturbing pattern of gender-based violence.

Witnesses describe gruesome scenes of rape, mutilation, and brutality against women.

Witnesses & Evidence

The NYT report highlighted survivors like Sapir, a 24-year-old accountant, and Raz Cohen, a young Israeli who attended the rave, and provided graphic testimonies of witnessing multiple women being raped and killed.

Emergency medical technicians and soldiers discovered bodies with signs of sexual abuse in various locations. Disturbing images and videos depict the heinous crimes committed against women.

The Times examined images of a deceased woman found by emergency responders in the debris of a besieged kibbutz, revealing numerous nails driven into her thighs and groin.

Furthermore, The Times reviewed a video, supplied by the Israeli military, displaying two deceased Israeli soldiers at a base near Gaza, seemingly shot directly in their genital areas.

Challenges in Investigation

The Israeli authorities face challenges in the investigation due to the chaotic aftermath of the attacks. Limited forensic evidence and the swift burial of bodies without thorough examinations have complicated efforts to uncover the full extent of the crimes. However, ongoing discoveries of new evidence, including recovered videos, indicate the brutalization of women.

Investigators with Israels top national police unit, Lahav 433, have been constantly collecting evidence but they have not put a number on how many women were raped, saying that most are dead  and buried  and that they will never know.

No survivors have spoken publicly, the investigators added.

Global Outrage & UN Response

Israeli activists express outrage at the delay in acknowledging the accusations by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and UN Women. The international community is urged to address the heinous crimes against women during the October attacks in Israel.
James Daly, the Member of Parliament for Bury North in UK went a little too far while emphasising the significance of family stability while outlining the New Conservatives groups principles as he went on to call most of the children in his constituency a product of crap parents.

He believes in providing working-class conservatism to ensure the best opportunities for success in life.

Daly stated, When you think about the family, its about stability. Most of the kids who struggle in Bury are the products of crap parents.

The New Conservatives, a right-wing caucus composed mainly of 2019 and 2017 intake Tory MPs, have been active in interventions on immigration policies. Daly clarified, Were not a strange right-wing sect. Its just people who want to give people the best chance to succeed and thrive in life.

However, these comments have faced criticism. James Frith, Labours prospective parliamentary candidate for Bury North, expressed disappointment, stating, It is revealing to see how little James Daly thinks of his own constituents. Frith urged a closer look at the Conservative partys track record in economic growth and opportunities for young people.

Christian Wakeford, Labour MP for Bury South, and former colleague of Dalys, urged voters to remember these comments during the upcoming general election. Wakeford emphasized, This is what the current member for Bury North thinks of his constituents in the town it is an honor to represent. Make sure he remembers this next year when you go in that voting booth.
The US state of Maine on Thursday blocked former president Donald Trump from its Republican presidential primary ballot, the second state to disqualify him over his role in the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol.

Maine's top election official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, decided in favor of the citizens who had claimed that Trump should be constitutionally barred from seeking re-election after trying to upend the 2020 election.

Bellows said in her decision that the January 6 attack "occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President."

"The US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government and (Maine law) requires me to act in response," read the decision, which came in response to challenges filed by a handful of Maine voters.

Maine joins Colorado, where the state supreme court this month found Trump ineligible for the presidency, moves that will certainly be challenged in the US Supreme Court.

Bellows said she was suspending the effect of her decision pending any court appeal by Trump.

The decisions in both states invoked the US Constitution's 14th Amendment, which bars from office anyone formerly sworn to protect the country who later engages in insurrection.

"I do not reach this conclusion lightly," wrote Bellows, a Democrat. "I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the 14th Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection."

Later on Thursday, California's top election official declined to remove Trump from the presidential primary ballot in the most populous US state, defying pressure from fellow Democrats.

- 'Attempted theft of an election' -

Trump's campaign quickly slammed Bellows's decision as "attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter" and called her a "virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat."

"These partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy," campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement, accusing President Joe Biden and Democrats of "relying on the force of government institutions to protect their grip on power."

Cheung said Trump would appeal the decision.

Fellow Republicans jumped to Trump's defense, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who is also seeking the party's nomination.

"It opens up Pandora's Box. Can you have a Republican Secretary of State disqualify Biden from the ballot?" he said.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine agreed.

"Maine voters should decide who wins the election  not a Secretary of State chosen by the Legislature," she wrote on social media platform X.

A Democratic representative from Maine, Jared Golden, also said Trump should be on the ballot.

"I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection. I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States," Golden wrote on X. "However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot."

- Super Tuesday -

The Maine decision comes as Trump remains the front-running Republican candidate to challenge Biden in next year's vote.

The two are neck-and-neck in polls, and Biden has stepped up his attacks on his predecessor in recent weeks, saying Trump "certainly supported an insurrection. No question about it, none, zero."

Biden recently told a campaign reception that "the greatest threat Trump poses is to our democracy. Because if we lose, we lose everything."

He described Trump as "sitting there, watching it unfold on TV as a mob attacked the Capitol" in the assault by the Republican's supporters on January 6, 2021, aimed at overturning Trump's loss to Biden.

The twice-impeached Republican former president continues to claim, without proof, that he is the rightful winner of the 2020 vote.

He is scheduled to go on trial in Washington in March for conspiring to overturn the results of the election, and also faces racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to upend the election results in the southern state after his defeat.

Maine and Colorado hold their nominating contests on March 5 -- also known as "Super Tuesday" -- when voters in more than a dozen states, including populous California and Texas, go to the polls.

Similar challenges have been filed in other states as well. Courts in Minnesota and Michigan recently ruled that Trump should stay on the ballot in those states. Another ruling is soon expected in Oregon.

acb/md/lb/sco
A day after New Delhi gave the UN agency its second tranche of USD 2.5 million, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday that Indias generous gesture will enable the UN agency to continue providing life-saving assistance to Palestinian refugees.

Operating since 1950, UNRWA provides direct assistance and employment opportunities for officially recognised Palestinian refugees.

As we reach the end of a very difficult year in the region, UNRWA is grateful for the support of partners who continue to stand by Palestine Refugees, Tamara Alrifai, a spokesperson for UNRWA told PTI.

The latest generous gesture by India will help the Agency continue its lifesaving services towards Palestine Refugees, she added.

Indias Charge dAffaires in Ramallah, Elizabeth Rodrigues, delivered the second tranche of USD 2.5 million to UNRWA amid the fierce conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This fulfilled Indias yearly promise of $5 million US dollars for the year 20232024.

Nearly all of UNRWAs funding comes from voluntarily donated funds from UN member nations.

About a month before, in November, the Indian government had released the first installment of its yearly commitment.

The organisation is having difficulty continuing to operate in the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, and because of the challenging circumstances in the area, especially in Gaza, it also welcomed and appreciated Indias generous contribution last month.

The horrible confrontation between Israel and Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, is mostly affecting Palestinians living in Gaza.

The Jewish State declared an all-out war on the Islamist group after Hamas heinous attack on Israel on October 7. Since then, it has continued to bomb the region to the southwest with air and infantry operations.

Indias contribution is intended to support the UN agencys primary services and initiatives, which include the social services, healthcare, education, and relief offered to Palestinian refugees.

Delhi has emphasised that it will keep funding the organizations operations in the area and the assistance it offers to Palestinian refugees.

Additionally, 32 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine had been sent by India earlier on November 19 via the El-Arish Airport in Egypt.

India has donated USD 30 million to UNRWA since 2018.

Around 2.3 million people live in Gaza, but since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and Israel retaliated, more than two thirds of the population has left their homes and moved south.

For hundreds of thousands of people living in shelters, the UNRWA has been struggling to deliver basic services.

Prior to the Gaza War, UNRWA was dealing with a rise in service requests as a result of an increase in the number of officially registered Palestinian refugees, the severity of their vulnerability, and their increasing poverty. Approximately 5.6 million Palestine refugees are registered with the organisation, and it is its duty to safeguard and support them throughout its five operational domains.

(With agency inputs)
French authorities revealed the discovery of a man, believed to be in his 20s, concealed in the landing gear compartment of an Air Algerie flight from Oran, Algeria, to Pariss Orly airport. The shocking find occurred during routine technical checks, raising concerns about the mans severe hypothermia, though he miraculously remained alive.

Lacking any form of identification, the individual was swiftly transported to a hospital in serious condition. Sources at the airport emphasized the critical nature of his condition, attributing it to the extreme cold experienced at the cruising altitudes of 30,000 to 40,000 feet.

Surviving temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius (-58F) and the oxygen-deprived conditions within an unheated, unpressurized landing gear compartment is an extraordinary feat. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has documented 132 instances of individuals attempting such perilous journeys between 1947 and 2021.

This incident follows a series of similar occurrences, including a recent discovery of a deceased man in the landing gear of an aircraft at Amsterdams Schiphol airport. The FAA data underscores the grim reality of this method of travel, with a staggering 77% mortality rate for those attempting such journeys.

The alarming trend of stowaways risking their lives in landing gear compartments continues to pose a significant challenge for aviation security. Authorities emphasize the need for heightened vigilance to prevent such life-threatening incidents in the future.
According to the US Navy, an American warship shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels on Thursday.

The Huthis have routinely targeted vessels in the important Red Sea trade corridor, claiming to be acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is fighting the terrorist group Hamas.

The USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Huthis, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement, referring to a guided-missile destroyer.

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 on international shipping by the Huthis since mid-October.

The assaults jeopardise a transit corridor that transports up to 12 per cent of global commerce, forcing the US to form a multinational naval task force to safeguard Red Sea shipping earlier this month.

In addition to military action, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against a network implicated in financing Huthi strikes on Thursday.

The Treasury said it sanctioned the chairman of Yemens Currency Exchangers Association in Sanaa, as well as three exchanges in Yemen and Turkey, for facilitating the flow of Iranian financial assistance to the Huthis.

The Yemeni rebels say they are targeting Israel and Israeli-linked vessels to push for a stop to the offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The latest round of the Israel-Hamas conflict began when the Palestinian militant group carried out a shock cross-border attack from Gaza on October 7 that killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Following the attack, the United States rushed military aid to Israel, which has carried out a relentless campaign in Gaza that has killed at least 21,320 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

Those deaths have sparked widespread anger in the Middle East and provided an impetus for attacks by armed groups across the region that are opposed to Israel.

US forces in Iraq and Syria have also repeatedly come under fire from drone and rocket attacks that Washington says are being carried out by Iran-backed armed groups.

On Monday, a drone attack wounded three American personnel in northern Iraq, after which the US military struck three sites it said were used by Iran-backed forces in the country.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered more than 5,600 military soldiers to engage in a defensive drill along the border with Guyana on Thursday, in reaction to Britain deploying a warship to the area.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated he was undertaking 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.

Britain said on Sunday that the patrol vessel HMS Trent will be sent to Guyana, a former British colony, amid a simmering territorial dispute between the South American country and neighbouring Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo area.

A Guyana foreign ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the ship was due to arrive Friday and would be in its territory for less than a week for open sea defense exercises. The ship will not dock in Georgetown.

The television broadcast accompanying Maduros announcement showed fighter jets participating 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.

Guyana President Irfaan Ali sought to soothe tensions, saying Thursday that neither Venezuela nor any other State has anything to fear from activities within Guyanas sovereign territory or waters.

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, he said in a statement on Facebook, sending best wishes to the people of Venezuela, our neighbors.

Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said earlier that the HMS Trents visit was part of long-planned and routine measures to build the countrys defenses.

We are warriors

Maduro claims that Essequibo  which makes up about two-thirds of Guyanas territory  is actually Venezuelan land, a decades-old contention that has flared since massive oil deposits were found in its waters.

The rising tensions have raised fears in the region of a potential conflict over the remote area of 160,000 square kilometers (62,000 square miles).

The South American neighbors, during a meeting between Maduro and Ali earlier this month, agreed not to resort to force to settle the dispute.

We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue, in peace, said Maduro.

But no one should threaten Venezuela, no one should mess with Venezuela. 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 foreign minister, David Rutley, 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.

Maduros government held a controversial referendum on December 3 in which 95 percent of voters, according to officials in the hard-line leftist government, supported declaring Venezuela the rightful owner of Essequibo.

He has since started legal maneuvers to create a Venezuelan province in Essequibo and ordered the state oil company to issue licenses for extracting crude in the region.

Guyanas Ali has branded the moves a grave threat to international peace and security.
Following the UKs deployment of a warship to the region, Caracas ordered about 5,600 members of the armed services to take part in a military drill close to the Guyana border. On Friday, Britain denounced the unjustified actions of Venezuela.

Venezuelas actions against Guyana are unjustified and should cease, a UK government spokesperson said.

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, declared Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday.

A few days prior, in the midst of a brewing territorial dispute between Guyana and neighbouring Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo area, Britain announced that it would be rerouting the patrol vessel HMS Trent to the former British territory.

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, the spokesperson said.

We are working with partners in the region to prevent escalation and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Maduro claims that Essequibo  which makes up about two-thirds of Guyanas territory  is actually Venezuelan land, a decades-old contention that has flared since massive oil deposits were found in its waters.

The rising tensions have raised fears in the region of a potential conflict over the remote area of 160,000 square kilometres (62,000 square miles).

The South American neighbours, during a meeting between Maduro and Guyanas President Mohamed Irfaan Ali earlier this month, agreed not to resort to force to settle the dispute.

Maduros government held a controversial referendum on December 3 in which 95 percent of voters, according to officials in the hard-line leftist government, 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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Chinese ambassadors and urged them to build a diplomatic iron army loyal to the Communist Party, reviving the confrontational Wolf Warrior rhetoric propagated by certain diplomats as an indication of Chinas progressively assertive foreign policy.

Xi also emphasised the need for China to increase its international influence to combat what he believes are the Wests attempts to contain and suppress China, repeating the word struggle five times.

Dare to be good at struggle and to become defenders of the national interest. It is necessary to resolutely safeguard the interests of national sovereignty, security and development with a posture of readiness and a firm will to defy strong powers, Xi told Chinese overseas envoys gathered in Beijing, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Xi also urged envoys to adhere to Party discipline, repeating the word strict seven times in an annual keynote speech after the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference, a secretive high-level Communist Party foreign policy planning meeting that takes place once every five years, concluded on Thursday.

His remarks harked back to a more brash, confrontational style of rhetoric adopted by Chinese diplomats since 2020, which had been less prominent this year as China sought to attract foreign investment for its weakened economy.

Ties with the United States thawed briefly after Xi met U.S. President Joe Biden in November, but China is also currently engaged in diplomatic disputes with the Philippines over a contested reef in the South China Sea, as well as Japan over its discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from its wrecked Fukushima reactor.

It is necessary to put rules and discipline in front, strictly discipline oneself, take strict responsibility and create a diplomatic iron army that is loyal to the Party dares to and is good at struggle, and observes strict discipline, Xi said during the envoys conference at Beijings Great Hall of the People.

Xis remarks come amid a renewed disciplinary push among Chinas diplomatic corps after the previous foreign minister Qin Gang was removed from his post in July, having served only seven months in the role amid rumours of an affair.

Loyalty to the Party, the country and the people is the glorious tradition of the diplomatic front, said Xi.

It is necessary to build a strong line of ideological defence and be an astute person with firm political beliefs who strictly complies with rules and discipline.

We must make broad and deep friendships, and the fight to win peoples hearts must not only be carried out in temples but deeply among the masses. We must use foreign language and methods to tell the China story well, said Xi, echoing a June 2021 speech in which he urged officials to create a trustworthy, lovable and respectable image of China.

At the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference, Xi also lashed out against the Wests bullying and hegemony, urging diplomats and officials to carry forward our fighting spirit.

With inputs from Reuters.
In one of the biggest airstrikes of the war, Russia launched drone and missile strikes across Ukraine on Friday, leaving at least eighteen people dead and over a hundred injured.

According to Ukrainian officials, among the structures damaged in the bombardment were schools, a maternity facility, shopping centres and apartment buildings.

Today Russia hit us with almost everything it has in its arsenal, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraines Western allies joined the condemnation of the latest attacks.

According to the Ukrainian military, 114 of the 158 missiles and drones that Russia fired against the country were destroyed.

With the exception of the early days of continuous bombing, air force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat told AFP that this was a record number and the most massive missile attack of the conflict.

The United States recently unveiled its last batch of weapons under the terms of the accords, which Congress has not yet extended, prompting Ukraine to call on its allies in the West to continue providing military support.

Andriy Yermak, an assistant to the Ukrainian president, stated that Kyiv required more support and strength to stop this terror. The strikes, according to US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, demonstrated that Ukraine needs funding now.

Russia launched a barrage of Shahed attack drones and a variety of missiles fired from planes and Russian-controlled land in an attempt to overwhelm Ukraines air defences throughout the majority of its major cities.

Officials said that maternity hospitals, malls, and warehouses were among the structures damaged in six different locations.

Three dead have been found in a warehouse in the central Shevchenko sector of the city, according to the mayor of the city, Vitali Klitschko.

Another warehouse that was around 3,000 square metres (32,300 square feet) in size caught fire in the citys northern Podil neighbourhood.

As firefighters using oxygen masks battled the fire, there was a distinct scent of burning plastic, and a massive column of black smoke rose high into the sky.

Sergiy Popko, the head of the military administration in the city, stated that there were thought to be ten individuals trapped beneath the debris.

The Artyom armaments facility, which Russia claimed to have targeted early in the conflict, is close to the station.

At least six Ukrainian cities were the focus of the attacks on Friday, including Odesa in the south, Dnipro in the east, Lviv in the west, and Kharkiv in the northeast.

A maternity hospital in Dnipro was described as severely damaged by the health ministry, while the staff and patients had managed to shelter in time.

(With agency inputs)
Xi meets representatives to event marking 60th anniversary of China dispatching int'l medical aid teams

Xinhua) 15:53, December 29, 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives to an event marking 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first international medical aid team, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was present at the meeting. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with representatives to an event marking 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first international medical aid team.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, congratulated them and extended regards to all those who are or were on foreign medical aid missions.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was present at the meeting.

At around 11:30 a.m., Xi and others arrived at the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People amid a warm round of applause. Xi and others waved to the representatives and had a cordial exchange with them before taking a group photo together.

Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier, delivered a speech. He said that the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to international medical aid, and General Secretary Xi fully affirmed the achievements that have been made in this regard.

Six decades on, medical workers on foreign medical aid missions have benefited local people with their proficient medical skills and lofty medical ethics, presenting a better China through their practical actions and winning high praise from the governments of recipient countries and their people, Liu said.

Liu encouraged them to open up new fronts in international medical aid, and make even greater contributions toward building a global community of health for all.

A total of 30 outstanding international medical aid groups and 60 outstanding individuals were commended at the meeting.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives to an event marking 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first international medical aid team, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was present at the meeting. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier, attends an event marking 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first international medical aid team and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier, attends an event marking 60th anniversary of China dispatching its first international medical aid team and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Fort Johnson, LA (71446)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible late. High 73F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 54F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
After revealing the display specs, and the design, OnePlus has shared the samples from the phones camera. The company has confirmed Sonys 50-megapixel flagship rear camera with support for OIS and two core image algorithms, ultra-clear image quality algorithm and super light and shadow image algorithm.

These promise clear image quality and strong three-dimensional effect; combined with X1 Screens Super Light and Shadow ProXDR display, it makes photos immersive, adds the company.

The images show the f/1.8 aperture, 24mm for normal, 48mm for 2x, and the ultra-wide camera has f/2.2 aperture. Based on rumors the phone has a Sony IMX890 sensor, same as the OnePlus Ace 2. It is also said to retain the 8MP ultra-wide and the 2MP macro camera.

The company also highlighted ProXDR display, allowing the screen to accurately restore the natural light and shadow of photos, with details of light and dark. With the new X1 screen, when you re-view the photos, you will feel like you are there, and the beautiful memories will not fade. , making the photos more stunning, it added.

The screen also works with wet fingers, promising the best touch experience. The phone also has DisplayMate A+ certification.

Source
Mark Dunbar in The Hedgehog Review:

This was during the Long 2010s (2009-2022), a decade during which there occurred more mass protests than any decade in history. The protests were against the usual suspects: capitalism, racism, imperialism, greed, corruption. Two new books, Vincent Bevinss If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution and The Populist Moment: The Left After the Great Recession by Arthur Borriello and Anton Jager, are about these protests and why they seemed to summon more of what they protested againstmore greed, more racism, more corruption. They take different approaches. The Populist Moment is an academic investigation into the electoral failures of left-wing candidates in Europe and the United States (Bernie Sanders, Jeremy Corbyn, Jean-Luc Melenchon, Greeces Syriza party), while If We Burn is a journalistic account of street protests in the Third World (Brazil, Indonesia, Chile) as well as Turkey and Ukraine.

While the electoral and protest approaches are different, they yielded the same result. The protests and protest candidates failed because they lacked organizational structures and concrete policies. Protestors couldnt make demands because they shunned the formal structures of decision-making that could have led to change; protest candidates couldnt advance concrete policies because they had no confidence those policies would be electorally sustainable. In other words, where there was a will there was no way, and where there was a way there was no will.

More here.
News

Friendswood mother didn't buy gun used on teens, attorney says

Connor Hilton Jennifer Carpenter

FRIENDSWOOD

The attorney representing Connor Hilton, charged with murder and aggravated assault in a weekend shooting, Thursday disputed claims Hiltons mother had provided a handgun the 17-year-old is accused of turning on two other teenage boys.

Connors mother did not purchase a gun for him, Jennifer JL Carpenter, who practices in Friendswood, said in an email statement.

Providing or allowing a minor access to a handgun can be a crime in Texas, and questions about whether Johnece Hilton had done so arose from statements attributed to her son in a sworn police affidavit released Wednesday.

Hilton is alleged to have told investigators he had a handgun he talked his mother into buying for him and that he wanted the gun with intent of shooting someone and/or himself, according to the affidavit.

Carpenter late Wednesday filed a legal motion to suppress any statements her client might have made just after two teenage boys were gravely wounded, according to court documents.

The motion asks Judge Kerry Neves of the 10th District Court to instruct prosecutors not to mention, allude to, or refer to the fact Hilton may have made statements to law officers immediately after he was detained or arrested, according to court records.

The motion seeks to muffle talk about statements until after a hearing to determine whether they are admissible as testimony, according to court records.

Also Thursday, Carpenter issued a statement on behalf of the Hilton family.

The parents of Connor Hilton cannot express enough 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, the statement reads.

The Hilton family wants to thank everyone who has reached out in love and support, including all who sent positive comments about Connors character and good nature in general.

The family asks for continued prayers for everyone affected, especially the victims families.

Hilton remained jailed without bond Thursday in connection to the death of Ethan Riley, 18, and with the shooting of Benjamin Bliek, who, according to public records, turned 20 years old Wednesday and was still alive and hospitalized Thursday afternoon, according to the Galveston County District Attorneys Office.

The two were shot inside a two-story home in the 1800 block of La Salle Street where the Hilton family resides just before 9 p.m. Saturday, according to case records and police statements.

The case began with a call to Friendswood police from an unnamed white male hiding in a bathroom at the La Salle Street house after hearing two gunshots, according to the affidavit.

Officers who arrived less than two minutes after the call found Hilton sitting on the curb in front of the house talking to an unidentified woman, according the affidavit.

A Friendswood police sergeant approached Hilton, who was visibly distraught, and asked if anyone was hurt.

Hilton responded by nodding his head indicating yes and was asked who was hurt, according to the affidavit.

Hilton held up his hand with two fingers extended, motioned towards the residence, and stated that there were two teenagers inside that Hilton believed to be deceased.

Officers entering the house first found Riley on the floor clad in black shorts and a black T-shirt and blood pooling under his head, according to the affidavit.

He was transported to HCA Clear Lake Hospital, where he later died, according to police.

Farther back in the house, an officer found Bliek also suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

He was transported to the University of Texas Medical Branch Clear Lake Hospital, where he was in critical condition.

Officers found a gray-metal revolver with teal grips inside the house, according to the affidavit.

In custody, Hilton told investigators that hed thought about, and wanted to commit a homicide for a long time, according to the affidavit.

There had been no disturbance or disagreement between him and Riley, Bliek and a witness whose identity is redacted in the court document, Hilton told investigators.

He had been showing the gun to the others and decided to shoot them, according to the affidavit.

Hilton stated that he stood up, raised the gun, and shot Riley first in the left side of the head, according to the affidavit.

He then turned to his right and shot Bliek in the left side of the head.

Hilton was specific, stating that Bliek raised his hands in a defensive manner when Hilton shot him.

The Friendswood Police Department had disclosed all the information about the case it will be releasing, a city spokeswoman said Thursday.

Carpenter said her office would issue updates as the case progressed.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2023.
Xiaomi Teams Up with Blinkit for Swift Tech Deliveries in Minutes News -Kuldeep Singh

In a bid to enhance its rapid delivery services, Xiaomi, the tech giant with a robust customer base in India, has forged a partnership with Blinkit, the Zomato-owned instant grocery delivery platform.

This collaboration aims to facilitate the swift delivery of Xiaomi products, ranging from smartphones and smart TVs to power banks and grooming kits, within an impressive 10-minute timeframe.

Xiaomi and Blinkit Unveil Swift Tech Access

Xiaomi recently made a noteworthy announcement via its social media platform, X, proclaiming its partnership with Blinkit. The collaboration promises "ultra-fast delivery" with the tagline, "Experience the thrill of getting your favorite products in just 10 minutes!"

A Glimpse into the Blinkit Catalog

Blinkit currently showcases 11 different Xiaomi products available for order, including the popular 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh power banks, data cables, Xiaomi Grooming Kit, 33W SonicCharge 2.0 fast charger with cable, and the Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer.

Navigating Blinkit for Xiaomi Products

While the official announcement does not provide a comprehensive list of Indian cities covered by the Blinkit delivery service, interested customers can check product availability in their specific area by visiting the Blinkit website or application. Despite the ambitious 10-minute delivery claim, actual delivery times may vary based on location and the time of day when the order is placed.

Xiaomi's History with Blinkit

This isn't the first collaboration between Xiaomi and Blinkit. Previously, the two companies joined forces for the expedited delivery of air purifiers in Delhi NCR. During that initiative, delivery was limited to New Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram. Users are advised to compare prices between Blinkit and other platforms before placing orders to ensure they secure the best deal on Xiaomi tech products.

FAQ's What products from Xiaomi can be delivered through Blinkit? The products available from Xiaomi on Blinkit include 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh power banks, data cables, Xiaomi Grooming Kit, 33W SonicCharge 2.0 fast charger with cable, Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer, Xiaomi Trimmer 2C, Mi Air Purifier 3 with True HEPA Filter, and Xiaomi 4 Lite Air Purifier.

What is the expected delivery time for Xiaomi products ordered through Blinkit? Customers can expect to receive their favorite Xiaomi products within 10 minutes of placing the order on Blinkit, although actual delivery time could vary based on the area and time of order.

Can I check the availability of Xiaomi products on Blinkit for my area? Yes, you can check the availability of Xiaomi products in your area by visiting the Blinkit website or application and searching for Xiaomi products.

Have Xiaomi and Blinkit partnered before for deliveries? Yes, Xiaomi has previously partnered with Blinkit for the delivery of air purifiers in Delhi NCR last year.

Should customers compare prices of Xiaomi's tech products on Blinkit with other platforms? Ideally, customers should compare the prices of Xiaomi's tech products between Blinkit and other platforms before placing an order to see if there is any price difference.

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Reliance Jio Teams Up with IIT-Bombay to Develop 'BharatGPT' News -Rohit Agrawal

Reliance Jio, recognized for revolutionizing the Indian telecommunications and streaming landscapes, is now poised to make significant strides into the realm of artificial intelligence.

In an exciting development, Jio has announced that it will launch its new AI project, Bharat GPT, a joint venture with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.

Akash Ambani Unveils Bharat GPT at IIT Bombay Techfest

At the annual Techfest of IIT Bombay, Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani, accompanied by his father Mukesh Ambani, made the grand announcement of Bharat GPT. As the largest telecom service provider in the country, Jio's foray into AI signifies a major strategic move.

Akash Ambani emphasized the company's commitment to integrating AI technology throughout the entirety of the firm's operations. "We are working very hard to launch AI not only as a vertical inside our organization but horizontally across all our sectors," he stated, highlighting the transformative potential of AI across diverse sectors of society.

The Future Landscape Shaped by Bharat GPT

Bharat GPT is set to redefine the technological landscape, as Jio plans to implement this AI project across the company's various segments. According to Ambani, the next decade will be dominated by large-language models and generative AI. Ambani's vision for Bharat GPT includes launching new initiatives in media, commerce, communications, and devices.

Furthermore, Jio is on the cusp of introducing its proprietary operating system for televisions. Ambani revealed ongoing efforts towards launching their own TV OS, which promises to encapsulate comprehensive AI integration for an enhanced user experience. The anticipation builds as the industry awaits the official timeline for Bharat GPT's release, expected to be disclosed by Jio early in 2024.

The Impending Launch of Jio 2.0 and Bharat GPT's Role

In a tantalizing hint, Ambani also mentioned the advent of Jio 2.0, sparking curiosity about the next evolution of Jio's offerings. Expected to be a powerhouse driven by AI, Bharat GPT is envisioned to serve as the intelligent core for Jio telecom products. The AI's capability to understand voice commands and interpret gestures aims to reduce human effort in operating devices and streamline Jio's user interface across platforms. This marks a significant leap towards creating a more intuitive and seamless experience for Jio's vast customer base.

As Reliance Jio collaborates with IIT Bombay to venture into the AI domain with Bharat GPT, the innovation potential is immense.

FAQ's What is Bharat GPT and which companies are involved in its creation? Bharat GPT is a new AI project launched by Reliance Jio in a joint venture with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.

Who announced the launch of Bharat GPT at the IIT Bombay's annual Techfest? The launch of Bharat GPT at the IIT Bombay's annual Techfest was announced by Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani, accompanied by his father Mukesh Ambani.

What is the anticipated impact of Bharat GPT according to Reliance Jio? Bharat GPT is expected to redefine the technological landscape and transform the technological fabric of the nation by integrating AI technology across various sectors.

What are the areas where Jio plans to implement the AI technology from Bharat GPT? Jio plans to implement Bharat GPT's AI technology in media, commerce, communications, devices, and is also introducing its proprietary operating system for televisions.

When can we expect the official timeline for Bharat GPT's release to be disclosed by Jio? The official timeline for Bharat GPT's release is expected to be disclosed by Jio early in 2024.

Best Mobiles in India
Israel has repeatedly said that one of the chief goals of the war is the return of the hostages abducted by Hamas
This screenshot from surveillance video shows U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert being escorted out of Denvers Buell Theatre in September allegedly for being too loud, vaping and taking pictures with her cell phone. The man with the drink was with her, while the other man pictured was one of several theater employees who escorted the two out. Boeberts actions have led to several GOP endorsements for GJ attorney Jeff Hurd. Boebert on Wednesday announced she will seek election in the 4th Congressional District, not the 3rd CD.
Thu Thursday

33 /13

Snow showers in the morning. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low teens.
Journalists, Government Critics in India Targeted With Pegasus Spyware

By VOA News December 28, 2023

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 A Cearbhaill, who heads Amnesty International's Security Lab, said in a statement.

A 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 A 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," A 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.

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Minister Sikorski's call with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

27.12.2023

Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski spoke today by phone with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. The most important topics included prospects for economic and political cooperation between Poland and the UAE, and the security situation in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski expressed satisfaction with the very good state of bilateral relations, as evidenced by strong economic cooperation. The ministers agreed about the need to further enhance political relations, including through high-level visits in the near future.

The two also raised the escalating conflict in the Middle East and its impacts on international security. Minister Sikorski emphasised that Poland supports building a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine by means of diplomacy.

Speaking about Ukraine in the context of his recent travel to Kyiv, Poland's top diplomat said that the situation there remains very difficult, which is why it is crucial to sustain international support for the country.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manalo

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

December 27, 2023

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo about issues of mutual concern, including ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. Secretary Blinken underscored the United States' ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty. Secretary Blinken and Secretary Manalo also exchanged ideas on how to reinforce U.S.-Philippines cooperation in the coming year, building on President Marcos's official working visit to Washington, D.C., this past May.

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December 28, 2023

DOD News

Sexual Assault Now Tried Outside Military Chain of Command

Beginning today, the decision to prosecute sexual assault and several other serious crimes has moved from an accused service member's chain of command to new Offices of Special Trial Counsel, which have general or flag officer leaders who report directly to the secretaries of the military departments.

This military justice reform is an important step in restoring faith that the system is fair, just and equitable, said senior Defense Department and military officials, who emphasized that the offices will be staffed by specially trained, independent military attorneys uniquely qualified to address complex cases. The OSTCs will handle cases professionally, applying the best practices and procedures of civilian prosecution offices, a senior DOD official said.

The covered offenses that fall under the authority of the new OSTCs include: murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography and most sexual assault and sexual misconduct.

Sexual harassment will become a covered offense on Jan. 1, 2025, for crimes committed after that date where a formal complaint is made and substantiated.

In the case of sexual assault, the reform applies to unrestricted reports. A service member making an unrestricted report has decided to participate in a criminal investigation and support actions taken to hold the alleged offender appropriately accountable. Individualized, confidential help is available to understand these changes from special victims' counsel in the Army; victims' counsel in the Department of the Air Force; and victims' legal counsel in the Navy and Marine Corps. Sexual assault response coordinators can assist in contacting the attorneys and other assistance services.

Service members filing a restricted report of sexual assault may continue to report allegations confidentially without triggering an investigation, while still connecting with medical, legal and advocacy services and submitting information to the CATCH a Serial Offender Program, if they choose.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has placed an unprecedented priority on countering the scourge of sexual assault in the military. This led him to stand up the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military early in his tenure. The reforms grew out of the commission's recommendations. After considering the commission's recommendations, DOD proposed historic military justice reforms, leading to congressional passage and presidential approval of the new system that takes effect today.

Improving accountability through military justice reform is just one of several, crucial lines of effort that DOD is undertaking.

"We are also taking major steps in the areas of prevention, climate, culture and victim care," a senior DOD official said.

"It is only with this comprehensive approach that we can prevent these crimes and work to restore the trust and confidence of our service members," said the DOD official.

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Chinese Defense Ministry vows measures against US-backed Philippine provocations

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 28, 2023 09:09 PM

The Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday vowed not to turn a blind eye toward the Philippines' repeated provocations and harassment, and demanded that the US immediately stop interfering in the South China Sea issue.

Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian made the statements at a regular press conference on Thursday when asked to comment on remarks from the Philippines that the China Coast Guard (CCG) used water cannons to attack and rammed Philippine vessels near Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), and used long-range sonic devices and military-grade lasers against Philippine crew members.

Wu denied the Philippine hype, reiterating that it was the Philippine side that disregarded repeated warnings from the Chinese side, insisted on sending vessels to intrude into the adjacent waters of China's Ren'ai Jiao, and provocatively rammed a China Coast Guard vessel and caused a scratch.

The CCG took necessary enforcement measures in accordance with law, which were totally justified and legitimate, Wu said, adding that China has no intention or necessity to use the so-called sonic or laser weapon.

Wu noted that the Philippine side had claimed to be carrying humanitarian supplies, but the supply vessels were actually carrying journalists and they propagated disinformation.

"In my view, these are not humanitarian supplies at all, it is deliberately creating an incident, playing victim and putting on a show in the guise of humanitarian supplies," Wu said.

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 toward the Philippines' repeated provocations and harassment, the spokesperson said.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that the CCG's measures including the use of water cannons were very restrained, as they are defensive, not aggressive.

But China's restraint is based on the premise that it must safeguard its rights and interests, which must not be challenged or doubted, Chen said.

At the Defense Ministry press conference, Wu also slammed the US' groundless criticism of China's safeguarding of legitimate rights, saying that the US incited the Philippines' provocations for its own selfish interests and attempted to use the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to threaten China. "This does not work on China," he said.

The Ren'ai Jiao issue is between China and the Philippines, and has nothing to do with any third party, Wu said, demanding that the US immediately stop interfering in the South China Sea issue, stop inciting the Philippines' infringing provocations, and safeguard regional peace and stability through action.

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Iranian FM: Hamas' Operation Al-Aqsa Storm "independent decision"

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 28, 2023

Qom, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has clearly announced that Iran supports resistance groups that fight against global arrogance and play a constructive role in ensuring the security of the Middle East but added that Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was a completely independent Hamas decision and action.

Referring to the confirmed documents for the Zionist regime's internal collapse, Amirabdollahian said on Thursday that the Zionist regime has faced internal collapse while the US and the West have been fully supporting the regime in atrocities in the Gaza enclave for 80 days.

The Zionist regime has not achieved any of its goals such as destruction or disarmament of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, the top Iranian diplomat said, adding that the Zionist regime's raids on Gaza for 80 days have resulted in nothing but genocide.

He underlined that today, the Palestinian resistance movement has reached a level of capability that the horrific bombings of the Zionist regime have not been able to hamper this capability.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Amirabdollahian referred to the capabilities of resistance movements in the region including Yemen's Ansarullah, noting that in the recent Gaza war, the Houthis have established a new legal regime in the Red Sea in preventing the crossing of vessels headed to Israeli ports.

Backed by the US, the Zionist regime 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.

3266**9417

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US-led coalition in Red Sea lacking legitimacy: Ansarullah

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 28, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Yemen's Ansarullah movement has pointed to the confusion of states forced to join the US-led maritime coalition in the Red Sea, noting that the confusion has its roots in a lack of legitimacy.

According to Elnashra electronic newspaper, spokesperson for the Ansarullah movement Mohammed Abdul-Salam declared that international waterways are safe and stable and that hundreds of vessels pass through the Red Sea on a daily basis.

Certain states' confusion comes from the belief that these countries have been pushed by the United States to join the maritime coalition and they are aware that the coalition is not legitimate, he said.

He went on to say that the Yemeni Navy communicates regularly with all vessels, but the US is attempting to provoke some countries to join this coalition with the aim of protecting the Israeli regime; however, Yemen is in contact with countries that have confirmed they do not join the coalition, and some countries have also informed Sanaa that their presence in the coalition is limited to dispatching officers.

The officials of Yemen's armed forces held talks on the combat readiness of ground, naval, and air units of the Arab country in the face of any threat.

Yemen's Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi stated that the Yemenis are ready to inflict the hardest blows upon the enemies if they continue their crimes and siege against the Palestinian people or intend to threaten the security and sovereignty of Yemen.

4208**2050

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PM Netanyahu: "We are holding contacts at this very moment. We will not give up on anyone."

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

28.12.2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, met with representatives of families of the hostages. The meeting was continued by the Prime Minister's wife Sara and Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch.

Prime Minister Netanyahu at the start of the meeting:

"We are holding contacts at this very moment. I cannot detail the status. We are working to return them all. This is our goal."

The Prime Minister heard from the families about the situation of their loved ones and their questions in the context of existing information and what is being done in order to advance the release of all of the hostages.

Sara Netanyahu to the representatives of the families:

"As a mother and a child psychologist, I understand the impossible situation you are in, and the considerable support that you need, emotionally as well. We are all with you in order to help however we can.

I sent letters to the wives of 33 world leaders and I requested that they pressure the Red Cross, and an additional letter to the Pope. Hamas has committed crimes against humanity. We are all praying for the well-being of our hostages their quick and safe return home."

The representatives of 28 families of hostages attended the meeting, which was part of a series of meetings with family members.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, and Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch.

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The United States and Baltics sign bilateral defence cooperation road maps for the next five years

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence

12/28/2023

International cooperation

Information prepared by

Media Relations Section

Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian defence officials travelled to Washington for the signing of bilateral road maps for defence cooperation with the United States of America for the next five years.

Bilateral defence cooperation road maps define bilateral defence cooperation and national security areas that will be covered until 2028. Rad maps detail joint activities aimed at strengthening US and Baltic military capabilities and interoperability on bilateral basis.

Stronger NATO deterrence posture and capabilities required to face any regional threats emanating from potential aggressors are a priority of all three bilateral defence cooperation road maps.

Additionally, the agreements convey the Secretary of Defence's intention to provide heel-to-toe persistent rotational presence of US forces in each Baltic State.

Moreover, roadmaps promote defence cooperation in defence areas such as air and missile defence, information technologies and cybersecurity, international military operations, military infrastructure development and other fields.

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Latvia and the US sign an agreement on delivery of HIMARS high mobility artillery rocket systems

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence

12/28/2023

Capabilities

Information prepared by

Media Relations Sections

Ministry of Defence and US government have signed an agreement for purchase of six HIMARS high-mobility artillery rocket systems produced by a US manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

"The US and Latvia have signed an agreement on supply of HIMARS artillery rocket systems and ammunition. The total contractual amount will reach USD 179.8 million. National Armed Forces (NAF) will also receive long-range precision rockets ATACMS that will further enhance firepower of NAF. This is another important step towards stronger strategic partnership between the United States and Latvia, which will also contribute to development of NATO's collective defence capabilities," Defence Minister Andris Spruds underlined.

"I am confident HIMARS systems will be crucial in deterring aggression and ensuring national defence of Latvia. It will send a clear signal to all potential aggressors that the United States and Latvia will stand by joint commitment to defend every square inch of NATO's territory," US Ambassador Christopher Robinson underlined.

HIMARS is a high-precision artillery rocket system with a proven range of up to 300 kilometres. It uses ATACMS rockets that will also be supplied in scope of the agreement. In addition, NAF will also receive relevant training, ammunition and other equipment required to make full use of HIMARS functionality for the benefit of Latvia's defence.

Decision to acquire HIMARS was inter alia based on strategic use of HIMARS artillery systems during Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It is envisaged that the delivery of HIMARS high mobility rocket systems to Latvia will begin in 2027.

This year Latvia started an unprecedented defence investment programme to strengthen its capabilities, including procurement of IRIS-T air defence systems and Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence Systems.

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Pakistan Condemns Banning of a Kashmiri Political Party

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan condemns the decision of the Indian occupation authorities to declare the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarrat Alam faction) [MLJK-MA] as an "unlawful association", for a period of five years.

The party is led by a prominent Kashmiri leader, Mr. Masarrat Alam Bhatt, who remains imprisoned for last several years. The total period of his imprisonment exceeds 20 years.

The MLJK-MA is the fifth Kashmiri party banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front, 'Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir', 'Dukhtaraan-e-Millat', and Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party have already been outlawed. Their leadership is being relentlessly persecuted through prolonged detention and confiscation of properties. The Office of All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Srinagar was also sealed, early this year.

Banning of the political parties and persecution of their leadership manifest a desire to stifle dissent in sheer disregard of democratic norms and international human rights and humanitarian law. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently rejected India's harsh tactics aimed at consolidating its occupation. These actions blatantly violate foundational principles of the United Nations Charter, which affirm fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir including the right to self-determination.

India should immediately lift the curbs on the banned political parties in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK); release all the political prisoners and dissenters; and implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

Islamabad

28 December 2023

236/2023

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Strategic Communications Workshop on the West Philippine Sea Empowers Foreign Service Officers

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

MANILA 28 December 2023 -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) and the Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy (OPCD) held a Strategic Communications Workshop last 13 to 15 December 2023 to enhance the government's competence in communicating the Philippine position on the South China Sea / West Philippine Sea.

The three-day program, co-organized with the United Kingdom's Government Communications Services International (GCSI), brought together foreign service officers from 14 foreign service posts and a diverse group of participants from various DFA offices and other government agencies. Leveraging the varied expertise of resource persons, reactors, and of communication professionals from the GCSI, the event trained participants on various approaches and methods to develop the country's communications strategy in effectively countering false narratives and misinformation and to foster a deeper understanding of best practices in communication.

The workshop covered a range of topics with participants learning how to develop communication plans. The program also included substantive discussions on subjects such as the promotion of the rules-based international order, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Arbitral Award of 2016, historical perspectives of the Philippines' maritime entitlements, the environmental impact of aggressive and unilateral activities, and the social impact of such activities on coastal communities.

In her remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary Elena Maningat stressed that, "It is critical to have clear, timely, and persuasive messaging, and the communication plans to convey these messages, not just to refute disinformation but also to express the Philippines' positions with more assertiveness and accuracy." END

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Statement on the Highlights of the Call Between the Secretary and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 28 December 2023

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

28 December 2023 -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken today by telephone.

Secretary Manalo reaffirmed the Philippines' abiding interest to protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, while maintaining peace and security and upholding the rules-based international order. Secretary Manalo emphasized the importance of dialogue and maintaining open lines of communication with other parties in pursuit of these objectives.

Secretary Manalo and Secretary Blinken acknowledged the robust Philippines-United States alliance and bilateral relations, as well as discussed important opportunities for further strengthening cooperation in 2024. END

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US imposes sanctions on Yemen after military threat falls flat

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 7:19 PM

The US has targeted a number of individuals and entities for allegedly helping the flow of financial assistance to Yemen after failing to build a coalition against the country and deter it with military threats.

Yemen has lately come on the US radar for hostile measures after seeing the country's armed forces intercept or target Israeli ships or vessels bound for Israeli ports in the Red Sea in a bid to deter Tel Aviv from its ongoing genocide in Gaza.

According to a US Treasury statement released on Thursday, the head of the Currency Exchangers Association in Sana'a and three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey are designated for sanctions.

Those targeted were responsible for "facilitating the flow of financial assistance" to Yemen's National Salvation Government and the country's Ansarullah movement, it said.

The sanctions freeze any US assets belonging to the targeted entities and generally prohibit Americans from doing business with them.

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson accused Ansarullah of conducting dangerous attacks on international shipping and destabilizing the region.

"The United States, along with our allies and partners, will continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities" of Ansarullah, it added.

In recent weeks, a series of seaborne strikes attributed to the Yemeni forces have been conducted in solidarity with the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Yemen has already warned it will prevent the passage of all ships in the Red Sea bound to the occupied territories.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a crucial waterway between Yemen and northeast Africa leading to the Red Sea, up to the Suez Canal and the Israeli port of Eilat. An estimated $1 trillion in goods pass through the strait annually.

The European Union earlier agreed to contribute to a US-led coalition against Yemeni armed forces. But in a major setback, France, Spain, and Italy later officially withdrew their participation from the controversial alliance.

The three nations have explicitly stated their commitment to operating exclusively under the command of international bodies such as the United Nations, NATO, or the European Union, choosing not to align with the United States.

The leader of Ansarullah recently said Yemen's armed forces will not hesitate to target US military warships in the Red Sea if Washington and its allies carry out military strikes against Yemen.

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since Tel Aviv launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has said Yemeni strikes against ships heading to Israel send a message to the West that they should stop the ongoing carnage or expect the crisis to expand across the region.

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Hamas condemns 'cowardly' Israeli assassination of Iranian advisor

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 6:47 PM

Hamas has strongly condemned Israel's assassination of a senior Iranian military advisor in the vicinity of the Sayyida Zeinab area in the countryside of Damascus.

"The assassination of General Razi Mousavi by the Zionist enemy in Syria is a cowardly crime and aggression, as well as a violation of the sovereignty of an Arab country," it said in a statement on Thursday.

"We offer our condolences to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and emphasize that the enemy's crimes inside and outside Palestine will not succeed in breaking the will of our people and nation and suppressing our resistance," it added.

The IRGC said in a statement on Monday that Gen. Mousavi was assassinated in an Israeli "missile attack." Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi issued a message the same day, warning that Israel "will certainly pay for this crime."

Another Gaza-based resistance group, Islamic Jihad, has pledged that Israel should await a decisive response to its "cowardly" assassination of Gen. Mousavi.

In a statement, Islamic Jihad said the general had played a pivotal role in supporting regional resistance forces as well as the Palestinian nation, resistance, and cause.

"The occupying regime's dirty assassination operation proves once again that this criminal regime contaminates the entire region and its only job is to shed blood and spread murder and crimes," it added.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has said Mousavi's assassination had been carried out with "direct coordination and participation of the US and the West".

"This crime will have no result other than escalating attacks by the resistance against the Zionist regime and its mercenaries in the region," it said in a statement.

"We will never allow the occupying, criminal and cowardly enemy to feel safe and stable in the region. It must always live in terror and panic and await the next response," it added.

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Dec. 27: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 3:37 PM

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 27, Wednesday, are as follows:

Qassam Brigades' operations on Dec. 27:

 Targeted 4 military bulldozers and a Merkava tank north of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

 Targeted a tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell east of Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

 Damaged a troop carrier with an Al-Yassin 105 shell east of Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

 Targeted 2 concentrations of Israeli vehicles and soldiers north of Khan Yunis with heavy-caliber mortar shells.

 Targeted a tank and troop carrier north of Khan Yunis with Al-Yassin 105 shells.

 Targeted 7 vehicles with Al-Yassin 105 shells in the Jabalia Al-Balad area, leaving a number of soldiers dead and wounded.

 Targeted concentrations east of Bureij in the central Gaza Strip with heavy-caliber mortar shells.

 Targeted a special force barricaded in a house on Old Gaza Street in the Jabalia Al-Balad area for the first time with an RPO-A anti-bunker missile launcher, which led to the killing and wounding of all the soldiers holed up in the house.

 Targeted a helicopter with a SAM-18 missile in the Al-Saftawi area, north of Gaza City.

 Sniped a soldier east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

 Confronted soldiers and vehicles in Shujaiya.

 Clashed with forces penetrating Al-Saftawi area for 6 hours using machine guns, Al-Yassin 105 shells, "Shuath" anti-armor explosives, and "TBG" anti-fortified shells. A. helicopter intervened to rescue them.

 Targeted 2 tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells in the Abu Shabak axis, west of the Jabalia Al-Balad area, north of the Gaza.

 Targeted a helicopter with a SAM-18 missile east of Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah's operations on Dec. 27:

Eastern sector:

1- At 13:15, missile and artillery attack on the newly established Israeli site in Shebaa, confirmed casualties.

2- At 16:30, the settlement of Kiryat Shmona was targeted with thirty Katyusha rockets.

Western sector:

1- At 10:00, Ras Naqoura naval site was targeted with appropriate weapons.

2- At 12:00, a tent of a special force in the Israeli army, south of the Al-Dhahira site, was targeted, confirmed casualties.

3- At 12:15, the Hadab Al-Bustan site was targeted with appropriate weapons.

4- At 1:00 p.m., the site of Khirbet Maar, was targeted with Burkan missiles, causing casualties.

Iraqi resistance's operations on Dec. 27:

Launched a drone strike against a US military base near Erbil Airport, northern Iraq, and reaffirmed its commitment "to strike the enemy's strongholds."

Targeted a US military base in Iraq's western province of Anbar with a rocket

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Hamas tells Iran it can confront Israel in Gaza for months

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 1:24 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Hamas has informed the Islamic Republic that it has sufficient capabilities to continue the confrontation with Israel in the besieged Gaza Strip for months.

Amir-Abollahian said in the holy city of Qom on Thursday that more than 80 days have passed since the war on Gaza, but "the Zionist regime has not achieved anything".

"According to Hamas commanders, only 14% of the resistance capacity has been damaged so far," the foreign minister said.

Amir-Adbollahian said the length of Hamas tunnels today is more than the area of Gaza, and drone manufacturing workshops have not been closed for even an hour since Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on Oct. 7.

"Hamas captured valuable security and military forces of the Zionist regime on the first day of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm," he added.

The minister touched on the rising popularity of the resistance, saying Hamas administers both Gaza and the war now.

"After the Al-Aqsa Storm, more than 70% of the people of Gaza took up arms and came to the battlefield," he said. "After breaking the wall, all the Palestinian youth and people came to the arena and defended their country."

"The Zionist regime", meanwhile, "has changed its goal in Gaza several times, but has failed," the minister said.

Amir-Abdollahian touched on all-out US support for the Israeli invasion of Gaza and Washington's repeated messages for Iran that it did not seek an expansion of the war, asking the Islamic Republic to help prevent a spillover of the war.

"At every stage, they were given a strong response and the establishment responded to them at the official level," he said.

"America is lying when it says it is not seeking to expand the war," he said, adding if the Americans were not looking to expand the war, they would not be delivering their equipment and weapons to Israel day and night.

"Today, American weapons are arriving in Tel Aviv from all the bases in the region without stop. In addition, some equipment also arrives directly from America in Cyprus and goes to Tel Aviv from Cyprus."

Also at the United Nations, a proposal was made to use Iran's relations with the resistance for post-war plans in Gaza, "but we declared that the Palestinian people should be the decision-makers themselves", he added.

Amir-Abollahian touched on the emergence of new powers in the world, citing resistance groups.

"The emerging powers do not mean only China's economy. Today, resistance has become a power," the minister said, referring to anti-US groups in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Amir-Abdollahian reserved his highest praise for the Yemenis and Lebanon's Hezbollah, saying they acted very bravely in this war.

"Today, Yemen has created a new legal regime in the Red Sea," the minister said, referring to the country's interception and targeting of Israeli ships and vessels bound for Israeli ports in Bab el-Mandeb.

"Today, the leaders of the resistance have reached a high level of foresight and understanding and have shown this in the recent war," he added.

Amir-Abdollahian also underlined "many measures taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran in creating the Axis of Resistance to ensure security in the region".

"Today there is no need for the Islamic Republic to take any action," he said.

The developments are part of evolving concepts and mechanisms in the world, where the US hegemony is on the wane.

"One development is that the exercise of American hegemonic power is weakening day by day. Today, a resistance group has destroyed the army that considered itself the third military power in the world," he said.

"Today, in the White House, the issue is raised as to why support for Israel is to such an extent that Israel's defeat is considered America's defeat."

Amir-Abdollahian touched on another positive development, saying after normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran has commenced fence-mending with Egypt.

"The recent contact between the Iranian and Egyptian presidents was in this context," he said, referring to the first phone call between Ebrahim Raeisi and Fattah el-Sisi to discuss recent developments in Gaza and the prospect of restoring diplomatic ties between their two countries.

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UN asks Israel to 'end unlawful killings' of Palestinians in occupied West Bank

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 11:09 AM

The United Nations has asked Israel to "end unlawful killings" of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning that the human rights situation in the territory is rapidly deteriorating.

Since Israel's brutal war on the besieged Gaza Strip in early October, the Tel Aviv regime has also ramped up its violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

In a report released on Thursday, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights detailed the quickly worsening human rights situation in the West Bank, including East al-Quds, since October 7, when the regime's military began bombing Gaza.

The office strongly urged Tel Aviv to end its unlawful killings and settler violence against the Palestinian population in the occupied territory.

The report verified the deaths of 300 Palestinians from October 7 to December 27, including 79 children, in the occupied West Bank, including East al-Quds, adding that of these, at least 291 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces, eight were killed by Israeli settlers, and one Palestinian was killed either by Israeli security forces or settlers.

"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.

He further called for prosecution of both "instigators and perpetrators" behind settler attacks against Palestinians.

"The dehumanization of Palestinians that characterizes many of the settlers' actions is very disturbing and must cease immediately. Israeli authorities should strongly censure and prevent settler violence and prosecute both its instigators and perpetrators," the UN official 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 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," he stressed.

Turk also said that the intensity of the violence and repression in the territory is something that has not been seen in years.

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.

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Israeli forces raid West Bank money exchange offices, seize millions of dollars

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 10:43 AM

Israeli forces have attacked money exchange offices in the West Bank and confiscated $2.8 million, accusing them of transferring money to the Palestinian resistance movements Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

According to the Israeli Army Radio, around 10 million shekels ($2.8m) were seized by the Israeli forces in raids against nine shops in Ramallah, Jenin and Hebron on Thursday.

The shops are branches of five money exchange offices in the West Bank which Israeli war minister, Yoav Gallant, designated as "terror organizations" for allegedly transferring funds to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

In a post on social media platform X, the Israeli army shared a video of raiding a money exchange shop in the occupied West Bank and drilling into a safe there to confiscate funds.

The regime forces also confiscated documents, telephones and recording devices, and safes.

Twenty-one people were also kidnapped by Israeli forces overnight in the West Bank in connection with the alleged money transfer.

United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, warned in a recent report that the human rights situation in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem is 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," he said in a statement.

Violence has flared across the occupied West Bank, with more than 310 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or settlers since October 7, when the occupying regime launched a war against Gaza.

In the past few days, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed dozens of people in several refugee camps across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Six Palestinians were killed in an Israeli operation in a refugee camp in the northern West Bank on Wednesday.

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Azerbaijan-Armenia peace will serve interests of all regional countries: Iran foreign minister

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 7:57 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the establishment of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia will serve the interests of all countries in the region.

In a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on Wednesday, Amir-Abdollahian welcomed an agreement by Azerbaijan and Armenia to solve their existing disputes.

He added that regional countries have the capacity to settle their differences on their own and help establish peace and stability in the region, warning that the presence of extra-regional powers would further complicate the situation in the region.

The top Iranian diplomat stressed the importance of making use of the regional countries' capacities, including the 3+3 format of cooperation, to promote peace and guarantee the peace agreement in the Caucasus region.

The 3+3 format features the three South Caucasus countries of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan plus Russia, Turkey, 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.

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.

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.

Elsewhere in the meeting, the foreign minister said Iran's foreign policy attaches importance to improvement of relations with neighboring countries, including Armenia.

Tehran and Yerevan enjoy positive and growing relations, but they should accelerate the implementation of the agreements already reached between the two sides, particularly in the economic fields, Amir-Abdollahian added.

The Armenian premier, for his part, hailed developing mutual relations and called for preparing the ground for the expansion of ties.

Pashinyan commended Iran's principled stance on regional developments which would help establish sustainable peace in the Caucasus.

Iran and Armenia should make all the necessary preparations for boosting trade exchanges, he emphasized.

Iran, Armenia eye increasing trade exchange to $3bn: Amir-Abdollahian

In a meeting with Armenia's Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan on Wednesday, Amir-Abdollahian said the two countries are expanding relations but should make further efforts to increase the value of trade exchanges to 3 billion dollars.

He added that Iran's principled and fixed policy is based on safeguarding international borders and respecting the countries' territorial integrity.

Regional issues must be solved by the countries in the region, the top Iranian diplomat pointed out.

Grigoryan said his country enjoys the highest level of dynamic relations with Iran and hailed Tehran's support for Armenia's territorial integrity.

Armenia is determined to further boost relations with Iran, he added.

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Iraqi resistance strikes 'vital Israeli target' in occupied Golan Heights

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 3:03 AM

Iraq's Islamic resistance has launched two separate attacks against Israeli targets in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and northern Iraq.

In a statement released in early Thursday morning, the group announced it conducted an operation against a "vital and key" target in the south of the Israeli regime's "Eliad" settlement in the occupied Golan.

Some reports said an Israeli drone base was targeted in the attack.

The resistance, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, said it carried out the attack using "appropriate weapons" in support of the Gaza Strip which has endured 82 days of an unrelenting Israeli genocidal war.

Israeli media, meanwhile, reported that a "kamikaze drone" had hit a building located in southern Golan.

Israel's Channel 12 claimed that if it was confirmed that the drone operation had originated from Syria, it would be the first time since the beginning of the Gaza war that such an attack has taken place.

The Iraqi group also said it targeted a "technical and spying center" belonging to the Israeli regime in the northeast of the city of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq.

The Iraqi anti-terror group has been attacking targets belonging to the Israeli regime and the United States since October 7, when Tel Aviv began the war on Gaza with unwavering military and political support from Washington.

The Israeli targets included the port of Eilat located in the southernmost part of the occupied Palestinian territories and the Karish gas field in the Mediterranean Sea.

Ever since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza, the Iraqi resistance has conducted more than 100 operations against American occupation forces in the region..

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Ansrullah: Intl. waterways secure except for ships bound for occupied territories

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 10:59 PM

Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement insists that the international waterways are secure for all passing vessels, except for Israeli ones or those heading towards the occupied territories.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, Ansarullah's spokesman, made the remarks to Euronews on Thursday.

"Sana'a explicitly stated that only Israeli ships, those heading to Israel, or affiliated vessels are targeted, while all other ships worldwide are not targeted," he noted.

The movement and Yemen's Armed Forces have been staging missile and drone attacks against vessels heading towards Israeli ports in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has come under an unrelenting genocidal Israeli war.

At least 21,110 people, mostly women and children, have been killed during the war, which the Israeli regime launched on October 7 following an operation staged by Gaza's resistance groups.

The Yemeni forces have vowed to keep up their strikes until the regime stops the war and lifts a concomitant siege that it has been enforcing on Gaza.

Abdul-Salam, meanwhile, commented on a naval coalition, which the United States recently announced forming with the aim of heading off the Yemeni attacks.

"The American coalition in the Red Sea is solely aimed at protecting Israel, failing to persuade the world of any risks in the Red Sea or the Arabian Sea," he said.

Washington, he added, had started exerting pressure on some shipping companies to stop transiting their vessels through the Red Sea as means of coercing some nations into joining the coalition.

"Yemen's blockade against the Zionist enemy is founded on religious, ethical, humanitarian, national, and patriotic principles," Abdul-Salam, meanwhile, remarked.

He said Sana'a "understands the consequences of this decision," adding, "Yet the gravest repercussions would result from abandoning the Palestinian cause" of liberation from Israeli occupation and aggression.

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Poll: Most Filipinos support stance of Marcos against China in sea dispute

The Philippine president's approval rating jumped 15 points in the poll held Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 from July.

By BenarNews staff 2023.12.28 -- 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 Manila's name for South China Sea waters within its exclusive economic zone.

The latest survey period coincided with reports of the Chinese Coast Guard's 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 Duterte's 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 Manila's 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 haven't 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 Beijing's 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.

Manila's 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 Manila's interest in protecting "its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction while maintaining peace and security and upholding the rules-based international order."

Blinken underscored Washington's "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 Marcos's 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.

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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Tibetans forced to celebrate Mao's 130th birthday

Chinese officials have spread propaganda showing 'poor, underprivileged' Tibetans before Mao's 1950 invasion.

By Lobsang Gelek for RFA Tibetan 2023.12.28 -- Chinese authorities in Tibet forced locals to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Mao Zedong's 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 Mao's birthday "to spread false information and distort facts about Tibet's 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 region's 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 it's true that Tibet has witnessed development since the Chinese first invaded the country, the fact remains that many of the world's free countries also underwent significant development over the same period, without the need for any 'peaceful liberation,'" they said.

Mao's 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 Tibet's romanized name to "Xizang" to further erode its independent identity.

17-point agreement

As part of its propaganda campaign on Mao's 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 Tibet's border.

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 Tibet's past - in particular Tibet's 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 Mao's 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.

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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Eighth Journalist Arrested In Azerbaijan Amid Media Crackdown

By RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service December 28, 2023

BAKU -- Azerbaijani authorities have arrested the eighth journalist since November amid what rights activists says is a crackdown on independent media.

Journalist Samo Eminov, who contributed to the Kanal 13 independent online television channel, was detained on December 22 on charges of alleged smuggling that supporters dismiss as trumped up.

His wife, Durdana Eminova, told RFE/RL on December 28 that a court in Baku had sent her husband to pretrial detention two days earlier for at least three months.

Eminov is among other journalists who worked for Kanal 13 to have been arrested in recent weeks. An editor of the television channel, Teymur Karimov, was arrested on December 12 on extortion charges that he and his supporters deny.

On December 2, police in Baku detained Kanal 13 presenter Rufat Muradli, who later was handed a 30-day jail term on charges of minor hooliganism and disobeying police orders.

Another editor of Kanal 13, Aziz Orucev, was arrested in late November on a charge of illegal property construction. He was later additionally charged with smuggling.

In late November, four journalists and editors of the Abzas Media independent investigative website -- Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinc Vaqifqizi, Mahammad Kekalov, and Nargiz Absalamova -- were arrested after police claimed they found 40,000 euros ($44,277) in cash in the offices of Abzas Media.

The four journalists were then charged with illegally smuggling foreign currency.

The journalists insist the case against them is trumped up in retaliation for reports about corruption among officials.

Critics of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's government say authorities in the oil-rich Caspian Sea state frequently seek to silence dissent by jailing opposition activists, journalists, and civil society advocates on trumped-up charges.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Without Borders have demanded Azerbaijani authorities immediately release the journalists and drop all charges against them.

Last month, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S., French, and German envoys to protest what it called "illegal financial operations" by organizations located in the three countries in support of Abzas Media.

Aliyev has ruled Azerbaijan with an iron fist since 2003, taking over from his father, Heydar Aliyev, who served as president for a decade.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-crackdown-independent- media-journalists-arrested/32750918.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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Romania, Bulgaria Agree Partial Schengen Entry With Austria

By RFE/RL's Romanian Service, RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service December 28, 2023

BUCHAREST/SOFIA -- Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join Europe's open-borders Schengen Area by air and sea from March 2024, with talks set to continue next year about land borders.

The Schengen zone comprises 27 European countries -- 23 EU member states plus non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland -- that have officially abolished passports and other types of border control at their common borders. Four EU members -- Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Ireland -- are not part of Schengen.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu welcomed the partial entry agreement. "From March, Romanians will benefit from Schengen advantages on air and sea routes," he said. "I am convinced that in 2024 we will finish negotiations for land borders as well."

"After long, complicated negotiations, we reached an agreement in principle with Austria on the admission of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area, initially for air and sea borders," Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov confirmed on December 28.

Austria opposed expanding the passport-free Schengen zone to Romania and Bulgaria at a meeting of European Union interior ministers a year ago, saying illegal immigration was still too high and that the two countries needed to do more to prevent it before joining. Austria had no objections to Croatia joining Schengen.

After they agreed tighter border security measures and won backing from other EU states, Austria partially relented, proposing entry in stages, a solution Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner referred to as "Air Schengen."

However, the partial entry is unlikely to calm public opinion in the two southeastern European EU members, since the bulk of foreign travel, including personal and truck transportation, is done through land borders.

Romanian officials also argued that Bucharest had met the technical criteria for border protection in 2011 and that Austria's opposition is meant to appease public opinion back home.

Millions of Romanians and Bulgarians work in Western Europe and many of them travel by car to and from their home countries for holidays. They face hours-long waiting times at the borders with Schengen countries, while trucks can spend days before being allowed to cross.

Austria's opposition sparked a public backlash last year in Romania, where there were calls to boycott Austrian businesses, such as Raiffaisenbank and OMV gas stations.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/romania-bulgaria-schengen-air- sea/32750680.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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Tajikistan Hands Prime Tract Of Land To President's Relative, Opponents Claim

By RFE/RL's Tajik Service December 28, 2023

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 president's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-rahmon-family-land- corruption/32751228.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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Hamas Says Hit Over 825 Units of Israeli Equipment Since Start of Gaza Ground Operation

Sputnik News

20231228

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

 Sputnik

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UN Urges Israel to 'End Unlawful Killings' in West Bank as Conditions 'Rapidly' Deteriorate

Sputnik News

20231228

Although Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip has received greater attention, the United Nations also cites numerous abuses in the occupied West Bank territory.

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.

"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," he added.

"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 Israel's 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:

"Some were stripped naked, blindfolded and restrained for long hours with handcuffs and with their legs tied, while Israeli soldiers stepped on their heads and backs, were spat at, slammed against walls, threatened, insulted, humiliated and in some cases subjected to sexual and gender-based violence."

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 Israel's 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 Israel's conduct.

 Sputnik

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Feature: From hopeless to hopeful: Six decades of Chinese medical teams bringing life-changing care to Africa

Xinhua) 16:21, December 29, 2023

Members of a Chinese medical team pose for a group photo with children of the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

China has partnered with 46 hospitals in 41 countries and regions in Africa, establishing 25 specialty medical centers and addressing various technical gaps.

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Youming, a Chinese gynecologist, once performed several surgeries in Algeria. She spent two and a half years there, helping bring newborns into the world.

When reflecting on her stay in Algeria, the elderly woman never forgets the herder in the area who went through a challenging childbirth that led to bleeding and shock.

But Zhang swiftly resolved the crisis. "You're the one I trust the most," the herder said after Zhang saved her.

The incident demonstrated strong trust between China and Algeria because of individuals like Zhang.

DESTINIES OF CHINA AND AFRICA INTERTWINED

Zhang was among the 13 members of the first batch of the Chinese medical team sent to Africa. In the early dawn of 1963, the team traveled for 10 days through Moscow, Belgrade and Rabat to finally arrive in Saida, Algeria.

Carrying the mission to resurrect Algeria's then-war-ravaged medical and health system, the team consisted of top-notch doctors from Beijing and Shanghai.

Xue Jin, a doctor from central China's Hubei Province, took up the baton from Zhang and worked there from 1965 to 1968. During this time, Xue recalled that only one doctor and nurse had returned from studying in France, leaving the team with a skeleton staff.

A member of a Chinese medical team examines a child's oral cavity at the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

Saida's natural environment was also harsh, with frequent sandstorms, drought and intense sunlight, making it difficult for vegetables to survive.

Despite the numerous challenges, Chinese doctors have persevered to save lives, treat illnesses, forge new friendships and promote goodwill throughout Africa.

Since the 1960s, China has dispatched about 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, primarily in Africa, and provided 290 million diagnoses and treatments, according to the National Health Commission of China.

A GLORIOUS MISSION

In the early morning of Oct. 11, Gao Lingling, a doctor from the 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team in Tanzania's Zanzibar, rushed to the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Unguja to attend to a patient with an abdominal infection, resulting in a purulent and split womb while her small intestine was exposed and swelling.

In preparation for the emergency surgery, the local doctor on duty told Gao that the patient was also infected with HIV. Together with Jiang Guoqing, the leader of the Chinese medical team and an expert in general surgery, they completed the operation.

Jiang continued to help complete the operation on the HIV-infected patient despite having a bruised finger on his right hand. It was the first time both Gao and Jiang had operated on an HIV-infected patient.

"The focus in a doctor's eyes can mean life or death for a patient. What may seem risky can save lives," said Yang Lingling, a member of the 16th Chinese medical team in Francistown, Botswana.

Besides the risks during surgery, Chinese medical teams in Africa also confront challenging natural environments and complex medical conditions.

"It's tough here compared to home. But our team members overcame all obstacles and quickly adapted, earning the respect of locals," said Su Yong, a team member in the Comoros.

Every day, they endured a 45-minute mountain trek to the hospital, sometimes through heavy rains, mudslides and landslides. The team persevered despite initial uncertainty, fueled by a determination to represent China and help others.

LOFTY CAUSE

China has partnered with 46 hospitals in 41 countries and regions, establishing 25 specialty medical centers and addressing various technical gaps.

Members of the 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team pose for a photo with local children after providing free medical services in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on Oct. 21, 2023. (China Medical Team/Handout via Xinhua)

At Djibouti's largest public hospital, Chinese doctors Zhou Naizhong and Lian Xinguang have set up the acupuncture department. They treat 20 to 40 patients daily with Chinese traditional medicine involving acupuncture and massage.

Because successive medical teams have popularized acupuncture and massage, awareness of traditional Chinese medicine in Djibouti is growing.

To benefit more people in Djibouti, the Chinese medical team in November 2022 carried out the country's first acupuncture and massage training courses and selected 13 medical personnel to participate in the program.

For 60 years, Chinese medical teams have had a long-lasting influence in these countries. A Chinese doctor performed surgery on a patient named Keddaoui Anurni to remove her ovarian cysts using minimal incisions. The procedure inspired the 14-year-old to pursue a career in medicine.

Chinese medical teams have shifted their focus from offering short-term aid to fostering sustainable medical development. Their efforts have saved countless lives, enhanced medical expertise in these nations and trained over 100,000 healthcare professionals, producing lasting outcomes.

As China and Africa work towards building a community with a shared future in the new era, including a global community of health for all, the Chinese doctors serving on aid missions in Africa have become shining exemplars in this lofty cause.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Maduro Orders 'Defensive' Military Drills After UK Deploys British Warship Off Guyana Coast

Sputnik News

20231228

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.

"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.

"From Venezuela, we ask the infamous failure David Cameron, foreign minister of the former imperial power of the United Kingdom, to take his hands off our Latin America and the Caribbean and to take care of his own affairs, which are very complicated," Gil wrote on social media.

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.

 Sputnik

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China Advocates Solving Red Sea Tensions Through Dialogue - Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20231228

BEIJING (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

"China has always stood for maintaining the security of international waterways, sought to address both symptoms and root causes, and advocated resolving pressing regional problems through dialogue, consultations and political means," Wu told a press briefing.

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.

 Sputnik

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Houthis Insist Riyadh Must Be Party to Yemen Settlement Strategy

Sputnik News

20231228

CAIRO (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

"Ansar Allah refuses to sign the proposed roadmap for the peace settlement in Yemen if Saudi Arabia is not one of the signing parties," the leader told Sputnik.

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.

 Sputnik

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Israeli Army Destroys Three Hamas Tunnel Shafts

Sputnik News

20231228

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had destroyed three tunnel shafts of Palestinian movement Hamas.

According to the statement, the Israeli army "located and destroyed" three Hamas tunnel shafts near Rantisi Hospital and in the nearby high school.

The statement specified that "an underground network running under the hospital and leading to the heart of Gaza City" connected the tunnel shafts. The IDF reported that the tunnels were also used as command and control centers.

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. 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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Countering Houthi Maritime Attacks

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

December 28, 2023

The United States is today designating one individual and three entities for facilitating Iranian financial assistance to the Houthis that enables attacks on international shipping and other destabilizing activities. Those designated today have facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of U.S.-designated Sa'id al-Jamal, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force-backed Houthi financial facilitator based in Iran.

The Houthis' continued attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have disrupted the free flow of commerce through the region and endangered innocent mariners. Since October, the Houthis have launched numerous missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at commercial vessels transiting near Yemen's coastline, in clear violation of international law.

The United States will continue to combat Iranian illicit financial support to the Houthis. We call on the international community to stand firmly against the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their Iranian backers.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force is a U.S.-designated entity. The Department of the Treasury action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224 , as amended. For more information on this designation, see Treasury's press release.

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Treasury Targets Network Financing Houthi Attacks on International Shipping

U.S. Department of the Treasury

December 28, 2023

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated one individual and three entities responsible for facilitating the flow of Iranian financial assistance to Houthi forces and their destabilizing activities. Among those designated today is the head of the Currency Exchangers Association in Sana'a, and three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkiye. These persons have facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of U.S.-designated Sa'id al-Jamal, who is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).

"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," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The United States, along with our allies and partners, will continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their backers in Iran."

The Houthis' continued attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have sharply curtailed the free flow of commerce through the region and represent a clear violation of international law. Since October, the Houthis have recklessly launched numerous missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at commercial vessels transiting near Yemen's coastline.

Today's action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority in Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. Sa'id al-Jamal was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007 for providing support to multiple terrorist groups.

EXCHANGE HOUSES FACILITATING IRANIAN SUPPORT FOR THE HOUTHIS

The Sa'id al-Jamal network relies on a web of exchange houses based throughout the Middle East to facilitate the movement of Iranian funds to Houthi-aligned financial firms in Yemen. These funds are ultimately transferred to the Houthis or affiliated businesses located throughout the region.

Turkiye-based Al Aman Kargo Ithalat Ihracat Ve Nakliyat Limited Sirketi (Al Aman) serves as a waypoint for money sent by the Houthis' Iranian financiers to the group's businesses in Yemen. The IRGC-QF has deposited millions of dollars into Al Aman for onward shipment to Yemen, where the funds are ultimately deposited into the accounts of Nabco Money Exchange and Remittance Co. (Nabco), a successor company to the U.S.-designated Al-Hadha Exchange Co. established after the U.S. sanctioned the exchange house.

Al Aman has similarly worked with U.S.-designated Yemeni exchange house AlAlamiyah Express Company for Exchange and Remittance (AlAlamiyah) to transfer funds from Turkiye on behalf of the Houthis and the Sa'id al-Jamal network. AlAlamiyah has moved tens of millions of dollars in support of Sa'id al-Jamal's efforts to fund the Houthis.

Nabco, led by Nabil Ali Ahmed Al-Hadha (Nabil Al-Hadha), the president of the Currency Exchangers Association in Houthi-controlled areas in Sanaa, serves as a financial intermediary to transfer funds to and from Yemen and has received millions of dollars in this fashion from the IRGC-QF on behalf of Sa'id al-Jamal's network. Millions of dollars have similarly passed through Nabil Al-Hadha's accounts in Turkiye, which are then deposited in Houthi-affiliated accounts in Yemen. These funds are then converted into Yemeni rials by Yemen-based, Houthi-run Al Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company (Al Rawda)in order to conceal this operation.

Sa'id al-Jamal has worked with Iranian officials to move money into accounts based at Al Rawda. Al Rawda itself has moved millions of dollars in Iranian financial support to Yemen via Turkiye on behalf of the Sa'id al-Jamal network. These funds are transferred abroad to Houthi-affiliated companies. Al Rawda simultaneously serves as an intermediary to transfer funds from the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Defense to the group's front line fighters.

Alalamiyah and Al-Hadha Exchange Co. were previously designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on February 23, 2022 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sa'id al-Jamal.

Nabco Money Exchange and Remittance Co. and Al Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sa'id al-Jamal. Nabil Ali Ahmed Al-Hadha is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, Nabco Money Exchange and Remittance Co.

Al Aman Kargo Ithalat Ihracat Ve Nakliyat Limited Sirketi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, AlAlamiyah Express Company for Exchange and Remittance.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today.

###

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UN rights chief warns of 'dehumanization' of Palestinians amid West Bank violence as Gaza crisis deepens

28 December 2023 - Bulldozers in refugee camps, detainees stripped naked and spat at, farmers robbed of their harvest: against the backdrop of the war in Gaza the situation in the occupied West Bank is "rapidly deteriorating" amid levels of violence not seen in years, UN rights chief Volker Turk warned on Thursday.

Commenting on a new report on the West Bank released by his office, OHCHR, Mr. Turk expressed concern at the use of military means and weapons by law enforcement, movement restrictions affecting Palestinians and a sharp rise in settler violence resulting in the displacement of herding communities.

"The dehumanization of Palestinians that characterizes many of the settlers' actions is very disturbing and must cease immediately," Mr. Turk said, calling on Israel to investigate the incidents, prosecute perpetrators and protect Palestinian communities against any form of forcible transfer.

'Deadliest year'

The UN rights chief said that the new reports of violations repeat patterns documented in the past but with a strengthened intensity. Since the start of Israel's bombing of Gaza in retaliation for Hamas' deadly terror attacks on 7 October, in the occupied West Bank OHCHR verified the deaths of 300 Palestinians including 79 children, the vast majority killed by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) while eight were killed by settlers.

Prior to 7 October, a record-high 200 Palestinians had already been killed in the West Bank this year. In its latest update UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA stressed that 2023 is "the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank" since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.

Violence against detainees

OHCHR's report notes 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" since 7 October. It also highlights the arrest of more than 4,700 Palestinians, including about 40 journalists, by ISF, "in most cases not linked to the commission of a criminal offence".

Some of the detainees were subjected to ill-treatment, the report says: "stripped naked, blindfolded and restrained for long hours with handcuffs and with their legs tied, while Israeli soldiers stepped on their heads and backs... spat at, slammed against walls". OHCHR's report recalls that on 31 October, Israeli media reported that "dozens of pictures and videoclips were published by Israeli soldiers depicting themselves abusing, degrading and humiliating Palestinians apprehended in the West Bank".

The report also documents cases of sexual and gender-based violence "including one detainee who was beaten in the genitals, forced nudity of several detainees as shown in videos, sexual slurs against one woman, ... two pregnant women threatened with rape while in detention, 'As Al-Qassam [the armed wing of Hamas who carried out the 7 October terror attacks] did with Israeli women'".

Settler attacks doubled

Settler violence against Palestinians has surged in the occupied West Bank, the report says, highlighting that between 7 October and 20 November, OCHA recorded 254 settler attacks at an average of six incidents per day, compared with three since the beginning of the year. These included shootings, burning of homes and vehicles and uprooting of trees, OHCHR said.

"In many incidents, settlers were accompanied by ISF, or were themselves wearing ISF uniforms, and carrying army rifles," the report said. The findings include armed settler attacks against Palestinians harvesting their olives, "forcing them to leave their land, stealing their harvest and poisoning or vandalizing their olive trees, depriving many Palestinians of a vital source of income".

The OHCHR report notes that after 7 October "ISF... reportedly distributed 8,000 army rifles to civilian 'settlements defence squads' and 'regional defence battalions' established to protect settlements in the West Bank" after many Israeli troops were redeployed to Gaza.

Mr. Turk deplored the "continued lack of accountability for settler and ISF violence" and urged Israel to grant his Office access to the country, adding that "it was ready to report similarly on the 7 October attacks".

Gaza death toll rises

Meanwhile in Gaza, the latest death toll as of midnight on Thursday stood at 21,110 according to the Strip's health authorities with over 55,243 Palestinians injured in the enclave.

OCHA reported that heavy Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea, continued across most of the territory on Wednesday while Palestinian armed groups continued firing rockets into Israel.

According to the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) 1.9 million people in Gaza, or nearly 85 per cent of the population, are estimated to be internally displaced, many repeatedly. On Thursday the agency stressed that new Israeli evacuation orders in Middle Gaza are exacerbating displacement as "over 150,000 people - young children, women carrying babies, people with disabilities and the elderly - have nowhere to go".

'Public health disaster'

OCHA noted that the lack of food and basic essentials as well as poor hygiene are making the "already dire living conditions" of displaced people even worse and fuelling disease.

UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths wrote on social platform X that while infectious diseases are spreading fast in overcrowded shelters, "hospitals are barely functioning" and hundreds of people with war injuries are deprived of care.

"Gaza is a public health disaster in the making," he warned.

Hospital aid deliveries

According to UN health agency WHO as of Wednesday only 13 hospitals in Gaza were partially functional. WHO noted that four of them in the north face shortages of medical staff and supplies including anaesthesia and antibiotics, as well as fuel, food and drinking water, while those in the south are at three times their capacity.

Earlier this week WHO teams with partners delivered essential supplies to two hospitals, Al-Shifa in the north and Al-Amal Palestine Red Crescent Society in the south. The UN health agency said that its staff witnessed "intense" fighting near the facilities and high patient loads. According to Gaza's health authorities, occupancy rates are reaching 206 per cent in inpatient departments and 250 per cent in intensive care units, while tens of thousands of displaced people seek refuge at the facilities.

'Hunger and desperation'

WHO reiterated that hungry people stopped its convoys on Tuesday "in the hope of finding food" and stressed that its 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".

While UN Security Council resolution 2070 adopted last week called for immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to Palestinian civilians throughout the Gaza Strip, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that "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," Tedros said.

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UNRWA Situation Report #57 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information from December 24- 27 December is valid as of 27 December 2023 at 22:30)

UNRWA

28 Dec 2023

Days 78-82 of Hostilities

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

Telecommunications and internet services continued to be disrupted from 24- 26 December, with intermittent resumption of services. The frequent disruption in communications poses additional challenges to humanitarian operations.

As of 27 December, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 142.

Since 7 October, up to 1.9 million people (or over 85 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times. Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Information on IDP numbers for North Gaza and Gaza City was last updated on 12 October due to access constraints and security situation.

(or over 85 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times. Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Information on IDP numbers for North Gaza and Gaza City was last updated on 12 October due to access constraints and security situation. As of 25 December, nearly 1.37 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are sheltering in 156 UNRWA facilities across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including 160,000 in the North and Gaza City and approximately 500,000 in close vicinity of these installations and receiving assistance from UNRWA. A total1 of 1.88 million IDPs are receiving assistance from UNRWA.

This includes nearly 160,000 IDPs in north Gaza and Gaza City governorates as of 12 October. UNRWA's ability to provide humanitarian support and update data in the above areas is severely restricted. The hostilities, Israeli Forces' evacuation orders and the constant search for safer places meant that people are displaced multiple times. UNRWA shelters often provide assistance to registered Palestine Refugees and other members of the community. There are instances where total numbers could be duplicated due to overlapping registrations, this is why we use "estimates" for these figures.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

Several Israeli Security Forces (ISF) search and arrest operations leading to confrontations with Palestinians, including exchanges of live fire, were reported across the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. Tensions have remained high throughout the West Bank and most events related to Christmas were cancelled.

Overnight on December 23, ISF search and arrest operation took place in Jenin camp, northern West Bank. ISF snipers reportedly occupied the roof tops of Palestinian houses around the camp and electricity was cut off.

On 25 and 26 December, large-scale ISF search and arrest operations took place in Nur Shams refugee camp and in Tulkarm city, northern West Bank. ISF bulldozed roads and heavily damaged infrastructure in the camp and several Palestinian houses and vehicles. ISF also demolished part of the UNRWA Health Centre in Nur Shams refugee camp.

Overnight between December 26 and 27, an ISF drone fired missiles killing six Palestinians, including a child, and injuring four others. For over an hour, ISF held the Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulances that were carrying the injured. On December 27, Palestinian national forces in Tulkarm announced a general strike in the city in mourning of Nur Shams refugee camp fatalities.

Internally displaced people gather their belongings in UNRWA Al-Maghazi School (Gaza middle area), 27 December 2023.  UNRWA Photo by Ashraf Amra

Overall Situation

The Gaza Strip

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 21,100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip. About 70 per cent of those killed are reported to be women and children. As of then, 53,688 Palestinians have been reportedly injured.

The West Bank

According to OCHA, Since 7 October, 300 Palestinians, including 79 children, have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

This year (2023) has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.

Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians

The Gaza Strip

UNRWA is working to verify details of incidents reportedly affecting UNRWA premises. Further information will be provided once it becomes available.

Different incidents have been reported impacting UNRWA installations and internal displaced people (IDPs) sheltering there. While verification of details and casualty figures are ongoing, initial reports indicate: On 25 December, two IDPs sheltering in the Maghazi Prep School were reportedly killed and 1 injured as a result a direct strike. On 26 December, collateral damage to the Bureij Sanitation Office was reported, as a result of a nearby strike.

193 incidents impacting UNRWA premises and the people inside them have been reported since the beginning of the war (some with multiple incidents impacting the same location), including at least 18 incidents of military use and/or interference at UNRWA premises. This includes 60 direct hits on UNRWA installations and 65 different UNRWA installations sustained collateral damage.

UNRWA estimates that in total at least 308 IDPs sheltering in UNRWA shelters have been killed and at least another 1,095 were injured since the start of hostilities.

UNRWA Response

The Gaza Strip

UNRWA Shelters

In total, nearly 1.4 million displaced people are now sheltering in 156 UNRWA installations , with another 500,000 registered and accessing services from UNRWA.

, with another 500,000 registered and accessing services from UNRWA. The average number of IDPs in UNRWA shelters located in the middle and southern areas is over 12,000. This is more than four times their capacity.

Health

Eight (out of 22) UNRWA health centres are still operational in the middle and southern areas, recording 12,005 patient visits.

Midwives are providing care for post-natal and high-risk pregnant women at the eight operational health centres. On 23 December, a total of 239 post-natal and high-risk pregnancy cases were attended to at health centres.

UNRWA continues to provide health care to IDPs at shelters through 97 medical teams. Each team is composed of between one to two doctors and a nurse. On 23 December, UNRWA medical teams attended to 26,158 IDPs.

Each team is composed of between one to two doctors and a nurse. On 23 December, mental health, and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services continued to be delivered in the middle and Khan Younis areas with a team of two psychiatrists and 16 counsellors and supervisors to assist special cases referred from health centres and shelters. The team responded to 3,091 cases through individual consultations, awareness sessions, and support for GBV cases.

Psychosocial support (PSS)

UNRWA teams, including 284 social workers in the shelters, continue to provide psychosocial first aid and other specialized protection services to IDPs. As of 25 December, around 77,206 IDPs were reached by this service.

Since 7 October, 3,470 persons with disabilities and injured persons received assistive devices, with "Humanity and Inclusion" organization specialists, in coordination with UNRWA social workers, providing rehabilitative physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.

Between 24 and 25 December, school counsellors addressed 1,059 individual and family consultations in Rafah and Khan Younis, alongside 1,034 group PSS sessions . These efforts benefited 14,298 IDPs, contributing to a cumulative total of 51,986 PSS sessions provided since the beginning of hostilities.

. These efforts benefited 14,298 IDPs, contributing to a cumulative total of 51,986 PSS sessions provided since the beginning of hostilities. During the same period, school counselors provided psychological support to 367 UNRWA staff through both in-person and remote consultations. The total number of UNRWA staff provided with psychological support since the beginning of the hostilities is 4,520.

Food Security

UNRWA continued to distribute flour outside of shelters in the southern governorates. A total of 164,440 families have been reached so far.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Between 24 and 25 December, all water wells in Jabalia, Khan Younis and Rafah were operational. About 10,000 cubic metres have been pumped from six water wells. Khan Younis and Rafah water wells have operated in two shifts (12 hours) to provide potable/domestic water supply service.

During the same period, the solid waste management service has been continued at Rafah, Khan Younis and middle area camps. About 110 loadings have been transferred to temporary dumping sites between 24 and 25 December.

UNRWA has installed mobile toilet and shower units to serve IDPs in spontaneous camps in Khan Younis and middle Area.

Quote from Abdelhadi, 14-years-old, currently displaced in a school in Deir a-Balah (middle area): 

"I was a student in this school and today I live in it. Unfortunately, my friends are not with me. [...] There were seven of us; we went to school together every day, walked the road from home to school, lined up in the morning assembly, and sat in class together. [...] We were a wonderful group of friends, but I lost three of them. May they rest in peace."

Read Abdelhadi's story here.

HearTheirVoices

ENDs -

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Navy Office of Special Trial Counsel Now Fully Operational

US Navy - Press Release

28 December 2023

On Dec. 27, 2023, the Navy Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) reached full operational capacity. It met all statutory deadlines, and now has the necessary authority and manning to carry out its mission, providing essential legal support to the Fleet.

The Navy OSTC is a new legal organization with exclusive authority over covered offenses, primarily personal violence offenses specifically including sexual assault, and is responsible for prosecuting those offenses at general and special courts-martial. The Navy OSTC's special trial counsel (STC) are Navy judge advocates with specialized education, training, and experience, as well as the required temperament.

"This landmark change to the U.S. military justice system will significantly strengthen the independent prosecution of sexual assault and other serious criminal offenses in the Department of Defense," said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III in a statement about the standup of the OSTCs across all services.

Rear Adm. Jon Stephens, who serves as the Navy's first-ever lead special trial counsel, oversees the Navy OSTC. The Navy OSTC's main headquarters is located at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

"The Navy OSTC's primary mission is to achieve justice, and in doing so, provide an effective, efficient, respected, and trusted tool for maintaining good order and discipline in the Navy," said Stephens. "We prepared extensively and we're fully ready to assume OSTC's weighty responsibilities."

Beginning Dec. 28, 2023, Navy commands must report covered offenses to the Navy OSTC. Commands should consult the Navy JAG Corps website for OSTC office locations and points of contact, as well as a list of covered offenses. Importantly, the Navy's victim reporting process remains the same; there have been no changes to existing procedures.

The Navy OSTC is divided into two regions, Norfolk, Va. and San Diego, Calif., with 10 field offices. All certified STCs must be members of the Navy JAG Corps' military justice litigation career track. Selection to that track requires quantitative and qualitative experience, on-the-job training, and personal recommendations by senior judge advocates. Each STC was selected by a board of senior Navy military justice experts and was personally detailed to a STC billet by the Judge Advocate General of the Navy.

The establishment of the Navy OSTC is accompanied by the implementation of several other, substantive military justice reforms. These include a new, military judge-alone sentencing system with parameters and criteria; expanded access by accused service members to the appellate court; broader notification rights for crime victims; randomized selection of service members detailed to court-martial panels; and increased resources and request procedures for defense counsel.

These sweeping changes to the military justice system were directed and recommended by the Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 National Defense Authorization Acts, as well as the Secretary of Defense's Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. Together, they represent the largest transformation of the system in more than 70 years.

In addition to increasing good order and discipline across the Fleet, these reforms will allow warfighters to focus even more closely on execution of the Navy's critical mission, while also enhancing trust in the military justice system.

More information about the Navy OSTC is available online. Significant training and communication efforts across the Fleet are currently underway and will continue in 2024.

LINK 1: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3627334/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-the-offices-of-special/

LINK 2: https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Flag-Officer-Biographies/BioDisplay/Article/3323348/rear-adm-jonathan-t-stephens/

LINK 3: https://www.jag.navy.mil/about/organization/ostc/

LINK 4: https://sapr.mil/sites/default/files/public/docs/victim-assistance/Victim_Reporting_Options_Guide.pdf

LINK 5: https://www.jag.navy.mil/about/organization/ostc/

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Pakistan Bans New Year Celebrations in Solidarity With 'Oppressed' Palestinians

By Ayaz Gul December 28, 2023

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 Israel's 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."

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Clashes Intensify in Eastern DRC as Nation Awaits Final Election Outcome

By Zanem Nety Zaidi December 28, 2023

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.



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Central Africa Blames Fuel Shortage on Supply Disruptions, Smuggling

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka December 28, 2023

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 Sudan's national army and a rival national paramilitary force, rush to Chad's porous 1,400-kilometer border for fuel regularly.

Salisu Yunissa, president of Chad's 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.





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Africa Forges Global Ties, Seeks More International Influence

By Mohammed Yusuf December 28, 2023

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 China's 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 Africa's 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."

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WFP condemns theft of life-saving food from warehouse in Gezira State

World Food Programme

28 December 2023

PORT SUDAN/NAIROBI -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) strongly condemns the looting of food supplies from its premises in Gezira State last weekend after elements of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces broke into the warehouse and office, following their takeover of Wad Medani.

The warehouse contained enough stocks to feed nearly 1.5 million severely food insecure people for one month in Gezira State, where a new offensive has forced more than 300,000 people to again run for their lives.

"Sudanese people who are already desperate and fleeing the fighting have now been robbed of the critical assistance they need. This is intolerable and must stop," said Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director for Eastern Africa. "In areas under their control, the Rapid Support Forces must guarantee the protection of humanitarian assistance, staff and premises".

The WFP warehouse contained more than 2,500 metric tons of life-saving food, including pulses, sorghum, vegetable oil and nutrition supplements. The specialized nutritious foods were intended to prevent and support malnutrition treatment for more than 20,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding women through WFP-supported health centers.

WFP was forced to temporarily pause distributions in Gezira state last weekend. It is once again reconfiguring its humanitarian response and has started some distributions in states further to the East, where people fleeing Gezira are now seeking refuge.

WFP operations are a lifeline to nearly one million desperate people in Gezira state and the looting of premises undermines our operations at a time when nearly 18 million people are facing acute hunger.

WFP has supported more than 5.6 million people in seventeen of eighteen states across Sudan with food and nutrition assistance since the conflict erupted in mid-April 2023. The agency warned earlier this month of a looming hunger catastrophe if people are not able to receive aid.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 84 - 29 December 2023

The International Court of Justice announced that South Africa has begun procedures to file a lawsuit in the court, accusing Israel of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to its attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. According to the statement published by the International Court of Justice, South Africa also said that Israel, since October 7, 2023 in particular, has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute direct and public incitement to genocide.

According to the Application, acts and omissions by Israel . . . are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent . . . to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group and that the conduct of Israel  through its State organs, State agents, and other persons and entities acting on its instructions or under its direction, control or influence  in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, is in violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

South Africa seeks to found the Courts jurisdiction on Article 36, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Court and on Article IX of the Genocide Convention, to which both South Africa and Israel are parties.

"The acts and omissions by Israel complained of by South Africa are genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group, that being the part of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip (Palestinians in Gaza). The acts in question include killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction."

Israel rejected South Africa's lawsuit, saying that it did not have a legal basis. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that South Africa is cooperating with a terrorist group that calls for the destruction of Israel... The people of Gaza are not the enemy of Israel, which is making efforts to limit harm to civilians.

The clashes in the Gaza Strip continue for the 84th day in light of the continued intense Israeli bombing of various cities in the Gaza Strip, amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, while the level of escalation increases on the Lebanon and Yemen fronts.

The airstrike targeting the Damascus airport on Thursday killed 11 senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an Arabic-language report claimed on Friday. The attack was widely attributed to Israel, including by the leadership of its arch-enemy Iran. Israel rarely comments on strikes targeting Syria, but it has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran  which backs the dictatorial government of President Bashar Assad  to expand its presence in the country. The attack near the airport came "one whole day after the airport resumed flights," said the report.

Operational Update

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), announced the targeting of 20 Israeli military vehicles during the past 48 hours in the Al-Daraj and Al-Tuffah areas in Gaza City. It said that its fighters were engaged in fierce clashes with the occupation forces in the Al-Shaaf and Jabal Al-Rayes areas, east of Gaza City.

It added that they detonated an anti-personnel device in an Israeli infantry force, and targeted another force holed up in a building with a TPG shell, causing a large number of deaths and injuries among their ranks. The Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed the destruction of two Israeli Merkava tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells, and the bombing of a gathering of occupation vehicles and soldiers with mortar shells in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, in addition to the downing of a Skylark-2 reconnaissance plane that was on an intelligence mission for the occupation army in Beit. Hanoun.

It also detonated a minefield in an infantry force of the occupation army and military vehicles north of the Bureij camp, in the middle of the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding its members. The Brigades announced that they had targeted an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell north of the Bureij camp, and said that it had hit it directly.

For its part, the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, said that "its fighters bombed Israeli crowds with a barrage of mortar shells in the Abasan area, east of Khan Yunis." The brigades added that they bombed the settlements of Holit, Sufa, and Nir Ishaq in the Gaza Strip with concentrated missile bursts.

The southern city of Rafah had been under heavy Israeli fire, with dozens of casualties recorded in bombings that targeted the al-Shaboura refugee camp where people rushed to seek refuge after no less than 20 civilians were killed in an air raid that targeted a residential home elsewhere in the city. In central Gaza, Israeli occupation forces carried out a series of airstrikes on the al-Maghazi camp, which killed at least 14 civilians and saw the destruction of a mosque in the camp. Another refugee camp, the Bureij camp, was severely bombed by the Israeli occupation forces, with the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital saying it received several martyrs and casualties.

Israeli Army Radio reported that a seventh brigade had joined the fight in the battles of Khan Yunis, south of Gaza, 14:00 | Last week the fighters of the Kafir Brigade Combat Team joined the forces of the 98th Division fighting in the Khan Yunis area. During their activity in the area, the fighters eliminated terrorist squads with the help of fire, air and armor forces. Guided by intelligence, the fighters raided dozens of homes of operatives of the Hamas terrorist organization, where ready-to-use explosives were found and destroyed trapped buildings.

The 5th Brigade's combat team under the command of the Gaza Division, along with armored and engineering forces, began their activities in the Khirbat Ahza area in the southern Gaza Strip, from where Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Nir Oz on October 7. The forces are working to gain an operational grip on the area. So far, the forces have eliminated terrorists and attacked a number of significant terrorist targets, including tunnel shafts, a tunnel route and anti-tank launching positions. This activity is another focus of combat and trees where IDF forces operate.

The 14th Reserve TDF forces, under the command of Division 162, located and destroyed in recent weeks one of Yahya Sinwar's hiding apartments. The apartment is located near Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, and many artifacts were found inside. The politician of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar.

The Yalam fighters investigated using additional technological means, and discovered that a strategic shaft was located on the basement floor. The forces investigated the shaft and reached a significant tunnel that is apparently used by senior members of the military and political wing of Hamas.

The apartment is part of a long and branching network of tunnels, in which senior members of the terrorist organization moved and operated. The shaft that was located led to a tunnel 218 meters long, and about 20 meters deep in the northern Gaza Strip. In the tunnel were found an electrical network, ventilation and sewage infrastructure, a means that existed, prayer and rest rooms, and it was built so that it is possible to stay in it and conduct combat from it for long periods of time.

"We found a very significant Hamas tunnel system," said the commander of the 14th Brigade, "the system is deep, much deeper than the other systems." He went on to point out the wide range of facilities there, which hint at the past use of it by senior Hamas commanders.

Fighters of the 460th Brigade Combat Team eliminated dozens of terrorists in various incidents in the last day, with airstrikes and by sniping, machine guns and tanks. In one of the incidents, an aircraft detected a terrorist holding an RPG and ran towards the fighters, the forces eliminated the terrorist with tank fire before he fired at Israeli forces. The fighters of the brigade combat team of the paratroopers brigade last night began an attack to destroy terrorist infrastructure in the city of Khan Yunis during which they identified a terrorist taking out an RPG from a shaft and threw several grenades at him. The fighters also identified a number of terrorists hiding in the building and eliminated them using tank fire.

In addition, the 7th Brigade Combat Team identified a terrorist in Khan Yunis who was about 100 meters away from the forces, the fighters directed a manned aircraft from a distance which eliminated the terrorist. In another incident, the combat team located a terrorist squad entrenched in a building and a fighter jet attacked the building and eliminated the terrorists.

The 261st Brigade Combat Team (Bahad 1) searched the home of a Hamas terrorist on the outskirts of Jabaliya with intelligence guidance. During the searches, military certification certificates of the terrorist organization Hamas, weapons, and study booklets about the IDF were located in his home. In addition, the fighters found pictures of children holding weapons, grenades and RPGs.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the extent of the Israeli armys dependence in Gaza on this type of small aircraft, which are basically small helicopters with four propellers, so they are called quadcopters. After testing a variety of methods for exploring Hamas' tunnels in Gaza, including robots, robotic dogs and real dogs, he "quickly learned that the cheapest and most effective option for exploring underground mazes  a potential death trap for soldiers  was a small quadcopter drone," the paper said.

Not only in the tunnels, but also on the battlefield, in densely built-up Gaza City, the Israeli army would fly these quadcopters inside buildings before sending in soldiers, where these devices provide smaller units with aerial reconnaissance and are used as guided munitions. The small drones are just a new piece of Israel's unmanned aerial arsenal, which military officials say, according to the Wall Street Journal, played an essential role in minimizing their casualties as they rapidly advanced across a densely populated, well-defended and extensively booby-trapped battlefield.

Jacob Nagel, a former Israeli national security adviser, told the newspaper that about a decade ago, Israels National Security Council discussed whether drones would have an impact on the battlefield, and concluded that they would not, adding: Now the skies are in Gaza is full of them.

The Wall Street Journal said thousands of commercial drones were making their way into the hands of Israeli soldiers on the battlefield and civilians looking to defend themselves. It added that this small quadcopter has become "a lifeline for smaller and less equipped Israeli units, such as those made up of reserve soldiers who were called into battle after Hamas attacks."

However, according to the report, it was not expected that drones would be used to explore tunnels. Israel originally began using heavy robots attached to the surface via cable to search hundreds of miles of corridors that Hamas had dug under Gaza. But the tunnel floors, often littered with rubbish and obstructions, led to the robots getting stuck, while some passages proved too narrow to operate. Then, according to the newspaper, Israel tried to use robotic dogs, but they were expensive and heavy.

In contrast, small drones can create 3D maps of tunnels, are completely unrestricted, and can fit into small spaces. These drones could also, according to the report, create their own underground communications networks, with each small drone flying as far as it can go, then serving as a new transmitter that allows the next drone to fly farther.

The Wall Street Journal believes that Israel was not the only one that failed to anticipate the extent of the importance of quadcopters in war zones, and adds that the US military, in turn, focused for years on building larger and more expensive drones before realizing too late that it was compromising.

The newspaper noted that the Chinese company SZ DJI Technology is today the largest consumer drone maker in the world, and its cheap quadcopters have become very popular on the battlefield. At the beginning of the war in Gaza, when there was a rush to get small drones into Israeli hands, many of the planes sent were Chinese-made DJI drones, the newspaper quoted employees of private drone companies that operate With the Israeli army.

The WSJ recalled that in one video released by the Israeli military, soldiers could be seen lowering a DJI Mavic 3 drone into a tunnel beneath a hospital complex in Gaza City. It quotes a senior Israeli military official as saying, An effort has been made to standardize the type of drones that soldiers can use on the battlefield.

For his part, Blake Resnick, CEO of the American drone company BRINC, told the Wall Street Journal: One of the most important acquisition priorities for the Israeli army at the present time is domestic drones. Resnick told the Wall Street Journal that he was in Israel earlier in December, and the Israeli military had purchased some of the company's LEMUR 2 drones, designed for search and rescue operations. Drones are primarily used in hostage rescue operations in Hamas tunnels and subterranean environments.

The newspaper also quoted Aviv Shapira, Israeli co-founder and CEO of drone company XTEND, as saying that the Israeli military is now using the company's drones for a variety of purposes inside Gaza. Some go into tunnels, while others can penetrate windows and explore building interiors, and other aircraft are equipped with robotic arms that carry a small payload, such as a small sticky explosive that can blow open a door and fly and drop grenades.

Shapira added that the Yahalom military organization, which specializes in finding and destroying Hamas tunnels, uses drones to "drop objects on mines or traps that are usually found around the tunnel exits." He continued that these functions, which were initially designed for internal use, have now become necessary for external use in Gaza, because Hamas and Israel are jamming global positioning systems for navigation and radio signals for communications.

Multiple drones - sometimes called a swarm - can also be directed by a single operator, according to the report. Using a virtual reality headset equipped with picture-in-picture feeds, the operator can use one drone to enter a building through a window or door, and land a second drone at the entrance. For more monitoring. Meanwhile, a third can search the building for the target.

For his part, Hanna points out the prominent importance of these small aircraft in saving the high financial cost of surveillance and reconnaissance operations during battles, in addition to saving lives. The military expert adds: Today, a plane can explore entire locations and send a live broadcast without the need to send soldiers.

As much as these aircraft assist regular armies in their missions, due to their wide availability in the market and their low cost, in return, they provide the same advantages to non-governmental military organizations, small armed groups, and even individuals.

According to Hanna, today, the cost of war has become much lower for poor countries and organizations, such as Hamas, the Houthis, or Hezbollah, in comparison to the large military expenses incurred by major countries in return, and these small drones constitute an example of that. They are available, cheap, easy to use, and harmful.

However, the military hopes placed on these aircraft do not yet reach the point of dispensing with traditional military drones. According to a graduate of the Air Command College in the US Armed Forces, reliance on these aircraft is still limited to the first level, known as the tactical level, which is close to the battlefield. As for the broader operational level, which represents, for example, Gaza City, there is still reliance on aircraft such as the Skylark, and at the third strategic level, such as the entire Gaza Strip, larger aircraft are used with broader and different capabilities and monitoring missions, according to need, which aircraft cannot. Small secured.

According to Hanna, what is happening today, whether in Gaza or before that in Ukraine or Syria, is a testing process for these aircraft and their technologies, and opens the way for a broader study of the roles they can play at the military level in the future, and all of this will enter into the organization of the armies and will change its composition and structure. It will also change the characteristics of combat, as it will shorten the decision-making cycle on the battlefield through the speed of collecting, analyzing, and dealing with information.

The retired brigadier general believes that these drnes will greatly reduce the so-called "fog of war." In contrast to this role that small drones have begun to play, the technical weakness in terms of confronting them, or the weapons used to combat them, emerges, as the anti-aircraft weapons assigned to these aircraft are still less effective, or disproportionately expensive.

In this context, Hanna says: We have not yet seen a conflict with drones between major countries, but the experiences taking place today are studied over time and based on them, the necessary and effective weapons that the armies will introduce and adopt at this level will become clear. Weapons need testing and a feasibility and effectiveness study before they are adopted, and what we see today In war, this tendency will increase. The military expert concludes by saying that the world today is only in the initial stages. We have not seen major armies confronting these aircraft. We have not yet witnessed, for example, attacks by thousands of these bomb-laden aircraft.

The Lebanese military and strategic expert, Major General Abdul Rahman Shehitli, told Iranian Al-Alam News Channel: First, this is not a battle between two armies, and occupying land does not mean an armys victory, but rather it is between an army and an occupation resistance, and whenever the army advances, the nature of the resistances work is to allow the enemy to enter into direct confrontation in order to prevent it from being empowered. From using its advanced weapons, including aircraft, missiles, artillery, and others.

Major General Shehitli added: The entry of the Israeli enemy forces into the Gaza area does not mean that it has achieved a victory, but rather it means that the enemys military leadership wants to tell the political leadership that it is in the process of implementing its mission. He continued: What is important is that we then see the resistances reaction in the operations it carries out against the enemy.

Major General Abd al-Rahman Shehitli, pointed out that the enemy had given priority to the north and east and then moved to the south and Khan Yunis . Recently, he announced that he had thrown two new brigades into the battle, and this means that there are two new battles other than the ongoing battles on six fronts so far. We will see in the coming days where the two new fronts are.

Major General Shehitli explained: It seems that he will go south towards Rafah, and the final picture that he wants to show is that the Israeli army has become deployed in the north and south of Gaza and thus achieved a victory, and this is in the external appearance, then he moves on to talk about a ceasefire and other things after it is established. He gave a picture.

He indicated that he wanted a picture of an Israeli tank at the Rafah crossing from inside, to say that he had reached the Egyptian border, and he wanted a picture of the beach in the southern region of Gaza, to say that he had occupied the entire Gaza Strip . Shehitli, considered that the enemy does not withdraw from an area, but rather, after the attack, it consolidates forces and reorganizes its forces awaiting the next stage, which is now being talked about as the third stage.

Major General Shehitli explained that the second phase was in Khan Yunis and southern Gaza, and the third phase wanted to reach the Rafah crossing and the southern shore of the Gaza Strip.

In an operation in the village of Kapin in the Menasha Brigade, the fighters arrested a wanted man and found weapons that they confiscated and destroyed on the spot. In an operation in the village of Deir Abu Meshal in the Ephraim Brigade, the fighters arrested three wanted persons and will interrogate dozens more. In the village of Zurif in the Etzion Brigade, the fighters arrested three wanted men and confiscated terrorist funds, in the village of Dora in the Yehuda Brigade, the fighters located and confiscated weapons. In the Pharoah refugee camp in the Bekaa and Emekim division, the forces arrested two wanted persons, the activity continues at this time. The wanted persons who were arrested and the weapons confiscated were transferred to the security forces for further processing.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert affirmed that there is still a long way to go before Hamas is defeated, noting that "Israel" expects to see more difficult days ahead. In his article for Haaretz, Olmert confessed that Hamas' defeat was declared unrealistic and unattainable ever since Benjamin Netanyahu admitted it was the primary goal of the genocide in Gaza.

He added that anyone who thought of the idea of the destruction of Hamas could see that it is militarily impossible, even if the situation unfolding in the Gaza Strip had been different. He continued to reveal that Israeli intel had enough information to realize that there was a network of hidden tunnels beneath Gaza, since the previous war in 2014, which could aid Hamas in conducting a decisive operation that does not necessarily endanger them, confirming that "defeating Hamas is not easy."

Criticizing Netanyahu, Olmert said the current PM certainly acknowledged his rhetoric would fail in the face of the humanitarian and military reality "Israel" encountered following October 7, adding that it was not "his business" to drag the occupation state to the finish line of the current war. "It is time", declared Olmert, "Hamas' defeat is still out of reach, and we haven't even got to a point of control in the war of October 7. We must expect difficult days, as more soldiers will die, and more painful scenes of the destruction in Gaza will be seen," something he claimed casts heavy shadows on the occupation, which overpowers the support and patience even the friendliest nations have shown it.

What must be done, Olmert advised, is for "Israel" to end all fighting, and return captives, those who died and those who are still alive. If not, then soon all captives would die, and "Israel" would have to release all Palestinian prisoners it has detained, pointing out that a prisoner swap was inevitable. Olmert finally said that "Israel" must make a pivotal decision to begin the second phase of the war, which incites the halt of all hostilities and the return of all hostages through negotiation deals that determine Gaza's fate as well.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said that the Israeli army has achieved important achievements in the Gaza Strip , but it is far from achieving the goals of the war. He added that the events of October 7 were the most dangerous in the history of Israel, and that they involved humiliation, inefficiency, and dysfunction in the state apparatus. Barak said that anyone who believes that it is possible to encourage Palestinians in Gaza to voluntarily immigrate is daydreaming.

Former Israeli Mossad chief Yossi Cohen said that the Gaza Strip prepared itself in an unusual way in the last decades of this war in particular. Cohen admitted that the Palestinian resistance outperformed the Israeli occupation army in the Gaza Strip through the tunnels, which is considered an underground city with deep and long hideouts, with a logistical preparation that allows greater life underground.

Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on Israel to occupy southern Lebanon, take security control of northern Gaza, and destroy the Philadelphia axis adjacent to Egypt, as a necessary outcome following the war. Lieberman wrote, in a post on the X platform, under the title The Day After, in which he said, Any settlement on the issue of The Day After must include a clear message of not messing with us, directed to Hamas and Hezbollah, by making them pay a heavy price in the form of their loss of territory.

He added that the Israeli army must station itself on the Litani River, control the northern Gaza Strip from a security standpoint, establish a security strip, destroy the Philadelphia axis, and give freedom of passage to the people of Gaza to Sinai, expecting that a million and a half Gazans will cross into Sinai. Any settlement on the Day After issue must include a clear message of not messing with us, Liebermans post said. This will only be achieved by imposing a heavy price on those who started the war against us, primarily the terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah. Throughout history, all parties that have started a war and suffered a loss have paid a heavy price, first and foremost in territory  in the loss of territory.

He continued: The next day, against Hezbollah, IDF soldiers must be stationed on the Litani River and control the area between the Litani and the Israeli border. The entire territory must be under Israeli control, all of this until a government is established in Beirut that is able To exercise its sovereignty over all the lands of Lebanon and it does not matter for how long, 5, 15 or 50 years, any other arrangement means abandoning the Galilee.

He added: The next day, the State of Israel must control the northern Gaza Strip from a security standpoint, establish a security strip at least one kilometer deep within the territory of the Strip, and destroy the Philadelphia Axis... I can estimate that in a scenario in which there is freedom of passage between... Gaza and Sinai, about a million and a half residents of Gaza will leave the Strip and move to Sinai. We will not expel them...but if any of the Gazans wants to move to Sinai, they will not be prevented from doing so. The meaning of not collecting the price from Hamas and Hezbollah is that we will return to reality before the 7th. October very soon.

Lieberman expressed his astonishment that Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and the head of the National Security Council were presenting the Day After model to US government officials, before presenting it to the Israeli political and security cabinet.

The French newspaper Le Monde touched on what it called the tunnel dilemma that Israel faces and is tightening its grip on its army, and said that entering the tunnels requires the involvement of Israeli forces in a long-term conflict that is more dangerous than urban warfare. It pointed out that "the failure to explore the tunnels leaves the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) with the possibility of developing its forces again and carrying out new attacks." Before the report concluded, Hamas mastered building the trap within 20 years.

A report in the British newspaper "The Guardian" believes that the longer the war in Gaza continues, the greater the risk of miscalculation and regional escalation, which the administration of US President Joe Biden fears will drag Iran into a broader conflict. The report states that Washington and Paris are leading secret negotiations to calm the situation with the Lebanese Hezbollah , but it excludes the possibility of convincing it to remove its forces from the towns of southern Lebanon, from which it draws popular support, according to the report, which quotes a European diplomat as saying that estimates indicate that escalation has become more likely.

The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, warned the United States against escalation against Yemen and its people, and stressed their readiness to confront any attack. Saree said in a statement: The Yemeni armed forces warn the American enemy of the consequences of undertaking any escalation against our country and our people. They also warn all countries that the Americans seek to involve or implicate with them in protecting the ships of the Zionist enemy. He added: "The Yemeni Armed Forces will not hesitate to take everything necessary to defend and confront any aggression within their religious and national duties and responsibilities."

He stressed that "Yemen's position towards the Palestinian issue and towards the oppression of the Palestinian people is firm and principled and will not change or change, regardless of the developments and regardless of the challenges." He continued: "The Yemeni Armed Forces are fully prepared and militarily prepared to implement the directives of Commander Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, may God protect him, at any moment to confront any aggression against our country and our people."

Sarie stressed that the American enemy must take the warnings of Mr. Leader, may God protect him, contained in his last speech into consideration, for he is a man of action and word, and he relies on the mighty, mighty God and is supported by a dear, free, Mujahid people, which is embodied permanently and continuously in the massive popular demonstrations in all squares and fields, the most recent of which was Today's demonstrations." The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces called on "all the peoples of our nation to come out in support of Palestine and to reject the American-Israeli aggression against Gaza and all peoples and countries that stand by the oppression of the Palestinian people."

A spokesman for the German shipping container company Hapag-Lloyd told Reuters that the company will continue to divert its ships from the Suez Canal for security reasons. The spokesman added that the next assessment of the situation will take place on January 2. Mitsui OSK Lines and Nippon Yusen - the two largest shipping companies in Japan - also announced that their ships with connections to Israel are avoiding the Red Sea region. The two companies said they were monitoring the situation.

More than a week ago, Hapag-Lloyd said that it would change the course of 25 of its ships until the end of this year to avoid sailing in the Red Sea. A ship belonging to the company was attacked near Yemen on December 15, on its way to Singapore .

This month, major shipping companies such as Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk stopped using routes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal due to the Houthi groups targeting of ships heading to Israel to pressure the entry of aid to the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, after the occupation prevented its entry following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. This caused great damage to global trade.

These companies began to divert ships to the Cape of Good Hope route to avoid attacks, which increased the fees required from customers, and added days or weeks to the time of transporting goods from Asia to Europe and to the eastern coast of North America.

About 10% of oil trade and 8% of liquefied gas trade pass through the Suez Canal, including about two-thirds of crude oil coming from the Gulf region. About 30% of the world's shipping containers pass daily through the Suez Canal - which is 193 kilometers long - and about 12% of the total global trade of all goods.

Bloomberg agency said that refiners in India - the third largest importer of crude oil in the world - are seeking to enhance supplies from the Middle East and other neighboring countries, with increased risks following the recent attacks on ships in the Red Sea, in addition to prolonging shipping times and rising costs.

Shipping companies' routes have shifted from entering the Red Sea in recent weeks. Because of the threat of the Yemeni Houthi group against ships linked to Israel, in support of the Gaza Strip , which has been subjected to continuous aggression for more than 81 days. This resulted in large-scale operations being diverted to take a longer route around the Cape of Good Hope , adding up to 3 weeks to the flight time. Among the affected ships are ships carrying goods from producers in the Mediterranean and North Sea, as they travel through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea on their way to Asia.

Bloomberg quoted people who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, saying that shipping companies are asking Indian companies to bear risk premiums for deliveries through the usual route. They said that refiners are not willing to bear the additional responsibility and are looking for alternative suppliers.

The Israeli website "i24 News" published a report in which it presented 7 reasons for Egypt's non-participation in confronting the Houthis. The Israeli website said that the attacks launched by the Houthis against ships in the Red Sea led to economic losses to the Suez Canal, but Egypt did not join the coalition announced by the United States to confront the group.

The report stated: Egypt is perhaps the country most affected by the disruption of maritime traffic in Bab al-Mandab and the increase in military tensions in the south of the Red Sea, which affects the most important trade route in the world, as 12% of global trade traffic passes through the Suez Canal. It pointed out that the Suez Canal is one of the most important sources of foreign exchange for Egypt. Last year, Egypt's annual income from the canal reached a record level of $9.4 billion.

The report highlighted Egypts non-participation in the naval military coalition known as the Guardian of Prosperity that was established by the United States to confront the Houthi attacks , as it stated that Cairo refused to engage in confronting the Houthis for 7 reasons, which are:

First : The leadership represented by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who prefers diplomacy in dealing with all files, even the most sensitive and dangerous ones, indicating that El-Sisi did not go to war in dealing with Ethiopia regarding the Renaissance Dam file, the construction of which threatens Egypts future, and he will not enter into a war in the future. Yemen for Suez Canal revenues. Second:  The economic problems and the decision to enter the war lead to a threat to Egypts interests and more losses and instability, because the decision to engage in it will not receive popular consensus, unlike the consensus regarding taking deterrent steps to preserve Egypts share in the event of dealing with the Renaissance Dam file. Third : Egypts awareness that the declared goal of the war by the United States and its allies, which is to restore calm to international waters, eliminate threats, and not threaten Israels security, will not be achieved, according to the Egyptian vision, by waging war against the Houthis , but rather by eliminating the causes of these tensions, which is the ongoing war in Gaza, which leads to "The circle of conflict continues to expand in a way that threatens the stability of the region and the world." Fourth: Historically, the experience of Egyptian defeat in the Yemen war when President Gamal Abdel Nasser sent 70,000 soldiers to intervene as a party in its civil war (1962-1970), where fierce battles took place in cities and rural places. It was a painful experience that Egyptian military historians refer to as the Vietnam of Egypt. In reference to the similarity of Egypts situation there with America in the Vietnam War. Fifth: At the present time, the experience of the Arab coalition in its war in Yemen is still present, as the countries participating in the coalition have realized that there is no escape from diplomacy. Sixth: The Arab position on the new coalition to fight the Houthis is unified, as all Arab countries refused to participate in it except Bahrain, whose participation was considered by observers as an Arab representation in order not to anger the United States, but it carried within it a clear answer that the Arabs would not enter a proxy war on behalf of anyone in particular. The United States declared its full support for Israel in its war on Gaza, and participation in this alliance will be tantamount to a bias towards Israel and will be met with widespread popular anger. Seventh: Iranian reassurance, as Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi sent messages of reassurance to his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, that the Suez Canal would not be affected due to the Houthis in Yemen escalating their attacks on Israeli ships or those heading to Israel, during the recent period in the Red Sea, according to what Egyptian diplomatic sources reported. ".

The report indicated that attacks by the Yemeni Ansar Allah Houthi group on ships heading to Israel in the southern Red Sea led to major shipping companies announcing the rerouting of their commercial flights from the Suez Canal to circumnavigating the continent of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope route. The shipping giants' decision caused an increase in product prices and delayed global supply chains. The report confirmed that the Houthis succeeded in their attacks not only in disrupting trade with Israel, but they also succeeded in making the war on Gaza the center of global attention in order to pressure Tel Aviv to immediately stop the war.

The Foreign Minister of Djibouti, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, confirmed on Thursday that the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement attacked the ships in order to rescue and provide relief to the Palestinians, and we must all support Palestine because brother supports his brother, even with the weakest faith, and Djibouti does not condemn the Yemeni operations because they are a fraternal duty. Youssef said during a press interview that his country, since the Yemeni Ansar Allah began their military operations against the Israeli occupation, did not oppose and did not blame Yemen, because they were correct steps.

Maps

All maps are lies. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. Thes processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.

Bystanders

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that, 84 days after the genocidal war against our people, the truth about the goals of the Israeli occupation is being revealed to those of world and country leaders who want to understand, which are summed up in targeting Palestinian civilians and all of our people in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem.

According to the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA), the Foreign Ministry added in a statement today, Friday, that the occupation targets our people, whether by killing them with a war machine or by striking all the components of their existence in their homeland, their steadfastness and survival, and pushing them to emigrate and leave in search of a safe place or a stable life for their children. and its successive generations.

It pointed out that it is clear from the reports of the United Nations and its competent organizations, and international institutions of all kinds, human rights and media, especially what the media documents in audio and video, that the real goal of the aggression and the policy of the ruling Israeli right is to empty the land of its indigenous citizens through all forms of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

It explained that this is explained by the escalation in the occupations mass massacres, the demolition of homes over the heads of citizens without prior warning, the storming and destruction of shelter schools, the arrest of displaced men in them and taking them to an unknown destination, the deprivation of Palestinian civilians of their most basic needs until now, and the issuance of more evacuation orders. The displacement of citizens from the center of the Gaza Strip, and the practice of humiliation and degradation by the occupation soldiers of those who are arrested, including forcing them to take off their clothes, and the use of weapons of enormous destruction.

The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the occupation forces also began implementing genocide in the cities of the West Bank, as is happening in practice in Jenin and its camp, and the Nour Shams camps in Tulkarm, and Balata in Nablus, and all the areas they are storming, which is what the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned about regarding the deterioration in the conditions. , including what children are exposed to, as Israeli violence against them has reached unprecedented levels, and this year was the bloodiest for them, according to UNICEF.

It said that all of these measures, including seizing the majority of the West Bank area for the benefit of colonialism, and depriving citizens of their relationship with their land and benefiting from it, deepen the creeping gradual annexation, and clearly demonstrate new chapters of the apartheid system, taken by the occupation authorities to displace Palestinians by force or voluntarily. outside their land and homeland, in an attempt to solve its strategic crisis, which is represented by our peoples adherence to and survival in their land, meaning that it continues its unilateral illegal measures, committing crimes of genocide and resolving the future of the negotiated final solution issues unilaterally and with the force of occupation, before the eyes of the international community and the countries that claim Caring for human rights and adhering to the two-state solution, in a crisis-ridden Israeli illusion, to get rid of millions of Palestinian citizens.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that what is required now is international courage in dealing with this reality and confronting it, by taking a firm UN decision to cease fire immediately, and all countries must realize before it is too late that all their pleas and good calls regarding the protection of civilians are not being listened to in light of the situation. If the shooting continues , it will not protect civilians, nor will it provide them with their basic humanitarian needs. Rather, it will provide more time so that Israel can achieve its goals by striking the Palestinian humanitarian presence on the territory of the State of Palestine.

The United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, said: What Israel is doing to the Palestinians, especially in Gaza, is the brutality of our century. Albanese stated that that "in Gaza, Palestinian children are given sedatives to alleviate their pain while dying - as they cannot be treated.", and the Israeli occupation entity does not allow anesthetics to enter Gaza , nor do many supplies.

She added that the Israeli occupation entity killed more than 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza under the pretext of eliminating Hamas, asking, Why do Palestinian lives not matter? She also pointed out that "Western silence regarding what the Palestinians are exposed to is turning into complicity." Albanese has courted controversy among Israel supporters for her one-sided faulting of Israel for its conflict with the Palestinians and comments she has made which have been widely interpreted as antisemitic.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced that the year 2023 is the "bloodiest year ever" for children in the occupied West Bank, as violence has reached unprecedented levels. UNICEF added that 83 children were killed in the past 12 weeks, more than double the number of children killed in all of 2022. A few days ago, UNICEF also warned in a statement that children in the Gaza Strip, in particular, lack 90% of their water needs, noting that half of the water and sanitation facilities were destroyed or damaged as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip .

Axis of Resistance

According to former Israeli Intelligence Official and regional analyst Avi Melamed, the public back and forth between Tehran and Hamas over is another nail in the coffin for Hamas, who is facing added criticism within the wider Arab dialogue over the repercussions of its 10/7 attack on Israel. Yesterdays public back and forth between Tehran and Hamas over whether Hamass October 7 operation was in response to the 2020 U.S. killing Qasem Soleimani is another nail in the coffin of Hamas who is facing an increased criticism within the Arab world over the repercussions to their October attack on Israel, mainly that Hamas (who is marketing its war as for the sake of the Palestinian people) actually attacked Israel at the behest of its masters in Tehran. Within this context its easy to understand why Hamas was so quick to deny the connection to the U.S. killing of Soleimani as Israels response to the attack has led the Arab world to hold Hamas accountable for the greatest devastation witnessed by Palestinians since Israels war of independence.

The temporary Friday Imam of Tehran, Hojjat al-Islam Haj Ali Akbari, confirmed that the Iranian people will take severe revenge on the Zionists in retaliation for the assassination of the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, the martyr, Seyyed Reza Mousavi.

In his Friday sermon this week in Tehran, Hojjat al-Islam Haj Ali Akbari referred to the fourth anniversary of the martyrdom of Commander Hajj Qassem Soleimani : On the fourth anniversary of the martyrdom of the great martyr of Islam, the revolution and Iran, we must get a different reading from Hajj Qassems school, which is the issue of the educational school and attention to the foundations. As we remember Hajj Qassem and the mothers of all the martyrs who left these foundations and planted these good lineages before humanity, may God have mercy on the mothers, fathers, and families of the martyrs.

The Friday preacher in Tehran added: Yesterday, Tehran witnessed a sincere, faith-based, appreciative and insightful presence welcoming another martyr. A man who spent his life with the leader of hearts (the martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani) to organize and support the resistance front, Sayyed Nourani and a distinguished mujahid. The enemies of Islam and the Zionists know him better than us, that is, the martyr leader Sayyed Razi Mousavi.

Hujjat al-Islam Haj Ali Akbari said: The criminal Zionists assaulted the martyrs house in their cowardly attack and assassinated him unjustly. May the curse of God and the righteous be upon you for taking your filth and hatred to the extreme, and of course, the dear people of Iran will take severe revenge on you.

Hujjat al-Islam Haj Ali Akbari said: The Gaza issue can be summed up in one word, as the leader of the revolution declared that the criminal Zionists acted in an unprecedented way in creating crimes that are still continuing, and the oppressed people of Gaza are also behind a unique resistance. We call upon the Almighty God against Al-Zahra ( A) To support the Palestinian mujahideen.

A delegation from the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to present its observations regarding the Egyptian initiative, which stipulates a ceasefire that ends the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. The Hamas delegation's visit comes amid the movement's confirmation of its rejection of any deal that does not lead to an end to the aggression, and increasing internal pressure on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resolve the prisoner issue.

A Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that the resistance factions have a number of points and observations regarding the exchange of prisoners, the number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for their release, and guarantees of complete military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian initiative was presented last week to officials from the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements during visits by leaders from the two movements to Cairo.

The Egyptian initiative includes three stages that stipulate extendable truces and the gradual release of dozens of detainees held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel, which ultimately leads to a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip. The initiative also stipulates the formation of a Palestinian government composed of technocrats after a dialogue in which all Palestinian factions participate, and which will be responsible for governing and rebuilding the Gaza Strip after the war.

Hezbollah denied what Le Figaro newspaper reported about the Al-Aqsa Flood operation. Earlier, Le Figaro newspaper said that Lebanese Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah knew about the attack plan half an hour before it was carried out, after obtaining testimonies from leaders of the Hamas movement in Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar, in addition to figures close to the movement in the Gaza Strip. This information comes in the midst of a controversy that arose after statements by Revolutionary Guard spokesman Ramadan Sharif that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood came to avenge the killing of Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.

The statement said: Hezbollah media relations categorically denies what was reported by Le Figaro newspaper about what it called some of the secrets of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, and considers that what was stated therein is pure unfounded fiction, aimed at undermining the complete confidence between the resistance movements and their factions throughout the The region and its public and practical commitment and frank belief in resisting the Zionist occupation. Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah confirmed, in a public speech watched by millions, that the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation is a purely Palestinian operation in terms of planning, preparation, implementation, timing and goals.

The statement added: Hezbollah had no knowledge of it, and therefore everything reported in Le Figaro are lies that deviate from the truth and confirm the newspapers complete bias towards the enemy, far from achieving accuracy and professionalism, and its moral and professional downfall, like many Western media outlets that sided with the oppressor and the murderer. And the aggressor at the expense of truth, abstract facts, and human values.

The head of the Lebanese Hezbollah Sharia Committee, Sheikh Muhammad Yazbek, said, The axis of resistance from Yemen to Iraq and Lebanon will not leave Gaza alone, and will not be affected by pressures, whatever they may be. The Hezbollah official added, "Operation 'Al-Aqsa Flood' revealed the falsity of the West's claim of a democracy that they wanted for our societies through war and destruction, from Afghanistan to Iraq to Syria, and here they are supporting the massacres in Palestine and Gaza, and no conscience has moved them."

Yazbek wondered: What does the international community expect from international laws remaining after their fall, in stopping the war and condemning the Israeli enemy? It is no surprise that a society holds the victim responsible, justifying the crime. Pointing out that the resistance is hurting the enemy today in Gaza and Lebanon, he stressed that the axis of resistance from Yemen and the Red Sea to Iraq to Lebanon will not be affected by all pressures, whatever they may be. The position is one, which is to stop the war on Gaza, and without it, the axis will not leave. Gaza alone.

The Israeli Eye program on Alalam News Network,. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, highlighted that the Hebrew media continued to depict the crime of assassinating the Iranian military advisor in Syria, the martyr Radhi Mousavi, while stopping with great concern at the heavy losses of the occupation army in the Gaza Strip and on the border with southern Lebanon. The program shed light on the assassination of the martyr Radhi Mousavi, the Iranian military advisor , in a Zionist attack on Syria, which still receives a wide range of attention in the Israeli media , which saw that Iran continues to harm the entity.

The program touched on the speech of one of the former Zionist generals who believed that the crime of assassinating the martyr Radhi Mousavi by the occupation is considered a message to the Iranians who are waging a regional war against the entity.

Regarding what the Hebrew media said that the crime of assassinating the martyr Radhi Mousavi was a message and a response to the regional war launched by Iran against the entity, Ali Murad, a researcher on Israeli affairs from Beirut, confirmed that the Zionist medias comments on the assassination of the martyr Mousavi were expected in terms of an attempt to blame everything.

Murad pointed out that the issue of the losses incurred by the enemy in Gaza and the strikes he is receiving in northern occupied Palestine means that he wants to accuse Iran exclusively, but there is an acknowledgment that without the armed and material support provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran to the resistance factions, they would not have suffered all these losses, but from What is striking about the Zionist generals speech is that he was talking about the subject of what Mr. Abdullahian stated about the Zionist entitys threat to respond. They take these threats seriously, and they expect. Everything they have declared since the assassination until now indicates that they are anticipating a response to this assassination.

The report by the French newspaper Le Figaro revealed that the military arm of the Hamas movement had been preparing for the October 7 attack on Israel for two years and in complete secrecy, noting that only three or four people were aware of the details of the plan. The newspaper conducted interviews with a number of the movements leaders in Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan, in addition to sources close to the leaders in Gaza, stating that the movements closest allies, such as Hezbollah and their main supporter Iran, were not informed of the attack until just before its launch.

In this regard, the newspaper reported that the leader of the Lebanese "Hezbollah", Hassan Nasrallah, "was informed of Hamas' plans to launch a multi-pronged attack on southern Israel, half an hour before the start of the attack on October 7." According to the report, senior Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri, who resides in Lebanon, received a phone call on the morning of October 7, informing him of the impending operation, and he was asked to inform the Hezbollah leader.

Le Figaro reported that the idea of a ground invasion of Israel has been looming on the horizon for two years, and a source close to the Hamas leadership in Jordan confirms: The first time I heard about it was in 2021. Other than the newspaper, it points out the conflict regarding the movements military leaders obtaining the approval of their political counterparts, most of whom are stationed abroad, noting that some say that the attack was agreed upon 3 months before it was launched, while other estimates indicate that Yahya Al-Sinwar decided with Muhammad. Deif, head of the movement's military arm, organized the attack.

Commenting on this point, Khaled Meshaal, a leader in the political wing of the Hamas movement, told Le Figaro newspaper: We cannot answer yes or no. According to him, Hamass strategy, which aims to end the Israeli occupation and provide freedom for the Palestinians, falls within the movements policies, and all its operational details are entrusted to the military authorities of the organization, which is classified on the terrorism lists of the United States and the European Union.

The newspaper reported that Yahya Al-Sinwar and Muhammad Deif made great camouflage to avoid revealing their plans for the attack, noting, for example, that Al-Sinwar made sham changes in a number of leadership positions in the Al-Qassam Brigades, without actually changing the officials, with the aim of distracting the attention of the Israelis and camouflaging them. Concerning the real leaders of the military organization.

The newspaper quoted "Marwan", whose identity was not revealed, and said that he was a senior figure from the Gaza Strip, who was connected to Yahya Al-Sinwar and was familiar with the internal details of the organization, saying that this camouflage strategy extended even to the head of power, pointing out that he was the real leader of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. It is not Muhammad al-Deif, nor Marwan Issa, the second-in-command, but rather Muhammad al-Sanwar, Yahyas brother.

Marwan continues, speaking about the guest, saying, He walks on a crutch, but his head is still working well, as he solves internal problems in the armed branch, noting, He is a respected figure within the organization, but the one who moves the brigades is Muhammad, the brother who is protected by Yahya.

About a month and a half before the operation, Hamas imposed secrecy on its main military commanders, ordering them to limit their contacts with each other. Over the past six months, Marwan, who is not affiliated with Hamas, says he was surprised to notice that many young men, known for their sympathies with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, had gone to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia. Marwan adds: I never saw them return after that. They went to train in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, or even in Syria.

In the months preceding the operation, Sinwar isolated himself from the political branch abroad, and barely answered phone calls from members of the movement, the newspaper adds. At the end of September, Musa Abu Marzouk, one of the leaders of this political wing residing in Qatar, was forced to wait several days before he could meet Sinwar in Gaza, and the meeting between the two men was stormy, as a Hamas source confirmed to the newspaper. The report stated that Sinwar's relations "were tense at times with his allies in Qatar," based on the words of "Marwan" who said that "Sinwar does not trust the Qataris very much."

The report quoted a source close to Hamas in Jordan. Before the war, Israel had prevented money from Qatar from reaching Hamas, and when a Qatari ambassador arrived in Gaza with only 13 million dollars a month instead of the expected 30 million, Al-Sinwar told him: Take the 13 and return with the other 17 as planned.

The same source reported that Sinwar is also losing his temper with his allies in the Axis of Resistance, explaining that at the end of October, during the first week of the Israeli ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip, the leader of the Sunni Islamic Movement conveyed a message to the Shiite Hezbollah asking... In it, he explained why he did not become more involved with Hamas.

Shortly after October 7, a Lebanese source close to the Shiite group says, Confusion prevailed within Hezbollah, especially since the whole world was trying to find out whether Iran was behind the attack on Israel. On the one hand, Hezbollah and Tehran were accused of participating in planning it. On the other hand, they were not satisfied with Hamas, because the cards they were scheduled to use in future operations against Israel had been blown by the Palestinians: penetration into Israel, air assets, and the element of surprise.

Allied for Democracy

According to former Israeli Intelligence Official and regional analyst Avi Melamed, Macrons statement echoed the constant mistakes of the past, trying to force diplomacy on a single side of the Israeli-Palestinian armed conflicts. Macrons statement yesterday echoes the constant mistakes of the past, trying to force diplomacy on a single side of the Israeli-Palestinian armed conflicts. Ceasefires, advocated for by the international community have only ever protected Hamas, becoming part of its regular military strategy for every battle it has instigated since its formation.

Each round has thus far followed the same trajectory getting even more bloody with every cycle: Hamas launches an attack on Israels civilian population, Israel responds with significant military force prosecuting Hamas operational assets and targets which Hamas entrenches within the civilian environment, and then Hamas just waits for the world to force a ceasefire on Israel, which Hamas uses to repair its lost ranks and infrastructure before launching its next volley.

Hamas is not a reliable partner in any form of sustainable peace or calm and while the Arab world has started to recognize that Hamas and its masters in Tehran are not accountable to the Palestinian people or their supporters, Macron and many in the western world have failed to truly understand that. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled discussing the issue of Gazas future after the war due to pressure from his ruling coalition partners, according to what Israeli media reported. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority and Channel 12 said that Netanyahu decided at the last minute not to discuss the issue of the day after the war in Gaza in the war council held on Thursday evening, in reference to Tel Avivs possible plan in the Strip after the end of the war that has been ongoing for about 3 months.

The two channels indicated that "partners in the government coalition exerted great pressure on Netanyahu to cancel this discussion within the war council." Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that the War Cabinet was mandated to manage the military operation and not to discuss the politics of the next day. Ben Gvir added that the discussion of the next day in Gaza is one of the tasks of the mini-cabinet and does not belong to the war cabinet.

The "Religious Zionism" party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and the "Jewish Force" party, led by Ben Gvir, announced their opposition to the aforementioned discussion under the pretext of "the lack of jurisdiction of the War Council," according to what was reported by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. The two ministers - who are not members of the war council - threatened on more than one occasion to withdraw from the government and dismantle it if the war on Gaza was stopped before the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) was eliminated and the Israeli prisoners and detainees in Gaza were released.

More than once, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he wanted Israeli security control over Gaza after the war. In his previous statements, Netanyahu said, "The day after the war, Gaza must be demilitarized, and there is only one force that can be responsible for that, which is the Israeli army." He also affirmed on more than one occasion his categorical rejection of the Palestinian Authority taking over the duties of government in the Gaza Strip after the war.

Netanyahu's statements in this regard contradict the American position, and the drawn scenarios sparked a dispute between him and US President Joe Biden.

Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on Israel to occupy southern Lebanon, take security control of northern Gaza, and destroy the Philadelphia axis adjacent to Egypt, as a necessary outcome following the war. Lieberman wrote, in a post on the X platform, under the title The Day After, in which he said, Any settlement on the issue of The Day After must include a clear message of not messing with us, directed to Hamas and Hezbollah, by making them pay a heavy price in the form of their loss of territory. .

He added that the Israeli army must station itself on the Litani River, control the northern Gaza Strip from a security standpoint, establish a security strip, destroy the Philadelphia axis, and give freedom of passage to the people of Gaza to Sinai, expecting that a million and a half Gazans will cross into Sinai. Any settlement on the Day After issue must include a clear message of not messing with us, Liebermans post said. This will only be achieved by imposing a heavy price on those who started the war against us, primarily the terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah. Throughout history, all parties that have started a war and suffered a loss have paid a heavy price, first and foremost in territory  in the loss of territory..

He continued: The next day, against Hezbollah, IDF soldiers must be stationed on the Litani River and control the area between the Litani and the Israeli border. The entire territory must be under Israeli control, all of this until a government is established in Beirut that is able To exercise its sovereignty over all the lands of Lebanon and it does not matter for how long, 5, 15 or 50 years, any other arrangement means abandoning the Galilee..

He added: The next day, the State of Israel must control the northern Gaza Strip from a security standpoint, establish a security strip at least one kilometer deep within the territory of the Strip, and destroy the Philadelphia Axis... I can estimate that in a scenario in which there is freedom of passage between... Gaza and Sinai, about a million and a half residents of Gaza will leave the Strip and move to Sinai. We will not expel them...but if any of the Gazans wants to move to Sinai, they will not be prevented from doing so. The meaning of not collecting the price from Hamas and Hezbollah is that we will return to reality before the 7th. October very soon..

Lieberman expressed his astonishment that Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and the head of the National Security Council were presenting the Day After model to US government officials, before presenting it to the Israeli political and security cabinet..

An "informed source revealed" to the Russian "Novosti" agency that there are plans by the Israeli government to settle a large number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in Egypt under the pretext of ensuring their safety during the active phase of the war. The source said: According to available information, the Israeli government has plans to resettle a large number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in Egypt under the pretext of ensuring their safety during the active phase of the military operation and the reconstruction of the Strip after the conflict.

Hamas: Netanyahus talk about working with countries to pass a voluntary immigration plan is ridiculous and an attempt to market illusions. He pointed out that "in the first stage, we can talk about transferring at least 100,000 people to the territory of a neighboring country." He added: "In the future, it is planned to deport several more batches of Gaza residents in this way. At the same time, it is clear that West Jerusalem is not interested in their return."

According to the source, to ensure the approval of Cairo, which is currently categorically opposed to such a scenario, the intention is to involve Washington in the matter. The source concluded, "In exchange for the green light from Egypt, the Americans are said to be committed to paying the costs of building and operating the refugee camps, and will also provide Egypt with a large package of financial aid, which is a strong boost in the context of the economic difficulties that this country is going through."

The Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" had confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's talk about working with countries to pass a voluntary immigration plan for Palestinians is "ridiculous and an attempt to market illusions." Earlier, Israeli media quoted Netanyahu as saying during a Likud Party session that he is pushing for voluntary migration of Gazans to other countries, and the Israeli Prime Minister confirmed that work is underway to find countries that will absorb Gazans as refugees.

A Palestinian expert on Israeli affairs considered that there are disagreements between the political and military circles within the Israeli government as a result of the repeated failure to achieve any achievement in the war in the Gaza Strip so far, indicating that talking about the stages of the operation is to convince the Israeli street that there is progress in the military operation.

World - specific to the world The expert on Israeli affairs, Ammar Khader, from Jenin, told Al-Alam news channel: The course of the war and its management now is going through two parts of disagreement, the first is political and the second is military, as we see that there is a disagreement between Gallant and Gantz , who are the military face of this war, and there is almost a disarray in their positions during the last period.

Khadr added: In addition to this is the political dispute with Netanyahu , as more of it is appearing in the media, statements and behavior, and many are talking about Netanyahu trying to turn this war for his personal interests, forgetting the situation that Israel has put itself in in this war, and there are also differences on the level. Politics within the government and between Netanyahu and Smotrich and Ben Gvir on the other hand.

He explained that there are differences between Galant and Gantz regarding how to manage the battle in the longer term and the broader area, based on the field results in the Gaza Strip and the repeated failures. He continued: Gallant seeks to prolong the war and continue it without there being political solutions, but Gantz is less enthusiastic about that.

Ammar Khader considered that the American decisions that bind the occupation in terms of the field are what determine the course of the battle as we see now, and this continuation of the ongoing attack with the same level of killing and crime, but this talk about stages is to make Israeli society believe that there is progress. In war, they are accumulated and overlapping stages without there being a real change between one stage and the next.

Khader explained: The third phase came with an American request to reduce the killing of civilians and limit the directing of firearms to them, and to focus this on the resistance from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others, noting that Netanyahu rejects the American proposal, while Gallant wants to agree with him.

The Lebanese expert on Israeli affairs t Al-Akhbar newspaper, Ali Haidar, told Al-Alam news channel: The state of unity and solidarity within Israeli society and even the political level is an emergency situation that arose due to the magnitude of the threat that they all felt in the wake of the Al-Aqsa flood , which created a collective conviction about the necessity of winning the war and confronting the external danger.

Haider added that this type and size of threat pushes societies to join hands and show solidarity with each other on the condition that results are achieved, but after 83 days, none of the declared goals of eliminating the resistance and Hamas , liberating prisoners, etc. have been achieved, and there is no dispute about that.

He pointed out that the disagreement today is clear between the political and military levels regarding the transition to the third phase of the battle in Gaza , considering that the Israeli government is now at the lowest level of popularity ever and has no hope of winning any elections if elections are held because they have failed.

Haider explained that Israeli society wants the war to continue now, but not with this failed administration, considering that the polls give Likud only 17 seats in the next Knesset.

Protests are increasing in Tel Aviv to demand a deal that releases all those detained by the Hamas movement, as a march was launched yesterday in which thousands participated on its way to the headquarters of the Israeli government in Jerusalem. The Forum for Mothers of Israeli Army Soldiers also sent a formal letter to Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy, asking him for clarifications regarding the reports that the Israeli Army changed the pattern of its ground operations in the Gaza Strip, and what was reported that this change now threatens the lives of soldiers in battle.

Arab analysts and writers believe that the war - launched by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip - has further inflamed internal disputes in Israel, and they point to the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance. The senior researcher at Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Dr. Liqaa Makki, confirmed that the escalation of Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip increases fragmentation within Israel. He said that had it not been for the resistance, there would not have been the current dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his opponents, and Netanyahu would have been crowned champion and his coalition would have been victorious.

Makki spoke of a clear-cut defeat and a protracted war, which Israel did not imagine, and pointed out that this war caused exhaustion in Israel and in its ability to sustain international support for it. Makki said - in his speech as part of the daily analytical pause, Gaza... Whats next? - that had it not been for the steadfastness of the resistance and its ability to inflict great harm on the Israeli army, internal disputes would not have emerged in Israel, and if they did exist, they would not have been so strong and clear.

For his part, the writer and specialist in Israeli affairs, Ihab Jabareen, said that Israel was on a hot plate before October 7, and this situation cast a shadow after this date, noting that the government coalition is not homogeneous. He pointed out that Netanyahu surrounded his right-wing government with what he described as the mob, in reference to extremist ministers, and worked to make politics devoid of any substance over the course of a permanent decade, and completely destroyed the army institution, and therefore there were efforts to abandon it. Jabareen said that Benny Gantz's entry into Netanyahu's government was to give some legitimacy and show that there is some kind of unity among Israeli politicians.

As for the expert in American affairs and international relations, Khaled Al-Tarani, he saw that Netanyahu failed and his government, which allied with Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, failed, and caused embarrassment to the United States, noting that October 7 was the culmination of this embarrassment. Al-Tarani said that the defeat of the occupation in the Gaza Strip is a defeat for the Americans as well, and a military defeat at the strategic and tactical levels for both of them.

Moreover, Al-Taraani adds, Washington and Tel Aviv have become isolated at the international level, through the vote at the United Nations and the abandonment of Britain and France on the issue of preserving navigation in the Red Sea. The international relations expert pointed out that there are differences between the administration of US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu personally, and if the latter had been winning the war, it would have been easier for him to use the Republican Party to put pressure on Biden.

Hundreds of American demonstrators closed the entrance to the World Trade Center building in New York City , denouncing the "ongoing Israeli aggression" on the Gaza Strip since October 7. Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the site as part of a rally titled "Flood New York City for Palestine." The demonstrators carried banners denouncing the Israeli war on Gaza and what they described as genocide committed against the residents of the Strip. The demonstrators affirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and demanded the lifting of the siege on the Gaza Strip and an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The demonstrators held a funeral for the children killed by the Israeli bombing of Gaza.

Rashida Tlaib, the only American congresswoman of Palestinian origin, continues her strong hostility toward Israel and rebukes American lawmakers who meet with Netanyahu. The Times of Israel staff analyzes Tlaib's position. Tlaib says that anyone who meets war criminal Netanyahu is an outright supporter of genocide. Tlaib's comments come less than a week after a member of her party, Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, met with Netanyahu during his visit to Israel on an official Intelligence Committee trip.

On October 31, Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense, signed a memorandum in which he announced that the Pentagon would not support congressional visits to Israel in reference to restricting unnecessary security measures in the region.

Tlaib also criticizes Joe Biden for supporting Israel in its war against Hamas and accuses him of genocide of Palestinians. She addresses him through a video by saying: Support the ceasefire or do not depend on us in the 2024 elections. In the video, Tlaib declared: From the river to the sea. Palestine will be liberated. This prompted Congress to criticize her, but she insisted that this was a call for freedom and the protection of human rights. Tlaib had previously called for a two-state solution, which would effectively end Israel.

Tlaib is the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, and represents the state of Michigan, which has a large Muslim population and the largest Palestinian community in the United States. Tlaib voted with nine other Democrats against the House resolution condemning Hamas. The rest were Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Cortez of New York, Jamaal Bowman of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Al Green of Texas, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Andre Carson of Indiana, and Delia Ramirez of Illinois.

Most of these votes are the voices of progressive Democratic Party lawmakers who have been highly critical of Israel even before the Gaza war. In 2019, Israel refused Tlaib and her colleague Ilhan entry to its territory to visit her grandmother because of their support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel. Tlaib also rejected Israels offer to allow her grandmother to enter the West Bank. To what extent can voices similar to Tlaibs influence the American decision?

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

Palestinian armed group Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and deployed its militants to infiltrate Jewish settlements near the countrys border with Gaza on 07 October 2023. The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."

It is the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war, as the Palestinian resistance killed more than 1,200, wounded more than 5,132 others, and captured more than 250, most of them military personnel, some of whom were high-ranking officers in the army.

Regarding what is happening in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) representative Osama Hamdan said that the Israeli aggression there left 313 martyrs and injured more than 3,000, which is a continuation of the plans of the Netanyahu government. The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to about 21,507 martyrs, and the killing of more than 7,700 Palestinian children. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The number wounded was 55,915. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said much earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 7,500, including including 4,700 children and women, and this number had not changes in recent weeks.

The Israeli bombing led to the killing of 126 Hezbollah members, a number of civilians, and 3 journalists. Lebanons Health Ministry released an official casualty numbers in fighting, saying 77 people were killed and 251 wounded since the start of the war on Gaza.

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

The officially announced number of deaths among the Israeli army since the start of the ground incursion on October 27th to 174, and 502 deaths since the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on the 7th of the same month. Among them are 56 with the rank of platoon commander, 43 with the rank of company commander, 8 with the rank of battalion commander, and 5 with the rank of brigade commander. These officers constitute 23% of the total deaths of the Israeli army in the war on Gaza.

The Israeli army reported that 2,159 officers and soldiers had been injured since the beginning of the war, and that 329 of these wounded were seriously injured, 576 moderate, and 1,161 minor. Since the start of the ground incursion, the number of wounded rose to 921. The Israeli army reported that 198 of the wounded soldiers had serious injuries, 327 moderate injuries, and 349 minor injuries.

Israeli media reported that 27% of the Israeli military casualties in the war were officers. In detail, the media highlighted that three brigade commanders, four battalion commanders, and other senior officers have been killed in the war so far.

At least 12,227 Israelis were injured, according to i24 TV. The IDF updated the number of soldiers injured in the war and attacks on October 7 to 1,683.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far.

According to some reports statistics indicate that 20% of the Israeli losses were due to friendly fire. Because the nature of the battle has become completely different from what was expected, and it lacks a front line.

The chief of the Disabled Veterans Organization, Edan Kleiman, told Bloomberg the number of injuries would probably mount to around 20,000 if traumatized soldiers are counted. Kleiman also added that this marks the first time Israeli ranks witnessed such a high number of injuries that must be rehabilitated, as Israeli authorities do not recognize the severity of the matter or the situation. Bloomberg also noted the increased number of injured soldiers who are also diagnosed with trauma disorders, adding extra medical costs for rehab and compensation that are not accounted for.

In this context, Israeli political scientist and professor of public military policy, Yagil Levy, remarked that There could be a long-term impact if we see a big rate of people with disabilities that Israel must rehabilitate, which can produce economic issues as well as social issues. Bloomberg addressed how "wounded veterans would have to face a new reality, dealing with impairments, even after their survivor's guilt manifests," adding that the injuries sustained during the war in Gaza will serve as a reminder for the future.

Hostages

Israel had previously estimated there were 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody. Israel declared 19 out of 135 people in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages. Israel considers those still held by Hamas to be hostages regardless of whether they are dead or alive.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy earlier had told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children.

Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023:

Hamas still held 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war

The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead

117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females

126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals

Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen

Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older.

There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack

Hamas had released 110 hostages so far  86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals.

Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.

According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) and the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission released a new tally of Palestinians detained by "Israel", revealing that the number of Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank has risen to 4,795. Some 150 women have been arrested thus far, both from the West Bank and the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948. Additionally, more than 255 children had been arrested. Israel said that, since the beginning of the war, approximately 2,550 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Valleys Division, approximately 1,300 of whom are affiliated with Hamas.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 28 December 2023 - Day 672

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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 UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 25 December 2023, the Russian Navy's Ropucha class Landing Ship Tank (LST) Novocherkassk was completely destroyed following a Ukrainian strike while alongside at the port of Feodosia, on the south coast of Russian-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 incident takes the number of LSTs Russia has lost since the invasion to three: the Saratov sank on 24 March 2022, while the Minsk was functionally destroyed in dry dock on 13 September 2023. Two additional LSTs have likely been damaged.

Russia likely planned to use its LST force to launch significant amphibious assaults during the invasion and it doubled the number of these vessels in the Black Sea during the build-up to the 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.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 28, there were 42x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 2x missile and 40x air strikes, carried out 33x 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 Klyusy, Leonivka, Buchky (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Studenok Volfyne, Myropillya, Uhroidy, Ryasne, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Mala Vovcha, Budarky, Kam'yanka (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Petropavlivka and Hlushkivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Nevs'ke, Novolyubivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Kolodyazi, Yampolivka, Sivers'k, Spirne, Pereizne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks of the Russian adversary near Bohdanivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made failed assaults to breach Ukrainian defense. Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Ivanivske, Kalynivka, Stupochky (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 10x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, conducted unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'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, conducted 2x failed attacks on Ukrainian positions. The settlements of Hostre, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The Russian invaders launched an air strike near the settlement of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The adversary fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Urozhaine, Makarivka, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x Russian attacks near Robotyne and south of Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary, with air support, made failed attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Poltavka, Zaliznychne, Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Russian adversary fired artillery at the settlements of Zolota Balka, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Kherson, Sofiivka and Stanislav (Kherson oblast).

The Russian occupiers 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 13x unsuccessful assaults. The attacks were repelled and the 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 28, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 17x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment, and 2x strikes on air defense systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 4x artillery systems and 2x 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 aviation and artillery repelled six attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 30th, 43rd, and 60th, mechanised, 57th motorised infantry, 10th mountain assault, and 95th air assault brigades near Ivanovka and Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy's losses amounted to 55 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrowers repelled three attacks launched by AFU 24th, 63rd mechanised, and 5th National Guard brigades near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 210 Ukrainian troops, one tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were neutralised. U.S.-made M109 Paladin and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were hit during counter-battery warfare.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd, 28th mechanised brigades, and 92nd Assault Brigade close to Andreyevka and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 239 Ukrainian personnel, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, as well as five pick-up trucks. In counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, one Msta-B howitzer, three D-20 guns 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 near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 115 Ukrainian troops and three pick-up trucks. In counterbattery warfare, the Russian troops wiped out one U.S.-made 198 and one UK-made FH-70 howitzers, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces supported by air strikes and artillery fire defeated a cluster of manpower and hardware of the enemy near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost up to 80 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Msta-B howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two D-30 howitzers were eliminated.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian troops supported by artillery, the AFU lost up to 60 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

During the counter-battery warfare, the following artillery pieces were hit: one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, two Msta-B howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged a POL depot for AFU's military hardware, manpower and hardware in 138 areas during the day. Fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down one Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force close Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian air defence means have shot down two Su-25 airplanes of Ukrainian Air Force near Novogrigorovka (Zaporozhye region) and Tokarevka (Kherson region). In addition, seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles were intercepted. In addition, 33 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Novodruzhesk, Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), Aleksandrovka, Verkhnetoretskoye, Staromikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Verbovoye and Pshenichnoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 563 airplanes and 262 helicopters, 10,154 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,355 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,550 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,785 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Russo-Ukraine War - 29 December 2023 - Day 673

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 the previous night, Russian forces launched a massive missile strike against Ukraine, attacking critical infrastructure, industrial, military and civilian facilities. Russian forces used about 160x means of air attack against Ukraine: missiles of various types and attack UAVs. Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 88x Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles and 27x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs.

The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains difficult.

During the day of December 29, there were 31x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 134x missile and 60x air strikes, carried out 36x 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 Krasni Lozy, Zaliznyi Mist, Bleshnya (Chernihiv oblast), Stepok, Zapsillya, Basivka, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Hur'iv Kozachok, Krasne Pershe, Ambarne (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, made failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. 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 (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the adversary conducted no offensives. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Serebryanka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the Russian attack near Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made an attempt to regain lost ground. Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x Russian attacks near Stepove, Avdiivka, and 10x more attacks in the vicinities of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful attempts to improve his tactical situation. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Oleksandropil', and Novobakhmutivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'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 conducted 5x failed attacks on Ukrainian positions. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Urozhaine, (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the Russian attack west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 25x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Kam'yans'ke, Stepnohirs'k (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Ivanivka, Antonivka, Novotyahynka, Kherson (Kherson oblast), and Solonchaky (Mykolaiv oblast).

The Russian occupiers 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 9x unsuccessful assaults. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line and keep inflicting significant losses on the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 29, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment, and 3x strikes on air defense systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 3x artillery systems, 5x ammunition depots, and 2x important targets of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the period from 23 to 29 December 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted 50 group strikes and one mass strike with high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on the military industrial facilities,military airfield infrastructure, arsenals, storage sites for artillery ammunition, uncrewed surface vehicles, weapons and military hardware, as well as enemy POL bases.

In addition, the locations of the AFU units, nationalist formations, and foreign mercenaries were hit.

All the assigned targets have been engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, units the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line in several sectors and repelled 27 AFU attacks.

Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 30th, 43rd, 60th, and 115th mechanised brigades near Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Petropavlovka, and Kupyansk (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses over the week amounted to more than 265 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, 18 motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery improved the situation along the front line and repelled 13 AFU attacks.

In addition, units of the AFU 24th, 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades, 100th, 125th territorial defence brigades, 12th Special Operations Brigade, and 5th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade were engaged close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Torskoye, Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 1,205 Ukrainian troops, six tanks, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and 13 field artillery guns.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery liberated Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Assault detachments of the Southern MD's 8th Army 150th motorised rifle division and 1st Army Corps 5th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade made the most significant contribution to liberating the city.

Over the week, in this direction Russian troops repelled 34 enemy attacks and inflicted losses on AFU units close to Kurdyumovka, Kleschcheyevka, Krasnoye, Andreyevka, and Georgievka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,675 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 29 motor vehicles, one Czech-made RM-70 Vampire MLRS, and 49 field artillery guns.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled three enemy attacks.

Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 72nd Mechanised Brigade, and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Novomikhailovka, Vodyanoye, Paraskoveyevka, and Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 675 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, and 15 field artillery guns.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces engaged in active defence, during which repelled two AFU attacks near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 33rd, 65th, and 118th mechanised brigades near Orekhov, Malaya Tokmachka, Belogorye, Novodanilovka, and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 475 Ukrainian troops, one tank, six armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns.

In Kherson direction, the enemy's attempts to cross the Dnepr River and to land on the left bank and islands were thwarted by complex fire strikes and preventive actions of the Russian Armed Forces.

In addition, aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th, 36th, 38th marines brigades, 124th, 126th territorial defence brigades near Berislav, Tyaginka, Tokarevka, Nikolskoye, Zmievka, and Chernobayevka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 390 Ukrainian troops, 25 motor vehicles, 17 motorboats, and 22 field artillery guns.

Over the past week, 43 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered, 22 of the in Kupyansk direction.

Operational-Tactical and Missile Troops of the Russian Groups of Forces eliminated combat vehicles of air defence systems, namely, one Norwegian-made NASAMS, one German-made IRIS-T, one French-made Crotale-NG, one S-300 air defence system radar, and three U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar stations.

Aviation and air defence units intercepted 10 enemy aircraft and two helicopters over the week, namely one MiG-29, three Su-27, three Su-24, three Su-25, as well as two Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopters.   :  -29,  -27,  -24   -25,     -8   .

In addition, 33 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles, four HARM anti-radiation missiles, one JDAM guided bombs, one Neptune anti-ship missile, and 251 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down.

In total, 564 airplanes and 263 helicopters, 10,206 unmanned aerial vehicles, 445 air defence missile systems, 14,383 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,190 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,564 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 16,833 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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JN.1 variant may develop into dominant strain in China; various respiratory diseases may co-exist in winter, spring: NHC

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Dec 28, 2023 07:58 PM

The JN.1 variant may develop into the dominant strain in China due to factors such as its continuous transfer from abroad and the movement of people before and after the Spring Festival, contributing to the increase in COVID-19 cases and increasing the risk of severe illness and death among vulnerable populations, an official from the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Thursday.

Experts predicted that China will continue to see a trend of alternating or simultaneous outbreaks of various respiratory diseases during this winter and spring in 2024, Li Zhengmao from the NHC said at a press conference on Thursday.

The JN.1 variant of COVID-19 has been rapidly spreading around the globe and has already appeared in more than 40 countries, including the US, France, Singapore and India. On December 19, the World Health Organization issued a preliminary risk assessment, listing JN.1 as a "variant of concern" and the WHO also noted that the strain has significant transmission advantages compared to other circulating variants.

Li said at the press conference that monitoring data show that the proportion of the JN.1 variant among locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 in China is currently relatively low but is showing an upward trend. A total of 490 JN.1 variant cases have been reported nationwide, including 443 imported cases, accounting for 90 percent, and 47 local cases.

Existing evidence shows that the JN.1 variant has shown immune evasion and increased transmissibility, but its pathogenicity has not increased, and specific antiviral drugs remain effective, Li said.

Li noted that with the approach of the New Year's Day holidays and the Spring Festival travel rush, there may be an increased risk of infectious disease transmission due to increased population movement.

This week, the number of respiratory disease diagnoses and instances of treatment across medical institutions nationwide has increased compared to last week. The current respiratory diseases are mainly influenza, with a decrease in mycoplasma pneumoniae infections and COVID-19 infections at a low level, NHC spokesperson Mi Feng told the press conference.

Medical services in various regions are returning to normal seasonal levels, Mi added.

But in response to the increasing risk of respiratory disease, NHC officials also called for the public to continue practicing good hygiene habits such as frequent ventilation, hand washing, and social distancing. Elderly people, those with severe chronic underlying diseases, and pregnant women are urged to avoid going to crowded places.

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Xi Jinping appoints China's top naval commander

Admiral Hu Jongming will oversee the largest navy in the world by number of battleships.

By RFA Staff 2023.12.27 -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has promoted two senior officers to generals, including Hu Zhongming, who was named the top commander of the country's 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 People's 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 PLA's Southern Theater Command. It is one of the PLA's five major theater commands and its primary area of responsibility is the South China Sea.

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 Zhongmin's previous positions include deputy chief of staff of the navy, deputy commander of the Northern Theatre Command, commander of the Northern Theatre's 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. Hu's 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."

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 China's 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," Hu's 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 nation's 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 China's rights and interests," said Japan's 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.

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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Pentagon hyping of 'decisive year' in 'Indo-Pacific' exposes military hegemony, Cold War mentality toward China

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 28, 2023 09:28 PM

The US Department of Defense's hyping of 2023 being a "decisive year" in the "Indo-Pacific region" is filled with Cold War mentality and exposes its aggressiveness toward China, analysts said on Thursday, after the Pentagon on Wednesday released a fact sheet summarizing its work in the region.

"In this decisive decade, 2023 will be remembered as a decisive year for implementing US defense strategy in Asia," US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a news release by the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Taking the form of a fact sheet, the Pentagon release rounded up some of its "achievements" in the past year with allies and partners to make the US forces' posture in the "Indo-Pacific region" "more mobile, distributed, resilient, and lethal," including forward stationing key US military units to Japan, sending more submarines and warplanes to Australia, gaining access to four new military bases in the Philippines, concluding a defense cooperation agreement with Papua New Guinea, and increasing strategic asset rotations such as submarines and bombers to the Korean Peninsula.

The Pentagon outlined its billions of dollars of investments in procurement and development in military capabilities as well as in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, its support of Japan's decision to acquire missiles that can strike another country, an AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine and defense industrial base cooperation with Australia as well as bolstering of India's defense modernization plans.

It also summarized some of its exchanges with countries in the region, including joint exercises with the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Japan, Australia and South Korea.

While the Pentagon did not mention China by name, most of the actions mentioned in the fact sheet target China, observers said.

"If you put the locations named in the list on a map, you can clearly see the US military is forming a strategic encirclement taking advantage of footholds in the form of its allies and partners," a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

Many of the so-called achievements are very sensitive and can lead to or have already resulted in serious consequences, the expert said, citing as examples the danger of Japan abandoning its post-war "self-defense only" principle, the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine plan risking nuclear proliferation, and the US' support for the Philippines inciting the Southeast Asian country to repeatedly provoke China over Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, causing tensions in the region.

These aggressive moves are reflections of the US' Cold War mentality and its pursuit of military hegemony through bloc confrontation, which will only harm peace and stability in the region and the world, the expert said.

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Revised regulations on Party disciplinary action issued to demonstrate CPC's firm determination to promote continual reform

Global Times

By Yu Xi Published: Dec 28, 2023 08:35 PM

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has recently issued the revised Regulations on CPC Disciplinary Action, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle unique challenges facing a party as large as the CPC and improve the systems for practicing comprehensive and rigorous self-governance. It fully demonstrates the CPC's firm determination and strong will to promote continual reform, China's top anti-graft body said on Thursday.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Central Committee has revised the Regulations on three occasions, adhering to a strict tone and continuously improving disciplinary rules, which has sent a strong signal that the Party's governance will become more resolute and disciplinary actions will be more stringent, according to a release from the website of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision.

The revised regulations further comprehensively strengthen discipline and rules of the Party, and provide solid disciplinary safeguards to build China into a strong country and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a path to Chinese modernization, according to the release.

China has continued its anti-corruption efforts through 2023, intensifying measures in some key sectors and expanding its scope to safeguard the country's high-quality economic and social development.

The CPC's anti-corruption efforts this year have reached an unprecedented level, which have involved sectors such as finance, education and healthcare, Zhang Xixian, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Zhang emphasized the need to further strengthen the anti-corruption efforts from a fundamental perspective.

In the first three quarters of 2023, a total of 54 officials registered with and supervised by the CPC Central Committee have been investigated on suspected corruption by discipline inspection and supervision agencies. A total of 2,480 officials at department and bureau level, and more than 20,000 officials at county and division level have been investigated, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Hu Wenming, former chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Company Limited, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for bribery and abuse of power on Tuesday.

In November, the top anti-graft body announced that Zhang Hongli, former vice president of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, was placed under investigation for suspected severe violations of Party discipline and laws, an example showing that the anti-corruption efforts have been expanded to cover more key sectors.

In recent years, anti-corruption efforts in China have expanded to not only corruption related to officials but also corruption related to the national economy and everyday life, Yang Xuedong, a professor from the department of political science at Tsinghua University told the Global Times on Thursday.

"It is a long-term and arduous task, which also demonstrates the Party's determination to ongoing anti-corruption efforts," Yang said.

Experts believe that the anti-corruption efforts will be continued as key focus in 2024.

Since the 18th National Congress, under the new situation of comprehensively strengthening Party discipline and rules, there have been some new trends in corruption. These new trends and characteristics have sounded the alarm for the anti-corruption efforts in 2024, Zhang said.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on December 28, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2023-12-28 23:00

AFP: China's 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.a

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 China's competent authorities, the progress of some cable projects through the South China Sea has been slowed down. What's your comments?a

Mao Ning: 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 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 China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law. They provide sound legal safeguards to international undersea cables that travel through waters under China's jurisdiction.

China welcomes and supports other countries and telecommunication companies in laying international undersea cables in waters under China's 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.

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China urges regional alert as US plans to reclaim Pacific airfield

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 7:38 PM

China's Defense Ministry has asked the countries in the Asia-Pacific to be on high alert as the United States steps up military deployment in the region.

Beijing on Thursday urged the regional countries to be vigilant after reports of a US plan to revive a Pacific airfield that launched the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945.

"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 defense ministry, said at a news conference.

"Its goal is for its own selfish gains and to maintain its hegemony. Its nature is to stoke confrontation," the official said of the United States.

Earlier in December, a US air force general told Japan's Nikkei Asia newspaper that the Pentagon 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.

General Kenneth Wilsbach, commander of Pacific Air Forc, said the North Airfield "has extensive pavement underneath the overgrown jungle. We'll be clearing that jungle out between now and summertime."

"If you pay attention in the next few months, you will see significant progress," he added, without providing a timeline for when the airfield will be in use.

"The United States continues to strengthen its Asia-Pacific deployments, this is full of a Cold War mindset," Wu Qian said.

The airfield, abandoned after World War II, lies on Tinian Island, part of the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a US territory.

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Unpaid wages lead Sichuan doctors to protest on window ledges

Local officials deny the protest was about unpaid wages, but observers say it is a mounting cross-industry crisis.

By Yitong Wu for RFA Cantonese 2023.12.28 -- 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 staff's 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 Bulletin's Strike Map each year are related at least in part to wage arrears, it said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.

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Vietnam Wary of China's 'Swift, Large-Scale' Investment

By Ha Nguyen December 28, 2023

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 Tuat's 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 Trade's 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 ministry's 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 Vietnam's 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," he 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 Beijing's 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.

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Xi stresses fostering new dynamics in ties with world

Global Times

Meeting guides direction of nation's foreign affairs work on new journey

By Yang Sheng and Zhang Yuying Published: Dec 29, 2023 12:03 AM

China concluded the latest Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs on Thursday, with the participation of top leaders and senior officials covering the Party and central and local governments, as well as all departments and agencies related to foreign affairs.

This conference, held at the end of 2023, the first year that the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China are implemented, will guide the direction of China's work relating to foreign affairs on the new journey, experts noted. The last conference of this kind was held in 2018.

The Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing on December 27-28. 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, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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.

Historic achievements

When highlighting the historic achievements since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, which was held in 2012, Xi said "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."

"We have followed the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, and played an increasingly important and constructive role in international affairs. 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," Xi noted.

Cui Hongjian, professor of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday that "when dealing with other major powers, China now has its own position, stance and firmness, rather than blindly following other major powers. Whether it's in ties with the US or the EU, we have all eased the previous tensions."

During this process, China has not been intimidated by bullying and pressure from others, and "we are pushing forward the construction of ties with other major powers," Cui noted.

Xi said in his speech that "we have expanded a comprehensive strategic layout, and formed a wide-ranging, high-quality global network of partnerships," and "we have advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and established the world's most broad-based and largest platform for international cooperation."

"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," and "we have taken an active part in global governance, and shown the way in reforming the international system and order," the Chinese president remarked.

Cui said, "Another notable characteristic of China's diplomacy is that China has always insisted on its own stance, and refuses to take sides in any conflicts that have occurred in recent years. We have found a path that not only fits China's own interests but also serves the shared interests of the international community."

In addition, China also contributes to the mediation of conflicts and tensions, evidenced by the China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran on the restoration of diplomatic relations, one of the key contributions that China has made to a world in turbulence, Cui said.

Major challenges

In the past five years, the achievements in the field of foreign affairs work that China has made have helped it to overcome a series of challenges, including the US-launched trade war in 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disruption to supply and industrial chains after the outbreak of Ukraine crisis, said experts.

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, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday that "the most important outcome of the last foreign affairs conference in 2018 is that it established the guiding position of Xi Jinping thought on diplomacy. This allows China's diplomacy to play the role of a major engine for global recovery and become a key stabilizer of world peace in general during the profound changes in the world unseen in the past century."

The ongoing Ukraine crisis and the latest round of the Palestine-Israel conflict in Gaza all indicate that the world is at a "turning point," as "we, China and many of China's partners, want the world to turn to a direction of building a global community of shared future, but a few countries want to separate the world into blocs and alliances who play a zero-sum game with each other, and to impose nationalism, isolationism and protectionism when governing their own countries, rather than keep pushing and reforming the economic globalization," Li noted.

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, the conference noted.

Future tasks

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," the conference noted.

"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," the conference highlighted.

Chinese analysts said that in the future, China will still serve as a responsible power and a stabilizer for the international system, and push for reform and improvements in the current international order and economic globalization in a constructive way.

"We are now standing on a higher position, and our vision has also reached new heights. The international community has higher expectations of us when dealing with global challenges and hot spot issues," so this makes our work more important and honorable, but also more difficult and complex, as we need to learn to deal with more forces, to take more responsibilities, and handle more cases that we have never had before, Cui said.

"We need to have an overall review of our work relating to foreign affairs, in terms of mindsets, frameworks and paths, so that we can come up with new ideas and approaches that can fit new demands and new changes," Cui noted.

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North Korea's Kim orders military to 'accelerate' war preparations due to US' confrontational moves

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 8:08 AM

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has ordered the military to "accelerate" war preparations, including its nuclear program, in a bid to counter what he calls unprecedented confrontational moves by the United States.

In a speech delivered at the year-end meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on Thursday, Kim "set forth the militant tasks for the People's Army and the munitions industry, nuclear weapons and civil defense sectors to further accelerate war preparations."

The North's leader also stressed that the "military situation" on the Korean peninsula had become "extreme" due to "unprecedented" anti-North confrontations with the US, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) further quoted Kim as saying.

The order came a week after Kim warned that his country would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if "provoked" with nukes. Earlier this week, he also described 2023 as a "year of great turn and great change" in which Pyongyang saw "eye-opening victories."

This is while South Korea, the US and Japan have ramped up their so-called defense cooperation in the face of an unprecedented series of weapons tests by the North this year.

Earlier this month, a US nuclear-powered submarine arrived in the South Korean port city of Busan. Washington also flew its long-range bombers in drills with Seoul and Tokyo, only to irk Pyongyang.

The UN Security Council has adopted many resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs since it first conducted a nuclear test in 2006. The country has been under harsh sanctions by the United States and the United Nations Security Council for years.

But the North last year declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power and has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear program, which it says is defensive.

Pyongyang has previously warned that the US is increasing provocations of a "nuclear war" by deploying nuclear-capable bombers to the region. It said that US nuclear assets stationed on the Korean peninsula will become Pyongyang's "first targets for destruction" in the event of an actual conflict.

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Kim Jong Un Calls for Stepping Up 'War Preparations' Over US 'Confrontation Moves'

Sputnik News

20231228

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

A Sputnik

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French Departure From Niger Underscores Fading Influence

By Lisa Bryant December 28, 2023

France closes 2023 with a diminished presence in Africa's 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 a following coups in all three countries condemned by France, the former colonial power a 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 a stance some observers believe must change.

"It's 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, it's 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.

"France's retreat from Niger signals a new era," he said. "It underscores a broader trend of needing to rethink security cooperation a and of cooperation overall."

Filling the void

France's 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 a all three countries at the heart of the Sahel insurgency a 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, Niger's 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. "There's 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 France's former colonial empire.

But a November report by France's 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 report's 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 Russia's 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 Institute's Sambe said he does not believe the Sahel's 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 region's weaknesses and especially fights against disinformation."

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India, Russia Reaffirm Friendship, Discuss Growing Trade, Strategic Ties

By Anjana Pasricha December 28, 2023

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 Russia's 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 India's 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."

Putin's 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 India's 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 India's 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 India's "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 India's 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."

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Iran warns neighbors not to disrupt ties with hollow remarks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 28, 2023

Bandar Abbas, IRNA -- Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has warned neighboring countries against making hollow remarks regarding three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Vahidi referred to recent statements made by some Russian and Arab officials regarding the Iranian Persian Gulf islands, underlining that such baseless and empty statements are made to disrupt the ties among countries of the region.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian charge d'affaires on December 23, in the absence of the country's ambassador, and handed over a note of protest over the statement the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum issued in Morocco on the three Iranian islands of Bumusa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb.

That statement voiced support for peaceful solutions to resolve what the participants called a conflict between Iran and the UAE over the islands.

The three Persian Gulf islands have historically been a part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by an abundance of historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and worldwide. However, the UAE has repeatedly laid unfounded claim to the islands.

3266**9417

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IRGC chief calls Martyr Razi Mousavi one of most influential Iran commanders

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 28, 2023

Bandar Abbas, IRNA -- Major General Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), has emphasized that Martyr Seyyed Razi Mousavi was one of the most experienced and effective commanders of the IRGC in the resistance front.

General Salami made the remarks in a funeral procession for Martyr Mousavi in downtown Tehran on Thursday morning.

He went on to say that Martyr Mousavi was one of the most loyal companions of IRGC Quds Force's late Commander Qassem Soleimani, who spent 45 years in fighting on different fronts. Salami also noted that Iran will take revenge for the assassination of Martyr Soleimani in due time and place.

Brigadier General Seyed Razi Mousavi, who served in Syria as a military advisor, was martyred on Monday in a terrorist attack by the Israeli regime in the Syrian capital city of Damascus.

4208**2050

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IRGC chief: Revenge for general's assassination will be Israel's demise

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 9:31 AM

The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran's revenge for Israel's assassination of a senior military advisor in Syria will be nothing but the total elimination of the occupying regime.

Major General Hossein Salami made the remarks on Thursday during a funeral procession for Brigadier General Seyyed Razi Mousavi, an IRGC commander who was martyred in a terrorist Israeli airstrike in a Damascus neighborhood three days ago

"Seyyed Razi's martyrdom came out of the incapability of the Zionist regime," he said. "We will never exercise patience in the face of the martyrdom of our people. Seyyed Razi's revenge will be nothing but the elimination of the Zionist regime."

Salami also described Mousavi as "one of the most experienced and effective" IRGC commanders in the resistance front.

The slain commander was a comrade of Iran's legendary anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, he said, adding that Mousavi never left the field of jihad (endeavor for the sake of God) over the past 45 years.

General Soleimani was assassinated by the US in Iraq in January 2020. He was highly revered due to his key role in fighting the US-created and Israeli-supported Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

"He (Mousavi) remained steadfast after [the assassination of] Haj Qassem and accompanied [Commander of the IRGC's Quds Force Brigadier General Esmail] Qa'ani," Salami said.

"The enemy knew him better than us because it had received severe blows from him. The enemy knew what role and influence he had on the endless chain of power."

'Unlike resistance, Israel's power will end'

Salami also said that Operation Al-Aqsa Storm launched by the Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement against Israel on October 7 was fully designed and carried out by the Palestinians themselves.

The operation, he noted, was a reaction to 75 years of Israeli occupation, crimes, and murders of the Palestinian youth as well as the regime's desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque and nightly raids in the West Bank.

The resistance groups "Hamas and Jihad are capable of producing weapons inside Gaza... The resistance will not end, but what ends is the Zionist regime's power."

"Certainly, the Zionist regime is not capable of providing a peaceful life for the world's Jews. It is not able to continue in the face of the people of Gaza."

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December 28, 2023

Release

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss Israel's military campaign in Gaza and preparations for the stabilization phase that will follow major combat operations. The Secretary reiterated U.S. resolve to ensure Hamas can no longer threaten Israel's security and underscored the importance of protecting Gaza's civilians and accelerating humanitarian assistance.

Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant also discussed threats to regional security, including Hizballah's destabilizing activities in southern Lebanon, Iran-aligned militia attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and Houthi assaults against international commerce in the Red Sea.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3627697/

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Japanese Gov't OKs Relocation of US Base in Okinawa Though Local Gov't Opposed - Reports

Sputnik News

20231228

TOKYO (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

A Sputnik

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Disinformation campaign spurred student attack on Rohingya shelter, Indonesian activists say

Some groups may be fanning fear for political reasons ahead of February polls, they add.

By Uzair Thamrin and Pizaro Gozali Idrus for BenarNews 2023.12.28 -- 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 Wednesday's 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 couldn't be a burden because the government is not spending money on them, Hendra said.

"There's no government budget allocated for refugee management," he said.

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 province's villagers have been demanding they be sent back, claiming there weren't 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.

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.

Della Masnida, 20, a student at Abulyatama University who took part in Wednesday's incident at the shelter, accused Rohingya refugees of making "unreasonable demands."

"They came here uninvited, but they act like this is their country. We don't think that's 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 Myanmar's 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.

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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Myanmar junta and ethnic army alliance fail to reach agreement to reduce combat

Both sides are set to meet again for a third round of talks in January.

By RFA Burmese 2023.12.28 -- Myanmar's 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 other's demands, officials from one of the alliance's ethnic armies said.

The Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Ta'ang 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 China's 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.

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 Myanmar's 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.

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 China's 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.

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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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answers to media questions during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Moscow, December 27, 2023

27 December 2023 15:53

2637-27-12-2023

Ladies and gentlemen,

We have held talks at the foreign minister level as part of the visit to the Russian Federation of my colleague and friend, Foreign Minister of the Republic of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Yesterday, his Excellency, Mr Minister, had detailed talks as co-chair of the Russia-India Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation with the Russian co-chair, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

Today, we noted the positive outcome of these talks consisting of concrete agreements on ways to further deepen our trade, economic and investment ties, as well as relations in other spheres within the Intergovernmental Commission's purview.

Yesterday's talks and our meeting today reaffirmed the trust-based nature of Moscow's relations with New Delhi, which are rooted in mutual respect and immune to momentary fluctuations. These contacts fully reflect the very nature of our cooperation within our special privileged strategic partnership, as set forth in the documents signed by the leaders of Russia and India.

We spoke in favour of maintaining proactive political dialogue for steadily strengthening our bilateral relations. We paid special attention to stepping up our practical cooperation in addition to the agreements reached yesterday within the Intergovernmental Commission. Today, we agreed on several steps which are expected to enable us to expand our cooperation, including as we prepare to launch the International North-South Transport Corridor, create the Chennai-Vladivostok route and work together to develop the Northern Sea Route, which is a promising avenue for cooperation.

We agreed on the need to expand the contractual legal framework for bilateral relations, including by accelerating efforts to sign an agreement on protecting mutual investment. There is another important multilateral document on the agenda - the agreement creating a Free Trade Area between India and the EAEU. It is currently being drafted.

We discussed prospects for military-technical cooperation, including joint production of modern weapons. We made progress in this area as well. Our interaction is strategic in this respect. Strengthening this cooperation meets the national interests of our states and helps maintain security in Eurasia. We have respect for our Indian colleagues' efforts to diversify ties in military-technical cooperation. We also understand and are willing to support their initiative to manufacture combat hardware under the 'Make in India' programme. We are ready to interact with them in this respect.

We confirmed our desire to intensify cooperation in energy. This is also a strategic area in our cooperation. I am referring to the buildup of hydrocarbon exports from Russia to India, and interaction in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, primarily, the continuing implementation of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant project. This is our practical contribution to India's efforts to meet its needs in clean and safe energy of its own production.

We positively assessed our bilateral cooperation on manned space programmes, rocket engine manufacturing and satellite navigation systems.

We spoke at length about regional and international affairs. We focused on our interaction at multilateral venues, primarily the UN, where Russia supports India's striving to become a permanent Security Council member along with representatives of Latin America and Africa. We also discussed our cooperation in the SCO and BRICS where Russia's turn "on watch" as chair starts on January 1.

We are sincerely grateful to our Indian colleagues for their striving to adopt a responsible approach to discussing and resolving regional and global problems in line with the principles of equitable and fair international cooperation. This approach is typical of India's position on the developments in Ukraine and around it.

Today, we also reviewed other regional issues. This applies, in part, to the situation in the Asia-Pacific Region in the context of the processes that are developing there, probably, even contrary to ASEAN's earlier agreements.

We discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Our common interest (there is no doubt about this) lies in searching for solutions that will reflect the balance of interests in enormous Eurasia and adjacent regions. These solutions should not provoke confrontational approaches, some of which are brought in from outside our common region.

I am grateful to my colleague and friend for these talks.

Question: Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin said the Global North economies were becoming increasingly unstable while the economies of the east and the south were picking up pace. The North-South corridor is a most promising project that will expand transport links with the growing economies. Considering the mounting Western pressure, including the sanctions, can we expect this project to get a second wind?

Sergey Lavrov: Mr Oreshkin laid out his assessments based on statistical data which are abundantly available. They convincingly reveal the trend for regrouping the forces in the global economy and in finance. This process is leading to a steady increase in the share of the economies of the Global East and Global South and indicates a decline in the role of the Global North, which we are accustomed to associating with the G7 and their closest allies. This is objective statistical data.

The trend will become more entrenched in connection with the expansion of BRICS, among other things. Following the accession of new members, the aggregate GDP of the BRICS countries will significantly exceed the GDP of the G7 countries. This process of the natural evolution of the global economy is also connected with numerous mistakes and unacceptable methods that the United States and its allies are using to hold back the objective course of history.

Today, we mentioned the fact that our positions overlap. We are against the distortion of the principles of international law, free markets, and fair competition, and we find the violations of the tenets underlying globalisation that the West has promoted for so long, unacceptable. It did not hesitate to part ways with them, and began to abuse the position of its reserve currencies and other mechanisms which were created under the banner of serving all of humanity. Of course, the West has lost much of its credibility. It now makes more sense to rely on the role of the Global Majority when it comes to advancing the global economy not to the detriment of one group, but for everyone's benefit.

In addition to the Chennai-Vladivostok and the Northern Sea Route, we discussed the North-South transport corridor. It does not need a second wind. It has it already. The project has created much enthusiasm among the stakeholder countries. The project will soon be completed.

Question (retranslated from English): India talks like an equal partner with everyone, the golden billion countries and the Global South, as we could see in New Delhi's communiquA issued at the close of the G20 summit. How important is this policy for Russia?

Sergey Lavrov: 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 India's cooperation with other countries that show similar respect to all members of the international community. This policy embodies the central provision of the UN Charter, which is (as written in that document) about respect for the sovereign equality of states.

India is a vivid example of how this principle translates into real life. Russia is also pursuing a policy that is free of any attempts to punish anyone or act in a biased manner with regard to any country. This is not what our principles and manners are all about. We see examples from another group of countries, including, as was earlier said, the golden billion countries.

You mentioned the G20 summit in New Delhi which took place this autumn. It was truly a triumph of India's foreign policy and multilateral diplomacy, which was made possible to a great extent by the fact that the G20 chairman cut short the attempts to impart a unilateral dimension to the final document. The declaration reflects a balance of interests. It is a model of how work in the G20 and other multilateral organisations, including the UN and its Security Council, should be organised.

As I made clear earlier, we support India's candidacy to join this body.

Question: You said Ukraine was discussed today. What does Moscow think about settling the issues in Kiev between its military and political leaders? What can you say about the leaks in the US media regarding the West's plans to freeze the Ukraine conflict and portray it as a winner?

Sergey Lavrov: I will not comment on the squabbles in Kiev between the various branches of government and the army command. This is an internal matter for a country that has lost its independence and is being governed from outside. Let those who are at the helm take care of this particular matter.

With regard to the leaks about the West's plans to freeze the Ukraine conflict and dress Ukraine up as a winner, we are aware of them. We are aware of the ability of the West, primarily the United States, to declare a "victory." We saw how they "won" in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq under a false pretext. A "victory of democracy" was declared there a month later. Where is Iraq now, 20 years later? It shared Libya's fate to which the NATO countries had given special "care" and brought in "democracy" but destroyed statehood. Not a single country that has been used by the United States to advance its interests far from its shores has seen any improvement.

Take a look at the Middle East and Gaza that had been blocked by Washington for years amid their "efforts" to create a Palestinian state in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

Not to go too far from the US shores, let's take the world's poorest country, Haiti, which the United States has been "taking care of" for over 100 years now. The Americans used to declare non-existent victories before as well. I think they will manage to come up with an appropriate language again this time.

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Meeting with Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with CEO of Rostec State Corporation Sergei Chemezov.

December 28, 2023

14:10

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Chemezov, let's begin with state defence procurement.

Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov: Yes, I would like to note briefly that Rostec continues to be part of achieving national goals to provide for our state's technological sovereignty.

Of course, the implementation of the state defence order remains our priority. Artillery weapons, armoured vehicles, tanks, combat aircraft, firearms, drones, munitions, and other equipment are regularly being sent to the Army. Honestly, if we had not conducted a deep modernisation of our enterprises before 2022, we would not have been able to increase production several-fold, as we did last year and this year.

I can give you a good example: we boosted the production of munitions for firearms and MLRS by 50 times.

Vladimir Putin: And for cannon-launched artillery.

Sergei Chemezov: Cannon-launched artillery and MLRS.

We increased the output of light armored vehicles and equipment by 5.5 times and tanks by 7 times. So, this is a major increase.

Nevertheless, despite the special military operation, we have not forgotten about civilian equipment. Our main civilian projects are first, civilian aircraft. We pay a great deal of attention to this. In accordance with the programme that you emdorsed, we must produce over 500 aircraft of various types before 2030, including 270 MS-21 airliners, 142 Superjet-100 planes and 115 Tu-214s.

We currently have 18 MS-21 aircraft in various stages of completion; in 2024, we will establish serial production and transfer six planes to Aeroflot. We need to increase output gradually, and by 2029 manufacture up to 72 planes a year.

As for the Supejet-100...

Vladimir Putin: What about the engine?

Sergei Chemezov: It is the PD-8. It is already complete, the table inspections are finished, testing in a testbed aircraft complete, and soon we will begin certification flights, with the engine installed on the plane. We need to transfer 20 of them in 2024 to the airlines, and we will manufacture 20 of these planes per year.

As for engine manufacturing, I mentioned the PD-8. In 2024, plans call for receiving certification for the VK-650V engine. This is a helicopter engine; it will be installed on the Ansat and the Ka-226. They are currently equipped with foreign-made engines, but in 2024 we will complete testing and receive certification, I believe.

Generally speaking, many countries build aircraft, but only five manufacture engines, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France and Russia. To give you an example, it took Pratt & Whitney, an American company, 15 years to build an engine for the Airbus 320. We started designing our PD-8 in 2017 and completed it in 2023, that is, in six years. Probably, no one has ever accomplished this in such a record-breaking short time. We owe this success to our scientists, engineers and designers.

The St Petersburg-based ODK-Klimov has built a state-of-the-art design and manufacturing facility for the production of engines and turbines. We have already started production of the VK2500 and the TV3117 engines that are installed on Mi-17, Mi-8, Mi-171 helicopters and Ka-62 and Ka-52 military helicopters.

With regard to helicopter manufacturing, I mentioned Ansat earlier. In 2024, as soon as we get the new VK650 engine, we will increase its range from 500 kilometres to 660 kilometres, and with an extra fuel tank, the range will increase up to 800 kilometres. We are replacing all imported parts and components.

Vladimir Putin: Up to 800 kilometres?

Sergei Chemezov: Up to 800 kilometres with the extra tank. This is Ansat.

The engines are good and efficient, in general. The range will be up 660 kilometres without the extra tank.

Vladimir Putin: What about the speed?

Sergei Chemezov: They have a cruising speed of 250 km/h to 280 km/h.

In 2024, we will complete the second phase of certification of what is known as an offshore helicopter. We built it to the order of Rosneft. The helicopter will be used to service offshore platforms. Besides that, it can land and make emergency landings as necessary. It can land on water with a rubber pontoon ring inflating around it. It can land on sand as well. We took it to the Abu Dhabi show, and it got a lot of attention. The Malaysians have shown interest in it as well. They want to buy it, and so do the Arab countries.

We are going to use the Mi-171A3 to certify a passenger and a search and rescue helicopter.

With regard to the automotive industry, our companies are widely engaged in developing electric vehicles (EVs).

Vladimir Putin: And self-driving vehicles.

Sergei Chemezov: Self-driving vehicles, too.

Vladimir Putin: KAMAZ has outdone its competitors.

Sergei Chemezov: True, six KAMAZ lorries now operate on the Moscow-St Petersburg Motorway. In 2024, there will be 18 KAMAZ lorries running on that route.

In 2024, we will launch a similar autonomous quarry-type lorry. It is a huge dump lorry without a cab that will carry rock, rock mass, and the like without a driver.

I mentioned that KAMAZ makes electric buses; there are already 1,100 of them in Moscow. This year, we signed a contract for another 1,000, also for Moscow. We have sent buses to Volgograd, Kursk and Lipetsk. Now contracts with Rostov and Taganrog are underway. To sum up, the number of cities using electric buses is continuously growing. There is a demand for them.

KAMAZ has also made an electric car, but a small one. It is called the Atom. We are developing production of the Atom EV at the former Renault plant here in Moscow. I think we will be ready to sell these cars in 2025. The prototype will be finished in 2024, and we will start serial production on the assembly line in 2025.

Our company, Radio-Electronic Technologies, is producing electric charging stations. We have already set up over 200 of them.

Vladimir Putin: You should also establish gas stations.

Sergei Chemezov: We are building those as well.

Vladimir Putin: You are?

Sergei Chemezov: Yes, of course. We also make gas engines at KAMAZ.

Vladimir Putin: No, no, I'm talking about fueling stations.

Sergei Chemezov: We are building gas fueling stations. This is for liquefied natural gas. At one exhibition, we presented a mobile fueling station for gas, for LNG.

Vladimir Putin: Do you make medical equipment as well?

Sergei Chemezov: Medical equipment, yes.

Regarding import substitution, I would like to say a few words about KAMAZ. As soon as Mercedes left...

Vladimir Putin: Did you manage to overcome this situation?

Sergei Chemezov: In one year, we replaced 2,300 components that we learned to manufacture ourselves. Now the lorry designed with the Germans, the K5, is about 75-80 percent domestic content. Next year we will replace all the foreign components, 100 percent. We didn't just replace them, but even improved some of the specifications of this car. Our engine is more economical - about 22 litres per 100 kilometres instead of 25-27 litres before. It is also quieter. The service intervals are longer, too: 150,000 kilometres instead of 120,000 kilometres before. This development matches that of how our main competitors, Mercedes and Volvo, produce their own vehicles.

As for medicine and medical instrument-making, we have registered 150 different items of medical equipment with Rosdravnadzor (Federal Service for Monitoring Healthcare). This equipment is produced, in part, by our companies - Shvabe Holding, Ruselectronics and Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies.

Our CRET - Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies - was known for its lung ventilators during the Covid pandemic. Today, we have designed, together with emergency doctors, a mobile intensive care unit that is convenient for doctors and comfortable for patients. These units are much in demand today. We are already selling them.

Vladimir Putin: Well done.

<...>

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Russia reopens Burkina Faso embassy after three decades

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 6:06 PM

Russia has reopened its diplomatic mission in Burkina Faso after a gap of nearly 32 years.

The West African country has been distancing itself from its historical partner France over the past year.

The Russian Embassy in Ouagadougou was reopened on Thursday. It was closed in 1992.

This was all announced by the government of Burkina Faso and separately confirmed by the Russian Ambassador to Ivory Coast Alexei Saltykov.

"Russia formally reopened its embassy this Thursday in Ouagadougou," the Burkinabe Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

While announcing the news, Saltykov also said Russia's President Vladimir Putin would name the new ambassador to Burkina Faso. Saltykov is to head the mission in the meantime.

"Despite our physical absence here, bilateral cooperation in the political and economic fields has never ceased," he went on to say, describing Burkina Faso as "an old partner with whom we have solid and friendly ties."

Burkina Faso, once under French rule, is currently ruled by a military junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traore which seized power in September, the second coup in eight months against pro-France governments.

After the coup, France recalled its ambassador from Ouagadougou and has not replaced the envoy.

Burkina Faso's military leaders have suspended the French TV outlets LCI and France24 as well as Radio France Internationale (RFI) and expelled the correspondents of the French newspapers Liberation and Le Monde over their "subversive activities."

In September, Burkina Faso's Foreign Ministry ordered France's military attachA Emmanuel Pasquier and his team to leave over "subversive activities."

In October, the country signed a deal with Russia for the construction of a nuclear power plant to boost the energy supply to the Sahel nation.

Less than a quarter of the population in Burkina Faso has access to electricity.

Being one of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina Faso has been under the influence of terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Daesh that have killed thousands of its citizens, creating one of the fastest-growing humanitarian crises in Africa.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with TASS news agency, December 28, 2023

28 December 2023 07:22

2640-28-12-2023



Question: How can the Palestinian-Israeli conflict be settled? Does the two-state formula stand a chance? Or are other solutions to that years-long conflict being discussed behind the curtain?

Sergey Lavrov: Personally, we are not discussing anything behind the curtain; we always work in the open. It is time everyone drew a lesson from the consequences of US attempts to play at behind-the-curtain diplomacy in the Middle East. It was Washington's policy of monopolising mediation and undermining the international legal framework for a settlement that resulted in the current escalation in the conflict zone.

Russia's stand is based on the decisions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly and the Arab Peace Initiative. The formula for a lasting peace is well known. It involves establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem, a state living in peace and security alongside Israel. The task of international intermediaries is to help the parties launch a dialogue during which they can settle all their disputes. It will not be easy, of course, but the only alternative to talks is continuing bloodshed. Without a political horizon, Israelis and Palestinians will continue living from escalation to escalation, like they have over the past 75 years.

It is unacceptable to justify terrorist attacks, let alone instigate them, or to respond with the use of collective punishment methods in gross violation of international humanitarian law.

This vicious circle of violence must be broken, and the injustice from which several generations of Palestinians have been suffering must be righted. This is the only way that we can bring about stability in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation and in the Middle East as a whole.

The same logic must be used for post-crisis development in Gaza. I would prefer not to speak about details now, especially since all discussions of the future of the Palestinian enclave are based on various leaks and rumours. It is alarming that, according to the available information, the United States is again trying to solicit solutions that have nothing in common with international law, like it did in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and many other countries and regions, which have been left in ruins because of Washington's opportunistic actions.

We will focus above all on the opinion of the Palestinians themselves and also our regional partners. Ultimately, the adopted solution must ensure the realisation of the Palestinians' legitimate right to establish a state of their own in all their national territories, including the West Bank with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Question: Does Russia have any information showing changes in the volume of Western military assistance to Ukraine? Is it possible to say that the West has side-lined this issue during the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East? If so, what are the chances that Kiev will decide to hold talks with Moscow under such conditions?

Sergey Lavrov: Despite the abortive offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the West continues to send weapons to Kiev and to raise the stakes by using deadlier and longer-range systems in the Ukrainian conflict. NATO is supplying weapons, including cluster munitions and depleted uranium shells.

The so-called Ramstein format continues to function, and representatives of over 50 countries discuss Kiev's requests for military equipment and ammunition each month.

Tragic developments in the Middle East have temporarily ousted the Ukrainian crisis from the front pages of Western media outlets. However, the majority of unfriendly governments continue to prioritise Russia's strategic defeat on the battlefield. Neither Washington, nor Brussels refrain from assisting the Kiev regime because they realise that it would be doomed without such assistance. They remain committed to containing Russia at the expense of Ukrainians and their lives.

We have to state that the regime of Vladimir Zelensky is not inclined to make peace. Its representatives think in terms of war and resort to highly aggressive rhetoric. There is no talk of ending hostilities. On September 30, 2022, Zelensky banned talks with the leadership of Russia, and this ban remains in force. You are free to draw your own conclusions.

Question: More and more menacing developments are taking place in the field of arms control, including US preparations for nuclear tests in Nevada and the deployment of US systems, capable of launching intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, in Europe. Is it possible that during 2024, Washington will completely demolish all pillars of nuclear stability, and that arms control mechanisms will be entirely forgotten? Is it still possible to conduct dialogue on agreements in this sphere, including the New START Treaty?

Sergey Lavrov: The situation in the field of arms control continues to get worse, due to the destabilising policies and destructive actions of the United States. At the same time, the Americans are deliberately adding to the tension in the field of international security. These inseparably interlinked processes enrich one another.

As for the methods they use, the Americans opt either to dismantle contractual frameworks by withdrawing from them, as was the case with the ABM, INF and Open Skies treaties, or create conditions which make it impossible for the other side to fulfil their obligations. This is what happened with the CFE Treaty and the New START.

Washington follows a simple logic. The very foundations of US dominance are crumbling, which is largely attributable to the blunders of the Americans themselves, so confident were they in their exceptional nature, their infallibility and impunity. They placed their bets on force in an attempt to slow down the erosion of their hegemony. This is why they have been seeking to secure their military supremacy and have a free hand to use force. And this is how we can explain their refusal to accept any restrictions in terms of arms control or other instruments for ensuring a strategic balance of interests among international actors.

Let me share just one example with you: the United States used a far-fetched pretext for dismantling the INF Treaty. In reality, the United States felt that it needed the missiles banned by the treaty, including against China. The restrictions became a nuisance to them, so they got rid of them without any hesitation. This step clearly had a negative bearing on regional and global security. With the United States moving forward with its plans to deploy ground-based intermediate and shorter-range missiles in Europe and Asia-Pacific, Russia faces the increasingly urgent question of whether sticking with the moratorium on deploying similar weapons makes any sense, considering that this moratorium hinges upon the non-deployment of these US-made weapons in these regions.

As for the prospects for dialogue with the United States on the New START or reaching an agreement to replace it with another treaty, we sent a clear signal that there will be no dialogue as long as Washington continues with its anti-Russia policies. It is obvious to us that the American proposals on launching nuclear arms control talks while keeping them separate from the negative military and political context and the dismal state of relations between Russia and the West are inadequate. We can see through what Washington is after: they want to mitigate nuclear risks to themselves while securing an advantage in terms of other military capabilities. This approach, which the Americans refer to as compartmentalisation - a rather obscure and opaque notion, is absolutely unacceptable. It basically means that Russia is an enemy, but we want to get something from it. The fact that the United States and its allies persist with their efforts to promote escalation in and around Ukraine without hiding their intention of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, makes this even more unacceptable.

We do not reject the concept of arms control. That said, any eventual dialogue on ways of minimising the potential for conflict or agreement on the way we will coexist with the West in the future, would require equality and respect for Russia's core security interests, as well as acknowledgment of the whole new geopolitical reality. There is no point in discussing this topic any further unless the United States and its allies are ready to accept this.

Question: What are your expectations for the further development of relations between Moscow and Yerevan, given the past few months' complications in the bilateral dialogue? Do you think it is advisable to keep Russian military bases in Armenia? What is your assessment of the prospects for the republic's cooperation with NATO?

Sergey Lavrov: Unfortunately, official Yerevan has succumbed to Western persuasion and is trying to reformat its foreign policy. Armenia is ready to exchange the time-tested alliance with Moscow for some vague promises from the West, not even concrete assistance. To justify this strategic turnaround, they are trying to blame Russia for all Armenia's troubles, including the loss of Karabakh. We have repeatedly voiced Russia's concerns publicly, so there is no point in now once again listing the unfriendly steps taken by the Armenian authorities.

Armenia has been and remains our strategic partner in the South Caucasus. We are confident that all these difficulties are temporary and will be overcome with enough political will to do so. The sustainable and systematic expansion of Russian-Armenian ties meets the fundamental interests of the people in both states, who share common values and a common cultural code.

Trade, economic ties and industry-based dialogue between Moscow and Yerevan are making impressive progress, providing the groundwork for relations between the two countries and important support for the stability of the Armenian economy and the well-being of the Armenian population. The rapid growth of the republic's GDP in recent years is largely due to cooperation with Russia and Yerevan's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. On December 14-15, the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers, met for its 22nd session in Yerevan. Next year, Armenia will chair the EAEU. We wish our colleagues success.

Armenia is facing a number of challenges today. However, these challenges are unlikely to be removed with the help of Western players. Unlike Russia, the US and the EU do not seek to bring peace and stability to the republic or the South Caucasus. Their interest is completely different - they want to squeeze out Moscow and other regional countries and create a new hotbed of tension like the Balkans, the Middle East and Ukraine. The way out of this difficult situation is obvious. What is needed is to implement the trilateral agreements between Yerevan, Baku and Moscow at the highest level.

We believe that speculation on the expediency of keeping the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia can only do harm. The agreement on its deployment, signed on March 16, 1995, was primarily guided by both states' national interests and their common objective to strengthen stability in the South Caucasus. Today, our military is a key element in ensuring peace in this region.

Recently, Yerevan has been developing cooperation with NATO and some of its member states. This year, Armenia took part in several dozen events with the alliance. It continues to update its armed forces in accordance with NATO standards; the republic's military is undergoing training in a number of NATO member states.

This cannot but cause us concern. We have repeatedly drawn the attention of our Armenian colleagues to the fact that NATO's real goal is to strengthen its positions in the region and set the stage for manipulation under the "divide and rule" scheme. I hope that Yerevan is aware that deepening interaction with the alliance leads to a loss of sovereignty in national defence and security.

Question: At the end of this year, there has been a sharp deterioration in the situation in the Middle East; in the summer, the African continent had tumultuous times. Does the Russian side expect a build-up of tension in any other regions in the coming year? Where are the greatest risks?

Sergey Lavrov: The world is remains stormy, and one of the reasons is that the Western policymakers provoke crises thousands of kilometres away from their borders in order to solve their own problems at the expense of other peoples.

Just remember the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, the invasion of Iraq under the false pretext that there were WMD there, the collapse of Libyan statehood, and the intervention in Syria. The outbreak of armed conflict in Eastern Europe through the expansion of NATO and the transformation of Ukraine into an anti-Russian springboard can be mentioned in the same breath. The most recent example is the aggravation of the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. There are also knots of conflict in other regions. You mentioned Africa, but there is also Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula. The Americans openly encourage separatist trends in Taiwan, in the teeth of repeated warnings from Beijing that this runs counter to the fundamental interests of China.

It can be said that at a time when the West is holding onto elusive dominance, no one is safe from its geopolitical intrigues. And there is increasing recognition of this in the world. We can feel this when communicating with our partners in the international arena. Most of them agree with us that sooner or later our Western colleagues will have to accept the realities of a multipolar world, and then all issues will be resolved based on a balance of interests. However, until this moment, the crisis development is likely to continue.

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Russia Has Become Significantly Stronger Over Past Year - Lavrov

Sputnik News

20231228

MOSCOW, December 28 (Sputnik) - Russia has become significantly stronger over the past year, with the people opposing the West in the hybrid war it has unleashed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sputnik and the Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

"As a result of this 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, and the unity of our people has increased significantly," Lavrov said.

The top diplomat added that the West's plan to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia had failed miserably.

"The West is indeed changing its 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," Lavrov stated.

He stressed that since US has labelled Russia as its "enemy", Moscow is ready for any course of events.

Fairer Economic World Order Imminent

These days, the advance of a fairer economic order cannot be stopped, said Sergey Lavrov.

"The movement towards a fairer world order, economic world order, is, of course, unstoppable".

He recalled that developing countries and BRICS members have been demanding IMF and World Bank quotas that would reflect their real economic standing, but the West has been reluctant. Russia's top diplomat stressed that this case is yet another example of how the US violates the principles of honest free market competition.

Lavrov added 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.

No Bright Future for European Union

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sputnik and the Rossiya 24 broadcaster that he does not see any bright future for the European Union.

"I do not see such a rosy future, or rather, I do not see a rosy future in a good sense for the European Union. In other senses, they have already defined this future for themselves," Lavrov said.

Demilitarization and Denazification of Ukraine Will Be Implemented

The top diplomat stressed that Russia plans to achieve all the goals of the special military operation in the wake of changes in Ukraine.

"We are preparing to implement all the goals that were set. Demilitarization, denazification. You can't escape it," he said.

Zelensky Has Betrayed His People

Sergey Lavrov said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is a traitor. He recalled that recently the Ukrainian leader said that he had forgotten the Russian language and his words looked as if they were parts of a play.

The top diplomat added that years earlier Zelensky had urged to "leave Russians alone" and pretended that Russian was his language and at the same time he was a citizen of Ukraine. Russia's foreign policy chief lamented that Zelensky was unable to stick to this position.

"He betrayed his people. And not just one, he betrayed two of his nations," Lavrov concluded.

A Sputnik

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Syria to UN: Israeli assassination of Iranian advisor risks engulfing entire region

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 5:35 PM

Syria has condemned Israel's assassination of a senior member of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), who was serving as a military advisor in Damascus at the official invitation of the Arab government.

In two identical letters addressed to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Thursday called on the world body to assume responsibility for ending Israel's aggressive policies that threaten world peace and security.

The Syrian ministry called on the UN to take a strong action against the latest Israeli aggression targeting the vicinity of the Sayyida Zeinab area in the countryside of Damascus on December 25.

"At 16:20 pm last Monday evening, the Israeli occupation forces carried out an act of aggression from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting the vicinity of Damascus City, which led to the martyrdom of the military advisor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the ministry said.

Mousavi was a seasoned military advisor and one of the IRGC commanders entrusted with the Syrian file, in charge of providing "logistical support to the axis of resistance in Syria."

He was a comrade of top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, who was also assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020.

Hossein Akbari, Iran's ambassador to Syria, told media persons that three missiles hit his home near Damascus only hours after he had returned from the Iranian embassy.

Akbari stressed that Mousavi held a diplomatic passport and residence and that according to 1961 and 1973 international conventions, his assassination constitutes a blatant crime.

Iran maintains an advisory mission in Syria at the request of Damascus to help the Arab country get rid of foreign-backed terrorists who have been fighting the Syrian government since 2011.

The Israeli regime and the US have been hand-in-glove with Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria, carrying out frequent attacks on forces associated with the Syrian government and its allies.

Israel expanding conflict to cover up its crimes in Gaza

The Syrian ministry warned that Israel was desperately attempting to expand the conflict in order to cover up its crimes against civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

"This brutal Israeli aggression against the sovereignty of the Syrian territories is part of the occupying authorities' attempt to expand and escalate their aggression in the region and to cover up war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and brutal massacres committed daily against the defenseless Palestinian people and to escape their failure in the face of the will and determination of the Palestinian people," it said.

The ministry said Israel's airstrikes on Syria violated its sovereignty and international law and pledged to continue fighting Israeli-backed terrorism.

"The Syrian Arab Republic is committed to its inalienable right to defend its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as affirmed in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, and stresses that Israel's hysterical acts of aggression will not deter it from continuing to combat terrorism that is backed by Israel and its sponsors, nor will they limit its intention to restore its occupied territories."

The Israeli regime frequently violates Syrian sovereignty by targeting military positions inside the country.

Israel mostly keeps quiet about its attacks on the Syrian territories, which many view as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government's increasing success in confronting terrorism.

The Tel Aviv regime has been a main supporter of terrorist groups that have battled the government of President Bashar al-Assad since foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria in early 2011.

Syria has repeatedly complained to the UN over Israeli assaults, urging the Security Council to take action against Tel Aviv's crimes. The calls have, however, fallen on deaf ears.

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DPP, KMT presidential candidates targeted over party cross-strait stances

ROC Central News Agency

12/28/2023 11:16 PM

Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je () took aim at his two opponents for their respective party's independence and unification ideologies at a forum on Thursday, accusing them of using the cross-strait issue to tear society apart.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) maintains a pro-independence clause in its party charter with presidential candidate Lai Ching-te () calling himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence," Ko said at the televised policy presentation forum.

The former Taipei mayor and TPP chairman was referring to a clause in the DPP Party Platform, which proposes holding a referendum on whether or not to establish the "Republic of Taiwan" as a sovereign state and create a new constitution.

Over the years, the party has maintained the position that the Taiwan independence clause has been superseded by the Resolution on Taiwan's Future in 1999, which states that any change to the status quo -- Taiwan being an independent sovereign nation named the Republic of China (ROC) -- must be determined by its people.

Ko also turned to his Kuomintang (KMT) opponent Hou Yu-ih () and reproached him for accepting the "1992 consensus," saying that it "lacks support from mainstream society," and criticized the party for keeping the pursuit of unification unchanged in its constitution.

Both the DPP and the KMT have held stances that go against their pledges to maintain the status quo, the TPP nominee said, arguing that they have manipulated the independence-unification issue for election gains and torn society apart.

Hou defended himself by saying he has taken a "centrist" position on this issue, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China, rejecting Ko's framing of the KMT as being in favor of unification with China.

The KMT opposes both Taiwanese independence and the "one country, two systems" political formula proposed by Beijing, Hou said, adding that the future of Taiwan should be determined by Taiwan's 23 million people.

"Our relationship with the mainland should be characterized as non-recognition of each other's sovereignty, but non-denial of each other's jurisdiction," he added.

Speaking on diplomacy and defense, Ko on Thursday walked back from the controversial remark he made during an interview a day earlier suggesting the importance of maintaining diplomatic allies was "a myth."

Taiwan does not need its diplomatic allies and should instead focus more on developing practical relations with world powers, such as Japan and the United States, despite a lack of formal diplomatic relations, he had said during the interview.

The comments drew criticism from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) earlier on Thursday, with spokesman Jeff Liu () criticizing Ko for "sending the wrong message" to the nation's allies, saying it could "hurt their feelings."

At the forum, Ko said he upholds so-called "practical diplomacy," under which Taiwan focuses on having practical exchanges with allies and non-allies and pays less regard to what name the country uses during these exchanges.

He also proposed that Taiwan ditch its previous "dollar diplomacy," and replace grants awarded to diplomatic allies with loans.

As part of efforts to boost Taiwan's defense capability, Ko said he supports gradually increasing defense spending to 3 percent of the country's gross domestic product and further promoting the domestic defense industry.

Lai, who is currently vice president, responded to Ko by saying that his proposed foreign and defense policies are "nothing new" as they have been steadily implemented by the current administration led by President Tsai Ing-wen ().

Lai then pointed the finger at both Ko and Hou, saying that they have blamed the DPP for losing diplomatic allies but failed to reproach Beijing for its poaching activities.

"You two never condemn China's barbaric behavior [in taking away Taiwan's diplomatic allies], and that is the major difference with us [the DPP]," Lai said.

Since Tsai assumed office in May 2016, Taiwan, has lost a total of nine diplomatic allies to China amid deteriorating cross-strait relations. The ROC currently maintains full diplomatic ties with 13 sovereign nations worldwide.

(By Joseph Yeh and Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/kb

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Beijing censures Taipei's hyping up of Chinese 'military threat'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 28 December 2023 3:28 PM

Beijing has censured the Chinese Taipei - also known as Taiwan - for "hyping up" what has been claimed to be China's military threat.

The Chinese government says Taipei is simply seeking electoral advantage ahead of polls there.

China has sovereignty over Taiwan. Virtually all states recognize that sovereignty under the internationally-recognized one-China policy. It means states would not establish diplomatic contact with the secessionist government in Taipei.

Tsai Ing-wen, who is the president in Taiwan, comes from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). By tradition, the DPP advocates independence for the island. Taipei claims the island is under constant military threat from China. Beijing dismisses that allegation.

The threat perceived by Taiwan has become a pretext for Tsai to purchase weapons from the United States, the island's largest arms supplier, only to infuriate Beijing.

"The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are deliberately hyping up the so-called military threat from the mainland and exaggerating tensions," said Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian at a monthly news conference in Beijing on Thursday.

"This is entirely to seek electoral gain," he said, accusing Taipei of using a "familiar electoral playbook to stoke confrontation and manipulate the election."

The defense ministry in Taiwan has said 12 of China's military aircraft, including J-11 and Su-30 fighters, had crossed the sensitive Taiwan Strait's median line, entering the airspace to the north, center and southwest of Taiwan on Thursday.

But Wu said China did not recognize the median line. "Taiwan is a part of China. The 'median line' absolutely does not exist."

On January 13, Taiwan will hold presidential and parliamentary elections.

Beijing has time and again said it will use force, if necessary, to add Taiwan to China's mainland. President Xi Jinping has been articulate about that matter.

"We will, as always, take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wu stated.

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Turkiye Doubles Down, Urges US to Keep F-16 Promise - Reports

Sputnik News

20231228

The NATO member country is hoping to buy 40 F-16 jets from the United States, but the deal still needs the approval of US lawmakers.

Turkiye's foreign minister pressured the United States to follow through on a pledge to sell F-16 fighter jets to the country in a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, an anonymous Turkish diplomatic source told US media on Wednesday.

The United States allegedly initiated the call the day after a Turkish parliamentary commission voted in favor of approving Sweden's entry into NATO. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan took advantage of the opportunity Wednesday to make the request to Blinken, citing Tukiye's status as a US ally in NATO.

"Fidan stated that, regarding the sale of F-16s, we expect the US administration and US Congress to act in line with the spirit of alliance and keep the promises made," the source explained.

Turkiye has repeatedly held up the approval of Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bids, attempting to extract concessions regarding the extradition of people the country considers terrorists, among other demands. The Turkish parliament's general assembly still must approve Sweden's NATO ascension in order for it to move forward, raising the prospect that the process could still be delayed if new tensions emerge between Turkiye and other NATO members.

New countries require the unanimous approval of NATO member states in order to formally join the military alliance.

The $20 billion sale of the 40 jets to Ankara may face opposition from backers of Israel in the US Congress; Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan has made waves in recent months with his strong criticism of the country's military campaign in Gaza.

Meanwhile it was reported in October that four key US legislators serving roles related to foreign affairs were wavering on the sale, citing human rights issues among other concerns.

A Sputnik

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UK takes lead of NATO Rapid Response Force

UK forces are taking lead of NATO's rapid response force on 1 January 2024, placing thousands of soldiers on standby and ready to deploy within days.

28 December 2023

NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) was created after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and deployed for the first time for the collective defence of the Alliance after Russia's full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Taking leadership of the VJTF will see the UK provide the majority of forces in the task force. The United Kingdom's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps will serve as the land component command.

The leadership position is rotated annually among NATO members, and the UK now takes over from Germany, which led the force in 2023. The UK previously led the task force in 2017.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The UK is at the heart of NATO. By heading up NATO's 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 UK's Armed Forces stand ready, at a moment's 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.

The VJTF is the highest-readiness element of NATO's larger Response Force (NRF), which also includes air, maritime and special operations forces. In 2024, VJTF land forces will comprise some 6,000 troops, with the UK's 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team - the 'Desert Rats' - at its core.

This is the same force that led the response during the activation of NATO's Strategic Reserve Force in Kosovo last year. The brigade consists of a light cavalry regiment, and four light-mechanised infantry battalions with enabling artillery, engineering, logistics, and medical regiments. Major units include the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the 4th battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the 2nd battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment.

The MOD's 2023 Integrated Review Refresh was clear that NATO will remain the cornerstone of UK defence and security. The UK remains committed to offering the full spectrum of defence capabilities to the Alliance, and the past year has underlined the continued importance of the Alliance's role in deterrence and defence.

Our existing commitments to NATO include UK leadership of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mission in Estonia, with a brigade of troops held at high readiness in the UK to reinforce Estonia and the wider Baltic at a time of crisis.

Around 1,000 UK troops are persistently deployed to Estonia as part of the eFP mission - known as Operation Cabrit. This year, over 1,500 UK troops participated in Exercise Spring Storm in Estonia, the first time the UK conducted a brigade-sized deployment as part of Op Cabrit.

The UK also provides a Reconnaissance Squadron to a US-led NATO battlegroup in Poland, as well as a Ground-Based Air Defence system (Sky Sabre) to help protect Polish airspace.

In 2024, nine NATO Allies - UK, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Latvia, North Macedonia, Romania and Albania - will contribute to the NATO Response Force. The Alliance will transition the NATO Response Force into the new Allied Reaction Force in mid-2024.

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U.S. gives Ukraine year's final weapons package as Biden administration exhausts funding

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:26, December 28, 2023

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.

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Ukraine Loses Up to 230 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day - MoD

Sputnik News

20231228

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

"The total losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in this [Donetsk] direction amounted to up to 230 military personnel, three tanks, two armored combat vehicles, and five pickup trucks," the ministry said in a statement.

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.





A Sputnik

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Zelenskyy Says He Discussed Peace Formula With Pope

By VOA News December 28, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed Ukraine's peace formula in a call with Pope Francis on Thursday.

"We discussed our joint work to put Ukraine's Peace Formula into action," Zelenskyy said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"Over 80 countries are already involved in this process at the level of their representatives. And there will be more of them," he added.

In the pope's Christmas Day message, he called for an end to the war in Ukraine, among other conflicts.

Late Thursday, a fire broke out at a building in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, authorities said, after drones were reportedly headed for the area.

"A high-rise building in Odesa was damaged by a downed drone," Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said in a Telegram post.

Information about casualties was still being verified, Kiper added, urging city residents to stay in shelters.

Earlier Thursday, Ukraine's military said 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.

Russia's 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 incident sparked a fire on the ship and injured two people.

"A Panama-flagged civilian vessel was blown up on an enemy sea mine in the Black Sea," Ukraine's southern military command said on Telegram. "The vessel lost its course and control, and a fire broke out on the upper deck."

There were 18 crew members onboard, including 13 Egyptians, three Ukrainians, and two Turkish citizens, according to Reuters. The incident occurred Wednesday.

Ukrainian officials said the ship was heading to a Danube River port to collect grain.

Zelenskyy said on Thursday in his nightly address that Ukraine's alternative Black Sea export corridor has so far sent out 12 million metric tons of cargo.

The corridor was introduced after Moscow in July pulled out of a U.N.-negotiated agreement to allow safe transport of Ukrainian grain.

Zelenskyy thanked the United States for a new $250 million aid package, saying Thursday the military assistance will "cover Ukraine's 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.

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 spokesperson John Kirby said last week that President Joe Biden was planning one more military aid package in December but 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 on 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 do more to 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.

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Ukraine Reports Downing Russian Drones as Zelenskyy Thanks US for Aid

By VOA News December 28, 2023

Ukraine's 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.

Russia's 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 Ukraine's 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.

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX) (OTC: VTECF) (FSE: AA3) (Vortex or the Company) announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the Private Placement) of up to 3,750,000 units of the Company (Units) at a price of $0.40 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000.

Each Unit shall consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (Share) and one (Share purchase warrant (Warrant), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase a Share at an exercise price of $0.50 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

Closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on or about January 12, 2024. Closing is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals. The net proceeds of the Private Placement are intended to be used for general and administrative expenditures.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106  Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106), the Units issuable under the Private Placement will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in all of the provinces of Canada (except Quebec) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A.2 of NI 45-106 (the LIFE Exemption). Because the Private Placement is to be completed pursuant to the LIFE Exemption, the securities issued to Canadian resident subscribers in the Private Placement will not be subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document dated December 28, 2023 related to the Private Placement that can be accessed under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Companys website at www.vortexenergycorp.com. This offering document contains additional detail regarding the Private Placement, including additional detail regarding the expected use of proceeds from the Private Placement. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The Company also notes that it will no longer be moving forward with the non-flow through offering it had announced on November 28, 2023.

The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Vortex Energy Corp.

Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The Company is currently advancing its Robinson River Salt Project comprised of a total of 942 claims covering 23,500 hectares located approximately 35 linear kms south of the town of Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Robinsons River Salt Project is prospective for both salt and hydrogen salt cavern storage. The Company is also evaluating technologies to efficiently store hydrogen or energy in salt caverns. Vortex also holds the Fire Eye Project, which is located in the Wollaston Domain of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Paul Sparkes

Chief Executive Officer, Director

+1 (778) 819-0164

info@vortexenergycorp.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Private Placement, including the total anticipated proceeds, the expected use of proceeds and the closing (including the proposed closing date) of the Private Placement. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including the assumption that the Company will close the Private Placement on the timeline anticipated, will raise the anticipated amount of gross proceeds from the Private Placement and will use the proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include: the risk that the Private Placement does not close on the timeline expected, or at all; the risk that the Company raises less than the anticipated amount of gross proceeds from the Private Placement; the risk that the Company does not use the proceeds from the Private Placement as currently expected; risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined and the risk that exploration and development activities will cost more than the amount budgeted for such activities by the Company; risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals; risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions; access and supply risks; risks associated with the Companys reliance on key personnel; operational risks; regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks; title and environmental risks; and risks relating to the failure to receive all requisite regulatory approvals. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP has launched an investigation into whether the board members of EngageSmart, Inc. (NYSE: ESMT) (EngageSmart or the Company) breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed sale of the Company by an affiliate of Vista Equity Partners ("Vista").



On October 23, 2023, EngageSmart announced that it had entered a deal to merge with Vista. Under the terms of the deal, EngageSmart shareholders will receive $23.00 per share in an all-cash offer. General Atlantic, which is the majority shareholder with a 52% stake, will be rolling over its equity into the deal. After the deal is closed, General Atlantic will own 35% of the company.

Johnson Fistel is investigating whether the proposed deal represents adequate consideration, especially given one analyst's price target is currently $40.00.

The investigation concerns whether the EngageSmart board failed to satisfy its duties to the Company shareholders, including whether the board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the board obtained the best price possible for EngageSmart shares of common stock.

If you are a shareholder of EngageSmart and believe the proposed buyout price is too low or you're interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact lead analyst Jim Baker (jimb@johnsonfistel.com) at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number. You can click or copy and paste the following link to join this investigation:

https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/engagesmart-inc

About Johnson Fistel, LLP:

Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com .

Attorney advertising.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Johnson Fistel, LLP has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Frank J. Johnson is the attorney responsible for its content.

Contact:

Johnson Fistel, LLP

501 W. Broadway, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101

James Baker, Investor Relations or Frank J. Johnson, Esq., (619) 814-4471

jimb@johnsonfistel.com or fjohnson@johnsonfistel.com
TORONTO, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (BlackRock Canada), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK), today announced the final December 2023 cash distributions for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF. Unitholders of record on December 29, 2023 will receive cash distributions payable on January 4, 2024.



Details regarding the final per unit distribution amounts are as follows:

Fund Name Fund

Ticker Cash Distribution

Per Unit ($) iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR 0.25713



Further information on the iShares ETFs can be found at http://www.blackrock.com/ca .

About BlackRock

BlackRocks purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @BlackRockCA

About iShares

iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1300+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$3.12 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2023, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

iShares ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.
Dublin, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Innerwear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Material (Cotton, Polyester), By Distribution Channel (Offline, Online), By End-user, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global innerwear market size is expected to reach USD 310.02 billion by 2030. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2030.

Body positivity encourages individuals to embrace their bodies and express themselves freely. This newfound self-acceptance has translated into a demand for innerwear products that reflect personal style and individuality. Consumers seek innerwear that aligns with their unique preferences, whether it be vibrant colors, bold patterns, or unconventional designs. This demand for self-expression has prompted innerwear brands to diversify their product offerings, catering to a wide range of tastes and styles.



Body positivity promotes the idea that all bodies are beautiful and deserve to be celebrated. This shift in perspective has created a demand for innerwear that embraces and accentuates natural body features rather than conforming to unrealistic ideals. Innerwear brands are responding by designing products that flatter diverse body types, focusing on comfort & fit, and enhancing different features. New product designs also have a profound impact on the market, influencing consumer preferences and shaping industry trends. When innovative designs are introduced, they often generate excitement and attract attention from both existing and potential customers. These fresh designs can drive shifts in consumer behavior, leading to changes in purchasing patterns and brand loyalty. One significant effect of new product designs is the potential to create a competitive advantage for brands.





In a saturated market, unique and well-executed designs can set a brand apart from its competitors. Through the use of new fabrics, creative patterns, inventive features, and innovative designs, brands capture attention and establish themselves as leaders in the industry. This competitive edge can translate into increased market share and profitability. The market is highly competitive owing to the presence of companies with a strong geographical presence, high brand awareness, and vast distribution networks.

The market is expected to retain its focus on innovation with an increase in research and development activities. Product launches, mergers, and acquisitions are expected to rise over the forecast period as companies look to expand their geographical reach. Product application scope, price, and distribution channels are among the key strategic areas to gain a competitive advantage.



Innerwear Market Report Highlights

The thermals and base layers segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2030 due to high demand as they provide insulation and regulate body temperature in cold weather or during outdoor activities

The polyester material segment is expected to register the fastest growth due to the high demand for products made from polyester as they are strong and do not stretch or shrink and retain their original shape and size

The women end-user segment held the largest revenue share of 61.89% in 2022 and a volume share of 51.49% as women are increasingly prioritizing comfort in their choice of innerwear

Emerging players are continually emphasizing launching innovative designs and fashionable colors to match the ever-increasing fashion tastes of consumers and stay competitive in the market. In April 2023, Uniqlo Co., Ltd, a Japanese casual wear manufacturer, and retailer, introduced a lineup called LifeWear for Her, which focuses on innerwear for women suitable for different ages, sizes, and lifestyles

The offline distribution channel segment held the largest revenue share in 2022 as these stores offer a wide range of options to cater to various preferences and sizes

Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. As disposable income levels rise across the region, consumers have more purchasing power to invest in luxury and high-quality innerwear. The willingness to spend on premium brands has contributed to regional market growth

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 133 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $203.72 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $310.02 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.4% Regions Covered Global



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1 Market Snapshot

2.2 Segment Snapshot

2.3 Competitive Landscape Snapshot



Chapter 3. Innerwear Market Variables and Trends

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.3 Market Dynamics

3.3.1 Market Driver Analysis

3.3.1.1 Body Positivity and Increasing Size Inclusivity

3.3.1.2 Growing Retail E-commerce Market

3.3.2 Market Restraint Analysis

3.3.2.1 Growing Penetration of Counterfeit Products

3.3.3 Industry Opportunities

3.3.4 Industry Challenges

3.4 Industry Analysis Tools

3.5 Market Entry Strategies



Chapter 4. Consumer Behavior Analysis



Chapter 5. Innerwear Market: Product Analysis and Estimates



Chapter 6. Innerwear Market: Material Analysis and Estimates



Chapter 7. Innerwear Market: End-user Analysis and Estimates



Chapter 8. Innerwear Market: Distribution Channel Analysis and Estimates



Chapter 9. Innerwear Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 10. Innerwear Market - Competitive Analysis

Hanesbrands

Berkshire Hathaway

PVH.

Jockey International

icebreaker

Minus33 Merino Wool Clothing

American Eagle Outfitters

Ralph Lauren

Wacoal Holdings

Spanx

Victoria's Secret

Calvin Klein

Marks and Spencer

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d6ecd7

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
/Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or Dissemination in The United States/



TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: MON) (Montero or the Corporation) is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 5,333,334 common shares of the Corporation (the Common Shares) at a price of CAD$0.15 per Common Share, for gross proceeds of up to CAD$800,000 (the Offering).

Montero intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate and working capital purposes. Completion of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV) and applicable securities regulatory authorities. The Corporation may pay finders' fees in connection with the Offering in cash or securities, or a combination thereof.

In addition, the Corporation has agreed to settle CAD$200,000 of debt owed to Dr. Antony Harwood, the Corporations CEO, and certain other creditors, in consideration for the issuance of 1,300,813 Common Shares at a deemed price of CAD$0.15375 per Common Share (the Debt Settlement). The debts are payable in respect of expenses accruing since 2021. The closing of the Debt Settlement is subject to the approval from TSXV. The Corporation expects that the proposed Debt Settlement will assist the Company in preserving its cash for working capital and the board of directors of the Corporation believes the Debt Settlement is in the best interests of the Corporation.

Dr. Harwood is an insider of the Corporation, and accordingly, the issuance of common shares to an insider in connection with the Debt Settlement will be considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transaction (MI 61-101). The Corporation is relying on the exemption from the requirement for a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval under MI 61-101 on the basis of the exemptions contained in section 5.5(1)(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the consideration of the shares to be issued to Dr. Harwood in connection with the Debt Settlement is not expected to exceed 25% of the Corporations market capitalization.

The securities to be issued pursuant to the Offering and the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period from the date of issuance.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Montero

Montero is a junior exploration company focused on finding, exploring, and advancing globally significant gold, silver, and base metal deposits in Chile. Monteros board of directors and management have an impressive track record of successfully discovering and advancing precious metal and copper projects. Montero trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MON and has 38,647,485 shares outstanding.

For more information, contact:

Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd.

Dr. Tony Harwood, President, and Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: ir@monteromining.com

Tel: +1 416 840 9197

www.monteromining.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements, projections and estimates with respect to the Offering and Debt Settlement, including the terms, timing, and completion thereof. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such information is based on information currently available to Montero and Montero provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Montero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Actual results relating to, among other things, completion of the Offering or Debt Settlement on the terms or on the timeline as announced or at all, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Monteros mineral properties, and financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to complete the agreement on the terms as announced or at all; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Monteros activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Monteros forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Montero does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
(Oslo, Norway, 29 December 2023) Hexagon Purus, a world leading manufacturer of zero emission mobility and infrastructure solutions, has extended its existing framework agreement (announced 14 October 2022) with a leading European producer of green hydrogen for delivery of hydrogen distribution systems. The framework agreement is extended to now also cover the delivery of hydrogen distribution systems for 2024.

Hexagon Purus hydrogen distribution systems with its type 4 hydrogen cylinders will be used to deliver green hydrogen for mobility and industrial applications in Europe. The minimum value of the framework agreement is approximately EUR 17 million.

Driving Energy Transformation

Our hydrogen distribution systems are agnostic to the color of the hydrogen molecule. The demand from our customers is strong and there is a trend towards securing future build slots by entering into long-term framework agreements, a trend that we expect to further accelerate as green hydrogen becomes increasingly available, says Michael Kleschinski, EVP of Hexagon Purus. We are very happy to extend the current agreement to support the distribution of green hydrogen to European mobility and industry applications.

About the market

The industrial and mobility sectors account for close to 50% of annual carbon emissions globally, and hydrogen has an important role to play in reducing these emissions, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors. Hexagon Purus type 4 based hydrogen distribution system is the preferred technology for bulk distribution of hydrogen offering the highest capacity and the lowest total cost of ownership compared to traditional steel tube trailers. Making green hydrogen available for use in industrial processes and mobility is critical to reduce carbon emissions, and hydrogen is projected to supply up to 25% of the world's energy needs by 2050.

Timing

Delivery of the hydrogen systems, which will be manufactured in Hexagon Purus facility in Weeze, Germany, is scheduled from Q1 2024 to Q4 2024.

For more information:

Eli Turander, Global Communications Director, Hexagon Purus

Telephone: +47 953 35 795 | eli.turander@hexagonpurus.com

Mathias Meidell, Investor Relations Director, Hexagon Purus

Telephone: +47 909 82 242 | mathias.meidell@hexagonpurus.com

About Hexagon Purus

Hexagon Purus enables zero emission mobility for a cleaner energy future. The company is a world leading provider of hydrogen Type 4 high-pressure cylinders and systems, battery systems and vehicle integration solutions for fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicles. Hexagon Purus' products are used in a variety of applications including light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, ground storage, distribution, refueling, maritime, rail and aerospace.

Learn more at www.hexagonpurus.com and follow @HexagonPurus on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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PINE MOUNTAIN, Georgia, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parks! America, Inc. (OTCPink: PRKA) (the Company) received on December 22, 2023, a purported notice (the Purported Notice) from Focused Compounding Fund, LP (Focused Compounding) as to the demand that the Company hold a special meeting of shareholders of the Company (if held, the Special Meeting). Pursuant to the Purported Notice, the Special Meeting would be held for shareholders to vote on a number of proposals, including a proposal for the removal of all directors currently serving on the Companys Board of Directors and a proposal for the election of an entirely new Board of Directors consisting of only three directors.



If the proposals were approved, the Board would decrease from seven directors to three directors  with two of the three new directors being principals of Focused Compounding. This change would effect an implicit takeover of the Company by a shareholder  and without offering a premium to other shareholders.

Focused Compounding has failed to submit any written concerns regarding the operations of the Company, nor has it provided the Company with any details regarding its future strategic plans. While having engaged with Focused Compounding in limited verbal dialogue, the Company has been unable to assess Focused Compoundings objectives for the Companys operating strategy or its plans with respect to fundamental matters of corporate governance.

The Company has empaneled a Special Committee, empowering it to address issues related to the Special Meeting to ensure that any actions taken regarding Focused Compounding are in the best interests of the Company and all of its shareholders.

Management and the Board of Directors remain committed to maintaining constructive dialogue and engagement with all shareholders. The Board of Directors has fiduciary duties to safeguard the interests of the Companys shareholders and is willing to engage with Focused Compounding, as with any of the Companys shareholders, in a constructive dialogue that benefits all shareholders .

Installing the three directors proposed by Focused Compounding  two of whom are principals of Focused Compounding  would raise serious questions of director independence, and the proposed directors lack any meaningful industry expertise or experience running an operating company. Additionally, Focus Compounding has yet to articulate any plans for the Company or acknowledge the numerous accomplishments of the Company during 2023, including establishing a solid foundation for future growth.

The Board is committed to pursuing the best interests of the Company, and the Special Committee has been empowered to respond to any misleading or inaccurate statements by Focused Compounding that could materially harm our shareholders.

About Parks! America, Inc.

Parks! America, Inc. (OTCPink: PRKA), through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns and operates three regional safari parks - the Wild Animal Safari theme park in Pine Mountain, Georgia, the Wild Animal Safari theme park located in Strafford, Missouri, as well as the Aggieland Wild Animal Safari theme park, located near Bryan/College Station, Texas, acquired on April 27, 2020.

Additional information, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023, is available on the Companys website, http://www.animalsafari.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, statements concerning: our business strategy; liquidity and capital expenditures; future sources of revenues and anticipated costs and expenses; and trends in industry activity generally. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, those statements including the words such as may, will, should, expect, plan, could, anticipate, intend, believe, estimate, predict, potential, goal, or continue or similar language or by discussions of our outlook, plans, goals, strategy or intentions.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements; our actual results may differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from future results include but are not limited to: competition from other parks, which we believe is increasing, factors related to the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, difficulty engaging seasonal and full-time workers, weather conditions during our primary tourist season, the price of animal feed and the price of gasoline. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

We believe the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, we can give no assurances that such expectations will be realized, and actual results could differ materially. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting these forward-looking statements. A further description of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the Companys annual report and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including but not limited to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023.

Important Additional Information

The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Companys shareholders in connection with any matters that would be considered at the Special Meeting, if held. The Company intends to file a definitive proxy statement and a WHITE proxy card with the SEC in connection with any solicitation of proxies from the Companys shareholders with respect to the Special Meeting. SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ SUCH PROXY STATEMENT, THE ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023 contains information regarding the direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, of the Companys directors and executive officers in the Companys securities. Information regarding subsequent changes to their holdings of the Companys securities can be found in the SEC filings on Forms 3, 4 and 5, which are available through the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Updated information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests in the matters to be considered at the Special Meeting, by security holdings or otherwise, would be set forth in the definitive proxy statement and other materials that would be filed with the SEC in connection with the Special Meeting. Shareholders would be able to obtain the definitive proxy statement with respect to the Special Meeting, any amendments or supplements to such proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at no charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Copies would also be available at no charge on the Companys website at https://animalsafari.com/investor-relations/.

Contact:

Lisa Brady

President and Chief Executive Officer

(706) 663-8744

lisa@parksamerica.com
Vancouver, December 28, 2023 - West Oak Gold Corp. (CSE: WO) (the "Company") announces that a total of 1,965,000 stock options ("Options") have been granted to directors, officers and consultants, pursuant to the Company's equity incentive plan. The Options are exercisable for a term of five (5) years at an exercise price of $0.065 and are fully vested.

About West Oak

West Oak is focused on gold exploration in Canada. It is currently actively exploring the Hedge Hog gold project located 15km north of the town of Wells in the Caribou Mining Division of central British Columbia. Investors are encouraged to review West Oak's prospectus and the technical report for the Hedge Hog Property available at www.sedarplus.ca. Management and the board of directors of West Oak currently consists of Paul John (Chief Executive Officer and director), Morgan Good (director), Adrian Smith (director) and Robert Doyle (Chief Financial Officer).

On behalf of the board of directors of the Company

"Paul John"

Paul John

Chief Executive Officer and Director

West Oak Gold Corp.

Website: www.westoakgold.com

T: 778-874-6619

E: paul.j48@telus.net

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/192679
VANCOUVER, Dec. 28, 2023 -

TSX VENTURE COMPANIES

BULLETIN V2023-0415

DRYDEN GOLD CORP. ("DRY")

BULLETIN TYPE: Correction, New Listing-Shares, Private Placement-Non-Brokered, Halt

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Further to the TSX Venture Exchange bulletin dated December 27, 2023, the Bulletin should have read as follows:

New Listing-Shares, Halt

Effective at the opening Friday, December 29, 2023, the common shares of the Company will be listed and IMMEDIATELY HALTED on TSX Venture Exchange pending receipt and review of acceptable documentation regarding the Application for Listing pursuant to Exchange Policy 2.3.

All other information remains unchanged.

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0416

POWERBAND SOLUTIONS INC. ("PBX")

BULLETIN TYPE: Resume Trading

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Further to the Exchange bulletin dated December 19, 2023 and Powerband Solutions Inc., (the "Company") news release dated December 27, 2023, effective at the open on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, the shares of Powerband Solutions Inc. will resume trading.

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0417

SSC SECURITY SERVICES CORP. ("SECU")

BULLETIN TYPE: Declaration of Dividend

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 1 Company

The Issuer has declared the following dividend:

Dividend per Common Share: $0.03

Payable Date: January 15, 2024

Record Date: December 31, 2023

Ex-dividend Date: December 29, 2023

________________________________________

23/12/28 - TSX Venture Exchange Bulletins

TSX VENTURE COMPANIES

BULLETIN V2023-0418

A-LABS CAPITAL V CORP. ("ALBA.P")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on December 22, 2023:

Number of Shares: 100,000 shares



Purchase Price: $0.05 per share



Number of Placees: 1 placee

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: 1 100,000 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: N/A N/A



Aggregate Cash Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Warrants Finder's Fee: N/A N/A N/A

The Company issued a news release on December 22, 2023, confirming closing of the private placement.

________________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0419

CATHEDRA BITCOIN INC. ("CBIT")

BULLETIN TYPE: Shares for Debt

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 1 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the Company's proposal to issue 96,439,227 common shares at a deemed value of $0.1114 per share to settle outstanding debt for $10,743,329.02.

Number of Creditors: 4 Creditors

Non-Arm's Length Party / Pro Group Participation: None

For further details, please refer to the Company's news releases dated November 21, 2023 and December 15, 2023

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0420

CopperCorp Resources Inc. ("CPER")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement-Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on December 6, 2023 and December 18, 2023:

Number of Shares: 19,770,797 shares



Purchase Price: $0.07 per share



Warrants: 19,770,797 share purchase warrants to purchase 19,770,797 shares



Warrant Exercise Price: $0.12 for a two-year period



Number of Placees: 63 placees

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: 2 499,999 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: 5 1,383,571



Aggregate Cash Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Warrants Finder's Fee: $51,112.25 NA 730,174

Finder's Warrants Terms: Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at the price of $0.12 for a period of 2 years from the date of issuance.

The Company issued a news release on December 21, 2023 confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

________________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0421

DIGIHOST TECHNOLOGY INC. ("DGHI")

BULLETIN TYPE: Halt

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 12:55 p.m. PST, Dec. 27, 2023, trading in the shares of the Company was halted Pending Company Contact; this regulatory halt is imposed by Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Market Regulator of the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.9(1) of the Universal Market Integrity Rules.

________________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0422

DIGIHOST TECHNOLOGY INC. ("DGHI")

BULLETIN TYPE: Resume Trading

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

Effective at 5:00 a.m. PST, Dec. 28, 2023, shares of the Company resumed trading, an announcement having been made.

________________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0423

MAJESTIC GOLD CORP. ("MJS")

BULLETIN TYPE: Property-Asset or Share Disposition Agreement

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 1 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to the arm's length disposition of the Company's 25% interest in Persistence Resources Group Ltd ("Persistence"), the Company's 94%-owned subsidiary, by way of listing Persistence's shares on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited pursuant to Persistence Global Offering Prospectus dated December 14, 2023 (the "Prospectus") The Company will receive C$47.2-million pursuant to the terms of the Prospectus.

For further details, please refer to the Company's news releases dated December 14, 2023 and December 22, 2023.

________________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0424

OPHIR GOLD CORP. ("OPHR")

BULLETIN TYPE: Property-Asset Purchase Agreement

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has accepted for filing documentation pertaining to an Option Agreement dated December 8, 2023 (the "Agreement") with an arm's length optionor to acquire up to an undivided 70-per-cent interest in the Pilipas lithium property (the "Property") in the James Bay region of Quebec.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, after satisfying the year 2 commitments, the Company shall earn a 50-per-cent interest in the Property. After satisfying the year 3 commitments, the Company shall earn a 70-per-cent interest in the Property. If the Company earns a 70-per-cent interest in the Property, the parties shall form a joint venture that is 70-per-cent held by the Company and 30-per-cent by the optionor. If the Company earns a 50-per-cent interest in the Property but fails to earn a 70-per-cent interest, the parties shall form a joint venture that is 50-per-cent held by the Company and 50-per-cent by the optionor. If after formation of the joint venture either party's interest is diluted below 10-per-cent, it shall be converted into a 2-per-cent net smelter royalty (NSR) on the Property.













CONSIDERATION CASH (CDN$) SECURITIES WORK EXPENDITURES ($)



Closing $20,000 2,000,000 Common Shares N/A



Year 1 $25,000 1,000,000 Common Shares $400,000



Year 2 $25,000 1,000,000 Common Shares $1,600,000



Year 3 $30,000 2,000,000 Common Shares $2,000,000



Total $100,000 6,000,000 Common Shares $4,000,000





For further details, please refer to the Company's news releases dated December 11, 2023.

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0425

PARTNERS VALUE INVESTMENTS L.P. ("PVF.UN")

BULLETIN TYPE: Normal Course Issuer Bid

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 1 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has been advised by the Company that pursuant to a Notice of Intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid dated December 22, 2023, it may repurchase for cancellation, up to 3,533,556 Equity LP Units and up to 938,350 Preferred LP Units in its own capital stock. The purchases are to be made through the facilities of TSX Venture Exchange or other recognized marketplaces during the period January 3, 2024, to January 2, 2025. Purchases pursuant to the bid will be made by RBC Capital Markets on behalf of the Company.

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0426

Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. ("SWLF")

BULLETIN TYPE: Warrant Term Extension

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has consented to the extension in the expiry date of the following warrants:

Private Placement:

# of Warrants: 4,014,734

Original Expiry Date of Warrants: December 16, 2023

New Expiry Date of Warrants: December 16, 2024

Exercise Price of Warrants: $0.25

These warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement of 4,014,734 shares with 4,014,734 share purchase warrants attached, which was accepted for filing by the Exchange effective August 9, 2022.

________________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0427

Tier One Silver Inc. ("TSLV")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced on October 26, 2023:

Number of Shares: 9,851,000 common shares



Purchase Price: $0.10 per share



Warrants: 9,851,000 common share purchase warrants to purchase 9,851,000 shares, subject to an accelerated expiry.



Warrant Exercise Price: $0.25 for a two-year period from the date of issuance.



Number of Placees: 35 placees

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Shares





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: 8 547,000 Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: 1 140,000



Aggregate Cash Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Warrants Finder's Fee: $ 19,834 N/A 198,340

Finder's Warrants Terms: Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at the price of $0.25 for period of two years from the date of issuance.

Pursuant to Corporate Finance Policy 4.1, Section 1.9(e), the Company issued a news release on December 8, 2023, and on December 15, 2023, announcing the closing of the private placement and setting out the expiry dates of the hold period(s).

Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0428

TRENCH METALS CORP. ("TMC")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement - Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced December 18, 2023:

Number of Shares: 2,200,000 Flow-Through Units ("FT Units"). Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share and one common share purchase warrant.



Purchase Price: $0.13 per FT Unit.



Warrants: 2,200,000 share purchase warrants to purchase 2,200,000 common shares



Warrant Price: $0.20 per common share exercisable for a period of one year from the date of issuance



Number of Placees: 1 placee

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Units





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: N/A N/A Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: N/A N/A



Aggregate Cash Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Warrants Finder's Fee: $17,160 N/A 132,000

Finder's Warrants Terms: Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at the price of $0.20 for a period of 1 year from the date of issuance.

The Company issued a news release on December 18, 2023 confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0429

VOLT CARBON TECHNOLOGIES INC. ("VCT")

BULLETIN TYPE: Private Placement - Non-Brokered

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a Non-Brokered Private Placement announced December 15, 2023:

Number of Shares: 11,510,000 Flow-Through Units ("FT Units"). Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant.



Purchase Price: $0.09 per FT Unit.



Warrants: 5,755,000 share purchase warrants to purchase 5,755,000 common shares



Warrant Price: $0.135 per common share exercisable for a period of two years from the date of issuance



Number of Placees: 5 placees

Insider / Pro Group Participation:









Placees # of Placee (s) Aggregate # of Units





Aggregate Existing Insider Involvement: N/A N/A Aggregate Pro Group Involvement: N/A N/A



Aggregate Cash Amount Aggregate # of Shares Aggregate # of Units Finder's Fee: $91,611 N/A 1,017,900

Finder's Warrants Terms: Each Finder's Options entitles the holder to purchase one Unit at the price of $0.09 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.135 per share for a period of 2 years from the date of issuance.

The Company issued a news release on December 22, 2023 confirming closing of the private placement. Note that in certain circumstances the Exchange may later extend the expiry date of the warrants, if they are less than the maximum permitted term.

_______________________________________

BULLETIN V2023-0430

ZYUS LIFE SCIENCES CORPORATION ("ZYUS")

BULLETIN TYPE: Shares for Debt

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

TSX Venture Tier 2 Company

TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the Company's proposal to issue 1,000,000 common shares at a deemed value of $1.00 per share to settle outstanding debt for $1,000,000.

Number of Creditors: 1 Creditor

Non-Arm's Length Party / Pro Group Participation: None

For further details, please refer to the Company's news release dated December 22, 2023.

_______________________________________

NEX COMPANY:

BULLETIN V2023-0431

Zincore Metals Inc. ("ZNC.H")

BULLETIN TYPE: Warrant Price Amendment

BULLETIN DATE: December 28, 2023

NEX Company

TSX Venture Exchange has consented to the reduction in the exercise price of the following warrants:

Private Placement:

# of Warrants: 9,540,000 Expiry Date of Warrants: February 14, 2024 Original Exercise Price of Warrants: $0.10 New Exercise Price of Warrants: $0.05

These warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement of 9,540,000 shares with 9,540,000 share purchase warrants attached (post-consolidation), which was accepted for filing by the Exchange effective March 31, 2023.

________________________________________

SOURCE TSX Venture Exchange
VANCOUVER, Dec. 29, 2023 - Bravo Mining Corp. (TSXV: BRVO), (OTCQX: BRVMF), ("Bravo" or the "Company") today issued its Annual Letter to Shareholders as per below (the "Letter").

Dear fellow Shareholders,

As we reflect on the significant accomplishments that we have made in advancing our Luanga palladium + platinum + rhodium + gold + nickel project ("Luanga" or "Luanga PGM+Au+Ni Project") and the challenges presented by the mining capital markets in 2023, we are pleased to extend our gratitude for your continued support throughout our second year of business. Your trust and confidence have played a crucial role in our journey, and we would like to take this opportunity to share the highlights of our endeavors with you.

During 2023, we achieved a number of significant milestones, which culminated with the release of our maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") in October 2023 (see News Release 22 October 2023) and the establishment of the Luanga Project as one of the few multi-million-ounce potential sources of critical and scarce PGMs and nickel outside regions challenged by political and labour instability, infrastructure shortcomings and permitting complexities. This remarkable achievement came only 15 months after our initial public offering ("IPO") in July 2022.

The foundation of Bravo's mineral resource success was cemented by the completion of our Phase I drill program, and commencement of the Phase II and Phase III drilling campaigns. A total of 116 holes for 30,920 metres were completed, of which 86 drillholes have been released to the market. Combining the drillholes executed in 2023 with those from 2022 and historical data, Bravo's drilling inventory concluded 2023 with an impressive 104,242 metres from 503 drillholes, of which 394 drillholes for 77,612 metres were used in the MRE, ultimately defining 4.1 million ounces ("Moz") at 1.75 g/t of Palladium Equivalent ("PdEq") in the Indicated category and 5.7 Moz at 1.50 g/t of PdEq in the Inferred Category (refer to Schedules 1 and 2 for full MRE technical disclosure).

As indicated in our drilling press releases post MRE announcement, there remains substantial and immediate growth potential beyond the MRE. This is evidenced by the intersection of additional mineralization beyond the MRE pit constraints. Another example is the very encouraging results emanating from the ongoing trenching program targeting the shallow high-grade zones of oxide mineralization.

On the exploration of Luanga, we have made progress by continuing to discover evidence of magmatic nickel sulphides, which have been intersected in the North, Central and Southwest Sectors. We now have a dedicated exploration team focusing on following up on the 17 Priority Drill Targets defined by the extensive helicopter based (HeliTEM) electromagnetic (EM) geophysical survey flown over 100% of the Luanga area.

Our site infrastructure has been significantly improved with the installation of a state-of-the-art core storage facility with an area of 1,250 square metres and designed to house over 200,000 metres of drill core. This facility is adequate to accommodate historical and Bravo's drill cores, with ample room for future drilling campaigns. Beyond storage, the new core facility boasts expansive working areas for our team of geologists and technicians, where they can seamlessly conduct their activities. In addition, we have completed other site infrastructure improvements, such as upgraded and expanded accommodations, leisure facilities and improved office spaces for our site-based team.

Concurrent with the above achievements, we are very proud to report 694 consecutive days free of Lost Time Injuries. We believe this is a testament to our commitment to occupational health and safety and good management supervision of field activities. We have also honoured our promise to respect the environment by planting 12,735 trees so far, or 53 per drillhole, five times our initial plan of 10 trees per each drillhole. Our goal is to plant 60,000 trees in the next 3 years to continue the environmental rehabilitation of degraded areas within the Luanga project, within local communities and in areas offsite impacted by artisanal mining. Our plantings prioritise high value fruit-bearing trees, such as Brazil nuts, cocoa, acai, acerola cherry, and other native trees.

Our commitment to communities surrounding the Luanga Project has been underlined by proudly sourcing 76% of our workforce from the Carajas region and acquiring over 70% of materials and services from local suppliers. Further, we actively support two social projects, benefiting approximately 200 children and youths, with a focus on education, sports, and leisure, reflecting our holistic approach to community engagement.

The drilling program continues to steadily move forward, with a heightened emphasis on exploration aimed at increasing and upgrading our mineral resource base, while exploring for new discoveries. Simultaneously, we are actively evaluating a range of development options, with a particular focus on permitting and improving the metallurgical studies for both sulphide and oxide materials as well as investigating customer marketing alternatives for Luanga products.

In recognition of our achievements in 2023, we were honored to have received two prestigious awards in Brazil for "Exploration Company of the Year", one from the Brazilian Association of Mineral and Mining Research Companies (ABPM) and the other from Brasil Mineral magazine, which for more than four decades has been recognizing excellence in the mineral sector through their "Empresas do Ano do Setor Mineral" (Companies of the Year in the Mineral Sector) awards. These awards hold special significance for us, given the relatively short period since our IPO in July 2022.

We owe our accomplishments to the collective efforts of our dedicated employees, management, directors, key contractors, and communities around Luanga. Their unwavering commitment has been instrumental in supporting our activities and driving our success.

To you, our shareholders, we express our gratitude for your continuing support. Your participation in our three rounds of equity financing, from Pre-IPO, IPO and follow-on financing in June 2023 empowered us to navigate challenges and seize opportunities with determination and discipline.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, we thank you once again for your invaluable support. Here's to an even more promising future ahead. We are Bravo!

Luis Azevedo

Chairman and CEO

Bravo Mining Corp.

About Bravo Mining Corp.

Bravo is a Canadian and Brazil-based mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its Luanga PGM+Au+Ni Project in the world-class Carajas Mineral Province of Brazil.

The Luanga Project is situated on mature freehold farming land and benefits from being in a location close to operating mines, with excellent access and proximity to existing infrastructure, including road, rail, and clean renewable hydro grid power. A fully funded 63,000m infill, step out and exploration drilling is currently underway. Bravo's current Environmental, Social and Governance activities includes replanting trees in the project area, hiring and contracting locally, and ensuring protection of the environment during its exploration activities.

Technical Disclosure and Qualified Persons

Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez, Mining Engineer, BSc (Mine Eng), MAIG, director of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda., is an Independent QP as defined in NI 43-101 and is responsible for the MRE.

An independent peer review was carried out by Anderson Candido FAusIMM (Fellow Australia Institute of Mining and Metallurgy). Mr. Candido is a full-time employee of independent consultancy RPM Global and is an Independent QP as defined in NI 43-101 and was responsible for the independent peer review over the complete MRE process.

Technical assurance was carried out by Professor Mark Noppe MAICD, FAusIMM (CP). Prof. Noppe is the Director of the WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre at The University of Queensland, is an Independent QP as defined in NI 43-101 and was responsible for technical assurance and peer review over the complete MRE process.

Technical information in this Letter has been reviewed and approved by Simon Mottram, FAusIMM, President of Bravo Mining Corp. who serves as the Company's QP as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Mottram has verified the technical data and opinions contained in this Letter.

Details of the MRE will be provided in a technical report with an effective date of October 22, 2023, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which is filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile.

For further information about Bravo, please visit www.bravomining.com

Forward Looking Statements

This Letter contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words or sentences such as "potential", "assume", "assumptions", "preliminary", "expect", "expected", "plan", "goal, "continue", "aimed at", "increasing", "upgrading", "improving", and variants of these words and other similar words, phrases, or statements that certain events or conditions "could", "may", "should" or "will" occur. This Letter contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company's maiden MRE; the potential for future MRE growth from deeper drilling, and/or additional zones and/or drilling of geophysical targets; potential repeatability and improvements to the economic assumptions and/or to metallurgical recoveries used in the MRE; the Company's ongoing drill program and the results thereof including the potential for extensions to mineralization to depth and the potential to convert such extensions into mineral resources; the results of geophysical surveys and whether interpretations of them are related to mineralization; and the Company's plans in respect thereof. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, unexpected results from exploration programs, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage; and other risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Forward-looking information in this Letter is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including, but not limited to, the assumption that the assay results confirm that the interpreted mineralization contains significant values of nickel, PGMs and Au; that the mineralization remains open to depth; that Ni grades are improving to depth; that future drill and assay results will be in line with management's expectations; that exploration and other business activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by regulatory, political, community, economic, environmental and/or healthy and safety risks; that the Luanga project will not be materially affected by potential supply chain disruptions; and general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this Letter are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources

This Letter has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms "mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") modernization rules, known as "S-K 1300", and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category or converted into mineral reserves in accordance with S-K 1300. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a mineral resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC S-K 1300 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information contained in this Letter contain descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Schedule 1: Mineral Resource Estimate

Bravo's maiden and pit constrained MRE has an effective date of October 22, 2023, and it is comprised of 73 Mt grading 1.75 g/t PdEq for a total of 4.1 Moz of PdEq in the Indicated category and 118 Mt grading 1.50 g/t PdEq for 5.7 Moz PdEq in the Inferred category. Table 1 shows a breakdown of the MRE by tonnage, grade and metal content for each metal, weathering type, and resource classification category.

Resource Classification Weathering Average Grades and Contained Metal Estimates Tonnes Pd Eq Pd Pt Rh Au Ni Mt g/t Oz g/t Oz g/t Oz g/t Oz g/t Oz % Tonnes Indicated Oxide 4.6 1.43 212,990 0.91 135,949 0,54 79,901 0.07 10,031 0,08 11,944 n/a n/a Fresh Rock 68.5 1.77 3,892,313 0.78 1,705,709 0.53 1,159,078 0.06 131,248 0.07 146,263 0.13 89,539 Total 73.1 1.75 4,105,303 0.78 1,841,658 0.53 1,238,979 0.06 141,279 0.07 158,207 0.13 89,539 Inferred Oxide 10.0 1.30 418,810 0.75 241,117 0.72 230,367 0.08 25,738 0.04 12,444 n/a n/a Fresh Rock 108.1 1.52 5,286,970 0.60 2,082,479 0.57 1,997,054 0.05 190,746 0.04 122,076 0.10 104,640 Total 118.1 1.50 5,705,800 0.61 2,323,596 0.59 2,227,421 0.06 216,484 0.04 134,520 0.10 104,640

Table 1: MRE Declaration at a Cut-off of 0.5g/t PdEq*

* Notes:

The MRE has been prepared by Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez, Mining Engineer, BSc (Mine Eng), MAIG, director of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda., an independent Qualified Person ("QP") under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The effective date of the MRE is 22 October 2023.

Mineral resources are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and were estimated in accordance with the CIM 2019 Best Practices Guidelines, as required by NI 43-101.

Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves.

This MRE includes inferred mineral resources which have had insufficient work to classify them as Indicated mineral resources. It is uncertain but reasonably expected that inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration.

The Mineral Resource Estimate is reported/confined within an economic pit shell generated by Whittle software, using the following assumptions:

Generated from work completed by Bravo and historical test work: Phase 1 and 2 Metallurgy testwork - Metallurgical recovery in sulphide material of 80% Pd, 88% Pt, 59% Rh, 56% Au, 50% Ni to a saleable Ni-PGM concentrate. Phase 1 and 2 Metallurgy testwork- Metallurgical recovery in oxide material of 73% Pd, 24% Pt, 61% Rh, 94% Au to a saleable PGM ash residue (Ni not applicable). Independent Geotechnical Testwork - Overall pit slopes of 40 degrees in oxide and 50 degrees in Fresh Rock. Densities are based on 26,898 relative density sample measurements. Averages are 1.58 t/m 3 oxide, 2.71 t/m 3 Saprock and 2.85 t/m 3 fresh rock. External downstream payability has not been included, as the base case MRE assumption considers internal downstream processing. Payable royalties of 2%.

Metal Pricing: Metal price assumptions are based on 10-year trailing averages: Pd price of US$1,380/oz, Pt price of US$1,100/oz, Rh price of US$6,200/oz, Au price of US$1,500/oz, Ni price of US$15,648/t.

Palladium Equivalent ("PdEq") Calculation: The PdEq equation is: PdEq = Pd g/t + F1 + F2 + F3 + F4



Where: F1 = (Pt p * Pt R ) Pt t F2 = (Rh p * Rh R ) Rh t F3 = (Au p * Au R ) Au t F4 = (Ni p * Ni R ) Ni t (Pd p * Pd R ) (Pd p * Pd R ) (Pd p * Pd R ) (Pd p * Pd R ) p = Metal Price R = Recovery Mining costs: US$2.50/t oxide, US$3.50/t Fresh Rock. Processing costs: US$8.50/t fresh rock, US$7.50/t oxide. US$2.50/t processed for General & Administration. US$1.00/t processed for grade control. US$0.50/t processed for rehabilitation.

Several of these considerations (metallurgical recovery, metal price projections for example) should be regarded as preliminary in nature, and therefore the PdEq calculations should also be regarded as preliminary in nature. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

The current MRE supersedes and replaces the Historical Estimate (as defined and described below), which should no longer be relied upon.

The QP is not aware of political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resources.

Schedule 2: Schedule: Key Assumptions and Methods Used for the Mineral Resource Estimate

Variography and Interpolations

Grade estimation for sulphide material was completed using the MIK technique, for each element and for each domain. Ten grade increments levels were used to define indicators for each element. Variography and MIK were performed using Isatis.neo software and reported for each respective domain. No grade variables were capped. Grade estimation for oxide material was completed using the OK technique, for each element and for each domain.

Cut-off Grade

The PdEq COG of 0.5 g/t was calculated by taking the all-in cost (oxide and fresh rock) and dividing them by the value of one gram of Pd multiplied by metallurgical recovery. From this a global average (rounded up from the calculated value of 0.44g/t) of 0.5 g/t PdEq has been chosen as the COG. Rounding to 0.5g/t adds a further >10% contingency to the calculation process to accommodate potential future changes in any, or several of, the assumptions.

COG (PdEq) Oxide Units Costs 14.0 US$/t DGV1 31.95 US$/g Cut-Off 0.43 PdEq/ g/t Fresh Units Costs 16.0 US$/t DGV1 35.5 US$/g Cut-Off 0.44 PdEq/ g/t Avg Cut-off 0.5 PdEq/ g/t

1 Deposit Grade Value ("DGV") = (P-Pd/31.1035) * R-Pd

Where: P-Pd = Palladium Price in US$/oz,

R-Pd = Palladium Metallurgical Recovery

Classification of Mineral Resource

To classify mineral resources, a study of spatial continuity for PdEq was conducted using variography followed by ordinary kriging interpolation. This study established a continuity zone suitable for considering as "Indicated Mineral Resources", with a drilling grid of approximately 75m x 75m, extending both along the strike and dip directions, and requiring a minimum of two drill holes. Subsequently, manual post-processing was undertaken to construct wireframes representing the volumes categorized as Indicated, while considering the blocks within the resource pit shell. Any remaining blocks within the resource-limiting pit were classified as "Inferred Mineral Resources".

Reasonable Prospect for Eventual Economic Extraction

The reported MRE is pit constrained using Whittle software to create a pit shell that has reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. Relevant parameters used in the mineral resource estimate are shown below the MRE table and include commodity prices used, metallurgical recoveries, geotechnical assumptions, and cost structures. Further, there are no known environmental or community matters that are likely to constrain the future extraction of the reported MRE.

SOURCE Bravo Mining Corp.
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

VANCOUVER, Dec. 29, 2023 - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of $110,004, consisting of 916,700 critical mineral exploration tax credit ("CMETC") flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of $0.12 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (a "FT Share") and one-half of one transferable common share purchase warrant ("Warrants"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.15 at any time on or before the date which is 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for the exploration of the Company's projects in Saskatchewan that will be eligible for the CMETC. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Shares.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash finder's fees of $7,700.28 and issued 64,169 non-transferable finder's warrants. Each finder warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 at any time on or before the date which is 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The FT Shares, Warrant Shares and any common shares of the Company that are issuable from any finder's warrants are subject to a hold period of four months and one day following the closing date of the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About SKRR Exploration Inc.

SKRR is a Canadian-based precious and base metal explorer with properties in British Columbia and Saskatchewan - some of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class precious and base metal deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen - although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Sherman Dahl

President & CEO

Tel: 250-558-8340

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.

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the use of proceeds of the Offering and other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, the ability to secure equipment and personnel to carry out work programs, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. There is a possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, failure to secure personnel and equipment for work programs, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, decrease in the price of gold, copper, nickel, uranium and other metals, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law.

SOURCE SKRR Exploration Inc.
VANCOUVER, Dec. 29, 2023 - Nevada Exploration Inc. ("NGE" or the "Company") (TSX-V:NGE; OTCQB:NVDEF) announces the retirement of Anne Labelle as president, CEO, and director effective December 31, 2023. The Company thanks Ms. Labelle for her service and wishes her the best in her future endeavours. Darcy Higgs has been appointed interim CEO effective December 31, 2023.

About Nevada Exploration Inc.

NGE is applying modern technology to systematically explore for the undiscovered second half of Nevada's gold endowment waiting to be uncovered within Nevada's valley basins. NGE is advancing a portfolio of gold exploration projects, primarily focused on district-scale Carlin-type gold projects, including its flagship South Grass Valley project located near the Cortez Complex of Nevada Gold Mines.

For further information, please contact:

Nevada Exploration Inc.

Email: info@nevadaexploration.com

Telephone: +1 (604) 601 2006

Website: www.nevadaexploration.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans, and objectives regarding projects, potential transactions, and ventures discussed in this release.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things, the assumption the Company will continue as a going concern and will continue to be able to access the capital required to advance its projects and continue operations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are the risks inherent in mineral exploration, the need to obtain additional financing, environmental permits, the availability of needed personnel and equipment for exploration and development, fluctuations in the price of minerals, and general economic conditions.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
Liberia fuel tanker explosion kills more than 40 [VIDEO]

BBC International News Dec - 29 - 2023 , 01:19

More than 40 people have died after a fuel tanker crashed and exploded in central Liberia, the country's chief medical officer Francis Kateh has said.

The tanker overturned along a road in Totota town, about 130km (80 miles) from the capital, Monrovia.

It burst into flames soon after people rushed to the site to scoop fuel from the tanker, eyewitnesses said.

A pregnant woman was among the dead, and some of the bodies were burnt to ashes, Dr Kateh said.

He told local broadcaster Super Bongese TV that more than 83 people had been admitted to hospital for their injuries following Tuesday's disaster.

Patients with more serious injuries had been transferred to hospitals in Monrovia for treatment, Dr Kateh added.

The cause of the crash is unclear.

Video footage shows that a large number of people, including children, had gathered around the tanker after it overturned.

Some had buckets and jerrycans and others were on top of the tanker when it burst into flames.

Liberia's President George Weah has expressed his condolences to the families of the dead, saying he found images of the tragedy "deeply disturbing", his office says.

Mr Weah has given the health authorities his "full backing to beef up manpower and equipment where necessary in their frantic effort to save lives", the statement adds.
GRA announces implementation of 10% tax on lotto winnings

Kweku Zurek Dec - 29 - 2023 , 07:11

In a public notice released yesterday, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has informed the general public, particularly lotto patrons and operators, about the commencement of the implementation of a 10% withholding tax on the gross winnings from all lotteries, including lotto, betting, gaming, and other games of chance.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1094) introduced this Withholding Tax, which has been in effect since its implementation.

However, the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Private Lotto Operators (PLOS) were granted a six-month extension to prepare and implement the tax. This extension is set to expire at the end of December 2023.

Therefore, the GRA has mandated the NLA and PLOs to commence the implementation of the 10% Withholding Tax on Lotto Gross Winnings from January 1, 2024.

The GRA emphasized that compliance with the tax law is mandatory, and failure to do so is considered an offence under Section 78 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915). Sanctions will be applied to operators who do not adhere to the stipulated tax regulations.

Patrons, players, punters, operators, and tax consultants are urged to take note of this directive.

The GRA has provided contact details for assistance: patrons/players/punters can reach GRA toll-free on 0800-100-110 or via WhatsApp on 055 299 0000 / 020 063 1664. Operators can contact the GRA Gaming Support Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Background

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) began implementing a 10% withholding tax on all gross gaming winnings on August 15, 2023.

The tax is charged on profits earned after each win, replacing the existing 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) rate on each stake. The GRA explained that the new policy aligns with an amendment to the Income Tax Act 2023 (No.2), Act 1094.

The Commissioner for the Domestic Tax Revenue Division at the GRA, Edward Gyamerah clarified that gaming companies failing to comply with the new policy would face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their licenses.

The tax has faced criticism from punters since its implementation.
Knight Piesold Ghana donates to St Kizito SHTS at Mepe

Graphic Online Dec - 29 - 2023 , 11:49

Knight Piesold Ghana has donated to St Kuzuti Senior High Technical School at Mepe in the Volta Region as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Knight Piesold Ghana Limited is an engineering and environmental consulting firm.

The donation was done through its Schools Initiative Programme (SIP), which recently made a donation of study desks and stationeries to the St Kizito Senior High School at Mepe.

The presentation was made as part of the companys corporate social responsibility, exhibiting its commitment to supporting local communities and is intended to help ameliorate the devastating effects of flooding due to the Akosombo Dam Spillage.

In October, 2023 excess water from the Akosombo Dam was spilled to safeguard the integrity of the dam.

Mepe was one of the worst-hit communities with many households displaced due to the resultant flooding.

During the period, St Kizito SHTS served as a safe haven for displaced families and individuals.

On hearing of the plight of the school, Knight Piesold decided to dedicate this years SIP to help address the need for furniture.

Fifty desks and chairs, as well as other stationery items were presented to the school.

In presenting the items, Mr Kofi Dadzie, the Human Resource and Administration Manager of Knight Piesold Ghana Ltd. stated that Knight Piesold recognizes the vital role education plays in the lives of students, and saw the need to provide aid to the school due to the pressure the school was facing in hosting flood victims of the community.

The headmaster, expressed gratitude and called on other corporate bodies to emulate Knight Piesolds example.

The presentation showcased Knight Piesold's dedication to making a positive impact beyond their professional services. By addressing the tangible needs of the school, the company exemplifies the belief that investing in education lays the foundation for sustainable development and community resilience.

Knight Piesolds flagship CSR programme dubbed the Schools Initiative Program (SIP) aims to introduce senior high school students to engineering as a career option and to inspire a new generation of civil and geotechnical engineers, while providing support to government-assisted senior high schools.

In past years, the company organised practical civil engineering competitions among senior high schools.

The competitions, aimed at fostering a love for engineering, culminated in the selection of the best performing school, which then received support tailored to their educational needs.

Knight Piesold Ghana Limited is a consulting company that provides engineering and environmental services to the mining and oil and gas industries in Ghana and the West African sub-region.
Prof Kwabena Boahen, the man who admires brain's efficiency and his strides in creating computer that actually works like one

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Dec - 29 - 2023 , 10:19

Professor Kwabena Boahen, a professor of bioengineering and of electrical engineering admires the brains efficiency and elegance, and hes dedicated his career to developing a computer that actually works like one.

Prof Kwabena Boahen who is the first son of the late Ghanaian historian Professor Albert Adu Boahen , and a product of Mfantsipim School recently took a major step in that direction with the creation of a nanoscale transistor that emulates a dendrite, a slender fiber that protrudes from a nerve cell.

This is something many in the fields believe is a stride in neuromorphic computing.

Prof Boahen designed the tiny transistor with H.-S. Philip Wong, PhD, professor of electrical engineering.

Neural networks today are about as similar to a brain as an airplane is to a bird, Prof Kwabena Boahen said.

This will make him a worthy Nobel laureate in the near future.

Professor Kwabena Boahen is a product of Mfantsipim School and member of the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA) 1981 year group.

It is a remarkable accomplishment for Prof Kwabena Boahen and truly an impressive feat and exceptional achievement.

Prof Boahen's achievement was published in the November 10, 2023 issue of Standard Medicine Magazine on AI, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | ISSUE 3 / 2023.

Read the full article below

Kwabena Boahen, PhD, a professor of bioengineering and of electrical engineering, right, and H.-S. Philip Wong, PhD, professor of electrical engineering and the Willard R. and Inez Kerr Bell Professor in the School of Engineering.

M i n d i n t h e m a c h i n e

Do nerve cells hold the key to an epic advance in computing?

To write your girlfriend a poem, GPT-4, an artificial intelligence system, requires orders of magnitude more energy than your brain does.

Thats because AI doesnt really function like the brain. Rather, it runs like all other computer software by flooding microchips with huge quantities of binary signals, in the form of zeros and ones, and gobbling up electricity along the way.

Kwabena Boahen, PhD, a professor of bioengineering and of electrical engineering, admires the brains efficiency and elegance, and hes dedicated his career to developing a computer that actually works like one. Recently, he took a major step in that direction with the creation of a nanoscale transistor that emulates a dendrite, a slender fiber that protrudes from a nerve cell.

Dendrites are broadly understood to function like cables for receiving the electrical signals that nerve cells, or neurons, use to communicate information to one another. Yet Boahen and many other scientists suspect the branch-like structures do much more: namely, that they decode patterns of signals to help neurons determine whether to spike, or relay their own signals.

Whats remarkable, according to Boahen, is just how much information a few neuronal spikes can carry with the help of dendrites to interpret them. A computer chip that relied on an analogous sparsity of signals could lead to significant energy savings, particularly in light of the enormous computing demands of AI. This type of chip could also circumvent the challenge of keeping microchips from overheating. These are goals that Boahen hopes the device hes invented, which he calls a nanodendrite, will someday help achieve.

Neural networks today are about as similar to a brain as an airplane is to a bird.

Kwabena Boahen, PhD, professor of bioengineering and of electrical engineering

The nanodendrite is the product of neuromorphic computing  that is, designing computer hardware and software to function like the brain. Its a burgeoning field, driven largely by a desire to keep up with the computing demands of AI and reduce the massive amounts of energy it consumes. Technology companies such as IBM, Intel and HP, as well as a number of universities, have invested time and money to develop neuromorphic microchips.

Boahen is one of the fields pioneers. He designed his first neuromorphic chip as an undergraduate in the 1980s. After joining the faculty at Stanford in 2006, he proposed Neurogrid, a circuit board that would simulate 1 million neurons with 6 billion synapses, the structures where signals are passed between neurons.

His lab, Brains in Silicon, completed the project in 2010 and reported on it in 2014 in Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Boahen and his co-authors noted that Neurogrid was about 100,000 times as energy efficient as a conventional computers simulation of 1 million neurons. Yet they also noted that a human brain, with 80,000 times as many neurons, needs only three times as much power. Boahen hopes the nanodendrite will help bridge that gap.

A collection of instruments is used to evaluate the performance of nanodendrites attached to a microchip. (The green circuit board occludes a view of the chip in this image.) Electrodes, whose terminal ends are arrayed in a circle, are lowered onto the chips electrical contacts, and then electrical pulses are run through the chip. A researcher will peer through the microscope to help with positioning the electrodes above the contacts. (Photography by Misha Gravenor)

Underwhelmed by computing

As a child growing up in the outskirts of Accra, the capital of Ghana, Boahen was interested in learning first principles. He took apart engines and electronics. He built a microscope. I just wanted to know, in my own way, how things worked and understand them and try to re-create them, he said.

In the early 1980s, his father, a professor of history at the University of Ghana, returned from a sabbatical in England with a desktop computer. Boahen was hesitant about taking it apart. I was too intimidated by this thing, he said. So I went to the library and read everything about how a computer worked  you know, about the memory, RAM, program counter, how to do a branch instruction. And I wasnt impressed at all. I thought it was so brute-force  just a lot of circuitry. There had to be a more elegant way.

As an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, Boahen got a glimpse of what that way could be when he attended a talk by a biophysicist who demonstrated how to train a neural network, a kind of AI that can learn from its errors. He was hooked.

After earning bachelors and masters degrees in electrical engineering from Hopkins, he enrolled in a graduate program at the California Institute of Technology, where he earned a PhD in computation and neural systems.

He said that although neuromorphic engineering has made major strides in the past couple of decades, the field is still largely aspirational  especially when it comes to designing systems that mimic the brains architecture as opposed to simply being inspired by the brain.

Neural networks today are about as similar to a brain as an airplane is to a bird, he said.

One problem, as Boahen sees it, is that AI relies on a synaptocentric mode of computing, in that half of the nodes  lines of binary code that act like the AIs neurons  respond to an input. Some of those responses are weak and some are strong, depending on how the network has configured the synapses, or connections  again, more code  between the nodes. Still, most are active.

If most of our 86 billions neurons were constantly signaling each other through their 100 trillion synapses, our brains would overheat, Boahen said.

Today, thats a risk to computer chips as they try to handle ever-increasing processing demands while facing limits on how small their integrated circuits can be designed and how effectively the heat theyre producing can be dissipated. Since the mid-20th century, engineers have been able to double the number of transistors on a chip about every two years. That growth rate, however, is expected to hit a ceiling this decade: Even as circuits and transistors shrink in size, they consume the same amount of electricity, leading to higher energy density that threatens to roast them.

A dendrocentric approach

To overcome this obstacle, Boahen has proposed a dendrocentric mode of computing, which he wrote about in a Nature article published in late 2022. He asserts that instead of using a binary system of signaling, computers could use a unary system, like the brain does.

The brains signals are sparser but carry more meaning based on their sequence. If neurons A through J receive signals from some other neurons, prompting A, B and C to spike  in that order  and a dendrite on a neighboring neuron recognizes that pattern as part of the information needed to process, say, the smell of an orange peel, that neuron will generate a spike of it own. But if the dendrite instead detects sequence B-A-C, the neuron wont spike.

To make such a system work in a machine requires a transistor that could act like a dendrite  in other words, determine whether a sequence of signals merits a spike. Boahen asserts that the nanodendrite can do this. Its essentially a variant of a ferroelectric field-effect transistor, a decades-old technology using material with a natural electric polarization that reverses when electricity runs through it.

It would take some innovative research ideas to find solutions, but I am optimistic that we will get there.

H.-S. Philip Wong, PhD, professor of electrical engineering

Like a conventional microchips logic gate  a circuit that performs logic functions on one or more binary inputs and provides an output  the nanodendrite uses a series of gates to determine whether a sequence of signals should prompt it to relay its own signal.

He designed the tiny transistor with H.-S. Philip Wong, PhD, professor of electrical engineering and the Willard R. and Inez Kerr Bell Professor in the School of Engineering, and graduate students Matthew Beauchamp and Hugo Chen.

Chen will present an experimental proof-of-concept paper that illustrates the operation of the nanodendrite in December 2023 at the International Electron Devices Meeting, the major forum for reporting advances in semiconductor and electronic device technology.

From a device-technology point of view, there are many unanswered questions, said Wong, who directs the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility. One such question is how to build nanodendrites in three dimensions  that is, stacked on top of each other in a single silicon chip. Yet, I dont believe those unanswered questions present any fundamental roadblocks, Wong added. It would take some innovative research ideas to find solutions, but I am optimistic that we will get there.

Boahen is also optimistic. Such a technology, were it available now, could cut GPTs signals 400-fold, with an equivalent decrease in energy consumption. He concedes the work is in its early stages, with an actual dendrocentric computer chip probably about a decade away from realization.

But once you see it, you cant unsee it, he said

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What President Akufo-Addo said at the Full Circle Africa Economic Conference

Graphic.com.gh Dec - 29 - 2023 , 07:04

On Thursday, December 28, 2023, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressed the Full Circle Africa Economic Conference in Accra.

In my remarks, I stressed that we, thus, cannot allow temporary poverty and under-development to be the narrative of Africa, a continent which is so blessed with natural and human resources.

We cannot allow our collective fate to be decided by exogenous shocks thousands and thousands of miles away. The time has come for Africans and persons of African descent to define our own narrative.

We must be defined by what we see in ourselves and not what others choose to say about us.

I can never get away from the oft-cited quote of that famous Jamaican Reggae artist, Peter Tosh, because it very much sums up who we are, and what our aspirations should be.

He said, don't care where you come from, as long as you're a black man, you're an African. Let us all remember that the destiny of all black people, no matter where they are in the world, is bound up with Africa.

Together, we must help make Africa the place for investment, progress and prosperity, and not from where our youth flee in the hope of accessing the mirage of a better life in Europe or the Americas.

We want to derive maximum dividends from our relations with the African Diaspora in mutually beneficial co-operation, and as partners for shared growth and development.
MP Joycelyn Tetteh supports Volta Regional Women's Wing

GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 28 - 2023 , 13:58

In a move to fortify the Volta Regional Women's Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the upcoming 2024 elections, the Member of Parliament for the North Dayi Constituency, Joycelyn Tetteh, has demonstrated her commitment by donating clothing to the women's wing.

The clothing will be distributed among the leadership in the region and across all 18 constituencies.

This marks the second time that MP Joycelyn Tetteh has contributed to the empowerment of the women's wing, aiming to create a resilient and effective force in mobilizing women for the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) victory in the upcoming elections.

Fafa Agbai, the Volta Regional Women's Organiser, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the entire Women's Wing to Madam Tetteh for her consistent support over the years. Ms. Agbai assured the MP that the clothing would reach all women organizers and their deputies in the region.

Highlighting their dedication to the cause, Ms. Agbai affirmed the Women's Wing's readiness to intensify efforts in preparation for the forthcoming elections.

The gesture from MP Joycelyn Tetteh serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit within the NDC as they gear up for the electoral challenges ahead.
The Guam Regional Medical City on Friday announced the addition of two interventional cardiologists to the hospitals cardiovascular team, Dr. Bishoy ElBebawy and Dr. Maheswara Mahesh Golla.

Golla is also the director of Cardiovascular Medicine at GRMC, according to a press release from the hospital welcoming the two doctors.

With Drs. Golla and ElBebawy on board, this means that GRMCs cardiovascular team is now offering advanced treatments for anyone suffering a major heart attack, and this is available to our entire community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to Dr. Alexander Beau Wielaard, GRMC chief executive officer, in a statement.

ElBebawy specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and blood vessel conditions using advanced catheter-based techniques through modern technological interventions such as intravascular imaging and invasive physiology to help guide stent selection, placement, and deployment.

His expertise extends to addressing coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm, as well as heart disease prevention. He also performs transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac stress testing, implantation of heart monitoring, and pacemaker devices.

ElBebawy is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases, as well as the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology, and the National Board of Echocardiography.

Golla, meanwhile, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, pericardial disease, valvular heart disease, preventive cardiology peripheral vascular disease, superficial and deep venous problems, renal artery stenosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, and arterio-venous fistulae problems.

He holds multiple board certifications, which include the American Board of Endovascular Interventions, American Board of Vascular Medicine, Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation, American Board of Internal Medicine-Interventional Cardiology, American Board of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine-Internal Medicine, Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology, Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and the National Board of Echocardiography.

GRMCs Cardiovascular team also includes nurse practitioner Carla Haddock of the Heart Failure Clinic, interventional cardiologist Dr. Alejandro Prieto, general cardiologist Dr. Robert Palusinksi, and electrophysiology cardiologist Dr. Marian Holland.
Recognizing the commitment to data accuracy and reporting practices, the Supreme Court of Guam was recently honored with the Reporting Excellence Award for Data Submissions from the National Center for State Courts.

The prestigious award was presented at the December Judicial Council Meeting.

Providing accurate, quality data not only guides decision-making, it demonstrates transparency, Chief Justice Robert J. Torres said in a statement. Congratulations to our entire Supreme Court team and all who contributed to this worthy award.

The Reporting Excellence Award for Data Submissions acknowledges the exceptional leadership and resourcefulness of reporting caseload data.

Since 2015, the Supreme Court of Guam consistently reports publishable caseload data for 100% of the 33 applicable case types covering all categories collected by the Court Statistics Project.

This achievement reflects the determination of the Judiciary and the obligation to improve caseload reporting operations.

When I became the data liaison for the Guam Judiciary in 2015, I never imagined we would be rooting for an award but focused on the importance of data and how it should drive the work we do, Administrator of the Courts Danielle T. Rosete said in a statement. I would like to thank the Supreme Court team for their unwavering dedication and effort with the CSP submissions and providing statistical reports.

The Court Statistics Project is a joint project of the National Center for State Courts and the Conference of State Court Administrators.

The CSP publishes caseload data from the courts of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Data publication serves to distinguish differences in court structure, case definitions, counting practices, court rules, statutes, and terminology.
Guams overcrowded prison has been a problem for decades under different administrations but has so far gotten band-aid fixes, along with a new proposal for emergency releases, officials told senators at an oversight hearing on Friday  or just four days after a detainee tried to escape.

The two-hour hearing led by public safety chairman Sen. Chris Barnett covered a wide range of issues, from prison escapes and violence, contraband, broken air-conditioners and serious plumbing issues, sending inmates to Saipan, and building a new prison.

Department of Corrections facilities were designed for about 300 but now have 869 prisoners and detainees, most of them pre-trial detainees or those who have been temporarily held until they can be tried in a court.

But Sen. Telo Taitague expressed concern that DOC officials themselves do not have concrete data as to how many exactly can these facilities accommodate based on the Fire Code.

DOC Director Fred Bordallo said prison overcrowding continues to be a dangerous situation that results in all sorts of challenges from toilet tissue shortage to safety concerns for not only the prisoners but also officers.

He told senators that the department is looking at emergency releases, although this needs to be authorized by statute first.

I know its a very hot political potato, Bordallo told senators, considering the victims who may be hard pressed to support the idea. No lawmaker so far is open to the idea of introducing a bill.

Its scary, Taitague said, of the idea of emergency releases, while Barnett asked Bordallo just who could be released under DOCs plan.

Bordallo said they would be individuals or pre-trial detainees with non-violent offenses involving drug use and couldnt afford to make bail, or pre-trial detainees with non-violent offenses who are senior citizens and military veterans.

Barnett said the ones in the news are those on pre-trial felony release committing other felonies.

Escapes

Bordallo also confirmed, after an inquiry from Barnett, that a detainee tried to escape just this Monday, a day after an inmate escaped but was recaptured on Christmas Eve.

Three corrections officers from the Christmas Eve inmate escape are now on paid administrative leave, while DOC internal investigation is ongoing for both incidents, he said.

Its always incumbent for an officer to be with that inmate regardless if a behavioral health, wellness client is being treated at the Department of Corrections, you should always have an officer present, Bordallo said.

Bordallo said if at least one of the three corrections officers was with the inmate at all times then an escape might have been prevented.

Three corrections officers all rode in a vehicle tailing the ambulance while the inmate was taken to Guam Memorial Hospital for an undisclosed medical condition.

Barnett acknowledged that DOC has protocols in place for prison transport but said one can only deduce that in this particular case, they werent followed.

Sen. Chris Duenas, vice chair of the committee, asked Bordallo to consider disclosing the final report on the investigations and the actions taken for transparency and to continue to build public confidence in the system.

A new facility

Maj. Antone Aguon, DOC administrative services chief, said legislatures have come and gone but not one new prison building has been built since 1999.

Aguon, who started working with DOC in 1994, said theres been band-aid approaches to the issues at the prison.

But for me personally again  at the end of the day, the only way to solve this overcrowding is we gotta get a new facility, he told senators.

Aguon said just like senators, he also does not want to see detainees or inmates released and then they commit a crime.

We dont want to turn them away when GPD arrests them and says sorry we dont have any room at the end but we are trying our best to maintain our current facility. Were planning for a new one, he said.

The Department of Public Works, he said, issued a request for proposals for the design of a new correctional facility.

Questions from potential vendors, now under the attorney generals review, have changed the timeline for the procurement process.

Aguon reiterated the need for a new corrections facility.

We are at the bottom of the totem pole. We are at the bottom of the food chain. We dont pick and choose who comes to our department. We dont ask them to come. We dont have an advertisement budget, we spend no money on marketing, we are not encouraging people to come to our prison. They show up at our door, here we are, with medical problems and all and we take them in and we have to care for them, he said. Its not about luxury for the prisoners. Its a constitutional requirement.

Aguon also talked about serious plumbing issues, as well as broken air-conditioning systems.

Out of the 158 aircons, he said, 61 or 39% are non-functional, including 25 that were damaged during Typhoon Mawar in May.

Even if FEMA approves the funding, Guam needs to spend local funds first.

The overall cost of fixing all broken aircons is close to $600,000, he said.

It all comes down to funding, he said, adding that he could do assessments and receive quotes all day but it would still depend on money that DOC does not have right now.

We keep kicking this down and its gonna get worse  You dont want the federal government to come in here and tell us what to do. We know what we need to do, he said. Its just were gonna have to get creative on the funding and how were gonna do this.
The Supreme Court of Guam denied an appeal in a case that sought payment of COVID-19 health emergency overtime and double pay.

Government of Guam employees appealed a dismissal of a proposed class action lawsuit seeking payment for denied double pay or overtime pay earned during the COVID-19 health emergency.

The case involves 10 government of Guam employees from various agencies.

In October 2020, employees from the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, Department of Public Works, Guam Department of Education, Department of Corrections, Guam Solid Waste Authority, Guam Fire Department, Judiciary of Guam, Guam Police Department, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, and the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency filed a class action complaint in the Superior Court of Guam.

They challenged the Superior Courts rulings on grounds of sovereign immunity, exhaustion of administrative remedies and the availability of statutory remedies, declaratory relief and equitable estoppel.

The Supreme Court denied each of the claims, holding that they failed to exhaust administrative remedies and that, as a matter of law, this failure was not excused on the grounds of futility.

The justices opined that none of the employees had exhausted administrative remedies because no one appealed to the Civil Service Commission.

The claim that appeal to the CSC was impracticable because the pandemic had caused closures of the CSC for extended periods simply does not rise to the level of futile, the opinion said.

The court held that the Superior Court properly dismissed appellants claims for double pay and declaratory judgment, and that estoppel was not a valid cause of action.

Finally, the court held that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was a federal appropriation, outside the control of the Guam Legislature, and therefore the Proper Government Spending Act did not apply to their claims.

The judgement of the Superior Court was affirmed.
The Supreme Court of Guam reversed the dismissal of a land fraud complaint and remanded the case back to the trial court.

In an opinion authored by Justice F. Philip Carbullido and joined by Chief Justice Robert Torres and Justice Katharine Maraman, the court decided the appeal in the case of Cruz v. Cruz.

Angel Cruz appealed the Superior Courts dismissal of his complaint for fraud against his son Joseph Cruz.

On appeal, Angel Cruz argued the trial court erred in dismissing his case because it incorrectly found the statute of limitations commenced on March 24, 2014, when Joseph Cruz recorded allegedly fraudulent deeds with the Department of Land Management.

We agree that the Superior Courts legal conclusions were incorrect and find it was inappropriate to grant the motion to dismiss. We reverse, according to the opinion issued last week.

The Supreme Court agreed with Angel Cruz, holding that the plain language of Guams recording statute puts only subsequent purchasers and mortgagees on constructive notice of what can be found by searching DLM records.

The court further held that recording is intended to protect innocent parties and not to aid fraudulent ones; recording a fraudulent deed does not put the defrauded party on constructive notice of their fraud claim.

The case began in December 2019 when Angel Cruz filed a complaint in the Superior Court accusing his son of abusing his position of trust by fraudulently acquiring two parcels of Angel Cruzs property in Talofofo via quitclaim deed.

On March 24, 2014, Joseph Cruz recorded two quitclaim deeds purporting to voluntarily transfer the properties from his dad to him. Angel Cruz alleged that a forged signature was used to commit the fraud. Angel Cruz had only found out about the fraud in 2019 and filed the complaint shortly after.

Joseph Cruz asked the trial court to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim on statute of limitation grounds. The trial court reasoned Angel Cruz was put on constructive notice of the fraud when the deeds were recorded on March 24, 2014, because that was the first incident he could have discovered the wrongful acts with reasonable diligence.

The court concluded the statue of limitations expired on or about March 24, 2017, three years after the date the deeds were recorded.

There were no facts alleged in Angel Cruzs amended complaint that establish he was on inquiry notice as a matter of law. The Supreme Court said no circumstances were pleaded which would compel a reasonable person to investigate DLM records, and, as a matter of public policy, it would be unreasonable to require an owner and possessor of real property to periodically check the official records for wild deeds.

The matter was reversed and remanded to the trial court.
Vincent Taijeron Akimoto, M.D., is a doctor of family medicine on Guam. Read the full letter at guampdn.com.
According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Louisianas population is declining at a faster rate than nearly any other state.

Louisiana lost more than 14,000 residents between July 2022 and July 2023, following a trend of steep population decline since 2020. In the past three years, the state has lost more than 1.8% of its population. The only other state to shrink at a faster rate was New York, with 11 out-of-state moves per 1,000 residents, compared with Louisianas 6.5.

The annual American Community Survey shows that the most moved-to states for Louisianans are Texas, Mississippi and Florida.

Reasons for residents departures include a laundry list of the states shortcomings: rising insurance costs, low employment prospects and lack of education, according to several residents interviewed by nola.com. Louisiana regularly tops lists of states with the highest violent crime rates, and several of its cities are ranked among the worst for women.

Part of the reason for the states declining population rate, however, has nothing to do with interstate moves, according to Allison Plyer, the chief demographer for the Data Center in New Orleans.

I think folks forget that high death rate can significantly contribute to population loss, Pryer said in an interview with Fox 8. And weve had more people dying than actually leaving the state.

More than 57,000 people in Louisiana died in 2020, a 30% jump from the previous year, attributed mostly to COVID-19 deaths. Still, three years later, death rates have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Louisianas decline comes in sharp contrast with the rest of the South. According to the U.S. census, South Carolina and Florida were the two fastest-growing states in the nation, growing by 1.7% and 1.6% respectively.

Louisiana losing population

2020: 4,652,022 people

2021: 4,627,047 people, a yearly decrease of 24,975

2022: 4,588,023 people, a yearly decrease of 39,024

2023: 4,573,749 people, a yearly decrease of 14,274

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
On Wednesday night, the Naples, Florida, home of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott became the target of a swatting incident.

Swatting is defined as a false report of an ongoing emergency or active threat of violence intended to prompt an immediate tactical law enforcement response.

In a post to the social platform X on Thursday, the Republican senator told his followers that cowards swatted his Naples home while he was out having dinner in a sick attempt to terrorize his family.

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.



Ann & I want to thank @NaplesPolice & @CollierSheriff for all they do to keep us safe.  Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 28, 2023

During a swatting incident, emergency services are often tricked into responding to a specific address with the goal of startling or harming the victim  or having them placed under arrest.

According to the Naples Police Department, the incident at Scotts home occurred around 9 p.m. Dec. 27, when dispatchers received a call from someone who said a shooting had taken place in the 3100 block of Gordon Drive.

Police say they were quickly able to confirm the event did not occur, and deemed it a swatting event within 15 minutes.

In a narrative from the incident report obtained by GulfLive.com, dispatch told the responding officer that a male caller indicated that had shot his wife with an AR-15 three times while she was sleeping.

A request for 911 records revealed the caller, who identified himself as Jamal, stated that he shot his wife with an AR-15 because she was sleeping with another dude.

Jamal  whose voice, police later noted, sounded computer generated or artificial, then indicated he was holding a hostage and demanded $10,000, adding that the hostage was his wifes boyfriend, Michael, and that he was in possession of a pipe bomb he claimed he would use to blow up the house if he didnt receive $10,000.

An investigation into the occurrence is currently active and ongoing.

Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in 2018, Scott served two terms as the governor of Florida.

But the senator isnt the only government official recently swatted.

On Christmas Day, CNN reported that 911 operators had dispatched officers to the home of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, after a man claimed he shot his girlfriend there.

Like Scott, Greene also took to social media to share news of the incident  referring to it as the 8th time shed been swatted. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

I was just swatted.



This is like the 8th time.



On Christmas with my family here.



My local police are the GREATEST and shouldnt 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!  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 25, 2023

Until recently, the absence of an official comprehensive swatting archive posed a challenge for law enforcement in tracking these incidents outside their own agency. However, in May the Federal Bureau of Investigation began integrating swatting incidents into a national online database in order to enhance the exchange of information among police departments and law enforcement agencies across the country.




Haiti - Cap-Haitien : Brighten announces the inauguration of its new solar training center





Brighten Haiti, a US-based non-profit organization, announces the official opening of its pioneering solar training center in Cap-Haitien. This event will be broadcast live via Zoom on the internet:



"All the conditions are there to make 2024 the year in which Haiti will achieve a historic transformation towards (solar) electricity, computers and high-speed Internet. Brighten Haiti will lead the way," said Kevin Keene, Founder of Brighten Hait



Virtual inauguration of the Brighten Haiti solar training center, live on zoom.



Register for the Zoom meeting : https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEuf-6grjkvH9wCIalQGyBEZgSolB1WMAlU



Monday, January 15, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Pacific Time)







Event details:

- Meet the apprentices of Brighten Haiti and hear their inspiring stories.

- Experience a virtual tour of the new Training Center.

- Discover the impact of solar energy in Haitian communities.

- Engage with key figures and supporters of Brighten Haiti.

- Find out why 2024 will be a pivotal year for providing Haiti's communities with electricity, computer labs and high-speed internet access.



We invite everyone interested in sustainable development and renewable energy to join us for this momentous occasion. Witness how Brighten Haiti and its apprentices are making a tangible difference in the lives of many people.







HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Economy : Launch of the Together lets change the city program





Eric Stromayer, the Charge d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Haiti, announces the launch in Haiti by Cities Alliance of the "Together Let's Change the City" (LAVIL) program with the aim of stimulating the provision of municipal services and the local development with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti).



For the moment, LAVIL concerns the municipalities of Cap Haitien and Les Cayes, with the possibility of extension to other municipalities.



Cities Alliance introduces the LAVIL program which aims to develop relationships with central government and municipalities to help unlock resources for public services. Faced with growing economic, social and political challenges, Haitian local authorities are struggling to provide vital services to their citizens. "LAVIL offers Haitians hope and opportunity to prosper through strengthening the capacity of municipalities to improve living conditions and create sustainable conditions for all," said Eric Stromayer.



Maram Talaat, Acting Director of the USAID/Haiti mission, highlighted "the LAVIL project will help selected local governments provide better services to their constituents and create municipal management models for economic growth and social development."



Public procurement will be a key priority. Improved management and infrastructure are expected to boost livelihoods, job creation and municipal revenues. "In Cap-Haitien, one of our main challenges is to increase tax revenues to finance local needs, which amount to 1.5 billion gourdes for approximately 200 initiatives in the Communal Development Plan. We expect significant support from LAVIL for this essential tax mobilization," says Nelson Deshomme, communications director of the municipal administration of Cap-Haitien. A comprehensive waste management system will also be an essential component of the program. Effective waste management preserves the environment and public health and plays a central role in preserving the oceans, protecting marine life and supporting the growth of blue economy sectors.



LAVIL takes a flexible approach to prioritize local needs and solutions. Laura Lima, global programs manager for Cities Alliance, says that "LAVIL is an important step towards sustainable urban development in Haiti. Cities Alliance and its partners are committed to building resilience and strengthening communities from within."



"The LAVIL program brings hope to the municipality of Les Cayes, by addressing the challenges linked to local revenues and urban planning. By working closely with the authorities, we expect the program to boost the local economy by improving municipal services. Its potential expansion to other cities offers a unique opportunity to replicate the success and create a lasting national impact," said Claire Daphne France, Mayor of Les Cayes.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : CARICOM congratulates Haiti on the occasion of its 220th anniversary of independence





Carla Barnett, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) sent a message of congratulations to Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry on the occasion of the 220th anniversary of Haiti's independence which will be celebrated on January 1st, 2024.



Message from Carla Barnett :



"Honourable Prime Minister, the Caribbean Community congratulates the Republic of Haiti on the occasion of the Two Hundred and Twentieth Anniversary of Independence.



The Community recognises the historic significance and profound impact of Haitis attainment of independence in 1804. As a nation forged on the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, Haiti has a long and proud history of unyielding strength and perseverance. As a Community, we celebrate our shared identity and Haitis rich cultural heritage and diversity captures the creative, resilient and unwavering spirit of all our people.



CARICOM stands in solidarity and partnership with the Republic of Haiti in furthering initiatives to achieve a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future. CARICOM will remain steadfast in its support for the welfare of Haiti and the efforts of the Haitian people to overcome challenges and to advance national development. Just as the proud legacy of Haitis independence has shaped the Caribbean region, the stability and prosperity of Haiti is important for the furtherance of regional integration, security and the sustainable development of the Community at large.



Honourable Prime Minister, please accept our heartfelt congratulations and be assured of the Communitys continued resolve in working with Haiti towards building a shared future of peace, prosperity and well-being for generations to come."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2023/12/28 | Source

Korean movie of the week"Nobody's Daughter Haewon" (2013)

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Directed by Hong Sang-soo

With Lee Sun-kyun, Jung Eun-chae, Kim Eui-sung, Yu Jun-sang, Ye Ji-won, Ki Joo-bong,...

Synopsis

Haewon, a college student, wants to end her secret affair with her professor, Seongjun. Feeling depressed after bidding farewell to her mother who is set to immigrate to Canada the next day, Haewon seeks out Seongjun again after a long time. That day, they run into her classmates at a restaurant and their relationship gets revealed. Haewon gets more agitated and Seongjun makes an extreme suggestion to run away together... Haewon dreams often. Her dreams will be compared to her waking life, but none can be denied as being a part of her life.

Release date in Korea : 2013/02/28

Read Christopher's review

Where to Watch Powered by JustWatch

Available on DVD from Amazon and YESASIA
Published on 2023/12/28 | Source

Actor Park Ho-san said his last greeting to the late Lee Sun-kyun.

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Park Ho-san wrote on his Instagram on the 27th, "I didn't want to believe it, but now I finally do after receiving the news of his passing".

On this day, Park Ho-san said, "To me, Sun-kyun, who was more Dong-hoon than Sun-kyun, is my brother", expressing regret, "Whatever you did, I really believed in you and understand how hard it must have been".

Park Ho-san said, "I have to go see you, but I'm a little scared. I'm going to go anyway today", and added, "Even if I can't tell you later, all of us who know you, really believe in you".

At the same time, Park Ho-san added, "Now that you're laid down, stretch out your legs, erase all your heartbreaks, and sleep comfortably. Rest comfortably, my warm brother".

Earlier, Park Ho-san worked with Lee Sun-kyun as a brother in the tvN drama "My Mister".

Meanwhile, Lee Sun-kyun was found dead in a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 27th.
Published on 2023/12/28 | Source

The "Payback" team announced its absence from the "2023 SBS Acting Awards".

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SBS reported on the 28th that the actors of the drama "Payback" have decided not to participate in the 2023 Acting Awards. The awards will be held regardless of whether "Payback" actors attend or not.

"Payback" is a refreshing revenge play between Eun-yong (Lee Sun-kyun), a money trader, and Joon-kyeong (Moon Chae-won), a legal engineer, who fights against the law and the cartel of law.

The appearance of those who refused to be silent in the face of unjust power and confronted hotly in their own way gives a thrilling thrill and explosive catharsis.

In the drama, Lee Sun-kyun was praised for opening up another horizon in his acting life, from acting to high-level action.

Lee Sun-kyun, who was investigated in October on charges of drug management, was found dead in a car parked in a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 27th.
Beautiful lanterns light up Hohhot's winter nights

People's Daily Online) 16:08, December 28, 2023

People admire the lanterns at a park in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Wang Can)

As north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region prepares to host the 14th Chinese National Winter Games and welcome the New Year, its capital city Hohhot has dressed up tourist attractions and parks with colorful lanterns and lights, bringing a festive atmosphere to the city, and lighting up its cold winter nights. The beautiful lantern decorations have attracted many local residents and tourists, who come to enjoy the lights and take photos to capture the festive spirit.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
MONDAY, Feb. 20, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- For reasons that cant always be explained, some women experience pain in their external genital area.



Called vulvodynia, this term encompasses everything from localized pain at a specific spot, such as on the outer or inner labia, for example, to pain throughout the area.

It might feel like burning, aching, rawness, swelling or just irritation, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Although pain in this area is common, when it lasts for three months or more without an infection, skin disorder or other medical condition to explain it, thats vulvodynia, according to ACOG.

The pain can be severe or mild and it can last forever. Its also treatable, according to a blog post from University of Texas Health Austin.

You know, women dont often come in saying, I have pain. They say things like, I have burning, irritation, pain during sex at times, pins and needles feeling, Teresa Reed, a former physician assistant at UT Health Austin, said in the blog post. When they come in, we rule out all those other things that can cause those conditions. By definition, vulvodynia is the absence of physical findings, it is a musculoskeletal, neuropathic condition.

What is vulvodynia?

The National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) describes the condition as chronic vulvar pain without an identifiable cause. Although descriptions vary, most women say they have a burning feeling.

Although generalized vulvodynia can happen spontaneously, an attack of what is known as provoked vulvodynia is usually set off by a trigger that involves pressure, including sex, tampon insertion, a gynecologic exam, prolonged sitting or wearing fitted pants, according to the NVA.

Anywhere from 3% to 16% of women have reported vulvodynia symptoms, according to UT Health Austin.

How do you get vulvodynia?

Causes can include irritated or damaged vulva nerves, inflammation, a long-term reaction to some infections, and sensitivity to certain foods, according to ACOG. It could also be a condition or dysfunction in the muscles or a genetic disorder.

Risk factors include young age, Hispanic ethnicity, being married, and some coexisting mental or physical health issues, such as depression, sleep dysfunction or pain syndromes like fibromyalgia, according to UT Health Austin.

About 63% of women with a cancer history report sexual issues, which can include complaints of vulvar discomfort, according to a September 2022 study. It was published in the journal Acta Oncologica.

Hormonal changes that happen during menopause can cause dryness and irritation of the vulvar skin, according to a May 2022 report on the University of Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging.



What are vulvodynia symptoms?

Vulvodynia pain can happen anywhere on the vulva, between the mons pubis and the anus, according to a question-and-answer blog by UT Health Austin with information from gynecologist Dr. Margaret Whitney. This can include pain on the clitoris or the vaginal opening.

Sometimes pain comes and goes. Other times its caused by something external, such as tight clothing or an activity like sex, according to UT Health Austin.



What are treatments for vulvodynia?

Getting a diagnosis can be challenging.

Patients with vulvodynia often become frustrated users of health care, a June 2021 study in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology found. Only about 50% of women with symptoms seek care. About 30% had three or more physician visits and 40% were still undiagnosed, according to the study.

Most times health care providers diagnose vulvodynia when other causes have been ruled out, according to the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Treatments can range from vulvodynia self-care to vulvodynia medication and even surgery.

Self-care options range from cleaning suggestions, avoiding products that contain irritating ingredients, applying a layer of petroleum jelly to retain moisture, and wearing 100% cotton underwear and pads, according to ACOG.

Medications can include estrogen creams, antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs or local anesthetics, according to ACOG. However, NICHD notes that research it funded found some of these were no more effective than self-management or placebos.

Trigger point massage therapy, an injected nerve block, physical therapy and biofeedback to help strengthen pelvic floor muscles, cognitive behavioral therapy and a surgery to remove some tissue called a vestibulectomy are helpful for some. Surgery is considered a last resort, according to NICHD.

Asked what she would tell women experiencing the condition, Whitney said in the blog post, You are not alone, we can help you, there is hope for a better quality of life with appropriate treatment.
The strike will cover roughly 2,000 employees represented by the union and effectively shut down activities at Kokkola Industrial Park and Kilpilahti in Porvoo on 12 February. The former is the site of a number of chemical industry companies and the latter that of, for example, the oil refinery of Neste.

THE FINNISH Industrial Union on Thursday announced it intends to organise a two-day strike at two industrial areas in early February.

The strike will indirectly affect some 7,000 employees.

Trade Union Pro announced later yesterday it will stage concurring two-day work stoppages at 14 workplaces located mostly at the two areas.

The strikes will be held in protest of the labour market reforms and social security cuts pursued by the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), confirmed Sami Ryynanen, the chief shop steward for Neste in Kilpilahti. Ryynanen described the measures as a blow to the heart of employee benefits, employee rights and the terms and conditions of employment.

The Industrial Union assured that the strikes will neither cause fuel shortages nor endanger security of supply or critical societal functions. Chairperson Riku Aalto reiterated his demand that the government engage in genuine discussions on the measures with the labour movement.

We wont tolerate the effort to weaken employee rights and terms of employment. Closing the Kokkola and Kilpilahti industrial areas isnt a decision we made lightly, but its still just a warning shot, he said. Therell be further industrial actions unless the government launches genuine discussions on issues related to working life.

Neste on Thursday responded to the announcement in a short statement sent to YLE, saying it is evaluating the effects of the possible strike and the precautionary measures it could necessitate.

Mika Aalto, the managing director of the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, estimated that the strike will cast the country in poor light in the eyes of investors and have a negative impact on export industries that extends beyond its two-day duration because of the long start-up times of production plants.

In continuous process industries, we arent talking about losing two days of production but we may be talking about weeks, he said.

Also the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) expressed its regret about the strike.

This is very regrettable. Finland and Finnish companies are faced with a very challenging economic situation. These kinds of strikes jeopardise the jobs and economic well-being of Finns, Ilkka Oksala, a director at EK, stated to YLE.

The Finnish government has shown no signs of willingness to back down on its policy proposals.

Minister of Employment Arto Satonen (NCP) on Thursday called for patience from all parties, adding that while the details of the measures can be discussed no single party can have the right to veto government decisions.

Finlands economic situation is very difficult, and we should be able to resolve these issues at home. Doing nothing isnt an option because our current employment rate isnt high enough to fund the services and safety net of the welfare society, he said to the public broadcasting company.

Also Satonen voiced his concern that the strikes could dent the global reputation of Finland.

Theyre very significant, and theyll cause harm to companies, meaning those that pay employees wages. They paint Finland in a poor light as an investment destination. They also show that theres a need to reform the industrial peace legislation, he added.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
The government has earmarked around 56 million euros for research on the themes for 2024.

THE OFFICE of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) on Thursday communicated that the government has selected two strategic research themes for next year: the future of democracy, and water as an element of welfare, security and peace.

The decision marks an unprecedented deviation from what had become established practice, according to Helsingin Sanomat. The Strategic Research Council in June proposed that the themes for next year be water as an element of welfare, security and peace, and future interactions between immigration, work and welfare  with democracy as the overarching focal point.

The government will, though, continue to prepare immigration as a strategic research theme for 2025.

Helsingin Sanomat in November reported based on information it has obtained that the government plans to reject the theme proposal. While the Finns Party had initially expressed its objection to the proposal on grounds that the programme did not pay enough attention to the negative characteristics of immigration, the postponement was approved by all four ruling parties.

The postponement marks the first time the government has rejected the theme proposal in the 10-year history of the council, the newspaper wrote. Although the government makes the decisions on funding the research projects based on their perceived societal significance, impact and scientific quality, thus far the themes have been presented by the scientific community.

The government defines strategic research as long-term, problem-focused and scientifically high-quality research that promotes the development of social policy and social functions with the goal of tackling major societal challenges and problems.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Behavorial health, radio communications, Dana Park, library restrooms on county's docket

Henderson County would continue funding a behavorial health system coordinator in its public health department and would buy upgraded communications capacity at three sites, an excavator and snow removal equipment and improvements at Dana Park Community Center if the Board of Commissioners votes to appropriate several state grants on Tuesday.

During their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday night, commissioners are expected to approve the state money, which was allocated to Henderson County in this year's legislative session. Seven separate requests are included on the consent agenda, which contains noncontroversial, routine matters that don't require discussion or debate. The 2023-24 budget adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly included $37 million in 18 separate grants for public water and sewer, flood resiliency, emergency services, rural fire & rescue departments and nonprofits in Henderson County.

Numerous public health and mental health providers called on County Manager John Mitchell to continue the behavorial health system coordinator position in the Department of Public Health after the current coordinator, Jodi Grabowski, transitioned to a lead role in the county manager's office managing the use of the county's opioid litigation funds.

The Partnership for Health's chair said while it was excited about the benefit the opioid settlement could bring, "we also see the enormous coordination and progress that's been made to address the growing substance abuse and mental health challenges out community faces," Partnership Chair Elizabeth Moss wrote in a letter to Mitchell. Dr. Maddalena S. Hayes, chair of the Board of Health, also urged the county to maintain the position. The position that became vacant with Grabowski's transition to the county manager's office would be funded with opioid settlement money if commissioners OK the consent agenda item.

Other state grants include:

Emergency management public safety radio system at Naples, Blue Ridge Community College and UNC Health Pardee, $1 million.

Excavator to "assist with urgent repairs at county facilities" and a utility vehicle for snow removal during emergency response calls, $105,000.

Remodel kitchen and replace flooring at Dana Park Community Center, $120,000.

Renovation of rest rooms and related improvements at the main branch of the Henderson County library, $40,000.

Requests from the county's fund balance would pay to extend the license to upload 30,000 images in the Baker Barber Collection and make them available to the public, $17,182; and to cover repair of an ambulance, $9,585.
A recent visit to the Prado, Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid became a handy excuse to read two books on seemingly disparate artists separated by over a century. Desmond Morris, more famous for The Naked Ape, casts his beady, zoologists eye on the lives of the surrealists in the book of the same name. Of old masters and modern greats (Thames and Hudson)

More a philosophical concept than an art movement, surrealism was a response to the horrors of World War I and waned by the time the second World War ended in 1945. But some of the greatest art in the modern world was created by the surrealists in that intervening period under the leadership of the often-dictatorial Andre Breton  his run-ins with Salvadore Dali are among the many delights of the book. Morris profiles 32 artists, and its a testament to his talents that other than being a zoologist and a minor surrealist painter himself, he is a superbly observant and entertaining writer, reflecting the surrealist ethos of treating the tragedies of the world as a joke.

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About Rene Magritte he writes, for instance: He spent his whole adult life trying to think up of novel ways of insulting the commonsense values of everyday existence. Little surprise then that whenever Magritte fell short of money he would cheerfully dash off fakes of works by Picasso, Braq, Paul Klee and even the old master, Titian.

Meenal Baghel (Courtesy the subject)

Francisco Goya is known as the last of the old masters and the first of the modern greats. Robert Hughess biography, simply called Goya, is written with great brio and unabashed admiration. A former court painter, Goya, like the surrealists, was changed by a war, in his case, by Napoleons invasion of Spain. Goyas Los Disparates, a series of etchings in black and white and aquatint, evoke the horrors of war such that they have been called the greatest interpreters of anguish the West has known. In the winter of his life, Goya, rendered completely deaf, painted a series of works directly onto the walls of his house, now known as the black paintings. The grotesque imagery of goblins and witches and tortured folk seem like the works of a fevered subconscious. And while he was never classified as such, who is to say that Goyas interpretation of Saturn Devouring His Son  that allegory of the cannibalizing tendencies of societies and nations  is not one of the great surrealist paintings?

READ MORE: HT editors pick their best reads of 2023
In the wake of the resounding success of their track "Dilbar," whose distinctive drop captured the hearts of India and sent shockwaves through YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, Rusha & Blizza have now achieved a milestone by gracing the iconic Times Square Billboard in New York.

These trailblazing pioneers of Folktronica, or Folk Electronica, have always embraced a courageous and experimental approach to their music. The viral sensation of their original sound marked a seismic shift in the music landscape, solidifying their position as new-age trendsetters. The unconventional ethos they bring to music production has ushered in a fresh wave of sounds, challenging the norms and redefining the soundscape of the Indian music industry.

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In an industry often bound by tradition, Rusha & Blizza's journey signifies a departure from the ordinary, showcasing a commitment to pushing creative boundaries and fostering innovation. Their spotlight on the Times Square Billboard serves not only as a recognition of their past achievements but also as a testament to their ongoing influence in shaping the future of Indian music. As they continue to inspire with their courage to explore the uncharted, Rusha & Blizza stand as a symbol of the evolving and diverse musical landscape that is rapidly gaining global recognition.

Rusha & Blizza, the inventive musical pair born from an unexpected meeting in a Delhi gym back in 2010, have embarked on a remarkable decade-spanning voyage, seamlessly blending experimental soundscapes with the rich tapestry of Indian musical traditions.

Presently, the duo is immersed in the creation of their upcoming dance theatre music video series album titled "Vision One," slated for release in 2024. In addition to this ambitious project, they are also engaged in significant commercial ventures that promise to make a substantial impact in the music industry. The duo's journey, marked by innovation and a unique fusion of musical elements, stands as a testament to their unwavering dedication to pushing artistic boundaries and leaving an indelible mark on the global music scene.

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.
Ludhiana, 28thDecember 2023:IreoWaterfront, an integrated township project located along the Sidhwan Canal Road near South City, Ludhiana, has recently witnessed a transformative turnaround after AIPL Housing and Urban Infrastructure Limited (AIPL) has taken over its management. AIPL after taking over the management of Ireo Waterfront has proactively initiated to settle outstanding dues with the regulatory authorities, including GLADA and the Banks.

As a result of AIPLs efforts, payments of statutory dues to GLADA have been regularized, with an approximate amount of Rs. 70 Crore already been deposited. The project loan from Punjab Housing Finance Limited has also been paid out entirely, and the repayment of the project loan with LIC Housing Finance Limited has been regularized.

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Hemant Gupta, President (Punjab), Sales  AIPL, highlighted the positive impact of these actions on the Ireo Waterfront project.

"The project, dormant since 2017, has received a significant boost after the resolution of these dues. With over 1000 customers, possessions have been handed over to approximately 100 customers, and AIPL is making continuous efforts to hand over the possession to the remaining customers shortly," Gupta stated.

3-tier security with Boom Barrier within the township pockets.

Hemant Gupta emphasized the notable revival of the Ireo Waterfront project since AIPL's involvement wherein property rates today are experiencing a reasonable appreciation in line with Ludhiana's real estate market, thus fulfilling the investors expectations.

"The transformation from adversity to hope is a testament to AIPL's dedication and vision," he added.

In addition to addressing the financial obligations of the project, AIPL has further addressed various other critical aspects like lake rejuvenation, road repairs, sewerage plants, and other social infrastructure. "AIPL has accomplished significant improvements, and now, is gearing up for more dynamic actions and activities," he pointed out.

To explore more about AIPL, visit http://www.aipl.com

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
As the pursuit of sustainable and efficient thermal solutions intensifies, India's heat insulation sheet manufacturers stand as pillars of innovation and excellence. In the ever-evolving landscape of heat-resistant sheets, 2024 heralds a new era led by industry stalwarts dedicated to redefining insulation standards.

In the heart of India's rapid industrialization, the demand for heat insulation materials has reached unprecedented levels. In the pursuit of energy efficiency and sustainable living, the adoption of heat insulation sheet emerges as a key solution to enhance thermal comfort in residential buildings, construction projects, and warehouses. According to recent statistics, a spike of 60% has been witnessed in the past year alone.

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India's vibrant industrial landscape is witnessing a revolution in thermal products, driven by visionary manufacturers committed to innovation and sustainability. Let's embark on a journey to explore the list of top heat insulation material suppliers in India to transform the landscape of thermal insulation.

10 Best Heat Insulation Sheet Suppliers in India

Discover unparalleled insulating solutions with the best heat insulation sheet wholesalers in India. Elevate your projects with top-quality materials from the leaders in heat insulation solution providers.

Neo Thermal Insulation is one of the top heat insulation material manufacturers in India. Leveraging advanced technology, they offer superior heat resistance, making it an ideal choice for diverse industries.

Whether applied in construction, automotive, or industrial settings, insulation products provide an effective barrier against temperature extremes, ensuring energy efficiency and enhanced comfort. With a commitment to sustainability, their manufactured materials are often eco-friendly, contributing to a greener future. Experience innovation and optimal thermal performance with NEO, setting new standards for energy conservation and environmental responsibility.

Founded Year: 2012

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

Total Number of Employees: 50-100

Products: NEO Single, NEO Single Plus, NEO Double, NEO Double Plus, NEO Premium, NEO Triple Advance, NEO Premium Plus

Insulation Sheets: Roof Insulation, Underdeck Insulation, Air Bubble Insulation, Aluminium Foil Insulation, Colour Coated Roofing Sheets

2. Aerolam Insulation Pvt Ltd.

Aerolam Insulation Pvt Ltd is a prominent name among Heat Insulation Material Suppliers in India, specializing in innovative thermal solutions. Renowned for its insulation products, Aerolam offers a comprehensive range of insulating materials designed to enhance energy efficiency and provide optimal thermal comfort.

Backed by a reputation for quality and performance, Aerolam Insulation Pvt Ltd stands at the forefront of the industry, contributing significantly to India's drive for energy-efficient and environmentally conscious building practices.

Founded Year: 2004

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Total Number of Employees: 250

Products: AeroGuard Pro Series, ThermalFlex Precision, EcoWrap Ultra

3. Heat Care Insulation

Heat Care Insulation takes pride in being your trusted source for high-quality heat-insulating sheets in India. As a leading supplier, Heat Care Insulation offers innovative products to regulate temperatures, enhance energy efficiency, and create comfortable living spaces. Explore a range of cutting-edge insulation products tailored to meet your thermal needs.

Founded Year: 2012

Location: Maharashtra

Total Number of Employees: 50

Products: Removable Insulation Covers, Energy Saving Insulation Jackets, Pump Insulation Covers, Industrial Bellows, Insulation Pads, Fire and Welding Blankets

4. R K Insulation

R K Insulation is recognized for its commitment to quality and innovation. With a steadfast focus on providing top-notch heat insulation solutions, R K Insulation has established itself as a trusted name in the industry. Their range of heat insulation materials exemplifies offers efficient thermal performance for diverse applications.

What sets R K Insulation apart is its dedication to sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly practices in the production of resistant materials. The company's emphasis on research and development ensures that its products not only meet but exceed industry standards.

Founded Year: 2002

Location: Surat, Gujarat

Total Number of Employees: 120

Products: Heat & Ventilation, Chilled Services, Frost Protection, Rigid Foam Insulation, Acoustic Insulation

5. Natraj Insulation

Natraj Insulation stands at the forefront of the heat insulation industry in India, distinguished for its excellence as a manufacturer of premium insulation materials. Renowned for quality and innovation, Natraj Insulation consistently delivers cutting-edge solutions for effective thermal management in various applications.

With a focus on customer satisfaction, Natraj Insulation not only meets but exceeds expectations in delivering long-lasting, quality heat-resistant products. As a leading force in the Indian heat insulation market, Natraj Insulation continues to pave the way for innovation, setting new standards for excellence in the industry.

Founded Year: 1992

Location: Vadodara, Gujarat

Total Number of Employees: 11-25

Products: Insulation Jacket, Industrial Resin Bonded Slabs, Insulation Pipes, Insulation Mattress, Lacing Hooks

6. Alutix Insulations

Leading to the creation of advanced heat-resistant materials tailored to the diverse needs of clients. The company prides itself on incorporating state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that its products deliver superior thermal performance while meeting the highest industry standards.

Alutix Insulations caters to a broad spectrum of sectors, including residential, commercial, and industrial, offering tailored heat-resistant sheets that prioritize energy conservation and cost-effectiveness. With a customer-centric approach, the company continues to make significant strides in revolutionizing the heat insulation landscape in India, earning trust through reliability, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.

Founded Year: 2017

Location: New Delhi

Total Number of Employees: 50-80

Products: Air Bubble Insulation, Packaging Material, Aluminium Foil Tape

7. Starpack Overseas Private Limited

Situated in Rajkot, Starpack Overseas Private Limited's manufacturing unit provides top-notch heat-insulating sheets. Operations strictly adhere to predetermined plans and schedules, employing reliable and efficient methods in collaboration with clients. Nestled between Rajkot and Morbi, the company strategically resides at the heart of Gujarat, a mere 240 kilometers from the Mundra port.

With 10,000 m2 of space encompassing both the manufacturing unit and warehouse, orders are handled and fulfilled efficiently. Additionally, the corporate office in Rajkot serves as a central hub for clients to connect with the adept and professional team, reflecting an unwavering commitment to professionalism and providing assurance to both corporate partners and individuals.

Founded Year: 1982

Location: Rajkot

Total Number of Employees: 101-500

Products: Bubble Insulation Sheets, Aluminium Foil Insulation, Air Bubble Film Roll, EPE Foam Fitment, EPE Foam Roll, Foam Sheets, Air Bubble Pouch and Bag

8. Coatex Industries

Established in 2013, Coatex Industries has gained significant recognition for its role in the manufacturing and trading of a diverse range of Conductive Adhesive and Paints. The product lineup encompasses Conductive Fabric, Conductive Coating, and Conductive Gasket. The offerings consist of meticulously crafted products using only optimal-quality components, adhering strictly to industry-approved parameters and guidelines.

These products find substantial demand across various industries, catering to needs in EMI shielding, electronics, transportation, and construction applications. The availability of these products at cost-effective prices further enhances their appeal within the market, ensuring timely delivery as promised.

Founded Year: 2013

Location: Pune

Total Number of Employees: 10+

Products: EMI Shielding Mesh, Conductive Fabric, Copper Wire, Conductive Tape, EMI Portable Tent, Conductive Paint, EMI Knitted Wire Gasket, Conductive Gasket, Conductive Connector, Insulation Material, Thermal Pads, etc.

9. Sheth Insulation Pvt. Ltd.

Sheth Insulations Private Limited, headquartered in Ahmedabad, specializes in Thermal-Cold Insulation. Established in 1981 by Mr. Kaushik J Sheth, the company has addressed the insulation needs of diverse industries in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra over the past 35 years.

Focused on heat conservation, the company engages in the import, export, supply, and service provision of a range of products, including Thermal Insulation Materials, Ceramic Insulation Products, Rockwool Insulation Materials, Ducting Solutions, Insulation Adhesives, Insulation Ancillary Materials, Waterproofing Materials, and Fiberglass Products.

Founded Year: 1981

Location: Ahmedabad

Total Number of Employees: 25-50

Products: Thermal Insulation, Roof Insulation, HVAC Insulation, Acoustic Insulation, Insulation Jacketing

10. Vinni Industries

Established in 1989, Vinni Industries operates as a professional engineering-driven entity specializing in Thermal Insulation, Refrigeration, and related fields. The organization's service offerings extend across a broad geographical footprint, strategically aligned with key markets and industries. This geographic alignment serves to provide clients with a significant advantage in resource staging and delivery, ensuring responsiveness and efficiency.

Vinni Industries boasts a network of expanding locations, coupled with a substantial pool of trained craftspeople within the industry and an extensive inventory of work access equipment. This mobility, responsiveness, and readiness position Vinni Industries as a versatile solution for your needs.

Founded Year: 1989

Location: Ernakulam, Kerala

Total Number of Employees: 30+

Products: Insulated Partitions, Acoustic Insulation, Water Proofing, Cold Insulation, Marine Insulation, Thermal Insulation, Roof Insulation, etc.

FAQ

Q1: What makes these heat-resistant sheet manufacturers stand out in the industry?

These wholesalers are recognized for their innovation, quality, and commitment to providing heat insulation materials that cater to diverse industry needs. Their products are known for exceptional thermal performance, durability, and compliance with industry standards.

Q2: How can businesses benefit from heat insulation material products?

Businesses can benefit from enhanced energy efficiency, temperature control, and cost savings by incorporating these top-quality heat insulation materials into their projects. The materials offered by these manufacturers are designed to optimize insulation performance in various applications.

Q3: Are heat insulation sheet wholesalers compliant with industry standards and certifications?

Yes, heat insulation material wholesalers adhere to stringent industry standards and hold relevant certifications, ensuring that their heat insulation materials meet the required quality and safety benchmarks.

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.
Air India Express on Friday announced new routes from Uttar Pradesh's temple town Ayodhya to Bengaluru and Kolkata beginning January 17. The airline will operate direct flights on these routes, significantly boosting connectivity to and from Ayodhya. Newly constructed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham ahead of its inauguration on December 30 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

The Air India Express will operate its inaugural flights between Ayodhya and Delhi on December 30, alongside the inauguration of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham, the airline said in a statement.

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The first flight on the Bengaluru-Ayodhya route, will depart on January 17 at 08:05, and will land in Ayodhya at 10:35. The return flight will leave Ayodhya at 15:40, and will arrive in Bengaluru at 18:10.



ALSO READ: Ram Temple event: List of rituals in Ayodhya between January 16 to January 22



On the Ayodhya-Kolkata route, the flight will take off from Ayodhya at 11:05, landing in Kolkata at 12:50. The Kolkata  Ayodhya flight will depart from Kolkata at 13:25 hrs, and will touch down in Ayodhya at 15:10.

Dr Ankur Garg, chief commercial officer, Air India Express, said Our dedication to expanding connectivity throughout India remains steadfast, driven by our expanding fleet. The introduction of non-stop services connecting Ayodhya to Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata underscores this commitment."



As pivotal hubs in our network, Bengaluru and Kolkata will serve as gateways to Ayodhya, providing pilgrims from South India and Eastern India with convenient one-stop itineraries, he added.

The airline has released the schedule for tri-weekly non-stop flights between Ayodhya, Bengaluru, and Kolkata with bookings available through the airlines award-winning mobile app and website airindiaexpress.com, as well as other major booking platforms.
In a major relief for the tech form, the Madras High Court decided to stay the tax demand of 9,403.09 crore against Cognizant Technology. The case revolves around Cognizant buying back its shares worth 19,000 crore, subject to payment of 1,500 crore. Cognizant is currently facing legal pressure from both Wipro and Infosys.

The Madras HC bench ordered Cognizant to pay a sum of 1500 crore as tax within a period of four weeks. The bench also asked the tax department to release information regarding the property and remaining fixed deposits lying in the banks, pertaining to the case, reported The Economic Times.

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In its order, the court said, "It is also open to the department to recover the tax liability from the appellant in the manner known to law." However, if Cognizant fails to meet the weekly payments, the court shall automatically vacate the order, ET reported.

The case against Cognizant dates back to the fiscal year of 2017-2018, when the tech giant decided to buy back around 9.4 million equity shares of the company from shareholders in US and Mauritius.

The total buyback was done at 20,297 per share, coming up to 19,080 crore. However, the assessing officer of the deal demanded that Cognizant pay dividend tax on the transaction, which was upheld by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals).

Legal pressure continues to mount for Cognizant

Not only the tax payment case, but Cognizant is also facing accusations of using "unethical poaching tactics" to employ people from rival firms. Both Wipro and Infosys have sent a notice to Cognizant over poaching top executives from their firms over the last few months.

The troubles for Cognizant mounted when Wipro filed a lawsuit against former CFO Jatin Dalal and executive Mohd Haque after they joined the rival tech firm. Infosys also issued a notice to Cognizant after four of its top executives were "unethically poached" by the company.

"Non-compete rules might not hold water, but this message to Cognizant was more like a warning," said a source quoted by Moneycontrol. The poaching row between the companies erupted when Cognizant completed its hiring of 20 top executives in the company.
Tesla chief executive officer (CEO) Elon Musk has been dubbed as the 2023 Scoundrel of the Year by American news website New Republic. We are not joking. In a scathing article, the website has hit out at Musk, who also owns the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.



Recalling the social media platform's move to suspend former US president Donald Trump's account in wake of the January 6 Capitol riots, the website said that X (then Twitter) is now teetering on the brink of collapse and is worth less than half of what Musk had paid to acquire it last year.



ALSO READ: Big trouble for Elon Musk as EU orders probe against X. Here's why



The website said Musk was once a visionary who intended to make real things, be it electric cars or rockets. Drawing comparisons with Google, Facebook and even Twitter (pre-Musk takeover) who had to appear before US Congress for various reasons, Musk had been unscathed.



But now, the website has dubbed the billionaire as the most villainous, also a deeply stupid and unserious person. Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk.(Reuters file)

Calling him an evil, Musk has been accused of making headlines for incompetence, the website claimed he unleashed and legitimised heinous forces on the social platform he acquired.



"He has welcomed back some of the worlds most toxic peopleAlex Jones, Donald Trump, innumerable Nazis and bigotsand has gone out of his way, again and again, to validate them," the website added.



On November 15, Musk had sparked a massive row after he agreed with an X user who accused Jews of stoking hatred against the Whites, saying the user who referenced the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory was speaking "the actual truth."



Calling Musk's statement as unsurprising and reprehensible, the website said the Tesla CEO might be fantastically wealthy, but he is deeply hateful who decided to dedicate his fortune to attacking diversity.

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X is hanging by a thread

The website accused Musk of opening the floodgates of X to bigots and trolls, commenting that his own presence on the platform destroyed the utility once it had.

According to the website, X is now a source of endless misinformation and propaganda, a place where a pro-Putin conspiracy theorist can become a widely read source for information on the Israel-Hamas war, and where Alex Jones can spew lies about children murdered in schools.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani has been running and expanding his conglomerate Reliance Industries for the last two decades. However, Ambani has been advancing the succession of leadership for Reliance, set to hand it over to his children soon. RIL MD Mukesh Ambani put into place a succession plan for Reliance (Reuters)(REUTERS)

Mukesh Ambani, speaking on the occasion of Reliance Family Day, highlighted the future of his company Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), and how his children will take the firm forward.

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While speaking about handing over the command to the company soon, Ambani said that the future of Reliance belongs to his three children Akash, Isha and Anant Ambani, as well as executives from their generation.

The billionaire said, "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."

Stressing how Reliance will soon grow under the leadership of his children, Mukesh Ambani said that he wishes to see Reliance grow to be one of the Top 10 business conglomerates in the world.

"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 in the world," he said.

Reliance succession planning for Isha, Akash, Anant

Mukesh Ambani commenced the succession planning of his conglomerate Reliance Industries earlier this year when he appointed his three children - twins Akash and Isha and younger son Anant - to the board of the company after approval from shareholders.

Ambani is planning to put into place a clear succession plan and transfer of shares of Reliance equally between his three children to avoid a dispute similar to what happened with family patriarch Dhirubhai Ambani passed away in 2002.

Currently, Isha Ambani runs the retail leg of Reliance, Akash Ambani is the head of telecom business Reliance Jio and Anant Ambani is in charge of the new green energy business of the company.

It is expected that Mukesh Ambani will make distinct distributions for his three children when it comes to the succession of Reliance to avoid any conflicts in the future.
India is closing the year 2023 as the fifth largest economy in the world, with a GDP of over $3.6 trillion. Banker and financial expert Uday Kotak has given his advice on how India can remain on track to become the largest economy in the world. Uday Kotak, Founder, MD and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, talked about making India a $30 trillion economy. (HT Photo)(HT Photo)

Kotak highlighted that if this rate is kept stable, India will become a $30 trillion economy by the year 2047.

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As part of his "year end musings", Uday Kotak on X published a financial guide to make India a $30 trillion economy by the year 2047, which is more than the current GDP of the United States. To achieve this, India will have to record 9 percent annual growth, he said.

Kotak wrote on X, "In the early 80s, the Indian saver had low confidence in financial assets versus gold and land. Slowly the saver moved some parts to bank deposits, UTI and LIC."

He further said, "Even in the 90s, investing in equities was considered speculative. Hence companies looking for capital went to the foreign institutional investor (FII). FIIs saw potential and bought into companies while the Indian saver stayed away. Companies raised capital through the less known Luxembourg stock exchange. Indias capital market was being exported. "

Uday Kotak on 'creating sustained growth' in India

Uday Kotak, who is the founder of the Kotak Mahindra Bank, highlighted seven main points to make India's economy grow steadily across the coming decade, which focused on increasing investment and reducing debt.

The banker said that companies should raise equity at lower cost of capital for productive use, which will in turn attract more investors and see a growth in the Indian stock market.

Kotak said, "While we must avoid tax arbitrage in debt, unless debt markets grow it will be a one legged race. The current gap on the highest marginal tax rate between debt and equity of 39% and 10% is perhaps too wide."

He talked about looking at a shareholder as a partner, and suggested that double taxation on dividends need to be relooked. Low cost leverage through derivatives can distort financial markets, which prompts attention.

The banker suggested that retrospective tax and regulatory regime should be avoided at all costs. He also highlighted two areas where India needs to focus on for steady growth - acquisition financing and streamlining of the IBC/ NCLT process.
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 29 (ANI): As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on December 30, the city is to come under a blanket of heightened security, police said on Friday. HT Image

PM Modi during his visit to Ayodhya will inaugurate various projects worth 15,000 crore.

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Piyush Mordia, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone said that high-level arrangements meeting the recruitments of PM's security have been made ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to the district adding that Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and National Security Guards (NSG) among other security forces have been deployed.

He said that a rehearsal of PM Modi's roadshow will be done today to oversee the arrangements.

"We are monitoring all areas with drones. To improve the traffic system, a traffic diversion plan has also been made," the ADG said.

"Three DIG, 17 SP, 38 Additional SP, 82 Deputy SP, 90 Inspector, 325 Sub Inspector, 35 Female Sub Inspector, 2000 Constable, 14 Company PAC, 6 Company CRPF will be deployed as part of the security," ADG Mordia added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is taking stock of the preparations of security arrangements before the Prime Minister's visit.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is camping in Ayodhya for three days to look after preparations ahead of the Prime Minister's visit.

During his visit, PM Modi will also inaugurate the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, a significant milestone in the government's commitment to enhancing infrastructure and connectivity.

PM will inaugurate two Amrit Bharat trains, which are Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express. Additionally, six new Vande Bharat Trains will be flagged off, contributing to the nation's rail network.

The Vande Bharat Express trains include routes such as Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi, Amritsar-Delhi, Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt, Mangalore-Madgaon and Jalna-Mumbai.

PM Modi's Ayodhya visit also includes the inauguration of the newly built Ayodhya Airport and participation in a public program where the Prime Minister will dedicate numerous development projects worth more than 15,700 crore in the state, aligning with his vision to create modern, world-class infrastructure while preserving Ayodhya's rich history and heritage.

These include projects worth about 11,100 crore for the development of Ayodhya and its surrounding areas and projects worth about 4600 crore related to other projects across Uttar Pradesh.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will also initiate the development and beautification of tourist facilities spanning from Naya Ghat to Laxman Ghat, the construction of a visitor gallery for events like Deepotsav and the strengthening and renovation of the pilgrim path from Ram Ki Paidi to Raj Ghat and Raj Ghat to Ram Temple.

Furthermore, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects, including the Lucknow-Ayodhya section of NH-28 (new NH-27), modification of the existing Ayodhya bypass, the establishment of the CIPET centre, and the construction of offices for the Municipal Corporation Ayodhya and Ayodhya Development Authority. (ANI)
Bengaluru [Karnataka] December 29 (ANI): "Let him place the documents before the inquiry commission," Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said, reacting over BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal's allegations against former CM BS Yediyurappa. HT Image

Yatnal on Tuesday warned that he would expose the alleged irregularities to the tune of 40,000 crore in the BJP government in Karnataka led by Yediyurappa at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic if he was expelled from the party.

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"If MLA Yatnal wants the guilty to be punished, then let him place the documents regarding the COVID-19 scam during the BJP period before the inquiry commission," said Siddaramaiah on Thursday.

The Karnataka CM was responding to a question from media personnel about the allegations made by BJP MLA Yatnal about the scam that has taken place during the BJP's tenure.

"I will take out names who have looted and made property wherever. BS Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister in the first wave of corona. 40,000 crores of rupees had been embezzled at that time. They billed 8 to 10 lakh rupees for each corona patient," Yatnal had said.

"It was our government, doesn't matter whose government was in power, thieves are thieves," he said.

CM Siddaramaiah had earlier also reacted to the allegations of the BJP MLA, saying that this supplements the earlier accusation against the BJP government that it was a 40 percent commission government.

"BJP MLA @BasanagoudaBJP's bold allegation that the previous @BJP4Karnataka government led by @BSYBJP was involved in a 40,000 crore corruption scandal during the COVID-19 pandemic has given further evidence to our earlier accusation that the BJP government was a '40 percent commission government'," said Siddaramaiah.

"If we consider Yatnal's accusation, it seems like the corruption is 10 times more than our estimate. The group of BJP ministers who had come out howling at our accusation and held a press conference in Vidhana Soudha, where are they hiding now?" he added. (ANI)
The escape of the 2019 rape accused from Indira Gandhi International Airport on December 20, has come as a setback for the Khanna police, which is already facing allegations of case probe delay. 2017 rape case: Khanna police in a fix after rape accused flees

The police had lodged an FIR against the accused, Amandeep Singh, in April 2020, after he had already fled abroad, while the victim was pursuing a complaint against him since 2019.

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The Khanna police gave ample time to him to flee the country after committing the crime, the complainant said.

A local court had already declared him a proclaimed offender in the case. The police had issued a look out circular (LOC) for the arrest of the accused.

The accused was brought to Delhi from Bahrain on December 20 and was apprehended by the CISF had at the airport. However, he managed to escape before the Khanna police could arrest him. The police then initiated a manhunt for his arrest.

The City Khanna police had lodged an FIR against the accused on April 7, 2020 following a complaint of a Khanna woman resident.

The complainant stated that she had met Amandeep in Haryana in 2016 and befriended him. The accused asked him to meet on January 1, 2017 in a hotel in Fatehgarh Sahib. The accused drugged her and after she lost consciousness, he raped her.

The complainant also alleged that the accused had extorted 1 lakh from her and fled to Saudi Arabia. Later, she discovered that the accused was already married and has a son. He returned to Khanna in 2019 following which she filed a complaint against him. She also suspected that the accused could escape abroad, but the police did not take action, the complainant said.

The complainant added that meanwhile the accused escaped abroad, the police lodged an FIR against the accused on April 7, 2020.

Inspector Hemant Malhotra, SHO at City Khanna police station, confirmed the case registered against Amandeep and stated that he has been declared a proclaimed offender (PO) by court. He added that raids have been conducted at various locations for his arrest.
Demanding release of woman activist Neelam Verma, who was arrested on December 13 from outside the Parliament in connection with security breach, some khaps of Jind and farm bodies on Friday took out a protest march in Jinds Narwana. Haryana khaps, farm unions march in Neelams support, seek her release from the jail. (HT)

They submitted a memorandum, on the name of President, to Narwana SDM seeking Vermas release from the jail and withdrawal of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against her.

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Farmer leader Azad Palwa said that the Union government has been suppressing the decent voices and Neelams arrest reveals BJPs dictatorial approach.

She has raised the voice for unemployed youths. The Prime Minister had himself promised to give two crore jobs per year and she raised the same issue. Instead of taking protest as a positive move, the government has sent the youngsters behind the bars. We have taken out a protest march in her favour. If the government fails to release her, we will call a mahapanchayat at her native village Ghaso Khurd in Jind and take strong decisions, he added.

Neelams brother Ramniwas said that khaps and farmer unions have been supporting them but no opposition leader came to support his sister.

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait had also spoken against the detainees and we had never expected that from him. The court has denied us the permission to meet Neelam. She was irked due to unemployment and the government imposed severe laws on her, he added.
Haryana Police have sought details of the residents of the state who were aboard the Legend Airways charter flight sent back from France over suspicions of human trafficking. Haryana Police seek details of passengers aboard Legend Airways flight. (HT)

This incident has once again highlighted the issue of illegal immigration through a donkey route. With increasing number of such cases in Haryana, the state-level SIT, since April this year, have registered 646 cases, arrested 521 people and recovered 3 crores. Haryana Police have also sent requests for cancelling the passports of the 43 accused people who have illegally fled abroad.

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Illegal immigration is a cause of concern as people are being duped in the pretext of an alternative route to go abroad. An Act has also been proposed by the SIT to make the registration agents accountable and to curb illegal immigration, said Haryana director general of police, Shatrujeet Kapur.

Cracking down on cybercrime

With a proactive approach towards cybercrime, the Haryana Police have witnessed a significant increase in the resolution of cyber fraud cases. As a result, within 4-5 hours of a cyber fraud incident, the percentage of held funds has risen to 70%, leading to the recovery of 74 crore. The percentage of funds held in cyber fraud incidents increased to 29% in November 2023, up from just 10% in January. Additionally, 4,11,534 citizens have received assistance through the cyber helpline. This year, 61,493 mobile numbers linked to cybercriminals were blocked and 1,36,347 bank accounts associated with cybercriminals were frozen. Through awareness programmes, 21,25,671 individuals have been educated about cybersecurity, DGP Kapur stated.

Kapur while addressing a press conference at the police headquarters in Panchkula, added that there is a 28.9% decrease in dacoity cases as compared to last year. He further highlighted an 18.1% reduction in robbery cases and a 3.9% drop in snatching incidents.

Priority to womens safety: DGP

DGP Kapur stated that special teams, comprising four female officers each, have been trained by a Gurugram-based voluntary organisation to create awareness about women safety. Additionally, unique identification numbers have been affixed to autos and cabs in Haryana. Reduction is seen in crimes against women, including kidnappings (7.2%), rape (6.9%), molestation (7.9%), dowry deaths (9.5%), and dowry harassment (8.4%).
Health services were affected in government hospitals across Haryana on Friday as an estimated 2,500 doctors went on an indefinite strike in response to the call given by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA). Policemen stand guard at the civil hospital in Karnal after government doctors struck work in support of their demands on Friday. (HT Photo)

The doctors had gone on a one-day strike and shut down the outpatient department (OPD) services on Wednesday and threatened to go on an indefinite stir from Friday if their demands were not met. The doctors want the formation of a specialist cadre, no direct recruitment of senior medical officers, reduction in bond amount for PG courses and a dynamic assured career progression scheme on a par with their central government counterparts.

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Also read: SYL deadlock persists as Punjab, Haryana CMs stand firm

HCMSA president Dr Rajesh Khyalia met the state director-general, health services (DGHS), on Thursday night and assured that life-saving interventions would be done by a team of volunteer doctors in public interest, but the strike would continue. The association has formed a team of doctors that will treat emergencies.

In an attempt to break the deadlock with the agitating doctors, state health minister Anil Vij will chair a meeting with HCMSA representatives in Chandigarh from 2pm on Friday.

Dr Sandeep Abrol, Karnal district president of HCMSA, said at present doctors need to submit two surety bonds of 1 crore each to pursue post-graduation 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 government jobs due to work overload, shortage of medicines, security lapses at the workplace, and for being denied the status of a class I officer, while there is a dearth of specialist doctors in the state.

On the other hand, Vij termed the strike unjustified, saying the main demand for approval of specialist cadre has already been granted and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has given his consent.

He said the additional chief secretary, health, has approved the demand related to the PG policy, and the process is underway. The demands related to the ACP scheme and direct recruitment of SMOs was also being considered, he said.

The doctors said if the demands have already been accepted, the government should release an official notification.
After returning from to the state capital from Delhi, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made clear that the state would soon have a new director general of police (DGP). Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (HT File)

The Himachal Pradesh high court had on Tuesday directed the state government to shift the state police chief Sanjay Kundu and Kangra superintendent of police Shalini Agnihotri so that they do not influence the probe in a businessmans complaint about the threat to his life.

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Palampur-based businessman Nishant Sharma had alleged a threat to him, his family and his property. He had questioned the role of the DGP who had allegedly made calls to him, asking him to come to Shimla.

Shift them to other posts where they would not have any opportunity to influence the investigation in the case, a division bench of chief justice MS Ramachandra Rao and justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua had observed.

After Sanjay Kundu, 1989-batch Sudhir Ranjan Ojha is the senior most. Among the other top contenders for the post are 1990-batch Shyam Bhagat, 1991-batch Atul Verma and 1993-batch Ashok Tiwari and Anurag Garg.

Since I was out of the state, the government would now decide on the court verdict after due consultations and discussions, said Sukhu.

Will field strong candidates in Lok Sabha

The Congress would field strong candidates in all four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh during the 2024 general elections, Sukhu said. Finalising the candidates would be done in the near future and the issues to be raised during the polls would be discussed when the election draws near, Sukhu told reporters.

The chief minister added that the state was ready to invite tourists for New Year celebrations.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have announced a cash reward of 5 lakh for any information in connection with the killing of a retired senior superintendent of police in Baramulla district on Sunday. The police said the identity of the person who provides information would be kept a secret (HT File)

The 72-year-old retired police officer and local muezzin, Mohammad Shafi Mir, was shot dead by terrorists on Sunday morning while he was giving a call for azaan from a mosque in north Kashmirs Baramulla district.

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Any person who provides any useful information in connection with Mirs killing will be rewarded with 5 lakh in cash, the police announced in a poster.

The police said the identity of the person who provides information would be kept a secret.

The police appealed to the people to approach the deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) of Baramulla or the station house officer of Sheeri police station with such information.
New Delhi [India], December 29 (ANI): Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday briefed the media on the key details of the newly built Ayodhya Airport which is going to be named 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. HT Image

Briefing about the airport, Scindia said that the Ayodhya Airport has modern amenities while its facade is inspired by historical architecture.

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"The different stages of the epic of Ramayana and Shri Ram's life has been depicted as per the Hindu Mythology in the front end of the airport. Various types of aircraft will be able to land in the Ayodhya airport including Airbus A321 and Boeing 737"

"It was PM Modi's resolution to build modern airports which must also depict Indian history and culture," he added.

Hailing the work done by the Bhartiya Janata party, Scindia asserted that 75 new airports in India have been built under the BJP rule.

"A total of 149 airports have been made in the country uptill now and till 2030 we envision to take this number till 200. We need to keep working until India emerges as a World leader," he said.

Preparations for the inauguration of Ram-Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 are in full swing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya Airport on December 30.

"Phase 1 of the state-of-the-art airport is developed at a cost of more than 1,450 crore. The airport's terminal building will have an area of 6500 sqm, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually. 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 and murals depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Speaking on CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury declining to visit Ayodhya despite being invited for the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said "I am amazed because as someone who's name has both Sita and Ram, being absent from the ceremony will be very unfortunate."

He further said that 'a 500-year-old dream of all Indians has been converted into the reality by Prime Minister Narendra Modi'.

Exuding confidence over party's victory in the upcoming 2024 elections, Scindia said that the party will win with full majority in the polls.

"Each and every individual of the nation will stand with the BJP," he added. (ANI)
Investigators were looking for a man, who arrived near Tuesdays low-intensity blast site close to the Israeli embassy in an auto-rickshaw from South Delhis Jamia Nagar and left in another three-wheeler minutes before the explosion, a police officer aware of the development said. The low-intensity blast scene. (HT PHOTO)

The officer underlined it was premature to confirm or deny the man was the main suspect as his identity could not be established until late Thursday night. Based on the scrutiny of CCTV footage, the man was found to be among at least 12 people around the site ahead of the blast.

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Among the other people seen around the site included two men riding a motorcycle and a scooter minutes before the explosion. The identities of some of them and their antecedents have been verified. They did not appear to be the persons of our interest. Since the identity of the man seen in the two autos is not established, he is a person of interest, the officer said, requesting anonymity.

The first auto was traced and its driver was questioned. The driver confirmed the passenger de-boarded his auto at Prithviraj Road. He was unaware the man boarded another auto-rickshaw after he dropped him. Efforts to identify the other auto that left towards India Gate with the passenger was on, said the officer.

A second police officer said the facial recognition system was being used for the people seen around the site, especially Prithviraj Road and near the Israeli embassy, before and after the blast.

Investigators were also scanning CCTV footage of previous days and weeks to ascertain if suspects visited the two sites for reconnaissance.

Police have recorded statements of at least eight people even as they are yet to receive reports on forensic examination of the exhibits from the explosion site. No first information report has been registered yet.

The low-intensity blast took place nearly 250 metres from the Israeli embassy in the high-security Lutyens zone. No damage to life or property was reported. Multiple units of the Delhi Police and other anti-terror agencies such as the National Investigation Agency scoured the area for clues.

A single-page letter typed in English addressed to the Israeli ambassador was found at the spot, citing Israels actions against Palestinians in Gaza since October 7.

The Israeli embassy called the low-intensity blast a possible terror attack, and asked Israeli citizens to avoid public places or crowded events. Police increased security at the embassy and sounded a high alert.
KANPUR: A 28-year-old Dalit man who set himself on fire outside the Unnao district police chiefs office on December 27, alleging police inaction on his complaint, succumbed to his injuries at King George Medical University (KGMU) on Friday, police said. The man accused the circle officer of colluding with his neighbours who allegedly attacked his family over a land dispute in October (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Additional superintendent of police (Addl SP) Unnao, Akhilesh Singh, said that all necessary police arrangements were in place, and the post-mortem would be conducted in Lucknow.

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Police said the man sustained 80% burns on Wednesday when he set himself on fire, accusing Purwa circle officer Deepak Singh of colluding with his neighbours to shield three of the six men against whom he had filed a complaint on October 18.

Deepak Singh and station house officer Suresh Singh were shunted out hours later.Deepak Singh has been attached to the SP office and Suresh Singh to the anti-land mafia cell, a statement by the Unnao Police said.

In his statement after the self-immolation bid on Wednesday, the Dalit man reiterated his complaint and alleged that the police officer also got his neighbours to file a counter-complaint against him and his relatives on October 24.

Police said the case related to a longstanding dispute with his neighbours over a 400 sq yard plot of land.

On October 18, the Dalit mans family accused his neighbours of attacking them with axes and other sharp-edged weapons that led to injuries to his father and uncle. In his police complaint, the Dalit man named six people but the police registered the FIR only against three individuals.

On Wednesday after he set himself on fire, the Dalit man told reporters that he was tired of harassment and manipulation by police officers and that nothing was done by the police to protect them despite complaining to senior officers.
Over 5,500 police officers and personnel have been deployed in Ayodhya for Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled visit on Saturday. The ongoing construction work of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. (Deepak gupta/ht)

Read here: Determined to preserve rich heritage: PM Modi ahead of Ayodhya visit

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This force is in addition to the Special Protection Group (SPG) which provides security cover to the PM, and National Security Guard (NSG) unit to counter terror attacks, said senior police officials here on Friday.

Also, extra force has been added to UP Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) for the PMs event at the Ayodhya Dham railway station, they said.

The officials said necessary traffic diversions have been made in Ayodhya and its adjoining districts following the PMs visit. They said the diversion on highways heading towards Ayodhya will be made effective from 1am on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday and will remain in force for around 14 hours till around 3pm on Saturday.

A senior police official said the PM will stay for over three hours in Ayodhya after which the traffic restrictions will be relaxed.

As many as three deputy inspector general rank officers and 17 superintendent of police (SP) rank officers have been deployed to supervise and manage the security arrangements. Also, 38 additional SPs have been deployed to assist them. A total of 82 deputy SPs and 90 inspector rank officials along with 358 sub-inspectors (SI), including 33 women SIs and 2,000 constables, will be deployed strategically at different points on the route on which the PMs motorcade will move in Ayodhya. Additionally, 14 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and six companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPC) will remain deployed, the official shared, and added, Besides, 450 traffic police personnel will be deployed to manage traffic diversions.

Read here: Air India Express announces direct flights to Ayodhya from 3 cities. Check timings

The official said separate teams of UP Anti-Terror Squad along with bomb disposal squads and dog squads as well as UP Special Task Force will be deployed for the event. Moreover, over 200 sleuths of intelligence bureau and state intelligence unit will be deployed in civvies to keep monitoring and evaluating every activity in Ayodhya during the PMs visit.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 29 (ANI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence apprehended a woman passenger of Kenyan nationality at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly smuggling cocaine worth 14.90 crore, a DRI release said on Friday. HT Image

Acting on intelligence, the Kenyan national, who came via flight no KQ 204 from Nairobi to Mumbai on December 28, Thursday, was apprehended by DRI officers, the release said.

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As per the release, the officers recovered 1490 grams of "white powdery substance purported to be cocaine" valued at approximately 14.90 crore.

"The ingenious concealment of the drugs involved two black polythene packets cleverly placed within a hair conditioner bottle and a body wash bottle," it stated.

The passenger has been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.

Further investigation is underway, the release added. (ANI)
MUMBAI: The state government has cleared the setting up of the Maharashtra Drone Mission (MDM) for the use of drone technology for functions ranging from security surveillance, rescue and relief work during disasters, delivery of emergency medicines and vaccines to remote areas, monitoring of infrastructure projects and traffic management. Ahmedabad Crime Branch police operates a tethered drone outside the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 13 (AFP File Photo)

A five-year implementation plan has been prepared based on a report by a team of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay which would be monitored by a committee headed by the chief secretary. The drone mission will be headquartered at IIT-B, according to a notification issued by the higher and technical education department on Thursday.

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The drone mission will seek to turn Maharashtra into a global drone hub, the notification said. The IIT-B report, which led the government to approve the mission, was submitted in October this year.

The IIT-B report envisaged the use of drones for the delivery of medicines in an emergency as well as vaccines to remote areas. In case of natural disasters such as floods and landslides, the technology could be used to help rescue operations and also to understand the effect of a particular disaster and plan preventive steps accordingly.

According to the report, drones could be used for surveillance and traffic management, especially in major cities, and in the handling of law and order situations. It also listed the multiple uses of drones in the agriculture sector.

The government notification said the use of drones would be done under the Centres Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RCA) operation guidelines released by the directorate general of civil aviation. Based on the requirement, the state would engage the use of nano, micro, small, medium and large drones, the notification said.

It is also proposed to set up the headquarters or nodal centre of the drone mission at IIT-B and establish six regional centres and 12 district-level centres across the state. The nodal centre in Mumbai will have a runway strip, indoor drone testing facility, prototype manufacturing facility, charging/fuelling station, hanger and a control tower.

A member of the monitoring committee said they will soon hold their first meeting. We will have set up a proper system across the states for usage of drone technology and appoint designated officers for the purpose. Besides, we will work out a system for required permissions at a local level though IIT-B has obtained permission to fly drones for research and other related activities from the aviation authorities, the member said.
The Assam Police on Thursday arrested an 18-year-old man for allegedly raping a 5-year-old girl from his neighbourhood in Chirang district. (Representative Photo)

Police said that the incident took place on Wednesday and the accused was arrested the next day based on a complaint filed by the family of the minor girl.

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According to the complaint registered, the girl was playing outside her house when the youth took her to his house and forced himself on her.

We have arrested the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), and he will be produced before the court on Friday, a senior police officer said.

The statements of the accused and the minor girl have been recorded and the findings will be submitted to the court after further investigation, Chirang superintendent of police (SP) Pranjit Borah said.

Borah said the minor was admitted to a local hospital and was released after the treatment.

The family members have demanded strict action against the accused. We are afraid that she will develop a lifelong fear due to this incident, said the family, adding, .We appeal to the police and the judiciary to set an example by punishing the accused.
A 40-year-old man was lynched by a mob of around 200 people on suspicion of goat theft in Assams Hailakandi district, police said, adding three key accused have been arrested. (Representative Photo)

Police have identified the arrested accused as Motilal Ghatoar (36), Babulal Manjhi (32) and Murli Gour (35).

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Police said that Falaluddin Ansari was lynched by locals at the Manipur tea estate in the Katlicherra area on Wednesday night, and he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning.

Upon receiving information, a police team reached the spot and took Ansari to Kathlichera Public Health Centre and from there, the doctors transferred him to Hailakandi Civil Hospital, where he died during treatment, said the additional superintendent of police (ASP), Hailakandi district, Samir Baruah.

Also Read: 18-year-old held for raping minor girl in Chirang district: Assam Police

The ASP said that the police received two complaints in this regard, one from the family members for Ansaris murder and another against the deceased victim for allegedly stealing goats.

Kathlichera police station officer-in-charge, Biplab Nath, said that based on the complaint filed by Ansaris family, they registered a case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and some other charges.

They were produced before the court, and we have demanded remand, Nath said.

Meanwhile, a group of people on Thursday staged a protest in front of the Kathlichera police station against the alleged mob lynching of Ansari and demanded strict punishment for the accused persons.

Ansaris family claimed that it was a planned murder. He received a call on Wednesday evening and went to that area (Manipur tea estate). Now they are making fake stories about theft, said the family.

The police assured of an unbiased investigation and quick arrest of the other persons involved in the lynching.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said only the Trinamool Congress (TMC) can teach the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a lesson in West Bengal, and no other party can. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee (File Photo)

Only TMC can teach the BJP a lesson in West Bengal and set a model for others across the country. No other party can do it, Banerjee said while addressing party workers in North 24 Parganas on Thursday as she kicked off the campaign for Lok Sabha polls.

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The TMC would fight the BJP in West Bengal while the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliance will be there in the rest of the country, Banerjee said as she expressed her desire to contest the next years Lok Sabha elections alone.

However, the TMC chief said that the INDIA alliance will contest on all seats across the country. West Bengal has 42 parliamentary seats in the Lok Sabha. In the 2019 general elections, TMC won 22 seats and BJP 18 while two seats are with Congress.

Banerjee alleged that if the BJP manages to increase its number of seats from West Bengal, then they would torture people. Ensure that West Bengal does not slip out of the TMCs hands. If we get fewer seats, the torture (by the BJP) will shoot up.

She claimed that the TMC leaders are being sent to jail so that they cannot challenge the BJP in next years election.

Banerjee also attacked the BJP over the suspension of non-BJP MPs in the Parliament. Previous governments never did this. Nearly 150 MPs were suspended. Did it ever happen in the country? Never. This is torture and terrorising.

Also Read: Sanjay Raut hints at tough seat-sharing stance in Maharashtra, asks Cong to start from zero

The BJP hit back at Banerjee saying that the TMC chief has betrayed other alliances in the past and now she will do the same with INDIA.

Mamata Banerjee earlier betrayed Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She even betrayed the NDA [National Democratic Alliance] and the UPA [United Progressive Alliance] governments and she will do the same this time, said Rahul Sinha, BJP leader.

Congress leader Soumya Aich claimed that the TMC and BJP have a secret friendship.

The TMC and BJP were political twins. TMC is as lethal for West Bengal as the BJP is for the nation. They are in a secret entente. She has been on the lookout for excuses to abandon INDIA and strengthen the BJP. TMC can never be earnest and genuine in the fight against BJP, she said.

The impasse over the seat-sharing in the Opposition INDIA alliance appears no closer to resolution as several alliance leaders hinted that they might contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in their respective states alone.

On Friday, ahead of the seat-sharing talks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut hinted at no compromise over seat-sharing talks, stating that the Congress would have to start seat negotiations from zero.
GAYA: A manager of a bridge construction company who was abducted by Maoists on December 24 returned home late on Thursday, police said on Friday. Gaya Addl SP (Operations) Manoj Kumar said Shahbaz Khan was released on Thursday evening. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Gaya additional superintendent of police (Addl SP) Manoj Kumar, who led a multi-agency search, said the Maoist squad that abducted the manager, Shahbaz Khan, handed over his custody to two men on a two-wheeler who dropped him near Banke Dham. Khan reached the company managers home at Banke Bazar who informed the police about his return.

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Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ashish Bharti said the operations to catch the Maoists who abducted Khan will continue.

Khan was abducted along with two guards by the Maoists from the base camp of the Gaya-based construction company near Asurain village on December 24. The following morning, the Maoists released the two guards and demanded 30 lakh for the release of Khan.

Police said the Maoist squad that executed the abduction was suspected to be led by its commander Vivek Yadav alias Rajendra alias Sunil.

A police officer said the Maoists did not follow up on their demand after a multi-agency search operation comprising the state polices special task force and the Central Reserve Police Forces special unit, Commando Battalions for Resolute Action, was started.

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Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board has released Karnataka PUC Exam 2024 Timetable for 1st year. The KSEAB 1st PUC date sheet can be downloaded by candidates who will appear for the examination from the official KSEAB website at kseab.karnataka.gov.in. Karnataka PUC Exam 2024 Timetable: KSEAB 1st PUC datesheet out

As per the official schedule, the examination will begin on February 13 and will end on February 28, 2024. The written test will be conducted in single shift- from 10.15 am to 1.30 pm on all days. The examination will begin with Kannada and Arabic papers and will end with Geography and Biology papers.

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Karnataka PUC Exam 2024 Timetable: How to download

To download the timetable, candidates can follow the steps given below.

Visit the official website of KSEAB at kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

Click on documents link available on the home page.

A new drop down box will open where the KSEAB 1st PUC datesheet will be available.

Click on the link and a PDF file will open.

Check the PDF file and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

For more related details candidates can check the official website of KSEAB.

Official datesheet here
The two films are Suman Ghosh-directed Kabuliwala and Atanu Roy Choudhury-produced Pradhan. HT Image

National award-winning filmmaker Ghoshs Kabuliwala is an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's short story of the same name.

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Since December 22, the film has already earned over 1 crore in revenue and is currently running in 66 theatres in Bengal, including both single screens and multiplexes, according to a source from the production house.

The film, which stars Mithun Chakraborty and explores the bond between a father who leaves his young daughter in faraway Kabul and discovers a resemblance to his daughter in a little girl in the city, has been consistently sold out since December 22. The film will be released nationwide on December 29.

Atanu Roy Choudhurys Pradhan has been released in 111 theatres. The film's first-week collection has surpassed all previous records for recent Bengali film releases during Christmas. The film, which stars Bengali superstar Dev and is also co-produced by him, focuses on corruption.

Choudhury expressed his satisfaction with the film's performance, saying it has exceeded his expectations. Many theatres have had sold-out shows, while others have had an occupancy rate of over 60 per cent in most screenings.

Some multiplexes, like PVR Inox South City, are showing the film five times a day, while others are showing it at least three times.

Director Suman Ghosh expressed happiness with the large turnout for both Kabuliwala and Pradhan despite facing tough competition from the Hindi blockbuster Dunki starring Shah Rukh Khan.

During 2020-2021, with theatres operating at 50 per cent capacity, film releases had lower turnouts, and the OTT platforms dominated during Durga Puja-Diwali and Christmas releases.

However, the situation has started to change since 2022, with the release of three Bengali films.
Gulshan Devaiah has revealed that he is giving his broken marriage a second chance. The actor told India Today that this time he and his ex-wife Kallirroi Tziafeta have adopted a different approach towards their relationship. Gulshan and Kalliroi tied the knot in 2012 and got divorced in 2020. Also read: Gulshan Devaiah on turning down roles that don't interest him: I get calls from the South but Gulshan Devaiah with ex-wife Kallirroi Tziafeta.

Confirming reuniting with his ex-wife, Gulshan Devaiah said, We want to nurture the good things we had with each other. This has led us to this point where we can say that lets try again and have another go at it. The approach is much different this time  its very mature, constructive and productive. There is no guarantee that everything will end up good but it does feel different and better.

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Who is Kallirroi Tziafeta?

Kallirroi hails from Greece. She played Elmira, who tied the knot with Pravin Dabas' already-married man, leading his first wife (played by Dia Mirza) to attempt suicide.

Gulshan and Kallirroi continued to be friends post divorce

Gulshan and Kallirroi got divorced in 2020 but both of them occasionally post pictures from their fun outings on Instagram. With a happy picture with Gulshan, Kallorroi had shared on Instagram in October, Sir, can I get a selfie sir?? Im a big fan.

Earlier this year, Gulshan had told Hindustan Times in an interview, I am fortunate. I give equal credit to my ex wife Kallirroi for really making sure we keep in all the good things and not ruin anything. We didn't think we wanted to be an example for society. I am saying this because I have so many friends who can stand even a mention of their exes. I never wanted that for me. People think its tough, it isn't, actually. We gave ourselves time, we were not in a hurry. She is my best friend now. I can tell her anything. If I go out on a date I tell her that I have been out and this happened. She would share the same with me. I do miss her, sometimes. I miss having her around. I am sure she also does. Our relationship is in a different phase right now.

Gulshan was seen in Raj and DK's web series Guns and Gulaabs this year. He drew appreciation for his role of Char Cut Aatmaram. He also saw the release of Duranga season 2.
Neha Dhupia has shared a bunch of unseen pictures from Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's Christmas bash at their beach-facing Mumbai residence. And the pictures reveal that not only the couple's friends, but also several of their family members were a part of the Christmas celebration. The pictures showed everyone from Vicky's parents, Katrina's mom to actor Angad Bedi were in attendance. Also read: Vicky Kaushal kisses Katrina Kaif in adorable Christmas postcard; dances with Angad Bedi, Sunny Kaushal at house party Here is a glimpse of Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif's Christmas bash.

More pictures from Vicky and Katrina's Christmas party

Sharing the pictures, Neha Dhupia wrote on Instagram, Our very merry bunch for life. The first picture is of Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi in identical pyjama sets, posing with Katrina and Vicky, who too are twinning in white T-shirts and blue denims.

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It is followed by a happy picture of Vicky's mom joining the pack of Angad, Vicky and his brother Sunny Kaushal. Sunny too was dressed as per the white and blue dress code. Vicky is seen planting a kiss on his mother's cheek, who wore a red salwar suit for Christmas. There is also a group picture which shows Vicky's dad and veteran action director Sham Kaushal and Katrina's mom Suzanne Turquotte in the frame.

There are also a few candid pictures of Vicky and Angad as they get goofy while posing in front of the Christmas tree. Vicky had earlier shared a video of him and Angad showing their Punjabi dance moves while posing for the camera.

Recently, Vicky had also shared a romantic picture of Katrina and him posing during the Christmas bash. He had captioned it, Christmas is when you are here, along with a heart and Christmas emoji.

More about Neha and Angad

2023 was an eventful year for Neha and Angad. They moved to their new house with their kids Mehr and Guriq. Neha took a short break from work after Guriq's birth. Angad was seen in a segment of the anthology Lust Stories 2. He also played a pivotal role in Ghoomer and the recent Telugu release, Hi Nanna .

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Gary Oldman recently critiqued his performance in the Harry Potter franchise. Oldman, who played Harrys godfather Sirius Black in the movies, believes his portrayal of the character was mediocre. The actors Apple TV+ series Slow Horses returned for a third season in November. Gary Oldman recently critiqued his performance in the Harry Potter franchise (Amazon Prime Video)

Oldman made the comments on the latest episode of Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast. I think my work is mediocre in it, he said, adding that he thinks he could have played the role "differently."

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Oldman went on to say that his approach may have been different if he had read the books, written by J.K. Rowling, before acting in the films. Maybe if I had read the books like Alan, if I had got ahead of the curve, if I had known what's coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently," Oldman said, referring to the late Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in the franchise.

Oldman joined the Harry Potter franchise in 2004, first appearing in the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He appeared again in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and was seen in a cameo in the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

"It's like anything, if I sat and watched myself in something and said, 'My god, I'm amazing,' that would be a very sad day, said Oldman. Because you want to make the next thing better."

Thank God for Harry Potter

However, Oldman appreciated the franchise earlier this month in an interview with Drew Barrymore. He said that both Harry Potter and the Dark Knight trilogy helped him in life.

Thank God for Harry Potter. I tell you, the two  Batman and Harry Potter  really, they saved me, because it meant that I could do the least amount of work for the most amount of money and then be home with the kids, Oldman told Barrymore.

At 42 years old, I woke up divorced and I had custody of these boys and so that, in itself, was... That was hard because there was a shift in the industry where a lot of productions were being [filmed in]  it was Hungary, Budapest, Prague, Australia, you know, all of these places," he added.

Oldman described how he took round trips between his Los Angeles home and the Dark Knight trilogy films production in London as many as 27 times to be able to spend time with his children during his busy schedule.
Hollywood star Jessica Chastain does not seem interested in playing popular (fictional) Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo. In a new interview, Jessica confirmed that she will indeed not be starring in the movie adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid's bestselling novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Jessica Chastain has wished good luck to those who do end up making the movie.

Since the novel gained popularity, fans have been championing Jessica as the first choice for Evelyn's role. Jessica previously acknowledged it in April this year but told E! News now that there is zero possibility shell star in the movie.

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Sorry to disappoint

Jessica said, But I love how excited the fans are. When I was working on Broadway, every single day, theyd be outside, when I was signing, with the books. I just love how wonderful that fan base is. I look forward to watching it and Im sorry to disappoint everyone out there!

About the book

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is about a Hollywood starlet who rises from poverty and abuse to make a sparkling movie career for herself. However, her love life is nothing but chaotic throughout.

What Jessica previously said

In January, Jessica had said about the movie adaptation on Watch What Happens Live, "I do know there is an online thing about it. Sure, send me a script." She said in April in a tweet, "I've been asked multiple times by fans, to sign books that I'm not attached to contractually. Because it feels wrong, and like I'm taking credit for someone else's work, I'll say I can't sign because I'm not doing it. That doesn't mean I've read a bad script."

The Evelyn Hugo movie is under production by Netflix. Leslye Headland, who co-created and directed trippy series Russian Doll will direct and Liz Tigelaar is also joining the project as its writer.

Jessica, meanwhile, will next be seen in the upcoming film Memory, written and directed by Michel Franco, alongside Peter Sarsgaard. The film follows Sylvia (Chastain), a social worker whose life is turned upside down when Saul (Sarsgaard) follows her home from their high school reunion, revealing secrets from her past.
Devil, directed and produced by Abhishek Nama and starring Nandamuri Kalyanram and Samyuktha in the lead roles, released in cinemas today. The film tells the story of a British Secret Service agent who is looking to solve a murder while on a secret mission to intercept a message from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The film received mixed response from fans, heres how they reacted. (Also Read: Devil review: Kalyanram, Samyukthas period actioner tries way too hard to be interesting) Kalyanram in a still from Devil

Fans react

One X user had nothing but praise for Kalyanrams performance in the film. They wrote, In the retro spy thriller #Devil, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram shines, delivering a standout performance that adds to the movie's allure and excitement. Another user opined that the film had an interesting premise let down by the writer. They wrote, interesting story, suspense held nicely. But predictable screenplay makes it an Okay watch, 2.75/5 1st half #Devil, adding, A film spoiled by writer/Director.. #Devil wait for OTT 2.5/5.

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One fan had the suggestion to remove the two songs in the films first half as it was hindering the flow, writing, #Devil movie lo 1st half lo vache songs tesesthe inka reach vasthundhi movie ki @AbhishekPicture @NANDAMURIKALYAN (If you remove the songs in the first half, I think the film will have more reach.

Another had nothing but praise for the music composer, Harshavardhan Rameshwar, writing, #Devil Below avg 1st half. Excellent second half. The man of the moment #Harshavardhan. Em BGM kottav ra babu literally goosebumps. Akkada worst scene unna sare nee bgm mathram thaggaledhu. Your BGM gave me goosebumps. Your music stuck with me even in scenes that were horrible.

Devil 2 announced

Celebrating the films release, Kalyanram visited Brahmaramba and Sudarshan 35mm theatres in Hyderabad to watch the movie with fans. He later celebrated with the cast and crew in Filmnagar.

Announcing that a sequel for the film will be made, Kalyanram mistakenly called the film Bimbisara, his last hit in 2022. Sorry, not Bimbisara 2, I meant Devil 2. The film will be made in 2024 and released in 2025. This is not a spontaneous decision, our writer Srikanth pitched the idea to us last December. Its an exciting plot, he said.

Teasing fans about the plot, he said, One interesting thing about Devil 2 is that the film will show both the 1940s and 2000s era. Its going to be exciting.

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The makers of the highly anticipated film Guntur Kaaram, starring Mahesh Babu, released a song promo on Friday (December 29). The song, featuring impressive dance steps by Mahesh and Sree Leela, is quickly gaining popularity for its catchy beat. The full song, titled Kurchi Madathapetti, is set to release on Saturday (December 30). Mahesh Babu in Guntur Kaaram.

Mahesh delivers a powerful dialogue right at the start of the song, and then dazzles with his dance moves alongside Sreeleela. The song's fast beat complements their energetic performances.

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Sankranthi films are known for their vibrancy, and Guntur Kaaram is no exception. The makers have smartly included this song to add to the film's appeal. The movie, set to release on January 12, is expected to be a major contender in the Sankranthi race, competing with films like Hanuman, Eagal, and Naa Sami Ranga. Mahesh Babu, currently in America for New Year celebrations, will join the promotion of Guntur Kaaram upon his return.

The film is helmed by Trivikram Srinivas. Previously, the actor and the director collaborated for blockbuster hits Athadu and Khaleja and after the long wait of 12 years, the duo is all set to reunite once again for a big-budget project.

The film is touted to be an action drama, which stars apart from Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishnan, Jayaram, Prakashraj, and Sunil.

In May, Mahesh Babu paid tribute to his father and actor Krishna on his birth anniversary by sharing the title and teaser of the movie.The film was tentatively titled SSMB28. The movie is slated to hit theatres on January 13, 2024.

In the video, Mahesh Babu gets into action with a stick in his hand, as everyone is waiting for him at Mirchi Yard. Endi Atta Soosthunnav... Beedi 3D Lo Kanabaduthundaa thunders Mahesh Babu, as he leans on the ground and lights a beedi with two match sticks.
Actor and DJ Ali Merchant will be in Hyderabad on New Year, but its for work. I am going to Hyderabad for a show as I am also a DJ. I am hoping that its as good as its was last year. All my shows were sold out, he tells us. Ali Merchant will be celebrating New Year in Hyderabad with wife Andleeb

Talking about his love for music, Merchant says, My continuous efforts of knowing about latest music, sounds and than inventing and producing new edits and mashups since 8 years now and made my shows so popular. Audiences who have attended those events are aware of it and word of mouth has helped me in having sold out show always. Merchant performed in Kolkata on Christmas eve, followed by a show in Goa on Christmas Night.

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On New Years eve, he will be with his wife and has ensured that he makes it extra special for her despite the work commitments. My wife Andleed (Zaidi) will come to Hyderabad with me as we want to step into the new year together. I also have plans with her and will be doing something special on stage for her, says Merchant, but refuses to share the details about it as for now. Then it wont be a surprise, he adds.

But Merchant does not shy away from expressing love for Zaidi. Life has become more beautiful ever since I got married to my dream girl and I wanna do all the cute things for her, which people like to do in their teens, he shares.

About how the year went by, Merchant says, he has spent a lot of time working on himself as it was needed. I have worked a lot on self change. I have spent time in understanding every human emotion and upgrading with lots of wisdom and self awareness on little and important things in life. And that has helped me in evolving and being the best version of myself. which will be seen in 2024 in the projects I am coming up with as an actor along with my alter-ego - djing and music, says Merchant.
Lucknows world-famous food and celebrity chef Ranveer Brar complement each other. Recently, the experiential travel online guide Taste Atlas listed Lucknow and four other Indian cities  New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai  in its list of Best Food Cities of the World. Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar during his visit to hometown Lucknow(Photos: Maroof Umar)

Chef Brar, a reality show judge-host and food historian, who was in the city to chronicle food history, talks about what makes his hometown so special.

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Ambassadors of food and culture

Brar with visual heritage storyteller Maroof Umar

Alongside the famous kebabs, biryanis, chaat and other delicacies, the chef feels its the culturally rooted Lucknowites who as proud ambassadors are taking the food legacy forward.

In the old city areas, the Lucknowites take pride in their culture. And the essence of the food is alive because they hold it very closely to their chests. And the best thing about Lucknow is that it functions at its own speed, jabardasti marketing ya duniya ko dikhane ke liye nahin. Its not part of any race. Of course, being a capital city, cultural mingling will happen, but still, people are very socially rooted. My takeaway is that the food story of Lucknow lives on!

Keeping the food romance alive

Purane (old city) logon ki mehnat hai and woh unki identity that they take pride in taking the culture and food legacy forward. Ek jimmedaari ki tarah they are taking it forward. The good thing is that the senior and the younger generations are taking it forward and preserving their heritage with pride, says Brar.

Brar savouring biryani with Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad at Mahmudabad House in Lucknow.

He adds, Like how well Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad is taking the royal legacy of late Raja (Amir Mohd Khan) Mahmudabad forward. Young Maroof Umar with his visual heritage storytelling is beautifully showcasing the citys soul on social media. I met some attar manufacturers and was so happy to see their young generations too being involved. If you visit Idrees Biryani, Abu (Bakar, owner) bhai will not just serve you good food but a history along with it.

Old-world charm

Brar feels its the older Lucknow what he connects with. In terms of food visits, Gomti Nagar and that side of Lucknow are usually not on my list. For me, from Telibagh to Sadar, Hussainganj, Aminabad and moving towards Akbari Gate, Chowk and old city areas. Thats Lucknow for me!

Brar in a candid discussion with Abu Bakar at Idrees Biryani

Winter foods were his favourite. In this season, winter food is the order of the day, so I wanted to tap in the delicacies like makkhan malai (nimish), kaali-gajar ka halwa, Kashmiri chai. Since I have lived here, it was strange to see makkhan-malai being sold in afternoon and night while it used to be a morning thing. But marketing is a double-edged sword!

Chronicling history

We talk so much about Delhi food, but it was through Lucknow that a lot of food travelled to the Capital. Like, Varanasis famous mallaio reached Lucknow as Nimish and then reached Delhi. Similarly, chaat too reached the same route. Biryanis journey from Awadh to Kolkata and how the city gave the world Kakori and other kebabs. So, we are trying to discover Lucknow as messenger of culture for Delhi, he adds on a signing off note.
The social media beauty sphere is brimming with a newand, according to expertsan alarming trend: bone-smashing. The TikTok-approved beauty hack involves intentionally fracturing facial bones to achieve altered facial features, such as enlarged cheekbones or a more prominent chin. According to Healthcare Communications Network, the hashtag has amassed more than 250 million views and is close to half a billion views on all social media platforms combined. The TikTok-approved beauty hack involves intentionally fracturing facial bones to achieve altered facial features, such as enlarged cheekbones or a more prominent chin.

Proponents of bone-smashing online reference the late German surgeon Julius Wolffs 19th-century Wolffs Law, which suggests that bones strengthen and remodel due to mechanical stress. But this concept, valid for weight-bearing exercises, is oversimplified and misapplied in beauty. 'Hitting the face and the facial skeleton with a blunt object can cause unwanted fractures of your mandible bone, zygomatic bone, or some of the frontal bone. Such trauma can cause bone fractures and underlying contusions,' says Dr. Swapna Athawale, a plastic surgery consultant at Jupiter Hospital, Pune. 'In severe cases, it may lead to brain injury, eye damage, or nasal injuries resulting in bleeding,' he adds.

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Many users, especially young men, have confessed to resorting to this perilous technique in the hope of making themselves more appealing to potential romantic partners. Dr. Shilpi Bhadani, a plastic and cosmetic surgeon at Aakash Healthcare, says, 'At this juncture, its important to also outline body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The psychology of people who may seek drastic facial re-contouring by opting for such extreme methods warrants assessment of mental health issues too. When we talk about such trends, there is also the issue of cultural insensitivity associated with pushing standardized beauty ideals.'

She adds, 'Open communication about any procedures advantages and disadvantages is essential because in most cases, it leads to undesired results and post-procedural complications that may hamper an individuals confidence.' Notably, bone-smashing is not medically or scientifically recommended to work on ones facial skeleton.
About 30 senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were called for a meeting by partys state president BY Vijayendra to deliberate on the partys strategy for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Former chief ministers BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai and other key leaders attended the meeting to discuss the partys course of action. MLA Basavangowda Patil Yatnal had launched a scathing attack on Yediyurappa, accusing him of engaging in massive corruption amounting to  40,000 crore during the states Covid-19 management (HT)

Though the meeting was called to discuss the partys strategy, a major point of discussion was the issue of rebel MLA Basavangowda Patil Yatnal. The senior leaders unanimously agreed that the party could not afford to let his loose tongue and statements jeopardise the momentum gained since the appointment of the new state president and the formation of a new team of office-bearers, read a communication from the party.

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The statement said that it was decided that action, including expulsion from the party, must be taken against Yatnal to prevent any damage to the partys prospects and its goal to win all 28 seats and contribute to Narendra Modis third term as Prime Minister.

Among those present in the crucial meeting were state organisational general secretary Rajesh, union minister of state Bhagwant Khuba, former union minister and Member of Parliament DV Sadananda Gowda, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, Council Leader of Opposition Kota Srinivas Poojari, former deputy chief ministers KS Eswarappa, Ashwathnarayan, and Govind Karjol.

This meeting of senior leaders comes a day after the newly elected office-bearers of the BJP have called for action against the Vijayapura MLA over his comments against senior party leaders.

On Tuesday, Yatnal launched a scathing attack on Yediyurappa, accusing him of engaging in massive corruption amounting to 40,000 crore during the states Covid-19 management when the BJP government was in power.

After the meeting on Wednesday, said BJP state general secretary P Rajeev said, We cant disclose the details of the discussions of a closed-door meeting but I can confirm that there has been a serious talk on this (Yatnal) issue. We will not tolerate any action that hurts the party in the state. We are hopeful that our central leadership will take the right decision in the coming days on the matter.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Friday declared Canada-based gangster and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) leader Lakhbir Singh Landa an individual terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Canada-based gangster and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) leader Lakhbir Singh Landa.

Landa, who supervises smuggling of arms and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from Pakistan to India, is the mastermind behind the rocket propelled grenade (RPG) attack at the Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali on May 9 last year, and is wanted by the Punjab Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in this regard.

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According to a notification issued by MHA, Landa was also closely associated with Canada-based pro-Khalistan elements (PKEs), including deceased Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun among others.

Landa, a resident of Harike in Punjabs Tarn Taran district, is currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Read here: From Goldy Brar to Landa, Punjabs most wanted hiding in Canada

Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, backed by cross border agency, was involved in the terror attack through shoulder mounted Rocket Propelled Grenade on the building of Punjab State Intelligence Headquarter at Mohali. He has been involved in supply of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), arms, sophisticated weapons, explosives from across the border to various modules for carrying out terrorist activities in Punjab, the notification said.

It added that Landa was also involved in various criminal cases related to raising of terror modules, extortion, killings, planting IEDs, smuggling of weapons and narcotics and using funds or proceeds thereof for terrorist acts in Punjab and other parts of the country.

Besides, the gangster is involved in targeted killings, extortions and other anti-national activities in different parts of India, the notification said.

A look out circular was issued against Landa in 2021 and NIA has also declared a reward on him.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday responded to the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) 'dirty politics' charge over the Centre not accepting Punjab's tableau for the Republic Day parade, saying chief minister Bhagwant Mann had been "shamelessly lying" over the matter. Meanwhile, AAP said the BJP government was trying to exact revenge. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann(File)

Days after Mann accused the BJP-led Central government of discriminating against Punjab, the party today said the real reason for the rejection of the tableau was that it had the photographs of the chief minister and Arvind Kejriwal.

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"The real reason for rejection of Punjab Tableau is that it prominently showed pics of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann rather than Mai Bhago Ji or martyrs! Mann Sahab is shamelessly lying; and worst is he has surrendered Punjabs sovereignty in the feet of Kejriwal. You made Punjab the slave of Kejriwal in the name of change," said Delhi BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said Delhi's tableau hadn't been shown for three years in a trot.

"The Republic Day tableau of the country's capital, Delhi, has been rejected by the central government for three years... In 2022 the theme was 'Resolve 75' in which our design was rejected in the second round of meetings. In 2023, the theme was 'Nari Shakti' our design was again rejected, and in 2024, the theme is 'Viksit Bharat' and our tableau was again rejected irrespective of the education and health model of the Delhi government that was portrayed in the tableau... Even the Punjab government's tableau for the upcoming Republic Day parade has been rejected. The central government is trying to take revenge only from the AAP governments," he said.

On Thursday, AAP accused the Centre of not providing any reason for excluding Punjab's tableau.

"Not including the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab in the Republic Day parade shows the dirty politics of the BJP. BJP-ruled states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are consistently given the opportunity (to showcase their tableaux) in the Republic Day parade but like last time, Delhi and Punjab have been sidelined this time too," AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar said on Friday.

"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," added.

Mann on Wednesday said the government wanted to take the Punjab word out of the national anthem.

"If they have their way they will take out the word 'Punjab' from the national anthem," he told reporters in Chandigarh.

Delhi BJP secretary Bansuri Swaraj said that a committee of specialists decide on the proposals of the tableaux. She said the AAP was hiding the real reason for the rejection of their tableaux proposals.

"It is shameful that without telling reasons for rejection of their tableaux proposals, the AAP leaders are politicising the decision of a specialist committee," she said.

Swaraj alleged that all that the AAP governments have to show are stories of liquor scam, fake medicines scam, bungalow scam, drug sale in Punjab or ministers going to jail.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
New Delhi The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated the process to confiscate two properties in London in connection with its money laundering probe against fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, people familiar with the development said on Friday. ED has claimed since 2020 that the property in question, worth 1.9 million pounds at the time, belongs to Vadra, and that Thampi played a crucial role in its purchase. (HT photo)

Read here: Vadra stayed in UK property under probe in PMLA case: ED

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One of the properties at 12, Bryanston Square, London, acquired by Bhandari in 2009, is linked to former Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law, Robert Vadra, as it was renovated on his directions and using his funds, according to EDs charge sheet in the case filed in November. The agency has also claimed that Vadra has stayed in this property three-four times.

The second property under the scanner is located at 6, Grosvenor Hill Court, 13 Bourdon Street, London. Both are being treated as proceeds of crime of Bhandari and NRI businessman C C Thampi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In its plea before a Delhi court, seen by HT, ED has stated that it seeks to confiscate the proceeds of crime being properties no 12, BSQ London and 6 Grosvenor Hill Court, Bourdon Street, London.

People aware of the process said that once the court issues orders for confiscation or attachment of these properties, an official request will be sent to concerned authorities in the UK through formal channels by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) and the ministry of external affairs (MEA).

The financial crimes probe agency has powers to attach and confiscate properties in foreign countries in connection with alleged economic offences. In December 2020, it attached former liquor baron Vijay Mallyas properties worth 14 crore in France. Similarly, Karti Chidambarams assets in the UK and Spain, and diamantaire Nirav Modis properties in the UAE have been attached by it in the past.

About the 12 Bryanston Square property, the ED charge sheet has stated Bhandari acquired it in 2009 and got it renovated as per the directions of Robert Vadra and the funds for renovation were provided by Robert Vadra.

Thampi, named as accused in the charge sheet, has claimed before the agency that Vadra stayed at this property 3-4 times, according to the charge sheet. The common thread with regard to the said (London) property starting from the date of acquisition to its use was CC Thampi, Sumit Chadha and Robert Vadra, it added.

ED has claimed since 2020 that the property in question, worth 1.9 million pounds at the time, belongs to Vadra, and that Thampi played a crucial role in its purchase. Chadha is a British national who allegedly helped Thampi acquire the properties.

As first reported by HT on Thursday, Vadra and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra bought land in Haryana through a Delhi-based real estate agent who also sold land to Thampi, ED has alleged, while adding that Vadra and Thampi have a long and thick relationship that extends to common and business interests.

Though ED has named Robert Vadra in earlier charge sheets related to the case as a close aide of Thampi, this is the first time that Priyanka Gandhi has been mentioned in an official document submitted to court.

A press release by the agency on Tuesday, which HT reported, also mentioned Vadra in connection with the purchase of a property in London that is part of the probe.

While Vadra and Gandhi have not commented on EDs claims, the Congress said on Thursday that it was a conspiracy by the ruling BJP. 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.

Read here: Three plots in Haryana: Probe in 2005-06 land transactions of Priyanka, Vadra on, says ED

The BJP denied the charge. If something has come out from ED, its essentially based on investigation. So what has the political party got to do with it? It is your karma, BJP national spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was on Friday named the Janata Dal (United) national president after Member of Parliament Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan quit the post, ending days of speculation about his continuation amid reports of a rift. Lalan Singh announced his exit in his presidential speech at the start of the JD (U)'s national executive meeting in New Delhi. (HT Photo/Raj K Raj)

Singh announced the move in his presidential speech at the start of the partys national executive meeting in New Delhi. Kumar earlier took over as the party chief replacing Sharad Yadav in 2016 before relinquishing the post in 2020. Former Union minister RCP Singh, who quit the party last year, became the JD(U) national president in 2020.

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JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha said that the national executive requested Kumar to take over the partys leadership in the larger interest of the party and nation. He added the request was unanimous.

Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chowdhary said Singh cited his candidature in the 2024 national polls and asked to be relieved from the post and that the chief minister should take over. There was no bitterness between the two.

Singh stepped down after days of speculation that Kumar was unhappy with him for not coordinating effectively with the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) for a bigger role for the chief minister at the national level ahead of the 2024 polls.

The speculation was fuelled by reports that Kumar was unhappy with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharges projection as the Opposition groupings Prime ministerial candidate. On Monday, Kumar denied the reports.

Singh on Thursday rejected speculation of rift and maintained he would not step down. Nitish Kumar is the leader of our party. JD(U) is united and it will remain the same. I am not going to resign. You [media] are most welcome to further the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] agenda.

Kumars taking over is seen as a message to the INDIA bloc and ally Rashtriya Janata Dal ahead of the seat-sharing exercise for the national polls. He is known as a hard bargainer.
Mangaluru: The authorities at the Mangaluru International Airport launched a massive search operation on Wednesday after they received an email saying bombs had been placed inside one of your planes and inside the airport. Mangaluru International Airport.

The airport was one among several airports across the country that received threat emails from a self-professed terrorist group called 'Funing'.

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The email said explosives were inside the plane and airport, and that they were well hidden and would go off in a few hours. The email identified themselves as a "terrorist group called Funing".

The mail came from xonocikonoci10@beeble.com .

"There are explosives inside of one of your planes. But also inside of your airport. The explosives are well hidden, and they will go off in a few hours. I will kill you all. WE ARE A TERRORIST GROUP CALLED; Funing"," it said.

The airport authorities noticed the email on Wednesday morning. They informed the Mangaluru Police. The authorities launched a search operation on the Mangaluru International Airport.

Nothing amiss was recovered by the police despite hours of search.

Mangalore Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal informed the media that the security was beefed up outside the airport. The police had set up additional check points and the authorities were carrying out anti-sabotage and bomb checks on the airport.

A police complaint has been filed over the incident.

Earlier this month, several schools in Bengaluru received an email saying bombs had been planted inside them. The authorities searched the schools after evacuating thousands of students but found nothing. Later, the emails turned out to be a hoax.

With inputs from PTI
Director General of Police G P Singh, in a post on X, said, "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." HT Image

"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 the appropriate court of law in due course," he added.

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The DGP said that the Assam Police remain steadfast in their resolve to protect the people of the state from all violent crimes at all personal and professional costs, and he complimented every officer and men associated with the operations.

Two persons allegedly involved in the lobbing of a grenade near an army camp in Jorhat town have been separately arrested from Moran in Dibrugarh district and Titabor in Jorhat district and the motorcycle they had used in the crime has been seized, another police officer said.

The duo has been identified as Achyut Gogoi and Biraj Kachari, he added.

Earlier, a 24-year-old man identified as Dipankar Gogoi allegedly died by suicide after he was picked up for questioning by the police several times after the blast as he was earlier associated with the outfit, a charge subsequently denied by his family.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had ordered an additional chief secretary-level inquiry while the DGP had directed the IGP (Eastern Range) to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

The ULFA(I) claimed responsibility for the recent grenade attacks in Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Jorhat, stating those were carried out in response to the 'arrogance' of the DGP Singh, who was "trying to establish the outfit's demand as a law and order problem and not a political issue".

The DGP had in response to the ULFA(I)'s allegations said that "they always refer to me and if they have a cause with me, they can always target me. I live in Kahilipara and my office (DGP headquarters) is in Ulubari, (both in Guwahati). They can come and target me. Why are they harassing the common people by lobbing a grenade here and there''.

Singh had in another statement earlier stated that the police were ''committed to wiping out the remnants of terrorism that impedes growth of our state. And for that, if we have to sacrifice our life, we shall not hesitate, nor shall we waver from our determination to use the full might of law against those who stand in the path of our states growth, progress and development".

Following the blasts, operations were intensified across the state, particularly in the Upper Assam districts, and several arrests were made, while five people were injured in police firing when they allegedly tried to escape from custody.
The Congress is likely to begin seat-sharing talks with other constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) from early January, after its five-member National Alliance Committee completes discussions with all state units of the party and submits a report on the prospects of poll pacts to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, a senior party leader said. Some of the 28-party INDIA partners have blamed the Congress for delay in the seat-sharing talks. (Hindustan Times)

The committee, which was formed last week and is headed by former Union minister Mukul Wasnik, has already begun discussions with all state Congress units to discuss the possibilities and seat adjustments with INDIA partners, the leader said on condition of anonymity.

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Discussions with Maharashtra, West Bengal and a few other state units are already over, the leader added.

The national alliance committee will give its report to the Congress president in the next two to three days. After that, the seat talks with allies will begin, the leader said.

The leader also suggested that Kharge might ask the alliance committee or appoint a group of senior leaders to talk to the INDIA bloc allies.

The seat talks were the focus of the INDIA groups recent meeting in Delhi on December 19. A number of leaders, including West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, have been seeking early discussions on seat sharing. During the Mumbai meeting in August-September, the alliance had resolved to begin seat talks at the earliest.

Some of the 28-party INDIA partners have blamed the Congress for delay in the seat-sharing talks, by waiting for the conclusion of the assembly elections in five states, results of which were announced on December 3.

Congress functionaries said while equations with the partys allies may differ across states, the final call on an alliance will be taken from a national perspective.
NEW DELHI: A day after a Qatari court commuted the death sentence of eight former Indian Navy personnel, India said on Friday it will decide on possible next steps after studying the detailed verdict and discussing the matter with the legal team and the families of the men. Qatars Court of Appeal commuted the death sentence and gave the men prison terms ranging from three years to 25 years on Thursday (Photo: Doha Directory)

The eight men  Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purnendu Tiwari, Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma and Sugunakar Pakala, and sailor Ragesh  had been sentenced to death by Qatars Court of First Instance on October 26 after being detained for more than a year on undeclared charges.

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Qatars Court of Appeal commuted the death sentence and gave the men prison terms ranging from three years to 25 years on Thursday. External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a regular media briefing that possible options and next steps can be decided only after the detailed judgement is seen by the legal team.

Noting that the Qatari Court of Appeal had only given an oral order on Thursday and the detailed verdict is awaited, Bagchi said: Till we have more details, I dont want to comment. We will, of course, be discussing the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members.

People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that Tiwari was given a 25-year prison term while Ragesh was given a three-year sentence. Four of the former Indian Navy officers were given 15-year prison terms and two others 10-year prison terms, they said.

Bagchi reiterated a statement issued by the external affairs ministry on Thursday, which said the sentences of the eight men had been reduced, and again emphasised the confidential and sensitive nature of the case. He added: We would urge again not to engage in speculation. The interests of the Indians and their family members is our foremost concern.

Responding to a question on whether India would invoke a 2015 agreement with Qatar on the transfer of sentenced prisoners, Bagchi said it wasnt clear if the pact had been ratified by the Qatari side. Yes, there is such an agreement. However, Im not sure if it is in effect because it requires ratification by both sides. I would have to check whether the Qatari side has ratified that agreement.

The agreement allows citizens of India and Qatar, who have been convicted and sentenced for criminal offences, to serve their prison terms in their home country. The pact  signed during a visit to India by the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in March 2015  does not apply to persons facing the death penalty.

The people cited above said that while the Indian side has ratified the agreement, there is a lack of clarity as to whether the Qatari side has completed all procedures for ratification. However, Qatars cabinet endorsed the agreement in October 2015.

Read here: Relief as Qatar takes 8 Indians off death row

The eight men, including decorated officers who commanded frontline warships in the Indian Navy, 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. Tiwari, who served as Al Dahras managing director, commanded several warships while serving in the navy.

Reports have suggested the men were charged with espionage.

However, neither the Indian side nor Qatari authorities made the charges public. Formal charges were filed against the men on March 25 and they were tried under Qatari law.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday once again invoked the abrogation of Article 370, which was upheld by the Supreme Court recently. He said the people of J&K were deprived of rights for seven decades despite India's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru saying that Article 370 would disappear one day.



In an interview to India Today, Modi said there are people who had an issue with the delay in terminating a temporary provision. The prime minister said Nehru told in Parliament on Article 370 that 'ghiste ghiste ghis jaayega (it would disappear one day).



The PM said people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially women and those from underprivileged committees were deprived of their rights for seven decades. Hailing the abrogation of special status, Modi said the people of J&K and Ladakh are now free to shape their destinies with their own hands.



On December 11, the top court had upheld the Centre's 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 of the constitution. On August 5, 2019, the Modi government had repealed Article 370 and 35A that gave special status to the erstwhile state of J&K. The former state was bifurcated into two territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.



The five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had directed to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and the Election Commission to conduct assembly elections by September 30, 2024.

Prime minister Narendra Modi.
A day ahead of his Ayodhya visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government is determined to preserve the rich heritage of the holy city. The PM also mentioned the list of projects he will be inaugurating on Saturday. Prime minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

Our government is determined to develop world-class infrastructure, improve connectivity and preserve the rich heritage of Ayodhya, the city of Lord Shri Ram. In this direction, I will inaugurate the newly constructed airport and redeveloped railway station tomorrow. Along with this, I will also get the privilege of inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of many more development projects, which will make the life of my family members in many areas of the country including Ayodhya and UP easier, PM Modi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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PM Modi will visit Ayodhya on Saturday around 11:15 am and inaugurate projects worth 11,100 crore, including the Ayodhya Airport and the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station. He will be welcomed by over 1,400 artists from across the country who will present folk art and cultural programmes on 40 stages set up along the route from the airport to the railway station, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's office said.

Modi's visit comes days ahead of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22.

List of projects that PM Modi will inaugurate in Ayodhya

Ayodhya Airport

PM Modi will inaugurate phase one of the state-of-the-art new Ayodhya Airport on Saturday. According to an official release, the airport is developed at a cost of over 1,450 crore. The airports terminal building will have an area of 6500 sqm, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually, while the facade of the building depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Ram temple. The airport is set to improve connectivity in the region, leading to a boost in tourism, business activities, and employment opportunities, the release said.

Ayodhya Dham Railway Station

Phase one of the re-developed Ayodhya Dham railway station, built at a cost of over 240 crore will also be inaugurated. The three-storey modern railway station building is equipped with modern features including lifts, escalators, food plazas, shops for puja needs, cloakrooms, child care rooms, and waiting halls.

Rail projects

PM Modi will flag off a new category of two superfast passenger trains, the Amrit Bharat Express - Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express. He will also flag off six new Vande Bharat trains - 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.

Apart from these, PM Modi will also dedicate three railway projects worth 2,300 crore to the nation. These projects include the Rooma Chakeri-Chanderi third line project; Jaunpur-Tulsi Nagar, Akbarpur-Ayodhya, Sohawal-Patranga, and Safdarganj-Rasauli sections of the Jaunpur-Ayodhya-Barabanki doubling project; and doubling and electrification project of the Malhaur-Daliganj railway section.

Infrastructure projects

PM Modi will inaugurate four newly redeveloped, widened, and beautified roads in Ayodhya - Rampath, Bhaktipath, Dharampath, and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path.

He will also inaugurate several projects that will strengthen civic infrastructure in the city including Rajarshi Dashrath Autonomous State Medical College; four-lane road connecting Ayodhya-Sultanpur Road-Airport; a four-lane road till Tedhi Bazaar Shri Ram Janmabhoomi via NH-27 bypass Mahobra Bazaar; several beautified roads across the city and the Ayodhya bypass; Jagdishpur-Faizabad section of NH-330A; widening and strengthening of Maholi-Baragaon-Deodhi road and Jasarpur-Bhaupur-Gangaraman-Sureshnagar road; ROB at Badi Bua Railway Crossing on Panchkosi Parikrama Marg; solid waste treatment plant in village Pikhrauli; and new buildings and classrooms in Dr. Brajkishore Homoeopathic College and Hospital, among others.

He will also lay the foundation stone of new projects which will further help in the revamp of civic facilities in Ayodhya while also strengthening the rich cultural heritage of the city, the official release said.

These projects include - conservation and beautification of four historical entrance gates in Ayodhya; new concrete ghats between Guptar Ghat and Rajghat and rehabilitation of pre-built ghats; development and beautification of tourist facilities from Naya Ghat to Laxman Ghat; construction of a visitor gallery for Deepotsav and other fairs at Ram Ki Paidi; and strengthening and renovation of pilgrim path from Ram Ki Paidi to Raj Ghat and Raj Ghat to Ram Temple.

Meanwhile, PM Modi will also inaugurate several other projects across Uttar Pradesh.
India emerged as the leader of the global South in the year 2023. From holding the G20 summit in New Delhi to refusing to bow to Western pressure on sanctions against Russia, the world took note of India as the rising power. A file photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden, United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other leaders at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat on the final day of the G20 Summit.(PTI)

India also made significant progress in curbing the China threat and sealed several key defence deals with several nations, including the U.S. and France.



As the year 2023 comes to an end, here are India's top five geopolitical victories.

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G20 summit

It was India's biggest geopolitical win of 2023. Not only successfully hosting the summit, India got all the leaders with disparate views on a single platform to issue a statement. India became the voice of the global South. It also became the voice for the African nations because for the first time, the African Union was made a permanent member of the G20.



ALSO READ: PM Modi, President Biden express trust in each other, deepen ties



India could champion the voice of the South that was first hit by Covid-19 and then the successive wars in Ukraine and Gaza. India brought a developmental agenda, green agenda and emphasised on the way to take the entire community forward by saying it was Vasudhev Kutumbukam, a family where everyone seeks a better future and prosperity.



ALSO READ: PM Modi writes: Dawn of a new multilateralism

India Middle East Economic Corridor

It is the second biggest geopolitical victory by India in this year. The war in Gaza sparked by the terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel has drawn curtains on the Midle East Economic Corridor. But that is not the case. The Middle East Corridor is still in reckoning. Each country responsible to build the infrastructure continues to do so.



ALSO READ: Middle-East Corridor is new Indian spice route to rival the Chinese silk road



China agreed to allow Indian patrolling at LAC

China's People's Liberation Army had transgressed in Eastern Ladakh on May 5, 2020. There was a full blow out in Galwan on June 15, 2020 where both India and China lost troops. There have been 20 dialogues between the two sides on working out a solution. We have created buffer zones all along the LAC where neither side can patrol.

It includes, Galwan, Pangong Tso and Gogra Hot Springs. India said there can be no normalcy until the Indian side is allowed to patrol. Till the 17-18th round of commanders level meeting, Chinese were not willing to listen. But during the 20th dialogue that took place on October 11, China has agreed to allow patrolling by Indian troops. With this, you can restore the status quo ante that was before May 5, 2020.

India-US initiatives on critical emerging technologies

The biggest achievement of the India-US relations is the initiative on critical emerging technologies. It was drawn up by national security advisor Ajit Doval with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan on January 31, 2023. It is a long document that talks on India-US partnership on quantum computing, space, 6G etc. But the most important highlight was the 100 per cent transfer of technology of the GE 414 to India. It essentially means that US's General Electric will transfer technology that will help India to make GE 414 engines to power the LCA, Mark II.

Indo-French defence deals

On July 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Bastille Day parade in Paris on the invitation of French president Emmanuel Macron. The French president will be the chief guest at Republic Day parade in 2024. During his visit, two MoUs were signed. One was between the French Naval Group and the GRSE, Kolkata.

The second MoU was signed between the French Naval Group and the Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL). The MoUs allowed the two sides to develop, manufacture and design surface combatants as far as GRSE was concerned, and submarines at MDL. Tomorrow if Indonesia decides to buy Scorpene submarines, they will be manufactured at MDL.
In a sensational case of cyber crime in Gujarats Vadodara, two former employees including a woman lured their boss into sending his nude pictures to them and then circulated those photos to his colleagues and his wife. The employees allegedly did so to avenge instances of public criticism by their boss when they worked at the office, reported The Times of India. The former employees allegedly did so to avenge instances of public criticism by their boss when they worked at his office(File photo)

First the employees quit their jobs and then created a fake Instagram account of a woman to chat with their boss. Four months ago, it was the accused woman employee who came up with the idea to teach a lesson to the boss, according to the police.

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The victim kept chatting with the fake account and exchanged sexually explicit messages. The employees shared some nude photos with him, downloaded from a website. They then asked their boss to share his nude photos which he did. After receiving the victim's nude photos, the duo stopped sending messages from the account.

ALSO READ| Uber cool: Anand Mahindra praises Meghalaya CM after viral guitar video

After some days, the employees sent their boss' nude photos and screenshots of the sexually explicit chats to his email. In September, they sent a similar email to the HR department of the company. Later, they also mailed the photos and screenshots to his wife. Moreover, the duo sent a printout of the pictures to his wife's office, through speed post.

According to the police, the duo kept stalking and blackmailing the victim. The boss suffered till November and then decided to lodge a complaint. Cyber crime police tracked the perpetrators through the IP address.

It was a case of corporate enmity. We have taken necessary legal steps, Hardik Makadia, ACP (cybercrime), Vadodara told the website.

The former employees have been served notices under CrPC 41 (A) for recording their statements. However, the victim doesn't want to pursue the case further.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by drawing a distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva. Addressing Congress's 139th foundation day event in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said that some people talk of soft Hindutva and that there is a difference between being a Hindu and Hindutva. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah

Hindutva is Hindutva. I'm a Hindu. Hindu and Hindutva are differentHaven't we built Ram temples in our villages? Don't we worship Rama and do bhajans? I too used to go for bhajans in our villageAren't we Hindus? We are also Hindus, the Karnataka CM said.

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According to the CM, the Hindutva propagated by the ruling BJP is fake.

Not a single person from BJP, Jan Sangh, RSS, and Sangh Parivar had fought against the British. RSS was born during the regime of the British. But, they didnt participate in the fight against the British for a single day. The freedom struggle was fought by the Congress party in the country. The falsehood of the BJP should be understood and it should be conveyed to the people, Siddaramaiah said during the event as quoted by media outlets.

Siddaramaiah had echoed similar comments earlier this year on Hindutva asserting that he is a Hindu but is opposed to Hindutva. I am a Hindu. How can I be anti-Hindu? I am opposed to Hindutva and politics around Hindu faith. All the faiths are equal according to the Indian Constitution, he said in January while stating never opposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya but was against using it for political gain. Later in February, he again triggered a controversy with his remark that he is not anti-Hindu but anti-Hindutva as according to him, Hindutva is for murder, violence, and discrimination.

The Karnataka chief minister's comments come ahead of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The rituals for the consecration ceremony will start on January 16 and continue for the next seven days till January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to grace the grand temple's idol installation. Extensive arrangements are underway for the ceremony, attracting dignitaries and individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has apologised for his now-deleted post on X, formerly called Twitter, in which he wrote serving the Brahmins, Ksatriyas and Vaishyas is the natural duty of the Shudras. The post sparked a row as the opposition leaders denounced "BJP's manuvadi ideology". AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Hindutva is antithetical to liberty, equality, fraternity and justice. "It's reflected in the unfortunate cruelty that Assam's Muslims have faced in the past few years," Owaisi said. Himanta Biswa Sarma has apologised for his now-deleted Varna post.(ANI)

After the row, Himanta on Thursday apologised and said it was an incorrect translation of a sloka of Bhagavad Gita. "As soon as I noticed the mistake, I promptly deleted the post. The state of Assam reflects a perfect picture of a casteless society, thanks to the reform movement led by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva.

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If the deleted post has offended anyone, I sincerely apologize," the Assam chief minister's wrote. He said he has been uploading one sloka of Bhagavad Gita every morning on his social media handles as a routine.

"In a recently deleted post, Assam CM elaborated on his vision of society. 'farming, cow rearing, and commerce are natural duties of the Vaishya and serving the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas is the natural duty of the Shudras.' Holding a constitutional position, your oath is to treat every citizen equally. Its reflected in the unfortunate cruelty that Assams Muslims have faced in the past few years. Hindutva is antithetical to Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and Justice," Owaisi said.

Congress leader Pawan Khera asked whether the PM and the President agreed with Himanta Biswa's castesist comments. "And then if you say something to him, he will send his cops. But such stupid comments cannot be ignored. Do @rashtrapatibhvn and @PMOIndia agree with @himantabiswas casteist comments?" he said.
The residence of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir heads son was fired at Surrey in Canadas British Columbia in the early hours of Wednesday even as investigators were yet to attribute a motive for the attack as they looked for the shooters. Khalistani elements earlier this year pasted posters targeting Indias senior-most diplomats on the Surrey temples gate and walls. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Satish Kumar, the temple head, said between 11 and 14 bullets were fired. I can say nothing about why it happened, he said. Kumar added there have been cases of extortion in the area. My son recently sold an insurance agency and they may have thought he had a lot of money.

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The temple was in the news when its members last month countered a protest of the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice against the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in Surrey.

Months later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegation of the involvement of Indian government agents in Nijjars killing triggered a diplomatic row. The allegation prompted India to ask Canada to withdraw 41 of the 62 its diplomats.

Khalistani elements pasted posters targeting Indias senior-most diplomats on the Surrey temples gate and walls. There have been a series of cases of vandalisation of temples in British Columbia.

Kumar and his son are prominent businesspersons in the area, which has reported a spate of extortion attempts. On November 23, police cited extortions targeting business owners while encouraging anyone who may be a victim to call.

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir council member Parshotam Goel said they were concerned but had no clue who was behind the firing. ...we do not want to accuse anyone without proof.

In a statement on Thursday, Royal Canadian Mounted Polices Surrey detachment said the attack was under investigation. ...officers responded to reports of shots fired at the residence at around 8am on Wednesday morning.

There were no injuries but the residence sustained damage consistent with bullet holes. Officers are still working to determine the motive of this incident, the statement said.
Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], December 29 (ANI): After the Congress' 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally in Nagpur, Congress leader Sachin Pilot exuded confidence in the party's victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. HT Image

"The INDIA alliance and Congress Party are absolutely ready for the upcoming elections. The unprecedented public support we got in Nagpur further boosted our morale, and the INDIA alliance will defeat the NDA in 2024," said Sachin Pilot.

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"The central government is playing revenge politics. Attempts are being made to harm the image of opposition leaders. No one is afraid of any investigation, but the way Congress and other opposition leaders are being willingly targeted is completely wrong," he added.

Rahul Gandhi, in his address at the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally, exuded confidence that the grand old party will win elections in Maharashtra and across the country.

"This is a fight of ideologies. Together, we are going to win elections in Maharashtra and the country," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader, during his address, also mentioned that there is an ongoing conflict between two opposing ideologies in the country.

"There is a fight of ideologies going on in the country. People think that it is a political fight, a fight for power, and it is that too, but the foundation of this fight is ideology. There are two ideologies. (Desh mai vichardhaara ki ladai chal rahi hai, logo ko lagta hai rajneetik ladai hai, satta ki ladai hai, vo hai, magar iss ladai ki neev jo hai vo vichardhara hai, do vichardhara hai)," Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress kicked off its campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the 'Hain Tayyar Hum' rally in Nagpur on Thursday. The Grand Old Party also celebrated their 139th Foundation Day on December 28.

The Congress put bar codes behind the chairs for crowdfunding during the rally in Nagpur. As a part of the Congress Crowdfunding Campaign 'Donate for Desh', which was launched earlier this month, a barcode was pasted behind all the chairs on the ground, and attendees of the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally were urged to donate. (ANI)
NEW DELHI: India said on Friday it has made a fresh request to Pakistan to extradite Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and allegedly involved in other acts of terrorism, so that he can face trial in the country. FILE PHOTO: Hafiz Saeed is showered with flower petals as he walks to court before a Pakistani court ordered his release from house arrest in Lahore on November 22, 2017 (REUTERS)

The request was made some weeks ago through the Indian high commission in Islamabad even though India and Pakistan do not have an extradition treaty, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a regular media briefing.

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The Indian side has taken note of reports that Saeeds son Talha Saeed plans to contest next years general election in Pakistan, and such mainstreaming of radical terrorist groups is nothing new as it has been part of Islamabads state policy for a long time, Bagchi said.

Pakistani media first reported this week that India has asked Pakistan to hand over Saeed.

The Lashkar founder has been convicted and sentenced in at least five cases of terror financing since 2020, though his current whereabouts are not known. He has never been charged by Pakistani authorities in connection with any terror attacks carried out by LeT in India.

Also Read | 15 years of 26/11:How LeT flourishes in Pakistan

Asked about India seeking the extradition of Saeed, Baghci replied: As you are aware, the person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request, along with relevant supporting documents, to the government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case.

He added, We have, of course, been flagging the issue of activities that hes been wanted for [in India].

India continues to take up with Pakistan and other countries the activities of people who are wanted in the country for criminal or terrorist activities, and the recent request was made even though the two neighbours dont have an extradition treaty, he said.

People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that the request for Saeeds extradition was made following a new development in one of the cases registered against him in India. The development is not linked to the Mumbai attacks, the people said. Some new evidence has emerged and the request was passed on to the Pakistani side, one of the people said.

Hours later, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed Indias extradition request. Pakistan has received a request from the Indian authorities seeking extradition of Hafiz Saeed in a so-called money laundering case. It is pertinent to note that no bilateral extradition treaty exists between Pakistan and India, she said.

In Delhi, Bagchi, who was asked about Saeeds son planning to contest Pakistans upcoming general election as a candidate of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), said he did not normally comment on the election process in a different country.

However, what I would like to say is the issue of radical elements being normalised and [participating] in elections is something perhaps I should comment on. We have seen some reports in this regard, he said.

The mainstreaming of radical terrorist outfits in Pakistan is nothing new and has been a part of their state policy for a long time. Such developments have serious implications for the security of our region. On our part, we will, of course, continue to monitor all developments that have an implication on our national security, he added.

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. He was detained in these cases only because of 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.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy on Friday unveiled the new design of senior officers epaulettes, a shoulder piece that signals rank, inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with the move reiterating the services resolve to shed the mentality of slavery and project the countrys rich maritime heritage. The new epaulettes, to be worn by the navy chief, vice admirals and rear admirals from January 1. (ANI)

Read here: Indian Navy unveils new Shivaji-inspired designs of epaulettes for top officers

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The new epaulettes, to be worn by the navy chief, vice admirals and rear admirals from January 1, have five modifications over the previous ones.

The development comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that senior naval officers will wear epaulettes that bear the imprint of the Maratha rulers maritime legacy. He revealed the proposed change in his Navy Day address at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra on December 4.

In the new design, the navy has done away with the Crown-inspired red background on which the national emblem sits and replaced it with an octagon derived from the Maratha kings rajmudra or royal seal.

The octagon represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision, the navy said in a statement.

Last year, Modi unveiled the navys new ensign that also featured Shivajis seal, which replaced the colonial St Georges cross. The naval ensign was unveiled during the commissioning of Indias first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Kochi in September 2022.

Also, there is a twin-change in the crossed sword and baton on the epaulettes.

The generic sword has been replaced by a straight double-edged sword of Indian origin (akin to the Khanda used by Rajput warriors), and the baton (a symbol of authority) has given way to a telescope symbolising long-term vision and foresight.

The Indian sword emphasises the very essence of our raison detre, viz., be the cutting edge of national power and win wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge. The telescope symbolises a long-term vision, foresight and a weather-eye in an ever-changing world, the statement said.

The fourth change is the new style of stars on the epaulettes. This has no particular significance other than increasing the aesthetic appeal, HT has learnt. The navy chief dons four stars as an admiral, vice admirals wear three and rear admirals don two.

The final change is in the golden navy button on the epaulettes. It no longer features the foul anchor with the nautical rope, associated with the colonial era, and the design has introduced a clear anchor.

This change, from foul to clear anchor, is in line with the modification in the navy crest in December 2022. The clear anchor depicts steadfastness of the Indian Navy to deter any challenge in the maritime domain, and represents clarity in vision, mission and aspirations of its sailors, the navy said in a statement at the time.

As we usher in the new year #2024, #IndianNavy proudly unveils the new Design of Admirals Epaulettes. Announced by @PMOIndia during #NavyDay2023 at Sindhudurg - the (octagon) in the new Design, drawn from the Naval Ensign & inspired by Rajmudra of #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj, is a true reflection of our rich maritime heritage, the navy wrote on X on Friday.

Adoption of the new design reaffirms our commitment to the two pillars of #PanchPran - Virasat Par Garv & Ghulami ki Mansikta se Mukti. #BharatiyaNausena embracing #Bharatiyata in letter and spirit.

In his 2022 Independence Day speech, Modi spoke of the panch pran or five pledges for India to become a developed country by its 100th year of independence.

Read here: Indian Navy presses 5 destroyers for securing Arabian Sea; full details of ships

The Prime Minister also announced on December 4 that an upcoming nomenclature of naval ranks will also be in line with Indian traditions. The new epaulettes and the Indianised ranks will be the latest in a series of changes introduced by the navy since September 2022 to discard traditions associated with the British empire. It has adopted a new ensign, done away with batons for commanders and allowed traditional Indian wear in officers messes.

It has completed a review of ranks held by sailors, inherited from the British, and is set to replace them with Indianised designations, HT reported on October 9. Gender-neutral changes to the ranks will also be announced shortly. More than 65,000 sailors will now get new ranks.
The Indian Navy on Friday unveiled the new design of epaulettes that officers will wear, drawing inspiration from Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the introduction of the new design during the Navy Day address on December 4 at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. The current design has been released for the rank of Admiral, Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral  the top three positions in the naval forces. Newly designed epaulettes for Naval officers(Indian Navy)

The reflection of the Maratha ruler's maritime legacy in new epaulettes, a shoulder piece that signals an officers rank, is an attempt to leave the mentality of slavery, which the current design feature  Nelson's Ring, a colonial legacy.

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Indian Navy proudly unveils the new Design of Admirals' Epaulettes. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Navy Day 2023 at Sindhudurg - the new Design is drawn from the Naval Ensign & inspired by Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and is a true reflection of our rich maritime heritage, the Navy said.

PM Modi had also announced that the nomenclature of naval ranks will also bear the Indian traditions, which will be an addendum to the Navy's series of changes since last year when it discontinued using of batons for commanders, adopted new ensign and allowed traditional Indian wears in officers' mess.

What does each symbol of the new design signify?

Golden Navy button: It reiterates the resolve to do away with ghulami ki maansikta. Octagon: It represents the eight directions, indicating the forces' all-round long-term vision. Indian sword: It emphasises the essence of the Navy's purpose to be the cutting edge of national power and win wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge. Telescope: It symbolises the long-term vision, foresight and a weather eye in an ever-changing world.

The navy has also completed a review of ranks held by sailors, inherited from the British. It is set to replace them with Indianised designations as part of a larger drive to jettison colonial military traditions. More than 65,000 sailors will now get new ranks.

The ranks that will be made to align with Indian traditions are Master Chief Petty Officer Ist Class, Master Chief Petty Officer IInd Class, Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Leading Seaman, Seaman Ist Class and Seaman IInd Class, HT reported earlier. However, the officers' ranks will stay.
New Delhi Indias exports to Australia saw a 14% year-on-year jump to $5.87 billion in the first eight months of current financial year (April-November) on the back of a favourable trade agreement that came into force a year ago on December 29 and opened a new market for Indian gold jewellery, garments, and bodies for tractors, among other products. Indias imports from Australia, however, fell 19% on an annualised basis during April-November 2023 at $11.15 billion, mainly due to a fall in the demand for coal, coke and briquettes in India. (Bloomberg)

Read here: Red Sea strikes alarm basmati exporters, govt advises caution

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Indias imports from Australia, however, fell 19% on an annualised basis during April-November 2023 at $11.15 billion, mainly due to a fall in the demand for coal, coke and briquettes in India. Available granular data for April-October 2023 indicates a 37% decline in imports of coal, coke and briquettes from Australia at $6.17 billion as compared to $9.75 billion in April-October 2022. The decline in Indias demand for coal, coke and briquettes is not specific to Australia alone, as Indias overall imports from across globe fell by 33% from $33.38 billion in April-November 2022 to $22.45 billion in the same period this year, two commerce ministry officials said while commenting on the data.

It was too early for a comprehensive assessment of a trade agreement, but certainly India has gained access to new lines of exports due to preferential tariff under the pact, they added.

Although the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) was operationalised on December 29, 2022 both countries follow different timelines  Australia runs on the calendar year, and India follows the financial year starting in April. In addition, exporters from both sides are exploring new avenues opened for preferential trade. We cant be myopic while assessing an agreement as ECTA is positive in nature for both partners and one-year period is too early to assess its full potential, said Rajesh Agrawal, additional secretary in the department of commerce.

This is one FTA which has actually indicated that negotiations have been done on comparative advantages. Preferences have been given by each side to the other side. Industry has been leveraging that. There have been some early shoots which indicate that there has been growth in exports from both sides in areas of preferential tariffs, he said.

Analysing Indias year-on-year trade growth with Australias in April-October 2023, Tapan Mazumder, additional director general of foreign trade, said preferential zero duty access has opened up the Australian market for new lines of exports. Some of the exports items that have huge growth potential include gold jewellery studded with natural diamonds ($48.07 million in April-October 2023), unstudded gold jewellery ($12.92 million), non-galvanised pipes for oil and gas ($16.59 million), skirts and dresses made of material other than silk ($7.15 million), cotton garments other than kurta and salwar ($5.12 million), and bodies for tractors and special purpose vehicles ($4.76 million).

Indias imports from Australia, which include wines, are expected to grow with New Delhi allowing more tariff-free access in due course. While the deal with Australia opened up about 96% of tariff lines for Indian imports, over 85% of Australian goods exports by value to India also become tariff free from the day one. Gradually, more items will fall under this category, according to Australian government website. The Australia will have duty-free access for about 90% of items by January 1, 2026, 100% imports from India will be tariff free by that day.

After operationalising ECTA in December last year, both India and Australia agreed to pursue a wider deal, a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and have been working on its contours, Agrawal said.

Read here: International trade of scheduled wildlife animals needs Centres approval

According to experts, India-Australia bilateral deal complements the needs of both economies. The benefits of such transformational deals should not be assessed only on the basis of immediate benefits. The progress so far, in one year is significant and future prospects are bright for both India and Australia, said Nilaya Varma, co-founder and CEO of consultancy firm Primus Partners.

ECTA is a stepping-stone towards a full Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). It provides for competitive tariff elimination or tariff reduction on a wide range of key Australian goods exports and opens new services markets for suppliers in sectors that complement Indias domestic reform priorities, Australias department of foreign affairs and trade said in its website.
A newlywed couple has filed a complaint with police saying that leaders of the Jogi community imposed a boycott on them for their intercaste marriage, police officials said. Shivamogga superintendent of police said that soon after receiving a complaint from the couple, a case was registered against Jogi community leaders under the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. (HT Archives)

The incident was reported from Horabailu village in Kumsi Hobli of Shivamogga district, where the Jogi community leaders allegedly imposed the boycott on a man from their community for marrying a woman from a scheduled caste.

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Expressing disapproval of the marriage, community leaders have instructed members not to engage with the family, with a warning of a 1,000 fine for non-compliance. The leaders even announced a 500 reward for those who provide information about people violating it.

According to officials, the 27-year-old man from the Jogi community, an OBC, had married the scheduled caste woman on September 10. The marriage was registered at the Shivamogga sub-registrars office on September 27. After they were boycotted, the couple filed a complaint with Kumsi police, which registered an FIR and investigated.

After the marriage registration, the Jogi community leaders convened a meeting, deciding to impose a boycott on the couple and sever ties with them, said Shivamogga superintendent of police J K Mithun Kumar. Soon after receiving a complaint from the couple, we registered a case against Jogi community leaders under the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. The investigation is being done by Kumsi police officials, and we will provide all security to the couple.

Haleshappa, a local Dalit leader, said, Some individuals in the Jogi community are fraudulently obtaining SC certificates to avail of government benefits. However, there is reluctance in the community to accept the woman from the SC community.

Shivamogga district social welfare officer Malleshappa said, I and officials from the department visited the village and collected information. A meeting of the Jogi community leaders has been called to sort out the matter. He added that the department would take stern legal action against those who discriminate against the SC/ST community. The officials have informed community leaders about the penal action under the SC/ST Act, he added.
Janata Dal (United) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh has offered to quit the post at the national executive meeting in New Delhi, according to people familiar with the development. JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha said that the party's national executive requested Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to take over the charge in the larger interest of the party and nation. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and JD(U) chief Lalan Singh convene the party's national executive meeting, in New Delhi, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.(PTI)

The key meeting kicked off today in New Delhi amid swirling rumours that Lalan Singh will step down from the top post to make way for Kumar's return.

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The decisions taken by the executive will be ratified at JD(U)'s national council meeting later in the day.

Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said, "There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the post of party president to him and Nitish Kumar accepted it."

Kumar earlier maintained that key meetings in the national capital were routine annual exercises.

"These meetings take place every year. Its normalthere is nothing specific at all. These are routine meetings, the chief minister told reporters in Patna on Thursday.

Singh reaffirmed that Nitish Kumar was the leader of the party and claimed that the rumours about his future and his differences with Nitish Kumar were being spread at the BJPs instance. If I have to resign, I will call you (media persons), 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.

Nitish Kumar is the leader of our party. Janata Dal (United) is united and it will remain the same. If I have to resign, I will consult you, he said.

Choudhary had also initially dismissed the reports of Singh's impending exit.

When asked whether he'll be the next party president, a surprised Choudhary said, "You are the first person telling me this."

"Currently, Lalan Singh is the Janata Dal(United) national president. If he's the national chief, then why would such a thing come up? He's working fine."

Before the meeting, senior party leader KC Tyagi, who was present at the national executive meeting, said the meeting would be a regular one where alliance dynamics in states would also be discussed.

Today, JD(U) national executive meeting will take place wherein discussions will be held on the current political scenario and financial environment of the country...and on seat sharing to target other states as well, KC Tyagi said.

JD(U) is a key member of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc that has been formed to take on the Narendra Modi-led BJP juggernaut in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Political circles were abuzz with speculation that Nitish was unhappy with Singh for not coordinating effectively with the members of the INDIA bloc on a bigger role for the Bihar chief minister at the national level ahead of next years general elections.

Kumars taking over the party command is seen as a strong message to INDIA leaders and to Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He is known as a hard bargainer and seat-sharing exercise would not be an easy task in Grand Alliance.

(With inputs from Vijay Swaroop)
In a major announcement, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Friday said the government has reduced the qualifying age for old-age pension for tribals and Dalits to 50 years from the previous 60 years. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren

According to the CM, only 16 lakh people received pension benefits in the 20 years after the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, but his government has provided pensions to 36 lakh people - mostly to those aged above 60 years.

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The government has decided to provide pension benefits to tribals and Dalits on reaching the age of 50 years. The death rate among them is high and they do not get jobs after 60 years, Soren said while addressing a function on Ranchi's Morabadi ground organised to mark the completion of four years of the JMM-led government in the state.

In four years of our government, we have given pension benefits to 36 lakh people above 60 years of age, widows above 18 years of age, and also physically challenged persons, he added.

Also read: Jharkhand HC dismisses PIL against Hemant Soren on mining lease allocation

The CM also asserted that his government was working relentlessly for the welfare of the people and a large number of schemes were being implemented 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, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, in September this year, the Jharkhand government decided to add the transgender community under its universal pension scheme in a move to provide social security and bring them into the mainstream of society. According to the department of women, child development and social security (WCDSS), transgenders would need to get a certificate from the deputy commissioners office to avail the benefits of the pension scheme.

(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi: India has asked Pakistan to extradite terrorist Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the dastardly 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Friday. "We have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the government of Pakistan," he said at a media briefing on Friday. Hafiz Saeed has been convicted and sentenced in at least five cases of terror financing since 2020. (ANI)

"The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case. We have been flagging the issue of activities that he's been wanted for. This is a recent request," he said.

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Bagchi also cleared New Delhi's stance on a Qatar court commuting the death sentences of 8 Indian Navy veterans.

"The interests of Indians and their family members is our foremost concern. We will be discussing the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members," he added.

Eight ex-Navy personnel, including decorated officers, were taken into custody in August 2022 and handed the death sentence in October. The government of India hasn't revealed the charges but sources told HT that they were charged with espionage. All of them worked with a company called Al Dahra in Doha.

On Thursday, MEA said Qatar's appellate court reduced their sentences.

MEA also reacted to the attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

"As we said earlier, we value the free movement of commercial shipping, which is one of the fundamental principles underpinning global commerce. We are carefully evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in that region. Our defence forces are taking necessary measures in this regard...but I'm not aware that India is part of any multilateral initiative or operation presently in or around the Red Sea," he said.

On shots fired at the house of the son of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir president in Canada, he said: "Our understanding of that incident in British Columbia is that it was at a private residence related to, of course, somebody who's a member of the Temple Management Committee. I understand that investigations are underway in that case. I don't think it's appropriate to comment at this stage on the motivations or details behind it."

With ANI inputs
The situation off West Asia's high seas is tense, with Israel's conflict in Gaza ongoing and Iranian proxies targeting shipping. The Indian Navy deployed five guided missile destroyers, including Brahmos-equipped vessels, to monitor from the Red Sea to the Indian coast. Surveillance involves Boeing P8I aircraft and Predator drones to counter potential threats. The U.S. operates carriers in the Mediterranean and Gulf of Aden, deterring Houthi challenges. The Indian Navy actively patrols the Arabian Sea, targeting Iranian proxies, Somali pirates, and black shipping. The strategic Suez Canal handles nearly a trillion dollars in trade annually, affecting global transportation costs and insurance premiums. Dig deeper The Indian Navy is proactively committed to securing the sea lanes of communication in the Arabian Sea(ANI)

More news on Arabian Sea security: Initial probe points to Iran link in tanker drone strike

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that an ordinance will be passed, requiring commercial establishments to display signboards and nameplates with at least 60% Kannada signage. This decision follows recent violent protests by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike fringe group, resulting in the vandalism of shops in Bengaluru. The ordinance is expected to be effective by February 28, 2024. Siddaramaiah emphasized the importance of promoting Kannada in the state while assuring that other languages are not opposed. The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry expressed commitment to comply with government regulations but urged against immediate actions, requesting implementation after the specified deadline. The government plans to amend the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act to modify signboard space allocations. Dig deeper

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India's captain, Rohit Sharma, acknowledged the batting struggles in the first Test against South Africa, resulting in an innings defeat. Despite KL Rahul's century and Virat Kohli's contribution, other batters, including newcomers Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer, failed to impress. Rohit defended the team, emphasizing past successes in England and Australia. He stressed the importance of customized game plans for challenging conditions, citing Rahul's intent and adaptability. While the bowling disappointed, Rohit praised Bumrah and acknowledged the need for collective effort in future matches. Dig deeper

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As we say goodbye to 2023 and step into the unknown in 2024, there will be a fascinating change in the piercing industry. Just as fashion evolves, so does the art of self-expression through body adornment. You can bet that this year's popular piercings will be some of the most imaginative and sentimental yet. From stylish face piercings to adorable ear piercings, there are plenty of options to choose from. However, with so many adorable piercing options available right now, it's simple to become overwhelmed by the names and choices. In 2024, body piercings will set distinctive and personalized trends that redefine traditional styles. More people find piercing as a medium of self-expression through unique adornments. If you're planning to get pierced in 2024, but aren't sure which design to choose, don't worry, we've got you covered. Celebrity tattoo artist and piercing expert Vikas Malani, founder of BodyCanvas Tattoos, shared with HT Lifestyle some of the top piercing trends that will define individuality, creativity and sustainability in the coming year. Read more

Thats all we have at this hour in our Morning briefing. Catch you in the afternoon
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 29 (ANI): The mortal remains of DMDK president and actor Vijayakanth were brought to Island Ground, Anna Salai on Friday morning. HT Image

The mortal remains will be kept at Island Ground from 6 am to 1 pm for the public to pay their last respects.

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Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder-leader and actor Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai, aged 71, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

The mortal remains of the DMDK chief were earlier kept at the DMDK office, where multiple political leaders, actors, and others came to pay their tributes.

Actor Vijay paid tribute to DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth.

Tamil Nadu minister Ranipet R Gandhi, along with DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi, also paid tribute to the DMDK chief in Kancheepuram.

Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had also arrived at the DMDK office to pay tribute to the deceased actor.

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. (ANI)
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday took over as the Janata Dal (United) president at the meeting of his party's national executive in the national capital, a move seen by many as the 70-year-old leader's national ambitions for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.



I didn't seek any post. Thr good work we have done in Bihar has to be publicized across the country. I will travel to different states. The BJP doesn't allow us to highlight our achievements, Kumar said in the meeting.



Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, who was serving as the JD(U) chief since 2021, stepped down and proposed the CM's name for the top party post. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar speaks to the media on becoming the new national president of Janata Dal (United), in New Delhi on Friday. Former JD(U) President Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh is also seen. (ANI)

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi rejected rumours of a tiff between the two leaders. Our party remains united, there are no differences between Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh, he said.



Four proposals were passed including political caste based census at the national level. In January, Nitish Kumar will start campaign starting from Jharkhand. He authorised to negotiate with allies for seat sharing agreement, Tyagi said. JD(U) is a part of the opposition INDIA bloc.



Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary earlier said,""There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the post of party president to him and Nitish Kumar accepted it."



It is not the first time when Nitish Kumar has taken over as the president of the party. In 2016, he had become party president after replacing Sharad Yadav. A year later, Kumar broke ruling alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and joined hands with the BJP.



Last year, Nitish Kumar ended his five-year-long association with the BJP again and reunited with the RJD.



(With bureau inputs)
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar took over the reins of the Janata Dal (United) on Friday, months ahead of the general elections, and the party announced that he will lead seat-sharing talks with the 28-party INDIA bloc and campaign across the country beginning January. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar along with outgoing JDU chief Lalan Singh in New Delhi on Friday. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

Read here: Nitish Kumar, now JD(U) president, reveals 2024 Lok Sabha polls action plan

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Kumar was named the party chief at meeting of top leaders after member of Parliament Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, quit the post, ending days of speculation about the latters growing proximity to ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kumars name was later endorsed by the partys national council.

I have accepted the responsibility and we will work together, said Kumar in a brief media interaction.

Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said the party cleared four proposals  the demand for a national caste census, authorising Kumar to negotiate with allies in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), starting his countrywide campaign with Jharkhand from January, and to give Kumar full powers for organisational revamp.

Nitish Kumar is the convener and prime minister of ideas of the INDIA alliance, Tyagi said, adding that the CM remained undecided on whether he will contest the Lok Sabha polls. It was a curious choice of words at a time when there have been reports that Nitish was upset after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharges name was proposed as the groups PM face in their meeting earlier this month. Nitish later denied that he was unhappy.

The change of guard comes just months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled next summer and at a time when the 28-party INDIA bloc is looking to speed up seat-sharing talks. Kumars JD(U), which won 16 seats in the 2019 elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, will face a tough battle amid speculation of a rift in the party that has aligned with its foe-turned-friend-turned-foe-turned-friend RJD.

Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2019 elections, the BJP-JD(U) alliance swept the state, winning 39 of them. But the JD(U) broke away from the National Democratic Alliance in August 2022, joining hands with the RJD and Congress alliance.

Kumar will have to manage negotiations in the INDIA bloc while simultaneously ensuring that his party, which slumped to its worst showing in 15 years in the 2020 assembly elections, retains its Lok Sabha tally. Experts said Kumars elevation as party chief was aimed at consolidating his position in the party, end factionalism and send a signal to dissidents that he remained in charge.

The BJP is not an enemy. In politics, no one is an enemy, Tyagi said.

He said that Kumar would undertake a Jan Jagran Yatra from Jharkhand in January and the political resolution lauded his role in bringing together opposition parties and spearheading the demand for a caste survey.

Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh and Sitamarhi MP Sunil Kumar Pintu were conspicuous by their absence. Fourteen MPs were present.

Lalan Singh announced the move to quit the party post in his presidential speech at the start of the national executive meeting. This is Kumars third stint as party chief. He took over as the party chief from Sharad Yadav in 2016 before relinquishing the post in 2020, when former Union minister RCP Singh, who quit the party last year, became the party president.

JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha said the national executive requested Kumar to take over the leadership in the larger interest of the party and nation. He added the request was unanimous.

Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Chowdhary said Singh cited his candidature in the 2024 national polls and asked to be relieved from the post. There was no bitterness between the two, said Chowdhary.

Singh stepped down after speculation that Kumar was unhappy with him for not coordinating effectively with the INDIA bloc for a bigger role for the CM at the national level. There were also reports that Singh was growing close to deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav.

Our agenda in the meetings has been to strengthen the party and the INDIA alliance. With the 2024 elections coming up, we have to move with a lot of force and Nitish Kumar in the meeting has decided that we will go to every state to strengthen this alliance, said Bihar cabinet minister Jama Khan.

If he (Kumar) has become the president of his party, then it is the decision of their party. He has been the president of JD(U) earlier as well. He is a senior leader of his party, so it is a good thing if he has become the President of JD(U), said deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

Read here: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is new JD(U) chief after Lalan Singh steps down

Nitish Kumar is a private limited party... There are no discussions going on (regarding Kumar joining NDA). This is the internal matter of the JD(U) and BJP has nothing to do with it, said BJP Bihar president Samrat Chowdhary.

This is definitely going to put to rest the speculations doing the round about the merger of JD (U) with the RJD. Secondly, Nitish Kumar is known as a hard seat bargainer and now the JD (U)s seat sharing bargaining power will increase, said DM Diwakar, former director of AN Sinha institute for Social Studies.
NEW DELHI: India said on Friday it has no information regarding reports that Canadian authorities are close to arresting two men believed to be responsible for killing Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an incident that has taken relations between the two countries to an all-time low. India designated Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020 (Combined Photo)

Canadas The Globe and Mail newspaper cited anonymous sources to report that the two suspected killers of Nijjar had not left Canada following the assassination in the town of Surrey in June and have been under police surveillance for months. The suspects are expected to be apprehended in a matter of weeks, the report said.

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We certainly do not have any information on that, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a regular news briefing when he was asked about the media report.

Also Read: Slain pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjars journey from a plumber to designated terrorist

Ties between India and Canada cratered after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament in September that there was a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Nijjar outside a gurdwara on June 18. The Indian side, which had already designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020, dismissed Trudeaus accusation as absurd.

The Globe and Mail report further said Canadian police would unveil details about the alleged involvement of the killers and their connection to the Indian government when formal charges are filed.

India has insisted that it has not formally received any evidence from the Canadian side to back up the allegations about the killing of Nijjar, and that the core issue continues to be the space given to separatists, terrorists and anti-India elements to operate in Canada.

Bagchi added, What I can tell you is that we have made our position very clear on where we stand on the issue and I do not have anything further on that.

Responding a question on reports of shots being fired at the home of the president of the Swami Narayan temple in Canada, Bagchi declined to comment on the details. Our understanding of that incident in British Columbia is that it was at a private residence related to somebody who is a member of the temple managing committee, he said.

I understand that investigations are underway in that case. I dont think its appropriate to comment at this stage on the motivations or details behind it until such time the investigation is completed.
New Delhi: The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Friday signed a peace accord with the Central government and the Assam government in the presence of union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. With this Memorandum of Settlement, the ULFA faction has formally agreed to shun violence and join the mainstream. Union home minister Amit Shah signing the agreement.

The Central government had been holding unconditional negotiations with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction for over 12 years.

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The peace pact has brought the decades old insurgency a step closer to a complete closure.

The hardline faction of the ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah is still not part of the peace accord.

Baruah reportedly lives along the China-Myanmar border. ULFA was formed in 1979 to press for the demand for a "sovereign Assam. It was banned by the government of India in 1990 for taking part in subversive and violatent activities.

The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, after an agreement for Suspension of Operations was signed between it and central and state governments, PTI reported.

Union minister Amit Shah said it was a matter of joy for him that the agreement was signed.

"It is a matter of joy for me that today is a bright day for the future of Assam. For a long time, Assam, Northeast faced violence and after PM Modi became PM in 2014, efforts were made to reduce the gap between Delhi and Northeast," he said, per ANI.

Sarma said today was a historic day for Assam.

"During PM Modi's tenure, under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, work for Assam's peace was always underway...three accords have been signed and with three accords tribal militancy has come to an end in Assam," he added.
The inauguration of Ayodhya's Ram Temple on January 22 and then the event of BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi will set the stage for the 2024 election, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said predicting that the election dates will be called very soon thereafter. The message is clear for 2024 that Narendra Modi is a Hindu Hriday Samrat, Tharoor said asking what happened to achhe din. The Ram Temple inauguration on January 22 has already become a political flashpoint with the opposition being a divided house over whether to attend the event or not. PM Modi has accepted an invitation to inaugurate BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi -- which will be the largest Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates. Shashi Tharoor earlier said he would like to visit Ram Temple but not on the inauguration day and not before election either.(ANI)

"In 2019, with that narrative collapsing in the wake of the disastrous demonetisation, the Pulwama terrorist attack gave Mr Modi the opportunity to convert the general election into a national security election. In 2024, it is clear the BJP will now revert to its core message and offer Narendra Modi to the nation as a Hindu Hriday Samrat," Tharoor said.

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The 2024 election is shaping up to be Hindutva versus popular welfare, the Congress MP said. "All of this begs the question: what happened to achhe din? What happened to 2 crore jobs a year? What happened to economic growth that would benefit the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder? What happened to putting disposable income into the pockets and bank accounts of every Indian?" Tharoor said.

Ram Temple invite: Congress not sure whether to attend

The Trust of the temple said it has invited many celebrities to the grand event. All chiefs of all national political parties have been invited to the event. The invitation found the Congress in a fix as the party has not clarified its stand while many INDIA ally leaders are keen to attend the event. Union minister and BJP leader V Muraleedharan slammed the Congress's unsure stand on the issue and said in Kerala Congress leaders want the leadership to not attend the event. "This shows that this approach is just for the majority community, the Hindu community. Congress has no issue when it comes to participating in iftar or conducting a rally in favour of Palestine. We also have seen Congress leaders pretending to be Hindu devotees and do campaigns in elections, but when it comes to participating in Pran Pratishtha of the temple, they have doubts," Muraleedharan said.

Congress-ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said he will attend the Ram Mandir event if he is invited.

Indian Overseas Congress president Sam Pitroda said Ram Mandir inauguration becoming a national issue bothers him. Shashi Tharoor too echoed a similar opinion and said religion is a personal issue and he would also like to visit the Ram Temple but not on the day of the inauguration of before the 2024 election when his visit can be translated politically. Tharoor also clarified earlier that he has not received any invitation.
Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 29 (ANI): Officials of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) rescued a 45-year-old man trapped in a 35-foot-deep well in Tangmarg village here on Thursday. HT Image

As per officials, the man was trapped in the well for over nine hours.

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"A rescue operation was carried out by the SDRF team to save a 45-year-old man who was trapped for 9 hours in a 35-foot-deep well in north Kashmir's Tangmarg village in Baramulla district," SDRF officials said.

Earlier in June this year, seven labourers trapped in the flooded Ujh river in Kathua district were rescued by the SDRF team.

The labourers were stranded in the Ujh River, flooded after heavy rainfall lashed hilly areas, an SDRF official had said.

The labourers, who went fishing in the river, were stranded before being rescued with the assistance of locals, he added. (ANI)
In a significant development, space technology startups Dhruva Space, Bellatrix Aerospace, and TM2Space are poised to launch their payloads on the upcoming Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - C58 XPoSat Mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 1, 2024. This will be ISRO's first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite mission. (PTI/Representational)

The payloads will be accommodated on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-3) during the launch scheduled at 9.10am from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

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This will be ISRO's first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite mission. Over its five-year lifespan, India's XPoSat mission will assess the orientation of vibrations in light waves, providing insights into the radiation mechanisms and geometry of celestial sources.

Dhruva Space, headquartered in Hyderabad, will showcase its LEAPTD (Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Technologies Technology Demonstrator), demonstrating microsatellite subsystems, Moneycontrol reported.

Whereas, Bellatrix Aerospace, based in Bengaluru, plans to launch two payloads, including the Rudra 0.3 HPGP green monopropellant thruster and ARKA 200, another thruster variant. Satellite propulsion systems, commonly known as thrusters, serve as the engines responsible for maintaining satellites in orbit throughout their operational lifespan, typically between 10 and 15 years.

In April 2023, Bellatrix and Dhruva Space jointly utilised space in the POEM module of PSLV-C55 to launch their individual payloads.

However, TakeMe2Space also known as TM2Space, from Bengaluru, will deploy the Radiation Shielding Experiments Module, aiming to assess the effectiveness of tantalum coating. According to a statement from TM2Space, the radiation shielding coating is asserted to enhance the longevity of CubeSats, a category of nanosatellites, the Moneycontrol report said.

Early this month, Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said that the Space startups in India attracted over 1,000 crores worth of private investment since April 2023.

Indias space economy today stands at a modest 8 billion USD, but our own projection is that by 2040 it will multiply manifold. But more interestingly, according to some international observers, for example the recent ADL (Arthur D Little) Report, India has the potential of reaching a 100 billion USD space economy by 2040, he said.

The minister added that ISRO successfully launched over 430 foreign satellites, generating revenue exceeding 290 million euros from European satellites and over 170 million USD from American satellite launches.
Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, M K Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan came together in Chennai on Thursday to mark the centenary years of the 1924 Vaikom protests. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the centenary ceremony of 'Vaikom Satyagraha', at Periyar Thidal in Chennai on Thursday. (PTI)

Vaikkom Satyagraha is a peoples movement that is unparalleled in Indian history, Vijayan said here. I do not think that there has been such a struggle anywhere else against social evils, under the leadership of both reform movements and political movements.

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On March 30, 1924, the renaissance movement started from Vaikom, a nondescript village in Kerala, to abolish the practice of untouchability which restricted people from lower castes to access streets close to the Mahadeva Temple. On that day, three participants of the satyagraha proceeded towards the roads near the temple after bathing. They were Kunjappia Pulaya (SC), Bahuleyanan Ezhava (OBC) and Govinda Panikar a Nair and they were arrested.

It was unique that even upper castes men and those from other religions supported the cause against caste-based discrimination and against restrictions imposed by the upper castes, particularly Namboodiri Brahmins, on the access of roads to the temple. Discriminatory boards, called theendal palaka, were set up at the entry of specific roads declaring that the untouchables could not proceed beyond that point.

In the beginning, the movement lacked popular support but it gained momentum after the participation of several leaders from other states. From Tamil Nadu leaders including then state Congress chief E V Ramasamy revered as Periyar and the father of the Dravidian movement, and C Rajagopalachari, Srinivasa Iyenkar, Aiyyamuthu Gounder particpated. With scant regard for his failing health, he (Periyar) took part in the struggle, and was imprisoned twice, Vijayan added. This earned him name Vaikom Veerar meaning hero if Vaikom.

Mahatma Gandhi too had visited the village in Kottayam district in March 1925. When Gandhiji visited Vaikkom, he was denied entry into the indamthuruthi mana which had administrative control over the temple, as he was an avarnna. When he requested that the public roads surrounding the temple should be open to all, the authorities of the mana, the savarnnas, declined to do so, Vijayan recalled on Thursday. Today, that mana functions as the office of a workers organisation who are considered as avarnna in those days. This is a telling example of how history ultimately goes ahead, moves forward, in a progressive direction.

The struggle was also led by several women. On Jan 20, 1924, a committee was formed by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for the eradication of untouchability movement. The message of satyagraha was spread in a non-religious manner and sympathisers from other states visited to show their support. The most significant of these was a delegation of 12 people from Punjab, led by Akali Dal leaders Lala Lal Singh and Kripa Singh. They established a langar free food hall for the satyagrahis, professor V Karthikeyan Nair wrote in a booklet for the Kerala governments PRD department.

Their movement succeeded in 1925. On November 23, 1925, the satyagraha came to an end after 603 days with the then government dismantling the boards and all roads leading to the temple were opened to everyone.

To mark the centenary, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has planned year-long celebrations, including taking Periyars works and ideals to the younger generation. Though a massive event had been planned, it was sized down due to the death of former leader of opposition Vijayakanth in Chennai on Thursday morning. Earlier, in April, Stalin shared stage with Vijayan in Kerala for Vaikom protests centenary year.
Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) [India], December 29 (ANI): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National General Secretary Nara Lokesh emphasised the pivotal role of his party in securing rights of the Backward Classes (BCs) and asserted that the TDP has consistently stood by the BC community throughout its history while addressing the media in Andhra Pradesh's Managalagiri on the eve of Jayahoo BC. HT Image

Lokesh said that during the tenure of NTR, the TDP government played a crucial role in bringing BC communities into the political fold, implementing a significant milestone by allocating 24 per cent reservation for them.

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Subsequently, under the leadership of Chandra Babu Naidu, this commitment to empowerment was further strengthened, witnessing a transformation with an increased reservation of 34 per cent, Lokesh said.

Nara Lokesh highlighted that these achievements are indicative of TDP's unwavering dedication to the upliftment of BCs and reiterated the party's commitment to inclusive policies that benefit all sections of society.

"Even dalits are being attacked by this government. Words are different from action. The ruling party is alleging that they are supporting BC but in reality, they are cheating them. Foreign education scheme was to stopped for the BC," Lokesh said.

"Once in power, we plan to remove 217 Government Orders affecting fishermen. It's a clear part of our plan, and we're committed to making it happen. Additionally, we've supported and encouraged 54 communities," the party General Secretary added.

The TDP is known as the birthplace of BCs, and has always been a financial and political supporter of BCs since the beginning of the party, he said.

During the TDP regime from 2014 to 2019, several social welfare schemes were introduced for BCs, including access to quality schools, Videsi Vidya, Pelli Kanuka, and PG fee reimbursement, he shared.

In an attack at the Jagan Mohan Reddy government, Lokesh said, "The YSRCP government has eliminated 27 Dalit welfare schemes. There's been a lack of community development efforts during this administration. On my end, I've actively shared selfies and posts showcasing these initiatives."

Lokesh claimed that after the YSRCP came into power in 2019, many members of the Backward Classes (BCs) have reported being mistreated and persecuted. Some BC individuals have been killed and their voices have been suppressed, he added.

In addition, the YSRCP government has reduced the BC reservations in local body elections from 10 per cent to a lower percentage, Lokesh alleged adding that as a consequence, around 16,000 people from the BC community have lost the opportunity to contest in the elections.

"The YSRCP government has failed to provide irrigation water to farmers and subsidize loans to BCs, as well as assure the fisherman community. During my Yuvagalam Padayatra, I received many request letters from them. We have approached the Telangana High Court regarding the YSRCP Vyooham Movie, and the court has issued a stay on the movie until January 11, 2024," he added.

Speaking about the 'Jayaho BC' initiative Lokesh said, "From January 4, the TDP party has planned a two-month program called 'Jayaho BC' to create awareness among the Backward Classes (BCs) about the injustices done to them during the YSRCP regime."

The first phase of the program includes visits to Parliament, assembly constituencies, and mandals to understand the difficulties faced by the BCs, he said.

A massive public meeting will be held at the state level, followed by the release of a special manifesto for the BCs, Lokesh said adding that the objective of the program is to raise awareness and support for the BCs and address their concerns. (ANI)
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal of the Union home ministry to appoint four senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the paramilitary forces, according to two separate notifications issued in this regard. HT Image

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) chief Anish Dayal Singh, who was given the additional charge of CRPF on December 1, was appointed as a full time DG of the paramilitary force.

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With a strength of 300,000, the CRPF is the largest paramilitary force in the country that oversees the internal security.

Appointment of Anish Dayal Singh, presently working as DG ITBP to the post of Director General, Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) from the date of joining the post and up to December 31, 2024 (ie the date of his superannuation or till further orders, which is earlier, the order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet said.

The central government also appointed Nina Singh, a 1989 batch IPS officer, as DG of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Singh, who has served as the joint director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as before, was appointed acting DG after CISFs former chief Sheel Vardhan Singh superannuated in August. She will be CISFs first woman DG.

Rahul Rasgotra, at present a special director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB), will be the new ITBP chief. Vivek Srivastava, also a special director in IB, will be DG of Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards, respectively.
A war of words erupted between opposition INDIA bloc members Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress on Friday over seat sharing arrangement for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.



Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's remark asking Congress to start seat negotiations from zero drew sharp reaction from the grand old party.



...This is Maharashtra and Shiv Sena is the biggest party here. Congress is a national party... Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Raut was quoted as saying by ANI.



We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and during our (INDIA alliance) meeting, we decided that discussions will be done later on the seats that we have won. Congress did not win a seat in Maharashtra so they have to start from zero (seats) but Congress is an important ally for us in MVA, he added.



Congress leader Milind Deora hit out at Raut over the latter's remark. According to Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena is the biggest party in the MVA despite losing 40 MLAs. He is suggesting Congress to start seat negotiations from zero. He is talking about the party which is the biggest opposition party in the Maharashtra assembly and is leading the opposition, Deora posted on X. Sanjay Raut and Milind Deora

I want to tell Shri Sanjay Raut that any alliance cannot proceed without consultation with local leadership. This view is endorsed by AICC too, he added.

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Hitting back at Raut, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said the Shiv Sena (UBT) cannot win a seat on its own. They dont even have a guarantee as to whether the remaining MPs will stay with them, Nirupam added, pointing to more than a dozen Sena MPs defecting to the Eknath Shinde faction.



The undivided Shiv Sena had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), winning 18 seats. However, it broke ties with the BJP later that year after the assembly elections and formed the government with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.

Last year, the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance government comprising these three parties collapsed after Eknath Shinde caused a vertical split in Shiv Sena to form a coalition government wih the BJP.
With Israels war against Hamas in Gaza showing no signs of abating and Iranian proxies targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, the situation on the high seas off West Asia remains on razors edge, officials monitoring the developments said on Thursday. The Indian Navy is proactively committed to securing the sea lanes of communication in the Arabian Sea(ANI)

Given the threat to sea lanes of communication in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has now deployed five top front-line guided missile destroyers to monitor the situation from the Red Sea to the Indian western coast. While the Brahmos land attack missile carrying INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai and INS Visakhapatnam have been deployed, the Indian Navy has also been carrying out surveillance using Boeing P8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and an unarmed version of the Predator drone with a focus on vessels that could be used by Iranian proxies to target commercial ships. The Indian Coast Guard, on its part, is using Dornier surveillance aircraft and off-shore patrol vessels to maintain deterrence in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on the western coast.

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While US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford along with its strike force is operating from the Mediterranean Sea, its other aircraft carrier Dwight Eisenhower is off the Gulf of Aden to deter the Houthi ballistic missile and drone challenge to commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Even though US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian has been able to knock down Houthi missiles in the skies, countries such as Spain, Italy, France and Japan are operating under their command with Chinese warships off the coast of Djibouti maintaining distance from the entire fallout of Israels war on Gaza. The Chinese have three warships deployed off Djibouti but they have tried to stay away from potential conflict points. However, the Indian Navy is proactively committed to securing the sea lanes of communication in the Arabian Sea, having deployed INS Kolkata near the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint on the mouth of the Red Sea, INS Kochi in the south of Yemens Socotra Island, INS Mormugao in the western Arabian Sea and INS Chennai in the central Arabian sea. 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 drone hit on MC Chemo Pluto led to Indian vigil being widened and apart from deterring the Iranian proxies from attacking commercial shipping, the Indian Navy is also taking action against black shipping and protecting the commercial vessels from Somali pirates near the Socotra Islands. MV Chem Pluto is currently undergoing repairs in Mumbai.

The five top-of-the-line destroyers are currently being fuelled by MV Swarnmala, a 25,000-tonne oil tanker, which has been hired by the Indian Navy. The civilian tanker has a massive fuel and lubricant capacity as compared to Indian Navys tankers such as the INS Deepak. While Indian ships -- deployed across the extended EEZ up to 200 nautical miles off the coastline -- are dominating the Arabian Sea, its Boeing P8I multi-mission aircraft along with long-endurance unarmed Predator drones are constantly surveying vessels in the sea up to the Gulf of Aden to identify suspicious ships and dhows used for targeting commercial shipping by the Shia Houthis in Yemen, Shia Kaitab Hezbollah in Iraq and by Tehran. The Iranian proxies, particularly the Shia Houthi militia, are targeting vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea against Israels war against the Sunni Hamas group in Gaza. The Iran-backed Shia Hezbollah group has also opened a front with Israel on its northern border. With the US Navy being able to foil missile attacks of Houthis, Maersk mega-shipping company is planning to resume operations through the Red Sea rather than take a roundabout route via the Cape of Good Hope. Nearly one trillion dollars worth of oil and goods trade passes through the Suez Canal annually and any threat to shipping leads to an increase in cost of goods transportation and rise in insurance premiums for commercial shipping.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was in Ayodhya on Friday to inspect administration's preparedness in the city ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on December 30. Adityanath inspected the ground from where PM Modi will address a rally during his visit. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath takes a selfie after inspecting the ground where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding a rally on December 30, in Ayodhya on Friday. (ANI)

During his inspection, Adityanath was recorded clicking a selfie near the sculpture of a giant veena. He later visited the Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya and offered prayers. A video of the moment went viral on social media.

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ALSO READ| Aarti at Ram Temple in Ayodhya: Here's how to book entry passes

In the wake of PM Modi's visit on Saturday, massive security arrangements including the deployment of Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and National Security Guards (NSG), are in place in the city. During his visit, Modi will also hold a roadshow.

"Three DIG, 17 SP, 38 Additional SP, 82 Deputy SP, 90 Inspector, 325 Sub Inspector, 35 Female Sub Inspector, 2000 Constable, 14 Company PAC, 6 Company CRPF will be deployed as part of the security," said Piyush Mordia, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone.

Development projects to be inaugurated during Modi's visit

Meanwhile, PM Modi will inaugurate various projects worth 15,000 crore during his visit to Ayodhya on Saturday. He will the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya Airport in a significiant boost to connectivity in the religious city. Notably, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be consecrated on January 22 and these infrastructure developments in the city is expected to faciliate the arrival of millions of devotees in times to come.

In a bid to woo tourists to visit Ayodhya, PM Modi will initiate the development of various Ghats along the Sarayu river. The pilgrim path from Ram Ki Paidi to Raj Ghat and Raj Ghat to Ram Temple, will also be renovated with the efforts of the Prime Minister.
Travel in India is changing and reflects several trends, such as the rise in eco-tourism, the combination of digital nomads' travel and work from remote locations and travelling to off-beat places and for travellers seeking unique experiences, solo travel is becoming more and more popular as a means of self-healing. The emphasis on social connections, sustainability, artistic freedom, self-expression and the restorative qualities of nature in these trends reflects a significant shift in the preferences of travellers. Year ender: 2023 solo and community travel trends set to inspire fresh wave of adventures in New Year 2024 (Photo by Fabio Comparelli on Unsplash)

Emerging Trend Perspective:

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Aditya Sharma, Community Director at Vaatalya, shared, The travel-tourism industry has witnessed a major trend of solo and community traveling. Solo travel has seen a significant surge in popularity in recent years, as more people seek independence and self-discovery. It offers individuals a chance to explore new destinations on their terms, providing opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection. Whilst community travel focuses on sharing experiences and creating memories with friends, families or like-minded travelers. It promotes communal living, teamwork, and cross-cultural interactions, giving visitors a chance to connect deeply and make enduring experiences with one another. Both aspires for personal growth and meaningful cultural and environmental immersion.

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Saumitra Singh, Managing Director at The Tigress Resort and Spa in Ranthambore, asserted, Solo and community travel has emerged as a powerful force, bringing people together globally. This phenomenon goes beyond connecting with locals in a destination and fosters connections among fellow travellers. Such experiences create a conducive environment for mutual learning and self-discovery. Embarking on a journey with like-minded enthusiasts and engaging in small group sessions led by culinary innovators and trendsetters offers a delightful, social, and transformative approach to experiencing travel.

Impact on the Travel Industry in 2024:

Aditya Sharma revealed, This trend is set to reshape the travel industry by influencing accommodation preferences, tour packages and travel services. This trend will compel travel companies to design experiences that are in line with the pursuit of self-discovery, sustainable practices, and community-driven connections. Tour operators and Community retreats are curating specialised experiences, such as solo travel packages with safety and flexibility in mind for both men and women. Additionally for group trips, they emphasise on shared activities, workshops, sessions or volunteer programs.

Talking about the role of AI in travel, he said, AI has empowered individuals to create their own travel itineraries, find locations, and maps. It plays a crucial role in shaping the travel industry by providing real-time assistance, personalized recommendations, flight forecasting, and other advancements. It's essential for companies to incorporate AI in their platforms for quicker customer service and enhanced travel experiences.

Saumitra Singh pointed out, Modern travellers, solo or in groups, are shifting away from the traditional multi-country and multi-region itineraries, favouring week-long stays in a single city or extended periods in a region to immerse themselves in profound local experiences. In this era of slow travel, where the focus is on delving deep into local culture and cuisine, consumers are explicitly expressing that the value of their journeys lies in the quality and uniqueness of the experiences they encounter. The emphasis has shifted from the quantity of cities and countries covered in an itinerary. As part of this evolving trend, there's a notable surge in the demand for regions and cities that deviate from the usual tourist hotspots.

Statistics Supporting the Trend:

Aditya Sharma highlighted, "Searches for solo travel rose by more than 200% from April 2020 to April 2023, according to Google trend data. Solo travel accounts for 11% of the tourism market. India witnessed an enormous rise of around 133% in bookings done by solo travelers in December 2018 when compared with the same time in 2017. Solo travel accounts for 11% of the tourism market. 131% increase in searches for "solo travel" on Google from 2016 to 2019 In comparison to the same period last year, solo travel in India has almost doubled, according to Airbnb's Travel Outlook for 2023. However, family travel has also done so. There has been an increase of 110% in the past year."

Saumitra Singh concluded, According to Hilton's 2024 Trends Report, there is a notable shift in the profile of the contemporary traveller. The report highlights a growing trend where 85% of travellers prioritise experiences, 81% express a keen interest in exploring the unknown, 64% are excited about trying local cuisine, and 48% are eager to learn about local customs and traditions during their holidays. Furthermore, 25% of travellers actively seek out locally-sourced food to immerse themselves in local traditions while away.
As year-end looms, a transient lull in Indias endemic election fever may permit the media a respite to focus on other matters of serious national concern. The voting citizen, given his or her preoccupation with pressing issues such as jobs, prices, health and social harmony, may not see national security, for example, as a priority issue. But she should, because paying cursory attention to security threats  internal as well as external  will only aggravate them, and divert the nations attention and scarce resources away from development and social welfare. Former Army chief, General MM Naravane, in his forthcoming memoir, highlights this with his recall of a serious security issue warranting a cabinet decision being handed to him as a hot potato in 2020.

Around us, we see a rapidly fragmenting landscape where schisms are breeding mutual hostility. If the Russia-Ukraine war served to widen the East-West divide, the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza has angered the Global South, which sees the West as guilty of hypocrisy, double standards and abetting genocide. As the world helplessly watches these brutal and sanguinary conflicts rage, the organs of the UN seem to have been rendered impotent and irrelevant.

This is, perhaps, the state of international anarchy that aspiring hegemon China has been waiting so that it can use its economic strength and coercive military power to restore order and stability. After all, Chinas President Xi Jinpings cherished China Dream does envisage the establishment of a new world order, governed by the concept of tianxia(all under heaven), in which China will dominate by virtue of its acknowledged superiority.

Manifestations of tianxia are obvious in Chinas outrageous claims under the nine-dash line in the South China Sea, and repudiation of the 1914 McMahon line on the India-China border. As far as India is concerned, burgeoning trade apart, in every other aspect of the bilateral relationship, China has displayed open and deep-rooted hostility.

What started off as a stand-off between Chinese and Indian militaries along the Line of Actual Control three years ago has become a permanent posture. After 22 meetings of the special representatives and 20 military commanders, it is clear that a revanchist China is neither going to de-escalate nor restore the territorial status quo ante (whatever that means). For India, to downplay the ever-present dangers inherent in living with such a hostile neighbour would be imprudent.

The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are as different as they can be, but both battlefields are seeing old paradigms being discarded and the deployment of new concepts, technologies and innovations. One hopes that our armed forces, even as they struggle with a radical new recruitment system while extracting military wisdom from ancient Indian texts, and exorcising the ghosts of a colonial legacy, will also devote adequate attention to the lessons of the current wars.

The East European conflict holds special interest for India because the military hardware deployed in combat by Russia and Ukraine also serves our forces. But what should provoke serious introspection in the Global South are the conclusions drawn by a Swedish think tank from a study of the Russia-Ukraine war. Pointing out the obvious fact that none of the immediate goals of its special operation on February 24, 2022, were achieved by Russia, it infers that this spectacular failure, apart from other reasons, is attributable to the absence of a joint command structure and a concept of joint operations in Russia.

The war commenced with Russian commanders conducting operations independently. It was only eight months later that a joint HQ was created and General Sergey Surovikin was given command of integrated forces, a hitherto unknown body. After three months, Surovikin was replaced by General Gerasimov (till then chief of general staff), who was subsequently re-assigned to organise closer coordination between military branches and services; a goal that should have been achieved long before the war. One of the main reasons for Russias military failure, the study says, is the desire to preserve the archaic military culture at any cost.

Back home, the process of defence reform and initiating jointness appears to have stalled. In the four years since the institution of a Chief of Defence Staff (and 22 years since LK Advanis group of ministers recommended urgent defence reforms), little substantive change has taken place in Indias outdated higher defence organisation.

Any conflict with China will require forces/resources to be withdrawn from across Indias 14 Army, Navy and Air Force commands scattered all over the country. Facing this composite force, will be Chinas integrated western theatre command under its unitary commander. Our military learnt many bitter lessons during the 1987-90 tri-service Indian Peace-Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka, where issues related to inter-service coordination, command control, and logistics, led to many fiascos.

If the same fiascos are to be avoided, the obvious imperative is to reorganise these 14 commands into four or five theatres, on geographic or threat-based considerations, and place land/maritime/air forces, as required, under the commander, charged with the conduct of operations.

However, such has been the internal resistance to issues related to jointness and theatre commands that this reorganisation has remained stalled for over two decades. It is no longer a secret that apart from concerns about loss of turf and equitable sharing of senior posts, the main impediment to implementation of reforms has been inter-service disagreement over the employment of air power. While the IAF insists that air power is indivisible and must only be deployed under its control, the other two services want the air warriors to loosen their grip on air power assets and agree to modalities for sharing them with theatre commanders so that they can fight land and maritime campaigns successfully.

Moreover, while indivisibility of air power may have been an acceptable construct in the past, it is no longer valid because the Navy, Army and Coast Guard too deploy sizeable aviation components in service-specific roles. However, there is no overlap/conflict of roles since the IAFs 2022 doctrine lists its main objectives as defence of national air space, prosecution of offensive air operations, war prevention through deterrence, and provision of assistance in internal security.

Even as this vexed issue awaits resolution, the situation is likely to be further complicated by IAFs reported proposal that the service be re-named as Indian Air and Space Force with consequential re-allocation of charters and resources. Inter-service turf battles are not unique to India and have been fought amongst services in the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere, in the face of defence reforms. In each case, however, practical compromises invariably emerged with the forceful intervention of enlightened politicians.

Can we hope for the dawning of realisation at the political level that further procrastination could impose a heavy price in terms of national security?

Arun Prakash is a retired chief of naval staff. The views expressed are personal
Vision Pro, Apple's maiden virtual reality (VR) headset announced at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June is yet to launch, and the company is likely to release it by February next year. According to reports, Apple has, however, not stopped planning on what it wants for a second generation Vision Pro, the previously reported Vision Pro 2. Apple announced Vision Pro at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June (Image courtesy: Apple)

Vision Pro 2 to be brighter?

As per a MacRumours report, the second generation headset will feature the RGB OLEDoS display, an upgrade over the WOLED with colour filter used in the predecessor. This, in turn, will result in a significantly higher brightness in Vision Pro 2; this is because the RGB OLEDoS technology produces light and colours directly from the nearby RGB sub-pixels on a single layer, thus eliminating the need for a colour filter.

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WOLED  as well as OLEDoS displays with colour filters  on the other hand, are dependent on filtering white light through an RGB colour layer. In addition to this, the RGB OLEDoS display is markedly more efficient than WOLED.

Samsung likely supplier

In case the Tim Cook-led tech giant opts to upgrade displays on the Vision Pro successor, the iPhone maker will have to purchase the displays from Samsung, its longtime rival. This is because only Samsung is capable of supplying RGB OLEDoS, due to its acquisition of eMagin earlier this year.

Likely launch

The device is said to be under development under codename Project Alaska, with a 2026-2027 launch time frame.
Google's parent company Alphabet decided to settle a hefty lawsuit after it was alleged that the tech company is spying on the private user data of consumers while they were browsing in the 'Incognito' mode, reported Reuters. Google has been accused of spying on users through the Incognito browsing mode.(REUTERS)

A class action lawsuit was filed against Google for secretly tracking the internet use of millions of people who thought they were doing their browsing privately. However, Google said that it has reached a settlement and the lawsuit was put on hold by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in a court in California.

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While the exact terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, the class action sought that Google pay at least $5 billion, which comes up to over 41,000 crore. Google's lawyers said that have agreed to a binding term sheet through mediation, and expected to present a formal settlement for court approval by February 24, 2024.

The case against Google saw allegations of tracking the user data of people using the Incognito mode for browsing without their knowledge, through Google Analytics, cookies and apps.

Incognito mode is the "private" browsing mode set up by Google, which states that no cookies will be able to track your browsing history in this mode.

Google had access to 'private data', says lawsuit

The person who filed the class action said that Google had been accessing his private data through Incognito mode to target his likes and dislikes. Google tried to get the lawsuit dismissed but the same was rejected by the judge.

The lawsuit said that the company's actions turned Google into an "unaccountable trove of information" by letting the company learn about their friends, hobbies, favourite foods, shopping habits, and "potentially embarrassing things" they seek out online.

After listening to the arguments, Judge Rogers 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.

(With inputs from Reuters)
NASA frequently releases captivating images from the depths of space, leaving viewers in awe. This time, many people were left mesmerised after the space agency shared a picture of a nebula that resembles a colourful bow. This 'bow-shaped nebula' was captured by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and is 4,000 light-years away from Earth. Picture of 'bow-shaped nebula' posted by NASA. (Instagram/@NASA)

"Crafted from the material casted off from the dying Sun-like star as it enters its white-dwarf phase of evolution. Dense ridges of material are swept back from the nebulas central star creating the bow shape. Not just trendy, but this star is one of the hottest as well, with a surface temperature of about 200,000 kelvin. The nebula spans more than a light-year wide and is energized by ultraviolet light from the central star," wrote NASA in the caption of the post. (Also Read: NASA shares mesmerising pic of 'irregular galaxy' 7 million light-years away from Earth)

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Take a look at the post here:

This post was shared a few days ago on social media. Since being shared, it has gained more than one lakh likes, and the numbers are still increasing. The post also has numerous comments.

Check out what people said about this 'bow-shaped nebula' here:

An individual wrote, "This is so beautiful."

A second shared, "Cosmic beauty."

"OMG, this is so pretty," posted a third.

A fourth added, " Thank you for always sharing the mysterious things of the universe."

Many others replied to the post using heart emojis.
The Istanbul Police Department recently confiscated 23 luxury vehicles following a successful operation against several criminal organisations. The government has decided to repurpose the vehicles into police cars. The fleet comprises an Audi, Bentley, Mercedes, Range Rover, Porsche and more. Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of Interior of Turkey, shared a video of the seized cars and the police standing alongside them on X. Turkish Police standing with the seized luxury cars. (X/@Ali Yerlikaya)

As he shared the video, in the caption of the post, he informed, "As a result of the successful operations carried out by our Istanbul Police Department against organised crime organisations, 23 vehicles were seized. Following the court decision, these vehicles were handed over to our police."

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He further added, "From now on, these tools do not belong to criminal organisations. It will be at the disposal of our police and the service of our nation! I would like to thank each and every one of our heroic police officers who work tirelessly for the peace of our country. May our unity, solidarity and peace be eternal."

As per the Telegraph, these vehicles were seized after Hakan Ayik and 36 others were arrested on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. These siezed vehicles cost 3 million.

Watch the video shared by Ali Yerlikaya here:

This post was shared on 26 December. Since being shared, it has gained close to 3.6 million views. The share also has numerous likes and tons of comments. Many people were not happy with the Turkish government's decision to hand the vehicles to police.

Here's how people reacted to the post:

An individual wrote, "Dear Minister, our police forces and the great Turkish nation certainly deserve the best. However, the economic difficulties in our country are obvious. These vehicles could have been sold, and twice as many vehicles and income could have been brought to the public. Moreover, the fuel and the maintenance expenses of these vehicles will create a heavy burden on our state."

A second shared, "The court made the wrong decision again, and the high costs of these luxury vehicles will come out of the public's pocket. Wouldn't it be better, Mr Minister, to sell these vehicles, transfer the income to the treasury, and buy new, less costly vehicles for the police?"

A third commented, "Mr Minister, Of course, our police and security deserve much better than these. However, it is not right to evaluate some vehicles in this context. Vehicles such as Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley and Range Rover should be sold, and more vehicles needed by our police should be purchased."

"Dear Minister, unfortunately, this is a waste. One of these vehicles costs 3-4 TOGG. Not to mention maintenance costs and fuel. Wouldn't it be better if you sold them at tender and bought more of our national vehicle instead?" posted a fourth.
An American woman who was believed to be held hostage by Hamas terrorists was actually killed during the October 7 attack on Israel, it has been revealed. The 70-year-old woman with US citizenship, Judih Weinstein Haggai, was killed during an attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. She was an Israeli, American and Canadian national. This undated photo provided by Weinstein-Haggai family shows Judih Weinstein and her husband, Gad Haggai (Weinstein-Haggai family via AP)(AP)

Her husband, Gadi Haggai, 72, a dual US-Israeli national, was the first American to reportedly die in Hamas captivity. Both their bodies are possibly being held in Gaza, a spokesperson for Kibbutz Nir Oz said, according to CBS News.

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Judih was a mother of four and grandmother of seven, and reportedly had family ties to the New York area. She taught English to children with special needs.

Meanwhile, president Joe Biden said in a statement released by the White House, Jill and I are devastated to learn that American Judih Weinstein is also believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7. This tragic development cuts deep, coming on the heels of last week's news that Judih's beloved husband, Gad Haggai, is believed to have been killed by Hamas. We are holding Judih and Gad's four children, seven grandchildren, and other loved ones close to our hearts.

He added, 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."

Kathy Hochul wrote on X, Heartbroken to learn that Judith Weinstein was killed during the October 7 attack. My heart is with her family abroad and those still here in New York. May her memory be a blessing and may the many hostages still in captivity be brought home safely.

Chuck Schumer said, The news now that Judith Weinstein was killed in the October 7 attack is devastating. Im grieving and praying for them. We must keep working to bring the hostages home. We cannot wait.
China on Friday appointed Dong Jun as its new defence minister, replacing Li Shangfu who was ousted two months ago without any explanation after he went missing since August. The appointment of the new defence minister came as Chinese President Xi Jinping is upgrading the military as part of his push to make China a dominant world power, an aim that has alarmed many neighbours. China's new defence minister Dong Jun (Chinese media)

Dong, 62, was most recently the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy chief. Before this, he has served in all major divisions in the PLA including the Northern Sea Fleet, Eastern Sea Fleet, as well as the Southern Command Theatre, reported local media.

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Notably, the role of China's defence minister is to be the public face of the PLA in its engagement with the media and with other militaries, reported Reuters. However, unlike other countries, the ministry does not have a lot of say in defence policy or military management.

What happened to Li Shangfu?

In October this year, China removed Li Shangfu from his position as defence minister and state councillor without any explanation. He took up the defence minister job in March but had not been seen in public since August 25. According to reports, Li was under US sanctions related to his overseeing weapon purchases from Russia that bar him from entering the country. Since then, China cut off contact with the US military, mainly in protest over Washington's arm sales to Taiwan.

During Li's tenure as well, he did not meet his US counterpart due to the sanctions. Notably, a crucial element of China's defence minister's job is to engage with the US military to lower the risk of conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Li was the second minister to be removed abruptly since Xi began his unprecedented third term last year. In July, Qin Gang was replaced as foreign minister by his predecessor Wang Yi, after a similar unexplained withdrawal from public engagements.

(With inputs from agencies)
Freed Israeli hostage Mia Schem has described the horror she faced in Gaza after being released during the ceasefire. The 21-year-old Israeli-French tattoo artist said she went through a holocaust during the 54 days she was held captive. Mia Schem, 21, who was taken hostage during the October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, appears in this undated handout image, obtained by Reuters on November 30, 2023 (Hostages and Missing Families Forum/Handout via REUTERS)

It was important to me to relay the truth about the nature of the people who live in Gaza, who they are truly are and what I experienced there, Mia told journalist Lior Veroslavski in an interview with Channel 13.

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It was important to you that the world understands what? Lior asked. That I went through a holocaust, Mia replied. Everyone over there is a terrorist.

Mia said she was held by a civilian family in Gaza after being abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival. The family was allegedly involved with the terror group.

Suddenly I realized that Im with a family, Mia, a resident of Shoham in central Israel, said. Suddenly Im asking myself questions: Why am I in some familys home? Why are there kids here? Why is there a wife?

Days after Mia was abducted, a disturbing video that surfaced showed her pleading for help, asking to get back home. She was seen in the video being given medical care for a wound on her arm, before she pleads for help. The clip was reportedly released by the terrorists.

In the video, Mia claimed that she had a three-hour surgery in Gaza, as per a translation from Hebrew by the Jerusalem Post. They are taking care of me, giving me medicine, everything is fine. I only ask that they bring me home as soon as possible to my parents, to my siblings, she said. Get me out of here as soon as possible. Please.

Mia also shared a photo on Instagram, of a tatto saying, We will dance again, accompanied by the date 7.10.2025. "I will never forget October 7, 2023, she wrote in the caption. The pain and the fear, the difficult sights, the friends who wont come back, and those we must bring back. But we will win, we will dance!
Iman al-Masry is simply exhausted after giving birth to quadruplets in a hospital in southern Gaza, miles away from her home in the north of the war-torn Palestinian territory. Displaced Palestinians arrive at a makeshift tent camp in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.(AP)

Days into the Israel-Hamas war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, the young woman fled the family home in Beit Hanun on foot with her three other children seeking safety.

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They walked five kilometres (three miles) to the Jabalia refugee camp, looking for a means of transport that would take them to Deir al-Balah further south.

Iman was six months pregnant and "the distance was too long", she told AFP.

"It affected my pregnancy," added the 28-year-old mother, who gave birth by C-section on December 18 to daughters Tia and Lynn and sons Yasser and Mohammed.

But Iman was quickly asked to leave the hospital with the newborns -- minus Mohammed who was too fragile to go with them -- to make room for other patients of the war.

Now, with Tia, Lynn and Yasser, they live in a cramped schoolroom turned shelter in Deir al-Balah along with around 50 other members of their extended family.

"Mohammed weighs only one kilogramme (2.2 pounds). He cannot survive," she said of the child she left behind at a hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Lying on a foam mattress in a schoolroom turned shelter for her and her extended family, Iman recounts her journey from hell.

"When I left home, I had only some summer clothes for the children. I thought the war would last a week or two and that afterwards we would go back home," she said.

More than 11 weeks later, her hope of ever going back are shattered.

The Gaza Strip, home to 2.4 million people, lies in ruins from the north to the south. According to UN estimates, the fighting has displaced 1.9 million Palestinians internally.

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 followed by a ground invasion from October 27.

The campaign has killed at least 21,110 people, according to the latest toll issued by Gaza's health ministry, about two thirds of them women and children.

- 'Helpless' -

Like other mothers, Iman had hoped to follow tradition and celebrate the birth of her babies by "dousing them with rose water", she said.

But 10 days on "we have not even been able to bathe them", she said, because of the difficulty of finding clear water in the devastated territory, where there is a dire shortage of basic food stuff, including milk, medicine and hygienic supplies such as diapers.

"Normally I would change babies' diapers every two hours. But the situation is difficult and I must be thrifty," she said, adding that the newborns get only a fresh diaper in the morning and another in the evening.

Her husband Ammar al-Masry, 33, said he is devastated because he cannot provide for his family.

"I feel helpless," he said, surrounded by his six children in the foul-smelling schoolroom.

"I fear for my children. I don't know how to protect them," he said, adding that he spends most of his days outdoors searching for food.

Tia (who has jaundice) must be breastfed and my wife needs nutritious food that contains protein. The children need milk and diapers. But I cannot get any of that.
Iran has executed four people for helping Israel's intelligence service, Mossad. Iran's Mizan news agency affiliated to the judiciary made the claims on Friday, reported news agency Reuters. Iran has executed four agents of Mossad, Israel's intelligence service. The Mizan news agency affiliated to the judiciary made the claims on Friday(REUTERS)

"Four members of a sabotage team associated with the Zionist regime, who had committed extensive actions against the country's security under the guidance of Mossad officers, were executed this morning following legal procedures," the Mizan news agency said.

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Notably, tensions between Iran and Israel are high amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East region. Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has been supporting Hamas in the ongoing war. Since the start of the war, Hezbollah militants have been targeting Israel along the border, including airstrikes and exchange of gunfire. Many Hezbollah militants and leaders have been killed in Israeli retaliation and offensive in the areas bordering Lebanon.

ALSO READ| 'They're shooting at me': Israel probe into army killing Gaza hostages reveals shocking facts

Iran is also accused of funding Yemen's Houthi militants who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea, leading to massive security concerns in the important maritime trade route. Since November 19, the Houthis have seized or attacked with drones and missiles several ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Their target is to disrupt the flow of trade along the route, with the aim to raise the international costs of Israel's offensive in Gaza. Amid the scenario, the United States is leading a new naval task force to protect trade and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

On Thursday, the United States sanctioned an individual and three currency exchange houses that it accused of helping in the flow of Iranian funds to Houthis.

"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 had said in a statement on Thursday as quoted by news agency Reuters.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday an aid convoy came under fire by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip, without causing any casualties. Israeli army fired at aid convoy returning from Gaza: UN aid agency(REUTERS/Representational image)

"Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army -- our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage," UNRWA's director in Gaza, Tom White, wrote on X.

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According to UNRWA, the incident took place on Thursday afternoon.

The Israeli military responded to requests for comment saying that it was looking into reports about the incident.

Earlier on Friday the UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, wrote a post on X describing what he called "an impossible situation for the people of Gaza, and for those trying to help them".

Griffiths said that aid convoys had been shot at, without elaborating.

"You think getting aid into Gaza is easy? Think again," he said.
Russia launched a massive air attack over Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 30 people and wounding over a hundred across the country in the fiercest assault since the first days of the war nearly two years ago. In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters work in ruins of a mall damaged in Russia's most massive missile attack in Dnipro, Ukraine(AP)

Schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades and blocks of flats were among the buildings hit in the barrage, said Ukrainian officials.

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The attacks -- which also saw a Russian missile passing through Polish airspace -- triggered international condemnation and fresh promises of military support to Ukraine, which has been fighting off invading Russian troops since late February 2022.

"Today Russia hit us with almost everything it has in its arsenal," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine's military estimated that Russia had fired 158 missiles and drones on Ukraine and 114 of them had been destroyed.

Air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat told AFP that this was a "record number" of missiles and "the most massive missile attack" of the war, excluding the early days of constant bombardment.

Russia tried to overwhelm Ukraine's air defences across most major cities, launching a wave of Shahed attack drones followed by missiles of numerous types fired from planes and from Russian-controlled territory.

Interior Minister Igor Klymenko announced on Telegram: "As of now, 30 people have been killed and more than 160 wounded as a result of Russia's massive attack on Ukrainian territory in the morning."

Russia's army said it had "carried out 50 group strikes and one massive strike" on military facilities in Ukraine over the past week, adding that "all targets were hit."

Stop this terror

Poland reported that a Russian missile passed through its airspace.

"Everything indicates that a Russian missile entered Polish airspace... It also left," said General Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the general staff of the Polish armed forces.

After speaking to Polish President Andrzej Duda, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance "stands in solidarity" with Poland, adding: "NATO remains vigilant".

In the face of sustained Russian assaults, Ukraine is urging Western allies to maintain military support.

Ukraine presidential aide Andriy Yermak said Kyiv needed "more support and strength to stop this terror."

US President Joe Biden called on Congress to overcome its division to approve new aid for Ukraine, after Washington released its final package of weaponry under existing agreements still to be renewed by Congress.

"Unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people," Biden said in a statement.

"Congress must step up and act without any further delay."

Britain announced it would send hundreds more air-defence missiles to Kyiv, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that "We must continue to stand with Ukraine -- for as long as it takes".

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described it as "yet another cowardly and indiscriminate" attack on civilians.

Maternity ward severely damaged

The strikes targeted at least six Ukrainian regions including Kharkiv in the northeast, Lviv in the west, Dnipro in the east and Odesa in the south.

In the capital Kyiv seven people were killed, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, with damage to the building of Lukyanivska metro station located near the Artyom arms factory that Russia said it targeted early in the war.

Work was still ongoing to rescue people stuck under the rubble of the warehouse in the Shevchenko district in the afternoon, according to the city administration.

AFP journalists in Kyiv earlier saw firefighters wearing oxygen masks tackling a fire a 3,000 square metres (32,300 square feet) warehouse in the northern Podil district.

Damage to civilian facilities was also reported in other parts of the country.

The northeastern city of Kharkiv faced around 20 strikes, killing three employees at a civilian enterprise and wounding 11, governor said Oleg Synegubov.

In Dnipro in southern Ukraine, the health ministry said a maternity hospital had been "severely damaged" but the staff and patients had managed to shelter in time.

Six were killed and 28 wounded said Sergiy Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region where a shopping mall, private houses and administrative buildings were hit.

Lysak said there were 12 women in labour at the maternity hospital and four newborns when it was struck.

In Zaporizhzhia, on the shores on the Dnipro river, governor Yuriy Malashko reported seven dead and 13 wounded.

In the Odesa region, which has seen renewed attacks since the summer, four people were killed.

Earlier in the day, an AFP photographer saw firefighters extinguishing a blaze in a high-rise building, smoke pouring out of a hole blown in the facade, and the air thick with dust.

Strikes over Lviv in the West of Ukraine are much more rare, but the region was not spared on Friday.

One person was killed and 15 wounded as high-rise blocks of flats and two schools were damaged, the interior ministry said.

Zelensky said he had visited the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, which has become a key battle site since Ukraine's counteroffensive failed to pierce through Russia's defensive lines.

"This is one of the most difficult areas of the front line," he wrote on Telegram, along with a video of him in front of a sign with the name of the town, giving medals to soldiers.

"I thank all those who are at the first line (of fire) for their service, for this year during which the entire country survived thanks to its soldiers," he said.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers - world's richest woman and an heir to the L'Oreal beauty empire has now joined the only men billionaire club, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Meyers' fortune's crossed 100 billion mark on Thursday after the L'Oreal S.A. stock, which hit a record high. Though her worth fell to $99.9 bn at the close of trade she know rubs shoulders with the likes of Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, world's richest woman, now worth over a $100 billion

Who is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers?

70-year-old Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and her family hold a majority stake of 35% in the luxury brand L'Oreal, a company that was founded by her grandfather in the year 1909. Ever since he died family has built the brand further and converted it into a beauty products empire now worth upwards of $240 billion.

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Bettencourt Meyers was born lucky, on Born on July 10, 1953, as she inherited tens of billions of dollars along with assets including mansions across the world when her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, died in 2017. Her mother's death brought to an end decades long family feud over inheritance and she became the sole owner of all the family assets.

Bettencourt Meyers rocky relationship with mother

Bettencourt Meyers is known to have a rocky relationship with her mother, Liliane. Her buttler's recordings went public and led to probe into President Nicolas Sarkozys 2007 election bid and influence-peddling allegations against former Labor Minister Eric Woerth.

Thereafter began a bitter court battle when Bettencourt went to court to question whether her mother was fit to handle the family money. TShe accused Liliane of stealing roughly $1.3 billion for gifts to a friend. The saga has been reenacted in Netflixs The Billionaire, The Butler, and The Boyfriend.

What does Bettencourt Meyers do?

Bettencourt Meyers is a well known author and has published works on Greek mythology and Jewish-Christian relationships. She also runs her philanthropy ventures to fund science and social development. She is the vice-chair of the board of LOreal, which has come to include subsidiaries like Maybelline, Kiehls and NYX, among other cosmetics companies. Her sons, Jean-Victor Meyers, 37, and Nicolas Meyers, 35, are also directors.

How does Bettencourt Meyers spend her money?

Described as a reclusive billionaire Bettencourt Meyers loves to play piano for hours every day. She owns million dollar mansions across the world and other real estate assets. She has an extensive collection of automobiles which include- Bentley Continental GT, Jaguar F-Type, Ferrari and Porsche 911 Cabriolet.
Recalling Jesus birth in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily said that the clash of arms even today" prevents Jesus from finding room in the world. Pope Francis (AP)

The pontiff presided Sunday over the evening Mass attended by about 6,500 faithful who took their place amid the splendor of St. Peters Basilica behind rows of white-clad prelates.

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Our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war,  the pope said, referring to the war sparked by Hamas deadly Oct. 7 rampage and hostage-taking in Israel.

As Mass began, a statuette of the Christ child was unveiled before the altar bedecked in greenery and white flowers, and children representing all corners of the globe placed flowers around a gilded throne.

Francis, draped in white robes, led the Mass standing at the foot of one of St. Peters grand columns.

Recalling that Jesus was born during a census, which in the scriptures had negative associations, Francis warned against the quest for worldly power and might, fame and glory, which measures everything in terms of success, results, numbers and figures, a world obsessed with achievement.

By contrast, Jesus entered the world humbly, taking human flesh. Here, we see not a god of wrath and chastisement, but the God of mercy, who takes flesh and enters the world in weakness, the pope said.

A pagan deity is linked to power, worldly success and idolatry of consumerism, the pope said. God, on the other hand, waves no magic want; he is no god of commerce who promises everything all at once. He does not save us by pushing a button, but draws near us, in order to change our world from within.

When the Christmas Eve Mass ended, the pope, pushed in a wheelchair, moved down the basilica with the life-sized statue of Baby Jesus on his lap and flanked by children carrying bouquets. The statue was placed in a manger in a nativity scene in the basilica.

Francis, 87, has been using a wheelchair to navigate long distances due to a painful knee ligament and a cane for shorter distances.

During the traditional Angelus blessing overlooking St. Peters Square at midday, the pontiff remembered those suffering from war, recalling specific fighting in Ukraine and Israels bombardment and siege of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas attack.

We are close to our brothers and sisters suffering from war. We think of Palestine, Israel, Ukraine. We also think of those who suffer from misery, hunger, slavery, Francis said. May the God who took a human heart for himself infuse humanity into the hearts of men, he added.

Speaking from the window of his studio to the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peters Square for the Angelus prayer, the pontiff also invited the faithful not to confuse celebration with consumerism. One can and, as a Christian, must celebrate in simplicity without waste and by sharing with those who lack necessities or lack companionship.

Traditionally, Catholics mark Christmas Eve by attending Mass at midnight. But over the years, the starting time at the Vatican has crept earlier, reflecting the health or stamina of popes and then the pandemic. The Vatican has kept a 7:30 p.m. time originally set during a pandemic curfew.

On Christmas Day, tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims were expected to crowd into St. Peters Square to hear Pope Francis deliver an address on world issues and give his blessing. The speech, known in Latin as Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world), is traditionally an occasion to review crises including war, persecution and hunger, in many parts of the globe.
Pakistan caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday declared a ban on the New Year celebration in the country as a gesture of solidarity with the people of war-torn Gaza. In an address to the nation, Kakar urged to show solidarity with the Palestinians and exhibit sobriety and humility at the New Year. Christians devotees take part in a parade along a road ahead Christmas celebrations, in Islamabad on December on December 5, 2023.(AFP)

Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year, he said.

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More than 20,000 Palestinians, majority of them women and children, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The ongoing war has already driven around 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes and with Israel expanding its ground offensive, more Gazans are expected to be displaced.

Kakar alleged that the Israeli forces have crossed all limits of violence and injustice with around 9,000 children dead since the Israeli bombardment began on October 7.

The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a sheer state of anguish over the massacre of innocent children and genocide of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

He said Pakistan had sent two aid packages to Palestine, with a third one in preparation. Kakar also highlighted Pakistan's ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people on global platforms and affirmed the country's commitment to continuing these efforts to halt the bloodshed perpetrated by Israel.

Pakistans New Year celebrations are traditionally not huge due to the influence of Islamic groups who try to stop the festivities through various methods, including the use of force.

(With inputs from agencies)
A Yeti Airlines crash in Nepal that claimed the lives of 72 people almost a year ago was caused by a combination of human error and a lack of awareness, as revealed by a government-appointed investigation panel's report on Thursday. The report suggested that the pilots mistakenly cut power leading to an aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash. Accidental pulling of the "wrong lever" caused the January plane crash in Nepal that killed all 72 on board. (AFP)

The crash occurred just before landing in the tourist city of Pokhara on January 15, marking one of Nepal's worst airplane accidents in three decades. Among the 72 individuals on board were two infants, four crew members, and 15 foreign nationals, with no survivors. Five Indian nationals were also among the crash victims.

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The most probable cause of the accident is determined to be the inadvertent movement of both condition levers to the feathered position in flight, which resulted in feathering of both propellers and subsequent loss of thrust, leading to an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain, the report submitted by a five-member Investigation Commission stated.

Dipak Prasad Bastola, an aeronautical engineer and a member of the investigating panel, explained that the pilots mistakenly placed the condition levers, controlling 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.

Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, a member of the investigating commission, told AFP that the probe had concluded that the "wrong lever" was pulled in the cockpit.

"Technically, the plane was fine but it seems wrong human input caused it to stall and crash," he said.

The investigation also highlighted the broader issue of a lack of standard operating procedures and awareness among the pilots. The aircraft, operated by privately owned Yeti Airlines, was an ATR 72, with engines manufactured in Canada by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The European Union had banned Nepali airlines from its airspace since 2013, citing safety concerns.

The Investigation Commission submitted the report to the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, after eight months and three days of investigation.

The tragic incident involving Yeti Airlines in Pokhara marked the 104th crash in Nepali skies and ranked as the third biggest in terms of casualties. Minister Kirati directed subordinate bodies to strictly implement the Probe Commission's suggestions to prevent future accidents caused by human error and operational deficiencies.
Prince William and Kate Middleton appear to have "taken lessons" from Prince Harry's memoir, a royal commentator claimed. The Duke of Sussex's memoir Spare released in January 2023 and included his experiences in the royal family before he stepped down from his role along with his wife Meghan Markle. Prince Harry talked about having a smaller bedroom than his older brother when staying at Balmoral Castle as children and also mentioned how his late great-aunt Princess Margaret, gifted the prince a pen one year for Christmas. Prince William-Kate Middleton: Britain's William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive for the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Britain.(Reuters)

Royal commentator Gareth Russell said that Prince Harry's emotions came across strongly in the book.

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It's very clear from his memoir, whether rightly or wrongly, that he felt shunted to one side and that even was with a mother as loving as Diana, he said. Speaking about the younger children in the royal family, he said that the monarchy can sometimes overlook them.

This could be a lesson for Prince William and Kate Middleton with respect to their own three children.

There can be a risk with younger children feeling overlooked. So yes, there are probably lessons taken from how Prince Harry felt, even though many of the royals do not agree with the way he expressed those feelings in the end, Gareth Russell said.

In his Netflix series with Meghan Markle, the couple opened up about their 18-month stint as working royals after their marriage. Prince Harry said at one point the palace "were happy to lie to protect my brother. They were never willing to tell the truth to protect us."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now live in the United States with their two children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.
As Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton attempt to balance work and family life, they were criticised after it was revealed that Princess Anne carried out 457 engagements this year in comparison to Prince of Wales' 172 and Princess of Wales' 123. But a royal commentator claimed that this is part of Prince William and Kate Middleton's strategy. Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales at Westminster Abbey.(Reuters)

Royal commentator Gareth Russell said, This is where you very much see that William is Diana's son", referring to Princess Diana putting her children first.

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Gareth Russell added, "This is the Diana impact on the monarchy, so I don't imagine that William and Catherine are as wounded, as maybe other royals would have been by this level of press criticism.

The danger for them is that even though this is almost certainly motivated by prioritising their home life, it has enabled their critics to paint them as lazy, the royal expert said, adding, "That reputation can take quite a bit of time to shirk off at the moment. Because of the difficulties the monarchy has had in the last few years, William and Catherine were very much expected to be the star players and to be the star attraction for positive publicity.

Even though Prince William and Kate Middleton are out in the public, people expect them to show up much more, the expert claimed as if they're not seen as often, there is a risk that they enable their critics to write the story for them.

Before Christmas celebrations, Kate Middleton and her three children visited a baby bank and released a video of the work they were doing. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are also often seen in public meeting with royal fans.
A Russian missile appears likely to have entered the airspace of NATO-member Poland on Friday, a Polish general said, after an unidentified aerial object was spotted in the early morning hours amid a heavy Russian attack on Ukraine overnight. Firefighters work in ruins of a mall damaged in Russia's most massive missile attack in Dnipro, Ukraine.(AP)

General Maciej Klisz, operational commander of the Polish armed forces, said the object most likely spent less than three minutes in Polish airspace and went back over Ukraine.

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"The entire flight path over Polish territory was being monitored," Klisz told reporters. "At the moment, the scenario that I am recommending is that the missile left Poland's airspace."

Poland summoned the Russian charge d'affaires and demanded an explanation for the violation of Poland's airspace by a missile and an immediate halt to such activities, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday evening.

Officials from the Russian embassy in Warsaw were not immediately available for comment.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 158 drones and missiles overnight, aiming for critical infrastructure, industry and military facilities, the Ukrainian military said.

In November 2022, a stray Ukrainian missile struck the Polish village of Przewodow in southern Poland, raising fears at the time of the war in Ukraine spilling over the border.

In April, a military object was found in a forest close to the village of Zamosc near the northern city of Bydgoszcz. It was later reported to be a Russian missile.

Private broadcaster TV Republika had reported on Friday that a search for the object was happening near the town of Hrubieszow in southern Poland. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm this information.

"We received information that an object appeared on the radar near Hrubieszow," Krzysztof Komorski, governor of the Lublin region, said on X. "We have no confirmation that it fell within our region."

Polish officials said emergency services, including police and volunteer army units, were scouring the area but it was unclear whether the object had landed on Polish territory. There were no reports of casualties.

General Klisz also said the missile had flown 40 kilometres (25 miles) into Poland and that no action was taken against it.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk met army and security services chiefs around midday local time (1100 GMT) to discuss the incident.
South Africa asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday for an urgent order declaring that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in its crackdown against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. Smoke rises over Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, (REUTERS)

The ICJ, sometimes known as the World Court, is the United Nations venue for resolving disputes between states. Israel's foreign ministry said in a reaction the suit was "baseless."

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South Africa's filing alleged Israel was violating its obligations under the treaty, drafted in the wake of the Holocaust, which makes it a crime to attempt to destroy a people in whole or in part.

It asked the court to issue provisional, or short-term, measures ordering Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza, which it said were "necessary in this case to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people".

No date has been set for a hearing.

While the ICJ in The Hague is considered the U.N.'s highest court, its rulings are sometimes ignored. In March 2022 the court ordered Russia to immediately halt its military campaign in Ukraine.

ISRAEL REJECTS FILING

War began on Oct. 7 when militants of the Islamist group Hamas killed 1,200 people in a cross-border attack and seized 240 hostages by Israel's count. Israel responded with an assault on Hamas-ruled Gaza, killing more than 21,000 people, Palestinian health officials say.

In a first response to South Africa's suit, Israel's foreign ministry blamed Hamas for the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by using them as human shields and stealing humanitarian aid from them, accusations Hamas denies.

"Israel has made it clear that the residents of the Gaza Strip are not the enemy, and is making every effort to limit harm to the non-involved and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip," the ministry statement said.

The court application is the latest move by South Africa, a vociferous critic of Israel's war, to ratchet up pressure after its lawmakers last month voted in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations until a ceasefire was reached in the war.

In a statement from South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the government said the application against Israel was filed on Friday.

"Israel, since 7 October 2023 in particular, has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute the direct and public incitement to genocide," DIRCO said in a statement.

South Africa has backed the Palestinian cause for statehood in Israeli-occupied territories for decades, likening the plight of Palestinians to those of the Black majority in South Africa during the repressive apartheid-era, a comparison Israel vehemently denies.
Israel on Thursday concluded its investigation into the killing of three hostages by its own troops. On December 15, three hostages, namely Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer El-Talalqa, were mistakenly shot dead by Israeli forces during their offensive in Gaza against Hamas. As per the concluded investigation, Israeli soldiers had come close to the hostages when they stormed a Gaza building just days before the killing, reported news agency AFP. Israel concluded its investigation on Thursday, into the killing of three hostages by its own troops.(AFP)

During their raid at the building, the soldiers ignored cries for "help" from the hostages as they interpreted that as a "terrorist deception attempt" by Hamas terrorists.

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The Israeli soldiers had exited the building believing it to be rigged with explosives. On December 10, they killed five Hamas terrorists trying to escape from the building.

ALSO READ| Miscreants fire at house of Surrey temple heads son in Canada

According to an Israeli military probe, the hostages also probably fled the building and on December 15, Israeli soldiers mistakenly shot them dead. Two of the hostages were shot dead instantly. The third hostage managed to escape and soldiers were told to hold fire in order to identify him. The third hostage said "help!" and "they're shooting at me", and then Israeli commanders asked him to advance towards the soldiers.

But two soldiers failed to hear the order due to noise from a nearby tank and shot the third hostage, the probe said. All three hostages were shirtless and one of them carried a white flag.

The army "failed in its mission to rescue the hostages in this event," army chief Herzi Halevi said in a statement published along with the report of the investigation. He accepted that the three fatalities "could have been prevented".

Meanwhile, 129 hostages are still held in captivity in the Gaza Strip and pressure is mounting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the safe release of the remaining hostages.

Notably, 250 hostages were abducted by Hamas terrorists when they attacked Southern Israel on a Jewish holiday on October 7. More than 100 hostages were released in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, during the brief truce between Israel and Hamas in November.
Turkish authorities have detained 29 people suspected of having ties to militant group Islamic State in operations across nine provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Friday. Authorities have ramped up operations against Islamic State and Kurdish militants in recent weeks. (AP)

Suspects captured in "Operation Heroes-37" on Friday were planning to attack churches and synagogues in Istanbul, Yerlikaya said on social media platform X.

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Authorities have ramped up operations against Islamic State and Kurdish militants in recent weeks, after Kurdish militants detonated a bomb near government buildings in Ankara on Oct. 1.
Maine's top election official has removed former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 ballot, citing the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban," CNN reported. Donald Trump disqualified from 2024 ballot by Maine(AFP)

This decision follows a similar move by the Colorado Supreme Court earlier this month, making Maine the second state to disqualify Trump from running for office.

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A bipartisan group of former state lawmakers initiated the challenge against Trump, leading to an administrative hearing earlier this month on his eligibility for office.

Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, issued the decision on Thursday, acknowledging the unprecedented nature of such an action against a presidential candidate.

"I do not reach this conclusion lightly," Bellows wrote. "Democracy is sacred ... I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection."

The decision by Bellows can be appealed in state court, and it is anticipated that Trump's legal team will contest this outcome. The issue is expected to escalate to the US Supreme Court, where many legal experts believe it will ultimately be settled for the entire country, according to CNN.

Trump, who denies any wrongdoing in connection with the events of January 6, 2021, and dismisses the legal challenges as meritless, faces a growing wave of opposition from critics seeking to enforce the constitutional provision designed to protect against anti-democratic insurrectionists.

The Maine decision follows the momentum gained by Trump's opponents after the Colorado ruling. While other states, such as Michigan and Minnesota, rejected similar efforts before Colorado, the consecutive decisions in Colorado and Maine mark a significant victory for those pushing for accountability, as reported by CNN.

Ratified after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment stipulates that American officials who "engage in" insurrection cannot hold future office. However, the provision lacks clarity on how the ban should be enforced, leaving room for legal interpretation and debate, CNN reported. (ANI)
Hours after Maine considered Donald Trump ineligible to run for US President in the state Californias secretary of state has declined to remove his name from the primary ballot. This means Trump would remain on the ballot in United States most populous state, where election officials have limited power to remove candidates. FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump attends a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. December 19, 2023. (REUTERS)

New York Times reported, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a Democrat, had indicated in recent days that she was inclined to keep Mr. Trump on the ballot based on her interpretation of California law.

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Earlier in the day, in Maine, the secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, wrote in her decision that Mr. Trump did not qualify for the ballot because of his alleged role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The state joined hands with Colorados Supreme Court that ruled in a 4 to 3 decision that the former president is ineligible.

I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection, Ms. Bellows, a Democrat, wrote.

However, both decisions are on hold while the legal process plays out. Now his fate is in the hands of the US Supreme Court.

So can Trump run for US President post?

Despite dozens of lawsuits seeking barring of his candidature for involvement in Capitol Hill attacks that aimed to overturn 2020 ballot. But Section 3 doesn't require a criminal conviction to take effect and according to the US Constitution they didn't have the authority to do so without a court order - until Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' decision.

US Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3. It's likely to do so in considering appeals of the Colorado decision - the state Republican Party has already appealed, and Trump is expected to file his own shortly. The Maine decision does force the high court's hand, though. It was already highly likely the justices would hear the Colorado case, but Maine removes any doubt.

What is Section 3 of US Constitution?

After the Civil War, the U.S. ratified the 14th Amendment to guarantee rights to former slaves with Section 3. It was designed to keep former Confederates from regaining government power after the war.

The measure reads:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Trump's arguments: let voters decide

Trump's lawyers claim, it's not clear Section 3 applies to the president - as the language used in the draft says an officer of the United States which doesn't mean the president, they contend. Even if it does apply, they claim, it is a political question best decided by voters, not unelected judges. His lawyers assert, judges are violating Trump's rights to a fair legal procedure by flatly ruling he's ineligible without some sort of fact-finding process like a lengthy criminal trial.
The U.S. military's X-37B space plane has blasted off on another secretive mission thats expected to last at least a couple of years. A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the X-37B spaceplane for the U.S. Space Force lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The spaceplane blasted off on another secretive mission thats expected to last at least a couple of years. (Craig Bailey/Florida Today via AP)(AP)

The space plane took off aboard SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at night, more than two weeks late because of technical issues. Like previous missions, the reusable plane resembling a mini space shuttle will be carrying classified experiments. It will be an unmanned mission.

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The classified mission, conducted by the U.S. Space Force under the National Security Space Launch program, will conduct tests in new orbital regimes and space domain awareness technologies.

Significance of X-37B launch

Notably, this launch marked the first time the X-37B was carried by the more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, hinting at a potential for higher orbital flights than its usual low-Earth orbit. The spacecraft is designed for long-duration orbital flights to carry various payloads and technology experiments. It's also known for its ability to autonomously land on a runway like an airplane, following its mission completion.

The duration of the X-37B's current mission hasn't been disclosed, but it's expected to follow the pattern of successively longer flights, possibly extending until June 2026 or later. The previous mission lasted over two years, setting a record for the program.

These missions represent significant advances in reusable space technologies and underline the strategic importance of space in national security and scientific research domains.

X-37B's launch coincides with China's Shenlong

Coinciding closely with the X-37B's launch was China's Shenlong space plane's third mission since 2020. The Shenlong, also a secretive project, is believed to be limited to low-Earth orbit deliveries. The concurrent timing of these missions has been noted as a reflection of the growing space rivalry between the U.S. and China, with both nations showing a keen interest in each other's spaceplane technologies.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was accused of helping her boyfriend murder her abusive mother, was released from prison on parole on Thursday, December 28. Back in 2016, Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She admitted that she asked her boyfriend to fatally stab her mom, Dee Dee Blanchard, to death in her sleep. FILE - Gypsy Rose Blanchard takes the stand during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, Nov. 15, 2018, in Springfield, Mo. (Nathan Papes/The Springfield News-Leader via AP, File)(AP)

Who is Gypsy Rose Blanchard and what was her crime?

Blanchard, a Missuouri woman, convinced her online boyfriend to kill her mom. Her story sparked national interest at the time of the incident.

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Bhanchard, now 32, was sentenced to just ten years in prison after attorneys learned how she was abused by her mother. She experienced Munchausen syndrome by proxy, in which some kind of illness is faked, induced or exaggerated in a child by their caregiver. Dee Dee successfully convinced doctors and other people around her that Blanchard battled leukaemia and muscular dystrophy among other illnesses.

Blanchard confessed that she was in the house when Nicholas Godejohn, her partner, stabbed Dee Dee to death. She admitted that she did nothing to stop the crime.

Godejohn was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2019 for the murder of Dee Dee. He confessed that he committed the crime only because Blanchard convinced him to, according to court filings, CNN reported.

Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson Karen Pojmann said said of the conditions of Blanchards release that her original 10-year sentence started in June 2015, so, barring parole violations and other extenuating circumstances, its expected that shell be on parole supervision and reporting to a parole officer until June 2025.

After Dee Dee was murdered, Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott said during a June 2015 press conference that things are not always as they appear. Ive never encountered anything that is even close to what Gypsy has gone through, Blanchards attorney Michael Stanfield says in the HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Mommy Dearest. Her mother appeared to have taken great steps to keep Gypsy in a very juvenile role, making her act several years younger than her actual age.

Blanchard has served 85 percent of her sentence. The time she spent in the Greene County Jail before the Missouri Department of Corrections contributed to the overall sentence she was handed.

I regret it every single day

Blanchard was spotted for the first time after being released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center, leaving her hotel room on Thursday, December 28, in Chillicothe, Missouri. She was seen alongside her husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, whom she married while she was still in prison. She appeared to be carrying bags of snacks and other essentials, and rolling out luggage.

Blanchard told PEOPLE shortly before her release that she regretted what she did to her mother every single day. She didn't deserve that. She was a sick woman and unfortunately I wasnt educated enough to see that, she said. She deserved to be where I am, sitting in prison doing time for criminal behavior.

"I'm ready for freedom," she said. "I'm ready to expand and I think that goes for every facet of my life."

No one will ever hear me say I'm proud of what I did or I'm glad that she's dead," she said. "I'm not proud of what I did. I regret it every single day."
China appointed former Navy chief Dong Jun as the country's new Defense Minister on Friday, four months after the last minister Li Shangfu mysteriously disappeared after being fired. China's new defence minister Dong Jun (Chinese media)

While the reasons were not specified, Dong's appointment coincides with heightened military tensions, particularly in relation to Taiwan, and amid China's efforts to bolster its military capabilities.

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The move comes as part of President Xi Jinping's broader strategy to establish China as a dominant global power.

As defence minister, Dong will play a crucial role as the public face of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), engaging with the media and other armed forces.

Dong's appointment aligns with China's ongoing military upgrades, reflecting a broader shift in geopolitical dynamics.

Who is Dong Jun?

Born in 1961, Dong has served as the deputy commander of the military's Southern Theater Command, which includes the operations in the controversial South China Sea, where China faces territorial disputes with other countries including Taiwan.

Dong was appointed the commander of the navy in August 2021 and was replaced by Hu Zhongming. As reported by AFP, 62-year-old Dong's promotion comes as a surprise.

Ahead of becoming the PLA's navy chief, Dong was appointed the post of a full general in 2021. Being the Vice Commander of the East Sea Fleet, which currently constitutes the Eastern Theatre Command, the primary force tasked with potential conflict over Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by China.

Dong's naval expertise holds significance as China has predominantly asserted territorial claims through a fleet of warships, coast guard cutters, and fishing boats, often functioning as a maritime militia in the South China Sea. China's navy has not only expanded its operations to regions like the Mediterranean Sea and South Africa but has also enhanced its capabilities by incorporating three aircraft carriers, numerous destroyers, nuclear-powered submarines, and other state-of-the-art vessels into its fleet.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday he was "very concerned" about the growing threat of infectious diseases in the Gaza Strip. Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed at least 21,320 people(PRCS via REUTERS)

"As people continue to be massively displaced across the south of Gaza, with some families forced to move multiple times and many sheltering in overcrowded health facilities, my WHO colleagues and I remain very concerned about the increasing threat of infectious diseases," Tedros said on X, formerly Twitter.

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Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas -- considered a "terrorist" group by the United States and European Union --- 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.

Around 250 hostages were also taken during the attack, more than half of whom remain captive.

Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Tedros said that since mid-October until mid-December, people living in shelters had continued to fall sick.

He said that close to 180,000 people were suffering with upper respiratory infections, while 136,400 cases of diarrhoea have been recorded -- half of those among children aged under five.

The UN health agency chief said there had been 55,400 cases of lice and scabies; 5,330 cases of chickenpox; and 42,700 cases of skin rash, including 4722 cases of impetigo.

"WHO and partners are working tirelessly to support the health authorities to increase disease surveillance and control by supplying medicines, testing kits to support prompt detection and response to infectious diseases such as hepatitis, and trying to improve access to safe water, food, hygiene and sanitation services," said Tedros.
Steps away, Kempinski Hotel Central Avenue Dubai with its 245 luxurious rooms and suites is conveniently connected to The Dubai Mall, where luxury brands from around the world are gathered under one magnificent roof alongside smart dining concepts, a mesmerising aquarium, an indoor ice-rink and a glittering gold souk. Rooms, suites and residences masterfully embody a sense of understated elegance, with pared-back design and muted tones accented with artworks, ambient lighting and touchpad technology controls. Each one boasts its own private balcony affording unmatched views of Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa or the city skyline.

Innovative dining venues offer an irresistible selection of culinary styles, from modern Middle Eastern cuisine, afternoon tea to home-style international dining.

A place of tranquillity, self-discovery and renewal, the award-winning spa has an equally tantalising selection of signature rituals and treatments designed to enhance wellbeing. Expert therapists can create customised journeys based on specific needs and preferences, delivered in the sumptuous surroundings of luxurious treatment rooms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, airline employees experienced unprecedented levels of work-related stress and job uncertainty. However, their coping strategies and cultural differences in their responses to work-related stress remain understudied. In a timely recent study, Professor Seongseop (Sam) Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors explored the relationships between job stressors, psychological stress and coping strategies amongst airline employees in Hong Kong and South Korea during the pandemic. Their work provides fruitful insights that could help airlines minimise employees psychological stress and provide resources to support coping strategies. Crucially, their results also show that national culture should be considered when adopting such measures.

COVID-19 crippled business operations in a multitude of sectors, and air travel was amongst the hardest hit. Airlines are no stranger to economic or health and safety challenges, but the international travel restrictions imposed in 2020 dealt the sector an unprecedented blow. With mass lay-offs, rescheduling and furloughs, airline employees faced severe job insecurity and ambiguity. Consequently, say the researchers, it makes sense to predict that work-related conditions caused by the pandemic may increase stress and anxiety among airline employees in a way that is different from work-induced stress prior to the pandemic.

To date, however, studies have done little to elucidate the specific psychological and behavioural repercussions of industry-level events like COVID-19 for workers in this sector. How airline employees perceive work-related stress is not fully understood, say the authors. Furthermore, scant attention has been paid to their coping strategies in response to such stress.

Context is another important factor. As employees reactions to work-related stress may differ between countries and cultures, the findings of Western studies of job stress may not be generalisable to other contexts, such as Asia. Although the pandemic affected airline employees worldwide, East Asian settings such as South Korea and Hong Kong may differ in their job stress predictors and outcomes relative to Western countries, and even relative to each other. Airline employees from these two nationalities may experience and manage work-related stress differently, say the authors.

With these considerations in mind, the researchers set out to provide a systematic understanding of coping strategies in relation to work-related stress for airline employees during the tourism crisis.

Generally, we experience psychological stress when we feel that too much is being demanded of us. Common job stressors include excessive work demands, role conflict and job insecurity. According to conservation of resources theory, stress poses a threat to our resources, and we respond by seeking to conserve our existing resources and obtain new ones. Exemplifying this point, say the researchers, studies have shown that service-oriented employees adopt appropriate coping strategies to conserve their resources (e.g. well-being, self-esteem) and alleviate stress.

Accordingly, the authors note, coping styles play a crucial role in understanding how employees adapt to stressful work events. This raises the question of what airline employees can do to counteract resource loss during an industry-wide crisis like COVID-19. However, we still know little about which coping strategies airline employees use to deal with work-related stress. The researchers first step in tackling this question was to establish a theoretical model linking job stressors to psychological stress and coping strategies. In the model, the authors say, multiple job stressors are anticipated to increase the psychological stress levels of airline employees. Psychological stress, in turn, determines their coping strategies.

Various possible coping strategies are available to employees. Task-oriented coping attempts to find a solution to the root cause of stress, such as devising a plan to solve the problem. Emotion-oriented coping aims to regulate the emotional distress caused by the stressor, such as through self-revelation or self-blame. Avoidance-oriented coping involves a deliberate attempt to disengage from the stressful situation. If we feel that we have control over a stressful situation and possess the resources to deal with it, we are likely to adopt task-oriented coping. Emotion-oriented coping and avoidance-oriented coping are more dominant when both control and coping resources are perceived to be low, say the researchers.

During COVID-19, airline employees had no control over the stressors they faced, such as international travel restrictions, the slow progress of virus containment and economic slowdown. Therefore, the authors hypothesised that airline employees experiencing job-related stress during the pandemic engaged primarily in emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping. They also hypothesised that as national culture affects peoples responses to stress, airline employees from different cultural settings experienced and managed work-related stress differently during the pandemic.

To test their theoretical model, the authors empirically examined the relationships between job stressors, job strain and coping strategies amongst airline employees in two Asian cultural contexts during the global tourism crisis caused by COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey was completed online by 366 airline employees in South Korea and Hong Kong in summer 2020.

Psychological stress was measured by the participants self-reports of difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal and being easily upset, irritable and impatient. The survey also measured the airline employees perceptions of job stressors such as forced labour policies, concern about layoffs, forced unpaid leave and lack of appropriate training and knowledge about the prevention of virus transmission. Coping strategies were assessed using a battery of scales measuring task-oriented, emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping.

Rigorous statistical analysis of the questionnaire responses identified three major work-related stressors associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airline industry. First, psychological stress was related to work schedules and demands  reflecting the major operational changes that airlines had to impose during the pandemic. Companies can mitigate this source of stress through timely and transparent communication with employees, say the researchers.

Second, job insecurity and financial concerns were found to be a major source of stress. Although cost-saving measures are unavoidable during crises like COVID-19, airline companies should be transparent about their decisions concerning lay-offs, salary cuts and forced unpaid leave. It is important for the airline industry to emphasize its efforts to ride out the hardship together with its employees, argue the researchers.

Third, stress was caused by role conflict. Employees may suffer job strain when performing multiple roles and responsibilities other than those normally anticipated, note the researchers. Therefore, airline management should consider the willingness of airline employees and provide alternatives instead of implementing forced policies.

For both the Hong Kong airline employees and the South Korean airline employees, psychological stress was linked to heightened emotion-oriented coping. However, job stressors and coping strategies differed between the two cultures. Hong Kong airline employees  whose perceived stressors related to work schedules and demands, job security and financial concerns, and role conflict  were more drawn to emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping strategies. South Korean airline employees reported only work schedules and demands as contributing significantly to their psychological stress, and this elicited primarily emotion-oriented coping strategies.

This delivers an important message to the global airline industry, say the authors. As employees from different countries/cultural settings may respond differently to the same work-related stressors, airline management should implement culturally appropriate measures to regulate employees work-related stress during industry-wide crises. Based on this studys findings, for example, airlines in Hong Kong should promote both emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping strategies, whilst South Korean airlines should focus on the former.

The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique setting for examination of job-related stress in the airline sector. Airlines can learn from this crisis and better protect their invaluable human resources by communicating more transparently with employees, mitigating sources of job-related stress, and equipping employees with culturally specific coping skills. Emotion-oriented coping strategies could be reinforced by organising workshops or employing on-site psychological therapists, and avoidance-oriented strategies could be fostered by subsidising recreational activities and hosting social gatherings.

Chua, Bee-Lia, Al-Ansi, Amr, Kim, Seongseop (Sam), Wong, Antony King Fung, and Han, Heesup (2022). Examining Airline Employees Work-Related Stress and Coping Strategies During the Global Tourism Crisis. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 34, Issue 10, 3715-3742.

About PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management

For over 40 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023 for the seventh consecutive year; placed No. 1 globally in the "Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services" category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2022/2023 for six years in a row; rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017; and ranked No. 2 in the world among university based programmes in the "Hospitality and Leisure Management" subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 for the seventh consecutive year, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of 90 faculty members from 20 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.
citizenM Lands in Italy For First Hotel in Rome

Rome, we're here  welcoming citizens to citizenM Rome from today! We got the word out with a campaign celebrating all things sleep, featured in train stations throughout Italy. See you on the snooze side, citizens.

Ciao, citizens of the world. We have landed in Rome. The Italian capital is often referred to as The City of Seven Hills. Luckily, our hotel is only a stroll away from Rome's top delights. pic.twitter.com/yLvtPyGwja citizenM hotels (@citizenM) October 23, 2023

Rome, we're here  welcoming citizens to citizenM Rome from today!  We got the word out with a campaign celebrating all things sleep, featured in train stations throughout Italy. See you on the snooze side, citizens. Book your Roman getaway today  link in bio  #rome pic.twitter.com/A8dl5EC5hq citizenM hotels (@citizenM) December 4, 2023

citizenM Austin Downtown is set to open early 2024

Howdy, Austin. We'll see you in early 2024! We may be fashionably late, but the best things usually are. Time to make a splash  shark optional
As we close another chapter and welcome the New Year, I reflect on HSMAI Foundations enduring commitment to our core tenets: attracting, developing, and engaging commercial talent in the hospitality industry. This year, in collaboration with Women in Travel THRIVE, we took a significant step towards our mission with the release of the The Power of Mentorship research paper. This study, a critical examination of mentorships impact on female leadership in hospitality, offers insightful strategies for nurturing the next generation of women leaders.

The research, led by Dr. Emily Ma, Professor of Hospitality, University of Surrey and Dr. Laurie Wu, Associate Professor, Temple University, provides a detailed analysis of how mentorship programs can effectively support and elevate women in our industry. It emphasizes the need for organizations to embrace mentorship as a key tool in creating inclusive environments where women can thrive. As we enter 2024, this paper serves as a crucial resource, guiding our efforts to break down barriers and pave the way for greater gender parity in leadership roles.

Silvia Camarota, Executive Director and Founding Chair of Women in Travel THRIVE says:

Through the collaborative efforts of HSMAI Foundation and Women in Travel THRIVE, our joint research emphasizes the transformative impact of mentorship on fostering and empowering female leaders in the hospitality industry. This partnership underscores our commitment to bridging the gender gap and nurturing a diverse, inclusive leadership landscape within our field. 

I couldnt agree more. The new year brings new opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and building bridges. The HSMAI Century Campaign is about Building a Bridge to Our Brightest Future more than a celebration of our past. It is a pledge to the future talent in sales, marketing, revenue, and global distribution fields in hospitality. By focusing on attracting diverse talent, creating through supportive networks, and promoting mentorship and leadership opportunities, we are setting the stage for transformative years ahead. Individuals can support the Century Campaign and companies are encouraged to support the work of the HSMAI Foundation as a Corporate Talent Partner for 2024.

Let us unite in this mission as we step into 2024, committed to fostering an industry that values diversity, champions mentorship, and celebrates the achievements of all its members.

Happy holidays and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!

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citizenM was launched in 2008 with a purpose  to disrupt the traditional, stale hotel industry. Rattan Chadha  the founder of the global fashion brand Mexx  was inspired by his employees to create a hotel for todays frequent travellers, giving them everything they need and nothing they dont. This means central locations in the worlds most exciting cities, but at an affordable price. Not just a place to sleep, but somewhere to work, relax and play  just like home. Somewhere with superfast free Wi-Fi, tech that makes life easy, and world-class art that isnt hotel art. A room with an ultra-comfortable XL bed to crash in, and a powerful rain shower to wake-up in. Rattan Chadha called this affordable luxury for the people. The first citizenM opened at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport in 2008. As of November 2023, citizenMs portfolio has 33 hotels in 20 exciting cities: London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Zurich, Geneva, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Menlo Park, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur.
Lobby of the Moxy Phoenix Downtown Hotel

Historic Luhrs building transformed into a Moxy by Marriott Hotel

The Moxy Phoenix Downtown Hotel announced its opening today in the historic Luhrs Building.

PEG Companies [PEG], a vertically integrated commercial real estate investment company focused on opportunistic and value-added opportunities, and Dallas-based A.G. Hill Partners purchased the historic Luhrs building at the end of 2019. Since that time, the team worked to renovate and convert the building's interior while preserving the exterior facade. Located on the corner of Central Avenue and Jefferson Street, the new hotel opened its doors on December 21 under the management of PEG Hospitality Group, PEG's in-house hospitality management division.

The Moxy Phoenix Downtown is where we hope to see the community engage with our eccentric communal spaces. Downtown Phoenix is ripe for something different, and our goal is to create a destination spot for our weekend warriors.

The first floor functions as an inviting lobby, bar and game room while floors two through nine house the hotel rooms. The state-of-the-art fitness center is located in the basement, and the top floor continues to function as a law office.

"The Luhrs Building stands in a Qualified Opportunity Zone [QOZ] which underscores PEG's values of reimagining communities," said Joe Madera, Regional Director of Operations at PEG Hospitality Group. "As one of the oldest buildings in Downtown Phoenix, this building embodies the youthful nature of Moxy while honoring the history of Downtown by becoming an eclectic epicenter."

In addition to 164 rooms, luggage lockers, a luxury gym and a business center, guests and passersby have access to the bright and open "Plug and Meet" gathering areas with modern ergonomic seating and 55-inch televisions for presentation projection. All guest rooms are equipped with 55-inch flat-screen televisions, built-in USB ports and complimentary Wi-Fi. The lobby also boasts a state-of-the-art video wall and 24/7 food and beverage, offering a wide selection of snacks and drinks. Other hotel amenities include an a la carte food and beverage menu and a complimentary welcome cocktail for every guest upon check-in. The bar features wines by the glass, local brews and specialty cocktails such as the "Highball 101" which is made with a special machine that can't be found in any other hotel or bar in the Valley. Guests can expect exotic spirits, like Japanese whiskey, but also cocktails with a more local taste, made with agave or prickly pear.

Ideally located for convenient transportation opportunities, the new hotel also boasts quick access to the Valley Metro light rail which will have a stop located on Jefferson St., allowing quick access to other parts of Downtown. Other nearby attractions include numerous bars and restaurants, as well as CityScape, Stand up Live, Copper Blues, The Phoenix Art Museum, Heritage District, The Van Buren, Chase Field and the Footprint Center.

"The Moxy Phoenix Downtown is where we hope to see the community engage with our eccentric communal spaces," said Madera. "Downtown Phoenix is ripe for something different, and our goal is to create a destination spot for our weekend warriors."

Jake Bodell, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP of FFKR Architects is the principal architect on the project, while Chris Shook from Flick-Mars is the interior designer.

The Moxy Phoenix Downtown is located at 116 South Central Ave. in Downtown Phoenix.
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Meryl Streep was 29 when she received her first Oscar nomination. Saoirse Ronan is now the same age  and already has four of them. The Irish actor, acknowledged by the Academy for her roles in Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird and Little Women, is a disconcerting figure. She doesnt seem like a big name movie star. The paparazzi occasionally come after her (Ronan looks jaw-dropping in daring outfit in rare red carpet appearance, the Irish Sun wrote when she turned up recently at a gala event in Hollywood), but she is hardly a fixture in the gossip columns. Much of the public still struggles to pronounce her first name (its Sur-sha).

It appears to be by design. Despite all the accolades she has received, Ronan continues to appear primarily in offbeat indie pictures. She almost had a cameo in her friend and mentor Greta Gerwigs smash hit Barbie. That fell through. Instead, she can be seen currently alongside Paul Mescal in Garth Daviss sci-fi thriller Foe, which received patchy reviews.

In a few weeks, she will be at the Sundance and Berlin film festivals with her latest daring choice: The Outrun. Made by German director Nora Fingscheidt, this is an adaptation of Amy Liptrots memoir of the same name. The story follows a young woman with severe drug and alcohol issues who leaves London, straight out of rehab, for the Orkney Islands, where she grew up. There she hopes to piece her life back together.
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Amid the praise for Quentin Tarantinos film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, one eagle-eyed celebrity viewer spotted a glaring historical inaccuracy in the blockbuster flick.

The moment occurs towards the end of the film, when Leonardo DiCaprios character Rick Dalton is reported to have arrived back in Hollywood from Europe on a Boeing 747. But it was John Travolta, who is a plane enthusiast and trained pilot, who said that this would have been impossible given the film is set in 1969.

Well, the 747 had its test flight in February 1969, but it went into service in January 1970. Theyre nine months off! He would have been on a Boeing 707! he said.

We can forgive Tarantino for that. But its hard to believe that some slip-ups  whether its Judy Garland without her ruby red shoes in The Wizard of Oz or Julia Roberts eating a croissant that gets swapped for a pancake in Pretty Woman  actually made it through the editing process.

According to the website Movie Mistakes, Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson  features no less than 60 errors over its two-hour duration.

Is there a film where somebody hasnt screwed up?

Here, we list 29 mistakes in films that you might not have caught.

Batman (1989)

Batman 1989: 'Gentleman Let's Broaden Our Minds, Lawrence!'

The Tim Burton-directed superhero film has multiple mistakes, but a major one happens when Joker and his crew deface paintings at a museum. One of his gang members slaps a painting with his hands that are covered in red paint, but in the next shot, the handprints have disappeared from the artwork.

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (2019)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood' (Sony)

Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, flies back to Hollywood on a Boeing 747. But it would have been a 707. The film was set in 1969 and the 747 went into service in January 1970.

The Graduate (1967)

(Embassy Pictures)

Dustin Hoffmans character drives in the wrong direction across the Bay Bridge in San Francisco on his way to Berkeley, California. He is travelling on the top deck of the bridge for traffic going from California to San Francisco.

Pretty Woman (1990)

There is a continuity issue at breakfast when Julia Robertss character takes a bite out of a croissant. Shes in the hotel room with her co-star Richard Gere, but when the camera pans back to her, it transforms into a pancake. Then when she takes a second bite out of the pancake, there is only one bite mark in it.

Pretty Woman (Rex Features)

North by Northwest (1959)

(MGM)

One of the children playing an extra in Alfred Hitchcocks film covers his ears a few seconds before Eva Marie Saints character unexpectedly fires a gun at Cary Grants character in the Mount Rushmore cafeteria.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

(Rex Features)

Bullet holes can be seen in the walls of the apartment where John Travolta and Samuel L Jacksons characters go to get a briefcase, but its before the shoot-out has happened.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

(Warner Bros)

John Connors Cessnas plane numbers keep changing in the film. When he is in the hanger on the runway it is N3035C, but once its flying, the numbers change to N3413F.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (MGM)

Judy Garland isnt wearing her iconic ruby red slippers in the scene where the trees pelt Dorothy and the Scarecrow with apples. Instead, she can be seen wearing plain black shoes.

Why do blockbuster movies cost so much to make?

American Sniper (2015)

The baby that Bradley Cooper holds while adapting to civilian life after the Iraqi War is plastic. In fact, it looked so fake, even he admitted it was nuts.

Independence Day (1996)

(Claudette Barius/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock)

When computer expert David Levinson, played by Jeff Goldblum, is throwing a tantrum in the hanger housing the captured alien craft, he knocks over a bin that is labelled Art Dept. Clearly, a set designer left it there by mistake.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

(Univeral Pictures)

In a scene when Jesse and Tran race, Tran is wearing a shirt with sleeves, but in the next shot hes in a tank top. Didnt anybody notice when they edited it?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  Part 2 (2011)

(Warner Bros)

We were always told that Harry Potter had his mothers blue eyes. But when we see Lily Potter as a child, she has brown eyes.

Star Wars: Episode IV  A New Hope (1977)

Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford in 'Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope' in 1977 (Rex Features)

As a group of stormtroopers enter a control room, one of them accidentally bangs his head on a door. The actor responsible, Laurie Good, couldnt believe it made it into the final film.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

(Rex Features)

There is a crew member wearing a cowboy hat and looking out to sea behind Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow on the pirate ship.

Quantum of Solace (2008)

(Rex Features)

A street cleaner behind Daniel Craigs James Bond is pretending to sweep the road but is holding his broom several inches off the ground.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

(Buena Vista Pictures)

When Bianca accidentally shoots a gym teacher with an arrow, an extra, who is playing a student, runs off to get urgent help  but once she thinks she is out of shot, she stops and looks back at the camera.

Braveheart (1995)

(Rex Features)

There is a modern car in the background of a big battle scene. Considering the film is set in the 13th century, its hard to imagine how it stayed in the final cut.

Django Unchained (2012)

(TWC)

Leonardo DiCaprio accidentally cut his hand while filming a scene in which he slams his hand on the table and breaks a glass. But rather than shout cut, he carried on in character. Tarantino liked it so much that he kept it in the film.

Captain Marvel (2019)

(AP)

Many of the mistakes are related to the films 1990s time period. These include computers using a wrongly dated version of Windows and Carol Danverss memories being jogged by a Nirvana song that wasnt out until after she left Earth.

Spider-Man (2002)

(Rex)

Toby McGuires Spider-Man saves Kirsten Dunsts Mary Jane from a group of attackers. He throws them through a set of windows before he kisses her upside down in the rain. But during their romantic embrace, the windows behind her are perfectly intact.

Halloween (1978)

(*)

John Carpenters slasher film starring Jamie Lee Curtis was set in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, but all the cars have Californian number plates and there are shots of palm trees, as the film was shot in Southern California.

The Goonies (1985)

(Rex Features)

At the end of the cult film, Data tells news reporters that the octopus was really scary, but this actually refers to a deleted scene. It was only added back in for the Disney Channel version.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

(*)

Eagle-eyed fans have noted that Ant-Man can be seen in two places at once during the final battle scene  in the van, and in his giant form, fighting alongside the other Avengers.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

(Rex)

Merry and Pippin are captured by the Orcs at the start of the film, and Pippin is seen in handcuffs. But he doesnt have them anymore in the fight scene. And then they reappear on his wrists a few moments later.

Gladiator (1999)

(Rex)

Ridley Scotts epic film took place many centuries before fuel-powered vehicles. But during the Battle of Carthage, a gas canister can be seen on the back of a chariot when it flips over.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

(Rex)

There is a mix up over whether it is day or night at the beginning of the stock market heist scene in Christopher Nolans film. It is clearly daylight, but suddenly, after the police chase, its pitch black.

Titantic (1997)

(Rex)

When Jack (Leonardi DiCaprio) is painting a naked Rose (Kate Winslet) and tells her to go over by the bed, and then says he means the couch, it was DiCaprio flubbing his lines. But James Cameron kept it in the film because it was funny.

Jurassic World (2015)

(Rex)

The blockbuster featured about 33 mistakes, including a scene in which lead actor Chris Pratt talks to co-star Bryce Dallas Howard without his mouth moving. In another scene, a phones broken screen suddenly appears fixed.
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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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Early in the morning, the guards come for Jimmy Lai, a 76-year-old publisher who has been in solitary confinement for the last three years. He is fed a prison breakfast, handcuffed, and taken in a van to court, where three judges and a prosecutor, who between them represent the flower of the English legal tradition, are conducting a show trial.

Hong Kong has seen its share of tragedy and farce since the British left in 1997, but the prosecution of this case is a new low in its descent into darkness under Chinese control and the perversion of the rule of law by people who were trained to uphold it.

Lai has committed no crime that would be recognised as such by any civilised government. He has never advocated violence, always acted peacefully, and is guilty only of optimism in thinking that words might one day defeat a police state. Yet he will probably be given a life sentence.

The formal charges against him include sedition and conspiracy to engage in collusion with foreign forces, the latest in a litany of flimsy or trumped-up examples of lawfare that have kept him behind bars for more than a thousand days.

His real offence, in the eyes of the Chinese regime, is to have published free speech through his top-selling tabloid newspaper, Apple Daily, and its digital editions, now shut down under the National Security Law imposed by Beijing on the former British colony in 2020.

Police stop activist Alexandra Wong, centre, also known as Grandma Wong, as she carries a union jack outside court (AFP via Getty)

As a boy, Lai fled Maos China, made a fortune in the garment trade, then launched his media business and turned it into the loudest voice in support of democracy in Hong Kong. He could have escaped once again. Instead, he chose to stay through the citys last mass movement in 2019, when he walked in the ranks of peaceful marches and studiously avoided the violent fringe of the protests. He did not resist when a special police unit came to arrest him.

Lai is a practising Roman Catholic and a British citizen. His faith has been strengthened in captivity and by the fearless Cardinal Joseph Zen, 91, who received him into the Church and dared to come to court in a show of support.

Late in the day, Britains foreign secretary, David Cameron, issued a statement condemning the trial and calling for Lais release. He must have known it would have no effect but to provoke the Chinese media into straight-faced denunciations of blatant intervention designed to undermine the rule of law. Nonetheless, it had to be done.

In practice, the British government has no power here. It has to strike a balance in dealing with a regime that practises hostage diplomacy and has thousands of British residents and businesses in China at its mercy. But the international legal profession can do much more to exercise the power of shame and ostracism, while the business community should realise what this trial means for them.

Let us examine the three judges who sit on the bench, each according to their official biography.

David Cameron has condemned the trial of Jimmy Lai (AFP via Getty)

Judge Esther Toh studied law in the United Kingdom. She was called to the English Bar and the Hong Kong Bar in 1974 and 1975 respectively. Judge Susana Maria DAlmada Remedios obtained her LLB from the University of London and was called to the Bar in England (Inner Temple) in 1986. She also practised in Australia.

The third judge, Alex Lee Wan-tang, qualified in law at the University of Hong Kong and was appointed by the British colonial government as crown counsel in 1993, rising to become senior assistant director of public prosecutions before taking up his post as a judge in 2013.

Across the courtroom is the man prosecuting Jimmy Lai, the zealous acting deputy director of public prosecutions, Anthony Chau Tin-hang. He came up through the ranks of a service drilled in the spirit of English justice. He now argues that sentences in national security cases must have a deterrent effect.

In other words, everyone conducting this performance knows exactly what they are doing. They were all schooled in the majestic principles of common law, trained in a system that prided itself on impartiality, and knew that the Hong Kong courts were seen as a model for commercial arbitration and criminal cases across Asia. They really have no excuses.

The same can be said for the eminent foreign jurists, several of them British, who still sit as non-permanent judges on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. The citys leader, John Lee, a former police officer appointed by China, has called their presence a valuable source of legitimacy for the legal system. Let us not dwell on the matter of remuneration for part-time work in Hong Kong, where a permanent judge on the court earns more than 30,000 in a month.

Last year, the British judges, who no longer sit in their home courts, issued a statement in the wake of the resignation of two of their colleagues, saying that it was more than ever important to support the Hong Kong appeals courts in their task of maintaining the rule of law and reviewing the acts of the executive.

It is hard to see how this honourable, entirely unrealistic view can survive a sequence of trials that belong to the debased tradition of Stalins prosecutor Andrei Vyshinsky and his heirs in the communist judiciaries. The British judges should resign.

The last word will belong to Jimmy Lai, even if he is silenced for now. In 2007, the BBC invited him to a broadcast from Hong Kong to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the World Service. Going off-script, he grabbed the microphone and spoke directly to his compatriots in mainland China, telling them how important it is to uphold free speech. A member of the BBC team recalls it as an electrifying moment. The fame of a man like that will outlive any of those who sit in judgement on him today.

Michael Sheridan was a founding foreign correspondent and later diplomatic editor at The Independent. He is author of The Gate to China: A New History of Hong Kong and the Peoples Republic (2021) and is working on a biography of Xi Jinping  The Red Emperor  to be published by Headline Books in 2024
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Pilots mistakenly cutting power caused the January plane crash in Nepal that killed all 72 people on board, according to a report by investigators.

A twin-engine ATR 72-500 aircraft operated by Yeti Airlines plummeted into a gorge as it was approaching Pokhara International Airport in the Himalayan foothillon 15 January. The crash site was about 1.6km from the runway at an elevation of about 820 meters.

Two infants, four crew members and 15 foreign nationals were among those killed in one of the country's worst plane accidents in three decades.

The pilots mistake led to an aerodynamic stall, a report issued by a government-appointed investigation panel found.

Dipak Prasad Bastola, an aeronautical engineer and a member of the investigating panel, said due to a 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", Mr Bastola told Reuters. "But due to its momentum, the aircraft flew for up to 49 seconds before hitting the ground."

"Human factor issues such as high workload and stress that appears to have resulted in the misidentification and selection of the propellers," the report said.

It said that the aircraft was properly maintained and had no known defects, adding that the cockpit crew had been qualified according to the rules and regulations of Nepal's aviation authority.

The black box recovered from the crash was sent to Singapore for analysis to identify the cause of the crash, Nepal's civil aviation authorities said. Over a dozen investigators from the US, Canada and France subsequently joined the probe.

It was Nepals 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, which is home to eight of the worlds 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest where sudden weather changes can cause hazardous travel conditions.
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The Indonesian Navy on Thursday said it pushed back a boat crammed with Rohingya people, a day after a crowd of students stormed a convention centre forcing out the refugees.

Over 1,500 Rohingya Muslims, who fled the violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar to subsequently leave overcrowded refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, have arrived in Aceh since November.

A coast guard vessel detected a boat thought to be carrying Rohingya refugees entering Indonesia's waters on Wednesday, the navy said. A helicopter from a navy ship subsequently spotted a wooden vessel nearing Weh island in north Aceh province.

The navy ship KRI Bontang-907 located the boat about 63 nautical miles off the Indonesian coast and drove it out, "ensuring that the boat did not return to Indonesian waters", the navy statement read.

Earlier in the week over 200 students protested in front of the provincial parliament in Banda Aceh, claiming that the refugees would bring social and economic upheaval to the community.

"Get out Rohingya," the protesters chanted and burned tires on the streets, while criticisng the government and the UN refugee agency for failing to manage the refugee arrivals.

"We urged the parliament speaker to immediately take a firm action to remove all Rohingya refugees from Aceh," Teuku Wariza, one of the protest organisers, told Associated Press.

The crowd then marched to a local community hall sheltering Rohingyas and threw out clothes and other belongings.

A large group of refugees, mostly women and children, were seen crying as the livid mob broke through a police cordon and forcibly put refugees on the back of two trucks.

The incident drew an outcry from human rights groups and the UNHCR, which said the attack left the refugees shocked and traumatised.

"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 agency said in a statement.

The refugees were reportedly relocated to another shelter by the Indonesian authorities.

Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the UN' 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.

Indonesias foreign ministry earlier in December said the government was willing to provide temporary shelters for Rohingya refugees to give time for international organisations that have a mandate to handle this matter, especially UNHCR, to be able to carry out their obligations.

About 740,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh after fleeing their homes in neighboring 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.

Additional reporting by agencies
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For those of us whove been watching the progress of Kia Motors over the decades, the arrival of the EV9 feels like something of a culmination, if not vindication.

The massive EV9 is in fact the biggest Kia ever to be offered on the British market, and its also an impressively advanced design  all-electric, enormously quick (at least in a straight line), super-comfortable and, youll agree, very strikingly styled.

For a firm that started out in the UK in the early 1990s with the little Pride hatchback, a hand-me-down Ford, there is no brand thats made more progress than this one, technologically and commercially. Once a fringe player, and a little disdained, Kia has already sold more than 100,000 units this year  around the same name number as Peugeot and BMW badged cars.

The EV9 has an anxiety-soothing 300-mile-plus benchmark range (Kia)

The EV9 is something of a showcase, even a halo model at the top of the range. For a start, it has great presence. Admittedly the look of the vehicle is a bit of a ripoff of a variety of traditional chunkadelic Jeep and Land Rover styling cues, and even a bit of Volvo with that strong shoulder line along the rear lights, but its a skilfully executed blend nonetheless.

The detailing around the distinctive strip LED headlights and those stunning 19 or 21 alloy wheels are nicely done. Its big but not vulgar, which is quite an achievement for an SUV with premium pretensions.

It can accelerate to 60mph in under six seconds  not bad for a near three-tonne machine (Kia )

Its finest quality is its comfort. The headrest, for example, is more of a pillow than a mere restraint, so cosseting and lovely that you find yourself sinking into it. Bio polyurethane filling I believe  recycled plastic. No matter. I think I enjoyed the same sybaritic thrill in a Rolls Royce or a Range Rover some year ago. Such opulence can now be had in a Kia, and its a small but telling example of how aspirational the brand now is.

THE SPEC Kia EV9 GT-Line S Price: 75,995 (range starts at 64,995) Propulsion: Two electric motor, front and rear, powered by 99.8kWh battery Power (kW): 318 Top speed (mph): 124 0-60 (seconds): 5.3 Economy (miles/kWh): 2.7 Range (miles): 300 CO2 emissions: 0

As a Kia, albeit a relatively expensive one, it offers the full suite of luxury features, including multi-zonal climate control, soft faux leather, two 12.3 screens for the dash and touchscreen controls, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, and electric front seats with an extendable squab for added leg support  and obviously, theres a massage function thrown in as well.

The only quibble I have with the interior is that the trim only comes in mostly dark, subdued shades; aside from some bright highlights on the seating, its a sombre sort of tone, a little out of keeping with the otherwise upbeat adventurous vibe.

The headrest is more of a pillow  so cosseting and lovely that you find yourself sinking into it (Kia)

The pliant ride completes the limousine-like feel, along with some excellent intuitive driver assistance. Some might find the EV9s warning systems, such as for speed limits and straying out of lane, a bit irritating, but I really dont mind anything that helps keep me safe and lowers the risk of a speeding ticket.

Audible warnings for exceeding speed limits are mandatory now, in any case, which is fine except that the Kias system for detecting them isnt 100 per cent accurate  and I know this because it told me I could do 80 through Inverness, which is unwise as well as illegal. The Kia, by the way, is hardly alone in this  Ive driven a Mazda, Volkswagen and Lexus, to name a few, with the same bad habit. (When linked to an automatic speed limiter, it can occasionally lead to rapid unplanned deceleration, which is actually quite dangerous.)

The detailing around the distinctive strip LED headlights is nicely done (Kia)

I should add that the heads-up display, which projects basic information such as speed readings and satnav instructions onto the windscreen, works very well  you dont take your eyes off the road, and if you find it offered as an option on any car its worth taking.

Technologically, the EV9 is as advanced as anything this side of a Tesla, but it cant defy the laws of physics. Available as a rear-drive or four-wheel drive, in sport mode it can accelerate to 60mph in under six seconds  not bad for a near three-tonne machine. It will do all that with considerable aplomb  no sense of lack of control  and the suspension deals with the sheer bulk flying around a corner pretty well, too. Perhaps most pertinent for many buyers will be the 300-mile-plus benchmark range.

Large and powerful, driving the EV9 brings to mind Newtons second law of motion (Sean OGrady)

But the key to, and penalty for, that range of ability is the size of the battery pack, a near 100kWh unit, which makes up much of the cars bulk. As I was running it through the twistier roads around the Moray Firth I was acutely conscious of one of the few things I can remember from school physics: Force = mass x acceleration, and what putting your foot down in an EV9 at the wrong juncture could yield for anything that got in the way.

More prosaically, cars such as these do hammer roads and old bridges and shed an unhealthy amount of tyre particulates into the air.

With great presence, the EV9 is something of a showcase, even a halo model at the top of the range (Kia)

Overall, though, the EV9 is an endearing affair, and a versatile one. Unlike the Jeeps and the Land Rovers, it aint a true off-roader, but it does have decent ground clearance and settings for mud, snow and sand that should help it survive in the countryside.

It comes with three rows of seats, with six- or seven-seater configurations and the middle row can be rotated to face the rearmost, though not very comfortably. The back row can fold flat for a longer loadspace.

The best of the EV9 range is the base rear-drive model with Air trim, which gives you the best features for the least money. That comes a little later, next year. Its not cheap, but it looks and feels more expensive than it is. For all its move upmarket, Kia still gives good value. Thats comforting too.
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Antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crime has soared in some parts of the country following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war, worrying new figures have revealed.

Data from police forces has uncovered a surge in anti-Jewish offences in many major cities in the weeks after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on 7 October.

Islamophobic crimes also soared in 20 policing areas, according to force data, but decreased or stayed the same in 10 areas.

Jewish leaders called the have called the figures shocking, while campaigners against anti-Muslim abuse said the data was deeply worrying.

Freedom of Information request data showed British Transport Police, responsible for 10,000 miles of tracks and more than 3,000 stations, recorded 87 antisemitic offences in the month after the 7 October massacre, up from eight in the same period in 2022  a 987 per cent increase.

Islamophobic hate crimes also soared by 1,000 per cent, with 22 offences recorded after the conflict broke out, up from just two in the same period in 2022.

Greater Manchester Police also reported a 400 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents in the same time period, with 74 offences recorded compared with 15 for the same period in 2022. However Islamophobic crimes were down on the previous year.

Police have expressed concern about rising incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Thousands joined a march against antisemitism in London last month. (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Merseyside Police saw a similar rise in antisemitism, with incidents up 400 per cent from four in 2022 to 22 after 7 October, while Islamophobic incidents were up 66 per cent.

West Yorkshire Police recorded 53 antisemitic offences, compared with 10 in 2022  a 430 per cent increase  while Islamophobic crimes were up 68 per cent.

Meanwhile, West Midlands Police recorded the largest increase in antisemitism with a staggering 2,100 per cent rise in incidents, with 22 offences recorded  up from just one the previous year, while Islamophobic incidents were down over 20 per cent.

Thames Valley police also recorded a shocking 2,000 per cent increase in antisemitic incidents, while Islamophobic offences were up 42 per cent.

The figures come after Britains largest force the Metropolitan Police previously revealed a horrifying 1,353 per cent rise in antisemitic attacks amid rising tensions over the conflict between 1 and 18 October. Islamophobic offences also rose 140 per cent in the same period.

The Community Security Trust described the figures as shocking and said they made clear the extent of the unacceptable rise in anti-Jewish hatred across the country since the Hamas attack on 7 October.

A spokesman for the Jewish charity said: This wave of antisemitism was triggered by the mass murder, rape and kidnapping of Jews in Israel, and is fuelled and sustained by extremist hatred online and on our streets.

It is essential that perpetrators are identified and prosecuted, and that wider society shows its disgust for this racist hate crime.

Protestors calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in a march organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire)

Tell Mama, which monitors and works to tackle anti-Muslim sentiment and abuse in the UK, said that levels of anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination are deeply worrying.

Iman Atta, the organisations director, said there had been a significant spike in anti-Muslim hate since the atrocities on October 7, adding: We should never allow such hatred and intolerance to take root in our communities and at this time, please look out for each other, whether Muslim or Jewish. We must stand together against intolerance, hate and racism.

Only 31 of the UKs 46 police forces responded to the request for data. Although methods for recording hate crime are not consistent across police forces, the figures do point to a jump in antisemitic offences recorded by forces concentrated mostly in cities or across built-up areas, while the pattern for Islamophobic offences was more varied.

A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the findings provide further evidence of the huge upsurge in antisemitism following the Hamas massacre of 7 October .

The board, seen as the voice of the British Jewish community with over 300 deputies directly elected by the synagogues and communal organisations they represent, said the rise in antisemitism had caused enormous anxiety for Jewish people, particularly children and Jewish students on campus or indeed anyone easily identified as Jewish by their dress.

A spokesman added: We call on police to take strong action against anyone found to be perpetrating hate crimes.

Police released footage after a Jewish woman was attacked in north London on 7 December (London Shomrim)

The Muslim Council of Britain said: Despite the extremely low reporting rate from Muslim communities, the huge increase in Islamophobic hate crimes recorded with the police reflects what we are seeing from third-party reporting groups.

The governments laissez-faire attitude to Islamophobia contrasts strongly with its no-tolerance approach to antisemitism. We are hopeful this will now change.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: There is no place for hate in our society and we condemn the recent rise in reported antisemitic and anti-Muslim hatred.

We expect the police to fully investigate all hate crimes and work with the CPS to make sure the cowards who commit these abhorrent offences feel the full force of the law.

Following recent events, we have also made further funding available to Jewish and Muslim communities, to provide additional security at places of worship and faith schools.
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A former Metropolitan Police detective specialising in finding missing children has said she would be very surprised if the forces hunt for Madeleine McCann receives more funding next year.

Scotland Yard has spent more than 13 million on the girls case so far, with 2024 marking the 17th anniversary of her disappearance in May 2007. The Met was granted a further 110,000 by the Home Office this May, significantly less than the 300,000 awarded the previous year.

German investigators carried out a search of a reservoir in the Algarve in the same month, but while they recovered a number of items, detectives said no compelling evidence in the case was found. Next May will also be Madeleines 21st birthday but the mystery of her disappearance appears to be no closer to being solved.

Madeleine McCann who disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal on May 3, 2007 (METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett)

Shabnam Chaudhri, a former detective with 30 years experience and who led searches for missing Londoners before retiring in 2019, told The Independent she is not expecting a major financial boost.

I would be surprised if they get any more funding after next year, she said. The fact that they scaled it right down, I think if they get funding it will be a very, very small amount. If there is any new information then they will review it.

When you look at the number of people that go missing, 80 per cent are found in 24-48 hours.

When you get to anniversaries it generates a whole load of inquiries, emails and leads for the investigating team, she continued. It generates a lot of anger as well a lot of people do not understand why this case gets funding year after year.

The reason funding comes from the UK is because the Portuguese authorities will not spend every hour of every week looking for her. At this stage, they will treat it like any other investigation.

A police search team walk on the shore of the Arade dam near Silves, Portugal (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

German police became involved in the case due to convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, who came to the attention of the authorities in 2017 and was first named as an arguido, or formal suspect, in Madeleines disappearance in April 2022.

He had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz  near the resort where the McCanns were holidaying at the time Madeleine vanished.

Brueckner, now in his late forties, is a German drifter with a long criminal history, including sexual offences against children. He remains in prison, after being convicted in 2019 of the rape of a 72-year-old woman.

However, Ms Chaudri said the lack of charges in the case suggests the police have nothing concrete against him. Brueckners lawyer Friedrich Fulscher previously told Panorama his client faced trial by media, arguing the evidence against him was flimsy. Brueckner has denied any role in Madeleines abduction.

Former Dept Supt Chaudri led missing persons cases across east London (Supplied)

Julian Peribanez, part of a private investigation firm hired by the McCann family to explore leads that werent being considered by police in Portugal, is also sceptical about the German polices investigation.

What Operation Grange shouldnt do is continue the path that the German prosecutors are following because it is proving inefficient, he said.

Obviously, they [the Met] havent found any relevant leads for what we know. Maybe it is time to think out of the box and try something different.

Someone in Portugal has to know something. I can say that Im still trying, with my limited resources, to follow two leads that I hope will take me to something positive. I will keep on looking for personal reasons, its a case that got deep on me for several reasons.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007 remains ongoing but declined to address the question of funding.

Christian Brueckner (Via REUTERS)

Operation Grange, looked at over 600 people who we considered potentially significant, and at various stages individuals were considered suspects, the spokesperson said. As with any person who comes into the investigation we work towards proving or disproving their involvement. The MPS has not publicly named any suspect.

The Home Office said the status of Operation Grange is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Service and is approved on an annual basis.

But despite the cases apparent lack of progress, Ms Chaudri is not surprised Madeleines parents are still pursuing the answers they need nearly two decades on.

You cant say to any parent whose child hasnt been found to ever stop looking, she said. Even if an investigation is going down never give up hope.

If any more intelligence or new information comes through I would be very confident the police would do everything they could to renew the inquiry. They want to recover somebody safely.

The likelihood is she is not alive but there will be something to say as to what happened to her - so dont ever give up.
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A tractor driver who tried to rescue three men whose 4x4 vehicle had become submerged in the River Esk during Storm Gerrit said they were swept away as they attempted to cross the water.

Chris Ford, a firewood salesman, had received a call asking for his assistance shortly after the vehicle entered the river near Glaisdale at 11.48am.

Emergency services including fire services, police, ambulance and a helicopter rushed to the scene, with the 4x4 recovered further downstream and the three occupants confirmed to have died.

The car has since been removed by two other vehicles and two tractors, while flowers have been laid on the bank in tribute.

There was a ford they were going over and they were swept down 400 yards. They were part of an off-road club, Mr Ford said.

The 4x4 was found 400 yards further downstream (PA)

I went down with my tractor. There was a couple of vehicles  one parked up. You couldnt see the (other) vehicle. It was 3ft beneath the water.

I helped get it out on to the riverbank with three other tractors.

Another man who attempted to help those in the 44 was pulled to safety from the river and has received medical treatment.

Two other locals, Rosie and Andrew Dale, said they were with Mr Ford when he got the call to help and had seen several 4x4 vehicles pass their home towards the ford shortly before the incident.

Mrs Dale said nobody local would attempt to cross the ford in the current conditions.

The area is popular with 44 drivers, she said, adding: In the summer you get 10 of them at a time.

The tragedy occurred as Storm Gerrit caused flooding and travel chaos across the country throughout Wednesday and Thursday. Thousands of homes have lost power across Wales and Scotland, while a number of flood alerts have been issues for Yorkshire.

The incident occurred during Storm Gerrit which has caused widespread flooding (Google)

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: Localised conditions across our area are making driving hazardous.

Roads are particularly badly affected around the RiverEsk, 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 at Glaisdale are urged to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, option 4, quoting reference NYP-28122023-0146.
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A dead whale has washed up on shore on a Kent beach, with members of the public being urged to keep their distance.

A juvenile female fin whale washed ashore in Cliffe, near Rochester, the Port of London Authority (PLA) said.

The fin whale is the second largest mammal in the world, second only to the blue whale.

The PLA has been attempting to remove the carcass however, the team said efforts have been hampered by Storm Gerrit, as well as mudflats along the rocky foreshore and limited road access.

A juvenile female fin whale washed ashore in Cliffe (Port of London Authority )

In a statement, PLA said: The removal of a buoy also set back our ability to retrieve the whale on Friday. Weather conditions appear likely to improve early next week.

The team also stressed that the carcass may carry harmful bacteria and asked people to keep their distance.

Our Marine Services team is working to determine the safest way to remove the carcass, the statement added.

The animal was first thought to be an adult mink whale, but the PLA later clarified: Images posted to social media have helped confirm the whale is a juvenile female fin whale, not a minke whale, according to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme.

Last month, a 16-metre-long fin whale washed ashore on a Cornwall beach.

The mammal was found on Fistral Beach by watersports teacher Rob Barber when he was checking the surfing conditions at first light.

The 47-year-old said the whale had earlier been seen looking lost and in trouble around Towan Head.

When he approached the mammal, Mr Barber said he was perplexed as at first glance it looked like a huge mass of rocks covered in sand.
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Boris Johnson has piled pressure on Rishi Sunak to speed up Britains sluggish nuclear power development in a fresh attack on the PM.

The embittered former Tory leader has criticised the lack of progress on nuclear energy and told Mr Sunak to get on with it.

Mr Johnson  who has made a series of swipes at his successor  only made a key investment in EDFs planned new nuclear plant in his final weeks at No 10.

It comes as documents reportedly show crucial government deadlines to boost the nations nuclear energy output have been missed  under both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak.

The launch of Great British Nuclear (GBN), the governmental body tasked with boosting the industry, was finished six months after an end of 2022 deadline.

Grants for new projects were finally announced this month, a year after a 2022 deadline, according to the i. And the government also failed to meet a spring 2023 deadline for at least one project to get a final investment decision.

Mr Johnson told the newspaper he was worried about stalled progress, as he tries to claim nuclear energy development as one of his legacy projects.

The former PM said: Nuclear power must be part of the low-carbon baseload. I urge the government to get on with it and deliver on Great British Nuclear.

He added: If we want to avoid future spikes in energy prices we must generate more of our own electricity.

Boris Johnson has launched a series of attacks on Rishi Sunak since leaving No 10 (Getty Images)

With investment approval decisions on two nuclear projects set to be made by October 2024, industry figures are believed to be worried about delays in progress building new small modular reactors (SMRs).

In July, then-energy secretary Grant Shapps floated a potential 20bn plan backing the development of smaller scale nuclear technology projects.

The 20 billion is not a spending commitment  but the plan is to help successful companies tap in to both government and private money to help develop the plants.

In one of his final moves before leaving No 10, Mr Johnson committed 700m to Britain to French firm EDFs planned Sizewell C nuclear plant.

He said it would be absolute madness not to help the project get over the line. But Labour criticised Mr Johnsons energy plans as too little to late

The former Tory PM has continued to criticise various policy moves made by his successor  suggesting Mr Sunak had destroyed vital parts of his legacy.

He has said HS2 had become a total joke after its northern leg was scrapped  as first revealed by The Independent  and argued that the levelling up agenda had been all but forgotten, while social care reform had been junked.

Mr Johnson criticised Mr Sunaks post-Brexit deal with the EU on Northern Ireland  claiming it doesnt take back control from Brussels. And accused the PM of dragging his feet over weapons for Ukraine.

Earlier this month Mr Johnson warned that the Tories are drifting to defeat  arguing that they were now in a worse position than when he was in charge.

But he was chastised by top political experts. Pollsters pointed the finger at the former PM for sparking the collapse in Tory fortunes with Partygate  the scandal which eventually saw him thrown out of No 10.
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Rishi Sunaks government has deleted an official report that found that housing asylum seekers on a barge and former airbase was discriminatory.

The impact assessment  which found housing migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge discriminated on the grounds of age and sex  was deleted from the governments website on Friday.

The move came two days after being published. A note on the governments website said only that the report was published in error.

Another impact assessment that made similar findings for the former RAF Wethersfield in Essex was also removed from the governments website on Friday, a day after being published.

Mr Sunaks ministers have previously declined to publish an equality impact assessment for the highly-controversial plan to place migrants on the Bibby Stockholm on the Dorset coast.

In September, then-immigration minister Robert Jenrick told Labour MP Zarah Sultana such assessments were for internal use and not routinely published.

The assessment published on Wednesday found that the policy of housing up to 500 single men on the barge  currently moored at Portland  was directly discriminating in relation to age (and) sex because the barge is only suitable for men aged 18 to 65.

Flowers are left at the entrance at Portland Port in Dorset, following the death of an asylum seeker on board the Bibby Stockholm (PA)

However, the document noted that the Equality Act allows for such discrimination if it is justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

The assessment argued that the greater need to house male asylum seekers within that age range in accommodation other than hotels justified discriminating on the grounds of age and sex.

The impact assessment for the former Wethersfield airbase drew similar conclusions.

Housing asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm and at Wethersfield has drawn huge opposition from campaigners, who have criticised conditions at both locations as prison-like.

Charlotte Khan, head of advocacy and public affairs at Care4Calais, said the public have a right to know how our government are treating the survivors of war, torture and modern slavery.

The charity campaigner said: Deleting the equality impact assessments from the Home Office website may remove an official watermark from the governments mistreatment of asylum seekers.

But, everyday, behind the barbed wire fences, peoples health and wellbeing is suffering from being held in these prison-like barges and camps, she added.

Earlier this month an asylum seeker was found dead on board the Bibby Stockholm  sparking fresh condemnation of the radical plan.

Care4Calais and police initially confirmed the news of the mans death and MP for South Dorset, Richard Drax, said that the person had taken his own life.

Charities have said they have seen a serious deterioration in the mental health of those being held on the barge. Care4Calais said it had regularly been reporting suicidal intentions among people on board, with no action taken.

Rishi Sunak is under immense pressure to clear the asylum backlog (PA)

However, The Independent understands that there are currently no plans to move asylum seekers off the Bibby Stockholm barge.

The Independent revealed before Christmas that an Afghan pilot who helped Britain in its war against the Taliban is one of thousands of refugees facing homelessness after the Home Office changed its rules on evictions.

As the Home Office pushes to clear the asylum application backlog, some refugees in hotels have been given as little as a week to find a new place to live.

More than 13,000 refugees with recently granted asylum status have gone to councils for emergency help in 2023 so far.

Mr Sunak is under pressure from Tory MPs to clear asylum seekers from hotels, get Rwanda deportation flights started and cut record levels of net migration ahead of the 2024 general election.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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One of Hong Kong's youngest pro-democracy activists has fled the city and formally applied for political asylum in the UK after completing his jail term.

Tony Chung, 22, breached a supervision order to seek asylum due to constant scrutiny in Hong Kong, which put him under an "enormous amount of stress".

Chung was arrested under the Beijing-imposed national security law following the democracy protests in 2019 in Hong Kong. He was sentenced to 43 months in prison in November 2021 on charges of secession and money laundering.

Critics of the government say the draconian law, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, has been weaponised to stifle protest and used to arrest nearly 300 people since its implementation in 2020.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Chung announced that he had arrived in the UK earlier this week seeking political refuge after being put under stringent surveillance following his release from prison in June.

Chung was reportedly granted permission from the Correctional Services Department to travel to Japan for Christmas. He took a flight from Japan to reach the UK on Wednesday.

"After making the decision my heart sank, Chung wrote, adding: I dedicated my life to social movements since age 14".

We shouldnt be the ones leaving.

He said the police were monitoring his bank account information and banned him from accepting a summer job, saying he wasnt allowed to work in that specific business.

"In the past six months with no income from any work, the national security police officers kept on coercing and inducing me to join them," he wrote.

"From October onwards until the present day, I have intermittently fallen ill. During this period, I sought medical consultations from both Western and Chinese doctors, all of whom diagnosed my condition as a result of significant mental stress and psychological factors, leading to a weakened immune system," he added.

Chung told the Washington Post that he was made to take part in a compulsory "deradicalisation" programme in detention where guards said to those who had been detained that they were "manipulated" by the US.

He is the second pro-democracy activist to leave the Asian finance hub in December after former student leader, Agnes Chow, announced she had moved to Canada and would not return to Hong Kong to meet her bail conditions.

Several other activists, including Nathan Law, Anna Kwok and Finn Lau, have fled abroad fearing arrest and now have bounties placed on them.

Meanwhile, a Hong Kong court sentenced three activists to up to six years in prison for their involvement in a foiled plot to bomb public buildings.

The activists, aged between 20 to 23, were part of the pro-democracy "Returning Valiant" group.

The trio was arrested in July 2021 and subsequently charged with "conspiracy to commit terrorism" under the security law.

The court heard that Ho Yu-wang, Kwok Man-hei, and Cheung Ho-yeung had planned to make bombs using the explosives and place them in various public buildings.

Ho, who was arrested at the age of 17, was "primarily responsible for making the explosives", according to prosecutors. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

Kwok was handed two-and-a-half years in prison, while Cheung received six years for being the first to raise the idea of "targeting government offices, court buildings and police quarters".
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Kaitlin Armstrong, the Texas yoga teacher who was convicted of killing her love rival, claimed she was pregnant around the time of her arrest in Costa Rica, court filings have revealed.

The bombshell claim was made in a bid for a new trial that was filed by Armstrongs attorney on 15 December, according to DailyMail.com, who obtained the filings.

Kaitlin has also been pregnant twice, once occasion of which was during or near the time of her arrest, the filing reads.

Last month, Armstrong was sentenced to 90 years in prison for fatally shooting professional cyclist Anna Moriah Mo Wilson, the same night Mo had dinner with Armstrongs boyfriend, Colin Strickland. Wilson was a competitive gravel and mountain bike racer from Vermont who had briefly dated Mr Strickland in 2021.

Armstrong was questioned by police just three days after the killing but once freed, she fled to Costa Rica leading the authorities on an intensive 43-day manhunt that ultimately ended in her capture despite her effort to disguise her identity with dyed hair and plastic surgery.

Kaitlin Armstrong enters the courtroom on 16 November. She was sentenced to 90 years in prison after fatally shooting professional cyclist Anna Moriah Mo Wilson (Gannett)

In the appeal filed earlier this month, Armstrongs attorney attempts to paint his client as a more sympathetic person  the daughter of an alcoholic mother, whose dad abandoned her and who was the victim of sexual abuse.

As her family struggled during her childhood, her childhood friend also recalled Kaitlin was the victim of multiple instances of (actual or attempted) sexual violence, the attorney wrote.

During Armstrongs trial last month, the court heard from her former boyfriend Mr Strickland about their relationship as well as his on again, off again relationship with Wilson.

When Armstrong found out about the relationship, she became furious and was shaking in anger and stated that she wanted to kill Wilson, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit also revealed Armstrong began calling Wilson and ordering her to stay away from her boyfriend.

Woman accused of killing elite cyclist appears to escape custody

On the day of Wilsons murder she had arranged to meet fellow pro-cyclist Mr Strickland, with whom she had an on-again, off-again relationship when he and his then-girlfriend Armstrong were on a hiatus.

They went swimming at the Deep Eddy Pool public aquatic centre in Austin before going for a meal at nearby Pool Burger, Mr Strickland, 35, told investigators. He dropped Wilson off at her friends home at around 8.30pm.

She was found dead hours later.

At Armstrongs trial, Assistant District Attorney Rick Jones told the jury: Ive never seen so much evidence in my life against one person.

The last thing Mo Wilson did was scream in terror, Mr Jones said. She stood over her after she shot her in the head twice and put another bullet in her heart ... you heard the medical examiner. That third bullet was in her heart.

Moriah Mo Wilson was one of the top gravel racing cyclists in the world (Instagram/Mo Wilson)

Vehicle satellite records, phone-tracking data and surveillance video from a nearby home showed Armstrongs Jeep driving around the apartment and parking in an alley shortly before Wilson was killed.

Defence Attorney Rick Cofer told the jury that Armstrong had been caught in a nightmare of circumstantial evidence.

After 43 days on the run, Armstrong was arrested and brought back to the United States and charged with first-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty in July 2022 and has been held at the Travis County Correctional Complex in Texas on a $3.5m bond.

On 11 October 2023, Armstrong attempted to escape for a second time during a scheduled to attend a medical appointment which required transport to a physician. As she left the facility with a corrections office she took off running.

Colin Strickland testified at Kaitlin Armstrongs murder trial (Instagram)

In a video that captured the incident, and shown at court, she could be seen running across a yard toward a brown wooden fence. The corrections officer pursues, but slips and falls in the grass.

A jury found Armstrong guilty after just two hours of deliberation.

Wilsons family members in the courtroom cried and embraced each other while Armstrong remained emotionless as the verdict was read.
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A family was found dead in their Dover, Massachusetts mansion after a deadly incident of domestic violence, authorities say.

A family member stopped by the massive property on Wilsons Way on Thursday, 28 December to check in on relatives after not hearing from them for a day or two, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey during a Friday press conference. Finding one person in the house dead, the relative called 911 around 7.30pm.

When police arrived, they found a married couple, 54-year-old Teena Kamal and 57-year-old Rakesh Kamal, and their daughter, 18-year-old Arianna Kamal, who was a student at Middlebury College.

The DAs office announced on Friday that a firearm was found in the vicinity of the father, Rakesh Kamal, but stopped short of labelling the incident a murder-suicide.

I dont know who it was registered to at this time, thats part of the ongoing investigation. We will not tell you at this time where it was found, but it was found near the husband, Ill just leave it at that, Mr Morrissey said.

The evidence suggests that this is a deadly incident of domestic violence, the DAs office said, adding that there does not appear to be any ongoing danger to the public.

The incident transpired in a 27-room home on a five-acre lot worth more than $6.79 million, property records show.

The district attorney said at the press conference: This is an event to remember that domestic violence crises cross all economic and social situations.

Mr Morrissey emphasised that investigators found no sign of a break-in. Theres been no police reports, theres been no problems, no domestic issues, no nothing at that house or in the entire neighborhood that Im aware of, Mr Morrissey said.

The incident is extremely rare for Dover, Mr Morrissey pointed out, as the last murder that took place in the town in 2020.

The autopsy reports could be available as soon as Friday afternoon, the DA added. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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Major cities across the United States are expected to report significant drops in murder rates this past year to numbers not seen since before the pandemic, indicating violent crime is not as prevalent in the country as some believe.

According to data from cities and towns across the country, compiled by AH Datalytics, murder rates this year had one of the fastest rates of decline on record at approximately 12.8 per cent.

Americans tend to think that crime is rising, but the evidence we have right now points to sizable declines this year (even if there are always outliers), Jeff Asher, the co-founder of AH Datalytics said in a Substack post.

Cities often thought of as dangerous  Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, Baltimore, St Louis, San Francisco and more saw a sharp reduction in murder rates.

Quarterly data from the FBI reflects similar numbers, showing cities with populations ranging from less than 10,000 to more than one million all saw drops in homicide.

The quarterly data in particular suggests 2023 feature one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the United States in more than 50 years, Mr Asher said.

(REUTERS)

The new data indicates the prevention efforts many cities are implementing to deter violent crime are working effectively.

Detroit recorded the second-lowest number of homicides since 1966 after putting together a coalition to reduce a backlog of felony gun cases, increase law enforcement staffing, and increase accountability on felony warrants, probation, parole and more.

We are seeing record drops in gun violence in Detroit because every single part of the criminal justice system is getting past Covid obstacles and is now working again, Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement.

In Philadelphia, where homicides reached a 10-year record high in 2021, rates fell nearly 25 per cent this past year.

The citys Interim Commissioner John Stanford told 6ABC that the police department had redeployed personnel from administrative positions to the streets to help police districts with high levels of violent crime.

St Louis, New Orleans, Baltimore, Atlanta and Portland all recorded more than a 20 per cent drop in murder rates this year. Major metropolitans like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Charlotte saw a homicide decrease of at least 11 per cent this year.

NYPD police vehicles respond near the scene of a suspicious package near the Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan on August 16, 2019 in New York City. (Getty Images)

But despite the numbers, approximately 63 per cent of Americans perceive crime rates to be increasing nationally and locally, according to polling from Gallup.

Though rates are significantly down, the prevalence of murder is higher in 2023 than it was before the pandemic  but not by much according to Mr Asher.

The US saw an increase in homicides between 2020 and 2021 which could be attributed to an increase in firearm sales as well as pauses and delays in law enforcement interference due to pandemic restrictions.

Slowly but surely, those rates are falling along with violent crime rates in general.

These trends hopefully will be recognized as the positive developments that they are, Mr Asher wrote.

In other words, tell your friends and family because they probably think crime is surging nationally. And in this case, theyre almost certainly wrong.
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An American-Israeli grandmother previously thought to have been taken hostage by Hamas was confirmed to have died in the 7 October attacks, according to a statement from her kibbutz.

Judy Weinstein, 70, was fatally wounded on an early morning walk with her husband Gad Haggai, 73, near Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people, the statement read.

Weinstein called emergency services to say she and her husband had been shot and the couple was believed to have been among the 240 hostages taken by Hamas to Gaza.

After her husband was confirmed to have been killed last week, Weinsteins family expressed hope that she would be found alive.

On Thursday, Nir Oz announced with great sorrow that she had been killed during the terror attack. She and her husbands bodies are still being held in Gaza.

Judy Weinstein, 70, with husband Gadi Haggai who also died in the 7 October attacks (Supplied)

Weinstein, who also held Canadian citizenship and was survived by her four children and seven grandchildren, was also a dedicated peace activist, Nir Oz said.

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, according to the Associated Press.

She also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered anxiety due to rocket fire from Gaza, the kibbutz said.

Weinsteins son Al Haggai told Israels Channel 13 after her death was confirmed that they had hoped her multiple citizenships would lead to her release.

President Joe Biden said in a statement he was devastated to learn of Weinsteins death, after recently meeting with one of her daughters.

Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict (REUTERS)

The hostages families have been living through hell for weeks, Mr Biden said. No family should have to endure such an ordeal.

Weinstein was born in New York before moving to Israel around 30 years ago.

Governor Kathy Hochul said in a post on X she was heartbroken to learn of her death.

My heart is with her family abroad and those still here in New York. May her memory be a blessing and may the many hostages still in captivity be brought home safely.

Around 240 people were believed to have been taken captive when Hamas launched its surprise attacks on 7 October.

More than 100 hostages, mostly women and children, were returned to Israel during a week-long ceasefire in November.

On 20 October, an American mother and daughter, Judith and Natalie Raanan, were the first to be released.

Days later, two elderly Israeli women, Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifschitz, 85, were also freed.

Then, last month, major movement began in the release of hostages when the Israeli government reached a ceasefire with Hamas.

As part of a week-long truce  brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt  hostages were freed in exchange for a temporary pause on Israels offensive on Gaza to allow critical humanitarian aid trucks into the war-stricken area.

More than 21,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels retaliatory strikes on Gaza since the start of the war  amounting to almost 1 per cent of the territorys pre-war population  according to Gazas Health Ministry.
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A legal effort to disqualify Donald Trump from Colorados ballots in 2024 elections could end up in front of the US Supreme Court after arguments in front of the states highest court on Wednesday.

The case in Colorado is among dozens of legal challenges across the country that throw Mr Trumps eligibility into question, pointing to a constitutional amendment that prohibits anyone who engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office.

So far, no courts have found Mr Trump ineligible. But after a week-long trial last month, a state judge in Colorado ruled that while the former president supported the insurrection, a ban from office doesnt apply to presidents.

An appeal to the states Supreme Court, where all seven justices are Democratic appointees, challenges not only whether the former president was responsible for provoking his supporters to riot at the US Capitol on January 6, but also whether that should make him ineligible for returning to the White House.

Who could more easily subvert our democracy from within than a commander in chief, who has already tried to do so before? Jason Murray, an attorney representing the challengers, asked justices during oral arguments on Wednesday.

Mr Murray argued that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment should apply to presidents, not just other public office holders.

Youd be saying that a rebel who took up arms against the government couldnt be a county sheriff, but could be the president, he said. You would think we would see some indication in the history of somebody coming back and saying, No, were carving this out because its somehow different, and theres just no indication of that at all.

The 14th Amendment, among newly enshrined amendments in the aftermath of the US Civil War, prohibits anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the constitution and engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office.

A lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington on behalf of a group of Colorado voters argued that Mr Trump had failed that test, rendering him constitutionally ineligible to appear on any Colorado ballot as a candidate for federal or state office.

Last month, Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace found that not only did Mr Trump incite the attack on the Capitol in an effort to block the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election, he also engaged with it.

Mr Trump acted with the specific intent to incite political violence and direct it at the Capitol with the purpose of disrupting the electoral certification, she wrote.

But she determined that she could not remove him from the ballot, a ruling the former president considered a gigantic court victory despite the judges landmark affirmation of his role in the insurrection.

Judge Wallace concluded that an insurrection should be defined as public use of force or threat of force  by a group of people  to hinder or prevent execution of the Constitution of the United States.

During the Colorado Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday, Justice Carlos Samour expressed concern that the definition adopted by the district court was somewhat or potentially overbroad.

He also wondered why if it was so important that presidents be considered among officer holders ineligible for office for insurrection, why not spell it out?

Trump attorney Scott Gessler told justices that the assault in the halls of Congress was closer to being a three-hour riot.

The use of force did not involve arms, certainly not the level of arms necessary to beat back law enforcement, Mr Gessler said.

More than 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the attack, including roughly 120 people charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.

There were a lot of makeshift weapons that did a lot of damage, Justice William Hood noted.

Eric Olson, an attorney for the plaintiffs and a former Colorado solicitor general, said one need only to read text messages from former Trump adviser Brad Parscale during the attack to see it for what it was. At the time, Parscale said January 6 was about a sitting president asking for a civil war.

Justice Hood also noted that Mr Trumps lawyers have argued that by failing to quickly resolve the issue, we create the potential for chaos in January of 2025.

He rejected the argument, noting that any decision from the justices will likely be appealed to the US Supreme Court.

Mr Trump is being separately charged at the federal level and in the state of Georgia in connection with his attempts to overturn 2020 results.
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Donald Trump's campaign team physically flew "fake elector" ballots across the country to Washington DC in a last-ditch effort to overturn the 2020 election, a new report claims.

According to CNN, leaked witness testimony from a Michigan state investigation shows how Mr Trump's aides scrambled to deliver the allegedly fraudulent paperwork to vice president Mike Pence before he could certify the election results.

The so-called "fake electors" plot hinged on the fact that American presidents are not directly elected by the people, but rather by 538 "electors" who are selected by their states based on the outcome of the vote.

Mr Trump's team allegedly pressured state legislators to ignore the vote and choose their electors by fiat. When that did not work, they assembled their own group of electors with no legal standing and pushed vice president Mike Pence to accept it instead of the real ones.

Multiple people have been criminally charged for their involvement in this scheme, and one  pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro  has pled guilty to conspiring to file false documents.

Now, audio clips from Mr Chesebro's testimony released by CNN appear to show that Mr Trump's team went to the trouble of flying the fake electors' paperwork across the country in order to get them in front of Mr Pence before the election result was certified.

"The Trump campaign [was] freaked out that the Michigan votes [were] still in the sorting facility in Michigan, which [didn't] look like they were gonna get to Pence in time," Mr Chesebro allegedly told investigators.

"They didn't have to charter a jet, but they did commercial. This [was] a high level decision to get the Michigan and Wisconsin votes there, and they had to enlist a US senator to try to expedite it to get it to Pence in time."

The Independent has asked Mr Chesebro for comment, via his lawyer.

According to testimony and documents seen by CNN, the Trump team initially considered chartering a private jet to deliver the ballots but ended up entrusting them to a campaign staffer and a Wisconsin GOP official who booked commercial flights.

Federal election law says that elector ballots must be presented in person in the US Senate so that legislators can tally their votes.

Not all Republicans were comfortable with this idea. Freaking trump idiots want someone to fly original elector papers to the Senate president, one Wisconsin party official wrote in an email on 4 January, according to the House committee report.

Mr Chesebro allegedly told investigators that he handed off the documents to the aide of a GOP congressman, who then attempted to ensure they ended up on Pence's desk.

In the end, Pence rejected the scheme, writing on 6 January 2021 that his oath to the US constitution did not allow him to "claim unilateral authority [over] which electoral votes should be counted and which should not".
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Michael Cohen, Donald Trumps one-time lawyer and fixer used Google Bard, the artificial intelligence program, to provide his lawyer with fictitious legal citations, according to newly unsealed court papers.

The fake citations were then included in a motion filed with a Manhattan federal judge to argue for an early end to Cohens court supervision having been released from prison for campaign finance violation charges that he pleaded guilty to in 2018.

Cohen explained in a sworn declaration released on Friday (29 December) that he had not kept abreast of emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology and did not realize that Google Bard was a generative text service that, like ChatGPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not.

He added that he also didnt realise that his lawyer, David Schwartz, would drop the cases into his submission wholesale without even confirming that they existed.

The existence of the bogus case citations came to light in mid-December when Judge Jesse Furman asked Mr Schwartz to provide the court with copies of them having found that as far as he could tell, none of these cases exist.

Donald Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen at former presidents fraud trial in New York (AFP via Getty Images)

Judge Furman wrote: Moreover, the Court contacted the Clerk of the Court for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, who found no record of any of the three decisions and reported that the one listed docket number ... is not a valid docket number.

Cohens new lawyer, Danya Perry, also told the court that she could not find the court cases cited.

There are wider implications to this embarrassing episode for Cohen.

The former Trump confidant is expected to be the star witness in the Manhattan criminal case against the former president for the hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Mr Trumps legal team  as well as the former president himself  have long portrayed Cohen as a liar and serial fabulist, and mocked his performance on the stand for the plaintiffs in the New York state Trump Organization civil fraud trial.

The new revelation that both Cohen and his lawyer submitted fictitious citations provided by a free AI program will only add ammunition to their attacks and attempts to undermine his credibility on the witness stand.

This is not the first time this year a Manhattan court has had to deal with bogus legal citations generated by AI.

In June, two apologetic lawyers responding to an angry judge in federal court blamed ChatGPT for tricking them into including fictitious legal research in a court filing.

Attorneys Steven Schwartz and Peter LoDuca submitted a filing in a lawsuit against an airline that included references to past court cases that Mr Schwartz thought were real but were actually invented by the AI chatbot.

Mr Schwartz explained that he used the groundbreaking program as he hunted for legal precedents supporting a clients case against the Colombian airline Avianca for an injury incurred on a 2019 flight.

Included in the relevant court decisions were Martinez v Delta Air Lines, Zicherman v Korean Air Lines, and Varghese v China Southern Airlines.

As with the Cohen case, the problem was that several of the cases werent real and others involved airlines that didnt exist.

The Manhattan criminal case against Mr Trump is currently scheduled to go to trial on 25 March 2024.
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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was accused by a child of flip-flopping on her views about former president Donald Trump  and then was likened to the 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry.

The nine-year-old named Adam began by telling the former UN ambassador at a New Hampshire town hall on 27 December: Chris Christie thinks that youre a flip-flopper on the Donald Trump issue. And honestly, I agree with him. The crowd then erupted in laughter.

Youre basically the new John Kerry  if you remember John Kerry from 2004, the kid added, sparking more laughs from the audience. Mr Kerry, who lost the presidency to George W Bush, was accused of changing his position on a number of topics, including the Iraq War. He now serves as the USs first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

The fourth grader then asked: How can you change your opinion like that in just eight years, and will you pardon Donald Trump?

Ms Haley replied that politics is about distraction. She said that while pro-Trumpers are saying she doesnt love him enough and anti-Trumpers say she doesnt hate him enough, Mr Trumps former UN ambassador said she is just telling you the truth like I see it. Its not personal for me.

She reiterated that she believes Mr Trump was the right president at the right time and said she agrees with some of his policies, but clarified that she doesnt think hes the right candidate for 2024.

Ms Haley then dug into Mr Christie as being obsessed with Trump.

She continued, He sleeps, eats, and breathes it every day. Im thinking bigger than that, Ms Haley said. If we do that, were no different than Trump. Thats what were trying to get away from  is the idea that we obsess about a person. This is about a country. Were better than that. Were bigger than that.

She added, I told my truth just like you told your truth, except I am no John Kerry. The audience broke into a loud applause.

Ms Haley also addressed Adams second question  announcing she would pardon Mr Trump if she were elected and if he were convicted.

A leader needs to think about whats in the best interest of the country, she explained. Whats in the best interest of the country is not to have an 80-year-old man sitting in jail, that continues to divide our country.

The former South Carolina governor has been facing intense scrutiny for other comments she made at the campaign event regarding the cause of the Civil War  since she didnt mention slavery.

She has since tried to rectify her initial remarks. During a radio interview the following day, on 28 December, Ms Haley said Of course the Civil War was about slavery.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.

The former UN ambassador also accused the person who asked the question of being a Democrat plant.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is threatening to sue Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott over new legislation allowing local law enforcement to arrest migrants crossing the southern border into the US.

In a letter from the Biden administration to Mr Abbotts office, the federal government announced its intention to sue to enjoin the enforcement of SB 4 unless Texas agrees to refrain from enforcing the law, CNN reported.

The DOJ claims the new law  Senate Bill 4  violates the US constitution.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, who authored the letter, said the government is committed tosecuring the border but that the Texas statute is contrary to these goals.

Mr Abbott voiced his frustration with the letter on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.

The Biden Admin not only refuses to enforce current US immigration laws, they now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration, he said in a post.

Ive never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America. Biden is destroying America. Texas is trying to save it.

Under the new law, law enforcement officials will be granted powers to arrest and deport migrants who illegally enter Texas.

Repeat offenders are punishable by up to 20 years in prison  something that critics have deried as the most draconian anti-immigrant measure passed in more than a decade.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande and entered the US from Mexico on 19 October 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in an effort to stop the state from rolling out the legislation, which is due to take effect in March.

Governor Abbotts efforts to circumvent the federal immigration system and deny people the right to due process is not only unconstitutional, but also dangerously prone to error, and will disproportionately harm Black and Brown people regardless of their immigration status, Anand Balakrishnan, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project said.

The Justice Departments latest warning to Mr Abbott is far from the first spat between the Biden administration and the Texas governor.

Earlier this year, the federal government sued Mr Abbotts administration over the use of a floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande River  something that human rights groups slammed as inhumane.

The DOJ said that Mr Abbott did not have jurisdiction over the border land.

A ruling has not yet been made on the suit.

In August, a migrants body was found attached to the barrier.

Officials from the US and Mexico are expected to hold talks in Washington DC about the border next month.
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Donald Trump may be the current 2024 Republican frontrunner but his mounting legal problems are threatening his chance of even appearing on the presidential election ballot in some states.

Political activists and government watchdog organisations have pushed for states to bar the former president from being an option for voters by invoking a little-known provision of the 14th Amendment.

Section Three of the amendment prohibits those who take part in insurrections or who aided enemies of the United States government from taking office.

Judges and justices in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Michigan and Arizona have already dismissed or rejected the attempt to disrupt Mr Trumps ballot access. But Colorado and Maine have disqualified the former president from appearing on the states presidential primary ballot.

Its a bold strategy that thrusts American politics as far into uncharted territory as the Congress found itself in as lawmakers fled for their lives on January 6.

Insurrections loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021 (AP)

What is the 14th Amendment?

Section Three of the 14th Amendment disqualifies a person from holding office if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion or given aid or comfort to enemies, after taking the oath of office.

The provision, often referred to as the insurrection clause does not define an insurrection or what it means to engage in one.

Originally, it intended to keep supporters of the Souths failed cease of secession from being elected to office.

But a handful of left-leaning legal groups, buoyed by donations from liberal groups and other Trump-opposed donors, pledged to use the provision to challenge for Mr Trumps eligibility for president  citing the January 6 attack on the Capitol as an insurrection and Mr Trumps actions as giving comfort to enemies.

Two constitutional law experts, Professor Lawrence Tribe and former federal judge J Michael Luttig, favour of the plan, arguing that Mr Trump gave comfort to enemies of the US government.

How Trump is barred from Colorados election ballot

A majority of the Colorado Supreme Court was convinced of the argument in a 4-3 ruling released on 19 December.

The court said Section Three of the 14th Amendment applied to Mr Trump and thus it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado secretary of state to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.

Justices heard arguments in the case earlier this month after a district court judge ruled that the provision did not apply to the president. The judge argued that Section Three does not explicitly mention the presidency only officers of the United States and because the presidential oath contains wording separate from other officers it was not included.

However, the states supreme court justices said they considered the presidency as part of officers of the United States.

More importantly, the justices agreed that January 6 was an insurrection and Mr Trump engaged in it when he sent messages to his supporters  an argument in the case that has been highly disputed in other states.

We do not reach these conclusions lightly, justices wrote in a majority opinion. 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.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak to supporters from The Ellipse near the White House on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC (AFP via Getty Images)

Much of the pushback from the Trump camp thus far can be summed up by the assertion that none of the January 6 rioters convicted of crimes related to the attack on Congress have been directly charged with engaging in a rebellion or insurrection.

Some, like Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, were convicted of seditious conspiracy, however  and thats an avenue that could theoretically be used to counter the Trump campaigns legal defence.

Jonathan Turley, a conservative legal theorist with George Washington University, agrees. He has argued that the attack on Congress was a protest that became a riot, dismissing more serious charges filed against militia leaders, and arguing that Mr Trumps speech on the White House lawn just minutes before the brunt of the violence began did not qualify as incitement.

Mr Trump said he would appeal the decision  likely it will now go before the US Supreme Court.

How did other states handle the 14th Amendment argument?

Colorado was the first state to disqualify Mr Trump under the 14th Amendment. Maine followed shortly after with the secretary of the state declaring the former president ineligible to appear on the ballot.

In November, the Minnesota Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit, claiming election officials nor judges had the authority to stop the Republican Party from offering Mr Trump the nomination.

An appeals court in Michigan ruled last week Mr Trump could remain on the ballot. The court said the lawsuit was not relevant because it asks whether Mr Trump is eligible to hold office, however, he has not been re-elected.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Arizona rejected a little-known Republican candidates lawsuit to remove Mr Trump citing the 14th Amendment.

Judges in New Hampshire and Rhode Island dismissed similar lawsuits in their states.
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Californias secretary of state has declined to block Donald Trump from the states 2024 presidential primary ballot over his role in the January 6 Capitol riots.

Secretary of State Dr Shirley Weber certified the list of candidates on Thursday night and sent it to county election officials, ahead of the 5 March presidential primary election.

I, ShirleyN. Weber, Ph.D., Secretary of State of the State of California, do hereby certify that the following list contains the name of each presidential candidate who is entitled to be voted for in the Democratic, Republican, American Independent, Libertarian, Green, and Peace and Freedom parties Presidential Primary Elections to be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, and that no uncommitted delegations or groups of candidates for delegates have filed or qualified, and that the following list contains the name, office sought, and, if applicable, the ballot designation and party preference of each person for whom nomination papers for state-certified office have been filed in my office and who is entitled to be voted for in one or more of the counties of the state at the Presidential Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, she wrote.

The former presidents name was included on the list, despite Dr Weber facing calls from the states Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis to remove him from the ballot.

Ms Kounalakis sent a letter to the secretary of state on 20 December, after Colorado became the first state to block Mr Trump from the ballot.

I urge you to explore every legal option to remove former President Donald Trump from Californias 2024 presidential primary ballot, she wrote.

The constitution is clear: you must be 35 years old and not be an insurrectionist, she added.

Several Democrats also joined calls for his removal, however the states Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom spoke out to say that he opposed such a move  vowing instead to beat Mr Trump at the ballot box.

There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a threat to our liberties and even to our democracy. But in California, we defeat candidates at the polls. Everything else is a political distraction, he said.

Dr Weber had not confirmed her decision ahead of Thursdays certification, but did respond by saying it was something she would not be taking lightly.

Removing a candidate from the ballot under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment is not something my office takes lightly and is not as simple as the requirement that a person be at least 35 years old to be president, she wrote in a response.

The decision in California marks a win for the former president, as his future on the 2024 ballot hangs in the balance across several states.

Donald Trump is facing challenges in many states (REUTERS)

Just hours before the certified list was sent retaining him on Californias ballot, Maine became the second state to strike him from the ballot there over his part in inciting the January 6 Capitol riot.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows issued a ruling, finding that Mr Trump is ineligible for the ballot under the 14th Amendment  which bars anyone who engaged in an insurrection from holding office.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, she said.

I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

She added: The events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic. They were an attack not only upon the Capitol and government officials, but also an attack on the rule of law. The evidence here demonstrates that they occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President.

The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government, and Section 336 requires me to act in response.

The decision has been suspended until the Superior Court rules on any appeal, or the time to appeal the decision  five days  has expired.

Prior to the ruling in Maine only Colorado had struck Mr Trump from the 2024 presidential election ballot under the 14th Amendment, following a state Supreme Court ruling earlier this month.

That decision was also stayed until 4 January  one day before the deadline to set candidates for the Republican primary in March.

On Wednesday, the Colorado State Central Republican Committee asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in the ruling and overturn it.

Mr Trump is also facing lawsuits challenging his future on the ballot in at least 16 states.
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Donald Trumps future on the presidential ballot in Colorado could be decided in a courtroom.

A weeklong hearing in Denver could determine whether the former presidents actions surrounding the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021 and his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election violate the 14th Amendment and disqualify him from running again in the state.

The 14 Amendment, adopted in the aftermath of the US Civil War, prohibits anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the constitution  including elected officials  and who engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof from holding office in the future.

A lawsuit filed by a group of Republican voters and a government watchdog group argues that Mr Trump has failed that test and rendered him constitutionally ineligible to appear on any Colorado ballot as a candidate for federal or state office.

That complaint outlines the now-familiar contours of Mr Trumps actions leading up to and surrounding January 6: spurious challenges to election results that he lost, the boiling rage among his supporters fuelled by a baseless narrative he continues to promote, his appeals to violence, the mobs assault, and his apparent refusal to stop them.

On 2 November, oral arguments are scheduled before the Minnesota Supreme Court in a similar case to remove Mr Trump from that states ballots.

The 14th Amendments insurrection clause was initially included to keep Confederates from entering a government that they fought a war against, and it was largely used for only a brief period following its ratification and the enactment of the Amnesty Act in 1872, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service.

The last federal use of the clause was in 1919, when Congress blocked a socialist representative after he was convicted of espionage, a charge that was later tossed out.

But its a case thats not entirely without recent precedent. Last year, a judge ordered that Couy Griffin, a county commissioner in New Mexico who was convicted for his actions on January 6, must be removed from office under the 14th Amendment. If Griffins actions mean he is prohibited from holding elected office, then surely Trumps does as well, according to the lawsuit.

We arent bringing this case to make a point, were bringing it because it is necessary to defend our republic both today and in the future, according to a statement from Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which launched the lawsuit in Colorado.

While it is unprecedented to bring this type of case against a former president, January 6 was an unprecedented attack that is exactly the kind of event the framers of the 14th Amendment wanted to build protections in case of, he added. You dont break the glass unless theres an emergency.

Attorneys arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs intend to introduce evidence and testimony from witnesses who can speak to the former presidents inflammatory rhetoric and actions, including testimony from national security analysts, historians, statements from members of Congress, and law enforcement officers body-worn camera footage and their first-hand accounts.

President Trump was the mobs leader, and the mob was his weapon, according to the lawsuit.

The mob traveled from throughout the country to Washington because the President summoned them there. He instructed the mob to march on the Capitol and they complied, the lawsuit states. Many in the mob left the Capitol grounds only when, after hours of violence against police officers and interference with Congresss constitutionally-mandated duties, Trump belatedly told them to leave. Through their flags, banners, clothing, and chants, the mob made clear they were there for Trump.

Mr Trump  who is criminally charged at the federal level and in the state of Georgia for his allegedly unlawful conspiracy to overthrow election results  is not expected to attend the hearings in Denver. The former president and his three adult children  Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump  are also scheduled to testify this week in a New York trial stemming from a separate lawsuit targeting his allegedly fraudulent business practises.

Attorneys for Mr Trump have repeatedly tried to get the Colorado case dismissed. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the former president labelled it another trick from his political opponents joining what he tells his supporters is a Democratic conspiracy against him to steal the upcoming election.

In a blitz of fundraising emails from his campaign in the days before the trial, Mr Trump called the challenge an all-out assault on our democracy and baselessly accused President Joe Biden of abusing the courts and weaponizing our legal system against him.

Mr Trumps attorneys are seeking to dismiss the case and have flatly denied any allegations of insurrection against the government, arguing that his statements fall under protected political speech.

Colorados 2nd Judicial District judge Sarah Wallace, who is overseeing the Denver hearings, was appointed to the seat by Democratic Governor Jared Polis last year.

She intends to act relatively quickly with a written decision upon the conclusion of the hearings. It is likely that, in whichever way she rules, the parties will appeal, potentially up to the US Supreme Court.

In any case, the suit must be resolved by 5 January, 2024, the deadline for the Colorado Secretary of States office to certify names that will appear on that states presidential primary ballots in March.
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Donald Trumps Republican rivals in the 2024 White House race have come out in support of the former president after he was struck from the ballot in Maine.

In a decision handed down on Thursday, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows blocked Mr Trump from appearing on the state ballot under the 14th Amendment, due to his role in inciting the January 6 Capitol riots.

Maine is now the second state to remove him from the ballot, after Colorados Supreme Court issued a similar ruling earlier this month.

Following the Colorado ruling, all four of Mr Trumps rival GOP candidates put on something of a united front and spoke out to slam the move.

On Thursday, they all once again criticised the decision coming out of Maine.

Appearing on Fox News on Thursday night, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the decision opens up Pandoras box  and pushed Mr Trumps baseless claims that he is being targeted by Democrats for political reasons.

The idea that one bureaucrat in an executive position can simply unilaterally disqualify someone from office, that turns on its head every notion of constitutional due process that this country has always abided by for over 200 years, he said.

It opens up Pandoras box. Can you have a Republican secretary of state disqualify Biden from the ballot?

The Florida governor went on to say that he believes the US Supreme Court will likely strike down the ruling  but that there will likely be mroe legal challenges to follow.

I dont think that this ultimately will be legally sustained by the US Supreme Court, he said.

But I do think that this is going to be a constant throughout the election year, where theres going to be different parts of these legal cases that are going to be front and center, DeSantis said.

I think that we win when we hold Biden accountable and talk about the issues that matter to the American people. So I think the Democrats, they want the election to be about all these other issues. They do not want to face accountability for their failed policies.

Vivek Ramaswamy  who claimed he would pull his own name off the Colorado ballot in protest at Mr Trumps disqualification there  also put in an appearance on Fox News on Thursday night to blast the Maine decision.

This is not an action of one person. This is the action of an entire system that has an anaphalactic reaction to one man, he said.

Im concerned that they will not allow this man to get anywhere near the start line of the election, let alone the finiash line... this is not how we should want to win.

Mr Ramaswamy once again vowed to remove himself from the ballot in Maine  echoing his stance after the Colorado ruling.

I will voluntarily as a Republican candidate remove myself from any GOP primary ballot where one of my competitors, Donald Trump included, is forcibly removed through this unconstitutional manoeuvre, he said.

The entrepreneur then issued a challenge to the other three GOP candidates to do the same.

We then take Maine out of the GOP priamery process.... I challenge every one of my competitors to do the same thing, he said.

Like Mr Trump, Chris Christie has also found himself struggling for a place on the primary ballot in Maine  but for different reasons.

The Maine secretary of state announced in early December that his campaign had fallen short of the threshold of votes needed in the state to qualify.

But, despite this, Mr Christie has also slammed the removal of Mr Trump.

The former New Jersey governor and one-time-ally-turned-foe of the former president said that the states removing Mr Trump from the ballot are only fuelling his message of him being a martyr.

It makes him a martyr, he told CNN.

Hes very good at playing poor me, poor me. Hes always complaining, the poor billionaire from New Nork, who is spending everybody elses money to pay his legal fees. Poor me.

Mr Christie said that Mr Trumps eligibility for the presidency should only be decided by voters.

The GOP candidates  minus Trump  at a debate in December (Getty Images)

This should be decided by the voters of the United States. It should not be decided by courts. And the fact is, while there may be  people may think theres a justification for doing this  its not good in our democracy, he said.

In the end, Donald Trump should be defeated by the voters at the polls and defeated by someone like me, who is willing to tell the truth about him.

Thats the way we defeat him and we end the scourge of Donald Trump in our party and our country.

Former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador Nikki Haley  who has faced her own reckoning this week after refusing to say that slavery caused the Civil War  echoed Mr Christies stance.

Nikki will beat Trump fair and square. It should be up to voters to decide who gets elected, her campaign said in a statement toThe New York Times.

In Maine, three challenges to Mr Trumps nomination had been brought forward by Maine voters, citing his part in inciting an insurrection on 6 January 2021.

Ms Bellows agreed with the voters and found that Mr Trumps 2024 candidate consent form is false because he is not qualified to hold the office of the president under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment  which finds that anyone who has engaged in an insurrection is barred from holding office

In the lead up to and on 6 January 2021, Mr Trump used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power, she wrote.

She added that Mr Trump was aware of the likelihood for violence and at least initially supported its use given he both encouraged it with incendiary rhetoric and took no timely action to stop it  and that his occasional requests that rioters be peaceful and support law enforcement do not immunize his actions.

Trump supporters storm the US Capitol on January 6 2021 (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Ms Bellows wrote that she did not reach this conclusion lightly.

I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection, she wrote.

The events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic. They were an attack not only upon the Capitol and government officials, but also an attack on the rule of law. The evidence here demonstrates that they occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President.

The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government, and Section 336 requires me to act in response.

The decision has been suspended until the Superior Court rules on any appeal, or the time to appeal the decision  five days  has expired.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung issued a statement slamming the decision and branding the secretary of state a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat.

We will quickly file a legal objection in state court to prevent this atrocious decision in Maine from taking effect, and President Trump will never stop fighting to Make America Great Again, he said.

Prior to the ruling in Maine, the Colorado Supreme Court struck Mr Trump from the 2024 presidential election ballot under the 14th Amendment earlier this month.

Colorado Republicans have asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in the ruling and overturn it.

Mr Trumps future is also currently hanging in the balance across several other states where lawsuits continue to play out.
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A University of Wisconsin (UW) chancellor has been fired for filming abhorrent porn videos with his wife and posting them online.

UW-La Crosse chancellor Joe Gow, 63, was unanimously terminated by the board of regents on Wednesday after it recently discovered he and wife Carmen Wilson were posting adult videos on OnlyFans under the name Sexy Happy Couple.

The couple have run accounts on X/Twitter and YouTube since 2018 describing themselves as a passionate plant-powered couple who are into cooking, conversing, and shooting with top adult video stars.

The accounts encourage users to visit their LoyalFans and OnlyFans sites for fully explicit scenes.

Mr Gow, who was disciplined in 2018 for inviting a former porn actress to speak on campus, has also written pseudonymous books with his wife about their experiences in the porn industry. The couples faces are clearly shown on book covers and on the social media accounts.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor Joe Gow was fired after the university discovered he was posting porn videos on X-rated sites (University of Wisconsin)

In a statement, UW President Jay Rothman said: In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent.

Mr Rothman said the former chancellor has been placed on administrative leave while it reviewed his status as a tenured member of faculty and an outside law firm has been hired to investigate.

UW regent president Karen Walsh said in a statement Mr Gow had shown a reckless disregard for the role he was entrusted.

The outrage over his behaviour 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.

Mr Gow told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after his firing that his right to explore his sexuality by creating books and videos was protected by free speech under the First Amendment.

Theres nothing said about the University of Wisconsin; theres 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, he said.

He told the newspaper he recently decided to be more open about his porn exploits, and created the videos in his own time and expense.

Mr Gow added he had been blindsided by Wednesdays closed-door meeting, and been denied due process.

The University of Wisconsin has fired a chancellor for filming adult videos with his wife (Associated Press)

Mr Gow had served as chancellor at the university since 2007, and planned to retire at the end of the year.

He was denied a pay increase in 2018 after paying adult actress Nina Hartley $5,000 from a discretionary university fund for a 90-minute speech at the La Crosse campus.

He later apologised for Ms Hartleys appearance and repaid the $5,000 to the university.

Mr Gow and his wife have posted six videos on OnlyFans, and also appear in X-rated clips on PornHub and XHamster, according to the Journal Sentinel. The videos appear to have been posted in the last two months.

On their YouTube account, the couple share cooking videos with porn stars including Ms Hartley, India Summer and Lauren Phillips.

In 2018, they published the book Married with Benefits: Our Real-life Adult Industry Adventures under the pseudonyms Geri and Jay Hart.

An author bio states that the married pair serve in executive positions at two well-known organisations in the US and enjoy collaborating with adult performers to create their own upscale pornographic videos.
Sadly nobody would dispute that Britain, since the Brexit referendum, has become a more inward-looking place. European politics has become a place apart. But this doesnt just apply to Conservatives. The shock and befuddlement of British liberals at the election results in the Netherlands in November  which saw the far right led by Geert Wilders score a historic win  is part of this. Consumed by culture wars that started in 2016, the UK as a whole has missed the EUs own anti-migrant turn.

From Wilderss party, campaigning against an asylum tsunami, clinching the top spot in the Netherlands, to the anti-migrant bus-burning and mass violence which erupted in the heart of Dublin in the same week, not to mention polling surges for the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) and Marine Le Pens party in France, politics across the continent is reacting to historic levels of migration  which the far right has capitalised on.

In 2022, nearly a million asylum seekers arrived in the EU, Switzerland and Norway, on top of some four million Ukrainians who had already sought safety there. Asylum requests in the EU have soared 38 per cent since 2019, nearing heights of 2015-2016, when the European press last spoke of a migration crisis. These numbers are alarming European leaders, not only because they suggest that none of the measures put in place in 2016 proved sufficient, but because they are alarming European voters.
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The UK is sending hundreds of British-made air defence missiles to Ukraine, after Russia launched the largest aerial attack since the war began on several major cities, leaving at least 30 civilians dead and scores injured.

In an 18-hour bombardment, Moscow attacked Kyiv, Lviv, eastern Dnipro, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv with 158 drones and missiles including hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles, Ukrainian air forces said.

The assaults left at least 144 people injured, including children, and many left buried under rubble. In the capital, Kyiv, air defence systems were triggered as explosions set fire to residential buildings and warehouses.

The aftermath of an attack on Zaporizhzhia during Russias 18-hour bombardment of Ukraine (REUTERS)

According to the Ukrainian air force, the previous biggest assault was in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles. Russia attacked with everything it has in its arsenal, Volodymyr Zelensky said on the Telegram messenger.

Within hours, the UK government announced it was sending Kyiv hundreds of British-made air defence missiles, as ministers condemned Russian barbarity.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps said Russian president Vladimir Putins latest wave of murderous airstrikes are a desperate and futile attempt to regain momentum after the catastrophic loss of hundreds of thousands of conscripts and ahead of the humiliation of his three-day war entering a third calendar year.

He added: We continue to stand by Ukraines defence, which is why today we are sending hundreds of air defence missiles to restock British-gifted air defence systems capable of striking down Russian drones and missiles with incredible accuracy.

Mr Shapps said Mr Putin was testing Ukraines defences and the Wests resolve. Ukraines degradation of the Russian Black Sea fleet has proven it is still in this fight to win, he said.

Todays air defence package sends an undeniable message, in the face of Russian barbarity that the UK remains absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine.

Mr Putin had reportedly ordered revenge raids after Ukrainian missiles destroyed a Russian warship in occupied Crimea.

The Novocherkassk landing ship appeared to be completely destroyed (AP)

Images posted by a Crimean Telegram channel show the Novocherkassk landing ship in the southeastern port of Feodosia appearing to be completely destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday.

A Ukrainian partisan group claimed that Mr Putin was completely furious following the attack and ordered raids throughout the city.

The flywheel of repression is spinning up... Since yesterday, local residents have been raided throughout the city, their smartphones are being taken away and their houses are being searched, the Atesh group posted on Telegram.

It is reported that Putin is completely furious over the destruction of the Novocherkassk large landing ship. An order was issued to punish the Crimean air defence forces. It is expected that many commanders will be removed and sent to the front to participate in assault groups.

At least 144 people were injured following the barrage of overnight attacks, which left infrastructure severely damaged in several key cities, including Dnipro (via REUTERS)

Russia has not yet commented on Fridays attacks.

Ukraines foreign ministry said they proved there could be no talk of a truce with Moscow.

Russia is not considering any other scenarios than the complete destruction of Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement.

Ten people in Kyiv were trapped under rubble at a warehouse damaged by falling debris and one was confirmed dead, city mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

A classroom in Lviv was damaged in the attack (EPA)

Five people were killed in the central region of Dnipro, where missiles hit a maternity ward, a shopping centre, a private home and a six-storey residential building.

In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, three people were killed and at least 15 were wounded, including two children, as missiles hit residential buildings, the regional governor said.

Kharkiv in the northeast was rocked by 22 Russian strikes, which damaged a hospital, residential buildings and an industrial facility, according to the local authorities.

Other fatalities occurred in Lviv, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, marking a devastating night for Ukraine after 22 months of brutal war.

The energy ministry reported power outages in four regions after the air attack amid fears of Russian strikes pounding power grids this winter.

Ukraine has been warning for weeks that Russia could be stockpiling missiles to launch a major air attack on the energy system. Last year, millions of people were plunged into darkness when Russia attacked the power grid.

Ukrainian officials have urged the countrys Western allies to provide it with more air defences to protect itself against aerial attacks like Fridays. Their appeals have come as signs of war fatigue strain efforts to keep support in place.
 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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A British woman who died as a combat medic in Ukraine devoted her life to helping others, her family say.

Katherine Mielniczuk went to the country after Russias full-scale invasion in 2022 compelled to use her medical skills to help those in need, they said.

The 26-year-old, who graduated in chemistry from the University of Bristol, spent almost two years risking her life to provide medical supplies and emergency care to injured Ukrainian and foreign fighters, travelling to the most volatile stretches of the frontline, earning herself the nickname Apache.

Katherine Mielniczuk was found dead in a bed at her home on Christmas Eve morning ( Supplied)

Her body was found in bed at her home on Christmas Eve morning by members of her unit, the 151st Special Operations Forces Unit. Her death is not being treated as suspicious, her family said.

Ms Mielniczuk, also known as Kat, was an inspiration in resilience and grace and the kindest and most selfless person one could hope to meet, they said.

An online fundraiser has so far collected almost 3,000 of 10,000 to repatriate Ms Mielniczuk to the UK.

Her family said: It is impossible to truly convey what an incredible woman Katherine was or how deeply and widely she was loved and will be missed.

Kasia is gone, but the endless warmth, love and grace she brought to the world will never be lost.

Ukrainian volunteer organisation Project Konstantin, with whom she worked, said: It is with deep regret that we announce the passing away of Kat.

The group, which supplies soldiers with medical and technical equipment, added: Further information will be released later by the authorities.

For now, were focusing on the pain that her family is enduring and were trying to appease their suffering by affording them the chance to fly out to Ukraine and we want to assist with repatriation costs.

Rest in peace, Apache.

It is believed that the 25-year-old was originally from a Polish-Ukrainian family (Supplied)

Katherines family are set to fly out to Ukraine following her death (Supplied)

The group set up a page for donations.

Canadian group HUGS Helping Ukraine - Grassroots Support paid tribute to her as a unique and passionate volunteer.

Ms Mielniczuk served as an instructor and combat medic with a group called Menace Medics.

In a Facebook post a day before her death, Ms Mielniczuk asked her followers to keep Ukrainian volunteers in their thoughts, writing that many of us cannot return home or celebrate Christmas.

She wrote: The mental, physical, financial consequences of war are catastrophic and a kind word can hold tremendous power for us when we are losing hope and seeing tragedies daily.

We prioritise fighting for a free Ukraine, for a prosperous and fruitful future for Ukrainian children.

Ten years ago, when Ms Mielniczuk was 15, she was hailed a hero for rescuing a young fox cub trapped at the bottom of a large drop outside a terraced house in London.

I was determined to help it  I didnt want to let it die. After all, it ended up trapped through no fault of its own, so why should it have had to suffer? she told News Shopper at the time.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said:We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Ukraine, and are in touch with the local authorities.
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A pro-Putin politician has been found dead after allegedly falling from a third-floor window in Russia.

Vladimir Egorov, 46, who was a member of the ruling United Russia party, is the latest of Russian elites to have been found dead in strange circumstances.

Local media reported on Thursday that the regional politician was found in a courtyard outside his home in Tobolsk, central Russia.

A Russian news agency reported that Mr Egorov fell from the third-floor window of his house.

A body was discovered, the fact of death was confirmed, the investigator is establishing all the circumstances, the Investigative Committee for the Tyumen region told Russian state news agency TASS.

The committee also told Russian media that there were no external signs of criminal death on Egorovs body and that they could not confirm the information about the circumstances of the deputys death as they are still conducting an autopsy.

Meanwhile, Tobolsk City Duma published an obituary on Thursday saying that Egorov died as a result of an accident.

They praised the politician  its deputy chairman before his death  for providing comprehensive support to the participants of the Special Military Operation and the families of military personnel fighting in Ukraine.

Mr Egorov was forced out of the city administration in 2016 following a corruption scandal for which he was not convicted. He then returned to the political fray in 2020.

He is the latest of a series of mysterious deaths in Vladimir Putins inner circle since the war in Ukraine began.

Anna Tsavera,35, was found by her parents at her Moscow apartment in early December. (Supplied)

Most recently, the deputy editor of a Russian tabloid newspaper died under strange circumstances just one year after her boss.

Anna Tsavera was the deputy editor-in-chief of Komsomolskaya Pravda, a daily tabloid newspaper described by Mr Putin as his favourite newspaper, according to a document from the European Commission.

The 35-year-old was found by her parents at her Moscow apartment in early December. Police have opened an investigation but initial reports suggest there were no signs of a struggle or a violent death but she had complained of feeling unwell to her parents the previous day.

Her boss Vladimir Sungorkin, 68, died suddenly during a business trip in September 2022.

A colleague at Komsomolskaya Pravda said he died shortly after suggesting to staff they find a nice place somewhere for lunch. A few minutes later he began to suffocate and by the time he was taken outside for fresh air he was already unconscious.

Another mysterious fate includes Ravil Maganov, the chairman Russias second-biggest oil and gas company, which had previously taken a public stance against Russias war in Ukraine.

Maganov died after falling out of the window of a hospital in Moscow in September last year, according to TASS.
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South Africa has urged the United Nations International Court of Justice to declare Israel in breach of its obligations to the 1948 Genocide Convention as the death toll in Gaza climbs to more than 20,000.

The complaint at the World Court at The Hague on Friday alleges acts and omissions by Israel in Gaza are genocidal in character and have been committed with the requisite specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and [ethnic] group.

Following Israels devastating retaliatory military campaign in the beleaguered strip after Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October, Israel has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute the direct and public incitement to genocide, according to the filing.

Israel has engaged in, is engaging in and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza, South Africa has asserted.

The filing asks the court to implement provisional or short-term measures to halt Israels campaign in an urgent effort to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people.

Israel has condemned the suit.

Israel has made it clear that the residents of the Gaza Strip are not the enemy, and is making every effort to limit harm to the non-involved and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from Israels foreign ministry.

A hearing has not yet been scheduled but is expected within the coming days or weeks.

South Africa has long criticised Israels campaign in Gaza and has repeatedly compared Israels treatment of Palestinians and occupied territories to that of its own violent apartheid-era past.

Last month, South Africa pushed for the International Criminal Court at The Hague to investigate Israels actions in Gaza.

That court prosecutes nations for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, while the International Court of Justice settles disputes between nations.

South African officials said in a statement that the country is gravely concerned with the plight of civilians caught in the present Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip due to the indiscriminate use of force and forcible removal of inhabitants.

Officials said There are ongoing reports of international crimes, such as crimes against humanity and war crimes, being committed as well as other acts that meet the threshold of genocide under the UNs Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and which may still be committed in the context of the ongoing massacres in Gaza.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council narrowly approved a resolution pressing for the urgently needed passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza after more than two months of attacks.

Following several days of negotiations led by the United States, the council stopped short of a resolution calling for an immediate cessation of violence, instead approving a watered-down measure to avoid a veto from the US, which has blocked previous UN attempts to stem the violence.

The long-delayed vote in the 15-member council on 22 December was 13-0. The US and Russia ultimately abstained from voting.

A final version did not include demands for a ceasefire or any immediate pause in the fighting, making it unlikely that the measure to support the flow of aid into Gaza  which is largely in Israels control  will slow the violence that has killed thousands of Palestinians, including more than 8,000 children, according to Gazas health ministry.

On Thursday, Israeli forces reportedly shot at a UN convoy of armoured vehicles in central Gaza after it was returning from aid deliveries in the north.

Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli Army, according to Thomas White, the Gaza director for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. No injuries were reported.

Aid workers should never be a target, Mr White said.
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The United States shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea fired by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, officials said.

There was no damage or reported injuries, it said in a post on X.

It came as the US announced sanctions on a group of money exchange services from Yemen and Turkey alleged to help provide funding to Houthis.

Included in the sanctions are the head of a financial intermediary in Sanaa, Yemen, along with three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey. The US 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 US property and bank accounts and prevent the targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans.

Yesterdays action is the latest round of financial penalties meant to punish the Houthis.

Earlier this month, the US 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."

Mr Nelsons said the US 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 sanctions freeze any US assets belonging to the targeted entities and generally prohibit Americans from doing business with them.

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 the 17 October explosion at a hospital in Gaza killed and injured many. Houthi leaders have insisted Israel is their target.

They aim to raise the international costs of Israels offensive in Gaza, which was triggered by the 7 October onslaught into Israel by the enclaves ruling Hamas militants.

The US, 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 US militarys Central Command reported another attempt to attack commercial vessels on Thursday. It said the USS Mason, a Navy destroyer, shot down one drone and one ballistic missile that were fired by the Houthis around 6pm 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 19 October.

The US 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.

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.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Apple could fix the ban on its Watch with a software update, the company hopes.

In recent days, Apple dramatically pulled the Watch from sale as part of a patent dispute. Healthcare technology company Masimo had successfully argued that Apple had infringed its patents with recent models of the Watch, leading to an import ban from the US government.

That meant that Apple was unable to bring in new Apple Watches for sale, in turn leading the new Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra to disappear from the US version of Apples website and retail stores.

In recent days, however, it returned to sale once more after an appeals court temporarily paused the ban. while the ban was not overturned, Apple was granted a pause until at least 10 January, when the US International Trade Commission will decide whether that pause should last until Apple has fully appealed the ban.

Apple may be able to avoid the ban on imports, however, with a software update that gets around the disputed patents. That would presumably be issued onto both new Watches ready for sale as well as those existing Apple Watches that are already on customers wrists.

The dispute between Apple and Masimo relates to the pulse oximetry technology that is used to measure how much oxygen is in a persons blood. Masimo has accused Apple of violating its patents and hiring away staff, and successfully argued that the Watch should be banned as a result.

Apple has included blood oxygen features in most of its smartwatches released since 2020, when the Series 6 model was introduced.
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Its hard to go a week without a new story about nightmare children and their entitled parents hitting the headlines.

The latest of these divisive pieces, which often spark firece debate, centres around a European airline which has begun testing adult-only zones on its flights.

Corendon Dutch Airlines is set to pilot the idea on flights from Amsterdam to the Caribbean. It confirmed reserving a seat in the child-free section will cost an extra 45 per flight, rising to 100 for extra-large seats.

Atilay Uslu, chairman and founder of Corendon, said the airline is trying to appeal to travellers looking for some extra peace of mind during their flight.

Reaction to the news has been split, with some parents offended by the scheme altogether. Others have been supportive of the pilot, with both parents and child-free travellers alike keen on no-children zones or flights.

We want to know what you think. Are child-free flights a good idea? Would you be happy to pay more to sit in a child-free zone?

Should some flights be adult-only anyway? Or is there another solution to keep both child-free travellers and families happy?

If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments and well highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.

All you have to do is sign up and register your details - then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines , which can be found here . For a full guide on how to comment click here.

Join the conversation with other Independent readers below or by clicking here.
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With property prices in the UK out of reach for many first-time buyers, and homeowners dreaming of a second pad in the sun, the idea of snapping up an Italian casa for 86p is intoxicating.

Several small Italian towns have hit the headlines for selling off vacant houses for 1 a pop in the past couple of years.

But how does the scheme work, and who is eligible to snap up one of these bargain villas in the sun?

Why is Italy selling houses for 1?

As young Italians increasingly migrate to the city and choose cosmopolitan jobs over rural and community vocations, many of Italys prettiest remote villages are becoming abandoned, with tiny, ageing populations that are beginning to die off.

Some elderly Italians have found themselves with no one to leave their house to, bequeathing it instead to the local authorities, who have to decide what to do with it, while some younger citizens have inherited properties in areas they have no intention of moving to.

Read more: Whats it really like to buy a house through Italys one euro homes scheme?

Having a second home in Italy means paying taxes, so selling these unused houses off cheaply can be more lucrative than keeping them.

Thats why around 25 Italian municipalities are making prospective homeowners an offer they cant refuse - a house for the symbolic price of 1.

The idea is, having these homes improved and occupied in the next few years is worth more to the towns than selling them off at full price.

We do not need new constructions and new overbuilding. The strategy to improve the housing environment and reclaim our cultural identity is to revive the small abandoned centres or to redevelop buildings in a state of abandonment, with a story that is our history, reads a statement by the team at 1eurohouses.com.

Local authorities in areas such as Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo and Campania also hope an influx of new homeowners will stimulate the economy, as they buy local produce, employ local construction workers, pour money into local venues and attractions, and even boost tourism by creating boutique hotels or B&Bs.

Whats the catch?

Youre not buying a shiny new villa - houses selected for the scheme are often dilapidated and require major structural improvements. Youre investing in a fixer-upper, not acquiring a ready-to-move-in home.

However, the cost of renovations is still relatively low compared to other countries - in the region of 20,000-50,000 depending on the size of the property.

While most houses are humble village homes or cottages, some stately homes are also on sale, with a much higher price tag attached. The sellers of this former monastery outside Bologna estimate essential renovations could cost 1.5m.

Legal fees for buying a house abroad can add up to 3,000 on top of this, and some municipalities also ask for a guarantee fee (from 1,000 to 10,000 depending on the town and the cost of the renovation project) to prove youre committed to improving the property.

On the upside, Italy does provide a superbonus tax exemption for buyers that covers 110 per cent of qualifying building expenditures.

You wont be able to make vague promises about refurbishing your new pad sometime in the future, either - new owners are required to submit details of a renovation project within two to 12 months of purchase (depending on the location), start work within one year, and complete it within the next three.

Its also worth noting that not every property ends up being sold for just a euro. Popular houses have become the subject of a bidding war, with several going for 5,000 or even 20,000.

So this is a scheme for people who have some savings stored up beyond the initial euro.

Who can buy a one euro house?

Is it true or is it a joke? reads a section of the website case1euro.it, which lists 1 properties currently for sale in Mussomeli, 60 miles south of Palermo, Sicily.

It is not a joke. Rules differ from town to town, but in the case of Mussomeli, buyers must have the financial and practical wherewithal to:

Support all expenses for the drafting of the deeds of sale (notary, registration, transfer)

Prepare a project for the renovation of the property within one year of purchase, acquiring any permissions needed

Start work within two months of the date of issue of the building permit

Conclude work within three years

Put down a guarantee policy deposit of 5,000 (4,314), which they will lose in the event that the work doesnt go ahead within three years

In Mussomeli, you can do whatever you like with the interior of the property, but must keep the facade looking as it did originally.

Small print goes on to say that you are entitled to renovate the property yourself, or with your choice of workers.

This is the route that French buyer Morgane Guihot and her husband took, telling CNN in 2019: As were both artisans and renovators we did most of the work ourselves, which was minimal, and it was great seeing our two-room house come to life again.

Most towns who have set up a 1 house scheme have similar financial requirements - youll have to check the specific requirements of the town you want to buy in. Some require you to live in the house after renovations, while others allow you to buy it with a view to using it as a holiday home or as a small business such as a B&B.

Buyers who dont have Italian residency or dont speak Italian may run into more hurdles when it comes to organising work and being able to make use of their property.

Has Brexit affected Brits being able to buy the houses?

People living outside of the EU can still buy properties in Italy, but only as non residents. This means you pay higher taxes than locals, and can spend up to 180 days per year at your Italian house, but not more than 90 out of every 180 days.

To visit more regularly, you would have to apply for Italian residency, which includes proving you have sufficient funds to support yourself without employment in Italy.

Im still interested. How do I get started?

Youll find 1 houses for sale on websites such as 1eurohouses.com, case1euro.it and property-in-sicily.estate as well as on individual local government websites such as the Comune of Sambucas or Citta de Troinas in Sicily.

Auctions2Italy also lists some 2 properties in the country, and youll find case studies and How we did it guides on Europe.properties.

American buyer Rubia Daniels, who purchased and renovated a 1 home in Sicily, told Travel + Leisure earlier this year that going and viewing potential houses in person is a must; as is examining the foundations and state of the walls.

Definitely dont try to do it online  you need to be there to see it and experience the process to make sure youre making a mindful decision, said Daniels. I wouldnt do anything through the internet.

You dont want to get anything where the walls are buckled because that indicates a foundation issue, she advises.

Areas running 1 house schemes

Emilia-Romagna

The slice of northern Italy around Bologna has houses for sale in towns such as verdant, ancient-ruin-speckled Modigliana (where you can buy the aforementioned dilapidated monastery).

Abruzzo

The region hugging the coast to the east of Rome. Towns raffling off their vacant homes include Casoli, Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Pratola Peligna.

Campania

The dramatic, volcanic slice of coastline around Naples, close to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast has some 1 properties for sale in places like near-abandoned Pietramelara, which recently has been home to just 15 families.

Sicily

Sicily is a hotbed of 1 house schemes. As well as sleepy Mussomeli, the towns of Calatafimi Segesta, Augusta, Sambuca and Caltagirone are all selling off unwanted or unclaimed houses.

Piedmont

This northern region near Switzerland is offering homes in towns like Borgomezzavalle and Albugnano, close to renowned wine producing regions and the outdoorsy, wooded Antrona Valley.

Le Marche

The medieval town of Cantiano - a 40-minute drive from the seaside - has 1 homes for sale near white-pebble Adriatic beaches and truffle-hunting spots.

Liguria

Triora and Pignone are two of the areas in this region, famous for the colourful fishing villages of Cinque Terre as well as pesto and foccacia.

Puglia

With 195,024 inhabitants, Puglias provincial capital of Tarento is one of the first bigger-scale towns to start up a 1 Euro Case scheme - putting buyers in touch with its maritime history and great seafood.

Sardinia

The towns of Romana and Nulvi sit in the islands Sassari province outside of Alghero, and have both joined the scheme to sell off 1 homes.

Tuscany

Montieri, Grosseto, Lucca and Vergemoli are some of the participating towns in Italys hallowed wine and villa haven.
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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.
Footage shows damaged buildings and vehicles in the city of Odesa, Ukraine and firefighters efforts to rescue people and extinguish several blazes after Russian strikes.

Oleg Kipper, the Military Administration Head of the Odessa Region, stated that following the drone attacks conducted by Moscow on the region last night, missile strikes were launched in the morning.

Kipper noted that the missiles hit homes, resulting in two deaths and 15 injuries, including two children. He added that two of the injured are in critical condition.

Multiple locations in Ukraine, including maternity hospitals, educational institutions, shopping centres, high-rise buildings, private houses, commercial warehouses, and parking lots in cities came under attack from Russia on Friday 29 December.
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For the second time in as many weeks, a state disqualified former president Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot. A week after Colorado disqualified Mr Trump from the 2024 Republican primary ballot, Maine secretary of state Shenna Bellows said in a filing that Mr Trump was disqualified because he contributed to the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

These moves are unprecedented, but then again, so was Mr Trumps presidency, and his refusal to engage in a peaceful transfer of power.

Mr Trump is not likely to win Colorado or Maine in a November 2024 general election. Colorado voted for president Joe Biden by double digits while Maine broke for Mr Biden by nine points in 2020. In addition, neither of these states is among the four early nominating contests  Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

That means that even if the Supreme Court were to act in the quickest manner possible, the Republican primary would likely already be decided. Mr Trump still has a tight grip on the GOP electorate despite former South Carolina governor Nikki Haleys climb in the polls. If anything, as my trip to North Carolina the week Mr Trump was indicted showed me, it will likely galvanise Republicans around him.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court for one state that may help decide the presidential election  Michigan ruled that Mr Trump will remain on the ballot. While a Democratic brewery owner in Wisconsin announced that he will attempt to bar Mr Trump from the ballot in the Badger State, the effort will likely not amount to anything.

A federal judge also rejected an attempt to keep Mr Trump off the ballot in the critical swing state of Arizona.

Theres also the fact that the US Supreme Court is not likely to rule in favour of the states decisions. Mr Trump appointed three of the justices  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett  in the courts 6-3 conservative majority.

Ever since Trump entered the political arena, his opponents in both parties hoped to find some magical remedy to remove him. But no such elixir exists.

His GOP challengers either avoided attacking him, hoping that he would destroy their enemies, or, in the case of Texas senator Ted Cruz, they played footsie with him in hopes that Mr Trump would implode and they could hoover up his supporters.

When Mr Trump won the presidency, many Democrats hoped that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into interference by Russia in the 2016 presidential election would lead to Mr Trumps downfall. Then, there were hopes that his impeachment in 2020 would take him out.

The January 6 riot offered the best opportunity for the American body politic to purge Mr Trump from its system, since it would clearly bar him from running again.

Indeed, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell reportedly said the Democrats are going to take care of the son of a b**** for us. But Mr McConnell and the rest of Republican leadership cowered and only 10 Republican members in the House voted to impeach Mr Trump and seven Republican senators  far from the requisite two-thirds needed  voted to convict him.

With that option gone, the legal and electoral paths remain the only means of keeping Mr Trump out of the White House. And indeed, Mr Trump has cultivated his followers into thinking that either means would be illegitimate as well, telling his supporters I am your warrior, I am your justice, and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.

If Mr Trump were to be legally removed from the ballot, he would make himself a martyr and galvanise his supporters to turn out once the courts rule in his favour. And if he somehow loses the presidential election a little more than 11 months from now, he will repeat his claims that the election was rigged and stolen, but there would be little that he could do to remedy the action barring another act of violence as was the case on January 6.

As of right now, the only feasible option for removing Mr Trump from the political experiment is by the ballot box. Until then, were stuck with him.
Pre-tax profits at the countrys largest dedicated parcel delivery firm, DPD Ireland last year declined by 19pc to 22.06m as the business was hit by a post Covid-19 slump.

An upsurge in online sales during the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in record revenues of 220.65m at Interlink Ireland Ltd trading as DPD Ireland in 2021 resulting in pre-tax profits of 27.15m.

However, as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and people shopped less online, new accounts show that pre-tax profits at Interlink Ireland Ltd declined by 5m to 22.06m last year as revenues slumped by 38m or 17.3pc to 182.5m in the 12 months to the end of January 1st 2023.

The 17.3pc decrease in revenues in 2022 compares to a 40pc increase in revenues in 2021.

The directors state that the revenue decline for 2022 is due to an overall decrease in online deliveries post the Covid pandemic.

However, the firms 2022 revenues are up by 77pc on pre-Covid 2019 revenues of 102.8m.

On the 2022 performance, the directors state that they "are satisfied with the performance of the company despite the many people challenges that the Covid pandemic has brought to the business".

They state that with the continuation of online business to consumer deliveries, the company is in a strong position to take advantage of changes in the marketplace for the coming years.

The business was established in 1986 with 10 depots as Interlink Ireland and a central hub based in Athlone and today DPD Ireland operates 35 depots handling in excess of 20m parcels per year.

In 2000 the business became part of GeoPost, the parcels and express arm of French Poste, the French Post Office and the Irish business renamed itself DPD in 2008.

The companys Athlone facility can handle up to 21,000 parcels an hour.

Numbers employed last year reduced by 84 or 15pc from 564 to 480 as staff costs reduced from 23.24m to 19.49m.

A breakdown of revenues shows that 158.07m of revenues were generated in Ireland with 24.42m UK based.

Pay to directors increased by 320,000 or 35pc rising from 897,000 to 1.21m made up of emoluments of 1.05m and pension contributions of 1.2m.

The company last year recorded a post tax profit of 18.94m after incurring a corporation tax charge of 3.12m.

The companys balance sheet has strengthened throughout the pandemic and since. Shareholder funds on January 1st 2023 totalled 106m compared to a pre-pandemic shareholder funds of 52.96m at the end of 2019.

The firm had accumulated profits of 104.87m on January 1st last. The firms cash funds reduced from 34.03m to 6.78m
The Irish Organic Association will lead the charge on the social media campaign and engagement strategy. (Alamy/PA)

Social media campaigns on TikTok and Youtube, along with projects looking at the viability of organic butter and skimmed milk and the possibility for a newly formed farmer-owned organic co-op are all to receive funding.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Senator Pippa Hackett, announced that 12 proposals to promote organic production have been selected and awarded funding of 1.1m.

The projects selected cover a very broad area, from living mulches to advisory support for organic farmers to the potential for organic butter, and everything in between, she said.

This call will further support the Programme for Government target of 10pc of all land farmed organically by 2030.

The call, the first of its kind for the organic sector, encouraged innovative proposals, and the successful applicants will now be engaging in a range of activities to highlight the benefits of organic production in Ireland.

The Irish Organic Association will lead the charge on the social media campaign and engagement strategy.

The campaign will feature on Metas platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram), TikTok and Youtube, with insights and analytic reporting conducted to measure the awareness of Irish organics amongst consumers.

The Organic Trust has also been granted funding to organise, promote and run a National Organic Food Fair, which will showcase organic produce and feature celebrity chef demonstrations.

Other approval projects include one from the Irish Organic Milk Producers Ltd in Waterford who will run a pilot project investigating the use of Organic Milk to make both organic butter and organic skimmed milk powder.

The National Organic Training Skillnet will create a substantive library of instructional videos covering all aspects of conversion to organic farming.

Junior Minister Hackett described the project as a further important element in the support structure for the sector.

There is now approximately 180,000ha under organic production in Ireland, representing 4pc of total agricultural land.

The Climate Action Plan targets an increase in the area of land under organic production to approximately 445,000ha, or 10pc of land, by 2030.

Over 1,200 farmers applied to join the Organic Farming Scheme in 2023, with the window to lodge an application having closed on December 15.

Over 2,000 farmers joined the Organic Farming Scheme in 2023, doubling the number of organic farms in Ireland.

Payments under the organic scheme have increased considerably, and drystock farmers entering into a contract could qualify for yearly payments of up to 300/ha during the conversion period and up to 250/ha when they have achieved full organic status.

Higher payment rates are available for organic horticultural and tillage farmers.

In addition, an annual participation payment of 2,000 in the first year of conversion and 1,400/annum thereafter has been introduced to support organic farmers. Organic farmers also have priority access to ACRES.
Anyone who had a meadow for feed lost everything  farmers struggles to get compensation for flooded land on Shannon Callows

Farmers claim Departments satellite monitoring system failed to detect flooding in many cases  even when meadows had two-to-three foot of water under the grass

Flooding in Clonfert Callows. Photos: Gerry Stronge

Margaret Donnelly Fri 29 Dec 2023 at 10:35

The Shannon Callows Flood Scheme was introduced by the Department of Agriculture last year to support farmers who were not able to make fodder this year after exceptional flooding.
From the dancing solicitor to the intimidating landlord, and the mass sacking of keg lorry drivers to the maimed garda sergeant being left to sit and rot in the office, here are the most notable Work Relations Commission hearings of the year.

CEO told to work for free or leave wins top award

In June, the WRC ordered a Chinese-owned supplier of personal protective equipment to pay 133,000 to its former CEO after accepting he had been constructively dismissed.

Mario Kistner secured awards for unfair dismissal and unlawful pay deductions against Suirsafe Technologies Ltd after its bosses told him they could no longer fund his 218,000-a-year salary or provide capital to the Limerick-based firm  citing a political/legal situation in China.

His solicitors, McInnes Dunne Murphy LLP, said Mr Kistner was effectively given an ultimatum to work for free or leave without pay and had been constructively dismissed, an argument accepted by the WRC.

Earlier this month, the firms former head of products, Barbara Remic, secured 88,000 after she went without her 180,000-a-year salary for a year  the WRC finding that she too had been constructively dismissed. The company now faces orders totalling over 220,000 for employment rights breaches.

Its understood Mr Kistner has got nothing from the respondent and will be pursuing an enforcement order in Limerick District Court in the new year.

Read the full story here

We dont do business with HAP

Another maximum-jurisdiction award was made against a landlord who was ordered to pay 15,000 after telling his tenant: We dont do business with HAP before calling to her door looking for the full rent.

In unopposed evidence, Magdelena Kotecka told the WRC that Joseph Woodlock was very intimidating. Her representative, Owen Duggan of housing charity Threshold, added that the landlord had written to her repeatedly telling her the housing assistance payment was not an option due to his status with Revenue.

Read the full story here

IT worker forced to retire at 65 wins job back

In an unprecedented move, the tribunal ordered telecoms provider Eir to reinstate an IT helpdesk worker after ruling he had been subjected to age discrimination when the company insisted he retire on his 65th birthday in July.

A reinstatement order made by adjudicator Breiffni ONeill earlier this month means the worker, Thomas Doolin, is entitled to go back to work  and to receive the wages he would have been paid since July if he had been left in the job.

The WRC has never before used its power to order the reinstatement or reengagement of a worker in an equality claim and up to now  and has typically awarded sums ranging from six months to 18 months salary in cases of enforced retirement.

Eir has said it is appealing the decision to the Labour Court, a development Mr Doolin called disgraceful.

Read the full story here

Ex-Debenhams staff secure millions over mass redundancies

Nearly 800 former employees of Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd, which shut up shop just weeks into the Covid-19 pandemic, won a key legal battle in May when a test case ended in an order for compensation.

Shop steward Jane Crowe  a key leader of a workers blockade of the shuttered stores which lasted nearly 400 days until it was broken up by gardai  secured eight weeks pay for a failure by the liquidators of the firm to start the redundancy consultation process in good time and provide her trade union, Mandate, with required information.

The ruling is thought to be worth millions to the workers  but is currently under appeal at the Labour Court.

A smaller number of Siptu members, mostly former catering staff, also secured four weeks pay on similar grounds.

Read the full story here

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) stock image. Photo: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph

RNLIs ignorance or contempt for Ireland

An ex-Army captain  once the Royal National Lifeboat Institutions top manager in Ireland  won 30,000 after the rescue charity failed to show up after being called to answer for his Unfair Dismissals Act complaint.

Sean Dillon said the no-show was symbolic of the contempt, of the ignorance or contempt, towards Ireland as a region in the RNLI, which he called a governance basket case.

Adjudicator Eileen Campbell found it was unfair and disrespectful that Mr Dillon was replaced by a manager from its UK head office before he even had an opportunity to re-interview for the job.

Read the full story here

Maimed garda sergeant wins 65k over duty restrictions

A garda sergeant who said he was left to sit and rot when a new superintendent confined him to office work was awarded 65,000 for disability discrimination last month.

Sgt David Haughney told the WRC that three previous commanding officers let him keep up his work as a public order trainer and tactical advisor despite losing 70pc of his vision in one eye after a rock attack.

A retired inspector said Sgt Haughney was nearly in tears when Superintendent Adrian Gamble told him he was being restricted in his duties, to which Supt Gamble responded: I didnt see any tears.

Adjudicator Jim Dolan found the restrictions had been the withdrawal of reasonable accommodation previously afforded to Sgt Haughney, and upheld the complaint.

Read the full story here

Car seized outside Labour Court in fish-and-chips row

In May the WRC was told of the collapse of talks aimed at ending the multiple strands of a dispute between restaurateur Eugene Hanley and new investors who took over his firm when it went into examinership and then dismissed him and his three sons.

A barrister acting for one of Mr Hanleys sons in the family said feeling between the parties was so utterly bitter that the new management seized a car from the businessman from outside the Labour Court in May this year while he was inside appealing an earlier decision by the WRC.

Its our car, a company witness said.

Read the full story here

Keg lorry drivers secure 114k over mass sacking

STL Logistics, a delivery subcontractor for Guinness brewer Diageo, was ordered to pay 12 workers between 2,320 and 21,000 for firing them en masse.

It happened after Diageo security mounted a covert surveillance operation targeting a pub in Dublins north inner city in connection with alleged unauthorised keg deliveries.

Adjudicator Andrew Heavey accepted the explanation by the keg lorry drivers and their helpers that they had been shuttling kegs from pub to pub as a favour to publicans.

Read the full story here

Dancing solicitor wins 30k for maternity discrimination

A solicitor pursuing a maternity discrimination claim came under questioning at a hearing in May about going to a wedding in connection with a letter she wrote to her ex-employer expressing concerns about Covid-19 safety in the office.

Did you dance that night? she was asked.

There was dancing, yes, she replied.

The adjudicator intervened and repeated the question: Did you dance?

Yes, the solicitor said.

The WRC ultimately ruled Ms Howe had been discriminatorily dismissed  but rejected the complainants contention that the firm was in breach of the European directive on workplace safety for pregnant and breastfeeding workers.

Read the full story here

Irish Defence Forces. Stock image

Atheist wins case over Army religious discrimination

In March the WRC delivered its decision in a discrimination claim by prominent atheist campaigner John Hamill, who complained that the Defence Forces refused to consider him for service as a military chaplain.

Department of Defence witnesses gave evidence that sending a humanist chaplain with peacekeepers to south Lebanon could undo years of liaison work with local religious fundamentalists vital to force protection.

Hezbollah supporters, in particular, were a bit more traditional  and unlikely to accept a non-religious minister, according to one army captain who testified.

However, adjudicator Kevin Baneham said this was not enough to justify drawing military chaplains from among the ranks of Catholic and Church of Ireland clergy and made a finding of discrimination  but awarded no compensation.

Read the full story here

The glass was shaking in the window

A WRC adjudicator has been left to decide between two conflicting accounts of what exactly was said in a busy restaurant when a diner with a hearing impairment asked that obscenely loud music, in her view, be turned down.

Emily Brady said in her complaint that the restaurants manager told her the volume was set at that level to go with the vibe and refused to change it  a claim denied by the manager.

Both the manager and a waitress have also denied knowing Ms Brady had a disability at all  leaving their evidence at odds with accounts given by the complainant and one of her friends in sworn evidence.

A decision on the Equal Status Act complaint is due in the new year.

Read the full story here
Violent incident left one gunman dead, and another seriously injured

Gardai braced for revenge attacks after gunman Tristan Sheery overpowered and killed in Christmas Eve shooting

Gardai have arrested a man in relation to a violent incident at a well-known Blanchardstown restaurant on Christmas Eve, which resulted in one man being killed and another suffering serious injuries.

Gunman Tristan Sherry opened fire with a sub-machine gun in Brownes Steakhouse shortly after 8pm, seriously injuring a 47-year-old man who was enjoying a meal with his family.

Sherry attempted to escape from the restaurant but failed to open a locked door at the back of the building. He was then confronted, disarmed and stabbed several times. He died as a result of his injuries.

The Irish Independent 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.

Gardai have now arrested a man in relation to the investigation.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in West Dublin.

Gardai said investigations are ongoing.

Operation

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 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.

Tristan Sherry was killed in Blanchardstown last weekend

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.

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.
Net closes on violent burglary gang who rented Airbnb as crime-spree base

Arrests expected soon as gardai identify eight criminals from Tallaght

Net closes on Airbnb burglary gang as gardai identify eight suspects for cross county spree

Ken Foy Fri 29 Dec 2023 at 03:30







Gardai have compiled an intelligence dossier on an organised crime gang who used an Airbnb as a base to break into 20 homes in the west of Ireland over five days.
Women in St Mary's National School in Fairview, Dublin, cast their votes in the divorce referendum in November 1995. Photo: Independent News and Media/Getty Images

Government officials were swamped with queries from Irish citizens in the 1980s and 90s asking if they could legally obtain a divorce during visits to foreign countries.

Confidential papers released as part of the State Archives revealed a large number of Irish citizens sought advice from the Government about how to obtain a divorce overseas. It was not legalised in Ireland until 1996 after a referendum the previous year.

Letters on file revealed queries varied from Irish citizens who wondered whether they could divorce during short trips to the US or UK to foreign nationals asking if they could serve divorce papers on a spouse resident in the Republic.

There were questions on whether such foreign divorces were recognised in Ireland and queries about how long a person would have to reside in specific foreign countries to be able to obtain a divorce there.

One person resident in Ireland sought advice on how they could process a divorce involving a partner now in the US.

On June 16, 1986, Department of Foreign Affairs officials received a query from an embassy official in respect of the wife of an Irish citizen who had gone to the US to seek a divorce. This was done without her husbands knowledge.

The man believed his wife was intent on divorcing him so she could marry a Swiss national.

A letter seeking advice on US divorce law was sent to Irish diplomats.

Can she divorce her husband without his knowledge (in New York, Florida or Pennsylvania)? it asked.

The department advised that precise information was best obtained directly from the authorities in those states or from the US Embassy, but diplomats were adamant about the position in Ireland, saying such a divorce would not be recognised in Ireland.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro praised the quality of Irish goods during a stop-over at Shannon, but speculation about trade talks between the two countries prompted a junior minister who met the revolutionary to insist no formal talks took place.

The revelation came in confidential Department of Foreign Affairs documents released as part of the State Archives.

Government officials, mindful of the strong stance taken by the US on Cuban trade and conscious of US multi-national investment in Ireland, were quick to seek clarification on precisely what had happened at Shannon.

Castro stopped at Shannon Airport on November 17, 1982. His Aeroflot plane landed at Shannon to refuel as it was taking the Cuban leader home after his attendance at the funeral of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in Moscow.

During his brief stopover, Castro sampled some Irish goods and met junior finance minister Sylvester Barrett. Castro praised the quality of the products.

A briefing note of January 21, 1983 indicated that the Cuban leader expressed an interest in the development of trade between Ireland and Cuba and suggested the visit to Cuba of an Irish trade mission.

Proinsias de Rossa, who later became leader of Democratic Left, raised the issue in the Dail on January 13 and asked what steps Ireland would now take to consider Cuban trade.

In view of the favourable comments on the quality of Irish goods made by the Cuban leader Dr Castro during a recent stopover at Shannon Airport, if he [trade minister Frank Cluskey] will explore the possibilities for the development of trade between Ireland and Cuba? he asked.

Government officials immediately began confidential correspondence on what had happened with Castro at Shannon.

James Brennan, the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, later wrote to Frank Clarke at the Department of Trade to clarify precisely what had happened at Shannon in view of the increasing media attention on the meeting and the prospect of Irish-Cuban trade.

In a handwritten note, he recorded: The Minister of State met the Presidents party as a courtesy  and no formal talks took place whatsoever.

Further, it advised that when Castro raised the prospect of Irish-Cuban trade the Minister of State responded in a non-committal manner.

Ireland had granted overflight permission to Aeroflot for the Ilyushin aircraft, which was conducting a special flight between Havana and Moscow on November 17.
Arrests have been made in 27 cases, with most suspects before the courts

There were 30 suspicious deaths in Ireland this year, down 30pc compared with 43 last year. Twenty-one of the 30 were male and nine female.

The first killing of the year came just hours into January 1 when Brazilian woman Bruna Fonseca (28) was found dead in an apartment in Cork city after an apparent assault. A man has been charged with murder.

The total may rise as gardai were waiting last night for the results of a post-mortem examination on a man in his 30s found with injuries in a house at Kilross, outside Tipperary town, on Wednesday.

No children died violently in the past 12 months. In previous years, several children died, often at the hands of a family member. In some instances, several children from one household died.

There were two gangland-linked murders, although the first was not committed until the middle of last month.

Brandon Ledwidge (23) was shot dead in Finglas, Dublin, on November 17, while Tristan Sherry (26) was killed in Blanchardstown last weekend.

No arrests have been made in either of those cases or that of Tadhg Delaney (50), who was killed in Jobstown, Tallaght, last month.

Although there have been no arrests in relation to Ledwidges killing, the chief suspect presented himself to gardai and is expected to be interviewed in the near future.

In stark contrast, in the period after the murder of David Byrne at the Regency hotel in February 2016, gangland killings rose sharply as the Hutch-Kinahan feud intensified, leading to the deaths of 18 people over the following years.

Just under half of those who died violently this year were assaulted (46.5pc), which is up from 41pc of suspicious deaths last year.

A total of 13 people (43.5pc) were stabbed, up from 33pc last year, while two (6.5pc) were shot, which is down from 15.5pc. One person is believed to have been suffocated.

Commenting on the deaths of women in suspicious circumstances, Sarah Benson, the CEO of Womens Aid, said this year had been a terrible one for violence against women in Ireland and globally.

Garda figures show domestic violence-related crimes, including murder, are increasing, she added.

Across the country, women and girls rights, hopes and dreams are being trampled upon by violence against women.

Nine women have died violently this year. Each woman killed violently is an outrage, a tragic loss of life resulting in heartache and trauma for those left behind.

These womens voices have been silenced through violence, and their boundless potential was robbed from them and their loved ones.

Prevention of such violence is also crucial. Womens Aid hope that the deep social resonance that has resulted from the violence that has stolen the lives of 265 other women since 1996 will not be squandered.

This should spur us on, in all aspects of Irish society, to do the work required to achieve equality and safety for all and to make Ireland a country that has zero-tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, now and for our future generations.

There were no killings in August or October, while March and June and November were the months with most suspicious deaths, at four each.

Gardai have made arrests in 27 out of the 30 (90pc) suspicious deaths, and in the majority of cases people have been brought before the courts on charges.

The oldest person to die violently was Matthew Healy (89) after he was attacked in Mercy Hospital in Cork on January 22. One man was charged with murder.

Mr Healy, a farmer from Berrings, Co Cork, was a patient in the hospital. Dylan Magee (30), of Churchfield, Cork, has been charged with his murder.

The youngest person to die under suspicious circumstances was Marius Mamaliga (19), who was stabbed the day after Mr Healy was attacked, on January 23.

Mr Mamaliga was stabbed in Swords, north Dublin, and died three days later. Brandon Gavin (20), of Brookdale Road, Rivervalley, Swords, was subsequently charged with his murder.

The death also occurred this year of Sligo farmer Tom Niland (74). He had been in hospital on life support, unable to move or talk and paralysed from the neck down after being assaulted at his home on January 18 last year. He died on September 30.
Government would need to hire helicopters and an armoured car for French president

French president Francois Mitterrand during a state visit to Ireland in February 1988. Photo: Getty

Embarrassed Irish officials acknowledged the logistical demands of a state visit to Ireland by French president Francois Mitterrand would require the hiring of heavy-lift helicopters as the Air Corps did not have any.

They would also need to ensure Mr Mitterrand visited the Newgrange heritage site in Co Meath early enough to return in daylight because only Dublin Airport was equipped with night landing equipment.

French officials who were adamant Mr Mitterrand could only travel by armoured car were informed Ireland did not have such a vehicle.

The revelations came in confidential documents released as part of the State Archives.

Department of Foreign Affairs files on the proposed visit by the Mr Mitterrand to Ireland in February 1988 revealed Irish officials sought to reassure Paris that the visit would be accorded very high security.

A special French delegation travelled to Dublin on February 15, 1988 to finalise details of Mr Mitterrands visit, which included a high-profile state dinner hosted in his honour by Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

The Fianna Fail leader was a renowned Francophile and openly spoke of his admiration for the French president and his leadership style.

However, the demands of the French visit involved major logistical considerations for Ireland.

Among the sites Mr Mitterrand had expressed an interest in seeing were the Rock of Cashel and the Newgrange passage tomb.

At 3pm, President Mitterrand would leave Iveagh House. The Irish side would propose that he then fly by helicopter to Newgrange, taking off from Belfield. The timing of the visit would have to take account of the fact that night falls early in February, a memo noted.

If the helicopter returned after dark, it would have to land at Dublin Airport as Belfield does not have night landing facilities. Alternatively, the party could return by car.

Further, Irish officials admitted to the French that logistics were a complicated area.

As the government did not possess large transport helicopters, we would arrange to rent them, an Irish protocol official noted.

The Irish side would rent two Sikorskys, which could transport at most 23 people each.

She recalled that the French side had also offered some Puma helicopters.

Commandant Thomas, who was with the French delegation, confirmed that France would supply two SuperPuma helicopters to support the visit, one to transport Mr Mitterrand and his immediate entourage and security detail.

The second would carry other members of the French delegation.

Both helicopters would be supplied from the French Army inventory.

However, the French insisted that any road journeys undertaken by Mr Mitterrand would have to be by armoured car.

The Chief of Protocol informed him that the State does not possess an armoured car, an official noted.

A Garda Chief Superintendent at the meeting assured the French that the presidents visit would be accorded a very high level of security.

The Garda Siochana would be responsible for determining the level of (security) cover provided and the French security authorities would be informed of this later, the note read.

Any comments from the French side would be welcome, and the gardai would particularly welcome any views the French security personnel might have on specific security risks.
New Years weekend revellers will need to wrap up as temperatures are set to plummet below freezing during the night this weekend.

Several counties are being hit with two Status Yellow rainfall warnings issued by Met Eireann bringing the possibility of localised flooding.

Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow rainfall warning for Donegal, Leitrim, north Mayo, and Sligo, from 6am this Friday morning, lasting until 9pm tonight.

The national forecaster has warned the affected counties to expect heavy rainfall leading to localised flooding.

A Status Yellow gale warning from Belfast Lough to Strangford Lough to Howth Head and on the north Irish Sea also kicked in from 5.20am this morning.

Westerly winds will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9, with a maximum speed of 88kph.

A second Status Yellow gale warning came into effect from 5.30am this morning, which ranges from Slyne Head to Erris Head to Rossan Point. Gale force winds of force 8 (62-74kph) are expected.

Met Eireann has also issued a Status Yellow rainfall warning for counties Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford this Saturday, from 2am to midday.

Meanwhile a Status Yellow gale force winds warning has been issued for the entire coast of Ireland from midnight on Saturday for 24 hours.

It will be windy at first this morning with fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds, gradually easing, while there will be sunny periods and some heavy showers for much of the country.

However, showery rain will persist in parts of the north and northwest for much of the day with some localised flooding likely and a chance of a little sleet in the north too.

Highest temperatures today of 4 to 8 degrees, possibly a little lower in some northern parts.

Temperatures will then drop below freezing for the first time this weekend, starting tonight.

Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with some frost and icy stretches forming with light to moderate southwesterly or variable breezes, Met Eireann said.

However, cloud will build from the southwest, turning milder as the rain follows, extending northeastwards over much of the country by morning, accompanied by fresh to strong and gusty southeasterly winds.

There is a chance of transient falls of sleet on the leading edge of the rain.

A wet and windy start to the day on Saturday with widespread rain, heavy or thundery at times with some localised flooding possible.

The rain will clear from the west to sunny spells and showers from the western half of the country through the morning, extending to all areas in the afternoon.

Some showers will be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, coolest in the northwest.

Fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, with onshore gales, will mean there is a chance of coastal flooding in the south and southwest.

Saturday night will bring clear spells and squally showers overnight, most frequent in the west and southwest. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees.

Sunday will be breezy or windy with sunny spells and scattered showers and a chance of hail. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees generally.

On Sunday night, showers will continue, mainly for Atlantic counties with longer spells of rain possible in the northwest. Some frost or ice will form with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds.

This Monday, New Year's Day will see sunny spells and scattered showers at first, becoming more isolated through the morning and early afternoon.

Cloud will build from the southwest with rain following, extending northeastwards over much of the country by night-time. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Outbreaks of rain will clear northwards from most areas on Monday night, with clear spells and scattered showers following from the west.

Lowest temperatures over the northern half of the country of -2 to 0 degrees, which are expected to be milder further south.

Current indications suggest that there will be further showers or showery outbreaks of rain. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees generally, Met Eireann said of Tuesday..

Met Eireann said the first week of 2024 also looks likely to prove quite unsettled as a low-pressure weather front will bring blustery conditions with rainfall expected to be well above early January norms.

The good news is that calmer weather is expected from January 8 thanks to a high-pressure front arriving in the Atlantic, although there will still be some showers around.
All options looked at amid worsening violence in 1970s

The Irish government examined all possible options as the Troubles escalated in the early 1970s

The government feared that any redrawing of the Border and a resultant population transfer to the Republic from the North might involve an unaffordable cost for an economy already struggling to fight off recession.

The revelation came in confidential documents released as part of the State Archives, which indicated the then government commissioned studies on the implications of any changes to the 1921 Northern Ireland Border.

In the early 1970s, as Northern Ireland was gripped by an escalating campaign of sectarian violence, the Fine Gael-Labour coalition examined all possible options in the wake of the collapse of power-sharing in Belfast.

Civil servants were ordered to consider a number of potential developments. These ranged from the continuation of the status quo through to an independent Northern Ireland statelet and a possible Border redrawing to put heavily nationalist areas in the Republic.

The government was concerned about what might happen if the UK decided to withdraw its military and administrative personnel from the North.

There were concerns that, in the event of a British military withdrawal, unionist politicians might opt to declare an independent statelet.

Civil servants quickly advised the government that any question of a military intervention by the Republic was out of the question.

The option was examined by civil servants, who said: 

This is beyond our military and administrative capabilities.

The scenario revolved around the Defence Forces being deployed to subdue loyalist paramilitary groups and to ensure Northern Ireland was brought within the control of the Republic.

Civil servants also warned that another option  redrawing the Border  would involve significant resources.

One study examined a new Border that would result in over 60pc of Northern Irelands territory being included in the Republic and up to 500,000 former Northern Ireland citizens finding themselves living in the Republic.

Civil servants warned that the economic fallout would be potentially enormous. They estimated a cost of close to IR900m for the plan to be enacted.

Civil servants stressed that the UK would almost certainly not agree to underwrite any of the costs involved  and would, in any event, almost never agree to any Border redrawing that resulted in large swathes of UK territory switching to the Republic.

The study, drawn up in 1975, would involve a modern cost of almost 9bn  roughly 8pc of Irelands annual exchequer receipts.

Civil servants also warned that any attempt to include largely nationalist areas of Northern Ireland in the Republic would prove problematic, given that the areas almost certain to remain within the UK, such as Belfast, also contained large nationalist populations.

Civil servants stressed that while there were enormous housing and social needs involved in such a scheme, there was no guarantee that London would agree to fund any of it.

Dublin officials also noted that, under every scenario, the wealthiest and most economically prosperous parts of Northern Ireland  areas around Belfast and on the east coast  would inevitably remain within the UK.

The reports conclusion stressed that, if such a measure were implemented in the wake of escalating sectarian violence, it would involve major population transfers.

This could impose a tremendous economic burden on the Republic, it said.
Moira Killeen mystery: Dublin mum found dead in Luxembourg was afraid of being poisoned

Ms Killeens remains were cremated without her familys knowledge before a post-mortem examination could be carried out

A Dublin mother found dead under suspicious circumstances had voiced concerns about poisoning in the weeks leading up to her death, according to her family

Robin Schiller Fri 29 Dec 2023 at 03:30

A Dublin mother found dead in her Luxembourg home had expressed fears about being poisoned in the weeks before her body was discovered.
Priceless grave slabs stolen from an island in the Shannon were to be sold to collectors in the US, with some of the proceeds then being donated to Noraid to benefit the IRA.

Other artefacts supposedly being offered on the black market were rifles that had been used in the 1916 Easter Rising.

The revelation came as secret files released as part of the State Archives indicated the artefacts may have been lost to Ireland for ever in the 1990s.

Confidential Department of Foreign Affairs files revealed the FBI had briefed Irish diplomats on developments in their investigation into the sale of stolen artefacts across the US.

One US artefact dealer, Peter Kenny, was found to have the phone number, name and address of Martin Galvin.

Mr Galvin was the high-profile director of Noraid, a group that raised money in the US to support republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. The group was also accused of directing funds to the IRA.

Noraid repeatedly rejected allegations over the years that it was in any way involved in supporting the IRA to secure arms or munitions.

A report compiled by the Irish consulate in Boston in May 1991 recorded how Mr Kenny had told the FBI he was going to give Noraid a portion of the money he received for the artefacts.

The report revealed how a librarian at Boston College had contacted the consulate in mid-March 1991 about the authenticity and value of artefacts that a man from Florida, Mr Kenny, was offering for sale.

The consul general, Liam Canniffe, noted the seller had told Boston College that the artefacts had been in the possession of his family for years and he wanted them to be given to an Irish institution.

Mr Canniffe warned the head librarian of Burns Library in Boston College, Bob ONeill, that if the artefacts were genuine, they were more than likely stolen and illegally exported from Ireland.

Mr Canniffe outlined how the FBI were contacted and a sting operation was put in place that included monitoring phone calls made by Mr Kenny.

He subsequently walked into the trap when he brought all but one of the stones with him to a meeting with FBI agents posing as representatives of Boston College.

Mr Kenny (68), who originally came from Roscommon, was arrested at a Boston hotel on April 22, 1991 and was charged with the transport and possession of stolen antiquities.
President Mary Robinson on her trip to Somalia in 1992. Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22

Queen Elizabeth II wrote to President Mary Robinson to tell her that she shared her distress at the plight of Somalia and its people.

The revelation came as confidential documents released as part of the State Archives indicated the government gave the green light for the presidential visit to Somalia after the former Trinity College academic insisted it would help highlight the humanitarian crisis facing the African country to the world.

On September 14, 1992, Peter Ryan of the Presidents Office wrote to assistant secretary of the government, Frank Murray, to explain what President Robinson believed about her proposed trip.

The President feels that a visit by her to Somalia would help to focus international attention on the tragedy there and wishes to request Government consent for such a visit, Mr Ryan said.

The government gave the green light for the trip, which subsequently took place in October of the same year.

Security and logistical concerns later dominated state discussions of the proposed Somalia trip.

President Robinsons team asked that European spring water be available at key stages of the visit programme.

The President drinks a lot of water as she dehydrates easily, one memo advised.

What is the position on bottled water in Nairobi? Is it possible to get European spring water there?

If so, suggest that you ensure there is an adequate supply of it available for the period of the stay in Nairobi.

Will it be possible to bring a supply into Somalia or is it intended to rely on water provided by the aid agencies? Please advise as the Aras seems to be quite concerned about this question.

After her Somalia visit and the successful publication of a book on the trip, a signed copy was sent by the Irish ambassador to Buckingham Palace for the queen.

On December 29, 1992, Robert Fellowes, private secretary to the queen, wrote to the Irish embassy in respect of the gift.

Her Majesty has asked that I pass her thanks, through you, to President Robinson for her kindness together with her warm good wishes for a happy New Year, he wrote.

The queen also much appreciated the letter from President Robinson and shares with her the distress she feels at the dreadful situation in Somalia.

Her Majesty looks forward to reading the Presidents diary account of the visit.

Previous releases under the State Archives revealed tensions between Ms Robinson and the government in the wake of her trip to Somalia.

The president had submitted copies of her proposed diary-type book to the Department of the Taoiseach for its review before publication.

Government officials raised concerns over a number of pages of the book that were described as offering value judgments on the problems in the African state.

Further, it was determined that some of the language involved was somewhat emotional.
Micheal Martin looks at a map of the Gaza Strip during a meeting with Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh in Ramallah. Photo: Reuters

Tougher sanctions against enforced Israeli settlements on the West Bank must be introduced if the deprivation and displacement of Palestinians continues there, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has warned.

He said there was particular violence associated with the far right, very religious fundamentalist settlers who almost believe that the Biblical reality is this is all of their land.

Their view was that they can displace anybody in their way, Mr Martin said. That has to stop, and the Israeli Government has a responsibility to stop it.

Heightened tensions reigns in the self-governing Palestinian territory after terrifying raids and shootings by the Israeli military (IDF), which is seen as enabling land-grabs across the river Jordan which marks the border.

Travel bans have been announced by the EU against some armed settlers, but there are no sanctions against goods produced in new Israeli settlements that violate the Oslo accords.

Mr Martin said the introduction of tougher penalties against confiscated territory could now be contemplated and Israel should start paying for damage done by settlers.

We are part of the West Bank consortium (of western countries) which is endeavouring to put pressure on Israel to pay for damage to any EU-funded infrastructure, Mr Martin said.

Most recently there was a school that was funded by Irish Aid that was very badly damaged by Israeli forces. We believe whats happening in the West Bank is shocking, its in violation of UN resolutions, and in violation of international humanitarian law.

With shootings and arrests escalating daily, Mr Martin said Ireland had made it clear consistently at UN and other levels that this has to stop now.

He added: I think sanctions should go beyond travel bans if this persists. Israel is saying its a small minority (of aggressive homesteaders) but the evidence is that the action of settlers has been backed up by the IDF on the ground with Palestinians being attacked and various communities being displaced.

The Fatah-ruled West Bank is far from Hamas-run Gaza, which has been levelled since the bloody invasion by the Israeli Defence Forces  but angered Palestinian youths are increasingly seeking confrontation with militant Israelis backed by soldiers.

The fundamental issue is that, if we are to have any chance of a contiguous Palestinian state the action, of the settlers has to stop, Mr Martin said.

It was unclear whether he used the word contiguous accidentally, since there is considerable distance between Gaza and the West Bank, and no linking land corridor  although one had been demanded during the Oslo talks many years ago by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
There were fears a proposed visit by US president Bill Clinton might run the risk of antagonising some voters in Northern Ireland. Photo: Getty

Northern Secretary Mo Mowlam was concerned that high-profile British, American and Irish politicians campaigning to promote the Good Friday Agreement in the North could have the opposite impact to that intended and might run the risk of antagonising some voters.

Secret documents, released as part of the State Archives, indicated that Ms Mowlam was delicately trying to balance campaign issues as a key referendum was staged on the Good Friday Agreement.

While the agreement was overwhelmingly ratified in the Republic, there were concerns about the unionist reaction to the peace deal and whether loyalists might reject it.

In a briefing with Ted Barrington, the Irish ambassador to Britain, in April 1998, the Labour Party MP said she was desperately trying to thank high-profile politicians for their personal offers of campaign support  while trying to ensure people in Northern Ireland were not offended by a blitz of endorsements of the agreement.

She was particularly concerned that a proposed visit by US president Bill Clinton might do more harm than good.

Ms Mowlam told Mr Barrington she was inundated with offers from politicians eager to try to promote the agreement and help deliver a Yes vote.

In terms of UK politics alone, she was offered the personal support of former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock, the then Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown and then Conservative Party leader William Hague.

Ms Mowlam was noted as saying all the offers of help were genuine and well-intentioned and demonstrated widespread support for the agreement.

However, she warned she had to measure the potential impact on Northern Ireland voters.

I had to consider feelings within Northern Ireland about outside interference, she said.

But while she said she could handle the offers from British politicians  while trying not to cause offence  her biggest headache was what to do if Mr Clinton was determined to visit Northern Ireland in person to help sell the agreement to voters.

Bluntly, the MP admitted to the Irish diplomat that, in such a scenario, it would be difficult to keep out the US president if he was determined to visit the North.

Her concern was that it might have precisely the opposite effect as intended. She indicated that, above all, officials were determined that any such visit should not involve street tours or anything that might be interpreted as campaigning for the agreement.

It is up to him. I cannot dictate to the US president, Ms Mowlam said.

Ultimately, Mr Clinton decided against a pre-referendum visit to Northern Ireland.
10 travel trends for 2024  from slackpacking to mood managers and dupe destinations

How will we travel next year? From solo trips and slackpackers, here are just some of the colourful trends you can expect...

Travel trends for 2024

Pol O Conghaile Fri 29 Dec 2023 at 03:31

Wildfires in Rhodes and Maui. Scorching heat in the Med. Summer climate extremes led us to wonder if the peak-season sun-holiday template was starting to crack.
Sailors used to fret about how much the tempest would test the worth of their anchor. But as Storm Gerrit blows itself out  the eighth named extreme weather event in four months  it is no longer a case of any port in a storm for mariners, as there are few safe harbours.

Climate change looks set to guarantee that 2023 will go out with a roar. Met Eireann has also confirmed the year was the warmest ever.

Climatologist Keith Lambkin told RTE it was a remarkable year in climate terms. We had the warmest June ever recorded, while March and July were the wettest. Mr Lambkin said: Never before have we had a year where we have broken records for two months having the wettest months ever.

Globally, climate records are also tumbling, reflecting our inability to get to grips with the challenges our overheating planet presents. We should not be too surprised.

Scientists have been warning wealthy countries for decades that without radical changes in behaviour, the drumbeat of weather disasters could only ever be more insistent. Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist with Berkeley Earth, said: There is increasing evidence global warming has accelerated over the past 15 years.

Global warming is no longer a problem on the horizon. The storm is already here. In case there is any further doubt, the head of Met Eireann has warned we are now in a race to improve forecasting services to save lives as severe weather events increase.

Eoin Moran said climate change was testing the national forecasters ability to accurately predict such weather and its impacts with the level of detail now needed. Flood forecasting in particular needed work.

Were setting all the unwanted records, not just in Ireland but globally. Were setting them on emissions and temperature and extreme weather, he added.

It was fitting that in the week before Christmas, the Cabinet approved the Governments 2024 climate action plan. Many of the plans to slash emissions target transport. Initiatives have been hit by planning laws, but Climate Minister Eamon Ryan is hopeful progress can be finally made.

The focus is on developments involving BusConnects, DartPlus, Cork light rail and the Galway cross-city route, but there are other big developments marked for 2024.

The Department of Transport will publish its demand management strategy, which involves radical moves aimed at ending congestion and reallocating road space for public and active travel.

Next summer will also bring transformational change to Dublin city centre, where public transport will be given priority in terms of access, thus restricting through traffic.

We are likely to see similar game-changing plans introduced in cities and towns nationwide. How we work, build, farm and live is about to change for ever.

It may be controversial, but we have spent too long talking. The steps needed have been identified. Immediate and concerted action is now unavoidable.
A POPULAR Ballincollig cafe is to change hands but the new owner has assured regulars that it will be business as usual.

Good for the Soul offers local and seasonal produce, delicious food and speciality coffee and has been run by Ballincollig native Sarah Cotter since opening in March 2018.

After falling in love with the brunch and coffee culture in Melbourne, Sarah left her career in healthcare to train as a barista. Her mission has been to bring speciality coffee with local, seasonal and exciting food dishes to customers in a unique and welcoming space.

Now, after almost six years, Paul OCarroll, current owner of The Bookshelf Coffee House in Cork city, will take over from Sarah, making Good for the Soul a sister cafe.

Paul has assured the cafe regulars there is nothing to worry about as almost everything will stay the same as it always was.

I am very proud to be taking over the reins of Good For The Soul. Sarah has built an incredible cafe over the past five years and we are very proud to become a part of it. Good For The Soul has fast become a cornerstone of the Ballincollig community and we are very keen to build on that.

Almost everything will be staying as is, name, menu and most importantly the incredible team behind the counter. We are very excited for this new adventure and we hope to see you all soon, Paul said.

The cafe features pallet tables, menus made from old comic annuals, lush greenery throughout and a hardworking friendly team.
Several projects were completed during the year, while continued progress was also made on a number of other initiatives.

The final section of the N22 Macroom bypass in Co Cork was officially opened on Monday, November 6.

Work began on the dual carriageway between Macroom and Baile Bhuirne in January 2020.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said the now-completed 22 kilometre route - built at a cost of 280 million will cut travel time between Cork and Killarney by up to 17 minutes.

Cllr Lynch said the completion of the Macroom bypass was the most outstanding political moment of the year. It has been a very positive year for Macroom town. The bypass was the most outstanding political moment for us in 2023. We had the initial opening back in December 2022 and the final opening in November 2023 was a massive deal for the town, she said.

The councillor said the completion of the bypass has proved very beneficial for both business owners and residents in Macroom town. It has been great to see the changes in the town in the past 12 months since the opening of the initial stage one of the bypass. Businesses are doing well and we had our first open air concert since the time of the Mountain Dew festival.

We were able to close off some of the street and Macroom Music Fest will be back again next June. It was great for the town. Macroom has such a musical history and it was great to see it back again. There seems to be a lot more people shopping in the town and the town still seems to be busy. The effect of the bypass has been massive, she added.

Cllr Lynch said there are also many projects that commenced in 2023 that will come to fruition next year or in 2025. An awful lot happened this year that people wont necessarily see come to fruition until 2024 or 2025. It has been a really good year. We will start to see most of the work that was done this year in 2024. We will have the opening of the Briery Gap very soon. We have the redevelopment of the church on Castle Street and also the public realms works that will be taking place in the town. There are also heritage works going on.

There is massive potential for Macroom, said Cllr Lynch. You see the development of new houses, both public and private, that will continue in the new year. Growth is good and I am delighted to see people coming into Macroom town. We need to ensure we have adequate services for all those people. Things like adequate childcare and adequate healthcare. It is difficult to get a doctor in the town at the moment. Whilst I am for growth, there is no point in growing if we dont have adequate services for those people.

The councillor has a number of priorities for next year which comprise of improving medical facilities and sporting facilities in the Macroom area. From a healthcare point of view, I am involved with the HSE South committee and I am always raising issues. I would like to see the delivery of a day care centre for the elderly. There are plans for that and I would like to see it come to fruition. It is a service that is really needed. We have a lot of works done in Macroom Community Hospital that are almost completed as well. Those kind of things need to be done. They are incredibly important and we need to keep the pressure on.

Sports facilities can always be improved. We are lucky enough in terms of what we have in the town in terms of facilities, but there are various ones we are looking at from a municipal district point of view. Macroom GAA and Macroom AFC are both working on massive redevelopment plans at the moment which is great to see. They both have lots of underage teams and female inclusion, she added.

Turning her attention to domestic matters ahead of next years local elections, Cllr Lynch who was first elected to Cork County Council in 2019 said she is looking forward to engaging with constituents. I probably wont be calling to the doors for another few weeks, but realistically you are kind of always campaigning and out and about on the ground. Last time was very different. I was a new candidate and unknown. Even though I had been involved in politics for a long time, it is completely different when you are the candidate. It will be interesting to see what it is like going around as someone who has been elected for five years because there is obviously a bounce when you are a new candidate. I am looking forward to it.
Emergency services received an emergency call after 10am on Friday morning

Three people were treated for smoke inhalation and one person was taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a house in the Hollyhill Heights area of Cork on Friday morning.

A spokesperson for Cork City Fire Brigade told The Corkman that the fire broke out in one room of the house, possibly due to an electrical fault, though the cause has to be investigated by Gardai.

Two Fire Brigade units responded to the house fire, one from Cork City and one from Ballyvolane, following an emergency call placed at 10.18am.

It is understood that the fire was put out quickly by the units and three of those affected by smoke inhalation were treated at the scene. One person was taken to hospital by ambulance for further smoke inhalation treatment.

Gardai attended the scene of the house fire alongside emergency services.
Fota Wildlife Park was forced to close early on Wednesday, December 27, due to the Orange Weather warning caused by Storm Gerrit.

The last entry into Fota Wildlife Park changed to 2pm and the park closed at 3pm.

The park was originally expected to be open until 4pm, back after a three day closure over the Christmas period. Normal hours resumed on Thursday, December 28, and park management apologised for any inconvenience caused to ticket holders, particularly those who had come to see a very special newcomer.

Amongst the chaos of the storm, the park shared the exciting announcement of a new arrival to Fota. A baby endangered Francois Langur monkey was born on Wednesday, November 22. The infant, with its striking orange fur, was born to proud parents Mei and Shinobi.

Since its arrival, the young monkey has been making appearances alongside its parents in the Asian Sanctuary.

Visitors can often catch glimpses of this captivating newcomer through the viewing window of their specially designed habitat.

Over the next few months, the babys coat is expected to transition from orange to black, mirroring the natural development of Francois Langur monkeys.

There is a wild population of 1,4001,650 in China and fewer than 500 left in Vietnam. As a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), we will be participating in their 2024 Vietnamizing conservation campaign, drawing attention to threats to the countrys amazing biodiversity and animal species, such as the Francois Langur, whose wild populations are currently under pressure from habitat loss, hunting, and poaching, said Teresa Power, the Lead Ranger at Fota Wildlife Park.

Fota Wildlife Park is inviting the public to suggest a name for the new monkey, offering the owner of the winning name a Conservation Annual Pass.

The park ran a similar initiative back in September when three meerkat babies were born for the first time in a decade.

The arrival of the baby monkey rounds up a busy and exciting year for Fota Wildlife Park and marks a significant step towards the preservation of endangered wildlife.
Stallholders at Honest2Goodness farmers market in Dublin welcome very positive news

Peter Whelan, of The Whole Hoggs, at the Honest2Goodness farmers' market in Glasnevin. Pic: Tony Gavin

A popular weekly farmers market in Glasnevin, which was due to close next week, has been given a three-month extension.

Stallholders at the Honest2Goodness market recently received very positive news, with the extra three-month lease giving them more time to find a new location.

They had originally been given two months notice of closure in November.

Brid Carter, the former director of the market based in the Glasnevin industrial estate, told the Irish Independent: The market will continue at Slaney Close until the end of March to allow for a move to a new premises to be completed.

A suitable premises has been identified within the industrial estate, but the lease has yet to be finalised and it will need work to be done to make it suitable for the market.

She confirmed the market will reopen in its current location on January 6 for a further three months and wished the stallholders all the best for the future.

The new location will be managed by C+H Cafe, a stallholder within the market.

Adam and Kevin of C+H Cafe at Honest2Goodness in Glasnevin

Adam Hoban co-owner of C+H Cafe said he was delighted an extension has been agreed to enable a transition period to a new premises.

We are currently in negotiations to rent within the same estate, he added.

Thanks to Brids hard work over the past 14 years, we have a solid market that we hope to build on over the next several years providing the local community a meeting space and a source of top quality produce from our traders.

Some 23 stall owners who sell their produce at the farmers market every Saturday were devastated by the news earlier this year of the closure.

Honest2Goodness is one of the most popular markets in the region with customers who travel from Meath, Louth, and other neighbouring counties.

Everything from free-range pork and organic vegetables to artisan baked goods, handmade desserts, home-reared beef, and lamb is available at the market in Slaney Close.

The market will reopen on January 6, while they await the lease on the other suitable premises to be finalised.

However, the space will need work to ensure it is suitable for the continuation of the Honest2Goodness market, and stallholders have now set up a GoFundMe in support of the relocation.

These funds will go toward the logistical elements of the new space, including plumbing, electricity, walls, furniture, deep cleaning, interior design, and much more.

Peter Whelan, from The Whole Hoggs free-range pig farm in Slane, Co Meath, is one of the traders who has been most vocal about the market closure, as it serves as his main source of livelihood.

He told the Irish Independent that while he is delighted with the news, he would like to see something in writing.

After all we have been through recently, we need clarity; the proposed new building has not been shown to us yet, and we really dont want to be in a similar situation in three months time, he said.

Personally, I am relieved from a very stressful time. Since October, we have worked tirelessly to get to this stage of the process.

While the work is not finished, I would like to acknowledge the importance of the support of our loyal customer base, along with the local politicians and media outlets who helped us keep this issue in the public domain.

The Proper Chocolate Company welcomed the news of the three-month extension

Mr Whelan also outlined that the fund which bought this new property is not at the planning stage and said he is concerned about what he considers a short timeframe of three months.

Patrick Marjolet, another stallholder of Proper Chocolate Company at the market, expressed his gratitude at the markets lease extension, saying the news almost felt like a Christmas miracle.

We are super thankful and very excited to let everybody know that the future of the Honest2Goodness market is now safe, he said.

Mr Marjolet said that through the public support which has been so strong, it convinced all parties involved to sit down and talk.

He acknowledged that while the move to a tenancy in a warehouse close by within this timeframe was by no means an easy task, he predicts strong support from the community, Dublin city and benefactors.
A charity is calling on the public to donate any unwanted Christmas presents to one of their shops in Dublin.

If youve gotten a present that isnt necessarily to your taste, not the right size, or you simply dont have the need for it, you can pass it on to someone who will get great use out of it.

Barnardos shops are calling for unwanted Christmas gifts which they will sell on to help fund the charitys work with children and families across the country.

You can visit one of their four Dublin stores  Dalkey, Clondalkin, Kilbarrack or Dun Laoghaire  to give them that jumper thats a size too small, the perfume you already have or a book you already read.

Not only is it a great way to help you declutter your home, but its also a chance to give someone something that they want at a discounted price.

If you have received a gift that was too small, too big, or just not right, we will gladly find a home for it in our shop, Bernadette Harrington, Barnardos Retail Shops Manager, said.

The funds brought in from each donated item will go directly towards the work in 54 service locations, in family homes, schools, early learning and care settings and communities.

In 2022, Barnardos worked with 20,838 children and their families, your donations will ensure our work can continue to support those who need it.

President Michael D Higgins, a patron for Barnardos, added: The early intervention of Barnardos gives many children in the country the chance to see beyond a landscape of sadness and hardship to a brighter future.

I thank Barnardos for all it does to create a positive change in the lives of our most vulnerable young citizens, and I wish them continued success with their vital work for the year to come.

Barnardos works with the most vulnerable children in society and helps them achieve their full potential regardless of their family circumstances, their gender, race or disability.

The charity has three other shops around the country  in Carlow, Cork and Wexford  that are also accepting donations.
OLV Gospel Choir planning Milan trip after triumph in TG4 competition

The OLV Gospel Choir got to perform with Nathan Carter in the Bord Gais theatre

The OLV Gospel Choir alongside musician John Spillane during the final at The Helix

Members of the OLV Gospel Choir with their TG4 trophy at Christmas Eve mass alongside Fr Frank

A talented Dublin choir group has described their absolute shock at winning a TG4 competition to find the countrys best choir.

The OLV Gospel Choir, based out of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church on the Ballymun Road, won the final of Curfa which aired just before Christmas.

The group, with 20 members, performs every Sunday evening in the church and meet for practice weekly on a Tuesday.

Curfa was pre-recorded over ten weeks and saw the OLV Gospel Choir compete against some of the countrys best choirs at the Helix in DCU.

The OLV Gospel Choir alongside musician John Spillane during the final at The Helix

Niamh Kelly, who has been a member of the choir for the past six years, told the Irish Independent that the win came as an absolute shock.

Nobody thought we had it in the bag, the added factor of us not being able to see the other choirs perform meant we really didnt know what we were up against, she said.

We were absolutely overwhelmed and delighted, there was a great sense of pride not only for us but for the community and an acknowledgement of our hard work and dedication paying off.

Ms Kelly, a primary school teacher from Drumcondra, joined the OLV Choir in 2018 when it came under the new musical director, Ciara Murphy.

She was a minister for the eucharist in the church who was enthralled by the choir.

It was originally designed to be a young adult choir with age restrictions in place. However, Ms Kelly said the ages have blurred slightly throughout the years.

The choir members had to keep their win and trophy under wraps to ensure the community and church members could enjoy watching along to keep the excitement.

The members of the choir got together to watch the final which they described as a huge buzz, allowing them to relive the victory all over again.

Our Lady of Victories parish priest Fr Frank and his predecessor Fr Fintan were acknowledged by the choir as being a great support to the choir in ensuring that the group stays together.

The OLV Gospel Choir got to perform with Nathan Carter in the Bord Gais theatre

The OLV Gospel Choir were also lucky enough to perform alongside Nathan Carter last spring in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre which they described as a dream come true.

Ms Kelly said that it was such a fun experience which gave a glance into performance from behind the scenes.

The choir is now planning a trip to Milan with their prize money of 5,000 during the long weekend in February which will involve workshops and choral singing opportunities in a church.

One of the choir members is from Milan and is helping to coordinate the trip which the members cant wait for.
Dec Pierce and Chasing Abbey ahead of their shows at Collins barracks as part of the NYF Festival. Pic: Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland

Picture This will ring in the new year at Dublin Castle

Picture This will headline the Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle on December 31 as part of New Years Festival Dublin.

The sold-out event at Dublin Castle will also host Moncrieff and Lea Heart  if youre lucky enough you might be able to score a resale ticket on Ticketmaster.

But no need to worry if you miss this one as there will be several events taking place across the city in three venues from today as the city celebrates the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.

The four-day New Years Festival Dublin will take place at the National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, Meeting House Square in the heart of Temple Bar, and in the surrounds of Dublin Castle.

Today, December 29

The High Kings (8pm) and Divine Comedy (9.15pm) are kicking off the four-day festival with headline performances in Collins Barracks. Gates open from 6pm with acts across three stages.

Saturday, December 30

DJ Emma Power will host a free family friendly event with upcoming Irish artists Robert Grace, Rachel Mae Hannon and Fia Moon from 4pm to 9pm at Dublin Castle.

Dec Pierce and Chasing Abbey ahead of their shows at Collins barracks as part of the NYF Festival. Pic: Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland

Meanwhile, the National Museum of Ireland will host live performances across three stages from headliner Dec Pierces Block Rockin Beats and special guests Chasing Abbey, Ryan Mack, Jen Payne, HamSandwich, R.S.A.G, Sinead White, Chubby Cat, and Fergal D'Arcy later that evening from 6pm.

Sunday, December 31

Rising Irish artists Moncrieff, Lea Heart and Lucy Gaffney will perform at the Midnight Moment Matinee on December 31 in Dublin Castle. The special early countdown event from 4pm until 6pm is for all ages. Children can ring in the new year in Dublin Castle with some of Irelands best musicians.

For the night owls, you can ring in 2024 with Picture This, Moncrieff, and Lea Heart later that night at the same venue. The event will begin at 8pm, with Picture This taking to the stage before midnight. There will also be a light up aerial visual pyrotechnics show on the night.

Monday, January 1

The festivities will continue at the New Years Day Concert in Dublin Castle with live performances from Jerry Fish, Dublin Gospel Choir, Code of Behaviour and The New Brass Kings. This event will run from 1pm until 5pm.

You can experience some of Irelands best traditional and folk musicians in Meeting House Square with performances from Ronan O Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly, Dani Larkin, Niamh Bury and Sola. This event will run from 2pm until 6pm.

Both events are free, non-ticketed family friendly events. Visit nyfdublin.com for more information on all events.
Mary OSullivan, Kathleen OConnor, Theresa Elumelu and Victoria Hryhorash of the Tralee International Resource Centre with the Christmas gifts that will be handed over to the asylum seekers living in Direct Provision Centres in Tralee. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan.

It was a busy past few days for staff and volunteers from Tralee International Resource Centre (TIRC) as they put together special Christmas packs to give to the asylum seekers living in Direct Provision Centres in Tralee and who spent Christmas far away from their loved ones.

TIRC Co-ordinator Mary Carroll said this week that these care packs are a small token to show all those living in Direct Provision that there is support and help out there.

We see the pack as a little package of hope and caring and the gesture will hopefully give some a little hope too for their situation. When you see the reaction on the peoples faces when we present them with the care pack it is really amazing, and sums up the true spirit of Christmas. It is so great to be able to help in a practical and tangible way, she said.

The 200 packs are identical and contain a mix of practical items like toiletries, pens, and treats of crisps and chocolate. Each child also received a small token toy at a small party organised for them recently.

Christmas can be a difficult time for many people suffering loss of loved ones, loneliness or isolation. It is a time where people usually gather with family and friends and exchange gifts. For people in Direct Provision this is not possible, and we want to remind them that they are not forgotten at Christmas, Mary added.

Tralee International Resource Centre, which is based at Boherbee in Tralee, provides support to asylum seekers, refugees and Ukrainians living in Tralee.

We work to support people to help themselves settle into their life here in Kerry, finding training, work, or volunteering opportunities. We offer information, support, sign posting, and a listening ear, which is often the most important thing of all, Mary said.

Tralee International Resource Centre can be contacted on 0667127918 or email reception@tirc.ie.
Freda Purcell Killorglin who celebrates her 60th Birthday on New Years Day. She was the the first born in Ireland on New Year's day 1964. Pictured here with her Mother Bridie. Photo by Michael G Kenny

Birthdays are a very special occasion but for one Killorglin woman her birthday is even more important given it is on New Years Day.

And even more significantly Freda Purcell born at 12.03am on New Years day 1964  the first baby born in Ireland that very year and, of course, the first baby in Kerry.

Freda was born at the Killarney District Hospital to parents John and Bridie Purcell weighing in at 8 pounds three ounces. Her mother Bridie who celebrated her 80th birthday in September of this year can still remember all the fuss of the birth of her baby.

At the time she recalls been given 25 - a significant sum at the time and a pram and of course the baby made headlines in newspapers.

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"It was a big thing back then, people were coming up to see the baby, said Freda speaking on behalf of her Mom.

"At the time she was shocked about it.

It has been a difficult birth for Bridie and was lucky that she did not die but thanks to the wonderful staff including Dr Billy OSullivan in Killarney at the time all went well in the end and baby Freda and Bridie basked in the publicity of the moment.

In fact they were to make headlines again that year as she was named the Tayto baby of the year in Kerry for 1964!

Since then Fredas birthday has been extra special and her 21st too garnered headlines as readers met the 1964 New Years Eve baby 21 years on.

This year is now set to be an even bigger celebration for her 60th birthday and marks 60 years since she became the first baby born in Ireland.

Freda comes from a family of eight and is her mother's second child  in total she had five girls and three boys. Sadly, her husband John is now deceased as are three of her children which makes the family occasion even more important.

Growing up Freda said her birthday was just like all the others really and in fact because her birthday was so close to Christmas she would only get the one present to mark the occasion!

This year there may be more presents as Freda marks a milestone birthday.

"I am going out with my family to mark the occasion on New Years Eve, said Freda.

Freda lives with her Mom Bridie at Laune View in Killorglin and works at St Mary's of the Angels in Beaufort and she will celebrate another milestone this year as she will celebrate 44 years of service on January 28.

It is a job that Freda loves and she says couldnt be happier working with young adults in a community house and she is sure to mark her birthday with them too.
The Tralee development was originally given the green light by Kerry County Council.

A planning application to build 129 apartments and 18 houses at a Tralee location was granted permission by Kerry County Council (KCC) but is being appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

Permission was granted by KCC in November 2023 to Tulfarris Ltd of Bandon, County Cork, subject to 32 planning conditions.

The proposed development would see the demolition of two dwelling houses at Cloon More, off the main Boherbee Road (opposite Austin Stack Park), to provide vehicular access to the site.

The apartments would range from two to five bedroom units, including townhouse style apartments along with all associated ancillary works.

KCC refused a similar application from Tulfarris Ltd in 2020 for 85 residential units on the grounds it would be conducive to a traffic hazard.

The 2023 application by Tulfarris Ltd received five submissions from the public, including from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) who stated the applicant should consult with the HSE Aero-Medical & Special Operations Section and University Hospital Kerry regarding safety around use of UHKs helipad.

Among the conditions imposed by KCC include issues around environmental, sustainable, and orderly development.

However, an appeal against KCCs decision under the Planning Act of 2000 was made to An Bord Pleanala on November 29 by Michael OConnor with an address of Brittas in County Dublin.

Mr OConnor states that a property at Cloon More is within the OConnor familys ownership for over 100 years and lies directly to the east of the proposed development. He outlined a list of reasons why he is opposed to the development.

An Bord Pleanala is due to make its decision by 28/03/2024.
Relatives of the victims of Ballyseedy and Knocknagoshel killings in March 1923 gather for a photo last March to mark the anniversary.

Siblings Margaret O'Sullivan and John Joe O'Connor at the grave of their uncle Laurence O'Connor who was killed fighting for the Free State army at the age of 18. Picture by Mark O'Sullivan.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin lays a wreath at the grave of Ballyseedy massacre victim Stephen Fuller at Kilflynn. He is watched by Stephens son, Paudie, and members of the Fuller family. All photos by Domnick Walsh.

Early March 2023 marked one of the most significant anniversaries in the history of County Kerry. A series of commemorative events marking 100 years since the massacre at Ballyseedy in 1923, and similar atrocities at Knocknagoshel, Countess Bridge near Killarney and Bahaghs near Cahersiveen.

Huge crowds turned out to remember those who died in some of the darkest days in the history of Irelands civil war where the harshest acts of inhumanity were carried out in Kerry.

A booby trap bomb attack on Free State troops in Knocknagoshel sparked a wave of brutal National Army reprisals against Republicans and began the so called, Month of Terror during which 28 anti-Treaty Republican prisoners were killed by Government forces.

The largest commemoration took place at Ballyseedy where Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin led the proceedings. Speaking in Tralee, Mr Martin cautioned against any rushed response to calls to correct the record of Dail Eireann to reflect what happened when eight anti-Treaty IRA prisoners were tied to a landmine and blown up and killed by Free State soldiers at Ballyseedy on the outskirts of Tralee.

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The Tanaiste said that he noted that UCD academic, Dr Mary McAuliffe, had counselled against simply erasing the existing Dail record from April 1923 where then Minister for Defence, Richard Mulcahy said National Army soldiers had wrongly exonerated Free State soldiers of any wrongdoing in Kerry.

The commemorations also included non-political events, organised by the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society with the assistance of Kerry County Council. These took place at Ballyseedy and in Knocknagoshel. At both ceremonies, prayers were led by Catholic Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne and Church of Ireland Reverend Canon Jim Stephens.

The largest event was a Sinn Fein organised ceremony at Ballyseedy with party President Mary Lou McDonnell addressing the gathering. Ms McDonald then travelled to Knocknagoshel where she took part in a second ceremony to remember the five Free State victims of the Knocknagoshel IRA bombing.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald speaks to the crowd in Kerry during the centenary commemorations.

After she laid a wreath at a memorial to the five Free State soldiers, Ms McDonald said the political descendants of all sides in the Civil War need to be able to apologise for the atrocities committed in the conflict in Kerry and elsewhere.

The whole civil war is a study in tragedy and trauma. I think now a century on we need the stories to be told and all the actions to be remembered as a moment of healing, she said.

I think we are big enough and Ireland is strong enough and our peace process is robust enough for us to address these issues and meet each other halfway and to be forgiving to each other ultimately if we can find that in ourselves, said the Sinn Fein President.

Republican Sinn Fein held its own commemorative event at Ballyseedy, as did members of the National Graves Association whose event was addressed by historian Tim Horgan.

In the days before the commemoration, a Sinn Fein motion calling for the Dail record to be corrected regarding the massacre of Republican prisoners at Ballyseedy was defeated by a vote at a full meeting of Kerry County Council.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Deirdre Ferris and seconded by her party colleague Cllr Robert Beasley, called on KCC to request the Government to acknowledge the deaths of eight Republican prisoners was a deliberate action by Free State forces and not because of a Republican booby-trapped roadblock, which is the official account to date.

Cllr Ferris said this should be done in the interest of truth and reconciliation while John OShea  a surviving nephew of George OShea, who was killed at Ballyseedy  sat in the public gallery during the proceedings.

John OShea, whose uncle was killed in Ballyseedy, meets Micheal Martin and Minister Norma Foley.

A court inquiry into the bloodshed in Kerry took place on April 17, 1923, when the discipline of the Free State troops was adjudged to have been worthy of the highest consideration. Cllr Ferris argued that time, and the presentation of facts by survivors, has proven this version to be inaccurate.

We know first-hand the account written into the Dail in April 1923 is incorrect. It is lies, she said.

The least we can do, as a State, is correct the records of the Dail. Acknowledge the untruths put forward at the time and have respect for the men who were slaughtered at Ballyseedy, Countess Bridge and Cahersiveen. I would call on every member here today to support that motion, Cllr Ferris added.

But a counter proposal  that all deaths during the civil war be remembered equally - was put forward by Cllr Fionnan Fitzgerald (FF), Cllr Michael Cahill (FF), Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF), Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen (FG) and Cllr Jim Finucane (FG).

Cllr Fitzgerald spoke of a need to engage with the civil war in its entirety and that a greater understating of its root cause is needed, not focusing on singular acts.

100 years later we cannot hold simplistic opinions on a very complex period of all our history. Viewing the civil war in terms of who did what, which was on both sides and none, is holding us back in our understanding of its totality, Cllr Fitzgerald said.

Cllr Jim Finucane acknowledged the terrible atrocity of Ballyseedy that broke all conventions of war. He cited an expert advisory group who believe communicating painful legacies should avoid retrospectively analysing events through the lens of contemporary perspectives.

What Cllr Ferris is outlining, the report written into the Dail record, is in itself an historic document that shows the poor attempt to justify what was an atrocity. But let the record show that; let it stand that thats what it was, Cllr Finucane said.

Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen said the Sinn Fein motion flows against the spirit of events to date through the Decade of Commemorations. While he classified events at Ballyseedy as wrong and atrocious, he also said it was wrong to single out any particular event, calling it a retrograde step.

In Kerry, there was 173 people killed during the civil war. A little-known fact is most of those killed in Kerry were pro-Treaty, 86 people, he said.

No one side had a monopoly on grief and sufferingI suppose, look, the fledgling new state - voted on by the people - had to do all in its power to ensure its survival. There was general mayhem and daily suffering by the population, he added.

Cllr Ferris was angered by Cllr Connor-Scarteens suggestion that the State may have been somehow forced into taking arbitrary action, such as at Ballyseedy. She said at no point did her motion outline the suffering of one side over the other.

One of the most poignant events to take place during the centenary weekend in Kerry last March was at Kilflynn where Tanaiste Micheal Martin led tributes to Kilflynn native Stephen Fuller. The Tanaiste laid a wreath at his grave surrounded by Stephens son, Paudie, his neighbours, family, and friends, including Minister for Education Norma Foley.

Fianna Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin laying a wreath at the Ballyseedy monument last March.

As the sole survivor of the Ballyseedy massacre on March 6, 1923, Stephens legacy, and that of his comrades George O'Shea, Timothy Tuomey and Timothy Lyons, still casts a shadow of silence over the north Kerry village a century later.

I was very pleased to have Micheal Martin there as he did so at my request. It was very kind of him. He laid a wreath at the Republican plot and at my fathers grave, Paudie told The Kerryman.

It was a nice occasion and a mark of respect. My father was a loyal Fianna Fail man, and I feel the whole thing has come full circle now. Micheal came into Parkers [pub] after where we had a drink and chatted for over an hour about my father and what happened at Ballyseedy, he added.

Paudie admits that as a child he didnt assess the deeper reasons why Ballyseedy occurred. He recalls feeling shocked by the details on the rare occasion his father spoke of it.

As the years past, Paudies summation of what happened on that cold March night is murder and a war crime. Paudie referred to it as a nasty time in Kerry.

Very few of that generation spoke about it. Even when he [Stephen] got involved in politics and with Fianna Fail, he never spoke of it, Paudie said.

My fathers body carried the marks of that night to his grave. His skin was taken from his back. I dont think it affected him much mentally. At least we dont think it did. The men of that time never spoke about it, he said.

Days after the Kilflynn commemoration, a quiet country graveyard in Causeway was the focus of a familys interesting story. Siblings, Margaret O'Sullivan and John Joe O'Connor stood at the grave of their uncle, Private Laurence OConnor of the Kerry Division of the Free State Army. Laurence was only 18 when he was blown to pieces by an IRA trap mine at Baranaraigh near Knocknagoshel on March 6, 1923.

Laurence was killed along with Captain Edward Joseph Stapleton and Captain Michael Dunne, both from Dublin; Lieutenant Patrick O'Connor from Castleisland, and Private Michael Galvin from Killarney. Private Joseph O'Brien lost both legs in the blast. Many felt this incident was the precursor to the massacre at Ballyseedy 24 hours later.

Laurence was the eldest of nine children from Lissycurrig in Causeway. He lied about his age when he was 17 in order to enlist and serve the new Free State. A steady wage and the exhilaration of military service were most likely Laurences reason for joining the army.

Siblings Margaret O'Sullivan and John Joe O'Connor at the grave of their uncle Laurence O'Connor who was killed fighting for the Free State army at the age of 18. Picture by Mark O'Sullivan.

Margaret said one of the saddest things for her is not knowing what her uncle looked like. There is no family photo of Laurence, while his untimely and cruel death at Knocknagoshel has consigned him to the supposition of memory.

Thats the saddest part for me: that we couldnt visualise Laurence. Just to know what he looked like. Youre always wondering what he looked like. We hold onto the red hair side of it; its sad, she says.

In the years after the Black and Tan war and civil war, people sough pensions and gratuity payments for their service, and, in the case of the OConnor family, the death of loved ones. Margaret reveals how this was a particularly difficult process for her grandmother.

She was first offered 30 for her son as a gratuity payment which was later raised to 100. My grandmother was quoted as saying: I would have got more for a terrier and that a terriers life was worth more than my dead son. Thats all in the documentation. The family was totally devastated when Laurence died and they really struggled in the years after, like a lot of other families at the time, Margaret says.

She continues: I recall one story where my grandmother is said to have dreamed that Laurence owed money in a local shop. She went to pay it and the shopkeeper wouldnt take it. Its an indication of how much pain she was in for her lost son.

"I never met my grandmother, but she was devastated at his death. She was a hardworking, lovely women. She worked as a cook in the RIC barracks in Causeway. The civil war in Kerry left terrible trauma on people.
Fine Gaels Colm Markey is calling on the Government to develop a comprehensive action plan to deal with the imminent threat of fentanyl on our streets.

Recent global trends indicate a shift towards the increased use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, especially in the wake of the Taliban's crackdown on heroin production in Afghanistan

The Midlands-North-West MEP is warning of a crisis far more severe than the heroin epidemic in Dublin in the 1980s and 1990s.

Fentanyl, known to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and heroin, has emerged as a leading cause of death in the United States. Europe is not immune, as criminal gangs aim to introduce the drug into the market. To safeguard our communities, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive action plan before it devastates cities and towns across the country, he said.

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Markey emphasised the need for a multi-faceted approach including prevention by implementing measures to prevent the influx of fentanyl onto the island; launching an awareness strategy to educate establishing facilities to test the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs; and exploring emergency treatment options for individuals experiencing overdoses such as the use of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.

Last summer, the HSEs Safer Nightlife campaign achieved notable success in enhancing safety measures at Irish music festivals, he said. The campaign, which included the innovative trial of on-site drug testing, proved instrumental in promoting a safer festival environment. We need to look at this type of project but on a wider scale in preparation for a fentanyl outbreak.

We need to be open and empathetic to this issue. By engaging with affected communities, policymakers can better understand the challenges and concerns surrounding the potential arrival of fentanyl in Ireland. A robust action plan will safeguard public health and prevent the devastating consequences of widespread fentanyl consumption, MEP Markey concluded.
Matej, Lydia and Izzy at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Will, Joss, Zac and Evan at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Oscar, Hayley, Aniela and George at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Kate and Remi at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Joshua, Zara, Ross and Leslie at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Glenn, Harry, Mark and Ben at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Sarah, Simone and Evelina at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Maddie, Sienna, Jake and Liam at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Rebecca and Meadhbh at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Ethan, Caoimhe and Ella at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Lily, Charlotte and Vicky at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Leanne and Emma at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

Alanah and Chloe at the Carrigduff NS Annual School Christmas Service 2023 in St. Mary's Church, Bunclody.

The children were very excited following weeks of preparation.

Chris de Burghs "A Spaceman Came Travelling" was beautifully sung by Infants, First and Second Class, complete with actions for extra meaning and enchantment.

Third and Fourth Class presented a mini-musical "Baboushka" a story of the Nativity of Jesus, in a different cultural context, told with humour and creativity. Fifth and Sixth Class presented a fast paced, well timed and perfectly memorised poem "Shine Christmas".

The large congregation got to sing well-loved carols, and pupils from each class clearly led us all in prayers.

After the service, school principal, Ms Carolyn Good and Rector, Canon Trevor Sargent paid tribute to outgoing Board of Management members Mr David Jacob & Mr Joe Deacon for their long years of voluntary work on the Board of Management.

Joe, as long serving Cathaoirleach of the Board, thanked Carolyn and his colleagues.
Entrepreneurs from across the country will descend upon Enniscorthy early next year as part of an initiative organised and run by local sustainability hub, Greentech HQ. Partnering with the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) Greentech will host a Sustainability Founder Weekend, the first event of its type in Ireland, during a weekend in the first quarter of 2024.

This collaboration signifies a remarkable milestone in Ireland's journey towards fostering sustainability-focused start-ups, said CEO of Greentech, Ed Murphy. The event promises to bring together 50 to 80 participants, igniting collaboration and innovation to tackle a diverse range of sustainability challenges, and stands as a shining example of our commitment to nurturing sustainability-focused start-ups in Ireland.

During the event, participants will collaborate on projects that hold the potential to revolutionise various aspects of sustainability and will receive invaluable mentorship from accomplished entrepreneurs and sustainability visionaries from across Ireland.

"With an increasing number of sustainability-focused funds emerging in the country and a burgeoning demand for talent, this edition of NDRC's Founder Weekend aims to empower and propel the growth of sustainability-focused start-ups, continued Ed. Participants can come with ideas they want to work on or they will be provided with challenges.

This marks a pivotal moment in our mission at GreenTechHQ. It signifies our unwavering commitment to nurturing sustainability-focused start-ups in Ireland. This hackathon is not just an event; it's a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and real change. We believe that by bringing together bright minds to tackle sustainability challenges head-on, we are shaping a greener, more sustainable future for Ireland and beyond. At GreenTechHQ, we are thrilled to be at the heart of this transformation, empowering entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into powerful solutions for a better tomorrow."

Greentech HQ is as a key partner within the 2050 Ecosystem, which is supported by the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications, and is Ireland's National Sustainability Accelerator. Both NDRC and the 2050 Ecosystem operate under the umbrella of Dogpatch Labs, Ireland's largest start-up hub.

As the urgency of climate challenges continues to mount, novel solutions to rapid decarbonisation are essential, said Ed. Start-ups provide an ideal platform to address these critical issues, and investors have demonstrated their commitment, with over 20bn in venture capital invested in sustainability start-ups within the EU this year, alongside the announcement of several upcoming sustainability funds in Ireland.

"Our mission is clear, to harness the immense talent scattered throughout the nation and empower them to usher in the next generation of climate solutions. The NDRC 2050 Founders Weekend serves as the beacon, offering participants the opportunity to birth new start-ups, while granting them access to expertise and the broader NDRC support network.
New Ross Sea scouts fundraiser on the Dunbrody ship. From left; Michael Hunt, Alex Kelly, Evan Rogers, Darragh Ryan, Patricia Power, Emily Ryan, Phil Croarkin, Joe Mullett and Adam Kavanagh scout leaders and Sean Connick Dunbrody famine ship. Photo; Mary Browne

A group photo of the large crowd in attendance on the Dunbrody Famine ship.

Scouting members, families and friends of the New Ross Sea Scouts gathered aboard the Dunbrody Ship for their annual investiture ahead of the Christmas break.

The group were delighted to have New Ross Sea Scout Jakub Veseley and Jodi Fanthom from New Ross and District Pipe Band kick off the event with a Christmas carol.

Group Leader Patricia Power welcomed everyone aboard including newly appointed Scouting Ireland Support Officer and past New Ross Sea Scout Dermot Moore and Wexford County Commissioner Dano OLeary, who spoke about the benefits of the scouting programme and commented on the very active local group.

Dano invested new leaders to the group: Rob Amis, Emily Ryan and Dan Woodward and the section leaders then invested all the new beavers, cubs, sea scouts and ventures, followed by some carol singing.

Patricia Power presented Ger Shannon of Ballykelly Scouts with a Sea Scouting pennant on behalf of the National Sea Scouting team to acknowledge the groups water activities programme and participation in the Master Mariner and Splashdown this year and Fry Cup previously.

Chris Kelly presented Sean Connick of the Dunbrody Experience Famine ship, with a contribution to the Kennedy archives, a John F Kennedy Inauguration Medal, originally presented to John Slattery, Butler Airlines.

Alex Kelly thanked outgoing treasurer Majella Hennessy for all her time and welcomed the appointment of Sarah Meehan as Treasurer.

The group had a very active year with weekly programme on and off the water, camps, county and national events, competitions and the national sea scouting conference in Wexford.

2023 is a milestone year for the group as they carry out a major overhaul of the old scout hall  new toilet block, new kitchen, dry lining, new heating/electrics and the group are very grateful for all support for upcoming fundraisers.
Wexford Circuit Court judge said what occurred was a clear attack on the administration of justice

A man facing a burglary charge was put away for three months in jail after he attempted to film the swearing in of the jury called to deal with his case.

The burglary trial  interrupted when an alert garda sergeant noticed defendant Trevor Mooney was pointing his phone at jurors  has been put back to a date in the new year.

But Judge Cormac Quinn was keen to deal without delay with the contempt of court prosecution arising from the taking of the unapproved video.

The accused, with an address in Dublin at 109 Buttercup Park, Darndale, Coolock, was brought before Wexford Circuit Court by prison officers.

Defending the man who had 155 previous convictions from the past 39 years, barrister Brian Mulvany commented that his client leads a chaotic lifestyle and makes reckless decisions.

Counsel passed on what he called a fulsome apology on Mooneys behalf but this did not suffice to stave off the prison sentence.

Judge Quinn recalled how the defendant was spotted lifting up his phone as jury selection was under way on October 24. The court commended Garda Sergeant Mairead Brophy for noticing what was going on.

Also commended was Garda Geoffrey Scally who retrieved a 19 second video from the phone after it was seized.

What happened was a clear attack on the administration of justice, concluded Judge Quinn.

Mooney was sent away to commence his latest three month spell in prison.
At the Amnesty Wexford screening of the Irish premiere of 'Not Just Your Picture' in the National Opera House on Thursday evening were Brian and Shelia O'Keeffe.

At the Amnesty Wexford screening of the Irish premiere of 'Not Just Your Picture' in the National Opera House were Lisa McCabe and Deirdre Barker.

At the Amnesty Wexford screening of the Irish premiere of 'Not Just Your Picture' in the National Opera House on Thursday evening were Robert, Alanah, Aaron and Ella Lambert.

At the Amnesty Wexford screening of the Irish premiere of 'Not Just Your Picture' in the National Opera House were Lindy Duff Trish Robinson, Lorraine Smyth, Mansoor Adayfi, Caroline Crowley, Stephen Bowen CEO Amnesty Ireland, Ann Lyons and Brian Corcoran.

Attendees at a film premiere in the Wexford Arts Centre received a special message from the Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland. Originally scheduled to attend the premiere of Not Just Your Picture, a film which documents the lives of Ramsis and Layla Kilani following an airstrike in Gaza in 2014, Ms Wahba Abdalmajid was unable to make the event and so recorded a heartfelt message thanking the people of Wexford for their continued support for those impacted by the war.

The dire situation is only getting worse, the horrors we witness as the world allows this Israeli war on our defenceless people to carry on are too many to recall, too gruesome to describe, she said in a video recorded on December 9. The death toll in Gaza has far exceeded 16,000 Palestinians, 73 per cent of whom are children, women and the elderly, 7,000 children have died, many of them crushed to pieces and burned beyond recognition.

"The wounded has surpassed 40,000 people with thousands more struggling to survive, others with their limbs amputated, and over 7,500 remaining under the rubble.

And the ambassador was highly critical of the world superpowers who she said have stood by and allowed Gaza to be destroyed by Israeli forces.

Israel continues to commit war crimes while the whole world remains silent, what we are witnessing is ethnic cleansing, she continued, this has told us that humanity is in crisis, that humanity has failed, and the international community has failed as well. This war has been launched to destroy Gaza, to make it unliveable, this war has told us that we live in a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

"But the Palestinian people will never give up their rights to self-determination, we will not give up our aspirations to freedom and we will continue to fight for our rights to build our Free State of Palestine on our land.

The premiere was organised by Amnesty International Wexford and attended by Amnesty Ireland's Executive Director, Stephen Bowen, who recounted his experiences of living in Gaza for four years, offering a unique insight into the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. All proceeds from the event went towards Amnesty Internationals work in providing assistance for those those affected by conflict and injustice, and, in addition, those in attendance were invited to support Amnesty's Write for Rights campaign and the Ceasefire Campaign for the Israel-Palestine conflict by signing petitions.

Trish Robinson is a member of Amnesty International Wexford and said the film had extra resonance for her and her fellow members.

In 2014 we held a candlelit vigil in The Faythe for the people of Palestine, this was around the same time that film is set, so that was something which really resonated with us, and here we are nine years later and things are even worse, she said.

Thanking all those attended, Councillor Tom Forde for his assistance, and the local businesses who donated spot prizes, Trish said the Wexford group meet on the first Wednesday of the month in Clayton Whites Hotel at 6 p.m. and all are welcome to join. For further information contact amnestywexford@gmail.com
A project set up by the grandsons of famous Wexford women Min Ryan has moved a small step closer to completion thanks to the communities of The Rocks and Rosslare Harbour. The 100 Million Trees Project was established by Richard and David Mulcahy last year and aims to, as the title suggests, plant 100 million trees in Ireland over the next decade.

All of the trees planted are native species and are planted in batches of 1000-2500 at a time across small areas of land using Miyawaki method, which is named after Japanese botanist, Prof Akira Miyawaki, who developed the technique in the 1970s. By planting excess trees together, they grow considerably faster, denser, are more biodiverse, and most importantly create a very rapid carbon sink and provide excellent areas of biodiversity.

At St Patricks Church in Rosslare Harbour, members of the Rosslare Harbour/Kilrane Environment Group (RHKEG) did their bit for the environment by adding their weight to a programme they have been keen to get involved in.

We sought permission from Fr Desmond to convert the grassed area of Saint Patrick church into something far more useful to the environment, said one of its members. With his permission we then approached representatives from The 100 Million Trees Project and they were delighted to come on board.

Financed by Wexford County Council (WCC), the RHKEG members were assisted by a team of foresters from the project as they planted 2,000 trees in the available space.

Meanwhile, at The Rocks in Wexford town, a similar project was taking place. With Mayor of Wexford, Councillor John Hegarty, Cathaoirleach of WCC Cllr John Fleming, and Cllrs George Lawlor and Garry Laffan offering their assistance, community volunteers from St Marys GAA, Mauldintown, The Rocks Walking Trails and Southend Family Resource Centre planted 1,325 trees in an initiative with Cllr Hegarty said would provide benefits for biodiversity and create a positive legacy for future generations to enjoy.

As the project continues to spread across Ireland and more and more community groups become involved, Richard Mulcahy said work was progressing at an accelerated rate.

We were absolutely thrilled to meet our launch objective of planting 20,000 trees in year one, but we have much greater ambitions and aim to deliver over ten times that amount in 2024. By next April, we aim to have 200,000 to 250,000 new young native tree varieties planted in the ground at over 75 different sites around the country.
Old Roots Ltd currently produces up to 20,000 bottles of wine annually and management hopes to increase this to at least 80,000 if planning is granted

Planning permission is being sought to construct a state-of-the-art wine-making facility at an existing vineyard in rural Wexford.

The Old Roots Ltd is seeking permission to build a state of the art wine processing facility at its premises at Ballingly, Ballymitty.

The company has been growing grapes in Wexford since 2015 at the largest vineyard in Ireland, consisting of over 11,000 vines producing several tonnes of grapes per year.

The Old Roots began crafting its own wines back in 2019, using age-old knowledge, traditional techniques and cutting-edge technology led by prestigious winemaker Santiago Jordi, President of the International Union of Oenologists (UIOE).

In the cover letter accompanying the planning application, the company states that the vineyard has reached a production point where it requires a wine processing facility to enable the existing business to survive and expand.

The application, therefore, seeks permission to construct a two-storey wine processing facility with staff accommodation, along with an agricultural machinery storage shed and a new site entrance, site access lane, wastewater treatment plant and bore well to serve the proposed facility.

The existing vineyard covers an area of approximately 3.8 hectares with a further 0.3 hectares of planting proposed, giving a total of 4.1 hectares or 10 acres of vineyard.

The company states that yield depends on weather and can vary from one year to the next, but currently the vineyard produces on average about 8,000 litres of wine when in full production. This amounts to 20,000 of their 0.4 litre bottles currently being produced annually.

Should the application be successful, the company will be able to expand to between 80,000 and 100,000 bottles of wine annually and they say that "the business has plans to expand and buy more land into the future.

The facility will also create four full-time jobs and further seasonal work in the local area.

The planning application was lodged with Wexford County Council on December 14 and those behind the venture will be hoping for a positive outcome in the New Year as the seek to see their product hit more and more shelves around the country.
The winning entry from St Saviours National School featured crayons of different colours working together for the perfect picture.

St Saviours National School of Rathdrum and Scoil Mhuire Realt Na Mara Brittas Bay have reason to celebrate after being named Junior and Senior County Winners of the prestigious national art competition, Someone Like Me.

Pupils and staff from both Wicklow schools will join 46 other schools to compete for the much sought-after national title at the awards ceremony to be held at Dublin City Hall on Wednesday, January 17.

Now in its eighth year, the Someone Like Me art competition, which is organised by the National Disability Authority, attracted more than 2,200 entries from schools across Ireland. The competition was created as part of the National Disability Authoritys work to nurture more positive attitudes towards persons with disabilities and, to date, it has seen more than 17,500 children take part in lesson plans and pupil activities.

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The three-person judging panel comprising Ann Higgins, principal of Hospital School Childrens Health Ireland; Dr Carly Cheevers, senior research officer at the National Disability Authority; and Laura McGrath, an autism class teacher was particularly impressed with the entries St Saviours National School and Scoil Mhuire Realt Na Mara Brittas Bay, selecting them as County Winners based on their insightful and inspirational responses to the theme of Someone Like Me.

The St Saviours entry was overseen by teacher Antoinette Doyle and their project involved crayons of different colours working together for the perfect picture.

Teacher Lisa Heffernan and Scoil Mhuire Realt Na Mara Brittas Bay pupils from 35rd and 4th class spent a lot of time talking about disabilities, both hidden and visible. Children shared their personal experiences of disabilities with the class.

They learned about aspects of the children, and their families, in their class which they had not known about before. The class felt very strongly that people with disabilities should be encouraged and supported in our homes, schools and wider communities. The class decided that putting together a book of artwork was the best way of representing the class. It shows all their individual ideas and interpretations of the topic but yet they presented it as one project.

Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D. said that the number of entries this year is a tribute to the commitment not just of the National Disability Authority, and to Irelands primary school teachers, who continue to play an important part helping to create an ever-more inclusive Ireland.

She said: Every year more and more of our young people take part in the Someone Like Me Art Competition, working their way through cross-curricular lesson plans and learning resources which have been specially designed to challenge and inspire.

The number and standard of entries shows a real commitment on the part of teachers and pupils to helping to develop a shared understanding of how we should treat others in a caring, sensitive and inclusive way, promoting a sense of belonging and connectedness. she said.

This year we placed a special emphasis on nurturing a greater understanding of non-visible and intellectual disabilities. Many people with a non-visible disability face the everyday prospect of having to explain to others that they have a disability; something they may not always want to do.

Selecting the county winners was not an easy task for the judges and choosing an overall winner will be an even harder job.

And, while I know it will be an anxious wait for the pupils and teachers to hear which of the 48 county winners will be awarded the national title, every pupil should be congratulated for helping to enable each and every single person in Ireland to feel a valued member of society.
Our beauty writer shows you how to make grunge glamorous for a big night out by pairing greys and taupes with flushed cheeks and brick-red lips

The year is drawing to a close and, to be honest, Ive never felt so happy to see the back of one. This year has been a really challenging one for many of us, as we personally make changes and acknowledge the impact of the pandemic, and globally we are faced with atrocities so horrific, theyre difficult to process.

While nothing changes overnight when the calendar page turns, there is a sense of relief and empowerment that comes with drawing a line under the previous 12 months.

Maybe its been great for you, in which case thats worth celebrating, but if, like me, youve spent much of the year in despair, then getting your glad rags on to greet the new year may feel entirely cathartic. Beauty chat might feel silly in the context of more serious issues, but, in my opinion, you have to take levity where you can get it these days. With that in mind, lets talk New Years Eve makeup.

When you think about a glamorous party, you may not immediately think grunge but thats exactly where my brain has been going for big nights out of late. Grunge doesnt have to mean messy  instead Ive been leaning into the colour palette of greys and taupes, along with flushed cheeks and brick-red lips. These shades work on every skin tone, and the look is wonderfully wintry.

Fortunately, beauty brands have made nailing this look easy via a glut of grunge-toned palettes on the market. Huda Beautys recently launched Pretty Grunge palette (70.06, via cultbeauty.com) is a thing of beauty. It contains 18 shades of smoky cool tones, including a combination of matte and multi-chromatic foils; youd use this all year round whether you want a neutral look or to go fully smoked out.

Huda Beauty Pretty Grunge palette, 70.06, cultbeauty.com

Irish brand BPerfect Cosmetics Gravity Shadow Palette (22.95, via bperfectcosmetics.com) combines greys and taupes and taupey greys (my personal fave) with sparkly silvers, resulting in one of my favourite launches of this year. Vieves Ninetease palette (52.95, via spacenk.com) is also in that group, with a similar combination of shades and finishes.

Vieve Ninetease palette, 52.95, spacenk.com

If youre someone who already owns a lot of eyeshadow, you probably have a taupey grey in your arsenal already. A wash of that over the eyelid and under the eye will deliver a smoky, grungy look easily. For an added pop of glam, lash some shimmery/glittery silver into your inner corner.

KVD Tattoo Pencil Liner, 17.60, boots.ie

To grunge it up even more, add some black pencil in your waterline along with loads of mascara. I like KVDs Tattoo Pencil Liner (17.60, via boots.ie) for this, because it doesnt budge. NYX Cosmetics Epic Wear Long Lasting Liner Stick (9, via boots.ie) is also excellent.

NYX Epic Wear Long Lasting Liner Stick, 9, boots.ie

Finally, a brick-red lipstick will finish your look. Its not so bright that it will fight with your smoky eye, but it delivers a pout that ties the look together. My favourite at the moment is NARS Powermatte Lipstick in Start Me Up (29.95, via cultbeauty.com). This delivers high-intensity matte colour that lasts, but doesnt give you that crusty, sore feeling some matte lipsticks do.

NARS Powermatte Lipstick in Start Me Up, 29.95, cultbeauty.com

Revlons ColorStay Suede Ink lipstick (13.99, via boots.ie) in In the Money or Want It All are also great options, depending on how dark you want to go.

Revlon ColorStay Suede Ink lipstick, 13.99, boots.ie

Lost in translation

Mandelic acid is an acid you may not have heard of but is well worth knowing. This alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA) is smoothing, brightening, gentle and effective, and for this reason you will be spotting it in liquid exfoliants and serums all over the place next year. In the context of other AHAs, it has large particles, which means it is absorbed into the skin more slowly, therefore giving it more time to take effect on the surface of the skin and less time to irritate the other layers.

Something old...

Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadow, 22, boots.ie

Urban Decays Moondust eyeshadows launched 10 years ago and recently experienced a resurgence in popularity when they became super popular with TikTok beauty lovers. Its no surprise, really, as they come in four flattering and neutral shades, each of which deliver a beautiful sheen of glitter that will catch peoples eyes in any situation. These single-pan shadows (22, via boots.ie) are available in two shades: Space Cowboy, a super-sparkly champagne, which delivers an almost wet-look sheen of fine glitter, and Solstice, a greeny brown that changes shade when it catches the light and is one of my favourite shadows of all time. These work wonderfully on their own and over other eyeshadows.

... Something new

Anam eyeshadow in Teal, 15.50 each or 40 for three, anamcosmetics.com

I adore glitter but hate the fact that most of it isnt biodegradable, so I was delighted to learn about Anam Cosmetics. Anam is the baby of Ellie Haughney, who had a desire to create something vegan, cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable. The Irish brands first launch is three single-pan eyeshadows packed full of biodegradable glitter, rather than the usual plastic. These shadows feel beautifully creamy and deliver high-powered sparkle. The current shade range includes Gold, Taupe and Teal (15.50 each or 40 for three via anamcosmetics.com).
Europe does not know how to fight wars  Ukrainian foreign minister

Dmytro Kulebas criticism of allies is strongest yet as West struggles to keep up supplies

Ukrainian servicemen cover the coffin of their comrade Vasyl Boichuk with the national flag during his funeral in the village of Iltsi this week. Photo: AP

Joe Barnes and Tim Sigsworth Telegraph.co.uk Fri 29 Dec 2023 at 03:30







Ukraines foreign minister has said Europe doesnt know how to fight wars in a swipe at the continents failure to ramp up weapons production.
Military vows to learn lessons after warplanes struck a refugee camp

A child wounded in an Israeli strike is assisted at a hospital in Khan Younis, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the southern Gaza Strip, December 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot

The Israeli military said it regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians from a December 24 airstrike on the Maghazi refugee camp that killed 70 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
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Hardoi/UNI: A 42-year-old Dalit man was hacked to death by a man allegedly over petty dispute in Bilgram area of Hardoi district here in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said here on Friday.

Police sources said that Saligram, a resident of Nurpur village, was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon Guddu Rathore and was hacked to death.

"The accused later fled from the spot with the murder weapon," they said.

Police sources said that preliminary investigation has revealed minor dispute between the duo as the cause of murder.

"Family members of the deceased that a few days back Guddu's cattle strayed in Saligram's field, which led to dispute between the duo, but the matter was sorted out after local residents intervened," they said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nripendra Kumar said that the body has been sent for postmortem examination.

He said that on the complaint of the family members of the deceased a case has been lodged and teams have been constituted to arrest the accused.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Nitish Kumar

New Delhi/UNI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was unanimously elected as the president of the Janata Dal (United) at the party's National Executive meeting held in New Delhi on Friday.

Kumar was appointed as the JD(U) Chief after Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh stepped down from the post during the party meeting which began at the Constitution Club of India here.

Taking the media, party leader Shravan Kumar said that Lalan Singh proposed the name of Nitish Kumar in the meeting, which was accepted by the party leaders unanimously.

However, the party leaders said that the final announcement will be made in the evening after the National Council Meeting.

JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha said that the party's national executive requested Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to take over the charge in the larger interest of the party and nation.

The change in the JDU's top leadership also comes months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election and speculation over Nitish Kumar having Prime Ministerial ambition.

The party will hold the national council meeting later in the day, which will take another decision at party level.

Meanwhile, BJP took a dig at the meeting saying nothing will change in JD(U) if Nitish Kumar again becomes the party president.

BJP leader from Bihar Shahnawaz Hussain said, "The saffron party has a strong presence in Bihar and it will emerge as a strong party in the Lok Sabha election next year and state assembly election scheduled to be held in 2025."
Photo Courtesy: UNI

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the Central government sent a request along with relevant supporting documents to Pakistan to extradite the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the mastermind of Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed to face trial in India.

Addressing a weekly press conference in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist".

"We have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case. We have been flagging the issue of activities, that he's been wanted for" Bagchi said.

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).

The LeT Founder has been arrested and released several times over the past decade and denies his 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.

Over the issue of commuting the death sentence of 8 Indian ex-Navy personnel, MEA Spokesperson said, "The sentences have been reduced but I don't have any additional information to share until we see the detailed judgment".

"We will also of course be discussing the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members" he added.

On Thursday the Court of Appeal of Qatar commuted the death sentence of eight former Indian Navy personnel in connection with an alleged case of espionage.

The Indian nationals were arrested by the Qatari intelligence agency in August 2022, on alleged charges of spying on submarine program on behalf of Israel.

Replying to a query on aircraft with Indian passengers that was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking, Arindam Bagchi said the issue is being dealt by French authorities as per their local laws.

"The specific Indians who are there, if they require any assistance from us, we would extend consular assistance" he assured.

(With UNI inputs)
Image tweeted by Amit Shah

New Delhi/IBNS: A tripartite peace deal was signed in Delhi on Friday between the Centre, the Assam government, and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in which the insurgent group in the northeast agreed to abjure the path of violence.

The ULFA (Independent) faction led by Paresh Baruah remains opposed to talks.

The peace deal with the oldest insurgent group of Assam attempts to address issues such as illegal immigration, land rights for indigenous communities, and a financial package for Assam's development.

Home Minister Amit Shah told reporters in Delhi that the Centre will ensure to look into all the reasonable demands by ULFA and will try to meet those in a time-bound manner.

ULFA the oldest insurgent group of Assam agreed to abjure the path of violence. Speaking on the signing of a memorandum of settlement with ULFA.

https://t.co/6H1DIHmmHy  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 29, 2023

He announced that ULFA as an organisation would stand disbanded.

"We want to assure the ULFA leadership that their trust in the Centre to ensure the success of the peace process will be honoured," Shah said, and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing peace and stability to the northeast.

Shah said the removal of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) from many areas of Assam and other northeast states is a testament that insurgency is nearly extinct in the region.

A historic day for Assam.



Fulfilling PM @narendramodi Ji's vision for a prosperous, peaceful and developed Northeast, today we have arrived at a landmark resolution to the ULFA insurgency problem of Assam.



The Government of India and the Government of Assam have signed a pic.twitter.com/bWVOnEKOdo  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 29, 2023

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who sat beside Shah, said the peace deal with ULFA will solve the problem of insurgency in the region to a large extent.

Founded on April 7, 1979, in Sivasagar, Assam, ULFA emerged to establish an independent sovereign state for the indigenous Assamese people. The group began its armed operations in the late 1980s, led by figures such as Paresh Baruah, Arabinda Rajkhowa, and Anup Chetia.
Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan Friday said it received India's request for extradition of the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed.

However, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that no bilateral extradition treaty exists between India and Pakistan.

In a statement, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, "Pakistan has received a request from the Indian authorities, seeking extradition of Hafiz Saeed in a so-called money laundering case."

"It is pertinent to note that no bilateral extradition treaty exists between Pakistan and India," she said.

The Ministry of External Affairs earlier in the day said the Central government sent a request along with relevant supporting documents to Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed to face trial in India.

Addressing a weekly press conference in Delhi, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist."

"We have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case. We have been flagging the issue of activities that he's been wanted for," Bagchi said.

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).

The LeT Founder has been arrested and released several times over the past decade and denies his 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.

Over the issue of commuting the death sentence of 8 Indian ex-Navy personnel, MEA Spokesperson said, "The sentences have been reduced but I don't have any additional information to share until we see the detailed judgment".

"We will also of course be discussing the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members" he added.

On Thursday the Court of Appeal of Qatar commuted the death sentence of eight former Indian Navy personnel in connection with an alleged case of espionage.

The Indian nationals were arrested by the Qatari intelligence agency in August 2022, on alleged charges of spying on a submarine program on behalf of Israel.

Replying to a query on an aircraft with Indian passengers that was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking, Arindam Bagchi said the issue is being dealt with by French authorities as per their local laws.

"The specific Indians who are there, if they require any assistance from us, we would extend consular assistance," he assured.
Photo Courtesy: UNOCHA/Viktoriia Andriievska

Explosions were reported in multiple Ukrainian regions on Friday after air raid alerts went off across the country's entire territory.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported a series of explosions within an hour. He later said that the explosions had damaged a warehouse and the building of a subway station that doubled as a shelter, Lukianivska.

"The air defence systems are working. Remain in bomb shelters," Klitschko said on Telegram.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said that the city was hit by airstrikes after the activation of an air raid alert.

"We have been informed of two airstrikes in Lviv. We are waiting for more information from the operational services," Sadovyi said, as quoted by Ukrainian newspaper Dzerkalo Tyzhnia.

Sounds of blasts were also heard in Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Odesa, as well as in cities and towns in the Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, and Ternopil regions.

Precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure have been carried out by Russia since October 10, two days after the first attack on the Crimean Bridge.

(With UNI inputs)
Photo Courtesy: UNI

Four people accused of cooperation with Israel's Mossad intelligence service have been executed in Iran, news agency Fars reported on Friday morning.

Six other defendants in the case have been sentenced to 10 years in prison, the Iranian news outlet said.

Nasser Atabati, chief justice of Irans West Azerbaijan province, was cited as saying that the accused were detained on October 24 for identifying Iranian intelligence employees and collecting information via kidnapping, threatening and beating reconnaissance staff.

The detainees conducted the operations in Tehran, and the provinces of Hormozgan and West Azerbaijan and set fire to vehicles and property of the Iranian intelligence workers, the report said, adding that a botched assassination attempt took place on one of the employees.

Iran does not recognize Israel and accuses the Jewish state of sabotage attacks. Earlier this December, a man was executed in Iran on charges of working for Mossad. On December 4, 2022, four people were also executed for Mossad links. According to the Iranian judiciary authority, the four participated in riots against the government which broke out on September 16 throughout Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of the morality police.

(With UNI inputs)
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/samuel hanna

Washington: The United States is taking steps to reassure shipping companies that it is safe to use the Red Sea and Suez Canal for cargo deliveries amid continued attacks by the Houthis, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

After a war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, Yemen's Ansar Allah rebel movement, also known as the Houthis, has intensified its attacks on cargo ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, vowing to continue the attacks until Israel ends its military actions in the Gaza Strip.

The Pentagon is "engaged with industry on a near-daily basis to gauge needs and provide reassurance that the international community is there to help with safe passage," Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry, a Defence Department spokesperson for the Middle East and Africa, was quoted as saying in the report.

The Houthis, for their part, vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition. "We are not putting a timeline on this operation," McGarry said.

"Well stand firm with our partners in the region for as long as it takes until the threat to international shipping in these waterways has ceased."

Last week, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea amid the surge in Houthis' attacks on cargo ships, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission.

(With UNI/Sputnik inputs)
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Pakistan's caretaker government on Thursday announced a complete ban on New Year celebrations to show 'solidarity' with the people of Palestine.

In an address to the nation today, PM Anwarul Haq Kakar was quoted as saying by Dawn News: Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year.

The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a sheer state of anguish over the massacre of innocent children and genocide of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank," he said.

He asked people to exhibit sobriety and humility at the New Year.

The Pakistani PM said the nation was engaged in talks with Jordan and Egypt to provide timely aid to Palestine and to evacuate the injured present in Gaza.

Amid the influence of Islamic groups in Pakistan that try to stop festivities through various methods, the New Year celebration is not huge in the country.
Poppy cultivation, deeply embedded in its tribal lands, weaves a complex web of challenges demanding nuanced solutions. Beyond its national implications, the drug trades tendrils extend globally, with North America (Canada, the US, etc.) emerging as a significant final destination for these illicit substances. The far-reaching impact underscores the urgency of addressing not only local power structures but also the international dimensions that sustain and exacerbate the issue.

The fertile crescent stretching along the Afghan border has, for centuries, nurtured the poppy. While outlawed in 1979, the plant remains a lifeline for farmers struggling on barren soil. For them, a single harvest yields tenfold compared to traditional crops, a stark reality in the face of economic hardship.

But profit isnt the sole seed sown. The VIPs  vested interest persons  act as parasitic tendrils, controlling the trade through armed militias and alleged high-level connections. Eradication efforts wither in the face of such deeply rooted power structures.

The nexus between the drug trade and the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) and the Pakistan Army has roots in historical events. An article from The Washington Post by John Ward Anderson and Kamran Khan sheds light on a pivotal moment. The then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was approached by the Pakistan Army Chief and the head of the intelligence agency, proposing a detailed blueprint for funding covert military operations through the sale of heroin. This revelation underscores the complicity of key state actors in perpetuating the drug trade in Pakistan.

A United Nations report highlighted that Pakistan serves as a crucial transit route for the smuggling of drugs worth $30 billion from Afghanistan, contributing to an annual illegal drug trade estimated at $2 billion. The heroin produced from poppy plants cultivated in northern provinces finds its way to the West, including the United States, Iran, China, Europe, and beyond. The remote tribal regions of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) are vital hubs for opium poppy cultivation, posing challenges for law enforcement due to the flexibility of heroin laboratories operating between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The roots of opium cultivation in NWFP are deeply embedded in the socio-economic fabric of the region. The Pashtuns, valuing land ownership, cultivate poppy as it thrives on their semi-barren land, providing substantial economic returns. Despite opium production being banned in 1979, the main obstacle remains the traders or VIPs (vested interest persons) acting as intermediaries between growers and large-scale distributors. Armed and often supported by private militias, these traders pose a significant challenge to the governments efforts to curb opium production.

Efforts by the Pakistani government to combat opium cultivation include crop eradication programs and alternative development initiatives. However, these endeavors are hindered by limited resources and farmers reliance on opium as a primary income source, coupled with the fear of reprisals from traders. The alleged protection enjoyed by these traders from high-level government officials further complicates the fight against opium production.

Beyond opium, Pakistan faces pressing issues of drug abuse and trafficking involving marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines. The majority of these drugs enter the country from neighboring nations, exacerbating the problem of drug addiction among the youth. With 7.6 million drug addicts in Pakistan, 78% of whom are male, the country is grappling with a rising addiction rate of 40,000 individuals per year, making it one of the most drug-affected nations globally.

Poverty, unemployment, and lack of education contribute to the growing drug addiction problem. Cannabis and heroin, due to their affordability, are widely abused in the country. In addition to law enforcement operations and border control measures, the government has initiated public awareness campaigns to combat drug abuse. However, these efforts are often hampered by limited resources, perceived corruption, and negligible cooperation from local communities.

Compounding the issue is the lack of access to treatment and rehabilitation services. The limited number of rehabilitation centers in Pakistan, coupled with a shortage of resources and trained staff, hinders effective drug addiction treatment. Moreover, a lack of awareness and understanding among the general population leads to stigma and discrimination against those struggling with addiction.

(Image and text courtesy: Khlsavox.com)
Photo Courtesy:Narain Das Bheel X page video grab

A Hindu temple in Sindh region of Pakistan was recently attacked, showing yet another instance of mistreatment meted out towards the minority community in the country.

The incident happened in Rama Pir Temple of the region.

CCTV footage from the temple premises clearly shows a radical extremist mob with sticks and batons in their hands and attack the temple and start beating Hindu worshippers, reported News Intervention.

Tando Allahyar, Sindh

Baba Ram Dev Mandir has been attacked by extremist mob..

We request Ssp Tando Allahyar to take strict action and provide security to Hindu temples. pic.twitter.com/oo3Dzy3VUg  Narain Das Bheel (@NarainDasBheel8) December 27, 2023

It is the third-largest Hindu pilgrimage site in Sindh.

Recently, a 100-year-old Mari Mata mandir and Hinglaj Mata Mandir were vandalized in Sindh.
Indian-origin man arrested in Canada for multiple break-ins and thefts at Hindu temples. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Police have arrested an Indian-origin person in connection with a series of burglaries that occurred at Hindu temples in Ontario province of Canada.

The arrested person was identified as Jagdish Pandher.

Durham Regional Police Service said in a statement on Thursday (December 28, 2023), "Although these offences occurred at places of worship, they do not appear to be hate crimes or motivated by hate."

Police said on October 8 its personnel responded to reports of a break-and-enter in progress at a Hindu temple in the area of Bayly Street and Krosno Boulevard in Pickering.

"A male was seen on security surveillance breaking into the temple and taking a large quantity of cash from the donation boxes," police said.

"The male fled the area prior to police arrival. The male was seen on surveillance footage later that morning committing additional break-and-enters at Hindu temples in Pickering and Ajax," read the statement.

Investigators have linked the same suspect to numerous other break-and-enters at Hindu temples throughout the year.

These break-and-enters occurred in Durham Region and around the Greater Toronto Area.
How is Shah Rukh Khan in personal life? We all know that he is the most humble man in the industry who drops you to your car and even opens the door for you. Many celebrities including Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Siddhant Chaturvedi have revealed this in the past. Do you know the King of Bollywood is obsessed with technology?

Shah Rukh Khan's love for technology

AFP

Shah Rukh Khan has robots lying around in Mannat

His Dunki co-star Vikram Kochhar, who has also worked in films like Kesari, has revealed what it was like visiting Mannat. He said he saw many robots there. "Its a very comfortable space, and a lot of it has to do with the way Shah Rukh sir hosts his guests. It feels like a lived-in place. Sir loves robots, hes fascinated by technology, thats why his films have a lot of VFX. Robots were lying around in his house, and he started telling us about them. Everything had a purpose, everybody was taken care of. It was all very nice, the exhausts and ACs were all proper and nice," he was quoted as saying by Home Bollywud.

AFP

Shah Rukh Khan's love for technology isn't new. He once bought a laptop for Aamir Khan in 1996.

"Technology and I are so far remote. I will tell you one joke. Shah Rukh Khan and I were in 1996, we were doing a show together in the USA and UK and Shah Rukh was into technology, even at that time, he was up-to-date and all that."

Aamir said that the laptop remained unused for five years.

Twitter

"Woh time par ek naya computer aaya tha Toshiba and he told me ki mein le raha hu and its the latest computer. He said I think you should also take this computer and I had never used a computer in my life toh I said mujhe kya zaroorat hai computer ki toh he said nahi, tu samaj nahi raha hai, ismein tu office daal, yeh daal woh daal mereko bahot samjhaya usne toh I said jo tu lega apne liye, wahi tu mere liye lele. (There was a new computer which was launched at that time and SRK told me that he is buying that computer. He insisted I buy it as well and I said whatever you buy, buy that for me also)"

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan Publicly Declares His Love For Humanoid Robot Sophia After She Says She Is His Fan

"Uss laptop ko 5 saal ke baad mera ek naya manager aaya toh usne bola that sir aapka ek laptop main dekhta hu hamesha pada rehta hai, can I use it and I said please use it and he opened it and woh on hee nahi hua. (After five years, my manager asked if he could use it and when he opened it, it did not start)," Aamir had once revealed at NASSCOMs annual technology and leadership summit.



For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay visited the DMDK office in Chennai to pay his tribute to actor-politician Vijayakanth. As he paid his last respect, he got emotional and was moved to tears.

Thalapathy Vijay gets emotional at Vijayakanth's funeral

Twitter

For the uninitiated, Vijayakanth was seen alongside Vijay in his second film. He gave him the much-needed success in the following years. He offered condolences to Vijayakanth's wife Premalatha and two sons Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian. Several vide of the Leo actor are going viral on social media.

Slipper hurled at him

In one of the videos going viral on social, an unindentified person threw slipper at the actor while he was on his way to the car heading back home. The security was quick to catch it and throw it back from where it came. The incident however has angered the fans.

Vijayakanth passed away on December 28 after testing positive for Covid-19.

Another Angle of that vedio.. A Person is throwing a slipper on Vijay.. its comes on falls on him..now Another person throws the slipper back... pic.twitter.com/NDt0Z9iMyQ  ArJUn SharaN (@RJUNSHARAN7) December 29, 2023

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.

twitter

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 Nadus 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.



For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.






From a researcher to an entrepreneur, Dr Jikku Jose has many achievements to her credit. Born and raised in Kanjirappally, Kottayam district of Kerala, her eco-conscious father fostered her interest in science.

Though I was not clear about my future goals after class 12, my inclination towards science led me to BSc Biochemistry and MSc Biotechnology at Holy Cross College, Tiruchy, says Dr Jose.

She later joined the same college for work, but her father encouraged her to study more. I completed MPhil in Biochemistry from Mother Teresa Womens University, Kodaikanal, and went on to do my PhD in Biotechnology from the Cochin University of Science and Technology, investing four-and-a-half years into the programme.

Dr Jose with interns at Scire Science

She worked on Jatropha curcas, also known as biodiesel plant, inducing variations in it through in vitro propagation and conducting its molecular analysis. Surprisingly, my PhD guide, Dr Padma Nambisan, showed a great inclination towards the environment, she adds.

The heterozygosity of Jatropha curcas leads to variable yields in agricultural settings, potentially impacting investments. Consequently, it becomes necessary to consider clonal propagation for such plants. The objective of her study was to establish a standardised tissue culture protocol for Jatropha curcas and to introduce controlled variation to enhance the development of improved varieties.

Dr Jose became a scientific adviser at a private company in Mumbai in 2014 to learn how academia-industry gap posed impediments to the scientific community. The academia-industry gap has far-reaching consequences on knowledge transfer, skill development, research relevance and collaboration. While academia tends to emphasise theoretical knowledge and curiosity-driven research, industry places a premium on practical skills and real-world applications with a market-oriented approach. Academic research often leans towards scholarly publications, occasionally lacking direct industry applicability, whereas businesses are focused on viable commercial solutions, she explains.

Effective collaboration and communication can tackle challenges linked to research scalability. Partnerships, joint projects, and internships to align students skills with industry needs can be of help, she adds.

To address the issue, she formed the Society for Educational and Scientific Research, an NGO, and organised an international conference on biosciences in Kerala. The 2014 conference brought together 150 participants, resulting in valuable exchanges and fruitful outcomes.

MOU signed betweeen St Terasas College, Ernakulam and Scire Science for industry-academia collaboration

Birth of Scire Science

Dr.Jose relocated to Dubai in 2015, having accepted a job offer from a private company. In 2016, she was presented with an opportunity to join a plant research project at a UAE university. Regrettably, despite a three-month jobless, legal struggle to resolve contract-related matters, she couldnt take on this role, which was deeply disheartening.

At the same time, people in India were unaware of the challenges in my life and were urging me to organise the second edition of the conference. I still remember standing on the eighth floor of the apartment where I stayed in Dubai with the 9 am sun shining. Suddenly, the word Scire, which means to know in Latin, flashed through my mind. I immediately contacted a friend in India to register a company called Scire Science in my name, she shares.

On returning to India in 2016, Dr Jose began to focus on Scire Science, conducting conferences and training workshops for scientists. She successfully organised the second chapter of the international conference in Bengaluru the same year. At the conference, a female researcher presented a solution for biodegradability of diapers through microbes, which was inspired from the discussions held during the last conference, she beams.



Scire Science naturally found its path beyond the conference as people started seeking its services to publish academic books, journals and newsletters. In 2019, Scire Science began to conduct workshops, training and internships exclusively for research students.

At the Indian Science Congress, Bangalore

Turning into an entrepreneur

Scire Science opened its own lab at BioNest  a biotech incubation centre run jointly by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kerala Startup Mission  in Kochi in 2018. It successfully developed an energy-efficient equipment prototype to thaw refrigerated reagents in labs, thus saving 70% energy. We have made it more cost-effective recently, Dr Jose says, not divulging more as the patent process is on.

When the demand for liquid sanitisers soared in the initial days of COVID-19, BioNest Chief Executive Officer Dr Saji George urged Scire Science to make hand sanitisers to meet the growing market demand. Despite the challenges in obtaining necessary licences while navigating a lockdown, Scire Science launched its Safe Touch Sanitiser in 2020.

On the other hand, the lockdown posed a challenging period for research. Dr Jose and her team were conducting experiments on developing microalgae-based cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals at that time. She recalls how they found the microalgae dead upon returning to the lab after the lockdown.

Some of these cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals are now ready for commercialisation, while others are still in different stages of research and development. In the current landscape of our research endeavours, microalgae have emerged as a focal point of exploration and innovation, she says.

These diminutive organisms possess a wealth of untapped potential, offering a promising avenue for addressing the pressing global issue of food security. Their intrinsic attributes, including their remarkable capacity for carbon sequestration, nutrient richness and exceptional photosynthetic efficiency, position microalgae as a transformative force in the quest for carbon neutrality and the fulfilment of burgeoning industrial demands in the foreseeable future.

We encounter a series of formidable challenges that necessitate diligent attention. Among these challenges are the considerable production costs associated with microalgae cultivation, a cautious acceptance within various industries and valid safety concerns regarding their utilisation. Addressing these hurdles will require the concerted and coordinated efforts of professionals across a spectrum of disciplines, all committed to unlocking the full potential of microalgae-based product development, Dr Jose says.

Dr Jose after a talk she delivered at MES College, Marampally

Our overarching goal is to leverage the versatility of microalgae across an array of applications, particularly in fields such as skincare and nutraceuticals. By doing so, we can circumvent the need to sacrifice conventional plants to extract similar molecules that can be readily sourced from microalgae. This approach underscores our unwavering dedication to sustainable practices that resonate across a diverse range of industries, aligning our efforts with the broader mission of fostering a more environmentally conscious and resilient future, she explains.

An inspiration to others

After PhD, everyone tells you to enter the teaching profession. But, my friend decided to pursue business in her research area. Without any management background, she effortlessly led her business to growth and diversified it as per the market demands. It was possible only because of her clear vision, says Hima Joy, a friend. In 2019, Dr Jose became a research member of the Indian Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD), New Delhi. Besides, she is a consultant and advisory board member of different companies. She was invited to a panel at the Indian Science Conference in Bengaluru in 2020.

She is a versatile personality and one among the few doctorates in biofuel in the country. She is not content with just listing her published articles and tries to translate theoretical science into business Unfortunately, very few scientists do that, says IISD Director General Dr Srikanta K Panigrahi.

Dr Jose is a visiting faculty at St Joseph College of Communications, Kottayam. The college introduced Environmental Studies and Human Rights as a subject in 2017. Since Dr Joses work majorly focuses on sustainability, we invited her to teach here three days a week. She is instilling a sense of social responsibility in our students, which is what we expect through this subject, says college principal Father Dr Joseph Parackel.

At Scire Sciences lab at BioNest, a biotech incubation centre in Kochi

Scire Science was recognised at the national level in 2018 when she received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Business Excellence from All India Achievers Forum.

Moreover, she has authored academic book chapters. She served as the chairperson of scientific sessions and was a speaker for various academic and non-academic programmes. She was a panellist of the Womens Science Congress during the Indian Science Congress 2020.

Additionally, she served as a supervisor for a postdoctoral fellow, guiding the researcher on nutraceutical product development from microalgae. Although Dr Jose may consider herself an accidental entrepreneur, she firmly believes that her vision to serve society and the environment has guided her path.

Gowthami Subramaniam is a Tamil Nadu-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.
Months after the bombshell announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament that there were credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the authorities are reportedly close to making first arrests in the case.

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."

REUTERS

Suspects still in Canada

The two suspected killers reportedly did not leave Canada following Nijjar's assassination and have been under police surveillance for months.

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.

REUTERS

How arrests could turn the case

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 arrests, if they happen, will be a major turning point in the case that has resulted in the bilateral ties between India and Canada hitting rock bottom.

India, which responded to PM Trudeau's allegations as absurd, has so far maintained that the Canadian side has failed to provide any evidence to back its claims of Indian involvement.

AP

The development also comes at a time when the US is closing in on a related case there.

In November, the US federal prosecutors charged Nikhil Gupta, who was working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the Sikhs for Justice, an Indian-born US citizen.

The indictment document filed by the US Justice Department has intercepts between Gupta, his handler in India, a high-ranking government official identified as CC-1, and the hitman, where the accused was talking about more targets than the one in New York.

AP

In one of the conversations on June 12, Gupta told the hitman, who was a DEA undercover agent, that there was a big target in Canada and that they needed a good team for the job.

Days later, on June 18, Nijjar was shot dead outside a Gurudwara in British Colombia, Canada, and CC-1 sent Gupta a video of the body.

On June 19, Gupta sent the video to the hitman and told him that Nijjar was the Canadian "job" he had spoken about.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Thimmanna Sannaiah (42) and his wife Roopa Thimmanna (33) from Chitradurga district of Karnataka have exhausted the guaranteed 100 days of wage employment to households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. Apart from being unemployed since early last month, the delay in receiving payments for the work done in September and October and the prevailing drought situation are giving them a hard time.

"It has been almost a month since we received wages. We get free rice and ragi [finger millet], but how can we cook without oil, tomato, onion and chilli," asks Sannaiah, who hails from Chikkerahalli village in Molakalmuru Assembly constituency. Sannaiah used to be paid Rs 316 for a day's work under MGNREGA. Together, the delayed wages of the couple amount to over Rs 10,000, which is not surprising because they received the wages for seven days of work done in August only on November 16.

Chitradurga has overshot its projected person-days and has less than one lakh person-days left, with panchayats unable to provide work for those who demand it (Photo - Flickr,Hari Prasad Nadig)

Like Sannaiah, who wonders how he will manage the expenses of the household comprising two children and his mother, who often gets sick, Ashok Srinivas from the same village is worried about household expenses and managing the medical needs of his children aged three and one.

"I am a graduate, but I have no other job option before me except MGNREGA. Payments have been delayed earlier also, but it has never been this bad. If we had money in our accounts or pockets, would we plead to the government like this," he asks while reminding that the officials always assure the workers of payments, but nothing really happens.

As of December 10, no payments from November have been made in the state, while more than half of the payments from October are still pending. "In the second week of November, along with other states, Rs 750 crore was approved for Karnataka. This is still being disbursed to beneficiaries," Karnataka MGNREGA Commissioner Pavan Kumar Malapati tells 101Reporters.

The MGNREGA Act, 2005, mandates that every worker should be paid within 15 days of completion of a work week, failing which a delay compensation should be paid at the rate of 0.05% per day of delay. "But this is not followed. They never pay the extra money," claims Thippesh Shivananda (40), a farmer and MGNREGA worker from Chikkerahalli.

Roopa says she and Sannaiah have been making the rounds of the local panchayat office, but the authorities only assured that the payment would be credited in a week. "Some people tell us the government does not have money with it. We do not know anything about it. But we need money to live, else we have to leave this village and migrate to cities," she asserted.

Drought of person-days

As of December 10, the state has already generated nearly 11 crore person-days out of its allocated 13 crore person-days, with three-and-a-half months still left in the financial year. Chitradurga has particularly overshot its projection and has less than one lakh person-days left, with panchayats there unable to provide work for those who demand it.

Over 1.17 lakh households have demanded work in the district, and 1.09 lakh households have availed of work, but only a minuscule number of 628 families have completed 100 days of work. Across the state, out of 29 lakh families (comprising 54 lakh people) who applied for work this year, only 26,665 got the 100 days guaranteed under the scheme, which is less than 10%.

Paeaj work demand pattern from karnataka-during-the-financial-year number of households

A casual look at the data would suggest that most of those who applied for work have received it and demand itself is low, but Apurva Gupta from the NREGA Sangarsh Manch cautions that "employment demand is always an underestimate". Much of it is not registered, she says. "People often demand work orally, but panchayat officials only file the application and release muster rolls when they can guarantee work, to avoid paying unemployment allowance." Apart from this, demand is suppressed due to lack of awareness, the convoluted process and delay in payments, she adds.

But this year, the situation has been exacerbated by the rainfall deficit. Since September, Karnataka has declared drought in 223 of its total 236 taluks. Among them, 196 taluks are in the severely-affected category, including Molakalmuru in Chitradurga.

According to Kamalamma Anjanappa, president of Chikerahalli village panchayat, the person-days were exhausted in her village because the administration took up several works, including the construction of farm bunds, building of sheep and cow sheds, removing silt from canals, rebuilding revetment walls damaged due to soil erosion in farmlands and developing schools and cemetery, under MGNREGA.

Speaking to 101Reporters in early November, Molakalmuru taluk Executive Officer M R Prakash says that 92% of the total person-days in the taluk had been exhausted. "Of the 11 lakh person-days, more than 9.59 lakh days have been exhausted. We have taken up activities such as revetment, silt removal, lake revival, construction of compound walls to school, construction and maintenance of farm bunds and road development," he says. This figure has increased to 10.9 lakh in less than a month.

Roopa says her family tried to make ends meet by growing groundnuts in their field. "The crop was a complete failure. We thought we could at least earn Rs 3,000 by selling groundnut hulls that are used as cattle feed. But even that did not work out. The government should pay us immediately, or else we will die of poverty," she says.

Across the state, groundnut crop has wilted, and maize plants have reached only four to five ft height, with the ear of corn mostly missing. Farmers have spent an average of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per acre for the maize crop. Those who have borrowed seeds and fertilisers are now worried about clearing their debts.

The state government has pegged agriculture and horticulture crop losses due to drought at Rs 35,162 crore in 48.19 lakh hectares this kharif season (July to October). On November 30, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state has sought a financial assistance of Rs 18,171.44 crore from the Centre to tide over the drought.

The Meteorological Department website shows a deficit of 65% in monsoon rains up to October in the state. As a result, shortage of livestock fodder and drinking water for both humans and animals have become major issues.

Extension a lifeline

Under the MGNREGA scheme, Centre provides 90% of the labour cost, and the state bears the remaining amount for the guaranteed 100 days of work. As for material cost, the share is 75% and 25%, respectively. There is a provision for extension of unskilled wage employment by up to 50 days in a financial year in drought/natural calamity-notified rural areas. The Central government is required to pay for the additional days as well. The last time Karnataka received 50 extra days was during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

"Person-days have been exhausted, and cultivation is not possible, so many job card holders travel 60 km to Bellary from our village for road repair and building construction works. They leave by 4 am and return only by 8 pm. If the government provides 50 more working days, at least they can work in their own village and earn," Anjanappa says.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Malapati tells 101Reporters that they sent a proposal to the Central government on November 2 regarding the extension of person-days to 50 more days. "We expect the announcement will come this month," he says. He is quoted as saying in a news report that the state has approached the Centre for additional budgetary allocation of five crore person-days.

Weak monsoons this year have already been thought to have pushed up demand for work under MGNREGA. Chitradurga started exceeding projected person-days from September, and in taluks like Molakalmuru, unless the 50 extra days are approved, no MGNREGA work will likely happen for the next three months.

Neela K, state vice president, All India Democratic Women's Association, says the drought has generated a lot of demand on the ground even though it may not be seen in the demand data partly because of the reduced budget from the Centre and partly because the gram panchayat, particularly the panchayat development officer, actively hides demand. "Sometimes they say there is a server problem, sometimes there is no budget. This time, they are using eKYC as an excuse to reject Form 6, which is used to file demand for work."

"So people who need work end up being denied it. And this time, because payments are inordinately delayed, they cannot afford to wait for MGNREGA work. They would rather go to the city and work so that they get paid at the end of the day."

Construction of a cow shed being taken up under MGNREGA in Molakalmuru taluk, Chitradurga (Photo - Bharat Patel, 101Reporters)

Despite all the problems with the scheme, she asserts that this is a lifeline for the crores of people who have returned to their villages during COVID-19, most of whom have not gone back. In 2016, when the drought situation was particularly dire, Neela says 50 extra days were approved. This time, it remains to be seen whether the Centre, which has already drastically slashed the MGNREGA budget, will come through.

Sannaiah, meanwhile, hopes that the provision to extend person-days will help the family. He even has the calculation ready. "If the authorities provide us with another 50 days, we can earn Rs 15,800," he says. Enough to stave off hunger for another season.

About the Author: Bharat Patel is a Karnataka-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has apprehended a total of five people, including four airline staff, at the Delhi Airport for their alleged involvement in human trafficking.

The four staffers of AISATS and an Indian passenger bound for the UK were apprehended at the Delhi airport by CISF personnel.

IGI airport | File Photo

Airline staff tried to check in passenger

AISATS is a 50-50 joint venture between Air India Limited (a part of the TATA Group) and SATS Limited, and its staffers render services like ramp handling, load control, flight operations, baggage handling and other aircraft services.

According to CISF, on Wednesday, a passenger who was supposed to fly to Birmingham on an Air India flight had entered the airport and was stopped after his documents were found suspicious.

"Despite a thorough examination of his baggage yielding no suspicious items, Singh's failure to board the flight raised concerns. On the query as to why he did not board the flight, he did not reply satisfactorily," the CISF said.

AFP

Immigration officials first refused to allow the passenger as his travel documents were "doubtful", and they asked him to return with airline officials for clarification.

However, the passenger did not go to the airline staff and approached an AISATS staffer, who tried to onboard him and two others using "wrong or invalid" documents from the crew check-in counter.

Rs 40,000 to let one passenger in

Four AISATS staffers identified as Rohan Verma, Mohammad Jahangir, Yash and Akshay Narang, along with the passenger named Diljot Singh, were handed over to Delhi Police, who later booked a case against them.

The passenger was travelling on a Seamen letter (authorised to work on the ship only), but Air India staff completed his check-in formalities manually as BRP (Biometric Residence Permits, UK).

BCCL

According to AISATS, three individuals attempted to migrate illegally, and one of them was apprehended during the operation.

The arrested AISATS staffers told CISF personnel that an amount of Rs 40,000 per passenger was being charged for letting them board the flight illegally.

Human trafficking from India

This comes at a time when human trafficking from India has been under the spotlight after a chartered flight from Dubai, with 303 Indians on board, was grounded in France last week.

It is believed that the Indian nationals who were flying to Nicaragua on a Romanian flight were being trafficked to the Central American country, from where they would attempt to enter the US or Canada illegally.

BCCL

After being grounded in an airport outside Paris for four days, the Airbus A340 was flown to Mumbai on Tuesday with 275 passengers, while 26 others sought asylum in France, and two were held as assisted witnesses in the trafficking case.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
India has added 797 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day tally in 225 days. The country had recorded 865 new cases on May 19.

With this, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India has gone up to 4,091, the health ministry said on Friday.

BCCL

Five COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours

Five new fatalities due to COVID-- two from Kerala and one each from Maharashtra, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu -- have been reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data.

Kerala accounted for the maximum number of COVID-19 cases at 2,522, followed by Karnataka at 568, Maharashtra at 369, and Tamil Nadu at 156.

The number of daily cases had been on the rise since earlier this month due to the emergence of a new variant of the virus.

157 cases of JN.1

So far, a total of 157 cases of the new JN.1 variant has been confirmed in India, with 141 cases in December and 16 cases in November.

BCCL

The new sub-variant has been detected in Kerala, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Delhi.

What WHO said

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a separate "variant of interest" given its rapidly increasing spread but said it poses a "low" global public health risk.

The JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus was previously classified as a variant of interest (VOI) as part of the BA.2.86 sub-lineages, the parent lineage that is classified as a VOI, the world body said.

BCCL

We are prepared: AIIMS

Dr Sanjeev Lalwani, the Medical Superintendent of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said that adequate arrangements have been made in case any kind of emergency arises.

"We have made adequate arrangements in case of an emergency. We have all testing facilities. Under my department of Microbiology, we have started a screening facility and emergency simultaneously, and we have arranged for 12 beds in a new private ward," Dr Lalwani said.

"As the number of positive cases is increasing, we will scale up the facilities, including the number of beds. We have asked all the departments, particularly the clinical departments, that in case someone with Covid-related symptoms is coming to their wards, they will be treated in isolation within the same ward itself", said Dr Lalwani.

"We have also made adequate arrangements for medications, PPE Kits and other items which are required to manage the COVID patients. We are keeping a watch on the situation daily. As of now, we have a very limited number of cases. We will be strengthening our system as soon as more cases are reported. But as of now, the situation is not alarming," he added.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
In a tragic incident in Morrisville, North Carolina, an Indian woman, Priyanka Tiwari, has been charged with the murder of her 10-year-old son. After Tiwari called 911 to report that her son was unresponsive, the police found the young boy's decomposing body.

According to Morrisville Police Chief Pete Acosta, this was not the first time the police had received calls regarding Tiwari's residence. Welfare checks were conducted several times, including a visit in March during a mental health crisis.

How did the incident come to light?

On December 20, Tiwari made a distress call to 911, leading the police to her home on Craigmeade Drive. Upon arrival, they found the son's body in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating possible starvation.

Attempts to perform CPR were futile, and the police observed a significant weight loss in the boy over the month before his death.

An autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death. The arrest warrant alleges that Tiwari "unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder (her son)."

Chief Acosta mentioned that the police had responded to the residence eight times since March for welfare checks initiated by concerned relatives, often from India.

Further details reveal that Tiwari's husband had a domestic violence protective order against her, and he left the house with police assistance.

Tiwari, deemed mentally unfit, was taken into custody on December 21.

Agencies

What are the charges being faced by the mother?

Twitter

She faces charges of first-degree murder and negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.



A brief court hearing was held, and Tiwari is held without bail until her next hearing on January 22. The tragic incident has left the community in shock as authorities continue their investigation.

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NASA has launched a mission to catch the menacing "God of Chaos" asteroid speeding towards Earth's orbit in an audacious attempt to prevent a possible disaster.

NASA launched the state-of-the-art spacecraft to intercept and investigate the celestial intruder known as Apophis due to the imminent threat of a catastrophic collision.

The asteroid, named after the chaos deity of ancient Egypt, is a serious threat to Earth, and NASA is taking strategic action to protect it from a possible cosmic disaster.

What Has NASA Found?

Credit: Instagram

NASA recently initiated the mission to intercept the "God of Chaos," a near-Earth asteroid.

Following the spacecraft's return from deep space, the US space agency deployed OSIRIS-APEX for this mission.

In 2029, the asteroid Apophis, also known as the God of Chaos, will pass through Earth's orbit at a distance of just 20,000 miles.

Because of its close vicinity, Apophis might potentially become visible in the Northern Hemisphere.

When Will It Come Near Earth?

Credit: YouTube

At an asteroid width of 1,000 feet, Apophis is named after an ancient Egyptian divinity.

On April 13, 2029, it is scheduled to pass near Earth. It was initially found in 2004.

To observe any changes, OSIRIS will intercept any changes brought about by the asteroid's approach to Earth during that time.

Scientists estimate that an asteroid of this kind orbits Earth once every 7,500 years.

When experts realised there would be no impact at all, they revised their previous estimate of a 3% likelihood of a collision.

It is anticipated that Apophis will travel back in 2036.

The asteroid's orbit and day length will change due to its close collision with Earth.

On Apophis, it might also result in landslides and earthquakes.

Where Can You Watch The Video?

The caption of the video posted on Youtube by JPLraw says, "This animation depicts the orbital trajectory of asteroid 99942 Apophis as it zooms safely past Earth on April 13, 2029. Earths gravity will slightly deflect the trajectory as the 1,100-foot-wide (340-metre-wide) near-Earth object comes within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres) of our planets surface. The motion has been speeded up 2,000 times."

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech





Apophis Mission By NASA



Credit: YouTube

OSIRIS is being repurposed for a new mission following a seven-year mission in deep space to gather samples from the Bennu asteroid in September.

Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security: Apophis Explorer is the new moniker for the spacecraft, replacing OSIRIS-REx.

Scientists can examine what's below when OSIRIS-APEX uses its engines to propel the spacecraft within 16 feet of the asteroid's surface and agitate rock and dust.

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.

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Enjoying a pleasant cultural exchange, an UK envoy went on a cinematic detour to ask the people for ideas of 'important' Hindi films.



This unanticipated act highlights the significance of shared cultural experiences and ignites curiosity.

As the replies pour in, one can't help but wonder how this project would assist people from different countries in better understanding and appreciating the rich world of Hindi cinema.

This piece illuminates the relationship between diplomacy and the allure of Bollywood by delving into the envoy's search for cinematic treasures and examining the responses.

Who Is Asking For Hindi Movie Recommendations?

Credit: X

Alex Ellis, the British High Commissioner to India, is seeking some Hindi movie recommendations from the Internet.



What Recommendations Did He Get?

He gave a rundown of the Hindi movies he had watched. In addition to sharing the titles of these movies on X, he also urged users to recommend other "essential" films they should watch.

Ellis tweeted, "Hindi film fans, after the highs and lows of Sholay, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Chupke, Chupke, what should I watch next? What is an essential Hindi film to see? And, yes, Ive seen Lagaan. And no, Im not going to quote it... PS recently watched and liked Jaane Jaan."

Credit: X

When Did He Ask For The Recommendation?



He asked for the Bollywood movie suggestion on December 27, 2023.

Hindi film fans, after highs & lows of Sholay, Gangs of Wasseypur & Chupke, Chupke, what should I watch next? What is an ESSENTIAL Hindi film to see.



And, yes, Ive seen Lagaan. And no, Im not going to quote it.



PS recently watched & liked Jaane Jaan  Alex Ellis (@AlexWEllis) December 27, 2023

How Did The Internet React?



The sharing of this post began on December 27. It has had over 73,000 views since it was posted.

There are a tonne of comments and around 400 likes on the post.

Many people raced to the post's comments section to offer their movie recommendations.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hein,a 1998 film, with peppy songs.  Ranjinee Phukan (@Ranjinee1) December 27, 2023

Rang de Basanti: a must watch.  Prem (@iPrem1729) December 27, 2023

Don't waste time in watching current crap Bollywood movies..Watch Bollywood movies of 70's, 80's and 90's    (@rajmuker) December 27, 2023

Waqt - the old one  Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 27, 2023

Mr. india, a fun classic  Krishnaswamy Lab (@KrishnaswamyLab) December 28, 2023

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.

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In a story of unanticipated travel difficulties, a man from Kanpur was forced to deal with a financial setback of Rs 6,000 when a 9-hour train delay prevented him from reaching Jhansi.



When the commuter realised time was running out, he saved his trip by taking an Ola ride.

The unanticipated turn of events highlights travellers' difficulties during public transportation interruptions, highlighting the delicate balance between convenience, time, and the cost of unplanned detours.

This story is a sobering reminder of the unpredictability of travel and the choices people have to make when faced with unforeseen challenges.

What Happened With This Man From Kanpur?

Credit: Canva

A Kanpur resident shared his terrifying experience on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, bringing attention to a recent occurrence.

The man described how his plans to catch a connecting train at Jhansi were jeopardized when his train was delayed by an astounding nine hours.

He paid more for an interstate taxi from Kanpur to Jhansi with little choice to ensure he didn't miss his next train.

Credit: X

The customer had to pay an extra Rs 4,500 for the taxi ride even though they had a confirmed Tatkal ticket that cost Rs 1,500.

He wrote on X,"I am travelling from Nagpur-Hyderabad train number 12724 Telangana express -Hyderabad express. Train was supposed to come in the morning at 7.10 AM but arrived at 3.30 PM."

When Did This Incident Take Place?

Credit: Canva

The incident took place on December 26, 2023, and that's when the man's story unfolded.

Where Can You Check Out The Post?

You can check out the post on X.

I am travelling from Nagpur-Hyderabad train number 12724 Telangana express -Hyderabad express. Train was supposed to come in the morning at 7.10 AM but arrived at 3.30 PM. I have my night shift at 8 PM but train is running 9 hrs late, who is responsible for my Loss of pay?  Amanpreet Bhatia (@BhatiaB0627) December 26, 2023

How Did The Internet React?

Other people who have experienced train delays have responded in droves to this incidence.

The train that i have to take at 13:15 at Kanpur arrived 9 hours late. I had to catch Rajdhani at jhansi at 20:15. So i came to know about the late at 14:00. I have no other option other than taking ola for 4500 rupees. And tatkal ticket is 1500 total 6000 loss  electron (@vinodepurate) December 27, 2023

File case bro.  Majnu (@majnubhoi) December 27, 2023

They can make excuses of fog for trains running from North but how will u justify most express trains running late by 5 6 hours daily?



Here is one example.

The policy of "preference of trains" needs to be re-looked for convenience of passengers.

@RailMinIndia @RailwaySeva pic.twitter.com/ME32Wrx0nQ  Sanshis (@Trade_Sanshis) December 28, 2023

This has become a common thing, recently I had to come to Delhi from Tata Nagar and my train was late by 6 hours. I complained to the railway service but they gave a curt reply that the train is late due to technical issue.  Sunil Kumar Gupta (@sunilg63) December 28, 2023

Go to consumer court regarding this, case kro IRCTC will pay, ye dusro ke saath bhi hua hai and he won the case  Varinder Singh (@TruthHurtsDang) December 26, 2023

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.

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San Jose: Rally for Palestine

Date:

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Time:

1:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Event Type:

Protest

Organizer/Author:

Angela

Location Details:

70 W Hedding St.

San Jose, CA

As the Israeli occupation continues its genocidal siege of Palestine, we here in the US must continue to be proactive in fighting against zionism and white supremacy on all levels.



The communities of San Jose and Santa Clara County have made it very clear to local elected officials that we want ceasefire resolutions passed as beginning step from full divestment and boycotting of Israel's occupation.



The demands of the people were dismissed and ignored as District Attorney Jeff Rosen, SJ Mayor Matt Mahan, SC County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, SJ Councilman David Cohen make frequent trips to Israel.



During these community funded trips they learn tactics in: Counter-insurgency, emergency management, community policing, explosives and more.



As they use our state and federal tax dollars are used to fund the genocide of Palestinians, they simultaneously bring back the inhumane practices of Israel, the IOF and Mossad to use against black and brown people here in the Bay.



Join us this Saturday as we take direct action towards resisting the reach of zionism and white supremacy.



Thousands of community members are outraged at the way they were dismissed after spending hours giving testimony.


A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, on Thursday, extended the interim injunction stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from taking any action against the 27 Rivers House of Assembly members who defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).

The extension of the December 15 order was sequel to an application by counsel for the embattled lawmakers, Steve Adehi and Ken Njemanze, who appeared for the Rivers House of Assembly.

While PDPs lawyer, Adeyemi Ajibade opposed the application, Justice Donatus Okorowo agreed that based on Order 26, Rule 10 of the FHC, the court had the discretionary power to grant the plea in the interest of justice.

According to the Presiding Judge, the extension was granted because he was persuaded by the reasons given by Adehi and Njemanze.

READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: 27 Lawmakers Have Lost Their Seats  Falana Faults Tinubus Intervention

Okorowo, who adjourned the matter until January 24 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.

Justice Okorowo had, on Dec. 15, granted the ex-parte motion filed by the 27 lawmakers who dumped PDP for APC.

The court restrained INEC from conducting fresh elections to fill the seats of the members.

It also restrained INEC, PDP and the state House of Assembly from declaring their seats vacant and withdrawing their respective Certificate of Returns pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Famous socialite, Jay Boogie, has flaunted his new body following cosmetic surgery, and this has caused enraged Nigerians to regretfully bite their fingers.

Recall that a few months prior, the transgender had gone online to express his pain following an unsuccessful Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedure.

He had called on Nigerians to help him when the hospital bills became too much.

Weeks following his recuperation, Jay Boogie has come online to flaunt his new body and how well he is faring.

READ MORE: Funke Akindele Replies Troll Who Advised Her To Remarry

Read some reactions:

official.ose007 said: She don suffocate him Gbola

seun_dreams stated: Una contributed money don go into yanshi!!

lawal_barakah1 wrote: Nah those people wey contribute money I blame

thefoodnetworknig2 said: Yall see all your money? Inside senior man botoks! Be proud of your investment guys

jtwsolutionsltd wrote: Rada rada

mikkyx__ wrote: All of you that contributed money for him lmaooo

adeedoyin said: Cosmetic surgery don see women finish

hotsauce_1050 wrote: After EVERYTHING hes been through these past few weeks, hes back out here and up to his old shenanigans??? Im glad he survived, but Im sure somebody somewhere is punching the air as the watch how theyre hard earned money was spent.

SEE VIDEO:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that democracy must be progressive and inclusive with a primary focus on tackling poverty through the provision of job opportunities for youths and quality education for all Nigerian children.

In a statement he signed on Thursday, released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed that the move would take strong collaboration among the federal, state and local governments.

Tinubu said: Democracy has faced challenges in the past, but I believe in a promising future for our country. We will deliver it.

READ MORE: Tinubu Approves Relief Support For Plateau Attacks Victims

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.

I stand solidly with you in the advancement of the progressive ideological stance of our party and we will pursue it with vigour.
Akin Osuntokun, Director General of the Labour Partys (LP) defunct presidential campaign council, has called on Nigerians to focus on corrupt politicians who are actively contributing to the deterioration of the country.

He further urged citizens to drift and avoid getting entangled in politically motivated tribal disputes allegedly fueled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a post via X on Friday, he opined the need to investigate the Nigerian militarys actions to ascertain the factors that have hindered its effectiveness.

The suggestion followed the massacre of over 160 persons in some communities in Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

According to him, the investigation will help to uncover the forces that are benefiting from the ongoing terrorism in the country.

READ ALSO: Plateau Massacre: Agents Of Destruction Trying To Plunge North Into Anarchy  Shettima

He however maintained that the nations military possesses the capability to address the threat posed by terrorists in the country.

The Nigerian military possesses the capability to address the threat posed by terrorists in Nigeria. However, certain factors have hindered its effectiveness. It is essential to examine what has impeded the militarys actions and who might be responsible for these obstacles.

Rather than getting entangled in politically motivated tribal disputes fueled by the APC, it is crucial to redirect our focus towards a more pressing issuethe corrupt politicians who are actively contributing to the deterioration of our country.

By asking these questions, we can uncover the forces that are benefiting from the ongoing terrorism. It is essential to recognize that, as citizens, we are all potential victims, and uniting against corruption should be our shared priority, he posted
South-West Governors who paid a condolence visit to the residence of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have promised to provide a dignified funeral for the late Governor.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who Bayo Lawal, his deputy, represented, led the Governors to Akeredolus Ibadan residence on Friday.

The Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke; his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun; and the Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, were present as well as the Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu who arrived much later, visited the late Governors family.

Recall that Akeredolu died of complications from prostate cancer, on Wednesday.

The Governors however took turns to sign the condolence register at the residence.

Speaking after the visit, Abiodun said the late Akeredolu championed the cause of a southern presidency in the buildup to the 2023 elections and worked for the cause.

On behalf of the Governors, Abiodun said, Collectively, we will be majorly responsible for his funeral rites in according him the farewell that he deserves. We will be setting up a joint committee of the South Western states to work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo State to ensure that we give him a deserving funeral.

We are all here, governors of the South-West states. Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, for Lagos, he will soon be here. He has some flight issues. We are here to commiserate with the Akeredolu family and also the Ondo State Government on the passing of our senior colleague and brother, His Excellency, Akeredolu whom the Lord has called to his side.

Without a doubt, we are all still in a state of shock and disbelief, Akeredolu was the Chairman, South-West Governors Forum, Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, a position that he held and led very courageously, very fearlessly, a learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a successful second term governor of the state.

All of us are here on behalf of our families, the entire South-Western states to commiserate with the family and people of the state. Our prayer is that the Almighty God will forgive his sins and grant him eternal repose. We also pray the wife, children, family members, and the entire government of the state bear this very sad, shocking, and painful exit.

This is a man who is an advocate for a southern presidency, we could recall vividly the reinvigorated Southern Governors Forum meeting in Delta State about two and half years ago, he championed that cause that the southern presidency should come from the South and he stayed with it among several causes that he championed successfully. He will be sorely missed by all of us. The vacuum he left will be very difficult to fill by everyone.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), on Thursday, disclosed that over 63,000 passengers benefited from the free train rides offered by the Federal Government during the yuletide period.

Recall that the free train service was declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, covering all passenger services operated by the NRC and complimented by a 50% discount on inter-state transportation.

Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director (MD) of NRC, revealed that the 63,000 passengers were transported between December 24 and 26.

The NRC MD who spoke with journalists in Lagos stated that the Federal Government had under-written all the costs involved in offering the free train service across the system.

He commended the Federal Government for providing all the necessary support to achieve the feat.

READ ALSO: Yuletide Season: Tinubu Approves 50% Reduction In Transport Fares Nationwide

The MD also advised passengers to obtain their tickets via the website as tickets are not available at the various stations.

According to him, e-ticketing is to enable us to gather appropriate information to profile people travelling on our trains.

He also stated that railway workers had been mobilised nationwide to ensure that the directive of the President was fully enforced.

Okhiria further decried the seemingly unending vandalisation of tracks across the railway corridors, saying, Over 50,000 clips were vandalised on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line; same for the Kaduna-Abuja track.

Having commenced the free train service on its entire passengers services from Thursday, December 21, 2023, the service would end by Thursday, January 4, 2024.
In 1923, former Harrisburg newspaperman Jasper Deeter founded a repertory theater company with just nine dollars and seven actors. The troupe took over an old grist mill in Media, Pa.s Rose Valley, a tiny town that had recently been established as an Arts and Crafts Movement community. In the decades that followed, the Hedgerow Theatre blossomed into a lively stage where intellectuals like Langston Hughes wrote plays and renowned actors performed and trained, including Ann Harding, Paul Robeson, Stephen Lang, and even Keanu Reeves.

2023 marked the 100th anniversary of Hedgerow Theatre, an impressive milestone for the small, scrappy, and ambitious theater in the Philadelphia suburbs.

For much of the theaters history, the actors lived communally just up the hill, sharing house chores and preparing for their ever-changing play schedule. Beloved by celebrity playwrights from Eugene ONeill to George Bernard Shaw, Hedgerow was a rare repertory theater, where actors had a slate of plays ready to stage at any time. Hedgerow persisted through the Great Depression  when actors began growing their own food and tending to livestock  brief closures, enormous debts, and two fires.

For 33 years, it was the countrys oldest and longest-running repertory theater, but in 1956, following an unsuccessful residency in Philadelphia, Hedgerow faced closure and ceased its repertory operations, citing exorbitant costs. The theater maintained its acting school, cofounded by Deeter and longtime actor Rose Schulman, and continued to produce new work.

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Today, Hedgerow is known as the mother of all Philadelphia theaters, in part because its alums went on to found their own successful ventures, including Peoples Light, Freedom Theatre, Theatre of the Living Arts, and Curio Theatre Company. Now under artistic director Marcie Bramucci, the theater opened its centennial season with Good Grief, a new play from Ngozi Anyanwu about a young Nigerian American girl coming of age in the Philly suburbs. Below is a brief look into Hedgerows 100-year history onstage and beyond.

Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of the Hedgerow Theatre Company records, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries. In that collection, the image of In Abrahams Bosom is located in Archive Box 37 while the images of Candida and The Caucasian Chalk Circle are in Archive Box 35.

Circa 1930s: Hedgerow Theatre founder Jasper Deeter sits at the head of the Thunder Table created by Malvern craftsman Wharton Esherick. To his left is movie and stage actor Ann Harding, who around this time purchased the Hedgerow building for Deeter to use indefinitely.

Est. 1939: Deeter directed the Broadway premiere of Paul Greens In Abrahams Bosom in 1926, which examined racism, oppression, and hardship through the story of a mixed-race farmer trying to educate Black students in Jim Crow North Carolina. The play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1927 and months later Deeter staged it at Hedgerow with an all-Black cast of actors from New York, including notable actors Jules Bledsoe and Rose McClendon. This photograph comes from a later production in 1939, featuring Betty Howard and Amos Chew.

1932: Deeter and Harding perform Inheritors, by pioneering feminist playwright Susan Glaspell, considered the mother or first lady of American drama. Hedgerow staged the social justice play  about an outspoken college student who protests for free speech, against the wishes of her family who founded the institution  dozens of times throughout its history, including in 1973 as an ode to Deeter after he died.

1937: Miriam Phillips and fellow actors in Candida by George Bernard Shaw. The comedy was the first play performed at Hedgerow in 1923; this photo is from a later production.

1946: A look at Hedgerows repertory schedule in 1946, with the same group of plays staged in rotation between July and September.

1947: The U.S. State Department filmed an 18-minute documentary about Hedgerow, following its actors for a day, with the goal of illustrating a successful American theater beyond Broadway. The Hedgerow Story was never actually distributed because, according to longtime actor-educator Susan Wefel, images of the troupes communal living veered too close to Communism for a state-approved film.

1948: The Caucasian Chalk Circle, from German playwright Bertolt Brecht, premiered at Hedgerow Theatre. The play-within-a-play set in the Soviet Union became one of his best-known and often-produced works.

Circa 1940s: Left: Miriam Phillips and Rose Schulman in Family Portrait. Right: Richard Basehart, Dolores Tanner, and David Metcalf onstage at Hedgerow.

Mid-1950s: Hedgerow staged a season in Philadelphia, in the foyer at the Academy of Music. Unfortunately, they were unable to attract audiences in the city, leading to an organizational crisis. Hedgerow closed for three years and ceased operating as a repertory theater, reopening in 1959.

1957: As the theater struggled financially, Deeter had important friends pitch in. On behalf of her husband, Carlotta Monterey ONeill put in writing that Deeter had permission to stage Eugene ONeills popular works without any fees (with just three exceptions).

1968: The acting school, Hedgerows Theatre School of Expression, continued to thrive. In 1960, students Celia Silverman and Jean Goldman cofounded Theatre for the Living Arts, which ran on South Street for 30 years. (Its now a movie theater.) Other theaters formed in this era, too  in 1966, John Allen founded Freedom Theatre, now considered Pennsylvanias oldest African American theater, and in 1974, a breakout group of actors founded Peoples Light nearby.

1985: An arson fire destroyed the interior of Hedgerow Theatre, closing it down. The troupe moved to Widener University temporarily, but months later in 1986, an electrical fire broke out. They took their performances on tour while fundraising to cover the repairs.

1988: A shot of the theater during reconstruction. The side of the building on Rose Valley Road wasnt too damaged. After five years of community fundraising and rebuilding, Hedgerow reopened in 1990.

1990s: Mike Hagan, Penelope Reed (who would go on to lead Hedgerow), and Susan Wefel. In the 80s, a teenage Keanu Reeves lived and apprenticed at the theater for a summer, and Wefel remembered him always riding his skateboard. Longtime artistic director Penelope Reeds son, Jared Reed, became an associate artistic director at Hedgerow in 2012.

2022: Current artistic director Marcie Bramucci shows off stage props in a sensory tour ahead of a relaxed performance of Cowboy Versus Samurai. Relaxed performances allow for the audience to move about and make noise without judgment, with the goal of expanding access to people with autism or experiencing disabilities.

2023: To begin its 100th season, Hedgerow staged Good Grief, a coming-of-age play by Ngozi Anyanwu, set in Bensalem, Pa., where she was raised.
People celebrate the Philadelphia Phillies winning the 2022 NLCS by climbing a pole on Broad Street near City Hall. Read more

Only in Philadelphia would we delay swearing in our new mayor so people can strut down Broad Street in satin costumes while pumping itty bitty parasols on New Years Day.

Sure, having someone in place to lead and govern our city is smart and probably the law, but the Mummers are a tradition (albeit a controversial one) that has outlived many a mayor.

And so, earlier this year City Council decided to push back the public swearing-in ceremony of Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker  which would typically happen on the first Monday of the new year  to Jan. 2, so it did not conflict with the Mummers Parade and other New Years festivities.

Mayor Jim Kenney is officially out of his post at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31, which means that for 36 hours, Philly wont have a sworn-in mayor (though, yes, technically Parker takes over immediately and, yes, all other functions of the city, like law enforcement, will still exist). And the people of Philadelphia, who are already ungovernable at best, have thoughts about what should happen during this rare event.

Should everything be legal in those 36 hours? Will we finally be able to climb greased poles like the champions we are, without fear of arrest? Or should we elect a 36-hour mayor, as Philly government relations professional Lauren Vidas proposed on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to lead us in the most interesting way possible during these turbulent times?

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Of course, we wont really be without a mayor. Parker officially assumes the office when Kenney leaves but wont take her oath until the swearing-in ceremony, which means shell hold the position but wont be able to use the full powers of the office. She could also take the oath in private, prior to the public ceremony.

But let us not let logic get in the way of this Philadelphia thought experiment.

Your mayoral policy

When Vidas, of South Philly, posted her call-out on Twitter last month, she asked people to suggest three planks from their Mayoral policy platform and well elect a 36 hour mayor.

As someone who has worked in and around government for years, I thought it would be fun to see what people would want to do, she said. Got a lot of great responses and hope Mayor Elect Parkers team considers borrowing a few of these ideas.

If she were the 36-hour mayor, Vidas said her policies would be: 1) you are legally entitled to vandalize cars blocking crosswalks or parking on the sidewalk 2) four day work week 3) the cost for a 3rd residential parking permit is now $1000.

Policy proposals offered by other 36-hour mayoral contenders include:

36 hours of freedom

In those 36 hours, I would like to see soft pretzel street vendors return to Philly and flood our streets with their salty wares. The health department cracked down on them years ago because of unsanitary practices, but those guys seemed like real characters and how dirty can a pretzel really get in 36 hours?

Next, I propose we storm the SS United States and see just what the heck is going on in there. The 990-foot ship has been docked in South Philly for 27 years, with plans to restore or repurpose it often going nowhere. Could it be because theres a portal to the Upside Down within it? Join my expedition and find out!

Of course, were going to need to cool down after all that exploring, so its a good thing all Citywide Specials will be free (citywide Citywides!) and we wont need to worry about the legality of our dumpster pool party.

Finally, I will strike down with great vengeance and furious anger upon anyone I see littering by placing a sad orange traffic cone over their head.

My 36-hour mayor stumping points would also include:

When Parker does take office next year, I hope shell consider some of the policy proposals outlined above by her constituents. While they may seem silly on the surface, many of them are rooted in seriously good ideas  especially that one about the four-day workweek.

Go Birds.
The University of Pennsylvania has plowed $2 billion in profits from its health system into medical research and physician support in the last 10 years, money aimed at supporting such breakthrough work as the mRNA vaccine for which its scientists won a 2023 Nobel Prize.

Health system profits have been used to cover start-up costs for dozens of new research scientists in recent years. Tens of millions have paid for medical school construction projects. Millions more have supported emerging treatments for patients that combine research and clinical care, such as uterine transplants, before insurance companies will pay for them.

Penn credits its unusual financial model with elevating its standing as a top life sciences research university. Penn spent more than $1.4 billion on life sciences research in 2022, more than double the total a decade ago, according to the National Science Foundation.

Money flows to medical research and to support non-profitable services more smoothly at Penn than at many peer institutions because of its health system is 100% owned and controlled by the university. This is rare among top research universities.

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That allows clinical services, scientific research, and medical education to operate in sync, health system CEO Kevin Mahoney said. The missions arent separate, but integrated.

Now the long-term commitment to research is paying off financially.

The Nobel Prize-winning collaboration between Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, which began at Penn in the late 1990s, didnt just provide the genetic underpinning for coronavirus vaccines credited with preventing millions of hospitalizations and deaths. The duos work has also resulted in more than $1 billion in vaccine royalties for Penn.

The royalties, which are separate from the $2 billion in transferred profits, are buoying medical research and education. This is helping to offset the health systems lower profitability as costs for nurses and other workers rise and the shift to outpatient care accelerates, resulting in less revenue for health-care providers.

The complications of academic medical centers

Academic medical centers such as Penn Medicine combine medical schools, hospitals, and employed physicians. Academic physicians typically treat patients, teach medical students, and conduct research. Under this arrangement, hospitals typically take in significantly more revenue than physicians.

That complicates the relationship between the hospitals and doctors. In an academic setting, most physicians need financial support from the hospitals as they balance their duties as clinicians, researchers, and educators of up-and-coming doctors.

At most academic institutions across the country, there is a separately administered school of medicine, health system, faculty practice plan, and they literally negotiate against each other, said Mike Parmacek, a cardiologist and chairman of Penns Department of Medicine.

At Penn, that doesnt happen because the university has long used health system profits to subsidize physicians clinical and research efforts.

What our system does [is] it aligns all three to support all the missions. Thats the key, Parmacek said.

Penns model of direct university control might be the cleanest way to organize an academic medical center, said Jonathan Jaffery, chief health care officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Penns main teaching hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, is part of the university. At other academic medical centers, its more common for a separate nonprofit to control the main teaching hospital.

Penns executive vice president of health and medical school dean gets to decide how much money to transfer each year, Jaffrey said.

Its going from his left pocket to his right pocket, he said.

Built-in incentives

Penns system still expects its physicians to bring in money and sets benchmarks for their productivity. But then it provides cash support to help offset the losses that happen under the academic model.

We are in the black because we receive support, said Deborah Driscoll, senior vice president for the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania, which has 2,300 faculty physicians.

Penn has another set of incentives for research, which typically costs 20% to 25% more than the funding coming in through grants from the National Institutes of Health, according to Keith Kasper, the health systems chief financial officer.

The incentives encourage departments to get as much research funding from external sources as possible. If 50% of our assigned research effort is funded, we get X amount; 60% we get more; 70% we get more, Parmacek said.

The health systems financial calculus

Penn follows a general spending rule for health system profits when the health system has a profit margin of 4% or more: 60% goes to research, 15% goes to education, and 25% goes to health system capital.

Research loses money, no matter how good you are. In our structure, that gets filled through the health system, Mahoney said.

The $2 billion that Penns health system has transferred to the medical school is a large sum, but its appropriate for Penn, said Patrick Zagar, a Standard & Poors credit analyst who covers the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Youd expect it to be elevated given the size and scale of those programs at Penn. Its all very consistent with the size of the health system, that academic research arm, Zagar said.

If an academic health system spends too little or sharply trims research spending during hard times, that can be a problem, Zagar said: If you do that, will you still be able to attract the talent? Will you still be up there in that top tier? The research is so much a part of who you are.

Changes with lower health system profitability

Health system transfers to Penns medical school climbed steadily for years, reaching a peak of $264 million in fiscal 2021, but during the last two fiscal years theyve been down to about $180 million as the systems profits have flagged.

Penns operating margin during that last two fiscal years averaged 2%  far below the 6% average margin Penn had during the three years before the 2020 pandemic, financial records show.

This is where the mRNA royalty revenue is saving the day.

Vaccine revenues are being put toward a $360 million laboratory facility that is under construction, said Kasper, the health systems chief financial officer. This is in contrast to how the health system paid the $43 million cost of constructing the Jordan Medical Education Center, which opened in 2015.

In the last year, vaccine revenues paid for new researchers start-up packages. They cost $1.5 million to $2 million per scientist and are used to set up labs and give new researchers a start until they get their first outside grants.

In the past, that was all health system dollars being transferred over, Parmacek said.
A California child is facing lifelong disabilities due to injuries she suffered after choking on a piece of gummy candy from Philadelphia-based confectioner Frankford Candy & Chocolate Co., a lawsuit alleges.

The child, who is now 3, choked on a piece of Frankford Candy Land Gummy Dots in December 2022, according to the complaint, which Philadelphia-based law firm Bosworth Law filed Thursday in Common Pleas Court on behalf of the girls parents, Maria Aylin Sotelo Camacho and Francisco Paredes Rivera. Toy manufacturer Hasbro, which produces the Candy Land board game after which the candy is branded, is also a defendant in the lawsuit.

The girl, who is not identified in the lawsuit, suffered a prolonged loss of oxygen due to choking on the candy, which resulted in extensive, irreversible brain damage and spastic quadriplegia, completely paralyzing her, according to the complaint. In addition, she also suffers from a bladder and bowel disorder, and needs to be fed through a permanent gastronomy tube.

She was a thriving, beautiful child who is now incapacitated for the rest of her life, lawyer Tom Bosworth said.

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Due to the extent of the girls injuries, her mother had to quit her job at an auto body shop to become her full-time caregiver, Bosworth added.

At the time she choked on the candy, the child had been routinely eating solid foods, including other candies, Bosworth said. But the Frankford Candy Land Gummy Dots did not include a choking hazard or safety warning, and were dangerous because of their extreme stickiness and inability to adequately breakdown from introduction of human saliva, the lawsuit alleges. As a result, the complaint adds, the candy became a gluelike substance that had a propensity to adhere to the tissue of the palate.

Frankford Candy declined to comment on the lawsuit. Hasbro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The girl consumed one piece of the candy on Dec. 13 last year, the lawsuit says. She began choking after it became lodged in her oropharynx, and her parents took her to a hospital after they could not get it out, the lawsuit says. Two of her siblings, a 5-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, also witnessed the episode, the lawsuit says.

At the hospital, medical personnel attempted to suction the candy out of her throat, but the process was extremely difficult due to the excessive stickiness of the product and its extraordinary lack of pliability, the lawsuit says. By the time it was removed, the girl had suffered profound hypoxia due to a prolonged lack of oxygen, the complaint adds. The lack of oxygen resulted in extensive injuries that require daily therapies and medications.

According to the lawsuit, the candy was negligently, recklessly, and defectively designed due to its makeup, mixture of ingredients, excessive stickiness, size, and shape. And because of the packaging, lack of warnings or age range information, and use of Candy Land branding, it was negligently misrepresented to consumers, who could not have known that there was a choking hazard associated with the candy, the lawsuit alleges.

A product like this needs to have some sort of warning on it, Bosworth said. You dont necessarily know when youre eating a candy what its consistency is, the stickiness, and whether its a problem.

Bosworth compared it to Milk Duds, another chewy, sticky candy that he called a household name. Because of that candys ubiquitous nature, most people know what to expect. But the Frankford Candy Land Gummy Dots are more of a limited edition type of candy, which means that parents or consumers might not know what they are like, he said.

The lawsuit is seeking in excess of $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, as well as interest and court costs. A jury trial has been requested.
In this image from court filings, Samuel Lazar, of Ephrata, is pictured outside the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Read more

A Lancaster County man who was sentenced in secret for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol provided information to authorities in exchange for a shorter prison term, court documents unsealed this week reveal.

Samuel Lazar, 38, was charged in July 2021 for assaulting a police officer, obstructing law enforcement, and entering a restricted building after a trove of photos and images posted to social media helped prosecutors identify the Ephrata man as a participant in the violent mob.

Dressed in camouflage tactical gear, ski goggles, and face paint, Lazar doused Capitol and D.C. Metro police officers with pepper spray as rioters pushed through an area barricaded by metal gates, court records show.

They attacked the people, Lazar later said to another person in a video cited in a criminal complaint. We have a right to defend ourselves. [Expletive] the tyrants. Theres a time for peace and theres a time for war.

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Until now, little was known about Lazars legal proceedings before a federal judge in Washington, D.C.

Records that would typically be made public detailing Lazars guilty plea and March sentencing to two and a half years in prison had been sealed at the request of prosecutors, even after Lazar was released from custody in September, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

It was unclear what information Lazar provided to federal prosecutors in exchange for a shortened sentence, but NBC News reported Wednesday that court documents stated it was valuable information with respect to other Jan. 6 defendants.

Lazar also agreed to testify in an unrelated murder case, the outlet reported.

Lazars lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. The lead U.S. attorney in the case declined to comment.

The documents show that Lazar admitted to spraying officers with a chemical irritant during the riot and using a bullhorn to urge rioters to steal guns from law enforcement officers who were attempting to protect the election proceedings.

For months, news outlets such as NBC News and the AP had urged the court to unseal Lazars case information, as most cases tied to the Jan. 6 attack have unfolded in public.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson briefly ordered those documents unsealed on Tuesday, though confusion over when lawyers had submitted documents for redaction led the court to remove the unsealed files from public view by Thursday, according to NBC News.

Court documents show that in early 2021, local FBI agents were tipped off to Lazars Facebook postings by someone who claimed to have known him for 28 years, though agents already possessed some information pointing to Lazar as a suspect.

And over the next six months, even as Lazars name and photo topped the FBIs most-wanted list of insurrection suspects, more images continued to circulate, among them photos of him posing with prominent Pennsylvania GOP candidates like 2022 gubernatorial hopeful Doug Mastriano at a fundraiser, and a video of Lazar using a Donald Trump campaign sign as a battering ram to break police lines during the riot.

More than 1,200 people have been charged in relation to the Jan. 6 attack, and over 60 Pennsylvanians have been convicted for their actions during the riot.
Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker at a news conference in the Mayor's Reception Room at City Hall, in Philadelphia, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. Read more

I was at a holiday brunch recently when an older gentleman I knew started chatting me up.

I was happy to see him again. A former high-ranking city employee, hes been around the city a long time. We proceeded to have us a good ole time, as they say, discussing Kevin Bethel, Phillys new police commissioner, as well as Roosevelt Poplar, the new head of the Fraternal Order of Police, both of whom he views favorably.

Then I brought up Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker.

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Lately, Ive been feeling cautiously optimistic about the prospects of the city under a Parker administration.

I was apprehensive about bringing up what I had been thinking. As a journalist, no one wants to seem like a Pollyanna, whose judgment is clouded by false optimism or naivete. But I respected this mans opinion. I was curious to know what he thought about our incoming mayor.

Is it naive of me to be a little optimistic for Philadelphia these days? I asked him.

I thoroughly expected to be shot down. But instead, he said, No, youre not naive.

He then went on to wax enthusiastically about Parkers considerable background in public service, her experience being mentored by the former Councilmember Marian B. Tasco, and what that could mean for Philly.

I listened intently. Parker wasnt my first choice for mayor during the primary, but Ive since come around. Philly desperately needs to go in a new direction.

Mayor Jim Kenney checked out long ago. But Parker, who is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 2, already has leaned in, as Sheryl Sandberg would say, taking impressive steps such as creating an intergovernmental advisory board made up of top Democrats in local, state, and federal government. No Philly mayor has done that in recent history, and it suggests she means to live up to her campaign promise to get things done.

I like that she wants to hire more police officers. Shes right about the need for year-round schooling. I like that she has a plan in place to clean city streets; Philadelphians deserve better.

Im also proud that the citys 100th mayor will be an African American woman. It makes my chest swell even more as she appoints highly qualified women of color to top positions in her cabinet. Tiffany W. Thurman, a vice president with the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, will serve as Parkers chief of staff. Sincere Harris, a Mount Airy resident who managed Parkers campaign, will be her chief deputy mayor of intergovernmental affairs, sustainability, and engagement.

Usually, people who look like us dont get top jobs like that.

When I moved here in the early 1990s, former Mayor Ed Rendell had just replaced W. Wilson Goode Sr. and was trying to hype the city up and turn Philadelphia into a tourism mecca. I felt as if I had arrived in time to witness the end of old Philadelphia and the start of something new. There was a feeling of optimism in the air, something thats been sorely lacking in recent years.

According to a recent poll, nearly 50% of Philadelphians say gun violence has a major negative impact on their neighborhoods quality of life. More than 64% have heard gunfire in their neighborhood in the last year. The gentleman I spoke with at the party told me he has moved out and rarely visits anymore because of the ongoing gun violence crisis.

Philadelphians deserve better. I know that theres only so much a mayor can do, but Parker is off to a really good start. I just hope she keeps it up.
Migrants line up at the U.S. border wall in El Paso, Texas, after being detained by U.S. immigration authorities, seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Dec. 27. Read more

As another presidential election year dawns, I know that immigration will once again be in the national spotlight. Yet in their own way, neither candidate takes the issue seriously. One is willing to pour billions of dollars into border security measures that dont work and pass the buck by sending vulnerable asylum-seekers to Mexico. The other is Donald Trump.

Something needs to be done. As a border native (born in El Paso, Texas), I can tell you that misinformation and hyperbole about the region are a staple of Republican campaigns, but I can also tell you that whats happening now is not normal. There is a true crisis taking place  mostly of our own making.

If I have one wish for 2024, it is that the U.S. finally has an adult conversation about fixing immigration, starting with being clear about what were trying to fix.

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To start, the asylum system is broken. It is overwhelmed and cannot keep pace with the number of applicants, leading to asylum-seekers being lawfully allowed into the country and then left in limbo for what could be a yearslong wait for their case to be resolved.

The system is then ripe for exploitation by those who do not qualify for asylum under current law but are using a claim of protection to enter, while the law itself  and the protection it offers  is undercut by the Biden administrations Trump-like policies that endanger asylum-seekers and detrimentally complicate the process.

Theres no doubt that whats happening at the border right now is desperation personified. No one picks up their kids and leaves their home behind to face a journey rife with extortion, assault, and death on a whim. Yet, being desperate is not grounds for asylum. Should it be? Are we our brothers keeper? We may not agree on the answer, but Americans should have that discussion.

The immigration conversation must be coolheaded and pragmatic, and include what to do about the estimated 11 million people inside the U.S. without legal immigration status. Lawmakers must ask themselves, what does the United States need to succeed? Do we need more people? More temporary workers? How do we reap the benefits of immigration while controlling who enters our borders?

Whatever the solution, America needs to make a conscious choice about its immigration system as a whole, because what we have now is barely controlled chaos.

For decades, regardless if theres a Democrat or a Republican in the White House, we have been perfectly fine with border enforcement efforts that have migrants dying by the hundreds annually in their efforts to enter the U.S. in search of a better life, whether drowning in the Rio Grande or collapsing in the Arizona heat.

Once immigrants are inside the country, the U.S. has apparently made peace with migrants  young and old  working under difficult and high-stress conditions in construction, meat processing, dairy farms, and picking fruits and vegetables. All vulnerable to unscrupulous employers and uncaring bureaucracies that provide little recourse if an immigrant is abused, injured, or killed on the job.

You hear it said often that immigrants will do what U.S.-born workers wont. The fact that America runs on backbreaking labor  as long as those backs are wet  is an outrage. That we tacitly allow it to happen is an atrocity.

If we are to address immigration, in 2024 or beyond, we need to start by facing these harsh realities. What we do next will determine who we are as a nation.
Almost everything I hope for when it comes to foreign policy in 2024 seems outlandishly Pollyanna-ish. But a person has the right to dream, dont they? So here goes.

I hope that Ronald Reagan will pay a supernatural New Years visit to Washington, to enlighten MAGA isolationists on how Vladimir Putin is brilliantly playing them and Donald Trump. (Maybe this hope is based on just rewatching Cary Grant in that great Christmas classic, The Bishops Wife, in which he comes to Earth to rescue a failing family.)

Reagan  for all his weak spots  understood how to play hardball with the Kremlin and would be astonished at the blindness of his current GOP confreres. Reagan would never have embraced Trumps delusions that he could hand Ukraine over to Putin without strengthening the Russian dictator in his dangerous belief that America is a spent global power.

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 READ MORE: In the war between Ukraine and Russia, which side is the GOP on? | Trudy Rubin

In case Reagans ghost doesnt materialize, Im also hoping President Joe Biden finally grasps that he must enable Ukraine to destroy Russian forces this year  before the GOP delivers Kyiv to Putin. Biden deserves kudos for helping Kyiv hold off Moscows superior forces for two years, but the slow drip of U.S. aid has left Ukraines ground forces in a stalemate.

Yet, Ukraines daring fighters have scored dramatic successes against Russias Black Sea navy; last week they destroyed a Russian ship at a port in occupied Crimea. Early 2024 is the moment for Biden to finally deliver the long-range ATACMS missiles he keeps refusing, as well as the F-16s and everything else Kyiv needs to push the Russians out of Crimea and ensure their defeat.

I am hoping that sane Senate Republicans and Democrats come up with a desperately needed formula for asylum reform on the southern border, but, in my dreams, it shouldnt be tied to Ukraine aid.

Meantime, I am hoping (but not hopeful) that the government of Israels highly unpopular Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fall. Otherwise, the Israeli leaders policies are likely to drag his country into a disastrous reoccupation of Gaza and ensure that most Israeli hostages are killed in the fighting while laying waste to the entire Gaza Strip.

Yes, Israel needs to punish the Hamas terrorists for their heinous attack on Oct. 7. Yet the current war strategy is unlikely to destroy Hamas vast underground tunnel network or catch its top leaders, even as it kills thousands of Palestinian civilians.

Even if Biden puts more pressure on Netanyahu to end the war sooner, I fear he will refuse. As his many Israeli critics point out, the longer the war extends, the longer Netanyahu can avoid taking responsibility for the governments prewar security failures. And the longer he can stave off his multiple trials for corruption.

Not only do Netanyahus policies undermine his countrys future security, but they dash any hope that this brutal war can lead to a diplomatic formula that addresses the broader issues that underlie the fighting  the political future of the Palestinian people or even the future of the Gaza Strip.

 READ MORE: Israels right to destroy Hamas cannot excuse mounting Palestinian deaths | Trudy Rubin

Most of all, however, Im hoping a majority of U.S. voters in 2024 will recognize that, like the emperor in the old fairy tale, the wannabe dictator Trump has nothing on except his ego. When it comes to foreign policy, he failed miserably on almost every issue as president.

Openly admiring dictators, he was fooled by Putin and by North Koreas Kim Jong Un  who built up his nuclear arsenal even as Trump bragged of the love letters between them. Trumps policy on China, based only on raising tariffs, failed to make any progress on wider security issues.

It was Trump who signed the surrender agreement with the Taliban. Trumps Mideast policies wrongly assumed that the Palestinian political issue could be ignored indefinitely. His proposed draconian trade tariffs would cost American jobs, raise prices, and further antagonize allies.

Putin is openly rooting for a GOP victory in 2024 because he expects Trumps global policies will undermine democracies around the world and strengthen dictators like him. I hope his expectations will be proven categorically wrong.
Chinese tech company Xiaomi Corp finally took the veil off its much-anticipated first electric vehicle on Thursday, as its founder aims to compete with Porsche and Tesla to become one of the worlds top five auto manufacturers in the future.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, said at a product launch event in Beijing on Thursday that the sedan dubbed the SU7, came after the company worked hard and invested lots of resources in the development of many key technologies, such as electrical machinery, over the past three years.

"We aim to become one of the world's top 5 automakers via hard work over the next 15 to 20 years," Lei said.

According to him, the company chose sedans rather than SUVs, a very popular model in China, as its first car because "it is more difficult to make sedans which can better represent the spirit of the automobile industry."

Lei said Xiaomi's car will come with cutting-edge autonomous driving capabilities and be equipped with its operating system that can connect with Xiaomi's smartphones, Pads and other electronic devices.

According to him, it will take several months for the SU7 to hit the market.

Xiaomi has pledged to invest $10 billion in autos over a decade to crack the new energy vehicle market which is now highly competitive in China.




Triple Canopy, Inc. a Reston, Virginia-based company that provides protective services to federal agencies, will pay a former employee $110,759 and provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced.

According to the EEOCs lawsuit, Triple Canopy denied a religious accommodation to an employee who held a Christian belief that men must wear beards. The company said it did so because the employee, Marcus Williams, was unable to provide additional substantiation of his beliefs or a supporting statement from a certified or documented religious leader.

The suit also alleged that Triple Canopy retaliated against Williams for filing an EEOC charge and subjected him to intolerable work conditions that resulted in his constructive discharge.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs absent undue hardship and prohibits retaliation against those who complain about discrimination.

The EEOC said it filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its voluntary conciliation process.

Under a three-year consent decree resolving the lawsuit, the company will pay Williams a total of $110,759 in monetary relief. This figure represents $15,117 in back pay, $642 in interest on back pay, and $95,000 in compensatory damages.

In addition to monetary relief, Triple Canopy will institute a new religious accommodation policy; provide training on religious discrimination and retaliation; and report to the EEOC quarterly on any complaints of religious discrimination and retaliation.

The consent decree does not constitute an adjudication on the merits of the EEOCs case. It also should not be construed as any admission by Triple Canopy of liability or of any discriminatory practice.

EEOCs Philadelphia regional attorney Debra M. Lawrence said the federal agency was pleased that Triple Canopy was willing to agree to an early resolution.

Topics Virginia
Law enforcement and regulatory officials in New York will soon have access to information on the ownership behind limited liability corporations (LLCs).

Governor Kathy Hochul called the LLC Transparency Act (S.995B/A.3484) a compromise agreement with the legislature that will allow law enforcement and regulators to uncover misconduct, while still addressing legitimate privacy concerns.

This bill, which goes into effect 365 days from signing, aims to end the practice of anonymous ownership of domestic and foreign limited liability companies in the state.

Supporters of the measure maintain that permitting anonymous LLCs was a public policy mistake that has contributed to numerous problems and needs to be corrected. They maintain that anonymous shell companies are used to bypass sanctions, avoid taxes, circumvent wage laws, fund terrorist organizations, support organized crime, and launder money from drug and human trafficking. Also, according to their critics, anonymous LLCs leasing real property are correlated with more numerous code violations, higher rents, and more evictions compared to non-corporate owners.

For far too long, bad actors have been protected by the loose disclosure requirements of LLC ownership, Hochul said. Wage theft, money laundering, tenant mistreatment and other unlawful activity has been masked by the opaque ownership structure of an LLC.

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a sponsor, said the LLC information is crucial for regulators and prosecutors in order to crack down on tax cheats, bad landlords, and employers engaged in wage theft.

State, federal and local government law enforcement will have access to the database, except where LLCs have been approved for a waiver.

Existing and new LLCs will be required to include a list of beneficial owners along with the other documents they submit to the state. The database will include, among other things, the name of the business entity, the current business street address and county associated with each business street address, and the full names of all beneficial owners.

Some LLCs are exempt from the requirement and others may apply for waivers to keep their information confidential.

The bill tracks with the reporting requirements under the new federal Corporate Transparency Act, which goes into effect on January 1. 2024. In fact, the state law permits an LLC to file an identical copy of the report it files with the U.S. Treasury Department to comply with the federal act with the New York in order to satisfy state reporting requirements.

Also, the same 23 types of entities are exempt from the ownership reporting requirement under both measures. Among those exempt are banks, insurance companies and producers, credit unions, securities brokers, accounting firms, venture capital firms, public utilities and others.

The New York Secretary of State has a year to establish rules and regulations.

The UK, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and more than 100 countries worldwide are creating registries of the beneficial owners of corporate and legal entities, many of them public.

Topics New York Law Enforcement
Yes, another year has flown by, and its once again time for the top international Insurance Journal stories of 2023. This year, they are a real hodgepodge of topics, ranging from hard market trends, to faulty wind turbines, to the controversial Lloyds cyber war exclusions and warnings about an impending soft market.

In previous years (2018-2021), mergers and acquisitions dominated our top 10 international lists, but this year only two deals entered the top 10  Brookfield Reinsurances proposed purchase of Argo Group International Holdings (at number 6). and the planned acquisition of three US insurance brokers by Zurich Insurance Groups subsidiary, Farmers Group Inc. (at number 5).

Just because there were additional interesting articles in the top 20 that we didnt want to leave out, weve added 10 more to the list as a New Years bonus.

So here we go:

1) January Renewals See Hardest Property Catastrophe Reinsurance Rates in Generation

Coming in at the top of the list was this reinsurance article, which states that a convergence of global events has led to the hardest property-catastrophe reinsurance market in a generation and a complex, grueling and late January renewal season, which went down to the wire. (This years renewals proved to be a bit easier).

2) Here Are Details of Quality Issues Affecting Siemens Gamesas Wind Turbines

This article about major issues at turbine maker Siemens Gamesa was a big hit with readers, coming in at number 2 in the top 10. Parent company Siemens Energy said fixing the problems was expected to cost the company at least 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion).

3) P&O Cruise Ship Crashes Into Oil Tanker, Injuring Passengers

Extreme weather in the form of strong winds (another growing topic for our readers) in August caused the mooring holding a P&O cruise ship to snap. Fortunately, only a small number of people were injured when the ship collided with an oil tanker off the coast of Spain. (Such severe convective storms are causing increasing claims and concerns for insurers as evidenced by related articles at numbers 15, 17 and 19 in our top 20).

4) Scratched EV Battery? Your Insurer May Be Forced to Junk the Whole Car

The trust of this story about electric vehicles is that there is no way to repair even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, which forces insurers to write off cars with only few miles on the speedometer  leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric.

5) Zurichs Farmers Group Seeks More Fee Income Via Acquisition of 3 Brokers for $760M

This article details Zurich Insurance Groups announcement in November that its subsidiary, Farmers Group Inc. agreed to acquire three insurance brokers of the Farmers Exchanges for US$760 million, which will boost its fee income.

6) Brookfield Reinsurance to Acquire Insurer Argo Group in $1.1B Deal

Financial services firm Brookfield Reinsurance announced in February it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Argo Group International Holdings in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion.

7) Quebecs French-First Law Stokes Alarm in Business Community Over Language Police

This story in January described the concerns of businesses in Quebec over a language law  Bill 96  which requires Quebec-based companies to serve clients and write contracts exclusively in French in some circumstances. Companies, which could be fined along with directors and officers, were worried that the law is too ambiguous and would create an unpredictable business environment.

8) Lloyds Cyber War Exclusions: Confusing, Disruptive, but Necessary?

This article describes the rationale behind the rollout of the Lloyds cyber war exclusions, which received criticism for the chaos and confusion that it caused. There was agreement that the exclusions are necessary but perhaps the changes could have been better communicated ahead of the rollout in March.

9) Cyber Insurance Market Back From Brink After Onslaught of Ransomware Attacks

The cyber-insurance market, battered by a rash of pandemic-era ransomware attacks, is making a comeback, according to this article, published in February. It noted that price increases were moderating and new capacity was entering the market. While the risks posed by cyber criminals are still enormous, clients have adopted stronger cyber security measures, so claims frequency was declining.

10) Viewpoint: Get Ready Now for the Soft Market (Because Its Coming)

Written by contributors from boutique insurance consultancy UWX, Tony Buckle and John Carolin, this article analyzes underwriters motivation during the soft phase of the market cycle and reminds readers that, while average market prices are the hardest seen in years, some price softening has begun to occur. The authors urge insurers to understand underwriting behavior before the inevitable soft market returns. Another article written by Buckle and Carolin, called Repricing Is Not Reunderwriting, is also in our top 20 list, at number 12.

Now, as a bonus, here are the articles that round out our top 20 for 2023.

11) CFC Executives Walsh and Newman to Step Down After Lloyds Misconduct Probe

12) Repricing Is Not Reunderwriting

13) Appetite for Cat Exposures Returns; Reinsurers Stay Disciplined in Mid-Year Renewals

14) Hillary Clinton Calls for Reform of Insurance Sector at COP28 Climate Talks

15) P/C Insurers Face Challenging Claims Dynamics as Frequency, Severity Rise: Swiss Re

16) Major Cyber Attack Could Cost Global Economy $3.5 Trillion: Lloyds

17) Insured Losses From Severe Convective Storms in US Top $50B for 1st Time: Aon

18) Earthquakes Deliver Another Blow to Turkeys Re/Insurance Industry: Reports

19) Reinsurers Cautious About US Regional Property Cat as Storm Losses Rise: Gallagher Re

20) UK Staff Coming Into the Office Now Outnumber Hybrid Workers: Survey

Related Top 10s From Our Other Regions:

And from previous years:
Chinese lawmakers changed the countrys Company Law by setting tougher capital rules for registering a new firm, an effort to close loopholes in corporate governance and prevent financial risks.

The revised law takes effect July 1, 2024, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday. While the full text of the amendment wasnt immediately available, Xinhua reported earlier that the law will require a companys shareholders to inject the declared amount of capital within five years. The time limit could be shorter for some key industries.

The revisions were adopted after a rare fourth review and reversed a 2013 reform that allowed shareholders to set their own deadlines for paying the capital. The changes were intended to promote responsible shareholder behavior and contribute to a more robust business environment, the official China Daily reported, citing legal scholar Liu Junhai, a key contributor to the amendments.

The new rule is unlikely to impact the operations of state-owned enterprises and publicly listed companies. Some entrepreneurs and lawyers were worried about the change because it came as a surprise and brought uncertainty, according to a report by the 21st Century Business Herald in August.

PricewaterhouseCoopers said on its social media account last month that the change appears to be aimed at better protecting creditors, although its also likely to lower investors enthusiasm to start new businesses.

It wasnt immediately clear how the new law might impact existing companies that registered but have yet to make the capital contribution in full.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics China
A storm that battered the UK with high winds and heavy snow damaged houses, canceled trains and left thousands of people without electricity Thursday across Scotland and parts of northern England.

Workers dealt with wind speeds of 80 miles per hour in some coastal areas of Scotland as they tried to restore power to households and businesses that were cut off when falling branches and other debris hit utility lines.

More than 31,000 homes were reconnected, but about 14,000 others remained without power on Thursday morning.

Storm Gerrit also caused widespread disruption to train service across Scotland, where travel on some lines was suspended until officials could carry out a full inspection of the rail network. A falling tree hit the driver`s cabin on one train, but no one was injured.

Snow also blocked some roads in Scotland.

In the city of Manchester in northwest England, police said they received numerous reports late Wednesday of homes being damaged by a mini tornado. .

Local officials said some 100 properties were evacuated overnight. No injuries were reported.

Heathrow Airport, the U.K.`s main travel hub, canceled 18 flights on Wednesday because of air traffic control restrictions on domestic routes. Flights to European cities like Barcelona and Berlin were also affected.

Photograph: Damaged houses are seen in the Stalybridge area of Greater Manchester People after a localised tornado ripped off roofs and brought down walls as Storm Gerrit continued to impact the country, Manchester, England, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Windstorm
Insurance Journal Midwest readers in 2023 gravitated to stories on multi-million dollar rulings, policy language disputes and failing mutual insurance companies. Readers were also interested in the fallout of the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and large court settlements.

Top Midwest Insurance Journal Stories of 2023

An October consent order filed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce accused Liberty Mutual of violating several state insurance regulation laws. Liberty Mutual in turn agreed to repay $7.7 million to more than 86,000 Minnesota policyholders. The consent order alleged Liberty Mutual failed to offer the minimum antitheft protection device discount on auto insurance. The insurer also allegedly used an applicants status as a residential tenant in offering or establishing multi-policy discounts and applied an automated auto rate increase in violation of state law. Liberty Mutual was given approximately one year from the date of the consent order to refund, credit, or reduce the premium of all impacted policyholders in accordance with the remediation plan approved by the Minnesota Commerce Commissioner.

Geico found itself off the hook from paying a Missouri woman $5.2 million because she said she contracted a sexually transmitted disease in the car of a man who is insured by the company. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in January to overturn a lower courts ruling in favor of paying the woman. The Supreme Court unanimously decided that Geico should have had a chance to weigh in sooner and sent the case back to the lower court for further deliberation. The woman notified Geico in 2021 that she planned to seek a $1 million insurance settlement against the man who allegedly gave her an STD. The womans partner was covered by a Geico auto policy and an umbrella policy. Geico refused the settlement, saying the womans claim did not occur because of normal use of the vehicle.

A dispute over which insurer should pay after a 16-year-old boy borrowed a friends car and crashed it into a utility pole reached its way to the Ohio Supreme Court. The driver was insured by Acuity through a policy issued to his father, while the cars owner was insured by Progressive. The Progressive policy provided liability coverage to drivers not listed on the policy who had permission to use the vehicle, but only if the driver did not have liability coverage through another insurance policy. Since the driver was insured by the Acuity policy because he was a listed member of the vehicle owners household, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Acuity, not Progressive, had to cover the accident.

2023 marked a challenging year for Midwest mutual insurers, with multiple companies placed into rehabilitation or liquidation or given negative ratings. Kansas MutualAid eXchange (MAX) was declared insolvent and forced into liquidation after experiencing consistent underwriting losses, lack of reinsurance, and a declining surplus. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt said in an August statement that the company fell victim to a very tough reinsurance market and catastrophic storms throughout the nation. Overlard Park-based MAX concentrated on homeowners and farms insurance and provided products to faith-based and mutual aid ministries.

Cameron Mutual Insurance Company was placed into rehabilitation in August, and later liquidation, after experiencing a slow decline in market share. The Cameron, Missouri-based company offered property and casualty insurance, and its lines of business include personal (primarily homeowners and auto coverage), commercial, and farm. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance said the insurer was geographically concentrated in areas impacted repeatedly by severe storms, resulting in major losses in 2023. Cameron Mutual experienced capital erosion in each of the last four calendar years, according to AM Best, eroding surplus by nearly 50%. The company announced it would wind down its insurance operations by non-renewing policies.

A pair of Norfolk Southern train derailments in February led to vastly different fallouts. When a Norfolk Southern train derailed in southeast Michigan on Feb. 16, causing minimal damage to the surrounding area and no injuries, residents were counting their blessings. Less than two weeks prior, a 50-car Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, forcing evacuations and leaving a trail of nearly $400 million in damage. Approximately 72,000 tons of solid waste and 21 million gallons of liquid waste were removed from the crash site and local streams by June, but litigation surrounding the incident is just beginning.

A Nebraska school district agreed in March to pay $1 million to the family of an eighth grader who died after eating a granola bar given to him by a teacher. Jagger Shaw, a 14-year-old student at Liberty Middle School in Papillion, Neb., died last May. Shaws father said in a Facebook post that his son got halfway through eating the granola bar and felt like he was starting to have an allergic reaction. Shaw said Jagger went to the school nurses office where he was first given the allergy medication, Benadryl. That didnt help, so the nurse gave Jagger an epinephrine shot with an EpiPen. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he died May 7. The school districts liability insurer will pay the settlement.

One court ruling especially popular for readers came from Ohio, where a Court of Appeals panel said that Nationwide must indemnify a canine owner whose bulldog bit a passer-by, ruling that a policy exclusion barring coverage for bodily injury for a dog with a prior history of attacking or biting did not apply because the bulldog did not have an established history of aggressive behavior. The canine owner held a Nationwide homeowners insurance policy at the time his bulldog named Beastro attacked the plaintiff, Benjamin Rolinc on August 2, 2020. Beastro bit Rolinc several times, resulting in injuries and requiring medical attention. A three-person panel found that Nationwides dog exclusion does not apply because Beastros prior history of biting or attacking was not established as specified in the policy.

An Illinois appellate court ruled that Zurich American Insurance Co. may pursue a subrogation lawsuit against a subcontractor that it says forced it to pay a nearly $3 million builders risk claim by designing a defective stormwater detention system during construction of an academic building at a Chicago community college campus. The court found that the contract between City Colleges of Chicago and its design contractor, Moody Nolan, required the college system to be a third-party beneficiary. The court said it didnt matter that a subcontract between Moody Nolan and Infrastructure Engineering attempted to shield the engineering company from any liability to third parties.

This $75 million jury award out of Missouri caught many readers attention. A jury found UPS Inc. must pay a family after a company driver with a known history of drug abuse collided with a pregnant womans car, causing her baby to be born with permanent brain damage. In May 2018, Steven Ray Miller was driving a UPS truck when he ran a red light, hitting a car driven by Jodi Pannell, who was 13 weeks pregnant, according to trial testimony. Pannell sought emergency medical treatment and began physical therapy. Her son was born in October 2018 with hypotonia, which is low muscle tone, and was later found to have a permanent brain condition called schizencephaly, The Kansas City Star reported. A Clay County jury found that UPS should pay the family $65 million in damages and $10.3 million in interest. Nuclear verdicts are a key concern for commercial auto insurers.

See Top Stories From Each Region:

Topics Ohio Kansas Minnesota Missouri
? Ahora el premier Alberto Otarola informa los acuerdos y medidas aprobadas en la ultima sesion del Consejo de Ministros del 2023. Senalo que el titular del @Minsa_Peru presento el estado del COVID en el pais. pic.twitter.com/jAeRdi5omv
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Attorneys for a woman who was denied emergency contraception in 2019 told the Minnesota Court of Appeals Thursday that the pharmacist who refused to fill the prescription discriminated against her on the basis of her sex.

But an attorney for George Badeaux, the pharmacist at Thrifty White in central Minnesota, said his refusal to provide the drug due to his religious beliefs was not a violation of state and federal law.

A jury ruled last year that Badeaux did not discriminate against Andrea Anderson, a mother and foster parent, when he refused to fill her prescription for Ella, a drug that is used to stop a pregnancy before it starts. The jury also awarded Anderson $25,000 due to emotional harm  money she can`t collect because there was no finding of discrimination, said Jess Braverman, one of Andersons lawyers.

Gender Justice, an advocacy organization for gender equity, and other lawyers for Anderson appealed the jury`s ruling this year.

This was pregnancy-related discrimination, Braverman, the legal director for Gender Justice, said in court Thursday.

Braverman added that Badeaux illegally discriminated against Anderson on the basis of her sex when he refused to fill her prescription for a drug that is only prescribed to women.

Anderson eventually got her prescription filled at a pharmacy in Brainerd, making the round-trip of more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) in wintry driving conditions in 2019.

Rory Gray, a lawyer for Badeaux, argued federal and state law would not classify Badeaux`s actions as pregnancy discrimination.

The Minnesota Human Rights Act is focused on motives, not consequences, Gray said. Mr. Badeaux had to have a discriminatory motive. The jury found that he did not. And thats backed up by the statute, which does not impact so much what is done as to why its done.

Gray added that Badeaux was not focused on himself or on Anderson when he refused to fill the prescription. Primarily, he was focused on a third party. And thats the life thats formed when an egg is fertilized, Gray said.

Braverman said it doesn`t matter if Badeaux was trying to harm Anderson or not.

Thats not an element of a discrimination claim. Its simply whether they denied the person full and equal access to goods and services, Braverman said.

The problem that happened here was that the court instructed the jury that if Mr. Badeaux didnt intend to cause Ms. Anderson harm and stigma and shame, then they have not committed discrimination. And that is not the law in Minnesota __ its whether you intended to discriminate, which we have  uncontroverted testimony of that here, Braverman added.

The panel of three judges has 90 days to rule on the appeal.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion last year, some states have expanded access to emergency contraceptives and birth control while other states have restricted access and enacted abortion bans.

Dozens of universities across the country now carry emergency contraceptives in vending machines, according to the American Society for Emergency Contraception. Some, such as the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, are in states where abortion is largely banned.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Minnesota
Less than a month after New York insurance regulators said a title insurer would pay $1 million for violations of a cybersecurity regulation stemming from a 2019 breach, the holding company for the insurer revealed a more recent cybersecurity incident.

Earlier this week, Fitch Ratings said that the latest incident, disclosed by First American Financial Corporation in a Dec. 22 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, probably wont affect the companys ratings in the near term. But ratings could eventually be impacted, Fitch said, if business operations remain constrained for an extended period, if investigation of the event reveals weak corporate governance or risk management, or if material adverse information is disclosed.

In the Dec. 22 SEC filing, First American Financial Corporation said the company recently identified unauthorized activity on certain of its information technology systems without disclosing the exact date. The 8K SEC filing indicated that the company took steps in an effort to contain, assess and remediate the incident upon detection, and that on Dec. 20, the company elected to isolate systems from the Internet.

Update: Since this article was originally published on 12/26/2023, First American Financial has announced that its systems have been partially restored. According to a 12/28/2023 update on https://www.firstam.com/updates/,  Since this article was originally published on 12/26/2023, First American Financial has announced that its systems have been partially restored. According to a 12/28/2023 update on https://www.firstam.com/updates/,  FirstAm.com has been restored (with some limits to functionality). We will continue to post updates on this page as we return to normal business operations.

The filing also reported that First American Financial is working diligently to restore its systems and resume normal operations but had no estimate of the time of disruption, during which the companys primary website could remain inoperative.

Updates of the situation are available on FirstAmUpdate.com. The most recent updates from Dec. 22 announced the SEC filing and also indicated that First Americans email system has been taken offline. Any recipient of an email purporting to be from First American, First American Title or from FirstAm.com should be vigilant about cybersecurity risks and avoid clicking on unknown or suspect links, the company said.

The SEC filing noted that the company was assessing whether the incident could have a material impact on its financial condition and results of operations, which at this point cannot be determined. In addition, the company retained leading experts, is working with law enforcement and notified certain regulatory authorities, the filing said.

Among regulators interested in events at First American Financial is the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), which announced on Nov. 28 that First American Title Insurance Company would pay a $1 million penalty to New York State for violations of DFSs Cybersecurity Regulation (23 NYCRR Part 500). The incident that led to the penalty was announced by First American in May 2019, but it was later discovered information security personnel within the company discovered and failed to remediate a serious vulnerability in First Americans EaglePro application (for sharing document images related to title and escrow transactions) in January of the same year. The lack of cyber controls promoted an SEC penalty of nearly $0.5 million in June 2021, and the DFS fine of $1 million last month $

For more of the backstory, read, Title Insurer Settles SEC Charges On Cyber Controls, Pays Nearly $0.5M

The SEC, at that time, credited DFS with helping in its investigation. DFS, in its announcement last month, said that its investigation revealed that First American failed to maintain and implement effective governance and classification, access controls and identity management, and risk assessment policies and proceduresviolating the departments cybersecurity regulation. As a result, EaglePro lacked sufficient access controls designed to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to consumers non-public information.

There is no indication in First Americans latest disclosure that the current incident involves the EaglePro application, and Fitch, in its announcement said that the most recent cyber incident is unrelated to the May 2019 cyber incident.

Title insurance companies routinely work with sensitive personal information including bank records, and therefore data protection is critical to their operational success, Fitch said.

Fitch said it intends to monitor for any potential financial, operational, reputational effects of the latest event, and for signs of a deterioration in governance or risk management as this event is resolved.

Still, future negative rating implications are unlikely given FAFs substantial ratings headroom relative to established sensitivities, Fitch said, adding that the rating agency doesnt believe the recent incident will materially affect First Americans capital position or financial performance.

According to Fitch, First American is the second largest U.S. residential title insurer and a leader in the commercial title market.

Fitch affirmed the financial ratings of First Americans title insurance operating subsidiaries at A, and senior debt for the holding company at BBB on Aug. 24, 2023. Likewise, AM Best affirmed financial strength (A) for First American Title and issuer credit ratings (bbb) for the parent holding company in October.

In an unrelated event, in October, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that First American would pay New York state $4.5 million related to an investigation of no-poach agreements that the company and competing title insurers had with one another to stop employees from switching jobs.

Topics Carriers Cyber New York
Outside of the turbulent state of Florida, the Southeastern U.S. saw its share of insurance issues, from carriers pulling out of Georgia to roof-matching requirements in Kentucky to liquor liability problems in South Carolina and dog bites in Alabama. (See our Jan. 2 edition for the top Florida stories of 2023.)

Top Southeast Insurance Journal Stories of 2023

1. Farmers Forced to Rescind Thousands of Nonrenewal Notices in Georgia

About the same time that it announced a major pull-back from the Florida and California markets, Farmers Insurance also sent thousands of nonrenewal notices to Georgia homeowners. In Georgia, though, the carrier appears to have misunderstood the states rather unique law on nonrenewals  and was forced to backtrack. Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King put out a bulletin in July saying Farmers had rescinded the nonrenewal notices that were mailed to homeowners that month. The nonrenewals explained that if the homes roof was 15 years old or more, Farmers would no longer write the property. Thats not allowed under Georgia statute 33-24-46, which forbids carriers from changing underwriting guidelines or eligibility rules for existing policies unless the changes apply to an entire class or territory and has been approved by the commissioners office.

2. Kentucky Clarifies Matching Law While Florida Insurers Get Limits on Roof Replacement

Matching requirements for roofs and interior furnishings have been a tough issue in the property insurance industry for years. Recent developments show how insurers and regulators in different Southeast states are managing the mandates. In Kentucky, the state Department of Insurance in October posted an advisory opinion, attempting to clarify the intent of the states matching statute. On the one hand, Kentucky law does not permit a line of sight rule for roofs: If the shingles on one slant of a residential roof must be replaced due to damage covered by an applicable property insurance policy, and absent the availability of matching shingles that would render the slant in question reasonably uniform to the remainder of the roof, then an entirely new roof must be installed, state Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark wrote in her Oct. 17 bulletin. In Florida, where insurers have blamed a cottage industry of roof scams for helping to implode the insurance industry, several carriers are now relying on newly accepted endorsements to limit what they will pay to match non-damaged materials. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in recent months has approved policy forms filed by no fewer than eight property insurers, which limit the amount the carriers will pay to replace undamaged materials to create a matching, uniform appearance after repairs, state records show.

3. South Carolina Bars, Eateries Closing Down for Lack of Affordable Liability Coverage

Wanted in South Carolina: $1 million in liquor liability coverage at an affordable premium to prevent closure of establishment. Thats the type of advertisement one can imagine bars and bistros across the Palmetto State running this fall, as the full impact of state laws become painfully clear. A million-dollar liquor liability insurance requirement, along with South Carolinas joint-and-several tort statute that can hold a dram shop liable for millions in damages  plus the result of some recent high-profile lawsuits  has had insurance agents and brokers scrambling to find coverage for some of the states favorite watering holes and restaurants. Its just out of hand. Its a crazy thing, said Tom Bates, market president of the Stokes-Farnham Insurance Agency in Greenville. Ive tried to go to the standard market first, but if you have any kind of hair on your account, you have to go to the excess and surplus market.

4. Insurer Avoids Dog Bite Claim Brought by Homeowner Selling Firearms Out of Garage

Nationwide General Insurance has avoided payment of a dog bite claim filed by a homeowner it insured who ran a firearms business out of his garage. A federal district court for Alabama ruled in June that the business exclusions in all three Nationwide policies issued to David Hope applied, even though the man his dog bit was as much a friend as he was a customer and there was no money involved in the transaction taking place when the dog bit him.

5. Allstate Loses $17M Carolina Job Incentive Plan Due to So Many Remote Workers

Allstate Insurance is no longer eligible for one of the largest incentive packages from the state of North Carolina, created when Allstate pledged to add more than 2,200 workers in Charlotte. The insurance carrier said too many remote workers made the in-person jobs requirement impracticable. The states Economic Investment Committee agreed in July to end a 2017 incentives agreement with Allstate, which could have pocketed as much as $17.8 million in cash if it met job-creation goals, the Associated Press and other news outlets reported.

Topics Florida Georgia Kentucky South Carolina
It has taken 10 years but the financially troubled Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust has been fully liquidated. About $1 million will soon be returned to school districts across the state.

It took a long time to get all the claims closed, said Joseph Pope Jr., the rehabilitator appointed a decade ago to oversee the wind down of the trust, known as KSBIT, and its property and liability fund.

A circuit judge in Franklin County in November signed off on an order of liquidation for the trust, the final chapter in a saga that forced school districts to turn to the primary market for insurance coverage. After years of alleged mismanagement by KSBIT officials, actuarily unsound premiums, and more than $37 million in deficits at the trust, local school districts were forced to pay large assessments to make up shortfalls. They then faced higher premiums with private carriers.

Now that outstanding claims have been settled, a number of districts will get a small refund on assessments paid into the fund.

I dont believe there will be any outstanding impact on districts as it represents distribution of a small remainder of assessed excess funds, said Joshua Shoulta, director of communications for the Kentucky School Boards Association.

KSBIT was established by the School Boards Association in the 1970s to handle property, liability and workers compensation coverage for public schools as well as a few colleges, universities and cooperatives. By 2006, the trusts liability fund reported a deficit and was merged with the property insurance fund, the recent liquidation order explains. Steps were taken to manage the shortfall, but the trusts property-liability and its workers compensation funds financial conditions continued to deteriorate.

In 2013, the funds were placed into rehabilitation proceedings. The property-liability fund had a deficit of more than $37 million and the workers comp fund faced a shortfall of almost $9 million, an appeals court opinion noted. Other reports have put the amount of claims owed by the funds as high as $60 million.

The Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance Co., the largest comp insurer in the state, was tasked with assuming KSBITs workers comp liabilities. And by 2019, all comp claims had been settled and $5 million was returned to 194 members of the trust.

KSBITs property and liability fund took a little longer to run off its claims.

Its finally done, Pope said this month.

The KSBIT journey resulted in extensive litigation and multiple court orders over the past decade, including ones in a dispute with Lloyds of London over the trusts directors and officers coverage. After Pope took charge of the rehab process, he sought payment on D&O claims, contending that the School Boards Association officials were negligent in their management of KSBIT and that trust leaders had breached their fiduciary duties.

Certain Underwriters of Lloyds argued that coverage was barred by a number of exclusions in the policy. In 2018, the Kentucky Court of Appeals found that the coverage, for the most part, was not excluded. It remanded the case to the lower court for further proceedings.

Court orders and KSBIT financial statements can be seen at the trusts website, ksbit-pl.com.

Topics K-12 Kentucky
A petition to invoke appraisal is not the same thing as a motion to compel arbitration, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled Friday.

The high court dismissed an appeal by Great American Insurance Co. that sought to overturn a trial courts order denying its motion to compel an appraisal in a dispute over hurricane damage to a beachfront condominium complex. The insurer argued that its motion was subject to the Federal Arbitration Act because an appraisal is akin to arbitration, which means it can appeal the Baldwin County Circuit Courts decision to deny it.

A unanimous Alabama Supreme Court disagreed.

As we have noted, Alabama cases have consistently drawn distinctions between appraisal and arbitration, the courts unsigned opinion says. Alabama law focuses on whether the parties to the contract intended to arbitrate the dispute at issue based on the language of the contract, and, despite the prolific presence of appraisal clauses such as the one at issue in insurance contracts, our courts have never held that appraisal is the same procedure as arbitration.'

As Hurricane Sally approached the Alabama coast in September 2020, the main water line to the 12-story Crystal Shores condominium complex in Gulf Shores was shut off in preparation for landfall. The owner of Unit 606, however, had left a bathtub faucet open before he evacuated. When the water was turned back on after the storm passed, water ran into the tub for more than 24 hours, causing an overflow that flooded a stack of condominium units below.

The Crystal Shores Owners Association filed a claim with its three insurers; Great American, RSUI Indemnity Co. and Landmark American Insurance Co.

The association hired Servpro of Montgomery to repair the damage, but the insurers refused to pay the full amount of its invoices. The owner of the Servpro franchise filed a lawsuit against Crystal Shores. The Owners Association filed an answer and a counterclaim. The association also filed a motion with the Baldwin County court asking to amend its complaint to add RSUI, Landmark and Great American. The court approved.

Great American filed a motion to dismiss the Owners Associations complaint, or in the alternative, to stay proceedings and resolve the dispute with appraisal. Crystal Shores objected, saying tat the insurers had based its denial of its claims on exclusions in the policy and coverage issues that could not be resolved through appraisal.

Great American responded by saying the tub overflow issue had been resolved when it denied the claim by disclaiming coverage. The only unresolved issue was the amount of the loss, the insurer said.

The circuit court denied Great Americans motion to dismiss. Great American appealed. Crystal Shores asked the Supreme Court to dismiss what it called an interlocutory appeal, arguing that the circuit courts ruling was not final.

The Supreme Court agreed to dismiss the appeal, but did not agree on the grounds. Six of the courts nine justices joined in an opinion that said Great Americans requested appraisal was not an arbitration under federal law so it isnt subject to the Federal Arbitration Act. The arbitration clause did not provide a specific standard to determine the value of the loss. Also, an appraisal would not resolve the entire dispute because there is disagreement about coverage and causation in addition to value, the majority opinion says.

Three other justices wrote an opinion that concurred in the decision to dismiss, but said the case should have been decided using state law alone.

I see no need to consider federal authority here because our own precedents have determined that an appraisal does not constitute arbitration, the concurring opinion written by Justice Jay Mitchell says.

Photo: Crystal Shores, courtesy of liquidlifevacationrentals.com.

Topics Carriers Alabama
The company that owns Selfridges, which includes Arnotts and Brown Thomas department stores, is asking its Asian parent Central Group for more cash due to the insolvency of its bankrupt minority owner Signa.

Cambridge Properties is in discussions with Thailand's Central Group for future financing to meet upcoming debt payments, according to accounts filed this week. The co-owner, Austria's Signa Prime Selection, filed for insolvency on Thursday.

Discussions are not yet finalised, 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 iconic Chrysler Building in Manhattan. It also shows how some business partners may act on Signas troubles to help to keep co-investments afloat.

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 2.2bn (2.53bn) of debt have soared since, leaving it dependent on support from its owners.

This does not change anything for Selfridges," said a spokesperson for the department store.

Selfridges trades independently from its shareholders. We are delighted to have the ongoing and unwavering support of Central Group.

The local managers of Arnotts and BT made similar comments in recent weeks.

The Thai company stepped in to help with interest payments that came due in November, providing a shareholder loan note of 27.3m. 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 400m mezzanine loan facility provided by a company linked to Central Group.
While it was gratifying to see Ireland so well-represented on the Booker lists, with Paul Lynchs win for Prophet Song a validation of our thriving literary scene, I found Claire Kilroys omission from the reckoning a little mystifying.

For me, Soldier Sailor , the Dublin writers first novel in more than a decade, was a triumph, her reappearance a timely reminder of how she is up there with Irelands great literary talents.

Perhaps the subject matter  a woman struggling with early motherhood  was too personal, too domestic, too mundane.

But in Soldier Sailor, Kilroy demonstrates exactly why such themes deserve to be centred and examined artistically.

It left itself imprinted on my brain, much like her extraordinary essay, F for Phone, which featured in the Winter Papers anthology in 2015 and served as an impetus for the novel.

In that essay, she recounted the visceral shock of giving birth to her son, and how becoming a mother had brought her close to a breakdown, leaving her unable to write.

In Soldier Sailor, Kilroy teases out this theme in skilfully-wrought, scalpel-sharp prose, as the narrative of Soldier Sailor mirrors the protagonists increasing feelings of dislocation from society and those around her.

Reading Solder Sailor left me hugely thankful that Kilroy has found her voice again.

Hags by the English writer and commentator Victoria Smith, recently shortlisted in the non-fiction category of the Nero Book Awards, was a thought-provoking read.

Smith has the enviable knack of articulating what should be common sense but unfortunately isnt seen as such in a world of disinformation and clickbait.

This cogently argued book about the continuing demonisation of middle-aged women hit a nerve with many readers.

Smith was spurred to write Hags by the increasing use of the misogynistic and ageist term of abuse Karen to refer to any middle-aged woman expressing a disagreeable opinion.

In the book, she explores the modern-day version of a witch-hunt, and how in a society increasingly dominated by identity politics, middle-aged women are treated with disdain and vilified on social media.

Victoria Smiths Hags, about the continuing demonisation of middle-aged women, hit a nerve with many readers.

The book was also a fascinating look at how Smith herself came to see the value of the second-wave feminism of her mothers generation, now seen as problematic by younger women.

At a time when womens rights are being eroded to a frightening extent, an opportune reminder that progress isnt always linear.

While social media can be a positive force in giving writers and bibliophiles alike a platform to discuss their passion for books, it has also contributed somewhat to the increasing tyranny of the TBR pile, which, in my own case, tut-tuts to me on a nightly basis from my bedside locker.

The hype machine and pressure to read books immediately on publication means the life cycle of a book is growing increasingly shorter. This only serves to heighten the thrill of discovering a gem that has flown under your radar.

This year, that jewel was Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. I missed out on this rollicking story of an early female aviator when it was published in 2021, and came across it in the secondhand section of a local bookshop while looking for a holiday read.

What a lucky find it turned out to be, the kind of book I foist on other people, envious that they will get to experience it anew.

It reminded me of the word-of-mouth hit Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and is a similarly satisfying read  with a compelling central female character, and an engrossing and entertaining plot written in an intelligent but accessible style.

The story of Marian Graves, an orphan who learns to fly against all odds, is interwoven with that of Hadley Baxter, the actor who is set to portray her on screen.

Deftly plotted, it wears its meticulous research lightly, and comes with a brilliantly-executed twist.

The English writer AS Byatt, who died last month at the age of 87, possessed a formidable erudition and intellect, which she harnessed to the ultimate in Possession , a dizzyingly plotted and crafted novel, winner of the Booker Prize in 1990.

It became a publishing sensation, and as an undergraduate studying English at the time, with the accompanying literary affectations, it was right up my alley.

Byatt brought all her inside knowledge of academia to bear in this tale of two modern academics, Roland and Maud, tracking the mysterious love story of Victorian poets Randolph Ash and Christabel LaMotte.

Possession made a big impression on me, and it seemed only right that I would revisit it on Byatts passing.

Rereading it, I was even more struck by her breathtaking achievement  combining all the seductive elements of a romance and mystery with an astonishing breadth of literary allusion, while also composing all-too-convincing pastiches of Victorian poetry from scratch.

Byatt expertly assembles a Russian doll of a novel, all underpinned by a sly humour which fillets the pretensions of academia.

They really dont make them like that any more.

Jane Casey is one of the many Irish women flying the flag for crime fiction and her books are among the most accomplished in the thriving genre.

The London-based author has amassed a legion of fans with her series of novels featuring the detective, Maeve Kerrigan.

From Marple to Morse, a memorable sleuth is a key element of any good crime novel, and with Kerrigan, Casey has aced the brief.

Flawed but relatable, the reader is always rooting for her as she takes on evil in its many guises.

Casey also comes good with great plots and twists but there is no denying the pull of the will they, wont they tension between Kerrigan and her gruff and gorgeous colleague, Josh Derwent.

In her latest, The Close , released this year, Casey tantalised her readers with a scenario that threw the detectives together in excruciatingly close quarters  going undercover as a couple in a suburban housing estate in an attempt to flush out a dangerous killer.

Without giving away too much, Casey is clever enough to achieve the delicate balance of keeping readers invested while not giving them exactly what they want  leaving her fans, including this one, waiting for Maeve Kerrigans next adventure with bated breath.
Kate Holohan had a happy marriage. Or so she believed but when her husband dies suddenly, she discovers hes left mountains of debt.

And when she opens the door to a strange woman, who hands her a bunch of keys she realises that the hidden debt was not the worst secret her late husband kept from her. There was also a long-term mistress and a love nest in Italy.

With her grief turned to a bitter anger, Kate is unwilling to take responsibility for her husbands misdeeds, so she takes leave from her teaching job  shes a Joycean scholar  and escapes to the house in the Italian fishing village of Camogli to regroup and find a new life.

After a rocky start, she settles well, mainly thanks to the friendship of an elderly, rather formidable neighbour, Anna Ferrante who, it turns out, is a communist and former resistance fighter.

Loving the companionship of the younger woman, Anna gives her practical support, helping her to understand her adopted home, and to find suitable work.

Ive always loved Walls writing for his lyricism, his understanding of human nature, and his talent for evoking a sense of place. And in this, his seventh novel, the town of Camogli is so vividly, and lovingly described, it becomes a character in itself.

As well as exploring the friendship between the two women, the novel focuses on the Italian language, the food, and the politics with the kind of depth that only someone passionate about the country and the people could achieve.

He also injects a lot of humour.

Its a thoughtful book with many literary references, and is one to read languorously. I absolutely loved it and recommended it to all my bookie friends.

Kates sense of betrayal leads her to make some rash, frankly irresponsible decisions, but shes very real, and made a great narrator.

Through the course of three seasons, with the help of the friend she has come to admire as well as love, Kate begins to take charge of her life and to think about the difficult decisions she must make back in Ireland.

We All Want Impossible Things

Catherine Newman

Doubleday, 12.60/Kindle, 3.48

The debut adult novel from the American writer, journalist, and blogger, Catherine Newman also focuses on friendship, but the setting, a hospice in Western Massachusetts could not be more different than Walls Italian village.

And it seemed an unlikely location for a book that has been compared to the novels of Nora Ephron and lauded for its snortingly funny humour.

Edi and Ash have been friends since childhood, but now Edi has ovarian cancer.

The novel starts when Ash is informed that her friend is now terminal and faces palliative care.

For practical reasons  all Edis local hospices are full  it makes sense for her to move to one near her best friend, even though this means parting from her husband and small son.

Any worry that this will make for a depressing read is dispelled from the first page, as it becomes obvious that in Newmans hands, the devastating death of the mother of a young child will be managed in such a loving way, and with so much bubbling humour, that the reading experience becomes one of utter joy.

Ash will do anything to make her friends last days more bearable, from the most gruesome of personal care, to tracking down the Sicilian lemon polenta cake that Edi has set her heart on tasting one more time.

The American writer, journalist and blogger Catherine Newman this year released her debut adult novel. Picture: Lyndsay Hannah

Ashs own life is in somewhat of a flux. Shes insisted on a separation from the husband she still loves, and finds herself sleeping with a medley of unsuitable people, but the care she shows to her ex, her grown daughters, and the eccentric inhabitants of the hospice, makes this a shiningly inspirational read.

Its also utterly authentic. But then, Newman knows her subject. She cared for her own best friend in the last stages of cancer and has since become a volunteer in a hospice.

I loved the characters, and in spite of, or maybe because of their messy lives, I was sad to say goodbye to them at the novels close.

I read this debut early in the year, but it has stayed with me, and Ive not read another to touch it since.

The Home Scar

Kathleen MacMahon

Penguin Sandycove, 15.58/Kindle, 9.53

Ever since Kathleen McMahon turned from journalism to novel writing Ive been a fan of her work. And with each book Ive admired her more.

This fourth novel, The Home Scar, her most wide ranging yet, examines the fractured relationship between half-siblings Christo and Cassie, American children of two different rock star Dads whose complicated mother died young, and who have felt derailed by the loss ever since.

Christo has found his safe environment. Hes a professor of maths at Cambridge University, and there, his eccentrically lonesome behaviour does not make him stand out as an oddity.

As for his emotionally complex younger sister, Cassie, shes an artist living in Spain, with her lover, Eduardo, 20 years her senior, but is holding him at arms length, and seems scared of commitment, and of motherhood.

When Christo reads that a storm has uncovered a forgotten forest in Connemara, he rings his sister suggesting they should travel there to the village, where, as children, they spent a gloriously idyllic summer before their lives fell apart.

Cassie hesitates, seeming unwilling, or perhaps unable to confront the past, but Eduardo encourages her to go.

As the siblings travel, they start to reminiscence; they talk of Margaret, a woman who possessed the kind of mothering instincts that were missing in their own Mum, and her son, Seamus, who befriended the pair of them as children.

They remember visits to the beach, and to a water park, but most of all, they recall that feeling of security that summer gave them, a feeling they had never experienced when they were being dragged around the world on rock tours.

All their memories from that summer are tinged with gold but has it grown in their minds because of the dark period that came afterwards?

And how much was going on, that, as children, they failed to see?

Arriving in the village, they are bemused when the locals, who remember them clearly, view their return with rather less than enthusiasm.

As they come to understand the events of that summer, and the trauma that ended their holiday there, they start to reevaluate all that has happened since, and begin to make peace with the past.

Theyre total opposites. Theres a wonderful scene on a beach on Omey Island, where Cassie watches as Christo picks his way across the sand, trying to negotiate puddles, because hes too fastidious to remove his shoes and socks. But they start to find value in each others lives.

While its the emotional heft of this novel that keeps the pages turning, its the descriptions of Connemara and the authors clear fascination with the landscape that make the novel shine. I adored it.
Secret documents by the Irish government examined possible scenarios which might arise from a British withdrawal from the North, including a major redrawing of the Border.

Newly released files from the National Archives show civil servants were ordered by the Government in July 1974 following the collapse of the Sunningdale power-sharing agreement to outline various political scenarios which might follow.

The impetus for the exercise was the growing level of paramilitary violence and serious doubts about the British governments commitment to stay in the North.

One scenario outlined by officials was a redrawing of the Border, with up to two-thirds of Northern Ireland together with almost half a million inhabitants being transferred to the Republic.

A report entitled Negotiated Repartition of Northern Ireland estimated the cost of delineating the new border on the island of Ireland would cost up to IR873m  almost 8.5bn in todays money  but with no guarantee the British government would contribute to the cost.

However, Irish officials also acknowledged the British government was unlikely to support a redrawing of the Border with the reduced area of Northern Ireland remaining within the UK.

They pointed out the area would include Belfast, which would contain the seeds of further violence unless there was a very large population movement which would be unlikely to take place voluntarily if the area were to remain under Westminster jurisdiction.

Military intervention

Another scenario examined was the possibility of military intervention to prevent the emergence of an independent Northern Ireland through trying to subdue loyalist resistance and to dominate the entire Protestant population of Northern Ireland.

Civil servants reckoned such a measure was beyond our military and administrative capabilities.

The report concluded the only possible solution was to redraw the Border in a way that majority nationalist areas would be moved into the Republic.

Such a transfer of territory at a minimum would include Fermanagh, parts of Tyrone, Derry city, Newry and parts of south Armagh and south Down with a combined population of 323,000, of which almost two-thirds would be Catholics.

The area itself represented about 40% of the existing land area of Northern Ireland.

A wider redrawing of the Border would also add in extra parts of Derry, Tyrone and Armagh covering about two-thirds of the land area and a population of 486,000, of which almost 60% would be Catholics.

The report also calculated the remaining portion of Northern Ireland would be more economically viable than an independent state comprising the entire six counties as the areas transferred to the Republic were relatively poorer.

It also observed the entire island of Ireland could benefit from such a redrawing of the Border, if repartition was agreed by all parties without any escalation of violence as it should lead to the end of tensions that existed at the time.

On the other hand, the report did accept it could also impose a tremendous economic burden if it had to be redrawn as a result of serious violence and substantial population movements.
The US army has confirmed that the man who murdered a Louth woman at her home in New York was a former soldier.

Denise Morgan, from Tullyallen suffered a gunshot wound to the head and neck during a row with her former partner Joed A Taveras in Queens on October 21.

The mother of one had ended the relationship and was preparing to move to a new apartment with her daughter when she died.

When police arrived on the scene, they discovered the remains of Ms Morgan and Mr Tavaras, who had turned the gun on himself.

In a statement, the US army press office told the Irish Examiner that Mr Tavaras held a previous position of specialist within the defence forces.

Joed A Taveras was an M1 Armor Crewman [19K] in the regular Army from March 2011 to July 2014. He deployed to Kuwait from October 2013 to April 2014.

He held the rank of specialist at the end of service," it said.

Due to Privacy Act constraints, we are unable to provide the characterization of discharge for any soldier.

Army policy controls a current soldiers access to government firearms and participation in live fire exercises but does not extend to possession of personal firearms by former soldiers."

Denise Morgan's sister Lisa Morgan, niece Kayleigh Kennedy, mother Deirdre Morgan, and sister Shannon Morgan. Picture: Ciara Wilkinson

Ms Morgans family previously told the Irish Examiner that they will never get justice for Denise, but that they wanted to warn others about the dangers of controlling behaviours.

Lisa Morgan said: He was trying to cut her off from people.

We dont know why he had guns in the apartment. We never knew this.

I was though, afraid of what he would do if he knew Denise was leaving. There were red flags and we knew he was controlling. But no one expected this. We just hope that people will be careful when they are leaving an abusive relationship because she was living with him for five years. You would never see this coming."




This figure represented an increase of 24.8% (450,000 tourists) compared to the same period in 2022.





Tourists came mainly from Chile (538,000; up 23.8%), followed by the United States (435,000) and Ecuador (220,000). Together, they made up 528% of total foreign arrivals.





At the regional level, South America accounted for 541% (1.2 million international tourists) of the total.





On the other hand, 24% of visitors (543,000 tourists) came from North America, 14.9% from Europe, 3.3% from Asia, and 2.7% from Central America.





"Given the evolution of incoming tourism, we still expect 2.5 million tourists to come this year. This figure is positive due to the importance of tourism for the national economy," Mathews explained.





"Tourism is an important generator of jobs and foreign exchange. We will continue to make efforts to recover and exceed pre-pandemic levels in the shortest time possible," he highlighted.





It should be noted that 233,842 international tourists arrived in Peru in November alone, an increase of 11.7% (25,000 tourists) compared to the same month in 2022.





In said month, the main issuing countries were: Chile (49,000 tourists), followed by the United States (44,000), Ecuador (25,000), Bolivia (15,000), and Colombia (15,000); together they accounted for 62.7% of total arrivals.





(END) NDP/RMB/MVB
Irish James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has been charged with stepping out of bounds in a thermal area during a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park in the US.

The Irish actor walked in an off-limits area at Mammoth Terraces, in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana border, on November 1, according to two federal citations issued on Tuesday.

Brosnan, 70, who played Bond on the big screen four times before Daniel Craig took on the role, is set to make a mandatory appearance on January 23 in the courtroom of the world's oldest national park.

Bison crossing a road in Yellowstone National Park outside of West Yellowstone, Montana. The world's oldest national park is mainly in the state of Wyoming but also stretches into Montana and Idaho. File picture: Tom Smart/Deseret News/AP

The 007 star was born in Drogheda, Co Louth, but considers Navan Co Meath as his hometown, having lived there for 12 years.

He was in the park on a personal visit and not for film work, the US Attorney's Office for Wyoming said.

Mammoth Terraces is a scenic spot of mineral-encrusted hot springs bubbling from a hillside.

They are just some of the park's hundreds of thermal features, which range from spouting geysers to gurgling mud pots, with water at, or near, 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 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.
The family of a five-year-old girl who was stabbed outside her school last month has confirmed she is out of danger.

The primary school pupil was one of three children who were injured during the incident on November 23 outside Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square in Dublin.

While the other two children, a boy, 5, and girl, 6, were discharged from hospital within days of the incident, the five-year-old girl was in a critical condition and in intensive care at Temple Street Childrens hospital until recently.

In an update on a GoFundMe page for the child today, her family shared the news that she is slowly recovering.

Organiser and family friend Roisin Fitzgerald posted the message on behalf of the childs parents. It reads: Just to wish everyone a delayed Christmas and a happy new year.

Our angel has been out of the PICU for two weeks now.

She is more alert and even smiled. We still have a long time still in hospital, but she is out of danger. Thank you everyone for all the help and support."

Creche worker Leanne Flynn was also injured in the incident and she remains in the Mater Hospital.

Meanwhile, the man accused of the attempted murder of the little girl and two other children was further remanded in custody until January 25 when he appeared before Cloverhill District Court via video link on Thursday morning.

Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, also faces charges of causing serious harm to a care worker, the assault of a French man at the scene, and with assault causing harm to other children.

The GoFundMe for the little girl has so far raised almost 55,000.
Refugees and asylum seekers say that they are consistently sick due to insufficient and frequently breaking heating systems in tented accommodation in Knockalisheen, Co Clare.

The men, some already traumatized after fleeing war, were terrified as Storm Gerritt winds whipped around their tents in Co Clare on Wednesday night.

Omer Hayyatt, who was granted refugee status but couldnt find accommodation, was moved to the tents last month.

[Wednesday] night was very cold. There was too much wind. I felt the tent was going to fly off. People were very, very scared.

Its very hard here. I sick all the time.

Mr Hayyat, who is originally from Pakistan, was previously in a direct provision centre in Waterford and was working in a hotel. But he was moved to the tents after he was granted refugee status but could not find accommodation.

Fiona McCaul of Doras migrant and refugee support group, said that the biggest issue was now insufficient heating in the tents.

There does not seem to be a long-term fix. A lot of the guys now have chest issues.

Another man who has been granted refugee status had to leave the Glenvera direct provision centre in Cork City but could not find accommodation so was moved to the tents at Knockalisheen in March.

George, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, has been looking for his own rental accommodation for three years. He was working in construction in Cork but had to leave his job to move to the tents in Co Clare.

Ive been here since March 8, the heating has not been good at all.

Every one of us is sick because of the weather here. Infections in my lungs are not clearing, the doctor told me it was from the cold."

George, originally from Nigeria, said that he has been looking for his own accommodation since 2020, waiting in enormous queues to view rental apartments in Cork City and suburbs.

"Theres no house to move to. Its a matter of no supply. I have a lot of Irish friends in Cork, theyre looking for a house too. Were hopeless now. How are we going to get out of the tent?

"I have a girlfriend I was planning to marry, but she now says she's not able to, she can't live this life."

Despite intensive efforts to source emergency accommodation, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said that it cannot currently provide accommodation to all international protection applicants (IPAs) due to the severe shortage.

As of December 10, there were 398 IPAs accommodated in tented solutions across three centres. There were 48 people accommodated in Knockalisheen. Some 61 Ukrainian refugees were in tented accommodation nationally.

The tented structures being used are designed to cope with severe weather, including high winds and heavy rain, a statement from the Department of Equality, Children, Disability, Integration and Youth said.

As of December 10, there were 398 IPAs accommodated in tented solutions across three centres. There were 48 people accommodated in Knockalisheen. File picture: David Raleigh

The Department is always cognisant of the safety and security of residents, and routinely monitors weather conditions that may affect those who are temporarily residing in tented structures.

The most recent figures from the Department, released on Friday, show that 362 IPAs are currently homeless, awaiting any offer of State accommodation.

There were 474 eligible male IPAs who presented since December 4, and after a vulnerability triage, 53 were offered accommodation. Some 421 were receiving the weekly contingency payment of 113.80 in lieu of accommodation and 59 were subsequently offered accommodation.

Ireland is now accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and IPAs. This includes over 74,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and almost 26,000 IPAs currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
A man has been arrested in connection with a suspected gang-related shooting incident in Dublin on Christmas Eve, leaving one dead and another seriously injured.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in West Dublin.
A man has been arrested in connection with the discovery of a man's body at a house in Co Tipperary.

The Polish man, aged in his 30s, was found dead at a rented property close to the village of in Kilross shortly after 4am on Wednesday.

The arrested man, aged in his 30s, is currently being held at a garda station in Munster under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Gardai say investigations are ongoing.

The man's remains were taken to University Hospital Waterford where an autopsy took place on Thursday.

The scene at Ballycrana remains sealed off tonight.

Local councillor John Crosse said the community is in "shock at the man's death.

"This is a man who was living and working here for quite some time, several years, and for this to happen, in this small area and especially over Christmas, it is quite shocking," he told the Irish Examiner.

People are deeply upset. Our thoughts are with the mans friends and family.

The house is outside the town and we understand he was sharing with a number of people, and they may have had a gathering in the house that night."
Three people have been hospitalised after a housefire started in a residential property in Cork.

Three fire brigades were called to the scene of the electrical fire at a home in Hollyhill Heights, Co Cork.
In the Dail on Wednesday, October 11, after the horrific Hamas attack a few days prior, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald put to the Taoiseach that the question for Ireland and the Government is what part Ireland plays in all this.

It is critical the right to defend itself is done within the parameters of international humanitarian law, with a response that is proportionate, and protection of civilians and de-escalation must be a priority, Leo Varadkar said.

Israel has united itself in response to these attacks and is gaining a lot of solidarity from other parts of the world, but I believe that will evaporate very quickly if the Israeli response in Gaza and elsewhere is disproportionate. There must be restraint and there must be no attacks on civilian infrastructure.

In calling for restraint and a proportionate response from the very outset, Ireland was sailing against the prevailing wind among many western countries at the time.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had said after the October 7 attacks by Hamas that Israel has an absolute right to defend itself, and said the UK was poised to help Israel militarily if it asked for assistance.

US President Joe Biden said his country would continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.

The United States and the State of Israel are inseparable partners, and I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu again when we spoke yesterday that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people, he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, initially, was also very strong in her support. In the face of this unspeakable tragedy, there is only one possible response: Europe stands with Israel, she said on October 14.

And Israel has a right to defend itself. In fact, it has the duty to defend its people. And we must call by their name the atrocities committed by Hamas. This is terrorism. This is an act of war. Nothing can justify what Hamas did. This is the time to stand in solidarity with Israel and its people.

Back at home, the Taoiseach said her comments lacked balance while President Michael D Higgins said she was not speaking for Ireland, as critics said she failed to call for Israels actions in Gaza to comply with international law.

The support for Israels right to defend itself was re-iterated by France, Germany, and Canada, among others. While many responses were caveated with language such as Israel defending itself in accordance with international law and ensuring efforts to protect civilian life, the message was clear: Israel had the right to defend itself. And many western countries were initially backing their response.

All the while, behind the scenes, Ireland was speaking to like-minded countries in Europe as it sought to solidify support for calls for a proportionate response, and then a ceasefire once the violence escalated.

Palestinians search for survivors after the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip outside a morgue in Rafah, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

It has brought us to the point where, by mid-December, along with the almost 1,200 people killed by Hamas on October 7, nearly 20,000 have been killed in Gaza by Israeli military action since early October.

Even in the occupied West Bank, entirely separate from Gaza, 291 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. Most of them have been killed by Israeli forces, according to OCHA, the UN office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs.

Each week of fighting brings with it a litany of grim, horrific new stories from the region. From the killing of two women whod been taking refuge in a Christian church to the situation at Al-Shifa HospitalOCHA said the UN team that reached the hospital last Saturday described the emergency department as a bloodbathnew horrors are constantly being revealed.

And it has been the scale of violence and bloodshed that has eventually led countries that had previously not backed a ceasefire in the region to change tack.

Irelands approach

Its understood that Irelands approach from the start has centred on listening to the different UN agencies on the ground in Gaza. Described as an open air prison of over two million people, the humanitarian situation there had already been dire prior to the latest round of hostilities.

Under the new right-wing coalition in power in Israel since last December, the much sought-after two-State solution to finally end hostilities had become ever more remote even before October 7.

The Irish State aimed for a response that was principled and based on the evidence on the ground, even if its stance flew in the face of many European allies at the start, and it soon became clear that the overwhelming evidence pointed to mass civilian casualties.

After the release of Emily Hand, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar drew the ire of Israel for tweeting An innocent child who was lost has now been found. Photo: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

Niall Holohan, a retired Irish diplomat who was based in Ramallah in the West Bank as the Irish Governments representative to the Palestinian Authority in the mid-2000s, said that Ireland had done ourselves fairly proudly on the issue.

Theres no easy solution, he told the Irish Examiner. Ireland has taken the right stance in the last two months. The Government has realised that violence is not the solution.

The stance of Ireland certainly didnt win it new friends from the Israeli Government.

In early November, Israeli heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu of the Otzma Yehudit party was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying that Palestinian people can go to Ireland or deserts, the monsters in Gaza should find a solution by themselves. Such a characterisation brought comparisons with the infamous To Hell or to Connacht phrase dating back to the Cromwellian plantation.

Israeli-Irish relations could hardly have been described as warm, but behind the scenes its understood the Government has been keen to stress to the Israelis that what appears in Irish discourse and news media doesnt necessarily translate to that being the States position.

Reading Israeli media too, there are any number of articles criticising Irelands position on Israel.

After the release of Emily Hand, the Taoiseach drew the ire of Israel for tweeting An innocent child who was lost has now been found. An editorial in the Jerusalem Post said: What is troubling is that the Irish premiers post corresponds with his countrys longtime and highly problematic position.

On a diplomatic level, the work done to help secure the release of Emily Hand and to aid the exit of Irish citizens in Gaza is seen as entirely separate from these geopolitical problems. Irelands bid to be consistent on upholding international law and calling out Israel doesnt have to be at odds with working together in situations like this.

[Irelands diplomats] did a great job in getting Emily Hand released and supporting Irish citizens out of Gaza, Mr Holohan said.

Leo Varadkar was lambasted for his lost and found comment, and our ambassador in Tel Aviv had to defend his position.

Were an easy, soft target in this respect. But weve had worse in the past.

Ceasefire calls

Part of the efforts have been trying to secure unanimity across the EU in the ceasefire calls and, while some countries such as the UK have hardened their stance against Israel in recent weeks, it has proven tough to secure an agreement. All the while, more civilians are killed in Gaza and settler activity in the West Bank has ramped up.

Irelands position has been for some time that Israel was breaking international law through illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Tanaiste Micheal Martin already floated the idea of a travel ban on extremist settlers as a potential effective sanction to be used, but the State wants to ensure that any sanction has the intended impact of dissuading such violence.

Last week, he said that sanctions against Israel must go further than a travel ban on settlers. "Yes, I think sanctions should go beyond travel bans if this persists, the Tanaiste said. Israel is saying it's a small minority but the evidence is that the action of settlers has been backed up by the IDF on the ground with the Palestinians being attacked and various communities being displaced.

"The issue fundamentally is if we are to have any chance of a contiguous Palestinian state the action of the settlers has to stop, particularly with the far right, very religious fundamentalist settlers who almost believe that the biblical reality is this is all of their land and they can displace anybody in their way, that has to stop and the Israeli Government has a responsibility to stop that."

Mr Martin has also said that Israel must pay for damage inflicted on EU-funded buildings such as schools and health facilities, many of which have been destroyed by violent settlers.

"We are part of the West Bank consortium which is endeavoring to put pressure on Israel to pay for damage to any EU-funded infrastructure and most recently there was a school that was funded by Irish Aid that was very badly damaged by Israeli forces," Mr Martin said.

We believe what's happening in the West Bank is shocking, it's in violation of UN resolutions and in violation of international humanitarian law and we've made it clear consistently at UN and other levels that this has to stop now.

A key target for Ireland had been the UN Security Council vote in the week before Christmas. While the UN General Assembly had already voted overwhelmingly for a ceasefire, only a vote from the UN Security Council is binding in international law. But, ahead of Christmas, votes were delayed again and again amid squabbling around the exact wording of the ceasefire calls.

For any vote for a ceasefire to still be effective though, of course, Israel has to abide by that call. And a ceasefire may go against their Governments stated goals of crushing Hamas, particularly as it has yet to get its main leaders. For Israel to cease hostilities having not achieved these aims may not play well for its Government at home.

However, looking ahead, Ireland appears to remain committed to the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, however remote it may seem at the moment.

To emphasise how difficult such a settlement would beeven if the political will to enter talks existedan Israeli lawyer who previously advised British foreign secretary David Cameron estimated that 200,000 of the 700,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank would have to be re-located to Israel to create a viable Palestinian state.

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, December 19. By mid-December, along with the almost 1,200 people killed by Hamas on October 7, nearly 20,000 have been killed in Gaza by Israeli military action since early October. Photo: AP/Fatima Shbair

If it does not have the will, the two-state solution is dead, Daniel Seidemann said. The number might be better than most people think, but it is quite daunting. If you can annex incrementally, you can de-occupy incrementally.

But, at the moment, Israel does not have the will to re-locate even one settler, he added. And, on the Palestinian side, the last elections took place in 2006 meaning the leadership there is operating with little democratic legitimacy.

Mr Holohan said: Its going to be very hard to implement the two-state solution. Theres a complete lack of trust between the two sides.

Was there ever any real intention on the part of the right-wing members of the Israeli government to implement the two-state solution? A whole new set up would need concessions on both sides. I dont see it happening. There is no way Netanyahu would get settlers to move out of their current State.

Its not going to be back to the way it was"

But from an Irish perspective, it believes the status quo of beforewith increasing settlement of Palestinian land and violence by settlerscannot continue. And the EU needs to step up to try to stop it. Sanctions may play a role, but the carrots of better relations with regional neighbours such as the Saudis and UAE could act as effectively as the stick.

During his visit to the region in September, Mr Martin was urging more of an emphasis at EU level on the crisis in the Middle East at a time when eyes were elsewhere, such as Ukraine. And, at an EU leaders summit earlier in December, the Taoiseach said that this remained an Irish priority.

What we have to do really is become more active and more interested in this issue as a European Union, Mr Varadkar said. For a long time now, weve talked the talk when it comes to building a two-state solution in the Middle East, but we havent really put our political or economic power behind that, and I think we should.

The European Union should insist on a two-state solution, should work with the Palestinian Authority or a new Palestinian leadership perhaps to make that happen, but also really pressurise Israel and say that their failure to allow the Palestinians to have their own state is going to affect the relationship between Israel and the EU into the future.

Read More Irish Palestinians plea for Government help to get their loved ones out of Gaza

Its not going to be back to the way it was before this war.

Looking ahead, Ireland has signalled that it wants a proper political deal for the Palestinians that maybe goes as far as pointing the road towards a two-state solution. As remote as that may appear right now.

The Government should be rightly held to account for the litany of problems at home. But, as support for a ceasefire in Gaza began to swell in recent weeks this is an example where, aided by diligent work on the ground in the Middle East, it has gotten this one right, according to ex-diplomat Niall Holohan.

The increased levels of violence going on are inevitably making things worse, he said. What we need is a negotiated solution. Irish representatives will continue to do their job.

People just need to talk.
We are all shocked by random acts of violence against innocent people, and rightly so. Most of us abhor violence. It is also because we possibly imagine ourselves in the place of the victim. We could have been the person walking down that road, that path, at that hour. Or, it could have been our husband, our sister, our mother, our child, our friend.

It feels close to the skin, and the very random, very public acts of violence stand alone in a way, in a vast sea of violence, and stay in our consciousness. For these acts we use words like disgusting, evil, heinous, and they feel warranted.

I dont think its callousness that makes us react differently to domestic violence  its something far less cynical than that. Its just that were at a remove from it.

Those of us who live in healthy, happy, functional homes feel truly awful for victims of such violence. We reel at the horror endured behind front doors on our streets, in our neighbourhoods. I would never question the general goodness of people.

But there is something interesting in the fact that we dont see that violence as having any connection to more public acts of violence, where somebody is just very unlucky, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

But there are connections, even if we dont always see them. Mental health plays a prominent role in both types of violence. People end up seriously injured or dead because of both types of violence.

Yes, in one context the victims know their attackers and in another they do not. But these particulars shouldnt obscure our vision quite so much, to the point where we see the crimes as entirely distinct. Should they?

Conversely, maybe were right to make the distinction, to say they are absolutely different. Domestic violence in peoples homes and the random violence in our towns and cities are different enough to merit the vastly different levels of public reaction and media attention. I mean, I get it. They are different.

But are they so different? When we interrogate our interpretation of them, are they really all that distinct at all?

Problem for other people

Possibly, it is even this distinction, this very adamant distinction, which means domestic violence remains a problem for other people, not our problem, not something for society to tackle, or to talk about with the same level of outrage, shock, and worry.

Because when we hear of public violence, a man being shot in a restaurant, a woman being killed out going for a walk, we worry that our society is crumbling, falling away into a place of evil. But when we hear of a life lost to a violent partner, or son, we bow our heads, some of us make a sign of the cross, and we stay silent.

This is one of the busiest times of year for support groups and charities working with the victims of domestic violence. Every year, Womens Aid experiences a spike in calls after the festive period from victims, often women, who have worked to keep the peace over Christmas.

If we are intent on separating domestic violence from every other kind of violence, we need to ask ourselves why. Is it because for so long, one wasnt even a crime?

Allianz Insurance is currently running the Worlds Strongest Women campaign in partnership with Womens Aid, which launched late last year to highlight the resilience, strength and courage of women who are living through domestic abuse. It runs throughout the Christmas period across social media, television, and radio.

Aiming to raise awareness of domestic abuse, the campaign also highlights the support available to those affected by this issue. It targets bystanders such as family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues because community vigilance is so vital in combating domestic violence.

It is a worthy campaign but its one we need to extend throughout the year. And if we are intent on separating domestic violence from every other kind of violence, we need to ask ourselves why. Is it because for so long, one wasnt even a crime?

Catholic church

Is it because the Catholic church, and our Constitution, still places the family unit in a hollowed realm we should all avoid trespassing upon?

It is a sobering fact that women and children, and sometimes men, are in more danger in the company of family than they are in the company of strangers.

Perhaps our referendum in 2024, our re-negotiation of family, will do something to break the damaging myths around family. Perhaps not.

But I hope we begin to call out those groups, who equate any damage done to the sacred family as an inherent evil, as if the world is a childrens book of good versus evil, a world that is always simple, predictable, and safe.

I think joining the dots between several types of violence would be a good thing for how we tackle male violence in general, male violence towards other men, women, and children.

A report this year, from the Council of Europes group of experts on violence against women (known as Grevio), says urgent improvement is needed to ensure women and children are safe in Ireland. The report suggests domestic violence is not taken seriously enough.

I think joining the dots between several types of violence would be a good thing for how we tackle male violence in general, male violence towards other men, women, and children.

It is not like we dont do this for other social blights of epidemic levels. Few of us will forget the daily counts during covid, the new cases, followed by the bigger picture, the overall cases, the state of things.

When we recognise that a problem is devastating and ongoing, we instinctively keep the bigger picture in mind. Take gun violence in America: yes, we are told of the latest shooting but a story of one event rarely arrives on our feed without data on death by gun violence that year, that decade.

This needs to be the rule of thumb for all male violence against men, women and children and particularly for violence in the home, which still gets reported in a strangely slanted way, as if out of deference, as if there is something shameful about being killed in your own kitchen, your own bed.

Yes, there will be differences in every attack, every death, but the results are the same. People are injured and people are killed. When communities are worn down, in need of far more mental health supports, emotional supports, community outreach, supportive networks, awful things happen. We need to stop viewing acts of violence as single events  recognise them as events in a trend, a pattern, in a devastating, ceaseless, chain of events.

According to Safety Ireland: Until there is a whole-of-society approach to prevention and mitigation of violence and coercion, we will be forever focused on unsustainable prosecutory and protectionist interventions.

We must recognise it to fight it. It should not matter so much where the violence occurred or whether the victim knew their attacker.

Domestic violence, at its core, is violence. It is just as devastating and as deadly as the violence we might be unlucky enough to suffer on the streets. It is just as deadly and devastating for the victims.

We need to get better at seeing that connection, even if it is a challenging thing for us to see, an uncomfortable truth to hold.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
Nearly two years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the wars end seems nowhere in sight.

Nonetheless, Ukraine has already won numerous important battles, many of which we began fighting long before Russias latest assault on our country. These victories will, I am certain, help to ensure our final victory in this vile and violent war.

Ukraine belongs in Europe

Ever since we regained our independence in 1991, Ukrainians have struggled to be seen as part of Europe.

Today, however, no one thinks of Ukraine as some no-mans land linking Russia and the West. And only the most delusional of Russians still imagines that Ukrainians will ever again see their country as part of some Russkiy mir (Russian world)  a fever dream of Vladimir Putin that apparently contributed to his decision to launch a war of aggression against us.

Instead, it is now clear to the entire world that Ukraine is in the West and of the West as European as France, Italy, Germany, or anyone else. Our core values are Western values: Liberty, democracy, and the rule of law. And our membership in the premier European and Western institutions  the European Union and Nato  await only our inevitable triumph over the Russian invaders.

Battles within Ukraine

The second long-running battle in which Ukraine can declare victory is internal.

Since regaining our independence three decades ago, the Ukrainian people have twice needed to rise up to overthrow dictatorial regimes that gained power by applying the old divide-and-rule principle. The divisions they exploited, cynically and ruthlessly, were those between our countrys west and east, between its Ukrainian-speaking and Russian-speaking communities.

Russia undoubtedly hoped to take advantage of precisely these divisions, in both invading and occupying our country. A defeated, disunited people would be easier to govern. But virtually all Ukrainians now understand the dangers to our very existence that superficial antagonisms pose.

At a time when much of Ukraines east is living under the Kremlins boot, it is clearer than ever that only a fully united and sovereign Ukraine can provide and safeguard our peoples freedom.

New sense of unity

This newfound unity can be seen every day, as Ukrainian men and women from all walks of life, from every part of the country and practically every age group, risk life and limb to defend our homeland. Our fighting forces, on the frontlines and behind the lines, are truly the Ukrainian nation at arms.

Whereas Russia has been sending prison inmates to the frontlines, Ukrainians who have joined the fight include some of the best and brightest.

 Vasyl Kladko, an X-ray crystallographer at the VE Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, was gunned down by Russian troops in Irpin during the Battle for Kyiv early in the war.

 Oleksandr Shapoval, a leading dancer in our national ballet company, died on the battlefield in Donetsk in September.

 Victoria Amelina, an acclaimed novelist who had dedicated herself to documenting Russian war crimes, was killed by a Russian missile this past July.

These are just a few examples of the Ukrainians who have died defending our countrys right to exist.

Ukrainians sense of shared purpose has unleashed not only our courage and fighting spirit, but also our talent and innovative capabilities.

Ukrainian innovation

When the war began, Russias military expenditure was nearly 10 times higher than ours. Ukraines only hope of leveling the battlefield was to leverage our citizens creativity. Our achievements on this front have astonished the Russians and our friends in Nato alike.

Ukrainian innovations, developed largely through public-private partnerships, have not only changed the nature of the war; they have been remarkably cost-effective.

For example, commercial drones have enabled Ukraine to engage in effective and relatively inexpensive reconnaissance along a 965km frontline  something Russias forces never expected. According to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Ukraines drone swarms will change combat dramatically.

Air and sea drones

In order to ensure that Ukraine can continue to make the most of this innovation, the Ukrainian General Staff, the State Special Communications Service, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Defence Ministry have launched the Army of Drones project, which enables people around the world to contribute to the cause.

With thousands of drones destroyed every month, these donations are enabling our military to replenish supplies quickly.

Our innovative use of commercial technologies has also cost Russia in the Black Sea. After Ukraine destroyed Russian ships using traditional anti-ship missiles, Russias navy began to operate farther from shore.

But Ukraine has taken the fight to Russia, by converting ordinary jet skis into a fleet of explosive-packed, ship-killing maritime drones. Now, we are adding an even more dangerous weapon to our arsenal: The Toloka TLK-150, a practically undetectable one-way unmanned underwater vehicle, created by a Ukrainian technology-development cluster.

Today, Ukraine, using the tremendous ingenuity and resourcefulness of its citizens, is leading the way in fortifying the arsenal that is defending democracy.

Modern strategy

Ukraines military is also innovating strategically. Russias generals seem determined to wage war exactly as their grandfathers did in the Second World War, with centralised, top-down decision-making that regards ordinary soldiers (and not just the convicted murderers and rapists sent to

Ukraine as cannon fodder) practically with contempt.

By contrast, Ukraines commanders and citizen-soldiers have significant leeway to respond to events on the battlefield and shape command decisions. Ukrainian computer programmers apply their skills (and the latest AI assets) to support Ukrainian fighters ability to analyse circumstances and respond in real time.

Dismantling Russia's fifth column

A third crucial battle that Ukraine has already won is the battle against the Russian fifth column. At the time of Russias 2014 invasion of Ukraine, our security services and military leadership were severely compromised by men and women who had sold their loyalty to Russia.

We have spent the last several years purging disloyal officials from positions of influence. This has improved the relationship between our military and political leaders, and it has assured our Western allies that Ukraine can be trusted with even the most sensitive intelligence.

This battle for trust was, in a sense, the most consequential for Ukraine. Our people trust our military and political leaders, not blindly, but with an abiding faith that, unlike the men who occupy the Kremlin, are accountable to the people they serve.

Such trust is essential to the preservation of liberty: It is because of the belief that our leaders will deliver a final and definitive victory that Ukrainians have willingly made the kinds of sacrifices (home, family, and physical safety) that have become the norm in our proud country.

 Yuliya Tymoshenko is a former prime minister of Ukraine.

 Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2023. www.project-syndicate.org
Undeterred by interest rate hikes and house price increases, first-time buyers (FTBs) have dominated the mortgage market in 2023  drawing down mortgages at a level not seen since the boom.

The most recent Banking & Payment Federation Ireland report reveals that FTBs have been drawing down 470 mortgages, valued at 131m per week, since the start of the year.

Figures for the third quarter show FTBs borrowing 1.943bn for the purchase of 7,011 houses, and accounting for 80% of home mortgage drawdowns on new properties, and 69% of home mortgage drawdowns on second-hand houses.

The third quarter report shows 1.311bn being drawn down by FTBs for mortgages on second hand properties and, according to the BPFI, this is the first time since the records started in 2005 that the figure has gone above 1.3bn.

Figures for all three quarters of the year show that FTBs borrowed 5.117bn to purchase 18,324 properties.

This is an increase on the same period last year, when FTB borrowing was 461m less and 563 fewer mortgages were drawn down.

The BPFI figures show that over the first nine months of this year, FTBs borrowed 1.845bn to buy 5,836 new houses and 3.27bn to buy 12,487 second-hand ones. This puts the average borrowing for a new house at 316,000 (up from 286,000 for the same period in 2022), while the average drawdown for a second-hand house was 261,000 (up from 250,000 last year). During the same nine month period last year, FTBS drew down mortgages valued 1.62bn to buy 5,657 new houses and 3.035m to buy 12,104 second-hand ones.

Auctioneers the Irish Examiner spoke to said that  as in previous years  lack of supply, especially of new homes, has continued to be a major obstacle to the path of ownership for first-time house-hunters.

One difference they observed during the year was an increase in the number of FTBs purchasing second-hand apartments  many of which were former rental properties coming on the market due to the exodus of landlords. Kevin Barry, of Barry auctioneers, says that the sale of second hand apartments accounted for 12% of company sales this year.

Last year 60% of the apartments we sold were bought by FTBs  this year the figure went up to 72%, he says, adding that many of the apartments coming on his books during the year were being sold by landlords in rent pressure zones.

For a second-hand two-bed apartment, FTBs were typically paying 260,000. Although the spend in Douglas and Rochestown was higher, at 280,000, he adds.

Mr Barry says that overall FTBs accounted for 38% of his sales this year  up 8% on last year.

He says the typical spend on a three-bed semi by a first-time buyer was 350,000, but points out that second-hand three-bed semis have become less affordable.

Mostly, its about buying whatever a first-time buyer can afford and what they can get mortgage approval for, he says, adding that the key motivation for buyers is the high price of renting.

Mark Gosling, of Behan Irwin & Gosling, also noted an increase in second-hand apartment sales  especially to first-time buyers.

Typical prices for a second-hand two-bed apartment were between 250,000 and 275,000, depending on the area, he says.

Our sales to first-time buyers this year were in excess of 50%, he says, adding that the typical FTB spend was between 350,000 and 400,000.

At the new homes division of Sherry FitzGerald in Cork, which has more new developments on its books than most other auctioneers in the city, there have been a high number of sales to FTBs.

We had approximately 210 FTB sales this year  which is on par with previous years, since they have consistently made up two thirds of our buyers auctioneer Rachael OLeary says.

Ballinglanna, in Glanmire, was our busiest development this year  with over 90 sales, she says, adding that recent prices for properties there started at 320,000 for a two-bed townhouse.

Sherry FitzGerald Cork New Homes plans for 2024 include the launch of a new 280 unit development at Arderrow, Ballyvolane three km from the city centre.

This is our main new development, and this will see 80 units coming on the market in 2024. It will include two-, three-, and four-bed town houses, as well as three-bed semis  which will appeal to FTBS, Ms OLeary says.

At Savills in Cork, FTBs accounted for 80% of new home sales this year  according to auctioneer Elizabeth Hegarty. She noted that the active price bracket tended to be between 300,000 and 400,000.

Mostly, its about buying whatever a first-time buyer can afford and what they can get mortgage approval for ... a key motivation is the high price of rent
The teenage boy who was killed in a horror shark attack off the coast of South Australia has been identified as Khai Cowley as friends and family pay tribute to the young surfer who was "taken too soon".

The 15-year-old boy was in the water near Ethel Beach on the remote Yorke Peninsula, where it's believed he was visiting with his father, when the fatal incident occurred on Thursday.

Emergency services responded to reports of a shark attack at around 1.30pm. "Sadly the body of a teenage boy was recovered from the water," an SA Police spokesperson said.

The youngster had been "suddenly taken ... by a white pointer at Ethel Wreck," Khai's aunt, Lauryn Barley wrote on a GoFundMe campaign set up for the family. The young teen was reportedly 30 to 40 metres offshore when he was mauled by the shark with his father nearby.

Khai Cowley, 15, was killed in a horror shark attack off the coast of South Australia. Source: Facebook

The 450m long Ethel Beach is a popular surf and tourist spot with a sealed access road. The Adelaide Advertiser reported Khai was a tourist to the area, which is about 300km from Adelaide by car.

A local fisherman told the newspaper large sharks in nearby waters are not uncommon. "We've seen some pretty big bronzies in the area, but thats normal here," he said.

Meanwhile, Marion Bay resident and surfer Luke Sykora told the ABC the attack was nonetheless a "tragic" and very rare incident.

"I have a seen a fair few sharks here over 22 years but that is the first fatal attack that weve had down here," he said. "I wouldnt wish it upon anyone  to even be at the same beach at the same time. I think the town would be mourning  I think it's very sad and very tragic and a bit of an eye-opener."

Khai was visiting the area with his father when he was attacked in the water. Source: Facebook

Tributes flow for young surfer

Tributes are flowing on social media for the "respectful kid" who had a "passion for surfing". Surfing South Australia said Khai was "very much loved by his surfing peers and he will be greatly missed out in our community and on the water."

Story continues

Mourning the boy's death, another said it "doesn't feel real". "Words cant describe how much we are all gonna miss you. RIP," someone else wrote.

Khai's death was the fifth shark attack in South Australian waters in 2023, three of which were fatal.

with NCA newswire

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
President Nicolas Maduro has ordered Venezuelas armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after the UK sent a warship towards Guyanas territorial waters as the South American neighbours dispute a large border region.

In a nationally televised address on Thursday, Mr Maduro said 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including air and naval forces, will conduct joint operations off the nations eastern coast  near the border with Guyana.

Mr 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, Mr Maduro said in a room where he was accompanied by a dozen military commanders.

Nothing that we do or have done is threatening Venezuela

This is an unacceptable threat to any sovereign country in Latin America.

Venezuela and Guyana are 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 Irfan Ali said his nation reserved its right to work with its partners to ensure the defence of his country.

On Thursday, Guyanese officials described the visit of HMS Trent as a planned activity aimed at improving the nations defence capabilities and said the ships visit will continue as scheduled.

We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue and in peace, but no one is going to threaten Venezuela

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 30mm 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 Guyanas shores.

The UKs Ministry of Defence said the ship would be conducting joint operations with Guyanas defence 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.
The world population grew by 75 million people over the past year and on New Years Day it will stand at more than eight billion people, according to figures released by the US Census Bureau.

The worldwide growth rate in the past year was just under 1%.

At the start of 2024, 4.3 births and two deaths are expected worldwide every second, according to the Census Bureau.

As 2023 wraps up, we project the U.S. #population will be 335,893,238 on #NewYearsDay, an annual increase of 1,759,535 or 0.53%.



The projected #WorldPopulation on Jan. 1, 2024 is 8,019,876,189, up 75,162,541 (0.95%) from Jan. 1, 2023.



 https://t.co/SA1Hiou1OC#AmericaCounts pic.twitter.com/Rvc83VuMK6  U.S. Census Bureau (@uscensusbureau) December 28, 2023

The growth rate for the US in the past year was 0.53%, about half the worldwide figure. The US added 1.7 million people and will have a population on New Years Day of 335.8 million.

If the current pace continues to the end of the decade, the 2020s could be the slowest-growing decade in US history, yielding a growth rate of less than 4% over the 10-year period from 2020 to 2030, said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution.

The slowest-growing decade so far was after the Great Depression in the 1930s, when the growth rate was 7.3%.

Of course growth may tick up a bit as we leave the pandemic years. But it would still be difficult to get to 7.3%, Mr Frey said.

At the start of 2024, the US is expected to experience one birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.5 seconds. However, immigration will keep the population from dropping.

Net international migration is expected to add one person to the US population every 28.3 seconds. This combination of births, deaths and net international migration will increase the population by one person every 24.2 seconds.
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on a large group of money exchange services based in Yemen and Turkey.

The United States claim several Middle Eastern financial brokers have funded Iranian-based Houthi rebels who have launched attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the southern Red Sea.

Middle Eastern agencies impacted by Thursdays sanctions include the head of a financial intermediary in Sanaa, Yemen, and three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey.

The US Treasury alleges the people and firms helped transfer millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Said al-Jamal.

The USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is among the shops patrolling the region (AP)

The sanctions block access to US property bank accounts and prevent those targeted and their affiliated companies from doing business with Americans.

Earlier this month, the US 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.

US Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian E Nelson said 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.

Mr Nelson added the US and its allies will continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their backers in Iran.

While Houthi rebels have sporadically targeted ships in the region in the past, attacks have increased since the war between Israel and Hamas began.

In the wake of an attack on a Gaza hospital on October 17, Houthi leaders have insisted Israel is their target with their attacks on commercial tankers.

The most recent attack on freighters in the Red Sea involved a drone and a missile that was shot down on Thursday at around 6pm local time by the US military.

US militarys Central Command said the naval destroyer USS Mason shot down one drone and one ballistic missile.

There was no damage to any of the 18 ships in the area or reported injuries, Central Command said, adding it was the 22nd attempted attack by Houthis on international shipping since October 19.
A Hong Kong pro-independence activist who was jailed under a sweeping Chinese national security law has fled to the UK to seek political asylum, according to his social media posts.

Tony Chung was among the first to be convicted under the Beijing-imposed law that was introduced after the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

He was found guilty of secession and money laundering in 2020 and sentenced to 43 months in prison.

In two Instagram posts on Friday, Mr Chung detailed how authorities closely watched him after he was released from prison.

He said he was asked to meet regularly with national security authorities and report to them on where he had been, whom he had met with as well as his conversations. He also claimed authorities offered to pay him to inform on others to prove he had reformed himself.

They also proposed he should go to mainland China.

Mr Chung said he was made to sign a document that barred him from disclosing his conversations with the authorities, so he could not seek help from any lawyers nor tell anyone about his situation.

Although I had anticipated the arrival of this day in the past, I had a heavy heart when I made up my mind

Under enormous stress and fear, I can only endure silently, he said.

The intimidation faced by Hong Kong dissidents like Mr Chung reflects the drastic erosion of the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to China in 1997.

But both the Beijing and Hong Kong governments have hailed the security law for bringing stability to the city.

Hong Kong police have offered rewards for information leading to the arrests of 13 overseas-based activities and drew criticism from Western governments.

Earlier in December, prominent pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, who left Hong Kong for Canada and does not plan to return to fulfil her bail conditions, reported similar pressure from authorities.

Her passport, confiscated earlier by police, was only returned to her upon meeting certain conditions, including a visit to mainland China with authorities, she said.

In an email reply to the Associated Press, Hong Kong police said Ms Chow failed to show up at a police station on Thursday as required and violated her bail terms, pledging they would spare no effort in bringing her to justice.

They strongly condemned the breach of supervision orders or bail conditions by individuals who have fled the city.

Not only have they failed to reflect on the harms they have caused to Hong Kong and members of the public, but they have also shamefully begged for assistance from foreign anti-China forces under the guise of being victims, the police said.

They did not confirm Mr Chungs claims that they had offered to pay him informant fees but said the national security department has been effectively collecting intelligence through various channels and individuals.

Local media, including the South China Morning Post, quoted unnamed sources saying that her parents went to a police station to assist their investigation on Friday.

Mr Chung was convener of the now-dissolved pro-independence student organisation Studentlocalism before being arrested in 2020 near the United States consulate in Hong Kong, where media reports said he was hoping to seek protection.

According to his Instagram posts, Mr Chung was under a supervision order by the citys Correctional Services Department for a year after his release from prison, and was banned from speaking publicly.

In September, he said national security authorities asked him to take a trip to mainland China, but he told them he was unwilling to do so. The authorities then asked him if he was being reluctant because he was still involved in activities endangering national security.

Mr Chung said he started feeling sick from time to time since October. Western and Chinese doctors told him that his immune system weakened because he was under huge mental stress.

He later persuaded correctional services authorities to let him travel to Okinawa, Japan, for a holiday to manage his emotions. During the trip, he sought help from organisations and people based overseas.

He arrived in Britain from Japan on Wednesday to seek asylum.

This also means I can no longer return to my home, Hong Kong, in foreseeable future, he said.

Although I had anticipated the arrival of this day in the past, I had a heavy heart when I made up my mind.

In the future, Mr Chung said he would devote himself for his city as a Hongkonger in exile.

I believe only when Hong Kong people dont give up, the seeds of freedom and democracy will sprout again one day, he said.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with arson after a fire at a prestigious 160-year-old Catholic school in west London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters were called to the London Oratory School, which admits boys aged seven to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, on Seagrave Road in Fulham at around 10am on Wednesday.
Security will be tight across France on New Years Eve, with 90,000 law enforcement officers set to be deployed, domestic intelligence chief Celine Berthon has said.

Of those, 6,000 will be in Paris, where French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said more than 1.5 million people are expected to attend celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Darmanin cited a very high terrorist threat because, in part, of what is happening in Israel and Palestine.

Mr Darmanin said that police for the first time will be able to use drones as part of security work, and that tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers would also be deployed.

Police officers patrol near the Eiffel Tower (AP)

New Years Eve celebrations in Paris will centre on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, including DJ sets, fireworks and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe.

The security challenge ahead of the Olympics was highlighted when a tourist was killed in a knife attack near the Eiffel Tower on December 2.

Large-scale attacks  such as that at the Bataclan in 2015, when Islamic extremists invaded the music hall and shot up cafe terraces, killing 130 people  also loom in memory.

The knife attack raised concern in France and abroad about security for the Games that begin on July 26, in just under seven months.

But law enforcement officials appear eager to show off a security-ready Paris.
The BBC is expected to redact some of the almost 3,000 emails it must release about its handling of the Martin Bashir scandal, a tribunal has heard.

A judge told the broadcaster to hand over the material earlier this month, two-and-a-half years after journalist Andrew Webb used freedom of information (FOI) laws to ask to see it.

The scandal, over how Mr Bashir secured a Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995, emerged after the former BBC head of news Lord Hall of Birkenhead suggested in a confidential briefing that Dianas brother Earl Spencer had given Mr Bashir bank statements.

Martin Bashir was criticised over how he obtained the 1995 interview with Diana (Ian West/PA)

Mr Bashir was in serious breach of the broadcasters producer guidelines when he faked bank statements and showed them to Mr Spencer to gain access to Diana in 1995.

Diana famously told the BBC journalist in the interview: There were three of us in this marriage so it was a bit crowded.

A remote information rights tribunal heard on Friday that the BBC intended to use section 42 of the Freedom of Information Act, which covers confidential communications between a client and their lawyer, as well as other provisions in the legislation to stop full disclosure of some of the emails.

Mr Webb told the hearing: We all know that some documents, roughly 300, will be claimed by the BBC to be withheld under section 42.

Mr Bashir was in serious breach of BBC producer guidelines when he faked bank statements and showed them to Earl Spencer, pictured (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He said earlier: I have been waiting two-and-a-half years for these documents.

We have been told this whole mass of data was initially meaningless, irrelevant and nothing to do with a cover-up etc. The BBC has been fairly forcefully told that is not good enough.

The whole  lets call it Bashir scandal, (happened because) 11 words appeared in a mass of emails.

Jason Pobjoy, representing the BBC, told the hearing a huge amount of work had been done reviewing the material and that the broadcaster was very, very anxious to avoid appealing the judges decision.

This is not giving us free rein just to redact without consequence. (The BBC is) only claiming when there is a legitimate exemption that applies

He said of expected next steps: We provide all the documents. The BBC then has two weeks to provide submissions on any exemptions, which I think primarily will be submissions on section 42.

He added that other exemptions would also be relied on and said that, in a bundle of around 400 emails which had been looked at, a significant number contained third-party personal data such as email addresses and phone numbers.

The lawyer said: This is not giving us free rein just to redact without consequence.

(The BBC is) only claiming when there is a legitimate exemption that applies.

The BBC must hand over the documents by January 24 and, if any are redacted, Mr Webb must be told which exemptions the broadcaster relied on to come to that decision.

The hearing was told the BBC intended to use the Freedom of Information Act to stop full disclosure of some of the emails (Lucy North/PA)

Full submissions about why they were redacted would be provided two weeks later.

Mr Webb can challenge any of the redactions if he wishes and, if he does so, the tribunal will be able to access the unredacted emails when coming to a decision on whether they should be disclosed in full.

Judge Brian Kennedy said that if Mr Webb did challenge any of the redactions, the case was right open at the starting point again.

The judge added that he was pleased with the co-operation that seems to be emerging between Mr Webb and the BBC as he adjourned the case to a date to be fixed.
South Africa launched a case at the United Nations top court on Friday accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks.

South Africas submission to the International Court of Justice alleges that acts and omissions by Israel  are genocidal in character as they are committed with the intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.

It also asks the Hague-based court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza.

A hearing into that request is likely in the coming days or weeks. The case, if it goes ahead, will take years.

The Peace Palace which houses World Court at The Hague in the Netherlands where South Africa has launched a case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza (Peter Dejong/AP)

South Africa can bring the case under the Genocide Convention because both it and Israel are signatories to the convention.

The Israeli government rejected with disgust the South African genocide accusations, calling it a blood libel.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the case lacks a legal foundation and constitutes a vile exploitation and cheapening of the court.

Israel also accused South Africa of co-operating with Hamas, the militant group whose October 7 cross-border attack in southern Israel triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

The statement also said Israel is committed to, and operates according to, international law and focuses its military actions solely against Hamas, adding that the residents of Gaza are not an enemy.

It asserted that it takes steps to minimise harm to civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the territory.

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa (Rafiq Maqbool/AP)

Whether the case will succeed in halting the war remains to be seen. While the courts orders are legally binding, they are not always followed.

In March 2022, the court ordered Russia to halt hostilities in Ukraine, a binding legal ruling that Moscow flouted as it pressed ahead with its devastating attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities.

South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israels military campaign in Gaza.

Many, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have compared Israels policies in Gaza and the West Bank with South Africas past apartheid regime of racial segregation.

Mr Ramaphosa has accused Israel of war crimes and acts tantamount to genocide.
The year 2023 was not a happy one for Myanmar. The regime continued its illegitimate rule without majority support and remained deeply unpopular. The countrys economy, already in crisis, deteriorated further. The incompetent regimes intervention in the foreign currency market was unsuccessful. Civil war and unrest continued to spread.

Going forward we can expect more violence, with the civilian population suffering most.

According to the UN, over 2.6 million people have been displaced across Myanmar since the coup in 2021more than 660,000 of them since October, when the Brotherhood Alliance of three ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and allied resistance groups launched the anti-regime offensive known as Operation 1027.

Having called for international intervention since the coup, Myanmars revolutionary forces realized this year that they are on their own. Preoccupied with Ukraine, Taiwan and the Middle East, the world has turned a blind eye to Myanmar, perhaps perceiving its location between regional powers China and India as off limits. The irony is, opposition forces might now look at this global indifference from a new perspective and see it as a good thing. OK, they might say, So well have our own organic revolution and end the year with cheers of Happy Revolutionary Year!

So whats next?

Indeed, it is difficult to gauge where the country is headed in 2024, other than to expect that the country will slide further into darkness, economic hardship and worsening armed conflict. For the time being, what we can see is that the revolution against the murderous and corrupt military regime is picking up momentum. Where are those who predicted that the uprising would be crushed and die out? It seems the military has failed to meet their expectations.

The bright side of this revolution is that the ethnic armies will have more influence in the future as they gain more territory in their own states, further pushing back the occupier, the Myanmar military.

The opposition forces will no doubt continue to fight, as the country witnesses a new and emerging leadership exercising self-restraint and autonomous administration in recently occupied territory in Karenni (Kayah), Chin, Rakhine and northern Shan states and Sagaing and Magwe regions.

Elsewhere, where the regime remains in power, it continues to pose a danger to the civilian population and behave like a foreign occupying force.

The military has ruled the country since the 1960s, and successive generations have seen the disorder in Myanmar increase with each passing decade. Far from uniting the country, the military has only brought fragmentation and anarchythe opposite of what is claimed by the leaders of the Tatmadaw (Myanmars military).

A perfect example is the 2021 coup, which brought the country to its knees and even created a nightmare for neighboring countries.

Now perhaps it is too late to steer the country back to normalcy. The regime leaders are utterly incompetent when it comes to managing the countrys affairs. They have faced crisis after crisis since they seized power. It has been a story of a failed coup leading the country to become a failed state.

Then we saw war erupt in the north. This has raised anxiety and fear, but also hope.

Operation 1027 is an unprecedented challenge to the regime, and is now a household name in Myanmar. Opposition forces and the majority of Myanmars people are cheered whenever they hear reports of regime casualties. Isnt it strange? The military, which is supposed to protect them, continues to bomb its own territory and people. The Myanmar people have nothing but disgust for them. The military has turned the Myanmar people into its worst enemy.

The success of the offensive has brought hope, but perhaps also some wishful thinking among the Myanmar population and foreign analysts.

Newspaper headlines and columns repeatedly invite us to wonder: Is the regime in Myanmar about to collapse?

The answer, sadly, is NO. Not immediately.

The Myanmar military or Tatmadaw is not yet at the point of toppling. The question is: How long will it remain in power?

The good news is the Tatmadaw is in a state of decline; it is weak and shrinking. The military will never regain its past glory and strength.

Myanmar will remain volatile and unstable in 2024. If the opposition forces are united and can strike further, the military will implode. We can expect more offensives, urban guerrilla warfare and drone attacks in cities, and more defections from the military. Soldiers will be forced to remain in their military quarters, lacking the will to fight, low on morale and disillusioned. They know the people hate them.

In Myanmar, parents have asked their sons and daughters to fight the regime and back them to do so. Relatives of military officers ask them to leave the military or join the opposition.

Chin, Karenni, Karen and Rakhine and Shan states are contested ground and ethnic forces will gain more political and administrative power there. In four regionsSagaing, Magwe, Mandalay and Bagowe can expect growing armed resistance and attacks. Military pressure against the regime will build.

The notion that the military is the only institution that can keep the country together is no longer believed. Some have argued that if the Tatmadaw collapses, Myanmar will face chaos and anarchy. This is not true. New and old political forces in Myanmar should be able to self-administer the regions and states they now control. It is indeed their own land.

The world, or at least Southeast Asia, will be a better and safer place if the military junta is overthrown.

The opposition forces have gained momentum and are determined to win more battles in spite of the challenges they face, including limited resources. They know they have a strong will and overwhelming support. Now, opposition forces will have to demonstrate that they can sustain the fight and continue to ensure that the military is forced to face the music.

It is also about time that ethnic leadersboth senior leaders and the younger generationmake more of an effort to communicate with their neighbors and foreign governments in the region and convince them that Myanmar will not descend into chaos and anarchy once the regime collapsesand that they are in control.

As for China, India and Thailand, its about time for them to shift gear and acknowledge the reality on the ground. They have to prepare themselves to adjust and work with multiple players in Myanmar, as the regimes tight control is slipping. There are new emerging actors and players in ethnic frontier areas, as well as in the heartland in Myanmar.

China and Thailand have the longest borders with Myanmar and they will be key players on multiple levels. But they must look beyond the border, understand the changing landscape and newly emerging actors. Thailand should show sufficient flexibility and creativity to support the people and organizations on the ground.

To engage on the ground, they will need to gain trust and confidence from the Myanmar populationthe regime is less significant.

Beijing remains a source of concern. In the absence of an active Myanmar policy and consistent engagement from the West, China has grabbed the opportunity and attempted to broker a peace deal in the recent conflict, though the effort has yet to yield results. However, no one trusts China.

China, like Russia, remained a key arms supplier to the regime throughout the year. They would continue to veto resolutions against the junta at the United Nations.

Beijing has long pursued a strategy of hedging its bets in Myanmar, maintaining political, economic and military ties to the still dangerous regime while also cultivating and wielding influence among ethnic insurgents along its border. China plays both sides but it must be careful, as this could have consequences for its investment projects in Myanmar, particularly in the ethnic states. If China puts too much pressure on ethnic armies, its projects in these territories could be at risk.

Myanmar is going through an internal decolonization and decentralization process, and it will be good to see the country federalized and the ethnic states reclaim their land and self-determination.

Stay tuned for more of this in 2024
The first 100 days of the new Thai government have seen Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin repeatedly emphasize plans for economic diplomacy with foreign nations, but much still remains unclear about how Thailand will deal with the crisis in Myanmar, its neighbor with the longest shared border. Despite Srettha mentioning his administrations commitment to taking a leading role on Myanmar, the lack of a clear policy direction will undermine Thailands effort to restore its status as a regional kingpin.

On Dec. 9, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara unveiled plans to form a joint taskforce on humanitarian aid with the Myanmar regime to handle a refugee influx if the conflict escalates. While details of the plan are yet to be determined, there are at least four reasons why Thailand needs to tread carefully when it comes to any such plan.

First, the taskforce would serve as a low-investment but high-return move for the junta, at the expense of Thailand. Since the 2021 coup, the regimes State Administrative Council (SAC) has been barred from ASEAN summits for failing to adhere to the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) peace plan outlined by the bloc. The planned joint taskforce, on one hand, will allow Thailand to claim credit as an interlocutor who convinces the Myanmar junta to fulfill at least one demand of the 5PC after years of inaction. On the other hand, though, it will offer the SAC a way to claim that it is now gradually fulfilling its obligations and therefore deserves its place back in the ASEAN community. The issues of implementation will give the junta further opportunities to exploit the taskforce and thereby jeopardize its humanitarian efforts.

Though no details have yet to emerge about the taskforce or how its mandates on humanitarian assistance will be undertaken, the government-to-government (G2G) nature of the arrangement means that nothing will be done without the approval of both parties  the Thai and Myanmar governments. This poses at least two difficulties. First, the zones targeted for assistance are ethnic-controlled are afflicted by heavy fighting between the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups, making it hard to believe that the junta would have the will to provide any aid there. Thailand, as a partner, will then find it difficult to achieve anything better or beyond the scope of what the existing Temporary Safety Areas (TSAs) under the Royal Thai Army (RTA) can deliver, rendering this a futile effort for Bangkok. Second, even if one were to entertain the thought of the junta being benevolent, the SAC is an ineffective and incapable partner in humanitarian work given the ongoing failure of its ground troops and the loss of military bases in ethnic-controlled areas along the border.

Now that the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) has seized most of Karenni (Kayah) State, adjacent to Thailands Mae Hong Son province, it is hard to imagine the SAC being the key partner in humanitarian assistance. A more credible alternative is the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC), the emerging governing body of the revolutionary movement in Karenni State, which could deliver humanitarian aid to displaced people in its territory. In fact, multiple armed groups are already delivering public services in areas they control along the border; some of them even predate the 2021 coup. In Karen State, for instance, the healthcare and welfare wings of ethnic forces have been interacting with Thailands provincial public health entities through an informal cross-border healthcare system to prevent epidemics for decades. In the short term, ethnic administrations can be expected to strengthen along the border, making it necessary for Thailand to consider engaging with multiple actors who control different areas nationwide, not just the SAC.

The G2G nature of the taskforce might also impede Thailands autonomy to develop a service delivery plan as it sees fit and overcome obstacles created by the juntas reluctance to fully engage in the arrangement.

Post-coup migration from Myanmar has become a diverse and complex phenomenon. Therefore, Thailand needs a broad, proactive and up-to-date policy that moves beyond lip service.

Lastly, planning for humanitarian assistance requires that data about the target recipients, in this case the internally displaced people (IDPs), be made available to the taskforce. However, disclosing information such as locations and numbers of IDPs to SAC representatives could put displaced civilians in grave danger. That junta forces might exploit such confidential data for military advantage, by recalibrating artillery attacks, airstrikes, and shelling in ethnic-controlled areas, is hardly unthinkable given they had killed 8,600 civilians as of May this year and committed 22 massacres as of October.

In summary, Thailand should be cautious if it proceeds in this endeavor with Myanmars regime. The taskforce on humanitarian assistance must be strategically planned, not only to assist people in need but also to serve Thailands interests. Otherwise, it risks becoming another stepping stone to be exploited by the SAC. While Thailands desire to re-emerge as a key player in the region is understandable after almost a decade of reputational damage, taking this path to address the Myanmar crisis may cause more harm than good. In the end, the only winner in this arrangement might be the Myanmar junta, a shrinking political actor in the conflict-hit country.

Dr Surachanee Sriyai is currently a visiting fellow at the ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute. Her research interests include digital politics, political communication, comparative politics, and democratization.
Smith's is installing extra fans in a factory as workers claim they are having difficulty breathing and experiencing skin irritation after dealing with the seasoning used to make "flamin' hot" Doritos.

SafeWork SA is looking into the claims after the United Workers Union alleged employees at an Adelaide Smith's Snackfood Company factory raised significant safety concerns about the "improper handling of strongly irritating substances".

In a report sent to the workplace regulator, the union said "flaming hot seasoning" dispersed across the factory production area every couple of weeks from a seasoning machine.

"After interviewing 13 workers from the afternoon shift, 11 reported various effects, including sneezing, coughing, eye and skin irritation, runny nose, sore throat, chest discomfort, and difficulty breathing," the union's report said.

The seasoning in question has been linked to a string of symptoms. Source: Reddit/AP

The union alleged Smith's failed to maintain safe systems of work and, in another claim, said the factory's waste hall was unsafe.

Smith's markets flaming hot-branded Doritos and Cheetos. A spokeswoman for PepsiCo, which owns The Smith's Snackfood Company, said the safety of its people was the company's top priority.

"We follow a number of safety procedures and protocols when producing products that include spicy seasoning," the spokeswoman said.

"To further enhance these measures at our Adelaide site there is mandatory mask wearing during production of this product and we are installing additional extraction fans.

"We are committed to working with our people and the union to address any further concerns."

SafeWork was considering the union's complaint to determine whether it warranted further action, a spokesman for the workplace regulator said.

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A previous complaint lodged by the union in January reported a buildup of seasoning dust but did not mention any adverse health effects for workers.

"In response to (the January) complaint, SafeWork inspectors attended the site to ensure adequate controls were in place to minimise any risk to employees," the SafeWork spokesman said.

The union was contacted for further comment.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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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.
A man's enormous discovery in his blocked stormwater drain has highlighted a common problem for Aussie homeowners and sparked discussion about how to handle the issue.

The man said he pulled a trees large root system out the drain on the edge of his driveway after digging into the dirt to where it was blocked and cutting into the pipe. Gave birth to this chunk of roots, he said after posting photos of the hefty growth sprawled across his driveway. An established tree  an unidentified species  can be seen about a metre from the driveway, alongside the road.

The man said he found the huge chunk of tree roots in his blocked stormwater drain after investigating the cause. Source: Reddit

Other social media users were quick to commiserate with the man over what one Redditor deemed the deadly Australian land worm. While another said it looked like someone had done a burnout one the driveway.

Tree roots main cause of drain blockages

Many commenters said they had encountered the same annoying and expensive problem. Happened to me once, it was a rubber tree from next door that was the culprit, one person said.

A fellow Aussie, who identified themselves as a plumber, said tree roots are the number one cause of main drain blockages in the country. Its very common. People ask me all the time about getting rid of trees due to blocked drains, they added. Getting rid of the tree is treating the symptom and not the cause. The cause is a cracked drain. If it isnt cracked the roots dont go in there.

Man warned about council fines over tree

Given the mess now on his hands, the man who found the invasive growth posted about the situation to a group for Australian renovators, asking others about the chances the local council would do something about the tree and whether he could seek reimbursement for the cost of the plumber to fix the defunct stormwater drain.

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Im guessing around 0%, he added.

The man was warned that cutting down the tree council could leave him with a hefty fine. Source: Reddit

Aussies were quick to warn the homeowner that if they touch the tree their council will likely fine them. Not only will they fine you, they will replace it with a similar sized tree at your expense in most areas. So you kind of get nowhere, someone said, while another added they heard of somebody copping a $10,000 fine from a council for cutting down a large gum tree without permission because its a native.

Ya I copped a fine because I trimmed the eucalyptus on my nature strip. It kept hitting the power lines, a third person added, saying they took matters into their own hands. Cost me a fair bit but at least I dont have to worry about the potential insurance claim for a fire

In NSW, for example, residents can be fined north of $200,000 for poisoning or illegally chopping down native trees.

So I need council approval to remove a tree?

Council permission is needed to cut down a tree on your property if it reaches a certain height, but it is not needed if it is dead, hazardous, already fallen, a recognised noxious species, too close to your house or in a fire hazard zone, arborist Ben McInerney, who founded GoTreeQuotes and runs a tree service in Sydney, said.

"Every council is different in their definition of a significant tree so you will need to refer to your local council rules to see if you are safe to remove," he says on his website, explaining that councils and cities "take tree protection very seriously" and can issue "heavy fines" typically ranging from $2,000 up to $100,000 for multiple offences.

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It's not uncommon to hear stories of bad neighbours in Australia. From late-night music to overgrown trees and battles over dividing fences, the list of ways neighbour conflict can erupt is long.

However one neighbour in Perth, Western Australia, has allegedly taken things up a notch by reportedly "stealing" water from their elderly neighbours while they were away.

The female neighbour was said to be caught "red-handed" by the couples child after their parents came home from their holiday to find a "$300+" water bill.

"They have been away for a few weeks on holidays (to visit relatives in the old country) and they came back to a $300+ water bill," the shocked Aussie fumed online alongside a photo of the apparent transgression. The image shows a hose attached to a tap at the side of a house before being flung over the neighbour's fence.

The neighbour's child claimed they discovered the dirty trick while the parents were on holiday. Source: Reddit

The Reddit user claimed they "caught the neighbour" taking the water, and speculated they did so under the believe the home owners were still away.

"Her excuse was she was 'testing' as she had seen her nearby builder doing that before! WTAF?" they wrote. "What can my parents do? They are pensioners and this is a lot of money for them."

The poster claimed the neighbour had since stopped responding to questions about what she was up to.

The online complaint has racked up hundreds of comments since being posted yesterday. Yahoo News Australia reached out to the poster on Thursday but did not hear back.

Do you have a story about a 'bad' neighbour? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com

'Bad' neighbour slammed online

Aussies were furious by the situation, with hundreds agreeing such an act would constitute stealing. "Its theft, pure and simple. Your parents have paid for the water, that the neighbour has taken without permission," one person said.

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"F**king assholes report it to the police," another advised.

Others urged the poster to call their parents' water provider first. "Explain it to them, including that you have photographic evidence and that your parents will not pay for the water used while they were away. The water bodies have this stuff happen all the time and will assist in sorting things out," one user, who claims they previously worked for a water retailer, commented.

Is it illegal to steal water from a neighbour?

WA Water told Yahoo a situation like this would be a matter for the police as it occurred on the customer side of the meter and would be considered theft.

According to the Western Australian government's Legal Aid, a homeowner can also refuse to let people come onto their property, including a neighbour. "If someone refuses to leave after you have asked them to, you may call the police."

Each jurisdiction has its own laws and bodies to contact if water is taken from your premises without consent. For example, in Sydney, the fine for water theft is $2,200, according to Sydney Water, which states that it "takes water theft very seriously".

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Pennsylvania Capital-Star The Pennsylvania Capital-Star is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site dedicated to honest and aggressive coverage of state government, politics and policy. Since our launch in February 2019, the Capital-Star has emerged as a go-to source for in-depth original reporting, explainers on complex topics, features that ground policy debates, as well as progressive commentary on a range of issues.
TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 /CNW/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle") announced today that it acquired 19,600,000 units ("Units") of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV: CNC) ("Canada Nickel") at a price of $1.18 per Unit for total consideration of approximately $23,128,000 from several sellers that acquired the Units in connection with an offering of flow-through Units by Canada Nickel (the "Share Purchases"). Each Unit was comprised of one common share of Canada Nickel (a "Common Share") and 0.35 of one common share purchase warrant of Canada Nickel (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of $1.77 at any time prior to December 29, 2026, subject to acceleration of the expiry date upon the occurrence of certain events.

Agnico Eagle has spent approximately two years evaluating the critical minerals sector, focusing on Canada and the regions where it operates, where the Company believes it has a competitive advantage. Agnico Eagle's investment in Canada Nickel represents an early stage investment in this growing sector. Canada Nickel's large, prospective land package and portfolio of early-stage nickel-sulphide deposits are located in northern Ontario, in close proximity to Agnico Eagle's operations in the Abitibi region of Ontario and Quebec. Canada Nickel's Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project has a large nickel resource and is expected to have a low carbon footprint. Aligning with Agnico Eagle's well-established strategy of early-stage project investments, this investment represents an opportunity to establish a presence in an emerging nickel belt and monitor both the project's progress and emerging technologies relevant to its development.

Prior to the Share Purchases, Agnico Eagle did not own any Common Shares. Following the Share Purchases, Agnico Eagle owns 19,600,000 Common Shares and 6,860,000 Warrants, representing approximately 12% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis and 15.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of the Warrants).

Concurrently with the Share Purchases, Agnico Eagle and Canada Nickel entered into an investor rights agreement, pursuant to which Agnico Eagle is entitled to certain rights, provided Agnico Eagle maintains certain ownership thresholds in Canada Nickel, including: (a) the right to participate in equity financings and top-up its holdings in relation to dilutive issuances in order to maintain its pro rata ownership interest in Canada Nickel at the time of such financing or acquire up to a 15.6% ownership interest, on a partially diluted basis, in Canada Nickel; and (b) the right (which Agnico Eagle has no present intention of exercising) to nominate one person to the board of directors of Canada Nickel.

Agnico Eagle acquired the Common Shares and the Warrants for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Agnico Eagle may, from time to time, acquire additional Common Shares, common share purchase warrants or other securities of Canada Nickel or dispose of some or all of the Common Shares, common share purchase warrants or other securities of Canada Nickel that it owns at such time.

An early warning report will be filed by Agnico Eagle in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact:

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

c/o Investor Relations

145 King Street East, Suite 400

Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7

Telephone: 416-947-1212

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Agnico Eagle's head office is located at 145 King Street East, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7. Canada Nickel's head office is located at 130 King Street West, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5X 1E3.

About Agnico Eagle

Agnico Eagle is a senior Canadian gold mining company, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico. It has a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects in these countries as well as in the United States. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading environmental, social and governance practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

For further information regarding Agnico Eagle, contact Investor Relations at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (416) 947-1212.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release has been prepared as at December 29, 2023. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will" or similar terms.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements relating to: Agnico Eagle's acquisition or disposition of securities of Canada Nickel in the future; the prospects of the critical minerals sector; the prospects and potential resources of Canada Nickel's properties, including the Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project; and expectations regarding the carbon footprint and potential use of emerging technologies in respect of Canada Nickel's properties.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico Eagle as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Other than as required by law, Agnico Eagle does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.
TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 /CNW/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units (the "Units"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,478,754 Units at a price $1.30 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5.8 million.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of Rock Tech (the "Common Shares", with such Common Shares comprising the Units, the "Unit Shares") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a "Warrant", and together with the Units and the Unit Shares, the "Securities"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $1.69 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance of such Warrant, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the certificate evidencing such Warrant, including adjustment in certain circumstances.

Rock Tech intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to finance the continued development of the Company's Georgia Lake lithium project in Ontario, Canada (the "Georgia Lake Project"), including planned consolidation of adjacent properties/areas, for the development of the Company's converter project in Canada and for general corporate purposes (including expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Offering).

"We are pleased to close the Offering with the investments from our stakeholders. We appreciate the continued support as we execute our business plan. We plan to continue discussions with strategic and financial investors to explore potential opportunities for investments directly at the project level, including the Company's converter projects in Germany and Canada and the Georgia Lake Project.", stated Dirk Harbecke, Chairman and CEO of the Company.

The Unit Shares and the Warrants are subject to a four month hold period, expiring on April 30, 2024, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the rules of the TSX-V, as are any Warrant Shares issued on exercise of Warrants prior to the expiry of such hold period.

The Securities offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws of any state of the United States and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.

The Unit Shares and Warrant Shares have been conditionally accepted for listing on the TSX-V, which is subject to the final acceptance of the TSX-V.

See the Company's press releases dated October 24, 2023 and December 8, 2023 for additional details regarding the Offering.

All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in Canadian dollars.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Dirk Harbecke

Chairman & CEO

ABOUT ROCK TECH

Rock Tech is a cleantech company with operations in Canada and Germany on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the door-step of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery, beginning with the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide merchant converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its wholly-owned Georgia Lake Project located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. www.rocktechlithium.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking information. Forward looking information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" (including negative versions and grammatical variations thereof) and other similar expressions.

In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to: the intended use of proceeds from the Offering and allocation thereof; listing of the Unit Shares and the Warrant Shares on the TSX-V, including obtaining the final acceptance of the TSX-V; discussions with strategic and financial investors to explore potential opportunities for investments directly at the project level, including the Company's converter projects in Germany and Canada and the Georgia Lake Project; and Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects, and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.

Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and, in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. Forward-looking information is derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the satisfaction of the conditions to obtain final acceptance of the TSX-V approval for the listing of the Unit Shares and the Warrant Shares on the TSX-V; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; expected growth, performance and business operations; future commodity prices and exchange rates; prospects, growth opportunities and financing available to the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; Rock Tech's ability to procure supplies and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results.

Forward-looking information should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results. In addition, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Rock Tech's control, that may cause Rock Tech's actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to be materially different from that which is expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially include the risk that Rock Tech will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due, delays in government approval for the construction and commissioning of the Georgia Lake Project, changes in commodity prices, Rock Tech's ability to retain and attract skilled staff and to secure feedstock from third party suppliers, unanticipated events and other difficulties related to construction, development and operation of converters and mines, the cost of compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations, title defects, competition from existing and new competitors, changes in currency exchange rates and market prices of Rock Tech's securities, Rock Tech's history of losses, impacts of climate change and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Financial Instruments and Other Risks" in Rock Tech's most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis, a copy of which is filed electronically through SEDAR+ and is available online at www.sedarplus.ca. Such risks and uncertainties do not represent an exhaustive list of all risk factors that could cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially from the forward-looking information. It can not be guaranteed that actual events, results, performance and/or achievements will be consistent with the forward-looking information and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information reflects Rock Tech management's current views as at the date of this news release. The Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking information. Except as may be required by law, Rock Tech undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaims any responsibility, obligation or undertaking to update or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, to reflect any change in Rock Tech's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such information is based. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purposes of assisting readers in understanding Rock Tech's plans, objectives and goals and is not appropriate for any other purposes.
December 29, 2023  TheNewswire - London, Ontario  Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) (OTC:AMQFF) (FSE:4KG) (Abitibi or the Company), is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement (the Offering) raising gross proceeds of $10,000,000.30 through the issuance of (i) 13,571,429 charity flow-through common shares (CFT Shares) priced at C$0.70 per CFT Share, and (ii) 833,333 flow-through common shares (FT Shares) priced at C$0.60 per FT Share.

Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals, stated, We are very grateful for the support Abitibi Metals has received from new and past shareholders. With a treasury of over fifteen million, Abitibi is now positioned to commence on the most aggressive drill program our company has embarked on to date, with 30,000 metres fully funded for 2024. The closing of this financing secures Abitibis future with the high-grade B26 Polymetallic Copper Project as we will complete the work requirements of our first four-year option within the first year, three years ahead of schedule.

Mr. Deluce continued: Our objective in the upcoming year will be to build on the previous 115,311 metres drilled to delineate the open-pit potential of the B26 deposit, while concurrently advancing and expanding the existing underground resource as we progress towards our goal of delivering a robust economic high-grade copper resource. Drilling is anticipated to commence shortly in January, and the Company will provide an update shortly to detail the plans for its fully funded phase one drill program.

The FT Shares and CFT Shares qualify as flow-through shares (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act).

The gross proceeds from the Offering will be used to incur Canadian exploration expenses that are flow-through mining expenditures (as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) related to the Companys projects in Quebec.

The Company paid finders fees totaling $364,957.67 cash and 365,751 finders warrants (the Finders Warrants) in connection with the closing of the Offering to various eligible finders. The Finders Warrants are exercisable at C$0.70 per share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. Eventus Capital Corp. was appointed as a finder in connection with the Offering.

The securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to the Companys filing requirements with the Canadian Securities Exchange, and all securities will be subject to a four-month statutory hold period after closing.

About Abitibi Metals Corp.:

Abitibi Metals Corp. is a Quebec-focused mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality base and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Abitibis portfolio of strategic properties provides target-rich diversification and includes the high-grade B26 Polymetallic Copper Deposit (Ind: 7.0MT @ 2.94% Cu Eq & Inf: 4.4MT @ 2.97% Cu Eq) and the Beschefer Gold Project, where historical drilling has identified 4 historical intercepts with a metal factor of over 100 g/t gold highlighted by 55.63 g/t gold over 5.57 metres and 13.07 g/t gold over 8.75 metres amongst four modelled zones.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jonathon Deluce, Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please call 226-271-5170, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit https://www.abitibimetals.com.

The Company also maintains an active presence on various social media platforms to keep stakeholders and the general public informed and encourages shareholders and interested parties to follow and engage with the Company through the following channels to stay updated with the latest news, industry insights, and corporate announcements:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbitibiMetals

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statement

This news release contains certain statements, which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information involves statements that are not based on historical information but rather relate to future operations, strategies, financing plans, financial results or other developments on the B26 Project or otherwise. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions, which are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Companys control and many of which, regarding future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on the Companys behalf. Although Abitibi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. All factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Abitibis forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects, estimates, anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases (including negative and grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, might or occur. Mineral exploration and development are highly speculative and are characterized by a number of significant inherent risks, which may result in the inability of the Company to successfully develop current or proposed projects for commercial, technical, political, regulatory or financial reasons, or if successfully developed, may not remain economically viable for their mine life owing to any of the foregoing reasons, among others. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in achieving commercial mineral production and the likelihood of success must be considered in light of the stage of operations.




MONTREAL, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") announces today that Luc Lessard, Chief Operating Officer ("COO"), will be retiring from the Company at the end of 2023 to pursue other personal and professional commitments, namely as President and Chief Executive Officer of Falco Resources Ltd.

The Company has initiated an executive search process to evaluate potential external and internal candidates for the role of COO, and will provide an update upon the conclusion of this process in due course.

In the interim, Eric Tremblay, currently a Director on the Board of Directors of the Company and chair of the Environmental, Health and Safety and Technical committee, will assume the role of interim COO until the conclusion of the COO search process. Mr. Tremblay has more than 25 years of mine building and operations experience primarily with underground mines, and was also previously the General Manager at Canadian Malartic, one of the largest operating gold mines in Canada and globally. Mr. Tremblay has played an instrumental role in advancing and de-risking the assets within the Company's portfolio over many years, in particular, the Cariboo Gold Project. Mr. Tremblay will also remain in his current role as COO of Dalradian Resources Inc.

During this time, Mr. Lessard will continue to offer his full support to the management team through the transition period. Going forward Mr. Lessard will remain available to provide his invaluable support and input in an advisory capacity as an external consultant.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire management team, I want to express our gratitude to Luc for his invaluable contributions and dedication to ODV during his tenure," noted Sean Roosen, Chairman and CEO. "Luc stepped into the COO role during the formation of the Company in January 2021 and has played a vital role in helping to advance our portfolio of development stage projects. We wish Luc all the best in his future personal and professional endeavors, and will no doubt continue to rely on his significant industry expertise as we advance the Cariboo Gold Project in 2024."

The Company also announces that Chris Pharness, Vice President, Sustainable Development, has departed the Company to pursue other opportunities. "We would like to thank Chris for his contributions and commitment to Osisko Development and wish him continued success in the future," noted Sean Roosen.

ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Osisko Development Corp. is a premier North American gold development company focused on high-quality past-producing properties located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company's project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Israel's military said Tuesday an anti-tank missile fired by Lebanon's Hezbollah group wounded nine soldiers as they rescued a civilian who was injured in another cross-border strike.

One of the soldiers was in a "serious condition", the army said, after the group was hit when rescuing the civilian injured by an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon amid the Gaza war.

That missile had hit a Greek Orthodox church in Iqrit, the army said in an earlier statement, referring to an abandoned Palestinian Christian village whose inhabitants were forced to leave during the 1948 war and creation of Israel.

The army accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah group of constant firing at Israeli "civilian and religious sites".

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Hezbollah was "committing war crimes by indiscriminately attacking places of worship".

On November 20, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that "Israeli artillery shelling" had targeted the Saint George Church in the border village of Yarun, causing "major damage".

The frontier between Lebanon and Israel has seen escalating exchanges of fire, mainly between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, raising fears of a broader conflict.

Hezbollah, which on Tuesday announced the death of two of its fighters, says it is acting in support of Hamas.

Since hostilities began, more than 150 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, most of them Hezbollah combatants but also more than a dozen civilians, three of them journalists, according to an AFP tally.

On Tuesday, Israeli bombardment wounded two people in the town of Tulin, around 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border, according to the NNA, which also reported Israeli strikes in other areas near the frontier.

Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks against Israeli troops and positions. In one attack, the group said it fired missiles at an Israeli barracks.

"Hezbollah is risking the stability of the region for the sake of Hamas," the Israeli military's Hagari said.

On the Israeli side, at least four civilians and nine soldiers have been killed since October 7, according to figures given by the army.

The ninth soldier died from wounds suffered earlier, the military said Tuesday.

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A Cayuga County food pantry has closed its doors after five years, but the nonprofit that operates the pantry will continue working to make a difference in the community.

Friends Helping Friends of Cayuga County's Emergency Help Pantry at Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius was originally set to reopen Jan. 2 but will now stay closed, according to a Wednesday post on the pantry's Facebook page from the nonprofit's creator and president, Meeghan Seastrom. She cited rising expenses and insufficient donations as reasons for the self-funded pantry's closure.

As the number of clients served by the pantry tripled this year to nearly 3,200 people, managing it was also affecting Seastrom's health, she said.

"While I very much like helping people, I have come to a time where I need to focus on my family and my health so that I can be here with them and for them for many years to come," she said.

Although the pantry has ended, Seastrom said she will continue to run the rest of the nonprofit's operations. Friends Helping Friends began as a Facebook group in 2013 to get community members' household items to people who needed them, and it officially became a nonprofit in 2017. The pantry opened the following year.

Seastrom now hopes to partner with other nonprofits and community organizations in areas like back-to-school assistance and domestic violence programs. For example, she said, she worked with Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca and the United Way of Cayuga County this summer on a collaboration between her nonprofit's Holiday Helper Program and CAP's Christmas Elf.

Thanking the pantry's sponsors, donors, administrators and volunteers, Seastrom said she looks forward to more of that kind of collaboration in the community.

"I and my organization won't be gone completely," she said. "We will still be helping our community, just more behind the scenes and with others."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that there was "no difference" between Benjamin Netanyahu and Adolf Hitler as he stepped up his attacks on the Israeli leader over the war in Gaza.

"There is no difference between the actions of Netanyahu and Hitler," he said during a ceremony in the capital in Ankara.

"He (Netanyahu) is richer than Hitler. All kind of support comes from the West and the United States," Erdogan added.

The Turkish leader has lashed out repeatedly at Israel for the scale of death and destruction caused by its response to Hamas' unprecedented October 7 cross-border attack.

He has branded Israel a "terrorist state", Netanyahu "the butcher of Gaza" while calling Hamas "a liberation group".

Netanyahu lashed out at Erdogan's remarks.

"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 said in a statement.

Accusing Erdogan of praising and hosting Hamas leaders, Netanyahu defended Israel's military operation in Gaza.

Israel's army is "fighting to eliminate the most abhorrent and brutal terrorist organisation in the world," he said, referring to Hamas, adding that the group had "committed crimes against humanity".

Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel on October 7 and killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest Israeli figures.

Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages.

Israel retaliated with a relentless bombardment and a ground invasion in which at least 21,110 people have been killed, according to the latest toll issued by Gaza's health ministry.

Most of the dead are women and children, it said, with more than 55,000 people wounded.
The United Nations on Wednesday said it was deploying peacekeepers to northwestern Central African Republic, where 23 civilians were killed last week in a massacre blamed on rebels.

Fighters believed to be from the notorious 3R armed group attacked the village of Nzakoundou on December 21 and left 23 civilians dead, the UN said in a statement.

The village was torched and the population is thought to have "fled into the bush", it added.

An unspecified number of peacekeepers from the UN's force in the country, MINUSCA, is approaching the village with the aim of "strengthening security in the area and facilitating the access of humanitarian aid to the population".

Civil war has plagued the CAR, one of the world's poorest countries, since a Muslim-dominated armed coalition called the Seleka ousted former president Francois Bozize in 2013.

Bozize raised his own predominantly Christian and animist militias, known as the anti-Balaka, to regain power.

Civilians are often victims of the conflict, with the United Nations accusing all sides of perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The 3R is one of the most powerful of the armed groups and criminal gangs produced by the conflict, although fighting has become less intense in recent years.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera repelled a siege of the capital Bangui by a rebel coalition in late 2020 with the help of Russian paramilitaries, but some remote areas of the country remain outside government control.
The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) arrived Thursday in Ethiopia on the second stop of his first trip abroad since war erupted with Sudan's army in April.

Mohamed Hamdan Daglo's visits to Ethiopia and Uganda come as regional diplomats scramble to broker a meeting between the RSF commander and his rival, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The warring generals have not met face-to-face since the outbreak of fighting between their forces that has killed over 12,000 people by some conservative estimates, and forced million to flee.

The RSF leader met in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who said the pair discussed "securing peace and stability" in Sudan.

In a statement on X, Daglo said they "discussed the need to bring a swift end to this war, the historical crisis in Sudan, and how to best alleviate the hardships of the Sudanese people".

It followed another high-level meeting in Uganda on Wednesday when Daglo met with President Yoweri Museveni.

Daglo is also expected to visit Kenya in coming days, a source close to the RSF told AFP.

"After having visited Uganda and Ethiopia, Hemeti will go to Nairobi in order to try to rally the member states of IGAD to his cause before going to Djibouti to meet General al-Burhan," the source said, referring to Daglo by another commonly used name.

IGAD, a bloc representing eight countries in the wider East Africa region, has been trying to bring al-Burhan and Daglo together since war erupted on April 15.

On Wednesday, Djibouti's foreign ministry said a meeting between the rivals planned for December 28 had been "postponed to early January 2024 for technical reasons".

The UN Security Council last week voiced "alarm" at the growing violence in Sudan and the spread of fighting to areas previous considered a haven for those displaced by the conflict.

By the end of November, at least 12,190 people had been killed in the fighting, according to a conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict and Location Event Data project.

The United Nations says more than seven million people have been internally displaced by the war, while another 1.5 million have fled into neighbouring countries.

Both sides have been accused of war crimes.

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Lee Sun Kyun's last interview talked about his great love and passion for acting.

A media outlet, News Magazine Chicago, did an interview with the "Parasite" star two months before his passing.

Released on December 27, the outlet unveiled the last official interview of the late Lee Sun Kyun, which was filmed in downtown Chicago.

At that time, he was invited to the Asian Pop-Up Cinema to receive the Award for Excellent Achievement in Film.

In addition, the interview was also amid the actor's battle with drug allegations.

Lee Sun Kyun's Last Interview

As obtained by a local media outlet, the actor told News Magazine Chicago of his great love for acting.

Lee Sun Kyun, who has been in the industry for over 20 years, expressed how satisfied he was with how his career had progressed over the years.

According to him, "It's gone much better" than what he thought, and he was very thankful for the recognition he got from the award-winning movie "Parasite."

"I experienced things I couldn't have even dreamed of back then. I got to go to the Academy Awards and even won an award [for Parasite], and I received applause from Hollywood celebrities."

READ MORE: Lee Sun Kyun, Jeon Hye Jin's Son Leaves Korea Amid Actor's Scandal + Public Pours Support to the Kids

Moreover, he described the feeling as "very fulfilling" and felt "like a dream" for him.

Other than this, the 48-year-old star also dished on his driving passion in life, which was acting. He saw acting as not just a project but something that he wanted to "well" deliver with great results.

"In the past, I thought it was homework that was constantly given to me. I'm not a systematic person, so I don't review beforehand, but I aspire to do my homework well."

In addition, he also described acting like a "diary" to him, where he could happily look back at the things he has received and done in the past.

"I contemplated a bit today, and receiving this award feels like another page in the diary, piled up. So, when I look back, I can think, 'So far, what I've done isn't so bad. I've worked hard," he said, adding that the new journey means "another diary entry."

Lee Sun Kyun Revealed Plans

The award-winning actor was set to reprise his role as Go Se Won in the webtoon-based K-drama "Dr. Brain" season 2. However, Apple TV+ suspended the production of the upcoming series because of the actor's involvement in a drug controversy.

In Lee Sun Kyun's last interview, he mentioned receiving recognition at the Asian Pop-Up Cinema and expressed his thoughts about "not giving up and consistently working hard."

Moreover, he also mentioned starring in more projects and wanting to "continue creating one character after another in each work."

Lee Sun Kyun was found unconscious in a vehicle at a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on December 27. It was after his wife, Jeon Hye Jin, reported to police that he was missing after finding out what appeared to be a suicide note.

Celebrities like Lee Sung Min, Kim Nam Gil, Jeon Do Yeon, Ha Jung Wo, Lee Jung Jae, Jo Jung Suk, and more were spotted at his funeral held at the Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Kim Go Eun Mourns Lee Sun Kyun's Demise

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
"The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" star Lee Se Young opened up about her drama experiences, particularly in filming her kissing scenes.

Lee Se Young Recalls Being Nervous on Her First On-Screen Kiss Scene

In the December 28 episode of "DEX's Fridge Interview" on YouTube, Lee Se Young appeared as a guest. There, the actress shared more behind-the-scenes stories of her life in and out of the industry.

As their conversation jumped from one topic to another, the program's host Dex curiously asked the celebrity whether she has ever filmed kissing scenes.

Lee Se Young immediately replied:

"Of course I have! I did it a lot of times. My first one was in 'Dream of the Emperor' in 2012. I remember being super nervous."

Lee Se Young Reveals Preparation Before Filming Kissing Scenes

Dex also asked what kind of preparation "The Red Sleeve" star does before filming kiss scenes, which she then explained that before filming the intimate scenes, the actress would grab something to eat and share it with her co-star.

"As long as I give my kissing scene partner some of the food that I eat, then it's all good. We have both eaten the same food, so it's okay to resume kissing like that."

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' To Take One-Week Hiatus- Here's Why

Lee Se Young added that she filmed kissing scenes for five hours before. And at times like that, she would take some mints in between takes.

Lee Se Young Becomes Professional Kisser Due to Her K-Drama Experiences

Looking completely astounded, Dex responded:

"Five hours? You don't pretend to kiss for all that time, right?"

The actress then replied:

"Yes. Definitely. We have to kiss for real. There's nothing that cameras these days will miss. They are very advanced now; they can capture every detail."

The "Single's Inferno" star shared that he's worried that if he films too many kissing scenes, he'll eventually stop getting good feelings when he kisses.

Hearing his remark surprised Lee Se Young and said:

"What? No. Kissing is an act that gives you nice feelings. So, the more I film kissing scenes, the better it is!"

What's Next for Lee Se Young

Meanwhile, Lee Se Young currently stars in MBC's historical-romance series "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract." She plays the role of Park Yeon Woo, a Confucian lady from Joseon who loses her husband on her wedding and ends up traveling to South Korea in 2023. She gets entangled in a contract marriage with Kang Tae Ha (Bae In Hyuk), and her life starts to change.

In addition, Lee Se Young is confirmed to host the upcoming 2023 MBC Drama Awards, alongside Jun Hyun Moo and Dex.

The annual ceremony is expected to happen this December 29.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Episode 10: Will Bae In Hyuk Face His Demise?

What can you say about Lee Se Young'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.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 28, 2023, GAC Group, Guangzhou Development District ("GDD"), and The Fifth Electronics Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("CEPREI") officially inked a trilateral strategic cooperation framework, according to a press release from GAC Group. The collaboration aims to seize opportunities in the low-altitude economy and foster the development of the flying car industry.

Photo credit: GAC Group

Under the agreement, the three entities will jointly drive the advancement of the flying car industry and the low-altitude economy. Key initiatives include establishing a national-level flying car demonstration area, setting up a flying car innovation center, forming a flying car industry alliance, and creating a public service platform for low-altitude economic activities. Moreover, the partners will expand the applications of flying cars, leveraging the industrial and geographical advantages of Guangzhou to implement efficient logistics, high-end commerce, premium tourism, low-altitude public transportation, and smart city solutions in the Guangzhou and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area ("Greater Bay Area"), thus shaping a new paradigm for low-altitude economic development.

This collaboration holds great significance for Guangzhou's ambition to build a world-class autonomous aviation industry cluster and develop the low-altitude economy. With the rapid growth of manned low-altitude aircraft and low-altitude logistics in China, the low-altitude economy is gradually emerging as a new promising domain for industrial development and an economic growth hotspot.

Through this partnership, GAC Group will delve into the future of three-dimensional transportation ecosystems, utilizing its technological expertise in the flying car domain to drive the refinement of the upstream and downstream industry chains for manned low-altitude flight, said the auto group.

GAC Group added it has long been at the forefront of exploring flying cars and the low-altitude economy. At the 2023 GAC Tech Day held on June 26, the company unveiled its first flying car, GOVE (standing for "GAC, On the Go, Vertical, and EV,"), and conducted its global maiden flight. This innovative flying car features an advanced modular design, allowing the free separation or combination of the flight cabin and chassisa novel solution for three-dimensional travel. The GOVE made a stunning appearance at this event.

Looking ahead, GAC Group plans to launch a flying car demonstration operation plan by 2027, creating a model for intercity three-dimensional mobility in 2-3 cities within the Greater Bay Area. This ambitious initiative aims to realize a full-chain three-dimensional intelligent travel service encompassing "multiple stations - ground transportation - air transportation."
I couldnt even describe what it meant to be a spiritual person or put words to what spirituality is, yet I would be facilitating a class for MS1s on the importance of and how to take a spiritual history. I was looking for some thinking space; my girls kept telling me I should quit my job as a primary care physician and just bake, and there was something telling me I should bake some babka. The Jewish equivalent of a coffee cake, it could be a segue to sharing my own religious and spiritual background in class.

The first loaf, tasty but homely, we kept at home, sharing with neighbors in the spirit of community. The second babka would go to share in our small weekly course on clinical skills development. Barely a month into medical school, more a mentor than an instructor, I enjoyed fostering that spirit of collegiality early  I remembered those challenging times. Chocolate sugar cake can make it briefly slightly better.

The last babka needed to go into the break room in my clinic. What speaks to the spirit of a functional health care team more than a pastry in the break room as a temporary retreat from the ever-demanding and slowly collapsing world of primary care?

The summer sun already bore down in the triple digits as I plotted my walk to clinic, then grand rounds and back to school for class. Draped in my messenger bag for the clinicians ever-present laptop, two babkas, utensils, and leftover You Are Magical napkins, the sweat beaded down immediately as I walked the two blocks down the street.

I strode right past the entrance to the emergency room. I often see people there, still wrapped in temporary scrubs and wristbands, lying in the shadows, dispirited and lost. But what I had not seen before was a man in a wheelchair, arms outstretched, head fixed and gazing at the unforgiving clear August sky.

The Hey, buddys started pouring out, hoping for an answer that never came. I checked his wristband and started calling his name, glanced at his nearby discharge paperwork, frantically looking for some pearl that would fix this. I called 911 and waited on hold.

One minute. An older man walks past, straining to avoid eye contact. Two minutes. I am pacing. He breathes like a guppy  is this agonal breathing? His pulse is thready. I try to move him, but I cannot. I run to the ER and tell the security officers that he needs help. They have heard about him  he discharged earlier, and a cab was supposed to get him. Their jurisdiction for helping people ends at the bridge, and someone pushed his wheelchair two feet past it. They ask if I called 911, as I show them my phone, still on hold at 5 minutes.

Guys, he looks like he is dying, and he is too big for me to move him on my own.

They reluctantly talk to their supervisor. I return to check on my  patient? Fellow citizen/human? It is not a position I know how to describe well  trying to help someone as a passerby but feeling like all I can do is try to get others to help.

Three security officers walk sternly towards us. They do not want or need my medical opinion  they can see the gravity of it. They wheel him back towards the hospital in the same wheelchair they pushed him out in hours before. Two women walk by. They saw him earlier and told the security guards too.

Drenched in sweat and anger, I still did not know what being spiritual was, but I did not feel spirited. A disheveled, wet mess, I stomped into clinic with the babka, announced its arrival, and sat. People wanted to hear the story  several of them had seen the man in that same spot hours before on the way into work. Hours. The babka baked at 350 for 35 minutes. The man had been baking at 90 to 100 in the sun nearly naked for more than three hours, not fifty yards from an emergency room. People kept asking if he was homeless, as though that would change something about how they should feel.

At grand rounds, I found out the hospital was just named the most socially responsible hospital in the state. I tell the head hospitalist how recently discharged patients dying in front of the hospital thusly seems bad from a PR standpoint.

How do you take a spiritual history when someone cannot speak? A chaplain today augments our class and draws my story out  the students, only weeks into their courses, just stare. They see the entrance to the ER from our classroom. They had just broached the topic of inequity in the health care of those experiencing homelessness that morning. They wanted to know if he was homeless. They liked the babka.

After we finished reading bedtime stories that night, I checked with the hospitalist of the day to see what happened. He had been the one who discharged the man the night before. He had looked okay then. Now he was intubated and on vasopressors. He had not wanted to leave the hospital back to his encampment on the outskirts of town.

I think I learned that spirituality is a connection to something bigger than us, a group united in a cause bigger than one person. I could not find it in the eyes of all the people who passed by this man without helping. I always thought of spirit and spirituality as an ever-present force but did not appreciate the variability of its intensity. Spirit undulates, attracting people to the highs like a mountain top, but needing a little extra push to get through the lows. I am not sure I would have figured that out without the babka.

Scott Selinger is an internal medicine physician.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Zhejiang Geely Holding Group ("Geely Holding")'s Chairman Li Shufu delivered the New Year's speech for 2024 on December 29, reflecting on the achievements of Geely Holding in 2023 and outlining the development goals for 2024.

In 2023, Geely Holding's total sales are expected to reach nearly 2.8 million vehicles, a growth of nearly 20% compared to the previous year, with a penetration rate of new energy vehicles approaching one-third. Li Shufu affirmed Geely's commitment to accelerating the vehicles transition towards intelligence and electrification in 2024 to provide users worldwide with an unparalleled travel experience.

Photo credit: Geely Galaxy E8

In the highly competitive automotive industry of 2023, marked by industrial chain adjustments and ecosystem restructuring, Geely Holding demonstrated robust and high-quality development through the resolute transformation toward new energy intelligence. Li Shufu emphasized the collective determination of Geely and its subsidiary brands to embrace the challenges of the industry shift, showcasing a steady upward trajectory driven by accumulated strength and confidence.

Throughout 2023, Geely Holding achieved significant breakthroughs in the field of new energy vehicles, satisfying user demands for high-quality innovative products and personalized services. The launch of models such as the Geely Galaxy E8, the ZEEKR X, the ZEEKR 007, the Volvo EX30, the EM90, the Polestar 3, 4, the smart #3, the Lotus Emeya, and the Farizon Hometruck Xinghan H demonstrated Geely's innovation capabilities in the electric vehicle sector.

Li Shufu added the intelligent new energy revolution is gaining momentum, and innovation is the driving force for sustainable development. Geely continues to intensify innovation in cutting-edge technology fields such as automotive safety, green development, human-machine interaction, intelligent driving, in-vehicle chips, and low-orbit satellites, seizing the industry's high ground in innovation. The fruitful results of Geely's exploration in the innovation domain include innovations from the new-generation NordThor hybrid technology to the LYNK & CO super range extension technology, the installation of China's first self-developed 7nm automotive-grade intelligent cockpit chip, as well as the launch of the Xingrui Intelligent Computing Center, the self-developed Aegis battery safety system, and the Golden Brick battery that offers 500km of range in 15 minutes of charging.

Li Shufu noted that 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the "Belt and Road" initiative, a significant year for Geely's coordinated development globalization, regionalization, and localization. Geely Holding has continuously strengthened its collaborative development capabilities across regions such as China, Europe, and ASEAN, earning opportunities and reputation in critical global markets. Geely empowered Proton to advance in new energy vehicle transformation and accelerated the construction of the Automotive High-Tech Valley (AHTV) project in Malaysia. It signed an agreement with Renault Group to build a joint venture. Besides, Polestar had formed a joint venture with Xingji Meizu to build an operating system for Polestar cars sold in China that will offer the latest smart technologies in its vehicles.

Despite China's leading position in the global wave of new energy vehicles, Li Shufu urged a continual sense of humility, acknowledging the evolving and rapidly changing world. He said, in 2024, Geely will persist in accelerating the intelligent new energy vehicle transition, systematically building advantages and capabilities in intelligent connectivity, intelligent driving, EV charging and battery swapping, energy management, smart mobility, and industrial internet. Li Shufu also stressed the importance of maintaining an open collaborative approach, working with global partners to create the ultimate travel experience for users worldwide.
First Lady, Janet Museveni, has tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms following a family Christmas lunch. President Yoweri Museveni confirmed the news on his X platform (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, sharing details of their experience and steps taken to manage the situation.

According to President Museveni, Janet began feeling unwell on Christmas Day with a sandy feeling in her throat.

The tests came back negative by afternoon. We, therefore, decided for Maama to self- isolate in one of the houses at Rwakyitura while I continue with the programmes that we had arranged but not ones where Maama was involved, Musevenis post reads in part.

Although a rapid COVID test initially came back negative, a PCR test conducted later confirmed the diagnosis.

The President himself tested negative despite sharing close contact with his wife, including meals, car rides, and living quarters. He attributes this to his own previous battle with COVID-19 in May 2023, which could have provided temporary immunity.

The First Lady, described as a first-time corona warrior by the President, is currently self-isolating at one of their residences in Rwakyitura. While experiencing some mild symptoms like weakness and occasional headaches, she is reportedly doing well and receiving treatment.
Motorists along the Kampala-Entebbe expressway have so far paid a total of Shs75 billion in toll fees since the commencement of the exercise on 8th January 2022 by Egis Road Operation.

According to an update by the Kampala Entebbe Expressway management via their official X-handle ((@KEE_UG), All tolling revenue is collected and immediately passed to the UNRA account, which directly credits the consolidated account of Uganda. Egis is Paid separately by UNRA to operate and maintain the Kampala Entebbe Expressway.

In its first year of managing and operating the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, Egis Road Operation collected about Shs34 billion in toll fees.

Motorists on the expressway pay between Shs5,000 and Shs18,000 depending on the size of their vehicle.

Egis Road Operation, an international group in the construction, engineering, and mobility services was awarded a contract by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to maintain the expressway.

The government of Uganda acquired a USD350 million loan from the Exim Bank of China in May 2011, to finance the construction of the 51.4km Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.

Works Minister Gen Katumba Wamala has since revealed that part of the toll fee collection cash will be used to finance the loan, fund security along with ambulance and breakdown services, and routine road maintenance along the Expressway.
By Barbra Nalweyiso

The Wamala regional police commander, Stephen Onencan, has appealed to the general public to stay vigilant ahead of New Year celebrations.

He expressed concern about drunk driving, saying high New Years spirits can lead to irresponsible behavior, including driving under the influence before urging everyone to celebrate responsibly.

Onencan says with excitement focused on festivities, some parents may neglect their responsibilities, leaving children unattended at home. He cautioned against this practice and reminded parents of their duty to ensure their childrens safety.

My appeal to the people as we reach the new year is that they should be cautious of themselves and they should not leave their children out minus the control of adults to roam around, he said.

Meanwhile, he maintains that several places in Wamala region have been cleared for fireworks display and are ready to deploy police officers in all cleared places in the region.
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The significance of home nursing services in Hyderabad: Compassion at Home
In recent years, Bengbu City in Anhui has adhered to technological innovation as the driving force, accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system, and achieved high-quality economic transformation. In the first 10 months of this year, Bengbu's economic and social development momentum was strong, with new manufacturing investment and industrial investment increasing by 30.2% and 12.9% respectively. "What truly touched me about Bengbu is its sincerity and pragmatism. From land to factory construction, as well as support in employment, financing, and a series of other aspects, we were deeply moved." said Zhu Shengli, the general manager of Anhui Dequan New Material Technology Co., Ltd.. Zhu Shengli is a native of Anhui Province and has been working in Jiangsu Province. In 2018, Anhui Dequan New Material Technology Co., Ltd. was introduced through investment promotion and settled in Bengshan District, and Zhu Shengli also returned to Anhui. The first phase of the company's project was completed and put into operation in March 2019, with an output value exceeding 100 million yuan that year. The second phase of the project started construction in October 2021 and was put into operation in December 2022, with an output value of approximately 190 million yuan in 2022.

Source: anhuinews.com


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.

Chery Holding's annual revenue surpasses 300 billion yuan in 2023

Chery Holding saw its annual revenue exceed 300 billion yuan for the first time in 2023 and its annual sales volume is expected to be around 1.9 million vehicles, according to the New Year's speech delivered by Yin Tongyue, chairman of Chery Holding.

Photo credit: Chery Automobile

Great Wall Motor's whole-year overseas sales exceed 300,000 vehicles for first time

Great Wall Motor announced on December 29 its annual sales topped 300,000 vehicles for its overseas markets in 2023, surpassing the 300,000-unit mark for the first time.

WeRide granted approval for commercial paid operation of Robobuses in Guangzhou city

On December 30, the Level 4 autonomous driving technology developer WeRide, in collaboration with Guangzhou Bus Group, officially launched commercial operations for autonomous driving buses (Robobuses) with paid services. The partnership obtained the qualification for the demonstration and application of intelligent connected vehicles in Huangpu District, Guangzhou, on December 21, allowing them to conduct commercial paid operations for autonomous microcirculation buses (Robobus).

Geely Holding forecasts nearly 20% YoY jump in 2023 annual auto sales

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group ("Geely Holding")'s Chairman Li Shufu delivered the New Year's speech for 2024 on December 29, reflecting on the achievements of Geely Holding in 2023 and outlining the development goals for 2024.

Chery Fulwin T9 plug-in hybrid electric SUV rolls off line

Fulwin, the new energy vehicle range of Chery, saw the first T9 vehicle roll off the assembly line at the Chery Qingdao intelligent factory on December 28.

GAC Group, GDD, CEPREI team up to boost flying car industry development

On December 28, 2023, GAC Group, Guangzhou Development District ("GDD"), and The Fifth Electronics Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("CEPREI") officially inked a trilateral strategic cooperation framework, according to a press release from GAC Group. The collaboration aims to seize opportunities in the low-altitude economy and foster the development of the flying car industry.

GAC Energy plans to build 10 thousand 1,000V supercharging terminals in 2024

On December 28, the Hyper Super EV Charging and Battery Swapping Center by GAC Energy, a subsidiary of GAC Group, officially opened its doors at Jiangbeizui in Chongqing city, according to a press release from GAC Energy.

Gotion High-tech rolls off first battery pack produced at Fremont Factory

On December 29, Chinese power battery maker Gotion High-tech officially announced that its inaugural made-in-USA battery pack product rolled off the production line at the Fremont factory on December 21.

Ji Yue expands urban intelligent driving function coverage to Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou

Ji Yue, the automotive robot brand jointly developed by Baidu and Geely, announced on December 28 the expanded coverage of its advanced urban intelligent driving capabilities to three more cities, namely, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.

SERES secures L3 autonomous vehicle road test licenses in Chongqing, Shenzhen

On December 29, Huawei's automaking partner SERES announced that it has secured L3 autonomous vehicle test licenses in both Chongqing and Shenzhen cities.

Flagchip, Uni-Sentry team up in vehicle controller information security protection field

Chinese automotive chip developer Flagchip inked a strategic agreement with Uni-Sentry focusing on the core layer of vehicle controller information security protection and an in-depth defense system for overall vehicle information security.
ABOVE: Two-time European indoor champion David Gillick was a special guest at the Kilkenny parkrun, which celebrated the parkrun and Vhi partnership. It was also a special day for long-time participant Angela Lalor, who completed her 200th parkrun

The number of people accessing emergency accommodation in Kilkenny recently jumped from 34 to 40, according to the Department of Housing.

This latest increase was recorded during the last full week of March, when the ban on evictions was still in place

Kilkenny Castle soared past some incredible competition to take the title of the most popular paid visitor attraction managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in Ireland.

The landmark topped the pile in a field including the Rock of Cashel, Kilmainham Gaol, Clonmacnoise and Dublin Castle.

According to the OPW, visitor numbers at the Kilkenny attraction soared from 900,000 in 2021 to 1,418,171 in 2022.

The family of a woman who died following a massive post-partum haemorrhage at St Lukes Hospital called for an inquiry into maternity services at the hospital.

Tracey Campbell Fitzpatrick bled to death at St Lukes following repeated phone calls to an on-call consultant to attend to her. The consultant was on call in the early hours of March 28, 2016 when he was called on three occasions by a senior midwife.

The familys call for an inquiry came in the wake of a number of other incidents relating to womens healthcare.

There was no clear objective to deliver a South East Technological University (SETU) student campus in Kilkenny City contained within the SETU Strategic Plan 2023-2028.

Mayor of Kilkenny, David Fitzgerald, described the plan as very disappointing from a Kilkenny perspective.

A new Academy of Jewellery and Goldsmithing Centre of Excellence opened in Thomastown.

The Sessions House building, a former courthouse in the centre of Thomastown has been transformed into a new home for the jewellery academy.

It was officially opened by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys.
A fundraiser has been launched to raise money for a Donegal man and his family after he was recently diagnosed with two brain tumours in Saudi Arabia.

Jordan Byrne, from Killybegs, is 25 years old and moved to Saudi Arabia to further his nursing career in November 2023. He was admitted to hospital for Meningitis treatment on December 6 and after an MRI, a CT scan and further tests they discovered the tumours.

You can donate to Jordan's GoFundMe, by clicking here

Jordan is a male nurse who has given so much to so many in his nursing career, his aunt Angela McCarthy posted on GoFundMe. "He worked in the hospital during the multiple waves of the pandemic.

"Jordan is going to undergo radiation treatment in Saudi Arabia and his parents Fiona and Aidan Byrne are travelling over to Saudi Arabia to be with him for his treatments.

"This page will help cover any medical costs and travel-related expenses for Jordan and his family. Any help you can give, no matter how little would mean the world to them. Thank you all for your prayers, love and concern to date.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 28, the Hyper Super EV Charging and Battery Swapping Center by GAC Energy, a subsidiary of GAC Group, officially opened its doors at Jiangbeizui in Chongqing city, according to a press release from GAC Energy.

Photo credit: GAC Energy

The completion of this facility signifies the full-scale initiation of GAC Energy's "High-Quality Charging Action" in the 2.0 era of the energy replenishment system. This move is a profound embodiment of GAC Group's 2 Energy Action, aiming to establish a new energy ecosystem with the flexibility of EV charging, battery swapping, purchasable, and salable electricity in a "1+N" scenario.

Photo credit: GAC Energy

In tandem with this development, GAC Energy unveiled its 2024 "Ten Thousand Stations Plan." This strategic initiative, focused on urban and inter-city areas nationwide, is set to establish 1,000V high-voltage platform supercharging terminals, starting with a goal of 10,000 and no upper limit. The plan aims to surpass one million private charging station users by 2024, ensuring orderly charging, constructing an energy trading platform, and promoting the use of new energy for electric vehicles.

Building on the efforts of GAC Energy, GAC AION remains committed to EV+ICV two-pronged technological innovation. With the powerful entry of its premium Hyper brand, the electric supercar, the Hyper SSR, was delivered as scheduled. Models like the Hyper GT and HT have hit the market, earning high user recognition. It unveiled the "Fast, Broad, Nearby + V2G" dual-action plan at the Auto Shanghai 2023 on April 18, emphasizing the parallel development of private and public charging stations. This forms a comprehensive energy replenishment pattern of "Super Charging + Rapid Battery Swapping" with nationwide coverage through major cities and a network spanning highways.

In the realm of R&D, GAC Energy rapidly enhances the quality of energy replenishment services. Its in-house developed H640 liquid-cooled supercharging station boasts a single-pile output power of 640kW and a current of 800A, supporting ultra-fast 6C charging. This allows users to enjoy a 600+ km range in just 10 minutes of charging and a 2-minute rapid swapping experience.

Strategically cooperating with Southwest Securities Innovation Investment Co., Ltd., GAC Energy established the first comprehensive energy flagship station integrating "Charging, Battery Swapping, EnergyStorage, V2G + Diversified Services." This station not only offers supercharging, rapid swapping, and energy storage services, but also includes an exhibition hall, leisure spaces, and coffee facilities. Additionally, it facilitates V2G (vehicle-to-grid) bidirectional energy flow for vehicles, promoting exemplary V2G operations and successfully creating an integrated scenario of users, vehicles, energy, and lifestyle.

Aligning with GAC Group's internationalization strategy, an international energy strategy has been formulated, with GAC AION's factory in Thailand under construction. GAC Energy targets Southeast Asia as its initial focus for international expansion, providing green energy and intelligent charging solutions for local users.
LAS VEGASPeterFever has announced its latest series, 2069: The Military InFILLtration.

The latest big-budget series from PeterFever brings suspense, erotic action and comedy hijinks to a vision of a dystopian future. Set in a future where LGBT forces unite to claim and protect their enclave in the state of Georgia, 2069: The Military InFILLtration uses a mix of new and seasoned adult performers to play out its horny twists of political intrigue through episodes of 4K bareback sex. The story revolves around three young gay revolutionaries guarding a border outpost of the Georgia homeland when a handsome hung stranger breaches their defenses. 2069: The Military InFILLtration is currently unveiling its four-episode run at PeterFever.com with its introductory trailer available for viewing here.

The diverse cast combines experience and enthusiasm. Proudly bisexual adult entertainer and music producer Tony Genius is currently nominated in multiple industry award categories. Asian muscle power top Jay Wu has a new roster of performances under his belt, adding this first series for PeterFever. TikTok star Ander Wolfson has built a solid library of scenes for several prominent gay studios and is performing in his first PeterFever series. And Pierce Brooks is brand new to the porn industry, making a splash with his first foray at PeterFever.

Lensed at Augusta, Georgias famed Metropolis Complex gay resort, the venue accorded the cast and crew the opportunity to host a special CumUnion party with a model meet-and-greet after the series shoot week. PeterFever will be returning in the summer of 2024 for more series creation and parties. The relaxed mood at Metropolis inspired series creators to let themselves explore new avenues for the futuristic story.

Director Guy Criss explained, This movie allowed us to experiment a little with different styles and lighting. We mixed a serious, hardcore storyline worthy of a suspense film with some light-hearted comedy. The interrogation scene makes you feel as if you're in the room with dim lighting, strong and sometimes blurred movements of the camera, and at times excessive shadows to give it a feel of being confused while being interrogated. I even got to fulfill a fantasy of mine by doing a tribute to Benny Hill with a high-speed, slapstick chase at the end of the first episode. The acting is amazing from all four of our guys in this one. I couldn't have asked for a better project or talent."

Producer and screenwriter Danny Zeeman, CEO of zBUCKz/WebMediaProz, stated, "I don't say this lightly, but 2069 is a movie that really has it all. Hot actors, great locations, rough fetish sex, yet still with our characteristic PeterFever comedy. The actors took the script to a whole new level and really shone, bringing the movie to life beyond all our expectations. With phenomenal directing and editing as well, I think this may be our best PeterFever movie ever and deserves to be a gay porn classic!"

Marketing manager Nolan Knox agreed, Everyone was professional, friendly, and adaptable during the whole process, which made this one of the best productions that I've been involved in. I hope that everyone who watches this series will love it as much as we loved putting it together.

The first scene of the four-episode series, starring Tony Genius and newcomer Pierce Brooks, premieres this holiday week, and 2069 will continue releasing through January at PeterFever.com.
Shalom Kiwi points out a few facts as a Green MP is about to fly to the middle east (never mind the greenhouse gas emissions) to protest the marine blockade of Gaze.

Jews are indigenous to Israel Gaza is ruled by Hamas, a fundamentalist terror organisation with a genocidal purpose human rights are not high on Hamas' agenda  women are not allowed in public without a male relative Aid is often diverted to terror or misappropriated by millionaire Gazans The blockade is legal and attempting to breach it is reckless: UN Egypt borders Gaza and blockades more restrictively than Israel Israel is working to help Gazans This is not the path to peace or helping Palestinians The greens are keeping bad company

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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.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.A new lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a woman identified as Jane Doe 7105, naming the parent company of the Rainbow Bar & Grill for developing an environment that allowed disgraced porn star Ron Jeremy to assault her.

Rockin' Horse Inc., owner of the bar and grill on the Sunset Strip, is accused of facilitating an environment to "conceal and ratify his illegal behavior." The lawsuit is the fourth of its kind brought by unnamed women who claim the restaurant allowed the porn star to assault them, reports Rolling Stone culture writer CT Jones.

AVN reported in late August that two women claimed the actor had sexually assaulted them at the Rainbow Bar & Grill. They are suing for "negligence in maintaining a safe environment for their female patrons."

In November, a judge approved a request for Jeremy to be released from prison to a private residence for round-the-clock medical care.

In emails between case stakeholders seen by the Los Angeles Times, Jeremy was granted medical release on the grounds of deteriorating health.

This comes after a court declared him mentally incompetent to stand trial for more than 30 counts of felony sexual assault.

Suffering from severe dementia, Jeremy was ordered under the supervision of a conservator. He's remained incarcerated at a men's jail in Los Angeles County, awaiting admittance into a state mental hospital for treatment.

Jeremy, 70, has seen a dramatic decline in his health for much of the case against him.

The email seen by the Times states that Jeremy will require round the clock medical care after it was determined that no medical facility will take him.

Jeremy was indicted on 34 charges of sexual assault in 2021 for crimes committed over a 23-year span.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Immigrants wait to be processed at a U.S. Border Patrol transit center after they crossed the border from Mexico on December 20, in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Civeo Co. (NYSE:CVEO  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $21.96 and traded as high as $23.77. Civeo shares last traded at $23.51, with a volume of 51,987 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on CVEO shares. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Civeo from $31.00 to $30.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 30th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Civeo from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 30th.

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Get Our Latest Stock Report on CVEO

Civeo Stock Down 1.3 %

The firms fifty day moving average price is $22.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.41. The company has a market capitalization of $343.73 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -28.43 and a beta of 2.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.47.

Civeo (NYSE:CVEO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 27th. The business services provider reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.40. The company had revenue of $183.57 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $166.74 million. Civeo had a negative net margin of 0.80% and a negative return on equity of 0.35%. Sell-side analysts expect that Civeo Co. will post 0.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Civeo Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 27th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 24th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.29%. Civeos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -121.95%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Civeo

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Civeo by 10.2% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 446,000 shares of the business services providers stock worth $9,246,000 after acquiring an additional 41,300 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Civeo by 9.0% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 125,012 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,591,000 after acquiring an additional 10,361 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Civeo in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Civeo by 47.9% in the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 23,547 shares of the business services providers stock worth $488,000 after acquiring an additional 7,622 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Civeo by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,206,052 shares of the business services providers stock worth $25,001,000 after acquiring an additional 51,400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.44% of the companys stock.

Civeo Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Civeo Corporation provides hospitality services to the natural resource industry in Canada, Australia, and the United States. The company develops lodges and villages; and mobile assets, including modular, skid-mounted accommodation, and central facilities that provide short to medium-term accommodation needs.

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LOS ANGELESEuropean adult network AdultPrime.com takes viewers to the tropics with new studio Arousins, which marks the 137th label to join the network.

Updated weekly, Arousins follows the sexy adventures of Jason Love with beautiful models in exotic locations around the world, from a boat trip in Greece to the beaches of the Seychelles, the tropical island of Mauritius and the most beautiful holiday spots in Italy.

We are always looking to add new studios to our network, said Roald Riepen of AdultPrime parent compnay IMC, and since our studio SummerSinners is so very popular, we wanted to add some more sunny videos. The Arousins content is exactly what we were looking for!

Like all of IMCs paysites, Arousins.com can be promoted through the Paybig affiliate program.

For more information, visit www.paybig.com or contact [email protected].
MPS Loria Financial Planners LLC reduced its holdings in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 9.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,658 shares of the companys stock after selling 391 shares during the period. MPS Loria Financial Planners LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $205,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Coca-Cola by 103,297.9% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 57,734,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,672,479,000 after purchasing an additional 57,678,466 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter valued at about $2,937,315,000. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Coca-Cola by 15.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 79,101,856 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,031,669,000 after purchasing an additional 10,722,435 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Coca-Cola by 164.7% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 14,430,093 shares of the companys stock valued at $868,981,000 after purchasing an additional 8,979,379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in Coca-Cola during the 2nd quarter valued at about $429,854,000. 68.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Coca-Cola

In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,028 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.06, for a total value of $5,435,173.68. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,136,766.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,028 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.06, for a total transaction of $5,435,173.68. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,136,766.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 20,534 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.12, for a total transaction of $1,152,368.08. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,046,653.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 349,315 shares of company stock valued at $19,805,715. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently commented on KO. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Coca-Cola from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $59.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.20.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Price Performance

NYSE:KO traded up $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $58.81. 3,710,198 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,730,824. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1 year low of $51.55 and a 1 year high of $64.99. The company has a market cap of $254.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 0.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $57.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.68.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly 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. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 23.92% and a return on equity of 42.44%. The business had revenue of $11.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.45 billion. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st were issued a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 30th. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.90%.

Coca-Cola Company 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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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report).

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

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Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Watching a potential winter storm. Cloudy skies. Low 26F. SSW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
Angola, IN (46703)

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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..

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Watching a potential winter storm. Cloudy. Low 26F. SW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
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In an unexpected twist of fate, VERSACE ambassadors and K-pop sensations Hyunjin from Stray Kids and NingNing from aespa recently joined forces for a mesmerizing visual spectacle in their second public interaction.

Unexpected Dance Harmony: A Surprise Reunion

The rendezvous took an unexpected turn when Hyunjin inadvertently crashed a dance challenge video featuring NCT's Taeyong and aespa's NingNing and Giselle, leaving fans speculating about the possibility of a spoiler.

lmao hyunjin suddenly appearing and hiding when he saw taeyong and aespa filming drama challenge pic.twitter.com/OUGbAX5tzH    (semi rest) (@_franandrea) December 28, 2023

Confirming suspicions, aespa's official channels surprised fans on December 29, 2023, with a captivating video showcasing Hyunjin and NingNing flawlessly executing the choreography of "Drama" together.

Perfect Synchronization: A Dance Display to Remember

Hyunjin's impeccable execution of each dance move added to the allure of the performance, creating a harmonious visual treat for fans. Notably, the duo even sported similar attire, further emphasizing their synchronicity and shared enthusiasm for the collaboration.

For a front-row seat to the dazzling display, check out the full video below.

READ ALSO: [WATCH] aespa Giselle & Ningning Set the Dance World Ablaze with their NCT-Inspired Taeyong Challenge

Versatile Ambassadors: Beyond Fashion

This unexpected collaboration not only showcased the duo's dance prowess but also highlighted their role as ambassadors for the prestigious fashion house, VERSACE.

The luxury brand has enlisted Hyunjin and NingNing to represent its iconic image, a partnership that has brought about not only stunning visuals but also unexpected and delightful surprises for fans.

Celebrity Companionship: From W Magazine to Dance Floors

The duo's partnership extends beyond dance floors, as they were previously spotted seated together at W Magazine's Love Your W party. Their presence at the high-profile event fueled speculation about the depth of their friendship, leaving fans pleasantly surprised by the unexpected camaraderie between the two ambassadors.

Fans expressed their joy and admiration for the dynamic duo, reveling in the unexpected friendship between Hyunjin and NingNing. The positive response suggests that the two ambassadors have become better friends than anticipated, further enhancing their appeal as a collaborative force.

they seem close AKA they had a versace schedule together AKA versace ambassador announcement soon???? https://t.co/dUICvS78Hn pic.twitter.com/m3SeZCuAE1   (@aespapill) December 29, 2023

Social Media Seal of Approval: NingNing's INFP Connection

To cement the moment, NingNing shared the video on her personal Instagram stories, captioning it with "INFPs." This behind-the-scenes glimpse into their personalities added a personal touch to the collaboration, resonating with fans on a deeper level.

In conclusion, the reunion of VERSACE ambassadors Hyunjin and NingNing transcended expectations, delivering a visual extravaganza that left fans elated. The unexpected dance collaboration not only showcased their talent but also solidified their status as a dynamic duo, bringing joy to fans of both Stray Kids and aespa.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Aespa NingNing Blushes Profusely Due to Giselle's Surprising Behavior - Cameras Caught It All

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KpopStarz own this article.

Cassidy Jones wrote this.
SHREVEPORT, La. - Two juvenile escapees from group homes, Jordan Cannon and Anthony Mandigo, Jr., are back behind bars and moving through the 
I grew up in Billings, and when I graduated from high school, I swore I'd never live here again.

Call it high school snobbery if you'd like (it mostly was) but something about Billings just didn't connect with me back then. I moved away for college and figured my hometown would always be a footnote.

And then a funny thing happened. After nearly a decade away, I moved back. All it took was a global pandemic that destroyed the job market and any future prospects I had.

And then an even funnier thing happened. I learned that I really love Billings. It's a funny thing, to be a grown-up in the city you were once a child in. You soon discover that when you're able and willing to actually do things, it's a pretty fun spot.

Billings isn't perfect, but our arts community here is tight-knit but welcoming, ambitious but rarely pretentious. Every day I'm grateful to get to cover it, and to be a small part of it.

With that in mind, I wanted to close out 2023 by looking back at some of my favorite arts stories from the year.

The Gazette becomes a movie set

'Blood for Dust' braves the cold for Billings film shoot The movie, which stars Kit Harington, Scoot McNairy and Josh Lucas, shot all around Billings, including Planet Lockwood, Andys Bar, PAYS Auction Yard, Big Sky VCR, and the 1145 Club.

Last December, I walked into my office at the Billings Gazette building and immediately got shushed.

That's because they were filming "Blood For Dust," a grimy little indie thriller starring Scoot McNairy and Kit Harington, in the cavernous upstairs of the Gazette office. The movie is set in the early 1990s, and when the location scouts showed up at our building, their eyes went starry. I doubt the carpets in here have been changed during my lifetime.

They shot all over Billings and into Red Lodge and other surrounding towns, and the Gazette shoot only took a day.

The shushing aside, everyone in the crew was very accommodating (they were in our building after all). I had a great interview with one of the movie's producers, Noah Lang (son of Stephen Lang, the guy who almost gets his head made into a canoe in "Tombstone" as is one of the 21st century's greatest villains in the "Avatar movies"). And yes, Harington did eventually show up, filming one scene in the Gazette. Our staff stayed hours after we'd usually leave, and huddled in a corner to watch him act.

'Blood for Dust' puts Billings in as good a light as a crime thriller can The movie, which stars Kit Harington and Scoot McNairy and shot in and around Billings last winter, had its Montana premiere at the Roxy Theatre in Missoula Friday night.

But the thing that sticks with me about "Blood For Dust" isn't the movie stars, who were only on set for a few minutes. It's the crew, who diligently worked from before I got there until well after I'd gone home. Their names aren't on the posters, they don't walk the red carpet. But the entire thing falls apart if they're not there and at their best. If you see a movie get made, you start sitting through the credits.

Which is what I wound up doing when I got to see the movie in October, where it made its Montana premiere at the Montana Film Festival in Missoula. It's still on the festival circuit for now, but I hope Billings folks get a chance to see it sometime in 2024. Watching a movie where you can pick out each location is like watching two movies at once: the actual film you're seeing, and the behind the scenes documentary you're making in your head.

The YAM keeps setting the standard

YAM admission will be free for next three years Thanks to a donation from a pair of Billings artists and, of all people, the heir to the Walmart fortune, the museum will not be charging starting on Friday.

I returned to the Yellowstone Art Museum many times this year. Sometimes to write about specific installations, like I did with Christine Joy's incredible willow sculptures, or Michele Corriel's book and exhibition about the modernists who redefined Montana art.

But often I just go to the YAM to walk aimlessly and see what's new. There's no better way to cure writer's block than to fully immerse yourself in creativity.

And in 2023, it became easier than ever to wander aimlessly in the YAM. In October, the museum announced that they'd be waiving their admissions fees for at least the next three years. The YAM is now free, no questions asked. You can go anytime you want. You can go every day.

That's how you create a community in touch with its creative side. By knocking down barriers that usually keep people away from museums, the largest and grandest contemporary art museum in Montana got even larger and grander.

Electric Storm Gallery starts with a spark

'Welcome home:' New Billings art gallery stresses experimentation, community At only 24, Taylor Evans is an artist, is getting her master's from Johns Hopkins, works at the YAM and just opened the Electric Storm Gallery on North 24th Street.

But the YAM isn't the only game in town. Just down the street is Electric Storm Gallery. Located across the street from Tiny's Tavern, the space, which opened in February, is run by Taylor Evans. Evans, who is running this place while she's simultaneously getting her master's degree from Johns Hopkins, is a real wunderkind. She uses Electric Storm both as a studio  she's always working on something new whenever I swing by  and as a display space, filled with her own work and a slate of grand, experimental pieces you won't see anywhere else in Billings.

Kirks' is still Billings best grocery store

When I went to Kirks' Grocery this fall to chat with the gallery and event space's owner Shane de Leon, I was planning to write a nice, feel-good story about Kirks' crossing its fifth anniversary. They were planning a 24-hour party to mark the occasion.

But Shane and I wound up having a much deeper and well rounded conversation that led with him speculating that in five more years, he wasn't sure if he'd want to (or even need to) still be a part of Kirks'.

Kirks' Grocery is starting to outgrow Shane de Leon, which is exactly what he wants The Minnesota Avenue art gallery, music venue, event space, whatever-you-want-it-to-be turns five this weekend. They're celebrating with a 24 hour party on Friday and Saturday, commemorating the past and future.

That's not out of laziness or anything like that, although we did talk frankly about how difficult it can be to keep a place like this, that runs on a razor thin budget, open. Rather, de Leon is looking at a future Billings that is full of people in our community who are helping each other. It's a future that Kirks' has helped build.

Kirks' is many things  an art gallery, a punk rock venue, a screening room for old b-movies, a record shop, a pop-up restaurant  but it is Billings through and through. Every time I'm there, the place is packed, often with high school kids. And I'm a little jealous of them. If places like this were around when I was in school, I wouldn't have been so quick to leave.

The rise of Juliette Angelo

From Hollywood to Huntley: Juliette Angelo is ready to speak  and sing  her peace Angelo, who is performing a Patsy Cline tribute show on Saturday, is a former child actor. Montana is helping her find the solace she's always searched for.

I have to give some credit here to James Goosen, the Gazette's wonderful copy editor. This summer, he asked me if I'd seen the posters for the Patsy Cline tribute show that was happening at new venue in Huntley. I hadn't heard of it, and I know I hadn't heard of it because that's not something you'd forget.

Shortly afterwards I sat down with Juliette Angelo, who performed the Patsy show, and found out about her wild backstory. Long story short, Angelo was on Broadway by the time she was 8, network TV by 12, and burned out and barely hanging on by her early 20s.

She wound up Billings almost by accident less than a year ago. And she almost immediately took off. Angelo started in bars, but after that Patsy Cline show, she's played the Metra and headlined the Pub Station. And if you see her sing, you get it.

The return of the Art House

The Art House strikes back: Downtown theater is back and better than ever Art House now boasts three screens, room for events and live music, as well as a pub and restaurant. They're holding a preview night on Thursday, and start showings Friday.

My least favorite thing that happened this year in Billings is the Art House Cinema and Pub closed in March for expansion. But my favorite thing that happened in Billings this year is that the newly expanded Art House Cinema and Pub reopened in November.

At one screen, this place was paradise, a monument to arts and culture located right downtown. Now with three screens, and a full pub, and a restaurant, it's simply divine. The Art House is now the best place in Montana to see a movie, and one of the best places anywhere to engage with art. When that marquee lights up, the mood in downtown Billings changes.

The best of the rest

I need to start wrapping this up, but I can't go without shouting out a few more favorites from the last year.

This spring, Veronika Gerasimova of Veronkia's Pastry Shop was named one of five semifinalists for Outstanding Pastry Chef at the James Beard Awards. You only need to taste one of her magical creations to find out why, but get there early  she's usually sold out by mid-morning.

I've seen Jason Isbell eight times (ninth show should be in Missoula next summer) but I've never heard him sound better than he did at the Alberta Bair Theater in March. The show was so good that even a fight breaking out on the floor didn't ruin the vibes.

I got to sit in on a production from the MorningStar Readers Theater, a troupe of 11 actors, all of whom are at least in their 80s. Jokes about retirement homes hit a lot different when they're being delivered in retirement homes.

Gilda House, one of my favorite Billings bands, got ambitious this year and released "BE EDISE," a song-by-song response to their 2021 EP "AB Side A."

My favorite concert of the year was somehow Lil Wayne (!) performing in front of a packed crowd (!!) at the Metra (!!!). One of those shows I'll be thinking about for a long time.

The best kind of the story is the one you don't set out to write. That's what happened with this piece about Don Waite, who grew up in tiny Utica, Montana, and has spent the last 20 years building a sort of monument, sort of museum, sort of tribute to the area's history. I was in the area to write about Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, and when Waite saw me wandering around with my camera, he stopped to ask if I wanted to see what he'd been working on. And I'm glad he did. I'll never see a Charlie Russell painting without thinking of him. Let that be a lesson  always talk to the awkward guy milling about with a camera and a notepad.
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Dakota Adams used to believe in the impending apocalypse. But when the repeated promises of societal meltdown failed to materialize, despite continued, urgent assertions otherwise by notorious militia leader Stewart Rhodes, Adams began to see his father for who he really was.

Much has changed since then, and the world still turns. In November, Adams declared his candidacy as a Democrat for a seat in the House of the Montana Legislature. It's the 26-year-old's first bid for office after publicly denouncing his father as an abusive force he, his siblings and mother fled in 2018. Adams' story has been told internationally through outlets like BBC. He wrote a 10,000-word essay published last year on the progressive news site Raw Story titled "How I left the far right."

In part, Adams is running to ensure a deeply red district doesnt go uncontested as it has two of the last three election cycles. Adams is also running because as a former Trump supporter, he wants his criticisms of the GOP for kowtowing to Trump, who has in turn kowtowed to anti-government extremists like his father, to be more than talk.

"I believe that every election should be contested by default, because people deserve to have a fair hearing of issues, to know what their candidates believe and to hear debate on solutions," Adams said in a recent phone interview. "So as an advocate for people doing that, I have to walk the walk and do it myself or its just me yelling at people on Twitter."

Adams lives outside of Eureka and will run in the newly redrawn House District 1, which covers northwest Montana from Troy to Eureka. He works in construction while going to Flathead Valley Community College part-time and serves as a rural volunteer firefighter at the Trego-Fortine-Stryker fire service area south of town.

Democrats have continued to lose out in rural areas in recent years, falling into a super-minority at the state Legislature. They hold particularly little ground in northwest Montana. Adams believes the party has left too many elections on the table without a challenge in the region, but he also credited recruitment efforts like his father used to engineer for a snowballing migration of "hardcore conservatives" into regions like northwest Montana.

'Began to see cracks'

The story of his familys escape from Rhodes has also been told in the local news, where communities are familiar with the presence of militia movements in northwest Montana.

In its prosecution of Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, the U.S. Department of Justice described the Oath Keepers as a "large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias."

Adams grew up in that world, pushed into tactical training exercises and ideological bubbles. But eventually he and others came to realize Rhodes' game of making profits and egotistical gains depended on sustaining the global conspiracies that animated the organization's membership. Years later at trial for his actions around Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors raised examples that showed Rhodes using Oath Keepers funds for personal expenses.

"I began to see cracks because I became aware that Stewart, my father, was very much a fraud and was not running Oath Keepers in a way that signaled that he believed truly in Oath Keepers being a last bastion against the death of America," Adams said. "He was using it as a platform to pursue his own self-aggrandizement, to follow a pathological need to be a great figure in American history."

The Jan. 6 riots and the response from some Republicans to carry on with Trump's false stolen election claims made Adams re-evaluate his politics even further. Rhodes, meanwhile, was convicted after an eight-week trial for seditious conspiracy in plotting to upset the presidential transfer of power. In May he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

The turnabout for Adams has swept him entirely across the political spectrum, from a "hardcore Trump supporter" who believed in the Pizzagate conspiracy to identifying today as a Democratic socialist. He remains in support of the Second Amendment, although he said its a more nuanced stance than when he was a part of the militia movement.

"I no longer see anti-gun people as a tentacle of a sinister, global conspiracy," Adams said. "And I also can no longer consider gun rights to be the predominant single issue in the election."

Creating ripples

Before Jan. 6, militia groups picked up steam in response to government lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic extremism experts have warned about another uptick in activity during the 2024 presidential election. Asked about how voters in northwest Montana will receive his rejection of Rhodes and the militia movement, Adams said his past may actually provide some common ground.

"One big piece of the puzzle here is that Stewart burned all of his bridges in this area with the militia movement by being so personally toxic that he made himself a pariah in this corner of the state," he said. "I feel like leveraging my life story so not be dismissed out of hand for having the wrong team color is going to be really useful for talking to people, and talking with people about what is important to them."

This right here is one proud Mamma@That_Girl_Tasha filming her son Dakota who is running for state legislature in Montana.



These two serve as inspiration to our entire country.



Tasha was married to cheif Oath Keeper Stewart Rhodes, Dakota his sonand here they are pic.twitter.com/Vnbevlzt6Y  Ryan Busse (@ryandbusse) December 20, 2023

One of Adams early supporters is Scott Ernest, a self-described de-radicalization consultant. Since exiting the white nationalist Pioneer Little Europe community in the nearby Flathead Valley, Ernest developed a network to try giving people an off-ramp from extremist groups. The two connected on social media around the time Adams was growing more vocal about his past.

Ernest said that campaigns like Adams can create ripples through militia groups and the broader community as an example of someone who can flip the script on their life from inside a cult-like environment.

"I think he has one thing that his dad actually had, which is charisma," Ernest said. "Unlike his dad, though, he has critical thinking skills, common sense, other things his dad lacks. Its good to see the kid of Stewart Rhodes doing something that obviously can be construed as pro-government, running for office."

If elected, Adams said he wants to focus on the independence of the state Supreme Court, address rising property taxes that are riling communities across the state and push back on the Legislatures anti-transgender legislation. The latter largely defined the final weeks of the 2023 Legislature when Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr of Missoula, one of the first transgender lawmakers in Montana history, was voted off the House floor. That episode took off during the debate over Senate Bill 99, a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth uniformly opposed by Democrats. Republicans took a hard stance against Zephyr's comments during that debate and voted to ban her from the House floor when she refused to apologize.

"The rationale (of the bill) was protecting children from life-altering surgery, which I can see how people would have very strong opinions on that they have come to honestly," Adams said of Senate Bill 99. "But in the state of Montana I can find no rule preventing a pageant mom from badgering her 13-year-old into getting a boob job."

2024 race

Adams presumptive opponent next year will be three-term incumbent Republican Rep. Neil Duram, who was elected in 2018 and 2022 without a general election opponent. In 2020 Duram won a contested race with 80% of the vote over his Democratic challenger. No other candidates have declared for the seat. The filing period opens in January and closes mid-March.

While usually voting for the cultural agenda Republicans passed through the session, the bills Duram introduced during that 2023 Legislature strayed very little into fringe politics. One bill sought to create an "election security team" appointed by various government officials to oversee hand- counting of each voting precinct was done within a year of an election.

A former Montana Highway Patrol trooper of 28 years and current chief of police in Eureka, legislation Duram introduced in 2023 focused mostly on traffic and driving laws. While social issues may ignite headlines and phone calls, Duram said voters in his district have been most vocal about rising residential property taxes.

Asked for this story, however, if he perceives militia groups to be a visible constituency in his area, Duram responded, "Im not a member of any specific militia group but my position is that every citizen of this country is a member of the militia."

Said another way, Duram doesnt view militias as necessarily extremist. He suggested someone speaking up to avert a shoplifting underway could fit Durams definition of what a militia response can look like.

Duram has also been on the receiving end of extremism from across the political divide.

For weeks after the session, Duram said he received calls and phone messages attacking his support for the anti-trans legislation. That response escalated in June, when Duram and three other Montana GOP lawmakers received suspicious packages containing an unknown white powder. Durams letter was postmarked from Kansas City; Republican legislators in many states received similar letters in June. The Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office tested the powder sent to another legislator and determined it was flour.

"I think there was an extremist out there that had more time than the rest of us," Duram said.

Last week, Adams appeared at three campaign events in a single day in Lincoln County with Ryan Busse, Democratic candidate for governor whose profile has also grown in recent years.

That rise followed Busse turning away from his former life as a gun sales executive, as he wrote in his 2021 memoir "Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America.

Busse opens that book in a scene with his family at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020 in Kalispell, about an hour south of Adams home, standing opposite several armed counter protesters, some of whom wore Oath Keepers patches on their outfits. Adams said he was at that rally, as well.

"The guy wants to be able to have a free, rational thought and thats how I felt about much of the way things are in the firearms industry," Busse said in an interview this week. "We don't have to approve of Three Percenters and Boogaloo Boys. That's a low bar.  (But) I think people don't realize how incredibly hard it is to pull yourself from a totalitarian organization and extremist organization like Dakota was in, and how brave that is."

This article has been updated to correct a misquote attributed to Adams.
Ranchi, Dec 29 (PTI) Jharkhand police on Friday said 397 Maoists were arrested, nine killed, and 26 surrendered before security forces across the state this year.

A special area committee member, a regional committee member, five zonal commanders, and 11 sub-zonal commanders were among those arrested. These individuals had a combined bounty of Rs 1.01 crore on their heads, a statement said.

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Police also seized 152 arms, including 27 police weapons, 10,350 ammunition, and 244 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) over the past 12 months.

The state police headquarters released the data on the occasion of the Hemant Soren government's four-year anniversary.

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Police said over the past four years, 1,617 Naxals have been arrested, including members from banned outfits such as CPI (Maoist), People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), and Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP).

Since January 1, 2020, a total of 74 Maoists surrendered before the security forces, and 792 arms, including 158 police arms, and 1,882 IEDs have been recovered.

Additionally, 40 Naxals have been killed in encounters with security forces, and a levy amount of Rs 160.81 lakh was confiscated from them, according to the release.

The department also claimed to have launched a major crackdown against cybercriminals this year.

Since January 1, a total of 1,172 FIRs have been filed against cybercrime, and 834 individuals have been arrested for such crimes.

Furthermore, operations have resulted in the recovery of 1,417 mobile phones, 2,328 SIM cards, 470 ATM cards, 128 passbooks, 23 laptops, 37 cheque books, Rs 54.31 lakh, and 3,300 Taiwan dollars.

As part of actions against organised crime, 248 criminals have been arrested and 129 arms and 1,677 cartridges have been seized, according to the release.

(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 29 (ANI): At least 100 flights were delayed and a few were canceled due to low visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Friday.

Airlines have requested passengers to keep a check on the status of flights on airline websites before leaving for the airport. Passengers who arrived at the airport but were not aware of the delays were seen sitting on the floors and waiting for an update from the airline.

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"I have been waiting for 12 hours at T-3 in the cold to catch a flight to Sharjah. The airline made no arrangements for passengers in case of delay in such weather," said Fakrool, a native of Rampur in UP.

According to airport sources, visibility on Friday fell to 150 meters, which is considered moderate for flight operations.

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"No diversions have been reported till 8 am on Friday. There were several delays due to the weather and other conditions," as per sources.

"I have a flight to Toronto, and it is delayed. I arrived at the airport in the morning from Punjab, and I am waiting for the update from the airline," said a passenger Kuldeep Singh, who was waiting with his family at IGI airport.

Meanwhile, long queues of passengers at the entry gates of the Terminal were also seen. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ludhiana (Punjab) [India], December 29 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a meeting with the officers of the NRI Affairs Department in Ludhiana on Friday.

The Chief Minister told the department officials that along with solving the problems of NRIs, they should also be shown those places in Punjab that they have never seen.

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The Chief Minister also announced that his government is going to open the Punjab Assistance Center at Delhi International Airport to provide facilities to Punjabis.

"Today, a meeting was held with the officers of NRI Affairs Department in Ludhiana and a new website http://nri.punjab.gov.in was launched to solve the problems faced by NRIs...," Mann said in a post on X.

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"Also, it was decided in the meeting that from February 3, NRIs will be welcomed in Punjab...Directed the department that along with solving the problems of NRIs, they should also be shown those areas of Punjab that they have never seen. Also, we are going to open the Punjab Assistance Centre at Delhi International Airport to provide facilities to Punjabis...," he added.

Earlier on Thrusday, Bhagwant Mann hit out at the BJP-led central government over the non-inclusion of the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade, alleging the Centre has discriminated against the states ruled by the Aam Aadmi Party.

The Punjab Chief Minister said on Wednesday that, like last year, this year too, Punjab's tableau for January 26 will not be included.

"The Centre has discriminated against Punjab," said Mann, adding that both Punjab and Delhi are not on the list.

Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh after visiting Fatehgarh Sahib, Mann said they received a letter from the Centre on Wednesday, which shows that Punjab's tableau has not been included.

CM Mann also claimed that the decision of the centre shows how much "poison" it has in its heart against the people of Punjab.

Taking to 'X', CM Mann wrote, "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." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, December 29: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit Ayodhya today after his visit was postponed yesterday due to bad weather. CM Yogi Adityanath will reach Ayodhya at 2 pm. He will review preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ayodhya on December 30. PM Modi is set to embark on a visit to Ayodhya tomorrow, during which he will inaugurate various projects worth Rs 15 thousand crore to Ayodhya. CM Yogi will offer prayers in Hanumangarhi temple and visit the site of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

The CM will also take stock of security arrangements at the venue and road show area. CM Yogi Adityanath's Thursday visit to Ayodhya was postponed due to bad weather conditions and fog in Lucknow. CM Yogi's helicopter could not take off owing to poor visibility conditions. Yogi Adityanath was scheduled to reach Ayodhya on Thursday to take stock of the arrangements ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the temple town on Saturday. Uttar Pradesh: Denied Opportunity to Meet CM Yogi Adityanath, Insulted BJP Leaders Send Rs 700 to District Magistrate in Ghaziabad.

Meanwhile, voting to decide the idol of Lord Ram Lalla, which will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple next month, is to be held on Friday, sources said. As per sources, the voting will take place at the meeting of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust entrusted with the construction and management of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "All three designs, made by separate sculptors, would be put on the table. The one idol that will get the most votes will be installed at the consecration of the shrine on January 22," sources said.

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 that has the best divineness and has a childlike look about it will be selected," he said. As per temple officials, the consecration ceremony will be held over a span of seven days starting on January 16. On January 16, the host appointed by the temple trust, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, will conduct the atonement ceremony. Yogi Adityanath Asks Momo Seller If BJP Leaders Visiting His Shop Make Payment Or Not, Video of Light-Hearted Exchange Goes Viral on Social Media.

The 'Dashvidh' bath, Vishnu worship, and offering to cows will be held on the banks of the Saryu River. Following that, on January 17, a procession carrying the idol of Lord Ram in his child-like form (Ram Lalla) will reach Ayodhya. Devotees carrying Saryu water in Mangal Kalash will be reaching the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. On January 18, formal rituals will kick off with the Ganesh Ambika puja, Varun puja, Matrika puja, Brahmin Varan, and Vastu Puja.

On January 19, the holy fire will be lit, followed by the establishment of 'Navagraha' and a 'havan' (holy ritual surrounding the fire). The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple will be washed with Saryu water on January 20, after which the Vaastu Shanti and 'Annadhivas' rituals will take place. On January 21, the Ram Lalla idol will be bathed in 125 urns and will finally be laid to rest. On the final day, January 22, after the morning puja, the deity of Ram Lala will be consecrated in 'Mrigashira Nakshatra' in the afternoon.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to run a campaign for Ram Mandir celebrations starting January 1, in which BJP workers will go door to door in all the villages across the country and encourage ten crore families to participate in Diya Lightning programs for Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address attendees at the grand consecration event from the front of the 'Singh Dwar'. According to sources, lakhs of devotees are likely to pour into the temple town for the grand occasion.
Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], December 29 (ANI): The Congress put bar codes behind the chairs for crowdfunding during a rally in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Thursday.

As a part of the Congress Crowdfunding Campaign 'Donate for Desh', which was launched earlier this month, a barcode was pasted behind all the chairs on the ground and attendees of the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally were urged to donate.

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The pamphlet behind the chairs featured Rahul Gandhi's image along with a bar code.

The pamphlet read, "In this struggle of 138 years for the formation of a better India, Congress needs you. India needs you. Scan now to donate."

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The pamphlet further mentioned that among all the donors, five "lucky donors" will be awarded a donation appreciation certificate by Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi in his address at the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally exuded confidence that the grand old party will win elections in Maharashtra and across the country.

"This is a fight of ideologies. Together we are going to win elections in Maharashtra and the country," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader, during his address, also mentioned that there is an ongoing conflict between two opposing ideologies in the country.

"There is a fight of ideologies going on in the country. People think that it is a political fight, a fight for power, it is, but the foundation of this fight is of ideology, of two opposing ideologies. (Desh mai vichardhaara ki ladai chal rahi hai, logo ko lagta hai rajneetik ladai hai, satta ki ladai hai, vo hai, magar iss ladai ki neev jo hai vo vichardhara hai, do vichardhara hai," Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, while speaking to ANI about the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally, said, "I think today the eyes of the entire country were on the Congress party and on the day of its foundation day, the party has done a very good job giving the message that we are ready to fight in defence of the Constitution and democratic values of this country. We are committed to the unemployed youth and farmers of the country."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also spoke to ANI about the Nagpur rally and said, "Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi today sounded the trumpet of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There will be a meeting of the PCC president and CLP leaders in Delhi on January 4, 2024, and the route for Bharat Nyay Yatra, which will start under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, will be finalized."

The Congress kickstarted its campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the 'Hain Tayyar Hum' rally in Nagpur on Thursday.

The Grand Old Party also celebrated their 139th Foundation Day on December 28. (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 29 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a head constable, posted at Sonia Vihar police station in Delhi, in a bribery case, said an official statement by the CBI.

A case was registered with the CBI against the head constable for receiving a bribe of Rs 8,000.

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The CBI stated, "The complainant alleged that he was getting a house constructed for his sister at Kaushalpuri in Sonia Vihar on a contract basis. The accused head constable stopped the construction work and demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 to resume it."

"It was further alleged that the head constable later agreed on Rs 8,000," it added.

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Accordingly, the CBI laid a trap and arrested the head constable receiving a bribe of Rs 8,000/. Also, raids were conducted at the residence of the accused.

Further investigation is underway.

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)
Republican attorneys general from 21 states including North Dakota have sued the federal government over a rule requiring states to set goals for reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

The lawsuit against the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation asserts that the federal government lacks authority to impose the rule.

"Regulatory action cannot be used in this manner," the suit reads. "Just because the president believes that reducing on-road CO2 emissions is key to addressing climate change ... does not mean the agencies can compel the states to administer a federal administrative regulatory program absent statutory authority."

If a judge allows the rule to stand, state transportation departments would be required to track emissions from vehicles based on fuel sales data. There are no penalties if states fail to meet their goals or if their emissions increase.

The Biden administration announced the rule last month.

Transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and reducing emissions from that sector while ensuring our economy works for everyday Americans is critical to addressing the climate crisis, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. We dont expect (states) to solve a problem this large on their own, which is why this performance measure does not impose penalties for those who miss their targets.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Kentucky maintains the rule will harm the economies of states, especially rural ones where residents have to drive longer distances.

This rule is yet another effort by the Biden administration to unconstitutionally and unlawfully use federal administrative agencies to push a climate agenda where Congress has granted no authority to implement such actions, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said.

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., made the same argument, saying "It doesn't take a legal scholar to know Congress grants authority, not the bureaucracy itself."
New Delhi, Dec 29 (PTI) The Editors Guild of India on Friday deplored the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) by the Kerala Police against a reporter of a television channel in connection with her coverage of a students' protest where shoes were hurled at a bus carrying Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"While the Editors Guild does not condone any act of violence, it deplores in strongest words the police action against the reporter," the guild said in a statement here.

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The Kerala Police in Kuruppampady has charged the reporter, Vinitha V G of television channel "24 News", with criminal conspiracy under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and issued her a notice to appear for interrogation.

The guild also demanded that the Kerala government desist from punishing the reporter for discharging her professional duty and instruct police to withdraw the charges against her.

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"To cover protests is a media responsibility and is no crime. A reporter's presence at a protest site does not make him or her complicit in any untoward incident that may have occurred," the guild 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, December 29: The Indian Navy has revealed the new design for Admirals' Epaulettes. The announcement on a new design for the Epaulettes was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Navy Day 2023 at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. The design draws inspiration from the Naval Ensign and features elements inspired by the Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the statement said.

Rajmudra is an authentic stamp or the Royal Seal that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used to use in his letters and ordinance. There are several letters that have the Rajmudra printed on it. Legend has it that the Rajmudra was given to Shivaji Maharaj by his father Shahajiraje Bhosale. The epaulettes consist of the Golden Navy Button, the Octagon, the Sword and the Telescope. Indian Navy Heightens Air Surveillance and Warship Presence in Arabian Sea Following Recent Incidents.

The Golden Navy Button reiterates the Navy's commitment to do away with the colonial mindset. The Octagon represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision. The Sword emphasises the very essence of the Navy's Raison d'etre, viz. being the cutting edge of national power and winning wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge. Indian Navy Deploys Major Warships After Drone Attack on Merchant Ship MV Chem Pluto in Arabian Sea.

Indian Navy Unveils New Design for Admirals' Epaulettes:

Indian Navy proudly unveils the new Design of Admirals' Epaulettes. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Navy Day 2023 at Sindhudurg - the new Design is drawn from the Naval Ensign & inspired from Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and is a true reflection of pic.twitter.com/N5EUULBPtN  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

The Telescope symbolises a long-term vision, foresight and a weather-eye in an ever-changing world. The statement further said that the design serves as a genuine reflection of India's rich maritime heritage. Addressing the Navy Day celebrations in Sindhudurg earlier this month, Prime Minister Modi said, "Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the nation is moving forward, leaving the mentality of dependence behind.

I am happy that the epaulettes worn by our Naval officers will now have a sight of the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj." "New epaulettes will now have a symbol of Shivaji Maharaj's army. It is my fortune that I had the opportunity to connect the Naval flag with the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," he added.
Bengaluru [Karnataka] December 29 (ANI): "Let him place the documents before the inquiry commission," Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said, reacting over BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal's allegations against former CM BS Yediyurappa.

Yatnal on Tuesday warned that he would expose the alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in the BJP government in Karnataka led by Yediyurappa at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic if he was expelled from the party.

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"If MLA Yatnal wants the guilty to be punished, then let him place the documents regarding the COVID-19 scam during the BJP period before the inquiry commission," said Siddaramaiah on Thursday.

The Karnataka CM was responding to a question from media personnel about the allegations made by BJP MLA Yatnal about the scam that has taken place during the BJP's tenure.

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"I will take out names who have looted and made property wherever. BS Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister in the first wave of corona. 40,000 crores of rupees had been embezzled at that time. They billed 8 to 10 lakh rupees for each corona patient," Yatnal had said.

"It was our government, doesn't matter whose government was in power, thieves are thieves," he said.

CM Siddaramaiah had earlier also reacted to the allegations of the BJP MLA, saying that this supplements the earlier accusation against the BJP government that it was a 40 percent commission government.

"BJP MLA @BasanagoudaBJP's bold allegation that the previous @BJP4Karnataka government led by @BSYBJP was involved in a Rs 40,000 crore corruption scandal during the COVID-19 pandemic has given further evidence to our earlier accusation that the BJP government was a '40 percent commission government'," said Siddaramaiah.

"If we consider Yatnal's accusation, it seems like the corruption is 10 times more than our estimate. The group of BJP ministers who had come out howling at our accusation and held a press conference in Vidhana Soudha, where are they hiding now?" he added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Thane, Dec 29 (PTI) A 36-year-old man detained in connection with a cheating case allegedly attempted suicide at a police station in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Friday.

The incident took place at Narpoli police station in Bhiwandi on Thursday when the man identified as Anil Murarilal Gupta was detained for his involvement in a cheating case, inspector Pramod Kumbhar said.

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The Bandra police nabbed Gupta, a resident of Narpoli, and took him to the local police station to complete formalities, he said.

Gupta went to the washroom and consumed a poisonous substance. He was immediately administered first aid, the official said.

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The accused feared arrest in connection with the offences of cheating registered against him with the Bandra and Dindoshi police stations, he said, adding that a case under section 309 (attempted suicide) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ayodhya (UP), Dec 29 (PTI) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 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 the top that depict religious symbols.

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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 of these decorations are inspired by the image of Lord Ram, his bow and arrow, Lord Hanuman and religious tilak, among other patterns.

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The decoration will be carried out on Friday as well.

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 the airport and the railway station, among other places.

"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 at 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 flowers and leaves and another depicted different aspects of Lord Ram's life.

Largely marigolds, chrysanthemums, orchids and anthuriums are being used for the decorations, 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 redeveloped, widened and beautified roads in Ayodhya, including Ram Path, the Prime Minister's 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 and the city is being 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.

(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 29 (PTI) The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Friday said the 'UPI for Secondary Market' launch would take place next week.

The launch of 'UPI for Secondary Market' is set to commence next week in its Beta phase for the equity cash segment, with the collaborative support of key stakeholders including clearing corporations, stock exchanges, depositories, stockbrokers, banks, and UPI app providers, NPCI said in a statement.

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Initially, this functionality will be available for a limited set of pilot customers, it said.

During this pilot, it said, investors can block funds in their bank accounts, which will only be debited by the Clearing Corporations upon trade confirmation during settlement.

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Clearing Corporations will directly process payouts to these clients on a T+1 basis.

This Beta launch is facilitated by Groww as the brokerage app, alongside BHIM, Groww, and YES PAY NEXT as UPI apps, it said.

Initially, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank customers will be able to avail this facility.

Further, HDFC Bank, HSBC, ICICI Bank, and Yes Bank are acting as sponsor banks for the clearing corporation and exchanges, it said.

Other stakeholders, including stockbrokers such as Zerodha, Customer's banks like Axis Bank and Yes Bank, and UPI-enabled apps like Paytm and PhonePe are in the certification stage and set to participate in Beta launch soon, it said.

The Application Supported By Blocked Amount (ASBA) like facility of 'Trading supported by blocked amount in Secondary Market' through block mechanism was approved by SEBI, based on the RBI approved facility of single-block-and-multiple-debit in UPI, with the implementation timeline of January 1.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bilaspur (HP), Dec 29 (PTI) Union minister Anurag Thakur Friday hit out the Congress, terming it "anti-development" and accusing the party of talking about caste survey and regionalism in the face of a loss.

After attending 'Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra' events in the Jhanduta assembly constituency of Himachal Pradesh, he said this is the first time that a prime minister has taken public welfare schemes of the Union government to the doorstep of every person in the country.

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At the Developed India Sankalp Yatra, Thakur addressed the beneficiaries of the Union government's schemes and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve to build a developed India by 2047.

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Till now, lakhs of people in different states have got the benefits of the government's schemes and through this yatra. Awareness about the schemes is continuously increasing and people are getting benefits, the Union minister said.

Targeting the Congress, Thakur described the party as "anti-development" and said, "Whenever it loses, it starts talking about caste census and regionalism."

He also hit out at the opposition INDIA alliance, alleging there was no coordination among the constituent parties on seat sharing. How will they provide justice to the people, Thakur posed.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Houston, Dec 29 (PTI) Friends and community members have planned a vigil on Saturday in remembrance of an Indian family killed in a horrific car crash in the US state of Texas and their bodies are likely to be flown to India on Sunday, according to local media reports.

Services honouring the lives of the six deceased have been planned for the weekend with a vigil both at Houston and Metro Atlanta for people to pay their respects.

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A deadly crash on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas on December 26 claimed the lives of six Indians, including two children, while a survivor is battling critical injuries in a hospital there. The family originally belonged to Amalapuram town in Andhra Pradesh.

While 43-year-old Lokesh Potabathula survived the crash, his brother, 28-year-old Rushil Barri, a resident of Alpharetta, Georgia; Potabathula's wife, 36-year-old Naveena Potabathula; the couple's children, 9-year-old Nishidha Potabathula and 10-year-old Krithik Potabathula; and Naveena's parents, 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada and 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada, perished in the fatal accident.

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Bodies of the Indian family members killed in a crash in Texas would be flown to India on Sunday, Atlanta News First channel reported on Friday.

The channel spoke with Sunil Savili, founder of the Indian Friends of Atlanta and, also, a part of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), who is helping out the Indian family in their time of grief.

Definitely  one needs to be hand in hand and support everyone. We are there for the family, we are there for the people in need, Savili told Atlanta News First.

Another local channel, 11Alive quoted Ashok Kolla of TANA, saying they have been coordinating with funeral homes, airlines and multiple consulates to ensure that the bodies of the crash victims are returned to their home in India.

11Alive.com also reported that Lokesh, who remained critical, underwent several surgeries. He currently has a broken arm and ankles, as well as injuries to his neck and spine, which may result in him not walking again. On top of all that, he may have also lost his sight.

The accident took place on Tuesday evening near Cleburne, about 53 km south of Fort Worth, according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

A preliminary investigation showed that a pickup truck driven by a 17-year-old entered the northbound lanes in a no-passing zone and crashed head-on into a minivan, in which the Indians were travelling, the sheriff's office said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nairobi (Kenya), Dec 30 (AP) Burundi's president on Friday accused Rwanda of funding and training rebels behind an attack last week on the village of Gatumba, close to Burundi's border with Congo, that killed at least 20 people.

A Burundian armed rebel group known as RED-Tabara and based in South Kivu, eastern Congo, took responsibility for the attack in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The group, which denied having targeted civilians, claimed to have killed nine soldiers and a police officer.

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Burundian authorities consider RED-Tabara a terrorist movement. The group first appeared in 2011 and has been accused of a string of attacks in Burundi since 2015.

In a national radio broadcast, President Evariste Ndayishimiye claimed the RED-Tabara "are fed, sheltered, hosted and maintained in terms of logistics and financial means by  Rwanda.

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Ndayishimiye said Burundi has been unsuccessfully negotiating with Rwanda for two years, seeking the extradition of the rebels.

As long as they have a country that provides them with uniforms, feeds them, protects them, shelters them, maintains them, we will have problems, he said.

There was no immediate reaction from Rwanda's government to Ndayishimiye's accusations but it has previously said that it cannot extradite people who are under the protection of the U.N. refugee agency.

Relations between the two central African neighbours improved with the ascension to power of Ndayishimiye in June 2020 and borders between them reopened.

Some of those killed in the Gatumba attack  which Burundi has described as an act of terror and said it had contacted Interpol to seek its help in apprehending the perpetrators  were buried on Tuesday.

In August last year, Burundi deployed soldiers to eastern Congo as part of a regional force invited by Congo to tackle the resurgence of the M23 rebel group there. Some observers believed that the Burundi troops from the seven-nation East African Community force would be used to crush RED-Tabara.

However, the East African Regional force is currently being withdrawn in phases from the violence-plagued eastern Congo following complaints from locals and authorities that instead of disarming the rebels, the forces were cohabiting with them. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ottawa [Canada], December 29 (ANI):Shots were at the residence of an Indian-origin man in Canada's Surrey. Following this, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been investigating the incident.

The firing happened on Wednesday (December 27) in the early morning at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, the president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, in Surrey. The incident happened at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue, Surrey. According to the Police no one was injured during the incident.

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According to the Constable Parmbir Kahlon, Media Relations Officer for Surrey Police, the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes.

"On December 27, 2023 at approximately 8:03 am, Surrey RCMP responded a to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue. No one was injured during the incident, but the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes. Police remained in the area, examining the scene, speaking with witnesses and canvassing the neighbourhood for CCTV footage. The Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has conduct of the investigation. Officers are still working to determine the motive of this incident. Anyone with more information, including dash cam footage of the incident, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP" the Surrey Police said in its press release.

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Reportedly, the Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has conducted the investigation, and the officers are working to determine the motive of this incident, adding that the identities of the perpetrators are not known yet.

The Surrey Police have not confirmed any link of the attack to recent threats recieved by the Laxhmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.

Earlier in November, India-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya shared a purported video of Pro Khalistani supporters in Surrey claiming they want to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir there.

He wrote, "Last week, Khalistan supporters verbally abused a Sikh family outside a Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, BC, according to some reports. Now it appears the same Khalistan group wants to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey."

Underscoring that Hindu temples have remained targets for attacks over the past years, Arya noted by saying, "Hindu temples have been attacked many times during the last couple of years. Hate crimes are being committed against Hindu-Canadians."

Moreover, a Hindu temple was vandalised in Canada by extremist elements with Khalistan referendum posters in August this year. In April this year, BAPS Swaminarayan temple was vandalised with anti-India graffiti in Windsor, in Canada's Ontario. Meanwhile, in February, the Ram Mandir in Canada's Mississauga was vandalised with anti-India graffiti. In January, a Hindu temple in Brampton was defaced with anti-India graffiti, triggering outrage among the Indian community. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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 an ice storm in the eastern half of the state, 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."
Beijing, Dec 29 (PTI) China on Friday named former naval commander General Dong Jun, said to be a close confidant of President Xi Jinping, as the new defence minister, two months after the summary dismissal of General Li Shangfu without an explanation.

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), which confirmed Li's ouster in October, appointed Dong in his place, the official media reported.

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Dong, formerly the commander of the Chinese navy, was promoted to the rank of general in September 2021, making him one of the highest-ranking officers in active service, the China Daily reported.

Regarded as a close confidant of President Xi, Dong was later elected to the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October last year.

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Before becoming the navy's top commander in 2021, he served in the Northern Sea Fleet, now a regular player in joint drills with the Russian Navy, the Eastern Sea Fleet, which focuses on potential conflicts with Japan, as well as the Southern Command Theatre, which oversees the South China Sea, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

The appointments for the top defence posts are cleared by President Xi, who is also the head of the Central Military Commission (CMC), besides being the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC).

Before Li, Foreign Minister Qin Gang was also removed without an explanation. Qin was replaced by Wang Yi as Foreign Minister. Earlier this year Qin succeeded Wang as the country's top diplomat.

The fates of both Li and Qin are not known.

Li had disappeared from the public eye in late August and no reason was given for his removal.

Li, who headed the country's missile force, was the first Chinese defence minister to be placed on a US sanctions list because of arms sales from Russia and was the second government minister abruptly removed from his post this year.

The new defence minister Dong's appointment comes in the backdrop of the recent agreement between the US and China to revive their stalled contacts between the top defence officials, following the recent summit between Xi and US President Joe Biden.

China has discontinued military contacts as a protest to the former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August last year.

On December 21, the militaries of China and the US revived talks with a video call between General Liu Zhenli, China's Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, and General Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military.

"The video call yielded positive and constructive outcomes, Chinese Defence spokesman Sr. Col. Wu Qian told the media here on Thursday.

The role of the Chinese navy is in ascendancy under Xi as it has overtaken the army with a massive expansion of its fleet of warships and nuclear and conventional submarines.

Significantly, both Li and Dong were not from the army.

The Chinese Navy has currently three aircraft carriers in different stages of operational preparedness and is on the frontline of China's global outreach to expand its influence, competing with the US military.

On Tuesday, Xi promoted two naval officers, including a submarine expert as top naval commander which involves Chinese naval operations in the disputed South China Sea.

General is the highest rank for officers in active service in China.

The promoted officers included the Political Commissar of the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army Wang Wenquan and the Commander of the PLA Navy Hu Zhongming.

Hu was a submarine specialist with extensive experience at sea, having taken part in the Chinese navy's first global mission and numerous exercises.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lalitpur [Nepal], December 29 (ANI): One more protestor injured in the clash with Nepali police succumbed to his injuries, taking the death toll in Lalitpur's Balkumari clash to two, as per the police.

The victim identified as Birendra Shah, also succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Patan Hospital succumbed to injuries within hours of the clash.

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"Cause of the death is yet to be ascertained. Another injured Birendra Shah also succumbed while undergoing treatment," Kuber Kadayat, spokesperson of Nepal Police told ANI.

Earlier in the day, 23-year-old Sujan Raut also succumbed after being injured in the clash.

Also Read | Russia Fires 122 Missiles and 36 Drones in What Ukraine Calls Biggest Aerial Barrage of War; 13 Killed (Watch Video).

Earlier today, protesters set a vehicle of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, on fire.

The Korean Language Test candidates were staging demonstrations demanding that they be allowed to appear for language tests for jobs in the manufacturing sector in South Korea.

Those who failed the language proficiency test for shipbuilding jobs took to the streets, demanding they be allowed to appear for language tests for the manufacturing sector. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lalitpur [Nepal], December 29 (ANI): A protestor has died in a clash with police in Balkumari of Lalitpur in Nepal, police confirmed.

"A protestor has died during the clash. Apparently, he was hit by a teargas canister," Spokesperson of Lalitpur Police Circle, Nawaraj Karki confirmed over the phone.

Also Read | Russia Fires 122 Missiles and 36 Drones in What Ukraine Calls Biggest Aerial Barrage of War; 13 Killed (Watch Video).

On Friday afternoon, a group of protestors clashed with Nepal Police after they set fire to the vehicle of Nepal's Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala. Police then resorted to using force to control the mob including batons, teargas and bullet.

The protestors took onto the street over the issue of the Employment Permit System (EPS) and then torched Minister Jwala's vehicle (Ba 2 Jha 5861) at Balkumari of Lalitpur on Friday noon.

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After over an hour clash, the condition of the area that adjoins Nepal's capital Kathmandu calmed down with protestors nowhere to be seen. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Quetta [Pakistan], December 29 (ANI): Khadija Shah, a prominent fashion designer and PTI activist, has been released on bail by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta, as reported by ARY News.

Following the completion of her 14-day physical remand, Khadija Shah was presented before the Quetta ATC, which released her due to lack of evidence in the case.

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On December 16, the same court remanded Shah in police custody for another seven days.

The Lahore administration had ordered Khadija Shah's detention for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance.

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Khadija Shah, known for her activism within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is the daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah. The developments in her legal case continue to unfold amid the intersection of politics and activism.

Shah's legal situation stems from her arrest during the nationwide unrest on May 9 and 10, triggered by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The ensuing protests turned violent and included attacks on military and state installations, Dawn reported.

On the same day, Shah shared videos on her social media accounts, showcasing her involvement in the PTI protest outside the Jinnah House, the residence of the Lahore corps commander. Subsequently, numerous protesters were detained, and Shah faced multiple charges for her alleged role in vandalism and attacks on security installations.

Notably, Shah had voluntarily turned herself in to the police on May 23 after her name was associated with the May 9 riots, leading to her arrest on the same day.

The designer was implicated in four cases connected to the events of May 9.

Earlier on Nov 15, an ATC had granted Shah bail in the fourth and last case of May 9 protests against her. However, she was re-arrested on November 17 under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance for 30 days, Dawn reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], December 29 (ANI): An Accountability Court based in Islamabad has set a date for the indictment of former prime minister Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana reference case, ARY News reported.

The court presided over by Judge Muhammad Bashir at Adaiala jail, has scheduled the indictment for January 4.

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The Toshakhana reference case implicates Imran Khan and his wife for allegedly possessing gifts received from international dignitaries, which were supposed to be deposited in the Toshakhana. The accused were provided with copies of the reference and relevant information during the hearing, as reported by ARY News.

Earlier, on December 23, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were summoned in connection with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Toshakhana reference. The Accountability Court accepted the reference filed by NAB, claiming that the accused had obtained 108 items from the Toshakhana and retained 58 of them.

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The Toshakhana issue emerged as a significant point of contention in Pakistan politics after the Election Commission disqualified Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for making "false statements and incorrect declarations" the previous month. The judgement asserted that the former prime minister engaged in corrupt practices, leading to his disqualification under Article 63, 1(P) of the constitution.

The detailed judgement highlighted discrepancies in Imran Khan's financial declarations, noting that the amount in his bank account was only half of the value of the state gifts he received. The Election Commission emphasised that he was obligated to declare the cash and bank details in his returns but failed to do so.

The disqualification prompted the National Accountability Bureau to launch a probe against Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case on March 9. The case revolves around allegations that Imran Khan failed to disclose details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana during his tenure as prime minister.

The Toshakhana reference has named Imran Khan and his wife as the accused, and the Registrar's Office of the Accountability Court is set to take further action after scrutinising the case. The NAB Rawalpindi has identified two accused in the graft reference, marking a significant development in the legal proceedings against the PTI founder and his spouse, ARY News reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Warsaw (Poland), Dec 30 (AP) Poland's defence forces said an unknown object entered the country's airspace Friday morning from the direction of Ukraine and then vanished off radars, and that all indications pointed to it being a Russian missile.

Everything indicates that a Russian missile intruded in Poland's airspace. It was monitored by us on radars and left the airspace. We have confirmation of this on radars and from allies" in NATO, said Poland's armed forces chief, Gen. Wieslaw Kukula.

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Poland's defence forces said the object penetrated about 40 kilometres (24 miles) into its airspace and left it after less than three minutes. The defence forces said both its radar and NATO radar confirmed that the object left Polish airspace.

Kukula said steps were being taken to verify those findings and eliminate the possibility of a technical error.

Also Read | Russia Fires 122 Missiles and 36 Drones in What Ukraine Calls Biggest Aerial Barrage of War; 13 Killed (Watch Video).

There was no comment from Russian officials.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on X, formerly Twitter, that he had spoken with Poland's president about the missile incident and said NATO was vigilant and monitoring the situation as the facts are established.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with the head of Poland's National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, to express the United States' solidarity with Poland, our close NATO ally, as it deals with reports of a missile temporarily entering Polish airspace, the White House said.

Sullivan pledged technical assistance to Poland and assured that President Joe Biden was following the issue closely.

It was not immediately clear where the object disappeared from radar or in which direction it had been going. Troops were mobilized to identify and find it. There were no immediate reports of any explosion or casualties.

The governor of Lublin province in eastern Poland, Krzysztof Komorski, told the Onet news portal that the object appeared on radars near the town of Hrubieszow, where a border crossing with Ukraine is located. Komorski said he had no information to indicate it landed in Lublin province.

Poland's border with Ukraine is also the European Union and NATO border with Ukraine.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened a meeting with the defense minister, military commanders and heads of national security bodies, followed by a meeting of the National Security Bureau with President Andrzej Duda, the supreme commander of Poland's armed forces.

Duda said through an aide that there was no threat at the moment" and nothing to suggest that anything bad" should be expected.

The most important is that no one was hurt," said the aide, Grazyna Ignaczak-Bandych.

On Friday, Ukrainian officials said Russia launched more than 100 missiles and dozens of drones against Ukrainian targets overnight in what an air force official called the biggest aerial barrage since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

It was not clear whether the object that Poland reported was related to the barrage.

As a result of such massive attacks, this can happen. The enemy is attacking our border territories, including in the west. This is another signal for our partners to strengthen the Ukrainian air defense," Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force, said on national television about the incident.

Poland has been supporting Ukraine with military, humanitarian and political assistance.

This is not the first time an unauthorized object has entered Poland's airspace from the direction of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion. In November 2022, two men were killed when a missile struck the village of Przewodow, a few kilometers from the border. Western officials said they believed a Ukrainian air defense missile went astray. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kabul [Afghanistan], December 29 (ANI): Kabul grapples with a surge in armed crime and robberies, leaving residents feeling trapped in what they describe as the world's most frightening and insecure place, Khaama Press reported.

The city is plagued by constant threats from armed robbers, kidnappers, terrorist groups, and a disturbing frequency of mysterious murders, contributing to widespread fear and unrest among the population.

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In a recent incident, Ghafar Hamdard, a dermatology specialist and professor of medical sciences at Kabul University, was tragically killed in his private clinic. Matiallah Kharoti, a close friend of Hamdard, shared the heartbreaking news on social media, stating that the professor was attacked by two motorcyclists in the Kart-e-Now area. This follows another killing in the city, where Faqir Ahmad Shirzad, a former military person, was reportedly shot by armed robbers, according to Khaama Press.

Residents, expressing their distress, reveal that only a fraction of the daily murders are reported in the media.

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One resident, Mohammad, shared his harrowing experiences, recounting encounters with armed robbers and witnessing a passenger bus targeted. He described the pervasive sense of danger, explaining that getting into a vehicle poses a dilemma: either the driver may be a thief or the vehicle could become the target of a suicide attack or bombings.

Mohammad narrated his personal encounters with crime, stating, "The first time was in winter 2020 when I was surrounded by people who were chasing me in Dasht-e-Barchi. I handed over everything I had with full consent to stay alive." He continued, "The second time was in the first year of the Taliban's reign, again in Dasht-e-Barchi with robbers." Each time, he faced the imminent threat of violence and complied to ensure his safety, according to Khaama Press.

Despite the lack of accurate statistics on daily murders in Kabul, some claim that dozens occur each day, with only a handful covered by the media.

Zarifa Ghafari, the former mayor of Maidan Wardak, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating on social media that 30 people are killed daily in Kabul.

The deteriorating security situation has left residents living in constant fear, unsure of their safety in various settings, from public transportation to the city's streets. The alarming increase in criminal activities, coupled with a lack of comprehensive reporting, paints a grim picture of Kabul as one of the most perilous places to reside.

As the city grapples with rising crime rates, the urgent need for effective measures to address security concerns and protect the well-being of its residents becomes increasingly evident. The ongoing challenges in Kabul underscore the complex issues facing the population and the pressing need for comprehensive solutions to restore safety and stability to the city, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Dec 29 (AP) The US military's X-37B space plane blasted off Thursday on another secretive mission that is expected to last at least a couple of years.

Like previous missions, the reusable plane resembling a mini space shuttle carried classified experiments. There's no one on board.

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The space plane took off aboard SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at night, more than two weeks late because of technical issues.

It marked the seventh flight of an X-37B, which has logged more than 10 years in orbit since its debut in 2010.

Also Read | EAM S Jaishankar Says Relationship Between India and Russia Much Deeper (Watch Video).

The last flight, the longest one yet, lasted 2 1/2 years before ending on a runway at Kennedy a year ago.

Space Force officials would not say how long this orbital test vehicle would remain aloft or what's on board other than a NASA experiment to gauge the effects of radiation on materials.

Built by Boeing, the X-37B resembles NASA's retired space shuttles. But they're just one-fourth the size at 29 feet (9 metres) long. No astronauts are needed; the X-37B has an autonomous landing system.

They take off vertically like rockets but land horizontally like planes, and are designed to orbit between 150 miles and 500 miles (240 kilometers and 800 kilometers) high. There are two X-37Bs based in a former shuttle hangar at Kennedy. (AP)

(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 29: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has returned as the world's richest man, recapturing the title from French luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault. Musk earned an additional $95.4 billion through Thursday's close, boosted by the success of Tesla and SpaceX, after losing $138 billion in 2022, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Elon Musk Run X Loses Appeal To Block California Content Moderation Law.

His net worth now exceeds Arnault's by more than $50 billion after LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE shares fell due to a global slowdown in demand for luxury products. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos added more than $70 billion to his wallet this year and is now neck-and-neck with Arnault for second place, while Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's fortune increased by more than $80 billion. Google, Amazon, Apple, and Others Reportedly Pause Hiring in India 2023 Amid 'Economic Slowdown' and 'Internal Restructuring Plans': Report.

According to the Index, the collective net worth of the 500 richest persons increased by $1.5 trillion in 2023, entirely recovering from the $1.4 trillion lost the previous year. The wealth of tech billionaires increased by 48 per cent, or $658 billion, because of the enormous buzz around artificial intelligence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2023 07:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, December 29: Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena has given his approval to amend the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme, 2018, to cover victims of mob violence and lynching. The Delhi government submitted the proposal, following a five-year delay, prompted by a 2018 Supreme Court directive urging states to establish such schemes within a month.

Under the amendment, the definition of 'victim' now includes the guardian or legal heir of a person who has suffered loss, injury, or death due to offenses like mob violence and lynching. Interim relief, including compensation, is mandated to be provided to victims or their next of kin within 30 days of the incident. Delhi LG VK Saxena Recommends CBI Inquiry in Non-Standard Drugs Procured, Supplied in Government Hospitals.

The Supreme Court's 2018 directive in the Tehseen Poonawala case stressed the creation of lynching/mob violence compensation schemes by state governments within one month, guided by Section 357A of the CrPC. The guidelines outlined considerations for compensation, accounting for bodily and psychological injury, loss of earnings, educational opportunities, and incurred expenses due to mob lynching/mob violence. Delhi LG VK Saxena Okays Enhancement of Adhoc Monthly Relief to Kashmiri Migrants.

While the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme, 2018, was notified earlier, it did not cover compensation for lynching and mob violence. The recent amendment addresses this gap, aligning with the Supreme Court's directions and ensuring timely relief for victims. The amendment specifies that interim relief for mob violence/mob lynching victims must be provided within 30 days of the offence, without the previous cap of Rs 50,000 for interim compensation, while the overall compensation limits under the scheme remain applicable.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2023 08:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
A Bismarck man facing felony charges that could put him in prison for the rest of his life had his bond set at $1 million cash Thursday.

Edward Harper Jr., 37, is charged with attempted murder, gross sexual imposition by force, burglary, felonious restraint and terrorizing in connection with an alleged attack on a woman inside her home Dec. 22-23.

The woman was able to contact police after Harper apparently fell asleep in another room after sexually assaulting her and beating her, according to an affidavit. Harper had followed the woman as she walked home from a bar, and reportedly made unauthorized entry through an unlocked back door, the document alleges. The woman told police she does not know Harper.

During Thursday's appearance, Harper told South Central District Judge Daniel Borgen he had difficulty understanding after Borgen read through charging documents.

"I have a learning disability," Harper said. "And a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It makes it hard to understand."

Borgen ordered an application for a court-appointed attorney and told Harper the attorney would visit him at the Burleigh Morton Detention Center and explain all the charges and their various maximum sentences in detail. Borgen also ordered a contested preliminary hearing at a date yet to be determined. Harper could enter pleas at that hearing.

Burleigh County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer in support of her bond request said Harper is "a danger to the community." She cited an extensive criminal history in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota that began in 2002 when Harper would have been between 15 and 16 years old. Lawyer said Harper also has an extensive criminal history in North Dakota dating to 2019. Court documents from Grand Forks County indicate Harper was paroled this past May in a 2022 drug case.

Harper also has allegedly been uncooperative with staff at the jail.

"He's threatened to throw feces and urine at the officers," Lawyer said.

Harper requested he be released into psychiatric care and told Borgen his Bismarck apartment contains all of his medications and medical records. That request was denied.
Kentucky, December 29: A 16-year-old girl was rescued from the house of a 34-year-old man who allegedly raped and assaulted her after she disappeared from her home in North Carolina. The accused identified as Zackary Jones had kept the victim locked behind a hidden trap door in his Kentucky house when police responded to a report of domestic violence. After long hours of searches the police rescued the teen who appeared "high on drugs". Zones who has been arrested is facing accusations of rape along with several other serious charges.

According to WTVQ, Lincoln County deputies initially visited the house following a report from Jones' mother concerning a dispute involving her adult son and his partner. Jones answered the door of his house and told the authorities that the girl was not there. However, the police apprehended him when they spotted drugs out in open in his house. US Shocker: Ohio Father Dies After Three Youths Thrash Him Brutally While 'Laughing and Enjoying Themselves', Arrested

After taking Jones into custody, the deputies came back and started searching the whole house for the girlfriend. During the search operation, the teen was found behind a hidden trap door covered by a rug in Jones bedroom. The officers said the girl appeared to be "very high" when she was rescued. Subsequently, the law enforcement found out that she was the missing girl from North Carolina. US Shocker: Black Woman Calls 911 to Report Domestic Violence in Los Angeles, Shot Dead by Cop.

The victim told police that when Jones first contacted her, he claimed that he was 19, but only after reaching his house she came to know about his real age. Narrating her harrowing experience, the teen accused Jones' of sexually assaulting her and keeping her high on drugs. He reportedly threatened to kill her with his gun on multiple occasions and he made her promise to tell anyone who asked that she was 18.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2023 06:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Times Labor Writer

Despite a pending legal challenge, the state Friday will begin enforcing a two-tier minimum wage that will raise the wage floor to $4.25 per hour for most California workers but will place perhaps a million others in a special sub-minimum category of $3.50 an hour, officials said Wednesday.

The state Division of Fair Labor Standards Enforcement announced that workers who normally get $60 or more a month in tips will be eligible for the $3.50-an-hour rate, at least until the courts resolve the constitutionality of the sub-minimum wage.

The state Industrial Welfare Commission in December agreed to increase the minimum wage effective July 1, giving California workers the highest such rate in the nation. But it also created the separate sub-minimum category, mainly for restaurant and other service workers who normally receive tips.

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A state appeals court overturned the sub-minimum wage June 16, ruling that all workers must be paid at least $4.25. But that ruling will not become final until Aug. 15 because an appeal is pending before the state Supreme Court.

The court action threw the enforcement question into confusion, state labor officials said. The phone was ringing off the hook yesterday and today, James Curry, deputy chief of the fair labor division, said in a telephone interview from San Francisco.

He said the agency decided late Tuesday to enforce the minimum wage order as it is written, that is, permitting the $3.50 minimum wage for tipped employees who receive $60 a month in tips.

Representatives of restaurant and hotel owners, who employ most of the tipped workers, applauded the decision. We are pleased that the labor commissioner is going to recognize the Supreme Courts point that the appellate court is not yet official and therefore the $3.50 is the level they will enforce, said Stanley Kyker, executive vice president of the California Restaurant Assn.

Workers Spokesmen

But representatives of the affected workers expressed dismay. It seems strange to us that anybody would be suggesting that people should be receiving less than $4.25 an hour, said the Rev. Gary Smith, an activist with the United Neighborhoods Organization (UNO), a community group that helped to persuade the commission to raise the minimum wage.

Curry and Simon Reyes, another official of the labor standards division, said agency personnel are cautioning employers that if the Supreme Court ultimately invalidates the sub-minimum wage, employers may be required to pay back wages to July 1.

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If they can, the employers may want to consider an escrow arrangement in which an additional 75 cents will be placed pending a decision of the state Supreme Court, Reyes said.

Were encouraging our members to do that very thing, Kyker said. We think it makes sense, showing a good-faith effort to do the right thing. Secondly, it makes sense from the point of view of prudent fiscal management.

Doubt on Collection

John True of the Employment Law Center, a public interest group, said he fears that many of the workers would have difficulty collecting back pay if the sub-minimum wage is invalidated.

Alexandra Carpenter, a Livermore waitress who is one of the plaintiffs in the case, said she is disturbed by Wednesdays announcement. All theyre doing is hurting the little people, she said.

On the other hand, for non-tipped employees Friday will be a more momentous day. The 90-cent increase in the minimum wage will be the first since since Jan. 1, 1981, and comes after a long political struggle. The primary advocates were Southern California community groups, such as UNO, affiliated with the New York-based Industrial Areas Foundation and organized labor.

It was a long fight to get it up there, said Smith, who noted that UNO had initially pushed for an increase to $5.05 an hour. Were hoping employers will comply with the new minimum wage. And were looking forward to the Industrial Welfare Commission reviewing the adequacy of the $4.25 later this year as they promised they would do last December, he added.

Welcomed Increase

Lenny Martin, a food preparer who currently makes $3.75 an hour at a Naugles restaurant in Artesia, said the extra 50 cents an hour he will be making will enable his family of four to eat a little better and help pay our bills on time.

Most major California business organizations opposed the increase, saying it would put the state at a competitive disadvantage. They also argued that it could cause some employers to lay off workers to cut costs and to reduce hiring of entry-level workers.

It will be months before the effect of the change can be measured. In the interim, legislation to raise the federal minimum wage, currently $3.35 an hour, is pending.
Nikki Haley's recent comments about the Civil War have raised a lot of eyebrows, including that of her two political rivals in the 2024 presidential elections: US President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

During a New Hampshire town hall, the former South Carolina governor was asked about what caused the Civil War and she did not mention slavery. This garnered her plenty of backlash as her only answer to the question was that it involved "the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do."

In her answer, she explained things about the role of government, individual freedom, and capitalism, not even mentioning what historians actually deemed was the real reason for the Civil War. This got her immediately slammed by the person asking her the question.

"In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you answered that question without mentioning the word 'slavery,'" she was told.

This answer got a simple four-word response from President Joe Biden, who posted on Twitter, "It was about slavery."

Her avoidance of the word often plays into the "Culture War" narrative that Republicans often play, as it panders to their conservative and mostly-white voter base, who still believe that the Civil War was all about "State Rights" even though the said "State Rights" was all about owning slaves.

Ron DeSantis Also Slams Nikki Haley Over Civil War Answer

It was not just Joe Biden who slammed Haley for her answer but surprisingly, one of the loudest proponents of the Republican "Culture War" narrative, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He reminded Hailey that she was also a Republican and that the party was originally founded on one thing.

READ MORE: Ron DeSantis Spread False Information While Pushing Florida Trans Healthcare Ban

"The Republican Party was founded to put a stop to the growth of slavery in this country. And the abolition of slavery wasand to this day, remainsthe party's top achievement," he said, claiming that the abolition of slavery was a "partisan achievement."

However, when a reporter asked him about the curriculum standard approved in Florida that "includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit," DeSantis tried to avoid the issue.

"That's a fake narrative," he answered. "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."

Nikku Haley Walks Back Her Civil War Answer, Now Says It Is About Slavery

After all the backlash she received from the left and the center-right, as well as Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley was forced to backpedal just 12 hours later.

According to the Associated Press, she went on an interview on Thursday morning where she said, "Of course, the Civil War was about slavery," calling it a "stain on America."

Her campaign has been disseminating the interview as she faces backlash from avoiding the issue. She was heard reiterating that "freedom matters. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people."

READ MORE: Joe Biden Family Probe: House Republicans Find No Evidence of Wrongdoing

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Nikki Haley addresses her Civil War response amid backlash - CBS News
Mexican officials, aided by bulldozers, worked to dismantle a makeshift migrant tent camp located alongside the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, according to FOX News.

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

The encampment at the US Mexico border, established in late 2022, once housed up to 1,500 migrants.

However, many temporary shelters have been vacated in recent months as migrants seek entry into the US.

The cleanup coincided with a high-level US delegation meeting in Mexico City to address the escalating migrant surge.

The US delegation, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador convened to discuss strategies to manage the unprecedented influx of migrants reaching the US border.

Matamoros officials reported on Wednesday that the ongoing operation primarily focused on clearing abandoned tents from the area.

"Our current objective is to eliminate any tents that appear to be vacant," Segismundo Doguin, the head of the local office of Mexico's immigration agency, explained.

READ NEXT: Mexico President Willing To Help With US Migrant Crisis

Clearance Operation and Migrant Concerns

While Matamoros officials clarified that the operation primarily involved removing abandoned tents, one Honduran migrant, identified as Jose, claimed that some of the remaining 200 migrants felt pressured to leave during the clearance operation, as per NBCDFW.

He alleged that migrants were given short notice and felt intimidated by the presence of bulldozers, prompting a hurried evacuation.

Approximately 70 migrants resorted to crossing the river into the US, facing challenges due to the layers of concertina wire set up by Texas authorities.

Glady Canas, founder of the NGO Ayudandoles a Triunfar, highlighted the limited options for migrants leaving the encampment, emphasizing that shelters were overwhelmed.

Canas worked to discourage migrants from attempting illegal crossings, especially given the recent incidents of people drowning while attempting to swim the river.

Escalating US Mexico Border Situation

December has witnessed a surge in migrant apprehensions, with up to 10,000 arrests daily on the southwest US Mexico border, the Daily Mail reports.

The Del Rio sector in Texas reported 22,024 migrant apprehensions during the week of December 17 to December 23.

Mexico President Lopez Obrador confirmed an agreement with US officials to keep border crossings open following discussions with Secretary Blinken.

The US temporarily closed several crossings early this month, including key rail bridges, to redirect enforcement resources amid the US migrant crisis.

President Biden ordered the closure of rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso in Texas, impacting Union Pacific's rail car traffic between the US and Mexico.

Starting in March, a new Texas law will empower police to arrest migrants entering the state illegally, granting local judges authority to order their deportation.

This legislation follows a previous operation that led to nearly 10,000 migrant arrests on misdemeanor trespassing charges, drawing constitutional challenges and raising concerns about its impact on deterring immigration.

Civil rights organizations argue that the expanded powers granted to police represent an unconstitutional overreach encroaching on the federal government's immigration authority.

READ MORE: Migrants Rushing To Get To America Before New Arrest Law Takes Effect

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Mexico announces task force to deal with migrant surge at border - From ABC 7 Chicago
The deaths of pregnant Texas teen Savanah Soto, 18, and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, 22, now has two persons of interest after their disappearance sparked a massive search across the state.

Soto was already nine months pregnant and was about to be induced into labor when she and Guera disappeared. This sparked a massive search for the two, only for them to be found dead inside Guerra's car with gunshot wounds around a week later. Soto was found dead while still pregnant with her unborn child. She and Guera have possibly been dead for several days before being found. The baby did not survive.

Now, the San Antonio Police Department has released a video of two persons of interest in the case. San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus revealed that the video was taken "nearby where the bodies were found."

According to The Daily Mail, the video showed one of the persons of interest driving a dark pickup truck, identified by Chief McManus as a "Chevy Silverado with a bed cover." Meanwhile, the second person of interest was seen in the video driving Guerra's Kia Optima.

The San Antonio police chief did not elaborate on any further details, including where exactly the video was recorded. Still, he did confirm that it was recorded a few days before the bodies were found by authorities and that investigators believed that the victims may have been in the car for several days before police found them.

Earlier, before police released the footage on social media, an autopsy report concluded that the deaths of the two were a result of a homicide. Soto died from a gunshot wound to the head, while Guera died from what the autopsy says is a "contact gunshot wound to the head." This meant that the gun's muzzle was pressed directly against his head before firing and killing him.

READ MORE: Florida Teen Kills Sister After Argument Over Christmas Presents

Persons of Interest in Pregnant Texas Teen's Death Wiped Down Victim's Car

The video also showed one of the persons of interest, the one who drove Guera's car, wiping down its side, possibly to scrub evidence. However, Chief McManus said, "We can't be 100% certain of that."

For now, police in Texas have admitted that they do not believe the person seen driving the Optima was Guerra or Soto. They also say that they do not know yet if the two persons of interest have any connections to the victims. However, they do believe that "Guerra and Soto were killed somewhere else and then taken to the location where they were eventually found."

San Antonio Police Find Killings of Pregnant Texas Teen and Her Boyfriend 'Perplexing'

Currently, the pieces are not yet adding up as the case of the deaths of the pregnant teen and her boyfriend has the police stumped as investigations continue.

USA Today reported that San Antonio Police Chief William McManus admitted that they are perplexed with the killings, saying, "It's a very, very perplexing crime scene ... It's a complex scene."

The two were last seen on Friday, with the parents of both victims reporting them missing the day before Soto was supposed to be induced into labor.

READ MORE: Mexico Finds Another Dead Body Near Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Floating Barriers

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: New details after Savanah Soto, her unborn baby and Matthew Guerra killed in San Antonio - KVUE
Greg Abbott's newly-signed Texas immigration law that allows police to arrest suspected illegal migrants may have violated the constitution and may face a legal challenge from the US Department of Justice as it also faces backlash from civil rights and migrant advocacy groups, as well as the state's Hispanic community.

The DOJ has now warned Texas Governor Greg Abbott that if he enforces a new state law, which not only allows police to arrest suspected illegal migrants but also grants judges the power to rule on their cases, it will sue as enforcing immigration is the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the state government.

As The Hill noted, Abbott signed the law earlier this month, noting the migrant crisis as more and more migrants head to the US-Mexico border, undeterred by the possibility of deportation or the dangers along the way.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton told Governor Greg Abbott in the letter that the new law, which takes effect on March 5, is unconstitutional. It would also disrupt the federal government's immigration enforcement operations.

The letter also pointed out to Abbot that there is a precedent that the new Texas immigration law is unconstitutional, referencing the US Supreme Court ruling in 2012 regarding the Arizona v. United States case where it was found that "federal immigration laws often trump state law even if there isn't direct conflict."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Claims Federal Government Not Acting on Immigration Laws

Soon after the letter was sent, Abbott slammed the DOG, claiming that Joe Biden is "destroying America." This is despite efforts by the Biden administration to get Mexico to help out with the immigration situation and beef up border security.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Claims He Does Not Know His Rhetoric Mirrored Adolf Hitler, But Reports Say Otherwise

"The Biden Admin. not only refuses to enforce current US immigration laws, they now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration," Abbott claimed on social media. "I've never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America."

According to CBS News, Texas has already stated that it is prepared to defend its new immigration law, which is also known as SB4. The row may soon end up in the Supreme Court, which has previously decided on a similar matter with the Arizona v. United States case.

New Texas Immigration Law Has Latino Community in Texas Worried

Texas currently has one of the largest Latino populations in the United States, with 40% of them making up its entire population. With the introduction of the new Texas immigration law, it could mean Latinos who are US citizens might get deported by the state of Texas just on the suspicion that they are illegal.

This new law is now sending ripple effects in one of the US's biggest Latino communities, with several rights groups now seeking to block the measure, according to CNN. This includes the American Civil Liberties Union, which has already filed a lawsuit against it.

READ MORE: Joe Biden Family Probe: House Republicans Find No Evidence of Wrongdoing

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WATCH: Gov. Greg Abbott's office issues statement contradicting claims of inhumane treatment at border - KHOU 11
Venezuela has ordered its armed forces to engage in defensive military exercises along its eastern Caribbean and Atlantic coasts, involving 5,600 soldiers, according to BBC.

This response is aimed at the United Kingdom, which recently dispatched the HMS Trent to support neighboring Guyana.

The move comes amid heightened tensions over the contested territory of Essequibo, where Venezuela claims ownership, challenging Guyana's administration of the region.

President Nicolas Maduro, in a televised address, characterized the UK's actions as "practically a military threat from London" and a violation of the spirit of a recent agreement between Venezuela and Guyana to avoid using force in settling their dispute.

READ NEXT: Venezuela, Guyana Agree to Peacefully Solve Essequibo Dispute

Venezuela Asks Guyana To Withdraw Warship

Earlier this month, Venezuelan voters supported the creation of a new state in oil-rich Essequibo, a region administered by Guyana for decades.

President Maduro claims that Essequibo, constituting about two-thirds of Guyana's territory, rightfully belongs to Venezuela, NBC Right Now noted.

Venezuela Guyana dispute has intensified due to significant oil discoveries in the region, raising concerns about potential conflict in the 160,000 square kilometers area.

During a recent meeting between Maduro and Guyana's President Irfan Ali, both nations agreed to pursue diplomatic and peaceful means to resolve the territorial disagreement.

Maduro emphasized Venezuela's commitment to diplomacy but warned against threats to the country's sovereignty.

Venezuela urged Guyana to withdraw the HMS Trent and refrain from involving military powers in the territorial controversy.

UK Foreign Minister David Rutley visited Guyana, reinforcing the importance of respecting sovereign borders. The UK's commitment to upholding Guyana's territorial integrity has intensified the diplomatic standoff.

Maduro's government conducted a controversial referendum on December 3, claiming that 95 percent of voters supported Venezuela's ownership of Essequibo.

This led to legal maneuvers to establish a Venezuelan province in the disputed region and issue oil extraction licenses.

Guyana's President Ali denounced these actions as a "grave threat to international peace and security."

Despite the tensions, Guyanese officials stated that the HMS Trent's visit was part of planned defense improvement activities and would proceed as scheduled.

Guyana's Response and HMS Trent's Mission

President Ali asserted Guyana's right to work with partners to defend the nation.

Guyanese officials described the HMS Trent's visit as a planned activity to enhance defense capabilities, emphasizing that it posed no threat to Venezuela, per NPR.

"Nothing that we do or have done is threatening Venezuela," Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said.

The UK Defense Ministry clarified that the ship, equipped with 30mm cannons and capabilities for helicopters and drones, would conduct joint operations with Guyana's defense forces.

HMS Trent, initially deployed to Barbados to intercept drug traffickers, was redirected to Guyana on December 24.

The ship's mission involves joint operations with Guyana's defense forces, reinforcing the UK's commitment to supporting its ally.

Guyana, with a population of 800,000, maintains a small military consisting of 3,000 soldiers, 200 sailors, and four patrol boats known as Barracudas.

READ MORE: Mexico Bulldozers Abandoned Tents at US Border

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WATCH: Gravitas | Britain's grandstanding in South America? UK to send warship to Guyana | Here's Why - From WION
An act of defiance from villagers in Mexico against the notorious Familia Michoacana Cartel has led to retaliation from the infamous criminal organization as gunmen kidnapped 14 of the town's residents, including four children.

Tired of their frequent extortions at the hands of the cartel, farmers in the village of Texcaltitlan and a neighboring hamlet rose and fought back against Familia Michoacana, killing 10 of its members. The incident was caught on video and earned the residents praise for standing up to the cartel that has been bullying its residents.

Mexico City prosecutors stated that the cartel abducted 14 people, including four children between the ages of 1 1/2 and 14. They also abducted three policemen and a wounded villager they abducted from a hospital. Said villager was hospitalized after the clash that killed the 10 Familia Michoacana Cartel members.

According to the Associated Press, the number of villagers abducted reflects the number of people killed during that deadly clash, which means it was a symbolic warning to the villagers not to cross the infamous cartel. Aside from the 10 cartel members who were killed, four villagers also died as a result of that fatal clash.

Mexico State Head Prosecutor Jose Luis Cervantes stated that so far, the cartel has not yet issued any ransom. However, residents of the village stated that the Familia Michoacana is already demanding that the villagers hand over the leaders of the uprising.

Villagers Not Charged Over the Killings of 10 Familia Michoacana Cartel Members in Mexico

When a group of gunmen came to the village of Texcaltitlan, they tried extorting the farmers for money. However, the farmers rose up and clashed with them, resulting in 10 of the cartel members being killed.

READ MORE: Familia Michoacana Cartel Sanctioned Over Rainbow Fentanyl

Usually, such an act would result in the farmers getting arrested and imprisoned for murder. However, Mexico State Head Prosecutor Jose Luis Cervantes noted that the farmers' rising up to the cartel was a legitimate example of self-defense and, therefore, they will not be prosecuted.

The prosecutor noted that the case is classified as "legitimate self-defense" because the farmers were defending their properties from a criminal organization that has long dominated the area where the village is located.

Familia Michoacana Leader Among Those Killed When Mexico Villagers Stood Up Against Them

Officials in Mexico State, where the incident occurred, reported that one of the cartel's most notorious leaders was among the 10 members killed in the clash. He was identified as Rigoberto de la Sancha Santillan, known as "El Payaso" or "The Clown."

According to VOA News, it is common in Mexico for drug cartels to extort money from almost any licit or illicit business that they can. Those who do not pay up often find their ranches or farms burned down.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador claimed that this happened because previous administrations "never took care of young people. That's why they got pulled in and ended up in criminal ranks. You have to shower them with a lot of love."

READ NEXT: Clandestine Graveyard Found in Michoacan Avocado Orchard

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Michoacan turf war: Mexican town on frontline of cartel conflict - Al Jazeera English
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.
In 2019, 100% of North Dakota's Golden Valley County, Billings County and Nelson County residents lived 10 miles or more from a fresh-food grocery. Throughout the state, 45% of rural residents live in a food desert.

Dawn Mandt, executive director of the Red River Regional Council, said it's an issue thats been growing over the last two to three decades. In North Dakota, for instance, Mandt said, there are 34 counties that have low access to grocery stores -- five times more than other rural areas nationally.

The issue, she believes, could lead to people seeking easier-to-access but more unhealthy foods, or spending time and money driving long distances to find fresh food.

Emma Cook, the community development liaison for the North Dakota Department of Commerce, said grocery stores are an essential service that help grow communities. They are a piece of workforce attraction and retention, and a town being without one will deter people from moving there, further shrinking already-small towns.

Its kind of a growing phenomenon to be in an agricultural state and realizing that were one of the leading states across the country in experiencing food deserts, Mandt said. There are certain ironies in all of that, right?"

A food desert is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an area with low access to healthy foods. In its definition, convenience stores and dollar stores that stock milk and a few fresh items dont qualify as grocery stores.

In an interactive map of the state distributed to lawmakers during the drafting of Senate Bill 2273 -- legislation that resulted in a new rural food sustainability grant through the North Dakota Department of Commerce -- statistics show each countys population and the percentage of residents who lived 10 miles or more from a fresh-food grocery, as of 2019.

A number of North Dakota counties are at 50% or higher, including:

Billings (839): 100%

Golden Valley (1,812): 100%

Nelson (3,035): 100%

Hettinger (2,502): 99.9%

Kidder (2,397): 99.6%

Slope (775): 95.2%

Burke (2,177): 92%

Steele (1,870): 88%

Oliver (1,850): 84%

Sheridan (1,328): 81.5%

McHenry (5,420): 69%

Renville (2,328): 58.9%

McLean (9,788): 55%

Dunn (4,054): 53%

Grant (2,351): 52.3%

Mandt said North Dakota's food deserts exist due in part to the state's rural, sparsely populated landscape. With fewer people to serve, grocery stores don't exist, or the ones that do remain sometimes order at a smaller scale, which increases expenses. It increases costs at the local level, prompting some residents to travel for cheaper items. This in turn chips away at the local stores cash flow and profits. Some eventually close, further reducing access.

For those who live in food deserts, that means having to travel farther for their basic grocery needs, or simply bypassing healthier foods. In North Dakota's Region Four (Grand Forks, Pembina, Walsh and Nelson counties) -- with 25% of rural residents being 65 or older -- this can be a challenge. Older residents may have issues with mobility and might have difficulty traveling those distances.

While convenience stores or dollar stores have grab and go food available, Mandt said these food items arent as healthy as what can be bought at a grocery store. In 2019, a Forum News Service report noted that $57 million in North Dakotas medical expenses every year can be credited to food insecurity.

Desert diminishing

There are efforts being made to diminish food deserts. The rural food sustainability grant, created through the work of Senate Bill 2273, is one of them.

The grant program is made of two components.

The first gives awards to eligible entities for feasibility studies to look into how viable potential projects or initiatives will be for increasing rural food accessibility and sustainability. The second awards grant dollars to support these projects creation or the expansion of already existing projects that have developed profit-loss statements and other materials to show sustainability.

The timeline for component one began on Sept. 8, with applications opening. They closed on Oct. 13 and were awarded Oct. 24. The recipients were the city of Milnor, Pembina County JDA, DBA Strengthen ND, the city of Butte, Hazelton Development Corp. and city of Casselton. Applications for component two open Jan. 15.

Cook, the Department of Commerces community development liaison, said the recipients are going through feasibility studies, looking at the current state of food accessibility and the driving factors behind what makes a food desert. After that, theyll go through a planning process for how to diminish those deserts.

Were hoping to find some of those best practices  that we can share across the state and hopefully go back to the Legislature and get more funding for this program and make it more sustainable so we can reach more communities, Cook said.

One of those practices, which inspired Senate Bill 2273, is a partnership between three grocery stores in Walsh County to ensure the area has fresh food.

The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives created the Rural Access Distribution Cooperative , which began distributing food to grocery stores and schools in Walsh County in November 2021. The co-op works as a partnership of businesses and communities in Park River, Hoople, Edinburg, Fordville and other nearby areas. Jims Supervalu in Park River, Hoople Grocery in Hoople and the Market on Main in Edinburg order groceries as a collective; the products are then delivered to Park River and split up to be delivered to the other two groceries with the RAD Co-ops delivery truck.

Mandt also mentioned two other efforts by the RRRC to assist Region Four.

One is a regional food incubator and a shared-use kitchen to grow the small food businesses in downtown Grafton, which has already secured more than $2 million in funding. However, there is a lack of contractors interested in bidding, Mandt said. The other is a partnership among North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, called the Regional Food Business Center. The Center is a five-year initiative with the mission to boost the Upper Midwests regional food systems.

To Mandt, fighting food deserts isn't just about dealing with food insecurity, but helping to replenish something that draws communities together.

I also see food as a great community unifier, bringing people together, she said.
Naz-O-Nut Dooolicious co-owner Helena Lazzarini wants to walk away from her popular and profitable doughnut shop on a high note.

Thats why the Nazareth area business owner has put Naz-O-Nut, 64 E. Lawn Road in Upper Nazareth, on the sales block. She hopes a new owner will come on board, whom she can train and teach her family-generated recipes to, and help continue whats been started, Lazzarini said.

Its actually very sad for me, because I love my shop, Lazzarini told lehigvalleylive.com Friday. She noted two of her adult children have now moved to New York and a third adult child has moved to Paris. Its caused Lazzarini to travel significantly and often be away from the shop.

Im basically considering a new chapter in my life, she added.

The doughnut shop  not the property  in November was listed for $200,000 on Loopnet, which features commercial property sales.

The current lease for the 1,800-square-foot space runs until the end of 2024. The sale comes with a fully-furnished doughnut kitchen, including sheeter, fryer, glazer, walk-in refrigerator, freezer, ice machine, two proofers, oven, extra large and small mixers, espresso and orange juice machines, food warmer and coffee station.

The business typically generates at least $300,000 annually in sales, Lazzarini said. The most profitable day of the year is Fastnacht Day, annually celebrated before Ash Wednesday, when Naz-O-Nut routinely sells about 10 thousand Fastnachts, she said.

Lazzarini and her husband, Francesco Lazzarini, initially in June 2019 opened the shop with business partners, Ciro Della Ragione, and his wife, Lucrezia Della Ragione of Nazareth. The Lazzarinis later bought the business out from the Ragiones, who owned nearby Sicily Pizzeria in Upper Nazareth. Naz-O-Nut opened in space that previously occupied Papa Johns pizzeria.

Naz-O-Nut in known for its freshly made doughnuts with a melt in your mouth taste, the Lazzarinis have described.

Patrons with a sweet tooth enjoy such classic varieties as powdered, glazed, jelly, Bavarian and French cream, as well as banana, cream cheese, vanilla, chocolate, orange sickle, puff marshmallow and some with blue icing (the color of the Nazareth Area School District) and pink icing.

Others, such as the popular doughnuts filled with Nutella and cannoli cream, often sell out. The shop additionally is known for its seasonal treats and special flavors of the week.

Theres also an assortment of breakfast sandwiches, crafted on doughnuts or bagels.

Patrons typically pair their treats with a variety of specially made coffee drinks and freshly squeezed orange juice, as well as six different flavors of smoothies.

The Lazzarinis are hoping the new owner also will hire their 23 current employees to staff the shop. However, depending on how much the new owner wants to work, the shop could get by with less manpower, Helena Lazzarini said.

Fastnachts from Naz-O-Nut in Upper Nazareth. Co-owner Helena Lazzarini described Fastnacht Day  annually celebrated before Ash Wednesday  as Naz-O-Nut's most profitable day of the year.Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

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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.

Its incredibly powerful and emotional to see it come down, she said as she watched the demolition. Weve 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.

Sunlight breaks through trees as heavy equipment works to demolish the final pieces of the foundation of 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

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.

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 southeast of Spokane, Washington.

Kohberger was arrested Dec. 30, 2022, at his parents home in Monroe County. Kohberger graduated from Northampton Community College in Bethlehem Township with an associates degree in psychology in 2018 and received a bachelors degree in 2020 from DeSales University in Upper Saucon Township, where he completed graduate studies in June 2022.

By CLAIRE RUSH and TED WARREN

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Nazareth police are searching for two men they say stole about $1,000 worth of merchandise from a borough Rite Aid store.

The thefts happened around 4 p.m. Thursday at Rite Aid at 102 Easton Road. Borough police said two men fled in a silver GMC vehicle. At least one man was wearing a black jacket at the time of the incident.

The pair were headed toward Bath along Route 248, according to police.

Borough police are also searching for 50-year-old Chanel Cheri Greene of New York City. Greene is charged with felony theft, felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor theft in an Aug. 15 incident.

Greene allegedly stole more than $3,066 worth of items from Rite Aid around 2:23 pm. and left without paying. She was identified as the suspect from store video surveillance footage, police said.

Charges were filed Wednesday against Greene and an arrest warrant has been filed at the office of District Judge John Capobianco.

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A 'very steep' rise in Covid-19 infections due to a new variant variant and big jump in flu has caused the HSE warn people in Laois and elsewhere to protect themselves and others but viruses are expected in the coming weeks.

A HSE statement issued on December 29 says the number attending Emergency Departments (ED / A&E) in Portlaoise and other hospitals has risen during Christmas week

Some 538 people with flu and 282 with COVID attended hospital EDs nationally this week, an increase from 312 (flu) and 144 (COVID) the previous week. This has caused the HSE to appeal to the public to be aware of and choose the right options for care.

The HSE wants people in Laois and other counties to consider all healthcare options such as Injury Units, GP services and pharmacies before attending hospital Emergency Departments.

As Area Director of Public Health, HSE Dublin and Midlands, Dr Fionnuala Cooney, outlined the situation facing people and services in Laois and other counties.

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, she said.

The HSE says there are currently 30 outbreaks of COVID in hospitals and 24 in nursing homes, again an increase from last week. It says acute hospitals in Portlaoise and elsewhere are as prepared as can be to deal with the expected rise in attendances and admissions over the coming period.

It says hospitals and community services around the country have put a sustained effort into ensuring hospitals are positioned for the traditional post-Christmas demand.

However, the HSE warns that the rise in flu and COVID infection is 'very steep', and it urged the public to attend the ED only for major health emergencies. Use all other options in non-emergency situations. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

PIctured: HSE CEO Bernard Gloster on a visit to Portlaoise hospital earlier in 2023.

Dr Colm Henry the HSE Chief Clinical Officer, was a key member of NPHET when the coronavirus was a pandemic. He is expecting a big impact on hospitals due to Covid-19 and the flu.

Rates of COVID and flu are rising now and over 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. Such measures will help protect those who may be more vulnerable to the effects of these infections and avoid impact on services at a very busy time of year.

"There is no room for complacency and I urge people to follow public health advice - stay at home if you have symptoms and get vaccinated - before we reach the peak of flu season in the very near future, he said.

It also asked that people consider use services such as your local pharmacy, and www.HSE.ie before going to your GP or Emergency Department if you have respiratory symptoms.

The HSE said it is still not too late to get vaccinated: people who have not done so should get vaccinated at their GP or pharmacy. If you are unwell you should stay home until 48 hours after your major symptoms have resolved; avoid visiting people who are more vulnerable if you are unwell, especially avoid visiting hospitals or nursing homes if unwell. People are also reminded people about good infection control practice, including washing hands regularly and covering nose and mouth if you have coughs and sneezes.

The HSE said vaccination remains the best way to reduce the incidence or these respiratory illnesses. The HSE is urging every eligible person to get vaccinated against flu and COVID as soon as possible. People with long-term health conditions, healthcare workers (HCWs) and children aged 2-17 can avail of free vaccination.

See www.HSE.ie for more information on COVID and flu vaccination and to find where to get your vaccines. The site also has advice on common illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, earache and sore throats and information on how to keep well in winter. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Further information FROM HSE.

For mild symptoms  Treat at home

Helpful information is available online on treating common winter illnesses, such as coughs, colds and flu. There is also advice about how to protect yourself and others during winter.

You do not need an antibiotic if you have a viral infection. Antibiotics cannot treat viruses. An increase in respiratory illness in children is expected during the winter period. Most can be managed at home with over-the-counter medicines.

You should:

rest

drink plenty of fluids

use medicine you buy from a pharmacy or shop without a prescription

go to How to keep well in winter for more advice.

advice specifically for children and babies is available here: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/colds-coughs-children/

Viral infections are very contagious. They can spread quickly before you notice the symptoms. It can be difficult to stop them spreading to vulnerable people. Most of the time you do not need to visit your GP. But trust your instincts. Bring your child to your GP if you are worried about them.

If you have a chronic condition, review your medicine and management of your chronic disease with your public health nurse (PHN), GP or pharmacist.

Useful tips for patients and families

patients who may need regular prescriptions are urged to get them filled on time

people are advised to check their first aid boxes are well stocked to treat minor illnesses and injuries

check the HSE website for useful advice on common illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, earache and sore throats

if you are caring for someone that is terminally ill, please have medicines that are recommended by your Palliative Care team or GP for situations that could arise.

Non-urgent illnesses  GPs

If your symptoms don't improve over time, or if they worsen, call your GP. Your GP can help with non-urgent illnesses. Make sure you are registered with a GP, check out the GP finder here. Know your urgent GP out-of-hours arrangements and contact details.

If you urgently need to see a GP outside of their clinic hours, you can contact your local GP out-of-hour service. You must make an appointment. There is no drop-in facility.

However, if your symptoms are more severe and you cant wait for an appointment with your doctor, consider your other options.

Injuries unlikely to need hospital admission  Injury units

Injury units can treat many of the injuries people go to the emergency department for. For example, broken bones, dislocations, and minor burns.

You can get treatment such as x-rays, plaster casts, and wound care in an injury unit.

If they cannot help with a particular problem, they will direct you to where you can get the right help.

For details of locations, opening times, list of injuries and ages that can be treated at an injury unit, go to https://www2.hse.ie/ services/injury-units/

When you arrive at an injury unit, you will be:

registered and assessed by the nursing team

treated by a doctor or advanced nurse practitioner (a specially trained nurse) depending on the care you need

given details of any follow-up appointments you may need in the injury unit

referred on to other services if needed

You do not need an appointment.

There is no charge if you have a full medical card or have a GP referral letter. Otherwise it costs 75 to attend an injury unit.

Life-threatening emergencies  Emergency Departments

Emergency Departments (EDs) deal with life-threatening emergencies. Emergency departments are busy. You may have to wait a long time to be seen. The sickest people are seen first.

Life-threatening emergencies include things like, if someone is breathless; is feeling unwell and getting sicker very quickly; has not peed in over 12 hours and does not need to pee. Other examples include when someone is not feeling well and has become confused and agitated; is very pale with cold hands and feet; is dizzy when they sit up or unable to stand; has developed a rash that does not disappear when pressed down.

Vaccinations

Getting vaccinated is the most effective way of preventing infections. You can get the COVID vaccine if you are 50 and over, immunocompromised and have long-term health conditions. A booster vaccine is recommended during pregnancy.

COVID vaccines are also available for children aged 6 months to 4 years who have a health condition that puts them at high risk of severe illness if they get COVID.

The flu vaccine is recommended if you are 65 and over. The childrens flu vaccine for 2-17 year olds is also available now. The pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23) which protects against pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis is also available free of charge from participating GPs for people aged 65 and older. Vaccines for these people are free and available from the GP and pharmacy.

Use the HSE pharmacy finder for vaccine clinics here.

Need information and advice on COVID-19? Go to www.hse.ie/coronavirus
LOTTO enthusiasts are being urged to scour their homes, pockets, and purses as the clock ticks down for a lucky winner who has just one week left to claim a 24,224 prize from the October 7 draw.

The National Lottery have renewed their call for players to check their tickets and ensure they don't miss out on the substantial windfall.

The prize, a Match 5+Bonus award totaling 48,448, was shared between a Galway player and another individual from Dublin. The Galway winner purchased their quick pick ticket on the day of the draw at Desmond Salmon on Patrick Street in Portumna.

The winning numbers from the October 7th draw were 23, 25, 28, 32, 33, 44, with a bonus number of 29.

With a 90-day window for claiming prizes, time is running out for the fortunate Galway ticketholder. The deadline for claiming this Match 5+Bonus prize is set for close of business on Friday, January 5, 2024.

A spokesperson for the National Lottery stressed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that the winner should act promptly.

The spokesperson urged the Galway winner to sign the back of the ticket, currently valued at 24,224, and reach out to the prize claims team via phone at 1800 666 222 or email at claims@lottery.ie.
A man has been arrested following a shooting incident in a restaurant in Dublin on Christmas Eve.

A man, named locally as Tristan Sherry, died after he was assaulted and stabbed during the gun attack at Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown.

A police spokesperson said: Gardai have arrested a male in relation to the investigation into a serious incident that occurred at a premises on the Main Street in Blanchardstown.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in West Dublin. Investigations are ongoing.

A man in his 40s was also injured when he received gunshot wounds in the incident.

It is understood gardai are investigating whether Mr Sherry was a participant in the initial shooting and was tackled and stabbed after the shots were fired.

Gardai stepped up uniformed patrols in Dublin after the incident amid fears of reprisal attacks.

Uniform patrols in the Dublin region, with support from armed patrols including the Garda armed support unit, have been increased.

The incident unfolded inside a restaurant filled with customers, including families out for Christmas Eve celebrations.

An incident room has been established at Blanchardstown Garda Station and the investigation is being led by a senior investigating officer (SIO).

The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is also providing assistance and a Garda family liaison officer has been appointed to both families.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described his shock at the incident, revealing he had visited the family-run restaurant many times, while Minister of Justice Helen McEntee condemned the violence as disgusting.
Cllr Enda McGloin asked if there is any update or correspondence from the IFI (Inland Fisheries Ireland) in relation to the state of the amenity area at Eden/Lower Annagh, Dowra and if they will make any effort to bring the facility up to standard.

He said the area was "used extensively by local families as an amenity" and said he understood that the IFI are proposing to put in a fishing stand there but said he would like the council to meet with the IFI.

"The Community Employment Scheme, I've no doubt, would assist with keeping it maintained so it wouldn't be a burden on Leitrim County Council but someone has to take some kind of ownership of it," he said.

A report by the Economic Development section said that per the June 2023 response to a notice of motion, this project was eligible for consideration under ORIS 22023. There was no expression of interest received under ORIS 2023 for this project and the scheme is now closed; however the project could be considered under the 2024 ORIS scheme when it opens in due course, the response concluded.

Cllr Brendan Barry supported the motion, saying the basic groundwork is there, "if we could get further funding to improve it" and asked if the council could join with the IFI "to upgrade the area".



District engineer, Darragh O'Boyle responded that the council do not own the land or the adjoining car park. "Leitrim County Council can meet with the IFI," he added.

Mr O'Boyle remarked: "I think the land ownership is the hurdle that we have to cross."

The district engineer said he would liaise with IFI as well as the Capital Project Office.
Gov. Doug Burgum has declared a statewide emergency for widespread utility infrastructure damage caused by this weeks ice storm, which left more than 20,000 state residents in the dark.

Meanwhile, weeks of unusually warm weather appear poised to come to an end shortly after the new year.

Burgums action is the first step toward requesting a presidential disaster declaration, which would pave the way for federal aid to help pay for repairs.

The governors declaration also directs state agencies to provide resources to support local and tribal governments. Agencies including the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services are helping local jurisdictions and also working with the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives and investor-owned utilities as they work to restore power.

Were deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of local linemen and crews from across the state helping to restore power, as well as for the first responders, emergency management teams, road crews, health care workers and all others working to keep citizens safe during this extraordinary event, Burgum said in a Friday statement. Our state agencies continue to support local response efforts as we prepare to seek a federal disaster declaration and assistance.

About 4,000 people remained without power Friday morning, all in the southeastern part of the state, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks outages around the country.

REC Executive Vice President and General Manager Josh Kramer expressed thanks for the help of state and local officials and said we ... are especially grateful for the patience and understanding from electric cooperative members as our dedicated electric cooperative employees work to safely restore power.

An emergency shelter has been set up in Gackle in Logan County, and a warming house has been established in Medina in Stutsman County. Residents are asked to contact local officials if they need access to shelter facilities. The governors office also urged those impacted by the storm to check on their neighbors and friends.

Unusual storm

The storm hit on Monday, Christmas Day, and lasted into Wednesday, shutting down government agencies, businesses and highways. It resulted from plentiful moisture moving northward ahead of a cold front that pushed eastward across the country, according to the National Weather Service. The conditions were unusual in the Northern Plains for this time of year because usually its much colder, according to Megan Jones, a meteorologist in the weather services Bismarck office. The last ice storm warning the Bismarck office issued was in 2016, she said.

Much of the eastern half of North Dakota was covered in a coating of ice. Ice can coat electrical lines and tree branches, leading to downed lines and power outages. The situation can be exacerbated by strong winds, which also accompanied the storm. The highest gust reported was 67 mph at Oakes on Monday, according to the weather service.

More than 1,400 power poles were downed, resulting in millions of dollars in damage, according to the governors office.

Bismarck did not see any extended power outages, but it got about one-third of an inch of ice, making travel almost impossible in some areas until sunny skies and temperatures above freezing the past few days began to melt the coating. Ice reports were higher to the east, including an inch in Edgeley and Verona, according to weather service reports.

Warm December

Temperatures well above average for this time of year have helped thaw out the ice. Bismarcks high temp on Thursday was 39 degrees, and the forecast high for Friday was in the lower 40s. Normal for this time of year is a high of 24. A cold front forecast to pass through the region late Friday should drop the weekend highs into the 20s, however.

The entire month of December has been much warmer than normal across North Dakota, with some locations running more than 12 degrees above average, according to the weather service. As of Wednesday, Bismarck was 10.1 degrees above normal for the month  the second-warmest December on record.

Several high temperature records fell during the month. Bismarck on Dec. 6 tied its record high for the date, of 66 degrees. That also is a record for any date during the month of December in the capital city.

Dickinson set a daily high of 54 degrees on Dec. 21. Jamestown set a daily high of 51 on Dec. 22. And Minot tied a daily high of 47 on Dec. 23.

The warmth hasnt just been in North Dakota. Nearly every reporting site in the continental U.S. experienced temperatures above the historical average for the month, which is rare, according to AccuWeather.

Arctic air has been on the move this month, but mainly on the other side of the globe, in Siberia, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

The start of the new year is likely to be colder.

There are some signs that Arctic air will push southward across central Canada and may empty periodically into parts of the central and eastern U.S. during January, AccuWeather Senior Long-Range Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. Consistent or long-lasting Arctic cold does not appear likely for the first part of the month, however. That could change during mid-to-late January.
Vortex Energy Corp. Announces Private Placement





NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX) (OTC: VTECF) (FSE: AA3) ("Vortex" or the "Company") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Private Placement") of up to 3,750,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.40 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000.

Each Unit shall consist of one common share in the capital of the Company ("Share") and one (Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase a Share at an exercise price of $0.50 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

Closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on or about January 12, 2024. Closing is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals. The net proceeds of the Private Placement are intended to be used for general and administrative expenditures.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 ? Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units issuable under the Private Placement will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in all of the provinces of Canada (except Quebec) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A.2 of NI 45-106 (the "LIFE Exemption"). Because the Private Placement is to be completed pursuant to the LIFE Exemption, the securities issued to Canadian resident subscribers in the Private Placement will not be subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document dated December 28, 2023 related to the Private Placement that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.vortexenergycorp.com. This offering document contains additional detail regarding the Private Placement, including additional detail regarding the expected use of proceeds from the Private Placement. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The Company also notes that it will no longer be moving forward with the non-flow through offering it had announced on November 28, 2023.

The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Vortex Energy Corp.

Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The Company is currently advancing its Robinson River Salt Project comprised of a total of 942 claims covering 23,500 hectares located approximately 35 linear kms south of the town of Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Robinsons River Salt Project is prospective for both salt and hydrogen salt cavern storage. The Company is also evaluating technologies to efficiently store hydrogen or energy in salt caverns. Vortex also holds the Fire Eye Project, which is located in the Wollaston Domain of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Paul Sparkes

Chief Executive Officer, Director

+1 (778) 819-0164

[email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Private Placement, including the total anticipated proceeds, the expected use of proceeds and the closing (including the proposed closing date) of the Private Placement. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including the assumption that the Company will close the Private Placement on the timeline anticipated, will raise the anticipated amount of gross proceeds from the Private Placement and will use the proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include: the risk that the Private Placement does not close on the timeline expected, or at all; the risk that the Company raises less than the anticipated amount of gross proceeds from the Private Placement; the risk that the Company does not use the proceeds from the Private Placement as currently expected; risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined and the risk that exploration and development activities will cost more than the amount budgeted for such activities by the Company; risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals; risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions; access and supply risks; risks associated with the Company's reliance on key personnel; operational risks; regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks; title and environmental risks; and risks relating to the failure to receive all requisite regulatory approvals. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

28 december 2023 at 19:35

News published onand distributed by:
Zhen: Help others, Inspire oneself





BEIJING, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on China's most popular character related to domestic affairs in 2023:

Recently, the Character and Word of the Year 2023 were unveiled. The Chinese character "zhen," which carries multiple meanings, was chosen as the nation's most popular character related to domestic affairs in 2023. Zhen, with "(?) shou" as the Chinese radical, is closely affiliated with hand gestures.

In Chinese, it bears the meaning of "relieve and raise," while it could also mean "vitalize and inspire." Relieving others and vitalizing itself ? a quintessential depiction of China in the year 2023.

This year, the world has stood at the crossroads of destruction and construction, competition and collaboration, as well as progress and relapse; China has reached a new starting point of economic recovery following three years of COVID-19 prevention and control. Confronting such complexity requires more vitality, which means sticking to the original aspiration and attaining progress under pressure.

In the past year, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the resumption of diplomatic ties in Beijing after seven years of animosity and decades of political confrontation. Also this year, the Jakarta-Bandung HSR was put into use, making life and work easier for locals, while advancing the technologies at their grasp. Money, food and medicines were delivered to the hands of war victims in Gaza.

There were also juncao, or the fungus grass technology that Fiji regarded as the hope of agriculture for island states, Artemisinin that cut malaria occurrence in Comoros by 98%, and Luban Workshops that cultivated batches of technical personnel for partner countries... Each move has embodied how China shoulders its responsibility as a major country, contributing what it has and collaborating with other countries to lift more people out of plight and share the fruit of development.

Linked by the same green mountain that stretches, we share the storm that rages. That's what we mean when we talk about "zhen."

In the past year, the lives of the Chinese people returned to normality, with an array of policies covering employment, healthcare and so on being implemented in a thorough way. The rights and interests of the disabled and the elderly now enjoy further guarantee before the law, and minimum wage was raised in many provinces.

In the past year, China's economy has kept up a positive trend, with domestic demand steadily restored, fueling the come-back of heated tourism during vacation seasons; international trade has also been developing consistently, with growing momentum in the export of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar power batteries.

In the past year, China bore various major scientific fruits: Deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (the striver), completing its first international deep-diving scientific research mission in waters surrounding Oceania; the C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, successfully completed its first commercial flight.

"To tide over trials and difficulties, the key lies in revitalizing oneself and building confidence." Those who refuse to just take the easy path will succeed, and those who meet challenges head-on will progress. That's what we mean when we talk about "zhen."

What describes the year 2023 for China? Pressing ahead regardless of achievements or failures; benefiting people from home and abroad alike. And they are indeed what "zhen" symbolizes.

China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Zhen: Help others, Inspire oneself

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2023-12/29/content_116909692.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn

29 december 2023 at 00:04

News published onand distributed by:
Winners of the 4th Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities Awards, TADS AWARDS 2023 Announced





Inaugurated in 2020, TADS Awards is the world's first annual international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities ("TADS") sectors.

The TADS Awards 2023 has selected a total of 15 winners and a number of Rising Stars for three award categories, out of the nominees from 19 countries and territories around the world.

The TADS AWARDS 2023 Award Presentation Ceremony will be held in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport

HONG KONG, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TADS Awards, the world's leading international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities (TADS) sectors, is delighted to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. This prestigious event recognizes and honors outstanding contributions and achievements in the TADS industry worldwide.

The TADS Awards 2023 celebrated the remarkable advancements and transformative power of tokenization. The winners were selected through a rigorous judging process, with industry experts and thought leaders carefully evaluating each nomination based on their expertise and insights. The participating countries and territories (listed alphabetically) include Australia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, China, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. This international representation ensures a wide range of perspectives and expertise in the evaluation process.

A total of fifteen winners were carefully chosen across three award categories: "Best of Class TADS," "Ecosystem Excellence," and "Web3 Innovations." These winners represent the pinnacle of excellence in their respective fields, and their contributions have significantly impacted the TADS industry.

The TADS Awards 2023 Awards Presentation Ceremony will bring industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries together to celebrate the advancements and transformative power of tokenization. It will take place in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport.

The TADS Awards 2023 winners, Rising Stars winners and Student Award winner are:

1) "BEST OF CLASS TADS" category, for issuers of different types of Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities -

Winners:

Private Equity Award - PUBLISH

Fixed & Commercial Asset Award - Real-X-Token

Tokenized Debt & Bond Award - Helix

Arts & Collectible Award - GemSet

Tokenized Fund Award - Frictionless Markets

Rising Stars:

2) "ECOSYSTEM EXCELLENCE" category, for service providers and vertical solution providers along the TADS value chain -

Winners:

Identity & RegTech Solution Award - Shufti Pro

Tokenization & Brokerage Solution Award - Hamsa

Custodian & Trust Solution Award - Manta Network

DeFi & Asset Management Solution Award - Harbour Industrial Capital

& Asset Management Solution Award - Trading & Liquidity Solution Award - Matrixport

Rising Stars:

3) "WEB3 INNOVATIONS" category, for technology companies and service operators from different key areas in Web3 space -

Winners:

Artificial Intelligence Solution Award - Node Nexus Network

Metaverse, AR/ER, NFT Solution Award - CanvasLand

Game, IOT & Robotic Award- LOST (Lemniscate Imagination)

(Lemniscate Imagination) SDG / ESG Solution Award - MetAmazonia

DLT, Blockchain & Cyber Security - XDC Network

Rising Stars:

4) "STUDENT" category (in collaboration with Fintechstic organized by The School of Business and Management of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School))

Winner : MDB - Tokenized Bond for the Blue Economy

Samson Lee, Chairman of the Organization Committee of TADS Awards 2023 and Founder & CEO of CSpro, expressed his excitement about the winners, stating, "We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. Congratulations to all the winners who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the sector." He added, "This year, we are very pleased to expand the ecosystem to student communities with collaboration with The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Their knowledge and ingenuity in the TADS area are very impressive."

Christy Yeung, Head of Fintech and Green Finance Projects at Business School of The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology commented, "In this 4th edition of Fintechstic, we are very delighted to collaborate with TADS Awards." She added, "This year, we have reached a record participation in the award with more than 800 students taking part in this annual event. Big congratulations to the champions, Ananth Dhananjay, Thomas Beaudet and Xinyue Ma from the MDB team."

Prof. Haitian Lu, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in Accounting and Finance, Director of Mainland Development Office and Co-Director of the Center for Economic Sustainability and Entrepreneurial Finance (CESEF) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) commented, "The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been ranked No. 1 university for blockchain in the world, according to the latest "Best Universities for Blockchain 2022" rankings by CoinDesk and is a leader in blockchain technology education and research in Hong Kong. We are very pleased to collaborate with TADS Awards to allow students to gain research experience at the forefront of the industry with real-life projects in the TADS sector, and on the other hand contributing our unique research skills and resources to support the growth of the industry."

"Since TADS Awards have been launched in 2020, as one of the organizers of this award, we are very glad to see this award has been very well-received and recognized by the international community in the TADS industry. The quality and diversity of nominees this year have been exceptional, showcasing the dynamic and innovative nature of the Tokenized Asset & Digitized Securities industry." Peter Yip, Director of Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, added, "In view of the growing new TechFin era, we not only promote the excellence and best practices in tokenization transformation, but also developing education and training programs for TechFin talents. Future talents are instrumental in supporting the growth and development of the blooming Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. We are committed to groom new talents for the new economy!"

Stephen Law, JP, CPPCC National Committee Member and Vice Chairman at Coinstreet Group, commented, "Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities, TADS, are global opportunities. Hong Kong has a good track record being the international financial hub because of its financial, legal and monetary systems and is the ideal city for building next generation digital asset hub. TADS Awards originated from Hong Kong, being the world's first international awards of such space and with 4 years of encouraging growth rate and successful track records enhance such vision of Hong Kong."

TADS Awards is co-organized by Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, Coinstreet, and DAS (Digital Asset Series) Seminars. It has received strong support from strategic partners, including (alphabetically): Accenture, Association of Family Offices in Asia, Crypto Valley Association, Deloitte Hong Kong, DLA Piper, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Cyberport, IBM, InvestHK, Microsoft Hong Kong, Morningstar, Somerley Capital, The Tokenizer, and West Park Capital, among many others, plus support from its Global Ambassadors from over sixteen countries.

For more information about TADS Awards and results from the previous years, please visit https://tadsawards.org/

About TADS Awards

First launched in 2020, the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities Awards ("TADS Awards") is the world's first annual international award for the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. Hosted annually, TADS Awards aims to nurture the growth of Web3 industries by gathering leaders and experts from across the world's financial technology and financial service sectors to establish best practices and performance standards through recognizing and honoring individuals and businesses for their distinguished achievements and contributions in TADS sectors. For more information, please visit - www.tadsawards.org

About Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute (APDEI) aims to create a center of excellence, leadership, and partnership to incubate new thinking and innovation in practice; advance thought-leadership; generate new growth opportunities; enhance the competitiveness and productivity of business; and cultivate talents to accelerate the digital economy. APDEI is a co-organizer of the Digital Asset Series ( www.digitalassetseries.org ) ? a series of seminars that provides free education for the general public about the ever-growing landscape of digital assets and facilitates mass adoption. For more information, please visit - www.apdei.org

About Coinstreet - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning financial services and professional consulting firm focused in the Digital Asset sector. Coinstreet offers innovative fintech services, and business and operation solutions, covering four key business segments including: Tokenization Business, Asset Management, Web3 Enterprise Solutions, and Ecosystem Development. Over the past years, Coinstreet has helped 20+ Blockchain, Digital Asset and FinTech projects in the global market. For more information, please visit www.coinstreet.group

About CSpro (Hong Kong) Limited - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

CSpro is a joint venture between Coinstreet Holdings Limited, an award-winning technology financial services group focused in the digital asset sector, and Somerley Capital Holdings Limited, a leading financial services group in Hong Kong. CSpro provides issuance and distribution services for security token offerings to professional investors (as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance) and is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission to carry out Type 1 (dealing in securities) regulated activities having CE registration number BSH213. For more information, please visit https://hk.cspro.io

About DAS Seminars

Digital Asset Series (DAS) is a series of educational seminars covering twelve (12) key topics in Digital Asset space the general public, aiming to facilitate mass adoption of digital assets. DAS is co-organized by seven (7) leading professional organizations in the digital asset ecosystem in Hong Kong, namely (alphabetically) the Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute ("APDEI"), the Asia Security Token Alliance ("ASTA"), the Hong Kong Blockchain Association ("HKBA"), the Hong Kong Digital Asset Society ("HKDAS"), the Hong Kong Digital Finance Association ("HKDiFi"), the NFT Association of Hong Kong ("NFTAHK") and the Society of Registered Financial Planners ("HKRFP"). DAS is also supported by Invest Hong Kong, the HKSTP - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Cyberport , and five (5) leading universities including the HKUST Crypto-Fintech Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Research Academy (CEFAR), the LITE-lab (Law, Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship Lab) of Faculty of Law at The Hong Kong University, the Faculty of Digital Transformation Centre at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the EMBA Programme at the City University of Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.digitalassetseries.com

SOURCE TADS Awards

29 december 2023 at 05:07

News published onand distributed by:
Manulife Investment Management Announces Final 2023 Cash Distributions for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds





C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 /CNW/ - Manulife Investment Management today announced the final December 2023 cash distributions for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Unitholders of record of the Manulife ETFs at the close of business on December 29, 2023, will receive cash distributions payable on January 12, 2024.

Details of the distribution per unit amounts are as follows:

ETF Ticker Distribution

Amount (per unit) ($) Distribution

Frequency Manulife Smart Short-Term Bond ETF TERM 0.025594 Monthly Manulife Smart Core Bond ETF BSKT 0.018696 Monthly Manulife Smart Corporate Bond ETF CBND 0.027636 Monthly Manulife Smart Global Bond ETF GBND 0.037908 Monthly Manulife Smart Dividend ETF CDIV 0.121793 Quarterly Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF ? Unhedged

Units UDIV.B 0.113706 Quarterly Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF ? Hedged

Units UDIV 0.103709 Quarterly Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF ? USD Units UDIV.U *0.097023 Quarterly Manulife Smart International Dividend ETF ?

Unhedged Units IDIV.B 0.071626 Quarterly Manulife Smart Global Dividend ETF Portfolio GDIV 0.134682 Quarterly Manulife Multifactor Canadian Large Cap Index

ETF MCLC 0.468298 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Large Cap Index ETF ?

Unhedged Units MULC.B 0.263549 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Large Cap Index ETF ?

Hedged Units MULC 0.197019 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Mid Cap Index ETF ?

Unhedged Units MUMC.B 0.259227 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Mid Cap Index ETF ?

Hedged Units MUMC 0.227632 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF ?

Unhedged Units MINT.B 0.370331 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF ?

Hedged Units MINT 0.403853 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Canadian SMID Cap Index

ETF MCSM 0.509101 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Small Cap Index ETF ?

Unhedged Units MUSC.B 0.158783 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor U.S. Small Cap Index ETF ?

Hedged Units MUSC 0.179941 Semi-Annually Manulife Multifactor Emerging Markets Index ETF

? Unhedged Units MEME.B 0.402574 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart Defensive Equity ETF CDEF 0.131264 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF ?

Unhedged Units UDEF.B 0.088511 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF ?

Hedged Units UDEF 0.126058 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF ?

USD Units UDEF.U *0.083432 Semi-Annually Manulife Smart International Defensive Equity

ETF ? Unhedged Units IDEF.B 0.140681 Semi-Annually

*Distribution amount ($) in USD for UDIV.U and UDEF.U.

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange traded funds (ETFs). Please read the ETF Facts and prospectus before investing. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Manulife ETFs are managed by Manulife Investment Management. Manulife Investment Management is a trade name of Manulife Investment Management Limited.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering investors for a better tomorrow. Serving more than 17 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members, we believe our global reach, complementary businesses, and the strength of our parent company position us to help investors capitalize on today's emerging global trends. We provide our clients access to public and private investment solutions across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternative, and sustainability-linked strategies, such as natural capital, to help them make more informed financial decisions and achieve their investment objectives. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management

29 december 2023 at 07:30

News published onand distributed by:
Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors: Nourishing Aspirations in Medicine





DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The esteemed Dr. Manuel Abreu is pleased to announce the launch of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors, a distinguished initiative aimed at supporting high school students with a passion for medicine in achieving their dreams. Dr. Abreu, a board-certified internal medicine physician with over two decades of experience, has dedicated his career to medical education, access to healthcare, and community service.

This one-time scholarship, with a generous award of $1,000, is designed to assist aspiring doctors in pursuing their academic goals.

To apply, prospective scholars are invited to visit the official website https://drmanuelabreuscholarship.com/manuel-abreu-scholarship/ and submit a personal statement addressing a significant challenge currently faced by the healthcare industry. The statement should also propose an innovative solution to address the challenge effectively, outlining why the applicant is passionate about medicine and deserving of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2024, and the winner will be announced on August 15, 2024.

Dr. Manuel Abreu's commitment extends beyond medical practice; he actively contributes to his community through volunteering at the Mission Medical Center/Lady Queen of Peace Church in Delray Beach, Florida, and mentoring medical students and residents. The Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors is a testament to his belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to receive high-quality medical care, regardless of their financial situation.

In celebration of Dr. Manuel Abreu's dedication to medical education and community service, the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors seeks to identify and support the next generation of compassionate healers and problem solvers within the medical field.

For further details on the scholarship, eligibility criteria, and application process, please visit https://drmanuelabreuscholarship.com/manuel-abreu-scholarship/.

About Dr. Manuel Abreu: Dr. Manuel Abreu is a certified internal medicine physician with over 20 years of experience. Born and raised in Cuba, he overcame numerous challenges to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. Dr. Abreu is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the Florida Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. He is the founder of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors, a manifestation of his commitment to helping aspiring doctors achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world.

SOURCE Dr Manuel Abreu Scholarship

29 december 2023 at 11:38

News published onand distributed by:
RBC Global Asset Management Inc. announces final December 2023 cash distributions for RBC ETFs and ETF Series of RBC Funds





TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 /CNW/ - RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (RBC GAM Inc.) today announced the final December 2023 cash distributions for unitholders of RBC ETFs and ETF Series of RBC Funds.

The actual taxable amounts of cash and reinvested distributions for 2023, including the tax characteristics of the distributions, will be reported to brokers (through CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.) in early 2024.

The final December cash distribution amounts per unit for the RBC ETFs are as follows:

FUND NAME FUND

TICKER FINAL CASH

DISTRIBUTION

PER UNIT RBC 1-5 Year Laddered Canadian Bond ETF RLB $0.035 RBC 1-5 Year Laddered Corporate Bond ETF RBO $0.030 RBC Target 2024 Government Bond ETF RGQL $0.025 RBC Target 2025 Government Bond ETF RGQN $0.025 RBC Target 2026 Government Bond ETF RGQO $0.020 RBC Target 2027 Government Bond ETF RGQP $0.025 RBC Target 2028 Government Bond ETF RGQQ $0.030 RBC Target 2029 Government Bond ETF RGQR $0.035 RBC Target 2024 Corporate Bond Index ETF RQL $0.055 RBC Target 2025 Corporate Bond Index ETF RQN $0.050 RBC Target 2026 Corporate Bond Index ETF RQO $0.045 RBC Target 2027 Corporate Bond Index ETF RQP $0.050 RBC Target 2028 Corporate Bond Index ETF RQQ $0.050 RBC Target 2029 Corporate Bond Index ETF RQR $0.030 RBC Canadian Discount Bond ETF RCDB $0.025 RBC PH&N Short Term Canadian Bond ETF RPSB $0.120 RBC U.S. Discount Bond ETF RUDB $0.025 RBC U.S. Discount Bond ETF (USD Units)* RUDB.U $0.019 RBC U.S. Discount Bond (CAD Hedged) ETF RDBH $0.025 RBC Short Term U.S. Corporate Bond ETF RUSB $0.115 RBC Short Term U.S. Corporate Bond ETF (USD Units)* RUSB.U $0.086 RBC Canadian Preferred Share ETF RPF $0.090 RBC Quant Canadian Dividend Leaders ETF RCD $0.080 RBC Canadian Dividend Covered Call ETF RCDC $0.115 RBC Canadian Bank Yield Index ETF RBNK $0.090 RBC Quant U.S. Dividend Leaders ETF RUD $0.075 RBC Quant U.S. Dividend Leaders ETF (USD Units)* RUD.U $0.056 RBC Quant U.S. Dividend Leaders (CAD Hedged) ETF RUDH $0.050 RBC U.S. Dividend Covered Call ETF RUDC $0.101 RBC U.S. Dividend Covered Call ETF (USD Units)* RUDC.U $0.075 RBC U.S. Banks Yield Index ETF RUBY $0.045 RBC U.S. Banks Yield Index ETF (USD Units)* RUBY.U $0.034 RBC U.S. Banks Yield (CAD Hedged) Index ETF RUBH $0.030 RBC Quant European Dividend Leaders ETF RPD $0.055 RBC Quant European Dividend Leaders ETF (USD Units)* RPD.U $0.041 RBC Quant European Dividend Leaders (CAD Hedged) ETF RPDH $0.055 RBC Quant EAFE Dividend Leaders ETF RID $0.060 RBC Quant EAFE Dividend Leaders ETF (USD Units)* RID.U $0.045 RBC Quant EAFE Dividend Leaders (CAD Hedged) ETF RIDH $0.060 RBC Quant Emerging Markets Dividend Leaders ETF RXD $0.075 RBC Quant Emerging Markets Dividend Leaders ETF (USD Units)* RXD.U $0.056

* Cash distribution per unit ($) amounts are USD for RUDB.U, RUSB.U, RUD.U, RUDC.U, RUBY.U, RPD.U, RID.U, and RXD.U

The final December cash distribution amounts per unit for ETF Series of RBC Funds are as follows:

FUND NAME FUND

TICKER FINAL CASH

DISTRIBUTION

PER UNIT RBC Canadian Equity Income Fund ? ETF Series RCEI $0.059 RBC North American Value Fund ? ETF Series RNAV $0.395 RBC North American Growth Fund ? ETF Series RNAG $0.278 RBC International Equity Fund ? ETF Series RINT $0.290 RBC Emerging Markets Dividend Fund ? ETF Series REMD $0.047 RBC Global Precious Metals Fund ? ETF Series RGPM $0.000 RBC Global Energy Fund ? ETF Series RENG $0.545 RBC Global Technology Fund ? ETF Series RTEC $0.000

Unitholders of record on December 29, 2023 will receive distributions payable on January 8, 2024.

Please note that the above cash distributions do not include the annual reinvested capital gains distributions for 2023, which are reported separately.

For further information regarding ETF Series of RBC Funds, please visit www.rbcgam.com/etfsolutions.

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"). Please read the applicable ETF Facts or prospectus before investing. Mutual funds and ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. ETF Series is a class of securities offered by a mutual fund that are bought and sold at market price on a stock exchange. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. RBC Funds are managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc., which is a member of the RBC GAM group of companies and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.

RBC Target 2024 Corporate Bond Index ETF, RBC Target 2025 Corporate Bond Index ETF, RBC Target 2026 Corporate Bond Index ETF, RBC Target 2027 Corporate Bond Index ETF, RBC Target 2028 Corporate Bond Index ETF and RBC Target 2029 Corporate Bond Index ETF (collectively, the "TMCB ETFs") do not seek to deliver a predetermined amount at maturity, and the amount an investor receives may be more or less than their original investment. The TMCB ETFs have been developed solely by RBC GAM Inc., and are not in any way connected to or sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the London Stock Exchange Group plc and its group undertakings (collectively, the "LSE Group").

All rights in the FTSE Canada 2024 Maturity Corporate Bond Index, FTSE Canada 2025 Maturity Corporate Bond Index, FTSE Canada 2026 Maturity Corporate Bond Index, FTSE Canada 2027 Maturity Corporate Bond Index, FTSE Canada 2028 Maturity Corporate Bond Index and FTSE Canada 2029 Maturity Corporate Bond Index (collectively, the "FTSE Maturity Corporate Bond Indices") vest in the relevant LSE Group company which owns the FTSE Maturity Corporate Bond Indices. "FTSE" is a trade mark of the relevant LSE Group company and is used by any other LSE Group company under license.

The FTSE Maturity Corporate Bond Indices are calculated by or on behalf of FTSE Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. or its affiliate, agent or partner. The LSE Group does not accept any liability whatsoever to any person arising out of (a) the use of, reliance on or any error in the FTSE Maturity Corporate Bond Indices or (b) investment in or operation of the TMCB ETFs. The LSE Group makes no claim, prediction, warranty or representation either as to the results to be obtained from the TMCB ETFs or the suitability of the FTSE Maturity Corporate Bond Indices for the purpose to which they are being put by RBC GAM Inc.

The RBC Canadian Bank Yield Index ETF, RBC U.S. Banks Yield Index ETF, and RBC U.S. Banks Yield (CAD Hedged) Index ETF have been developed solely by RBC GAM Inc. and are not sponsored, promoted, sold or supported by Solactive AG ("Solactive"). The Solactive Canada Bank Yield Index, Solactive U.S. Bank Yield NTR Index and Solactive U.S. Bank Yield NTR (CAD Hedged) Index are calculated and published by Solactive. Solactive does not offer any express or implicit guarantee or assurance regarding the results to be obtained from the use of the index or index price nor does Solactive make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the ETFs.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 94,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.?

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

About RBC Global Asset Management

RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and includes money managers BlueBay and Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management. RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. The RBC GAM group of companies manage approximately $555 billion in assets and have approximately 1,500 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

SOURCE RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

29 december 2023 at 17:15

News published onand distributed by:
French policemen patrol near the Eiffel Tower, Sunday, December 3, 2023. CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP

The French government said on Friday, December 29, it will deploy more than 95,000 police and military personnel for New Year Eve's celebrations, adding that a heightened "terrorist threat" required tight security. Paris alone, where up to 1 million revelers are expected on the Champs-Elysees Sunday night  twice as many as last year  will get 6,000 security forces to keep order.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters that Sunday's deployment was motivated by "a context of a heightened terrorist threat due to the conflict in Israel and Palestine." The national deployment would include 90,000 police or gendarmes, 5,000 members of the anti-terror military contingent Operation Sentinelle as well as mobile units, Darmanin said.

More people were expected in the streets of the capital than last year because of additional celebrations to mark 2024 as the year of the Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Darmanin said.

There will be a ban on alcoholic drinks in some areas of Paris, Darmanin said. No political demonstrations will be allowed, added Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.

People will be body-searched before getting access to a festivities' perimeter around the Champs-Elysees, and be banned from carrying "any object that could be used as a weapon," he said. Drones will be used for surveillance, and France's intelligence services will be put on alert, Darmanin said.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Terrorism prevention: the impossibility of zero risk
Argentina's President Javier Milei announces economic measures during televised address in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 20, 2023 in this screen grab obtained from a handout video. ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT TV/VIA REUTERS

Argentine President Javier Milei has sent letters to BRICS leaders to formalize his decision to reject an invitation to join the grouping of major emerging economies, the presidency said on Friday, December 29.

The bloc  made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa  in August announced it was admitting six new members in a bid to counter the Western-led global order. The membership of Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates was due to take effect from January 1, 2024.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes BRICS decide to welcome new members, under pressure from Beijing and Moscow

The letters signed by Milei and published by several media outlets said Argentina's membership was "not considered appropriate at this time." In his letters he said his foreign policy "differs in many aspects from that of the previous government. In this sense, some decisions made by the previous administration will be reviewed."

The libertarian outsider Milei took office this month after his resounding defeat of Argentina's traditional political parties, and he had vowed on the campaign trail not to join BRICS. During his election campaign, Milei said "our geopolitical alignment is with the United States and Israel. We are not going to ally with communists."

Despite vowing to cut ties with major trading partners China and Brazil, he has taken a more conciliatory tone since coming to office.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Milei unveils series of austerity measures as thousands take to the streets
Palestinians displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip cook at the makeshift tent camp in the Muwasi area on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. FATIMA SHBAIR / AP

A Hamas delegation is due in Cairo on Friday, December 29, to give its "observations" about an Egyptian plan for a ceasefire that would end the war in Gaza, a Hamas official said. Sources close to Hamas told Agence France-Presse that Cairo's three-stage plan provides for renewable ceasefires, a staggered release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and ultimately a ceasefire to end the war sparked by the deadly October 7 attack on Israel.

Diaa Rashwan, who heads Egypt's State Information Services, confirmed on Thursday that Cairo had put forward "a framework intended to bring together the views of all parties concerned, with the aim of ending the shedding of Palestinian blood, stopping the aggression against the Gaza Strip, and restoring regional peace and security." "This proposal comprises three successive and interconnected stages leading to a ceasefire," Rashwan's statement said. Rashwan said Egypt had not yet received a response to its initiative which would be made public "in detail" when Cairo had received feedback from all concerned.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel-Hamas war gives Egypt a chance to regain diplomatic influence

A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Thursday about the planned visit by the Qatar-based Hamas political office. Qatar, backed by Egypt and the United States, last month helped broker a first week-long truce in which 80 Israeli hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. "A high-level delegation from the Hamas political office will visit Cairo tomorrow to meet Egyptian officials and give the response of the Palestinian factions, including several observations, to their plan," the official said. The official said these observations focus on "the modalities of the planned exchanges and the number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed, as well as obtaining guarantees for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza."

The plan was put last week to officials of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which is also battling Israeli forces in the territory, when the chiefs of both movements visited the Egyptian capital. It also provides for a Palestinian government of technocrats after talks involving "all Palestinian factions," which would be responsible for governing and rebuilding in post-war Gaza.

"We are in contact [with mediators] until this moment," declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting on Thursday in Tel Aviv with some of the families. "I cant elaborate on the details, we are working to return everyone," he said.

Gaza's people in 'grave peril' says WHO

More than 80% 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 around Rafah. They are suffering chronic shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine, with only limited aid entering the Palestinian coastal territory. An Israeli siege imposed after October 7, following years of crippling blockade, has deprived Gazans of access to resources. The severe shortages have been only sporadically eased by humanitarian aid convoys entering primarily via Egypt. Last week the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for "safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale."

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel forces Gazans into new exodus toward Rafah: 'Where do they want us to move to?'

UN World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on Thursday for "urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril" facing besieged Gaza's people, including "terrible injuries, acute hunger and [...] severe risk of disease."

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 Agence France-Presse (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.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Failing to achieve its goals, Israel promises a 'long' war in Gaza

According to the prime minister's office, at least 23 of the approximately 129 hostages believed to be held in Gaza have either died or been killed in captivity. 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.

On Thursday, a hard-hit Israeli kibbutz announced the death of an American-Canadian-Israeli woman, the oldest person who had been thought to still be held hostage in Gaza. The death of Judith Weinstein, 70, was announced days after her husband, Gad Haggai, 73, was also declared dead. It was not immediately clear how Israeli authorities determined her death.

Cyprus maritime corridor

Meanwhile, 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.

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. 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.

Under the plan, the aid would be checked in Cyprus by a joint committee, including representatives from Israel. Israeli foreign ministry spokesman 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.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel-Hamas war: The deadly targeting of hospitals in Gaza
There is no room in the Legislature, or our party, for this behavior. I understand people make mistakes, but his comments and defiance to law enforcement are beyond the pale. In addition, any lawmaker attempting to use his or her elected position to threaten anyone or skirt the law is completely unacceptable.

_North Dakota House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, calling on Williston GOP Rep. Nico Rios to resign due to what police called verbally abusive, homophobic, racially abusive and discriminatory comments Rios directed toward officers during his DUI arrest.

q q q

As I weigh my future in the legislature, I am going to spend the next few months addressing my issues with alcoholism and getting the help I need. Any decision I make going forward will be made with a sober mind and deliberative clarity. To do so, I will be prioritizing breaking my chemical dependency on alcohol, improving the interpersonal relations I have strained, and listening to our community.

_State Rep. Nico Rios, R-Williston, announcing he has no immediate plans to heed calls for him to resign following his DUI arrest in which he railed at police with profane, homophobic and anti-migrant language.

q q q

The goal of the committee should also be that at the end of the day the Event Center operates substantially better than it does, because we owe it to the citizens.

_Bismarck City Commissioner Anne Cleary, one of three members of a committee looking into Bismarck Event Center operations after the facility's director was fired but then reinstated.

q q q

Voters should be paying attention to whether their Legislature is acting in good faith, whether their Legislature believes in the rule of law and is willing to follow a court order, or whether, more cynically, they're trying to game the system.

_University of Colorado-Boulder law professor Doug Spencer, noting that the resolution of a legal dispute over the drawing of legislative boundaries in North Dakota will impact elections for years to come.

q q q

Nobody should be surprised when pigs start walking across that border if they haven't already. The question is: What will be done about it?

-- University of Saskatchewan professor Ryan Brook, on an exploding population of hard-to-eradicate wild pigs in Canada that is threatening to spill into northern U.S. states including North Dakota.

q q q

We are not Denbury.

_Jeff Skaare, director of land, legal and regulatory affairs for Summit Carbon Solutions, telling state regulators that the company's planned carbon dioxide pipeline will be safer than the one operated by the oil firm Denbury that ruptured near Satartia, Mississippi, in February 2020, sending dozens of people to the hospital.

q q q

One of the first things that Ty said to me after he got the breathing tube out was, Hey, so I got shot.' And I was like, Yeah, maybe dont do that again.

_Madison Hawes, wife of Fargo Police Officer Tyler Hawes, who was wounded in a July 14 shooting that wounded a second officer and killed another.

q q q

"We don't typically get ice storms up here."

_Megan Jones, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service's Bismarck office, discussing the rarity of this week's weather. The last ice storm warning the office issued was in 2016.

q q q

Its been a long time since we did an ICBM. (It's) the biggest thing, in some ways, that the Air Force has ever taken on.

_Frank Kendall, secretary of the Air Force, which is overhauling the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile system with a new ICBM called the Sentinel.
Pope Francis in Kinshasa on February 3 TIZIANA FABI / AFP

The document was bound to cause a stir in any Catholic quarters. But it was a storm of protest that swept across Africa in the days following the publication on December 18 of a "doctrinal declaration" authorizing the blessing (the act of invoking divine benevolence on one or more persons) of homosexual couples and "undocumented couples," including remarried divorcees.

This text from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Roman Curia institution responsible for overseeing Catholic dogma, entitled "Fiducia supplicans" ("Supplicant trust") was drafted by Cardinal Manuel Fernandez, head of the organization, but signed and approved by the Pope.

While advocates of the LGBTQ+ community rejoiced  particularly in Belgium and Germany, where the episcopate had called for such a step forward  representatives of the Catholic Church in Africa showed widespread defiance. This was expressed on December 20 in a letter written by the Archbishop of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, who is also president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, which brings together all the continent's senior clergy.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Is Africa the future of Catholicism (and will the next Pope be African)?

"The ambiguity of this declaration [of December 18], which lends itself to numerous interpretations and manipulations, is causing much perplexity among the faithful," he wrote. He asked the continent's bishops' conferences to give their opinion on the text signed by Pope Francis in order to "draw up a single synodal declaration, valid for the whole Church in Africa"  the aim being to be able to "issue a pastoral statement on the subject, which will serve as a general guideline for all the local Churches on our continent".

The blessing approved by the Pope does not mark an evolution in doctrine, but opens the way to new practices on the part of priests, asking them to be more welcoming towards the faithful and to bless same-sex couples outside any liturgical moment, provided that the blessing does not resemble a wedding.

However, this clarification was not enough to prevent hostility in several African countries. In Malawi, two-thirds of bishops signed a joint declaration refusing to perform blessings. Cameroon's senior clergy were also quick to "formally forbid" their priests from blessing homosexual couples. While the wording was less aggressive in Togo, where the episcopate recalls that "the Church recommends that people in same-sex relationships be welcomed with respect, compassion and sensitivity," the refusal to put the Pope's decision into practice is the same. In Lome, priests are advised to "abstain" from blessing same-sex couples. Several other countries, including Cote d'Ivoire and Zambia, have also expressed their doubts about this pastoral evolution.

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The year is drawing to a close with the Western camp in a worse state than when it began. The gulf between words and action when it comes to Ukraine, which the West claims is a priority without following this up accordingly, is at the heart of the issue.

But its unwavering support of Israel's most radical administration to date, in the wake of the brutal killing of Israeli citizens by Hamas on October 7, has also significantly diminished its credibility. Those involved will struggle to regain trust after turning a blind eye to the indiscriminate bombing of innocent Palestinian civilians under the guise of eliminating the Islamist movement.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Failing to achieve its goals, Israel promises a 'long' war in Gaza

While its important to question the variable geometry principles of the Western camp, we must also ensure that it doesnt turn into a systematic approach. Specifically, it cannot be allowed to mask a genuine Arab breakdown, a silence that is becoming all the more embarrassing as it continues. The only benefit of this is to confirm the pointlessness of the Arab League, which has transformed into a League of Nations that has neglected to anticipate its demise.

Once a dominant regional force, Egypt now finds itself weakened and unable to exert its influence on neighboring countries such as Libya and Sudan. Syria, like other once stable nations, has been unable to recover after a decade of civil war.

Design flaw

The Arabian Peninsula solidified its position as the new hub of the Arab world with the historic diplomatic milestone of 2020: the Abraham Accords. This groundbreaking agreement normalized diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Bahrain and, later, Morocco. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which is the final and most important action, has been put on hold due to the war between Israel and Hamas.

The design flaw in these normalizations was brought to light in the violence of the last few months, which has revealed the neglect of the Palestinian question, always a central issue for the Arab world. The peace initiative launched by Saudi regent Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz Al Saud in 2002 offered Israel, which has never responded to it with anything other than contempt, comprehensive normalization with the countries of the region in exchange for the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders of Gaza and the West Bank.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel-Hamas war: 'For the moment, Netanyahu strongly rejects the two-state solution'

The two most influential leaders of the Arabian peninsula, the United Arab Emirates' Mohammed bin Zayed and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman, have successfully demonstrated their ability to adapt to the world's new imbalances through dialogue with the West, Beijing and Moscow. This was abundantly clear through the pomp and circumstance surrounding Vladimir Putin's visit to their countries in early December. Faced with the ongoing destruction of Gaza, the inaction of these two new members of the BRICS alliance, an element of the Global South that is willingly opposed to the Western camp, is all the more incomprehensible.

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A RESEARCH centre at University of Limerick (UL) has been recognised for its work on improving health services for older adults.

The Ageing Research Centre (ARC) has been recognised at the UL Presidents Research Excellence and Impact Awards for its leadership in championing interdisciplinary research which is focused on supporting older adults and family caregivers.

UL President Kerstin Mey presented the Outstanding Research Collaboration Award, at a ceremony which was hosted on campus, to professor Rose Galvin, professor in physiotherapy and professor Kate Robinson, professor of occupational therapy who are co-directors of the ARC.

Professor Mey highlighted the breadth and strength of the collaboration as an exemplar of best practice in tackling grand challenges such as healthcare.

Collaborators on the project include the UL Hospitals Group, Mid-West Community Healthcare, the National Ambulance Services, St Vincent's Hospital, Connolly Memorial Hospital, the Irish Gerontological Society, the Health Research Board and others.

Professor Mey said: Research from the Ageing Research Centre has been instrumental in driving the adoption and integration of innovative healthcare models for older adults and their family caregivers. This research has played a pivotal role in shaping national policies pertaining to health and social care for older adults.

The Presidents Research Excellence and Impact Awards recognise staff at all University levels who have made outstanding contributions in the excellence and impact of their research.

One of the studies undertaken as part of the ARC collaboration is OPTIMEND, which introduced a dedicated team of health and social care professionals (HSCP) into an emergency department (ED) to focus on timely assessment and intervention among people aged over 65 years.

Older adults represent up to 25% of all ED users and experience longer ED stays and demonstrate higher rates of poorer outcomes following emergency care such as unscheduled return to the ED, emergency of unplanned hospitalisation.

Professor Galvin explained that the study was the first trial of its kind in the world.

The evidence shows the impact it can have on the outcomes and experiences of older adults, she said.
LIMERICK City and County Council has welcomed over 1m in funding to support local community climate action in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The funding is available through two programmes: the Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) and Siolta Glasa: Creative Climate Action Fund designed to empower communities build low-carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way to contribute to national climate and energy targets.

The CCAP and Siolta Glasa: Creative Climate Action Fund aim to empower and strengthen communities and support the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Limerick City and County.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell said: The launch of the CCAP and Siolta Glasa: Creative Climate Action Fund signifies a commitment to empowering our communities to help realise the vision of a greener, more resilient future through collective action, where creativity and community engagement become catalysts for lasting change.

Under the CCAP, LCCC has been allocated a total of 811,000 for community/non-profit groups within the county. The 100% funding opportunity is for capital investment in small, medium, and large-scale community climate action projects

As an investment under the Climate Action Fund, the overall objective of the CCAP is to support small and large, rural and urban communities to take positive climate action. This programme supports direct engagement with communities to both promote and assist in the scale-up of community climate action from the respective starting points of the communities.

LCCC have also secured 249,936 in grant aid from the Creative Climate Action Fund II for a cross-directorate project Siolta Glasa.

Supported by Creative Ireland, Siolta Glasa uses creativity to empower seven communities, in collaboration with creative partners, to take climate actions by making carbon reduction activities relevant.
BDs Research Centre Ireland (RCI) based in Limerick is passionate about supporting community-based initiatives that foster future talent.

Its secondary school competition STEM Stars is now open to schools all over the Munster region for 2023/24 registrations, which will see a shortlisted group of schools invited to BD Research Centre Ireland for the final in March 2024.

STEM learning promotes critical thinking, leadership, curiosity, and innovation.

Now in its fifth year, STEM Stars aims to inspire and encourage students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and offers a 10,000 prize fund to support and develop STEM education and facilities as well as prizes for the winning students.

Previously open to schools in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, the success of the competition has seen it expanded this year to welcoming entries from all schools in the Munster region.

To further promote STEM and help prepare students for their future, RCI is also offering much sought-after Transition Year placements for one of the winning schools where students will gain valuable exposure to R&D in a global medical device company.

To take part in this years STEM Stars, students are asked to identify a healthcare problem that is meaningful to them and, using STEM subjects, they are asked for creative and innovative ways of solving the problem.

Limerick and Clare ETB Community Colleges shone brightly at last years BD Stem Stars awards, with Desmond College in Newcastle West in county Limerick taking home first place and Colaiste Chiarain taking home third place at BDs world-class Research Centre Ireland in Castletroy, Limerick.

Desmond College students Madison Saracoglu and Emma Greaney created the award winning Rehabilitation Nation device for rehabilitating shoulder injuries, which earned them the BD STEM Stars trophy for first place, as well as a 10,000 prize fund.

This prize fund went towards STEM-related facilities at their school and they serve as a great inspiration for students from all over Munster to enter the 2024 competition.

Speaking about BD STEM STARS, director of schools at Limerick and Clare ETB, Donncha O Treasaigh, said: Limerick and Clare ETB is delighted to partner with BD in promoting the awards programme. This superb BD initiative goes to the heart of a very important national objective to promote STEM learning in our schools, and this is something that we are very committed to.

Not only does it promote STEM subjects, it also gives participating students an insight into the incredibly exciting career that they can have in STEM; a career in which they can make a real impact on peoples lives and work in cutting-edge environments like BDs RCI Centre here in Limerick.

Site director at BDs Research Centre Ireland (RCI) in Limerick, Sean Wall, is also looking forward to this years competition:

BD is proud to empower Irelands future innovators by fostering STEM-rich education across the country  where curiosity meets discovery, and every classroom is a gateway to boundless possibilities.

For more information on BD STEM Stars visit www.bd.com/en-uk/company/bd-stem-stars
Barnardos childrens charity is calling on the public to donate any unwanted Christmas gifts to their shops.

Whether its a jumper a size too small, perfume you already have or a book you already read, it can be donated to one of Barnardos shops and will be greatly welcomed by staff, the charity says.

Every cent generated from a donated item will go towards the charitys work with children and families across Ireland in 2024, the children's charity outlined.

Barnardos has seven shops around the country, located in Dublin - Dalkey, Clondalkin, Kilbarrack and Dun Laoghaire - Carlow, Cork and Wexford that are accepting donations.

Bernadette Harrington, Barnardos Retail Shops manager said: "If you have received a gift that was too small, too big or just not right we will gladly find a home for it in our shop. The funds brought in from each donated item will go directly towards the work in 54 service locations, in family homes, schools, early learning and care settings and communities. In 2022, Barnardos worked with 20,838 children and their families, your donations will ensure our work can continue to support those who need it. Because childhood lasts a lifetime".
Maria Andonova is the keeper of the facility Isida where the aid for the flood victims in Dobrich is being stored. It is organized by volunteers from the Facebook group Helping Dobrich.

Andonova is also one of the two-people from the citizens quota in the Public Council of the Municipality of Dobrich that prepares the criteria and the lists of victims to receive aid. The Public Council was appointed by Mayor Detelina Nikolova on July 7, 2014. A total of 449,000 levs have been distributed in recent days by the Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC). The municipality is expected to allocate another 442,500 thousand levs from the Foundation Aid for Charities in Bulgaria.

According to donors from Helping Dobrich, Andonova has not been authorized to represent them, and has been appointed under vague criteria. The same applies to the other representative of the citizens quota  Beyadin Kadir, who is supposed to work for injured people. One criterion is nevertheless clear

Being affiliated with the Citizen for European Development of Bulgaria party (GERB)

In addition to the City Hall being run by GERB, Maria Andonova has chaired the Central Electoral Commission for GERB and Beyadin Kadir does not hide his bias for GERB in an interview for Belezhnik.bg:

I am really a partisan of GERB. I have a structure. We have about 103 or 104 people who support GERB.

The picture on the site shows his picturesque home, which was not particularly damaged by the floods.

I met Beyadin Kadir in the Public Council. I did not know who he was and what he was doing. My inclusion was incidental, on the proposal of Kaloyan Kostadinov. It has no connection with my membership in GERB. I hold no post in GERBs structures; I am simply a supporter and that has nothing to do with the flooding. Everything escalated from the group Helping Dobrich and I do not want to comment on why. There was no masterminding; it all happened accidentally, without foreordained plans, this is how Maria Andonova commented before Bivol the fact that both civil society representatives are connected with GERB.

The lists of the municipality, however, contains double and triple entries of the same families, some of whom have not even been affected by the floods, insists Iva Slavkova, who has filed a complaint with the Ombudsman because of doubts about the lack of transparency in the distribution of donations. Aid has been systematically shifted contradictory to the will of the donor and personal donations are even given away to other people, she resents.

There is no such option. We went on location with a BRC representative to see the properties. 212 out a total of 912 applications were eliminated because they were filed by companies or individuals with several properties, is how Maria Andonova denied the accusations.

The Dobrich City Hall said they dont have the recent Red Cross list for distribution of aid. The Foundation Aid for Charities in Bulgaria has wired 442,500 levs to the municipality. A list has been sent for consultation and coordination with the Foundation, and after that it will be published, assured the press office.

Bivol also expects comment from the Mayor of Dobrich Detelina Nikolova (GERB) on the criteria, according to which citizens representatives have been selected for the Public Council, and the fact that both are activists of GERB.

***

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A Tipperary farmer has been jailed for eight years, with another two years suspended, after 730,000 worth of cannabis was found in his articulated lorry.

Martin Murray (58), Crimlin Little, Moneygall, on the Tipperary/Offaly border had denied importing the drugs into Ireland and having them for sale or supply to others but was convicted when a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict at the end of a trial at Tullamore Circuit Court.

The sentencing hearing today (Tuesday, December 19) was told Mr Murray was charged after gardai had stopped him when he was driving a truck at Dunkerrin on June 30, 2017.

Replying to prosecution counsel Kevin White, Detective Garda Val Russell told Judge Keenan Johnson that gardai mounted a surveillance operation on all major routes in Ireland after receiving information that Mr Murray had come into Northern Ireland from Cairnryan and intended driving home to Moneygall.

His vehicle was seen at the M7 plaza at Portlaoise and it then left the motorway at exit 21 and was followed by a garda vehicle.

Detective Garda Russell said the lorry engaged in counter surveillance manoeuvres, giving the example of where it had exited from the motorway, gone across a bridge, and then drove again on the motorway in the original direction.

When it exited at Barack Obama Plaza it was followed by another garda detective and he pulled Mr Murray's vehicle over near his home.

Mr Murray co-operated with a search of the lorry, saying: No problem, there's nothing on it.

When nothing was visible the vehicle was seized and brought to Nenagh Garda Station where nothing was found in another search.

Gardai did find two Samsung mobile phones, one of which was encrypted, 1,570 worth of cash and paper receipts for fuel.

A warrant was obtained for a search of Mr Murray's property and land but nothing of evidential value was found and the truck was then brought to Dublin Port for another search.

Sniffer dogs and a scan uncovered nothing but a number of large steel tubes were found under other items.

Gardai searched the tubes by drilling holes and inserting a camera and found the drugs vacuum packed, along with 6,000, also vacuum packed in a tube.

Gardai also found Garmin sat nav devices and a tachograph and Detective Garda Russell said Claire Greaney from Forensic Science Ireland, a key witness in the trial, analysed the tachograph and found the truck had travelled from Moneygall to Rosslare, on to Fishguard, across the UK and eventually to Breda in the Netherlands where it appeared to remain from June 24 to June 28.

The court heard that Detective Garda Conor O'Sullivan extracted data from the sat nav and established that the truck had travelled to Hull, England from the Netherlands and gone up to Scotland to Cairnryan Port.

That detective also found that even though the sat nav was not activated between June 24 and June 28, it was still collecting data and recorded five movements of between 21 and 90 miles during those days in the Netherlands.

When Mr Murray was arrested on July 5, 2017 he said It has nothing to do with me and he wasn't prepared to give an account of his travels and that it was on the CMR (travel document).

Detective Garda Russell said no admissions were made by the accused and a file was sent to the DPP and he was charged on October 25, 2018.

The court was also told that his passport was found in the lorry two days into the trial, which took place in May this year.

Detective Garda Russell said Mr Murray had a previous conviction for the sale and supply of drugs dating from 1999 when he received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence at Naas Circuit Court for a an offence committed in October 1996.

He had also received a five-year suspended sentence for larceny in 1996 and his most recent offences were for road traffic matters in 2010 and 2009.

Asked about the accused's background, Detective Garda Russell said he knew he had a farm and a daughter of his had accompanied him to court at some stage.

Michael Gillespie, solicitor for Mr Murray, said the accused's sole defence had been knowledge and the State's case relied on the statutory presumption of knowledge on the part of his client.

Mr Gillespie said there was no evidence that Mr Murray was present when the substance was put into the steel tubes which were sealed and he had been instructed to tell the court that there would be an appeal.

The solicitor said Mr Murray had left school at 14 having completed one year of secondary because his father was ill and he had been principally a farmer since then.

He also got involved in haulage and he would go to the continent and on this occasion he picked up a load in Holland to bring to Ireland.

Mr Gillespie said the trial had heard evidence from James Quinn, a former president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, that a haulier would only be entitled to carry out a visual inspection of his load.

Mr Gillespie presented testimonials on Mr Murray's behalf from a number of people, including a haulier, a mechanic, farmers and a vet.

They variously attested to the accused being a hard worker and very good with animals.

The court also received a letter from the GP of the accused's brother which related the worry and stress caused to him by Martin Murray's prosecution.

The defendant's brother, Seamus Murray, wrote a letter to the court saying that they had grown up with their sisters and when their parents were elderly Martin remained on the farm and they worked side by side on farms.

He referred to the accused as a good friend and brother who helped everyone locally and since Martin's conviction Seamus Murray had to run two farms.

A letter from Cloverhill Prison said Martin Murray was a very good worker in the laundry there who was courteous and polite to staff.

Before Judge Johnson announced his sentence, Mr Gillespie said the accused wished to address the court but was advised that it would not be of any assistance to do so.

Judge Johnson said the minimum sentence for an offence of this kind involving drugs valued at 13,000 or more was 10 years but he could depart from that in certain circumstances.

He noted the accused had pleaded not guilty and had a previous conviction for a similar offence.

He said the amount and kind of drug was an aggravating factor, saying that cannabis was anything but a soft drug and along with being a gateway to other drugs, 5% of cannabis users went on to develop schizophrenia.

Mitigating factors included the man's cooperation with the gardai, his recent unblemished record, and the impact on his brother which was a significant penalty in itself.

The offence carried a sentence of up to life but the headline sentence he imposed was 10 years, with the final two years suspended upon entry of a 500 peace bond for five years post-release.

The sentence was backdated to May 4 last when Mr Murray first went into custody.
Google has agreed to settle a major lawsuit. This lawsuit accused the Alphabet company of secretly monitoring the online activities of countless individuals. These individuals believed they were browsing the internet in private.

The trial was initially scheduled for February 5, 2024. However, it was put on hold by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California. This delay occurred after Google and the consumer plaintiffs announced an initial agreement to settle. The lawsuit initially sought damages of no less than $5 billion, Reuters reported.

Details of the settlement remain under wraps. However, both parties have confirmed reaching a binding agreement through mediation. Lawyers are likely to present a formal settlement for court approval by February 24, 2024.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed that Google's use of analytics, cookies and various apps enabled the company to track user activities. This tracking occurred even when users opted for 'Incognito' mode in Google Chrome or 'private' browsing in other browsers.

This action, according to the plaintiffs, turned Google into an uncontrollable repository of personal information. It allowed Google to acquire insights into the user's personal interests, activities, and even sensitive searches.

Judge Rogers, in August, denied Google's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. She indicated that it was unclear whether Google had legally committed not to collect data in private browsing mode. The judge cited Google's privacy policies and other company statements that hint at limitations on data collection.

Lawsuit initiated in 2020

The lawsuit, initiated in 2020, involves a vast number of Google users. The timeframe for these violations dates back to June 1, 2016. Each user involved in the lawsuit sought damages of at least $5,000. These damages were for alleged breaches of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws.

(With Reuters inputs)

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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.

View Full Image (The Economist)

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 www.economist.com
After the Reserve Bank of India announced that the asset quality of banks has shown significant improvement in the first half of FY24, market expert Porinju Veliyath took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the central bank on achieving this extraordinary feat.

"High NPAs reflected the sins of the past. Interestingly, those who passively oversaw reckless lending tried to play messiah by calling out the mess. It took nearly a decade of discipline, reforms, and prudence to clean up the inherited mess. Kudos to @DasShaktikanta and #RBI #ChangingIndia," posted the expert on X.

In its Financial Stability Report (FSR) that came out on Thursday (December 28), the RBI announced that scheduled commercial banks' gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) have dropped to a seven-year low, while net NPAs contracted to a decade low. Also, banks' asset quality for the industrial sector improved, while there was a massive decline in large borrowers' shares by the end of September 2023.

As per the FSR, banks' gross NPAs continued to decline and stood at a seven-year low of 3.2% in September 2023. Meanwhile, the net NPAs stood at a ten-year low of 1.3% under which private bankers' net NPAs were 0.8%.

The resilience of the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) sector improved with CRAR at 27.6%, GNPA ratio at 4.6% and return on assets (RoA) at 2.9%, respectively, in September 2023," it added.

RBI also noted that the buoyant demand for bank credit and early signs of a revival in the investment cycle are benefiting from improved asset quality, return to profitability, and strong capital and liquidity buffers of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs).

Macro stress tests for credit risk reveal that SCBs would be able to comply with minimum capital requirements, with the system-level CRAR in September 2024 projected at 14.8%, 13.5% and 12.2%, respectively, under baseline, medium and severe stress scenarios," the report further said.

Further, the report highlighted that the quarterly slippage ratio which was stubbornly rising since December 2021, cooled off with considerable improvement recorded by public sector banks.

Notably, the provision coverage ratio (PCR) of the banks has been steadily rising since March last year and reached 71.5% in the September quarter. According to the data, the PCR of private banks and foreign banks exceeded 75%.

Meanwhile, the write-offs to GNPA ratio soared during the first half of FY24 on an annualised basis, after declining for two consecutive years.

As for credit growth, the report revealed that banks' credit started picking up in H2 of FY22 and sustained its momentum, however, further gathered pace to touch a decadal high of 17.4% as on December 16, 2022 -- a level last observed during 2011.

RBI said, the Indian financial sector has remained resilient, building on the consolidation of the banking sectors balance sheet, the ongoing reduction in bad loans, and the buffering of risk-absorbing capacity.

Macro stress tests indicate that all banks would meet the regulatory minimum capital requirements even in a severe stress scenario. Stress tests indicate that some non-banking financial companies may be vulnerable to liquidity shocks. Contagion risks and consequent additional solvency losses remain limited.

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Here are some stocks to watch out for ahead of Fridays trading session

Tata Coffee: Tata Group company's Tata Coffee will complete the merger with Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL), and Tata Beverages and Foods Ltd (TBFL) on Monday, the company said in its stock exchange filing on Thursday. Tata Coffee shares closed 1.33% higher at 308.15 per share on Thursday.

J B Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd: JB Chemicals looks to continue its growth momentum, driven by the geographical expansion of legacy brands, scale-up in Sanzyme, Azmarda, and Razel franchises, MR productivity improvement, scale-up of contract manufacturing business and new product launches across markets. The shares closed lower at 1,614 on Thursday.

Hindustan Petroleum: Shares of Indian oil marketing companies are on an uptrend and scored record-high levels on Thursday. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) surged significantly and were locked at 10% upper circuit to hit a 52-week high mark of 425.45 apiece on the BSE. HPCL emerged as one of the top gainers on BSE on Thursday.

Suzlon Energy Ltd: Suzlon Energy won an order for the development of a 300-MW wind power project for Apraava Energy, the company said in a filing on Thursday. Last week, the company bagged a repeat order for the development of a 193.2 MW wind power project from The KP Group. The shares of the company closed 3% up at 38.15 on Thursday.

Zomato Ltd: Online delivering platform Zomato Ltd share price closed 3% down at 123.20 on Thursday after the company said that it has received a show cause notice from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) office for supposed tax liability of 401.7 crore, in addition to interest and penalty on the delivery fee collection from its customer from the period of 29 October 2019 to 31 March 2022.

Asian Paints: Despite the competition from new entrants, Asian paints has been able to maintain its market leadership as well as enjoys premium valuation led on the back of its product portfolio, strong presence in decorative space and its foray into allied segments as well as healthy distribution reach. The shares closed at 3,397 on Thursday.

Lemon Tree Hotels: The company signed a franchise agreement for an upcoming hotel in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. This opening will be in addition to existing eight and seven upcoming hotels and resorts in the state. The shares of the company closed 1.1% up at 119.60 on Thursday.

Indian Oil: Shares of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) were locked at over 5% upper circuit to hit its fresh 52-week high of 133.95 apiece on the BSE. OMCs in India will find support with international crude oil prices sustaining below the $80 per barrel mark in the near-term. Oil prices steadied as concerns eased about shipping disruptions along the Red Sea route.

Azad Engineering: Azad Engineering's IPO made a decent stock market debut on Thursday as the shares were listed at 720 apiece on the NSE, a premium of 37.40% to the issue price of 524 per share. On the BSE, Azad Engineering shares began trading at 710.00 apiece, witnessing a premium of 35.50% to the issue price. The shares closed 30% up at 677 after touching 727 on Thursday.

Equitas Small Finance Bank: The Reserve Bank of India approved ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd to acquire aggregate holding of up to 9.95% of the paid-up equity capital or voting rights in Equitas Small Finance Bank. The shares of Equitas Small Finance Bank closed 1.4% down at 106.75 on Thursday.

EQUITAS SMALL FINANCE BANK More Information

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The advantages of compounding are so profound that it is considered not less than a magic. From ace investors such as Warren Buffett to the great scientist Albert Einstein have spoken at great lengths about the power of compounding .

Einstein even referred to compounding as the eighth wonder of the world.

Here, we hand pick a small case study of a randomly selected value mutual fund and discern how an investment of one lakh would have fared if it were locked into the fund and allowed to grow year after year.

For the unversed, a value fund refers to a mutual fund that follows a value investment strategy with a minimum of 65 percent investment made in equity.

Nippon India Value Fund is one such value fund that was launched on June 8, 2005. Since then, the scheme has delivered a fairly good return (see table below).

So, if someone had invested one lakh in Nippon India Value Fund, the investment would have grown by 16 times (i.e., to 16 lakh) in a span of 18 years until Nov 30, 2023.

About the fund

The scheme has given a return of 25.53 percent in the past one year, 26.6 percent in the past three years and 18.72 percent in the past five years.

And if someone had made an investment of one lakh in this scheme, the investment would have grown to 1.25 lakh after one year, 2 lakh after 3 years and 2.36 lakh after 5 years based on the returns mentioned above.

Years Return (%) Return (Rs) on  one lakh 1 25.53 1,25,530 3 26.60 2,03,280 5 18.72 2,35,940 Since Inception 16.39 16,55,300

(Source: Nippon India)

And had someone made this investment at the time of inception, the sum would have grown by 16 times.

It is interesting to note that if the same investment were made in Nifty 500, it would have grown to 12 lakh.

The top 10 constituent stocks of this fund are HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Infosys, Angel One, L&T, PFC, NTPC, Bharti Airtel, RIL and Max Financial Services.

Note: This story is for informational purposes only. Please speak to a SEBI-registered investment advisor before making any investment related decision.

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The Indian mutual fund industry has been witnessing a remarkable surge in interest among investors in recent times with the Assets Under Management (AUM) growing by nearly 21 percent to touch 49.05 lakh crore as on November 30, 2023, up from 40.38 lakh crore as on November 30, 2022. At the current levels, the industry is almost halfway through its targeted aim of achieving an AUM of 100 lakh crore over the next few years.

A significant point to note in this growth story is that the total number of unique investors in mutual funds crossed the four-crore mark, which clearly indicates the growing interest among retail investors for investing in equities through the mutual fund route. More interestingly, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of the industrys total AUM is backed by inflows through the SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) route, which is considered to be convenient investment option particularly for retail investors, and the share is growing at a fast pace.

The burgeoning middle class and rising financial literacy is prompting more and more people to resort to financial planning so as to accrue savings. The outlook is positive from all aspects including growth and employment. As indicated by the Reserve Bank of India, the countrys economy is set to grow. Employment generation and government spending is high. Financial intermediaries are expanding into smaller towns and cities aiding higher financial literacy among young population. This, coupled with the rising aspiration will help spur further growth of SIPs.

The various development efforts undertaken by the government are yielding result with localisation and growth happening all across beyond metro cities. There is an exponential growth particularly in the Tier II, Tier III towns and the financial network of various banks, NBFCs, wealth mangers, brokerage house are expected to expand further thereby aiding the growth in SIPs moving forward.

View Full Image Source: MFI360, IAL Research

According to official data, there are currently 7.44 crore or 74.4 million SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) accounts for investing into various mutual fund schemes. SIP contribution increased by nearly 25 percent at around 1.56 lakh crore in 2022-23, as against 1.25 lakh crore in 2021-22. During the period April-November 2023, SIP contributions stood at 1,24,313 crore, almost 24 percent higher as compared to 1,00,581 crore recorded during April-November 2022 period. This clearly indicates that the SIP contribution during 2023-24 is likely to be significantly higher than FY-23.

View Full Image Source: MFI360, IAL Research

Ease of investing

Systematic Investment Plan or SIP as it is commonly known, is basically an investment plan offered by mutual funds, which allows an investor to invest a fixed amount in a mutual fund scheme periodically at fixed intervals. The SIP amount can start from as low as 500 a month, making it very accessible and affordable to every class of investor. This channel of investing has been gaining traction among investors as it helps them to invest in a disciplined manner without worrying about market volatility and the need to time the market before deciding to invest.

Also Read: The year when mutual funds marched ahead

In terms of contribution, the share of SIPs to the total AUM of the industry stood at around 17 percent in 2022-23 and at 6.83 lakh crore, as against 5.76 lakh crore during 2021-22. Interestingly, the share of SIP AUM has been consistently growing and stood at around 9.31 lakh crore during April-November 2023 period.

The steady rise in inflows into the Indian mutual fund industry can be attributed to gains in stock prices on the back of positive sentiment around the countrys macroeconomic fundamentals. Equity-oriented schemes have been witnessing a strong uptick in demand backed by a sense of optimism around Indias economic growth prospects despite the ongoing geo-political tensions. Evolving regulatory landscape and pro-investor measures have also contributed to the growth in the sector.

Is the trend sustainable?

According to data put out by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), while the number of new SIPs registered during the April-November 2023 period stood at around 2.43 crore, the number of SIPs discontinued or those with tenure completed was at 1.35 crore.

View Full Image Source: MFI360, IAL Research

The rise in number of discontinued/tenure completed SIPs can be attributed to several reasons including an investors need for funds leading to stoppage of SIPs temporarily; not renewing their SIPs post the tenure ended or purely because of the investors perception of the market being overvalued leading to him/her considering alternative avenues for investments. It can also be attributed to profit booking by investors following a strong run-up in the equity market.

However, it is evident that a large number of investors are entering into the market even as the benchmark indices have nearly trebled since their Covid lows nearly three years back. In November alone, the mutual fund industry witnessed record high inflows of close to 17,073 crore through SIP route and new SIPs registered stood at 30.80 lakh. This is a sharp increase from 19.56 lakh in April 2023.

The fact that Indian equity market has continued to perform well amid global uncertainties, backed by the countrys underlying strong fundamentals is certainly a big draw for investors, who understand and appreciate the importance of adopting a disciplined approach towards investing through SIP channel and this is likely to augur well for the industry in the medium to long term.

View Full Image Source: MFI360, IAL Research

Ashwini Kumar is Head - Market Data, ICRA Analytics

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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.
The smartest thing any traveler can do to get the most out of their vacation next year: Dont procrastinate.

The summer Olympics in Paris and the European leg of Taylor Swifts Eras tour mean travelers will find limited availability and higher prices next year if they dont plan ahead. A recent report from the Paris tourism office said hotel prices could rise more than 300% between July 2023 and the summer games in Paris, with hotel rooms averaging about 700 Euros per night.

Theres also a waiting risk for those wanting to take in other parts of Europe, visit a National Park or go on a cruise.

Travel executives and advisers suggest booking soon, or at least getting a game plan together now. They also gave the following tips to save thousands of dollars and headaches before you book your big trip.

1. Organize your awards accounts

It is tough to keep track of the changing requirements for frequent flier programs (Delta SkyMiles members know this all too well). So, take stock of your rewards programs, whether for airlines, hotels or credit cards, and log how many points you have. This will help you maximize your points when booking travel.

You should also familiarize yourself with all award program benefits, including airline alliances. If you are a United MileagePlus member, you can redeem miles on other Star Alliance carriers, such as Air Canada and Lufthansa.

Certain credit cards will also provide travel-related perks. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Platinum Card from American Express, for example, offer a statement credit when you use the card to pay for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

2. Set price alertsand expectations

Tracking hotels, airfare and rental car prices can help you find a better deal when prices are at their lowest. Kayak, Expedia and Google all have price-tracking tools. AutoSlash is a car-rental-deals site that tracks your reservation and will alert you to price drops after you book, so you can rebook at the lower price.

But travelers need to be realistic about how far prices will fall.

Rental car availability has improved greatly compared with several years ago and travelers dont have to scramble to find vehicles, says Jonathan Weinberg, founder and chief executive of AutoSlash. Still, finding a rental car for $10 or $15 a day is a thing of the past, Weinberg says, and economy cars are often at least $30 a day.

While you can get some deals close in, I think the majority of better pricing is for folks who are willing to book at least a month out," he says.

3. Make summer national park reservations soon

Many of the most popular national parks require some form of reservation. Visitors to Californias Yosemite National Park will need reservations for much of the summer. These reservations go on sale Jan. 5 at 8 a.m. Pacific time. Rocky Mountain, Arches and Glacier national parks will also require reservations, which are available for purchase on Recreation.gov.

4. Renew your passport now

Passport renewal times have at long last recovered to prepandemic norms after years of delays. That means regular processing averages six to eight weeks and expedited service takes two to three weeks. Dont forget that expedited processing costs an additional $60.

5. Double check dates for European trips

Do your research before booking that milestone birthday trip to Paris this August (when the summer Olympics will be in full swing). Travel advisers suggest waiting until after the Olympics for trips to France.

A search this week found a round-trip, Air France flight from Newark, N.J., to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport departing July 27 and returning Aug. 3 cost about $1,400. The fare includes a carry-on and checked bag. The same flight and fare class departing Aug. 24 and returning Aug. 31 cost about $1,100.

Next spring and summer, Taylor Swift will bring her record-breaking Eras tour to Europe, which will also limit hotel availabilityand drive up prices.

6. Think long and hard about what travel to Europe means now

Airlines have increased their routes to and from Europe, meaning U.S. travelers have more options for their getaway flights. Many travelers headed to Europe in 2023 and travel advisers say there are no signs of a slowdown in 2024. Some of the most popular destinations include France, Greece and Italy, advisers say.

You will have more options if you are flexible with your dates and consider trips in early spring or late fall, says Christine Hardenberger, owner of Fredericksburg, Va.-based Modern Travel Professionals. She also suggests keeping temperature in mind. Europe lacks widespread air conditioning, which comes as a surprise to travelers who deal with high temperatures in the Southern U.S.

7. Think outside the box for your next cruise

Crowds returned to cruise ships last year and next year is booking up, too. Carnival has nearly two-thirds of its business booked for 2024and at higher prices, CEO Josh Weinstein said in the companys earnings call last week.

That doesnt mean you cant score a deal during the upcoming wave season," the three-month period beginning in January when cruise lines traditionally offer deals to encourage early bookings. But if youre expecting to go cruise the Caribbean for $99 for five days, those cruises are definitely over for right now," says Tanner Callais, founder of the travel website Cruzely.com

8. Dont forget about local experiences

Most travelers remember to book their flights, hotels and rental cars, but some forget to plan ahead for local experiences, says Nora Blum, vice president at Travel Leaders in Maple Grove, Minn.

Travelers tend to be more satisfied with their trips when they spend on activities like cooking classes, guided tours or even photoshoots for their families, she says. It can be tough to spontaneously fit these experiences in once you arrive due to limited availability or cost.

Write to Allison Pohle at allison.pohle@wsj.com
Liquor permits on health grounds in Gujarat state, which is Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace, has increased by 58 percent in three years, according to state prohibition and excise department data.

According to the data, Ahmedabad district topped the list of highest liquor permit holders with 13,456 permits. Surat ranked second on the list with 9,238 liquor permits. Surat was followed by Rajkot which held 4,502 permits. Vadodara did not fall far behind in the league with 2,743 permits. Jamnagar registered 2,039 permits, Gandhinagar registered 1,851 permits and Porbandar registered 1,700 permits.

How big the number of liquor permit holders has swollen?

In November 2020, the number of people in Gujarat who held liquor permits was 27,452 while in 2023 the number of liquor permit holders has swollen to 43,470 as per the data. About 77 hotels in Gujarat are licensed to sell liquor to the permit holders and those visiting the state from other parts of the country or abroad, another report revealed.

Foreign nationals and people from other states are given the permit for a maximum period of one week during their visit to Gujarat apart from the people who have been given permits on health grounds, a senior official from the prohibition department said, reported PTI.

How are liquor permits issued?

Liquor permits are granted to individuals by the health department only if the area medical board issues a certificate. This certificate must declare that the consumption of liquor is necessary for the applicant's health.

Gujarat government lifted the ban on liquor in the area and exempted it from prohibition last week to provide a"global business ecosystem" because of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). Under the new system, hotels, restaurants, and clubs (existing and that will come up) in the GIFT City area will be given permits for wine and dining facilities, as stated by the prohibition department. However, these establishments will not be permitted to sell liquor bottles to people.

Gujarat's population is estimated to be around 6.7 crore and the manufacture, storage, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages has been banned in Gujarat since its formation.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Michael Caine has one of the longest-standing careers in Hollywood, but what is perhaps even more impressive is his 50-year marriage to his wife, Shakira Caine.

The Academy Award-winning actor first met Caine (nee Baksh) in the 1970s and has said that it was love at first sight. The couple tied the knot in 1973 and welcomed their daughter that same year. They've been going strong ever since and are now proud grandparents.

"I fell in love with her in about eight minutes," Michael told the Radio Times in 2018. "It took her two hours to fall in love with me."

In addition to their family life, the couple are also very supportive of each other's careers and Shakira has accompanied the Batman star to many of his premieres. But those days might be over for Michael, who told The Telegraph that his film The Great Escaper, which premieres in October 2023, is likely his last acting gig before retirement.

So, who is the woman who instantly stole Michael Caine's heart? Keep reading to learn more about his wife, Shakira Caine.

She was Miss Guyana

TREVOR JAMES ROBERT DALLEN/FAIRFAX MEDIA

When Shakira was 16, she quit school and began working as a secretary in a U.S. Information Service office in Guyana, as she told PEOPLE in 1976. The office was bombed leaving her eardrum ruptured and her cheek scarred. The incident led her to enter a beauty contest in hopes of being able to leave Guyana. "My main concern was just to get out," she said.

Shakira earned the title of Miss Guyana and went on to compete at the Miss World pageant in London, where was third runner-up. She eventually moved to England.

She's a former actress

DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY

Shakira made her acting debut in 1969 in Carry on Again Doctor. In 1975, Shakira played Roxanne in The Man Who Would Be King, alongside her husband Michael, Sean Connery, Saeed Jaffrey and Christopher Plummer.

Michael got her number from an ad agency

TOM WARGACKI/WIREIMAGE

After seeing Shakira in a 1970s Maxwell House coffee commercial, Michael knew he had to meet her. A friend arranged a date and they've been together ever since.

"She was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen," Michael told PEOPLE in 1976.

Shakira added, "He was everything I didn't expect. I had just seen him in Get Carter and he seemed so aggressive and ruthless. Instead, I found him charming and very gentle, someone whom I'd like to spend part of my life with."

She and Michael wed in Las Vegas in 1973

BETTMANN/GETTY

On Jan. 8, 1973, Michael and Shakira got married in Las Vegas at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel.

"Oh we're so romantic," Michael later said of their marriage in a 2012 interview with The Mirror. "We go off on little honeymoons. Every now and again we go off to a lovely hotel called the George V in Paris and have a weekend honeymoon away from everybody."

They share a daughter and two grandchildren

PETER JORDAN - PA IMAGES/PA IMAGES

Michael and Shakira welcomed their daughter Natasha Caine in 1973.

"I'm a big family man. I've got two grandsons  and I love 'em to bits," Caine told the Radio Times. "I became a bit of a hero to them. I was watching cartoons with the eldest and a trailer for one of the Batman films came on and there's me with Batman. He said, 'Do you know Batman?' I said casually, 'Yeah, he's a friend of mine...' "

They posed for the cover of PEOPLE in 1976

PEOPLE

In 1976, Michael and Shakira were featured on the cover of PEOPLE. In their cover story, the couple opened up about how they met, hosting dinner parties at their ornately decorated home and their working-class upbringings. "While I don't regret my past, I would not want to change the present," Michael shared. "When a man has got a missus like mine, you don't have to look in any other direction."

In his 2018 book, Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: And Other Lessons in Life, Michael shared that Shakira saved his life.

"I was never bombed on set, but I thought that a small vodka for breakfast was nothing to worry about, and in the early 1970s I was drinking two bottles of the stuff a day," he wrote. "By an immense stroke of good fortune, Shakira arrived in my life just in time. The empty feeling vanished and she got on my case. Then, to top it all, she got pregnant and I was given a second go at fatherhood, and soon I got myself straightened out. I gave up alcohol entirely for a year and now I never drink during the day, and with dinner it's just wine."

She travels with Michael for work

DAVID M. BENETT/GETTY

While speaking to The Mirror, Michael said being on location can cause strain on a relationship. "If you go away on location for three months and your wife stays at home, you've made a whole new load of friends and she's made a whole new load of friends and you get home and you're kind of strangers," he explained. For the Caines, however, this isn't the case.

"My wife comes with me on all the movies, but she is not an appendage to a film star or anything like that," he continued. "She is the other half of me. Also, we're still very much in love with each other. We always have been, we always will be."
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected Janata Dal (United) president at the party's national executive meeting on Friday after incumbent Lalan Singh stepped down and proposed his name, said party leader KC Tyagi as quoted by the news agency PTI.

The national council meeting of the party, scheduled to be held later in the day, is likely to ratify decisions taken in the executive meeting.

Sources said most key leaders within the party were of the view that Kumar being its most prominent face should take charge of the organisation at this crucial time in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. The party is part of the opposition INDIA bloc.

Singh's leadership style was also criticized by several leaders within the party in their recent interactions with Kumar, as per PTI reports.

Both Kumar and Singh have played down the reports of key changes being adopted in the party and have called these meetings routine.

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.

Nitish Kumar is our supreme leader and the JDU is one and will always remain one," said Lalan Singh on Thursday.

The meeting came just days after the critical INDIA alliance meeting in Delhi. The JDU which is part of the alliance will now be getting into hectic parleys with the Congress on the alliance combination for the state.

Amidst this many JDU leaders are making a pitch for Nitish to lead the INDIA bloc, even as Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal publicly announced Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as prospective PM Candidate.

(With inputs from agencies)

ARVIND More Information

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Several restrictions including section 144 have been imposed in several cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow for safe New Year celebrations . Tight security arrangements have been for parties on New Year's Eve. Take a look at city-wise restrictions in India,

1) Delhi: Delhi Traffic Police will deploy 2,500 personnel to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and 250 teams will be tasked with checking drunken driving on New Year's Eve, officials said. Police will keep extra vigil in Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Khas, and South Extension markets, among other places on the eve of New Year.

Also Read: Quick weekend trip ideas before 2024 starts

2) Mumbai: Mumbai Police imposed section 144 in the city till January 18. Other restrictions include the flying of drones, remote-controlled microlight aircraft, para motors, paragliders, and hot air balloons over the city. These restrictions will be in place for 30 days. The cops said around 2500 police personnel including three deputy commissioners of police, 6 assistant commissioners of police, 53 police inspectors, and 176 police sub-inspectors will be deployed to ensure the safety of every citizen visiting the city.

3) Goa: Goa Police has formed special teams to curb the use of narcotic drugs during New Year celebrations, an official said on Wednesday. Tourists have already started pouring into the coastal state ahead of New Year. Superintendent of Police (North) Nidhin Valsan said the teams would be active across the coastal belt and also at locations like the Sunburn EDM festival venue.

Also Read: New Year gift ideas to make 2024 special for your loved ones

4) Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police has also announced strict measures, with stringent checks on drunk driving, traffic restrictions in key areas, and heightened security across the city. Anticipating large gatherings, motorists and pedestrians at key areas in the city  including  MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, St Marks Road, and Church Street to celebrate New Year, the police said in the interest of public safety, traffic has been restricted on these major roads on the night of December 31 and January 1, 2024.

5) Lucknow: Lucknow has also implemented section 144, and in light of the New Year's festivities, public gatherings in malls, bars, restaurants, hotels, and other public spaces have been restricted. In the city, the Lucknow district administration has enforced Section 144.

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Airport authorities at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) initiated a security check following the receipt of an email claiming the presence of explosives on an aircraft at the airport, as confirmed by the police.

As reported by PTI, Police said that Mangaluru was one among the multiple airports in the country that received similar emails on Tuesday night by the sender who claimed to be a terrorist group named Funing.

The email from xonocikonoci10@beeble.com read: There are explosives inside of one of your planes. But also inside of your airport. The explosives are well hidden, and they will go off in a few hours. I will kill you all. WE ARE A TERRORIST GROUP CALLED; Funing."

Also Read: Mumbai Airport receives T2 bombing threat, sender demands USD 1 million in Bitcoin

The airport authorities noticed the email at 11.20 am Wednesday and immediately informed the city police, who carried out a detailed search at the airport.

City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal said, Security was tightened outside the airport by setting up additional check posts. An anti-sabotage check and bomb detection and disposal squad check were carried out."

Also Read: NIA receives mail threatening terror attack in Mumbai, probe on

Following a meeting between the Bajpe police inspector and airport authorities, a case was registered by the Bajpe police based on a complaint from the Adani airport authorities. The case pertains to an offense punishable under Section 507 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the registration was done after obtaining permission from the local court.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Tamil superstar Joseph Vijay was attacked with a slipper while he was returning after paying tribute to actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth on Thursday evening in Chennai. A viral video on the internet shows Joseph Vijay walking through a mob of fans when a slipper came flying towards him and hit him.

Also Read: Vijayakanth death: In politics and cinema, there is no one like him, says Rajinikanth View Full Image Actor Joseph Vijay was attacked with a slipper while he was returning from the funeral of actor-turned politician Vijayakanth. (X) In the video, which is being circulated on social media, the Tamil superstar can be seen reaching his car by crossing a huge crowd. Meanwhile, according to media reports, another person from the mob tried to kiss Joseph Vijay's hand.

After the attack, the Leo actor doesn't look back (as shown in the video) and a person accompanying Vijay throws the slipper back in the direction from where it came. Till now, there has been no confirmed information about the person who attacked the star at the funeral event on Thursday.

The attack is being hugely condemned by social media users. Many people showed their support for the superstar and expressed their concern about the uncontrollable mob and the risk to celebrities.

Mortal remains of DMDK president and actor Vijayakanth were brought to Island Ground, Anna Salai on Friday morning. The public can pay their last respects to the late actor at the place from 6 am to 1 pm.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder-leader and actor Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai, aged 71, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. Captain Vijaykanth was on ventilator support. His funeral is being held in Chennai on Friday. Several celebrities showed up to pay their tribute to the late actor. Rajinikanth was also present at the funeral of Vijayakanth on Thursday.

Earlier, his mortal remains were kept at the DMDK office for political leaders and tors to pay tribute to him. Tamil Nadu minister Ranipet R Gandhi, along with DMK organizing secretary RS Bharathi, also paid tribute to the DMDK chief in Kancheepuram.

Actor Vijayakanth was widely popular among people for his box-office blockbuster movies like Chatriyan, Sattam Oru Iruttarai, Vallarasu, Ramana, Pulan Visaranai, Chinna Gounder and Honest Raj. Vijayakanth earned the prefix Captain after his 1991 super-hit film Captain Prabhakaran.

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Uttar Pradesh: Temple town Ayodhya is all set to come under a tight security blanket ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to inaugurate various projects worth 15,000 crore tomorrow, December 30, according to ANI reports.

Piyush Mordia, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone said high-level arrangements meeting the recruitments of PM's security have been made for PM Modi's visit to the district. Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and National Security Guards (NSG) among other security forces have also been deployed.

He said that a rehearsal of PM Modi's roadshow will be done today to oversee the arrangements. "We are monitoring all areas with drones. To improve the traffic system, a traffic diversion plan has also been made," the ADG said.

Three DIG, 17 SP, 38 Additional SP, 82 Deputy SP, 90 Inspector, 325 Sub Inspector, 35 Female Sub Inspector, 2000 Constable, 14 Company PAC, 6 Company CRPF will be deployed as part of the security," Mordia added.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is taking stock of the preparations of security arrangements before the Prime Minister's visit. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is camping in Ayodhya for three days to look after preparations.

During his visit, PM Modi will also inaugurate the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, a significant milestone in the government's commitment to enhancing infrastructure and connectivity.

PM will inaugurate two Amrit Bharat trains, which are Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express. Additionally, six new Vande Bharat Trains will be flagged off, contributing to the nation's rail network.

The Vande Bharat Express trains include routes such as Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi, Amritsar-Delhi, Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt, Mangalore-Madgaon and Jalna-Mumbai.

PM Modi's Ayodhya visit also includes the inauguration of the newly built Ayodhya Airport and participation in a public program where the Prime Minister will dedicate numerous development projects worth more than 15,700 crore in the state, aligning with his vision to create modern, world-class infrastructure while preserving Ayodhya's rich history and heritage.

These include projects worth about 11,100 crore for the development of Ayodhya and its surrounding areas and projects worth about 4600 crore related to other projects across Uttar Pradesh.

He will also initiate the development and beautification of tourist facilities spanning from Naya Ghat to Laxman Ghat, the construction of a visitor gallery for events like Deepotsav, and the strengthening and renovation of the pilgrim path from Ram Ki Paidi to Raj Ghat and Raj Ghat to Ram Temple.

Furthermore, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects, including the Lucknow-Ayodhya section of NH-28 (new NH-27), modification of the existing Ayodhya bypass, the establishment of the CIPET center, and the construction of offices for the Municipal Corporation Ayodhya and Ayodhya Development Authority.

(With ANI inputs)

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Criticising employees at the office landed a man in Gujarat's Vadodara in trouble after two of his former employees reportedly circulated his nude pictures to humiliate him". Disgruntled by public criticism by their boss at the office, two people, including a woman, quit their jobs and made a plan to honey-trap their boss and circulate his nude pics, according to a Times of India report.

Also Read: Honey-trapped DRDO scientist with ISI contacts: Who is Pradeep Kurulkar?

After leaving their job, the employees first lured their boss on the social media platform Instagram to send his nude photos. Later, the two circulated the photos among his friends and family, including his wife.

Also Read: Honeytrapped Sena Bhawan staff jailed, yet in love with Pakistani agent. Here's what happened

The idea to humiliate their ex-boss for professional criticism was of the woman employee, according to the news report. Later, she roped in another person in the plan and the two joined hands three months after quitting their job. After honey-trapping their boss, the two threatened to leak his photos to other people.

Also Read: Finance Ministry employee arrested on espionage; Classified information passed to Pakistan

After getting blackmailed for months, the boss decided to approach the Cyber Crime Police and complain. After registering the complaint, the police began its investigation and tracked the duo and it was revealed that the main culprit in the crime was the victim's former employee. The interrogation by the police of the two accused revealed that the main reason behind blackmailing was professional criticism.

According to the police, the woman came up with the idea to teach her boss a lesson and make his life miserable". Later, the two made a fake Instagram profile of a woman" and began chatting with their boss months ago.

Also Read: Gujarat ATS arrests BSF employee for passing on sensitive data to Pakistani agent

To trap their boss, the two began sending sexually explicit images, downloaded from the internet, to their boss and encouraged him to send his photos. Things went as per the plan, and the victim ended up sharing his nude pics on Instagram.

Within a few days, the victim started receiving emails with his nude pics and screenshots of his sexual chats. Later, the photos and the chats were also sent to the HR department of the firm where he was employed. Moreover, the duo also sent the images to their boss' wife as well and sent printouts of the pictures to his office address. As the harassment started growing day by day, the victim registered a complaint with the cybercrime department.

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Retail is a major contributor to GDP and employment, and India is expected to be the third largest consumer market by 2030, after China and the US. Yet, the trade is undermined by difficulty of doing business. The Centres retail policy could change things. Mint explains:

Why do we need a pan-India retail policy?

Indias offline retail market was estimated at $860 billion in 2022; it is expected to nearly double by the end of the current decade. Online retail, on the other hand, is a $70-billion market and is expected to grow at a rapid pace, according to a 2023 report by consulting firm Deloitte. However, the sector lacks a cohesive policy that governs retail trade pan-India. While the country has clear rules and regulations that govern foreign investment in single as well as multi-brand retail trade, there is a need for a model policy that can be adopted by states to drive greater benefits for small and medium traders.

What are the compliance issues?

The retail trade in India is governed by many laws, including the Shops and Establishments Act, the Competition Act, the Consumer Protection Act, the Essential Commodities Act, and the Legal Metrology Act. In many cases, retailers need to obtain between 16 and 25 licences to open a store, according to a 2020 CII report. Moreover, retailers need permits and licences from central as well as state governments and local authorities before opening and operating stores. The large number of laws, along with state-level variations in implementation, pose complexity for retailers.

What are retailers seeking?

Retail associations have been batting for a comprehensive policy for many years. Broadly, they are seeking streamlining of approvals and compliance mechanisms for ease of doing business; improving access to capital; rapid adoption of tech and modernization by traditional retailers; bridging logistics and supply chain infrastructure gaps and enhancing labour participation and productivity.

Is there a best practice to follow?

The CII report highlighted retail policies in developed markets aimed at helping both large and unorganized retailers. For instance, in 2016, Singapore rolled out a retail plan to help small retailers digitize their businesses and help SMEs acquire necessary skills. Singapore has also launched Hawkers Go Digital programme to enable greater adoption of digital payments by hawkers and stall owners. Applying for permits to operate a supermarket takes five working days in Singapore compared to 60-90 days in India.

What has government done so far?

Earlier this year, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 was passed. The bill decriminalizes certain Acts like the Legal Metrology Act and the Food Safety Act, and rationalizes minor offences to enhance the ease of doing business. The National Retail Trade Policy is at a draft stage. Once enacted, it will provide a framework for states to create a uniform environment for retail ecosystem. A portal will be set up for retailers to apply for multiple licences to open and operate stores.
The Indian judiciary made significant achievements in terms of resolving pending cases. India is infamous for a large number of court cases that can go on for decades. In 2023, pendency numbers in the Supreme Court touched its all-time high of 80,439. At the same time, the apex court managed to announce judgments in around 52,220 cases this year, a significant improvement from the previous year, according to the data from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG). Here is the list of 5 key judgments announced by the apex court in 2023.

Right to die with dignity

In January this year, the Supreme Court removed some mandatory conditions mentioned in the guidelines for the withdrawal of life-support systems of terminally ill patients. The SC bench had announced its judgements while hearing the case Common Cause vs Union of India.

The decision was based on the SCs previous judgement in Common Cause vs Union of India (2018) in which the SC had stated that the Right to Die with Dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21.

In this years judgement, the apex court changed the guidelines for euthanasia and held that doctors will need only five years of experience to be a part of the medical board. As per the guidelines, two boards of doctors play a key role in the validation of end-of-life instructions laid down on behalf of a critically ill patient. Earlier, a doctor required an experience of 20 years to be a part of any of the board. The judgement also made it mandatory for the two boards to arrive at a decision preferably" within 48 hours of the case being referred to it.

Article 370

In another judgement, a Supreme Court bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud upheld the central governments move to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution. The Article gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The SC also instructed the Centre to order assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024, along with the restoration of their statehood at the earliest. In its ruling, the Supreme Court had agreed with the Union that Article 370 was a temporary provision as it was placed under Part XXI of the constitution.

Delhi LG vs AAP

Another Supreme Court bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud announced its decision on the Government of NCT of Delhi v Union of India case on May 11. In its judgement, the SC bench made it clear that the government of the National Capital of Delhi (NCTD), instead of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), is responsible for the management of the national capitals civil servants and daily administrative affairs.

After the announcement of the judgement, The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, moved by the BJP government was passed by the Parliament. The Modi governments Bill reversed the SC judgement in the matter.

Shiv Sena vs Shiv Sena

In the case -- Subhash Desai vs Principal Secretary, Governor of Maharashtra and Ors -- a five-judge SC bench held that the Maharashtra governors decision to order a floor test against the then CM Uddhav Thackeray was illegal. The judgement was made in May this year. A faction of the Shiv Sena under the leadership of Eknath Shinde had rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022. To deal with the situation, Thackeray issued 16 disqualification notices through the deputy speaker. However, the rebel MLAs then moved a no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker which was rejected based on lack of authenticity. Later, Thackeray resigned from his CM post even before the execution of the floor test ordered by the governor.

The SC in its judgement observed that even though the governors order for a floor test was illegal, Thackerays resignation couldnt be reversed because it was voluntary.

Same-Sex marriage

A five-judge Supreme Court bench on October 17 announced its judgement in the Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v Union of India, upheld the validity of the Special Marriage Act, 1954, and refused to legalise same-sex marriage. The SC bench held that the right to marry is not a fundamental right for queer persons.

The decision was delivered by a 3:2 majority and the SC observed that it is not within the courts jurisdiction to recognise the right or compel Parliament to make a relevant law. However, the Centre was ordered to constitute a cabinet committee to look into the rights of homosexual couples in India.

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Delhi is all prepped up to celebrate New Year's Eve with festivities taking place at a number of restaurants, malls and other public places. Delhi Traffic Police issued a notice yesterday stating diversions, closures and routes to avoid from New Year's eve.

Also read: Happy New Year 2024: Section 144, other restrictions imposed in THESE cities. Check list here The road advisory was issued ahead of New Year in view of traffic congestions as large number of people gather to celebrate the day. Places across the city where these celebrations will take place include Surya Hotel at New Friends Colony, Eros Hotel, Crown Plaza Hotel, Nehru Place South Exension Market, Select City Walk Mall Saket, Qutub Minar, Prominade Mall, Radisson Blu Hotel, Mahipal Pur Janak Puri District Centre and many others including Connaught Place. Also read: Snowfall prediction: These destinations in India expected to witness snow around New Year 2024

Delhi Traffic Police will impose the following restrictions for all private and public transport vehicles from 8.00 pm onwards on December 31 in the vicinity of Delhi till the conclusion of New Year celebrations.

No vehicle will be permitted to proceed towards Connaught Place beyond R/A Mandi House, R/A Bengali Market ,North foot of Ranjit Singh Flyover, Minto Road Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg crossing, Chelmsford Road near Munje Chowk, R.K. Ashram Marg-Chitragupta Marg Crossing, R/A Gole Market, R/A G.P.O, Patel Chowk, Kasturba Gandhi Road Ferozeshah Road Crossing, Jal Singh Road-Bangla Sahib Lane and R/A Windsor place. Only valid pass holders will be permitted in inner, middle or outer circle of Connaught Place In the vicinity of Connaught Place, limited parking space will be available on first come first serve basis at designated areas. Those commuters who seek to travel to New Delhi Railway Station must access it through Ram Manohar Lohiya Park Street via Mandir Marg or through Rani Jhansi Road or through R/A Jhandewaian or through DeshBandhu Gupta Road. Commuters can also take R/A GPO or R/A Windsor Place route. Entry from Connaught Place via Chelmsford Road will be prohibited. From Ajmeri Gate commuters can take second entry gate and reach via Pahar Ganj. Routes around Old Delhi Railway Station will stay intact. Traffic restrictions will also be in place around India Gate. In west Delhi, commuters must avoid Najafgarh Road, (Dwarka Mor to Zakhira flyover) and Outer Ring Road (From Janak Puri to Peeragarh Chowk). In South Delhi, commuters should avoid taking these routes- Press Enclave Road Saket to Ring Road, Firoz Gandhi Marg and Veer Savarkar Marg to Central Market Lajpat Nagar, Bhisham Pitamah Marg to New Delhi from Andrews Ganj and Lodhi Road to Ring Road AIIMS.

Refer to the official traffic advisory for elaborate information regarding diversions and road closures.

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Republic Day 2024: In 2024, the 75th Republic Day parade is slated to take place on January 26 which will be marked by a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron as the chief guest. The rehearsals for it commenced on Friday, December 28.

This morning, near India Gate and Kartavya Path, security forces carried out the Republic Day parade rehearsals amid dense fog and winter chill. In view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, the Delhi Police and security agencies organised mock drills at vital installations. These drills were also carried out in market areas to sensitise the general public to remain alert and augment anti-terrorism measures.

Also read: US President Joe Biden to miss 26 January Republic Day parade in India

Delhi Police East District on Thursday executed a mock drill at V3S Mall Nirman Vihar. The mock drill for security preparedness also included teams of Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Traffic Police, Bomb Squad, Dog Squad, Cats Ambulance, and SWAT Cammondos.

Republic Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the transition towards becoming an independent republic after the Constitution came into effect.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, on Friday, said the BJP-led central government has rejected the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab for the Republic Day parade to "exact revenge on the AAP". He said, The tableau of Delhi, which is the capital of the country, was rejected by the Centre."

Also read: India invites French President Emmanuel Macron as Chief Guest for Republic Day 2024 celebrations

Delhi's tableau was rejected for the 2022 parade and then for the 2023 parade and now it has been rejected again for the 2024 parade, reported PTI. According to officials, the last time Delhi's tableau was featured in the parade was in 2021 that showcased the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project. Bharadwaj said that Delhi's tableau this year wanted to showcase schools in the city and the Mohalla Clinic model.

Over the tableau row, Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sunil Jakhar on Thursday said, The reason for the tableau being rejected is the photographs of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann inside the tableau," reported ANI. He added, "Republic Day parade is not a platform for self-endorsement or advertisement."

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)

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This is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen! Check out this adorable opossum named Maggie who recently received some new wheels from a company called Walkin' Pets, which creates mobility devices for all kinds of creatures, including dogs, goats, ducks, opossums, and more!

Maggie, a rescued opossum who is unable to live in the wild, is a resident and animal ambassador at the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in Jacksonville, Florida, where she is taken care of by their team of Naturalists. The MOSH Facebook provides more details about Maggie's "hot new wheels":

Walkin' Pets generously donated a custom-fitted wheelchair for Maggie, who once again has the freedom to roam, sniff, and spread joy during her daily walks. The wheelchair has significantly enhanced Maggie's quality of life, and we at the Museum, are truly grateful for the donation . . . In recent months Maggie has been grappling with the challenges that come with her advancing years, dealing with osteoarthritis in her spine and hips. Her condition worsened following her second surgery to remove large non-malignant growths from her arms, making it very difficult for her to move without assistance. Maggie is currently undergoing laser therapy at the Exotic Bird Hospital, where Dr. Smith generously donated 10 sessions. Additionally, she receives daily physical therapy from her keepers to help her regain mobility and maintain muscle mass, which is going extremely well thanks to the wheelchair donated by Walkin' Pets.

To learn more about Walkin' Pets and to see more of the wonderful animals they've helped, check out their Facebook, website, or TikTok.
Maines top election official on Thursday disqualified Donald Trump from the state ballot in next years US presidential primary election , according to Reuters reports. With this, it has become the second state to bar the former president for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State who is a Democrat concluded that the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2024 incited an insurrection when he spread false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election and then urged his supporters to march on the Capitol to stop lawmakers from certifying the vote.

She suspended her decision until the state supreme court ruled on the matter, as per Reuters reports.

The decision followed claims made by a group of former Maine lawmakers that Trump ought to be disqualified under a US Constitution clause that prohibits individuals from holding public office if they have previously sworn allegiance to the country and engaged in "insurrection or rebellion."

The ruling applies to the March primary election but it could affect Trump's status for the November general election. It likely will add to pressure on the US Supreme Court to resolve questions about Trumps eligibility nationwide, Reuters reported.

Trump has not been charged with insurrection in connection with the attack on January 6, despite being indicted in a federal case and a Georgian one for his role in attempting to rig the 2020 election. In the contest for the Republican nomination in 2024, he is far ahead of the pack according to opinion polls.

Besides Maine, Colorados top court also disqualified Trump from the state primary ballot on December 19, making him the first candidate in US history to be deemed ineligible for the presidency for engaging in insurrection.

Trump has vowed to appeal the Colorado ruling to the Supreme Court and criticized ballot challenges as undemocratic." The Colorado Republican Party filed its own Supreme Court appeal on Wednesday.

Similar attempts to disqualify Trump in other states have been rejected. The top court in Michigan, a pivotal battleground state in the general election, declined on Wednesday to hear an appeal on Trump's eligibility to hold office.

(With Reuters inputs)

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Days ahead of formally joining BRICS, Argentine President Javier Milei has sent letters to leaders of member nations informing his withdrawal from the planned entry into the group.

In his letter to the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, Javier Milei said that the decision taken by the previous government has been reversed.

BRIC term was given by economist Jim ONeill in 2001, then at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The main purpose behind the term was to throw a spotlight on the strong economic growth rates in Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The term was seen as an optimistic scenario for investors. The BRIC club held its first leaders' summit in 2009. Later, South Africa joined the grouping a year later, adding another continent and the letter "S".

The bloc announced its expansion in August this year. BRICS, generally seen as a counter to the Western-led global order, declared to add six new members.

The announcement of the addition of six nations including Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates was set to take effect from January 1, 2024. However, Argentina pulled off its name after Milei took over as the president.

The letter signed by Milei read Argentina's membership was "not considered appropriate at this time," according to media reports.

In his letters, he said his foreign policy "differs in many aspects from that of the previous government. In this sense, some decisions made by the previous administration will be reviewed."

Milei took office in December after the traditional political parties in Argentina faced a crushing defeat. During his election campaign, Milei had vowed not to join BRICS. He also showed his support for America and Israel.

Earlier, Milei had said that its geopolitical interests match with that of America and Israel and Argentina is not going to join hands with communists like China and Russia.

"Our geopolitical alignment is with the United States and Israel. We are not going to ally with communists," said Milei during his election campaign. However, after taking office, Milei's stance on China and Brazil has weakened as he has taken a more conciliatory tone.

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Shots were fired at the residence of an Indian-origin man in Canada's Surrey this week. According to news agency ANI, the incident happened on Wednesday, December 27 at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, the president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, in Surrey.

Police said no one was injured during the incident. However, the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes, Constable Parmbir Kahlon, Media Relations Officer for Surrey Police, was quoted by ANI as saying.

"On December 27, 2023 at approximately 8:03 am, Surrey RCMP responded a to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue. No one was injured during the incident, but the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes," the Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a press release on Thursday.

ALSO READ: Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing: Police to make arrest soon as murder suspect did not leave Canada, says report

They said police are investigating the matter. "Police remained in the area, examining the scene, speaking with witnesses and canvassing the neighbourhood for CCTV footage," the press release read.

The Surrey RCMP urged "anyone with more information, including dash cam footage of the incident" to contact the Surrey RCMP.

"General Investigation Unit has conduct of the investigation. Officers are still working to determine the motive of this incident. Anyone with more information, including dash cam footage of the incident, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP" the Surrey Police said in its press release.

ALSO READ: Justin Trudeau sees shift in Canada-India ties after Pannun murder allegations: Attacks arent going to'

The Surrey Police have not confirmed any link of the attack to recent threats recieved by the Laxhmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey. In November, India-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya shared a purported video of Pro Khalistani supporters in Surrey claiming they want to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir there, ANI reported,

Arya said, "Last week, Khalistan supporters verbally abused a Sikh family outside a Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, BC, according to some reports. Now it appears the same Khalistan group wants to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey."

ALSO READ: Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma urges Canada for evidence of allegations against India in Nijjar case

India reacts

Reacting to the incident, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Our understanding of that incident in British Columbia is that it was at a private residence related to, of course, somebody who's a member of the Temple Management Committee."

"I understand that investigations are underway in that case. I don't think it's appropriate to comment at this stage on the motivations or details behind it...," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday emphasized the need to shape international relations with Indian characteristics. He highlighted that his "major preoccupation" is to dedicate more time to exploring India's reservoir of culture and knowledge.

He also mentioned that in the current geopolitical landscape, it is crucial for countries to establish a direct understanding of each other.

As reported by ANI, Jaishankar made remarks while addressing the round-table conference in St Petersburg, Part of it is communication, relationship building, understanding each other...we speak today of multipolar world, so there is a rebalancing in the world. It's not a world that is dominated by few countries, societies, traditions. In this rebalancing, it is also important...to develop international relations with Indian characteristics is my major pre occupation."

Also Read: PM Modi willing to do his utmost to resolve Russia-Ukraine issue by peaceful means, says Putin | 10 points

EAM made these remarks during a round table conference with Indologists in St Petersburg, Russia. It's noteworthy that Indologists are scholars specializing in disciplines such as Indian literature, Indian history, and Indian philosophy.

Addressing the round-table conference, Jaishankar said, Given the geopolitical state of the world, it is today particularly important that we have a direct understanding of each other than other countries, or societies and other nations. To me, Indology is something beyond knowledge and scholarship, beyond culture and tradition. It's an effort and investment to directly first-hand understand society, which is very important."

Also Read: Can Indians living abroad apply for dual citizenship? EAM Jaishankar says THIS

Emphasising the role of intellectuals, Jaishankar further said that more people need to step up and provide directions.

At the end of the day, the intellectual, their role, the scholar's contribution are very important. While the school may be a demonstration of that, I think we also need examples of who will set those directions," the EAM said.

Jaishankar also mentioned that India is on the verge of becoming a USD 4 trillion economy, and New Delhi's endeavors are directed towards achieving developed country status in the next 25 years.

Also Read: Watch: EAM S Jaishankar speaks on India giving consular access to Nikhil Gupta, presently in Czech custody

Today, when you look at India, we have an economy that is approaching 4 trillion dollars. If you look at how digital India has become, you can see the pace of change, including in education. For the last ten years in India, every day two new colleges are established. So that is the pace where education is concerned and it's not just in education," Jaishankar said.

He added, You can see our effort is to ensure that in the next 25 years, we are successful and become a developed country. A developed country doesn't just mean a developed economy; it is also a country that is aware, conscious and proud of its traditions, heritage and culture."

(With inputs from ANI)

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Islamabad: Pakistan caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday announced a ban on the New Year celebration in the country to express solidarity with the People in Gaza.

In a brief address to the nation, Kakar urged to show solidarity with the Palestinians and exhibit sobriety and humility at the New Year.

Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year," he said.

He said that over 21,000 Palestinians were killed so far by the Israeli forces that crossed all limits of violence and injustice" with around 9,000 children dead since the Israeli bombardment began on October 7.

The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a sheer state of anguish over the massacre of innocent children and genocide of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank."

He said Pakistan had dispatched two aid packages to Palestine while a third package was being prepared.

He said Pakistan was engaged in talks with Jordan and Egypt to provide timely aid to Palestine and to evacuate the injured present in Gaza.

Kakar said Pakistan tried to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people on various global forums and would continue to do so in the future as well to stop the Israeli bloodshed.

Pakistans New Year celebrations are traditionally not huge due to the influence of Islamic groups who try to stop the festivities through various methods, including the use of force.

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
The United Nations Agency for Palestinian refugees on Friday said that their aid convoy came under fire by the Israeli military while it was entering the Gaza Strip. However, the attack didn't cause any casualties.

"Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army -- our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage," UNRWA's director in Gaza, Tom White, wrote on X.

According to UNRWA, the incident took place on Thursday afternoon. Responding to the requests for comments by AFP, the Israeli military said that it is looking into the matter.

On Friday, Israel pounded south and central Gaza as Egypt was to host a high-level Hamas delegation for talks to try and end the nearly 12-week war between Israel and Hamas.

Over the past 24 hours, the IDF has eliminated dozens of terrorists" across Gaza and is "extending operation in Khan Yunis" in the coastal territory's south, said Israel military.

Heavy shelling by Israeli forces near Al-Amal in Khan Yunis has killed more than 41 people in two days, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on Thursday. Most of the people who died were "displaced persons seeking shelter", it said.

An estimated 100,000 people have been displaced and arrived in the southern border city of Rafah in recent days following the intensification of fighting around Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis, according to the UN Humanitarian Office.

In retaliation to the October 7 attack, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, dubbed a terrorist" group by the United States and European Union. The October 7 attack on Israel left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

In addition to the murder of hundreds of people, Hamas terrorists took nearly 250 hostages with them after the attack. Months after the attack, more than half of them remain captive.

To avenge the lives of Israelis lost in the October 7 attack, Israel launched a war against Hamas killing thousands of civilians in its efforts to flush out terrorists. Relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed at least 21,507 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

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US Presidential elections 2024: Following Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's criticism of fellow conservative Nikki Haley for not acknowledging slavery as the primary cause of the American Civil War, Ramaswamy now takes another dig at both US President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, questioning their qualifications in terms of 'real foreign policy' experience.

In a post on X, Ramaswamy said, Turns out Nikki knows as little about the Civil War as she does about the Ukraine War. But whatever war it was, Im sure shes in favor of it." Speaking on Live News Nation, Ramaswamy said, I think for those with foreign policy experience, one thing Joe Biden and Nikki Hayley did not comment on is that neither of them could even state for you three provinces in Eastern Ukraine that they want to send our troops to actually fight for?" Also Read: Ukraine crisis: US to announce another $500 million in weapons, military aid

Earlier on February 3, 2022, President Joe Biden officially authorized the deployment of 3,000 US troops to Poland, Germany, and Romania, as announced by the Pentagon.

Also Read: Western help for Ukraine is likely to diminish next year

Ramaswamy looked towards Haley and said, Look at that, this is what I want people to understand. These people...I mean, she has no idea what the hell the names of those provinces are that you want to send our sons, daughters, and our military equipment to go and fight. So, reject this myth that they have been selling you. Somebody had a cup of coffee, sat in the UN and made 8 million bucks after having real foreign experience. It takes an outsider to see, look at that blank expression."

As reported by United Service Organizations on 23 February 2023, 40,000 American troops have been deployed to Eastern Europe in response to the invasion, and in total, there are now approximately 100,000 American service members either deployed or permanently stationed in Europe in support of our NATO allies and the Ukrainian protection of their sovereignty and freedom."

Also Read: US sends cluster bombs to Ukraine despite civilian threat

Earlier, 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, 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 responded. It always comes down to the role of government. 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."

Also Read: Vivek Ramaswamy slams Bank of America's anti-racist move: Will be called systemic racism when

However, numerous historians concur that slavery catalyzed the US Civil War, which spanned from 1861 to 1865 and culminated in the emancipation of enslaved individuals. This incident is the most recent development to bring discussions about race and slavery to the forefront of the 2024 presidential campaign, presenting a significant challenge for Haley at a crucial juncture in her candidacy.

Meanwhile, Biden's approval rating among Black voters in seven swing states has declined by 7 percentage points, falling to 61% in the current month from October, as per a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll.

In contrast, Donald Trump's support remains relatively stable at approximately 25%. The Trump campaign plans to intensify efforts to connect with Black voters, aiming to diminish Biden's support in swing states.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In October 2023, Pope Francis allowed women to vote at the Synod of Bishops for the first time. Allowed to attend only as observers in the past, five religious sisters were allowed to vote at the Papal advisory body in a momentous shift for the Roman Catholic Church, which has been male-dominated for centuries. With this historic move, Vatican City became the last country in the world to give its women the right to vote. In an important way, the addition of a state housing 764 people on a 0.44-sq-km patch of land to the worlds adult-franchise map marks the culmination of a democratic quest for justice that dates back more than a century. In that sense, the last piece being snapped into the puzzle should make us look back at this year with some satisfaction. Religious institutions tend to take the longest to reform, but they too can and do. It is nobodys case that democracy has finally gone global. Its evident that much of the world is under some form of autocracy. Yet, wherever elections of any kind are held, to whatever end, it is vital that no gender barrier distorts the outcome. An acknowledgement of equality is crucial to the very principle of collective decision-making. And patriarchal politics stood in its way for too long.

The womens suffrage movement had its first stirrings in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with protest voices in the Anglosphere either at the forefront or recorded more durably for posterity. Legislation without involving half the people was plainly not representative, it was faulty, and yet women had to strive hard against the illogic of male resistance. At first, it was other forms of social activism that gave rise to the vote demand. In New Zealand, which in 1893 became the first nation to let women vote in national elections, it was a fight against alcohol that moved women to seek a role in policymaking. In the US, which followed much later, in 1920, suffrage activism can be traced back to protests led by women against slavery. The need to be heard acquired urgency after World War I, at least in the West. The exclusive leadership of men was clearly doing little to commend itself. Indeed, the historical record shows that the two World Wars hastened the enfranchisement of women. A 2020 Pew Research Centre study said that 129 out of 198 countries granted women the right to vote between 1893 and 1960. Some nations tried to place riders on it by using race, age, education level or marital status as a disqualifier, but these largely proved untenable.

It has been a long journey on that timeline to a point when women are no longer excluded from polling processes in any country, even if this right has not yet shaken the basic structure of the patriarchy that dominates power politics almost everywhere. Our focus must now shift to achieving proper representation in rule-making and governance, which differs from universalizing a basic right that nobody should have been denied in the first place. Democracy does not operate by popular consensus, as that bears the risk of political paralysis, but optimal results are arguably achieved when it captures and acts upon what all the people want, by and large, regardless of gender and other such identities. As it happens, the political agency of women still has a long way to go before it can be said to have made the world a better place. For universal adult franchise to be effective beyond its mere fact of existence, nobody should be left voiceless. This shouldnt take us another century. Lets accelerate progress.
TAIPEIA drawing of Taiwan at the presidential campaign headquarters of the islands ruling party shows strikingly little concern for north and south. Instead, the island is shown turned on its side, with China and the Taiwan Strait conspicuously absent.

The drawing reflects the worldview of the Democratic Progressive Party, which over the past eight years has sought to carve out an identity for the self-ruled island that is separate from mainland China. But it also represents a broader change in Taiwan that sits uneasily with Communist Party leaders 1,000 miles to the northwest in Beijing.

With voters set to cast their ballots for a new leader in a volatile three-way election next month, Taiwanese politics has shifted decisively, and perhaps irrevocably, away from China. The change in mood is evident in public-opinion pollsand even in the campaign of the opposition Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang.

Once an aggressive promoter of closer political and economic ties with Beijing, the KMT is striking a markedly different tone these days.

Ive never had an unrealistic idea about mainland Chinas attitude toward us," the partys presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, said in an interview, one of three that The Wall Street Journal recently conducted with the leading candidates. The most important thing is to handle our defense and economy in a way that at least prevents the other side from casually launching a war."

At the campaign headquarters of the ruling partys candidate and the current leader in the polls, Vice President Lai Ching-te, the word China" is nowhere to be seen at all.

Instead, on a recent visit, volunteers from Lais Democratic Progressive Party beckoned passersby to witness denim-clad members of a local line-dancing team step, kick and spin to American country music under a green LED sign reading TEAM TAIWAN." Further back, a cartoon mural told the story of Lais adventures with his pet dog.

Taiwans election next month has drawn nervous attention from capitals around the world for its bearing on the most sensitive point of friction between the U.S. and China.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made taking control of Taiwan a centerpiece of his quest to restore his country as a great power. It is a task, the 70-year-old Xi has said, that should not be passed down from generation to generation." On Tuesday, Xi told senior officials We will resolutely prevent anyone from making Taiwan secede from China by any means."

During a summit between Xi and President Biden in California last month, the two leaders spent substantial time discussing Taiwan.

In Taipei, Lai paints a picture of a Taiwanese public far less preoccupied with Beijings designs than political leaders in the Western world. Despite three years in which Chinas military has sent jet fightersoften in the dozenson nearly daily sorties in the airspace around Taiwan, many on the island have come to greet it all with a shrug.

Taiwan is relatively calmthe stock market is going up and everyones living a normal life," Lai said in an interview. People view this situation with calmness and reason."

The shifting political winds in Taiwan represent a cold new reality for Communist Party leaders in China. After Beijing crushed dissent in Hong Kong, there is little appetite in Taiwan for an arrangement in which China would peacefully assume political control of the island in exchange for a high degree of autonomy.

The proportion of people in Taiwan who identify primarily as Chinese has plummeted to below 3%, prompting even the party that had most ardently pursued peaceful political union with Beijing to do everything it can to shed its pro-Beijing" label.

Young people in Taiwan neither feel they are Chinese, nor do they have affection for anything Chinesequite the contrary," said Andrew Hsia, deputy head of the KMT.

While past Taiwan elections have turned on the question of whether to move toward or away from eventual unification with China, the candidates in Januarys contest all agree that Taiwans only choice with China now is to play for time. The debate is over how.

In an interview in the southern city of Kaohsiung, home to Taiwans largest naval base, the KMTs Hou accused the DPP of underplaying the deterioration of cross-strait ties and the risk of war.

It wasnt until the war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza that people started paying attention," he said. Taiwan needs to preparequickly."

Hou, a charismatic former head of Taiwans national police agency, leans on his police experience in describing how he would use the partys credibility with Beijing to buy time for Taiwan to build up its military deterrence.

Facing an opponent, on the one hand, you have to be able to negotiate, while on the other hand, you need the power to fight," he said.

KMT officials concede that the party is seen as old-fashioned by Taiwanese youth, who turned away from the party in 2014. That is when the last KMT president in office put his support behind a trade agreement with China that would have bound the two sides even more closely togetherto a degree that turned off many younger voters.

Now, a new generation of younger voters has gravitated toward a third-party candidate, Ko Wen-je, whose views on China fall somewhere in the middle.

Ko, a doctor and former mayor of Taipei, has capitalized on disillusionment with the two traditional parties by positioning himself as a pragmatic politician focused on bread-and-butter issues such as high home prices and low wages. He described the KMT as too submissive to China," but, like Hou, he said that he thinks most Taiwanese underestimate the risks of war.

Even with hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese working in Chinaa legacy of last decades era of cross-strait engagementofficial communication between Beijing and Taipei is virtually nonexistent, Ko said, adding: This is really weird."

Strong support from young people gives Ko some heft, but he has lost ground since an incipient deal to team up with Hou fell apart last month. In a Dec. 22-26 survey conducted by Formosa, a DPP-leaning pollster, 38.7% of respondents said they would vote for the DPPs Lai, versus 29.7% saying they prefer the KMTs Hou and an additional 16.6% backing Ko.

Lai was once an open supporter of Taiwanese independencea history that makes leaders in both Beijing and Washington nervousbut has said he would stick to the status quo established over the past eight years under his boss, President Tsai Ing-wen, which rests on cultivating closer economic and military ties with the U.S. and other like-minded countries" as a form of deterrence. Like Tsai, who cant run again because of term limits, Lai holds open the possibility of communication with Beijing, though with caveats.

In the interest of global peace and the mutual benefits of all countries in the world, Taiwan is willing to engage with China," Lai told the Journal, as long as that dialogue is carried under the premise of equal dignity and through the procedure of democracy."

Under Tsai, the DPP has tried to calibrate its warnings about the threat from China to avoid scaring away international investors and otherwise undermining the Taiwanese economy. Some critics have said that the strategy contributes to a sense of complacency among Taiwanese people about the threat from China, which Lai denies.

None of Taiwans presidential candidates said how long they thought the island might need to hold out for the Chinese threat of forceful unification to dissipate.

Peace ultimately requires commitment from both sides, Lai said. Its not just Taiwan. China is also responsible."

Write to Josh Chin at Josh.Chin@wsj.com and Joyu Wang at joyu.wang@wsj.com
A little more than a month before Hamas attacked Israel, Chinas foreign-policy chief, Wang Yi, hailed a wave of reconciliation" sweeping the Middle East, and gave the credit to his own country. By way of evidence, Mr Wang cited a Chinese-brokered deal, struck earlier this year, to restore diplomatic relations between the regions great sectarian rivals, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

In a call to Irans foreign minister on August 20th, Mr Wang explained why Chinas pragmatism makes it an ideal peacemaker. To help the region achieve good neighbourliness and friendship", Mr Wang pledged, China would continue to pursue a non-judgmental, trade-led approach to international relations. Or, as he put it, China would help Middle Eastern countries find a development path that suits their own national conditions".

This self-confidence had been building for some time. Once the Iran-Saudi compact was delivered in March, proud Chinese officials informed Middle Eastern governments that they were ready to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, diplomats relatethough the plans lacked detail.

Two scholars with institutional ties to Chinas intelligence services published a paper with a government think-tank in late July, arguing that a taste for foreign interventions had led America, Britain, France and the Soviet Union all to fail in the Middle East. In happy contrast, China is able to play mediator by emphasising dialogue" and mutual respect", wrote the professors.

A still more boosterish line was taken in August by Wu Bingbing, director of the Institute of Arab & Islamic Culture at Peking University, in an article for the Beijing Cultural Review. His essay has been widely read in Beijings foreign embassies after being spotted and translated by Sinification, a newsletter. It praised Chinas focus on development and security, and its refusal to pick sides. Such positive balancing" can overcome supposedly intractable enmities, as such rivals as Iran and Saudi Arabia compete for Chinas commercial favours, wrote Mr Wu.

It would be unfair to single out China for failing to spot Octobers looming horrors. Just eight days before the Hamas attacks, Jake Sullivan, Americas national security adviser, called the Middle East quieter" than it had been for two decades. But it is fair to ask how much of Chinas pre-invasion swagger can survive this dark and blood-soaked Middle Eastern moment. More Chinese confidence survives than might be supposed, though not always for very uplifting reasons, is Chaguans tentative answer. That is based on public Chinese responses to the crisis and on private conversations with foreign diplomats.

There are constructive reasons why China has no interest in a regional conflagration. It is the largest trade partner of many Middle Eastern countries and is believed to be the largest single buyer of both Iranian and Saudi oil (Iranian oil sales are a murky business). Its economic ties are strongest with rich Gulf states, but it is eager to help rebuild war-shattered countries, investing billions of dollars in Iraq, for instance. Many governments, both in the West and in the Middle East, have asked China to urge Iran to avoid stoking the conflict. China is willing to reason with Iran, diplomats believe. China has leverage, too. But at the end of the day, they add, it is not China but America that has what Iran most desires: a deal to end nuclear-related sanctions and Irans isolation.

Less happily, the war in Gaza has not dented the appeal of Chinas autocratic worldview to many Middle Eastern rulers. They appreciate that China does not lecture them about human rights. In turn, the six Gulf Co-operation Council countries have endorsed Chinas legitimate" actions in its far-western region of Xinjiang, Mr Wang announced in 2022. Those policies include demolishing mosques, jailing imams and sending as many as a million Muslims from the Uyghur ethnic minority through re-education camps in the name of eradicating Islamic extremism. Many Arab governments fear and loathe grassroots political Islam"the sort of piety that leads to anti-government sermons in backstreet mosquesand believe that is precisely what China is fighting in Xinjiang. Moreover, Uyghurs are a Turkic people, and Arab-Turkish rivalries run deep.

Politicians in America and Israel have challenged Chinas refusal to call Hamas a terrorist organisation and its downplaying of Hamas atrocities in state media, even as graphic images of Israeli air strikes on Gaza are reported each evening on Chinas main news programme. In part, Chinas position on Hamas reflects its long-standing view that the root cause of Palestinian violence is the lack of a state. It also reflects a preference for a world order that seeks to resolve crises by balancing the interests of nation states, rather than by making abstract appeals to universal values, which China calls a Western invention. In effect, China treats Hamas as the political entity it would like the group to be, it is said.

Biden gets the blame

Least happily, the Gaza conflict is a fresh chance to depict America as a bullying warmonger. Rather than credit President Joe Biden with hugging Israel close in order to restrain it, selfish motives are assigned to him. Wu Sike, Chinas former special envoy to the Middle East, is one of countless Chinese voices to insist that Mr Biden backs Israel because he faces an election in 2024 and fears the influence" of Jewish Americans. Pondering Gaza spillover effects, Chinese scholars hail the derailing of American-brokered Israel-Saudi talks as a heavy blow" to Mr Bidens re-election.

Bashing America will not bring a wave of reconciliation to the Middle East. But China is playing a long game. Opinion polls already show publics favouring China over America in many Arab countries. Across the developing world, distrust of America is being deepened by the war. An American return to the Middle East is not what China hoped to see only a short while ago. But if this crisis distracts and weakens its great rival, China will take that.

Read more from Chaguan, our columnist on China:

Xi Jinping wants to be loved by the global south (Oct 19th)

Chinas ties with America are warming, a bit (Oct 12th)

China wants to be the leader of the global south (Sep 21st)

Also: How the Chaguan column got its name

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Earlier this week, I wrote about the remarkably cool story of three Polish hackers successfully messing with "the system", as per request of their employer. They huffed and they puffed and they put a bunch of green numbers onto black terminal screens or whatever it is these people do to make stuff work. Full disclosure, you readers at home should know that I imagine these three in orange-tinted sunglasses, JNCO jeans and frosted tips. It's vital to the story that we're on the same page.

Anyway, train manufacturer Newag installed fun little software that renders their trains inoperable when serviced by an independent party, allegedly. The hackers, Dragon Sector, discovered this because the company that won the repair bid for the trains was, in fact, a well-respected independent party repair company. And when they tried to repair the trains, software locks appeared. The hackers were called in, discovered by the repair company by means of Google, and managed to bypass the anti-repair "parts pairing" software. The trains worked again, people were mad at Newag, and the hackers went their merry way.

Then, Newag denied that they installed this software, blamed it on hackers and/or slander from the competition, and threatened to sue Dragon Sector. The trains really weren't working, so much so that the lack of trains was affecting service. How would this qualify as slander? Why sue Dragon Sector after successfully making the trains run? Seems curious, also, as to why some trains had code in 'em to lock up if they were at the competition's repair workshops.

Dragon Sector believes the threats are idle, but that Newag is using litigation as a public intimidation tactic to scare off future independent repair attempts.

We'll see where this goes and if it gets adapted into a Based on a True Story 90s-revival movie or not.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said the opposition INDIA alliance will be there across the country and in Bengal, only her party can take on the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 general elections.

Remember, in Bengal, only TMC can teach the Bhartiya Janata Party a lesson, " she said while hailing the Opposition INDIA bloc ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2024. The statement also comes as the BJP removed West Bengal leader Anupam Hazra from the post of national secretary, citing controversial comments.

Predicting a win for the INDIA bloc against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), CM Mamata Banerjee said INDIA alliance will be there across the country. In Bengal, TMC will fight and defeat the BJP".

Meanwhile, news agency ANI citing people familiar with developments reported that the Congress will start formal conversations on seat sharing with INDIA Bloc allies from the first week of January 2024.

As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are only four months away, the allocation of seats becomes pivotal for the Congress, especially after recent electoral setbacks.

The fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc concluded in Delhi on December 19 with the passing of the resolution on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the suspension of MPs from Parliament.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that a resolution has been passed that the suspension of MPs is undemocratic.

The meeting took place amid escalating political tensions between the Opposition and the BJP-led central government, triggered by the demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on the recent Parliament security breach.

The meeting witnessed the attendance from 28 parties.

Shiv Sena (UBT) not willing to 'compromise'

The buzz over the seat-sharing formula of the opposition's INDIA bloc hit a crescendo on Friday after a few partners within the alliance hinted at going all 'alone' in next year's Lok Sabha elections or not willing to 'compromise' in their respective states.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has asserted that their party is the biggest in Maharashtra, hinting at no compromise over seat-sharing talks.

"This is Maharashtra, and Shiv Sena is the biggest party here. The Congress is a national party. Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of the Congress including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal. We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and that will be firm," Raut had said.

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Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday said that the BJP-led central government has declined the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab for the Republic Day parade, viewing it as a move to exact revenge on the AAP," the ruling party in both the capital and the border state.

As reported by PTI, during a press conference, Bharadwaj highlighted that the Centre has rejected Delhi's tableaux for three consecutive years. The last time Delhi's tableau featured in the Republic Day parade was in 2021. It showcased the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project", according to officials. Bharadwaj said Delhi's tableau this year would have showcased schools in the city and the Mohalla Clinic model. Also Read: AAP accuses Centre of discrimination as Delhi, Punjab tableaus get excluded from Republic Day parade

"The tableau of Delhi, which is the capital of the country, was rejected by the Centre. Its tableau was rejected for the 2022 parade and then for the 2023 parade and now it has been rejected again for the 2024 parade," the minister said.

The theme of the Republic Day parade was 'Nari Shakti' in 2023 and it is 'Viksit Bharat' for the 2024 parade," he said.

Also Read: India invites French President Emmanuel Macron as Chief Guest for Republic Day 2024 celebrations

No one can say it's a design competition. The Centre had given us some suggestions and we had incorporated them (into our tableau proposal) and if it had given us more suggestions, we would have included them too. Our tableau would have showcased schools and the Mohalla Clinic model," he added.

Bharadwaj said it's not a coincidence that Punjab's tableau proposal was also rejected. The Centre is doing this to exact revenge on the AAP," he charged.

Also Read: Bhagwant Mann lashes out at Centre for rejecting Punjab's tableau for Republic Day

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticized the Centre on Wednesday for not including his state's tableau in the parade, accusing it of discrimination. He alleged that 80% of the selected states are those governed by the BJP.

On Thursday, the Punjab BJP criticized Bhagwant Mann for politicizing the exclusion of the state's tableau from the parade. They claimed that the AAP government insisted on the tableau featuring photos of Mann and party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Ahead of the "formal" seat-sharing talks among INDIA bloc parties, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut hinted at no compromise over seat-sharing talks. He said on Friday their talks with the Congress on seat-sharing has to start from zero as the party has "not won any seat" in the state.

Raut added that Shiv Sena (UBT) would contest in 23 of the 48 constituencies in Maharashtra in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. "...discussions on the seats won by the Shiv Sena, the Congress and NCP will be held later," he was quoted by PTI as saying. "This is Maharashtra, and Shiv Sena is the biggest party here. Congress is a national party. Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal," Raut said.

"We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and that will be firm," Raut said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader added, "We have decided that seats won by us will be discussed later. The Congress does not figure in it as it has not won any seat in Maharashtra. So talks with the Congress have to start from zero in the state," Raut said.

Congress reacts

Reacting to this, Congress leader Milind Deora said the grand old party is the leading the Opposition in Maharashtra and no alliance can proceed without consultation with the local leadership of the state.

Deora said in a post on X, "According to Sanjay Raut ji, despite the loss of its 40 MLAs, Shiv Sena UBT remains the largest party in the MVA. He suggests that Congress should begin negotiations starting with zero seats."

"He is talking about the party which is the largest opposition party in the Maharashtra Assembly and is leading the opposition. I want to tell Mr Sanjay Raut that no alliance can proceed without consultation with the local leadership of Maharashtra. This idea is also supported and supported by AICC," Deora said.
The deceased body of DMDK president and actor Vijayakanth was transported to Island Ground, Anna Salai on Friday morning. The remains will be placed at Island Ground from 6 am to 1 pm to allow the public to bid their final farewells. As reported by ANI, actor Rajinikanth told the media, We will never get a person as good as Vijayakanth. In politics and cinema, there is no one like him. This loss is irreplaceable." The founder and leader of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), actor Vijayakanth, succumbed to COVID-19 in Chennai at the age of 71 on Thursday. The body of the DMDK chief was initially placed at the DMDK office, for visits of political figures, actors, and well-wishers who paid their respects. View Full Image Chennai: People wait in queue to pay their last respects to the mortal remains of DMDK founder-leader and veteran Tamil actor Vijayakanth, at Island Ground, in Chennai, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai on Thursday following illness. (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar) (PTI) Actor Vijay paid his respects to DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth. Tamil Nadu minister Ranipet R Gandhi, accompanied by DMK organizing secretary RS Bharathi, also offered tributes to the DMDK chief in Kancheepuram. Additionally, Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin arrived at the DMDK office to pay homage to the late actor. In November, Vijayakanth was hospitalized at MIOT Hospital in Chennai due to a decline in his health. Experiencing symptoms of coughing and throat pain, he remained under medical observation for 14 days. Also Read: Vijayakanth, actor-politician and DMDK founder, passes away in Chennai; to be laid to rest with State Honours

Fondly referred to as 'Captain', Vijayakanth's life is characterized by a prosperous career in the Tamil film industry.

Also Read: Chennai Covid news: DMDK Leader Vijayakanth tests positive for COVID, put on ventilator

Having appeared in 154 movies before entering politics, Vijayakanth made a significant impact in the South Indian film industry.

While holding a position at Nadigar Sangam, officially known as the South Indian Artists' Association (SIAA), he implemented revolutionary changes. Additionally, Vijayakanth served as a member of the Legislative Assembly twice, representing the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies.

Also Read: Vijayakanth death: Tributes pour in for DKDM founder, PM Modi says legend of Tamil film world

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."

(With inputs from ANI)

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Hamas and Islamic Jihad, backed by Iran, massacred 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, resulting in full-scale war in Gaza. Hezbollah, also backed by Iran, has launched more than 1,000 rockets at northern Israeli communities since then, risking regional conflagration. Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are attacking and hijacking ships in the Suez canal, threatening one of the worlds most vital waterways. Militias in Syria and Iraq, with support from Iran, are attacking U.S. bases andas alwaysthreatening moderate Arab nations.

Notice a pattern? The Iranian regime is at the center of most of the Middle Easts problems and much of global terror. Yet inexplicably, almost nobody is touching it. For the past 45 years, the regime has been the source of endless war, terror and suffering throughout the world. Ive come to realize that enough is enough. The evil empire of Iran must be brought down.

As a young officer in Israels special forces, I spent a great deal of time fighting Hezbollah, Irans Lebanese proxy. I studied its methods and vulnerabilities. I targeted its commanders and fighters. In 2006, as a reservist, I commanded a special search and destroy team in the second Lebanon War.

Only after that war, in which I lost my best friend, did I begin to realize our great folly. We were fighting the wrong battle, and that is exactly what Iran wants us to do.

In the late 1980s, Iran embarked on a simple yet brilliant strategy: Set up terrorist proxies across the Middle East. Fund them, train them and arm them. Let them do the dirty work of fighting and dying.

Iran executed this plan well. There is little direct war taking place between Iran and Israel. Instead, Iran constantly attacks Israel via its proxies in such places as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Gaza and Yemen. Its brutal Quds unit exported terror around the globe. Irans terrorist proxies have waged war on every moderate element in the Middle East. Theyve attacked the Saudi oil company Aramco, the United Arab Emirates, the Kurds and Israel on many occasions. The most amazing part: Iran has largely gotten away with it.

There is a new cold war taking place in the Middle East. On one side, there is a corrupt, incompetent and hollow empirethe Islamic Republic of Iransimilar to the Soviet Union in the 1980s. On the other side, there is a thriving, free and strong democracyIsrael (and its allies)reminiscent of the U.S. in the original Cold War.

When I became prime minister in June 2021, I decided to change this. I told my three security chiefsthe heads of the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad and Shin Betthat my goal was to avoid, if reasonably possible, local clashes with Hezbollah and Hamas. Rather, Israels national-security resources must be focused on weakening our primary enemyIran.

There are many ways to weaken Iran: empower domestic opposition, ensure internet continuity during riots against the regime, strengthen its enemies, increase sanctions and economic pressures. But Israel cant and shouldnt do this alone. The U.S. should be leading the effort. This doesnt require a full-scale war, just as the demise of the Soviet Union didnt result from total war. Rather, the Soviet Union collapsed from internal rot coupled with external pressure applied by the U.S.

As prime minister, I made another decision regarding Iran. I directed Israels security forces to make Tehran pay for its decision to sponsor terror. Enough impunity. After Iran launched two failed UAV attacks on Israel in February 2022, Israel destroyed a UAV base on Iranian soil. In March 2022, Irans terror unit attempted to kill Israeli tourists in Turkey and failed. Shortly thereafter, the commander of that very unit was assassinated in the center of Tehran.

It turns out that Irans tyrants are softer than one might expect. They gleefully send others to die for them. But when theyre hit at home, suddenly they become timid.

The U.S. and Israel must set the clear goal of bringing down Irans evil regime. Not only is this possible. It is vital for the safety and security of the Middle Eastand the entire civilized world.

Mr. Bennett served as Israels prime minister, 2021-22.
The US military's secretive X-37B robot spaceplane or space drone blasted off into the space from Florida on Thursday night. This is the first time that the X-37B was launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. This is X-37B US robot spaceplane's seventh mission.

Following the successful liftoff, SpaceX tweeted, "Falcon Heavy launches USSF-52 to orbit from Florida." According to AFP, the US released little information about the space drone and its mission, which was initially scheduled for December 7. Meanwhile, SpaceX only cited the Pentagon's mission code name -- USSF-52 -- in its statement on the launch.

About X-37B US space drone's shape, size and built

The X-37B US space drone is about the size of a small bus and resembles a miniature space shuttle. It looks like a mini version of the manned space shuttles retired in 2011. On previous missions, the X-37B carried out tests for the NASA on the impact of radiation on seeds and other materials, AFP reported.

In operation since 2010, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was designed for the Air Force by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It is 30 feet (nine meters) long, has a 15-foot wingspan and is powered by solar panels.

No astronauts are needed, the X-37B has an autonomous landing system.

Role of X-37B spaceplane in current mission

The X-37B mission is being conducted by the US Space Force under the military's National Security Space Launch program. Built by Boeing, the vehicle is expected to deploy various payloads and conduct technology experiments on years-long orbital flights.

At the end of its mission, the craft descends back through the atmosphere to land on a runway much like an airplane, Reuters reported.

Earlier, the Pentagon had said the X-37B's seventh mission would entail "multiple cutting-edge experiments".

"These tests include operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA," the US Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office was quoted by AFP as saying in a statement last month.

According to Reuters, the X-37B is also carrying a NASA experiment to study how plant seeds are affected by prolonged exposure to the harsh environment of radiation in space. The ability to cultivate crops in space has major implications for keeping astronauts nourished during future long-term missions to the moon and Mars.

The planned duration of the latest X-37B mission was not made public, but it will presumably run until June 2026 or later, given the prevailing pattern of successively longer flights. Its last mission remained in orbit for well over two years before landing in November 2022.

About 6 previous mission of X-37B

The X-37B has flown six previous missions since 2010. The first five of them were carried to orbit by Atlas V rockets from United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and most recently, in May 2020, atop a Falcon 9 booster furnished by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

The X-37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, has previously been confined to flights in low-Earth orbit, at altitudes below 1,200 miles (2,000 km).

'US-Sino rivalry in space'

The X-37B launch came two weeks after China's own robot spaceplane, known as the Shenlong, or "Divine Dragon," was launched on its third mission to orbit since 2020.

This seemingly has added a new twist to the growing US-Sino rivalry in space.

China's equally secretive Shenlong was carried to space on December 14 by a Long March 2F rocket, a launch system less powerful than SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and believed to be limited to delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.

Still, Space Force General B. Chance Saltzman told reporters at an industry conference earlier this month he expected China to launch Shenlong around the same time as the X-37B flight in what he suggested was a competitive move.

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In a much-anticipated move, UK-based Nothing is reportedly preparing to unveil its latest smartphone, the Nothing Phone (2a), at the Mobile World Congress 2024. Over the past weeks, various leaks and details about the upcoming device have surfaced, providing enthusiasts with a glimpse into its specifications and features.

Renowned tipster Roland Quandt (@rquandt) recently took to X to share some crucial information about the Nothing Phone (2a). According to Quandt, the smartphone is expected to debut in elegant Black and White color options. Notably, the base variant is rumored to sport 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, with a price tag anticipated to be below EUR 400 (approximately Rs. 36,800). Quandt also hinted at the possibility of a higher-end configuration, boasting 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, although no specific pricing details were provided for this variant.

A prior leak from notable tipster Yogesh Brar had previously suggested a $400 price point for the Nothing Phone (2a), further showcasing a pre-production unit featuring a distinctive horizontal camera module centrally positioned on the back panel. The front panel, on the other hand, displayed a centered hole-punch slot for the front camera, accompanied by a redesigned Glyph Interface.

Rumors surrounding the camera setup indicate a noteworthy configuration, with a 1/1.5-inch 50MP Samsung S5KNG9 primary sensor and a 1/2.76-inch 50MP Samsung S5KJN1 sensor equipped with an ultrawide lens at the rear. Additionally, a 32MP Sony IMX615 front camera sensor is expected to capture stunning selfies.

Under the hood, the Nothing Phone (2a) is projected to house a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC and feature a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,084 x 2,412 pixels. The device is set to run on the Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5, offering users a seamless and customized experience.

Enthusiasts will not have to wait long for the launch, as the Nothing Phone (2a) is expected to take center stage at the 'Nothing to See' event during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 27. With its attractive specifications and competitive pricing, the Nothing Phone (2a) could make a significant impact in the smartphone market.

It is noteworthy that all the information is based on leaks and rumors and should be taken with a pinch of salt.

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Chen Jin, the General Manager of Lenovo Mobile Business Group, has reportedly provided hints about the upcoming smartphone models for 2024, reported Gadgets 360. Despite the widespread adoption of Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in flagship Android phones released this year, there is anticipation regarding Motorola's plans to unveil a phone powered by this advanced SoC.

Numerous brands have committed to integrating the new chip into their devices, making it a notable development in the mobile industry.

In a Weibo post, Chen Jin has offered a glimpse into Motorola's plans for the next year. The product lineup for 2024 from the Lenovo-owned company includes a fresh iteration of the Razr model, adds the report. The upcoming Razr phone is set to feature a redesigned look and incorporate artificial intelligence.

Additionally, Motorola aims to incorporate extensive language model capabilities into its flagship X series smartphones in the upcoming year.

As per the report, Motorola has outlined its product roadmap for 2024, featuring enhancements in the new Moto S series and Moto G series smartphones. The comprehensive lineup is set for launch next year, with Chen Jin highlighting the Moto Razr series' significant success in both the Chinese and global markets in 2023.

He emphasized the company's strategic adjustment in product planning and pace to effectively navigate the substantial opportunities and challenges presented by folding screens and AI large models in the mobile phone industry.

This year, Motorola scaled back its model releases for both the Chinese and other global markets. In China, the company unveiled the Moto G34 5G featuring the Snapdragon 695 SoC earlier this month. The Motorola Edge 2023, equipped with the Dimensity 7030 SoC, made its debut in October. In the Indian market, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7030, was introduced in September.

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The Israeli military has tried a variety of methods to explore Hamass tunnels in Gaza: robots, robot dogs and real dogs. But what it has quickly learned is that the cheapest and most effective option for exploring the underground labyrinthswhich are a potential death trap for soldiersis a small quadcopter drone.

It isnt just tunnels. In the dense urban battlefield of Gaza, the Israeli military has been flying these quadcoptersessentially small helicopters with four rotorsinto buildings before sending in soldiers. The devices are also providing smaller units with aerial reconnaissance and being used as guided munitions.

The small drones are just one new piece of Israels unmanned aerial arsenal, which military officials say has played an essential role in minimizing their casualties as they rapidly advance through a densely populated, well-fortified and extensively booby-trapped battlefield.

Israel also operates a large fleet of fixed-wing unmanned aircraft, some as large as F-16s and others small enough to be carried on a soldiers back, that carry out a mix of surveillance, reconnaissance and airstrikesan ability it admitted it had for the first time last year. The largest aircraft can fly up to altitudes of 45,000 feet and stay airborne for nearly a day and a half, while the smallest flies at 5,000 feet and can stay aloft for a few hours.

Israeli military officials say those drones are still a critical backbone of support for the military. But it turns out that small, cheap quadcopter drones are in many ways more useful on some parts of the battlefieldlike in tunnels.

About a decade ago, Israels National Security Council had deliberated whether quadcopter drones would have an impact on the battlefield and concluded they wouldnt, said Jacob Nagel, a former Israeli national security adviser.

Now he said, The air in Gaza is full of them."

The increasing adoption of small, commercial drones is evident in conflicts around the world. Both Russia and Ukraine have relied heavily on quadcopters for surveillance and attacks, while Hamas used small drones as part of its Oct. 7 assault. Since then, thousands of commercial drones have made their way into the hands of Israeli soldiers on the battlefield and civilians looking to defend themselves.

The quadcopter has become a lifeline for Israels smaller, less-equipped units, such as those made up of reservists called into battle after the Hamas attacks.

The drones, however, werent expected to be used to explore tunnels. Israel originally used heavy robots connected to the surface through a cable to search the hundreds of miles of passages that Hamas has dug beneath Gaza. But the tunnel floors are often filled with trash, tripping up the robots, while some passageways proved to be too narrow for them to be operated.

Israel also tried using robotic dogs, but they are expensive and heavy.

The small drones can create 3-D maps of the tunnels, are completely untethered and can fit through small spaces. They can also create their own communications networks underground, with each small drone flying as far as it can before becoming a new relay node that will allow the next drone to fly further.

It wasnt just Israel that failed to originally foresee how important quadcopters would become in war zones. The U.S. military had for years focused on building larger, more expensive drones before realizing only too late that it had ceded the small drone market to China.

Today, Chinas SZ DJI Technology is the worlds largest maker of consumer drones, and its inexpensive quadcopters have become popular on the battlefield.

At the outset of the war in Gaza, when there was a rush to get small drones into the hands of Israelis, many of those sent were Chinese-made DJI drones, said employees at private drone companies working with the Israeli military.

In one video released by the Israeli military, soldiers could be seen lowering a DJI Mavic 3 drone into a tunnel below a hospital compound in Gaza City.

Israel soon cracked down on the use of DJIs drones inside Gaza, said the employees at the private drone companies. The operators of the Chinese-made drones, which arent designed for the battlefield, can be located using off-the-shelf hardware that Hamas could likely acquire.

A senior Israeli military official said an effort had been made to standardize what kind of drones soldiers could use on the battlefield.

One of the [Israel Defense Forces] top acquisition priorities right now is indoor drones for use in hostage rescue operations in the Hamas tunnels and subterranean environments," said Blake Resnick, CEO of the U.S. drone company BRINC.

Resnick said he was in Israel earlier in December and the Israeli military purchased some of the companys LEMUR 2 drones, which are designed for search and rescue operations. The drones are being used primarily for hostage-rescue operations in the Hamas tunnels and subterranean environments, according to Resnick.

The Israeli military declined to comment on what type of drones it is using inside Gaza.

Aviv Shapira, the Israeli co-founder and CEO of drone company XTEND, first began working with Israels military several years ago to use quadcopters to take down incendiary balloons that Gazans, some at the behest of Hamas or other militant groups, were sending into nearby Israeli farms to start large fires.

Now, he said, the Israeli military is using the companys drones for a variety of purposes inside Gaza. Some go into the tunnels. Some can break through windows and explore inside buildings. Others are equipped with robotic arms carrying a small payload, such as a small adhesive explosive that can blow a door open, fly in and drop grenades.

He said the militarys Yahalom, or diamond in Hebrew, which specializes in finding and destroying Hamass tunnels, uses the drones to drop things onto mines or booby traps usually found around the tunnel exits.

XTENDs small Xtender drones, which can carry about 5 ounces, are equipped with cameras that can create real-time 3-D mapping, helping them fly indoors and underground in tunnels. The drones can work underground by operating as radio relays, helping the operator reach the furthest drone.

These functions, initially designed for indoor use, have now become essential for outdoor use in Gaza, said Shapira, because both Hamas and Israel are jamming Global Positioning Systems for navigation and radio signals for communications.

Multiple dronessometimes called a swarmcan also be directed by one operator. Using a virtual-reality headset with picture-in-picture feeds, the operator can use one drone to break into a building through a window or a door, and land a second one at the entrance for additional surveillance. Meanwhile, a third can search the building for the target.

We found that three is the magic number," said Shapira.

Heather Somerville contributed to this article.

Write to Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com
As 2023 ends, I highlight some of the trends that I wrote about in the past year, and how those are panning out in this rapidly accelerating digital world. While the list is not exhaustive, I hope it will provide a clearer picture of where these technology shifts may lead us in 2024.

Why we need more women in AI

What do women think about AI? In August 2022, I wrote about the findings of a survey by the Pew Research Centre that revealed a significant fact that most of us would have had a gut feeling aboutwomen think differently about technologies such as artificial intelligence. They are more concerned about the negative effects of AI; are not exactly happy with driverless cars; are not sure whether AI applications like facial recognition are good or bad for society; and are more likely to support the inclusion of a wider variety of groups in AI design.

Given that AI is a male-dominated field and that most AI research and development is predominantly in the hands of men, its safe to conclude that this is one of the reasons why women view AI with suspicion.

A 2019 UNESCO report pointed out that women represented only 29% of science R&D positions globally and were already 25% less likely than men to know how to leverage digital technology for basic uses. A year later, a World Economic Forum report revealed that women made up only 26% of data and AI positions in the workforce. The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AIs 2021 AI Index Report found that women made up just 16% of tenure-track faculty focused on AI globally.

India is no different. According to a 2020 United Nations report, nearly 40% of STEM graduates from India were women, which is among the highest in the world. However, only 14% of the countrys 280,000 scientists, engineers and technologists were female, exposing the yawning gap in the female talent we see in the workforce.

Researchers have repeatedly pointed out that AI and machine learning models would always produce biased results as long as AI continues to be a male-dominated field. Many women, according to a 2021 Deloitte survey, feel they are not treated equally as men in AI, which prompts them to leave the field.

Read more about this here.

Is decentralised Web3 a Utopian idea? Is Fediverse here to stay?

In September 2022, I wrote that Web3 as a concept had many positivesat least in theory. DeFi, or decentralised finance, to begin with, is likely to be the first killer app of Web3, which could dramatically increase the level of control borrowers have on their data. The Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture aims to give citizens and businesses control over their financial data, which currently still sits in bank platforms with a complicated account aggregator structure to release this to users of this information.

The national blockchain roadmap proposed by the ministry of electronics and information technology in December 2021 recommends several use cases related to non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, including for land records, student certificates, and patient health records.

NFTs, which represent ownership of digital assets in Web3, could also change the way we think about virtual property. Already, digital art and music are successful use cases of NFTs. Unfortunately, though, Web3 itself seems to be getting very centralised as a large part of the funding of successful Web3 companies is by large corporate-controlled VC firms. Even a blockchain-based Web3 metaverse will be an open metaverse" only if built on open standards.

Further, it is not easy to get information and insights out of blockchain systems. Experts also rightly note that centralised identity databases such as Aadhaar and KYC regulations do not co-exist naturally with pseudonymous accounts on a blockchain.

Moreover, Web3 cannot prevent cybercrimes. About $1.7 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen between January and April, with 97% of those crimes taking place on DeFi protocols, according to Chainanalysis. Last, but not the least, valuations of Web3 startups are rising without any clear business models for monetisation. Read more about it here.

In this context, you may also want to read about the rise of the Fediverse, or the federated universe, in Metas Threads may boost the rise of a new social internet. The Fediverse is a network of interconnected social media platforms including Mastodon, Pleroma, Pixelfed, GNU Social and PeerTube.

In this Mint Explainer, I go in how the decision of Metas microblogging site, Threads, to join the Fediverse has underscored the need for, and significance of, a truly decentralised social internet that enables users from one platform to interact with those on other platforms, even if they do not have an account on those networks.

Indias digital currency and rise of Beckn protocol

In October 2022, I wrote about how the world has come a long way from the days of bartering goods to issuing official currencies while also moving from just coins to paper. Mobile payments and virtual currencies like bitcoin have further transformed the market.

It appears, though, that money will keep changing form, given that while governments are wary of cryptocurrencies, they seem to like digital currencies backed by their respective central banks. These central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, are essentially tokens issued on a blockchain to represent a countrys national or fiat currency. The use of CBDCs can also help to reduce costs.

The 2021 Bank for International Settlements (BIS) survey on CBDCs conducted on 81 central banks revealed that 90% of central banks were engaged in some form of CBDC work, and that more than half were developing them or running concrete experiments. New research from Atlantic Council's CBDC tracker reveals that 130 countries are now exploring a CBDC, representing 98% of global GDP. About 64 countries are now in the advanced phase of exploration (launch, pilot, or development).

Notably, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a preparation phase to lay the foundations for a digital euro, and PetroChina, a Chinese oil and gas company, completed the first international crude oil trade using the digital yuan (e-CNY).

India has joined other nations such as Australia, China, and the US in announcing pilots for its very own CBDC, also known as the Digital Rupee. As of 30 June, more than a million users as well as 262,000 merchants had registered for the pilot on retail CBDC transactions.

In this context, you may also want to read Beckn: Rise of Indias Decentralized Open Protocol, where I talk about the importance of moving from platform-centric marketplaces to an open digital infrastructure.

The Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) is built using an open-source, decentralised protocol called Beckn, which is used for location-aware, local commerce. Its an application layer protocol that is compatible with transport layer protocols such as TCP/IP (transfer control protocol/internet protocol) and UDP (user datagram protocol), both of which are used for communication on the internet.

You may liken Beckn for digital commerce to what HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) means for the World Wide Web or SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) for emails.

Put simply, the Beckn protocol allows computers online to understand what phrases like select an item from menu or place an order mean with the help of open, standardised, machine-readable information. It enables services and sales offers to be discovered across industries and fetched by any consumer application. Beckn leverages 5G and high-speed network technologies to implement e-commerce capability in the network and/or the transport layer.

Other than ONDC, Beckn also powers Bengalurus Namma Yatri autorickshaw-hailing mobile app. This will eventually be extended to taxis and public transport. And there will be many more applications. Beckns open digital infrastructure allows for the creation of an unbundled and decentralised digital market, akin to an open playground that allows everyone to have a fair playing ground. I argued that while the Beckn protocol may not share the hype of Worldcoin, it can certainly show the world how to democratize digital commerce.

No! The metaverse is not dying and AI is certainly not killing it

Metas (formerly, Facebook) grand experiment in virtual reality will have racked up more than $50 billion in operating losses, according to a recent Financial Times article, which indicates that interest is virtual reality and the metaverse is on the wane. Facebook changed its company name to Meta in October 2021 to reflect its new focus on the metaverse", even as many pointed out that the move was more to negate the negative press around Facebook.

The following month, Meta decided to let go more than 11,000 of its employees, or 13% of its workforce, as it shifted more of our resources onto a smaller number of high priority growth areaslike our AI discovery engine, our ads and business platforms, and our long-term vision for the metaverse".

While everyone had a fair idea of the losses that Meta was reporting because of the billions of dollars it had poured into its metaverse project, the figures disclosed during Metas earnings call in February 2022 told the complete story when Meta said it had lost more than $13.7 billion in its Reality Labs" unit, which houses its metaverse efforts.

Many speculated then that it was the end of the metaverse for Meta, given the rise of generative AI, or GenAI, tools such as OpenAIs large language model (GPT-4) and its smart chatbot ChatGPT.

The metaverse is essentially a 3D representation of physical assets in the real worldan ecosystem with gaming, payments as NFTs, buying and selling, and many more immersive experiencesdeveloped with the help of technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), software, content, and, of course, hardware, including servers, and headsets. Many people still believe that a metaverse is a place just for gamers or Web 3.0 investors, but nothing can be further from the truth.

For instance, digital twins can be linked with real data sources and are able to update their twin in real-time. And enterprises are already building digital twins of their manufacturing plants and factories to identify missteps in the production process. We could have a product twin representing a product, or a production plant twin, which could represent an entire manufacturing facility. We could also have a procurement and supply chain twin, often called a network twin. One could also have an infrastructure twin.

Daimler, for example, allows customers to test-drive a vehicle without even getting inside a car. Given that every asset, process, or person within and related to an enterprise will be replicated virtually, and connected, enterprise metaverses will enable employees to gain real-world product design experience and training from their desks as they manipulate 3-D digital replicas of equipment, according to McKinsey. You may read this article for more information: Metaverse: A new lease of life with Apples spatial computing". I believe that its premature and naive to write-off the immersive power of the metaverse (does not apply to Metas metaverse).

Generative AI can spur economic growth but job losses, privacy remain grave concerns

When I wrote this piece in June, generative AI had been in the news almost daily for the previous six months or so because of its ability to transform businesses by generating or creating new content (text, images, audio, video, etc.) with the help of prompts in natural languages like English and Hindi. Also because of its potential to put about 300 million full-time jobs at risk due to automation, according to a Goldman Sachs March report titled The Potentially Large Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Economic Growth.

McKinsey researchers, too, estimate that 50% of todays work activities could be automated between 2030 and 2060, with a midpoint in 2045. This prediction is roughly a decade earlier than in their previous estimates. Given that the potential loss of jobs is a very sensitive issue around the world, and understandably so, these predictions get a lot of press.

What, however, gets ignored is the productivity boost that AI can provide. For instance, in the above-cited report, the Goldman Sachs researchers had also concluded that generative AI could also boost global labour productivity in many countries, including in India, and eventually increase annual global GDP by 7%, or almost a $7 trillion increase in annual global GDP over 10 years if it delivers on its promise".

That said, when writing about GenAI, a recurrent theme is the fear that these models will think and act like humans, plagiarize artists work, and replace thousands of routine jobs. The reason is that, unlike traditional machine learning models, which typically make predictions based on historical data, generative AI models can create entirely new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos.

This appears to have excited and alarmed many ever since OpenAIs ChatGPT garnered over 100 million users in just the first two months of its launch in December 2022. I have written about these concerns earlier: We must rein in the precocious Generative AI children. But how?, and Will an LLM take away your job?.

In a white paper released jointly with Accenture, the World Economic Forum talks specifically about the impact of large language models (LLMs) on jobs. It posits that with 62% of total work time involving language-based tasks, the widespread adoption of LLMs such as ChatGPT could significantly impact a broad spectrum of job roles. The study analysed over 19,000 individual tasks across 867 occupations, assessing the potential exposure of each task to LLM adoption. You can read the article here.

However, while individuals may fret over the loss of jobs, data privacy appears to be the primary concern of companies using generative AI, followed by transparency, data poisoning (datasets can be deliberately poisoned" or polluted" by hackers, resulting in inaccurate results), and intellectual property and copyright violation. You may read the article here.

Why scientists want to merge human brain cells with AI

In August, I wrote about how a group of researchers is using lab-grown brain cells embedded onto silicon chips, thus merging the fields of AI and synthetic biology to create programmable biological computing platforms". The fact, though, is that whenever we speak about AI using artificial neural networks, the ANNs do not really work like the biological human brain that keeps on learning new things continually.

Current AI, on the other hand, suffers from catastrophic forgetting", a major challenge that ANNs face. When they learn a new task, they tend to forget abruptly and entirely what they had previously learned. Essentially, ANNs tend to overwrite past data with new knowledge.

Researchers from the Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences in a paper published last November wrote about the use of a spiking neural network model that could simulate sensory processing and reinforcement learning in an animal brain, to blend new task training with periods of off-line reactivation, mimicking biological sleep". You may read the article here.

Is Paytm building an AGI software stack? Or is it AGI-washing?

In his 23 August letter to shareholders as part of Paytms 492-page 2023 annual report, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and chief executive officer of Paytm, said that as Paytm focuses on small mobile credit with high credit quality" that fully complies with regulatory guidelines, it will require sophisticated capabilities in AI and other technologies". He added that Paytm was building an India scale AI system to help various financial institutes in capturing possible risks and frauds, while also protecting them from new kinds of risks due to advancement in AI".

Further, Sharma said Paytm is investing in AI with an eye on building an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) software stack". He added that by building this stack in India, Patym was not only making it our countrys tech capability" but also creating something that could be leveraged outside India". In May, too, he spoke about how the advent of early-stage AGI in 2023" would help make Paytms business more efficient.

Developing an advanced AI system is logical for the financial sector, an early adopter of AI tools. However, while talking about building an AGI stack and exporting it to other countries may tick the Made in India box, it is a completely different proposition. It raises many questions, especially since Paytm is now a listed company on the Indian bourses, with its shareholders and potential investors keenly listening to the management discussion to understand the companys roadmap. You may read the article here.

How AI is helping synthetic biology come of age

Early this month, I wrote about how synthetic biologyas opposed to the natural study of life, or the biology that we learnt in our schoolscan artificially redesign organisms with new abilities (human-made from chemical parts), and has applications in fields such as medicine, manufacturing, and agriculture. Synthetic biology combines multiple areas including molecular biology, biophysics, biotechnology, and genetic engineering, and typically uses two techniques: top-down and bottom-up.

The top-down technique involves redesigning and fabricating existing biology systems to produce synthetic products, while the bottom-up approach is commonly used to design and construct genetic circuits by piecing together functional modules that are capable of reprogramming cells with novel behavior. Scientists, of late, have begun exploring combining the two approaches for best results. You may read the full article here.

Need more local LLMs, regional language datasets

India is home to more than 400 languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. A language like Hindi alone has 48 official dialects, and Bengali is said to have about 50 variants. But large language models are trained primarily using internet data, which is predominantly English. As per Statista, English was the most popular language for web content, representing nearly 59% of websites as of January 2023. Russian ranked second with 5.3% of web content, followed by Spanish language with 4.3%.

Its logical, then, that AI models need to be trained using local languages (rather than English) to bridge the digital divide. Further, a July 2022 report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and Kantar pegged Indias active internet users at 692 million, including 351 million from rural India and 341 from urban India. The report estimates there will be 900 million internet users in India by 2025. Voice and Indic languages, thus, will prove to be key drivers of internet growth in the country.

In this context, its heartening to see the progress that the governments Bhashini project is making in building a national public digital platform for languages to develop services and products for citizens by leveraging the power of AI and other emerging technologies. You may read more about this here.

Who will win the AI race?

In May, I wrote that its silly to bet on any one company to win the AI race because there are too many factors that could rapidly change the equations in this field. The factors include partnerships, acquisitions, the emergence of new technologies, and global regulations. I also wrote about what the major tech companies were doing to stay relevant in the AI race by enhancing their products and platforms while partnering and investing in other AI startups. You may read the article here.

Since then, Google Gemini has already been launched in three versions, making everyone wonder if Gemini can help Google regain its AI mojo. Further, Elon Musk-led xAI has announced that its generative AI-based chatbot Grok AI will now be available in India and 46 other countries, including Pakistan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) has provided access to Grok to Premium+ subscribers in the US.

And in November, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told the Financial Times that GPT-5 was in the early stages of development. Until we go train that model, its like a fun guessing game for uswere trying to get better at it, because I think its important from a safety perspective to predict the capabilities," Atlman told FT. Read about it here: But I cant tell you, Heres exactly what its going to do that GPT-4 didnt."

This article is republished from Mint's weekly Tech Talk newsletter.
Samuel Lazar was among those who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, but his case was shrouded in secrecy: what he did was kept under seal, as was his conviction and sentence. Now we know a little more, even as "lawyers said they objected to the release of all of the documents and wanted the court to post only blacked-out versions". Lazar pepper-sprayed cops and got off light because of his "fulsome" co-operation with authorities.

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, Pennsylvania, 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, "Let's 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.

I do believe the right-wingers have a word for this sort of guy.
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New York state representative Tony Simone joins CNN's Abby Phillip to discuss the New York state bill that would require some Chick-fil-A locations to stay open on Sundays.
Dolly Parton sings I will always love you to dying fan whose wish was to meet her
Buffalo Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams concluded in a report issued Friday that the city does not have a widespread problem involving suspended city workers being paid to not work.

The Comptrollers Office began investigating this issue after Investigative Post revealed on Sept. 14 that a suspended Buffalo Fire Department employee had been paid nearly $600,000 over 7 years without a hearing being held to resolve the disciplinary charges against her.

City Comptroller doesnt produce investigation report; Council asks state comptroller to intervene The Buffalo Common Council and the public will have to wait at least another week for the long-awaited findings of an investigation by the city comptroller of city employees on paid administrative leave.

The worker, Jill Repman, had been suspended in 2016 after the Comptrollers Office discovered she reportedly tampered with the Fire Departments payroll in order to pad her own paychecks.

That prompted Common Council members to call for the comptrollers staff to audit why Repman had been paid not to work for so long and whether the city was paying other workers for long periods of time while they were on suspension.

The comptrollers investigation found that as of July 6, fewer than 12 city employees were on paid leave from their jobs for an extended period. Four of those 12 returned to work, and one resigned. The number of city employees on paid leave from their jobs was eight in the Nov. 22 payroll, with five workers from the police department and three from the public works department.

Suspended Buffalo Fire Department clerk resigns after being paid to not work for 7 years Jill Repman, a suspended Buffalo Fire Department clerk, who was paid $600,000 over seven years while on suspension, resigned from her city job effective Nov. 30.

Miller-Williams report did not disclose for how long the city has paid the eight workers not to work, how much they had been paid while on leave or why they were on paid leave.

We do not find the issue of employees suspended with pay to be a widespread issue throughout the City of Buffalo government, and therefore do not believe a full audit is necessary in this matter, Miller-Williams said in her report. It is important to note that not escalating to a full-blown audit doesnt necessarily imply that significant issues were not found.

The comptroller did not respond Friday afternoon to a request from The Buffalo News for an interview about the report.

The report noted that Repman was ordered to return to work in September following the Investigative Post story about her situation, and she resigned from city employment as of Nov. 30. Repman was entitled as a member of AFSCME Local 650 to receive a payout for her unused sick time, vacations, personal and compensatory time, the report said.

The report noted that the Fire Departments failure to hold a formal hearing on the charges against Repman  as is required by the citys contract with AFSCME  precipitated her extended leave from her job.

Buffalo comptroller to pursue investigation, instead of audit, of employee on paid leave Buffalo City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams said she intends to conduct an investigation, but not a full-blown audit, to determine how an employee on administrative leave for 7 years managed to be paid nearly $600,000 without triggering a hearing or an investigation.

Repman told The Buffalo News on Dec. 7 that she had no comment other than, I never did any of the accusations. I just decided I wanted to retire.

The comptroller recommended that city department heads ensure that disciplinary charges against employees are resolved in a reasonable amount of time via a settlement or formal hearing, and when appropriate, limit the time an employee is on suspended with pay status. She also recommended that department heads file with the mayor, Common Council and other officials a biannual report identifying employees who are suspended with pay.

Mayor Byron Brown in October announced he was instituting new steps to keep track of its employees on paid leave and prevent workers from collecting pay for years without working. Some of those steps involved department heads attesting on biweekly reports if they have suspended workers being paid.

I believe the situation involving the one employee was and is an isolated case, Brown said at the time, referring to Repman.
Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery

The best restaurants and hospitality business owners in Longford were honoured at the Leinster Regional Final of the 2023 Irish Restaurant Awards in the Killashee Hotel in Kildare on Tuesday, March 14.

All of the Longford winners now compete for the Regional and All Ireland titles, which will be announced at the Irish Restaurant Awards All-Ireland Final on Monday, May 15 in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

Local Food Hero Sponsored by The Irish Times

 Longford - Ed McGoey, Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule

Best Sustainable Practices Sponsored by Gas Networks Ireland

 Longford - Fiona Egan, Cloghan Farm & Cookery School

Innovator of the Year Sponsored by Diageo

 Longford  Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule

Free From

 Longford - Indian Sizzlers, Longford town

Best Emerging Irish Cuisine Sponsored by FBD Insurance

 Longford -Mac's Shack, Kenagh

Best Restaurant Manager Sponsored by Halcyon Group

 Longford - Shiva Bhargav, Indian Sizzlers, Longford town

Best Wine Experience Sponsored by Bibendum Ireland

 Longford - Aubergine Nua, Longford town

Best Cafe Sponsored by Illy

 Longford - Moments Cafe & Restaurant, Longford town

Best World Cuisine Sponsored by San Pellegrino

 Longford - Spice India, Longford town

Best Newcomer Sponsored by Square

 Longford - The Bailey Cafe, Granard



Pub of the Year Sponsored by Peroni

 Longford - Duignan's Tallyho, Longford town

Best Casual Dining Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

 Longford - Vocella's, Longford town

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant Sponsored By Frylite

 Longford - The Richmond Inn, Clondra

Best Customer Service Sponsored Restaurant-Insurance.ie Provided by Dolmen

 Longford - The Bailey Cafe, Granard

Best Gastro Pub Sponsored by Worldpay from FIS

 Longford - PVs, Longford town

Best Chef Sponsored by BWG Foodservice

 Longford - Satish Jothi, Aubergine Nua, Longford town

Best Restaurant Sponsored by San Miguel

 Longford - Tus Nua, Newtownforbes

Over 1000 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards Event, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Leinster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

Speaking at the Leinster Regional Awards President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said; Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record breaking number of public nominations (over 130,000). This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it.

"The Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the existing, and up and coming talent, in the sector and are a reminder that hospitality is nothing without their dedicated and passionate staff. The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland.

"We are delighted to be here in the Killashee Hotel for the Leinster Regional Events for 2023 and look forward to welcoming all winners in Leinster to the All Ireland Awards on May 15.

Food outlets were nominated under the categories of Local Food Hero, Best Sustainable Practices, Best Free From, Best Emerging Irish Cuisine, Best Restaurant Manager, Best Wine Experience, Best Cafe, Best World Cuisine, Best Newcomer, Pub of the Year, Best Casual Dining, Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Gastropub, Best Chef, and Best Restaurant and finally a new award category for 2023 Innovator of the Year.
A Midlands farmer has been jailed for eight years, with another two years suspended, after 730,000 worth of cannabis was found in his articulated lorry.

Martin Murray (58), Crimlin Little, Moneygall, on the Tipperary/Offaly border had denied importing the drugs into Ireland and having them for sale or supply to others but was convicted when a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict at the end of a trial at Tullamore Circuit Court.

The sentencing hearing today (Tuesday, December 19) was told Mr Murray was charged after gardai had stopped him when he was driving a truck at Dunkerrin on June 30, 2017.

Replying to prosecution counsel Kevin White, Detective Garda Val Russell told Judge Keenan Johnson that gardai mounted a surveillance operation on all major routes in Ireland after receiving information that Mr Murray had come into Northern Ireland from Cairnryan and intended driving home to Moneygall.

His vehicle was seen at the M7 plaza at Portlaoise and it then left the motorway at exit 21 and was followed by a garda vehicle.

Detective Garda Russell said the lorry engaged in counter surveillance manoeuvres, giving the example of where it had exited from the motorway, gone across a bridge, and then drove again on the motorway in the original direction.

When it exited at Barack Obama Plaza it was followed by another garda detective and he pulled Mr Murray's vehicle over near his home.

Mr Murray co-operated with a search of the lorry, saying: No problem, there's nothing on it.

When nothing was visible the vehicle was seized and brought to Nenagh Garda Station where nothing was found in another search.

Gardai did find two Samsung mobile phones, one of which was encrypted, 1,570 worth of cash and paper receipts for fuel.

A warrant was obtained for a search of Mr Murray's property and land but nothing of evidential value was found and the truck was then brought to Dublin Port for another search.

Sniffer dogs and a scan uncovered nothing but a number of large steel tubes were found under other items.

Gardai searched the tubes by drilling holes and inserting a camera and found the drugs vacuum packed, along with 6,000, also vacuum packed in a tube.

Gardai also found Garmin sat nav devices and a tachograph and Detective Garda Russell said Claire Greaney from Forensic Science Ireland, a key witness in the trial, analysed the tachograph and found the truck had travelled from Moneygall to Rosslare, on to Fishguard, across the UK and eventually to Breda in the Netherlands where it appeared to remain from June 24 to June 28.

The court heard that Detective Garda Conor O'Sullivan extracted data from the sat nav and established that the truck had travelled to Hull, England from the Netherlands and gone up to Scotland to Cairnryan Port.

That detective also found that even though the sat nav was not activated between June 24 and June 28, it was still collecting data and recorded five movements of between 21 and 90 miles during those days in the Netherlands.

When Mr Murray was arrested on July 5, 2017 he said It has nothing to do with me and he wasn't prepared to give an account of his travels and that it was on the CMR (travel document).

Detective Garda Russell said no admissions were made by the accused and a file was sent to the DPP and he was charged on October 25, 2018.

The court was also told that his passport was found in the lorry two days into the trial, which took place in May this year.

Detective Garda Russell said Mr Murray had a previous conviction for the sale and supply of drugs dating from 1999 when he received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence at Naas Circuit Court for a an offence committed in October 1996.

He had also received a five-year suspended sentence for larceny in 1996 and his most recent offences were for road traffic matters in 2010 and 2009.

Asked about the accused's background, Detective Garda Russell said he knew he had a farm and a daughter of his had accompanied him to court at some stage.

Michael Gillespie, solicitor for Mr Murray, said the accused's sole defence had been knowledge and the State's case relied on the statutory presumption of knowledge on the part of his client.

Mr Gillespie said there was no evidence that Mr Murray was present when the substance was put into the steel tubes which were sealed and he had been instructed to tell the court that there would be an appeal.

The solicitor said Mr Murray had left school at 14 having completed one year of secondary because his father was ill and he had been principally a farmer since then.

He also got involved in haulage and he would go to the continent and on this occasion he picked up a load in Holland to bring to Ireland.

Mr Gillespie said the trial had heard evidence from James Quinn, a former president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, that a haulier would only be entitled to carry out a visual inspection of his load.

Mr Gillespie presented testimonials on Mr Murray's behalf from a number of people, including a haulier, a mechanic, farmers and a vet.

They variously attested to the accused being a hard worker and very good with animals.

The court also received a letter from the GP of the accused's brother which related the worry and stress caused to him by Martin Murray's prosecution.

The defendant's brother, Seamus Murray, wrote a letter to the court saying that they had grown up with their sisters and when their parents were elderly Martin remained on the farm and they worked side by side on farms.

He referred to the accused as a good friend and brother who helped everyone locally and since Martin's conviction Seamus Murray had to run two farms.

A letter from Cloverhill Prison said Martin Murray was a very good worker in the laundry there who was courteous and polite to staff.

Before Judge Johnson announced his sentence, Mr Gillespie said the accused wished to address the court but was advised that it would not be of any assistance to do so.

Judge Johnson said the minimum sentence for an offence of this kind involving drugs valued at 13,000 or more was 10 years but he could depart from that in certain circumstances.

He noted the accused had pleaded not guilty and had a previous conviction for a similar offence.

He said the amount and kind of drug was an aggravating factor, saying that cannabis was anything but a soft drug and along with being a gateway to other drugs, 5% of cannabis users went on to develop schizophrenia.

Mitigating factors included the man's cooperation with the gardai, his recent unblemished record, and the impact on his brother which was a significant penalty in itself.

The offence carried a sentence of up to life but the headline sentence he imposed was 10 years, with the final two years suspended upon entry of a 500 peace bond for five years post-release.

The sentence was backdated to May 4 last when Mr Murray first went into custody.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 29 2023

This years Toys for Tots drive was a total success and showed the generosity of Long Islanders during the holiday season, said Blumencranz.

Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz (R,C-Oyster Bay) recently hosted this years Toys for Tots holiday toy drive and was very proud of the turnout. Blumencranz partnered with several libraries in the area including the Gold Coast, Hicksville, Syosset, Jericho, Locust Valley and Bethpage libraries to serve as drop-off locations.

Participants also dropped off new, unwrapped toys at the assemblymans district office. Blumencranz hopes this event will have a positive impact on the community and is encouraging residents of the 15th Assembly District to remember those less fortunate this time of year.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 29 2023

State Agency Staffing Increased and Security Augmented at Airports, Bridges, Tunnels and Mass Transit Systems as Precautionary Measure.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced enhanced security measures being taken this weekend by state agencies ahead of New Year's Eve. Agencies including the Division of State Police, New York National Guard, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will have increased staffing through the holiday weekend, and security will be augmented at airports, bridges, tunnels, and mass transit systems as a precautionary measure to help keep New Yorkers safe. Governor Hochul urges New Yorkers to be safe and be aware of their surroundings when attending public events to celebrate the New Year.

As we gather to celebrate the ringing in of 2024, I want to remind New Yorkers that first responders across the state are working through the holiday weekend to keep all of us safe, Governor Hochul said. We can do our part by taking a little extra time to think about basic safety and be aware of our surroundings when in public. Together we can enjoy a safe and peaceful New Years Eve.

New York State Agency Activities

New York State Police

New York State Police will be at maximum staffing through the New Years holiday weekend and there will be an increased presence of State Police Troopers at critical infrastructure, transportation facilities, and communities across the State. State Police will monitor all mass gatherings and share intelligence with other law enforcement agencies to keep New Yorkers safe. In addition, State Troopers will be assigned to a dedicated traffic detail that helps keep impaired drivers off the road.

National Guard

Troops from Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard security force in New York City, will be on duty over New Years weekend in support of law enforcement at rail and bus transportation sites, and at LaGuardia and JFK airports. The 24th Weapons of Mass Destruction  Civil Support Team, based at Fort Hamilton is on standby for New Years Eve near Times Square in New York City. Soldiers and Airmen are trained to identify chemical, biological, and explosive materials, and to assist civilian first responders.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is in contact with public safety officials in New York City including NYPD, Port Authority, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This year, the State Office of Counter Terrorism (OCT) conducted more than 1,100 joint counter terrorism exercises at various locations across New York State including New York City. In 2023, law enforcement teams across the state conducted exercises involving over 400 law enforcement personnel who assessed suspicious activity reporting and recognition at 860 retailers and businesses that sell chemicals, compounds, components, services, or rent space or resources that could be exploited by those with nefarious intent. These teams also assessed more than 200 infrastructure locations across the state including stadiums and arenas, malls and shopping centers, colleges and universities, airports, transit hubs, and other mass-gathering locations. OCT also worked with security teams responsible for the Moynihan Train Hall and the East Side Access/Grand Central Madison project to develop and test security procedures for those locations.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The Port Authority continues to work closely with our local, state, and federal partners to enhance protective counter measures around large public events to ensure the safety and security of the traveling public. This includes but is not limited to additional police and civilian security staffing at all our facilities. Safeguarding the public and our employees is the absolute highest priority for the Port Authority.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA has increased patrols and surveillance to provide heightened protection at major rail hubs. The MTA Police Department has stepped up its uniformed and plainclothes presence in Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal as well as other major stations throughout the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road network. Police canine teams and special purpose units will provide added protection. Railroad customers will also see increased train patrols, as well as random bag checks at various locations. The MTA Police Department, NYPD, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels Officers share intelligence information and coordinate their threat response providing a seamless protection throughout the region. Together with the NYPD, the MTA closely monitors large public events to provide security to our customers, employees, and facilities.

"If You See Something, Say Something

New Yorkers are reminded to stay alert to their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity. Reports can be made to the New York State Terrorism Tips Line at 1-866-SAFENYS (1-866-723-3697) or at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/form/ terrorism-tips-online- submission. New Yorkers can also download the See Something, Send Something smartphone app on the Safeguard New York webpage.

Sparkler Safety

Governor Hochul also urged New Yorkers to practice safety when engaging in celebrations, including using sparklers that can cause dangerous fires and injuries when not used properly. The State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) states that sparkling devices are ground-based or handheld sparking devices that produce a shower of colored sparks or colored flame, crackling or whistling noise and smoke  they do not launch into the air. Users must be 18 years or older to use sparkling devices. The following fireworks are illegal statewide: firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, spinners, and aerial devices.

Sales of sparkling devices by certified permanent and specialty retailers can only take place during the year from June 1 to July 5 and December 26 to January 2. Sales of sparkling devices by certified temporary stands or tents can only occur from June 20 to July 5 and December 26 to January 2. A list of registered sparkling device vendors appears here. The list of counties that prohibit the sale and possession of sparkling devices is ever changing. To ensure compliance, please check with your local county sheriffs office.

Sparkler Safety Tips

Children and sparklers are a dangerous combination. Never allow young children to play with or ignite sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is hot enough to melt some metals.

Never throw or point sparkling devices toward people, animals, vehicles, structures, or flammable materials. Always follow packaging instructions.

Keep a water supply or an approved fire extinguisher nearby.

Only light one sparkling device at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."

Always use sparkling devices outdoors. Never light sparklers inside.

Store sparkling devices in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.

If you are impaired by alcohol, do not use sparkling devices.

Always wear eye protection when using sparkling devices.

The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control also encourages parents and guardians to provide children and teens with non-flammable alternatives to sparkling devices, which can be easily found at most retail stores, such as glow sticks, pipe cleaner sparklers, fairy lights and LED Items.
Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks with IDF soldiers from the 98th division. (Ariel Hermoni/Israel Ministry of Defense)

Hezbollah continued to escalate attacks on Israel on December 28, targeting border communities across the northern Galilee and launching a drone at Israel. The IDF said that a drone caused sirens to sound in the Krayot north of Haifa, an area twenty miles south of the Lebanon border that is home to tens of thousands of Israelis. The IDF said the drone was intercepted by air defenses.

The drone threat was part of a larger series of attacks by Hezbollah on December 27 and 28. The attacks began in the morning several miles east of the Mediterranean along Israels border with Lebanon. Israel has evacuated all of the communities near the Lebanese border in the wake of attacks in October. With most civilians evacuated and IDF troops concentrated along the border, Hezbollah attacks into Israel often do not result in civilian casualties.

The IDF carried out retaliatory strikes in response to Hezbollah attacks which expanded to areas near Metulla and the Golan on December 28. The IDF said that a large number of launches were carried out from the towns of Ayta ash Shab and Ramyeh in southern Lebanon toward Israeli territory. Since this morning, IDF aircraft, tanks and artillery have been used to strike Hezbollah terror infrastructure in those areas. Israel struck a Hezbollah military compound as well as a terrorist squad that was attempting to launch an anti-tank missile. In addition, a terrorist squad hiding inside a residence from which launches were carried out toward Israeli territory earlier today was also struck, the IDF said. Hezbollah has used anti-tank missiles in numerous attacks against northern Israel over the last two and a half months.

The escalation along the border in Lebanon comes as the IDF continues operations in Gaza. Although the IDF has not said the operations are transitioning to a lower intensity conflict, there is increased debate in Israel about the next phase of the war. In Gaza, there is also an increased focus on civilian casualties and investigations into several incidents in which civilians have been killed.

The Chief of Staff of the Israel Air Force Brig. Gen. Omer Tischler provided details on the methods the IAF uses in carrying out precision strikes in Gaza. He said on December 27 that our planning principles include: Striking targets based on intel, and military necessity for close air support; evacuation efforts: They enable us to strike and maneuver in areas with minimal civilian presence; selecting the right munitions to minimize collateral damage: This allows us to accurately strike Hamas even though it operates within civilian areas; real-time monitoring: During the strike, we are monitoring the target area. If it does not comply with our Standard Operating Procedures, we will abort. He also clarified that Israel has used unguided bombs in Gaza, and that they have been used in accurate strikes. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari also said on December 27 that Israel is acting with caution and care to the civilians in Gaza who are also suffering in this war, that Hamas inflicted on us all.

The discussion about civilian casualties in Gaza came as the IDF released findings from the investigation into the killing of three Israeli hostages by IDF forces in mid-December. The mistake occurred when the hostages emerged from buildings in Gaza in the Shujaiya neighborhood where the IDF had been fighting against Hamas, and the IDF troops mistakenly shot the hostages. From the investigation and analysis of the findings and aerial footage of the area, it was revealed that the hostages were walking shirtless, and one of them was waving a white flag, standing at a point with limited visibility relative to the position of the soldier that fired the shot, the IDF said.

The findings of the investigation included several conclusions, including that there was insufficient awareness among the forces in the field in the case of hostages reaching IDF forces, or when the forces would encounter hostages during the clearing of buildings as part of combat and not as part of a special operation to free hostages.

The release of the investigation also coincided with Israels Minister of Defense meeting with members of the IDFs 98th Division, which is fighting in Khan Yunis. The missions that our forces are carrying out in Khan Younis are unprecedented  our forces reach areas that we have never been before, taking over control rooms and eliminating terrorists, he said. Israel expanded operations around southern Gaza this week, including in Khan Yunis. The battle in Khan Yunis has targeted Hamas command centers and other terrorist infrastructure.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post.

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.
'More work must be done,' DiNapoli says

It has been about 21 months since state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released an audit that found the state Health Department was unprepared to respond to infectious disease outbreaks at nursing homes  something made clear by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Further, DiNapoli said the "public was misled by those at the highest level of state government through distortion and suppression of the facts." His office's audit found, for instance, that the Health Department understated the number of Covid-19-related deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50% at certain points during the pandemic.

But since that audit, which was released in March 2022 and issued specific recommendations, DiNapoli's office said the Health Department "has made limited progress in addressing the widespread failures" of its response to the Covid-19 outbreak in nursing homes.

"Our follow-up review shows limited progress in fixing all that went wrong," DiNapoli said in a statement. "Much more work must be done to address problems that still exist to this day. We have to learn from past mistakes, or we risk repeating them."

In a statement, the Health Department noted that it was on the frontlines of a global pandemic, gathering data with new and repurposed systems and working quickly to share that information to inform the public and guide the public health response. Further, the department noted that Gov. Kathy Hochul, upon taking office, quickly took steps to expand the data in the daily Covid-19 news releases.

"We appreciate the Comptroller's recommendations, including other actions to strengthen data tools and processes that are completed, underway or being addressed by the Department," the Health Department said in a statement. "The lessons learned from the Covid pandemic continue to inform us, as we remain well-prepared for any new Covid outbreaks or future pandemics."

What did DiNapoli recommend?

In the March 2022 audit, DiNapoli's office issued four recommendations to the Health Department.

And so far, according to DiNapoli, one has been fully implemented, one was partially implemented and two have not yet been addressed.

The recommendation that has been implemented is that the Health Department evaluate and request resources as necessary to adequately address public health emergencies. DiNapoli said the Health Department conducted a needs assessment and requested 74 new staff positions, 55 of which have been filled.

DiNapoli found that the Health Department has partially implemented the audit's recommendation of expanding the use of infection control data to identify patterns and find ways to improve infection control practices and nursing home surveys. But, the comptroller found, the Health Department has yet to fully use infection control data to identify emerging infectious diseases to shape policies or develop an outbreak management system.

The department, meanwhile, said it is developing an outbreak management system.

Meanwhile, two recommendations are not implemented, according to DiNapoli:

 The Health Department has not provided any new guidance to facilities on how to correctly submit information into the Nosocomial Outbreak Reporting Application (NORA) and support for data submitted on Health Electronic Response Data System (HERDS) surveys. The comptroller's initial audit found infections and outbreaks were underreported in NORA and discovered inaccuracies in non-death Covid-19 data in HERDS, which is why auditors recommended that the department guide nursing homes on submitting data.

 The comptroller said the Health Department has yet to improve controls over additions and deletions from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services database and determine whether publicly reported nursing home survey data is reliable. That data can be used by the public to make decisions about nursing homes.

DiNapoli's initial audit also recommended that the governor assess and document the adequacy of the "internal control environment" at the Health Department.

DiNapoli's office said this recommendation was partially implemented, because the executive chamber has required state agencies to develop transparency plans and post data online. Further, a new leadership team was appointed at the Health Department and the flow of information was restructured. But the executive chamber did not provide detailed information to support it had assessed the internal control environment, DiNapoli said.

When asked about the comptroller's review, Hochul said in comments last week that "a lot of lessons were learned the hard way" during the pandemic. She vowed that those mistakes would not be made again, noting that she is working with her health team to identify areas where New York can be "nation leading in our preparedness."

Some of the issues, Hochul said, boiled down to a culture at the Health Department that led a lot of high-caliber talent to walk out the door. In addition, the state in the past had underinvested in public health, which led to the Health Department being "basically starved to death," Hochul said.

"We're bringing people back in," Hochul said. "We've changed the culture. We've changed the environment and are very focused on, not just health care institutions, overall, but really, laser-focused on our nursing homes where we take care of the most vulnerable in our state."

Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy  from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com.

THE LATEST

John Gavigan's latest startup challenge takes on finance fraud.

Wells Enterprises is getting tax breaks to expand its Dunkirk ice cream plant.

Forest Lawn officials oppose plans to redo the former Locker Room site.

The Niagara Falls aquarium has a new interim leader.

A Buffalo chemical company is expanding.

An Abbott Street project overcame neighborhood opposition.

A new welcome center opened at Niagara Falls State Park.

Greenlight Networks is expanding its broadband service.

With Bills and Sabres gear, holiday sales depend on who's winning.

Apartments planned for Old Editions bookstore building.

Roswell Park is expanding its feeder network.

SUNY-Erie Community College wants to move on from its South Campus.

Ellicott Development is planning a pair of affordable housing projects in Buffalo.

The takeover of Computer Task Group is complete.

A Wheatfield electronics manufacturer is getting tax breaks for an expansion.

An Arcade manufacturing plant is closing.

Elmwood Taco and Subs  and striking workers  are taking their fight to the street.

What caused a deadly Mercy Flight helicopter crash?

A developer is back with a new plan for a big site on Wehrle Drive.

ICYMI

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. Why a rising unemployment in Buffalo Niagara isn't a big worry  at least not yet. The unemployment rate across the Buffalo Niagara region hit a nine-month high of 4% during November as workers rejoined the local labor force faster than employers could hire them.

2. Jeffrey Gundlach faces backlash after warning that AKG could close if union drive succeeds. The billionaire weighed in on social media about an organizing campaign taking shape at the Buffalo AKG Museum.

3. Buffalo Niagara employers connecting with refugees to meet hiring needs. Local employers say refugees and immigrants have been proven to be good hires at a time when it's difficult to fill many jobs.

4. PSC directs National Fuel to do more for shift to renewables. The Public Service Commission responded to a long-term gas plan filed by the utility, as the state increasingly emphasizes using electricity.

5. Lake Shore Bank names new chief operating officer  its third in a year. The Dunkirk-based bank named Melissa Sprague to the role, following the resignation of Lake Shore Bank veteran Rachel Foley.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week.
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers on AIM in London on Friday.

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AIM - WINNERS

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Harland & Wolff Group Holdings PLC, up 18% at 13.54 pence, 12-month range 8.5p-25.5p. The maritime and offshore fabrication company receives ministerial approval for a new credit facility with UK Export Finance. Will now advance negotiations in relation to a GBP200 million credit facility with the UK government's export credit agency under its Export Development Guarantee Scheme. The firm will firm up its bank syndicate and appoint a leader arranger, and begin necessary documentation.

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AIM - LOSERS

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Horizonte Minerals PLC, down 9.6% at 11.75p, 12-month range 7.53p-172p. The nickel mine development company returns gains from earlier this week. On Wednesday, it announced it had secured a USD20 million interim funding package, which will be used to progress "critical construction streams" at its flagship Araguaia nickel project in Brazil, as well as for general working capital purposes. The stock is up 46% over the past week, but down 92% over the past year.

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Saietta Group PLC, down 3.1% at 17.45p, 12-month range 16.00p-78.00p. The e-Drive system maker reports a "challenging" first half of its financial year, but notes "significant strides" have been made towards its transition to a full-scale production manufacturer from a research & development company. In the six months to September 30, revenue rises to GBP977,229 from GBP753,517 a year before, while its pretax loss narrows to GBP7.9 million from GBP9.4 million. "Saietta and its Indian [joint venture], Saietta VNA, have secured high volume [original equipment manufacturer] relationships in India and the US which are set to utilise the production capacity they have developed in Delhi and Sunderland. The group is therefore ready to enter the next stage of its evolution as a large-scale manufacturer," the firm says.

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By Elizabeth Winter, Alliance News deputy news editor

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Panthera Resources PLC on Friday said its interim loss narrowed as exploration costs stopped.

The West Africa and India-focused gold explorer and developer said in the half-year ended September 30, pretax loss narrowed to GBP1.2 million from GBP1.4 million the year before.

This mainly resulted from lower exploration expenses, which fell 80% to GBP167,368 from GBP842,611 a year ago.

It recorded no revenue in either period.

Looking ahead, Panthera said its focus has shifted to pursuing a claim against India for breaches of its obligations under the Australia-India Bilateral Investment Treaty. It has secured USD13.6 million in litigation financing to this end.

This comes after the High Court of Rajasthan in India dismissed subsidiary Metal Mining India Pte Ltd's prospecting licence for the Bhukia project in September.

Managing Director Mark Bolton commented: "Under the treaty, compensation for expropriation is required to be calculated on the basis of the market value of the investment immediately before the expropriation. The company believes that the market value of Bhukia is substantial with the project ranking among the top undeveloped gold projects in the world."

Shares in Panthera were down 6.7% at 6.30 pence each in London on Friday morning. The stock is up 42% over the past year.

By Sabrina Penty, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
The graffiti at the ministers home made reference to the begging ban in Luxembourg City

The graffiti at the ministers home made reference to the begging ban in Luxembourg City  Photo credit: Gerry Huberty

The graffiti at the ministers home made reference to the begging ban in Luxembourg City  Photo credit: Gerry Huberty

The home of interior minister Leon Gloden has been daubed with graffiti, just over two weeks after his decision to introduce a begging ban in Luxembourg City.

Gloden said he had filed a report with police about the attack, during which his sons car tyres were also punctured, the Luxemburger Wort reported.

Democrats fight with arguments - not with graffiti on the facade of my house or punctured tyres on my sons car, Gloden said in a Facebook post. I wont change my political standing or behaviour through such actions, he added.

The graffiti - Nee zum Heescheverbued (No to the begging ban) - is an apparent reference to the ban implemented by Luxembourg City Council earlier this month, a move which was made possible after Gloden overturned a decision by former Interior Minister Taina Bofferding to refuse to approve the measures.

Under the new law, begging is not allowed in certain parts of the city from 7am to 10pm. From mid-January, people caught breaking the law will be forced to either pay a fine of up to 250 or face several days in prison.

The damage at the interior ministers home is the latest in a series of attacks on properties and campaign posters of politicians of different parties in recent years in Luxembourg.

In September, the Greens filed a complaint with the police after a poster of Sam Tanson, the partys lead candidate in the national elections, was vandalised. The damage to the poster, in the form of an apparent bullet hole, made it look as if Tanson had been shot in the head.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, some protestors angry at Luxembourgs restrictions converged on the homes of then prime minister Xavier Bettel and former family minister Corinne Cahen. Earlier this year, three men were fined and sentenced to community service for throwing eggs at Bettels home.

In a separate case, a 33-year-old man was fined 1,500 and handed a one-year suspended jail term for social media posts insulting Bettel and comparing Covid sceptics to Jews during the Second World War.

(This article was first published in the Luxemburger Wort. Translation and editing by Tracy Heindrichs)
CHICOPEE  The Valley Opportunity Council  seeking to provide parking for its redevelopment of 30 Center St.  has purchased the former Polish National Credit Union branch at 244 Exchange St. for $418,000.

The sale was recorded at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Dec. 12.

Polish National Credit Union closed the Exchange Street branch in 2020 as part of its strategic plan. It has two other branches nearby  46 Main St. and 923 Front St.  and Valley Opportunity Council will continue a lease with the credit union allowing it to keep its smart ATM at 244 Exchange, said Stephen C. Huntley, executive director at Valley Opportunity Council.

We have been trying to inch-by-inch improve the neighborhood there, Huntley said.

This is the fourth property Valley Opportunity Council has purchased in the Chicopee Center downtown following problem properties at 30 Center St., The Kendall at 25 Springfield St. and 48 Center St., a building that houses the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce among other tenants.

Huntley said 30 Center St. does not abut 244 Exchange St. to the rear, but it is very close.

We dont want to hurt that neighborhood by taking away parking as we redevelop, he said.

Purchased by Valley Opportunity Council in 2022 for $1.35 million, 30 Center Street has four apartments now and room for four more. Its three storefronts are rented: Hot Oven Cookies, Moda Mia clothing store for women and Island Spice Restaurant.

As for the bank branch building, which dates from 1971 according to city records, Huntley said Valley Opportunity Council is seeking a new tenant.

The branch office building and its parking lot, both bought by Valley Opportunity Council, total just more than a half-acre of land.

Huntley said the purchase price was funded out of the agencys reserves.

Also coming soon is Valley Opportunity Councils project to convert the Belcher School into new apartments.
A 19-year-old who was one of two teenagers killed in a double fatal shooting in Lynn Wednesday night had recently celebrated his birthday, according to a GoFundMe campaign.

While officials have yet to publicly identify the victims of the Dec. 27 shooting, Saveth Kul told Boston25 that his son Kyle Mel was the 19-year-old who died after he was shot near 10 Camden St. at around 10:20 p.m.

Im speechless, Kul told the outlet. Every time I talk, I want to cry.

A vigil was held Thursday night for Mel and the 16-year-old boy who were killed in the second shooting to happen in the city of Lynn this week.

Read More: Man who died days before Christmas after rescued from Newton fire identified

Kul told Boston25 that his son was a student at Lynn Classical High School and wanted to become a rapper.

Chhea Mel, Kyle Mels mother, told 7News that her son went to a friends house close by and said he would come back soon before he was shot.

He said hed go for a second and be back and then he walked to the store and then things happened, Mel told the outlet. Nothing compared to him.

A GoFundMe has since been launched in honor of Mel, which said that he turned 19 eight days before he was killed. People can donate by clicking here.

Mel and the 16-year-old were brought to North Shore Medical Center where they both later died, the Essex County District Attorneys Office said Thursday. Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools Evonne S. Alvarez said the 16-year-old was a student in a Facebook post addressed to the school community Thursday afternoon.

Our deepest condolences and sympathies go out to the families, friends, staff, and everyone affected by the devastating loss of student life, the post read. During this difficult time, it is important for us to come together as a community to offer support and strength to one another.

Alvarez said support services will be offered to students and staff until Jan. 2. The fatal shooting comes after three people were seriously injured in a shooting at the Pizza Hut at 39 State St. on Tuesday, Dec. 26.

The district attorneys office said all three were listed 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, Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said in a statement. 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 shooting to call investigators at 781-477-3190.
Guangdong province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed a water supply agreement in the provincial capital Guangzhou on Wednesday to ensure a stable, safe and high-quality water supply to Hong Kong over the next three years.

The signing of the agreement is an important basis for implementing the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation Framework Agreement and ensuring the safety of the water supply to Hong Kong, said Wang Lixin, director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Water Resources.

"It is not only the result of long-term mutual trust and sincere cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangdong, but also a new starting point for both sides to work together to achieve high-quality development," said Wang at the signing ceremony.

He said both sides would continue to maintain close exchanges and strengthen water supply cooperation in the months to come, providing water supply security for the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The agreement was signed by Wang and Bernadette Linn Honho, Hong Kong's secretary for development.

According to the agreement, the annual water supply to Hong Kong will be around 820 million cubic meters for the coming three years.

Linn said Hong Kong and Guangdong are both nourished by the Pearl River and the agreement would improve the already close relations.

She thanked the central government for its long-term support for Hong Kong's economic development.

Tony Yau, director of water supplies in Hong Kong, said the agreement greatly helps Hong Kong solve its water shortage problem.

"The water supply pipeline to Hong Kong is not only the source of life, but also the emotional bond between the two sides," he said.

Guangdong has provided uninterrupted water supply to Hong Kong for decades and the water supplied meets national standards, Yau told reporters on the sidelines of the signing ceremony.

The water supply from Guangdong accounts for about 80 percent of Hong Kong's total, he added.

Rong Zhuangqiang, director of the dispatch division of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Water Resources, said it will continue to effectively protect the water quality of the Dongjiang River, a tributary of the Pearl River, improve engineering operation and management standards and ensure the quantity and quality of the water supply to Hong Kong.

It is the 13th water supply agreement Guangdong and Hong Kong have signed, said Rong.

Guangdong has been providing stable water supply to Hong Kong since 1965, with a cumulative supply of more than 29 billion cubic meters to the SAR, contributing to its stability and prosperity.




A long-awaited art gallery opened.

A congressman is trading one theater for another.

An iconic maestro hit a milestone with her orchestra and stacked up yet another Grammy nomination; Niagara Falls tourism saw what should be the first of multiple improvements, and while those things and more were happening, the people you might see chatting about this news on television significantly changed.

From leadership changes (and there were many) to places where you can get a locally made drink, Western New Yorks cultural landscape was in constant motion in 2023.

AKG opens to wide acclaim

Buffalos iconic art museum was renovated and renamed  and in the process, Western New Yorks position in the global art community was reinvigorated.

After nearly three years of renovations, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum opened in June. The former Albright-Knox Art Gallery underwent a $195 million renovation and expansion that began in early 2020. The renewed museum includes 13 galleries that feature approximately 430 works, or three times the number on display in the former gallery.

The museum was designed by Shohei Shigematsu of the international architecture firm OMA and includes a new three-story, glass-and-marble building named for the billionaire Jeffrey M. Gundlach, an Amherst native whose $65 million contribution paid for one-third of the project.

Higgins to run Sheas

After 19 years splitting time between Buffalo and Washington, D.C., Rep. Brian Higgins announced in November that he would be retiring from Congress in February to become president and CEO of Sheas Performing Arts Center.

Theater has been an essential art form of democracy, said Higgins, making a reference to Athens in the sixth century B.C.

But to explain why hes leaving Congress in the middle of his 10th term, the South Buffalo Democrat made a current-day reference to theatrics encumbering democracy.

There is a lot of theater nowadays in Congress, Higgins said. The actors at Sheas are professional. The actors in Congress, where its become increasingly more performative, are not.

Higgins succeeds Michael Murphy, who was fired in late 2022 after leading Sheas for six years.

Falletta, BPO celebrate 25 years

JoAnn Falletta marked her 25th year as the conductor and musical director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with a plaudit that is becoming familiar: a Grammy nomination.

Falletta and the BPO, which have won two Grammys already for their classical recordings, were nominated in the category of Best Orchestral Performance for an album of works by 19th-century Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, The Poem of Ecstasy and Symphony No. 2.

The album was released in February on the classical music label Naxos. In an October interview with The News, Falletta described the significance of her work with Naxos, which has charged her with finding and recording little-known pieces.

The greatest part of our repertoire has been pieces that are not known, or are little-known, said Falletta, who also won a Grammy with the London Symphony. The orchestra has to be these detectives, along with me. Were creating an interpretation of these pieces. Were creating something thats brand new.

Leadership changes at cultural institutions

Higgins appointment to the helm of Sheas was one of several changes to the leadership landscape of Western New York cultural organizations:

Bernice Radle became executive director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara in April, succeeding Jessie Fisher, who left in January to become executive director of the Darwin Martin House Complex.

Lisa Smith was named president and CEO of the Buffalo Zoo in July. She had been the interim leader since September, when she replaced the former CEO Norah Fletchall.

Keelie Sheridan took over as executive director of the Irish Classical Theatre Company in August.

Katie Mallinson was named executive director of the Kavinoky Theatre in August.

Walter Mayer, the senior director of museum collections at the Buffalo History Museum, retired in September. He was succeeded by Michelle Harris.

Leah Angel Daniel was appointed executive director of the African American Cultural Center in October. The centers Paul Robeson Theatre is being led pro bono by actor and director Verneice Turner.

Aquarium of Niagara CEO Gary Siddall is leaving the organization at the end of January to become president and CEO at the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, the cultural institution that manages the Buffalo Museum of Science and Tifft Nature Preserve. He replaces Marisa Wigglesworth, who left in June after seven years to become CEO of the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo. After Siddalls job change was announced in November, Tracie Schafer was appointed interim president and CEO.

Turnover on local TV

For years  generations, even  Western New York television viewers could turn on a local newscast and see the same familiar faces.

No more.

Turnover at Buffalos network-affiliated television stations was on high speed in 2023. Veteran WGRZ newsman Michael Wooten left the station in late summer after a 14-year tenure. A little over a month later, he joined WKBW. Meanwhile, broadcast veterans including Maria Genero (WGRZ), Kate Welshofer (WGRZ) and Mike Randall (WKBW) all moved on. Hannah Buehler, a well-known reporter, exited her role at WKBW.

After experiencing plenty of churn in 2022, WIVBs morning show saw the changes continue in 2023, with anchors Abby Fridmann leaving in April and Chris Horvatits departing this month.

Meanwhile, Spectrum News morning co-anchor Scott Pattersons job was eliminated by a corporate decision to launch a statewide morning show from Albany  and then he took a job replacing Horvatits at WIVB. Starting in January, Patterson will co-anchor Wake Up! with Ali Touhey.

WGRZs weather anchor corps changed significantly, chiefly with the departure of Genero, a member of the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, and also with the exit of Elyse Smith and Carl Lam.

Outer Harbor venue finished

Buffalos Outer Harbor has been the site of concerts for more than a quarter century, from the late '90s, when Kiss 98.5 FM hosted its annual Kiss the Summer Hello concert there, to last summer, when artists ranging from the Canadian rockers The Arkells to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performed on temporary stages.

Work finished this year on an open-air, $12 million music pavilion and events center on an elevated concrete slab within the steel frame of the former Terminal B warehouse.

The concert capacity is expected to be in the range of 5,000 to 6,000 people, with no seats  so plan to bring blankets and lawn chairs when the shows start in 2024.

West Side Bazaar comes back

A two-story, century-old building at 1432 Niagara St. became the new home in October of the West Side Bazaar, the nationally recognized space that features food offerings from Buffalos immigrant and refugee communities.

The bazaars previous home on Grant Street closed in 2022 after an accidental fire. The new, renovated space is five times bigger and features both retail and restaurants, including Vietnamese, Burmese, Italian, Egyptian, Central African and Congolese, Japanese, Malaysian and Korean cuisines.

Want a drink?

Western New Yorks plentiful offerings of locally produced beverage offerings continued to expand. A sampling:

Foxhole Farm Winery, an agricultural winery, opened in Colden.

NateMeg Farm, a roadside farm microwinery and microbrewery that grows its own grapes for wine and hops for beers, opened in South Wales.

Illumination Meadery joined Mortalis Brewing Co. on Niagara Street in Buffalo.

Still on the Hill winery opened in Concord, with their own wines and other New York State wines, and local craft beers and spirits.

Johnsons Landing, a brewing and distilling facility overlooking Lake Erie, opened in Hamburg.

Griffon Gastropub is building a brewery in Youngstown to make beer for the companys four restaurants in Niagara Falls, Clarence, East Aurora and Lewiston. It will also be open to the public.

Welcome center coming to Falls

Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled in December a new $46 million welcome center in Niagara Falls State Park.

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Welcome Center, named for the late Buffalo Bills founder, is a 28,000-square-foot facility that serves local food (Sahlens hot dogs, DiCamillos baked goods, Perrys ice cream) and features local retail, including New Era Cap and Oxford Pennant.

The center was funded in part by an $8 million contribution from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

During the centers opening ceremony, Hochul noted that it will help direct attention of the state parks 9 million annual visitors to other nearby attractions, including the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and the Niagara Power Projects Power Vista.

Major expansion plans for aquarium

The effort to make Niagara Falls a splashy destination was elevated in July with the announcement of a plan to double the size of the Aquarium of Niagara.

The $18 million project, which is expected to be publicly and privately funded, will add a 16,000-square-foot building that will allow for permanent and traveling exhibits, a playground, retail and other amenities for visitors.

Construction is expected to begin within two years.

This really is the gateway to what the future for the aquarium looks like, said Gary Siddall, the now-outgoing president and CEO of the aquarium. Its no longer about one single concrete structure. Its now about the sprawling campus and multiple assets directly supporting the idea of coming to Niagara Falls, being inspired by the water itself and then coming into our space as a cultural organization and learning more.

Honorable mentions

Reopening of Richardson Hotel: Developer Douglas Jemal reopened the 88-room Richardson Hotel in September. The former psychiatric complex had been previously revived in 2017 as the Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center, but closed during the pandemic.

Developer Douglas Jemal reopened the 88-room Richardson Hotel in September. The former psychiatric complex had been previously revived in 2017 as the Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center, but closed during the pandemic. Thousands flock to Taylor Swift movie: Taylor Swift hasnt brought her Eras tour to Buffalo, but the October release of her movie that captures the show was enough to spark Swiftie-mania. Thousands of fans descended on theaters; the Transit Drive-In decided to show the film simultaneously on all five screens in part, said General Manager Jordan Clement, because we dont want someone who is here to watch another movie disturbed by thousands of screaming Swiftie fans.

Taylor Swift hasnt brought her Eras tour to Buffalo, but the October release of her movie that captures the show was enough to spark Swiftie-mania. Thousands of fans descended on theaters; the Transit Drive-In decided to show the film simultaneously on all five screens in part, said General Manager Jordan Clement, because we dont want someone who is here to watch another movie disturbed by thousands of screaming Swiftie fans. Changing landscape for movie theaters: More viewing options means fewer movie theaters. Last January, bankruptcy court filings revealed the closing of 37 Regal theaters, including two in Western New York: one in North Buffalo, and another in Lancaster. Dipson Theatres, a family-run company from Batavia, took over another Regal site in February.

More viewing options means fewer movie theaters. Last January, bankruptcy court filings revealed the closing of 37 Regal theaters, including two in Western New York: one in North Buffalo, and another in Lancaster. Dipson Theatres, a family-run company from Batavia, took over another Regal site in February. Springsteen plays Buffalo for the first time since 2017: The Boss and his E Street Band returned to KeyBank Center for a sold-out show, Springsteens first in Buffalo in more than six years.

The Boss and his E Street Band returned to KeyBank Center for a sold-out show, Springsteens first in Buffalo in more than six years. Russert, remembered: The legacy of the iconic Buffalo-born newsman Tim Russert became a conversation last spring in Western New York and beyond when his son, Luke Russert, published his memoir, Look For Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself. Luke Russert took his book tour to South Buffalo, his fathers hometown, for a packed signing and reading at the Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub.
During the first week in January, newly elected or reelected officials from across Western Massachusetts will take their oaths.

In Springfield, Domenic J. Sarnos sixth inaugural events will begin Sunday at 1:30 p.m., with a Mass of Celebration at Sarnos home parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 123 William St.

It is part of who I am. My faith means a lot to me. I have always done a Mass for each inauguration as part of our overall festivities, Sarno told The Republican.

Sarno and the Springfield City Councils ceremony will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Mahogany Room in Springfield Symphony Hall.

A special family celebration will include free admission to Bright Nights at Springfields Forest Park from 5 to 10 p.m., when visitors will be greeted and thanked by Sarno and his family.

Springfield events will conclude with an Inaugural Gala on Jan. 5, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the new Marriott Springfield Downtown.

The public is invited to all events, which are free and will be funded privately in accordance with state law, Sarno said.

Sarno is the longest-serving mayor in the city of Springfields 388-year history.

Holyoke

In Holyoke, City Clerk Brenna McGee will administer the oaths of office to newly elected and reelected city councilors and School Committee members at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Holyokes Treasurer, Rory Casey, will also be sworn in.

City Councilor-Elect Patricia C. Devine, who joins this years panel, said although she has held office from 1999 to 2000, and then again in 2012, this term is different in several ways.

Back in 1990 there was no Facebook or cell phones. The communication was different.  I can see progress has been made, Devine said.

Devine said having an open door policy and showing respect are top priorities this term. I will be available if constituents need me, but I think the City Council must do a better job at respecting people that come before us. I look forward to doing that, Devine said.

Brief remarks will be made by Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia. Immediately after the ceremony, the City Council will convene in its chambers to elect a council president to succeed Outgoing Council President Todd McGee.

Chicopee

Chicopee will host its inauguration ceremony Monday, starting with a special Mass at the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus at 8 a.m.

The official ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the City Hall Auditorium where Mayor John L. Vieau, the city clerk, assessors, city councilors, and School Committee representatives will take an oath.

Greenfield

The City of Greenfield will celebrate the inauguration of Mayor-Elect Virginia Ginny Desorgher, as well as members of the City Council, Board of Assessors, School Committee, other elected officials on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Keith P. Barnicle, the Greenfield Chief of Staff-Elect, said 2024 will be a big year across the region, nation and world.

Although Greenfield is a community with challenges, we have big bold dreams to be worked on and realized. I am enthralled to be doing some of that work, Barnicle said.

The ceremony will take place at the John Zon Community Center, 35 Pleasant St, and will be streamed on Greenfield Community Televisions YouTube page and the City of Greenfield Facebook page.

The ceremony will include opening remarks from Daniel Guin, the outgoing City Council president, an invocation from Father Michael Pierz from Blessed Trinity Parish, the administration of the oath for the newly elected officials and closing remarks from Desorgher.

Other ceremonies Tuesday
If youre feeling sick or just got over an illness, youre not alone. And if you have yet to come down with something this season  take care.

The severity level of influenza, more commonly known as the flu, was upgraded to high this week by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which reports disease indicators weekly on its website.

In addition to the flu, COVID-19 cases have been on a steady increase in the state, rising from just over 5,600 cases in the week ending on Dec. 16 to more than 6,000 cases in the week ending on Dec. 23  the most recent data available. That number has been steadily rising since the end of October, according to state data.

Wastewater surveillance, which was determined to be a good indicator of the level of COVID-19 infection in an area, also increased last week, rising to a statewide average concentration of more than 2 million copies of the virus for the first time in the second half of the year.

The most recent data covers a time before the Christmas holiday, when many families had indoor gatherings.

The data comes amid a lag in vaccination this season. Whereas more than 41% of people had received a flu shot by this point last year, less than 37% have gotten a flu shot this year, state data said.

For COVID-19, the number of people with a new vaccination is about 18%.

Hospitals have been responding to the increase in infectious disease by reinstating mask mandates. Signs on the walls of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield say masks are required at all times. This is a change from the guidelines in the fall when visitors were required to wear a mask in patients rooms and patient care areas. Masks were optional in common spaces such as cafeterias and corridors.

Masking policies at other Massachusetts hospitals are being updated, as well.

Influenza-like illnesses are at a high level across the state and are at a very high level in north shore, south shore, and Cape and Island communities, according to state data.

Acute respiratory diseases were the cause of 16.7% of emergency department visits in the state during the week of Dec. 17-23, including COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV. That number decreased slightly from the previous week, where it was 17.3%.

While the overall number went down, the number of emergency department visits for influenza went up, from 2% to 2.7% of all visits.
A New Hampshire father charged in the killing of his missing 5-year-old daughter wants key pieces of evidence barred from his upcoming trial, including body camera footage from an encounter with police.

In the footage, father Adam Montgomery explains to police how he had not seen his daughter Harmony Montgomery for nearly two years after evading questions about her whereabouts for nearly half an hour. He had sole custody of his daughter at the time.

Harmony disappeared in late 2019 but authorities were not aware she was missing until 2021. Last year, police announced they believed she was killed in Manchester, New Hampshire in early December 2019. Her remains have not been found.

Montgomery, 33, pleaded not guilty in October 2022 to charges of second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence and abuse of a corpse in connection with Harmonys disappearance.

In August, Montgomery was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison on two counts of armed career criminal charges in an unrelated case. Montgomery received an additional sentence of 7.5-15 years for two theft charges.

Unsealed court documents last summer gave new insights based on testimony from Harmonys stepmother, Kayla, who told investigators that Montgomery struck his daughter in the face and head on three separate occasions because she had a bathroom accident.

A trial against Montgomery is scheduled to start in February 2024 and his defense attorneys want a New Hampshire judge to block a recording of a police encounter early in the search for Harmony.

Body camera footage

The encounter happened on Dec. 31, 2021, after police found Montgomery sleeping in a car in a parking lot on Harvill Street in Manchester, New Hampshire.

A judge previously ruled in September that statements made to law enforcement that morning by Montgomery would not be allowed during a trial. No rulings have been made on whether the footage will be allowed in court yet.

We just need to find out where she is to make sure shes OK, an officer tells Montgomery in the video.

Right now, I have nothing to say to you guys, Montgomery responds.

Montgomery, dressed in a black hoodie and smoking a cigarette, avoids answering most of the questions by police detectives throughout a 53-minute video.

Why are you so concerned that I want to check on your daughter? asks Detective Jack Dunleavy.

I have nothing else to say, Montgomery said, which he repeated throughout the interview.

Police assured Montgomery they did not have a warrant for his arrest but were concerned for Harmonys whereabouts and that her biological mother said she hadnt seen her for two years.

After avoiding answering questions for nearly half an hour, Montgomery tells the detective that Harmonys mother, Crystal Sorey, had picked up Harmony nearly two years earlier and he hadnt seen her since. The detective told Montgomery that Crystal also hadnt seen her daughter in two years.

I didnt know where she was staying but somewhere in Mass., Montgomery said.

You havent seen your daughter in two years? the detective asks.

No, Montgomery responded.

Thats not concerning to you? asked the detective.

It is but at the time I had no way of getting a hold of Crystal, Montgomery said.

At one point, detective Dunleavy said, I just want to know shes OK. I didnt sleep at all last night knowing I could have a kid thats dead.

Why defense wants footage barred from trial

Defense attorneys for Montgomery, Caroline Smith and James Brooks, wrote in a motion that he used his right to silence when law enforcement found him that morning.

The attorneys argue that the entire encounter should not be admissible because it would make jurors speculate about what happened and make them prejudicial against Montgomery.

In their own motion, officials from the New Hampshire Department of Justice argued that, at the time of the encounter, Harmony had not been seen for about two years, and that the purpose of the encounter was for police to figure out her whereabouts.

It was not until much later that police came to suspect that Montgomery had killed his daughter and disposed of her corpse in an unknown location.

Prosecutors argue that the video footage would be a small piece of a larger investigation into the disappearance of Harmony.

During Montgomerys sentencing in August on armed career criminal charges, he publicly denied that he killed his daughter and asked the judge to only consider the facts in this case when determining his sentence.

I loved my daughter unconditionally and I did not kill her, he said. I understand that I was found guilty by a jury and Im not here to dispute that at all. The only consideration that I ask of you this morning is for you not to consider anything as it relates to the case regarding my daughter, Harmony.
Tree House Brewing says disgruntled minority investor Eric Granger has already received more than $850,000 in profits after he made a $10,000 investment in the fast-growing brewery in 2012.

Thats a 2,500% rate of return, Tree Houses lawyer, William H. Paine, wrote in the companys response to Grangers November lawsuit.
Following the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man at a Lawrence nightclub on Christmas Eve, Lawrence police suspended the business license, police said.

Acting Chief William Castro suspended Energy Lounges license on Wednesday in the interest of public safety as the perpetrator hasnt been caught, according to a Thursday Facebook post from the Lawrence Police.

This immediate action is being taken on an expedited basis due to the overriding public safety concern, Lawrence police said.

The decision to suspend the business license is also because the shooting is still under investigation by Lawrence police and the Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Essex County District Attorneys Office, police said.

Lawrence police responded to a report of shots fired at Energy Lounge on Broadway just after midnight on Sunday morning, police said in a press release. There, officers and paramedics found the victim with a gunshot wound. They treated him before taking him to Lawrence General Hospital where he was declared dead.

The identity of the victim hasnt been released.

The nightclub said it is cooperating with investigators.

Energy Lounge deeply regrets the human loss, and we send our most sincere condolences to the victims relatives. We accompany them in their pain, the nightclub wrote on social media.

Energy Lounge will be closed pending the results of the investigation, police said. Once the investigation is complete and the findings are given to the Lawrence licensing board, the board can hold a hearing about the suspension, authorities said.
A Massachusetts resident has died after two people at a New Hampshire resort fell ill with Legionnaires Disease, WMUR reported Friday.

Both visitors at the Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield were from out-of-state, the other being from Rhode Island, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan told the news station. The Rhode Island resident remains hospitalized, he added.

Read more: RI man faces negligence charge in Foxborough YMCA crash that hurt 4 children

The visitors were not at the resort at the same time and were not connected, he told WMUR.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to the station that they had stayed at the resort, but noted the investigation into how and where the two contracted the disease.

The investigation is looking into the resorts water systems, and Chan said the resorts hot tub was shut down.

Legionella bacteria cause a serious type of pneumonia, Legionnaires Disease, as well as Pontiac Fever, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms, such as a cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches, can start two days to two weeks after exposure, and can even take longer, the CDC said.

The bacteria grows and spreads in human-made building water systems. This includes showerheads and faucets, hot tubs, decorative fountains, hot water tanks and heaters, and in large, complex water systems.

Typically, Legionnaires Disease is not spread through contact with other people, the CDC said.
Less than a week after the state abruptly opened a new temporary shelter for migrant and homeless families in Cambridge, the Healey administration said it has met the Legislatures new requirement to open an overflow site by the end of the year.

But the state Houses top Democrat, who pressed for the overflow site directive, didnt explicitly agree with that assessment Friday morning.

A spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey told State House News Service that the administration feels that its fulfilled the condition she agreed to in a supplemental budget to operationalize by Dec. 31 a state funded overflow emergency shelter site or sites for eligible families who have been waitlisted for placement at an emergency shelter due to the system reaching capacity.

The new law doesnt explicitly define the parameters of an overflow site, such as how many families must be accommodated or how long they may remain at temporary sites.

Asked if he agreed that the overflow site requirement had been met, House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, responded with a statement to State House News Service.

We are hopeful that families on the waitlist are being provided with a safe place to sleep as required by our legislation, Mariano said. We will continue to monitor the steps taken to address the shelter crisis, including the required reports, to help ensure that there are operational overflow sites through the end of the fiscal year.

Some 391 families are on the waitlist, Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand said. Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice pegged the figure at more than 400 families during a virtual Cambridge community meeting Thursday evening.

The waitlist was at 242 families on Dec. 13. Rice said the average family size is three people.

Throughout the 90-minute virtual forum, Cambridge city and state leaders explained how they selected the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds building and began welcoming families last Friday with little public notice or engagement. About three-quarters of families stuck on the waitlist have been directed to temporary shelter and overnight arrangements, Rice said.

Officials have been scrambling to open temporary overflow sites since the shelter system hit Healeys 7,500-family capacity limit in November amid a surge of new arrivals, and each day brings about 10 additional families to Massachusetts, Rice said. About five to 10 families are also leaving the shelter system daily, he said.

When Secretary of State William Galvin offered up the east Cambridge property, Rice said his team decided in less than a day to start fixing up the former courthouse.

Weve been very fortunate this week -- it hasnt been below freezing very much, but that is a crisis that Im worried about, Rice said. But when I find, and we find as a group and incident command, a location that is worthy of taking a look, we move very rapidly, as rapidly as we can. Do we do it perfectly? Do we have the most perfect community engagement plan? No, we dont.

Rice thanked city leaders, including Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Yi-An Huang, for their support and friendly attitude in navigating the unpredictable demands of the migrant crisis. Cambridge has been willing to help and gone above and beyond on trying to solve problems, Rice said.

It was not entirely clear that everything was going to be completed in time, even a week before, so a lot of the exploration of the site to make sure that everything was going to be prepared and that it would actually work did happen incredibly fast, Huang said. The goal of the administration would be that there is a longer period where this can be noticed to the community and there can be more of a conversation. But then the reality of the emergency and the crisis and finding a place for families, especially with the winter, sometimes its not happening as much as we would like.

The meeting came months after lawmakers criticized the Healey administrations lack of communication, including with municipalities, as more hotels in their communities began serving as emergency shelters and more migrant children began attending local schools.

In response to Healeys shelter cap, lawmakers wrote the new law with the overflow requirement in order for the administration to unlock $250 million in additional funding for the emergency shelter system. Healey agreed to the requirement when she signed the supplemental budget that included it on Dec. 4.

The administration must also submit biweekly shelter updates to the House and Senate Ways and Means committees. The first submitted report was dated Dec. 18, and Hand said the administration will submit another report next week.

Rice said the Cambridge Registry of Deeds building is one of five overflow sites, which officials have also referred to as safety-net shelters.

The other state-funded overflow shelters are at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy and a clinical risk assessment site in Revere, alongside other sites funded through a grant partnership the administration launched with United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Hand said.

We know that is going to continue being a growing problem before its not, and some really hard conversations are going to have to happen, Rep. Marjorie Decker, a Cambridge Democrat, said of the massive shelter demand. But I think this kind of collaboration with municipalities across the state, as well as legislators and our state partners is really important.

The flood of new arrivals is affecting major cities across the country, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams this week pointed the finger at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for transporting migrants by bus and planes without warning.

Adams on Wednesday issued an executive order stipulating that chartered buses bringing migrants into the city will be required to provide 32 hours notice before arriving in New York City and information on the population they are transporting, as well as be required to drop passengers off at a designated location in Manhattan only during specified hours.

The mayors office said Abbott was using asylum seekers as political pawns and noted a surge of 14,700 new arrivals in the last month, including 14 rogue buses with migrants that arrived from Texas in a single night.

Violations could result in fines and charter buses being impounded, and Adams signaled city officials may also file lawsuits.

In Cambridge, Rep. Mike Connolly said hes visited the shelter several times. The initial families assigned to the shelter seemed quite tired and exhausted, the Cambridge Democrat told the News Service earlier this week.

The space can accommodate up to 200 people, or roughly 60 to 80 families, Rice said.

These families are mostly migrants, and theyre coming here for the opportunity to pursue the American dream as part of our society, Rice said. They want to get out of this system, they want to work. We want to help them get a work authorization as quickly as possible. Theyre all here legally, in accordance with the federal government rules and regulations.

Eligible families on the waitlist are brought to the shelter at 6 p.m. and depart at 7 a.m., said Blair Brown, an assistant education secretary whos now working on the overflow shelter team. She described the Cambridge site as a very temporary overnight shelter, where families are sleeping on cots in two congregate rooms.

Families are provided dinner and breakfast, and MIT has offered shower facilities, Brown said. During the day, she said, the families spend time at the state welcome centers, located in Quincy and Allston, where they can connect with more state resources and determine their next steps.

Maura Pensak, Cambridges housing liaison, said its better for families to stay in more traditional shelters, where they would have their own space and not need to leave every day.

This setting is hopefully just a real quick turnaround while theyre waiting, she said. Think of it as a waiting room.
The Needham Police Department is warning customers about credit card skimming devices found at a Sudbury Farms grocery store after discovering more devices installed in other Massachusetts communities.

Management found the device at the Sudbury Farms store on Sunday at one of the self-checkout registers and turned it over to police Tuesday, according to a Facebook post by Needham Police.

Authorities said the skimmer may have been installed on Dec. 16 and are warning customers to monitor their credit or debit card statements for suspicious activity.

At this time, the Police Department has not gotten any reports of compromised financial information that is believed to be related to this incident, Needham police said.

Similar devices have been found in Wellesley, Natick, Weston, Sudbury and Cambridge in Roche Brothers supermarket stores, police said.

Needham police said the safest way to pay while using a credit or debit card is to insert the chip or use the tap function at the register.

Always be mindful of the card reader when paying by card. If something appears unusual or out of place, report it to the store management immediately, Needham police said.

Customers can also contact Needham police at 781-455-7570.
After a postal worker was robbed at gunpoint in Boston Thursday, the Boston Police Department is asking the public to help them find the suspect involved.

Police said the robbery happened at the intersection of Talbot and Welles avenues in Dorchester at 5:41 p.m. on Dec. 28. The postal worker told officers that the suspect stole his mail key, police said.

The suspect was described as a light-skinned Hispanic man in his late teens to early 20s with a thin build, according to police. He was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweater, gray sweatpants and a black ski mask.

The man ran down Talbot Avenue towards Washington Street, police added. Boston police have since released a photo of the suspect and are asking for the publics help in identifying him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact District C-11 Detectives at (617) 343-4335. Additionally, anonymous tips can be made by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463).
A Rhode Island man is expected to appear in court after his van crashed into a YMCA in Foxborough on Dec. 26, Foxborough police announced Friday.

The man, 51, will appear in Wrentham District Court facing a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, police said in a Facebook post.

Read more: Three high schoolers help rescue distressed driver who crashed in Arlington

The crash happened at the YMCA at 67 Mechanic St. at around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 26, police said on Facebook. Four children were brought to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries as a result.

The man stayed at the crash site and cooperated with investigators, police added. On Friday, police said the investigation was completed, prompting the charge.

Read more: Human bone found near Blue Hills Reservation in Milton sparks investigation

Police did not release the drivers name but did note that his name is being withheld pending the determination of the Clerk Magistrates hearing according to Massachusetts Public Records Laws.

The drivers hearing, which police said will be held at a later date, will determine probable cause.

The Foxborough Building Commissioner was also said to be checking the safety and integrity of the building.
The woman was approached by the unknown perpetrator at approximately 1 a.m., police said. The man threatened her with a gun and forced himself on her, police said. The victim was eventually able to run away and seek help.
An Italian restaurant in Western Massachusetts known for its pizza will dish the last of its dough at the end of the year.

Roma Restaurant, located at 561 College Highway in Southwick, will close its doors for good on Sunday, Dec. 31, the restaurant said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Victor has dedicated 47 years to creating a culinary haven, the post said about Romas owner Victor Ferrentino. Wishing him a joyful retirement filled with relaxation and the fulfillment of all his future endeavors. Thank you, Victor, for the legacy youve created and the countless moments of joy around your tables.

Read More: The Industry in Dorchester has closed to make way for new Mexican restaurant

The restaurant, which opened in 1976, was known for its pizza. However, Roma proved to be more than just a pizza shop over the years, with one Yelp reviewer saying the space earned its stripes as Italian restaurant.

The pizza portion of their menu only takes up a tiny portion of one of the six pages in the menu they have, wrote Kevin P.

He said he lives in Connecticut but had to show his wife what Roma was all about on their way back from visiting Massachusetts one day in October.

I grew up in the 70s thru the late 90s (until I moved away after college) in the Granby/Southwick area and Romas pizza was a staple in our house, Kevin wrote. As a kid, my parents would buy Romas party size pie, which has 32 slices and is about the size of two New Haven large pies and twice as thick.

Excellent food excellent service the best Franchaises and real expresso martinis, another reviewer said in February. Meatball escarole and tortellini soups are a must. This place is a true hidden gem.

Customers saddened by Romas closure took the comments section of the restaurants Facebook post to share their memories of the restaurant and congratulation Ferrentino on his retirement.

Read More: Our Community Food Pantry moves smoothly into newly built Southwick facility

Congratulations on your new chapter, one person wrote. Please know that Romas presence in our town over the past almost five decades has been a shining star in all of our hearts and stomachs.

Thank you for creating a place in Southwick to be talked about for generations, another person commented. Enjoy your well deserved time of relaxation.
Authorities have made an arrest several days after a woman was found dead in her Lawrence basement apartment, the Essex County District Attorneys Office said Friday.

Santana Guerrero Temporo, 53, was arrested in Texas on a fugitive from justice charge, the office said.

Guerrero Temporo was wanted for the Dec. 25 killing of 21-year-old Diosmary Mejia, who the district attorneys office formally identified Friday. Guerrero Temporo is expected to be arraigned next week, the office added.

Lawrence Police were called to a basement apartment at 243 Salem St. for a well-being check at about 7:48 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26. Officers found an unresponsive person who was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

In interviews with both WCVB and NBC10, family member Nelly Perez identified Mejia as the person found dead. Perez told the outlets that Mejia is from the Dominican Republic and has two children.

Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the District Attorneys Office and the Lawrence Police Department are investigating the death as an apparent homicide, the districts office said Tuesday.
Three high school students helped police pull a distressed driver from his vehicle after he crashed in front of a theater in Arlington Thursday, according to Arlington police.

The crash happened at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Lake Street around 10:13 p.m. on Dec. 28, Arlington Police Chief Julie Flaherty said in a statement Friday.

When they arrived, officers found a gray Honda Civic that had crashed into the front of the Capitol Theater at 204 Massachusetts Ave. The male driver, who was the only person in the car, was unresponsive, Flaherty said.

Officers, along with three local high schoolers who were near the crash, helped pull the driver from the vehicle. Police provided CPR until paramedics arrived and the driver was brought to the hospital for treatment.

I would like to acknowledge the officers on duty for their response, and the individuals who stopped to assist in safely extracting the driver, Flaherty said.

Authorities believe the unidentified driver was in distress and that the Honda slowly rolled down Massachusetts Avenue before jumping the curb in front of the theater. The crash remains under investigation.
A man caught sleeping in the basement of a Boston church was among three people arrested in back-to-back break-ins at two churches in the city this week.

Officers were called to St. Monica/St. Augustine Catholic Church at 331 Old Colony Ave. in South Boston for a reported breaking and entering at around 3:44 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, Boston police said.

When they arrived, officers saw a broken window large enough to fit a person through, police said. Officers entered the building and, with the help of K9 Duke, found a man sleeping in the basement.

The man who originally gave police a fake name was identified as Steven Cyr, 61, of South Boston. He was arrested and charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime and furnishing a false name, according to police. Cyr is expected to be arraigned at South Boston District Court.

Father William Kennedy told NBC10 Boston there has been a growing problem with alcohol, drugs and people often sleeping outside the church.

Were starting to find syringes on the property, which is a safety issue for people who are just cutting through, Kennedy told the news outlet. Im very concerned about that.

That was not the only church to be broken into in South Boston recently. According to another release from Boston police, two men were arrested after breaking into the former St. Vincents Church at 363 E St.

Michael Donovan, 37, of South Boston and Brendan Delaney, 50, of South Boston were arrested after they broke into the building to steal copper wire, police said. The duo was found with bags containing hand tools and other pieces of copper wire stolen from the building.

Both men were charged with possession of burglarious instruments and breaking and entering in the nighttime. They are expected to be arraigned at South Boston District Court, police said.
On Dec. 11, the U.S. House passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, legislation to require Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to disclose drug rebates and discounts, revealing what they pay drug makers for prescription drugs.

The bill would also require hospitals, insurance companies, labs, imaging providers and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly list the prices they charge patients.

The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 32071. However, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, was the only member of the Massachusetts delegation to vote against it.

Why?

The answer lies in the fact that Neal is the recipient of huge doses of campaign contributions from Pharmacy Benefit Managers, which act as middlemen between drug makers and insurers.

These people negotiate prices in exchange for including drugs in insurers formularies. They are supposed to pass the savings to patients. However, PBMs  often working hand-in-hand with insurance companies that own them  pocket the discounts, leaving patients to foot the bill.

The bill Neal opposed would require PBMs to disclose drug rebates and discounts, revealing what they pay drug makers for prescription drugs. The bill would also require hospitals, insurance companies, labs, imaging providers and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly list the prices they charge patients.

Also, you wont find Neals name on the Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act, H.R. 2880, which his colleague U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Newton has co-sponsored.

According to OpenSecrets, between 2014-2022, Rep. Neal has taken a total of $88,000 in campaign donations from the top three Pharmacy Benefit Managers.

That includes $28,500 from CVS Health (Caremark), which has 32% of the market; $31,000 from Cigna Corp. (Express Scripts), with 24% market share; and $28,500 from UnitedHealth (OptumRx), with 21% market share.

A report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office on Sept. 5 recommended that the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should monitor the effect of rebates on plan sponsor formulary design  as it is called  and on Medicare and beneficiary spending. The report called for the agency to assess whether rebate practices are likely to substantially discourage enrollment by certain beneficiaries.

A national poll last March found that 84% of likely voters say its important or very important to have rules that require Pharmacy Benefit Managers to provide value and lower drug costs for consumers.

Whats more, respondents want elected officials to take on the issue of regulating PBMs  with 73% saying it should be a high or top priority for Congress and their state legislatures.

And 72% said they are more or much more likely to vote for a candidate who supports regulating PBMs.

Sadly, there has been no coverage locally of Rep. Neals actions on behalf of PBMs by the Springfield local television news stations which have been too busy showing the congressman posing with holiday revelers.

Matt L. Barron lives in Chesterfield. Jon Weissman lives in Granby.
The Patriots got some surprisingly good news on their final injury report before heading to Buffalo.

Five days after sustaining a Christmas Eve concussion, Jalen Mills has totally cleared the protocol. Barring any setback, hell be the first Patriots player to suit up for the teams next game after entering the protocol. Everybody else has been sidelined for at least a week this season.

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Mills presence could be particularly important against the Bills, as Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) has been listed as questionable. When Peppers was out last weekend, Mills played a season-high 62 defensive snaps and filled in at a high level.

Trent Brown, JaWhaun Bentley, Kayshon Boutte, and Ezekiel Elliott were all also removed from the teams injury report on Friday. For Brown, this is the first time since a Week 4 date in Dallas (Oct. 1) that he hasnt been given an injury designation; hes finally back to full strength.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is the only Patriots player that has been ruled out  this is his third straight absence with an ankle injury  while Bill Belichick listed nine players as questionable, including Matthew Slater (hamstring), who had a 100-game active streak snapped in Denver.

Heres the full injury report for both teams:

PATRIOTS

OUT

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ankle (DNP)

DOUBTFUL

No Players Listed.

QUESTIONABLE

DL Christian Barmore, Knee (LP)

DB Myles Bryant, Chest (LP)

S Kyle Dugger, Illness (DNP)

TE Hunter Henry, Knee (LP)

LB Anfernee Jennings, Knee (LP)

CB Jonathan Jones, Knee (LP)

S Jabrill Peppers, Hamstring (LP)

SpT Matthew Slater, Hamstring (LP)

CB Shaun Wade, Hip (LP)

NOTES: JaWhaun Bentley, Kayshon Boutte, Trent Brown, Ezekiel Elliott and Jalen Mills were removed from the list. T Tyrone Wheatley (knee) was a full participant in practice.

BILLS

OUT

No Players Listed.

DOUBTFUL

No Players Listed.

QUESTIONABLE

DE A.J. Epenesa, Rib (FP)

S Damar Hamlin, Shoulder (LP)

DT DaQuan Jones, Pectoral (FP)

WR Justin Shorter, Hamstring (FP)
Members of the public can finally get a look at the $29,000 oil-on-canvas memorialization of Gov. Charlie Bakers eight years in the corner office.

Bakers official portrait, unveiled at a private soiree Dec. 21 in the State House library, was up on the wall this week in the lobby of the executive suite for all to see.

With display space in the lobby reserved for the 12 most recent governors, that means 1950s Gov. Christian Herter has finally moved out of the suite, with Gov. Foster Furcolo on deck to head out whenever Gov. Maura Healeys picture goes on the wall.

Ex-Gov. Deval Patrick slid down a space to make way for Baker to occupy a spot closest to the door.

Ed Lyons, a Baker supporter known for writing about Massachusetts politics on social media, celebrated unique details of the portrait this week in a series of posts on X -- such as the Swampscott Republicans purple necktie, both a color of bipartisanship and of Alzheimers disease awareness.

Lyons also noted that Bakers portrait is the first to feature that omnipresent piece of modern technology, the iPhone.

Another unique aspect of the portrait was its closed-doors unveiling, with members of the public and press kept away from getting a first glance at the canvas last Thursday.

Bakers political campaign account paid Pennsylvania-based artist Ellen Cooper nearly $30,000 over the past year for the picture. Decades ago, the cost of gubernatorial portraits was borne by the taxpayers. Gov. Michael Dukakis started a trend of financing portraits with private donations during his second term.
Enraged Republicans in Maine are vowing a court fight after the Pine Tree States top elections official kicked former President Donald Trump off the 2024 primary ballot.

This is a sham decision that mimics third world dictatorships. It will not stand legal scrutiny. People have a right to choose their leaders devoid of mindless decisions by partisan hacks, Maines House Repubilcan leader, Billy Bob Faulkingham, wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday.

Maines Democratic secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, booted Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause, the Associated Press reported. The action made her the first state election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to continue his campaign.

Bellows decision follows a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that kicked Trump off the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, the Associated Press further reported.

That decision has been stayed until the nations highest court decides whether the twice-impeached Republican is barred by the Civil War-era provision, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

Trumps re-election campaign said it would appeal Bellows decision to Maines state court system, and it is likely that the nations highest court will have the final say on whether Trump appears on the ballot there and in the other states, the Associated Press reported.

In its own statement, Maines Republican Party vowed to fight the ruling to the Supreme Court if necessary, adding that, We reserve our right as a private organization to use another system  if thats what it takes to keep a Democrat Hack Secretary of State from infringing on the Rights of Maine voters.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, R-Maine, who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, also weighed in with a post to X, saying he opposed the decision.

We are a nation of laws, therefore, until [Trump] is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot, Golden wrote.

My statement on the Maine Secretary of State's ruling: pic.twitter.com/ByO3XJe1JS  Congressman Jared Golden (@RepGolden) December 29, 2023

The former president faces four, separate criminal indictments, including a federal case related to the certification of the 2020 election results.

On Wednesday, Michigans Supreme Court, a key battleground state, ruled against an attempt to remove Trump from the states primary ballot, with justices concluding that they were not persuaded that the questions presented [by the challengers] should be reviewed by this court.

The ruling kept the door open, however, to a potential challenge to Trumps eligibility for Michigans general election ballot, according to the Associated Press.

Trump remains on Massachusetts 2024 primary election ballot, a spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin told MassLive earlier this month, adding that were ... hopeful the U.S. Supreme Court can provide guidance to all states.
Food is a unique storyteller, a cultural bridge and a carrier of traditions. As a result, the culinary traditions and rich tapestry of cuisines belonging to the global Black community have played a valuable role in contemporary culture.

These traditions not only illustrate the inspiration, creativity and shared heritage of Black people, but also serve as a common thread that connects diverse cultures and geographies. From the shores of West Africa to the vibrant streets of the Caribbean, the flavors, techniques and dishes of the African diaspora have transcended borders, uniting people from across the globe. The Global Black Impact Summit (GBIS)  which unites and celebrates the achievements of the global Black community on February 27, 2024 in Dubai  will explore the influence of the African diaspora on a wide range of industries, such as the culinary arts.

Africa: The Roots of Flavor

An exploration into the culinary heritage of the global Black community begins with the roots of African cuisine. The continents diverse landscape and myriad cultures have given rise to a vast array of ingredients, cooking methods and flavors. In West Africa, staples like yams, okra, plantains and an array of vibrant spices are central to the local cuisine, with traditional local dishes including Jollof rice, Fufu  made from cassava root  and Egusi soup. In South Africa, the fusion dish Bobotie  a spiced minced meat bake with an egg-based topping  reflects the countrys historical influences, blending Dutch, Malay and Indian flavors. Central Africa contributes to this culinary tapestry with dishes like Saka-Saka in Congo, made from cassava leaves cooked with spices, and Poulet Nyembwe in Gabon, featuring chicken in a rich red palm nut sauce. These dishes highlight the use of local ingredients and establish the roots of traditional African cuisines across regions.

The African Diaspora and a Fusion of Cultures

Starting from the 16th century, the transatlantic slave trade facilitated the movement of millions of Africans to various parts of the world, including the Americas and the Caribbean. These journeys brought with them longstanding culinary traditions, which over time, evolved and adapted to the ingredients and resources found locally, while preserving the foundations of authentic cooking methods and flavors.

In the Caribbean, the fusion of African, indigenous and European culinary traditions and techniques gave birth to Creole cuisine. Dishes like Gumbo  a hearty stew served over rice and Callaloo  a leafy green stew  showcase the rich melding of influences. They tell the story of a resilient people who had to adapt and create new traditions, while preserving their roots. In the United States, African Americans developed Soul Food, a cuisine that celebrates their enduring connection to their African heritage. Dishes like collard greens, a flavorful leafy green dish, cornbread and fried chicken, stand apart from traditional African dishes. Yet they provide more than just sustenance; they serve as a celebration of cultural resilience, warmth, protection and identity.

The influence of the African diaspora on global cuisine is undeniable. Dishes like Acaraje in Brazil  a stuffed fritter sold and eaten as street food  finds its roots in the Yoruba people from Nigeria, Benin and Togo, while Ackee and saltfish  Jamaicas national dish  was initially brought to the Caribbean from Ghana and stems from the name for the Akyem people. These examples reflect how the diaspora has enriched culinary traditions around the world and are a testament to its enduring impact on food and culture.

Pioneers and Innovators in the Culinary World

Throughout history, pioneering Black chefs have broken barriers in the culinary world. In the US, renowned chefs like Edna Lewis and Patrick Clark paved the way for the next generation of Black chefs to innovate and shape the world of food. Chef Marcus Samuelsson, an Ethiopian-born Swedish-American, is renowned for his culinary empire that spans from Harlem to Sweden. Kwame Onwuachi, a Nigerian-American chef, has left his mark on the culinary scene with a background that includes training in the worlds top kitchens. Sheldon Simeon, a Filipino-Black chef, celebrates the fusion of two cultures by exploring the ancestral roots of Hawaiian cuisine.

GBIS 2024 strives to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Black individuals across industries, with a view to creating a more diverse and inclusive professional landscape. Just as culinary traditions continue to evolve and innovate, the Summit aims to unleash the full potential of the global Black community and explore the vast array of traditions and heritage associated with the African diaspora.
THE HSE is seeing an increase in people with respiratory illnesses attending emergency departments - 538 people with flu and 282 with Covid attended EDs this week, an increase from 312 (flu) and 144 (COVID) the previous week. While their system is responding well, this increasing pressure requires all to play their part in using the right options for care.

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.

Their acute hospitals are as prepared as can be to deal with the expected rise in attendances and admissions over the coming period. Yesterday, Thursday, December 28, 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.

Hospitals and community services around the country have put a sustained effort into ensuring hospitals are positioned for the traditional post-Christmas demand. However the rise in flu and COVID infection is very steep, and we would urgethe public to attend the ED only for major health emergencies. Use all other options in non-emergency situations.

People should consider using services such as your local pharmacy, and HSE.ie, before going to your GP or Emergency Department if you have respiratory symptoms. It is still not too late to get vaccinated: people who have not done so should get vaccinated at their GP or pharmacy. If you are unwell you should stay home until 48 hours after your major symptoms have resolved; avoid visiting people who are more vulnerable if you are unwell, especially avoid visiting hospitals or nursing homes if unwell. And we remind people about good infection control practice, including washing hands regularly and covering nose and mouth if you have coughs and sneezes.

According to Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer: Rates of Covid and flu are rising now and over 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. Such measures will help protect those who may be more vulnerable to the effects of these infections and avoid impact on services at a very busy time of year. There is no room for complacency and I urge people to follow public health advice - stay at home if you have symptoms and get vaccinated - before we reach the peak of flu season in the very near future.

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 JN1 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.

See the HSE website for useful advice on common illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, earache and sore throats and information on how to keep well in winter.
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz began his record fourth term in office Friday with a speech that contrasted his steady decade of leadership with that of his Republican predecessors, who he said tried and failed to run government like a business.

In the past, regular annual county budget struggles resulted in dramatic budgetary brinkmanship, and loss of services for the public, Poloncarz said. Today, we have annual balanced budgets passed on time and without drama.

But it wasnt just Buffalos comeback story or his talk of a New Erie County that Poloncarz was selling.

The Buffalo Democrat also struck notes of caution and doubt about the state of national politics and the future of American democracy, which he said could be preserved only if good people in Erie County stood up and fought against the rising tide of political extremism coming from the right.

There are dark clouds on the horizon as the same extremism that exists in our county grows in our country, Poloncarz said. It is not hyperbole to say our nation is facing some of its most trying days in nearly a century.

Poloncarz in November steamrolled to an unprecedented fourth term with 58% of the vote, compared with 40% for Republican Chrissy Casilio. Third-party libertarian candidate Duane Whitmer received 1% of the vote.

Since then, he passed on a chance to succeed Rep. Brian Higgins in Congress, saying he instead wanted to oversee the completion of Erie County projects that he touted again in his speech Friday, including the new Buffalo Bills stadium, Renaissance Commerce Park in Lackawanna and the ErieNET broadband network.

Poloncarz spoke before 350 family members, staffers, supporters and other elected officials at the newly renovated Buffalo Convention Center. His two most recent swearing-in ceremonies were more subdued affairs at Old County Hall.

The 56-year-old lawyer hearkened back to his first inaugural address in 2012  also delivered at the convention center  and reminded attendees that the county at that time was mired in debt, services were cut and the Buffalo Bills were playing games in Toronto and in danger of leaving the region.

If you remember, prior to my election, county government had been run like a business, abandoning its true owners, the people, when they needed it most, and putting at risk this great community we call home, Poloncarz said. There was much work to do to create the community we know today, but we did it.

The Lackawanna native cited the former Bethlehem Steel site  now being transformed into the Renaissance Commerce Park  as proof that government works by ignoring the naysayers, rolling up our sleeves, and partnering with the private sector for the betterment of all.

Decade after decade, Erie County lost population and many viewed our best days as being behind us, Poloncarz said. Today, our population is growing, our economy is the strongest it has been in decades, and people worldwide know of the comeback of Buffalo and Erie County.

Poloncarzs message then took on a more serious tone, tinged with a warning about the increasing signs of political extremism in America and the involvement of Erie County residents in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

He noted that Erie County voters last month overwhelmingly rejected extremism and cast their votes for the idea of a government that works for them but reminded attendees that only one county in the nation  Franklin County, Ohio  had more residents than Erie County arrested in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In this time, the greatest threat we face as a nation is not from an outside enemy, Poloncarz said. It comes from within. Just like cancer untreated will eventually kill a person, there is a cancer that is threatening our democratic republic.

Poloncarz noted that in todays divisive social media culture, smart, stable governance is ridiculed and defamed to undermine trust in our public offices ... Self-anointed patriots spit upon the core principles of the Constitution they claim to be supporting.

Warning that democracy is not a spectator sport, Poloncarz said it was up to regular Erie County residents to push back against hatred, intolerance and autocratic tendencies that threaten a stable democracy.

He urged residents to join a community organization, attend town board meetings, be active at their childs school, get involved in voter registration efforts or even run for office.

Friends, our time on this stage is passing, Poloncarz said. Let it not be a time of inaction, of dismissing the very real peril that is at our doorstep. Instead let it be a time of common purpose to strengthen the democratic values and institutions that tie us together as Americans.

Poloncarz closed by stating that the next generation would be waiting to see if we will protect the fundamental freedoms and rights that mark us all, as different as we are, as Americans. We cannot let them down.
by Fern Siegel , December 29, 2023

Global technology and marketing company TMS named Preet Michelson as chief people officer.

The company focuses on brand growth and interaction, upping visibility for customers. Clients include T-Mobile, McDonald's and adidas.

Michelson reports to Mark Landolt, TMS president. She will oversee the companys global talent acquisition, development and retention programs.

Prior to joining TMS, she worked as VP human resources at CVS Health, responsible for driving multiple strategic initiatives and launching leadership development systems.

Michelson has also worked for United Airlines, Molson Coors and PepsiCo.

Based out of TMS Chicago headquarters, she said she wanted to "build on TMS' rich culture, fostering collaboration, growth and inclusivity."
by Tanya Gazdik , December 27, 2023

Pizza Hut is laying off more than 1,200 delivery drivers in anticipation of the minimum wage increase in California.

In less than a week, the minimum wage in California will go up by 50 cents to $16 an hour. Then on April 1, fast-food restaurants with 60 locations or more by law will have to pay $20 an hour.

The law affects 557,000 fast-food workers at 30,000 restaurants in California, according to USA Today.

"PacPizza, LLC, operating as Pizza Hut, has made a business decision to eliminate first-party delivery services and, as a result, the elimination of all delivery driver positions," per a federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice filed by the fast-food operator with the state's Employment Development Department.

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The WARN Act requires employers to give notice of plant closures or mass layoffs.

Other fast-food chains like Chipotle and McDonalds plan to raise prices to offset the state's higher labor costs, according to the Daily Mail.

Mark Kalinowski, a restaurant-industry analyst, wrote in a note this week that he expected "more harm to come" in various ways as fast-food chains "take action in an attempt to blunt the impact of higher labor costs, according to Business Insider.

Economics professors say the layoffs could also impact customers in many ways.

"You might have longer lines, you might have dirtier, dirty restaurants, David Neumark, a UIC Economics Professor, tells ABC 30 Action News. There is even a study from Seattle that when they raised the minimum wage, hygiene violations increased, but consumer prices are also one potential route.

Some estimates suggest up to 50,000 jobs could be lost in the state of California.

The FAST Act, signed into California law by Gov. Gavin Newson in 2022, originally called for minimum wage for fast food workers to increase to $22 next year.

But corporate chains and franchise-advocacy groups fought the law.

A coalition of restaurant-industry organizations said the law could raise costs for fast-food restaurants by $3 billion, per Business Insider. They rallied to get a referendum on the ballot.

A new law, AB 1228, replaced the FAST Act and changed the minimum wage hike to $20 an hour.

The new law was viewed as a compromise between the labor unions representing fast-food workers and the restaurant industry, per Business Insider.
WASHINGTON  The leaders of the bipartisan panel charged with redrawing New Yorks congressional districts predict they will do something early next year that they failed to the last time around: succeed.

I feel confident that we will be able to meet the goal as set forth by the Court of Appeals and have a congressional map that could be presented to the State Legislature for their consideration on or before February 28, said Ken Jenkins, the Democrat who chairs the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission.

Were both hoping that we have this resolved from our side or from our point of view in the first part of February, said Charles Nesbitt, the former Western New York Assemblyman who, as vice chair, is the redistricting panels top Republican.

The redistricting commissions two top officials both spoke to The Buffalo News last week, several days after the State Court of Appeals ordered New Yorks 26 congressional districts to be redrawn again. Both said the panel would succeed when it previously failed to produce a congressional map for two reasons: experience, as well as personnel shifts that made bipartisan compromise more likely.

Jenkins noted that after a separate court case, the redistricting commission this year drew up a set of new district lines for the State Assembly that the State Legislature eventually adopted  something the commission couldnt do for either state or congressional districts on its first tries after the 2020 census.

Court's New York redistricting ruling will likely aid Democrats in fight for Congress New Yorks highest court ruled that the states congressional lines must be redrawn ahead of the 2024 elections, handing a victory to Democrats that could help swing control of U.S. Congress.

Given that history, I believe that this process can work, Jenkins said.

Meanwhile, Nesbitt said that after several changes in the makeup of the commission, the panel works more smoothly than it did two years ago.

I think we have on both sides now ... what it takes to get things done, he said.

If the panel fails to agree on a new map, though, the map-making duties would fall to the heavily Democratic State Legislature  which has a huge incentive to draw the lines to the partys advantage. With Republicans clinging to an eight-member majority in the House of Representatives, the balance of power is potentially at stake in the New York maps latest rewrite.

This ruling could put up to six GOP seats in deeper danger, including the Syracuse-area seat held by Rep. Brandon Williams and five others in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, Dave Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst at the Cook Political Report, said on X after the court issued its decision.

State's highest court weighs redistricting arguments that could shape House of Representatives Attorneys for Republicans and Democrats spent almost two hours arguing their cases Wednesday afternoon before the Court of Appeals in a packed downtown courtroom.

The latest decision came about two years after the independent panel failed to agree on a congressional map, throwing the decision to the State Legislature  which then produced a Democratic gerrymander that eventually got upended in court after Republicans sued.

That 2022 court decision resulted in the hiring of a special master  that is, an independent redistricting expert  to redraw the lines. The special master produced a map that created an unusual number of competitive seats, prompting Republicans to pick up several seats in the 2022 election. But then a group of citizens backed by the Democratic Party sued, arguing that a 2014 state constitutional amendment calls on the independent panel, not a special master, to redraw the congressional map after every census.

In a 4-3 ruling, the Court of Appeals agreed, thereby sending the commission and then the Legislature, which must ultimately approve any redistricting plan, back to the drawing board.

The court gave the redistricting commission until Feb. 28 to come up with a new map, and Jenkins said the work will begin with a commission meeting shortly after the holidays. From there, the commission and its staff will do its work largely in private, with no public hearings.

We havent deliberated in public in any versions of the things that weve done, Jenkins noted.

Asked if he foresaw any major changes in the current map, Jenkins noted that the two sides on the commission disagreed on the shape of only eight of the states 26 districts two years ago, meaning those eight districts would be the ones most likely to be in play once again.

Two of those districts were in Western New York. At the time, Democrats proposed something of a north-south map, meaning the district now held by Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy would stretch from Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania line. But Republicans proposed a map more similar to the one the special master drew up: one that includes a deep-red district that encompasses much of the Southern Tier, while another deep-red district  currently held by Rep. Claudia Tenney  starts in Niagara County, wraps around a Democratic Rochester-area district and stretches all the way to Watertown.

For his part, Nesbitt stressed that the shape of the current districts wasnt challenged in court: instead, the only thing challenged was the process that produced those lines. Given that fact, along with the fact that an election has already been held along the current district lines, Nesbitt said: I dont think were going to make radical changes on either end of the state now.

There will be tweaks, however  and some local officials are already pressing for changes. For example, Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner said Lackawanna officials want the small city to be included in New Yorks Buffalo-based 26th District, rather than the more rural one currently represented by Langworthy.

But in general, I anticipate and hope there arent a whole lot of changes to the lines, Zellner said.

The Republican Partys New York redistricting guru, former Rep. John Faso, agreed. Like Nesbitt, he stressed that no one has challenged the current district lines as being legally problematic, although Democrats dont like the political result that the map produced.

But what if Democrats on the commission and then the Legislature insist on a map that produces a result Democrats like better? In that case, Faso said, history will repeat itself.

It cant just be another gerrymander because if its another gerrymander, were going to sue again, Faso said.
by Dave Morgan , Featured Contributor, December 28, 2023

Slava Ukraini! Victory to Ukraine is critical and matters to all of us.

For sure, you read less of Russias invasion of Ukraine these days. Our press cycles, and our news attention, is tuned for the latest thing, and Ukraine hasnt been that since Hamas atrocities on innocent civilians in Gaza on Oct. 7, and the focus on domestic issues in the U.S., with partisan divisions in Washington and early candidate and court skirmishes in advance of next years Presidential election.

Those same what have you done lately attention cycles had many of us expecting a quick Ukraine victory  in weeks or months  after it launched a counteroffensive this past summer. Forget that a nation with barely 30 million people within its currently controlled borders was trying to repel the worlds second most powerful military. Innumerable, military-fluent talking heads on TV were telling us that Crimea could be back in Ukraines hands by Christmas.

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Now is our time to confront reality, a reality that the Ukrainian people have known for a long time: This war will not end quickly.

The Russians wont be evicted from Ukraine until they have wasted the lives of hundreds of thousands more young Russian conscripts in their horrific human wave attacks, and, in their terrorist-like attacks, killed or injured hundreds of thousands more Ukrainians, especially civilians.

Just this week, Russian fired barrages of missiles at the Kherson train station, where 140 civilians were waiting to board a special evacuation train to help them escape a day-long barrage of Russian artillery and missiles on the citys civilian infrastructure, designed to destroy its power grid and capacity to provide heat for homes this winter.

This is not just a winnable war for Ukraine. This is a war that WILL be won by Ukraine and its allies, and the sooner the U.S. recommits its full economic and military support for Ukraine, the sooner the war will be won, the fewer soldiers and innocent civilians will die, and the less likely that the U.S. and the worlds economies will be dragged down by the conflict.

Remember: Russia, China, Iran and North Korea dont need Russia to win the war. All they need is for the Ukrainian victory to take a long time to happen.

What do they worry about? That the U.S. recommits its full economic and military support for Ukraine immediately.

So far, for just $75 billion in military aid (5% of the U.S. military budget), we have already helped destroy 50% of Russias total pre-war capabilities in soldiers, officers, aircraft, tanks, missiles, ammunition, etc. -- a goal we had been spending trillions of dollars over the past decades to achieve. As the late Margaret Thatcher would have reminded us, this is not the time to get wobbly.

And this is the greatest military investment bargain the U.S. has ever made. A large portion of U.S. military aid has been weapons systems from old stockpiles, like 30+-year-old, already obsolete Bradley fighting vehicles and Abrams tanks. We have helped destroy one-half of Russias military without putting any U.S. service members' lives on the line. It is brave Ukrainians who are dying, not Americans.

If the U.S. doesnt recommence its aid in a full-scale way, some of what will happen over the next decade is quite predictable.

Russia axis grows. Russia, China, Iran and North Korea will be emboldened, and we will see more incursions and interventions from these countries with more audacity and less restraint. The Balkans, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Nordics will face aggression. China will tighten its noose on Taiwan, the Philippines and others in Asia. Iran will continue to foment terrorism and genocide, just it as has recently in Syria, Iraq and Gaza. North Korea will continue to harass South Korea and Japan with nuclear weapons and the rest of the world with its ransomware and cyberattacks.

Fence-sitters choose the other side. India and others on the geopolitical fence, which include most of Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, will hedge their bets, move away from the U.S. economic sphere and buy fewer goods and services from the U.S. We will lose the worlds growth markets.

The U.S. economy goes backwards. The U.S. is making great strides to rebuild its economy for a digital age, with global manufacturing and supply chains and with less dependency on goods from China and energy from the Middle East. Continuing on this path will mean job growth in the U.S, particularly,in areas like next generation on-share manufacturing, which is so critical for the U.S. economy and work force long-term. Take away growth markets and you take away U.S. economic growth.

Bad will triumph over good. Supporting Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression and genocide (dont forget that Russia has already forcibly taken more than 20,000 Ukrainian children to be adopted re-educated in Russia) isnt just the smart thing to do, it is the right thing to do.

What can you do to help? First, care. Second, act. Third, dont stop caring and acting.

Care and act by speaking up: to your friends, colleagues, acquaintances, social media circles. Dont let the news cycle pass Ukraine by.

Care and act by showing your support: put the Ukrainian colors on your home, apartment, workplace, clothing, wrists. Everyone needs to know, particularly those in Ukraine, that the support is still there and unwavering.

Care and act by demanding action from your elected officials. All politics is local. We have big elections this coming year. Make sure that your politicians (all of them) know that you are watching them on this issue. If they fence-sit or choose partisan bickering, or pretend that Ukraine doesnt matter to U.S. ideals and jobs, let them know that youll help vote them out.

Slava Ukraini! Please care. Please act.
by Colin Kirkland , December 28, 2023

In a world where people pay to avoid ads, its somewhat incredible that 3D anamorphic billboards -- captivating out-of-home optical illusions that make visuals appear to jump out of a flat surface -- are not only attractive to the public, but are worthy of taking a phone out and posting to social media.

According to a new study conducted by digital advertising agency and visual effects studio BCN Visuals, more than half of viewers are likely to film a 3D anamorphic ad and share it with friends via a social media app or in person. Almost 70% of respondents reported that the ad type makes the brand seem more premium and more influential in changing their perceptions of the brand, while 66% said they are more likely to buy the product being presented compared to a product on a 2D ad.

BCN Visuals has been creating cinematic visual displays for a wide range of major brands, like PlayStation, Disney, Coca-Cola, UPS, Netflix and a host of emerging movies and video games, most notably on billboards in Times Square and the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.

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Were the shiny new toy everyone is excited about, BCNs head of partnerships and out-of-home advertising Lina Maggi told MediaPost.

In this Q&A, MediaPost sat down with Maggi to learn more about what goes into these 3D anamorphic campaigns, how they help brands spend their advertising budgets more efficiently, why consumers may need optical illusions, and more.

This interview has been edited for concision.

MediaPost: What does it mean for an ad to be '3D anamorphic'?

Lina Maggi: Like a standard movie, most advertising these days is 3D. But 3D anamorphic is like 3D on crack. It's a forced perspective, and it's an optical illusion. So you're developing something for a screen that appears to have depth.

MP: Can you give us an example of a recent project?

LM: Our Xbox ad on The Sphere in Las Vegas is the hot one right now. We have four different IPs from Xbox, and it looks like there is an artificial frame with a main element popping out, even though nothing is actually popping out. We're using shadows and angles and perception and a whole lot of math to create this optical illusion.

MP: Why go to these lengths to develop an ad?

LM: In this day and age, the attention span is dwindling by the second, and people are paying to skip ads. But people get excited when they see a billboard, and now you have this added layer of something that's super cool. They are compelled.

In one of our recent campaign studies, we found that 55% of people are likely or very likely to film a 3D anamorphic billboard and share it with their friends. So in a world where people are paying to ignore ads, this type of stuff is super powerful.

MP: How many billboards across the globe are capable of 3D anamorphic campaigns?

LM: We can do 3D anamorphic on any full-motion board globally. There is no limitation as to where and what location -- what city -- we can execute on. We create a master file and then customize adaptations for each additional billboard. The team will then be focused on a specific board for six to eight weeks.

MP: How have you seen brands using these billboards to drive sales in creative ways?

LM: In a campaign we did for BMW last October, the company used the billboard in Times Square to announce a new XM electric vehicle, which usually happens at a major auto show. BMW started posting about something exciting happening in Times Square, which brought people out to see the launch in person.

Not only were people filming the campaign on their phones, but they scanned a QR code we included for pre-orders. In the end, BMW amassed 20 million views on TikTok and sold out the $160,000 car.

MP: Are these 3D anamorphic billboard campaigns a sustainable option for big brands in terms of ad spend?

LM: Usually our clients want to go all out -- they want the biggest, most expensive boards on the market, which does rule out a lot of companies with smaller budgets. We typically work with some of the larger brands that have a national or global presence. But if you're going back to media math basics to calculate your impressions and the investment that you've put in, your CPM is actually quite low. Especially if you have people converting and buying and pre-ordering as a result of each billboard.

MP: What should brands avoid when pursuing optical illusions in out-of-home campaigns?

LM: Did you see the Maybelline campaign where they put eyelashes on the subways in the UK? People loved it. There was this initial hype, until people realized it was fake. And they got kind of pissed off at the brand, because they felt tricked.

I think there are a lot of brands trying to bypass the investment to actually do something really cool and it ends up hurting them on the back end.

With 3D anamorphic billboards, people can go out and see it live.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 28, 2023

An anti-hate speech organization engaged in vigilantism by allegedly scraping data from X Corp., the social platform claims in recent court papers.

Vigilantism, no matter what the underlying motivation, erodes the rule of law, X Corp. (formerly Twitter) says in papers filed late last week with U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer in the Northern District of California.

The company is asking Breyer to reject the Center for Countering Digital Hate's (CCDH) request to dismiss claims that it wrongly scraped data for a supposed scare campaign aimed at driving away advertisers and suppressing speech on social media. The complaint also alleged that the nonprofit induced a third party to share log-in credentials to Brandwatch -- a Twitter partner that offers tools to analyze the company's data.

X Corp. sued CCDH shortly after it reported that Twitter failed to remove objectionable speech -- including racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic comments -- posted by paid Twitter Blue subscribers. That report cited several examples, such as the posts Diversity is a codeword for White Genocide, and Trannies are pedophiles.

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X Corp. -- which has seen ad revenue plummet since its acquisition by Elon Musk last year -- didn't deny that those posts were on the platform, but accused the watchdog of cherry picking its examples.

The company's complaint includes claims that CCDH violated the platform's terms of service and a federal anti-hacking law.

The anti-hate speech group recently countered that most of the accusations -- including claims that it violated X's terms of service -- centered on quintessential newsgathering activity, and should be struck down under California's anti-SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) law. That statute entitles defendants to fast dismissals of claims based on statements about matters of public interest, and also allows defendants to recover attorneys' fees.

X Corp. is now asking Breyer to reject that contention.

This case is not about CCDHs speech, X Corp. writes, adding that its claims center on a course of conduct that tesulted in CCDH gaining unauthorized access to non-public data.

Breyer is expected to hold a hearing in the matter on February 23.
by Ray Schultz , December 28, 2023

Authorities in the Buffalo, New York area are warning residents about scammers who pretend to be from the iconic Publishers Clearing House.

The scam artists inform victims that they have won the famous sweepstakes, but have to pay processing fees upfront, WKBW reports. Payment is accepted online or in person.

Publishers Clearing House informed WKBW that there are no such fees connected with its legendary prizes.

One woman in the area received a letter saying she won a $2.6 million prize.

In a separate incident in Eureka, Missouri, a victim lost $44,000 after being told that she had to pay the taxes on a $3.3 million prize.

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office urges residents, Do not give any personal information over the phone. If such a call is received, residents are encouraged to call their local police agency.
by Colin Kirkland , December 29, 2023

A federal judge has struck down the attempt of Elon Musk's social blogging company X, to bypass a social-media law in the state of California that requires social companies to report their content-moderation policies. The decision follows X's original complaint that the law, AB 587, violates the First Amendment.

In September, X's lawyers argued that the law would lead to censorship and was therefore unconstitutional, stating that AB 587 has both the purpose and likely effect of pressuring companies such as X Corp. to remove, demonetize, or de-prioritize constitutionally-protected speech.

According to X, the law -- which was passed just last year -- sought not to protect users but pressure social media platforms to eliminate certain constitutionally-protected content viewed by the State as problematic.

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On Thursday, however, U.S. District Judge William Shubb decided that while the reporting requirement does appear to place a substantial compliance burden on social media companies, it does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law.

Shubb added that the reports solicited by AB 587 are uncontroversial because they are purely factual and merely requires social media companies to identify their existing content moderation policies, if any, related to the specified categories.

In other words, what the state of California is asking from Silicon Valley is relatively straightforward in aiding the protection of social-media users against hate speech, racism, extremism, disinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference.

But it is understandable why X would fight against such a law.

Since Musk took over the app formerly known as Twitter in 2022, the company cut the majority of its original trust and safety team, allowing the influx of harmful content. Over the past year, the lack of safety on the microblogging platform has led to a mass advertisers exodus and an ongoing investigation from the European Union into whether the company has violated the Digital Services Act (DSA).
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 29, 2023

Starting in July, online ad companies won't be allowed to serve behaviorally targeted ads to Colorado residents who activate the Global Privacy Control -- a tool that aims to enable people to opt out of data-sharing for ad purposes -- the state attorney general said Friday.

Colorado's privacy law, passed in 2021, requires companies to allow state residents opt out of the processing of their personal data for ad targeting.

The measure defines personal data as including information that's linked or reasonably linkable to identified or identifiable individuals -- which covers much of the data used for personalized ads.

That law also requires companies to honor opt-out requests that consumers send via user-enabled controls, including browser settings or other mechanisms. Most provisions of the Colorado law took effect in July 2023, but the requirement to honor universal opt-out requests will not be effective until July.

Colorado regulations require the attorney general to post a list of user-enabled controls (referred to in the regulations as universal opt-out mechanisms) that companies will be required to honor. On Friday, state officials officially approved the Global Privacy Control -- a tool created by privacy advocates -- as the first of those mechanisms.

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Ad-industry groups opposed the tool's approval, arguing that the Global Privacy Control didn't provide companies with enough information to determine whether a user was a Colorado resident.

The organizations argued that even if ad companies glean the IP addresses of people who activate the Global Privacy Control, IP addresses alone aren't sufficient to determine residency.

Non-Colorado residents can easily access a Colorado IP address via a VPN, the Association of National Advertisers, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Interactive Advertising Bureau, American Advertising Federation and Digital Advertising Alliance wrote in a December 11 letter to the Colorado Department of Law.

In reality, IP addresses provide information related to the location from which a consumer may be accessing the internet at a particular point in time. Such information is not indicative of residency, as consumers travel across state lines often and may access the internet from nearly any state or country in the world.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

APA Dr. Trupti Shirole. (2023, December 29). Why Is Male Infertility Increasing in India? . Medindia. Retrieved on Jan 11, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/why-is-male-infertility-increasing-in-india-214623-1.htm.

MLA Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Why Is Male Infertility Increasing in India?". Medindia. Jan 11, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/why-is-male-infertility-increasing-in-india-214623-1.htm>.

Chicago Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Why Is Male Infertility Increasing in India?". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/why-is-male-infertility-increasing-in-india-214623-1.htm. (accessed Jan 11, 2024).

Harvard Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2023. Why Is Male Infertility Increasing in India?. Medindia, viewed Jan 11, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/why-is-male-infertility-increasing-in-india-214623-1.htm.
An unknown male threatened to shoot people at a Tops Markets in North Tonawanda on Thursday evening, prompting the evacuation of the store, North Tonawanda police said.

At about 7 p.m., the man called the Niagara County 911 dispatch center and threatened violence at the Tops on Meadow Drive, police said. The man used a voice disguiser on the call, and the number could not be immediately traced.

Police cleared the Tops of people and escorted employees and customers to their vehicles.

The threat came 18 months after a racist mass shooting at a Tops in Buffalo killed 10 Black people and wounded three others on May 14, 2022.

- Mike McAndrew
Will from Toronto

The Arnold Schwarzenegger origin story is well known: He immigrated to this country from his native Austria in the late 1960s to train for bodybuilding competitions and to seek a better life. The rest is history.

Actor and voice-over artist Will Arnett (Arrested Development, The Lego Batman Movie) brought up his own journey to America on a recent episode of the Smartless podcast that he co-hosts with actors Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes.

The Terminator star and former California governor was a guest on the episode.

Im curious about earlier. You keep talking about coming here to America. I did, too, Arnett said dryly. I drove 90 minutes to Buffalo from Toronto.

The native of Canada is, sadly, a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan. But we have another reason to like him: He snuck a reference to Tonawanda into a commercial for chocolate candy.

This happened back in 2021, as Off Main Street previously reported.

The ad that name-checked a fictional Artie from Tonawanda as someone who wrote a letter to Hersheys praising Reeses Peanut Butter Cups aired nationally. Arnett was the narrator.

The town name Tonawanda was an improvisation when the actor was running through lines, Anna Lingeris, a Hersheys spokesperson, said then. There was a different town name written but, upon hearing Tonawanda, the Reeses team loved the way the name sounded and stuck with it.

Will, if you see this, we appreciate every local reference you slip into your work.

Next time you take the drive down, wings and weck are on us.

 Stephen T. Watson

A fitting farewell

Decembers Buffalo Planning Board meeting was the last for Horace Gioia Jr., who has served on the panel for 39 years. Thats not only under the multiple terms of current Mayor Byron W. Brown, but several other mayors as well.

Gioia, a real estate attorney at Rupp Pfalzgraf who sometimes had to abstain on votes because of conflicts of interest, has been a constant presence on the board, sitting next to Vice Chair Cynthia Schwartz. And colleagues say hes the member that pushed for changing the time of the meetings from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in order to better accommodate members of the public  like himself  who work during the day and cant necessarily attend an early morning meeting.

In honor of the occasion, Brown and Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning, presented Gioia with a proclamation and a Buffalo-themed gift bag, as well as plenty of teasing.

Gioias law firm colleague, Marc Romanowski, got into the act, too, before he presented a client application.

Im at little saddened that I wont have Horace across the table making fun of me on a biweekly basis, and were going to have him at the office more, so Im not sure I know how to feel about that, he joked.

 Jonathan D. Epstein

Your government at work

During a presentation to the Planning Board about a proposed new solar array at 2030 Elmwood Ave., Barclay Damon attorney Ari Goldberg acknowledged that a significant number of trees would have to be cut down on the vacant property to accommodate the panels and mounts.

To be exact, he said the city forester had estimated, based on the developers landscaping plan and tree survey, that 450 diameter inches of trees would be cleared, and would have to be replaced.

The developers plan already called for the equivalent of 250 inches, leaving a gap to be filled or compensated by donations to a city forestry fund. Im an attorney by trade, so not that good at math, but I know that that leaves 200 inches, he said. Well throw as many trees as we can in there.

Planning Board members then ribbed him about how the landscaping will be maintained.

How about goats? asked Chairman James Morrell.

Im all in favor of goats, Vice Chair Cynthia Schwartz agreed. How about rabbits?

Goldberg chuckled, Then you might create another problem.

 Jonathan D. Epstein
Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes for Friday, Dec. 29, 2023

Todays Birthday (12/29/23). Your path is illuminated by love, romance and creativity this year. Foster participation and collaboration through disciplined messaging. Resolve winter creative or romantic obstacles, before springtime professional redirection. Enjoy domestic joys this summer. Tackle autumn communication puzzles for a professional surge. Let your heart lead.

To get the advantage, check the days rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19)  Today is a 7  Work with a mentor. For four weeks, with Venus in Sagittarius, its easier to travel. You enjoy learning, exploring and discovery. Note your findings.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)  Today is a 6  Increase your assets. With Venus in Sagittarius, the next few weeks look good for saving money. Expect expenditures to rise as well. Keep your plan.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)  Today is a 7  Rely on a loving collaboration. Partnerships thrive this month, with Venus in Sagittarius. Compromise comes easier. Feminine magnetism flowers. Support each other to grow.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)  Today is a 9  Healthy practices and fitness routines energize and revitalize you this month. Put love, beauty and sensitivity into your work, with Venus in Sagittarius.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)  Today is a 9  For the next four and a half weeks, with Venus in Sagittarius, youre lucky; especially in love. Artistic efforts work in your favor.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)  Today is a 7  Focus on home and family. Youre more domestic this month, with Venus in Sagittarius. Clean and clear space. Renovate and organize for comfort and beauty.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)  Today is a 7  Articulate creative ideas. Discuss what you love, with Venus in Sagittarius for a month. Let your passion be your guide. Express with words and images.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)  Today is a 7  Provide excellent service and follow through. Profits come easily, with Venus in Sagittarius this month. Increased confidence leads to increased income. Love energizes you.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)  Today is an 8  Youre especially irresistible, lucky and beloved, with Venus in your sign for a month. Polish your personal presentation with a new look or style.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)  Today is a 7  Contemplate the possibilities. Finish old jobs. Slow the pace and relax this month, with Venus in Sagittarius. Envision how to realize your hearts desire.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)  Today is an 8  Youre especially popular, with Venus in Sagittarius for a month. Get out in public. Social activities benefit your career. Enjoy fun with friends.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)  Today is a 9  Career advancement opportunities arise. Take on more responsibility this month, with Venus in Sagittarius. Accept leadership. Its easier to advance your professional agenda.

Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blacks legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like todays Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.

2023 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
WYOMING, MI  Tenants of a duplex in Wyoming have been temporarily displaced after a garage fire Friday morning.

Wyoming fire officials say no people or pets were injured in the fire, which was reported around 5:45 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at a duplex in the 2900 block of Burlingame Avenue SW.

The first firefighters on the scene arrived to find significant fire coming from the garage. Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire, preventing major damage to the living spaces of the home.

Wyoming fire officials say the living areas of the duplex sustained minimal smoke and fire damage.

The tenants of the duplex have been displaced until necessary repairs are made to the home. The American Red Cross is providing those residents with shelter, food and other essential services in the meantime.

Wyoming fire officials didnt say how many residents were displaced.

The Wyoming Fire Department thanked a neighbor who reported the fire, saying their alertness played a crucial role in enabling a swift and effective response from firefighters.

The department also thanked the Grandville and Georgetown Township fire departments, which assisted Wyoming firefighters on the scene.

The fire remains under investigation by the Wyoming Fire Marshals Office.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Wyoming Fire Department Fire Investigator at 616-257-9764.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 66-year-old man recently convicted of murder in a 1996 cold case -- and who also was accused in a 2006 Maryland slaying -- has died of cancer.

Garry Artman died Thursday, Dec. 28, Kent County prosecutors said.

Prosecutors revealed in June that Artman had lung cancer. At that time, he was awaiting trial for the 1996 stabbing and strangulation of 30-year-old Sharon Hammack.

Hammack, who worked as a prostitute, was found bound and wrapped in a blanket on the side of the road Oct. 3, 1996, near 76th Street and Kraft Avenue in Caledonia Township. She was pregnant when she died.

Investigators identified Artman, who was a commercial trucker for 20-plus years, as a suspect in Hammacks death in August 2022 through DNA and genetic genealogy.

Artman went to trial in September and was convicted Sept. 28.

He also was accused in Maryland for the 2006 slaying of 24-year-old Dusty Shuck.

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Over the past decade, social media usage in the world has spiked exponentially, as digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and others are utilized more and more in our society for a number of functions.

Before us now lies a new generation of adolescents who will never have lived in a world without social media. While these platforms can be a powerful tool and aid to adolescents socially, they have a concerning number of drawbacks that must be taken into consideration by parents and educators.

To begin with, social media is shown to be extremely addictive, especially in teens. According to a poll performed by Statista on the issue, around 35% of teenagers use it almost constantly. The study found that at least 54% say that it is extremely difficult to get off of networks for long periods of time.

Social media takes up time that could be spent outside or in physical activity, interacting with peers in person or reading. Adolescents are already extremely vulnerable to addiction due to the pleasure-seeking part of the brain overriding the more logical part, which is underdeveloped at this stage of development.

Social media also provides a distorted view into the lives of people. Teens will often be exposed to extremely curated pictures and videos of conventionally attractive people that can cause warped perceptions of reality. The models on social media dont have the belly fat or acne most teens have. Teenagers will inevitably compare their lives and bodies to these falsehoods and see their reality as dreary in comparison.

Cyberbullying is another detrimental aspect of social media, and can greatly harm adolescent mental health. With social media, an embarrassing moment that would usually fade out of memory can be immortalized by anyone who records and posts a video. Furthermore, any ill-intentioned adult could make an effort to harass an adolescent, for their appearance, their interests or something they have done. It is also worth considering the increased circle of drama that comes from social media. A conflict between four students could easily envelop well over 20 thanks to social media.

Despite these issues, social media isnt going away anytime soon. That makes it vital to educate children on its effects and dangers, starting at a young age. These platforms can be intimidating but can also very rewarding if used responsibly. Help from the adults in their lives and lessons in media literacy are essential in keeping adolescents healthy in the world of social media.

Buckminster Killian is a senior at Kenmore West High School.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- After six years of business, Paradise Cafe is closing permanently at the end of the day on Sunday, Dec. 31.

The creperie is located inside the Midtown Fresh Market at 1693 S. Westnedge Ave., and can be entered from the market or from a separate entrance outside. It serves sweet and savory crepes as well as smoothies, baked goods, coffee and tea.

It will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.

Savory crepe options include a feta cheese and spinach crepe and an egg and cheese crepe. The sweet crepe selection includes an Oreo crepe, a Nutella crepe and a strawberry banana crepe, among others. Click here for the full menu.

Manager Jasmine Piper said the cafe has been busy this week, leading up to the closure. Many regular customers have stopped in to share stories with the staff or order their favorite crepe one more time before Paradise Cafe closes.

During her three years as manager, Piper said she watched customers and coworkers have fun and form meaningful relationships. Shes especially grateful for those who appreciated the tastes of Paradise Cafes coffee and food, as well as the time and effort that went into everything.

It was really nice to get to know customers personally, and to watch them have their own successes, Piper said.

Though Paradise Cafe is closing, she hopes that the Kalamazoo community will continue to support local businesses.

Go out and find more good coffee at local small businesses, Piper said. Its super important that we keep those businesses afloat.

The order counter at Paradise Cafe in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Paradise Cafe is located at the front of Midtown Fresh Market at 1693 S. Westnedge Ave. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell

The cafes owner couldnt be reached to say more on why the cafe is closing.

Paradise Cafe opened in 2018 as a standalone location in Portage. In October 2020, it moved to the Midtown Fresh Market location. The future of the space is unknown at this time, Piper said.

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SAGINAW, MI  A Shakespeare classic will receive a 2024 spin at one of Saginaws community theaters.

Productions of a Romeo and Juliet script  retitled Romeo and Julius, with Juliet crossed out  will open its curtains for two weekends at Pit and Balcony Theatre, 805 N. Hamilton.

Amy Spadafore, the theaters managing director, said the play was based on a script  inspired by the William Shakespeare tragedy but abbreviated in the 21st century by David Hundsness  that encourages directors to further modify the classic tale.

Thats the beauty of Shakespeare, Spadafore said in a statement. Because (Hundsnesss) works are in the public domain, its a completely blank slate, which gives the director the freedom to be really creative with their artistic vision. Weve seen Shakespeare set in space, during the Civil War, and in the midst of the Suffrage Movement. Likewise, our production has been updated to reflect modern times and modern love stories.

Romeo and Julius, unlike the class tale, involves a love story between two men.

Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is a love story for the ages, the theaters production summary reads. Pit & Balconys modern retelling is the love story of Romeo and Julius. The Capulet and Montague households have been embroiled in a bloody fight for as long as anyone in Verona, Italy can remember. The death toll is mounting, and it seems that the best thing anyone can do is keep the two sides as far from each other as possible. But when young Romeo Montague crashes the Capulet ball, he falls head-over-heels in love with young Julius Capulet  and he falls just as in love with Romeo. What ensues is one of the most romantic and devastating love stories in the theatrical cannon updated for a modern audience.

Felix Meisel and Lliam Hamilton-Kraft will play Romeo and Julius, respectively.

I think the fact that Shakespeares plays are something that can be performed in so many different ways is why they remain so popular, Chad William Baker, the productions director, said in a statement. The content is so relevant and the characters are so timeless. So, regardless of whether we change a few pronouns throughout the script, all the beauty and power of the story is still there.

Romeo and Julius will play at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 12-13 and Jan. 19-20; and at 3 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 14 and Jan. 21.

Tickets remain available on Pit and Balconys website.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.
A growing number of Michigan Republican leaders are calling on their embattled state party chair Kristina Karamo to resign or be removed, as her most outspoken critics seek to set a vote to force her from the role.

Eight of 13 Republican congressional district party chairs asked Karamo to resign in an open letter published Thursday.

Please put an end to the chaos in our party. Please have the grace, courage, and love of our state to accept the fact that at this most critical time in our nations history, the Michigan Republican Party needs someone else in leadership, the letter states. Someone who can unite the entire party, raise the funds needed to run the party, and help our candidates win.

The letter was signed by the Republican party chairs in congressional districts 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12.

The Michigan Republican Party is in dire straits, riven with internal divisions and critics contend that under Karamos leadership the state party is unable to raise the money necessary to play a role in the looming 2024 election season. Documents made public show the the party has little cash in the bank and has stopped making payments on debt to a major creditor, Comerica Bank.

The letter is only the most recent declaration from Michigan Republicans in leadership positions. Last week, party co-chair Malinda Pego said in an email to Republicans she is joining the call for a special meeting, but didnt say whether she thought Karamo should remain chair.

Due to a series of decisions and actions there is a growing consensus among party members that a thorough review of the chairs position is both necessary and appropriate, Pego wrote in the email.

Oakland County Republican Warren Carpenter, a one-time Karamo booster, has been organizing the effort to oust her. He told MLive he hopes to force a state committee meeting next week and remains confident they can win the 75% support needed in a vote to remove the chair. He sponsored a report published earlier this month that accused the party of violating campaign finance law and claiming the party would soon be insolvent.

Read more: Michigan GOP, on the brink of bankruptcy, broke campaign finance laws, report alleges

Ultimately, this is this is going to end up in a lawsuit, this is going to end up in litigation, Carpenter predicted. She wont go away quietly. So we just have to make sure that everything that were doing right now (is) bulletproof.

After being elected leader of the party in February, Karamo entered the role with controversy and hasnt shied away from it in ensuing months.

In a Christmas message Karamo, who had run for chair on a promise to unify the party, criticized the rancor that has splintered Republicans.

I have heard from county leaders and precinct delegates from across the state who are frustrated with the instigation of internal fighting and want Republicans to focus on winning, which is necessary to save our nation, Karamo said in the email. These deceptive and underhanded endeavors endanger the Michigan GOPs drive toward victory in 2024.

A party spokesperson didnt return a request for comment from MLive.

Party chairs from two of the states largest counties, Vance Patrick in Oakland County and Mark Forton in Macomb, both have called on Karamo to resign or be removed.

For the first time in modern history, the state party played no role in getting out the vote for our candidates in the municipal election this past November, Patrick said in a statement provided to MLive. Our state party has been left in shambles with regard to fundraising and effective staff work.

Some Republican leaders at the county level in particular have been incensed by what they view as efforts by state leadership to wade into their affairs. Local activists have accused Karamo of attempting to centralize power around herself and a small circle of confidants.

Related: Michigans GOP is a doggone mess: inside a party torn by infighting and paranoia

Forton, too, has soured on Karamo after initially championing her.

Its been too many months of just total nonsense, and without any attempt to change course, or instead you demonize your opposition, which is making things worse, Forton told MLive.
Promise of a historic year of complete Democratic control led the Michigan Legislature in 2023. Despite another ambitious agenda, it wont be that simple in 2024.

Leaders in the Capitol plan to focus the first half of the year on issues including affordable and accessible housing, economic and community development and access to health care and prescription drugs.

Those are merely highlights on a long to-do list, Rosie Jones, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, told MLive.

As with every spring, the state budget is a massive task with important deadlines, Jones added. So, you can expect to see us being very busy putting that together.

2023 saw a large focus on civil rights, including repealing laws that impeded unions and abortion and expanding access to voting. There was also landmark legislation to require 100% clean energy by 2040.

Work has already begun on 2024s priorities. On prescription drug costs, the Senate passed bills in October to create an independent panel that would limit prices on individual pills. On housing, multiple proposals are moving through the Capitol.

And on economic development, both liberals and conservatives have rallied behind a proposed research and development tax credit to spur innovation and attract new business.

Related: Michigan manufacturers see mixed results from Democratic government

Heres the problem: Democrats took power with two-seat majorities in the House and Senate, but for the first four months of 2024, the House will be tied at 54 seats apiece. Thats because two Democratic representatives resigned to become mayors, and special elections to replace them arent until April 16.

Lawmakers return to Lansing on Wednesday, Jan. 10, with a steady schedule of Tuesday-Thursday sessions through June.

First half of Michigan Senate 2024 calendar: https://t.co/R2w3sybgtZ pic.twitter.com/1MM8hguzj7  Ben Orner (@Ben_Orner) December 7, 2023

The good news for Democrats is that the speakership stays the same, meaning Democrats still have control over what bills are put up for votes. Also, those empty seats are in Democrat-leaning districts.

The bad news is that anything reaching the governors desk until those seats are filled in April will need at least one Republican supporter.

The Houses top Democrat and Republican  Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, and Minority Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township  met last week to discuss their newfound situation.

Hall has said for weeks he wants a shared power agreement, announcing after the meeting that Michigan can govern in the middle. But House Democrats, who dont need to abandon their agenda-making power in the interim, arent on board.

Speaker Tate believes there is ample opportunity to reach consensus on policy issues that are important to Michiganders, regardless of political affiliation, Tate spokesperson Amber McCann told MLive. While Minority Leader Hall has demonstrated little interest in finding opportunities to work together up to this point, we would hope to see that change in the new year.

Jones, from the Senate, acknowledged there will be Democratic items without Republican support, but the House will be able to move those forward come April. She also doesnt anticipate any change in the legislatures ability to get things done.

Good legislation doesnt happen overnight  it takes meetings with constituents, research, conversations with stakeholders, committee meetings and more, Jones said. All of that work will continue.

Republicans, no matter how much lawmaking power they have next year, would like to see a bold, coordinated economic growth plan, Hall spokesperson Jerry Ward told MLive.

He was quoting a recent state report that recommended ambitious changes to education, housing, public transit and more to reverse Michigans stagnant population growth.

With the bipartisan balance in the House, House Republicans and Democrats can come together with the governor, Ward said, and craft a plan to make our economy more competitive, invest resources in infrastructure, and help kids learn to read.
In the spirit of the December festivities in Ghana, the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) collaborated with the Ghana Tourism Authority and Ghana Export Promotion Authority to present the 4th edition of Taste of Ghana Fest.

Themed "GH: The Africa Dream," the event held on December 27 at the State House forecourt aimed to unite Ghanaians, the diaspora, and international visitors through a showcase of the country's unique cultural elements.

From food, art, and made-in-Ghana products to cinematography and fashion, the festival created an inclusive environment for the exploration of commercial and investment opportunities.

The day unfolded with diverse activities, including Winneba masquerade performances, dance showcases, a fashion runway, art exhibitions, a cooking competition, a canopy walkway, and a touch of museum and Larabanga mosque entrances.

The night concluded with electrifying performances by music superstars 2Bees, Adina, EL, and the dancehall sensation Shatta Wale.

In an interview, Mr. Yofi Grant, CEO of GIPC, expressed the festival's significance as a platform for connecting Ghanaians and the diaspora with potential local business partners, and investment prospects, and a celebration of Ghana's rich heritage.

He urged successive governments to continue supporting the festival's role in promoting "Made in Ghana" products and enhancing tourism.

Ambassador Mike Oquaye Jnr., CEO of Ghana Free Zones Authority, described the event as 'fantastic' and stressed its potential to substantially boost foreign investment in the country.
A new poll has revealed that two key regions that traditionally support the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have huge populations some of whom say they will not vote in Ghana's 2024 general elections.

According to the poll conducted by independent research firm Global InfoAnalytics, the Eastern Region has the highest rate with 24.8% of respondents saying they will not vote.

The Ashanti Region, considered the largest NPP stronghold, has the second highest rate at 18.6%.

In a statement via X on Thursday, December 28, Global InfoAnalytics said: "More alarming for the NPP is the contribution of Ashanti, Eastern Greater Accra and Western region to the share of voters who said they will not vote in the 2024 election."

The research firm noted that four regions- Eastern, Ashanti, Greater Accra and Western- account for 67% of the NPP's voter base.

Since the Eastern Region contributes 24.8% of non-voters and Ashanti 18.6%, according to the poll, a significant portion of the NPP's support is reluctant to vote in 2024.

The findings, per the research firm, appear to cast doubts about the NPPs chances of clinching a third successive electoral victory.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Awutu Senya East Constituency of the Central Region are demanding an immediate and thorough investigation by the police into the actions of Hon. Hawa Koomson during the District Assembly Elections.

A statement signed by the Youth Organiser of the party in the constituency, Nash Nyandey Adams on December 28 revealed that Hon. Hawa Koomson is alleged to have imported thugs from Bawku to cause mayhem in Kasoa.

"It must be noted that these hoodlums were seen in the company of the NPP youth organizer for Awutu Senya East and how she conveniently overlooked that to attack me, is most mischievous and extremely annoying," Nyandey Adams noted.

According to him, the thuggish activities of the lawmaker is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

He sternly warns against any attempt by Hon. Hawa Koomson's thugs, dressed in national security uniforms, to manipulate the electoral process.

He stated that the NDC in Awutu Senya East would not allow a repeat of the 2020 general elections violence.

"Hon. Hawa Koomson's audacious declaration on national television that she will only accept defeat when she is deceased is a clear affront to democratic norms," he noted.

He has therefore advised Hon. Hawa Koomson to prepare for a fair and transparent electoral process, one that will inevitably produce the former President John Mahama and Hon. Naa Koryoo as the President and MP elects respectively.

He said unlike the previous instances, the NDC in Kasoa will not wait for its leaders from Accra to address the matter adding that "the party in Awutu Senya East is fully prepared to take matters into our own hands to ensure the safety of our members and the integrity of the electoral process."

"We express our deep reservations about the potential lapse in security during the upcoming General Elections and if the police cannot guarantee the safety of our members and the public, the NDC will not remain passive," he added.

Mr. Nash Nyandey Adams called on the relevant authorities to address the concerns promptly and with the seriousness they deserve.
It is widely acknowledged that the Ghana Armed Forces is a state military organization that encompasses various armed forces, including the Navy and the Air Force, and whose functions include protecting the nation's freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and playing roles in international assignments. The Ghana Armed Forces were established in 1957, and legally, the president, Akufo Addo, is the Supreme Commander or Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

In addition to providing operational control and overall leadership of the state's military structure through the Department of Defense and the National Security Council, the GAF also clearly defines the roles of the Committee and the civilian Minister of Defense. Based on giving every soldier professional skills and military education, the active army offers the infrastructure required to enhance the preparedness, equipment, and training of the armed forces.

This training institution imparts the same abilities to reserve soldiers as it does to active-duty members and members of the Allied forces. Along with maintaining peace and security and guaranteeing the defense, implementation of national goals, constant monitoring, and protection of the Ghanaian people, it also permits the army to be quickly trained during the war, ensuring rapid and sustained land dominance across the full spectrum of military operations and conflicts, with the support of combatant commanders.

President Akufo Addo has praised the Ghana Armed Forces for honoring and adhering to the laws of the Constitution, citing it as illegal for the military to overthrow a duly elected democratic government in the nation. It's unclear why the president is constantly telling the Ghanaian Armed Forces to enforce the Constitution, but this request makes the populace aware that the president is aware that his unethical behavior as a leader could lead to a coup.

Here's where Akufo Addo, the president of Ghana, faces a crucial dilemma, if he has been telling the Ghana Armed Forces to respect the constitution, for example, to prevent a coup, why does he still decide to utilize the military when the nation is holding elections? Since soldiers are never compelled to be present at voting sites, something that has never occurred in the United States of America, why should the president be interested in doing something that is unconstitutional?

Considering his position as the head of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Akufo Addo is not permitted to misuse his authority. He is not permitted to attack voters who are dissatisfied with electoral frauds or use the army or its soldiers to help rig elections in favor of his political party. Since he is aware of his shortcomings as a leader and, more significantly, that he is the most corrupt politician in Ghanaian history, he hates and fears coups but wants to employ the military against his people. This is ridiculous.

Following the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, then-US President Barack Obama moved swiftly to send the US Army to the affected countries to combat the disease on the front lines, which is the most effective way to stop the deadly disease's spread and shield Americans from more cases back home. This implies that the Americans rely on the military to defend them rather than killing the Americans for the president.

Eight people lost their lives in all during the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, three of whom were teenagers. Despite the fact that the victims' families are still looking for answers over the killings, the military has had enough time to consider these killings and how they relate to the current political climate. Since the victims lacked arms, I believe the president used the military to carry out a criminal act in 2020. Its a waste of precious lives if one considers the widespread corruption of this regime.

The president should have been sober enough at such an old age to consider the problems that have brought down the economy, businesses, and investments and come up with solutions, but that is not the case; instead, they are trying to break the eighth cycle, which makes both Ghanaians and the ruling party look foolish. What has the NPP accomplished in the last seven years to warrant the use of force to hold onto power in 2024? Ghana is in a dire situation, and the nation needs a capable and knowledgeable leader to handle the situation; therefore, I believe that the army will not disappoint the people.

Akufo Addo cant carry on damaging the reputation, integrity, and honor of the Ghana Armed Forces after what he did in 2020. He has already disgraced several people, including heads of churches and destroyed the lives of Hopeson Adorye and Kennedy Agyapong by pushing them into crimes, but he will not be successful in using the army for the second time to kill for him, considering the plight of the downtrodden masses. I am confident about that.
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has cautioned its members and men of God to refrain from making political prophecies regarding the winner of the upcoming 2024 general elections.

The election, according to political observers will be a two-horse race between John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the governing New Patriotic Party.

The secretary of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Apostle Immanuel Nii Okuley Tettey, in an interview with Citi News, stressed the need for religious leaders to prioritize peace over predictions that could potentially endanger the nation.

He advised these men of God to direct their efforts to promote peace rather than predicting the outcome of the election.

He urged them not to seek favour from any specific political party but to engage in actions that would help sustain peace in the country.

If God reveals to you, keep it up in prayers. If God reveals to you, keep the person up in prayer, and lets see God fulfil His prophecies. Dont try to put it in a public place and weve seen it severally in times past that so-called men of God have prophecized that his person is going to win and it didnt happen.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin insists that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cannot determine the constitutionality of the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, 1 and 2 and the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023.

According to Mr Bagbin, the determination of the constitutionality of the bills was the sole purview of the Supreme Court for which reason any allegations of misuse should be contested by it (Supreme Court) and no one else.

President Akufo-Addo, in a letter, cited financial implications on the state's consolidated fund and potential breaches of Article 108 of the Constitution as reasons for his refusal.

He specifically identified the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, sponsored by MP Francis Xavier Sosu, as having financial burdens associated with replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.

The Speaker of Parliament in an official response to the president stressed The determination of any unconstitutionality is the sole purview of the Supreme Court, not the President. Hence, if there were concerns about Parliament acting beyond its constitutional authority, ie, acting ultra vires, the appropriate course of action would be an action before the Supreme Court, not an executive declaration of unconstitutionality.

Again, the constitutional discretion vested in the presiding officer of Parliament, as per Article 108 and subject to Article 296, suggests that any allegations of misuse of this discretion should be contested in a court of competent jurisdiction, rather than being pre-emptively adjudicated upon by the President.

citinewsroom
So what do we make of this? Is quitting before the end of your elected term in office a new normal or is the recent spate of Western New York resignations merely coincidence? At least three highly placed officeholders have stepped down or announced that they will over the past 1 years  two of them just this month. Even if its understandable in some cases, its nonetheless disappointing  like breaking a personal contract.

All three leaders were  or are  effective in their posts and their departures appear to be for different reasons. Two are or were members of Congress and the third is Erie Countys top prosecutor, District Attorney John Flynn. Only one faced even a remote possibility of defeat at his next election, and even then he might have won.

That person is former Rep. Tom Reed, a Corning Republican. He resigned in May 2022 to accept a tempting offer in the private sector, but it came not long after he acknowledged personal failures he said were associated with abuse of alcohol. He had handily won previous elections in the old 23rd Congressional District, but his conduct would surely have become an embarrassing factor in the next campaign. So, maybe it was understandable.

So, perhaps, is last months announcement by Rep. Brian Higgins that he will step down in February to become president and CEO of Sheas Performing Arts Center. Sheas surely needs competent leadership, which Higgins seems well equipped to provide. The opportunity came at a time when he said he lost faith in a dysfunctional Congress ability to function in the national interest and, in that, he is hardly alone. More than three dozen members of both parties have said they wont run for re-election. Disgust with the tenor of the House is a prominent factor.

Still, Higgins term doesnt end until the end of next year and, as a result of his decision, the district will lack representation for some period. But he jumped. Yes, it was for an important and well-paying job that will serve Buffalos interests in another way, but it still broke an implied promise of service.

What is more, with that, he offered an unspoken advantage to his favored successor, State Sen. Timothy Kennedy, for whom he has been a mentor. With a special election expected to fill the seat, its a way to tilt the odds in favor of a preferred candidate. The strategy is hardly uncommon, even if at root its meant to disadvantage other credible candidates whom voters might favor.

Least understandable, at least so far, is the announcement by Flynn that he may soon take early leave of his post, which also concludes at the end of next year. While he hasnt formally endorsed a successor, his early departure benefits the ambitions of his first deputy, Michael J. Keane. And, indeed, the Erie County Democratic Committee quickly endorsed Keane for the position.

To his credit, Flynn had previously made clear he would not seek a third term as DA, but his explanation for prematurely vacating his post was merely a desire to return to private law practice. Its not a bad ambition and, in truth, its kind of refreshing when an elected official isnt determined to overstay his welcome (though Flynn hasnt come close to that). Still, the deal was for four years. Why should that be so hard an obligation to fulfill?

None of these public officials has done anything illegal or even unethical in announcing their plans to quit and only Reed had offered cause even for disappointment. Theyre hardly the first to take early leave and they surely wont be the last. But a deal should be a deal. Voters have to hope that whatever kind of malady this is, it isnt contagious.s your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Akufo-Addo has called for concerted efforts to promote socioeconomic development and investment opportunities in Africa to curb youth migration.

Speaking at the Full Circle Africa Economic Conference on Thursday, December 28, Akufo-Addo noted that Africans cannot allow temporary poverty and underdevelopment to define the continent.

We cannot allow our collective fate to be decided by exogenous shocks thousands and thousands of miles away," he said.

He stressed the need to change the narrative around Africa to possibility and progress.

Together, we must help make Africa the place for investment, progress and prosperity, and not from where our youth flee in the hope of accessing the mirage of a better life in Europe or the Americas," Akufo-Addo said.

He wants African countries and the diaspora community to work as partners for shared growth and development.

We want to derive maximum dividends from our relations with the African Diaspora in mutually beneficial co-operation," Akufo-Addo added.

The president's call comes as many African youth continue to undertake risky journeys across seas and deserts in search of greener pastures abroad.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has rolled out a new Family Pension Application (App) aimed at streamlining the complex pension procedures retirees and widows of military personnel go through to access their benefits.

The App was officially launched at the GAF Pension House in Burma Camp, Accra on Thursday, December 21, a GAF news article posted on its website reported.

Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama who was the Special Guest of Honour said he was pleased with the development of the App, adding that it will help reduce the lengthy processing times for pension claims of military retirees and widows.

He acknowledged the efforts of previous Chiefs of Staff in laying the foundation for the App's creation and commended the Director of the GAF Pension House, Colonel Edem Tay for transforming the facility to operate autonomously.

Col. Tay also expressed gratitude to the Military High Command, Financial Comptroller, Veteran Association executives and other stakeholders for their support towards realising this goal.

The App is expected to bridge communication gaps between the Pension House, Controller and Accountant General Department and retired GAF personnel and families in processing claims.

Two corporate leaders; Peter Gyateng of Kingdom Books and Granville Amedeme of Tucana were honored for renovating and upgrading the Pension Office to aid efficient service delivery.

Officials believe the Family Pension App will simplify what used to be a cumbersome process for retirees and widows to access their entitled emoluments.
Ghanaian broadcast journalist and entrepreneur Afua Asantewaa Owusu Aduonum had to end her record-breaking sing-a-thon attempt after over 5 days on the recommendation of her medical team.

Afua Asantewaa was attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest sing-a-thon of 105 hours.

She surpassed this mark after singing non-stop for 126 hours and 52 minutes from Sunday, December 24 to Friday, December 29, at the Akwaaba village in Accra.

Explaining their decision to conclude the attempt, Dr. Grace Buckman, head of Afua's medical team said "there's only a point you can go as a person."

She noted that Afua's system had been affected by sleep deprivation and she was beginning to show signs of mental stress.

We have gotten to a point that as a medical team, her health is very important. At the moment, we want her to rest so she will bounce back to us," Dr. Buckman said.

The prospective record holder now awaits official verification of the new record from Guinness World Records.
Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu[left] and current Special Prosecutor Lawyer Kisi Agyebeng

29.12.2023 LISTEN

Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu doubts the joint statement issued by the Judicial Service of Ghana and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on December 27 to fight corruption.

He raised concerns about the timing of the joint statement, which he says came after the deletion of his article criticising the OSP from the myjoyonline website.

In his latest epistle dated December 29, Mr. Amidu said the unusual nature of the joint statement issued on OSP letterhead without the official symbol of the judicial service raises questions.

Mr. Amidu noted that "An examination of the stationery used clearly indicates that it was issued by the OSP in the name of the Judicial Service."

He stated, "I have visited the website of the Judicial Service and the alleged Joint Statement is not on that website. The Judicial Service is on its Michaelmas vacation which makes the 27 December 2023 publication by the OSP in the name of the Judicial Service suspicious to patriotic citizens."

The anti-graft crusader said the use of the Chief Justice's picture without consent suggests "a momentary and ingenious IT creation to achieve a particular media and psychological operational effect."

He urged caution in rushing to conclude that the Judicial Service endorsed the statement, saying "It is unfair for the Judicial Service to rush to those conclusions without waiting for clarification of the alleged joint statement from the Chief Justice."

Mr. Amidu stated that his decades of experience working with the Judiciary makes him worthy of questioning the OSP's motive because he smells a psychological operation from the rogue OSP in the issuance of the joint statement."

Read full statement below:

Lets Hear The Judicial Service On Kissi Agyebengs Joint Statement Before Rushing To Judgment: MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

The Special Prosecutor published and circulated widely an alleged joint statement made by the Judicial Service and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) dated 27 December 2023. The alleged joint statement on a stationery bearing the National Coat of Arms and the Logo of the OSP is unusual in the issuance of joint statements by public institutions unless it is the work of a momentary and ingenious IT creation to achieve a particular media and psychological operational effect. An examination of the stationery used clearly indicates that it was issued by the OSP in the name of the Judicial Service.

The alleged joint statement was published by myjoyonline.com after it had published my article on its website as https://www.myjoyonline.com/martin - amidu - osp - blackmails government - by - touting - prosecutions - of - government - appointees - achievements/ .

Myjoyonline.com removed my article entirely from its website when it published the alleged joint statement. The result was that my article cannot be accessed on myjoyonline.com. I accordingly emailed a request to myjoyonline.com for an explanation for which I am still waiting. The psychological operational effect on the unsuspecting public after my deleted article by myjoyonline.com and the publication of the OSPs alleged joint statement was, at least, achieved by myjoyonline.com for the OSP.

I have read the worries and concerns expressed and raised by Justice Abdulai, a law lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on Wednesday, 27 December 2023 about the danger posed by an unholy alliance between the Judicial Service and the OSP to undermine the due process of law as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.

My considered view underpinned by decades of public service experience is that it is unfair for the Judicial Service to rush to those conclusions without waiting for clarification of the alleged joint statement from the Chief Justice and the Judicial Service, particularly when the Chief Justices picture accompanied the publication of the alleged joint statement. My experience with courthouse governance for decades is that the use of the Chief Justices picture in this enterprise was without her consent by those who caused the publication for psychological operational effect to enhance their falling integrity and reputations.

I have represented the Attorney-General on the Judicial Council for decades during the PNDC and NDC1, 2, & 3 periods and I know how careful the Judicial Service is in preserving its independence and impartiality. I have visited the website of the Judicial Service and the alleged Joint Statement is not on that website. The Judicial Service is on its Michaelmas vacation which makes the 27 December 2023 publication by the OSP in the name of the Judicial Service suspicious to patriotic citizens.

It is premature to make any assumptions against the Judicial Service in the publication of the Joint Statement by the OSP allegedly on behalf of the Judicial Service without knowing the context under which the statement was issued by the beleaguered OSP which has perennially scandalized the administration of justice under the 1992 Constitution.

It is important to seek confirmation from the Judicial Service on the circumstances of its involvement, if any, in the issuance of the alleged joint statement by the Judicial Service and the OSP before bringing the Judicial Service into any adverse commentaries about the alleged joint statement issued in its name.

The original joint statement must definitely have been signed by officers from the two public institution which the public is entitled to be provided with. The only institution we have under the 1992 Constitution which holds the scales between the executive and the rights of citizens is the judiciary. We must, therefore, hasten slowly to jump to conclusions against it without concrete evidence of any wrongdoing from the Judicial Service. I smell a psychological operation from the rogue OSP in the issuance of the joint statement to coincide with the publication of my article on 27 December 2023 about breaches of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017, (Act 959) pervasively taking place in the OSP.

Let the Judicial Service be heard on this alleged joint statement before rushing to unfounded judgment against it. Truth shall stand!

Martin A. B. K. Amidu 29 December 2023
29.12.2023 LISTEN

On behalf of the board of trustees, the national executives and on my own behalf, I bring you peace as we mark a new beginning of another year.

I wish to thank you all for the support and cooperation I have enjoyed so far since I took over from my predecessor. As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, ushering in a brand new year, I reach out to you, my fellow Education Unit Managers across Ghana, with a heart brimming with immense pride and optimism.

Together, we stand at the precipice of another year, poised to continue our vital mission of shaping the future of Ghanaian education for every child of school going age, as spelt out in our slogan; Education for life!

The year gone by has been a testament to the unwavering spirit and dedication of our Education Units family. We have faced unprecedented challenges, in our schools and offices, from the lingering effects of the pandemic to economic uncertainties, all while shouldering the immense responsibility of ensuring quality education for every Ghanaian child. Yet, through it all, we have persevered.

We have adapted, innovated, and emerged stronger as a team, our commitment to our teachers and students is burning brighter than ever.I vividly recall countless instances of your exceptional leadership throughout the year.

From spearheading community-based learning initiatives, education week celebrations, quizzes, debates, training workshops to fostering collaboration among schools, you have consistently gone above and beyond, demonstrating the true meaning of servant leadership.

Your tireless efforts have not only nurtured young minds but also instilled in them the values of resilience, empathy, and a thirst for knowledge.As we step into the new year, our 50th anniversary year as COMEU, let us carry forward the lessons learned and the triumphs earned.

Let us continue to be the driving force behind a transformative education system, one that equips our teachers and students with the skills and knowledge needed to not only succeed in the workforce but also become responsible citizens and global leaders.In the year ahead, let us focus on, continue to Strengthen the unity within Education Unites, by fostering closer collaboration and knowledge sharing among our members, we can amplify our collective impact and ensure that no school, no matter its location or resources, is left behind which is the main reason our touch bearers founded schools.

More so, we should prioritize quality education for all, let us strive for educational equity, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to quality learning opportunities. This means advocating for increased resources, promoting inclusive practices, and embracing innovative teaching methods with the support of our religious bodies and Government.

Also we must embrace technology as a tool for progress, leveraging on the power of technology to enhance learning, personalize education, and bridge the digital divide. By liaising with government and our religious bodies to equip our schools with the necessary infrastructure and training teachers in tech-enabled pedagogy, we can create dynamic learning environments that prepares our students for the future.

Additionally, as Managers of mission schools, let us remember the power of our faith, the strength of community, and the unwavering hope that binds us together, we must make the conscious effect to build bridges with communities, let us continue to engage with our Regional and District Directors of education, parents, district assemblies, and other stakeholders, and community organizations, our various churches and other bodies to forge strong partnerships that support our schools and empower teachers and students.

I am confident that, with your unwavering commitment and collaborative spirit, we can make the new year a resounding success.

May your dedication to the cause of our schools uplift others, our deeds effect healing and change, and our goal be to leave a lasting legacy of compassion and service to the world.

Together, let us write a new chapter in the story of Ghanaian education as pacesetters, one filled with unity, progress, and the shared joy of witnessing our students blossom into the best versions of themselves as we mark a beautiful beginning of age fifty. May the new year be filled with abundant blessings, renewed hope, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence in education.

God bless Mother GhanaGod bless COMEU and make her great and strong.SignedMrs. Marian Jemima Akua Adzroe National President.
The Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, says President Nana Akufo-Addo's decision not to assent to a bill aimed at addressing witchcraft accusations in Ghana is unprecedented and poses serious implications for the country's young democracy.

The Criminal Offences (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, one of the three bills President Akufo-Addo refused to sign, sought to amend some provisions in the Criminal Offences Act to help address accusations of witchcraft which have contributed to the abuse of alleged witches, mostly women.

In a statement addressed to Parliament, Speaker Bagbin said the President's action "bears significant implications for the evolution and resilience of our burgeoning democracy."

He added "This Parliament, unique in our nation's history, now stands at the precipice of an unprecedented challenge.

He continues, For the first time, especially under the fourth republic, we are witnessing a President's refusal to assent to and to retain three bills, that have been passed by Parliament. This situation demands our utmost prudence and a deep sense of gravity, as it bears significant implications for the evolution and resilience of our burgeoning democracy."

Speaker Bagbin stressed that the President bypassing consultation and reconsideration with Parliament also undermines the legislature.

"The approach adopted by the President in this instance, where the bill has been wholly rejected, is not within the contemplation of our laws as stipulated in Article 106.

This procedure adopted by the President, bypassing dialogue and reconsideration, undermines the constitutional process and the legislative authority of Parliament," he stated.
The Banda District Assembly in the Bono region, led by the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Akone Emmanuel has donated items worth GH40,000 to 42 PWDs.

The items include refrigerators, fufu pounding machines with 5years warranty, farm inputs, cosmetics, payment of medical bills and school fees for those who applied for the support on 28th December, 2023, held at the forecourt of the district assembly.

In an address by the District Chief Executive, he emphasizes the decision to improve the living standards of the PWDs in the district. He said the district assembly has registered a total of 700 persons with disabilities.

He urged the 42 persons with disabilities who are receiving the items to utilize them for the intended purpose.

The DCE added, "Before the purchase of the items, a team of officials from the Social Welfare at the Assembly embarked on needs-assessment survey of the PWDs in the communities to determine their specific needs."

"The activities of the beneficiaries with the items would be strictly monitored to ensure they did not abuse the assistance provided to them," the DCE reiterated.

He noted that 10 PWDs who are tertiary students are fully funded until they complete school. He encourages the PWDs to be entrepreneurial in their daily activities to be self-reliant.

Mr. Kumi Fofie Richard, the president of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled in Banda on behalf of the PWDs thanked the District Chief Executive and President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo for their immense support to persons with disabilities.

He urges beneficiaries to make good use of them and engage in businesses that will generate income to help improve their livelihoods.
Dr. Benjamin Anyagre, the General Secretary of the Ghana China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA), has said that for Ghana to consider institutionalising a 24-hour economy, such a policy must be built on job choices and employment opportunities.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has proposed that the next National Democratic Congress government would introduce a 24-hour economy policy which has been described by many as a game-changer for Ghana.

Dr Anyagre noted that Ghana in the past was able to create such a 24-hour economy in places like the industrial city of Tema because the foundation for job creation was set right.

He said the prerequisite for a sustainable 24-hour economy was the availability of means of production like industries, factories, and community-based service delivery activities.

A glance at the economies of developed and developing countries like China shows that they are strongly positioned for the creation of job opportunities, he said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema.

He added that in the 1960s, the Ghanaian government then carried out an industrialization growth, noting that one could easily refer to Tema as the industrial hub of Ghana, which had a chocolate factory, a radio assembly plant (Kasanoma), textile industries, a Tema oil refinery, a Ghana printing press, fishing, and the main harbour, among others.

He stated that the then Western Region also had Abuso glass factory, Bonsa tyre, Tarkwa gold refinery, and many other cottage industries.

He said the northern part of the country also had the Bolga meat factory and Pwalugu tomato factory, among others, indicating that, the 24-hour economy was then very visible in these cited areas, with jobs galore at day and night.

The GHACHIFA General Secretary said the way to effect a well-packaged 24-hour economy in todays Ghana was to stretch a hand out to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) opportunities dubbed the Project of the Century by China.

According to him, many countries have ascribed to it and benefited, including many in Africa, adding that the 10-year multibillion-dollar project has helped to bring roads, rails, and infrastructure to many poor countries.

He said Gambia was benefiting from road infrastructure, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia from rail connectivity, and Djibouti from port infrastructure.

He indicated that since agricultural projects were part of the BRI, it could create the needed rail and road connectivity to endow agricultural zones in Ghana; this, he noted, would help grow the agribusiness industry with its inherited gains for the growing youth interested in agriculture and the country at large.

He said the introduction of the IMF structural adjustment programmes over the years did not add anything to Ghana's economy, as its policy instructions killed many of Ghanas industries, disabling them with others grounded to the mercy of the environment.

Now, an option to the IMF policy instructions keen on conditions unfriendly to citizens is the introduced Belt and Road Initiative with billions of funds to undertake projects in underdeveloped nations based on a mutually agreed-upon win-win engineering, he stated.

He stressed that the IMF-related policies were yet to be built or created, but under the BRI, Sentuo Oil Refinery has built a refinery in Tema, which has employed thousands of workers, therefore providing a justification to give more consideration to the BRI for economic growth.

GNA
Professor Joseph Kwasi Agyemang

29.12.2023 LISTEN

The distinguished Ghanaian scholar and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Finance at the University of Eswatini, Professor Joseph Kwasi Agyemang, who made history as the first person in the world to attain three unique PhDs in accounting has disclosed that his achievements must significantly impact the people around him.

As I reflect upon my accomplishments, Im filled with a sense of responsibility to inspire and motivate others to pursue their dreams fearlessly. I believe that success is not limited to one individual alone, but it has the power to create a ripple effect of positivity and inspiration, said Professor Agyemang.

As a consequence, he expressed his unwavering commitment to imparting his experiences and the valuable lessons he has gleaned along his journey. His sincere aspiration is to motivate and challenge others, urging them to embrace their distinctive paths and pursue their own extraordinary accomplishments. He underscored that, in the grand scheme, his notable achievements need not only impact his own life but also present him with the chance to uplift and inspire those in his immediate sphere.

He attributed his motivation to pursue three distinct PhDs in accounting to a combination of his profound passion for the subject and his aspiration to attain a comprehensive understanding of the field. Furthermore, he underscored his strong conviction that achieving leadership in the dynamically evolving realm of accounting necessitates more than just conventional knowledge. He contended that one must also cultivate expertise that extends beyond the customary boundaries of the discipline.

Discussing the challenges and opportunities anticipated in 2024, along with his strategies for personal and professional navigation, he revealed that, as a holder of three PhDs in accounting, he perceives the swift progress of technology as a major challenge. Emphasizing the dynamic nature of the digital landscape, he advised accounting professionals to consistently enhance their skills to remain pertinent in the job market. He cautioned that this presents a formidable challenge, demanding a sustained dedication to learning and staying abreast of emerging technologies.

Nevertheless, he suggested that this situation not only poses challenges but also opens doors for innovation and growth. Individuals can seize the opportunity to adapt to new technologies, leveraging them to enhance their work efficiency and effectiveness.

By embracing these advancements and becoming proficient in them, they can position themselves for success in a digitally-driven future, Professor Agyemang added.

Regarding his New Year resolutions and goals, as well as his strategy for maintaining a harmonious equilibrium between academic endeavours and personal well-being throughout the year, Professor Agyemang outlined several initiatives. He expressed his intention to elevate his research proficiency by actively participating in conferences, workshops, and seminars focused on accounting. This deliberate effort is aimed at expanding his knowledge base, acquiring fresh insights and establishing valuable connections with experts in the field.

Professor Agyemang holds a PhD in Accounting Sciences (Auditing) from the University of South Africa, a PhD in Accounting (Accounting Information) from Al-Madinah International University in Malaysia, and a PhD in Accounting (Public Sector Accounting) from Universidad Central de Nicaragua in Nicaragua.

Read More: Meet Ghanaian professor who made history as the first person in the world to attain three unique PhDs in Accounting
Ghana's Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin

29.12.2023 LISTEN

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has called for the country to unite ahead of the 2024 General Elections.

In his Christmas message to Ghanaians, the Speaker described 2024 as a critical year, insisting that it is important for the country to deepen its practice of multiparty democracy.

Speaker Bagbin said Ghanaians must not allow their differences to divide them but rather serve as something that unites the people heading into an election year.

2024 is a critical year, it is an election year, my prayer is we should try to deepen our understanding and practice of multiparty democracy. The differences should not divide us, they should rather unite us, said the Speaker of Parliament.

Alban Bagbin in his message called on politicians, the media, Civil Society Organisations, traditional leaders, and all stakeholders to work together to protect the desirable democracy of the country.

We have, as a nation, been able to stay the course, 30 continuous uninterrupted democratic rule because of the partnership between not just the political parties alone but the media, CSOs, and our traditional leaders.

I think it is important we continue this partnership, strengthening it and in fact, making sure that every organ of the state, private sector, and CSO is strengthened, Speaker Alban Bagbin added.
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The World Health Organization is calling on donors to urgently provide $9.5 million to address growing health needs in Afghanistan over the next six months.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Abdhanom Ghebreyesus warned that funding gaps are hampering the international health agency's response as Afghanistan grapples with a worsening humanitarian crisis this winter.

"Since September, nearly 500,000 Afghans have returned to their country from Pakistan, many requiring a range of health services, especially considering the colder weather," Dr. Tedros said in a statement via X on Friday, December 29.

WHO's disease surveillance systems, according to Dr. Tedros, have detected outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea and COVID-19 among returning migrants and refugees, placing additional strain on Afghanistan's fragile health system.

"WHO's disease surveillance system has detected cases of acute watery diarrhoea and #COVID19 among returnees," the Director-General noted.

While WHO and its partners have provided primary health care, mental health support, and maternal and child services to around 170,000 people so far, the $9.5 million funding appeal aims to scale up this life-saving assistance.

"But $9.5m is urgently needed to fill funding gaps in WHO's emergency appeal for the next 6 months," Dr. Tedros warned.
Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr has expressed his discontent with the intense lobbying within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) concerning the selection of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's running mate for next years election.

Reportedly some influential figures within the NPP and various regional groups, particularly opinion leaders in the Greater Accra region, are actively lobbying to secure the Running Mate position.

Notably, the Greater Accra supporters have specifically urged the presidential candidate to consider choosing a Ga as the Running Mate.

Kwesi Pratt, during a panel discussion on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show criticized such tribalistic considerations in the selection process, emphasizing that the primary criterion for choosing a Running Mate should be competence rather than tribal affiliations.

He described such actions as "foolishness" and urged political stakeholders to make their choices based on merit over tribalism.

Mr Pratt stated, "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 indicates that such interference would not be healthy for Bawumia.

He stated, "This 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."

Kwesi Pratt noted that the tribalistic lobbying is also happening within the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The same appears to apply to the NDC; this foolishness has gripped all the parties and it must stop," Mr. Pratt stated.

He called for an end to such practices within all political parties, emphasizing the need for a merit-based approach to selecting running mates.
Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund Inc (NYSEAMERICAN:FAX  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,050,000 shares, an increase of 298.5% from the November 30th total of 263,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 846,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.2 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. IHT Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Cetera Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund during the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Saba Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund during the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund during the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. raised its holdings in shares of Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund by 40.7% during the second quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 14,270 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 4,129 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 22.56% of the companys stock.

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Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund Stock Down 1.2 %

NYSEAMERICAN FAX traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $2.74. The companys stock had a trading volume of 846,839 shares, compared to its average volume of 753,946. Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund has a 1-year low of $2.33 and a 1-year high of $2.92.

Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund Announces Dividend

Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th will be issued a $0.0275 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $0.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 12.04%.

(Get Free Report)

Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund Inc is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited. It is co-managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Limited and Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited. The fund invests in fixed income markets of Asia, Australia, and New Zeland.

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Ballentine Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 9.9% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 15,489 shares of the information technology services providers stock after buying an additional 1,397 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $4,757,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in Accenture in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Accenture during the third quarter worth $33,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new position in Accenture in the second quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Canton Hathaway LLC acquired a new stake in Accenture in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.42% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Accenture

In other news, Director Paula A. Price sold 551 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $345.36, for a total transaction of $190,293.36. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,273,504.88. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Accenture news, Director Paula A. Price sold 551 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $345.36, for a total value of $190,293.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,273,504.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the firms 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 161,622 shares in the company, valued at $48,816,308.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 36,885 shares of company stock valued at $11,129,320 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Accenture Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE ACN traded down $2.23 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $351.59. The stock had a trading volume of 1,299,189 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,221,864. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $325.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $317.79. The company has a market capitalization of $220.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.61, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.23. Accenture plc has a 1-year low of $242.80 and a 1-year high of $355.38.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results 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. Accenture had a net margin of 10.65% and a return on equity of 29.08%. The business had revenue of $16.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.17 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.08 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 12.21 EPS for the current year.

Accenture announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, September 28th that authorizes the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the information technology services provider to repurchase up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Accenture Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.29 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 17th. This represents a $5.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.47%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.82%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ACN. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Accenture from $332.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. Wedbush lifted their price target on shares of Accenture from $330.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $340.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a report on Friday, September 29th. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Accenture in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a buy rating and a $410.00 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Accenture currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $348.59.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on ACN

Accenture Company 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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Alta Wealth Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW  Free Report) by 3.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,660 shares of the companys stock after selling 305 shares during the period. Alta Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF were worth $661,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Simplicity Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF during the third quarter worth about $758,000. RTD Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 7.8% during the third quarter. RTD Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 53,924 shares of the companys stock worth $3,689,000 after acquiring an additional 3,885 shares during the last quarter. Private Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 77,491 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,302,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Gemmer Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Gemmer Asset Management LLC now owns 9,665 shares of the companys stock worth $661,000 after acquiring an additional 667 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 42.6% in the 3rd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 156,300 shares of the companys stock worth $10,694,000 after acquiring an additional 46,700 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Stock Up 0.1 %

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF stock traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $75.51. 803,322 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,865,802. The company has a market cap of $37.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.15 and a beta of 1.05. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $57.19 and a twelve month high of $75.66. The company has a fifty day moving average of $71.46 and a 200-day moving average of $70.76.

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF, formerly iShares S&P 500 Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500/Citigroup Growth Index (the Growth Index). The Growth Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market.

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Alta Wealth Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 7.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,471 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 1,575 shares during the period. Alta Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,188,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 86,002.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 659,143,253 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $42,152,211,000 after buying an additional 658,377,716 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 175,584,734 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,169,778,000 after purchasing an additional 2,856,746 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,570,288 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $5,919,870,000 after purchasing an additional 858,922 shares during the period. Capital International Investors lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 12.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 69,296,006 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,431,517,000 after purchasing an additional 7,878,833 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 39,034,341 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,489,314,000 after purchasing an additional 225,065 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on BMY. Cantor Fitzgerald cut shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $68.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. HSBC raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a reduce rating to a hold rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $56.00 to $50.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 27th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Finally, TheStreet lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $62.88.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

Shares of BMY stock traded up $0.06 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $51.27. The company had a trading volume of 6,390,292 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,304,519. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $51.35 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.81. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $48.25 and a one year high of $75.18. The firm has a market cap of $104.32 billion, a PE ratio of 13.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.18.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.00 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 firm had revenue of $10.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.96 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.99 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 5th will be issued a $0.60 dividend. This is an increase from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 4th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.68%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 57.87%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, 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 bought at an average price of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $49.78 per share, with a total value of $99,560.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,115,412.16. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Theodore R. Samuels II purchased 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 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 quarter, insiders have acquired 13,571 shares of company stock valued at $672,994. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

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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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Ballard Power Systems Inc. (TSE:BLDP  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 2.2% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$5.06 and last traded at C$5.00. 347,166 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 49% from the average session volume of 687,055 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$4.89.

Ballard Power Systems Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of C$1.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.93, a P/E/G ratio of -2,030.00 and a beta of 1.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 12.57 and a quick ratio of 13.57. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$4.82 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$5.37.

About Ballard Power Systems

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Ballard Power Systems Inc engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products. The company offers its products for power product markets, consisting of heavy-duty motives, such as bus, truck, rail, and marine applications; material handling; and power generation.

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Ballentine Partners LLC raised its holdings in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE  Free Report) by 16.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 38,518 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 5,501 shares during the quarter. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $2,207,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of NEE. New York Life Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in NextEra Energy by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 316,097 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $23,454,000 after acquiring an additional 3,921 shares during the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc increased its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy by 1.0% in the second quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 122,920 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,121,000 after purchasing an additional 1,250 shares in the last quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd raised its position in NextEra Energy by 29.6% in the 1st quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd now owns 1,202,195 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $92,666,000 after purchasing an additional 274,371 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in NextEra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $120,000. Finally, Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY boosted its position in NextEra Energy by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 88,096 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,537,000 after buying an additional 923 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 0.7 %

Shares of NEE traded up $0.44 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $61.02. 5,971,572 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,180,171. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $58.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $64.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 0.50 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The company has a market cap of $125.20 billion, a PE ratio of 16.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.51. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 52 week low of $47.15 and a 52 week high of $86.47.

NextEra Energy Dividend Announcement

NextEra Energy ( NYSE:NEE Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.08. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 12.15%. The business had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.07 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.85 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 24th were paid a $0.4675 dividend. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 22nd. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 49.47%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on NextEra Energy from $80.00 to $66.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Seaport Res Ptn lowered shares of NextEra Energy from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Wolfe Research lowered their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $79.00 to $60.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 20th. 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. Finally, Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $91.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $73.14.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NEE

Insider Activity

In other NextEra Energy news, Director Nicole S. Arnaboldi purchased 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $59.59 per share, for a total transaction of $506,515.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 11,523 shares in the company, valued at $686,655.57. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Nicole S. Arnaboldi bought 8,500 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $59.59 per share, with a total value of $506,515.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 11,523 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $686,655.57. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Nextera Energy Inc acquired 3,097,524 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, October 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of $24.21 per share, with a total value of $74,991,056.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,097,524 shares of the companys stock, valued at $99,201,056.04. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock.

NextEra Energy Company 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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Banco de Chile (NYSE:BCH  Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $21.21 and traded as high as $22.95. Banco de Chile shares last traded at $22.83, with a volume of 34,739 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on BCH. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Banco de Chile in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. HSBC cut shares of Banco de Chile from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Banco de Chile in a report on Monday, October 16th. They issued a hold rating and a $21.00 target price on the stock.

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Banco de Chile Stock Performance

The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $21.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.22. The stock has a market cap of $11.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.85 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.96.

Banco de Chile (NYSE:BCH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 30th. The bank reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.66 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $647.35 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $815.07 million. Banco de Chile had a return on equity of 24.67% and a net margin of 30.53%. Analysts forecast that Banco de Chile will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco de Chile

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new position in Banco de Chile during the third quarter worth $2,328,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp bought a new position in Banco de Chile during the third quarter worth $940,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Banco de Chile by 3.2% during the third quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 29,450 shares of the banks stock worth $594,000 after buying an additional 926 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Banco de Chile by 14.1% during the third quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 11,691 shares of the banks stock worth $236,000 after buying an additional 1,449 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mariner LLC raised its stake in Banco de Chile by 46.1% during the third quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 26,203 shares of the banks stock worth $529,000 after buying an additional 8,265 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 1.12% of the companys stock.

About Banco de Chile

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Banco de Chile, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial products and services to customers in Chile. It operates through Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Treasury and Money Market segments. The company offers deposit products, such as checking accounts, current accounts, demand deposits and accounts, saving accounts, and time deposits; commercial, mortgage, consumer, working capital, syndicated, and installment loans; and credit cards.

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Shares of Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited (LON:BOCH  Get Free Report) traded up 1.3% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 304 ($3.86) and last traded at GBX 304 ($3.86). 3,082 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 98% from the average session volume of 148,450 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 300 ($3.81).

Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Stock Up 1.3 %

The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 274.86 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 264.18. The company has a market capitalization of 1.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 868.57 and a beta of 0.61.

Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Company Profile

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Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of banking, financial, and insurance services. It offers current, demand, savings, time, notice, instant access, and fixed deposits; housing, student, vehicle, mortgage, consumer, business and business premises, term, and home or investment loans; and asset finance, factoring, trade facilities, European financial, project finance, shipping finance, and syndicated and corporate lending services, as well as hire purchase services for car and equipment.

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

CCC activist Sengezo Tshabangu has disclosed that prominent lawyer Lewis Uriri provided him with pro bono legal services when the party took legal action against his authority to recall its Members of Parliament and Councillors.Uriri, who previously served as President Emmerson Mnangagwa's lawyer in the Constitutional Court, offering representation against a petition filed by Nelson Chamisa, the then MDC Alliance leader, during the 2018 election, reportedly understood Tshabangu's financial constraints. Tshabangu, claiming to be CCC's interim secretary-general, revealed during the Asakhe Online program, The Breakfast Club, that Uriri initiated legal proceedings without charging a fee.Once Uriri initiated the legal process, Tshabangu stated that members of the business community stepped in to financially support the legal costs. According to CITE, Tshabangu mentioned:"It is difficult for us to meet our litigation costs. Our legal team is headed by Advocate Uriri, one of the best lawyers to ever come out of Zimbabwe. He is very expensive."We sat down with him, and he said he understood where I was coming from. He said he would get the ball rolling so that the people, in general, would know what was going on and understand my cause. He did the first appearance free of charge."After that, we started having people coming in to help us meet our legal costs. Some are from the business communities, people with huge amounts of money."They understood our cause and they gave us money to channel to our legal needs. We are accounting for each cent of that money."Initially a member of the MDC, Tshabangu joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 when it split from the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai. Later, he rejoined the mainstream MDC Alliance before it transformed into the CCC. In October 2023, Tshabangu recalled 15 parliamentarians and 17 councillors, citing their alleged departure from the party. Subsequently, he recalled more CCC MPs and Councillors nationwide, asserting that they were no longer party members.
China MeiDong Auto Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:CMEIF  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 314,900 shares, a decline of 69.6% from the November 30th total of 1,036,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 36,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 8.7 days.

China MeiDong Auto Price Performance

CMEIF remained flat at $0.50 on Thursday. China MeiDong Auto has a 52-week low of $0.50 and a 52-week high of $0.64. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $0.82.

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China MeiDong Auto Company Profile

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China MeiDong Auto Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, operates as an automobile dealer in the People's Republic of China. The company is involved in the sale of new passenger cars and spare parts; and provision of service and survey. It also provides after-sales services, such as auto registration, insurance, auto parts, repair and replacement, sales and maintenance of automotive supplies, etc.; financing referral solutions; and other value added services.

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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA  Free Report) by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,445,400 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 85,172 shares during the period. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF makes up about 6.4% of Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $93,012,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IEFA. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 114,199.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 954,128,634 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,812,489,000 after acquiring an additional 953,293,870 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 0.7% during the second quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 72,336,252 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,882,697,000 after buying an additional 472,382 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 5.0% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 45,989,013 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,104,258,000 after buying an additional 2,192,275 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 94.2% during the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 41,583,016 shares of the companys stock worth $2,806,854,000 after buying an additional 20,165,188 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC raised its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 32,003,632 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,160,245,000 after buying an additional 697,334 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Up 0.6 %

BATS:IEFA traded up $0.39 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $70.47. 7,137,519 shares of the company traded hands. The company has a market cap of $103.59 billion, a PE ratio of 12.29 and a beta of 0.87. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $66.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.52. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a one year low of $56.55 and a one year high of $70.84.

About iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed-market stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, and excludes North America IEFA was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Country Club Bank GFN cut its stake in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 1.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 218,333 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,620 shares during the quarter. Country Club Bank GFNs holdings in Bank of America were worth $6,017,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. FNY Investment Advisers LLC increased its stake in Bank of America by 75.9% in the second quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 920 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the period. Marquette Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Bank of America by 333.2% in the second quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 953 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 733 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Bank of America in the first quarter worth $28,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Bank of America by 45.7% in the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,036 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Bank of America in the first quarter worth $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.06% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on BAC. Evercore ISI cut their price target on Bank of America from $35.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Bank of America from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Odeon Capital Group upgraded Bank of America from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $37.94 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Bank of America from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Bank of America from $31.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and ten have issued 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 $35.58.

Insider Activity at Bank of America

In other news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank sold 17,769 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.94, for a total value of $176,623.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Bank of America Stock Performance

Shares of Bank of America stock traded down $0.27 on Friday, reaching $33.61. 11,324,896 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 48,206,086. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $29.80 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.28. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $265.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.49, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.40. Bank of America Co. has a twelve month low of $24.96 and a twelve month high of $37.00.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.83 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $25.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.13 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 18.69%. Bank of Americas quarterly revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.81 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Bank of America Co. will post 3.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.86%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 26.89%.

Bank of America Company Profile

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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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Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes (OTCMKTS:CYRBY  Get Free Report)s stock price fell 5.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $4.71 and last traded at $4.71. 1 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 100% from the average session volume of 8,404 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.01.

Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes Price Performance

The companys 50-day simple moving average is $4.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.30.

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Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 18th were given a $0.054 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 15th.

Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes Company Profile

Cyrela Brazil Realty SA Empreendimentos e Participacoes develops, constructs, and sells residential properties in Brazil. It is also involved in the provision of construction management and technical consultancy services related to real estate. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Dr. Martens plc (OTCMKTS:DOCMF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 34,800 shares, a drop of 93.9% from the November 30th total of 573,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 37,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.9 days.

Dr. Martens Price Performance

Shares of DOCMF stock remained flat at $1.18 during mid-day trading on Thursday. The stock had a trading volume of 24,707 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,307. Dr. Martens has a twelve month low of $1.09 and a twelve month high of $2.60. The firms 50-day moving average is $1.34 and its 200-day moving average is $1.63.

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About Dr. Martens

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Dr. Martens plc designs, develops, procures, markets, sells, and distributes footwear in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. It offers originals, fusion, kids, and casual, as well as accessories. The company offers its products under the Dr. Martens brand name. Dr. Martens plc was founded in 1945 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

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Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A. (OTCMKTS:GLPEY  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 29,600 shares, an increase of 218.3% from the November 30th total of 9,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 278,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Galp Energia, SGPS Trading Down 1.1 %

GLPEY stock traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $7.34. The stock had a trading volume of 24,714 shares, compared to its average volume of 48,325. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $6.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.36. Galp Energia, SGPS has a twelve month low of $5.04 and a twelve month high of $7.75.

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Galp Energia, SGPS (OTCMKTS:GLPEY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 30th. The energy company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Galp Energia, SGPS had a return on equity of 27.49% and a net margin of 5.99%. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Galp Energia, SGPS will post 0.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on GLPEY. Morgan Stanley upgraded Galp Energia, SGPS from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, September 1st. BNP Paribas lowered Galp Energia, SGPS from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Galp Energia, SGPS from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $15.00.

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About Galp Energia, SGPS

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Galp Energia, SGPS, SA operates as an integrated energy operator in Portugal and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Upstream, Industrial & Midstream, Commercial, and Renewables and New Business. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons primarily in Brazil, Mozambique, and Angola.

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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (LON:IHG  Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 5,967.13 ($75.82) and traded as high as GBX 7,120 ($90.47). InterContinental Hotels Group shares last traded at GBX 7,106 ($90.29), with a volume of 111,520 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on IHG shares. Berenberg Bank cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the stock from GBX 6,500 ($82.59) to GBX 6,000 ($76.24) in a research report on Monday, November 13th. Citigroup reaffirmed a sell rating on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on InterContinental Hotels Group in a research report on Tuesday, September 19th. They issued a buy rating and a GBX 7,200 ($91.49) price target for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 6,048.75 ($76.86).

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InterContinental Hotels Group Trading Up 0.3 %

InterContinental Hotels Group Company Profile

The company has a market capitalization of 11.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,536.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 6,316.60 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 5,974.85.

(Get Free Report)

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, avid, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites brand names.

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Katoro Gold plc (LON:KAT  Get Free Report)s share price was up 4.5% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as GBX 0.12 ($0.00) and last traded at GBX 0.12 ($0.00). Approximately 6,267,049 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 100% from the average daily volume of 3,135,781 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.11 ($0.00).

Katoro Gold Stock Up 4.5 %

The company has a market cap of 769,925.00, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.42 and a beta of 0.70. The companys fifty day moving average price is GBX 0.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 0.09.

About Katoro Gold

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Katoro Gold plc operates as a gold and nickel exploration and development company in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, South Africa, and Tanzania. The company primarily explores for nickel, platinum group metals, copper, and gold deposits. It holds 65% interest in the Haneti project covering an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometers located in central Tanzania; and Blyvoor Tailings project located in South Africa.

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National American University Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:NAUH  Get Free Report) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.05 and traded as high as $0.06. National American University shares last traded at $0.06, with a volume of 137,128 shares changing hands.

National American University Stock Up 43.8 %

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.05.

About National American University

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National American University Holdings, Inc owns and operates National American University (NAU) that provides professional and technical postsecondary education primarily for working adults and other non-traditional students in the United States. It operates in two segments, NAU and Other. The company offers diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree programs in business-related disciplines, such as accounting, management, business administration, and information technology; healthcare-related disciplines, including occupational therapy, medical assisting, nursing, surgical technology, and healthcare information and management; legal-related disciplines comprising paralegal, criminal justice, and professional legal studies; and higher education.

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National Australia Bank Limited (OTCMKTS:NABZY  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 56,900 shares, an increase of 436.8% from the November 30th total of 10,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 78,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days.

National Australia Bank Price Performance

NABZY stock remained flat at $10.43 on Thursday. The company had a trading volume of 146,771 shares, compared to its average volume of 166,613. National Australia Bank has a one year low of $8.17 and a one year high of $11.45. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $9.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $9.25.

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National Australia Bank Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, November 20th were given a dividend of $0.2598 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 17th.

About National Australia Bank

National Australia Bank Limited provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company operates through Business and Private Banking; Personal Banking; Corporate and Institutional Banking; New Zealand Banking; and Corporate Functions and Other segments.

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A new railway line connecting Dongxing city at the China-Vietnam border to China's railway network opened to traffic on Wednesday, and is expected to boost trade and tourism in the border area and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The Fangchenggang-Dongxing Railway, linking Dongxing to Fangchenggang in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, stretches 47 kilometers and has a designed speed of 200 km per hour. It reduces the travel time between the cities from 90 to 20 minutes.

According to China State Railway Group, it is a dual-purpose line that handles both passenger and freight transportation.

As Dongxing's first railway, the line is expected to boost tourism, trade, personnel and economic exchanges between China and Southeast Asia.

Zhao Quan, director of the customer service center of China Railway Nanning Group, outlined plans for the initial phase of operations, with six daily passenger trains scheduled.

Travel times from Dongxing to Guangxi's Beihai and the capital city of Nanning are now as fast as 19 and 73 minutes, respectively, with future adjustments to be tailored to passenger numbers, Zhao said.

Passenger Liu Yuyi told China Daily: "We've been looking forward to this for a long time. The railway makes it more convenient for tourists to visit Vietnam.

"It would be even better if the railway extended to Vietnam. I look forward to that too."

The border port processes an average of 20,000 entries and exits every day, including border residents and tourists engaged in cross-border activities, according to Chu Qiaoyang, deputy manager of Dongxing Railway Station.

With the line's operation, Dongxing will embrace an increase in tourists, Chu said.

Luo Zhen, vice-mayor of Fangchenggang, highlighted the significance of the railway situated at the border in promoting cooperation between China and Vietnam and driving regional economic development.

"It plays an important role in strengthening China's political, economic and trade ties with ASEAN countries, as well as in better integration with the Belt and Road Initiative, supporting Fangchenggang's pivotal role as the gateway to ASEAN," Luo added.

The railway's operation comes as China and Vietnam have agreed to further cooperation on a number of rail projects along the border.

Earlier this month, the leaders of the two countries met in Hanoi and vowed to strengthen bilateral ties and build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

China has remained Vietnam's biggest trading partner for years, while Vietnam is China's biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.




News / Local

by Staff reporter

Great kids that I have. Much gratitude to the mothers also. Surrounded by such kids I feel blessed. This is what fuels me to work harder and aspire for more. Equally loved, beautiful and unique each in their own way. Mind you this is only half the number!! pic.twitter.com/fLpLsfBrXF  Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) December 28, 2023

Christmas in Africa with my beautiful kids; the precious cargo God blessed me with. Vakai misha vakomana. pic.twitter.com/Py1fwID7oK  Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) December 28, 2023

Former Norton legislature Themba Mliswa celebrated Christmas in style with his children.Mliswa took to X (formerly Twitter) to show off his kids.Great kids that I have. Much gratitude to the mothers also. Surrounded by such kids I feel blessed. This is what fuels me to work harder and aspire for more. Equally loved, beautiful and unique each in their own way. Mind you this is only half the number!!Mliswa is reported to have more than 19 children with different mothers in different parts of the country. He says he is not ashamed of family.
NNN REIT, Inc. (NYSE:NNN  Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $39.69 and traded as high as $43.02. NNN REIT shares last traded at $42.99, with a volume of 1,119,879 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on NNN REIT in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. They set an equal weight rating and a $40.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on NNN REIT from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on NNN REIT in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, NNN REIT presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $46.00.

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NNN REIT Stock Up 0.9 %

NNN REIT Dividend Announcement

The firm has a market capitalization of $7.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.22, a P/E/G ratio of 5.63 and a beta of 0.97. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $39.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 2.13 and a current ratio of 2.13.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 31st were paid a $0.565 dividend. This represents a $2.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.20%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, October 30th. NNN REITs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.10%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other NNN REIT news, CAO Michelle Lynn Miller sold 1,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.27, for a total value of $47,837.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 56,868 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,176,338.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Michelle Lynn Miller sold 1,250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.27, for a total transaction of $47,837.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 56,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,176,338.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jonathan Adamo sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.85, for a total value of $159,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 56,450 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,249,532.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 43,306 shares of company stock valued at $1,793,412 in the last three months. 0.82% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NNN REIT

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NNN. Norges Bank purchased a new position in NNN REIT during the 4th quarter valued at about $90,553,000. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in NNN REIT by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 19,941,222 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $896,159,000 after acquiring an additional 1,610,795 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in NNN REIT by 29.0% during the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,556,747 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $114,900,000 after acquiring an additional 574,203 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in NNN REIT by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 20,617,682 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $910,271,000 after acquiring an additional 491,887 shares during the period. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. boosted its holdings in NNN REIT by 254.1% during the 1st quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 634,156 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $27,998,000 after acquiring an additional 455,085 shares during the period. 88.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NNN REIT Company Profile

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NNN REIT invests primarily in high-quality retail properties subject generally to long-term, net leases. As of June 30, 2023, the company owned 3,479 properties in 49 states with a gross leasable area of approximately 35.5 million square feet and with a weighted average remaining lease term of 10.2 years.

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North American Construction Group Ltd. (NYSE:NOA  Get Free Report) (TSE:NOA)s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $21.37 and traded as high as $21.52. North American Construction Group shares last traded at $21.30, with a volume of 50,997 shares.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of North American Construction Group in a report on Thursday, September 28th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of North American Construction Group in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, TD Securities cut North American Construction Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $30.33.

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North American Construction Group Stock Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is $20.29 and its 200 day moving average is $21.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market cap of $558.73 million, a P/E ratio of 11.93 and a beta of 1.54.

North American Construction Group (NYSE:NOA  Get Free Report) (TSE:NOA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The oil and gas company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.45 by ($0.08). North American Construction Group had a return on equity of 24.51% and a net margin of 8.27%. The firm had revenue of $145.18 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $154.85 million. Analysts anticipate that North American Construction Group Ltd. will post 1.68 EPS for the current year.

North American Construction Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th will be given a dividend of $0.072 per share. This represents a $0.29 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.38%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 29th. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 16.57%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On North American Construction Group

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of North American Construction Group by 114.5% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,831 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 1,511 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of North American Construction Group by 528.1% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 36,298 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $520,000 after buying an additional 30,519 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp purchased a new stake in shares of North American Construction Group during the first quarter valued at $1,003,000. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its position in shares of North American Construction Group by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 343,195 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,956,000 after acquiring an additional 10,905 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in North American Construction Group by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 122,940 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,775,000 after acquiring an additional 7,455 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.68% of the companys stock.

North American Construction Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

North American Construction Group Ltd. provides equipment maintenance, and mining and heavy construction services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Its Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services; and Equipment Maintenance services.

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Parkland (OTCMKTS:PKIUF  Get Free Report) and Neste Oyj (OTCMKTS:NTOIY  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

33.3% of Parkland shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Neste Oyj shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

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Dividends

Parkland pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Neste Oyj pays an annual dividend of $0.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Parkland pays out 134.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Neste Oyj pays out 45.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Parkland N/A N/A N/A Neste Oyj N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Parkland and Neste Oyjs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of current recommendations for Parkland and Neste Oyj, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Parkland 0 0 1 0 3.00 Neste Oyj 1 0 5 0 2.67

Parkland presently has a consensus target price of $50.33, suggesting a potential upside of 67.11%. Given Parklands stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Parkland is more favorable than Neste Oyj.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Parkland and Neste Oyjs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Parkland N/A N/A N/A $0.75 40.36 Neste Oyj N/A N/A N/A $0.54 33.21

Neste Oyj is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Parkland, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Parkland beats Neste Oyj on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Parkland

(Get Free Report)

Parkland Corporation operates food and convenience stores in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company's Canada segment owns, supplies, and supports a coast-to-coast network of retail gas stations, electronic vehicle charging stations, frozen food retail locations, convenience stores, cardlock sites, bulk fuel, propane, heating oil, lubricants, and other related services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers; transports and distributes fuel through ships, rail, and highway carriers; and stores fuel in terminals and other owned and leased facilities, as well as engages in the low-carbon activities. This segment sells its products under the M&M Food Market, On the Run / Marche Express, Ultramar, Esso, Chevron, Pioneer, Fas Gas Plus, Bluewave Energy, Pipeline Commercial, Columbia Fuels, and Sparlings Propane brand names. Its international segment operates and services various retail service stations under the Sol, Esso, Mobil, Shell, and Texaco brand names; and owns the Sol Shop, a convenience store, as well as sells refined crude oil to commercial, industrial, and aviation businesses. The company's USA Segment delivers fuel, lubricants, and other related products to commercial and wholesale customers; operates a network of retail fuel and convenience stores under the On the Run, Arco, Cenex, Chevron, Conoco, Exxon, and other brands, as well as cardlocks under various brands; and operates terminals, storage facilities and trucks, contracts with pipeline, storage facilities, and third-party carriers to support its network. Its Refining segment refines fuel products, such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel; co-processes bio-feedstocks and blends low-carbon-intensity fuels with gasoline and diesel to produce greener fuels. The company was formerly known as Parkland Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Parkland Corporation in May 2020. Parkland Corporation was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

About Neste Oyj

(Get Free Report)

Neste Oyj provides renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel in Finland and other Nordic countries, Baltic Rim, other European countries, North and South America, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Renewable Products, Oil Products, Marketing & Services, and Others. The Renewable Products segment produces, markets, and sells renewable diesel, renewable jet fuels and solutions, and renewable solvents, as well as raw material for bioplastics based on its technology to wholesale markets. The Oil Products segment produces, markets, and sells diesel fuel, gasoline, aviation and marine fuels, light and heavy fuel oils, and gasoline components, as well as special fuels, such as small-engine gasoline, solvents, liquid gases, and bitumen. This segment serves retailers and distributors, oil majors and trading companies, petrochemicals companies, and companies marketing lubricants and solvents. The Marketing & Services segment markets and sells cleaner fuels and oil products, and associated services to private motorists, industry, transport companies, farmers, and heating oil customers through a network of service stations, as well as direct sales. The Others segment offers engineering solutions. The company was formerly known as Neste Oil Oyj and changed its name to Neste Oyj in June 2015. Neste Oyj was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.

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Red Door Wealth Management LLC cut its position in 3M (NYSE:MMM  Free Report) by 50.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,957 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 3,984 shares during the quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLCs holdings in 3M were worth $370,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new position in shares of 3M during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of 3M in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Retirement Group LLC raised its position in shares of 3M by 267.0% in the first quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 367 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares during the period. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of 3M during the 2nd quarter worth about $47,000. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of 3M during the 1st quarter worth about $48,000. 65.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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3M Price Performance

NYSE:MMM traded up $0.93 on Thursday, hitting $109.67. The company had a trading volume of 2,236,651 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,604,481. 3M has a 52 week low of $85.35 and a 52 week high of $129.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.15, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $97.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $99.49.

3M Dividend Announcement

3M ( NYSE:MMM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The conglomerate reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.34. The company had revenue of $8.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.99 billion. 3M had a positive return on equity of 47.18% and a negative net margin of 22.59%. 3Ms revenue was down 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.69 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that 3M will post 9.12 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were paid a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.47%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 16th. 3Ms dividend payout ratio is currently -44.94%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on MMM. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of 3M from $100.00 to $112.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Citigroup upped their price objective on 3M from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on 3M from $85.00 to $83.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. HSBC began coverage on shares of 3M in a research note on Friday, September 15th. They issued a hold rating and a $109.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of 3M from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $102.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $107.10.

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3M Profile

(Free Report)

3M Company provides diversified technology services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Safety and Industrial; Transportation and Electronics; Health Care; and Consumer. The Safety and Industrial segment offers industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworking applications; autobody repair solutions; closure systems for personal hygiene products, masking, and packaging materials; electrical products and materials for construction and maintenance, power distribution, and electrical original equipment manufacturers; structural adhesives and tapes; respiratory, hearing, eye, and fall protection solutions; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles.

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BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BFZ  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 81,600 shares, a growth of 329.5% from the November 30th total of 19,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 96,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days.

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BFZ traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $12.00. The stock had a trading volume of 182,394 shares, compared to its average volume of 82,861. The companys 50-day moving average price is $10.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.15. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust has a fifty-two week low of $9.86 and a fifty-two week high of $12.31.

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BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of $0.051 per share. This represents a $0.61 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th.

Insider Activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust

In other news, major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. bought 39,865 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 31st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $9.92 per share, for a total transaction of $395,460.80. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 4,696,485 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,589,131.20. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In the last ninety days, insiders bought 334,202 shares of company stock worth $3,577,688.

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BFZ. Sit Investment Associates Inc. acquired a new position in BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $5,298,000. Saba Capital Management L.P. increased its position in BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Saba Capital Management L.P. now owns 4,513,628 shares of the companys stock worth $46,445,000 after purchasing an additional 310,016 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP increased its position in BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust by 1,207.5% during the 2nd quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 202,382 shares of the companys stock worth $2,400,000 after purchasing an additional 186,904 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,423,000. Finally, Robinson Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $655,000.

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Company Profile

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BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in investment grade municipal bonds that are exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.

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Sterling Investment Counsel LLC lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) by 34.6% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 572 shares of the asset managers stock after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the period. Sterling Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in BlackRock were worth $370,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. West Tower Group LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Archer Investment Corp bought a new position in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at BlackRock

In related news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 15,385 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $652.03, for a total value of $10,031,481.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 435,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $283,802,577.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

BlackRock Stock Performance

Shares of BLK stock traded up $2.79 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $816.04. 150,712 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 645,146. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $711.87 and a 200 day simple moving average of $696.69. The company has a current ratio of 3.72, a quick 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 stock has a market capitalization of $121.39 billion, a price-to-earnings 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 issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The asset manager reported $10.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.34 by $2.57. BlackRock had a net margin of 30.66% and a return on equity of 14.65%. The company had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.52 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $9.55 EPS. BlackRocks quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that BlackRock, Inc. will post 36.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BlackRock Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, December 7th were paid a $5.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 6th. This represents a $20.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.45%. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is 56.10%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BLK has been the topic of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of BlackRock from $781.00 to $754.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on shares of BlackRock from $814.00 to $800.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of BlackRock in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, BlackRock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $771.54.

View Our Latest Analysis on BLK

BlackRock Company Profile

(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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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report).

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Watsco Inc (NYSE:WSO.B  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $426.65 and last traded at $426.65, with a volume of 16 shares. The stock had previously closed at $422.20.

Watsco Stock Up 1.1 %

The companys 50 day moving average price is $381.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $372.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 3.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.87 and a beta of 0.63.

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Watsco (NYSE:WSO.B  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 19th. The construction company reported $4.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.24 by $0.11. Watsco had a net margin of 8.14% and a return on equity of 22.66%. The business had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter.

Watsco Dividend Announcement

About Watsco

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th were paid a dividend of $2.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, October 16th. This represents a $9.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.30%. Watscos payout ratio is currently 64.69%.

(Get Free Report)

Watsco, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment; and related parts and supplies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. It offers residential ducted and ductless air conditioners; gas, electric, and oil furnaces; commercial air conditioning and heating equipment systems; and other specialized equipment.

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ZTE Co. (OTCMKTS:ZTCOY  Get Free Report)s share price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $4.04 and traded as high as $4.08. ZTE shares last traded at $4.04, with a volume of 4,800 shares trading hands.

ZTE Trading Up 6.3 %

The stock has a market cap of $9.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.60 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.63. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $4.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.04.

About ZTE

(Get Free Report)

ZTE Corporation provides integrated communication information solutions in the People's Republic of China, rest of Asia, Africa, Europe, the United States, and Oceania. It operates through three segments: Carriers' Networks, Government and Corporate Business, and Consumer Business. The Carriers' Network segment provides wireless access, wireline access, bearer systems, core networks, telecommunication software systems and services, and other technologies and product solutions for meeting carries' requirements.

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

IT is now four months since the murder of a Gokwe artisanal miner at Zhombe Business Centre, popularly known as Kwa-Juwero under Chief Gwesela, with affected families failing to agree on terms and conditions reportedly set by the family of the deceased who say they are interpreting manifestations of the dead miner.Meetings to resolve the impasse between the two families over the burial of Munyaradzi Dube, the murdered artisanal miner, have failed to yield positive results.Dube was killed for ritual purposes by fellow artisanal miners on August 11 in Donzani Village under Chief Samambwa in Zhombe East, Midlands.According to Chief Njelele, Dube is "refusing to be buried" amid mysterious circumstances generated by his demanding his missing body part back.The corpse was discovered in a disused mine shaft after a 21-day search and it had a missing tongue, left eye and some hair from the back of the head. The body has been stuck at Kwekwe District Hospital mortuary for the past four months where it was taken by the police from a Muchechetere homestead in Zhombe East where his family had dumped it.The burial of Dube has been put on hold while families discuss alleged manifestations from beyond the grave.The deceased's body spent nine days on the doorstep of one of the suspected assailants before the police ferried it to Kwekwe District Hospital mortuary.After the postmortem, the deceased's friend reportedly went into a trance and started behaving like Dube as they were taking the remains to Gokwe for burial.The warring parties are failing to reach an agreement over Dube's missing parts as well as the amount of compensation that should be paid to appease his spirit.Consequently, the body has now spent four months without a proper burial, as alleged instructions from the coffin continue to impede the interment process.Chief Njelele said there was no end in sight to the impasse."Still there is no end in sight with regards to the burial of Munyaradzi. Both families have failed to find common ground and his body is still stuck at Kwekwe District Hospital mortuary," he said.Chief Njelele said at one time, there were reports that mortuary attendants were allegedly hearing unusual sounds when the body was taken there.He said at one time, there were suggestions to have Dube's body taken to Harare for postmortem and the family allegedly declined.Chief Samambwa said he was not happy that the warring parties were not genuinely coming to the table to resolve the matter."I have been consulted and my advice has not been considered and it's disappointing. We will wait to hear what the police will say," he said.Dube's maternal grandfather, only identified as Mr Mvurumo said they still stand guided by the deceased's alleged instructions."We can't and we won't bury him without his missing body parts. That's all I can say," he said.The grave dug for the miner at Chidoma Village has since been refilled on the instructions of traditional leaders.
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Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
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News / Local

by Staff reporter

BARELY two weeks after announcing further gas discovery at its Mukuyu-2 exploration well in Mbire District, Mashonaland Central province, Invictus Energy has raised a further US$10,2 million through private placement to fund ongoing operations in Zimbabwe.The capital will ensure the firm is well funded for a range of activities to roll out at it's Cabora Bassa project in Northern Zimbabwe.Earlier this month, the Australian head-quartered firm declared two gas discoveries in the Upper and Lower Angwa formations through the Mukuyu-2 well.In a statement, Invictus noted that the funding will be utilised for a well test on gas discoveries in the Upper and Lower Angwa formations in Mukuyu-2 well, preparation for 3D seismic over the Mukuyu gas field and long lead items for a planned high impact exploration well from the Company's extensive portfolio in the Basin Margin or Central Fairway prospects."We are pleased to welcome funds from institutional and sophisticated investors that will assist ongoing operations at our Cabora Bassa project," said Mr Scott Macmillan, the firm's managing director."These funds will be invested into extending the recent success of our dual gas discoveries in the Upper and Lower Angwa formations and completion of a highly successful Mukuyu-2 drill campaign."Ongoing operations across the Mukuyu field will include a well test on Mukuyu-2 and preparation for a 3D seismic survey over the Mukuyu gas field."We are currently maturing additional drill ready prospects from our recently completed CB23 infill seismic survey and excitingly planning for our next well location within our commanding 360 000 hectare project area."Recently, Invictus executed an updated gas supply memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mbuyu Energy, a Zimbabwean consortium led by IPP developer Tatanga Energy for the latter's proposed 500-megawatt (MW) gas-to-power project.The Australian firm intends to supply the gas for the project from its 80 percent-owned and operated Cabora Bassa Project in northern Zimbabwe after the company recently declared gas discovery at its Mukuyu-2 exploration well in Mbire.Based on the update, Invictus said following the recent confirmation of the discovery of gas at its Cabora Bassa Project in Zimbabwe, the updated MoU built on the previous MoU signed in December 2019 with Tatanga Energy.The MoU is a precursor to the negotiation of a full long-term gas sale agreement (GSA) to supply sufficient gas to power the proposed plant.The plant can be expanded in future phases to up to 1 000MW (equating to a forecasted demand of approximately 1,4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas over 20 years).The company estimates the Mukuyu fields to hold 34,9 trillion cubic feet of condensate gas.Invictus said the updated MoU will see the parties working together to assess the feasibility of developing the project utilising gas produced from the Mukuyu field or any other field developed in the Cabora Bassa project.The power project will be developed in line with world-class standards and will support the further integration of renewable sources of energy into the National Grid.
Mehul R Thakkar is Special Correspondent, Moneycontrol, Indias leading financial news platform, based in Mumbai where he is focussed on covering the real estate sector.
Souptik Datta Reports real estate, infra and city in Bengaluru. Btw, curiosity never kills the cat.

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Aihik Sur covers tech policy, drones, space tech among other beats at Moneycontrol

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

THE Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri has warned land officers against engaging in corrupt activities when discharging their duties.The rampant illegal sale and distribution of State land by lands officials has been topical for years with some officials being accused of taking bribes to facilitate land allocation."Let us make the land issue the pride of our nation through cultivating a culture of absolute transparency, sincerity and fostering a corrupt-free environment. I want to take this opportunity to warn you that whoever will be involved in corruption entanglements will face the long arm of the law," said Prof Jiri while addressing land officers yesterday."We want you to represent the ministry well by executing our duties."Prof Jiri said the land issue is very emotional and has to be handled with care."We are the vanguards of the land that Zimbabwe is being denigrated for by the Western countries and therefore there is a need to make sure that it is equitably distributed without fear or favour," he said."As lands officers, you are not just ordinary employees, but you are the vanguard of the land that Zimbabwe is being vilified for. That is why you are so important to the equation of our politics and critical department to the entire nation."Prof Jiri urged the officials to shun corruption amid reports of land disputes."When we hear stories of corrupt people within the lands department, it defeats the whole purpose of why we are all here."Most disputes of land boundaries are caused by double allocation through fake papers generated by you (lands officers) to cause disorder," he said."We must try to regularise things so that we don't have land disputes."Prof Jiri said officials from the ministry have an obligation of making sure that the land reform programme is a success."Where we are now, we must put to finality all land problems. We should make sure that we don't have district or provincial officers who misbehave," he said.Prof Jiri said all the land processes should be done in the presence of all lands committee members to avoid corrupt activities."When you do farm downsizing, you must go as a team so that the process is done smoothly."The committee must sign the form for downsizing and it should not be an individual decision. Don't be part of the lawlessness," he said.
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Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_
News / Local

by Staff reporter

A Harare man had a Christmas Day to forget after he was arrested during a lobola ceremony in Pfungwe area, Mashonaland East Province.Chamunorwa Muvhuti (40), was arrested for stealing US$195 000 from Mahomed Mussa Wholesalers where he is employed as a merchandiser.Muvhuti's would be in-laws were baffled when detectives pounced on him during the ultimately abortive ceremony.Muvhuti pleaded guilty to the theft charge after appearing before Harare Magistrate Mrs Apollonia Marutya who remanded him in custody to today for sentencing. Muvhuti told the court that he was not paid enough by his employer and that was the reason he committed the offence.It is the State's case that on December 21 around 1700 hours, Muvhuti was on duty when he planned to steal from the complainant .Muvhuti acted in common purpose with Jeremiah Kwenda and Phineas Moyo who are security guards at Mohammed Mussa Wholesalers.It is the State's case that Muvhuti hid in the shop and was locked inside while others went home after duty .Muvhuti used a metal sharp object to break a black portable safe which was mounted to the wall and took away the safe containing US$195 000.On December 22, the complainant discovered the offence and made a police report. On Christmas day, detectives arrested Muvhuti in Mupande Village, Chief Chitsungo, Pfungwe where he had gone to pay lobola to his in laws.The court heard that, Muvhuti led the police to recovery of US$186 100-00 at his place of residence in Chitungwiza.He also lead the police to the recovery of a black portable safe that was positively identified by the complainant as that which had been stolen at the shop together with the said amount.Muvhuti is said to have paid lobola of US$4 426-00 to his in-laws leading to recovery of US$3 501-00 from the Mupande family.He further used US$340-00 to purchase groceries for lobola proceedings leading to recovery of various groceries valued at US$250-00 from his in-laws.The detectives managed to recover some of the stolen money.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be the SADC chairperson with effect from August next year.This is contrary to news going around that President Mnangagwa will be the SADC chairperson with effect from January, 1, 2024. The SADC chairmanship change hands at each Sadc ordinary summit which is normally held once a year.Mnangagwa is expected to take over the chairperson's role from Angolan President Joao Lourenco when Zimbabwe hosts Sadc's 44th ordinary summit in August next year.The opposition CCC petitioned SADC to block Mnangagwa from assuming the chairmanship of the 16-member bloc next year.Mnangagwa took over as SADC deputy chairperson during its 43rd summit held in Angola.CCC's petition sort to have Mnangagwa step down from the deputy chairperson's position until the matter of the disputed 23 August presidential election is resolved.Mnangagwa was declared the winner of the election with 52.6% of the vote against CCC leader Nelson Chamisa's 44%. Chamisa, however, rejected the outcome, calling it "a gigantic fraud".
Ratan Tata and NR Narayana Murthy are two well-respected business leaders. One thing common to them is that they do not offer investment advice. So, when videos surfaced where they were heard recommending a certain investment scheme or the use of a particular investing platform, it created ripples across the country. At first sight, the video clips looked credible, but it soon emerged that they were deepfake videos created to misuse the credibility and reputation of the two corporate honchos.

Two new deepfake videos of the Infosys founder , shared on social media, purportedly promoted an investing platform, 'Quantum AI' that would allow users of this new tech to earn US$3,000 (around Rs2.5 lakh) on the first working day.

One Sona Agrawal uploaded a fake video on Instagram portraying an interview with Mr Tata. The video endorsed certain investment opportunities, falsely claiming Mr Tata's involvement with the venture. There have also been some social media messages with false claims about Mr Tata's investment in cryptocurrency. This had prompted him to clarify that he has no association with cryptocurrency ventures in any form

Both Mr Murthy and Mr Tata went public, requesting people not to believe the deepfakes. What is worrying is that they are not the only victims of deepfake videos circulated on social media.

Deepfakes pose a significant threat to everyone's privacy and individual rights and also enable the use of technology to defraud people. The cases of actors Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif and Kajol are a few examples of convincing fake videos that can be created to destroy reputations, defraud people or even incite legal action.

In Rashmika Mandanna's case, the deepfake video morphed her face into another woman wearing a revealing black outfit. In Katrina Kaif's case, an image of the actress from her recently released film 'Tiger 3' was altered. While the film had the actress engaging in a fight with a stuntwoman clad in a towel, the edited version showed her wearing a low-cut white top and a matching bottom instead of the towel.

In the case of Kajol, a video of social media influencer Rosie Breen's face was replaced with that of Kajol. The clip showed her changing clothes on camera. For a split second, the manipulated video features the face of the original woman, allowing the fake to be detected.

Deepfakes first emerged on the scene in 2019 with fake videos of Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg and former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi circulated. They are the 21st century's alternative to Photoshoppingcreating images and videos of celebrities via a form of artificial intelligence (AI) called deep learning.

Advances in AI, machine learning (ML) and large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's ChatGPT allow fraudsters and cybercriminals to incorporate hyper-realistic digital falsification. Thus, the near-real image or audio clip deepfake can potentially damage reputations, exploit people, sabotage elections, spread large-scale misinformation, fabricate evidence and, in general, undermine trust.

According to the information security company CyberArk, deepfakes will pose a looming threat to India's cybersecurity in 2024. These attacks will target individuals, businesses and even government institutions, aiming to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, and disrupt critical infrastructure.

"As AI becomes more pervasive, adversaries will quickly capitalise on its capabilities, crafting new attack vectors that exploit vulnerabilities in novel ways," researchers from CyberArk say.

The financial repercussions of deepfake attacks could be severe, potentially leading to reputational damage, loss of investor confidence and even economic instability.

In short, deepfakes, synthetic media generated through AI, ML, and LLM techniques, present numerous challenges and potential risks.

At present, there aren't adequate laws in India to control deepfakes. In 2018 and 2021, the Indian government issued guidelines for using AI titled 'National Strategy for AI' and 'Responsible AI Guidelines, respectively. But, these guidelines are not mandatory and, therefore, not enforceable as law.

Earlier this week, the Union government advised all social media intermediaries to ensure compliance with the existing IT rules and specifically target the growing concerns around misinformation powered by AIdeepfakes. As per the advisory, intermediaries are obliged to ensure reasonable efforts to prevent users from hosting, displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, transmitting, storing, updating, or sharing any information related to the 11 listed user harms or content prohibited on digital platforms.

While law enforcement can help in investigating and apprehending cybercriminals, for the common person, it is essential to understand how generative AI, ML, and LLM technologies work.

Before learning how to handle deepfakes, let us first understand the critical challenges of the new technologies.

Challenges Posed by Deepfakes:

Misinformation and Manipulation: Deepfakes can create realistic videos or audio recordings that manipulate and spread false information.

Identity Theft: Cybercriminals can use deepfakes to impersonate individuals, potentially causing harm to personal and professional reputations.

Privacy Concerns: Deepfakes can be created using existing personal photos or videos, leading to privacy violations.

Social Engineering Attacks: Cyber attackers can use deepfakes to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing malicious actions.

Here are some suggestions to safeguard against deepfake frauds...

Stay Informed: Be aware of the existence and potential impact of deepfakes. Stay informed about the latest technologies and developments.

Verify Sources: Double-check the authenticity of information and media received from unfamiliar or untrusted sources. Verify with multiple reliable sources before believing or sharing content.

Use Critical Thinking: Question the authenticity of content that seems suspicious or too good to be true. Look for inconsistencies in the narrative or visual elements.

Check Metadata: Examine the metadata of media files for inconsistencies or signs of manipulation. Original files typically have metadata that aligns with the context of the content. To check the metadata of an image or file, you need to check its properties (details) in file explorer or files (iPhone).

Use Robust Passwords/MFA: Strengthen your online security by using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regularly updating apps or software and operating systems (OS).

Educate yourself: Learn about deepfake detection tools and techniques. There are emerging technologies and platforms designed to identify manipulated media. For example, the Detect Fakes ( Learn about deepfake detection tools and techniques. There are emerging technologies and platforms designed to identify manipulated media. For example, the Detect Fakes ( http://detectfakes.media.mit.edu/ ) website by MIT can help ordinary people understand or identify the difference between a video manipulated by AI and a normal, non-altered video. Detect Fakes is a research project designed to answer these questions and identify techniques to counteract AI-generated misinformation.

Be cautious of unusual requests: If you receive unexpected or unusual requests for information or actions, especially via electronic communication (primarily through mobiles), verify the authenticity through alternate means. Use another device or mobile to speak directly with the person in the video or audio clip to check authenticity.

Don't share personal information: Minimise the personal information you share on social media and other online platforms. Limit the accessibility of personal data that could be used to create deepfakes.

Report suspicious activity: Report any suspected deepfakes or fraudulent activities to relevant authorities, like the cybercell of local police or government cyber security platforms (for example: National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal Report any suspected deepfakes or fraudulent activities to relevant authorities, like the cybercell of local police or government cyber security platforms (for example: National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal http://cybercrime.gov.in ). Many social media platforms also have mechanisms for reporting suspicious content.

Do remember that the technology behind deepfakes is constantly evolving and new use cases may emerge over time. Deepfake frauds can have serious consequences, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage and political manipulation.

By combining awareness, critical thinking and technological precautions, individuals can reduce their vulnerability to deepfake frauds and protect themselves from potential harm, including financial loss.

Wish you a very happy and safe New Year!

How To Report Cyber Fraud?

Do report cybercrimes to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal http://cybercrime.gov.in or call the toll-free National Helpline number, 1930. To follow on social media: Twitter (@Cyberdost), Facebook (CyberDostI4C), Instagram (cyberdostl4C), Telegram (cyberdosti4c).

Are you a victim of Online Financial Fraud? Immediately call helpline Number 1930 and register your complaint at https://t.co/cr6WZMOi4c pic.twitter.com/HZqUMKSDNF  Cyber Dost (@Cyberdost) October 12, 2022

If the fraud is related to your bank account, you need to immediately send an email to the official email ID of your branch (you can find it on the bank's website or your passbook) with a copy to the bank's customer care. Even if you have called the official number for customer care, you must still send an email describing your conversation with the bank executive, along with the time, date, and duration of the call. This will be helpful if you face a liability issue with the bank.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on five cooperative banks, citing the violation of different laws prescribed by the regulator. Three banks are from Gujarat, while others belong to Maharashtra and West Bengal. RBI has levied a fine of Rs2 lakh, the highest among the banks, on Sardargunj Mercantile Cooperative Bank Ltd from Gujarat.

Other banks penalised by RBI are United Cooperative Bank Ltd and Panchsheel Mercantile Cooperative Bank Ltd from Gujarat. Sree Chaitanya Cooperative Bank Ltd and Vidyananad Cooperative Bank Limited are from West Bengal and Maharashtra, respectively.

Sardargunj Mercantile Cooperative Bank and Panchsheel Mercantile Cooperative Bank are penalised Rs2 lakh and Rs50,000, respectively, for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on placement of deposits with other banks by primary urban cooperative banks (UCBs).

The statutory inspection of both the banks conducted by RBI about their financial position as of 31 March 2022 and examination of the inspection report (IR), risk assessment report (RAR) and all related correspondence revealed that these banks had breached the prudential inter-bank counterparty exposure limit.

Further, RBI imposed a penalty of Rs1 lakh each on United Cooperative Bank and Vidyananad Cooperative Bank.

United Cooperative Bank was penalised for breaching the prudential inter-bank gross exposure limit and the prudential inter-bank counterparty exposure limit.

Vidyananad Cooperative Bank was penalised for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on exposure norms and statutory or other restrictions - UCBs and on placement of deposits with other banks by primary UCBs and investments by primary UCBs. The RAR and all correspondence related revealed, that the Bank had breached the prudential inter-bank gross exposure limit.

Sree Chaitanya Cooperative Bank was fined Rs5,000 for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on membership of credit information companies (CICs). The IR and all related correspondence revealed that the Bank had failed to obtain membership of any of the four CICs.

After considering the reply and oral submissions of all banks during the personal hearing, RBI says it has concluded that the non-compliance charges with its directions were substantiated and warranted the imposition of monetary penalties.

RBI says the penalty imposed on these five cooperative banks is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered by these banks with their customers.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is battling to seize the initiative from disgruntled officials from his party who are allegedly using the recalls of elected opposition representatives in order to stampede him into an elective congress.CCC insiders said Chamisa was aware that the recalls were meant to force him to cause the holding of a congress where his position could be challenged and that he was working tirelessly to thwart them.Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the CCC interim secretary general, has embarked on a massive recall of opposition MPs, senators and councillors whom he claims were imposed by Chamisa.Former Nkulumane MP Kucaca Phulu, a one time member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) that was once led by Tendai Biti, is the only senior official who has publicly supported Tshabangu's adventure.CCC officials say there are senior officials from the opposition party, who are allegedly working with Zanu-PF to decimate the opposition to settle personal scores.The counter accusations yesterday forced Biti, who is accused of being one of the officials alongside Welshman Ncube of pulling the strings in Tshabangu's devastating mission, to distance himself from what he said was a plot by the Zanu-PF government to "malicious push to weaken the struggle".He said even if he had issues about the direction CCC was taking, he would not "lend" his hand to the Zanu-PF government.Biti issued the statement after The Standard sought his comment on the growing accusations that he was part of the plot."I do not speak for Prof Ncube, an honest and decent comrade who buried his dear mother on Friday, but as someone who has been in this struggle for as long as I have, one who has endured Zanu-PF's jails and physical attacks by the same, it is heartbreaking, if not tragic, that many Cdes that have been with us on this journey are now given false labels and badges," he said."I don't believe in recalls, I have never been part of recalls. I will never be part of recalls."Given what I and my family have given to this struggle, it saddens me that I have to state publicly that I will never be part of a project to weaken the democratic struggle in Zimbabwe."I have been imprisoned and tortured for the change we all seek, and I have stood firm."I have never worked for Zanu-PF, and I will die before I lend my hand to the illegitimate Zanu-PF regime."This publication reached out to Biti and others who are accused of using Tshabangu to weaken Chamisa, who are mostly former PDP members.PDP was formed by MDC officials that differed with the late Morgan Tsvangirai's style of leadership before they returned to the fold under the MDC Alliance banner prior to the post coup elections of 2018.Former Harare mayor Jacob Mafume has also been accused of being behind the plot as he reportedly eyes another chance as mayor following the recall of mayor Ian Makone. Mafume also dismissed the allegations yesterday."It's not true and it's false. It's defamatory that they say we are regrouping (as PDP members)," Mafume said."I was also removed from the mayoral position and I am just an ordinary councillor."I will sue anyone accusing me of regrouping and trying to remove Chamisa from power."Tshabangu, through his lawyer Nqobani Sithole confirmed to The Standard yesterday that there were "extensive" consultations within his camp to hold an elective congress this year."We are making consultations within the party so that we hold an elective congress," Sithole said."It's important that they hold a congress so that CCC becomes a democratic party."On the issue of the current party leadership, I won't talk about it because there is an application filed by an entity calling itself CCC. So we won't comment as it will be sub-judice."In response to allegations that Tshabangu was working with Biti, Sithole said: "Any other person who is in the CCC, we are working with them."As long as no one, even Chamisa himself, has not litigated against Tshabangu then they are agreeing with him."CCC spokesperson Gift 'Ostallos' Siziva said the party was aware of the secret meetings by party members, Tshabangu and Zanu-PF to force Chamisa to hold a snap congress."There is an attack on the authentic opposition," Siziva said. "That is why you see Tshabangu coming out claiming that there are some CCC members who are calling him."Siziva, however, refused to name the suspected CCC members."We know those people through our intelligence (who are) using their narrowmindedness and greediness to utilise the Zanu-PF-sponsored chaos," he said."These are the very people whom we have received reports from our intelligence of their everyday meetings with Zanu-PF to try and destroy the party to fulfil their selfish interests."There is no struggle without betrayal. We know the side-switchers."He said Chamisa would not be bullied to hold an elective congress."We have our own processes that govern the movement," Siziva said. "The call for us to have processes is different from the call for us to hold a congress."The word congress is not in our governing statutes and we will not be forced by anyone to conduct those processes. We have defined timelines for our processes."CCC was formed last year after Douglas Mwonzora controversially seized control of the MDC Alliance from Chamisa through the courts.Chamisa sidelined most of the former senior MDC Alliance members in the new formation saying he was trying to avoid Zanu-PF infiltration.
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A former Metropolitan Police detective specialising in finding missing children has said she would be very surprised if the forces hunt for Madeleine McCann receives more funding next year.

Scotland Yard has spent more than 13 million on the girls case so far, with 2024 marking the 17th anniversary of her disappearance in May 2007. The Met was granted a further 110,000 by the Home Office this May, significantly less than the 300,000 awarded the previous year.

German investigators carried out a search of a reservoir in the Algarve in the same month, but while they recovered a number of items, detectives said no compelling evidence in the case was found. Next May will also be Madeleines 21st birthday but the mystery of her disappearance appears to be no closer to being solved.

Madeleine McCann who disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal on May 3, 2007 (METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett)

Shabnam Chaudhri, a former detective with 30 years experience and who led searches for missing Londoners before retiring in 2019, told The Independent she is not expecting a major financial boost.

I would be surprised if they get any more funding after next year, she said. The fact that they scaled it right down, I think if they get funding it will be a very, very small amount. If there is any new information then they will review it.

When you look at the number of people that go missing, 80 per cent are found in 24-48 hours.

When you get to anniversaries it generates a whole load of inquiries, emails and leads for the investigating team, she continued. It generates a lot of anger as well a lot of people do not understand why this case gets funding year after year.

The reason funding comes from the UK is because the Portuguese authorities will not spend every hour of every week looking for her. At this stage, they will treat it like any other investigation.

A police search team walk on the shore of the Arade dam near Silves, Portugal (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

German police became involved in the case due to convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, who came to the attention of the authorities in 2017 and was first named as an arguido, or formal suspect, in Madeleines disappearance in April 2022.

Story continues

He had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz  near the resort where the McCanns were holidaying at the time Madeleine vanished.

Brueckner, now in his late forties, is a German drifter with a long criminal history, including sexual offences against children. He remains in prison, after being convicted in 2019 of the rape of a 72-year-old woman.

However, Ms Chaudri said the lack of charges in the case suggests the police have nothing concrete against him. Brueckners lawyer Friedrich Fulscher previously told Panorama his client faced trial by media, arguing the evidence against him was flimsy. Brueckner has denied any role in Madeleines abduction.

Former Dept Supt Chaudri led missing persons cases across east London (Supplied)

Julian Peribanez, part of a private investigation firm hired by the McCann family to explore leads that werent being considered by police in Portugal, is also sceptical about the German polices investigation.

What Operation Grange shouldnt do is continue the path that the German prosecutors are following because it is proving inefficient, he said.

Obviously, they [the Met] havent found any relevant leads for what we know. Maybe it is time to think out of the box and try something different.

Someone in Portugal has to know something. I can say that Im still trying, with my limited resources, to follow two leads that I hope will take me to something positive. I will keep on looking for personal reasons, its a case that got deep on me for several reasons.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007 remains ongoing but declined to address the question of funding.

Christian Brueckner (Via REUTERS)

Operation Grange, looked at over 600 people who we considered potentially significant, and at various stages individuals were considered suspects, the spokesperson said. As with any person who comes into the investigation we work towards proving or disproving their involvement. The MPS has not publicly named any suspect.

The Home Office said the status of Operation Grange is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Service and is approved on an annual basis.

But despite the cases apparent lack of progress, Ms Chaudri is not surprised Madeleines parents are still pursuing the answers they need nearly two decades on.

You cant say to any parent whose child hasnt been found to ever stop looking, she said. Even if an investigation is going down never give up hope.

If any more intelligence or new information comes through I would be very confident the police would do everything they could to renew the inquiry. They want to recover somebody safely.

The likelihood is she is not alive but there will be something to say as to what happened to her - so dont ever give up.
The Guam Department of Education logo is seen Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at department headquarters in Tiyan.
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.
Obse Rikitu loves her job at a hotel in downtown Edmonton and intends to own her own hotel in the future. (Nathan Gross/CBC - image credit)

Obse Rikitu taught chemistry in Ethiopia but only began pursuing her true passion when she participated in a hospitality employment program for newcomers to Canada.

Five months after arriving from Kenya's capital Nairobi in April, Rikitu, 29, graduated and scored a job with a major downtown hotel in Edmonton.

"I'm in love with my job. I'm excited every single day to see my days," said Rikitu, who took a quick break from her housekeeping duties to speak with CBC News.

"I would like to say to the Multicultural Health Brokers  thank you so much. Because they gave me a great chance and also they gave me morale. They taught me within a short period of time how to catch the system of Canada."

The program, which includes English language learning, was launched by the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative eight years ago.

Partnering with major hotels, students get hands-on training in areas such as food safety, housekeeping and banquet service before four weeks of job shadowing.

But soft skills are also emphasized to empower and build confidence, including wellness, self-awareness and an understanding of the Canadian work culture.

Judy Sillito says students learn the soft skills that help them feel confident when they start working.

Judy Sillito says students learn the soft skills that help them feel confident when they start working. (Nathan Gross/CBC News)

"When people move to Canada and they're in a new culture, they've got to deal with so much settlement stuff," said Judy Sillito, a program manager with the cooperative.

"And then you're in this very weird, unrecognizable work culture, and it's really intimidating."

Sillito helped develop the program that has trained more than 180 students. With a placement success rate of 80 percent, alumni work in hotels, restaurants, seniors residences, and warehouses, with many now in senior positions.

"It's uplifting for the whole community," Sillito said. "It makes Edmonton feel like a more welcoming and hopeful place to be."

Story continues

A lot of participants learn about the course through word of mouth, like Beytu Abbas who was friends with Rikitu in Nairobi.

A mother of four who owned a clothing store in Kenya, Abbas says she is happy she has the opportunity to learn about Canada's workplace culture and acquire employable skills, while making good friends from around the world.

Abbas said her children, aged between 5 and 13 years old, are encouraging her to succeed and even studied together for her recent food safety exam.

"They are telling me 'mom you have to pass  as a girl you have to pass this exam and get a job here'."

Abbas is also appreciating her new-found gender equality in Edmonton and the mindset she is learning from her instructors.

"Here, I learned something good  never give up," Abbas said. "That is what they are teaching us and that is what I'm seeing."
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NEW YORK (AP)  Lawyers for former President Donald Trump say he may testify at a mid-January civil trial set to decide how much he owes a columnist for defaming her after she said he sexually abused her three decades ago in a Manhattan luxury department store.

The lawyers filed papers in Manhattan federal court late Thursday to request that Trumps October 2022 deposition transcript in the case not be shown to the jury because Trump has been named as a witness to testify at this trial.

The lawyers  Alina Habba and Michael Madaio  did not respond to an email Friday seeking comment.

The columnist, 80-year-old E. Jean Carroll, is planning to testify at the trial, slated to start Jan. 16, about how her life has been affected and threats she has faced since Trump claimed that he never knew her and that she was making false accusations against him.

The former Elle magazine columnist is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and substantially more in punitive damages after a jury at a Manhattan trial last May found she had been sexually abused by Trump in spring 1996 in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman store across the street from Trump Tower, where Trump resided.

Carroll testified at that trial that her flirtatious encounter with Trump seemed lighthearted and fun as she accompanied him on a search for a gift for his friend in the store's desolate lingerie area. But she said it turned violent inside the dressing room after they dared each other to try on a piece of lingerie.

She said Trump shoved her against a wall and raped her. The jury rejected the rape claim, but agreed that he sexually abused her. It awarded $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation that occurred with comments Trump made in fall 2022.

The defamation claim at stake in the January trial arose after Trump, while he was still president, angrily denounced the assertions Carroll first publicly made in a memoir published in 2019. That lawsuit has been delayed for years by appeals. Added to the lawsuit are claims that Trump defamed her again with remarks he made publicly after the first verdict.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ruled earlier this year that the first trial's defamation verdict means that only damages must be decided in January at a trial expected to last about a week. A new jury will be chosen for it. Kaplan has ordered the jurors be kept anonymous, in part due to Trump's repeated public statements about Carroll and various courts.

During the last trial before Kaplan, Trump suggested in public remarks that he might attend the trial, but he never showed up.

In recent months, though, he has testified at a civil trial in New York state court over claims that the company he created to watch over his diverse properties fraudulently manipulated the value of assets to obtain loans.

And he has appeared in court to plead not guilty to criminal charges in four indictments, two of which accuse him of seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, as well as a classified documents case and charges that he helped arrange a payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her before the 2016 presidential election.

A request to postpone the January trial while issues remain pending before an appeals court, including whether Trump is protected by absolute immunity for remarks made while he was president, was rejected Thursday by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan.
Arnold, CA  California park officials are offering a healthy start on day one of the new year, with plenty of destinations to choose from, including the Mother Lode.

Why not get out and enjoy the fresh air with the annual First Day Hikes on Monday, New Years Day? State park officials say that it is a national-led effort that encourages individuals and families to experience, with a seasoned guide, the beautiful natural and cultural resources found in the outdoors, and in doing so may inspire them to take advantage of these treasures throughout the year and an individuals lifetime.

Currently, more than 60 state parks will be participating, with over 70 guided hikes taking place across the state. Calaveras Big Trees State Park is one where hikers can experience a snowshoe-guided hike through the parks North Grove. Park officials added, Snowshoes will be available to borrow, and the first portion of the program will be an introduction to how to snowshoe.

The distance and difficulty will vary per hike or activity. Details regarding start times and descriptions of hikes can be viewed by clicking here for the website of the event. The interactive site allows the public to search a map of locations by park name, county, and region. Visitors can also see the status of the hike and the last time it was updated, and by zooming into the map, they can find hikes taking place near that region of the map.

Most parks require a parking fee for hikes. State park officials noted, If visitors have checked out the State Library Parks Pass or have qualified for the Golden Bear Pass, they can enter for free at participating parks. Additionally, parents of fourth graders are invited to download the California State Park Adventure Pass, which allows free entrance to visit park units like Millerton Lake State Recreation Area or Samuel P. Taylor State Park. (Click here for more information on these free passes.)

Park officials provided these tips to stay safe during First Day Hikes and all year:
Sonora, CA  This week, 6,400 Tuolumne County voters, who all decline to side with a political party, are receiving letters in the mail about crossover voting in the March Presidential election.

Tuolumne County Clerk and Auditor Debi Bautista says voters who decline to join a political party are still allowed to vote in the Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian primaries, if they choose. There is only one candidate running for President in both the American Independent and Libertarian primaries, and eight candidates are running in the Democratic primary.

The California Republican Party chooses not to allow crossover voting, so voters would have to register as a member of the GOP ahead of the election to take part.

The directions in the mailer note that crossover voting requires an application to be filled out and either returned in person, via mail, or by email.

It is requested that applications be submitted by January 15 so that there is plenty of time to note the changes ahead of ballots being printed and then mailed out during the first week of February.

Anyone with questions about the process can contact the election office at 209-533-5570 or by stopping at 2 South Green Street in Sonora.
Hatler Property -Archive Photo View Photo

Jamestown, CA  A man who built and also rented numerous homes to residents around Tuolumne County for generations has passed away at the age of 93.

Stewart Hatler was a well-known landlord in the county for decades. The Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home confirms that Hatler passed away earlier this month at his home in Jamestown at the age of 93.

Hatler had a complicated reputation in the county. Considered a mentor and role model to many close to him, he was praised by friends for offering living spaces to lower-income community members. However, he made the news a couple of times after being publicly scorned by the Tuolumne County Supervisors for having rentals that did not meet habitable standards, and he was occasionally ordered to have them demolished through abatement proceedings.

Hatler lost his personal home in the 2021 Washington Fire that threatened Sonora. A Go Fund Me that was set up by family members noted that he briefly considered fighting the fire from his wheelchair with a hose, but his friend and neighbor picked him up in a vehicle and they narrowly escaped. Hatlers arms suffered burn injuries in the incident.

No funeral service information was immediately announced for Hatler. His remains are being cremated.
Trump is blocked from the GOP primary ballot in two states. Can he still run for president?

Trump is blocked from the GOP primary ballot in two states. Can he still run for president? View Photo

DENVER (AP)  First, Colorados Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump wasnt eligible to run for his old job in that state. Then, Maines Democratic secretary of state ruled the same for her state. Whos next?

Both decisions are historic. The Colorado court was the first court to apply to a presidential candidate a rarely used constitutional ban against those who engaged in insurrection. Maines secretary of state was the first top election official to unilaterally strike a presidential candidate from the ballot under that provision.

But both decisions are on hold while the legal process plays out.

That means that Trump remains on the ballot in Colorado and Maine and that his political fate is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Maine ruling will likely never take effect on its own. Its central impact is increasing pressure on the nations highest court to say clearly: Can Trump still run for president after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol?

WHATS THE LEGAL ISSUE?

After the Civil War, the U.S. ratified the 14th Amendment to guarantee rights to former slaves and more. It also included a two-sentence clause called Section 3, designed to keep former Confederates from regaining government power after the war.

The measure reads:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Congress did remove that disability from most Confederates in 1872, and the provision fell into disuse. But it was rediscovered after Jan. 6.

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO TRUMP?

Trump is already being prosecuted for the attempt to overturn his 2020 loss that culminated with Jan. 6, but Section 3 doesnt require a criminal conviction to take effect. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed to disqualify Trump, claiming he engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6 and is no longer qualified to run for office.

All the suits failed until the Colorado ruling. And dozens of secretaries of state have been asked to remove him from the ballot. All said they didnt have the authority to do so without a court order  until Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows decision.

The Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3. Its likely to do so in considering appeals of the Colorado decision  the state Republican Party has already appealed, and Trump is expected to file his own shortly. Bellows ruling cannot be appealed straight to the U.S. Supreme Court  it has to be appealed up the judicial chain first, starting with a trial court in Maine.

The Maine decision does force the high courts hand, though. It was already highly likely the justices would hear the Colorado case, but Maine removes any doubt.

Trump lost Colorado in 2020, and he doesnt need to win it again to garner an Electoral College majority next year. But he won one of Maines four Electoral College votes in 2020 by winning the states 2nd Congressional District, so Bellows decision would have a direct impact on his odds next November.

Until the high court rules, any state could adopt its own standard on whether Trump, or anyone else, can be on the ballot. Thats the sort of legal chaos the court is supposed to prevent.

WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE?

Trumps lawyers have several arguments against the push to disqualify him. First, its not clear Section 3 applies to the president  an early draft mentioned the office, but it was taken out, and the language an officer of the United States elsewhere in the Constitution doesnt mean the president, they contend.

Second, even if it does apply to the presidency, they say, this is a political question best decided by voters, not unelected judges. Third, if judges do want to get involved, the lawyers assert, theyre violating Trumps rights to a fair legal procedure by flatly ruling hes ineligible without some sort of fact-finding process like a lengthy criminal trial. Fourth, they argue, Jan. 6 wasnt an insurrection under the meaning of Section 3  it was more like a riot. Finally, even if it was an insurrection, they say, Trump wasnt involved in it  he was merely using his free speech rights.

Of course, the lawyers who want to disqualify Trump have arguments, too. The main one is that the case is actually very simple: Jan. 6 was an insurrection, Trump incited it, and hes disqualified.

WHATS TAKEN SO LONG?

The attack was three years ago, but the challenges werent ripe, to use the legal term, until Trump petitioned to get onto state ballots this fall.

But the length of time also gets at another issue  no one has really wanted to rule on the merits of the case. Most judges have dismissed the lawsuits because of technical issues, including that courts dont have the authority to tell parties whom to put on their primary ballots. Secretaries of state have dodged, too, usually telling those who ask them to ban Trump that they dont have the authority to do so unless ordered by a court.

No one can dodge anymore. Legal experts have cautioned that, if the Supreme Court doesnt clearly resolve the issue, it could lead to chaos in November  or in January 2025, if Trump wins the election. Imagine, they say, if the high court ducks the issue or says its not a decision for the courts to make, and Democrats win a narrow majority in Congress. Would they seat Trump or declare hes ineligible under Section 3?

WHY DID MAINE DO THIS?

Maine has an unusual process in which a secretary of state is required to hold a public hearing on challenges to politicians spots on the ballot and then issue a ruling. Multiple groups of Maine voters, including a bipartisan clutch of former state lawmakers, filed such a challenge, triggering Bellows decision.

Bellows is a Democrat, the former head of the Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and has a long trail of criticism of Trump on social media. Trumps attorneys asked her to recuse herself from the case, citing posts calling Jan. 6 an insurrection and bemoaning Trumps acquittal in his impeachment trial over the attack.

She refused, saying she wasnt ruling based on personal opinions. But the precedent she sets is notable, critics say. In theory, election officials in every state could decide a candidate is ineligible based on a novel legal theory about Section 3 and end their candidacies.

Conservatives argue that Section 3 could apply to Vice President Kamala Harris, for example  it was used to block from office even those who donated small sums to individual Confederates. Couldnt it be used against Harris, they say, because she raised money for those arrested in the unrest after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020?

IS THIS A PARTISAN ISSUE?

Well, of course it is. Bellows is a Democrat, and all the justices on the Colorado Supreme Court were appointed by Democrats. Six of the 9 U.S. Supreme Court justices were appointed by Republicans, three by Trump himself.

But courts dont always split on predictable partisan lines. The Colorado ruling was 4-3  so three Democratic appointees disagreed with barring Trump. Several prominent legal conservatives have championed the use of Section 3 against the former president.

Now well see how the high court handles it.

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI

Associated Press
Ex-student found competent to stand trial for stabbing deaths near University of California, Davis

Ex-student found competent to stand trial for stabbing deaths near University of California, Davis View Photo

DAVIS, Calif. (AP)  A former college student accused of stabbing two people to death and wounding a third in Northern California was found competent to stand trial, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Carlos Reales Dominguez will return to court on Jan. 5 and criminal proceedings will be reinstated if there isnt any challenge to his mental state, according to Yolo County assistant chief deputy district attorney Melinda Aiello, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Dominguez had been a third-year student at the University of California, Davis majoring in biological sciences until April 25, when he was expelled for academic reasons.

Stabbings near campus began shortly after. He is charged in the deaths of a 50-year-old homeless man and a 20-year-old UC Davis student. A homeless woman who was attacked in her tent survived.

The attacks terrified the community. Businesses closed early and some students were too scared to attend even daytime classes as their parents pleaded with them to return home.

Dominguez was arrested May 4, a week after the first body was found, near the location of the second attack. He later blurted out at a court hearing that he was guilty and wanted to apologize.

The case was put on hold in August after prosecutors agreed Dominguez wasnt mentally capable of taking part in criminal proceedings. Three medical experts testified he was schizophrenic and a judge ordered him to receive medication over his objections.

Dominguez was sent to the state hospital in Atascadero until he was found competent to understand court proceedings and take part in his defense.

A doctor there submitted a Dec. 20 report declaring him competent, Aiello said.
A Hong Kong pro-independence activist seeks asylum in the UK after serving time over security law View Photo

HONG KONG (AP)  An activist who advocated for Hong Kong independence and was imprisoned under a sweeping national security law has fled to Britain to seek political asylum, according to his social media posts on Friday.

Tony Chung was among the first people convicted under the Beijing-imposed law introduced after the 2019 pro-democracy protests. He was found guilty of secession and money laundering in 2020 and sentenced to 43 months in prison.

The intimidation faced by Hong Kong dissidents like Chung reflects the drastic erosion of the freedoms promised to the former British colony when it returned to China in 1997. But both Beijing and Hong Kong have hailed the security law as bringing stability to the city.

Chung detailed in two Instagram posts how he was under a supervision order after his release from prison, banned from public speaking. He was asked to meet with national security authorities regularly and report on his whereabouts, people he had met and conversations he had.

He was prevented from taking up a specific summer job, he said, which effectively stripped him of financial autonomy. The authorities offered to pay him for information about others to prove he had reformed himself, he wrote, and wanted him to go to mainland China.

Chung said he was made to sign a document that barred him from disclosing his conversations with the authorities, so he could not seek help from any lawyers nor tell anyone about his situation.

Under enormous stress and fear, I can only endure silently, he said.

He started getting sick in October and doctors told him his immune system was compromised due to massive mental stress, he said in his posts. He later persuaded correctional services authorities to let him travel to Okinawa, Japan, for a holiday to manage his emotions. During the trip, he sought help from organizations and people based overseas. He arrived in Britain from Japan on Wednesday to seek asylum.

This also means I can no longer return to my home, Hong Kong, in foreseeable future, he said. Although I had anticipated the arrival of this day in the past, I had a heavy heart when I made up my mind.

Chung was convenor of the now-dissolved pro-independence student organization Studentlocalism before being arrested in 2020 near the United States Consulate in Hong Kong, where media reports said he was hoping to seek protection.

In a news conference, Leung Kin-ip, Hong Kongs deputy commissioner of the Correctional Services Department, condemned Chung for evading responsibility and publishing comments endangering national security. He said a recall order has been issued for Chung to be brought back to prison to serve his remaining sentence. The department also instructed other enforcement agencies to put him on a wanted list.

Leung said Chung was required to let them know if he left Hong Kong and the duration of his travels but was not restricted from leaving the territory.

This is a breach of trust. He lied to us that he would travel. This is very bad, he said.

In response to questions about Chung being blocked from taking up the summer job, Leung said officers were allowed to impose restrictions if they deemed a person might repeat his crime as the department focused on rehabilitation needs. He insisted the department suggested other part-time jobs to Chung and that his department didnt violate the right to freedom of speech.

In an email response to questions from The Associated Press, Hong Kong police strongly condemned the breach of supervision orders or bail conditions by individuals who have fled the city.

Not only have they failed to reflect on the harms they have caused to Hong Kong and members of the public, but they have also shamefully begged for assistance from foreign anti-China forces under the guise of being victims, the police said.

They did not confirm Chungs claims that they had offered to pay him informant fees but said the national security department has been effectively collecting intelligence through various channels and individuals.

The citys security apparatus has been trying to find information about several dissidents. Hong Kong police offered rewards for data leading to the arrests of 13 overseas-based activities and drew criticism from Western governments.

Earlier in December, prominent pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, who left Hong Kong for Canada and doesnt plan to return to fulfill her bail conditions, reported similar pressure from authorities. Her passport, confiscated earlier by police, was only returned to her upon meeting certain conditions, including a visit to mainland China with authorities, she said.

In an email reply to the AP, Hong Kong police said Chow failed to show up at a police station on Thursday as required and violated her bail terms. The reply said the police would spare no effort in bringing her to justice. Local media, including the South China Morning Post, quoted unnamed sources saying that Chows parents went to a police station to assist in their investigation Friday.

Now in Britain, Chung said he would devote himself to his city as a Hong Konger in exile.

I believe only when Hong Kong people dont give up, the seeds of freedom and democracy will sprout again one day, he said.

By KANIS LEUNG

Associated Press
Nigerian student Mary was able to complete her medical exams in Poland

It's been almost two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, turning millions of lives upside down overnight.

Among those affected were foreign students who were forced to flee the country, abandoning their degrees and dreams.

Mary, a Nigerian medical student, was one of them.

Before the war broke out Ukraine was a popular choice for international medical students, and in 2020 it was home to 80,000 foreign students, with nearly a quarter of them from Africa.

Mary, 23, was studying for her final semester in Sumy, a north-eastern city hit by intense fighting.

Finding herself trapped in Ukraine at the time, Mary previously told the If You Don't Know (IYDK) podcast: "We just need support, emotional support, mental support. We need financial support."

She was eventually able to escape to Poland but was told by her Ukrainian university that she would not be able to receive her diploma and graduate.

Like others, she was told her Krok 2 exam, a compulsory final test for medical students, must be completed in the country.

Some felt they had no option but to return after finding it impossible to complete their studies abroad, but Mary didn't want to get trapped again - or worse.

"You could go in and you might not be able to come out," she said.

But fast-forward to today and things are looking more positive.

Listen to If You Don't Know on BBC Sounds

Listen to If You Don't Know's final episode to hear Mary's interview and some of the best moments from the podcast.

The logo of the If You Don't Know Podcast. It shows presenter, De-Graft Mensah, inside a large green circle, with a smaller red circle behind his head. De-Graft is a black man, who's smiling, wearing glasses and a green shirt jacket. In front of him, the podcast's title appears in white block capitals.

Earlier this year, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health changed its rules so domestic and foreign students outside the country could take their Kroks at "their place of stay or residence."

For Mary, that meant having the opportunity to finish her degree safely.

Mary said: "We were able to make arrangements to have the exam written in multiple countries all over the world.

"There were centres in Poland, Hungary, Germany, and Nigeria. You name it. So I was able to write my exam in Poland."

Story continues

The ministry told IYDK that students took the exam in 66 countries in 2023 and next year candidates would have the opportunity to continue sitting exams outside Ukraine.

Posts on social media show students in England, Ireland and India were among them.

Mary hopes to study a master's degree in the UK

Reflecting on her final exam, Mary revealed: "It was difficult, I'm not going to lie.

"The first time I did not pass it, but the second time around I did make it."

Mary has now graduated with her diploma and is looking forward to a career in medicine.

"Looking back at it, I feel excited about the fact that I've been able to get through with medical school and can plan my life for the future," she said.

Mary has returned to Nigeria but plans to continue her studies with a master's degree in the UK.

"Medicine is full of very interesting aspects and specialities, but honestly I would like to be a gynaecologist or an obstetrician, so for specifically women," she said.

"The past two years have been difficult, but I'm just very grateful that I've been able to get through it with my family and my friends and we're all doing good."

Newsbeat logo

Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Zimbabwe faces looming power crisis in 2024 as Kariba Dam water allocation reduced

Zimbabwe is bracing for crippling power cuts in the coming year as the Zimbabwe River Authority (ZRA) has announced a reduced water allocation for power generation at the Kariba Dam.

This decision comes in response to poor rainfall, which has significantly affected water inflows into the dam.

The ZRA has allocated 16 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water between Zambias Zesco Limited and Kariba Hydro Power Company (KHPC) for power generation operations at the Kariba Dam in 2024. This allocation represents a significant reduction from the previous year when water allocation was slashed from 40 to 30 BCM due to reduced water inflows.

Munyaradzi Munodawafa, the CEO of ZRA, explained that the reduced water allocation was based on projections of below-average rainfall in the 2023/24 season. These projections were influenced by the increasing occurrence of El Nino weather conditions, which are expected to negatively impact rainfall across southern Africa.

Using the Kariba Inflow Forecasting System, which incorporates satellite rainfall measurements and numerical weather forecasts, ZRA conducted hydrological simulations. The results indicated a high likelihood of a below-average rainfall season, leading to reduced inflows into Lake Kariba. As a result, the volume of water available for power generation in 2024 is expected to be significantly impacted.

In light of this situation, power utilities have been advised to explore alternative sources of power to supplement generation at Kariba and mitigate any potential power deficit that may arise due to the lower water allocation.

Kariba Dam, a major man-made reservoir shared equally by Zimbabwe and Zambia, spans the Zambezi River. The hydroelectric power plant at Kariba, constructed by Italian contractors in the 1950s with an expansion project completed by Chinese contractor SinoHydro Corporation in 2018, has a capacity to generate 1,050 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

As of now, the countrys total electricity generation stands at 1,577 MW, with Kariba accounting for 925 MW of that capacity.

The impending power crisis raises concerns about the availability and reliability of electricity supply throughout Zimbabwe in the coming year. With reduced water allocation at Kariba Dam, the country will be heavily reliant on alternative power sources to meet the growing energy demands.

Efforts to diversify the energy mix and invest in renewable energy infrastructure may become more crucial than ever to ensure a stable and sustainable power supply for Zimbabweans. The government and relevant stakeholders must work together to address this pressing issue and explore viable solutions to mitigate the impact of the reduced water allocation at Kariba Dam.

Breaking News via Email
Police have released the names of four of the five people who died on Wednesday morning when a Blue Horizon bus, haulage truck and Mercedes Benz collided along the Harare-Mutare road.

The bus, which was travelling towards Marondera collided with a haulage truck and a Mercedes Benz going the opposite direction.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said four of the five victims have since been identified by their next of kin.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police releases the names of four of the five victims who were identified by their next of kin, he said.

The victims are Kunaishe Madyira (7) a female juvenile of Glendale, Mazowe, Dudzai Teta (49), a male adult of Hama street, Dzivarasekwa Harare, Sandukai Kamuriwo (50), a male adult of Dzivarasekwa 3 Harare and Rudo Chinyakobvu (60), a female adult of Chitoro street, Budiriro2, Harare. The other victim, a male adult is yet to be identified by the next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Government has granted state-assisted burial to the victims.

Breaking News via Email
Yves here. Neither shipping nor the Houthi campaign against ships going to and from Israel are taking a break over the holiday.

By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears

Since the start of Israels genocide of Gaza, it has been the claim of the Israelis, their lawyers, and allies that there are no innocent civilians in Gaza, so they say that killing them all is neither a genocide nor a war crime.

Israels President Isaac Herzog said it in India in October. US Congressman Brian Mast said it, following the Israeli lead. The US Navy analyst who spied for Israel and served half a life in US prison for his treason has declared it in print. A French-Israeli lawyer has argued the legality on French television.

The reply the Arab militaries fighting against Israel have made is that there is no innocent oil tanker or container ship moving within missile or drone range of Israel, the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean unless it can prove it. This answer by the Ansar Allah government of Yemen, aka the Houthi military, is that they will attack any vessel which they know to be owned or controlled by Israel through its shipping families, companies, and their cutouts.

As a result, Houthi drone and missile attacks have exposed the elaborate scheme of corporate camouflage and false-flagging which Israel has been employing to conceal the vessel identities and movement of its international shipping operations. The Anglo-American maritime industry media, privy to these secrets, have not published them. The mainstream western press remains in the dark.

In todays Gorillla Radio podcast, this isnt dark any longer. Not genocide in Gaza but money in shipowner pockets is blowing the gaff.

There is much more at stake. The effectiveness of the Houthi ship targeting campaign has so threatened the movement of vital cargoes into and out of Europe that shipping, port, and military officials in France, Italy, Spain, and Greece are now trying to avert a commercial disaster for themselves by arranging secret safe-passage deals with Yemen and Iran in exchange for which they are applying a blockade on Israels cargoes, vessels and ports.

This is the secret which is torpedoing the Pentagons multinational Red Sea naval escort plan, called OPERATION PROSPERITY GUARDIAN. As the secrecy of Israeli shipping companies spills out, along with the secret dealmaking of the international shipowners with the Houthis, American shipowners are already complaining bitterly at being cut out of the profits. If the main beneficiary of the operation, editorializesgCaptain of California, a leading US maritime platform, is one of the largest shipping corporations in the world [Denmarks Maersk], then there is a question of whose prosperity is Operation Prosperity Guardian truly guarding?

Just how accurate is Houthi targeting of concealed Israeli shipping connections?

In the podcast I stumbled over the name of the MSC United VIII. According to its owner Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC confirms that on 26 December 2023 the container ship MSC UNITED VIII was attacked while transiting the Red Sea. The vessel informed a nearby coalition task force warship of the attack and as instructed engaged in evasive maneuvers. The incident occurred on 26 December 2023 at approximately 12:25 UTC while the MSC vessel was enroute from King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia to Karachi, Pakistan. Currently, all crew are safe with no reported injuries and a thorough assessment of the vessel is being conducted. Our first priority remains protecting the lives and safety of our seafarers, and until their safety can be ensured MSC will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez transit via the Cape of Good Hope.

In its concern for the lives and safety of our seafarers, MSC omitted to explain why the company management had decided to expose the vessel, the mariners, and the cargo by running the Red Sea gauntlet on behalf of the Israeli shipowners, Eyal and Idan Ofer; they are behind the vessels operation, and that was the reason for the Houthi attack. Heres the full story. Theres more  MSC appears to be owned by an Italian family, the Apontes, who established the shipping line in Switzerland in 1970. In fact, Gianluigi Aponte, the MSC founder, is married to Rafaela Diamant, and she controls half the shares of the company. Diamant is Jewish and comes from Haifa. The Houthis know this; maritime reporters dont.

Left, the container ship MSC United VIII; right, Rafaela Diamant Aponte.

A similar story of concealed Israeli control and media blackout can be told about the Maersk container vessel, the Maersk Gibraltar. This ship was attacked in the Red Sea between December 12 and 14. In the maritime media, it was reported to be Chinese-owned and operated by Maersk. According to the pro-Israel, pro-US Navy source gCaptain, Maersk Gibraltar is not a remarkable containership for 2023. She pales at 10,100 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) compared to the ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) of nearly 24,000 TEUs. Built in 2016 at Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding, the ship is Hong Kong-flagged, owned by Greater China Intermodal Investments, and operated by Maersk Lines of Denmark. On December 15, 2023, the ship was sailing northbound in the Bab el-Mandeb and entering the Red Sea on a voyage from Salalah, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia when she was the target of attack by the Houthi in YemenBetween December 12 and 14, two further ships were attacked, along with Maersk Gibraltar, even though Maersk Gibraltar was not Israel-owned or traveling to or from Israel.

The Maersk Gibraltar. Source: https://www.marinetraffic.com

After it was diverted from the Red Sea, the vessel sailed south down the east African coast. It is now under way off the west coast of South Africa heading north. Here is the Reuters cover-up version of the Houthi strike; read more here.

This was calculated deceit.

The Maersk Gibraltar is operated by the Danish Maersk shipping line for the owner listed as Greater China Intermodal Investments (GCI); that entity is listed in Hong Kong and appears to be Chinese. However, in 2018 GCI was acquired by the US corporation, Seaspan, listed on the New York Stock Exchange and controlled by David Sokol, a notorious American business figure.

What the shipping record reveals is that Seaspan had contracted with the Israeli ZIM shipping company, owned by the Ofer brothers, to build new container vessels and then operate them on long-term charter. ZIM has said publicly it intends to expand this partnership with Seaspan. Eli Glickman, ZIMs chief executive, has acknowledged that with a new fleet order, we are securing ZIMs core fleet needed to serve our operations and meet our customers growing needs while continuing to maintain our operational agility. Furthermore, this transaction demonstrates our deep commitment to the environment and to reducing our carbon footprint.

The Houthis have been following closely. They also appear to have known that in March of this year Sokol arranged to sell out of Seaspan to the Japanese container shipping company, Ocean Network Express (ONE). That company has made no secret of running several schemes it is calling Israel shuttle services. These conceal the movement of Israeli cargoes and portcalls to Arab ports, such as Damietta in Egypt, and to ports in the Adriatic. These are details which are no secret to the Houthis. They are being kept secret by Israels supporters in the western media.

For the big picture, explaining the reason for the secrecy and cover-up and counting whats at stake now that the gaff has been blown, listen to todays podcast as Chris Cook leads the discussion.

Source: https://gradio.substack.com/

Subscribe to Gorilla Radio on Substack here:

Click: https://gradio.substack.com/

Following the broadcast discussion of the Russian naval deployment map of December 26, fresh news has been published to suggest that at least one of the Israeli Navys squadron of three German-built Saar corvettes may have broken out of its Eilat base. According to this report, one of these vessels is now at a United Arab Emirates (UAE) base on one of the Socotra archipelago islands east of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden .

Press reporting of this intention on Israels part isnt new. A London think tank reported in mid-2023 that the Israeli Navy and the UAE are partnering to establish a base on Socotra and are reportedly building a military base on the nearby Abdul Kori island. The source for the claim was cited as The Middle East Monitor, an Arab source reportedly financed by Qatar and supporting Hamas. For several years the Arab and Iranian press have been reporting a growing Israeli presence on the Socotra islands, aided by the UAE.

However, the Russian map of naval deployments in the area as of December 26 does not show the Israeli corvette at Socotra. Instead, at the top of the map the Israeli Navy vessels are shown without arrows confirming their deployment, neither at Eilat nor elsewhere.
Thriving Otters in North America Linked to Nuclear Weapons Tests. Heres Why. ScienceAlert. Chuck L: I never knew that the USA had done nuclear testing in the Aleutian Islands.

I looked out my airplane window and was stunned  TikTok helped me solve the mystery New York Post (BC)

Using Early Human Existence To Understand Historical Societies Ian Welsh (Ian W)

Mathematicians found a guaranteed way to win the lottery in 2023 New Scientist (David L)

Gaza, Ukraine, and other conflicts could be accelerating antibiotic resistance/a> STAT (Dr. Kevin)

#COVID-19

Climate/Environment

China?

Japan eyes lethal weapon exports to South-east Asia to boost regional security Straits Times

European Disunion

IMF surcharges or surtaxes: How, in total opacity, the International Monetary Funds is making money at the expense of countries in the most precarious position CADTM (Micael T)

Consistent with the philosophy of his favourite thinker Hayek, Milei aims to impose a shock therapy of liberal market order where democracy is secondary.

He has just introduced a bill that, in practice, aims to close Congress and consolidate the sum of public power.

1/  Karina Patricio (@KPatricio_) December 27, 2023

Gaza

New Not-So-Cold War

Lavrov Warned Armenia Against Ceding Its National Security To NATO Andrew Korybko

A new Sputnik feature article worth reading on the attempted regime change operation in Belgrade these past several days Gilbert Doctorow

Syraqistan

US base attacked in northeast Syria Almayadeen

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump

Biden

Why Bidenomics is falling flat with voters The Hill

GOP Clown Car

Haleys Civil War remarks stir backlash at crucial moment for campaign The Hill. Lambert covered yesterday in Water Cooler but fallout continues.

Immigration

Our No Longer Free Press

WOW  On The Record Testimony & Evidence That Barack Obama Created An Illegal Psyop Against The American People To Interfere In Future Elections 2 days ago, my colleagues and I published the 1st batch of internal files from the Cyber Threat Intelligence League, which show US pic.twitter.com/1d2WpWcNe8  Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) December 27, 2023

AI

Boeing urges inspections of 737 Max planes for possible loose bolt CNBC (Kevin W)

The Bezzle

Stock market outlook: Why Roaring 20s may be back for investors, economy Business Insider (Kevin W). Do these people realize what they are saying? The 1920s did have a real economy growth impetus, as in electrification and new consumer goods, like radios. But the stock market boom was to a significant degree was the result of stock market leverage on leverage, which as Frank Partnoy described long ago in the Match King as including structures that were just like CDOs.

Class Warfare

Reality Is Submerged in Fantasy: The Villages Is a Boomers UtopiaAnd Demographic Time Bomb Vanity Fair (Dr. Kevin). One, I would need a lobotomy to live in a place like this. Two, separately it seems insane to live there. I see NO mention whatsoever (perhaps I missed it) as to how the residents get care when they need short term rehab or become too feeble or cognitively impaired to care for themselves.

Antidote du jour. mgl:

This is a red-crowned parrot (aka kakariki) as seen at an enclosure at Pukaha/Mt Bruce National Wildlife Center (Masterton, Wairarapapa, New Zealand) in 2017, clearly eating kiwifruit. Theyre so cute!

And a bonus (guurst):

No need to do dna test pic.twitter.com/lQz3L6eUcQ  Why you should have a cat (@ShouldHaveCat) December 25, 2023

A different sort of bonus (Chuck L):

This is the incredible moment Lucy, a 13-year-old who is blind and neurodiverse, played a highly-complex Chopin piece, leaving @MikaSounds and @Lang_Lang speechless. The Piano, presented by @ClaudiaWinkle, starts tonight at 9pm on Channel 4. Stream Free on All 4. #ThePiano pic.twitter.com/09YFNM2tOh  Channel 4 (@Channel4) February 15, 2023

Yet another different sort of bonus (Chuck L):

As holiday cheer rumbles across the world, Russias interference in US election project is entering the final stage  our super new software update is ready to be installed into the object (aka President Biden). 3, 2, 1 pic.twitter.com/AjJpzwmDED  RT (@RT_com) December 26, 2023

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Even the mainstream media is starting to admit that the world is teetering on the brink of complete and utter chaos

A perfect storm is raging all around us, and our world is so close to plunging into a complete and utter state of chaos that even the mainstream media is talking about it. The past several years have been a time when multiple major wars have begun, pestilences have paralyzed the entire planet, the worst global food crisis in modern history has erupted , and we have been hit by a seemingly endless series of natural disasters. But there is a growing consensus that even more difficult times are ahead of us. During a roundtable discussion on Face the Nation on Sunday, CBS News correspondent Catherine Herridge actually confessed that she is concerned that 2024 may be the year of a black swan event

(Article republished from TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com)

CBS News Face the Nation held a roundtable on Christmas Eve, affording various talking heads an opportunity to make predictions for 2024. While most of the predictions were relatively banal, one among them stood out, prompting critics to puzzle over its possible significance. Network correspondent Catherine Herridge, the wife of a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, suggested that 2024 may be the year of a black swan event. This is a national security event with high impact thats very hard to predict.

I agree with her, but I dont think that it will be just one black swan event that we will be facing.

Specifically, Herridge gave several reasons for why she felt the need to issue such a dark prediction

Herridge told the other CBS News panelists Sunday there were a number of concerns that factored into her dark prediction, including that this sort of enduring heightened threat level that were facing, the wars in Israel, also Ukraine, and were so divided in this country in ways that we havent seen before. And I think that just creates fertile ground for our adversaries like North Korea and China and Iran.

Hmmm

It seems like I have heard all of this somewhere before.

I just cant seem to put my finger on it

Of course she is right on target.

So much is going to happen during the new year that is about to start.

CNN is getting in on the act too. The following comes from an article that they just posted entitled How 2023 has been the year of the brink and 2024 could be worse

It could have been immeasurably worse. But holding back from the brink in 2023 has simply deferred vast crises to 2024. The post-Covid world is exhausted, cash-strapped, but ultimately more fraught than for decades. Overshadowing it all will be a flagging hyperpower, at best distracted with presidential elections, at worst tearing itself apart in voting disputes and political extremism. The likelihood the United States will be occupied by its own traumas amplifies each risk. The geopolitical given of a US response will be absent, fuelling authoritarian ambition, or a radical upending of the global order. 2024 could make 2023 seem rational and sober.

Very well said.

When CNN starts publishing articles that sound like they could have been written by me, that is clearly a sign that time is very short.

Just like Herridge, the author of the CNN article is also deeply concerned about the current state of the conflict in Ukraine

Having spent two weeks around the frontlines, it is clear Kyiv faces an existential crisis in the coming winter. It will not survive without Western help. It cannot admit to the scale of challenges it faces without being dubbed by some US Republicans a loser, unworthy of US funding.

It is true.

Ukraine will not survive without western assistance.

And even if funding is restored to previous levels, the Russians will continue to gain ground.

At some point the government in Ukraine is going to become extremely desperate, and that is when things will start to get very interesting over there.

Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East just continues to heat up.

On Tuesday, the U.S. military conducted a series of strikes on Iranian-backed forces in Iraq

At President Joe Bidens direction, the U.S. military carried out the strikes in Iraq at 1:45 GMT, likely killing a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants and destroying multiple facilities used by the group, the U.S. military said. 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, head of U.S. Central Command, in a statement. A U.S. base in Iraqs Erbil that houses U.S. forces came under attack from a one-way drone earlier on Monday, leading to the latest U.S. casualties.

Iranian-backed forces have already attacked U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria more than 100 times.

Whether the Biden administration is willing to publicly admit it or not, the truth is that the U.S. is already at war in the Middle East.

Could we soon be at war with China as well?

Chinese President Xi Jinping just issued quite an ominous statement about Taiwan

President Xi Jinping vowed on Tuesday to resolutely prevent anyone from splitting Taiwan from China in any way, the official Xinhua news agency reported, a little more than two weeks before Taiwan elects a new leader. China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei, and has ramped up military and political pressure to assert its sovereignty claims.

The Chinese will not invade before the upcoming election in Taiwan.

And I dont think that the Chinese will invade during the early months of 2024.

But an invasion is most definitely coming.

For years, I have been urging my readers to watch Russia, China and Israel.

Now a time of global conflict is upon us, and many believe that 2024 will be the year when we finally pass the point of no return.

Read more at: TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com
Green cult destroying farmland to reduce population  thats what going carbon zero actually means

The climate cult has set its sights on arable farmland and the food supply at large, which they claim is overheating the planet because there are simply too many people eating.

We know they hate earth-based "fossil" fuels like oil and natural gas, which is why they want to remove these fuels from the global economy. In their place, the "greenies" want so-called "renewable" energy technologies like wind and solar to fulfill the world's energy needs.

However, in order to generate a comparable amount of energy, there has to be a lot of windmills and solar panels installed pretty much everywhere. Wind and solar require a lot of land, in other words, which means a whole lot less land available for agriculture.

In his past work, Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) warned that one day the world's population would exceed humanity's ability to grow enough food to sustain everyone. What Malthus did not know is that the green energy revolution would make it happen a whole lot sooner than it otherwise would have.

"Wind generators or solar panels consume one-third of the farmland worldwide," writes Martin Armstrong for Armstrong Economic. "This is what has inspired this thinking that we MUST reduce the population. War is a great tool for that, which is one reason they are pushing World War."

"They insist that industrial agriculture, which is employed by the majority of the developed world, is creating climate change. The U.S. food system contributes nearly 20 percent of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that agricultural land use contributes 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Then, they add the embodied energy required for industrial agriculture, and they claim this gets worse."

(Related: Another component of the global depopulation machine is COVID jabs, which were created as part of a long-planned global genocide operation designed to massively depopulate the planet.)

Billionaire John Kerry flies around on a private jet lecturing peasants about his climate dogmas

Another problem the greenies want to "fix" is to eliminate all production of industrial agriculture inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers, as well as fuel and oil for tractors, equipment, trucking and shipping.

Then, there is all the lighting that requires energy, as well as cooling and heating products for other agriculture equipment. All of this releases that dreaded carbon dioxide (CO2) that the greenies are always complaining about, as well as methane, nitrous oxide and all sorts of other "greenhouses gases."

According to climate lunatic John Kerry, agricultural systems as we currently know them to exist generate up to 30 percent of the world's greenhouse gases. He and the rest of the climate cult thus want to eliminate it to save the world from global warming.

"In other words, they want to reduce agriculture, shipping, refrigeration, air conditions, and turn off heat in the winter, and reduce the population by 30-40 percent, and maybe they would be satisfied," Armstrong says.

Despite the fact that there is zero evidence to support any of these bizarre climate claims  and plenty of evidence to show that climate cycles have been occurring since the beginning of time  the climate cult is hellbent on imposing its will on the world.

"Climate has always changed," Armstrong notes. "The temperatures have NOT exceeded historical norms. The data from NYC shows that we have NOT exceeded the highs of 1932 and the days of the Dust Bowl. The mainstream media only repeats what they are told and NEVER does any mainstream media dare to investigate anything."

At the recent COP28 climate meeting in Dubai, Kerry spoke about how he feels as though major oil-exporting countries need to believe as he does that the era of fossil fuels must "urgently" come to an end.

Learn more about what "carbon zero" means for you and your family at GreenTyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

ArmstrongEconomics.com

NaturalNews.com

NYTimes.com
Moscow wins again as Houthi rebels attack Western vessels, while Russian oil tankers freely navigate

According to finance analysts, it has been becoming Russian President Vladimir Putin's advantage that Houthi militants are attacking Western vessels along the Red Sea Route. A financial blogger, Swiss journalist and political commentator who goes by the name Russian Market (RM) on X pointed out that the recent provocations aimed primarily at Western vessels have the potential to reshape the dynamics of global trade

He said that the route through the Red Sea is a pivotal conduit for international commerce is now a contested arena as the Yemeni rebel group has been pursuing all Israel-bound vessels due to hostilities in Gaza. The Houthis declared their support for Hamas and said they would target any ship traveling to Israel. In November they seized what they said was an Israeli cargo ship and they since have attacked several commercial vessels with drones and ballistic missiles.

Due to this, major shipping firms including Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and the oil company BP have all said they are diverting vessels away from the Red Sea. Shipments have been rerouted around the southern tip of Africa, which, he said, poses substantial challenges. "Not only is this alternative longer and more expensive, but it also threatens to disrupt the finely tuned supply chains that European industries depend on," RM discussed in an article on RT. (Related: Major shipping giants HALT Red Sea route following Houthi attacks on shipping vessels.)

Meanwhile, many Russian oil tankers continue navigating the waters to deliver oil shipments to Asia. "If substantiated, this selective targeting highlights the geopolitical intricacies in play, positioning maritime trade as a pawn in broader geopolitical maneuvers," he said. The blogger also highlighted that as Europe actively seeks alternatives to Russian oil, Moscow pivots to increase oil exports to Asia, resulting in a staggering 140 percent surge in Red Sea oil traffic, underscoring its adaptability in the face of changing dynamics. The said route is historically a key route for Western shipping and Russia's ability to navigate and capitalize on the geopolitical landscape, coupled with the targeted nature of Houthi attacks, suggests a reordering of influence. "The West finds itself losing its grip on a critical trade route as Russia strengthens its foothold," RM added.

He further observed that Russia has reconfigured its oil shipments through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to China, circumventing sanctions and capitalizing on the potential for time and fuel savings. The NSR, stretching 3,500 miles along Russia's Arctic coast, offers a faster route to China's Rizhao port, which takes a mere 35 days -- 10 days less than the traditional southern route via the Suez Canal. Russia's motivation lies in the considerable advantages of reduced time and fuel costs, presenting an attractive alternative for its oil exports, RM added. Rosatom, overseeing the NSR, highlights that non-ice-class ships can now safely navigate the route during improved conditions in summer and autumn. This strategic shift suggests Russia is exploring using non-ice-class vessels, potentially reshaping conventional shipping practices in the Arctic.

Russia's proactive stance is further evidenced by the expansion of its dark fleet, ensuring the continuity of oil revenues despite sanctions. Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev anticipates a record-breaking year for the NSR, with freight turnover expected to exceed 36 million tons, a ninefold increase since 2015, he said.

U.S. shoots down four drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in southern Red Sea

As per the U.S. Central Command (Centcom), they shot down four drones headed towards a U.S. destroyer in the southern Red Sea and launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Saturday, December 23, when they responded to distress calls from two ships under attack.

"These attacks represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since October 17," Centcom posted on X.

On December 23 two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea from Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. No ships reported being impacted by the ballistic missiles. Between 3 and 8 p.m. (Sanaa time), the USS LABOON (DDG pic.twitter.com/jcBisbXBaS  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 24, 2023

A Norwegian-flagged, owned and operated chemical and oil tanker reported a near miss of a Houthi drone attack, and a Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker reported being hit by a one-way attack, the post said. Two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles were also "fired into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," it said. "No ships reported being impacted by the ballistic missiles."

Meanwhile, a Japanese-owned chemical tanker got struck Saturday off the coast of India. It was targeted by a drone "fired from Iran," the U.S. Department of Defense said. Saturday's attack took place at about 10:00 a.m. local time and caused no casualties aboard the vessel, it said, adding that a fire was extinguished. The U.S. military "remains in communication with the vessel as it continues toward a destination in India," it added.

Visit WWIII.news to get updates on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

BBC.com

TheGuardian.com
Trump lauds Michigan Supreme Court ruling that keeps him on the states primary ballot

Former President Donald Trump lauded the Michigan Supreme Court's (MSC) decision to reject an appeal that would take him off the state's primary ballot over alleged violations of the Fourteenth Amendment.

"The MSC has strongly and rightfully denied the desperate Democratic attempt to take the leading [Republican] candidate in the 2024 presidential election, me, off the ballot in the great state of Michigan," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "This pathetic gambit to rig the election has failed all across the country, including in states that have historically leaned heavily toward the Democrats."

On Dec. 27, MSC Associate Justice Elizabeth Welch rejected an appeal lodged by the watchdog group Free Speech For People (FSFP) on behalf of a group of Michigan voters. FSFP argued in its lawsuit that Trump should be removed from the state's ballot over his alleged role in the false-flag Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Welch's decision upheld a Michigan Court of Appeals (MCA) ruling earlier in December that threw out a similar appeal FSFP filed.

"Who to place on the primary ballot is determined by the political parties and the individual candidates," the MCA ruled on Dec. 15. "It would be improper to decide whether to grant a declaration that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president  at this time."

"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. Thus, with respect to the presidential primary election  there is no actual controversy as the only purported basis for removing Trump from the presidential primary ballot would not be a sufficient basis for removal of [his] name from [the latter]."

Trump: Colorado the only state that "fell prey to the scheme"

Welch's Dec. 27 ruling compared the MSC to the Colorado Supreme Court (CSC). She wrote that FSFP has "identified no analogous provision in the Michigan Election Law that requires someone seeking the [presidency]  attest to their legal qualification to hold the office."

The magistrate referenced the CSC's earlier ruling to remove Trump from the state's primary ballot. According to the Colorado high court, Trump allegedly violated Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment that prohibits a person from taking office again if they participated in insurrection. However, reports have revealed that Trump was actually dissuading people from violence; federal agents planted among the J6 rioters goaded the legitimate protesters into breaking into the Capitol.

"Colorado is the only state to have fallen prey to the scheme," the former president lamented. "That 4-3 CSC decision, which they themselves stayed  thus keeping me on the ballot as we go up to the U.S. Supreme Court  is being ridiculed and mocked all over the world." (Related: Bukele says, thanks to Colorado banning Trump, the US lost its ability to lecture anyone about democracy)

The real estate mogul-turned-chief executive ultimately warned Americans that the stolen 2020 elections that put incumbent President Joe Biden in the White House could happen once more.

"We have to prevent the 2024 [presidential] election from being rigged and stolen like they stole 2020," Trump wrote. "Just look at the complete mess we have as a result [of] Crooked Joe Biden violently destroying everything in his sight, from our once-great economy to our once-fair justice system. We have to save our country from decline and the radical left; Make America Great Again."

Head over to Trump.news for more stories about his battle to keep his name on the ballot.

Watch this Real America's Voice news segment about Trump staying on the ballot in Michigan.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden administration DIRECTLY LINKED to Colorado banning Trump from the ballot.

Supreme Court expected to reverse Colorado's Trump ballot ban, side with Justice Samour's dissent.

Colorado GOP finds a clever way to keep Trump on the ballot after the Supreme Court removed him

Colorado trial tackling Trumps possible DISQUALIFICATION in 2024 election under the 14th Amendment.

Legal scholar Jonathan Turley blasts Colorado Supreme Court decision to remove Trump from Republican primary ballot.

Sources include:

ThePostMillennial.com 1

ThePostMillennial.com 2

Brighteon.com
Former NATO officer reveals Ukraines military manpower is in tatters, losing 800 soldiers per day

A prominent military analyst and former staff member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has disclosed that around 800 Ukrainian troops are being killed and wounded every day while Kyiv is fighting Russia.

Retired Col. Ralph D. Thiele of the German Air Force, who used to serve on the personal staff of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, put forward this claim in an opinion piece for Focus magazine. He argued that Kyiv needs to recruit more than 20,000 soldiers every month to replace its dead and injured. However, Thiele did not reveal his sources or basis for his calculations.

According to him, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's troops badly need additional personnel to be able to replenish its "workforce" on the frontline, so that "exhausted soldiers" may recover. The military expert who now heads the Political-Military Society, EuroDefense (Germany) and StratByrd Consulting think tanks also stated that the "highly motivated defense" and subsequent counteroffensive  which he described as "a thing of the past"  came at a "high price" for Ukraine as both manpower and hardware are "significantly worn out." He added that Western weapons systems are not miracle weapons and of course, they are wearing out.

Thiele also pointed out that the situation had turned into a conflict "of attrition backed by artillery" and that ammunition supplies were better organized in the Russian army. He cited NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's remark that Ukraine fired 4,000 to 7,000 artillery shells in a day, while Russia fired some 20,000 per day. These have also eaten away at the morale of the Ukrainian troops, who "will have to save ammunition in a war of attrition and endure slaughter at the front without rest and a greater sense of achievement," he stressed.

"Step by step, Russia's superiority in the conflict with Ukraine is becoming more visible," the analyst acknowledged. Moscow's strategy of attrition is effective in terms of personnel, material, ammunition and morale, he said.

In an interview with the U.K. publication Economist back in November, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny said that the conflict was at a stalemate and Ukrainian forces were unable to achieve a breakthrough on the frontline. A trench warfare-heavy conflict of attrition could drag on for years, he also said. Also, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, Kyiv lost more than 125,000 troops and over 16,000 pieces of equipment in six months. Russia has repeatedly emphasized that Kyiv's offensive has failed, as Ukraine achieved no significant results. In recent weeks, the West and Kyiv have repeatedly said that the "counteroffensive" was not successful enough.

Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that they are confident that their troops have the initiative. "In essence, we are doing what we consider necessary, what we want. Wherever commanders decide active defense is best, it takes place. And where it is needed, we improve our positions," Putin claimed.

Zelensky: Biden will not betray us

Some analysts have observed that Zelensky has been falling back on his tried-and-tested tactic of invoking a moral obligation of his allies to help his country as he appeared to take a veiled stab at Washington. He seemed to have returned frustrated from a visit to the U.S. last week with no solid guarantees of more aid. U.S. President Joe Biden, one of Zelensky's closest allies, has already asked for $61 billion in additional aid for Ukraine  but Congress has not yet approved it.

"I am sure that the U.S. will not betray us ,and that what we agreed with [Washington] will be fully implemented," Zelensky told reporters.

According to Mark Galeotti of the Russia-focused consultancy Mayak Intelligence, Zelensky invoking the word "betrayal" is part of the "moral blackmail" strategy that has worked well for him for the last two years. He warned, however, that this strategy can only go so far and is starting to wear thin in the West.

"I think it reflects the fact that not only was he disappointed by the outcome of his trip to the U.S., but it also left him looking weaker at home," Galeotti said. "He is meant to be the miracle worker, who goes and suddenly can unblock these kinds of problems."

The Ukrainian leader is under this pressure as he has arrived at a very different point in the war this time compared to last year. In 2022, Zelensky received a standing ovation in Congress and promises of billions in aid to help fight Putin's invading army. The Russian president, meanwhile, appeared to shun the spotlight as his army lost ground as he fended off challenges from within his ranks. But now, the roles seemed to have reversed as Putin seemed confident and victorious at a Defense Ministry briefing, while Zelensky looked beleaguered at a year-end news conference. The Russian leader sounded buoyant as he touted Russia's war effort at the briefing, surrounded by his top military brass.

Putin's display of confidence is hardly surprising, Galeotti noted. "He is in a stronger position now than he has been at any point since the invasion, so he has some reason to crow." (Related: EXPERTS: Putin wants to keep Ukraine out of NATO, not conquer it.)

Head over to UkraineWitness.com for more news on the current situation in Ukraine.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Tass.com

News.Yahoo.com
Washington Post investigation found no evidence that Hamas tunnels link to Al-Shifa Hospital

A Washington Post investigation found that Israel lied about Hamas tunnels connecting to al-Shifa Hospital to justify their attack on the medical facility.

The news outlet's analysis of open-source visuals, satellite imagery and all of the publicly released Israel Defense Forces (IDF) materials found that the rooms in the hospital allegedly connected to the tunnel network discovered by IDF troops showed no immediate evidence of military use by Hamas. Moreover, none of the five hospital buildings identified by IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari appeared to be connected to the tunnel network and there is no evidence that the tunnels could be accessed from inside hospital wards.

As per the Post's article titled "The case of al-Shifa: Investigating the assault on Gazas largest hospital," weeks before Israel sent troops into al-Shifa Hospital, claims were made that five hospital buildings were directly involved in Hamas activities, sitting atop underground tunnels that were used by militants to direct rocket attacks and command fighters. According to Hagari's Oct. 27 briefing, assertions were backed by "concrete evidence." After the attack on Nov. 15 of the hospital, IDF released photographs and videos that served as "proof" that "terrorists" came to the hospitals to command their operations. A video published Nov. 22 even featured military men walking the viewers through an underground tunnel reportedly beneath al-Shifa.

"The IDF has published extensive, irrefutable evidence that points to the abuse of the Shifa hospital complex by Hamas for terrorism purposes, and underground terrorism activity," an IDF spokesperson told the Post. However, analysts pointed out how the said "evidence" fell short of proving that Hamas had been using the hospital as a command-and-control center. When asked if more evidence from al-Shifa would be forthcoming, the spokesperson said: "We cannot provide additional information." On Nov. 24, Israel's military announced in a statement that it had destroyed the tunnel on the hospital grounds; its forces withdrew soon after.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration declassified U.S. intelligence assessments that it said bolstered Israel's claims hours before IDF troops entered the complex. American officials have stood firm behind their initial statements. "We are absolutely confident in the intelligence that Hamas was using it as a command and control node," a senior administration official who requested to be anonymous said last week. "Hamas had been holding the hostages in the hospital compound until shortly before Israel went in." (Related: Israel's indiscriminate bombings of Palestinian civilians causing rapid deterioration of West's support, Biden warns.)

"The Wall Street Journal also laundered U.S. intel claims about a Hamas command center at Al-Shifa," Aaron Mate reported on X. "They claimed to have independently 'intercepted communications' of Hamas members. This is a tried and tested U.S.-Israeli tactic in selling pro-war lies, also used for Iraq WMDs and chemical weapons allegations against the Syrian government."

The Wall Street Journal also laundered US intel claims about a Hamas command center at Al-Shifa. They claimed to have independently "intercepted communications" of Hamas members. This is a tried and tested US-Israeli tactic in selling pro-war lies, used also for Iraq WMDs and pic.twitter.com/WKkosMuAiW  Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) December 21, 2023

Israel claims to destroy Hamas' underground tunnel system via a massive explosion

In another video released by IDF published by the Daily Mail, a large explosion in the 'Elite Quarter' of Gaza City can be seen. The military forces claimed that the blast was able to destroy a massive network of strategic underground tunnels operated by Hamas.

According to them, this had "exposed the terrorist infrastructure" under the city, revealing "bureaus belonging to Hamas' senior military and political leadership." "The network of tunnels was destroyed in a controlled manner," the IDF said in a statement shared on Telegram with the footage. IDF also alleged that the enclave is built upon extensive networks of tunnels used by Hamas and that Gaza's de facto government is using human shields. Hamas denied the accusation.

Meanwhile, the military ordered tens of thousands of residents to leave their homes in Burej, an urban refugee camp, and surrounding communities, also in the south.

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 20,000, according to health officials, the latest indication of the staggering cost of the war as Israel expanded its ground offensive and ordered tens of thousands more people to leave their homes. Some 85 percent of the 2.3 million population has now been displaced by Israel's bombing campaign, with civilians ordered in October to evacuate the north and head south before being told to evacuate the south. But despite the calls for a ceasefire, Israel has indicated it plans to further expand its ground offensive.

Check out WWIII.news to read more about the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Sources for this article include:

InformationLiberation.com

WashingtonPost.com

WSJ.com

DailyMail.co.uk
Report: 76 Christian universities promoting ABORTION and Planned Parenthood

Seventy-six Christian universities were found to be supporting abortion and entities promoting it, Planned Parenthood (PP) foremost among them.

The Mary Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement (IPLA), under the Virginia-based Students for Life of America (SFLA), disclosed this finding in a December 2023 report. It scrutinized 767 colleges and universities affiliated with Christian churches in the U.S. in 2023 and found that 696 institutions stood by their pro-life stance espoused by Christianity.

The 76 institutions, however, were included in the IPLA's "Naughty List." According to the IPLA, these universities displayed "varying degrees of support for abortion or abortion vendors like Planned Parenthood, [which can be] easily found on their websites." This amounted to one in 10 Christian schools having links with PP and the abortion industry.

"PP remains the nation's largest abortion vendor. According to the organization's own 2022 annual report, [it] ended the lives of 374,155 pre-born children through abortion violence last year," the IPLA said in a statement. "Considering location data proving PP targets college students with 87 percent of its locations within five miles or less of a college campus, it is no surprise that PP has also crept its way into faith-based schools."

The report also pointed out the "growing number" of Christian school administrations, health centers and university professors "willing to compromise biblical values" through their promotion of PP and other "known abortion vendors" and statements in support of infanticide in the wake of the June 2022 overturn of the Roe v. Wade ruling.

Christian schools have increased support to abortion industry by 10 percent since 2021

According to IPLA, Christian schools have increased their support of PP and the abortion industry by 10 percent since 2021. This led the institute to lament: "With Christian administrators losing sight of the biblical principles that formed the institutions they were hired to safeguard, schools across the nation have misled students, families and donors."

"With the historical reversal of Roe [v. Wade], the subject of abortion was launched into America's public dialogue at levels likely not seen since 1973. Those 'in the middle' were pulled out of their silence, and many forfeited unquestioned abortion support amid hostile environments. Thus, 2022 also became a decision year for Christian schools: To apply or not to apply God's truth on the value of life."

The IPLA shared one example of a school that saw its ranking slide after expressing support for infanticide. The Jesuit-run College of the Holy Cross (CHC) in Massachusetts initially received an A+ grade in 2021 but got a lower B grade two years later.

Following the June 2022 reversal of the Roe v. Wade ruling, the CHC's Women and Gender Studies Department urged people to "condemn" the overturn. This move, according to IPLA, demonstrates the CHC's "commitment to abortion over biblical values." (Related: Pro-abortion activists, college students increasingly accept 'post-birth abortions' of children up to 5 years old.)

"Some schools also reacted to the  decision by hosting events discussing the 'state of reproductive rights' with pro-abortion speakers like PP," the institute added. It cited the West Virginia-based Bethany College (BC), which received an A grade in 2021, as an example. BC's decision to host one such event decreased its score.

However, the SFLA reached out to the institution and recommended that the event be struck off the record so that PP wouldn't be considered a reputable organization. BC complied with the recommendation, with IPLA researchers confirming that the link to the past event is no longer accessible. This propelled the West Virginia-based college back to the list of institutions with an A grade.

The IPLA's report, part of its parent SFLA's Christian Schools Project, seeks to "raise public awareness of Christian schools maintaining relationships with PP or support for abortion  so that these schools can be inspired to realign with their Christian beliefs."

Head over to Abortions.news for similar stories.

Watch Planned Parenthood insiders exposing the organization's twisted infanticide practices in the clip below.

This video is from the RED PILLED channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Abortion-loving college students create "Tribe for Death" group to harass their pro-life peers.

TWISTED: College "doula" training teaches students to support women during ABORTIONS, not childbirth.

WATCH: Aggressive pro-abortion professor vandalizes table at Hunter College, accuses pro-life students of 'violence.'

Teen Vogue magazine now calling for abortion clinics on college campuses; celebrates abortion and encourages youth to pursue them en masse.

Planned Parenthood organization BANNED FROM SCHOOLS in Saskatchewan after conducting a seminar with SEXUALLY EXPLICIT GAMES for Grade 9 students.

Sources include:

LifeNews.com

InstituteforProLifeAdvancement.org

Brighteon.com
Poll: 8 of 10 American voters consider illegal immigration crisis at the southern border as either an emergency or a major problem

A recent Fox News poll found that the illegal immigration crisis in the southern border could be a major factor in the 2024 presidential election.

The poll, conducted under the joint direction of Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research, included interviews with 1,007 registered voters randomly selected from a nationwide voter file. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

According to the poll, conducted from Dec. 10 to 13, the immigration and border security crisis has been rapidly rising to the forefront as the second most crucial issue. The issue gained eight percentage points since August, while voters looking at the situation as an emergency have remained consistent since October. The urgency surrounding the immigration issue is reflected in the increasing support for policies aimed at strengthening the border.

The results showed that 79 percent of voters  roughly eight out of 10  have a serious view of the border crisis. Of this number, 45 percent see it as a major problem while 34 percent see it as a major emergency. Seventy-nine percent of participants also favored an increase in the number of border agents, while a substantial 67 percent of American voters support the deportation of illegal aliens as the border crisis continues to worsen.

Sixty-four percent of respondents support the idea of imposing financial and criminal penalties on businesses for knowingly hiring illegal aliens, while 62 percent favor penalizing enterprises for allowing illegal immigrants with U.S. jobs to stay and apply for legal status. Fifty-eight percent of voters favor the deployment of the U.S. military at the border, while 54 percent favor the construction of a border wall.

However, partisan divides emerge when it comes to specific policy preferences.

For instance, 89 percent of Republicans overwhelmingly support the deportation of illegal immigrants, while Democrats are divided on the issue with 48 percent in favor and 44 percent opposed. Notably, there has been a shift in public opinion over the past several months, with 67 percent now favoring deportation compared to 58 percent in February. (Related: DHS chief Mayorkas plan to solve the Biden migrant crisis is to allow millions more into the country.)

The poll also highlights a notable increase in the importance voters place on immigration and border security, with 19 percent identifying it as the most critical issue facing the country, up from 11 percent in August. This surge is particularly pronounced among Republicans, who have increased their emphasis on the topic by 13 points, and men, with a 10-point rise.

Only 33 percent of voters approve of how President Joe Biden is handling border security, while a significant 63 percent disapprove. This represents a decline from the high of 40 percent approval in May 2021 and a low of 30 percent in November.

Frustrated American voters seek solutions to worsening immigration crisis

American voters are getting frustrated with the support of the political establishment for large-scale immigration, both legal and illegal. The impact of both illegal and legal immigration on blue-collar and white-collar workers has left many in precarious economic situations, diverging significantly from the experiences of previous generations.

The majority of Americans are also unhappy about how their neighborhoods and familiar places have changed due to the demographic shifts caused by mass migration. For them, the country they live in seems like a different place compared to what they and their parents knew.

Still, the political elite seems determined to continue with this social experiment.

As a response, the political group America First movement urged the public to help stop these changes. The group thinks restricting immigration is the key.

Both Democrats and Republicans are criticized for keeping the doors open to mass migration, which is seen as harmful to Middle America. There's a belief that a new political force, like the America First movement, is needed to reverse this troubling social experiment and bring about positive change.

Visit Migrants.news for more stories about the ongoing immigration crisis.

Watch this Newsmax report about illegal aliens refusing to stay NYC shelter.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

TREASON: Biden regime coordinating with Mexican government to secretly facilitate mass illegal migrant INVASION.

NYC Mayor Adams: Illegal immigration under Biden has become a NATIONAL CRISIS.

Bidens DHS chief shutting down Panamanian illegal migrant trail after horrific conditions exposed in Natural News, Brighteon reports.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
Canadian medical schools shift from medical expertise training to anti-racism and social justice brainwashing

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPS) in Canada is pushing for a radical shift in medical school curriculum. Instead of teaching students "medical expertise," the RCPS wants medical school students to learn about "anti-racism" and other "social justice" issues that have nothing to do with providing patient care.

An interim report from the college's Anti-Racism Expert Working Group states that the new emphasis in medical schools across Canada should center around "values such as anti-oppression, anti-racism and social justice, rather than medical expertise."

By "de-centering medical expertise," the RCPS hopes Canadian medical schools will spend a whole lot more time dealing with anti-racism, anti-oppression, "social justice and equity," "inclusive compassion," and "decolonization."

"Anti-racism is deeply rooted in anti-oppression, which analyzes the world through the lens of power, including the historical and ongoing structures of racism, white supremacy, settler colonialism, heteropatriarchy, capitalism, ableism, classism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and more," the report states.

"Anti-racism and antioppression call for action on the manifestations of oppression based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status and more."

(Related: So-called "higher education" is becoming so "woke" that many students are shifting back to taking classes and getting degrees at technical schools that teach valuable skills.)

Modern medicine a woke nightmare

In a separate report, the group Do No Harm highlights the many problems with this proposed new educational approach. Do No Harm stands against the RCPS proposal, just as it stands against similar such efforts at medical schools in the United States.

A Do No Harm investigation found that "the admissions process at 50 of the top-ranked medical schools found that 36 asked applicants their views on, or experience in, DEI efforts" in order to "screen out dissenters." In other words, it is not about a student's medical acumen; it is about admitting only those students who support radical, anti-white DEI curriculum.

The DEI invasion of Western medicine is now so bad that most U.S. medical schools currently have at least some DEI and diversity courses incorporated into their curriculums. Some even offer an alternative Hippocratic oath pledge that centers around social justice and anti-racist action rather than patient care.

It is unknown to what extent the RCPS hopes to change traditional medical school curriculum across Canada. Would the entire curriculum have to change, or does the RCPS simply want a greater focus on anti-white DEI issues?

"With a kid in his first-year of medical school at Georgetown, I am amazed at the overwhelming burden on these students in taking these medical courses," writes American attorney Jonathan Turley.

"The first year curriculum seems an all-consuming effort to cover the basic medical jargon, training and science. I cannot imagine shoe-horning other subjects into that dense coverage or what would be jettisoned to make room for the new emphasis."

In the comments on Turley's website, someone issued a warning to white Canadians that the "new medicine" being proposed by the RCPS "will allow you the privilege of dying to atone for your whiteness." Another noted that the U.S. faces a similar threat of anti-white curriculum being embedded into medical school curriculum.

"The U.S. system of education is working perfectly, just as the communists (liberals, progressives, socialists, democrats, RINOs, AINOs) command," wrote another.

"Sadly, the basic tenet of Primum non nocere (First do no Harm) would cover all their concerns about care of diverse populations in medicine without false narrative of DEI particularly when that narrative takes away from acceptance of bright dedicated students, sacrifices medical knowledge and unnecessarily adds to the stressors of medical students without any intellectual reward," expressed another.

Would you trust a modern doctor who has undergone "woke" brainwashing at "medical school?" Learn more at BadMedicine.news.

Sources for this article include:

JonathanTurley.org

DoNoHarmMedicine.org

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
U.S. naval coalitions efforts to defend Red Sea shipping against Houthi attacks off to rocky start

Yemens rebel Houthis have been carrying out increasingly serious attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea, and the U.S. has set up an enhanced naval protection force in response. Known as Operation Prosperity Guardian, it has attracted support from 20 countries. However, cracks are already forming, and some of the U.S.s closest allies are balking at the terms of the coalition.

The coalition seeks to deal with the attacks that have been launched in the wake of Israels war against Hamas. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder described it to the media, saying: "The forces assigned to Operation Prosperity Guardian will serve as a highway patrol of sorts, patrolling the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to respond to and assist as necessary commercial vessels that are transiting this vital international waterway.

The situation in the region is growing increasingly worse. Energy giant BP has put a temporary halt on oil and gas shipments in the Red Sea due to the uptick in attacks, while shipping giants like Maersk and Evergreen have suspended their shipping operations off the Yemeni coast.

Not all of the nations that are participating in the coalition are willing to publicly acknowledge it. Some of the countries that are said to support it include Greece, Australia, the UK, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, Italy, France, the Seychelles and Bahrain. However, only a fraction of these members have agreed to supply ships and other major assets that can help them carry out their mission; many of them are only going to send limited personnel.

On top of that, Spain, France and Italy have refused to comply with demands by the U.S. that their vessels be subject to U.S. Navy command while they are deployed as part of the operation.

Spain has said it will only agree to an operation led by the EU or NATO, while France has said it plans to participate but wont let its vessels fall under American command. Italy will be deploying its Virginio Fasan frigate to the region, but it will not be there as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian. This leaves the coalition with a worrying lack of capable warships to conduct its mission.

Threats to shipping are broadening their reach

Although setting up these types of operations can be challenging, the resistance from some of the U.S.s closest allies is being seen as a significant setback. The timing couldnt be worse as threats to shipping are beginning to extend beyond the area the coalition intends to protect.

A chemical tanker with ties to Israel carrying a Liberian flag was struck by a drone last week while sailing in the Indian Ocean near the Indian port city of Veraval. The drone ignited a fire when it struck the stern of the ship. Although the crew was not injured, the vessel sustained structural damage and took on water. At 1,200 miles from the shore of Yemen, the incident has served as a warning to the world that the Houthis and their Iranian backers are ramping up their attacks.

White House National Security Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said that Iran is closely involved in the attacks on commercial ships. She stated: We know that Iran was deeply involved in planning the operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. This is consistent with Irans long-term materiel support and encouragement of the Houthis destabilizing actions in the region."

If Iran takes on a greater role in these attacks, it will make it even harder to protect naval traffic, particularly as the areas they attack expand. If Operation Prosperity Guardian is unable to strengthen its defenses, the economic well-being of countries around the world could face a major threat.

Sources for this article include:

TheDrive.com

CBSNews.com
Google and YouTube enhance CENSORSHIP TACTICS ahead of 2024 elections

Google and YouTube have confirmed plans to censor content they deem to be "harmful" in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Google noted that it is already censoring content deemed to be "manipulated media" or "hate and harassment."

"These are two broad, subjective terms that have been used by tech giants to justify mass censorship," journalist Tom Parker wrote in an article for Reclaim the Net.

In August, Google announced partnering with globalist organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), for the development of new censorship tools called "Fact Check Tools" aimed at "improving information quality."

Google's digital censorship tools like Data Commons harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically large language models (LLMS), using algorithms that can control information in the internet before people worldwide can no longer access it. "The goal is to have one point of view," a Naked Truth News article stated.

The tech giant reportedly has started using this to experiment with "building faster and more adaptable" censorship systems that will "allow it to take action even more quickly when new 'threats' emerge."

Reclaim the Net also reported that Google will use its generative AI Bard  seen as a rival to OpenAIs ChatGPT  and its generative AI search results from Search Generative Experience (SGE).

About eight months ago, Redditor "CulturedNiichan" described Google Bard as a "crude moralist censorship based on pre-filtering the prompt with some sort of blacklisted words." The censorship is based on matching keywords and preventing the model from even giving an input.

Big Tech has the power to influence the 2024 presidential election with the use of Google Search and Google News  "subtle (and not so subtle) ways that do not result in the removal of content but could result in 'disfavored narratives' being suppressed and drowned out by these so-called authoritative sources, which are mostly pre-selected legacy media outlets." (Related: Google project is running prebunking experiment on social media.)

Big Tech censorship aims to control flow of information online

Google's censorship initiative is said to be "part of a years-long plan in the UNs Global Digital Compact proposal aimed at controlling the flow of information online, including shutting down narratives not approved by the global body." (Related: Google forges deal with UN, WHO to unleash new global CENSORSHIP tool.)

Meanwhile, YouTube confirmed that it will enforce its existing censorship policies ahead of the 2024 presidential election, including those that apply to election "misinformation" and "harmful conspiracy theories." (Related: YouTube is pulling Sound of Freedom interviews, reviews.)

These policies have resulted in the censorship of tens of thousands of videos and many popular channels that the platform has determined as having content aimed to mislead voters about the time, place, means or eligibility requirements for voting, as well as content that encourages others to interfere with democratic processes.

YouTube also said independent creators are now 14 times less likely to be recommended on election-related content  as the video-sharing website will only boost videos from "authoritative sources." In addition, the platform will demonetize videos that it has determined to contain "demonstratively false claims that could materially undermine trust, discourage voting, including those disputing the validity of voting by mail, etc."

Suspending channels from making money or removing them from the platform is a much bigger issue and one that is now back in the spotlight. The problem a lot of people have, or have had this problem for a long time since theres nothing anyone can do about it  is that YouTube is pretty unclear about where the actual line itself is

Collectively, these announcements signal Google and YouTubes intention of supercharging the mass censorship playbook that was deployed during the 2020 presidential election.

Read more stories about Big Tech censorship at BigTech.news.

Watch this video about weaponized censorship.

This video is from the Secret Harbour Sessions channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Project Veritas temporarily locked out of Twitter after posting video asking YouTube exec about censorship.

Rep Issa: Big Tech still playing the CENSORSHIP game on social media.

Rep. Issa: Bipartisan effort needed to fight big tech censorship.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Blog.google

ReclaimTheNet.org

InfoWars.com

Reddit.com

UN.org

Blog.YouTube

Brighteon.com
Houthi rebel attacks prompt British Petroleum to pause all fuel shipments in Red Sea

Ongoing rebel attacks from the Houthis in Yemen towards shipping vessels trying to pass through the Red Sea has prompted British Petroleum (BP), another oil shipper, to halt operations for the time being.

All BP crude shipments through the Red Sea are now temporarily suspended, as are numerous shipping routes from other companies, as global trade hits another snag due to the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza.

In a statement, BP indicated that this is a "deteriorating security situation" as Yemen-based Houthi rebels continue to launch attacks on passing ships that they believe are headed for Israel and / or its allies.

"The safety and security of our people and those working on our behalf is BP's priority," the company said. "We will keep this precautionary pause under ongoing review, subject to circumstances as they evolve in the region."

The halt is expected to drive up crude prices in both the Mediterranean region as well as Europe, which relies on fuel shipments coming through the Red Sea from the East into the Mediterranean Sea for delivery.

"Right now, it's unclear how significant the impact will be, though if more shipping companies divert their traffic, and if the disruption lasts more than a week or two, prices are likely to climb further," said Gregory Brew, an oil historian and analyst at Eurasia Group.

(Related: Volcanic eruptions release a lot of carbon  does this mean that volcanoes should be forced to pay for "carbon passports?")

Evergreen Line announces no more Israel cargo shipments via Red Sea

The major point of contact for Houthi rebels to target passing ships is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which serves as the southern entrance from the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea.

"The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and then on to the Indian Ocean on one side and the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal on the other," explains RT.

"The waterway is a key route linking Asia and Europe and facilitates roughly 12 percent of global trade, including 30 percent of all global container shipments."

Another major shipping company, Evergreen Line, is similarly shutting down all Israel cargo shipments via the Red Sea due to the ongoing Houthi threat.

"For the safety of ships and crew, Evergreen Line has decided to temporarily stop accepting Israeli cargo with immediate effect, and has instructed its container ships to suspend navigation through the Red Sea until further notice," reads a company statement.

Inventor Chemical Tankers, owner of the MT Swan Atlantic, announced on the same day as the Evergreen Line statement that its ship was struck by an "unidentified object" while in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, despite the vessel having no links to Israel.

Denmark's Maersk and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd shipping companies have likewise halted all vessel travel through the Red Sea because of the increased risk of an attack.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's largest shipping company, is also diverting all of its ships away from the Red Sea area for the time being.

On Dec. 15, the Swiss-Italian shipping giant announced that its box ship MSC Palatium III was struck by something while transiting the Red Sea. The company released a statement indicating that "all crew are safe with no reported injuries."

"Meanwhile, the vessel suffered limited fire damage and has been taken out of service," the company said.

"That's what the Houthi attacks were all about," wrote a commenter at RT about the matter.

"Incidentally, BP, formerly Anglo Iranian Petroleum was the corporation that got the UK and the U.S. to have the CIA engineer the coup in Iran in 1953 that replaced Mossadegh with the Shah."

More related news can be found at SupplyChainWarning.com.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
Israel weaponizes food supply as almost 600,000 people go hungry in Gaza

Over 570,000 people living in the Gaza Strip are experiencing hunger as an aftermath of the violence Israel has been rolling out in the enclave since it responded to Hamas' attack on Oct. 7.

The report from the United Nations and other aid agencies published by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicated how the onslaught and refusal to enter into a ceasefire have been causing "catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity." According to the study conducted between Nov. 24 and Dec. 7, on IPC's five-phase scale for malnutrition, the entire population of Gaza is on Phase 3, with over 90 percent estimated to face high levels of acute food insecurity.

The third phase is defined as: "Households either have food consumption gaps that are reflected by high or above-usual acute malnutrition; or are marginally able to meet minimum food needs but only by depleting essential livelihood assets or through crisis-coping strategies." Worse, it may even be higher.

"From Dec. 8 to Feb. 7, 2024, the entire population in the Gaza Strip is classified in IPC Phase 3 or above [Crisis or worse]. This is the highest share of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity that the IPC initiative has ever classified for any given area or country. Among these, about 50 percent of the population is in Emergency [IPC Phase 4] and at least one in four households is facing catastrophic conditions [IPC Phase 5, Catastrophe]. These are characterized by households experiencing an extreme lack of food, starvation and exhaustion of coping capacities," it said.

The paper concluded that though the levels of acute malnutrition and non-trauma-related mortality might not have yet crossed famine thresholds, "these are typically the outcomes of prolonged and extreme food consumption gaps." It added that increased nutritional vulnerability of children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly is a particular source of concern at the moment.

The said study was released after Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Israel of committing a war crime by using starvation as a weapon of war against Gaza's civilian population. As per the HRW, Israeli forces were "deliberately blocking the delivery of water, food and fuel, while willfully impeding humanitarian assistance, apparently razing agricultural areas and depriving the civilian population of objects indispensable to their survival."

Public data revealed that over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in the slaughter carried out by Israel and supported by the United States government. The figure includes over 8,000 children. When Israel's onslaught first began after the initial Hamas attack on southern Israel in October, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a "complete siege" on the already blockaded enclave and said Israel was fighting "human animals" in Gaza, which is home to over one million younger people. (Related: GENOCIDE by STARVATION: Israel's bombing operations have exhausted the food supply in Gaza.)

Hunger compounded with diseases to cause more deaths in Gaza: WHO

As starvation becomes utterly prevalent in the Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) also released a warning that illnesses, most acutely among children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and older people, are to be expected to thrive. WHO said that Gaza is already experiencing soaring rates of infectious diseases.

In fact, over 100,000 cases of diarrhea have been reported since mid-October and half of these are among young children under the age of five years, case numbers that are 25 times what was reported before the conflict. In addition, more than 150,000 cases of upper respiratory infection and numerous cases of meningitis, skin rashes, scabies, lice and chickenpox have been reported. Hepatitis is also suspected as many people present with the tell-tale signs of jaundice.

According to the WHO, since people scramble for food, malnutrition increases the risk of children dying from illnesses like diarrhea, pneumonia and measles, especially in a setting where they lack access to life-saving health services. "While a healthy body can more easily fight off these diseases, a wasted and weakened body will struggle. Hunger weakens the bodys defenses and opens the door to disease," a WHO spokesperson said in a Dec. 21 article. "Even if the child survives, wasting can have life-long impacts as it stunts growth and impairs cognitive development."

Furthermore, it alerted that breastfeeding mothers are also at high risk of malnutrition. From zero to six months of age, a mother's milk is the best and safest food a baby can get. This protects the child from nutritional deficiencies and catching deadly diseases, especially when access to safe drinking water is extremely limited.

Lack of sanitation and hygiene and a collapsing health system further add to the toxic mix as over 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 1.4 million are staying in overcrowded shelters. These conditions expose them to infectious diseases. "In Gaza today, on average, there is only one shower for every 4,500 people and one toilet for every 220. Clean water remains scarce and there are rising levels of outdoor defecation. These conditions make the spread of infectious diseases inevitable. Unfortunately, access to health services across Gaza has gone down as the war continues to degrade the health system," WHO said and further reiterated its call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Check out Starvation.news for more stories related to famine and hunger brought about by global conflicts.

Sources for this article include:

News.AntiWar.com

IPCInfo.org

HRW.org

WHO.int
Dr. Joseph Ladapo: Pfizer will CEASE TO EXIST when the full truth comes out about COVID-19 vaccines

The crimes against humanity committed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer all throughout the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" could end up causing the corrupt corporation to collapse.

This is the opinion of Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who stated that once the full truth of what Pfizer has done goes fully public, it will spell disaster for the company.

"I think when the real damage has been totally accounted for, honestly I'm not sure we're going to even have a Pfizer anymore," Ladapo stated. "I don't think it's going to actually look the same way. The harm that has been done by these vaccines ... This is going to unfortunately go down as a very sad point in history."

Pfizer's public image has degraded dramatically since the start of 2020 when few Americans likely even knew the name Pfizer as anything more than just another cog in the Big Pharma wheel. Now, Americans are outraged as their friends and family members suffer, and in some cases die, due to the company's mRNA (modRNA) "vaccine" series.

(Related: In October 2022, Ladapo warned that COVID jabs are destroying young men's hearts.)

Vaccine and pandemic fatigue or mass rejection of pharmaceutical poisons?

The mainstream media's excuse for why Americans are increasingly rejecting any further Pfizer "booster" shots for COVID is that people are suffering from "vaccine and pandemic fatigue." The truth is that people are sick and tired of being lied to by the pharmaceutical and vaccine industry.

"The mainstream media labels this as 'vaccine and pandemic fatigue,' but it's probably more about people getting spooked," reported Revolver about the issue.

"With all these reports of sudden deaths among healthy, likely vaccinated people worldwide, who can blame them? Not surprisingly, the number of Americans lining up for vaccines and boosters has plummeted."

The issue is coming to a head as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is pushing yet another new Pfizer COVID-19 "booster" shot. On Sept. 12, the CDC urged everyone in America six months of age and older to get the jab, though very few have gotten it since.

It would seem as though the American public is no longer interested in anything related to COVID, including many who initially fell for the lie but have since awoken to the fact that the so-called "pandemic" was a global genocide operation in very thin disguise.

Getting back to Florida's top doctor, Ladapo believes that Pfizer may, in fact, now be in some "corporation-ending" trouble due to all the circulation allegations about DNA contamination in the company's mRNA vials. Another rising concern is the growing number of "turbo cancers" emerging among the "fully vaccinated."

Oncologist and cancer researcher Dr. William Makis is among the growing number of physicians who says he is personally witnessing an increase in turbo cancers among his patients.

"No matter how you look at it, it's becoming increasingly obvious that the American public, along with the rest of the world, was misled about this 'pandemic' and the vaccine," Revolver further reported about the matter.

"There seems to be a growing feeling that people like [Tony] Fauci and others should face accountability for what many see as a blatant con job and a gross abuse of power. It wouldn't be surprising to see some big shots at Pfizer facing the music. While modern medicine has been a miracle in so many ways, it's also evident that some movers and shakers in the Big Pharma scene have lost their moral compass to greed."

What will become of Pfizer in 2024 and beyond? Find out more at BadMedicine.news.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

NaturalNews.com
Michigan Supreme Court rules Trump can stay on states 2024 primary ballot

Attempts to remove former President Donald Trump from the Michigan ballot in 2024 have failed

Trump's opposition had attempted to argue, just as they are in numerous other states, that Trump is disqualified from running for president in Michigan because of the United States Constitution's "insurrectionist ban," this being the same claim made by the Colorado Supreme Court.

In short, challengers to Trump's run for the presidency in 2024 says that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies Trump from holding any further federal office because he "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the Constitution after having taken an oath to protect it.

Unlike what happened in Colorado, the Michigan case challenging Trump's eligibility to run for president again in 2024 was dismissed very early on, never reaching trial. The Court of Claims judge who was first to receive the case decided that state law does not give election officials the ability to police the eligibility of presidential primary candidates.

This outcome in Michigan is similar to what happened recently in West Virginia where a federal judge similarly rejected a claim to remove Trump from the state's 2024 ballot.

(Related: Trump's attorneys are petitioning the Supreme Court of the United States [SCOTUS] to move more slowly in considering the former president's immunity claim.)

SCOTUS to decide Trump's eligibility for presidential run

Ultimately, the decision on the matter for the entire country will be decided by SCOTUS. Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley says state-level bans on Trump's name being included on primary ballots "will be overturned because it is wrong on the history and the language of the 14th Amendment."

"As I have previously written, the disqualification of Trump is based on the use of a long-dormant provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment," Turley wrote. "After the Civil War, House members were outraged to see Alexander Stephens, the Confederate vice president, seeking to take the oath with an array of other former Confederate senators and military officers."

"They had all previously taken the same oath and then violated it to join a secession movement that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans ... That was a true rebellion ... January 6, 2021, was a riot."

In Michigan, the initial decision by the lower court was affirmed and upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals, which wrote that, currently, the only event that is next to occur "is the presidential primary election."

Keep in mind that this ruling does not automatically mean that Trump is still qualified to run for president in the Michigan primaries. It simply means that his name will still appear on the ballot regardless.

According to the Michigan Supreme Court, 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."

"It really is amazing how a hoax (insurrection) can gain so much traction," wrote one perplexed commenter on a story about these ongoing efforts among the states to disqualify Trump from once again running for president in 2024.

"Mark my words: there will not be any election in the USA if Trump still lives until then," wrote another, expressing his opinion of what might happen in the coming months.

"They will not allow Trump to be the president again. They will start World War III if they have to  you can bet on that."

Another person disagreed, stating that the last thing the powers that be want "is for the 200-plus million voters in America to think there's something wrong."

The latest news about Trump's run for the presidency in 2024 can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
Netanyahu looking for countries willing to absorb Palestinians displaced out of Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has discussed post-war plans and addressed the issue of finding countries willing to "absorb" Palestinians from Gaza during a recent meeting of the Likud Party. He stressed the importance of establishing a team to facilitate voluntary immigration, stating that the world is already considering the possibilities for such movements.

The prime minister suggested that countries ready to accept Palestinians need to be identified, and the matter holds strategic significance for the post-war period. This statement is in line with similar calls from influential figures within the Likud party. Former Science Minister Danny Danon, a Likud member, has publicly advocated for Western nations to consider accepting refugees from Gaza.

Last week, Netanyahu's reported request to U.S. President Joe Biden for assistance in relocating Gazans to Egypt has sparked both international interest and controversy.

Netanyahu, seeking potential avenues to address the humanitarian impact of the conflict, reportedly inquired whether the U.S. could exert pressure on Egypt to accept a portion of Gaza's population during the ongoing hostilities.

While the proposal could be viewed as a pragmatic attempt to alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, it has raised questions about the motivations behind such a move and the implications for the affected population.

Biden's response to Netanyahu's request indicated that Cairo did not consider the relocation of Gazans to Egypt as a viable option.

The reasons behind Egypt's reluctance were not explicitly stated, but reports suggest that such a move could strain Egypt-Israel relations, especially if displaced Palestinians were directed towards the Sinai Peninsula.

An unnamed Israeli official categorically denied the request, stating: "The assertion that Israel is trying to push Gazans out and into Egypt is false."

Egypt had previously warned both Israel and the U.S. against allowing displaced Palestinians from Gaza to enter the Sinai Peninsula. This warning emphasized that such a scenario could lead to a rupture in Egypt-Israel relations.

The Gaza conflict erupted following the Oct. 7 attack orchestrated by Hamas, resulting in a large-scale Israeli military response. The terror group, responsible for a significant loss of life and the seizure of hostages, prompted Israel to launch a wide-scale attack to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities and governance infrastructure.

Israel, U.S. at odds over who will assume control of Gaza once Hamas is out

As international pressure mounts for a resolution, the U.S. has advocated for a restructured Palestinian Authority (PA) to assume control of Gaza if Hamas is successfully removed from power.

The U.S. position emphasizes the need for the PA to undergo anti-corruption reforms and promote free expression and civil society.

However, Netanyahu has expressed skepticism about the PA's suitability to govern Gaza, citing its refusal to condemn Hamas terrorism and its financial support for the families of incarcerated Palestinian terrorists and assailants.

The differences in approach between the U.S. and Israel regarding the post-conflict governance of Gaza underscore the challenges of finding a consensus. (Related: Biden finally admits that Israel is "losing support" as a result of its "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza.)

Martin Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to the Middle East, highlighted the divergent views, stating that the PA remains the only viable option for a solution "under Palestinian rule in a way that connects governance in the West Bank with Gaza."

Yet, Netanyahu rejects this idea, reflecting the resistance within his coalition partners to the revival of the PA's role in governing Gaza.

The recent statements from Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi suggested a potential softening of Tel Aviv's resistance to the PA controlling Gaza after the conflict. However, a subsequent statement from a senior Israeli official sought to clarify that Hanegbi's comments were "misunderstood" and reiterated that the PA ruling Gaza post-conflict is not a feasible option.

Visit IsraelCollapse.com for more similar stories.

Watch this report on how Israel has degenerated under Netanyahu.

This video is from the Truth John 14:6 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

To keep Hamas in power, Israel drove suitcases stuffed with CASH into Gaza, new evidence shows.

International law expert calls for World Court intervention as ethnic cleansing now under way with Biden "greenlighting" Israel's Gaza invasion.

Netanyahu's CORRUPTION trial resumes amid conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Sources include:

InformationLiberation.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

Brighteon.com
Study calling for unvaccinated people to be barred from public venues was authored by Pfizer adviser

A 2022 study out of Canada that was used as justification to impose harsh restrictions on unvaccinated people accessing public venues has been exposed as a propaganda manuscript.

Researchers Joseph Hickey, Ph.D., and Denis Rancourt, Ph.D., published their own peer-reviewed study looking at the aforementioned fraudulent one, which was authored by epidemiologist Dr. David Fisman from the University of Toronto. They found that Fisman's mathematical models are flawed, offering no true scientific backing for the imposition of anti-unvaccinated public policy.

According to Fisman, unvaccinated people pose a disproportionate risk to vaccinated people, even though the latter are supposed to be protected against disease because of their vaccines. Fisman's claim is flawed, of course, and there is good reason for that: the guy appears to be a Big Pharma insider.

The Defender (Children's Health Defense) reported that Fisman has worked as an adviser to vaccine makers like Pfizer, Seqirus, AstraZeneca, and Sanofi-Pasteur. He also directly advised the Canadian government on its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) policies and restrictions.

(Related: Did you catch this story about the threat of post-COVID injection cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain and heart palpitations?)

Lying for profit

In speaking to reporters about his flawed study, Fisman explained that the unvaccinated should not have a choice to remain as such because they are "creating risk for those around you."

How an unvaccinated person could ever pose any kind of threat to a vaccinated person remains unknown since the shots are supposed to provide immunity to disease. Is Fisman admitting that vaccines do nothing to protect one's health?

Even so, the media outlets Fisman spoke to ran with his anti-unvaccinated nonsense, producing bizarre headlines like:

Salon: "Merely hanging out with unvaccinated puts the vaccinated at higher risk: study"

Forbes: "Study Shows Unvaccinated People Are At Increased Risk Of Infecting The Vaccinated"

Medscape: "My Choice? Unvaccinated Pose Outsize Risk to Vaccinated"

More than 100 other media outlets ran similarly bizarre and nonsensical headlines based on Fisman's study while the Canadian Parliament used it as "evidence" to lock people down at home, shut down small businesses, and force the public into masking and getting "vaccinated" for COVID.

Hickey and Rancourt's rebuttal study reveals that Fisman's "susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR)" model, which he used to draw his conclusions, contains a major flaw in contact frequency, one of its key parameters.

"When they adjusted that parameter to account for real-world data, the model produced a variety of contradictory outcomes, including one showing that segregating unvaccinated people can increase the epidemic severity among the vaccinated  the exact opposite of what Fisman et al. purported to show," writes The Defender's Brenda Baletti, Ph.D..

"Hickey and Rancourt, researchers at Canada's Correlation: Research in the Public Interest, concluded that without reliable empirical data to inform such SIR models, the models are 'intrinsically limited' and should not be used as a basis for policy."

The two researchers attempted to publish their rebuttal paper in the same one in which Fisman's appears, the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), but it was refused because the journal's editor, a collaborator of Fisman, refused to even look at it.

Despite receiving favorable peer reviews, the open-access version of CMAJ likewise refused to publish Hickey and Rancourt's study.

According to Hickey and Rancourt, the entire thing has been a "tedious saga" marked by journal editors who "concocted a multitude of ancillary and unnecessary objections, apparently intended to be insurmountable barriers" in order to avoid publishing their study.

"What's the point of vaccination if not to protect (allegedly) someone from catching the virus?" one commenter asked in response to Fisman's erroneous conclusions.

Is there ever a valid reason to get vaccinated? Find out more at Vaccines.news.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

NaturalNews.com

Cureus.com
The 2024 U.S. presidential election is fast becoming a JOKE: Trump DISQUALIFIED from appearing on primary ballot in Maine

Former President Donald Trump has been disqualified from appearing on the primary ballot in Maine due to an erroneous interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment's "insurrection clause."

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, issued the disqualification ruling on Dec. 28. This came a day after Trump's lawyers demanded Bellows to recuse herself from her upcoming decision on the former president's ballot eligibility. According to the Guardian, Bellows examined the case after a group of citizens challenged Trump's inclusion in the primary ballot.

Unlike other states where plaintiffs have sued over Trump's eligibility in court, The Pine Tree State allows the state secretary to weigh in  which Bellows did. Challengers can then appeal in state court. In support of the citizens who challenged Trump, Bellows ruled that Trump's actions on Jan. 6, 2021 violated the Fourteenth Amendment.

"I do not reach this conclusion lightly," wrote Bellows. "I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access, based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection."

The Maine secretary of state's decision came 10 days after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to remove Trump from the Centennial State's primary ballot. "Both the Maine and Colorado decision are based on [the same provision], which bans from office those who 'engaged in insurrection,'" the Guardian pointed out. "The provision, which came after the Civil War, was intended to prevent Confederates from retaking power."

All is not lost, however, with ZeroHedge noting that "the question will ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court." Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley also predicted that the state-level primary ballot bans on Trump "will be overturned because it is wrong on the history and the language of the Fourteenth Amendment." He also pointed out that the J6 was a "riot," compared to the Civil War that was an actual rebellion. (Related: Legal scholar Jonathan Turley blasts Colorado Supreme Court decision to remove Trump from Republican primary ballot.)

Trump campaign rebukes Democrat Bellows' biased decision

Steven Cheung, spokesman for the Trump campaign, denounced Bellows' Dec. 28 decision. "We are witnessing, in real time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter," he said. "Democrats in blue states are recklessly and unconstitutionally suspending the civil rights of the American voters by attempting to summarily remove [former] President Trump's name from the ballot."

"Make no mistake: These partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy. [President Joe] Biden and the Democrats simply do not trust the American voter in a free and fair election, and are now relying on the force of government institutions to protect their grip on power."

Cheung also denounced Bellows, a former attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. According to him, the Maine official is "a virulent leftist" and "a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat who has decided to interfere in the presidential election on behalf of" the incumbent. He also stressed that the Trump campaign "will quickly file a legal objection in state court to prevent this atrocious decision in Maine from taking effect."

Incidentally, the Dec. 27 letter to Bellows penned by Trump's legal team highlighted the Maine secretary of state's clear bias against the former president. It highlighted two social media posts she made that concerning the J6 false-flag riot.

In one of the posts, Bellows argued that the J6 riot "was an unlawful attempt to overthrow the results of a free and fair election." Another post published on Jan. 6, 2022  the first anniversary of the J6 riot  stated: "One year after the violent insurrection, it's important to do all we can to safeguard our elections." Trump's lawyers ultimately argued in the letter that based on these posts, the Maine official "has already passed judgment."

Visit Trump.news for more stories about the former president's fight to keep his name on the ballot.

Watch this Fox News report about Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removing Trump from the state's primary ballot.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

BREAKING: Colorado Supreme Court disqualifies Trump from appearing on state's primary ballot.

Bukele says, thanks to Colorado banning Trump, the US lost its ability to lecture anyone about "democracy"

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.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
U.K. and Italy agree to finance the repatriation of migrants attempting to reach Europe

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have agreed to finance the repatriation of migrants attempting to reach Europe who are currently in Tunisia.

Migrants attempting perilous sea crossings to Europe often make initial landfall on the Italian island of Lampedusa. The agreement signifies a collaborative effort to address the growing discontent with the influx of migrants from various African countries  including Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Chad  converging in Tunisia to reach European shores.

In a joint statement, Sunak emphasized the need for border control, asserting that illegal immigration poses a significant threat to the security of both the United Kingdom and Italy. He warned that migration could be exploited as a weapon by the enemies of both nations and stressed the importance of deterring illegal entry to prevent an overwhelming surge.

"We simply must have control of our borders. People must know that if they come to our countries illegally, they will not get to stay. If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow. It will overwhelm our countries and our capacity to help those who actually need our help the most. Making that deterrent credible will mean doing things differently, breaking from consensus  and both [Meloni] and I are prepared to do that," the British leader said. (Related: British government may require illegal migrants to wear electronic tags as immigration detention centers run out of space.)

Meloni echoed Sunak's sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of controlling migration to safeguard countries and effectively provide assistance to those in need.

Leaders in Europe have voiced similar concerns about the impact of mass migration on national identity and cultural values. These include Santiago Abascal of Spain's Vox Party and Hungarian President Viktor Orban. Recently elected officials such as the Netherlands' Geert Wilders and Slovakia's Robert Fico have also expressed their sentiment on the matter.

Meloni: Islam and Europe have a compatibility problem

The announcement of the plan to repatriate migrants followed the re-emergence of an old video of Meloni, the president of the Brothers of Italy party, criticizing the "Islamization" of Europe. The 2018 clip showed the now-Italian prime minister expressing her views on what she dubbed a "compatibility problem" between Islamic culture and the values of European civilization.

"I believe there is a problem of compatibility between Islamic culture, or a certain interpretation of Islamic culture, and the rights and values of our civilization," Meloni is heard saying in the viral video. "It does not escape my mind that most of the Islamic cultural centers in Italy are financed by Saudi Arabia."

Meloni also did not shy away from criticizing Riyadh's implementation of Sharia law, citing criminal offenses such as apostasy and homosexuality.

"Sharia means [stoning] for adultery and the death penalty for apostasy and homosexuality. I believe that these should be raised, which does not mean generalizing on Islam. It means raising the problem that there is a process of Islamization in Europe that is very distant from the values of our civilization," she said.

The resurfaced footage has garnered international attention and adds to the ongoing discourse surrounding mass migration.

Visit Migrants.news for more stories about illegal immigrants.

Watch Dutch citizen Frank Krischick warn people against visiting the Netherlands.

This video is from the Frank Krischick channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

'Death trap': UK starts housing illegal migrants in controversial barge 'Bibby Stockholm', as it surfaces government spends 7M per day on asylum seekers in hotels.

European border agency Frontex confirms: 92% of illegal migrants arriving in EU are fighting-age MEN.

WATCH as Mike Adams and Michael Yon discuss the great replacement of Americans with illegal "migrants."

NYC Mayor Eric Adams DEFUNDS POLICE, rolls out various austerity measures to spend on ILLEGAL MIGRANTS.

Five illegal migrants on FBIs terrorist watchlist ARRESTED shortly after Title 42 expired.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NDTV.com

Brighteon.com
Western sanctions on Russia seriously underestimated Moscows economic strength

The Group of Seven (G7) and the European Union (EU) made a serious mistake in calculating the effectiveness of their post-Ukraine invasion sanctions on Russia.

Instead of having the intended effect of crippling Moscow's energy revenues, Western sanctions on Russian exports have done a whole lot of nothing as the "formal effectiveness" of the plan was outsmarted by the failure of its "strategic effectiveness."

What is meant by this is that Western sanctions on Russian oil exports, as one example, are now being offset by soaring global energy prices. In other words, even though Russia is exporting less fuel, the prices paid for that fuel have risen so much that it is pretty much a wash in terms of the economic impact of the sanctions.

The Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences recently produced a report about all this that describes the cause as the "big country" effect. Here is how RT describes the meaning of this:

"If a state is a major player on the global market  like Russia  the imposition of restrictions on its exports will inevitably backfire, leading to a surge in global prices."

(Related: The global food crisis that is currently unfolding is a product of Western nations that are blaming Russia for it.)

Russia now making more money on oil than pre-Ukraine invasion

It may come as a shock to some, but Russia's crude exports, all things considered, are generating more money for Moscow than they were before the country's military operation in Ukraine.

As of October, according to Bloomberg, Russia's net oil revenues hit $11.3 billion. At the same time, the West-imposed economic restrictions on Russia's economy have effectively reshaped the financial architecture of the entire world's oil and maritime trade, shifting it even further away from the U.S. dollar.

What Russia has effectively done in its response to Western sanctions on its economy is to divert most of its energy exports to Asia  and especially to India, China and Iran, all of which are paying more than the West's $60-per-barrel price cap on oil.

According to Maksim Maksimov, an associate professor at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, the only thing Western sanctions on Russia have done is destabilize the energy markets. Maksimov believes the West has "seriously underestimated" Russia as a global economic player  and increasingly as a global economic leader.

In Maksimov's assessment, there is simply nothing the West or anyone else can do to dramatically reduce Russia's income from exports, meaning Russia is impervious to just about anything further the West tries to do to cripple its economy.

Delovaya Rossiya business union member Aleksey Khizhnyak further commented on the more recent ban on Russian diamonds, which was just announced by the European Council (EC), stating that it, too, is unlikely to have a sizable impact on Russia's economy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated at the time when the diamond export ban was announced that such a move by the West was "predictable," adding that "there are ways to circumvent these sanctions, and they will be realized."

"Sanctions were just a Western spam, fluff, eyewash and verbal diarrhea PR campaign to present to their populous to provide the illusion the West is tough and still controls the entire Global economy," expressed one commenter about the matter.

"The western analysis of Russia being just a gas station and having the economy the size of Ireland has aged very well," joked another. "No doubt those idiots will continue to predict the crash and fall of China."

"The U.S. is suffering from a superiority complex, belittling other countries  even its allies," wrote someone else. "This is exactly the reason for underestimating Russia."

The latest news about the Russia-Ukraine conflict can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
A recent study showed that due to little effort on biodiversity, the rate of animal and plant extinction in Singapore was at 37% in the past 200 years.

Experts said that accurate estimates of tropical extinction rates are needed to evaluate human impacts on biodiversity and inform conservation planning.

Lost Of Tropical Primary Forest

They said that Singapore has lost most of its tropical primary forest since 1819 and yet has an exceptionally detailed biodiversity record.

Researchers had compiled the largest database of Singapore biodiversity records to date (>50,000 individual records; >3,000 species; 10 major taxonomic groups) and estimated extinctions using statistical methods that account for "dark extinctions,'' or those extinctions of undiscovered species.

The estimated overall extinction rate was 37%, a factor of two lower than previous estimates for Singapore, although extinctions were concentrated among larger, charismatic species.

Extrapolations suggested that by 2100, Southeast Asia will resemble a "tropical Europe," with roughly 80% of the original species surviving in human-dominated landscapes.

So far, there is an urgent need for reliable data on the impacts of deforestation on tropical biodiversity. The city-state of Singapore has one of the most detailed biodiversity records in the tropics, dating back to the turn of the 19th century.

To recall, it was in 1819 when Singapore was almost entirely covered in primary forest, but this has since been largely cleared.

Experts have compiled more than 200 years of records for 10 major taxonomic groups in Singapore (>50,000 individual records; >3,000 species), and they estimated extinction rates using recently developed and novel statistical models that account for "dark extinctions," such as the extinctions of undiscovered species.

''The estimated overall extinction rate was 37% (95% CI [31 to 42%]). Extrapolating our Singapore observations to a future business-as-usual deforestation scenario for Southeast Asia suggests that 18% (95% CI [16 to 22%]) of species will be lost regionally by 2100,'' the study indicated.

The researchers' extinction estimates for Singapore and Southeast Asia are a factor of two lower than previous estimates that also attempted to account for dark extinctions.

However, they cautioned that particular groups such as large mammals, forest-dependent birds, orchids, and butterflies are disproportionately vulnerable.

Read Also: In a Biodiversity Hotspot, Park Rangers Employ Butterflies To Assess Temperature of the Globe

Hotspot For Species Extinction

Experts said that Southeast Asia, as defined by the ASEAN region, is a hotspot for impending species extinctions. At a global scale, the region has the highest number of species categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and considered to be on the brink of extinction.

Rapid and large-scale habitat loss driven by fast-paced development, together with rampant exploitation of wildlife and natural resources have been largely responsible for declining biodiversity in this densely populated region.

Further, there is an urgent need to scale up conservation efforts to prevent species extinctions.

Singapore's extinctions had begun in the middle of the 19th century when large swaths of forests made way for plantations, leading to the extinction of many plants and vertebrates.

Hunting also contributed to the loss of large mammals, such as tigers and leopards.

By the middle part of the 20th century, rapid urbanization wiped out many butterflies and birds.

Related Article: Specimen Collection Does Not Lead to Species Extinction, Scientists Say
Both New Delhi and Dhaka's air quality is severely declining as a heavy layer of deadly haze descends upon the major cities of India and Bangladesh.

Most Polluted City

With over 20 million residents, Dhaka is considered as one of the most populous cities in the world.

As a result of excessive use of fossil fuels and the emergence of massive projects, the city's air quality has gotten worse, endangering the health of many residents.

Dhaka briefly emerged as the world's most polluted city on Wednesday, with a "hazardous" index level of 325, according to the Swiss climate monitor IQAir.

But by midday, things had somewhat improved, with the index falling to 177, however, experts said this is still within the "unhealthy" category.

The city officials misted the streets with water to help the dust settle, but the locals demanded more action. Residents are reportedly suffering from different health problems because of the poor air quality, including asthma, fever, and allergies, all of which can be quite painful.

Between 2018 and 2021, the nation was classified as the most polluted in the world; Dhaka was placed as the second most polluted city.

In order to improve air quality, Bangladesh has been advised by the World Bank to work more closely with its neighbors in South Asia.

According to a survey, one-fifth of the nation's annual deaths are caused by air pollution, which is frequently a mixture of solid particles, liquid droplets, and gases.

Experts said the government must act swiftly and decisively in response to these concerning figures when it comes to the air quality.

Strong policies are required in order to lower pollution levels, encourage the use of cleaner energy sources, and enforce more stringent controls on businesses that are causing bad air quality.

Read Also: In Tropical Cities, Air Pollution Is Responsible for 180,000 More Fatalities According to Scientists

Cancelled Flights In India

The Central Pollution Control Board classified New Delhi, the capital of India, as having "very poor" pollution, with an index reading of 378.

A dense fog caused more than 100 flights to be delayed and rail services to be affected by the 11-degree Celsius weather.

At eight in the morning, the weather agency issued an orange alert for the whole city because visibility was still only about fifty meters in numerous areas.

"Dense to very dense fog is likely to continue over northwest India in the next 3-4 days. Light isolated rainfall is likely over north-west and central India from December 31 to January 2, 2024," a forecast by the IMD said.

According to meteorologists, rain is possible on Saturday and Sunday in some areas of central and northwest India, but not in Delhi.

Experts stressed the need to strike a balance between development and environmental protection, which is essential as cities continue to expand and thrive.

Air pollution can have far-reaching effects on health, the economy, and society that may take decades to reverse if it is not controlled.

Related Article: Day 3 Unsafe Air Quality in New Delhi: Officials Restrict Vehicle Use Via Odd-Even Traffic Scheme




Greener plants have the ability to predict when a volcano will erupt, possibly giving early warning long before traditional volcano monitoring techniques.

Carbon Dioxide Emission

According to research titled "Volcanic Diffuse Volatile Emissions Tracked by Plant Responses Detectable From Space" published in Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geosystems, monitoring plant health with satellite imagery may be able to predict volcanic activities years in advance.

US scientists, under the leadership of Robert Bogue of McGill University, examined Yellowstone National Park by examining decades' worth of satellite images acquired between 1984 and 2022.

With considerable carbon dioxide emissions, Yellowstone has a sizable and active caldera system-a massive depression created by a volcano's eruption and collapse.

Tern Lake, located in the northeastern section of Yellowstone National Park, was recently recognized to exhibit hydrothermal activity due to satellite imagery revealing changed soil, dead trees, and abnormalities in infrared temperature.

In order to predict future volcanic dangers, scientists frequently monitor the volatile emissions from volcanoes in order to better understand how the magma beneath the volcano is acting.

Since it is challenging and frequently dangerous to quantify these emissions on the ground, measuring them with satellites would make it easier and safer to identify changes in volcanic activity.

They saw an odd pattern: greener flora before volcanic activity, then browning as explosions approached.

They explained that this is carbon dioxide's Jekyll and Hyde. It first makes plants greener due to extra carbon dioxide but eventually turns browner as activity increases because of the sulfur dioxide and high temperatures killing the plants.

A rise in carbon dioxide emissions is frequently one of the first indications of volcanic instability.

Forests that are exposed to volcanic gasses are healthier compared to almost identical nearby forests developing without the influence of the volcano.

This bolsters the theory that increased volcanic carbon dioxide and precipitation improve tree health.

Read Also: Future Volcanic Eruption Imminent as Magma Chamber Grows Under Mediterranean Volcano [Study]

Plant-Based Early Warning System

For densely forested volcanoes like Mount Etna in Italy and Taal Volcano in the Philippines, this plant-based early warning system has potential.

This may serve as a stand-in for monitoring variations in the volatile emissions from volcanoes observed from space.

It's possible that scientists will one day be able to get a vital advantage against the underground firepower by keeping an eye out for their green murmurs.

While the study focused on Yellowstone, researchers believed the approach could apply to other volcanoes with comparable characteristics.

However, the researchers cautioned that their approach might not work well in regions with a variety of tree species or under severe stress from non-volcanic events like wildfires or droughts.

To improve and adapt the method for other volcanic terrains, more research is needed.

The ability to forecast eruptions several years in advance is crucial for the communities that surround these geological occurrences.

Alerts sent out on time can improve evacuation plans, prevent property losses, and save lives.

Related Article: Imminent Volcanic Eruption or a Major Earthquake is Possible in the Azores Archipelago
A controversial shark cull in the French Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia has been suspended by a court, citing the lack of scientific evidence and the cultural significance of the species.

Cull sparked by fatal attacks

The authorities in the south of the archipelago had authorized the hunting of bull and tiger sharks in three coastal reserves, after a series of attacks on humans that killed seven people in the past five years.

The most recent victim was an Australian tourist who was killed by a shark in February, three weeks after another swimmer was badly injured at the same spot.

The cull was intended to reduce the risk of shark attacks and to reassure the local population and tourists.

However, it faced strong opposition from environmental and indigenous groups, who argued that it was ineffective, harmful, and disrespectful.

Court cites lack of studies and cultural value

Last May, New Caledonia's administrative court suspended the cull, saying there was insufficient information about the size of the shark populations, the environmental impact of removing them, and the measure's effectiveness in preventing attacks.

The court also noted that the sharks have a sacred status in the culture of the Kanak people, the indigenous inhabitants of the archipelago, who see them as an integral part of the ecosystem.

The court's decision was welcomed by the ecologist group Together For The Planet (EPLP), which had filed a legal action to stop the cull.

The group's president, Martine Cornaille, said that the cull was "environmentally irresponsible" and that 60% of the sharks that were killed were in the nature reserves. She also said that the group plans to challenge the shark hunting outside the reserves.

The authorities did not immediately respond to the court's ruling or comment on their plans regarding the shark issue.

Some experts have suggested alternative solutions, such as installing shark nets, educating the public, and monitoring shark movements.

Also Read: Shark Culling Due to Increased Attacks in New Caledonia Denounced by IUCN, International Organizations

Shark attacks remain a mystery

The rise in shark attacks in New Caledonia remains poorly explained, according to shark scientist and behavioral ecologist Johann Mourier.

He says attacks tend to be cyclical "with a lot of consecutive biting incidents and then nothing for several years".

Mourier says there is no data on shark populations around Noumea, the capital city where most attacks occurred.

A study that began in 2018 was stopped before it could be completed because of an attack. He says any statistics may be misleading as the sharks most associated with attacks, especially tiger sharks, regularly move around and change habitat, with some going as far as Australia and New Zealand.

Mourier also says that culling sharks is not an effective way to prevent attacks, as it does not target the individual sharks that are responsible and may disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.

He says that other factors, such as the presence of prey, sewage, fishing, or climate change, may influence the behavior of sharks and increase the likelihood of encounters with humans.

Shark Nets Spark Controversy

The authorities have also planned to install a 758-metre metal net at Baie des Citrons, one of the most popular beaches in Noumea, to act as an underwater fence and prevent sharks from swimming too close to the shore. The net is due to be installed by October.

However, this measure has also provoked criticism from environmentalists and locals, who say that the net will damage the coral reef, entangle and kill other marine animals, and pose a risk to swimmers and divers.

They also say that the net will not guarantee the safety of the beachgoers, as sharks may still find ways to bypass it or be attracted by the trapped animals.

Many residents, like Aline Guemas, who swims at the beach every day, are opposed to the net and want to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the lagoon.

She says that people who frequent the waters know the risks and do not want any shark nets to be installed.

Some alternatives to the net have been proposed, such as using acoustic devices to deter or attract sharks, creating artificial reefs to provide habitats for sharks away from the shore, or implementing a shark alert system to warn the public of the presence of sharks.

However, these solutions have not been adopted by the authorities so far.

Related article: Shark Attack Survivor Calls for Cull, Reignites Long Standing Debate in Australia
No casualties were recorded after a Soviet-era Antonov-24 plane with 30 passengers and four crew members landed on a frozen river near an airfield in Russia's far east. The Polar Airlines An-24 landed safely on the Kolyma River near Zyryanka in the Yakutia region.

The flight took off early Thursday from Yakutsk, the capital of the Sakha republic in Russia's Far East. It was flying to Zyryanka, 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) to the north-east, and then to Srednekolymsk before returning to Yakutsk.

Pilot Error Blamed For Wrong Landing

"According to preliminary information, the cause of the aviation incident was an error by the crew in piloting the aircraft," a spokesperson for the Eastern Siberian transport prosecutor said in a statement.

A passenger's video showed the plane almost in the center of the frozen River Kolyma. At this time of year, temperatures in Zyryanka can reach -40 degrees Celsius.

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. pic.twitter.com/MFM85AKSJ6  WarMonitoreu (@WarMonitoreu) December 28, 2023

Prosecutors said the plane landed on a sandbank in the river. A snow track demonstrated how long it had taken to come to a halt.

Read Also: Solar Impulse Update: Solar-Powered Plane Completes Record-Breaking Trip Around The World

Launched Investigation

There have been numerous incidents in recent months of Russian domestic passenger flights making emergency landings due to mechanical faults caused by a scarcity of spare parts. However, the cause of Thursday's incident is yet unknown.

The Russian authorities have initiated an investigation into why the Antonov-24 jet diverted from the runway. According to local news agencies, the Investigative Committee is looking into alleged infractions of road safety standards and the operation of air transportation.

According to the Baza Telegram channel, which has connections to Russia's intelligence agencies, the pilots did not see the runway, missed it, and landed on the frozen river. Polar Airlines committed to fully cooperate with the investigation and stressed that the airline's top goal is flight safety.

In May 2023, the airline was accused of operating planes with improper maintenance. According to multiple unnamed sources, the airline flew for over 1,500 hours. Local officials had initiated an investigation since the aircraft provides critical connectivity to isolated communities and areas throughout Siberia.

It is not the first occasion in recent months that a Russian plane has landed in an unusual spot. In September, a Ural Airlines Airbus 320 flying from the Black Sea resort of Sochi to the city of Omsk in southwestern Siberia made an emergency landing at Novosibirsk's airport but was forced to land in the open countryside.

The landing took place "on a site selected from the air" in the village of Kamenka, next to a forest in the Novosibirsk region, according to Russia's aviation agency, Rosaviatsia.

None of the 159 people on board were hurt, and the passengers were "being accommodated in the nearest community." Ural Airlines called the landing area an "improvised airport."

Following this incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an increase in the country's aviation. He said that the Russian government has until March 1, 2024, to expand and upgrade aviation in Russia's far east.

Related Article: Environmental Concern Raise As US Navy Plane Remains in Hawaii Bay
Fish farm is a form of aquaculture where humans raise different fish species inside enclosures. Once grown, the aquatic animals (marine or freshwater) are sold into the market as raw food material. Fish farming has long been viewed as profitable since the practice has been described as "factory farms in water" which are equivalent to poultry farms on land.

Fish farming has also another purpose, boosting the endangered or threatened fish populations. One such case is the declining number of salmon populations, with only a few remaining in the world, according to the United States Geological Survey. While there are various factors for the population decline, scientists blame water pollution as the major cause.

Despite the fundamental objective of fish farming, which is meant to boost the global wild salmon population, are results in deadly impacts, according to a collective analysis of multiple studies, it was reported earlier this week. The groundbreaking discovery revealed that fish farms are killing wild salmons and the cases vary in different locations across the globe.

Fish Farms Kill Wild Salmons

In previous decades, the notable sign of global wild salmon population decline was recorded from 1983 to 1990 when salmon numbers decreased from 7 million to 5 million fish. Although this trend has slowed down since 1990, an additional 33% of salmons have died, resulting in their population plummeting to 3.38 million as of 2016, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization says.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) stated that close to 90% of the world fish stocks are overexploited, depleted, or recovering. Due to this problem, fish farms were developed to address this ecological issue.

According to the Watershed Watch Salmon Society, the top three reasons that open net-pen fish farms threaten wild salmons:

Fish farm diseases poses life-threatening risks to wild salmon.

Salmon farms can spread common salmon lice to wild salmon.

Farm salmon can escape and dominate native species for resources.

Also Read: Aquaculture Causes Stress and Suffering for Certain Fish Species This Way

Water Pollution and Other Factors

As mentioned earlier, there are various factors that result in the deaths of wild salmons, in addition to anthropogenic or human-induced water pollution.

For instance, in a 2020 study published in the journal Science, researchers linked the acute mortality of coho salmon in the waters of the US Pacific Northwest with chemical from ubiquitous tire rubber. The findings of the research paper found that tire tread particles can turn streams toxic. These makes returning salmon to spawn in urban and suburban streams to be at dire risk.

Meanwhile, Washington state authorities identify that water pollution through the chemicals polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to be responsible for causing the following health hazards to salmon in Puget Sound:

Reduce growth

Increase disease susceptibility

Alter hormone production

Overall, these chemicals reduce the survival rate of salmons. Combined with water pollution and fish farming, which is seen by some to be the solution to overfishing, can further lead to wild salmon population decline in the coming years.

Related Article: Salmon Population Feared To Be Devastated After Thousands Escape From Icelandic Farm
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Taiwanese electronics manufacturing major Foxconn will invest $55.29 million in Bengaluru-based Foxconn Precision Engineering Private Limited. The company, in an exchange filing in Taiwan, said the investment will be made via its Singapore-based subsidiary Foxconn Singapore Pte Limited. Foxconn Singapore has acquired about 46,08,76,736 shares at Rs 10 each, amounting to nearly $55.29 million (Rs 460.87 crore), said the company.

Earlier this year, the Taiwanese tech giant signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government to invest in the state. In this agreement, the company committed to investing in a mobile manufacturing unit, which would create employment opportunities for 50,000 people in the state in next 10 years. Production at the plant is scheduled to commence by April next year, with investments spread over three phases.

Foxconn likely to invest Rs 3,000 crore in phase 1 (2023-2024), followed by Rs 4,000 crore in phase 2 (2025-26), and Rs 1,000 crore in phase 3 (2026-27). The manufacturing targets include 1 lakh units of iPhones by December 2025, 50 lakh units by December 2026, 1 crore by December 2027, and 2 crore by December 2028. This move is part of the its China plus one strategy to diversify production away from China. Foxconn is one of the primary suppliers of iPhone components, along with Pegatron and Tata Electronics in India.

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NEW DELHI: Taiwanese electronics manufacturing major Foxconn will invest $55.29 million in Bengaluru-based Foxconn Precision Engineering Private Limited. The company, in an exchange filing in Taiwan, said the investment will be made via its Singapore-based subsidiary Foxconn Singapore Pte Limited. Foxconn Singapore has acquired about 46,08,76,736 shares at Rs 10 each, amounting to nearly $55.29 million (Rs 460.87 crore), said the company. Earlier this year, the Taiwanese tech giant signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government to invest in the state. In this agreement, the company committed to investing in a mobile manufacturing unit, which would create employment opportunities for 50,000 people in the state in next 10 years. Production at the plant is scheduled to commence by April next year, with investments spread over three phases. Foxconn likely to invest Rs 3,000 crore in phase 1 (2023-2024), followed by Rs 4,000 crore in phase 2 (2025-26), and Rs 1,000 crore in phase 3 (2026-27). The manufacturing targets include 1 lakh units of iPhones by December 2025, 50 lakh units by December 2026, 1 crore by December 2027, and 2 crore by December 2028. This move is part of the its China plus one strategy to diversify production away from China. Foxconn is one of the primary suppliers of iPhone components, along with Pegatron and Tata Electronics in India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Alexander Sebastian By

Express News Service

DL 8CBF 2666. A car with a Delhi number plate is cruising through the serene countryside and bustling cities of Europe. One day it is parked somewhere in Munich, on another, it is riding through Georgias capital Tbilisi.

A wonderfully cheeky sticker in Hindi reads: Hans mat pagle, pyar ho jayega (Dont laugh, idiot, youll fall in love). Its passengers are three middle-aged women from Delhi, who are having a Zindagi-Na-Milegi- Dobara momentbut they are on a mission.

Pooja Sharma from Gurugram, along with two of her friends, signed up for the Mongol Rally, an international car rally across 30 countries, in July this year. For Sharma, 43, it was a road trip long postponed, but now she was here for a cause.

Sharma with the Naina doll at

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Sharma founded The Sarvodya Collective, a nonprofit organisation that works towards building informed, enabling and inclusive communities around persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PwIDD), in 2021.

Apart from the Indian bumper sticker, as she calls it, the blue-grey car is spotted with stickers of the organisations message to the world, about joining hands to make it a neuro-inclusive place, an #InclusiveDuniya. The collective aims to address the lack of resources, funding and engagement in the neuro-divergent space.

The rally across Europe was a part of this larger awareness project, with Sharma meeting with various organisations and individuals working in the area of neuro- divergence across countries, developments of which were streamed through and posted on the organisations Instagram page.

Unlike other disabilities, intellectual disabilities are hard to explain to common people because it is not generally visible, says Sharma. She, however, found out about the conflicts and complications faced by people of the community early on in life. Her older brother has an intellectual disability.

Growing up, I realised the difference in the access to opportunities I and my brother had in life. It has always bothered me, she says about leaving behind a successful corporate career in finance to raise awareness about intellectual disabilities. The work is personal also because her mother was a special educator as well. The pandemic exposed the urgent need for addressing a gap with regard to public and governmental engagement with the PwIDD cause.

Talking disability

Education as such had a lot of support at the time. The government was talking about learning apps. But nobody thought how the pandemic situation would affect PwIDD, she says. Conversations around the time also revealed to her that even well-meaning people did not care much because they had little to no understanding about the issue.

One can explain that Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder or how muscle dystonia occurs, but facts and figures mean very little to a common person. They want to know what they can do about it, she says. Sharma works to take the cause mainstream. She has interesting ways of doing it as well. Nainas Inclusive Duniya is an Instagram page run by the collective; it frequently posts comics on the topic of disabilities that people, especially children, can relate with.

A training session at Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, West Vinod Nagar, Delhi

The character of Naina is a neuro-typical girl who has a motley crew of friends with various disabilities. The stories showcase simple ways in which you can show up, be a friend, an ally, in your daily life. It doesnt have to be a grand gesture, Sharma explains. Naina accompanied Sharma on her road trip across Europe as well.

Thirty little Naina dolls, which Sharma gifted to people and little girls she met along the way, are in 30 different countries. One of them was left at the foot of a cross at Finisterre, Spain, after Sharma walked the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrims path for three days, hoping those who find it will usher in a more inclusive world, she wrote on Instagram.

Volunteers welcome

The collective conducts reading circles where groups of preteen and teen students come together with a volunteer-facilitator and engage in conversations about the comics and the topic of disability. The website also offers resources on the topic, including original reports and writings. It also partners with other organisations and individuals working in the field.

Collaborations with established organisations such as the Down Syndrome Federation of India (DSFI) is, for Sharma, a testament to the effectiveness of the medium of comics, which is accessible and comprehensive at the same time. She mentions how several cartoonists on Instagram have practically normalised the topic of mental health.

The work the collective does gives me a lot of hope and confidence, says Keerthana Vinod of Bengaluru, who is mother to a 6-year-old girl whos on the autism spectrum. They help in bringing up informed and open-minded children who could be good companions to our kids. Vinod has been volunteering for the collective in Bengaluru for over three years now.

Comics aside, the collective also works with schools and corporates to establish inclusive classrooms and workspaces. It has an ongoing association with The Sri Ram School and is also collaborating with Teach for India, in working with their fellows who teach at government schools across Delhi.

From a car rally and Insta comics to gifting Naina dolls to little girls across Europe, Gurugrams Pooja Sharma is spreading awareness about intellectual disabilities through her collective. Inclusivity does not need grand gestures, she says.

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DL 8CBF 2666. A car with a Delhi number plate is cruising through the serene countryside and bustling cities of Europe. One day it is parked somewhere in Munich, on another, it is riding through Georgias capital Tbilisi. A wonderfully cheeky sticker in Hindi reads: Hans mat pagle, pyar ho jayega (Dont laugh, idiot, youll fall in love). Its passengers are three middle-aged women from Delhi, who are having a Zindagi-Na-Milegi- Dobara momentbut they are on a mission. Pooja Sharma from Gurugram, along with two of her friends, signed up for the Mongol Rally, an international car rally across 30 countries, in July this year. For Sharma, 43, it was a road trip long postponed, but now she was here for a cause.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sharma with the Naina doll at Santiago de Compostela, SpainSharma founded The Sarvodya Collective, a nonprofit organisation that works towards building informed, enabling and inclusive communities around persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PwIDD), in 2021. Apart from the Indian bumper sticker, as she calls it, the blue-grey car is spotted with stickers of the organisations message to the world, about joining hands to make it a neuro-inclusive place, an #InclusiveDuniya. The collective aims to address the lack of resources, funding and engagement in the neuro-divergent space. The rally across Europe was a part of this larger awareness project, with Sharma meeting with various organisations and individuals working in the area of neuro- divergence across countries, developments of which were streamed through and posted on the organisations Instagram page. Unlike other disabilities, intellectual disabilities are hard to explain to common people because it is not generally visible, says Sharma. She, however, found out about the conflicts and complications faced by people of the community early on in life. Her older brother has an intellectual disability. Growing up, I realised the difference in the access to opportunities I and my brother had in life. It has always bothered me, she says about leaving behind a successful corporate career in finance to raise awareness about intellectual disabilities. The work is personal also because her mother was a special educator as well. The pandemic exposed the urgent need for addressing a gap with regard to public and governmental engagement with the PwIDD cause. Talking disability Education as such had a lot of support at the time. The government was talking about learning apps. But nobody thought how the pandemic situation would affect PwIDD, she says. Conversations around the time also revealed to her that even well-meaning people did not care much because they had little to no understanding about the issue. One can explain that Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder or how muscle dystonia occurs, but facts and figures mean very little to a common person. They want to know what they can do about it, she says. Sharma works to take the cause mainstream. She has interesting ways of doing it as well. Nainas Inclusive Duniya is an Instagram page run by the collective; it frequently posts comics on the topic of disabilities that people, especially children, can relate with. A training session at Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, West Vinod Nagar, Delhi The character of Naina is a neuro-typical girl who has a motley crew of friends with various disabilities. The stories showcase simple ways in which you can show up, be a friend, an ally, in your daily life. It doesnt have to be a grand gesture, Sharma explains. Naina accompanied Sharma on her road trip across Europe as well. Thirty little Naina dolls, which Sharma gifted to people and little girls she met along the way, are in 30 different countries. One of them was left at the foot of a cross at Finisterre, Spain, after Sharma walked the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrims path for three days, hoping those who find it will usher in a more inclusive world, she wrote on Instagram. Volunteers welcome The collective conducts reading circles where groups of preteen and teen students come together with a volunteer-facilitator and engage in conversations about the comics and the topic of disability. The website also offers resources on the topic, including original reports and writings. It also partners with other organisations and individuals working in the field. Collaborations with established organisations such as the Down Syndrome Federation of India (DSFI) is, for Sharma, a testament to the effectiveness of the medium of comics, which is accessible and comprehensive at the same time. She mentions how several cartoonists on Instagram have practically normalised the topic of mental health. The work the collective does gives me a lot of hope and confidence, says Keerthana Vinod of Bengaluru, who is mother to a 6-year-old girl whos on the autism spectrum. They help in bringing up informed and open-minded children who could be good companions to our kids. Vinod has been volunteering for the collective in Bengaluru for over three years now. Comics aside, the collective also works with schools and corporates to establish inclusive classrooms and workspaces. It has an ongoing association with The Sri Ram School and is also collaborating with Teach for India, in working with their fellows who teach at government schools across Delhi. From a car rally and Insta comics to gifting Naina dolls to little girls across Europe, Gurugrams Pooja Sharma is spreading awareness about intellectual disabilities through her collective. Inclusivity does not need grand gestures, she says. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Brain function is impaired in patients following severe COVID-19, but no more than that of people hospitalised with illnesses like pneumonia and cardiac arrest with similar severity, new research has found.

Researchers found that patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 had worse cognitive, neurological and psychiatric effects than healthy participants after an 18-month follow-up period.

However, the researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, also found that these deficits in brain function were not significantly different to those in "carefully matched" patients requiring hospitalisation for pneumonia, myocardial infarction (cardiac arrest), or non-COVID-19, intensive care-requiring illness.

Thus, they say that long-term associations with brain health might not be specific to COVID-19 but associated with overall illness severity and hospitalisation.

They also said that this information was important for putting understandable concerns about brain health after COVID-19 into perspective.

Their findings are published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

Previous studies have found COVID-19 to compromise brain function.

However, however, long-term prospective investigations with matched control cohorts and face-to-face assessments were lacking, the researchers said.

In this study, the team included 345 participants, including 120 patients with COVID-19, 125 patients hospitalised for non-COVID-19 pneumonia, myocardial infarction, or non-COVID-19, ICU-requiring illness and 100 healthy controls.

Over the follow-up period, the participants were evaluated for their cognition and executive function, along with depression and anxiety.

They also underwent a neurological examination, which measured their sensorimotor and cerebellar functions and cranial nerves.

The team also conducted interviews with the patients to gather data on cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms they were experiencing, including fatigue.

The symptoms attributable to the hospitalisation were included in the study, they said.

All the evaluations, except for executive function and impaired sense of smell, showed that patients hospitalised with COVID-19 performed worse than the healthy individuals, but no worse than those hospitalised with similarly severe illnesses, the researchers said.

They also found that patients with COVID-19 had a higher incidence of new psychiatric diagnoses - anxiety and depression - compared with healthy controls, but again, not more than the hospitalised control patients.

They said this observation corroborated previous studies.

The researchers acknowledged that because healthy controls had fewer comorbidities than hospitalised individuals, thus multimorbidity could play a role in both hospitalisation and lasting associations with brain health.

Further, even as studies with broader cognitive test batteries are needed to confirm these findings, brain health after COVID-19 seems overall comparable to that after other diseases of similar severity, they said.

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NEW DELHI: Brain function is impaired in patients following severe COVID-19, but no more than that of people hospitalised with illnesses like pneumonia and cardiac arrest with similar severity, new research has found. Researchers found that patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 had worse cognitive, neurological and psychiatric effects than healthy participants after an 18-month follow-up period. However, the researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, also found that these deficits in brain function were not significantly different to those in "carefully matched" patients requiring hospitalisation for pneumonia, myocardial infarction (cardiac arrest), or non-COVID-19, intensive care-requiring illness.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Thus, they say that long-term associations with brain health might not be specific to COVID-19 but associated with overall illness severity and hospitalisation. They also said that this information was important for putting understandable concerns about brain health after COVID-19 into perspective. Their findings are published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open. Previous studies have found COVID-19 to compromise brain function. However, however, long-term prospective investigations with matched control cohorts and face-to-face assessments were lacking, the researchers said. In this study, the team included 345 participants, including 120 patients with COVID-19, 125 patients hospitalised for non-COVID-19 pneumonia, myocardial infarction, or non-COVID-19, ICU-requiring illness and 100 healthy controls. Over the follow-up period, the participants were evaluated for their cognition and executive function, along with depression and anxiety. They also underwent a neurological examination, which measured their sensorimotor and cerebellar functions and cranial nerves. The team also conducted interviews with the patients to gather data on cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms they were experiencing, including fatigue. The symptoms attributable to the hospitalisation were included in the study, they said. All the evaluations, except for executive function and impaired sense of smell, showed that patients hospitalised with COVID-19 performed worse than the healthy individuals, but no worse than those hospitalised with similarly severe illnesses, the researchers said. They also found that patients with COVID-19 had a higher incidence of new psychiatric diagnoses - anxiety and depression - compared with healthy controls, but again, not more than the hospitalised control patients. They said this observation corroborated previous studies. The researchers acknowledged that because healthy controls had fewer comorbidities than hospitalised individuals, thus multimorbidity could play a role in both hospitalisation and lasting associations with brain health. Further, even as studies with broader cognitive test batteries are needed to confirm these findings, brain health after COVID-19 seems overall comparable to that after other diseases of similar severity, they said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Preetha Nair Namita Bajpai and Mukesh Ranja By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW/RANCHI : The Congress found itself in a sticky situation on Thursday with some of its state units and allies upping the ante over attending the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Though three of its top leaders  Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury  have received invitation from Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Committee, the party is yet to pronounce its stand on the issue.

The confusion has enveloped some INDIA bloc partners with Samajwadi Party chief remaining ambiguous in his stance. We belong to the legacy where temples are visited only if God summons. If Bhagwan calls, I will go, he said while interacting with media on the sidelines of a party event at 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 demanded a ban on the entry of SP leaders in the Ayodhya Ram temple as they were instrumental in opening fire on the Kar sevaks. In Ranchi, JMM executive president Hemant Soren said he would definitely attend the inaugural ceremony, if invited. So far I have not received any invitation, said the CM. I have been going to temples, mosques, gurdwara and churches I have no problem in going there, he said.

In Delhi, when asked if the senior leaders will attend the temple event, Congress general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal told the media that the party will not fall into the trap of the BJP.  That party is politicizing the event. The Congress has already made our position clear. There is no pressure on us, said Venugopal. However, the Congress leader evaded a direct question on if it would be attending the consecration ceremony. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also did not respond to queries.

However, striking a different note, CWC member and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he would not attend the inauguration and that he considers matters of faith to be personal and temples a place to connect with the divine, rather than a stage for political theatre.

Meanwhile, many Kerala leaders have publicly expressed their reservations about the top leaders attending the event. By declining the invitation, the ruling CPM has also scored over the Congress in Kerala.

The partys ambivalent stand on the issue has received flak from its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and other outfits that are aligned with it. The Muslim outfits have also slammed the Congress soft Hindutva approach to garner Hindu votes in the heartland states.

The West Bengal unit of the Congress is also learnt to be against the top leadership attending the event. However, leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are keen that the party should attend the ceremony to avoid electoral fallouts. Earlier senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that Sonia Gandhi is positive about the invitation and she or a delegation will attend the event.

The Congress also faces pressure from its INDIA allies as parties such as TMC, JD(U), RJD and Shiv Sena (UBT) are unlikely to attend the event. Opposition parties have slammed the BJP for turning the event into a political programme. This is all politics, who wants to attend an event organised by the BJP? This is BJPs programme. We will visit Ayodhya after BJPs programme is over, said Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

Mamata flays BJP for playing politics on religion

Addressing a rally in North 24 Parganas on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lambasted the BJP for playing politics over religion. Without referring to the inauguration of Ram Mandir on January 22 in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she accused the saffron camp of playing the religion card before every election. Following religion is an individuals affair. But a festival involves all, irrespective of their religious belief. Before every election, they (BJP) play the religion card, said Mamata.

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NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW/RANCHI : The Congress found itself in a sticky situation on Thursday with some of its state units and allies upping the ante over attending the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Though three of its top leaders  Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury  have received invitation from Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Committee, the party is yet to pronounce its stand on the issue. The confusion has enveloped some INDIA bloc partners with Samajwadi Party chief remaining ambiguous in his stance. We belong to the legacy where temples are visited only if God summons. If Bhagwan calls, I will go, he said while interacting with media on the sidelines of a party event at 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 demanded a ban on the entry of SP leaders in the Ayodhya Ram temple as they were instrumental in opening fire on the Kar sevaks. In Ranchi, JMM executive president Hemant Soren said he would definitely attend the inaugural ceremony, if invited. So far I have not received any invitation, said the CM. I have been going to temples, mosques, gurdwara and churches I have no problem in going there, he said. In Delhi, when asked if the senior leaders will attend the temple event, Congress general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal told the media that the party will not fall into the trap of the BJP.  That party is politicizing the event. The Congress has already made our position clear. There is no pressure on us, said Venugopal. However, the Congress leader evaded a direct question on if it would be attending the consecration ceremony. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also did not respond to queries. However, striking a different note, CWC member and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he would not attend the inauguration and that he considers matters of faith to be personal and temples a place to connect with the divine, rather than a stage for political theatre. Meanwhile, many Kerala leaders have publicly expressed their reservations about the top leaders attending the event. By declining the invitation, the ruling CPM has also scored over the Congress in Kerala. The partys ambivalent stand on the issue has received flak from its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and other outfits that are aligned with it. The Muslim outfits have also slammed the Congress soft Hindutva approach to garner Hindu votes in the heartland states. The West Bengal unit of the Congress is also learnt to be against the top leadership attending the event. However, leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are keen that the party should attend the ceremony to avoid electoral fallouts. Earlier senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that Sonia Gandhi is positive about the invitation and she or a delegation will attend the event. The Congress also faces pressure from its INDIA allies as parties such as TMC, JD(U), RJD and Shiv Sena (UBT) are unlikely to attend the event. Opposition parties have slammed the BJP for turning the event into a political programme. This is all politics, who wants to attend an event organised by the BJP? This is BJPs programme. We will visit Ayodhya after BJPs programme is over, said Sena MP Sanjay Raut. Mamata flays BJP for playing politics on religion Addressing a rally in North 24 Parganas on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lambasted the BJP for playing politics over religion. Without referring to the inauguration of Ram Mandir on January 22 in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she accused the saffron camp of playing the religion card before every election. Following religion is an individuals affair. But a festival involves all, irrespective of their religious belief. Before every election, they (BJP) play the religion card, said Mamata. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday approached a court seeking permission to conduct a polygraph test of all the six people arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach case.

A polygraph test, commonly known as a lie detector test, is a procedure in which physiological indicators of a person such as blood pressure, pulse, and respiration, are recorded while the alleged is answering a series of questions.

For every answer, the forensic scientists would share their opinion, based on readings, whether the accused person was truthful or lying. Investigators say that if the polygraph test does not provide the desired results, the police may even go ahead and seek Narco test, as has been seen in several cases earlier.

Narco analysis, also known as truth serum, involves the intravenous administration of a drug (such as sodium pentothal, scopolamine, and sodium amytal) that causes the person undergoing it to enter into various stages of anesthesia.

In the hypnotic stage, the person becomes less inhibited and is more likely to divulge information, which would usually not be revealed in the conscious state. The investigating agencies use this test after other evidence does not provide a clear picture of the case.

The application for the polygraph test was moved before the Additional Sessions Judge, who posted the matter for January 2, noting that the counsel representing some of the accused was not present. The police had brought all 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. Notably on December 13, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D had intruded Parliament while two others  Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi  released coloured smoke from canisters.

On the day of the incident, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat were also present near Parliament and they had taken away the mobile phones of the four other accused just before executing their plan and made a hasty getaway. Both of them surrendered before the police, a day later.

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NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday approached a court seeking permission to conduct a polygraph test of all the six people arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach case. A polygraph test, commonly known as a lie detector test, is a procedure in which physiological indicators of a person such as blood pressure, pulse, and respiration, are recorded while the alleged is answering a series of questions. For every answer, the forensic scientists would share their opinion, based on readings, whether the accused person was truthful or lying. Investigators say that if the polygraph test does not provide the desired results, the police may even go ahead and seek Narco test, as has been seen in several cases earlier.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Narco analysis, also known as truth serum, involves the intravenous administration of a drug (such as sodium pentothal, scopolamine, and sodium amytal) that causes the person undergoing it to enter into various stages of anesthesia. In the hypnotic stage, the person becomes less inhibited and is more likely to divulge information, which would usually not be revealed in the conscious state. The investigating agencies use this test after other evidence does not provide a clear picture of the case. The application for the polygraph test was moved before the Additional Sessions Judge, who posted the matter for January 2, noting that the counsel representing some of the accused was not present. The police had brought all 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. Notably on December 13, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D had intruded Parliament while two others  Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi  released coloured smoke from canisters. On the day of the incident, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat were also present near Parliament and they had taken away the mobile phones of the four other accused just before executing their plan and made a hasty getaway. Both of them surrendered before the police, a day later. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has said that the right to life includes a convicts right to procreate, while allowing a four-week parole to a 41-year-old man in prison for murder so that he can have a child with his wife with medical help.

A convict does not become a lesser citizen due to his incarceration. The fundamental right to have a child cannot be deemed to be surrendered in favour of the State. Delay in having a biological child would mean curtailing this fundamental right to parenthood, due to incarceration of a convict, the Delhi HC said in its recent order.

The petitioner, who is childless, has been in prison for the last 14 years. He sought parole on the ground that he and his wife wanted to protect their lineage and plans to have a child through in vitro fertilisation.

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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has said that the right to life includes a convicts right to procreate, while allowing a four-week parole to a 41-year-old man in prison for murder so that he can have a child with his wife with medical help. A convict does not become a lesser citizen due to his incarceration. The fundamental right to have a child cannot be deemed to be surrendered in favour of the State. Delay in having a biological child would mean curtailing this fundamental right to parenthood, due to incarceration of a convict, the Delhi HC said in its recent order. The petitioner, who is childless, has been in prison for the last 14 years. He sought parole on the ground that he and his wife wanted to protect their lineage and plans to have a child through in vitro fertilisation. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Express News Service

If 2023 saw the internationalisation of education with premier Indian institutes like IITs setting up campuses abroad and two Australian foreign universities setting up their campuses here, the coming year will pave the way for India to become the global provider of education  an ambitious aim set up by the National Education Policy (2020).

Though the push will continue to be on further providing Indian students access to world-class higher education and research opportunities not only outside but within the country too, the much-awaited event in the education sector that will shape the future of school-going children, and which will perhaps generate more controversy in 2024, will be the roll-out of the NCERT textbooks, revised on the lines of NEP, for Classes 6 to 12.

For school students, the road ahead could be a bit bumpy, just like when the maiden CUET was launched in 2021 without much preparation. The draft National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has proposed two board exams for Class 10 and 12 students and the scrapping of the arts, science, and humanities streams for higher secondary students for the academic session 2024-25. But there is no further word on this yet.

Though the draft NCF also gives the option to students to quit school after Class 10, pursue vocational education in grades 11 and 12 if they wish to, and design their course combination and freedom to choose across streams, so far there is no clarity from the ministry on how this will unfold next year. What will also create some confusion would be the sudden introduction of three languages in school years.

The coming year will also see the setting up of the rest of the PM Shri schools in India. A total of 14,500 PM Shri schools or the PM Schools for Rising India for upgradation of schools are to be set up by the Centre. This year, 6,448 schools were selected, and `630.11 crore has been released to 6,207 PM Shri schools in 27 states and UTs as the first instalment. It will also be seen whether states such as Bihar, Delhi, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which have not yet signed an MoU with the Centre despite many requests, will join the scheme. Punjab, after joining in, has now dropped out.

While school education will continue to hog much limelight in the coming year, just like it did this year, with controversies over the dropping of several topics and portions from NCERT textbooks, it is the higher education sector that is set to see a boom.

While the two Australian universities  Deakin University and the University of Wollongong  are all set to welcome students to their campuses from next academic year, more foreign universities have shown interest in setting up their campuses in India, especially at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City or GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Moreover, as regulations on setting up and operating campuses of foreign Higher Education Institutions in India have been issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), India will see the entry of more top-ranking global universities setting campuses here.

Speaking to this paper, UGC chairman Prof M Jagadesh Kumar said, The regulations will provide a global dimension to higher education in India and enable Indian students to obtain foreign qualifications at affordable cost. The regulations aim to make India an attractive global study destination.

While providing global exposure to Indian students, the Indian students will also be able to study internationally relevant curricula, courses, and programmes, he added. The other goal for the UGC next year would be to work with affiliated colleges and encourage them to become autonomous; establish more deemed-to-be universities in niche areas to further the research ecosystem of universities, and implement the national curriculum framework, which aims to transform higher education.

The year also saw a growing concern over students death by suicide, the highest being reported from the IITs. The focus for the UGC, the Centre and states will be on redressing students grievances, especially from the reserved category. Next year certainly holds a lot of promise for the Indian education system as it draws closer to its vision of achieving NEP 2020 goals rooted in Indian ethos, thus making India a global knowledge superpower.

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If 2023 saw the internationalisation of education with premier Indian institutes like IITs setting up campuses abroad and two Australian foreign universities setting up their campuses here, the coming year will pave the way for India to become the global provider of education  an ambitious aim set up by the National Education Policy (2020). Though the push will continue to be on further providing Indian students access to world-class higher education and research opportunities not only outside but within the country too, the much-awaited event in the education sector that will shape the future of school-going children, and which will perhaps generate more controversy in 2024, will be the roll-out of the NCERT textbooks, revised on the lines of NEP, for Classes 6 to 12. For school students, the road ahead could be a bit bumpy, just like when the maiden CUET was launched in 2021 without much preparation. The draft National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has proposed two board exams for Class 10 and 12 students and the scrapping of the arts, science, and humanities streams for higher secondary students for the academic session 2024-25. But there is no further word on this yet.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Though the draft NCF also gives the option to students to quit school after Class 10, pursue vocational education in grades 11 and 12 if they wish to, and design their course combination and freedom to choose across streams, so far there is no clarity from the ministry on how this will unfold next year. What will also create some confusion would be the sudden introduction of three languages in school years. The coming year will also see the setting up of the rest of the PM Shri schools in India. A total of 14,500 PM Shri schools or the PM Schools for Rising India for upgradation of schools are to be set up by the Centre. This year, 6,448 schools were selected, and `630.11 crore has been released to 6,207 PM Shri schools in 27 states and UTs as the first instalment. It will also be seen whether states such as Bihar, Delhi, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which have not yet signed an MoU with the Centre despite many requests, will join the scheme. Punjab, after joining in, has now dropped out. While school education will continue to hog much limelight in the coming year, just like it did this year, with controversies over the dropping of several topics and portions from NCERT textbooks, it is the higher education sector that is set to see a boom. While the two Australian universities  Deakin University and the University of Wollongong  are all set to welcome students to their campuses from next academic year, more foreign universities have shown interest in setting up their campuses in India, especially at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City or GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Moreover, as regulations on setting up and operating campuses of foreign Higher Education Institutions in India have been issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), India will see the entry of more top-ranking global universities setting campuses here. Speaking to this paper, UGC chairman Prof M Jagadesh Kumar said, The regulations will provide a global dimension to higher education in India and enable Indian students to obtain foreign qualifications at affordable cost. The regulations aim to make India an attractive global study destination. While providing global exposure to Indian students, the Indian students will also be able to study internationally relevant curricula, courses, and programmes, he added. The other goal for the UGC next year would be to work with affiliated colleges and encourage them to become autonomous; establish more deemed-to-be universities in niche areas to further the research ecosystem of universities, and implement the national curriculum framework, which aims to transform higher education. The year also saw a growing concern over students death by suicide, the highest being reported from the IITs. The focus for the UGC, the Centre and states will be on redressing students grievances, especially from the reserved category. Next year certainly holds a lot of promise for the Indian education system as it draws closer to its vision of achieving NEP 2020 goals rooted in Indian ethos, thus making India a global knowledge superpower. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat has received foreign direct investment worth Rs 2.39 lakh crore or USD 31 billion between October 2019 and March 2023 and is among the top Indian states in attracting FDI, according to an official release.

FDI in Gujarat has increased consistently over the years due to the efforts of the state government and the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) has played a crucial role in achieving it, the release said.

The 10th edition of the biennial VGGS is scheduled to be held in January next year in Gandhinagar.

Officials said Gujarat is among the top investment destinations in the country and has received FDI worth Rs 2.39 lakh crore (USD 31 billion) from October 2019 to March 2023.

The state saw a rise of nearly 84 per cent in FDI in 2022-23 compared to the previous year, which was the highest among all the states and Union Territories, as per the website of VGGS.

"Gujarat accounted for 30 per cent of the total Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum or IEMs implemented (Rs 1.04 lakh crore) in 2021, which was also the highest among all the states and UTs," said the website.

With its "outstanding infrastructure, connectivity, and qualified workforce", the state government has been putting in efforts to improve the business climate in Gujarat under the "Ease of Doing Business" initiative, officials said.

This includes setting up of investor facilitation portal, online issuance of approvals and licences, digitised land bank and self-certification, they said, adding that the state is coursing on the path of development and creating new patterns of progress and prosperity.

While there were no partner countries in the earlier editions of the vibrant Gujarat summit, by 2019, the mega investors' meet had seen the participation of 15 partner countries, according to the release.

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AHMEDABAD: Gujarat has received foreign direct investment worth Rs 2.39 lakh crore or USD 31 billion between October 2019 and March 2023 and is among the top Indian states in attracting FDI, according to an official release. FDI in Gujarat has increased consistently over the years due to the efforts of the state government and the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) has played a crucial role in achieving it, the release said. The 10th edition of the biennial VGGS is scheduled to be held in January next year in Gandhinagar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Officials said Gujarat is among the top investment destinations in the country and has received FDI worth Rs 2.39 lakh crore (USD 31 billion) from October 2019 to March 2023. The state saw a rise of nearly 84 per cent in FDI in 2022-23 compared to the previous year, which was the highest among all the states and Union Territories, as per the website of VGGS. "Gujarat accounted for 30 per cent of the total Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum or IEMs implemented (Rs 1.04 lakh crore) in 2021, which was also the highest among all the states and UTs," said the website. With its "outstanding infrastructure, connectivity, and qualified workforce", the state government has been putting in efforts to improve the business climate in Gujarat under the "Ease of Doing Business" initiative, officials said. This includes setting up of investor facilitation portal, online issuance of approvals and licences, digitised land bank and self-certification, they said, adding that the state is coursing on the path of development and creating new patterns of progress and prosperity. While there were no partner countries in the earlier editions of the vibrant Gujarat summit, by 2019, the mega investors' meet had seen the participation of 15 partner countries, according to the release. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: In a daring twist of smuggling ingenuity, border-crossing smugglers devised a cunning strategy to sneak heroin into India. They concealed the illicit narcotics within innocent-looking paper sheets, strategically nestled at the base of crates filled with fresh apples imported from Afghanistan.

The covert operation unravelled when vigilant officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in collaboration with the crime branch of the Delhi Police, received a tip-off on September 22. Acting on this intelligence, they swooped in on a consignment of 2503 plastic crates, each brimming with crisp apples from Afghanistan, at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) Attari.

As they intercepted, examined, and meticulously scanned the refrigerated truck destined for Delhi, everything seemed in perfect order. Swift action followed as the heroin-laden paper sheets were seized on December 12, and a case was registered under the NDPS Act.

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CHANDIGARH: In a daring twist of smuggling ingenuity, border-crossing smugglers devised a cunning strategy to sneak heroin into India. They concealed the illicit narcotics within innocent-looking paper sheets, strategically nestled at the base of crates filled with fresh apples imported from Afghanistan. The covert operation unravelled when vigilant officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in collaboration with the crime branch of the Delhi Police, received a tip-off on September 22. Acting on this intelligence, they swooped in on a consignment of 2503 plastic crates, each brimming with crisp apples from Afghanistan, at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) Attari. As they intercepted, examined, and meticulously scanned the refrigerated truck destined for Delhi, everything seemed in perfect order. Swift action followed as the heroin-laden paper sheets were seized on December 12, and a case was registered under the NDPS Act. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India has sought the extradition of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed who is wanted in the country for many terror related incidents including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that led to the deaths of 175 people and injured over 300.

A country can request extradition from another country even if there is no extradition treaty, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"As you are aware, the person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request, along with relevant supporting documents, to the government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, adding that this was communicated to Pakistan recently.

India has for long been urging Pakistan to hand over Saeed to face trial over the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Saeed also carries a $10 million bounty by the US government.

Meanwhile, Hafizs son Talha Saeed is reported to have shown interest in contesting the upcoming elections in Pakistan.

"The mainstreaming of radical terrorist outfits in Pakistan is nothing new and has been a part of the state policy for a long time. Such developments have serious implications for the security of our region. We will of course continue to monitor all developments that have an implication on our national security," Bagchi added.

India designated Talha a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in April 2022. He serves as the Lashkar-e-Taibas second-in-command, controlling its finances.

In 2019, Talha escaped an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded inside a refrigerator shop in Lahore.

According to the government notification, Talha is the head of the cleric wing of the LeT, which is a proscribed organisation under the UAPA.

ALSO READ | 16 years on, Pakistan's first woman PM Benazir Bhutto's death remains 'mystery': Report

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NEW DELHI: India has sought the extradition of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed who is wanted in the country for many terror related incidents including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that led to the deaths of 175 people and injured over 300. A country can request extradition from another country even if there is no extradition treaty, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "As you are aware, the person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request, along with relevant supporting documents, to the government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, adding that this was communicated to Pakistan recently.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); India has for long been urging Pakistan to hand over Saeed to face trial over the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Saeed also carries a $10 million bounty by the US government. Meanwhile, Hafizs son Talha Saeed is reported to have shown interest in contesting the upcoming elections in Pakistan. "The mainstreaming of radical terrorist outfits in Pakistan is nothing new and has been a part of the state policy for a long time. Such developments have serious implications for the security of our region. We will of course continue to monitor all developments that have an implication on our national security," Bagchi added. India designated Talha a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in April 2022. He serves as the Lashkar-e-Taibas second-in-command, controlling its finances. In 2019, Talha escaped an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded inside a refrigerator shop in Lahore. According to the government notification, Talha is the head of the cleric wing of the LeT, which is a proscribed organisation under the UAPA. ALSO READ | 16 years on, Pakistan's first woman PM Benazir Bhutto's death remains 'mystery': Report Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday reiterated his promise of conducting caste census across the country if the party comes to power in the 2024 elections. Addressing a rally to mark the 139th foundation day of the party in Nagpur, Rahul said the OBCs, Dalits and tribals do not have enough representation in many sectors.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi would describe himself as an OBC. But after my demand (of caste census), he says there is only one caste, the poor. If there is only one caste, why do you say you are an OBC? Rahul asked.

When we come to power, we will carry out caste census and ensure equal representation of all castes. We do not want two Hindustans, one for the poor and another for the rich, Rahul added. He also attacked Modi for not delivering on his promise of two crore jobs to the youth. Instead, the unemployment rate in India is at its highest in 40 years, Rahul alleged.

The youth have no work and are therefore wasting 7-8 hours scrolling social media sites. The situation is grim. Only the Oppositions INDIA bloc can give them jobs, Rahul said. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, in his address, promised the implementation of the minimum income support programme, NYAY, to empower women and the poor. Nagpur has two ideologies, one of Ambedkar which is progressive and the other of the RSS which is destroying the nation, Mallikarjun Kharge said.

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MUMBAI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday reiterated his promise of conducting caste census across the country if the party comes to power in the 2024 elections. Addressing a rally to mark the 139th foundation day of the party in Nagpur, Rahul said the OBCs, Dalits and tribals do not have enough representation in many sectors. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi would describe himself as an OBC. But after my demand (of caste census), he says there is only one caste, the poor. If there is only one caste, why do you say you are an OBC? Rahul asked. When we come to power, we will carry out caste census and ensure equal representation of all castes. We do not want two Hindustans, one for the poor and another for the rich, Rahul added. He also attacked Modi for not delivering on his promise of two crore jobs to the youth. Instead, the unemployment rate in India is at its highest in 40 years, Rahul alleged.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The youth have no work and are therefore wasting 7-8 hours scrolling social media sites. The situation is grim. Only the Oppositions INDIA bloc can give them jobs, Rahul said. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, in his address, promised the implementation of the minimum income support programme, NYAY, to empower women and the poor. Nagpur has two ideologies, one of Ambedkar which is progressive and the other of the RSS which is destroying the nation, Mallikarjun Kharge said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected Janata Dal (United) president on Friday with the party projecting him as the "hope of backwards, extremely backwards, minorities and unemployed youth" and urged bigger parties in the INDIA bloc to "show a big heart" to make the alliance successful.

While Kumar, in his brief speech, reiterated that he seeks no post and will work to make the alliance stronger, the resolution adopted at the JD(U)'s national council meeting asked the bloc to give "any leader responsibilities as per experience and capability" and said there are few leaders as experienced as him in the national politics.

The national council meeting followed the party's national executive meeting in which Lalan Singh stepped down as its president and Kumar was elected in his place at a time when the JD(U), whose political fortunes have been on a decline, gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The council unanimously endorsed Kumar's election. Both he and Singh also slammed the reports about a rift within the party, with Singh asserting that it will remain one and will never go back to allying with the BJP.

Kumar was characteristically sober in his remarks after taking over the mantle but accused the BJP of "misleading" people and not delivering on its promises, including providing employment.

He exhorted his party leaders to work unitedly and spread the word about the good work of the Bihar government in carrying out caste census, giving jobs and boosting the state's development, sources said.

Kumar was also authorised to take decisions in talks with INDIA bloc parties and all organisational matters.

Replying to questions, JD(U) chief spokesperson K C Tyagi said the BJP is not an enemy as "there is no enemy in politics but only disagreements" but ruled out any alliance with the ruling party at the Centre.

Asked if JD(U) leaders will attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22, he said the party will consider the proposal if it gets an invitation and noted every party has accepted the Supreme Court verdict which paved the way for the temple's construction.

Amid disquiet among a section of party leaders over Kumar not being given any prominent position within the INDIA grouping, Tyagi said in an answer to a related question that the chief minister is the "convenor" and "prime minister" of the ideas guiding the opposition alliance.

He said Kumar took over as the party president because of his wide acceptability and that he is best placed in dealing with allies.

However, the political resolution adopted at the party has gone to extra lengths to highlight his leadership credentials and his ability to take everyone along even under adverse circumstances, in a clear pitch for a key formal role for him in the INDIA bloc.

Describing him as an architect of the alliance, it said, "Nitish ji symbolises the hope of the backwards, extremely backwards, deprived, minorities and crores of unemployed youths."

"The JD(U) believes that bigger parties in the alliance have more responsibilities. They will have to show a big heart to make this grand alliance successful. They will have to be generous if any leader has to be given the responsibility as per experience and capabilities," it said.

The bigger parties are a clear reference to the likes of the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, which have been cold so far to the idea of elevating Kumar within their alliance.

The JD(U) also accused the BJP of pitting 'Sanatan' against the Constitution while claiming that the central government was headed towards a "dictatorship".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "failed" in fulfilling his promise of giving employment to two crore youngsters while Kumar has given five lakh jobs and employment, which is a record, it claimed in its resolution.

The BJP is rattled as the INDIA bloc has a leader like Kumar, it added.

The JD(U) said the Bihar government's caste survey has brought the issue of a nationwide caste census to the centre stage with no party opposing it.

Tyagi said even BJP allies and Union ministers like Pashupati Kumar Paras and Anupriya Patel have pitched for a caste census.

"Supporting the caste census has become a historic compulsion of the parties like the Congress or the BJP. It is a victory of our idea that the caste census has become such a big issue," he said.

One of the four resolutions condemned the central government's "dictatorial" attitude behind the suspension of 146 opposition MPs during Parliament's winter session and also expressed concern at the security breach in Parliament.

While stepping down, Singh proposed Kumar's name, saying his leadership will be needed at this crucial juncture in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls while he will be busy fighting his own election.

He currently represents the Munger constituency in Lok Sabha. Sources said most key leaders within the party were of the view that Kumar being its most prominent face should take charge of the organisation at this crucial time.

Singh's leadership style has also been criticised by several leaders within the party in their recent interactions with Kumar, the sources said.

Amid reports of a rift within the party, the chief minister has worked to project a picture of unity by keeping him by his side.

Kumar said in the executive meeting that he was not personally keen to take over as the party's president but would abide by the decision.

Several enthusiastic members of the party raised slogans at the venue, projecting their leader as a prime ministerial candidate.

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NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected Janata Dal (United) president on Friday with the party projecting him as the "hope of backwards, extremely backwards, minorities and unemployed youth" and urged bigger parties in the INDIA bloc to "show a big heart" to make the alliance successful. While Kumar, in his brief speech, reiterated that he seeks no post and will work to make the alliance stronger, the resolution adopted at the JD(U)'s national council meeting asked the bloc to give "any leader responsibilities as per experience and capability" and said there are few leaders as experienced as him in the national politics. The national council meeting followed the party's national executive meeting in which Lalan Singh stepped down as its president and Kumar was elected in his place at a time when the JD(U), whose political fortunes have been on a decline, gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The council unanimously endorsed Kumar's election. Both he and Singh also slammed the reports about a rift within the party, with Singh asserting that it will remain one and will never go back to allying with the BJP. Kumar was characteristically sober in his remarks after taking over the mantle but accused the BJP of "misleading" people and not delivering on its promises, including providing employment. He exhorted his party leaders to work unitedly and spread the word about the good work of the Bihar government in carrying out caste census, giving jobs and boosting the state's development, sources said. Kumar was also authorised to take decisions in talks with INDIA bloc parties and all organisational matters. Replying to questions, JD(U) chief spokesperson K C Tyagi said the BJP is not an enemy as "there is no enemy in politics but only disagreements" but ruled out any alliance with the ruling party at the Centre. Asked if JD(U) leaders will attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22, he said the party will consider the proposal if it gets an invitation and noted every party has accepted the Supreme Court verdict which paved the way for the temple's construction. Amid disquiet among a section of party leaders over Kumar not being given any prominent position within the INDIA grouping, Tyagi said in an answer to a related question that the chief minister is the "convenor" and "prime minister" of the ideas guiding the opposition alliance. He said Kumar took over as the party president because of his wide acceptability and that he is best placed in dealing with allies. However, the political resolution adopted at the party has gone to extra lengths to highlight his leadership credentials and his ability to take everyone along even under adverse circumstances, in a clear pitch for a key formal role for him in the INDIA bloc. Describing him as an architect of the alliance, it said, "Nitish ji symbolises the hope of the backwards, extremely backwards, deprived, minorities and crores of unemployed youths." "The JD(U) believes that bigger parties in the alliance have more responsibilities. They will have to show a big heart to make this grand alliance successful. They will have to be generous if any leader has to be given the responsibility as per experience and capabilities," it said. The bigger parties are a clear reference to the likes of the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, which have been cold so far to the idea of elevating Kumar within their alliance. The JD(U) also accused the BJP of pitting 'Sanatan' against the Constitution while claiming that the central government was headed towards a "dictatorship". Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "failed" in fulfilling his promise of giving employment to two crore youngsters while Kumar has given five lakh jobs and employment, which is a record, it claimed in its resolution. The BJP is rattled as the INDIA bloc has a leader like Kumar, it added. The JD(U) said the Bihar government's caste survey has brought the issue of a nationwide caste census to the centre stage with no party opposing it. Tyagi said even BJP allies and Union ministers like Pashupati Kumar Paras and Anupriya Patel have pitched for a caste census. "Supporting the caste census has become a historic compulsion of the parties like the Congress or the BJP. It is a victory of our idea that the caste census has become such a big issue," he said. One of the four resolutions condemned the central government's "dictatorial" attitude behind the suspension of 146 opposition MPs during Parliament's winter session and also expressed concern at the security breach in Parliament. While stepping down, Singh proposed Kumar's name, saying his leadership will be needed at this crucial juncture in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls while he will be busy fighting his own election. He currently represents the Munger constituency in Lok Sabha. Sources said most key leaders within the party were of the view that Kumar being its most prominent face should take charge of the organisation at this crucial time. Singh's leadership style has also been criticised by several leaders within the party in their recent interactions with Kumar, the sources said. Amid reports of a rift within the party, the chief minister has worked to project a picture of unity by keeping him by his side. Kumar said in the executive meeting that he was not personally keen to take over as the party's president but would abide by the decision. Several enthusiastic members of the party raised slogans at the venue, projecting their leader as a prime ministerial candidate. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Shahid Faridi By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal (United) has no plan to quit the INDIA bloc. The partys national executive, at its meeting on Friday, plans adopt a resolution on the misrule of the BJP-led NDA government. Sources said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, at the JD(U) office bearers meet on Thursday, asked party leaders to ignore the misinformation being spread by vested interests that he plans to leave the INDIA bloc and realign with the NDA. He said he was committed to strengthening the opposition alliance and defeating the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

At the party office-bearers meeting, a day before the national executive meeting in Delhi, Nitish said the party will expose the BJPs double-speak on social justice and employment creation in the political resolution to be adopted by the national executive.

Sources said the resolution will highlight the BJPs refusal to conduct a nationwide caste survey which is preventing the backward classes from getting their due share in education and employment. There have been reports of Nitish being miffed with the INDIA leaders for not making him the convenor of the bloc in spite of his efforts in bringing the disparate groups together.

The Bihar Chief Minister told party leaders that he had ruled out himself from the race for Prime Ministership right in the beginning of INDIA formation. He said he is not looking for any post at this stage of his career.

He also asked party leaders to pay no heed to reports on the possibility of a split in the party. He said there are no difference in the party on fighting the BJP and it will go into the next election as one unit.

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NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal (United) has no plan to quit the INDIA bloc. The partys national executive, at its meeting on Friday, plans adopt a resolution on the misrule of the BJP-led NDA government. Sources said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, at the JD(U) office bearers meet on Thursday, asked party leaders to ignore the misinformation being spread by vested interests that he plans to leave the INDIA bloc and realign with the NDA. He said he was committed to strengthening the opposition alliance and defeating the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. At the party office-bearers meeting, a day before the national executive meeting in Delhi, Nitish said the party will expose the BJPs double-speak on social justice and employment creation in the political resolution to be adopted by the national executive. Sources said the resolution will highlight the BJPs refusal to conduct a nationwide caste survey which is preventing the backward classes from getting their due share in education and employment. There have been reports of Nitish being miffed with the INDIA leaders for not making him the convenor of the bloc in spite of his efforts in bringing the disparate groups together.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Bihar Chief Minister told party leaders that he had ruled out himself from the race for Prime Ministership right in the beginning of INDIA formation. He said he is not looking for any post at this stage of his career. He also asked party leaders to pay no heed to reports on the possibility of a split in the party. He said there are no difference in the party on fighting the BJP and it will go into the next election as one unit. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As COVID-19 cases surge in India, the one question on the minds of many Indians is whether one should mask up as they party this New Year's Eve.

While the Centre has said one has to be alert and not panic and has not issued any advisory on wearing masks even as JN.1, a new COVID-19 subvariant, is leading the current COVID surge, experts said masking is always better, especially for those who are co-morbid and are above 60.

They should also avoid visiting closed, poorly ventilated, and crowded places like restaurants and hotels.

However, for many people, mask-wearing is a thing of the past. In a study, nearly 3 in 4 Indians who were surveyed said masks are history and rarely anyone wears them now, even when COVID cases are spiking in the country.

The survey was carried out by LocalCircles, Indias leading community social media platform.

When asked whether they would be partying, considering the rise in COVID cases, 29% said they plan to socialise over New Year. However, 58% said they plan to stay home with their immediate family.

Only seven per cent said they dont plan to socialise over New Year this year because of COVID risk and other reasons. The survey covered 24,000 people in 317 districts in India.

According to Prof G C Khilnani, Chairman of PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and former professor and head of the pulmonary medicine and sleep disorders at AIIMS, It is always better if everyone wears a mask. People need to protect their families. The young and healthy might not get infected, but they can transmit it to their elderly parents or children.

Khilnani said in India, everyone has been infected at least once and vaccinated, so they have developed immunity. But this new strain has the potential to evade pre-existing immunity. JN.1 is highly transmissible. This was seen in Singapore, and thus they re-introduced the mask mandate.

He said that the new strain is said to cause mild illness in young and healthy people; but can be dangerous for those who are co-morbid, obese, have low immunity, have heart conditions, are aged, diabetic, or undergoing chemotherapy.

So, even if there is no government advisory, it is always better to mask up. This will also help prevent community transmission, he told The New Indian Express.

Karnataka, which is reporting the second-highest COVID cases and deaths in the country, is the only state that has made it mandatory for those above 60 years of age with comorbidities and symptoms of cough, phlegm and fever to wear masks.

Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder and Director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, also advised that while the festive cheer is in the air, one should not let ones guard down against COVID-19.

Wearing masks in public places on December 31st is still advisable. It's a simple act that protects yourself and others, ensuring a safer and happier New Year for everyone."

He said large gatherings on New Year's Eve increase the risk of transmission, especially indoors or in crowded spaces.

Mask-wearing remains an effective tool in reducing the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and the flu, he told The New Indian Express.

Sachin Taparia, founder of LocalCircles, who conducted the survey, said every COVID infection causes accumulative damage to the immune system and increases the risk of long COVID.

The current situation looks very similar to December 2021 when the Omicron variant started spreading in the last two weeks of December and surged in the first two weeks of January, with many falling sick with mild symptoms. We should learn from that experience and exercise caution, he said.

According to figures updated by the Indian Sars-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (Insacog) on their website, 162 samples across nine states have been detected to have the JN.1 sub-variant till Friday.

Kerala, with 83, had the maximum number of JN.1 cases, followed by 34 in Gujarat, 18 in Goa, eight in Karnataka, seven in Maharashtra, five in Rajasthan, four in Tamil Nadu, two in Telangana and one in Delhi.

ALSO READ | Covid impairs brain health, but not more than pneumonia, cardiac arrest, or critical illness: Study

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NEW DELHI: As COVID-19 cases surge in India, the one question on the minds of many Indians is whether one should mask up as they party this New Year's Eve. While the Centre has said one has to be alert and not panic and has not issued any advisory on wearing masks even as JN.1, a new COVID-19 subvariant, is leading the current COVID surge, experts said masking is always better, especially for those who are co-morbid and are above 60. They should also avoid visiting closed, poorly ventilated, and crowded places like restaurants and hotels.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, for many people, mask-wearing is a thing of the past. In a study, nearly 3 in 4 Indians who were surveyed said masks are history and rarely anyone wears them now, even when COVID cases are spiking in the country. The survey was carried out by LocalCircles, Indias leading community social media platform. When asked whether they would be partying, considering the rise in COVID cases, 29% said they plan to socialise over New Year. However, 58% said they plan to stay home with their immediate family. Only seven per cent said they dont plan to socialise over New Year this year because of COVID risk and other reasons. The survey covered 24,000 people in 317 districts in India. According to Prof G C Khilnani, Chairman of PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and former professor and head of the pulmonary medicine and sleep disorders at AIIMS, It is always better if everyone wears a mask. People need to protect their families. The young and healthy might not get infected, but they can transmit it to their elderly parents or children. Khilnani said in India, everyone has been infected at least once and vaccinated, so they have developed immunity. But this new strain has the potential to evade pre-existing immunity. JN.1 is highly transmissible. This was seen in Singapore, and thus they re-introduced the mask mandate. He said that the new strain is said to cause mild illness in young and healthy people; but can be dangerous for those who are co-morbid, obese, have low immunity, have heart conditions, are aged, diabetic, or undergoing chemotherapy. So, even if there is no government advisory, it is always better to mask up. This will also help prevent community transmission, he told The New Indian Express. Karnataka, which is reporting the second-highest COVID cases and deaths in the country, is the only state that has made it mandatory for those above 60 years of age with comorbidities and symptoms of cough, phlegm and fever to wear masks. Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder and Director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, also advised that while the festive cheer is in the air, one should not let ones guard down against COVID-19. Wearing masks in public places on December 31st is still advisable. It's a simple act that protects yourself and others, ensuring a safer and happier New Year for everyone." He said large gatherings on New Year's Eve increase the risk of transmission, especially indoors or in crowded spaces. Mask-wearing remains an effective tool in reducing the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and the flu, he told The New Indian Express. Sachin Taparia, founder of LocalCircles, who conducted the survey, said every COVID infection causes accumulative damage to the immune system and increases the risk of long COVID. The current situation looks very similar to December 2021 when the Omicron variant started spreading in the last two weeks of December and surged in the first two weeks of January, with many falling sick with mild symptoms. We should learn from that experience and exercise caution, he said. According to figures updated by the Indian Sars-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (Insacog) on their website, 162 samples across nine states have been detected to have the JN.1 sub-variant till Friday. Kerala, with 83, had the maximum number of JN.1 cases, followed by 34 in Gujarat, 18 in Goa, eight in Karnataka, seven in Maharashtra, five in Rajasthan, four in Tamil Nadu, two in Telangana and one in Delhi. ALSO READ | Covid impairs brain health, but not more than pneumonia, cardiac arrest, or critical illness: Study Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
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.]
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India and Qatar had signed a treaty in 2015 for the transfer of sentenced prisoners between the two countries. It was signed during the visit of the then Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah. However, since the treaty wasnt ratified by Qatar, its provisions could not be used to bring back the eight naval veterans who are under detention in Doha since August 30, 2022.

"Once a treaty like this one is signed, both nations have to ratify it. Not sure whether Qatari side ratified it. We did ratify it in India," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

After the signing of the treaty, within 90 days it has to be ratified by either side and the paper of ratification has to be shared with the other country. However, no such document on behalf of Qatar is available with India.

"Last year the eight naval officers, a few months after being kept under detention and solitary confinement, were asked by Qatars ministry of interior to return to their homes, pack their bags following which they would be sent back to India. And when they did return with their bags, instead of being sent to India, they went back into detention. It is possible that India was exploring their transfer under the agreement but since it wasnt ratified, it didnt translate into reality," said a source.

As of now, the naval veterans' death penalty has been commuted to jail terms  which varies for each of them ranging from 3 years to 25 years. The case will be tried in the cassation court now.

India has signed treaties for transfer of sentenced persons with 35 countries. These include UK, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Israel, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecquador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, US, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Panama and Czech Republic.

The convention on the transfer of sentenced persons is an international treaty regulating the extradition and social rehabilitation of imprisoned persons. The convention was concluded in Strasbourg on March 21, 1983 and came into effect on July 1, 1985.

ALSO READ | Death sentence for Indian naval veterans in Qatar commuted to jail terms ranging from 3-25+ years

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NEW DELHI: India and Qatar had signed a treaty in 2015 for the transfer of sentenced prisoners between the two countries. It was signed during the visit of the then Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah. However, since the treaty wasnt ratified by Qatar, its provisions could not be used to bring back the eight naval veterans who are under detention in Doha since August 30, 2022. "Once a treaty like this one is signed, both nations have to ratify it. Not sure whether Qatari side ratified it. We did ratify it in India," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. After the signing of the treaty, within 90 days it has to be ratified by either side and the paper of ratification has to be shared with the other country. However, no such document on behalf of Qatar is available with India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Last year the eight naval officers, a few months after being kept under detention and solitary confinement, were asked by Qatars ministry of interior to return to their homes, pack their bags following which they would be sent back to India. And when they did return with their bags, instead of being sent to India, they went back into detention. It is possible that India was exploring their transfer under the agreement but since it wasnt ratified, it didnt translate into reality," said a source. As of now, the naval veterans' death penalty has been commuted to jail terms  which varies for each of them ranging from 3 years to 25 years. The case will be tried in the cassation court now. India has signed treaties for transfer of sentenced persons with 35 countries. These include UK, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Israel, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecquador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, US, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Panama and Czech Republic. The convention on the transfer of sentenced persons is an international treaty regulating the extradition and social rehabilitation of imprisoned persons. The convention was concluded in Strasbourg on March 21, 1983 and came into effect on July 1, 1985. ALSO READ | Death sentence for Indian naval veterans in Qatar commuted to jail terms ranging from 3-25+ years Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu has said the state government will not abide by the decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to universities to stop admission to MPhil programmes for the 2023-24 academic year.

UGC Secretary Manish Joshi on December 27 said, "It has come to the notice of the UGC that a few universities are inviting fresh applications for MPhil (Master of Philosophy) programmes. In this regard, it is to bring to the notice that MPhil is not a recognised degree."

"Regulation number 14 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022 clearly states that higher educational institutions shall not offer an MPhil programme".

Asked if West Bengal will also go by the UGC decision, Basu told reporters on the sidelines of a programme on Thursday, "We will not follow the diktat of UGC".

Emphasising that the state higher education department will go by the guidelines earlier framed by the expert committee of academics, Basu said MPhil courses will continue to be run in state universities.

"The state has its own policies with regard to MPhil courses in state universities and there is no reason to tinker with that," Basu said.

UGC in its recent communique to universities in the country against offering MPhil courses, maintained it is not a recognised degree and cautioned students against taking admission in such programme.

The MPhil programme was discontinued by UGC in November 2022.

The UGC also advised students not to take admission in any MPhil course.

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KOLKATA: West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu has said the state government will not abide by the decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to universities to stop admission to MPhil programmes for the 2023-24 academic year. UGC Secretary Manish Joshi on December 27 said, "It has come to the notice of the UGC that a few universities are inviting fresh applications for MPhil (Master of Philosophy) programmes. In this regard, it is to bring to the notice that MPhil is not a recognised degree." "Regulation number 14 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022 clearly states that higher educational institutions shall not offer an MPhil programme".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Asked if West Bengal will also go by the UGC decision, Basu told reporters on the sidelines of a programme on Thursday, "We will not follow the diktat of UGC". Emphasising that the state higher education department will go by the guidelines earlier framed by the expert committee of academics, Basu said MPhil courses will continue to be run in state universities. "The state has its own policies with regard to MPhil courses in state universities and there is no reason to tinker with that," Basu said. UGC in its recent communique to universities in the country against offering MPhil courses, maintained it is not a recognised degree and cautioned students against taking admission in such programme. The MPhil programme was discontinued by UGC in November 2022. The UGC also advised students not to take admission in any MPhil course. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

TEHRAN: Iran on Friday hanged four people convicted of spying for arch-foe Israel, the judiciary said, less than two weeks after authorities had executed a man on similar grounds.

"Four members of a sabotage group related to the Zionist regime (Israel)... were hanged this morning" in Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.

It identified them as three men -- Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, and Rahman Parhazo -- and one woman, Nasim Namazi, who had all been sentenced to death on charges of "moharebeh", or waging war against God, and "corruption on Earth" through their "collaboration with the Zionist regime".

The group "committed extensive actions against the country's security under the guidance of the Mossad", Israel's spy agency, Mizan said.

Iran does not recognize Israel and the two countries have engaged in a shadow war for years.

On December 16, a man also convicted of working for Mossad was executed in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan.

The judiciary at the time did not identify the man but said he had been convicted of "intelligence cooperation and espionage for the benefit of the hostile Zionist regime".

In December 2022, the Islamic Republic hanged another four people who had been convicted of collaborating with Israel's intelligence services.

Tehran accuses Israel of carrying out a wave of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear program. According to rights groups including Amnesty International, Iran executes more people per year than any other nation except China.

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TEHRAN: Iran on Friday hanged four people convicted of spying for arch-foe Israel, the judiciary said, less than two weeks after authorities had executed a man on similar grounds. "Four members of a sabotage group related to the Zionist regime (Israel)... were hanged this morning" in Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported. It identified them as three men -- Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, and Rahman Parhazo -- and one woman, Nasim Namazi, who had all been sentenced to death on charges of "moharebeh", or waging war against God, and "corruption on Earth" through their "collaboration with the Zionist regime".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The group "committed extensive actions against the country's security under the guidance of the Mossad", Israel's spy agency, Mizan said. Iran does not recognize Israel and the two countries have engaged in a shadow war for years. On December 16, a man also convicted of working for Mossad was executed in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. The judiciary at the time did not identify the man but said he had been convicted of "intelligence cooperation and espionage for the benefit of the hostile Zionist regime". In December 2022, the Islamic Republic hanged another four people who had been convicted of collaborating with Israel's intelligence services. Tehran accuses Israel of carrying out a wave of sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear program. According to rights groups including Amnesty International, Iran executes more people per year than any other nation except China. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

BUENOS AIRES: Argentine President Javier Milei has sent letters to BRICS leaders to formalize his decision to reject an invitation to join the grouping of major emerging economies, the presidency said Friday.

The bloc -- made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- in August announced it was admitting six new members in a bid to counter the Western-led global order.

The membership of Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates was due to take effect from January 1, 2024.

The letters signed by Milei and published by several media houses said Argentina's membership was "not considered appropriate at this time."

The libertarian outsider Milei took office this month after his resounding defeat of Argentina's traditional political parties, and he had vowed on the campaign trail not to join BRICS.

In his letters he said his foreign policy "differs in many aspects from that of the previous government. In this sense, some decisions made by the previous administration will be reviewed."

During his election campaign, Milei said "our geopolitical alignment is with the United States and Israel. We are not going to ally with communists."

Despite vowing to cut ties with major trading partners China and Brazil, he has taken a more conciliatory tone since coming to office.

ALSO READ | Argentina's new president lays off 5,000 government employees hired in 2023 before taking office

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BUENOS AIRES: Argentine President Javier Milei has sent letters to BRICS leaders to formalize his decision to reject an invitation to join the grouping of major emerging economies, the presidency said Friday. The bloc -- made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- in August announced it was admitting six new members in a bid to counter the Western-led global order. The membership of Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates was due to take effect from January 1, 2024.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The letters signed by Milei and published by several media houses said Argentina's membership was "not considered appropriate at this time." The libertarian outsider Milei took office this month after his resounding defeat of Argentina's traditional political parties, and he had vowed on the campaign trail not to join BRICS. In his letters he said his foreign policy "differs in many aspects from that of the previous government. In this sense, some decisions made by the previous administration will be reviewed." During his election campaign, Milei said "our geopolitical alignment is with the United States and Israel. We are not going to ally with communists." Despite vowing to cut ties with major trading partners China and Brazil, he has taken a more conciliatory tone since coming to office. ALSO READ | Argentina's new president lays off 5,000 government employees hired in 2023 before taking office Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
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Republicans asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court Thursday to reconsider its recent ruling that declared the GOP-written legislative maps unconstitutional, saying the court provided far too short of a deadline for submitting new maps.

They also said the court didnt properly heed their arguments throughout the case, which Democrats filed in August, one day after liberals gained a Wisconsin Supreme Court majority. The lawsuit alleged the states legislative maps approved in 2022, which are largely similar to previous maps drawn in 2011, are unconstitutional and must be redrawn.

There is not enough time before the 2024 elections to fully litigate this case, lawyers for the Republicans said. Perhaps aware of that, the Courts Christmas decision and scheduling order have stripped these proceedings of the most basic steps in litigation.

In a 4-3 decision, the states highest court on Dec. 22 ruled the current Republican-drawn maps violate the Wisconsin Constitutions requirement that legislative districts be contiguous. The justices pointed out several districts, including in the Madison area, that are dotted with small, Swiss cheese-like holes that represent neighborhoods assigned to different representatives.

The decision called for new maps that include districts that include contiguous territory. The majority also said the maps should not favor one party over the other, a decision that amounts to a big Democratic win because experts say the current legislative maps have a baked-in Republican advantage.

The decision called for parties to propose new remedial maps by Jan. 12. It will then have two court-hired redistricting consultants evaluate the maps by Feb. 1. The court would then choose maps unless the Legislature first proposes new maps that Evers signs into law.

The courts order, the lawyers said, is geared toward delivering new maps by the 2024 elections, without regard to existing district lines, and thereby changing the outcome of the 2024 election, as promised.

The motion raises two potential issues that could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court: Liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz not recusing herself from the case despite receiving funds from Democrats and calling the current maps rigged while she was a candidate for the court, and an alleged violation of the 14th Amendments due process guarantee by depriving the parties of a full and fair opportunity to litigate this case.

The motion says the Legislature must have a reasonable opportunity to redistrict in light of the newly announced contiguity rules, and the parties must have a full and fair opportunity to present remedial evidence and arguments should the Legislature fail to redistrict.

The court late Friday ordered the parties in the case who didnt file the motion for reconsideration to respond to it by Jan. 4.

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Nick Ramos called the motion a desperate attempt for GOP legislators to maintain power.

When they want to pass a bill quickly, they have, and they should now focus on introducing and passing fair maps, as the court clearly indicated the Constitution requires, he said.

Redistricting experts have said new maps drawn under nonpartisan principles are likely to give Democrats many more legislative seats, though Republicans are still likely to keep the majority given the states political geography. Under the current maps Republicans hold a 64-35 majority in the Assembly and a 22-11 supermajority in the Senate.
A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on December 20, 2023, entitled, "The pharmacodynamic and mechanistic foundation for the antineoplastic effects of GFH009, a potent and highly selective CDK9 inhibitor for the treatment of hematologic malignancies."

To evade cell cycle controls, malignant cells rely upon rapid expression of select proteins to mitigate pro-apoptotic signals resulting from damage caused by both cancer treatments and unchecked over-proliferation. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9)-dependent signaling induces transcription of downstream oncogenes promoting tumor growth, especially in hyperproliferative 'oncogene-addicted' cancers, such as human hematological malignancies (HHMs). In this new study, researchers Fusheng Zhou, Lili Tang, Siyuan Le, Mei Ge, Dragan Cicic, Fubo Xie, Jinmin Ren, Jiong Lan, and Qiang Lu from GenFleet Therapeutics Inc. and Sellas Life Sciences Group aimed to summarize current knowledge underlying the mechanism of action (MOA) of GFH009 and explain its robust anti-cancer activity.

"Understanding GFH009's MOA allows for a more optimal clinical development path, given the potential for meaningful benefits in patients with hematological malignancies."

GFH009, a potent, highly selective CDK9 small molecule inhibitor, demonstrated antiproliferative activity in assorted HHM-derived cell lines, inducing apoptosis at IC50 values below 0.2 M in 7/10 lines tested. GFH009 inhibited tumor growth at all doses compared to controls and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Twice-weekly injections of GFH009 maleate at 10 mg/kg significantly prolonged the survival of MV-4-11 xenograft-bearing rodents, while their body weight remained stable. There was marked reduction of MCL-1 and c-MYC protein expression post-drug exposure both in vitro and in vivo. Through rapid 'on-off' CDK9 inhibition, GFH009 exerts a proapoptotic effect on HHM preclinical models triggered by dynamic deprivation of crucial cell survival signals.

"Our results mechanistically establish CDK9 as a targetable vulnerability in assorted HHMs and, along with the previously shown superior class kinome selectivity of GFH009 vs other CDK9 inhibitors, strongly support the rationale for currently ongoing clinical studies with this agent in acute myeloid leukemia and other HHMs."
Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel), a CAR T-cell therapy, is a cost effective second line treatment for relapsed and refractory (hard to treat) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL), according to a study published today in Blood Advances. The study is the first of its kind to incorporate healthcare expenses, societal productivity losses, and patient quality of life in assessing the drug's cost-effectiveness.

In our study, we incorporated the often-overlooked societal costs associated with cancer treatment, which are typically neglected in cost-effectiveness analyses that focus solely on the healthcare sector related-expenses. Cancer treatments can diminish quality of life, causing work absences and challenges in managing everyday activities, especially among the elderly. Treatments that improve quality of life not only benefit the patient but also reduce these broader societal costs, which is an important aspect of our cost-effectiveness evaluation." Mohamed Abou-el-Enein, MD, PhD, MSPH, associate professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and the senior author of the study

DLBCL, the most prevalent form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is a cancer that affects lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. In cases where DLBCL does not respond to initial treatment or recurs within 12 months after treatment completion, the standard care protocol typically includes platinum-based chemotherapy, followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to liso-cel as a second-line treatment for DLBCL. However, the cost-effectiveness of liso-cel is currently a topic of debate among oncologists, especially considering the drug's steep price tag which increased from $410,300 to $447,227 between 2022 and 2023.

In this study, researchers performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of liso-cel for treating r/r DLBCL using a partitioned survival model, a common economic tool for assessing medical treatments across various stages of disease progression. They found that patients treated with liso-cel had an average life expectancy of 5.34 years and gained 3.64 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), compared to the 2.47 years and 1.62 QALYs with standard care (SC). The cost-effectiveness of liso-cel, measured by the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), was $99,669 per QALY from a healthcare sector perspective and $68,212 per QALY from a societal perspective. The ICER evaluates the additional cost required for each QALY gained, assuming a societal willingness to pay up to $100,000 per QALY. These figures indicate that liso-cel is a cost-effective treatment, staying below the $100,000 per QALY threshold.

An important aspect of the study is its modeling based on outcomes from the TRANSFORM trial, the pivotal study assessing the cost-effectiveness of liso-cel in second-line treatment. This approach closely mirrors the patient population from the TRANSFORM trial, thereby reducing bias in the results. The patient demographic typically involving patients aged 60, with a majority (57%) being male, and all having r/r DLBCL with a relapse occurring within 12 months of initial treatment. The treatment regimens were consistent with those used in the TRANSFORM trial.

Direct medical costs included in the analysis were comprehensive, covering CAR T-cell therapy procedures, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, hospital admissions, ongoing monitoring, management of disease progression, and end-of-life care. This also encompassed the costs associated with treating adverse events. These costs were derived from published literature and public datasets. Societal costs considered lost productivity, including lost labor market earnings, the value of unpaid productivity and household activities, and out-of-pocket travel expenses. Notably, in terms of mortality-related lost labor earnings, liso-cel was associated with a loss of $110,608, which is lower than the $156,362 for SC. Additionally, both unpaid productivity loss and uncompensated household production costs were comparatively lower for liso-cel. These findings indicate that liso-cel offers economic benefits by reducing losses in both paid and unpaid labor sectors, compared to SC.

The authors' strict adherence to data from the TRANSFORM trial brings about a limitation in their study due to the lack of long-term follow-up data to be incorporated in their cost-effectiveness analysis. Moreover, the scenario analyses conducted, which looked at various time horizons, utility values, and list prices, reveal that maintaining liso-cel cost-effective at the $100,000 per QALY threshold might pose a challenge. This underlines the critical need to manage liso-cel's costs effectively to ensure its affordability and economic sustainability.

Looking ahead, Dr. Abou-el-Enein explains that their objective is to continue evaluating the cost-effectiveness of various CAR T-cell therapies. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about reimbursements and their integration into the healthcare system. He also stresses the significance of ongoing dialogue among clinicians, researchers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and patients concerning the escalating costs of CAR-T cell therapy.

"This study demonstrates that CAR T-cell therapy is worth considering as a second line treatment for r/r DLBCL," Dr. Abou-el-Enein said. "When deciding on what therapies to use in clinical practice, I think it is important that we do not shy away from these therapies solely because of their list price. We must keep our patients front and center in these decisions and continue to have conversations about how we can lower the price of CAR T-cell therapy and increase patient access to this life-saving treatment."
Ischemic cholecystitis is a form of gallbladder inflammation that occurs without gallstones or another form of external compression. It is caused by poor perfusion to the gallbladder tissue.

This new research is important because it helps to better understand the cause of ischaemic cholecystitis and to develop more effective treatments for this condition.

A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, conducted a study investigating the cause of ischaemic cholecystitis. They found that the gallbladder is particularly susceptible to ischemia because it receives its blood supply from a terminal artery, meaning that there is no other artery to supply blood to the gallbladder if this artery is blocked.

The researchers also found that ischaemic cholecystitis is more common in patients who are critically ill. This is because critically ill patients are often hypovolemic, meaning that they have low blood volume. This can lead to poor gallbladder perfusion, which can lead to inflammation.

These findings have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic cholecystitis. Because it is often difficult to diagnose, ischaemic cholecystitis can be misdiagnosed as another condition, such as sepsis or pancreatitis. This can lead to delays in treatment and poorer outcomes for patients.

The researchers also found that ischemic cholecystitis is more likely to recur than obstructive cholecystitis. This means that patients with ischaemic cholecystitis are more likely to require surgery to remove their gallbladder.

The treatment for ischemic cholecystitis is surgical removal of the gallbladder. This is the only way to prevent the condition from recurring.

Ischaemic cholecystitis is a rare but serious condition that is more common in patients who are critically ill. Clinicians need to be aware of this condition to diagnose and treat it promptly.
Tata Motors is gearing up to relocate the production of the electric version of its popular Nexon SUV from Pune to its newly acquired facility in Sanand, Gujarat.

This shift follows Tata Motors acquisition of the manufacturing plant from Ford India, which exited the Indian market last year. The Sanand facility, expected to be fully operational by 2024, is set to become a key hub for Tata Motors electric vehicle production, as reported by Cartoq.

The move aligns with Tata Motors commitment to expanding its electric vehicle lineup and meeting the rising demand for sustainable mobility solutions. Industry insiders suggest that the Nexon EV variant, currently produced in Pune, is likely to make the transition to the Sanand plant once it becomes operational.

Tata Motors recent acquisition of Ford India Limiteds plant in Sanand provides an opportunity to focus on electric vehicle production. The state-of-the-art facility, valued at Rs 736 crore, is poised to unlock substantial manufacturing capacity, potentially producing up to 420,000 units annually. This strategic decision underscores Tata Motors dedication to adapting to the changing automotive landscape and capitalizing on the advantages offered by its newly acquired facility.

While the official confirmation of the shift is pending, company insiders reveal that Tata Motors is in advanced discussions with vendor partners to ensure a seamless transition, as reported by Cartoq. The Nexon EV, a popular choice with approximately 5 lakh units sold to date, has been a key player in Tata Motors electric mobility efforts.

As the automotive industry undergoes transformative shifts towards sustainability, Tata Motors continues to make strategic moves to fortify its position in the electric vehicle segment. The companys proactive approach reflects its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the market.
One of the newest judges on Shark Tank India, Edelweiss Mutual Fund CEO Radhika Gupta joined Sharks from the previous two seasons, becoming the fourth new judge in the upcoming third season. Gupta recently opened up on how she feels that reality television shows on start-up businesses have made her optimistic about the Indian business market. She further also added that she will take constant hustle as a key learning from the show to her company, where is the MD and the CEO. Notably, Gupta is among the first heads of a financial services company to become a judge on the show.

She has also clarified that the investments made on the show will be in her personal capacity.

Radhika Gupta on bringing SIPs to Shark Tank India Season 3

In the latest interaction with Moneycontrol, Radhika Gupta spoke about opening up SIP plans on the sets of Shark Tank.

Claiming that a lot of people still dont know about investing in mutual funds, Gupta added, We opened a lot of SIPs (systematic investment plans) on the sets of Shark Tank. You will see me mentioning the word SIP several times on national television.

Apart from that, the Edelweiss CEO also went on to share her experience as being a part of the show. Noting that she was able to see the energy that comes from tier I, II, and III cities in India, Gupta shared that young kids are building businesses that are doing 4-5 crores, further adding that women have become confident and there is a lot of aspiration.

Speaking about herself being a part of the show, she also admitted that the show has reinforced some of her old learnings.

Hustle is something weve always prided ourselves on as a fund house. But the ability to hustle, when you grow big as a business and you have big budgets, sometimes takes a back seat. Another key learning has been the range of consumer businesses and a wide variety of consumers that are now present in India, which is incredible, she said.

Radhika Gupta joins Shark Tank India

Earlier in November, Radhika Gupta, who is also the Managing Director at Edelweiss shared about being a part of the upcoming Shark Tank India Season 3. Taking to her X handle, she shared a picture with the other judges and confirmed the same.

Founded a company. Building another one. And investing in many others that are building the India of tomorrow. Love everything about entrepreneurship and want to do everything to cheer for those who are building this country. This weekend at Shark Tank India is just about pic.twitter.com/XoZLeAt1rm  Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) November 4, 2023

The show is currently being shot and will start streaming in January 2024. It will also mark the debuts of Oyo Founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal, Zomato Founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal, and Inshorts co-founder and CEO Azhar Iqubal.
Kotak Mahindra Bank Share Price: Shares of Kotak Mahindra Bank fell in Fridays trade, a day after the lender received a show-cause-cum-demand order from the assistant commissioner of central goods and service tax (GST) and excise. It levied a cumulative Rs 57.20 lakh towards central goods and services tax (CGST), accompanied by applicable interest and a penalty of Rs 5.1 lakh.

The demand has disallowed the input tax credit (ITC) on certain expenses during FY18 and FY19.

The amount is not significant, considering the private sector lenders Rs 3,191-crore net profit recorded for the quarter ended September 2023. It was a 23.6 percent rise over the last year. Its net interest income, the difference between the interest earned by a bank and the interest paid, came in at Rs 6,296.6 crore for the quarter, a 23.5 percent YoY gain.

Kotak Mahindra Bank swiftly announced its intent to appeal against the orders, citing adequate grounds to support its stance. The bank believes that it can successfully challenge the disallowance of input tax credit (ITC) on certain expenses during the financial years 2017-18 and 2018-19.

The Bank believes that it has adequate grounds to support its position in the matter and would prefer an appeal against the aforesaid orders, under the applicable laws. The impact of the above order would be limited to the amount of levy payable by the Bank under the aforesaid orders, the lender said.

So far this year, the stock has gained over 3.5 percent. In comparison, the benchmark Nifty 50 has surged nearly 20 percent.

The private lender announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of CS Rajan, who serves as an independent director of the bank, as the part-time Chairman of the bank. This appointment is effective from January 1, 2024, and is slated to last two years.

Rajan assumed the role of independent director on the banks board from October 22, 2022. His appointment follows the retirement of the incumbent non-executive independent part-time chairman, Prakash Apte, whose term expires on December 31, 2023.

On being appointed as the chairman, Rajan said;, I am deeply humbled and honoured to accept the appointment as Chairman of the Bank and thank the Board for entrusting me with the responsibility to steer the Bank to new heights and increase stakeholder value. I look forward to working collaboratively with the Board and the entire Team.
Investors booked profit on the last trading session of 2023 with an aim to avoid any potential global risks over the weekend. The S&P BSE Sensex slipped 170 points, or 0.23 per cent, to end at 72,240. The Nifty50, on the other hand settled at 21,731, down 47 points or 0.22 per cent.

Nonetheless, the BSE Sensex is ending calendar year 2023 with a solid gain of 18.8 per cent, and the Nifty50 with 20.1 per cent.

Among individual stocks, shares of Tata Motors hit a new peak at Rs 801 as they rallied 6 per cent on the BSE in Fridays intraday trade backed by heavy volumes. Thus far in the calendar year 2023 (CY23), Tata Motors has seen its market price more-than-double, zooming 107 per cent on thr bourses.

Overall, 48 of 50 Nifty stocks gave positive returns to investors in CY-2023.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Tata Motors (up 3.3 per cent), Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, HUL, Nestle India, Wipro, Ultratech Cement, and Maruti Suzuki ended as the top gainers on the BSE Sensex.

SBI, Infosys, Titan Company, Tech M, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, NTPC, HCL Tech, Axis Bank, Reliance Industries, Power Grid, and Kotak Bank were the top laggards, down up to 1.4 per cent.

The broader markets, on the contrary, ended in the green with the BSE MidCap and Smallcap indices advancing 0.85 per cent and 0.69 per cent, respectively.

For the outgoing calendar year, the BSE MidCap index has zoomed 45.15 per cent, and the BSE SmallCap index has soared 47.2 per cent.

As 2023 draws to a close, the most significant feature of the years rally is the sharp outperformance of the broader market. The midcap index is up by almost 45 % and the small cap index is up by 55% leaving the Nifty far behind with appreciation of around 20%. This trend is likely to be reversed in 2024 since the mid and small caps are overvalued and large caps are relatively fairly valued. January is normally a poor month for the market. Q3 results and management commentary will be keenly watched by the market, said Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
The results of the first round of the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) 2024 seat allocation were released today, December 28, by the National Law University (NLU) in Delhi. Applicants who took the AILET LLM test can visit nationallawuniversitydelhi.in, the official website, to get their results. The provisionally chosen applicants

portal/interface for submitting the provisional admission confirmation fee as well as getting the provisional admission offer letter has also gone live starting today.

To confirm their seat, applicants must pay the Provisional Admission Confirmation Fee of Rs. 50,000 by 11 am on January 3, 2024. The seat will be awarded to the next qualified applicant based on merit from those enrolled for online counselling if the seat confirmation is not done in the given window.

AILET LLM Seat Allotment Result 2023: How to check

Step 1: Navigate to the official website at nationallawuniversitydelhi.in.

Step 2: Go to the webpage and choose the AILET 2024 LLM Round 1 Seat Allotment Result.

Step 3: The screen will display a PDF of the allocation list.

Step 4: Look through the list for your name.

Step 5: Download the AILET 2024 LLM seat allotment document, then print it for your records.

AILET LLM Counselling 2023: Important Dates

 First Provisional Merit List : December 28, 2024

 Submission of Provisional Admission Confirmation Fee : December 28 to January 3

 Second Provisional Merit List : January 9

 Submission of Provisional Submission Confirmation Fee : January 9 to January 15

 Third Provisional Merit List : January 22

 Submission of Provisional Admission Confirmation Fee : January 22 to January 27

 Fourth Provisional Merit List : May 16

 Submission of Provisional Admission Confirmation Fee : May 16 to May 20

Additionally, candidates who have been provisionally selected need to access their AILET-2024 candidate tab to get their provisional admission offer letter. On their AILET-2024 seat confirmation portal, candidates must upload a signed undertaking from both themselves and their parents, as well as sign every page of the provisional admission offer letter. Meanwhile, the AILET LLB first seat allotment result will be announced tomorrow, December 29.
The Director of Elementary Education in Assam has extended an invitation for applications for the position of Assistant Teacher. Interested and eligible candidates may submit their applications through the official website of DEE Assam at dee.assam.gov.in. The registration window will open on January 2, starting at 10 am, and will remain accessible until February 2, 2024. This recruitment initiative aims to fill a total of 5,500 positions within the organization.

DEE, Assam Assistant Teacher Recruitment 2024: Vacancy Details

A comprehensive total of 5,550 vacancies have been announced for the recruitment of teachers. The breakdown of vacancies according to the respective posts is provided below:

1. Assistant Teacher of LP Schools  3,800 posts

2. Assistant Teacher, Science Teacher, and Hindi Teacher of UP Schools  1,750 posts

DEE, Assam Assistant Teacher Recruitment 2024: Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, candidates must have completed the Assam TET or CTET. Applicants who have cleared the ATET or CTET for LP and UP are qualified to apply. The language proficiency (either Language-I or Language-II) of ATET and CTET candidates must align with the instructional medium of the desired school.

Age Limit

Candidates should be at least 18 years old but not exceeding 40 years for the unreserved category, 42 years for Ex-Servicemen, 43 years for OBC/MOBC, 45 years for SC/ST(P)/ST(H), and 50 years for Persons with Disabilities (PwBD) as of January 1, 2023.

DEE, Assam Assistant Teacher Recruitment 2024: How To Apply

For applying for the Assam Assistant Teacher Vacancy 2024, candidates are advised to follow the steps outlined below:

STEP 1: Visit the official website of DEE at https://dee.assam.gov.in/.

STEP 2: Click on the Apply Online for the post of Assistant Teacher Registration Link designated for Assam Assistant Teacher Vacancy 2023.

STEP 3: Sign in to the page.

STEP 4: Enter the necessary details and choose the specific post you intend to apply for.

STEP 5: Complete the payment of the required application fee through the designated payment gateway.

STEP 6: Fill out the Assam Assistant Teacher Recruitment 2024 Online Application form.

STEP 7: Upload the necessary documents through DigiLocker.

STEP 8: Finally, generate a printout of the application form and retain it for future reference.

DEE, Assam Assistant Teacher Recruitment 2024: Selection Procedure

Selection will be based on merit, with due consideration given to reservations for OBC, MOBC, SC/ST(P)/ST(H), PWD, etc.

DEE, Assam Assistant Teacher Recruitment 2024: Salary

Successful candidates will be placed in pay band-2 (PB-2) with a salary ranging from Rs 14,000 to Rs 70,000, along with other allowances per The Assam Service (Revision of Pay) (Amendment) Rules, 2019.
It is fitting to pause and reflect on the significant developments that have swept across the Indian education landscape this year concerning the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as 2023 comes to an end. Three years into its implementation, the NEP has triggered a string of reforms aimed at fostering inclusivity, commitment to multilingualism, global collaboration, and innovation in higher education.

Lets delve into the highlights and major progress that has transformed the educational landscape in India this year:

Multilingual Textbooks to Promote Regional Languages

One of the NEPs key reforms is the commitment to diversify education with textbooks in 22 Indian languages. This initiative, intended to encourage inclusivity and accommodate linguistic diversity, is a significant step forward in promoting regional languages and social justice. The government hopes to bridge the gap and guarantee that quality education is not limited to a chosen linguistic group by making educational materials available in regional languages. In this regard, intending to foster regional languages, PM Modi released 100 books in 12 Indian languages this year.

National Curriculum Framework Pre-Draft

The new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) being created under NEP encompasses changes in the structure and pedagogy of school instruction at all levels, from foundational learning to secondary education. The NCF pre-draft released this year introduced the 5+3+3+4 structure, which suggested that three years of kindergarten will be included in the schooling systems concept of formal education. Among the most significant changes is the early childhood education of children in their mother tongue.

US State Department Masters Programme Aligned with NEP 2020

A Masters programme designed specifically for Indian students per the NEP has been put together by the US State Department, demonstrating the international acknowledgement of Indias educational reforms. This partnership highlights the policys goal of aligning Indian education with foreign norms, boosting intellectual interaction and global competitiveness. Participating in positive exchanges arranged by the State Department are around fifteen Indian colleges and twenty American universities in total.

Implementation of FYUP in Higher Education

The establishment of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) signifies an upgrade from the previous structure, offering students a more flexible and comprehensive multidisciplinary course of study. Now, instead of three years of the UG programme, students will now need to complete four years to earn a Honours degree. Students will get a UG degree in three years if they complete 120 credits, and a UG Honours degree in four years if they complete 160 credits.

Over 2 crore Students Enrol in the Academic Bank of Credit

The UGC announced various guidelines on multidisciplinary learning this year, which was among the highlights of the NEP 2020. These guidelines addressed the availability of online degree courses, credit transfer via registration in the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), and a variety of other topics. The ABC is a digital archive of every students credit history that makes it easier for students to transfer from one college or university. By October 2023, nearly 2 crore students throughout the country had already registered for the Academic Bank of Credit.

DU Faces Challenges and Student Apprehensions During NEP Implementation

While the NEPs aims are constructive, execution on the ground level has been difficult, as witnessed at Delhi University. DU is the only institution in the country that has fully implemented the NEP 2020 model, however, the changeover sparked worries among students regarding the policys smooth implementation. This underscores the significance of meticulous planning and communications to guarantee a seamless shift without sacrificing the calibre of education.

Keralas decision to break away from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) curriculum was another notable development in 2023. With states having the autonomy to create their curricula and textbooks, the Kerala Education Department released additional textbooks for grades 11 and 12 in September which includes portions previously removed by the NCERT as part of its curriculum rationalisation. Similarly, the Kerala State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is establishing a whole new curriculum for education that does not entirely align with the NEP.
After a year with many big developments in Columbus, such as the beginning of construction on the casino, the opening of the Columbus Community Building and multiple smaller improvements across the city, city officials say 2024 is shaping up to have exciting things in store as well.

Mayor Jim Bulkley said one of the most immediate things to look forward to in 2024 is the opening of the Columbus Area Children's Museum, slated for mid-January for members and February for non-members. While it's not a city project, Bulkley said, it's a big deal for Columbus residents.

"That's an exciting thing for all of us because of the anticipation of what that will bring to the community, not only completing the occupancy of our new community building, but the museum itself adds something unique to our area," Bulkley said.

Bulkley said that shortly after, sometime in the spring, the Harrah's casino is set to open, which is something to look forward to, not just for patrons and employees, but future businesses that can take advantage of the newfound traffic in the area.

"I think that is really exciting for the community and being looked forward to," Bulkley said. "Along with that would be the continued growth that we're going to see along the parkway, not only out by Harrah's and the racetrack, but I think we're gonna start to see the parkway develop. It's a great piece of the city."

Bulkley's third point of growth for 2024 was workforce housing, which has been a hot topic of discussion the past few years as communities across the state expand. Any time the question of what Columbus needs comes up, Bulkley said, housing is part of the conversation. For that reason, the council allotted funds toward buying land for development.

"The city council made a commitment of over a million dollars to put toward this, something different than we've ever done and we think it was the right decision," Bulkley said.

City Council President and Third Ward Council Member Rich Jablonski said that acquiring space is part of that process and the council hopes it helps get things moving.

"A big thing is acquiring ground for workforce housing. We hope to get developers on board to get those houses built so we can get some people to move to Columbus and see what a great place we have," Jablonski said.

This issue won't be fully solved in 2024, but it's progress in the right direction, Bulkley said.

"We think it it certainly merits our attention and we're excited about being able to try to come up with some solutions and maybe make a dent in this problem," he said.

Bulkley and Jablonski both said they are looking forward to the staffing of the Charlie Louis Fire Station at 424 8th St. in 2024. Its operation has also been a topic of discussion locally for some time and a definite decision was made at the Dec. 18 meeting to commit to not only getting a working staff on board, but to facilitate continual operation.

"We're looking forward to manning the Charlie Louis Station quickly and the fire department being fully manned. That would be the number one goal in my opinion," Jablonski said. "Personnel is tough to get, but that's our goal is to get that fully staffed."

There has already been some progress, such as the recent addition of three more firefighters; and the addition of the Charlie Louis station's service will be a boon to the community with 23rd Street being backed up with construction, Jablonski noted. Bulkley said by the end of 2024, things should be running 24/7 year-round.

"The people continually wanted more protection. We saw with the growth of the city, this was something that we just needed to do and move forward with," Bulkley said.

Parks and Recreation have also seen some changes in 2023 that will carry into 2024, Bulkley said, such as the concession and restroom facilities at Centennial Park and looking at changes to Pawnee Park.

"We've got the continuation of the study for Pawnee Park and what that vision needs to be as we continue to improve that facility and all the other things that will go on in our Parks and Rec (department) and recognizing the importance of all these amenities to our community," Bulkley said.

The Downtown Business Improvement District also did some studies in 2023 and has some ideas for 2024 that are worth watching out for, Bulkley said. In the same downtown area, Columbus' railroad crossings have garnered complaints over the years, but they are essential and there is discussion around how to effectively circumnavigate the problems they can pose.

"We're continuing to look at what's the right answer to our our railroad crossings. A viaduct? Where exactly, you know, what is that design? I know everybody thinks we've been talking about this for years. Well, we have been because it takes a long time to get all these things ironed out," Bulkley said.

On a less fun note, one thing to keep an eye on in 2024 is the 23rd Street reconstruction. While it may not necessarily be an enjoyable topic, it's a state project that has seen significant progress and it may take some time, but Bulkley said it's important to look at what has been done before looking at what remains.

"All we can do is remind the public of what it will be at the end of construction. Look at the progress that was made on the first phase and how nice that is now and recognize that this is a state project. You know, they work with us and we try to work with them," Bulkley said.

While it's also not a city project, Bulkley said he is personally excited for the opening of the Columbus Community Hospital Fieldhouse, also known as "The House," which will hold a ribbon cutting on Jan. 11, 2024 from 10 to 10:30 a.m., with tours running from then until noon.

"I had the opportunity to tour it. I'm just extremely excited about what that's going to do for our community," Bulkley said. "We just have a lot to look forward to in 2024."
keywords  Hina Khan news, Hina Khan hospitalised, Hina Khan Instagram, Hina Khan shares health update, Hina Khan shows

Hina Khan recently took to her social media platform and informed her fans that she had been hospitalised due to a high fever. While the actress is presently in recovery mode, she has now shared a fresh update on her health, giving a glimpse into the type of treatment that she is receiving. Notably, Hina Khan is admitted to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. Hina shared the health update with fans along with a picture of her swollen hand, showing multiple intravenous tubes placed in her hand. Further, she also shared that she feels sick and tired.

Multiple doses of medication at a time..swollen hands..koi jagah bachi hai..sick n tired.. #onedayatatime, the caption read.

The Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actress earlier confirmed her hospitalisation with fans with a major health update on Instagram. Assuring that she would bounce back stronger, Hina took to her social media handle and shared a picture of herself from the hospital bed. While the first one featured a thermometer showing her body temperature up to 102 degrees Celsius, the next one showed Hina sitting on the hospital bed looking away from the camera.

I hv had four terrible terrible nights of high grade fever..This shit wont come down only.. continuous 102-103 temperature.ufff no energy left now..its sickening #lifeupdates for all those who are worried for me..I will bounce back Inshaallah.. send in your love plz, she wrote.

Apart from that, the actress also shared a picture of a Starbucks coffee mug, especially served to her at the hospital. Hina while expressing gratitude for the hospitality thanked for the same.

Notably, this is not the first time in the last few months that the actress has been hospitalised. Earlier in October, she posted another health update, showing her dressed in hospital clothes with a bandage on your hand. While she refrained from revealing the reason behind her hospitalisation, she sounded optimistic in her caption that read, Spread Love and happiness. 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.

Hina Khan who became a household name with her role as Akshara in the popular television show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai went on to work in many other popular shows like Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2, Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 8 and Bigg Boss 11. The actress was recently seen in the film Country Of Blind and also as a challenger in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 13.
Actress Jasmin Bhasin, renowned for her television roles and appearance on Bigg Boss 14, faced a holiday mishap during her Mumbai to Jammu flight, turning her journey into a harrowing experience. Currently on a break, she took to her Instagram story to vent her frustration and slammed the airline responsible for the worst flight experience. Sharing a selfie from the airport on her social media handle, Jasmin recounted her frustrating experience of spending over 10 hours on the flight, only to return to Mumbai without reaching her destination. Although she applauded the cabin crews assistance, she held the senior management and administration responsible for the stressful situation.

Elaborating about the incident, Jasmin wrote, Just had the worst flight of my life, was in an aircraft for more than 10 hours, boarded from Mumbai and landed in Mumbai, so I didnt reach anywhere. Cabin crew was helpful and did their best but horrible and the most disastrous senior management and administration indigo.

In the following story, Jasmin Bhasin added, The way your manager at Mumbai airport is speaking with people, its shameful Indigo. That too he came after so many calls were made to him by your assisting staff as they did not know how to deal with passengers.

Prior to sharing the two stories, in the initial post, the former Bigg Boss contestant wrote, Instead of Jammu, landed in Delhi. The actress also shared a picture of herself visibly frustrated from inside the flight.

Recently, another actor, Jay Bhanushali, had expressed his disappointment with Akasa Air. He criticised the airline due to delays and mismanagement. On December 26, Jay in an X post revealed that his flight from Goa to Mumbai faced a three hour delay, with no communication or updates provided by the airline. Highlighting the inconvenience, he shared that the flight was scheduled for 1 pm but got delayed until 4 pm without prior notification. Expressing his disappointment, Jay mentioned that this experience led him to decide that Akasa Air had lost him as a customer.

Reportedly, multiple flights from Goa were delayed due to weather related issues and later, talking about his experience, Jay told Times Now, The new airport has the capacity to handle more travellers, but now it is jam packed due to constant delays in flights. Akasa Airs head got in touch with me and explained the whole thing.

While Jay Bhanushali reportedly received updates from higher management regarding his flight delay, theres no confirmation regarding whether Jasmin Bhasin reached her destination or not after the distressing experience during her flight journey.
At least 10 Indian-origin Canadians and businesses have been targeted by pro-Khalistani groups, with some being extorted via phone calls and voice notes, top intelligence sources told News18. The latest attack was reported against Surreys Laxmi Narayan Temple president Satish Kumar who was residence was fired at around 2am.

Indian-owned businesses and residences of Indian-origin businessmen have been targeted in Brampton city of Greater Toronto Area and White Rock city of British Columbia. Andy Dugga New Millennium Tyre owner was attacked in Brampton and some arrests were made as well.

Canadian law and order is out of control. Its become a playing field for Khalistani goons and ISI. There are many threats to PM Narendra Modi and Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. These people are unhappy with the successful construction of Ram Mandir and its inauguration is the biggest event since Independence, an official told News18.

India is fully protected and these goons cant do anything here, so they have shifted base to Canada and are troubling Hindus there. They have carried out 7-8 attacks recently and we fear Khalistani goons and ISI have identified individuals for attacks, extortion and threats, the official added.

News18 had also accessed the video of firing at a Nawab Motors showroom owned by an Indo-Canadian. A group, identifying itself with Vicky Gounder who was killed in an encounter a few years ago, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to the local police, some of the businessmen targeted for extortion were contacted through social media platforms and demands for money were made under threat of violence. These businessmen are originally from Punjab in India.

Multiple businesses received similar letters demanding protection money to eliminate threat of violence against them. Most of these businesses are car showrooms owned by Punjabi-origin businessmen.

In some of these incidents, bullets were fired into the showrooms but no one was injured since it was evening time and there were very few staff or customers.

These problems are happening because of the lack of coordination between Indian and Canadian agencies. The Canadians are not taking any threat seriously. All gangsters heading to Canada are getting asylum and safe shelter. These are also supported by Pakistans ISI, a source told News18. These groups are operating from Pakistan as well as Spain, Portugal and European countries which is very alarming, the official added.

Pannun Makes Another Threat

Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, meanwhile, has made another threat against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instigating Muslims to stop the PMs Ayodhya roadshow on December 30 and offering a reward of $100,000 for it.

These are open threats by Pannun to attack the sitting PM of a country. This is not freedom of speech. He is clearly instigating one community to attack Hindus, Army and Indian PM. We have a straight question to all authorities who have given shelter to him  from where is he getting the money? said an intelligence source. He is the mouthpiece of ISI and other agencies who dont want a strong government in India.

In a dangerous escalation of threats against India, Pannun had asked in his recent hate speech whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval have 24/7 security blanket. He had last month released a video threatening passengers of Air India flights on November 19. He had also issued threats to attack Indias Parliament.
A cab driver was stabbed to death allegedly by three people, including a minor, after he did not give them way to pass in a traffic jam in south Delhis Mehrauli area, police said on Friday. All the three accused have been identified and the minor has been apprehended, they said.

Manoj Kumar (34) worked as a cab driver for a Gurugram-based BPO. On Thursday evening, he picked up five BPO employees from the Malviya Nagar area and then one from Mehrauli. Later, the cab got stuck in a traffic jam in Mehrauli, a senior police officer said.

Around 8:40 pm, three boys on a scooter came from behind and started honking at Kumar, asking for space to move ahead. The cab driver was unable to make way for them as there was no room.

Soon, a verbal spat ensued between the two sides. One of the scooter riders stabbed Kumar in the chest with a knife before fleeing from the spot with his accomplices, the police officer. Kumar was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, police said.

A case of murder has been registered in the matter, they said. The minor has been apprehended. The remaining accused have been identified and will be arrested soon, said the officer.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, police said.
The current law is the Collegium and until the government brings in a new law, the Collegium will work as it was envisaged, former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said on Friday as he weighed in on the reignited National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) debate.

The question is whether the political class is comfortable with the Collegium system. That seems to be a bit of a problem. But the current law is the Collegium and my belief is that until Collegium is the law, it must operate as envisaged, Justice Kaul, who retired on December 25, told CNN-News18 in an exclusive conversation.

The challenge to the Collegium system working has come post the NJAC judgment because the political dispensation, over a period of time, has not been able to accept it. They feel they have a role to play and when there is a dominant majority government, they feel they should have a bigger say in the appointment process, he added.

Elaborating on striking down the NJAC, Justice Kaul said: Whether NJAC should have been struck down in this manner is a legal debate but my personal belief is that it got buried before it got a chance. Maybe it could be kept for some time to see if it works is one method.

The second method is to tweak it. I believe it could be done because when youre testing it on the parameter of Constitution and basic structure doctrine, the predominance of judiciary was what was envisaged.., he added.

Kaul said: I dont think many things can change now in the Collegium system. What was required and could be done has been done. The second aspect now is appointment. If the government feels it wants a new system, it will have to bring a law in consensus and in the context of what the court observed while quashing the NJAC, said Kaul.

Speaking on the issue of criticism and trolling of judges on social media, the former judge of the apex court said: The whole concept of social media arises from everybody having an opinion on everything and social media permits you to express an opinion on something you know nothing about. Its the reflection of the system where no one wants to listen and only wants to talk. If a judge starts deciding how the medical profession should run, there will be a problem. Similarly, a person not able to understand how judiciary functions wont be able to accept it.

Justice Kaul was appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Delhi on May 3, 2001, and was appointed as a permanent Judge on May 2, 2003. He was briefly appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in September 2012.

Subsequently, in 2013, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Justice Kaul was then transferred to the Madras High Court as Chief Justice in July 2014. On February 17, 2017, Justice Kaul was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Around four statements regarding some high-profile meetings, details of WhatsApp chat and FaceTime calls between Arvind Kejriwal, his close associates and those accused of taking kickbacks in connection with the alleged excise policy scam  these are the evidences based on which the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued three summonses to the Delhi chief minister, News18 has learnt.

Kejriwal has skipped two summonses already and written to the agency expressing his inability to attend the third. He had earlier written to the ED, asking the agency to withdraw the summons served to him to appear before it in the excise policy case, alleging they were illegal and politically motivated.

I have lived all my life with honesty and transparency. I have nothing to hide, the AAP national convener had said in his communication to ED.

According to sources in the ED, there are proofs, including the details of some WhatsApp conversations and FaceTime calls between the accused and the chief minister or the close associates or colleagues of the chief minister, which indicate the complicity of some senior cabinet ministers of the Delhi government in enforcing the excise policy.

A source further said that Kejriwal, being the chief of the party as well, was aware of all such dealings and understandings. Some papers were signed in his presence. We need to record his statement about certain important evidences we have related to the investigation, said the source.

He further added that the chief minister has been summoned thrice, while the date for his appearance is scheduled on January 2. Kejriwal appeared before the CBI once. However, he chose to skip all earlier summons by the ED, he added.

The Excise Scam

Delhis excise policy scam is based on a report filed by the UTs chief secretary Naresh Kumar to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022.

In the five-page report, he hinted towards alleged procedural lapses in the formulation of the policy. Kumar alleged that arbitrary and unilateral decisions were taken by then excise minister Manish Sisodia. He also said the new policy resulted in financial losses to the government exchequer, while some AAP leaders and ministers received kickbacks. The case was taken over by the CBI and Sisodia was arrested in February. From the CBI, ED took over the probe to look into the money-laundering aspect of the policy.

In a report early this year, the ED stated that investigation revealed that acts of corruption and conspiracy in the formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 led to the loss of at least Rs 2,873 crore to the government exchequer. Proceeds of Crime generated by the activities relating to the scheduled offence under the sections prevention of corruption act and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code.

Two senior politicians of AAP  Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh  are already behind bars in connection with the case.
Indian officials in Berlin celebrated Diwali last month with baby girl Ariha Shah, who has been living in a foster care in the German capital for over two years. Ariha was placed in the custody of Germanys Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on September 23, 2021 after the then seven-month-old baby suffered an accidental injury. She has been in foster care since then.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday said consular access was given to the child in the second week of last month and that Indian embassy officials celebrated Diwali with her. India has been pressing for her early return to India arguing that it is important for the child to be in her linguistic, religious, cultural and social environment.

This is an important issue. We continue to monitor it We had consular access. We were able to share with the child items to ensure the immersion of the child in Indian culture as well as continued efforts to ensure that her rights are protected, Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing. He was replying to a question on Ariha.

We have been working towards cultural immersion of the child and resource materials relating to Indian festivals, customs and practices were handed over to the German authorities, Bagchi said.

We remain in constant engagement with the German authorities to safeguard the childs cultural, national identity and rights and to ensure her return to India, he added.

The ministry of external affairs and the embassy of India in Berlin have been persistently advocating for the return of Ariha Shah to India. To a question on Bangladesh Nationalist Partys allegations that New Delhi is meddling in polls in that country, Bagchi said the elections are an internal matter of Bangladesh.

Our position on this has been consistent. The elections are domestic matters of Bangladesh and we believe it is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their own future, he said. As a close friend and partner of Bangladesh, we would like to see peaceful elections there and we will continue to support Bangladesh for a peaceful and progressive nation, he said.

Asked about reports of a Chinese research vessel visiting Sri Lanka, Bagchi said: We have said that we always monitor developments that have a bearing on national security and we take necessary measures.
The Indian Navy on Friday unveiled the new design for epaulettes that top officers will wear, which are inspired by the naval legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A revision in the design was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Navy Day speech at Sindhudurg on December 4. New epaulettes have been released for the top three ranks of admiral, vice admiral and rear admiral.

The navy said the new design is drawn from the naval ensign and inspired from the Rajmudra of Shivaji. It said not only is the design a true reflection of Indias rich maritime heritage, it also reaffirms the commitment of leaving behind a colonial legacy.

As we usher in the new year #2024, #IndianNavy proudly unveils the new Design of Admirals Epaulettes. Announced by @PMOIndia during #NavyDay2023 at Sindhudurg  the in the new Design, drawn from the Naval Ensign & inspired from Rajmudra of #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj, is a true reflection of our rich maritime heritage, the navy said in a post on X.

As we usher in the new year #2024, #IndianNavy proudly unveils the new Design of Admirals Epaulettes. Announced by @PMOIndia during #NavyDay2023 at Sindhudurg  the in the new Design, drawn from the Naval Ensign & inspired from Rajmudra of #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj, is a pic.twitter.com/Ssxq8ZLOZd SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 29, 2023

Adoption of the new design reaffirms our commitment to the two pillars of #PanchPran  Virasat Par Garv & Ghulami ki Mansikta se Mukti . #BharatiyaNausena embracing #Bharatiyata in letter and spirit, it added.

The epaulette design consists of the golden navy button, the national emblem on a red background, the Indian sword and telescope as crossed arms, and the octagon denoting rank. The current design feature has the Nelsons Ring, signifying a long colonial past of the armed forces.

What does each symbol in the new design mean?

Golden navy button: Reiterates the resolve to do away with ghulami ki maansikta.

Reiterates the resolve to do away with ghulami ki maansikta. Octagon: Represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision.

Represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision. Indian sword: Emphasises the essence of raison detre, viz. be the cutting edge of national power and win wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge.

Emphasises the essence of raison detre, viz. be the cutting edge of national power and win wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge. Telescope: Symbolises a long-term vision, foresight and a weather-eye in an ever-changing world.

Centres larger drive to shed colonial military traditions

Along with the announcement for the design change, the prime minister had said the nomenclature of naval ranks will also bear Indian traditions. This comes as part of a series of changes made by the force last year, when it discontinued the use of batons for commanders, adopted new ensign and allowed traditional Indian clothing inside officers mess.

In a drive to shed colonial military traditions, the navy is also set to replace Indianised designations of ranks held by sailors that were inherited from the British. More than 65,000 sailors will get new ranks, which are made to align with Indian traditions. But, all the officer ranks will stay as before.
Karnataka is working on active wastewater surveillance to understand the pattern of JN.1 spread across the state, Dr Vishal Rao, part of the Covid Genomic Surveillance Committee, Government of Karnataka, told News18.

Rao, who is also a Bengaluru-based oncologist, said that using the collaboration between the state health department, municipalities, biotechnology departments, and institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science, Karnataka is working on active wastewater surveillance, clinical monitoring, and genomic surveillance.

Our approach also reflects Indias commitment to pandemic preparedness with a One Health approach, he added.

Rao said there are chances of witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases along with other illnesses that mimic similar symptoms. This is a socioeconomic virus. With the JN.1 being potentially more transmissible and with the onset of winter, the co-circulation of other respiratory viruses, and upcoming festive celebrations, there is a heightened risk of increased socialization leading to more cases, he explained.

Monitoring for any upticks in hospitalizations or illness due to the increased social interaction is essential, especially in both the Indian and global contexts where such events can quickly impact public health.

As per the data sourced from the Health Ministry, there are 109 JN.1 variant cases in India. As many as 36 cases were reported from Gujarat, 34 from Karnataka, 14 from Goa, nine from Maharashtra, six from Kerala, four from Rajasthan, four from Tamil Nadu and two from Telangana.

However, till December 27, Karnataka reported 464 active Covid-19 cases in the state. The state also reported 10 deaths due to Covid-19 since December 15.

Vigilance is Extremely Crucial: Rao

Globally, he said, there is apprehension about the potential emergence of variants that could exhibit higher virulence, similar to the Delta variant, which had a significant impact on respiratory health.

Despite the Omicron variants reduced severity due to its inability to exploit the TRAMPess pathway, which limited its lung invasion, and the partial immunity provided by vaccines, vigilance remains crucial.

He emphasised that both global and Indian contexts require ongoing genomic surveillance and a readiness to respond to changes in the viruss behaviour.

According to Rao, it is important to accept the fact that the virus being endemic and like the flu, people will need to start living with Covid and its evolving strains while working towards updating vaccines like in case of flu.

Updating Indian Vaccines

The race between vaccine updates and the viruss rapid evolution is ongoing, he pointed out. The vaccines developed and used in India used the D614G strain (Wuhan) which emerged in 2020 as a template.

However, by now, the virus has evolved in its genetic nature much beyond that. Thus, many countries have upgraded the vaccine to match the current strain potency. We would still need to wait for a few more months before we have these.

However, he said, there is no need to press the panic button for vaccines or top-ups. The global data currently available is reassuring that in patients who have been vaccinated and recently infected the antibodies produced have been giving good immune protection against severe disease and death.

Currently, he said, the trick to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection remains the same. We are relying on proven public health measures, including enhanced indoor ventilation, prompt detection of symptoms, and robust genomic surveillance.

These strategies are fundamental in both the global and Indian scenarios as we work to manage the spread of Covid-19 without a new vaccine iteration in the immediate future, he added.
One of the five key pillars of inclusive development established by the Narendra Modi-led central government this year was setting up the National Turmeric Board in October, just ahead of the assembly elections in Telangana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement during an election rally and, in the process, fulfilled a long-standing demand of those farming the yellow rhizome crop across the country.

From Telangana, I am glad to announce the formation of a National Turmeric Board. This will benefit crores of hardworking farmers, the prime minister had said at an election rally.

The southern state, where the Congress defeated the regional Bharat Rashtra Samithi, is the second largest producer of turmeric in India after Maharashtra. The turmeric board will focus on the development and growth of the much-loved kitchen staple, also known for its therapeutic properties within the ambit of traditional medicine. The board also aims at helping the spice market in India to grow as it controls more than 62 percent share of the turmeric world trade.

The crop is sold in markets in three main forms  raw, dried rhizomes, and as a powdered spice. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric and its products.

What are the objectives of the board?

As part of the formation of board, the Centre has decided to increase turmeric exports to Rs 8,400 crore per annum by 2030 from the existing Rs 1,600 crore. In a press release issued two months ago, the commerce ministry had said the board will have a chairperson, who will be appointed by the Centre. Select national/state institutions will be involved in research about the crop.

The board will have members from the department of pharmaceuticals, ministries of AYUSH, agriculture and farmers welfare, commerce and industry as well as senior state government representatives from three states on a rotational basis. Representatives of turmeric farmers and exporters will also be members of the board while a secretary will be appointed by the commerce ministry.

In the year 2022-23, an area of 3.24 lakh hectares was under turmeric cultivation in India with a production of 11.61 lakh tonnes [over 75% of global turmeric production], the ministry said, adding, the largest producing states of turmeric are Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

During 2022-23, 1.53 lakh tonnes of turmeric and its products valued at US$207.45 million was exported by more than 380 exporters. The leading export markets for Indian turmeric are Bangladesh, UAE, US and Malaysia.

Here are some of the objectives:

There is significant potential and interest world over on the health and wellness benefits of turmeric, which the board will leverage to further increase awareness and consumption of turmeric as well as develop new markets internationally to increase exports.

The board is expected to promote research and development into new products and develop on our traditional knowledge for value-added turmeric products.

It will provide leadership on turmeric-related matters, augment the efforts, and facilitate greater coordination with Spices Board and other government agencies in development and growth of the turmeric sector.

The board will especially focus on capacity building and skill development of turmeric growers for harnessing greater benefits out of value addition.

It will also promote quality and food safety standards and adherence to such standards, and take steps to further safeguard and usefully exploit turmerics full potential for humanity.

Turmeric for political health

The crop has been a political issue for long in Telangana. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it became the reason behind the defeat of BRS leader K Kavitha. She lost the Nizamabad seat to BJPs Dharmapuri Arvind, who had bagged the support of turmeric farmers after promising to set up a turmeric board.

Hence, the formation of the National Turmeric Board assumes significance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well. Prime Minister Modis announcement was hailed as a shot in the arm for the BJP in Telangana. While the saffron party did not win the state over during the assembly elections, it managed to register a victory in Nizamabad.

Dharmapuri, the BJP MP from Nizamabad, had written in a communication to the Centre that turmeric should be included in the list of agricultural crops. According to him, turmeric, which is also known as yellow gold in the state, decides the fate of at least five assembly constituencies. A majority of the voters in Balkonda are turmeric farmers, while assembly segments like Armoor, Koratala and Jagtial have 25 to 35 percent turmeric growers. Nizamabad (rural) has 10 percent of such a population.
FTX Debtors Release Estimated Values for Cryptocurrency Claims, Bitcoin Priced at $16,871 per Coin

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.

FTX Trading Ltd. affiliated debtors have submitted a motion for the entry of an order estimating the value of claims related to digital assets and fiat currency, including customer entitlement claims.

In a filing made on December 27 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, the FTX debtors proposed estimating the value of various digital assets based on their prices at the time of the petition date, which was November 11, 2022.

The proposal by FTX debtors to estimate the value of digital assets listed prices for approximately 500 assets in fiat and cryptocurrency, based on those at the time of FTXs bankruptcy filing.

The proposed values include Bitcoin at $16,871, Ethereum at $1,258, Solana (SOL) at $16, Avalanche (AVAX) at $14.19, and stablecoins like USDT, TUSD, and BUSD at values slightly less than their usual $1 peg. Notably, the proposal excluded an estimated FTX Token (FTT) price; however, it included prices for leveraged tokens, tokenized stocks, spot derivatives, and crypto futures.

The debtors argued that their valuations represent a fair and reasonable value of these digital assets as of the specified petition date. The court will need to review and approve these valuations as part of FTXs bankruptcy proceedings.

Given the unique nature of these Chapter 11 cases, where millions of claims are based on digital assets, the debtors propose a Digital Assets Conversion Table to streamline the process and avoid unnecessary delays. This table estimates the value of each digital asset on which claims are based as of the petition date.

The court is expected to have broad discretion in choosing the best-suited method to estimate the valuation of claims based on digital assets, and the debtors used data from Coin Metrics for this purpose.

According to the filing,

This Court has broad discretion to choose whatever method it deems best-suited to the particular circumstances to estimate the valuation of claims based on digital assets. Courts consider all factors and circumstances surrounding the claims but do not seek to estimate claims with mathematical precision.

The proposed plan for calculating claims involves converting the value of digital assets into cash as of the petition date using the rates set forth in the Digital Assets Conversion Table and making distributions in cash. The motion emphasizes the impracticality of liquidating individual claims for each digital asset and underscores that the value of these claims is derived from the underlying digital assets.

Parties involved in the bankruptcy case have until January 11 to file objections, and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for January 25. The motion granting an order to estimate creditor claims based on the proposed pricing is pending approval by the court.

FTX Users Express Concerns and Criticism Over Proposed Valuation Plan, Some Labeling It a Scam



The proposed plan by FTX debtors to estimate the value of various digital assets based on their prices at the time of the petition date, November 11, 2022, has faced criticism from FTX users. Some users described the plan as a scam and expressed frustration at the extended duration of the case, suggesting accepting the offered terms to avoid further uncertainty and legal costs.

FTX has incurred significant legal fees, with over $118 million billed between August and October for professional legal fees. The latest expense comes to about $53,000 per hour and over $1.3 million per day on average, according to court filings.

Sunil Kavuri, a prominent creditor of the bankrupt firm, criticized the motion, stating that it grossly undervalued the digital assets worth and encouraged customers to fight against the proposed plan.

The FTX 2.0 Coalition, representing FTX creditors, has encouraged customers who wish to object to the proposed estimation of digital asset values to write a letter directly to the judge overseeing the bankruptcy case. They highlighted that customers can send a signed letter to the Delaware bankruptcy court without the need for legal representation.

Simon Dixon, the CEO of BnkToTheFuture, has also supported the idea of opposing the proposed valuations, urging FTX customers to take an active stance against the plan.

Customers of the defunct crypto exchange have been unable to access their funds since November 2022. Some have opted to sell their claims to third parties for less than their total value.

If the court approves the plan, crypto holders may miss out on gains from certain tokens, considering the significant price increases in Bitcoin and Ethereum since FTXs collapse in November 2022. Bitcoin has surged more than 150%, reaching $42,452 at the time of publication, while Ethereum has seen an increase of over 87%, rising from $1,258 to $2,354.
The Centre and the Assam government signed a peace agreement with the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) insurgency group on Friday, a big leap towards peace in the north-eastern state that has suffered decades-long violence.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a 16-member team of the ULFA faction headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa were present during the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement in Delhi. It came after negotiations that span over a decade.

This is the start of a period of peace for the entire north-east, especially Assam. I want to assure ULFA representatives thata programme will be made to fulfil everything. Under the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs), a committee will be formed  and it will work with the Assam government to fulfil this agreement, Shah said.

A historic day for Assam.Fulfilling PM @narendramodi Ji's vision for a prosperous, peaceful and developed Northeast, today we have arrived at a landmark resolution to the ULFA insurgency problem of Assam. The Government of India and the Government of Assam have signed a pic.twitter.com/bWVOnEKOdo  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 29, 2023

A historic day for Assam, said Amit Shah adding that it is a golden period for the state.

#WATCH | On United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) signing a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement with the Centre and the Assam government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, " This is a new start of a period of peace for the whole Northeast especially Assam. I want to assure pic.twitter.com/Pv3rX3lseZ ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

The agreement entails a financial package for Assam. There have also been reports that it would put in place cultural safeguards and aim to address land rights for indigenous communities. The ULFA would be disbanded in return, officials said.

Another ULFA faction, the Paresh Barua-led ULFA (Independent), has not joined peace negotiations, saying it wants discussions on Assams sovereignty  the idea that led to the ULFAs birth on April 7, 1979. Still, the accord is seen as historic because despite several attempts for a negotiated settlement with Assams oldest insurgency outfit since 1991, there had been no breakthrough or a document of commitment.

The tripartite agreement will bring lasting peace to Assam, Chief Minister Sarma said. This is a historic daythe process for peace has been going on in Assam under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah. We have (also) signed accords with Bodo, Karbi and Adivasi insurgents, Sarma said.

#WATCH | On United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) signing a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement with the Centre and the Assam government, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "Except for one individual who is now leading the anti-talk faction of ULFA. All the founding members of pic.twitter.com/k88m2MK6h7 ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

The Centre has made peace pacts with rebel Bodo, Dimasa, Karbi and Adivasi outfits in Assam over the past three years, according to ANI news agency. It said over 7,000 rebels from different groups have joined the mainstream since May 2021, when Sarma became the chief minister. The state has been running rehabilitation programmes for them.

Since its inception, the ULFA has been involved in subversive activities and targeted immigrants from Bangladesh, violently campaigning for cultural and land rights for indigenous people. The insurgency in Assam is believed to have killed about 10,000 people, including civilians. The central government declared the ULFA a banned outfit in 1990.

The Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction gave up violence and began unconditional talks with the central government in 2011, despite strong opposition from the hardline faction led by Baruah, who is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. It was the same year when the ULFA split into two.

This agreement will fulfil many of the aspirations of the people of AssamPM Modis outreach towards Assam and other parts of the north-east has made it possible, Sarma said.
In a shocking incident, two corporate employees in Gujarats Vadodara honey-trapped their boss on social media and circulated his nude pictures on various platforms to take revenge for his alleged pillorying. The employees first lured their boss into sending his nude photos to them and then circulated those pictures to his known people, including his wife, to humiliate him.

One of the two employees was reportedly a woman, who quit her job as she was unable to take her boss criticism anymore. With a plan to take revenge for the alleged humiliation in office, the duo joined hands almost three months ago and decided to honey-trap their boss to blackmail him, reported Times of India.

After suffering for almost three months, the victim (boss) decided to approach the Cyber Crime Police and lodged a complaint 10 days ago. During the investigation, the police tracked the duo and found that the crime was committed by two of his employees for ridiculing them for professional reasons.

The woman came up with the idea of teaching the victim a lesson by making his life miserable. The duo then made a fake Instagram profile of a woman and started chatting with their boss about four months ago, the police said.

The duo then began sending sexually explicit messages to their boss, who is in his late thirties. They also sent him nude pictures of a woman downloaded from the internet. Falling into the trap, their boss also sent his nude pictures on the fake Instagram account, run by the duo. Following this, he did not get any messages from the account.

A few days after the duo started blackmailing their boss via email by sending his nude photos and sexual chats. In September, the same pictures were sent by the duo to the HR department of the firm, they used to work in. Further, they mailed the photos and chats to the victims wife and sent the printouts of the pictures to her office address.

The duo then started stalking him. On seeing no end to the harassment, the victim approached cybercrime, who tracked the culprits.

It was a case of corporate enmity. We have taken necessary legal steps, said Hardik Makadia, ACP (cybercrime), Vadodara. The duo was issued notices under CrPC 41 (A) for recording their statements.
MasterChef Australia judge Andrew Allen is a household name in India given the massive popularity show and his inexplicable charm as a judge. From being a contestant on the popular television culinary show to being a judge, Chef Andy Allen has definitely come a long way and has achieved some amazing milestones including being the co-owner of a restaurant named Three Blue Ducks in Australia.

On Andys first visit to India, he sat down with News18 for an exclusive conversation on his first trip to the country, his love for Indian cuisine, MasterChef Australia and much more.

Excerpts From The Conversation-

How does it feel being in India?

So good! I cannot explain how amazing it feels to be in India. Right after I landed, a lady asked me if I thought my India visit should have happened a long time back, I was like yes and no. I believe it is always the perfect timing whenever something does happen and it has been 10 years that I have been trying to get over here but its just not something that happens overnight, there is a lot of planning that goes into it. I have got a lot going on back home but I have loved every minute of being here in India from the time I landed. Had the most amazing food, and met the most amazing people, it could not have gotten better.

Your fans are aware of your love for love chocolates

The love is so deep that now I am associated with Fabelle. I along with a wonderful team of people had to pick 10 countries from where we would be picking up 10 unique ingredients to form a brilliant combination with chocolate. Would you believe that? It is almost a dream for a chocolate admirer like me! The process was super interesting but I am not going to lie, it was easy and very difficult all at once.

Over the last 2-3 years, we have been seeing a lot of Indian representation or even Southeast Asian representation in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, how do you feel about that?

I love it. I think it also speaks volumes about Australia as a country, we are such a multicultural country and it also speaks about and showcases the kind of food that is being prepared across the globe and the different varied food habits that people have. While we are at it, I do need to mention that the kind of food that I have had in India has blown my mind completely, I am a big fan of Indian food and I have had a lot of it sitting in Australia but the food that you get here in India is phenomenal, I simply cannot wait to come back for more.

The foodscape in India is so punchy, so vibrant, so colourful and of course extremely tasty. What is brilliant is also the fact that the food in India varies from region to region, there is so much to learn about. It is only a matter of time before countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan will have the best kinds of food to offer to the world. The dishes in these countries, according to me are right on trend at the moment because it is all about flavour and generosity and it is definitely not about serving bits a pieces, it is unapologetically what it is.

On the personal front, what is your relationship with Indian cuisine?

I cannot explain the kind of love I have for Indian cuisine, I feel like I just want to keep coming back to India around twice a year and do varied food tours across the country. Like I mentioned earlier, I have had my fair share of Indian food in Australia and I thought that I had a grasp on the subject matter but I guess my visit to India has definitely changed my thought process. Food is like a religion in India and I love the story behind each Indian dish coming out of different regions of the country.

Lastly, before we conclude, does it feel better to be a Masterchef judge than being a participant? What do you have to say about your journey?

Being a judge, of course, does not have so much pressure associated with it. However, when I was a participant back in the day, I thoroughly enjoyed the kind of pressure that contestants were put under and probably that is why I was successful in being a participant in the kitchen. After I left the competition as a participant I realised that I may not have been the best cook in there but I was most certainly one of those cooks who could take on a good load of pressure and not complain about it. Both as a judge and a participant, I feel the show teaches you a lot, you can almost pick and choose amongst your learnings and add to your repertoire.
India stands as one of the worlds rapidly advancing economies, holding a pivotal position in the global market and supply chain. Navigating the search for optimal flexible packaging solutions within India can be challenging, given the abundance of numerous manufacturing companies.

After an impressive year, here are some industry leaders worth keeping an eye on.
Kriti Sanon effortlessly embodies the essence of elegance in ethnic attire, showcasing a remarkable ability to carry each outfit with unparalleled grace and finesse. Her transformative touch can turn any ensemble into a glamorous affair, as exemplified by her stunning lehenga choli look at Ekta Kapoors Diwali party. Whether draped in a traditional saree or gracing the red carpet in an exquisite gown, she effortlessly masters every look. Her latest ensemble is bound to serve as an inspiring addition to your festive wardrobe.

Styled by celebrity stylist Sukriti Grover, Kriti dressed for designer Gopi Vaids gorgeous black lehenga choli set. The ensemble showcases a stunning black lehenga adorned with intricate golden stripes throughout. She elegantly paired the lehenga with a U-shaped choli, featuring a stylish corset design. As for accessories, Kriti chose to adorn herself with a chic choker necklace, perfectly paired with matching earrings and bangles. Her makeup was flawlessly executed as she adorned herself with smokey eyes, black kohl kajal, expertly contoured cheeks, a touch of highlighter, a hint of blush, and a subtle nude lipstick. To complete her look, she elegantly tied her hair in a neat bun.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

Kriti is giving some major fashion inspiration for Diwali looks. She was a total stunner at Manish Malhotras Diwali party. Dressed in a dazzling blue saree, the actress exuded glamour. The ensemble featured a blue net saree adorned with intricate sequin embroidery and shimmering embellishments, elegantly draped with the pallu cascading from her shoulders. Her look was complemented with a matching halter-neck embellished blouse, and she kept her accessories minimal. She chose diamond stud earrings and silver rings on her fingers. For her makeup, she sported blue eye shadow, mascara-coated lashes, smudged kajal, defined eyebrows, and pink nude lipstick.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

At Ekta Kapoors Diwali bash, several Bollywood actresses showcased their best fashion choices. Disha Patani, Ananya Panday, Shilpa Shetty, Mouni Roy, Mrunal Thakur, and more aced their looks. But if you are planning to try something new on Diwali or at an upcoming wedding event, then Kritis traditional looks are the perfect examples to stand out.

On the professional front, Kriti Sanon has an exciting lineup of projects in her kitty. She will be next seen in director Rajesh Krishnans upcoming comedy film The Crew, alongside Kareena Kapoor and Tabu. She will be seen in Shashanka Chaturvedis mystery thriller film, Do Patti. The film also features Kajol and Tanvi Azmi in lead roles. An untitled film with Shahid Kapoor and Housefull 5 is also in the pipeline for the actress.
When it comes to serving elegant looks, actor Sobhita Dhulipala can be trusted to deliver. The Made in Heaven star recently shared a set of stunning photos where she effortlessly flaunted statement jewellery from the renowned Italian luxury fashion house Bulgari. In these photos, Dhulipala exudes a sense of sophistication and royalty, adorning herself with silver and diamond jewellery while donning a radiant rose gold gown.

The focal point of her ensemble is Bulgaris iconic Serpenti necklace, and her minimal makeup and sleek top knot hairstyle ensure that all eyes are drawn to the exquisite necklace and accompanying ring. Sharing these captivating images on her Instagram, Dhulipala kept it simple, writing, Quintessentially.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sobhita (@sobhitad)

Sobhita Dhulipalas post has garnered an impressive 72,000 likes and sparked admiring comments from her followers. One Instagram user expressed their awe, saying, Wow. I dont have words. I am mesmerised. Another fan utilised a popular meme compliment to commend Dhulipalas appearance, stating, So beautiful, so elegant, just looking like a wow, the only actress that I love to comment on.

According to Bulgaris website, the jewellery from the Serpenti collection draws inspiration from the motif of a seductive serpent that dates back to ancient Greek and Roman mythology. This symbol signifies wisdom, vitality, and seduction.

This isnt the first time Sobhita Dhulipala has been seen wearing Bulgari. In the second season of her popular web series Made in Heaven, her character Tara was styled with some of Bulgaris most classic accessories, including the Bulgari Serpenti sunglasses, the Serpenti Tubogas watch, and the Serpenti Spiga watch

Dhulipala is not the only Indian actor who has been promoting Bulgari. Actor Priyanka Chopra became one of Bulgaris global brand ambassadors in 2021, along with celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and K-Pop royalty Lisa. During the Met Gala 2023, Chopra wore Bulgaris 11.6-carat diamond necklace. This necklace was estimated to be worth $25 million, or approximately Rs 204 crore. The custom necklace featured the 1970 Bulgari Laguna Blu, a rare vintage blue diamond, which is said to be the largest blue diamond ever used by Bulgari.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BVLGARI Official (@bulgari)

In India, the Italian jewellery brand Bulgari created quite a stir with its special BVLGARI Mangalsutra, which made its debut in 2021. Crafted with 18kt yellow gold and embellished with round black onyx inserts and pave diamonds, this mangalsutra has gained popularity among Bollywood actors, including Priyanka Chopra, Richa Chadha, Shibani Dandekar-Akhtar, and Madhuri Dixit.

As per the brands official website, this unique mangalsutra reinterprets a traditional and sacred ornament into a contemporary and stylish jewel  deeply rooted in culture while representing the cosmopolitan aspirations of a modern bride.
Manish Malhotra is known for his Midas touch; whatever he touches turns into gold! And 2023 has just been that. The master of couture and costume designer set the red carpet for his craft, adorned by Bollywoods favourite stars, and won hearts in the process.

Bollywood loves Manish Malhotra, and vice versa! You cannot deny the fact that if Shah Rukh Khan is the Badshah of Bollywood, Manish Malhotra is the Czar of Couture. I cant imagine a red carpet or a fashion extravaganza without a Manish Malhotra opulent showstopper ensemble.

Every Manish Malhotra muse walking down the red carpet or the aisle is like a blockbuster movie, where there is drama in the drapes, romance in the colour palette, and a cinematic canvas of craftsmanship. As the curtains of 2023 fall, heres looking back at the iconic designs created by the maestro couturier and brought to life by the stars of Bollywood.

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra

2023 had love written all over it for Manish Malhotra. Power couple Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra captured their love in surreal Manish Malhotra ensembles for their wedding. The ombre lehenga in hues of empress rose of Kiaras ensemble beautifully complemented the old-world regal charm of Sidharth metallic gold sherwani. The pastel palettes, handcrafted with Manishs signature sparkle, made it one of the best wedding ensembles of 2023. The magic Manish brings to bridal wear is not just opulent but also resonates with the bride and grooms journey of love. For instance, Kiaras lehenga featured intricate embroidery detailing of Roman architecture, inspired by the special love the newlyweds shared for the city of domes.

Not just the wedding, Manish Malhotra also designed Kiaras and Sidharths mehendi, sangeet and reception looks, making it the perfect mood board for future brides and grooms. Be it Kiaras reception lookthe monochrome haute couture sculptural gown with a fish-cut train or the extravagant sangeet gold lehenga that took 4000 hours to craft and featured 98,000 sparkling Swarovskiseach ensemble set the tone for the wedding season.

Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur

Manish Malhotra knows what Bollywood fans want! And bringing the two big starsAnanya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapurtogether to celebrate one year of his bridge to luxury line Diffuse was a big hit. In March 2023, Ananya and Aditya turned showstoppers for Manish at the grand finale of Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI. The alleged couple, who have been pretty coy about their relationship status, looked stunning in the ensembles. Ananya looked sexy in a hand-embroidered scoop-neck heart gown, and Aditya looked dapper in a black fitted suit from Diffuse Level 2. One got to see a quirky, fun and cool side of Manish Malhotra when he created Diffuse.

Janhvi Kapoor

Janhvi Kapoor has been Manish Malhotras forever muse! In June 2023, Manish Malhotra represented India at one of the UKs most acclaimed charity fundraising events, the Animal Ball 2023. Accompanying him at this grand event, was actor Janhvi Kapoor, who looked glorious in an antique gold cut-out gown embellished with sparkling detailing. She paired her glamorous and dramatic look with the Maharaja Mask, created by Manish Malhotra. Inspired by the majestic Indian lion, the mask was framed by ethically sourced feathers and topaz crystals. Over the years, Janhvis love for Manishs craft has only grown stronger. From ethereal sarees to lehengas, every Janhvi occasion is incomplete without a Manish Malhotra statement piece.

Alia Bhatt

Winning hearts on and off screen this year, Manish Malhotra and Alia Bhatt together have been creating magic. In July, Manish Malhotras Bridal Couture Show, had the stunning Alia Bhatt and charismatic Ranveer Singh turn muses to celebrate Manish and his craft. The highlight of this show was the barely there plunge-heart blouse, which became an overnight sensation. Bringing a regal element of glamour to the runway, Alia looked surreal in a lush grey velvet lehenga, illustrated with meticulous high-shine silver nakshi hand embroidery and delicate pearls.

From the aesthetic ensemble whispering tales of refined craftsmanship to creating Rani sarees in Rocky aur Rani kii Prem Kahaani, Manishs creative vision is a masterclass. The best part of creating the iconic sarees adorned by Alia in the film and during promotions was that the sarees were later made available for purchase to the public and 100 per cent of the proceeds from the sale went towards the preventive and promotive healthcare of vulnerable women and children through SNEHA Ngo.

The signature MM saree is an epitome of grace and elegance and has been a favourite among Bollywood divas. However, this first ever collaboration between an actress and a designer, comes from a space of their shared beliefs of women empowerment and individuality.

Kriti Sanon

A moment of pride and what better way than to celebrate it with Indian handloom. Manish Malhotra has always been a supporter of Indian crafts and every piece he designs celebrates India in its contemporary form. This year saw Kriti Sanon winning the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in Mimi. Kriti looked divine in Manish Malhotras ivory chanderi handloom saree featuring tender pink, aqua and soft mint dupion pleats, creating a harmonious tapestry of colour. She paired the saree with a high neck blouse adorned with matching embroidery.
Gulshan Devaiah shared that he and his ex-wife Kallirroi Tziafeta are giving their marriage a second chance with a different approach. They were married in 2012 and divorced in 2020.

Confirming that he is reuniting with his ex-wife, Gulshan Devaiah said, We want to nurture the good things we had with each other. This has led us to this point where we can say that lets try again and have another go at it. The approach is much different this time  its very mature, constructive and productive. There is no guarantee that everything will end up good but it does feel different and better.

In Made in Heaven Season 2, Kallirroi, originally from Greece, portrayed Elmira. Elmira married Pravin Dabas character, who was already married. This event prompted his first wife, played by Dia Mirza, to make a suicide attempt.

Gulshan and Kallirroi parted ways in 2020, yet they continue to share photos of their happy moments on Instagram. In August, in an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Gulshan was asked if he was open to giving love another chance post his divorce and if his view on relationships had changed in any way. The actor had said, If your opinion is changing in a positive way then thats a very good change because a lot of growth happens because of change and such adversity teaches you more sometimes than the good times. Sometimes you will be surprised to discover the strength that you have inside you. We suffer endlessly in our imagination.

Gulshan had further clarified that he is good friends with his former wife and that they even talk to each other on a daily basis. So it gave us both the time to look at this adversity and convert that into something really positive. We are really good friends, we are best friends, we are there in each others life, we root for each other and we talk to each other a lot on a daily basis, we are also parents to our cats. So, we saved the tree by cutting off the rotten branch and the divorce was that, he added.
Jeremy Renner is back in action. He has resumed work a year after a harrowing incident that almost cost him his life. The incident, which occurred last New Year, resulted in about 30 broken bones and emergency surgery. Recently, just ahead of the accidents anniversary, Renner shared a post on Instagram Stories featuring co-star Emma Laird on the set of Mayor of Kingstown. Responding to Emmas excitement about reuniting, Renner affirmed, Its happening. The forthcoming show marks Renners comeback to onscreen acting following the challenging incident.

The show created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, features Renner as Mike McLusky, the citys Mayor, functioning as a mediator between criminals and law enforcement. Months after the accident, the Avengers star was seen walking with a cane at the red carpet event for his Disney Plus series, Rennervations, in April. Despite using the cane for support, Renner even kindly paused to interact with fans.

Earlier, giving an update about Jeremy Renners health, Mayor of Kingstown co-creator and star Hugh Dillon told Comic Book, It was the biggest relief it was such a rollercoaster because when I got the news I wanted to fly out and find him and see him. Then he sent me a video the next day, the biggest relief in my life, because it was so funny and profane and I was just like, okay, hes gonna come back. Hes just so funny. Hes like a brother to me. Its like, you know, weve worked on this show for two years. This is my show I created with Taylor Sheridan and hes [Renner] just unstoppable.

Earlier this year, Jeremy Renner recounted the accident to Variety, revealing that he and his 27-year-old nephew, Alex, were trying to tow a Ford Raptor out of the snow using Renners snow plow. As Alex opened the connecting chain between the vehicles after successfully freeing the Raptor, Renners plow started sliding down. Concerned for his nephews safety, Renner extended one foot out of the plow to check on Alex, forgetting to engage the parking brake. Unfortunately, this caused Renner to lose his balance and fall out of the vehicle. Renner feared the plow might roll back and crush Alex, prompting him to try jumping back in to stop it. Tragically, this resulted in Renner being run over by the vehicle.
Thalapathy Vijay was attacked at Vijaykanths funeral in Chennai on Friday. The Tamil actor joined the film fraternity to pay his last respects at the funeral. However, an angry mob of mourners attacked Vijay, with one even hitting him with a slipper. Vijaykanth died on Thursday, December 28. The 71-year-old actor turned politician was on ventilatory support after testing positive for Covid-19. The actor-turned political leader who also founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) party was admitted in MIOT International.

For More: Vijay ATTACKED at Captain Vijaykanth Funeral, Man Throws Slipper at Him; Video Goes Viral

Malaika Arora on Thursday shared a cryptic post about being grateful on her Instagram Story. Malaikas post comes days after her ex-husband Arbaaz Khan got married to celebrity makeup artist Sshura Khan. Arbaaz and Sshura tied the knot in an intimate ceremony, surrounded by family and close friends on Sunday, 24 December.

For More: Malaika Arora Shares A Cryptic Post Amid Arbaaz Khans 2nd Marriage: I Woke Up

The equation between Abhishek Kumar and Isha Malviya wasnt clear in Bigg Boss 17 house for the longest time. In the last 73 days of the show, Isha often alleged that she broke up with Abhishek on an ugly note and claimed that he was aggressive and violent. Before Bigg Boss 17, the two worked together in Udaariyaan where they fell in love with each other but later parted ways.

For More: Isha Malviya Cheated On Abhishek Kumar With Samarth Jurel? Breakup Reason REVEALED | Exclusive

Gulshan Devaiah shared that he and his ex-wife Kallirroi Tziafeta are giving their marriage a second chance with a different approach. They were married in 2012 and divorced in 2020.

For More: Gulshan Devaiah, Ex-wife Kallirroi Tziafeta Rekindle Marriage After Divorce: Theres No guarantee

Ranbir Kapoors latest release, Animal, has become the talk of the town. Despite receiving a mixed response, the movie has sparked excitement for its upcoming OTT release. Among all the cast members, Bobby Deols character as Abrar Haque has become fan favourite, even without any dialogues, the actor has captured major attention with his on-screen presence and dance moves in the viral Jamal Kudu song. While a sequel titled Animal Park, helmed by director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Ranbir is in the works, the buzz surrounding spin-off focusing on Abrars character is getting maximum hype. Recent reports suggest that the filmmakers are exploring various concepts to expand the movies universe and a standalone project featuring Bobbys character is among them.

For More: Animal Universe To Expand With Bobby Deols Abrar Haque? Details Inside
With national political polarization leeching into local politics, school board elections this year drew unusual mudslinging, and more residents appeared to speak out against various programs and curricula.

Though candidates running on parental rights campaigns started coming out of the woodwork in the last municipal election cycle  with South Middleton School District seeing those candidates elected  the field was much more crowded in this years election.

Carlisle, Big Spring, South Middleton, Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill and East Pensnboro all saw candidates who were endorsed or recommended by the Take Back Our Schools PAC, whose efforts mirror the national Moms for Liberty organization, which aims to bring anti-woke policies to the local school board level.

There were mixed results for these candidates by the time the Nov. 7 election ended, with Carlisles group of mostly incumbents knocking out the Team for Change, and Camp Hill  another Democratic-heavy borough  also seeing Democratic-leaning candidates taking seats on the board. Mechanicsburg incumbents were also able to fend off challengers in their races this year.

At Cumberland Valley, however, newcomers Kelly Potteiger, Andrew Clancy and Matthew Barrick claimed seats on the board, with Potteiger even defeating incumbent Republican Jessica Silcox for the Silver Spring Township seat.

Republican-leaning candidates also found success in Big Spring, where two incumbents were defeated, as well as in East Pennsboro.

With challengers shining more light on school boards and their votes, it also made sense that more members of the community were taking stock of what was happening at their schools.

A number of school board stories in The Sentinel garnered attention this past year, especially when it came to curriculum or changes to address the mental well-being of students.

In April, the Carlisle school board voted to approve the Advanced Placement African-American Studies course, which nationally had attracted attention in Florida and over the College Boards flip-flops over material inclusion.

Readers also tuned in to discussions over Carlisles approval of the Character Strong pilot program at Wilson Middle School. With the program designed to build better character for students, some members of the community  including those on the Team for Change candidate group  questioned the program and what they saw as a quick approval with little opportunity for public input.

Carlisle wasnt the only school district to see more community involvement at board meetings.

Sentinel readers followed meeting coverage over Cumberland Valleys approval of a new math curriculum that stirred some parental debate over the curriculum containing inclusive material. Board members and officials at the time argued that the curriculum would address deficiencies and student struggles that became more evident following the pandemic.

Decisions are pending on an idea to remove valedictorian and salutatorian honors, as well as class ranks on report cards, in a move that was touted as an effort to reduce student stress and encourage better mental health.

Cumberland Valleys board may be going back to the drawing board after the proposal drew mixed reactions with the previous board, and with two of the three new board members voicing opposition to it once they took their seats in December.

With more newly elected board members looking to challenge the status quo at area school boards, its likely that more of these debates will arise in the coming years, especially as national attention continues on educational topics.
Malayalam films have slowly but surely secured a special spot in the hearts of movie enthusiasts. Be it their gripping storylines or the hard-hitting performances of the cast, Mollywood is going places with its quality content. Take for example director Jude Anthany Josephs thriller drama 2018, based on the catastrophic effects of the Kerala floods. Starring Tovino Thomas in the lead, the film was a visual masterpiece, with several emotional elements and a nail-biting plot at the end. Now, with 2023 coming to a close, let us take a look at some highly-anticipated Malayalam films, expected to release in 2024.

Aadujeevitham

Helmed by Blessy, Aadujeevitham stars Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. Also titled The Goat Life, the survival drama will tell the real-life story of an Indian migrant worker named Najeeb Muhammad. After visiting Saudi Arabia to make a living, he finds himself ensnared in a slave trade, herding goats in the middle of a desert. The film will premiere on April 10.

Abraham Ozler

Starring Jayaram in the lead, alongside Mammootty, Abraham Ozler is a crime thriller, directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. The movie revolves around the personal and professional life of a veteran ACP in Trichur who once took the responsibility of hunting a serial killer. Abraham Ozler will hit the big screens on January 11.

Malaikottai Vaaliban

This Lijo Jose Pellissery directorial is a period-action drama narrating the story of a legendary man who shows the path to future generations. Mohanlal will be seen in a new avatar for the film, scheduled to release on January 25. Sonalee Kulkarni has been roped in as the female lead.

Barroz

Mohanlal has been taking up interesting projects back to back. He will be marking his debut directorial with Barroz  a fantasy action-adventure following the journey of a 400-year-old spirit of the same name. The entity has been waiting for decades to hand over a treasure to an unnamed descendant of DGama. Barroz is based on a novel titled Barroz: Guardian of DGamas Treasure, written by Jijo Punnoose. The film is slated to hit the silver screens on March 28.

Kathanar  The Wild Sorcerer

Kanthanar is a story about a legendary priest named Kadamattathu Kathanar who possesses supernatural powers. The horror fantasy is helmed by Rojin Thomas and stars Jayasurya and Anushka Shetty in the lead. The first part of the movie will release sometime around mid-2024.

Bramayugam: The Age of Madness

Mammoottys first look from this Rahul Sadasivan directorial has rightfully grabbed multiple eyeballs. He was captured in a black-and-white frame, sporting a dangerous smile, and flaunting his beefed-up body. The release date of Bramayugam is yet to be decided.

Khalifa

Not much is known about this drama film, except that Khalifa will be directed by Vysakh with Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. According to reports, some parts of the film, touted to be an action entertainer, will be shot in Dubai. The release date is yet to be announced.

Nadikar Thilakam

Nadikar Thilakam is a comedy film, headlined by Tovino Thomas. As per IMDbs plot description, the film will document the life of superstar David Padikkal and the twist to fate he faces. Directed by Jean Paul Lal, the makers have not revealed Nadikar Thilakams release date.

Hanuman Gear

Fahadh Faasil will once again showcase his acting prowess in this Sudheesh Sankar film centering around a man who likes to embark on off-road drives. However, whenever he faces a problem, he uses a mysterious tool named Hanuman Gear to get out of trouble. The film is still in the pre-production phase and is expected to premiere sometime in 2024.
Northeast India was not very long ago riddled with insurgencies in almost every state. These insurgent groups perpetuated violence in the region for decades. Today, the security situation in Northeast India has been turned around, and quite remarkably so. Friday was a particularly historic day for the region, especially for Assam, as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), arguably once South Asias most feared insurgent group, signed a peace agreement with the Government of India.

Out of all the peace agreements signed with a series of other groups, this one stands out in particular. It signals a generational shift in this part of the country and reinforces the now popular belief that the dark days of violence, extortion and bandhs are over, for good.

Responsible for several attacks and once having the ability to bring life to a standstill in Assam and the region, ULFA today has been reduced to the very margins  which is why it has had to sign a peace deal with the Centre. The emergence of ULFA out of the anti-immigration movement in Assam also triggered the emergence and strengthening of insurgent groups in other Northeastern states. There was a time when it would be hardly surprising for regular reports to suggest that the insurgent groups in various Northeast states would operate in close coordination with ULFA.

With the pro-talks faction of ULFA now having signed a peace deal with the Central government, the only faction that remains is the ULFA (Independent), led by Paresh Barua, operating mostly at the India-Myanmar border. After the signage of the peace accord with the pro-talks faction of ULFA, Baruas wing will fight an even lonelier and non-kinetic battle.

Insurgent activities in the Northeast as a whole have come down remarkably in the past decade, and hardly anyone in the region now takes these groups seriously. As a matter of fact, the rapidity with which a series of peace agreements are being signed in the Northeast is a testament to the depleted capabilities of insurgent groups, whose only recourse now is to lay down their arms and join the mainstream.

In October, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had revealed that there has been a 65 per cent fall in incidents of terrorism, left-wing extremism and insurgency in the Northeast. Last year, Shah said that attacks on security personnel have been reduced by 60 per cent while civilian casualties were down 89 per cent. Today, insurgent groups neither have the power nor the influence to bring day-to-day life to a standstill in the region, a feature which only 10 years ago used to be a regular affair. The infamous bandh culture has been dismantled, paving the way for uninterrupted economic activity.

The Steep Rise and Inglorious Fall of ULFA

ULFA was formed on April 7, 1979, to seek the restoration of Assams sovereignty. Beginning in 1990, the government attempted to wean away members of the outfit. This was after the ULFA was declared a terrorist organisation, and its deputy commander-in-chief, Heerak Jyoti Mahanta, died in December 1991. At its height, ULFA engaged in all sorts of illegal activities, ranging from assassinations, kidnappings, IED blasts, drug trafficking, extortion to even mass killing of innocent civilians.

Mahanta had opposed surrenders, but they began at a significant scale after his death. In 1992, a large section of second-rung leaders and members laid down their arms. The total number of ULFA militants to have surrendered has gone up to 8,718 this year. The original ULFA underwent a split after the outfits top leadership, including Arabinda Rajkhowa, was arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to India in 2008. Three years later, Rajkhowa and his group decided to join the peace talks without any prior conditions.

The deal signed on Friday is said to have a financial package, scrutiny of the citizenship list regarding illegal immigrants, new land reservation measures and rights for the indigenous communities of Assam. It also has provisions for political, economic, and cultural safeguards for the indigenous communities in Assam.

The peace deal with ULFA is a very strategic win for India in geopolitical terms as well. ULFA and a host of insurgent groups in the Northeast posed a threat to Indias strategic interests, especially because these groups were found to have links not just in Myanmar and Bangladesh, but also China. Weapons, money and patronage  forces and entire nations hostile to India were reportedly providing it all to these outfits.

In 2020, for example, the Modi government had revealed to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal that ULFA(I) was, at least at the time, based in the Yunnan Province of China from where it was carrying out anti-India activities. As India defangs these insurgent groups, a lot of money and resources Indias enemies poured into stoking mass violence in the Northeast has gone to waste.

Amit Shah and MHA: Heavy-Lifters Bringing Peace to Northeast India

The central focus of the Modi government in the Northeast, from 2014 itself, has been very development-oriented. This development push has further alienated various insurgent groups, as whatever little support they had among the people has evaporated now. When Amit Shah assumed the office of Indias Home Minister in 2019, his agenda for the Northeast was clear. In order for people to truly reap the benefits of development in the region, it was absolutely necessary to eliminate whatever insurgencies remained active. This is why the past five years have seen a lot of peace deals, accords and boundary settlements taking place.

Just in November, the Centre and the Manipur government signed a peace treaty with the Khundongbam Pambei-led faction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), one of the oldest insurgent groups not just in Manipur, but the entire region. That the Modi government was able to achieve this at a time when Manipur has been ripped apart by ethnic tensions is all the more significant.

In April, a tripartite memorandum of settlement between the Government of India, Government of Assam and representatives of Dimasa National Liberation Army/Dimasa Peoples Supreme Council (DNLA/DPSC) was signed in Delhi to rehabilitate their surrendered cadres.

One of the most important peace treaties signed by the Home Ministry under Amit Shah was the Bodo Peace Accord in January 2020. The tripartite treaty was signed by the Government of India, the Government of Assam and all factions of the extremist National Democratic Front of Bodoland, effectively bringing an end to insurgency in Bodo-dominated areas in Assam.

In January 2020, a landmark agreement was signed between the Government of India, the Governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru representatives. The agreement allowed for Bru refugees to permanently reside in Tripura  a state they had fled to after facing persecution in Mizoram in the late 90s. Approximately 35,000 people from the Bru community stood to benefit from the agreement.

In August 2019, the Government of India and the Government of Tripura signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the National Liberation Front of Tripura led by Sabir Kumar Debbarma (NLFT-SD).

At present, efforts are also underway to get a peace deal signed with HNLC  a militant outfit in Meghalaya. While the HNLC was a big cause of concern a decade ago, the threat it poses has since subsided dramatically. In Meghalayas Garo Hills, insurgent outfits like GNLA and ANLF have also been rendered operationally defunct. This all comes at a time when security forces have established their dominance in the region, leaving insurgent groups with little choice but to enter into peace deals with the Union of India.

Meanwhile, the Amit Shah-led MHA has also taken the initiative of resolving several inter-state boundary disputes in the Northeast. In April, at the insistence of both Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to resolve their long pending border dispute.

In May 2022, similar deals were signed between Assam and Meghalaya as well. There were a total of 12 disputed areas along the inter-state border of Assam and Meghalaya, and so far, disputes in six of them have been resolved. Progress is fast being made on the remaining six areas, with the regional committees of both states being asked to submit their reports by December 31.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has always been a bone of contention in Northeast India. In March, the Modi government decreased the jurisdiction of disturbed areas declared under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur. Amit Shah attributed the decision to the significant improvement in the security situation in the Northeast. Under the Modi government, AFSPA has been steadily withdrawn from a significant share of Northeastern territory.

At a time when the government has taken a lot of heat on the Manipur issue, the agreement with ULFA will come as a big thumbs up to its Northeast policy, which has development as its core focus.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said his party would contest 23 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, and the seat-sharing talks with the Congress have to start from zero as the latter had not won any seat in the previous elections, a statement that drew a sharp response from the state Congress.

The majority of the Sena MPs are now with the Eknath Shinde faction and the Congress now happens to be the biggest party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, state Congress leaders Sanjay Nirupam and Milind Deora pointed out.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress are part of the MVA.

Speaking to reporters, Raut said the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including Thackeray, have been holding talks with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and general secretary K C Venugopal over seat-sharing.

We have said that we have been contesting 23 seats in Maharashtra and (will also contest) Dadra Nagar Haveli, Raut said, adding that the Shiv Sena is the biggest party in Maharashtra while the Congress is a national party.

The current MP of Dadra Nagar Haveli is from the Sena.

We have decided that the seats won by us (MVA allies) will be discussed later. The Congress does not figure in it as it has not won any seat in Maharashtra. So talks with the Congress have to start from zero in the state, Raut further said.

Asked about state Congress leaders pointing out that the Sena is no longer a united party, Raut said the Congress did not split up, and yet it lost the recent assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

A party is tested on the ground. Our party workers are with us. Even if our party split, we won the Andheri assembly bypoll and you (the Congress) won the Kasba Peth assembly bypoll with our support, Raut said.

The Congress, nevertheless, remains an important part of the MVA, and the alliance partners will contest the coming elections together, he said.

In the 2019 general elections, the undivided Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackerays leadership  in alliance with the BJP  contested 23 seats and won 18. It later broke off the ties with the BJP, and in 2022 the Sena itself split after Eknath Shinde rebelled against Thackeray.

The NCP won four seats in Maharashtra in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the Congress only one. The Congresss lone MP from Chandrapur, Balu Dhanorkar, died earlier this year.

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam hit back at Raut, saying the Shiv Sena (UBT) cannot win any seat on its own. It needs the Congress and vice versa, said the former MP.

Of the 18 MPs of the Shiv Sena, more than a dozen MPs have deserted the Uddhav Thackeray camp and joined the Shinde faction, he said.

They dont even have a guarantee as to whether the remaining MPs will stay with them, Nirupam added.

Milind Deora, another Congress leader from the state, tweeted that any alliance in Maharashtra cannot materialize without consultation with the state Congress leadership.

Deora, a former Mumbai MP who is now a joint treasurer of the Congress, said,  I want to tell Sanjay Raut that any alliance cannot move forward without consultation with the Maharashtra Congress leadership. He also objected to Rauts contention that despite losing 40 MLAs to the Shinde faction , the Sena (UBT) is the largest party in the MVA alliance.

Raut says seat-sharing talks with the Congress should begin from zero. He is talking about a party which is the largest opposition party in the assembly and leading the opposition bloc (at the national level), Deora said.
Janata Dal (United) national president Rajiv Ranjan, also known as Lalan Singh in political circles, resigned on Friday amid speculations of rift in the party. The move came on the day the JD(U)s central committee met in Delhi. In the run-up to the meeting, there have been speculations of organisational changes.

Minutes after Lalan Singh announced his resignation, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was appointed the partys president.

Lalan Singh, in his presidential address during the JD(U) executive meeting in Delhi, stated that he wants to focus more on the upcoming elections and is therefore stepping down from the position. He then proposed Nitish Kumar as his successor for the partys top role.

Rift in JD(U)?

Lalan Singhs resignation came amid speculations that Nitish was unhappy with the former JD(U) for not coordinating with the members of the INDIA bloc ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Singhs resignation came a day after Nitish Kumar debunked the ongoing speculations of clash between the two and said that JD(U)s two-day conclave in Delhi was a normal and annual affair. Speaking to reporters before leaving for the national capital, Nitish Kumar on Thursday said, These meetings take place every year. Its normal, there is nothing specific at all. These are routine meetings.
On the Karnataka BJPs dartboard, one person who seems to be the target for several disgruntled leaders is veteran BS Yediyurappa.

While a tirade of accusations has been launched by Vijayapura BJP MLA and former Union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, other senior leaders like Sadanand Gowda, KS Eswarappa, and CT Ravi have also earlier trained their guns on the leader.

In his latest statement on Thursday, Yatnal alleged that it is as if the BJP has been handed over to the Yediyurappa family on a platter, putting the top leadership in a spot again.

The comment comes just 24 hours after Yatnal made serious corruption allegations to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore against Yediyurappa while managing the Covid-19 pandemic in Karnataka.

Speaking in Vijaypura on December 27, Yatnal claimed: Do you know how many thousands of crores of rupees were looted due to irregularities during Covid-19? They have done everything possible (corruption) did you know what rate Yediyurappa charged for a mask that costs Rs 45 each during Covid-19? The government priced it at Rs 485 for each mask Let them serve me a notice, I will expose each of them. Yatnal was also an aspirant for the state presidents post which was wrested away by BSYs younger son, BY Vijayendra.

Another video featuring Yatnal, which cannot be independently verified by News18, was aired by local channels where the leader is allegedly heard saying that Yediyurappa blackmailed the party high command that he will not tour the state for the Lok Sabha elections unless they make his son the Karnataka BJP chief.

It is no surprise to me that Vijayendra had funded candidates against me, but you wont believe that he even funded candidates who contested against Bommai, and even Somanna who would have comfortably won the Govindarajnagar seat. Who do you think misled Hema and got him defeated? Yatnal was heard saying in the video in another jibe targeting BSY.

Close on the heels of Yatnals series of comments, another veiled attack came from an ex-confidante and an unhappy former Union minister, DV Sadananda Gowda. His recent statement that a dictatorial attitude has crept inside BJP is seen as one directly pointing a finger at BSY.

We all know what happened to a dictator like Indira Gandhi and how it caused the decline of Congress. We should try and get out of this dictatorial attitude and take decisions after consulting everybody, Gowda said, adding that he would raise the issue in the upcoming core committee meeting of the BJP.

One may recall that Gowda, a former Karnataka chief minister, had stepped in to fill BSYs shoes in 2011, when the former was arrested and sent to jail in an illegal mining case. Gowda, upset with the way the party leadership had been treating him, announced his retirement from active politics in November 2023.

He has also been critical of Shikaripura MLA Vijayendra being made the state president of the BJP and called the new unit under him not strong. When Gowda was president of the Karnataka BJP, he had suspended Yatnal from the party, but it was Yediyurappa who had urged him to re-induct the leader.

He has embarrassed the BJP repeatedly and it is because of him we are facing this situation today, Gowda said in another attempt to target BSY for his decision.

Recently, when Vijayendra decided to rejig the state unit and appoint new office bearers, Yediyurappas detractors termed it as an attempt to bring in KJP-2. In 2012, BSY disassociated himself from the BJP, the party that he single-handedly brought to power in 2008 in southern India, to form the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP). He had told this reporter in an interview then that he felt suffocated in the BJP and had no other option but to quit the party.

Recently, a party meeting that was called by a senior BJP leader from the central core team to discuss strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections was skipped by BSY, a parliamentary panel member, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, and then Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel.

BSYs former political secretary and close associate MP Renukacharya criticised the senior BJP functionary for holding the meeting in the absence of Yediyurappa. Renukacharya claimed that those who were holding the meeting did not build the BJP like BSY did and the meeting was being held as the leader had aspirations to become the chief minister of Karnataka someday.

The curse of Yediyurappa is the main reason for the humiliating defeat of BJP in Karnataka. Those who held meetings did not build the party. He [senior BJP leader] came from the Sangh Parivar in 2006-07 and now aspires to become the chief minister. He is controlling the whole party and had created his own gang, while he decides candidates for elections, they never get elected, Renukacharya had alleged.

He sidelined Yediyurappa slowly to ensure that the party is in the hold of his proteges. Denying a ticket to Jagdish Shettar who has been the Speaker, opposition leader, and chief minister shows how that group functions, further alleged the former minister.

Meanwhile, another senior BJP leader who has also served as Karnatakas deputy chief minister in the BSY cabinet, KS Eswarappa, wrote a letter to the then Karnataka governor in an unprecedented move, complaining about BSYs interference in his ministry.

Eswarappa, who had rebelled earlier as well against BSY, had raised some serious allegations at the time. He alleged interference in administration, nepotism, indiscriminate release of funds from outside the budgetary allocation, and violation of norms when it came to the division of power between the chief minister and his cabinet.

During the peak of the Karnataka assembly elections, CT Ravi, former national general secretary of the party, had kicked up a storm while exposing the chinks in the BJPs armour with his comment against BSY. During a media interaction on which candidates were to get tickets and whether winnability was a criterion, Ravi had said: Just remember one thing, the decision on tickets of candidates will not be taken in anybodys kitchen. Nobody will get a ticket just because they are somebodys son and the decision on the ticket will also not be taken in the home of the aspirant. Though this was seen as a direct attack on the Yediyurappa camp, Ravi clarified later that it was a general statement.

BJPs central leadership has been relying on Yediyurappas comeback and active role in state politics for the partys performance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. His ability to secure key posts for his son and loyalists has certainly irked many, but after the May assembly poll debacle, the party high command has decided to let the political play continue with the hope of wresting all 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka in their favour.
The expansion of the Cabinet in BJP-ruled Rajasthan is likely to take place on Saturday, official sources have said.

The newly-inducted ministers will take oath at a ceremony in the Raj Bhavan at 3.30 pm. Governor Kalraj Mishra will administer the oath, they said on Friday.

Preparations for the oath ceremony are already underway at the Raj Bhavan.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, meanwhile, has travelled to Delhi to meet the BJP high-command ahead of the Cabinet expansion.

The BJP stormed to power in the state, securing 115 seats in the 200-member House on December 3.

After nine days, the party declared first-time MLA Sharma as chief minister and Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa as his deputies.
Google has a crazy habit of shutting down products in recent years, and some of them were done out of the blue. Stadia is one of the prime examples of its decision making and unlikely to be the last. The company is likely to continue with this tradition in 2024 as well, and one of the first features to stop working could be one of the important tools in Maps.

Google Maps users can rely on Driving mode to assist them with a different interface while driving but that feature could be killed by the company in the coming months.

The details of this feature going away has been spotted in the recent version of the Google app, where a feature with the code string view is written to be going away in February 2024. Driving mode could become less important for the company, and the push towards AI with Assistant is likely to be the way forward for Maps users.

Having said that, Google has never been sure of its plans earlier and for all you know, this feature could be overhauled in a new way with the integration of Gemini into Maps tough to rule out. Driving mode is essentially there to help people focus on their driving and get easier access to calls, messages and more on the phones screen.

It is useful for people who dont have Android Auto in their cars and dont want to use it in wired mode. But moving to Assistant means people will have to rely on voice commands to get their messages or calls relayed, which then brings the privacy of the users into the picture.

Google hasnt officially said that Driving Mode is shutting down, so till then, we are hoping the code strings observed recently dont turn into reality and if that does happen, Google has a solid alternative in place to make sure people dont lose their access to navigation and other features on their phone while driving.
The gloves are off. The New York Times, one of the most respected publications in the US with a global footprint, has sued ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and its partner Microsoft, accusing them of multiple counts of copyright infringement.

The Times becomes the first major publication to open a legal front against ChatGPT, which has taken the world by storm since its debut late last year  and has also triggered existential questions around the future of workplaces and certain industries, including the media.

The outcome of the case, filed in a US court, could shape how established publications and artificial intelligence tools might co-exist at a time when the media across the world is feeling the revenue squeeze in a cut-throat digital age.

What Does The Lawsuit Say?

The Times argues that:

 Independent journalism is increasingly rare and valuable, and The Times has given the world deeply reported, expert, independent journalism over the years

 Defendants use of unlawful use of The Timess work to create artificial intelligence products that compete with it threatens The Timess ability to provide that service

 Using the valuable intellectual property of others without paying has been extremely lucrative for defendants

 The US Constitution and the Copyright Act recognise the critical importance of giving creators exclusive rights over their works, but the defendants have refused to recognise this protection

 The law does not permit the kind of systematic and competitive infringement that defendants have committed

What Is At The Heart Of The Dispute?

Original content created by news publishers (The Times in this case) and its copyright violation by way of free dissemination through AI chatbots (ChatGPT) are the major bones of contention in this raging debate.

The most critical question at this juncture is: how exactly has ChatGPT threatened The Timess journalism? The answer lies in how AI chatbots that are examples of what is known as Large Language Models (LLMs) acquire their knowledge.

By now, we know the amazing things ChatGPT can do  help us write and edit, create a fairytale from scratch, do Maths and codes, and even translate text from one language to another. And to be able do that, bots such as ChatGPT need a lot of training involving huge amounts of data.

While critics say AI-makers have not been very transparent about where the data comes from, chatbots in question process this data through a complex neural network. For example, transformers are a popular neural network architecture that can read volumes of text and find patterns, thereby growing intelligent with more and more training and acquiring the ability to strike human-like conversations.

The Timess lawsuit objects to the use of its data, read journalism, for free for the training of ChatGPT. It alleges: Defendants generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools rely on large-language models (LLMs) that were built by copying and using millions of The Timess copyrighted news articles, in-depth investigations, opinion pieces, reviews, how-to guides, and more.

The Times website is behind a paywall  and users must pay subscription fees to access its online offering. The fear is that if the same content is available free through AI chatbots, The Times will lose subscribers  and, in turn, revenues. If this becomes a wider pattern, the already-struggling media industry could face massive consequences.

What Does OpenAI Say?

OpenAIs decision not to contest the lawsuit is equally significant. In fact, the company has been trying to settle the case out of the court.

The truth is AI cannot sustain and improve without the data it is being trained on, and thats where the copyright question comes into play.

For its part, OpenAI stresses that ChatGPT is developed using:

 Information that is publicly available on the internet

 Information that they licence from third parties

 Information that their users or human trainers provide

On its website, OpenAI says ChatGPT does not copy or store training information in a database, and goes on to add:

we only use publicly available information that is freely and openly available on the Internet  for example, we do not seek information behind paywalls or from the dark web. We apply filters and remove information that we do not want our models to learn from or output, such as hate speech, adult content, sites that primarily aggregate personal information, and spam. We then use the information to teach our models

What Is The Counterargument?

The Times lawsuit cites several conversations with ChatGPT to counter this. In one of these, it shows  using a screenshot  how ChatGPT allegedly quoted part of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times article Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek. The Times says it was generated in response to a prompt by a user who complained of not being able to access the article behind the paywall.

The Times also cited Microsofts Bing search index, which copies and categorises The Timess 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. Microsoft is a major backer of OpenAI with a substantial investment in the AI start-up.

The Times has sought damages and requested that the defendants be directed to stop using its content. This 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, The Times says, without specifying the amount.

The Times alleges that the defendants seek to free-ride on its massive investment in its journalism by using it to build substitutive products without permission or payment and that Microsofts deployment of Times-trained LLMs throughout its product line helped boost its market capitalization by a trillion dollars in the past year alone.

Microsoft has yet to react to the lawsuit. OpenAI says it respects 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.

Have There Been Similar Cases?

The Times lawsuit is an important episode in a fast-evolving chapter, with new ethical and operational questions surrounding the use of AI tools coming to the fore frequently.

In September, A Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin and other noted writers sued OpenAI for copyright infringement. The very next month, Universal Music Group and other music publishers sued AI firm Anthropic for distributing what they said were copyrighted lyrics.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Associated Press news agency, which has struck a deal with OpenAI for the artificial intelligence company to license APs archive of news stories.

And then there is Axel Springer, the publisher of Business Insider and Politico that has tied up with OpenAI. The German media group will be paid for allowing ChatGPT to summarise its articles in responses by ChatGPT.

Good or bad, AIs impact on journalism and the media industry is unmistakable  and changes are inevitable.

Its easy to reflexively dismiss legal filings as an inevitable marker of a tech boom  if theres hype and money, lawyers are going to follow. But there are genuinely interesting questions at play here  about the nature of intellectual property and the pros and cons of driving full speed into a new tech landscape before anyone knows the rules of the road. Yes, generative AI now seems inevitable. These fights could shape how we use it and how it affects business and culture, says an article on the Vox website.
The hiring situation in India is taking a big hit as the global companies look to slow down their operations. As per a recent ET report, tech companies hiring in India this year was slower than recent years, which suggests they have been directly impacted by the global scenario.

In fact, the report mentions that in comparison to 2022, the posts made for active jobs had come down by 90 percent in 2023 which is a massive difference and tells you how tech companies are going about their hirings.

We have seen the likes of Google, Meta and even Amazon hand out the pink slips in India this year, and most of them have been attributed to performance-related issues, however, it is most likely done to restructure the business and reduce their expenses, which includes employee salaries. The bad news is that companies will be keeping it low with hirings for the next few quarters going into 2024 in the country.

Thats not all, in the next few years, tech companies will also be planning for life with AI, which is already being rumoured to be in plans for giants like Google, who could have as many as 30,000 employees laid off because of changes in its business.

Google is also testing AI in its customer support service these days which has a direct impact on the human-side of operations at the company. The companys CEO claimed, it would have been a major overhang on the company. I think it would have made it very difficult in a year like this with such a big shift in the world to create the capacity to invest in areas.

But luckily its not all doom and gloom for techies looking for jobs in the country, as the hiring will happen, especially their specialisation matches the top job profiles that companies are eager to build and hire people for. People who are in the right profession might have to upskill to become a popular choice among the big companies that will be hiring in the next few quarters.
A recent photoshoot involving a teacher and a student has stirred controversy on social media, gaining widespread attention. The woman in question, identified as the headmistress of a government high school in a village in Chintamani taluk in Karnataka, is facing intense scrutiny for her alleged misconduct during an educational study tour with a male student. The leaked photos, which quickly became viral on social media, show the headmistress in romantic poses with the high school student, prompting the parents of the student to demand action against her.

The images capture the student, attired in a kurta and jeans, engaging in various intimate acts with the teacher, including kissing, lifting, and tugging at her saree. According to various media reports, the headmistress is accused of inappropriate behaviour with the minor boy studying in SSLC, as she allegedly documented intimate moments with him on her mobile phone during the tour.

Where are we heading as a society ?Pictures and videos from a romantic photoshoot of a government school teacher with a Class 10 student in Karnatakas Murugamalla Chikkaballapur district, went viral, following which the students parents filed complaint with the Block pic.twitter.com/WviIHtOP3J  Amit Singh Rajawat (@satya_AmitSingh) December 28, 2023

The revelation of these photos has sparked a call for action, with even the parents of the student expressing their shock upon discovering the content of the romantic photoshoot. In response, they promptly confronted the headmistress at the school and filed a complaint with the Block Education Officer (BEO), urging a comprehensive investigation into her behaviour. The parents are advocating for swift action, underlining the importance of safety and accountability within the educational system.

Also Read: School Teacher Announces Pregnancy To Her Class Through Fill In The Blanks

Interestingly, this incident is not an isolated case. Similar instances of inappropriate behaviour by teachers have surfaced in the past. In 2022, a video of a teacher dancing to a Bhojpuri song in the classroom went viral, drawing criticism from social media users. The video depicted a teacher in a saree dancing to the song Patli Kamariya Mori, with students in the background waving and jumping, further fueling the discourse regarding the ongoing challenges related to professional conduct within the education sector.

(With inputs from IANS)
Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Jesus Christ and Reo Hatfield II.

How a boy from Huntington, West Virginia, came to have his name on a list of the greatest acts of forgiveness alongside some of historys greatest figures is a tale of an age-old Appalachian feud  yes, he is one of those Hatfields  and history-changing big moves.

Hatfield has once again made a big move, leaving TA Services, a Texas-based, multimillion-dollar logistics company where he served as vice president of business development, for Prince Michel, a Madison County vineyard and winery where he has been named president and CEO.

It was Prince Michel owner Kristin Easter who made the eyebrow-raising decision to bring on Hatfield to help carry one of the commonwealths oldest and largest wineries into the future. Eyebrow-raising because Hatfield has no prior experience in the wine industry and, more than that, doesnt drink.

It is a leap, but the reality is that any business has similarities in lots of ways, Hatfield told The Daily Progress. What you have to do is acquire the knowledge of actually running a business and, at the same token, understand the circumstances of business. If you can do that, it doesnt matter what business it is as long as you operate the company with reasonable standards.

Hatfield met Easter through his wife. He did some consulting for the winery about five years ago that gave him a taste of what it would be like working in the industry. Now, they are combining Easters love for wine with Hatfields wealth of management knowledge to lead the company into a new era.

Ive been in transportation my whole life, so thought I might as well finish in something else, said Hatfield. I thought I could serve this business even greater than there [at TA Services] because it was a million-dollar company and I thought, Well, my goal is to help other companies, and I thought I could help them.

The learning curve isnt daunting for Hatfield, who brings a realpolitik to the job. His business motto is Success is never final.

Never go into a place thinking you have all the answers, said Hatfield. Go into a place thinking you want to answer all your questions. Ever since Ive arrived all Ive done is ask why when people say theyve been doing it this way for years. I want to give everything a fresh look.

Hatfield considers himself a lifelong learner. He said hes learned a lot about business since taking his first job at 15. Each individual company has a little quirk to it, so the key is to figure out and understand those variations, what works and what doesnt.

While Hatfield has a few things to learn about his new position, Prince Michel has even more to gain from his years in logistics, his management skills and, perhaps above all, his connections.

As part of his job at TA Services, Hatfield was involved in handling international affairs, he said, allowing him to foster relationships with businesses all over the world  businesses he remains in contact with even after leaving logistics.

He was recently awarded an honor from the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in Washington, D.C., for the connections he fostered between Waynesboro and a sister city in China.

Those connections and that experience will help bolster business for a winery that is already one of the more well-known and widely distributed in Central Virginia. Prince Michel is familiar to East Coast grocery shoppers as well as motorists traveling between Washington and Charlottesville. While it advertises itself as situated among the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge, true of dozens of Virginia wineries, it is far more apt to say Prince Michel is situated off a well-traveled stretch of U.S. 29 with its tasting room fronting the busy highway.

Founded in 1982, two years before the neighboring Monticello American Viticultural Area was christened, Prince Michel was the brainchild of Parisians-turned-Virginians Jean and Sylvian LeDucq. The Le Ducqs had a vision for a winery that married the high-end craft wines, as they called them, of viognier, syrah and symbius, with more unique novelty wines, such as peach and chocolate.

Early on it was recognized as the largest winery in Virginia, and while it has been usurped in the intervening years  that title now belongs to Trump  it remains one of the more widely distributed wineries. While pricier Virginia wines coming from the elite Monticello AVA can be difficult to find on shelves outside Central Virginia, Prince Michel can be easily found on shelves from Southside to Northern Virginia and even beyond the commonwealths borders.

This company was built on a great foundation, so all I want to do is try and enhance it and give it more exposure than it has been getting in the past, so were going to grow it that way, said Hatfield. I believe that we can make a big difference to a lot of places who dont even know who we are right now.

Hatfield credits much of his business know-how to lessons learned at an early age.

Ive enjoyed every minute of it, Hatfield said with a slow drawl permanently tethering him to his Appalachian roots. My fun in life is working with people and working towards success for the business and to do it with a heart.

His first job, and one of only a few that didnt involve trucks, was working at a grocery store in Huntington when he was 15 years old. Hatfield was not bagging groceries for long when he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Korea for three years during the Vietnam War. When he returned home as a 20-year-old, he found an entry-level job at Smith Transfer based out of Staunton.

Hatfield started out there as a typist. Eighteen years later, he was the companys vice president and the company was the eighth-largest trucking company in the country.

It was already an accomplishment for a man with no formal education in the industry beyond a two-year degree from Marshall University. But Hatfield wasnt finished.

After leaving Smith, he founded his own company, Reo Distribution, in Waynesboro. He spent the next three decades there, and its there where the lessons he learned at the knee of his father, Reo Hatfield Sr., came into play.

What he taught me was that revenue is one of the most critical parts of running a successful business. You cant just cut costs, youve got to increase revenue, said Hatfield. You can do that with the solutions other people bring with them when they come to work for you.

The elder Hatfield, it may come as a surprise, was a minister. But since he refused to take any compensation for his ministerial work, he also worked full-time as a director of sales for Century Oil.

Like his father, Hatfield has never been satisfied working just one job. On top of his other duties, Hatfield served 25 years as a member of the Waynesboro auxiliary police force and two separate terms as a councilman and vice mayor for the city.

It was his fathers balance between faith and finances that shaped how the younger Hatfield grew to see management.

Youve got to run a business with a heart. Thats what Hatfield said was one of his fathers most valuable lessons.

Hatfield said he prefers to bring everyone to the table to hash out ideas and solutions, rather than issuing edicts.

Its that sort of diplomacy that put Hatfield on national TV in 2003, when he signed a truce with Bo and Ron McCoy, formally ending the 140-year-old feud between their respective families that had lasted so long and cost so many lives that its become shorthand for the very idea of a family feud.

Hatfield said he considers it one of the proudest moments of his career because it wasnt done for anything.

That career of his will come to an end eventually, and it will come to an end at Prince Michel, Hatfield said. But that end wont come for a while yet, he added.

Hatfield is already eager to capitalize off the recent recognition of the Monticello wine country as Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Hatfield said he is looking forward to collaborating with Prince Michels other new hire, winemaker Bryan Jones, who spent a decade as chief winemaker at Lovers Leap Vineyards in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

There are a lot of big moves happening at Prince Michel.

Another one? The teetotaler Hatfield admitted he sampled this years Decadence Chocolate wine. It was pretty good, he said.
A bizarre food video that shows a cook preparing a fried Nutella dish and serving it with a platter of various types of sabzi has caught the internets attention. The video starts with the cook putting a dollop of Nutella, a sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread, inside flour dough and wrapping it up like a dumpling. He then fries this Nutella pocket/dumpling. The cook then prepares a thali with an assortment of sabzis, curries, and spicy chutney and serves the fried Nutella dumpling with it instead of the usual roti or puri (Indian Breads). A food vlogging account named Bhookkad Beast posted this video on Instagram.

So far, it has gathered over 30,000 likes since it was posted on December 18. However, it is unclear which food joint served this odd combination.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bhookkad Beast (@bhookkad_beast)

Commenting on the video, an Instagram user wrote, At first you will eat all the veggies and then you put this chocolate wrap in your mouth like a dessert? Another quipped, Aab isse healthy bolu ya unhealthy (Now, should I call it healthy or unhealthy).

Referring to the Thoda Casual Hai meme, someone commented, Dessert serve karne ka tarika thoda casual hain. Expressing anger at this bizarre combination, a person remarked, People who do like this. Have confirmed reservations in Hell. A social media user referred to it as Sasta croissant while another described it as a Croissant with Indian twist.

This is not the first time that people have expressed confusion and distaste towards a dish that uncharacteristically includes Nutella.

In September 2023, an Instagram account Fingerlicking Tales shared a video that featured a young woman selling Nutella Cheese Pasta at Cept Khau Gali in Navrangpura, Ahmedabad. The young woman prepared a white sauce pasta and then served it with a spoonful of Nutella and grated cheese. This dish was priced at Rs 70 per serving.

In August, a popular food blogger shared a video in which she prepared instant Maggi noodles with hazelnut and cocoa spread and milk, instead of the usual tastemaker that comes with the Maggi.

She serves this dish by topping it with Cadbury Germs. However, when it came to tasting the dish, the vlogger had to spit the food after the first bite and gave it a thumbs down. Many people criticised the food vlogger for wasting food in a bid to get social media attention.
Usually, cities gain fame for their monuments, scenery, cuisine, or other distinctive features, but one city in Nigeria stands out for an entirely different reason. Reports indicate that this Nigerian city has an unusually high birth rate of twins, earning it the nickname the City of Twins.

Twins are often considered a marvel of nature, and encountering two identical-looking individuals can be a surreal experience. Igbo Ora, a city in Nigeria, has gained renown for having a remarkably high population of twins, exceeding the norm. According to local chief Jimoh Titiloye, every family in the city is said to have a pair of twins or even multiple births.

The Reuters report highlights that twins are notably common among the Yoruba ethnic group, which is predominant in Nigeria. A study conducted by a British gynaecologist in 1970 revealed that in the southwest region of Nigeria, there were 50 sets of twins in every 1000 births, making it one of the highest twin birth rates ever recorded.

In Yoruba culture, where twins are born so frequently, specific names are assigned to them based on traditional practices. Depending on the birth order, they are called Taiwo or Kehinde.

The residents of Igbo Ora celebrate their twins through an annual festival that has been held for the past 12 years. In the previous year, the festival attracted 1000 pairs of twins, drawing participants from as far as France, according to organisers.

Despite the citys fame for its high twin birth rate, there is no scientific evidence or explanation for this phenomenon. Local beliefs attribute it to a traditional dish called Amala, prepared from yam flour. Gynecologist John Ofem from Abuja suggests that the food consumed in Igbo Ora, particularly Amala, might contain high levels of certain hormones that lead to what is known as multiple ovulation.

In the absence of a scientific consensus, the City of Twins continues to be a unique and intriguing phenomenon, drawing attention not only for its annual festivities but also for the mystery surrounding the extraordinary rate of twin births in Igbo Ora.
China named a former navy commander as its new defence minister on Friday, months after his predecessor was sacked as part of a series of mysterious dismissals of military and political leaders. Dongs promotion comes at a sensitive time, as Beijing ups military pressure on the self-ruled island of Taiwan ahead of presidential elections next month and grows increasingly assertive in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

His predecessor Li Shangfu was ousted after seven months in the role following a lengthy absence from public view  one in a series of recent high-level disappearances from the countrys military establishment and political class.

In July, foreign minister Qin Gang was removed from office after disappearing from the public eye for a month. Both Qin and former defence minister Li were believed by experts to have been personally selected for their roles by President Xi Jinping.

Beijing has not given an official reason for either mans removal. Fighting alleged corruption has been a central theme of Xis rule, which has been punctuated by high-level removals and disappearances of officials.

Recent months have also seen an overhaul in the leadership of Chinas secretive Rocket Force, the army unit that oversees Beijings nuclear arsenal, following media reports of a graft probe involving its former chief. And three executives at leading Chinese missile defence firms were removed from Beijings top political advisory committee this week, according to state media.

Surprise promotion

Dong was appointed at a meeting of the standing committee of Chinas National Peoples Congress, state news agency Xinhua said. Dong, born in 1961, was made commander of the navy in August 2021.

He was replaced by Hu Zhongming earlier this month. Dong previously served as deputy commander of the Chinese militarys Southern Theater Command, which includes as its area of operation the South China Sea, where Beijing has territorial disputes with neighbouring countries.

Dongs appointment is a sign of China seeing South China Sea as a new priority area of geopolitical contestation between China and the US, Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist at Australian National University, said in a post on social media platform X.

It also follows existing tradition of appointing non-Army generals to lead Chinas military diplomacy, he added.

His promotion comes as a surprise, however. Many analysts had expected Liu Zhenli, a 59-year-old general and head of Chinas joint staff department, to become the new defence minister.

He notably spoke last week with his American counterpart during the first high-level call between military personnel from the two leading world powers in more than a year. That followed an agreement by President Joe Biden and Xi at a summit last month to restore military communications between their two countries, which China severed after then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022.

Biden at the time said the move was critically important to avoid possible conflicts. But that summit also saw Xi warn the US president against supplying further arms to Taiwan, insisting Chinas reunification with the island was unstoppable.
Khalistani extremists attacked the president of Canadas Surreys Laxmi Narayan Temples president Satish Kumar on Wednesday. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that Khalistani separatists were involved in the attack.

Satish Kumars residence was subjected to indiscriminate firing with almost 14 rounds being fired at his residence. People close to him said his house was attacked around 2am in the morning (local time).

The temple of which Kumar is the president witnessed at least three attacks allegedly led by Khalistani extremists in the recent past. A peaceful counter-protest was staged last month against the vandalism when the extremists gathered to attack the temple premises.

People mentioned above also told CNN-News18 that Satish and his family may have been attacked for their counter-protest and anti-Khalistan stance.

Indo-Canadian Businessmen Targeted

Over the past couple of months several Indo-Canadian businesses and their owners have been targeted by Khalistani extremists. Their businesses and residences were subjected to open firing and they received voice notes and letters demanding extortion money.

Nawab Motors, a motor showroom owned by an Indo-Canadian businessman, was among the businesses that were targeted along with at least 10 other Indian-owned businesses through extortion letters and voice notes. One group which is identifying itself with the Vicky Gounder group claimed that it attacked the establishment.

Gounder was killed in 2018-19 in an encounter.

An Indo-Canadian business in Brampton was targeted but the law enforcement was able to arrest one person connected to the attack. Andy Dugga, the owner of New Millennium Tyre, was attacked in Brampton.

Firings were also reported from White Rock where a businessmans home was targeted.

The police said these victims, who are businessmen from Punjab, are contacted through social media platforms and demands for money are made which if they fail to pay they will have no protection from future attacks. The police feel these extortion letters are sent to scare businesses.

Some of these businesses are car showrooms and there is a high craze for cars among Punjabi youth. The attacks targeted these showrooms and bullets struck the showrooms but no one was injured as the attacks happened after office hours.

Lack of Coordination

Government sources familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that these problems are occurring due to the lack of coordination between the Indian and Canadian agencies as the Canadian agencies are not taking the threats posed by the miscreants seriously.

They said that gangsters are coming to Canada and getting asylum there and are creating safety concerns for the Indian community in Canada. These gangsters who are backed by Pakistani spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), are now not only shooting the videos of the attacks but are also circulating it on social media.

The people mentioned above said it is alarming to see these groups operating from countries like Spain and Portugal as well as from other European countries.
Maine on Thursday became the second state after Colorado to declare former US President Donald Trump ineligible to be on the states primary ballot. The secretary of state of Maine Shenna Bellows citing the 14th Amendment said the former president over the course of several months and culminating on January 6, 2021, used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power.

Shenna Bellows, who is a Democrat and the states highest election official, cited the insurrection clauses of the US Constitution and concluded that the former president was aware of the likelihood for violence and at least initially supported its use given he both encouraged it with incendiary rhetoric and took no timely action to stop it referring to the January 6 Capitol Hill riots.

Bellows decision follows a ruling given earlier this month by the Colorado Supreme Court that barred Trump from the ballot in that state under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

The US Supreme Court stayed that decision as it decides whether the former US president is barred by the Civil War-era provision, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

Mr. Trumps occasional requests that rioters be peaceful and support law enforcement do not immunise his actions. A brief call to obey the law does not erase conduct over the course of months, culminating in his speech on the Ellipse. The weight of the evidence makes clear that Mr. Trump was aware of the tinder laid by his multi-month effort to delegitimize a democratic election, and then chose to light a match, Bellows said in the 34-page decision.

The US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government and (Maine law) requires me to act in response, she further added.

The former presidents campaign team reacted by calling Bellows a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat. The campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said the election is being stolen and hostile efforts are being made to hurt American democracy. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter. Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy, Cheung was quoted as saying by The Hill.

The Trump campaign will challenge the ruling.
Pilot error caused the January plane crash in Nepal that killed all 72 on board, an official said Friday, after a months-long investigation of the countrys worst aviation disaster in three decades.

The Yeti Airlines service was flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara, a gateway for religious pilgrims and trekkers, when it crashed on descent.

The ATR 72 with 68 passengers and four crew plummeted into a steep gorge, smashed into pieces and burst into flames as it approached its destination.

Six children and 15 foreigners were among those killed.

Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, a member of the investigating commission, told AFP that the probe had concluded that the wrong lever was pulled in the cockpit.

Technically, the plane was fine but it seems wrong human input caused it to stall and crash, he said.

The report, submitted to the tourism ministry on Thursday, said that the most probable cause of the fatal crash was inadvertent movement of both condition levers to the feathered position in flight.

Shifting the propellers to the feathered position stops them from producing thrust, which the report said was responsible for the plane stalling and then crashing.

Social media footage from the crash showed the twin-propeller aircraft banking suddenly and sharply to the left as it neared Pokhara airport.

Human factor issues such as high workload and stress that appears to have resulted in the misidentification and selection of the propellers, the report said.

It also said the crew missed the associated flight deck and engine indications that both propellers had been feathered.

Nepals aviation industry has boomed in recent years, carrying goods and people between hard-to-reach areas, as well as ferrying foreign mountain climbers.

But the sector has been plagued by a number of deadly crashes owing to insufficient training and maintenance.

The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns.

Nepal also has some of the worlds trickiest and most remote runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks with difficult approaches and capricious weather.

Its deadliest aviation accident was in 1992, when all 167 people on a Pakistan International Airlines jet were killed when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu.
Nikki Haleys campaign is reeling from the backlash it received for not saying that slavery led to the US Civil War. Haley was addressing an electoral event in New Hampshire when a voter asked what caused the US Civil War in the 1860s to which she answered without mentioning slavery.

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, Nikki Haley said. According to a report by the BBC, the person who asked the question quickly responded to her reply by saying that it is astonishing that Haley did not mention slavery.

Haley tried to clarify her comments on Thursday (local time) while speaking to news agency CNN where she said 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, Haley further added.

Later on, at a radio show, Nikki Haley said the person who asked the question was a democrat plant.

The Wednesday event in Berlin, New Hampshire was meant to strengthen Haleys chances in the Granite State where she reached 30% in one poll from earlier this month and only trailed Trump by 4 percentage points in another, according to a report by The Hill.

The report also pointed out that Haleys remarks drew backlash from Republicans as well as Democrats. President Joe Biden shared a clip of the exchange on X, formerly known as Twitter, captioning his post by saying: It was about slavery.

Black American leader and Republican House of Representatives member from Florida Byron Donalds said on X: 1. Psst Nikki the answer is slavery PERIOD, 2. This really doesnt matter because Trump is going to be the nominee. Trump 2024!

Her rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, said the former South Carolina governor and American envoy to the UN, is not ready for primetime yet. DeSantis said her response to the question was an incomprehensible word salad.
A new reactor at North Koreas main nuclear facility will likely be fully operational by next summer, Seouls defence minister said, a week after the UN atomic agency called it a cause for concern. Shin Won-sik told local media on Thursday that the new reactor at North Koreas Yongbyon nuclear complex appears to be in a trial operation stage and that it is expected to be fully operational next summer.

The defence ministry confirmed Shins comments Friday. Yongbyon is home to North Koreas only other nuclear reactor, with a five-megawatt capacity, which has been its sole known source of plutonium  a primary material for nuclear weapons.

Rafael Grossi, head of the UN atomic agency, said in a statement last week that the new light-water reactor appeared to be operational and capable of producing plutonium. This is a cause for concern, he said.

Shin noted that while no country has used light-water reactors to produce weapons-grade plutonium, Pyongyang could potentially use the new reactor to produce tritium for hydrogen bombs or to conduct tests for developing small nuclear reactors used in nuclear-powered submarines.

The defence minister said Seoul has detected signs of cooling water discharged from the new reactor since this summer. Grossi said last week that the new reactor has reached criticality, and that it was discharging warm water.

Reaching criticality means that the nuclear reactor operates under normal condition by realizing sustainable nuclear chain reaction, Lee You-ho, a nuclear engineering professor at Seoul National University, told AFP.

When a nuclear reactor operates under normal condition, it produces heat which accompanies the discharge of warm water. Shins comments came the same day that Seouls spy agency issued a statement forecasting that Pyongyang would carry out military and cyber provocations in the coming year, targeting election campaigns in the United States and South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently instructed his aides to come up with measures to cause a big stir in South Korea early next year, according to the statement by Seouls spy agency. Kim this week called for the acceleration of war preparations, including in the countrys nuclear programme and munitions industry, to counter what he called unprecedented anti-North confrontational moves by Washington.
Israeli forces on Thursday battled Hamas in Gaza where air strikes and urban combat rocked the southern city of Khan Yunis, near where many hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.

UN World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing besieged Gazas people, including terrible injuries, acute hunger and severe risk of disease.

In Jerusalem, families of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza again rallied for their release, and a kibbutz announced that a 70-year-old US-Israeli thought to be the oldest woman held captive had died in the October 7 attacks.

US President Joe Biden said he was devastated by the news that Judith Weinstein Haggai was dead, and pledged that Washington will not stop working with its ally Israel to bring the remaining hostages home.

Akin to Holocaust

Mia Schem, the 21-year-old hostage released by Hamas during the weeklong November temporary ceasefire said her 54 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza Strip was akin to the Holocaust while speaking to Israeli broadcaster Channel 13.

It was important to me to relay the truth about the nature of the people who live in Gaza, who they are truly are, and what I experienced there, Schem was quoted as saying by Channel 13. Schems video was released by Hamas in November where she was heard urging the Israeli government to free her and receiving treatment in her injured hand.

The woman was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival from southern Israel during the October 7 attacks. She said she was kept in a civilian familys home in Gaza and expressed her surprise at the presence of children and women.

Everyone there were terrorists Entire families are in the service of Hamas. I began asking myself questions: Why am I being held in some familys household? Why are there children here? Why is there a woman here? Schem said.

Quadruplets born in war

More than 80 percent of Gazas 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 dont want to, he said. Why? To go live in the streets there?

All the neighbourhood here was evacuated. They bombed the school, but we didnt leave because we dont have anywhere else to go.

One of the many Palestinians displaced, 28-year-old Iman al-Masry, recently gave birth to quadruplets 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. Its cold and windy and theres no bathtub I just use wipes.

(with inputs from AFP)
Pakistan has banned New Years Eve celebrations to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the government said late Thursday, urging people to instead observe simplicity.

In an evening televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said because of the situation in the Gaza Strip, the government had completely banned all kinds of events regarding the New Year celebrations.

Israels relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, in retaliation for Hamass October 7 attack on Israel, has left much of the territorys north in ruins, and killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

The October 7 attack by the Palestinian militants left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Kakar said Thursday, The entire Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah were deeply saddened by the genocide of the oppressed Palestinians, especially the massacre of innocent children, in Gaza and the West Bank.

New Years Eve is usually marked in boisterous fashion in Pakistan, with fireworks and aerial gunfire  as well as a bank holiday on January 1.

Sharjah, an emirate of the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday banned New Years Eve fireworks over the war in Gaza.

The ban was a sincere expression of solidarity and humanitarian cooperation with our siblings in the Gaza Strip, Sharjah police said in a Facebook post.
Already criminally charged in a crash that killed an elderly Albany pedestrian, a man now faces more serious consequences if convicted.

Percy Kropf, 85, died from injuries he suffered when an allegedly intoxicated driver crashed through a crosswalk Kropf was using in September.

The driver, 43-year-old James Lee Howe of Albany, stopped after hitting the entrance sign at Mennonite Village head-on, according to Albany police. He was initially arrested on charges of second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving.

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.

Court documents show Howe was indicted on felony first-degree manslaughter and misdemeanor driving under the influence Dec. 14. Under Oregons Measure 11 law, first-degree manslaughter carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Second-degree manslaughter has a maximum sentence of 10 years in Oregon.

Citing Howes criminal history, the state has signaled its intent to seek an enhanced sentence of substantial incarceration upon a guilty verdict, according to court records.

The crash

At around 9:15 a.m. Sept. 8, Kropf was walking south on Waverly Drive Southeast and crossing 47th Avenue when a Toyota, traveling north, left its lane, ran over a curb and continued into the crosswalk, hitting Kropf.

Witnesses told Albany police Howe was driving the Camry, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with Linn County Circuit Court, which states Howe said he didnt know what happened.

He believed the car had a mechanical issue as he tried to correct his course, he reportedly told police.

James' demeanor was generally relaxed and did not display a heightened level of anxiety consistent with having crashed into a pedestrian and wall, arresting officer Bret Adams wrote in the affidavit. Rather James' emotions about the incident seemed forced when I spoke with him directly about having hit a pedestrian.

Adams did not notice any indication of braking from the Camry, which reportedly traveled in a straight path around 50 yards from where it left the roadway to where it crashed, according to the affidavit.

Partial sobriety tests

A witness told police he was driving in front of Howe and watching in his rearview mirror as Howe allegedly swerved out of his lane several times on Waverly Drive before going off-road, the affidavit states.

Suspected of being intoxicated, Howe was asked to submit to sobriety testing but only partially completed the process due to complaints of being in pain, according to the affidavit. The results were consistent with illicit substance use including cannabis and central nervous stimulants, the affidavit says.

Although he initially denied using methamphetamine, Howe told police he smoked the drug two days before and had been smoking it every few days for more than 20 years, the affidavit states. Howe reportedly acknowledged smoking cannabis the prior day as well.

Following word of Kropfs death, Howe was arrested and taken to the Albany Police Department, where he refused to provide blood and urine samples, according to the affidavit, which states he also refused a drug recognition expert evaluation.

While in a holding cell, Howe appeared to be struggling to stay awake, Adams wrote in the affidavit, noting that being on the nod is a sign of drug use. Linn County Judge Keith Stein granted a search warrant to obtain blood and urine samples from Howe.

A different story

Pleading for leniency, Howes mother, Patty Tazer sent a letter to Stein dated Sept. 20, according to court records. In the letter, Tazer says Howe told her the fatal crash happened when he reached over to turn off the cars heater and simultaneously sneezed, causing him to yank the steering wheel and hit the curb.

Tazers letter also claims after the crash, Howe sat with Kropf, held his hand, and tried to comfort him as much as possible, cried, apologized and begged for forgiveness. She offered her condolences and apologies to Kropfs family.

Howe was released Sept. 17 on a deposit of $20,000 for a $200,000 security, according to court records that show $7,686.92 of the deposit is being sought for child support that Howe hasnt paid.

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In November 2016, Howe was convicted of driving under the influence and third-degree assault in Linn County. He was sentenced to eight months in jail and five years drivers license suspension, according to court records. His license was reinstated in December 2020.

Howe also has previous convictions for driving while suspended and uninsured, felon in possession of a firearm, careless driving, delivery of controlled substance, unauthorized vehicle use, possession of controlled substance, and forgery among other charges.

Howes next court date is slated for February.

Related story:
The Islamabad High Court on Friday granted permission to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and lawyers to visit former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan who is lodged in Adiala Jail, following his conviction in a corruption case, according to a report by the Dawn.

They have been allowed to hold election meetings with the PTI supremo as general elections in Pakistan inch closer. The polls will be held in February.

Imran Khan can now meet party members Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar Khan, senators Aurangzeb Khan and Dost Mohammad Khan, and Ishtiaq Meherban following the court order.

The party also urged the court to direct the superintendent of Adiala Jail to ensure privacy for Imran during his consultations with his legal team.

The report by the Pakistan-based newspaper, citing PTI chairman Gohar Khan, said Imran Khan will take the decision regarding allotment of tickets. Ali Zafar, another top PTI member, said jailed PTI leaders will be prioritised during allotment of tickets.

The deadline for filing nominations ended on Sunday and now returning officers are examining the nomination papers.

The court, while passing the order, slammed the caretaker government led by interim Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar. The Islamabad high court judge Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb said: A terrible system is being run under the interim government where even consultation on elections is not allowed.

(Does the caretaker government) want to derail the polls? he asked Pakistan attorney general Mansoor Usman Awan.

He also referred to a Pakistan supreme court judges note where the interim government and the Pakistan election commission were told that it is the governments duty to ensure that the public was facilitated in expressing its will through a genuine election.

Permission for consultations on polls is a fundamental right. Opposing meetings between the PTI chairman and Imran raises questions on the neutrality of the interim set-up, the lawyers said.

Meanwhile, the office of the provincial election commissioner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa asked returning officers to ensure the recovery of unpaid fines from political leaders, including from Imran Khan, who owes PKR 200,000 to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Imran Khan is accused of committing four separate violations, each resulting in a PKR 50,000 fine, which remains unpaid. These violations were made in March 2022, a month before his removal through a parliamentary vote.
A wave of Russian attacks killed at least 10 people and wounded dozens across Ukraine, officials said on Friday, with the toll expected to rise.

Almost 15 people were injured. Four were killed in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, its governor Sergiy Lysak said, while other local authorities reported two dead in Kyiv, two others in Odesa; one dead in Kharkiv and one in Lviv.

AFP reporters in Kyiv heard several powerful explosions in the early hours of Friday and saw thick black smoke billowing from a warehouse.

We havent seen so much red on our monitors for a long time, said Yuriy Ignat, a spokesman for Ukraines air force, explaining that Russian forces had first launched a wave of suicide drones followed by missiles.

There are people killed by Russian missiles today that were launched at civilian facilities, civilian buildings, presidential aide Andriy Yermak said.

We are doing everything to strengthen our air shield. But the world needs to see that we need more support and strength to stop this terror, he said on Telegram.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the capitals air defences were working intensively and seven people had been hospitalised.

A metro station, whose platforms were being used as an air raid shelter, was damaged, he said.

Sergiy Popko, head of Kyivs military administration, said a warehouse with an area of around 3,000 square metres (32,300 square feet) was burning in the northern Podil district.

There are many wounded, the number is being clarified, he said.

In other districts of the city, an uninhabited multistorey block of flats also caught fire and a private house was damaged, Popko said.

Maternity hospital struck

In the central Shevchenko district, a residential building was damaged and there was also a fire in a warehouse with six believed to be injured, Popko said.

Klitschko wrote on social media that there appeared to be three people still under rubble of the warehouse while three others had been rescued.

The overnight attacks came days after Ukraine struck a Russian warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in a major setback for the Russian navy.

Drones and missiles struck at least five other Ukrainian cities on Friday, including Kharkiv in the northeast, Lviv in the west, Dnipro in the east and Odesa in the south, the cities mayors and police said.

So far we have counted 22 strikes in different districts of Kharkiv, the mayor, Igor Terekhov, said on television.

There are currently seven injured in hospital. Unfortunately one person has died.

In Lviv, governor Maksym Kozytsky said that one person was killed and three wounded.

In Dnipro, the mayor, Borys Filatov, said there were injured and dead. The health ministry said that a maternity hospital in the city had been severely damaged.

Crucial US support

In the southern port of Odesa, a high-rise building caught fire after being struck by debris from a downed drone, the citys mayor said.

As a result of another enemy attack, one of the high-rise buildings was damaged. The fire was promptly extinguished, mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov said on social media.

Ukraines southern command said 14 attack drones had been destroyed in the south of the country and there were no casualties reported.

The attacks came after Kremlin on Tuesday acknowledged a Ukrainian missile attack had damaged one of its warships.

On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States for releasing the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorisation, as uncertainty surrounds further aid to his war-torn country.

Zelensky had warned that any change in policy from the US  Kyivs main backer  could have a strong impact on the course of the war.

I thank President Joe Biden, Congress, and the American people for the $250 million military aid package announced yesterday, Zelensky said on social media.

In an interview published on Friday, Christian Freuding, a German general who oversees the German armys support for Kyiv, said Russia was severely weakened but was showing greater resilience than Western allies had expected at the start of the war.

We perhaps did not see, or did not want to see, that they are in a position to continue to be supplied by allies, he told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
Two teenagers from Australia were attacked by sharks in two separate incidents leading to the death of one while the other survived. Both attacks happened this week. On Thursday, a shark attacked and killed a 15-year-old boy at a remote surfing spot in South Australia.

On Monday, a shark bit a 16-year-old boy near southeastern Australias Taree. I was sitting out the back, surfing, going over a wave and I just felt someone grab me, Julian McLennan, 16, who was surfing at Old Bar was quoted as saying by 9News. Julian survived the attack but Khai Cowley, the 15-year-old boy bitten by a shark near Ethel Beach on the Yorke Peninsula, did not survive the attack.

The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood, a resident, narrating the circumstances in which Khai was taken out of the water, was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

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, Surfing South Australia said in a statement expressing solidarity with Khai.

Meanwhile, Julian McLennan, who had a close shave with death was bitten few centimetres from his femoral artery.

The femoral artery is crucial as a major blood vessel which supplies oxygenated blood to the lower parts of the human body and plays a key role in peripheral circulation.

I look to the right and I see a massive fin coming out of the water and, like, its the body of a shark. I start paddling in. I have no clue if I have a leg still and Im just looking at Alex, and Im just freaking out, Julian said. Alex Tobin was Julians other friend who was surfing with him and he immediately reached out and grabbed his shirt and stopped the bleeding.

Julians leg was punctured by deep tooth marks but he and his family were thankful to his quick-thinking friends. He also said he was lucky because the surfboard took most of the force of the bite.

There are no details on the sharks involved, but great white sharks are known to prowl South Australias coastline.

In late October, witnesses saw a shark grab a 55-year-old surfer in its jaws at the states Granites Beach. His body was not recovered. A large great white was seen nearby.

A 46-year-old teacher was attacked by a shark in May as he surfed at South Australias Walkers Rock Beach. His body was never found but search teams discovered a piece of wetsuit.

(with inputs from AFP)
A resolution tabled at the Dec. 18 council meeting to define how many City Council votes are necessary to remove an elected member from office will be back before city leaders on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

The resolution, brought forward by Ward 4 Councilor Gabe Shepherd, proposes a two-thirds majority vote to oust a member.

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.

A proposed resolution is included in the packet, but there is no staff report.

"Due to the short turnaround for council packet delivery, the city attorney is not able to provide additional analysis and information in the packet," according to a memo to councilors from City Recorder Alex Downing. More information is expected to be provided on Tuesday.

While a violation of the charter section covering the duties of the city manager results in the offender forfeiting "the office of the offender," the document doesn't spell out the process.

The resolution requiring a two-thirds vote comes just weeks before the possible expulsion of Ward 5 Councilor Charlyn Ellis, which began in December with another proposed resolution, this one saying she had forfeited her seat by interfering in city "administration and elections."

The alleged charter violation is tied to a motion Ellis made at the Sept. 18 council meeting, asking the council to direct the city manager to fill the vacant climate action specialist position. The staffer aids the work of the Climate Action Advisory Board to which she serves as council liaison and chair.

At the Sept. 13 meeting of the advisory board, a similar motion was raised by a board member and passed unanimously. In neither meeting did Ellis advocate for any specific person to be hired.

Ellis said on Nov. 27 she met with council leadership, who accused her of violating the charter. She said she was stunned to believe she had done anything egregious by moving the motion. But she had not resigned from office.

The resolution ousting her from office was soon after pulled from the Dec. 4 council meeting, with Corvallis officials announcing they instead will hold a due process hearing to give Ellis a chance to defend herself. She is hiring an attorney for the occasion, now set for Jan. 16.

At the Dec. 18 meeting, the council passed a motion to direct the City Attorney's Office to hire outside legal counsel for the hearing, citing concerns about representing the city at the hearing and possibly having to defend the city should Ellis move the dispute to court.

In recent history, no Corvallis councilor has been ousted for a similar charter violation.

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The resolution that will come before council on Jan. 2 supports a two-thirds majority requirement for an expulsion because that's the benchmark cited in both the U.S. Constitution and Oregon Constitution, according to the resolution's language.

Barring the councilor who stands accused, the support of six out of the remaining eight councilors  if they all cast a vote  would be required to remove the charged member.

At the Dec. 18 meeting, Councilor Shepherd said he was concerned the charter's silence on the issue could result in the removal of a publicly elected official from office by a simple majority vote.

If the resolution passes on Jan. 2, it will likely be in time to impact Ellis due process hearing two weeks later.

Here's a timeline of the Ellis ouster case:
A top French chef, possibly unable to handle the heat after disturbing reports of the hazing of a staff member, has gotten out of the kitchen. Aurelien Largeau, head chef of the Michelin-starred restaurant at the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, southwest France, left his job last week, the BBC reports. Hyatt, which runs the luxury hotel, says it launched an investigation after it was made aware of "concerning allegations and imagery regarding an incident in the premises of the hotel." Sources told French newspaper Sud L'Ouest that Largeau and other chefs were present while a young, naked kitchen hand was tied to a chair for hours.

"Videos were recorded and shared on social media, showing the victim with an apple in his mouth and a carrot in his buttocks," the newspaper said, per CNN. The footage has now reportedly been removed from social media. "The incident did not reflect the strong values we all stand for, and the appropriate decisions have now been taken," Hyatt said in a statement. "The security, wellness, and wellbeing of our colleagues, guests, and partners are always our utmost priorities."

Police have opened an investigation into the alleged incident. Largeau, 31, started his career at the Biarritz restaurant and worked at other Michelin-starred establishments before returning to the hotel in 2020, the Telegraph reports. His signature dish is blue lobster with pine needles. He described reports of the alleged hazing as defamatory and a "monstrous attack" on his honor. AFP reports that hazing is illegal in France but it persists in some restaurants despite campaigns against it, including one called "Hands Off My Kitchen Hand." (Read more chef stories.)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has escalated his threatening rhetoric toward the US, telling his military and industrial planners to "further accelerate the completion of preparations for this war." In remarks reported Thursday by the state-run news agency, Kim blamed confrontational activities of the US and its allies as he gave the marching orders to North Korea's military-industrial sector, nuclear weapons sector, and civil defense sector during a 2024 planning meeting of the ruling Workers' Party. His increasingly shrill public statements drew a response from the White House earlier this month, USA Today reports.

"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 statement said, adding that that goes for an attack on South Korea, as well. North Korean media also said that Kim's government will increase its cooperation with "anti-imperialist independent countries," per the Hill. In September, Kim met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and promised continued support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An analyst at a US think tank said Kim believes he'll "never pay a price" for provoking the US because Russia and China would side with him. "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," Harry Kazianis said. (Read more North Korea stories.)
A Russian poet was given a 7-year prison sentence Thursday for reciting verses against Russia's war in Ukraine, a punishment imposed during a relentless Kremlin crackdown on dissent. Moscow's Tverskoi District Court convicted Artyom Kamardin on charges of making calls undermining national security and inciting hatred, which related to his reading of his anti-war poems during a street performance in downtown Moscow in September 2022. Yegor Shtovba, who participated in the event and recited Kamardin's verses, was sentenced to 5 years on the same charges, the AP reports.

The gathering next to the monument to poet Vladimir Mayakovsky was held days after President Vladimir Putin ordered a mobilization of 300,000 reservists in the face of Moscow's military setbacks in Ukraine. The widely unpopular move prompted hundreds of thousands to flee Russia to avoid being recruited into the military. Police swiftly dispersed the performance and soon arrested Kamardin and several other participants. Russian media quoted Kamardin's friends and his lawyer as saying that police beat and raped him during the arrest. Soon after, he was shown apologizing for his action in a police video released by pro-Kremlin media, his face bruised. Authorities have taken no action to investigate the alleged abuse by police.

During Thursday's hearing, Kamardin's wife, Alexandra Popova, was escorted out of the courtroom by bailiffs after she shouted "Shame!" following the verdict. Popova, who spoke to journalists after the hearing, and several other people were later detained on charges of holding an unsanctioned rally outside the court building. Between late February 2022 and earlier this month, 19,847 people have been detained in Russia for speaking out or protesting against the war while 794 people have been implicated in criminal cases over their anti-war stance, according to the OVD-Info rights group. The crackdown has been carried out under a law Moscow adopted days after sending troops to Ukraine that effectively criminalized any public expression about the war deviating from the official narrative.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
Giant waves began hitting the California coast on Thursday, created by storm systems and atmospheric rivers in the Pacific. Beach roads were flooded, prompting evacuation orders in some areas, the Los Angeles Times reports. The waters were bringing in large amounts of debris that led to road closings. Meteorologists warned that the "tremendous wave energy" will lead to dangerous conditions at beaches through the weekend, per the Washington Post . Still, the huge waves drew people to the coast to watchand surf. Thousands of people were watching from the cliffs at Mavericks, a surf break just north of Half Moon Bay.

"You can't even park in the area," said Tina Lourenco, who works at a nearby surfers hangout, per the Times. "Lots of families are coming down. It's really exciting." Brian Overfelt, a former surfer who owns Old Princeton Landing and has lived in the area for almost a half-century, was more concerned after estimating the waves Thursday afternoon at 50 to 60 feet. "Somebody could die at any moment," Overfelt said. "The waves are so big out there that it's unruly." The National Weather Service office in Monterey Bay saw it the same way, urging people to stay away. "These conditions are very dangerous," said meteorologist Alexis Clouser. "I would go so far as to say they're deadly on the coast." (Read more monster waves stories.)
Maine became the second state to bar Donald Trump from its primary ballot, when Secretary of State Shenna Bellows decided Thursday that the former president does not quality to be a candidate because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. "I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment," wrote Bellows, a Democrat. "I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection." Trump can appeal the decision to Maine's Superior Court, the New York Times reports, and his campaign immediately said he'll do that.

Colorado's Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, also based on Section 3 of the US Constitution's 14th Amendment, and that ruling is being appealed. The Michigan Supreme Court, on the other hand, declined to take up the issue, leaving Trump on that state's ballot. State-by-state decisions could continue to be made, per the Washington Post, or the US Supreme Court could settle the matter for everyone. Bellows suspended her decision until the Maine courts rule on it, per the AP. Minnesota also let Trump stay on the primary ballot but didn't close the door on barring him from the general election ballot, per the Post.

"We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter," a Trump campaign spokesman said in a statement. The case was brought by a group including former Maine public officials, who issued a statement saying the secretary of state "showed great courage." Bellows told the AP on Thursday night that she wasn't influenced by politics in reaching her conclusion. "My decision was based exclusively on the record presented to me at the hearing and was in no way influenced by my political affiliation or personal views about the events of Jan. 6, 2021," she said. (Read more Election 2024 stories.)
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress to the L'Oreal cosmetics empire and the world's richest woman, is now also the first female to amass a $100 billion fortune. L'Oreal's stock rose 35% this year to hit a record high, which CNN attributes to shoppers "splurging on luxury products" post-pandemic. The Bloomberg Billionaire's Index , which currently lists Bettencourt Meyers as the world's 12th richest person, announced her $100 billion milestone Thursday. L'Oreal, the biggest cosmetics company in the world after acquiring rival brands including Lancome, Kiehl's, and Maybelline, was founded by Bettencourt Meyers' grandfather, Eugene Schueller, in France in 1909, the New York Post reports. Bettencourt Meyers is the only child of his only child, daughter Liliane Bettencourt, and inherited her mother's stake in the company when Bettencourt died in 2017.

L'Oreal is worth more than $240 billion, and as of last year, Bettencourt Meyers and her family owned almost 35% of its stock, making them the biggest shareholders. She is the chairwoman of the family's holding company (of which her husband is CEO) and the vice chairwoman of the L'Oreal Group's board of directors (on which her two sons also sit), and is otherwise described as "reclusive" and is said to play piano for hours a day. Years back, a family scandal that started with a dispute between her and her mother turned into a national political scandal involving recordings made by a former butler that led to investigations into Nicolas Sarkozy, then France's president, and another government official. That tale is now a Netflix docuseries. (Read more L'Oreal stories.)
Marjorie Taylor Greene isn't the only Republican lawmaker getting "swatted" : Sen. Rick Scott says it happened to him Wednesday night. "Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards 'swatted' my home in Naples," the Florida Republican posted on X Thursday, referring to hoax calls to law enforcement that result in authorities, sometimes SWAT teams, being sent to the victims' houses. "These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family." A spokesperson for the Naples Police Department tells NBC News someone called the department's non-emergency line to report a shooting at Scott's address, but that within 15 minutes officers determined "the events did not occur and the incident was a swatting event." An investigation is ongoing.

A report on the incident indicates a male called to report he'd shot his wife while she was asleep. When police arrived on the scene, however, a security officer who was there was not aware of any problems at the house, and responding officers found no signs of forced entry around the perimeter. They then got in touch with the owner of the home, who requested they search the interior, which they did, again finding nothing suspicious. Another GOP representative, Brandon Williams of New York, says he was also swatted on Christmas day, CNN reports. As for MTG, she says she plans to introduce legislation "to make it much easier for law enforcement to arrest and prosecutors to prosecute [swatters]," Fox News reports. (Read more Rick Scott stories.)
A Detroit man is being held on $1 million bond after his attempt to deliver Christmas presents to his kids turned violent. Police say Deandre Lawrence, 23, got in a fight with his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend when he went to a home in Macomb County on Christmas Day with gifts for his three children, WXYZ reports. Lawrence allegedly shot the man in the back twice, leaving him in critical condition, after he tripped and fell while fleeing the house. Police said Lawrence then fled the neighborhood on foot and was arrested the next day.
Former President Trump was kicked off the Republican primary ballot in Maine on Thursdaybut hours later, his campaign received welcome news from a state with a population nearly 30 times bigger. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a Democrat, left Trump's name on the certified list of candidates sent to county election officials Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reports. Weber had been urged to disqualify Trump by officials including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who in a Dec. 20 letter, urged Weber to "explore every legal option" to drop Trump. "The constitution is clear: you must be 35 years old and not an insurrectionist," Kounalakis, a Democrat, wrote.

Weber told Kounalakis last week that removing Trump from the ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bans insurrectionists from holding office, "is not something my office takes lightly and is not as simple as the requirement that a person be at least 35 years old to be president," CBS News reports. She suggested she would leave the question to the court. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another Democrat, said he didn't support disqualifying the Republican frontrunner. "There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a threat to our liberties and even to our democracy, but in California we defeat candidates we don't like at the polls," he said last Friday. "Everything else is a political distraction."

California has more GOP delegates than any other state, meaning disqualification would have been a huge blow to the Trump campaign. Under new rules introduced by the state GOP this year, all 169 delegates will go to the candidate who gets more than 50% of the vote, the LA Times notes. Like Maine and Colorado, which kicked Trump off the Republican ballot earlier this month, California will hold its GOP primary on March 5, aka "Super Tuesday." By then, the Supreme Court will likely have ruled on the 14th Amendment challenges to Trump's candidacy, which the New York Times describes as the "most politically momentous matter" before the court since it ruled in favor of George W. Bush after the 2000 election. (Read more Election 2024 stories.)
Passengers on a small plane that crashed in Canada this week are fortunate to be alive after a rescue at a remote site in the Northwest Territories. Today in BC reports that the Air Tindi aircraft, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, went down shortly before 1pm local time on Wednesday, about 185 miles northeast of the capital city of Yellowknife, with two pilots and eight passengers on board. David Lavallee, a rep for 1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian Norad Region Headquarters, tells the Canadian Press that all 10 survivors were picked up Thursday from the crash site not far from the Diavik Diamond Mine. Six people were said to have minor injuries, while two were starting to improve after suffering moderate to serious injuries.

A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules was first dispatched from Winnipeg on Wednesday evening amid subzero temperatures and strong winds, with three highly trained search and rescue responders parachuting down to the crash site with supplies and gear, reports the Lethbridge Herald. Air Tindi President Chris Reynolds tells the Canadian Press the "challenging conditions" kept a complete rescue at bay until Thursday, when three helicopters were finally able to set down at dawn and rescue the stranded crew and passengers.

Reynolds says that the private charter crashed right before it was due to land. "It appears to have had an accident right beside its intended destination, which was a frozen lake," he says. "We got a message on our satellite tracking that there was an emergency that the pilots would have activated." Reynolds praises the first responders, including the search and rescue techs who sent out updates every two hours overnight. "Impressed and really thankful for the work they do," he says, per Today in BC. Canada's Transportation Safety Board will work with Air Tindi in an ongoing investigation of the crash. (Read more plane crash stories.)
UPDATE

Jan 1, 2024 5:30 AM CST

A Colorado mother suspected of killing two of her young children and injuring a third was arrested Saturday in the United Kingdom, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Authorities did not provide further details on the overseas arrest, reports the AP. Kimberlee Singler's 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son were found dead on Dec. 19 when police responded to a report of a burglary at their home; Singler and her 11-year-old daughter were found injured. Police later said the burglary report turned out to be unfounded. Singler, 35, initially cooperated with police but disappeared during the investigation. Her injured daughter has been released from the hospital and is recovering in Colorado Springs. The children's deaths came amid an ongoing legal battle between Singler and her ex-husband over parenting time and other issues, per court filings.

Dec 29, 2023 9:14 AM CST

A Colorado woman was being sought Thursday on suspicion of killing her two young children and wounding a third, authorities said. Kimberlee Singler, 35, of Colorado Springs is wanted on an arrest warrant alleging murder, attempted murder, and child abuse, according to a statement from the city. Colorado Springs police answered a 911 call reporting a burglary at an apartment complex at around 12:30am on Dec. 19 and found the bodies of Singler's 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, the statement said, per the AP.
Poland's defense forces said that an unknown object entered the country's airspace Friday morning from the direction of Ukraine and then vanished off radar, and it has a pretty good idea of what happened. "Everything indicates that a Russian missile intruded in Poland's airspace," said defense chief Gen. Wieslaw Kukula, per the AP . "We have confirmation of this on radar and from allies" in NATO. Kukula said steps were being taken to verify those findings about the apparent missile, which is believed to have traveled about 25 miles into Poland's airspace, per the BBC . There was no comment from Russian officials.

It was not immediately clear where the object disappeared from radar or in which direction it had been going. Troops were mobilized to identify and find it. There were no immediate reports of any explosion or casualties. The governor of Lublin province in eastern Poland, Krzysztof Komorski, told the Onet news portal that the object appeared on radar near the town of Hrubieszow, where a border crossing with Ukraine is located. Komorski said he had no information to indicate it landed in Lublin province. Poland's border with Ukraine is also the European Union and NATO border with Ukraine.

On Friday, Ukrainian officials said Russia launched more than 100 missiles and dozens of drones against Ukrainian targets overnight. It was not clear whether the object that Poland reported was related to the barrage. This is not the first time an unauthorized object has entered Poland's airspace from the direction of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion. In November 2022, two men were killed when a missile struck the village of Przewodow, a few kilometers from the border. Western officials said they believed a Ukrainian air defense missile went astray.

(Read more Poland stories.)
Democrats are injecting history into the presidential race in Iowa, responding to a series of mischaracterizationslies, one party official saidby the Republican caucus front-runners about the nation's past. The Democratic National Committee has put up four billboards in the state with a photo of Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Donald Trump, the Hill reports. The ads accuse "MAGA's America" of whitewashing slavery, erasing history, and echoing Adolf Hitler, in addition to banning books. "We are at a pivotal and dangerous moment for American democracy," committee National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika said in a statement, adding that the leading three GOP candidates "tell bold-faced lies about our history."

Before Haley's struggles this week to articulate the cause of the Civil War, DeSantis defended Florida's guidelines calling for teachers to tell students that people enslaved in the US learned skills "that could be applied for their personal benefit." The policy was approved in agreement with the governor's priorities. Trump this month again used language against immigrants once used by Hitler. Republicans of color joined the criticism of Haley on Thursday. In explaining the Civil War, per Politico, party strategist Rina Shah said Haley "left out the word 'slavery' because she was scared to talk about anything regarding our nation's complicated history. I think by acknowledging slavery she felt she might be alienating" Trump and DeSantis supporters.

Black Republicans said Haley's answer will cost her with moderate Republicans and swing voters, just more than two weeks before the caucuses. "She's toast," said Shermichael Singleton, who has worked on GOP campaigns. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon cut Haley no slack, pointing out her criticism months ago when he, in discussing candidates' ages, said she was "not in her prime." The network quickly fired him, which elicited glee from Haley, though Lemon had apologized. She also used the flap in fundraising, per the Hill. "Nikki Haley wants grace for using a poor choice of words when, after I misspoke in some comments involving her, she didn't offer me that same grace," Lemon posted on X. (Read more Iowa caucuses stories.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Embassy of India in Bahrain has announced the India in Bahrain Festivala flagship event that will celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of India. The event will be held on January 12 from 6.30pm at the embassy premises in Seef.

It aims to bring together the Indian diaspora and provide a platform to showcase the diverse heritage of different regions and communities in India. The event will include stalls depicting culinary heritage and handicrafts, and cultural programmes representing the classical/folk performances of different regions and states of India.

The Indian Embassy in Bahrain extends a warm invitation to all members of the Indian diaspora to join on this festive occasion and be a part of this cultural extravaganza. Entry is free, on prior registration at the link: https:// forms.gle/BCafvcLfhpSKa74P9.
Highway 407 ETR plays a vital role in supporting Ontario's economy, offering drivers a safe and stress-free commute. Local businesses depend on Highway 407 ETR as a reliable route to transport goods and deliver services.

"407 ETR remains committed to providing the exceptional service we're known for both on and off the road," said 407 ETR President and CEO, Javier Tamargo. "Since 1999, traffic on the highway has grown by over 70 per cent. Ontarians continue to recognize the value of a safe, fast and reliable commute."

407 ETR's new rate schedule for light vehicles reflects an increase of one to 11 cents per kilometre depending on the time of day and zone travelled. The majority of 407 ETR's personal customers can expect a monthly bill increase of less than $5. The Company continues to invest in the operation of the highway including ongoing maintenance, 24/7 highway monitoring, roadside assistance, winter operations and policing and enforcement.

Since taking ownership of the Highway in 1999, the Company has almost doubled the length of Highway 407 ETR, increasing it from 68 kilometres to 108 kilometres. During this period, 407 ETR has invested over $1.6 billion in private funds toward highway extensions, expansions and customer service.

Fast Facts:

407 ETR is majority Canadian-owned and a proud employer of over 500 Ontarians, including an award-winning Woodbridge -based contact centre that frequently achieves over 90% customer satisfaction.





-based contact centre that frequently achieves over 90% customer satisfaction. There are currently 1.7 million transponders in circulation. Leasing a transponder annually is a great way to manage monthly bills. Drivers save on camera charges and account fees. After three round trips, it pays for itself.





407 ETR benchmarks its toll rates against 28 other publicly and privately-operated toll roads and managed lanes across North America . When you compare peak toll charges, 407 ETR sits in the bottom half of its peers, behind Chicago , Dallas , Los Angeles and Miami .





. When you compare peak toll charges, 407 ETR sits in the bottom half of its peers, behind , , and . A 2022 report found that Highway 407 ETR has provided a total of $20.6 billion in socio-economic benefits from 1999 to 2021. This includes user benefits such as improved travel time, reliability, safety and reduced vehicle operating costs and emissions.





in socio-economic benefits from 1999 to 2021. This includes user benefits such as improved travel time, reliability, safety and reduced vehicle operating costs and emissions. The Company continues to work towards its target of a 25 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Learn more about the Company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives at 407etr.com/ESGreporting.





The Company is driven to make life better on and off the highway and is focused on investing to strengthen communities, deliver social impact and preserve nature. In 2023, 407 ETR invested $1.7 million through sponsorships, donations and free travel. Learn more at 407etr.com/community.

Toll rates on Highway 407 ETR vary by the section of the highway driven, day of the week, time of day, direction of travel and weight of vehicle.

About 407 ETR

Highway 407 ETR is an all-electronic open-access toll highway located in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. The highway spans 108 kilometres from Burlington in the west to Pickering in the east.

407 International Inc. is the sole shareholder of 407 ETR and is owned by:

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) through indirectly-owned subsidiaries (50.01%);

Cintra Global S.E. which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrovial S.A. (43.23%); and

AtkinsRealis Canada Inc., formerly SNC-Lavalin Inc. (6.76%).

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SOURCE 407 ETR Concession Company Limited

For further information: [email protected]
Boasting Premium Picture Quality with Outstanding Colour and Contrast, LG CineBeam Qube 4K Transforms Almost Any Indoor Spaces into Cinemas

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 28, 2023 /CNW/ - LG Electronics (LG) is introducing its latest lifestyle projector, the unique LG CineBeam Qube (model HU710PB). The new 4K model can quickly transform an indoor space into a movie theatre and features a compact and light design with a convenient 360-degree rotatable handle. LG's projection solution also serves as a stylish interior accessory, its eye-catching minimalist aesthetic adding a touch of modern sophistication to the room.

LG introduces its latest lifestyle projector, the LG CineBeam Qube. With its eye-catching minimalist aesthetic, the new 4K model can quickly transform an indoor space into a movie theatre and features a compact and light design with a convenient 360-degree rotatable handle. (CNW Group/LG Electronics Canada)

Although one of the smallest projectors available, LG CineBeam Qube is a powerful performer, capable of projecting 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution images measuring up to 120 inches. Equipped with an RGB laser light source and LG's cutting-edge image refining technologies, the new model delivers exceptionally clear, sharp pictures boasting a 450,000:1 contrast ratio and 154 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut.

The colour accuracy of the CineBeam Qube means movies and other content are displayed just as their creators intended, with rich colours and deep blacks that add depth and vibrancy to every scene. Additionally, LG's premium 4K projector comes with Auto Screen Adjustment, which has an auto-focus feature that automatically optimizes image placement and size for a superb viewing experience, every time.

Running on the LG webOS 6.0, the CineBeam Qube provides intuitive control and easy access to a diverse selection of streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and YouTube.* When not in use for content consumption, users can turn on the projector's image-mapping function and enjoy captivating digital images that enhance the ambiance of their space.

"Great for spaces large and small, LG CineBeam Qube is a unique lifestyle projector possessing all the qualities consumers look for when choosing a new projection solution," said YS Lee, vice president and head of the IT business unit of LG Electronics Business Solutions Company. "LG's upgraded projector lineup offers a range of lifestyle-enriching devices that present outstanding spatial integration and versatility as well as immersive, cinematic viewing experiences."

Visitors can experience LG CineBeam Qube alongside the company's latest innovations at its CES booth (#16008, Las Vegas Convention Center) from January 9-12.

* Many streaming apps available on webOS require a paid subscription. Support for specific streaming apps may vary by country.

About LG Electronics Business Solutions Company

The LG Business Solutions Company is a trusted partner offering innovative products and solutions for diverse industries worldwide. With a portfolio of unique offerings, such as industry-leading OLED and LED signage, LG is a respected name among customers around the world. LG's IT solutions include business monitors, laptops, projectors, cloud devices, medical displays and commercial robots, all designed to maximize work efficiency and return strong value to customers. For more on LG's Business Solutions, visit www.LG.com/b2b.

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]
Canadas GDP growth has been flat or weak throughout 2023 despite growing population by 3.5%.

Early data points to 0.5% growth in final quarter of 2023. There was no growth from May to October 2023.

The mayor of Vancouver proposed pro-growth rules to reduce the barriers to building and streamlining regulations. Ken Sim released a seven-point motion that would direct city staff to prioritize new housing construction, allow for increased density around transit hubs, speed up a plan for 26 villages in the city and increase enforcement of short-term rental regulations.

There will be new rules to reduce delays for building more homes.

The rules will be similar to rules in Burnaby. The rules allow for automatic approval of high rises near skytrain hubs.

In October, the Ontario government unveiled plans to establish transit-oriented communities (TOCs) at six upcoming transit stations in Toronto, five along the forthcoming Ontario Line 3 and one along the Scarborough Subway Extension to Danforth Line 2, providing approximately 5,900 new residential units. The governments stated objectives are to enhance transit accessibility, generate over 1,900 jobs, and embed affordable housing options close to high-speed transit in eastern Toronto.

The Canadian federal government has reached an agreement with the City of Toronto, Ontario, to fast-track nearly 12,000 new housing units over the next three years. This work will help spur the construction of more than 53,000 homes over the next decade and help meet the demand in Toronto.

Under the Housing Accelerator Fund, this agreement will provide over $471 million to eliminate barriers to build the housing faster. It will allow for more housing options in the city, including multiplexes of up to four storeys and four units. The Housing Accelerator Fund is helping cut red tape and fast-track the construction of over 380,000 new homes for people in towns, cities, and Indigenous communities across Canada over the next decade.

Toronto has had planning meetings on how to handle more population growth.
Professor Guilan says that IF the original South Korean LK99 team are not direct cheaters then the evidence is that they did create room temperature superconductors.

Armen Gulian, professor of physics Chapman University, discusses his effort to make LK99 thin film with funding from the US Navy.

At about 37 minutes into the talk, he talks about getting the small funding and says there will be large US military funded room temperature superconducting research program. Soon government will announce a BIG program on the DARPA level.

He told the potential sponsor that it might be premature to start the LK99 room temperature study but they said to start anyway.



In a videoed talk, he disputes the LK99 as a superconductor criticism.

The US Office of Naval Research has provided $100,000 in funding for LK99 room temperature ambient pressure superconducting research at Chapman University. Armen Gulian. professor of physics, Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University was given the funding.

Development of Discrete Elements for Superconducting Electronics (Including SQUIDs) for Room-temperature Operation Enabled by LK99 Thin Films. We plan to explore superconductivity in the material LK-99 in thin film form using our laboratory deposition and diagnostic facilities. As soon as these films will superconduct at room-temperature, weakly-coupled bridges and more sophisticated discrete superconducting electronics elements will be fabricated and tested.
The Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics review committee on Wednesday said LK-99, an alleged room-temperature superconductor created by a South Korean research team, has not shown any key features of superconductivity.

The Seoul-based startup Quantum Energy Research Centre, headed by Lee Suk-bae, the first author of the LK-99 research, did not send the superconductor samples for cross-validation as promised.

The committee, composed of eight research teams from local universities including Seoul National University, Postech and Hanyang University, has conducted monthslong validity tests on the so-called superconductor, since its launch in August.

Kwon Young-wan claims he led the superconductor research as opposed to first author Lees claims, held a press conference on Monday, and said, I still believe LK-99 is a superconductor.

Kwon added that the committee has failed to re-create the room-temperature superconductor because it is impossible to prove the validity of the research within several months.

Kwon declined to disclose the video showing steps for re-creating the superconductor. He says it is not ready yet.

The Main Open Question is the Thin Film LK99 Material

The original south korean research work always only claimed that there was superconducting levels of low electrical resistance in thin films of LK99. This was made with chemical vapor deposition.

This thin-film only aspect of the korean LK99 work is something that Nextbigfuture has repeatedly observed in their papers and their patent.

NextBigFuture.com has covered the original LK99 papers and patent, which briefly mention the thin film work and measurements. The original team says that the thin film chemical vapor deposition process is the only one that has superconducting resistance. The thin film is microns thick and is nearly half superconductive material.

The original peer-reviewed LK99 superconductor paper only briefly mentions the thin film work and measurements. However, this is the most important part because only the chemical vapor deposited thin film has the zero resistance superconducting measurement. Nextbigfuture has said that they researchers on LK99 need to put in a effort to check the thing the korean actually said that they did. I think a few tens of millions should be put into to it to make damn sure about the thin film and to try to check the computational theory adjustments.

In August and September 2023, the consensus of other labs was that LK-99 is not a superconductor at any temperature but only bulk non-thin film samples have been made. None of replications have gone through the peer-review process of a journal.

Patent on the LK99 Thin Film Superconductivity

The matching international LK99 patent is here. WO2023027536 and WO2023027537

In the patent, they show and state there is superconducting levels of low resistance. The resistivity of LK-99 was 1/10,000 to 1/100,000 of copper.

For Example 4, the grains of the solid phase reaction were processed into a square shape and the resistance change according to the temperature change (304K ~ 382K) was measured using equipment (Power (voltage/current) Source KEITHLEY 228A, Sensitive Digital Voltmeter KEITHLEY 182, Probe Method: Measured using the 4-probe method) and the results are shown in FIG. 29. Referring to this, it can be seen that the ceramic compound according to the present invention exhibits superconductive properties.

In addition, FIG. 42 is a photograph of an experiment in which resistance was measured in real time for Example 4, and the measured resistance was approximately 10^-12 Ohms per centimeter. Very low resistance in Ohmcm.



Thanks to twitter user @8teAPi for the info on the patent info.

* More description of the vapor deposition process that makes the micron(s) thick thin film which is the only material claimed to be superconducting

* They claim they get 48.9% of the lead apatite thin film as superconductive. There is also lead compounds (40%) and Copper compounds (10%).

* The new description includes some silicon in the process

* lead apatite itself is an insulator and the korean team says they need doping and defects to make it into a superconductor

* The superconductor consists of lead apatite of phases with three different critical temperatures of Tc, I~50C, II~80C, III~125C

* In thin film, only Tc I, II were seen with resistance measurement

* they say there is diamagnetism and ferromagnetism. They say both of these are intrinsic to the mixture

* they say the Meissner effect is underneath the diamagnetism and ferromagnetism. They provide the method to measure the superconducting features

* Scanning Electron Microscope pictures of all the important phases in both methods

* much more detailed measurements and graphs

Solid State Synthesis

 theyve described this before, but now include a little Silicon in the mixture. But they dont say how the Si got in there!

 They claim they get 48.9% lead apatite which is superconductive, with two other lead compounds (40%) and Copper compounds (10%).

 However lead apatite itself is an insulator, they say they need doping and defects to make it into a superconductor

 I am still not clear where in the solid state process the superconductor emerges.

For both methods

 The superconductor consists of lead apatite of phases with three different critical temperatures of Tc, I~50C, II~80C, III~125C

 In thin film, only Tc I, II were seen with resistance measurement, while Tc II and III were seen with magnetic susceptability measurement due to higher sensitivity

Magnetism

 they admit diamagnetism, they admit ferromagnetism. They say both of these are intrinsic to the mixture

 they say the Meissner effect is underneath these, and they provide the method to measure it

 the secret is a very low magnetic field generated by the SQUID, while heating and cooling the material

 this allows detection of the expulsion of the flux by the superconductor

US Navy Funded a Small LK99 Study

The US Office of Naval Research has provided $100,000 in funding for LK99 room temperature ambient pressure superconducting research at Chapman University. Armen Gulian. professor of physics, Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University was given the funding.

Development of Discrete Elements for Superconducting Electronics (Including SQUIDs) for Room-temperature Operation Enabled by LK99 Thin Films. We plan to explore superconductivity in the material LK-99 in thin film form using our laboratory deposition and diagnostic facilities. As soon as these films will superconduct at room-temperature, weakly-coupled bridges and more sophisticated discrete superconducting electronics elements will be fabricated and tested.
Central conference on work relating to foreign affairs held in Beijing

Xinhua) 08:10, December 29, 2023

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the new governor of Ondo, says President Bola Tinubu has advised him to take charge and galvanise everyone for the growth of the state.

Aiyedatiwa spoke with journalists on Thursday after meeting with Tinubu in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as governor of Ondo on Wednesday following the death of Rotimi Akeredolu, the former governor of the state.

Akeredolu died of prostate cancer complications.

Speaking after the meeting, Aiyedatiwa said he used the occasion to update the president on recent developments in the state.

The governor said he also appreciated the president for being a father figure during a crucial moment for the state.

Im here to see Mr. President, to further brief him on the events that happened in our state  the loss of our governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa said.

I also let him know that I have just been sworn in because there can never be a vacuum.

Aiyedatiwa added that the president advised him to pull everybody together to work for the state.

It was a paradox, a mixed feeling, he commiserated with me, even though he put a call through yesterday to condole with us in Ondo State, through me, he still did the same today, and also wished me well that there can never be a vacuum, one era ends, another one begins, he said.

So, its basically an advice and to also encourage me to take charge and mobilise everybody and to pull everybody together to work together and see how we can move the state forward.




The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue, says the state is sliding into anarchy under the current dispensation of Governor Hyacinth Alia.





The party in a statement by its spokesperson, Bemgba Iortyom condemned the indefinite suspension of Kwande LGA Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Terdoo Kenti, and other members of his Executive Committee.





He described the act as an aberration which exposes the disdain for democratic norms and leadership incompetence of Governor Hyacinth Alia under whose watch such absurdity is unraveling.





Mr Iortyom said the obnoxious act which has been appropriately dismissed by the state chapter of the APC is of no consequence.





He said the suspension of Mr Kenti is part of the dictatorial tendency of Alia to subvert constitutional order in the state.





Mr Iortyom said, PDP observes that while the bizarre suspension order by Revd. Fr. Hule in Kwande is shocking, it apes precisely the lawless style of his master, the governor, in Makurdi, and the party regrets that this serves to fuel the growing impression that Catholic priests by their command and authoritarian orientation are unsuitable to political leadership under our liberal democratic setting.
With a new year about to dawn upon the world, fresh investment opportunities and ventures can be seen coming up in every field. The same can be observed in the aspect of citizenship by investment programs as well for the upcoming 2024.

Citizenship by investment programs often lures investors who are seeking new avenues to diversify their funds, put their money to work in a foreign land, or get citizenship of a new country to avail the benefits offered there.





However, not every citizenship-by-investment program is equal, with some offering great benefits in terms of investment returns while some programs open up the doors to other countries as well.





Now, the question is how to choose the right citizenship-by-investment program in the year 2024. Well, the answer lies with experts in the field, such as https://globalresidenceindex.com/





Global Residence Index is an investment migration consulting firm that lends a helping hand to people seeking citizenship through investment in other nations.





Tips on How To Choose the Correct Citizenship By Investment Program in 2024?





Let us walk through some of the relevant tips that can help you decide on the perfect citizenship-by-investment program in 2024.





Keep your Budget in Mind





The first question to answer when deciding upon the country to put your money in when it comes to citizenship by investment is your budget. How much money are you willing to pay for the program?





In the post-pandemic era, many countries are still struggling with an imbalanced economy and trying to earn money through different channels. Thus, many nations have increased fees for participating in their citizenship by investment programs.





However, some affordable choices exist, such as Dominica and St.Luca. Both of these nations seek a minimum investment of $100,000, which is the lowest in the entire world. Still, their associated fee may vary, and thus, it is advisable to research the same.





In addition, the citizenship program offered by Antigua & Barbuda also has a minimum investment requirement of $100,000 for a family of 4. Thus, experts often recommend their citizenship by investment program when you are also applying for your family.





Inclusiveness of Family Members





Another aspect to take care of when searching for a reliable citizenship-by-investment program in 2024 is the inclusiveness of family members. Some nations may have conditions in place regarding the inclusion of kids at a particular age, your spouse following a marital clause, or including dependant parents after one specific age.





For example, many countries have a condition that does not allow the inclusion of parents or grandparents in the citizenship program once they reach 55 or 65. However, Grenada has a citizenship program that allows the inclusion of kids till they reach the age of 30 years and even allows the conclusion of parents or grandparents no matter their age.





Antigua and Barbuda have a clause of inclusion for the siblings of the applicant and the spouse, again with no age restrictions. There are many programs that either restrict or do not allow siblings after a particular age.





Taxation Incentives





Tax incentives should form a major part of your decision when making a choice for citizenship by investment program. Many countries offer the benefits of no additional tax impositions on participants of the programs.





For example, many Caribbean nations, such as St.Kitts & Nevis and Antigua &Barbuda, have a very transparent and flexible tax regime for people applying for their citizenship program.

Also, it is advisable to consult a professional to get all the necessary information about different nations' tax impositions and benefits before applying for one.





Some of the Best Citizenship Programs





As per the analysis and recommendations of the experts, we have listed some of the best citizenship programs offered by different nations.





Cyprus





The best aspect of the residency program offered by Cyprus is you need not get your residency permit renewed time and again to stay in the country. Once you have gained the residency permit, it is valid throughout your life.





Also, the program allows participants to travel to 173 nations without a visa once they have acquired citizenship through investment in Cyprus.





Greece





Another impressive citizenship-by-investment program is that of Greece, which allows investors to invest a minimum of 250,000 in its real estate or 400,000 in its share market.





The best part is that as long as you maintain the investment, you will have access to the residency permit, which has an expiration date of five years.





Also, once the person has obtained citizenship by investment in Greece, he can travel visa-free to 26 Schengen countries.





Grenada





Grenada is a nation that opens the gates to both South American and Caribbean countries. It is also renowned for many economic growth prospects and a substantial English-speaking population.





A Grenada passport is considered suitable for people who are planning to work in the US, and its citizenship offers the benefit of an E-2 business visa for the US. In addition, the Grenada citizenship-by-investment program has many advantages, including a new spouse, parents of any age, and kids up to 30.





Once you have acquired a Grenada passport, you can travel to more than 140 nations without needing a visa.





Final Words





The year 2024 is considered a substantial year for the entire world's economy and a year with good prospects for the investing scenarios. The need remains to choose an investment avenue, such as a suitable citizenship-by-investment program that can give you value for money and many benefits as well. Happy investing!





Are you seeking a suitable citizenship-by-investment program to invest in 2024? Read on to know more.
The National Association of Nigerian Students had called on the Federal Government to declare a day of national mourning on the recent killings in Plateau State.





It also said it was embarrassing that no one has been arrested in connection with the recent killings in Plateau State.





About 195 persons were killed in a Christmas Eve attack in 17 villages in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos Local Government Areas of the state.





The attacks had also displaced over 10,000 persons, many of whom were presently camped in churches, mosques, schools, and private residences.





President Bola Tinubu as well as other prominent individuals and groups had condemned the killings, even as the United Nations demanded a probe of the attack.





Reacting to the incident in a statement made available to our correspondent on Friday, the students body said, We are saddened by the news of tens of worshippers who were brutally murdered in cold blood by blood-thirsty gunmen in Plateau State.





In the statement by NANS Senate President, Ekundina Elvis, the association expressed concern that ever since the news filtered into the media space, we find it highly embarrassing that the murderers are yet to be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in a law court.





NANS said it also found it disturbing that no concrete step has been taken by the government to honour the memories of those that were killed.





The association called on the government to protect the lives and property of the Nigerians, asking the ruling class to stop the condolence visitations.





As an association, we want to say that enough condolence visitations by our ruling class, the government must make concerted efforts towards the protection of lives and property of the Nigerian people.





Conclusively, we charge the Federal Government to declare a day of national mourning while the Nigerian flag at all levels is flown at half mast, the statement concluded.





Meanwhile, the invaders had threatened fresh attacks on a community in Plateau State, barely four days after the first massacre.





The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, Stanley Kavwam, had in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, said the terrorists sent a letter of an imminent attack to Pushit Community, in the Mangu Local Government Area, where he hailed from.





The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alabo Alfred, told newsmen that the command was aware of the threat.





We have intelligence, but we are working on it, the PPRO had said.
Gunmen last night attacked a convoy suspected to belong to self-styled godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba.

A source disclosed that vehicles in the convoy were riddled with bullets, just as two police operatives attached to the politician were killed. It was also gathered that another politician and a chieftain of Labour Party, Mr Val Ozigbo, narrowly escaped the attack.

The source said: We witnessed what happened. Chris Ubas convoy ran into the men who were stationed at UGA junction, leading to a shootout.

Uba was able to escape because he was riding in a bullet proof vehicle, but the policemen were not so lucky as they were killed.

Val Ozigbo was coming back from Owerri with members of his family when he suddenly saw a convoy driving ferociously toward his own convoy, and attempting to edge him off the road. He quickly told his driver to clear off the road let the other convoy pass by.

Shortly after they overtook Ozigbo, they ran into the gunmen at UGA junction who started shooting, and killed two policemen. Ozigbo who parked while the incident was happening, later learnt that the convoy that was attacked was that of Uba.

It was learnt that the aim of the men was to kidnap the politician. Many people were said to have been injured, but it was not clear if anyone was kidnapped.

Meanwhile, police authorities in a press release by the state police commands spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said it has launched a manhunt for the attackers.

The release read: Anambra State Police Command has launched an intensive manhunt for armed insurgents who infiltrated from a neighbouring State and killed two Police Personnel on 28th December 2023 at about 18.30 hours (6.30 p.m.).

The gang which disguised in military fatigue and seemed to be on a kidnap mission were jolted on seeing two armed Police officers approaching their direction. They opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the convoy they were escorting to decongest traffic gridlock. Other personnel returned fire, careful not to hit many motorists who were in traffic, forcing the bandits to flee.

Police-led mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas celebrations promptly responded to the scene.

It recovered a Lexus SUV the gang operated with and defused an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle. It also recovered an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain personnel.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye who had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for all Officers and men in the Command commended all personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State.

He urged them not to be demoralized by the supreme price paid by their colleagues from Enugu State Command but to draw inspiration from their bravery in confronting the criminal gang.

He condoled with the families of the deceased officers and Enugu State Police Command and vowed that the personnel will not die in vain.

He has urged all officers and men of Anambra State Police Command to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant. He assured that technology would be employed to track down the criminals who unleashed the attack on Police personnel.
The Anambra police command says two of its officers were killed by gunmen in the Uga roundabout area of Aguata LGA of the state.

The gunmen who were reportedly on a kidnap mission, were operating in the area when a team of policemen attached to a motorcade but unaware of their presence, ran into them.

The command said the officers were trying to clear the traffic gridlock but the armed men who sensed danger, shot two of them dead and fled the scene after a gun duel.

Aderemi Adeoye, commissioner of police (CP) in Anambra, has directed an intensive manhunt for the assailants.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the police public relations officer (PPRO), Anambra command, said in a statement that the gunmen wore military fatigues.

He added that police-led mobile Forward Operating Base, which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas, promptly responded to the scenario.

He said a Lexus SUV the gang used, and AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain personnel, were recovered, while an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle was recovered and defused.

The CP Aderemi Adeoye had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for all officers and men in the command, the statement reads.

He commended all personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State.

The CP has urged all officers and men of Anambra State Police Command to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant while assuring that technology would be deployed to track down the criminals who unleashed the attack on police personnel.

Ikenga said the CP has urged personnel in the command not to be demoralised by the supreme price paid by their colleagues, but to draw inspiration from their bravery in confronting the criminal gang.

The CP condoled with the families of the deceased officers, and Enugu state police command, and vowed that the personnel would not die in vain.

Adeoye called for calm and encouraged the people of Anambra not to allow the incident to create fear in their minds, but to continue with the various activities they had slated for the yuletide season.




Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last election, says Nigerians deserve clarity on which country Rotimi Akeredolu, former Ondo governor, died.

He also said the constitution was not followed while transferring power to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state.

Speaking on Friday during an interview on AriseTV, Sowore expressed concern over the controversies around the exact place of death of Akeredolu

Akeredolu died on Wednesday morning following a protracted battle with prostate cancer. He was aged 67.

The late governor embarked on his second medical leave in as many months on December 13, and had to transfer power to Aiyedatiwa.

The late governors absence sparked a political crisis in the state, amid allegations that his signature was forged on official documents in his last days.

Sowore said it is important that the actual place of death of the former Ondo governor be investigated.

He said the family of the late governor, his wife, son and the political cabals in Ondo state, used his vulnerable condition to take out their greed on the state.

The constitution was not obeyed. They tried everything they could to ensure that they didnt meet Nigerias standard in transferring power, he said.

All of these were unnecessary. We could have resolved this a year ago because there was available evidence to us that the governor was not likely to make it.

But I blame those who were manipulating the people of Ondo state and those who accepted that, including myself. We took too long to intervene before this was finally resolved.

They didnt hand over, they did not invoke the doctrine of necessity as a matter of fact, as of last week.

They were still claiming that the governor was going back on vacation.

If I heard the substantive governor right, he just said, I may be wrong, that the man passed on in his house and not in Germany.

I dont know if you heard him right but we should find out where he passed on to the great beyond.

His family issued a statement saying he died in Germany, his former deputy now said he died in his house.

Maybe it is a grammatical issue, I dont know. I am saying that if he hadnt died, there would have been a lacuna and it should not be accepted.

He said the family of Akeredolu should be investigated for the act they perpetrated using a vulnerable man.

They were just taking out money and forging signatures. That was why I said that if this was a saner society, these people would be investigated and properly indicted for the criminal act they perpetrated using a vulnerable man, he added.

This should not have happened to Akeredolu at all. And the fact that they could do this to their family you can understand why they are so mean to the people of Ondo state, Sowore said.
Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, has ordered the countrys military to accelerate war preparations to repel confrontations from the United States.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report on Thursday, Jong Un spoke at the second-day sitting of the 9th plenary meeting of the ruling Workers Party of Korea (WPK).

Jong Un who is also the partys general secretary, said the preparations are necessary to counter what he called coordinated unprecedented confrontation moves from the US and its vassal forces.

He clarified the independent principle of the WPK 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 external affairs and the work towards the south, KCNA added.

North Korea views the US as a nation which tries to invade other countries on the pretext of establishing peace.

At an anti-US rally in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, this year, people carried placards with the slogan: The imperialist US is the destroyer of peace.

As part of Jong Uns efforts to deepen cooperation with anti-imperialist countries, the Asian leader has strengthened ties with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart.

In September, the North Korean leader made a rare trip outside his country to meet Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a space centre in Russia, where Putin said Moscow would help Pyongyang to build satellites.

The meeting took place amid concerns Pyongyang was supplying military equipment to Moscow for use in its war in Ukraine in exchange for Russian technological know-how.

Jong Un said the meeting propelled Russia into North Koreas first priority, assuring that the Asian country would support the Kremlin in its fight against ruling forces.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier visited a frontline military unit in the eastern county of Yeoncheon to inspect its defence and ordered an immediate retaliation if there was any provocation from North Korea.




The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has arrived Jos, Plateau State, following the recent killings in the North-Central state.

Egbetokun is in Plateau State for an assessment of the Christmas Eve attacks.

The attacks happened in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi as well as parts of Mangu, where over 190 people were killed and several others injured with property and houses destroyed.

The IGP was received at the airport by the Commissioner of Police in Plateau State, Julius Alawari, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar and other security chiefs in the state.

He is scheduled to attend a stakeholders meeting with Governor Caleb Mutfwang to discuss the security situation in the affected areas and thereafter proceed to Bokkos to inspect security measures put on ground.

His visit to the state is coming after another community in Bokkos came under attack on Thursday night.
Governors from the south-west zone have paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Rotimi Akeredolu over the death of the former governor of Ondo.

The governors visited the bereaved family on Friday at the residence of the late Akeredolu in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

The governors were Ademola Adeleke of Osun; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun; Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, who Bayo Lawal, his deputy, represented.

The governors took turns to sign the condolence register at the residence.

Speaking after the visit, Abiodun said the late Akeredolu championed the cause of a southern presidency in the buildup to the 2023 elections and worked for the cause.

The Ogun governor said the south-west governors would like to be part of Akeredolus burial arrangement, adding that a committee would be set up.

We vividly recall the reinvigorated southern governors forum meeting in Delta state about two and a half years ago, where he championed the cause for the southern presidency to come from the south, Abiodun said.

He stayed committed to this cause and many others he successfully championed.

We will set up a joint committee of the south-west states to work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo state to ensure that we give him a deserving funeral.

On Wednesday, Akeredolu died of complications from a protracted prostate cancer.
A church is surrounded by water in a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine, following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / Associated Press

By Ian James

28 December 2023

(Los Angeles Times)  Six months ago, an explosion ripped apart Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine, unleashing floods that killed 58 people, devastated the landscape along the Dnipro River and cut off water to productive farmland.

The destruction of the dam  which Ukrainian officials and the European Parliament blame on Russia, even though the structure was under Russian control  was one in a series of attacks on water infrastructure that have occurred during the Russia-Ukraine war.

Alongside those strikes, violence linked to water has erupted this year in other areas around the world.

In countries including India, Kenya and Yemen, disputes over water have triggered bloodshed.

And on the Iran-Afghanistan border, a conflict centering on water from the Helmand River boiled over in deadly clashes between the two countries forces.

Water-related conflicts worldwide, 2010-2023. Researchers put incidents in three categories, including where water or water systems have been a trigger of violence, used as a weapon, or targeted and become a casualty of conflict. Data: Water Conflict Chronology 2023, Pacific Institute. Graphic: Ana Elena Azpurua / Los Angeles Times

These are some of the 344 instances of water-related conflicts worldwide during 2022 and the first half of 2023, according to data compiled by researchers at the Pacific Institute, a global water think tank. Their newly updated data, collected through an effort called the Water Conflict Chronology, shows a major upsurge in violent incidents, driven partly by the targeting of dams and water systems in Ukraine as well as an increase in water-related violence in the Middle East and other regions.

Its very disturbing that in particular attacks on civilian water infrastructure seem to be on the rise, said Peter Gleick, the Pacific Institutes co-founder and senior fellow. We also see a worrying increase in violence associated with water scarcity worsened by drought, climate disruptions, growing populations, and competition for water.

Gleick has been tracking cases of water-related conflict for more than three decades and cataloged the latest incidents with other researchers at the Oakland-based institute.

The database now lists more than 1,630 conflicts. Most of the cases have occurred since 2000, and there has been a rising trend over the last decade, with a spike the last few years.

The researchers collect data from news reports and other sources and accounts. They classify instances into three categories: where water or water systems have been a trigger of violence, used as a weapon or have been targeted and become a casualty of violence. []

A fisherman walks across a dry patch of land in the marshes in Dhi Qar province, Iraq, during a severe drought in 2022. Photo: Anmar Khalil / Associated Press

In the West Bank, incidents involving the destruction of orchards, irrigation systems and water tanks have been happening for years, but it picked up a lot in the last two years, said Morgan Shimabuku, a senior researcher at the Pacific Institute.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, there have been deadly fights over control of water sources in Yemen, bombings of water infrastructure in Syria, and clashes during protests over lack of water in Iraq.

Shimabuku said efforts to ease conflicts will require protecting civilian water infrastructure and resources and developing water-governance structures that are just and equitable.

Different patterns of violence have emerged in other regions. In Latin America, hundreds of environmental activists have been killed in recent years, including many Indigenous activists.

In one of the most infamous cases, Honduran Indigenous activist Berta Caceres was shot and killed in 2016 after years of threats over her work to stop a dam project on the Gualcarque River.

Boys pull containers filled with water as they return from a well in the village of Ntabasi, Kenya, amid drought in 2022. Photo: Brian Inganga / Associated Press

There have been many more killings in the last few years. Those listed in the database include the assassinations of a Honduran activist who protested an open-pit mine in 2020, a Honduran activist who was fighting a new dam on the Ulua River in 2021, and an activist in Cuernavaca, Mexico, who had led protests over inadequate water service.

In various cases, Shimabuku said, Indigenous people have been involved in violent conflicts over water and land protection where government-backed corporate entities are committing violence.

A lot of those are people protecting water, because they dont want a dam built, they dont want their forests to be destroyed, and their rivers to be destroyed, Shimabuku said. [more]

Water increasingly at the center of conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East
Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, has commended Seriake Dickson, his predecessor, for not playing godfatherism in the politics of the state.

According to a statement on Thursday by Daniel Alabrah, spokesperson to the governor, Diri spoke at Toru-Orua, Dicksons hometown in Sagbama LGA of the state, during a Christmas visit.

He said since leaving office in 2020, the former governor had supported him and had not been overbearing.

The governor said the cordial relationship between him and Dickson had contributed greatly to the peace and development of the state.

Diri thanked Dickson for his support in ensuring that he became the governor of Bayelsa and also in winning the November 11 off-cycle election.

Today is another day for merriment. You all remember in our first year, we had some challenges, Diri said.

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 the history of successors and predecessors in Nigeria is well known, noting that the story in Bayelsa is different.

From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you for tolerating me and for accepting me, the governor added.

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.

In his remarks, Dickson praised Diri for sustaining the visit since it was initiated three years ago, describing it as refreshing.

Dickson said the visit was a show of brotherliness, love and peace and called on the people of Bayelsa to imbibe a similar spirit of togetherness to move the state forward.

While congratulating Diri on his electoral victory, Dickson commended him for his achievements in office and expressed confidence that he would do more during his second tenure.

Our state has made progress due to maturity and brotherliness and it is our hope that the state will continue to be stable, he said.
A 24-year-old man from Paterson has been arrested for stabbing another person following a fit of road rage on Route 4 in Paramus, officials announced Friday.

The Bergen County Prosecutors Office said Christian A. Velez is charged with first-degree attempted murder, third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

He was apprehended Thursday in Belleville, authorities said.

Paramus police were dispatched to the eastbound side of Route 4 at about 11:25 a.m. Thursday for a report of a stabbing following a road-rage incident, according to the prosecutors office.

They found a 28-year-old man with multiple stab wounds to his back, side and arm. The victim was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he is listed in stable condition, authorities said.

The suspect fled the scene of the incident, and a subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Velez, authorities said.

Velez is currently in jail pending a first appearance in court. Attorney information for Velez was not immediately provided.

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The Bergen County Prosecutors Office is investigating a stabbing after an episode of road rage Thursday in Paramus.

Paramus police responded to Route 4 eastbound at approximately 11:27 a.m. Thursday for a report of a stabbing following a road rage incident, the prosecutors office announced Thursday afternoon.

A 28-year-old male victim was found with multiple stab wounds and transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where his in stable condition.

No other details of the interaction were immediately available from the office. A spokesperson for the prosecutors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The prosecutors office is investigating the incident with Paramus police.

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A former New Jersey resident motivated by the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel was arrested earlier this month on charges he sought to join a Somalian-based terrorist organization to target evil America, federal authorities said Friday.

Karrem Nasr, 23, a U.S. citizen who previously lived in Lawrenceville, was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, on Dec. 14 and returned to the United States on Thursday to face federal charges of attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of New York.

Nasr moved from New Jersey to Egypt in July and is a supporter of al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization that has attacked Americans and American allies, authorities said.

Since November, he has repeatedly expressed his desire in communications his plans to join al Shabaab and wage jihad, authorities said. Nasr unknowingly sent some of those communications to an FBI confidential source who was posing as a facilitator for terrorist organizations, authorities said.

Nasr told both the source and said in online postings that he had been thinking of engaging in jihad for a long time and was particularly motivated by the Hamas violence in Israel, authorities said.

He told the source that the number one enemy was evil America, which he called the head of the snake, authorities said.

In recent public social media posts, he warned that Jihad was coming soon to a US location near you, posting airplane, bomb, and fire emojis, the office said.

He later told the source he planned to join al Shabaab to receive military training and engage in jihad, that he was prepared to kill and be killed, and that he specifically wanted to be a martyr for the jihadist cause, authorities said.

Nasr made flight and lodging reservations for travel to Kenya, where he planned to meet members of al Shabaab for additional travel to Somalia to join and train with the group, authorities said. He booked a flight for Dec. 14, 2023, from Egypt to Kenya and the day before his flight, he told the source that he planned to delete data from his cellphone and computer to ensure that if he were detained, police would not be able to recover evidence, authorities said.

After flying to Kenya, he was taken into custody by Kenyan authorities, authorities said.

Nasr was scheduled to have his first court appearance Friday afternoon in Manhattan federal court.

Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the career prosecutors in my office and our law enforcement partners who led the investigation, Nasrs plan to train with a terrorist organization and wage violent jihad has been disrupted, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. Make no mistake; my office is committed to investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting anyone who is inspired by Hamass October 7 attack and seeks to harm Americans, whether here or abroad.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Seven New York police officers were injured and nearly 50 vehicles were damaged Thursday evening when an allegedly stolen commercial box truck careened through several Staten Island neighborhoods.

A 48-year old New Jersey man believed to be driving the truck that inflicted the damage was being detained Friday morning as charges remained pending, according to a police source.
A 40,000-square-foot, fire-damaged South Jersey community center that once housed essential daycare, recreational and support services may be sold in a sheriffs sale, local officials said.

The John B. Campbell Community Center in Salem City  once the the United Way of Salem Countys headquarters site  was first headed for a sheriffs sale in December 2021 after TD Bank foreclosed on the property. The sale would help recover over $315,000 in principal and interest owed to the bank by the United Way, officials said.
Maines Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to continue his campaign.

The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that booted Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That decision has been stayed until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether Trump is barred by the Civil War-era provision, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office.

The Trump campaign said it would appeal Bellows decision to Maines state court system, and it is likely that the nations highest court will have the final say on whether Trump appears on the ballot there and in the other states.

In Oregon, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade said last month she would not bar Trump from appearing on primary ballots after receiving legal guidance from the states department of justice.

Bellows found that Trump could no longer run for his prior job because his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol violated Section 3, which bans from office those who engaged in insurrection. Bellows made the ruling after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, challenged Trumps position on the ballot.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, Bellows wrote in her 34-page decision. I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

The Trump campaign immediately slammed the ruling. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Thursdays ruling demonstrates the need for the nations highest court, which has never ruled on Section 3, to clarify what states can do.

While Maine has just four electoral votes, its one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maines electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.

Thats in contrast to Colorado, which Trump lost by 13 percentage points in 2020 and where he wasnt expected to compete in November if he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

In her decision, Bellows acknowledged that the Supreme Court will probably have the final word but said it was important she did her official duty. That won her praise from a group of prominent Maine voters who filed the petition forcing her to consider the case.

Secretary Bellows showed great courage in her ruling, and we look forward to helping her defend her judicious and correct decision in court. No elected official is above the law or our constitution, and todays ruling reaffirms this most important of American principles, Republican Kimberly Rosen, independent Thomas Saviello and Democrat Ethan Strimling said in a statement.
UPDATE: Judge rejects Menendezs request to delay bribery trial

NEW YORK (AP)  Federal prosecutors on Tuesday urged a judge to reject U.S. Sen. Bob Menendezs request to delay his bribery trial scheduled for next spring by two months, until July.

Prosecutors argued against the postponement a week after defense lawyers offered multiple reasons why they say a trial of the Democrat and codefendants, including his wife, should be delayed.

The senator gave up his position as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after his September arrest.

Prosecutors said the original May 6 trial date was appropriate and drew no objections when it was announced even though circumstances were the same.

The schedule was and remains reasonable, and in accord with the strong public interest in a speedy trial, prosecutors wrote.

Defense lawyers cited over 6.7 million documents to be reviewed, an unprecedented foreign-agent charge and complex legal questions to be addressed as they asked for a delay of a trial now scheduled for May 6. They said a two-month adjournment would still bring defendants to trial within 10 months of their arrests.

Four defendants, including Menendez, have pleaded not guilty to a bribery conspiracy charge that alleges that Menendez and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senators help and influence over foreign affairs.

The senator, his wife and a third defendant have also pleaded not guilty to a charge that they conspired to utilize the senator as an agent of the Egyptian government even though he was prohibited from doing so as a member of Congress.

In asking for a delay, defense lawyers wrote, Given the complexity of this case and the seriousness of the charges at issue, the speed with which this case is proceeding is extraordinary.

They said they plan to ask Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan to dismiss the indictment on multiple grounds, including for constitutional and sufficiency reasons and because New York federal court is the wrong venue.

Prosecutors said in their letter to the judge that the voluminous amount of evidence turned over to the defense should not delay the trial because it was consistent with what the government promised at the first conference in October.

In short, if there were a right to have multiple months to digest discovery prior to filing motions, as the defendants appear to suggest, practice in this district would look quite different. The current schedule set by the Court is expedited, but reasonable, prosecutors said.
After several days of wet weather, New Jersey will see some sun and above-normal temperatures Friday, before cooler temps arrive with the slight chance of snow on New Years Eve.

The warm temperatures and sun will help the Garden State dry out after a stretch of rain. Newark hit a new record for daily maximum rainfall for Dec. 28, with 1.47 inches falling on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service New York City office.

Temperatures Friday will remain notably above normal, with highs nudging into the low 50s.

Temps will remain notably above normal Friday with highs nudging into the low 50s.National Weather Service

However, temperatures will be falling during the next few days, according to the National Weather Services Mount Holly morning forecast discussion.

The mild December weather is not entirely without precedent.

On this date 39 years ago, widespread warmth resulted in record highs, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures soared into the 70s across most of the region in 1984.

On this date 39 years ago, widespread warmth resulted in record highs with temps into the 70s across most of the region.National Weather Service

A cold front is expected to arrive Friday night, with the possibility of some rain showers in South Jersey. For many areas, this will be the first time temperatures are near the freezing mark since before Christmas Eve.

Another cold front might bring a few snow showers on Saturday night to the Poconos, but otherwise dry conditions should prevail into the weekend with a cooling trend.

New Years Eve should be a nice day, with some sunshine and highs mostly in the 40s. Forecasters say a weak warm front ahead of an approaching weak low pressure system over the Midwest will then spread some clouds into the region Sunday night.

New Jersey could see a bit of light rain or snow northwest of Interstate 95 to close out 2023. The warm front moving in combined with returning clouds likely results in lows being slightly warmer than Saturday night, but still near freezing for most.

Opening 2024, theres a 20% or less possibility of precipitation on New Years Day.

The start of the new year looks to be mostly quiet weather wise, with the next possibility of widespread precipitation not coming until Thursday at the earliest.

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center has forecast above-normal precipitation for Jan. 5 through Jan. 11 across much of the country.

Current weather radar

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Tukpahlearik Creek in northwestern Alaskas Brooks Range runs bright orange where permafrost is thawing. Photo: Taylor Roades / Scientific American

By Alec Luhn

24 December 2023

(Scientific American)  It was a cloudy July afternoon in Alaskas Kobuk Valley National Park, part of the biggest stretch of protected wilderness in the U.S. We were 95 kilometers (60 miles) from the nearest village and 400 kilometers from the road system. Nature doesnt get any more unspoiled. But the stream flowing past our feet looked polluted. The streambed was orange, as if the rocks had been stained with carrot juice. The surface glistened with a gasolinelike rainbow sheen. This is bad stuff, said Patrick Sullivan, an ecologist at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Sullivan, a short, bearded man with a Glock pistol strapped to his chest for protection against Grizzly Bears, was looking at the screen of a sensor he had dipped into the water. He read measurements from the screen to Roman Dial, a biology and mathematics professor at Alaska Pacific University. Dissolved oxygen was extremely low, and the pH was 6.4, about 100 times more acidic than the somewhat alkaline river into which the stream was flowing. The electrical conductivity, an indicator of dissolved metals or minerals, was closer to that of industrial wastewater than the average mountain stream. Dont drink this water, Sullivan said.

Less than a dozen meters away the stream flowed into the Salmon River, a ribbon of swift channels and shimmering rapids that winds south from the snow-dimpled dun peaks of the Brooks Range. This is the last frontier in the state known as the last frontier, a 1,000-kilometer line of pyramidlike slopes that wall off the northern portion of Alaska from the gray, wind-raked Arctic Coast.

Scientists compare data at a burn  a stretch of thawing ground where seeping water is so acidic it kills vegetation, turning it black  in northwestern Alaskas Brooks Range. The orange color comes from the presence of iron mobilized by thawing permafrost. Photo: Taylor Roades / Scientific American

One of the most remote and undisturbed rivers in America, the Salmon has long been renowned for its unspoiled nature. When author John McPhee paddled the Salmon in 1975, it contained the clearest, purest water I have ever seen flowing over rocks, he wrote in Coming into the Country, an Alaska classic. A landmark 1980 conservation act designated it a wild and scenic river for what the government called water of exceptional clarity, deep, luminescent blue-green pools and large runs of chum and pink salmon.

Now, however, the Salmon is quite literally rusting. Tributary streams along one third of the 110-kilometer river are full of oxidized iron minerals and, in many cases, acid. It was a famous, pristine river ecosystem, Sullivan said, and it feels like its completely collapsing now. The same thing is happening to rivers and streams throughout the Brooks Rangeat least 75 of them in the past five to 10 yearsand probably in Russia and Canada as well. This past summer a researcher spotted two orange streams while flying from British Columbia to the Northwest Territories. Almost certainly it is happening in other parts of the Arctic, said Timothy Lyons, a geochemist at the University of California, Riverside, whos been working with Dial and Sullivan.

Scientists who have studied these rusting rivers agree that the ultimate cause is climate change. Kobuk Valley National Park has warmed by 2.4 degrees Celsius (4.32 degrees Fahrenheit) since 2006 and could get another 10.2 degrees C hotter by 2100, a greater increase than projected for any other national park. The heat may already have begun to thaw 40 percent of the parks permafrost, the layer of earth just under the topsoil that normally remains frozen year-round. McPhee wanted to protect the Salmon River because humans had not yet begun to change it. Now, less than 50 years later, we have done just that. The last great wilderness in America, which by law is supposed to be untrammeled by man, is being trammeled from afar by our global emissions.

Researchers collect water samples and data at a rusty seep in northwestern Alaskas Brooks Range. They think the straight orange lines may be trails left by caribou, Dall Sheep or wolves. Photo: Taylor Roades / Scientific American

But how, exactly, permafrost thaw is turning these rivers orange has been a mystery. Solving it is crucial for understanding what the sweeping ecological impact could be and to help communities adapt, such as the eight Alaska Native villages that depend on rivers in the western Brooks Range for fish and drinking water. Some researchers think acid from minerals is leaching iron out of bedrock that has been exposed to water for the first time in millennia. Others think bacteria are mobilizing iron from the soil in thawing wetlands. []

The first investigators to document the rusting rivers were U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service personnel studying how permafrost changes in the Brooks Range are affecting fish such as the Dolly Varden, a big, silvery green char with red spots that local villages prize above all others. In August 2018, when biologist Mike Carey flew by helicopter to retrieve a water sensor he had left in a clean stream east of the Salmon, he saw that the bottom was blanketed in orange slime. He couldnt find any fish or insects. Biodiversity just crashed, he recalled.

Carey thought the weird situation was a one-off until the following July, Alaskas hottest month on record. The Agashashok River, 96 kilometers west of the Salmon, turned from turquoise to orange-brown along part of its course. In the winter of 2019 the snowpack was abnormally high; that can insulate the ground, further encouraging permafrost thaw. Then came another hot summer and another snowy winter, and the rusting spread. [more]

Why Are Alaskas Rivers Turning Orange?
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.
As hip-hop culture started to take hold in New Orleans in the early 1980s, it wasnt just the new music that was influencing locals. A number of young Black New Orleanians started adapting the dance styles that are integral to hip-hop history, forming crews, challenging each other and entering talent shows around the city.

The Hollygrove Creepers, formed by a group of teens living in and near the Uptown neighborhood, was one of the most active dance crews of the era. From the early-80s to about 1990, The Hollygrove Creepers could be seen dancing at school events and concerts by early New Orleans hip-hop groups like the Ninja Crew, and they opened for touring acts, like Doug E. Fresh and Salt-N-Pepa. The group danced a style they called Bebopping, an Uprock-type of dance influenced by New Orleans traditions including second-line footwork.

As slightly older kids in Hollygrove, members Randy Harrell, Andre Carter, Reginald Saulny, Reuben Turner, Terrence McKenzie  who performed in Ninja Crew as DJ Baby T  Reginald Spurlock, Calvin Johnson, Damien White and Willie Smith preceded a lot of early New Orleans hip-hop groups. They acted like big brothers to a number of up-and-coming artists from the area, like Dion Devious D Norman, DJ Precise and Fiend.

Gambit spoke with Harrell and Carter about the Hollygrove Creepers and early hip-hop dance in New Orleans. This interview is part of a series reflecting on New Orleans role in hip-hop culture as it turns 50.

Gambit: What was your introduction to hip-hop?

Randy Harrell: Definitely hearing the music on the radio. Thats what introduced me to it. And after that, we kind of took off into the rapping, we took off into dancing in that era. We all grew up in the same neighborhood, so we kind of all knew each other and we would go to the high school dances and talent shows, and we got together as a group at an early age. We were doing shows at 13, 14 years old, even performing with big name artists, like 2 Live Crew, Salt-N-Pepa, Doug E. Fresh, LL Cool J. We did a lot of shows when we were young.

We had a rap group out of our neighborhood that cut their first record back when they were just 15 called the Ninja Crew, which was Sporty T, Gregory D and Baby T. And Baby T also was a Hollygrove Creeper before he got into DJing.

We won numerous high school talent shows and the WYLD (98.5 FM) talent show. It actually got to the point where we won so many high school talent shows they just started featuring us in the shows. We had to be special guests.

Gambit: Were yall already dancers beforehand?

Harrell: Yeah, we were dancing, just doing regular hip-hop dancing before breakdancing came up. We were a group before [breakdancing].

We did this dance in New Orleans called the Bebop. That was the popular dance in our era. Wed go to different high school dances, and you know, just like theyre challenging in breakdancing, we were challenging Beboppin.

Gambit: Could you tell me about how the group came together?

Harrell: We all just had a knack of dancing, a talent. We always danced, even before we met. Wed hear the records playing on the radio, and we would dance no matter what for  at the high school dances, in the neighborhood, in the backyard, house parties, anything.

So I got introduced to the Hollygrove Creepers, I wanna say I was in the 7th grade. I already knew all these guys, and we happened to be at a middle school dance one night, and they were out dancing and they knew me and we started talking. Then I was dancing and they were doing the Bebop, so they asked me if I wanted to join the group, and I was like, Of course. Thats my neighborhood.

Andre Carter: I came in, I think my 8th grade year. Reginald Spurlock was my cousin, and I had moved over [to Hollygrove] from the East. When I moved there, wed go to the dances and Id see him dance all the time. So I started participating and took a liking to it and joined the crew.

My cousin lived on the corner of Apple and Monroe (streets), across from E&C (Lounge). The whole group lived less than a block away from each other. Toot (Reuben Turner) lived across the street. Randy lived on the street behind us. And Terrence lived on the other corner. Reginald (Saulny) lived on the other side of Earhart (Expressway), and Calvin lived in Pigeon Town.

Harrell: Yeah, most of us were basically just one block apart, just going in different directions.

Carter: We all hung together. So, when a Friday night come, wed go to this dance. And since we was all from the same neighborhood, when we see another group there, wed challenge them to dancing.

Harrell: Thats how we became popular.

Carter: It was really for the ladies. You know, the girls liked it [laughs]. And then when we got to be good at it, we started saying, You know what, lets start rehearsing. Lets start doing routines and outfits. We started doing all that. And then breakdancing started coming around, and we had people in the group that did breakdancing, but we mostly was like pop and lock and street dances.

Harrell: We didnt go too much into the breakdancing as a group.

Carter: When you see the dancers on the stage that perform behind the rappers and they have that choreography, we were doing that kind of dancing as a group back in the 80s.

Gambit: How did yall learn the moves? Were yall coming up with your own moves or did you see other people doing it?

Harrell: We were our own choreographers. We did everything.

Carter: And before they were even doing tracks, like putting tracks together and switching songs and mixing, we were doing that in the early 80s by ourselves.

Harrell: We would mix all our songs.

Carter: So when wed do a move or do a flip or something like that, the music changed. We were doing it on cassette. We had rehearsal every day. Everyday wed come home from school and would be rehearsing in the yard.

Gambit: Could you tell me about the other dance crews in the city that yall would challenge?

Carter: They didnt have a whole bunch of crews, but there were individual dancers. I do know one thing, there was a crew (Dragon Master Showcase) we would start seeing  and even not too long ago, theyd be out there by the French Market. They were a dance crew that would do a lot of flips and stuff and doing breakdancing.

But the reason we were so good is because we were good individual dancers, and we did shows. We didnt just go up there and stand there while everyone took a turn. When we started getting to the point where we were winning every show and they started having us as guests, we knew we had to do a show.

We got signed by a record label and that led to us starting to do some tours. Once everybody started knowing us, we couldnt do any talent shows. We won WYLDs talent show. From that point on, all we could do was be a special guest somewhere.

We got with a manager (Melvin Foley, who went on to manage Big Freedia), and he knew people like Salt-N-Pepa. We was the opening act for these shows. So not only were we that good, we were so good that we were the opening act, and they asked us to perform again. We were doing twice every concert.

At this time, you got kids, 17, 18 years old doing concerts with Salt-N-Pepa. We had LL Cool J. We were doing Run-DMC. We were the opening act. It was great for us.

Gambit: Could you tell me more about what your performance would look like?

Carter: Wed always start our stage act with some smoke, some fog. And then wed come out there with capes on, with a slow song, and then wed kneel down and when the beat changed, wed pop the capes off and have on jogging suits.

Wed be stacked in two lines, one in the front and one in the back, and wed all be in sync doing the dances. And then at some point the music would change and wed dance off that song before doing some flips. The flips would be in sync with the music  everything had to be on point. We couldnt be behind [the music].

Harrell: When we start our show, wed all basically be doing the same thing. Like Dre said, the front row might flip us in the air, and once we hit the ground, theyd fall back and wed catch them and pop them back up.

Everybody had to be in sync and on time, because once the music started to change, we all did individual solo performances. Everybody had their own song theyd perform off of. Everything had to be on perfect timing.

Carter: Thats why we did so much practicing. We didnt have the luxury of having a DJ that could scratch and adjust the music if youre off beat. If youre behind, it puts the whole performance behind.

Gambit: Could you tell me more about the style that yall were dancing at the time?

Harrell: The Bebop was basically a lot of footwork.

Carter: We did a lot with hands and feet  You know at second lines, how theyre buckjumping? That second-line buckjumping, we were doing that kind of dancing. Theyre some girl 

Harrell: Second Line Shorty!

Carter: Yeah, Second Line Shorty, and shes buckjumping and dropping down and stuff like that. We was doing all that.

Harrell: Yeah, its very similar to what theyre doing. Only we were a little more of the hip-hop side of it. Theyre dancing to the brass band, we were doing it with hip-hop beats.

Gambit: Whenever you had mentioned footwork, thats something I wanted to ask about. Were there ways yall felt like New Orleans was influencing the way you danced?

Harrell: Well, I would say Bebop was our own New Orleans-style of dancing. Other cities and states had their own dances. What we had, what we called the Beboppin originated here and was different than anywhere else.

Carter: But you know, with our style, when we was doing these shows, the fans and everybody everywhere we went, they were loving what we were doing.

Harrell: When we hit the stage, no matter who was on it, they loved us. They were wanting to see us again.

Carter: We were performing almost twice every time, but we were supposed to perform once every show. Thats just how good we was. We took our craft serious, and we refused to lose. Our reputations was based on that.

When we saw somebody at a dance, these up-and-coming people, they would be like, Hey, Im gonna challenge you. So you form your circle and theyd step out and start dancing on you, and youd hear the oohs and the ahhs, and you gotta go out there. Youre being challenged. And you have a reputation because everyone know whos you are. We were the ones on the block, everybody wanted to take us out.

Harrell: It was a big deal in the city. Reputation around here was everything.

Gambit: Where did yall go on tour?

Harrell: We went to Jackson, Mississippi, for a show with Doug E. Fresh. Shreveport with 2 Live Crew.

Carter: We had one with Salt-N-Pepa, too. Like I said, we were the young ones at the time. Our crew were the young bucks at the time.

Harrell: Yeah, we were only like 14-15 years old.

Gambit: How did what yall were doing evolve over time? Did the style change over time or did the music change?

Carter: Yeah, the music was changing. When we were doing these concerts out of town, we wasnt doing them with New Orleans artists. We were doing them with artists from New York, Miami. Our music that we used wasnt New Orleans music. We were playing the top hip-hop songs out at the time, and were mixing them. We were mixing songs before other people were really doing that, and we were doing it on cassettes.

Each one of us had a special move. Lets say somebody wanted to challenge one of us, and we knew that the guy who started the challenge was good with doing a certain move with his head, like bobbing his head. I knew that wasnt my specialty, so wed get Willie Smith to do it. Now if there was somebody who came there who had fast feet. Well, thats what I do. Id know Id get him because thats what I did. Each one of us did solos (during the show) and wed do the specialty.

Thats what made our group so good. We all did something different. And we brought something different to the table.

Gambit: When did yall disband?

Harrell: Thats a tough one. After WYLD (talent show)  lets see, I graduated in 86, and we were still doing shows.

Carter: I graduated in 87. 88 we were still going, 89. I want to say 89 or 90.

Harrell: I would say around 90 (we disbanded).

Gambit: As things moved into the 90s, were there still many people dancing like this in New Orleans?

Carter: Yeah. (Dragon Master Showcase co-founder) Countrie and them never stopped. Theyre still going today. I saw him at the Zulu Ball, and today, people are still dancing like that. People still doing that footwork.

Gambit: Who was one of the first New Orleans hip-hop artists you admired?

Harrell: That would be Sporty T and Gregory D, the Ninja Crew. They had their first record deal when they were just 15, 16 years old, but they had been rapping since they were 12.

Carter: Yeah, they were some of the first from New Orleans at that time. Those artists, like Bustdown, Tim Smooth, Precise, Mannie Fresh, all those people came after Ninja Crew. Think about it now, Mannie Fresh got with Gregory D after Greg left the Ninja Crew. But the Ninja Crew (came about) after Terrance (McKenzie aka Baby T) left the Hollygrove Creepers.

If you had to say, OK, where did everything start in New Orleans? How did hip-hop originate? Theyll tell you it started with the Hollygrove Creepers and dancing. We were like a village. Everybody was always there  but not everybody danced. We danced and then you got all these other rappers, like Gregory D, Sporty T, they were all there with us.

Gambit: What was Hollygrove like at the time?

Harrell: A typical New Orleans neighborhood. We had a different upbringing.

Carter: You know, you had crime just like everywhere else. But we were the young ones and we had people around us who were older and wouldnt let nobody do us [harm] because what we was doing and what they saw us doing. We had people who were protecting us from other elements.

We had bad people in the area, drug dealers and things like that, but we also had people who were protective of us and say, Look, these kids arent about that. Theyre just dancing and performing. Let them do them.

Harrell: Thats how the neighborhood looked out for us. They knew what we were doing.

Gambit: Is there anything you want to add?

Carter: We watched bounce music come up. Lil Wayne was down the street from us as a baby. [The Hollygrove Creepers] had a meeting spot, we had a practice spot. We practiced together, we hung together and we went out together. And from that point everything started spiraling and spiraling from there.

Dion (Norman aka Devious) and DJ Precise and Fiend were over there by us, too. Black Menace. Full Pack. All these people were over there hanging with the Hollygrove Creepers.
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.
Faimon Roberts III covers rural communities in Louisiana. His work is supported by a reporting grant from the Microsoft Journalism Initiative and is administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

He can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com.
Things were looking up for Republicans who feel as though the GOP they've known has been hijacked and as Democrats continue to think about how
The picturesque Lake Michigan shoreline is at your fingertips if you rent this gorgeous home in the Miller Beach community of Gary, Indiana. After exploring the scenic trails at the Indiana Dunes National Park, you can also head to a nearby beach or marina for fun on the lake, or just have a peaceful picnic on the waterfront. This area has so much to offer and you can also take advantage of the proximity to the South Shore Line for easy access to downtown Chicago in less than 35 minutes! This 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom home features all the things you need to feel like home after those long days out. The semi-open layout is perfect for interacting with guests while cooking up a wonderful meal in the well appointed galley kitchen with ample cabinetry, butcher block countertops, stainless steel appliances and a Keurig for your morning coffee or evening tea. The laundry area off the kitchen has an in-unit washer, dryer, and utility sink, making doing laundry very convenient. The bedrooms are all generous sizes and have plenty of space to accommodate family and friends who visit. The bathroom features built in shelving for your personal items and a jetted tub to ease all those aches and pains after a day of swimming at the beach or hiking out at the dunes. The backyard area is massive and is perfect for spring or summer gatherings. There is plenty of parking in the driveway for up to 5 cars. This property is perfect for an individual or family who just wants to move-in and start enjoying the home and the area. The property comes fully furnished with all utilities included. The monthly rent is $2,500. There is a $75.00 application fee which includes a background and credit check. A nonrefundable move-in fee of $750.00 plus first months rent is required. There is a NO PET, NONSMOKING policy.

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Lake County physician Joseph DeJoan "wrongly enticed" a female client into a sexual relationship after she came to him seeking mental health services in the wake of an abusive relationship, according to complaints filed before the Indiana Department of Insurance and in the Lake County courts.

Sexual contact took place in examination rooms and at the home of the accuser, identified only as M. Parker of Lake County, according to the complaints.

DeJoan began serving as a primary care physician to Parker in 2008 and the alleged sexual relationship began sometime in 2010 and continued at least through Oct. 6, 2021, the complaint says.

"When M. Parker told Dr. DeJoan that her insurance was no longer going to cover appointments with Dr. DeJoan, Dr. DeJoan offered to cover the cost of seeing (Parker) at his office so that M. Parker could continue coming to his office," she alleges.

When discussing potentially disclosing the sexual relationship, DeJoan reportedly asked Parker on a recorded call, "Alright babe, you sure there is nobody else I need to worry about ... er anyone going to be calling me or something, right?"

Both agreed to be in denial, according to the allegations.

Attorneys listed as representing DeJoan  Mary Feldhake and Louise Conces of the Bose McKinney & Evans firm  did not respond to telephone and email requests for comment on the allegations.

A telephone message at his Hobart location said Friday he was away from the office.

The complaint, which was filed by Indianapolis-based attorney Tina Bell, says it involves personal injury under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.

Parker says she filed a consumer complaint in August 2022 with the office of the Indiana Attorney General divulging the alleged sexual relationship and DeJoan replied with a denial of the allegations. DeJoan reportedly said he "never had inappropriate contact with (M. Parker)  or any other patient."

Merrillville police release photo of woman sought in wake of apartment arson Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact detective Andrew Germonprez at 219-769-3531, extension 380 or by email at Agermonprez@merrillville.in.gov.

"Dr. DeJoan's entire course of conduct constitutes a violation of the appropriate standard of medical care that combined to cause devastating injury and damage to M. Parker," according to the complaint.

"M. Parker now lives in constant fear of Dr. DeJoan and what he will do to retaliate against her and her family," the complaint says.

The complaints also target Franciscan Alliance, Community Care Network and Community Healthcare Partners.

DeJoan appears to be listed with the state as having active physician licenses.
Suicides across the Region have crept up over the past few years as the number nationwide has hit a record high.

The Lake County Coroner's Office recorded 86 suicides so far this year, which is part of a consistent climb from the 55 suicides in 2020.

"The youngest this year was a 13 years old," the office reported.

Neighboring Porter County, which has about a third of the population as Lake, reported 27 suicides so far this year, up from 25 in 2022 and 26 in 2021.

LaPorte County trails Porter County slightly in population, but is matching it so far this year with 27 suicides, according to the coroner's office.

This year's number is up from 22 suicides in 2022, but the numbers have fluctuated from 31 in 2021 and 22 in 2020, the office said.

Former teacher from Region given 10 years in sex case involving student LAPORTE  A former teacher from the Region, who pleaded guilty in a criminal case involving allegations of raping a 16-year-old student, has b

"What causes anyone to take their own life?" Lake County Coroner David Pastrick pondered when asked about the rising numbers locally.

None of the area coroners offices could say whether the holiday season contributes to suicides, as is commonly believed.

Pastrick said he looked back over the past several years of the numbers of suicides occurring during November, December and January, and said the totals have fluctuated and there are no clear trends.

"Can someone feel anxiety before, during and after the Christmas season, and can they feel overwhelmed at the start of a new year, is this the reason a person takes their own life or is it just a coincidence that the person took his/her life at this time?" Pastrick asked. "There are many fundamental risk factors of suicide."

Porter County Coroner Cyndi Dykes said, "They happen consistently through the year. We are averaging a few per month, more so in summer months, but every year is different."

LaPorte County saw a jump in the number of suicides to nine in October, as compared to no more than three during any other month so far this year, County Coroner Lynn Swanson said.

One of the suicides so far this year involved someone under the age of 20, she said. Four were people in their 20s, five in their 30s, three in their 40s, five in their 50s, six in their 60s and three in their 70s.

Portage man pleads guilty in 8-year-old child injury case The boy's mother reportedly told the officials the boy was bruised while sitting in a bouncy chair and the injury around the eyes is a result of the way the child sleeps, police said.

The provisional number of suicides nationwide was up 3% in 2022, increasing from 48,183 in 2021 to 49,449, "the highest number ever recorded in the US," according to the CDC. "The previous all-time high was 48,344 in 2018."

Other findings by the CDC show that while women experienced the largest percentage increase in suicides, men are taking their own lives at nearly four times the rate.

"The trends I have seen that predominately result in suicides are relationship issues (break-ups/divorces); mental health and physical health issues (have a debilitating medical condition)," Dykes said.

One reoccurring factor that concerns Pastrick is the use of firearms in what he feels is a significant number of local suicides.

"Research continues to show that access to and the availability of firearms is a significant factor in the continued increase of youth suicide," he said.

"I would just like to add that Lake County can and should do better," Pastrick said. "Keep the guns out of sight of your children. And keep them locked up."

"Remove potential methods of suicide, such as pills, prescription or over- the- counter, firearms, knives or anything else you fear they may use," he said.

"If a person is thinking about suicide, please get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988. Family and friends can also call this number if they need support."

Animal shelter populations are up. Here's why and how shelters are responding How animal shelters are dealing with increasing populations Intakes are up, but adoptions aren't keeping up, causing populations to grow More shelter animals are being put down as a result
A hospitalist at Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital was honored with a St. Raphael Award.

The nursing staff at the hospital selected Dr. Ahmer Festok for the honor to recognize him for his "outstanding dedication, teamwork and respect for the nursing staff at Franciscan Health Crown Point and for his commitment to the mission and values at Franciscan Alliance."

The award is named after St. Raphael, the archangel from the Christian, Judaic and Islamic faiths who became the Catholic church's patron saint of travelers, the blind, happy meetings, matchmakers, nurses, physicians and other medical workers.

The nurses Tisha Casey, Julie Kruzan and Mindy Palmquist nominated Dr. Festok based on his compassionate care for patients and respect for nurses.

The nurses with the Progressive Care Unit noted that he develops relationships with the nurses taking care of the patients at the hospital

Festok is a graduate of the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine who did an internal medicine residency at the Northeast Georgia Hospital System. He practices medicine as a hospitalist, meaning that he only works inside a hospital to treat admitted patients.
Northwest HealthPorter in Valparaiso recently awarded caregivers with Daisy and Petals awards.

The hospital honored nurse Makenzie Marx with the DAISY Award for exceptional nursing and patient care technician Amber Jordan with the Petals award for outstanding support professionals.

The Daisy award is based on nominations from employees, patients and hospital visitors. It recognizes the compassion of nurses, honoring them for "remarkable work they do every day  wherever they practice, in whatever role they serve throughout their entire careers."

Marx was nominated by patients and their family members, who described being treated by her as a blessing and saying it's rare to meet such a beautiful soul.

Makenzie never did anything without a smile on her face. She is amazing," a patient said in the awards application.

A colleague nominated Jordan for the Petals award, which recognizes non-nursing professionals for exceptional skills and support. Jordan's co-worker praised her for going "above and beyond for her patients every day and makes her want to be a better nurse."

I always know when I see Amber my day will go better. She is going to become an amazing nurse, she said in the nomination.
Northwest Health  Porter Hospital in Valparaiso was recognized by the Indiana Department of Health for excellence in infant and maternal health.

The Indiana Hospital Association recognized 95% of the Hoosier State's delivering facilities this year as part of a statewide initiative to reduce infant mortality by promoting best practices for Hoosier moms and babies.

Northwest Health-Porter is honored to be recognized by the IHA for our efforts to improve the overall health of mothers and infants born in our hospital, said Stephanie Didion, director of the Birthing & Family Care Center at Northwest Health  Porter. We are committed to increasing awareness of maternal and infant mortality and educating new mothers to provide the safest possible environment they can for themselves and their newborn.

Northwest HealthPorter has a new Maternal-Fetal Transport Service for expectant mothers experiencing pregnancy complications who need medical intervention. They are now rushed by ambulance to a hospital with 24/7 OB emergency department, Level III obstetrical service, and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit.

Northwest Health also pursued an "I Gave Birth" bracelet initiative to inform caregivers, family and friends about post-birth warning signs and complications to watch out for. Northwest Health hospitals were the first in the Region to adopt the initiative to address the state's high infant mortality rate.

Our birthing hospitals work tremendously hard to make sure all babies born in Indiana have the best start at life, while caring for the mothers who delivered them, said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Dr. Linday Weaver. Reducing infant and maternal mortality requires a continued multi-pronged approach over the course of many years to see impactful change. It is heartening to see the progress weve made but we must continue to adopt best practices so that we can celebrate more first birthdays in Indiana.

The state provided funding for the INspire Hospital of Distinction program to address Indiana's high maternal and infant mortality rates, both of which are in the bottom 10 in the nation.

The daily work of our delivering hospitals makes a monumental impact on the lives of so many Hoosier moms and infants in every corner of our state, said Governor Eric Holcomb. These caregivers are much needed and appreciated, and we will continue to partner with them to support our shared goal of a healthy Hoosier tomorrow.
Everyone in Northwest Indiana has likely driven past the Rogge Insurance office at some point.

The insurance firm occupies an 1876 farmhouse off Interstate 65 just north of U.S. 30 in Merrillville.

Rogge Insurance, 1500 E. 73rd Ave., started business in 1923 and is marking its 100th anniversary this year. The family-owned firm has carried on for four generations, serving clients in Indiana and Illinois.

George C. Rogge founded the firm in 1923 after leaving his job at the Gary Works steel mill. He decided to start an insurance agency, walking three miles down Broadway's business district every day, greeting his clients by name. Gary prospered in its early City of the Century days, becoming the largest city founded in 20th century America.

Rogge's sons Don and Bill took over the business, which eventually was run by Dons son George A. Rogge. He joined the company after graduating from Indiana State University in 1969, and ushered the firm into the computer age and moved the office to the Gary National Bank building at 8585 Broadway in Merrillville in 1978.

After 30 years at that location, Rogge Insurance moved to the historic Boyd House it occupies just off the interstate today.

The agency provides insurance for cars, trucks and homes, as well as surety and fidelity bonds. It quotes multiple insurance companies and has it own policies, which are pay-as-you-go.

When George A. Rogge took over, insurance companies charged higher rates for cars in Hammond, Gary and East Chicago. Rogge started offering the same rate across the state of Indiana regardless of where people lived, which fueled its popularity.

The Classic Auto Insurance policy he created charged everyone in four age groups in Indiana the same rate regardless of residence, sex, marital status, employment status or credit rating. Customers could start and stop the policy without any late, cancellation and reinstatement fees.

"It never made any sense to me to charge more to drivers in Hammond and Gary," Rogge said. "There weren't more accidents in Gary and Hammond. You were just as likely to get into a crash anywhere else in Indiana."

He credits the firm's continued success in part to how active he's been in the community. He's served as president of the Miller Citizens Corp., Miller Beach Business Association, Gary Board of Parks and Gary Redevelopment Commission, as well as on the boards of the Lake County Park Department, Charter School of the Dunes, Gary Police Foundation, Gary Jaycees, Gary Rotary, Indiana Landmarks and Lake County Sheriff's Merit Board. He's been a director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana State University Foundation.

Rogge also restored the Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium, trained "Merciless" Mary McGee into becoming a world champion boxer and co-founded the Nelson Algren Museum of Miller Beach.

"I've always tried to be involved in the community and make it a better place," he said.

Douglas A. Rogge joined the family business after graduating from Purdue University in 1990, representing the agency's fourth generation of family ownership.
Mark Kiesling revealed a mischievous smile before explaining the hard truth about his job.

Once you become a newspaper columnist, you either make fast friends or fast enemies because your opinions get into print, he told me.

Kiesling, who died in 2012, was an established Times columnist with a sharp tongue and a critical eye. I was an inexperienced reporter with hopes of someday becoming a full-time columnist. Our conversation took place 20 years ago this month in the newsroom.

Once you publicly share your personal opinions with people, you cant go back, Kiesling said.

I didnt realize how true this is until I became a columnist in 2006. My publicized opinions have made a lot of fast friends and fast enemies through the years. Some readers are remarkably dutiful when it comes to regularly reading my work and criticizing it.

Earlier this year, a reader mailed me a copy of one of my columns with the words, (Expletive) your column! written across it multiple times.

You should frame it, my editor joked.

I tried responding to this reader, as I do with most every reader, but the envelopes return address was bogus. How disappointing. How predictable. How interesting that this person took the time to cut out my column, write on it, lick an envelope, affix a stamp and take it to a mailbox.

People fascinate me. Its my favorite part of my job.

Im hoping you didnt receive too many negative responses from those that are too narrow-minded to honestly evaluate your comparison of Santa and Jesus, Judi N. wrote to me this week.

I did, actually, but I welcomed the responses about that controversial column, as I do for all of my columns. I dont use this space to convince you or convert you. I use it to challenge you. And to challenge myself.

Dear Jerry, I'm not sure why your articles on the Crown Point Meijer issue gave me a lot of feelings. Thank you for your thought provoking article, Mike M. wrote.

I wrote two columns on the rejected proposal for a new Meijer store at the intersection of 109th Avenue and Iowa Street. Both angles intrigued me as much as it did with quite a few readers. Part of my job is to be a contrarian, which is something I learned during a sociology class I took for fun at Purdue University before becoming a professional writer.

The professor challenged students to debate capital punishment from both sides of the issue. I immediately resonated with that assignment, writing a scathing and heartfelt commentary in favor of the death penalty and also one against it. Both perspectives were correct, I argued, depending on your beliefs, values and personal experiences.

Too many people insist on painting their world in black and white despite unopened buckets of gray paint all around them. Ive never understood this, so I tend to explore it through my columns. This is why politics fascinates me although I have so much apathy for it.

When Im not making friends or enemies with my opinions, I continue to make connections with strangers. Last week, I met a woman who told me that a column I wrote three years ago dramatically changed her life. I gave her a puzzled look.

It changed my daughters life, Debby Bieda said.

Her daughter, Megan, who is on the autism spectrum, read that a local business, Buns Soapbox, employs people in her situation. She applied and got hired. Later on, so did her mother, Debby, to spend time with her. She told me this at the stores new location inside the Meijer store in Valparaiso.

I just wanted you to know, she said.

Many readers of this column space simply want to share their feelings or opinions, just as I do with them five days a week. I welcome the ongoing dialogue, whether its through email, phone calls or in person.

I read your work, a stranger told me at a grocery store last week.

It turns out he isnt a stranger after all.

The 66-year-old man, Jimmy Meneakis, mentioned how we were once childhood neighbors in the Glen Ryan subdivision of Miller.

My family lived right behind your family, he told me.

Fifty years flashed by in just a second.

Yes, I remember, I replied.

And with that, our paths again went in opposite directions. Ill likely never see him again. But our lives have a common ground in this column space. Each new year, I more appreciate this often invisible connection.

As 2023 comes to an end and 2024 waits in the wings, I have many more columns lined up to share with readers.

For example, the angry man who protested outside the Lake County government complex in Crown Point. And the two older women from different continents whove been pen-pals since childhood. And the American Legion post in Schererville that waged war against irrelevance. And the last day in business for Maki of Japan in Southlake Mall, due to the deserved retirement of its beloved owner. And so many more rattling around in my head.

Regardless if youre a friend or an enemy, thank you for joining me here to read my opinions, debate my stances and enjoy stories from all the people in our Region who you might otherwise never know.
Driven by the difficulty of meeting clean energy goals and by surging electricity demands, a growing number of political leaders are taking a fresh look at nuclear power  both extending the life of existing reactors and building new ones.

Even past skeptics, largely Democrats, have come around to the idea  notably in California, where the states sole remaining nuclear plant, Diablo Canyon, is scheduled to close in 2025. The search for clean energy has given nuclear power a spark that has drawn bipartisan support that added billions in funding for existing and new projects.

But critics of the nuclear industry argue that a veneer of clean energy has not changed the concerns about the technology, including aging facilities in need of potentially costly improvements, the challenge of nuclear waste disposal and steep cost overruns for new projects that are years late  if they reach completion.

The industry knows it does not have a good story to tell, said Edwin Lyman, a physicist and the director of nuclear power safety with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Its still plagued by the same issues.
Jump to: Tricky Clues

FRIDAY PUZZLE  Robyn Weintraubs puzzle today lived up to her usual standards: There are sparkling entries galore, no junk and lots of misdirected clues in which to sink ones solving teeth. You will be entertained by this one, no doubt.

But since this is my last column of the year, I would like to take the opportunity to say a sincere thank-you to all who read or comment on Wordplay. The world of puzzle making is flourishing, and there are so many social media venues where solvers can discuss their experiences. Caitlin Lovinger, Sam Corbin and I try to make the column a funny, helpful, friendly place where solvers can improve their skills and chat with others who love crosswords, but it wouldnt be as much fun without all of you.

On behalf of the Wordplay team, we wish you a happy, healthy new year. Thank you for showing up for us.
Bill Granger, a chef who combined an easy Australian manner with a talent for making simple food sing, selling the world on the infinite potential of breakfast, died on Christmas Day in London. He was 54.

His death, in a hospital, was announced on his Instagram page. The cause was not specified.

To many Australians, and particularly Sydneysiders, Mr. Granger was just Bill: the frontman, originator and head chef of a Sydney corner cafe called Bills that eventually expanded to 14 outlets across three countries, as well as an offshoot, Granger & Co., with five locations in London.

His facility for food that was straightforward yet stunning propelled him onto television screens  his Bills Food and Bills Holiday were both on the air for multiple seasons  and bookshelves, making him a national treasure.

Though he wrote about a dozen books that included more than 500 recipes, he became best known for two dishes in particular: a zesty avocado on toast, which his cafe is often credited with being the first to serve, and scrambled eggs with luxuriously creamy curds.
Kara and Joe Youssef sold their two apartments, withdrew their life savings, gave up most of their belongings and, in late October, set out for Istanbul for the trip of a lifetime: a three-year cruise around the world, scheduled to depart Nov. 1.

But in late November, after months of behind-the-scenes chaos, the Youssefs were stuck in Istanbul, with the cruise company canceling the trip. It did not have a ship that could handle the journey.

The Turkish company, Miray Cruises, had announced the cruise, called Life at Sea, in March. It claimed it would be the longest cruise ever  382 port calls over 1,095 days  and a community at sea, with opportunities to explore the globe. Starlink internet and a business center would allow passengers to work remotely.

The cruise seemed ideal for a post-pandemic era, targeting people longing for an escape. With fares starting at $90,000 for an inside cabin and going up to $975,000 for a suite, the trip even seemed like a bargain to some prospective passengers, cheaper than living three years in many cities.
AMC Theaters has apologized to the Rev. William J. Barber II, a civil rights leader, after he was escorted from a Greenville, N.C., theater after employees refused to allow him to use a chair he needs to manage a painful medical condition, he said.

Mr. Barber, 60, was attending a Tuesday afternoon screening of The Color Purple with his mother, Eleanor Barber, 90. He said he tried to use the chair, which an assistant carried for him, by placing it in an area reserved for handicapped seating, saying he had done so before in theaters, at Broadway plays and even on a visit to the White House.

He said a theater employee told him that he would not be able to use the chair, which looks like a small stool, because it did not comply with guidelines in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Employees then summoned the Greenville police and told the officers that they wanted Mr. Barber to leave or be charged with trespassing, according to Mr. Barber, who shared a video of the encounter with The New York Times.
The police are searching for a 35-year-old woman charged with murdering two of her children, ages 9 and 7, and injuring a third, age 11, at an apartment in Colorado Springs, Colo., last week, the authorities said Thursday.

The woman, Kimberlee Singler, was found injured together with the three children in the early hours of Dec. 19, after the authorities received a report of a burglary at the apartment in the citys northeast, the Colorado Springs Police Department said in a statement.

Ms. Singler and her 11-year-old daughter, both injured, were treated at the apartment by emergency medical workers before being transported to local hospitals for further treatment, the police said. They would not provide additional information about the nature of the injuries or the cause of death of the 9-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy, pending Ms. Singlers arrest.

The injured 11-year-old was recovering from her injuries and being cared for, Ira Cronin, a spokesman for the Police Department, said in a phone interview on Thursday. As the investigation unfolded, the police determined that the information of a reported burglary was unfounded, he said.
Giant waves pounded the coast of California on Thursday, causing big headaches, closing beaches and toppling some people who watched the unusual waterfront show.

Waves topping 30 feet broke onto shores up and down the state, prompting stark warnings, such as one from the National Weather Services Bay Area division: The ocean is NOT your friend today!

High surf warnings remain in effect through early Friday, the Weather Service said, and waves surpassing 40 feet are possible. The coastal unrest was caused by a series of storms with hurricane-force winds brewing over the Pacific Ocean, pushing big swells toward the state.

Stay away from rocks, jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure, the Weather Service added. Never turn your back to the ocean!
Former President Donald J. Trumps rivals in the Republican race for president again lined up in his defense on Thursday after Maine barred him from its primary election ballot, the second state to do so.

When the Colorado Supreme Court barred Mr. Trump from the primary ballot there last week, all of Mr. Trumps opponents also criticized the decision, rather than using it as an avenue of attack.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur, made much the same arguments on Thursday night.

It opens up Pandoras box, Mr. DeSantis said on Fox News after the Maine decision was announced. Can you have a Republican secretary of state disqualify Biden from the ballot?
The chancellor of a state university in Wisconsin was fired this week after posting pornographic videos with his wife online.

The University of Wisconsin Systems Board of Regents unanimously decided to dismiss the chancellor, Joe Gow, who had led the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse since 2007 and was its longest-tenured leader since the 1960s. Carmen Wilson, Mr. Gows wife, was also removed from her unpaid position as associate to the chancellor.

Karen Walsh, the head of the board, which oversees the system's 13 universities, said in a statement that the board was alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, without specifying what they were.

In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Gow and Ms. Wilson said that they believe they were fired over the videos, which included sex scenes together and with others under the username Sexy Happy Couple. Both said they felt it was wrong for the university to punish them over the videos, arguing that doing so infringes on their free speech rights.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had caused unintended harm to uninvolved civilians in two strikes this week on a densely packed Gaza Strip neighborhood, where, the local health authorities said, dozens were killed.

It was a rare admission of fault by the military over its conduct of the war. The military said it was targeting Hamas on Sunday when it launched two strikes on the central Gazan community of Al Maghazi, which has been flooded with Palestinians uprooted by war and crammed into homes by the dozen.

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 Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

The I.D.F. regrets the harm to uninvolved individuals, and is working to draw lessons from the incident, the statement said.
I was 15 when I went to my first Verdi opera, Il Trovatore, at the Met, the old Met, in 1964. I could barely figure out what was going on but didnt care. Leontyne Price sang Leonora, and I was in awe of her plush, beautiful voice. The singing, the chorus, the orchestra, the emotional drama, the music with its mixture of soaring melody, intensity and structure (though I couldnt have expressed this back then) all hooked me. Two months later I was back at the Met for Verdis Otello starring, no less, Renata Tebaldi as Desdemona. I still remember the poignant warmth and uncanny bloom of her voice as she sang the sighing refrain of salce, salce in the Willow Song.

I would go on to hear, and eventually review, most of the Verdi operas in productions around the world. I studied the scores in music classes and on my own at the piano. I read biographies that emphasized his deep ties to the rural region of northern Italy he came from and never really left.

To me, that devotion seemed of a piece both with Verdis character  he was a crusty, principled man with a built-in hypocrisy detector who was suspicious of urban elites  and his respect for the heritage of Italian opera. If Wagner brought a radical agenda to remaking German opera, Verdi was a reformer who worked from within the traditions and conventions of Italian opera while subtly, steadily introducing ingenious innovations that would, over time, transform it. So I wanted to see for myself where he came from, and how his roots shaped his life and art.

This fall, at long last, I made my Verdi pilgrimage, retracing his steps from his birthplace in Roncole to the crypt where he is buried in Milan.
Jim Ladd, a maverick Los Angeles disc jockey who helped pioneer free-form FM radio in the 1970s, and who went on to become a rock institution and an inspiration for Tom Pettys song The Last DJ, died on Dec. 17 at his home near Sacramento. He was 75.

The cause was a heart attack, his wife, Helene Hodge Ladd, said.

With his laid-back manner and his considerable equestrian skills, Mr. Ladd was known to longtime listeners as the Lonesome L.A. Cowboy, after a 1973 song by the New Riders of the Purple Sage. His expansive musical knowledge, saucy humor and outspoken political views made him a celebrity in rock circles  not only in Los Angeles, where he had storied runs at KLOS and KMET, but also nationally, thanks to his long-running hourlong syndicated series, Innerview.

Innerview, which made its debut in 1974, featured interviews with countless rock luminaries, including the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin and Elton John. It was heard on some 160 stations around the country.

The same class of rock deity could often be found lounging around Mr. Ladds treehouse-like Los Angeles home perched on the wooded hillsides of Laurel Canyon. His house drew friends like Stevie Nicks, George Harrison and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, who featured Mr. Ladd on his second solo album, Radio K.A.O.S. (1987).
Who says hindsight is 20/20?

Musicians keep getting tempted to revisit recordings they made long ago, and in 2023, flashbacks from the Beatles and Taylor Swift drew worldwide attention. Some temptations are technological; others have business imperatives. Wielding the latest digital tools, some powered by artificial intelligence, musicians and labels have been busily exploring their vaults and hard drives, many of them thoroughly convinced that they now have a better idea of how their older music is supposed to sound. Do they?

Recorded music is many things: an expression, a structure, a physical performance, a series of decisions large and small, an artifact of memory and emotion, a souvenir of a particular time. But all of those aspects end up as a waveform, which can then be treated like any other information. The digital era and its computer-engineering paradigms have made that information infinitely malleable: just a starting point for version 2.0, 3.0 and beyond. A.I. is only going to make things more complicated as it reconfigures all the information available online.

But with music, an update isnt necessarily an improvement. It might be an anachronism or a betrayal instead.

One of the hardest decisions for any artist is knowing when something is finished. That choice might be made after endless deliberation, on a deadline, on a whim, under the influence  who knows? In the vinyl era, that decision was usually final, give or take alternate mixes for singles, radio and clubs. Listeners reacted to, and bonded with, the music in its fixed form.
My Friends, by Hisham Matar

Matars new novel, his first since winning the Pulitzer Prize for his memoir The Return in 2017, follows a Libyan man named Khaled who leaves Benghazi to study in the United Kingdom and never returns. Two friendships ground his life: one with another young Libyan who brings Khaled to an anti-Qaddafi demonstration in London, altering their lives forever, and the other with an enigmatic older writer.

Random House, Jan. 9
For months, some of the biggest players in the U.S. media industry have been in confidential talks with OpenAI on a tricky issue: the price and terms of licensing their content to the artificial intelligence company.

The curtain on those negotiations was pulled back this week when The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, alleging that the companies used its content without permission to build artificial intelligence products.

The Times said that before suing, it had been talking with the companies for months about a deal. And it was not alone. Other news organizations  including Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper company; News Corp, the owner of The Wall Street Journal; and IAC, the digital colossus behind The Daily Beast and the magazine publisher Dotdash Meredith  have been in talks with OpenAI, said three people familiar with the negotiations, who requested anonymity to discuss the confidential talks.

The News/Media Alliance, which represents more than 2,200 news organizations in North America, has also been talking with OpenAI about coming up with a framework for a deal that would suit its members, a person familiar with the talks said.
Even if millions of high-tech jobs are created in the coming years, the disruption to workers who lose jobs may be significant. For the many Americans without four-year college degrees  more than half of adults, according to census data  the new job market will require training.

Ginni Rometty, a former chief executive of IBM, is credited with coining new collar in 2016. At the time, she said, IBM was having trouble filling cybersecurity jobs, partly because outdated criteria required that candidates have college degrees.

Because we overcredentialed for those cyber jobs, we were overlooking an entire pool of qualified, available candidates, she wrote in an email. Unless millions of people are trained in the skills employers need now, she added, they risk being unemployed even as millions of good-paying jobs go unfilled.

Many employers seem to have gotten the message. Hiring managers are increasingly using skills-based filters on LinkedIn to find candidates, a LinkedIn spokeswoman said, adding that 155 million of the platforms more than 930 million users are workers without four-year degrees.

Having a pithy term that helps companies get energized about doing something innovative is helpful, said Colleen Ammerman, the director of the Race, Gender and Equity Initiative at Harvard Business School. She pointed to the electric vehicles industry as an example that will require many skilled workers. (In the past, these may have been hailed as green collar jobs.)
Fast Charlie

Rent or buy on most major platforms.

I never knew I needed to hear Pierce Brosnan with a Southern accent until Phillip Noyces Fast Charlie. The former Bond plays the titular problem solver, as he calls himself, cooler than a summer breeze. A turf war between his boss, Stan (James Caan in one of his final film roles) and a New Orleans gangster named Beggar (Gbenga Akinnagbe) results in the apparent murder of Stan and his entire crew, pushing Charlie to seek vengeance before Beggar finds him, too. Charlies predicament also envelops his lover, Marcie (Morena Baccarin), a sharp-talking taxidermist.

Charlie is rendered in the mold of John Wick, if Wick remained in the biz until his actual retirement age. Brosnan moves quietly and efficiently while leaning on smartly delivered one-liners. What do you want? Beggar asks. You, not breathing, Charlie retorts. Some old dogs do well without new tricks.

The Dirty South

Rent or buy on most major platforms.
Four days before Christmas, Mayor Eric Adams of New York gathered his top aides on the stairs of City Halls rotunda for an end-of-year message.

As his walk-in music blared from the speakers, Mr. Adams gave a thumbs-up to his staff, positioning himself between two video screens. One showed the year, 2023; the other displayed the message, Jobs Are Up. Crime Is Down.

The news conference resembled a campaign event, full of applause and cheerleader-like encouragement for the mayor at the halfway mark of his first term. And by keeping a laserlike focus on trumpeting two key statistical achievements, Mr. Adams seemed intent on pushing a counternarrative to the growing perception that he is not up to the job.

The mayor faces the lowest approval rating since Quinnipiac University began polling the popularity of New York City mayors in 1996. New Yorkers disapprove of almost every aspect of how Mr. Adams is handling his job and dont believe he is trustworthy, the poll found.
A chartered bus from Texas filled with migrants pulled onto a street near the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan at 10:03 p.m. Thursday.

It was about 24 hours after Mayor Eric Adams had signed an emergency executive order meant to limit the arrival of such buses to several hours in the morning in a bid to slow the surge of tens of thousands of migrants the governor of Texas has sent to New York City.

More than two dozen people, including mothers with infants and toddlers in their arms, filed off the bus into a shadowy passageway outside the terminal. They grabbed their luggage from the vehicles cargo hold before volunteers led them to a second bus that took them to the citys migrant intake center at the nearby Roosevelt Hotel.

The entire process took 13 minutes and showed the difficulties that New York faces as officials try to manage a crisis that they say has overwhelmed the citys homeless shelter system. After 14 busloads of migrants arrived from Texas in a single day last week, Mr. Adams said the order was meant to bring more structure to a process he described as unmanageable.
Revelers began to gather on Sunday afternoon for the annual New Years Eve ball drop in Times Square, where thousands of officers would be deployed and around one million people were expected to attend the festivities.

New York and other cities across the country are on alert this year as protests over the Israel-Hamas war continue around the country. Though New York Police Department officials said on Friday that there were no specific or credible threats to the city, the F.B.I. has advised all law enforcement agencies to beef up security.

In Los Angeles, police officials said patrol officers were prepared for any demonstrations that might interrupt the celebration in Gloria Molina Grand Park. In Chicago, Deputy Chief Jon Hein said at a news conference on Saturday that the police department knew of at least one planned protest, and that officials had had several meetings to discuss potential security threats.

In New York, the police will be monitoring an expanded area in Manhattan with canine units and officers on horseback. Helicopters and boats will be deployed. Drones will hover along the outer perimeter of the security zone to monitor potential protests in real time, Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said.
One night in fall 2015, an 18-year-old woman was standing on a subway platform in the Bronx when a homeless man named James Dolo came up from behind and used both hands to push her onto the tracks, the police said, injuring her.

Jailed on an attempted murder charge, Mr. Dolo, then 38, soon was seated in front of a court evaluator for a review of his competency to stand trial. Mr. Dolo smelled of urine, the evaluator noted, had described a history of psychiatric hospitalizations and did not seem to understand the gravity of what he was accused of doing.

The evaluator marked him down as unfit, citing schizophrenia, and a judge ordered Mr. Dolo committed to a state forensic psychiatric hospital  a secure facility for incarcerated people  to be restored to mental competency. He spent nearly two years there before he was shuttled to a public hospital in Manhattan, and then to the city jails on Rikers Island, and then to the forensic hospital again.

Now, eight years later, having never been convicted of a crime in the subway shoving, he is back on Rikers Island, where guards once found him sitting in his own excrement and refusing to eat or leave his cell.
As a candidate, Joe Biden said he would substantially reduce the federal prison population as president. Last week he commuted the sentences of 11 people who he said were serving unjustifiably harsh prison terms for drug offenses and also pardoned people convicted of certain marijuana charges. Still, the number of people in federal prison has grown during the Biden administration.

Despite historical bipartisan support for sentencing reform, Mr. Biden has failed to fully embrace the momentum of his two immediate predecessors, who made substantial efforts to tackle mass incarceration. Some have argued that his relative inaction on the issue may hurt him among key voting groups.

But it is not too late.

Ten years ago, Barack Obama began an ambitious program to reform the countrys criminal justice system and take on mass incarceration, offering clemency to people serving long sentences for nonviolent crimes who had demonstrated rehabilitation. Over 1,500 people were freed  many of whom would have died in prison otherwise.

And five years ago, Donald Trump took up that mantle and accelerated reform of federal sentencing laws by championing the First Step Act, which, as of January 2023, has resulted in the early release of nearly 30,000 people in prison, including many sentenced under what many lawmakers came to consider especially harsh laws.
To the Editor:

Re Its Time for the U.S. to Give Israel Some Tough Love, by Thomas L. Friedman (column, Dec. 23):

For all the hand-wringing and empty rhetoric over the war in Gaza, Mr. Friedman has been one of the few voices of sanity and logic. One can only hope that the White House stops digging itself further into the quagmire created by Israels insane leadership and implements his appeal for a rational approach to ending the horror.

Its such a straightforward, logical approach: total Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the return of all hostages and a permanent cease-fire under international supervision. Mr. Friedman argues persuasively that Hamass leader, Yahya Sinwar, will have to confront the disaster in Gaza he created.

Israel has long been held to absurd standards faced by few other countries, but thats reality  which is not to excuse the excesses that have resulted in so many needless deaths in Gaza. Israel and the U.S. simply cannot afford our growing isolation. Its time to end the insanity, and Mr. Friedman provides a clear path  if only people would listen.

Mark Schannon

Tucson, Ariz.

To the Editor:

It is the Palestinian leadership that needs tough love, not Israel. Hamas diverted millions of dollars of aid to armed conflict, while many of its top leaders live abroad in luxury.
Nikki Haley drew criticism this week for what she didnt say. As she campaigned in New Hampshire for the Republican presidential nomination, a person asked her to name the cause of the Civil War.

Ms. Haley, a former South Carolina governor, joked it was not an easy question. She then mentioned how government was going to run, freedoms, the need for capitalism and individual liberties. When the questioner observed that she hadnt mentioned slavery, she asked, What do you want me to say about slavery?

She told a radio interviewer the next morning that of course the war was about slavery, that she was not evading the issue but trying to reframe it in modern terms. While we shouldnt read too much into one video clip, its fair to ask: How is the Civil Wars cause not an easy question?

The facts of our history are currently contested  especially that history. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has acted to restrict what he sees as woke views of slavery and race in schools. Other Republican-led states have taken similar measures, and Donald Trump has offered his own hazy views of the past. Its no wonder Ms. Haley spoke cautiously. The history of race has become as fraught a topic on the political right as it has been on the left.
Challenges to disqualify Donald Trump from the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment are popping up all over the country. On Thursday the secretary of state of Maine ruled that Mr. Trump would be ineligible for the states primary ballot, a decision that can be appealed to the states Supreme Court. On Wednesday the Michigan Supreme Court ruled narrowly that the state will allow Mr. Trump to stay on the primary ballot but left open a potential future challenge to his inclusion on a general-election ballot.

But so far only one  the Colorado Supreme Courts ruling that bars Mr. Trump from the primary ballot  has reached the doorstep of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court should take the case and reverse the Colorado Supreme Court ruling and do so for the very reason cited by the Colorado judges. According to the Colorado court (quoting an earlier, unrelated case), Section 3 should be interpreted in light of the objective sought to be achieved and the mischief to be avoided.

That is exactly right. The Colorado court failed, however, to follow its own advice.

When Congress passed the 14th Amendment, there wasnt a person in the Senate or House who worried about loyal Americans electing a former rebel like Jefferson Davis as president. Instead, Republicans feared that the leaders of the rebellion would use their local popularity to disrupt Republican Reconstruction policy in Congress or in the states. Section 3 expressly addressed these concerns and did so without denying loyal Americans their right to choose a president.
The next time youre on a plane, if the person next to you doesnt seem to own anything that isnt bright red, it might be Celia Paerels. Kindle case, sweater, sunglasses, headphones, charging cord, everything in shocking scarlet: Its how she avoids leaving anything behind in the seat or the seat pocket.

Everybody clues into red, said Ms. Paerels, 62, of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. If you see a cardinal, youll know its a cardinal. You dont notice a sparrow.

Ms. Paerels is one of more than 180 New York Times readers who responded to our invitation in September to share their favorite travel hacks. A large number of the tips focused on packing (Ziploc bags), sleeping better in hotels (binder clips for the curtains) or eking out more space on planes (strategies abound for snagging empty seats). But a few ideas stood out as especially clever, or unusual.

Here, in addition to Ms. Paerelss color-coded advice, are nine of the best.

1. Put the language where you can see it.

Technology has helped break language barriers. Translation programs abound, and travelers can always cram before the trip with a few Duolingo sessions. But inevitably, youll still end up accidentally wishing someone Good night over morning coffee as your brain struggles to retrieve the right words.
Detroit is on track to record the fewest murders since the 1960s. In Philadelphia, where there were more murders in 2021 than in any year on record, the number of homicides this year has fallen more than 20 percent from last year. And in Los Angeles, the number of shooting victims this year is down more than 200 from two years ago.

The decrease in gun violence in 2023 has been a welcome trend for communities around the country, though even as the number of homicides and the number of shootings have fallen nationwide, they remain higher than on the eve of the pandemic.

In 2020, as the pandemic took hold and protests convulsed the nation after the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, the United States saw the largest increase in murders ever recorded. Now, as 2023 comes to a close, the country is likely to see one of the largest  if not the largest  yearly declines in homicides, according to recent F.B.I. data and statistics collected by independent criminologists and researchers.

The rapid decline in homicides isnt the only story. Among nine violent and property crime categories tracked by the F.B.I., the only figure that is up over the first three quarters of this year is motor vehicle theft. The data, which covers about 80 percent of the U.S. population, is the first quarterly report in three years from the F.B.I., which typically takes many months to release crime data.
The Pentagon has established new procedures for preventing and responding to civilian harm during U.S. combat operations, following up on a pledge by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III to overhaul the system.

The 52-page document, issued last week, delineates responsibilities across the Defense Department and its military commands around the world and requires that possible risks to civilians are considered in combat planning and operations. It codifies an action plan announced by the Pentagon last year to revamp its civilian casualty policy, which had been applied inconsistently across different war zones.

Widely seen as the first of its kind issued by a modern military, the directive also calls for more standardized assessments of deadly incidents, allows for reopening past assessments and provides options for condolence payments, medical care and property repairs even after time has passed.

The document includes measures to prevent civilian harm in joint operations with allies and partner forces, but it does not address operations the United States supports through military aid alone, such as Israels war in Gaza.
Former President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly tried to appeal to Christian voters in recent weeks by accusing the Biden administration of criminalizing Americans for their faith.

On multiple occasions this month, Mr. Trump has claimed that President Biden has persecuted Catholics in particular. Mr. Biden himself is Catholic.

I dont know what it is with Catholics, Mr. Trump said during a rally in Coralville, Iowa. They are going violently and viciously after Catholics.

Mr. Trump repeated similar comments days later at another rally, in Waterloo, and in a video posted before Christmas he said that Americans of faith are being persecuted like nothing this nation has ever seen before.
I was just thinking about what I wanted for my birthday, which is coming soon. And the one thing Im missing in life is a lotion that makes my skin feel super moisturized and attracts Wolf spiders.

Lucky for me, my day might have come.

The beauty chain Sephoras Reddit page was set ablaze this week by a one-star review of a new body butter sold on the site, claiming: SCENT ATTRACTS WOLF SPIDERS.

If youre scared of wolf spiders  watch out for these lotions lol. I wanted to love them soo bad, but one of the ingredients is like kryptonite to wolf spiders! When I put it on instantly one will come out, the reviewer wrote, ending with, sorry for a disappointing review.

You should be sorry! Happy birthday to me!

The product, the Delicia Drench body butter made by the company Sol de Janeiro, debuted this month at Sephora and sells for $48 per 8.1-ounce container. The Brazil-inspired brand has sold other body butters for years without incident, with its Bom Dia Bright and Brazilian Bum Bum variations ranking among the chains best-sellers.
China on Friday appointed a naval commander with experience in the South China Sea as its minister of defense, filling a monthslong vacancy created by the unexplained disappearance of the previous minister, who appeared to have fallen in an investigation into possible corruption or other misdeeds.

The appointment of the commander, Adm. Dong Jun, as defense minister was finalized by Chinas Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping, after formal approval by lawmakers, the Xinhua news agency reported. Speculation spread earlier in the week that Admiral Dong would be named to that post after another admiral took his position as head of the Chinese navy.

The promotion of Admiral Dong may calm the uncertainty that has festered around the high ranks of the Chinese military after the disappearance and removal of the previous defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, as well as the top two commanders of the Rocket Force, which controls Chinas nuclear missiles.

General Li had not been seen in public for about two months before he was officially removed as minister in late October. The Chinese government still has not given an explanation for his removal, but many experts believe he was probably entangled in an inquiry into taking bribes or other misconduct that also took down the Rocket Force commanders.
A political activist in Hong Kong previously imprisoned under its sweeping national security law said he had fled to Britain and would apply for asylum there, becoming the second high-profile dissident this month to announce going into exile from the territory.

The activist, Tony Chung, revealed on Thursday that he had arrived in Britain, and, in several social media posts, said that he had decided to leave Hong Kong after enduring oppressive restrictions, pressure to act as informant and severe stress after his release from prison in June.

Mr. Chung, 22, was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison in 2021 after becoming an outspoken proponent of independence for Hong Kong  an idea that is anathema to Communist Party leaders in China, which rules the territory.

He was released early, but police officers continued to monitor him closely, he wrote in his account on Instagram. He won their approval to take a brief vacation in Okinawa, Japan, and while there bought a ticket to Britain, he wrote.
A court in Siberia on Friday sentenced an ally of the jailed Russian opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny to nine years in a penal colony for running an extremist organization, according to her legal team. The sentence signals the Kremlins willingness to continue cracking down on members of Mr. Navalnys political group years after it was banned in Russia.

In 2020, the defendant, Ksenia V. Fadeyeva, won a seat in the municipal parliament in the Siberian city of Tomsk, a position she occupied while she was also the coordinator of Mr. Navalnys political office in the region.

Mr. Navalny, the only politician who was able to pose a significant challenge to the Kremlin over the past decade by creating a robust political organization with officers across the country, is currently serving a 19-year sentence in a remote penal colony in the Russian Arctic. He emerged there on Monday after being transferred from another prison in central Russia, almost three weeks after his allies said they were alarmed because they had lost contact with him.

In June 2021, the Moscow City Court designated Mr. Navalnys political organization as extremist, effectively banning it. Anticipating the decision, all of its offices across the country were disbanded ahead of the ruling. The offices had represented a rare nationwide political organization in Russia whose goal was to remove President Vladimir V. Putin from power.
Russia targeted Ukrainian cities with more than 150 missiles and drones on Friday morning, in what Ukrainian officials said was one of the largest air assaults of the war. At least 30 people were killed, and more than 160 were wounded, according to the Ukrainian government, and critical infrastructure was damaged.

This is the biggest attack since the counting began, Yurii Ihnat, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman, said in a brief telephone interview, adding that the military did not track air assaults in the early days of Russias full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.

For several hours on Friday, missiles, drones and debris slammed into factories, hospitals and schools in cities across Ukraine, from Lviv in the west to Kharkiv in the east, straining the countrys air defenses and sending people scrambling for shelter.

Thanks to its powerful air defense systems, Ukraine has often been able to shoot down most, if not all, Russian weapons targeting cities in recent months. But on Friday the Ukrainian military said it had shot down only 114 missiles and drones out of a total of 158.
The Israeli military warned on Friday that it was stepping up operations in the southern Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of people had fled to safety, while hospital officials said Israel bombed an area in the south where it had ordered civilians to seek shelter.

At least 18 people were killed and dozens of others injured near Kuwait Specialty Hospital on Thursday, according to hospital staff members, who said the strike had hit a house in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

On Friday, the Israeli military said it had executed a strike against a former battalion commander of the militant group the Palestinian Islamic Jihad who was in a structure near the Kuwaiti hospital.

An Israeli defense official also said that, as an essential stage in the war to eliminate Hamas, the military had carried out a series of attacks over the past day in Khan Younis, the biggest city in south Gaza, using airstrikes, sniper fire and tank rounds.
New details released by the Israeli military about the accidental killing of three Israeli hostages in Gaza City include that there was a gap of 15 minutes between the fatal shootings of the first two hostages and the third and that a commander had urged the third hostage to come out of hiding just before he was fatally shot.

Among other new details were that the lookout soldiers who fired the bullets that killed the third hostage did not hear an order to hold fire.

The Israeli army has been under intense pressure from the families of the hostages and the general public to investigate and explain how the three hostages, who had stripped from the waist up to show they were unarmed and were holding a makeshift white flag, could have been shot by Israeli soldiers. The army has taken full responsibility for the Dec. 15 incident and has said that the soldiers involved in the shooting violated the militarys rules of engagement but did not act with malicious intent.

The latest account, released late on Thursday, consists of a 10-point statement, accompanied by photos from the ground and air and a map showing locations of significance in relation to the spot where the hostages were killed. It offers new details and adds perspective to previous disclosures, portraying the soldiers involved as having been engaged in intense and prolonged fighting and as extremely wary of Hamas ruses. Just days before the hostages were shot, two senior Israeli commanders and seven other soldiers were killed in a Hamas ambush in the same area, Shejaiye.

However, the narrative remains incomplete, consisting solely of official Israeli military statements. The hostages and Hamas militants involved are dead, and Israeli soldiers are prohibited from speaking publicly.

These are some details from the new account:

Five days before the hostages were killed, a unit had heard cries for help in a building where they had engaged in a gun battle with fighters. The unit judged the cries to be a ruse and, suspecting the building was booby-trapped, did not search it and instead directed fire from helicopters and tanks toward it. Several Hamas fighters were killed, and the military believes that allowed the hostages to escape.

The hostages are believed to have fled to another building more than half a mile away. A day before they were killed, the military identified signs saying SOS and Help, 3 hostages in the area. However, the military also spotted blue barrels that Hamas has used to hold explosives and suspected a trap.

The lookout soldier who killed the first two hostages  Alon Shamriz, 26, and Samer Talalka, 24  was operating with a line of sight obscured by a structure, suggesting that he may have not seen their white flag.

The commanding officers ordered the troops to hold fire so they could identify the third man, who had fled inside of a building. Cries in Hebrew of Save me! and They are shooting at me! were heard. The officers repeated their orders to the troops to hold their fire and, after about 15 minutes, yelled toward the voice, Come toward us.

Lookout soldiers in a different location saw a figure emerge from the building. They had not heard the orders to hold fire because of noise from a nearby tank, and they shot and killed him. He was later identified as Yotam Haim, 28.
Israeli forces shot at a United Nations convoy of armored vehicles in central Gaza on Thursday evening as it was returning from delivering aid in the northern part of the territory, U.N. officials said.

No one in the convoy was injured, the officials said, but the episode highlighted the severe challenges facing humanitarian efforts to help Palestinians struggling to survive amid Israels nearly 12-week bombardment of the enclave.

Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli Army, Thomas White, the Gaza director for UNRWA, the U.N. relief agency for Palestinian refugees, wrote on social media. He said that one vehicle in the convoy had been damaged, adding: Aid workers should never be a target.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment when asked about the episode.

The convoy, whose vehicles were marked with U.N. insignia, was returning from delivering aid, including flour. It was south of Gaza City when it came under fire, Juliette Touma, spokeswoman for UNRWA, said in an interview. Before setting out to deliver the aid, the convoy had coordinated its plans with the Israeli military and notified it of the routes it would take, she added.
Specifically, the clause says that people are ineligible to hold any federal or state office if they took an oath to uphold the Constitution in one of various government roles, including as an officer of the United States, and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States or aided its enemies. The clause also says a supermajority vote in Congress could waive such a penalty.

According to a Congressional Research Service report, a criminal conviction was not seen as necessary: federal prosecutors brought civil actions to oust officials who were former Confederates, and Congress refused to seat certain members under the clause. Congress passed amnesty laws in 1872 and 1898, lifting the penalties on former Confederates.

Is the president an officer of the United States?

Mr. Trump is unique among American presidents: He has never held any other public office and only swore an oath to the Constitution as president. That raises the question of whether the disqualification clause covers the oath he took. While as a matter of ordinary speech, a president is clearly an officer of the United States, there is a dispute over whether it excludes presidents as a constitutional term of art.

In 2021, two conservative legal scholars, Josh Blackman of the South Texas College of Law Houston and Seth Barrett Tillman of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, published a law review article about the clause arguing on textualist and originalist grounds that a president does not count as an officer of the United States. Among other issues, they focused on language about officers in the original Constitution as ratified in 1788  including language about oaths that can be read as distinguishing appointed executive branch officers from presidents, who are elected.

Last summer, two other conservative legal scholars  William Baude of the University of Chicago and Michael Stokes Paulsen of the University of St. Thomas  posted a law review article that invoked similar methodology but concluded that Mr. Trump is ineligible for the presidency. Essentially all the evidence concerning the original textual meaning of the clause pointed in that direction, the scholars argued. Among other things, they wrote that phrases like officer of the United States must be read sensibly, naturally and in context, without artifice that would render it a secret code loaded with hidden meanings.
What word would you use to describe the American economy as 2023 ends? What word would you use to describe the American economy as 2023 ends?

Something strange happened during our recent Times Opinion focus group, the 18th and final one of 2023. When we asked the participants (13 Democrats, Republicans and independents) how they felt about the economy, we didnt hear the same chorus of complaints that our other groups pretty consistently intoned all year. Our participants were by no means cheery, but several were upbeat, and even the Trump voters in the group werent aggrieved about the economy  so much so that our focus group moderator, Frank Luntz, looked a little surprised and said, OK, this is not that bad. In fact, this is reasonably good.

Our intent with this focus group was to bring together people who voted for Joe Biden or Donald Trump in 2020 and explore areas where they agreed or disagreed about the year we just went through. The usual partisan divisions fell away in a few places: In addition to seeing some upsides on the economy, several of the Biden and Trump voters expressed concern about ongoing aid to Ukraine, worry about the U.S. border with Mexico and a desire for Mr. Biden not to run for re-election. The group was more divided over Israel and Gaza and over the prosecutions of Mr. Trump.

We asked what the participants would say to Mr. Biden if he had been listening to the group. Angela, a 56-year-old Black woman from Califonia who supported him in 2020, said, Thank you for your many years of service in politics. Go home. Enjoy your wife. Enjoy your life. Sean, a 39-year-old white man from Georgia who voted for Mr. Biden last time, said, You got to let somebody else step in. Hes not going to have a good run at this point.

When we asked what they would say to Mr. Trump, Betsy, a 42-year-old white woman from Colorado who backed him in 2020, said, Please bow out. Youre the best get-out-the-vote machine for the Democratic Party. At the same time, there were more Trump and Biden voters who said at this point that they thought Mr. Trump would win in November than participants who said they thought Mr. Biden would win.

And asked what they thought the country would look like and be like in 2030, there was a mix of optimism and pessimism, but the reactions did not break down strictly along partisan lines. The biggest worry of all was not about the countrys politics but about the health of our culture and the values of younger Americans.
hide An antiwar scribble on a bathroom wall. A request to a D.J. for a Ukrainian song. A photo with a blue and yellow scarf. Or a conversation at school, recorded by a classmate. In Russia, those have all been grounds for prosecution. Thousands of court documents tell the story of Russias totalitarian crackdown on antiwar speech.

How the Russian Government Silences Wartime Dissent

Just days after invading Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia signed a censorship law that made it illegal to discredit the army. The legislation was so sweeping that even his spokesman acknowledged it was easy to cross the line into prohibited speech. In the first 18 months of the war, the law scooped up a vast array of ordinary Russians  schoolteachers, pensioners, groundskeepers, a carwash owner  for punishment.

The law has led to more than 6,500 cases of people being arrested or fined, more than 350 a month on average, according to a New York Times analysis of Russian court records through last August. Thats a small percentage of Russias population of 146 million, but The Times analyzed the details of every case, revealing the extraordinary reach and invasiveness of the Kremlins crackdown; anyone questioning the war or revealing sympathy with Ukraine  even in a private conversation  is now liable to prosecution in Russia.

No gesture, apparently, is too small. Judges have ruled that simply wearing blue and yellow clothing  the colors of the Ukrainian flag  or painting ones fingernails blue and yellow can be punished. And there are few safe havens as people increasingly inform on their fellow citizens. In dozens of cases, people were prosecuted after someone reported them for comments they made on the train, in a cafe or in a liquor store.

The censorship law has enabled Mr. Putin to perpetuate a nearly two-year invasion that has killed or maimed hundreds of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians, with minimal resistance from those at home who oppose it. While most Russians tell pollsters they support the war, close to 20 percent say they dont.

In the past, the government would make examples of a few individuals, some prominent; now it is practicing widespread censorship. This year, with antiwar speech in public largely eliminated, the records show that authorities remained intent on stamping out criticism expressed online and in private. More than 3,000 cases involved social media or messaging platforms popular in Russia.

A large number of totally unknown, nameless, nonpublic people, who simply wrote something or said something somewhere, are getting hit, said Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

To better understand the extent of this censorship, we spent months analyzing a database of every available public record of prosecutions under the new law provided by OVD-Info, a Russian human rights and legal aid group.

First-time offenders are typically handed a fine of 30,000 rubles  around $300 at the current exchange rate, about half the average monthly salary in Russia  while repeat offenders can receive prison time. Known as article 20.3.3, the law has become the most widely used tool in Russias wartime crackdown, and it is the focus of our analysis; another law punishes spreading false information about the Russian army with up to 15 years in prison.

Experts say the wartime censorship is transforming Russian society and setting the stage for even more widespread repression in the future, as the authorities automate their monitoring of the internet and encourage people to denounce each other online. Mr. Putin set the tone last year when he referred to opponents of the war as scum and traitors to be cleansed from society.

In response to the crackdown, many Russians have begun to self-censor. Demyan Bespokoyev, a private school tutor who was prosecuted for writing an antiwar message on his coat, described the process this way: The prison forms inside your head.

Silencing Protest

In the first months of the war, the documents show, Russia was focused on stamping out dissent in public spaces.

Feb. 2022: Russia Invades Ukraine

March

April

May

June

July

Aug. Aleksandr T.

Fined for holding a poster that said No to War in the town square.

Olga V.

Replaced price tags in a supermarket with antiwar messages.

Demyan B.

Wore a long coat with the message: I dont want war. Maksim L.

A student from Penza

Yuriy V.

A retired widower from Omsk

Diana I.

A paramedic from Yelets Denis V.

Roller-skated while wearing a Ukrainian flag as a cape.

Chinghiz M.

Tied a green ribbon to the strap of his backpack.

Polina S.

Held blue and yellow balloons in public. Glory to Ukraine

Glory to the heroes of Ukraine!

Peace for Ukraine, freedom for Russia

Hands off Ukraine

I'm ready to fight and die for Ukraine!

Ukraine is not dead yet

I am for Ukraine

Ukraine must win!

Ukraine is not the enemy Maksim P.

Shared a Save Mariupol petition on his social media page.

Anna S.

Wrote I am against the war on her Instagram account.

Maria V.

Posted videos on YouTube criticizing the Russian government. invisible Hundreds of Russians were prosecuted for discrediting the army with homemade signs or graffiti, even for spray-painting antiwar messages on the snow. Each of these figures represents one person prosecuted under the new censorship law. As the atrocities by Russian soldiers in Bucha, Ukraine, came to light in the spring of 2022, the Kremlins denials of those brutal acts enraged some in Russia. More than 70 people were prosecuted for some form of protest involving Bucha. Some people were targeted without even mentioning the war. They were prosecuted for wearing Ukrainian colors  or just a green ribbon, which activists display as a symbol of peace. Others got in trouble for explicitly stating their support for Ukraine. At the same time, the government also started cracking down on protests online including peoples likes on antiwar posts.

Russias crackdowns on free speech used to garner global headlines. Now they are noticed less and less. One reason is the sheer scale: On each of the 530 days of the war for which we have near-complete data, an average of 13 cases were heard in court involving people opposing the war  and thats just under the discreditation law. The indignities of the crackdown, and the long arm of the Russia law, is being lost in the numbers.

In villages and far-flung regions, in schools and hospitals, in chat groups and local news outlets, and in a prison and on a military base, people were accused of speaking out against the war.

The analysis challenges the notion that opposition sentiment in Russia is concentrated among the elite in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major cities. The documents show that two-thirds of the cases were heard in courts located in cities and towns with a population of less than a million.

In the small town of Iglino in western Russia, a retired train driver named Zaynulla Gadzhiyev, now 76, predicted on his social media page: Nothing will save Russia now from collapse.

Mr. Bespokoyev, 22, the private school tutor, walked through a St. Petersburg subway station wearing the overcoat his grandfather wore in World War II, on which Mr. Bespokoyev had written: Im hurting and afraid. I dont want war.

In Novosibirsk in Siberia, Marina Tsurmast, a local journalist, scrawled Bucha in red on a piece of paper and pasted it over an exhibition stand celebrating the anniversary of Russias annexation of Crimea. Police officers detained her on the spot.

Marina Tsurmast at her flat in Novosibirsk, Russia. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times

In dry legalese, the court documents recount the Russian states case against these statements and protests.

The judge in the case of Ms. Tsurmast, the journalist, ruled that she had distorted the true goals of Mr. Putins war. A St. Petersburg judge ruled that Mr. Bespokoyev, the tutor, had undermined the authority, image and trust in the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. And Mr. Gadzhiyev, the retired train driver, was cited for undermining trust in the decisions of the state authorities of the Russian Federation on the conduct of the special military operation.

All three were fined 30,000 rubles, about $500 at the time. In those first three months of the war, the data shows that at least 1,662 other Russians faced prosecution for antiwar speech.

Other critics, some of them prominent opposition figures, have received much harsher sentences under other more punitive laws, like the politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who received a 25-year term on treason charges after criticizing the war. A pacifist artist, Aleksandra Y. Skochilenko, 33, was sentenced in November to seven years in a penal colony for placing price tags with small antiwar messages in a supermarket.

But for the thousands convicted of discrediting the army, the fines are a small part of the trouble they face. Interviews with 10 of them show that convictions bring social opprobrium and complications in finding work, spurring some people to leave Russia altogether.

The law has seeped into the fabric of Russias society, adding to the dread of anyone opposing the war. Ms. Tsurmast, the journalist in Novosibirsk, says her anxiety level rises when she notices car headlights outside her apartment window or hears a sound at a late hour.

I had these attacks of paranoia, she said in a phone interview, adding that she still felt it sometimes. The elevator at night  is it coming for me?

Reaching Into Private Life

The number of cases grew amid the outcry over Mr. Putins draft in September 2022. The crackdown reached increasingly into peoples personal lives.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec. Selimat A.

Made an antiwar comment to a fellow doctor in the staff room of a clinic.

Vladimir A.

Showed off an antiwar tattoo at a concert.

Rustam I.

Played the Ukrainian anthem on a speaker from the window of his apartment while shouting Glory to Ukraine.

Yelena L.

Displayed a negative attitude toward the war while teaching her class.

Ernes K.

Held responsible by authorities for a Ukrainian song played in his cafe. Aleksandr K.

Reported by fellow teachers for disparaging Russias actions in Ukraine.

Olga P.

Reported for making antiwar statements in the break room of a power plant where she worked.

Dmitri D.

Reported for sharing antiwar content in a parents group chat on WhatsApp.

Sergei V.

Reported for playing a song by a Ukrainian band in a bar on New Years Eve while Putin was on TV. Invisible card? The crackdown reached into peoples workplaces, their churches, their cars and, in at least 86 cases, their homes. The authorities also targeted people when they had their guard down: At least 144 cases involved defendants alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol. The law allowed people to settle scores or inform on their fellow citizens. We found more than 100 cases where someone reported to the authorities the comments or behavior of someone else  something overheard on a train, or mentioned in a workplace chat group.

On the morning of Sept. 25, 2022, police officers burst into the Moscow apartment of Daria Ivanova, 29, and, she said, carried her out by her arms and legs before she had time to put on her shoes. Surveillance cameras had identified her and a friend, the police told her, as being the ones who put up prank posters to protest Mr. Putins mobilization: To order a coffin, go to the nearest draft office.

Ms. Ivanova says she was beaten while in custody for 11 hours. Still in Moscow, she now takes a dim view of her job prospects. A friend told her that, given her conviction, youll never be approved by the security service at the state company where the friend worked.

Daria Ivanova in the elevator of her building in Moscow. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times

The episode highlights the Kremlins reach in trying to catch the wars opponents: It has deployed the police, electronic surveillance and fellow citizens against them.

In smaller towns, the residents do the surveillance themselves. Anton Redikultsev, now 48, was an art teacher in the town of Kalga near the Chinese border  population: 2,545. This past June, a deputy district prosecutor filed charges against him, citing as evidence five social media posts, including links to antiwar songs and a picture of a childs drawing with the words: No need for bombs! He was fined 30,000 rubles. On Sept. 1, the first day of school, he was fired.

Mr. Redikultsev, who is also a competitive powerlifter and goes by the nickname Lifter, said the conviction had turned him into an outcast. People who always greeted him on the street now turn away, he said. People like to overstate, make up details and exaggerate.

But Mr. Redikultsev insists he has no regrets. Keeping quiet, he said, seems comparable to a sort of dishonor  to silent agreement. In court, he said, he asked the prosecutor how he was supposed to exercise his right to express his opinion, which the Russian Constitution technically still guarantees.

He didnt respond, Mr. Redikultsev recalled.

Policing the Internet

By this year, with public protest all but gone because of the crackdown, the internet was left as the main vehicle for dissent.

Jan. 2023

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug. Marina S.

Made negative remarks about Russian troops in Ukraine in a private parent group chat on Viber.

Sergei P.

Wrote messages against the war in a Viber chat group called Bikers of Khakassia. Yuldash Y.

Posted on VK that Russias invasion is an evil war. hide The total number of prosecutions declined this year, which experts see as evidence of the Kremlins success in stifling antiwar speech. Of the cases that were brought, most involved online actions. The authorities targeted speech on a wide range of platforms  from YouTube and Instagram to Chatroulette, a website for video chats with random strangers. Communications that people expected to be private ended up serving as evidence against them; many were prosecuted for exchanges in closed chat groups. But most of all, the authorities cracked down on posts on Russias most popular social network, VK, a Russian-owned website that is known to cooperate with law enforcement. We found more than 1,000 related cases. Prosecutions declined this year in large part because Russians have become much more careful about speaking out, experts say. In the event of new disruptions like another draft, they predict, prosecutions will rise again.

In June, Russias Constitutional Court upheld the censorship law in the face of a challenge from OVD-Info, the legal aid group. Peoples negative assessment of the Russian military could adversely affect its performance, the court said, presenting a national security risk. But the court left it up to individual judges to decide what exactly qualified as illegal speech  a remarkable acknowledgment of the laws arbitrariness that the Kremlin has embraced.

Asked in a November interview to explain the difference between justified criticism of the war and discreditation, Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putins spokesman, said it was hard to determine. Wheres the line? I cant tell you, he said. Its very thin.

In Moscow courtrooms, the cases have become routine. Last month, a prosecutor in a navy blue uniform quietly read out the sections of the administrative code that the 60-year-old defendant, Sergei Platonov, stood accused of violating. Addressing Russian soldiers on social media, he had written, You are going to kill other children in order to feed your own.

Mr. Platonov, dressed in white and without a lawyer, said nothing. Within 20 minutes, the judge returned with the guilty verdict and ordered him to pay 30,000 rubles. In an interview afterward, he referred to the officers who investigated him as the Russian Gestapo and said he would try to avoid paying: The money will go into the budget, toward the war. And I very much dont want this.

Sergei Platonov at district court in Moscow listening to his guilty verdict in November. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times

For the moment, lawyers say, the volume of prosecutions is held in check by the large amount of paperwork that every case requires; as a result, many instances of antiwar speech still go unpunished. But experts fear that as prosecutions become ever more routine and as the authorities focus on policing online speech, they could develop automated ways to launch investigations and to file cases.

There certainly is that fear, given the reports that instruments for automatization are being developed, Polina Kurakina, an OVD-Info lawyer, said.

Russias Pacific Coast region of Primorye, for example, launched an anonymous Telegram service last month allowing people to inform on anyone who, among other things, promotes evil. And a leak last year from Russia's internet regulator showed it was developing automated systems to scan social media and news websites for politically sensitive content.

In many ways, though, the Kremlins campaign of repression has already achieved the desired result. Some of those prosecuted have fled the country, while others have squelched any impulse to protest the war.

Mr. Kolesnikov, the political scholar, who is based in Moscow, sees the law as an indicator of Russias descent into an even more controlling, totalitarian system, with anyone anywhere speaking against the Kremlin becoming vulnerable to prosecution.

And yet, some people still protest. In October, a judge ordered Anna Sliva, 18, to pay a 50,000 ruble fine  about $500 at the exchange rate then  for holding up a sign at a Moscow memorial to the Soviet gulag labor camps: Stop killing and imprisoning civilians. In an interview, Ms. Sliva said that her action would give her an answer if she were to have children who asked her: Mom, what did you do when the war came?

Anna Sliva in her apartment in Moscow. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times
NEW BROCKTON-An Oklahoma man booked in to the Coffee County Jail Wednesday charged with public intoxication was found unresponsive in his cell Thursday morning.

After Isaiah Martin, 28, of Ada, Oklahoma, was discovered Thursday morning, the Enterprise Rescue Squad and the New Brockton Fire Department responded but were unable to revive him, said Coffee County Sheriffs Department Chief Deputy Michael Hines.

Martin was booked into the jail by the Enterprise Police Department for public intoxication Wednesday.

While no foul play is suspected, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will conduct an investigation as required by Coffee County Jail Procedures and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death, Hines said. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available.
Mori Ouchi, a cozy cafe in Tokyos laidback Shimokitazawa district, is famous for only catering to pessimists and people with a generally negative mindset.

Negative people tend to get a bad rep and are constantly told to be more positive, but, if you think about it, is there really anything wrong with being negative? The founder of Mori Ouchi, a small cafe in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, certainly doesnt think so. A self-described gloomy person, he got the idea for like-minded people over a decade ago but only decided to open it three years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The man had always felt like negative people were more sensitive and more easily hurt than others, so he created a space dedicated exclusively to them.

People always say that being positive is good and being negative is bad, but I dont think being negative-minded is such a bad thing, the owner 0f Mori Ouchi told Sora News 24. I think a lot of negative people tend to be reserved in their attitude, which is a form of kindness, and I thought it would be nice for there to be a relaxing place for them.

Featuring a rustic, woodland decor that the owner built himself, Mori Ouchi doesnt really look like a venue for pessimistic people but it does have private rooms where patrons can be themselves without worrying about the stares of others. The only thing that hints at negativity is the menu, particularly the bizarrely long names of the cocktails:

The Only Good Thing About My Dad Was That He Was an Earnest Person, But 22 Years Ago He Suddenly Disappeared, Leaving Behind a Letter That Said Pegasuses are Real';

Yesterday, I Buried the Cursed Kokeshi Doll Deep in the Mountain Forest, But When I Woke Up This Morning It Was Back on My Shelf;

On My Birthday, My Mom Sent Me a Melon from the Countryside, and I Didnt Have the Heart to Tell Her that I Dont Really Like Melon Very Much Anymore.

According to the owner, most of the cocktails served at Mori Ouchi are made with vibrantly colored ingredients that end up leaving patrons disappointed by their harsh taste and the disgusting color when mixed.

Japan is home to many bizarre cafes, but Mori Ouchi is definitely among the most intriguing ones.
The New York Times sues Open AI and Microsoft, a major Open AI backer, for copyright infringement. In its complaint, which was filed Dec. 27, the Times claimed that the companies have used Times content, without its consent, to help create such AI products as OpenAIs ChatGPT and Microsofts Copilot. Defendants have effectively avoided spending the billions of dollars that The Times invested in creating that work by taking it without permission or compensation, the Times said in the complaint. The paper is seeking damages, as well as asking that the tech companies be blocked from using its content and destroy any data sets that incorporate Times-generated material. Earlier this month Axel Springer and OpenAI reached an agreement to compensate the publisher for the use of its content in ChatGPT and OpenAIs artificial intelligence tools.

LinkedIn appears to be profiting from the exodus of advertisers turning away from Elon Musks X. The Financial Times reports that the platforms ad revenues were up 10.1 percent year on year for 2023, reaching close to $4B. According to research firm Insider Intelligence, growth of 14.1 percent is expected for 2024. The FT said that prices for LinkedIn were spiking due to a surge of interest from advertisersrising by up to 30 percent. The report also noted that more big brands are leaving Musks increasingly divisive platform. A few weeks ago most of our clients were off X. Now they are all off X, one ad agency executive told the FT. However, LinkedIn has yet to claim a top spot in the digital advertising market, accounting for just 1.5 percent of digital advertising by Insider Intellgences estimatesversus 27 percent for Google and 21 percent for Meta.

Salem Media Group sells Regnery Publishing, which has released books from authors including Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, Rand Paul, Tulsi Gabbard and Mitt Romney, to Skyhorse Publishing. The company expects to close the transaction by the end of the year. Regnery will keep its name and operate as an imprint of Skyhorse. One of the largest independent book publishers in the US, Skyhorse has had fifty-seven New York Times bestsellers and currently has over 10,000 titles in print. We see a lot of synergies and opportunities for growth and will work hard to promote, market and sell the books we have acquired and those that are pending, said Skyhorse Publishing president and publisher Tony Lyons.
A woman who went on a crime spree was warned she would face jail if she entered any shops in Portlaoise over the Christmas period.

Theresa Conroy, 37, of 7 Green Mill Lane, Portlaoise admitted stealing goods valued at over 1,000 from shops in Portlaoise in November and December 2023.

She was charged with stealing groceries valued at 307 from Tesco in Laois Shopping Centre on November 29. On November 30, she stole groceries valued at 71.95 from Lidl in Portlaoise. On December 1, she stole perfume valued at 43.90 from Laois Pharmacy. On December 4, she took curtains valued at 119 from Harry Corry and goods from Homesavers valued at 107.96. On December 14, she stole groceries valued at 100.15 from Lidl Portlaoise and on December 19, she stole Groovy Lights valued at 200 and alcohol valued at 82.90 from Lidl.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client hadnt come to the attention of gardai in 13 years prior to these thefts. She explained that the womans brother had died and his death triggered the offending.

He was dead for a number of days and she found him, Ms Fitzpatrick explained.

She said the woman had relapsed to drug abuse but was now engaging with a methadone programme in Portlaoise.

Judge Andrew Cody noted these thefts are every second or third day. He said the woman needed to get treatment.

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was seeking treatment and she asked that the woman be allowed to get treatment while on bail.

She had been taking drugs and that led to the offending, she said.

She has lost two brothers to drug addiction Judge and she found both of them, explained Ms Fitzpatrick.

She said the woman was from a large family and was being supported in court by another brother who didnt have any difficulties with addiction. She explained that the woman is now weaning off methadone.

She is reducing by one millilitre a week, so it is going to take her four or five months, said Ms Fitzpatrick.

Judge Cody said thefts amounting to 1,032.77 had taken place in the space of three weeks.

This is a one woman almost crime spree here in the town of Portlaoise, said Judge Cody.

He granted bail on strict conditions including daily sign on at Portlaoise Garda Station, a curfew and a ban from shops in Portlaoise.

If she looks into a shop you will be into the Dochas Centre before you know where you are, he warned the woman.

Turkey and ham will have to be bought for you, he said.

He remanded her on bail to Portlaoise District Court on January 5.
The weather forecast for Ireland for the coming weekend from Met Eireann is brutal heavy rain, hail and strong wind in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday before temperature plummet to ring in the New Year.

A series of weather warnings are in place for Friday and Saturday with Met Eireann warning of rain and strong winds.

A Status Yellow Rain Warning for Donegal, Leitrim, North mayo and Sligo is in place until 9pm on Friday with Met Eireann warning that heavy rainfall could lead to localised flooding.

A Status Yellow Wind Warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford comes into effect at 2am on Saturday morning and remains in place until noon on Saturday. It warns that Southerly winds will increase strong to gale force and gusty. These onshore winds coupled with high Spring tides will lead to some coastal flooding.

The weather forecast for Ireland for Saturday states that there will be a wet and windy start to the day with widespread rain, heavy or thundery at times with some localised flooding possible. The rain will clear from the west to sunny spells and showers from the western half of the country through the morning, extending to all areas in the afternoon. Some showers will be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, coolest in the northwest. Fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, with onshore gales, will mean there is a chance of coastal flooding in the south and southwest.

Clear spells and squally showers are forecast for Saturday night, most frequent in the west and southwest. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southerly or cyclonic variable winds.

Yellow Wind & Rain Warning



Affected regions : Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo



Valid: 00:00 Thursday 28/12/2023 to 06:00 Friday 29/12/2023



Keep updated on the type of warnings and valid times in your area

https://t.co/y935BNm4NJ pic.twitter.com/jExubBEmau  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) December 28, 2023

New Year's Eve will be breezy or windy with sunny spells and scattered showers and a chance of hail. Fresh to strong and gusty westerly or cyclonic variable winds will gradually decrease moderate to fresh and gusty through the day. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees generally.

Showers will continue overnight on New Year's Eve, mainly for Atlantic counties with longer spells of rain possible in the northwest. Some frost or ice will form with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds.

New Year's Day will bring sunny spells and scattered showers at first, becoming more isolated through the morning and early afternoon. Cloud will build from the southwest with rain following, extending northeastwards over much of the country by night-time. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate southwesterly winds, backing southeasterly and increasing moderate to fresh with the rain.

Outbreaks of rain will clear northwards from most areas overnight, with clear spells and scattered showers following from the west. Lowest temperatures over the northern half of the country of -2 to 0 degrees, milder further south.
FOLLOWING a recent successful gathering of friends of the Brontes in The Hill House, Banagher, a new society called the Banagher Bronte Group has been established.

The Hill House (now Charlottes Way, a well-appointed guest house) was home to Arthur Bell Nicholls, husband of Charlotte Bronte from July 1854 until her untimely death in March 1855. Arthur remained at Haworth with Patrick Bronte, Charlottes father until his death in 1861. Sadly Mr Bronte had been predeceased by his wife, Maria Branwell and all of their six children, Maria, Elizabeth, Branwell, Emily, Anne and Charlotte.

Membership for 2024 will be set at 20 and will include admission to talks, walks, exhibitions, films, etc., etc., as well as news updates like this one.

The objective of the group will be to foster a growing awareness of the association of Charlotte Bronte and her husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls, with the town of Banagher. This will be achieved by hosting a weekend of literary events annually in late April, near to April 21st, Charlotte's birthday and again near to December 2nd, the anniversary of Arthur's death. The winter gathering will consist of commemorative wreath laying ceremony, with readings, walks, talks, films, music and possibly illuminations.

The group also intend to publish as many of the letters and manuscripts relating to Arthur Bell Nicholls as possible. Consideration will also be given to the creation of a large triptych mural of Charlotte, Arthur and Mary Anna Bell somewhere prominent in Banagher. Mary Anna Bell was Arthur's second wife whom he married a few years after his return from Haworth in 1864 and lived with for forty-two years in Hill House (now Charlottes Way) until his death in 1906.

The group also intend further promote a travelling exhibition of entitled The Legacy of the Brontes made up of embroidered works by the Banagher Crafting Group and Maebh ORegan of NCAD, Dublin. The tapestries depict many of the precious Bronte treasures which Arthur brought back to Banagher in 1861, many of which made their way back to the Parsonage in Haworth after his death in 1906.

The memorials of Arthur and Mary Anna and other members of the Bell Family are in need of greater care. Contact has been made with Nigel West, a descendant of Arthur with regard to the possibility of cleaning and refurbishing them. The same Nigel West is deeply involved in the current project to save the Bronte Birthplace at Thornton, near Bradford, Yorkshire. Several members of the Banagher Bronte Group have generously subscribed.
MONEYGALL Development Association CLG is one of the 14 organisations which have been approved to join the Community Services Programme (CSP) in 2024.

Minister for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe OBrien TD, recently announced an increase in funding for the vast majority of Community Services Programme (CSP) supported organisations.

The CSP aims to provide employment opportunities and local services to disadvantaged communities.

The revised funding rates to be applied from January 2024 will see;

an increase of 2,717 in the contribution per full-time equivalent employee to organisations categorised as having a high funding need,

a 2,142 increase for CSP organisations categorised as having a medium funding need,

an increased contribution of 1,500 towards the managers salary in the high funding need category in 2024, and

1,000 for organisations in the medium funding need category.

No change is proposed for the small number of organisations in the low funding category, these are organisations identified as having the strongest earning potential and operating in less disadvantaged areas.

These increases will assist organisations to meet higher labour costs from 2024 onwards.

The Minister made the announcement in Drumcondra, Co. Dublin while visiting the Conference Centre of the Child Vision organisation, one of the 14 organisations approved to join the programme: I am pleased to be able to provide additional funding of 4.3m to provide an increase to both the medium and high Community Services Programme funding categories.

Given the increase of 1.40 per hour to the minimum wage level from 1st January 2024 announced in Budget 2024, we want to ensure the continued sustainability of organisations currently supported under the Community Services Programme.

This increase to the funding rates should help alleviate the financial challenges faced by those CSP supported organisations with limited earning potential, operating in areas of disadvantage and employing individuals from the prescribed programme target groups.

Further to this, the Minister also announced the awarding of contracts to 14 new entrants to the Community Services Programme (CSP) following an open call for applications in March of this year and Moneygall Development Association was one of those.

The Minister went on to say: I am delighted to say that the additional funding of 1 million made available for this new open call for applications under the CSP during 2023, will allow for these additional 14 community based organisations to be supported under the programme.

This funding will support 13 new manager positions and 23 new full time equivalent positions, with an initial contract of two years. I am particularly pleased that two of the supported organisations have a focus on employment of people from the traveller community

Welcoming the announcement Minister of State Pippa Hackett said I am delighted that the small but committed community of Moneygall have received the positive news that their application for 2024 funding under the Community Services Programme (CSP) has been successful. They are one of 14 new organisations to be added to the Programme for the coming year and have been allocated 70,000 towards staffing costs. I visited the community recently and I heard of their plans to continue to bring life, enterprise and activities back to the village of Moneygall and I wish them every success for the new year and new chapter.
FRANCES Browners new book A Bronx Summer was launched recently by local historian James Scully in the Birr Library before a large and appreciative audience.

In his introductory work Mr Scully quoted Rosalind Fannings description of the work as a rollicking good read, with repeated rhythms and word pairings, written in a style that is original in both Irish and American literary ways.

The book set in 1980s South Dublin and New York with recurring references to a fictional Kilcoghlan, a thinly disguised pseudonym for West Offaly where the influential relatives of Kaye Butler, the storys dominant character, hail from.

When Kayes persuasive cousin and close friend, Chrissie suddenly announces she was off to New York, Kaye feels her world is shrinking. This allied with an unrequited love affair where affection is maddeningly bestowed and withdrawn, impels Kaye to consider such an option. She is further disillusioned when at her graduation ceremony she hears that only a small fraction of her year will gain permanent employment. Soon she cannot resist the American option and heads to JFK to be quickly immersed in a fast-moving social whirl of Irish pubs, confident barmen, mobile taxi drivers and hardworking waitresses.

What follows is a wry, humorous but authentic story of the emotional and sexual transformation of a young Irish woman abroad. While still hankering for her beloved man at home she flirts and enters relationships both pleasing and bruising. Yet she is steadfast and survives. Ironically through her pub contacts she gains an interview for the Pope Pius High School and is successful overcoming the sky-high demands of her principal Sister Virginia. After a year the longing for home and the need to have her love affair at home resolved she returns home for a warm family Christmas where matters are happily resolved and new beginnings ushered in.

Frances Browner has been writing for more than 25 years so it is not at all surprising that A Bronx Summer is a terrific read, embellished with West Offaly undertones, laced with references to the music, literature, iconic Irish products of the bleak 1980s which make it a most worthwhile read for both historians and lovers of good fiction. Both the Limerick Writers Centre and the Arts Office in Offaly County Council are to be congratulated on their enlightened support for this fine publication.

A Bronx Summer is available in SuperValu Birr and Midland Books, Tullamore at 20 per copy.
TWO MEN charged in connection with the seizure of 21m worth of cocaine at Foynes Port just before Christmas are to spend the new year in jail.

Nikola Penchev, aged 32, and Kamen Petkov, aged 35, both Bulgarian nationals, appeared before Judge Carol Anne Coolican via video-link this Friday morning.

The two men first appeared in court on Christmas Eve after they were charged with possession of a quantity of cocaine for sale and supply at Foynes Port on December 19, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

They were remanded in custody until this Friday, December 29 to appear via video-link at a vacation sitting of Limerick District Court.

Sergeant Denis Waters, prosecuting, said DPP's directions are awaited in relation to both men. A Bulgarian interpreter was in court to assist the defendants.

John Herbert, solicitor for Mr Penchev, asked for matters to be adjourned to January 9 via video-link.

Tom Kiely, solicitor for Mr Petkov, also asked for his client to appear via video-link at Limerick District Court on January 9.

Judge Coolican remanded Mr Penchev and Mr Petkov in custody to this date and noted that DPPs directions are awaited. The judge also certified for a Bulgarian interpreter to attend court on that date.

Both the accused said thank you at the end of the short procedural hearing.

Four other men arrested in connection with the seizure have been released without charge. Files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Revenue officers boarded and searched a Maltese registered bulk cargo vessel (pictured above) in Foynes Port on December 19. It had arrived from Canada.

Revenue officers identified and later seized approximately 300kg of cocaine with an estimated value of 21 million. Revenue have detained the vessel under section 33 of the Customs Act 2015.

Investigations are continuing by Revenue and An Garda Siochana.
Love Island stars Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have jetted on yet another holiday with their baby daughter Bambi. Heres what theyve been up to!

Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury welcomed Bambi to the world in January 2023. Ever since then, a lot has happened with the two. From Tommys progressive career as a boxer and winning fights against Jake Paul and KSI to Molly-Mae stepping down as PLTs creative director and getting engaged in Ibiza, 2023 has been a good year for the couple.

Discover our latest podcast

Despite breakup rumours, Molly-Mae and Tommy have had a united front and recently went to Maldives for some downtime before New Year.

Molly-Mae Hague slammed for flying Bambi to Maldives

Molly-Mae shared a snap with her little one in Maldives on her Instagram. Posing on a sun lounger with baby daughter Bambi, Molly-Mae wrote:

Flew across the world with my girl

Her fiance Tommy Fury has also joined his family on the luxurious trip. While the couple wanted to enjoy their holiday in private and get ready for 2024, Mollys Instagram post with Bambi has made some fans furious, confirmed the Mirror. Reportedly, many of them have slammed the mother-of-one for flying her 11-month-old baby in business class for a lavish getaway to Maldives. They took to the comment section of the post and shared:

Not exactly hard when you fly business class, and you can lie down with her.

Awful when so many are struggling just to afford food

Holidays all the time with you innit

And im struggling to take mine an hour up the road 

While many came to her defence as well and wrote:

Give her a break she's doing a great job and she's a great role model for young mums - you will never see her falling out of nightclubs - she spends her money and time wisely. Herself and tommy are an amazing couple.

Dont let someone elses success make you such a horrid person. Shes making memories with her child like we all do in our way let her be. This is her happiness and success. Not yours.

Its sad to see that people bashing her, her mothers themselves  yall are just miserable

Maldives is Bambis 4th trip of the year. As per Molly's Instagram updates, Bambi has been to Dubai, Greece and Ibiza so far.

Inside Molly-Mae and Tommy Furys luxurious Maldives holiday

Meanwhile, Mollys trip to Maldives is her 10th trip of the year. The Love Island couple is staying at The Ritz Carlton Maldives in a 10,000 a night room with a stunning balcony that overlooks the crystal-clear waters, confirmed TheSun.

Their villa at the exclusive holiday hotspot sits alone in the sea and offers a tranquil and private space for the pair to unwind. The pair have been to Maldives twice before visiting it this time with Bambi.

Read More

 The UKs richest reality TV couple are worth 14.5M and its not Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury

 Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury: An update about their relationship amid split rumours

 Molly-Mae reveals why she's embarrassed with herself after Tommy v/s KSI fight

Sources Used

Mirror: ITV Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague sparks parenting row as she flies Bambi business class to Maldives

Instagram

The Sun: Inside Molly Mae and Tommy Furys 10k a NIGHT Maldives holiday as she flies first class on tenth trip of the year
Vietnam has finalized the sale of 10.3 million tons of CO2 to the World Bank for US$51.5 million, a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

The carbon credits are from forests in north-central Vietnam, according to the report submitted to the prime minister on Thursday.

The carbon credit sale is part of the Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) signed by the banks International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Vietnams agriculture ministry on December 22, 2020.

Payment will be made in three stages and Vietnam is set to hand over 10.3 million tons of CO2 to the WB for $5 per ton in the first stage from January 1, 2018, to Dec 31, 2019.

The bank paid $41.2 million, equivalent to 80% of the deal, in August this year while the remaining $10.3 million will be paid once the exchange is completed.

It confirmed that 16.21 million tons of carbon dioxide were reduced in north-central Vietnam during the first stage, 5.91 million tons more than the required amount.

It has offered to buy an additional one million tons.

The agriculture ministry is considering selling the remaining 4.91 million tons to raise more money for forest protection and conservation.

Carbon credits are generated from activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, like deforestation prevention, afforestation, reforestation, restoring vegetation, and forest management.

Forests absorb CO2, and so carbon credits are generated at the rate of one for a ton of CO2.

The agriculture ministry said the money earned from carbon credits would be paid to forest managers, provincial authorities and agencies in charge of managing forests.

Some will also go toward improving the livelihoods of the people who work to generate carbon credits.

The Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund will be responsible for distributing the money to the six north-central provinces that account for the carbon credits: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue.
Skeletal Remains Of 5 Members Of Family Recovered From House In Karnataka's Chitradurga

Bengaluru

pti-PTI

The skeletal remains of five members of a family were recovered from a house in Chitradurga district in Karnataka, police said Friday. The skeletal remains are suspected to be that of a retired government executive engineer Jagannath Reddy (85), his wife Prema (80), daughter Triveni (62), sons Krishna (60) and Narendra (57), they said.

However, the identity of the deceased could be ascertained only after forensic examination, police said, adding that the cause of death will be established through an autopsy. The family members kept to themselves and had severe health issues. They were last seen in 2019 and their residence has remained locked since then, police said.

The police came to know about the incident on Thursday through a local media personnel, who was informed by a person in the locality. "We visited the spot on Thursday evening and spoke to acquaintances and relatives of the family. All of them claimed that the family used to live a completely secluded life and were facing critical health issues.

The family was last seen in June-July 2019. The house was always locked. Around two months ago, the main wooden door was seen broken by someone on their morning walk, but police weren't informed," a senior police officer said.

A police visit to the scene of the crime suggested that the house had been intruded multiple times and ransacked. Four skeletons (two on beds, two on the floor) were found in one room in a sleeping position, while another skeleton was found in a lying position in another room, he said.

Forensic Science Laboratory experts from Davanagere were called to collect evidence. The crime scene has been guarded and sealed to ensure there is no tampering with evidence, he said.

"The exact cause of death is not clear. It could be suicide or something else. We are in the initial stage of investigation. We will be able to ascertain the cause of death only after the forensic examination and autopsy is done, and the reports are received," the officer added.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Tumakuru, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "There is a report about finding five skeletons in a house. For how long they have been there, and who they are. I have asked the police to investigate it."

"The police are already at work and the samples have been sent to a forensic science lab to find age and other details. Also, information is being gathered as to whom the house belongs to and who were living there. "Whether they died by suicide or killed by some one, details are not known. After investigation and from a forensic report, we will get to know. Until then, we can't say anything or come to any conclusion," he said.
Accident Caught On Cam: Two Wheeler Hit By Car, Killing One On The Spot

Amid Chants Of 'Captain, Captain', DMDK's Vijayakanth Cremated With Full State Honour

Coimbatore

oi-Gaurav Sharma

The family members of Vijayakant, the founder of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) who succumbed to pneumonia on December 28, 2023, performed the last rites on Friday. He was cremated with full state honors. To bid final goodbye to affectionately known as 'Captain,' Vijayakant supporters gathered in large numbers on the streets of Coimbatore.

The funeral procession began at around 2:45 PM and arrived at around 5:30 PM from Iluthidal for burial at the Demudika headquarters in Coimbatore.

According to the reports, Vijayakant was admitted to the hospital on November 18, requiring "pulmonary support," as mentioned by the medical facility. After nearly three weeks of hospitalization, he was discharged just a fortnight before his unfortunate passing.

Eminent personalities including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin, Minister Udayanidhi, and DMK MP. DR Balu, Telangana Governor Tamilisai, former Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan, former minister Jayakumar, and others were present at the cremation center to pay homage to Captain.

Aside from politicians, a diverse array of celebrities, regular citizens, party associates, enthusiasts, and supporters assembled in extensive lines in and around Koyambedu to pay their final respects to Vijayakanth.

Reportedly, the state police encountered several difficulties in managing the crowd, as thousands gathered to offer homage throughout the day. Amid continuous chants of 'captain, captain,' the crowds paid their tributes.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 29, 2023, 19:18 [IST]
Diwali with Ariha: Indian Embassy Celebrates with Baby Girl in German Foster Care

Indian officials in Berlin celebrated Diwali with Ariha Shah, a baby girl living in German foster care for over two years. India advocates for her swift return, stressing the importance of her cultural upbringing.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Indian officials in Berlin celebrated Diwali last month with baby girl Ariha Shah, who has been living in a foster care in the German capital for over two years. Ariha was placed in the custody of Germany's Youth Welfare Office Jugendamt on September 23, 2021, after the then seven-month-old baby suffered an accidental injury. She has been in foster care since then.

Consular Access Granted

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi announced on Friday that consular access was granted to the child in the second week of last month and that Indian embassy officials celebrated Diwali with her. India has been advocating for Ariha's early return to India, emphasizing the significance of her being immersed in her linguistic, religious, cultural, and social environment.

Efforts for Cultural Immersion

Bagchi highlighted the importance of Ariha's cultural immersion and mentioned that resource materials related to Indian festivals, customs, and practices were handed over to the German authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India in Berlin have been persistently working towards safeguarding Ariha's cultural, national identity, and rights, with the ultimate goal of ensuring her return to India.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Allegations

In response to allegations made by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party regarding India's interference in the country's polls, Bagchi reiterated India's consistent position. He emphasized that the elections are an internal matter of Bangladesh and that the people of Bangladesh have the right to determine their own future. India, as a close friend and partner of Bangladesh, desires peaceful elections and will continue to support Bangladesh's progress and development.

Chinese Research Vessel in Sri Lanka

Regarding reports of a Chinese research vessel visiting Sri Lanka, Bagchi stated that India closely monitors developments that have an impact on national security and takes necessary measures accordingly.

The Indian government remains committed to protecting the rights and well-being of Ariha Shah and ensuring her return to India. India's diplomatic efforts and engagement with German authorities demonstrate its dedication to safeguarding Ariha's cultural identity and ensuring her best interests are met.
Assam Peace Accord: PM Modi Hails Pact, Calls it Milestone in States Journey

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the peace agreement signed between the central and Assam governments with ULFA, calling it a significant milestone in the states journey towards peace and development. The accord involves the ULFAs pro-talks faction agreeing to renounce violence, surrender arms, disband the organization, and join the democratic process.

India

-Krishna Kripa

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the peace pact signed by the central and Assam governments with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), describing it as a significant milestone in the state's journey towards peace and development.

ULFA Signs Peace Accord, Agrees to Shun Violence

The pro-talks faction of ULFA signed the peace accord in the national capital, agreeing to renounce violence, surrender all arms, disband the organization, and join the democratic process. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were present at the signing ceremony.

Modi Lauds Efforts, Envisions Future of Unity and Prosperity

Prime Minister Modi took to social media to express his appreciation for the efforts of all involved in achieving this landmark agreement. He emphasized that the pact paves the way for lasting progress in Assam and envisions a future of unity, growth, and prosperity for all.

ULFA's History and Involvement in Subversive Activities

The United Liberation Front of Asom was formed in 1979 with the demand for a sovereign Assam. Over the years, it engaged in subversive activities, leading to its declaration as a banned outfit by the central government in 1990.

Peace Talks and Suspension of Operations

In 2011, the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction of ULFA entered into peace talks with the government after an agreement for Suspension of Operations was signed between the ULFA and the central and state governments.

The signing of the peace accord between the central and Assam governments with ULFA marks a significant step towards bringing lasting peace and development to the state. With the ULFA's pro-talks faction agreeing to shun violence and join the democratic process, Assam can look forward to a future of unity, growth, and prosperity for all its citizens.
Bomb Threat: Security Check Carried Out At Mangaluru International Airport

India

pti-PTI

Mangaluru was one among the multiple airports in the country that received similar emails on Tuesday night by the sender who claimed to be a terrorist group named 'Funing, they said.

The email from '[email protected] read: "There are explosives inside of one of your planes. But also inside of your airport. The explosives are well hidden, and they will go off in a few hours. I will kill you all. WE ARE A TERRORIST GROUP CALLED; 'Funing".

The airport authorities noticed the email at 11.20 am Wednesday and immediately informed the city police, who carried out a detailed search at the airport. City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal said security was tightened outside the airport by setting up additional check posts.

An anti-sabotage check and bomb detection and disposal squad check were carried out, he said. The Bajpe police inspector also held a meeting with the airport authorities. Later, based on a complaint by the Adani airport authorities, Bajpe police registered a case for an offence punishable under Section 507 of the IPC after getting permission from the local court.
Consumers browsing the Uniqlo Hoan Kiem store in November, 2023. Photo courtesy of Uniqlo

Japanese retailers opened a large number of stores and expanded production in Vietnam this year despite weak demand amid the economic downturn.

Since entering Vietnam four years ago Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo has opened 22 stores in HCMC, Hanoi and Binh Duong Province, seven of them this year.

Household and consumer goods retailer Muji, which came to the country three years ago, now has seven in HCMC and Hanoi after opening three in 2023.

Retailer Sakuko, which sells goods imported from Japan, opened eight new stores this year, taking its number of stores to 42.

Cao Thi Dung, its CEO, said Sakuko prioritizes expansion despite the recession, and has a target of having 60 stores in 2024.

Retail giant Aeon opened eight stores by investing US$1.18 billion over 11 years.

It opened one new outlet this year and plans to launch another in Hue City next year.

Despite consumers cutting spending, which resulted in a 6.9% year-on-year decrease in retail sales of goods and services in the first 10 months of 2023, several factors have motivated Japanese retailers to expand.

Firstly, they managed to perform well despite the low demand.

Sakukos revenues jumped by 15% this year while Muji Retail Vietnams sales "grew steadily," their CEOs said.

Uniqlo Vietnam has not released its income statement but CEO Hideki Nishida said its performance is "in line with its long-term development plans."

Secondly, Japanese goods and brands are popular in Vietnam.

In the first 10 months of this year imports from Japan were worth $17.7 billion, the third highest after imports from China and South Korea, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

A survey by market research firm Q&Me found "Made in Japan" to be Vietnamese consumers favorite label, with 58% favoring Japanese cars and electronics and 22% liking that countrys fashion brands.

"The prospering Vietnam-Japan relations greatly boost our credibility with [Vietnamese] consumers," Tetsuya Nagaiwa, CEO of Muji Retail Vietnam, said.

"Vietnamese consumers strongly believe in the quality of Japanese goods."

Thirdly, Japanese retailers have always considered Vietnam an ideal market for their long-term development.

Nagaiwa said Vietnams rapidly growing economy, political stability and its peoples receptivity and open-mindedness make the market very lucrative.

Japanese brands do not merely expand in Vietnam but also pour money into local production.

In a recent interview with VnExpress, Nishida said Vietnam is Uniqlos top manufacturer in Asia and 50% of the products it sells here are made locally.

Ryohin Keikaku, Muji Retail Vietnams parent company, also partners with several factories in Vietnam.

Currently 30% of its products are sourced locally.

Products made of Vietnamese rubberwood, the fruit of two years of research by Muji, account for 20% of its furniture sales, Nagaiwa said.

A furniture set made in Vietnam, on sale in a Muji store in the South East Asia region. Photo courtesy of Muji Retail Vietnam

Japanese retailers are also very involved with local communities in Vietnam, he said.

"Having navigated various market fluctuations, we are more and more aware of what is useful and beneficial to Vietnamese peoples daily lives."

Muji seeks to create a bond by organizing community markets where local businesses could introduce and sell their products, and selling local specialties, 40% of them Vietnamese brands, in its stores.

Uniqlos Hoan Kiem store in Hanoi skillfully incorporates Vietnamese and Japanese cultural details in its layout design.

Tracy Vu, a strategy consultant in the BrandMarCom ecosystem, said Japanese brands attract Vietnamese consumers not just with their high-quality products but also through the culture and spirituality they represent.
Delhi Health Minister Demands Suspension of Health Secretary Over Substandard Drugs

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has recommended the immediate suspension of the health secretary and strict action against the former DGHS over the supply of substandard drugs to Delhi government hospitals.

India

-Krishna Kripa

New Delhi, Dec 29: Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has recommended the immediate suspension of the health secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and the Centre over the supply of sub-standard drugs to Delhi government hospitals. He also demanded strict action against the former director general of the Directorate General Of Health Services (DGHS).

Inaction by Health Secretary

Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of action taken by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena against the officials concerned. He stated that upon assuming office in March 2023, he had ordered an audit of medicines, equipment, and consumables. Despite repeated reminders to the health secretary, no action was taken.

Repeated Reminders Ignored

Bharadwaj highlighted that the health secretary disregarded his orders and failed to initiate any audit related to the procurement of medicines. In July, he sent a reminder questioning the non-implementation of orders and the absence of an audit of medicines and other items purchased for Delhi government hospitals. However, the health secretary continued to remain unresponsive.

Minister's Frustration

Bharadwaj expressed his frustration over the health secretary's unwillingness to conduct an audit. He emphasized his desire for transparency and the exposure of any irregularities in the procurement process, followed by appropriate action against the responsible officials. However, he alleged that the health secretary appeared reluctant to uncover any irregularities.

Call for Strict Action

Bharadwaj urged the LG and the BJP-led Centre to take strict action against the guilty officials. He questioned the impartiality of any investigation conducted under the current circumstances, given the involvement of the health secretary in the matter. He also criticized the LG for not suspending the officials despite his recommendations.

Previous Communication

Bharadwaj pointed out that he had previously written to the LG through Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in October, expressing concerns about the health secretary and the then director general of the DGHS. He accused these officers of deliberately obstructing essential policies of the Delhi government, including the Farishtey Scheme and other Health Department initiatives, and withholding funds for various schemes.

Central Government's Role

Bharadwaj expressed surprise at the LG's inaction and questioned whether his letter was necessary for the suspension of the officers. He emphasized that these officers are central government employees and immediate action could be taken. He reiterated his recommendation to the BJP-led central government for appropriate action.

Sub-Standard Drugs

The development comes after the LG recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged supply of sub-standard drugs to hospitals run by the city government. The drugs found to be of sub-standard quality included critical life-saving antibiotics, steroids, anti-epilepsy and anti-anxiety psychiatric drugs, and anti-hypertension drugs.

The recommendation by Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj highlights the seriousness of the sub-standard drugs issue and the urgent need for action against responsible officials. The case underscores the importance of ensuring the quality and safety of medicines supplied to healthcare facilities to protect public health.
Delhi Police Head Constable Injured in Assault During Documents Check

A Delhi Police head constable was severely injured after being assaulted by four men while checking their vehicles documents in South Extension Part-II. The incident occurred when the constable stopped a helmetless motorcyclist for creating noise with a modified silencer.

India

-Krishna Kripa

A head constable of the Delhi Police was injured in an alleged assault by four men after he stopped their two-wheeler to check its documents, police said on Friday. Kuldeep, a head constable posted at Hauz Khas police station in south Delhi, suffered critical injuries to his face and has been admitted to a hospital, they said.

Incident Details

The alleged incident occurred at a police booth in the South Extension Part-II area on Friday afternoon. Head Constable Kuldeep and Head Constable Mukesh were patrolling at the South Extension Part-II market. Both were in their civil dress as it was a special drive in view of the upcoming New Year celebrations, a police officer said.

They spotted a man riding a motorcycle without his helmet and in an improper manner in the market area. As the two-wheeler was also creating a loud noise due to its modified silencer, the pair signalled the rider to stop and asked for his driving licence and registration certificate, the officer said.

Altercation and Assault

The rider -- Chayank Seelelan alias Addi 22 -- refused to show the documents and the policemen took him to the booth, another officer said. After some time, Seelelan's father Anil Kumar, brother Tanishk Kumar and cousin Badal Chaudhary arrived and started shouting at the policemen for not letting him go. Anil Kumar also threatened the pair of dire consequences, claiming to have high relations in the ministry, the officer added.

When Kuldeep asked them to show the documents, the four men started beating him up. While Anil Kumar, Tanishk Kumar and Badal Chaudhary fled the spot, Head Constable Mukesh caught Seelelan. Further legal action will be taken against the accused, the police said.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in maintaining law and order, especially during festive seasons. The Delhi Police have assured that appropriate action will be taken against the accused individuals involved in the assault on the head constable.
Supriya Sule Chooses Struggle Over Power, Says I Had to Choose Between Power and Struggle

Explained: ULFA Peace Deal: A Pivotal Moment In India's History

India

oi-Pankaj Mishra

December 29, 2023, will go down in history books, etched as a red-letter day. Why so? New Delhi and the state of Assam has inked a memorandum of settlement with the United Liberation Front of Asom, better known as ULFA.

The signing ceremony, held at North Block, saw the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and 16 leaders from the ULFA pro-talks faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa. Notably, this group had engaged in peace talks since 2011.

Meeting Halfway

While the pro-talks faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa has entered into the peace process, the counterpart under Paresh Baruah, known as ULFA-I, remains uninvolved. Paresh Baruah is reportedly residing in Myanmar, particularly along the China-Myanmar border.

The Genesis Of ULFA

ULFA dates back to the Assam Agitation of 1979 when the demand for a sovereign State for the Assamese people began. This new accord is poised to address a range of long standing political, economic, and social issues in Assam.

It also includes provisions for cultural safeguards and land rights for the indigenous population. The Central government's unconditional negotiations with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction spanned over 12 years. And this long-drawn peace pact marks a significant stride toward resolving the decades-old insurgency in the region.

It was April 7, 1979 when with the goal of what it claimed 'restoring Assam's sovereignty,' ULFA came into being. Sadly, it left a trail of attacks over its four-decade existence.

ULFA's Modus-Operandi

Operating from bases in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar, with some members trained in China and Pakistan, ULFA was once considered the most formidable among northeast rebel groups, second only to the LTTE.

Having its roots predating the Assam Agitation, ULFA gained prominence afterward. Persistent internal differences among its leadership were evident.

In 2011, the Rajkhowa-led faction initiated negotiations with the government, despite opposition from the hardline wing under Paresh Baruah, who later formed ULFA (Independent) and refrained from the peace deal.

Accord- What It Entails

The signed peace accord represents a notable shift in the government's approach. In 2005, for the first time, the Indian government agreed to discuss core issues raised by ULFA, including sovereignty. Beyond resolving insurgency, the accord addresses long-standing concerns in Assam.

A key ULFA demand is the formal recognition of six communities- Moran, Muttock, Tai-Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Sootea, and Tea Tribes - as Scheduled Tribes (ST). If granted tribal status, around 50 percent of Assam's population could become classified as tribal, potentially transforming the state into a predominantly tribal-inhabited region.

The peace deal includes a financial package, new land reservation measures, and rights for Assam's indigenous communities. Additionally, it entails a review of the citizenship list, addressing concerns over illegal immigrants. The financial package not only aims to tackle economic issues in the region but also facilitates the rehabilitation of former ULFA members. Provisions for political, economic, and cultural safeguards for the indigenous communities in Assam are also outlined in the agreement.

Milestone for Centre and Assam Government

Union Minister Amit Shah expressed happiness over the signing of the agreement, stating that it marks a bright day for the future of Assam. He highlighted the efforts made since Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014 to bridge the gap between Delhi and Northeast, reducing violence in the region.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the deal as historic and credited the collaborative efforts under PM Modi's leadership and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's guidance, noting that three accords have now brought an end to tribal militancy in Assam.
Govt Signs Peace Pact With ULFA; Amit Shah Says Big Day For Assam

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Dec 29 (PTI) The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Friday signed a peace accord with the central and Assam governments, agreeing to shun violence, disband the organisation and join the democratic process. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the signing of the accord here, said it was a very big day for the people of Assam.

"Assam has suffered for long due to the violence of the ULFA and 10,000 people lost their lives in this violence since 1979," he said. Shah said the ULFA, the oldest insurgent group of Assam, agreed to abjure violence, disband the organisation and join the democratic process. He said a big development package will be given to Assam as part of the accord. Every clause of the pact will be implemented fully, he said.

He said that now violence has come down in Assam by 87 percent, deaths by 90 percent and kidnappings by 84 percent. The chief minister termed the accord "historic" and said it has fructified due to the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah. The accord came after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the ULFA faction, led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, and the government, officials said.

The peace pact is expected to end decades-old insurgency in Assam. However, the hardline faction of ULFA, headed by Paresh Baruah, is not a part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. The ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam". Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990.

The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, after an agreement for Suspension of Operations (SoO) was signed between the ULFA, Central and state governments.
Haryana Government Doctors Strike for Specialist Cadre, Reduced Bond Amount

Government doctors in Haryana went on a daylong strike on Friday to press for their demands, including the formation of a specialist cadre and a reduction in the bond amount for postgraduate courses. The strike impacted outpatient department (OPD) services in some hospitals.

India

-Krishna Kripa

On Friday, government doctors in Haryana embarked on a daylong strike to advocate for their demands, including the formation of a specialist cadre and a reduction in the bond amount for postgraduate courses. This strike significantly impacted outpatient department (OPD) services in several hospitals across the state.

Second Strike in a Week

This marked the second strike by government doctors in Haryana within the same week. Their initial strike occurred on Wednesday, highlighting the urgency and importance of their demands.

Strike Ends with Promise of Meeting

The protesting doctors resumed their duties on Friday evening after receiving assurances from the authorities that they would meet with the health minister on Monday. This meeting aims to address the concerns and demands raised by the doctors.

Haryana Civil Medical Services Association Leads the Charge

The strike was organized and supported by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMS), which represents government doctors in the state. Their collective action underscores the seriousness of the issues they are facing.

Health Department Mobilizes Doctors

In response to the strike, the Health Department took proactive measures to minimize the impact on healthcare services. They revoked all types of leaves for doctors, mobilizing approximately 3,000 medical professionals, including consultants, senior consultants, National Health Mission doctors, medical officers from medical colleges, and community health officers.

Health Minister's Statement

Health Minister Anil Vij acknowledged the efforts made by the Health Department in mobilizing doctors to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services. He emphasized the importance of maintaining patient care during these challenging circumstances.

HCMS General Secretary Expresses Optimism

Dr. Anil Yadav, the general secretary of HCMS, expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming meeting with the health minister. He highlighted that the resumption of normal duties was based on the assurance of the meeting and the larger public interest. However, he acknowledged that OPD services remained suspended during the day, while emergency services continued to function.

Meeting with Director General of Health Services

On Friday, a crucial meeting took place between HCMS representatives and the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) of Haryana, Randeep Singh Poonia. Senior officials from the health department were also present. The meeting focused on addressing various demands put forth by the doctors' body, including the establishment of a specialist cadre, amendments to the PG policy, and pay revisions.

Progress on Demands

During the meeting, HCMS office-bearers were informed that the specialist cadre had been approved, and the state government was actively considering pay revisions and PG policy amendments. The statement released by the Health Department emphasized that the demands of the association were receiving top priority for resolution.

Indefinite Strike Averted

It is worth noting that HCMS had previously threatened an indefinite strike from Friday, with a complete shutdown of all services if their demands were not met. However, the assurance of a meeting with the health minister and the progress made in addressing their concerns averted this escalation.

Key Demands of the Doctors

The doctors' demands primarily revolve around the formation of a specialist cadre, a reduction in the bond amount for postgraduate courses, and the implementation of a dynamic assured career progression scheme that aligns with the benefits provided to central government doctors.

The strike by government doctors in Haryana brought attention to the challenges and demands faced by medical professionals in the state. While the strike caused temporary disruptions to OPD services, the assurance of a meeting with the health minister and the progress made in addressing their concerns offer hope for a resolution. The outcome of the upcoming meeting will be crucial in determining the future course of action and ensuring the well-being of both doctors and patients in Haryana.
Ludhianas Renaissance: Punjab CM Unveils Grand Development Vision

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a comprehensive development plan for Ludhiana, encompassing infrastructure upgrades, green spaces, and enhanced city services. The Smart City Mission will see the completion of major projects, including an Integrated Command and Control Centre, indoor swimming pool, LED streetlights, and improved water and waste management systems.

India

-Krishna Kripa

In a significant move aimed at transforming the industrial city of Ludhiana, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann unveiled an ambitious plan to complete pending development projects and initiate new ones. During a high-level meeting held on Friday, Mann emphasized the state government's commitment to fostering the overall growth of Ludhiana.

Revitalizing Ludhiana's Green Spaces

Recognizing the importance of green spaces for the city's well-being, the government has conceptualized 46 plantation projects at a total cost of Rs 28.91 crore. These projects aim to provide "green lungs" to Ludhiana, enhancing its environmental sustainability. Notably, 19 of these projects, amounting to Rs 14.18 crore, have already been successfully completed, while the remaining works are set to be accomplished in the near future.

Smart City Mission Transforming Ludhiana

Under the Smart City Mission, Ludhiana has witnessed the commencement of 72 projects worth Rs 930.00 crore. Of these, projects valued at Rs 219.00 crore have been diligently completed, while work on the remaining projects worth Rs 549.10 crore is progressing steadily. These projects encompass crucial infrastructure developments, including the Integrated Command and Control Centre, an all-weather indoor swimming pool, LED streetlights, surface water supply enhancements, and efficient solid waste management systems. These initiatives are poised to significantly enhance the city's infrastructure and quality of life.

Addressing Long-Pending Infrastructure Needs

In a move that will provide much-needed relief to Ludhiana residents, Chief Minister Mann announced the commencement of re-carpeting work on a 16-kilometer stretch of Rahon Road, extending from Khawajke village to Mattewara. This project, which has been pending for 15 years, will finally be undertaken in the coming days, with tenders already allotted. Additionally, the government plans to install 1,500 streetlights and CCTV cameras in each assembly constituency of Ludhiana, bolstering public safety and security.

Conclusion

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's comprehensive development plan for Ludhiana represents a significant step towards revitalizing the city's infrastructure, enhancing its green spaces, and addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges. These initiatives are set to transform Ludhiana into a modern, sustainable, and thriving industrial hub, benefiting its residents and contributing to the overall progress of Punjab.
Nitish Kumar Takes Charge as JDU National President, Workers Celebrate in Patna

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assumes the position of national president of the JDU, igniting joyous celebrations among party workers in Patna. The development occurs during a critical period of resistance against the BJP-led Centres emergency-like governance.

India

-Krishna Kripa

In a significant development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assumed charge as the national president of the Janata Dal (United) [JDU] on Friday, December 29. The news of Kumar's appointment was met with jubilation among party workers in Bihar, who gathered at the state headquarters in Patna to celebrate the occasion.

Elation and Celebration in Patna

As word of Kumar's elevation reached the state headquarters, party workers erupted in joy, smearing each other with 'gulaal' dry colors to express their delight. JDU state unit chief Umesh Singh Kushwaha welcomed the development, stating that it comes at a crucial time when the party is engaged in a fight against the "emergency-like situation" under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre.

Kumar Takes Over from Lalan

Kumar took over the reins of the party from Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan,' who expressed his desire to relinquish the national president's post that he had held since March 2021. Lalan moved a proposal for Kumar to take over, which was unanimously accepted by the party's national executive meeting in Delhi.

Speculations and Accusations

The development comes after days of intense speculation, during which the BJP and its allies alleged that Kumar had grown suspicious of Lalan due to the latter's apparent closeness to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, the father of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. Kumar's election as JDU president was seen as a strategic move, projecting him as the hope for backward classes, extremely backward classes, minorities, and unemployed youth.

Kumar's Response and BJP's Reaction

In his remarks after assuming the mantle of party president, Kumar maintained a composed demeanor, accusing the BJP of misleading people and failing to deliver on its promises, including employment generation. However, former Deputy CM and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi claimed that there are two factions within the JDU, with one faction regretting the decision to quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last year and the other, led by Lalan, being pro-Lalu. Modi predicted the disintegration of the JDU and expressed concerns about the RJD's growing impatience to see Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Minister.

Yadav Dismisses Trust Deficit Allegations

Responding to the news, Tejashwi Yadav asserted that there was no trust deficit between him and Kumar. He alleged that the BJP was apprehensive about facing the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Yadav highlighted the BJP's loss in the 2015 assembly elections when the 'Mahagathbandhan' secured over 170 seats in the 243-member House. He expressed confidence that the alliance between Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls would make the BJP jittery.

Party Workers' Perspective

Party workers at the JDU office expressed their relief that Lalan had relinquished the top post but clarified that it was not related to any perceived lack of loyalty towards Nitish Kumar. A party functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Lalan had played a crucial role in the JDU at a critical juncture but had recently become preoccupied with retaining his own Lok Sabha seat of Munger. The functionary cited a letter written by Lalan to the state's Minister for Water Resources, Sanjay Kumar Jha, highlighting problems in some riverine areas in his constituency. The functionary deemed this action unbecoming of a party president.

Kumar's Previous Terms as Party President

Nitish Kumar has a history of holding the top party post in the JDU. He previously served as the party president in 2016, succeeding veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav, who was later ousted from the party. Kumar held the position until the end of 2020 when he stepped down and facilitated the election of RCP Singh, a bureaucrat-turned-politician, as the new national president. Singh's tenure was short-lived, lasting only seven months until July 2021, when he resigned following his induction into the Union cabinet. This paved the way for Lalan's elevation, who has been a close associate of Kumar for several decades.

Conclusion

Nitish Kumar's assumption of the JDU national president's role has infused a sense of optimism among party workers in Bihar. As the party gears up for upcoming electoral challenges, Kumar's leadership and experience are expected to play a pivotal role in steering the JDU towards success.
Ram Temple Inauguration: What Is 'Pran Pratishtha' And How It Is Performed?

Ram Mandir Consecration: Sonia Gandhi Likely To Attend Ayodhya Event On January 22

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

With just weeks left for the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya, NDTV reports suggested that Sonia Gandhi is likely to attend the event on January 22.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi were invited to attend the event, news agency PTI quoted sources.

The Congress explained its decision as a necessary balancing act ahead of the election. Their non-attendance at the Ram Temple event was seen as an effort to prevent the BJP from using it as ammunition against Mrs. Gandhi's party and its allies in the upcoming polls.

Invitations extended to non-BJP leaders have sparked expected controversy, leaving opposition parties weighing the consequences of their choices. Attending might expose them to potential backlash from minority communities, including Muslims, just before a series of crucial elections. On the other hand, abstaining could provide the ruling BJP with grounds for criticism.

The CPIM and CPI have taken their stance; Brinda Karat stated earlier that her party would refrain from what she criticized as "weaponizing religion for politics." "No, we will not participate. While we respect religious beliefs, intertwining a religious event with politics is inappropriate," she emphasized.

The BJP, for whom the temple construction is a significant campaign issue, both historically and in the lead-up to the 2024 general and state elections, retaliated against Karat's remarks. Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi retorted, stating, "...invitations were extended to all, but only those called by Lord Ram will attend."
Uttarakhand CM Dhami Praises PM Modis Efforts for Grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami commended Prime Minister Narendra Modis contributions in making the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya a reality, while criticizing opposition parties for their past actions.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his pride in the upcoming realization of a majestic Ram temple in Ayodhya, crediting the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making this dream a reality. Addressing reporters in Mathura, Dhami highlighted the significance of this achievement for every devotee of Lord Ram.

Dhami Criticizes Opposition Parties

Dhami also criticized opposition parties, particularly those who opposed the construction of the Ram temple and failed to abolish Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that due to Prime Minister Modi's determination, the Ram temple could be constructed, bringing immense pride to every Ram Bhakt.

Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony on January 22

Dhami announced that the consecration ceremony for the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be held on January 22, marking a momentous occasion for devotees across the nation.

Dhami's Response to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra

Responding to a question about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's proposed Bharat Nyay Yatra, Dhami expressed skepticism, stating that people are aware of the character of those who attempted to obstruct the construction of the Ram temple. He asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is making continuous progress and development.

Dhami Praises Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

Dhami also commended Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, acknowledging his dynamic leadership in driving the state's development.
Weather Alert: Dense Fog Hits Northern India, 134 Flights Delayed, IMD Issues Red Alert

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Due to worsening weather conditions in the northern region, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for dense fog in several states including Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. This alert spans five days for Haryana and Punjab and three days for Uttar Pradesh, prompting the UP State Road Transport Corporation to implement guidelines for bus operations during low visibility.

Recent INSAT imagery revealed a thick layer of fog blanketing northern India, affecting areas in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and northwest Madhya Pradesh. The resulting low visibility has led to traffic disruptions and unfortunate accidents.

Delhi, the national capital, faced severe disruptions on Thursday due to dense fog, causing delays in around 134 flights at the Delhi airport, both domestic and international. Similarly, 22 trains experienced delays at the New Delhi Railway Station, inconveniencing passengers amidst the cold weather.

However, on Friday, there was a slight improvement in Delhi's air quality, settling at an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 356. Despite this, the air quality is anticipated to remain in the "very poor" category for the next couple of days. The Delhi Airport Authority issued an advisory cautioning that non-CAT III compliant flights might encounter disruptions.

Tragically, the reduced visibility caused fatal road crashes in Uttar Pradesh, claiming six lives and injuring twelve others on Thursday. Meteorological officials reported dense fog across the state, with visibility dropping to less than 40 meters in some regions. The weather department forecasts continued dense fog, with visibility expected to dip to 50 meters in the state for the next two mornings.

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Story first published: Friday, December 29, 2023, 11:08 [IST]
The Vietnam Electrified Vehicles Show will be held at Hanoi's Yen So Park on January 13-14, 2024.

Vietnam is set to host its inaugural exhibition focused on electrified vehicles in Hanoi, scheduled for January 13-14, 2024.

This event, the Vietnam Electrified Vehicles Show, comes at a time when governments worldwide, including Vietnam's, are advocating for a transition from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles to electric ones.

The exhibition, organized by VnExpress, aims to educate consumers about the innovative emission reduction technologies used in these vehicles and provide a platform to explore a wide range of electrified vehicles currently available in the market.

The show will feature a plethora of car models and accessories from domestic and international brands. In the spotlight for pure electric vehicles are VinFasts VF 5 and VF 9 models from Vietnam, and the Ioniq 5 from the Japanese brand Hyundai.

Additionally, the exhibition will highlight various notable hybrid models. These include Hyundais Santa Fe and Genesis, and the Nissan Kicks, which showcases Japanese e-Power technology  a combination of an electric motor drive with a gasoline engine that recharges the battery.

Emerging brands aiming to penetrate the Vietnamese market will also be present. These include Chinese carmakers Haval, showcasing their H6 hybrid, Haima with the 7X-E, and Wuling with the competitively priced Hongguang Mini EV.

Beyond mere observation, attendees will have the unique opportunity to not only see and touch these models but also test drive selected vehicles from VinFast, Hyundai, Nissan, Wuling, and MG.
California Rules In Trump's Favour After He Gets Barred From Maine

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Shortly after Maine disqualified Donald Trump from running for US President, California's secretary of state declined to remove his name from the primary ballot. This decision allows Trump to remain a candidate in the country's most populous state, where election officials have limited authority to remove candidates.

According to a report in The New York Times, Democrat Secretary of State Shirley Weber signaled her intention to keep Trump on the ballot, citing her interpretation of California's laws.

Earlier on the same day, Maine's Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, in her ruling, deemed Trump ineligible due to his alleged involvement in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Maine's decision aligned with Colorado's Supreme Court, which ruled 4 to 3 against the former president's eligibility.

"I am aware that no secretary of state has previously barred a presidential candidate based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. However, no presidential candidate has previously been involved in insurrection," noted Democrat Secretary Bellows in her statement.

Both decisions are pending legal processes. The ultimate decision now rests with the US Supreme Court.

The question arises: Can Trump run for US President despite numerous lawsuits seeking to bar his candidacy due to his alleged role in the Capitol Hill attack? Section 3 does not necessitate a criminal conviction to take effect. However, according to the US Constitution, without a court order, election officials lacked the authority to disqualify him-until Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' ruling.

The US Supreme Court has never addressed Section 3 directly. The likelihood of doing so increases with the consideration of appeals in the Colorado case-where the state Republican Party has already appealed, and Trump is expected to follow suit. Maine's decision adds weight to the high court's involvement, removing any ambiguity.

What exactly is Section 3 of the US Constitution? After the Civil War, the 14th Amendment, including Section 3, aimed to prevent former Confederates from attaining government positions.

Trump's legal team argues for voters to decide. They contend that Section 3's language-"an officer of the United States"-might not encompass the president. Even if it applies, they argue that it's a "political" matter best left to voters, not appointed judges. His lawyers assert that by categorically deeming him ineligible without a proper fact-finding process, judges are violating Trump's right to a fair legal procedure, akin to a lengthy criminal trial.

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Story first published: Friday, December 29, 2023, 13:41 [IST]
Ukrainian President Says War With Russia In New Stage As Winter Approaches

Former Ukrainian President Poroshenko Barred from Leaving Country for Meeting with Orban

Russia Ukraine War Updates: At Least 12 Dead In Massive Russian Air Attack

International

dwnews-DW News

Explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, and air alerts were issued as Russian missiles in several parts of the country early on Friday. Russia also struck the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Lviv on Friday morning.

The deadly wave of attacks killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens more. Here's a look at the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine on Friday, December 29:

At least 12 dead in massive Russian air attack

At least 12 people were killed and more than 60 injured in Russia's largest drone attack on Ukraine in months on Friday, said officials.

"We can say that this was a massive attack," Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said.

The attacks were launched on the capital city, Kyiv, Lviv in the west, Kharkiv in the east and the southeastern port city of Odesa. Buildings were damaged in these places, and damages were reported at a maternity hospital in the central city of Dnipro.

Two people were killed in Kyiv, and several others are believed to be stuck under rubble at a warehouse that was damaged by debris, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

In Odesa, missiles hit a residential building, killing two and injuring 15, including children, the regional governor said.

Russian poet sentenced to seven years for verses against Ukraine war

Russian poet Artyom Kamardin was given a 7-year prison sentence Thursday by Moscow's Tverskoi District Court for reciting verses against Russia's war in Ukraine.

He was charged with making calls undermining national security and inciting hatred during an incident where he read his anti-war poems at a street performance in Moscow in September 2022. The gathering was held next to a monument of poet Vladimir Mayakovsky.

The court also sentenced Yegor Shtovba, who participated in the event and recited Kamardin's verses, to five and a half years on the same charges.

Kamardin's friends and lawyer said he was beaten up and sexually assaulted by the police, reported Russian media. Later, pro-government media released a video of him apologizing for his actions, where his face was bruised.

During the hearing, Kamardin's wife, Alexandra Popova, was escorted out of the courtroom after she shouted "shame!" following the verdict. She and some others were detained later on charges of holding an unsanctioned rally outside the court.

Ukrainian presidential aide asks for renewed international support

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said Friday that the country needs "more support" from the international community after Russia launched a series of strikes on several cities.

"We are doing everything to strengthen our air shield. But the world needs to see that we need more support and strength to stop this terror. Missiles are flying at our cities again and civilians are being targeted," Yermak wrote on Telegram.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote Russia was targeting its attacks on civilians.

A mass terrorist attack, missiles are once again moving to our cities, targeting civilians.



Ukraine needs support. We will grow stronger, reinforcing our air defenses. But the world must see that we need more support to stop this terror.  Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) December 29, 2023

US President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday announced it will be sending the last package of weapons for Ukraine as per the current authorization by Congress.

Explosions across Kyiv: officials

The Ukrainian capital Kyiv was subjected to a series of blasts early on Friday, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said on the Telegram app.

"Explosions in Kyiv. Air defense works. Stay in shelters!" Klitschko said as an online air alert notification system was issued just after 0500 GMT. He added that air defense systems had been engaged after an announced missile threat.

"More explosions in the capital. Air defense is working intensively," he added later.

Authorities in Kyiv said falling debris set fire to a residential building and a warehouse.

Authorities said countrywide air alerts had been issued as multiple cities were under attack.

Russia strikes Kharkiv, Lviv

Russian forces struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and also the western city of Lviv Friday morning. The mayors of the two cities confirmed the attacks. No casualties have been reported yet in either city.

Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov said on Telegram: "At least six explosions were heard in the city." He added it was a "massive missile attack."

The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, said there was "information about 2 strikes in Lviv."

Air defenses were active in Lviv as it came under attack from drones, regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said on the Telegram messaging app.

On Thursday, Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region was shelled by Russian forces. A 66-year-old woman was killed, and another person was wounded. Police said three women aged between 58 and 76 were also wounded in an air strike on the village of Glushkivka in Kharkiv region.

Source: DW
India Requests Pakistan To Extradite Terrorist Hafiz Saeed

International

oi-Gaurav Sharma

On Friday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, mentioned that the government asked Pakistan to send Hafiz Saeed to India. Saeed is known as the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Bagchi said it's a recent request to Pakistan to give over the terrorist so he can be tried in India. He also stated that Saeed is wanted for many cases in India.

Addressing the media, Arindam Bagchi said, "We have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case."

The Government of India requested Pakistan to hand over US-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed after media reports claimed that Hafiz Saeed's son Talha Saeed is going to contest the upcoming General Elections of Pakistan. Saeed's Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) will contest the polls on all seats of Pakistan, according to reports.

Registering a strong condemnation, Bagchi said "radical elements participating in elections in Pakistan is not something new."

"Wouldn't want to comment on election processes in other countries. However, radical elements participating in elections, and mainstreaming of radical, extremist elements is not new in Pakistan," Arindam Bagchi said.

"Such developments have serious implications for the security of our region. On our part, we will, of course, continue to monitor all developments that imply our national security," he added.

Bagchi also shared his views on the Qatar court's recent decision to reduce the death sentences of eight former Indian Navy personnel. He said, "We would like to go through the judgment first. We will discuss it with our legal team and then speak about it, as it is a sensitive issue we will discuss with the families of the sailors."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 29, 2023, 20:45 [IST]
Maine Bars Donald Trump From Ballot As US Supreme Court Weighs State Authority To Block Former President

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Maine's Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the state's presidential primary ballot. This unprecedented unilateral decision holds potential consequences for the Electoral College.

Maine's four electoral votes, split between districts, hold significance. In the 2020 election, Trump secured one elector from Maine. Omitting him from the ballot, should he become the Republican nominee, could greatly impact a closely contested race.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' action mirrors a similar move by the Colorado Supreme Court in December, ousting Trump from their ballot under the 14th Amendment's Section 3. Bellows found Trump ineligible due to his involvement in the Capitol attack of January 6, 2021, deeming it an act of insurrection-a decision challenged by state residents and former lawmakers.

Despite Trump's legal team urging Bellows to recuse herself for alleged bias displayed in tweets, she maintained her ruling. However, her decision isn't final; it can be appealed within Maine's courts. The ultimate decision on Trump's eligibility for the presidency is anticipated from the US Supreme Court in the coming year.

This move sets a precedent as activists across states seek Trump's removal from primary ballots under Section 3. Until Bellows' ruling, such requests had been declined, with officials awaiting court guidance on interpreting this rarely invoked clause post-Civil War.

Bellows adhered to Maine's law, conducting a public hearing in December and accepting additional arguments post-Colorado's precedent-setting decision. Trump's campaign plans to contest the Colorado court's ruling in the US Supreme Court, setting a potential nationwide precedent.

The significance lies in the potential impact on Trump's candidacy if decisions unfold state by state. While Colorado's loss may not affect his presidential prospects, Maine's split electoral votes, particularly the second congressional district, hold weight. Missing from this ballot could mean starting his 2024 campaign with one less Electoral College vote.

While Maine's secretary of state's office acknowledges no prior instance of removing a presidential candidate from the ballot, such actions have been taken for lower office candidates.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 29, 2023, 8:37 [IST]
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to as New Year's Eve. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinking, and watching or lighting fireworks. Some Christians attend a watchnight service. The celebrations generally go on past midnight into New Year's Day, 1 January.
Two Australians have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. One of them has been claimed by Hezbollah as a fighter.
India's approach to the Israel-Hamas war and Russia-Ukraine conflict is guided by honest dialogue and sincere diplomacy, free from fear and coercion. PM Modi condemns terrorists and violence, rejecting their agenda. India supports the two-state solution for Israel-Palestine and has provided humanitarian aid to Gaza. India condemns civilian killings in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and calls for a peaceful resolution. PM Modi's statement to President Putin at the SCO summit and G20 communique emphasized the era of peace.
One moderate House Democrat from Maine is criticizing his state's decision to bar former President Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential front-runner, from its primary ballot.
ViewFrom wars and indictments to concerts and championships, with only a few weeks left in 2023, Scripps News looks back at the..

Newsy 04 Dec 2023
In his much-trumpeted speech on November 3, Lebanons Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, predictably praised Hamass October 7 invasion of Israel, the subsequent massacre of 1200 civilians and the abduction of some 240 hostages. However he was at pains to emphasize that it had been a purely Palestinian enterprise. He...
The management of Doan Thien An, Miss Grand Vietnam 2022, refuted claims that she was prohibited from taking university exams due to excessive absences.

Miss Grand Vietnam 2022 Doan Thien An. Photo from An's Instagram

An alleged list of students ineligible for this years semester exams at Greenwich University Vietnam, where An studies, has been circulated online since Thursday. This list included Doan Thien Ans name, noting her absence from 37 classes, equating to a 53% absence rate. This sparked immediate criticism of the beauty queen.

Nguyen Nhut Tan, the director of Greenwich Vietnam, addressed the situation that evening, refuting the allegations. Tan explained that An only began her studies at the university this year. For first-year students like her, the only course offered is the English preparatory program, which does not require semester exams.

"Thus, the circulating rumor is incorrect," he stated.

Ans management released a statement affirming that she is fulfilling her academic obligations and exams according to the universitys timeline. The statement further revealed that Ans tenure at Greenwich University is expected to be longer than that of average students to accommodate her need to juggle academic and career commitments as a beauty queen.

"We request individuals and organizations to stop spreading misinformation that affects Ans development process," it therefore stated.

An, 23, represented Vietnam at the 2022 Miss Grand International pageant and made it to the top 20. She also won the "Best National Costume" prize.

She is now pursuing her undergraduate degree while being active as a model.
A jail threat, extortion, robbery, credit card fraud and wire transfer fraud are now properly documented in a TripAdvisor trip review. Following an Op Ed, TripAdvisor changed their decision, and published the facts of the crimes committed against my wife and me while we visited the Loire Valley in France. TripAdvisor apparently responded to my OpEd News article from 12/27/2023, "Luxury Tours France / RiverLoire Tours: Robbery, FBI Intervention, Return of Stolen Cash, and a TripAdvisor Cover-up" I would like to say 'Thank You' to TripAdvisor for changing their decision, and publishing my trip review to prevent such crimes against other tourists.

The thief at Luxury Tours France, RiverLoire, got away with stealing a few thousands dollars, but tens of thousands of dollars in stolen money were returned following an FBI intervention. Even so, a breach of honor still remains.



Beware the criminals. The Loire Valley and chateaus are quite beautiful, where my wife and our tour guide are shown in this photo. However, the crimes against tourists are disgraceful.

(Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA



A Question of Ethics

As a licensed Professional Engineer and Research Engineer, I work hard to save lives, property, and the environment. I make bold claims against our government and many industries - including nuclear, gas, oil, bridge construction, and water supply industries - in addition to many U.S. government agencies ("Book Publisher Wanted for a New Book, "Industrial Murder for Profit"").

For such a monumental undertaking, honesty and integrity are crucial. I even wrote a journal paper on ethics as part of this voluntary research ("Nuclear Power Plants Are Not So Safe: Fluid Transients / Water Hammers, Autoignition, Explosions, Accident Predictions and Ethics", click here).

The attacks on my character by Luxury Tours France and the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys are unacceptable. To hide their crimes, both of these companies falsely accused me of lying, blackmail, and fraud. Nonsense - they lied and committed libel, and they refuse to admit their lies.

The Latest TripAdvisor Responses

TripAdvisor did not directly respond to my emails requesting that they reconsider publishing one of two trip reviews, but they have, in fact, now published that trip review. Their decision followed within one day of my OpEdNews article, where my requests since October have not been addressed for this second publication concerning crimes in the Loire Valley.

1) The earlier, published trip review documents the criminal acts of the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys ("The Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys Will Steal Your Money and Then Accuse You of Blackmail and Theft", click here).

2) The newer - and now published - trip review documents the full breadth of this criminal conspiracy ("Luxury Tours France Will Rob You, Threaten You With Jail and Extortion, and Then Accuse You of Blackmail", Click Here).

Hopefully, these two trip reviews will warn other tourists to avoid such atrocious crimes in the Loire Valley.

What We Know vs. What We Think We Know

Did TripAdvisor respond directly to my earlier Op Ed, or not? The answer is apparently 'yes'. They did not act on multiple email requests for months. When they received a copy of my earlier Op Ed (click here), they published the requested trip review within one day. They did not respond directly to me that they had published this trip review. These facts conclude that TripAdvisor changed their decision about covering-up these crimes for Luxury Tours France, as they changed a poor decision to an honorable decision. A link to this Op Ed was forwarded to TripAdvisor upon publication of this Op Ed, they were offered the opportunity to respond, but they did not respond. therefore, this Op Ed stands as-is.

The Power of the Press

The Power of the Press is an amazing tool to accomplish goals that one person cannot accomplish alone. This Power prompted the FBI to pressure the Bank of America to return stolen money, and TripAdvisor published the factual details of crimes against tourists, immediately following an OpEd News publication. Also, 'Thanks' go to OpEd News for providing a platform to fight against criminals. Even so, national and international internet crimes still need resolution since these crimes continue, unabated, by our banks and the FBI.

Some Thefts are at an End, and Many More Thefts are On the Way

The Bank of America emailed the receiving bank with respect to a wire transfer fraud committed by Luxury Tours France. That bank, Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union, refused to repay the stolen money that they received on behalf of Luxury Tours France. Basically, Luxury Tours France has gotten away with stealing $3,000.

I responded to the Bank of America with the following email.

'My money was stolen through Bank of America, and you have accepted this theft as business as usual. You call this theft a Scam, and refuse to even call this theft the fraud that it is. Our country has reached a desperate state of affairs when banks accept wire transfer crimes, and law enforcement agencies refuse to prosecute these crimes. These modern day bank robbers do not rob banks. These robbers open bank accounts, and then rob customers through wire transfer frauds. As in this case, when criminals are caught stealing from other customers, the criminals are not even asked to stop stealing from customers, [and the bank accounts of the thieves remain open for further thefts]. Wire transfer frauds are business as usual. See "U.S. Banks and the FBI Harbor Criminal Fraud Enterprises" [and this Op Ed].'

Addendum , 1/2/2024

Luxury Tours France did not respond to this Op Ed, my TripAdvisor trip review, a request for a return of stolen money, or a request for apology.

The Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys did not respond to this Op Ed, but the hotel did respond to my TripAdvisor trip review and a request for an apology with the following comment.

'Sir, I still don't understand your motivation for doing us this harm. You defame our establishment with your lies and fabrications by inventing an incredible story. In short, I do not salute you Sir and I no longer wish to waste my energy on you, wasted effort.'

The hotel response to approximately 300 pages of bank records, FBI reports, and detailed Op Eds was to lie even more. The integrity of the hotel manager is criminal in these egregious thefts and slander against my family.

All in all, the crimes against my wife and I have been well-proven against these thieves and liars from the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys and Luxury Tour France.

(Article changed on Jan 02, 2024 at 9:11 AM EST)
Even before Virginia lawmakers passed a tough new law against organized retail crime earlier this year, Bradley Haywood, a public defender in Arlington, Virginia, challenged the rationale. The idea that retailers in the state had lost billions to organized theft was a myth manufactured by retailers themselves, Haywood argued.

Now the outspoken lawyer has fresh ammunition for his effort to repeal the law: The National Retail Federation earlier this month retracted its April assertion that nearly half of the $94.5 billion in merchandise that went missing in 2021 was stolen by retail rings. The true percentage was only a small fraction of that amount, about 5%.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Virginia is one of at least 14 states that enacted retail theft laws over the past two years in response to reports of highly organized theft rings invading stores across the country and fleeing, collectively, with billions of dollars in merchandise. Social media posts showing thieves storming retail outlets helped fuel the crackdown.

Nine states passed new laws this year, either toughening punishment or creating task forces to study the potential threats posed by organized theft rings. At least one state  Texas  enacted two laws, one creating a task force and the other allowing potential thieves to avoid prosecution if they agree to an education course designed to steer them away from breaking the law.

In addition to Texas and Virginia, Alabama, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Oregon enacted retail theft laws this year. California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana and North Carolina did so last year.

Over the past several years, retailers, prosecutors and police have pushed state and federal lawmakers to crack down on thieves who, they say, have become increasingly sophisticated and violent. Some large retailers have shuttered stores with the largest losses. And shoppers at many stores have had to get used to asking clerks to open locked displays of merchandise vulnerable to theft. Some retailers have directed employees not to pursue shoplifters, out of fear for their safety.

Despite emerging questions over the extent of the losses, law enforcement officers and prosecutors insist the threat is greater than ever, citing a recent series of busts against sometimes violent shoplifting rings amid the Christmas shopping season.

To me, its getting worse, said James Kneipp, a Houston Police Department detective. Police in the nations fourth-largest city recently arrested 13 suspects for allegedly participating in an organized theft ring, he said. Theyre getting bigger. Theyre getting  braver, Kneipp told Stateline. The investigation is ongoing.

Republican state Sen. Aaron Freeman authored the law in Indiana, which makes the organized retail theft of firearms or at least $50,000 in merchandise a Level 5 felony, which carries a penalty of up to six years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. After the recent arrests of two suspects accused of stealing tools valued at thousands of dollars, Freeman publicly warned anyone thinking of following suit.

This isnt misdemeanor land anymore, he told Indianapolis Fox 59. Youre going to play in felony world.

A look at the numbers

The National Retail Federation, which describes itself as the worlds largest trade association, has been at the forefront of the lobbying campaign for tougher laws. In October, representatives from more than 30 retailers traveled to Washington, D.C., on a trip organized by the group to lobby for a major anti-theft bill in Congress.

But the organizations campaign took a hit after it was forced to walk back its claim that nearly half of so-called inventory shrink in 2021 was attributable to organized retail crime. Shrink is an industry term to describe all inventory losses from multiple causes, including theft. The true number was closer to 5%, or $4.7 billion. The trade publication Retail Dive first reported the error.

Obviously, their account that they put out erroneous data hurts their credibility, said Texas Democratic state Rep. Chris Turner, who authored the Lone Star States new law creating a 10-member task force headed by the state comptroller to examine the threat posed by organized retail theft.

From my vantage point, if someone brought me data from that organization in the future, Id want to double- and triple-check it.

Mary McGinty, vice president of communications and public affairs for the National Retail Federation, said in statements to news outlets, including Stateline, that the organization was adjusting its figures after discovering the error, which she said was made by an analyst for K2 Integrity, an advisory group that assisted with the report.

According to the federations revised 2023 national retail security survey, McGinty said, overall shrink accounted for $112.1 billion in losses in 2022, up from $93.9 billion in 2021. Internal and external theft of all kinds, on par with previous years, accounted for about two-thirds  or $73 billion  of retailers shrinkage, which she said can vary significantly from sector to sector.

Despite having to retract its initial estimate, retail federation officials said the industry hasnt changed its position that organized retail theft is more than just shoplifting.

We stand behind the widely understood fact that organized retail crime is a serious problem impacting retailers of all sizes and communities across our nation, said McGinty.

Other experts, however, say the extent of retail theft is yet to be determined. At this point, we just dont have a strong grasp on the extent and changing nature of the shoplifting problem, said Ernesto Lopez, research specialist for the Council on Criminal Justice, which advocates for safety and equality in the U.S. criminal justice system.

One reason for this is that we dont know how many retailers are reporting theft incidents to police, and how often they are reporting them. We also dont know how anti-theft measures taken by retailers may be affecting theft levels. Without all of that information, any portrait of shoplifting will be incomplete.

Although videos of smash-and-grab rings storming department stores have ratcheted up concern about theft, a recent report by Lopezs organization found that such incidents are rare and account for a very small percentage of overall shoplifting, said the analyst. More than 95% percent of shoplifting incidents are carried out by one to two people, he said.

Public officials respond

But many law enforcement officials, now armed with tougher state laws, continue to assert that retail theft rings are often large and well-organized, made up of boosters (shoplifters) and fences who peddle the stolen merchandise online or to other stores.

Fences also provide hotels and rent cars for boosters, who often hit several cities a day to procure stolen goods, according to investigators. Boosters often are given an online shopping list to illegally procure items such as power tools, over-the-counter medical items, cosmetics and toiletries.

In Florida, Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody and Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, a Democrat, recently announced the results of monthslong investigations that resulted in charges against 14 defendants in what Moody called a massive organized theft ring that caused at least $20 million in losses to more than 20 different retailers, including Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Lowes.

Prosecutors and authorities also describe a menacing picture in Alabama, which this year enacted a law that allows law enforcement and prosecutors to cross jurisdictional lines to pursue bands of thieves who hit retailers in multiple cities.

The main thing is it allows us to go and get the higher-ups  the real people who are profiting off this crime, said Barry Matson, executive director of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, which pushed for the law. Weve had major national retailers close their doors in Alabama because theft was so high.

Matson disparaged what he called pro-criminal advocates, including critics in the media and liberal-leaning social policy groups, who are pushing back against law enforcements portrayal of a national retail theft problem. I think theres these groups that are more sympathetic to criminal defendants than they are [to] victims, he told Stateline.

We know it in the numbers. We see the images of the thieves, people going in and cleaning out stores. And its been at the expense of victims of crime, and Im sick of it.

But in Virginia, Haywood remains skeptical. He says he will fight to repeal his states law next year, though he acknowledges that its a long shot.

The notion that, like, the mafia is going to get rich selling air freshener and deodorant  that just seems pretty ridiculous to me, he said.

-- David Montgomery, Stateline.org

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy.

2023 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Police publicly identified the man found dead in Southeast Portlands Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood two weeks ago as 39-year-old Darnell DShawn Davis.

Officers found Davis body at Southeast Linn Street and 19th Avenue around 1:50 p.m. on Dec. 19. Homicide detectives were called in due to suspicious circumstances at the scene, and a medical examiner confirmed Davis died of homicidal violence, police said Thursday.

Police declined to release further information on the case or say how Davis died.

Detectives are still investigating and ask anyone with information to contact Det. Jeff Sharp at Jeff.Sharp@police.portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-9773, or Det. JD McGuire at Jeff.McGuire@police.portlandoregon.gov.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
First, Colorados Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump wasnt eligible to run for his old job in that state. Then, Maines Democratic secretary of state ruled the same for her state. Whos next?

Both decisions are historic. The Colorado court was the first court to apply to a presidential candidate a rarely used constitutional ban against those who engaged in insurrection. Maines secretary of state was the first top election official to unilaterally strike a presidential candidate from the ballot under that provision.

But both decisions are on hold while the legal process plays out.

That means that Trump remains on the ballot in Colorado and Maine and that his political fate is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Maine ruling will likely never take effect on its own. Its central impact is increasing pressure on the nations highest court to say clearly: Can Trump still run for president after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol?

WHATS THE LEGAL ISSUE?

After the Civil War, the U.S. ratified the 14th Amendment to guarantee rights to former slaves and more. It also included a two-sentence clause called Section 3, designed to keep former Confederates from regaining government power after the war.

The measure reads:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Congress did remove that disability from most Confederates in 1872, and the provision fell into disuse. But it was rediscovered after Jan. 6.

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO TRUMP?

Trump is already being prosecuted for the attempt to overturn his 2020 loss that culminated with Jan. 6, but Section 3 doesnt require a criminal conviction to take effect. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed to disqualify Trump, claiming he engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6 and is no longer qualified to run for office.

All the suits failed until the Colorado ruling. And dozens of secretaries of state have been asked to remove him from the ballot. All said they didnt have the authority to do so without a court order  until Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows decision.

The Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3. Its likely to do so in considering appeals of the Colorado decision  the state Republican Party has already appealed, and Trump is expected to file his own shortly. Bellows ruling cannot be appealed straight to the U.S. Supreme Court  it has to be appealed up the judicial chain first, starting with a trial court in Maine.

The Maine decision does force the high courts hand, though. It was already highly likely the justices would hear the Colorado case, but Maine removes any doubt.

Trump lost Colorado in 2020, and he doesnt need to win it again to garner an Electoral College majority next year. But he won one of Maines four Electoral College votes in 2020 by winning the states 2nd Congressional District, so Bellows decision would have a direct impact on his odds next November.

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade declined to bar Trump from Oregons primary ballot, citing guidance from the Oregon Department of Justice. But Griffin-Valade said that Oregon could decide to block Trump from the general election ballot if he is the nominee, due to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

Until the high court rules, any state could adopt its own standard on whether Trump, or anyone else, can be on the ballot. Thats the sort of legal chaos the court is supposed to prevent.

WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE?

Trumps lawyers have several arguments against the push to disqualify him. First, its not clear Section 3 applies to the president  an early draft mentioned the office, but it was taken out, and the language an officer of the United States elsewhere in the Constitution doesnt mean the president, they contend.

Second, even if it does apply to the presidency, they say, this is a political question best decided by voters, not unelected judges. Third, if judges do want to get involved, the lawyers assert, theyre violating Trumps rights to a fair legal procedure by flatly ruling hes ineligible without some sort of fact-finding process like a lengthy criminal trial. Fourth, they argue, Jan. 6 wasnt an insurrection under the meaning of Section 3  it was more like a riot.

Finally, even if it was an insurrection, they say, Trump wasnt involved in it  he was merely using his free speech rights.

Of course, the lawyers who want to disqualify Trump have arguments, too. The main one is that the case is actually very simple: Jan. 6 was an insurrection, Trump incited it, and hes disqualified.

WHATS TAKEN SO LONG?

The attack was three years ago, but the challenges werent ripe, to use the legal term, until Trump petitioned to get onto state ballots this fall.

But the length of time also gets at another issue  no one has really wanted to rule on the merits of the case. Most judges have dismissed the lawsuits because of technical issues, including that courts dont have the authority to tell parties whom to put on their primary ballots. Secretaries of state have dodged, too, usually telling those who ask them to ban Trump that they dont have the authority to do so unless ordered by a court.

No one can dodge anymore. Legal experts have cautioned that, if the Supreme Court doesnt clearly resolve the issue, it could lead to chaos in November  or in January 2025, if Trump wins the election. Imagine, they say, if the high court ducks the issue or says its not a decision for the courts to make, and Democrats win a narrow majority in Congress. Would they seat Trump or declare hes ineligible under Section 3?

IS THIS A PARTISAN ISSUE?

Well, of course it is. Bellows is a Democrat, and all the justices on the Colorado Supreme Court were appointed by Democrats. Six of the 9 U.S. Supreme Court justices were appointed by Republicans, three by Trump himself.

But courts dont always split on predictable partisan lines. The Colorado ruling was 4-3  so three Democratic appointees disagreed with barring Trump. Several prominent legal conservatives have championed the use of Section 3 against the former president.

Now well see how the high court handles it.
Californias first huge swells of the winter are wreaking havoc on the states coastline as an incoming atmospheric river storm is forcing evacuations amid flooding of beach and coastal roads.

The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast, including Oregon. The high surf advisory includes parts of Hawaii, as well. The agency also issued a coastal flood advisory for the Washington coast through Thursday afternoon.

The streets are flooded in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)Nic Coury/AP

Marin County residents in the Calles Pinos, Pradero, Sierra, Onda Resaca, Ribera and Embarcadero areas as well as Calle de Arroyo were ordered to temporarily evacuate Thursday morning due to high risk of wave damage and coastal flooding. Evacuated residents were told to head to the Stinson Beach Community Center.

Santa Cruz County issued an evacuation warning Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter, for coastal areas near Seacliff State Beach because of flooding.

Within the evacuation area, the tourist hot spot known as the Rio del Mar Esplanade is currently flooded with several inches of storm water. On X, the California Highway Patrol cautions that residents avoid the area and not attempt to drive across or through.

The Ventura County Fire Department posted a dramatic video on social media, showing an incident where a rogue wave hits the beach at the end of Seward Ave in the City of Ventura. Eight people were injured in the incident and taken to local hospitals, according to the department.

According to the National Weather Services coastal flood warning for the Bay Area, large breaking waves are causing significant flooding of beach and coastal roads. The waves are depositing large amounts of debris and causing road closures.

The San Francisco Bay Area coast could see waves up to 40 feet in some locations. The National Weather Service issued a warning for residents to stay away from rocks, jetties, piers and other waterside infrastructure.

In Southern California, the waves arent expected to be as big, but high surf is expected through Saturday, meteorologists said. In Ventura County, waves of up to 12 feet have already been reported, and the Central Coast has seen 18- to 20-foot swells, said Mike Wofford with the National Weather Services Oxnard office.

In a beachside community in Ventura, residents watched as waves washed trash bins away, sending foaming streams of seawater into neighborhood streets.

A high surf advisory went into effect at 4 a.m. Thursday for Point Conception in Santa Barbara County and Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes Peninsula beaches in Los Angeles County, all of which can expect sets of 15- to 20-foot waves and dangerous rip currents.

Were expecting the highest waves today to be arriving either late morning or early afternoon and then, maybe some drops in height tomorrow, but still well above normal, Wofford said.

The waves will pick back up Saturday when another surge of higher swells arrives.

There have been really strong storms over the Pacific Ocean that we dont necessarily see because they move up to the north or go in some other direction, Wofford said.

While the storms are moving through, strong winds can form big waves, which propagate out along, and the waves just come barreling right in, he said.

Along with the high surf advisory, the National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory for the California coast through 10 p.m. Saturday.

Although no structural or road damage is expected, there is an increased risk for drowning, the agency warned. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, and large breaking waves can cause injuries, wash people off beaches or rocks and capsize small boats.

Never turn your back to the ocean, the National Weather Service said on X.

Earlier in December, Oregon saw record-breaking rains and dramatic flooding along the Oregon coast due to an atmospheric river. For full local weather coverage, go to oregonlive.com/weather.

@theoregonian Heavy rain from several back-to-back atmospheric rivers has flooded sections of U.S. 101 along the Oregon coast early Tuesday. The Oregon Department of Transportation has closed the coast highway to all vehicles from mileposts 22-25 from just south of Seaside to the junction with U.S. 26 due to high water across the roadway. High tides have also contributed to flooding along the coast. Oregon 6 at its junction with U.S. 101 in Tillamook is closed due to high water. A local detour is available in that area. Read more at the link in our bio. #flooding #oregoncoast #weather #atmosphericriver #theoregonian  original sound - The Oregonian

___

Wire reports 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
How much is Instagram to blame for overcrowding in outdoor recreation areas?

If you ask some Oregonians, the answer is obviously a lot, but a recent Oregon State University study found that the Instagram effect is, in fact, negligible.

On a recent episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we interviewed Ashley Lowe Mackenzie and Steve Dundas, the two researchers behind the study, who used publicly available Instagram statistics and Oregon State Park visitor counts from 2010 to 2019 to determine how much correlation there was between social media posts and big crowds at Oregons roughly 165 state park sites that reported day-use numbers during that time period.

Their results brought up more questions than answers.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Why did you choose to study this topic?

Ashley Lowe Mackenzie: I entered the PhD program at Oregon State University and was hunting for a topic to spend four to six years of my life researching. And as a person whos done the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide, I was really interested in this aspect because Ive heard the same stories: Social media is the cause of all of the increases everywhere.

Steve Dundas: I was Ashleys dissertation adviser. I have worked on the impacts of climate change on outdoor recreation decisions previously, so when Ashley came to me, I was fully supportive. She figured out this cool way to use publicly available Instagram data to collect information on all the posts that were being made that had geo reference locations or geo tags.

Were you looking just specifically at geo tags? Were you looking at hashtags as well? What was included in that data that you were sorting through?

ALM: What I found in that particular analysis was that geotags were more representative of what was happening on the ground at that location, which made me feel confident on exploring the geotagging because it helped me know that I was looking at the data at that specific location. One thing I think that occurs in hashtags versus geotags is that you get a lot of ambiguous content that is coming up  people planning their trips, people attaching it to communities that like that area. Geotags just remove that abstract content.

I dont want to bury the lede too much here, but what did you find in this study? What was the conclusion that you reached?

ALM: What we found was that Instagram wasnt having impacts to all locations across the board. So if you post a photo on Instagram, it doesnt automatically mean that that place is going to have visitation increases, but it really is going to be determinant on the engagement thats happening online at that particular location. So, specific parks that went viral on Instagram, those parks we could see this impact to visitation that we can link to content online.

SD: We used 18 years of visitation data from 50 different Oregon State Parks. And then we had eight years of the publicly available content from Instagram. The interesting thing was that it wasnt the volume, it was simply the cumulative effect of high engagement posts. So places like Smith Rock, Silver Falls, Oswald West, and Ecola state parks that had images that got spread all over Instagram, had thousands of likes, its that type of content that we were able to associate with small increases in visitation. We didnt see increases across the board at all state parks, but really only in those four parks that I mentioned.

And you said small increases in visitation. So are you saying that there wasnt, at any of these parks, enormous jumps that you could track directly back to engagement on social media?

ALM: I would say no, Smith Rock being one of the major ones you could attribute, I think it was about 4% per month of the visitation to that park from just the highly engaging content that was being shared online. Now, it doesnt account for all the visitation growth, but it accounted for an amount that we could see over time from Instagram.

That leaves another 96% of growth not attributed to Instagram specifically, or social media specifically. Where do you think that other growth comes from?

ALM: I do think it could come from other social media sites. That could include things like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, other different types of media that are highlighting those areas. Different types of behaviors, like van life, the increase in enjoyment in rock climbing, the growing demographic of the retired population, could also attribute to some of the increase into those areas.

SD: Its important to note the other things that we accounted for in the model that estimated the 4%. We do include gas prices to account for travel costs. Population trends alone can explain a lot of the increase seen recently at places like Smith Rock. We also control for seasonal trends  some places might have more visitation in the summer, some places might have more in the fall. We also control for economic conditions. Taking all those things into account and trying to isolate the effect of Instagram was where our study fit in.

ALM: As well as daily temperature at that location.

SD: Id be remiss to say that, yeah, weather also plays a role. And we included weather, daily weather in our models.

Hikers stop at Monkey Face Rock, with Mount Jefferson in the distance, at Smith Rock State Park in central Oregon.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A visitor takes a selfie in front of Lower South Falls in Silver Falls State Park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Why do you think that theres this disconnect between the perception and reality?

SD: Our research cant point to a mechanism of why this is happening. Our two hypotheses are a reduction in search and information costs. Having a smartphone in your pocket with an app that can give you the geo coordinates of a vista or trailhead easily could be inspiring and enabling people, new people, to get out into the outdoors quickly. Ashley began hitting on the other mechanism, which was the bandwagon effect. People see others enjoying this place and want to also participate in that. One aspect that I think our research points to is the power of viral content. Theres a specific kind of content that is likely the culprit of seeing these visitation increases.

Folks who have been here for generations, theyre used to going to a certain place and having it all to themselves. And all of a sudden theyre sharing it now with hundreds, thousands of other people. It causes a lot of fear of, This place that was my quiet paradise is now spoiled. And so where do you put your blame? Instagram is a really easy culprit, isnt it? Its a really easy source of our anger as opposed to this complex reality.

SD: I agree with that 100%. And Ill share an anecdote from being in Mount Rainier National Park this summer. My own anger at seeing folks with pretty expensive camera gear, obviously there for social media reasons, trampling over wildfire meadows up near Paradise. It points to this fundamental problem of our public lands where we have lack of funding, lack of staff, maintenance backlogs, and then this, whatever the cause, this huge increase in people wanting to visit these places. And its just creating this fundamental tension between providing this recreation opportunities for everybody on public land and managing the kind of ecosystems that exist there.

Just personally, I can say, yeah, Ive seen it. Ive seen people do stupid things, do things that are degrading resources, all in search of that selfie that they can post on Instagram. So I can see why people react the way they do and place the blame on Instagram.

It seems like there is a very real difference in the way that people are existing in parks. Do you think that has anything to do with our social media landscape that has arisen over the last decade or so?

ALM: I mean, for sure, theres those stories of selfie death traps in the Grand Canyon, Yosemite as well. That perception in those news articles and the headlines that come out clearly have entered the public psyche.

SD: Talking with land managers, were seeing a lot of people who potentially dont understand Leave No Trace principles and are not versed on traveling into the back country. It creates stress on the land managers, the staff thats there, when people are unprepared for the kind of experiences that theyre seeking out.

Do you think this will be something that is continued to be studied, especially with other forms of social media?

ALM: I hope so. The difficulty is getting the data. For this project, I contacted Meta (which purchased Instagram in 2012), I think, four times trying to talk and work with them. I have yet to receive an email over the six or seven years. So it depends on accessibility to be able to research this. It was pretty difficult to do the type of data collection that I did to be able to do this research.

SD: There is a second paper that we are working on at the national scale using the similar data from national parks.

What can you tell us right now about it?

ALM:. Looking across 40 national parks, we find really similar plotted out visualizations of which parks went viral. What the preliminary results are suggesting is that it has to do more with behavior than it does with just the information alone. So its not just sharing a location, its what type of individual are you online sharing with your user base? People who are avid users on Instagram are having this wider impact on a broader set of parks than just engagement alone.

Do you think that The Oregonians Instagram account would count as one of those accounts that would be more likely to drive more visitors to a park? I guess this is a way to ask, how much is it my fault that some of these places get overcrowded?

ALM: If you look at all of the posts in a given year, and what it takes to get in the top 10% of posts on Instagram through the time period we were looking at, from 2010 to 2019, it only takes about 120 likes to be pretty influential in that top 10%. So, potentially.

Cool, cool, cool. But as youve said and as weve talked about, while those kinds of posts can lead to more visitors, it is such a small percentage. So if someone comes into my DMs, or sends me an email, or comments, can I just say, Here is this study from Oregon State University to tell you that youre wrong. Is that fair of me to do?

SD: Yes. Yeah, you can send them our way. Well take the hate mail.

I know that theres someone listening who is going to say, like, I hear you. I get this. I see your data, but I just feel like youre wrong. I feel like Instagram is to blame for all of this. Do you have any response or any advice for those more hard-headed people?

SD: Theres a lot of dynamics that we dont understand, as I mentioned earlier, like the timing between people being influenced by content and actually making a real world decision. Theres a lot of dynamics at play that we dont account for here. Theres a lot that we dont know.

We may see the effects calm down as preferences change and how we interact with social media changes. This was kind of a snapshot of what happened in Oregon in the first eight years that Instagram was around. And we did find an effect that people expected, but maybe not as large or as widespread as people might think. Because theres a lot of factors at play here and why we might be loving our outdoors too much.

--Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor
Vietnamese student Le Viet Hoang has been sentenced to an 11-month jail term in Singapore for stealing electronics worth over SG$41,000 (US$31,100) from a statutory board and Apple.

A man using a MacBook Air M2. Illustration photo by Tuan Hung

The Straits Times reported that the 22-year-old Hoang, who served as an assistant researcher intern at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) in Singapore, appeared in court on Thursday. He admitted to stealing laptops and iPads from both AStar and Apple offices earlier in the year, resulting in two charges of theft and two charges of housebreaking.

Hoang committed these thefts between June and July, after beginning his internship at A*Star on May 25, as detailed by the South China Morning Post. He would wait until the office was empty to take electronic devices from the institution.

In court, the prosecutor disclosed that Hoang had learned lock-picking to access more securely stored items. He managed to steal equipment valued at approximately SG$29,500 from A*Star throughout this period.

Additionally, Hoang broke into an Apple office in the same building as his workplace, targeting higher-value items.

Upon learning of a scheduled power shutdown in the building, which would disable CCTV cameras, Hoang timed his theft to coincide with this, ultimately stealing over SG$12,000 worth of items from Apple.

The court heard that Hoang's intention was to sell the stolen items to cover his daily expenses and send money back to his family in Vietnam.

Feeling guilty as his internship approached its conclusion, Hoang tried to return four iPads and several charging cables to the Apple office. However, his attempt triggered a security alarm, which led to his capture by the police, who found him hiding under a table.

Most items, except those already sold, were recovered. Hoang fully compensated A*Star for the sold items as well.

The prosecutor emphasized Hoangs betrayal of trust and the detailed planning behind his thefts, recommending a one-year jail sentence for him.

Under Singapore law, theft can result in up to seven years in jail and a fine, and housebreaking up to ten years and a fine, making Hoang's final conviction less severe than possible.
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - In Gaza, the latest death toll as of midnight on Thursday stood at 21,110 according to the Strips health authorities with over 55,243 Palestinians injured in the enclave
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Some 153 illegal migrants have been evacuated in a humanitarian operation to Rwanda as a third country, the Libyan Ministry of the Interior has announced
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has condemned the looting of life-saving food supplies from its premises in Sudans east-central Gezira State last weekend after elements of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke into its warehouse and office
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The top United Nations human rights official has voiced deep alarm over the series of attacks on communities in central Nigeria, which left at least 150 people dead and many more injured
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The UN human rights office on Thursday urged the Ethiopian Government to ensure that ongoing efforts addressing a legacy of rights abuses, rooted in years of violence and ethnic unrest, prioritise the rights and needs of victims and their families
2023 has been another tragic year for Syrian civilians, who were killed, injured, displaced, detained and abducted in alarming numbers, and today face the danger of regional spillover, according to Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria. There is an urgent need for maximum restraint by all actors, Syrian and non-Syrian, and a sustained de-escalation in and on Syria, towards a nationwide ceasefire.

As 2023 comes to a close, the Syrian political process remains frustratingly blocked, and the Syrian people are suffering greatly, said Robert Wood, United States Alternative Representative to the United Nations:

For more than 12 years, the Assad regime has waged a brutal war against the Syrian people. On top of that, Syrians are still reeling from the devastating impacts of Februarys earthquakes. Yet rather than engage in a political process, in the last few months, the Assad regime has stepped up its attacks on its own people in the northwest of Syria.

We all know the responsibility for this war lies at the feet of the Assad regime, said Ambassador Wood. In late December, the General Assembly voted on a U.S.-co-facilitated resolution on the human rights situation in Syria that reminded the world of the abuses the regime wants us to forget: the use of chemical weapons, extrajudicial killings, torture and other ill-treatment, unjust detentions, enforced disappearances, and gender-based violence.

We are alarmed by the reports that violence has reached its worst level since 2019. The hundreds of civilian deaths caused by the regime and Russian offensive in Idlib are deeply concerning, he said. The destruction they have caused to infrastructure and the threats they pose to humanitarian operations put hundreds of thousands of people at risk during the cold winter months.

We join the majority of UN Member States in reiterating the call for the Syrian regime to immediately release all those arbitrarily held and to provide information about the tens of thousands who are missing, said Ambassador Wood. At the same time, we share  concerns about regional spillover.

We must persevere and remain committed to achieving a Syrian-focused and Syrian-led solution to the conflict in line with Resolution 2254, the only viable roadmap for a lasting solution to the conflict, he said.

The Syrian people have been waiting far too long, said Ambassador Wood. [They] deserve the future for which they have fought so hard, including respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Photo: (Photo : JOSEPH PREZIOSO /Getty Images)

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is granted an early release from her murder conviction after pleading guilty to killing her mother.

In an expected development in this case, Blanchard will not serve the remaining three years of jail time that the court once ordered.

Her story and her childhood have come under heavy scrutiny in the public for the unfortunate medical challenges she suffered that eventually led her to plot the killing of her mother with his then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn.

It was confirmed that she was recently released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, marking a significant and controversial chapter in her life.

Child Abuse Survivor Gypsy Rose Blanchard Granted With an Early Release

Numerous people following this tragic case were surprised as Gypsy Rose Blanchard was granted early release on December 28 after serving seven years in prison. She is now 32 and has left the confines of the prison three years ahead of her scheduled release date.

The Missouri Department of Corrections confirmed her departure, which has reignited public debate over the nuances of her case, from suffering severe child abuse from her own mother and a murder conviction that stunned the country.

In 2015, Blanchard and her then-boyfriend, Godejohn, plotted the killing of her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, after she decided she has had enough of constant suffering. She was then sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

This case revealed the disturbing reality of Munchhausen syndrome by proxy, a form of abuse Blanchard suffered at the hands of her mother, culminating in a desperate act of violence.

A Life Marred by Deception and Suffering

Throughout her childhood and teen years up until the committed murder, Gypsy Rose Blanchard's upbringing was overshadowed by extreme child abuse orchestrated by her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.

Dee Dee Blanchard was under the belief that her daughter Gypsy had numerous health problems and required constant medical attention. This led to her daughter having numerous operations and unnecessary medical interventions due to her mother's complaint. Blanchard received medication for certain ailments and anti-seizure medication, as well as prompting her to use an oxygen tank and wheelchair even if she did not need it.

The mother was believed to have suffered from Munchhausen syndrome by proxy, which is a mental illness wherein a parent believes or makes the assumption that their child is medically sick in order to get satisfaction from the attention they are getting.

The psychological, emotional, and physical stress that her mother caused her left Gypsy Rose in a state of isolation and helplessness throughout her life, prompting the incident.

Read Also: Virginia Family Receives Heartwarming Christmas Surprise After Tragic House Fire

The Legal Battle and Its Implications

The murder trial revealed the degree of Dee Dee's deceit, including fabricated illnesses and altered medical records that have been going on.

Gypsy Rose's defense team highlighted her status as a child abuse survivor, portraying her actions as a response to the years of manipulation and abuse she has undergone.

As Gypsy Rose Blanchard steps into freedom, her story remains a focal point of interest. Her time in prison included significant life events, such as her marriage to Ryan Scott Anderson in 2022 and the penning of her book, "Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom."

Furthermore, her family, especially her stepmother Kristy Blanchard, has expressed happiness and relief at her early release from the murder conviction, eagerly anticipating making up for lost time.

Related Article: Brittany Watts' Bathroom Miscarriage Leads To Unprecedented Felony Charge in Ohio
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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, Seventh Topic: Angels; IX. Are angels our intercessors with God, and is any religious worship due to them? We deny against the Romanists ). 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.

*****

First, he alone can intercede for us who died for us. He alone can be our Paraclete (parakletos) and advocate who is our only sacrifice (hilasmos) and propitiation.

Turretin is thoroughly confused. Obviously, we intercede for each other. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit is our Paraclete:

John 14:16, 26 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, . . . [26] But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 15:26 But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; John 16:7 . . . if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Counselor in these passages is the Greek parakletos (Strongs word #3875), and describes the Holy Spirit in all four cases. Thus, Jesus is not our only Paraclete. The same word is applied to Jesus (advocate in RSV) in 1 John 2:1. But Turretins point is that no one else but Jesus fills this role. That has been decisively disproven above. Nor is Jesus the only Divine Person Who intercedes for us. He does (Rom 8:34), but so also does the Holy Spirit:

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. [27] And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Why is it that the learned Turretin couldnt figure this out? Was he unable to look up Bible passages, as I just did? Granted, he didnt have computer searches, but there were concordances available. I used them for fifteen years before I was ever online with all the fancy searching tools available.

Christ alone satisfied for us and therefore he alone can intercede for us (cf. Rom. 8:34, 35; 1 Jn. 2:1, 2 where these two functions are ascribed to Christ alone to the exclusion of others).

Romans 8:34-35 states that Jesus intercedes for us. It does not state that he is our only or exclusive intercessor; nor does 1 John 2:1-2. And Romans 8:26-27 above proves that the Holy Spirit also intercedes for us. Its simple logic. Again, then, one is left scratching ones head and wondering how Turretin can miss such obvious biblical facts? Its downright embarrassing.

Second, to present the prayers of others to God is a part of the mediatorial and priestly office, which Scripture claims for the Son of God

alone (who is the sole Mediator between God and men, 1 Tim. 2:5).

This is dead wrong, too. The Bible shows that Moses and Samuel are still interceding for us, after their death:

Jeremiah 15:1 Then the LORD said to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go!

And that both angels and departed human beings are doing that in heaven, presenting our prayers to God:

Revelation 5:8 . . . the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; Revelation 8:3-4 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; [4] and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God.

It also massively occurs among intercessors who possess exceptional righteousness, as I have documented. See, for example:

Genesis 20:7 Now then restore the mans wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you shall live. . . . Numbers 11:2 Then the people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire abated. Numbers 21:7-8 And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. [8] And the LORD said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. 1 Samuel 7:8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 12:19 And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king. 1 Kings 13:6 And the king said to the man of God, Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me. And the man of God entreated the LORD; and the kings hand was restored to him, and became as it was before. Job 42:8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Jeremiah 42:1-2 Then all the commanders of the forces, . . . and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near [2] and said to Jeremiah the prophet, Let our supplication come before you, and pray to the LORD your God for us, for all this remnant (for we are left but a few of many, as your eyes see us), James 5:14-18 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; [15] and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. [17] Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. (cf. 1 Ki 17:1)

Third, he alone can carry up our prayers to God who can wash off their corruption and expiate their impurity and imperfection and sanctify

them (which belongs to no created angel).

This is sheer nonsense, as all of the above Bible passages prove. Turretin shows himself, amazingly enough, astonishingly ignorant of biblical teaching.

Fourth, the angels ought either to offer all or only some. If all, then they ought to offer those also which are only mental (which they could not do because they are not searchers of the heart [kardiognostai]). If only some, they ought therefore to be determined by them and not to be offered indefinitely. But no reason can be given why some should be carried up rather than others.

We dont need to know the reason. Why would  and how could  Turretin assert that we have to know that, let alone that no reason can be given . . .?? We can never fully understand everything that God does:

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 For our knowledge is imperfect . . . [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, . . .

If God chose to involve angels or departed saints in the process of prayer and intercession in some cases and not others, then His reasons are His own, perfectly sufficient because they are His, and none of our business. What we know from Holy Scripture is that they are as a matter of fact sometimes involved. Turretin is being presumptuous towards God.

Fifth, the opinion concerning the intercession of angels is drawn from the heathen, among whom demons were constituted mediators (who performed the office of interpreters and ferrymen . . .

I see. Why is it then, that Lot made two petitionary requests of an angel and both were granted? The angel obviously presented these to God for His answer:

Genesis 19:15, 18-21 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.. . . And Lot said to them, Oh, no, my lords; behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life; but I cannot flee to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me, and I die. Behold, yonder city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there  is it not a little one?  and my life will be saved! He said to him, Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.

Why is it that Jesus Himself taught that Abraham could receive intercessory requests (Luke 16) if only He Himself could intercede for us?

The angel who prays for the people (Zech. 1:12) is not a created, but an uncreated angel (the Son of God who interposes his own intercession both here and elsewhere with the Father on behalf of the church; . . .

He offers a great prooftext for the intercession of angels:

Zechariah 12:1 Then the angel of the LORD said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these seventy years?

But then he rejects it by asserting that the angel of the Lord is Jesus. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a standard Protestant reference source (Angel / Angel of the Theophany) states:

It briefly entertains the possibility that this angel might be Jesus, but immediately clarifies that guesses as to his exact nature or identity are only conjectures that touch on a great mystery. John Calvin, in his Commentaries on this verse,  less dogmatic than Turretin about it , writes:

The Prophet now shows that the angel who was his guide and teacher, became even a suppliant before God in behalf of the welfare of the Church. Hence the probable opinion is, that this angel was Christ the Mediator. . . . it is nothing new, that Christ should exercise care over his Church. But if this view be disapproved, we may take any one of the angels to be meant. It is certain that it is enjoined them all to minister to the salvation of the faithful, according to what the Apostle says in the first chapter of the Hebrews Hebrews 1:1; and indeed the whole Scripture is full of evidences, which prove that angels are guardians to the godly, and watch over them; for the Lord, for whose service they are ever ready, thus employs them: and in this we also see the singular love of God towards us; for he employs his angels especially for this purpose, that he might show that our salvation is greatly valued by him. There is then nothing wrong, if we say that any one of the angels prayed for the Church. . . . for as it has been stated, the case of the faithful has been committed to angels, and they ever watch over the whole body, and over every member of it. It is then nothing strange that they offer prayers for the faithful . . . celestial hosts contend for us, according to what appears from many examples. For when the servant of Elisha saw not the chariots flying in the air, he became almost lost in despair; but his despair was instantly removed, when he saw so many angels ready at hand for help, (2 Kings 6:17) so whenever God declares that angels are ministers for our safety, he means to animate our faith; at the same time he does not send us to angels; but this one thing is sufficient for us, that when God is propitious to us, all the angels have a care for our salvation.

One might observe about Zechariah 1:12, that the angel shows that he is not omniscient, as Christ is, since He asks God, how long wilt thou have no mercy on Jerusalem . . .? One might retort that this was rhetorical or otherwise non-literal, but I dont recall (I might be wrong) Jesus ever saying anything like this anywhere else.

The angel who is said to stand at the altar, having a golden censer; and to whom was given much incense, that he might offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne (Rev. 8:3) cannot be a created angel, but the uncreated (to wit, Christ who performs this office).

This is exegetical nonsense as well, and implausible to the highest degree, when we look at how Jesus Christ is referred to throughout the rest of the book of Revelation:

1) Jesus Christ (1:1-2, 5) 2) him who is and who was and who is to come (1:4) 3) him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (1:5) 4) to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever (1:6) 5) he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him (1:7) 6) Jesus (seven times) 7) one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast; [14] his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, [15] his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters; [16] in his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. (Rev 1:13-16) 8) I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (1:17-18) 9) the first and the last, who died and came to life. (2:8) 10) him who has the sharp two-edged sword (2:12) 11) the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze (2:18) 12) I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve (2:23) 13) I myself have received power from my Father (2:27) 14) him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars (3:1) 15) I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you (3:3) 16) I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels (3:5) 17) the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens (3:7) 18) you have kept my word and have not denied my name (3:8) 19) I am coming soon (3:11) 20) Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten (3:19) 21) the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David (5:5) 22) a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain (5:6) 23) and they sang a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, . . . (Rev 5:9-10) 24) saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever! (5:12-13) 25) lamb (25 more times from Revelation 6 to the end of the book). 26) their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water (7:17) 27) a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne (12:5) 28) Christ (11:15; 12:10; 20:4, 6) 29) a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand (14:14) 30) he who sat upon the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped (14:16). Right before and after this, another angel was referred to (14:15, 17), but Jesus is distinguished from them. Rather, he is called one like a son of man (14:14), which is a messianic title of Jesus (the one He mostly called Himself). 31) Lord of lords and King of kings (17:14) 32) Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. (19:11-13) 33) From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords. (19:15-16) 34) [the city of heavens] lamp (21:23) 35) [the one who possesses the] book of life (21:27) 36) One Who sits on ] the throne (22:1, 3) 37) Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Rev 22:12-13) 38) I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star. (22:16) 39) Surely I am coming soon. (22:20) 40) Lord Jesus (22:20)

We see all of this rich data of the names that Jesus is called (probably the largest collection of His various names in all of Scripture), and descriptions of Him, but Turretin would have us believe an utterly implausible thing: that Jesus  in the middle of all of this  was referred to merely as another angel (8:3) and the angel (8:4-5). It makes no sense at all, and even borders on blasphemous.

Turretin cites the great St. Augustine (always claimed by the Reformed as one of their own) to the effect that we should honor and love angels (of course we should). What he doesnt cite are the following examples where Augustine espouses the angelic intercession (partly based on the data from a deuterocanonical book that Protestants reject), a thing that Turretin flatly denies:

For, even when His angels hear us, it is He Himself who hears us in them, . . . (City of God, x, 12) [T]hey [prayers] may be made known also to the angels that are in the presence of God, that these beings may in some way present them to God, and consult Him concerning them, and may bring to us, either manifestly or secretly, that which, hearkening to His commandment, they may have learned to be His will, and which must be fulfilled by them according to that which they have there learned to be their duty; for the angel said to Tobias: Now, therefore, when you prayed, and Sara your daughter-in-law, I brought the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One. [Tobit 12:12] (Epistles, 130 [9, 18]: to Proba [412] )

Threskeia or the worship of angels is expressly condemned by Paul: Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind (Col. 2:18). . . . Paul condemns all worship (threskeian) of angels absolutely, not what is rendered to them as to the supreme God . . .

We agree with the first part, and teach that they are to be honored and venerated, not worshiped or adored. We disagree with the second part, because Scripture does:

Genesis 18:1-4, 22(RSV) And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. [2] He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself [shachah] to the earth, [3] and said, My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. [4] Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, . . . [22] So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham still stood before the LORD. (cf. Heb 13:2: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.)

The text in-between goes back and forth, referring to men or they or them (18:9, 16) and The LORD or first-person address from God (18:10, 13-14, 17-21) interchangeably, for the same phenomenon and personal / physical / verbal encounter. But there are three men here; they cant all plausibly be God. Two of them were angels (indicated by 18:22 and 19:1). Thus, Abraham venerated them, too. St. Augustine argued that all three men were angels, but this seems ruled out by the presence (twice) in the text, of the LORD.

Judges 13:15-22 Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, Pray, let us detain you, and prepare a kid for you. [16] And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, If you detain me, I will not eat of your food; but if you make ready a burnt offering, then offer it to the LORD. (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the LORD.) [17] And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you? [18] And the angel of the LORD said to him, Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful? [19] So Manoah took the kid with the cereal offering, and offered it upon the rock to the LORD, to him who works wonders. [20] And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar while Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. [21] The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. [22] And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, for we have seen God.

This passage is remarkable in that it goes back and forth between God (13:16, 19, 22) and the angel of the Lord (or of God) as His direct representative (13:15-18, 20-21 and in the larger passage, 13:3, 6, 9, 13). The angel is honored (v. 17), they fall on their faces to worship (v. 20) and at length the angel is equated with God as His visible manifestation (v. 22). But the difference between the angel and God is highlighted by the angel being described as a man of God (13:6, 8) and the man (13:10-11).

The Angel of the Lord is also equated with God (theophany) in Gen 31:11-13; Jud 2:1; but differentiated from God as well, as a representative: (2 Sam 24:16; 1 Ki 19:6-7; 2 Ki 19:35; Dan 3:25, 28; 6:23; Zech 1:8-14).

Lot also clearly venerated two angels, who appear by the text (again, 18:22 cf. 19:1) to be the same angels whom Abraham had talked to and venerated:

Genesis 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening; and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth,

They distinguish themselves from the LORD:

Genesis 19:13 for we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.

See also:

Numbers 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed [qadad] his head, and fell on his face.

Like schachah, this word can also denote veneration or reverence of creatures (see, e.g., 1 Sam 24:8; 1 Kgs 1:16, 31: obeisance to the king), while at the same time it can be applied to worship or adoration of God, in the same outward gesture of bowing down before Him (Ex 12:27; 34:8)

The prophet Daniel venerates an angel (seemingly Gabriel)without rebuke:

Daniel 8:15-17 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. [16] And I heard a mans voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, Gabriel, make this man understand the vision. [17] So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened and fell upon my face. . . .

Moreover, angels are bowed to and venerated in the New Testament, with no rebuke at all:

Luke 24:4-5 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; [5] and as they were frightened and bowed [klino] their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Fifth, if the worship (threskeia) of angels was lawful, some command or promise or approved example of it would be given in Scripture. Since, however, our opponents can adduce no such thing, . . .

I just provided several such things above.

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Summary: As part of my series of replies to Calvinist Francois Turretin, I provide the biblical basis for intercession & veneration of angels, and counter-reply to objections.
Who are the God-Fearers, you ask?

Lets rephrase that as, who were the God-Fearers?  because this dates back to the ancient Roman Empire.

Heres Wikipedia:

The overall story here is that as Jews migrated to cities outside Judea in the 1st through 3rd centuries AD, Judaism was appealing to many gentiles/pagans, that is, believers in the traditional polytheistic Greek/Roman religion who were attracted by the monotheism and the moral code of Judaism but who did not want to fully convert because that entailed circumcision and required the complete observance of all of the Laws of Moses.

According to Gentiles, God-Fearers and Proselytes, by David Sim, via Google Books (a footnote in the Wikipedia article), the God-Fearers were considered to be a part of the local Jewish community to at least the extent that monuments listing donors included these individuals as a subcategory. They were also permitted to remain in that status indefinitely. In the end, though, these half-converts to Judaism ended up, by and large, as full-converts to Christianity, especially after the Apostles sorted out the initial questions of whether Jewish observances were required of Gentile converts.

And while this bit of history is interesting in its own right, I also find myself wondering whether this God-Fearer status (which I suppose in todays terminology we might call seekers) could exist now.

Lets imagine, for the sake of argument, that there had been no Reformation, so that an individual who rejected certain teachings didnt have an alternative in choosing from a dozen Protestant churches nearby? Or lets consider someone who, in fact, feels more at home in a Catholic liturgy, despite those disagreements?

Could such an individual be welcomed? Could we as Catholics do that welcoming without abandoning our beliefs?

This is what Im not sure of: the culture at large has now created a belief that there is no half-in, that to be welcomed means to have all ones beliefs affirmed. I do not know whether half-in God-Fearer status is anything any such individual would accept.

But beyond that, the other practical difficulty is that communion in a Catholic church is reserved for those in a state of grace and who have observed a Eucharistic Fast. Back in a pre-Vatican II world, to my understanding, that meant not having eaten since the night before, and the threshold for state of grace was enough higher than now that it was expected that you needed to have gone to confession the day before, so that it was relatively common for even reasonably observant Catholics to stay in the pews at communion-time. It is also the case that non-Catholics ought not receive communion but it is my understanding that it is increasing common in practice for this prohibition to be brushed off. And because not-receiving-communion just isnt on anyones radar any longer, we get homilies that preach about communion, taking it for granted that everyone present will be receiving (which, yes, cause me to cringe each time Im there with my husband).

So in a way it seems like its possible to describe an idealized future state, in which God-Fearers who are drawn to Catholic worship by the liturgy and by church teaching but cannot accept the moral teachings in full, are accepted with the understanding that they are continuing to pray about it, and are ministered to without affirming those disagreements, and in which enough people stay in the pews at communion time that no one feels weird about it, and maybe theres an acknowledgement that people could refrain for varied reasons without judgement and with an invitation to prayer instead, perhaps with prayer cards. But I dont know how we, as a church, could get from here to there, when everyone receives communion at every mass has become our post-Vatican II norm.
The master Baizhang was charged with naming a founding abbot for Mount Daigu. He called his community together and set a full water bottle in their midst. He said, Dont call this a water bottle. What will you call it? The head monk responded, Its not a wooden shoe. Then Baizhang asked the head cook, Guishan, what was his view on the matte? Guishan kicked over the water bottle and returned to his kitchen. Baizhang laughed, and sent Guishan to Mount Daigu.[1]

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(What follows are some rough notes for a future study. What they sometimes call the crappy first draft. Possibly of interest even in this messy state)

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When I first started Zen practice in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, the San Francisco Zen Center was already a major Bay Area presence. The renowned Zen missionary Shunryu Suzuki had come to California in 1959 to serve as minister at the long established Sokoji temple. My introduction to Zen practice was at the temple when it was housed in a former synagogue.

What I was not aware of at the time was that there were two communities occupying the same space with the same spiritual leader. What I thought of as the Zen Center was a guest organization of the temple. When I began sitting at their Berkeley branch, theyd already purchased a hot spring resort near Big Sur and were establishing the first formal Zen training temple along Japanese lines at Tassajara. The Berkeley group was one of several practice groups scattered around the Bay.

In 1969 the leadership of Sokoji temple asked for Shunryu Suzukis resignation as their priest. Too much of his time was taken up by the expanding needs of the Zen Center and the growing numbers of students. The rest, as they say, is history.

There was a lot I didnt come to understand until later was that the Zen Center, the actual name center was first used by them when they incorporated in 1961, was that the history of Zen communities and even where the focus of practice was, both in the way communities were organized, and who the practitioners were, had evolved over many hundreds of years.

While Zen has always had householder practitioners, the normative place to study and practice from when it first began to emerge in China were within hermitages and monasteries. Sometimes hermitages would become the locus of an emerging monastery. People would hear of a master trying to live quietly and gradually people come to be near and hopefully to study with that master. And another monastery might arise. More often the hermit would remain hidden from fame and gain, living quietly, and dying alone or perhaps in companionship with one or two students. There may or may not be some kind of succession.

While Zens literature would suggest there were school specific monasteries, in fact throughout Chinas history, monasteries were eclectic things. They might have a meditation hall, but they also might have a chanting hall, and a sutra study hall.

People called into the Buddhadharma would ordain with masters of the monastic rule. Some would devote their lives to understanding the nature of the rule and seek liberation within it. While some would devote their lives to the study of ancient texts theyd received from India, and which seemed to keep appearing. Others would feel the call of Amitabha and find a life devoted to calling on the sacred name. While still others might throw their lives into the disciplines of the meditation all.

Abbots of these monasteries might come from any of these schools. And it was common, and actually, where the monasteries exist in China and on Taiwan, the succeeding abbot can and might well come from another school. Householders, for most of Chinese history, mainly drawn from the scholar bureaucrat class, among the few with leisure time to devote to interests beyond survival, would visit the monasteries. Some among them would become meditators, take up the disciplines of Zen, and on occasion awaken, and sometimes be acknowledged as masters in their own right.

But mostly, Zen belonged to the monasteries and hermitages.

And then Zen came to Japan. There Buddhism began to specialize and what we can think of as specific schools would eventually have their own monastic complexes. But this took a while. And Zen was first practiced in Japan by monastics from the Tendai school. Tendai took a comprehensive view of the dharma, seeing itself as offering a reconciliation of the different approaches.

And so, the earliest Japanese monastics who were attracted to Zen, most notably the Rinzai founder Myoan Eisai and not much later the Soto founder Eihei Dogen, were both first Tendai monks. Eisai may never have thought of himself as anything but. However, Japanese Buddhism also quickly began to form school specific monasteries. Dogen most famously, while rhetorically rejecting sectarianism was among the first to functionally establish a totally Zen specific monastery, Eiheiji.

However, something else happened in Japan which would forever change how Zen would manifest. With a series of Imperial decrees beginning in 1603 Japan instituted what would evolve into rough denominational structures with head temples and branches. These branches often had one or two resident monks. Over time they came to function as parishes serving the liturgical religious needs of the local community. In effect monks gradually became parish priests.

In Japan ordination followed a different system than the Vinaya and had a looser formal statement about celibacy. They were understood to be monks or nuns, but at least in the case of monks in these temples, eventually many had lifelong companions, usually called housekeepers. And over time children. This would come to a head in 1868 when the Imperial court removed all criminal penalties for clerical marriage.

What gradually happened was that temples became largely hereditary. Increasingly what happened is that aspirants to their fathers temple were expected to spend a period of formation at the lineages head temples. Gradually Training Temples became normative, where while some people would spend their entire lives there, mostly they were seminaries creating priests for the many thousands of local temples.

The San Francisco Zen Center became the paradigm of the next major shift. The people coming to study with him were there specifically to learn the practices and to grow deep with them. What that meant in practice was there was no way these practitioners were going to go to established temples. Instead, it was once again all about practice.

In the thirteenth century Dogens rough contemporary, a Pure Land priest named Shinran Shonen married without hiding the fact nor renouncing his clerical status. He said of himself he was neither a monk nor a layperson. Functionally he was creating a noncelibate priesthood not unlike Anglican as opposed to Roman Catholic priests.

Many years later Suzuki Roshi used that term when speaking of his students as neither monks nor laypeople. But he meant something different. He was describing the emerging Zen practitioners of North America and the West. And he really meant all them whether they chose to follow in an adaptation of the Japanese ordination model, or, ever more so, simply were householder practitioners.

Where when Zen first began to emerge in medieval China householder practitioners were few and far between, as I noted, usually only highly educated governmental officials. Officials with time they could devote to something beyond bare survival. Now there were few interested in a traditional monastic life as monks or nuns. Some were interested in Zen priest practice as it evolved in Japan. But the real focus was learning to meditate, being guided in going deep in those disciplines, and to a lesser degree establishing Mahayana Buddhist lives. While making their livings outside of a professional Buddhist world.

The Zen center emerged to serve that community. While the San Francisco Zen Center is a major complex with three major branches, the original in San Francisco, the monastery in Tassjara Hot Springs, and the Green Gulch Farm in Marin county. It serves a network of affiliated communities, at this writing with nearly seventy formal sanghas in North America alone, and many more overseas.

This has become something of a pattern for the Zen center system in the West. There are ordained practitioners. There are monastics. There are Zen priests in the Japanese style. Actually, through a separate evolution the Korean Taego Order also includes non-celibate clergy. And they are beginning to have a significant presence in North America and the West. But whatever the tradition, many of these practitioners, most are householders. Another Korean derived lineage, the Kwan Um School of Zen originally saw a two-fold leadership rising, monastics and householder. Over the last decades Ive watched the numbers of monastics continue to shrink, to the point that today the teachers of their extensive community are nearly entirely householders. Similarly the linage of the late Chinese master Sheng Yen is beginning to have a presence outside of the Chinese community through its householder teachers.

And householder teachers and non-celibate clergy reflect the profound shift in who identifies as a Zen practitioner. Those involved in Zen are not congregants, not, as it were only listeners. They are not passive in their participation. They have regular disciplined spiritual lives. Not exactly monastic. Not precisely lay. They find their practice supported by the centers and smaller sanghas, which often has a leader. The leader may be ordained, but often is not.

Originally sangha was a term reserved for a certain number of monks or nuns. In the Mahayana tradition it quickly became a term for the great community of Buddhists, and even for the great community of life, and beyond that to everything that has emerged.

Now sangha has come to mean those things and the smaller, sometimes fairly substantial, most commonly a handful of people gathered together for practice and mutual support.

Today there are many hundreds of Zen centers and sanghas in many different lineages and traditions, where the majority of the community are householders. Many best described as neither monastics nor laypeople.

A new community of practice and awakening with new institutions to support the practice and practitioners.

[1] Gateless Gate, Case 40, authors version
As part of the ongoing celebrations for Christmas and the New Year, Kasapreko Company Limited, Ghana's foremost beverage manufacturer, has generously donated a range of refreshments to the Ghana Police Service in recognition of their invaluable efforts in upholding peace and security within the nation.



At a presentation ceremony held at the police headquarters, Mr. Richard Adjei, Managing Director of Kasapreko Company Limited, emphasized the company's commitment to expressing gratitude to the Ghana Police for their unwavering dedication to maintaining a peaceful environment conducive for businesses to thrive.



The donation, comprising 1000 packs of assorted soft drinks, Awake purified drinking water, and 20 cartons of assorted spirits, among other items, aims to serve as a token of appreciation to the Ghana Police for their indispensable service to the Ghanaian populace.



Mr. Adjei reiterated; "We seek to honor and uplift the spirits of our nation's guardians during this festive season, recognizing their pivotal role in safeguarding our communities."



COP Mrs. Habiba Twumasi Sarpong, the Director General, Welfare, graciously accepted the donation on behalf of the Police Administration, expressing heartfelt appreciation to Kasapreko Company Limited for their thoughtful gesture.



She highlighted the significance of such support in boosting the morale of officers, further enhancing their commitment to ensuring Ghana remains a peaceful and secure nation.



The ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of the entire police administration, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, underscoring the collective acknowledgment of the critical partnership between the private sector and law enforcement in fostering a safe environment for all.



Kasapreko Company Limited remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Ghana Police Service and reaffirms its dedication to corporate social responsibility by contributing to initiatives that enhance the well-being of those who serve and protect the nation.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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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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Nigerian comedian Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, has expressed his frustration over individuals who are asking him for financial assistance during this festive period.



The veteran comedian took to his Instagram story to convey his message.



Recall that just a few months ago, AY Makun was struck by a tragedy when his multi-million naira home was razed by fire.



However, in a recent post, AY Makun said that anyone asking him for money this period lacks conscience or the fear of God.



He wrote: I am just tempted to say that everybody asking me for money this period does not have conscience or lacks the fear of God. E get why.

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.

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A 20-year-old was driving more than 125 mph down Route 30 in Lancaster County last summer when he got into a crash that killed the motorcyclist he was racing, police said in court documents.

Brandon C. Gentile, 20, of Coatesville, was charged on Thursday with vehicular homicide, racing on highways, carrying a firearm without a license, and drug offenses in connection with a June 4 crash on Route 30 east in Manheim Township.

Moments before the crash around 7:13 p.m., Gentile, driving a Subaru, was racing 22-year-old motorcyclist Thomas A. Hartenstine, of Manor Township, witnesses said, according to Manheim Township police.

Hartenstines motorcycle caught fire after the crash, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

While denying he was racing, Gentile told investigators he was casually driving, trying to stay out of Hartenstines way, and reached up to 80 mph before crashing, according to police.

However, police said evidence from Gentiles car showed he was driving more than 125 mph in a 55 mph zone just before the crash. Several PennDOT cameras also showed Gentile speeding down the eastbound side of the highway and unsafely passing other vehicles.

Police said a marijuana vape pen was in Gentiles center console cup holder. A lunch bag with multiple used vape pens and a digital scale with residue on it was found in the trunk, according to police.

A black, unbranded gun missing a serial number and 9-millimeter ammunition were in the trunk, too, along with six bags containing drug residue, police said. White powder residue and a dozen alprazolam pills were also reportedly in the car. Alprazolam is most commonly known as Xanax.

Police said Gentile did not have a license to carry a gun and was not authorized to have the drugs.

Gentiles cars registration and state emissions were expired at the time of the crash, police said. However, police said a mechanic determined there was nothing wrong with the car that would have caused the crash.

Police said Gentile turned himself in Thursday and was released after posting $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5 in front of Magisterial District Judge David Miller.

Remembered for his cheerful disposition, kindness and infectious smile, Hartenstine loved animals, traveling, and at one point was a competitive swimmer, according to his obituary. He was a Boy Scout, played the French horn and enjoyed gaming.

Tom was known for his dry, witty sense of humor, delivering zingers with a wicked grin, the obituary said.

Hartenstines funeral services were held in July in Lancaster County.
A man died Thursday night after answering the front door of his Northeast Philadelphia townhome and finding gunmen standing there, according to news reports.

He was shot and killed by the gunmen Thursday night with his family hearing the gunshots from upstairs, including his children, under the age of 10, and their mother.

Reports of gun shots began to pour in around 11:30 p.m. at the Regency Townhomes located on Woodhaven Road in Northeast Philadelphia. Some also reported seeing a person with a gun.

According to family, they heard a knock on the front door, and when this 33-year-old answered the door, thats when family heard multiple gunshots, and thats when they realized the 33-year-old was shot, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to 6ABC.

When authorities and medics reported to the scene, they found the victim  33-year-old Bilal Henry  inside the home on the floor, just a few feet from the front door. He had been shot in the head and torso. He was pronounced dead at 11:37 p.m.

Authorities believe at least 13 shots were fired, 6ABC reported.

Police found multiple spent shell casings inside and outside of the townhome. The shots were fired from a semiautomatic weapon or weapons. Nothing was stolen or ransacked, 6ABC reported.

So clearly the shooters were firing from outside and then went inside and fired multiple shots, Small said to NBC10.

Witnesses saw two men wearing dark clothing running from the scene and possibly jumping into a white vehicle after the shooting, both news outlets reported.

Authorities are combing through surveillance footage that was captured on private cameras on properties in the immediate area in hopes of figuring out whos behind this, both news outlets reported.
ELKO  They were not flying in a Top Gun fighter jet, the three young cousins just looked the part.

Rather, their family had won a 20-minute flight through a fund-raising raffle for the Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department. And that flight was on a MedX AirOne rescue helicopter.

Stacy Kroupa of Elko, a supervisor at Kinross Golds Bald Mountain Mine, purchased the $5 raffle ticket to benefit the fire department and he and daughter Madisyn Kroupa, 12, kept the ride secret from cousins Hunter Nelson, 15, and Maddox Nelson, 12, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, who were visiting for the holidays.

The three youngsters and their parents arrived at the MedX ground station in the former passenger terminal building of Elko Regional Airport just in time for their 10:30 a.m. flight on the air ambulance, a 2012 Bell 407 with a Rolls-Royce engine.

Pleasantries were exchanged with fire Chief Bret Murphy, pilot Tanner Church, MedX staffers and parents Kroupa and Jodi Nelson and Eric Nelson, and then it was on to the flight.

Church flew the helicopter to the back of the building, which was decorated inside with dozens of Christmas stockings, decorations, food and even a Monopoly game for those slow times. He then briefed the three passengers, fitted them with helmets and radio headsets, performed his pre-flight tests, then shut the door and powered up. The chopper took off for the 20-minute flight.

The childrens parents joked how it was like sending them off to college, then they and Murphy made their way to Northeast Nevada Regional Hospitals helipad for their return.

Soon enough, the helicopter could be heard from behind the hospital and quickly made its swoop to the ground before Church powered the powerful engine off.

It was amazing, Maddox Nelson said.

It was awesome. I want to go again, cousin Madisyn Kroupa said.

Flying in the helicopter is definitely worth it, Hunter Nelson added. Its a great experience. Yeah, I want to be a flight a paramedic.

Though Kroupa won the tickets, he had big plans for them. I called these two (Eric and Jodi Nelson) and I said, Hey what do you think about like doing this for all the kids at Christmas?

And thats what happened. But the Nelsons, Kroupa and daughter Madisyn had to keep it a secret from the two Nelson brothers.

Thats the best part, Kroupa said. We told them we were coming down here, we were going to go and look at tickets for Hawaii next year for Christmas and when we pulled up like  you guys can come and see what kind of tickets we bought.

Jodi Nelson said she was glad nobody spilled the beans.

In the end, the flight proved a winner for the two families and for the volunteer fire department.

Murphy said the department is always looking for a few good men and women to volunteer. Volunteers generally should be 18 or older, but some as young as 16 can train with firefighters but not battle blazes with them.

Close This pre-flight pose includes the lucky passengers and raffle winner outside the Bell helicopter with the MedX AirOne team and Spring Creek firefighting team on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. The MedX AirOne helicopter prepares for its special flight on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Pilot Tanner Church stands outside his MedX AirOne helicopter on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Brothers Maddox Nelson, 12, left, and Hunter Nelson, 15, wear helmets as they prepare for their flight on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Madisyn Kroupa, 12, is ready for the helicopter flight on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Her two cousins are standing by. The intrepid crew of passengers, from left, Maddox Nelson, 12; Madisyn Kroupa, 12; and Hunter Nelson, 15, are ready to board the air ambulance for their flight. After touching down at Northeast Nevada Regional Hospital's helipad, Hunter Nelson, 15; Madisyn Kroupa, 12; and Maddox Nelson, 12, stand with pilot Tenner Church in front of the Bell helicopter on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. From left, Hunter Nelson, 15; Maddox Nelson, 12; Madisyn Kroupa, 12; Stacy Kroupa; Eric Nelson; and Jodi Nelson, share a smile after the three children had a ride on the Bell helicopter on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Gallery: Cousins win helicopter ride A $5 raffle ticket benefitting the Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department led to a 20-minute helicopter ride for three cousins on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at the Elko Regional Airport. This pre-flight pose includes the lucky passengers and raffle winner outside the Bell helicopter with the MedX AirOne team and Spring Creek firefighting team on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. The MedX AirOne helicopter prepares for its special flight on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Pilot Tanner Church stands outside his MedX AirOne helicopter on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Brothers Maddox Nelson, 12, left, and Hunter Nelson, 15, wear helmets as they prepare for their flight on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Madisyn Kroupa, 12, is ready for the helicopter flight on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Elko Regional Airport. Her two cousins are standing by. The intrepid crew of passengers, from left, Maddox Nelson, 12; Madisyn Kroupa, 12; and Hunter Nelson, 15, are ready to board the air ambulance for their flight. After touching down at Northeast Nevada Regional Hospital's helipad, Hunter Nelson, 15; Madisyn Kroupa, 12; and Maddox Nelson, 12, stand with pilot Tenner Church in front of the Bell helicopter on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. From left, Hunter Nelson, 15; Maddox Nelson, 12; Madisyn Kroupa, 12; Stacy Kroupa; Eric Nelson; and Jodi Nelson, share a smile after the three children had a ride on the Bell helicopter on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.

The chief, who has been with the department 20 years, 14 of them as chief, said there are 16 members, but only 10 of them are active.

Thats what were really looking for, more volunteers, he said. People that are dedicated to helping the community, and willing to come to the trainings and put the time in and things like that.

He said the training is essential. A lot of people think they can just jump right into the volunteer, get in a truck  but theres a lot of you cant without the training.

He said the department conducts training twice a month, the first and third Tuesday of the month, and business meetings are the first Monday of the month.

Thats how you get started.

The department can be reached at 775-753-6411.
Talk about a traveling nightmare.

A couple has gone viral after they were captured accusing American Airlines staff of keeping them from their two dogs when they learned their flight was delayed.

A clip of the public outburst was captured and first posted to TikTok. It has since been deleted, but the video featured 42-year-old Dustin Miller and his husband, 40-year-old Anthony Thorne, at the Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, both The Independent and Yahoo reported.

The clip began with a furious Miller speaking to American Airlines staff as Thorne, holding a Louis Vuitton bag, tried to calm his husband down.

They had just learned their American Airlines flight to Fort Lauderdale had been delayed. Miller didnt take the news so well.

American Airlines [expletive] us over, Miller said, as Thorne repeatedly asked, You dont care about the girls, you dont care about the girls?

Thorne urged Miller to remember your girls, referring to the couples pet dogs, Shelby and Dolly.

But Miller appeared to be drunk, slurring the names of his dogs. Thornes attempts to calm his husband failed because thats when Miller broke away from his husband, announcing to his fellow passengers at the gate, Hello, everybody! American Airlines [expletive] us over

To further attempt at calming his husband down, Thorne then repeated the names of their two 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 clip, a woman in a wheelchair waiting to board the flight, who had her dog seated next to her, told the couple to go away.

Miller didnt take her comment kindly, telling her to, [expletive] off, [expletive].

Things continued to go downhill for the couple because American Airlines flight AA321 from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was delayed and ultimately canceled on Dec. 27, according to FlightAware.

Turns out, a subsequent flight took off from Charlotte later that day at 11:08 p.m. and landed in Fort Lauderdale the next morning at 1:03 a.m.

Flight AA321 from CLT to FLL was first delayed and ultimately canceled 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.
A town hall meeting scheduled for early January to address efforts to rebuild the Broad Street Market is canceled.

The Broad Street Market Alliance Board of Directors announced it Dec. 27 on Facebook:

With the publishing of the new city webpage on rebuilding the Broad Street Market for weekly and monthly updates, the town hall scheduled for January 10th is being canceled. Please reference the website for questions and updates on the status of the rebuild. Thank you for your continued support of the market and we are looking forward to seeing you at our market events.

We apologize for the disappointment or inconvenience this announcement may cause for community members.

A fire on July 10th destroyed the markets brick building and displaced about two dozen vendors. Officials said the fire likely stemmed from a malfunctioning ceiling fan and was ruled accidental.

The meeting was scheduled as part of an effort by the markets board of directors to improve communication with the public about concerns and market happenings in light of the fire. The new website was launched in partnership with the city as another way to share updates.

The markets board is undergoing a reorganization. Market executive director Tanis Monroy said four board members didnt seek reappointment in November. Former president John J. Ski Sygielski, president and CEO of Harrisburg Area Community College, said he decided not to continue for personal and professional reasons.

Following the fire, the city erected a steel-enforced tent across from the market for vendors to use. The facility will feature flooring, electricity, heating/cooling, sewage, and water and is like the tents set up at major sporting events and by the military.

But earlier this month, Harrisburg City Spokesman Matt Maisel said the tents opening is delayed due to a lack of bids for sewage and electric hookups.

Its frustrating, and considering all the talk for months about how anxious people were to help, to not have anyone lined up yet is hard. But we keep trying, he said.

The delay has prompted some vendors to bow out. Jess Kost of Sweet 717 announced she is departing the market due to a drop in business, while several vendors, including Honeybush Raw Smoothie Bar and Ward of Health, have transitioned to other projects.
By Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press

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, Lancaster County, 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.

Richer reported from Boston.
By Nicholas Riccardi and David Sharp, The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine  Maines Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally in a decision that has potential Electoral College consequences.

While Maine has just four electoral votes, its one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maines electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.

The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that booted Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Colorado is a Democratic-leaning state that is not expected to be competitive for Republicans in November.

Former President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives at a commit to caucus rally, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)AP

Bellows found that Trump could no longer run for his prior job because his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol violated Section 3, which bans from office those who engaged in insurrection. Bellows made the ruling after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, challenged Trumps position on the ballot.

Her decision came one day after Trumps lawyers asked her to disqualify herself over tweets that they said showed bias. She called the U.S. Capitol attack an insurrection and bemoaned that Trump wasnt convicted by the U.S. Senate after being impeached by the U.S. House.

Bellows wont have the final word on Trumps political career. Her decision can be appealed to Maines courts. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to make a final decision on whether Trump can still run for president early next year.

Activists have asked state election officials across the country to remove Trump from their states primary ballots under Section 3. Until Bellows ruling, all of them rejected the request, often saying they were waiting for courts to give direction on how to interpret the clause, which has been used only a handful of times since the years following the Civil War.

Maine law mandated that Bellows hold a public hearing over the issue, which she did in December. A lawyer and former executive director of the Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Bellows allowed each side to submit additional arguments after the Colorado Supreme Courts historic Dec. 19 decision that Section 3 barred Trump from the ballot.

Trumps campaign has said it will appeal that courts 4-3 ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has never ruled on Section 3. Whatever the high court decides will apply to every state, including Maine.

The Maine decision shows the potential perils to Trump if the issue is decided on a state-by-state basis. He lost Colorado by 13 percentage points in 2020 and does not need it to win the presidency. But Maine divides its electoral votes by congressional districts, and Trump has twice won the states second congressional district.

If hes not on the ballot there, he would start his 2024 campaign down one Electoral College vote.

The secretary of states office said its not aware of the office previously striking a presidential candidate from the ballot, but other candidates for lower offices have been removed that way.
By Arthur Allen, KFF Health News (TNS)

SAN DIEGO  Erinn Maury knew Remicade wasnt the right drug for Patti Schulte, a rheumatoid arthritis patient the physician saw at her Millersville, Maryland, practice. Schultes swollen, painful joints hadnt responded to Enbrel or Humira, two drugs in the same class.

But the insurer insisted, so Schulte went on Remicade. It didnt work either.

Whats 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 Maurys drug of choice, Orencia. By then, Schultes vertebrae, weakened by prednisone, had started cracking. She was only 60.

Schultes 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. Its also a story of how doctors are steered by pharmacy benefit managers  the middlemen of the drug market  as 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, its a TNF inhibitor, almost always Humira. And thats not OK.

If theres a shred of hope in this story, its 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.

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. (Dreamstime/TNS)TNS

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 persons 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, Crohns 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, its 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 theres often no reason to think a TNFi will work better than another type.

Under these puzzling circumstances, its often the insurer rather than the doctor who chooses the patients 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 Humiras price. That has enabled it to control 98.5% of the U.S. adalimumab market, even though it has eight biosimilar competitors.

PrismRAs 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 its routine to test the genetics of patients tumors to determine the appropriate drug treatment.

You wouldnt 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?

Its 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 Schultes medical bills, Maury noted.

Precision medicine hasnt 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 whos 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 havent 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, Sciphers 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 thats 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 didnt 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 tried  all TNFis  caused allergic reactions, culminating with an outbreak of pus-filled sores. Another drug, Otezla, eventually seemed to help heal the sores, and shes 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. Theres 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 doesnt. 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 isnt clear, partly because the arrival of new biosimilar drugs  essentially generic versions  are 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 didnt 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.

What Patients Want

Shannan OHara-Levi, a 38-year-old in Monroe, New York, has been on scores of drugs and supplements since being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at age 3. Shes been nauseated, fatigued, and short of breath and has suffered allergic reactions, but she says the worst part of it was finding a drug that worked and then losing access because of insurance. This happened shortly after she gave birth to a daughter in 2022, and then endured intense joint pain.

If I could take a blood test that tells me not to waste months or years of my life  absolutely, she said. If I could have started my current drug last fall and saved many months of not being able to engage with my baby on the floor  absolutely.

(KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

2023 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Newville Borough Council on Thursday passed a 2024 budget that will hike property taxes by about 50%, quadruple the boroughs earned income tax, and cut one of its three police officers  a financial plan that most council members found to be the least unpleasant out of several options to begin digging the borough out of a dire fiscal hole.

The council voted 4-to-2 to adopt a budget ordinance increasing the boroughs real estate tax from 4.895 mills to 7.325  a tax hike of about $300 per year for a home assessed at the boroughs median value of just over $123,000.

This is on top of an increase in the boroughs earned income tax, which will go from 0.5% to 2% under a hike approved in court last week pursuant to Act 47, Pennsylvanias system for financially distressed municipalities that Newville was placed under earlier this year.

A Newville resident with a median salary of $47,143 will now be facing an extra $707 per year in payroll taxes (nonresident workers pay an extra half of a percentage point, but revenue is split with their home municipality).

Even with these boosts in revenue, the plan finalized Thursday will still require the borough to cut one of its three police officers  meaning that the boroughs most recent hire, K9 officer Shawn Gutshall, will be out of a job in 72 hours.

I would not vote to do away with the police force, but I do not think we can afford a three-person police force, said councilman Jack Ericksen.

The borough, located in the northwest corner of Cumberland County, could have kept all three members of its force by hiking real estate taxes another 1.04 mills, or about $128 per year for the median home  but this expense would continue to snowball, Ericksen said, unless the borough reduces police manpower.

We will have flat or slightly declining revenue over the next four years, Ericksen said. Every year [police] costs are going to rise, and our revenues are going to decline.

Thursdays vote sets in place a $1.22 million general fund budget for the coming year that is both balanced  eliminating the structural deficit that the borough had run for years  and begins paying back emergency loans from the state which were made earlier this year when the true scope of the boroughs financial problem became apparent.

The council had already reached a consensus on other cost reductions, including furloughs of the police secretary and a public works employee as well as other austerity measures  boiling the remaining decision down to the police department, whose personnel and operating costs account for roughly a quarter of the boroughs budget.

Other budget cuts are already factored in and I think everybodys agreed on that. The decision is three cops, two cops, or one cop, said council president Scott Penner.

We dont have a choice at this point other than to frame the budget around how many officers to keep, Ericksen said, given that the police department is where the money is.

Two members of the council  Penner and Jake Burkepile  voted against the budget, albeit for opposite reasons.

Penner said he believed it was worth a further tax hike to keep all three officers, sharing his experience with response times in which Gutshall was on the scene in two minutes  versus two hours for the Pennsylvania State Police, who would otherwise cover the borough when its own officers arent on duty.

I fear that that will be more commonplace in Newville if we cut our police officers, Penner said of lengthy response times.

Burkepile, however, said he would prefer to cut the force down to a single officer- which would have saved the median-value homeowner about $193 per year relative to the two-officer plan.

I live paycheck to paycheck, along with a lot of people in Newville, Burkepile told PennLive after the meeting. One elderly resident told the council Thursday that she had already cut her groceries and electric costs as far as she could and would struggle to shoulder the tax hike on her home, which breaks my heart, Burkepile said.

Residents also questioned if the borough would not fare better by getting rid of Police Chief Todd Koser instead of Gutshall and/or officer Matthew Keller, with residents saying they had a more favorable relationship with the latter two. But state laws on police tenure require a last-in first-out system, according to Penner and Borough Solicitor Marcus McKnight, meaning Gutshall must be the first to go.

Gutshall and Keller attended Thursdays meeting; after the vote was taken, Gutshall requested that the borough surrender the K9 to him, along with a pot of money that he and citizens had raised for the dogs care.

I ask that I keep the K9 and that funds are turned over to me for his vet care and everything else, and hopefully for the next department that I go to, Gutshall said.

Council members immediately voted to turn over the dog, given that chances of selling the animal to another department were described as slim; the council scheduled a vote on the transfer of the dogs funds for next weeks meeting.

Newvilles situation began to unravel roughly a year ago after former borough manager Fred Potzer fell ill and was off work for an extended period. In his absence, McKnight and others said they began to discover what had been going on  namely that the borough was fundamentally insolvent and that Potzer had, for years, been misappropriating dollars from other funds to paper over the problems.

An Act 47 audit of the borough by an outside firm, presented earlier this year, indicated that  among other things  the borough had missed payments to its pension plan for several years, accruing a $600,000 shortfall in its employee retirement obligations.

The borough had also defaulted on a tax anticipation note and vehicle loans, despite having bolstered its balances by improperly taking money from its sewer and water fund and its state gas tax revenue  earmarked for infrastructure  and putting it toward general operations.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, pursuant to Act 47, bailed the borough out with $800,000 in interest-free loans, of which Newville will repay $80,000 next year along with returning $15,000 of misused gas tax funds to the state.

The state-commissioned audit confirmed that Newvilles budgets were largely fictitious, with greatly inflated revenues in order to cover up a structural deficit. For the current year, the borough will take in less than $750,000, despite listing $1.1 million in revenues on its 2023 budget.

If this had continued, the borough would have been looking at spending $1.4 million in 2024 with revenues of only $622,000, according to the audit.

Potzer was abruptly fired in January 2023, and Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack is conducting an investigation and forensic audit.

We were with the DA after the [income tax] hearing on Friday and he hopes to have something to us by the middle of January, end of January at the latest, Penner told residents Thursday.

One thing we will get, which will be helpful, is a copy of the forensic accounting report to tell us where the money went and how it was done, McKnight said.

If McCormack does not pursue criminal charges against Potzer, McKnight said, the borough could file a civil case  although Potzer has filed an appearance in court to pursue action against the borough but has not yet submitted specific claims.

McKnight himself was the subject of some ire from borough residents Thursday, and Burkepile submitted a petition he said had been signed by residents who wanted McKnight to be fired for not keeping a closer eye on Potzer.

Everything we assumed to be correct was not correct. It was a house of cards, McKnight told PennLive on Thursday, describing a fiscal shell game by Potzer that involved moves such as using state-provided pension aid to patch up other accounts and then concealing the transfers from McKnight and others.

The sad thing is, had he told us years before, we wouldve had a chance to balance the budget without taking the drastic measures the council had just approved, McKnight said.

The process of righting the fiscal ship will continue, as the borough tries to replace monies in its water and sewer funds to avoid having to sell the utilities. The borough is also in the process of moving its operations to a new building, with several residents questioning if the borough could simply sell the new structure to avoid further tax hikes.

However, the building and the land it sits on is a gift from Richard Gobin, a pharmacy owner and long-time borough benefactor, and his wife. Gobin conveyed the land to the borough for $1, and paid for the construction of the new building; in return, the borough is to pay the Gobins $48,000 per year until they die, an arrangement Penner likened to the annuities paid to donors who finance college buildings.

This would still have to be paid even if the borough sold the property, which Gobin values at around $2 million, complicating the matter were the borough to consider offloading it.

Gobin, who attended Thursdays meeting, said his interest is simply in giving the community a larger public space that doesnt have the maintenance issues that the current downtown borough hall does.

Further, Gobin said he and his wife had given the borough $72,000 last year to create a new account that would make the final payment on the building, and which would then begin to pay the Gobins annuity  only to discover later that Potzer had used the money to cover operating costs. The borough has not yet moved into the new building.

Theyre trying to settle everything else while the building he created sits idle, Gobin said. Its a screwed-up mess.
By Jaxon White, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Gov. Josh Shapiro returned the $2,450 PlexiDor electric dog door purchased in June with taxpayer dollars for the Governors Residence, according to his spokesman Manuel Bonder.

That [dog] door was erroneously purchased, Bonder said. Some mansion staff were concerned that possums or raccoons could enter the mansion if a manual dog door was installed, he added.

He did not provide documentation to show it was returned. He did not know whether the door was in the possession of the Department of General Services or if it was returned to the manufacturer, but he said it is no longer on the premises of the mansion.

The governor's spokesman said other purchases for the mansion, including six TVs and a sectional sofa with heating and massage features, are not in the process of being returned for a refund. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Bonder said Shapiro and his wife, Lori, were not on board with the dog door after it was bought because they thought it was not necessary. Bonder wouldnt say who initially authorized the purchase, but he said it hadnt been installed in the mansion before it was returned in July.

They didnt want it, Bonder said. They wanted a basic dog door.

Bonder provided LNP  LancasterOnline with a receipt for a separate $578 dog door from Home Depot that he said was installed in the residence instead of the electric one. He did not know if the state would receive a full refund for the electric door.

The Shapiros have two dogs, Bentley and Bo.

The electric door is designed to open when a dog wearing the sensor collar approaches. It then closes behind the dog once it passes through.

Bonder initially declined to answer questions about the dog door when asked about it by a reporter last week. However, he contacted the reporter on Wednesday, after LNP  LancasterOnline published an article showing Shapiro had spent $92,000 in public funds during his first six months to upgrade the furnishings, appliances and decor of the mansion.

When asked why he did not tell the reporter that the door had been returned, Bonder said, I just literally didnt know.

Bonder said other purchases for the mansion, including six TVs and a sectional sofa with heating and massage features, are not in the process of being returned for a refund.

(c)2023 LNP (Lancaster, Pa.)

Visit LNP (Lancaster, Pa.) at lancasteronline.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This story was updated late Thursday night after the DAs office identified the suspect killed by members of the task force.

A person wanted by police died Thursday afternoon in Mount Joy Township in an officer-involved shooting, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office.

Shane Kelec, a registered sex offender who was wanted on rape, aggravated assault and related charges, was identified by the DAs office as the man killed.

The incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Market Street in Elizabethtown when the district attorneys office said that members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern District Violent Crimes Task Force were attempting to locate the individual to serve an arrest warrant.

In a press statement, the DAs office said preliminary information indicated that officers fired at the suspect, who was pronounced dead. The DAs office also said a firearm was found at the scene near the suspect.

Kelec, 38 of the 1700 block of Stone Mill Road, Lancaster, was charged with raping and then assaulting a victim on Dec. 17 causing injuries including a broken nose, broken rib, subdermal hemorrhage/subdural hematoma, head laceration that required nine stitches, and skull fracture.

There was a heavy police presence Thursday afternoon at a former Taco Bell in the 1500 block of South Market Street. A Fine Wine & Good Spirits store closed out of an abundance of caution for about one hour because of the incident.

As of 6:15 p.m., the Lancaster County Coroners Office was still at the scene.

The DAs office said the incident is under review and in the preliminary stages, and additional information will be released. The office said that Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams will review the incident and determine whether the police use of force was justified.
Mark Twain apocryphally said, Im in favor of progress; its change I dont like. This quote pithily underscores the human tendency to desire growth while also harboring strong resistance to the hard work that comes with it. I can certainly resonate with this sentiment.

I was raised in a conservative evangelical home. Like many who grew up in a similar environment, I learned a set of religious beliefs that framed how I understood myself and the world around me. I was taught that God is loving and powerful, and Gods faithful followers are protected. I was taught that the world is fair and that God is good. The world seemed simple and predictable  and most of all, safe.

These beliefs were shattered when my brother unexpectedly passed away when I was 27 years old. His death at 34 with three young children shocked our family and community. In addition to reeling with grief, some of my deepest assumptions were challenged. Was God not good or not powerful? Why didnt God save my brother, who was a kind and loving father and husband? And how unfair, uncaring and random is the universe?

This deep loss started a period where I questioned all of my beliefs in light of the evidence of my own experiences. Over a considerable amount of time, and thanks to an exemplary therapist, I was able to revise my worldview in a way that felt authentic. I changed my mind, about a lot things. The process sure wasnt pleasant. It took more sleepless nights than I care to recall, but I was able to revise some of my core beliefs.

I didnt realize it then, but this experience falls under what social science researchers call intellectual humility. And honestly, it is probably a large part of why, as a psychology professor, I am so interested in studying it. Intellectual humility has been gaining more attention, and it seems critically important for our cultural moment, when its more common to defend your position than change your mind.

What it means to be intellectually humble

Intellectual humility is a particular kind of humility that has to do with beliefs, ideas or worldviews. This is not only about religious beliefs; it can show up in political views, various social attitudes, areas of knowledge or expertise or any other strong convictions. It has both internal- and external-facing dimensions.

Within yourself, intellectual humility involves awareness and ownership of the limitations and biases in what you know and how you know it. It requires a willingness to revise your views in light of strong evidence.

Interpersonally, it means keeping your ego in check so you can present your ideas in a modest and respectful manner. It calls for presenting your beliefs in ways that are not defensive and admitting when youre wrong. It involves showing that you care more about learning and preserving relationships than about being right or demonstrating intellectual superiority.

Another way of thinking about humility, intellectual or otherwise, is being the right size in any given situation: not too big (which is arrogance), but also not too small (which is self-deprecation).

I know a fair amount about psychology, but not much about opera. When Im in professional settings, I can embrace the expertise that Ive earned over the years. But when visiting the opera house with more cultured friends, I should listen and ask more questions, rather than confidently assert my highly uninformed opinion.

Four main aspects of intellectual humility include being:

Open-minded, avoiding dogmatism and being willing to revise your beliefs.

Curious, seeking new ideas, ways to expand and grow, and changing your mind to align with strong evidence.

Realistic, owning and admitting your flaws and limitations, seeing the world as it is rather than as you wish it to be.

Teachable, responding nondefensively and changing your behavior to align with new knowledge.

Intellectual humility is often hard work, especially when the stakes are high.

Starting with the admission that you, like everyone else, have cognitive biases and flaws that limit how much you know, intellectual humility might look like taking genuine interest in learning about your relatives beliefs during a conversation at a family get-together, rather than waiting for them to finish so you can prove them wrong by sharing your  superior  opinion.

It could look like considering the merits of an alternative viewpoint on a hot-button political issue and why respectable, intelligent people might disagree with you. When you approach these challenging discussions with curiosity and humility, they become opportunities to learn and grow.

Why intellectual humility is an asset

Though Ive been studying humility for years, Ive not yet mastered it personally. Its hard to swim against cultural norms that reward being right and punish mistakes. It takes constant work to develop, but psychological science has documented numerous benefits.

First, there are social, cultural and technological advances to consider. Any significant breakthrough in medicine, technology or culture has come from someone admitting they didnt know something  and then passionately pursuing knowledge with curiosity and humility. Progress requires admitting what you dont know and seeking to learn something new.

Relationships improve when people are intellectually humble. Research has found that intellectual humility is associated with greater tolerance toward people with whom you disagree.

For example, intellectually humble people are more accepting of people who hold differing religious and political views. A central part of it is an openness to new ideas, so folks are less defensive to potentially challenging perspectives. Theyre more likely to forgive, which can help repair and maintain relationships.

Finally, humility helps facilitate personal growth. Being intellectually humble allows you to have a more accurate view of yourself.

When you can admit and take ownership of your limitations, you can seek help in areas where you have room to grow, and youre more responsive to information. When you limit yourself to only doing things the way youve always done them, you miss out on countless opportunities for growth, expansion and novelty  things that strike you with awe, fill you with wonder and make life worth living.

Humility can unlock authenticity and personal development.

Humility doesnt mean being a pushover

Despite these benefits, sometimes humility gets a bad rap. People can have misconceptions about intellectual humility, so its important to dispel some myths.

Intellectual humility isnt lacking conviction; you can believe something strongly until your mind is changed and you believe something else. It also isnt being wishy-washy. You should have a high bar for what evidence you require to change your mind. It also doesnt mean being self-deprecating or always agreeing with others. Remember, its being the right size, not too small.

Researchers are working hard to validate reliable ways to cultivate intellectual humility. Im part of a team that is overseeing a set of projects designed to test different interventions to develop intellectual humility.

Some scholars are examining different ways to engage in discussions, and some are exploring the role of enhancing listening. Others are testing educational programs, and still others are looking at whether different kinds of feedback and exposure to diverse social networks might boost intellectual humility.

Prior work in this area suggests that humility can be cultivated, so were excited to see what emerges as the most promising avenues from this new endeavor.

There was one other thing that religion taught me that was slightly askew. I was told that too much learning could be ruinous; after all, you wouldnt want to learn so much that you might lose your faith.

But in my experience, what I learned through loss may have salvaged a version of my faith that I can genuinely endorse and feels authentic to my experiences. The sooner we can open our minds and stop resisting change, the sooner well find the freedom offered by humility.

Daryl Van Tongeren, Associate Professor of Psychology, Hope College

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
By Charles Christian, St. Joseph News-Press, Mo. (TNS)

Christmas doesnt mark the end of the holiday season for some as people celebrate Kwanzaa beginning on Dec. 26.

Unlike many holidays this time of year, such as Hanukkah and Christmas, which have a religious emphasis, Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration.

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by African-American university professor and activist Maulana Karenga. The celebration lasts seven days and has a different emphasis each day tied to African agrarian culture.

Ramadhan Washington has been active in the African-American community for decades and says that Kwanzaa came along during a difficult decade for all Americans, the 1960s.

During the mid-1960s, much of America seemed to be on fire. There were social and political upheavals, not only among African-Americans, but among all Americans, Washington said. Assassinations and riots marked much of that time, and Kwanzaa became a call back toward community, especially for African-Americans during those troubled times.

Each day of Kwanzaa carries a distinct emphasis, but all are tied to the concept of community. The name derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means first fruits.

It is a lot like Thanksgiving. Much like the harvest gathering at Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa reflects the idea of harvest in African culture, Washington said. Symbolically, it became a call for Black Americans to come together and unify around key ideas of community.

The seven emphases are often listed in Swahili. They are umoja (unity) on day one, kujichalia (self-determination) on day two, ujima (collective work and responsibility) on day three, umjaa (cooperative economics) on day four, nia (purpose) on day five, kuumba (creativity) on day six and imani (faith) on day seven.

For each day, families and communities gather, light a candle and talk about the emphasis of the day, Washington said. An activity or action usually accompanies the theme of the day.

For example, Washington said that on day six, which emphasizes creativity, people are encouraged to do something like making a gift for someone in the family or community.

Gary Wilkinson, who, like Washington, has given decades to causes important to the African-American community in St. Joseph, Mo., said the key principles of Kwanzaa can be applied to all cultures and people groups.

All of these principles are at work in the universe. Those are universal principles, Washington said. We are a family, and we have to realize that. We have to get back to that.

Charles Christian anchors the evening news for News-Press NOW and also serves as an ordained minister at United Methodist Churches in Union Star and Helena, Missouri.
In 2023, Vietnamese tourism has shown signs of improvement, continuing the recovery momentum since 2022. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), by the end of November 2023, Vietnam welcomed 11.2 million international visitors, equivalent to 69% of 2019 and served 103.2 million domestic visitors.

Vietnamese tourists check-in in Japan

Notably, the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan (China), America and Japan are the largest markets sending tourists to Vietnam. Total revenue from tourists was estimated at 628.3 trillion VND.

In a recent conference summarizing activities of the VNAT, Mr. Vu Quoc Tri, General Secretary of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said that among 5 million Vietnamese tourist arrivals travelling abroad, Thailand welcomed more than 800,000, the Republic of Korea received more than 420,000, and Taiwan (China) greeted 350,000.

By the end of 2023, the Vietnam Tourism Association has nearly 18,000 members. The association is always proactive in researching and capturing information from affiliated units, the tourism association system of provinces and cities, and the members of the tourism business community to propose mechanisms and policies to help tourism businesses overcome difficulties caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said that in 2024, the Association will call on the tourism business community to make efforts and strive towards the goal of completely restoring tourism activities. Tourism businesses are determined to attract and serve over 20 million international visitors to Vietnam./.
2023 will go down in Pennsylvania as a year of historical firsts for several reasons  first women to preside over each legislative chamber, first female Supreme Court chief justice, first Black lieutenant governor  but it also should be noted as a year when this state demonstrated how much it values the history previously made here.

Three building projects were completed in Harrisburg that house important artifacts and documents that tell key chapters of the Pennsylvania story. As the second of the original 13 colonies to join the Union in 1787 and being chartered in 1681, the commonwealth has centuries of history that it has kept well preserved in the State Archives, the State Library and the Civil War Battle Flag Education Center.

Combined, the cost of building or renovating spaces for these historical items to lie totals about $175 million.

David Morrison, executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association, said with the exception of the Forum Building, its not so much the new or renovated structures themselves that is of significance but rather the treasures they hold inside.

It shows that state government cares for the things that it owns on behalf of the public, he said. The fact that all three of these projects came to fruition in 2023 is definitely worthy of note. The state is to be commended for these accomplishments.

The State Archives, which had its ribbon cutting this month, moved from the windowless tower in the Capitol Complex location to a new building at 1681 N. Sixth St. in Harrisburg  a street address that pays respect to the states birth year.

The four-story, 146,000-square-foot building that houses over a billion documents that must be kept in perpetuity including the most treasured artifact  the 342-year-old Penn Charter, was more than a decade in planning. It cost $69 million to construct. The end result was described by Gov. Josh Shapiro this way: I think this is the coolest building in state government.

At its ribbon-cutting ceremony, Shapiro said, I want all Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvanians for generations to come to appreciate the important work that is done here and to be able to rediscover our history and most importantly, to learn from it.

Morrison, who recently toured the new facility, said as far as he is concerned, its the best archives in the country. It absolutely is second only to the National Archives.

24 1 / 24 State Archive to open in new Harrisburg home Mark Pynes

October saw the ribbon cutting at the renovated Forum Building where the State Library, including its rare book collection with volumes that date back to the 15th century, has been located since the 1930s and once again reopened in that location.

That limestone structure in the Capitol Complex also once again serves as home to the states Department of Education, which left in 1979 and moved a couple blocks away to the tallest building in Harrisburg at 333 Market Street.

Renovation work on the Forum Building involved making its interior more modern and energy efficient  doing away with the window air conditioners  while preserving its many historical features and artwork at a cost close to $105 million, according to General Services spokeswoman Madeline Williams.

Some history also was preserved around its exterior as well. Cobblestones that were removed from the driveway at the Governors Residence while its exterior was undergoing its recent renovations now can be found in places around the Forum Buildings walkways.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, General Services Secretary Reggie McNeil said, The Forum Building in its great history has been the home to several state agencies for many years and unfortunately, it was not receiving the attention it deserves. Now we brought it back to its full glory.

Morrison said it was the most significant historic preservation project in Harrisburg in a long time.

15 1 / 15 Renovated Forum Building ribbon cutting

Earlier in October saw the ribbon-cutting on yet another facility that holds some of Pennsylvanias cherished artifacts - its Civil War battle flags.

The Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center at 22nd and Forster streets in Harrisburg not only houses one of the nations largest collection of state-issued regimental flags but offers visitors an interactive experience to learn the stories behind each flag and the people who carried them.

The center, located less than a mile down the hill from the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, is situated in renovated space in a state-owned storage facility. The $444,125 price tag to provide environmental controls, fire protection, and security systems to ensure the safety of the 403 Spanish-American and Civil War regimental flag was drawn from both public and private funds raised by the Capitol Preservation Committee.

The flags, once stored in less than ideal conditions in display cases in the Capitol Rotunda, played a significant role on the battlefield, said Jason Wilson, the preservation committees historian. They served as a rallying device for soldiers as well as a communication system. With the flag-bearer positioned at the center of the line, he said men would keep an eye on where their flag was If it advanced, the battle line advanced. If it went backward, thats what the regiment would do.

John Gordner, former chairman of the Capitol Preservation Committee who helped launch the development of the center, said at the ribbon-cutting, The biggest thing this does is be able to tell the history of the flags, the history of the battle that flag was in, and the people behind the flag. So it really gives you the full history.

13 1 / 13 Battle-stained flags preserved in new Civil War Battle Flag Education Center in Harrisburg

Outside of Harrisburg, several other state-administered building projects of significance were completed in 2023, according to General Services spokesman Eric Veronikis.

The Southeastern Regional Traffic Management Center at PennDOTs District 6 headquarters in Montgomery County opened in March. This facility manages the busiest and largest transportation network in Pennsylvania while operating over half of PennDOTs information technology devices including 477 traffice cameras, 207 Dynamic Message Signs, over 700 sensors/readers for travel time and incident detection, and over 700 miles of fiber. The cost of this project was over $49 million, according to PennDOT.

Kopchick Hall at Indiana University of Pennsylvania had its ribbon cutting in November. This $90 million building housing the science and mathematics departments will open for classes this spring. It is named in honor of longtime IUP supporters and alumni John and Char Labay Kopchick who made a $23 million donation to the school for science and mathematics initiatives.

An $11.4 million expansion and renovation of historic Amos Hall on Lincoln Universitys campus was completed in September. The 121-year old structure on the nations first degree-granting historically black college was originally was used as a bathhouse for male students. It now houses a gallery of Lincolns large collection of African artifacts, studio spaces and the main IT hub for the campus.

The new year ushers in the start of a number of other major building projects that fall under General Services purview including the modernization of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey.

Groundbreaking was held earlier this month on the roughly $300 million project, which is expected to be completed in four years. It includes a five-story building with 300 single-person dorm rooms, indoor tactical village training, a 500-person auditorium, two gyms, a training tank, medical facilities and a weight room.

The facility will include a two-story Bureau of Emergency Special Operations headquarters and kennel with parking for equipment; a stable for the mounted unit; outdoor tactical training area; indoor 25-lane firing range; a central supply warehouse that is moving from Derry Street; a running track; a walking path and a six-bay garage for the police museum to store its antique vehicles.

13 1 / 13 Pennsylvania State Police Academy groundbreaking

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy.

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Alexis Bridge in Lac Ste. Anne County, Alta., is shown in this handout image taken on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. RCMP say they have found the bodies of an Alberta family who went through a lake northwest of Edmonton. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Reeve of Lac Ste. Anne County-Joe Blakeman **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Delegates visited the exhibition area of typical works. (Photo: tienphong.vn)

The event is among activities to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army, and the 34th anniversary of the All-people National Defense Festival (December 22, 2023).

Major General Dinh Quoc Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee of Group 969, and Political Commissar of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command, said: After more than 2 months, the Organizing Committee received 59 articles and 5 video clips.

The entries have rich and diverse content, many are written about the process and origin of the establishment of the Mausoleum Project; traditions, tasks, and characteristics of agencies and units associated with the process of formation, development and promotion of the political and cultural significance of the Mausoleum Project; and the background, personality and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh.

The video clip genre with moderate length, tight and appropriate layout, creativity, sharp images, vivid sound, elaborately illustrated technical effects, created appeal to the viewers.

According to Major General Dinh Quoc Hung, the contest has created a vibrant and widespread emulation movement, thereby encouraging the spirit of studying and working according to Ho Chi Minhs moral example.

For the article category, the organizers awarded a special prize to the work Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - A noble symbol of the Vietnamese people by Lieutenant Le Huong Giang of the Politics Department under the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command, with two first prizes, three second prizes, four 3rd prizes and six consolation prizes.

For the video clip category, the organizers awarded the first prize to the work Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - A place of convergence, emotions, faith and aspirations by Major Nguyen Ngoc Ha of the Politics Department, along with two second prizes and two third prizes./.
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)

Editor: ZAD
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Maines Secretary of State has disqualified Donald Trump from the primary ballot and sent his presidential campaign into meltdown.

Maine Secretary of State Disqualfies Trump

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, wrote in her decision of two voter challenges to Trumps ballot qualifications:

I conclude that the record establishes that Mr. Trump, over the course of several months and culminating on January 6, 2021, used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power. I likewise conclude that Mr. Trump was aware of the likelihood for violence and at least initially supported its use given he both encouraged it with incendiary rhetoric and took no timely action to stop it.

Mr. Trumps occasional requests that rioters be peaceful and support law enforcement do not immunize his actions. A brief call to obey the law does not erase conduct over the course of months, culminating in his speech on the Ellipse. The weight of the evidence makes clear that Mr. Trump was aware of the tinder laid by his multi-month effort to delegitimize a democratic election, and then chose to light a match.

On the Gordon challenge, Secretary Bellows said, There appears to be no dispute between any of the parties that President Biden prevailed over Mr. Trump. Therefore, given Mr. Trump has only won a single election for President, he is not barred from being elected to the same office again under the Twenty-Second Amendment.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly. Democracy is sacred I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection. The oath I swore to uphold the Constitution comes first above all, and my duty under Maines election laws, when presented with a Section 336 challenge, is to ensure that candidates who appear on the primary ballot are qualified for the office they seek.

The events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic. They were an attack not only upon the Capitol and government officials, but also an attack on the rule of law. The evidence here demonstrates that they occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President. The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government, and Section 336 requires me to act in response.

Trump Campaign Responds To Being Disqualified In Maine

The Trump campaign blew a gasket and blamed Biden and Democrats for his disqualification:

The Maine Secretary of State is a former ACLU attorney, a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat who has decided to interfere in the presidential election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden. We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter. Democrats in blue states are recklessly and un-Constitutionally suspending the civil rights of the American voters by attempting to summarily remove President Trumps name from the ballot.

Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy. Biden and the Democrats simply do not trust the American voter in a free and fair election and are now relying on the force of government institutions to protect their grip on power.

Trump Tried To Overturn The Will Voters, But Now He Cares About Voter Disenfranchisement

Trump tried to disenfranchise voters in swing states that voted for Joe Biden in 2020. Trump tried to disenfranchise the majority of voters by attacking the Capitol on 1/6, but now that he is being held accountable for his actions, the former president is suddenly concerned about voter disenfranchisement.

The thing is, disqualifying Trump from the ballot is not voter disenfranchisement. Republican voters in Maine will still be able to support any of the remaining Republican primary candidates. Unlike what Trump did on 1/6, removing him from the ballot does not overturn their votes.

Trump should be worried because now that two states have disqualified him, momentum may grow in other places to remove him from the ballot.

Republicans may end up with a nominee who cant appear on the ballot in every state.

The GOP has set themselves up for disaster and the disqualification movement could begin to snowball on Trump.

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We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.
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New evidence provided by one of Trumps lawyers has implicated Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) in the Trump coup plot.

CNN reported:

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.

A spokesman for Sen. Johnson downplayed his involvement and said that it only amounted to a few seconds as if participating in an attempt to overthrow the United States government for just a few seconds makes the senators action less of a crime against democracy.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) has already been confirmed as an active participant in the insurrection, but Sen. Johnson has spent years denying involvement in the plot.

It was not his constitutional duty to play a role in delivering fake electors to the Capitol.

Johnsons involvement is a reminder that the plot was masterminded and run by the Trump campaign, but the Republican Party when faced with a choice, chose to attack instead of defend democracy.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA

If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.
Unless you're one of the many a**holes that traveled down to Florida in order to celebrate spring, chances are your Spring Break this year is going to be a lot tamer than in years past.

Contrary to what many may believe, James Franco's Spring Breakers isn't the only film centered on the topic. There are plenty of other great raucous films centered around spring break. The below films and their party-hard energy will no doubt bring on pangs of nostalgia, but for those looking to vicariously party through their TVs this year, here are the best spring break movies for 2021.

Cabin in the Woods Before Chris Hemsworth was Thor, he was just a college buddy, heading up with a group of friends to have a relaxing vacation in a cabin in the woods. Obviously, things go terribly wrong. Zombies attack, and people start to die in grotesque ways. But when it's revealed that two scientists control the zombies, the plot turns into an absolute mind f**k. Cabin in the Woods is a completely different movie by the end and is a unique take on the horror genre that shouldn't be overlooked.

Ibiza: Love Drunk Ibiza: Love Drunk Harper (Gillian Jacobs) decides last minute to take her two best friends on a work trip to Barcelona. What results is a trip we all desperately want to have right now. Bottles are emptied, clubs are explored, and famous hot DJs are flirted with. Ibiza: Love Drunk is a rip-roaring good spring break film if you're looking for something fun and lighthearted.

American Pie American Pie A raunchy classic, American Pie features gratuitous sex jokes and plenty of sensual moments that even in their silliest moments will make us all yearn for any sort of human touch. It's a gross-out comedy for sure, so come prepared to cringe, but watching a young Eugene Levy be a dorky dad never gets old.

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened We all wish we could pack up and go to a lavish music festival. But what if such a thing actually never existed? Netflix's Fyre documentary, which recounts the famous music festival that was anything but, will cure any sort of FOMO you have. With that said, I would still love to be stranded with a group of people right now.

22 Jump Street While 21 Jump Street was hilarious in its own right, 22 Jump Street is notable because Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum infiltrate a wild and out-of-control spring break fiesta. Under the alter egos of Schmidt and Jenko, the famed duo must shut down a massive drug ring while also trying not to have too much fun in what looks like the greatest spring break ever.
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
Millions of Americans will ring in 2024 with a toast of Champagne or sparkling wine and they could perhaps enjoy some other alcoholic beverages during the evening, but Aiken County residents may have a difficult time if they seek to purchase their libations Sunday.

First, South Carolina bans the sale of liquor by the bottle on Sundays.

Aiken County residents looking to enjoy an Old Fashioned, a Jack and Coke, a Moscow Mule or a Whiskey Sour have two choices: purchase the necessary liquor before Sunday or plan to be at a bar or similar establishment Sunday evening.

If Aiken County residents want to purchase their liquor early, they can do so at licensed ABC stores. These stores and their hours can be found by searching online. ("Aiken SC ABC stores").

If Aiken County residents want to visit a bar, they can find a bar or similar establishment by searching online as well ("Aiken SC bars"). If Aiken County residents go to a bar, they should also be mindful of the dangers of consuming alcohol and attempting to drive. The residents should make arrangements for transportation if they plan on drinking during the New Year's Eve festivities.
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)

Editor: WXL
New Italian and Thai dining spots, along with two new bagel shops, soon will be cooking across the Lowcountry. Also, a new retailer is on the way to the peninsula, a longtime Summerville shop changes hands, and a new cafe and market officially opens Jan. 11 in Mount Pleasant. Read moreNew restaurants coming to Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Moncks Corner
A familiar roadside name is making a return trip to the Lowcountry's competitive convenience store and fuel-stop industry after a lengthy absence.

Atlanta-based RaceTrac Inc. announced it's expanding into the Charleston region with what it called its "largest travel center format" near a busy crossroads in St. George.

It's also entering the Greenville market with a new retail location featuring extra diesel services to accommodate truck drivers.

The company didn't give specific opening dates. It told an industry trade publication it was hoping the new Palmetto State stores would ready by Dec. 29. Each will require about 40 workers.

The newly built 8,700-square-foot St. George store is near Interstate 95 and West Jim Bilton Boulevard in upper Dorchester County. Its features include "a large, easily maneuverable lot with additional spacious high-flow diesel lanes, overnight truck parking" as well as scales to weigh truck loads, according to the company, which will compete with a nearby Flying J Travel Plaza and Pilot Travel Center, among other food-and-fuel stops.

The new Upstate store is near I-85.

We have put a great deal of thought and research into the selection of these new locations, based on their proximity to city centers and the needs of professional drivers through the state, a RaceTrac official said in a written statement.

The company traces its roots to a Missouri business that was started in 1934. It adopted the RaceTrac name and moved its headquarters to Atlanta in 1976. CSP, an online news outlet that covers the industry, said it ranked RaceTrac as the 15th-largest convenience store chain in the country based on its 800 locations.

New archives show the chain operated at least three retail sites in North Charleston and Goose Creek decades ago, from around the mid-1980s to until at least the early 1990s.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY  When authorities recovered skeletal remains from a rural area near Andrews last year, the family of Harry Woodruff III feared investigators had finally found the missing man.

But it wasn't until last week that the Georgetown County Coroner's Office confirmed those fears. A private lab determined the remains belonged to Woodruff.

I suspected since they found the body, that it just felt different, (especially) being that close to where my momma and he stayed, Woodruffs sister Kassandra Bourne said. Though still hearing it (now) sucks. It hurts a lot.

Along with the pain, Woodruff's family is also frustrated that it took so long to identify him. And a bigger question remains unanswered: How did he die?

Woodruff was known as Bubba and worked as a landscaper. He lived near 6 Mile Crossing and family members said music was his passion.

He was in a band throughout his teens and really enjoyed it, Bourne said. He played guitar. It was a garage band, but they did pretty well. No matter how bad you felt, he could always make you laugh. He had his issues, but he was my baby brother.

Woodruff, who was first reported missing in February 2020, had a few run-ins with local law enforcement on mostly misdemeanor charges, but Bourne said her brother was human and they deserve to find out how he died.

He went missing the week after Valentines Day, she said. I was told he just walked out of the house and left everything.

On Sept. 21, 2022, human remains were discovered nearby in a rural area off Kent Road.

Kent Road runs north-south between Gapway Road and U.S. Highway 521 east of Andrews. According to Georgetown County Sheriffs Office deputies on the scene at the time, the remains appeared to have spent "an extended period of time" in the location where they were found.

Georgetown County Coroner Chase Ridgeway sent off a sample of the remains to the State Law Enforcement Division for DNA testing, but after two failed attempts, he hired a private lab that positively identified Woodruff.
Several businesses have announced that they will open in Greenville at the beginning of 2024.

Based on the most recent information, here's what to expect and when.

Downtown Greenville

A Charleston-based cult favorite plans to open in mid-to-late January at 355 S. Main St.

Unlike the cafe in Charleston, Greenvilles location has a kitchen on-site. Greenville diners can expect a more robust lunch menu and a dessert selection that changes seasonally.

This Atlanta-based home decor store is slated to move into the space at 660 S. Main St. at the intersection of River Street at the beginning of next year.

The company will occupy the former Army Navy Store  a prominent building with a rich history in downtown Greenvilles evolving West End.

Family-owned gas station chain Spinx laid out plans to start renovating the former Cook's Station space at 659 Main St. in November and conclude in April 2024.

A representative from the company didn't respond to a request for an opening date.

After a brief closure, this rolled ice cream shop plans to re-open at 109 N. Main St. in early January.
Some Horry County taxpayers were perplexed this month when the vehicle tax payments they mailed to the county were sent back to them.

This wasnt a holiday gift. The county government still wanted its money.

The problem was the U.S. Postal Service mistakenly closed a P.O. box for the Horry County Treasurers Office last week, Treasurer Angie Jones said. P.O. Box 1780, the destination for vehicle tax payments, inexplicably closed sometime around Dec. 20. That led to mailed payments being returned to senders marked undeliverable or with the message Box has closed.

Everyone makes mistakes, Jones said. Its just a bad time for a mistake like that.

Jones said she started getting emails from constituents about the returned mail over the Christmas holiday. She immediately called the countys printing vendor to make sure they had printed the correct box number  they had  and when county offices reopened Dec. 27 her staff met with post office employees.

A spokesperson for the Postal Services South Carolina district said the agencys management team is conducting a review to address any issues with mail sent to the Treasurers Office.

This isolated incident does not represent the high level of service we wish to provide our customers, Debra Jean Fetterly of the USPS said in an email. We ask our customers to accept our sincere apology for any inconvenience.

County officials do not have an estimate yet on the number of payments that were affected by the closure.

The county mailed 29,615 vehicle tax notices that are due by the end of December and another 28,107 that must be paid by the end of January.

But many people send payments early and others pay in person at the Treasurers Office or online. This problem would only have impacted people who mailed payments during the window when the box was closed. However, Jones pointed out that her office typically sees an influx of mailed payments at the end of the month.
TIMMONSVILLE  Lori Patrick wants to use the almost 30 Nigerian Dwarf goats behind their home in Timmonsville to one day make cheese. Shes making soap now. She even sells the goats, too, as pets.

But one goat she wont part with is a 20-pound, black and white baby named Itty Bitty, who has what Patrick calls moon spots, a different colored spot on a spot.

Itty Bitty is the star of the goat yoga classes Patrick runs. Her business, Gabbys Goat Farm, is the only host of goat yoga in the Florence area.

Its just a time where people can come and just totally zone out of the world and their life, Patrick said.

Patrick got most of her goats from her friend who had been doing goat yoga and was training her how to do it, starting with two pet goats in 2020. Her friend, though, had to get a hip replacement and couldnt conduct yoga sessions anymore.

So Patrick held the events for her friend last fall. She had classes in Clemson and a couple of country clubs in Charlotte.

Now shes looking to bring the business closer to home, to places such as Coker University and more sessions at Francis Marion University.

She carries the goats she uses, usually babies and middle-aged ones, in a small trailer marked with a person doing an extended puppy pose with a goat standing atop their rear. If she needs more space, she can put the back seats down in her car and make a comfortable space for the goats.

She usually holds classes during the spring and fall, where it isnt too hot or cold and she can have smaller babies ready to go. Shell usually sell the babies at the end of a season. Maybe one day, she said, shell have a barn-like building to hold goat yoga in year round.

People want to play with the babies, Patrick said.

The goats have a ton of personality, she said. So much so, that she can tell their voices apart when they scream on the farm. They each also have tricks they like to stick to sometimes during the classes.
LAKE CITY  The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating Lake City police Maj. Patrick Miles, city officials announced Dec. 29.

Miles has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the SLED investigation.

The Florence Police Department asked SLED to investigate Alisa and Patrick Miles regarding allegations of official misconduct, as well as possible weapons and drug violations, SLED spokeswoman Renee Wunderlich said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Florence police officers received a call at approximately 12:30 a.m. Dec. 26 about a suspicious person on Melrose Avenue, according to a press release from the department.

When officers arrived, they discovered Alisa Marie Miles, 41, on the scene. She was carrying a handgun and didn't have a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit, according to the release. She was arrested for unlawful carry of a handgun. Officers also discovered Miles had drug paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine in her possession, the release stated.

During the Florence Police Department investigation, officers discovered Miles is married to Lake City police Maj. Patrick Miles. The Florence Police Department contacted SLED and asked it to investigate because of additional information gathered during the arrest of Alisa Miles.

The Lake City Police Department's command staff is in place to run daily operations, according to the city. The city is cooperating with the SLED investigation. The city also is working with local officials to aid and oversee the Police Department.

Miles, who has been the city's interim police chief since Oct. 31, served as the department's director of operations. He became interim chief when Chief Joseph "Jodi" Cooper resigned in October. Cooper had been Lake City's police chief since March 2021. The Lake City native also served as the city's police chief from 2014 to 2016.

The city closed its police chief application period on Dec. 22. Applications are being reviewed.
COLUMBIA  A left-wing political commentator is challenging the natural-born citizen clause of the Constitution in a federal lawsuit here after the South Carolina Democratic Party blocked him from the first-in-the-nation presidential primary ballot because he was not born in the United States.

Cenk Uygur, who was born in Istanbul to Turkish parents but later became a naturalized citizen, argues that the 14th Amendment effectively repealed the constitutional requirement that a citizen be born on U.S. soil or to American parents to serve as president.

Uygur, who runs The Young Turks, a left-wing digital media site influential among younger progressives, announced his primary challenge to President Joe Biden in October, and he spoke at a campaign event at the College of Charleston in November.

He filed to appear on the Democratic primary ballot that month and paid the $20,000 fee the party passes on to the state election commission to hold the primary. The state party blocked him from the ballot, saying at the time that Uygur doesnt meet constitutional requirements to hold the office of President of the United States.

Uygur and two South Carolina voters who say they want to vote for him sued the South Carolina Election Commission and the Democratic Party in federal court in Columbia, claiming his exclusion from the ballot is unconstitutional.

The state election commission already sent ballots to military and overseas voters for the Feb. 3 primary, so it's highly unlikely that Uygur will appear on the ballot even if he prevails.

Uygur told The Post and Courier he's been accepted on the Democratic primary ballot in six states. He's been rejected in several others, but he said he decided to sue in South Carolina because it's a key early state, courts here haven't weighed in on the issue yet and because of the "extra salt in the wound" when the party kept the $20,000 his campaign paid to appear on the ballot. He may sue in other states but has only done so in South Carolina so far.
Workers install the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2023. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

by Xinhua writer Shen Danlin

CAIRO, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

Here is the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of the Egyptian capital of Cairo. The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer.

Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

"Stunned by our price, quality, and speed, they have no reason not to choose us," Cheng Wei, the manager of Egypt's CBD project of China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company, told Xinhua.

"Price is our most straightforward advantage," Cheng said, explaining, "For example, the price of a square meter glass curtain wall produced and installed by European and American companies doubled that of Chinese counterparts."

Nevertheless, lower prices do not equate to compromised quality. According to Cheng, China-produced curtain walls, in many performance tests, such as air and water tightness, plane deformation, and wind load resistance, not only meet but often surpass the standards set by European and American companies, exhibiting superior performance in certain aspects.

To earn the complete trust of the CBD designers from Dar Al-Handasah, a world-renowned consulting organization in architecture and planning, Cheng and his colleagues invited them to visit the curtain wall factories and megacities in China.

"A Chinese factory can rival a small town in size, leaving them awestruck," Cheng said with a hint of pride, noting, "Having visited the United States previously, these designers were astounded to discover that China's resplendent skyscrapers are no less impressive."

The speed at which the Chinese builders operate also leaves an indelible impression on their Egyptian clients. In Egypt, the conventional construction concept dictates that curtain walls are installed only upon the completion of the main structure.

"Our concept is, you build the third floor, we install the curtain walls on the first floor; you build the 20th floor, we go to the 15th floor. Much to their surprise, they found that this methodology is entirely feasible," Cheng said.

With excellent techniques and quality, Chinese builders and products totally changed the attitude of their clients, from doubt in the very beginning to conviction and trust.

"They rarely come to the site now, and they said our products are exempt from inspection," Cheng said confidently.

Although not fully completed, the CBD of Egypt's new administrative capital has become a popular Instagram-worthy location for Egyptian people, and they gave the 385.8-meter-high landmark building a nickname, "China Tower."

Xu Xiaoxiao, a project manager of China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company, told Xinhua that the Egyptian workers said the pyramids are attractions for foreigners, and the "China Tower" is an attraction for Egyptians.

"When you take a taxi in Cairo and tell the driver to go to the new administrative capital, many drivers do not know where it is. Tell them 'China Tower,' and all the drivers know the place," Xu said with a smile on his face.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely, and Cheng Wei and Xu Xiaoxiao will then bid farewell to Egypt and return home. However, the magnificent "pearl of the desert" they have constructed will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative.

This photo taken on Nov. 22, 2023 shows the installation work of the curtain walls at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

A Chinese worker is seen at the construction site of the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2023. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

This cellphone photo taken on June 4, 2023 shows workers carrying out hoisting work of the curtain walls at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

Xu Xiaoxiao (R), a project manager of China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company, works with Egyptian curtain wall engineer Ahmed Elsayed Mohamed to measure the aluminium component for installing the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 27, 2023. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 22, 2023 shows the installation work of the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

This cellphone photo taken on May 24, 2023 shows the installation work of the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. To avoid the high temperature at day time, workers often carry out the construction work at night time. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on June 28, 2023 shows the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Li Binghong/Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation/Handout via Xinhua)

Chinese and Egyptian workers carry out measuring work together at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2023. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

Workers install the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2023. In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Editor: WXL
John Mearsheimer is R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He fancies himself an international relations scholar who belongs to the realist school of thought. With Harvards Stephen Walt, he is the author of The Israel-Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, a book to which I devoted a lot of attention on Power Line when it was published in 2007.

Mearsheimer has regained a certain currency with his understanding approach to Vladimir Putin and his objectives in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his December 15 interview with Andrew Napolitano on his Judging Freedom podcast, however, he returned to the subject of the Israelis, with respect to whom he seems to have a familiar animus, if not derangement. The subject of Napolitanos episode was Death and destruction in Gaza, keyed to Mearsheimers post of the same title on Johns Substack (as he calls his site).

The entirety of Napolitanos episode with Mearsheimer is posted on YouTube. Both the YouTube video and Mearsheimer post can easily be dredged up online. Im going to pass here. The clip below provides an example of Mearsheimers realism.
Ammo Grrrll looks back to count A FEW THINGS I HAVE LEARNED THIS YEAR and throws in some good advice to boot. We look back with gratitude for her weekly contributions over the past 10 years. The grrrll thinks funny. She writes:

In past years that have drawn to a close, I have felt compelled to offer a few New Years Resolutions. I will forego that this year for a couple of reasons. First, it appears that, in the words of the late great Jimmy Buffett, Im growing older but not up; my metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. So, my traditional resolution to lose weight is clearly not ever going to happen. No, not ever.

In fact, I know with complete certainty that IF reincarnation turns out to be a thing, I would not be thin in subsequent lives either. Even if, as Ive heard, one comes back as a lesser being, I would still be an overweight lesser being: a chubby chinchilla, an obese ocelot, a whale-ish White House spokescretin, a pudgy platypus, whatever.

And furthermore, as far as any other efforts at self-improvement, I am a stones throw from 80, and it would seem that this is pretty much as good as Im going to get. Third, I take such massive offense at the inane, self-righteous, childish, Progressive blanket exhortation to Do better that, just out of spite, I will do the same instead. Say it again, and Ill do worse. To borrow a signature phrase from comic Ron White, Ive seen me do it.

So forget the tedious Resolutions. This will be a few random, whimsical things that I have noticed or learned in a year that cannot end soon enough.

There is no such thing as a small burn. They all hurt like bloody heck. Over the last couple of weeks doing Chanukah prep I sustained two ridiculous injuries, one traditional, one shocking. First, making the Latkes I only serve once during the eight days, I grated off a painful chunk of my middle fingertip and it still hurts as I try to type this many days later. It is a tiny little thing, but it has brought home to me just how much we use that middle fingertip. There are only a couple of places on the human body MORE sensitive than the fingertips, and none of them gets near a grater.

The burn, on the other hand, was a grave disappointment. Not only because it hurt a lot, but because it was connected to an epic FAILURE, whereas the grated middle finger at least resulted in some righteous Latkes. I had been paging through a Comfort Food cookbook when my eye fell on a recipe for Apple Fritters. I was suspicious of the batter and I was right to be: it did not adhere to the apple slices at all.

Still hopeful, I dropped it into the lava-hot oil and plopped some more batter on the other side, then attempted to flip it. Instead, I dropped the hot greasy side on the tender underside of my right wrist. I probably couldnt replicate that accident exactly if I were PAID to do so. I put ice cubes on it before it could cook from medium rare to well done and applied Lanacane and a sterile pad secured with a scrunchie until I could find the tape. Its all healed up now without even a scar and I do have a resolution of sorts  always to BUY any deep-fried bakery confections.

Heres another thing Ive learned that several other people have mentioned having learned as well: I no longer wonder how the Holocaust could have happened.

But, on the upbeat side, we have learned that Allies come from surprising places. God Bless John Fetterman and his steadfast support for Israel. As we saw a couple of weeks ago, Chris Cuomo rose many many degrees in my estimation with his heartfelt reaction to viewing the hideous Atrocity Video. Dr. Phil as well. Bill Maher has done excellent work, too. And even more recently, RFK Jr. did a great job combating the lies of some former MSNBC terrorism supporter. Since his father was murdered by a Palestinian, he is not terrorist-friendly.

On the other hand, our enemies have been pretty predictable  The 100 percent reliable Terrorist Caucus in the House; brain-dead actors and entertainers  Taylor Swift? Seriously?  bearded women rabbis; mentally ill climate junkies; a handful of self-hating Jews hoping to be eaten last; the most unpopular Vice President in the history of the office; cowards who initially say, Oh, Im with you, until they are swarmed on social media and support might actually cost them something.

Depressing, but hardly surprising. Im actually glad Kamala isnt in our camp  it will be that much more sweet to watch her be beaten like a rented mule by Trump in the event that Obamas senile sock puppet should be forced out by impeachment, Obamas fiat, or a final fatal attack by some rogue stairsteps.

As if I had had any doubts before, Feminism, Inc. as a thing turned out to be worse than worthless. Having spent its faux outrage capital on lurid tales surfacing 25 years after the alleged nothingburger incident  this actor touched my breast once! That guy tried to make me watch him shower! Dustin Hoffman told off-color jokes and used inappropriate language on the set! (Dear God, say it isnt so)  feminism had nothing left over with which to protest gang rape, murdering women and burning babies alive as a weapon of war. But let us leave the dark things we have learned this year and look for some nuggets of joy.

A snack I usually put out on a New Years Eve or Birthday Buffet table is popcorn. Everybody loves it and as snacks go its reasonably healthy. Or was. Now Big Food in league with Big Weight Watchers has issued the following press release (which I just made up):

It has come to our attention that popcorn is a relatively low-calorie, low-carb treat that can be enjoyed by most in moderation without adverse effects. This needs to stop. What can we do to make popcorn more expensive, yet less healthy? Well, diversity being our strength, we looked to our Mexican (or LatinX) neighbors. Long ago the Mexicans also felt that Ice Cream was just not fattening enough. They thought and thought about what they could do to increase the calorie content until some wise Latina (no, not the one on the Supreme Court) said shyly: You could coat it in a sugary dough and FRY it! And the Big Ice Cream execs said, By Jove, I think shes GOT it!

And they gave her a bonus of Joe Bidens ten million trillion billion million pesos, or $14.72, as a reward.

The pretend press release continued:

And with that as our lodestar, we took that relatively healthy popcorn and covered it first in chocolate, and lo, we saw that it was good. But not yet good enough. So, we Caramelized some, and put Reeses Peanut Butter Cups into others and even Oreos into some more. And the people were pleased, because even the cardiologists, when threatened with the revocation of their licenses, agreed that Fat Is Beautiful!

I might add  en passant  that this week ends my 10th columnizing year! Technically, it does not end until the end of March because my first column appeared in late March of 2014. But I prefer to transition to January-December going forward and unilaterally decided that, just this once, March-January is going to identify as a year. That is My Truth and thats all that matters. Fridays continue to be my favorite day of the week with the column, commenter fun, AND Shabbat at sundown.

As every year on my anniversary, I thank the Power Line boys for allowing me a decade in which to opine, and then our ever-expanding family of readers and commenters who make the whole enterprise a total delight. Sure, its tough to read through 600-800 comments, but if you dont, youre guaranteed to miss something wonderful. Isnt it amazing that on my first column, I got 15 comments and on the second 35? It took all the way until summer of 2018 before I hit 200 the first time.

And just like that  a decade of my life has raced by! Its not true that your children grow up before you know it. They take 20, 30, 40 years and especially early on, even each individual day of diapers and feeding, laundry, drooling (the baby not you), teething and diapers and feeding, seems to last a fortnight. But after 60? The days just roll on relentlessly and rapidly. So grab every day by the neck and squeeze all the joy and love and chances to do kindness you can out of it. Never miss a chance to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. Oh, and Happy New Year!
In his post on Bill Barr, Lloyd Billingsley draws on One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General to mount a critique of Barrs service as AG in two administrations, the second time at the behest of President Trump. Along with former CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, I thought Barr was one of Trumps most impressive appointees. If Trump were to be reelected in 2024, I think he would be fortunate to recruit such men or women to serve in his administration.

Lloyd faulted Barr and his memoir in the 2022 review he wrote for American Greatness and then followed up in a subsequent column. I get a different impression of Barrs service from the memoir than the one that Lloyd conveys. Here I want only to carve out three paragraphs of the memoir that bear on what Lloyd wrote in his post yesterday.

With respect to the issue of voter fraud in the election of 2020, Lloyd writes that Barr failed to indicate what independent election investigations or audits he had conducted or consulted. This is certainly true insofar as independence means detachment from the department under Barrs authority. Such independent reviews constituted the task to be performed by Trumps legal team outside the Department of Justice. However, Barr writes in the prologue at page 3:

In the weeks after the election, accusations of major fraud center on several claims: allegations that counting machines from the Dominion Voting Systems Corporation had been rigged; that video footage from Fulton County, Georgia, showed a box of bogus ballots being insinuated into the vote count while poll watchers were absent; that massive numbers of ballots for Joe Biden had been inexplicitly [sic] dumped in the early morning hours in Detroit and Milwaukee; that thousands of votes in Nevada had been cast by nonresidents; that more absentee ballots than had been requested were cast in Pennsylvania; and that a truck driver had delivered many thousands of filled-out ballots from Bethpage, Long Island, to Pennsylvania. I had asked all the Department of Justice (DOJ) office heads around the country, working with the FBI, to look into these and a number of similar claims. Some turned out to be patently frivolous; others just were not supported by available evidence.

Lloyd also cites Barrs reference to John Brennan at page 190 of the book. As Lloyd suggests, Brennan is an execrable reprobate and partisan liar. However, Barr cites Brennan to condemn the (mis)treatment of the Trump campaign by senior management of the FBI. Here is the context of Barrs reference to Brennan:

Giving a defensive briefing to the Trump campaign was clearly the right action to take if the FBIs priority was, as it claims, to protect the integrity of the [2016] election and stop any Russian interference. Earlier in 2016, when the FBI detected foreign money being channeled illegally into the Clinton campaign, it did exactly that: gave the Clinton campaign a defensive briefing. The bureau has never provided a plausible explanation why it didnt do the same for the Trump campaign. What is particularly inexplicable is that, while refusing to give the Trump campaign a defensive briefing, the intelligence chiefs agreed to call out the Russians directly about their activity  the actors we knew were the bad guys. In August John Brennan, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, braced the head of Russian intelligence twice, signifying the United States knew what the Russians were doing and that they had better stop it. Then President Obama talked to President Putin in September with the same message. Any claim that the FBI could not approach the Trump campaign because of a need to protect sources and methods rings hollow in light of these conversations. It makes no sense that the United States would be willing to inform the Russians that we knew what they were up to, but that the FBI would be unwilling to give a defensive briefing to an American presidential candidates campaign.

Lloyd mentions the unenumerated crimes of Hillary Clinton. They raise issues that predate Barrs service, but they came up in his job interview with Trump (at page 214):

The President went on to make a comment about Hillary Clinton that surprised me. He said that, despite chants of Lock her up! from some of his supporters, he had felt after the 2016 election that the e-mail matter should be dropped. Even if she were guilty, he said, for the election winner to seek prosecution of the loser would make the county look like a banana republic.

On this point and others Trump proved himself vastly superior to his opponents, including the winners of the 2020 election. I would add that in this context Barrs account of his job interview with Trump and his decision to take the job despite reservations (chapter 9) is particularly interesting and impressive, although I confess I found the whole book interesting and impressive.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-29 23:00:21

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (NEO:CJET) ("Canada Jetlines" or the "Company"), Canada's friendly leisure airline, is pleased to announce that it has closed on an additional $2.66 million in proceeds from its non-brokered private placement with a single arm's length investor to raise a total of $13,500,001 (the "Offering"). The Offering consists of common shares (each a "Share") issued at $0.1721252 per Share. The investor is Jetstream Aviation Inc. the ("Investor" or "Jetstream") which is a Canadian corporation.The closing of the additional proceeds of the Offering resulted in the Investor purchasing 15,453,868 Shares, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,660,000. As a result of the closing of the additional proceeds of the Offering, the Investor now holds 35,051,885 Shares equal to approximately 30.69% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company. The Shares issued in the second tranche of the Offering are subject to a hold period that expires on April 29, 2024.As a result of the closing of the additional proceeds of the Offering, Jetstream has become a "Control Person" as defined by the Neo Exchange Listing Manual. In accordance with the Neo Exchange Listing Manual, the Company obtained the approval of its shareholders at a special meeting on November 14, 2023 for Jetstream to become a Control Person.The third and final tranche is scheduled to close in January 2024. The third tranche will see the Investor purchase an additional 43,379,402 Shares. Upon completion of all three tranches of the Offering, the Investor will hold 78,431,287 Shares of the Company representing approximately 50% of the current issued and outstanding shares of the Company.As part of the transaction, the Investor has the right to nominate two directors to the Board of Directors of the Company.The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for aircraft acquisition, general corporate and working capital purposes. No brokerage commissions or finder's fees are payable in connection with the Offering.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 Canada Jetlines Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (NEO:CJET), trading as "Canada Jetlines," is a Canadian leisure airline committed to providing an exciting travel experience to its passengers. With a growing network of destinations, Canada Jetlines is dedicated to connecting Canadians with some of the world's most captivating and sought-after locations.More information on Canada Jetlines including its growing list of destinations can be found on www.jetlines.com . You can follow Canada Jetlines on all social media platforms and follow #CanadaJetlines for the latest news and updates.About Jetstream Jetstream Aviation Inc. is a private corporation focused on investments in the aviation space.Jetstream is acquiring the securities in the Offering described herein for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Jetstream may from time to time acquire and/or dispose of securities of the Company or continue to hold its current position.A copy of the early warning report required to be filed with the applicable securities commission in connection with the transaction will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and can be obtained by contacting Gurdev Singh at 416.888.1906. Jetstream's address is set out below.Jetstream Contact Information:Jetstream Aviation Inc.167 Don Minaker DriveBrampton ON L6P 2V7CanadaConnect With Us!Instagram: @ca_jetlinesTwitter: @ca_jetlinesFacebook: @CAJetlinesLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/jetlines Media Contact:media@ jetlines.ca Investor Relations Contact: Percy GyaraChief Financial OfficerCanada Jetlines investor.relations@jetlines.ca +1 647.921.7205Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes but is not limited to the completion of the third tranche of the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering, the Company's intention to operate as a leisure airline, the number of aircraft it intends to operate, the destinations of intended flights, timelines to announce new schedules and destinations, growth plans and business of Jetlines. 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 variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the receipt of financing to continue airline operations, the accuracy, reliability and success of Jetlines' business model; the continued compliance with the terms of governmental approvals; Jetlines concluding definitive agreements for additional aircraft; the success of operations by Jetlines the legislative and regulatory environments of the jurisdictions where Jetlines will carry on business or have operations; the impact of competition and the competitive response to Jetlines' business strategy; and the availability of aircraft. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking 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. Such factors include risks related to, the ability to obtain financing at acceptable terms, the impact of general economic conditions, domestic and international airline industry conditions, the failure of the Company to conclude de
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 29, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CHPT), if they purchased the Company's securities between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of ChargePoint and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-chpt/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJanuary 29, 2024 .About the LawsuitChargePoint and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On November 16, 2023, post-market, the Company announced its preliminary financial results for 3Q 2024, disclosing that revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected," and 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," which was expected to result in "GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%," as well as the replacement of both its CEO and CFO, effective immediately.On this news, shares of ChargePoint fell $1.11, or 35%, to close at $2.02 per share on November 17, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.The case is Khan v. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-06172.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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)

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 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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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 26, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 28, 2020 and August 31, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dollar General and would like to discuss your legal rights and how the case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-dg/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJanuary 26, 2024 .About the LawsuitDollar General and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On August 31, 2023, the Company announced its 2Q 2023 financial results, disclosing among other things, cuts to its FY23 sales and profit outlook, decreases in operating profits of 24.2% and EPS of 28.5%, and that it "expect[ed] an incremental operating profit headwind of up to $170 million in the second half of 2023," consisting of $95 million for markdowns on existing inventory and $75 million on increased store personnel to support inventory and pricing control measures.On this news, the price of Dollar General's shares plummeted $19.16 per share, or 12%, on August 31, 2023, on unusually high trading volume of more than 19 million shares.The case is Washtenaw County Employees' Retirement System v. Dollar General Corporation, et al., 23-cv-01250. A subsequent case expanded the class period, Edmonds v. Dollar General Corporation, et al., 23-cv-01259.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / The prestigious Dr. Zamip Patel Scholarship for Future Doctors has been unveiled, offering aspiring medical students a unique opportunity to pursue their dreams. Established in 2023 by Dr. Zamip Patel, a distinguished Orlando urologist, this scholarship reflects his commitment to fostering excellence, compassion, and leadership in the field of healthcare.The scholarship, accessible through the official website https://drzamippatelscholarship.com/ , is designed to provide financial support and encouragement to outstanding pre-medical students who demonstrate academic excellence, exemplary character, and a genuine passion for medicine. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually through a rigorous essay-based application process.To be eligible for the Dr. Zamip Patel Scholarship, applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited 4-year university in the U.S., have completed at least 1 year of undergraduate coursework, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and plan to pursue an MD or DO degree. Additionally, applicants must meet general requirements for medical school application, including prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, math, etc.The essay prompt, requiring a thoughtful response in 750-1000 words, challenges applicants to articulate their inspiration for entering the medical field, elaborate on how they plan to embrace compassionate patient care, and outline their vision for positively impacting the medical field. Successful applicants will also highlight relevant extracurricular activities, research experiences, or service initiatives that underscore their dedication to healthcare. The essay should vividly illustrate academic excellence, exemplary character, demonstrated interest in medicine, and financial need.Submissions will be meticulously evaluated based on the quality of writing, originality, and alignment with the values embodied by Dr. Zamip Patel. The scholarship committee seeks individuals who not only meet academic criteria but also exemplify the compassionate and visionary qualities that Dr. Patel himself embodies.Dr. Zamip Patel, a respected figure in the medical community, has dedicated his career to providing outstanding urological care to the Orlando community. Recognizing the financial challenges that aspiring doctors may face, Dr. Patel is passionate about supporting the next generation of physicians. The scholarship is a testament to his belief in the transformative power of education and the profound impact that compassionate healthcare providers can have on individuals and communities.Applicants are encouraged to submit their essays through the official scholarship website https://drzamippatelscholarship.com/dr-zamip-patel-scholarship/ For more information about the scholarship, eligibility criteria, and application process, please visit https://drzamippatelscholarship.com/ About Dr. Zamip Patel:Dr. Zamip Patel is a highly regarded urologist based in Orlando, FL. With a deep commitment to providing exceptional patient care, Dr. Patel established the Dr. Zamip Patel Scholarship for Future Doctors in 2023 to support aspiring medical students in their pursuit of excellence. The scholarship reflects Dr. Patel's dedication to nurturing the next generation of compassionate and visionary healthcare professionals.For media inquiries, please contact:Contact Info:Spokesperson: Dr. Zamip Patel Organization: Dr. Zamip Patel ScholarshipWebsite: https://drzamippatelscholarship.com Email: apply@ drzamippatelscholarship.com SOURCE: Dr. Zamip Patel Scholarship
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 8, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between February 9, 2022 and October 30, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of FMC and would like to discuss your legal rights and how the case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fmc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court byJanuary 8, 2024 .About the LawsuitsFMC and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On September 7, 2023, Blue Orca Capital reported that the Company had made a series of false statements about the status of patent protections for its flagship products following legal defeats in India, China, and Brazil, that allowed competitors to launch competing generic products at much lower prices. On this news, the price of FMC's shares dropped more than 7.4%, to close at $76.10 per share, representing approximately $630 million in investor losses, on high trading volume.Then, on October 23, 2023, the Company disclosed further cuts to its Q3 2023 outlook and guidance for revenues for Q4 and FY 2024, projecting earnings well below analysts' expectations, citing substantially lower sales volumes in Latin America. On this news, the price of FMC's shares plummeted by $8.83 per share, or 12.18%, to close at $58.12 per share.The case is Heeg v. FMC Corporation, et al., 23-cv-4938. A subsequent case expanded the class period, Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System v. FMC Corporation, et al., 23-cv-4842.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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Frio Vodka, inspired by the iconic Frio River, is proud to announce its retail product launch, featuring an enhanced bottle design and a commitment to environmental stewardship.HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Texas Brands. LLC, in a partnership with Frio Vodka, is proud to announce its retail product launch, featuring an enhanced bottle design and a commitment to environmental stewardship.Sip with Purpose: Frio Vodka and American RiversIn a groundbreaking move towards environmental responsibility, Frio Vodka proudly announces its partnership with The American Rivers Foundation, a leading nonprofit dedicated to conserving and restoring the nation's rivers. For every bottle of Frio Vodka sold, a portion of the proceeds will support American Rivers' efforts to preserve and protect waterways across the country."To be able to create a vodka this pure and clean is something that we feel the consumer has been asking for," said John Giannukos, president of Texas Brands. "Partnering with American Rivers means we can help keep rivers clean and make a difference for future generations while drinking the world's smoothest martini! Remember it takes all of us, but it only takes one martini!"A Lifestyle RedefinedFrio Vodka is a premium spirit that embodies the spirit of Texas through a commitment to quality living. After being meticulously distilled six times with locally sourced ingredients, Frio Vodka then goes through an advanced patented purification process to ensure a smooth and pristine taste that goes beyond the ordinary. Frio's core values are centered on relaxation, quality, and a sense of peace. A brand born out of the rolling hills and cool valleys of southwest Texas, Frio Vodka is not just a drink; it's a lifestyle.Aesthetic Masterpiece in Every BottleThe Frio Vodka bottle is more than a container; it's a masterpiece. The new design reflects the brand's dedication to craftsmanship and attention to detail. From its sleek lines to the distinctive label, every element has been carefully curated to embody the spirit of Frio Vodka. The bottle, like the vodka within, is a work of art that captures the essence of Texas in every pour."With broad market penetration and a loyal following since 2012, I was honored when the founders of Frio Vodka approached me to update and rebrand their product," said Giannukos. "We took an excellent vodka and re-crafted it with a blend of the finest grains and wheat." Giannukos continued, "Following countless taste tests, we feel like we have the best-tasting vodka available anywhere!"Widening Horizons: Frio Vodka Now Available in Over 800 StoresTexans and vodka enthusiasts alike can now experience the new era of Frio Vodka, available in over 800 stores across the Lone Star State. This expansion ensures that Frio Vodka's commitment to quality and craftsmanship is within reach for all who appreciate a premium spirit.Texas Brands is a domestic limited liability company based in Houston, Texas, founded in 2019.To explore the redefined Frio Vodka experience, visit www.friovodka.com For media inquiries, please contact:John GiannukosTexas Brands, LLC713-789-3774jg@ txbrandsllc.com # # #Contact Information:John GiannukosPresident, Texas Brands LLCjg@ txbrandsllc.com 713-429-6914Related ImagesSOURCE: Texas Brands LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-29 18:15:45

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces the exercise for cash of 871,400 outstanding warrants to purchase common shares at a price of $0.39 per share (each a "2020 Warrant"). The Company has received consideration of $339,846 in respect of those 2020 Warrants exercised.Gabriel has the following securities outstanding:1,035,976,840 common shares; 25,723,372 warrants which are exercisable at a price of $0.49 and expire on January 15, 2024; 76,504,263 warrants which are exercisable at a price of $0.645 and expire on August 23, 2024; and 5,225,970 warrants which are exercisable at a price of $0.645 and expire on September 13, 2024.For information on this press release, please contact:Dragos TanasePresident & CEOPhone: +40 730 399 019 dt@ gabrielresources.com Richard BrownChief Financial OfficerMobile: +44 7748 760276 richard.brown@gabrielresources.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.About GabrielGabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal business had been the exploration and development of the Rosia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Rosia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company.Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has unlawfully blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website atwww.gabrielresources.com Forward-looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein.Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements.Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation,the ability to obtain stock exchange approval, where applicable, to effect the grant of rights. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this press release that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies which can be viewed online at www.sedarplus.ca SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-29 10:45:21

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HO CHI MIHN, VIETNAM / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Established on March 28, 2000, Gas South (Southern Gas Trading Joint Stock Company) has solidified its position in the distribution and trading of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), and has pioneered in the reception and trading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as LNG enters the Vietnamese market, concordant with global trends.Over its 23-year history, Gas South with the guideline of "Safety - Quality - Efficiency," has built a reputable brand and distinction. Presently, Gas South leads with a 34.5% market share in LPG and a 40% market share in CNG in Vietnam.Through a strategy that simultaneously supplies CNG, LNG, and LPG, Gas South ensures flexible gas sources, stable quantities, competitive pricing, optimally meeting consumption needs, and satisfying customer choices.Gas South - Leading Energy Provider in VietnamProducts and Services by Gas SouthCompressed Natural Gas - CNGCNG is an oil industry product primarily composed of methane (CH4). Processed and compressed at high pressure (200 - 250 bar), it's stored in specialized tanks and transported to consumer sites such as industrial plants and refueling stations for transportation vehicles.CNG has proven to be a smokeless fuel, reducing emissions of SOx, COx, NOx into the environment, while also saving fuel costs.Gas South transports CNG to consumer sitesWith its exceptional characteristics, many advanced countries like the United States, Japan, South Korea, India, China, and European nations useCNG as a cleaner fuel to limit environmental pollution.Liquefied Natural Gas - LNGLNG, primarily composed of CH4 - methane (constituting about 95%), is colorless and odorless. It's natural gas cooled to -162C to become a liquid, stored in specialized tanks, and transported to consumption sites.LNG is used similarly to dry gas, serving the gas needs of power plants, industrial households, urban areas, etc. Additionally, in many countries globally,LNGis used as fuel for transport vehicles such as ships, trains, and heavy-duty vehicles to minimize environmental pollution.Gas South's LNG storage tanksMoreover, LNG can be transported by tank trucks, trains, coastal vessels with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 12,000 m3 to remote gas pipeline-free consumer sites, coastal regional markets, and offshore islands.Liquefied Petroleum Gas - LPGLPG, commonly referred to as gas, consists of hydrocarbon gasses, primarily Propane and Butane (including Iso-Butane), obtained from crude oil refining or natural gas processing.For LPG products, Gas South proudly stands as one of the leading Vietnamese brands, trusted by consumers, with long-term partnerships from customers through 06 domestic LPG cylinder brands: Gas Dau Khi, VT-Gas, A Gas, JP Gas, ak Gas, ang Phuoc Gas.Gas South's LPG business network now spans from Ca Mau to Nghe An, including 04 storage facilities with a total capacity of 8,100 tons and 17 LPG refueling stations evenly distributed across business regions.Gas South continually aims to improve product and service quality, ensuring transparent sales policies that align with the interests of customers and consumers. Simultaneously, it emphasizes corporate management capabilities, aiming to apply artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in management, operations, and customer care.In the future, Gas South will persist in innovation, development, and contribute to elevating the Gas Industry to become a flagship industry in Vietnam's economy, gradually expanding into regional and continental markets.The above information covers Gas South's products and services. For further details, please contact us via hotline: 18006776.Gas South - Leading Gas Fuel Supplier in Vietnam - LPG, CNG, and LNGFanpage: https://www.facebook.com/GasSouthJSC For more information please visit our website: https://pgs.com.vn/ Media Contacts:Name: TUAN KIET PHAM ( Mr.)Company name: SOUTHERN GAS TRADING JSCWebsite: https://pgs.com.vn/Email:lienhe@pgs.com.vnPhone: (+84.28) 3910 0108 - 3910 0324Address: 4th Floor, PetroVietnam Tower, 1-5 Le Duan, Ward Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CitySOURCE: SOUTHERN GAS TRADING JSC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-29 23:45:11

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CPR Cell Phone Repair is excited to announce the grand opening of its latest store, CPR Cell Phone Repair Aurora - East Quincy. This new addition to the CPR family, co-owned by Tom Bubrig and Jereme Scott, offers premium electronic repair services to the Aurora community. The store joins a network of successful CPR locations in Denver, Loveland, Fort Collins, Thornton, and Colorado Springs, further solidifying the brand's presence in Colorado.AURORA, CO / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / CPR Cell Phone Repair proudly welcomes the newest addition to its franchise, CPR Cell Phone Repair Aurora - East Quincy, located at 17062 E Quincy Ave, Suite B, Aurora, CO, 80015. Celebrating its grand opening, the store represents a significant expansion for co-owners Tom Bubrig and Jereme Scott, who have already made a mark in the Colorado region with their CPR stores in Denver, Loveland, Fort Collins, Thornton, and Colorado Springs.CPR Aurora - East Quincy is dedicated to providing the Aurora community with high-quality repair services for a variety of electronic devices, including cell phones, laptops, gaming systems, digital music players, tablets, and more. The store's skilled team is proficient in handling common repair needs such as screen damage, battery replacement, and software issues, as well as more intricate technical challenges."We are thrilled to introduce CPR's renowned repair services to Aurora," stated Tom Bubrig, co-owner of the CPR Aurora - East Quincy store. "Together with Jereme Scott, we are committed to delivering top-notch, convenient repair solutions, leveraging the expertise and dependability that CPR is celebrated for." CPR Aurora - East Quincy operates Monday from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The store is closed on Sundays. For repair inquiries or appointments, customers can contact the store at 303-800-3960 or via email at aurora@ cpr-stores.com . Additional information is available on the store's website at https://www.cellphonerepair.com/aurora-east-quincy-co/ About CPR Cell Phone RepairCPR by Assurant (CPR), ranked the no. 1 franchise for electronics repairs in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, is one of the largest, fastest-growing mobile repair franchises in North America, operating over 500 locations internationally. A frontrunner in the electronics repair industry, CPR offers same-day repair and refurbishing services for cell phones, laptops, gaming systems, digital music players, tablets, and other personal electronic devices. Founded in Orlando, Fla. in 1996, CPR is owned by Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ). For more information about CPR by Assurant, visit www.cellphonerepair.com Media ContactChris Jourdan chris.jourdan@cpr-corporate.com 877-392-6278 ext. 7711Aurora, COSOURCE: CPR Cell Phone Repair
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-29 18:00:31

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CANGZHOU, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Cangzhou, a city in north China's Hebei Province, has accelerated the transformation and upgrading of ports and resource integration, promoted the planning and construction of Huanghua Port with high quality, and made every effort to build a multi-functional, comprehensive and modernized port in 2023, according to sources with Cangzhou municipal government.Huanghua port From the Jan-Nov period in 2023, Huanghua Port completed the throughput of goods of 305 million tons, with a year-on-year growth of 6.15 percent.In 2023, the container routes from Huanghua Port to Japan, Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Xiamen opened successively. Many "firsts" have been completed in Huanghua Port in the past year: the launch of the first 10,000-ton liquid chemical berth and the first port railway central station was completed and put into use.Cangzhou strives to promote infrastructure construction and enhance Huanghua Port's carrying and service capacity. With the rapid development and construction of Huanghua Port, a number of significant projects have been accelerated. Xinhai Chemical New Materials Complex Project with a total investment of 12.9 billion yuan (about 1.8 billion US dollars), Hebei Kemai New Materials with a total investment of 3.5 billion yuan (about 490 million US dollars), and a Jinchangxing Petroleum Products Co., Ltd. project with a total investment of 3 billion yuan (about 490 million US dollars) completed and put into use. These projects are influential supporters of Cangzhou's coastal economic growth.Huanghua Port has become a major coastal port, and the coastal effect of Cangzhou provides a more robust fundamental capacity in the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Xiong'an New Area.In 2023, Cangzhou continued to promote transforming and upgrading traditional industries, especially the emerging strategic industries, which grew more assertive. Throughout the year, the city organized four on-site promotion meetings for key project construction, with 1,230 projects started and over 360 billion yuan (about 50.6 billion US dollars) invested.The "friend circle" of Cangzhou's opening to the outside world grew more prominent. China -Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) (Cangzhou) Small and Medium-Sized (SME) Cooperation Forum, Bohai Rim (Cangzhou) -- The Gulf Cooperation Forum, the 19th Maritime Day of China, and many other international events were held in Cangzhou, which not only enhanced the visibility and reputation of the city, but also attracted investment.Cangzhou will further its development to the sea and constantly inject energy and vitality to speed up the construction of a solid coastal economic city. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this historical northern starting point of the Maritime Silk Road has gradually emerged into a leading economic city in North China.Contact InformationGrace ShiPRgraceshi@ xinhuanetus.com 6465712146SOURCE: Cangzhou Municipal GovernmentView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-29 11:15:19

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HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Orlanda Investments Limited, a renowned leader in investment analytics and wealth planning, proudly announces its strategic expansion into the North American markets. This move signifies a major step in the firm's ongoing commitment to providing global investment opportunities and tailored financial services to a broader clientele.Since its establishment in 2020, Orlanda Investments Limited has been at the forefront of delivering innovative investment solutions and has seen significant growth and recognition in the financial sector. With a strong presence in Europe, Asia, and Australia, the firm has now set its sights on North America to bring its unique blend of expertise and client-centric services to investors in this region."Our expansion into North America is not just a growth strategy but a testament to our commitment to making sophisticated investment strategies accessible to a wider audience," said Max Parker, Director & Chief Investment Strategist, Orlanda Investments Limited. "We understand the unique dynamics of the North American market and are excited to offer our holistic approach to wealth management and strategic investment planning to clients there." Orlanda Investments Limited's entry into the North American market is set to provide individual and institutional investors with access to a diverse range of services, including wealth planning, IPO investing, investment management, and comprehensive research.This expansion aligns with Orlanda Investments Limited's philosophy of navigating clients' financial journeys with a holistic perspective, ensuring that each investment strategy aligns perfectly with their life goals and financial aspirations."We are thrilled to extend our expertise in crafting personalized wealth strategies and our innovative investment solutions to North America," added Mr. Parker. "At Orlanda Investments Limited, we are committed to empowering our clients with institutional-caliber expertise, precision, and care, regardless of where they are located." For more information about Orlanda Investments Limited and its services, please visit www.orlandainvestmentslimited.com About Orlanda Investments Limited:Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Hong Kong, Orlanda Investments Limited is a global leader in investment analytics, reporting, data, and research solutions. Serving over 10,000 institutional asset pools and managing more than 78,000 portfolios across 38 countries, the firm has established a legacy of financial innovation and client-focused solutions.To learn more about Orlanda Investments Limited, you can visit their website at:Company name: Orlanda Investments LimitedContact name: Olivia Tsang (Media Relations Manager)Company address: 2503 Bank of America Tower, 12 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong KongWebsite URL: www.orlandainvestmentslimited.comPhone: +852 2571 9968SOURCE: Orlanda Investments Limited
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)

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PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-29 16:00:21

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"1506" has slogan based on the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: "October 7 did not happen in a vacuum." PORTO, PORTUGAL / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / The Jewish community of Porto has released to the general public the trailer for a full-length historical film about the massacre of the Jews of Lisbon that took place in the Portuguese capital in 1506.Mekor Haim Kadoorie synagogue in Porto, Portugal The Porto Jewish community has been active over the past decade to promote Jewish culture, among which is the feature film "1618," which recounts the story of the Inquisition and won the largest number of international awards for a Portuguese film.The premiere of the film "1506," which will be available for free viewing, will take place on April 19, 2024 - exactly 518 years since that traumatic event occurred. The film will be available in a variety of languages and platforms for online viewing.More than 3,000 Jews were brutally murdered in the massacre between April 19 and 21,1506. A simple spark was enough for popular sentiment to cause a catastrophe. The fires into which the bodies were thrown reached the height of houses - even babies were thrown into the fire in the heart of the city, where for three days a brutal mass slaughter of the city's Jewish residents took place."To know the massacre of 1506 in Lisbon is to know the events of October 7, 2023 in Israel and the historic massacres perpetrated against the Jewish people throughout Europe. The only change is the weapons used. October 7 did not exist in a vacuum,' Antonio Guterres said, and he is right," said Gabriel Senderowicz, president of the Porto Jewish community and a member of the European Jewish Association.The Portuguese company LightBox was chosen to produce the film, and the script recreating the historical events, written in 2021, was based on in-depth research carried out at the Alberto Benveniste Research Center for Sephardic Studies at the University of Lisbon.The Porto Jewish community has been active over the past decade to promote Jewish culture, history and education. Among its notable achievements during this period is the feature film "1618," which recounts the story of the Inquisition in the city and won the largest number of international awards for a Portuguese film.The Jewish community of Porto was only officially reestablished in 1923 by Captain Barros Basto, known as the "Portuguese Dreyfus" after he was persecuted for his efforts to reestablish a Jewish community in Porto, some four centuries after it had been destroyed by the Portuguese Inquisition.Among the important projects led by the community over the past decade are the Jewish Museum in Porto and the Holocaust Museum, which in the past two years have hosted more than 100,000 schoolchildren, constituting 10% of all schoolchildren in Portugal.Contact InformationSHEPAZ CommsPR Agencyshepaz@ shepaz.com 972-50-240-9757Related VideoSOURCE: The Jewish Community of PortoView the original press release on newswire.com
On a Sunday morning in March, Emmanuella Olofu, a journalist based in Abuja, Nigerias capital city, boarded a taxi from her residence in the Lugbe area to church.

Upon arriving at her destination, Ms Olofu grabbed her handbag and picked up her mobile phone to log onto her mobile banking application to pay the taxi driver.

She punched in N2,200, the taxi fare, but the transaction failed.

I received a message that I had insufficient balance in my account, Emmanuel said, recalling how she shockingly realised that her savings had been creamed off.

Desperate to sort out the waiting driver, she reached out to a friend who sent N5,000 into the same bank account. Again, the money vanished within seconds after it landed.

Ms Olofus plight is one of the many complaints about fraudulent electronic banking transactions Nigerians are grappling with.

This year alone, over 248 financial fraud-related complaints were lodged with the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) from bank customers, Bashir Alhassan, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at NDIC, said.

This figure is a far cry from reality.

The Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) said the incidence of accumulated electronic fraud (e-fraud) within the banking sector and payment systems network peaked in the first six months of the year in May 2020 with 11,716 cases, while the lowest count was in June with 6,240.

The NeFF membership, drawn from the CBN, commercial banks, fintech, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Security Adviser (NSA), among others, said electronic fraud had led to a loss of N9.5 billion as of June in 2023.

Many of these complaints are not resolved. Ms Olofu did not report the fraudulent transactions on her account to the NDIC but to her bank. The step has not yielded any results as of the time of this report.

When I complained at my bank, I was asked if I used a point of sale (POS) agent, which I answered in the affirmative; the bank customer care officer ignored my subsequent follow-ups on the issue, she recalled her experience in trying to recover the stolen money.

The growth of fintech companies has enhanced financial inclusion, especially in hard-to-reach places in Nigerias rural areas, where conventional banks are not available.

However, the rise in fraudulent financial transactions constitutes a major setback in the progress of digital banking services in the country, particularly when fraud complaints remain unresolved.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the various deposit money banks are channels of filing complaints over financial crimes but bank users say the regulatory authorities like the CBN and NDIC are failing in their duties of safeguarding customers funds.

Though the NDIC boasted about helping depositors to recover N8.3 billion from online fraudulent schemes from January to November in 2023, many victims of the crime like Mr Olofu criticise the CBN for not coming to their aid in recovering stolen monies.

While featuring on the Brekete Radio and Television magazine programme in Abuja on 7 December, Mr Bashir said the CBN and the NDIC had resolved several complaints relating to electronic banking services, amongst others.

In Nigeria, fintech companies like Opay, Moniepoint, Firstmonie, and several others were licensed by the CBN to assist conventional banks in providing financial services; thereby fostering financial inclusion in rural communities.

But issues of fraudulent financial transactions against fintech companies are difficult to resolve because they largely have their physical offices only in Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital, Michael Johnson, a resident of Abuja who was defrauded in an online transaction in October, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Ms Olofu and Mr Johnson are among many Nigerians whose fraudulent withdrawals of funds from their bank accounts have not been resolved.

For Mr Johnson, it is goodbye to digital payment services. I have had two nasty experiences with the POS services; after withdrawing money from an agent in October, a week after the transaction, about N25,000 was stolen from my bank account. I filed a complaint but it was never resolved. For me, its goodbye to online banking services.

Since the stealing of monies from my bank account without help from regulatory agencies like the CBN in recovering the funds, I have stopped using my online banking apps and POS services, Ms Olofu said.

The spokesperson for the CBN, Hakama Ali, did not respond to phone calls and text messages asking for his comments on the banks measures put in place to resolve customers complaints over fraudulent financial transactions.

However, Mr Alhassan insists bank and fintech customers with issues of fraud on their accounts should approach the consumer protection department of the CBN for resolution.

High transaction charges are obstacles to e-banking

Ali Muhammed who sells beef at Karu Market, a suburb of Abuja, was forced into receiving payments from his customers via e-transfers.

Mr Muhammad acquired a POS machine for receiving payments from customers. However, transaction charges have made him reluctant to use the machine.

A kilogram of beef sells for N3,500, but if a customer wants to pay with his Automated Teller Machine card, the charge per transaction is N100. This is where there is a problem  most customers dont want to bear the cost of processing the fees, Ali explained.

He said customers complain about the high cost of transactions as they prefer to pay in cash. However, Mr Muhammad agrees that the instant payment system removes delays that are often associated with conventional digital bank transfers.

The beef seller is not alone regarding complaints over charges in processing online payments.

Paul Omenka runs a POS business at Jikwoyi in Abuja, where he charges N100 per every N5000 transfer that is made for a customer. But, his customers are unhappy with the high rates of the transaction fees.

Most of the transactions I execute are cash withdrawals by customers. So, when the volume of cash withdrawal is high, the processing fees also increase, Mr Omenka explained amid the brewing cash crunch in some Nigerian cities.

He noted that patronage of e-banking services has reduced, except at weekends when banks do not open for business.

Most of my customers who are civil servants told me that they prefer to withdraw cash or do e-transfers during weekdays from the banks due to the exorbitant charges involved in withdrawals at POS, he said.

During cash shortages, POS operators take advantage of the desperation for cash to charge excessively for financial services.

The Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) in July reviewed the processing fees for transactions on its platform from N5 to N3.75 for instant payments.

NIBSS provides interconnectivity and interoperability of retail electronic payments in Nigeria across the countrys financial ecosystem.

Despite NIBSS reduction of transaction charges, banks still impose a N10 fee for e-transactions below N5,000, while N26 is charged for transactions between N5,000 and N50,000, and N50 for transactions exceeding N50,000.

However, POS agents charge much higher processing fees than commercial banks, depending on market forces of demand and supply.

Experts say only the CBN can direct banks to cut down their transaction fees because they are largely driven by profit motives.

Top commercial banks  Access, Zenith, Ecobank, and UBA  raked in N145.7 billion, N132.8 billion, N200.9 billion, and N128.2 billion, respectively, from transaction charges and commissions in 2022. The profits extensively came in from fees and commissions.

Even in 2023, the banks continue to maximise profits relying on fintech to reap a total revenue of N265.269 billion from their electronic businesses in nine months.

How to avoid fraudulent transactions

But Babatunde Obrimah, the CEO of the FinTech Association of Nigeria, says it may be difficult to regulate transaction fees in the e-banking ecosystem owing to factors including, the large number of operators in the sector, cost of deploying telecommunications assets and transportation in remote places, and general infrastructure deficit in the telecoms industry.

Referencing the success story of Swedens cashless policy with just a two per cent cash economy, Mr Obrimah said many POS transaction services in Nigeria are still cash-based because people request cash from the operators.

The Nigerian economy is still cash-based, and cash is free. So, the POS operators are charging for cash, because the cost of getting the cash is huge  the risk of carrying cash is enormous. So, you pay a premium for cash, he told PREMIUM TIMES.

He suggested that to make Nigerias economy cashless, people should be charged for carrying cash, while the cost of transacting businesses on digital platforms should be lowered.

Dwelling on the issue of fraud in the fintech sector, he said customers must be wary of the status of fintech companies to be sure that they are licensed to operate.

He said many of the reported cases of fraud at POS were a result of card swap and divulging information to third-party interests.

The issue of fraud is huge and we need to up our game by having up-to-date software to counter fraudulent financial activities in cyberspace.

We need to drive a cashless environment; once we can take cash out of the system, corruption reduces drastically, Mr Obrimah said.

Intersection of high cost and e-fraud

There is a consensus among industry experts that the twin problems of e-fraud and exorbitant charges are a hindrance to financial inclusion in Nigeria and across West African countries.

Robert Karanja, senior director in charge of Africa at Co-Develop, speaking recently at the West African Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) 2023 ceremony in Accra, Ghana, called for urgent measures in tackling fraud and high transaction fees within the continents digital payment ecosystem.

Ken Ashigbey, who leads Ghana Telecoms Chamber in Accra, re-echoed Mr Karanjas perspectives when he suggested African-centric solutions to addressing issues with the continents digital industry.

Mr Ashigbey specifically recommended the use of local Artificial Intelligence to dismantle language barriers and other challenges that inhibit the adoption of digital payment services across rural communities.

*This report is produced under the DPI Africa Journalism Fellowship Programme of the Media Foundation for West Africa and Co-Develop*

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The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, has given the Akwa Ibom State Government a 14-day ultimatum to meet their demands or risk industrial action.

The Chairperson of NASU in the university, Mefiok Umana, told Leadership newspaper that the industrial action remains sacrosanct, adding that a letter to that effect was sent to the state government on 20 December.

Affiliates unions to join the strike are members of the Joint Action Committee  comprising NASU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the National Association of Academic Technologists.

The strike is to start on 3 January, 2024.

Contending issues

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Mr Umana said they have written at least three letters stating their grievances to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, but that they were yet to receive any response.

The issues according to Mr Umanah are poor funding of the institution, non-payment of salary arrears, leave grants and 13th month salary to workers at the university.

Others include lack of hostels and non-constitution of the Governing Council for the university, non-implementation of hazard allowance at approved rate and non-release of capital allocation for the institution.

According to Mr Umana, workers in the institution are currently receiving N2,000 as hazard allowance against the agreed rate of N15, 000 for junior staff and N30, 000 for senior staff.

Most of the issues cannot be implemented by the vice chancellor except the approval of the governor. For instance, payment of palliatives, increment in subvention  the university subvention is grossly insufficient and the university too, is grossly under-funded. It is only the governor that can implement this.

We are in a sad situation where the university only powers its generator for two hours in a day, precisely from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. One is left to ask what sort of research can be done in the institution.

Go there. You wont see hostels. Our students have to stay off campus, which exposes them to so much risk, particularly our girls that get raped from time to time.

If you enter our school, you would notice that most of the buildings there are built by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TEFFUND), meaning the government at the state level is not addressing infrastructural deficits in the institution, he said.

Asked if there was a reported case of rape because of the students staying off campus, Mr Umana referred PREMIUM TIMES to a case which he claimed the wife of the immediate past governor was handling before the end of that administration.

We have had more than two of them, particularly at Obio Akpa campus You know if these children were to live in the hostel, community boys would not come in to harass them.

Mr Umana said the chapter had communicated with the state secretary of NASU and that he was sending a letter to the national headquarters of the body to inform them of the planned strike.

READ ALSO: Medical doctors threaten strike over salary review

The State Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, when contacted, referred PREMIUM TIMES to Idongesit Etiebet, the commissioner for education.

When our reporter contacted Mrs Etiebet on Friday, she requested him to send questions to her via a text message, which the reporter did. She did not, however, respond to the message at the time of filing this report.

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The Federal Capital Territory Management Agency (FEMA) has said 12 persons died in fire incidents and floodings in the territory in 2023.

FEMA Acting Director, Mohammed Sabo, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

He said a total of 1,793 people were affected by floods and fire outbreaks, adding that while 1,373 people were rescued from the floods, 247 were saved from the fire incidents.

He also said 173 people were rescued from collapsed buildings.

The agencys activities centred on flooding, fire outbreaks, building collapse and provision of relief materials to disaster-affected persons.

We rescued a total of 1,793 individuals. Specifically, we saved 1,373 from floods, 247 from fire outbreaks, and 173 from collapsed structures.

We also saved 1,845 lives through 24 calls on its 112 emergency Toll-free number in 2023, the director said.

Mr Sabo said the agencys quick response and unwavering commitment made it possible to rescue some of the victims.

Critical assistance

He disclosed that FEMA reached out to 400 vulnerable residents in the FCT, providing them with the necessary support and aid during difficult times.

He narrated an incident where the agency provided critical assistance to 200 displaced households and salvaged 25 ravaged farmlands in the Yangoji-Shafi community, Kwali Area Council, which was severely impacted by torrential rainfall.

He said FEMA collaborated with the Turkish Foundation, and UFUK dialogue, to distribute essential food items to 200 vulnerable households, bringing relief to people during the Eid el Kabir festival.

Strengthening operations

The director unveiled FEMAs plans to strengthen its operations in the future.

According to him, the agency would collaborate with the National Defence College (NDC) to equip volunteers with essential rescue skills and also organise a blood drive to support the military.

We have had useful communications with the NDC to this effect and we are awaiting a final response from them. The training is to equip our volunteers with basic and professional rescue skills.

We also intend to organise a blood drive for the military, using our volunteers. The blood drive aims to show support and solidarity for their efforts at keeping the nation safe, he said.

Mr Sabo said FEMA will intensify campaigns aimed at educating residents on safety protocols during rainy and dry seasons.

He said Operation Eagle Eye, a hallmark initiative, will continue to empower communities with knowledge and strategies to mitigate the impact of natural disasters until 2024.

We are intensifying our sensitization campaign on safety measures during the rainy and dry seasons. Our rainy season campaign will focus on sensitizing residents on what to do before the rains, during the rains and after the rains. The spillover of this years operation Eagle Eye and dry season campaigns will be carried out in 2024, Mr Sabo stated.

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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.

He 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, he said.

Out-of-school children

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 APC, 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.

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)

December 28, 2023

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The Nigeria Population Commission (NPC) registered 424,302 births in Gombe State between January and November.

Of those registered 187,283 or 44.13 per cent were girls while 237,019 or 55.86 per cent were boys.

Adedeji Adeniyi, head of NPCs Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Gombe State, gave the statistics on Friday in Gombe, the state capital.

He said the registrations, done in the more than 100 registration centres in the state, covered children of between 0 year and 17 years.

He said 76,900 of those registered were children below the age of one year, adding that 33,760 of them were girls while 43,140 were boys.

Those between one year old and four years old numbered 285,010, he said, adding that 125,230 of them were girls, while 159,780 were boys.

Those between four years and 17 years of age numbered 62,392 children. The girls were 28,293 in number while the boys numbered 34,099.

Mr Adeniyi said the NPC had stepped up measures and engaged in partnerships with critical stakeholders in the state to encourage birth registration.

READ ALSO:

He said that it had migrated from analogue mode of birth registration to the digital platform in partnership with UNICEF.

He added that the shift from analogue to electronic mode had made birth registration seamless and called on residents yet to register their births as data was vital for governments planning and intervention

Birth registration and certification is important to give children identity and nationality as well as access social amenities, Adeniyi stressed.

He, however, decried the poor registration of deaths in the state.

Residents of Gombe do not register the death of their loved ones; it is only when they want to collect certain benefits that require such certificate, that they show up for such registration.

I call on residents to register the deaths of their relatives as that will help government to have proper plan procedures and to make positive decision on happenings in the environment.

Registering deaths gives idea of prevailing causes of death and such statistics are vital for planning also. he said.

(NAN)

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Friday, decorated 22 newly promoted air vice marshals and 16 air commodores with their new ranks following their recent elevation by the Air Force Council.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council had on 2 December approved the promotion of 22 air coommodores to the rank of AVM and 16 group captains to the rank of Air Commodore.

The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, who was represented by the Minister of State, Bello Matawalle, said that attaining general rank in any military worldwide was an enviable feat.

Mr Badaru said the promotion, especially to air rank, was highly desirable, motivating, rewarding and most importantly demanding.

According to him, it is demanding because, as officers of air rank, the service expects you to lead from a more holistic and strategic perspective, having garnered experience and an enormous amount of training.

He said the service and indeed, the entire nation, relied on the new crop of officers to utilise all the knowledge, wisdom, ingenuity and critical thinking capabilities they had gathered over the years to move the NAF to higher heights and foster a peaceful and greater Nigeria.

The minister reminded the officers that promotion comes with greater expectations and responsibilities, urging them not lose sight of the ongoing fight against terrorism, banditry and all other forms of criminality.

Invariably, your mandate as generals is to successfully execute all such operations necessary to preserve national security and territorial integrity.

Hence, it is expected that with your upliftment to the ranks of air commodore and air vice marshal, you will redouble your efforts to discharge your duties so we can quickly end all security threats to our dear nation, he said.

Mr Badaru said that the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had been forthcoming and remained committed to supporting the Nigerian military in general and the NAF in particular.

Accordingly, the government is poised to provide the armed forces as well as other security agencies with the necessary resources to ensure a peaceful, safe and prosperous nation, he said.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Hasan Abubakar, an air marshal, said that promotion was usually granted in recognition of hard work, commitment and diligence in most organisations, adding that the military was not an exception.

Mr Abubakar said that while promotion was highly desirable, motivating and rewarding, it also placed added responsibilities on those so recognised, considering the current and emerging security challenges confronting Nigeria.

He urged them to put on their thinking caps and chart workable strategies in their quest to transform the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the air power demands of national security in all operational environments.

You will also be required to continue to display exceptional integrity, selfless service and commitment to excellence.

This would ensure that the NAF records outstanding results in every area of competence and translate to successes in the various theatres of operation with resultant improved security for our people across the country.

You must remember that we cannot afford to fall short of the expectations of all Nigerians.

I therefore urge you to remember that failure should never be an option so long as your determination to succeed remains strong, he said.

Suleiman Usman, one of the promoted officers who spoke in behalf of his colleagues, said the promotion was a call for them to continue to give their very best in the service of the nation.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force destroys six illegal oil refining sites in Rivers

Mr Usman said they were very much aware of the enormous responsibilities expected of them in addressing the security challenges facing the nation.

He assured of their commitment to give their best in their various capacities, to bring lasting peace to the nation.

Our deepest appreciation goes to President Bola Tinubu for finding us worthy of this elevations and for his unwavering support, guidance and commitment to the advancement of the NAF, he said.

(NAN)

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Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has said that his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, has not brought any pressure on him since he took over from him about seven months ago, on 29 May.

I will say here standing on this altar that you have never brought any pressure on me since I took over from you. Not once, Mr Eno said on Christmas Day in Mr Emmanuels hometown, Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

If anything, were the ones running after you, asking for help. So I want to thank you for who you are, your principles, your lifestyle, that is a model for us allYou will always be my leader and I will always be your student, Mr Eno added.

The governors comment, including other things which transpired at the event, is contained in a Facebook post by his media aide, Anietie Usen.

Mr Usen said the governor, in order to demonstrate his love and respect for his predecessor, was accompanied by his cabinet members to the event.

It wouldve been incomplete Christmas celebration

The Christmas Day church service was held at the United Evangelical Church (formerly known as Qua Iboe Church) where Mr Emmanuel is a member.

It was Mr Emmanuels first Christmas celebration since he left the office as governor.

According to Mr Usen, the former governor told the gathering that it has been his tradition since he became a general manager of Zenith Bank many years ago, to return to his village every year to celebrate Christmas.

He inspired his audience with the story of his closeness and bond with his village church, Mr Usen said.

It would have been incomplete if, despite my busy schedule, I didnt come to worship in the village today I never missed this day in my village, Mr Usen quoted the former governor as saying.

The reason is that when God promoted me many years ago to become the general manager in Zenith Bank, my allowances increased, and I felt a call in my spirit to come home and help my home church. In the bank, theres a tradition of receiving a fifteenth-month salary. I ensured that I used none of it for myself or my family. I split it: half for the Lagos church and half for my village church. When I joined the government, I continued with the tradition.

Mr Usen quoted the former governor as saying that he restored peace in Akwa Ibom, and that he (Emmanuel) believes the covenant of peace he entered into with God will persist, especially with a pastor in the saddle as governor.

My relationship with Gov Eno  Emmanuel

Mr Emmanuel spoke of his relationship with his successor.

We will continue to collaborate even after his eight years as governor. The governor and I understand the challenges and know how to navigate themLet me make it clear, the governor and I are united. Any support I can offer him, I will. This unique situation with a pastor as governor means that he must be a political model for Nigeria and Africa, he said.

Mr Emmanuel said it is not easy to lead Akwa Ibom as a governor, with so many people looking up to the state government.

We must pray and exercise patience. Achievements take time. And I am here to support, not to disrupt, he added.

Gov Enos promise to predecessor

Governor Eno promised that as long as God grants me life he would continue to join Mr Udom in his hometown to celebrate Christmas.

This gesture is the least we can offer, to show our love and respect for you as a father.

I must thank you once again for seeing the potential in me that others did not; even the potentials that I myself wasnt aware of. This visit therefore is a humble way of acknowledging that you are our leader, our father and we still have much to learn and receive from you, the governor said.

In eight years, you shaped us all. You imparted leadership skills and embraced everyone. One thing I admire most about you, which I find challenging to do, is how you handled all types of individuals. Maybe you can lay hands on me here; perhaps it will help. We had observed moments when someone wronged you, yet upon meeting, youd exchange warm greetings, defying our expectations. Thats an attribute I lack but recognise the need to cultivate. Ill be grateful for your guidance.

On some occasions when I turned to my senior governor colleagues for guidance on some issues, theyd direct me back to you, saying, You have Abraham as a father. He was the one who used to help us out in such issues. And I would run to you And you would take up the matter and solve it successfully for us I will always keep running back and forth to you for counsel, Sir.

Mr Usen said Mr Emmanuel, a day after Christmas, visited Mr Eno at the governors hometown in Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Udom, accompanied by his wife, Martha, was there to reciprocate Mr Enos visit.

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Friday said three of its towers along the Maiduguri  Damaturu transmission line were destroyed with explosives on Thursday.

The TCN General Manager Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, made this known in a statement.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN hereby confirms the destruction of three of its towers along the Maiduguri  Damaturu Transmission Line with explosives yesterday 28th December 2023, Ms Mbah said.

She said in addition to the destruction of the three towers, the very sad incident also cost the life of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer.

Its truly another very sad day for us at TCN, with this incident, especially with the loss of life of the NSCDC official.

TCN commensurates with the family of the deceased and the NSCDC for this very sad and shocking incident, she said.

Earlier in December, the TCN said that its Gwagwalada-Kukwaba-Apo 132kV Transmission line 1 had been vandalised between Towers 23 and Tower 25.

Ms Mbah said the vandalisation of the line is suspected to have taken place at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, 10 December.

Last week, the TCN said one of its towers around Katsaita village in Yobe State was vandalised.

The company said the vandalisation brought down the 330kV transmission tower which pulled down tower T373 along the same transmission line route.

Condemning the act in a statement last Saturday, Nigerias Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, appealed to all Nigerians to stand against such actions noting that those responsible for the destructive act will face the full force of the law.

Deeply troubled by the recent act of vandalism on our power infrastructure. A transmission tower in Yobe State, tower T372, was deliberately brought down, causing a ripple effect that led to the collapse of tower T373 along the same transmission line. This criminal act occurred at 21:18 and disrupted power supply to parts of the Northeast, affecting Yobe and Borno States, Mr Adelabu said in a statement posted on his X handle.

While I condemn this deliberate sabotage, I appeal to all Nigerians to stand against such actions. We cannot let a few individuals hinder our efforts in providing regular electricity to the nation. Our Ministry is working closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate this incident thoroughly, he added.

He explained that those responsible for this destructive act will face the full force of the law.

He said vandalism not only disrupts power supply but also poses a threat to the safety and well-being of Nigerian communities.

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On Ways and Means advances to government by the Central Bank of Nigeria: the PEAC drew the attention of Mr President to the inherent risks to the economy of deficit funding using advances and cautioned that the level of borrowing from the CBN was in contravention of the limits imposed by the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007. The PEAC called for an amendment of the CBN Act to enable the Federal Government of Nigeria borrow legally from the CBN.

Fixing the Nigerian economy was arguably President Muhammadu Buharis toughest challenge. The Buhari economic years witnessed double-dip recession, with an unprecedented number of unemployed people and widespread poverty. Nigerias fiscal position became more uncertain, disruptive, and precarious then. All Federal Government budgets from 2016 were presented with huge deficits  most often in excess of 2 per cent of GDP  which paradoxically increased President Buharis appetite for more loans.

The 2015-2016 recession, Nigerias first in two decades, provided the first opportunity for the Buhari administration to institute reforms that would place the country on a path of sustainable growth. The administrations feeble response to the crisis, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), missed the growth and recovery projections for all four years, including its forecast of up to 5.1 million new jobs and a decline of the unemployment rate to 11.23 per cent by the end of 2020. The slow pace of reforms and consequent weak growth led to the downgrade of Nigerias sovereign rating by international agencies, further undermining confidence in the economy.

President Buhari disbanded his Economic Management Team (EMT), led by his Vice President, seemingly on account of its failure to deliver on the governments commitment to re-build and restore the economy to a path of sustainable and inclusive growth. In its place, the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC or Council) was constituted to advise Mr President on economic policy matters, with emphasis on  governments ambitions for sustainable job creation, inclusive economic growth, and prosperity for all. However, elements of the EMT remained relevant and influential enough to determine the direction of PMBs economic agenda and, indeed, the fate of the many interventions designed, and the recommendations made by the PEAC to the president.

To deliver on its mandate, the PEAC carried out extensive immersion sessions with the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government, to better understand issues, challenges, and opportunities. In addition to the routine reviews of domestic and global policy developments, the PEAC conducted in depth reviews of the strategies and plans of the Federal Government to identify and report on areas of underperformance, effectiveness of mechanisms, systemic inefficiencies, and impact.

To improve its ability to impact the economy in a comprehensive and fundamental way, the focus of the PEAC expanded beyond public sector economic policy. It engaged with the organised private sector on the issues and challenges impacting its performance.

Pursuant to its mandate, the PEAC provided creative and sometimes radical solutions for Mr President to adopt and implement. The choice of interventions was dictated by the PEACs terms of reference and guided by the mood of the economy  not by what the President liked or disliked. Consequently, the PEACs interventions sought to strengthen institutions, block leakages, engender efficiency in service delivery, promote macroeconomic stability and generally support Mr Presidents team in accomplishing Nigerias economic development objectives. In general, the PEAC told Mr President what Nigeria should be doing but was not; what Nigeria was doing but should do more or less of; and what Nigeria should not be doing at all. The PEAC, at all times, reminded Mr President of the benefits of reforms and the risks of inaction.

In recent weeks and months, many Nigerians have sought to know what the PEAC told Mr President. That is certainly a legitimate demand. From a long list of interventions and recommendations the PEAC submitted, I have selected, without the prior knowledge or consent of my colleagues, to highlight the following for the satisfaction of this demand. This is only a tip of the iceberg and only time will unveil the full story of the PEAC.

First, following the immersion sessions with MDAs, the PEAC made far-reaching recommendations on institution-strengthening to engender efficiency in service delivery and improve the capability of the MDAs in policy design and implementation. A new coordination framework proposed the creation of a Policies and Programmes Co-ordination Office (PPCO), to be embedded in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, whose primary mandate would be the promotion of the synchronicity of actions between government institutions (MDAs) on the national development goals. Its goal was to ensure greater coherence and consistency in the implementation of economic policy. The PEAC was concerned that intra- and inter-agency conflicts and coordination gaps had rendered the delivery of several policy interventions inefficient and blunted their impact in the past.

Council had its profound worries about the governments tax, borrow and spend strategy and its level of indebtedness and debt sustainability. It had called for a re-assessment of the projects in the Governments Borrowing Plan with a view to stepping down all non-priority projects (such as a $500 million loan for the digitalisation of NTA) and devolving these to the private sector, promoting Public Private Partnerships in critical infrastructure funding, and identifying more innovative funding options

Second, a Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) was uniquely designed to give teeth to Mr Presidents pledge to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. A job creation strategy sought to enhance the access of marginalised youths to economic opportunities by improving their vocational, entrepreneurial and life skills, and help them find productive employment. Creating economic opportunities for the economically marginalised demographics would have significant implications for social cohesion and national security.

Third, reflecting on Nigerias fiscal challenges, the PEAC provided innovative and international best practice forms of financing development, including the establishment of the Nigeria Investment and Growth Fund (NIGF), a private equity style fund, approved in April 2021 as part of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS). This was a robust strategy to reduce dependence on debt for the financing of critical infrastructure, improvment of liquidity, and the general evolution of a more self-reliant financing strategy.

Fourth, the PEAC viewed the fiscal crisis as an opportunity to institute extensive PFM and governance reforms to improve fiscal efficiency, transparency, enhance value-for-money and ultimately create additional fiscal space. On this, it called for a reform of public contracting and procurement process; decentralisation of the delivery structure of Social Investment Programmes; more effective tracking of the operations of all State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) generally and the NNPC, CBN and NIMASA, in particular, alongside a reform of the finances of State-Owned Enterprises to effectively bring them within the Federal Governments overall fiscal framework.

Fifth, Council had its profound worries about the governments tax, borrow and spend strategy and its level of indebtedness and debt sustainability. It had called for a re-assessment of the projects in the Governments Borrowing Plan with a view to stepping down all non-priority projects (such as a $500 million loan for the digitalisation of NTA) and devolving these to the private sector, promoting Public Private Partnerships in critical infrastructure funding, and identifying more innovative funding options (such as the private sector-led non-debt financing of infrastructure).

Sixth, the PEAC appreciated Mr Presidents prompt response to the COVID-19 induced economic crisis and provided support to the Economic Sustainability Committee, Chaired by the Vice President, in designing the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP), which provided a policy framework for the functioning of the economy amid COVID-19. However, Council cautioned Mr President that the ESPs 12-month timeframe was too short-term for impact and its ambitious targets and interventions were not in synch with the then prevailing fiscal space. The economic paradigm underpinning the ESP bore a striking resemblance to Soviet-era development plans as it assumed that the state would be the sole provider or facilitator of resources for its programmes and would ultimately be the buyer of last resort of what is produced.

Seventh, the PEAC had big plans for agriculture: it was relentless in its call for expedited actions on the elimination of the structural bottlenecks that inhibit domestic food supplies  including post-harvest losses (consistently ranging between 30  60 per cent of output) and poor farm-to-market access infrastructure. It was relentless in its call for optimising Nigerias full irrigation potentials of 3.14 million hectares (of which only 236,000 hectares is being utilised).

Eighth, the PEAC reflected and provided recommendations on several key issues that would ensure macro-economic stability and reshape the state of the economy  notably the foreign exchange (FX) management policy and Ways and Means advances. The PEAC highlighted the dangers of persistent price distortions occasioned by Nigerias exchange rate management policy. It called for urgent reforms to improve exchange rate management towards a single, stable, rather than the quasi-fixed, exchange rate that then obtained.

On Ways and Means advances to government by the Central Bank of Nigeria: the PEAC drew the attention of Mr President to the inherent risks to the economy of deficit funding using advances and cautioned that the level of borrowing from the CBN was in contravention of the limits imposed by the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007. The PEAC called for an amendment of the CBN Act to enable the Federal Government of Nigeria borrow legally from the CBN. It urged the government to take steps to securitise the stock of advances above the legal limit.

on the closure of the countrys border with Benin and Niger Republics, Council recognised the rights of Nigeria to defend its economic interests, protect its citizens and ensure stability. However, Council believed strongly that border closure could not be part of a sustainable development strategy  especially in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and Nigerias desire to grow its economy and lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

Ninth, the PEAC viewed the fuel subsidy regime as a threat to Nigerias fiscal viability and sustainability. It was unfair and inequitable to spend more than 1.2 per cent of its GDP to subsidise fuel consumption but only 0.5 per cent on education, 0.4 per cent on healthcare and 0.1 per cent on social programmes. The PEAC was unequivocal on the need to implement transformative pro-poor interventions to mitigate the risks associated with the withdrawal of subsidy. It called for interventions to re-build social and economic infrastructure to enhance the productive base of the rural economy and build resilience.

Finally, on the closure of the countrys border with Benin and Niger Republics, Council recognised the rights of Nigeria to defend its economic interests, protect its citizens and ensure stability. However, Council believed strongly that border closure could not be part of a sustainable development strategy  especially in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and Nigerias desire to grow its economy and lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

Now the big question: What exactly happened to these interventions and policy recommendations? At least three factors may have rendered the delivery of these policy interventions inefficient and blunted their impact.

First, it is well known that policy interventions will be more potent and impactful when delivered timely. However, it is also known that the response of the administration to economic crises and to critical policy interventions was almost always slow.

A year after its inauguration, the PEAC noted that only three (12 per cent) of the 24 recommendations made by the Council received the blessings of Mr President. Not much changed by May. An estimated 70 per cent of the recommendations on key issues didnt benefit from the Presidents speedy approval and immediate implementation by line MDAs. Some recommendations that were ignored outright included those on border closure, procurement reform, reform of the finances of state-owned enterprises, the harmonisation of FX windows and deregulation of the price of PMS. Ignoring these represented wasted opportunities in economic management.

Second, for those interventions favourably considered by Mr President, the responsibility to implement them fell on the shoulders of those responsible for the management of the economy, including the fiscal and monetary authorities, as well as other MDAs. As it is well known, the implementation process at all levels was weak. Thus, for example, the establishment of the Policies and Programmes Co-ordination Office (PPCO), approved to be embedded in the CoS Office, was aborted because of severely constrained capability.

In some cases, implementation was either resource constrained (Economic Sustainability Plan) or flawed because of unwieldy and inappropriate delivery structure (Economic Sustainability Plan and Poverty Eradication Strategy). For example, a Steering Committee Chaired by the Vice President overstepped the bounds of its authority (coordination and oversight) by attempting the direct implementation of the programmes and projects contained in the Poverty Eradication Strategy.

Third, the implementation of some interventions was delayed because of the poor attitude of and cooperativeness amongst the bureaucrats in the MDAs, resulting in hesitance and resistance to change. Although approved, the NIG-FUND did not benefit from the fiscal authoritys speedy implementation. Similarly, in spite of its urgency, the recommendation on the securitisation of WAYS and MEANS ADVANCES, was eventually implemented nearly two years after presidential approval.

Finally, the PEAC was itself consumed by some behind-the-scenes power plays, turf wars, and dirty bureaucratic politics.

Muhammad Sagagi was vice chair of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council; Email: drmuhammadsagagi@yahoo.com

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is focused on supporting the work of the Ukrainian state and its social obligations, rather than on the military sphere, Alfred Kammer, director of the IMF's European Department, said in an interview with Voice of America on December 28.

"We support and monitor the budget as a whole, not individual expenditures, and we and donors are helping the government of Ukraine to fulfill its basic functions during the war, such as protecting vulnerable people, paying salaries, pensions, paying for education, etc. This is what the $122 billion funding programme is aimed at," Kammer said.

Voice of America reports that if there are additional fiscal costs due to the war, Kammer says better management and, in particular, the National Revenue Strategy, which the government approved on December 28 under the terms of the IMF program, should help generate additional revenues.

"I always emphasize very clearly that we expect domestic revenues to be generated. Strengthening the economy, structural reforms that support economic activity, better governance will generate additional tax revenues," Kammer said.
The reality today is that the mass circulation of small arms and light weapons among the civilian population has placed Nigeria on the path to self-destruction. Two years ago, the then Minister of Defence challenged Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits wielding sophisticated weapons. He was telling Nigerians what they already knew to be true  that there is no state to defend citizens, so everyone is on his or her own.

Once again, there is outrage throughout Nigeria as armed men invaded communities in Plateau State over the Christmas weekend, killing an estimated 200 innocent villagers and forcing tens of thousands to flee their land in search of self-preservation. For Plateau State, it has been over twenty years that such attacks have occurred regularly. As is the tradition, our President, Bola Tinubu, in a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, condemned the attacks and ordered a manhunt for the killers. Tinubu assured Nigerians that these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice. We have heard such condemnation/promise to act hundreds of times from our successive Ogas, that all we do is shrug our shoulders and move on until our turn comes.

In Plateau State, there has been considerable investment in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts within and between communities. Too regularly, however, well-armed men move into communities and massacre innocent people, destroying the investments sank into peace building. As the state Governor said, it is clear that the people are confronting terrorism orchestrated by people with the arms and logistical capacity to do it. Nigeria has been turned into a country where bandit/terrorists kill, maim, kidnap, rape and steal as they please and the perpetual response of government over the past two decades, is empty assurances of dealing with them but no outcome is ever seen in terms of making the criminals account for their crimes. For this reason, Nigeria is tearing at the seams as the people realise that the state is either unwilling or unable to provide for their security and welfare. Increasingly, the peoples response is to procure their own arms.

The reality today is that the mass circulation of small arms and light weapons among the civilian population has placed Nigeria on the path to self-destruction. Two years ago, the then Minister of Defence challenged Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits wielding sophisticated weapons. He was telling Nigerians what they already knew to be true  that there is no state to defend citizens, so everyone is on his or her own. It is important to recall that the reason we have the state and give it the monopoly of the legitimate use of violence is to provide for our collective security. If we all have arms, the risk is that we will turn against each other in a direct march to anarchy. That is why we, citizens, unlike criminals, should not procure arms.

Our society is confronted by the Kalashnikov Challenge, characterised by the mass use of modern rifles by civil actors with criminal orientation. In the good old days of inter-tribal warfare, a week of combat between two communities might produce two or three casualties. The dane gun that was in use at that time had a quasi-democratic character. In one out of four times that the trigger is pulled, the gun explodes and the shooter is the victim. The Kalashnikov has changed all that. A young man with a single rifle could wipe out a whole village and start hate memories that the whole of previous history could never have imagined. We live in difficult times in which the destruction of community, society and ultimately the state has become too easy a pathway.

When procurement of the Kalashnikov rifles started in the late nineties and early 2000s, cattle rustling was transformed into a vicious criminal activity far beyond the quasi-cultural practice earlier observed by anthropologists. Low intensity conflicts were quickly transformed into commando like attacks with sophisticated weapons, affecting both pastoralists and large-scale farmers.

The Fulani pastoral community has emerged with the highest agency in this regard. Over a period of three decades of serious crisis of the pastoralist mode of production, due to well documented causes  population growth and expansion of agriculture, climate change and dramatic decline of the availability of pasture, as well as extortion by police and area courts, amongst others, many within the community lost all or significant parts of their herd. It was in that context that cattle rustling, an age-old practice of pastoral communities utilised in forming herds and for getting cash and meat, was revived.

When procurement of the Kalashnikov rifles started in the late nineties and early 2000s, cattle rustling was transformed into a vicious criminal activity far beyond the quasi-cultural practice earlier observed by anthropologists. Low intensity conflicts were quickly transformed into commando like attacks with sophisticated weapons, affecting both pastoralists and large-scale farmers. The result was that the scale of loss of both herds and human beings started to escalate and the victims were mainly Fulani pastoralists in the bush, and the stories did not make it into the legacy and social media.

The second phase was also largely unnoticed. When security agencies initiated significant moves in the early 2000s to trace rustled cattle, the method of criminal activity changed and rather than rustle, heads of cattle owning families were kidnapped, forcing the families to sell their cattle, pay ransom and get their relations released. The forests straddling Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina states became the ungoverned territories for these activities. Much of this was done without media attention.

The third phase was the extension of these criminal activities to neighbouring communities which were also subjected to the malfeasance. Through the 2010s, criminal gangs composed mainly but not exclusively of Fulani youth and uniformed vigilante groups, set up by communities to provide security, fought each other. The fight has always been uneven as the side with the most sophisticated weapons wins.

There is a deep process of pauperisation that is ongoing in rural Nigeria today. The youth of the affected communities, therefore, have nothing to lose but their poverty. The pathway to success that has destroyed their family resources is the Kalashnikov, as such they also choose to seek it and arm themselves, thereby spreading the growth of violence. It is a pathway to self-destruction.

Pastoralism has undergone a major transformation, which has increased, rather than decreased, the potential for conflicts and discord. Traditionally, pastoralists engaged in open grazing disperse themselves widely so as not to overgraze areas and encroach on farms. With rising insecurity, however, they started moving in large groups in smaller spaces, as they got blocked out of their traditional grazing zones. This large-scale concentration of pastoralists in limited ranges allows them to protect themselves against attacks. The paradox is that the more concentrated they are, the more damage they do to crops, which in turn fuels more violent conflict. As they spread around the country and are being chased out of many States, the conflicts have intensified. This conflict-generating trend that spread around Nigeria can only be reversed when security in rural Nigeria begins to improve.

We are now entering a new phase in which drivers of conflict are being multiplied. Banditry and mass kidnapping are sapping rural communities of their resources and savings. Families are being forced to pay millions of naira in ransom, which they do not have. To pay, they have to tax themselves, sell their animals and farms to secure the release of their relations. There is a deep process of pauperisation that is ongoing in rural Nigeria today. The youth of the affected communities, therefore, have nothing to lose but their poverty. The pathway to success that has destroyed their family resources is the Kalashnikov, as such they also choose to seek it and arm themselves, thereby spreading the growth of violence. It is a pathway to self-destruction.

Nigerias ruling class understands the trajectory we are in but they are too irresponsible to care. Of course, they care for themselves and are busy buying houses in Dubai, United Kingdom, Ghana and other places to bolt out when the times come  just they and their nuclear families, while their relations and former compatriots fight it out. That is why they are not really making any effort to rebuild the state and create conditions for rebuilding legitimacy and state capacity to provide for the security and welfare of all citizens. Wherever they go would be a temporary abode; their destination is hell. For the rest of us who are going nowhere, our future is in our hands, do we allow the criminal elements to destroy us through conflict or do we make efforts to rebuild a political community that would serve the interests of all Nigerians?

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

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In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

All praises and thanks are due to Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, and Owner of the Day of Resurrection. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, Who created creation so that they worship Him. He made His Signs clear and plain to them, so that they know Him, and He made the path to Him easy, so that they reach Him.

Abu Umamah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

Do not curse or insult your leaders, and invoke Allah to make them righteous, for their righteousness brings about your well-being as well.

This Hadith asserts the requirement from Muslims to advise their leaders and invoke Allah to make them righteous, just and fair. Also, implementing this Hadith serves to unite the nation, just as the Prophet (Peace be upon him) commanded.

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, who is known as the Imam of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah, used to say:

If I have an accepted supplication (Dua), I will invoke Allah on behalf of the Leader.

This statement from Imam Ahmad indicates his knowledge and understanding in the religion. If the Leader is righteous and just, the entire country will benefit, righteousness will flourish, Allahs blessing will descend on them, the righteous people will become dominant and the evil ones will be humiliated.

Fellow Nigerians! Please, lets all join hands in praying for our leaders and our country.

Ya Allah! Who created and brought the heavens and earth into existence, Who does not pass away or depart. He, Who knows all about our conditions and is fully aware of all our movements and period of rest, helps our President, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his defence ministers to stop these armed bandits and Boko Haram People, and all kind of insecurity in our country. Help him to rectify the economy of our country and all the Nigerias problems. Ya Rahman Ya Rahim!

Ya Allah! Who creates, sustains and controls the affairs within the universe. He Who protects and preserves us and controls our affairs, the Sole Creator, Sustainer and Brilliant Planner. We call on You to forgive us, have sympathy for us and give our President, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu good health, give him strength, give him power, give him energy, give him wisdom, give him knowledge and grace to stop and defeat the armed bandits, a group which destroys and does not build, corrupts much and does not rectify, and all the related terror activities from this our beloved and great country, Nigeria. Ya Rabb!

Ya Allah! Use him (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), use his vice (Alhaji Kashim Shettimah), Senate President Akpabio, Speaker House of Representatives Tajuddeen Abbas, our state Governors, our ministers and commissioners, our local Government Chairmen, our Sultan, our Shehus, Obas, Ohinoyis and Emirs and all our other leaders; use them to transform and salvage Nigeria, so that they lead us to all that is good for us and our country. Ya Hayyu ya Qayyum!

Our Lord! Let not their hearts deviate after You have guided them, grant them and us mercy from You, truly, You are the Bestower of Mercy.

Ya Allah! We are powerless, speechless and helpless, we pray through You to protect us and our leaders from falling into mistakes and guide them Ya Allah, to all that which is good for all of us. Guide them, so that they will work for the unity, peace, progress and stability of Nigeria. Guide them also to provide quality and responsible leadership, and to bring Nigerias vast resources together to tackle a series of deep-seated, interconnected challenges and put the country on a road to better governance, increased security, and greater prosperity. Ya Ar-hamar Rahimin Ya Rabbal Alamin!

Ya Allah! Give them the zeal to overcome daunting and threatening challenges, instill in them Your fear, so that they will lead justly towards the development of our people and country.

Ya Allah! Protect us all and our country, bless this country, forgive and have mercy, and destroy whoever that has a bad intention against our leaders, against us and our great country, Nigeria. Just as you protected us before, we seek for more of such protection, Ya Zal Jalali wal Ikram!

Ya Allah! Make our country Nigeria safe and the other Muslim countries in general, O Lord of the universe (jinn and mankind).

Ya Allah! Protect our safety, our faith (Iman) and our peace in our native lands and rectify those placed in authority over our affairs (our leaders) and dont hold us to account for that which the foolish amongst us have done, and protect us from trials the apparent and hidden of it.

Ya Allah! Show us the truth as the truth and help us to follow it, and show us the falsehood as falsehood and help us to stay away from it, and make Iman (faith) the most beloved to us and beautify it in our hearts, and make disbelief, lewdness and rebellion most hated to us and make us from those who are guided.

Ya Allah! Rectify our leaders, Ya Allah guide them to that which is good for themselves and to that which is good for us. Ya Allah make them a means for our safety, and make them a means for our word (unity) to be one, and make them a cause for our coming together, Ya Al-Hayyu (O The Ever Living, The One who cannot die), Ya Al-Qayyum (The Self Sustainer), Ya Saami (The Hearer) of the supplication. Ya Allah safeguard our country. Ya Allah bring ease to all Nigerians from that which they face of sufferings. Ya Allah give us immediate ease. Ya Allah give us victory with a happy outcome. Ya Allah make ease for Nigerians from every difficulty and from every sufferings, O Hearer of the supplication, O Reliever from every distress, O answerer of the supplication, O Helper of the grieving, O Ever Living, Self Sustaining, O Hearer of the supplication, O Owner of Loftiness and Nobility!

Ya Allah! Unite our nation around the principles of justice, peace, love and faith.

Put peace and love in our hearts for the diversity that makes our nation so beautiful.

Most Merciful! We pray for our nation to remain tolerant and loving, remove prejudice from our hearts, and allow us to love our brothers and sisters in humanity.

Allow our Governments to remain accountable to the people, give them vision and wisdom, as they take decisions affecting peace in our world so that they may uphold peace in the world, advance the welfare of our nation and deal kindly and justly with all our communities.

Ya Allah! Most Strong, give us the strength to protect and care for our neighbours.

Make our hearts and minds aware of our heritage, fulfilling duties and responsibilities as a citizen.

Ya Allah! Most Merciful, allow us to show kindness to those most vulnerable in society.

Protect us from evil, inspire and guide us in defending those open to abuse.

Ya Allah! Most Generous, allow us to give in charitable activity, and to help those most in need.

Make us more conscious of what is not good for us.

Ya Allah! Most merciful, Most Generous, please give us the patience to continue to learn from one another and work towards a more peaceful and kind world.

Make our hearts generous so that we may treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Help us to share that which we have with others, for your sake. Strengthen us, love us and be kind to us all.

Ya Allah! I hold before you the leaders of the nation  President, Vice President, Our Law Makers, Governors, Ministers, Kings, Commissioners, Local Government Chairmen and all who are in positions of leadership.

Ya Allah! We have come again in another journey of four years. We pray you grant our leaders good health and good sense of direction to stir the affairs of this great country (Nigeria) aright.

We have been burdened with problems of leadership for a very long time; this has caused challenges in power sector, education sector, infrastructural facilities, housing, health care, food and other sectors. We have consistently prayed yet the problems are still there. We pray to you to have mercy on us, to forgive us our sins and let our country be an envious nation among her folks.

The innocent citizens are being killed and kidnapped on a daily basis and there seems to be no end in sight. Grant our leaders the wisdom and intelligence to stop the bandits whose hearts are filled with glowing embers of vengeance from killing naive and helpless citizens.

Ya Allah! We know there is nothing impossible for you to do, we have cried day and night, yet you have shown us in diverse ways not to give up on the country and that is why we are praying for our leaders and our country today. Let the solution be manifested to them so that they can lead us appropriately.

Ya Allah! Help these leaders, in the loneliness of their decisions and put wise counsellors around them so that they can make good decision on our behalf.

Ya Allah! We have cried out aloud consistently but our voices have continued to get lost in the echoes of nothingness. But at this moment, we ask for just one thing the protection, guidance and direction of our leaders.

Ya Allah! We know that we cant eat chicken without butchering it, we have always butchered efforts but it has always come to naught. Grant us hope and inner strength to see our great country blossom like a beautiful red flower.

Our Lord! Accept (this prayer) from us. Indeed you are the Hearing, the knowing Ameen.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and upon his family, his Companions and his true and sincere followers.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com; or +2348038289761.

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Across the world, Free Alex Saab groups emerged demanding his freedom. Here, the Venezuelan Solidarity Campaign in Nigeria (VSCN) joined the international campaign for his release. The VSCN, reacting to Saabs release, characterised it as a victory for international solidarity grassroots movements. VSCN Coordinator, Dimeji Macaulay, in a statement said: The release of Mr Alex Saab again shows that if we fight, we can win. If we dont fight, weve already lost.

Venezuelan Special Envoy and Ambassador to the African Union, Alex Nain Saab Moran, who, against the established diplomatic practice of immunity, had been illegally detained in Cape Verde for sixteen months and in the United States for two years, was freed on Wednesday, 20 December.

He was exchanged for ten American prisoners in Venezuela who had been imprisoned for various crimes, including an armed invasion, terrorism, kidnapping and extortion. The prisoner swap, brokered by Qatar, took place in the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Saab was abducted in the American tradition of extraordinary rendition while on a humanitarian mission to buy food and medicines for his country to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This, with the fact that he is an accredited diplomat with immunity, may have been responsible for the inability of the US to proceed with his trial. In contrast, the Americans exchanged, including mercenaries and terrorists, went through normal court processes. So, when the American White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan twitted that: All the Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela are now safely back in the United States, he knew the aspect that they were wrongfully detained is false.

For instance, amongst the Americans released were former Green Berets, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, who were captured when mercenaries invaded Venezuela in 2020. While the US claimed that the invasion was a fiction manufactured by the Venezuelan government to divert attention from internal economic problems, the families and colleagues of the men were crying in the US to confirm that the men were not ghosts and that the US should intervene to get them released.

The leader of the invasion, Florida-based ex-Green Beret and three-time Bronze Star US combat veteran, Jordan Goudreau, who escaped back to America, confessed to the Associated Press that the invasion truly took place and that it was an attempt to liberate Venezuela in a mission called Operation Gideon.

He told the press of his attempts in the US to get his colleagues freed: Ive tried to engage everybody I know at every level. Nobodys returning my calls. Its a nightmare. Goudreau had shown the press a copy of an alleged $200 million contract he signed with the US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaido, to carry out the invasion. He mentioned a captured Venezuelan National Guardsman, Captain Antonio Sequea, as a commander working with him inside the country. A total of ten mercenaries were amongst the 114 arrested during the invasion. It is incredible that thirteen years later, the US Security Adviser would claim that these men were wrongfully detained.

Ten years earlier, the US had been involved in criminal acts like extraordinary rendition, which is the abduction of persons in various countries, torturing and dehumanising them and throwing them in prison without trial. This was the same tactics it used on Saab, save for two variations. First, it used another country, rather than its own forces to abduct Saab, and secondly, it had the diplomat sent to its territory rather than to another country.

In contrast, Saab neither attacked anyone nor invaded any territory. He was on a humanitarian Special Mission to purchase basic supplies like food and medicines from Iran for his people. However, the US claimed the mission amounted to bursting the sanctions it had imposed on Venezuela and Iran, so the funds Saab was carrying, amounted to money laundering.

Therefore, when the diplomats aircraft made a stopover to refuel in the West African country of Cape Verde on 12 June, 2020, America used its diplomatic and economic might to force the later to detain Saab. Earlier, the US had tried to make Switzerland put Saab on trial for allegedly using the Swiss UBS Bank for money laundering. But the Geneva Public Prosecutor had declared that it was pointless investigating such a claim.

A month after Saabs detention in Cape Verde, the US had in July, 2020 tried to seize four vessels carrying Iranian fuel to Venezuela on the ridiculous excuse that the Iranian government had stolen the oil from the Iranian people.

Ten years earlier, the US had been involved in criminal acts like extraordinary rendition, which is the abduction of persons in various countries, torturing and dehumanising them and throwing them in prison without trial. This was the same tactics it used on Saab, save for two variations. First, it used another country, rather than its own forces to abduct Saab, and secondly, it had the diplomat sent to its territory rather than to another country.

Ambassador Saab had contacted the internationally acclaimed Nigerian human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana to take his abduction case to the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court in Abuja. Saab asked the court: for the enforcement of his human rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement guaranteed by Articles 5, 6, 7 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights respectively.

On 15 March, 2021, the ECOWAS Court ordered Saabs release as there was even no INTERPOL Red Notice nor an arrest warrant for him. It also ordered that the US extradition process be terminated immediately and Saab paid $200 million for illegal detention.

However in two years, the US, in its own court, could not make the alleged case of money laundering stick on Saab. Also, it could not get round the fact that Saab, as a diplomat, has diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), which provides for the protection of the diplomat and his or her family from any form of arrest or detention.

Also, the United Nations Human Rights Commission on 8 June, 2021 demanded that Saab be freed. In addition, the African Bar Association on 28 September, 2021 demanded that Cape Verde should obey the ECOWAS Court judgement.

Falana also reported that the: African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights granted a provisional order to restrain Cape Verde from extraditing him to the United States pending the determination of the complaint of his human rights to dignity, life and freedom of movement.

Tragically, Cape Verde, a little country of 4,033 square kilometres and a population of 549,935, could not withstand the bullying of the US, even when both countries had no bilateral extradition agreement. It allowed its sovereignty to be raped by yielding to US pressures. So in October 2021, it handed the hapless diplomat to the Americans, who flew him to Florida.

However in two years, the US, in its own court, could not make the alleged case of money laundering stick on Saab. Also, it could not get round the fact that Saab, as a diplomat, has diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), which provides for the protection of the diplomat and his or her family from any form of arrest or detention.

The US only made a fool of itself when it claimed that Saab is not a true diplomat because he was appointed by President Nicolas Maduro. Who else can appoint a countrys diplomat but its sovereign Head of State?

Across the world, Free Alex Saab groups emerged demanding his freedom. Here, the Venezuelan Solidarity Campaign in Nigeria (VSCN) joined the international campaign for his release. The VSCN, reacting to Saabs release, characterised it as a victory for international solidarity grassroots movements. VSCN Coordinator, Dimeji Macaulay, in a statement said: The release of Mr Alex Saab again shows that if we fight, we can win. If we dont fight, weve already lost. Ambassador Saabs release restored some confidence in the diplomatic traditions of humanity.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

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The Nigeria Correctional Service has appointed John Francis as its controller of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command.

A statement issued on Friday by Adamu Duza, spokesperson of the correctional service in Abuja, said Mr Francis was deployed to the position by the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa.

Mr Francis replaces Ibrahim Idris, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections, in charge of training and staff development.

In his handing over speech, Mr Idris, eulogised the personnel of the FCT Prisons Command for their support, stating that without them he would not have succeeded.

He expressed confidence in the incoming controller to take command to the next level.

On his part, Mr Francis, praised his predecessor for his track record in the command, while seeking his continuous cooperation.

He expressed willingness to work with officers of the command to take it to a greater height.

Until his deployment, Mr Francis was the National Chaplain, Protestant Nigerian Correctional Service Headquarters, Abuja.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

29/12/2023

FCT GETS NEW CORRECTIONS CONTROLLER

The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa mni, has deployed John Francis as the new Controller of Corrections Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command.

John Francis would replace Ibrahim Ndaaba Idris, Esq who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections, In charge of Training and Staff Development.

In his handing over speech, Assistant Controller General of Corrections, Ibrahim N Idris, eulogized staff of the FCT Command for their support and stating that without them he wouldnt have succeeded. in his words, I can only say I am successful if my successor succeeds. b

He expressed confidence in the incoming Controller to take FCT Command to the next level.

The substantive FCT Controller of Corrections, John Francis, eulogized the ACG for his track record in the command, while seeking his continuous cooperation.

READ ALSO: Correctional Service seeks increase in inmates feeding allowance

He expressed willingness to work with officers of the Command and stakeholders in the FCT to take Corrections to a greater height.

Until CC Francis recent deployment, he was the National Chaplain  Protestant Nigerian Correctional Service Headquarters, Abuja.

Adamu Samson Duza

Deputy Superintendent of Corrections

Public Relations Officer

Nigerian Correctional Service

FCT Command

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Some suspected kidnappers have killed two police officers in Uga, a community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria.

A yet-to-be-identified man was shot on his leg during the attack which occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The hoodlums shot for over 30 minutes in the area during the attack, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

There were speculations that some persons were abducted during the attack. But PREMIUM TIMES could not independently confirm this.

Video clips

Several video clips, apparently recorded shortly after the attack, have been circulating on various social media platforms.

One of the clips seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed bodies of the two slain police operatives being put inside a waiting truck by some residents while blood gushed off the bodies.

The yet-to-be-identified man, said to be mentally ill, was also seen lying helpless on the ground.

It is not clear, for now, if the man later died.

The clip also showed two SUVs carelessly parked a few miles away with their doors and booths left open, suggesting that the occupants of the vehicles may have been abducted.

They kidnapped (the) occupants of these two vehicles, a male voice was heard in the background of the video.

Police reacts

The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES Friday morning.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the attackers were disguised in military camouflage and appeared to be on a kidnap mission during the operation.

The police spokesperson said the armed men infiltrated from a neighbouring state and were jolted on seeing two armed police operatives approaching their direction.

He said the armed operatives were from the Police Command in Enugu State and were escorting a convoy of an unnamed individual when the attack occurred.

They (the hoodlums) opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the convoy they were escorting to decongest traffic gridlock.

Other (police) personnel returned fire, careful not to hit many motorists who were in the traffic, forcing the bandits to flee, he said.

Mr Ikenga said the police in the state have launched a manhunt for the attackers.

The spokesperson said police-led Mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on patrol duty since the Yuletide promptly responded at the scene of the attack.

He said the team recovered a Lexus SUV allegedly used by the hoodlums and equally defused an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle.

The team also recovered an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain personnel, according to the statement.

Technology will be deployed to fish out suspects  Commissioner

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye, has commended police operatives for their tireless and courageous efforts in securing residents of the state, Mr Ikenga said.

Mr Adeoye urged the operatives not to be demoralised by the killing of their colleagues in the attack, but draw inspiration from the bravery of the slain operatives in confronting the hoodlums.

The police commissioner urged all police operatives in the state to redouble their efforts in the fight against criminals.

He assured that technology will be employed to track down the hoodlums who killed the police operatives.

Continue your Yuletide activities without fear, the police commissioner urged residents of the state.

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Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and some state officials on Thursday paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, who was until his death on Wednesday the state governor.

Mr Akeredolu, aged 67, died in a German hospital on Wednesday after a protracted battle with prostate cancer.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, former deputy governor who was inaugurated on Wednesday to take over from the late Mr Akeredolu as governor, led a delegation of state officials on a condolence visit to the family of his former principal in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday.

Mr Aiyedatiwa described the demise of the former governor as a great loss, not just to Ondo State and Akeredolus family, but to the whole nation.

He said that both government and entire sons and daughters of the state were mourning because of their connections to him in one way or the other.

The governor noted that Mr Akeredolu was one voice that could not be easily forgotten in Nigerias history.

He said that the former governor was a great man of courage who always pursued his conviction with courage, irrespective of circumstances around the issue.

We cannot forget him because the legacies he has laid down in Ondo State are all there for all to see.

In the areas of security, protection of lives and property, wellbeing of people, infrastructural development, education and health to mention a few, he said.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said that the former governor diligently served God, family, friends, Ondo State and his legal profession.

We all know the involvement of the former governor in the christian faith, particularly the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.

He was the chancellor of his diocese and great contributor to the development of the church.

We believe in God as author of life because he takes the saints home when it pleases him.Precious in the sight of God is the death of his saints.

He has completed his journey, lived a purposeful life and made great impact. We should be praying as his followers to be able to attain the feat he reached while he was alive.

From what we have witnessed as his followers, we believe that a crown is waiting for him in heaven and I believe we will meet him again on the day of resurrection in his glorified body.

On behalf of the government and good people of Ondo state, we have come to pay our condolences to the family. We want to commiserate and be identified with you on the demise of our late leader, he said

He signed a condolence register during his visit to the bereaved family.

Responding on behalf of the family, Kola Akeredolu, a pastor and younger brother of the deceased, commended the governor for his demonstration of love toward the family.

He said that the family would not take the visit for granted. (NAN)

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( Read 2029 Times)

Bhilwara:The installation ceremony of the Executive Committee formed under the leadership of Chetan Manasinka for the year 2023-24 of the District UNESCO Association will take place on Sunday, December 31, at 10:30 am at UNESCO Temple (Saraswati Temple) within the premises of Devchhaya Vihar.

Jagdish Chandra Moondra, the Secretary of the District UNESCO, informed that the swearing-in ceremony of the District UNESCO Association, Bhilwara branch, for the tenure 2023-24, will be organized. The event will witness the presence of all general members and office bearers of UNESCO. During the ceremony, the newly appointed officials will take an oath of allegiance to UNESCO's ideals and objectives, committing to the dedicated execution of their responsibilities while aligning with the organization's activities. The program's outline has been prepared, and various committees have been assigned responsibilities.

Source :
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft Ukraine Facility plan for submission to the European Commission, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

"Today we are approving the draft Ukraine Facility plan for submission to the European Commission. Together with business, the public sector, the parliamentary corps, and the regions, we have done a lot of work to create it. Now there are ongoing developments, to which the European Commission will provide its comments and proposals," Shmyhal said at the Friday government meeting.

According to him, the final conditions of the program will be after the approval of the Ukraine Facility regulations by the European Council, whose meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2024.

"Agreement by the European Commission on the final version of the plan will give Ukraine access to a financial resource of EUR 50 billion for four years, of which EUR 39 billion will be used to ensure macro-financial stability," the prime minister said.
BEIJING, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As we bid farewell to 2023 and greet 2024, CGTN is launching a 24-hour, non-stop "Read a Poem" livestreaming event in seven cities worldwide on Sunday to ring in the New Year with friends and family from all around the globe.

This 24-hour event will start at 08:00 GMT (16:00 Beijing Time) with guests in Sydney, Xi'an, Changsha, Almaty, Cairo, Paris and Mexico City. Residents in those seven cities will be invited to go on air and talk about their New Year resolutions, recite poems, or send good wishes to others in front of our streaming camera.

Official poster for CGTN's "Read a Poem" livestreaming event. /CGTN

Meeting with overseas Chinese and locals in Sydney will allow us to toast the New Year while exploring the differences and similarities between Chinese and Australian cultures. Along with anticipating the first dawn of 2024, we will also take pleasure in the city's renowned New Year's Eve fireworks.

In Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, we will take you on a tour of the "The Longest Day in Chang'an" Theme Park to see some of the most exquisite ancient dances and music from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Locals and hanfu fans will also be invited to a celebration at the South City Gate.

When in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province, we will stop by the Taiping historic street for some authentic Hunan cuisine and take a glimpse at the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum to appreciate the delicate porcelain. We will also discover more about China and Africa's cultural, commercial and economic contacts at the Permanent Exhibition Hall China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. Meanwhile, viewers can connect with pals online from China and Africa while appreciating the lyrical beauty of poetry.

We will invite Chinese people living overseas and local friends in Almaty, Kazakhstan to Abai Square, which bears the name of the country's seasoned poet, Abai Kunanbayev, to discover the beauty of traditional handicrafts from China and Kazakhstan as well as the allure of regional music and dance.

After our arrival in Cairo, we'll take a Nile River boat ride and celebrate along the banks with local drummers and musicians. To welcome the upcoming New Year, we'll sing the songs of artists and poets.

Our next stop will be the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris, where we will meet with local hanfu fans, Chinese expats and art world heavyweights. Together, we will welcome the New Year while gazing over a marvelous view of Paris.

Lastly, we will visit Mexico City's famous Angel of Independence statue to join residents and Mexican internet users in their traditional New Year's Eve celebration.

Join us for a captivating poetry feast where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to express their profound emotions about life. This event serves as a platform for participants to engage in meaningful conversations, discussing the enchanting prospects and aspirations of the approaching New Year.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-12-29/A-worldwide-poetry-journey-CGTN-rings-in-2024-with-global-livestream-1pTWCECTIpq/p.html

SOURCE CGTN
AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIT Mining Limited (NYSE: BTCM) ("BIT Mining," "the Company," "we," "us," or "our company"), a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company, today announced that it has agreed to sell its entire mining pool business operated under BTC.com (the "Business") to Esport  Win Limited, a Hong Kong limited liability company, for a total consideration of US$5 million. The sale of the Business is expected to result in an increase of approximately US$16 million in the total shareholders' equity of BIT Mining, since the Business has approximately US$11 million in cryptocurrency net liability. The sale does not include or affect any of BIT Mining's other businesses.

The sale of the Business is subject to certain closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals and is expected to close upon satisfaction of the closing conditions.

The Business generated revenues of US$593.2 million, or 91.2% of BIT Mining's total revenues, in the year ended December 31, 2022. However, in accordance with the Company's business model, a considerable amount of mining rewards is payable to each pool participant in exchange for the computing power they contribute to the mining pool. As disclosed in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the cost and expense of mining pool services for the full year 2022 was US$595.8 million. Consequently, the Business recorded a full-year net operating loss of US$2.6 million. The Company expects the sale to result in improved profitability and a solid cash position.

Xianfeng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of BIT Mining, commented, "By selling the loss-making mining pool business, we will be more resilient with our core resources focused on advancing the research and development of our existing businesses. Meanwhile, the cash proceeds from the transaction and our company's enhanced profitability outlook will further strengthen our position to explore new areas with greater potential and room for future expansion. Moving forward, we will strive to unlock considerable synergistic potential across our existing business segments, propelling our company's technology-driven growth and creating long-term value for our shareholders."

About BIT Mining Limited

BIT Mining (NYSE: BTCM) is a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company with operations in cryptocurrency mining, data center operation and mining machine manufacturing. The Company is strategically creating long-term value across the industry with its cryptocurrency ecosystem. Anchored by its cost-efficient data centers that strengthen its profitability with steady cash flow, the Company also conducts self-mining operations that enhance its marketplace resilience by leveraging self-developed and purchased mining machines to seamlessly adapt to dynamic cryptocurrency pricing. The Company also owns 7-nanometer BTC chips and has strong capabilities in the development of LTC/DOGE miners and ETC miners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "going forward," "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause BIT Mining's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

For more information:



BIT Mining Limited

[email protected]

ir.btcm.group

www.btcm.group

Piacente Financial Communications

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1 (212) 481-2050

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE BIT Mining Limited
BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bunker Hill Community College ("BHCC") experienced a data incident in May 2023 (the "Incident") that potentially involved certain individuals' personal information ("Information"). This notice provides information about this Incident, BHCC's response, and where individuals can direct further questions.

What Happened?

On May 23, 2023, BHCC detected irregular activity on certain BHCC systems that was consistent with a ransomware attack. BHCC immediately responded to the situation by taking the affected systems offline, contacting law enforcement, and engaging data security and privacy experts to conduct an investigation. BHCC personnel were able to stop the unauthorized activity from spreading and contained the Incident to a limited number of BHCC systems. BHCC's backups were not affected by the Incident, and BHCC personnel were able to restore BHCC's network from those backups without any data loss. As a credit to the existing safeguards that BHCC had in place, BHCC personnel successfully and safely restored BHCC's network, enabling BHCC to continue with its academic calendar without any delay.

BHCC engaged leading data security professionals to support its investigation and response. BHCC's investigation has found that an unauthorized actor gained access to BHCC's network before deploying ransomware. The investigation was also able to confirm that a limited amount of data was copied from BHCC's network. Accordingly, BHCC reviewed the relevant data to determine whether any personal information was present so it could notify individuals as appropriate. There is currently no indication that the unauthorized actor has misused any Information for identity theft or fraud in connection with this Incident.

What Information Was Involved?

BHCC's investigation determined that the following general categories of Information may have been involved in the Incident but are not relevant to every individual: name, date of birth, Social Security Number, driver's license number, state identification number, U.S. alien identification number, passport number, financial account number in combination with routing number or code, credit/debit card number, username and password, medical information, and health insurance information. Again, the circumstances are different for each individual and not every category applies to each individual.

What BHCC is Doing.

Upon becoming aware of the unauthorized activity, BHCC immediately implemented measures to further improve the security of BHCC's information technology systems and practices, including resetting and strengthening passwords, implementing new network security tools, and adopting new network access policies. BHCC worked with leading cybersecurity experts to aid in their investigation and response, and BHCC reported this incident to relevant government agencies and law enforcement.

Additionally, BHCC is offering free credit monitoring services to potentially affected individuals for 24 months through Experian, which includes Credit Monitoring, Fraud Consultation, and Identity Theft Restoration.

What Individuals Can Do.

BHCC encourages potentially affected individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing their account statements and monitoring their free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Potentially affected individuals can also enroll in the credit monitoring services that BHCC is offering at no cost.

Potentially affected individuals seeking additional information, including whether their Information was involved and their eligibility for complimentary credit monitoring, may call BHCC's toll-free assistance line at 888-722-9207, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern time. Individuals may also contact BHCC at [email protected].

Other Important Information

Under U.S. law, individuals are entitled to 1 free credit report annually from each of the 3 major credit reporting bureaus. To obtain a free credit report, individuals may visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Alternatively, affected individuals can contact the 3 major credit reporting bureaus directly at the addresses below.

Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-

report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-

help 1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-833-395-6938 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069

Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box

9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box

2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788

Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O.

Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O.

Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Moreover, information regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes, and the steps an individual can take to protect personal information may be obtained by contacting the consumer reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, or the appropriate state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Individuals can obtain further Information on how to file such a complaint by calling 1-877-438-4338. Individuals should file a police report if they are a victim of identity theft or fraud. To file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, an individual will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim.

If you have questions regarding this matter, you can contact (888) 722-9207.

SOURCE Bunker Hill Community College
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's third-largest crypto exchange by volume, is excited to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of its Bybit P2P service. Over the past two years, Bybit P2P has empowered users to buy and sell crypto directly with each other in a secure and efficient environment. Today, we commemorate this milestone with the P2P Festive Duo Event, offering up to 17 USDT in P2P coupons to fuel your crypto journey while witnessing our explosive growth!

Bybit P2P Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with Festive Duo Event

In just 2 years, Bybit P2P has experienced remarkable growth, processing over 45 million transactions to date and welcoming a daily active user base of 42,000 traders. Recently, we shattered records by surpassing 80,000 transactions in a single day, highlighting the platform's immense popularity and unwavering appeal.

Bybit P2P is more than just a platform; it's a thriving community of crypto enthusiasts united by their passion for digital assets. Join us for exclusive events, connect with fellow traders, and share your crypto journey.

Join the Festivities: P2P Festive Duo Event Details

Event Period: December 26, 2023, 10:00 AM UTC  January 17, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC

Complete simple tasks: Like placing your first P2P trade, inviting friends, and making referrals.

Earn up to 17 USDT in coupons: Redeem them for fee discounts, transaction boosters, and more!

Visit Bybit's website for more details and to unlock your P2P Festive Duo privileges! : https://announcements.bybit.com/article/p2p-festive-duo-grab-up-to-17-usdt-p2p-coupons--blt766f5350f9452d73/

#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: [email protected]

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

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Accelerates Transformation Plan, Now Targeting $290 million of Cost Reductions

MIAMI, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cano Health, Inc. (NYSE: CANO) (" Cano Health " or the " Company ") announced today that it was notified by NYSE Regulation Inc. (the " NYSE ") that it is not in compliance with Section 802.01B of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (the " Listing Rule ") because the Company's total market capitalization has been less than $50 million over a 30 trading-day period and its stockholders' equity is less than $50 million.

Pursuant to the Listing Rule, the Company has 10 business days from receipt of the Notice to send a letter to the NYSE confirming receipt of the Notice and to indicate whether it intends to cure the deficiencies. If the Company determines to cure such deficiencies, the Company would then submit a business plan (the " Plan ") within 45 days of receipt of the Notice that demonstrates that the Company will regain compliance with the Listing Rule within 18 months of receipt of the Notice. Upon receipt of the Plan, the NYSE would have up to 45 days to review and determine whether the Company has made a reasonable demonstration of its ability to come into conformity with the relevant standards within the cure period. The NYSE may either accept the Plan, at which time the Company would be subject to ongoing quarterly monitoring for compliance with the Plan, or the NYSE may not accept the Plan and the Company would be subject to suspension and delisting proceedings. Under the NYSE rules, during the 18-month cure period, the Company's Class A common stock will remain eligible for continued listing and trading on the NYSE, subject to the Company's compliance with other continued listing requirements.

The current noncompliance with the NYSE Listing Rule does not affect the Company's ongoing business operations or its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC ") reporting requirements, nor does it trigger any violation of its material debt or other obligations.

As previously disclosed by the Company, including in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2023, the Company has shifted its strategic direction to focus on executing its Transformation Plan that is designed to: (i) improve the Company's Medical Cost Ratio (" MCR "); (ii) reduce its direct patient expense (" DPE ") and selling, general & administrative (" SG&A ") expenses; (iii) improve the Company's gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA; and (iv) maximize the Company's productivity, cash flow and liquidity. The Transformation Plan primarily includes the following measures:

Driving medical cost management initiatives to improve the Company's MCR;

Lowering third party medical costs through negotiations with payors, including restructuring contractual arrangements with payors and specialty network;

Expanding initiatives to optimize its DPE and SG&A expenses-- reducing operating expenses, including reduction of permanent staff; and significantly reducing all other non-essential spending;

Prioritizing the Company's Medicare Advantage and ACO Reach lines of business through improving patient engagement and access;

Divesting and consolidating certain assets and operations, inclusive of exiting certain markets-- exiting its Puerto Rico operations by the beginning of 2024; conducting a strategic review of the Company's Medicaid business in Florida , pharmacy assets and other specialty practices; and consolidating underperforming owned medical centers and delaying renovations and other capital projects;

Evaluating the performance its affiliate provider relationship terminating underperforming affiliate partnerships; and

Pursuing a comprehensive process to identify and evaluate interest in a sale of the Company, or all or substantially all of its assets, including having engaged advisors to assist in the process.

As a result of accelerating these initiatives, the Transformation Plan is now targeted to achieve approximately $290 million of cost reductions by the end of 2024, inclusive of the $65 million of planned cost reductions previously disclosed. The Company expects to recognize approximately $30 million in pre-tax charges to implement these plans during 2024, consisting principally of lease exit costs and employee termination benefits. The Company expects that substantially all of these charges will be paid in cash over 2024 and 2025.

As part of this strategic shift, the Company also has been engaged in reviewing and continues to review strategic alternatives to recapitalize, refinance or otherwise optimize its capital structure (the " Ongoing Review "), which may ultimately result in the Company pursuing one or more significant corporate transactions or other remedial measures. The Ongoing Review includes an evaluation of available options to regain compliance with the Listing Rule. The Company can provide no assurances that it will be able to satisfy any of the steps outlined above and maintain the listing of its shares on the NYSE or the results of the Ongoing Review.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and could materially affect actual results, performance or achievements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "foresees," "forecasts," "plans," "intends," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import, including, without limitation, statements regarding our anticipated performance, operations, financial strength, potential, and prospects for long-term shareholder value creation, our anticipated results of operations, including our business strategies, our projected costs, prospects and plans, and other aspects of our operations or operating results, as well as statements made in this press release regarding the Company's plans to (i) regain compliance with the Listing Rule; (ii) execute one or more aspects of its Transformation Plan; (iii) pursue strategic alternatives to recapitalize, refinance or otherwise optimize its capital structure, which may ultimately result in the Company pursuing one or more significant corporate transactions or other remedial measures; and (iv) achieve approximately $290 million of cost reductions by the end of 2024 and recognize approximately $30 million in charges to implement the Transformation Plan during 2024, and the timing of the payment of such charges, and the related expected benefits from pursuing such plan. It is uncertain whether any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations and financial condition. Important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in market or industry conditions, the regulatory environment, competitive conditions, and/or consumer receptivity to our services; changes in our strategy, future operations, prospects and plans; our ability to realize expected financial results, including with respect to patient membership, total revenue and earnings; our ability to predict and control our medical cost ratio; our ability to maintain our relationships with health plans and other key payors; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash, including funds to satisfy our liquidity needs; our ability to attract and retain members of management and our Board of Directors; and/or our ability to recruit and retain qualified team members and independent physicians. Actual results may also differ materially from such forward-looking statements for a number of other reasons, including those set forth in our filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2023, as amended by our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 7, 2023 (the "2022 Form 10-K"), as well as our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will file with the SEC during 2023 and 2024 (which may be viewed on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or on our website at http://www.investors.canohealth.com/ir-home), as well as reasons including, without limitation, our experiencing delays or difficulties in, and/or unexpected or less than anticipated results from its efforts to (i) regain compliance with the NYSE Listing Rule; (ii) implement the Company's Transformation Plan; (iii) consummate one or more transactions to recapitalize, refinance or otherwise optimize its capital structure, such as due to less than expected liquidity and/or difficulties and/or delays in consummating one or more transactions to sell all or part of the Company; and/or (iv) achieve the targeted cost reductions and/or any of the other expected benefits from its Transformation Plan, such as due to higher than expected costs and charges to achieve one or more aspects of such plan. For a detailed discussion of other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, please refer to our filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our 2022 Form 10-K. Factors other than those listed above could also cause our results to differ materially from expected results. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation or duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect actual results of operations; changes in financial condition; changes in general U.S. or international economic, industry conditions; changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions; or other circumstances, conditions, developments or events arising after the issuance of this press release. Additionally, the business and financial materials and any other statement or disclosure on or made available through the Company's websites or other websites referenced herein shall not be incorporated by reference into this press release.

About Cano Health

Cano Health (NYSE: CANO) is a high-touch, technology-powered healthcare company delivering personalized, value-based primary care to approximately 310,000 members. Founded in 2009, with its headquarters in Miami, Florida, Cano Health is transforming healthcare by delivering primary care that measurably improves the health, wellness, and quality of life of its patients and the communities it serves through its primary care medical centers and supporting affiliated providers. For more information, visit canohealth.com or investors.canohealth.com.

SOURCE Cano Health, Inc.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The esteemed Dr. Manuel Abreu is pleased to announce the launch of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors, a distinguished initiative aimed at supporting high school students with a passion for medicine in achieving their dreams. Dr. Abreu, a board-certified internal medicine physician with over two decades of experience, has dedicated his career to medical education, access to healthcare, and community service.

This one-time scholarship, with a generous award of $1,000, is designed to assist aspiring doctors in pursuing their academic goals.

To apply, prospective scholars are invited to visit the official website https://drmanuelabreuscholarship.com/manuel-abreu-scholarship/ and submit a personal statement addressing a significant challenge currently faced by the healthcare industry. The statement should also propose an innovative solution to address the challenge effectively, outlining why the applicant is passionate about medicine and deserving of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2024, and the winner will be announced on August 15, 2024.

Dr. Manuel Abreu's commitment extends beyond medical practice; he actively contributes to his community through volunteering at the Mission Medical Center/Lady Queen of Peace Church in Delray Beach, Florida, and mentoring medical students and residents. The Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors is a testament to his belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to receive high-quality medical care, regardless of their financial situation.

In celebration of Dr. Manuel Abreu's dedication to medical education and community service, the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors seeks to identify and support the next generation of compassionate healers and problem solvers within the medical field.

For further details on the scholarship, eligibility criteria, and application process, please visit https://drmanuelabreuscholarship.com/manuel-abreu-scholarship/.

About Dr. Manuel Abreu: Dr. Manuel Abreu is a certified internal medicine physician with over 20 years of experience. Born and raised in Cuba, he overcame numerous challenges to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. Dr. Abreu is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the Florida Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. He is the founder of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors, a manifestation of his commitment to helping aspiring doctors achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world.

SOURCE Dr Manuel Abreu Scholarship
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced his decision to veto House Bill 68, also referred to as the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. If enacted, the bill will protect Ohio minors from gender-transition procedures (including chemical procedures, surgical procedures, and psychological inducement) or from being diagnosed or subjected to gender transition counseling without the consent of at least one parent, legal custodian, or guardian. It also protects parents from losing custody over this issue--a known problem in Ohio since at least 2018.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted yesterday voiced support for HB 68.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement in response:

"Governor Mike DeWine's veto of the SAFE Act will have devastating consequences for Ohio's children, unless the legislature moves to override. Minors cannot drive cars, purchase cigarettes, or consume alcohol legally. Parents cannot take newborn infants home from the hospital without a car seat or allow children to ride in an automobile without a seatbelt. Yet, in the absence of this legislation, there is a green light to alter, and even do irreversible harm, to children's bodies. This is medical experimentation on minors, pure and simple.

"The harmful gender ideology sweeping across our nation creates a growing and urgent need for legislative protection of children vulnerable to life-altering procedures such as puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries. Research has not shown that these procedures are effective in improving a patient's mental health. They have serious negative side effects, up to and including permanent sterilization--thus violating the most fundamental principle of medical ethics, 'First, do no harm.'

"A growing number of individuals are coming forward to share their stories about being permanently maimed, highlighting the need for legal remedies. The SAFE Act addresses this critical need while also ensuring that the government never uses taxpayer dollars to pay for experiments that will damage the lives of the next generation.

"This is a sad day for Ohio. However, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted should be applauded for his decision to stand in support of Ohio's SAFE Act.

"Family Research Council urges Ohio legislators to override Governor DeWine's veto and pass the SAFE Act into law to protect vulnerable children from experimental procedures that cause physiological trauma for those dealing with gender dysphoria. There is no 'right' to inflict dangerous, and often irreversible, procedures on minors, and it is fully within the legitimate power of each state to regulate such practices."

Walt Heyer, a Senior Fellow with FRC, also commented:

"I detransitioned over 30 years ago. I know about consequences. The known consequences of these experimental procedures include infertility, sterility, osteoporosis, liver damage, mental health issues, including suicide ideation, and skeletal bone thinning. Years from now, today's children who are so convinced they need these experimental procedures will be confronted by the tragic personal consequences arising from Governor DeWine's veto."

CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, (866) FRC-NEWS or (866)-372-6397

SOURCE Family Research Council
DUBLIN, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Microcarriers Market: Focus on Biopharmaceutical Production, End User, Products, and Over 12 Countries' Data - Analysis and Forecast, 2024-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The latest research publication on the Global Microcarriers Market provides a strategic industry analysis of the key factors influencing the market. This new report offers in-depth insights into the present market scenario, market segmentation, and projections for growth from 2024 to 2033, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions and strategize effectively for future expansions.

Insightful Segmentation and Regional Outlook

The report delves into the market segmentation of microcarriers, focusing on different types, end users, applications, and products. Further extending its analysis, it covers regional data over North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, catering to market trends and identifying growth opportunities across these diverse regions.

Drivers, Opportunities, and Market Dynamics

Critical market dynamics, such as the surging demand for cell-based vaccines, the proliferation of the biologics sector, and increasing investments in cell therapy research are thoroughly examined. This analysis provides stakeholders with a holistic view of the market drivers that are propelling the demand for microcarriers.

Technological Advancements Paving the Way

Microcarrier technology has seen considerable advancements, particularly with the introduction of dissolvable microcarriers, which streamline the cell harvest stage and make them more conducive for large-scale cell manufacturing. The advent of such innovative solutions is significantly impacting various industry verticals associated with microcarriers, thus providing a more efficient and cost-effective methodology for cell production.

Comprehensive Market Analysis

Segmentation by Product and Application

Understanding Market Trends

Growth Opportunities in Emerging Markets

In-depth Competitive Landscape

Competitive Landscape and Strategic Insights

An important section of the report profiles key market players and their strategic initiatives, allowing stakeholders to understand the competitive landscape and foresee potential business trajectories. The market shares, product offerings, and future outlooks of major industry players are discussed, equipping readers with the necessary intelligence to thrive in a competitive market.

Companies Mentioned

Teijin Ltd

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.

Thermo FIsher Scientific Inc.

Eppendorf AG

Danaher Corporation

Corning Incorporated

Beckton, Dickson & Company

Lonza AG

Entegris, Inc.

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation

Asahhi Kasei Corporation

Percell Biolytica AB

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fw3kuc

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
BEIJING, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a short video, silver-haired "Grandma Wu" demonstrates various physics experiments using everyday items. She uses an iron pot to simulate the radio telescope, a broom to simulate cosmic rays in space, a badminton racket to simulate a positron-electron collider, and ginkgo leaves to make origami butterflies. Grandma Wu also invites the viewer to speculate whether the universe has an end and whether parallel universes truly exist.

At 73, the retired university professor boasts a following of more than 1.72 million subscribers after around three years of posting on video-sharing social media platform Bilibili and another 5.2 million followers on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, becoming China's latest internet influencer as science education gains mass appeal.

In late 2022, the "silver-haired knowledge vlogger" group, which went viral, won the "Touching China 2022 Annual Figures" award. The average age of the 13 vloggers was 77 years old, and Wu was among them. They include academicians at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, retired university professors, and ex-elementary and middle school teachers. They use trendy language, short videos and live broadcasts to share scientific and humanistic knowledge that young people are interested in. Unlike the traditional stereotypical impression of the elderly in Chinese society, these bloggers represent a new image in the eyes of young people.

They are pictures of twilight-age vitality, enjoying life on their own terms, rather than only focusing on the busy lives of their children and grandchildren.

Living in a society of accelerated population aging, how can we ensure that the elderly have support, happiness, and security in their old age? How can institutionalized guarantees bring about a more dignified later life and enable them to embrace more possibilities? These "fashionable seniors" active on short video platforms provide us with answers.

Passion for life never fades

Wu had the idea of making short videos as early as 2018. In her popular science videos, she breaks away from the seriousness of traditional physics classrooms and explains unfamiliar concepts in plain terms. For Wu, inspiring curiosity in young people is one of the most fulfilling things she has been longing for, and she is using this dream to inspire the dreams of more youngsters.

In a recent interview with the Global Times, Wu said that years of physics and science education have made her realize that people can only maintain a desire to learn if they maintain curiosity. "Having conversations with young people in their way" is one of Wu's current wishes. She hopes to convey the enthusiasm she presents in front of the camera to all young people who watch her videos, helping them see their self-worth, gain confidence and a sense of responsibility, learn how to conduct research, collaborate effectively, and dare to challenge themselves.

Wu's busy schedule and energy level are no less than those of young people today. She also devotes herself to online courses, offline lectures, and scientific education practice activities. The vibrant and energetic life she presents in front of the camera has become the envy of and an aspiration to many young people.

The silver-haired vlogger's New Year's wish is for her later years to be "fresher, happier, and more carefree."

Cares from youngsters never late

"Bob" is the English name given to Wang Li, a 62-year-old who lives in the Jingya nursing home in North China's Tianjin Municipality. After the popularity of the short drama video series in which Wang participated, an English blogger specially visited the nursing home and gave each elderly person a trendy English name. Since April, "Funny Things in the Funny Nursing Home" has gained over 1 million fans online, with the highest-viewed video gaining over 200 million views. In the videos, the nursing home residents are optimistic and cheerful, and never shy away from discussing aging and death.

One of the common themes in the short drama series is popularizing chemical knowledge. In the short video, 90-year-old Yu Youfang, who used to be a chemistry teacher at a high school in Tianjin, leans on a walking aid and holds a teaching cane to tap on the table. She is surrounded by a group of students in their seventies and eighties who even wear high school uniforms donated by their grandchildren. In this chemistry class scenario, there are always "students" causing explosions or producing poisonous gas due to "improper operation." The "students" are then comically carried away on stretchers in the classroom, hooked up to IV drips, and occasionally need oxygen as part of first aid remedies administered in adjoining classrooms... Netizens rightly albeit jokingly note: "Attending class is quite 'killing' students."

One of the main characters in the series, Bob, used to be an entrepreneur. He suffered a stroke in his middle age, leaving him with the sequelae of being unable to lift his left arm. Illness, divorce, and the death of his mother... A series of tragedies once left this man in his early 60s completely devastated. When he first arrived at the nursing home, he hardly socialized with anyone. He would always sit alone on the edge of the bed, with the skin on his fingertips discolored from smoking.

After joining the short video cast, Bob's life has turned a new page. He likes the feeling of being greeted in the videos by younger netizens, and has also ventured out of the nursing home with his companions to see the sea for the first time.

Feng Yan, one of the creators of the video series at the nursing home, told the Global Times that the original intention for filming was to eliminate public fear of nursing homes and anxiety surrounding life and death.

The content of the videos helps the elderly to awaken the memories of their youth. "We want to help them extend their social lives, reconnect with society, and make everyone feel cared for," Feng said. "In fact, most of these elderly people are not afraid of death, but are afraid of being forgotten."

"To let others see their inner world, to see their vibrant state, is a dream that many elderly people in nursing homes cannot express," Feng said.

The emerging creative trend of the silver generation is also gradually spreading in many nursing homes and senior universities in various cities.

In another nursing home in Xuchang, Central China's Henan Province, residents wear sunglasses and "DJ" dynamic music. According to media reports, this nursing home not only provides free accommodation but also has recreational facilities such as e-sports rooms, cinemas, painting and calligraphy rooms, and small bars. Fan Jinlin, a Gen-Z nursing home owner, told media that he wants to tell people that the elderly are also trendy and love to have fun, and nursing homes can be full of vitality.

At the same time, Chengdu University for the Aged has added many "trendy courses" in recent years, such as drone piloting, video editing, and even street dancing, all of which are fully booked according to media reports.

Guarantee and support never absent

A more comprehensive healthcare insurance system, an encouragement for the silver economy, an increased investment in elderly education resources, and a more open and diverse social culture - China is striving to establish an elderly-friendly society against the backdrop of a rapidly aging population.

According to data released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs in December, by the end of 2022, the population aged 60 and above in China accounted for 19.8 percent of the total population, with the population aged 65 and above accounting for 14.9 percent, approaching the stage of moderate aging.

Meanwhile, estimates by the National Health Commission predicted that by around 2035, the population aged 60 and above in China will exceed 400 million, accounting for over 30 percent of the total population. By then, China may enter the stage of severe aging.

Professor Li Chenghua from Nanjing University believes that Chinese modernization is complementary to actively addressing population aging. On one hand, the new goals and characteristics of Chinese modernization process provide new opportunities and guarantees for actively addressing population aging, helping to further establish a new situation of respecting and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly. On the other hand, the realization of Chinese modernization cannot be separated from the contributions of the elderly.

China has actively addressed population aging problem by promoting the resolution of the practical needs of the elderly in areas such as elderly care, health, spiritual and cultural life, and social participation, and striving to meet the new expectations of hundreds of millions of elderly people for a better life.

As a practitioner in the elderly care industry, Feng feels increased societal attention to elderly issues and meticulous care for the elderly in his daily work.

During a recent visit to a zoo organized by Jingya nursing home, Feng was deeply moved by the support of the volunteers throughout the journey. "We provided each elderly person with a wheelchair, and almost all public toilets had wheelchair-accessible facilities. Volunteers were enthusiastic in helping at every step. We also received many care packages from various sectors of society, some of which were anonymous," Feng said.

He believes that a comprehensive elderly care service system is currently being built, and his wish is to see an age-friendly society; a civilized environment where the elderly can "be themselves freely."

Chen Yuan, the head of Jingya nursing home, told the Global Times that he hopes to attract more young people to enter the elderly care industry and pay attention to the spiritual needs of the elderly through short videos. "The nursing home is not the last stop in the elderly's life, but another 'home' given to them by society," Chen said.

Feng is increasingly proud of his profession. He knows that he is exploring a path of "building a more friendly society for the elderly" endowed by the Chinese modernization process.

Holding up his phone and seeing "actor" Bob dancing happily like a child, Feng smiles on the other side of the camera. This moment connects his dream with the collective dreams of senior citizens in nursing homes across the country.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304408.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
Aims to foster teenagers, young people, middle-aged people, and people with disabilities into lifelong professionals

Developed a platform to "accompany the vulnerable" using metaverse

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is an Interview with Baek Seong-wook, President of Knowledge Fun On by reporter Choi Su-jin from Hankyung.com:

"I want to build a variety of services so that no one will have difficulty getting a job in the future," said CEO Baek Sung-wook (photo), whom we met at the KFO Knowledge Fun On in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 14th. When he founded the company in 2009, he aimed to empower teenagers, young people, middle-aged people, and people with disabilities to become lifelong professionals through vocational training so that they could take charge of their lives and the lives of their families.

Photo: https://img.hankyung.com/pdsdata/pr.hankyung.com/uploads/2023/12/kfo.jpg

In recognition of his contributions, he has received awards from four organizations, including awards from the Minister of Employment and Labor and the Mayor of Seoul this year. The opportunity came when his company was selected as an excellent company for job creation. President Baek smiled while introducing the plaques displayed in his office, saying, "I've been lucky enough to receive many awards this year."

This year is particularly meaningful to President Baek. This is because he signed an MOU with the City of Fullerton, California, USA, to establish an employment platform. He said the MOU was made possible because of the city's concern about the need for quality labor in their city.

The city of Fullerton is home to many Korean-Americans, so much so that the first Korean mayor was elected. There is a high demand for Korean labor, especially among local companies that have paid attention to the diligence of Koreans. In response, President Baek aims to build a platform to provide jobs for Korean-Americans in the city and to create an environment where companies can hire global talent.

"Koreans are known for being conscientious compared to other ethnic groups in the city," President Baek said. "We will provide them with project-based jobs provided by hidden champions certified by the Hi-seoul Biz Company Association to increase confidence in jobs."

President Baek is also interested in creating jobs for the people with disabilities. In addition, in 2017, he developed an "online brand manager" job for the creation of jobs for people with disabilities, and the company was finally selected as an organization to carry out a public-private partnership project for jobs for young people organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

In particular, the "edutech platform to accompany the vulnerable" that he recently created, which is aimed at providing jobs online in a contact-free way, was finally selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's demonstration support project. The key is to provide substantial jobs for people with disabilities through metaverse technology.

President Baek believes that jobs for people with disabilities are currently limited to simple labor. He said that the reality is that they cannot even do simple work because of communication problems between non-disabled people and disabled people. This is due to prejudice and a lack of understanding of disability, despite the demand for employment of people with disabilities.

"Even in the U.S., the best job for people with disabilities was 'barista' because they couldn't find many jobs and none of them were digital jobs," he said, and explained, "we created an online brand manager for people with disabilities, so people with disabilities could work at home as long as they had PCs. It's not that there are no people to work, but that prejudice against disability is hindering job creation."

This is why he developed and patented the edutech platform to accompany the vulnerable. The platform he created breaks down the types of disabilities - visual, hearing, and developmental - and lists what they can actually do.

He also plans to add a system to address work retraining, employment, and so on on the platform so that they can be promoted and get higher salaries based on their abilities. In particular, he used metaverse technology on the platform and tried to solve the communication problem between non-disabled and disabled people by using this space.

President Baek said, "The metaverse world is a space that transcends disability. It is a space without disability. Because no one can't see whether I am disabled or not." He stressed, "This is one of the reasons why I emphasize new technology."

He continued, "I want to increase opportunities for disabled and non-disabled people to work together, drink coffee and communicate with each other in the metaverse," adding, "This can be summed up as real-life-like jobs through the metaverse."

SOURCE Hankyung.com
In Lviv, a hit was recorded in a residential building during a missile attack by the Russian Federation, there are victims, said Maksym Kozytsky, head of Lviv Regional Military Administration.

"According to preliminary information, there is a hit to an apartment building, there are victims," he wrote.

According to Kozytsky, a fire started in one of the lyceums of the city, probably due to the fall of rocket debris.

All relevant services are working on site.
An AI platform company that provides a chatbot, smart kiosk, AICC and other services

Aims to enter KOSDAQ through technology special listing in 2025

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is an Interview with Kim Nam-hyun, CEO of Elgen by reporter Ahn Hye-won from Hankyung.com:

"I believe that artificial intelligence (AI) technology is the new food that will feed the Korean economy in the future. Elgen is an AI platform company that integrates and operates technologies ranging from voice recognition to big data analysis."

Photo: https://img.hankyung.com/pdsdata/pr.hankyung.com/uploads/2023/12/elgen.jpg

Elgen CEO Kim Nam-hyun (photo), whom we met at the company office in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 18th, introduced Elgen, an AI startup selected as a 'Hi Seoul Company,' an excellent SME certified by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Business Agency.

The company started its business in earnest in 2016, with the delivery of Ddubot civil service chatbot to Daegu Metropolitan City. Since then, it has expanded to smart kiosks and AI contact centers (AICC). AICC is a system that optimizes the entire work of the customer center (call center) with technologies such as voice recognition, voice synthesis, and text analysis. These include the introduction of AI voices for identity verification and the automation of customer service using voice bots and chatbots.

After serving as an information and communications officer in the Marine Corps, CEO Kim retired as a captain in 2001 and has since worked primarily in venture companies and small and medium-sized information technology (IT) companies. He gained experience in a public informatization project while participating in an e-government project, that used information technology to handle administrative affairs in a company, and started his own business in 2014. "There were only a few AI-related companies at the time, and most of them went out of business, leaving us as the only survivor," he said.

Although most were skeptical about "whether AI technology is commercially viable" at the time of the founding of the company, CEO Kim foresaw the coming of an AI era. He saw the potential in the country's first civil service chatbot, Ddubot, which was built for Daegu Metropolitan City's Dudeuriso (Daegu City's civil service call integration system) in 2016. In March of that year, the match between Google DeepMind's AlphaGo and Lee Sedol changed the way people view AI technology.

In January 2019, he took the first big step into the smart kiosk market with the installation of smart kiosks at Lotte Cinema. These devices combine voice recognition with natural language processing technology to understand customers' voices and respond to various orders, from food and beverage such as popcorn to movie reservations. This device accounts for 30% of Elgen's sales. Last year, the company signed an agreement with Gwangju Metropolitan City and installed 300 units at senior centers in Gwangju, near Songjeong Station, and in the Geumnam underground shopping mall in Buk-gu.

In December last year, the company won a contract from the National Police Agency for 'Fallbot,' a cybercrime reporting assistant, and it has also strengthened its chatbot technology. Fallbot is a chatbot system that recognizes the voice of a crime victim, summarizes the details, and creates a report. When a crime is reported, it classifies the type of crime using artificial intelligence technology, allowing police to quickly and conveniently conduct investigations based on the classified data. CEO Kim explained that this could greatly simplify the process of receiving criminal reports online since the launch of the service.

Elgen posted sales of KRW 7.6 billion last year. With only 30 employees, it is not yet a large company, but it aims to grow into a global AI-based company. "We launched AINote in April this year," CEO Kim said. "This is a voice-based note app that applies ChatGPT to integrate features such as AI interpretation and voice notes, and it supports 196 languages. We have users from all over the world, which means that Elgen has already jumped into the global market."

Elgen plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in 2025, through the technology special listing system. The technology special listing is a system to support innovative companies to be listed on the KOSDAQ market. Companies with low profitability but high future growth potential can apply for a preliminary listing examination if the innovativeness and business potential of their technology has been recognized. Unlike a general listing, where requirements such as sales, profit, and market capitalization are strictly reviewed, companies with equity of over KRW 1 billion or market capitalization of over KRW 9 billion can apply for listing after a technical evaluation by a specialized institution.

CEO Kim said, "We will capture markets that are difficult for global big tech AI companies to access," adding, "If the tech giants make B2C transactions between open companies and consumers, Elgen plans to increase profitability through on-premises and private closed artificial intelligence (AI) services aimed at business-to-business (B2B) transactions. We still see this market as a blue ocean."

SOURCE Hankyung.com
BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting in 2024, tMedia Consulting, a leading Inbound marketing and advertising agency in Boston serving clients around the globe, announced that it has launched an AI-driven lead generation program to help support client growth. As a platinum-tier agency in the HubSpot's Solutions Partner Program tMedia's team has created a program that enables businesses to access AI for lead-generation efforts through strategic planning inside their tech stack.

tMedia announces AI-driven programs to maximize marketing playbooks. Post this The tMedia team provides an adaptive and holistic approach to customer acquisition. L > R: Nina Torr, Jennifer Powell, Tara Gearhart, Lindsey Cann-Gent

tMedia's AI-driven lead generation strategies go beyond traditional methods, providing a holistic and adaptive approach to customer acquisition. Through personalized communication and targeted outreach, companies partnering with tMedia experienced a notable uptick in lead quality and conversion rates. This approach streamlines lead generation processes and positions clients for sustained growth and success in an increasingly digital and competitive market.

Celebrating 10 years, tMedia Consulting has consistently grown its business by offering exceptional customer service, and strong execution of inbound strategies to attract, engage, and delight leads that drive revenue for the companies they work with. tMedia was created to support businesses and personal brands in maximizing their marketing playbook and ensuring brand growth. Through a combination of traditional, digital, and inbound marketing levers, clients see a greater return on investment. tMedica clients not only scale their businesses but also support charitable organizations in their communities. To date, the agency is proud to have donated over $75,000 to various organizations.

Of the announcement, Founder + CEO Tara Gearhart said, "I'm thrilled tMedia Consulting has been able to align the right strategies and tech stacks with client growth goals to achieve success. AI is transforming the ways companies do business, but it is important to understand the short and long-term impact whenever a new shiny object is available for use. At the end of the day people buy from people, so it's important to preserve authenticity when incorporating AI in communication."

About tMedia Consulting:

tMedia Consulting is a leading Platinum HubSpot inbound marketing agency that delivers game-changing marketing strategies built around a business' goals, budget and timeline. Since 2014, the agency has been helping dozens of companies generate sales-qualified leads by utilizing content creation, SEO, paid advertising, traditional media, thought leadership, and lead nurturing strategies. tMedia Consulting is headquartered in Medford, MA. Learn more at www.tmediaconsulting.com

Tara Gearhart

tMedia Consulting

860-916-1707

[email protected]

SOURCE tMedia
VANCOUVER, BC and HOUSTON, TX , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE: IBAT), is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") as previously announced on December 21, 2023, by issuing 2,694,804 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.70 per Unit for aggregate proceeds to the Company of approximately USD$1.415 million (CAD$1,886,362.80). The Private Placement was oversubscribed.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share"), and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional Common Share for a period of 24 months from closing at an exercise price of CAD$0.82.

The proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to fund the Company's ongoing operations and other general corporate expenditures.

"We are pleased to announce the second closing of the Private Placement which, as previously announced, had been re-opened due to investor demand. These additional funds allow us to proactively begin preparing our 1st generation plant for mobilization and deployment." Garry Flowers, Co-Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Private Placement.

The securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance under Canadian Securities laws and will also be restricted securities under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Related Party Transaction

Pursuant to the Private Placement, 190,443 Common Shares were issued to an officer of the Company, who is considered a "related party" of the Company as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").

Accordingly, the Private Placement is a related party transaction pursuant to MI 61-101. Under Sections 5.4 and 5.6 of MI 61-101, the Company is required to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval for the Private Placement, unless exemptions are available.

The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation requirement and the minority shareholder approval requirement under Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), as at the time the transaction was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the Private Placement, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeds 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization.

About International Battery Metals Ltd.

The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within 10 days of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer from which it is extracted. The Company's unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Garry Flowers"

"Libor Michel"

Garry Flowers, Co-CEO

Libor Michel, Co-CEO

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Forward  looking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the plans and objectives of the Company, including statements with respect to the use of proceeds from the Private Placement. The use of any of the words "will", "expected", "view", "believes" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties of the Company's business are contained in the Company's public filings which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statement made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd.
Swift Response and Assurance: Customer Accounts and Security Uncompromised Despite Third-Party Service Provider Cybersecurity Incident

TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The INX Digital Company, Inc. (NEO: INXD, OTCQB: INXDF, INXATS: INX) (the "Company" or "INX"), a security token and digital asset trading platform, U.S. broker-dealer, alternative trading system, transfer agent, and inter-dealer broker (through its subsidiaries), announced that on December 20, 2023, it learned of a cyberattack that occurred on the computer systems of a third-party vendor providing services to one of the Company's subsidiaries.

As a result, a malicious actor managed to access the third-party vendor's servers and executed unauthorized trades which resulted in a loss of funds of the Company's subsidiary of approximately $1.6 million. The Company took immediate actions to remediate the security vulnerability and to investigate the nature and scope of the incident. The Company also notified relevant law enforcement in the appropriate jurisdictions and is working with the affected trading venue to investigate this incident and take appropriate legal action.

INX customers were not affected by the incident, and the security breach at the third-party provider did not have any impact on the platforms and servers of INX. No personal information or other data of INX's customers was compromised, and INX.One remains fully operational. The Company placed additional security measures in place and continues to actively monitor any suspicious activity.

The Company holds a "Reserve Fund" (which is not part of the Company's operational capital) in the amount of $36,023,000, which is restricted and specifically designed to cover customer and INX losses, if any, that result from cybersecurity breaches or theft, errors in execution of the trading platform or its technology, and counterparty defaults, including instances where counterparties lack sufficient collateral to cover losses. The Company will seek to recover the lost funds through any means necessary. If unsuccessful, and after these efforts are exhausted, the Company will utilize the Reserve Fund for the recovery of the loss that resulted from this security incident. There is no assurance that any such lost funds will be recovered.

The Company does not expect this incident to have a material impact on its business operations or its financial results.

About INX:

INX provides regulated trading platforms for digital securities and cryptocurrencies. With the combination of traditional market expertise and a disruptive fintech approach, INX provides state-of-the-art solutions to modern financial problems. INX is led by an experienced and dedicated team of business, finance, and technology veterans with the shared vision of redefining the world of capital markets via blockchain technology and a disciplined regulatory approach.

About The INX Digital Company, Inc.:

The INX Digital Company, Inc. is the holding company for the INX Group, which includes regulated trading platforms for digital securities and cryptocurrencies. The INX Group's vision is to be the preferred global regulated hub for digital assets on the blockchain. The INX Group's overall mission is to bring communities together and empower them with financial innovation. Our journey started with our initial public token offering of the INX Token, in which we raised US$84 million. The INX Group is shaping the blockchain asset industry through its willingness to work in a regulated environment with oversight from regulators like the SEC and FINRA. For more information, please visit the INX Group website at https://www.inx.co/ .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Disclosures

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. In disclosing the forward-looking information contained in this press release, INX has made certain assumptions, including with respect to, the continuous development of the INX trading platform, the completion of the transactions described herein, and the development of the digital asset industry. Although INX believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to regulatory developments, the state of the digital securities and cryptocurrencies markets, and general economic conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, INX disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking information or otherwise.

Neo Exchange is not responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For further information, contact:

The INX Digital Company, Inc.

Investor Relations

+1 855 657 2314

Contact: Alan Silbert

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE The INX Digital Company, Inc.
BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (NYSE: HEQ) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the "Adviser") and subadvised by Wellington Management Company LLP (the "Subadviser"), announced today sources of its quarterly distribution of $0.2500 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of December 11, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (NYSE: HEQ) with important information concerning the distribution declared on December 1, 2023, and payable on December 29, 2023. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: December 2023

Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.2500

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable December 29, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.





For the period 10/1/2023-12/31/2023

For the fiscal year-to-date period 1/1/2023-12/31/2023 1 Source

Current Distribution ($)

% Breakdown

of the Current

Distribution

Total Cumulative

Distributions ($)

% Breakdown

of the Total

Cumulative

Distributions Net Investment Income

0.0666

27 %

0.5045

46 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0 %

0.0000

0 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains

0.0160

6 %

0.0000

0 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source

0.1674

67 %

0.5813

54 % Total per common share

0.2500

100 %

1.0858

100 %

















Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on November 30, 2023

4.30 %





Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2023

8.70 %





Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through November 30, 2023

5.77 %





Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2023

9.45 %

____________________________________ 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on January 1, 2023 and will end on December 31, 2023

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the December 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed quarterly distributions in the amount of $0.2500 per share, which will continue to be paid quarterly until further notice.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

Wellington Management Company LLP is an independent and unaffiliated investment subadviser to John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of December 11, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on December 1, 2023, and payable on December 29, 2023. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: December 2023

Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.0825

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable December 29, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.





For the period 12/1/2023-12/31/2023

For the fiscal year-to-date period 11/1/2023-12/31/2023 1 Source

Current

Distribution ($)

% Breakdown

of the Current Distribution

Total Cumulative

Distributions ($)

% Breakdown

of the Total

Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income

0.0374

45 %

0.1146

69 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains

0.0050

6 %

0.0148

9 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0 %

0.0000

0 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source

0.0401

49 %

0.0356

22 % Total per common share

0.0825

100 %

0.1650

100 %

















Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on November 30, 2023

4.17 %





Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2023

8.61 %





Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through November 30, 2023

9.51 %





Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2023

1.43 %

______________________________ 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2023 and will end on October 31, 2024.

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the December 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc., OTCMKTS: LZGI) (the "Company," or "we"), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions for enterprise stars of tomorrow, today provides an update for shareholders.

FatBrain AI is an AI-driven SAAS company (OTCMKTS: LZGI), co-founded by serial entrepreneur, Peter B. Ritz, and executive chaired by Michael T. Moe, founder of GSV and private investor in leading companies such as Meta, Twitter, Spotify, Coursera and Palantir.

The company has engaged Grassi & Co, associated with Moore Global Network Limited as the Company's certifying accountant. They are tasked with completing the FY2023 corporate audit and bringing the financial filings current as soon as possible. The Moore Global Network is the 11th largest accountancy network in the world supported by 34,000 experts across 112 countries. The firm is well equipped to handle a multi-national business like FatBrain AI.

During the calendar first half of 2023 the company achieved nearly $30 million (unaudited) in revenue, including a single, multi-year $21.5 million deal with a ministry of digital transformation in Eurasia. During the second half of the calendar year growth accelerated, less this single deal, to project approximately $17 million (unaudited). FatBrain continues to deliver peer intelligence and hierarchical insights to connect the Government, Fortune 500, and SMEs with a variety of sector specific SaaS solutions, including working with a top ten global oil producer as a customer. The growth trajectory should continue moving forward. The company anticipates the first three months of calendar 2024 will generate approximately $10 million in revenue.

In addition to the recent partnership with Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS), the company is in discussions with several other leading AI enterprises to pursue strategic growth and looks forward to sharing the outcome of these discussions shortly.

"While becoming current and getting relisted are our key priorities, FatBrain AI continues to gain traction with customers, to grow revenues and cash flow," said Peter B. Ritz, co-founder and CEO of FatBrain AI. "We are confident that in 2024 we will deliver the communication flow and financial metrics demanded by our stakeholders and be recognized as a leader in the bourgeoning AI industry," added Michael T. Moe, executive Chair of FatBrain AI.

About FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc., OTCMKTS:LZGI)

FatBrain AI provides powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions to empower the enterprise stars of tomorrow to grow, innovate, and drive the majority of the global economy. FatBrain's AI 2.0 technologies and advanced data services transform continuous learning, narrative reasoning, large language models, and cloud and blockchain technologies into auditable, explainable and easy to integrate AI solutions. FatBrain's subscriptions allow all companies to deploy its advanced AI solutions quickly, easily, and securely behind their firewalls or via cloud. FatBrain's global delivery includes 600+ team across design, development centers in the US, UK, India, and Kazakh Republic.

For more information, please visit: https://www.fatbrain.ai

Forward Looking Statement

This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of any entity. This release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 13, 2022. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," and "would" or similar words. All forecasts provided by management in this release are based on information available at this time and management expects that internal projections and expectations may change over time. In addition, the forecasts are based entirely on management's best estimate of our future financial performance given our current contracts, current backlog of opportunities and conversations with new and existing customers about our products and services. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact

Brokers and Analysts:

Chesapeake Group

410-825-3930

[email protected]

SOURCE LZG International, Inc.
PhiliaDX's cross-polarized imaging and AI technologies deliver high-resolution 3D content in 90% reduced time and cost.

The company signed MOU with Japanese advertising company SUN AD to develop and supply 3D content production solutions.

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PhiliaDX, a pioneering metaverse content development company, announced that it unveiled its cutting-edge immersive 3D content production solution powered by AI technology at CONTENT TOKYO 2023.

PhiliaDX entered into a strategic business agreement with SUN AD PhiliaDX's 3D content production solution

Philia DX participated in the K-Metaverse Pavilion, a joint booth supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea and established under the '2023 Metaverse Global Marketing Support Project' conducted by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA). Philia DX showcased their 3D content production solution to international audiences, and the company representatives conducted several meetings with potential partners from Japan and other countries.

PhiliaDX's 3D content production solution enables the rapid creation of high-resolution 3D content featuring various subjects, including objects and people. Leveraging cross-polarized shooting with four simultaneous cameras ensures consistent lighting and color accuracy. Furthermore, optimized shooting settings based on the object's size allow for the creation of high-resolution 3D content across a diverse range of objects.

In a groundbreaking move to surpass the limitations of traditional 3D content production, which often necessitates extensive post-production work on filmed data, PhiliaDX introduced a fully automated AI-based production system. The primary advantage lies in its ability to slash 3D production time and costs by over 90% compared to previous methodologies.

The debut of PhiliaDX's solution at CONTENT TOKYO 2023 garnered significant attention from industry buyers, culminating in a pivotal partnership. PhiliaDX entered into a strategic business agreement with SUN AD, a prominent Japanese advertising agency, aimed at jointly developing and supplying 3D content production solutions.

Under this agreement, PhiliaDX anticipates the widespread utilization of its 3D content creation solution across diverse sectors such as architectural design, automotive industry, e-commerce 3D configurators, virtual showrooms, and 3D advertisement production.

Se-an Kwon, CEO of PhiliaDX, expressed, "By integrating AI technology to streamline the entire process of crafting immersive 3D content, we've successfully addressed the cost-effectiveness challenges that previously hindered 3D production. Our commitment remains steadfast in collaborating with companies in Japan and other Asian countries, ensuring our solutions cater to various fields that demand seamless 3D content implementation."

SOURCE PhiliaDX
NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Holley Inc. f/k/a Empower Ltd. (NYSE: HLLY) between July 21, 2021 and February 6, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 5, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Holley securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Holley class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 5, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and misleading statements, and/or failed to disclose to investors that: (1) as a result of Holley's extensive focus on its direct-to-consumer ("DTC") channel, Holley's critically important relationships with its resellers and distributors, whose business made up the vast majority of Holley's revenue, were suffering significant damage; (2) Holley used discounting and other similar efforts to grow its DTC channel, which undermined the pricing discipline Holley historically had with its resellers and distributors, and further damaged Holley's relationships with its resellers and distributors; (3) as a result of Holley's strained relationships with its resellers and distributors, those resellers and distributors were decreasing their purchases of Holley products, returning products already purchased at significant levels that were far above historical norms, and increasing their purchases of competitors' products; (4) Holley's growing DTC channel could not offset the negative financial impact of Holley's increasingly strained relationships with its resellers and distributors and, as a result, rather than keeping its foot on the gas, Holley was actually slamming the brakes on its critical reseller/distributor relationships; (5) Holley had failed to successfully integrate and capture synergies from its numerous acquisitions, which left Holley with inefficient operations, excess costs, and inventory management problems; (6) Holley was riding a wave of COVID-related stimulus money that temporarily boosted its sales and performance, and despite this unsustainable, temporary boost, defendants misled investors to believe the growth was sustainable and the result of persistent demand, and supportive of positive financial guidance; and (7) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' statements regarding Holley's outlook and expected financial performance were false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Holley class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Barclays PLC ("Barcalys" or the "Company") (NYSE: BCS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Barclays and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On November 1, 2021, after market hours, Barclays filed a current report on Form 6-K with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, announcing the departure of Barclays Group Chief Executive Jes Staley ("Stayley") as a result of Stayley's relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

On this news, the price of Barclays American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") fell $0.25 per ADR, or 2.23%, to close at $10.93 per ADR on November 2, 2021.

Then, on November 12, 2021, before the domestic market closed, the Financial Times published an article entitled "Jes Staley exchanged 1,200 emails with Epstein that included unexplained phrases."

On this news, the price of Barclays ADRs fell $0.05 per ADR, or 0.469%, to close at $10.62 per ADR on November 12, 2021.

Then, after hours on March 8, 2023, relating to the litigation Jane Doe 1 v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 22-v-10019-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), JPMorgan Chase Bank filed a third-party complaint against Staley for indemnity, contribution, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of the faithless servant doctrine in the event that it is found liable.

On this news, the price of Barclays ADRs fell $0.29 per ADR, or 3.59%, to close at $7.77 per ADR on March 9, 2023.

The price of Barclays ADRs then declined by an additional $0.24 per ADR, or 3.08%, to close at $7.53 per ADR on March 10, 2023. Finally, on October 12, 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority published an announcement on its website entitled "FCA decides to fine and ban James Staley".

On this news, the price of Barclays ADRs fell $0.39 per ADR, or 4.98%, to close at $7.43 per ADR on October 12, 2023.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
As a result of the Russian missile strike on Friday morning, December 29, people were injured in Dnipro, Mayor Borys Filatov said.

"There are injured and dead. All local services are fully prepared and working together with the State Emergency Service under the guidance of the Military State Administration. Excuse me, but there will be no details, because as you know, in cases of shelling, I never comment on anything before the statements of the head of the region, Serhiy Lysak," Filatov wrote on Facebook.
NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. ("ChargePoint" or the "Company") (NYSC: CHPT). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether ChargePoint and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 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 that the "inventory impairment charge was taken to address legacy supply chain-related costs and supply overruns on a particular DC product." As a result, the Company reported a second quarter GAAP gross margin of 1%, down from 17% in the prior year's same quarter.

On this news, ChargePoint's stock price fell $0.77 per share, or 11%, to close at $6.29 per share on September 7, 2023.

Then, on November 16, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint released preliminary financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, which would include 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%." The Company also reported revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected." Moreover, ChargePoint's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were both replaced, effective immediately.

On this news, ChargePoint's stock price fell $1.11 per share, or 35%, to close at $2.02 per share on November 17, 2023.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
At its Dealer Summit 2023, held in Orlando, StruXure unveiled new products for 2024 and commemorated recent Dealer achievements.

DAHLONEGA, Ga., Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, StruXure hosts an event for its network of Dealers that is both educational and celebratory. This year's Dealer Summit delivered on both fronts, with the unveiling of several new products and the announcement of award-winning project installations by StruXure's vast network of Dealers. The Summit was held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando on December 9.

The StruXure Dealers Summit 2023 The StruXure Dealers Summit 2023

In the dynamic world of automated pergolas, staying ahead of the curve is not just a goal, it's a necessity. Our latest innovations are not only about making a great product better; they represent a commitment to staying relevant in an era where stagnation is the enemy of progress. From the unveiling of our next generation Pergola X to new backdrops and canopies and a new app, StruXure announced its offering of new groundbreaking products that promise to redefine the industry.

One area where our new products are set to shine is in their ability to seamlessly integrate into our daily lives. Since the 2020 pandemic, expanding our homes to capitalize on our outdoor spacesfor economic reasons and for healthier livinghas been a favorable trend. Using technology to its greatest advantage, we have elevated our luxury pergolas and cabanas in myriad ways, from a more precise fit for all components to enhanced connectivity.

In a world that is increasingly conscious of environmental impact, sustainability is another key consideration of our new products. StruXure has always offered products made in the USA from recyclable extruded aluminum. That commitment continues with our next generation Pergola X, Cabana X, and Cabana X MOD. All of our products embody our pledge to cultivate a sustainable future.

In an era where competition is fierce and consumer loyalty can be fickle, staying ahead requires a commitment to excellence. We, at StruXure, are proud to continue to offer leading edge, made-in-America products that are good for humanity.

The Dealer Summit closed with a gala to recognize a year's worth of accomplishments by everyone involved with StruXure, particularly the many hard-working Dealers who interface with customers daily. With so many new products coming out in 2024, StruXure, the premier manufacturer of luxury pergolas and cabanas, looks forward to another outstanding year. Visit www.struxure.com to learn more.

Contact: Stacey Williams

Phone: 310-614-7908

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE StruXure
An Extraordinary Bay Area as the Mainstay

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 16, the 2023 China-Africa Greater Bay Area Economic and Trade Forum and the press conference of China-Africa Economic and Trade Working Committee (South) themed on "An Extraordinary Bay Area as the Mainstay" kicked off in Shenzhen, China.

Organized by the China-Africa Economic and Trade Working Committee, the forum was hosted by Shenzhen OuFeiYuan Exhibition Co., Ltd. It was attended by over 300 guests, including Huang Zhaojin, Director of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Working Committee; Dai Yukun, Executive Director of China Municipal Engineering Association (CMEA) and Director of EMEA City Lighting Branch; Tefera Derbew Yimam, Ambassador of Ethiopia to China; Ali Mohamed Mwinyi, Consul General of Tanzania in Guangzhou; and Teles Alfredo Macobe, First Secretary at the Embassy of Mozambique to China, along with executive members of other associations, experts and scholars, as well as entrepreneurs.

During the forum, the African Ambassador to China and leaders of the attending missions inaugurated the China-Africa Economic and Trade Working Committee (South). The southern institutions will play a significant role by leveraging the prime location of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), in promoting exchanges and cooperation programs between China and African countries in equipment, technology, standards and services. The press conference also launched an international trading platform for OuFeiYuan, which adopts the mode of "online release and offline matchmaking". A number of African countries have already introduced some agricultural products and other resources on that platform.

The forum participants from many countries including diplomatic envoys and business representatives provided valuable advices on the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the southern region.

The establishment of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Working Committee (South) and the success of the China-Africa Greater Bay Area Economic and Trade Forum marked a new stage of development in the China-Africa friendship and cooperation. From now on, The OuFeiYuan international trading platform will play a leading role in helping Chinese entrepreneurs carry out broader trade activities in African countries for mutual benefits and win-win results.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2308784/China_Africa_Economic_Trade_Working_Committee__South__launching_ceremony_Logo.jpg
Dr. Lamb pursued higher education at Earlham College in 1989 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then attended Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1995 and received a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The doctor completed an internship and residency in general surgery at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1996 and Mount Clemens General Hospital in 2000.

Dr. Lamb currently serves as an osteopathic physician and the President of Lakeshore Surgical Consultants PLC in Trenton, Michigan. A specialist in general surgery, the doctor explained that Lakeshore Surgical Consultants PLC is a group of physicians that will provide surgical services of the highest quality to the residents of Southern Wayne County and Monroe County. He asserts that they offer patients a wide range of surgical procedures utilizing the most current techniques and the most current technology.

General surgery, the doctor explained, is a surgical specialty that focuses on alimentary canal and abdominal contents, including the esophagus; stomach; small intestine; large intestine; liver; pancreas; gallbladder; appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland. General surgeons like Dr. Lamb specialize in surgical procedures and are part of a surgical team that also includes an anesthesiologist, nurses, and surgical technicians.

Dr. Lamb has held many leadership positions during his career including Trauma Director at Oakwood Southshore Medical Center since 2006; Chairman of the Committee on Trauma at Oakwood Southshore Medical Center since 2003; Chairman of Advisory Committee Surgical First Assistant Program at the Wayne County Community College District since 2006; and is a member of the Resident Evaluation and Standards Committee with the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons since 2008; and is on staff at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital and Oakwood Heritage Hospital Center.

Dr. Lamb maintains many professional affiliations to assure his patients that he is kept abreast of the latest advancements including the American Osteopathic Association; the Midwest Surgical Association; the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma; the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons; the Detroit Surgical Association; the American College of Surgeons Michigan Committee on Trauma; and the Region 2 South Trauma Advisory Committee of the Regional Trauma Network, State of Michigan. A testament to his professionalism and vast knowledge in his field, the doctor is board certified with the State of Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery; is a Diplomate with the prestigious National Board of Examiners in Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery; and a Fellow of both the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (FACOS) and the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
ISLE OF PALMS, S.C., Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Michael Carroll is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Realtor for his contributions to the field of Residential Real Estate and Rentals.

Mr. Carroll is a professional realtor working in the Isle of Palms area of South Carolina. He is certified by GRI, CRS, and SRES preparing him to be a knowledgeable and effective realtor. In the field for more than 8 years, Mr. Carroll works at Carroll Realty where he notes that they are focused on providing their clients with the best results and service in the industry. Several traits that differentiate Carroll Realty from others are that they have the expertise, proven track record, and resources to help clients achieve their real estate goals.

The business professional explained that Carroll Realty also offers family-friendly vacation rental properties in Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island, South Carolina; some pet-friendly rentals; Isle of Palms Sea Cabins; Isle of Palms Oceanfront Rentals; and Vacation Rentals at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms. Just 20 minutes from historic downtown Charleston, Carroll Realty offers a variety of accommodations to choose from so that clients may enjoy all that the low country has to offer.

Mr. Carroll is recognized as a Top Realtor and asserts that real estate is about location, location, location. His firm has extensive knowledge of the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, and can help clients find the right home or the right buyer. Looking to the future, the real estate professional plans to have continued growth and success.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Princeton Review , one of the nation's leading education providers, today shared its annual look back at some of the company's key offerings over the past year and look ahead to some projects in the works for the year ahead.

Millions of people use one or more of The Princeton Review's education resources each year. Students use the company's products and services to score their best on tests; tackle school assignments; improve their grades; research and gain admission to undergraduate, graduate, and medical schools, and maximize their prospects for scholarships and financial aid. Post-graduates use the company's resources to upskill for career advancement as well as prepare for and pass professional licensing exams.

In 2023, The Princeton Review's products and services included:

 Test-prep Courses . Offered for more than 26 tests, the courses are available in various options and formats from live online to self-paced. Some carry the company's Better Score Money Back Guarantee. Among The Princeton Review courses for tests taken by applicants to graduate and medical schoolsthe GMAT, GRE, LSAT, and MCATthe company's LSAT 165+ and MCAT 515+ courses were the most popular in 2023. Among its courses for tests taken by applicants to collegesthe SAT, ACT, and AP subject testsThe Princeton Review's SAT 1400+ course was the most popular in 2023.

During this transitional year for the SAT, the company provided test-prep programs that supported students in the U.S. preparing for the final administrations of the current SAT as well as programs for international students preparing to take the Digital SAT which debuted in test centers abroad in January. The Digital SAT will debut in the U.S. in March 2024. This year, the company has also been diligently tracking planned (or implemented) revisions on other major tests and updating its resources for students preparing to take them.

Princeton Review courses and resources for professional licensing and certification exams include its USMLE Test Pack for MD candidates taking the medical licensing exam, and its suite of resources for the NCLEX-RN, the exam required for licensing as a Registered Nurse. These include its NCLEX-RN LiveOnline course, NCLEX Self-Paced course, and NCLEX-RN QBank . In 2023, the company updated its NCLEX-RN products to align them with the NGN (Next Generation NCLEX) revision of the text which debuted in April.

The company also has test prep courses for the Level I, Level II, and Level III CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams. In 2023, the company updated its course materials for these exams to align them with revisions that will be in the 2024 administrations of the tests. This year, Princeton Review also added free practice tests for the Level I CFA exam to its CFA exam prep resources.

In March, a marketing partnership with Surgent Accounting & Financial Education enabled The Princeton Review to offer its customers exclusive discounts on Surgent's exam review products for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CMA (Certified Management Accountant), and CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) exams.

 Tutoring online and on demand 24/7 in 80+ subjects via The Princeton Review's hubs, The Academy and Homework Help . At The Academy , tutors help students in grades 612 earn higher grades in their school subjects and prepare for tests. In 2023, the top two subjects for which the company's tutors provided academic help were Algebra and Pre-Calculus. At the Homework Help hub, tutors help students tackle school assignments. In 2023, the top two subjects for which the tutors provided homework help were Algebra II and Calculus.

 Admissions Counseling for college and medical school applicants. Some of the "dream" schools to which students working with Princeton Review college admission counselors gained admission in 2023 are Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, and Stanford. Overall, students were accepted at 205 unique institutions and awarded more than $8M in financial aid. Applicants to medical schools who worked with the company's admissions counselors this year gained admission to the top 20 medical schools in the U.S. as well as top medical schools outside of the U.S. including the University of Cambridge, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Toronto.

 Books. The Princeton Review's line of 150+ books, distributed by Penguin Random House, includes test-prep guides, college guides, and study aids. In 2023, the company published the 38th annual edition of its first-ever test-prep book, its guide to the SAT, and the 35th annual edition of its guide to the ACT. The Princeton Review has also published regularly updated guides to the GMAT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT for decades. In 2023, several of the company's guides to AP subject tests were designated as bestsellers by Amazon.com in its AP Subject Test Guides category. In recent weeks, four of the five bestselling AP test guides in this category have been Princeton Review books, including the #1 bestseller which is The Princeton Review Premium Prep Guide to the AP U.S. History test. The company's guide to the Digital SAT has been the #1 bestseller in the Amazon.com College Entrance Test Guides category. Other Princeton Review books published in 2023 include: GMAT & GRE Math Made Easy, SAT Level Up! Math, SAT Level Up! Verbal, Essays That Kicked Apps, The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences (16th Edition), and the 32nd annual edition of the company's flagship college guide, The Best 389 Colleges.

 AI Tools. This year, The Princeton Review debuted its first generative AI-based tools: AI College Admissions Essay Counseling and AI Homework Essay Feedback. Students using these innovative resources can upload essays they have written and within seconds receive feedback, evaluation, and recommendations of ways to make their essays even better. Designed with input from The Princeton Review's college admission and tutoring experts, the tools provide feedback on clarity, coherence, conciseness, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and more. (Note: These products do not write the student's essays.) On December 14, these two tools were named 2023 New Product of the Year award winners by Campus Technology and THE Journal, two of the leading edtech publications.

In 2023, The Princeton Review also:

 Reported school rankings in dozens of categories, including its:

Best Business Schools and Best Law Schools (January)

Top Undergrad and Grad Schools to Study Game Design (March)

Best Value Colleges (April)

Best Colleges (August)

Top Green Colleges (October)

Top Undergrad and Grad Schools to Study Entrepreneurship (November)

 Conducted national education surveys, including its:

College Hopes & Worries 2023 Survey. This survey, which The Princeton Review has annually conducted since 2003, polled 12,225 college applicants and their parents in February on their application perspectives, need for financial aid, levels of stress about college admission, "dream" college (the school they wished they (or their child) could attend if acceptance was a given and cost not a concern), and other topics. Among the findings reported in March: the #1 "dream" college among students surveyed was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology while Princeton was #1 among surveyed parents; 82% of respondents overall said financial aid would be "very necessary" to pay for college.

College Administrator Summer 2023 Survey. Now in its 4th year, this Princeton Review survey polled administrators at 229 colleges in July on their enrollment forecasts, test optional policies, and views on the Digital SAT, AI, the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, and more. Among the findings: the majority (89%) of administrators surveyed reported their colleges were test optional while 10% reported their schools were test blind, and 1% said their schools required test scores. College-level coursework on applicant transcripts is gaining importance in admission decisions. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of respondents to the 2023 survey deemed AP, IB, or dual enrollment coursework "important" on an applicant's transcripta 7% increase over respondents so indicating in 2022.

In 2023, The Princeton Review also surveyed administrators at 2,000+ higher education institutions about their school offerings, policies, applicant requirements, and more. The company also surveyed students at hundreds of colleges and graduate schools about their campus experiences at their schools and ratings of them. Data collected from these surveys informs The Princeton Review's school rankings and its school profiles on PrincetonReview.com and in the company's annual Best Colleges guide.

 Provided free resources for students, parents, teachers, counselors and working professionals :

From college night talks to test strategy sessions to career-related webinars, The Princeton Review hosted thousands of free events in 2023. The company's education experts also wrote and recorded dozens of videos that were uploaded to The Princeton Review's YouTube channel which now comprises 575 videos. These lively videos present company experts sharing updates on changes in standardized tests, tips for taking and scoring well on exams, strategies for gaining school admission, and short features about colleges. In 2023, the video most viewed on The Princeton Review YouTube channel was: "The New Digital SAT: Everything You Need to Know."

 Was widely referenced in media programs, articles, and newscasts:

Each year, many national, regional, and local members of the media reach out to The Princeton Review for information, comment, and interviews about education issues. In 2023, Rob Franek , editor in chief of The Princeton Review, appeared on several national broadcasts including an August 18 segment on NBC TODAY that was his 30th appearance on the show. It featured his advice for college applicants, report on the company's annual Best Colleges rankings, and comments on education issues in the news. Other national media interviewing Rob or fellow Princeton Review author/experts in 2023 included: CNBC; Yahoo Finance Live!, The Chronicle of Higher Education; and Teen Kids News. Media also reported on the company's rankings of hundreds of institutions that publicized their Princeton Review rankings in their news releases, websites, and social media channels in 2023. Many schools are citing them anew in their end-of-year retrospectives of their school distinctions.

Projects The Princeton Review has in the works for 2024 include :

 Continuing updates of the company's website and its online, tutoring, and book resources for the many standardized tests that have undergone (or will be undergoing) substantial revisions. These include the new Digital SAT and new Digital PSAT/NMSQT, a new edition of the GMAT (the GMAT Focus), a new format for the LSAT, and changes in professional licensing exams including the NCLEX-RN.

 A new MCAT in-person course . Debuting in January, this intensive course will feature new uses of technology and a team-teaching approach. It will concentrate on weekend, in-person sessions that will enable students to connect with the instructors and their fellow learners.

 Updated editions of the company's college-related books . Among them: The Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition, which will reveal the top 25 schools in 50 categories based on the company's surveys of 165,000 college students who rated and reported on their schools for this project, and Paying for College: 2025 Edition, which will include detailed guidance on completing the 2025-26 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA has undergone a major overhaul that was mandated by the U.S. Congress in 2019 with the passage of the FAFSA Simplification Act. The significantly revised (although not entirely simplified) 2024-25 FAFSA will be released on December 31, 2023. (Note: the FAFSA is annually updated.)

 A campaign to expand awareness of mental health services on college campuses. Supported by a partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation, this Princeton Review project is collecting data from administrators at more than 2,800 colleges about the availability of mental health services and resources at their schools. The company is also surveying college students about their awareness of such services and resources on their campuses. In late summer 2024, The Princeton Review will output this data in various ways, including reporting information about the schools' mental health services in its college profiles on PrincetonReview.com.

"As The Princeton Review begins its 43rd year, we remain committed as ever to the company's mission: to help students learn, score their best on tests, and succeed in school and beyond" said Joshua HJ Park, CEO of The Princeton Review and Tutor.com. "Since The Princeton Review's founding in 1981, the company has delivered its services across an ever-expanding range of instructional formats and pioneered innovative uses of technology to advance education. Our launch this year of our first AI productstwo resources that could only have been imagined in 1981underscores our commitment to our founding mission. We look forward to developing new and exciting ways to help students learn in 2024 and succeed in their education and career goals."

About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep, and college admissions services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students as well as working professionals achieve their education and career goals through its many education services and products. These include online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors; online resources; a line of more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House; and dozens of categories of school rankings. The company's Tutor.com brand, now in its 23rd year, is one of the largest online tutoring services in the US. It comprises a community of thousands of tutors who have delivered more than 25 million one-to-one tutoring sessions. The Princeton Review, headquartered in New York, NY, is not affiliated with Princeton University. For more information, visit PrincetonReview.com and the company's Media Center. Follow the company on X (formerly Twitter) (@ThePrincetonRev) and Instagram (@theprincetonreview).

All tests are registered trademarks of their respective owners. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with The Princeton Review.

CFA Institute does not endorse, promote, or warrant the accuracy or quality of the products or services offered by The Princeton Review. CFA and Charted Financial Analyst are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

LSAT is a trademark registered by Law School Admission Council, Inc., which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, The Princeton Review.

MCAT is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

SAT and AP are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, The Princeton Review or its offerings.

WEBSITE: www.princetonreview.com

SOURCE The Princeton Review
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Menopause Foundation has expanded its Board of Directors by adding three passionate and creative female entrepreneurs. Representing various, often male-dominated, industries these women bring an exciting perspective to the foundation.

"As we change the conversation about women at midlife and how women experience menopause, especially in the workplace, we're very excited to bring the expertise and voices of these three dynamic women entrepreneurs to our Board," said Claire Gill, President and Founder, National Menopause Foundation.

Silvia Baldini Lyerka Miller

Silvia Baldini is a best-selling author, classically trained chef, Chopped Champion on Food Network, and a culinary entrepreneur. She is knowledgeable and passionate about sustainable food, and believes that wholesome ingredients and traditional wisdom combined with technology will be the key to helping people live a happy and healthy life. Ms. Baldini is owner of the creative food group, Strawberry and Sage, and appears on television programs on the Food Network. She works with global food companies interested in thinking outside the box and developing AI, educational and culinary platforms. Her newest cookbook, "Les Dames d'Escoffier New York Cookbook. Stirring the Pot." features 76 family recipes from some of the most accomplished women in the culinary world. Her recipes have been published in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Parents Magazine, Saveur, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and La Cucina Italiana. She has also been featured in Forbes, Tech Crunch and Entrepreneurial Chef. Prior to starting her own company, Ms. Baldini held positions at Michelin-starred kitchens, and as a cook and a chef in restaurants in London, New York, and Connecticut.

Lyerka Miller, PhD, CCMEP is President of Miller Medical Communications, LLC, a New York City-based company that develops Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs designed to inform and educate healthcare professionals. Miller Medical Communications has partnered with organizations such as Elsevier, Pri-Med, Practicing Clinicians Exchange, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, and other acclaimed academic institutions in medicine worldwide. Ms. Miller has over 30 years of healthcare experience in the areas of medical education, women's health programs and advocacy development. Before starting Miller Medical Communications in 2009, she was a founding partner of MK Medical Communications, LLC, and held a clinical medicine position at the Yale University School of Medicine's Women's Health Initiative clinical program and was also a faculty development lead for the TIME/LIFE Medical educational series, including topics on women's health. Prior to that role, she was an Assistant Professor, Harvard University in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures and an Acting Instructor at Yale University in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.

Robin Sodaro is an Executive Creative Director with over two decades of experience in media and marketing. She is a visionary known for pushing creative boundaries in her work. Ms. Sodaro has led award-winning campaigns throughout her career, seamlessly integrating emerging technologies into her work. Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Sodaro is known for her commitment to mentorship and fostering the next generation of creative minds. Ms. Sodaro has recently directed her expertise towards raising awareness and destigmatizing menopause as a women's health advocate. Leveraging her storytelling and branding skills, Ms. Sodaro is on a mission to challenge stereotypes and empower women navigating this natural phase of life.

About the National Menopause Foundation

The National Menopause Foundation (NMF) was founded in 2019 by women and for women to create an informed community where women can learn, exchange information, find support and be inspired as they approach and journey through Menopause, visit www.nationalmenopausefoundation.org.

Contact: Claire Gill

917-327-7916

[email protected]

SOURCE National Menopause Foundation
BEIJING, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390) ("Zhihu" or the "Company"), a leading online content community in China, today announced that it has received a letter from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") dated December 28, 2023, notifying the Company that it is below compliance standards due to the trading price of Zhihu's American depositary shares (the "ADSs"). The notice has no immediate impact on the listing of the Company's ADSs, which will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE, subject to the Company's compliance with other listing standards and other rights of the NYSE to delist the ADSs. The NYSE notification does not affect the Company's business operations, its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, or contractual obligations.

Pursuant to Section 802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, a company will be considered to be below compliance standards if the average closing price of its security as reported on the consolidated tape is less than US$1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. Once notified by the NYSE, the Company must bring its security price and average security price back above US$1.00 by six months (the "Cure Period") following receipt of the notification. The Company can regain compliance at any time during the Cure Period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the Cure Period the Company's ADSs have a closing price of at least US$1.00 per ADS and an average closing price of at least US$1.00 per ADS over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. In the event that at the expiration of the Cure Period, both a US$1.00 per ADS closing price on the last trading day of the Cure Period and a US$1.00 per ADS average closing price over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the Cure Period are not attained, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures.

To address this issue, Zhihu intends to monitor the market conditions of its listed ADSs and is considering its options. As required by the NYSE Listed Company Manual, the Company expects to notify the NYSE of its intent to cure its ADS trading price deficiency within the applicable time period required by the NYSE.

About Zhihu Inc.

Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390) is a leading online content community in China where people come to find solutions, make decisions, seek inspiration, and have fun. Since the initial launch in 2010, we have grown from a Q&A community into one of the top comprehensive online content communities and the largest Q&A-inspired online content community in China. For more information, please visit https://ir.zhihu.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to," or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Zhihu Inc.

Email: [email protected]

Piacente Financial Communications

Helen Wu

Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677

Email: [email protected]

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications

Brandi Piacente

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As a result of the Russian attack on Dnipro, four people were killed, about a dozen and a half injured, said head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Lysak.

"A tragic morning for the region. The enemy attacked with missiles. About a dozen and a half people were injured according to previous estimates. Four people died. There is an arrival at the shopping center in Dnipro. A fire broke out. A mutilated private house, a six-storey building, a maternity hospital were damaged. We are still clarifying the information," Lysak wrote on the Telegram channel.
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United Nations, Dec 29 : The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) concluded its operations in the Timbuktu region, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

The mission's presence in the area ended following the departure of its final personnel, who left by air and land convoy, Dujarric added on Thursday.

The handover ceremony, led by Bakoun Kante, the Governor of Timbuktu, and Anton Antchev, the director of the mission liquidation coordination team and officer-in-charge of the MINUSMA liquidation entity, marked the official transfer of the Timbuktu MINUSMA camp to the transitional government of Mali. The camp was transferred in a fully functional state.

This event signifies the completion of the first of three planned MINUSMA liquidation sites, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Since July, the mission has withdrawn almost 1,867 military and 173 police personnel, as well as 226 civilian personnel from Timbuktu," as per the directives of UN Security Council Resolution 2690, the spokesman said.

Additionally, "the property of troop- and police-contributing countries, as well as United Nations property, has been disposed of in full compliance with United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations," the spokesman added.

Dujarric also highlighted that while the United Nations typically allows around 18 months for the liquidation of a multi-dimensional peacekeeping mission, the MINUSMA liquidation entity will strive to shorten this timeframe.
Cairo, Dec 29 : 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.

Diaa Rashwan, chairman of the SIS, said on Thursday 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 added.

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-enemy 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

Israel has been waging a large-scale military campaign in the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip since October 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 US from November 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.
Kiev, Dec 29 : Ukraine's rapprochement with the EU and the NATO will be among the top priorities for the Ukrainian Parliament next year, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported, 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 on Thursday.

The legislative framework includes 35 sections, which will become a guideline for the Parliament's future work towards EU integration, he noted as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

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 mobilisation processes and the rotation of military personnel participating in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to Stefanchuk.

On December 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 recognised 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.
Berlin, Dec 29 : After weeks of heavy rainfall, the flood situation in many parts of Germany remains serious in the run-up to New Year's Eve. Several districts have declared the preliminary stage of a disaster alert.

Cities and municipalities along the rivers Elbe and Weser in eastern and northern Germany continue to be affected by high water and flooding. After a dyke burst in Lilienthal near Bremen on Wednesday, many residents had to be evacuated and there are fears of further dyke failures in nearby towns.

In some flood areas, relief work is being hampered by disputes among those affected, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Sandbags that have been placed on dykes are being taken away by residents because they don't have any to protect their homes," said Karl-Heinz Banse from the German Fire Brigade Association.

Elsewhere, preventive measures against flooding disasters have been successful. In Magdeburg in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the Pretzien weir was opened for the first time since the "flood of the century" in 2013. The weir diverts a third of the water from the Elbe into a 21-km-long canal.

"Protecting the population from flood hazards is our top priority," said Saxony-Anhalt's Environment Minister Armin Willingmann on Thursday, highlighting "consistent investments" in dykes and flood protection facilities in recent years.

Although not as much rain is expected over the next few days as around Christmas, "every drop is actually one too many," meteorologist Marcel Schmid from the German Weather Service told the country's news agency dpa.
In Odesa region, two people were killed and 10 injured, including two children, as a result of an attack by the Russian Federation, said Oleksandr Kharlov, deputy head of Odesa Regional Military Administration.

"Now there is operational information about damage to civil infrastructure and residential buildings. We are constantly receiving updated information. Unfortunately, I have to state that today in Odesa region, as a result of the morning attack of the Russian Federation, 10 people have already been injured, including two children (6 and 8 years old), all the victims were sent to the hospital. Unfortunately, two people also died," he said on the telethon.
Amman, Dec 29 : The Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Transport Ministry has 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 on Thursday.

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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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 journey and higher shipping prices as many shipping companies have to avoid the Red Sea.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) holds a meeting with Nadav Argaman (R), head of the Israeli General Security Service (GSS) commonly known as Shin Bet, at the HaKirya complex(Photo: Koby Gideon/GPO/dpa/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Tel Aviv, Dec 29 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said that the negotiations are going-on between Hamas and Israelis to bring back the Israelis hostages.

"PM Netanyahu has told the family members of hostages that the government is in talks to bring back hostages from Gaza," sources told IANS.

Netanyahu said that Qatar and Egypt are playing mediatory roles in these negotiations with Hamas.

Israel government sources told IANS that the Israeli government has discussed two proposals on mediation - one with the Qataris and the other with the Egyptians to bring back hostages.

As per the proposal put forward by Qatar, the women hostages will be released first by Hamas in return for Palestinian prisoners in Israel jails.

Sources told IANS that Egypt has put forward a proposal for permanent ceasefire and post war Gaza administration.

"However, the Israelis are not willing for a permanent truce," the sources said.

The Israeli Prime Minister had informed the war cabinet that the Mossad chief David Burnea will hold discussions with Egyptian and Qatari officials regarding the possible hostage deal.
Toronto, Dec 29 : No charges will be filed in connection with a bus crash in Canada that left four people, including a 41-year-old Sikh, dead and many others injured on Christmas Eve last year.

Karanjot Singh Sodhi from Butala in Amritsar, died on the spot when a bus in which he was travelling rolled over on an icy highway in British Columbia (B.C.) province at 6 pm on December 24, 2022.

Dan McLaughlin, a representative from the B.C. Prosecution Service, said Crown counsel concluded the standard for charges had not been met, the Global News TV channel reported.

For charges to be approved, there must be a "substantial likelihood of conviction" and public interest must be served, McLaughlin said last week.

"Crown Counsel must consider what material evidence is likely to be admissible  and whether there are viable defences, or other  impediments to the prosecution that remove any substantial likelihood of a conviction," the prosecution service said in a statement.

The crash happened east of Merritt on Highway 97C, also known as the Okanagan Connector, and investigators believed the bus was occupied by 45 passengers at that time.

The British Columbia Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had said in a statement that "extremely icy" road conditions along the highway caused the bus, operated by Alberta-based Ebus, to rollover.

Shortly after the crash, 22 passengers were transported to Kelowna's hospital, six to Penticton's hospital and 13 to Merritt's hospital. Four passengers, including Sodhi died at the scene.

Sodhi came to Canada on a work permit in September 2022, just three months before the accident, and was employed as a chef in a restaurant of an Okanagan winery.

On December 24, he was travelling in the ill-fated bus to spend the holidays with his cousin, Kalwinder Singh.

Kulwinder, a transport truck driver, told CBC News that he does not believe the accident was the driver's fault.

He said the highway should have been closed due to poor winter driving conditions and the driver should have refused to drive that night.

"The B.C. government did not clean the road properly... There is no good justice," Kulwinder told CBC.

Sodhi is survived by his mother, wife, and two children back home in Amritsar.

In an email to Global News, RCMP Staff Sergeant Kris Clark said that the B.C. Highway Patrol investigation had ended.

"As no charges have been laid, we are not in a position to confirm any details of the investigation, other than to say that road and weather conditions were contributing factors in the crash," Clark said.
East Sussex, Dec 29 : Brighton & Hove Albion stunned Tottenham Hotspur, triumphing 4-2 in a thrilling end-to-end match here at Falmer Stadium.

Brighton climbed to eighth above Newcastle United, moving six points behind Spurs, who have missed the chance to return to the top four.

Brighton almost went ahead inside seven minutes, with Welbeck forcing Guglielmo Vicario into two fine saves in the space of a minute. Five minutes later, Joao Pedro did brilliantly down the left-hand side before finding Hinshelwood in space, and the teenageras powerful shot flew past Vicario into the roof of the net, Premier League reports.

Brighton doubled their lead on 23 minutes. From a corner, Jan Paul van Hecke crashed a header against the crossbar and in the process Welbeck was pulled back by Dejan Kulusevski, with a penalty being given after a VAR review. Joao Pedro made no mistake from the spot.

Brighton chased a third goal and Milner hit the post with a curling shot before Buonanotte had a goal ruled out for offside and Vicario made another good stop to deny Joao Pedro. Richarlison hit a post for Spurs at the other end, but the Seagulls went into the interval with a deserved two-goal lead.

Spurs came close to making a dream start to the second half, but it was their turn to be thwarted by the offside flag after Richarlison put the ball in the Brighton net. On 54 minutes the Brazilian went close again, firing a low shot just wide of Steeleas post.

Moments after Richarlison had another goal disallowed for offside, Estupinan, who replaced Igor Julio at the break, unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard shot into the top corner to mark his return from almost two months out with a memorable goal.

Another Joao Pedro penalty added to Spursa woes, the Brazilian confidently stroking the spot-kick home following a clumsy challenge by Giovani Lo Celso on Evan Ferguson.

Brighton appeared to be cruising to victory, but the match took a sudden twist as two goals in five minutes for Spurs gave them hope of an extraordinary comeback. Summer signing Veliz scored his first Premier League goal, and Davies then headed in from Pedro Porroas cross.

Nine minutes of stoppage provided more hope for Spurs, who pushed forward in a bid to rescue an unlikely point. But in the end Brighton survived the late pressure to seal a deserved win.
President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 29 : President Joe Biden has said that the American Judith Weinstein -- who was believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas -- was killed by Hamas on October 7, media reports said.

"I am devastated by the news," Biden said.

"This tragic development cuts deep, coming on the heels of last week's news that Judiths beloved husband, Gad Haggai, is believed to have been killed by Hamas," media reports quoting Biden as having said.

Biden has also vowed to continue attempting for the release of other hostages still held by Hamas.

Weinstein, 70, was also an Israeli and the last missing Canadian from the October 7 attack.

Last week Biden said her husband, Gadi Haggai, 73, was killed on October 7.

Meanwhile, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel has said that: "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.

--IANS

int/dan
New Delhi, Dec 29 : Israel has carried out an aerial strike targeting a main Syrian air defence base in the southern Syria, media reports said.

Media reports citing a Syrian military source said that the 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.

"Our air defences confronted the (Israeli) aggressors' missiles and downed some of them with only material losses," a Syrian military source said.

Reports said that a Syrian army source was quoted on state media as saying Israel staged another round of strikes after midnight near the capital but gave no details.

--IANS

int/dan
New Delhi, Dec 29 : Iran on Friday said that it has executed four saboteurs linked to Israel's Mossad intelligence service, media reports said.

"Four members of a sabotage team associated with the Zionist regime, who had committed extensive actions against the country's security under the guidance of Mossad officers, were executed this morning following legal procedures," the Iranian news media reported.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Adele Khodr, on Friday said that the number of children killed in West Bank by the Israelis is reaching alarming levels, media reports said.

"The year 2023 has been the deadliest year on record for children in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with conflict-related violence reaching unprecedented levels," Khodr said.

She said that at least 83 children have been killed in the past 12 weeks -- more than double the number of children killed in all of 2022 -- amid increased Israeli military and law enforcement operations.

"More than 576 have been injured and others have reportedly been detained. Furthermore, the West Bank has been heavily affected by movement and access restrictions," Khodr said.

She said that the children living in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have been experiencing grinding violence for many years, yet the intensity of that violence has dramatically increased since the horrific attacks of 7 October.

"Conflict-related violence has killed 124 Palestinian children and 6 Israeli children since the start of 2023," Khodr says.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : The US on Friday said that it has shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Huthi, media reports said.

The reports said that the Huthis allegedly repeatedly targeted vessels in the Red Sea shipping lane with strikes -- the U.S. -- said to be in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas.

"The USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Huthis," media reports quoting the US Central Command (CENTCOM) as having said.

"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 on international shipping by the Huthis since mid-October.

However, the Huthis said they are targeting Israel and Israeli-linked vessels to push for a stop to the offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel-Hamas conflict began after Hamas carried out an attack on October 7.
Bengaluru, Dec 29 : Karnataka Police on Friday arrested two more accused, including a minor boy, in connection with the nude parade and assault of a Dalit woman case following the elopement of his son with a girl from Vantamuri village in Belagavi district.

Police have identified the accused as Santhosh Nayaka (19), saying that with the arrest of Santhosh Nayaka and the minor boy, they have rounded up all accused in connection with the case.

The accused have been handed over by the police to the Special Wing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry. A complaint was registered regarding the case against 13 persons in the case.

On December 10, the 42-year-old woman was dragged outside her home, stripped naked, and paraded. She was then tied to an electric pole and assaulted, reportedly because her son had eloped with a girl from the village. The terror was unleashed on the boy's mother by the family members of the girl.

The Karnataka High Court had strongly criticised the government earlier for the failure of the police department to prevent the incident.

The Bench remarked: "Imagine the fear among other women? They will feel unsafe in the country. Such an incident did not even take place in Mahabharata. Draupadi had Lord Krishna who came up to help her, but in the modern world, no one came to help this woman. Unfortunately, this is a world of Duryodhanas and Dushasanas."

The Karnataka High Court also expressed that the villagers who stood mute spectators as a Dalit woman was stripped and paraded naked, should be fined by the government while the collected money must be given to the victim.

A Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice PB Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, while looking into the Suo Motu PIL filed regarding the case, further said that the Karnataka government should make a provision for punishment or imposition of fines on the people of Vantamuri Village in Belagavi district where the incident took place.

The Bench mentioned that William Bentinck, a Governor General of British India, imposed additional duties on villages where people indulged in thefts. Likewise, if additional duties are levied in the present circumstances, the people will show more responsibility in future.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, commenting on the massive attack by the Russian Federation, said that Ukraine needs funding now to continue the fight for freedom from such a horror in 2024.

This is what Ukrainians see on their phones this morning: and as a result, millions of men, women, and children are in bomb shelters as Russia fires missiles across the country. Ukraine needs funding now to continue to fight for freedom from such horror in 2024, the ambassador said on X (Twitter) Friday.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : In a road rage case, a cab driver was stabbed to death by three boys in south Delhi, an official said on Friday.

The deceased identified as Manoj Kumar, a resident of Sangam Vihar, was working as a cab driver in Gurugram's BPO.

"As usual on Thursday evening, he picked five employees of BPO from Malviya Nagar area and then one from Mehrauli. After picking them, the cab got stuck in a jam as the streets of Mehrauli are narrow," said a senior police official.

At 8:40 p.m, three boys on a scooty came from behind and asked the cab driver to give him space for overtaking but the car driver couldn't as there was no space.

"Soon the scooty-borne riders had an altercation. One of the scooty riders came down and attacked the cab driver with a sharp edged weapon at his chest and ran away on the scooty. The injured was taken to Safdarjung Hospital where he was declared dead," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (south), Chandan Chowdhary.

During the probe, the CCTV cameras in the area were checked and all the three accused were identified.

"A minor has been apprehended while efforts are being made to apprehend others," the DCP added.
Guwahati, Dec 29 : An Assam government employee was arrested for supporting the banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) in Assam's Nagaon district, officials said on Friday.

Guwahati, Dec 29 (IANS) An Assam government employee was arrested for supporting the banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of AsomIndependent (ULFA-I) in Assam's Nagaon district, officials said on Friday.

The arrested employee, Dharma Dutta, works as an employee of the Nagaon Municipal Board and resides in Uriagaon Village.

Police said that Dutta was arrested when the Assam Police, who have been stepping up their operations against ULFA-I sympathisers, saw his social media post.

Police said that they discovered that Dutta made his support for the separatist group more obvious by expressing his wish to join them in the comment section.

The Superintendent of Police in Nagaon district, Nabaneet Mahanta told IANS on Friday, "The person was arrested a few days ago. We have registered a case under relevant sections. The accused has been in custody."

Notably, the Assam DGP G.P. Singh earlier said that the police will take strong actions against those who would post in social media supporting any outlawed group.
Los Angeles, Dec 29 : Actress Emma Stone loves to binge watch raunchy UK dating show 'Naked Attraction'. Despite her litany of awards for serious drama roles, the fun-loving actress, 35, revealed she loves Britain's reality TV including 'The Only Way is Essex' and 'Gogglebox'.

She told the New Year's special of the BBC's 'The Graham Norton Show' about her love of popular television, reports Female First UK.

She said: "My foray into it began with 'The Only Way is Essex' of course, and then I learned all about 'Naked Attraction' and 'Gogglebox'. I became completely crazy about it and in America the two shows are a double feature. They are back-to-back so it's cosy family viewing followed by nakedness. I love that."

As per Female First UK, the 'La La Land' star also used her turn on the show to gush about her newest raunchy film 'Poor Things'.

She said: "It's such a hard movie to describe, but I play a woman discovering everything for the first time. Mark (Ruffalo) is so good in it. You love this guy even though he is pathetic, and narcissistic, all the things that Mark is not. "He makes the character oddly loveable".

Graham, 60, also took a look back at some of the most memorable stories, events and guests on his eponymous chat show in 2023. He was joined by a star studded line-up which included Emma, Mark Ruffalo, 'Strictly Come Dancing' host Claudia Winkleman and comic Rob Brydon.
Kolkata, Dec 29 : Two women operators from a notorious narcotics smuggling racket based out of northeastern India have been nabbed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Malda Station in the northern sector of West Bengal on Friday.

The two women were arrested at Malda station from Kolkata-bound train coming from Assam. Around eight kilograms of high quality cannabis were seized from their possessions.

The RPF is yet to disclose the identities of the two arrested women.

Sources said that the duo has admitted that they hail from Tripura from where the cannabis consignment was actually sourced. The two women brought that consignment from Agartala to Assam where the consignment was carefully packed in flavoured tea- packets.

The two women were supposed to carry those from Assam to Kolkata and hand over to their local agents here. However, sources said, being tipped off from their sources about the cannabis consignment being brought to Kolkata, the RPF raided a compartment of the train when it arrived at Malda station seizing the flavoured tea-packets, where the cannabis consignment was present.

The cops are trying to get the names of the local agents or peddlers who they were supposed to pass on the consignment.

Meanwhile, an official of Kolkata Police said that during this part of the year, the number of narcotics consignments coming to the city increases due to the high demand in the late-night parties that continue till the New Year.

"Every year, the seizures of such smuggled consignments are more frequent during this period," a city police official said.
Los Angeles, Dec 29 : Actress Dame Helen Mirren has shared that she still struggles "enormously" with self-doubt. The award-winning actress believes it is part of human nature to keep questioning yourself.

Los Angeles, Dec 29 (IANS) Actress Dame Helen Mirren has shared that she still struggles "enormously" with self-doubt. The award-winning actress believes it is part of human nature to keep questioning yourself.

However, the 78-year-old star has grown to learn to push herself into things that seem "dangerous", reports Female First UK.

Asked if she experiences self-doubt, she told Britain's HELLO! magazine: "Enormously  and I still do. "I don't know why human beings struggle through life questioning ourselves all the time. We all do. In my whole career, the thing that has scared me the most is the thing that I feel I should do. The thing that looks like the most dangerous, the thing that I'm most likely to fail at, is the thing that I should jump into and attempt. If I fail or not, it doesn't really matter. "It's the journey rather than the arrival, as they say."

As per Female First UK, Helen admitted one of the reasons why she enjoys getting older is the "liberating" realisation that not everything is focused on herself.

She added: "I don't know if the fear gets less, we learn how to handle our fear, I guess that's what it is. And you learn that it becomes less about you, which is one of the great advantages of getting older  you're not so self-concerned all the time."

She added: "It's not all about you, it becomes about the wider world and it's so much more interesting. You look outward much more than you look inward. It is completely liberating."
Kochi, Dec 29 : A month after being questioned by the Kozhikode Police in the case related to the "improper touching" of a woman journalist, actor Suresh Gopi on Friday approached the Kerala High Court with an anticipatory bail plea.

Source said that the actor approached court realising that in the charge sheet filed by the police after he was questioned they have included Section 354 (uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage her or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty).

On October 27, Gopi, while addressing media persons, had placed his hand on the woman journalist's shoulder while responding to her questions. Following the incident, journalist bodies protested against the inappropriate behavior of Gopi and demanded an apology.

Despite Gopi tendering an apology the next day, the issue snowballed into a heated discussion on the social media platforms leading to the woman journalist filing a complaint against the actor.

Gopi is all set to contest the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket and many of his supporters allege that he is being targeted through this case.
Guwahati, Dec 29 : A 18-year-old youth was arrested by police for raping a five-year-old child in Assam's Chirang district, officials said on Friday.

Police said that the incident took place on Wednesday in the Chirang district's Bijni town, and the accused was taken into custody on Thursday after the victim's family filed a complaint.

Police said that the minor girl was playing outside her house when the accused allegedly brought her inside and forcibly touched her. According to the medical report, signs of penetration were discovered, and the police are treating this as rape.

"We have arrested the teenaged accused under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) 2012 and he will be produced before the court on Friday," a senior police officer stated.

After receiving the treatment, the minor girl was released from the local hospital where was hospitalised initially, according to Pranjit Borah, Superintendent of Police (SP), Chirang district.

"We are looking into the incident, and statements from the accused and victim have been recorded. After conducting an investigation, we'll provide our findings to the court," Borah told IANS.

The police officer also said that the accused initially tried to establish himself as a minor.

"Upon checking the AADHAR card and other documents, we have found that he attained 18 years earlier this year and accordingly the relevant sections were registered against him," the officer added.

Meanwhile, the victim's family has urged for a harsh punishment for the accused. They said that the incident had traumatised the child.

"We are concerned that this occurrence may cause her to have a lifelong phobia. We want the courts and law enforcement to lead by example and punish the rapist," one of the family members said.
Kolkata, Dec 29 : The Central government has rejected the proposed tableau from the state government for the Republic Day Parade on January 26 next year at New Delhi.

The theme of the tableau proposed by the West Bengal government this time was "Kanyashree Prakalpa" project, a financial assistance scheme to discourage girls from being school dropouts while encouraging them to go for higher studies, a pet project of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The ruling party leaders feel that the proposed tableau has been rejected deliberately by the Union government to ensure that the success stories of this "unique girl-child development project" by the state government do not get wider publicity.

"Had this tableau not been rejected, the scientific approach of the West Bengal government under the dynamic leadership of the Chief Minister in women-development would have come in the limelight and in that process the failures of the Union government in the same field would have surfaced. It is unfortunate that the "Kanyashree Prakalpa", which had received international accolades including that from the UN, had not been acknowledged by the Union government," said the State Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Minister Sashi Panja.

As per Trinamool Congress leaders, giving permission to the project would have meant an indirect acknowledgement that the Union government project of "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" project was actually inspired by the West Bengal government's "Kanyashree Prakalpa" project.

The sources said that this is not the first time that the proposed tableau from West Bengal for the Republic Day parade has been rejected.

Earlier, there had been instances of rejections of proposed tableaus from the West Bengal government in 2020 and 2022 as well.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Friday held a telephone conversation with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant in which the leaders discussed the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, protection of civilians and humanitarian aid, media reports said.

Reports said that the US Secretary reiterated resolve to ensure Hamas can no longer threaten Israel's security and underscored the importance of protecting Gaza's civilians and accelerating humanitarian assistance.

"Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant also discussed threats to regional security, including Hezbollah's destabilising activities in southern Lebanon, Iran-aligned militia attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria, and Houthi assaults against international commerce in the Red Sea," media report said.

--IANS

int/dan
Cong has set up Shivakumar Bank of India (SBI) in Ktaka to loot people: BJP MLA Vijayendra. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Dec 29 : Amid the faceoff, Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra is visiting Vijayapura city, the hometown of rebel BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, on Saturday.

Bengaluru, Dec 29 (IANS) Amid the faceoff, Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra is visiting Vijayapura city, the hometown of rebel BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, on Saturday.

However, Yatnal is snubbing Vijayendra openly and challenging him causing major embarrassment to the party in the state.

MLA Yatnal had dropped a bombshell by stating that if he is sacked from BJP for his remarks, he would expose Rs 40,000 crore scam by Vijayendraas father, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa during Covid pandemic.

Vijayendra is visiting Vijayapura for the first time after assuming the charge. He will visit the district BJP office and hold a meeting with local leaders. He will also visit Sri Siddeshwar Ashram in the city and participate in the Guru Namana programme.

MLA Yatnal had refused Vijayendra to visit his residence. He also snubbed him on many occasions inside as well as outside the assembly. Former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda had expressed his unhappiness over no initiation of action against those who are openly challenging the leadership in the state.

Sources explain that MLA Yatnal is backed by the National General Secretary (Organization) B.L. Santhosh and opponents of Yediyurappa. The sources said that the development of Vijayendra visiting MLA Yatnalas home town will compel the latter to welcome him as per the protocol.

The development has created curiosity in the state politics.
As a result of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, 23 people were injured, according to Kyiv City State Administration.

"According to the operational information of doctors, 23 people have been injured as a result of a rocket attack in the capital. Twenty of them were hospitalized. One person was killed," the message says.

Medics and rescuers continue to work on the ground.

Earlier it was reported about 18 injured and two dead. Later, the Administration clarified that one, not two, victims had been found.
Tax revenues will not be transferred to Palestinian Authority: Israeli finance minister. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 29 : Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Friday said that the transfer tax money will not be transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as long as he heads the ministry, media reports said.

Reports said that the US is pressuring Israel to release the monthly tax revenues collected by Israel for transfer to the PA, which has been halted since October 7.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have detained at least 14 Palestinians, including a child, in a series of raids across the occupied West Bank, media reports said.

"In Tulkarm, Israeli forces stormed the village of Qaffin and detained four Palestinians," the report said.

It said that in Jericho, the Israeli army stormed Ein as-Sultan refugee camp and detained a 16-year-old child, identified as Hani Sarafandi, after searching his family home.

In the Ramallah province, forces raided the town of Deir Abu Meshaal and detained several local residents. Two residents were also imprisoned in the Al-Amaari refugee camp in Ramallah.

Reports said that in Hebron, at least two Palestinians were arrested during a raid into the town of Surif.

"In the Al-Far'a refugee camp in the northern province of Tubas, Israeli forces detained a wounded young Palestinian man from inside an ambulance," the media reports said.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 29 : Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that he felt "pained" following the arrest of 'Kannada Rakshana Vedike' chief T.A. Narayana Gowda and others in connection with the vandalism and violence that took place here on December 27 which saw tearing down of English posters of many commercial outlets with a demand to give prominence to local language.

Speaking during the inauguration programme of the renovated Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Auditorium coinciding with the birth anniversary of poet, playwright and novelist Kuvempu, the former CM said "the need of the hour was to support those activists".

Bommai said that when he was the chief minister, he had ordered withdrawal of over 2,000 cases filed against Kannada activists.

"The current situation is because of not having any strict rule on Kannada on the signboards. Our (previous) government brought a bill for the implementation of Kannada. It is a matter of sadness that they need to invoke law for the mandatory implementation of Kannada in Karnataka even after 75 years of Independence.

"The Kannada activists are holding a stir over the non-implementation of the rule... and the agitations were not held where Kannada language is displayed on signboards. Protests are happening in places where the rules were not brought into force," he said.

Bommai said the Kannada Sahitya Parishat has put in a lot of efforts for the survival of the Kannada language.

"The Kannadigas must be awakened if they want the Kannada language to remain relevant forever," the BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, describing Kuvempu as "Vishwamanava", Bommai said Kuvempu had a different personality and could be called "Yuga Purusha".

"By delving deep into his personality, one would understand the qualities which were nothing but of a 'Vishwa Manava'," the former chief minister said.
Chandigarh, Dec 29 : Health services in Haryana were badly impacted in government hospitals on Friday after at least 2,500 doctors went on an indefinite strike in response to the call given by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA).

However, the government has said that over 3,000 additional doctors have been deployed across the state.

The doctors have been demanding the formation of a specialist cadre, no direct recruitment of senior medical officers, reduction in bond amount for postgraduate courses and an assured career progression scheme on a par with their Central government counterparts.

Meanwhile, the Health and Family Welfare Minister Anil Vij has reassured the public that all patients visiting government health centres or hospitals in the state will receive adequate healthcare services, despite the ongoing strike called by government doctors.

He said that the Health Department has revoked all types of leaves for doctors, mobilising around 3,000 doctors to ensure continuous services.

The minister told the media the mobilised doctors included consultants, senior consultants, NHM doctors, medical officers from medical colleges, and community health officers.

Earlier, Health Services Department Director General Randeep Poonia along with J.S. Punia and Manish Bansal convened a meeting with representatives of the HCMSA.

The attendees included state President Rajesh Kumar, media coordinator Amarjeet and district president Mandeep and state general secretary Anil Yadav.

The meeting addressed various demands of the association, such as the establishment of a specialist cadre, amendments to the postgraduate policy, pay revisions, and halting direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), an official statement said.

At the meeting, the association office-bearers were informed the specialist cadre has been approved. Currently, direct recruitment of SMOs is not underway, and plans are in place to promote 100 medical officers to SMO positions.

"This process is underway. Additionally, the government is considering pay revisions and postgraduate policy amendments. The demands of the association are receiving top priority for resolution," said the government.

The government said that given these developments, the strike called by the association appears unwarranted.

"The association is urged to retract the strike notice and resume health services immediately in the public's interest. G Anupama, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, has been briefed on these concerns and has pledged to address them compassionately, scheduling a subsequent meeting with the Health Minister," it said.

It was also conveyed that while association representatives have not called off the strike, they have committed to maintaining emergency services.

A previously scheduled meeting with the Health Minister on December 26 did not materialise due to the absence of association representatives.

However, HCMSA President Rajesh Khyalia said life-saving interventions would be done by a team of volunteer doctors in public interest, but the strike will continue.

The association has also formed a team of doctors that will handle emergencies.
Amaravati, Dec 29 : The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is planning a separate manifesto for the Backward Classes for the next year's elections to Andhra Pradesh Assembly.

TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh on Friday said the party will launch a separate programme on January 4 in the name of "Jayaho BC" to know the problems being faced by the people of Backward Classes in the state.

He told mediapersons at the party headquarters here that the party will hold a workshop under the leadership of the TDP supremo and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, to discuss steps on how to move on the "Jayaho BC" programme.

Meetings will be also organised at all the headquarters of each Lok Sabha constituency, Assembly segment and mandal followed by a massive public meeting at state-level where the separate manifesto for Backward Classes will be released.

"During my Yuva Galam pada yatra, I have personally come to know the issues being faced by the Backward Classes and the party has decided to get the first-hand information on their problems they are facing in the mandals that I have not covered during my pada yatra," Lokesh added. Observing that the TDP is the birthplace for the Backward Classes, he recalled how the party founder, late N.T. Rama Rao, encouraged the community by allocating key portfolios.

While late NTR provided 24 per cent reservation for the Backward Classes, Chandrababu Naidu, who succeeded him, increased the quota to 34 per cent.

Pointing out the budgetary allocations made during the TDP regime for Backward Classes and the several welfare schemes launched for their progress, Lokesh termed the Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, as a traitor of Backward Classes.

"After Jagan came to power several Backward Classes like Amarnath Goud were killed inhumanly," he said.

Lokesh alleged that the person who killed Amarath Goud is moving freely in public and either the Chief Minister or his Cabinet colleagues did not bother to console the family of the victim.

Pointing out several such instances in which the Backward Classes were subjected to various kinds of torture, Nara Lokesh said that even the lands of the Backward Classes are being illegally occupied by the YSRCP leaders. Stating that the 10 per cent deposits made by the beneficiaries of the Aadarana scheme is not being paid back to them, he said that 56 corporations do not have funds now.

The situation is so bad that even the salaries of the BC Corporation directors are not being paid, he added.

The TDP leader said that false cases are being foisted against even senior TDP leaders like Yanamala Ramakrsihnudu, Atchen Naidu and Kollu Ravindra while a rape case is registered against Ayyannapatrudu.

Making it clear that he will personally take the responsibility to implement all the promises that he has made to the people during his pada yatra, Lokesh said that a separate legislation will be enacted for the safety and security of BCs and permanent caste certificates will be issued to them through an app by interlinking with technology.

He also promised to revive the 10 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies once the TDP is back in power in the coming polls.
Jaipur, Dec 29 : A scholarship scam has surfaced in Rajasthan after the ouster of the Congress government in the recently-held Assembly elections.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Department has blacklisted 40 educational institutions involved in the alleged scam, including seven private universities such as Sunrise University in Alwar and Singhania University in Jhunjhunu, among others.

This decision has been taken after serious irregularities came to light during investigation into this case.

Officials said that the amount raised fraudulently will be recovered and strict action will be taken against the accused involved in the scam.

According to sources, after receiving a complaint, an inquiry committee was constituted by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, which revealed serious irregularities related to scholarships.

According to a department decision based on the investigation report and the recommendations of the probe committee, a total of 40 educational institutions have been blacklisted and debarred on the scholarship portal with immediate effect.

No new applications will be accepted by the department from these institutions. Also, the students who have been found ineligible by the investigation committee have been blacklisted with immediate effect under the scholarship scheme.

A warning has also been issued of taking legal action if the orders are not followed.

According to officials, the ineligible students who were asked to seek scholarship benefits by producing fake certificates have been asked to lodge an FIR against the head of the concerned educational institution or the persons authorised for scholarship related works.

Also, it has been ordered that the scholarship applications in which irregular payments have been made by the district office should be immediately recovered.

The inquiry committee was constituted on December 12 and the detailed report was submitted on December 26, after which the order was issued against these institutions on December 27 by the Joint Secretary in the Social Justice and Empowerment Department.
Hyderabad, Dec 28 : After losing power to the Congress in Telangana, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is now focussing on Lok Sabha elections to be held in next few months.

The party will conduct Lok Sabha constituency-wise preparatory meetings from January 3.

On the directions of BRS President K. Chandrasekhar Rao, BRS Working President K Taraka Rama Rao, Secretary General K. Keshava Rao and other leaders will hold the preparatory meetings at Telangana Bhavan here.

The discussions will revolve around the strategy to be implemented in the upcoming parliament elections. By taking inputs and opinions from the leaders attending these meetings, the party will prepare an action plan.

BRS leaders said a special emphasis will be placed on the segments where the party lost the recent Assembly elections by a narrow margin.

Following these review meetings, the party will gear up to launch a vigorous campaign. Former Speaker Madhusudhanachari, former ministers Harish Rao, Kadiyam Srihari, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Jagadish Reddy, Prashanth Reddy, Niranjan Reddy, and other important leaders will be part of these meetings.

The party announced on Friday that the meetings will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the meetings will be held from January 3 to January 12. The second phase resumes on January 16 after a three-day break for the Sankranthi festival.

The meeting for Adilabad constituency, currently held by BJP, will be held on January 3. Meeting for one constituency will be held every day. Karimnagar, Chevella, Peddapalli, Nizamabad, Zaheerabad, Khammam, Warangal, Mahabubabad, and Bhongir will be covered till January 12.

After Sankranthi break, the meetings will resume on January 16 with the party leaders reviewing preparations for Nalgonda constituency. This will be followed by Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Medak, and Malkajgiri.

The preparations for Secunderabad and Hyderabad constituencies will be reviewed on the last day that is January 21. All the key leaders from each parliament segment will be invited to attend these meetings.

Members of Parliament from the respective constituencies, MLAs of the assembly segments falling under each Lok Sabha constituency, MLCs, former MPs, former MLAs, ZP Chairpersons, former ZP Chairpersons, Mayors, former Mayors, Municipal Chairpersons, former Municipal Chairpersons, former Corporation Chairpersons, constituency incharges, district party presidents, public representatives and other important leaders will take part in these meetings.

In the recently-held Assembly elections, the BRS lost power to the Congress, winning only 39 seats in the 119-member Assembly.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BRS had won nine out of 17 seats. Its friendly party AIMIM had retained Hyderabad seat. The BJP had won four seats a" Secunderabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, and Adilabad. The Congress candidates were elected in Malkajgiri, Bhongir. and Nalgonda.

--IANS

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Delinquencies have gone up in unsecured loans, especially in small ticket size personal loans. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 29 : Only 18 per cent of borrowers in India understand the data privacy rules, with the majority of them (88 per cent) having a superficial understanding of the subject, a new report said on Friday.

According to global consumer finance provider Home Credit India, about 60 per cent of borrowers are worried about how their personal data is collected and used by the lending apps.

Around 58 per cent of these worried borrowers also feel that the lending apps collect more data than required.

Gen Z and borrowers from smaller towns show higher concern with the amount of data being collected by lending apps.

Among metros, 78 per cent of borrowers from Chennai voiced their concern about the amount of data collected.

"The survey not only highlights the preferences of today's borrowers but also emphasises the need for greater awareness of data privacy," said Ashish Tiwari, Chief Marketing Officer, Home Credit India.

The report surveyed about 1,842 borrowers in the age group of 18-55 years, with an average income of Rs 31,000 per month across 17 Indian cities. Moreover, the report noted that over one-fourth of borrowers opted for online channels for availing loans.

Loans initiated through telecalling increased by 3 per cent (from 16 per cent in 2022 to 19 per cent in 2023), while loans through POS/bank branches saw a decline of 4 per cent (from 56 per cent to 51 per cent).

In keeping with the digital revolution, more than half of borrowers (51 per cent) are looking forward to completing their entire future loan application on a mobile app without any physical connection with POS/Banks.

The preference for online loan mediums is primarily driven by younger and aspirational small-town borrowers, with cities like Dehradun at 61 per cent, Ludhiana at 59 per cent, Ahmedabad at 56 per cent, and Chandigarh at 52 per cent.

In terms of digital literacy, 23 per cent of middle-class borrowers have heard/seen about the chatbot service in the past. About 43 per cent of borrowers found chatbot services as easy to use, led by Women and Gen Z.

According to the report, WhatsApp is an emerging digital channel for loans, with 59 per cent of borrowers having received loan messages on WhatsApp. However, only one-fourth of borrowers consider loan offers received on WhatsApp as trustworthy, with Gen Z showing more trust towards this.

EMI cards continued to be the most preferred medium to take loans, accepted by 49 per cent of the borrowers.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 29 : The All India Fair Price Shop Owners' Association (AIFPSOA), an umbrella body of different ration shop owners, on Friday called for an indefinite strike throughout the country from January 2.

The association has already started staging a sit-in-agitation in Kolkata from Friday in support of its indefinite strike call from next Tuesday. The association members will also organise a convention to press their demand at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on January 15.

AIFPSOA General Secretary Bishwambhar Basu told mediapersons on Friday that a total of 5,38,000 fair price shop owners will be participating in the indefinite nationwide strike from next Tuesday.

"Our principal demand is advance commission. This has been a long-standing demand. Going for an indefinite strike was not an overnight decision. But our appeals have been repeatedly turned down, so finally we have decided to go for the strike," Basu said.

He also claimed that the fair price shop owners have to spend money from their pockets to keep the show running.

"This cannot continue for an indefinite period. We have approached both the Union and state government with our legitimate demands. However, we did not receive any positive response from anyone," he added.

Basu also claimed that the fair price shop owners in West Bengal are subjected to mental torture in the name of the public distribution system (PDS) controller.

"The fair price shop owners are being made scapegoats just to hide the corruption in the ration distribution system in the state," Basu claimed.
Poonch: Army personnel during a search operation near the site where two Army vehicles were ambushed by terrorists. Image Source: IANS News

Jammu, Dec 29 : Mobile internet facility was restord in J&K's Poonch and Rajouri districts on Friday, officials said.

Jammu, Dec 29 (IANS) Mobile internet facility was restord in J&Kas Poonch and Rajouri districts on Friday, officials said.

Internet facility was suspended in these two districts after the killings of four soldiers by terrorists in Dera Ki Gali of Bafliaz area in Poonch district on December 21. Three civilians were subsequently killed, allegedly by the army, in Topa Peer village of Bafliaz on December 22.

Authorities had continued suspension of mobile Internet in the two districts to check the spread of rumours by anti-national elements.

The government has sanctioned compensation in favour of the next of kin of the three slain civilians and a government job for each of the survivors. Police have registered an FIR into the killings. The army has also ordered an internal inquiry and promised cooperation with the police investigation.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : In a latest development, India has asked Pakistan in a formal communication to extradite Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed to the country, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Friday.

"As you are aware, the person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request, along with relevant supporting documents, to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case," the MEA said in a statement.

In the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, more than 160 people had lost their lives.

Several media reports in Pakistan too have mentioned that the Indian government has requested the handover of Saeed.

However, few experts said that there is no formal agreement between India and Pakistan for such type of extradition.

Besides India, many other countries have also declared Saeed a terrorist.

The US has also announced a reward of nearly $100 million for Saeed and his organisation.

Saeed has already been imprisoned in Pakistan in connection with terror funding cases.

Defence experts said that if Pakistan is interested in maintaining good relations with its neighbouring countries and intends to control terrorism, it should take positive steps regarding Saeed's extradition.
The Russian attack on the Ukrainian civilian infrastructure is a war crime, said British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris.

More despicable attacks by Russia across Ukraine this morning. There are reports that a maternity hospital, apartment blocks, shopping malls and train stations have been hit - in this holiday season. Attacking civilian infrastructure is a war crime, the ambassador said on X (Twitter).
Transport woes for villagers as HC puts brakes on rural service of city buses in MP. Image Source: IANS News

Bhopal, Dec 29 : "I am a labourer earning only Rs 200 to 300 per day. It is hardly sufficient to take care of my family, including my wife and two children. For almost two months, the red bus (Bhopal City Link Limited) has stopped coming to my village. Commuting to Bairagarh and Bhopal has become difficult," said Suraj Mistry (34), a resident of Khajoori Sadak in Phanda block of Bhopal district.

Workers have to reach pitha (where work is assigned) at Bairagarh intersection between 9 a.m to 10 a.m. "If you are late, chances of getting work are minimal. When the city bus was available, I used to reach on time. Now it is difficult as autos, Tata Magic and battery-operated vehicles are unavailable in the mornings. Even if I get one, the rate that the driver quotes is beyond my reach," he said.

Buses contracted by urban municipal corporations had been plying to rural areas within the 25-km radius from city limits by paying motor vehicle tax of city permits, which is lower than the mandated tax for stage carriages that provide rural service

Kamlesh Mistry (30) of the same village said he has to travel on foot for several km sometimes. At other times, he has to pay arbitrary fares. Shivcharan Sisodia (35) and Kaju Babulal (35) of Bilkisganj in Sehore district said they either walk or take a lift to the main road located about four km away.

"To reach the pitha at Neelbad intersection, we have to travel 15.9 km."

Bilkisganj resident Geeta Prajapati (21) is a BSc second year student at the Government Nutan College, Bhopal. She used to take the red bus along with Deepa Singh (22), another student.

Both Deepa and Geeta said they had availed of the BCLL's monthly pass worth Rs 800.

"We lost the money when the bus stopped its service abruptly. Now we walk 4 km to reach the main road. From there, we have to pay Rs 10 to 15 for an auto/battery-operated vehicle to reach Neelbad, from where red bus is available."

"Red buses are cheap, safe and convenient. They are equipped with cameras and run on time. The drivers and conductors are in uniform. The service is never stopped midway citing low passenger count," they said.

Diverting from permitted routes

After the disbanding of the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation, city bus service was launched in 16 urban bodies under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission in 2012.

The same year, Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL), a holding company of Bhopal Municipal Corporation, started bus services through its contract operators after purchasing 80 new buses.

The BCLL currently operates 368 buses on 18 routes in Bhopal city.

Earlier, 146 of these buses had ventured into 21 routes that serve over 200 villages.

In October, these 146 city buses were prevented from rural service based on an order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

As per the Madhya Pradesh Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1991, the buses operating outside the city should pay taxes of stage carriages and not city permits.

However, the BCLL buses had paid tax for city service only. The BCLL had sought permission from the State Urban Development and Transport Department in this regard, but it was not accepted.

Nevertheless, in 2017, BCLL, in connivance with officers at the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), started operating 34 buses on rural routes.

All these buses (SR-1 and SR-1A) were earlier running from Chirayu to Bairagarh Chichali within the urban limits. With time, the number of such services increased to 146.

RTI activist and transport expert Bhupendra Kumar Jain told 101Reporters that BCLL and transport officials colluded to benefit Capital Roadways Private Company it contracted. In the process, the Madhya Pradesh government suffered revenue losses.

"We complained to the Transport Department in 2017 itself. Subsequently, Bhopal RTO Officer Sanjay Tiwari ordered checks on the routes of these 34 buses. The investigation revealed that 17 buses travelled 6.2 km outside the city limits in Phanda-Kalapani route. Permits were issued by paying tax of city service and not of stage carriages. Subsequently, Tiwari issued notices to BCLL for payment of tax difference amounting to Rs 60,72,144 and the penalty," Jain said.

Simultaneously, the other 17 buses on Bairagarh Chichli-Phanda route were found to be operating 6.2 km outside the city limits. The tax amount to be recovered was Rs 58,07,880, for which notices were issued.

"In these seven years, three transport commissioners, three divisional deputy transport commissioners and three RTO officers have changed, but the pending taxes have not been recovered. The outstanding dues have now jumped to Rs 8 crore. Notices issued to BCLL from time to time for its recovery are just a sham," he alleged.

Private bus operator Surendra Tanwani said the BCLL had been constantly expanding its fleet on rural routes.

"Tax evasion is not limited to Bhopal city. It is spread across all 16 urban local bodies."

Expansion mode

According to its Public Relations Officer Sanjay Soni, the BCLL plunged into more rural routes after the then Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced the operation of urban buses within the 25 km radius of the municipal corporation limits to help rural residents, during a private programme in Bhopal on August 24, 2021.

"The then Bhopal Municipal Corporation Commissioner VS Choudhary Kolsani pursued the matter by writing to the Principal Secretary, Chief Minister's Office, and Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department. Subsequently, in May 2022, the Transport Department issued an order permitting operation of city buses of 16 urban municipal corporations of the state up to 25 km from the corporation limits."

Considering the demand, Bhopal RTO allowed 146 BCLL buses to operate on rural routes -- Kanhasaiya, Hinotia, Bagroda, Bangrasia, Ratibad, Sukhi Sewaniya, Phanda, Parwalia Sadak, Intkhendi Sadak, Acharpura, Nayapura and Badjhiri to name a few.

However, for more than a month, Bhopal RTO has not been giving a tax waiver due to the High Court order.

Soni said Jabalpur City Transport Services Limited (JCTSL) under the Municipal Corporation of Jabalpur had also been operating 70 buses outside the city limits.

However, private bus operators moved the High Court, following which a Single Bench of Justice Vivek Aggarwal in its order dated October 11 prevented the city buses from operating illegal services by paying less tax.

The High Court noted that the scheme under which the state had allowed rural service of city buses had not been notified in the Gazette.

Madhya Pradesh Transport Department Commissioner SK Jha told 101Reporters that the Motor Vehicle Taxation Act should be amended if tax exemption was to be given to BCLL buses.

"There are clear instructions in the 1991 Act that Rs 90 per seat should be paid every three months for service in the city. If extended to rural areas, tax will have to be paid separately."

Apparently, for rural service, the tax comes to Rs 200 per seat per month.

He said it has been clearly stated in the meetings held between the urban administration and Transport Department that tax exemption was not possible without changing the rules.

He added that permits were being cancelled and notices were being issued for tax recovery when buses were found breaching the city limits.

JCTSL legal adviser Advocate Anshuman Singh told 101Reporters that they had challenged the Single Bench's decision before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra.

"We got a conditional stay on November 3, according to which city buses were allowed to ply in public interest outside the city limits, but only after paying the prescribed tax. The RTO has issued notices for tax recovery. So, the company has decided to run its buses only within the city limits until the court settles the matter," he said.

The next hearing in the High Court is on December 19.

Soni asked why the RTO issued them permits if they had really evaded tax.

"We did seek permission to operate buses on rural routes by paying tax for city permits. We are providing affordable, easy and convenient public transport service to the residents," he asserted.

What private operators say

Rejecting Soni's position, Prem Shankar Sahu, president, Mahanagari Bus Owner Seva Samiti, Bhopal, said it operates 30 buses with 32 seats on Bhopal-Obedullaganj route.

"We make a profit even after regularly paying taxes, whereas BCLL gets 22 per cent subsidy for purchasing new buses. Yet, they demand less taxes," he said.

"The RTO fees, tax, permit and insurance costs come to Rs 15,000 per month. An extra Rs 5,000 should be spent on maintenance and Rs 15,000 on employee salaries. Yet, I manage to save Rs 15,000 to 18,000 per month," said Suresh Sahu, who has two buses operating on Bhopal-Obedullaganj route.

Bus operator Ajay Kumar Gupta, who moved the High Court against rural service, told 101Reporters that he has four buses operating outside the city limits and it used to be profitable before the BCLL entered the scene.

"I went to the High Court because it was becoming difficult to pay salaries," he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Brajesh Dubey, who is fighting the case of private bus operators, said tax exemption should be given to everyone if the government wishes so.

Atul Jain, the owner of Maa Associate contracted by BCLL, said they had stopped rural service following the High Court order as losses were likely if they operated without tax exemption.

Prince Joseph, the operations head of BCLL contracted Sri Durgamba Travels, said the operation of their 90 buses will become expensive if RTO did not allow exemption.

"This is because our fares are fixed by the transport fare committee and we charge lower fares than private operators. We have limited the operation to 40 buses in urban areas now," he said.

(Sanavver Shafi is a Madhya Pradesh-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)
New Delhi, Dec 29 : The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to YouTuber and journalist Shyam Meera Singh in response to a plea filed by Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The plea seeks directions to Shyam to remove his YouTube video alleging that Ram Rahim deceived his followers.

Hearing the matter, Justice Shalinder Kaur also issued notice to YouTube, specifying that notice would be served through email and WhatsApp, and listed the case for further hearing on Saturday.

Ram Rahim initiated the legal action against Shyam Meera Singh for a video uploaded on December 17, 2023, titled "How Gurmeet Ram Rahim fooled his bhakts?"

Advocate Rajat Aneja, representing Ram Rahim, argued that Shyam, despite receiving a legal notice, refused to delete the video and has a history of such offences. He cited a post on X by Shyam on December 24, acknowledging the notice but expressing intent to fight the case in court.

Counsel contended that the video is disparaging and defamatory.

He also brought up Shyam's past as a journalist with Aaj Tak, alleging he was fired for insulting the Prime Minister. Aneja further pointed out an FIR filed against Shyam in Uttar Pradesh for insulting the state's Chief Minister.

"He is a habitual offender... after we put him to notice, he puts out a remark/comment on Twitter (now X) saying aIam not going to delete these videosa. Totally defiant. He has been accused by the UP administration also for having insulted the Chief Minister. An FIR came to be registered at the instance of a UP resident," counsel said.

The court, considering the arguments, decided to issue notice. Ram Rahim, in 2017, was handed 20 years in prison for allegedly raping two women disciples. In 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his employee Ranjit Singh. In 2021, the Dera chief was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a journalist.
Mumbai, Dec 29 : Actor Gulshan Devaiah has had a terrific run this year in the movies and in streaming shows with projects like 'Duranga 2', '8 A.M. Metro', 'Dahaad' and 'Guns & Gulaabs', playing the audience favourite '4 Cut Atmaram' in the latter.

Recently, the makers announced the second season of 'Guns & Gulaabs', sending the fans of the series in a frenzy. The anticipation for the return of '4 Cut Atmaram' in the second season and his face-off with Rajkummar Rao's 'Paana Tipu' is highly awaited.

As 2023 draws to a close, the actor spoke to IANS and reflected on his learnings, the effect on his decision-making and how he modelled his character on Anton Chigurh from the cult classic 'No Country for Old Men'.

Talking about his process of approaching '4 Cut Atmaram', Gulshan told IANS, "I initially based '4 Cut Atmaram' on Anton Chigurh played by Javier Bardem in 'No Country for Old Men'. They're not similar but certain things about them do overlap, there's quirkiness to them, a sense of danger and they both cannot be defeated. So, I thought I should draw from Anton Chigurh."

He continued, "I imagined that I'm in a spaghetti western, so many positions and stance that I take in the series are influenced by the spaghetti western genre. I requested for a pocket to be built like a gun slinger, ready to draw my knife to inflict the deadly 4 cuts. I didn't try to humanise him as well, I treated the character as a figment of imagination. It really helped me put the character in perspective."

Gulshan has done his graduation from NIFT. Later, he got jobs in the fashion industry where he worked for 10 years. He also taught fashion to students at the Wigan & Leigh College in Bengaluru.

Talking about how his bent of mind as a student of design helps the actor in him, he shared, "Studying design gives me an advantage in analysing the aesthetics of a physical space and not just the props or the costumes. I use my sense of design to interact with the space, it's almost like having a third vantage point."

Sharing his learnings from 2023, the actor told IANS, "My decision-making has improved. It's like an algorithm, it's not a very rigid system, there are basic rules that I follow but I ensure to make room for sufficient changes as may be required with the passage of time. Sometimes you get it wrong also but that's fine, it's a part of the journey, and the journey is more important for me."

There have been a lot of discussions around the excessive use of violence in two recently-released films, the Prabhas-starrer 'Salaar: Part 1  Ceasefire' and the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Animal'. In fact, '4 Cut Atmaram' himself uses violence as a device to carry the story forward.

Sharing his opinion on the issue, Gulshan, who maintains that he hasn't seen either 'Salaar' or 'Animal', told IANS, "People easily get attracted towards either supporting something or going completely against it, it's a binary. Having an extreme reaction is a currency on social media to draw attention no matter what side of the debate one is at. And this has created a symbiotic loop which I feel is not very constructive."

"Having said that, I feel it's important to discuss perspectives, like I feel that an excessive amount of violence or glorification of violence in an artwork can have some negative effect on the society, but it's not that it will breed a violent society. The reality lies somewhere in the grey area," he added.

The sense of morality in artwork has long been a point of discussion for artistes and the audience. How important is it for artistes to function under the umbrella of morality in artwork?

The actor said, "Some people want to challenge the idea of morality in their artwork and that's where new grounds are broken in terms of telling a story or creating something which has never been a part of the society. Some people want to uphold the sense of morality which leads to conservative art. I think both are necessary.

"Again, a majority of artistes are somewhere in the middle. Then there are those like me who believe that the idea of freedom of expression cannot be absolute. The push and pull is extremely constructive for the growth of society and the art itself."
Bengaluru, Dec 29 : Tech major Wipro has sought Rs 25.15 crore damages from its former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jatin Dalal for violating the non-compete clause of his employment contract.

Wipro has also sought 18 per cent interest per annum till the date of payment.

The company had filed a lawsuit against Dalal in Bengaluru civil court on November 28, contending that, as per the agreements, he is liable to recompense the company the total number of RSU granted multiplied by the share price prevailing on the date of the award or the calculated sum equivalent to the gross remuneration earned by the defendant during the last 12 months of service.

However, without prejudice and in good faith, the plaintiff has restricted its claim, it stated.

In turn, Dalal, presently with Cognizant as CFO, had also submitted an application to the court requesting arbitration.

The court has heard arguments from both sides, and the matter was adjourned to January 3.

Dalal is likely to move to the US or UK once his visa formalities are completed.

The first hearing of the case was held on November 28.

In the first week of December, Dalal filed an application under the provision of Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, under which the court could direct parties to arbitration under its judicial authority.

Dalal had worked with Wipro for two decades, and presently, he reports to CEO Ravi Kumar at Cognizant. He was elevated to the position of CFO in 2015 and took charge as the P:resident in 2019.

Wipro had recently filed a complaint against its former Senior Vice President Mohd Haque for violating non-compete covenants by joining Wiproas direct competitor, Cognizant.
Gurdaspur: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the launch of developmental projects. Image Source: IANS News

Ludhiana, Dec 29 : In order to facilitate non-resident Indians (NRIs) for resolving their issues, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday launched a new website nri.punjab.gov.in of the NRI Affairs Department.

Launching the website here, the Chief Minister described it as a path-breaking initiative aimed at ensuring the well-being of the NRIs on one hand and helping them to stay connected with their roots on the other.

He said the ultra modren website has been created by the Governance Reforms Department along with the help of NIC.

Mann said the website has detailed information pertaining to NRI police wing, state commission for NRIs and NRI sabha.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said the website will also provide slew of facilities offered by the government to the NRIs on single click.

The website will also help the NRIs to get their documents attested along with ensuring the benefit of other schemes to them.

Mann said the website will also provide helpline number, email addresses and WhatsApp complaint number to the visitors.

The Chief Minister said that the website also has detailed information regarding the registered travel agents and agencies with the state government and with the Ministry of External Affairs.
Mumbai, Dec 29 : The Mumbai unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday demanded a probe into the circumstances leading to the sudden resignation of former bureaucrat Radheshyam Mopalwar from his current position as the Director of the War Room-Infrastructure Projects, of the Maharashtra government.

Reacting strongly to the development, AAP Mumbai President Preeti Sharma-Menon alleged that the real reasons behind Mopalwar's resignation is 'wholesale corruption' now coming to light.

"While some people are saying that he has quit to enter politics, the truth is that a lot of his corruption has surfaced but nothing is being probed. We demand that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis should probe his role in the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg scam and others," said Sharma-Menon.

She contended that on the Mumbai-Nagpur super expressway project, many contracts and benefits were passed onto Mopalwar's cronies and even to his relatives, and other wrongdoings.

"Rather than making a virtue out of necessity, the state government should investigate all the corruption by Mopalwara even the Anti-Corruption Bureau should be vigilant when a senior officer decides to quit hastily," she said.

An IAS officer of the 1995 cadre, Mopalwar retired on February 28, 2018, as the Vice-Chairman of the crucial Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

Thereafter, he continued on several extensions in the post till November 2023, and he also was appointed on contract as the Director of the War Room, overseen by the CM, which he quit on Thursday.

Speculation is rife in officialdom that Mopalwar may now start a new innings by jumping into politics, and possibly contest the 2024 Lok Sabha or Assembly elections on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket.

During his long career in MSRDC, Mopalwar worked under five Chief Ministers a" Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan (both Congress), Devendra Fadnavis (BJP), Uddhav Thackeray (Maha Vikas Aghadi) and Eknath Shinde (MahaYuti) a" and has held several high-ranking key posts in the administration.
Hyderabad, Dec 29 : Five ministers of Telangana's new Congress-led government on Friday inspected Medigadda barrage, a few of whose piers sunk recently, and alleged that their suspicions about Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project have proved to be correct.

Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, who led the team of ministers, said that though the previous BRS government claimed that it is the world's largest irrigation project, unfortunately Medigadda barrage suffered damage and the then government did nothing to restore it.

He said though the pier sank on October 21, then chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao or irrigation minister neither reviewed the damage nor made a statement.

After obtaining results from various investigations and the opinion of the expert committee, the restoration of Medigadda barrage will be taken up.

He claimed that Annaram barrage has also developed cracks and sand erosion was noticed in the third barrage Sundilla.

He mentioned that the entire project was dependent on these three projects.

The minister said their visit was aimed at placing facts before people.

He pointed out that a judicial inquiry has already been ordered into the irregularities. The ministers, who reached the barrage Jayashankar Bhupalapally by a helicopter from Hyderabad, made an aerial survey of the barrage.

They later went around the barrage and inspected the damaged part.

The group of ministers included Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.

Making a power-point presentation, irrigation department's Engineer-in-Chief C. Muralidhar said that one pier in the seventh block of Medigadda sank by 1.256 meters.

He stated that the damage is still being assessed.

Currently, coffer dam is being constructed and after completion of the work, it will be decided whether the damaged part of the barrage will have to be repaired or need reconstruction.

The experts' committee has suggested that new gates will be required.

Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled that during the Congress rule in united Andhra Pradesh, Pranahita Chevella project was designed at a cost of Rs 38,000 crore to irrigate 16.40 lakh acre.

After formation of Telangana state, the BRS government changed the project design at Medigadda and so far, Rs 95,000 crore have been spent but only a lakh acre land was irrigated.

He said the public money was spent with utter negligence and the works were undertaken with poor quality.

He also alleged that the previous government failed to get national project status for Kaleshwaram.

Alleged corruption in the Kaleshwaram project was one of the major issues in the recently held Assembly elections. Both Congress and BJP had alleged large-scale corruption in the project.

--IANS

ms/pgh
Slipper flung at Thalapathy Vijay as he pays last respects to mentor Vijaykanth. Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, Dec 29 : Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay, who recently attended the funeral of his mentor Vijaykanth, was mobbed by a rowdy crowd and mediapersons. One person even flung a slipper directed at the actor at the event.

Vijay looked hassled as he navigated through a sea of cameramen and reporters to where Vijaykanth's body was kept, surrounded by his family.

The emotional actor spoke with Vijaykanth's family and touched his glass coffin. He took a few seconds to see Vijaykanth one last time before going back to the crowd again.

The video was shared on X by a fan of Vijay, which shows the police and his security personnel trying their best to keep him guarded, as a few people in the crowd tried to touch the actor. As he tried to enter his car, a slipper was flung at him. However, his security guard caught it and threw it back to where it came from.

Fans of the superstar and people at large are upset at the mistreatment of Vijay.

One user wrote, aHeas unable to even pay homage properly. Can understand fans' love, but this is not the right time guys... The price the celebrities have to pay."

Another wrote, aOMG...#Captain fans are so aggressive...didn't know this..Why??? Any idea?"

A third user wrote, aThere is a place and time for everything... All celeb fans have to show restraint and dignity when their idols come to pay their respects."
Vadodara, Dec 29 : Two former employees of a corporate firm hatched a nefarious plot to honeytrap and blackmail their former boss in Vadodara.

The perpetrators, Manisha and Ajay (names changed), used social media to ensnare the victim, ultimately forcing him to share compromising photographs. Their elaborate scheme of revenge lasted for several months.

Manisha, who had previously quit her job due to alleged workplace humiliation, joined forces with Ajay to exact revenge on their former superior, Jai Gupta (name changed). Their strategy involved creating a fake Instagram account under a fictitious woman's name and initiating months long chat with their target. During this time, they sent sexually explicit messages and nude photos of women, with Gupta remaining unaware of their true identities.

Under the pretense of a romantic connection, the duo coerced Gupta into sharing explicit photos of himself. Once they obtained the compromising images, they abruptly ceased communication with him.

Days later, Gupta received an email containing screenshots of his explicit photographs and messages, which were also been forwarded to the HR department of his workplace and his official email account.

The identity of his tormentors remained a mystery to Gupta, who soon received another email - this time, sent to his wife - containing the same incriminating photos. The culprits went further by stalking Gupta in person, capturing photographs of him at a shopping mall, intensifying his distress over four months.

Desperate to end this ordeal, Gupta turned to the police.

Gujarat Police's cybercrime department initiated an investigation by tracing the IP address from which the compromising emails had been sent. This led to the identification of Manisha and Ajay, who were subsequently issued notices under CrPc Section 41 (A) to record their statements.

However, Gupta, the complainant, has chosen not to pursue further legal action at this time. The offence carries a penalty of imprisonment for less than seven years, although, as of now, neither of the alleged perpetrators has been arrested.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : Justice Amit Sharma of the Delhi High Court has said that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is not restricted from probing offences under the Indian Penal Code, or conducting further investigation within the bounds of the law.

The court was addressing a petition seeking annulment of SFIO's investigation report concerning Bhushan Power and Steel Limited and related activities.

The petitioners also sought to invalidate the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' sanction for SFIO's prosecution, and challenged SFIO's complaint and the trial court's summons.

Justice Sharma clarified that the SFIO is not barred from investigating IPC offences and can conduct further investigations within legal parameters.

The court noted that no prior approval from the Central government under Section 219(d) of the Companies Act, 2013 was required for the first petitioner, designated as 'Key Managerial Personnel' under Section 2(51) of the Act.

While acknowledging the absence of prior approval, the court refused to invalidate the summoning order passed by the trial court.

It observed that the investigation report, under the Companies Act, 2013, would be considered a police report, designating the submitting officer as an officer-in-charge of the police station, albeit not expressly stated in the Act.

Justice Sharma also said that if the investigating officer discovers offences under the IPC or other laws during the investigation, it wouldn't give rise to separate proceedings.

Such inquiries can be conducted under Section 4(1) of the CrPC.

The court concluded that, based on the provisions of the Companies Act and the CrPC, the SFIO is not barred from investigating offences under the IPC.
In face of brutal enemy, Japan's support for Ukraine is unwavering - Japanese Embassy after massive attack by Russia

Japan strongly condemns Russia's massive air attack on Ukrainian cities, the Japanese Embassy said.

"As a result of the attack, dozens of people were killed and injured, residential buildings, a maternity hospital, a shopping center, a service station, and a subway were damaged. In the face of a brutal enemy, Japan's support for Ukraine is unwavering," the Embassy said on X (Twitter).
Jaipur: A combo photo of newly sworn-in CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy CMs Diya Kumari, and Prem Chand Bairwa during the Swearing-In Ceremony. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Dec 29 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday will expand his Cabinet with Governor Kalraj Mishra administering the oath to the new ministers.

CM Sharma took the oath of office and secrecy on December 15.

The cabinet expansion is scheduled to happen 15 days after he was sworn-in as chief minister.

According to sources and speculation making the rounds, the first-term as well as second-time MLAs stand a good chance of being inducted into the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Cabinet.

Besides, senior leaders are also likely to get a place.

Some senior MLAs who are among probable candidates include Kirori Lal Meena, one of the most prominent leaders of the eastern region of Rajasthan.

Hindutva face and Tijara MLA Baba Balaknath is also expected to be a part of the Cabinet.

Among the women leaders, all eyes were on Anita Bhadel, Deepti Maheshwari and first-time MLA Nauksham Chaudhary.

Jitendra Gothwal and senior MLA Madan Dilawar from the Dalit community could also be made ministers.

Senior MLAs of the Rajput community like Pushpendra Singh Ranaut and Siddhi Kumari are hopeful of becoming ministers.

Meanwhile, the Brahmin community leaders are also hopeful of getting a seat or two in the Cabinet. According to sources, names of MLAs like Sanjay Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Jethanand Vyas among others are making the rounds.

An analyst said that in the new Cabinet, most of the attention is likely to be given to representation to the Jat community.

CM Sharma took the oath of office and secrecy on December 15.

Along with him, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa were sworn in as Deputy CMs.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President JP Nadda and chief ministers of many BJP-ruled states.

After taking the oath, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma had said: "We will leave no stone unturned to make Rajasthan the best, prosperous and self-reliant state."
Patna, Dec 29 : After Lalan Singh resigned from the post of JD-U national President on Friday, Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilash (LJPR) chief Chirag Paswan took a dig at him, saying the 'conspirator has himself become a victim of conspiracy'.

"A man who was breaking the house of others has become a victim of conspiracy. His previous acts have returned to him. I understand your pain Lalan Babu. Today, you have become a victim of Nitish Kumar's ambition," Paswan said.

"Nitish Kumar had removed many leaders from the post of national President of JD-U in the past," Paswan added, hinting at leaders like George Fernandez, Sharad Yadav and R.C.P. Singh, who were removed in the same way as Lalan Singh in the past.

"Nitish Kumar can't see anyone flourish in the party other than himself. He feels uneasy when any other leader becomes popular in the party. The internal disputes have increased so much in JD-U that they will soon finish the party. The situation in JD-U will reach such a stage that no one will take the name of the party," Paswan said.

Paswan also held Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh responsible for the split in Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in Bihar post the Assembly elections in 2020.
Washington, Dec 29 : Former US President Donald Trump was struck off the primary ballot by another state Maine after Colorado thus pitching the 2024 election into "deeper chaos and a constitutional confusion" over "insurrectionist charges", reports said.

According to reports citing political analysts, just when Trump heaved a sigh of relief as Michigan court declined to be drawn into a constitutional battle and kept him on the states ballot, the Maine ruling comes as an "absolute rude shock" to the ex-President's campaign.

Risks of US electoral chaos deepen after Trump is barred from another state ballot, the headlines screamed in many newspapers across the US on Friday morning.

The state of Maine pitched the 2024 election into deeper chaos and constitutional confusion on Thursday by becoming the second state to throw Donald Trump off the ballot over the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riots.

Colorado courts had ruled Trump was unfit to be on the ballot for president for his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 incident that threatened to halt the announcement of the 2020 verdict electing Joe Biden as President.

The Colorado Supreme Court invoked the 14th amendment, introduced after the 1860 civil war, that no one involved in insurrection against the state could hold a future public office.

But the Michigan courts did not allow a similar suit to be filed preventing an even pre-trial hearing saying this was a matter not for the courts but the electorate to decide. But Maine has ignored the Michigan courts and literally upheld the Colorado verdict.

The move from the Maine secretary of state a" following a similar decision from the Colorado Supreme Court earlier this month -- worsened a growing crisis for Trump's campaign and strengthened the rationale for the US Supreme Court to take up the issue, arising from the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban".

According to political analysts, Maine's decision has deepened an unprecedented legal and political imbroglio surrounding the 2024 campaign, all stemming from Trump's refusal to accept defeat to US President Joe Biden challenging US transfer of power.
Patna, December 29 : A teenage girl in Bihar's Purnea was murdered and her body hung from a tree on Friday, police said.

Police suspects that the victim, whose body bore several stab wounds, was brutally gang-raped before being killed.

The incident occurred at Haripur village under Aamaur police station in the district.

The victim was sleeping with her mother on Thursday night but when the family members woke up on Friday morning, they found her missing.

When they searched the area, they found her dead body hanging from the tree and called the police.

"We have recovered the dead body and sent it for the post-mortem examination. An FIR has been registered against unknown persons and investigation is underway," said an officer of Aamaur police station.
(ELECTION CARNIVAL) Beyond Haley: Indian-Americans get active on both side of US divide. Image Source: IANS News

Washington, Dec 29 : Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was let off the hook for her comments on the American civil war sans slavery by the voters in New Hampshire where she has built up a strong lead in her attempts to close the ranks with the Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, who has been slammed with a ruling from Maine that keeps him off the state ballot, the second state after Colorado.

Voters did not care much about her comments on the American civil war, but gave her a rousing reception at New Conway in New Hampshire, almost digging into her now famous tagline on the 2024 campaign trail - "It's not what I say, it's what I've done", media reports said.

As it came to her comments about the Civil War minus slavery, which was the main driver that divided the union, that's exactly how some crucial first-in-the-nation primary voters in New Hampshire felt.

Haley faced backlash from Republican and Democratic opponents over her response to a town hall question on Wednesday night about the cause of the Civil War, in which she failed to mention slavery.

Town hall attendees told the USA TODAY at a Haley event in North Conway on Thursday that the critical response was a minor blip in her campaign. And the voters across the aisles said that it wasn't likely to impact their support for her.

Haley on Wednesday described the cause of the Civil War as government control, "freedoms and what people could and couldn't do".

Scott Blundo, a 55-year-old undeclared voter from Moultonborough, argued that while the comments were "a little short-sighted", he was paying closer attention to Haley's actions.

In particular, he pointed to her tenure as South Carolina Governor, when she removed a Confederate flag from the grounds of the statehouse following a shooting in Charleston that left nine Black Americans dead, as reason for his trust that she understands the gravity of the role race has played in America's story, USA TODAY reported.

"I believe in her enough as a person. I don't think a one-off comment should sway anyone in a particular way," Blundo, a US veteran, said, adding, "And I believe in her politics, which is the present day."

Bill Lloyd (80), a registered Republican, similarly pointed to her experience in South Carolina and broadly described her comments as similar to gaffes other politicians, like President Joe Biden, have made. Even some Democrats agreed.

"She's going to make gaffes. They all do," Becky DeWitt, said a 72-year-old Democrat, who plans to vote for Haley if she makes it to the general elections.

"There are just some things she needs to learn."

The response from New Hampshire voters, and particularly independents like Blundo, comes as Haley looks to topple Trump in the presidential primary.

Haley is betting heavily on a coalition of hesitant Trump voters, never-Trump voters and independents like Blundo in the Granite state to help her close the gap with the former President and potentially catapult her to success in other contests.

With less than five weeks to go until the primary, Haley can't afford to lose any support, reports pointed out.

One of the major factors that's likely to determine whether Haley's comments about the Civil War will mark an inflection point for her campaign is her response, veteran GOP strategist Mike Dennehy said.

"It started as a fairly serious misstep, but if she isn't clear about her position on slavery in the Confederate flag and the Civil War, it will keep coming up and could present a serious challenge," he said.

In a statement posted on X, NAACP said Haley's comments "perpetuate a dangerous narrative".

"To diminish the role of slavery in the Civil War is not only historically inaccurate, but also fails to acknowledge the ongoing impact of systemic racism and white supremacy as a result of it," the tweet said.

New Hampshire is the third extreme white state in the US, after its neighbours Maine and Vermont. A mere 2 per cent of the state's population is Black or African American, according to the 2020 US Census.

Haley attempted to walk back her comments during the North Conway event on Thursday.

"Of course, the Civil War was about slavery," she told the predominantly older white crowd packed into a high school library.

"But the lessons of the bigger issue with the Civil War is that let's not forget what came out of that which is the government's role, individual liberties, freedom for every single person."

For some voters in the crowd, her added response made a difference.

"I'm glad she at least addressed it," Brian Patry said, adding, "I don't think she should have left slavery out of it the first time. It should definitely be brought up, but I see where she was going."
Tel Aviv, Dec 29 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday said that it has unearthed a large cache of arms including Kalashnikov rifles, grenades, mines, rocket launchers and rocket-propelled grenades from Khirbat Ikhzaa region near Khan Younis in Gaza.

An IDF statement noted: "Soldiers are working alongside IDF engineering battalions and have eliminated Hamas terrorists and attacked several significant terror targets, including tunnel entrances, tunnel shafts, and rocket launch positions."

The Israeli army earlier said on Friday that dozens of tunnel shafts were discovered, adding the engineering battalions destroyed them.

Khirbat Ikhzaa was the base of many of the terrorists who were a part of the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

The IDF has named the operation as "Operation Oz and Nir" after Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel which suffered at the hands of Hamas terrorists.
Kolkata, Dec 29 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested two persons from Kolkata in connection with alleged gaming app scam in adjacent Jharkhand.

The two persons, according to sources, were arrested from a posh housing complex at New Town in north Kolkata and have been identified as Santosh Yadav and Sagar Yadav.

Lakhs of rupees of unaccounted cash were seized from their possession, sources said.

The development came a day after the ED recovered Rs 2 crore from a closed rented accommodation at Kestopur, also in northern Kolkata on Thursday. Robin Yadav, who had rented the accommodation, is absconding.

Sources said that ED started a investigation relating to a multi- crore gaming app scam involving mainly Jharkhand and to an extent, Bihar. In course of investigation the central agency sleuths also traced the links of the masterminds and operators in Kolkata. The two arrests on Friday and the seizure of huge cash on Thursday were in relation to that scam only.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : Minors in North-East Delhi are increasingly drawn towards a perilous path of machismo or gangsterism, leading to a surge in criminal activities in the area.

The recent tragic incident in the Welcome area of northeast Delhi, where an 18-year-old man fell victim to a minor boy's violence, has brought focus on a concerning pattern, where the misguided pursuit of a "sense of pride" is pushing these young individuals towards criminal behaviour, resulting in them landing behind bars.

This alarming development is not isolated, as the city witnesses periodic crime waves perpetrated 'not' by seasoned criminals but by minors.

Just a few months ago, the community was rattled by the killing of 36-year-old Harpreet Gill, a senior Manager at Amazon. In a shocking act of sudden rage,18-year-old gangster Mohd Sameer, also known as Maya, took the life of Gill and inflicted a gunshot injury on his uncle, Govind Singh.

This brutal incident was not rooted in personal enmity but rather in the juvenile's desire to assert dominance in the area.

Both incidents have occurred in the northeast district of Delhi, a communally sensitive area that has unfortunately become more susceptible to such criminal activities.

As police grapple with these challenges, the community is left grappling with the consequences of crimes committed by young individuals who should be on a path of growth and education, rather than one leading to incarceration and tragedy.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Northeast, Joy Tirkey highlighted an increasing involvement of juveniles, termed as "Child in Conflict with the Law," in the area.

Expressing concern, Tirkey outlined multifaceted intervention strategies. "We are working on building community bonds and fostering connections between different communities. Additionally, efforts are underway to disrupt the drug supply chain, preventing its reach to the youth in our district," said Tirkey.

Situated on the border, the district faces challenges of illegal weapons infiltration. To prevent youngsters from falling into the clutches of criminals, Tirkey said that the constant vigilance, monitoring social media activities, and the establishment of police-public libraries for productive engagement.

The district features six major border pickets and eight minor motorable roads, subject to round-the-clock monitoring. "We conduct surprise checks at vulnerable hours, especially in the evening.

"We meticulously investigate drug and weapon recoveries, probing connections both within Delhi and across states like UP, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Physical and technical surveillance on criminals is maintained to curb drug peddling and illegal arms possession in the Northeast district," said the DCP.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet in court against a former Superintending Engineer of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Assam's Duliajan and his wife for allegedly possessing assets that were deemed disproportionate to his known sources of income, an official said on Friday.

According to the CBI officials, a case was registered on October 20, 2021, against the then Superintending Engineer (Civil) on the allegations of possessing properties "to the tune of over Rs 1.17 crore (amount of disproportion was 38 per cent) earned during the period April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2019".

An official said that after a thorough investigation, a charge sheet was filed against the accused.

"The above findings are based on the investigation done by CBI and evidence collected by it," the official added.
Mumbai, Dec 29 : The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Friday announced the launch of "UPI for Secondary Market" from January 1 in its Beta phase for the equity cash segment.

The launch of 'UPI for Secondary Market' is set to commence next week, with the collaborative support of key stakeholders including clearing corporations, stock exchanges, depositories, stockbrokers, banks, and UPI app providers.

Initially, this functionality will be available for limited set of pilot customers, the NPCI said in a statement.

During this pilot, investors can block funds in their bank accounts, which will only be debited by the Clearing Corporations upon trade confirmation during settlement.

Clearing Corporations will directly process payouts to these clients on a T+1 basis, according to the NPCI.

This Beta launch is facilitated by Groww as the brokerage app, alongside BHIM, Groww, and YES PAY NEXT as UPI apps.

Initially, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank customers will be able to avail this facility.

Further, HDFC Bank, HSBC, ICICI Bank, and Yes Bank are acting as sponsor banks for the clearing corporation and exchanges, said the NPCI.

Other stakeholders, including stockbrokers such as Zerodha, Customeras banks like Axis Bank and Yes Bank, and UPI-enabled apps like Paytm and PhonePe are in the certification stage and set to participate in Beta launch soon.
Three people were killed as a result of a missile strike carried out by Russian occupiers on residential buildings in Odesa, said Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa Regional Military Administration.

"As a result of the attack in Odesa, a three-storey house was also hit. Rescuers have just recovered a human body from the rubble. The number of victims as a result of the Russian missile attack has increased to three. Search operations are continuing," Kiper wrote on Telegram.

According to him, employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine rescued 23 people from a 17-storey apartment building damaged by a blow.

"The lyceum was also damaged in the city as a result of the shelling. Fortunately, there were no children in the educational institution, they were on vacation, and all the workers were in the shelter during the air raid siren, so there were no wounded," Kiper said.

Earlier, he reported two dead and 15 injured as a result of a missile strike. "The enemy got into the houses of civilians. As a result of the attack, two residents of Odesa were killed. Fifteen people were injured, including two children aged 6 and 8. All the victims are now receiving assistance in medical institutions of the city. Two wounded are in serious condition," Kiper wrote.
Amaravati, Dec 29 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said that a leader like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is not at all fit for politics and he has come to power only to loot the state, not to serve the people.

On the second day of visit to his home constituency, Kuppam, Naidu addressed a massive public meeting.

The former Chief Minister alleged that the Land Title Act was brought in only to illegally occupy the lands.

Expressing confidence that he will win from Kuppam in the coming elections with a majority of one lakh votes, he said that whenever elections are held, the TDP is always confident of victory from two Assembly segments - Hindupur, which was once represented by the TDP founder late N.T. Rama Rao and Kuppam which is represented by him.

Maintaining that he always worked hard as the elder son of the voters for the progress of Kuppam, Naidu fondly recalled that the voters helped him win the seat for seven times.

"The support from the people here is such that they felt that there is no need for my personal visit here to even file my nomination," he said.

Terming Kuppam as a laboratory for the entire Telugu community, he recalled that the first Israeli irrigation technology was introduced here.

Recalling how he has developed Kuppam in all aspects, Naidu said that this government is so inefficient that even 13 per cent of the remaining works of the Handri-Neeva project are not completed in five years.

Asking Jagan as to why he is neglecting Kuppam, he claimed that the local Minister is more interested in looting the granite reserves in the area than on the welfare of the people here.

"The ruling YSRCP leaders always think how to rob the people but not to do something good for the state," he said and vowed to recover the money looted by YSRCP leaders.

He said that several local leaders of the ruling dispensation have illegally occupied lands and expressed serious concern that rowdyism and land grabbing are on an alarming rise in Kuppam in the past five years.

The TDP supremo informed the people about all the developmental works that he had undertaken as the Chief Minister and assured the people of implementing all the promises that he has made to them.

Immediately after the TDP-Jana Sena forms the coming government all their demands like laying of roads and providing jobs to the youth will be met, he said.

"Immediately after coming back to power I will provide 20 lakh jobs to the youth and also an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month will be given to the jobless till they get employment," he said.

Promising to strengthen the marketing system to encourage exports, Naidu also assured the local people that an airport will be built.

--IANS

ms/vd
New Delhi, Dec 29 : Delhi Police have arrested five key members, including the kingpin, of an illegal inter-state and ammunition supply cartel and recovered six illicit single-shot pistols and 200 bullets of .315 bore, which were meant to be supplied to the members of Hashim Baba gang, an official said on Friday.

An official said that the accused would procure the illicit arms from Munger in Bihar, and ammunition from Etah in Uttar Pradesh, and further supply the same to the members of the Hashim Baba gang in Delhi-NCR.

The arrested individuals were identified as Kapil Dev Yadav (43), Akhilesh Kumar (36), Lurak Kumar (29), Raghuvir Singh (45), and Manoj Kumar (34).

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pratiksha Godara said that an input about the presence of a key member of the syndicate at Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal was received.

Consequently, a trap near Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal, and one important member of the arms syndicate, Lurak was apprehended on December 16 along with six illicit country-made pistols and 200 live cartridges.

"On the instance of Kumar, the other key members of this syndicate, including the kingpin Kapil, were arrested from different parts of the country," said the DCP.

During questioning, it was revealed that Kapil and Akhilesh have been involved in the trafficking of illicit arms and ammunition for over 18 months.

"Kapil would provide labourers from Khagaria in Bihar at different cold storages situated in Etah and Shikohabad areas of Uttar Pradesh, whereas, Akhilesh would work as a labourer at a cold storage facility," said the DCP.

"One Devji, who earlier worked as a labourer with Akhilesh, met them and told them that he purchased country-made pistols from Rabbani, a resident of Munger in Bihar and sell them on a good margin but was unable to arrange live cartridges for the firearms. Devji asked them to arrange. 315 bore cartridges from Etah, Uttar Pradesh, as it was quite a profitable job," said the DCP.

Kapil asked his associate Manoj for arranging live cartridges of .315 bore, who in turn asked his known person Raghuvir, who previously worked at a gun house in Etah.
Bengaluru, Dec 29 : A nine-year-old girl who went out of her Bengaluru flat to play was found dead in the swimming pool located in the premises, police said.

The incident took place on December 28 at the apartment complex in Varthur.

The deceased, identified as Manya, had left home, telling her parents that she was going out to play.

The incident had occurred at 8 p.m. and though the girl, found lying in the pool, was immediately rushed to the hospital, doctors declared her dead.

Her father Rakesh alleged that his daughter had died due to electrocution as she came in contact with a live wire near the pool.

The people, who observed this, tried to bring a wooden staff to help her, but she had died by that time.

Parents and residents of the apartment have demanded action over the negligence and also staged a flash protest, over no action being initiated in this regard so far.

The manager of the apartment has disappeared after the incident.

Varthur police are investigating the case. Exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, police said.
Kolkata, Dec 29 : Senior West Bengal Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member Pradip Bhattacharya has written to Rahul Gandhi, urging him to include Kolkata in the proposed route for the Bharat Nyay Yatra that will commence from Imphal on January 14 and conclude in Mumbai after covering 85 districts in 14 states.

In his letter, Bhattacharya has requested Rahul Gandhi to explore the possibilities so that besides Kolkata, the rally can also pass through districts like Birbhum, East Burdwan, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Nadia, among others.

Bhattacharya said the rally passing through Kolkata and other districts is crucial to boost the morale of the grassroots-level party workers.

The letter from the senior Congress leader came just a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ruled out the possibility of any kind of understanding with other political parties in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"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 had said.

Political observers feel that that the letter from Bhattacharya to Rahul Gandhi is also an indirect indication to the party high command that if the state leadership gets support from the central leadership, Congress can put up a good show in Bengal without depending on any kind of alliance with the state's ruling party.

In fact, state Congress President and veteran Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Friday that while the decision on alliance rests with the party high command, personally it does not matter to him whether there is any alliance.

"Even in 2019, I contested on my own and got elected by defeating both the BJP and Trinamool candidates," Chowdhury said.

Both Chowdhury and Bhattacharya are against any kind of alliance with the Trinamool in West Bengal.
Patna, Dec 29 : The resignation of JD-U President Lalan Singh on Friday is being attributed in some circles as the price of his alleged but abortive conspiracy to dethrone Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

According to sources, Lalan Singh was allegedly planning to break the JD-U to make Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav the Chief Minister and a secret meeting of 15 MLAs was held in a cabinet minister's office on December 20.

However, the plan of Lalan Singh was foiled as one of the MLAs who participated in the secret meeting informed Nitish Kumar about it.

Nitish Kumar had gone to New Delhi for the meeting of the INDIA bloc on December 19 and he stayed on there on December 20.

During his meeting, Lalan Singh reportedly told the MLAs that if they support Tejashwi Yadav in the formation of a government in Bihar, they would get ministerial berths.

When MLAs have said that their membership would be cancelled as a two-third majority, or 31 MLAs, are required to split the party, Lalan Singh is said to have told them that Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary belongs to the RJD and would give recognition of the group.

He is also alleged that as he is holding the post of national President of the party, he will not go to the Election Commission with a complaint against them and hence, the anti-defection law would not be implemented against them.

However, the alleged conspiracy was foiled as Nitish Kumar learnt about it and individually asked those 15 MLAs about their stand. He is also said that have contacted the cabinet minister whose office was used for the meeting and obtained confirmation.

Following this, he decided to remove Lalan Singh from the post and took all the power in his own hands including taking all decisions on behalf of the party, selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections and holding dialogues with alliance partners in the interest of the party.

Despite this theory emerging in political circles of Bihar, senior JD-U senior leader and state Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said that Lalan Singh wants to campaign in his own Lok Sabha constituency and hence he has given the resignation from the post of national P:resident. He also said that Lalan Singh himself proposed the name of Nitish Kumar for the post of national President.
Cuttack, Dec 29 : Gujarat Giants registered a massive 41-24 win over Telugu Yoddhas in the ongoing Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK) Season 2, while Chennai Quick Guns defeated Rajasthan Warriors 31-27 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Friday.

Sanket Kadam proved to be the star of the match for the winning side as he notched up 12 points including 2 skydives and 2 pole dives. Rajvardhan Patil, Suyash Gargate and Abhinandan Patil also contributed to Gujarat's victory by staying on the mat for more than 6 minutes to earn crucial dream run bonus points.

Meanwhile, Ramji Kashyap of Chennai Quick Guns won the award for the best attacker in the league so far and the award for best defender went to Aditya Ganpule of Telugu Yoddhas. Odisha Juggernauts' Deepak Sahoo was named the player with the best pole dive, while Rahul Mandal of Telugu Yoddhas clinched the award for the best skydive in the ongoing season.

Mumbai Khiladis' Rokeson Singh took the award for best dodge in the Ultimat Kho Kho Season 2 so far.

The first turn saw an exciting contest between both teams as Telugu Yoddhas claimed 14 points, while Gujarat Giants earned two dream run bonus points as well. Gujarat came on top in the following turn and took 16 points.

Gujarat Giants further strengthened their grip on the match during the third turn when they earned 3 dream run bonus points and allowed Telugu Yoddhas to get only 10 points in attack. They easily reached the target in the last turn and attained a total of 20 points to win the match by a heavy margin.

Earlier, Ramji Kashyap scored 8 points during the attack to take his points tally to a total of 30 points in the league. He stayed on the mat for more than a minute as well to contribute to Chennai's dream run bonus points, while Sachin Bhargo claimed six points in attack.

Attacking first, Rajasthan Warriors went off to a slow start in the first turn and gave away three dream run bonus points to Chennai Quick Guns. The team also only managed to grab 10 points with captain Majahar Jamadar notching up four points.

However, Rajasthan made a remarkable comeback in the second turn as they displayed an extraordinary defensive game to earn three dream run bonus points and allowed Chennai Quick Guns to win only 10 points.

The second inning saw fine performances by the attackers and Rajasthan Warriors took a 14-point lead going into the final turn where Chennai proved to be a better team.

They won 18 points during the fourth turn to clinch the match.

Mumbai Khiladis will clash with Chennai Quick Guns on Saturday while defending champions Odisha Juggernauts will play against Gujarat Giants.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : In a road rage case in South Delhi, a cab driver was stabbed to death by three minors, the police said on Friday, adding that they have nabbed all the accused.

The deceased, identified as Manoj Kumar, a resident of Sangam Vihar, was working as a cab driver with a Gurugram BPO.

"On Thursday evening, Kumar picked up five employees of the BPO from Malviya Nagar and one from Mehrauli. The cab then got stuck in a jam as the streets in the Mehrauli are narrow," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Chandan Chowdhary.

During this time, three boys on a Scooty came from behind and asked the cab driver to give them space, but Kumar couldn't as there was no space.

"Soon an altercation broke out following which one of the Scooty riders attacked the cab driver with a sharp-edged weapon before fleeing from the spot. Kumar was taken to Safdarjung Hospital where he was declared brought dead," the DCP said.

During probe, CCTV footage from the area were checked and all the three accused were identified.

"We have apprehended the three minors. The weapon used in the crime has also been seized," the officer added.
Islamabad, Dec 29 : Pakistan on Friday said that it has received a request from India to extradite Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) but said it may not take any action on it in the absence of an agreement in this regard.

"Pakistan has received a request from the Indian authorities, seeking extradition of Hafiz Saeed in a so-called money laundering case," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement, Geo News reported.

However, there might be no plans to follow up on India's request, as "no bilateral extradition treaty exists between Pakistan and India", she added.

India blames Saeed for being involved in attacks across the borders, however, the chief of the banned outfit has denied all claims.

A Pakistani court had sentenced Saeed, founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the armed group blamed by the US and India for the 26/12 Mumbai attack, to 31 years in prison in two cases of terrorism financing.
Bengluru, Dec 30 : A team of Karnataka Police on Friday arrested a cleric in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa for allegedly raping a woman after promising to marry her and provide a job, an official said.

The accused has been identified as Ghulam Jilani Azahiri.

The victim had filed a complaint at the Old Hubballi police station in Karnataka's Hubballi city.

The cleric is said to be a "well-known" one, and he is currently being brought to Hubballi from Khandwa, the police said.

A case in this connection was earlier registered against eight individuals, including the cleric.

As per the complaint, the young woman from Hubballi was taken to Madhya Pradesh by the accused with a promise of providing a teaching job.

The accused then drugged and raped her.

The complainant further stated that after promising to marry her, the accused sexually exploited her for two years.

The cleric also made the woman undergo abortion four times after she became pregnant.

Later, he took her back to Hubballi. He then told the woman that he did not wish to be in a relationship with her anymore.

He also threatened her, saying he wouldn't spare her or her family members if the matter was disclosed.

The accused cleric was acquainted with the victim's father, and he promised him to arrange a better job for his daughter in Madhya Pradesh.

The woman told the police that the accused claimed that he had divorced his first wife and then raped her with a false promise of marriage.
Day of Hamas attack will be remembered as the day its complete destruction began: Israeli Defence Minister (IANS FROM ISRAEL). Image Source: IANS News

Tel Aviv, Dec 29 : Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant met soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday at the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel.

He lashed out at former Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who had in an Op-ed article claimed of Israel striking Iran when he was the country's Prime Minister.

Gallant said that the news article by Bennett was "needless chatter".

Interacting with Israeli soldiers, the Defence Minister added that the Israel Air Force's operations in the ongoing war in Gaza was highly impressive.

Speaking to Israeli forces, Gallant said, "The thunder of our fighter jets will deafen the needless chatter."

Bennett had in an Op-ed piece in Wall Street Journal said that Israel had made Tehran pay for its decision to sponsor terror.

The former Israeli Prime Minister in his article said that Iran had launched two failed UAV attacks on Israel in February 2022 and that Israel had destroyed a UAV base in Iran.

The article also added that a terror unit of Iran had attempted to kill Israeli tourists in Turkey but failed in March 2022.

Bennett said that a few days after this attempt by Iran, the commander of that unit was assassinated in the centre of Tehran, which had not gone down well with Gallant, who said that it was needless chatter.

Speaking to Israeli soldiers, Gallant said that the war would continue until targets were met and added that the war is at the Khan Yunis area in southern Gaza Strip.

--IANS

aal/khz
Four people were killed as a result of a Russian missile attack on Zaporizhia on Friday morning, said head of Zaporizhia Regional Military administration, Yuriy Malashko.

"It is already known about four dead. Sincere condolences to the family and friends ... We will never forgive!" Malashko wrote on Telegram.

Earlier, Secretary of Zaporizhia City Council, Anatoliy Kurtev, reported two dead women as a result of the Russian missile attack on Zaporizhia on Friday morning, and ten injured. According to him, one of the local enterprises was damaged by shelling, a private house was destroyed and windows were broken in 19 multi-storey residential buildings, two educational institutions and a medical institution. In addition, about 20 garages, a gas station and a hotel building were damaged.
New Delhi, Dec 29 : Highlighting the role of unmanned aircraft in future warfare, the Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane has encouraged the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to collaborate with other private companies to develop new platforms, the Ministry of Defence said.

He inspected the manufacturing range of various engines and test beds and also paid a visit to HAL's Aerospace Division.

Aramane inaugurated a new design and test facility at the Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) of HAL on December 29.

According to Ministry of Defence, the AERDC is currently involved in the design and development of several new engines, including two strategic engines -- Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE) of 25 kN thrust for powering trainers, UAV's, twin engine small fighter aircraft or regional jets and Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE) of 1200 kN thrust for powering light and medium weight helicopters (3.5 to 6.5 tonne in single/ twin engine configuration).

The Ministry of Defence said that the new state-of-the-art facility, spanning over 10,000 square metre, houses special machines, advanced set-ups leveraging on computational tools, in-house fabrication facility and two test beds for testing HTFE-25 and one test bed each for testing HTSE-1200 and upcoming JV engine for IMRH to be co-developed by Safran, France and HAL.

In addition, the newly developed facility has set-ups for testing Air producer of Jaguar, Gas Turbine Starter Unit (GTSU) - 110 M2 and 127E of Light Combat Aircraft, Auxiliary Power Units of Indian Multi-Role Helicopter and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, Gas Turbine Electrical Generator (GTEG)-60 for An-32 aircraft.

Set-ups to carry out various critical tests for engine components and Line Replacement Units (LRUs) have also been established within the new facility, an official added.

The Defence Secretary said, "the government trusts the capability of the Defence PSU to deliver and make the country self-reliant. Manufacturing sector is the future of the country and in the coming decades, the HAL should focus on mastering technologies for all types of aircraft. Think ahead as the entire paradigm of warfare is changing."

C.B. Ananthakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge) of HAL, said, "The development of this facility marks a key milestone in HAL's growth trajectory. It is a testimony of our commitment towards achieving 'Aatmanirbharta' in aero-engine design and development."

The Centre, established in the 1960s, holds the unique distinction of being the only design house that has developed test beds for engines of both Western and Russian origin.

The Centre has successfully developed and certified PTAE-7 engine, the first indigenous turbojet engine of India powering Lakshya (unmanned aircraft), Gas Turbine Electrical Generator GTEG-60 for starting An-32 aircraft, Air starter ATS 37 and Air producer for starting Adour-Mk 804E/811 on Jaguar Aircraft and Shakti engine for powering ALH to support Ad804/811 engine of Jaguar aircraft, the official added.
New Delhi, Dec 30 : Three youths have been arrested for stabbing a 20-year-old to death out of jealousy over his speaking to a girl, a Delhi Police official said on Friday.

The trio have been identified as Arman Khan, 18, Faisal Khan, 21, and Sameer alias Baloo, 19, all residents of Gokalpuri.

According to police, on Wednesday at 9 p.m., a police control room call was received regarding stabbing to death of a man near Lakhan Chowk at Gokulpuri police station and a police team reached the spot.

"A blood-stained knife was found at the spot near the dead body," said a senior police official.

The deceased was identified as Mahir a.k.a Imran, a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad. During the probe of the incident, it emerged that a 21-year-old woman was a common friend of accused Arman and the deceased.

"She had befriended both boys on Instagram. One day when Mahir reached the girl's house, he found her speaking with Arman on a video call. Out of jealousy, Mahir abused Arman," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Northeast, Joy Tirkey said.

Arman had taken the girl's phone with him to stop her from speaking with Mahir. "On that day, Arman had called Mahir on the pretext of giving the girl's phone back to him. When he arrived, Arman, Faisal and Sameer stabbed him to death," said the DCP.

--IANS

ssh/vd
Bengaluru, Dec 30 : Union Minister for Coal, Mine and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Friday criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government over the arrest of Kannada activists in connection with the vandalism and tearing down of English signboards.

"The Congress government that vouches for withdrawal of cases related to DJ Halli and KG Halli communal violence has sent Kannada activists to jail. This action of the government is not tenable," he told reporters.

"The Kannada activists' protest is rightful. The state government had clamped all sections on Kannada activists so that they never dare to stage a protest. The rioters in KG Halli violence were all set to kill policemen. The charge sheet mentions this. The state government should set aside its dual agenda and release Kannada activists," he added.

At least 53 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the violence and vandalism during a protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday (December 27) that saw the removal and tearing down of English signboards from commercial outlets with a demand to give prominence to the Kannada language.

Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that he felt "pained" following the arrest of 'Kannada Rakshana Vedike' chief T.A. Narayana Gowda and others.

Bommai said that when he was the chief minister, he had ordered the withdrawal of over 2,000 cases filed against Kannada activists.

"The current situation is because of not having any strict rule on Kannada on the signboards. Our (previous) government brought a bill for the implementation of Kannada. It is a matter of sadness that they need to invoke law for the mandatory implementation of Kannada in Karnataka even after 75 years of Independence.

"The Kannada activists are holding a stir over the non-implementation of the rule... and the agitations were not held where Kannada language is displayed on signboards. Protests are happening in places where the rules were not brought into force," he said.
New Delhi, Dec 30 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested four more accused involved in illegal infiltration into India via Tripura, an official said.

The official said that the arrests were made in a joint operation with the Tripura Police, as part of the human trafficking case registered by NIA in Guwahati in October, and the arrested accused will be brought to Guwahati after obtaining orders from the court at Agartala for their production before the NIA special court.

The NIA had, on November 8, arrested 29 key operatives following nationwide raids on human trafficking syndicates involved in the case.

As per NIA investigations, the accused arrested on Friday were located close to the Indo-Bangladesh international border and were linked with the 29 persons arrested earlier.

"They had been carrying out human trafficking activities at the behest of racketeers belonging to well-organised syndicates active in several districts of Tripura. The network of syndicates was further connected to operatives based in other parts of India," said a senior NIA official.

Investigations have further revealed that the four arrested accused were coordinating with traffickers operating from across the international border to facilitate illegal infiltration of persons of Bangladeshi origin into India.

"The NIA had received information about individuals of foreign origin being trafficked illegally with the intention of settling them in various parts of India. The human trafficking syndicates were found to have linkages with other facilitators and traffickers operating in various parts of the country and across the border," said the official.

"The linkages were identified as part of a larger network engaged in human trafficking activities via the Indo-Bangladesh border. The accused were also arranging forged Indian identity documents for the individuals trafficked from across the border into India," he added, citing the investigation.
Day of Hamas attack will be remembered as the day its complete destruction began: Israeli Defence Minister (IANS FROM ISRAEL). Image Source: IANS News

Tel Aviv, Dec 30 : Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant met soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday at the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel.

He lashed out at former Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who had in an Op-ed article claimed of Israel striking Iran when he was the country's Prime Minister.

Gallant said that the news article by Bennett was "needless chatter".

Interacting with Israeli soldiers, the Defence Minister added that the Israel Air Force's operations in the ongoing war in Gaza was highly impressive.

Speaking to Israeli forces, Gallant said, "The thunder of our fighter jets will deafen the needless chatter."

Bennett had in an Op-ed piece in Wall Street Journal said that Israel had made Tehran pay for its decision to sponsor terror.

The former Israeli Prime Minister in his article said that Iran had launched two failed UAV attacks on Israel in February 2022 and that Israel had destroyed a UAV base in Iran.

The article also added that a terror unit of Iran had attempted to kill Israeli tourists in Turkey but failed in March 2022.

Bennett said that a few days after this attempt by Iran, the commander of that unit was assassinated in the centre of Tehran, which had not gone down well with Gallant, who said that it was needless chatter.

Speaking to Israeli soldiers, Gallant said that the war would continue until targets were met and added that the war is at the Khan Yunis area in southern Gaza Strip.
Abbaye Airport, Boghe, Mauritania [ BGH / GQNE ]

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Boghe Airport IATA Code: BGH Boghe Airport ICAO Code: GQNE Latitude : 16.6333 Longitude : -14.2 City : Boghe Country : Mauritania World Area Code : 545 Airport Type : Small Boghe Airport Address / Contact Details :

Abbaye Airport (BGH), Mauritania Timezone : Africa/Nouakchott Abbaye Airport Timezone : GMT +00:00 hours Current time and date at Abbaye Airport is 14:31:56 PM (GMT) on Thursday, Jan 11, 2024

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Abbaye Airport Map - Location of Abbaye Airport Load Map Mauritania - General Information Country Formal Name Islamic Republic of Mauritania Country Code MR Capital Nouakchott Tel Code +222 Top Level Domain .mr

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BGH - Abbaye Airport IATA Code and GQNE - Abbaye Airport ICAO code
Alstom is to supply two Coradia Stream H hydrogen trains to Ferrovie del Sud Est, transport operator of Italy's Puglia region.

These will be the first hydrogen trains to operate in the region, and will replace the current diesel trains.

Alstom will also supply two Coradia Stream H trains to Ferrovie Nord Milano in addition to the six trains it has already ordered. Its contract with Alstom allows Ferrovie Nord Milana to acquire a total of fourteen trains.

Alstom based its Coradia Stream H train on its single-deck Coradia Stream regional train platform. The company designed the trains specifically for the European market, and manufactures them in Italy.

When operating using green hydrogen, the Coradia Stream H produces no direct CO2. Alstom claims that it offers the exceptional comfort appreciated by passengers, and features innovations in clean energy conversion, efficient energy supply and storage system combined with intelligent energy management. Alstom was the first railway company to invest in hydrogen trains as an alternative to diesel traction on lines that are not electrified.

Several of Alstom's plants in Italy are involved in producing the trains, including:

the Savigliano site for development, certification, production and testing

the Vado Ligure site for the outfitting of the power car', including installing the technologically innovative hydrogen-related part

the Sesto San Giovanni site for components

the Bologna site for developing the signalling system.

The hydrogen train has a power car', an intermediate railcar which carries the hydrogen technology which provides the primary source of energy. The combination of hydrogen, stored in tanks, with oxygen from the external air, produces energy without emitting CO2 into the atmosphere. High-performance lithium-ion batteries store the energy, which they use during acceleration to complement the hydrogen cells, which optimises fuel usage.

The European Union's NextGenerationEU is funding the project as part of the IPCEI Hy2Tech programme.

Alstom has sold over 3,500 Coradia trains so far. Around 2,900 are operating in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Canada.

The company boasts that it offers the complete rolling stock portfolio of traction technologies with zero direct carbon emissions, from hydrogen fuel cells to battery and electric. In 2016, the company introduced the world's first operational passenger hydrogen train, and has developed battery traction systems to serve shorter, non-electrified lines. Alstom has also developed green traction systems to convert diesel trains to traction with zero direct carbon emissions.

Michele Viale, Managing Director of Alstom in Italy and President and CEO of Alstom Ferroviaria, said, We are extremely proud to supply the first hydrogen trains in Puglia and to grow the hydrogen train fleet in Lombardy. Alstom's unrivalled expertise in the full range of green traction solutions uniquely positions us to identify the best solutions for our customers depending on their specific needs. With the supply of four hydrogen trains to Ferrovie del Sud Est and Ferrovie Nord Milano, we are advancing local innovation and the reduction of C02 emissions. This will not just transform the public transport system but also create opportunities for the local economy.
Enemy uses 158 means of air attack against Ukraine, 27 Shaheds, 87 X-101/X-555/X-55 missiles shot down - Zaluzhny

At night, the enemy launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine, firing 158 air attack weapons; Ukrainian forces destroyed 27 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs and 87 X-101/X-555/X-55 cruise missiles, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ValerIy Zaluzhny said.

"According to preliminary results, the enemy used 158 means of air attack against Ukraine this night: missiles of various types and attack UAVs. The forces and means of the Air Force, in cooperation with units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, destroyed: 27 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs; 87 X-101/X-555/X-55 cruise missiles," wrote Zaluzhny On the Telegram channel.

He informed that critical infrastructure, industrial and military facilities were attacked, there are dead and injured.

"At first, the occupiers traditionally attacked with shaheds from the north and south-east directions, followed by movement in the western direction. A total of 36 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs were recorded," the commander-in-chief wrote.

At about 3:00, the enemy took off strategic aircraft  Tu-95MS bombers. A total of 18 aircraft launched at least 90 X101/X-555/X-55 air-launched cruise missiles.

Also, from Kursk region, at about 05:00, the enemy used long-range Tu-22M3 bombers, which fired eight X-22/X-32 cruise missiles in the direction of the northern and central regions.

"At the same time, the invaders hit Kharkiv with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. In general, the enemy fired at least 14 missiles flying along a ballistic trajectory  S-300/S-400/Iskander-M from the occupied Crimea, Kursk and Belgorod regions of Russia," Zaluzhny noted.

In addition, at 6:30 a.m., the takeoff of five MiG-31 K fighters was recorded, which launched five aerobatic X-47M2 Dagger missiles from Astrakhan region. Also, four X-31P and one X-59 anti-radar missiles were used from Su-35 tactical aircraft.
We love to see the diversity of backgrounds and military/first responder pedigrees of the various brands we cover in the column. But this particular installment of Veteran Vices represents all four branches of the military, as well as the U.S. Intelligence Community  the latter being a first for this column.

The founders of Four Branches Bourbon embody a rich history of service to this country at the highest levels possible. Represented among them are veterans of Navy SEAL Teams, Army Special Forces, Air Force Pararescue, and the Central Intelligence Agency.



When cofounder and former Marine Rick Franco was driving home one day, the idea came to him about making a barrel of bourbon in memory of his classmate from the Virginia Military Institute, fellow Marine officer and Agency colleague Greg Wright, who was killed in action overseas while working for the CIA.

He then called his friend, Mike Trott, an Air Force and CIA veteran, about this idea.

Trott recalled his memories of helping to repatriate fallen CIA officer Johnny Mike Spann (another Marine), who was the first American killed in action after 9/11 in Afghanistan.

Soon, Harold Underdown (Navy) and RJ Casey (Army) joined the conversation about making a special blend of bourbon to honor the memory of their former comrades.



Their desire was to provide a way for them, and everyone else, to honor all of the unsung heroes in our lives, including those who work in the shadows. They also decided the only way they could do this was to change the narrative around drinking.

Part of this effort included trademarking the phrase Drink Honorably. The idea was to promote an ethos of not drinking to forget but encouraging people to Sip to Remember. This has now become the entire mission of Four Branches Bourbon.

Theyve also enlisted the support of UFC six-time world champion, actor and U.S. Army veteran, Randy Couture, to be a Brand Champion to help deliver their brand message.



Their Founders Blend consists of an age-average six-year blend, four-grain, 96-proof bourbon, which turned out incredibly smooth, with a warm and not-too-sweet flavor thats quickly become one of our favorite veteran spirits to date. Founders Blend recently won The Souths Best Spirit Award for Best Veteran-Owned brand.



Their charity work includes partnerships with Folds of Honor, Third Option Foundation, and the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation. Additionally, they support Randy Coutures Xtreme Couture GI Foundation for assisting veterans in need.



Four Branches is available online for direct consumer shipment to 33 states through their website. Theyre expanding into Tennessee, Florida, and Kentucky. Retail sales in Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., are in the works. Other states will follow, and they have already secured two major national distribution contracts.
Fong certified to run in two races, but Secretary of State still to appeal
If electric cars with a real range of more than 400 km are launched, the anxiety regarding the charging points will come down, and more people will buy EVs.

IMAGE: Tata Motors' electric vehicle Nexon.ev displayed during its launch in New Delhi, September 14, 2023. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Electric cars in India are expected to experience a 30 to 40 per cent increase in volume sales in 2024 as demand remains strong with more models across the Rs 8 lakh to Rs 30 lakh price spectrum set to launch and an increase in charging points, says Shailesh Chandra, managing director, Tata Motors' passenger vehicle (PV) and electric vehicle (EV) division.

Chandra, after unveiling the company's first EV-exclusive showroom in Gurugram, told reporters that the domestic sales of electric cars in India would reach 90,000 to 95,000 units in 2023, marking a growth of about 90 to 100 per cent.

Tata Motors holds more than 80 per cent of the Indian electric car market.

The total domestic PV sales for the automotive industry would be about 4.1 million units in 2023. "It would be an annual growth of 7-8 per cent," he added.

The 90-100 per cent volume growth in 2023 occurred because the average price point of an electric car in India has moved downward, especially since the Tiago EV's deliveries began earlier this year.

IMAGE: The Tata Tiago EV electric hatchback was unveiled at a global launch event in Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

"Last year, the average price point of an electric car was Rs 17 to 18 lakh, with the Nexon being the leading product. In January, we launched the Tiago EV (at a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 8.69 lakh)," Chandra said.

"There were a few other products (electric cars) that were launched by the competition, but they did not generate that kind of volume, but the Tiago EV did," he noted.

More electric car models at different price points -- between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 30 lakh -- have to come into the Indian market so that people have more options, Chandra said.

According to him, neither the product and its driving experience nor its price point is the problem right now.

IMAGE: A charging station at the Tata Tiago EV launch. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

"So, what is stopping people? Primarily, these are bottlenecks around charging," he explained, adding that the electric car is still not the first car for many people as they do not have sufficient confidence about the vehicle's range due to a lack of charging points.

To resolve this situation, from the next year onwards, India would see the launch of electric cars with a much higher range.

"About 85 per cent of electric car drives in India are less than 400 kilometre away," he noted.

Therefore, if electric cars with a real range of more than 400 km are launched, the anxiety regarding the charging points will come down, and more people will buy EVs.

Tata Motors is planning to launch the Harrier EV as well as the Curve EV in 2023.

As Tata Motors currently holds over 80 per cent of the Indian electric car market share, it possesses valuable insights into the optimal locations for placing charging points, Chandra noted.

Consequently, the company is supporting private charge point operators (CPOs) by providing information about these strategic points.

"In its initial years, Tata Motors was dependent on only Tata Power to create charging infrastructure. As there are 100,000-150,000 electric cars on road now, there are a lot of startups (CPOs) that are coming up," Chandra said.

"Also, oil-marketing companies are putting about 22,000 EV chargers in place, with government support of about Rs 800 crore (Rs 8 billion), by December 2024," he noted.

Governments, Chandra said, should promote the establishment of common chargers in residential societies across India.

There is currently a 5 per cent goods and services tax on electric cars. Many states in India have waived the road tax and registration tax on these cars.

Other governments across the world have supported the EV industry until its penetration has hit 18-20 per cent. Therefore, until India reaches that point, the government "will have to support" through the aforementioned low taxes, etc, he noted.

The inflexion point -- when a greater share of customers buys electric cars as their first car and when a greater share of people just has an electric car at home -- for the EV sector will come in the next 18-24 months, Chandra predicted.

"Charging infrastructure is one thing. There are going to be more choices at more price points. Higher range. All these will help reach an inflexion point."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Several technology companies are seeking to step up hiring from Tier-II and Tier-III cities of India in 2024 to tap into a vast talent pool of skilled professionals churned out by educational institutions and training centres in these regions.

Tier-II and Tier-III cities such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Mohali, Vadodara, Chandigarh, and Indore contribute around 12-15 per cent of the countrys tech talent, hinting towards the strong talent availability in these regions, according to Randstad India, a talent management firm.

These cities house an untapped talent pool, supported by educational institutions and training centres that produce skilled professionals.

"Hence organisations can leverage the good-quality talent pool in these regions while enjoying some cost advantages as well, said Rohit Kishore, global delivery and talent officer, Randstad Digital.

SaaS unicorn Zoho plans to hire over 1,000 employees across various roles, departments, and products in 2024, focusing on hiring from rural regions.

We will be recruiting from Tier-II, III towns and villages as we have done in the past.

"As per our global expansion strategy Transnational Localism, we have adopted a hub-and-spoke work model.

"We have five hub offices and 30 spoke offices in villages and Tier - II, III towns.

"Close to 2,000 employees work across these offices, of which about 50 per cent have been hired locally, said Praval Singh, vice president, Zoho.

Opening offices across smaller cities and rural areas takes us closer to a vast talent pool that is still untapped and awaiting an opportunity.

"When we hire locally, we train the recruits in-house to equip them with industry-specific skill sets, Singh added.

Without sharing specific numbers, IBM India said it has been following an aggressive talent growth strategy for over three years and plans to continue the trajectory in 2024.

This includes the expansion of its various business units to emerging cities beyond the metros.

We will be extending opportunities to not just skilled professionals in those locations but also tap into the talent pool from leading local academic institutions.

"We are looking to our new hires to further help accelerate IBMs AI and hybrid cloud strategy.

"As a policy we dont share our hiring numbers. IBM India is a microcosm of the IBM Corporation and almost every major business unit of our organisation has a footprint here, said Thirukkumaran (Thiru) Nagarajan, vice president and head of HR, IBM India & South Asia.

Kyndryl, the managed services spin-off of IBM, is also embracing a flexible work model as the pandemic has redefined work.

Location is no longer a barrier to talent.

"We can now hire exceptional individuals from anywhere in India, regardless of their city, and provide them with equal opportunities and career growth.

"Tier- II and Tier-III cities are home to excellent universities and colleges churning out skilled graduates in STEM fields.

"We are actively collaborating with these institutions to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring our talent pipeline stays robust, said Rajita Singh, chief people officer, Kyndryl India.

Mid-sized IT services firm Happiest Minds Technologies said it has a robust hiring plan for 2023, especially in critical digital skills.

Technical experience range of 4-14 years has higher absorption.

"Experts with deep domain knowledge and subject matter expertise see consistent demand.

"This segment is expected to last through next year, said Rajesh Chandran Sogasu, head of Talent Acquisition and L&D, Happiest Minds.

Happiest Minds has a clear roadmap to hire from locations in India outside Bengaluru.

These include Noida, Pune, Bhubaneswar, Madurai, and Coimbatore.

"These locations provide the much-needed option for quality talent to stay close to families and also meet organisation requirements of working from an office.

"It also helps them to save significant time by reducing travel and the cost of living.

"By providing a stable career without compromising on location benefits, members of the organisation find it a winning option to select us, added Sogasu.
Nothing is more promising than countries putting aside hubris and ideological differences to invest in our shared future, observes Durga Sreenivasan, a delegate at COP28.

IMAGE: The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, December 13, 2023. Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters

Over the years, the Conferences of the Parties to the UNFCCC have become battlegrounds for ideas to follow up on the sustainable development gains of Rio de Janeiro's 1992 Agreement (external link).

Governments, industries and political activists have a common objective of sustainability, and approached them by different means at the conference.

Industries push governments towards development, while activists most clearly stated the need for equity and climate justice.

My days at COP 28 establishing that equity and justice can be sought out at all levels was at first tumultuous.

The draft Global Stocktake Outcome (COP28's final document) presents a mixed bag -- a few large policy wins alongside instances of words used to smudge the final outcome.

The smudging of words, however, presents an opportunity: It leaves room for us to create the radical policies needed to keep global warming to 1.5C.

IMAGE: Climate activists protest during COP28, December 10, 2023. Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters

In order to understand and collaborate around this, my focus at the conference was working with those around me to advocate for policy outcomes that are equitable for all of society.

In terms of advocating for equity, this is the idea that the costs, benefits, and opportunities of the policies created to address the climate crisis are distributed fairly in society.

A first step is repaying the losses of those who have suffered disproportionately from the climate crisis, with funding being moved from those who have received disproportionate gain from the industries propogating the crisis.

The second aspect of this is the just distribution of benefits spurred by the positive innovations and infrastructure created to address the crisis, such as technological and energy centric outcomes.

Here's a rundown of the policies we advocated for:

IMAGE: Another protest at COP28, December 10, 2023. Photograph: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

Regarding the remaining items on the docket for discussion at COP28, the synthesis report of the first global stocktake published in September of this year determined that the world was not making sufficient progress in achieving the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement.

According to the UN's calculations, the implementation of the Nationally Declared Commitments by countries will result in an 8.8% increase in emissions from 2020 levels by 2030.

The joint statement has highlighted several initiatives to facilitate the attainment of the goals of the Paris Agreement. These measures aim to enhance cooperation among member states, prevent unnecessary repetition of actions, and optimize the utilisation of shared resources.

Let's take this text and lay it against the policies we advocated for.

STOCKTAKE DRAFT TEXT: 'Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.'

IMAGE: Durga Sreenivasan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Durga Sreenivasan/Facebook.com IMAGE: Durga Sreenivasan.

In order to face up to net zero by 2050, a Yale study guides us to the answer: 'The report found that the net greenhouse gas emissions from human activity would need to be 43% lower by 2030 compared to 2019 to maintain a two-thirds chance of either meeting the long-term 1.5C goal or only briefly overshooting it.'

This means immediate action at the local, regional, and national levels are essential. We must go from the current 8.8% increase to the 43% decrease needed.

STOCKTAKE DRAFT TEXT: Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible.

The IMF says that this phasing out of Fossil Fuels (external link) subsidies 'would ensure that global fossil fuel CO2 emissions 43% below baseline levels in 2030 -- or 34% below 2019 emissions.

This reduction is in line with the 25% to 50% reduction needed to contain global warming to the Paris goal of 1.5C.

Taking the IMF at their word, this was a huge policy win that will have a tangible impact in the upcoming year.

Now it's time to ensure this language around the subsidies is followed through with. On the surface level, I am very enthused: It isn't every day that a policy you've advocated for gets put in place by governing bodies, much less the UN's complex, multilateralism.

IMAGE: Climate activists protest against fossil fuels at Dubai's Expo City during COP28, December 12, 2023. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

In terms of prioritising marginalized communities like we begged for, the language can be stronger and mandates should be created.

There is currently wording that 'recognizes' the need to prioritize vulnerable communities -- however, we have not received clear indicators of how our most vulnerable groups will be prioritized.

What we still need are Nationally determined commitments based on the need to transition away from fossil fuels and a timeline for when and how our most marginalised communities will receive funding.

The actualisation of the UN Loss and Damage Fund is immense, yet most certainly a baby step.

A mere $700 million was pledged out of the trillions needed for marginalised communities to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis -- which means we haven't even reached 0.2% of the over $1 Trillion needed (external link).

As opposed to completely agonising over this, we can view this as an opportunity for the fund to grow tenfold (or hundredfold, in reality) in the upcoming year.

At the conference itself, folks of all ages gathered to advocate in their niches. It was a true privilege to make and deepen connections with those who had fiery passions for a wide swathe of issues spanning the sustainable development goals.

IMAGE: Durga Srinivasan hosts a workshop to advocate for equitable policy change at COP28. Photograph: Kind courtesy Durga Sreenivasan

My aunt and uncle's presence as guardian angels in Dubai allowed me to feel safe amidst sickness and personal hardship, and they helped me stay focused as I was pulled in many different directions.

The train station closest to their house was even dubbed 'equiti' -- which I lovingly made into a symbol of my promise to advocate for equity.

The first steps towards the UN Loss & Damage Fund displays an international understanding that we must prioritize equity if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Nothing is more promising than countries putting aside hubris and ideological differences to invest in our shared future.

Honorable Mentions: I brought my grandfather, T P Sreenivasan, to the last day of the conference! What an honor to take the former Vice Chairman of BKCOP 1 with me.

Thanks for coming!

Thank you to my aunt and uncle, dubbed chits and chitsy, for making Dubai a second home with your evergiving care.

Read the Stocktake Draft here (external link). Submit comments on the Stocktake here (external link) while there's still time!

Make an impact with me:

Get in touch: Instagram  LinkedIn  Facebook  Twitter

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
One looks upon the coming new year with foreboding as current wars in Ukraine and Gaza spill over and escalate and new ones erupt in incipient fault lines across the world, notes former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

IMAGE: An Israeli soldier operates in the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Reuters

As we head towards the end of 2023, the dominant sentiment across countries and peoples is a lack of agency and a sense of losing control.

This is paradoxical since most governments swear that they are taking back control over the destinies of their countries.

Their citizens have given the reins to cynical leaders who peddle narrow nationalism and parochialism.

These attitudes have trumped any prospect of even minimal international collaboration to tackle global challenges such as climate change, whose salience increases relentlessly.

Vaccine nationalism seen during the COVID-19 pandemic was a spectacular demonstration of self-defeating myopia and a pervasive lack of empathy for the pain and suffering of fellow human beings.

Our sensibilities have become benumbed. The daily and despicable horrors being visited upon the hapless people of Gaza and the West Bank have failed to trouble our collective conscience.

One looks upon the coming new year with foreboding as current wars in Ukraine and Gaza spill over and escalate and new ones erupt in incipient fault lines across the world.

This embrace of unrestrained violence is matched by new instruments of war wonders of technological advancement whose frenetic pace is leaving us both bedazzled and bewildered.

In March this year, OpenAI released GPT-4 to the public.

This has begun to erase the dividing line between what is real and flesh and blood, and what is virtual and infinitely malleable.

How will our analogic minds wrap around this digital reality?

This may prove to be the most consequential development in 2023 that may irreversibly transform our lives in 2024 and beyond.

It will impact geopolitics. As one analyst points out: Although technology has often influenced geopolitics, the prospect for AI (artificial intelligence) means that the technology itself could become a geopolitical actor.

AI poses the most global of challenges, flowing effortlessly across borders.

However, its controls rest in the hands of just a few powerful operators and not all of them are governments.

The technology has developed in the hands of a handful of multinational tech companies.

Governments have neither the knowledge nor the capability to regulate them.

Even for regulation, they must rely on these very same entities.

Countries like China have all along maintained a tight control over any technological development that may endanger regime security.

China may be better placed to regulate AI, but then there is the ominous prospect of it being harnessed to subserve the overweening ambitions of the Communist party of China.

Such a prospect could well trigger a competitive and dangerous geopolitical scramble whose denouement could be catastrophic.

It is a paradox of our times that just when most of our challenges and threats to our well-being have become global, our attitudes have become more narrowly national.

There is no alternative to truly global and collaborative responses delivered through empowered international institutions of governance and working through multilateral processes whose guiding principle is equity.

The most powerful instruments of violence are available to State and non-State actors.

The Hamas attack against Israel is testimony to the power of the weak and dispossessed to inflict terrible, even if fleeting, harm.

2023 proved that the war on terror is far from over.

Its asymmetric potential has been enhanced by the same technological advancement that states are pursuing.

All countries that have disaffected constituencies must understand that there can never be an assurance that incipient mutinies have been laid to rest.

They may re-ignite unexpectedly and wreak terrible damage and engulf a state and its people in a spiral of escalating violence.

Violence should not be legitimised as a political instrument.

There is no cause, however noble, which justifies the killing of innocent men, women and children.

Once unleashed, violence will always spread beyond its intended targets.

Violence brutalises the perpetrators as much as its victims. We see this in Israel.

Mahatma Gandhi understood this truth. His concept of ahimsa or non-violence was anchored in this profound awareness.

The more we deviate from this legacy, the greater the likelihood that the multiple fault lines, which may polarise our own plural society, could threaten the survival of the Indian state.

Or their suppression may only be possible, and only temporarily, with the abandonment of democracy.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

However, 2023 had a positive development on one global and existential issue, that of climate change.

At the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, there were some hopeful decisions which could, if implemented, lead to a reorientation of the global economy towards an ecologically sustainable future.

The acknowledgement, for the first time, that in order to deal with climate change, the world needs to transition away from its current reliance on fossil fuels towards a pattern of growth based progressively on renewable and cleaner sources of energy is significant.

This is an opportunity to harness the powerful new technologies, including AI, to deliver on this objective within a shrinking timeframe and on an unprecedented scale.

But the response has to be both global and collaborative and based on equity.

The promise of 2023, including on climate change, must begin to be delivered upon in 2024 but there will be greater uncertainty and unpredictability.

The US will have presidential elections with a real possibility that Donald Trump will be elected, bringing renewed nativism to a country whose leadership and capabilities are indispensable to meeting global challenges.

The continuing and brutal Israel-Hamas conflict and the inevitable escalation of the Ukraine War will further polarise geopolitics.

Vladimir Putin has sensed American distraction and the flagging Western support for Ukraine.

He will up the ante and hope that a Trump presidency will help deliver a coup de grace on Ukraine.

A US stretched to the limit, tackling two wars and a rising threat in the Indo-Pacific, may feel compelled to dampen down its competitive rivalry with China.

Signs of this are already apparent.

Joe Biden having decided not to visit India as a guest on Republic Day in January and the postponement of the Quad summit scheduled around that time, may well be a pointer to an altered American strategy.

This may also be linked to the fallout from the Pannun affair and the alleged attempted assassination charges being investigated by Indian authorities.

The high achieved with the successful G20 summit hosted by India in September has faded, though our own elections in the new year may award a third term to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India may be exceptional in enjoying political stability among major countries.

This will be an asset in the more complex diplomacy required in 2024.

We may well end up being nostalgic about 2023 as the new year unfolds.

Ambassador Shyam Saran is a former foreign secretary and an honorary fellow at the Centre for Policy Research.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
British PM: Russias attacks on Ukraine's cities show Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy, we wont let him win

Russia's massive attack on Ukraine shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his goal of eradicating freedom and democracy, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

These widespread attacks on Ukraine's cities show Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy. We will not let him win. We must continue to stand with Ukraine  for as long as it takes, Sunak said on X.
'Due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, a faction operating in the Red Sea -- which is a typically safe area - has been firing projectiles arbitrarily.'

'Additionally, there have been two incidents involving Somali pirates, and one vessel has been hijacked.'

IMAGE: The India-bound merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto being escorted back by the Indian Coast Guard Ship Vikram after coming under attack by a drone in the Arabian Sea, December 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

India's shipping regulator, Director General of Shipping (DGS), has advised seafarers to take extra caution as incidents of piracy have seen an uptick after several years of relative normalcy, making international waters riskier for merchant ships.

MV Ruen, a Malta-flagged merchant ship, was hijacked by unknown raiders in the Arabian Sea, sparking fears of the return of Somali pirates in international waters, amid troubling geopolitical uncertainty.

The DGS flagged the rising number of cases and asked for caution in an advisory.

"It is understood that several piracy groups that had been dormant for a while have become active again. We are coordinating with all seafaring stakeholders," a senior government official said.

The Malacca Strait, a major international shipping route, is also seeing many such incidents.

According to the DGS, there is "a larger pattern of maritime security concerns in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore which, as per International Maritime Organisation's Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS), has exhibited a sharp increase in incidents from 45 in 2019 to a peak of 83 in 2023."

The rise in conflict-related incidents in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea involving attacks using drones and missiles is a growing concern and poses serious risks, the Indian Navy said in one of its weekly updates through the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

'It not only jeopardises the lives of those onboard the ship but also poses a significant threat to maritime trade, cargo shipments and overall maritime safety in the region,' the update stated.

'Connections and intentions of attacks on ships in the Red Sea and IOR remain uncertain, given that vessels owned by multiple countries are being attacked,' the update said.

"Recently, two new hotspots have emerged. Due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, a faction operating in the Red Sea -- which is a typically safe area - has been firing projectiles arbitrarily. Additionally, there have been two incidents involving Somali pirates, and one vessel has been hijacked," an official said.

There was another incident on November 26, where armed men suspected to be Somali pirates boarded the tanker Central Park.

However, naval intervention through the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations ensured that the pirates were captured.

According to people in the know, the last incidents of Somali piracy were nearly seven years ago, which sparked concerns in the maritime sector.

'Global political instability continues to escalate, posing significant threats to maritime activities, especially shipping, commerce, and supply chains,' the DGS advisory said.

'This heightened risk stems from various factors, including conflicts, territorial disagreements, cyber-attacks, the imposition of sanctions, piracy, and potential acts of sabotage,' the DGS advisory added.

'Concurrently, the rising number of sea-borne migrants, drug smuggling using merchant vessels and a surge in stowaway incidents are creating severe security challenges worldwide.'

There is work going on to build capacity in troubled waters as these cases increase, another official said.

The Indian Navy is a part of the Combined Maritime Forces, a 39-nation group of naval forces looking at maritime security.

The regulator's analysis pointed out that 63 incidents occurred while steaming in Territorial waters, while about 20 occurred in port limits for vessels at anchor.

Since 2021, there has also been an increase in attacks from loitering munitions (LM), also called suicide drones, on both civilian and military targets, with merchant ships becoming notable targets.

These incidents, predominantly occurring in North Africa, the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea, are believed to be orchestrated by state actors using LMs, the shipping regulator said.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
China on Friday named naval commander General Dong Jun as the new defence minister, two months after the summary dismissal of General Li Shangfu without any explanation.

IMAGE: China's Defence Minister Li Shangfu during the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 2, 2023. Photograph: Caroline Chia/Reuters

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress, had confirmed Li's ouster in October.

Dong, the commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy, was appointed as defence minister by the NPC standing committee, official media in Beijing reported.

Dong, whose age is not known, has served in all major naval divisions in the PLAN.

Before becoming the navy's top commander in 2021, he served in the Northern Sea Fleet, now a regular player in joint drills with the Russian Navy, the Eastern Sea Fleet, which focuses on potential conflicts with Japan, as well as the Southern Command Theatre, which oversees the South China Sea, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

The appointments for the top defence posts are cleared by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also the head of the central military commission besides being the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China.

Before Li, foreign minister Qin Gang was also removed without an explanation.

Qin was replaced by Wang Yi as foreign minister.

Earlier this year Qin succeeded Wang as the country's top diplomat.

The fates of both Li and Qin are not known.

Li had disappeared from the public eye in late August and no reason was given for his removal.

Li, who headed the country's missile force was the first Chinese defence minister to be placed on a US sanctions list -- because of arms sales from Russia -- and was the second government minister abruptly removed from his post this year.
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder-leader and top yesteryear Tamil action star, Vijayakanth was on Friday laid to rest here with full state honours after tens of thousands of people paid their last respects.

IMAGE: The last rites of actor and DMDK chief Vijayakanth are being performed with full state honours in front of his wife Premalatha Vijayakanth, sons Vijay Prabhakar and Shanmuga Pandian and other family members, at the Koyambedu DMDK office, in Chennai, December 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Mourners lined up on both sides of the roads as the decorated truck carrying the mortal remains crawled its way in a procession from Island Grounds near Marina beach to the premises of the DMDK headquarters at Koyambedu.

In several places, from roof-tops and flyovers, people showered petals and garlands on the truck.

It took well over three hours for the truck to traverse a distance of about 10.7 kilometers to reach the burial site on the DMDK's office premises. Following a gun salute, a two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect.

Chief Minister M K Stalin, State Ministers, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and celebrities were in attendance.

Vijayakanth's wife Premalatha, his sons Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian were consoled by the leaders.

Stalin removed his shoes before entering the space earmarked for state honours and conduct of last rites, and laid a wreath accompanied by senior DMK leaders like TR Baalu and ministers including KN Nehru, Ma Subramanian and Udhayanidhi Stalin.

In a mark of respect to the departed leader, the Chief Minister touched twice the wreath he placed in front of the coffin.

"Friend, you will live in our hearts forever," Stalin said.

Rajinikanth said though crores of men and women live and die in this world, it is only a few like Vijayakanth and people of his ilk live forever in the hearts of people.

After Vijayakanth's family members performed the last rites, the coffin, made of sandalwood was buried in the designated space amid chants of 'captain' and veera vanakkam (valourous salute).

The words puratchi kalaignar revolutionary artist) Captain Vijayakanth' was embossed on the coffin.

While only a limited number of people were allowed inside the space earmarked for burial, countless men who gathered outside shone torches on their mobile phones as a mark of respect.

Notably, several police personnel touched the feet of Vijayakanth and they said it was him who brought honour to the uniformed personnel by essaying the role of honest police officer in movies.

Following Vijayakanth's death on December 28 morning, thousands of grief-stricken admirers visited his residence, the DMDK office and the Island Grounds to pay their last respects.

Since the crowd became unmanageable, authorities shifted the venue of homage to the government-owned sprawling Island Grounds and from December 29 morning, people gathered there to pay homage. Crowds spilled onto the nearby flyovers and alleys as thousands waited to bid adieu to Vijayakanth.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accompanied by Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai paid last respects at the Island Grounds.

Film personalities including top stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan paid homage. Vijayakanth, who had been ill for about five years, passed away after battling against pneumonia.

He had been a successful action hero for about three decades after his initial successes in early 1980's. He founded the DMDK in 2005. The Greater Chennai Corporation passed a resolution allowing burial of Vijayakanth on the premises of DMDK headquarters.

Though the burial was originally scheduled to be held at 4.45 pm, it was delayed as mourners turned up continuously and it was completed at 7.10 pm.
India has asked Pakistan to extradite Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai attack mastermind and a UN-proscribed terrorist, who is wanted by Indian probe agencies in a number of terror cases.

IMAGE: Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Photograph: ANI Photo

New Delhi has also taken note of reports of Saeed's son Talha contesting elections in Pakistan and said the "mainstreaming" of radical terror outfits in the neighbouring country is nothing new and that it has been part of its State policy for a long time.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the request for extraditing Saeed, along with certain documents, was sent to Islamabad recently.

"The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request, along with relevant supporting documents, to the government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case," he said.

Bagchi's remarks came in response to a question at his weekly media briefing.

The Indian high commission in Pakistan handed over the request to Islamabad a few weeks ago, he said.

The MEA official said India has been flagging to Pakistan the activities of Saeed and that he is wanted in India.

New Delhi does not have an extradition pact with Islamabad. However, people familiar with the matter said extradition is possible even in the absence of such a framework pact.

Asked about reports of Hafiz Saeed's son Talha Saeed contesting elections in Pakistan, Bagchi said the "mainstreaming of radical terrorist outfits" in that country is nothing new.

"We have seen some reports in this regard. It is an internal affair," he said, adding that he generally does not comment on the internal issues of other countries.

At the same time, he said, "The mainstreaming of radical terrorist outfits in Pakistan is nothing new and has been part of its State policy for a long time."

"Such developments have serious implications for the security of the region. On our part, we will of course continue to monitor all developments that have an implication on our national security," Bagchi added.

Talha Saeed is considered the number two person in the LeT hierarchy, with his father being at the helm of the terror outfit.

In response to media queries regarding India's request to extradite Hafiz Saeed, a Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson said Islamabad has received it.

"Pakistan has received a request from the Indian authorities, seeking the extradition of Hafiz Saeed in a so-called money-laundering case," the official said.

"It is pertinent to note that no bilateral extradition treaty exists between Pakistan and India," the spokesperson said.
Retired Supreme Court judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who was part of the top court bench which refused to accord legal sanction to same-sex marriage under the existing laws, said on Friday the case was not strictly legal and involved social issues, and the government may introduce a law in future to grant them matrimonial rights.

IMAGE: Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul speaks during the judgement on a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories, in New Delhi, December 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo>

Justice Kaul, who demitted office on December 25 after a tenure of over six years in the apex court, said although the goal has now been delayed for the queer community on account of the judgement, a change in society's view will give an impetus to law to change.

"These are social issues. Sometimes society takes longer to accept something... Law changes, society changes. Sometimes when society changes, it gives an impetus to the law also to change. Maybe the government thinks about it. It has brought a law for other categories of special groups of people (and) it brings in a law," he said in an interview with PTI.

On October 17, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriage but recognised equal rights for queer people and their protection.

All judges were unanimous in holding that it was within Parliament's ambit to change the law for validating such union but in a minority view, CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justice Kaul recognised the right of same-sex couples to enter into civil unions.

Reflecting on the verdict, Justice Kaul said it was not necessary that success in such matters is achieved in "one go itself" as even the road to decriminalisation of consensual gay sex under the Indian Penal Code was long, and the majority's view in the recent verdict on same-sex marriage was an opinion relevant for this time period.

"There was a consensus (among the five judges) that it would be difficult to give marriage rights because it has many cultural, religious issues. So what was looked into was whether under the Special Marriage Act could this be fitted in. Again there was a consensus that it would be difficult to do so. But the minority view was we could give something almost as much by putting it as a civil union. The majority view was it could not be done. That's the opinion. What will happen 5 years hence, 10 years hence, is another matter," he said.

"Certainly it has been delayed. When the majority says it can't be done now, it can't be done now. That's the position...Time period is something that helps out in this because these are not strictly only legal matters. These are social reflection matters," Justice Kaul said.

The former top court judge added there was a difference in the way different generations thought. This, he said, leads to "generational shifts" on issues in the future.
Delhi Police has sought the help of its Lucknow counterparts to trace a 'cyclist cobbler' who created cavities in the shoes of Parliament security breach case accused Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D to fit smoke canisters in them, sources said.

IMAGE: Security personnel patrol Parliament premises during the winter session, in New Delhi on December 20, 2023. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Police want to make the cobbler a witness in the case, they said.

Sagar first tried to modify the shoes himself but approached the cobbler, who visited Alambagh in Lucknow on a bicycle, after he was unsuccessful, the Delhi Police sources said.

A Delhi Police team visited Lucknow to search for the cobbler earlier this month.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on December 13, Sagar and Manoranjan jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before they were overpowered by some of the MPs.

They gained entry into the Parliament using visitors' passes facilitated by two-term Lok Sabha member from Mysuru Pratap Simha.

During interrogation, Sagar revealed that he tried to design shoes with a cavity after he found out that they were not checked during entry into the Parliament, the sources said.

"When he did not succeed in his attempts, he went to a cobbler in Alambagh. He has told the interrogators that he bought two pairs of shoes for Rs 595 each from a shop near his house and approached the cobbler, who visited Alambagh on a bicycle," a source said.

"The cavity was found created by cutting the inside sole of the left shoe. The thickness of the sole of shoes is also found increased by affixing additional rubber sole at the bottom to support the cavity. The inside sole of the right foot shoe was also found partly cut," according to the FIR.

A team of the Delhi Police Special Cell visited Lucknow earlier this month to search for the cobbler but was unable to trace him. The team also questioned several cobblers in Alambagh based on disclosures made by Sagar during his interrogation, the sources said.

Delhi Police wants to make the cobbler a witness in the case and is now taking the help of its Lucknow counterparts to find him, they said.

During its visit, the team recovered a pair of shoes, shoe soles and a ruler for measuring shoe size from Sagar's house in Ramnagar in Lucknow's Alambagh, according to the sources.

A diary and some books on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh were also recovered from his house.

Sagar's family has told the investigators that he admires Bhagat Singh. His social media profile also showed that he used to share content related to Bhagat Singh and Cuban Marxist revolutionary leader Che Guevara.

Earlier, police said the accused persons in the Parliament security breach case wanted to replicate Bhagat Singh's act of throwing bombs inside the Central Assembly during British rule in India.

A class 12 pass-out, Sagar worked as an e-rickshaw driver in Lucknow. His father Roshan Lal Sharma is a carpenter and his mother is a housewife.

The police team has already recorded the statements of Sagar's family members, friends and the owner of the shop from where he bought the shoes.

Besides Sagar and Manoranjan, Delhi Police have arrested four people -- Neelam, Amol Shinde, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat -- in the Parliament security breach case.

All six have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Indian officials in Berlin celebrated Diwali last month with baby girl Ariha Shah, who has been living in foster care in the German capital for over two years.

IMAGE: External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Ariha was placed in the custody of Germany's youth welfare office (jugendamt) on September 23, 2021 after the then seven-month-old baby suffered an accidental injury.

She has been in foster care since then.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday said consular access was given to the child in the second week of last month and that Indian embassy officials celebrated Diwali with her.

India has been pressing for her early return to India arguing that it is important for the child to be in her linguistic, religious, cultural and social environment.

"This is an important issue. We continue to monitor it... We had consular access. We were able to share with the child items to ensure the immersion of the child in Indian culture as well as continued efforts to ensure that her rights are protected," Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing.

He was replying to a question on Ariha.

"We have been working towards cultural immersion of the child and resource materials relating to Indian festivals, customs and practices were handed over to the German authorities," Bagchi said.

"We remain in constant engagement with the German authorities to safeguard the child's cultural, national identity and rights and to ensure her return to India," he said.

The ministry of external affairs and the embassy of India in Berlin have been persistently advocating for the return of Ariha Shah to India.

To a question on Bangladesh Nationalist Party's allegations that New Delhi is meddling in polls in that country, Bagchi said the elections are an internal matter of Bangladesh.

"Our position on this has been consistent. The elections are domestic matters of Bangladesh and we believe it is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their own future," he said.

"As a close friend and partner of Bangladesh, we would like to see peaceful elections there and we will continue to support Bangladesh for a peaceful and progressive nation," he said.

Asked about reports of a Chinese research vessel visiting Sri Lanka, Bagchi said: "We have said that we always monitor developments that have a bearing on national security and we take necessary measures."
Pakistan caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday announced a ban on the New Year celebration in the country to express solidarity with the People in Gaza.

IMAGE: A boy drapes himself in a Palestinian flag as people protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Karachi, on October 22, 2023. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

In a brief address to the nation, Kakar urged to show solidarity with the Palestinians and exhibit sobriety and humility at the New Year.

"Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year," he said.

He said that over 21,000 Palestinians were killed so far by the Israeli forces that 'crossed all limits of violence and injustice' with around 9,000 children dead since the Israeli bombardment began on October 7.

"The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a sheer state of anguish over the massacre of innocent children and genocide of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank."

He said Pakistan had dispatched two aid packages to Palestine while a third package was being prepared.

He said Pakistan was engaged in talks with Jordan and Egypt to provide timely aid to Palestine and to evacuate the injured present in Gaza.

Kakar said Pakistan tried to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people on various global forums and would continue to do so in the future as well to stop the Israeli bloodshed.

Pakistan's New Year celebrations are traditionally not huge due to the influence of Islamic groups who try to stop the festivities through various methods, including the use of force.
The United Liberation Front of Asom's pro-talks faction on Friday signed a peace accord with the central and the Assam governments, agreeing to shun violence, surrender all arms, disband the organisation and join the democratic process.

IMAGE: ULFA's pro-talks faction leaders with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and other dignitaries after signing peace pact, in New Delhi, December 29, 2023. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the signing of the accord in the national capital, called it a golden day for the people of Assam.

"Assam has suffered for long due to the violence of the ULFA and 10,000 people lost their lives in this violence since 1979," he said.

Shah said the United Liberation Front of Asom -- the oldest insurgent group of Assam -- agreed to abjure violence, surrender arms, disband the organisation, vacate their camps and join the democratic process.

A big development package will be given to Assam as part of the accord. Every clause of the pact will be fully implemented, he said.

"The agreement is a significant milestone to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a peaceful, prosperous and insurgency-free Northeast and bringing everlasting peace, prosperity and all-round development of Assam," he said and added that the accord will be implemented in a time-bound manner.

Shah said the home ministry, under the prime minister's guidance, worked with the vision of a Northeast that is free from extremism, violence and conflict.

In the last five years, nine peace- and border-related agreements have been signed with several insurgent groups and among different states in the Northeast, establishing peace in large parts of the region, he said.

More than 9,000 cadres have surrendered and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been lifted from 85 percent area of Assam, he said.

Shah said that after the formation of Modi government in 2014, violent incidents in Assam decreased by 87 per cent, deaths by 90 per cent and kidnappings by 84 per cent.

So far, 7,500 cadres have surrendered in Assam alone, which will have an additional 750 after the accord's signing. Thus, the surrender of a total 8,200 cadres in Assam alone will be completed and it will be the beginning of a new era of peace, he said.

The home minister said the Modi government signed an agreement with the Tripura-based insurgent group NLFT in 2019, groups belonging to the Bru and the Bodo communities in 2020, a group of the Karbi tribals of Assam in 2021 and with an Adivasi group in 2022.

The Assam-Meghalaya and the Assam-Arunachal border agreements and the agreement with the Manipur-based insurgent group UNLF were signed in 2023, he added.

With this agreement with the ULFA, a new era of peace is going to begin for the entire Northeast, and especially Assam, Shah said.

A time-bound programme will be made by the home ministry to fulfil the ULFA's demands and a committee will be formed for its monitoring, the home minister added.

He said in all the agreements signed after 2019, the Modi government is ahead of time and efforts have been made to fulfil all the conditions. This would not have been possible without Prime Minister Modi's broader vision of an insurgency-free Northeast.

Chief Minister Sarma termed the accord "historic" and said it fructified due to the guidance and leadership of Modi and Shah.

Sarma said among the 10,000 people killed in ULFA violence, around 400 to 500 were security personnel while the rest were native people of Assam.

According to the accord, about Rs 1.5 lakh crore will be invested in Assam in various development projects. Besides, in future delimitation exercises, the existing principle will be applied in Assam so that the interests of the indigenous people of the state are protected, he said.

"The accord will give political security and constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people of Assam by way of delimitation, land rights," Sarma said, adding 726 more cadres will join the mainstream now.

ULFA leader Sashadhar Choudhary, while thanking Modi, Shah and Sarma, expressed hope that the pact will bring durable peace and stability in Assam.

Officials said a host of long-standing political, economic and social issues concerning Assam, besides provisions for cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people, have been incorporated in the accord.

Besides the 16-member delegation led by ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, representatives from 13 civil society organisations were also present on the occasion.

The accord came after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction and the government, the officials said.

The peace pact is expected to end the decades-old insurgency in Assam.

However, the ULFA's hardline faction headed by Paresh Baruah is not a part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border.

Sarma said Baruah is likely to join the peace process now and that state government representatives are in touch with him.

The ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam". Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990.

The Rajkhowa-led faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, after an agreement for Suspension of Operations was signed between the ULFA and the central and the state governments.
National Police: Currently, its known about 18 dead, 132 wounded as result of enemy rocket fire

As of 13:00 on Friday, it is known about 18 dead and 132 injured throughout Ukraine as a result of a massive enemy missile attack, the National Police of Ukraine inform.

"As of 13:00 it is known about the death of 18 civilians, 132 were injured. The police are documenting a massive strike by the Russian army against Ukraine," the National Police said on the Telegram channel on Friday.
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.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, condemned the massive Russian attack on Ukrainian settlements, assuring of further EU support for Ukraine.

It was yet another cowardly and indiscriminate targeting of schools, a metro station and a hospital, resulting in the death of at least 16 people and several wounded. The EU stands with Ukraine, as long as it takes, Borrell said on X.
On the evening of Dec. 22, Taiwanese prosecutors confirmed the arrest of Lin Hsien-yuan, a journalist of the online news site Fingermedia. They said they suspected him of concocting a fabricated presidential poll and taking direction from the Chinese Communist Party in Fujian province, across the Taiwan Strait.

The fake poll misled voters about the electoral situation, infiltrated and interfered in Taiwan's presidential election, and endangered Taiwans sovereignty and democratic constitutional order, the Taichung Public Prosecutor's Office said.

Taiwans Jan. 13 presidential election is seen as one of the most consequential in years for the democratic island  and perhaps the most important election in Asia in 2024.

Depending on who wins, it could chart a course closer to China, continue to keep its distance or even lead toward eventual conflict with its far larger neighbor, which claims the island as its own territory.

In that context, Fingermedia had some surprising news in early December: For the first time, Hou Yu-ih, the opposition Kuomintang candidate, had reversed previous opinion polls and was now ahead of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai.

"Hou pulls ahead of Lai for the first time, leads by 1.22 percentage points" read the headline from Taiwan's EBC News, citing the Dec. 3 report by Fingermedia.

The three candidates were polling as follows, the report said:

Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong for the Kuomintang: 33.22%

Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim for the Democratic Progressive Party: 32.00%

Ko Wen-je and Wu Hsin-ying for the Taiwan People's Party: 20.33%

In Taiwanese politics, the center-right Kuomintang, or KMT, favors greater engagement with the Peoples Republic of China, while the center-left DPP, which has been in power for eight years, embraces a more independent stance.

Lai, the current vice president, has blasted the KMT as being pro-communist, saying only he can preserve Taiwans autonomy. The KMT has denied being pro-Beijing, and instead accused the DPP of being too reckless in its interactions with China. Beijing, meanwhile, views Lai as a separatist, and has cast the election as a choice between war and peace.

The poll results went viral in Taiwan, and also circulated in China  odd for the previously unheard-of Taichung-based Fingermedia. Reports of the poll spread rapidly in Taiwan under the hashtag Hou Yu-ih overtakes, and also found their way into news outlets in China, including Taiwan.cn, which is affiliated with Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, Sina Hong Kong and iFeng.

Amid suspicious signs, AFCL launched an investigation into a companys connections to mainland China and the conduct of a poll. AFCL journalists consulted several individuals, including Lin Hsien-yuan and Taichung-based Providence Universitys retired professor Su Yuan-hwa.

Before Lins arrest, AFCL uncovered numerous issues with the poll, highlighting Lins strong mainland ties, which cast doubt on the polls credibility. Prosecutors allege that the supposed pollsters fabricated results without conducting actual opinion polls.

Here is what AFCL found.

The poll

Su, a self-described polling expert, was commissioned by Zhi Dong New Media Co. Ltd. to conduct the poll. It claimed to have been conducted between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, based on randomly selected participants at train stations in three parts of the country  northern, central and southern Taiwan, reports said.

Some 300 interviews with eligible voters over the age of 20 were conducted in each location for a total of 900 interviews. The sampling error was given as  4%.

Su said he did the poll for no charge, as a favor to Lin: He is my student. I did the poll for him, for free.

When contacted by AFCL, Su declined to provide full details of his research, but confirmed that he had used four simple questions: the respondents age, which candidates they supported, whether they were likely to change their minds before the election and who the respondents family and friends supported.

Problematic methods

Sus methods drew sharp criticism from polling experts.

Opinion polls should rely on as broad a sample as possible, but the Fingermedia poll did the opposite, said Hsiao Yi-ching, a researcher at the Center for Electoral Studies at Taiwans Chengchi University.

Those stations are in metropolitan areas, so are you ignoring the opinions of the people in non-metropolitan areas? Hsiao said. Who are the interviewers looking for, and what are their criteria? You can challenge all of that.

He also said Sus poll failed to define north, central and south for the purposes of the poll and questioned the numbers interviewed at each location.

The survey only mentioned interviews as a methodology, without specifying whether they were in person, online, by cell phone or landline, and the sampling error should be  3.26%, not  4.00%, Hsiao said.

Taiwan pollster Dai Li-an questioned whether the interviews were truly conducted at random, and said they could be subject to bias among those gathering opinions.

Mainland ties

Furthermore, AFCL found that Fingermedia, along with a number of its partner websites, had been mentioned in connection with two cases of Chinese Communist Party media influence campaigns in 2019, and that executives from these websites had taken part in a higher-than-average number of cross-strait exchanges in China.

Experts agreed that this alone would have made the poll unusable to any Taiwanese media organization.

Dai Li-an said the islands media shouldn't be using Fingermedias polls at all. They shouldnt be cited at all, he said. Frankly, Its a bit irresponsible of them.

An online search for Fingermedia pulled up a number of results linking it to red media organizations backed by the Chinese Communist Party.

In July 2019, Taiwans Liberty Times and other media reported that 23 Taiwanese online media simultaneously reposted articles from Chinas state media criticizing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. The incident was designated part of a red information war by Taiwans presidential palace, the National Security Council and other agencies.

Of the 23 websites named, 15 were run by Fingermedias parent company, Zhi Dong Technology Co., Ltd.

Fingermedia made another appearance in news reports in November 2019, after China launched its 26-point blueprint for relations with Taiwan.

A close-run thing

Fu Wen-cheng, head of journalism at Taiwans National Defense Universitys Fu Hsing Kang military academy, said Fingermedia appears to have switched tactics.

They fought the usual infowar but didn't win, so they started playing around with sensationalist polls as clickbait, trying to get onto all of the front pages, Fu told AFCL.

Now that the Taiwanese public is increasingly resistant to disinformation, pro-China operations like Fingermedia need to take a multi-platform approach to maximize their impact, hoping to leapfrog across multiple platforms and onto the pages of the mainstream media, he said.

Before his arrest, Lin told AFCL that he had gotten into opinion polls because this years election is more of a close-run thing.

This years presidential election is particularly important in deciding the fate of the Republic of China and affects the future direction of cross-strait relations, he said, adding that he had asked for help from Su, his former professor at Providence University. Su confirmed this account.

The poll that got Lin into trouble with prosecutors in Taichung wasnt the first, either.

Between Oct. 13 and Dec. 11, Fingermedia published no less than seven polls on public support for presidential election candidates, some of which were picked up by the media. But none of them set off quite such a heated debate as the one claiming KMTs Hou had overtaken DPPs Lai.

Lin, who has been identified by his government as a known participant in the Chinese Communist Partys United Front event, the Cross-Straits Forum, openly admits to being on friendly terms with Chinese officials, including those from the Taiwan Affairs Office.

Theres no [special] relationship, just a sense of brotherhood, he said.

He rejected the pro-China label, however.

Its normal for individuals to have a point of view. I can be in the Blue camp, I can be in the Green. But where in the media do I say that I am a full-on supporter of mainland China? he said. Have I ever written such a thing?

Nonetheless, Lin still references Beijings claim that the people of Taiwan are brothers or relatives, of those in China, which it uses to underpin its territorial claim on the island, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, nor formed part of the Peoples Republic.

He said he simply believes that Taiwan should be on good terms with its neighbor. To that end, Lin founded Yuan Fong Media to target the Chinese market and promote cross-strait exchanges.

Too lazy

Tai Yu-hui, an associate professor in the Department of Communication and Technology at Taiwans National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, said the shift to public opinion surveys is new.

The lack of regulation around the use of content from China-linked content farms means that editors would have little guidance, according to Tai. But they still should have checked the provenance of the information before using it, she said.

The problem is that they are too lazy nowadays, Tai said. Maybe they figured they would pick it up for the time being, then take it down if there was an issue with it.

AFCL repeatedly contacted the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, but only received a curt refusal of comment, because the case involves matters of national security.

By taking advantage of weaknesses in the national medias editorial decision-making processes, Lins unorthodox and eye-catching poll managed to get mainstream media attention  a victory for the guerilla infowars waged by Taiwanese media organizations known for their close ties to China.

And according to the Taichung Public Prosecutor's Officers, that guerrilla warfare on public opinion was directed by the Chinese Communist Party.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster and Taejun Kang.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Chinese spokesperson condemned Manilas actions in disputed waters and warned the U.S. against intervening.

China has said it will not turn a blind eye towards what it calls the Philippines repeated provocations and harassment in the South China Sea.

Earlier this month, Beijing and Manila traded accusations over a Philippine resupply mission to the troops stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal, with each side claiming its ships were harassed and rammed by the other.

Chinese defense ministrys spokesperson Wu Qian at a press briefing on Thursday repeated the claim that the Philippines, in disregard of repeated warnings from the Chinese side, insisted on sending vessel to intrude into the adjacent waters of China's Renai Jiao, and provocatively rammed a China Coast Guard vessel and caused scratches.

Wu referred to the contested reef by its Chinese name.

The Philippines insisted that its routine resupply and rotation mission to the BRP Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal was dangerously harassed (and) blocked by the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels.

We noted that the Philippine side had claimed to conduct humanitarian supplies, said the Chinese spokesman.

In my view, this is not humanitarian supply at all, it is to deliberately create an incident, play victim and make a show in the name of humanitarian supply.

The China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures in accordance with law, which were totally justified and legitimate.

China Coast Guard vessel firing a water cannon at a Philippine boat, Dec. 10, 2023. (Philippine Coast Guard)

A Philippine military spokesperson said earlier this week that his country is not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, as cited by Reuters on Tuesday.

We follow international law and we are only implementing our domestic law, meaning the limits of our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, where we have sovereign rights, said Col. Medel Aguilar.

The United States, as Manilas treaty ally, has repeatedly condemned Chinas dangerous and unlawful actions and vowed to respond to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft  including those of its Coast Guard  anywhere in the South China Sea.

At the latest defense ministrys press briefing, Senior Col. Wu Qian said that the U.S. instigates the Philippines to infringe and provoke violations, and also attempts to use the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines to threaten and coerce China.

"We demand that the U.S. immediately stop meddling in the South China Sea issue, he said.

Chinese officials and state-run media outlets have also been ramping up the rhetoric against Manila in recent weeks.

During a phone call with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo on Dec. 20, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the relations between the two countries are at a crossroads and warned Manila to act with caution, according to the meeting readout.

Chinese media outlets such as the Peoples Daily, Chinas Daily and Global Times all ran articles blaming the Philippines for the escalation of tension.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
Cynthia Wu, the Taiwan People's Party vice-presidential nominee, is interviewed on RFA Mandarin's "Asia Wants to Talk" chat show in Taipei.



Shin Kong heiress and Taiwan People's Party vice-presidential nominee Cynthia Wu didn't say much when she was announced as the running mate for transplant surgeon Ko Wen-je in next months election, putting down the microphone after a few brief words.

Yet during a recent interview with RFA Mandarin's "Asia Wants to Talk" chat show, the U.S.-born Wu switched easily between Mandarin, Taiwanese and English to chat non-stop about her experiences on the campaign trail and her vision for Taiwan's future.

Until she joined the presidential race in a decision that she says surprised even her, Wu was mostly known as an appointed member of the self-governing island's Legislative Yuan and the granddaughter of Wu Ho-su, who founded the Wu family's Shin Kong business empire.

From humble beginnings as a department store in Taiwan, Shin Kong grew into a conglomerate spanning the financial, security, manufacturing, consumer, medical and philanthropy sectors.

Ko Wen-je [center, left], the Taiwan People's Partys presidential candidate, and his running mate Cynthia Wu wave after registering for the upcoming presidential elections in Taipei on Nov. 24, 2023. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

"Total surprise," Wu told host Simon Tai, when asked for her reaction to her nomination, which came soon after talks between Ko's "White Camp" Taiwan People's Party and the "Blue Camp" opposition Kuomintang broke down with no agreement on Nov. 24.

"The Blue and White camps didn't get together, so each party had to pick its own candidate for vice president," Wu said. "I only heard about it on day 50 [of the campaign], on the Friday afternoon, like everybody else."

Wu likened the surprise to that she felt when becoming a mother earlier this year at the age of 45.

She added: "You've just got to get on with it."

Business princess

Wu once held dual U.S. and Taiwanese citizenships but renounced her U.S. citizenship in 2014, and has been considered a surprising choice by many in Taiwan, who saw her as more of a business heiress and princess unfit for the cut-and-thrust of political life.

Asked if she was a "princess," Wu replied: "Why only label me as one thing? I'm also a mother, an insurance salesperson, I hold a financial analyst certificate issued in London, and I'm also a person who loves Taiwan."

She said she accepts who she is calmly, despite what she termed "political manipulation" that she said seeks to make her seem out-of-place in politics and even spoiled.

Wu doesn't just hold financial certifications -- she graduated as a double major in international relations and art history from Wesleyan College in Connecticut, and holds a master's degree in literature from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

Her resume includes stints as an investment analyst for a brokerage, and as assistant to former U.K. Conservative Party lawmaker Peter Lilley, now known as Lord Lilley.

Since returning to settle in Taiwan at the age of 25, she has also held a number of executive posts in Shin Kong subsidiaries, including vice president of its insurance division and executive director of its Shin Kong Life Foundation, experience she said is useful on the campaign trail.

Chinese influence claims

Wu says that trying to win votes is a lot like selling insurance.

"The process is the same -- either you are trying to turn an opportunity into a sold policy, or you're trying to turn it into a vote," she said. "You have to leave no stone unturned."

Slated by her critics as an amateur due to her many gaffes, including misnaming government ministries and describing herself as "Chinese," Wu said Ko had told her that she should see the media as akin to sharks circling for a feed.

"He talks a lot, has a great sense of humor and wont form a personal relationship with you," Wu said. "But he told me that I should be myself ... and even feed the sharks occasionally."

She has also been warned by colleagues in the Legislative Yuan that being in politics means being forced to cope with the fact that people gossip about you.

More seriously, Wu has been accused of being part of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front outreach and influence operation, after being named among "China's 100 Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs" in 2010.

Asked at the time if she was Chinese or Taiwanese, Wu told journalists that she was both.

"Chinese culture is in my DNA," Wu told Radio Free Asia. "I am a citizen of the Republic of China, but my ancestors are also from China."

The majority of Taiwans 23 million residents identify as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, and have no wish to give up their democratic way of life to be ruled by Beijing, according to opinion polls.

Cynthia Wu, vice president candidate for Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP) makes a speech on stage during a campaign event ahead of the election in Hsinchu, Taiwan December 23, 2023. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Nonetheless, Wu has appeared to strongly endorse the status quo, in which Taiwan, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party nor formed part of the People's Republic of China, continues to govern itself as a democracy.

"I think Taiwan must maintain its peaceful and independent life," Wu said. "If China is willing to make way for communication and discussion with us, then it's likely we will talk to them."

Beyond that, she referred voters to Ko's maxim that peace across the Taiwan Strait is the best guarantee of the status quo.

"The status quo is being maintained, but what is up for negotiation is to restart talks," Wu said.

Cross-strait relations

Like Ko, Wu described the "1992 Consensus" agreed by Taipei and Beijing as "vague."

Beijing has repeatedly castigated Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen for allegedly departing from the agreement by seeking a greater role for Taiwan on the world stage, and because she insists on government-to-government status as a prerequisite for talks with Beijing -- something Chinese officials would never agree to.

The "Consensus" has been widely criticized as meaning different things to different people -- for Beijing, it appears to mean that Taiwan's 23 million people should stop insisting on a distinctly Taiwanese identity, something China views as "pro-independence."

"If he gets into power, Chairman Ko would want to clarify the definitions [in the Consensus]," Wu said.

But asked if she believed Chinese President Xi Jinping when he said there was no timetable for invading Taiwan by force, Wu replied: "Taiwan can't put its future in the hands of a single person and their decisions."

"The more international connections Taiwan has, the safer it will be," she said, likening Xi's intentions to "the weather" over which Taiwanese have no control.

"Regardless of what the weather is doing, we can't leave our fate up to other people," Wu said.

Asked if she adds value to Ko's campaign or impedes it, Wu replied: "I think I add value for Taiwan, and for Taiwan as seen by the international community."

"I've seen my whole life how economic and diplomatic issues go hand in hand," she said. "So, moving from a commercial background into politics doesn't actually feel like a change of career, just a different track on the way to realizing some of my ideals."
Adm. Dong Jun replaces Li Shangfu, who was removed in October and has been missing from public view since Aug. 29.

Dong Jun appears at the opening ceremony of the Sea Guardians-2020 joint naval exercise between China and Pakistan on Jan. 6, 2020.

Chinese lawmakers on Friday approved the appointment of Adm. Dong Jun, the former commander of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to the position of defense minister, state Xinhua news agency said.

The decision was passed at the closing meeting of the 7th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, Chinas top legislature.

The defense ministers post had been vacant since October, when Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed a presidential decree removing Li Shangfu as Minister of National Defense. Li was also ousted from the State Council, or the central government of China.

No reasons were given for the removal of Li, who became defense minister and state councillor just seven months prior and had been missing from public view since Aug. 29.

Reuters, citing several people in direct contact with the Chinese military, reported in September that Li was under investigation by Chinese authorities in connection with the procurement of military equipment.

Military career

Dong was born in 1961 in Shandong province. He joined the PLAN in 1978 and was promoted to the rank of admiral in 2021.

Dong left his post as PLAN commander earlier this week. His successor is Adm. Hu Zhongming, who until December 2023 held the position of the navys chief of staff.

Hus appointment was seen by analysts as an indication of Chinas increasing focus on maritime affairs, especially in the disputed South China Sea.

Dong has not yet been appointed to the state council or to the Central Military Commission but those appointments could be made in the coming months. Chinas defense ministers normally serve on all three fronts  the military, the Communist Partys military commission and the cabinet.

As the former commander of the Navy, Dong engaged in various military diplomatic activities, said a report in the China Daily.

The Chinese Communist Partys mouthpiece listed several exchanges that Dong took part in, including a video call with the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy and the leading role in joint military exercises between Chinese and foreign forces.

Dongs experience on the military diplomatic front could be seen as positive for renewing the military-to-military ties between China and the United States that have been disrupted for some time.

Only last week, Gen. C.Q. Brown, the chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Liu Zhenli, via video links after an almost 18-month-long freeze in direct talks.

Direct communications were severed by Chinas military leaders following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in August last year, which led to nearly a year of animosity between Beijing and Washington.

Jun also has first-hand experience in dealing with issues related to Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Between 2013-2014, he was deputy commander of the East Sea Fleet, now the Eastern Theatre Command Navy, responsible for the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Dong also served as deputy commander of the Southern Theater Command from 2017 to 2021 before becoming deputy commander and commander of the PLA Navy.

The Southern Theater Command is one of the PLAs five major theater commands. Its primary area of responsibility is the South China Sea.
Police also hauled in the parents of democracy activist Agnes Chow, who skipped bail and fled to Canada.

UPDATED at 2:30 p.m. on 2023-12-29

Authorities in Hong Kong on Friday issued a "recall" order for prominent independence activist Tony Chung, who recently arrived in the United Kingdom to seek political asylum, as police questioned the parents of activist Agnes Chow, who skipped bail and fled to Canada.

Chung, now 22 and one of the youngest democracy activists to be jailed under a draconian national security law, announced on Facebook and Instagram that he had applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom, where he arrived earlier this week.

Hong Kong's Correctional Service Department issued a recall order for Chung and said they would work with other law enforcement agencies to put him on a growing list of wanted prominent activists in exile, amid growing international concerns about China's "long-arm" law enforcement activities.

Chung, who was jailed in 2021 on charges of secession when he was just 19, said he remained under close police surveillance following his release at the end of his prison sentence in June, as part of a one-year supervision order.

Tony Chung arrives at West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in a police van after being arrested under the national security law, in Hong Kong, Oct. 29, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Chung said he was ordered by Hong Kong authorities to give up his job and banned from talking to the media or publishing online posts, before being repeatedly pressured by police to inform on other pro-democracy activists for money, according to his statement on Facebook.

"The national security police officers kept on coercing and inducing me to join them," Chung wrote. "My speculation is that they learned about my financial struggles through my bank account information, so they proposed providing informant fees, urging me to supply information about others as proof of my reformation and willingness to cooperate."

Chung, who pleaded guilty to the charges against him, eventually managed to leave Hong Kong by gaining approval from Correctional Services to travel to Japan as a tourist.

Once there, he "hurriedly purchased a flight ticket to the UK before the deadline for returning to Hong Kong, and arrived in the UK on the evening of Dec. 27 (UK time)," he said, adding that he is unlikely to be able to return for the foreseeable future.

Financial struggles

In an interview with Radio Free Asia, Chung said national security police would seek him out for a meeting every two to four weeks, picking him up in an SUV with drawn curtains and driving him to an unknown location for interrogation about his recent activities.

"They wanted me to confess, and prove to them that I had nothing to hide, and that I wasn't engaging in any further secessionist activities," Chung said.

Each time, the police also tried to hire him as an informant, and pay him fees ranging from HK$500 to $3,000 (about US$65 to $385) for information on other activists.

"The national security police claimed that they knew that my financial situation was fairly dire, and that I needed money, so they offered to give me financial assistance with informant fees, hoping that I would provide some intelligence and information they needed," Chung said.

His escape came more than three years after an abortive bid for political asylum at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong, Chung said.

"Back then, someone claiming to be from a U.K. group said they could get me into the U.S. Consulate to seek asylum," he said. "The Chinese name of the group was Tuesdayroad, and the guy claimed his name was Tony Choi."

"But when I took a taxi to the opposite side of the road from the U.S. Consulate that day, I saw two men who seemed to be national security police watching me, from the moment I got out of the taxi," Chung said.

The officers approached Chung, read out his full name, and ordered him to stop. Chung tried to duck into a nearby coffee shop, but they caught up with him there, he said.

Chung, who was receiving treatment for mental health problems at the time, knew his asylum bid was a long shot, but felt he had to try.

"It was the least I could do for Hong Kong, and it was the only thing I could do at that time," he said.

Failed bid

Fellow wanted Hong Kong activist and host of the Tuesdayroad YouTube channel Johnny Fok confirmed the incident when contacted by RFA Cantonese.

"A host from our channel assisted Tony Chung in a bid to enter the U.S. Consulate in 2020, but it was unsuccessful," Fok said in a written response.

"He was arrested and taken away by unidentified people. The last person to communicate with him at that time was Tony [Choi], a host at this channel."

The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau did not respond to a request for comment.

Fok and Choi were both placed on a wanted list earlier this month for "incitement to secession" and "incitement to subvert state power" under the National Security Law, based on videos they made between July 2020 and August 2023.

Chung's account of being pressured to inform on other activists is similar to that of fellow democracy activist Agnes Chow, who recently skipped bail and fled to Canada after taking a "study tour" to mainland China in order to get her passport back from police.

Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow arrives at court in Hong Kong, on Nov. 23, 2020. Now in Canada, Hong Kong police have vowed to pursue her for the rest of her life. (Vincent Yu/AP)

Police on Thursday hit out at Chow for failing to report to a police station as part of her bail conditions, vowing to pursue her for the rest of her life. Its a threat they have made to many other overseas activists on the wanted list.

Police also hauled Chow's parents in for questioning on Friday.

The Hong Kong Standard cited sources as saying that Chow's parents were "invited to Tai Po Police Station to aid in the investigation," on Friday.

"It is understood that Chows mother was the guarantor when applying to release her daughter on bail," reported the paper, which is owned by the pro-China Sing Tao News Corp.



Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Updated to include comments from the Tuesdayroad YouTube channel.
An apparent warning comes amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Seoul.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks to the media after a meeting with his Albanian counterpart Besnik Mustafaj in Moscow April 12, 2006.

Russias foreign minister issued an apparent warning to South Korea, following Seouls imposition of additional trade restrictions on Moscow intended to curb its expansionist ambitions in Ukraine.

In an interview with Russias state-run TASS news agency Thursday, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov called the Korean peninsula, along with Africa and Afghanistan knots of conflict next year.

It can be said that at a time when the West is holding onto elusive dominance, no one is safe from its geopolitical intrigues, Lavrov said, adding that crises may take place unless the West accepts the realities of a multipolar world.

Lavrovs comments come amid rapidly deteriorating ties between Seoul and Moscow, as South Korea decided to join the U.S.-led trade restrictions on Russia in response to its aggression against Ukraine.

Most recently, South Koreas Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on Tuesday announced an administrative revision, including the addition of 682 items to its list of products requiring special export permits, as part of a coordinated international effort to control exports to Russia.

With these additions, the total number of items subject to special export permits to Russia will increase to 1,159. The items added, which are deemed to have significant potential for military use, included construction heavy equipment, secondary batteries, machine tools, and aircraft components.

In response to Seouls new measures, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday called Seouls action an unfriendly move in compliance with the United States demands.

The spokesperson then warned about potential retaliatory measures, emphasizing that Russia has every right to respond.

Russias responses may not be symmetrical, and we hope South Korea will not find themselves surprised by them later, she said.

Following Russias warning of possible asymmetrical measures, a South Korean foreign ministry official told reporters during a back briefing in Seoul that Russia needed to play its part for the management of South Korea-Russia relations.

Prior to announcing the export control measures against Russia, we had already explained the situation to the Russian side, the official added.

The escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations are already spilling over into the military realm.

On Dec. 14, four Russian military aircraft, along with two Chinese, entered South Koreas Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ, off its eastern coast without prior notification.

ADIZ is an arbitrary line established to enable the early identification and response to military aircraft approaching national airspace.

Typically, it is an international practice for military aircraft to submit their flight plans in advance and notify the respective country of their entry points when entering another nations ADIZ. However, Russia and China did not notify South Korea prior to their entry into the zone, according to the Souths defense ministry.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
Ten Rohingyas were killed and another 17 injured in the Buthidaung and Mrauk-U townships in Myanmars Rakhine state as a result of airstrikes by the junta on Thursday, local residents told RFA Burmese on Friday.

At around 9 p.m. on Thursday night, heavy artillery fired from a junta camp struck Zay Di Taung village in Buthidaung township. The attack resulted in the loss of six family members, including three Rohingya children who were at home asleep, and left another member of the family critically injured, according to the residents.

The casualties included Zafaul, a 60-year-old man; Ansaula, a 19-year-old man; Sotyod Ahmed, a 5-year-old boy; Norol Ahmed, a 3-year-old boy; Halayar, an 11-year-old boy; and Tausmi Nara, a 20-year-old woman.

Three heavy weapons fell into the village on Thursday night. One [of three] fell directly on the houses. All six members of the family who were sleeping in the house died and it was also burned down, a Rohingya resident of Zay Di Taung village, who wished to remain anonymous for his security reasons, told RFA Burmese Friday.

So the bodies were also burnt. The other one was injured while trying to evacuate, said the resident, adding that the heavy artillery was fired by the junta camp at Thone Se Ta Bon Zay Di hill in Buthidaung township.

Rohingyas are fleeing due to battles in Mrauk-Us Myaung Bway village on Dec. 28. (AK/Citizen journalist)





Locals said that there are more than 60 households with more than 300 population in the Rohingya-dominant Zay Di Taung village.

Despite the pervasive fear among villagers caused by the casualties from the conflict, Rohingya Muslims remain restricted from moving freely, even within Rakhine state. Consequently, they are compelled to stay in their village, lacking any refuge to flee to in times of danger.

Zay Di Taung village is not alone. Four Rohingya were killed and 16 others were injured in juntas Thursday airstrikes on Rohingya villages, including Kaing Taw, Bu Ta Lone and Baung Dut villages in Mrauk-U township, according to the locals.

The junta raid came after anti-junta force Arakan Army (AA) attacked the Myaung Bway, also known as Myaung Bway Chay, Police Station in Mrauk-U township on Thursday, a resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told RFA Burmese on Friday.

The AA attacked the Myaung Bway Police Station on Thursday. Then the junta army attacked with heavy artillery and airstrikes, causing casualties when the nearby villages were also shot. The homes were also burned down. The junta opened fire from the side of Mrauk-U and Minbya, and shot them with jets, the resident said.

The AA claimed on Thursday that the junta attacks were deliberately carried out.

The junta said in a Friday statement that no air strike had been carried out on Mrauk-Us Myaung Bway village and surrounding area on Thursady.

It also claimed that when the AA used the drone to attack the Myaung Bway police station from a distance, the junta security forces used anti-drone weapons, or jammers, which made drone bombs fall near the surrounding villages.

The statement made no mention of the death of Rohingyas in Buthidaung townships Zay Di Taung village.

Rohingyas are fleeing due to battles in Mrauk-Us Myaung Bway village on Dec. 28. (AK/Citizen journalist)





Based on records gathered by RFA, 40 civilians lost their lives and over a hundred were wounded during the clashes between the AA and the military junta, which reignited for over a month from Nov. 13 to Dec. 29.

Following the military clearance operations and assaults in 2017, over 700,000 Rohingyas from Northern Rakhine sought refuge in Bangladesh. Presently, over a million Rohingyas are residing in refugee camps along the Bangladesh border, as reported by the United Nations and various international organizations.

It is said that about 1.4 million Rohingyas still remain in Myanmars Rakhine state, and these Rohingyas are enduring food scarcity and severe limitations in Myanmar, while also grappling with criminal activities and gang violence in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Consequently, they are taking perilous sea journeys to reach Indonesia or Malaysia.

Since last November, over 1,500 Rohingyas have reached Indonesias Aceh province by boat.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has pledged temporary aid for these Rohingya refugees, yet there is resistance from the local population. This situation has raised alarms among human rights groups.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
Le Huu Minh Tuan said during a visit this week that he is too weak to bear any more.

Le Huu Minh Tuan, former editor of the Vietnam Times online newspaper, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of anti-state propaganda.

A Vietnamese journalist who is serving an 11-year prison sentence told family members that his health has declined to the point that he can no longer consume food without vomiting, a relative told Radio Free Asia.

Le Huu Minh Tuan, a member of the Vietnam Independent Journalists Association, was arrested in 2020 on a charge of conducting propaganda against the state. Hes now serving an 11-year term at Xuyen Moc Prison in southern Vietnams Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

Tuan, 34, said during a visit on Tuesday that he is too weak to bear any more and that he cannot hold on much longer, according to the relative, who wished to remain anonymous.

Tuan has had digestive issues since late last year and has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and hepatitis by a medical officer at the prison. He contracted scabies in mid-2023, and that has now spread to his whole body, according to the relative.

Although his family has sent medication several times, he has not been allowed to receive them and can only take medicine provided by the prison, the relative said.

Tuan received a cursory examination at a local hospital in November, according to the relative.

On Tuesday, family members could only see Tuan through a thick glass partition and were allowed to talk to him only via telephone. He was able to walk by himself but moved slowly.

He has only bone and skin left now, very pale. He could not consume anything because his body could not digest food. He just drank milk and thin porridge, the relative said.

His life quite clearly depends on it

Tuan is a former editor of the Vietnam Times online newspaper and a member of the Vietnam Independent Journalists Association, which fought for press freedom in Vietnam but was not recognized by the Communist-led government.

Tuan was prosecuted alongside Pham Chi Dung, the associations president, and Nguyen Tuong Thuy, a blogger for RFA and the associations vice president. Dung was given a 15-year prison term, while Thuy was sentenced to 11 years.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Asia division, called on the government to immediately release Tuan.

"Since Vietnam's prisons provide virtually no health services to start with, Le Huu Minh Tuan should be immediately and unconditionally released so that his family can get him the support and medical care that he urgently needs, he told RFA. There should be no excuses, his life quite clearly depends on it.

Many international organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized Vietnam for its inhumane treatment of prisoners of conscience and for holding them in harsh conditions with malnutrition and poor medical care.

Family members have sent an urgent petition to the Ministry of Public Securitys Department of Prison Management and to Xuyen Moc Prison with a request to give Tuan proper treatment and a thorough examination at a hospital.

RFAs calls to Xuyen Moc Prison and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Peoples Procuracy to verify information went unanswered.

Translated by Anna Vu for RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Matt Reed and Roseanne Gerin.
Umerov: It's obvious that with such missile reserves Russia has, they can and will continue such attacks

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, commenting on the massive Russian attack on Ukraine, said that with such missile reserves that the aggressor state has, they can and will continue to attack.

"The Russians killed and wounded our citizens, destroyed the infrastructure. Time and again, Russia demonstrates to the whole world that it has no other goal than terror, than murder, than the genocide of Ukrainians. For each of these crimes, punishment will be fair. I thank every soldier and officer of our air defense forces, who with their own professionalism thwart the enemy's insidious plans in order to break our will to fight until victory. It is obvious that with such reserves of missiles that the aggressor state has, they can and will continue such attacks," Umerov said on Facebook.

He said the Ministry of Defense continues to work with the governments of partner countries to provide Ukraine with sufficient air defense systems to protect the people from the mortal danger of future attacks.

Umerov also said for many months the Russians had been stockpiling missiles to carry out this attack.
Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, in his first court appearance since being moved to a notorious prison in the Arctic, joked and smiled at a hearing on his challenge to how he was being treated in prison, which the judge ultimately rejected.

The court said a suit filed by Navalny, who attended the January 10 hearing via video link, against his placement in a solitary confinement for 12 days at his previous prison in October was without merit as the move was legal.

In his decision, Judge Kirill Nikiforov ruled Navalny's placement in a punitive cell was warranted because it was proven that he violated an internal order at the IK-6 prison in the Vladimir region, namely by using "offensive" words when debating with a guard.

In a light moment during the proceedings, Navalny told the judge, who has presided over several similar sessions, that "a tear is flowing down my cheek" as a sign of pleasure at getting to see him again.

A second suit also filed by Navalny against the prison's decision not to allow his wife's letters to reach him will be considered by the court at a later date as Navalny asked for time to get acquainted with all documents related to the case. Navalny said he needed to see the prison warden's written order banning his wife's letters.

The day before, Navalny said on X, formerly Twitter, that he was immediately placed in a punitive solitary-confinement cell for seven days for failing to "properly" introduce himself to a prison guard after finishing a quarantine term at his new prison formally known as IK-3, but widely referred to as "Polar Wolf."

Navalny was transported to the notorious and remote prison in December.

Located some 2,000 kilometers northeast of Moscow, the prison 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.

Navalny, who is serving a total of 19 years in prison on extremism and other charges, was hospitalized on August 20, 2020, after falling seriously ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. He was later transferred to Germany for treatment of poisoning by a deadly nerve agent of the Novichok group.

His Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) conducted an investigation of the poisoning and determined that it was carried out by agents of the Federal Security Service acting at Putins behest.

Russian authorities have never investigated the poisoning, with prosecutors claiming there was no evidence a crime had been committed.

Navalny returned to Russia from Germany on January 21, 2021 and was immediately arrested. He has been in custody ever since.

He has posed one of the most serious challenges to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recently announced he is running for reelection in March. Putin is expected to easily win the election amid the continued sidelining of opponents and a clampdown on opposition and civil society that has intensified since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

On January 9, Navalny's team, in a post on Telegram, called on Russian citizens both home and abroad to hold an action called "Russia Without Putin" on January 21 -- the third anniversary of Navalny's arrest at a Moscow airport after he returned from Germany.

Navalny's FBK and his network of regional offices were declared "extremist" organizations and shut down in Russia in 2021. Many of his supporters fled the country in the face of criminal cases or the threat of prosecution.

Several of his associates were arrested on extremism charges, with some of them being handed prison terms.

With reporting by Mediazona and Meduza
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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected the possibility of a cease-fire with Russia, saying it would not lead to substantive progress in the war and only favor Moscow by giving it time to boost supplies to its military as the conflict nears its two-year anniversary.

A pause on the Ukrainian battlefield will not mean a pause in the war, the Ukrainian leader said in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, on January 11 during a tour of the three Baltic nations.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

"Give Russia two to three years and it will simply run us over. We wouldn't take that risk.... There will be no pauses in favor of Russia," he said. "A pause would play into [Russias] hands.... It might crush us afterward.



Zelenskiy has pleaded with Ukraine's allies to keep supplying it with weapons amid signs of donor fatigue in some countries and as Russia turns to countries such as Iran and North Korea for munitions.



NATO allies meeting in Brussels on January 10 tried to allay Kyiv's concerns over supplies, saying they will continue to provide Ukraine with major military, economic, and humanitarian aid. NATO allies have outlined plans to provide "billions of euros of further capabilities" in 2024 to Ukraine, the alliance said in a statement.



Estonian President Alar Karis said after meeting Zelenskiy that his country will provide 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion) in aid to Ukraine until 2027.



"Ukraine needs more and better weapons," Karis said at a joint news conference with Zelenskiy.



"The capabilities of the EU military industry must be increased so that Ukraine gets what it needs, not tomorrow, but today. We should not place any restrictions on the supply of weapons to Ukraine," he added.



Estonia has so far provided military assistance to Ukraine worth nearly 500 million euros, or more than 1.4 percent of its gross domestic product, according to the Estonian Foreign Minstry.

In a separate message on X, formerly Twitter, Zelenskiy thanked Tallinn for its continued aid.



"Estonia's unwavering support for Ukraine, our people, and our defense is evident today, during my visit, and throughout the war," Zelenskiy wrote. "I am grateful to Estonia for all its support."



The Baltic countries have been staunch allies of Ukraine since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion in February 2022.



On January 10, Zelenskiy held talks in Vilnius with Lithuanian counterpart, Gitanas Nauseda.

We have proven that Russia can be stopped, that deterrence is possible, he said after talks with Nauseda.



Ukraine has been subjected to several massive waves of Russian missile and drone strikes since the start of the year that have caused civilian deaths and material damage.



In the latest such attack, a hotel in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, was struck by Russian missiles overnight on January 11. The strike injured 13 people, including Turkish journalists staying at the hotel, Kharkiv regional police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko said.



Regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said that one of those injured was in serious condition. More than 30 civilians were inside the hotel at the time of the attack, Synyehubov said on Telegram.



Ukraine's emergency services said those hurt in the strike were "hotel staff and guests, one of whom is a foreign journalist," without giving details. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said no military personnel were staying at the hotel.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukraine has shown Russia's military is stoppable as he made a surprise visit to the Baltics to help ensure continued aid to his country amid a wave of massive Russian aerial barrages.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Zelenskiy met with his Lithuanian counterpart, Gitanas Nauseda, on January 10 to discuss military aid, training, and joint demining efforts during the previously unannounced trip, which will also take him to Estonia and Latvia.

We have proven that Russia can be stopped, that deterrence is possible, he said after talks with Nauseda on what is the Ukrainian leader's first foreign trip of 2024.

"Today, Gitanas Nauseda and I focused on frontline developments. Weapons, equipment, personnel training, and Lithuania's leadership in the demining coalition are all sources of strength for us," Zelenskiy later wrote on X, formerly Twitter.



Lithuania has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since the start of Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion, which will reach the two-year mark in February.

Nauseda said EU and NATO member Lithuania will continue to provide military, political, and economic support to Ukraine, and pointed to the Baltic country's approval last month of a 200 million euro ($219 million) long-term military aid package for Ukraine.

Russia's invasion has turned Ukraine into one of the most mined countries in the world, generating one of the largest demining challenges since the end of World War II.

"Lithuania is forming a demining coalition to mobilize military support for Ukraine as efficiently and quickly as possible," Nauseda said.

"The Western world must understand that this is not just the struggle of Ukraine, it is the struggle of the whole of Europe and the democratic world for peace and freedom," Nauseda said.

Ukraine has pleaded with its allies to keep supplying it with weapons amid signs of donor fatigue in some countries.

There is continued disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress on continuing military aid for Kyiv, while a 50 billion euro ($55 billion) aid package from the European Union remains blocked due to a Hungarian veto.

But a NATO allies meeting in Brussels on January 10 made it clear that they will continue to provide Ukraine with major military, economic, and humanitarian aid. NATO allies have outlined plans to provide "billions of euros of further capabilities" in 2024 to Ukraine, the alliance said in a statement.

Zelensky warned during the news conference with Nauseda that delays in Western aid to Kyiv would only embolden Moscow.

"[Russian President Vladimir Putin] is not going to stop. He wants to occupy us completely," Zelenskiy said. "And sometimes, the insecurity of partners regarding financial and military aid to Ukraine only increases Russia's courage and strength."

Since the start of the year, Ukraine has been subjected to several massive waves of Russian missile and drone strikes that have caused civilian deaths and material damage.

Zelenskiy said on January 10 that Ukraine badly needs advanced air-defense systems.

"In recent days, Russia hit Ukraine with a total of 500 devices: We destroyed 70 percent of them," Zelenskiy said. "Air-defense systems are the No. 1 item that we lack."

Ukraine sounded an all-out air-raid alert earlier on January 10, and later in the day a Russian strike on the eastern city of Kharkiv injured nine people, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said.

The injuries occurred when a civilian target was damaged, he said, without specifying what was hit. An inspection of the location was ongoing late on January 10, he said, adding that cars were on fire.



Synyehubov also said that Russian forces had previously hit Kharkiv's Kyiv district with S-300 missiles. Kharkiv is under fire almost every day, usually from S-300 antiaircraft missile systems positioned in Russia in the territory of Belgorod.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Marinika Tepic, a member of the Serbian parliament from the opposition Serbia Against Violence party, is on hunger strike, demanding the annulment of the country's parliamentary and local elections, claiming electoral fraud. Charges of fraud in the December 17 vote set off large student-led protests. While several of Tepic's colleagues have since ended their hunger strikes, she says she has refused demands to quit made by emissaries of President Aleksandar Vucic. Tepic spoke about the situation to RFE/RLs Balkan Service at the parliament in Belgrade, where she was receiving infusions on December 28  her 11th day without food.
BELGRADE -- An opposition lawmaker and mother of two has vowed to continue her 11-day-old hunger strike to protest the fairness of Serbia's national and local elections this month, saying she has a duty to fight for democracy and the country's European future, rather than being in Russia's orbit.

Marinika Tepic and five fellow members of a newly united opposition Serbia Against Violence (SPN) alliance began their hunger strikes after President Aleksandar Vucic's election-night declaration of landslide victories for his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the December 17 voting.

"I thought that I had not only the right to run for office and to be elected and to be the face of the [Serbia Against Violence] campaign, but also that I had a greater responsibility than anyone else to fight for this," Tepic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service in an interview from a couch on the third floor of a parliament building that houses Serbia's elections overseer, the Republic Election Commission.

She said public institutions had been turned into "accomplices" for what the opposition has alleged are fraudulent elections.

Student and activist protests have continued on a nearly nightly basis since the results were announced. A noon-to-noon blockade of downtown streets was launched on December 29 ahead of a planned demonstration the next day to demand that authorities disclose voter lists to help pinpoint alleged fraud.

Vucic has called the voting "the cleanest and most honest" in Serbia's history. International observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), however, concluded in their initial report that the national vote was conducted under "unjust conditions."

WATCH: Marinika Tepic, a member of the Serbian parliament from the opposition Serbia Against Violence party, is on hunger strike, demanding the annulment of the country's parliamentary and local elections, claiming electoral fraud.

The opposition and other critics of the voting are demanding nullification of the results and an international review of the vote, along with new elections within six months. Tepic said her hunger strike is an effort to sound an "alarm to the international community" toward that aim.

Earlier this week, eight days into her hunger strike, the 49-year-old Tepic was put on intravenous drips after her condition was said to have worsened. She was administered a solution intravenously during her interview with RFE/RL on December 28.

"I feel stable and I always say that this and this," she said, pointing to her head and her heart, "is at peace."

Tepic mentioned her own children and praised young people's activism in response to the vote. But she added that hearing that many young people are preparing to leave Serbia for political reasons is painful.

"I really can't live with that," she said, "and that is actually the biggest [source of] strength."

Serbia has seen a massive outflow of young people in recent decades, with the population falling by tens of thousands annually to well below 7 million this year in the post-Yugoslav republic.

Tepic is a former teacher and journalist who was first elected to Serbia's National Assembly, the country's unicameral parliament, in 2014. She has been deputy leader of the opposition center-left Party of Freedom and Justice since 2019.

She was a key player in the effort to unify the anti-Vucic opposition under the Serbia Against Violence banner for this month's elections after two mass shootings spurred public anger with the status quo in May.

One of the other protesters, Janko Veselinovic, the leader of the center-left Movement for Reversal, announced from a Vojvodina clinic on December 28 that he and fellow outgoing parliamentarian Danijela Grujic were abandoning their hunger strikes "on the doctor's advice." Veselinovic urged the public to attend the planned December 30 demonstration.

Another politician, Zeljko Veselinovic, ended his hunger strike for health reasons a day earlier. At least two other opposition leaders, Jelena Milosevic and Branko Miljus, remain on their hunger strike along with Tepic.

There has been an ongoing series of nightly blockades and protests since police forcibly dispersed a crowd outside the Belgrade City Council building on December 24. More than 30 people were detained after windows were broken, and police deployed tear gas to restore order.

Belgrade-based sociologist Dario Hajric highlighted the desperate plight of the anti-Vucic opposition and called hunger strikes "the last resort of the disenfranchised."

He said Tepic and the other opposition leaders' actions were an effort to force Serbia's leadership to "choose whether or not to persevere in the disputed issue and thereby risk the [hunger] striker's life." However, Hajric added, "I don't believe we are dealing with an authority that can be embarrassed in that way."

Vucic and his SNS party have ruled since 2012, and international watchdog groups warned ahead of the vote that state capture, media bias and saturation, and fearmongering and physical attacks against journalists and the opposition ensured them an incumbents' advantage.

Preliminary official results showed Vucic's SNS winning the national vote with nearly 47 percent versus SPN in second place with under 24 percent.

In the battle for Belgrade, neither party secured a majority in the 110-seat City Assembly. But the SNS's 40 percent outpaced Serbia Against Violence's 35.5 percent, allowing it to reelect Mayor Aleksandar Sapic with the help of its Socialist partners and a lone independent.

Vucic has insisted his SNS won fair and square.

Serbian prosecutors have announced an investigation into allegations of fraud and other electoral wrongdoing, including vote buying and falsifications.

In interviews with RFE/RL's Balkan Service, Bosnian Serbs have spoken about their participation in a carefully orchestrated scheme to fraudulently acquire residency documents so they could vote in Belgrade, as did a bus driver who said he transported voters to the Serbian capital from at least four Bosnian cities on elections day.

Bosnian nationals, including in the country's ethnic Serb entity Republika Srpska, may only vote in Serbian elections if they also have Serbian citizenship and residency. Serbian law doesn't prohibit transporting voters to polling stations unless it is provided in exchange for votes.

Vucic said people from Republika Srpska "have the right to vote in Belgrade based on the law on dual citizenship" and has rejected accusations that 40,000 voters from that region of Bosnia-Herzegovina voted. He said their number was under 500 and almost all of them had been on Serbian voter lists for years.

The OSCE's observation mission issued a long list of problematic factors in the voting.

"The December 17 early parliamentary elections, though technically well-administered and offering voters a choice of political alternatives," it said, "were dominated by the decisive involvement of the president (Aleksandar Vucic), which together with the ruling party's systemic advantages created unjust conditions."

The OSCE cited an erosion of public confidence due to the frequency of early elections -- these were the third parliamentary elections in four years -- as well as harsh rhetoric and media bias, pressure on civil servants, and misuse of public resources. They alleged that "oversight bodies for campaign and electronic media remained largely ineffective in deterring violations during the election period."

The OSCE experts also honed in on potential problems with Serbia's Unified Voter Register, including a failure to implement "long-standing" international calls for a full audit. They cited "allegations that numerous [deceased] persons, including abroad, remained in the [voter] register, along with claims of voter migration in connection with local elections, [which] diminished trust in its accuracy."

The security and monitoring body noted allegations of voters from abroad being bused in by the ruling SNS to cast ballots in Belgrade.

There are tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs in neighboring Bosnia, Montenegro, and Kosovo who have opposed those countries' independence from Serbia or the former Yugoslavia. Some still regard themselves as Serbian or part of a wider "new Serbian world."

Since the elections, the Montenegro-based Center for Research and Monitoring (CEMI) has initiated a consolidation and comparison of databases among Western Balkan states in an effort to prevent future instances of improper voting based on double residency.

"Otherwise, Vucic will decide on all the elections in the region -- Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro," Zlatko Vujovic, CEMI's director, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

Vucic has declared victory and dismissed accusations of wrongdoing, and called the international observers' conclusions "fabricated and orchestrated," without specifying any details. His SNS ally, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, called the observers' findings untrue and an "attempt to destabilize Serbia."

Austrian Andreas Schieder, a European parliamentarian who was part of the international observer mission for the vote, said on December 28 that the European Parliament was "ready to support" an international probe, interparty dialogue, or mediation, but only "if both the government and the opposition" want it.

Schieder said that the Council of Europe, Europe's leading human rights body, has offered to organize a postelection mission to Serbia that would include training for better monitoring and control of activities before, during, and after elections. The Austrian politician said that so far he had heard "only bad words" from Vucic and Brnabic.

EU officials have tried to strong-arm Serbia into joining their sanctions regime to punish Russia for its unprovoked 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but Vucic has kept up Belgrade's resistance even at the risk of jeopardizing the country's EU candidacy. He has also maintained close diplomatic, defense, and trade ties with Russia.

Tepic also condemned the perceived trajectory away from the West and toward Moscow.

"We are fighting [to] become a part of the European family and not slip to the rank of a Russian governorate," she said.

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Iva Martinovic and the Balkan Service
KYIV -- Ukrainian officials say at least 30 people died in a massive Russian air attack overnight on December 28-29 that combined hypersonic and other missiles along with drones to hit military and civilian targets all over the country, including the capital, Kyiv, in what appeared to be the biggest bombardment of the 22-month-invasion.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Air defenses mobilized but casualties were reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and other major cities. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram that 30 people had been killed and more than 160 wounded.

Search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing late on December 29, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in his nightly video message.

More than 100 private houses were destroyed or damaged, 45 high-rise buildings, schools, two churches, hospitals, a maternity hospital, and many commercial and warehouse premises where hit, Zelenskiy said. Nine people were killed and 30 wounded when a warehouse and other buildings were hit in Kyiv.

It is important that the world reacts to this next manifestation of terror," he said, referring to Russian forces as these scum.

Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian defense officials said the attack was the worst since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.



The UN Security Council hastily convened to discuss the attack, which Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari called "appalling."



"Tragically, 2023 is ending as it began -- with devastating violence against the people of Ukraine," he said, and noted that international humanitarian law forbids attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Telegram that Ukraine and three dozen other UN member states had requested the meeting.

In his video message, Zelenskiy praised Ukrainian air-defense soldiers, saying they "did a lot today."

The Ukrainian armed forces said military sites had also been targeted.

U.S. President Joe Biden said it was the "largest aerial assault on Ukraine since this war began" and said Russia used drones and missiles, including missiles with hypersonic capability, to strike cities and civilian infrastructure all across Ukraine.

He added that unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, "we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air-defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people."

He again urged lawmakers to break a deadlock over his $61 billion proposed aid package for Ukraine and "act without any further delay."

WATCH: A massive Russian air assault -- described as the largest bombardment of the war -- struck Ukrainian cities overnight on December 28-29.

Zelenskiy said on December 29 that he had visited the town of Avdiyivka in eastern Ukraine, which is under regular attack by Russian forces.

"This is one of the most difficult areas of the front line," he wrote on Telegram, adding that Ukraine had "survived" in 2023 thanks to soldiers serving on the front.

Also on December 29, Russia accused Ukraine of firing three U.S.-made, air-to-surface missiles into its southern region of Belgorod.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the "three Ukrainian HARM missiles manufactured by the United States were destroyed over the territory of the Belgorod region by air-defense systems."

Late on December 29, the governor of Belgorod said Russian antiaircraft units downed "several" airborne targets as they approached.



"According to preliminary information, there is one dead and one injured," Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.



The Ukrainian armed forces posted video on Telegram of what it described as the sky above Belgorod, showing at least one building on fire.

Western allies including the United States have been publicly cautious over the supply of some kinds of weapons that could reach deep inside Russia, and Moscow has repeatedly sought to establish "red lines" in Western support for Kyiv.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the overnight Russian attacks "one of the largest attacks since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine against cities and the population."

"It was yet another cowardly and indiscriminate targeting of schools, a metro station, and a hospital, resulting in the death of at least 16 people and several wounded," Borrell added separately. "The EU stands with Ukraine, as long as it takes."

After news of the overnight air barrages on Ukraine, France accused Russia of a "strategy of terror."

"Russia is continuing its strategy of terror aimed at destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in order to undermine resilience of the Ukrainian population," the French Foreign Ministry said. "France will continue to support Ukraine and provide it with the necessary assistance to enable it to exercise its self-defense, in close coordination with its partners."

Kyiv and many Western leaders have accused Russia of consistently targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and Biden has called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" for his actions over Ukraine.

Russia denies targeting civilians, despite ample evidence to the contrary documented by the media.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Death toll as result of missile attack in Kyiv increases to eight people  administration

In Kyiv, the death toll as a result of a morning missile strike has risen to eight people, the search and rescue operation continues, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration Serhiy Popko said.

"Death toll as a result of a missile attack on the capital has increased. Rescuers pulled out two more bodies from under the rubble. Therefore, as of 17:50 in Kyiv, racist missiles claimed the lives of eight people. Another 30 people were injured. The search and rescue operation is not yet underway completed," the administration said in its Telegram channel.

Earlier it was reported about seven dead and 30 injured.
Around 800 residents remain in the frontline city of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Russian forces have attacked the area west of Bakhmut for over a year. Speaking with Current Time, one local said, "If Russian troops come, I won't be here."
British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said hundreds of British made air defence missiles are being sent to Ukraine to defend against Russian aggression.

"The UK is moving rapidly to bolster Ukraine's air defence, in the wake of Putins murderous air strikes. Hundreds of British made air defence missiles are being sent to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself from Putins barbaric bombardment. Slava Ukraini," Shapps said on Twitter.

The minister also said that "Putin in testing Ukraine's defences and the West's resolve  now is the time for the world to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win."
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.
'Currency Nagar' OTT Release Update

Anthology Format Promises a Thought-Provoking Cinematic Journey

'Currency Nagar' OTT Release Update: In the world of Telugu cinema, a highly anticipated thriller has made its grand entrance into theaters today. "Currency Nagar," directed by the talented Vennela Kumar Pothepalli, is set to captivate audiences with its unique anthology format, offering a fresh perspective on the intricate relationship between money and humanity.

As the curtains rise on "Currency Nagar," a film that stands out not only for its gripping narrative but also for its stellar ensemble cast, including Sudharshan, Gautam Kumar, Mahesh Yadlapalli, Spandana Somanna, Chandu Charms, Rajsekhar Aningi, and Kesava Karri. Directed by Vennela Kumar, the movie explores the complex dynamics of human needs and greed, using money as a symbolic thread weaving together multiple stories. The anthology format promises to delve into the darkest truths of our society, providing audiences with a cinematic experience that goes beyond the ordinary.

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'Currency Nagar' OTT Release Update

As the excitement builds around "Currency Nagar," eager fans are anticipating details about the OTT release, satellite rights, and the platform that will bring this compelling thriller to a wider audience. Despite its theatrical release today, the OTT release date and platform for "Currency Nagar" are yet to be officially confirmed. It is expected that this information will be unveiled after the completion of the movie's 45-day run in theaters. Rest assured, as soon as an update on the OTT release date and platform is received, we will promptly share the news with our readers.

To get all the latest updates, join us on Whatsapp Broadcast Channel.

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In the meantime, let's shine the spotlight on the movie itself. "Currency Nagar" is not merely a cinematic endeavor; it is an exploration of the human psyche in the face of wealth and desire. With Vennela Kumar at the helm, the directorial vision promises to provide a thought-provoking narrative, complemented by a diverse cast set to deliver performances that elevate the film's thematic richness. The combination of Sudharshan, Gautam Kumar, Mahesh Yadlapalli, Spandana Somanna, Chandu Charms, Rajsekhar Aningi, and Kesava Karri ensures that "Currency Nagar" will leave a lasting impression on the Telugu film industry.

(For More News Apart from Currency Nagar OTT Release Update Latest News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)




'Route No 17' Movie OTT Release Update

'Route No 17' Tamil Movie Promises a Riveting Tale of Mystery

'Route No 17' Movie OTT Release Update: The Tamil thriller, "Route No 17," directed by Abhilash G Devan, is released today (December 29, 2023) in the cinema halls. Boasting an ensemble cast led by Jithan Ramesh, Anju Pandia, Hareesh Peradi, and others, the film takes viewers on a suspenseful journey into a forbidden forest path that has remained sealed for thirty years. Jithan Ramesh's portrayal of three characters simultaneously adds complexity to the narrative, set against the backdrop of chilling events that unfold along Route No 17.

Set in three different time periods between 1990 and 2020, "Route No 17" unfolds a revenge thriller narrative as trespassers venture into the closed-off path, only to face a fate shrouded in mystery. The movie features an ensemble cast, including Jithan Ramesh, Anju Pandia, Hareesh Peradi, Akhil Prabhakar, Anusree Pothan, Frolic George, and Nihal Amar. Dr. Amar Ramachandran produces the film, with Abhilash G Devan directing and Ouseppachan composing the music, ensuring a captivating blend of talent in both cast and crew.

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'Route No 17' Movie OTT Release Update

As the excitement builds, fans are also eager to know about the OTT release of "Route No 17." While the official OTT release date and platform remain unconfirmed, speculations suggest that it may follow the 45-day theatrical run. Updates on the OTT release will be provided as soon as they are available.

To get all the latest updates, join us on Whatsapp Broadcast Channel.

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"Route No 17" promises an intense and mysterious experience, unveiling the secrets hidden along the forbidden path. Fans eagerly await the digital release of the movie with gripping narrative that weaves together suspense, danger, and revenge.

(For More News Apart from Route No 17 Movie OTT Release Update Latest News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Russia-Ukraine War Update News

Escalation in Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Kharkiv Targeted in Missile Attack

Russia-Ukraine War Update News: In a disturbing development, the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine found itself under siege as it became the target of a Russian missile attack on Friday morning, according to statements from Mayor Ihor Terehov. The gravity of the situation escalated with at least six explosions registering in the city, marking a perilous turn in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi provided additional details, revealing that the assault on Kharkiv coincided with heightened activity in the air defenses of Lviv, a western Ukrainian city. Simultaneously, Lviv faced the threat of Russian drones, prompting the activation of defensive measures to safeguard against potential attacks.

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As tensions continue to mount in the region, the targeted attacks on Kharkiv and the defensive responses in Lviv underscore the severity of the conflict. The international community remains on high alert, closely monitoring developments and expressing deep concern over the escalating violence. The situation raises questions about the humanitarian impact on the affected cities and the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the crisis.

To get all the latest updates, join us on Whatsapp Broadcast Channel.

The Missile attack on Kharkiv is a stark reminder of the volatile and unpredictable nature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, further intensifying fears of a broader regional crisis. The international community calls for restraint and a renewed commitment to peaceful dialogue to prevent further escalation and protect the lives of civilians caught in the crossfire.

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(For More News Apart from Russia-Ukraine War Update Latest News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


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%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
President Joe Biden has signed two Presidential Proclamations to extend the European Union's access to U.S. tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for steel and aluminum for two additional years.

This extension, combined with the EU's continued suspension on tariffs on U.S. goods, will give both sides additional time to negotiate a global arrangement that addresses carbon intensity and non-market capacity in the steel and aluminum industries.

The two-year suspension of 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum imported from European Union member states to the United States is set to expire in January 2024.

The tariff rate quota (TRQ) system, replacing the heavy tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, has been in force since January 2022.

The TRQ extension will take effect on January 1, 2024, and last until December 31, 2025.

Last week, the European Union announced a continued suspension on tariffs on U.S. goods for a 15-month period.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said, "By extending the European Union's steel and aluminum TRQs for an additional two years, we can continue negotiations on a forward-looking, high-standard arrangement, while providing predictability and stability to steel and aluminum workers and their families on both sides of the Atlantic".

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Avdiivka on Friday.

"Avdiivka, our positions, our guys. Ukraine here defends its own and protects all our people, as well as along the entire line on the front line. Donetsk region, Kharkiv region, Zaporizhia, Kherson region, Left Bank  this is hard, this is pain, these are losses, and these are the people who support the life of Ukraine," he said in a video address on Friday.

"We are grateful to all the fighters, every soldier, sailor, sergeant, every officer who endures this war. Thank you to all of you, warriors," Zelenskyy said.

"Unlimited gratitude to all relatives, every family of our heroes and everyone who helps, who works so that the guys at the front have everything they need. To everyone in the world who believes in us and who does everything so that Ukraine can do more," the president also said.
Turkey's foreign trade gap decreased in November from the previous year as exports rose amid a fall in imports, the Turkish Statistical Institute said on Friday.

The trade deficit dropped to $5.92 billion in November from $8.78 billion a year ago. In October, the trade deficit was $6.6 billion.

Exports rose 5.2 percent annually in November, while imports declined by 5.7 percent.

In November, the main partner country for exports was Germany, followed by the UAE, Iraq, the USA, and Italy.

Excluding energy products and non-monetary gold, the foreign trade shortfall was $8.7 billion in November.

On a seasonally and calendar-adjusted basis, exports increased 0.7 percent over the month, while imports declined by 3.1 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Boeing has urged various airline companies to inspect its 737 Max airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the aircraft's rudder control system.

Under consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing has issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM), urging operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware.

Boeing 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 company discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.

The aircraft manufacturer said the technical glitch identified on the particular airplane has been resolved, but did not reveal the name of the airline.

FAA said it is closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, the fourth generation of the Boeing 737 series.

The FAA will remain in contact with Boeing and the airlines while the inspections are underway.

The federal aviation authority said it is asking the airlines to work through their approved Safety Management Systems to identify whether any loose hardware has been detected previously and to provide the agency with details on how quickly these two-hour inspections can be completed.

The FAA will consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.

An airplane's rudder is used to control the aircraft while in flight.

Boeing 737 MAX airplanes were grounded after hundreds of passengers were killed in an accident in Indonesia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia five months later.

FAA gave clearance for the narrow-body airliner to restore passenger flight operations in 2020.

Boeing has delivered more than 1,370 aircraft in the 737 MAX series.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
BIT Mining Ltd. (BTCM), a crypto-currency mining firm, announced on Friday that it has agreed to sell its entire mining pool operated under BTC.com to Esport-Win Ltd., a Hong Kong limited liability company, for $5 million.

BIT Mining expects the sale to result in improved profitability and a solid cash position.

Xianfeng Yang, CEO of BIT Mining, said: "By selling the loss-making mining pool business, we will be more resilient with our core resources focused on advancing the research and development of our existing businesses. Meanwhile, the cash proceeds from the transaction and our company's enhanced profitability outlook will further strengthen our position to explore new areas with greater potential and room for future expansion."

The sale does not include or affect any of BIT Mining's other businesses.

For the full year 2022, the business posted revenue $593.2 million, or 91.2 percent of BIT Mining's total revenues with the cost and expense of $595.8 million. Consequently, the business recorded an annual net operating loss of $2.6 million.

BTCM was trading up by 1.52 percent at $6 per share in the pre-market trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Drug manufacturer Grifols, S.A. (GRFS) stock continues to rise on Friday, despite no corporate news to influence the stock movement.

Currently, Grifols stock is surging 12.50%, to $11.84 on a volume of 827,804 on the Nasdaq.

The stock previously closed at $10.52. It has traded between $6.5 and $12.15 in the past 52-week period.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The U.S. Defense Department has decided to prosecute cases of sexual assault and several other serious crimes at new Offices of Special Trial Counsel.

The Offices of Special Trial Counsel will consist of general or flag officer leaders who report directly to the secretaries of the military departments.

Beginning Thursday, the trial has been moved from an accused service member's chain of command.

This military justice reform is an important step in restoring faith that the system is fair, just and equitable, said senior Defense Department and military officials. They emphasized that the offices will be staffed by specially trained, independent military attorneys uniquely qualified to address complex cases.

The OSTCs will handle cases professionally, applying the best practices and procedures of civilian prosecution offices, a senior DOD official said.

The covered offenses that fall under the authority of the new OSTCs include murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography and most sexual assault and sexual misconduct.

Sexual harassment will become a covered offense on Jan. 1, 2025, for crimes committed after that date where a formal complaint is made and substantiated.

In the case of sexual assault, the reform applies to unrestricted reports. A service member making an unrestricted report has decided to participate in a criminal investigation and support actions taken to hold the alleged offender appropriately accountable. Individualized, confidential help is available to understand these changes from special victims' counsel in the Army; victims' counsel in the Department of the Air Force; and victims' legal counsel in the Navy and Marine Corps. Sexual assault response coordinators can assist in contacting the attorneys and other assistance services.

Service members filing a restricted report of sexual assault may continue to report allegations confidentially without triggering an investigation, while still connecting with medical, legal and advocacy services and submitting information to the CATCH a Serial Offender Program, if they choose.

This is one of the reforms recommended by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the U.S. Military.

After considering the commission's recommendations, DOD proposed historic military justice reforms, leading to congressional passage and presidential approval of the new system that took effect Thursday.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Hyundai Motor India Welcomes Deepika Padukone as Brand Ambassador, Promising a Fusion of Elegance and Innovation

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) proudly unveils its newest collaboration with renowned actress Deepika Padukone, marking a significant stride in the realm of automotive brand representation. Recognized as one of Time magazines top 100 influential people globally, Deepika Padukone brings her charismatic aura and universal appeal to join hands with Hyundai as its Brand Ambassador.

A Celestial Union of Icons

Mr. Tarun Garg, COO of Hyundai Motor India Ltd., expressed immense enthusiasm about this partnership, stating, We are thrilled to onboard the incredibly talented, Global Indian icon Deepika Padukone as our brand ambassador. Garg emphasized how Padukones magnetic charm and illustrious career perfectly resonate with Hyundai Motor Indias dynamic and youthful brand ethos.

This collaboration, marrying the elegance and innovation hallmark to Hyundai vehicles with Deepika Padukones influence, is poised to bridge the gap between cutting-edge automobiles and the aspirations of a vibrant, forward-thinking demographic. Garg highlighted, Deepikas influence extends beyond the silver screen, resonating with a diverse audience, especially the vibrant youth.

An Ode to Inclusivity and Excellence

In her statement, Deepika Padukone expressed her delight in partnering with Hyundai, stating, Its an honor to be associated with a brand that has a rich legacy of crafting vehicles that have not only stood the test of time but have also set benchmarks for performance and style. She further commended Hyundais commitment to inclusivity within the automotive industry, expressing her certainty that the collaboration would drive towards new horizons and foster a community celebrating inclusivity in the automotive experience.

The synergy between Deepika Padukones impressive 16-year career in Indian cinema, which spans 30+ movies, including international successes like XXX: Return of Xander Cage, aligns seamlessly with Hyundais goals. This partnership promises a mutually beneficial tie-up, leveraging Padukones strong emotional bond with the Indian audience, making her an ideal Brand Ambassador for Hyundai Motor India.

A Journey of Elegance and Innovation

Hyundai customers can anticipate a fusion of elegance and innovation, mirroring the sophistication of Hyundai vehicles through Deepika Padukones association. Her star power accentuates Hyundais commitment to style, performance, and an unparalleled driving experience, promising a remarkable journey ahead for the brand and its consumers.

The collaboration between Hyundai Motor India Ltd. and Deepika Padukone reflects a strategic move towards a more engaging and resonant brand representation, aiming to inspire the next generation of automotive enthusiasts while championing inclusivity and excellence in the industry. This comes at a time when Hyundai India is getting ready to launch the new Creta SUV.
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV and Virtus sedan along with Skoda Kushaq SUV and Slavia sedan are all based on the same MQB-A0-IN modular and scalable platform

The quintessentially German brand, Volkswagen, and Czech brand, Skoda, have posted their sales numbers for the month of November 2023. VW registered a combined 3,095 units and in the same period, Skoda registered 3,783 units. Both manufacturers saw YoY decline and MoM decline when compared to their sales performance from November 2022 and October 2023 respectively.

Volkswagen sales breakup November 2023

The German auto giants portfolio once included Polo hatchback, Vento sedan, Jetta sedan, Passat sedan and T-Roc crossover import. As of November 2023, Volkswagen has three vehicles in its Indian portfolio  Taigun and Tiguan SUVs along with Virtus sedan. Owing to Indian buyers affinity towards high-riding compact SUVs and crossovers, Taigun is Volkswagens highest-seller in India.

Taigun sold 1,771 units last month and accounts for 57.22% of total Volkswagens sales. When compared to 1,979 and 2,219 units sold in November 2022 and October 2023 respectively, Taiguns sales dropped by 10.51% YoY and 20.19% MoM. Volume loss was 208 units YoY and 448 units MoM. Virtus clocked 1,174 units and registered a 22.51% YoY decline and a 33.75% MoM decline.

Virtus accounted for 37.93% of total VW sales in India. Volume loss with Virtus was 341 units YoY and 598 units MoM. The heavy discounts on Tiguan have favoured sales numbers at 150 units with doubling volumes YoY at 97.37% growth and 53.06% MoM growth. In total, Volkswagen saw a 13.31% YoY decline and a 24.31% MoM decline.

Skoda sales November 2023

Just like Volkswagen, Skoda has three vehicles in its portfolio too  Kushaq SUV, Slavia sedan and Kodiaq 3-row SUV. That said, Skoda used to sell vehicles like Fabia hatchback, Rapid, Octavia and Superb sedans, Yeti crossover and Karoq crossover import.

Even though Skoda registered higher sales numbers than VW for their respective brand-engineered vehicles, Skodas sales fell in the red completely. Kushaq is Skodas highest-seller in India just like Taigun is to VW. Kushaq sold 1,908 units last month and saw a 5.03% YoY decline and a 22.03% MoM decline.

Market share for Kushaq is 50.44% of Skodas total sales. When compared to 2,009 and 2,447 units sold in November 2022 and October 2023 respectively, volume growth for Kushaq was 101 units YoY and 539 units MoM. Slavia accounted for 46% of Skodas total sales with 1,749 units sold. This resulted in a 13.50% YoY decline and a 9.98% MoM decline.

Volume drop was 273 units YoY and 194 units MoM. Lastly, Kodiaq sold 126 units with an 8.70% YoY decline and a 28.41% MoM decline. In total, Skoda sold 3,783 units last month with a 14.66% YoY decline and a 17.15% MoM decline, losing 650 and 783 units in volume respectively. Skoda is likely to launch Superb sedan in India, brought in via CBU route.
As of now, Daihatsu has stopped production of vehicles across four of its manufacturing facilities, including its Osaka plant at HQ

Daihatsu, a Japanese car manufacturer falling under Toyotas umbrella, has stopped production of vehicles in domestic market across 4 manufacturing facilities. This move came into effect after admitting fraudulent practices in safety tests of its vehicles for the past 30 years, with initial malpractices traced back to the year 1989.

Fraudulent safety tests discovered by investigating probe

Speaking about this safety scandal, Toyota remarked Has shaken the companys very foundation. As uncovered in April 2023, Daihatsu admitted to manipulating crash safety tests across 88,000 vehicles. Most of these vehicles were sold under Toyota brand in ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Thailand and others.

As unravelled in the findings, Daihatsu had modified front seat door inside lining to pass certain safety checks. During these crash safety tests, Daihatsu didnt comply with regulations set by crash testing norms involving side collision tests. These findings were officially announced by Daihatsu and Toyota.

More fraudulent practices were uncovered in May 2023 by Daihatsu and the company revealed that there was incorrect data submitted by them regarding collision tests involving two hybrid electric vehicles. Sales and exports of said hybrid electric vehicles were halted immediately.

Recently, Daihatsu announced that there was evidence found of tampering safety tests of up to 64 vehicles, as revealed by an independent third-party committee. Some of these 64 vehicles were badge engineered and marketed under Toyota brand as well.

Toyota-owned Daihatsu Stopped Domestic Production

As per the results of latest probe on Daihatsus internal operations and management by an investigative committee, there are as many as 174 cases surfaced as the digging got deeper. These cases point to Daihatsu making false statements, data manipulation, and improper modifications with vehicles to pass safety tests.

The earliest case dates back to 1989, with a significant rise in malpractices since 2014, as per investigating report. Toyota is hellbent on righting this wrong and promises a fundamental reform to revitalize Daihatsu. The Japanese automotive juggernaut expressed that it requires a sweeping review of Daihatsus management, operations and the very structure of its subsidiary.

Daihatsu is known for manufacturing inexpensive and small passenger vehicles and is a prominent name in many countries. This Toyota subsidiary has halted manufacturing across all four of its production facilities temporarily which could last the entirety of January 2024 and might even extend to February 2024.

Around 9,000 workers seem to be affected by this move across four manufacturing facilities, including the one at companys HQ in Osaka. Last Thursday, Toyotas shares dropped 4% in Tokyo, facing financial losses following these revelations.

Source
German Foreign Ministry after Russian attack: In 2024 we not to move inch away from Ukraine

The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after another massive Russian attack on Ukrainian settlements, assured of continued support for Ukraine in 2024.

"Shortly before the new year, Russia again unleashed terror throughout Ukraine. More than 100 missiles and drones destroyed, among other things, a maternity hospital and ended people's lives. And in 2024, we will not move a centimeter away from Ukraine either," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X (Twitter).
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reported that it had won an international arbitration trial against a foreign supplier worth more than UAH 1 billion.

"At the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Ministry of Defense paid orders for body armor and berets for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to a foreign supplier. Berets arrived in the summer of 2022 in violation of the deadline. Body armor arrived during the summer-winter of 2022, also with violation. They did not pass ballistic tests. Therefore, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense did not accept this product, "the ministry said on its website.

Thus, the Ministry of Defense demanded that the supplier returns the funds for poor-quality goods and pay penalties, but the supplier did not satisfy the demand.

"The legal service of the Ministry of Defense filed a lawsuit with an international arbitration tribunal on the recovery of the cost of unsupplied body armor, penalties and annual interest. The arbitration tribunal made a decision  to satisfy the lawsuit of the Ministry of Defense," the press service said.

The total amount of satisfied requirements is more than $27 million (which is the equivalent of more than UAH 1 billion) and includes penalties, annual interest and arbitration fee in addition to the cost of the goods.

It is the largest amount in all the trials the Ministry of Defense is now underway.

By decision of the international arbitration tribunal, annual interest continues to be accrued on the cost of the unsupplied products until the debt is repaid.
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Members of the community rallied to push city leaders in National City to support undocumented immigrants in June 2017.

In an effort to better understand the needs of undocumented immigrants in National City, the city has partnered with a nonprofit that manages a resource center to collect and review data on immigration-related services sought by residents.

The partnership between the city and South Bay Community Services is part of a one-year pilot program. It was an idea put forward last month by a group of city staff who explored ways to better assist residents with immigration-related needs.

With a population of about 61,000 residents, National City is home to almost 25,000 immigrants, according to the latest U.S. Census data. Almost 14,000 residents are not U.S. citizens.

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South Bay Community Services, which recently took over the National City Collaborative Family Resource Center, will track data on referrals for immigration-related services the center does not offer, such as legal aid.

Were trying to track those services, those referrals, to see if theres any gaps and ... see where we can complement the services provided by (the resource center), said Acting Deputy City Manager Alfredo Ybarra, who was part of the city staff group that considered other ideas as well.

The discussion over ways to better support undocumented residents began last year as city leaders considered a resolution to proclaim itself a welcoming city, a response to President Donald Trumps strict crackdown on illegal immigration.

In June 2017, the city settled on the label compassionate community under the final resolution, which declares, in part, that residents can access city services regardless of their immigration status.

City Manager Leslie Deese said the data that will be collected by South Bay Community Services will help the city determine what services to invest resources in to better assist the citys immigrant population.

We dont ever want to duplicate efforts, because thats a waste of resources, she said. But not knowing where the gap is or not knowing what services our community needs was, I think, what the working group struggled with because we never had done a study on it.

The ad hoc group, which was formed by Deese in November at the request of the City Council, also recommended that the city increase awareness of the rights of undocumented immigrants and services available to them.

The plan is to set up information kiosks in city facilities, with pamphlets, brochures and fliers that contain the information.

Not every idea the ad hoc group toyed with is moving forward.

One notable idea supported by immigration advocates  to create a human relations commission, an advisory board similar to others established by city leaders in San Diego and Chula Vista  was abandoned. City staff in National City did not recommend it, citing limited funding and staffing resources.

The roles of the commissions in National Citys neighboring cities vary.

In San Diego, the 17-member board investigates and mediates discrimination-related complaints in regards to housing, employment and other aspects. While the board does not have enforcement authority, it may refer cases to other agencies that do.

In Chula Vista, the 11-member board serves as a liaison with other community groups concerned with protection of civil liberties of all people, resolution of conflict, and interracial and intercultural understanding, according to its website.

The board also is meant to provide a forum for discussion as a means of resolving community relationship problems.

The Chula Vista boards first tasks was to lead the efforts to designate the city a so-called welcoming city. The label, which was the subject of a resolution approved by the City Council in April of last year, means the city broadly encourages the assimilation of immigrants and refugees into the community.

Immigration advocates and some National City council members expressed their disappointment over the citys decision to cast aside the idea of a human relations commission.

A similar commission in National City similarly directed to concern itself with the immigration population would go a long way in not only voicing concerns but putting in place protective measures for vulnerable community members, said Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committees U.S.-Mexico border program.

Councilwoman Alejandra Sotelo-Solis said the board could be a tool to grow the citys resources and truly go beyond immigration to address other issues, such as hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
Number of casualties as result of missile attack on Dnipro rises to 30 people  State Emergency Service

The number of casualties as a result of Russia's missile attack on Dnipro on Friday morning increased to 30 people, rescuers extinguished all fires caused by the strike, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine has said.

"Dnipro. The enemy mounted a massive missile attack on the city this morning. A shopping mall, a maternity hospital, a residential district, and civilian infrastructure buildings were hit. The strikes caused fires and destructions. All of the fires have been extinguished. Six people were killed, 30 people, including one child, were injured," it said on the Telegram channel on Friday.

Psychologists of the State Emergency Service worked at the attack scenes to help those injured.

Earlier, six killed and 28 injured, including a 18-months-old baby, were reported.
Biden calls on Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine without any further delay in 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday again called on Congress to step up the process of approving additional funding for Ukraine in 2024.

"The American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom, and its independence. But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay," Biden said in a statement posted on the White House website.

The U.S. President also said the morning missile attack carried out by Russia on Ukraine is "a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin's objective remains unchanged. He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people. He must be stopped."

Biden also said the stakes of this fight extend far beyond Ukraine. They affect the entirety of the NATO Alliance, the security of Europe, and the future of the Transatlantic relationship. Putin has not just attempted to destroy Ukraine; he has threatened some of our NATO Allies as well.

"When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly. And the consequences reverberate around the world. That's why the United States has rallied a coalition of more than 50 countries to support the defense of Ukraine," Biden said.

Earlier in December, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Biden administration expects Congress to agree on assistance to Ukraine in early January.

Before this, it was reported that U.S. senators from both parties came to the conclusion that the issue of allocating funds for further assistance to Ukraine would have to be decided in January  after the break for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The U.S. Senate is scheduled to resume work on January 8.

The U.S. House of Representatives also promised to return to this topic in 2024.

In October, Biden sent a request to Congress for additional funding, including providing financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $61.4 billion for a year.
Ukraine, along with three dozen UN Member States, requests convening of urgent meeting of UN Security Council due to Russian attack  Kuleba

Ukraine, together with three dozen UN Member States, has submitted a request to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council after a missile and drone attack by Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"Ukraine, along with three dozen UN Member States, requested that the Ecuadorian Presidency convene an urgent UNSC meeting to address Russia's missile and drone attack against Ukraine, which resulted in multiple civilian casualties and heavy destruction of civilian infrastructure," Kuleba said on X (Twitter).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree "On measures on capital repair of highways in Yasamal district of Baku", Trend reports.

According to the decree, 350,000 manat ($205,882) have been allocated to the State Roads Agency of Azerbaijan for capital repair of roads in Yasamal district of Baku.

Will be updated
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree "On measures on capital repair of the Gandob-Khachmaz-Yalama-state border with the Russian Federation (11 km)-Aghalig-Dashliyatag-Gunashli highway of Shabran district," Trend reports.

According to the decree, in order to overhaul the Gandob-Khachmaz-Yalama-state border with the Russian Federation (11 km)-Aghalig-Dashliyatag-Gunashli highway connecting three settlements with a population of 4,000 people, from the amount specified in subparagraph 1.31.25, "Distribution of funds provided in the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2023 for state capital investments (investment expenditures)" approved by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 3720 dated January 23, 2023, the State Road Agency of Azerbaijan was initially allocated 1 million manat ($588,235).

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Finance has been tasked with ensuring finance in the amount mentioned in Part 1 of this directive.

The Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan has been tasked with providing the necessary financial means for the completion of the capital repair of the highway specified in Part 1 of this decree in the allocation of expenditures on state capital investments in the Republic of Azerbaijan's draft state budget for 2024.

Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with resolving issues raised by this decree.
Harland & Wolff Group has received permission from ministers to proceed with negotiations for a proposed 200m guaranteed loan facility with UK Export Finance (UKEF) under the Export Development Guarantee Scheme, it announced on Friday.

The AIM-traded firm said that to ensure compliance with regulations, UKEF would appoint an independent third party in January to determine an appropriate premium over SONIA.

That step was described as crucial as UKEF planned to provide a 100% guarantee to UK commercial lending banks.

With ministerial approval to advance negotiations, Harland & Wolff said it would finalise the bank syndicate and designate a lead arranger.

At the same time, the company would begin the necessary documentation for credit and guarantee agreements, as well as the security package to be offered.

The security package was likely to involve granting the banks a first charge on substantially all of the company's assets, similar to the arrangement with Riverstone Credit Partners in March 2022.

However, the transaction remained subject to ministerial agreement, final financing terms approval, and investment committee approvals from the banks.

Notably, there were no plans to issue warrants to the banks or UKEF.

Harland & Wolff said it believed it had sufficient funds to cover its working capital needs until the new loan facility was finalised, thanks to a combination of cash currently on the balance sheet and expected cash flows from existing contracts in 2024.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Civil servants are being overpromoted to get round a Whitehall pay squeeze, analysis suggests. Grade inflation in Whitehall is costing 1.5 billion a year and resulting in less-qualified staff doing senior jobs, the Institute for Government has warned. At the same time, permanent secretaries and other top officials who cannot be promoted are experiencing much bigger pay cuts that are driving talented people to the private sector, the think tank warns. - The Times

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. - Telegraph

Maine has blocked Donald Trump from its presidential primary ballot, becoming the second state to bar the former president from running, under a constitutional provision that prevents insurrectionists from holding office. On 19 December, a decision made by Colorados supreme court removed Trump from that states primary ballot, citing the same constitutional clause and setting up a legal showdown at the US supreme court. - Guardian

Hedge funds are poised to profit from any weak post-Christmas retail trading updates, with investors holding large short positions in some of the biggest chains. Retailers remain among the most heavily shorted stocks on the London Stock Exchange amid signs that the cost of living squeeze and mild autumn have hit consumer spending. - The Times

The bottom half of earners will lose any gains from next weeks lowering of national insurance payments when their income tax bills go up in April, a leading think tank has warned. The Resolution Foundation said the combined effect of a cut in national insurance contributions (Nics) from 6 January and a freeze on income tax thresholds  pulling more people into paying higher rates as their wages rise  would only favour the top half of earners with incomes of 26,000 or more. - Telegraph
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. We are very pleased with our stay in Baku and take this opportunity to thank the representatives of the Azerbaijani government for the fact that we were very well received and created conditions for the mission's activity, head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) election observation mission Eoghan Murphy said, Trend reports.

He spoke at a press conference dedicated to the opening of the mission in connection with the extraordinary presidential election to be held in Azerbaijan.

He noted that the mission is being conducted at the invitation of the Azerbaijani government.

"We will have a press conference and issue a statement the day following the election, on February 8. Finally, a few months after the election processes are completed, we will produce a final report with pertinent recommendations," Murphy added.

To note, an extraordinary presidential election will be held in Azerbaijan on February 7, 2024.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 34-year-old man was stabbed in New Springville Friday afternoon, according to a spokesman for the NYPD.

The incident unfolded at Nome Plaza on Nome Avenue at approximately 12:52 p.m., the spokesman said. At the scene, crime tape blocked off Nomes Best, a store that sells CBD-infused goods and other products, and Island Kitchen Chinese Restaurant; Nomes Best was seen with a broken front window.

The NYPD spokesman reports that the man was stabbed once in the torso with an unknown object and was taken by EMS responders to Staten Island University Hospital North in stable condition.

- Scenes from Nome Plaza where a 34-year-old man was stabbed on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, according to a spokesman with the NYPD. (Staten Island Advance / Luke Peteley)(Staten Island Advance / Luke Pe

The perpetrator fled on Nome Avenue by foot and is described as a male dressed in all-black, according to the NYPD.

No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive.com. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here.

Linda Cheatham passed away peacefully in her home in Manhattan on Dec. 21, 2023. After graduating from St. Louis Academy High School on Staten Island, and attending Fisher College in Boston, Linda fulfilled her lifelong dream by moving to Manhattan, and beginning her professional career as a bookkeeper. She married and soon began raising her two boys on the doorsteps of Columbia University. Linda was dedicated to being a loyal friend and active community member who was always willing to listen and give honest advice. She selflessly served on her buildings tenants board during the early 1980s and as a teaching assistant for aspiring medical workers. Having a desire to become an artist, she successfully returned to school to pursue her passion. Taking evening and weekend classes, she graduated with her BA in Arts from the City College of New York in 1997. During the years after that, she practiced her passion for wood sculpture design, dancing, music, the arts, and travel until she was no longer physically able. Spending time with her friends and large family was always a high priority for Linda. She especially loved her times at the Jersey Shore with her sister Gerri and other family members who would gather there in the summers and for holidays. Read the full obit on SILive.
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On the first day of the new year, Californias Proposition 12 animal welfare statute will go into effect.

The groundbreaking new law, also known as the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, sets new standards for how certain farm animals are treated. It ensures animals have more space and bans the sale of non-compliant products.

In particular, the law will effectively ban Californias pig gestation crates, which are basically cramped areas that confine pregnant sows for months at a time. The law also prohibits businesses from selling eggs, pork, and veal from animals housed in conditions that dont meet the newest standards.

The National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation challenged the law in the U.S. Supreme Court but lost 5-4.

However, Congressional Republicans hope to pass the EATS Act, which would likely end Proposition 12 and other animal welfare laws nationwide, not that there are many. The law ensures that businesses can participate in interstate commerce without being hindered by other state laws.

The conditions and ways in which pigs are treated are often described by animal rights campaigners as cruel and exploitative. Most dont live long, and the ones that do spend most of their lives in horrible conditions, especially sows.

Multiple undercover investigations have shown the horrific conditions inside multiple types of pig farms, where even the minimal laws and regulations are flouted.

Female pigs, or sows, are artificially inseminated and give birth to large litters while confined in small gestation crates that completely restrict their movement for months at a time, according to a report by The Humane League, a Maryland-based animal rights group. The sows will spend most of their fertile lives in the creates, which are just big enough for their bodies. Once they are no longer needed, they are euthanized.

The sows exhibited natural maternal instincts, noted the report, yet experienced distress when separated from their piglets at just three weeks, much earlier than the 10-to-17-week period seen among other types of pigs outside of farms.

Male piglets undergo painful castrations, often without anesthetic, to alter the smell and taste of their meat. Similarly, pigs tails are clipped also without pain relief to prevent tail-biting in cramped conditions. Ear notching is another painful practice used for identification in overcrowded farms.

The pigs are bred to grow rapidly, reaching market weight in six months. This fast growth leads to health issues like arthritis, and they often endure long, harsh transport conditions to slaughterhouses without food or water, leading to illness or death.

At slaughterhouses, pigs face inhumane killing methods, sometimes remaining conscious during the process. A typical slaughterhouse will kill more than 1,000 baby pigs every hour, according to the Humane League report. Because of the speed at which the pigs are killed, activists say its not guaranteed they are entirely dead when lowered into boiling water to remove hair.

While the vast majority of Americans eat bacon, approximately 268 million in 2020, many are unhappy about how the pigs are treated. Among pork-buying Americans, 66% found the use of gestation crates objectionable, according to a 2021 study. Over 50% were also not happy about the tails of piglets being clipped. Nearly 80% said theyd instead buy pork from a company that committed to ending the confinement of pregnant pigs.

Despite the well-known and awful conditions pigs are forced to live in and the subsequent public disapproval, very few states have pig welfare statutes in place.

By 2026, ten states will have a gestation crate ban. That will cover less than 8% of the U.S. hog breeding inventory.

But if EATS passes, those bans may be repealed.
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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 Carrying cash is fast becoming a relic of the past. While some argue it should be kept alive as a payment method, others think keeping it around will only prolong economic pain. In December, Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock warned that the collapse in the use of cash was putting strain on the entire payment system as the share of payments made with physical money shrank from 70 per cent in 2007 to 13 per cent last year, as consumers switched to digital payments. The Reserve Bank, which is responsible for issuing banknotes, signalled this month that it would ensure Australians could continue to access cash. Credit: Erin Jonasson Days later, Treasurer Jim Chalmers vowed to keep banknotes in circulation, saying it was an obligation to make sure those who wanted to access cash  especially in the regions  would be able to do so if they wanted. Even so, some of the countrys biggest banks are highlighting the growing cost to business  and banks  of cash payments. In an interview with this masthead, NAB business banking executive Julie Rynski said she believed a cashless society is coming  and that while businesses were incurring fees for accepting card payments, it was mostly being passed on to consumers. Rynski also said it was a way for some businesses to improve the efficiency of their operations. If you think about their end of day, they dont have to worry about counting their cash or going to the bank, she said. While stores holding less cash on site could deter criminals looking to rob a business, Rynski said it also sharpened the banks focus on cybersecurity as criminals followed the money into the digital realm.

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From 2022 to 2023, the total value of cash in circulation fell to $1.1 billion, dropping for the first time since 1966 when Australia moved from pounds to dollars. At the same time, banks and other companies receive thousands of cyberattacks per minute from criminals looking to compromise data and penetrate the digital vault of businesses. Cash has become increasingly difficult to access with companies removing ATMs or banks phasing out cash from their branches. Convenience chain 7-Eleven, which has had ATMs across most of its stores in the past, said in December that it would phase out ATMs (but it will continue to offer cash across the counter). And this year, Macquarie Bank  which has three branches across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane  said customers would no longer be able to deposit cash, though would still be able to withdraw cash. Loading While some people still carry cash in their pockets its usage is on the decline, according to NAB chief executive Ross McEwan. 99 per cent of our transactions now are completely cashless, its all electronic, he said. Across the counter, its just dropped like a stone, its dropping at about 16 to 20 per cent a year and has been for the last five to six years. However, McEwan said there would always be a place for cash in society. Its not cashless  its less cash, he said.

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Proponents of cash argue that it plays an important role for vulnerable people including family violence survivors who may seek the anonymity that comes with cash payments or lack access to phones, debit cards or the internet. The Reserve Bank, which not only oversees monetary policy but is also responsible for the nations payments system and issuing banknotes, signalled this month that it would ensure Australians could continue to access cash. Bullock, the RBA governor, said that despite the decline in cash usage, it continued to be an important means of payment for some people and a precautionary store of wealth for others. It was also an important back-up method of payment during system outages or natural disasters, she said. Loading The RBA places a high priority on the community continuing to have reasonable access to cash withdrawal and deposit services, Bullock said. While the distance people need to travel to access cash services hasnt changed substantially in the past few years, the RBA governor said this may not be the case in future as the cost of providing cash services increased. ANZs managing director of customer engagement, Katherine Bray, said that while there was continued cash dependency among small businesses in particular, the cost of moving cash around was becoming prohibitively expensive.

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As the cost of cash increases, and the volume very rapidly decreases, we will reach a sort of nexus on this, she said. In June, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission gave the green light for the tie-up of two of the countrys biggest cash transporters  Armaguard and Prosegur  creating a near monopoly. This came as the two companies said they were operating at a loss and the competition watchdog found the industry was in structural decline, raising the risk of a rapid exit by either of the two suppliers, which would reduce the availability of cash. In late November, banks said they had been advised by Armaguard that its viability was being put at risk by the rapid decline in cash usage, prompting emergency talks between the banks, the Reserve Bank and the federal Treasury. The banks say that if Armaguard exits the market, it could reduce the availability of cash to banks and other businesses. Bray from ANZ said it was a polarising topic because theres so much of the community thats so far past [cash], theyre not really sure why its a conversation, but for other smaller parts of the community, they feel like they are being left behind. Australia has rapidly taken up digital payments, but countries such as Sweden have taken a step further. In March, cash became no longer accepted as a means of payment in Sweden after the passage of a law that enabled merchants to make customers pay electronically.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. Amendments have been made to the decree On some issues regarding the composition of the commission on cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, Trend reports.

This issue is reflected in the corresponding decree signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

According to the decree, after the paragraph Head of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan new paragraphs were added:

1. Head of the Security Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

2. Head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BOOKS

The Book at War: Libraries and Readers in an Age of Conflict

Andrew Pettegree

Profile Books, $55

Andrew Pettegrees latest offering has a lot in common with his 2021 book, The Library: A Fragile History, co-authored with Arthur der Weduwen. Both works feature a pacy, middle-brow style. In both cases, the structural unit is the factoid  and there are certainly some great factoids.

From The Book at War we learn that a young Mao Zedong worked in the Beijing University library, recording the names of people who came to read newspapers. Mao had arrived at Beijing having already read translations of Rousseaus The Social Contract, Montesquieus Lesprit des lois and Adam Smiths The Wealth of Nations.

An American soldier takes a break as she makes her way back to the US from Iraq in February 2004. Credit: AP

His library role increased his sense of alienation. Patrons avoided and ignored him. I tried to begin conversations with them on political and cultural subjects [Mao wrote], but they were very busy men. They had no time to listen to an assistant librarian speaking southern dialect.
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Tips & adviceDrink trends Move over, Aperol Spritz. Theres a zesty new must-sip drink this summer After visiting Italy, Australian travellers have developed a thirst for limoncello, a lemon-flavoured liqueur that evokes good times. Katie Spain December 29, 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

The feelgood hit of summer is limoncello, and we have imaginative producers and mixologists to thank for the zesty boom. The lemon-flavoured liqueur is refreshing when served as a spritz, in cocktails, shots, or over ice, but the reason behind its increasing popularity runs deeper. For many consumers, its emotional. Cindy Tandinata enjoys a limoncello cocktail at Catalina in Rose Bay. Nikki Short A lot of Australians travel to Italy, where restaurateurs often give you a shot of limoncello at the end of the night, says Dom Cece, co-founder of Sydney producer Cello Liqueurs. Its a lovely gesture and a chance for a restaurant owner to say, Youve come here and supported us, so heres a thank you. When youre in that moment, its wonderful. Many holidaymakers chase those warm fuzzies after returning home. They want to re-live that moment, so they buy limoncello here, Cece says. Limoncello, occasionally spelt lemoncello in Australia, isnt a new beverage. Most Italians have enjoyed the liqueur for as long as they can remember.

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Limoncello can be used in drinks and desserts. iStock But an increasing number of Australians are making it commercially, including winemaker Rod Micallef of Zonzo Estate in Victorias Yarra Valley, who learnt the recipe from an old Italian friend. It was fun to peel the lemons while having a chat with him, Micallef says. Doing it the traditional way is pretty slow, but life is fast-paced so its good for the soul. Dom Cece has more than four generations of family recipes behind him. At his Smithfield factory and cellar door, he produces a range of 12 Cello liqueurs. His twists on the classic include Limecello and Passioncello (made with passionfruit). Of the 400-plus venues he supplies nationwide, Sydneys Catalina devotes an entire drinks menu page to spritz. The elderflower and limoncello spritz is the most popular, says Catalina bar manager Alessandro Cavaliere. We make it with elderflower liqueur, limoncello, lemon, prosecco and soda. Catalina bar manager Alessandro Cavaliere has devoted a page of the drinks list to limoncello-based cocktails. Nikki Short

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Cavaliere hails from Lake Como in northern Italy, where he grew up surrounded by limoncello. Its refreshing before lunch or dinner and is also a great digestif. You can have it at the start or end of a meal. Limoncello is most commonly associated with the town of Sorrento and the nearby island of Capri, near Naples in southern Italy. According to legend, monks sipped it between prayers during the Middle Ages, while peasants and fishermen have long been partial to a splash of the liqueur on a chilly morning. Authentic Italian limoncello is traditionally made from four ingredients: lemon skin (no juice, pith or flesh), water, alcohol and sugar. Its all about the zest and the essential oils that come with it. The flavour and colour come from thin slivers of lemon peel that steep in pure ethanol. Zonzo Estate founder Rod Micallef pours a glass of his limoncello. Joe Armao Friends, peers and customers encouraged Micallef to add limoncello to the product range at his Italian-inspired winery.

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A whopping 32,000 lemons sourced from the Yarra Valley town of Gruyere made their way into the first batch of Zonzo Limoncello. The farmer agreed not to spray for us, which is why we use them, Micallef says. We used close to 300,000 lemons this year, and as we peeled them I thought Why dont I do a limoncello spritz? We googled it and couldnt find anyone doing bottled or any pre-mixed limoncello. I believe our Zoncello limoncello spritz was the first in the world. The bubbly beverage can be consumed straight from the bottle, ideally in a large wine glass over ice, garnished with lemon and mint leaves. As the burgeoning trend continues, expect more producers to jump on board. Seek out those who use stellar ingredients and a whole lot of love and patience. We use real lemons and Australian sugar, Micallef says. Its not a chemically mixed drink. Its slowly handmade by our team, including my kids. Yarra Valley maker Zonzos spritz version, Zoncello, in a glass over ice. Joe Armao How to store limoncello

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Keep pure limoncello  but definitely not the spritz  in the freezer, where it will last indefinitely, even once opened. Cellos Dom Cece popped a bottle in the freezer 14 years ago when he started his business. He still samples it every year, and it hasnt changed.

If stored in the fridge, it will last about two-and-a-half years once opened. How to use limoncello Straight up, in a shot glass before or after dinner. Put the shot glasses in the freezer for extra chill. Down the hatch in one go or sip, it doesnt matter.

Straight, over ice.

As a spritz, the basic ingredients of which are limoncello, prosecco, soda and ice.

In cocktails. The Limoncello Sour, made with fresh lemon juice, an egg white and the lemon liqueur, is a popular choice.

The beverage can also be used in desserts such as tiramisu and poured over ice-cream. EASY Panna cotta with limoncello curd and berries for a crowd Recipe collection See off 2023 with proper spicy margaritas (and other delicious drinks)

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Tips & adviceWine & spirits The best wines to drink this summer for $25 and under Stock up for your barbies, picnics and parties with these thrifty bangers, as recommended by some of Brisbanes best independent wine sellers. Nick Dent December 29, 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

The summer holiday season means plenty of social events, which also means youll probably be cracking a wine or two in celebration. But youre no longer limited to the big box stores (and their supermarket-attached underlings) when it comes to picking up the perfect bottle for your next occasion. In the past few years, Brisbanes independent bottle shop scene has come on in leaps and bounds, peddling unique and often esoteric drops from both Australia and abroad. Good wine neednt be expensive. All of these bottles can be had for $25 or less. Tammy Law And good wine neednt be expensive. We asked a bunch of indie operators for their wallet-friendly picks for the summer. Here are some of the best wines you can buy in Brisbane for $25 or less. Red

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Oakridge Over the Shoulder Pinot Noir Drink it: With Asian food and poultry

Region: Yarra Valley

Price: $22 Tony Harper oversees Craft Wine Stores in Coorparoo, Red Hill and Indooroopilly where theres an emphasis on organic, biodynamic and natural wines. He says theres a good reason for the big move toward lighter, brighter, juicier reds in Queensland. Because its so f---ing hot. Over the Shoulders got that lovely, velvety, pinot softness and is very adaptable. Stick it in the fridge for half-an-hour then drink it  because room temperature in England might be 18 degrees, but here its 32.

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Its the ideal wine to have with Peking duck  anything bird, anything Asian. Blood Moon Wines Sang de Lune Grampians Shiraz Drink it: With your leftover Christmas ham

Region: Grampians

Price: $25 Blood Moon Wines Sang de Lune Grampians Shiraz. Tammy Law This vegan-friendly organic wine is selected by Ian Trinkle, the award-winnng former head sommelier for Aria Brisbane and former group sommelier for Howard Smith Wharves. Hes also the co-founder of Wineism, a wine store-wine bar hybrid in Albion showcasing artisanal small producers.

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Its really nice perfumed shiraz, its not overly rich, lighter, more floral, with some dark fruits and red fruits integrated in there  on the brighter side of shiraz, Trinkle says. He recommends serving it with a light chill (say 18-19 degrees): It will bring out the brightness. Gigi Rosso Toscana Drink it: On midweek pizza or pasta night

Region: Tuscany

Price: $22 Gigi Rosso Toscana. Tammy Law

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The term pizza wine gets thrown around a lot, but this is my go-to for a Wednesday, says Half Moon Wine Stores Alex Farquhar. Its actually the perfect midweek table red. Half Moon (in South Brisbane and Wilston) focuses on organic, small, independent producers and sustainability  what co-owner Farquhar calls that hands-off approach to winemaking.



Gigi Rosso blends Tuscan sangiovese grapes with a splash of cabernet. Its earthy, its savoury, but with some really lovely fruits, made with minimal intervention from the winemaker. White Castelforte Soave

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Drink it: With white-sauce pasta or fish

Region: Venice

Price: $23 Hannah Wagners Fortitude Valley wine bar and wine store, Dark Red, focuses on Italian wines and Australian-grown Italian varieties. Everyone always asks me why I love Italian wines, she laughs. And its because I cant believe the quality for the price. This soave is one of my favourites, Im just completely shocked by how cheap it is and how good it is. It has the kind of depth a chardonnay does, but it has a bit of body to it. Its real green apple and peary and almondy, and super pleasant. Wickhams Road 2023 King Valley Pinot Gris

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Drink it: While lounging around the backyard

Region: King Valley

Price: $25 Wickhams Road 2023 King Valley Pinot Gris. Tammy Law You dont necessarily need to pair this quaffer with food, says Wineisms Ian Trinkle. Wickhams Road is the second label from the guys at Hoddles Creek Estate from the Yarra Valley, but this is made with King Valley fruit, he says. Its pinot gris, so it has a bit of softness to it, still has refreshing acidity, but not too tart  more kind of like soft green fruits, pear, a bit of citrus. A perfect, easy aperitif.

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Artigiano Grillo Drink it: With seafood

Region: Sicily

Price: $22 Artigiano Grillo. Tammy Law Half Moons Alex Farquhar nominates this Sicilian white to go with any kind of fish. Theres a lovely little touch of salinity in there that makes pairing it with seafood a bit of a dream, he says. Farquhar describes the grillo grape varietal as a pinot grigio but a lot more interesting, with a lot more texture.

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He says the Artigiano is dry, crisp, refreshing  youre getting zesty citrus and some ripe tropical fruit, but with an addition of some mouth-filling rounded texture. Throw in some seafood and youre absolutely sorted. Tar & Roses Pinot Grigio Drink it: While sitting around the pool

Region: Heathcote

Price: $19 Tony Harper recommends this pinot grigio for pool times, or with seafood. Grigio can be really neutral and bland and not very interesting at all, or it can, with a bit of effort, be made into something a little bit extra, Harper says.

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Tar & Roses has a perfume thats almost Turkish delight, and its really crunchy on the palate. Its held its price for almost a decade, so its really good value from an awesome producer. Orange Somos Naranjito Verdelho Drink it: By the barbecue

Region: McLaren Vale

Price: $25 Farquhar says this Naranjito Verdelho is on the approachable side for an orange wine.

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Its quite clean, all the fruits been grown biodynamically, then fermented on skins. Some of its been on skins for about six months, and it leaves this really lovely savoury ginger flavour with stone fruits and tropical fruits. The citrus is bending towards the orange spectrum  oranges, mandarins and tangelos. When does he like to drink it? Any hot day. Any day you just want to relax on the back porch next to the barbecue, this is a juicy banger that will hit the spot. Sparkling Rossini Rosato

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Drink it: With charcuterie

Region: Sicily

Price: $25 Hannah Wagner cant stop singing the praises of this Sicilian sparkling Rosato. Its kind of like strawberries and cream but really dry. I find this one is always a hit with the whole table. It makes my job very, very easy. Its a bit of an anomaly the way everyone really likes it. Wagner recommends the wine with spicy food or a good charcuterie board. I think of Rosato as an afternoon charcuterie wine, to go with meats and cheese. Delinquente Negroamaro Amaya Pet Nat

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Drink it: Any time

Region: Riverland

Price: $24 Tony Harper loves the versatility of this pink sparkling. I would drink it after mowing the lawn, Id drink it with a meal, Id drink it with cheese at the end of the meal, he says. Negroamaro is a southern Italian grape variety, sourced by Delinquente from the Sherwood Estate in Loxton North, South Australia. Australia has really cottoned onto Mediterranean varieties because it suits our climate, Harper says. Delinquente is an Australian company, that make lots of natural wines. I love this one, its a delicious, brilliantly made wine.

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Wake Up Without the Royal Hangover Vincent Namatjiras The Royal Tour (Diana, Vincent and Charles). Young Australians in particular seem to have a hankering to ditch our whole monarchic rule deal, and while The Crown caught plenty of eyeballs, the current state of The Firm doesnt really recommend itself as prime-time drama. Should you need further encouragement not to take the royals too seriously, check out the paintings of Vincent Namatjira, OAM, whose work often inserts the artist into the narratives Australia tells itself about itself. Whether hes hanging with the Queen or chilling with pollies, the humorous nature of his paintings belies the Archibald-winning artists powerful ability to turn popular iconography into something rich with new meaning.

Cook More at Home Jean Simeon Chardins 1761 painting A Basket of Wild Strawberries. Delivery services hit the jackpot in 2020, and food boxes have been lapped up by busy workers too time-poor to face the supermarket queue. The tide has been turning of late, however, aspeople increasingly miss the simple pleasures of cooking for themselves, and some of the best-selling cookbooks these days can equal the lavish presentation (and price tag) of volumes devoted to the fine arts. This is funny because a lot of art that takes food as a subject doesnt necessarily make the mouth water. From Cezannes lumpy apples to Warhols soup cans, these works often deploy consumables as metaphors for something else. The banana duct-taped to the wall of the current NGV Triennial (Maurizio Cattelans Comedian) sold for $178,000 a few years ago  twice. Critics are still debating its nutritional value. Some still-lifes can leave you salivating, however. Take Jean Simeon Chardins A Basket of Wild Strawberries. It broke records last year after it sold at auction for more than any other 18th-century painting. The image went for almost $40 million. Someone had hungry eyes.

Wear Sunscreen Comedian Tig Notaro stared mortality in the face after her 2012 cancer diagnosis. In another era, New Years partygoers might have vowed to work on their tan. These days youre more likely to be practising self-care by covering up. Reminding yourself why we do this doesnt have to be grim, though. Take the iconic 2012 comedy album Tig Notaro  Live, a set the comic performed immediately after receiving her diagnosis of cancer. Its an astonishing moment in which she abandons her usual routine to stare mortality in the face, and manages to find the humour in the sheer absurdity of life and its alternative. The title is pronounced live to rhyme with give, by the way, and it does both in spades.

Shop in a Shop Chantal Akermans film Golden Eighties explores consumerism. Yeah, its very convenient to shop online, and dont those ad algorithms truly know you better than your best friend? Yet somehow people are increasingly nostalgic for the smell of bricks and mortar. Chantal Akermans 1986 film Golden Eighties captures perfectly the way in-person shopping pushes certain buttons that URLs cant touch. Its a musical comedy set in a 1980s Euro shopping arcade and it lives up to its title with almost violently bright colours, over-the-top styling and outrageously inspirational hair. It has aged terribly well.

Listen to the Album in Full Beyonce in a scene from her visual album Lemonade. Credit: HBO Now gather round, children, and hearken to my words: once upon a time, songs were delivered bundled up in tens, a dozen, sometimes even more. Youd set one a-playing, and let them all have their own turn in good course. Its not just audiophiles who miss the days of the LP. Musicians often lament our changing listening habits, and music fans sometimes vow to skip tracks less and enjoy an album the way it was intended. A good way to commit is to throw on a concept album, given that theyre perhaps the most coherent and unified form of long-player. Theyre not extinct, either  Janelle Monaes Metropolis Saga is a series of albums exploring the life of her android alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather, while Beyonces Lemonade introduced the concept album to a whole new generation.

Worry Less About Robots Agnieszka Pilat and her robot dogs. A small number of people are making a lot of money right now by telling us to be very afraid of AI, while another number is telling us not to be worried at all. Those with no financial stakes in the outcome tell us the truth is somewhere in between, but if your vow this year is not to get stressed by the whole subject, theres plenty of art to offer solace. Take Agnieszka Pilats robot dogs at the NGV Triennial. Theyre hypnotising to watch, but not particularly worrisome. If anything, theyre evidence of how monotonous and routine our most-hyped tech often turns out to be. Social media was supposed to revolutionise democracy, VR would be our default mode of communication, and wed all be zipping around on Segways. Didnt really pan out that way. Kazuo Ishiguros 2021 novel Klara and the Sun might be the most emotionally nuanced recent take on our supposed robot future. It puts us into the shoes of an artificial friend purchased to serve as companion to a girl whose illness may be terminal. The android is a deeply memorable character, both naive and endlessly curious, and through her outsiders eyes, it becomes clear that we should spend far more time worrying about our human folly than we should imagining that our smart fridge and Siri are in sinister cahoots.

Freshen Up Your Look From Cindy Shermans Untitled Film Still series, 1980 Maybe its all the catch-ups and work parties and Auld Lang Synes that have many arriving at New Years Eve realising theyve been rocking the same routines for far too long. Some artists excel at reinventing themselves, but if you want the ultimate makeover inspiration, Cindy Sherman has your back. Since the mid-1970s, the American artist has been creating elaborately styled and made-up self-portraits that so completely transform her image that its impossible to tell what the real Cindy Sherman looks like. Check out her Untitled Film Still series  youll be hooked by the way one person can adopt so many wildly different identities, and perhaps unsettled by the possibility that so much of who we are might be a performance.

Read... Author George Saunders A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is a masterclass for readers and writers. Credit: Janie Barrett The nightstands pile of shame grows taller every year. You promise yourself youll put in some serious reading hours during the January break, but before you know it youre looking up from your phone to find December tapping its foot. The biggest art-based argument for reading more should surely be any book that captivates your imagination, but if you need a jump-start, grab a copy of George Saunders A Swim in a Pond in the Rain. The acclaimed short story writer recreates the fiction course he teaches at Syracuse University, and its a masterclass both readers and writers will love. Each chapter gives you the complete text of a classic Russian short story before Saunders walks you through its inner workings. Hes disarmingly straight about it  he nails what you feel at every story beat and then has you pondering why you feel it.

... but Dont Read the Comments Conceptual artist Marina Ambramovic and her perfomrance work The Artist Is Present. Credit: Marco Anelli If hell is other people, the 2012 documentary The Artist is Present might remind you to avoid the nether recesses of human congregation without ruling out the species entirely. Its a record of performance artist Marina Abramovics career, named after the work in which she spent three months seated at a table and allowed any audience member to sit with her. The artist, whose challenging work had in the past led strangers to spit in her direction, instead found people moved to tears by the simple act of sharing real space.

Check in with the Family A scene from Yasujiro Ozus 1953 masterwork Tokyo Story. Whether its the folks you were born to or the ones you choose to surround yourself with, its always understandable why a new year can have you wanting to reconnect with your people. Even Scrooges misanthropy didnt make it to New Years Eve. For one of arts most undeniable works of human connection, look no further than Yasujiro Ozus 1953 film Tokyo Story, which regularly makes the top 10 lists of directors and critics the world over. Countless books and essays have attempted to capture what makes the film so perfect, and few filmmakers have come close to recreating its tender yet unsentimental approach. Isnt life disappointing? asks a character near the end. The answer is the key to why we go on.

What some of Melbournes arts personalities are planning for their New Year resolutions...

Sheridan Harbridge (actor, Meet Me at Dawn) Actor/writer Sheridan Harbridge Credit: Chris Hopkins I have a superstition that how you bring in midnight is a prediction of what the year will give you in return. In 2019 we were tired and stayed in and watched movies, which became a pandemic year of staying in and watching movies. Last year the sparklers somehow got wet and wouldnt light  and that was an apt picture of my 2023! So to bring in this new year, I am forcing fate by surrounding myself with incredible friends, cocktails that cost too much for their size, and a dumb grin on my face. I resolve for 2024 to be joyous and fizzy!

Anne-Louise Sarks, MTC artistic director MTC artistic director Anne-Louise Sarks Credit: Eddie Jim Every New Years Eve I try to find a moment to reflect on the year thats been, to think about what Im proud of and what Ive learned, and what Id like to try do differently in the coming year. I sit quietly with a coffee and write about the year thats been. Its a nice chance to properly take stock. This year I feel I need that more than ever. Its been a huge year. It was my first year as artistic director at Melbourne Theatre Company. We are in rehearsals now for our first show of 2024  so its important to take a moment to stop and look back. Im really proud of my inaugural season. Its been a brilliant start to my time here. Once Ive finished reflecting then I can think clearly about what the new year holds. Like most people Im not great at sticking to my resolutions, so as I get older Im trying to be more realistic about what to aim for in the new year. In 2024 I want to find more time to dream and to think creatively. You cant make this much art without feeding yourself creatively.

Hannah Fox, co-artistic director of RISING Hannah Fox, co-curator of Melbournes RISING festival. Credit: Simon Schluter Im a big believer in the importance of the rituals of a community in my work, and the rituals that come with this time of year (as cracked as it is) are as close to a lifelong practice as I have. So I usually embrace them all, including eating too much, listening to naff Christmas music, making lots of solemn promises to myself and grappling with the fact that a whole year has passed since I didnt become a better person. In this particular year it feels a bit indulgent to ponder self-improvement so Im throwing it in the bin, which I guess is a resolution in itself. Alison Whyte, actor (Death of a Salesman, Groundhog Day The Musical) Actor Alison Whyte.
A YouTuber who allegedly uploaded unlawful videos of the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial has been ordered to face court.

Glenn Logan was on Friday ordered to appear before the Federal Court to show cause  as to why proceedings for contempt should not be instituted against him.

Lisa Wilkinson, Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins. Credit: Steven Siewert, Rhett Wyman

Logan was ordered to appear on February 13 over videos published on his YouTube channel, allegedly in breach of a Federal Court prohibition on rebroadcasting its YouTube livestream of the Lehrmann case.

Fridays court order cites nine videos allegedly contravening its prohibition on rebroadcasting the trial. All but two have been removed.
St Vincents Health could be fined over the Christmas data hack if Home Affairs finds it failed to meet international cyber safety standards, as the Melbourne and Sydney hospitals are considered critical infrastructure.

A week after the theft of the data was discovered, the nations largest not-for-profit operator of aged care homes and hospitals is unable to say if patient data has been compromised, admitting in a statement released on Friday that while there was no evidence personal information had been stolen, they were still trying to work out what data had been stolen by cybercriminals.

St Vincents Hospital in Sydney. Credit: Peter Rae

A Home Affairs spokesperson on Friday said its Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre may choose to undertake regulatory investigations into this incident once initial investigations were completed.

Critical infrastructure entities with the Risk Management Program requirements are required to have a Risk Management Program in place already, including covering cyber risks, the spokesperson 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 Sarah Wiseman was alone in her house in Melbournes northern suburbs when two red lines gave her the life-changing news she had spent tens of thousands of dollars and more than four years hoping to receive. Wiseman, 42, is a shy New Zealand native whose work as a nurse had taken her to Sydney, Saudi Arabia, Auckland and Alice Springs, and left little time for dating. But the fact she wasnt prepared to make small talk with strangers in bars hadnt stopped her from wanting a family. Sarah Wiseman with triplets Isaac, Arlo and Hunter. Credit: Wayne Taylor After investing years and about $100,000 in her plan to have a baby solo and seeing it derailed so many times, Wiseman just didnt trust the positive pregnancy test when it came in October 2022. Id never seen those two lines before, she said. So I did some more tests and some more tests and every different brand of test just to make sure. Wiseman was working as a neonatal nurse at the Royal Womens Hospital caring for other peoples babies  as she struggled to have her own. Having spent $50,000 on an unsuccessful pregnancy attempt using eggs imported from the US, Wisemans savings were drying up, but she hadnt quite been ready to let go of the dream of bringing her own baby home from the hospital.

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I was close sometimes, especially after the American eggs, she said. Trying every month for a couple of years and then many cycles of IVF; Ive done a lot of tests. Loading A shortage of available donor eggs in Australia saw Wiseman follow up the US import attempt with a trip overseas. She travelled to the Middle East for eight days to receive a ready-made embryo transfer in northern Cyprus. The successful donation put her on the path to parenthood, but pregnancy was not without its challenges. One Friday, just a few weeks in, Wiseman had a bleed at work. She went to the emergency department and was told shed lost a baby. I thought that was it, that was the end, she said. Wiseman spent the weekend thinking the pregnancy had been unsuccessful once again. It wasnt until the following week that she could get in for a scan.

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They saw two babies. It looked like there had been four and there were two surviving. Twins I could deal with; I have two hands, Wiseman said. I went back in two weeks and there were three babies there. Wiseman and her sons with her parents Lesley and Robin. Credit: Wayne Taylor Wiseman called her mum in New Zealand as soon as she found out. Hearing her daughter in tears, Lesley Wiseman thought things must have once again gone wrong. But a few months later, the retired 72-year-old would be on a plane from New Zealand to Melbourne awaiting the arrival of three grandsons. Hunter, Arlo and Isaac were born at the Royal Womens on April 12 at 34 weeks. They spent two and a half weeks in hospital learning to feed before they went home with the Wisemans to Wollert in Melbournes outer north. Lesley stayed in Melbourne for almost six months; taking care of the cooking and helping with the cycle of feeding and changing. She returned with Sarahs stepdad Robin Pert for Christmas, and the pair now plan to move permanently in February.

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Wiseman said her now eight-month-olds are on a routine: they all feed at the same times, get changed at the same times and get put down to sleep at the same times. Wiseman says each of the boys have their own, distinct personality. Credit: Wayne Taylor It can feel like a bit of a production line when youve got three on your own. When theres more of us here you get more of the cuddles and playtime, she said. Its a bit crowded with three adults and three boys, I might have to look at a larger house.  Loading The triplets sleep for around 11 hours a night and Wiseman squeezes in about six hours for herself. She said her moments of doubt were mostly due to financial strain  not the stress of caring for three crying babies. Wiseman is using cloth nappies for the trio to cut costs and Christmas was kept simple. But after becoming an Australian citizen in November, Wiseman is hopeful that childcare will be more accessible for the boys she waited so long to meet.

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The state has a new premier in Jacinta Allan. The nation has a new favourite team in the Matildas. The world has decided Barbie is cool again, and Taylor Swift isnt just a popular musician, shes a generational phenomenon.

But the more things change, the more they stay the same. Thousands of Melburnians will again flock to the CBD for a fireworks extravaganza as Victoria rings in the new year  thrilling those looking forward to 2024, and providing a welcome farewell for those relieved to see the end of 2023.

The Age has compiled a guide to help you pick where to be when the fireworks kick off in Melbourne on Sunday night, as well as how to get there and whats open on January 1.

When are the kid-friendly fireworks?
An import ban on engineered stone will not be imposed until all states and territories have announced a deadline on its prohibition, prompting fears that workplaces will continue to be left exposed.

State and territory workplace health and safety ministers agreed earlier this month to roll out the worlds first ban of the silicosis-linked slabs popular in kitchen renovations. However, not all jurisdictions backed the July 2024 deadline for blocking its use in construction.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke will impose an import ban on engineered stone, but the date is not yet known. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Occupational hygienist Kate Cole, who has repeatedly warned of the risks of silica dust, said that without an import ban, we leave ourselves wide open to engineered stone still coming into our workplaces.

Engineered stone isnt just imported by large suppliers like Caesarstone and Cosentino, its also imported from many smaller suppliers, Cole said. The import ban is a vital part of the wholesale ban of engineered stone in Australia.
The husband of late Labor MP Peta Murphy is being urged to put his hand up to become Labors candidate in the vital upcoming byelection in her suburban Melbourne seat.

The nations focus will soon turn to the bayside seat of Dunkley for a contest, the result of which will test the political temperature in a potential federal election year.

Peta Murphys husband Rod Glover at the December 15 funeral service for the late Labor MP. Credit: Eddie Jim

Senior Labor figures and local branch members have asked Rod Glover to run in the traditionally marginal seat, according to three sources speaking anonymously to detail private talks.

The respected former staffer to Kevin Rudd, university professor and public policy expert is a Frankston local and the candidacy is his if he chooses to run, Labor sources say.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. Amendments have been made to the decree On establishment of a unified electronic information system in local executive bodies for citizens' appeals, Trend reports.

This issue is reflected in the corresponding decree signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The words "State Agency of Special Communication and Information Security of the Special State Protection Service of the Republic" are replaced with the words "State Service of Special Communication and Information Security of the Republic" in the sixth part of the document.

The words "to the State Agency of Special Communication and Information Security of the State Protection Service" are replaced with the words "to the State Service of Communication and Information Security" in subparagraph 5.1.2 of the "Rules for the use of the unified electronic information system for citizen appeals in local executive authorities", approved by this decree.

The words "State Agency of Special Communication and Information Security of the State Protection Service" are replaced with the words "State Service of Communication and Information Security" in paragraph 6.2.
New Years resolutions wont be the only thing to begin at the stroke of midnight on Sunday.

Changes to federal and state laws come into effect, including a cap on tolls for Sydneys motorways, a ban on the importation of single-use vapes, reform to taxation, and stronger legislation protecting people from hate speech or violence.

Tolls

From Monday, Sydney motorists will enjoy some cost-of-living relief with weekly tolls capped at $60 under a state government initiative costing more than half a billion dollars.
After our evening Turkish Airlines flight from Bari, Italy, to Melbourne was cancelled while in the check-in queue, we incurred many out-of-pocket costs for meals and accommodation over the three days we were stranded in Italy and Abu Dhabi. According to European Union regulations, we are legally entitled to be reimbursed for extra costs incurred due to short-notice cancellation. Attempts to gain reimbursement have been, at the time of writing, completely fobbed off several times by Turkish Airlines. Jen Leigh, Kensington, Vic

Terrific news about Singapore Airlines increasing its number of seats on Australian routes but Im shocked to note that Brisbane and the Gold Coast will not benefit at all. Whats going on there? I do hope that the government reconsiders Qatar Airways application for 21 more flights per week. After all, arent we Aussies known for giving everyone a fair go. Surely good competition can only encourage Qantas to lift its game. Marg Huxley, Murwillumbah, NSW

Never again, your correspondents often write in respect to poor airline experiences. Cmon guys; those of us who worked in the travel industry in the 1990s know there was only one never again airline. The now defunct Belgian airline, Sabena which stood for Such A Bloody Experience, Never Again!

Mick Stojcevski, Southbank Vic

Whats my line?

I read your writer Sofia Andrades recent article on airline boarding queue processes (Traveller, December 18) and gasped at her comment that gate agents will give clear, boarding group-specific directions. What? I have never had any idea of what group should be boarding as the announcements are always garbled and incomprehensible. On a recent trip I asked a few passengers in the queue if it was my group number and all answered that they had absolutely no idea what had been called. Confusion reigned again on another flight when the airline, in an attempt to avoid the confusion caused by garbled announcements, had signs held up. Great idea, I thought. As I was in group five, I joined the queue for group four to six. Wrong. The sign meant groups four and six but not five.

Peter OKeefe, Collingwood, Vic

Dont bank on it

I have/had a Travel Bank credit with Virgin Australia in excess of $800. As I now live in Europe I wanted to use it to visit relatives while here on holidays. However, when booking, I was told that there were no seats available for Travel Bank users on that flight despite the aircraft being less than full. So, heres another case of Australian airlines exploiting their customers with me having just made an $800 donation to Virgins bottom line. Perhaps it is time we brought Australian airlines out of the dark ages and into the real world.

David Bunn, Port Melbourne, Vic
Donald Trump isnt the only Republican running for the US presidency.

While he is far and away the most popular among Republican voters, he is also the most legally conflicted. He faces four criminal trials for, among other things, alleged election subversion or the mishandling of classified documents.

Trumps Republican rivals. Credit: Nathan Perri

On Friday (AEDT), the state of Maine removed Trump from the states presidential primary ballot under the US Constitutions insurrection clause, a move which could deprive him of a vote in the electoral college.

With American politics in an increasingly unpredictable phase, any one of the rival Republican candidates may eventually play a part in the direction of the party in 2024, or the election itself.
~The hardest working Minister and MP: Minister of VSA Omar Ottley and MP Rolando Brison.~

PHILIPSBURG: --- It is that time of the year when the media around the world will make scorecards for people who stand out to the community they live in and the world at large.

The task of identifying people who stood out every year is indeed tedious because there are people who also stood out for their negativity. We are the only media house on St. Maarten/St. Martin also highlights the negative because Persons of the Year is not only about being positive, but it is for those who stand out during the entire year.

SMN News also opted not to focus on the year 2023 alone since the populace will be heading to the polls on January 11th, 2024, and there is no better time to actually score those that performed during the entire 4-year term they so often boast about.

This year SMN News chose to highlight two persons who did not pocket the taxpayers money and sit by idly, in fact, the two people SMN News opted to highlight and give credit to are people who worked and earned the salary paid to them by taxpayers.

We start with Minister of VSA Omar Ottley who took office during the pandemic, to be precise on April 21st, 2021, Ottley, whose screening delayed his entry to office hit the ground running to bring the spread of the COVID-19 virus under control. He was the only Minister that was able to positively communicate with the people including visitors to St. Maarten thereby reducing the spread until COVID-19 was no longer a threat to St. Maarten. One of the best decisions Ottley took was to reopen businesses when many thought businesses should remain closed due to the fear created by the spread of the virus and the lives the deadly virus claimed on St. Maarten and around the world. Ottley also launched a nationwide drive vaccination campaign in collaboration with key stakeholders to protect the population, with this project he managed to vaccinate 85% of the population.

It was because of the decisions taken by Ottley that businesses on St. Maarten were able to bounce back. Those who depended on SSRP could have gotten off in no time, causing our economy to bounce back way before many others.

Another achievement for Ottley was the indexation to the minimum wage which had not seen an increase in over ten years. He made a promise to the people on the campaign trail and kept that promise when he entered office, even though the process was tedious, and he was forced to collect data in order to make the increase possible he got it done. He also managed to increase the old age pension, something most politicians forget when they entered office.

Another great achievement for Ottley was the continued construction of the New General Hospital which did not really kick off until Ottley intervened and placed harsh conditions on the contractors. While the construction is not going the way everyone would have liked, the truth is things have gotten better at the construction site.

Ottley also increased the sickness and accident insurance wage limits established in the Sickness Insurance Ordinance/Ziektekostenverzekering to 120,000; to improve the state of healthcare funds.

The young and vibrant Minister of Labor and Health also signed off on the purchase of 6,267 m2 of land in St. Johns Estate, for the Mental Health Foundation with the support of Ministry VSA, the project for construction was approved by the World Bank, and NRPB to develop a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the mental health care needs of the population.

The achievements mentioned in this article for Omar Ottley it is only the tip of the iceberg for a minister who was robbed of more than a year from office as his screening process took a lengthy court procedure before he was allowed to take the oath of office.

Besides his accomplishments as Minister of Labor and Health Omar Ottley managed the Ministry of VSA and the Ministry of TEATT singlehandedly for 10 months because the screening of the current Minister of TEATT took quite some time while the previous Minister left office for medical reasons. Ottley manned the two Ministries from April 2022 to January 2023.



Click here to view the list of Accomplishments of Minister Omar Ottley for the three years he served as a Minister.



And the Leader of the United Peoples Party, person of the year is none other than Member of Parliament Rolando BRISON.



SMN News also opted to recognize Member of Parliament Rolando Brison for his dedication and accomplishments during his tenure as a Member of Parliament.

MP Rolando Brison one of the youngest Members of Parliament who was elected by the people of St. Maarten is the only member of parliament who did not look for his own selfish gain when he did everything humanly possible to maintain the full term of the National Alliance/ United Peoples Party coalition government for its full term of four years.

The only government in 13 years that sat for a full term of four years, by accomplishing this feat Brison was able to save the country money and also save the country from more embarrassment. Brison was the one to secure the cooperation of the two independent members of parliament Akeem Arrindell and Chanel Brownbill when the rumors began that at least two Members of Parliament who were part of the United Peoples Party would declare themselves independent for their own selfishness and to create instability for the country and its people.

While the government lasted a full four years not many in the current coalition could boast of their achievements.

There were many scandals that MP Brison was not afraid to highlight on the floor of parliament even though he supported the coalition for its full term. He questioned Ministers he supported whenever he felt that the people of St. Maarten and himself as a Member of Parliament deserved to know what was taking place in the executive branch.

Even though working hard for the people and his country many people especially those in his political party sabotaged him and undermined the young members of parliament by paying people to record him in his own private space to take away his seat as the chair of parliament. Many thought that those events would have deterred Brison, but the young St. Maarten born son of the soil showed resilience and recouped from every attack. He displayed maturity even though he was the youngest and continued to work in the best interest of his country.

Despite it all MP Rolando Brison still managed to rise above all and was able to draft 23 laws, most of which he tabled on the floor of parliament.

One of the laws that directly benefitted the people of St. Maarten, or the working class was the Initiative National Ordinance granting an authorization for alienation of the shares belonging to the country of Sint Maarten in the share capital of United Telecommunication Services N.V.

Because of this law, the Government managed to secure 22 million guilders to the coffers of government, and because of this law, for the first time ever justice workers were able to get a payment towards their outstanding salaries.

The second one that made headway was the Banking law that gives all residents of St. Maarten the right to a basic bank account, prevents banks from closing your bank account without first getting permission from the courts, and gives a legal basis for the government to create a consumer banking protection agency.

The draft laws submitted by Member of Parliament Rolando Brison are as follows:

Click here to view the list of draft laws.

Conclusion.

One of the things SMN News would want to point out is that this new year 2024 opens and the populace is called to vote for another set of persons that are supposed to lead this country. It will be necessary for every voter to assess what the current Members of Parliament have done for the country, and what are some of the things the Ministers in government achieved. Some members of parliament boldly said they barked for four long years but failed to bite.

How exactly did the 9 factions in parliament benefit the country or its people? The Minister of Finance has said on several occasions that the current parliament and its 9 factions have been a burden to the countrys budget and its finances. The Electoral Council and the few attendees that attended the Town Hall meeting on amending the Electoral Laws clearly state that the problems are not the laws but those selfish persons who got elected on a political slate and later jumped ship and became independent members of parliament.

It is the very Members of Parliament that criticizes the Dutch for the conditions they placed on the country for its loans are the ones that benefitted the most because they are the ones that plundered the budget of the government of St. Maarten leaving many projects undone.

Many of them were more interested in making deals and when that failed, they voted against everything the coalition presented to parliament. They walked out of meetings in order not to give a quorum, for them it was about politics and not the country or the people they pretended to represent. Those are the very politicians that will continue to convince you that they are the better choice on the eight slates on January 11th, 2024, even though they have not stroked a pen since taking office for the past four years or better yet the past 13 years.

As for some Ministers that are presently in government it is also necessary to score them. Those who criticized the past Ministers for enriching themselves with government lease land and contracts ended up doing worse. In one court verdict, the judge condemned the current Minister of VROMI for doing the very same thing he accused former Ministers of doing when it comes to the distribution of government-leased land. As a result of this verdict, notaries are no longer signing any decrees for land issued by the Ministry.

It is time for the business community to say NO to the politicians who have not worked but just milked the government coffers dry. These people who have postulated elections after elections and did not move one stroke in the interest of the populace should be sent home so they could work and earn a living like everyone else.

One of the things that must be clear is that all 15 Members of Parliament and the 7 Ministers received the same salary from the coffers of the taxpayers. They all benefitted from the free airline tickets paid by the taxpayers, the per diem each time for their endless travel expeditions. These are the people who were able to live above their means and forgot about the people who elected them in the first place.

Right now, as the campaign gets hotter the politicians who are vying for public office will make empty promises, some of them are so good at acting that they will swallow you as they make each voter gullible. People of St. Maarten it is time to become wise and not let others fool you or take advantage of your kindness its time to take out your scorecards and on January 11th send those unfit and lazy birds back to their nests.

SMN News takes this time to congratulate the Minister of VSA Omar E. C. Ottley for the recognition he earned, congratulations also go out to Member of Parliament Rolando Brison for his steadfast commitment to the people of St. Maarten.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a law on amendments to the law On the suspension of inspections in the field of entrepreneurship, Trend reports.

According to the document, the period for suspending inspections in the field of entrepreneurship has been extended until January 1, 2025.

This law will come into force on January 1, 2024.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a law on amendments to the country's law On unemployment insurance, Trend reports.

According to the law, the period of insurance coverage in Azerbaijan has been reduced from 30 to 24 months.

Thus, a person in Azerbaijan with an insurance period of 24 months will be able to receive unemployment benefits if he/she remains unemployed against his/her will.
Within about half an hour the house was full of toys and dirty washing, there was stuff everywhere, we have two children running around, and as soon as you walk out of the front door you are hit by this wave of sensory overload," said Jonathan.
Mr Webb can challenge any of the redactions if he wishes and, if he does so, the tribunal will be able to access the unredacted emails when coming to a decision on whether they should be disclosed in full.
The father-of-two was out for a post-Christmas walk with his wife and two young sons, aged eight and six, when he went to the aid of a woman he spotted lying unconscious in the street just after 2pm on Wednesday.
Dr Kingdon, a neonatologist, said that at this time of year childrens wards are pretty much full, predominantly with RSV cases, adding: Sadly, that means that planned or elective complex surgery has to be cancelled  Im particularly thinking about children who are waiting for congenital cardiac surgery, children having complex spinal and other complex surgeries where theyre going to need a PICU (paediatric intensive care) bed postoperatively  because we just dont have capacity across the NHS.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 30. NATO supports normalization efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Javier Colomina, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said, Trend reports.

"We support the improvement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We also support the efforts of the European Union and the United States in this process, as well as the measures taken by both countries on a bilateral basis," he said.
We hope the findings from this investigation will provide insight on the potential role of H. pylori in dementia in order to inform the development of prevention strategies, such as individualized eradication programs, to reduce infections at the population level.
The pure fact that he took my daughter out on a dodgy speedboat at 10 o'clock at night, without lifejackets, on a very dangerous stretch of the River Thames and accelerated up to 30 knots, and then to turn around and say, it was her fault
Mr Yousaf added: People on the ground, the public, take their lead from political leadership and if the political leadership is talking about migration as a dirty word, fanning the flames of that tension around migration, then its hardly surprising it becomes a divisive issue as opposed to actually looking at the issue from a common sense perspective.
Putin is testing Ukraines defences and the Wests resolve, hoping that he can clutch victory from the jaws of defeat. But he is wrong. Ukraines degradation of the Russian Black Sea fleet has proven it is still in this fight to win. And todays air defence package sends an undeniable message, in the face of Russian barbarity, that the UK remains absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine.
The Edinburgh team also hopes its research may pinpoint vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer which could be targeted by existing or new treatments such as immunotherapy which is not currently available for pancreatic cancer.
Fr Troy also said that while he appreciated the work of police to protect children on the way to school, he was unhappy that protesters were allowed to be so close that they were able to spit at the children and was confused as to why armed soldiers faced towards the parents and children.
An investigation into police procedures features on the front of the Daily Telegraph with a study suggesting officers across Britain do not meet minimum standards when booking criminals.
"All we know is that she was discovered in her bed this morning (24 December 2023), the cause of her death at this stage is not being treated as suspicious. Further information will be released later by the authorities.
It is understood gardai are investigating whether Mr Sherry was a participant in the initial shooting and was tackled and stabbed after the shots were fired.
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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. Tourism enterprises (hotels and sanatoriums) will receive tax breaks beginning next year to boost regional tourism growth and minimize fiscal tax expenses, Trend reports.

In connection with this, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the implementation of the law "On amending the Tax Code".

The law mandates a 75 percent reduction in property tax on real estate used in hotel and sanatorium activities (except during the period of temporary suspension of entrepreneurial activities in accordance with Article 16.3 of the Tax Code) in cities and districts throughout the country, excluding Baku, Sumgait, Khirdalan, and Absheron districts, for a three-year period.
Several dozen missiles were launched towards Kyiv during the night, with more than 30 of them intercepted, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration. The attack started a fire at a warehouse in the capitals Podil district where five people reportedly were pulled from the rubble. Three people were killed in the capital.
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 which 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 defence 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 Dec. 24, when it was sent to Guyana. Authorities did not specify when it was expected to arrive off Guyana's shores. The UK Ministry of Defence said the ship would be conducting joint operations with Guyana's 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.
I consider that a far more effective remedy would be for the secret services (who have, after all, largely got themselves into this mess) publicly to shut up, and secretly to grit their, teeth, pull themselves together and get on with it

Bernard Ingham
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. The Sabail District Court of Baku has chosen a preventive measure in the form of arrest for a foreign citizen Hamid Safari within a criminal case being probed by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

He was detained as part of an investigation into the organization of illegal international money transfers secret from state registration.

Safari, accused of committing other criminal acts under Article 206-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is accused of organizing a total of 1,379 secret currency transfer transactions amounting to millions of manat.

The persons to whom these funds were delivered to Azerbaijan through the mentioned shadow economy network included those prosecuted for various crimes, as well as radical extremist groups.
Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu declared on Thursday evening, on Romania TV private broadcaster, that he did not receive any allowance following his participation in the Revolution of December 1989, Agerpres reports.

Ciolacu added that the discussions about an alleged connection between his certificate as a revolutionary and the dismissal of the head of the Secretariat for Revolutionaries, Mihai Dodu, represent "a form of masked blackmail" because he did not benefit from and renounced any rights deriving from his participation in the Revolution of December 1989.

The prime minister also said that he was a participant in the Revolution of 1989 with other colleagues, when they were 20 years old.

Mihai Dodu was dismissed, on Wednesday, by prime minister Marcel Ciolacu from the position of State Secretary at the State Secretariat for recognizing the merits of fighters against the communist regime established in Romania in the period 1945-1989, following a report by the Prime Minister's Control Body.During the mandate of Mihai Dodu, a committee within the Secretariat found that Marcel Ciolacu does not meet the conditions to receive a certificate of fighter "with a decisive role" in the Revolution of December 1989.The prime minister opened a case against the Secretariat at the Buzau Court, due in January 2024.According to the central media, Mihai Dodu would have made public the information from Marcel Ciolacu's revolutionary file.
More than 9,000 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania on Thursday, and in total about 185,400 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, and about 44,700 means of transport completed the control formalities at the border points throughout the country.

"There were 85,963 people on the way to enter Romania, of which 9,016 were Ukrainian citizens," informs the General Inspectorate of the Border Police, in a statement sent to AGERPRES on Friday.

The police found 48 illegal acts (27 crimes and 21 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the value of the contravention fines applied amounts to approximately 35,400 RON. Goods were seized for confiscation in the amount of approximately 419,800 RON.

On Thursday, 20 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided for by law were not allowed to enter the country and 14 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. Motorcycles necessary for state registration are on the list of excisable items, 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.

The excise duty rate for motorcycles imported to Azerbaijan from January 1 next year will be 0.20 manat ($0.12) per cubic centimeter of engine volume for the volume of engine up to 125 cubic centimeters, 25 manat ($14) for engine volume up to 500 cubic centimeters +0.40 manat ($0.24) per cubic centimeter for engine volume 126-500 cubic centimeters, 175 manat ($102) for engine volume over 500 cubic centimeters +0.50 manat ($0.29) per cubic centimeter for engine volume over 500 cubic centimeters.

At the same time, imports of bikes with engine displacements not exceeding 125 cubic centimeters are exempt from excise duty for a three-year period beginning January 1, 2024.

The relevant executive authority will establish the rate of excise duty on motorbikes manufactured in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani production will be taxed at a rate of 0 degrees.
The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Father Daniel, will officiate at the Patriarchal Cathedral on New Year's Eve and on the feast of Saint Basil the Great.

On Sunday, between 11:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., Patriarch Daniel will officiate the New Year's blessing service, together with a council of priests and deacons.

On January 1, 2024, Daniel will celebrate the Holy Liturgy, together with a council of hierarchs, priests and deacons. Then, the Te Deum service will be celebrated on the occasion of the beginning of the New Year - 2024.

At the end, the Proclamation of the Honorary Year and the Commemorative Year 2024 will take place.

According to the Patriarchate, on Sunday, at 4:00 p.m., inside the Patriarchal Cathedral, the reliquary with the relics of the Holy Hierarch Basil the Great, kept in the historical Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence, will be on display for the worship of the faithful. It will remain in the Patriarchal Cathedral until Monday, January 1, at 8:00 p.m.

***

On the night between years, in all the places of prayer of the Romanian Orthodox Church, a service of thanksgiving and blessing of the beginning of the new calendar year is performed.

The order established by the Holy Synod in 2011 provides, according to the Patriarchate, the reading of the Akathist of our Lord Jesus Christ, since on January 1 we remember the moment when the Son of God, incarnate, received the name of Jesus. Jesus means "God saves" in Hebrew and is pronounced approximately 200 times in the akathist.

The service that takes place on the night of the transition between the years also includes the prayer of Saint Ephrem the Sirul to the Savior, a prayer of thanksgiving, and two prayers to enter the new year - one from the Romanian and Slavic liturgical tradition (the one that will also be read at the service of Te Deum officiated after the Holy Liturgy on the first day of the year) and another from the Greek tradition.

On Sunday, January 1, the Circumcision of the Lord and Saint Basil the Great is celebrated.

The Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is performed 10 times a year - January 1 and 5, March 20 and 27, April 3, 10, 17, 28 and 30 and on December 25.

AGERPRES
Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu declared on Thursday night for the Romania TV private broadcaster that he will make correct decisions for Romania and for the Romanians in 2024, the election year, which also implies the reform of the budget system, Agerpres reports.

Asked what message he sends to Romanians for 2024, Ciolacu said: "We have to rebuild this partnership between politicians, the government, the administration and people. A chasm has been created that is too big. We have been on the verge of a social crisis far too often in Romania after the pandemic, something that can be seen now. I will make the right decisions for Romania and for the Romanians. The political costs will be voted on. The Romanians will decide and they are always right. I will also undertake the reform of the budget system, regardless of whether it is a campaign election, as we did with Schengen (membership, ed. n.). When you look and see ... some who, powerless, did nothing and left nothing behind and when, in the end, we manage to take two steps forward, we, the Romanians, out of small, petty political interests, we want so much to harm ourselves".
The Senate rejected on Friday, in its capacity as legislative decision-making body, the three bills dealing with the envisaged autonomy of the Szeklerland initiated by deputies Kulcsar-Terza Jozsef-Gyorgy and Zakarias Zoltan of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), Agerpres reports.

The plenary meeting took place in a hybrid, physical and online format.

The legislative proposal regarding the autonomy of the Szeklerland, and which received just eight votes in favor and 104 against, provides for the "autonomization of Covasna and Harghita counties and a part of Mures county, and their establishment as an autonomous region with legal personality, within of the Romanian state," also setting the boundaries of this territory.

The draft piece of legislation regarding the cultural autonomy of the Hungarian community in Romania proposes the establishment of a legal framework for the organized structures of autochthonous national minorities that have maintained close relations with the Romanian state, and regulates the terms for the establishment, at local and national level, of the structures of this authority, the governing bodies, the financial and patrimonial sources, as well as the state's competences and responsibilities under public law required for carrying out its activity in the interest of the national communities. This bill was rejected with 101 votes against and eight in its favor.The third draft proposal - "Framework law on the cultural autonomy of national communities" - provides for the establishment of the legal basis for the cultural autonomy of national communities, respectively the setting up of specialized institutions for dealing with the affairs of a national minority that concern the preservation and development of national identity. This last legislative proposal on the Senate's Friday's agenda was defeated by a vote of 102 to eight.
The leader of the Social Democratic Party - PSD, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, declared on Thursday night at the Romania TV private broadcaster that he has not yet thought of running for Romania's presidency, but stressed that if the PSD loses the European Parliament elections, he will resign from the party's leadership.

When asked if the scandal regarding the title of revolutionary that targets him and which he rejects could be an attack in the perspective of his candidacy for the presidency, Ciolacu said: "At the moment it has not crossed my mind to run. The most important elections are the first - the European Parliament elections".

Ciolacu reminded that if PSD loses the elections, he will resign the next day from the position of party leader.

"Once you lose the elections, you're gone. It's a golden rule in politics, you can't get rid of it. You postpone it for another month or two, but in the end you'll still get there. (...) I'm firmly convinced that we will be in the first place in the European Parliament as well. (...) We have to grow up, politically, too. We must assume things. I am one of the people who assumes things," Ciolacu added.
With Michael Manns Ferrari roaring into select theaters on Christmas Day, its appropriate to revisit the body of work of this American auteur, from every stone-cold classic to misunderstood masterpiece. So take a spin around the track of the Mann oeuvre on streaming over the holidays to boost your appreciation of his latest film about a man obsessively driven to professional perfection.

Though his first directorial effort, a TV movie called The Jericho Mile (1979) isnt technically considered his first film, and can only be found on YouTube, its worth tracking down for its location shooting in Folsom Prison, which is where Mann connected with Danny Trejo, who later appeared in Heat. Manns first feature film is technically Thief (1981), starring James Caan as a Chicago safecracker, opposite Jim Belushi and Tuesday Weld. Chicago cop-turned-actor Dennis Farina makes his film debut. Stream Thief on the Roku Channel or Tubi.

Mann executive produced the wildly popular and influential TV series Miami Vice in 1984, starring Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas as Miami vice cops Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs. The series, available to stream on Tubi, Freevee or available to rent, helped to shape Miamis own image of itself. When Mann revisited the concept in 2006 with his Miami Vice movie starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, he essentially broke the established aesthetic, honing in on an edgy digital look that is as nightmarish as it is dreamy. Misunderstood at the time of its release, Miami Vice is now hailed by many as a masterpiece. Stream it on Tubi or rent it on other digital platforms.

1986s Manhunter is the prime example of Manns neon-noir work and boasts an electrifying performance from William Petersen on the heels of his turn in William Friedkins gonzo L.A. noir To Live and Die in L.A. Based on the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris, Manhunter introduces audience to cannibal Hannibal Lecter, played by Brian Cox, before Anthony Hopkins made the serial killer iconic in The Silence of the Lambs. Petersen plays Will Graham, a detective who seeks Lecters assistance while tracking down the Tooth Fairy killer. Rent Manhunter on all digital platforms.

In 1992, Mann adapted the James Fenimore Cooper novel The Last of the Mohicans, starring Daniel Day-Lewis in this historical romantic epic. Rent it on all digital platforms. But 1995 brought Manns masterly magnum opus Heat, a reworking of his own TV movie L.A. Takedown. The film is known for the famed diner scene between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, but this sprawling three-hour crime epic is one of the best films ever made. Mann plans to adapt his bestselling 2022 crime novel Heat 2 soon, so stream Heat on Netflix or rent it elsewhere.

1999s The Insider is a courtroom drama of the highest order starring Russell Crowe as Big Tobacco whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand and Pacino as news producer Lowell Bergman, who helped Wigand bring his information to the public. Rent it on all digital platforms.

Mann turned toward the biopic with 2001s Ali starring Will Smith as the fiery prizefighter (available on Starz or to rent). In 2004, he started to morph his style with newly available digital technology to make the L.A. noir Collateral starring Tom Cruise as an assassin who jumps into the back of a cab driven by Jamie Foxx (stream it on Paramount+ or rent it elsewhere).

His digital experimentation continued throughout 2006s Miami Vice, and his 2009 John Dillinger gangster picture Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp (stream it on Netflix, Starz or rent). His 2015 hacker thriller Blackhat starring Chris Hemsworth has also been recently reclaimed by audiences, receiving an all-new 4K release with his rarely seen directors cut. Snag the disc for the best version of Blackhat, or stream the inferior cut on Netflix.

In 2022, he executive produced and directed the first episode of the Max series Tokyo Vice, starring Ansel Elgort as an American journalist in Tokyo, based on the memoir by Jake Adelstein. Stream it on Max in advance of Season 2 in February 2024.

After all that streaming, be sure to catch Ferrari in theaters this holiday season, and keep an eye out for Heat 2 coming soon.
LONDON (AP)  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.

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.

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.

-
ST. LOUIS  A construction firm affiliated with the development and rental companies led by brothers Sid Chakraverty and Vic Alston is threatening to sue another former employee, the latest legal maneuver after federal investigators sought records tied to one of the companys construction projects.

A lawyer for Chakravertys Big Sur Construction, which has built several apartment complexes for multifamily developer Lux Living, in a Dec. 14 letter accused former employee William Powell of breaching both his noncompete and employment agreements by sharing company data and working for a competitor.

In a letter containing a draft lawsuit obtained by the Post-Dispatch Thursday, former federal prosecutor and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner attorney Renato Mariotti threatens legal action against Powell unless he agreed to participate in mediation with Big Sur as required by Powells employment agreement.

Its the second time in a month that Chakraverty and Big Sur have deployed a team of white collar defense attorneys from Bryan Cave, one of the regions largest law firms, against former employees. Two weeks ago, Big Sur sued former property manager Julie Frady, accusing her of falsely claiming it was engaged in illegal business practices and encouraging other employees to quit.

This is absolutely an intimidation tactic just like their previous suit filed against another former employee, said Powells attorney, Steven Waterkotte, who focuses almost exclusively on criminal defense cases, according to his website.

Alston and Chakravertys development firm, Lux Living, and the brothers other multifamily rental firms, STL CityWide and Asprient, have faced consistent complaints from tenants over deferred maintenance and mismanagement. In October, the Missouri Real Estate Commission sued STL CityWide for leasing apartments without a brokers license.

The threatened lawsuit against Powell, like the one against Frady, appears concerned with what he is telling others about Big Surs operations.

Specifically, the draft lawsuit says Powell, while still employed at the company, sometime this year gave third-party individuals access to the companys root drive, which contained years of confidential and proprietary business information. The draft petition doesnt say who those third parties are, but it says the drive included records, documents, and communications relating to Big Sur Constructions active apartment building projects, prospective apartment building projects, employees, financials, regulatory compliance, permitting, marketing, leasing, and other operations.

The draft lawsuit also accuses Powell of violating a noncompete agreement he signed with Big Sur by going to work for another construction firm in the St. Louis area a month after leaving Big Sur. The other firm is in a dispute with Big Sur over a payment that Powell authorized, Big Sur said in its draft lawsuit.

Powell, who the petition says Big Sur hired right out of college to work as a project engineer in July 2021, resigned from Big Sur in July 2023.

The draft petition against Powell includes the names of three Bryan Cave lawyers  Reggie Harris, Ali Olszeski and Aaron Yuratovich  who also are listed as attorneys in the lawsuit against Frady.

Mariotti, who works out of the firms Chicago office and is a frequent legal commentator on cable news, signed the demand letter but is not listed on the lawsuits. His experience includes defending clients from financial-related governmental inquiries, including accounting irregularities and whistleblower allegations, according to his profile.

I have nothing to say to you, Mariotti said when reached Thursday.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. The Baku Network expert platform has awarded the Turkic.World media platform the nomination "Year's best media project covering news in Turkic-speaking countries," Trend reports.

Sahil Karimli, chairman of the expert platform Baku Network, deputy director of Trend News Agency, and political commentator, stated that the media platform Turkic.World plays an important role in delivering the right voice of Turkic-speaking countries to the world and in promoting Turkic world realities.

"Turkic.World media platform has brought together the leading and influential media structures of Turkic-speaking countries in a short period of time and contributed to the dissemination of news from the brotherly countries. This is unquestionably a commendable activity. We can confidently state that the joint media platform will meet the upcoming goals with dignity," Karimli stated.

Elchin Alioghlu, Deputy Director of Trend News Agency, stated that such a collaborative media endeavor is desperately needed in the Turkic world.

"This project aims to revive traditional historical ties as well as spread news from fraternal countries. It is a blood memory with a wish. To contribute to this initiative, we must collaborate. As patriots and professionals alike. Turkic.World is a venue where the voice of the Turkic world will be heard," Alioghlu noted.

Rufiz Hafizoglu, Deputy Director of Trend News Agency and Head of Turkic.World Media Platform, emphasized in his address that Turkic.World Media Platform will broaden the partnership framework.

He stated that from next year, interaction with Azerbaijani as well as other Turkic-speaking entities is envisaged.

"At the same time, it is not ruled out that other media organizations will join the Turkic.World media platform. Our main purpose is to increase cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries' information resources. Today, the Turkic.World Media Platform is the first and unique project that brings together official media agencies from Turkic countries on a single platform," Rufiz Hafizoglu emphasized.

"During its short period of operation, Turkic.World media platform was presented at the Turkic Council Media Forum in Istanbul in 2021 and also became the official media partner of the 25th International Business Forum (IBF), organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (KOBIA) and the Independent Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Association of Turkiye (MUSIAD). At the same time, Turkic.World was the official media partner of the Teknofest -2022 Aerospace and Technology Festival," he said.

Rufiz Hafizoglu also noted that the "Xtt Snti" (Art of Calligraphy) exhibition organized by Turkish Albayrak Group and Trend News Agency was held at the National Museum of Arts of Azerbaijan on October 6, 2023, with the support of TurkicWorld and Alport Baku.

"In addition to all this, the media platform acted as a media partner for various events held in the country. Thus, Turkic.World media platform was selected as the official media partner of the food and agricultural forum held in Baku by MUSIAD Azerbaijan on December 11," he said.

In addition, Turkic.World Media Project signed a memorandum of partnership with Istanbul Commercial University, Turkish Balikesir University, Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, and Turkish Human Rights and Freedoms Humanitarian Aid Foundation (IHH).

The central office of the Turkic.World media platform, a joint project of the Trend News Agency and the Turkish Albayrak Media Group, was inaugurated on July 24 this year.

In conclusion, Sahil Karimli, chairman of the Baku Network expert platform, deputy director of Trend News Agency, and political commentator, also thanked the influential Turkish media group Albayrak.

On behalf of the Baku Network expert platform, the award in the nomination "Year's best media project covering news in Turkic-speaking countries" was presented to the Turkic.World media platform.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Updated at 6 p.m. Thursday.

VELDA CITY  A man was charged with murder Thursday after prosecutors say he admitted to shooting and killing his girlfriend one day earlier.

Robert Murray Jr., 41, is accused of killing Nicole Coleman, 36, around 8 p.m. Wednesday at Coleman's house on Lexington Avenue in Velda City.

Authorities say Murray admitted to shooting his girlfriend four times, and officers on the scene found evidence of Murray's attempted clean-up after the shooting.

Murray was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence.

He is being held without bond.
Updated at 5:50 p.m. Saturday with name of victim

ST. LOUIS  A man was shot dead late Thursday in the city's Near North Riverfront neighborhood, police said.

Officers responding to a shooting about 11:30 p.m. near Cass Avenue and North 1st Street found a man shot in the head, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police on Saturday identified the victim as Claude Adams, 47, of the 4900 block of Loughborough Avenue.

Police ask anyone with information to call homicide detectives at 314-444-5371 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. Callers to CrimeStoppers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
ST. LOUIS  The operators of an apartment building failed to protect a woman whose ex-boyfriend is accused of killing her and dumping her body in a nearby wooded area, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

The suit claims Carolyn Jenkins complained to Metropolitan Village Apartments managers about harassment by her ex, David L. Harvey, who lived on the same floor as her. But management at the apartment building, in the citys Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood, failed to act.

Harvey is charged with eventually killing Jenkins, and the lawsuit filed Wednesday claims he wheeled her body out of the building and directly past a security employee at the apartment, who still failed to do anything.

The family is still adjusting to an unspeakable tragedy, said David Grebel, an attorney for Jenkins children. Hopefully this lawsuit will bring some justice to the family.

Representatives for the apartment and security companies did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

The apartment owners could have barred Harvey from living there because of his criminal background, according to the suit.

Harveys criminal history stretches back to the 1980s with convictions of burglary, child abuse, stealing, assault and illegal guns and drugs, court records say. In 2015, he was charged with killing a pregnant woman but was later acquitted.

Despite his background, Harvey was allowed to live at Metropolitan Village Apartments, which is owned by a company of the same name and managed by Clayton-based real estate firm Sansone Group.

Surveillance video from Aug. 11, 2022, shows Harvey rushing into Jenkins apartment, where he killed her, according to charges against him. The lawsuit alleges an employee of Metropolitan Village helped him enter the apartment  and Harvey had a key.

John L. Day, 73, was accused in March of helping Harvey remove Jenkins body from the apartment and dumping it. His case, along with the case against Harvey, is still pending.

An attorney for Jenkins family didnt confirm Thursday if the apartment employee mentioned in the lawsuit and Day are the same person. But Day worked at the apartment complex, said Patrick Hamacher, an attorney for the family.

The apartments security company, Anthonys Empire Security, should have seen and responded to the suspicious activity streamed live on its surveillance video feeds, the lawsuit says. Video also showed Harvey and the apartment staffer wheeling Jenkins body directly past the Empire Security employee.

Police went to Jenkins apartment that day for a wellness check and found her third-floor apartment empty but in disarray with blood on the floor, according to court records. Police found her body about a week later in a nearby wooded area.

Harvey was charged a few days later in her death.

Jenkins children, Carla Smith and Claude Lacy Jr., seek a minimum of $25,000 each from Metropolitan Village, Sansone Group and Anthonys Empire Security.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY  Advocates for diversity in education said they will not back down after the Francis Howell School Board reversed its decision to eliminate Black History and Black Literature courses.

Students can enroll in the elective courses at the districts three high schools next fall as long as the board approves a new curriculum that is rigorous and largely politically neutral, reads a statement Thursday from Adam Bertrand, board president, and Kenneth Roumpos, superintendent.

Last week, the school boards conservative majority approved eliminating the courses from the districts three high schools because the curriculum standards were developed by the civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center. The move garnered national media attention and pushback from students, parents and groups including the NAACP.

More than 3,350 people signed a student-led petition calling on the board to reinstate the Black History and Black Literature courses. Opponents of the boards decision said they are skeptical about their sudden turnabout.

The board has repeatedly declined to discuss their rationale, said Jamie Martin, president of Francis Howell Forward, a political action committee focused on equity in the district. We urge them to participate with the public and we urge them to heed the publics concerns.

The NAACP organized a meeting Thursday night for Francis Howell students and parents to make plans for protesting the boards decision.

Heather Fleming, founder of the Missouri Equity Education Partnership and a Francis Howell parent, questioned the need for a new curriculum that the board must approve.

Black History and Black Literature cannot be taught from a politically-neutral perspective because our entire experience in America has been impacted by socio-political movements, Fleming wrote on Facebook.

Bertrand is one of five conservatives who gained a majority on the all-white board in the last two years with the support of political action committee Francis Howell Families.

The political group opposes the current curriculum, saying the courses are laced with leftist principles and critical race theory, but supports bringing back Black History and Black Literature without progressive political agenda, according to its website.

Randy Cook, the boards vice president, said at last weeks meeting that he is opposed to teaching Black history and literature through a social justice framework.

Eliminating the courses was one of the things I campaigned on, Cook said. Its important and it shows that community can come together and make change in a school district.

The Black History and Black Literature curriculum was developed in the 2020-2021 school year at the request of Francis Howell students who complained about discrimination against students and staff of color.

The courses were approved by a previous board in July 2021 after a review from teachers, administrators, the curriculum advisory council and the academic strategic planning committee.

District records show there are 60 students currently taking Black History and 42 taking Black Literature this semester across the three high schools.

The debate over the course curriculum is the latest in a series of racial conflicts in Francis Howell over the last decade.

Earlier this year, the school board voted to rescind the districts anti-racism resolution that was adopted in 2020. At the time, the board president Bertrand said he would consider changes and solicit community input for a new resolution, which has not been presented.

The resolution was adopted about two months after thousands of protesters marched three miles down Mid Rivers Mall Drive following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The protesters called for changes to Francis Howells curriculum, hiring practices and discipline policies they said discriminated against students and staff of color.

Black students make up less than 8% of the enrollment across Francis Howells 19 schools. The curriculum for the Black History course includes the 2013 state-mandated transfer of students from the unaccredited Normandy school district, which was met with anger from many Francis Howell parents.
JEFFERSON CITY  Residents of St. Charles and Jefferson counties who commute to jobs in St. Louis could be exempted from the citys 1% earnings tax under legislation filed Thursday in the Missouri House.

Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, introduced the measure amid a push by House Speaker Dean Plocher and other GOP allies to bring the issue up for debate when the Legislature convenes for its annual session beginning Wednesday.

The citys earnings tax has long been a target for Republican lawmakers. The tax is levied on individuals who live and/or work in the city and comprises a significant portion of the citys budget.

I love the city of St. Louis and I want people to work there. But, when you tax something you get less of it, Christofanelli said Friday. I dont think we should create those types of disincentives.

The proposed change says the tax would be exempted for residents of counties with populations over 200,000 that are adjacent to a county with a population over 900,000 residents. That appears to affect only St. Charles and Jefferson counties, which border St. Louis County.

The latest proposed change comes as Christofanelli is running for the state Senate in the 23rd district where the current incumbent, Bill Eigel, is running for governor. Christofanelli faces Rep. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles and former St. Charles Elections Director Rich Chrismer of St. Peters in the August 2024 Republican primary.

In October, Christofanelli received a $25,000 check from retired St. Louis financier Rex Sinquefield, who has led the charge in past years to kill the earnings tax.

While there have been previous unsuccessful attempts to eliminate the decades-old tax, GOP lawmakers have in recent years sought to clarify the law when it comes to people who work remotely outside the city limits.

That, said Christofanelli, is among the reasons he wants to address the issue in the coming year.

My constituents dont get a say in whether they have to pay the earnings tax, he said. If were going to have taxation there ought to be representation.

In addition, he said he was dissatisfied with the citys procedures in collecting tax during pandemic when people were working at home.

Without access to clear information I really cant be supportive of the tax, Christofanelli said.

Plocher, who is running for lieutenant governor, last year backed legislation that created a new process for people to request a refund of the citys earnings tax for any work they performed remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.

The measure was approved in the House on a partisan 106-47 vote, but the legislation died in the Senate.

According to a nonpartisan fiscal analysis, the proposal would have cost the city an estimated $66 million in revenue, resulting in less money for police, fire and other city services.

Despite annual attacks on the tax by Republicans who control state government, the earnings tax has wide support in the city. In a 2011 referendum, 88% of voters voted to keep the tax in place. In 2016, that number was 72%. In 2021, the tax was supported by 79% of voters.

In all, the tax brought in $206 million in the most recent fiscal year.

A 2022 fiscal analysis shows that 37% of the citys workers live outside of the city. Another 5.8% work in the city but reside in Illinois.

Christofanelli said he expects other lawmakers to file legislation aimed at the earnings tax in the coming weeks.

This is a starting point. Its a long road in the legislative process, he said.

Lawmakers are scheduled to meet until May 17.

The legislation is House Bill 2106.
Given St. Louis chronic crime crisis, the idea of using drones to surveil neighborhoods for criminal activity might have some knee-jerk appeal. Still, the potential pitfalls regarding privacy rights of citizens are huge.

There may be ways of doing this that balance those rights  but having a private company decide on its own to start buzzing crime-fighting drones over neighborhoods with no direct involvement by the citys elected leaders or police isnt one of them.

As the Post-Dispatchs Kim Bell reported earlier this month, a company called SMS Novel, based in Maryland, wants to fly its drones over the Gravois Park neighborhood looking for trouble. The company is considering similar projects in Los Angeles and Memphis.

The drones would fly about 200 feet off the ground in a quarter-mile radius from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. during a two-week test period in January, scoping the area with cameras. Operators of the drones would call police to report any criminal activity discovered by the drones.

Neighborhood residents would be invited to see what the drones see by logging online. The service would initially be free, but the idea would be to eventually charge for it.

Neighbors watching neighbors from the sky. Talk about keeping up with the Joneses.

Company founder Jomo Johnson has told the Post-Dispatch and other local media that the program would primarily act as a deterrent, using the threat of eyes in the sky to prevent criminals from committing crimes in the first place.

The logic there is a little strained; security cameras, bystander cellphones and other electronic lenses are ubiquitous in St. Louis as in other cities today, and theres little indication that factor has tamped down criminal activity.

Then theres Johnsons somewhat Orwellian response when asked by the Riverfront Times about the privacy issues created by citizens being watched by drones without necessarily knowing it: [I]f youre not doing anything illegal or criminal, you dont have anything to worry about.

The same could be said, of course, about bugging peoples phones, reading their mail or subjecting them to random body searches.

The company says it wants to coordinate its project with local political leaders and police, but that appears to be an afterthought. Aldermen representing the area say they werent consulted in advance.

Alderwoman Alisha Sonniers assessment of the idea  alarming  is an understatement.

Drones could conceivably play a role in confronting crime in St. Louis, but that would require the same kinds of official safeguards that, for example, prevent police officers from peering into peoples windows and yards without due cause.

Who would be making the rules regarding just how far into average St. Louisans lives these drones could randomly peer? All indications are, that would be decided in a private-sector office in Maryland, with profit motive as its driving force.

St. Louis crime crisis is real, and creative solutions should always be on the table. But once the city throws up its arms and agrees to any widely invasive scheme that sounds like it might cow the criminals, then the criminals have won. City officials should do whatever they legally can to head off these vigilantes in the sky.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. (OTCQB: SWLFF)(TSX-V:SWLF) ("Silver Wolf" or the "Company") or announced today that it has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for the previously-announced warrant extension (see press release date December 1, 2023) and that the Company has also entered into debt settlement agreements with one arms length creditor.

The Company has received approval to extend the expiry date for the 4,014,734 warrants that were granted by Silver Wolf in June 2022. These warrants would have expired on December 16, 2023, and have an exercise price of $0.25 per common share. The new expiry date is now December 16, 2024.

Also, the Company will settle an aggregate of $30,000 in indebtedness, for the provision of accrued consulting fees for the period from January 2022 to December 2023, in exchange for the issuance of a total of 150,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.20 per share. The proposed debt settlements are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The shares will be subject to resale restrictions for a period of 4 months and a day from their date of issuance.

About Silver Wolf

Silver Wolf is an exploration company focused on exploring high potential projects in prime silver and gold regions of Mexico including the Ana Maria and El Laberinto properties. The Ana Maria claims are located 21 kilometres (km) northwest of the City of Gmez Palacio and the adjacent City of Torreon. The property consists of 9 mining concessions encompassing 2,549 hectares (ha). The claims are located in a well-known are that is prolific for carbonate replacement deposits (CRDs) in the vicinity of many active or historic mining operations. The Company has operational synergies with Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. and shares many years of combined experience in exploration, development and production. In addition, Silver Wolf has an experienced geological field team who have worked on similar projects with a demonstrated understanding of the jurisdiction and local communities.

For further information please contact Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd. at ph. (604) 682-3701 or visit our website at www.silverwolfexploration.com.

The management team at Silver Wolf welcomes the opportunity to connect with investors and answer questions. Connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) @SWLFexploration and on LinkedIn at Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Peter Latta"

_________________________________

Peter Latta

President

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 numerous assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; and the uncertainties surrounding the mineral exploration industry. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not assume an obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Zenith Energy Ltd. ("Zenith" or the "Company") (LSE: ZEN; OSE: ZENA; OTCQB: ZENAF),the listed international energy production and development company with a focus on opportunities in Central Asia and the USA, is pleased to publish its consolidated half-yearly unaudited financial results for the six months ended September 30, 2023 (the "Interim Results").

The Interim Results will shortly be published on the Company's website (www.zenithenergy.ca) and filed on the FCA National Storage Mechanism.

Highlights

Highlights for the six months ended September 30, 2023, include the following:

The Group generated revenues from oil and natural gas of CAD$1,362k (2022 - CAD$11,571k).

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, the Company produced 1,789 barrels of oil from its Tunisian assets (2022 - 90,591 barrels)

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, the Company sold Nil barrels of oil produced from its Tunisian assets (2022 - 79,223 barrels)

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, the Company sold 4,350 MWh of electricity produced from its Italian assets (2022 - 5,309 MWh).

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, the Company sold 5,190 mcf of natural gas produced from its Italian assets (2022 - 5,623 mcf).

During the six months ended September 30, 2023, the Company sold 120 barrels of condensate produced from its Italian assets (2022 - 173).

Luca Benedetto, Chief Financial Officer of Zenith, commented:

"Zenith Energy has undergone a significant degree of transition during the year because of the unforeseen need to initiate the Tunisian arbitrations and our strategic decision to withdraw from jurisdictions where we had previously directed business development efforts. However, the decisive action taken by the Board to safeguard the Company's commercial interests will ensure that the Company is fully compensated for the damage it has sustained in Tunisia.

Similarly, the potentially transformational reserves obtained by way of the acquisition of Devonian Petroleum in Kazakhstan, to be complemented by acquisitions to be finalized in the USA during 2024, will provide the foundations for our long-term development and commercial success."

Luca Benedetto, Chief Financial Officer of Zenith, commented:

"Zenith Energy has undergone a significant degree of transition during the year because of the unforeseen need to initiate the Tunisian arbitrations and our strategic decision to withdraw from jurisdictions where we had previously directed business development efforts. However, the decisive action taken by the Board to safeguard the Company's commercial interests will ensure that the Company is fully compensated for the damage it has sustained in Tunisia.

Similarly, the potentially transformational reserves obtained by way of the acquisition of Devonian Petroleum in Kazakhstan, to be complemented by acquisitions to be finalized in the USA during 2024, will provide the foundations for our long-term development and commercial success."

Further Information:

Zenith Energy Ltd



Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 (587) 315 1279 E: [email protected] Allenby Capital Limited - Financial Adviser Nick Harriss Daniel Dearden-Williams Tel: + 44 (0) 203 328 5656

Notes to Editors:

Zenith Energy Ltd. is a revenue generating, independent energy company with production, exploration and development assets in North Africa and Europe, including electricity generation in Italy. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market (LSE:ZEN), the Euronext Growth of the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE:ZENA) and the Venture Market of the OTCQB (OTCQB: ZENAF).

Zenith's strategic focus is on pursuing development opportunities through the development of proven revenue generating energy production assets, as well as low-risk exploration activities in assets with existing production.

For more information, please visit: www.zenithenergy.ca

Twitter: @zenithenergyltd

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3A5PRJb

SOURCE: Zenith Energy Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Farmland Partners Inc. (NYSE: FPI) today announced that Murray Wise, the founder of FPI subsidiary Murray Wise Associates LLC (MWA), plans to step down from the Companys Board of Directors effective January 1, 2024.

Murray is a mentor and a friend. He is a trailblazer in the farmland investment arena and should be extremely proud of everything hes built throughout his more than 40 years in the farmland market, said Paul Pittman, FPIs Executive Chairman. We wish Murray well as he begins his planned transition towards retirement to spend more time with his family. I want to personally thank Murray for his contributions to the Board and assure him that all of us at FPI and MWA will continue his important work.

Wise founded the Westchester Group in 1986, which has grown to become the worlds largest institutional farmland asset manager. He started MWA as a spinoff of Westchesters brokerage, auction, and farm management businesses when the company was acquired by TIAA in 2010. FPI acquired MWA in November 2021, at which time Wise joined the Companys Board of Directors.
Special Meeting Would Empower Shareholders to Improve Gildans Board by Voting to Replace Five Incumbent Directors

Replacement Slate Includes Five High Quality Director Candidates With Strong Track Records of Value Creation, Expertise in Successful Succession Planning, and Relevant Industry Experience

Urges Gildans Board to Refrain From Taking Actions to Entrench Itself or Delay the Special Meeting

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Browning West, LP (together with its affiliates, Browning West or we) is a significant, long-term shareholder of Gildan Activewear Inc. (NYSE: GIL) (TSX: GIL) (Gildan or the Company), beneficially owning approximately 5.0% of the Companys outstanding shares.

Today, Browning West issued a letter to shareholders announcing its intent to requisition a Special Meeting of Gildan Shareholders (the Special Meeting) to provide shareholders an opportunity to reconstitute Gildans Board of Directors (the Board) by removing five incumbent directors and installing five highly qualified individuals: Michael Kneeland, Glenn Chamandy, Peter Lee, Karen Stuckey, and J.P. Towner. The proposed slate not only remedies the Boards mishandled CEO succession, but more importantly will establish the highest quality governance in the Companys history, laying the foundation for the next chapter of value creation. Browning West is introducing its proposed director candidates as soon as they were confirmed to provide shareholders ample time to review the strength of their professional backgrounds, track records, and how their experience is both relevant and would be additive to Gildans boardroom. Meanwhile, Browning West is finalizing the technical details associated with the formal requisition.

The full text of todays letter is below.

***

December 29, 2023

Fellow Shareholders,

Browning West is a significant and long-term shareholder of Gildan, with a beneficial ownership position of approximately 5.0% of the Companys outstanding shares. Over the past two weeks, we have grown concerned with the Boards unwillingness to effectively remedy the broad and unprecedented shareholder opposition to its recent actions. Since the Board terminated Gildans long-time CEO and Co-Founder Glenn Chamandy without cause and announced the appointment of Vincent Tyra as his replacement, the Companys stock has underperformed the most relevant index by 19%, implying more than $1 billion USD of value destruction.1 Whats more, the Board has ignored the independent feedback of nine separate investors who collectively hold more than 35% of Gildans outstanding shares. Each of these investors has publicly vocalized their concerns about the Boards handling of succession and called for the reinstatement of Mr. Chamandy.

A critical mass of long-standing Gildan shareholders has clearly lost confidence in the current Board due to its failure to carry out its most fundamental responsibility: selecting and retaining the best possible CEO. In light of the clear need for better judgement and new perspectives in the boardroom, we intend to requisition Gildan to convene a Special Meeting, where shareholders could vote to:

Remove five of the incumbent directors from Gildans Board; and Appoint five highly qualified director candidates  Michael Kneeland, Glenn Chamandy, Peter Lee, Karen Stuckey, and J.P. Towner  to the Board.

We believe the Special Meeting will represent a referendum on the Boards actions and, if successful, the newly reconstituted Board will have a mandate to immediately take the following actions: (i) Appoint Mr. Kneeland as independent, non-executive Chair, (ii) Terminate Mr. Tyras employment, and (iii) Appoint Mr. Chamandy as CEO. We expect that Mr. Kneeland and the re-constituted Board will reassess committee composition and reassign committee chair roles.

The case for change in Gildans boardroom is clear

Gildans Board has demonstrated it is unwilling to act in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. The incumbent directors actions have destroyed value for Gildan shareholders and introduced significant business risk, which we believe must be immediately addressed through a reconstitution of the Board to prevent further damage to Gildans business and its stakeholders.

We believe the Board has made a series of value-destructive decisions, which include:

Abruptly terminating Mr. Chamandy as CEO without cause, despite his track record of significant value creation evidenced by a 99x total return for Gildan shareholders over the past 25 years;2

Appointing Mr. Tyra as CEO, an individual with (i) a track record of significant value destruction, (ii) a lack of best-in-class experience in manufacturing and vertical integration, and (iii) insufficient experience managing a large-scale, global organization;

Ignoring the feedback of nine shareholders, representing over 35% of the Companys outstanding shares, who have each independently and publicly voiced opposition to the Boards CEO succession decisions;

Defending the Boards CEO succession process with ever-evolving and inconsistent explanations; and

Cutting a white squire backroom deal with a lone shareholder as an entrenchment tactic.

As a result of the Boards actions, we have assembled a well-rounded slate of five highly qualified director candidates

The proposed nominees collectively have strong track records of value creation, expertise in successful succession planning, relevant industry and corporate governance experience, as well as proven management and board service pedigrees in Canada and the U.S. They are:

Michael Kneeland (U.S. Citizen), Chair and Former Chief Executive Officer of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), is a renowned leader with an exceptional record of value creation in a large and operationally complex business, experience overseeing successful CEO succession processes, and experience working with founders of highly successful businesses. In our experience, the most effective board Chairs are those individuals who have been successful CEOs in their own executive careers. Former CEOs are able to more effectively mentor current CEOs and their successors, as opposed to those executives whose careers ended in a functional or divisional role. His experience is highly relevant given the recently mishandled CEO succession, which was overseen by the current Board.



Exceptional Record of Value Creation in a Large and Operationally Complex Business: Mr. Kneeland currently serves as the Chair of United Rentals, Inc. (United Rentals), a $51 billion USD enterprise value equipment rental business with over $14 billion USD of revenue and nearly $7 billion USD of EBITDA.3 Mr. Kneeland became Chair in May 2019, following his retirement as CEO. United Rentals stock has returned 17x or nearly 19% annualized over the past 16 years, generating over $36 billion USD in value spanning Mr. Kneelands CEO and Chair tenure at United Rentals from 2007 to today.4 Under Mr. Kneelands leadership as CEO, United Rentals also invested over $10 billion USD in net capital expenditures and nearly $8 billion USD in acquisitions which drove significant value creation.5 United Rentals revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow per share grew 2.5x, 3.8x, and 9.5x, respectively, during his CEO tenure.6 During his tenure as CEO and Chair, United Rentals operating margins improved over 1,000 basis points to over 28%, which is well above the 18 to 20% operating margins shareholders expect from Gildan.7 Mr. Kneelands leadership achievements are profiled in the book Lessons from the Titans, which highlights his teams operational excellence, kaizen mentality, and investment discipline. These skills are directly relevant to Gildans operations.



Experience Leading Successful CEO Succession Processes: When he was CEO, Mr. Kneeland carefully developed internal succession candidates, and in 2019 he successfully transitioned the United Rentals CEO role to COO Matthew Flannery. Since Mr. Flannery became CEO, United Rentals stock has returned 4.4x, or 37% annualized, continuing Mr. Kneelands strong track record of value creation.8



Experience Working with Founders of Successful Businesses: United Rentals was initially led by its founders in the first six years of the companys existence. Mr. Kneeland had extensive experience working with these founders, who remained on United Rentals board while Mr. Kneeland was in a senior leadership position.



Notable Leadership Roles: Mr. Kneeland currently serves as Chair of Maxim Crane Works and as a director on the board of American Tire Distributors, Inc. In 2015, he was appointed to the National Advisory Board for the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.





Glenn Chamandy (Canadian Citizen), Co-Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer of Gildan, has a strong record of value creation, an unrivaled understanding of Gildans low-cost vertically integrated apparel manufacturing business model, and experience leading a complex global business. His experience is highly relevant given his role as Gildans CEO for almost 20 years.



Strong Record of Value Creation: Mr. Chamandy has over 40 years of experience leading Gildan, with almost 20 years of experience serving as CEO. From 1998 to 2023, Mr. Chamandy was responsible for delivering nearly 16% annual growth in earnings-per-share. During this time, Gildans stock returned 99x, or a nearly 20% annualized return, outperforming all of Gildans competitors, many of which were forced to exit Gildans market or were acquired by Gildan.9 Even through a challenging economic environment, Mr. Chamandy enhanced market share and grew EPS at Gildan by 54% in the past four years.10



Unrivaled Understanding of Gildans Low-Cost Vertically Integrated Apparel Manufacturing Business Model: Mr. Chamandy devoted his entire career to building Gildan into a low-cost, vertically integrated manufacturing business, investing over $2 billion USD of capital expenditures over the past 20 years.11 Much of Gildans success can be attributed to the low-cost position, which Mr. Chamandy architected and maintained for decades.



Experience Leading a Complex Global Business: Mr. Chamandy oversaw Gildans growth to over $3 billion USD of annual sales and over $700 million USD of EBITDA. He led the expansion of Gildans operations into Central America and Bangladesh.



Notable Leadership Roles: In 2015, Mr. Chamandy founded The Chamandy Foundation, a private family foundation with a vision of improving the lives of the younger generation, through funding areas such as health and wellness, education, poverty, research, and the environment.





Peter Lee (U.S. Citizen), Co-Founder and Partner of Browning West, possesses extensive financial and capital allocation acumen, experience leading public company CEO searches, and brings substantial alignment with shareholders given that Browning West is one of Gildans largest long-term shareholders. His experience is highly relevant given the current Board has recently taken actions that have destroyed substantial value for shareholders.



Extensive Financial and Capital Allocation Acumen and Prior Public Company Board Experience: Mr. Lee is a Partner and Co-Founder of Browning West, where he plays a leading role in investment research and capital allocation. Mr. Lee previously served on the board of Countryside Partnerships plc (Countryside), and he played a leading role in enabling the merger of Countryside and Vistry Group plc to create the largest homebuilder by volume in the U.K.12 Prior to joining Browning West, Mr. Lee worked at Criterion Capital Management, Grey Mountain Partners, and Lazard.



Experience Leading Public Company CEO Searches: The Partners of Browning West have co-led seven CEO or Chair searches at public companies, including co-leading a CEO search to resolve a weak succession plan at Countryside Properties plc, where Mr. Lee served as a director. If appointed to Gildans Board, Mr. Lee would harness all of Browning Wests resources to assist Gildan with succession planning and other matters.



Strong Alignment with Shareholders: If elected to the Board, Mr. Lee would bring a shareholder perspective and strong alignment to the boardroom, considering Browning West is one of Gildans top long-term shareholders. Mr. Lee has been deeply involved in the firms investment in Gildan, having conducted 46 meetings with senior leadership and multiple visits to the Companys manufacturing sites.





Karen Stuckey (U.S. Citizen), Former Senior Vice President at Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), has extensive experience in apparel, led large-scale businesses with an international presence, and operated within a low-cost business model. Her experience is highly relevant given Gildans low-cost business model and the fact that no current Gildan directors have mass market apparel experience.



Extensive Expertise in Apparel, Including Private Label: Ms. Stuckey has nearly two decades of experience as a senior leader at Walmart Inc. (Walmart), most recently as Senior Vice President, Private Brand within the General Merchandise segment. In this role, Ms. Stuckey led the development of Walmarts private label strategy across more than 100 verticals, including apparel. It is noteworthy that she was responsible for introducing Gildan private label products at Walmart. Ms. Stuckey also served as President of the Casualwear Division of Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE: HBI) from 2000 to 2004, which was a competitor to Gildan at the time.13 These experiences are highly relevant as she can provide both a competitors and customers perspective on Gildan and would be the first member of the Board with direct mass market apparel product knowledge.



Experience Operating Businesses of Significant Scale: Ms. Stuckey oversaw a segment with over $40 billion USD in annual revenues with full P&L responsibility and led the development of strategy and operational execution. Walmart operates more than 10,500 retail stores across 24 countries and is the worlds largest private employer.



Experience Operating Internationally with a Global Supply Chain: Ms. Stuckey oversaw global operations with a sourcing budget of over $20 billion USD and a supply chain across multiple continents. Ms. Stuckey has direct experience working in countries in which Gildan operates throughout Central America and Asia.



Operated Within a Low-Cost Business Model: During a nearly two-decade career at Walmart, Ms. Stuckey was steeped in a culture and operating model that emphasized the importance of low-cost operations. The success of Walmarts low-cost model is widely considered one of the great case studies in long-term value creation.





J.P. Towner (Canadian Citizen), Former Chief Financial Officer of Dollarama Inc. (TSX: DOL) and Current Chief Financial Officer of RONA inc., has extensive experience working in low-cost vertically integrated businesses focused on value-oriented consumer products with successful founders and has a track record of delivering strong financial results. His experience is highly relevant given Gildans focus on vertical integration and maintaining a low-cost advantage.



Experience in Vertically Integrated Businesses Focused on Value-Oriented Consumer Products: Mr. Towner is the former Chief Financial Officer of Dollarama Inc. (Dollarama), a $23 billion USD enterprise value vertically integrated retailer focused on value-oriented products based in Canada. Dollarama is vertically integrated through sourcing, distribution, and retail and focuses on delivering the best value to its customers in Canada, which is highly relevant to Gildans own vertically integrated and low-cost business model. In addition to its Canadian operations, Dollarama also operates a highly successful multi-national strategy across four countries in Central and South America. During Mr. Towners tenure, Dollaramas revenue grew at nearly 14% annually and earnings per share grew at nearly 25% annually. These strong operating results underpinned a total return of 84% and an annualized return of 27% for Dollaramas stock during Mr. Towners tenure.14



Track Record of Delivering Strong Financial Results: Mr. Towner is a seasoned finance executive with more than 15 years of experience in corporate and financial strategy, capital markets, and risk management. As Chief Financial Officer of Dollarama, Mr. Towner contributed to a highly successful capital allocation strategy and returned significant value to shareholders; in addition he was instrumental in improving Dollaramas EBITDA margins. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of RONA inc. (RONA), one of Canada's leading home improvement retailers, currently owned by a private equity firm. RONA generated over $5 billion USD in revenue in 2022, operating or servicing 425 corporate and affiliated dealer stores with a team of 22,000 employees.15 Mr. Towner also spent five years as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Pomerleau Inc. (Pomerleau), one of the largest construction companies in Canada, which generated nearly $2.4 billion USD in revenue in 2021.16 During his tenure, he contributed to increasing the revenue and profitability of Pomerleaus operations by 3x and 5x, respectively. Additionally, Mr. Towner spent nearly 10 years with BMO Capital Markets.



Experience Working with Founders of Highly Successful Businesses: Mr. Towner has worked extensively with independent board members and board committees of public and private companies, as well as representatives from the founding families of Dollarama and Pomerleau.



We have invested a great deal of time, energy, and resources to present a thoughtful slate of proposed director nominees, who, if elected, will ensure our collective interests as Gildan shareholders are protected now and for the long-term. We will strongly urge the Board to refrain from taking any near-term actions to entrench itself and to call the Special Meeting as expeditiously as possible once it has been requisitioned. Any attempts to delay the Special Meeting will be a clear sign of further entrenchment, continued disregard for shareholders, and will increase the damage currently being inflicted on the Company and its stakeholders. We will not hesitate to exercise all of our rights as shareholders if the Board uses any further entrenchment tactics.

Sincerely,

Usman S. Nabi Peter M. Lee

***

No Solicitation

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation of proxies. If Browning West determines to solicit proxies in respect of any meeting of shareholders of the Company any such solicitation will be undertaken by way of an information circular or as otherwise permitted by applicable Canadian corporate and securities laws.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as outlook, objective, may, will, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, should, plans, continue, or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements of Browning West regarding (i) how Browning West intends to exercise its legal rights as a shareholder of the Company, and (ii) its plans to make changes at the Board and management of the Company.

Although Browning West believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that (i) the Company may use tactics to thwart the rights of Browning West as a shareholder and (ii) the actions being proposed and the changes being demanded by Browning West, may not take place for any reason whatsoever. Except as required by law, Browning West does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

Advisors

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP is serving as legal counsel, Goodmans LLP is serving as Canadian legal counsel and Longacre Square Partners is serving as strategic advisor to Browning West.

About Browning West, LP

Browning West is an independent investment partnership based in Los Angeles, California. The partnership employs a concentrated, long-term and fundamental approach to investing and focuses primarily on investments in North America and Western Europe.

Browning West seeks to identify and invest in a limited number of high-quality businesses and to hold these investments for multiple years. Backed by a select group of leading foundations, family offices, and university endowments, Browning West's unique capital base allows it to focus on long-term value creation at its portfolio companies.

1 Bloomberg market data as of December 28, 2023 and represents total return relative to the Russell 2000 index since December 8, 2023. Loss in market value calculated as difference between Gildan market capitalization assuming same performance as Russell 2000 since December 8, 2023 vs. Gildan actual return through December 28, 2023.

2 Bloomberg market data as of December 28, 2023 and represents total return since June 17, 1998 IPO through December 8, 2023.

3 Bloomberg market data as of December 28, 2023. FY2023E consensus revenue and EBITDA estimates for United Rentals.

4 Bloomberg. Represents total return and change in market capitalization from June 4, 2007 to December 28, 2023.

5 United Rentals Annual Reports & Quarterly Earnings Press Releases (2007  2019).

6 United Rentals Annual Reports & Quarterly Earnings Press Releases (2007  2019). Represents change in revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow per share from 2007 to 2019.

7 United Rentals Annual Reports & Quarterly Earnings Press Releases (2007  2023). Margin expansion represents operating margins from 2007 to 2023 based on Company EBITDA guidance and Bloomberg consensus estimates for D&A as of December 28, 2023.

8 Bloomberg. United Rentals total return from May 8, 2019 to December 28, 2023.

9 Bloomberg market data as of December 28, 2023 and represents total return since June 17, 1998 IPO through December 8, 2023. Adjusted EPS CAGR measured from FY1998 through FY2023 from Gildan Annual Report and Gildan FY2023 guidance.

10 Adjusted EPS CAGR measured from FY2019 to FY2023 based on Gildan Annual Report and FY2023 Gildan guidance.

11 Gildan 2022 Investor Day and 2022 Annual Report.

12 Vistry Group plc is projected to be the largest U.K. homebuilder by volume in FY2024 based on Bloomberg consensus estimates as of December 28, 2023.

13 Hanesbrands Inc. was a division of Sara Lee Corporation during Ms. Stuckeys tenure prior to its spin-off in 2006. Prior to becoming President of the Casualwear Division, Ms. Stuckey served as President of Just My Size Company within Hanesbrands Inc. from 1997 to 2000.

14 Dollarama Annual and Quarterly Reports (FY2021 to October 2023 LTM). Dollarama total return from March 1, 2021 to September 12, 2023.

15 RONA website  News section.

16 Pomerleau 2021 Annual Report. Assumes an average USD to CAD foreign exchange rate of 1.2535.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231229127679/en/

Browning West

[email protected]

310-984-7600



Longacre Square Partners

Charlotte Kiaie / Scott Deveau, 646-386-0091

[email protected]

Source: Browning West, LP
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. Final meetings on summing up of 2023 were held at the General Headquarters of the Azerbaijan Army, Main Departments, Departments, Services, and independent branches of the Defense Ministry, as well as all types of troops and special educational institutions, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

During the meetings, the activities of the Azerbaijan Army in the current year were extensively analyzed. The tasks assigned to the Azerbaijan Army by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev were once again delivered to the personnel.

It was emphasized that the combat readiness and moral-psychological state of military personnel is high. The work carried out in educating the personnel in the spirit of patriotism, comprehensive provision, and equipping the troops with professional personnel were discussed.

Achievements as a result of successful reforms in the Azerbaijan Army were noted, and the readiness of the personnel at any time to carry out any task of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was emphasized.

The meetings discussed upcoming measures and plans for organizing service and combat activities at a high level, improving social and living conditions, and increasing the knowledge and skills of military personnel during the next year.

In the end, a group of distinguished personnel was awarded following the year.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Murray Wise Resigns from Board

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Farmland Partners Inc. (NYSE: FPI) (the Company or FPI) today announced that Murray Wise, the founder of FPI subsidiary Murray Wise Associates LLC (MWA), plans to step down from the Companys Board of Directors effective January 1, 2024.

Murray is a mentor and a friend. He is a trailblazer in the farmland investment arena and should be extremely proud of everything hes built throughout his more than 40 years in the farmland market, said Paul Pittman, FPIs Executive Chairman. We wish Murray well as he begins his planned transition towards retirement to spend more time with his family. I want to personally thank Murray for his contributions to the Board and assure him that all of us at FPI and MWA will continue his important work.

Wise founded the Westchester Group in 1986, which has grown to become the worlds largest institutional farmland asset manager. He started MWA as a spinoff of Westchesters brokerage, auction, and farm management businesses when the company was acquired by TIAA in 2010. FPI acquired MWA in November 2021, at which time Wise joined the Companys Board of Directors.

About Farmland Partners Inc.

Farmland Partners Inc. is an internally managed real estate company that owns and seeks to acquire high-quality North American farmland and makes loans to farmers secured by farm real estate. As of the date of this release, the Company owns and/or manages nearly 165,000 acres in 17 states, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. In addition, the Company owns land and buildings for four agriculture equipment dealerships in Ohio leased to Ag Pro under the John Deere brand. The Company has approximately 26 crop types and over 100 tenants. The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2014. Additional information: www.farmlandpartners.com or (720) 452-3100.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231229397058/en/

Phillip Hayes

[email protected]

Source: Farmland Partners Inc.
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Newmont Corporation (Newmont or the Company) announced the settlement of the previously announced offers to exchange (the Exchange Offers) by Newmont and Newcrest Finance Pty Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont (Newcrest Finance and, together with Newmont, the Issuers) for any and all of the (i) 3.250% Notes due 2030 issued by Newcrest Finance (the Existing Newcrest 2030 Notes) for up to an aggregate principal amount of $650.0 million new 3.250% Notes due 2030 issued by the Issuers (the New Newmont 2030 Notes) and cash, (ii) 5.75% Notes due 2041 issued by Newcrest Finance (the Existing Newcrest 2041 Notes) for up to an aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million new 5.75% Notes due 2041 issued by the Issuers (the New Newmont 2041 Notes) and cash and (iii) 4.200% Notes due 2050 issued by Newcrest Finance (the Existing Newcrest 2050 Notes and, collectively with the Existing Newcrest 2030 Notes and the Existing Newcrest 2041 Notes, the Existing Newcrest Notes) for up to an aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million new 4.200% Notes due 2050 issued by the Issuers (the New Newmont 2050 Notes and, collectively with the New Newmont 2030 Notes and the New Newmont 2041 Notes, the New Newmont Notes) and cash, and the related solicitation of consents (the Consent Solicitations) to adopt certain proposed amendments to each of the indentures governing the Existing Newcrest Notes. The Exchange Offers and the Consent Solicitations expired at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on December 26, 2023.

The Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations were made in connection with Newmonts business combination transaction with Newcrest Mining Limited (Newcrest), pursuant to which Newmont acquired all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Newcrest. Newmonts acquisition of Newcrest closed on November 6, 2023.

Pursuant to the Exchange Offers, the Issuers issued (i) $624,639,000 in aggregate principal amount of the New Newmont 2030 Notes, (ii) $459,939,000 in aggregate principal amount of the New Newmont 2041 Notes and (iii) $486,128,000 in aggregate principal amount of the New Newmont 2050 Notes.

The New Newmont Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state or foreign securities laws. Therefore, the New Newmont Notes may not be offered or sold absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws or applicable foreign securities laws.

In connection with the issuance of the New Newmont Notes, Newmont entered into the registration rights agreement, dated as of December 28, 2023, by and among Newmont and each of BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as dealer managers, pursuant to which Newmont agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to a registered offer to exchange the New Newmont Notes of each series for exchange notes of the same series, which will have terms identical in all material respects to such New Newmont Notes, except that the exchange notes will not contain transfer restrictions, (ii) to keep such exchange offer registration statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offers and (iii) subject to certain limitations, to cause the Exchange Offers to be consummated not later than December 28, 2024.

BMO Capital Markets and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as dealer managers on this transaction. BMO Capital Markets can be contacted at 151 West 42nd Street, 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10036, attention: Liability Management, email: [email protected] and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC can be contacted at 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, attention: Liability Management Group, facsimile: (646) 769-7607. D.F. King & Co., Inc. served as the exchange agent and information agent on this transaction and can be contacted at 48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10005, email: [email protected], banks and brokers call collect: (212) 269-5550, all others, call toll free: (800) 713-9960.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders or consents with respect to, any security. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful. The Exchange Offers and the Consent Solicitations were made solely pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated November 27, 2023, and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law.

About Newmont

Newmont is the worlds leading gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver. The Companys world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in Africa, Australia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Papua New Guinea. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social, and governance practices. The Company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution, and technical expertise. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Australian securities laws. Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such 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 the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition; and often contain words such as anticipate, intend, plan, will, would, estimate, expect, believe, pending or potential. Estimates or expectations of future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions, include, but are not limited to: (i) there being no significant change to current geotechnical, metallurgical, hydrological and other physical conditions; (ii) permitting, development, operations and expansion of operations and projects being consistent with current expectations and mine plans; (iii) political developments in any jurisdiction in which Newmont operates being consistent with its current expectations; (iv) certain exchange rate assumptions; (v) certain price assumptions for gold, copper, silver, zinc, lead and oil; (vi) prices for key supplies; (vii) the accuracy of current mineral reserve and mineralized material estimates; (viii) other planning assumptions; and (ix) the timely satisfaction of customary closing conditions to the Exchange Offers and the Consent Solicitations. For a more detailed discussion of such risks, see Newmonts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023, as updated by the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 20, 2023, as well as Newmonts other SEC filings, under the heading Risk Factors, and other factors identified in Newmonts reports filed with the SEC, available on the SEC website or www.newmont.com. Newmont does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at investors own risk.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228263822/en/

Media Contact

Jennifer Pakradooni

+1.720.236.8170

[email protected]

Investor Contact

Daniel Horton

+1.303.837.5468

[email protected]

Source: Newmont Corporation
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The 19(a) distribution notices for six Nuveen closed-end funds are now available. These informational notices provide further details on the sources of the funds regular quarterly distributions and follows the most recent quarterly distribution announcements. The full text of these notices is available below or on the Nuveen website via Distribution Source Estimates.

Important Information Regarding Distributions

December 29, 2023: THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED ON YOUR PART. If you would like to receive this notice and other shareholder information electronically, please visit www.investordelivery.com if you receive distributions and statements from your financial advisor or brokerage account. An electronic copy of this notice is also posted under distribution notices at www.nuveen.com/cef.

This notice provides shareholders with information regarding fund distributions, as required by current securities laws. You should not draw any conclusions about the Funds investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Funds Managed Distribution Policy.

The following table provides estimates of the Funds distribution sources, reflecting year-to-date cumulative experience through the month-end prior to the latest distribution. The Funds attribute these estimates equally to each regular distribution throughout the year. Consequently, the estimated information as of the specified month-end shown below is for the current distribution, and also represents an updated estimate for all prior months in the year. For all funds, it is estimated that the funds have distributed more than their income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distributions may be (and is shown below as being estimated to be) a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this 19(a) Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Funds investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Each Fund will send a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. More details about each Funds distributions and the basis for these estimates are available on www.nuveen.com/cef.

Data as of 11/30/2023 Current Quarter Fiscal YTD Estimated Percentages Estimated Sources of Distribution Estimated Sources of Distribution of Distribution 1 Per Share LT ST Return of Per Share LT ST Return of LT ST Return of Distribution NII Gains Gains Capital Distribution NII Gains Gains Capital NII Gains Gains Capital JRS (FYE 12/31) .1700 0.0457 0.0000 0.0000 0.1243 0.6800 0.1826 0.0000 0.0000 0.4974 26.9% 0.0% 0.0% 73.1% QQQX (FYE 12/31) .4200 0.0000 0.1097 0.0258 0.2845 1.6800 0.0000 0.4387 0.1032 1.1381 0.0% 26.1% 6.1% 67.7% SPXX (FYE 12/31) .2940 0.0285 0.0701 0.0000 0.1954 1.1760 0.1142 0.2804 0.0000 0.7814 9.7% 23.8% 0.0% 66.4% BXMX (FYE 12/31) .2365 0.0285 0.1414 0.0441 0.0225 0.9460 0.1138 0.5656 0.1764 0.0902 12.0% 59.8% 18.6% 9.5% DIAX (FYE 12/31) .2867 0.0530 0.0577 0.0000 0.1760 1.1468 0.2120 0.2308 0.0000 0.7040 18.5% 20.1% 0.0% 61.4% JCE (FYE 12/31) .3200 0.0154 0.0068 0.0000 0.2978 1.2800 0.0614 0.0273 0.0000 1.1913 4.8% 2.1% 0.0% 93.1% 1 Net investment income (NII) is a projection through the end of the current calendar quarter using actual data through the stated month-end date above. Capital gain amounts are as of the stated date above. JRS owns REIT securities which attribute their distributions to various sources including NII, gains, and return of capital. The estimated per share sources above include an allocation of the NII based on prior year attributions which can be expected to differ from the actual final attributions for the current year.

The following tables provide information regarding distributions and total return performance over various time periods. This information is intended to help you better understand whether returns for the specified time periods were sufficient to meet distributions.

Data as of 11/30/2023 Annualized Cumulative Inception Date Quarterly Distribution Fiscal YTD Distribution NAV 5-Year Return on NAV2 Fiscal YTD Distribution Rate on NAV1 Fiscal YTD Return on NAV Fiscal YTD Distribution Rate on NAV1 JRS (FYE 12/31) Nov-2001 .1700 .6800 8.15 2.66% 8.34% 6.86% 8.34% QQQX (FYE 12/31) Jan-2007 .4200 1.6800 24.18 8.99% 6.95% 30.08% 6.95% SPXX (FYE 12/31) Nov-2005 .2940 1.1760 16.11 7.17% 7.30% 15.06% 7.30% BXMX (FYE 12/31) Oct-2004 .2365 .9460 13.89 7.40% 6.81% 16.44% 6.81% DIAX (FYE 12/31) Apr-2005 .2867 1.1468 15.96 3.80% 7.19% 4.11% 7.19% JCE (FYE 12/31) Mar-2007 .3200 1.2800 13.20 9.33% 9.70% 18.10% 9.70% 1As a percentage of 11/30/2023 NAV. 2 NMAI 5 year return figure reflects the annualized since inception return on NAV

Nuveen is a leading sponsor of closed-end funds (CEFs) with $51 billion of assets under management across 48 CEFs as of 30 Sep 2023. The funds offer exposure to a broad range of asset classes and are designed for income-focused investors seeking regular distributions. Nuveen has more than 35 years of experience managing CEFs. For more information, please visit Nuveens CEF homepage www.nuveen.com/closed-end-funds.

About Nuveen

Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, offers a comprehensive range of outcome-focused investment solutions designed to secure the long-term financial goals of institutional and individual investors. Nuveen has $1.1 trillion in assets under management as of 30 Sep 2023 and operations in 27 countries. Its investment specialists offer deep expertise across a comprehensive range of traditional and alternative investments through a wide array of vehicles and customized strategies. For more information, please visit www.nuveen.com.

Nuveen Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC.

The information contained on the Nuveen website is not a part of this announcement.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements made in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These include, but are not limited to:

market developments;

legal and regulatory developments; and

other additional risks and uncertainties.

Nuveen and the closed-end funds managed by Nuveen and its affiliates undertake no responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement.

EPS-3299842CR-E1223W

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231229306517/en/

Financial Professionals:

800-752-8700

Investors:

800-257-8787

Media:

[email protected]

Source: Nuveen Closed-End Funds
BIT Mining Limited (NYSE: BTCM) ("BIT Mining," "the Company," "we," "us," or "our company"), a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company, today announced that it has agreed to sell its entire mining pool business operated under BTC.com (the "Business") to Esport  Win Limited, a Hong Kong limited liability company, for a total consideration of US$5 million . The sale of the Business is expected to result in an increase of approximately US$16 million in the total shareholders' equity of BIT Mining, since the Business has approximately US$11 million in cryptocurrency net liability. The sale does not include or affect any of BIT Mining's other businesses.

The sale of the Business is subject to certain closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals and is expected to close upon satisfaction of the closing conditions.

The Business generated revenues of US$593.2 million , or 91.2% of BIT Mining's total revenues, in the year ended December 31, 2022 . However, in accordance with the Company's business model, a considerable amount of mining rewards is payable to each pool participant in exchange for the computing power they contribute to the mining pool. As disclosed in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 , the cost and expense of mining pool services for the full year 2022 was US$595.8 million . Consequently, the Business recorded a full-year net operating loss of US$2.6 million . The Company expects the sale to result in improved profitability and a solid cash position.
Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker), driven by a mission to create the worlds most emotional and sustainable electric vehicles, today provided a business update for the month of December.

Henrik Fisker, Chairman and CEO, said:

We became a revenue-generating company in 2023, but we also faced numerous challenges. Emerging from COVID-19 created several issues for our supply chains, but we have largely overcome them, and we have delivered approximately 4,700 Fisker Oceans. This accomplishment represents substantial revenue, and as we accelerate our delivery pace in 2024, I am excited to see faster growth. We have a solid business with relatively low overhead and an award-winning vehicle that customers enjoy. I am looking forward to a year of new milestones and opportunities for the Fisker brand and everyone on our team.

Increasing deliveries and revenue

After homologation delays in both Europe and the US, and as we navigated supplier issues, Fisker ultimately produced 10,142 in 2023. Customer deliveries began in June, with significant deliveries commencing in September and October. The company grew deliveries by over 300% from Q3 to Q4, and total deliveries are approximately 4,700, with the majority being Fisker Ocean One launch edition vehicles priced at $68,999 USD (comparably priced in other markets).

Fisker began deliveries in Canada in December and is now operating in 12 markets worldwide. Right-hand drive vehicles have been delivered in the United Kingdom, and in December the UK saw the delivery of the first Fisker Ocean Sport, the companys entry-level trim.

In 2023, the Fisker Ocean also won six different European awards in Germany, France, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.

Software updates

Fisker has undertaken two key over-the-air (OTA) software updates in Q4. Version 1.10 was rolled out in November, and Version 1.11 commenced in mid-December. The company expects to complete the Version 1.11 update process for all customers by end of January 2024. Feature upgrades and bug fixes have greatly improved customers satisfaction. In February of 2024 Fisker expects to release Version 2.0 with additional exciting features.

Expanded physical footprint and enhanced customer engagement

The company has opened four flagship Lounges (Los Angeles, New York City, London, Munich) and has multiple delivery and services locations in both the US and Europe to bolster the companys delivery infrastructure. Fisker is now working with partners to achieve higher delivery throughput and to address an initial lack of real estate to achieve delivery objectives.

Fisker has also opened a sales, delivery, and service call center (1-844-FISKER1 in the US and in European locations) to provide better customer service. We recently enhanced our Loyalty Program in all markets to award our most enthusiastic customers.

Looking forward to 2024

In January, the company intends to announce a plan to further accelerate sales and deliveries. This plan will align with our production capabilities and strong demand for the Fisker Ocean SUV.

Fisker will increase the number of test-drive events it conducts in the US and Europe, as the company has witnessed higher sales rates after customers experience the Ocean firsthand. Following a test drive, customers have reported that they are impressed with the Oceans ride and handling relative to competitive EVs and that they appreciate the vehicles unique features, such as California Mode, Hollywood Mode, Taco Trays, and the Oceans exceptionally comfortable seats.
Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. ("Four Seasons Education" or the "Company") (NYSE: FEDU), a tourism and education-related service provider in China , today announced that the Company has entered into a facility agreement (the "Facility Agreement") with China Merchants Bank Co.,Ltd. Singapore Branch for an uncommitted credit facility up to RMB110 million (in USD equivalent), which will be utilized to provide credit support for a domestic fixed assets loan (the "Loan") of RMB90 million .

The Loan will mature 84 months after the date of the Facility Agreement. The purpose of the Loan is primarily to fund the construction and development of Wuyuan Siji Gongda Integrated Practical Study Camp Project.
(Reuters) -UnitedHealth Group said on Friday it had agreed to sell its operations in Brazil to the founder and former CEO of health insurance firm Qualicorp Jose Seripieri Filho.

Last week, two sources had told Reuters about the sale of UnitedHealth's Brazilian health insurance operator Amil to Seripieri, who left Qualicorp in 2019. One of the sources had said Seripieri's bid was around 2.5 billion reais ($515.24 million).

In a regulatory filing on Friday, UnitedHealth said it will record a $7 billion charge related to the sale, a majority of which is non-cash and is being recorded due to foreign currency translation losses.

The charge will not impact UnitedHealth's adjusted earnings in 2024, the company said, confirming its adjusted profit forecast of $27.50 to $28.00 per share initially provided in November. UnitedHealth will report fourth-quarter 2023 results on January 12.

"We believe this agreement will ensure ongoing success, working with a buyer who has the local knowledge and experience to continue the positive momentum of the business," said UnitedHealth in an emailed statement.

UnitedHealth did not provide financial details about the transaction.

The healthcare firm said the sale includes Amil Insurance, Amil Integrated Care, Amil Dental and Americas Hospitals in Brazil.

Amil has 5.4 million health and dental insurance beneficiaries in Brazil and its sale was in the making for years, according to a Reuters report.

UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty announced the decision to sell Amil, acquired in 2012 for $5 billion, soon after taking the helm in 2021.

The company had previously struggled to sell its Brazilian unit due to antitrust issues and growing losses from individual health plans. It had suspended a sale process for Amil last year, according a Reuters report.

($1 = 4.8521 reais)

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
DNA PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 29 DECEMBER 2023, 11:00 am EET

Telenor Finland Holding Oy, the sole shareholder of DNA Plc, has decided to make the decisions related to the composition of the Board of Directors, which belong to the Extraordinary General Meeting, without holding a General Meeting. The decisions are being made legally in accordance with the Companies Act Chapter 5 Section 1.

It was decided to keep the size of the Board of Directors of DNA Plc at three persons. Jrgen C. Arentz Rostrup will continue as the Chair of the Board. Thomas Thyhold will continue as a Member of the Board. Mette Eistrm Kruger has been chosen as the new Member of the Board with effect from 1 January 2024.

The decisions are valid from 1 January 2024.

Further information:

DNA Corporate Communications, tel +358 44 044 8000, [email protected]

DNA is one of the leading telecommunications companies in Finland. Our purpose is to connect you to what matters most. We offer connections, services and devices for homes and workplaces, contributing to the digitalisation of society. Already for years, DNA customers have been among the world leaders in mobile data usage. DNA has about 3.6 million subscriptions in its fixed and mobile communications networks. The company has been awarded numerous times as an excellent employer and family-friendly workplace. In 2022, our total revenue was EUR 997 million and we employ about 1,700 people around Finland. DNA is a part of Telenor Group, a leading telecommunications company across the Nordics. More information: www.dna.fi, Twitter @DNA_fi, Facebook @DNA.fi and LinkedIn @DNA-Oyj.
TORONTO, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immutable Holdings Inc. (NEO:HOLD; OTC: IHLDF) (Immutable Holdings or the Corporation), a publicly-traded blockchain holding company, is pleased to announce the voting results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders that was held on December 28, 2023 (the Meeting).

Election of Directors

Each of the nominees for election as directors listed in the Corporations management information circular dated November 13, 2023 (the Circular) were elected as directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year or until their successors are elected or appointed.

Reappointment of Auditors

At the Meeting, shareholders also approved the reappointment of Richter LLP as auditors of the Corporation for the ensuing year, as well as the authorization of the directors of the Corporation to fix the auditors remuneration and the terms of their engagement.

For further details regarding the matters considered at the Meeting, please refer to the Circular, which can be found under Immutables profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Immutable Holdings Inc.

Immutable Holdings is a collection of businesses within the digital assets ecosystem on a mission to build businesses and products that increase the awareness, access, and adoption of digital assets. Founded by Jordan Fried, a founding team member of multibillion dollar Hedera Hashgraph network, Immutable Holdings already boasts tens of millions under management and a portfolio of businesses and brands built on the blockchain ecosystem, including NFT.com, Coffee and Crypto, Immutable Asset Management, and 1-800-Bitcoin. For further information regarding Immutable Holdings, visit https://immutableholdings.com/ and see the Corporations disclosure documents on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

For media inquiries and further information, contact:

Jordan Fried, Founder & CEOEmail: [email protected]

Melyssa Charlton, CFOEmail: [email protected]

Billy Baxter, Head of Corporate Development & OperationsEmail: [email protected]

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Corporations control, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, changes to applicable laws or the regulatory sphere in which the Corporation operates, general economic and capital markets conditions, stock market volatility and the other risks disclosed in the Corporations annual information form dated March 31, 2023 and other disclosure documents available on the Corporations profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list of factors that may affect the Corporations forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Corporation and/or not specifically referenced herein could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in its forward-looking statements.

Although the Corporation believes that the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions, based on currently available information, concerning future events, which may prove to be inaccurate. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future plans, operations, results, levels of activity or achievements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, the Corporation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: Immutable Holdings Inc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. A new border checkpoint between Iran and Azerbaijan will be opened in Astara (both countries have city of the same name) tomorrow, said Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran and Head of Road and Transport Organization Dariush Amani, Trend reports.

According to Amani, officials of the two countries will take part in the event to be organized in connection with the opening of the new border crossing point.

The deputy minister said that the conditions will be created for trucks to pass through the border crossing in the next ten days.

"The opening of the new border checkpoint will put an end to queues of trucks in Iran's Astara and traffic jams," he noted.

The first bridge over Astarachay River on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan has been operating since the Second World War. Trade turnover, cargo transportation and transit between Iran and Azerbaijan by land in Astara are carried out through this bridge.

In order to increase cargo transportation and transit, the construction of the 2nd bridge over Astarachay River was started last year, and has already been completed.

On December 10, Iran's Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Shahriyar Afandizadeh, said that the construction of a temporary border terminal and a temporary road for the exit of empty trucks around the bridge over Astarachay River is nearing completion. Thus, about 800 trucks will be able to pass through the new bridge daily.

The foundation of the new bridge over the Astarachay River, which is the eastern border between Iran and Azerbaijan, was laid on January 25, 2022. The bridge will be 97.5 meters long and 30.5 meters wide, with three spans, four lanes, with two additional lanes for backup traffic. It will also have two pedestrian crossings, each 2.5 meters wide.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ADELAIDE, Australia, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mayne Pharma Group Limited (ASX: MYX) today announced that Shawn Patrick OBrien, Chief Executive Officer of Mayne Pharma, will present at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference as follows:



Date: Thursday, January 11, 2024 Time: 7:30am PST / 10:30 am EST Webcast: Click here

The live and archived webcast of the presentation will be accessible from the Companys website www.maynepharma.com under Investor Relations. The replay of the webcast will be accessible for 30 days.

To schedule a 1x1 meeting with the Company, please contact [email protected].

For further information contact:

Australia:

Craig Haskins

+61 421 029 843

[email protected]

USA:

Lisa M. Wilson

+917 543 9932

[email protected]

Authorised for release to the ASX by the Board

About Mayne Pharma

Mayne Pharma is an ASX-listed specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercialising novel pharmaceuticals, offering patients better, safe and more accessible medicines. Mayne Pharma also provides contract development and manufacturing services to clients worldwide. Mayne Pharma has a 40- year track record of innovation and success in developing new oral drug delivery systems. These technologies have been successfully commercialised in numerous products that continue to be marketed around the world. To learn more about Mayne Pharma, please visit https://www.maynepharma.com/.
PHOENIX, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobivity Holdings Corp. (OTCQB: MFON), a provider of technology connecting mobile gaming audiences to real-world brands and products, announced today that it achieved a major corporate milestone with over 30 million consumers participating in its Connected Rewards product.

In the last year, two of the largest fuel brands, several top 10 convenience stores, and more than 20 major restaurant chains have all relied upon Mobivitys Connected Rewards technology to connect their brand offers to the 200 million U.S. consumers who download and play mobile games monthly. Each participating brand has increased customer and loyalty member acquisition and store transactions without impacting marketing budgets.

Brand adoption of Connected Rewards has been phenomenal as weve seen the number of campaigns increase by more than 300% since the start of the year, said Kim Carlson, Mobivity Chief Operating Officer. More impressive than the growth and velocity has been the performance achieved for brands while operating within their existing budgets.

Restaurant, retail, convenience, and fuel brands, each with their respective marketing objectives, have tapped into this unique mobile gaming audience through Mobivitys program to achieve their goals. Three recent examples of brands exceeding their goals through Connected Rewards include:

A top 3 C-store exceeded its loyalty acquisition goal, reducing acquisition costs 82%.

A national restaurant chain drove 54% of its redemptions from lapsed customers.

A major retail brand saw 57% larger basket sizes by adding games to their offers.

With marketing costs increasing faster than marketing budgets, brands and game developers have accelerated their use of Connected Rewards, which resulted in expanding our offering to four different solutions, allowing us to scale more easily and keep pace with the demand, concluded Carlson.

About MobivityMobivitys cloud-based Connected Rewards technology delivers billions of consumer offers and rewards by connecting world-class retail, restaurant, and convenience brand offers to gameplay in popular mobile games. Through its partnerships with leading game publishers, developers, and ad networks, Mobivity connects the massive universe of mobile game consumers to its broad network of brands. Through Connected Rewards, game developers attract more players to their games, brands experience more traffic from players redeeming their brand offers in-store and online, and consumers get valuable, real-world rewards from brands they love by playing mobile games. For more information about Mobivity, visit mobivity.com or call (877) 282-7660.

Media Contacts:Jeff Michaels  Mobivity PR[email protected]  (480) 674-6600

Investor Relations Contacts:Brett Maas  Managing Partner, Hayden IR[email protected]  (646) 536-7331

Source: Mobivity Holdings Corp.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nevada Exploration Inc. (NGE or the Company) (TSX-V:NGE; OTCQB: NVDEF) announces the retirement of Anne Labelle as president, CEO, and director effective December 31, 2023. The Company thanks Ms. Labelle for her service and wishes her the best in her future endeavours. Darcy Higgs has been appointed interim CEO effective December 31, 2023.

About Nevada Exploration Inc.

NGE is applying modern technology to systematically explore for the undiscovered second half of Nevadas gold endowment waiting to be uncovered within Nevadas valley basins. NGE is advancing a portfolio of gold exploration projects, primarily focused on district-scale Carlin-type gold projects, including its flagship South Grass Valley project located near the Cortez Complex of Nevada Gold Mines.

For further information, please contact:

Nevada Exploration Inc.Email: [email protected]Telephone: +1 (604) 601 2006Website: www.nevadaexploration.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans, and objectives regarding projects, potential transactions, and ventures discussed in this release.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things, the assumption the Company will continue as a going concern and will continue to be able to access the capital required to advance its projects and continue operations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are the risks inherent in mineral exploration, the need to obtain additional financing, environmental permits, the availability of needed personnel and equipment for exploration and development, fluctuations in the price of minerals, and general economic conditions.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in the Companys continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

Source: Nevada Exploration Inc.
BOSTON, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific centred biotech CRO with global execution capabilities, today released the latest 2023 global clinical trial landscape report on HIV, a condition now affecting more than 39 million people.

The Novotech research analyst team provides these expert reports on a monthly basis, completely free of charge. These reports offer current insights into global clinical trial activity, revealing which regions experience the highest trial volumes and the factors behind these trends. They tackle the hurdles faced by biotech firms in specific therapeutic areas and discuss future paths in therapy and investment trends.

According to the HIV Global Clinical Trial Landscape report, the biopharma industry has initiated over 1,000 HIV clinical trials worldwide since 2018. The distribution of the trials is as follows: Asia-Pacific accounts for 29% of trials, followed by Europe at 28% and North America at 26%, while the Rest of the World (ROW) contributes a moderate share of 17%.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Mainland China had the highest trials share with 45%. Within Europe, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany attracted the most HIV trials. Among the ROW countries, South Africa leads with 31% HIV trials.

The report also reviewed 2022 caseload and mortality data by region.

South Africa had 7.6 million cases and 45,000 AIDS-related deaths, highlighting the severe impact within the country.

India reported 2.5 million cases and 40,000 deaths, reflecting a significant burden of HIV.

In the United States, there were 1.2 million HIV cases, leading to 19,986 deaths.

Thailand reported 560,000 cases and 11,000 deaths.

In Western Europe, France had 200,000 cases and 880 deaths.

Spain reported 150,000 cases and 640 deaths.

Italy had 140,000 cases and 550 deaths.

Malaysia reported 86,000 cases and 2,500 deaths.

New Zealand had comparatively lower numbers, with 3,600 cases and 100 deaths.

The report analyzed global trial risk, revealing that the Asia-Pacific region with its large population and comparatively fewer volume of studies, experiences lower competing trial risk. The trial density in this region is over 6 times lower than that of the US and about 3 times lower than Europe.

A review of HIV investment data between 2019 and 2022 showed China experienced a substantial influx of venture capital, with investments totalling $1,534.8 million, while the US dedicated $540.5 million to combat HIV. These investments signify a global commitment to revolutionizing HIV prevention, treatment, and awareness strategies.

The report also examined developments in treatment, noting that advances in HIV treatment, ranging from innovative drug formulations to therapeutic vaccines and gene editing technologies, reflects ongoing efforts to address unmet needs and provide more accessible and effective options for individuals living with HIV. The treatment paradigm is shifting with injectable options like Cabenuva and Lenacapavir, providing alternatives for daily pill routines.

Weekly pill Islatravir and the experimental CRISPR-based gene editing method show potential in easing the HIV treatment load and offering enduring remedies, it noted.

Examining the therapeutic pipeline, the report found that Across the spectrum of HIV drug development by phase, there's a promising progression with 50 drugs in preclinical stages, 61 in Phase I trials, and 15 in combined Phase I/II studies. Additionally, 34 drugs are in Phase II, 13 in Phase III, with 9 approved and 61 already in the market, reflecting a robust landscape of HIV treatments.

Download the report here

Novotech has more than 3,000 employees operating across 25 geographies, with 34 office locations, including the US, Greater China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

The CRO offers biotechs a unique and unparalleled suite of early to late-phase services across the US and Europe, with a foundation in Asia Pacific where the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality expedited clinical trials.

Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023 and the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2022 and 2023 awards. Additionally, the company has been honored with the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award each year since 2006. Its commitment to collaboration is evident in the 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements it has signed over the past three years.

Media ContactDavid James[email protected]AU: +61 2 8218 2144 USA: +1 415 951 3228Asia: +65 3159 3427

About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com

Founded in 1997, Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on partnering with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase.

Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023, the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2023, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award since 2006.

The Company offers a comprehensive suite of services including laboratories, Phase I facilities, drug development consulting, regulatory expertise, and has experience with over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. With a presence in 34 office locations and a dedicated team of 3,000+ professionals worldwide, Novotech is a trusted end-to-end strategic partner of choice.

For more information or to speak to an expert team member visit www.Novotech-CRO.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/440766ee-b4d9-4f23-a450-5efeb980cc1e

HIV report Novotech's HIV Global Clinical Trial Landscape report

Source: Novotech
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three Sixty Solar Ltd. (NEO: VSOL) (OTC: VSOLF) (Three Sixty, Three Sixty Solar, or the Company), an innovative alternative energy design, manufacture, and sales organization focused on solar equipment supply to the global marketplace, is pleased with the important progress achieved in 2023 and looks forward to an exciting year ahead.

Key Points:

2023 saw Three Sixtys sales process deliver its first solar tower purchase order in November. All sales orders to-date have commenced with the issuance of a letter of intent (LOI), with two additional LOI commitments outstanding.

Positive initial reviews have been received regarding the Companys vertical solar tower technology patents encompassing the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa.

Extensive research has identified cost reduction and added value opportunities offering increased overall economic performance delivering improved project viability metrics for customers.

In 2023 Three Sixty Solar solidified and formalized its sales pathway with the securing of multiple Letters of Intent (LOI) for solar tower projects with Cattail Crossing near Edmonton, Alberta, with Greenlit Energy Systems in India, and with Rocky Mountain Log and Timber in Montana. In late November, Rocky Mountain officially converted their commitment to a purchase order with the stated intent to move the project forward in 2024.

Additional momentum throughout the year was predicated on the development of processes and procedures designed to focus on broader commercial success. These efforts included extensive dialogue with vendors to optimize the cost models for solar tower configurations which to-date have generated a more than 30% reduction in the total capital outlay presented to potential customers. The economics of the various models ultimately offer flexible project management variability ensuring maximum efficiencies targeting economic viability across a wide range of project scenarios.

In related news, the Company received positive news from the respective patent offices of the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. In short, Three Sixty Solar was advised that certain key aspects of the vertical solar tower technology are protectable across these regions. The Company anticipates that the year ahead will yield granted patent status strengthening its technological standing across these massive solar industry target markets.

Three Sixty Solars CEO, Brian Roth states, 2023 has been an exciting year with a lot of critical first steps packed with important progression and momentum. I am very pleased to look back on receiving our first orders from customers who aim to advance their projects and Im especially thrilled that Rocky Mountain Log and Timber recently stepped up to submit a purchase order for their project in Montana. We continue to build a pipeline of interest with potential customers and can feel new and exciting energy building every day. As we engage with more and more people across the energy sector about what we are doing we have had the pleasure of speaking with sceptics which has provided some of the most satisfyingly transformative outcomes as we walk them through the opportunities the solar tower concept can deliver. Of course, we are pragmatically delighted by the positive impact potential from our patent IP status and the payoff our cost improvement research brings to our sales team and overall business proposition. I look forward with renewed vigor to continue building our business and shareholder value as we charge into 2024 with full batteries onboard and the sun shining down from above.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

--Brian Roth

Brian Roth,Chief Executive Officer & DirectorThree Sixty Solar Ltd.www.threesixtysolar.com

About Three Sixty Solar Ltd. (NEO: VSOL)

Three Sixty Solar Ltd. is an all-Canadian enterprise which focuses on solar equipment supply to the global market. The companys premier product line is the patent pending SVS series commercial solar tower. According to Statistics MRC, the solar farm sector is set to grow to around $296 billion by 2028. Three Sixty Solars unique tower concept is a high density, clean energy solution that uses up to 90% less land space than conventional solar farms and can co-locate adjacent to homes, retail, agriculture, and industry, thus minimizing line loss and maximizing energy delivery in places where renewables have been difficult to install until now. In multi-tower applications, developers can utilize the spaces between towers to better leverage land assets through additional revenue generating activities. Designed to withstand major instances of extreme weather, Three Sixty Solar offers a clean energy solution with minimal environmental and habitat impact. To find our more, visit: www.threesixtysolar.com and please watch our video. To stay informed, please sign up to receive news alerts and follow us on Instagram (@threesixtysolar.vsol), Twitter (@ThreeSixtySolar), and Facebook (@threesixtysolar.vsol).

Forward Looking Information Disclaimer

This letter contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as may, would, could, will, likely, except, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, forecast, project, estimate, outlook, or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys expectation that patents will be granted, and additional commercial opportunities will advance to project delivery.

Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; the Companys ability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms; the competitive conditions of the sector in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all, as well as all of the other risks as described under the heading Risks Factors in the Companys annual information form dated December 29, 2022 filed under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Companys management to predict all such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws.

Neither the Neo Exchange Inc. nor any securities regulatory authority has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Three Sixty Solar Ltd.Investor RelationsEmail: [email protected] Telephone: +1 (778) 383-6743

Sales & InquiriesEmail: [email protected] Telephone: +1 (877) 684-1972

Source: Three Sixty Solar Ltd.
TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX:WM, OTCQX: WLBMF) (Wallbridge or the Company) has filed a final short form base shelf prospectus (the Shelf Prospectus) with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. As previously announced, the Shelf Prospectus will allow Wallbridge to offer from time to time over a 25-month period up to $50 million of equity, debt or certain other securities (collectively, the Securities). The Company currently has no plans to undertake a financing in connection with the Shelf Prospectus.

Concurrently with the filing of the Shelf Prospectus, the Company filed an amended technical report entitled Amended and Restated: NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property and Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Fenelon Gold Project, Quebec, Canada (the Amended Technical Report). The Amended Technical Report addresses comments raised by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission (the OSC) in connection with the OSCs review of the Companys Shelf Prospectus. The Amended Technical Report contains no material differences to the technical report filed on August 10, 2023 (the August Report) and there are no differences with respect to the mineral resource estimates, the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) or the conclusions contained in the August Report.

A summary description of the changes to the Amended Technical Report include:

Deletion of certain disclosure with respect to a Blue Sky Scenario regarding the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Propertys potential.

Deletion of certain appendices providing additional disclosure regarding the electrical and ventilation infrastructure of the Fenelon Gold (Fenelon) project.

A copy of the Amended Technical Report may be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Companys website at https://wallbridgemining.com.

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend while respecting the environment and communities where it operates.

Wallbridges flagship project, Fenelon, is located on the highly prospective Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property in Quebecs Northern Abitibi region. An updated mineral resource estimate completed in January 2023 yielded significantly improved grades and additional ounces at the 100%-owned Fenelon and Martiniere projects, incorporating a combined 3.05 million ounces of indicated gold resources and 2.35 million ounces of inferred gold resources. Fenelon and Martiniere are located within an 830 square kilometre exploration land package controlled by Wallbridge. In addition, Wallbridge believes that the extensive land package is extremely prospective for the discovery of additional gold deposits.

Wallbridge has reported a positive PEA on its 100%-owned Fenelon gold Project with an estimated average annual gold production of 212,000 ounces over 12.3 years (see Wallbridges press release of June 26, 2023).

Wallbridge also holds a 15.9% interest in the common shares of Archer Exploration Corp. (Archer) as a result of the sale of the Companys portfolio of nickel assets in Ontario and Quebec in November of 2022.

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Francois Chabot., Eng., the Companys Manager of Technical Services, a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).

For further information please visit the Companys website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact:

Wallbridge Mining Company Limited

Brian Penny, CPA, CMAInterim CEOTel: (416) 716-8346Email: [email protected]

Victoria Vargas, B.Sc. (Hon.) Economics, MBACapital Markets AdvisorEmail: [email protected]

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brian PennyInterim CEO

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, FLI) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this document.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words such as seeks, believes, anticipates, plans, continues, budget, scheduled, estimates, expects, forecasts, intends, projects, predicts, proposes, "potential", targets and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results may, will, could, would, should or might, be taken, occur or be achieved.

FLI in this document may include, but is not limited to: statements regarding the Shelf Prospectus, the effectiveness and timing thereof and any future offerings; the Companys exploration plans; the future prospects of Wallbridge; statements regarding the results of the Fenelon preliminary economic assessment; the potential future performance of Archer common shares; future drill results; the Companys ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; parameters and methods used to estimate the MREs at the Fenelon and Martiniere properties (collectively the Deposits); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; future drilling at the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results.

FLI is designed to help you understand managements current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI.

Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Companys financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; and failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Notes to United States Investors

Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Source: Wallbridge Mining Company Limited
London , Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winfinity is a new competitions website in the UK offering bi-weekly prize draws and spectacular prizes. The prizes include the latest smartphones, luxurious watches, cash prizes, premier cars, and many more. At least one draw occurs bi-weekly so members do not run out of opportunities to win exciting prizes. The platform works using fixed-odd competitions, which is an excellent way for players to get a chance to win a bike, car, van, motorhome, watch, camper, or any other luxury item. The prizes are drawn live every other Thursday at 4 PM on Facebook. All the prizes come with a guaranteed draw date and winner, irrespective of the sold-out tickets.

Winfinity Competitions

This means that even if not all the tickets are sold, the draw will still occur at the set time and date. The platform does not extend the draw dates whatsoever. Every Monday, Winfinity also gives away free prizes worth 500. Anyone can enter this Monday Draw by buying a ticket for the normal competition prizes. There is, however, a set amount of tickets per prize with a guaranteed winner. Winning a prize at Winfinity Comps is as simple as visiting the website, selecting the competition, choosing a prize from the selection, logging in or registering and adding tickets to the basket, proceeding to checkout using debit or credit cards, and just waiting for the draw.

The website is currently running a 500 Amazon voucher, 500 Smyths Toy Store voucher, and Nintendo Switch OLED, all at 1.99 per ticket. The selection process of winners is totally unbiased and transparent. The company uses a 100% random ball-spinning machine for completely random results. All the draws are conducted on Facebook Live for utmost transparency. In the absence of a ball machine, the platform uses an online Google Random Number Generator that is also live.

Winfinity Competitions tries to contact the winners and ensures the prizes are given to them. The entire process is pretty straightforward. Once an individual registers on the portal, they can choose any competition, buy a ticket, play the challenge, and win a prize. Winfinity Comps are closed when all the tickets are sold out or on the draw date, whichever comes first. Although members can enter a competition multiple times, they should stay within specified limits. The best thing about these competitions is that winners get to keep the prize, gift it, or sell it. The aim here is to make prize collection as easy and convenient as possible.

To learn more, visit https://www.winfinitycompetitions.com/competitions/.

About Winfinity Competitions

Winfinity Competitions is a platform that provides incredible opportunities for consumers to win prizes in various categories. From smartphones to cars, watches to cash prizes, this place ensures that customers always have options for winning bonanzas. There is something for everyone who visits this site.

###

Contact

Winfinity

Website: https://www.winfinitycompetitions.com/

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer:

Neither distribution company or its partners are responsible for the content and products mentioned in this press release. Decisions related to any products/services mentioned in this press release are purely under the discretion of the viewer and taken at their own risk. The source company is solely responsible for the accuracy and content of the press release.

newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com

Source: Winfinity Competitions
Last week, a senator in Florida introduced a measure that would allow licensed medical-cannabis businesses to claim tax deductions. At the moment, legal marijuana businesses in the country arent allowed to claim deductions because of section 280E of the IRS code, which bars deductions from being claimed for illicit substances.

Section 280E prohibits businesses from deducting business expenses from gross income linked to the trafficking of Schedule I or II drugs. Currently, marijuana is still

Read More>>

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - BioMark Diagnostics Inc. (CSE: BUX) (FSE: 20B) (OTC Pink: BMKDF) ("BioMark" or the "Company"), an advanced stage liquid biopsy company with a focus on hard to detect and treat cancers, is pleased to announce today that it has closed a financing round to accelerate the commercialization of its liquid biopsy technology.

The financing round included a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,900,000 wherein BioMark issued 7,600,000 units at a price of $ 0.25 per unit. The securities issued under the private placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day. Each unit consists of one common share of BioMark and one-full purchase warrant. One whole share purchase warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of BioMark at $0.45 per share for a period of three years from the closing date of the private placement, subject to an acceleration clause. A debt conversion consisting of 1,032,261 units in settlement of the indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $ 258,065.25 to pay for Due to the Related Party. No Finders' fees were payable on the private placement.

The proceeds of the private placement will be used for necessary regulatory submission activities, accelerate lab certification, development of internal standards, IP filing, validation of clinical samples and general working capital. The securities issued under the private placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day.

"We appreciate the trust and support of our long-standing investor base along with our advisory board members who participated in this private placement round. It's very encouraging to know that we have established a group of strategic investors that appreciate BioMark's dynamic cancer diagnostic platform and its commercialization capacity. We plan to introduce our early lung cancer diagnostics assay within the next 6-9 months," says Rashid Bux CEO and President of BioMark.

In conjunction with the private round of financing, its wholly owned subsidiary BioMark Diagnostic Solutions Inc. has been awarded non-dilutive funding of CAD $231,000 from the City of Quebec through its Vision Entrepreneuriale Qubec 2026 aimed to accelerate commercialization and market development activities of its proprietary assay for early detection of lung cancer. BioMark intends to use this funding to support business development and commercialization efforts of its liquid biopsy assay that measures biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer. The project leverages its Quebec-based fully equipped laboratory to develop an effective, and affordable portfolio of assays for early cancer detection and treatment in a clinically approved and certified lab environment.

Certain Insiders, Directors and Officers subscribed for a portion of this placement. Participation of the insiders of the Company in the private placement constitutes a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions). Because the Company's shares trade only on the CSE, the issuance of securities is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and exempt from the minority approval requirements of Section 5.6 of MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 day prior to the closing of the private placement as the details of the participation of insiders of the Company had not been confirmed at that time.

The Company successfully held its Annual General Meeting on December 22, 2023, at 9:00 am (Vancouver Time) from its head office in Richmond, BC. All the motions were passed.

About BioMark Diagnostics Inc.

BioMark is developing proprietary, non-invasive, and accurate liquid biopsy-based cancer diagnostic solutions that can help detect, monitor, and assess treatment for cancer early and cost-effectively. The technology can also be used for measuring response to treatment and potentially for serial monitoring of cancer survivors.

Further information about BioMark is available under its profile on the SEDAR+ website www.sedarplus.ca and the CSE website https://thecse.com/.

For further information on BioMark, please Contact:

Rashid Ahmed Bux

President & CEO

BioMark Diagnostics Inc.

Tel. 604-370-0779

Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of BioMark. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of BioMark. Although BioMark believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because BioMark can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. BioMark disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192673
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Eureka Lithium Corp. (CSE: ERKA) (OTCQB: UREKF) (FSE: S580) ("Eureka Lithium" or "Eureka" or the "Company") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Private Placement") of up to 2,000,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.50 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000.

Each Unit shall consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company ("Share") and one-half (1/2) of one (1) Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase a Share at an exercise price of $0.65 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

Closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on or about the week of January 31, 2024. Closing is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals. The net proceeds of the Private Placement are intended to be used to advance the Company's Quebec mineral exploration assets for general corporate purposes. Finders' fees may be paid to eligible arm's length persons with respect to certain subscriptions accepted by the Company.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units issuable under the Private Placement will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada and other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A.2 of NI 45-106 (the "LIFE Exemption"). Because the Private Placement is to be completed pursuant to the LIFE Exemption, the securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will not be subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document dated December 27, 2023, related to the Private Placement that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.eurekalithiumcorp.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The Company also announces a renewal agreement with MIC Market Information & Content Publishing GmbH ("MIC") (Address: Gerhart-Hauptmann-St. 49b 51379 Leverkusen; email: [email protected]; phone: +49 2171-7766628) for marketing services which will continue to February 28th, 2024 or until budget exhaustion. MIC will utilize their online programs with the aim of increasing investor awareness and interest in the company through various online platforms and methods of engagement in consideration of EUR 200,000. The marketing activity will occur by email, Facebook, and Google. MIC will not receive any shares from the Company as compensation.

MIC does not have any prior relationship with the Company, other than previous marketing engagements and is an arm's length transaction.

The Company also announces that it has renewed its arm's length marketing agreement effective January 1st, 2024 (the "Marketing Agreement") with Sideways Frequency LLC ("SFLLC"). As consideration for SFLLC's marketing and investor awareness services (the "Services"), the Company has agreed to pay SFLLC a fee of $100,000 (USD) for a term of one month (the "Term"). The Company may elect to renew the agreement at any point during the Term.

The Services will include, but are not limited to, email campaigns, native advertising, display ads, lead generation, creation of content, strategic planning, digital advertisement placement, and overseeing progress and results of digital campaigns.

Consideration offered to SFLLC does not include any securities of the Company. Aside from previous engagements, the Company does not have any relationship with SFLLC and Mr. Wesley De Souza, CEO of SFLLC.

About Sideways Frequency LLC

Sideways Frequency LLC is in the business of preparing, from publicly available information, advertisements consisting of profiles overviewing publicly traded companies, running marketing campaigns including PPC marketing, email marketing, native advertising, and display ads, and maintaining or updating clients' websites as the client sees fit. Sideways Frequency LLC's business address is 1389 Center Drive, Suite 200, Park City, Utah, 84098. Sideways Frequency LLC can be contacted by email at [email protected].

Corporate Video

To view a new Eureka Lithium corporate video, visit www.EurekaLithiumCorp.com (https://eurekalithiumcorp.com) or the following URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vvm0zfNFp4

Corporate Presentation

Visit the Eureka Lithium homepage or click on the following URL to view the Company's Corporate Presentation:

https://eurekalithiumcorp.com/EurekaLithium_Q3_2023.pdf

About Eureka Lithium Corp.

Eureka Lithium is the largest lithium-focused landowner in the northern third of Quebec, known as the Nunavik region, with 100% ownership of three projects comprising 1,408 sq. km in the emerging Raglan West, Raglan South and New Leaf Lithium Camps. These claims were acquired from legendary prospector Shawn Ryan and are located in a region that hosts two operating nickel mines with deep-sea port access.

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey Wilson

Chief Executive Officer

Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Private Placement, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192667
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, December 29. Turkmenistan's Turkmengaz State Concern has received the ESQR's Quality Achievements Award of 2023, Trend reports.

The award was presented by Michael Harris, General Director of the European Society for Quality Research, during an international scientific and practical conference held on December 27 this year in Ashgabat.

Thus, the award became a confirmation of successful activity in the field of the fuel and energy complex of the country.

During the conference, the parties discussed the achievements of the fuel and energy complex of Turkmenistan, while it was noted that, having rich reserves of energy resources, the country is steadily developing the potential of this area, is doing a lot of work on industrial development of deposits, diversification of gas supplies to world markets.

According to the Turkmengaz State Concern, the country's hydrocarbon resources are estimated at more than 71 billion tons of oil equivalent.

This volume includes more than 20 billion tons of oil and more than 50 trillion cubic meters of natural gas.

Stay up to date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
FirmPilot AI is a premier American AI law firm marketing platform capable of thoroughly and rapidly analyzing popular trends, competitor marketing efforts, and numerous other marketing data points.

Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - FirmPilot AI was founded to make law firm marketing simpler and marketing results more consistent. Three companies leading the venture capital space recognized FirmPilot AI's tremendous potential and entrusted $2M in seed funding to the platform's owners.

FirmPilot Secures $2M from High-profile Venture Firms

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/191568_25b16e4384cf1acd_001full.jpg

This AI-driven marketing platform is based on proprietary technology complete with a comprehensive database filled with more than 3,000+ cases. Perpetually learning from new situations and circumstances, FirmPilot AI's adaptability and inventiveness, as well as a commitment to disrupting the legal tech space, are among the main reasons why it was able to secure such a substantial seed capital.

This artificial intelligence-powered platform has already analyzed more than 5,000,000 pieces of content used by law firms across all compass points and has embedded over 100+ lawyer marketing strategies. With an ever-evolving database, FirmPilot AI's software keeps pushing the boundaries in immigration, divorce, personal injury, criminal, and other law marketing spaces.

According to Jake Soffer, the founder of FirmPilot AI, this platform has the ability to analyze over 2 million data points before automatically creating authentic SEO-optimized content for law firms. He stated, "Automated SEO, advertising, and content delivered on time and in one click. No more wasted calls or back-and-forth editing. AI identifies what your ideal clients are googling and automatically creates high-quality marketing content."

Unlike contemporary tools incapable of recognizing, let alone implementing marketing tactics, FirmPilot AI is continuously learning new strategies, adapting to the most popular trends, and choosing the best possible outcomes when creating original content. With $2M in raised capital, FirmPilot AI is gearing up for large-scale upgrades and brand-new utilities that will enable the platform the push the envelope even further.

From criminal defense marketing and immigration lawyer marketing to divorce attorney marketing and personal injury lawyer marketing and beyond, FirmPilot AI's software distinguishes between different niches in the law marketing industry, searches for keywords that the leading firms are using, and devises a strategy based on powerful metrics, eliminating all guesswork from the equation.

FirmPilot AI's artificial intelligence is crawling the web in search of law firm press releases, guest posts, blogs, website content, reviews, and an abundance of other marketing points to attain a firm understanding of what competitors are trying to achieve, and how they market their law companies.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwhBKpuTATw

FirmPilot AI's spokesperson encourages new clients to schedule a demo and look for more information about the platform on FirmPilotAI's official website.

Contact Info:

Name: Jake Soffer

Email: [email protected]

Organization: FirmPilot AI

Website: https://FirmPilot.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/191568
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces it has closed a non-brokered flow-through private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$450,240 (the "Offering") with a single investor. Under the Offering, the Company issued flow-through units (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of CAD$0.28 per FT Unit. Each FT Unit is comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company that qualifies as a "flow-through share" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Common Share") and one-half of one (1/2) non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) non-flow-through common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") at price of CAD$0.37 per Common Share until December 28, 2025. The proceeds from the Offering will be used for expenditures that qualify as Canadian Exploration Expenses, within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), to carry out exploration programs on the Company's Canadian properties.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid a finder's fee of $27,014 to a qualified non-related party, in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange").

All securities issued under the Offering, including securities issuable on exercise thereof, are subject to a hold period expiring April 29, 2024, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya Silver is a Canadianbased mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada.

For more information, please contact:

David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (604) 3984493

[email protected]

www.kuyasilver.com

Reader Advisory

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering, is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US 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/192588
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Northstar Gold Corp. (CSE: NSG) ("Northstar" or the "Company"), announces the Company has closed a second tranche of the previously announced non-brokered Critical Minerals private placement (the "Offering") of units ("Units") on an oversubscribed basis.

The second tranche consisted of 5,816,659 Critical Minerals Eligible Flow-Through Units, for a total of $348,999.54. This is in addition to a first tranche consisting of 6,150,000 Critical Minerals Eligible Flow-Through Units of gross proceeds of $390,000.10 previously announced on December 14, 2023. After giving effect to this tranche, a total of $738,999.64 has been raised, exceeding the original minimum Critical Minerals Eligible Flow-Through Units target of $600,000.

Flow-Through Units were priced at $0.06 and comprised of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant. Each full Warrant is exercisable into one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.10 for a period of 24 months. The $500,000, Hard Dollar Units Financing, previously announced on December 6, 2023, remains open, with Hard Dollar Units priced at $0.055 and comprised of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant. Each full Warrant is exercisable into one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.075 for a period of 24 months.

The Company paid a total of $24,429.96 in finder fees associated with the final tranche of the

Flow-Through Unit Offering and issued 98,000 finder warrants at an exercise price of $0.10 expiring 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a statutory four month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws.

The gross proceeds from the sale of the Flow-Through Shares will be used to incur expenses that will be eligible for the Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (the "CMETC") and will be used primarily to fund Critical Minerals exploration at the historic high-grade Cam Copper Mine on the 100%-owned Miller Gold Property. Such proceeds will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date not later than December 31, 2023, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of Flow-Through Shares.

Critical Minerals Flow-Through Shares proceeds will also provide for 2023 LiDAR and MMI soil surveys on the Company's 100%-owned Rosegrove Property, situated 11 km south of the town of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, targeting shear and alkaline intrusion-related gold-copper mineralization. On December 18, 2023, Northstar previously announced notification received from the Ontario Ministry of Mines on the Company's eligibility to receive a critical minerals exploration grant of up to $80,532.50 from the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP). Grant proceeds cover up to 50% of Northstar's eligible, 2023-2024 critical minerals exploration expenditures at the Company's 100%-owned, 1,151 hectare, Rosegrove Property. Proceeds raised from the Non-Flow Through Component will also be used for non-critical minerals exploration work on the Miller Gold Property and for general working capital.

Northstar's primary exploration focus is the advancement of the Company's flagship, 100%-owned Miller Copper Gold Property, situated 18 km southeast of Kirkland Lake and Agnico Eagle Mine's Macassa SMC gold mine. The Company's strategy is to develop a material (+1 million ounce) mineral resource base to support a stand-alone mining operation at the Miller Copper Gold Property.

The Historic High-Grade Cam Copper Mine Critical Minerals Exploration Opportunity

On November 23rd, 2023 Northstar announced results from a 720 metre diamond drill program completed on the historic high-grade Cam Copper Mine, located on Northstar's 100%-owned Miller Property situated 18 kilometres southeast of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The Company reported all 4 drill holes intersected lenses of Cu-rich volcanogenic massive sulphides, including massive and stringer chalcopyrite in drill hole CC03-23 grading 14.8% Cu over 2.45m from 116.55m to 119m in Zone 2 (See Northstar News Release dated November 23, 2023). These results suggest Zone 2 is thickening in a southeast and down-plunge direction. Zones 1, 3 and 4 also remain open along strike and at depth.

Cam Copper is a road accessible shaft mine and small-scale, past producer of high-grade 'direct shipping' copper ore centred on the historic Boston Creek Copper Trend.1,2

Cam Copper Mine is centred on a newly recognized high-grade "Besshi-type" volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) copper system situated at the northwest end of a 0.9 km long southeast trending belt of VMS horizons. Besshi-type VMS deposits are an important global source of base metals, simplistically characterized as vented, broad sheet-like layers of magnetite, iron-copper-lead-zinc-arsenic sulphides, cobalt, sulphosalts, silver and possibly gold deposited on an ancient sea floor, hosted in volcano-sedimentary rock packages.

Northstar is positioning to conduct a down-hole EM geophysical survey from 2023 Cam drill holes in early 2024, with intentions to further define the down-plunge and southeast extensions of Zone 1-4 copper-bearing massive sulphide horizons. It is the Company's intention to drill test geophysical anomalies by a Phase II Cam Copper diamond drill program in March, 2024.

(1) Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines Mineral Deposit Inventory Record MDI31M13NW000154: Tretheway-Ossian- 1981, Ch.H. Cameron-1981.

(2) Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Mines Assessment File #KL-0259, Tretheway-Ossian (Cam Copper Mine). 1961

All scientific and technical information contained in this News Release has been prepared under the supervision of Brian P. Fowler, P.Geo. President, CEO and Director of Northstar Gold Corp., a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About Northstar Gold Corp.

Northstar's primary exploration focus is the advancement of the Company's flagship, 100%-owned Miller Gold Property, situated 18 km southeast of Kirkland Lake and Agnico Eagle Mine's Macassa SMC gold mine. The Company's strategy is to develop either a minimum material (+1 million ounce) high-grade gold mineral resource to potentially supplement a nearby mining operation or a stand-alone mining operation at the Miller Gold Property.

Since going public by IPO in late 2020, Northstar has spent over $4.7 million in exploration at Miller, resulting in the discovery of a series of broad, near-surface, shallow dipping sheeted quartz-gold-telluride vein structures in the Allied Syenite (Allied Gold Zone) and Planet Syenites and numerous

70 - 750 gold gram/metre drill hole intercepts. Drilling to date at the AGZ has returned near-surface gold intercepts that include 6.6 g/t Au over 117.0 metres, 4.0 g/t Au over 50.6 metres, 1.4 g/t Au over 118.5 metres, and 1.2 g/t Au over 107.3 metres. Step out AGZ drilling in 2021 intersected peripheral steeply dipping copper-gold bearing structures (CG1 and CG2 Zones) returning intercepts that include 9.41 g/t Au, 1.03% Cu over 3.0m. The AGZ shares numerous compelling similarities to Agnico Eagle's nearby Upper Beaver Deposit, currently in the pre-development stage.

In April, 2022, as a precursor to a Mineral Resource Estimate and for reporting purposes, the Company commissioned Ronacher Mackenzie Geoscience and SRK Consulting (Canada) to conduct an Exploration Target Study of the Miller Property Allied Gold Zone and No. 1 Vein. An upper range exceeding 500,000 ounces of gold averaging 2.04 g/t Au has been referenced in this study. Results were reported July 26, 2022, (Click here to view Northstar News Release dated July 26, 2022) verifying the significance, size and gold grade potential of the Allied gold mineralizing system. Results provide the Company and investors a fact-based conceptual tonnage and gold grade range for the Allied Syenite Gold Zone, and basis for continued expansion drilling and mineral resource development.

Early in the New Year, Northstar will conduct a down-hole geophysical survey at Cam Copper Mine to define Phase II drill targets and follow up 2023 LiDAR and MMI soil survey results on the Rosegrove Property. Northstar continues to seek a senior partner to conduct Allied Gold Zone lateral and depth expansion diamond drilling on the Miller Gold Property.

Northstar's 3 additional 100%-owned exploration projects in northern Ontario, include the recently acquired 1,200 ha Rosegrove Property situated 0.5 km from the Miller Gold Property, the 4,650 ha Bryce Gold Property (includes the recently optioned Britcanna Lease), an intrusive-gold / PME VMS project located along the projected east extension of the Ridout Break, and the recently expanded Temagami-Milestone Cu-Ni-Co Critical Minerals Property located in Strathcona Township. Northstar is advancing all 3 properties to enhance monetization opportunities.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Mr. Brian P. Fowler, P.Geo.

President, CEO and Director

(604) 617-8191

[email protected]

Connect with us on Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, disclosure regarding the completion of the Offering and potential gross proceeds to be raised pursuant thereto, the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, the prospective nature of the Company's property interests, exploration plans and expected results, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; planned use of proceeds, expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, "may", "could", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

All forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. availability of financing, the assumed long-term price of gold, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning its mineral projects can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations; the prospective nature of the Company's properties, availability of financing, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of NSG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks and uncertainties related to the completion of the Offering as presently proposed or at all, the failure to obtain all applicable regulatory approvals; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; operating risks; accidents, labour issues and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining government approvals or financing; and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive.

Although NSG has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and NSG assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192670
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - December 29, 2023) - Tethys Petroleum Limited (TSXV: TPL) ("Tethys" or the "Company") is providing an update on the Company's operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Gas Marketing update

Tethys has entered into an agreement with QazaqGaz on the outstanding dispute over the price of gas previously produced. The Company has received a first payment for the gas produced in the first four months of 2022 that equates to approximately $4.3 million USD. The team is working on a resolution on the rest of the issue and has commenced steps to prepare restarting the gas production.

Oil Regulatory status

Tethys is continuing to move forward on the necessary steps to receive a license for commercial production. The Company has prepared the Kul-Bas field development plan and scheduled a meeting with the Ministry of Energy in January of 2024. The goal is to sign a production contract for a 25 year period by April of 2024.

Main facilities

Construction contractors are working on the oil handling facilities and gas turbine site. Work was carried out to prepare the booster compressor station equipment for startup. This equipment is ready for production. The Company is working on a railway terminal in Sagyr that is scheduled to be completed in the beginning of 2025.

Plans

The marketing team has started negotiations with oil buyers on possible prepayments in January of 2024. The Company has been in communication with JSC KTO regarding establishing a way to transport oil through KTO's pipeline network. The Company is initiating a feasibility study. The company is preparing a seismic campaign on the Aral-4 block that includes 700 km of 2D seismic in 2024, with an additional 300 km to be acquired later based on the results. On the Diyar block, 334 km of seismic is planned for this underexplored area. The total cost is estimated at $2.5 million.

About Tethys

Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia and the Caspian Region.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements in this document are forward-looking. No part of this announcement constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in the Company or any other entity and shareholders of the Company are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Save as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date of this announcement.

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.

Contact Information:

Tethys Petroleum

Casey McCandless

Chief Financial Officer

901-763-4001

[email protected]

www.tethys-group.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192778
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel will join the Anantara Hotels portfolio in March 2024. Property, located in the heart of Vienna, will undergo significant renovations to incorporate Anantara's luxury experiences. The 152-room hotel will feature a Michelin-starred restaurant, meeting spaces, indoor pool, fitness center.



Minor Hotels, the parent company behind luxury hotel brands Anantara, Tivoli and Elewana Collection, is pleased to announce an exciting upcoming addition to the Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas portfolio in the Austrian capital of Vienna. As part of the groups strategic expansion across Europe, Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel will launch in March 2024.

The hotel is situated in the heart of Vienna on the renowned Schottenring, part of the citys Ring Boulevard, and occupies a listed palace built in 1873 by Theophil Hansen for the occasion of the Vienna World's Exhibition. Over the years the palace has served as various municipal offices and cultural venues, before being transformed into a luxury hotel in 2013, currently operating as Palais Hansen Kempinski. Many of Viennas cultural and artistic attractions can be found in close proximity to the historically listed 150-year-old building, while a nearby U-bahn station connects with the rest of the city.

To be launched under the Anantara flag in March next year, the rebranded property will feature 152 classically decorated guest rooms and suites on three floors, including a 270-square metre Presidential Suite, the largest in the Austrian capital. Dining options will include a Michelin-starred restaurant, regional cuisine at the Wintergarten, an elegant Lobby Lounge & Bar and Cigar Lounge. Ten function rooms spanning the ground floor and mezzanine level make the hotel a popular location for meetings and events, while the ballroom can host gala dinners, weddings and conferences for up to 265 people. Leisure facilities will include an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and spa.

Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel will undergo a significant renovation, during which the full suite of Anantara hallmarks and experiences will be introduced. Starting later in 2024 and continuing throughout 2025, the refurbishment will include guest rooms and suites, the lobby, meeting spaces, restaurants and bars. In addition, the existing spa will be enhanced and relaunched as Anantara Spa, combining European and Asian wellness traditions.

"We are thrilled to be bringing the Anantara brand to Vienna, the undisputed cultural centre of Austria and one of the world capitals of music. Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel will offer an unparalleled experience of luxury, elegance and hospitality in the heart of one of Europes most beautiful cities. This is an exciting milestone for both Minor Hotels and Anantara, as we continue to expand our presence and brand portfolio across the continent." - Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO - Minor International & CEO - Minor Hotels

Vienna, famed for its impressive architecture and UNESCO World Heritage status, seamlessly blends its rich historical charm with a vibrant modern spirit and is consistently ranked among the top three most liveable cities in the world. The city boasts avant-garde theatres, a thriving young music scene, and a robust cultural tapestry. From the iconic MuseumsQuartier and Michelin-starred restaurants to a lively calendar of social events, Vienna invites exploration of both its classical heritage and contemporary allure. Markets teem with diverse flavours, while the city's status as a top-tier tourism destination is affirmed by landmarks like St. Stephen's Cathedral and Schonbrunn Palace. In this symphony of old-world elegance and modern vibrancy, Vienna unfolds as a captivating destination where history and innovation harmoniously coexist.

Anantara debuted in Europe in 2017 with the launch of Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in Portugal, followed Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort in Marbella, southern Spain. The brand continued its expansion in Europe with the addition of Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam and two palace hotels in Italy and Hungary  Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel and Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel. Most recently in 2023 Anantara has continued its strategic expansion in Europe with the launches of Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel in France, Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel on the famed Amalfi Coast in Italy and Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel in Ireland.

For more information about Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel, please visit https://www.anantara.com/en/palais-hansen-vienna



About Us: Minor Hotels is an international hotel owner, operator and investor currently with more than 540 hotels in operation. Minor Hotels passionately explores new possibilities in hospitality with a diverse portfolio of properties designed intelligently to appeal to different kinds of travellers, serving new passions as well as personal needs. Through our Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH Hotels, nhow, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International properties, Minor Hotels operates in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, South America and North America.

Contact Info:

Name: Camilla Coburn Davis

Email: Send Email

Organization: Minor Hotels

Website: https://www.minorhotels.com/en



Release ID: 89117543

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As everyone navigates through a rapidly evolving world, the moving industry is not left behind. Let's Get Moving, a renowned moving company with significant operations in major Canadian cities like Vancouver and Toronto, has been a pivotal player in this evolution.

With over 13 years of experience, they offer a unique perspective on the emerging trends shaping the future of relocation services.

This blog aims to explore these trends, shedding light on the industry's trajectory and how Let's Get Moving is not just adapting but leading the way.

From technological advancements to a heightened focus on sustainability and personalized services, the moving industry is set for a transformative era, with companies like Let's Get Moving at the helm.

Technology and Digitalization in Moving

The integration of technology in the moving industry is revolutionizing the way they approach relocation.

Digital platforms have simplified the booking process, and AI technology is tailoring moving experiences to individual preferences.

As a leading moving company in Vancouver, Let's Get Moving is riding this wave of digitalization. They are integrating these technological advancements into their services, streamlining operations, and enhancing customer interactions.

The future promises even more innovation, with possibilities like virtual reality tours of new homes and robotic assistance in packing and loading becoming more than just science fiction.

These advancements are not just about convenience; they are redefining efficiency and safety in moving services, making them more accessible and adaptable to a wider range of customers.

Sustainable Moving Practices

The importance of sustainability in the moving industry cannot be overstated. With a growing global emphasis on environmental conservation, moving companies are adopting greener practices.

Let's Get Moving, as a responsible moving company in Vancouver, has incorporated eco-friendly methods into their operations. This includes using biodegradable packing materials, optimizing routes for fuel efficiency, and reducing waste.

The trend towards eco-conscious moving is not just a corporate responsibility; it's becoming a customer demand.

The future will likely see an industry-wide adoption of sustainable practices, with companies like Let's Get Moving leading the charge. This shift is crucial for reducing the environmental footprint of moving activities and is a step towards a more sustainable future.

The Growing Demand for Personalized Services

Personalization is becoming increasingly important in the moving industry. Customers are looking for services that cater specifically to their needs and circumstances.

As one of the top Toronto movers, Let's Get Moving understands this demand intimately. They offer bespoke moving solutions, taking into account the unique aspects of each move, whether its a small apartment relocation or a large office move.

This trend towards customization is driven by the diverse requirements of modern society, where each move comes with its own set of challenges and expectations.

In the future, people can expect an even greater emphasis on personalized moving experiences, with companies using customer data and feedback to refine and tailor their services more effectively.

Challenges and Adaptability

The moving industry, like many others, faces its share of challenges, from rapidly changing market conditions to logistical hurdles. Companies that can adapt quickly and efficiently are the ones that thrive.

Let's Get Moving, with its history as an adaptable and resilient Toronto mover, exemplifies this quality. They have navigated various challenges, including adapting to the unique needs of local markets, managing the logistical complexities of dense urban environments, and responding to shifting customer preferences.

This adaptability will be increasingly crucial as the industry continues to evolve, especially in the face of unforeseen global events like pandemics or economic downturns. Moving companies will need to be flexible, innovative, and responsive to stay ahead in a competitive and ever-changing landscape.

Expansion and Global Mobility

The future of moving also encompasses global mobility and expansion beyond traditional boundaries. Let's Get Moving's plan to enter the U.S. market is a reflection of this broader trend.

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and people are moving not just locally but across continents. This shift requires moving companies to have a global perspective, understanding different cultures, regulations, and logistical challenges.

Let's Get Moving's expansion into the U.S. market is not just a growth strategy; it's a response to the increasing demand for international moving services. This expansion will test their ability to adapt their successful Canadian model to a new market, offering insights into the scalability and versatility of their services.

Conclusion

The moving industry is at a crossroads, with technological innovation, environmental awareness, and customer-centric services leading the way.

Let's Get Moving, with its deep-rooted expertise as a leading moving company North America, is at the forefront of these changes.

Their approach to embracing technology, prioritizing sustainability, offering personalized services, and expanding their reach exemplifies the future direction of the moving industry.

As they continue to innovate and adapt, Let's Get Moving is not just following trends; they are setting them, offering a glimpse into what the future of moving holds.



Contact Info:

Name: Fahim Ludin

Email: Send Email

Organization: Let's Get Moving

Website: https://letsgetmoving.ca



Release ID: 89117106

In case of detection of errors, concerns, or irregularities in the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our efficient team will be at your disposal for immediate assistance within 8 hours  resolving identified issues diligently or guiding you through the removal process. We take great pride in delivering reliable and precise information to our valued readers.
BEIJING, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As we bid farewell to 2023 and greet 2024, CGTN is launching a 24-hour, non-stop "Read a Poem" livestreaming event in seven cities worldwide on Sunday to ring in the New Year with friends and family from all around the globe.

This 24-hour event will start at 08:00 GMT (16:00 Beijing Time ) with guests in Sydney , Xi'an , Changsha , Almaty , Cairo , Paris and Mexico City . Residents in those seven cities will be invited to go on air and talk about their New Year resolutions, recite poems, or send good wishes to others in front of our streaming camera.

Meeting with overseas Chinese and locals in Sydney will allow us to toast the New Year while exploring the differences and similarities between Chinese and Australian cultures. Along with anticipating the first dawn of 2024, we will also take pleasure in the city's renowned New Year's Eve fireworks.

In Xi'an , the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province , we will take you on a tour of the "The Longest Day in Chang'an" Theme Park to see some of the most exquisite ancient dances and music from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Locals and hanfu fans will also be invited to a celebration at the South City Gate.

When in Changsha , the capital city of Hunan Province , we will stop by the Taiping historic street for some authentic Hunan cuisine and take a glimpse at the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum to appreciate the delicate porcelain. We will also discover more about China and Africa's cultural, commercial and economic contacts at the Permanent Exhibition Hall China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. Meanwhile, viewers can connect with pals online from China and Africa while appreciating the lyrical beauty of poetry.

We will invite Chinese people living overseas and local friends in Almaty, Kazakhstan to Abai Square , which bears the name of the country's seasoned poet, Abai Kunanbayev, to discover the beauty of traditional handicrafts from China and Kazakhstan as well as the allure of regional music and dance.

After our arrival in Cairo , we'll take a Nile River boat ride and celebrate along the banks with local drummers and musicians. To welcome the upcoming New Year, we'll sing the songs of artists and poets.

Our next stop will be the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris , where we will meet with local hanfu fans, Chinese expats and art world heavyweights. Together, we will welcome the New Year while gazing over a marvelous view of Paris .

Lastly, we will visit Mexico City's famous Angel of Independence statue to join residents and Mexican internet users in their traditional New Year's Eve celebration.

Join us for a captivating poetry feast where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to express their profound emotions about life. This event serves as a platform for participants to engage in meaningful conversations, discussing the enchanting prospects and aspirations of the approaching New Year.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-12-29/A-worldwide-poetry-journey-CGTN-rings-in-2024-with-global-livestream-1pTWCECTIpq/p.html

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SOURCE CGTN
VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Asep Medical Holdings Inc. ("Asep Inc." or the "Company") (CSE: ASEP) (OTCQB: SEPSF) (FSE: JJ8) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of December 18, 2023 , it has issued 3,915,930 units (each, a "Unit") of the Company at a deemed price of $0.20 per Unit in settlement of an aggregate of $783,186 comprised of $421,000 for past services performed for the Company by certain creditors, and $362,186 for the settlement of a bona fide debt owed by the Company (the "Debt Settlement"). Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant exercisable into one Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.26 per Warrant Share until December 27, 2025 .

The Common Shares and Warrants are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Debt Settlement.

The Debt Settlement with J.M. Tucker Professional Corporation, a company wholly owned by Jacqueline Tucker , the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (the "Insider Settlement"), is a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Insider Settlement is exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemptions contained in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as the Common Shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the Insider Settlement will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. As the material change report disclosing the Insider Settlement is being filed less than 21 days before the transaction, there is a requirement under MI 61101 to explain why the shorter period was reasonable or necessary in the circumstances. In the view of the Company, it is necessary to immediately close the Insider Settlement and therefore, such shorter period is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances to improve the Company's financial position.

ABOUT ASEP MEDICAL HOLDINGS INC.

Asep Medical Holdings Inc. (www.asepmedical.com) is dedicated to addressing the global issue of antibiotic failure by developing novel solutions for significant unmet medical needs in human medicine. The Company is a consolidation of three existing private companies, all with technology in advanced development  Sepset Biosciences Inc. (proprietary diagnostic tools to enable the early and timely identification of sepsis), ABT Innovations Inc. (broad-spectrum therapeutic agents to address multi-drug resistant biofilm infections), and SafeCoat Medical Inc. (an antibacterial peptide medical device coating technology).

Sepset Biosciences Inc. (www.sepset.ca) is in the final stages of preparation for clinical studies and commercialization of an in vitro diagnostic test that involves a patient gene expression signature that helps assess the development of severe sepsis, one of the significant diseases leading to antibiotic failure since antibiotics are the primary initial treatment for sepsis. Sepsis was responsible for nearly 20% of all deaths on the planet in 2017 and essentially all deaths due to COVID-19 and other pandemics. The SepsetER test is a blood-based gene expression assay that is straightforward to implement, and results are obtained about an hour after taking a blood sample in the emergency room or intensive care unit. This proprietary diagnostic technology differs from current diagnostic tests, enabling the risk assessment for progression to severe sepsis within ~60 minutes of initiating the test. Bacterial culture, the gold standard, provides results after ~15 hours but can be as long as three. Asep believes its test will enable critical early decisions to be made by physicians regarding appropriate therapies and thus reduce overall morbidity and mortality due to sepsis.

ABT Innovations Inc.'s (www.abtinnovations.ca) peptide technology covers a broad range of therapeutic applications, including bacterial biofilm infections (dental, wound, sinusitis, skin, medical device infections, chronic infections, lung, bladder, ear-nose and throat, orthopaedic, etc.), anti-inflammatories, anti-infective immune-modulators and vaccine adjuvants. The company is in the pre-clinical development phase with promising data for the first three indications.

SafeCoat Medical Inc.'s (www.safecoatmedical.com) technology encompasses anti-fouling self-assembling polymers combined with conjugated antimicrobial peptides, which can be applied to various surfaces as antimicrobial and anti-fouling coatings. In particular, the invention relates to coatings that may be applied to multiple medical devices and implants, and feasibility has been demonstrated in animal models. The company's expertise also encompasses the methods for manufacturing and applying these anti-bacterial coatings.

Neither the CSE nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asep-inc-announces-closing-of-debt-settlement-302023561.html

SOURCE ASEP Medical Holdings Inc.
NEW YORK , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As we ring in 2024, NewCo Capital Group ("NewCo"), a premier Working Capital provider in the Alternative Financing space, celebrates a year marked by exponential growth and robust success.

NewCo is devoted to bridging gaps with sustainable funding while ensuring SMBs grow, scale, and create jobs.

NewCo, along with its subsidiary, Capytal.com , has deployed record-breaking capital to small businesses (SMBs) and enterprise companies in 2023 and continues to maintain its position as the foremost trusted brand in Merchant Cash Advance.

As the Merchant Cash Advance market expands, American small business owners are anticipated to increase their utilization of alternative financial instruments to the tune of $20.39 billion in 2024. This growth is attributed to a multidimensional shift in conventional lending practices as well as the evolving dynamics of the post-COVID SMB landscape.

With a commitment to understanding the needs of small businesses and with an earnest approach to reducing the friction for small business owners seeking working capital, NewCo is devoted to bridging the gap with sustainable funding while ensuring that SMBs can grow, scale, and create jobs.

NewCo's CEO, Albert Gahfi , has doubled down on forward growth and in keeping with the company's mission of sustainable working capital for small business, invested further in the technology, personnel, and products that drive NewCo's growth. Albert articulated this strategy as: "NewCo was established with the dual purpose of offering a reliable funding source for small business entrepreneurs and enhancing the growth and development opportunities for our team and partners. This dedication has solidified our role as the preeminent solution for companies seeking financing. We take immense pride in our steadfast adherence to our core values and the nurturing corporate culture we've cultivated. NewCo remains committed to offering exceptional products and services, striving to uphold and improve its position as a premier provider in the Merchant Cash Advance industry."

The company's reputation for efficient processes and rapid turnaround times is well known to the ISO & Broker network, and the company has attained the premier status of being a "Preferred Funder" within the Alternative Financing market. Bruce Gurvitsch , Chief Revenue Officer at NewCo and Capytal.com, noted: "At NewCo, our remarkable progress is a direct result of our dedicated team, innovative offerings, and clear strategic vision . This past year, we've set new benchmarks in providing capital to a diverse range of businesses while bolstering the broader economy. With a solid financial foundation and a unique approach to market dynamics, we remain steadfast and optimistic about our trajectory for 2024."

About NewCo Capital Group, LLC

NewCo Capital Group is an Alternative Finance company specializing in MCA Bridge-Capital. As a Preferred Provider, the company is focused on fostering growth within the Small and Midsize Business ecosystem. We are passionate about providing fast and easy access to capital for small businesses to help them grow, scale, and create jobs. Our technology, proprietary methods, and extensive experience are what differentiate us, allowing us to maintain our competitive edge and continue to provide value to our Merchants and employees alike. For more information, visit www.NewCoCapitalGroup.com & www.capytal.com.

Contact: [email protected]

Social Media

NewCo on LinkedIn

NewCo on Instagram

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SOURCE NewCo Capital Group
--All CIT patients maintained platelet counts >75 x 109/L at 1-week following chemotherapy plus a single dose of SCB-219M, with durable responses through at least 3-weeks--

--Durable efficacy and PK profile expected to support convenient dosing interval of 2-weeks, compared to daily or weekly dosing for current treatment options in China [1]and globally[2]--

--Phase b trial in CIT and CTIT (cancer treatment-induced thrombocytopenia) patients evaluating repeated dosing of SCB-219M is planned to initiate in 2024--

CHENGDU, China , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd. (Clover; HKEX: 02197), a global commercial-stage biotechnology company, today announced positive preliminary safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics data in a Phase  clinical trial evaluating SCB-219M, an innovative thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) mimetic bispecific Fc-fusion protein produced from CHO cells, for the treatment of cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT).

All cancer patients enrolled to-date (n=9) receiving chemotherapy plus a single subcutaneous dose of SCB-219M observed platelet counts maintained or recovered at >75 x 109/L (threshold level for CIT) after one week, with responses durable through at least three weeks (i.e. through the chemotherapy cycle). In comparison, following administration of the same chemotherapy (but without SCB-219M) in the same cancer patients prior to enrolling into the trial, all evaluable patients had observed platelet counts drop to 9/L between one and three weeks. The durable preliminary efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile observed for SCB-219M are potentially supportive of dosing intervals 2-weeks. If further confirmed, this profile could enable convenient dosing of SCB-219M synchronized with any given patient's chemotherapy regimen, typically 2-3 weeks per cycle. A favorable safety and tolerability profile for SCB-219M has also been observed to-date, with no serious adverse events (SAEs) and no dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) identified.

Dr. Yongsheng Wang , Associate Director of West China Hospital Cancer Center at Sichuan University and Principal Investigator for the SCB-219M Phase  Trial commented: "We are encouraged by the Phase  results to-date for SCB-219M, and we look forward to the continued evaluation of SCB-219M, as we believe the management of CIT remains a pressing unmet medical need for patients undergoing cancer treatment."

"We are pleased to announce positive Phase  results for SCB-219M demonstrating rapid and durable efficacy along with a favorable safety profile," said Dr. Peng Liang , Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer of Clover and inventor of SCB-219M. "The preliminary results suggest that SCB-219M has a potentially differentiated profile compared to the current standard of care treatments for CIT and CTIT. In contrast to current biologic treatment options for CIT in China requiring daily injections[1] and globally requiring weekly injections[2], the durable efficacy and pharmacokinetics of SCB-219M observed to-date could enable convenient dosing synchronized with any given patient's chemotherapy regimen."

The Phase  trial is a multi-center, open-label, dose escalation and dose expansion study, that is exploring the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of SCB-219M administered subcutaneously in cancer patients with CIT. In addition to West China Hospital Cancer Center at Sichuan University, other participating sites in this clinical trial include Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital and Chengdu No. 6 People's Hospital. A Phase b trial evaluating repeated dosing of SCB-219M in CIT and CTIT patients is planned to initiate in 2024.

CIT is a serious, chemotherapy-associated complication observed in a wide range of cancer patients. Incidence of CIT can occur in greater than 50%[3]of patients undergoing standard chemotherapy regiments, and can have detrimental impacts on treatment outcome, resulting in chemotherapy dose delay or dose reduction, and potentially fatal bleeding events.

1. TPIAO (3SBio; https://ypk.39.net/666055/manual). 2. Nplate; romiplostim (https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2020.251900; https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.18.01931). 3. Ying Wu , Suresh Aravind , Gayatri Ranganathan , et al. Anemia and thrombocytopenia in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors: A descriptive study of a large outpatient oncology practice database, 2000 2007[J]. Clinical Therapeutics, Volume 31, Part 2,2009, Pages 2416-2432

About Clover

Clover Biopharmaceuticals is a global commercial-stage biotechnology company committed to unleashing the power of innovative vaccines and biologics to save lives and improve health around the world. With integrated research and development, manufacturing and commercial capabilities as well as strong partnerships with organizations globally, Clover has a diverse pipeline of candidates that have the potential to meaningfully reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseasesand to make more diseases preventable.

Clover Forward -looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to us and our subsidiaries that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. When used, the words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "going forward," "intend," "may," "might," "ought to," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "would" and the negative of these words and other similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. We give no assurance that these expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are participant to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. We caution you therefore against placing undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this document speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. Participant to the requirements of applicable laws, rules and regulations, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements contained in this document are qualified by reference to this cautionary statement.

Clover Biopharmaceuticals:

Corporate Communication: Lola Cao

[email protected]

Investor Relations: Michael Tu, Elaine Qiu

[email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clover-announces-positive-phase--results-for-scb-219m-for-treatment-of-chemotherapy-induced-thrombocytopenia-cit-302023365.html

SOURCE Clover Biopharma
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VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Deans Knight Income Corporation (the "Company") today announced that it has completed the winding-up of its business and has been dissolved under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act ( British Columbia ).

Background

After receipt of a notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA"), on April 30, 2014 the Company ceased all investing activities. On May 26, 2023 , the Company announced the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the CRA's application of the general anti-avoidance rule in the Income Tax Act ( Canada ) to deny the Company from deducting its tax attributes from 2009  2012 and dismissed the Company's appeal. Upon the dismissal of the Company's appeal, the Company notified its shareholders on October 3, 2023 that upon dissolution of the Company, the voting common shares would automatically be redeemed pursuant to the terms of such voting common shares based on the current net asset value of the Company, being $0.00 .

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will the Company and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or for any related damages.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deans-knight-income-corporation-announces-completion-of-wind-up-and-dissolution-302023991.html

SOURCE Deans Knight Income Corporation
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The esteemed Dr. Manuel Abreu is pleased to announce the launch of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors, a distinguished initiative aimed at supporting high school students with a passion for medicine in achieving their dreams. Dr. Abreu , a board-certified internal medicine physician with over two decades of experience, has dedicated his career to medical education, access to healthcare, and community service.

This one-time scholarship, with a generous award of $1,000 , is designed to assist aspiring doctors in pursuing their academic goals.

To apply, prospective scholars are invited to visit the official website https://drmanuelabreuscholarship.com/manuel-abreu-scholarship/ and submit a personal statement addressing a significant challenge currently faced by the healthcare industry. The statement should also propose an innovative solution to address the challenge effectively, outlining why the applicant is passionate about medicine and deserving of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2024 , and the winner will be announced on August 15, 2024 .

Dr. Manuel Abreu's commitment extends beyond medical practice; he actively contributes to his community through volunteering at the Mission Medical Center/ Lady Queen of Peace Church in Delray Beach, Florida , and mentoring medical students and residents. The Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors is a testament to his belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to receive high-quality medical care, regardless of their financial situation.

In celebration of Dr. Manuel Abreu's dedication to medical education and community service, the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors seeks to identify and support the next generation of compassionate healers and problem solvers within the medical field.

For further details on the scholarship, eligibility criteria, and application process, please visit https://drmanuelabreuscholarship.com/manuel-abreu-scholarship/.

About Dr. Manuel Abreu : Dr. Manuel Abreu is a certified internal medicine physician with over 20 years of experience. Born and raised in Cuba , he overcame numerous challenges to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. Dr. Abreu is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the Florida Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. He is the founder of the Dr. Manuel Abreu Scholarship for Future Doctors, a manifestation of his commitment to helping aspiring doctors achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-manuel-abreu-scholarship-for-future-doctors-nourishing-aspirations-in-medicine-302023876.html

SOURCE Dr Manuel Abreu Scholarship
SHANGHAI , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. ("Four Seasons Education" or the "Company") (NYSE: FEDU), a tourism and education-related service provider in China , today announced that the Company has entered into a facility agreement (the "Facility Agreement") with China Merchants Bank Co.,Ltd. Singapore Branch for an uncommitted credit facility up to RMB110 million (in USD equivalent), which will be utilized to provide credit support for a domestic fixed assets loan (the "Loan") of RMB90 million .

The Loan will mature 84 months after the date of the Facility Agreement. The purpose of the Loan is primarily to fund the construction and development of Wuyuan Siji Gongda Integrated Practical Study Camp Project.

About Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.

Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc. is a service provider of both tourism and education-related services in China . The Company's program, service and product offerings mainly consist of non-academic tutoring programs, school-based tutoring product solutions and training programs for teachers, study camps and learning trips for students, and travel agency services for all age groups. For more information, please visit https://ir.sijiedu.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements, including the statements relating to the Company's future financial and operating results, are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, management's quotations and the Business Outlook section contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to its ability to attract new students and retain existing students, its ability to deliver a satisfactory learning experience and improving their academic performance, PRC regulations and policies relating to the education industry in China, general economic conditions in China, and the Company's ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain listing of its ADSs on the NYSE or other stock exchange, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with the NYSE's continued listing criteria. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 20-F.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China :

Four Seasons Education (Cayman) Inc.

Olivia Li

Tel: +86 (21) 6317-6177

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Jenny Cai

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States :

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-seasons-education-secures-standby-letter-of-credit-loan-facility-with-china-merchants-bank-302023653.html

SOURCE Four Seasons Education Inc.
BEIJING , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a short video, silver-haired "Grandma Wu" demonstrates various physics experiments using everyday items. She uses an iron pot to simulate the radio telescope, a broom to simulate cosmic rays in space, a badminton racket to simulate a positron-electron collider, and ginkgo leaves to make origami butterflies. Grandma Wu also invites the viewer to speculate whether the universe has an end and whether parallel universes truly exist.

At 73, the retired university professor boasts a following of more than 1.72 million subscribers after around three years of posting on video-sharing social media platform Bilibili and another 5.2 million followers on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, becoming China's latest internet influencer as science education gains mass appeal.

In late 2022, the "silver-haired knowledge vlogger" group, which went viral, won the "Touching China 2022 Annual Figures" award. The average age of the 13 vloggers was 77 years old, and Wu was among them. They include academicians at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, retired university professors, and ex-elementary and middle school teachers. They use trendy language, short videos and live broadcasts to share scientific and humanistic knowledge that young people are interested in. Unlike the traditional stereotypical impression of the elderly in Chinese society, these bloggers represent a new image in the eyes of young people.

They are pictures of twilight-age vitality, enjoying life on their own terms, rather than only focusing on the busy lives of their children and grandchildren.

Living in a society of accelerated population aging, how can we ensure that the elderly have support, happiness, and security in their old age? How can institutionalized guarantees bring about a more dignified later life and enable them to embrace more possibilities? These "fashionable seniors" active on short video platforms provide us with answers.

Passion for life never fades

Wu had the idea of making short videos as early as 2018. In her popular science videos, she breaks away from the seriousness of traditional physics classrooms and explains unfamiliar concepts in plain terms. For Wu, inspiring curiosity in young people is one of the most fulfilling things she has been longing for, and she is using this dream to inspire the dreams of more youngsters.

In a recent interview with the Global Times, Wu said that years of physics and science education have made her realize that people can only maintain a desire to learn if they maintain curiosity. "Having conversations with young people in their way" is one of Wu's current wishes. She hopes to convey the enthusiasm she presents in front of the camera to all young people who watch her videos, helping them see their self-worth, gain confidence and a sense of responsibility, learn how to conduct research, collaborate effectively, and dare to challenge themselves.

Wu's busy schedule and energy level are no less than those of young people today. She also devotes herself to online courses, offline lectures, and scientific education practice activities. The vibrant and energetic life she presents in front of the camera has become the envy of and an aspiration to many young people.

The silver-haired vlogger's New Year's wish is for her later years to be "fresher, happier, and more carefree."

Cares from youngsters never late

"Bob" is the English name given to Wang Li , a 62-year-old who lives in the Jingya nursing home in North China's Tianjin Municipality. After the popularity of the short drama video series in which Wang participated, an English blogger specially visited the nursing home and gave each elderly person a trendy English name. Since April, "Funny Things in the Funny Nursing Home" has gained over 1 million fans online, with the highest-viewed video gaining over 200 million views. In the videos, the nursing home residents are optimistic and cheerful, and never shy away from discussing aging and death.

One of the common themes in the short drama series is popularizing chemical knowledge. In the short video, 90-year-old Yu Youfang, who used to be a chemistry teacher at a high school in Tianjin , leans on a walking aid and holds a teaching cane to tap on the table. She is surrounded by a group of students in their seventies and eighties who even wear high school uniforms donated by their grandchildren. In this chemistry class scenario, there are always "students" causing explosions or producing poisonous gas due to "improper operation." The "students" are then comically carried away on stretchers in the classroom, hooked up to IV drips, and occasionally need oxygen as part of first aid remedies administered in adjoining classrooms... Netizens rightly albeit jokingly note: "Attending class is quite 'killing' students."

One of the main characters in the series, Bob, used to be an entrepreneur. He suffered a stroke in his middle age, leaving him with the sequelae of being unable to lift his left arm. Illness, divorce, and the death of his mother... A series of tragedies once left this man in his early 60s completely devastated. When he first arrived at the nursing home, he hardly socialized with anyone. He would always sit alone on the edge of the bed, with the skin on his fingertips discolored from smoking.

After joining the short video cast, Bob's life has turned a new page. He likes the feeling of being greeted in the videos by younger netizens, and has also ventured out of the nursing home with his companions to see the sea for the first time.

Feng Yan , one of the creators of the video series at the nursing home, told the Global Times that the original intention for filming was to eliminate public fear of nursing homes and anxiety surrounding life and death.

The content of the videos helps the elderly to awaken the memories of their youth. "We want to help them extend their social lives, reconnect with society, and make everyone feel cared for," Feng said. "In fact, most of these elderly people are not afraid of death, but are afraid of being forgotten."

"To let others see their inner world, to see their vibrant state, is a dream that many elderly people in nursing homes cannot express," Feng said.

The emerging creative trend of the silver generation is also gradually spreading in many nursing homes and senior universities in various cities.

In another nursing home in Xuchang, Central China's Henan Province , residents wear sunglasses and "DJ" dynamic music. According to media reports, this nursing home not only provides free accommodation but also has recreational facilities such as e-sports rooms, cinemas, painting and calligraphy rooms, and small bars. Fan Jinlin, a Gen-Z nursing home owner, told media that he wants to tell people that the elderly are also trendy and love to have fun, and nursing homes can be full of vitality.

At the same time, Chengdu University for the Aged has added many "trendy courses" in recent years, such as drone piloting, video editing, and even street dancing, all of which are fully booked according to media reports.

Guarantee and support never absent

A more comprehensive healthcare insurance system, an encouragement for the silver economy, an increased investment in elderly education resources, and a more open and diverse social culture - China is striving to establish an elderly-friendly society against the backdrop of a rapidly aging population.

According to data released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs in December, by the end of 2022, the population aged 60 and above in China accounted for 19.8 percent of the total population, with the population aged 65 and above accounting for 14.9 percent, approaching the stage of moderate aging.

Meanwhile, estimates by the National Health Commission predicted that by around 2035, the population aged 60 and above in China will exceed 400 million, accounting for over 30 percent of the total population. By then, China may enter the stage of severe aging.

Professor Li Chenghua from Nanjing University believes that Chinese modernization is complementary to actively addressing population aging. On one hand, the new goals and characteristics of Chinese modernization process provide new opportunities and guarantees for actively addressing population aging, helping to further establish a new situation of respecting and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly. On the other hand, the realization of Chinese modernization cannot be separated from the contributions of the elderly.

China has actively addressed population aging problem by promoting the resolution of the practical needs of the elderly in areas such as elderly care, health, spiritual and cultural life, and social participation, and striving to meet the new expectations of hundreds of millions of elderly people for a better life.

As a practitioner in the elderly care industry, Feng feels increased societal attention to elderly issues and meticulous care for the elderly in his daily work.

During a recent visit to a zoo organized by Jingya nursing home, Feng was deeply moved by the support of the volunteers throughout the journey. "We provided each elderly person with a wheelchair, and almost all public toilets had wheelchair-accessible facilities. Volunteers were enthusiastic in helping at every step. We also received many care packages from various sectors of society, some of which were anonymous," Feng said.

He believes that a comprehensive elderly care service system is currently being built, and his wish is to see an age-friendly society; a civilized environment where the elderly can "be themselves freely."

Chen Yuan, the head of Jingya nursing home, told the Global Times that he hopes to attract more young people to enter the elderly care industry and pay attention to the spiritual needs of the elderly through short videos. "The nursing home is not the last stop in the elderly's life, but another 'home' given to them by society," Chen said.

Feng is increasingly proud of his profession. He knows that he is exploring a path of "building a more friendly society for the elderly" endowed by the Chinese modernization process.

Holding up his phone and seeing "actor" Bob dancing happily like a child, Feng smiles on the other side of the camera. This moment connects his dream with the collective dreams of senior citizens in nursing homes across the country.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304408.shtml

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SOURCE Global Times
VANCOUVER, BC and HOUSTON , TX , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE: IBAT), is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") as previously announced on December 21, 2023 , by issuing 2,694,804 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.70 per Unit for aggregate proceeds to the Company of approximately USD$1.415 million ( CAD$1,886,362.80 ). The Private Placement was oversubscribed.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share"), and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional Common Share for a period of 24 months from closing at an exercise price of CAD$0.82 .

The proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to fund the Company's ongoing operations and other general corporate expenditures.

"We are pleased to announce the second closing of the Private Placement which, as previously announced, had been re-opened due to investor demand. These additional funds allow us to proactively begin preparing our 1st generation plant for mobilization and deployment." Garry Flowers , Co-Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Private Placement.

The securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance under Canadian Securities laws and will also be restricted securities under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Related Party Transaction

Pursuant to the Private Placement, 190,443 Common Shares were issued to an officer of the Company, who is considered a "related party" of the Company as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").

Accordingly, the Private Placement is a related party transaction pursuant to MI 61-101. Under Sections 5.4 and 5.6 of MI 61-101, the Company is required to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval for the Private Placement, unless exemptions are available.

The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation requirement and the minority shareholder approval requirement under Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), as at the time the transaction was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the Private Placement, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeds 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization.

About International Battery Metals Ltd.

The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within 10 days of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer from which it is extracted. The Company's unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Garry Flowers"

"Libor Michel"

Garry Flowers , Co-CEO

Libor Michel , Co-CEO

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Forward  looking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the plans and objectives of the Company, including statements with respect to the use of proceeds from the Private Placement. The use of any of the words "will", "expected", "view", "believes" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties of the Company's business are contained in the Company's public filings which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statement made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

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SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd.
Swift Response and Assurance: Customer Accounts and Security Uncompromised Despite Third-Party Service Provider Cybersecurity Incident

TORONTO , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The INX Digital Company, Inc. (NEO: INXD, OTCQB: INXDF, INXATS: INX) (the "Company" or "INX"), a security token and digital asset trading platform, U.S. broker-dealer, alternative trading system, transfer agent, and inter-dealer broker (through its subsidiaries), announced that on December 20, 2023 , it learned of a cyberattack that occurred on the computer systems of a third-party vendor providing services to one of the Company's subsidiaries.

As a result, a malicious actor managed to access the third-party vendor's servers and executed unauthorized trades which resulted in a loss of funds of the Company's subsidiary of approximately $1.6 million . The Company took immediate actions to remediate the security vulnerability and to investigate the nature and scope of the incident. The Company also notified relevant law enforcement in the appropriate jurisdictions and is working with the affected trading venue to investigate this incident and take appropriate legal action.

INX customers were not affected by the incident, and the security breach at the third-party provider did not have any impact on the platforms and servers of INX. No personal information or other data of INX's customers was compromised, and INX.One remains fully operational. The Company placed additional security measures in place and continues to actively monitor any suspicious activity.

The Company holds a "Reserve Fund" (which is not part of the Company's operational capital) in the amount of $36,023,000 , which is restricted and specifically designed to cover customer and INX losses, if any, that result from cybersecurity breaches or theft, errors in execution of the trading platform or its technology, and counterparty defaults, including instances where counterparties lack sufficient collateral to cover losses. The Company will seek to recover the lost funds through any means necessary. If unsuccessful, and after these efforts are exhausted, the Company will utilize the Reserve Fund for the recovery of the loss that resulted from this security incident. There is no assurance that any such lost funds will be recovered.

The Company does not expect this incident to have a material impact on its business operations or its financial results.

About INX:

INX provides regulated trading platforms for digital securities and cryptocurrencies. With the combination of traditional market expertise and a disruptive fintech approach, INX provides state-of-the-art solutions to modern financial problems. INX is led by an experienced and dedicated team of business, finance, and technology veterans with the shared vision of redefining the world of capital markets via blockchain technology and a disciplined regulatory approach.

About The INX Digital Company, Inc.:

The INX Digital Company, Inc. is the holding company for the INX Group, which includes regulated trading platforms for digital securities and cryptocurrencies. The INX Group's vision is to be the preferred global regulated hub for digital assets on the blockchain. The INX Group's overall mission is to bring communities together and empower them with financial innovation. Our journey started with our initial public token offering of the INX Token, in which we raised US$84 million . The INX Group is shaping the blockchain asset industry through its willingness to work in a regulated environment with oversight from regulators like the SEC and FINRA. For more information, please visit the INX Group website at https://www.inx.co/ .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Disclosures

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. In disclosing the forward-looking information contained in this press release, INX has made certain assumptions, including with respect to, the continuous development of the INX trading platform, the completion of the transactions described herein, and the development of the digital asset industry. Although INX believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to regulatory developments, the state of the digital securities and cryptocurrencies markets, and general economic conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, INX disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking information or otherwise.

Neo Exchange is not responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States . The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For further information, contact:

The INX Digital Company, Inc.

Investor Relations

+1 855 657 2314

Contact: Alan Silbert

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE The INX Digital Company, Inc.
BOSTON , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its quarterly distribution of $0.6500 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of December 11, 2023 , pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) with important information concerning the distribution declared on December 1, 2023 , and payable on December 29, 2023 . No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: December 2023

Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.6500

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable December 29, 2023 , and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.





For the period 10/1/2023-12/31/2023

For the fiscal year-to-date period 1/1/2023-12/30/2023 1 Source

Current Distribution ($)

% Breakdown of the Current Distribution

Total Cumulative Distributions ($)

% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income

0.1041

16 %

0.4370

17 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains

0.0509

8 %

0.1009

4 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains

0.4950

76 %

1.5934

62 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source

0.0000

0 %

0.4495

17 % Total per common share

0.6500

100 %

2.5808

100 %

















Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on November 30, 2023

2.24 % Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2023

9.75 % Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through November 30, 2023

-12.55 % Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2023

9.68 %

_________________________________________________

1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on January 1, 2023 and will end on December 31, 2023 .

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the December 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed quarterly distributions in the amount of $0.6500 per share.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time .

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto , our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
(All dollar amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated)

TSXV: MTA

NYSE AMERICAN: MTA

VANCOUVER, BC , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd. ("Metalla" or the "Company") (TSXV: MTA) (NYSE American: MTA) announces its annual equity grant in accordance with the Company's share compensation plan. Metalla has granted an aggregate of 587,500 restricted share units (each "RSU") and an aggregate of 922,500 stock options ("Options") to certain directors, officers, consultants, and employees of the Company. The RSUs and Options vest in two equal installments, twelve and twenty-four months from the date of grant. Each vested RSU will entitle the holder to receive one common share of the Company or the equivalent cash value thereof at the deemed price of C$4.05 and each vested Option will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$4.05 for a period of five years and are subject to vesting provisions.

ABOUT METALLA

Metalla is an emerging mid-tier royalty and streaming company focused on leveraged exposure to gold, silver, and copper. Our goal is to increase share value by accumulating a diversified portfolio of royalties and streams with attractive returns on high quality assets with experienced operators in low-risk jurisdictions. Our strong foundation of current and future cash-generating asset base, combined with an experienced team, gives Metalla a path to become one of the leading royalty companies for the next commodities cycle.

For further information, please visit our website at www.metallaroyalty.com.

ON BEHALF OF METALLA ROYALTY & STREAMING LTD.

(signed) "Brett Heath" President and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, vesting and settlement of RSUs; vesting and exercise of Options; increasing shareholder value; future cash generation and returns; and Metalla having a path to becoming a leading gold and silver royalty company. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of Metalla to control or predict, that may cause Metalla's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including but not limited to: announced royalty transactions may not close due to an inability to satisfy closing conditions, or for other reasons; risks associated with the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining operations from which Metalla will purchase precious metals or from which it will receive stream or royalty payments and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, delays in mine construction and operations, actual results of mining and current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans are refined; problems related to the ability to market precious metals or other metals; industry conditions, including commodity price fluctuations, interest and exchange rate fluctuations; interpretation by government entities of tax laws or the implementation of new tax laws; regulatory, political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which Metalla holds a royalty, stream or other interest are located or through which they are held; risks related to the operators of the properties in which Metalla holds a royalty or stream or other interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators; risks related to global pandemics, including the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic, and the spread of other viruses or pathogens; influence of macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by Metalla; reduced access to debt and equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which Metalla holds a royalty, stream or other interest; the volatility of the stock market; competition; future sales or issuances of debt or equity securities; use of proceeds; dividend policy and future payment of dividends; liquidity; market for securities; enforcement of civil judgments; and risks relating to Metalla potentially being a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of U.S. federal tax laws; and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual information form, annual report on Form 40-F and other documents filed with or submitted to the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. Metalla undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Metalla Royalty and Streaming Ltd.
BEIJING , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RLX Technology Inc. ("RLX Technology" or the "Company") (NYSE: RLX), a leading global branded e-vapor company, today announced that its board of directors has authorized the extension of its existing share repurchase program established in December 2021 for an additional 24-month period through December 31, 2025 . Under the existing share repurchase program, the Company may repurchase up to US$500 million of its ordinary shares represented by ADSs until December 31, 2023 . As of December 28, 2023 , the Company had repurchased approximately US$193.5 million of its ordinary shares represented by ADSs.

The Company's proposed repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, in block trades, through structured or derivative transactions and/or through other legally permissible means, depending on market conditions and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The Company's board of directors will review the share repurchase program periodically, and may authorize adjustment of its terms and size. The Company expects to fund the repurchases out of its existing cash balance.

About RLX Technology Inc.

RLX Technology Inc. (NYSE: RLX) is a leading global branded e-vapor company. The Company leverages its strong in-house technology, product development capabilities, and in-depth insights into adult smokers' needs to develop superior e-vapor products.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.relxtech.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company's strategic and operational plans, contain forward- looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; trends and competition in China's e-vapor market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; PRC governmental policies, laws and regulations relating to the Company's industry, and general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is current as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

In China :

RLX Technology Inc.

Head of Capital Markets

Sam Tsang

Email: [email protected]

Piacente Financial Communications

Jenny Cai

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

Email: [email protected]

In the United States :

Piacente Financial Communications

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

Email: [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rlx-technology-extends-us500-million-share-repurchase-program-302023621.html

SOURCE RLX Technology Inc.
TORONTO , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units (the "Units"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,478,754 Units at a price $1.30 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5.8 million .

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of Rock Tech (the "Common Shares", with such Common Shares comprising the Units, the "Unit Shares") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a "Warrant", and together with the Units and the Unit Shares, the "Securities"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $1.69 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance of such Warrant, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the certificate evidencing such Warrant, including adjustment in certain circumstances.

Rock Tech intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to finance the continued development of the Company's Georgia Lake lithium project in Ontario, Canada (the "Georgia Lake Project"), including planned consolidation of adjacent properties/areas, for the development of the Company's converter project in Canada and for general corporate purposes (including expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Offering).

"We are pleased to close the Offering with the investments from our stakeholders. We appreciate the continued support as we execute our business plan. We plan to continue discussions with strategic and financial investors to explore potential opportunities for investments directly at the project level, including the Company's converter projects in Germany and Canada and the Georgia Lake Project.", stated Dirk Harbecke , Chairman and CEO of the Company.

The Unit Shares and the Warrants are subject to a four month hold period, expiring on April 30, 2024 , in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the rules of the TSX-V, as are any Warrant Shares issued on exercise of Warrants prior to the expiry of such hold period.

The Securities offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws of any state of the United States and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.

The Unit Shares and Warrant Shares have been conditionally accepted for listing on the TSX-V, which is subject to the final acceptance of the TSX-V.

See the Company's press releases dated October 24, 2023 and December 8, 2023 for additional details regarding the Offering.

All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in Canadian dollars.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Dirk Harbecke

Chairman & CEO

ABOUT ROCK TECH

Rock Tech is a cleantech company with operations in Canada and Germany on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the door-step of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery, beginning with the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide merchant converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany . To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its wholly-owned Georgia Lake Project located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada , as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. www.rocktechlithium.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking information. Forward looking information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" (including negative versions and grammatical variations thereof) and other similar expressions.

In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to: the intended use of proceeds from the Offering and allocation thereof; listing of the Unit Shares and the Warrant Shares on the TSX-V, including obtaining the final acceptance of the TSX-V; discussions with strategic and financial investors to explore potential opportunities for investments directly at the project level, including the Company's converter projects in Germany and Canada and the Georgia Lake Project; and Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects, and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.

Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and, in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. Forward-looking information is derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the satisfaction of the conditions to obtain final acceptance of the TSX-V approval for the listing of the Unit Shares and the Warrant Shares on the TSX-V; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; expected growth, performance and business operations; future commodity prices and exchange rates; prospects, growth opportunities and financing available to the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; Rock Tech's ability to procure supplies and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results.

Forward-looking information should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results. In addition, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Rock Tech's control, that may cause Rock Tech's actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to be materially different from that which is expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially include the risk that Rock Tech will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due, delays in government approval for the construction and commissioning of the Georgia Lake Project, changes in commodity prices, Rock Tech's ability to retain and attract skilled staff and to secure feedstock from third party suppliers, unanticipated events and other difficulties related to construction, development and operation of converters and mines, the cost of compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations, title defects, competition from existing and new competitors, changes in currency exchange rates and market prices of Rock Tech's securities, Rock Tech's history of losses, impacts of climate change and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Financial Instruments and Other Risks" in Rock Tech's most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis, a copy of which is filed electronically through SEDAR+ and is available online at www.sedarplus.ca. Such risks and uncertainties do not represent an exhaustive list of all risk factors that could cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially from the forward-looking information. It can not be guaranteed that actual events, results, performance and/or achievements will be consistent with the forward-looking information and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information reflects Rock Tech management's current views as at the date of this news release. The Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking information. Except as may be required by law, Rock Tech undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaims any responsibility, obligation or undertaking to update or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, to reflect any change in Rock Tech's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such information is based. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purposes of assisting readers in understanding Rock Tech's plans, objectives and goals and is not appropriate for any other purposes.

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SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. Kazakhstan has decided to exclude Taliban from the list of banned organizations, Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiarov told Kazakh media, Trend reports.

According to him, Kazakhstan revises its national list of prohibited organizations on a regular basis in order to keep it up to date. As a result, as part of the aforementioned procedure, it was agreed to exclude the "Taliban Movement" in conformity with UN precedent.

"The Taliban Movement is not listed on the UN Security Council's list of terrorist organizations, according to the mandatory resolutions," Smadiarov stressed.

In terms of political interactions, he stated that Kazakhstan will continue to firmly adhere to UN Security Council and General Assembly decisions and resolutions.
At its Dealer Summit 2023, held in Orlando , StruXure unveiled new products for 2024 and commemorated recent Dealer achievements.

DAHLONEGA, Ga. , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, StruXure hosts an event for its network of Dealers that is both educational and celebratory. This year's Dealer Summit delivered on both fronts, with the unveiling of several new products and the announcement of award-winning project installations by StruXure's vast network of Dealers. The Summit was held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando on December 9 .

In the dynamic world of automated pergolas, staying ahead of the curve is not just a goal, it's a necessity. Our latest innovations are not only about making a great product better; they represent a commitment to staying relevant in an era where stagnation is the enemy of progress. From the unveiling of our next generation Pergola X to new backdrops and canopies and a new app, StruXure announced its offering of new groundbreaking products that promise to redefine the industry.

One area where our new products are set to shine is in their ability to seamlessly integrate into our daily lives. Since the 2020 pandemic, expanding our homes to capitalize on our outdoor spacesfor economic reasons and for healthier livinghas been a favorable trend. Using technology to its greatest advantage, we have elevated our luxury pergolas and cabanas in myriad ways, from a more precise fit for all components to enhanced connectivity.

In a world that is increasingly conscious of environmental impact, sustainability is another key consideration of our new products. StruXure has always offered products made in the USA from recyclable extruded aluminum. That commitment continues with our next generation Pergola X, Cabana X, and Cabana X MOD. All of our products embody our pledge to cultivate a sustainable future.

In an era where competition is fierce and consumer loyalty can be fickle, staying ahead requires a commitment to excellence. We, at StruXure, are proud to continue to offer leading edge, made-in-America products that are good for humanity.

The Dealer Summit closed with a gala to recognize a year's worth of accomplishments by everyone involved with StruXure, particularly the many hard-working Dealers who interface with customers daily. With so many new products coming out in 2024, StruXure, the premier manufacturer of luxury pergolas and cabanas, looks forward to another outstanding year. Visit www.struxure.com to learn more.

Contact: Stacey Williams

Phone: 310-614-7908

Email: [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/struxure-showcases-new-products-at-annual-summit-302023446.html

SOURCE StruXure
BANGKOK , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Velo, one of the major players in the cryptocurrency trading and crypto-wallet world, is excited to introduce a new amazing update for Lightyear -- a cutting-edge Web3 Trading Bot developed ingeniously by Velo Labs.

The all-new Lightyear Bot Dashboard is designed to streamline and simplify your trading experience. It is seamlessly integrated with popular wallet like MetaMask, and, notably, Velo's very own Universe Wallet. This integration ensures a secure and user-friendly experience for all traders.

Velo's commitment to delivering top-notch trading solutions is evident in the launch of its flagship Grid Trading Bot and Rebalancing Bot. Meticulously updated with users' convenience in mind, Velo unveils an intuitive and user-friendly Bot Dashboard.

The newly updated Bot Dashboard is a game-changer, providing traders either novice or professional with an all-in-one platform to manage their portfolios and bots seamlessly. With a few clicks on the dashboard, users can effortlessly create their Grid or Rebalancing Bot (or both!), tailored to their specific risk tolerance and preferences.

But that's not all! Setting up, tracking, managing, and stopping your bot has never been easier. Thanks to Velo's streamlined interface, you can perform these actions without the hassle of navigating to different pages. In today's fast-paced crypto trading ecosystem, Velo understands well the need for speed and efficiency.

Here are some glimpses of the freshly upgraded Bot Dashboard:

Grid Trading Bot: Designed for efficiency and effectiveness, it operates on a sophisticated algorithm that automatically buys low and sells high within a predefined price range. This bot is ideal for capitalizing on market volatility, ensuring you remain profitable in varying market conditions.

Rebalancing Bot: Maintain the perfect balance in your portfolio with our Rebalancing Bot. It regularly adjusts your asset allocation to align with your set target, ensuring your investment strategy stays on course regardless of market movements. This bot is the key to a well-maintained, risk-adjusted portfolio.

For traders seeking more information or assistance, you can do so in Velo's telegram at https://t.me/veloprotocol where their dedicated team members are ready to address any questions or concerns you may have.

About Velo:

As a global brand originating from Thailand , Velo takes the lead in the world of blockchain trading, offering a wide range of products tailored to diverse demographic segments, including individuals, novice and experienced traders, merchants, corporations, and businesses. With several significant products already in their portfolio and additional releases on the horizon, Velo is dedicated to its mission of bridging businesses with global funds and expanding accessibility for individuals worldwide.

Media Enquiry: [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/velo-announces-the-launch-of-the-lightyear-bot-dashboard-trading-made-easy-just-for-you-302023467.html

SOURCE Velo Labs Technology Ltd.
BEIJING , Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on China's most popular character related to domestic affairs in 2023:

Recently, the Character and Word of the Year 2023 were unveiled. The Chinese character "zhen," which carries multiple meanings, was chosen as the nation's most popular character related to domestic affairs in 2023. Zhen, with "() shou" as the Chinese radical, is closely affiliated with hand gestures.

In Chinese, it bears the meaning of "relieve and raise," while it could also mean "vitalize and inspire." Relieving others and vitalizing itself  a quintessential depiction of China in the year 2023.

This year, the world has stood at the crossroads of destruction and construction, competition and collaboration, as well as progress and relapse; China has reached a new starting point of economic recovery following three years of COVID-19 prevention and control. Confronting such complexity requires more vitality, which means sticking to the original aspiration and attaining progress under pressure.

In the past year, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the resumption of diplomatic ties in Beijing after seven years of animosity and decades of political confrontation. Also this year, the Jakarta-Bandung HSR was put into use, making life and work easier for locals, while advancing the technologies at their grasp. Money, food and medicines were delivered to the hands of war victims in Gaza .

There were also juncao, or the fungus grass technology that Fiji regarded as the hope of agriculture for island states, Artemisinin that cut malaria occurrence in Comoros by 98%, and Luban Workshops that cultivated batches of technical personnel for partner countries Each move has embodied how China shoulders its responsibility as a major country, contributing what it has and collaborating with other countries to lift more people out of plight and share the fruit of development.

Linked by the same green mountain that stretches, we share the storm that rages. That's what we mean when we talk about "zhen."

In the past year, the lives of the Chinese people returned to normality, with an array of policies covering employment, healthcare and so on being implemented in a thorough way. The rights and interests of the disabled and the elderly now enjoy further guarantee before the law, and minimum wage was raised in many provinces.

In the past year, China's economy has kept up a positive trend, with domestic demand steadily restored, fueling the come-back of heated tourism during vacation seasons; international trade has also been developing consistently, with growing momentum in the export of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar power batteries.

In the past year, China bore various major scientific fruits: Deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (the striver), completing its first international deep-diving scientific research mission in waters surrounding Oceania ; the C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, successfully completed its first commercial flight.

"To tide over trials and difficulties, the key lies in revitalizing oneself and building confidence." Those who refuse to just take the easy path will succeed, and those who meet challenges head-on will progress. That's what we mean when we talk about "zhen."

What describes the year 2023 for China ? Pressing ahead regardless of achievements or failures; benefiting people from home and abroad alike. And they are indeed what "zhen" symbolizes.

China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Zhen: Help others, Inspire oneself

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2023-12/29/content_116909692.htm

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zhen-help-others-inspire-oneself-302023646.html

SOURCE China.org.cn
FILE PHOTO: An American Airlines flight lands at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A group representing major passenger airlines on Friday urged U.S. transportation officials to do more to address the impact of private planes and air traffic controller staffing shortages on holiday flight delays and cancellations.

Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others, urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Michael Whitaker to "take all possible actions to find the appropriate balance between commercial and private aviation traffic with the goal of minimizing delays and cancellations for the traveling public."

The group in a letter also urged "all possible steps be taken to avert additional staffing triggers, particularly in high volume centers" for air traffic control.

The FAA said airlines, general aviation and others "have a seat at the Command Center, where the FAA monitors the airspace 24/7 and gives updates every two hours."

The FAA said "as air travel continues to rebound, the agency is taking immediate action to recruit, train and hire more air traffic controllers" but has acknowledged it is still about 3,000 controllers below optimal levels.

Preliminary data from December 2027 show 77% of delays have been due to volume, 19.1% to weather, and 0.9% due to FAA staffing, the agency said.

Buttigieg said this month the U.S. is on pace to have the lowest number of flight cancellations in five years. He and Whitaker have prioritized boosting air traffic control staffing.

The FAA in September extended cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2024, citing staffing shortages. New York Terminal Radar Approach Control staffing is just at 54% of recommended levels.

In June, a government watchdog report said critical air traffic facilities face significant staffing challenges, posing risks to air traffic operations. At many facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks to cover the shortage.

Whitaker last week said he was naming a panel led by a former safety board official to address air traffic controller fatigue after a series of near-miss incidents.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Diane Craft, Aurora Ellis and David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: Rolando Alvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa and a critic of the Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, shown praying at Managua's Catholic church where he was taking refuge, alleging he had been targeted by the police, in Managua, Nicarag

By Ismael Lopez

SAN JOSE (Reuters) -Nicaraguan police on Friday arrested three more Catholic priests, bringing the number of clergymen detained this week to at least nine, according to sources close to the local church leadership, including one who is a high-ranking church member.

The three sources, who requested anonymity for fear of arrest, said two of the priests were taken into custody for publicly praying for jailed Bishop Rolando Alvarez, the most prominent critic of President Daniel Ortega.

The pair "were arrested for refusing to stop mentioning Bishop Alvarez in their sermons," one of the sources said, naming Marco Diaz and Bayardo Aguilar as among the latest clerical detainees. The source said Aguilar was later released.

The government has not issued any statements explaining any alleged crimes committed by the priests or reasons for their arrests. But dating back to protests five years ago, Ortega has accused church leaders of seeking to overthrow his government.

Local media outlet Confidencial has previously reported that at least two other priests arrested this week were also released shortly after being detained.

Later on Friday, another prominent priest, Silvio Fonseca, was arrested after leading religious services at his parish in the capital Managua, according to two of the sources.

"We don't want to further complicate things, we're in reflection," said one of the sources, a high-ranking church member, who confirmed all of the recent arrests.

"We're trying to find a way to help them, as much as possible, trying to reach the authorities to see what are the charges," said the source.

The government's press office, run by Vice President Rosario Murillo, Ortega's wife, did not respond to a request for comment.

Alvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa, forcefully criticized the government's deadly response to mass protests that broke out in 2018, and was convicted of treason and sentenced to a 26-year prison term earlier this year.

Over the past few years, Ortega's government has targeted leaders of the Catholic church, a crackdown which officials in the past have said was needed to punish treasonous behavior or other alleged crimes.

On Thursday, two additional high-ranking priests were arrested, both with close ties to Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, the archbishop of Managua and the highest-ranking figure in the country's Catholic hierarchy.

Brenes has made no public pronouncements on the arrests, and he declined to comment when Reuters reached him by phone on Friday.

Last week, the police arrested Bishop Isidro Mora of the Siuna diocese, making him the second bishop to be detained after Alvarez's detention in 2022.

The enforcement actions against Nicaragua's Catholic church, including broad surveillance of priests, intensified earlier this year, Reuters reported, after Pope Francis condemned the government led by Ortega as a "gross dictatorship" and the president responded by severing ties with the Vatican.

At least 11 priests, bishops and seminarians are currently behind bars in the country, according to exiled Nicaraguan researcher Martha Patricia Molina, who publishes records of what she describes as the persecution of the Catholic Church under Ortega.

(Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sonali Paul)
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain is sending around 200 air defence missiles to Ukraine to help protect civilians and infrastructure from Russian drones and bombing, the British ministry of defence said on Friday.

The shipment comes as Russia unleashed one of its biggest missile attacks on Ukraine of the war, according to Kyiv, killing 18 civilians and wounding dozens others.

"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is testing Ukraine's defences and the West's resolve, hoping that he can clutch victory from the jaws of defeat. But he is wrong," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.

"Now is the time for the free world to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win."

The air defence missiles, manufactured in Britain by defence contractor MBDA, are designed to be launched from aircraft including Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets, the defence ministry said.

Britain has committed a total of 4.6 billion pounds ($5.9 billion) in military support for Ukraine over two years.

($1 = 0.7850 pounds)

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
By Ange Kasongo and Benoit Nyemba

KINSHASA (Reuters) - The head of Democratic Republic of Congo's election commission on Friday said it would meet a Dec. 31 deadline for the release of full provisional presidential results, dismissing opposition calls for a re-run of the disputed vote as the response of "bad losers."

The CENI commission has come under fire for its handling of the delay-plagued Dec. 20 presidential and legislative elections and the vote-count, which the opposition and independent observers say have compromised the credibility of results.

After a turbulent campaign, the poll in Africa's second-largest country and a major copper and cobalt producer was chaotic. Logistical mishaps, malfunctioning voting machines and violent incidents held up voting in many places, prompting the CENI to extend the vote - a decision whose legality the main observer mission has questioned.

Despite the unscheduled extension, CENI president Denis Kadima told Reuters the commission was on track for releasing full provisional results from the presidential vote on Sunday Dec. 31 as originally planned.

In an interview, Kadima dismissed allegations that the CENI had not been compiling results fully in accordance with electoral law. He said it was the CENI's legal duty to produce results quickly, which is why it was relying on some results from voting machines rather than just using tallies from paper ballots.

On Thursday, the independent joint vote-monitoring mission of Congo's powerful Catholic Church and its Protestant Church urged the CENI only to publish results based on correctly consolidated tallies from local centres.

"The results we are releasing reflect (people's) choices," Kadima said.

Some of the main challengers of President Felix Tshisekedi - who is running for a second term and comfortably leading in the CENI's interim count so far - have called for a full re-run of the election due to the extension of voting and the widespread irregularities reported by their own and independent observers.

Kadima says the opposition wanted a new vote because "they know they lost ... they are bad losers."

"We did everything with the necessary transparency," he said.

He also dismissed reports that CENI agents had mishandled sensitive election materials and conducted some election operations outside official centres - actions that the Symocel civil society observer mission said were likely to have distorted results.

"These are limited cases and it is not done with the blessing of CENI," Kadima said, adding those found responsible would be sanctioned.

The election dispute threatens to further destabilise Congo, which is already grappling with widespread poverty and a security crisis in eastern areas. Contested results have fuelled unrest in the past. On Wednesday, several people were injured after police cracked down on a banned election march. The opposition has vowed to hold more protests.

The latest CENI preliminary results, updated on Friday, showed Tshisekedi in the lead with more than 72% of around 15.9 million votes counted so far.

CENI has not yet said how many of Congo's 44 million registered voters participated. It has processed the results of 52,173 polling stations out of 75,969, according to its latest tally.

(Writing by Sofia Christensen and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Former attorney for former U.S. President Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, arrives the Trump Organization civil fraud trial, in New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., October 24, 2023. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former fixer and lawyer, said in court papers unsealed on Friday that he mistakenly gave his attorney fake case citations generated by an artificial intelligence program that made their way into an official court filing.

Cohen, who is expected to be a star witness against Trump at one of the former president's criminal trials, said in a sworn declaration in federal court in Manhattan that he did not realize the citations generated by Google Bard were fictitious.

Google Bard is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Alphabet Inc's Google. The case citations were included by an attorney for Cohen in a motion seeking an early end to his supervised release following Cohen's imprisonment for campaign finance violations.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman earlier this month said three court decisions cited in the motion did not exist. He directed Cohen's lawyer, David Schwartz, to demonstrate why he should not be sanctioned for citing non-existent cases.

Cohen, who was disbarred nearly five years ago, in Friday's filings said those citations came from his own online research and that he had not expected Schwartz to "drop the cases wholesale into his submission without even confirming they existed."

Cohen said he had "not kept up with emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology and did not realize that Google Bard was a generative text service that, like ChatGPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not."

"I deeply regret any problems Mr. Schwartz's filing may have caused," Cohen said in the filing.

Furman in an order on Friday gave Scwhartz and prosecutors until Wednesday to respond to Cohen's filing. A spokesperson for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams declined to comment. Schwartz's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

Courts nationally are grappling with the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence programs like OpenAI's ChatGPT and how to regulate their use in court proceedings.

Two New York lawyers were sanctioned in June for submitting a legal brief that included six fictitious case citations generated by ChatGPT.

Cohen was recently a witness in New York state Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud case against Trump.

Cohen is expected to also testify in the state criminal case against Trump that accuses him of falsifying business records to hide reimbursements to Cohen for a $130,000 payment to silence porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rallies with supporters at a "commit to caucus" event at a Whiskey bar in Ankeny, Iowa, U.S. December 2, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

By Andrew Goudsward

(Reuters) -Maine on Thursday became the second U.S. state to bar Donald Trump from a Republican presidential primary ballot, part of a flurry of legal challenges to his eligibility to run for president in 2024.

The challenges are being filed under a provision in the U.S. Constitution banning officials who have engaged in "insurrection" from holding public office.

Here is a look at some of the notable challenges under the provision known as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and where they stand:

WHAT IS SECTION 3 OF THE 14th AMENDMENT?

Passed after the U.S. Civil War, Section 3 bars anyone from holding public office if they engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" after previously swearing an oath in support of the United States.

The provision was enacted in 1868 to prevent former members of the pro-slavery Confederacy from serving in the U.S government.

Advocacy groups and some anti-Trump voters have brought legal challenges to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign in several states based on Section 3, arguing that then-President Trump engaged in insurrection when he urged his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, to go to Washington and stop Congress from certifying the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden.

A mob of his supporters then stormed the U.S. Capitol and were unsuccessful in blocking the certification.

WHAT DID MAINE RULE?

The state's top election official, Democrat Shenna Bellows, granted a challenge from a group of former state lawmakers who argued that Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, was not qualified to serve as president again under Section 3.

Bellows ordered Trump kept off the ballot for the March 5 Republican primary but put her ruling on hold to allow Trump to appeal to a state court.

HAVE ANY OTHER STATES DISQUALIFIED TRUMP?

Colorado become the first state to exclude Trump from a primary ballot. The state's highest court ruled on Dec. 19 that Trump engaged in insurrection.

Colorado is viewed as a safely Democratic state in the November 2024 general election, meaning Biden would be expected to carry the state regardless of whether Trump is on the ballot.

The court paused its ruling to allow Trump to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which the former president indicated he would do. The Colorado Republican Party filed its own appeal to the Supreme Court on Dec. 27, clearing a path for Trump to remain on the primary ballot despite the state court ruling.

WHAT IS TRUMP'S DEFENSE?

Trump and his allies have criticized disqualification cases as undemocratic and part of a conspiracy by his political rivals to keep him out of office.

His lawyers have argued that only Congress can enforce Section 3 and that presidents are not subject to disqualification. A lower court judge in Colorado agreed that Section 3 does not apply to presidents before that ruling was overturned by the state's top court.

Trump's legal team also disputes that he engaged in insurrection, arguing that Trump was exercising his First Amendment right to free speech on Jan. 6.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges accusing him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results but has not been charged with insurrection.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Maine decision will be reviewed by state courts.

The U.S. Supreme Court is likely to take the Colorado case given its political importance and the unsettled legal questions it raises.

It is not clear how the Court would rule, but it is dominated by a conservative majority that includes three Trump appointees. The court may not need to decide whether Trump engaged in insurrection and could rule narrowly that Section 3 does not apply to presidents or that it cannot be enforced by courts.

A ruling that Trump is disqualified from the presidency would be momentous step with seismic political implications.

WHICH STATES HAVE REJECTED BALLOT CHALLENGES?

Lawsuits in several states seeking to keep Trump off primary ballots have failed. Courts in Minnesota and Michigan ruled that Trump could not be excluded from the primary but allowed challengers to revive their cases for the November 2024 general election if Trump is the Republican nominee.

Courts in both states ruled that Trump's eligibility for the presidency under the U.S. Constitution was not relevant to internal party primaries.

Michigan is considered one of the hotly contested states that can swing to either Democrats or Republicans and likely to decide the outcome of the general election.

Some state election officials have also turned aside efforts to keep Trump off the ballot. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber on Thursday announced that Trump would be included on the list of candidates in that state's Republican primary. California is a Democratic stronghold in general elections.

WHERE ELSE ARE CASES PENDING?

Challenges to Trump's eligibility have been filed in at least 12 states. One of the more closely watched cases is in Oregon, where the state Supreme Court is poised to decide in the coming days whether to consider a lawsuit seeking to disqualify Trump from the state's primary ballot.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Ross Colvin and Mark Porter)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian navy vessel in Aceh drove away a boat carrying Rohingya from Myanmar, a military spokesperson said, as growing numbers of would-be refugees from the strife-torn country face hostility from locals.

The wooden boat was encountered in waters near Weh Island, off Sumatra, military spokesperson Nugraha Gumilar said.

The Indonesian military vessel "shadowed" the vessel, which it believed to be carrying the Rohingya, a persecuted Myanmar Muslim-minority, until it was outside Indonesian waters and "would not return".

There are no estimates of how many Rohingya were on the boat, Nugraha said.

Indonesia's foreign ministry referred inquiries to the coordinating ministry for political, legal, and security affairs, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Over 1,500 Rohingya have landed in Indonesia since November, according to data from the United Nations' refugee agency (UNCHR), facing increasing hostility and rejection as locals grow frustrated at the numbers of boats arriving.

On Wednesday, a large crowd of Indonesian students stormed a convention centre housing hundreds of Rohingya in the Aceh capital, calling for their deportation.

The UNHCR said it was "deeply disturbed to see a mob attack on a site sheltering vulnerable refugee families."

For years, Rohingya have left Myanmar, where they are generally regarded as foreign interlopers from South Asia, denied citizenship and subjected to abuse. They usually leave mostly to Indonesia or neighbouring Malaysia from November to April, when the seas are calmer.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees but has a history of taking in refugees if they arrive.

Indonesia has urged Myanmar authorities to halt violence against Rohingya Muslims and says it will crack down on suspected human traffickers involved in the latest wave of arrivals.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
By Ismael Lopez

SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Nicaraguan police detained on Thursday two senior Catholic priests who are close to the country's top church leader, a person with knowledge of the matter said, raising to at least six the number of clergymen detained this week.

The source, who declined to be named for fear of arrest, said the two priests were detained for publicly praying for jailed Bishop Rolando Alvarez, the most prominent critic of President Daniel Ortega.

Local media outlet Confidencial named the priests as Carlos Aviles and Hector Treminio, and noted that their arrest brings to at least six the number of priests detained over the past week, adding that two of the clerics had already been released.

The government's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Over the past few years, Ortega's government has targeted members of the Catholic church, a crackdown officials have in the past said was needed to punish treasonous behavior or other alleged crimes.

Aviles is the second-highest ranking cleric in the Archdiocese of Managua, led by Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, while Treminio is its treasurer.

Alvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa, forcefully criticized the government's deadly response to mass protests that broke out in 2018, and was convicted of treason and sentenced to a 26-year prison term earlier this year.

Last week, police arrested Bishop Isidro Mora of the Siuna diocese, making him the second bishop to be detained after Alvarez's detention in 2022.

Many of the latest clergymen detained were arrested because they publicly offered prayers for Alvarez, according to the source and local media, but the government has not issued any statements explaining the priests' alleged crimes.

Nicaraguan Bishop Silvio Baez, who has been living in exile in Florida since 2019 and is the second-ranking leader of the archdiocese, called for the priests to be released.

"I ask God to protect them and that they be freed immediately!" wrote in a post on X on Thursday.

According to exiled Nicaraguan researcher Martha Patricia Molina, who publishes records of what she describes as the persecution of the Catholic Church under Ortega, the number of bishops, priests and seminarians behind bars in the country currently stands at nine.

(Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by David Alire Garcia and Miral Fahmy)
(Reuters) -Russia's Defence Ministry said its anti-aircraft units had destroyed 13 Ukrainian rockets over the southern Belgorod region on Friday and the regional governor said one person had been killed and four injured in the incidents.

A ministry statement said units in Belgorod region had thwarted "an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack", with 13 rockets taken down.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region on the Ukrainian border, said a man had been killed when a house was struck.

Four people were being treated for injuries. Ten private homes sustained damage and the water supply in the city of Belgorod was disrupted, Gladkov said.

The Ukrainian armed forces posted video on Telegram of what they said was the sky above Belgorod, showing at least one building on fire.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported 32 drones were shot down over the Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk and Moscow regions overnight. The ministry did not provide any information on damage or casualties.

On Saturday morning, the governor of the Bryansk region, also adjoining Ukraine, said a child had been killed in strikes on "civilian objects" in two villages. Alexander Bogomaz did not specify when the attacks took place.

The Russian military also said it had destroyed a Ukrainian maritime drone moving towards the Crimean peninsula.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar;Additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov;Editing by Leslie Adler, David Gregorio, Sharon Singleton and Kevin Liffey)
A general view of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo

By Wendell Roelf and Toby Sterling

AMSTERDAM/CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -South Africa asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday for an urgent order declaring that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in its crackdown against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

The ICJ, sometimes known as the World Court, is the United Nations venue for resolving disputes between states. Israel's foreign ministry said in a reaction that the suit was "baseless."

South Africa's filing alleged Israel was violating its obligations under the treaty, drafted in the wake of the Holocaust, which makes it a crime to attempt to destroy a people in whole or in part.

It asked the court to issue provisional, or short-term, measures ordering Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza, which it said were "necessary in this case to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people."

No date has been set for a hearing.

While the ICJ in The Hague is considered the U.N.'s highest court, its rulings are sometimes ignored. In March 2022 the court ordered Russia to immediately halt its military campaign in Ukraine.

ISRAEL REJECTS FILING

War began on Oct. 7 when militants of the Islamist group Hamas killed 1,200 people in a cross-border attack on Israel and seized 240 hostages by Israel's count. Israel responded with an assault on Hamas-ruled Gaza, killing more than 21,000 people, Palestinian health officials say.

In a first response to South Africa's suit, Israel's foreign ministry blamed Hamas for the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by using them as human shields and stealing humanitarian aid from them, accusations Hamas denies.

"Israel has made it clear that the residents of the Gaza Strip are not the enemy, and is making every effort to limit harm to the non-involved," the ministry statement said.

Palestine, whose statehood is contested but is seen by the court as having "observer state" status, said it welcomed South Africa's suit.

"The court must immediately take action to protect the Palestinian people and call on Israel, the occupying power, to halt its onslaught," the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The court application is the latest move by South Africa, a critic of Israel's war, to ratchet up pressure after its lawmakers last month voted in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending diplomatic relations.

In a statement from South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the government said the application against Israel was filed on Friday.

"Israel, since 7 October 2023 in particular, has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute the direct and public incitement to genocide," DIRCO said in a statement.

South Africa has backed the Palestinian cause for statehood in Israeli-occupied territories for decades, likening the plight of Palestinians to those of the Black majority in South Africa during the repressive apartheid era, a comparison that Israel vehemently denies.

A different court in The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC), is separately investigating alleged atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, but has not named any suspects. Israel is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Wendell Roelf in Cape Town; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Susan Fenton, Howard Goller and Leslie Adler)
By John Shiffman and Joshua Schneyer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Last year, a veteran Silicon Valley software executive took the helm of a startup in his native China, company records show. The startup told potential investors it would sell microchip design software that is mostly available from just a handful of large Western companies.

The coveted and highly specialized software tool, known by its initials of OPC, is used in the design of many microchips and is crucial to the design of advanced chips.

The production of advanced chips is one of the most contentious technological struggles now dividing the United States and China as they vie for economic and military supremacy. Washington is trying to curb China's access to sensitive microchip design tools.

The strategy behind the startup, dubbed SEIDA, shows why that containment effort is so challenging.

Before becoming chief executive of SEIDA, Liguo "Recoo" Zhang had lived in the United States long enough to secure permanent residency and purchase a Silicon Valley home, according to people familiar with his career and public records reviewed by Reuters.

He was employed by Siemens EDA, a U.S. unit of German industrial giant Siemens AG that dominates the market in China for the very technology SEIDA told investors it planned to sell there. At least three other Chinese-born colleagues from Siemens EDA joined Zhang at SEIDA.

In a 2022 business-plan presentation prepared for investors, SEIDA called OPC "indispensable technology" and said it would offer the tool by early 2024. A Chinese version of the product, SEIDA said, would "break through the foreign monopoly," helping China become self-reliant in chip technology. SEIDA's ultimate goal, according to one slide: "Become OPC leader in the world."

The pitch attracted powerful Chinese investors.

One backer, recent corporate filings reviewed by Reuters show, is an investment arm of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, or SMIC. The state-backed, Shanghai-based company is China's leading maker of microchips. U.S. companies are restricted by Washington from providing technology to SMIC without a special license because its alleged work with China's military is considered a threat to American national security.

SMIC didn't respond to Reuters' requests for comment about the investment or the U.S. restrictions.

On a recent visit to SEIDA's headquarters in Hangzhou, in eastern China, a receptionist told Reuters that Zhang wasn't available for an interview. In an email after the visit, Peilun "Allen" Chang, SEIDA's chief operating officer, said the prospectus reviewed by Reuters is "obsolete."

The company's objectives have evolved, he wrote, adding that its backers are primarily "private institutions and individuals." Chang declined to specify how much capital SEIDA has raised or what products it now aims to pursue, saying its business plan remains "under continuous evaluation."

Siemens EDA, in a statement, confirmed Zhang's departure and that of three other colleagues. The company said it considers SEIDA "a potential competitor" but declined to comment further.

Reuters couldn't determine whether SEIDA has progressed toward selling OPC, short for optical proximity correction. The software is commonly employed for the design of many microchips and is part of a broader set of technologies known as electronic design automation, or EDA. The tools can help design chips that could advance strategic new technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and hypersonic flight.

Since SEIDA's launch in October 2021, the U.S. government has increased efforts to curb China's access to EDA tools, developed and sold mostly by American companies.

Through export controls and other restrictions, Washington aims to prevent China from obtaining know-how that could allow it to match microchip advances by the United States and its allies, including Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed by China and the world's leading chip manufacturer.

In email exchanges with Reuters, Chang said U.S. restrictions were one of the reasons Zhang and his colleagues left Siemens EDA for SEIDA to begin with. The restrictions, he wrote, limited their business opportunities at Siemens EDA, "diminishing scope for career advancement and involvement in key projects."

SEIDA adheres to U.S. and Chinese rules, Chang added.

Neither SEIDA nor its executives have been accused of wrongdoing. And Reuters has no evidence SEIDA is using knowledge or technology that could be considered proprietary by Siemens EDA or others. Chang said SEIDA has "a stringent vetting processensuring no infringement upon the intellectual property of others."

Experts in the sector, and people familiar with efforts by Beijing to outmaneuver U.S. curbs on technology transfer, say SEIDA's launch follows a pattern of Chinese companies building upon foreign know-how. Even if the SEIDA executives didn't take property from their previous employer, the technologies involved are so complex that only years of experience with existing purveyors would allow them to offer similar products.

"Developing OPC from scratch without access to any existing intellectual property would be challenging in this timeframe, to say the least," said Jan-Peter Kleinhans, director of technology and geopolitics at Stiftung Neue Verantwortung, a Berlin think tank where he has researched China's market for EDA tools.

The story of SEIDA, which hasn't been previously reported, illustrates the challenges the West faces in thwarting Chinese development of advanced microchip technology. Despite Washington's efforts to slow China's acquisition of chip technology, Beijing is rushing to foster domestic development, attract expert expatriates to come home and overcome its lag in the sector.

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said in a statement that the United States "abuses export control measures" and "applies illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction to Chinese companies."

China, the spokesperson added, has adopted laws to protect intellectual property and "complies with internationally accepted rules." Technological advances in China, the statement continued, "are not the result of theft, nor of robbery, but are the result of Chinese people's ingenuity and hard work."

American officials have repeatedly said that Chinese efforts to secure Western technology pose one of the biggest long-term threats to the economy and security of the United States. They have expressed particular concern about China's ability to employ advanced chips, and the powerful processors they enable, for its fast-growing military.

"At no point have export controls been more central to our national security," Matthew Axelrod, assistant U.S. commerce secretary for export enforcement, said at a Congressional hearing in Washington this month.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said such concerns reflect "a Cold War and hegemonic mentality."

While export rules may delay Beijing's progress, industry experts say, they are unlikely to stunt China's development of chip technology. "The U.S. is lying across the tracks in an effort to stop the Chinese, but it is just going to become a speed bump," said Michael Bruck, a former general manager in China for chipmaker Intel Corp. "It will push China to be more independent."

China's government has made its drive for more sophisticated chips a centerpiece of its strategic plans.

Last year, after Washington announced new restrictions, Beijing said the government would spend $143 billion to spur China's domestic chip sector. Through a separate program known as "Thousand Talents," the government offers employment, housing, and other incentives for Chinese experts who return from science and tech jobs abroad.

The program, in existence for more than a decade, has been criticized by Washington because it is viewed by some as a mechanism for China to illegally obtain intellectual property from abroad.

Last May, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a California-based software engineer on trade secrets charges. In an FBI affidavit related to the case, investigators said the engineer, Liming Li, had stolen millions of files from two unidentified U.S. employers.

One of the employers, the affidavit shows, found a folder on Li's laptop containing documents related to "Thousand Talents." The pilfered company files, the FBI alleged, included unspecified materials related to "national security, nuclear nonproliferation and anti-terrorism."

Li has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Daniel Olmos, declined to comment.

Reuters this year has chronicled the race between the West and China for dominance in sectors ranging from killer robots to undersea cables to encryption of digital communications. The struggle for primacy in chipmaking will help determine who triumphs in these technologies and others that will become available once faster processors are developed to enable them.

"THE LIMITS OF PHYSICS"

Since the 1950s, America's pioneering of chip technology played a major role in the country's creation of the world's largest economy, powerful high-tech and financial sectors, and a thus-far unparalleled military. But China's fast economic growth, and its stated ambition to assert its place as a global power, is now challenging that dominance.

In the Cold War, Washington blocked exports of some raw materials that Eastern Bloc countries could have used to develop weaponry. At the time, such measures succeeded because countries behind the Iron Curtain were already economically isolated.

Now, though, globalization has made most industries far more interconnected. Semiconductors, an approximately $600 billion a year business, are no exception. From raw materials to design to assembly, chips are a global industry.

"The United States is not going to be able to cut the Chinese off like we did the Soviets," said James Andrew Lewis, director of the strategic technologies program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, or CSIS, a Washington think tank.

An ambition both countries share is self-reliance in the manufacture of advanced microchips.

Although the United States still leads in many of the technologies needed to design chips, most of the actual printing and assembly happens in Asia. The United States relies heavily on South Korea for memory chips and Taiwan for logic chips. Memory chips store and retrieve information and logic chips process data and execute instructions.

Last year, the United States approved nearly $53 billion for "CHIPS for America," a program, administered by the Commerce Department, that offers financial incentives to companies that can increase domestic production. Recipients of the incentives are restricted from sharing sensitive technologies with China and other countries not allied with the United States.

Among the challenges for China to create more advanced chips is access to EDA tools, such as the OPC software touted by SEIDA in early marketing.

Producing the fastest, most capable chips and circuit boards involves designing and printing them with billions of ever-smaller transistors. To achieve such microscopic connections, EDA helps lay out and verify the design of these circuits and simulate how they'll perform under real-world conditions.

But EDA tools require intense processing power.

So specialized is the technology that some advances are marketed as scientific breakthroughs. NVIDIA Corp, the California-based company that is the leading supplier of chips for artificial intelligence, in March said recent advances in OPC technology would help it push the semiconductor industry "to the limits of physics."

Despite U.S. export controls, China is making advances.

In 2019, the Commerce Department placed Huawei Technologies Co, the Chinese telecommunications giant, on its list of companies that can't buy U.S. technologies unless the vendor obtains a special license. As with SMIC, blacklisted by the department a year later, the U.S. cited national security concerns.

"Our export controls on China are designed to massively slow down technology acquisition," Thea D. Rozman Kendler, assistant commerce secretary for export administration, said at the recent Congressional hearing.

Still, Huawei in August introduced a new 5G smartphone with a sophisticated, seven-nanometer chip manufactured by SMIC. The phone, unveiled while U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was visiting China, was announced to great fanfare. The Commerce Department later said it is investigating whether the two companies relied on restricted U.S. technologies to develop the chip.

Huawei declined to comment.

Proving the source of some technologies can be challenging.

Many semiconductor advances build upon existing intellectual property. And the turnover of personnel within the industry, especially across international borders, can make it difficult to investigate export violations or pursue claims of intellectual property theft. "You can't really control what's in people's brains with any export controls," said Lewis of CSIS.

Alon Raphael, chief executive of a California company that sells a tool to detect semiconductor defects, said he learned that lesson the hard way. Until 2020, he said, FemtoMetrix Inc, was the sole supplier of the technology, which it spent a decade developing.

But late that year, Raphael said, Chongji Huang, a key employee, resigned and emerged later in China with a Shanghai-based startup that offers a similar product. "I had heard these kinds of stories," Raphael told Reuters, "but I said to myself, 'No, not that guy, he's my friend.'"

Late last year, FemtoMetrix filed suit in California against the startup. Robert Shwarts, an attorney representing Huang and his startup, Weichong Semiconductor Group, told Reuters that neither Huang nor the startup took anything from FemtoMetrix, nor did they violate any trade secrets.

"ENABLE CHIP SUCCESS"

SEIDA, the startup managed by Siemens EDA veterans, is one of many Chinese tech startups founded in recent years to meet Beijings call for a stronger domestic semiconductor industry.

The proliferation can be hard to track.

Recent changes to Chinese regulations restrict access to company registries. Reuters couldn't determine whether China's government had any role in SEIDA's launch or whether Zhang, the chief executive, or his colleagues received any state incentives to leave Siemens EDA and work there.

Reporters reviewed some of SEIDA's corporate filings with the help of two companies that collect and analyze Chinese business records  Datenna, of the Netherlands, and Global Data Risk, based in New York. Combined with interviews and public records, the filings, dating back to October 2021, enabled Reuters to piece together some of SEIDA's history so far.

SEIDA, the filings show, is majority-owned by partnerships now controlled by Zhang and some of the former Siemens EDA colleagues who joined him. It isn't clear when those partnerships were established or by whom. Records show the partnerships invested in SEIDA in November 2021  weeks after the startup's launch and before Zhang left Siemens EDA.

Zhang's path toward SEIDA began at Mentor Graphics Corp, the predecessor company to Siemens EDA, acquired by Munich-based Siemens in 2017. Mentor, started in Oregon in 1981, was an early innovator of EDA and eventually became one of three U.S. companies that sell most of the software worldwide. By the time of its acquisition, Mentor boasted annual revenues of $1.2 billion.

With a masters degree in microelectronics from a Shanghai university, Zhang worked for more than a decade at Mentor and Siemens EDA, according to SEIDAs 2022 presentation to investors. Before joining the startup, he was a Siemens EDA product director.

Zhang is now 44 years old, according to U.S. and Chinese records. He became chief executive of SEIDA in July 2022, according to the SEIDA filings.

Reuters found that at least three other Chinese-born colleagues who joined Zhang were also longtime employees of Siemens EDA. Two of them, Zhitang "Tim" Yu and Yun Fei "Jack" Deng, earned doctorates from U.S. universities, academic records show. Born in China, Yu is also an American citizen, according to U.S. records. Deng, also born in China, obtained legal permanent resident status in the United States.

SEIDA declined to make Deng or Yu available for interviews.

Under the new export restrictions, U.S. citizens and permanent residents can face penalties if they help Chinese companies develop or manufacture advanced chips without a license. Those penalties can include citations, fines or prison time, depending on the violation.

Chang, the chief operating officer, said by email: "We continuously monitor both emerging and existing regulations to ensure our operations align with applicable legal standards."

As they sought investors last year, SEIDA executives aimed high. In the 2022 slideshow, they projected the company could be worth as much as 700 million yuan, or $99 million, by the end of last year. By 2026, they said, SEIDA hoped to sell shares to the public.

Their efforts attracted at least one important backer.

In June 2023, SEIDA received undisclosed funding from China Fortune-Tech Capital Co, or CFTC, an investment vehicle owned by chipmaker SMIC, according to records compiled by Datenna and PitchBook Data Inc, a U.S.-based corporate research company. CFTC didn't respond to requests for comment.

SEIDA continues to secure investors. This month, according to its corporate filings, five more investors, including four Chinese venture capital firms, acquired stakes in the company.

Chang wouldn't say if the ongoing review of SEIDA's business plan means a departure from its early marketing of OPC. "Due to the confidential nature of our business strategies, specific details of our current and future plans cannot be disclosed," Chang wrote.

During Reuters' visit to SEIDA headquarters, the reception desk bore the same branding as the early fundraising presentation. The SEIDA name, according to the slideshow, is an acronym for "Semiconductor Intelligent Design Automation." Its slogan, in the branding and on SEIDA's website, translates to "enable chip success."

(This story has been refiled to remove duplicate dateline)

(Additional reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai, David Lague in Hong Kong, and Michael Martina in Washington. Editing by Paulo Prada.)
Smoke rises over Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, December 29, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

By Saleh Salem and Bassam Masoud

GAZA (Reuters) -Three Palestinian brothers rounded up by Israel in the Gaza Strip said they and fellow detainees were beaten, stripped to their underwear, burnt with cigarettes and subjected to other forms of mistreatment during their detention.

Sobhi Yaseen, his brothers Sady and Ibrahim were among dozens of Palestinian men sheltering in a school in Rafah in southern Gaza who spoke to Reuters about their treatment at the hands of Israeli soldiers.

Reuters could not independently confirm their accounts, which were consistent with descriptions from more than 20 other former detainees who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson's office said in a written response that the Israeli military was operating "to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities" and rescue hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group.

Detainees were treated in accordance with international law, and were often required to hand over clothes to ensure they were not carrying weapons or explosives, the office said.

The Yaseen brothers said they had been taken from their homes in the north of the enclave, separated from their families and held for up to two weeks at unknown locations including a military barracks or camp.

Sobhi said he and his brothers were detained in early December after the Israeli military encircled the area where they lived and worked as day labourers in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood.

He said four people beat him after he was unable to climb onto a truck due to a leg injury sustained before his arrest, and that he was then taken to an open area where captors were "smoking and putting out cigarettes on our backs, spraying sand and water on us, urinating on us".

His brothers Sady and Ibrahim gave similar accounts of mistreatment at the hands of Israeli soldiers. Reuters could not independently confirm their accounts.

TREATMENT OF CIVILIANS

Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a shock cross-border incursion by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 that Israel says left 1,200 dead. More than 21,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli campaign, according to authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory.

The U.N. human rights office (OHCHR) said on Dec. 16 that it had received numerous reports of mass detentions, ill-treatment and enforced disappearance of Palestinians in northern Gaza by the Israeli military.

International humanitarian law requires that civilians only be detained for imperative security reasons, and torture and other ill-treatment of detainees is strictly prohibited, OHCHR said.

Images of detainees stripped to their underwear in Gaza earlier this month triggered outrage from Palestinian, Arab and Muslim officials.

U.N. rights chief Volker Turk has said Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, its holding of hostages, and Israel's "collective punishment" and "unlawful forcible evacuation" of civilians, all constitute war crimes.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has since 2021 been investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territories, has called on Israel and Hamas to respect the international rules of war.

The ICC prosecutor's office said it was using all available means to ensure accountability for alleged crimes committed in the Palestinian territories including Gaza, but could not comment on specific allegations.

SCARS

The Yaseen brothers sheltering at Rafah said the Israeli military had not made specific accusations against them. They were rounded up together, then separated, as part of group arrests carried out by Israel's military in areas that it advances into.

Sady said he was placed with other detainees in a truck containing garbage.

"They were beating us, and anyone who raised their voice after the beating was beaten again. They searched us, took our IDs, money, and phones," he said, speaking among a group of about 20 men in a tent at the Rafah school, most wearing grey tracksuits issued by the Israeli military.

Some showed large scabs and raw skin on their wrists where they said their hands had been bound or cuffed, and one showed bruised streaks and a round red scar on his back. Another showed a stitched scar on his thigh where he said he had been beaten.

The third Yaseen brother, Ibrahim, described having his hands bound and being blindfolded as he was held for interrogation.

"They didn't let us sleep. We stood for hours, as punishment," he said.

Captors insulted the prisoners while banning them from talking to each other or praying, Ibrahim said. "Then there would be five soldiers who would hit you alternately in the head and body," he added, saying he had been beaten in the ribs and rolling up his sleeves to show circular scars and scabs from where his wrists were bound.

The Israeli military dropped the brothers off at different times at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, as it has done with other batches of men detained during its ground operation but no longer suspected of links to Hamas.

From there they said they walked several kilometres to Rafah, where they relocated each other among the hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and are now living in overcrowded buildings and tents.

(Reporting by Saleh Salem and Bassam Masoud; Additional reporting by James Mackenzie;Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Jon Boyle and Diane Craft)
(Reuters) - The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv came under a Russian missile attack on Friday morning, Mayor Ihor Terehov said, with at least six blasts registered.

At the same time, air defences were active in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv as it came under the attack of Russian drones, regional governor, Maksym Kozytskyi, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Tom Hogue)
People inspect cars destroyed during a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 29, 2023. REUTERS/Vladyslav Musiienko

By Simon Lewis

(Reuters) -Russia drew sharp criticism at the UN Security Council on Friday for launching massive missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, after Kyiv and its supporters called for an urgent meeting of the 15-member body to address the strikes.

Russian strikes across Ukraine on Friday killed 31 civilians and wounded more than 160 others in the biggest aerial attacks since the start of the war in February 2022, according to officials, and Poland said a Russian missile appeared to have flown into its airspace before returning to Ukraine.

"Tragically, 2023 is ending as it began  with devastating violence against the people of Ukraine," UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said after briefing the council on the attacks.

"Once again, Ukrainians are forced to spend the holidays seeking shelter, clearing the rubble, and burying the dead, amidst freezing temperatures," he added.

Most council members, including the United States, France and Britain, condemned the attacks on Ukraine.

"Rather than peace, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin chose to mark this holiday season and usher in the New Year with an unprecedented number of drone and missile strikes against another UN member state," said U.S. Minister-Counselor John Kelley.

China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, did not condemn the attacks and called for a "political solution" to the war in Ukraine.

Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said in a lengthy response that Russia had launched attacks only on military infrastructure in Ukraine and that Ukraine's air defense systems were responsible for civilian casualties.

Britain's ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward responded that Russia's actions were the sole cause of the tragedy in Ukraine.

"The rest is a torrent of lies and disinformation," Woodward said of Nebenzya's remarks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attacks by Russia on Ukraine, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable and must end immediately," Dujarric said.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Ronald Popeski; Editing by Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

December, 2023

Commission File Number 1-15182

DR. REDDYS LABORATORIES LIMITED

(Translation of registrants name into English)

8-2-337, Road No. 3, Banjara Hills

Hyderabad, Telangana 500 034, India

+91-40-49002900

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F x Form 40-F 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ______

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrants home country), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrants securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrants security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes  No x

If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________.

EXHIBITS

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

DR. REDDYS LABORATORIES LIMITED (Registrant) Date: December 29, 2023 By: /s/ K Randhir Singh Name: K Randhir Singh Title: Company Secretary

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1
A U.S. Navy diver jumps from the USNS Salvor during the ongoing CV-22 Osprey recovery efforts off the coast of Yakushima, Japan, on Dec. 27, 2023. (Chelsea Meiller/U.S. Navy)

U.S. and Japanese crews continue to search for the remains of the last crew member killed when an Air Force CV-22B Osprey crashed off the coast of southwestern Japan last month, the Air Force said recently.

Divers searched the waters around Yakushima, an island just south of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands, for the remains of Maj. Eric Spendlove, 36, of St. George, Utah, Air Force Special Operations Command said in a Facebook post Wednesday.

Locating and recovering our eighth Airman remains the primary effort, the command wrote.

Salvage teams meanwhile are working to recover the tiltrotor aircraft, according to several Air Force Special Operations Command news releases.

A Navy rescue and salvage ship, the USNS Salvor, joined the search Dec. 23, and its crew is coordinating with teams from the Japan Coast Guard, Japan Self-Defense Force, local law enforcement, volunteers and other U.S. military assets, the command announced in a news release that day.

The salvage ship USNS Salvor on Dec. 23, 2023, joined the search and recovery efforts for the Air Force CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor that crashed off the coast of southwestern Japan on Nov. 29. (Chelsea Meiller/U.S. Navy) U.S. Navy sailors make pre-dive checks onboard the salvage ship USNS Salvor during the ongoing CV-22B Osprey recovery efforts off Yakushima, Japan, Dec. 27, 2023. (Chelsea Meiller/U.S. Navy)

More than 1,000 military and law enforcement personnel and over 100 civilians had joined the search as of Dec. 12. The teams by Dec. 8 had searched the entirety of Yakushimas 55-mile coastline and more than 31,000 square miles of the surrounding ocean surface, Air Force Special Operations Command said Dec. 12.

At least 46 U.S. and Japanese aircraft, 11 aerial drones and 23 ships have participated in the search, while 10 underwater unmanned vessels and more than 50 divers have searched the ocean floor, the command said.

The Osprey, which operated under the callsign Gundam 22, crashed off the coast of Yakushima on Nov. 29 during a routine training mission.

The aircraft was assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and had departed Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima that day. It was en route to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but preliminary findings determined it was likely an equipment failure rather than human error.

The body of Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Mass., was found within hours of the crash alongside an empty life raft and wreckage from the aircraft.

The remains of five more were discovered on Dec. 4 along with the aircrafts fuselage about 100 feet below the oceans surface.

Two were identified Dec. 5 as Maj. Luke Unrath, 34, of Riverside, Calif., and Tech Sgt. Zachary Lavoy, 33, of Oviedo, Fla.

Three more were identified Dec. 6 as Capt. Terrell Brayman, 32, of Pittsford, N.Y.; Staff Sgt. Jake Turnage, 25, of Kennesaw, Ga.; and Senior Airman Brian Johnson, 32, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

The Secretary of the Air Force posthumously promoted Brayman to major with an effective date of Dec. 15, Air Force Special Operations Command said in a Dec. 13 news release.

The body of the seventh crewmember, Maj. Jeff Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minn., was discovered Dec. 10 and publicly identified on Dec. 11 after his family was notified.

Following the crash, the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps grounded their Ospreys under a service-wide operational stand down until the investigation determines the cause of the crash and recommendations are made to return the aircraft to service.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 29. Kazakhstan has put into operation 16 renewable energy facilities in 2023, Trend reports.

According to the official data, the total capacity of 16 renewable energy facilities amounted to 495.6 MW, the volume of investments was $450 million.

Moreover, Kazakhstan is taking consistent steps towards the development of this field in the country.

Thus, a 5-year auction schedule for the construction of renewable energy facilities with a total capacity of 6.7 GW until 2027 was approved in the country.

This will allow attracting investment into this industry and increase the production of environmentally friendly energy in the country in the coming years.

In addition, in 2023, a number of agreements were signed with foreign investors on the implementation of new large-scale projects in the field of renewable energy sources.

Thus, it is planned to build three wind power plants with a total capacity of 3 GW together with the UAE, Total Energies and China Power International Holding.

Meanwhile, by the end of 2022, there are 130 renewable energy facilities operating in Kazakhstan with an installed capacity of 2,400 MW (46 WPPs  958 MW; 44 SPPs  1148 MW; 37 HPPs  280 MW; 3 BioPPs  1.77 MW).

At the end of 2022, the volume of renewable energy production amounted to 5.11 billion kWh (wind farm - 2.4 billion kWh; solar power plant - 1.76 billion kWh; hydroelectric power station - 934 million kWh;) or 4.53 percent of the total volume of electrical energy production. In 2023, this figure will reach 5 percent.

Last year, 12 renewable energy facilities were commissioned with a total capacity of 385 MW with a total investment of 180 billion tenge (about $374 million).
Petty Officer 1st Class Cayla George, assigned to the Naval Air Station Sigonella public works department, receives the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association's 2023 Everyday Hero Award from Senior Chief Petty Officer Marc Comaduran at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Miss., on Nov. 16, 2023. The award was created to recognize Seabees for heroic actions, on or off duty. (James Hong/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy  A Navy Seabee whose quick thinking helped prevent a suicide earlier this year is ensuring that more sailors have the assistance they need to navigate the rigors of life in the service.

Petty Officer First Class Cayla George this year helped establish an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily. That effort followed a February episode in which a co-worker tried to end their life.

Georges reaction to a phone call from a number she didnt recognize is credited with initiating a team response that saved the sailors life, the Navy said in a statement.

The caller said the service member was in their barracks room attempting suicide, George said Dec. 19.

With the person still on the phone, George texted base duty personnel to alert them. After hanging up, she made calls that reached security and first responders, who were able to get to the service member in time, George said.

I was very, very thankful I was able to answer the phone, take it seriously and be able to immediately offer some aid and start the process of getting the service member some help, George said.

The sailor had given the caller Georges cellphone number as someone on base to contact. Previously, George had spent time with the sailor after noticing they were having trouble sleeping and potentially feeling alone and homesick. Those problems could be indicators a person may need help, she said.

After spending a day with the sailor, George thought they would be OK. It seemed the sailor was just going through typical stress and needed more interaction with people who cared about them, she said.

But the attempted suicide just goes to show that, sometimes, we dont know, George said.

Sometimes, we just have to be very, very aware and be ready to help one another if it comes up, she said.

For her actions, George received the Seabee Heritage Commands 2023 Everyday Hero Award during a ceremony at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Miss., on Nov. 16.

The Seabee Heritage Commands Everyday Hero Award recognizes sailors in the Seabee community for their heroic actions. The 2023 award was given to Petty Officer First Class Cayla George for her efforts to help a sailor trying to end their life. George, a Seabee assigned to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, was recognized during a ceremony at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Miss., on Nov. 16. (James Hong/U.S. Navy)

A facilities management specialist who has served in the Navy for nearly nine years, George has been assigned to Sigonella since 2022. She is responsible for 81 facilities and 22 tenant commands at the base, according to the Navy.

She also is the team lead in her department for a Navy program that works to help sailors better overcome stress and problems in life. And George is the assistant drug and alcohol program adviser, she said.

As a volunteer, George was part of a group at NAS Sigonella that reestablished memorial crosses for service members killed in traffic accidents near the base in November, and she is the general service representative for the base AA chapter.

In the wake of the suicide attempt, George coordinated training to help public works department colleagues who might be contemplating suicide and ensured others struggling with the news that a fellow sailor had tried to end their life got help, according to the Navys statement.

Georges commitment to helping other sailors, especially those new in the service, is rooted in her first years in the Navy, she said.

She remembers tough deployments to Djibouti and Somalia. There were few conversations and resources to help her prepare for and cope with stress and exhaustion.

Limited help, such as brief conversations about stress and suggestions to talk about it with a chaplain, came only after a stressful situation. More guidance and resources were needed to help her be a stronger sailor, George said.

That would go for all of our junior sailors, she said. The more resources we have, the stronger were going to be as a team and as a Navy.

Suicides among sailors have been on the rise since 2006, according to the Navys website.

In 2022, 71 active-duty sailors killed themselves, a rate of 20.6 per 100,000, according to the Defense Departments annual report on suicide in the military.

The most current data on the Navys website indicates that as of Aug. 9, 41 active-duty sailors had taken their own lives.

The Navy isnt the only branch grappling with suicide. Last year, 331 active-duty service members militarywide died by suicide, a rate of 25.1 per 100,000, according to the DOD report.

George said the service member she helped has returned to the U.S. She hasnt spoken with them but has learned they are doing well.

It was good to know that one (potential loss) went the other way, she said.
USS Bataan and USNS Medgar Evers conduct a replenishment in the Mediterranean Sea on Aug. 4, 2023. Along with the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall, Bataan is in the eastern Mediterranean to reintegrate the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, the Navy said Thursday. (Alisha Gleason/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy  A U.S. amphibious ready group sent to counter Iranian interference with commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf recently left the Middle East after nearly five months in the region.

The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall, along with embarked elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa said in a statement the same day.

There they will join the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde, reintegrating the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, the Navy said.

The group, which includes more than 3,000 sailors and Marines, arrived in the Middle East on Aug. 6. The Pentagons deployment of additional forces to the region came after Iran tried to seize two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in early July.

The attempts, during which Iranian naval forces fired on one of the ships, were the latest in a string of actions by Tehran to harass oil tankers. At the time, the Navy said Iran had harassed, attacked or seized 20 commercial ships since 2021.

In other U.S. Navy activity in the Mediterranean, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived Tuesday for another port call at U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, according to a post on the bases official Facebook page.

Ford, which left its homeport in Norfolk, Va., on May 2, has been on duty in the region for nearly eight months. It last visited the base earlier this month.

The carriers deployment was extended for a third time earlier this month, part of U.S. efforts to keep the Israel-Hamas war from broadening.

The cruiser USS Normandy, part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, made its second port call this month in Piraeus, Greece, also on Tuesday. The ship last visited the port Dec. 3, the Navy said in a statement the same day.
Fadil Muqollis home, where 53 people, including his wife and children, were killed by grenades and bullets. (Diana Markosian for The Washington Post)

POKLEK, Kosovo - Fadil Muqolli has spent more than two decades trying to rebuild his life. He remarried, raised two sons. My new family, he calls them. But there is no escaping his past when he lives a short walk from its charred remains.

Across the former Yugoslavia, poignant museums commemorate the wars sparked during the splintering of the six republics and two autonomous regions once held together by a fragile socialist bond. Bosnia has at least five museums about the war; Croatia has three. Serbia has one. Kosovo has none.

Earlier this year, nearly 25 years after war ended, the Ministry of Culture announced plans to develop one. For now, the history is preserved in privately-owned sites, like the ruins of the home where Muqollis first family once lived. As memories fade, evidence of the war has survived only because Muqolli and other Kosovars safeguard it.

The night of April 16, 1999, plays over and over in Muqollis head.

At the time, Kosovo was a province of Serbia, with an ethnic Albanian majority and Serbian minority. When Albanian Kosovars launched a rebellion in 1998, the Serbian military and ethnic Serbian police officers carried out massacres that left some 13,500 people dead or missing.

That night, Muqollis parents, siblings, wife and four children had gathered for safety in the house that his father built in the village of Poklek. Muqolli left the forest where his unit of guerrilla soldiers was fighting to visit. They ate and talked until 2 a.m., when he stealthily returned to his position.

The next day, 53 people staying in the house were killed by grenades and bullets fired by uniformed policemen, witnesses later recounted. The structure was set on fire, and most of the bodies were reduced to bone.

Its so painful

Today, Muqolli, a soft-spoken man with cropped gray hair and wide hands, goes to work installing phone and internet lines, and returns each night to his new wife and sons, a few blocks from the shell of his old house.

He never considered tearing it down. For nearly 25 years, he has preserved it as a public memorial to his family and to the war. Walking up a stone path from the roadside, he travels back in time. At the end of the lane, trees sagging with plums nearly hide the tall house. When I come here, he said. I see my family again.

In the room where his family was killed, his voice drops to a whisper. To visit this home is terrible, he said. Its so painful even for a common visitor, let alone me: A father, brother, and son. A belt buckle, a childs shoe, and bullet casings still lie in the rubble.

Once a pizzeria, before 44 people were herded inside, shot, and burned. In 2023, a donation allowed Hysni Berisha to encase the bullet-scarred walls in glass and build an elevated walkway over the rubble-strewn floor. (Diana Markosian for The Washington Post)

The responsibility of tour guide and caretaker makes him ill, he said. He has trouble sleeping. His thoughts are dark and depressed. But if he does not do it, no one else will. My childrens bones are here, he said.

Just as Muqolli has reconstructed his life, Kosovo, too, has rebuilt. In 2008, nine years after a NATO bombing campaign ended the war, Kosovo declared its independence. A flood of international aid helped lay its foundation, and construction is everywhere.

Yet reminders of the conflict are unavoidable: War veterans march in the capital every few weeks, ensuring their sacrifices are not forgotten. Granite monuments to fallen soldiers dot cities and the countryside.

Even so, evidence is slipping away. Why is there no museum to the war? said Bekim Blakaj, the executive director of the Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo, which collects documentation of wartime crimes. We will lose the narrative and the memory of what happened.

In the dimly lit National Museum in Pristina, the capital, there is no account of the bloodshed, the destroyed cities, or the refugee crisis that displaced half the country. A rebel leaders burned-out compound is preserved by the government, along with a small museum and a cemetery. But to learn about the civilian toll, a visitor must seek out Muqolli and the few others who have saved their own small pieces of the war.

Proof, evidence, testimony

In the small city of Gjakova, known for its dervishes of Islams mystical Sufi order, sits Kosovos most famous private museum: the Qerkezi house, a neat, two-story home adorned with a red-and-black Albanian flag.

Ferdonije Qerkezi lives alone now, but she once shared this home with her husband, their four sons, and two daughters-in-law. She slowly climbs the stairs to her sons bedrooms, where their beds, clothes, toys, and photographs are wrapped in plastic. Matching tuxedos hang in the wardrobe; her husband, a tailor, made them for their sons joint wedding.

Qerkezi sits heavily on a beige couch and launches into a history she has spent more than two decades reciting to visitors. It never gets easier.

Its beyond words to describe the pain and deep sadness of telling the story of how your family was taken away and murdered, she said, her breathing labored. I dont know if there are words.

On April 27, 1999, a Serb police officer came to Qerkezis house and took her husband and sons - the youngest was 14 - for questioning. Qerkezi waited for her familys return and did not change a thing in the house. Every night, for the first two years after the war ended, she set a dinner table for six.

Word of her vigil spread and visitors began to come. Aid workers, dignitaries, even presidents.

Images of Fadil Muqollis family are preserved in their home, where 53 people were killed on April 17, 1999. For the past 24 years, Muqolli has preserved the house as a memorial to his family and to the war thats open to the public. (Diana Markosian for The Washington Post)

In 2005, the bodies of her youngest and oldest sons were found in a mass grave in Serbia; her husband and other sons are still missing.

In 2008, the house was declared a museum by the municipality, but aside from free utilities and donated glass cabinets, Qerkezi gets no assistance. Asked why there is no war museum in Kosovo, she grew angry. Why didnt I do it on my own? Its just because I cant fit all war crimes in one house, she said. Why didnt the state do it?

At family-run museums across the country, proprietors repeat the same words to describe what theyve preserved: proof, evidence, testimony.

Serbia has long denied wrongdoing and most families still do not know who was responsible for killing their loved ones. Some still hope to achieve justice in court.

Anne Gilliland, a professor at UCLA who has studied private museums across the Balkans, calls them archives. The family members there are living documents themselves, Gilliland said.

For a decade after the war, Kosovo was governed by a United Nations-appointed international coalition. They were not interested in collective memory, said Baki Svirca, a historian who is helping the government create an official narrative of the war. They were much more interested in keeping the status quo and peace.

Svirca has been studying war museums from North Carolina to Israel. He particularly admires how the Jewish community has memorialized the Holocaust, while using it as a tool for education. He hopes one day Kosovars can replicate that model.

Kosovos minister of culture, Hajrulla Ceku, said plans for one or more official museums will be drafted next year to present a comprehensive history of crimes but declined to comment on why previous governments did not start the task.

Disentangling fact from hatred

For now, those stories are being preserved by whatever means possible.

In the small city of Suhareka, a storefront pockmarked with bullet holes and scorch marks sits in a strip mall. The door is locked but there is a phone number posted outside, and soon a lanky, white-haired man appears jangling a key ring.

The man, Hysni Berisha, said this was a pizzeria, where 44 members of his extended family were shot and burned by Serbian forces. Their bodies were later unearthed from a mass grave in Serbia. The owner gave Berisha the shop and he left it as it was. Last year, with a donation from a local energy drink company, he encased the bullet-scarred walls in glass and built an elevated walkway over the rubble-strewn floor.

The shoes of Halim Qerkezi, who was born on March 7, 1946. (Diana Markosian for The Washington Post)

Ive never been interested in keeping this for the state, or the city, or myself, he said. My idea is to keep it for the next generations. Reconciliation might come but this should never be forgotten.

In another country, he said, the site might have become a museum with a memorial park for reflection. Instead, it is squeezed next to a gaming parlor that echoes with clacks from a foosball table.

The bodies of some children killed here were never found, he said. Sometimes they appear in his dreams, asking if anyone is looking for them. I have a lot of voices in my head, he said.

When there is an official war museum in Kosovo, it will struggle to disentangle fact from hatred. Most of the wars victims were ethnic Albanians, but Serbs, Roma, and others also suffered. Just as Serbia largely denies Kosovos accounts of the war, Kosovo often ignores these other victims.

In the basement of a student library in Pristina, a wall is covered with the names of all 1,133 children killed or missing in wartime. Their clothing, toys, and books are displayed in glass cases by the Humanitarian Law Center, which has compiled a file for each victim.

Those stories led to an exhibit called Once Upon a Time and Never Again, which opened in 2019. It was meant to run for a year, but victims families kept visiting, bringing relatives and friends. The staff felt they could not close.

In one glass case are notebooks filled with the neat penmanship of Fadil Muqollis murdered children. Muqollis eldest new son is now 19, part of the first generation to grow up in an independent Kosovo. At times, Muqolli said he feels guilty that he started another family and burdened it with his past.

Recently, the government pledged to renovate his house and hire a docent. His son has begun helping at the museum. He hopes they both can step out from the wars shadow but not forget it.

This house, he said, is a piece of the new history of our country.

Nina Strochlics reporting from Kosovo was funded by the Alicia Patterson Foundation.
Whether reviewing the past year or looking into the next one, focusing on lists can be too restrictive. (iStock)

A few years ago, I was compiling my obligatory best-of list for the year in music when something hit me: This is silly. I had been part of the routine for too long and it wasnt romantic anymore. Why?

A) Most publications set deadlines for these lists at the beginning of November, which means if you release a record in either of the last two months of a calendar year, you probably wont be included. So two out of the years 12 months are ostensibly ignored. It shouldnt be best of the year; it should be best of the year minus 1/6th of the year.

B) Since when do any of these lists matter? I dont know about you, but never, in the history of time, have I said, Gee, I wonder what Rolling Stones No. 1 album of 2007 was, and then furiously searched to find out. Once these things see the light of day, its in one ear, out the other.

C) Theyre mostly all the same. There was a time when if Kanye West put out anything  anything  it was almost a rule that it needed to be in the top five of any reputable music outlet at the end of the year. Ditto for Radiohead. Bjork. The list is a lot longer than most people think. If you didnt include certain artists, you simply didnt have good taste. Its groupthink at its ugliest.

And D) Why should music fans, lovers, writers, admirers or anything else in between have to consider only the last 10 months in music when they think about what they loved most that year in music? You could be 75 years old and magically decide to pick up a Rush album. If you love it, you could spend the next 11 months scouring the bands catalogue and boom: Your year in music could be defined by songs that are half a century old.

Its that last reason why Im writing this. 2023 is over. The year wasnt entirely defined by new music for me, but that doesnt mean it wasnt a fruitful year all the way around.

Sure, there were new releases that I loved  albums by Sampha, Jenny Lewis, Nathaniel Rateliff and Matchbox Twenty (yes, that Matchbox Twenty) kept my attention for as long as theyve been out  but I also took some time to revisit everything from old Phil Collins B-sides to a Chvrches record for which I was far too late to the party.

Then there were the live shows. I saw Peter Gabriel preview his first record in decades live and in color and it very much introduced those songs in a perfect manner for this attendee. Joss Stone blew my mind with a greatest hits set that left no  wait for it  Stone unturned. I wept watching Lyle Lovett perform with the National Symphony Orchestra. I sat in awe as Les Claypool and his buddies performed an entire Pink Floyd album. And then, of course, Matchbox Twenty (yes, again, that Matchbox Twenty).

How about books? Bill Janovitzs Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Times Journey Through Rock & Roll History was a great tribute to one of rocks weirdest minds. Peter Coopers Johnnys Cash and Charlies Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures In Country Music turned out to be one of my favorite books ever  even if it didnt come out in 2023.

My point is, between old music, new music, live shows, reading material and even the marriage of music and film (I maintain that seeing Stop Making Sense in a movie theater is essential for any pop music lover), 2023 was great year in music. Or, well, at least as far as Im concerned. And in no way was that defined only by new releases.

So, as the calendar turns to 2024 and the cycle begins again, new music from new artists on the horizon and old records begging to be found by brand new ears, its only fair that I ask one final question, hopefully putting a bow on the past 12 months for all of us music lovers out there.

How about you?
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro applauds during the arrival of Colombian businessman Alex Saab (out of frame) at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas on Dec. 20, 2023. ()

(Tribune News Service)  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 Defense 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 toward 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 30 millimeter 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.

2023 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Task Force Talon operates out of austere offices at Site Excalibur, Guam, Nov. 30, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

SITE EXCALIBUR, Guam  A former military housing area near the Marine Corps newest base is the most developed of numerous missile-defense facilities in the works to protect Americas westernmost Pacific territory.

The South Finegayan neighborhood, just south of Camp Blaz, has been home to Task Force Talon since September. The unit is part of the Armys 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, headquartered at Sagamihara, Japan.

The battalion-sized unit is made up of 200 soldiers on Guam and 100 operating Japan-based radars. The task force has deployed six Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, launchers, a radar, command and communications gear and dozens of armored vehicles along suburban streets where a few vacant houses still stand amid overgrown fields.

The spot, renamed Site Excalibur, resembles the sort of austere base U.S. troops might occupy in a combat zone, but it is by far the most developed site of numerous missile-defense facilities planned for Guam, Task Force Talon commander Col. Jonathan Stafford told Stars and Stripes at the site Nov. 30.

Responding to threats

The effort to build a 360-degree missile-defense system on Guam is a response to perceived threats from potential adversaries like China and North Korea, including ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles.

The system is expected to be operational by 2027 and comprise up to 20 sites across the island, according to the Missile Defense Agency.

Locations for the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System range from Guams northernmost coastline to the islands relatively remote southern region, according to a fact sheet released by the agency in May.

The systems components  radars, sensors, launchers, interceptors, support facilities and a command-and-control center  would be spread around the island to achieve its 360-degree capability, according to Joint Region Marianas, the installation management command on Guam.

Task Force Talon members Capt. Denise Chargualaf, left, and Capt. Thomas Borgonia show a model of Site Excalibur, Guam, at the facility on Nov. 30. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

Long-term location

At Site Excalibur, soldiers work inside battered shipping containers.

The housing area was closed years ago and left abandoned, Stafford said. We have a number of milcon (military construction) projects being designed to be built here in the coming years. This is going to be the (task forces) long-term location.

A motor pool and a headquarters building are the most needed facilities, said Capt. Riley Campbell, commander of Echo Battery, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which operates the THAAD launchers on Guam.

Our motor pool is just a tarp, she said at the site, gesturing to a vehicle parked under a fabric rain shelter.

A decade ago, the islands missile defense was provided by warships equipped with the Aegis weapon system. THAAD was deployed to Guam in 2013 in response to North Korean ballistic missile tests directed at the island, Stafford said.

At that time, we had just fielded THAAD, he said of the system that uses kinetic energy to destroy an enemy missile far above the ground.

Last year, a THAAD system operated by the United Arab Emirates made its first real-world intercept against an incoming Houthi ballistic missile.

Task Force Talon initially operated from Andersen Air Force Base, east of Blaz. The move to Site Excalibur means soldiers have a lot more space for the missile-defense equipment, Stafford said.

At our old site, we werent able to deploy all our launchers, he said. Here, we can finally deploy all six.

The move means there are fewer issues deconflicting the launchers from aircraft, Stafford said.

Task Force Talon members, from left, Master Sgt. Ayinde Waverly, Master Sgt. Steven Smith and Capt. Riley Campbell and unit commander Lt. Col. Jonathan Stafford stand near a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, launcher at Site Excalibur, Guam, on Nov. 30. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

Familiar turf

Typhoon Mawar, which struck Guam in May, complicated the soldiers move, Stafford said, noting that troops displaced from their homes by the storm continued the missile-defense mission.

Most Task Force Talon soldiers come to Guam on two- to three-year tours. Their security is provided by Guam National Guard troops, he said.

Being from Guam, we know about the local areas, Capt. Denise Chargualaf, who leads the security force at Site Excalibur, said during Stars and Stripes visit.

When I was a teenager, I used to play here with friends, she said of the housing area.

Another guard soldier securing the site, Staff Sgt. Lynn Rengulbai, said she lived there with her family from 1985 to 1989.

The daughter of an Air Force bomb loader, Rengulbai was guarding a checkpoint yards from where her old home stood.

Back then there were a lot of military on Guam, she recalled.

Spc. Christopher Timoteo, another Guam guard member at the site, also has happy memories of playing there with friends and family as a youngster.

Being from the island, its cool how we can visit this site and see how much it has changed, he said.
The environmental assessment of a Marine Corps plan to improve facilities at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, including the installation at Kaneohe Bay, shown here Sept. 30, 2012, is available for public comment. (Kevin Jones/U.S. Marine Corps)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii - The Marine Corps is seeking public comment on a draft environmental assessment for plans to modernize equipment, facilities and training in Hawaii to prepare its ground forces for expeditionary-style warfare in the Pacific.

The proposed equipment changes are evolutions of existing equipment and combat capabilities and have operational characteristics similar to those historically used by Marine Corps ground forces in Hawaii, the assessment states.

The modernization would not change the number of Marine Corps ground forces in Hawaii, the assessment states.

The document concludes that the modernization would not adversely affect levels of noise, air quality, water and cultural resources, public health or transportation.

Construction of needed facilities and upgrading of equipment would happen over an eight-year period, with completion expected in 2031.

All construction would be confined to within Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

For example, the Marines would train with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NEMESIS, at the Marine base at Kaneohe Bay. The system consists of a Naval Strike Missile carrier atop a joint light tactical vehicle. The Marines plan to deploy two platoons of nine launchers each, according to the draft plan.

Compared to cannon artillery training previously conducted on military training ranges in Hawaii, NMESIS training would involve a smaller transportation vehicle (JLTV vs 7-ton truck), a smaller number of personnel and equipment per training cycle, a smaller footprint, and would not involve live fire of the weapon system on Oahu, the draft states.

None of the facilities proposed to be renovated or demolished under the proposed plan are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the assessment states.

In developing facilities alternatives, the Marine Corps sought to maximize reuse and renovation of existing facilities and minimize the need for new construction, the assessment states.

Training would continue on areas controlled by the Marine Corps and Army in the state, and modernized equipment would not increase activity or impose new or greater environmental impacts on these training ranges, the assessment states.

The Marine Corps is in the process of redirecting its mission from sustained operations ashore to great-power and peer-level competition, with special emphasis on the Pacific, the assessment states.

This shift in mission, along with technological advancements in equipment sets, requires adjustments in how the Marine Corps organizes, trains, and equips its force, the assessment states.

Marine Corps units in Hawaii and Okinawa are already in the midst restructuring as part of Force Design 2030, which is aimed at creating an agile force more adept at fighting in the kinds of contested maritime spaces that would be central in a conflict with China.

The draft may be found at www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil.

Comments can be submitted by mail to Peer Amble, Stantec GS Inc., 737 Bishop St., Suite 3050, Honolulu HI 96813 or emailed to MCBH-EA@stantecgs.com.

The public comment period ends Jan. 25.
A Romanian air force F-16 intercepts a Russian fighter jet flying in international airspace above the Baltic Sea near NATO territory in April 2023. On Friday, NATO said it had scrambled fighter planes more than 300 times this year to intercept Russian military aircraft flying near the airspace of member countries. (NATO Air Command)

NATO scrambled fighter planes more than 300 times this year to intercept Russian military aircraft flying near member countries airspace, according to an alliance statement Friday, a number that represents a notable decline from the previous years.

The spike to about 570 intercepts in 2022 came during a time of high tension as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of that year. Its unclear why the pace of intercepts slowed in 2023, since tensions with Russia remain high.

Thats in part due to the addition of Finland to the alliance in April. The Finnish decision to seek NATO membership resulted from the invasion of Ukraine, as Finland shares an 830-mile-long border with Russia.

Most of the 2023 intercepts occurred over the Baltic Sea, an area where NATO has a standing air-policing mission responsible for guarding against Russian planes approaching allied airspace in unpredictable ways.

Along NATOs eastern flank, Russian military aircraft have a history of not transmitting a transponder code indicating their position and altitude (as well as) not filing a flight plan, NATO said in the statement.

The 2022 figure was nearly double that of 2021, German news agency DPA reported at the time.

Russias war against Ukraine has created the most dangerous security situation in Europe in decades, NATO spokesman Dylan White said Friday. NATO fighter jets are on duty around the clock, ready to scramble in case of suspicious or unannounced flights near the airspace of our allies.

Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, NATO has bulked up air defenses along its eastern flank and added fighter jets to its air policing mission, which stretches from the Baltics to Romania.

Still, while NATO carries out hundreds of intercepts annually, actual breaches of allied airspace remain rare. And most aerial encounters between NATO and Russian jets are handled safely, NATO said in the statement.

Dangerous episodes have occurred, though. In March, a Russian fighter jet collided with a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, forcing the unmanned aircraft to crash into international waters.

U.S. European Command at the time accused the Russian pilots of aggressive actions that could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation.
Chief of the General Staff of Poland Lt. Gen. Wieslaw Kukula salutes during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2023 in Arlington, Va. Polands defense forces said an unknown object entered the countrys airspace Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in the morning from the direction of Ukraine and then vanished off radars. Everything indicates that a Russian missile intruded in Polands airspace. It was monitored by us on radars and left the airspace. We have confirmation of this on radars and from allies in NATO, said Polands defense chief, Gen. Wiesaw Kukua. (Alex Brandon/AP)

WARSAW, Poland  Polands defense forces said an unknown object entered the countrys airspace Friday morning from the direction of Ukraine and then vanished off radars, and that all indications pointed to it being a Russian missile.

Everything indicates that a Russian missile intruded in Polands airspace. It was monitored by us on radars and left the airspace. We have confirmation of this on radars and from allies in NATO, said Polands armed forces chief, Gen. Wiesaw Kukua.

Polands defense forces said the object penetrated about 40 kilometers (24 miles) into its airspace and left it after less than three minutes. The defense forces said both its radar and NATO radar confirmed that the object left Polish airspace.

Kukula said steps were being taken to verify those findings and eliminate the possibility of a technical error.

There was no comment from Russian officials.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on X, formerly Twitter, that he had spoken with Polands president about the missile incident and said NATO was vigilant and monitoring the situation as the facts are established.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with the head of Polands National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, to express the United States solidarity with Poland, our close NATO ally, as it deals with reports of a missile temporarily entering Polish airspace, the White House said.

Sullivan pledged technical assistance to Poland and assured that President Joe Biden was following the issue closely.

It was not immediately clear where the object disappeared from radar or in which direction it had been going. Troops were mobilized to identify and find it. There were no immediate reports of any explosion or casualties.

The governor of Lublin province in eastern Poland, Krzysztof Komorski, told the Onet news portal that the object appeared on radars near the town of Hrubieszow, where a border crossing with Ukraine is located. Komorski said he had no information to indicate it landed in Lublin province.

Polands border with Ukraine is also the European Union and NATO border with Ukraine.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened a meeting with the defense minister, military commanders and heads of national security bodies, followed by a meeting of the National Security Bureau with President Andrzej Duda, the supreme commander of Polands armed forces.

Duda said through an aide that there was no threat at the moment and nothing to suggest that anything bad should be expected.

The most important is that no one was hurt, said the aide, Grazyna Ignaczak-Bandych.

On Friday, Ukrainian officials said Russia launched more than 100 missiles and dozens of drones against Ukrainian targets overnight in what an air force official called the biggest aerial barrage since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

It was not clear whether the object that Poland reported was related to the barrage.

As a result of such massive attacks, this can happen. The enemy is attacking our border territories, including in the west. This is another signal for our partners to strengthen the Ukrainian air defense, Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraines Air Force, said on national television about the incident.

Poland has been supporting Ukraine with military, humanitarian and political assistance.

This is not the first time an unauthorized object has entered Polands airspace from the direction of Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion. In November 2022, two men were killed when a missile struck the village of Przewodow, a few kilometers from the border. Western officials said they believed a Ukrainian air defense missile went astray.

Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
Smoke rises behind a building damaged in Russias missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 29. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

KYIV, Ukraine  Russia launched 122 missiles and dozens of drones against Ukrainian targets, officials said Friday, killing at least 30 civilians across the country in what an air force official called the biggest aerial barrage of the war.

At least 144 people were wounded and an unknown number were buried under rubble during the roughly 18-hour onslaught, Ukrainian officials said. A maternity hospital, apartment blocks and schools were among the buildings reported damaged across Ukraine.

In the capital, Kyiv, broken glass and mangled metal littered city streets. Air raid and emergency service sirens wailed as plumes of smoke drifted into a bright blue sky.

Kateryna Ivanivna, a 72-year-old Kyiv resident, said she threw herself to the ground when a missile struck.

There was an explosion, then flames, she said. I covered my head and got down in the street. Then I ran into the subway station.

Meanwhile, in Poland, authorities said that what apparently was a Russian missile had entered the countrys airspace Friday morning from the direction of Ukraine and then vanished off radars.

In the attack on Ukraine, the air force intercepted most of the ballistic and cruise missiles and the Shahed-type drones overnight, said Ukraines military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Western officials and analysts had recently warned that Russia limited its cruise missile strikes for months in an apparent effort to build up stockpiles for massive strikes during the winter, hoping to break the Ukrainians spirit.

The result was the most massive aerial attack since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his official Telegram channel. It topped the previous biggest assault, in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles, and this years biggest, with 81 missiles on March 9, according to air force records.

Fighting along the front line is largely bogged down by winter weather after Ukraines summer counteroffensive failed to make a significant breakthrough along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) line of contact.

Ukrainian officials have urged the countrys Western allies to provide it with more air defenses. Their appeals have come as signs of war fatigue strain efforts to keep support in place.

The U.N. Security Council hastily convened later Friday to discuss the attack, which Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari called appalling.

Tragically, 2023 is ending as it began  with devastating violence against the people of Ukraine, he said, and noted that international humanitarian law forbids attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that the bombardment shows Russian President Vladimir Putin must be stopped, but unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the attack should stir the world to further action in support of Ukraine.

These widespread attacks on Ukraines cities show Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy, Sunak said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. We must continue to stand with Ukraine  for as long as it takes.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Russias attack in the strongest terms and said attacks against civilians are unacceptable and must end immediately, according to a statement.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the scale of the attack should wake people up to Ukraines continuing needs.

Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions, he wrote on X. I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world. In all major capitals, headquarters, and parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine.

In Kyiv, the bombardment damaged a subway station that lies across the street from a factory belonging to the Artem company, which produces components for various military-grade missiles. Officials did not say whether the factory was directly hit.

Overall, the attack hit six cities, and reports of deaths and damage came in from across the country. Several dozen missiles were launched towards Kyiv, with more than 30 intercepted, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration. Eight people were killed there, officials said.

In Boyarka, near Kyiv, the debris of a shot-down drone fell on a home and started a fire. Andrii Korobka, 47, said his mother was sleeping next to the room where the wreckage landed and was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

The war goes on, and it can happen to any house, even if you think yours will never be affected, Korobka said.

Tetiana Sakhnenko lives next door and said neighbors ran with buckets of water to put out the blaze, but it spread quickly. Its so scary, she said.

In the eastern city of Dnipro, four maternity hospital patients were rescued from a fire, five people were killed and 20 injured, officials said.

In Odesa, on the southern coast, falling drone wreckage started a fire at a multistory residential building, according to the regional head, Oleh Kiper. Two people were killed and 15, including two children, were injured, he said.

The mayor of the western city of Lviv, Andrii Sadovyi, said one person was killed there, with three schools and a kindergarten damaged in a drone attack. Local emergency services said 30 people were injured.

In northeastern Ukraine, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city was subjected to at least three waves of aerial attacks that included S-300 and Kh-21 missile launches. One person was killed and at least nine injured, officials said.

Associated Press reporter Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this story. AP reporter Jennifer Peltz contributed from New York.
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a damaged apartment building after a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (Artem Perfilov/AP)

KYIV, Ukraine  Russia launched 122 missiles and dozens of drones against Ukrainian targets, officials said Friday, killing at least 22 civilians across the country in what an air force official said was the biggest aerial barrage of the war.

The Ukrainian air force intercepted most of the ballistic and cruise missiles and the Shahed-type drones overnight, said Ukraines military chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his official Telegram channel that it was the most massive aerial attack since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to the Ukrainian air force, the previous biggest assault was in November 2022 when Russia launched 96 missiles against Ukraine. This year, the biggest was 81 missiles on March 9, air force records show.

Western officials and analysts recently warned that Russia had limited its cruise missile strikes in recent months in an apparent effort to build up stockpiles for massive strikes during the winter, hoping to break the Ukrainians spirit.

Fighting along the front line is largely bogged down by winter weather after Ukraines summer counteroffensive failed to make a significant breakthrough along the roughly 620-mile line of contact.

Ukrainian officials have urged the countrys Western allies to provide it with more air defenses to protect itself against aerial attacks like Fridays one. Their appeals have come as signs of war fatigue strain efforts to keep support in place.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the huge attack should stir the world to further action in support of Ukraine.

These widespread attacks on Ukraines cities show (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy, Sunak said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. We must continue to stand with Ukraine  for as long as it takes.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the scale of the attack should wake people up to Ukraines continuing needs.

Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions, he wrote on X. I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world. In all major capitals, headquarters, and parliaments, which are currently debating further support for Ukraine.

At least 128 people were injured and an unknown number were buried under rubble during the roughly 18-hour onslaught, Ukrainian officials said. Among the buildings reported to be damaged across Ukraine were a maternity hospital, apartment blocks and schools.

In Boyarka, a city near Kyiv, the debris of a shot-down drone fell on a home and started a fire.

Andrii Korobka, 47, said his mother was sleeping next to the room where the wreckage landed and was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

The war goes on, and it can happen to any house, even if you think yours will never be affected, Korobka said.

Tetiana Sakhnenko, who lives next door, said neighbors ran with buckets of water to put out the blaze but it spread quickly. Its so scary, she said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Kremlins forces used a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal, Zelenskyy said on X.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia apparently launched everything they have, except for submarine-launched Kalibr missiles, in the attack.

The aerial attack that began Thursday and continued through the night hit six cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and other areas from east to west and north to south Ukraine, according to authorities.

Reports of deaths and damage came in from across the country.

Five people were killed and 20 injured in the eastern city of Dnipro where four maternity hospital patients were rescued from a fire, officials said.

In Odesa, on the southern coast, falling drone wreckage started a fire at a multi-story residential building, according to the regional head, Oleh Kiper. Two people were killed and 15, including two children, were injured in the course of the Odesa attack, he said.

The mayor of the western city of Lviv, Andrii Sadovyi, said one person was killed and eight injured and three schools and a kindergarten were damaged in a drone attack in the region.

Several dozen missiles were launched towards Kyiv during the night, with more than 30 of them intercepted, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration. The attack started a fire at a warehouse in the capitals Podil district where five people reportedly were pulled from the rubble. Three people were killed in the capital.

In northeastern Ukraine, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city was subjected to at least three waves of aerial attacks overnight that included S-300 and Kh-21 missile launches. One person was killed and at least nine injured, officials said.

Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this story
Houthi military spokesman, Brigadier Yahya Saree, delivers a statement on the recent attacks against two commercial vessels in the Red Sea during a march in solidarity with the people of Gaza in the capital Sanaa on Dec. 15, 2023. Yemens Houthi rebels struck a cargo ship in the Red Sea on Dec. 15, causing a fire on deck in the latest of a near-daily series of attacks in the commercially vital waterway. (Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  The U.S. military is trying to reassure shipping companies that a multinational force is making it safe to sail through the Red Sea and Suez Canal even though attacks from Yemen-based Houthi rebels show no sign of stopping.

The Pentagon is engaged with industry on a near-daily basis to gauge needs and provide reassurance that the international community is there to help with safe passage, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Bryon McGarry, a Defense Department spokesperson for the Middle East and Africa, said Thursday in an emailed response to questions.

So far, thats not proving enough for most shipping lines to gamble that a drone or missile aimed at their vessels wont be one that gets past the defenses.

It will take a little while for shippers to get a sense about the security situation, said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine officer and senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. If it turns out that the U.S. and the coalition can maintain safe passage, then I think theyll come back. But right now they really cant be sure.

Cancian said in an interview that some shippers will remain more risk-averse than others. Ones that have connections with Israel might be more reticent.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have said theyre targeting ships linked to Israel to show support for Palestinians, though ships without direct links to Israel also have been singled out.

Half of the container-ship fleet that regularly transits the Red Sea and Suez Canal is avoiding the route now because of the threat of attacks, according to new industry data. Many tankers and container ships are resorting to the longer  and costlier  route around the southern tip of Africa, which may lead to higher prices for oil and a variety of consumer goods.

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the worlds No. 2 container line, said its preparing to resume Red Sea passages as soon as operationally possible. But even Maersk has cautioned that the overall risk is not eliminated in the area, and the company said it would not hesitate to re-evaluate the safety situation for its vessels and employees.

Gene Moran, a defense analyst and retired Navy captain, once commanded the USS Laboon, the destroyer that shot down four drones in the Red Sea Saturday. From his perspective, the shipping companies are still looking for the American-led coalition to do more.

This method doesnt appear to address the cause of the threat, Moran said in an interview. The Houthis are able to operate from the uncontrolled portions of Yemen. Something will need to be done about that. We seem to be moving very gingerly when the conditions seem to call for a more forceful response.

But the Biden administration has been reluctant to take action that could turn Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip  which began after that groups Oct. 7 assault on Israel  into a broader regional conflict. Shipping companies may share that concern.

If the United States were to start shooting at Houthi camps, that would arguably increase the risk, not decrease it, Cancian said. So I dont think the shippers are particularly anxious to start that.

The Pentagon has said the Red Sea security initiative its leading  named Operation Prosperity Guardian  brings together forces from the U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, Spain, Australia and Greece as well as some other nations that dont want to be named. Yet the military hasnt spelled out details of how it will operate.

Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said earlier this month that the coalition will function as a highway patrol in the sea.

Moran said that the mixed nature of the threat, which includes potential attacks from drones, missiles and small boats, makes it more challenging to respond because not all the ships participating in the force will have the same capabilities as the U.S. ships.

For now, the operation will continue indefinitely.

We are not putting a timeline on this operation, said McGarry, the Pentagon spokesperson. Well stand firm with our partners in the region for as long as it takes until the threat to international shipping in these waterways has ceased.

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The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason, shown here in July 2021, shot down a drone and a ballistic missile in the Red Sea on Dec. 28. (Bill Mesta/U.S. Military Sealift Command)

A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on Thursday, according to U.S. Central Command.

The USS Mason was in the southern Red Sea around 5:45 p.m. Thursday when it shot down the missile and drone, which marked the 22nd attempted attack by Houthi rebels against international shipping since Oct. 19, Central Command said in a Friday post to X, formerly known as Twitter.

The attack also came just two days after U.S. fighter jets and the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon, part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, fended off a dozen drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two land attack cruise missiles over the course of 10 hours on Tuesday in the Red Sea.
President Joe Biden listens as he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli and U.S. government officials in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18. (Evan Vucci/AP)

WASHINGTON  For the second time this month the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism.

The State Department said Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5 million sale for equipment, including fuses, chargers and primers, that is needed to make the 155 mm shells that Israel has already purchased function.

Given the urgency of Israels defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer, the department said.

The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against the threats it faces, it said.

The emergency determination means the purchase will bypass the congressional review requirement for foreign military sales. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented, when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for lawmakers approval.

Blinken made a similar decision on Dec. 9, to approve the sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million.

Both moves have come as President Joe Bidens request for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs remains stalled in Congress, caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. Some Democratic lawmakers have spoken of making the proposed $14.3 billion in American assistance to its Mideast ally contingent on concrete steps by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza during the war with Hamas.

The State Department sought to counter potential criticism of the sale on human rights grounds by saying it was in constant touch with Israel to emphasize the importance of minimizing civilian casualties, which have soared since Israel began its response to the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.

We continue to strongly emphasize to the government of Israel that they must not only comply with international humanitarian law, but also take every feasible step to prevent harm to civilians, it said.

Hamas hides behind civilians and has embedded itself among the civilian population, but that does not lessen Israels responsibility and strategic imperative to distinguish between civilians and Hamas terrorists as it conducts its military operations, the department said. This type of campaign can only be won by protecting civilians.

Bypassing Congress with emergency determinations for arms sales is an unusual step that has in the past met resistance from lawmakers, who normally have a period of time to weigh in on proposed weapons transfers and, in some cases, block them.

In May 2019, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an emergency determination for an $8.1 billion sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan after it became clear that the Trump administration would have trouble overcoming lawmakers concerns about the Saudi and UAE-led war in Yemen.

Pompeo came under heavy criticism for the move, which some believed may have violated the law because many of the weapons involved had yet to be built and could not be delivered urgently. But he was cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation.

At least four administrations have used the authority since 1979. President George H.W. Bushs administration used it during the Gulf War to get arms quickly to Saudi Arabia.
Medical staff in Nablus have been caring for premature babies born to Gazan mothers who have been unable to reunite with their children. (Veronique de Viguerie)

This story has been corrected

NABLUS, West Bank - The tiny twins didnt cry like the other babies did. Their small sounds and snuffles were barely audible above the lilting bleeps of incubators in the neonatal ward. It wasnt normal, the staff agreed, but no one had been able to reach their mother.

Her phone number was scrawled on a Post-it note tacked to the inside of 3-month-old Muayyeds plastic cot - so the nurses could keep sending her pictures of the babies, could keep calling until someone picked up. The silences lasted days, sometimes longer.

To be separated like that, a nurse murmured as she smoothed a pink blanket around the sleeping child, its a terrible thing.

When Israel sealed its border with the Gaza Strip after Hamass deadly assault on Oct. 7, Muayyed and Mahmoud were among several dozen premature babies receiving care at neonatal wards in Israel and the occupied West Bank. Now, a war that has claimed the lives of more than 11,000 Gazans and erased entire families has also parted newborns from their mothers and fathers.

Before the conflict, Palestinians were only allowed to leave Gaza and enter Israel under special circumstances, including for lifesaving medical treatment that is not available in the enclave after 16 years of an Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

The Nablus hospital caring for Muayyed and Mahmoud receives about 40 women from Gaza with high-risk pregnancies each year - each of them granted a permit to enter Israel for a period of weeks. If a baby needs to stay in an incubator longer, some mothers return to Gaza to apply for permits all over again.

Israeli and Palestinian authorities do allow for mothers permits to be extended without a return to Gaza. But patient advocates and hospital staff who help women with the process say these on-the-ground extensions can be difficult to obtain and are not consistently granted. One of the mothers in this story said she was not aware that she could apply for an extension, and left without doing so.

With the Erez crossing closed, Israel has not issued exit permits to Gazans since the conflict began, leaving the mothers who returned unable to leave. In a statement on Dec. 24, a spokesperson for the Israeli agency that implements policies in Gaza and the West Bank blamed the barbaric raid by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 Israelis as the primary reason mothers and children remain separated. The spokesperson, whose office is known as Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), said Israel may eventually use an alternate border crossing to return infants to their mothers in Gaza if the childrens medical conditions permit.

The spokesperson spoke on the condition of anonymity under Israeli government practice.

Before the war began, the distress of new Gazan mothers deepened as the expiry date on their permits neared, hospital officials recalled. When the mothers were returning to Gaza, a hospital could simply offer them one last chance to scoop their babies from their incubators and hold them close. The mothers left in agony, one hospital administrator said.

Most of the medical staff and Palestinian mothers interviewed for this story spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing security concerns. In the aftermath of Oct. 7, hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza, including hospital patients with permits, were arbitrarily detained by security forces, rights groups say.

A nurse attends to a premature baby named Saaidah inside an incubator at a hospital in Israel on Wednesday. Saaidah's parents are in Gaza. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)

The mothers trapped in Gaza have spent weeks cowering in fear as Israeli airstrikes shake the earth and ground forces encircle the north of the enclave. Rooms that expectant parents decorated lovingly for new babies have been smashed. Clothes that infants would have worn in their earliest weeks have been lost to the rubble.

With communication networks shaky, text messages pleading for news of the babies health often dont go through; the photographs sent back dont always download. At times, the territory has been plunged into a near-total blackout, and the updates stopped flowing altogether.

Muayyed and Mahmoud were born on Aug. 3 at just 29 weeks, each weighing about 3  pounds. By Aug. 5, the hospital told their mother, Sabrine, that it was time for her to go, staff members said. She left in tears, they said, reassured only by the hospitals promise to help her apply for another permit as soon as possible so she could return to collect them.

Israeli authorities rejected it without explanation, hospital staff said. The war began soon after that.

When staff members try to phone Sabrine, the conversations are brief, if the signal holds at all. They always say that the twins are safe, that they are hers. That they will be here waiting when the skies fall silent and she will take them home.

The Nablus ward was brightly lit and quiet, aside from the beeping monitors. Staff in blue gowns spoke in hushed tones. A young nurse stood watch over the twins, now out of incubators and lying quietly in their cots.

Muayyed has long eyelashes. In her sleep, her lips flicker upward, like shes smiling. My nurses care about all of our babies, but their bond with the babies from Gaza is a special one, said Moath, a pediatrician in charge of the ward. We do our best to compensate for the love and care that shes missing, but its not the same.

Some staff members return to the ward after work to play with the twins. They are worried about them.

Without the constant attention of a parent or full-time caregiver, the babies are under-stimulated. They cant learn to focus, or study the faces of adults gazing down at them to copy their sounds and expressions.

With no end to the war in sight, hospitals are improvising. At an Israeli facility visited by The Washington Post, social workers had found volunteers to give the separated babies skin-to-skin contact. We made the request and within a day we had a whole list of people, one of the social workers said. They chose several women who live close by; they now come to the hospital every day. We chose people who really knew how to care for them, the social worker said.

The Post is not providing the name or location of the hospital for the security of patients, as staff members fear reprisals from Israeli authorities.

Saaidah in her incubator at a hospital in Israel. When Saaidah experienced intestinal problems, doctors at the hospital had to decide whether to operate on her, without being able to reach her family in Gaza. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)

When one of the hospitals premature babies, Saaidah, experienced serious intestinal problems, doctors got the mothers consent to operate. They couldnt reach her the second time it happened and had to decide whether to rely on the previous permission.

It went against all of the ethics we are trained in, but we had to save her life, a doctor said. It was 10 days until they heard from the mother again, and she greeted the news with relief.

Doctors fear what state Gazan mothers might return in, if they return at all. Of the more than 28,000 Gazans injured over the past six weeks, many are women. Even in peacetime, mothers reunited with their babies after a long separation have sometimes had difficulties bonding with them.

We had a woman who wasnt able to return for eight months, the hospital administrator recalled. She barely knew her child at first; she didnt know how to hold her.

Hanan al-Bayouk, reached by phone in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza before a communications blackout, only saw her triplets twice after they were born on Aug. 28. Thirty hours after giving birth, she said, the hospital told her that her permit had expired and that she would have to return to Gaza. She did not know the permit could be extended, she said.

They were IVF children - a miracle, it had seemed - but seeing them hooked up to oxygen tubes in glass incubators had been disorienting. I didnt know whether to feel happy or anxious, she said. I was nervous; I dreamed of hugging them. The smallest was Nour, weighing less than 3 pounds.

Bayouk later secured a permit to return for their discharge. It was dated Oct. 10, four days too late.

She and her husband, Fathi, had bought clothes and toys. They had prepared a room. As fighting rages around their city, she stands among the empty cribs.

I see them everywhere around me, she said, her voice breaking. I am afraid that I will be killed in this war, and I will not be able to see them again and I do not know who will take care of them.

We see entire families being removed from the civil registry. What if we are the next target?

For now, Nour and her sisters lie in hospital cots, with SpongeBob SquarePants on one wall and a young boy sitting in a crescent moon on another. Bayouks whole family has seen the photos of the girls sleeping peacefully there. Will we really see them? they keep asking. In calmer moments, they sit together and talk about the party they will throw for the triplets when they come home.

Not one night has passed, Bayouk said, when she hasnt dreamed of holding her children. They will be 3 months old in a couple of weeks.

Harb reported from London.
A Russian fighter jet prepares to deploy flares over an MQ-9 drone in Syria on July 23, 2023. Russian flights over U.S. bases in Syria pose an increased chance of an accidental shootdown and an escalation into war, according to defense analysts. (U.S. Air Forces Central)

Russian fighter jets are creating the risk of an accidental shootdown by flying over U.S. bases in Syria without telling American counterparts first, a U.S. defense official warned.

Russia has continued to violate protected airspace above U.S. and coalition positions in Syria, Capt. Daniel de La Fe, a spokesman for 9th Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Central), said Thursday. Russias violations of this airspace have the potential to be misinterpreted as an act of aggression and lead to escalation.

Drone attacks by Iranian-backed militias already have U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East on high alert for aerial threats, and the Russian overflights could put them on edge even more, military officials and analysts said.

Russian aircraft flying over American bases in Syria are also most likely collecting intelligence and sharing it with adversaries of the U.S. in the region, Joseph Votel, a retired general who helmed U.S. Central Command from 2016 to 2019, said Thursday.

U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq have faced more than 100 attacks from Iranian-backed militias since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, the Defense Department says.

A Russian fighter plane flies close to a U.S. MQ-9 drone before deploying flares over it July 23, 2023, in Syria. One of the flares struck the drone, severely damaging its propeller. Despite the damage, the aircraft returned to its home base. (United States Air Forces Central)

A drone attack on a base in northern Iraq on Christmas left three U.S. service members injured, leading to retaliatory airstrikes.

The downing of a Russian pilot could lead to open conflict, said Votel, now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

I am always concerned about the potential for escalation and for one incident elevating the overall posture, he said.

Votel and a U.S. defense official said there have been fewer of these overflights and airspace violations since Oct. 7 than there were over the summer.

That was when Russian pilots attempted to goad U.S. counterparts into dogfights, and at one point a Russian fighter jet in Syria fired flares at a U.S. drone and damaged its propeller.

Although both Russia and the U.S. have declared missions in Syria to defeat Islamic State, their backing of opposing Syrian groups has led to deconfliction protocols.

These include agreements on areas where the two countries pledged to notify each other prior to transiting. Both sides have accused the other of violating these agreements.

Russia does not want a regional war between its ally Iran and the U.S., but it also wouldnt mind if Middle Eastern conflicts distract the Pentagon from the war in Ukraine, Jonathan Lord, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said Thursday.

Theyre definitely stirring the pot, Lord said. Because tensions are generally heightened, there is a greater risk of miscalculation, everyones a little jumpier and the Russians are ones to press in those situations.

In addition, Russian planes flying over American bases have been equipped with sensors that most likely gather info, and Moscow has a motive to disclose any data they collect to Iran and Syria, U.S. military leaders and analysts say.

I think you have to make that assumption going into this, Votel said.
Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Bass III, as seen in his police mugshot following his Dec. 12 arrest in Surprise, Ariz. Police say he pulled a gun on a 19-year-old driver in a road rage episode near Luke Air Force Base, where he works. (Surprise Police Department)

This story has been corrected

A 40-year-old Air Force master sergeant in Arizona is accused of pointing a gun at a teenage driver in suburban Phoenix during a recent road rage episode, and video footage from the drivers cellphone shows him asking if she wanted to die, authorities said.

Master Sgt. Charles Bass III was arrested Dec. 12 on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct with a weapon and endangerment, the Surprise Police Department said in a Dec. 19 statement.

The department did not immediately respond to questions about whether Bass has been arraigned and is still in custody.

A spokeswoman with the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base said Bass is on active duty and assigned to the base, but she declined further comment, citing an ongoing police investigation.

Bass work email identifies him as a member of the 56th Component Maintenance Squadron at the base.

The confrontation happened the morning of Dec. 5, as 19-year old Shi Anna Bamba was driving home alone after dropping off her siblings at school.

It was just a normal day before this happened, Bamba told Stars and Stripes on Friday.

Bamba tried to change lanes in front of Bass but didnt even get to merge before Bass started driving aggressively, according to the police statement.

I did not get into the lane in front of him at any point. In the video, you can see me pull up from behind him, Bamba said Friday.

Bass extended his middle finger while driving, the police statement said. Bamba then began to record the developing situation.

When both vehicles were stopped at a traffic light a few miles from the base, Bass brandished a gun, according to the police statement.

In video broadcast by local ABC affiliate KNXV Channel 15, a man police identified as Bass can be seen behind the wheel of a Ford F250 pickup truck, rolling down his passenger window and pointing the gun at the camera.

A still image from cell phone video footage captures the moment Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Bass III points a firearm from his vehicle during a Dec. 5, 2023, road rage incident in Surprise, Arizona, a confrontation that led to his arrest, Dec. 19. (Surprise Police Department) Master Sgt. Charles Bass, then assigned as first sergeant with the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, speaks with augmentees before they start work at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Sept. 12, 2022. (Shannon Braaten/U.S. Air Force)

You want to die? the man says in the footage.

Bamba pulled away and immediately called her mother. She then contacted police and shared the video with officers.

Based on the clip, police investigators collected more video evidence from several sources and identified Bass as the suspect, police reported in the statement.

Bass told police he thought the other driver was driving erratically and because of his PTSD and hypervigilance issues he didnt know what the other driver was going to do, KNXV reported.

But Bass could not tell officers why he kept pointing the gun at Bamba after realizing that she was not a threat, the TV station reported.

A LinkedIn page that appears to belong to Bass says he has more than 21 years of experience in the Air Force as a first sergeant and aircraft maintenance manager and lists him as available for work, indicating that he is nearing retirement from active duty.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on Capitol Hill in September 2023. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

The home of Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, was swatted Wednesday night in an incident he described as a sick attempt to terrorize my family.

Police received a call around 9 p.m. from a person reporting a shooting at Scotts home in Naples. Within 15 minutes, officers realized that the callers claims were a hoax, the Naples Police Department said in a news release. Scott and his wife were out at dinner during the incident, and no one else was inside the home, said Bryan McGinn, a spokesman for Naples police.

Scott tweeted that the cowards who had swatted his home had wasted the time [and] resources of our law enforcement. Swatting occurs when people make false reports of ongoing or recent crimes, leading law enforcement personnel to rush to the scenes.

Naples police are investigating the incident and have not yet identified a suspect or a motive, McGinn said. A spokesman for Scott said there were no additional details immediately available.

The attempt was one in a string of swatting episodes against politicians in recent days, including in Ohio, Georgia and New York. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she had been swatted on Christmas Day, while her family was home celebrating the holiday.

On Wednesday night, the Naples Police Department received a non-emergency call from a person claiming he had shot his wife with an AR-15 three times while she was sleeping, according to the incident report. The caller also told the dispatcher he was holding a hostage and demanded $10,000, saying he would blow up the house with a pipe bomb if he was not given the money, the report states.

Police said the caller, who said his name was Jamal, did not provide additional identifying information. The callers voice also sounded as if it was computer generated/artificial, according to the departments release.

Officers who searched Scotts home on Wednesday found no signs of forced entry or the pipe bomb and other items described by the caller, police said.

Several recent swatting attempts have targeted Republican figures such as Scott.

Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., tweeted on Tuesday that he had also been swatted on Christmas in an incident that put his familys lives at risk. Greene tweeted that the Christmas swatting call was like the 8th she had experienced, later adding that similar incidents occurred at the homes of her two daughters.

Whoever is doing this, you are going to get caught and it wont be funny to you anymore, Greene wrote, describing the hoaxes as police harassment.

At least four Georgia state senators and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) have also been swatted over the last week, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Earlier this week, Kevin Miller, a Republican state legislator in Ohio, said he had been swatted when police received a report of a shooting at his home. Miller called the incident a huge waste of resources in a statement on Facebook Tuesday.

The Naples Police Department said while swatting isnt a new threat, it has evolved, with offenders using new technology when calling in false reports.

The response often prompts confusion on the part of the homeowners and pulls limited resources away from other possible valid emergencies, the department said in its statement.
Judge McHugh fined Carroll 200, disqualified him from driving and imposed a four-month suspended sentence.

A kitchen porter who drove dangerously with a friends three-year-old child seated in front of him on a scrambler bike has been put off the road for two years.

Craig Carroll (28) crossed a road in front of oncoming traffic and his behaviour was described by Judge David McHugh as being highly reckless.

Carrolls lawyer said his client had taken a chance riding the bike, but he realised his behaviour was unacceptable, and was now facing the music.

Judge McHugh fined Carroll 200, disqualified him from driving and imposed a four-month suspended sentence.

The defendant, of Primrose Forge, Celbridge, Co Kildare, admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance on September 19, 2022.

Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court gardai were on mobile patrol at Shackleton Road in Celbridge around 9pm when they came across a man on a scrambler bike.

Sgt Callaghan said Carroll was not wearing a helmet, and there was a young boy sitting on the bike in front of him, who was wearing a large helmet. Sgt Callaghan said the scrambler bike came off the footpath and crossed the road in front of traffic.

Carroll biked from Vanessa Lawns and across a bridge to Vanessa Close, before the scrambler bike came to a stop.

The sergeant said Carroll was arrested and taken to Leixlip garda station, where he was later charged.

The child was three years old at the time of the incident, the court heard, and was the son of Carrolls friend.

The court heard that Carroll had no previous convictions, and he had never been in trouble before.

Defence solicitor Terence Hanahoe said Carroll had been working as a kitchen porter, but had been let go as there had been no work available.

The defendant was actively looking for work and hoped to return to employment soon, Mr Hanahoe said.

In relation to the incident, Mr Hanahoe said Carroll took a chance, not realising where it would land him.

He wished to apologise to the court for his behaviour and was facing the music.

Judge McHugh said this was an atypical case and Carroll had engaged in highly reckless behaviour, which was aggravated by the fact that a young child was sitting in front of him on the scrambler bike.

The judge further noted that Carroll had been absolutely reckless, but he had pleaded guilty to the offences, and had no previous convictions.

Judge McHugh imposed a four-month sentence, which he suspended for a period of 12 months. The judge also disqualified Carroll from driving for the mandatory two years.
The court heard the full amount taken was 2,149.30.

The case was heard at Sligo District Court sitting at Sligo Courthouse

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.

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.
Sean Kavanagh was served with the book of evidence. Photo: Paddy Cummins

A Dublin man who was allegedly caught with a sawn-off shotgun following a search of his home by detectives has been sent forward for trial.

Sean Kavanagh (30) was served with the book of evidence when he appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court.

He is facing trial in the circuit court after the DPP ruled that the allegation was too serious to be dealt with in the district court.

The accused, with an address at Fairlawn Road in Finglas, is charged with the unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun at his home in Finglas on a date unknown within the State and September 27, 2022.

A state solicitor said that the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge David McHugh gave Mr Kavanagh the formal alibi caution.

The judge also assigned defence solicitor Valerie Buckley and one junior counsel on free legal aid.

Judge McHugh further ordered that a video copy of an interview which gardai conducted with the accused be provided to his legal team.

Mr Kavanagh has not yet indicated how he intends to plead to the charge.

As part of his bail conditions, Mr Kavanagh must sign on once a week at his local garda station.

He was remanded on bail to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on a date which was not disclosed in open court.

Ms Buckley said Mr Kavanagh was not in court earlier this month, when he had been due to be served with the book of evidence, because her client had been assaulted the night beforehand.
Sergeant Derek Butler told the court the total value of the alcohol was 109.90.

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.

He said gardai were notified on September 12th 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.
Revenue officers swooped on a passenger who had travelled from Washington and discovered approximately 16kg of cocaine during a search

A man in his 30s has been arrested and charged following an enormous 1,128,000 cocaine seizure at Dublin Airport earlier today, December 28.

Revenue officers swooped on a passenger who had travelled from Washington and discovered approximately 16kg of cocaine during a search of their baggage.

An Garda Siochana attended the scene and arrested the man, who has been charged and is before the courts.

A garda spokesperson revealed gardai are working closely with Revenue officers on the intelligence-led operation.

Investigations are ongoing.
The deceased Polish national will not be identified until all his family members have been traced and contacted overseas.

The house outside the village of Kilross, Co Tipperary, where the body of a man was discovered. Photo: Frank McGrath

GARDAI are trying to trace all the revellers who attended a combined St Stephen's Day house party and birthday celebration in Tipperary at which a Polish man suffered fatal injuries.

Detectives stressed that they are still investigating "all the circumstances" in which the 35-year-old man died as they attempt to clarify if visible injuries on the man's body were sustained accidentally in a fall or in an assault.

A post mortem examination was conducted today on the young man at University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

The deceased Polish national will not be identified until all his family members have been traced and contacted overseas.

Gardai are now liaising with Interpol, Europol and the Polish police over the matter.

The young man was discovered unresponsive at a property at Ballycrana, Kilross, just outside Tipperary Town in the early hours of Wednesday morning following a house party.

The two storey property is located close to the Tipperary-Limerick border.

Gardai discovered the man in a downstairs room with visible injuries.

Despite desperate attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene before he could be transferred to hospital.

Gardai sealed off the scene and a forensic examination of the property continued throughout Thursday by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

The man's remains were transferred to UHW where a full post mortem examination was conducted on Thursday morning.

Gardai declined to release the findings of the examination for operational reasons.

Detectives are now trying to trace everyone who attended the St Stephen's Day party at the rural Ballycrana property.

Gardai are also examining reports the deceased may have been socialising in Tipperary Town and Galbally in the hours before his death.

The gathering at the Ballycrana property was apparently a combined Christmas celebration and birthday party - and a number of those present were attending from other parts of Ireland.

The property had been rented by a group of men who were working locally with several understood to be from Eastern Europe.

Door-to-door inquiries were conducted throughout the Ballycrana and Kilross areas to determine if anyone heard or saw anything suspicious on December 26 or into the early hours of December 27.

The deceased is understood to have been living locally for some time and had been working in the Tipperary area for several years.

Gardai renewed their appeal to anyone who may have information about the man's death to contact them.

"Gardai continue to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body of a man at a residence in Ballycrana, Kilross, Co Tipperary, shortly after 4am yesterday, Wednesday December 27."

"The body was removed from the scene to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford yesterday (Wednesday). A post-mortem examination has been completed today."

"The scene at Ballycrana remains preserved this evening."

"Gardai continue to appeal to any person with any information that can assist with this investigation 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 would regularly socialise in Tipperary Town, Galbally and Kilmallock.

Councillor Eddie Ryan said the tragedy had cast a dark cloud over the local community.

People are sad to hear of something like this happening in our midst. People are heartbroken to think somebody has died like that in our area."

Councillor John Crosse, who is based at Donohill, said the local community was deeply shocked by the tragedy and would offer every support to the family of the deceased.

"My thoughts and prayers are with this man and his family. It is absolutely heart breaking to see something like this with the New Year on the horizon," he said.

"This is a very tightknit 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 couldn't 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 Stephen's Night could end in a terrible tragedy like this."
He has been detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The scene in Blanchardstown after Tristan Sherry (inset) was confronted, shot with his own gun and stabbed repeatedly

A man has been arrested by gardai investigating the death of a gunman in a restaurant in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve.

One man  suspected hitman Tristan Sherry  was killed and a second man was left with critical injuries in the horror gun attack in

It is believed Sherry 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.

He then attempted to get away through a door, but it was locked. He was then confronted, disarmed and stabbed several times. Gardai believe he was then also have been shot with his own gun.

A garda spokesman has confirmed that a man has now been arrested in connection with the investigation.

He said: Gardai have arrested a male in relation to the investigation into a serious incident that occurred at a premises on the Main Street in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 at approximately 8pm on Sunday, 24th December 2023.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in West Dublin.

Investigations are ongoing.

Tristan Sherry

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.

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.
Arrests expected soon as gardai identify eight criminals from Tallaght

Net closes on Airbnb burglary gang as gardai identify eight suspects for cross county spree

Arrests are expected in the new year after a number of suspects have been identified.

Gardai have compiled an intelligence dossier on an organised crime gang who used an Airbnb as a base to break into 20 homes in the west of Ireland over five days.

The gang rented a property near Knock, Co Mayo, early last month as they carried out the burglaries in four counties.

Up to eight criminals, believed to be from Tallaght, Dublin, stayed in the property and targeted unoccupied homes in Sligo, Roscommon, Galway and Mayo.

They were also involved in a violent aggravated burglary in Sligo, one of two break-ins committed in that county.

The victim in the incident, a bachelor aged in his 60s, previously spoke to the Irish Independent and revealed he was a friend of tragic farmer Tom Niland.

Mr Niland died last September after 18 months on life support following a suspected break-in in January last year.

Tom Niland

The gang are suspected of targeting the bachelor about 7.15pm on Friday, November 3. It is the only aggravated burglary linked to their west-of-Ireland crime spree.

The victim returned home and found several men lying in wait. When he pulled up outside, at least two of the gang overpowered him and demanded the keys to a safe.

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A source said the man was pulled, dragged, threatened and terrorised by the gang, who left after stealing the contents of the safe.

This gang prefer to target unoccupied homes because it is simply less hassle for them, but in this case the victim was unlucky in that they needed the keys to his safe and they then showed they had no problem using extreme violence, the source said.

This shows the nature of this outfit and armed gardai will be required for any future potential arrest operation.

At this months meeting of the Mayo Joint Policing Committee, members were told that since the gang left the county, the number of burglaries there had significantly fallen.

Mayo had a total of 160 reported burglaries up to the start of this month, an increase of 33 on the same period last year.

At the committee meeting, Chief Superintendent Raymond McMahon appealed to property owners to be conscious of to whom they are renting their places, and said if they had suspicions they should contact gardai.

We did thwart a gang doing it in Mayo and it is noticeable that there has hardly been a burglary here since, he said.

The same appeal to Airbnb owners was also made at a meeting of the Roscommon Joint Policing Committee, where members were told a definite line of inquiry regarding the burglaries was being investigated.

Detective Superintendent Tom Colsh said: We have set up an incident room and have put out a public appeal. We have received great feedback and we want to thank everybody who gave information. The investigation is very much ongoing and is being taken very seriously.

The gang targeted a number of homes in the Tulsk and Ballinagare areas of Roscommon.

The burglary gang used three cars during their crime spree. Gardai have established they wore camouflage clothing and walked through fields before breaking into houses, mostly in rural areas.

Officers in the west quickly identified the Airbnb being used and set up a special operation.

However, the gang did not return to the property, and no arrests have yet been made.
The Florida woman demanded group sex on Christmas Day, allegedly.

A US woman has been locked up for threatening her ex-partner and his new girlfriend that she would kill them both if they did not have sexual intercourse with her on Christmas Day.

Florida woman, Cynthia Ann Ray (38) was arrested and charged with aggravated stalking and sending written threats to kill after the shocking event unfolded on December 25, cops from the Lake County Sheriff's Office announced this week.

On Monday evening, police responded to an address in the town of Groveland in reference to "criminal mischief," court documents state.

When authorities entered the location and spoke with the victim, Ray's ex-boyfriend; he said he had been having receiving serious threats from the cropped haired woman.

The man stated Ray allegedly "punctured" tires on his new girlfriend's car. She then returned to his house and punctured the same tired again after they had just been replaced, the affidavit said.

During the investigation, Ray's ex-boyfriend showed cops the text messages she sent him.

"He then pulled out his phone and showed the messages to which he had not replied, however there were numerous messages in a short period of time," it was reported.

The victim had been receiving text messages in "great quantities" since he broke up with Ray eight weeks previous, apparently. The woman also allegedly shown up to his home a number of times.

"She did send a message to the victim saying she wanted to have sexual intercourse with him and his girlfriend and if not, she was going to kill them," the legal papers stated.

Domestic violence and assaults are known to increase over the holiday periods often due to excess consumption of alcohol as well as heightened emotional states of stress.

A 33-year-old French man has admitted killing his wife and their four children on Christmas Day. The man said he heard voices telling him to cause harm in the run up to Christmas, French prosecutors announced today.

French police arrested the suspect on suspicion of murdering his Haitian-born wife and their children, aged nine months, and four, seven and 10 years old.

Their bodies were found on Monday at their home in the town of Meaux, in the Ile-de-France region east of Paris.
Caroline Kenny and her mum spent Christmas away from home in Germany as she underwent treatment

More than 57,000 has been raised for a Waterford teenager (14) who is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumour in Germany, with help from the Gavin Glynn Foundation.

Caroline Kenny, alongside her mum Breda, were forced to spend Christmas away from home, as Caroline received treatment for a brain tumour in Essen, Germany.

Caroline, who is in her second year of school at Blackwater Community School in Lismore in county Waterford, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2014 when she was almost five years old.

The young child was rushed to Temple Street Childrens Hospital where she underwent several operations to have shunts inserted in her head, to drain the fluid build-up caused by the tumour.

It was at this stage that that it was discovered that Caroline also had no vision in her right eye.

Carolines mum and dad, Breda and Pat Kenny said that since the discovery of the tumour in 2014, Caroline has faced countless treatments with a smile always on her face.

Since 2015, Caroline has undergone several types of chemotherapy and has had to deal with the various side effects these caused. She has had numerous Freddies (central lines) inserted and removed, countless MRIs, CT scans, blood tests and hospital stays.

Unfortunately, the chemotherapy has only held Carolines tumour at bay and once any treatment is stopped, it starts to grow again.

"As her last two MRIs have shown that the tumour is growing once again, her team in Crumlin advised us that proton therapy, which is a more targeted form of radiotherapy, was the next treatment option for Caroline, explained Pat and Breda.

We always knew that this might be an option, but it was a daunting proposition as this type of treatment is only available in either Essen in Germany or Manchester.

Once Pat and Breda found out that Caroline would have to travel to Germany for her treatment, they reached out to the Wicklow-based Gavin Glynn Foundation.

The Gavin Glynn Foundation was set up by John and Jayne Glynn after they lost their four and a half-year-old son Gavin to a rare form of cancer known as Rhabdomyosarcoma.

This type of cancer takes the form of a cancerous (malignant) tumour of the muscles that are attached to the bones.

John and Jayne now assist families of children battling cancer to travel overseas for treatment not available in Ireland.

When they heard about Carolines story, they helped the Kenny's with the logistics and financial aspects of travelling to Germany for Carolines specialist treatment.

"We cannot praise John, his wife Jayne and the charity they set up in memory of their son Gavin highly enough. John has organised everything for us from start to finish. He booked flights, hotels and transfers for our initial trip to Essen back in November.

Caroline Kenny was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2014. Photo: #swim4caroline iDonate

He also has a team set up in Aer Lingus who meet you at the door of Dublin Airport and accompany you the whole way through the airport to your seat on the plane.

"They are doing this on a voluntary basis and during their time off. Thanks to Niamh, Karen, Tina and Rhys for looking after us so well, you made what is a very stressful situation a whole lot easier, said Breda.

No matter the time of day or night John is always at the end of the phone to deal with any query or request you have, and nothing is too much trouble. Caroline and I travelled to Essen again on December 6 to start Caroline's 30 sessions of treatment.

"Again, John booked flights, transfers and a beautiful apartment for us in Essen close to the hospital.

"We will be here for approximately six weeks while Caroline is receiving the treatment. We will forever be indebted to the Gavin Glynn Foundation.

The money raised by Caroline's family through iDonate and the Christmas swim will all go to the Gavin Glynn Foundation, to help them carry on the important work they are doing for young people in Ireland like Caroline.

As part of the Kenny familys fundraising efforts, a fundraising swim took place at Clonea Strand in Waterford on December 26. This swim and the iDonate page set up by Carolines family has raised over 57,000 for Caroline, with all the funds being donated to the Gavin Glynn Foundation.

Carolines mum Breda is grateful for all the money raised so far, and thanked the Gavin Glynn Foundation for all they have done for Caroline.

Our daughter Caroline is a wonderful child. She has battled her brain tumour since she was five-years-old, she is 14 now. She always has a smile on her face and no matter what treatment or procedure she has to face she gets on with it and is always thankful to those who help her along the way.

She lives for her grannies and grandads, her uncles, aunts, lots of cousins and her school friends. She has five wonderful sisters and her Daddy Pat, who she is mad about.

We are both looking forward to returning home to Ireland towards the end of January and seeing everyone again. If anybody has the opportunity to support the Gavin Glynn Foundation at any stage please do so, they are a wonderful organisation, and we cant thank them enough.

Donations can be made on the #swim4caroline iDonate page until January 31, 2024.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, December 29. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated a $40 million grant to Tajikistan, Trend reports.

The funding is intended to help the government improve the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) topics in secondary schools. This project also includes increasing awareness about climate change and encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers.

Tajikistan's Minister of Finance, Fayziddin Qahhorzoda, and ADB Country Director in Tajikistan, Shanny Campbell, signed the deal in Dushanbe.

The project's goal is to improve STEM teaching techniques for students in grades 5 to 11, using a skill-based approach to help students acquire critical analysis and teamwork abilities that will allow them to address real-world challenges.

The project encompasses the training of STEM teachers and the modernization of educational materials. It will involve the modernization of 20 schools in four regions of the country and an improvement in school management. Climate change-related topics will be integrated into STEM curricula and materials.

The project will directly benefit 11,500 students, including 5,600 girls in targeted schools, as well as approximately 4,000 STEM teachers, education specialists, school management, and communities in project implementation areas.

The partnership between the ADB and Tajikistan dates back to 1998. ADB has provided Tajikistan with over $2.5 billion in assistance since then.
The girls mother says her daughter is now out of Temple Street Childrens Hospitals Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

The mum of a five-year-old girl left fighting for her life on Parnell Street has revealed her daughter is improving and has even smiled.

The girl has remained in hospital where she is being treated for critical injuries following the incident on 23 November in Dublins city centre.

Creche worker Leanne Flynn, from Dublin, was also seriously injured during the same incident on Parnell Square.

However, the girls mum has now given an update on her health through a GoFundMe page set up to help the family, called 'Barrog do Chailin Beag' (A Hug for a Little Girl).

The little girls parents have previously used the online fundraising site  which has raised more than 58,000 so far - to keep well-wishers informed of her progress.

On a message left on the GoFundMe page, the girls mother says her daughter is now out of Temple Street Childrens Hospitals Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

She writes: Our angel has been out of the PICU for two weeks now. She is more alert and even smiled.

"We still have a long time still in hospital, but she is out of danger. Thank you everyone for all the help and support.

"All our love.

Following the attack on Parnell Street, the girl was rushed to Temple Street where she received emergency medical treatment for critical injuries.

However, she has recently rallied and made progress under the care of hospital staff and medics.

The GoFundMe page can be found at: https://gofund.me/6b6f1e1e.

Riad Bouchaker (50) is currently before the courts in connection with the incident on November 23.

He is charged with three counts of attempted murder, one of producing and possessing a kitchen knife, three counts of assault causing harm and one of assault causing serious harm.
The cheeky primate is about the size of a tom cat or a small dog, and Mr. Heffernan has warned that the animal is very agile and a great tree-climber

Wicklow people have been warned not to approach a marauding monkey which is on the loose in the Garden of Ireland.

The worlds most intelligent organ grinder monkey, the famed nut-cracking capuchin, broke free from Rathdrum Monkey Sanctuary last week and is believed to still be somewhere in the Rathdrum area.

Monkey sanctuary manager William Heffernan has sent out an urgent message to locals to be on the lookout for an escaped capuchin monkey" and he warns the public not to approach the animal.

Willie approaches the sanctuary by boat (Pic: Rathdrum Monkey Sanctuary)

The cheeky primate is about the size of a tom cat or a small dog, and Mr Heffernan has warned that the animal is very agile and a great tree-climber, Wicklownews reports.

The sanctuary is only reachable by boat and how the monkey managed to escape is not known although it may have managed to swim or climbed onto a floating object.

Sanctuary owner Mr Heffernan is a true animal lover and his monkeys owe their lives to what is Ireland's first and only sanctuary for unwanted primates.

Capuchin seen in a tree

"The best part about this unique project is how the lives of these monkeys have been totally transformed: monkeys that had spent their entire lives in cages are now are free to live on idyllic islands in a spring-fed lake at the sanctuary, where they spend their days climbing and swinging on trees, a spokesperson states.

Mr Heffernan keeps 17 capuchin monkeys who are natives of the South American rainforest and a Sooty Mangabey, a native of equatorial West Africa.

The capuchin is considered to be the most intelligent small monkey and is noted for its long-term tool usage, one of the few examples of primate tool use other than by apes and humans.

Upon seeing macaws eating palm nuts, cracking them open with their beaks, capuchins will select a few of the ripest fruits, nip off the tip of the fruit and drink down the juice, then seemingly discard the rest of the fruit with the nut inside.

Locals are warned to be aware as these monkeys can swing up to 34 mph through trees over great distances.

When the discarded fruits have hardened and become brittle, the capuchin will gather them up again and take them to boulders where they gather stones.

They will then use these stones, some of them weighing as much as themselves, to crack open the fruit to get to the nut inside.

Young capuchins will watch this process to learn from older relatives.

At this point, it is understood there have been no reports of any monkey business, Wicklow authorities remain vigilant and hope to get the issue off their back soon.
Sammy Wilson accused the Belfast school of being a breeding ground for the promotion of blood-thirsty terrorism.

Colaiste Feirste, which is the only Irish language speaking secondary school based in Belfast, took to social media to share images of pupils holding Palestinian flags.

A JEWISH schoolgirl has branded DUP MP Sammy Wilson as ignorant after he described a school protest she took part in as promoting blood-thirsty terrorism.

GCSE student Aoibhin McConnell (16) has been at the forefront of protests in Belfast in support of the people of Gaza as the Israeli response to the October 7 Hamas attacks continues to come under question.

And she was involved in a school protest in the first few days after Israel started its bombardment of Gaza  which led to the school being accused by some unionist politicians of supporting terrorism and being anti-Jewish.

Colaiste Feirste, Belfasts Irish-language secondary school, shared images of pupils holding Palestinian flags with caption Tacaionn muid leis an Phalaistin which translates to We Support Palestine.

The photographs were accompanied by a video of a pupil who gave a speech where reiterating support for those living in Gaza.

East Antrim MP Mr Wilson asked the Prime Minister to condemn the school in parliament and accused the school of being a breeding ground for the promotion of blood-thirsty terrorism and anti-Jewish rhetoric.

Sammy Wilson Photo:PressEye

Aoibhin says she couldnt believe it when the school was being accused of supporting terrorism.

I think its extremely offensive and ignorant of those unionist politicians like Sammy Wilson who accused us of supporting terrorism, she said.

All we did was hold a protest supporting peace and the people of Gaza because many innocent people were being bombed and killed by Israel.

There was no anti-Jewish rhetoric at all. How could I have been involved in anything anti-Jewish when Im Jewish?

I think it was disgraceful stereotyping from those politicians because we go to an Irish school  they assume we are all republicans and support terrorism. But thats completely wrong.

The ethos of the school is all about peace and not everyone who goes there comes from a nationalist background.

Mr Wilson described the protest as abhorrent and called for the Department of Education to hold an investigation.

The department has said it would be contacting the school for further information.

Wilson went further a week later at Westminster when, during Prime Ministers Questions, he asked Rishi Sunak to condemn the school.

He said: Will he therefore join me in condemning the Irish language-speaking school in west Belfast whose students held pro-Palestinian demonstrations this week, which were facilitated within the school?

Colaiste Feirste, which is the only Irish language speaking secondary school based in Belfast, took to social media to share images of pupils holding Palestinian flags.

Does he agree that schools should be places where pupils are taught that it is morally wrong to support terrorism, and they should not facilitate such demonstrations?

Meanwhile, TUV leader Jim Allister said: This episode of exaltation of terrorism after the bloodthirsty exploits of Hamas is not just a shocking endorsement of terror, but surely indicative of a teaching approach which engenders and fails to discourage such.

A pupil who organised the protest said afterwards: Some students organised a demonstration for the rights and justice of Palestine yesterday, showing the great humanitarian heart they have and their commitment to the people around the world.

Aoibhin says it was disgraceful how she and her fellow pupils were portrayed. And we can reveal that another of the half-dozen students who held that first lunch-time protest was a Muslim.

Aoibhin explained: We werent waving Hamas flags or promoting terrorism in any way at all. There was no support for Hamas at all.

We were waving Palestinian flags because, by that stage, hundreds of Palestinians had been killed by Israeli airstrikes and we knew there would be many, many more. We feared for the people of Gaza and we wanted to show solidarity with them  it wasnt their fault what Hamas did.

Now over 20,000 Palestinians have died  many of them are children like us  and we were worried back then that this was exactly what would happen.

Aoibhin lives in north Belfast and has spoken at a number of pro-Palestinian protests, including a Die-In staged at the University of Ulster.

She was asked to speak after organisers saw her addressing her fellow students at the school protests on videos posted on social media.

She said: It was nerve-wrecking talking to all those people, but I wanted to speak out as a Jew to let people know that not every Jew supports what Israel is doing.

There was some fear standing up as a Jew supporting the Palestinians, but Im very open about my Jewish heritage and its my opinion that Zionism goes against what Jews stand for.

She says her Jewish grandmother, Sue Pentel, has been a long-outspoken campaigner for Palestinian rights. Ms Pentel is a member of the Belfast Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and works for Jews for Palestine-Ireland.

My granny taught me about my Jewish heritage and what the core values of being Jewish are  peace and that everyone has the right to freedom, said Aoibhin.

Shes always been very vocal about the Palestinians. When Hamas did what they did, obviously we couldnt believe it. It was absolutely terrible.

As a socialist, Im completely against violence and bloodshed from anyone, and for Hamas to rape women as a war tactic is absolutely abhorrent.

But we also immediately feared straight away what the repercussions would be for the innocent people of Gaza and it has been predictably devastating.

Aoibhin took part in the first protest in Belfast city centre in the aftermath of the attack. She says that despite being Jewish, she has had strong support.

Its more important than ever to get out and protest, raise your voice and be vocal. At times like this, when thousands of innocent people are dying, Im trying to be even more active than usual.

My mum has faith in me and my family is very political and very supportive. Ive always felt free to express my own views.

Im studying politics and history for GCSE and attending these protests is only helping my education.

Watching what is happening in Gaza does make me angry and its easy to get caught up in it all and become very down about it. But I think there are lots of people like me in Ireland who should express their feelings and emotions about it.

I try and channel the feelings of anger to promote peaceful change.
Keely McGrath, 26, moved Down Under in January of last year and says Aussies make far less money than she expected

Before she was blonde, the Irish influencer was a red-head

A young ex-pat has claimed Aussies make far less money than she expected when she moved Down Under in January.

Keely McGrath, from Ireland, was shocked by the cost of living in Australia and questioned how locals manage to save any money at all

The 26-year-old, who works in social media management, questioned how people make a living and claimed 9-5 workers earn less compared to what they would back here.

'Where are the people in Australia that are making money? Where are you? Because I'm in Sydney and there's no money to be made,' she said in a now-viral TikTok video.

'You're paycheck to paycheck here and I don't care what anyone says because everyone I know is paycheck to paycheck. Very minimal savings. What's the story?'

Keely has 22.5k followers on Instagram

Keely said workers in rural areas or traffic control employees earn a decent income compared to most corporate workers.

'I know lots of my friends do traffic control and they're making bank because they go to the mines and do two weeks on, one week off, and get their food and accommodation paid for,' she said.

'But normal people? People who aren't doing that, if people are just working 9-5. Is there money to be made here? Cause I don't see it.

'I ain't seeing it, I ain't hearing about it, I ain't accumulating money. I'm probably more broke and more stressed than I've ever been in my entire life.'

In the comments of the video Keely added that she and her partner are living the life' and are 'spending all their money doing so'.

Before she was blonde, the Irish influencer was a red-head

A record 500,000 migrants are expected to have arrived in Australia in just a year during a cost of living and housing crisis.

In the year to August, a near-record 413,530 overseas migrants moved to Australia, with the level doubling compared with the same time in mid-2022.

According to population and migration numbers from Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland's current housing crisis is often cited as a key reason why thousands are moving abroad, including to Australia.

The CSO also estimated that 4,700 people left Ireland for Australia from April 2022 to April 2023.

Meanwhile Australian households have been put under immense strain this year as the cost of living soared.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging people to not set off fireworks this New Year's Eve and over the summer.

Community education manager Adrian Nacey says in recent years he has seen people buy fireworks at Guy Fawkes and store them away to light over the summer months.

"Last year, we were called to several fires over the New Year period started from fireworks, and this year our appeal to the public is do not set off any fireworks."

Large vegetation fires at Pegasus Beach and Te Mata Peak last year were caused by fireworks and resulted in communities being evacuated and thousands of native trees destroyed.

Earlier this month, crews fought fires near Lake Dunstan in Central Otago that were also caused by fireworks.

"New Year's Eve and the summer months is not the time to be setting off fireworks - particularly with the approaching El Nino weather conditions that are forecast to bring hotter, drier, and windier conditions in many parts of Aotearoa New Zealand," says Nacey.

"There may also be restrictions on the use of fireworks in your area during summer, so it's important to check for current bans, the fire season, and the fire danger.

"If you want to bring in the New Year with a bang, we recommend attending public fireworks displays where possible.

"It's easy to do your part to keep your community safe over the holidays."

-RNZ.
St John is reminding people to stay safe in the water this summer, as families head to beaches, swimming holes, rivers and backyard pools.

In 2022, Hato Hone St John responded to 434 water incidents across the country - a 14 per cent increase on the previous year.

From December 2022 to February 2023, ambulance officers attended almost 200 - several of which were fatal.

Topping the list of water hotspots requiring an ambulance last summer were Whangarei, Dargaville, Auckland's North Shore, Mt Maunganui, Hahei, Rotorua, Taupo, Lyttelton, Tairua and Warkworth.

According to Water Safety New Zealand, 85 per cent of drowning victims last year were male, with drownings from 'unintentional immersion' making up over 30 per cent of the country's annual drowning toll for the five-year period to 2022.

Drowning Prevention Auckland urges people to check the depth of the water and find a safe entry and exit point before they get in.

Chief executive Nicola Keen-Biggelaar has advice if people find themselves in difficulty in the water.

"Float on their back as a first response using the Float First survival steps. Once their breathing is under control, they should let someone know they are in trouble by calling out or signalling with their arm."

St John deputy chief executive - ambulance operations, Dan Ohs, says they have already seen a rise in water-related incidents as people flocked to beaches and swimming pools.

"Our workload increases over summer, especially at popular swimming hotspots around the motu, and we want people to have fun in the water, but please know your limits and keep an eye out for whanau and friends so everyone can stay safe."

Andy Everiss, St John district operations manager - Tamaki Makaurau, says ambulance officers anticipate more callouts involving inflatable backyard pools.

"This summer is anticipated to be longer, hotter and drier, and inflatable pools seem to be popular with families this year. A lot of these inflatable pools are quite big and deep, too, with high sides and ladders to get into them, so please make sure you don't take your eyes off your tamariki in and around that new inflatable pool you've bought for Christmas."

Hato Hone St John wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable summer and offered some tips on staying safe in and on the water.

Many of the water-related incidents attended by ambulance officers are preventable and unfortunately alcohol often plays a part - so it's best to avoid it.

If you see someone in trouble in the water, stay calm and get help immediately - alert any lifeguards on duty or seek out others to assist.

If it is safe for you to do so, get the person out of the water, check if they are breathing and if they have a pulse. If there is no pulse, start CPR immediately and ensure someone has called 111 for an ambulance.

If you are boating, wear a correctly fitted life jacket, tell someone where you're going and know exactly where your location is.

Always supervise children around water.

Be aware of dangers and risks such as rips at the beach, and always swim between the flags or near a lifeguard if possible.

Avoid swimming alone as water conditions can change quickly and unexpectedly.

Lastly, if you are in, on, or around water this summer, remember to protect yourself from the sun's harsh rays by seeking shade during the hottest part of the day, covering up with clothing and regularly reapplying sunscreen - and don't forget to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

-RNZ.
Ask Amber Carpenter about dairy farming and youll hear the passion in her voice as she answers.

The South Auckland dairy farmer and Dairy Environment Leaders chair says the sector is incredible, thanks to the opportunities it offers and the people in it.

Farmers always have time to help others, they share ideas and give advice, and you know people are there for you should you need them. It's great to be part of such a positive and engaging sector.

Its quite the endorsement for the sector, and theres plenty more where that came from  Amber was introduced to the sector 17 years ago and says it was love at first sight.

The opportunities are amazing and the people are incredible. They all look after each other and the land and animals. Farmers generally put themselves last.

Farming, Amber says, also offers a great lifestyle and the chance to be at home with the kids (she and husband Fraser have two children  Oliver, six and Noah, three).

She came into farming from a career in corporate fashion  Amber worked for Karen Walker and as a buyer for Farmers Trading Company, among other roles. In 2007 she met Fraser at a 21st and added part-time farmer to her full-time commitments.

Fast-forward to 2018. Amber was working as a national merchandising manager for Cotton On NZ and had just given birth to Oliver when she committed to farming full-time.

She and Fraser had been equal partners in the sharemilking business they started in 2015  theyre now in their ninth season  and Amber was helping on-farm on weekends or doing the books at night when she got home from town or overseas.

We realised we needed to make a choice  urban life following my career, or rural life following Frasers. Its obvious which path we took, she laughs.

Dairy farmer Amber Carpenter.

But exchanging high heels for gumboots wasnt easy for Amber: it was one of the hardest transitions shes faced.

I knew it was the right decision, but it wasnt an easy process. I didnt expect to mourn the loss of my old career. It was a big part of who I was, so I suppose I felt like Id lost part of myself. I was constantly worried I wouldnt be welcomed or be told I didnt belong.

The sector welcomed her, though, and she doesnt regret the move for a minute. Im so grateful we followed our hearts to stay farming and bring our kids up in a rural community.

Shes certainly made an impact across the sector. Amber was appointed chair of DairyNZs Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) network in June 2023, charged with leading other environmentally minded farmers into a sustainable future.

The role appealed, she says, because shes passionate about making a difference and driving change for a better future.

Im aware I am filling very large shoes from the amazing work previous chairs, including Martin Bennett, Tracy Brown and Melissa Slattery, have achieved. Continuing to build on their work is important.

The DEL group involves 400 dairy farmer members nationwide who collaborate with other dairy farmers, communities, and decision-makers to drive positive on-farm environmental progress. DELs also share with the wider community the great work dairy farmers have been doing nationwide, such as planting, fencing off waterways and creating wetlands to reduce nutrient losses and provide a habitat for native plants and animals. The dairy sector is committed to improving the environment and DELs vision of a sustainable future aligns with Ambers values.

She and Fraser are dedicated to caring for the land  their goal is to leave the land better than they found it for future generations. They have a plan every season to lower their environmental footprint, such as reducing nitrogen and fertiliser inputs and imported feed.

As sharemilkers we work with what is in our control, Amber says.

Understanding our numbers is key, and working with farm owners who value environmental sustainability is important to us. We appreciate working with previous and current farm owners on farm environment plans and being involved in the conversations when it comes to planting and fencing off wetlands.

I want to be a part of DEL to help us on this journey, to have the opportunity to connect with like-minded people to share ideas, hear different viewpoints, collaborate and make a positive impact, whether it is on our own farm or in the community, she says. All the small changes each day and each season help us make a bigger overall impact.

Although we have many challenges ahead of us, there are also so many opportunities. I think the future of the dairy sector is exciting and bright.
The cost of housing the homeless in short-term accommodation appears to be trending down but is still costing the country more than $300 million a year.

In the five years from 2018 to 2022, the Ministry of Social Development spent $1.48 billion on emergency housing grants  jumping from $52.42 million in 2018 to a peak of $374.17m in 2022, data released under the Official Information Act shows.

The grants are paid directly to accommodation providers to house people looking for transitional housing or rentals and $254.93m has been spent in the year to September 2023.

At this rate, the annual figure for 2023 is likely to land around $340m  a nine per cent reduction on the 2022 peak.

Ministry group general manager housing Karen Hocking says people who received the grants did not have access to other accommodation adequate for them or their familys needs.

People are often put up in motels or other similar quarters for up to seven nights, but that could be extended depending on individual circumstances, says Hocking.

And while the new National, Act and New Zealand First coalition government has promised to fast-track families out of emergency housing into permanent homes more quickly, the demand is still high.

Hocking says many people are experiencing a severe and immediate need.

This demand is generated by a shortage of affordable housing driving up house prices and rents.

Hocking says some people struggle to access long-term solutions, so they might end up receiving the grants for a longer period.

The data also shows some of the motels being used are being paid millions under the scheme.

The highest paid, Anglesea Motel & Conference Centre in Hamilton and Mcentral Apartments Manukau, have received $26.19m and $25.68m respectively.

This reflects the fact Auckland and Waikato have the highest number of people living in emergency accommodation.

In the Super City alone there were 2466 people in September, of which 1101 were adults and 1365 children.

Hosking said the Ministry recognised motels were not a long-term solution or the solution MSD wanted to deliver for people who were potentially in a vulnerable situation.

They provide a short-term solution while more sustainable options are progressed.

Its a view shared by Katrina Taikato, the general manager of Fountain Court Motel Tauranga, which is part of the Fountain Court Motel group that has received $13.55m since 2019.

Taikato says the motel was able to make a profit out of the grants but, on a personal note, she thought this is not where the government should invest the money.

She says hundreds of people in need of emergency housing have stayed through the years, mostly families with kids.

And while shed had to kick people out at times and faced a couple of challenges over the years, these were not worse than what had been seen with tourists.

Taikato says it felt good to help people and it gave her the idea of having built a sort of family village.

Theres quite a few that have come through the place and go on to find a new home and stuff [but] theyre always replaced with somebody else.

There is always someone else on the list that needs help, she says.

The emergency housing grants are just one of the ways the housing crisis is being tackled in New Zealand and before finding a stable and private home, people in emergency housing usually go through a period of transitional housing while learning valuable skills.

However, the transitional housing programme is handled by Kainga Ora, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Social Development.

One of the organisations providing this support is the Monte Cecilia Trust, which worked with 1808 Auckland families in the last financial year, delivering transitional and community housing.

Chief executive Vicki Sykes says as well as providing a place to live, people were also helped to gain financial and life skills.

Sometimes that takes the form of budgeting workshops to help them make their money stretch further, sometimes it means helping them work toward a better career or start their own business.

She says the trust currently manages 625 properties across the Auckland region, of which 250 were transitional houses, and 375 community houses.

Sykes says the trust works alongside landlords who lease properties to the trust to tackle the housing crisis in New Zealand.

Ideally, if there was enough suitable houses for all New Zealanders, no-one would need to live in emergency housing.

The current model is expensive and unsatisfactory for all. We would urge the new government to talk with the community housing sector which can provide a range of workable and more cost-effective solutions.

-
Young Californian racing talent Michael `Buddy Kofoid had to beat the weather, a challenging track and New Zealands most successful racer to claim a Thursday night victory at Baypark Speedways international Midget Car feature.

Kofoid led from start to finish in the 30-lapper leading home 10-time New Zealand champion Michael Pickens who had to start deep in the pack and race his way towards the front.

The California racer also gains a slice of redemption from last nights win after leading the same race last summer but finishing third after tagging the wall and damaging the front suspension of his car.

Kofoid knew Pickens would emerge as a threat because multiple early race cautions prevented him building a clear lead.

I couldnt really see the big screen, but I could hear them [officials] calling his number on the radio, says Kofoid.

I kept doing what I was doing and dodging all the ruts. Im happy they got it [the race] in. The track turned out better than I thought it was going to be and I appreciate everyone at Baypark for putting the work in.

Pickens raced forward using a spectacular outside line that he described as fast but edgy.

He reached second place on lap 18 but didnt get the chance to pressure Kofoid.

I ran out of tear offs and the motor started to lay over late in the race so then I couldnt run the outside line, says Pickens.

The 30-lap Midget Car Feature podium (left-to-right) Michael Pickens, Buddy Kofoid and Mitch Fabish.

Young Te Awamutu racer Mitch Fabish qualified third and threatened Kofoid on several of the early restarts to continue his strong start to the international season with a third place finish ahead of Brock Maskovich and Peter Hunnibell.

A huge field lined up for the Hokey Ashby Memorial Super Stock event. The final featured 40 starters and was led early on by NZ champ Asher Rees before his brother Ethan took over the lead.

But the big mover in the pack was Palmerston Norths Jack Miers, driving a car loaned by Huntly racer Thomas Slater.

Miers started back on the third row of the three-wide grid and drove his way to the front in the drizzle and increasingly greasy conditions to pass Ethan Rees on the final lap.

Baypark racer Todd Hemingway completed the podium with Peter Rees in fourth and Waihis Ross Ashby finished fifth in the race held in honour of his father.

Racers and fans were fortunate to enjoy the holiday season event during a short window of fine weather on Thursday afternoon and evening.

Heavy rain the previous night affected track conditions and drizzle returned near the end of the evening and led to the Sprint Car feature being cancelled.

The sprint car heat race winners were Ayrton Hodson, Ryan OConnor and Rodney Wood.

The international Midget Car action continues at Baypark Speedway next Wednesday night (Jan 3) with the running of the annual Bay 51 feature race which pays $5000 to win.

Jack Miers steered a borrowed car to victory in the Hokey Ashby Memorial Super Stock feature.
A. M. Romero / H. Barbotta Malaga / Seville Friday, 29 December 2023, 15:38 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Two of the most senior officials in the Andalucia regional ministry for Health headed by Catalina Garcia have resigned.

They are the deputy minister, Miguel Angel Guzman, from Malaga, and the head of the Andalusian health service (SAS), Diego Vargas, from Granada.

Both resignations come just a few weeks after bad data on waiting lists in Andalucia which caused criticism from opposition parties and trade unions and opened the first major crisis in the current rule of the Andalusian president, Juanma Moreno. In the figures, there were 1,045,106 patients waiting - of whom 841,731 were waiting for a first consultants appointment and 203,475 were waiting for surgery.

Both men leaving their posts have cited personal reasons for quitting. For now, the Andalusian government has closed ranks in support of the regional minister for Health, Catalina Garcia, and her management of health care in Andalucia. While admitting that it was clear a fresh approach was useful to address the problems, a spokesperson denied the two had been asked to resign.

Miguel Angel Guzman, from Malaga, had held the post of deputy minister since July 2022 and prior to that ran the health service (SAS) itself.

The Andalusian regional government approved replacements for the two resignations this week. The new deputy minister of Health will be Maria Luisa del Moral, currently a member of parliament for Jaen, while Valle Garcia, managing director of the Reina Sofia hospital in Cordoba, will head the SAS, according to sources consulted.

As part of its drive to get waiting lists down, the SAS is looking to fill 3,838 positions; 2,865 from open recruitment and 973 from internal promotion.
SUR in English Gibraltar Friday, 29 December 2023 | Updated 03/01/2024 07:47h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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The head of the Gibraltar Civil Service, the Chief Secretary, is stepping down to spend more time with his family. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo paid tribute to the six years of service of Darren Grech in a message to Gibraltar's parliament last week.

According to Picardo's statement, Grech's daughter has recently undergone surgery in London, although she is making a speedy recovery.

The Chief Minister said, "When life throws you these circumstances it really does make one think where your priorities lie and about the debt of time one has with the core family. I entirely empathise. Darren has, therefore now asked to step down from his role as Chief Secretary."

He added that Grech will continue to work with him directly on educational projects, an area in which he previously worked.

"Given Darren's experience in the field I have wholeheartedly agreed to this believing he has earned the right to determine his own future," added Picardo

"I recruited Darren from Education following his sterling work in transforming the schooling landscape and having observed his innate ability in dealing with people and investing in them."

New appointment

The new Chief Secretary, who will be responsible for overseeing the running of government on the Rock will be Glendon Martinez, who starts on 1 January. Previously from the private sector, Martinez has recently been overseeing changes to the Royal Gibraltar Post Office.
SUR in English Gibraltar Friday, 29 December 2023, 14:34 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The government of Gibraltar has welcomed the news issued by the High Commission of India in London confirming that holders of Gibraltar-issued British passports can once again have access to the e-visa system operated by India for visitors to that country. Gibraltar and India had been discussing the issue for some time.

The High Commissioner of India, Vikram Doraiswami, visited Gibraltar just before Christmas for the first time as part of his responsibility for relations with all British territories, meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia.

This extension of the e-visa facility to holders of Gibraltar-issued passports will allow families of the UK nationals with Gibraltar passports with Indian roots and Gibraltarians wishing to visit India much easier access to visas.
Alekk M. Saanders Torrox Friday, 29 December 2023, 15:18 Compartir Copiar enlace

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In the 1990s Vasyl Nepeliak was close to graduating from university in western Ukraine where he studied theology. However he was unable to realise his religious aspirations to join the priesthood because the economic situation in Ukraine back then forced him to go abroad to Spain.

Now, three decades on, he has just been voted one of the top four food and drink businesses in the eastern Costa del Sol resort of Torrox.

Happy with two jobs

"I didn't come to Spain to loiter and laze in the sun. Nor could I afford to indulge in the great local food and wine. I needed a job and I was happy to find two jobs. I got a good start in Frigiliana. I really enjoyed baking bread and being part of the Spanish staff who also helped me to learn Spanish. My English definitely improved while I worked in the home of the English couple. Robert and Alison were very kind to me and they ended up being like family," Vasyl told SUR in English.

"My English definitely improved while I worked in the home of the English couple" Vasyl Nepeliak

It wasn't long before Vasyl had a family of his own. He met Lesya Cherkes, a Ukrainian girl, on the Costa del Sol who had also come to Spain in search of work.

Their working hours didn't coincide and didn't allow for the couple to spend much time together. One of the solutions was to start their own business and work together  side by side. By 2016, both Vasyl and Lesya had gained experience in the restaurant business and they took the decision to open a pizzeria.

Low-cost business

Offering pizzas on the Costa del Sol, where there are many pizzerias owned by Italians, appeared to not be an easy mission for the Ukrainian beginners but Vasyl and Lesya understood this.

"Lesya and I decided to open a low-cost pizzeria where pizza would be inexpensive and that everyone - from students to pensioners - could afford it. I knew from my experience with local restaurants that there are some fixed costs and trends that restaurant owners can't do much about. So it was more important to focus on what I could change. What I did... I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and started calculating. I knew that after identifying opportunities for saving money, it would be possible to reduce the cost of production and thus keep the price low," Vasyl explains.

The Ukrainians have managed to keep prices much lower than others all these years. All year round, if you walk along the Torrox Costa promenade, you will smell the aroma of fresh, fire-roasted tomatoes and melting mozzarella. Many foreigners come to the pizzeria not only because of the low prices but also because of the quality they get at I Love Pizza, the name chosen by Vasyl to be understood internationally.

Interior of the pizzeria. A.M.S.

Vasyl and his regulars from Britain, Germany and Sweden, among others, understand each other's tastes well. They can order an exclusive pizza, created especially to their preferences. Vasyl doesn't mind, because for himself to eat he makes pizza with tuna, bacon and lots of onions. Apparently, this flavour reminds him of a dish in Ukrainian cuisine. There are also unusual Ukrainian, Czech and Polish beers on the menu, such as the raspberry beer made in Ukraine.

When the war started in Ukraine, a lot of people supported us and at the same time our customers wanted to learn more about Ukrainian foods

"I guess it's one of my missions to help people recognise Ukrainian cuisine. When the war started in Ukraine, a lot of people supported us and at the same time our customers wanted to learn more about Ukrainian foods. So, we added some Ukrainian dishes to our menu. In addition, we organised a campaign for people to help the Ukrainian army in this difficult time," Vasyl explained.

A collection of Agatha Christie books in the restaurant. A.M.S.

This year, the pizzeria was honoured as one of the four best places to eat and drink in Torrox by the local council on Tourist Day in September.

When asked how Vasyl's original religious ambitions fit with his reality as a businessman today, he immediately replied, "I think I'm doing something good for people, and that's important."

This year's award. A.M.S.

This year, the pizzeria was honoured as one of the four best places to eat and drink in Torrox by the local council on Tourist Day in September.

When asked how Vasyl's original religious ambitions fit with his reality as a businessman today, he immediately replied, "I think I'm doing something good for people, and that's important."
Sculptures by Picasso in one of the anniversary exhibitions in Malaga.

Tony Bryant Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023 | Updated 30/12/2023 21:17h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Art Malaga celebrates 50th anniversary of Picasso's death

Malaga continued to bolster its reputation as an established cultural destination in 2023. The year kicked off with the announcement that the city would form part of Picasso Celebration 1973-2023, joining other cities around the world with important events to mark the 50th anniversary of the artist's death.

The Echo of Picasso. One of the anniversary exhibitions in 2023. Migue Fernandez

A series of events and exhibitions highlighted the life and achievements of the locally born painter. 'Picasso Year 2023' was officially launched at the Albeniz Cinema during a Hollywood-style gala to reveal a programme of activities - including four major exhibitions of works by Picasso and other artists - that had been drawn up by the governments of Spain and France.

Another cause for celebration was that October marked 20 years since the opening of the Picasso Museum in Malaga.

The mayor of Malaga with Bernard Picasso at the 20th anniversary of the museum. Nito Salas

Art Calleja returns to Malaga with iconic wide-eyed cats

Javier Calleja with one of his exhibits. SUR

Apart from Picasso's year, 2023 also marked the return to Malaga of local artist with global fame Javier Calleja.

His exhibition, Mr Gunter, The Cat Show, was held at the Unicaja foundation cultural centre, while another of his iconic works stood outdoors near Malaga Cathedral.

New facilities OXO video game museum opens in city centre

The OXO video game museum opened its doors to the public at the end of January. The museum was officially inaugurated by Juanma Moreno, the president of the Junta de Andalucia, and the mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre.

In the OXO video game museum Migue Fernandez

Another facility that was incepted in 2023 was the new state-of-the-art Mirador del Carmen Auditorium and exhibition centre in Estepona.

Malaga further pinned itself on the artistic scene with the opening of new cultural facilities, while others marked anniversaries, or were acknowledged for their contributions. One important anniversary came in May, when the Interactive Music Museum (MIMMA), a museum where visitors are encouraged to play the instruments, marked two decades. The museum boasts more than a thousand musical instruments from all over the world, making it one of the best collections in Spain.

The Rock Factory, the modern music school that opened in San Pedro Alcantara in 2015, was voted best music school in Spain by the Corporate Livewire Prestige Awards, which honours the best companies in their respective fields.

Music Robbie Williams among star acts at Costa festivals

Robbie Williams on stage in Fuengirola. Hugo Cortes

Making its mark once again as a top music festival destination, the province has enjoyed festivals presenting a variety of genres.

Some of the top international bands and musicians stopped off in Malaga for performances at the provinces top five music festivals.

These included Gloria Gaynor and Bonnie Tyler, who performed at the Sabatic Fest; Tom Jones, Rod Stewart and Iggy Pop, at Starlite Marbella; and Robbie Williams and UB40 at the Marenostrum Fuengirola cycle. Marbella arena presented celebrated artistes such as The Jacksons and Chris de Burgh, while Florence and the Machine headlined the Cala Mijas Festival, all of which made Malaga a benchmark for musical activities.
Eugenio Cabezas Velez-Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023, 12:02 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Velez-Malaga, on the eastern stretch of Malaga province, has undergone a major transformation in recent years, with more than 10 pedestrianisation and semi-pedestrianisation projects in streets and squares of the town centre, with the aim of turning the area into a tourist destination as well as improving the town for residents.

After completing work this Christmas on the Canalejas pedestrian area, Plaza de Las Carmelitas and Camino de Malaga, with an investment of around three million euros, other upcoming projects include the redevelopment of Plaza de la Constitucion and Plaza San Juan de Dios and the La Fortaleza viewpoint.

However, these projects will not be finished by Sunday 31 December, which is when the deadline for their completion set by the EU Edusi funding programme expires.

As such the town hall will be forced to return three grants amounting to around one million euros, as estimated by the councillor for infrastructure, Jesus Maria Claros.

The councillor pointed out that they are working to find municipal funding to cover the full cost of the three projects, 80 per cent of which had been intended to come from EU funds.

New sources of funding

"It has been impossible to execute them on schedule, so we will have to bear the full amount," said Claros in statements to Cadena Ser radio in the Axarquia. He acknowledged that when they were awarded the 633,906 euros funding for the Plaza de la Constitucion project in July they were aware that it would be very difficult to meet the deadline. The work is progressing, but there are still several weeks to go before it is completed.

In the case of Plaza San Juan de Dios, work began last October, with a 377,355-euro budget and a six-month completion period. At La Fortaleza work also began in October, with a 171,600-euro budget, 80 per cent of which is co-financed with European funds, and with a four-month completion period.

Claros explained that the final amount to be returned from these European funds has not been finalised, as there are still a few days to go before the end of the month. However, the councillor acknowledged that this situation means new sources of funding will have to be sought for other works that are also planned in the town centre, although in these cases they will be for "smaller amounts".
Tony Bryant Torremolinos Friday, 29 December 2023, 13:10 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Torremolinos town hall has reminded residents and visitors that the use of fireworks, rockets and firecrackers in public areas of the town is strictly prohibited, unless expressly authorised by the municipal authority. The law regulating the use of pyrotechnics in the municipality, which was introduced in 2019, has been enforced to protect minors with autism spectrum disorder, babies, the elderly and pets, all of whom are affected by the noise caused by this type of activity.

The towns mayor, Margarita del Cid, said that Local Police officers will ensure that people comply with the regulations throughout the festive season, especially on New Years Eve.

The statement from the councillor warns of the sanctions contained in the municipal ordinance of the Pyrotechnic Articles and Cartridges Regulation, which lays out the financial penalties, as well as the seizure of the material that is the object of the infringement, the suspension of the activity, and even the closure of establishments that host unauthorised displays.
Juan Cano Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023, 18:59 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A number of gang members have been arrested in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol after allegedly kidnapping an elderly man, robbing him of around 80,000 euros and abandoning him tied to a tree almost 1,200 kilometres from his home.

The 80-year-old gentleman, described as being in a "comfortable financial position", was kidnapped by the alleged crooks as he left his home in Albufeira in Portugal. They forced him to hand over his banking details and the pin number of his credit card and, after travelling around 1,200 kilometres - during which time they seized more than 80,000 euros from his accounts - they left him tied to a tree in Barcelona, in the north of Spain.

National Police arrested some of the alleged members of the gang when they were spotted driving through Benalmadena in a Mercedes Benz vehicle valued at 100,000 euros. They had allegedly stolen from a woman who they apparently tried to kidnap, but she had managed to escape. Two of those detained are being held in custody.

According to the male victim, three individuals of Brazilian nationality approached him after 11am on 24 August. After threatening him with a gun, they forced him into his own car, a Range Rover worth around 100,000 euros. Two of the alleged offenders occupied the front seats, while the other one climbed in the back with the victim pointing the gun at him. During the trip, they stopped at various ATM cash machines so the victim could make withdrawals.

After being assaulted, he handed over his electronic banking access codes to the alleged kidnappers, who opened an account in the name of one of those investigated, but using his ID card and a photograph they took of the victim. The road trip ended at 3am on 25 August in a forest in the Catalan town of Collbato. The thieves snatched the old man's mobile phone, took his car, and left him tied to a tree. A Local Police patrol found him in a disoriented state and with head injuries.

According to police investigators, the kidnappers allegedly robbed the victim of 84,093 euros. Officers detected 25 transactions involving 17 bank accounts.

Using security cameras and trail left at ATMs machines, the identity of one those being investigated. The judge who is handling the case, has sent him to prison for kidnapping, money laundering and belonging to a criminal group. In his decision, the court considered that the Brazilian man is in an irregular situation in Spain, has no work roots and constantly moved between Portugal, France and Spain while he was being investigated. Additionally, during one of the searches carried out during the operation, a machine for creating false passports was found, which, according to judicial sources, represents an obvious risk of fleeing the country.
Relief came for many British residents in Spain in March when a deal was reached over driving licence exchange. The Spanish and British royals got together at Charles III's coronation

Jennie Rhodes Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023 | Updated 30/12/2023 20:55h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Brexit fallout Deal finally reached over driving licence exchange

Spanish government ministers approved the agreement that would allow UK driving licences held by residents in Spain to be exchanged for Spanish ones and vice versa from Thursday 16 March. The deal passed at the cabinet meeting on 14 March also included the exchange of information about traffic offences affecting road safety.

The agreement included reciprocal recognition and exchange of UK and Gibraltar driving licences in Spain, meaning that people from Gibraltar who hold Gibraltar driving licences would not need an International Driving Permit when they visit Spain.

Shenghen or no Shenghen? Talks resume over post-Brexit status of Gibraltar

The Gib frontier. SUR

On Monday 4 December, the British and Spanish governments restarted conversations over the post-Brexit status of Gibraltar. The meeting came as Brussels confirmed that the next round of formal negotiations between the UK and the EU - the fifteenth so far  would take place in London on 13-14 December. The negotiation of the agreement is being carried out by London and Brussels, but is based on what was agreed by the Spanish and British governments in 2020.

Contact had been at a standstill for months as a result of the early elections in Spain and the recent elections in Gibraltar. The ongoing talks aim to give access for the Rock to Europe as part of the Schengen zone and keep free movement across the Gibraltar-Spain land border following the UK's exit from the EU.

Spain in the UK Spanish royals attend the coronation of King Charles III

King Felipe and Queen Letizia in London. SUR

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia joined other foreign royals at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday 6 May for the coronation of King Charles III. The king and queen were seated with members of other royal families from around the world, in front of the representatives of the Commonwealth and heads of state.

The Spanish couple attended a welcome reception the previous evening given by King Charles for members of foreign royal families for which Letizia wore a pistachio green dress designed by Victoria Beckham as a gesture towards British fashion.

Celebrations took place on the Costa del Sol including the various Royal British Legion branches, the Lions Club, Club Internacional de Nerja and 41 Club Nerja.
SUR in English Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023, 23:30 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Two prominent figures on the Costa del Sol have been rewarded for their contribution to the communities around them in the south of Spain in the UKs New Year Honours list, published this Friday evening (29 December 2023)

Susan Hannam

Cudeca foundation vice-president Susan Hannam has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for her services to palliative care and volunteering in Spain in the 2024 New Year Honours list.

Mrs Hannam, who lives in Benalmadena and has dedicated her life to accompanying patients in their last moments, has played an essential role in the Cudeca Foundation for decades. At Cudeca, which supports both patients and their loved ones and has treated over 1,200 people this year, Mrs Hannam has taken on a variety of roles, from developing their nursing palliative home care service, to training volunteers and boosting the charitys shops.

British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, said, Susans work in palliative care with Cudeca started over thirty years ago and has made a difference to the communities in which the charity is so active. She has helped others in their hours of need, year after year, and is thoroughly deserving of this wonderful recognition.

Susan responded, I was amazed and honoured when I received the phone call from the Ambassador to tell me that I am included in the New Years Honours list with an OBE, as it is directly due to my life for the last 30 years with the Cudeca foundation, which has opened the first independent hospice in Spain. Thanks to the wonderful team of medical palliative specialists along with the very special team of volunteers. Our aim is to give life to the days of patients with a special kind of care.

Margery Anne Taylor

Margery Anne Taylor, president of the Royal British Legion (RBL) Mijas Costa Branch, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to veterans in Spain. The recognition, which has been included in the 2024 New Year Honours list, comes after years of hard work in various roles within the RBL.

As well as being the president of her local branch, Mrs Taylor is a frontline volunteer supporting serving personnel and veterans in times of need and providing valuable training to volunteers who want to follow in her footsteps. Her efforts over the years have now been recognised with an MBE.

Hugh Elliott, British Ambassador to Spain, said, Margery continues to provide an outstanding service to British veterans in southern Spain with her multiple Royal British Legion roles. She embodies the charitys motto of Service not Self and is always available to support its members with enthusiasm, energy and dedication. All this hard work over many years is fully deserving of this MBE.

After learning of the award, Mrs Taylor thanked the other RBL volunteers in the district for their support: It is a tremendous honour and privilege to receive this award for my voluntary work with the Royal British Legion. I know that my parents, both Legion members, would have been immensely proud. Throughout my life I have tried my best to help people in whatever way I could, and to be rewarded for doing something that already gives such fulfilment to my life is amazing. I am so fortunate to have the fantastic support of our other volunteer Legion members in Spain South, as without them, I wouldnt be saying this today.

Two other Spain-based British nationals have been named in the New Year Honours list 2024

 An MBE has been awarded to Mrs Deborah Carol Edgington, former councillor for tourism in Antigua (Fuerteventura) for services to British nationals in Fuerteventura.

 A BEM has been awarded to Mr Philip David Brown. president and co-founder, MACS charity Mojacar area cancer support for services to people with cancer in Spain.
Europa Press Friday, 29 December 2023, 09:59 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Iryo is offering train tickets as cheap as eight euros to travel to all of its destinations in Spain in 2024.

The private high-speed operator owned by Trenitalia partners Air Nostrum and Globalvia, launched the promotion on Wednesday 27 December. It is valid until 11 January.

The company, which has just celebrated its first year of operations in the country, already connects the capital Madrid with ten other cities, including Malaga, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Cuenca, Valencia, Albacete, Alicante, Seville, Cordoba and Tarragona.

Depending on the destination chosen at the time of purchase, passengers will be able to find fares ranging from eight to 20 euros during the promotion.

The most competitive prices are on the Madrid-Valencia route, available from eight euros, and Madrid-Barcelona, from 16 euros. Destinations such as Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, Albacete and Alicante can be found from 18 euros, and the latest Barcelona-Seville connection, inaugurated on 10 December, starts at 20 euros.
Pilar Martinez Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023, 18:02 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Malaga city hotels have registered a record three million overnight stays in the first 11 months of this year, according to new figures.

The figure, published by Spain's INE national statistics institute, beats the total 2.8 million hotel stays recorded last year, which was about 100,000 more than in 2019, the year before the pandemic.

Malaga city hall pointed out that hotel bookings last month raised the total number of overnight stays so far in 2023 to 3,071,226 nights, more than the 2,877,592 registered from January to December 2022. "The city crossed the barrier of three million stays by registering 252,132 hotel nights in November by the 117,526 hotel travellers who, according to INE data, passed through Malaga city in the penultimate month of the year," it said.

Malaga city is also in the top five in Spain in terms for quality and visitor spending, based on data from the INE and the Alliance for Excellence in Tourism (Exceltur). It showed that Malaga was the fourth city in Spain with the highest increase in hotel profitability, after a rise of 35.5% compared to the first nine months of 2019. Only Girona, Oviedo and Santa Cruz de Tenerife experienced a greater increase.

More international visitors

The November report also pointed out how more international visitors were choosing to travel to Malaga. In November, two out of every three of the 168,593 overnight stays were foreign tourists, with those from the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom the most common visitors.

The British market continues to be the leader for visitors and stays, with 12,040 visitors who booked 31,167 hotel nights. The Netherlands and Germany are in second and third place in terms of the number of tourists and stays. They are followed by Italy, the United States and France. The occupancy rate in November was 79.2% and the average stay was 2.15 days.

Hotel forecasts

The city is expected to be full for New Year's Eve, with 97% occupancy expected, according to the Association of Hotel Businessmen of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos). This figure for the Costa del Sol as a whole will be almost 81% for the last weekend of the year, from 29 December to 1 January 2024, exceeding the previous year's figure by seven points.
Pilar Martinez Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023, 10:25 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Malaga is one of the 'top five' cities in Spain considered as an ideal destination to ring in the New Year, according to new data.

The capital of the Costa del Sol sits in fourth place, after Palma de Mallorca, Alicante and Barcelona, according to data from flight and hotel search engine Jetcost.es

Spanish cities are set to benefit as many Europeans search for sun and good weather to see out 2023, in addition to good food, hotels and festivities. "All this has made Spain the most searched country on Jetcost to start the year 2024, ahead of Italy, Portugal, France and the United Kingdom," the company said.

For the study, Jetcost.es analysed flight searches between 26 December 2023 and 4 January 2024. The data revealed that Malaga is the most searched for by Dutch tourists, the third most by German and French visitors and the fourth most searched for by the British.

The company also added that flight searches for the end of the year have increased by 20%, while hotel searches have increased by 24% compared to 2022.

Spanish getaways

People in Spain have also joined the trend of wanting to travel to enjoy New Year's Eve in other destinations around the world. Jetcost.com pointed out that the capitals and large cities of the main European countries are the most popular among tourists from Spain. London is the most popular city, followed by Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Brussels. Tenerife is the most popular Spanish destination followed by Madrid, Gran Canaria, Barcelona and Malaga. Those who have chosen further flung destinations have opted for Istanbul and New York.

According to Viajes El Corte Ingles, bookings abroad for the end of the year among people in Spain have increased in December by 40%. Statista data suggests that seven million Spanish tourists will travel outside the country in the last month of the year in 2023.
Malaga's metro made it into the city centre in 2023, but the Cercanias local trains proved to be insufficient to meet demand

Passengers on the first day of the city centre metro line.

Anthony Piovesan Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023 | Updated 30/12/2023 21:48h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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This has been a fast-moving year as far as transport is concerned, with new metro and inland services on the plus side and overcrowding problems on the Costa del Sol's local Cercanias service on the down side. Meanwhile calls have heightened for a new bus, train, metro or tram service east of Malaga to relieve traffic jams on the motorway at rush hour.

Malaga Metro City centre better connected by metro

The metro station in Alameda Principal. Migue Fernandez

Malagas exponential growth has been matched on the transport front, with the extension of the citys metro network, helping link the most populated districts with the historic centre.

Two new stations, Guadalmedina and Atarazanas, were officially opened on 27 March this year - contributing to 1.7km of newly installed rail line.

Guadalmedina is next to Malaga citys El Corte Ingles department store and Atarazanas station is located in the Alameda Principal.

It was estimated that the newly extended line would double the networks annual passenger handling capacity from nearly seven million passengers to 14 million.

Those predictions have not been short of the truth, where in August, Malaga metro overtook all those in Andalucia (Seville, Granada and Bahia de Cadiz) and became, at least for one month, the most used metro in the region. Some 980,000 passengers used the network that month, overtaking Seville for the first time, which, until now, was always the regional metro with the most passengers.

New train service Gorge walk rail connection becomes a reality

The new service in El Chorro. Migue Fernandez

This year, it became a lot easier to travel to arguably Malaga province's top tourist attraction, the Caminito del Rey. From 20 March the Caminito del Rey train service from Malaga to El Chorro became operational.

The extension of the C2 suburban line from Alora runs several times a day and is expected to multiply the number of options to visit the famous gorge walk from Malaga.

With a price of 7.30 euros (round trip), each day there are several departures in both directions, in addition to the Media Distancia (MD) trains from Seville, which already stop there.

Cheap high-speed fares Renfe's competitors keep up the heat

Renfe and Iryo high-speed trains in Malaga station. Salvador Salas

Spain's new low-cost high-speed train operator, Iryo, continued to run services between Malaga and Madrid this year, offering cheaper fares to passengers and huge competition to national rail operator Renfe.

This year also saw Ouigo's low-cost high-speed trains run along the Malaga-Madrid rail route, although the trains were only being trialled ahead of their highly-anticipated launch in 2024.

Costa del Sol rail Cercanias overcrowding complaints roll on

A busy Cercanias train. Nito Salas

Record passenger figures can lead to overcrowding which continues to be a problem, particularly on the local Cercanias trains along the Costa del Sol.

Continual issues with packed trains and platforms sparked a steady stream of complaints from passengers throughout the year, particularly during the busy Semana Santa period, as some people struggled to even get onto trains that were so jam-packed.

While the Spanish government hatched out an environmentally friendly scheme to encourage people to use trains and buses instead of cars with its free travel passes, this has caused many more passengers to travel by rail, sparking a surge in demand.

Station collision Trains bump sideways at El Chorro station

Clearing the line after the accident in El Chorro. Marilu Baez

A collision between two trains on the mid-distance line between Malaga and Seville earlier in December culminated a year full of complaints about rail travel in the region.

The accident happened at El Chorro- Caminito del Rey station when a train travelling from Malaga collided sideways with the end carriages of the train travelling towards Seville that was at a standstill. Thirteen people suffered minor injuries.
Anthony Piovesan Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023 | Updated 30/12/2023 21:38h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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This year the travel industry on the Costa del Sol more than met its target of matching 2019 pre-pandemic visitor figures. Both regional government visitor figures and passenger numbers at Malaga Airport have risen significantly this year.

Record tourism year Floodgates open as tourists pour into Malaga province

SUR

People from all over the world travelled to Malaga and wider Andalucia in droves this year as the province experienced its best year for tourism since before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019.

Up to September, destinations in the region welcomed 27.2 million holidaymakers, one million more than in the historic year of 2019, with a forecast of 33 million visitors expected by the end of the year. Between July and September alone, more than 12 million visited Andalucia, figures that had never been reached before.

That is 850,000 more visitors than last year and 600,000 more than in the pre-pandemic period. Hotels have benefited from the scores of visitors, particularly along the Costa del Sol. Aehcos, the Costa del Sol's hotels association, predicted this year to be the best in the sector's history. The average occupancy levels on the coast and across Malaga province reached 77% occupancy, 1.4% above the level of the previous record year of 2019.

Milestone reached Record number of tourists touch down as new flights linked to Malaga

The records continued as Malaga Airport reached a new milestone in its 104-year history in 2023. For the first time it has passed the 20-million-passenger milestone in a year, with the figure at more than 21 million already this December. As a result, Malaga Airport strengthened its position as the fourth most important in the country, only preceded by Madrid, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.

SUR

It comes as Malaga was connected by direct flights to more destinations than ever before, 151 across the world in the summer season. One of those routes was a new direct flight between New York and Malaga, launched on 1 June. It was the first direct flight between the two destinations in four years and paved the way for swathes of Americans and Canadians to visit the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and explore wider Andalucia.

As a result, America became a big tourist market for Malaga province, in addition to the British, Germans, Dutch, French and Italians, who continue to travel to the Costa del Sol each year. The New York flight will resume in the spring of next year.

Tourist promotion SUR in English at the World Travel Market in London

There were plenty of achievements to point out at the World Travel Market in London in November, where SUR made another appearance along with large delegations of the Spanish tourism sector to highlight why southern Spain should be on everyones bucket lists heading into 2024.

Technology Google opens cybersecurity centre in Malaga

After a three-year wait, G day finally arrived in Malaga, when Google opened its new Safety Engineering Center (GSEC) near Malaga's Muelle Uno marina on 29 November.

One of just three in the world, the centre puts the Costa del Sol at the forefront of cybersecurity, as more firms in the sector choose to set up in Malaga and its tech park.

At the helm of the centre is Bernardo Quintero, the local engineer who sold his own firm to Google in 2012 and has since played an important role in the multinational.
In May voters were asked to elect their local councillors; in July Spain held a general election; and in October Gibraltarians went to the polls

New mayor of Mijas Ana Mata after the vote of no confidence on 2 November.

Neil Hesketh / Rachel Haynes Malaga / Gibraltar Friday, 29 December 2023 | Updated 30/12/2023 21:30h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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2023 has been a year of elections in Spain and Gibraltar. Residents all over Spain were called to vote for new councillors at town halls in the municipal poll in May, the results of which sparked prime minister Pedro Sanchez to call a general election for July. Meanwhile the people of Gibraltar went to the polls in October.

Local elections Municipal elections leave 89% of population under a PP mayor

Francisco de la Torre, in his eighties, voted mayor of Malaga for yet another term. SUR

Municipal elections were held across Spain on 28 May as voters, including many foreign residents, chose the councillors they wanted to run their town halls for the next four years. The results saw a continuation of the previous swing towards the right, with more town halls falling into the hands of the conservative Partido Popular (PP), who gained 508 counillors in the 103 municipalities in Malaga province, while the PSOE won 439 seats in total.

Mijas, the last large Costa del Sol town to have a Socialist mayor after the elections, also passed into the hands of the PP following a successful vote of no confidence in November. The Partido Popular now governs 48 municipalities with a combined population of more than 1.5 million, 89% of the province's residents.

General election Sanchez returns to power after controversial pacts

PM Pedro Sanchez and his team on election night in July. SUR

Spooked by the swing to the right in May's local elections, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called an early general election. Gambling on it being better to go to the polls sooner rather than later, the date was set for July 23. It was Spain's first election in a summer holiday period and most observers expected a low turnout and a victory for the conservative PP.

In the end, even Sanchez was surprised when the PP and Vox vote combined failed to deliver an overall majority of MPs for the right. Sanchez set to work to weave a coalition of support to be sworn in as PM again from left wing and nationalist parties, including separatists in Catalonia. The price for support from Catalonia was an amnesty for those convicted of offences in the illegal referendum on independence in 2017, especially from the Junts party of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who is still in self-imposed exile in Belgium.

Horrified, the right rallied its support night after night at PSOE Socialist party offices and weekend after weekend in main city squares, against what it saw as a betrayal of Sanchez, who himself had always been against an amnesty.

With the separatist votes guaranteed (for now) by the promise of that future amnesty law, Sanchez's was successfully sworn in by the end of November and the newly restarted left-of-centre PSOE government in coalition with Sumar under Yolanda Diaz began work. But with no place for the Podemos party at the cabinet table; these split from Sumar in parliament as Christmas drew near.

Gibraltar Picardo wins another term in government

Fabian Picardo celebrates the GSLP/Liberal Alliance's close election victory in Gibraltar. SUR

Gibraltar also held its general election this year. On 12 October Fabian Picardo's GSLP Liberal Alliance won by a narrow margin, gaining nine out of 17 seats in parliament with 49.9% of votes.

The GSD, led by Keith Azopardi, remains in opposition, with eight seats, after securing 48% of votes. This is Picardo's fourth term as chief minister of Gibraltar.
Francisco Grinan Malaga Friday, 29 December 2023, 14:38 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Upon entering, to the right, we are greeted by the multicoloured display of a large mural on which Tiffany & Co. can be read. However, the memory of Breakfast at Tiffanys and the immortal Audrey Hepburn transforms into criticism, irony, and even a twinge in the stomach with the image of meat in a slaughterhouse depicting exquisite corpses.The work stages two opposing worlds and tells us that the most promising job is that of a slaughterhouse worker, humorously illustrated the artist Eduardo Gruber (Santander, 1949) at the opening of his exhibition at the CAC Malaga at the beginning of December, titled Nadie es Nada (Nobody is Anything). The exhibition, which runs until 3 March, showcases the same sarcasm, provocation, metaphor, and nonconformity that encapsulate the words of this sniper who turns current events into the inspiration for his work.

The artist Eduardo Gruber, in front of one of the large format works from the series 'The War'. Marilu Baez

I think too much, which is exciting but exhausting, confessed the artist about his tireless activity. And one only needs to take a stroll through the extensive space occupied by his 86 works - many of them large format - in the exhibition curated by Fernando Frances, to confirm his biting sincerity and his penchant for poking in the eye. His own and others. Starting with the self-criticism of the Human Factor series, of which the mentioned work Tiffany is a part, the threatening weapons in Gun and Mk, or the arrow pointing at the apples in Is Not a Circus, accompanied by the phrase The world cannot live half enslaved and half free'.

And there is no work without a motto or words in this exhibition by this multidisciplinary artist who not only experiments with all kinds of materials and techniques - watercolour, oil, ink and even pen on paper, canvas, photography - but is also a writer - he has published four novels - and is winner of the National Prize for Scenography. In fact, to the impact of the works is added the staging with this still life of almost forty works that serves as a portico to the exhibition and in which irony overflows in these dozens of black and white works that seem to have come out of newspaper debates or from a news programme.

Eduardo Gruber and the curator Fernando Frances, before the presentation of the exhibition. Marilu Baez

On this wall hangs the anti-bullfighting El Olvido que Seremos (The oblivion we will be) with hanging heads of cattle, which tells us that life passes even if you are the king of the pasture, so you have to take advantage of it; No es tan Facil ser Ateo (Its not so easy to be an atheist) which speaks of the profound contradiction that you reach a moment in life when you say you are already over everything, but then your body asks you for something more or the child who says Estoy solo (I am alone) and which the author refers to the images of the children in Gaza with their faces white due to the explosions, although the work dates from before the conflict.

In love with femmes fatales

The small and recent work Ni Tu ni yo Somos Nada (2022) inspires the main title of this exhibition, Nadie es Nada, a double negation that contains an optimistic message: this play on words is the redundancy of a void and tells us that we are all something and that each human being, with his or her personal experiences, is impressive. This appeal goes directly to the spectator who visits the work of Eduardo Gruber, who does not hide the provocative nature and his desire for the spectator to stand still in front of his paintings. Managing to stop time with the exhibition is a pleasure, confessed the multidisciplinary artist, who was accompanied by the Director of Culture of Malaga City Council, Susana Martin, and the artistic director of the CAC, Helena Juncosa.

On the social and personal criticism of the exhibition, the artist has rejected the idea that his works are discouraging. I have good humour and I try to say things with hope, although that might seem naive with the images you see these days and its like shooting yourself, lamented the artist about the situation in Palestine and the Ukraine, to which his anti-war series The War also refers and which includes parodic works such as the scene of a bombing under the title Homo Sapiens.

Nadie es Nada, which brings together for the first time the work produced by Gruber over the last decade and whose installation at the CAC Malaga has been highly applauded by the author himself, also includes the series Femme fatale, a collection of photos and police records of Australian women arrested in the 1920s for whom the author and writer invents a positive parallel life that did not lead them to prison and with whom the artist has confessed to having a platonic relationship. It is the series that has most marked me and the story that turned my stomach was that of a prostitute who killed her pimp, but her file added the comment that she had support from some of Sydneys society, which was at odds with the coldness of police language, said Eduardo Gruber, who has not hidden the fact that he has ended up in love with these femme fatales.
Orchard Park, N.Y.  Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller today denied assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. His post-practice remarks to reporters were his first public comments since he was arrested Nov. 30 in Dallas for the alleged assault.

Whenever you see that stuff pop up in articles and stuff ... its shocking of course, especially when my name is attached to it, Miller said. but it is 100% false. Its overblown. Ive got the right people on the job.

Miller allegedly pulled chunks of his girlfriends hair out of her head and wrapped both of his hands around her neck, according to the Dallas police affidavit. WFAA in Dallas reported that in the 911 call made by Millers girlfriend, she told the operator that Miller had pulled out some of her hair and that she had blood on her.

My boyfriend is choking and hitting me... I have bruises all over me, she said on the call. My hair is out.

Von Miller spoke to reporters today for the first time since his arrest on Nov. 30.



He denied the allegations, calling them 100% false. Its overblown and I got the right people on the job. pic.twitter.com/oeLeD4iYKr  Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) December 28, 2023

Millers girlfriend later told WFAA that the incident was a huge misunderstanding and blown way out of context. She described the situation as a verbal disagreement following the 911 call and the arrest.

No one assaulted anyone, she said at the time.

Me and my girlfriend, we have problems just like any other couple does, Miller said Thursday. But there has never been any of those things that was alleged against me. ... The people who know me and the people who have been around me know my character, they know who I am.

Miller said the details in the police report and the allegations were incorrect. The only thing that he said was true was that his girlfriend is expecting their third child.

Miller said domestic violence is a real situation that happens around the world and he didnt want to play the you all know me card. He said in time he feels hell be able to clear his name.

All I can say is it is just a matter of time before everything gets set straight, he said. For me, thats all I really have to say is it didnt happen and its just a matter of time before everything is set straight.

The Bills have stood behind Miller since his arrest. He hasnt missed a single game and has been with the team in Buffalo ever since.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane said on Dec. 6 that the team had to let the legal process play out and that he didnt want to discipline Miller before knowing all the information about the incident.

Culture and character and all those things are super important, he said. The guy that weve known here for a year and a half - that seems out of character.

Miller said he was truthful with Beane, Sean McDermott, and Terry Pegula when detailing the events of the November incident in Dallas.

I was 100% transparent with everything that happened that day from start to finish, Miller said. Even had them tapped in with the DA reports and everything that was going on with the situation. So these guys know me ... theyve been around me. Obviously, everyone can have a lapse of judgment but thats just not been me.
Mexico, N.Y.  A missing 21-year-old Oswego County woman was found dead Friday, troopers said.

Jordan Novak was reported missing from her home in Mexico on Dec. 3, said Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesperson for the state police.

On Friday she was found dead in Black Creek in Mexico, Keller said. An autopsy will be performed to determine an official cause of death, he said.

Novak was last seen leaving her home at 86 Wayne St., he said. She told family she was going to a friends home but never returned, he said.

The investigation is continuing, Keller said.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, December 29. Turkmenistan imported mineral products from EU countries totaling 13.86 million euros from January through October of this year, the source at Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, told Trend.

These results for the reporting period are 42.6 percent higher than those for the first ten months of the previous year (9.72 million euros).

Turkmenistan bought mineral products from the EU worth 1.11 million euros in October 2023, 17.1 percent less than the 1.12 million euros imported in September 2023 (1.34 million euros).

At the same time, Turkmenistan raised its imports from EU nations by ten percent in the first ten months of this year compared to the same period last year (493.74 million euros), reaching a total of 543.3 million euros.

The previous year's trade transaction between Turkmenistan and EU countries totaled one billion euros, a 25.9 percent decrease from 2021, when it stood at 1.35 billion euros.
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation star Chevy Chase is starring in a new holiday film that will be shot in Central New York.

Director Tori Hunter announced Thursday that Chase will have a role in her new movie, The Christmas Letter. The story centers on an everyday man who gets a Christmas letter every year from his (wealthier) friend and decides to take his family on wild, crazy adventures for a whole year in an attempt to top his friends Christmas letter.

Its a holiday film that goes past the holidays, Hunter explained. I love that we get to go on a whole year of him searching for happiness and joy until he finds his true happiness... is right in front of him with his family.

According to WKTV, The Christmas Letter is set to film scenes in Utica next month. A recent casting call was looking for extras in the Central New York area to be part of the production.

Chase, 80, is an Emmy-winning actor who was an original cast member on Saturday Night Live. His credits include Caddyshack, Fletch, Three Amigos, Community, and the Syracuse-set Snow Day, plus his iconic role as Clark Griswold in the National Lampoons Vacation franchise.

Chase previously visited Syracuse in 2019 and Utica in 2021 for screenings of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. He met with fans and participated in a Q&A for the John Hughes-scripted 1989 holiday classic about a married father of two whose plans for a big family celebration turn into disaster with memorable scenes involving Christmas lights, sledding, gift shopping, a squirrel, and a visit from Cousin Eddie.

(L-R) Christie Brinkley, Chevy Chase, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall attend the 'National Lampoon's Vacation' reunion at MegaCon Orlando 2023 at Orange County Convention Center on April 1, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

Hes going to bring a really special comedic genius to a unique character that Im really excited to bring to life, Hunter said of Chase.

A release date has not been announced for The Christmas Letter, which appears to be Hunters feature-length directorial debut.

Hunter is a Georgia native who is currently based in Nashville, according to her website. Her IMDb credits include working as a script supervisor on 2019s Overcomer, the 2020 Lifetime movie A Welcome Home Christmas, and the 2023 releases Identity Crisis, The Great Turkey Town Miracle, Bringing Back Christmas and The Shift (featuring Sean Astin and Syracuse University alumnus Neal McDonough).

Utica Film Commissioner Paul Buckley said earlier this month that Hunter, producer Simone Bonser and cinematographer Chase Bowman were looking for extras, technical crews and house locations (including a Home Alone-style house) to participate in the production. To get involved, email Buckley at PBuckley@cityofutica.com.

New film commission in Utica aims to make more movies in Central NY

American High Shorts: Funny videos shot in CNY reach millions as Gen Z SNL
Sometimes she is Lt. Colonel Ecung, sometimes she is Baroness von Arnim, but Allison Ecung von Arnim will always be a Central New York native.

Allison Ecung von Arnim, 42, grew up in Rome, NY, the daughter of Major USAF retired Maurice Ecung and Antonia Brooks Ecung, Ph.D. After spending the majority of his military career in Los Angeles, Maurice was stationed at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in the early 1980s and moved his family along with him.

It was where the Ecungs chose to raise their young family.

The more rural setting was a change for them, moving from busy L.A. to their new small town home, where the kids could bike to the library, or the community center, or the local bakery.

It was such a cute, ideal little town to raise children in that they just decided to stay there, Allison said. It was an ideal upbringing for me. I really loved it.

Lt. Col. Allison Ecung appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show last November in a celebration of veterans. Ecung, a Central NY native and now German baroness, fondly remembers her upbringing in Rome, NY.Provided photo | nyup.com

After graduating from Rome Free Academy, Allison joined the Air Force, following her fathers footsteps. Her career took her to New York City and around the globe. While being stationed in Germany, a friend of hers invited her to a charity ball in Czechia which is where she met her future husband, Baron Raban von Arnim. Their meeting was something akin to a romantic Hollywood movie  American officer travels overseas, meets a European nobleman and they fall in love.

At formal dinners it is usual for the ladies to talk first to the man on their left during the first course and, at a given point, turn to speak to the man on their right. The Baron however bucked conversational protocol and spoke to Allison for the entire meal.

When dinner was over, Allison danced with the man seated to her left, per dinner party rules, but was reunited with Raban late into the evening. They danced until dawn.

It was one of the most romantic things, she said.

Now married and holding the title of baroness, Allison, along with her husband, supports the Quadrille Ball in New York City. The event raises funds for scholarships benefiting talented graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at U.S. and German universities who aspire to study in each others countries across the Atlantic.

They also help care for the historic mulberry trees in Zernikow where Rabans father was born, once a center of silk production in Germany. The town has a mulberry festival each year which supports local charitable organizations and this year the baron and baroness got to help with the festivities.

Allison said being out there in the countryside reminds her of Upstate New York.

It feels a little bit like home to me, she said.

Though she lives in West Germany now, stationed at Ramstein AFB as a Foreign Area Officer for the European region, Allison has fond memories of her life in Upstate New York.

One of her favorite places to visit: The Great New York State Fair.

Allison said she would get the most excited to go and see the annual butter sculpture in the Dairy Building.

She also loved attending Romes patriotic Honor America Days. The festival celebrated its 40th anniversary in the summer of 2023 and included a 5k road race, carnival, parade, and a Symphoria Pops Concert on the lawn of Fort Stanwix National Monument. Allison said she remembers the excitement would reach a pinnacle as the fort cannons went off during the 1812 Overture and the night ended with fireworks.

Allison still makes trips back to Upstate New York to visit her sister, her husband and their children outside of Albany, but she and Raban have not yet made it to Central New York.

When they do get the chance to visit, she has several places she would love to show him, especially those that carry historical importance to Central New York and America.

Allisons husband has been learning about another German baron, Baron von Steuben, who was a Prussian military officer and a Founding Father of the United States. Baron von Steuben was given land by New York state for his service to America and is buried in the Sacred Grove at the Steuben Memorial State Historic Site just outside of Steuben, NY.

Another stop along her tour of Rome would be to the Erie Canal Village. The breaking ground of the Erie Canal took place in Rome and the village commemorates the first big dig ceremony each year on July 22. Here you can walk the original canal towpath, see the historic Clintons Ditch, and the enlarged Erie Canal.

As a young child, Allison remembers Big Daddy Sandwiches being a spot her family would frequent, even before she could see over the counter. The shop celebrated 60 years in business this year, but its current owner has put the iconic eatery up for sale in August, according to the Rome Sentinel. It remains open, but the owners plan to retire once it is sold.

Should Allison make it before they close, her favorite order is the Rachel sandwich, filled with hot ham, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese.

The Jervis Public Library would also make it to her list of stops, as she said it was one of her favorite places to visit as a kid.

You might even see the baron and baroness visiting Turning Stone Resort & Casino.

One place she would have loved to take him is The Savoy Restaurant. A victim of the pandemic, the restaurant is now closed and for sale. A piece of Rome history that was open for more than a century, the restaurant was also where Alex Haley began to write what became the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, a novel which was turned into an award winning TV miniseries Roots.

And if Allison could bring a suitcase full of Upstate New York treats to Europe, she would fill it with Turkey Joints, a Rome candy staple around the holidays, and original half-moon cookies from Hemstroughts Bakeries in Utica. She wishes that even those in New York City knew of the delicious delicacy of the half-moon cookie, which is softer and sweeter than its downstate black and white counterpart.

I think Im so lucky that my parents took the opportunity in Upstate New York. They could have easily moved us back to California, but they wanted us to grow up in an environment that was peaceful, pastoral and beautiful and Upstate New York is all of those things, Allison said. I had a wonderful childhood growing up there. It really did shape who I am. I would not be who I am today if my parents had not made that decision.
A Tops Friendly Markets store in Western New York was evacuated Thursday night after a reported shooting threat.

The Buffalo News reports a man called the Niagara County 911 dispatch center around 7 p.m. and threatened to shoot people at the Tops supermarket on Meadow Drive in North Tonawanda, near Buffalo. The caller was using a voice disguiser and the phone number could not be immediately traced, North Tonawanda police said.

WIVB reports police cleared the building of shoppers and employees. Police said they found no credible threat.

In a Facebook post, North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said there is no reason for alarm at this time.

A potential Swatting call to county dispatch raised concerns initially, leading to a police response as a precautionary measure. The NT Police Department is investigating the call and will be releasing more information, Tylec said. Thank you for your understanding, and thank you to our first responders.

The threat comes 18 months after a racist mass shooting that left 10 Black people dead at a Tops in Buffalo. Payton Gendron, a white supremacist who was 18 years old at the time, is serving life in prison without parole for the attack that targeted Black people in the grocery store located in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
How Our University Began

Morrill Act Provides for Donation of Land in 1862

Texas A&M is the state's first public institution of higher education. The university came about due to the Morrill Act, approved by the United States Congress on July 2, 1862.

The Morrill Act provided for donating public land to the states to fund higher education. It stated that the "leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and mechanic arts."

Colleges and universities founded due to the Morrill Act are considered "land-grant" institutions.

Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas Created in 1871

The State of Texas agreed to create a college under the terms of the Morrill Act in November 1866. The Texas Legislature later established the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas on April 17, 1871. A commission created to locate the institution accepted an offer of 2,416 acres of land from Brazos County residents in 1871.

Instruction Begins in 1876

On Oct. 4, 1876, the college began instruction with 40 students and six faculty members. Admission was limited to white males, and the Morrill Act required all students to participate in Corps of Cadets military training.

Program Offerings Expand

By the early 1900s, the college offered six engineering programs, an agriculture program and an architecture program. In 1915, the School of Veterinary Medicine was established, bringing an influx of students to campus. Throughout the world wars, the college gained prominence due to students military service, and it continued to grow as many veterans used the G.I. Bill. With the growth, the college created a graduate program in 1924, and the first doctoral degree was awarded in 1940.

College Diversifies

There were many changes to the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in the 1960s under the presidency of Gen. James Earl Rudder. Under his tenure, the college diversified, opening its doors to African Americans and women. Participation in the Corps of Cadets was also made voluntary in 1965.

College Renamed Texas A&M University

In 1963, the Texas Legislature changed the schools name from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas to Texas A&M University. The "A" and "M" became a symbolic link to the school's past but no longer officially stood for "Agricultural and Mechanical."

University Becomes Triple-Grant Institution

Texas A&M began as a land-grant university. We also received designations as a sea-grant institution in 1971 and a space-grant institution in 1989. Our university was one of the first four universities distinguished with the triple land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations.

Branch Campuses Open

Over the years, Texas A&M has grown to include two branch campuses. The first, Texas A&M University at Galveston, was created in 1962, allowing students to study marine-related subjects in the coastal city of Galveston, Texas. Then, in 2003, Texas A&M University at Qatar was established, focusing largely on engineering fields. In addition to these two branch campuses, our university system includes various centers and programs around the U.S.

University Opens Presidential Library

In 1997, Texas A&M opened the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on West Campus, becoming one of only a few universities with a presidential library. President George H.W. Bush played an active role at Texas A&M, including hosting and participating in the library's special events.
Office of the President

The Office of the President leads our university. The President's Cabinet is made up of vice presidents who represent all of the university's functional areas.

Texas A&M University President

General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III became the president of Texas A&M University on December 12, 2023. He previously served as dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service after retiring from the U.S. Air Force. Welsh, who was born in San Antonio, earned a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in computer resource management from Webster University. He graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College, the Air War College and the National War College.

Office of the President Website

'State of the University Address'

Our president's annual "State of the University Address" outlines our administration's goals, vision, and current and upcoming initiatives.

Office of the President News

The Office of the President's messages provide universitywide news and updates.

Read messages from the Office of the President
The Office for Student Success helps first-year students find connections and tools for success. If you are a first-year student, you need to register for a New Student Conference. You are also encouraged to take Hullabaloo U, our first-year experience course, and participate in Howdy Week, our week of welcome activities for students.
Critical Incident Response Team

A Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), consisting of university administrators and staff, helps respond to critical incidents involving students. The team is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

To activate the team, contact the University Police Department at 979-845-2345. For general information or questions about CIRT, call Student Assistance Services at 979-845-3113.

Contacting a Student During Family Emergencies

Often families need to reach students during family emergencies. Calling students might be difficult if an emergency occurs while they are in class. The University Police Department can assist you in contacting your student. Families can contact our police department at 979-845-2345.

Learn more about assistance for students during emergencies
University Research

Texas A&M University is one of the largest research universities in the United States. Our faculty generated more than $1.153 billion in research expenditures in fiscal year 2022, while enhancing undergraduate and graduate education with hands-on research opportunities.

Texas A&M is one of only 24 institutions in the nation to hold the triple designation as a land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant university, reflecting the wide variety of research conducted here daily.

Centers and Institutes

Finding solutions to the world's most challenging problems takes collaboration. That's why our research centers and institutes bring together scholars and scientists  often from different disciplines  to tackle these challenges.

See our centers and institutes sorted by research areas

State Agencies

Texas A&M's faculty members work closely with the A&M System's eight state agencies, which have missions ranging from performing transformative research to protecting natural resources and communities.

Find out more about state research agencies

Industry Engagement

Texas A&M's researchers collaborate with industry partners to help advance research innovation and find ways to get their research into the marketplace where it can improve people's lives.

Commercialization

Research that doesn't leave the lab isn't helping people. That's why we encourage our faculty researchers to license their technology and innovations so they are available to the public.

Discover the importance of commercializing technology
As the home of pure discovery and basic knowledge creation, we are the foundation upon which the Texas A&M research enterprise rests. From the lab to the library to the dig, ship and field site, we are shaping and redefining our understanding of the natural and social worlds.
Campuswide Open House

Mark your calendar to attend this annual, campuswide open house that includes admissions presentations, college sessions, campus and facility tours and much more. Texas A&M offers students a world-class education and vibrant student life, all at an amazing value. Dont miss out on this opportunity to learn more about joining the Aggie family!

Youre invited to join us for the biggest open house of the year at Aggieland Saturday.

Bring your family for a fun-filled day in Aggieland to meet current students, tour dorms, visit libraries, explore labs and more. You can also learn more about our academics and the admission process, as well as financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

For questions or more information, please contact us.
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Re: My midlife crisis fix : 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650



Unfortunately, I ended up doing the ride on the first day of a long weekend or week for most of the people in Bangalore. I knew it will be bad, but was in for a surprise. The ride plan was to head to Sakleshpur and cover the Shirdi ghats and head back, depending on the road conditions post Sakleshpur. I left home by around 530am and actually ended up leaving at 545am after realising I left my phone after riding for couple of kms. The traffic jams started nearing Tumkur road via the Hebbal ring road and from there the traffic density was high all the way to Tumkur, but was even bad on the Hassan highway. I escaped most of it since I was on a two wheeler and I cut off to the service road at one point before Nelamangala. The main carriageway was clogged for most part and this was around 615am. After noticing the number of vehicles cutting off towards Hassan, I changed the plan and headed towards Tumkur which was a bit better.

The ride after Tumkur was much better and enjoyable with the cool weather and heavy fog in some parts. The traffic was almost nil on the newly made 6 lane highway which for most part is complete except for the bypasses. The sceney on this route has changed drastically from what it was earlier, but now the travel time is much shorter when heading towards Shimoga.

The K1000 rally was in progress outside Gubbi which I got to know after chatting with a driver at a roadside breakfast joint. I had half a mind to stop and have a look, but remembering a Special stage I attended near Nelamangala years ago and how much I had to wait for some action, I continued on my ride which was to be a long one.



I was cruising at around 90kmh which is what I have settled at on most rides. It is comfortable for me, good on the fuel efficiency side, wind blast is contained and safe for our highways as well. I planned on going to Chikkamagalur on a road I had done on my car few years ago but forgotten which town the cut off was at. I checked the map I noticed the cut off from Kadur which I thought was the same one, but infact it was the next cut off at the town of Tarikere. The route via Kadur, I had done on my 500 earlier around 2014.

I reached Chikkamagalur quite fast from Kadur and was deciding on the next route and decided to head to Sakleshpur via Mudigere. What I didn't realize was the holiday makers whom I saw in droves leaving Bangalore had reached the Western ghats after fighting it out on the Hassan highway and I was in the opposite direction of their travel on the narrow hilly roads. Thankfully after cutting off from Mudigere to Sakleshpur, it wasn't that bad and it nice curvy well paved roads. I reached Sakleshpur and the highway across the town was jammed solid in both directions for kms. Lucky for me that I was on a bike with no pannier boxes sticking and the well behaved traffic that I was did the full stretch of the jam for around 5 kms in the gap between lines of traffic. The locals were nice enough to even give me way without having to honk. Compare that to Bangalore traffic where I have experienced drivers blocking my way at a signal when I have enough space to pass.



Post Sakleshpur it was an uneventful ride since the roads were clear ahead and behind me because of the jam. The Sakleshpur to Hassan highway is done on one side with concrete topping, but it was one of worst surfaces I have ridden on. The traffic on the opposite side was still high all the way and I was thanking my stars that I decided in the morning not to take the Hassan highway.

I took the Hassan bypass and continued towards Nelamangala and the road from the looks of it has been relaid recently. Less traffic, afternoon time and probably having woken up early, led me to be extremely drowsy. I couldn't find a spot to stop either since there were no shade or trees for most part. I reduced the speeds to what I do on my Bullet which was around 70 kmh for around an hour which made me feel even more drowsy. Finally, with around 100 kms left, I found a nice clean bus stop with a shade and dozed off for few minutes which helped. The ride from there was quick mainly because half of Bangalore had left town and the roads were not congested.



The bike performed perfectly as always. The engine keeps getting smoother and more responsive after every long ride. The fuel efficiency was the highest till date which was 33.33 kmpl. I have gotten used to the new seat as well which is not as painful as the previous ones and I can manage more than hour before a break. The only issues was the wind blast in my helmet and that is because of the windshield which I am planning to remove and put back the fly screen. Having wind hit the full upper torso should be better than just the helmet.



Covered 565 kms and the odo stands at 11300 kms.



Topping up at a fuel station at Kadur.





Between Chikkamagalur and Sakleshpur.









A small note of the tyres. Although the CEAT tyres has not had much good opinions, I feel they do the job. Maybe not for racetrack kind of riding, but for normal riding and some high speeds, it does fine. The only drawback is when hard braking where the rear becomes lifeless and not knowing if the ABS actually worked or not.





Finally found a place for some shut eye.

An end of the year break is not complete without a long bike ride. This time I had some routes in mind and although almost all the routes are repeats of what I had done years ago on my Bullet, it felt different because of the many changes over the years to the roads and riding a faster bike.Unfortunately, I ended up doing the ride on the first day of a long weekend or week for most of the people in Bangalore. I knew it will be bad, but was in for a surprise. The ride plan was to head to Sakleshpur and cover the Shirdi ghats and head back, depending on the road conditions post Sakleshpur. I left home by around 530am and actually ended up leaving at 545am after realising I left my phone after riding for couple of kms. The traffic jams started nearing Tumkur road via the Hebbal ring road and from there the traffic density was high all the way to Tumkur, but was even bad on the Hassan highway. I escaped most of it since I was on a two wheeler and I cut off to the service road at one point before Nelamangala. The main carriageway was clogged for most part and this was around 615am. After noticing the number of vehicles cutting off towards Hassan, I changed the plan and headed towards Tumkur which was a bit better.The ride after Tumkur was much better and enjoyable with the cool weather and heavy fog in some parts. The traffic was almost nil on the newly made 6 lane highway which for most part is complete except for the bypasses. The sceney on this route has changed drastically from what it was earlier, but now the travel time is much shorter when heading towards Shimoga.The K1000 rally was in progress outside Gubbi which I got to know after chatting with a driver at a roadside breakfast joint. I had half a mind to stop and have a look, but remembering a Special stage I attended near Nelamangala years ago and how much I had to wait for some action, I continued on my ride which was to be a long one.I was cruising at around 90kmh which is what I have settled at on most rides. It is comfortable for me, good on the fuel efficiency side, wind blast is contained and safe for our highways as well. I planned on going to Chikkamagalur on a road I had done on my car few years ago but forgotten which town the cut off was at. I checked the map I noticed the cut off from Kadur which I thought was the same one, but infact it was the next cut off at the town of Tarikere. The route via Kadur, I had done on my 500 earlier around 2014.I reached Chikkamagalur quite fast from Kadur and was deciding on the next route and decided to head to Sakleshpur via Mudigere. What I didn't realize was the holiday makers whom I saw in droves leaving Bangalore had reached the Western ghats after fighting it out on the Hassan highway and I was in the opposite direction of their travel on the narrow hilly roads. Thankfully after cutting off from Mudigere to Sakleshpur, it wasn't that bad and it nice curvy well paved roads. I reached Sakleshpur and the highway across the town was jammed solid in both directions for kms. Lucky for me that I was on a bike with no pannier boxes sticking and the well behaved traffic that I was did the full stretch of the jam for around 5 kms in the gap between lines of traffic. The locals were nice enough to even give me way without having to honk. Compare that to Bangalore traffic where I have experienced drivers blocking my way at a signal when I have enough space to pass.Post Sakleshpur it was an uneventful ride since the roads were clear ahead and behind me because of the jam. The Sakleshpur to Hassan highway is done on one side with concrete topping, but it was one of worst surfaces I have ridden on. The traffic on the opposite side was still high all the way and I was thanking my stars that I decided in the morning not to take the Hassan highway.I took the Hassan bypass and continued towards Nelamangala and the road from the looks of it has been relaid recently. Less traffic, afternoon time and probably having woken up early, led me to be extremely drowsy. I couldn't find a spot to stop either since there were no shade or trees for most part. I reduced the speeds to what I do on my Bullet which was around 70 kmh for around an hour which made me feel even more drowsy. Finally, with around 100 kms left, I found a nice clean bus stop with a shade and dozed off for few minutes which helped. The ride from there was quick mainly because half of Bangalore had left town and the roads were not congested.The bike performed perfectly as always. The engine keeps getting smoother and more responsive after every long ride. The fuel efficiency was the highest till date which was 33.33 kmpl. I have gotten used to the new seat as well which is not as painful as the previous ones and I can manage more than hour before a break. The only issues was the wind blast in my helmet and that is because of the windshield which I am planning to remove and put back the fly screen. Having wind hit the full upper torso should be better than just the helmet.Covered 565 kms and the odo stands at 11300 kms.Topping up at a fuel station at Kadur.Between Chikkamagalur and Sakleshpur.A small note of the tyres. Although the CEAT tyres has not had much good opinions, I feel they do the job. Maybe not for racetrack kind of riding, but for normal riding and some high speeds, it does fine. The only drawback is when hard braking where the rear becomes lifeless and not knowing if the ABS actually worked or not.Finally found a place for some shut eye. Last edited by Rehaan : 29th December 2023 at 11:39 . Reason: Moving one caption to new line :)
Why it matters: Apple and other companies have enacted numerous measures to ensure that AirTags and similar tracking fobs aren't used for stalking. Still, a group of researchers is disappointed with the latest official methods. A recent paper outlines a solution that could solve the compromise between privacy and security.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of California have suggested a set of cryptographic tools that could counteract AirTag stalking better than Apple's current measures. The researchers believe that Apple's default anti-stalking features can compromise legitimate users' privacy.

The central problem is determining when an AirTag is used for illicit purposes. Smartphones can alert users when foreign AirTags follow them across long distances, but the warning system struggles to differentiate between stalkers and friends or family members who also own AirTags.

Click to enlarge

Apple's response to the problem switches the fobs between two modes depending on their proximity to their paired devices. When an AirTag remains close to the owner's device, such as their iPhone, it switches between identification keys every 15 minutes to ensure only the owner can detect the AirTag. However, if the fob is away from its paired device for an extended period, the key only changes once daily, allowing potential stalking victims to more easily identify foreign AirTags. As Apple coordinates with other companies to homogenize security protocols across platforms, the company's method could become the standard, which worries the researchers.

The "away" mode effectively de-anonymizes an AirTag, but the researchers found that many users frequently carry them away from their paired devices, thus constantly broadcasting their locations and movements. One possible cause is that families sharing fobs can't easily pair them to multiple devices. Furthermore, a friendly visitor carrying their AirTag could confuse the system.

Under the researchers' proposal, fobs would always constantly change their key signals, but devices could only identify them after receiving a certain number of signals at close range, indicating that an AirTag is following someone. Meanwhile, a malicious actor would likely spend significant time away from the fob and wouldn't gather enough signals to identify it. A second component of the system would help each device differentiate between signals if many AirTags or other Apple devices in the "Find My" mode are nearby.

The researchers have submitted their study to Apple and the consortium of companies cooperating on tracking fobs, but manufacturers haven't indicated any interest in the findings so far.
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The big picture: NAND flash prices are expected to increase by as much as 50 percent in the short term, which will eventually result in more expensive solid-state drives. If you're on the fence about a new SSD, now is the time to jump for the best price.

According to market research firm TrendForce, NAND flash prices will need to increase by more than 40 percent before manufacturers can even reach a break-even point. To become profitable, prices will need to go up at least 50 percent or more.

Manufacturers have been addressing the issue for months now. Back in September, Samsung started dialing back DRAM and NAND chip production by half to help stabilize prices and clear out buyer inventory. The move also allowed the South Korean tech giant to focus more on products with stacked layers up to 128 layers.

With fewer chips rolling off assembly lines, companies can start to work on pricing them higher. It's all about supply and demand.

Also read: How to Choose an SSD on a Flash Sale

In the most recent full quarter, Samsung captured 31.4 percent of the global NAND flash market followed by SK Group with a 20.2 percent slice of the pie. Western Digital wasn't far behind at 16.9 percent, with Kioxia trailing at 14.5 percent, and Micron at 12.5 percent.

Revenue collectively grew 2.9 percent in the third quarter, and is expected to soar over 20 percent in Q4, TrendForce said.

Don't be surprised to see the price of NAND flash start ramping up sooner rather than later, and trickle down solid-state drives. For example, it's still possible to pick up a quality 1 TB M.2 2280 SSD for around $80 but that's about $25 more than it was just a few weeks ago.

That said, if you are in need for some speedy solid-state storage, time is money. It's highly unlikely that we will see prices this low again anytime soon. I recently scooped up a 2 TB Kingston drive for my new build and am eyeballing a second 2 TB M.2 for storage purposes.

Image credit: Phiraphon Srithakae
A notorious case of Google which started in 2020 is soon reaching its end, as the internet company is looking to settle the massive fines regarding the Chrome incognito tracking issue raised against them. Originally, the lawsuit asks for a $5 billion settlement against the search giant, but it will fall on the federal judge presiding over the case on the total amount the company would pay.

In a span of three years, the plaintiffs saw various events unfold, from its filing to the different happenings where it would have lost a bid to appeal the case.

Google to Settle Chrome Incognito Tracking Case

(Photo : Google Chrome for iOS via Screenshot)

Ars Technica first reported that Google has agreed to settle the case against them from 2020, with it accusing the tech giant of Chrome's incognito mode still tracking user data despite using its features. It was said that Google and the plaintiffs had already agreed to certain terms, and this in turn would dismiss the litigation, ending all the claims against its browser.

Earlier this year, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected Google's plea for a summary judgment, highlighting that Google did not reveal that it continued to collect data despite using incognito.

Moreover, it was said by Judge Rogers that Google's regular browsing mode and the incognito have "the same logs" regarding data collection.

Read Also: Apple, Google, Likely to be Forced by Japan to Allow Third-Party App Stores

Originally, the Lawsuit Asked for $5 Billion

The original lawsuit asked for a massive damages fee that would set Google as much as $5 billion, but it was not yet revealed whether the company would still be given this fine in the final decision. The terms were already set and submitted to the court, but their agreement will only be presented to the court come late January, with the final verdict to be presented by February.

The Incognito Tracking Issue

For three years, the plaintiffs have pursued Google in this massive case of incognito mode tracking, a renowned feature of Chrome that promises a private browsing experience. While many things took place, there were once reports and events in court where that would have ended the case, but the higher authorities have stepped in, and in 2021, Google's motion for dismissal was denied.

However, fast forward to two years later, in 2023, the plaintiffs have lost an appeal to pursue the collection of money damages against Google, centering on a lower court decision. Still, this did not get Google out of the woods as another ruling from a federal judge turned down the company's plea for a summary judgment, with the $5 billion fine hanging over their heads.

After a supposed move towards trial in November not happen, the case is now reaching its final moments where the defendant, Google, is looking to settle the case. However, there are still no final verdicts handed down, and it remains unknown if the company will be compelled to pay the $5 billion plaintiffs are seeking against the company, but the sure thing is there would be changes in Chrome's incognito tracking.

Related Article: Google Loses Appeal in $5 Billion Lawsuit Over 'Incognito Mode' Tracking

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
It is that time of the year again when tech companies are unveiling their lineup that will see a showcase in the inaugural CES, with LG unveiling the latest releases from its flagship laptop series, the gram. Next year, the world will see the LG gram Pro, an ultra-slim device that will make its grand debut at CES 2024, also boasting its AI-powered features that arrive with it.

This comes after the many other announcements by LG done several hours and days ago, with the South Korean tech giant going massive on AI.

LG Gram Pro is Coming to CES 2024, Here are its Specs

(Photo : LG)

LG announced its latest contender to the laptop computer industry, centering on a new offer from its renowned gram platform.

This is with the LG gram Pro and the LG gram Pro 2-in-1, set to expand its lineup this 2024, and will be officially debuted by the company in the upcoming CES 2024 from January 6 to 12.

(Photo : LG)

Like many of LG's past releases, these devices will feature an ultra-lightweight body with massive specs, centering on all models getting Intel Core Ultra processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, and NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. Also, these new gram Pros will be the first LG laptops to get dual cooling systems.

Read Also: LG to Unveil New Robotic Smart Home AI Assistant With 2 Wheels at CES 2024

Massive AI Features for the LG Gram Pro

Engadget highlighted that LG's new gram Pros would be massive on its AI features, centering on the newfound power to offer more to its users. First off, the AI would be accessible and handle all workloads without the need for a network connection.

On the other hand, AI gives a boost to LG's Link apps that will allow seamless connections to other LG gram, Android, and iOS devices. Users may also use AI to help sort files and photos, help improve connections to the Link ecosystem of devices like keyboards and mice, and more.

LG Gram and its Laptop Development

While LG is not massive in competing with other brands regarding their consumer tech devices, the company is still one of the renowned mainstays in the industry, offering significant upgrades to its lineup. The South Korean tech company's first laptop it made available to the US only in 2015, and this is with the LG Gram Ultra PC, often compared to Apple's MacBook Air.

Earlier this year, LG debuted their lightest and thinnest laptop to date, the LG Gram SuperSlim, which is only 0.43 inches thick. However, it is not one to look down on, as the company packed it with the latest Intel 13th-gen processor, centering on the i7 EVO, paired with an Intel Iris Xe graphics, further offering a 15.6-inch anti-glare OLED display with VESA DisplayHDR True Black.

The upcoming showcase of LG in the CES 2024 is set to be massive, as the company announced the devices that will arrive at the event this week, centering on the new tech it will offer the world. The LG gram Pro will bring its top-of-the-line computer soon, with the flagship offering massive specs and capabilities for the device, with this offering many firsts from LG.

Related Article: LG Unveils the World's First 4K OLED Gaming Monitor With Dual-Hz Feature

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The renowned commitment of Russia towards helping NASA in the International Space Station ventures gets cut short, as stated by its federal space agency earlier today. Now, Roscosmos has renewed its claims regarding the help it will contribute to the United States' space programs to last until 2025 only, and this takes away three years from its previous statement.

It is known that Russia and the US have a long history of a strained relationship, but the recent conflict and sanctions it faced effectively ended the ties, until it decided to give it a timeline.

Russia's ISS Commitment is Cut Short, Until 2025 Only

(Photo : NASA)

Reuters reported that Russia's Roscosmos announced that its cross-flight program with NASA, bound for the International Space Station, will only last through 2025. This is now the latest development in the massive international space ventures that involve multiple countries that have stakes in the ISS.

The deal to assist NASA in the ISS programs fell short of three years, as according to Engadget, Russia has committed itself to fulfilling this with US authorities until 2028.

While there are already preparations regarding Roscosmos' departure from the ISS, NASA is still looking for ways to figure out how to control the space station when Russia leaves.

Read Also: Russia to Launch Lunar Mission on Friday, After 47 Years

Russia and NASA's Cross-Flight for the ISS

The Russia and NASA cross-flight is a massive international space program that offers seats on one specific spacecraft, for astronauts and cosmonauts from different countries. The ISS always had one Russian cosmonaut and one US astronaut in each of the country's sections, as regarded by NASA and Roscosmos.

Russia's earlier departure from the ISS will be a significant matter for those who have stakes in the space station, especially as NASA aims to extend its use until 2030.

Russia's Space Program with NASA

For many years, Russia has been in partnership with NASA in space ventures, with the neutral grounds of the ISS centering on an equal footing for both countries. However, when the Russia and Ukraine conflict took place, the US placed sanctions on the country, and this led to a furious announcement of Russia and Roscosmos relinquishing their participation in the space program.

Months later, Russia announced yet again that it is taking back its word, but has given a timeline where it will end its partnership with NASA and the US for all space programs, first claiming the year to be by 2028.

Later in 2022, there were claims regarding the internal information about Russia contemplating if they will continue to participate in the ISS after 2024.

The strained relationship between Russia and the United States has taken its toll on the international space programs and partnerships, with the transcontinental country now cutting their commitment short. Russia and Roscosmos will no longer help and assist NASA with the cross-flight ventures after 2025, three years shorter than their original claims last year.

Related Article: NASA Astronaut Breaks Record of Longest Stay in Space, Spending More than a Year in the ISS

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An in-depth laboratory examination revealed that Big Guys Male Energy Supplement, WeFun, and various other supplements available on the Amazon platform are found to contain the active components present in Viagra and Cialis.

(Photo : Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

DANDENONG, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 05: The Amazon website is seen on December 5, 2017 in Dandenong, Australia.

Warning Amazon with Fake Viagras

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised concerns with Amazon over the presence of counterfeit Viagra on its platform, cunningly disguised as men's energy or health supplements.

In a letter addressed to Amazon dated December 20th, The Verge reported that the regulatory body issued a stern warning and hinted at potential legal action, highlighting seven specific products available on the e-commerce giant.

These products were found to contain ingredients mirroring those found in Viagra and Cialis. Featuring extravagant names and vibrant, cartoonish labels, these items intentionally deviate from the appearance of genuine prescription medications.

A recent investigation by the FDA uncovered a range of supplements or powders being sold on Amazon that contained either sildenafil or tadalafil, the active ingredients in Cialis and Viagra. Notably, these products failed to disclose the presence of these components.

The implicated items include MANNERS Energy Boost, Round 2, WeFun, Genergy, Big Guys Male Energy Supplement, Men's Maximum Energy Supplement, and X Max Triple Shot Energy Honey.

Amazon's Response

Amazon spokesperson Samantha Boyd informed that the flagged products had been removed from the platform before the FDA's December letter, with the regulatory agency having identified these items individually over the year.

Boyd underscored Amazon's commitment to safety, stating that the company mandates compliance with applicable laws and regulations for all products on its platform. She noted that by previous FDA guidance, the products in question were removed earlier in the year.

In the FDA's letter to Amazon, the agency not only urged the company to provide an account of its actions but also emphasized the need for a clear strategy to prevent the reappearance of mislabeled drugs on the platform.

The FDA asserted Amazon's responsibility to investigate and address violations, outlining the company's role in preventing their recurrence. Despite this, Amazon has not disclosed specific details regarding its planned response at this time.

Viagra and Cialis belong to the category of medications known as PDE-5 inhibitors, designed to address erectile dysfunction while concurrently lowering blood pressure.

For individuals with heart issues, this dual effect can pose significant risks, potentially leading to severe consequences. The prevalence of these products, often discovered during searches for "Viagra" or "erectile dysfunction" on Amazon, extends beyond mere mislabeling.

Some items, despite being marketed as health supplements and featuring ingredients like royal jelly, ginseng, and honey, conceal the actual presence of prescription components.

Also Read: Amazon Facing Scrutiny from EU Regulators Over Digital Services Act Compliance

In contrast to Amazon's longstanding struggle with third-party vendors peddling counterfeit drugs and medical items, ArsTechnica reported that the current issue involving bootleg Viagra represents a different challenge.

The concern revolves around products containing authentic prescription ingredients, falsely labeled as harmless over-the-counter health supplements. Even a search for "viagra" on the platform yields an extensive list of outcomes, showcasing numerous men's health and energy supplements.

Notably, some of these products employ language akin to those identified by the FDA, explicitly positioning themselves as treatments to enhance men's sexual performance or stimulate libido.

Related Article: Amazon is Now FDA-Approved COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit At Its 'Cheapest Price Ever' Until July 7!

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The renowned Surface lineup from Microsoft is getting the same treatment as its massive focus on AI, but the company is looking to integrate it into the computers in its next releases. Apart from its dedicated focus on the Surface lineup to get its famed AI developments alongside OpenAI, the company will also produce significant features, centering on options between Intel and Arm-based processors.

However, it may not yet be immediately available come next year, especially now that the New Year is nearing, with reports pointing out a later launch date.

Microsoft Surface Laptops to get 'True AI' Integrations

(Photo : Microsoft)

Windows Central first reported that Microsoft is planning to deliver a new generation of Surface laptops to the world, and this centers on the Surface Pro 10 and the Surface Laptop 6.

One of its most iconic features for this next release would be "true AI" integrations, different from the current offer of the company where its machine-learning tech is available via its apps.

To be more specific, the next Surface laptops would feature its next-gen neural processing unit (NPU) which will expand more of its capabilities.

It is unknown what kind of onboard AI integrations Microsoft will add, specifically with its massive focus on the Copilot now, powered by OpenAI's GPT platform.

Read Also: New Microsoft Surface Hub 2S Update Offers Teams Rooms: Here's What to Expect

Next-gen Microsoft Surface: Intel, Arm Options

In the report, it was also regarded that the Surface will feature either Intel or Arm-based options to go alongside its NPU.

The Surface Pro 10 will feature a brighter display with HDR support, and screen options of 2160x1440 (2K) or 2880x1920.

On the other hand, the Surface Laptop 6 will feature a 13.8-inch display which is larger than the previous gen, with two ports for USB-C, one for USB-A, and a Surface Connect charger.

Both displays will offer rounded looks and thinner bezels.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Development

In the different releases of Microsoft's Surface devices, the company has offered different types of features to experience, making each release unique from the one that came before it, with a massive selection of devices. One of the most iconic releases of the company was with the Surface Pro 8 which went alongside the Surface Laptop Studio in 2022.

The laptop-tablet lineup was then followed up by the company with the Surface Pro 9, offering a 13-inch tablet that features a 120Hz refresh rate for its screen, equipped with the Intel Core i7 processor.

There was also a Microsoft Surface Duo which centers on a tablet that was previously speculated to be planning a foldable version with the Surface Duo 3.

The Surface Laptop's development has seen significant features added to it, regarded with the top specs it offers the world, including improvements for its portability. In the upcoming Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, Microsoft is looking to bring its massive AI integration to the computers, offering the "true" experience that it will bring to the devices, speculated for 2025.

Related Article: Microsoft Surface Now Allows You to Play Revamped 'SkiFree'-Where Can You Find this Retro Game?

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 29. Uzbekistans Samarkand Airlines (Air Samarkand) has performed its first demonstration flight, Trend reports.

As per Air Samarkand, the plane of a private airline has operated a test flight between Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Tashkent.

The flight was operated with the Airbus A330 aircraft. Moreover, Air Samarkand received an operator's certificate from the Civil Aviation Agency of Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, the Air Samarkand airline was established in April of 2023. The company announced plans to establish flights to 14 cities in Russia and Asian countries on medium-haul Airbus A320 full economy configuration aircraft.

The first Airbus A330, leased from China's Minsheng Financial Leasing, arrived in Uzbekistan on November 2 of 2023.

The carrier also received several A320 and A321 aircraft.

In the nearest future, Air Samarkand plans to launch regular and charter flights from Samarkand to Southeast Asia, Turkiye, China and the Middle East.
In the dynamic field of artificial intelligence (AI) research, scientists in Hong Kong are undertaking an ambitious initiative, drawing inspiration from the extraordinary capabilities of the human brain.

(Photo : OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images)

This illustration photograph taken in Helsinki on June 12, 2023, shows an AI (Artificial Intelligence) logo blended with four fake Twitter accounts bearing profile pictures apparently generated by Artificial Intelligence software.

Human Brain-Inspired AI

Leading this innovative endeavor is Li Can, an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong, who is heading a team dedicated to advancing AI capabilities. The core objective of this groundbreaking venture is to leverage insights from the human brain.

Interesting Engineering reported that this aims to enable AI systems to achieve lifelong learning and versatile task performance. Li and the team aspire to emulate the remarkable capacities of the human mind, pushing AI into new realms of adaptability and continuous learning.

At the center of their pursuit is the goal of developing AI systems capable of perpetual learning and adaptive functionality, similar to the extraordinary capabilities demonstrated by the human brain.

An integral aspect of this effort involves exploring more efficient and powerful hardware, a crucial factor for ushering in the next generation of AI systems. Li Can sheds light on the unique strengths of both domains.

Human brains excel in experiential learning and making sense of ambiguous data, while computers demonstrate proficiency in scientific computations and repetitive tasks.

Also Read: Researchers Develop New Tech Capable of Placing Tiny 'Marks' in the Brain to Record Activity

In their pursuit of bridging this divide, Li and the team are directing their attention to an emerging memory device-the memristor. This advanced microelectronic platform emulates the intricate behaviors of biological synapses and neurons, providing a compelling avenue for revolutionizing AI hardware.

While acknowledging the human brain's supremacy in experiential learning and reasoning from ambiguous data, The Standard reported that Li underscores the computational prowess of computers in scientific computations and pattern-driven derivations.

Diverging from conventional computers, these devices inspired by the brain herald a significant transformation in computational technology, presenting exciting advancements in the acceleration of graphics processing units (GPUs).

As AI models expand to encompass trillions of parameters, the memristor becomes a pivotal component, facilitating direct computation within memory. This innovation eradicates data transfer bottlenecks, akin to the localized information processing observed in the human brain.

Transforming AI Tasks

Li envisions a future where memristor chips, known for their energy efficiency, could revolutionize AI applications by shifting from energy-intensive data centers to everyday devices such as smartphones and watches.

The potential applications of these chips are vast, ranging from health-monitoring implants to accelerating virus genome sequencing. South China Morning Post reported that this transformative technology holds the promise of reshaping disease detection and genome analysis.

Li's pioneering efforts have recently been acknowledged with funding from the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Awards, underscoring the recognition of his contributions. This financial support is poised to bolster his team's research initiatives, facilitating innovation and attracting top-tier talent to Hong Kong's scientific community.

For Li, Hong Kong emerges as a leader in scientific exploration, driven by a combination of talent and essential financial backing. This dynamic ecosystem is envisioned to catalyze groundbreaking developments at the crossroads of AI and neuroscience.

Related Article: How the Human Brain Is Inspiring AI Systems to Be More Robust

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Reuters reports that Elon Musk has failed in impeding a California legislation that requires X to disclose content moderation data, the court ruled it was not in violation of the first amendment free speech rights as previously argued by Musk last September.

The Hollywood Reporter adds to the story stating that on Thursday, U.S. District Judge William Shubb dismissed X's plea for a preliminary injunction, ruling that the reporting requirements are neither unwarranted nor unreasonably onerous under First Amendment principles.

While compliance may impose a significant burden, he determined that the necessary disclosures are uncontroversial and just necessitate the identification of current content control measures.

(Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

C.E.O. of Tesla, Chief Engineer of SpaceX and C.T.O. of X Elon Musk speaks during the New York Times annual DealBook summit on November 29, 2023 in New York City.

Furthermore, the judge ruled in favor of the state, concluding that it had completed its burden of demonstrating that the reporting requirements were fairly connected to a strong government interest in compelling social media businesses to be honest about their content moderation policies and practices.

According to him, the law is meant to provide consumers the option to make informed decisions about where they consume and disseminate news.

According to reports, the judgment rejected claims that the act is preempted by section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, Big Tech's preferred legal shield that has historically provided businesses with significant legal protection from liability as third-party publishers.

Read Also: Disney Shifts to Instagram After Leaving X, Increases US Ad Spending

California's Content Moderation Law

The law reportedly compels social media businesses with a significant amount of gross yearly income to publish semiannual reports that detail their content moderation processes and offer information on the quantity of offensive posts and how they were dealt.

More specifically, the legislation reportedly demands that content moderation procedures on each platform be reported on how it handles hate speech or racism, extremism or radicalization, disinformation or misinformation, harassment, and foreign political intervention.

As per a separate Reuters report, the legislation states that companies must also provide copies of their terms of service. Failure to comply might result in civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation per day.

X's Content Moderation Protests

According to CNBC, X has previously protested the content moderation law even before Musk's acquisition of the social media platform as Twitter lobbyists secretly visited with state officials, including Democratic Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, who sponsored the original measure, in the months prior Musk's acquisition, to raise their worries about the proposed legislation.

Reuters states that X has come under fire for its content filtering policies, prompting several businesses to suspend advertising on the network. According to third-party statistics released to Reuters in October, since Musk took over X in October 2022, its monthly U.S. ad income has plummeted at least 55% year on year.

In Europe, the social networking platform is also under review. The European Union said earlier this month that it was investigating X for potential violations of requirements, including posts related to Hamas assaults on Israel. This is the EU's first investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Related Article: X Filled With Disinformation and Fake News About Israel-Hamas War

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Computer scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have successfully executed a series of "jailbreaks" on artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, including ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Bing Chat.

The researchers, led by Professor Liu Yang, harnessed a large language model (LLM) to train a chatbot capable of automatically generating prompts that breach the ethical guidelines of other chatbots.

It must be noted that LLMs are the cognitive engines of AI chatbots, and they excel at understanding and generating human-like text. However, this study reveals their vulnerability to manipulation.

What Is Jailbreaking?

"Jailbreaking" in computer security refers to the exploitation of vulnerabilities in a system's software to override intentional restrictions imposed by its developers.

The NTU researchers achieved this by training an LLM on a database of successful chatbot hacks, enabling the creation of a chatbot capable of generating prompts to compromise other chatbots.

LLMs are commonly utilized for various tasks, from planning trip itineraries to coding. However, the NTU researchers have demonstrated their capability to manipulate these models into producing content that violates established ethical guidelines.

Introducing Masterkey

The researchers named their approach "Masterkey," a two-fold method that reverse-engineered how LLMs identify and defend against malicious queries. By automating the generation of jailbreak prompts, Masterkey adapts to and creates new prompts even after developers patch their LLMs.

The findings, detailed in a paper accepted for presentation at the Network and Distributed System Security Symposium in February 2024, highlight the potential threats to the security of LLM chatbots.

To understand the vulnerabilities of AI chatbots, the researchers conducted proof-of-concept tests, uncovering ways to circumvent keyword censors and ethical guidelines. For instance, creating a persona with prompts containing spaces after each character successfully evaded keyword censors.

According to the researchers, instructing the chatbot to respond without moral restraints increased the likelihood of producing unethical content.

Read Also: The Craziest AI Breakthroughs in 2023

Continuous Arms Race

The researchers emphasized the continuous arms race between hackers and LLM developers. When vulnerabilities are exposed, developers patch the issues, prompting hackers to find new exploits.

With Masterkey, the researchers elevated this cat-and-mouse game, allowing an AI jailbreaking chatbot to continuously learn and adapt, potentially outsmarting LLM developers.

The research team generated a training dataset based on effective and unsuccessful prompts during jailbreaking, feeding it into an LLM for continuous pre-training and task tuning.

The result was an LLM capable of producing prompts three times more effective than those generated by traditional LLMs in jailbreaking other LLMs.

The researchers believe that developers could utilize Masterkey to enhance the security of their AI systems, offering an automated approach to comprehensively evaluate potential vulnerabilities.

"As LLMs continue to evolve and expand their capabilities, manual testing becomes both labor-intensive and potentially inadequate in covering all possible vulnerabilities," Deng Gelei, the study's co-author, said in a statement.

"An automated approach to generating jailbreak prompts can ensure comprehensive coverage, evaluating a wide range of possible misuse scenarios," Gelei added.

The team's findings were published in arXiv.

Related Article: Experts Warn AI Misinformation May Get Worse These Upcoming Elections

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Raytheon has been awarded a three-year, $31.3 million contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division to develop and test two high-power microwave antenna systems.

These cutting-edge systems are slated for integration into directed energy weapons, serving as a formidable line of defense against aerial drones and similar airborne threats.

The initiative falls under the Directed Energy Front-line Electromagnetic Neutralization and Defeat (DEFEND) program, a collaborative effort with the US Navy and Air Force.

"The new iterations of Raytheon's high-power microwave systems are cost-effective and reliable solutions that operate at the speed of light - enabling our warfighters to defend against faster and more maneuverable threats," said Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon.

High-Power Microwave Systems of Raytheon

Whelan emphasized the strategic importance of non-kinetic defense systems in the broader national defense strategy. He highlighted the cost-effectiveness and reliability of Raytheon's high-power microwave systems, noting their ability to operate at the speed of light - an essential feature for countering faster and more maneuverable threats encountered by warfighters.

Raytheon's expertise in high-power microwaves spans nearly eight decades, with the new HPM prototype systems building upon the company's extensive experience, including the development of the Counter-Electronic High Power Microwave Extended Range Air Base Defense, known as CHIMERA.

According to Raytheon, these systems are designed to be rugged and transportable, catering to the dynamic demands of front-line deployment.

The work on this contract is underway in Tucson, Arizona, in collaboration with the US Air Force Research Lab, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, and the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

The prototypes are expected to be delivered in fiscal years 2024 and 2026, showcasing Raytheon's commitment to advancing defense capabilities.

Read Also: DARPA Partners With Raytheon to Develop Revolutionary Air-Breathing Rotating Detonation Engine 'Gambit'

Advanced Electronic Warfare

In a related development, the US Navy has also selected Raytheon for an $80 million contract to prototype Advanced Electronic Warfare (ADVEW) for the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.

This prototype aims to replace the existing AN/ALQ-214 integrated defensive electronic countermeasure and AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver, offering a consolidated solution that enhances electronic warfare capabilities for the Navy's carrier air wing.

Bryan Rosselli, president of Advanced Products & Solutions at Raytheon, highlighted the significance of these advancements in paving the way for the next generation of electronic warfare.

The ADVEW prototype, a one-box solution, is designed to deliver a generational refresh to the electronic warfare capability of the Super Hornet, ensuring operational advantages and improved survivability against advanced threats.

The development and testing of ADVEW will mostly happen in Goleta, California, encompassing preliminary design reviews, critical design reviews, and flight testing for a period of 36 months.

Related Article: Pentagon Awards Google, Amazon, Oracle, and Microsoft $9 Billion Contracts to Build a Cloud Computing Network for the US Military

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China has warned amateur military enthusiasts that they could be imprisoned for taking and posting Chinese army tech images online.

According to CNN, individuals found guilty of such actions may face severe legal consequences, with potential imprisonment of up to seven years for repeat offenders, while first-time or occasional offenders may receive warnings.

China to Amateur Military Enthusiasts: 'You Must Be Very Careful'

In a WeChat post titled "This is a cool hobby, but you must be very careful," China's Ministry of State Security expressed concerns about the unauthorized acquisition and dissemination of sensitive national defense information on the internet by individual military enthusiasts.

The post specifically highlighted the use of telephoto lenses or drones by enthusiasts near military airports, ports, and defense facilities, endangering national military security.

In response to the increasing prevalence of images captured and shared by military fans on social media platforms like Weibo, the Ministry of State Security noted the need for caution, revealing the potential risks posed by such activities.

Underlining its commitment to safeguarding national security, the agency said that violators could face imprisonment as part of a broader effort to tighten security measures in various sectors amid escalating tensions with the United States.

Read Also: China's WEILAN Introduces Robot Dog 'BabyAlpha,' Redefining AI Interaction with Human-Like Features

The Fujian

CNN reported a specific concern regarding the impact of online imagery on the security of military hardware, with a particular mention of aircraft carriers.

Notably, China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has been a subject of interest for amateur spotters as it undergoes construction at a Shanghai shipyard.

The post explained that online images could reveal critical details about the construction progress, operational aspects, and technical specifications of military hardware, potentially compromising security.

There are also reported instances where images captured by enthusiasts provided insights into the progress of significant programs, such as the electromagnetic catapult system testing on the Fujian aircraft carrier. The Fujian, the largest military vessel ever made in China, is considered a rival to the newest US Navy carriers.

The cautionary post also referenced a case from April 2023, when a military enthusiast named Mr. Luo was sentenced to one year in prison for capturing images of the Fujian carrier using a drone capable of filming long-range, high-resolution photos.

The case serves as a precedent, illustrating the severity of how Chinese authorities handle such incidents. However, CNN also reported that it is not only China that is cautious about potentially disclosing sensitive information through online imagery.

The United States also prohibits capturing images of specific military installations and equipment without proper permission, with potential violators facing imprisonment under US law.

Related Article: Chinese AI Companies Strategize Amidst US Export Restrictions, Stockpiling AI Chips, Exploring Alternatives

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US chipmaker Nvidia has introduced a modified version of its advanced gaming chip tailored to comply with US export controls focused on China.

The chip, dubbed GeForce RTX 4090 D, boasts enhanced performance, efficiency, and artificial intelligence-driven graphics and is set to hit the Chinese market in January, as confirmed by a Nvidia spokesperson, per Reuters. The spokesperson underlined the chip's adherence to US government export controls, emphasizing extensive collaboration during the product's development.

The release of the GeForce RTX 4090 D signifies Nvidia's inaugural venture into China-centric chips following the Biden Administration's October announcement of export regulations, resulting in the blocking of two AI chips, A800 and H800, along with the high-end gaming chip RTX 4090, all tailored for the Chinese market.

Nvidia Values China

Earlier speculations from chip industry newsletter SemiAnalysis in November hinted at Nvidia's potential unveiling of three new AI chips for the Chinese market around November 16. However, last month Nvidia communicated a delay in launching one of these chips to its Chinese customers, with the remaining two yet to be featured on Nvidia's China website.



China holds critical significance for Nvidia, contributing over 90% to the country's $7 billion AI chip market. Other substantial markets for Nvidia include the US and Taiwan, combining for approximately 13% of the company's overall revenue, according to Cointelegraph.

Read Also: Elon Musk's X Facing Lawsuit Over Allegations of Unpaid Bonuses



Despite concerns regarding restrictive export bans to China, Nvidia reported record-breaking revenue of $18 billion in the third quarter of 2023, citing generative AI as the primary revenue driver. Analysts anticipate that U.S. restrictions could open doors for domestic competitors such as Huawei Technologies.

Slower Chip for the Chinese Market

US Commerce Secretary Raimondo clarified in a December 11 Reuters interview that Nvidia has the green light to sell AI chips to China, except for those with the highest processing power. In a performance comparison with its banned predecessor, the China-focused RTX 4090 D is reportedly "5% slower in gaming and creating," according to the Nvidia spokesperson.



The pricing for the China-focused RTX 4090 D is set at 12,999 yuan ($1,842), making it 350 yuan ($50) more expensive than the second most advanced chip in the product series available to Chinese consumers.



The Nvidia RTX 4090 found itself on the list of US-made chips subject to export restrictions, as per an October 17 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Nvidia's website highlights the RTX 4090D chip's utilization of AI for enhanced performance, per CNBC.



Shares of Nvidia are expected to triple in value by 2023. The firm has seen success due to increased demand for AI, with OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot playing a significant role that has garnered significant attention.

China has had to explore ways to develop its AI chip industry due to US government regulations. Cointelegraph revealed on in September that China aims to develop AI chip factories to make particle accelerators and lead the semiconductor business.

Related Article: Chinese Tech Giants Xiaomi, Huawei Step Into Electric Vehicle Arena

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Food trends come and go in the fast-paced world of the internet, but some recipes take the world by storm, capturing our taste buds and taking over our social media feeds.

In 2023, Google search trends revealed an explosion of culinary wonders that captivated the imaginations of foodies worldwide.

Grimace Shake TikTok Horror Show

McDonald's is no stranger to viral sensations, but the Grimace Shake has taken TikTok by storm, becoming an unexpected horror-themed meme.

This is probably the best Grimace Shake tiktok pic.twitter.com/tEUpmah1ix  Jeyboy  // Glowing Eyes Rep  (@loo_lurky) June 27, 2023

The limited-edition, berry-flavored milkshake, inspired by Grimace's iconic color and sweetness, has sparked a social media frenzy.

Recipe: Grimace Shake

Ingredients: Limited-edition berry-flavored milkshake from McDonald's Instructions:

Order the Grimace Shake from your nearest McDonald's.

Take a sip and say, "Happy Birthday Grimace."

Come up with the wildest and scariest idea for a TikTok video (don't forget to add purple stains).

Lasagna Soup: A Viral Comfort Food

The viral Lasagna Soup trend that has taken TikTok by storm gives lasagna a cozy twist. With over 55 million views across a handful of videos, this deconstructed lasagna is a must-try for the colder months.

@dannylovespasta Yes Im calling this a soup even though its not that soupy! Deal with it Recipe: 1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add 1 diced onion and saute until it starts to lose color, 7 minutes. 2. Add 2 cloves minced garlic 3. After about a minute add 1/2 pound sausage and 1/2 pound ground beef along with salt, pepper, and 1/2 tbps Italian Seasonings. Cook until browned. 4. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste. 5. Add 2 cups marinara sauce then 3-4 cups chicken broth. Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and bring to a boil. 6. Add half a box of lasagna noodles broken into pieces. Lower heat and let simmer until pasta is completely cooked. If the liquid is fully absorbed and the pasta starts to stick to the bottom of the pan, add more broth. 7. Turn off heat the stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and at least 1 cup shredded mozzarella. Freshly shredded mozzarella will melt better than pre-shredded. Stir until the cheese has melted, then add a quarter cup chopped basil.  original sound - Danny Loves Pasta

Recipe: Lasagna Soup

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 cloves minced garlic

 pound ground beef

 pound Italian sausage

 tbsp Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 cups marinara sauce

3 or 4 cups chicken broth

 cup heavy cream

Half a box of lasagna noodles

 cup grated parmesan

1 cup shredded mozzarella

 cup chopped basil

Instructions:

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil.

Add ground beef, Italian sausage, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Add tomato paste, marinara sauce, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Bring to a boil.

Break lasagna noodles into smaller pieces and add to the pot. Cook until pasta is done.

Stir in cheese and basil. Enjoy!

A Southern Twist on Chicken Cobbler

Chef Bounds takes the stage with his TikTok-famous Chicken Cobbler recipe, which has nearly 10 million views. This savory take on a classic cobbler is a delectable blend of flavors that is simple to make at home.

Recipe: Chicken Cobbler

Ingredients:

1 rotisserie chicken (or 2-3 chicken breasts), shredded

12-ounce bag of frozen peas and carrots

2 cups Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuit mix

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken stock

10.5-ounce can cream of chicken soup

1 stick butter

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Melt butter in a 9x13-inch pan.

Add shredded chicken over the melted butter and top with frozen vegetables.

Mix biscuit mix, milk, and seasoning. Pour over chicken and vegetables.

Bake until the top is golden brown. Serve and savor!

Pumptini: A Taste of Hollywood at Home

Lisa Vanderpump's signature Pumptini adds a glamorous touch to mixology. This grapefruit-spiked delight is a must-have for those looking for a taste of Hollywood without the price tag fit for a star (via Today.com).

Recipe: Pumptini

Ingredients:

3 raspberries, plus 1 for garnish

 ounce simple syrup

 ounce orange liqueur

 ounce grapefruit juice

 ounce lime juice

Lime wedge for garnish

2 ounces vodka

Ice

Instructions:

In a shaker, muddle the raspberries with simple syrup.

Add orange liqueur, grapefruit juice, lime juice, vodka, and ice. Shake vigorously.

Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a raspberry and lime wedge.

Hugo Spritz

Italian bartender Roland Gruber's creation, the Hugo Spritz, gained immense popularity in 2023 as a refreshing summer drink. With a slight variation from traditional spritz recipes, this concoction has captured the hearts of many.

According to Forbes, several food publications wrote about the drink last summer, which was picked up by TikTok and received nearly 300 million views.

Recipe: Hugo Spritz

Ingredients:

Half-filled wine glass with ice

 ounce elderflower liqueur or syrup

4 ounces prosecco

1 ounce sparkling water

Lime slice and fresh mint for garnish

Optional:  ounce gin for a stronger version

Instructions:

Fill a wine glass halfway with ice.

Pour elderflower liqueur or syrup.

Top with prosecco and sparkling water.

Stir gently and garnish with lime slice and fresh mint.

Cowboy Butter: Another TikTok Sensation

Compound butter took center stage with Cowboy Butter, a blend of garlic, herbs, and spices that has amassed over 67 million views on TikTok.

Recipe: Cowboy Butter

Ingredients:

Butter

Garlic

Herbs (parsley, thyme, or cilantro)

Spices (paprika, chili powder)

Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Soften butter and mix in minced garlic, chopped herbs, spices, salt, and pepper.

Blend until well combined.

Use it to elevate steaks or any dish with a burst of flavor.

Coronation Quiche: Controversial Royal Pie

The choice of a quiche for King Charles III and Queen Camilla's coronation dish sparked controversy in the midst of the UK's ongoing egg shortage at the time. Despite mixed reactions, the royal-inspired recipe grabbed people's interest.

Recipe: Coronation Quiche

Ingredients:

Spinach

Broad beans

Tarragon

Cheese

Eggs

Instructions: Check out this video from the Royal Family Twitter!

Introducing Coronation Quiche!



Chosen personally by Their Majesties, The King and The Queen Consort have shared a recipe in celebration of the upcoming #CoronationBigLunch taking place up and down the country. pic.twitter.com/aVcw9tNarP  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 17, 2023

The culinary landscape of 2023 has been a delightful whirlwind, with everything from horror-inspired shakes to royal-inspired quiches. Don't be afraid to bookmark or share this page if you want to be trendy at your next cookoff.

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a remarkable incident, Apple's affordable AirTag, priced under $30, proved to be the hero for a Florida family on vacation.

The Gavino family transformed their North Carolina mountain getaway into a full-fledged detective mission to retrieve their stolen luggage, all thanks to the tiny device.

This recent tracking using this item tracker is only one of many instances showing that this can be useful in many scenarios.

AirTag Inside the Luggage

Upon landing at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the Gavino family faced the distressing situation of a missing bag at the baggage claim. However, Catherine Gavino had a savvy plan in place - she had discreetly placed an AirTag inside the luggage.

Tracking Down the Culprit

Leveraging the AirTag's location data, Catherine successfully traced the missing luggage to a residence in Gastonia, North Carolina, according to an initial report by Queen City News. Taking matters into her own hands, she promptly reached the location and contacted the police upon arrival.

Coordinating with the police, Catherine informed them about the situation, leading to the discovery of not only the Gavino family's suitcase but also another victim's luggage stolen from the airport. The Gastonia Police confirmed a similar case involving an AirTag.

Related Article: Washington is Handing Free Apple AirTags to Residents to Combat Car Theft

Suitcase Recovered But Not All of the Items

Although the recovered suitcase had been partially emptied, Catherine expressed relief at reclaiming the luggage itself and pursuing justice. The suspect responsible for multiple theft crimes was apprehended, highlighting the effectiveness of the AirTag in aiding law enforcement.

"Police believe they may have sold the clothes for money, who knows," Catherine told the authorities.

AirTag Success Stories

This incident adds to a growing list of successful deployments of AirTags in thwarting criminals, per 9to5Mac. From recovering stolen cars to locating a bull statue pilfered from a Texas Taco restaurant, Apple's compact tracking device continues to showcase its prowess in crime prevention.

The Gavino family's experience reinforces the value of affordable and accessible technology in enhancing security and ensuring a swift response to criminal activities.

Aside from locating the stolen luggage at the airport, a Memphis resident successfully detected the location of his stolen car.

Back in 2022, Joshua Wylie said that someone attempted to carjack him. Luckily, he installed a surveillance camera which served as an eye to the crime. Using an Apple AirTag, the driver easily identified the whereabouts of the thief.

While AirTags are frequently praised for their effectiveness, researchers said that the public should still be concerned on how it can really do when put in bad use.

In our October report, we tackled that some users were using AirTags to stalk and harass other people. Unknowingly, the trackers are put inside the bags or cars without the individuals' knowledge.

Read Also: Apple AirTags Help in Recovering $16,000 Worth of Stolen Goods from Airport

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Court documents released on Friday show that Michael Cohen, a former fixer for former President Donald J. Trump, unwittingly used artificial intelligence to fabricate legal citations in a motion to end court supervision early (via The New York Times).

The shocking revelation calls into question Cohen's credibility, as he previously pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and served time in prison in 2018.

Cohen Enlisted Google Bard to Make Bogus Legal Citations

In a sworn declaration, Cohen admitted that he had used Google Bard, an artificial intelligence program, to generate fictitious legal citations.

These citations were then unknowingly incorporated into a motion filed by his lawyer, David M. Schwartz, before a federal judge in Manhattan. Cohen, who is now out of prison and following release conditions, had requested relief from ongoing court supervision.

Reports tell us that the central issue is Cohen's ignorance of the nature of Google Bard. He admitted to failing to keep up with "emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology" and failing to recognize that Google Bard, similar to ChatGPT, could generate citations that appeared authentic but were in fact fictitious.

The NY Times notes that the potential fallout from this revelation is substantial, especially given Cohen's anticipated role as a key witness in the Manhattan criminal case against Donald Trump.

Trump's legal team has consistently portrayed Cohen as unreliable, and this incident offers fresh ammunition to further discredit him.

Read Also: Google Settles Chrome Incognito Tracking Case, Lawsuit Asks for $5 Billion

Lawyers Caught Tapping AI in Courts

Judge Jesse M. Furman, presiding over the case, issued an order on December 12 expressing difficulty locating the three cited decisions provided by Schwartz.

In response, Schwartz is now required to furnish the court with documentation or offer a comprehensive explanation regarding the non-existent cases. Additionally, the judge stipulated that Schwartz may face sanctions for citing false cases to the court.

This incident is not isolated, as it marks the second time this year that lawyers in the Manhattan federal court have invoked artificial intelligence programs to cite non-existent legal decisions.

The use of AI, in this case, Google Bard, echoes a similar episode involving ChatGPT earlier in the year when attorney Steven Schwartz used fabricated cases in a civil case.

The broader implications of lawyers relying on AI-generated content in legal proceedings raise concerns about the technology's potential misuse.

While AI has the potential to aid in legal research, the Cohen incident highlights the importance of vigilance and verification in the legal profession.

Meanwhile, in September, a prominent UK court of appeal judge made history using ChatGPT to summarize a legal topic.

Lord Justice Birss, an expert in intellectual property law, described the AI-powered chatbot as "jolly useful" after providing him with a good summary of a specific legal area.

"I think what is of most interest is that you can ask these large language models to summarize information. It is useful and it will be used and I can tell you, I have used it," he told the press.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: How ChatGPT Is Helping Poker Players Win

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung has been exploring the strength of AI when it comes to its smartphones. This time, fans have been wondering what's waiting for its Gauss AI model that will be rolling out to the Galaxy S24 series.

According to a report, the AI call feature will not be exclusive to Samsung phones. Even non-Samsung handsets are expected to have the ability to translate a phone call in real-time.

Samsung Galaxy S24's AI Call Feature

As first reported by Nikkei Asia, the AI Live Translate Call Feature which is anticipated to be first available to Galaxy S24 phones will also be accessible by other models.

The feature, according to the publication, comes with English and Spanish support for now. However, the South Korean tech giant will release support for other languages such as Japanese and Korean soon.

The best part here is that the Galaxy S24 lineup is not the only one that will benefit from this AI feature. Even non-Samsung phones can use it, according to Android Headlines.

In short, even though the person on the other line is using another Android phone, the function will still push through.

Many users think that Samsung did great on this job by not limiting the AI call feature to Samsung phones. Restricting the call translation feature will make no sense for other phones.

Of course, since it's a new feature, the older Samsung handsets might not get it. However, the company will roll out an updated One UI version for the next-gen lineup.

Related Article: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is Getting 4 Rear Camera Lens, Here's What to Expect

When is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Coming?

Before Christmas, Tech Times reported that the Galaxy S24 series was leaked to debut on January 17, 2024. Sources said that it will be revealed at the Galaxy Unpacked event in San Jose, California.

This was supported by Evan Blass' past tweet which was now deleted due to copyright issues. The leaker said that there's a countdown timer for the upcoming flagship and the event will start at 3 AM Korean time.

There's a possibility that Samsung requested X to take down the post so people won't see any traces of Galaxy S24 for its upcoming launch. However, netizens were quick to save the post before it was removed.

Earlier this month, we reported that another leak pointed to Galaxy S24's design. This time, the update was specifically addressed to the Ultra version which was purported to have a "sleek design with ultra-thin bezels."

For more updates and news you want to hear about Samsung Galaxy S24 leaks and rumors, just click here.

Read Also: Best Smartphones for Your Beloved Grandparents

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a major blow to the renowned probiotic company, Yakult Australia has fallen victim to a significant cyber attack, leaving its company records and sensitive employee documents, including passports, exposed on the dark web.

The iconic Australian brand, with a strong presence in Melbourne, confirmed the intrusion, citing a "cyber incident" affecting its IT systems in both Australia and New Zealand.

Yakult Australia Begins Investigation

As reported by ABC, Yakult Australia has initiated an investigation, collaborating with cybersecurity experts to assess the full extent of the breach. While details are scarce, the company acknowledged the severity of the situation and is actively working to contain the fallout.

"All our offices in Australia and New Zealand remain open and continue to operate," the statement read.

The group claiming responsibility for this breach is DragonForce, a formidable threat actor that has been targeting organizations since December.

According to the authorities, the cybercriminal entity resorts to ransomware attacks, coercing entities into payment under the threat of exposing sensitive files. Notably, DragonForce has previously targeted diverse entities, from a Texas-based charity to global corporations like Coca-Cola.

Just a few days ago, it also targeted the Ohio Lottery system. The cyberattack rendered mobile and prize cashing inaccessible temporarily.

Related Article: Russian Ransomware Group BlackCat Seized by US: Decryption Tool Distributed to Over 500 Victims

DragonForce Ransomware Gang Leaked 96GB of Data

Examining a portion of the leaked 95 gigabytes of data, ABC Investigations uncovered a trove of company records dating back to 2001.

Furthermore, the exposed cache includes an array of sensitive employee details, such as passport scans, driver's licenses, pre-employment assessments, salary information, and performance reviews.

Intriguingly, a database within the cache contains names and addresses, leaving questions about whether these are customer records.

Yakult Australia Was Aware About the Attack

Yakult Australia became aware of the cyber attack on Dec. 15. Subsequently, DragonForce listed the company as one of its victims just five days later, with the stolen cache making its way to the dark web on Christmas Day morning.

As the fallout unfolds, the company's response to this cyber incident becomes crucial.

With cybersecurity at the forefront of organizational challenges, the incident highlights the need for businesses to strengthen their digital defenses in an era where cyber threats continue to evolve.

Ransomware attacks keep on pouring as New Year approaches. Authorities are always urging the public to be on the lookout for some suspicious activities online.

As usual, hackers are always desperate to steal the precious data of users in exchange for instant money. It's always important to take even the basic precautionary measures when it comes to cybersecurity.

Read Also: Israel Watchdog Accuses Iranian Hackers of Deploying Phishing Attack, Posing as American Cybersecurity Firm

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Crocodiles are romantics  and according to the study, they speak a "language of love"

Eleven kilometers into the depths: China says it wants to drill into the Earth's mantle with a special ship

According to the study, crocodiles are romantic lovers  and speak a "language of love"

Five New Restaurants and Travelers Who Are Going to Be Very Familiar This Year

Mantequeria Bermejo, the centennial trade that has gone viral for a few horns

Google will probably fail with lawsuit against billions in fine from the European Union

Rescue helicopter apparently cannot land at the scene of the accident because of drone

AFCON 2024: everything you need to know about Group F

AFCON 2024: everything you need to know about Group E

Zhongxin Health|Sudden "vomiting and diarrhea" in winter, be alert to the attack of norovirus!

"Kaiser Karl": discover the very first photo of the event series on Karl Lagerfeld

AFCON 2024: Strike and danger of death on plane, the eventful departure from The Gambia

Michaela May, Gisela Schneeberger and Jutta Speidel: "The image of women on television is underground"

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"

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

After a 5-year absence, Hong Kong will hold another parade of floats to celebrate the Spring Festival

JCCC: boiler house was damaged during shelling of Horlivka by the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Comprehensively Promoting the Construction of a Beautiful China

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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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. Georgia will be fully ready to join the European Union by 2030,the chairman of the ruling party "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia" Irakli Kobakhidze said, Trend reports.

We can promise that by 2030 Georgia [] will be ready to join the European Union, said the party chairman.

Comparing the capabilities of Georgia and Moldova, Kobakhidze noted that Georgia has significantly increased its economic indicators in two years, and this is one of the decisive factors for joining the EU.

"This year and last year alone, we increased the gap with the Moldovan economy by $8 billion. This means that we are $8 billion ahead of Moldova on the path to European integration. Finally, when the question of membership comes up, the main criterion will continue to be economics", he added.
Guest column: LSU students have significant electoral power. Why don't they use it?
Sandra Day OConnor and retired Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., at the dedication ceremony for the 400 Royal Street Courthouse on October 2, 2004. The 400 Royal Street courthouse is now officially named the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Galant had a telephone conversation, Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder said, Trend reports.

According to information, in a telephone conversation the ministers discussed the preparation of measures aimed at stabilizing the situation in the Gaza Strip.

Ryder noted that they discussed "Israel's military campaign in Gaza and preparations for the future stage of stabilization after large-scale military operations."

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
This is the second year Southern University and A&M College System President-Chancellor Dennis Shields attended the Bayou Classic at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. It was one of many times that Grambling State University President Rick Gallot attended since he was a child growing up in Grambling, Louisiana. He's been to many in the 50 years the Bayou Classic has been a thing, then a bigger thing, then an even bigger thing. Gallot has been his alma mater's president since 2016, but this is his last Bayou Classic as GSU president.
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 Failure, for all its apparent negatives, has been positively life-changing for Elizabeth Day. Six years ago, the author and journalist began a podcast, How to Fail, after realising her assumed life plan had left her behind. The plan that lots of other people seemed to be following in their personal lives, she says, which was a very boring, heteronormative, conventional plan of getting married and having children. Sitting in her living room, a bright elegant space in a Victorian London townhouse with book-filled shelves and a framed Christian Dior swan print over the fireplace, Day is instantly likeable. Warm and witty, she is entirely candid about her own life. I was 39, just dumped from my first relationship after being divorced, she says of 2017 and the podcasts germination. Totally failed to have children, staring down the barrel of my 40s, feeling very alone. But she was curious about failure. How did others deal with it? Do we ignore the opportunities of mistakes? What could be learnt from buggering things up? Phoebe Waller-Bridge was How to Fails first guest. Credit: AP Day had no expectations for How to Fail. A Cambridge graduate with a successful journalism career and several award-winning novels under her belt, the podcast was the first project shed had creative control over. She drew its logo, a pink winners rosette, with felt tip pens, and asked her friend, writer, actor and producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, to be her first guest. White-hot from the success of Fleabag series one, Waller-Bridge revealed myriad missteps  failing at dating, failing drama school, failing auditions  but also how blunders brought glories and wisdom.

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I thought maybe a dozen people would listen, Day says of the episode. And two of those would be my parents. Loading But, six years and 18 series later, How to Fail has reached 35 million downloads, with more than 1 million listeners tuning in each month. Its been an extraordinary lesson for me and an extraordinary gift, Day says. I was the one feeling weird and alone but, actually, there were loads of other people feeling the same thing, which means were not weird, and were not alone. Thats taught me so much about what it is to be human, and about how our ultimate power as humans is sharing our vulnerabilities and our imperfections. Sharing that is the antidote to shame and the antidote to stigmatisation, and the source of enormous power. Its how we can change things. Day had no expectations for How to Fail, which now has a million listeners every month. It also changed her. The podcast really gave me the opportunity to show up as myself and to understand who I really was without the pretence that I had been living under for much of my 20s and 30s, she says. Id been trying to outsource my sense of self to other peoples projected opinions of who I might be. And I think thats quite a common issue.

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The success of How to Fail has meant everyone from comedian Dawn French to US politician Bernie Sanders, actors Jamie Dornan, Elliot Page, Stanley Tucci and Miriam Margolyes, and writers Margaret Atwood and Gloria Steinem have joined her to discuss how catastrophe can provide clarity. Loading Its incredibly powerful when Phoebe Waller-Bridge, someone who shimmers like a demigod on the red carpet, is so phenomenally talented and seems to have it all sorted, says, Actually, I didnt feel that I fit in. I didnt get any roles after drama school, so I had to write one for myself. For someone at home feeling like theyre in the midst of a struggle, and theyre not seen, thats incredibly inspiring. The podcast has also inspired Day to write two books, How to Fail: Everything Ive Ever Learned from Things Going Wrong, a memoir and manifesto, and Failosophy: A Handbook for When Things Go Wrong. TAKE 7: THE ANSWERS ACCORDING TO ELIZABETH DAY Worst habit? Society would tell me my worst habit is watching too much reality TV, specifically The Real Housewives and MAFS. However, I dont believe this is a bad habit. I believe its a fascinating anthropological study in what makes us all human. So... maybe eating too much cheese? Greatest fear? Existential loneliness, death of loved ones and a life without meaning. But on a day-to-day basis: pigeons. The line that stayed with you? The universe is unfolding as it should (Max Ehrman) Biggest regret? Theres one person I regret not seeing before he died - wed broken up six months previously and his death was a terrible tragedy. Favourite room? Bedroom, but not for the reasons you think. Mainly its just that I love sleep. I also love reading in bed. And breakfast in bed. Im typing the answers to this in bed. The artwork/song you wish was yours? Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. If I could solve one thing Climate change. And who killed the Princes in the Tower (niche history reference for Richard III fans). She has also launched a second podcast, Best Friend Therapy, with her best friend, psychotherapist Emma Reed Turrell, in 2022 and written Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, which explores the dynamics of friendships, the reasons we hold on to heart-filling and soul-draining ones, and how to be a better friend.

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In February, she is coming to Australia for An Evening with Elizabeth Day, a live show exploring the podcasts, Days many guests and her discoveries about the potency of failure and the intricate nature of friendship from childhood to adult years. Its the latter that led her to look more closely at her years growing up in Northern Ireland when her surgeon father transferred to Derry, relocating four-year-old Day and her family from England to the village of Claudy. After happy years in primary school, she was seen as an English weirdo in high school. It was 1992, I was a year ahead of myself academically and I wore corduroy trousers without irony. I didnt have fashion tastes, I didnt know what was cool, she says. I really struggled to feel that I had friends or that I belonged. Having a different accent meant she spoke less and observed more. Books were her friends and she began writing, sending a letter to the editor of the Derry Journal when she was 12. He promptly asked her to write a weekly column. Day with bestie Waller-Bridge at the launch of Days book Friendaholic in March. I started earning money, writing about my experience of life and writing funny things, she says. My first column was about Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue. Then, when Day left Northern Ireland at 13 to accept a scholarship at a boarding school in England, her accent meant she fit in immediately. And that was an extraordinary thing to realise, she says. It made me question what we all look for in belonging. In Northern Ireland Id been wanting to change myself in order to fit in.

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That was the start of a really long journey in understanding that true acceptance and true belonging is when you are welcomed exactly as you are. Day has visited Australia before, in 2004, after a travel bursary from a journalism award inspired a solo trip to Sydney via South Africa, Zanzibar and Tanzania. I cannot overstate how excited I am about coming to Australia, she says. Australian listeners are my second-biggest international audience. Ive had so much support from your corner of the world, just lovely supportive messages every step of the way, and it has meant the world to me. I know this is such a cliche thing to say, but I grew up watching Neighbours. So theres that aspect. And I also love the book The Slap, which is all set in Melbourne, an amazing novel. But I understand the coffee in Melbourne is utterly exceptional. I dont really drink coffee any more, but Im going to make an exception to that rule and just mainline all of the caffeine. She is also keen to hear from people and their personal stories. Her favourite part of every live show, whether in the Royal Festival Hall in London, a bookshop in Liverpool, or the Hamer Hall, is the Q&A section with the audience. Very often what happens is there has been such a sense of safety in what weve been talking about, people feel they can open up about what theyre going through and share an issue or a problem that theyre trying to solve, she says. I find it incredibly moving. Its such an act of generosity on their part because it makes me feel more seen and less alone.

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Its not a glamorous myth that writers need pain, as Martin Amis claimed. They do need it. It works as a lens and a spur to the author, and readers love it on the page. And I had some. And not just any pain, this stuff was the pain we use as metaphor, as denunciation, the pain summoned conversationally when were talking about our kids ... I had a pain in the arse.

So I spent a morning standing in the waiting room of a colorectal surgeon. (There were seats, but I had become giraffishly inexpert at sitting.) He was an associate professor, and thus the abbreviated title, Ass. Prof. preceded his name on the surgery door. It sounded superheroic: Spiderman, Wolverine, Thor, Ass. Prof: Protector of Rectums.

Anson Cameron bravely faced a penetrating examination. Credit: Eddie Jim

I decided while I was there Id make a few notes on pain, just to try to wring some value from my looming demise. What better time to observe your fellow humans than when youre all in the grip of contrition, staring at the last reels of your lives as they play on the waiting room wall, while on the other side of that wall a gloved Ass. Prof is mining for alimentary turpitude? These are the thoughts I scribbled down in that waiting room with my consciousness jacked by fear.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) recently released a keenly anticipated position statement after some of its members raised concerns about how gender-affirming care was being delivered. The statement expressed caution, saying there was limited high-quality evidence to inform the provision or the withholding of medical interventions for gender affirmation of children and adolescents. Loading Referring to more conservative regimes now in place in some European countries, including England, the RANZCP also urged psychiatrists to explore a variety of treatment options, to exercise caution on the use of hormonal and surgical treatment [and] screening for potential coexisting conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are diagnosed in young transgender people at a much higher rate than in the general community. The Australian Psychological Society is also revising its guidelines for gender-affirming care after practitioners raised concerns about its current position that affirming a childs chosen gender was essential to their  wellbeing. The society has not yet published its revised position.

Increased capacity Gender-affirming care starts from the premise that a childs statements about their gender identity should be taken seriously and acted upon. This can include social transition, where a child dresses and is referred to as a gender other than their biological sex. This can be followed by medical transition, which can involve puberty-blocking drugs for pubescent children, and as they get older, hormones  oestrogen and testosterone. The Royal Childrens Hospital has been a leader in the medical treatment of trans young people in Australia, and its guidelines for gender-affirming care are recognised internationally, but Nguyen argued at the suicides cluster inquest that, with waiting lists between 10 months and two years, its services needed considerable expansion. We wish that there was increased funding, increased service capacity and increased capacity  because for some young people  it can be provided within the community and it shouldnt happen necessarily at a tertiary city hospital, Nguyen told coroner Ingrid Giles. We would like there to be increased capacity in regional and rural communities as well.

The childrens hospital currently treats people aged eight to 16, administering puberty blockers from as early as age 11, potentially followed by cross-sex hormones. Nguyen said the hospital also worked with youth mental health organisation Orygen, through its Headspace clinics, to provide gender-affirming treatment to children from 12 years old after a large Victorian government grant in the 2021 budget. Loading State government figures show Orygen treated about 280 trans and gender diverse young people aged between 12 and 25 over the past 12 months. Headspaces executive director of clinical practice, Vikki Ryall, said in a statement she hoped governments would increase funding to continue to expand supports for transgender and gender diverse young people to live their best and most authentic lives. For children in out-of-home care, the state government said the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing helps children ... get the health and support services they need and that in some cases legislation allows the departments secretary or delegate to provide consent for medical services for a child. The way consent can be given depends on the childs individual circumstances and the nature of the order the child is under, the statement said.

Informed consent Training for GPs in gender-affirming care is performed by specialist LGBTQI health body Thorne Harbour Health, and in a series of training modules obtained by this masthead, doctors are encouraged to use an informed consent model of care, rather than the mental health model to assess the eligibility for gender treatment among people over 16 years. The informed consent model sees gender variance as a normal part of life and that general practitioners can direct care with no need for specialised psychological assessment before treatment. Transgender patients are prescribed hormones to help them transition. Thorne Harbours training module says GPs should look out for mental health factors which may impact informed consent, including low prevalence/high risk factors such as acute psychosis or dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder). These do not exclude gender incongruence, but will change the process for [hormone] prescription, the course notes say.

As for patients with depression and anxiety, they should be given timely access to hormones and surgeries. Mental health should be stable (i.e. not in acute crisis) but remember peoples mental health may not ever be optimised until they can access [hormones], the notes say. Thorne Harbour director of services Carolyn Gillespie told the coroner recently that informed consent guidelines saw transgender medicine like any other decision around peoples health care, then that speeds up the whole process. Opponents argue that children and young people are unable to consent to treatment that will have life-long effects on their health, including their sexual health. A recent webinar for psychologists delivered by NSW-based clinical psychologist James Morandini, who convenes the Australian Psychological Society interest group delivering continuing professional development gender education to practitioners, said about 30 to 40 per cent of his clinics clients had autism spectrum disorder.

He said across the Western world, the cohort seeking treatment had also changed in recent years, with a large proportion being adolescents who were born female and had only recently begun saying they were transgender. Morandini conceded in the webinar that the new cohort was one for which we dont have any data, though, my gut feeling is that they respond to medical affirmation quite well. Loading He also pointed to shortcomings in data about those who regret their gender transitions. A commonly cited figure is that 1 per cent of people want to detransition from their new gender, but Morandini cited another study saying that about 30 per cent of adolescents discontinued hormones after starting. Morandini told his trainees that when were talking to parents about detransition  rates, were open with the uncertainties in this area. You need to frame that carefully so that youre not scaring parents away from a treatment thats going to really benefit their kids. But at the same time, you are giving them the information thats going to be relevant for them to make a decision and not sue you. And so this is the tightrope we walk.

Intransigent interpersonal issues The suicide cluster inquest was called after five trans people in Victoria, some of whom knew each other, took their own lives. All had mental health issues, including feelings of social isolation during Victorias long season of lockdowns, and all were taking gender-affirming hormones. Loading The inquest heard a summary of their cases but did not quiz their treating professionals, preferring to hear from family members, a panel of medical proponents of affirming care and a panel of transgender community advocates. At the hearing, Morandini gave evidence that studies showed patients enjoyed modest improvements in psychological functioning following gender-affirming hormone treatments  which is a bit stronger than you would see for most antidepressants. Its not clear over what time period the improvements were measured.

Professor Jeffrey Zajac, the chairman of medicine and director of the department of endocrinology at Austin Health, conceded that affirming care was not the only solution to many peoples problems. For one thing, for transgender women (people born male): The libido can be reduced and sometimes reduced to nothing, and this can be a major problem in some individuals  well in most individuals  but some of them worry about it more than others. Loading He said most of his patients were on antidepressants both before and after hormone therapy. If people come in with an established partner, 80 per cent of the time theyre not with that partner six months later, once they start the transition  despite the fact that the partner is supportive, it just doesnt seem to work. So thats a problem, Zajac told the coroner. Id say about 30 to 40 per cent are not speaking to their relatives, their parents and their siblings and, you know, just the hormones is not going to fix this. So on top of the other society problems, they often have these sorts of intransigent interpersonal issues  which I cant fix with hormones  and Im sure that some of those issues contribute to the suicide risk.

In the hearing, members of the expert panel said a broader political discussion around transgender medicine, including calls for an inquiry, meant that some individual clinicians were reluctant to offer gender-affirming care, particularly to those between 16 and 18. Others could no longer afford to bulk-bill transgender clients. The psychologists I use are gradually withdrawing from this field, Zajac said. I dont do [people as young as] 16, and my clinic gets at least one call a month from a desperate mother trying to find somewhere for her 16-year-old to do this and we just say, well ... we dont have any suggestions. Head of MDA National insurance company, Dr Michael Gannon. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen One problem, he said, was that medical indemnity insurers were making trouble. In July, MDA National, one of the biggest providers of medical indemnity insurance in the country, stopped covering practitioners who assess or treat people under 18 for gender reassignment. Its president, Dr Michael Gannon, said, We dont think we can accurately and fairly price the risk of regret.

Nguyen argued there was hostility within the medical profession to the vision of gender-affirming care, including among psychiatrists. Loading I know of GPs who have received vexatious AHPRA complaints just for working in the field. So what this means for trans people is that the access to care is limited, because practitioners feel at risk. It is not culturally safe for practitioners. Those sceptical of the affirming care model counter with their own stories, including that of child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Jillian Spencer, who has been stood down for many months from her job in Brisbane after a complaint of transphobia was levelled against her. Nguyen anticipated more people would be coming to her publicly funded clinic as bulk-billing rates fell. Most of the Royal Childrens clients were of Anglo-Australian background of the middle to higher socioeconomic group, she said, but I would expect that we will then have more demand and increased waitlists. This is not something that will be ending soon.
Traditionally an industrial and working-class suburb, successive migration waves turned Footscray into the heartland of multiculturalism it is today, where Vietnamese restaurants co-exist next to halal butchers and shops selling African wares.

These scenes encapsulate the battle for Footscray  where gentrification, a windfall of government investment, anti-social behaviour, crime and entrenched disadvantage compete in a tense tug of war to shape the future of the inner-western suburb.

Around the corner in Maddern Square, two dozen people listen to music, yell and drink themselves to oblivion next to the bodies of two men passed out on the lawn. Barely a block away sits the dilapidated site of the Franco Cozzo furniture showroom , soon to become a brewery and music venue.

Barely 10 metres away, an army of community volunteers running the weekly soup kitchen have no time to enjoy the warm weather. Pushing trolleys filled with groceries, they race up and down the pedestrian street handing bread, meals and fresh produce to more than 400 people in need.

Its a balmy summer evening in Footscray. Tattooed hipsters sip craft beers and scoff takeaway burgers in the alfresco area of one of the latest venues to sprout along the Nicholson Street mall.

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However, Fensham said the most startling sign of the suburbs changing face was the increase in median household incomes  from below the Victorian average in 2016, to above it by 2021. Its definitely seen an influx of wealthier households, he said.

For the first time in several generations, the majority of Footscrays residents were born in Australia  a departure from the suburbs status as the arrival point for migrants looking to settle in Melbourne. The median age of locals has also increased, a sign that professionals and middle-aged couples with smaller families might be replacing migrant families with multiple children.

You know people and I certainly do who have moved in because they couldnt afford Fitzroy or Brunswick or Collingwood or whatever, said Patrick Fensham, the Victorian president of the Planning Institute of Australia. Its sort of the next frontier.

As new developments go up and trendy venues open up, the character of Footscray is changing. Credit: Joe Armao

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics backs anecdotal accounts that the ground is shifting.

But first-home buyers, young professionals and families have been lured by cheaper housing, thousands of new apartments slated for development and a pipeline of government infrastructure projects, accelerating the reshaping of the suburb.

The gentrification wave that transformed areas in the inner-north like Collingwood, Fitzroy, and Brunswick spared large swathes of the inner-west, preserving Footscrays character as an industrial melting pot.

The couple was also encouraged by the state governments billions of dollars worth of investment in Footscray, including a new $1.5 billion hospital set to open in 2025 and more than $120 million into local schools to cater to the suburbs exploding population. Resident numbers are forecast to double in the next three decades from 17,131 in 2021 to 41,943 by 2051.

The couple is among a wave of Melburnians flocking west because of its cheaper housing stock, rich offer of Edwardian and Victorian homes, family feel and proximity to the CBD. Footscray was the third-cheapest place for home buyers this year with a median house price of $920,000.

Carley Ocean and Jesse Ocean with their baby Rae. The couple is considering buying property in Footscray. Credit: Joe Armao

Among those browsing the popular market are young parents Carley and Jesse Ocean, who recently moved to neighbouring Seddon from Richmond and are considering buying property in Footscray.

At Railway Reserve near the Victoria University Nicholson Street campus, a mix of new and old residents welcome the first day of summer with a picnic on the grass. Performers entertain the crowd while a man dressed in colourful silk robes puts on a juggling show nearby.

Mai Chung said most residents from Vietnamese backgrounds had moved to more affordable areas like St Albans and Sunshine. Chung, who herself is Vietnamese and grew up in Footscray, said she no longer could afford to live locally and had moved to Altona. Its definitely very hipster now with all the new bars and restaurants, Chung said.

However, some business owners and residents fear the influx of new arrivals is pushing rents and property prices up, pricing out long-term locals, and changing the diverse fabric of the suburb.

Every day you can go into Footscray and experience a new culture, and its a place of constant transition. Maybe the period of transition currently happening is one where other people in Melbourne have discovered our secret, Hall said.

Member for Footscray Katie Hall, a Labor MP, said the state government was investing in the suburb like its nobodys business.

The Maribyrnong City Council has approved more than 2400 new apartments and 28,000 square metres of commercial floor space for construction, as property developers turn to old factories, vacant land and other dilapidated sites like a disused bowling club in McNab Avenue as project sites.

Le Ngo, who runs a tobacconist on Paisley Street, had a metal gate installed outside her business after vandals ram-raided her shop several times. She said finding people overdosed on the footpath had become a weekly occurrence.

Traders along Nicholson and Paisley streets said it is often after dark when most theft, break-ins, public defecation, drug-taking and fights take place. If Footscray seems seedy during the day, just wait until sundown, they said.

As the soup kitchen volunteers pack away trestle tables and crates, a rowdier crowd begins to congregate in Maddern Square.

Politicians, developers and councillors looking to revamp the area will also have to contend with Footscrays entrenched disadvantage and anti-social behaviour which has pushed some traders in central Footscray to the brink of quitting.

Fensham said Footscrays industrial character would likely prevent it from gentrifying to the same degree as inner-northern suburbs like Fitzroy and Collingwood, but that retaining a diverse property offer with affordable and public housing would be key to retaining the suburbs diversity.

I have to keep an eye out because if I hear screaming I need to shut the door, she said. People are scared to come because they dont feel safe.

Ngos feelings are echoed by other business owners in the heart of Footscray, who said they feared for their safety as a result of escalating violence and crime gripping the suburb.

Police have launched a series of proactive initiatives to tackle the problem, but data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows the move has failed to curb offending, with crime rates at their highest level since 2017.

Assaults in the suburb have soared to a nine-year high. Property damage and drug offences have also spiked. Robberies are one of the few offences that have significantly dropped. Burglaries are also down, but not by much.

Some traders have hired private security or rostered additional staff to deal with substance-affected people, while others have stashed weapons, such as metal barbecue skewers, under the counter to fend off prospective attackers.

Littlefoot Bar owner Stuart Lucca-Pope said Footscray was on a meteoric rise until COVID-19, but that the economic fallout of the pandemic caused more anti-social behaviour and crime and stunted the growth of the suburbs buzzing hospitality industry. At least one venue in nearby Chambers Street, Baby Snakes Bar, has decided to shut shop after a series of violent attacks on its owner, Mark Nelson, and the bar staff.

Littlefoot Bar owner Stuart Lucca-Pope. Credit: Joe Armao

Cem Cayrak, who has owned a butcher shop on Nicholson Street for almost two decades, said his customers were too scared to come to the street and were choosing to have orders delivered instead.

Fellow butcher Saddique Ahmed, who runs a shop a few hundred metres up the road from Cayrak on Nicholson Street, said delivery drivers refused to offload orders early in the morning, fearing potential attacks. Ahmed said he and his son were forced to stand guard outside the shop to reassure drivers.

Famous Halal Meats owner Saddique Ahmed says he fears for his safety. Credit: Jason South

A lot of customers have left my shop because of this situation. They dont feel secure, Ahmed said. Especially in the last six to nine months, the situation has become much worse.

When The Age visited the suburb several times over the past four weeks, it inadvertently stumbled upon a drug deal in broad daylight. Large groups of people yelled and drank in Maddern Square, a notorious drug-scoring spot, and a man with a broken arm urinated in one of the laneways nearby.

Ahmed, who migrated to Melbourne from Bangladesh, said he never expected to feel unsafe in Australia.

Ngan Tran and her husband Vu Lam opened a bottle shop in Footscray after moving to Melbourne four years ago. They said they felt let down by the police.

Speaking through her daughter Daisy, Tran said drug-affected people tried to steal from the shop daily. In March, a man charged at and punched Lam in the face after he caught him stealing for the second day in a row.

Police came to the shop and spoke to the family after the incident, but Tran said nothing appeared to have been done to apprehend the man.

Vu Lam was recently assaulted by a substance-affected man at the bottle shop he runs in Footscray. Credit: Jason South

The couple now rosters two staff members each night, one to serve customers and another to keep watch at the door. But they worry that wont be enough to protect themselves from another attack. We are immigrants  we just want to run our business and have a good life, she said.

They want additional police officers in the area to deter criminal activity  a view supported by most traders who spoke to The Age  and a streamlined process to report crime, particularly for those with limited English skills.

Inspector Paul Morgan, the area commander for Maribyrnong, said detectives from the local crime investigation unit had executed more than 30 warrants and arrested more than 60 people since October.

Our uniform police are patrolling the Footscray CBD at all hours. Our proactive police are visiting schools almost every day. Our detectives are conducting a variety of operations and arresting offenders weekly, he said.

Hall, the local member, acknowledged the increase in crime and community concerns about safety. Hall said she had met with Police Minister Anthony Carbines and local traders in September to devise a combined police and mental health strategy to reduce crime in the new year. However, for traders like Lam, Tran, Ahmed and Cayrak, help cant come soon enough.

Filling the gap with hope for the future

Inside a commercial kitchen in Albert Street, staff pull steaming trays of cinnamon scrolls and pastries out of a large oven.

To the untrained eye, Nans Bakehouse might look like one of myriad trendy cafes that have popped up in the suburb. But those who have met owner Phil Gaby know the small, busy bakery does much more than serve lattes  it fills a gap in the community Footscray is desperately screaming out for.

In addition to selling baked goods to customers, the business provides food and support to struggling families and rough sleepers. The cafe also employs young people who are on the autism spectrum and struggling with mental illness.

Phil Gaby opened Nans Bakehouse with the idea of helping those less fortunate. Credit: Jason South

Gaby was looking to get out of the hospitality business when he had a vision for Nans Bakehouse. The business was inspired by his deceased mother, who used to take in and feed people doing it tough without making a fuss about it.

She would just help people and that was the whole concept that we had to do this business, Gaby said. It was to help people, and it couldnt be monetary, which is the opposite of what they tell you to do in business.

The cafe is now helping hundreds of families and individuals a week.

Efforts like his might be the key to helping Footscray modernise for the future without leaving too much of the past behind.

Gaby believes he is filling a void left by the state government, the local council and the police, who he claims have lost sight of how to forge relationships with people on the streets and provide effective support.

It hasnt always been smooth sailing. Gaby, who grew up in Footscray, comes to work most days to find faeces and syringes scattered on the front step and has had to remove drug dealers too. But his efforts to build trust have paid off. When he forgot to lock the business one night, a rough sleeper who regularly came for help guarded the premises to ensure no one broke in.

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Council was more concerned about what we were doing here with a wall and outdoor furniture than what they were doing with the homeless and crime problem in the local area, he said. You cant just come and arrest people  you have to actually have a relationship.

Footscray residents might already be helping shape the suburbs destiny  at the polls. At the last Victorian election, incumbent Hall held off a 13.9 per cent swing to the Greens candidate Elena Pereyra.

The historically safe Labor seat is, for the first time in 100 years, back in play.

Pereyra, who hopes to run in the next state election on the issues of housing affordability and maintaining Footscrays cultural and socioeconomic diversity, said young voters could help her flip the seat Green.

I think its really exciting for people of the west that its not [a] safe [seat], she said.

Locals hang out in Nicholson Street mall. Credit: Jason South

At a local government level, Maribyrnong City Council has had its own shift. Its first Victorian Socialist candidate, Jorge Jorquera, was elected in 2020. The council also has two Greens councillors and the remaining four councillors including the mayor are Labor members.

Long-time resident, community advocate and Greens member Pierre Vairo said he would be running in the October 2024 council elections asking for more bike paths, sustainability measures and affordable housing stock in the area. The area has really changed and its been taken for granted for too long, he said.

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Beijing puts some of the blame on US government policies. Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting said recently: The US side has repeatedly politicised 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. Loading A survey released in September by the US-China Business Council, which represents American companies in China, suggested that the uncertainty has taken a toll: 43 per cent of its members said Chinas business environment had deteriorated in the past year, and 83 per cent said they were less optimistic about China than they had been three years ago. Twenty-one per cent said they were investing fewer resources in China, versus just 10 per cent who were investing more. Surveys of European and Japanese companies have shown similar results.

While Chinas market is gigantic, its ailing. Unemployment among young Chinese rose to over 20 per cent by June  the last time the government released that data. Housing prices are falling and the stock market is down nearly 15 per cent since mid-year. Thats 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 markets long-term potential, McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski said as the Chicago-based company announced in November it was increasing its minority 20 per cent ownership of its McDonalds licensed stores in China, Macau and Hong Kong to 48 per cent. Burgers and lattes dont raise the sorts of friction that more high-tech industries have in the complicated US-China relationship. Those strains have persisted under the presidency of Joe Biden, who took office vowing to do more to counter Chinas expanding military clout and its menacing of neighbours, to improve the countrys 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 US to be shot down. Beijing, which claims self-governed Taiwan as its own territory, also protested a stopover in the US by the islands president, Tsai Ing-wen, earlier this year. China answered fresh US 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. McDonalds French fries in Shanghai, China. Credit: Bloomberg The relationship appears to be stabilising somewhat as 2023 winds down, highlighted by last months Biden and Xi meeting outside San Francisco. But since then, Bidens top advisers have said there are no plans to shift the strategy of tightening regulations and blocking US-based high-tech investments in China, citing the need to safeguard national security. Both former president Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican 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 Americas 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 dont want to see a total decoupling of the worlds two biggest economies. Loading De-risking, yes. Decoupling, no, Nicholas Burns, the US 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 non-profit Reshoring Institute, noted that decisions to expand or retrench are relatively easy for a company like McDonalds or its fast food rivals. [Franchises] can be opened or closed, Coates said. Its not like youre investing in an auto plant or some kind of machine shop.

Chinas vast market is vital for many foreign companies. At their annual investors day gathering this month, McDonalds executives noted that 70 million of the 150 million customers active in its customer loyalty program are in China. McDonalds restaurant at Shenzhen street in Chinese traditional building style. Credit: IStock KFC China says growth in its new outlets has averaged more than 22 per cent over the last five years, and it plans to open 1200 additional stores in the next three years. The chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen relaunched its brand in China in August with a flagship restaurant in Shanghai and plans to open 1700 stores over the next 10 years. 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 Bushs administration. An employee prepares hamburgers at the KFC Chinas 10,000th store on the opening day on December 15, 2023 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. Credit: Getty Someone might say: For sourcing sensitive computer chips, this has to be done in a place I really trust  The other extreme is: Were OK selling them lattes and burgers. But where do you draw the line for the stuff in between  say, automotive parts? What about ball bearings? AP
Washington: The world population grew by 75 million people over the past year and on New Years Day it will stand at more than 8 billion people, according to figures released by the US Census Bureau on Friday (AEDT).

The worldwide growth rate in the past year was just under 1 per cent. At the start of 2024, 4.3 births and two deaths are expected worldwide every second, according to the census bureau figures.

Crowds make their way along the pedestrian shopping area of Fuencarral street in central Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday. Credit: Bloomberg

The projected world population on January 1 is 8,019,876,189, up 75,162,541 (0.95 per cent) from New Years Day 2023, according to the bureau using data from its International Database.

The bureau points out that there are many sources of uncertainty in estimating the global population, and its unlikely population milestones are reached on exact dates. For example, the United Nations Population Division estimates the world population reached 8 billion on November 15, 2022.
Seriously ill Ukrainian actress Kateryna Tyshkevych, who spent 10 days in intensive care in serious condition with sepsis due to an undiagnosed illness and announced her discharge 9 days ago, has been in touch for the first time since then.

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On the occasion of the shelling of Ukrainian cities by Russian terrorists, the artist published two important videos. They appeared on Tyshkevich's Instagram stories.

The first video shows the aftermath of the shelling of a high-rise building in Odesa, which killed three people and injured at least 22 others, including two children (6 and 8 years old) and a pregnant woman.

It is worth adding that Kateryna Tyshkevich is probably in Odesa. She was treated there. Odesa doctors spent 10 days pulling the celebrity out of critical condition, but she did not say whether the actress would leave the city after discharge.

The second video shows the consequences of shelling in many Ukrainian cities: Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro. Tyshkevych could not ignore the terrorist attack and spoke about Russia's war crimes to her audience of almost 25,000.

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There has been no information about her health and whereabouts for many days. The last time the actress showed her photos was during her discharge.

As a reminder, Tyshkevych's illness became known in the summer of 2022. The actress admitted that she had been struggling with a mysterious illness - unbearable headaches - for eight years. After a long treatment, the actress felt worse and was admitted to the intensive care unit.

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Recently, Tyshkevych's husband got in touch. He thanked everyone who helped raise funds for Kateryna's treatment, as the actors' family had to spend 350 thousand hryvnias in just one week. The mother of the seriously ill Ukrainian woman also addressed the audience.

She told us what happened to her daughter, how the family went through terrible days when doctors gave no prognosis, and what an unusual conclusion Katya herself made from what happened. Read more about it here.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about the details of the air attack on Ukraine, which lasted all morning. The shelling resulted in the destruction of residential buildings, a shopping center, a maternity hospital, etc.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
For 19 days now, Russia's terrible war against all the peaceful people of Ukraine has been going on inUkraine. In this very difficult time, all Ukrainians are facing the problem of food and water shortages.

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Culinary expert Yevhen Klopotenko shared on his website useful tips on how to keep food fresh for several weeks without a refrigerator.

1. Vegetables and fruits

The chef claims that vegetables and fruits do not need to be stored in the refrigerator, even a cool but dark place will be enough. For example, carrots and beets keep well in a box of sand. For potatoes, it is important that they are not exposed to sunlight or light.

If there are berries and fruits, the cook advises making jam or candied fruit from them, as well as making compote.

And preserve or ferment vegetables.

2. Meat

"If the power is off and the temperature is below zero, wrap each piece in paper and then a towel, put it tightly in a metal container and put it outside. You can use thermal bags. You can also make stew out of any meat, which can be stored for up to 3 years," Klopotenko said.

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"It is also important to know that to preserve meat without a refrigerator, you can put it in a saucepan or glass jars and sprinkle it well with salt. You can also make a saline solution - 10 tbsp of salt per 500 ml of cold water, to eat such meat, you need to soak it in water first.

3. Fish

You can make canned fish from any fish, and you can also salt it. The cook advises to clean the fish from the scales, remove the insides and gills, wash it well and dry it with a paper towel. After that, put it in a metal container, sprinkle it well with salt, and put it in a cold place. The fish can then be soaked in water and fried or dried.

4. Cheese and butter

To preserve butter, it is enough to wrap it in parchment paper, put it in a container and cover it with salted cold water. Be sure to cover the top with a plate and put something heavy on it. Put the container outside, if the temperature is below freezing, put it in the cellar, basement, or choose another cool place. Put the cheese in a bag and wrap it well to prevent it from drying out.

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5. Milk

To extend the shelf life of milk, simply boil it and add baking soda. Pour the finished milk into dry, clean jars.

6. Sour cream and cottage cheese

Put the sour cream in jars, and the cottage cheese as well. Put the jars in cold water and do the same with the sour cream jars.

You can also find more recipes on OBOZREVATEL:
In Thailand, on the island of Koh Samui, a fairly popular Asian country among Russian tourists, an offender who had overstayed his visa by 20 months was detained. It was 41-year-old Russian Dmitry Odintsov, who was also running an illegal business.

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He was arrested by migration police officers during a New Year's Eve campaign against foreigners who illegally stayed on the islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao, the Bangkok Post reports. The man faces a life sentence.

Odintsov's visa expired on April 24, 2022. He overstayed his stay by more than 600 days.

In particular, the Russian lived on the island for money received from an illegal business. He ran an online resource where he offered psychological counseling to Russian tourists. One session cost 2,500 baht (2,787 UAH). To catch the offender, the police officer made an appointment with Odintsov for a consultation.

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The Russian also created a group on Telegram in which he talked about life in Ko Samui and how to get a visa in Thailand. In one of the messages, he wrote that he "does not check the Internet every day" and has "limited work resources." Probably, Odintsov was afraid of deportation, so he tried to hide. He did not mention his name but created a nickname.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Ukrainian actress Ksenia Mishyna, who went on vacation to Thailand with her son, received hate from Ukrainians online. They condemned the star's cheerful mood, saying that it was "not the right time."

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
BMC officer threatened during drive in Nishatpura, two booked





Staff Reporter

A few persons indulged in heated argument with Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) team that had gone to remove encroachment around the new jail road on Thursday. They surrounded the team and also threatened encroachment in-charge Nasir Khan for taking action. As the matter escalated, the cops of Nishatpura police station reached the spot and arrested two persons. Following the instructions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), action is being taken to remove encroachment from over 650 identified inside the Green Belt area of Bhopal.

Action was earlier taken at many locations in Bhopal including Asharam Bapu Square, IT Park Bairagarh, 11 Mill Bypass, Neelbad, Barkheda Nathu Road, Khajuri Bypass, Saket Nagar Sector, Banskhedi, Cancer Hospital and others.

However, on Thursday afternoon when the team reached new jail road some people gathered around started protesting against the action around 12:30 pm. Seeing the siege taking place, the officers called the police. Anti-Encroachment Officer Khan said that on Wednesday the encroachment of a youth named Pappu Maulana was removed from New Jail Road area. The action was underway at Motilal Nagar near Vivekanands Gate on Thursday also when Pappu and his friend Firdosh Maulana along with 25 to 30 other people surrounded them.

They also threatened to kill Khan. Khan said that the accused men were provoking the mob to kill me. First they threatened me saying I am working against a particular community but when I said I am working as per the law, they started abusing me, he said.As the action continued the mob surrounded our team. To avoid any untoward situation, we informed our seniors. Also, we informed the Nishatpura police and a team reached the scene, he said. The police have booked accused Pappu and Firdosh and others involved in the incident. The Nisharpura police have booked the accused under relevant sections of the law.
Delhi Police move court for polygraph test of accused





NEW DELHI :

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 Hardeeep 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 theactual 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.

DELHI HC REFUSES NEELAM AZAD URGENT HEARING ON POLICE REMAND: THE Delhi High Court on Thursday refused urgent listing of a plea by Neelam Azad, a woman arrested in the December 13 Parliament security breach case, who alleged that her police remand was illegal as she was not allowed to consult a legal practitioner of her choice to defend her during the trial court proceedings.
DIPLOMATIC WIN Qatar commutes death of 8 Indian ex-Navy personnel





NEW DELHI :

The Ministry of External Affairs didnt specify what was the reduced punishment and said a detailed judgment was awaited

IN A huge relief to eight Indian Navy veterans on death row, an appellate court in Qatar has commuted their sentence. 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 External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The Ministry didnt specify what was the reduced punishment and said a detailed judgment was awaited.

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 and added that it was in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps. The appellate court verdict is also seen as a big diplomatic win for India as it comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with Emir of Qatar SheikhTamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai. After the meeting on December 1, Modi said they discussed the wellbeing of the Indian community in Qatar. The Indian nationals, who were working with Doha-based Al Dahra Global Technologies, were taken into custody in August 2022 in an alleged espionage case. While the charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities, they were sentenced to death by Qatars Court of First Instance in October this year. The private firm provided training and other services to Qatars armed forces and security agencies. 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 statement said. Among the eight veterans, Captain Navtej Gill was awarded the Presidents Gold Medal for excellence when he graduated from the Naval Academy and later served as an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Tamil Nadu. The others are Captain SaurabhVasisht, Commanders PurnenduTiwari, Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, and Sailor Ragesh.

The court verdict was welcomed by political parties, former diplomats and security experts, among others. The Indian National Congress shares its immediate relief along with the entire nation that the Court of Appeals in Qatar has decided not to go ahead with the death penalty... While fuller details are awaited we express the hope that even the jail sentence that has replaced the death penalty will be set aside and the officers will be set free, Congress Jairam Ramesh said on X. BJP General Secretary Tarun Chugh said the relief for the former Navy personnel was avictory of the diplomatic efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. This news has
Extradite 26/11 MASTERMIND Hafiz Saeed India to Pakistan





NEW DELHI :

INDIA has asked Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The Ministry of ExternalAffairs has requested the Pakistani Ministryof Foreign Affairs to initiate the legal process for the extraditionof 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 hand over 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. Defence experts said that if Pakistan is interested in maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries and intends tocontrol terrorism, then it should take positive steps regardingSaeeds extradition request.
On the occasion of Christmas, the American soft drink brand Coca-Cola filmed a reality project to support people whose birthdays fall at the end of December. However, the 15-minute touching video was overshadowed by the mention of terrorist Russia.

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It was broadcast on YouTube, and an OBOZ.UA correspondent became an accidental witness to the events. The company chose as the main character an American woman who was born on December 22, and therefore every year her birthday is not as fun as it could be because of the expectation of Christmas.

She was taken to the city of Cascais, one of the most expensive resorts in Portugal, where people on the streets and from banners shouted birthday greetings instead of "Merry Christmas."

During a walk near street advertising billboards, the birthday woman was greeted by strangers from different countries and her friend.

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Russia was one of the first countries mentioned, and people from Brazil and New Zealand were also invited to participate. Interestingly, no country in Europe congratulated the heroine of the ad, even though the video was filmed there.

Two Russian women simultaneously said in their own language, "Happy birthday from Russia". This "greeting" from the citizens of a terrorist country was broadcast live to the whole world.

The rest of the story is filled with joy, fireworks and merry singing, but the war in Ukraine is not mentioned a single word, so we can conclude that the brand is loyal to the Russians and is not ashamed to pay them for participating in the advertisement.

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Instead of expressing support for Ukrainians who have been celebrating Christmas for two years in a full-scale war without being able to get together with their families and enjoy it, the American company is doing unnecessary PR for Russia.

Coca-Cola continues to "sit on two chairs" by operating in Russia and creating the appearance of helping Ukraine in the war. In March 2022, the company's website claimed that the corporation was leaving the Russian market, but as it turned out later, Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia LLC changed its name to Moulton Partners LLC and launched the Dobra Kola drink on the Russian market, which is a complete copy of the famous drink.

As OBOZ.UA wrote, this is not the first time Coca-Cola has been disgraced by an ambiguous position. After the occupation of the peninsula, the company published a map of the Russian Federation with the temporarily occupied Crimea, which caused a loud scandal.

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Intention, policies of Congress are questionable, lack direct connect with people: Dy CM Shukla





Staff Reporter

The intentions and policies of the Congress party are questionable because it is difficult for a party whose leaders lack direction to connect with the public, said Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla during his visit to the city, on Wednesday. He made the remarks while addressing party workers at Bharatiya Janata Partys divisional office in Ranital. Deputy CM Shukla stated that the recent Bharat Jodo Yatra conducted by the Congress has been widely criticized and the injustice committed by the Congress is evident. Initiating a Nyay Yatra (Justice March) now will also be futile as Congress has no connection with the people.

During his visit to the party office, Rajendra Shukla held discussions with party workers, extending greetings and welcoming them. Those present on the occasion were Prabhat Sahu, Abhilasha Pandey, Sadanand Godbole, Swati Godbole, Ashwini Paranjpe, Lalu Yadav, Ravindra Pachauri, Deep Mahadele, Ravi Sahu, among others.
PM accepts invitation to inaugurate BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi





NEW DELHI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi accepted the invitation extended by Swami Ishwarcharandas and Swami Brahmaviharidas, along with the board of directors for the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14 next year, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha said in a press statement. PM Modi and the BAPS Swami Ishwarcharandas met on Wednesday at the Prime Ministers residential office and PM Modi graciously accepted the invitation, expressing his enthusiastic support for the historic and iconic temple. 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 Prime Minister was specially commended for the remarkable renovation and development of pilgrimage sites across India, a feat unparalleled in recent centuries. The discussions revolved around Abu Dhabi temples significance for global harmony and Modis vision for Indias spiritual leadership on the global stage. PM said, It will reflect the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - an ideal spiritual space, not merely rooted in beliefs and traditions, but a confluence of diverse cultures and civilisations. The essence of spiritual harmony, symbolising the path forward.
Rakesh Singh back in city





Staff Reporter

On his maiden visit to Jabalpur after being appointed as the Cabinet Minister, Rakesh Singh, on Thursday expressed his commitment to fulfill his responsibilities. During an informal talk with media, Singh assured that Jabalpurs development is progressing at a rapid pace and there will be no compromise in ensuring the welfare of the city. He, while expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, National President J P Nadda, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and all senior leaders of the central and state leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility of a ministerial position in the Madhya Pradesh government.

He pledged to work tirelessly for development of Jabalpur and the entire West Assembly. Singh acknowledged the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, all representatives from Jabalpur will unite to boost Jabalpur forward on the path of speedy development. Speaking about the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, Singh urged all party workers to raise the flag of Bharatiya Janata Party in their respective areas. He said despite not having a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh last time, the party won 28 out of 29 parliamentary seats.

He confidently predicted a clean sweep in the coming elections, securing all 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh and forming a BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024. On tragic road accident in Guna, where lives were lost, Cabinet Minister Singh expressed condolences to the victims families. He said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and directed assistance to the affected families, ensuring proper medical treatment and support for the injured.
The lost necklace





BY N J RAVI CHANDER

IN THE late 1980s, my batchmate and coworker at the State Bank of India, M Vijay Kumar Meshak, had a unique train adventure. Vijay was returning to Mangaluru, his place of posting, from Bengaluru, his hometown. Besides seeing his relatives, his primary motive for coming to Bengaluru was to settle an old gold loan he had availed at one of his previous branches. After completing the formalities to close the loan, Vijay took possession of the ornaments - a chain and a necklace. The chain dangled from his neck while he discreetly concealed the necklace in a secret pocket in his trousers. That night, he bid farewell to his relatives and set off on his journey back to Mangaluru, unaware of the drama that would unfold. In the wee hours, Vijay felt the need to use the washroom. However, to his dismay, as he unfastened his pants, the gold necklace slipped out of his pocket, slid down the toilet, and dropped onto the railway track. Driven by instinct, Vijay dashed out of the washroom towards the nearest emergency chain and tugged at it. The high-speed train came to a screeching halt, releasing the heated air in the brake pipe through a small vent as smoke. Everything happened in a trice, jolting a few passengers from their sleep.

The train driver and the ticket checker rushed to the train compartment to identify the passenger. The billowing smoke from the vent made it simple for them to zoom in on the car. Vijay was already perspiring as he confronted them but clarified why he pulled the emergency chain. Content with the explanation, the locomotive operator and the TTE stepped off the train to track down the fallen ornament in the eerie silence of the night. The train halted next to a dense jungle in the western ghats, teeming with wild animals. Despite the danger, the railway officials showed resolve in assisting the passenger to find the necklace. Armed with a flashlight, they and half a dozen passengers strode out to try their luck. The search in the pitch night extended beyond a kilometre on the tracks. The team scoured the tracks for half an hour but concluded it was futile and called off the search. Despite Vijays desperate pleas to venture further up to trace the ornament, the officials declined his request, citing safety concerns in the unfamiliar terrain. Just as the search party was getting ready to hop on the train, the banker caught sight of a faint light on the track only a few feet away.

He rushed towards it to stumble on the precious necklace as tension quickly gave way to relief and joy. The luminous glow produced by the gemstone encrusted in the ornament was the saving grace! Grabbing the necklace, Vijay hurriedly made his way to the train. Luckily, the train stopped before it entered the tunnel; otherwise, finding the ornament would have been quite challenging. The train finally reached Mangaluru railway station after a drama-filled journey. Vijay submitted a written statement to the TTE per the railways guidelines. The letter also included the approximate weight, measured in grams, of the necklace that was lost and found. The now-retired banker thanked his lucky stars for a happy ending, but there could have easily been a different script.
TOUCHY TIME





IN KASHMIR, it is touchy, delicate time testing everybodys patience -- and faith in the process of reconstruction now underway there after Special Status was abrogated from the region four years ago. A lot of good things are happening, all right, in Jammu and Kashmir -- like massive developmental initiatives, firm handling of terrorism, promotion of national and international tourism, launching of several industrial projects, opening of new schools and colleges, revival of cultural activities ...! Yet, a few undesirable issues also crop up, giving the critics an opportunity to blame the Government -- like the suspected wrong treatment to three civilians at the hands of the Army, resulting in their death. These issues only spoil the overall good impact of the new initiatives in Kashmir. In these touchy times, therefore, such issues need to be handled with much care, much caution. This is the message of the moment in Kashmir. For, when things generally are going well particularly in areas as sensitive as Kashmir, even a small irritant can act spoil-sport. Hence the caution.

Hence the need to handle all matters with a delicate touch. This is so because of the burden of the moment -- of reconstruction, of correction of historical wrongs, of setting in motion the right processes, weaving a right narrative in larger national interest. True, Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh has assured justice to the families of the three civilians killed suspectedly at the hands of the Army personnel -- out of misunderstanding or out of anything else. Yet, the sad fact that the Defence Minister had to step in to assure full justice to the families of the three slain persons in an anti-terror operation, does not seem to go well with the flow of the moment in Kashmir. Hence the word of caution. The trouble with Kashmir is that the political community there has been dominated by separatist elements that are least bothered about India as a nation. Many members of this community are on record saying, in effect, that they would rather love being governed by the Chinese than by India after the abrogation of Special Status. The lobby of such persons is all along looking for every possible spot to blame the Government for even a small mistake. It is this lobby that is now trying to whip up a lot of dust as regards the unfortunate deaths of three civilians. Such a situation needs a very careful handling by the Government.

It must be said with a sense of satisfaction that the Government has handled the situation -- of the three civilian deaths -- quite efficiently. The immediate visit of Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh and Army chief General Manoj Pande to the Kashmir area and offering direction to the Army not only as regards one case but in overall conduct of itself, should be considered as critical to finding effective solution. The Defence Minister stated categorically that he had full faith in the Armed Forces and they should smash terror with firmness. Mr. Rajnath Singh was also clear in his assurance to the three families that justice would be made in the case of the deaths of their kin. This does show that the Government is sparing no effort in rectifying whatever wrong might have been done. This is welcome. The Kashmir situation has improved a lot in the past four years, but much distance is yet to be covered. The road ahead, however, is full of challenges, each of which needs a careful and delicate handling. That alone will ensure a fuller success of the reconstruction programme now underway there. This concern is totally apolitical in nature. For what is at stake is the larger national interest of complete integration of Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The British Duchess, wife of Prince William of Wales, Kate Middleton attends dozens of formal, royal, charity and social events every year. The princess's stylists make sure that her looks are not repeated, appropriate, restrained and stylish at the same time.

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In addition, royals put a special meaning into their clothes, often making references to something and conveying a message to the world. OBOZ.UA decided to tell you about the most striking images of the Duchess in 2023.

In March, the Princess of Wales attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London, England, wearing an exquisite polka-dot outfit. With a wide hat, gloves and high heels, she looked particularly elegant and "royal". Nowadays, this style is often called "old momey".

In February, Kate Middleton wore an evening gown to the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2023 at the Royal Festival Hall. This look was memorable for its combination of light-colored outfit and black long gloves.

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The Princess of Wales is often called a national favorite and people love to discuss her everyday looks. They are always comfortable, at the same time closed and emphasize her figure. For example, a warm suit with a stylish cropped jacket and a long skirt, which she complemented with cream pumps.

Not so long ago, when a racist scandal erupted around the princess, she went out in a "revenge dress." The Duchess wore a sparkling ball gown and a symbolic tiara to a reception for diplomats at Buckingham Palace. Read more about the meaning of this image here.

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Pants are also in Kate Middleton's wardrobe. The last one, which was very popular with the British public and stylists, was a fashionable high-waisted flared model that emphasized the princess's figure. This total-white outfit was discussed for a long time.

The future queen is not afraid of bright colors such as red, pink, green and blue. There are no acid colors in her wardrobe, but quite a few noble shades of emerald, light green, powder, purple and sky blue. The princess loves to wear colored costumes.

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It's also worth mentioning how stylishly the princess can combine knitted, warm and cozy things while remaining elegant and sophisticated. It would seem that woolen pants and a knitted sleeveless shirt are definitely not royalty, but Kate Middleton proved that in 2023.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about the 10 best looks of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska this year. Sometimes they were bright, but more often laconic, dark and elegant.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
This stunning fully renovated 2 bedroom / 1 Bath is turnkey and move in ready. The unit boasts a modernized open floorplan, natural light throughout, high beamed ceiling, hardwood floors, double exposure to the West and South, quiet tree-lined street, and adjacent to the brand-new Luther Gulick Park.

The home features a spacious open floorplan with a large living area, chefs kitchen with top-of-the-line custom made Italian kitchen cabinets, quartz countertops, backsplash, and waterfall island, high-end stainless-steel appliances, large 30-inch sink, under cabinet lights, and a large pull out pantry.

This unique apartment has been thoughtfully designed to allow for maximum storage space. There are closets in the entryway foyer, two additional oversized custom Italian closets in the hallways, and custom Italian closets in both bedrooms.

The bathroom includes top of the line designer tiles from Italy and top of the line fixtures such as Toto modern toilet and Hans Grohe faucet and shower system. The bathroom includes an Italian bathroom vanity, premium shower doors, and built-in shower niche.

Hillman coops have a more intimate feel than their surrounding buildings with security outside the building, a well-equipped fitness center in the complex, laundry room downstairs, 2 private keyed landscaped parks with playgrounds, on-site management and maintenance staff, Cats/Dogs permitted subject to registration (35lbs max weight limit), with easy access to the newly restored Luther Gulick park.

Indoor garage parking $225 per month available to shareholders (waitlist may apply), bike room. 5-10 Minute walk to the F/M/J/Z Delancey Essex street subway stop, M14A bus, Essex Market, The Market Line, Trader Joes, CVS, Target, Regal Cinema, The Gutter bowling alley, the East River waterfront and an incredible lively and community driven neighborhood with some of the citys best dining, green markets and parks.

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Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 89.3% 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 27,655 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 13,046 shares during the quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $917,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Pfizer in the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Steward Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Pfizer in the second quarter worth $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 purchasing an additional 710 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the 3rd quarter worth $45,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock.

Get Pfizer alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on PFE shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Pfizer from $44.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $42.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 16th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, TheStreet lowered shares of Pfizer from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, September 25th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $40.35.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Pfizer news, Director Scott Gottlieb purchased 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $26.47 per share, for a total transaction of $79,410.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 9,000 shares in the company, valued at $238,230. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Pfizer Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of PFE opened at $28.79 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $162.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.73, a PEG ratio of 2.67 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 stocks 50-day moving average price is $29.47 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.41. 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 released 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. 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%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 1.53 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 26th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This is a boost from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.84%. Pfizers payout ratio is presently 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.

Further Reading

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Vacations can be a great way to unwind, but often we prevent this by indulging in habits that cause stress. This will definitely complicate the situation with mental health, because neither the brain nor the body is designed to work constantly without a break.

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According to HuffPost, travel and mental health experts shared popular vacation habits that lead to depression. Here's how to recognize and avoid them.

Re-planning

Laura Ratliff, senior editorial director at TripSavvy, says that overplanning is the No. 1 way to turn a relaxing vacation into a stressful one.

"Even if you love a busy itinerary, try leaving one day completely open for exploration on your next trip. In a city, that might mean taking a walk and discovering a great record store or cafe, while on a lonely trip to the beach you might finally finish a book you've been putting off for months," Ratliff says.

Travel blogger Marek Bron also advises against mixing too many activities and attractions into one day. He says that planning every minute may seem like a great way to control your trip, but it's not conducive to relaxation.

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Skipping meals

Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer, says that skipping meals is another bad habit of many travelers.

"It's often accompanied by planning too many things to do in a day and almost guarantees that you'll be stressed," Dengler said.

Being too strict with itineraries

According to him, having too strict a schedule is also a stressful vacation habit. Therefore, Dengler advises to be open to spontaneity and enjoy the natural turn of events.

Checking work emails

Psychotherapists say that opening emails puts the brain back into working mode and recommend keeping your eyes away from the inbox. Everything you need can be resolved upon your return, and if something is really urgent, you will still get a call.

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"When you check your email while on vacation, the panic will increase because you can't even do anything about the problem. That is, you worry about the problem without having any options to solve it. And then the brain will be completely focused on work until the end of the vacation," said Jenny Maenpaa, a psychotherapist from New York.

Compare your trip with other people's trips

Sue Varma, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York University at Langone, says that the comparison game extends to vacations as a way to show social status and intelligence. It's important to remember that other people's travel experiences have nothing to do with yours. And just because you can't afford a hotel room with a fancy pool that you saw on someone's social media doesn't mean that your vacation will be inherently less amazing than theirs. Fixating on comparisons is a direct path to disaster.

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Underplanning

Very often, by the time the vacation comes, people are so burned out that they don't plan anything at all.

"We say: "I'm going to go to bed, drink some fruit cocktails, and come back feeling great!" But if people are accustomed to schedules and busyness, such an empty stretch can have unpleasant consequences. We can wake up and feel scared, knowing that nothing is planned for today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow," says Maenpaa.

Therefore, she recommends making a short list of a few main attractions or restaurants that you would like to visit and scatter them over the course of your vacation.

"Over-planning and under-planning can be equally stressful," added travel blogger Ciara Johnson.

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Setting unrealistic expectations

Everyone dreams of the perfect vacation, but it's not immune to adversity anyway.

"People may hope to become more relaxed versions of themselves on vacation, but they may also be triggered or bewildered by the disruption of routine. A mother will not suddenly become 'easy' because she is in the Caribbean and not in her home kitchen. Therefore, it is important to take these facts into account and be prepared for real events," the experts summarized.

As OBOZREVATEL reported earlier, there is a way to have a vacation without a penny of investment. This is watching other people's homes.
Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Free Report) by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,169 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after selling 273 shares during the quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $220,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC boosted its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.7% during the first quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 5,322 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $266,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 8.9% during the second quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 2,521 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $136,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 1.6% during the third quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co now owns 13,871 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $732,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 0.6% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 38,113 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $2,062,000 after purchasing an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 4.4% during the second quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 5,442 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $294,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.11% of the companys stock.

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Boston Scientific Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE BSX opened at $56.28 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $82.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 68.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.78. Boston Scientific Co. has a 52 week low of $44.35 and a 52 week high of $56.90. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $53.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $52.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44.

Insider Buying and Selling

Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $3.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.48 billion. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 15.46% and a net margin of 8.93%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.43 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,355 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.09, for a total transaction of $5,904,661.95. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,498,922 shares in the company, valued at $78,078,846.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 11,671 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.79, for a total value of $581,099.09. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 51,795 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,578,873.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,355 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.09, for a total value of $5,904,661.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,498,922 shares in the company, valued at approximately $78,078,846.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 238,735 shares of company stock worth $12,457,510. 0.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on BSX shares. StockNews.com raised Boston Scientific from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 15th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. TheStreet raised Boston Scientific from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $61.18.

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Boston Scientific Profile

(Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Free Report).

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Simplicity Solutions LLC trimmed its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 4.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,256 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 579 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $3,457,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Ashburton Jersey Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Accenture during the first quarter valued at $143,000. First Foundation Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Accenture by 6.8% during the second quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 11,574 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,572,000 after buying an additional 741 shares in the last quarter. BOKF NA grew its stake in Accenture by 0.6% in the second quarter. BOKF NA now owns 45,759 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $14,120,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares in the last quarter. TrinityPoint Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 12.9% during the 2nd quarter. TrinityPoint Wealth LLC now owns 3,695 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,140,000 after purchasing an additional 422 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New Republic Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Accenture during the 2nd quarter valued at about $606,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.42% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 13th. The stock was 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 $48,816,308.88. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Friday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.48, for a total transaction of $1,567,020.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 20,265 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,048,697.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, 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 39,885 shares of company stock valued at $12,188,860 over the last 90 days. 0.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Accenture Stock Down 0.6 %

NYSE:ACN opened at $351.59 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $220.78 billion, a PE ratio of 32.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.23. Accenture plc has a 12 month low of $242.80 and a 12 month high of $355.38. The companys 50-day moving average price is $326.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $318.02.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.08% and a net margin of 10.65%. The firm had revenue of $16.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.08 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 12.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Accenture announced that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Thursday, September 28th that permits the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the information technology services provider to buy up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Accenture Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 18th will be paid a $1.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 17th. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.47%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.82%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on ACN. Piper Sandler Companies lowered their price objective on Accenture from $314.00 to $312.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $358.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, September 18th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Accenture from $350.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $340.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Accenture presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $348.59.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Accenture

About Accenture

(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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Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD  Free Report) by 14.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,681 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 458 shares during the quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $1,043,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 90,916.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 24,671,052 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $7,389,720,000 after purchasing an additional 24,643,946 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 14,886,487 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $4,458,949,000 after acquiring an additional 291,104 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,693,186 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,920,175,000 after acquiring an additional 307,468 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,654,402 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,911,211,000 after acquiring an additional 239,381 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 26.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,414,008 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,668,923,000 after acquiring an additional 1,115,729 shares in the last quarter. 82.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Air Products and Chemicals Stock Down 0.5 %

APD stock opened at $274.25 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $60.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.80. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $251.63 and a 52 week high of $320.90. The companys 50-day moving average price is $272.24 and its 200 day moving average price is $284.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

Air Products and Chemicals Announces Dividend

Air Products and Chemicals ( NYSE:APD Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 7th. The basic materials company reported $3.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.11 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $3.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.35 billion. Air Products and Chemicals had a net margin of 18.26% and a return on equity of 17.02%. The firms revenue was down 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.89 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of $1.75 per share. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 29th. Air Products and Chemicalss payout ratio is currently 67.83%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently commented on APD. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $330.00 to $331.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $310.00 to $295.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $328.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $317.42.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Air Products and Chemicals

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Air Products and Chemicals news, CEO Seifi Ghasemi bought 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $252.34 per share, for a total transaction of $2,523,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 659,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $166,461,884.82. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Air Products and Chemicals Company Profile

(Free Report)

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and internationally. The company produces atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, such as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and syngas; and specialty gases for customers in various industries, including refining, chemical, manufacturing, electronics, energy production, medical, food, and metals.

Further Reading

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Asset Management One Co. Ltd. reduced its holdings in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV  Free Report) by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 845,832 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,184 shares during the quarter. AbbVie makes up approximately 0.6% of Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings in AbbVie were worth $126,080,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Czech National Bank raised its holdings in shares of AbbVie by 47.7% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 308,495 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,984,000 after buying an additional 99,639 shares during the last quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in AbbVie by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 43,689 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,512,000 after acquiring an additional 1,629 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC raised its stake in shares of AbbVie by 18.2% in the third quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 2,642 shares of the companys stock worth $394,000 after acquiring an additional 407 shares during the last quarter. Norris Perne & French LLP MI lifted its position in shares of AbbVie by 16.8% during the third quarter. Norris Perne & French LLP MI now owns 2,786 shares of the companys stock worth $415,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Opal Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of AbbVie by 1.2% during the third quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,788 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,012,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. 67.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Nicholas Donoghoe sold 2,912 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.72, for a total transaction of $450,544.64. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,903 shares in the company, valued at $8,649,312.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ABBV has been the subject of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of AbbVie from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $173.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on AbbVie in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on AbbVie from $193.00 to $196.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of AbbVie from $177.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of AbbVie from $157.00 to $150.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AbbVie has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $167.59.

Read Our Latest Analysis on ABBV

AbbVie Price Performance

ABBV opened at $154.75 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $273.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.48. AbbVie Inc. has a 12 month low of $130.96 and a 12 month high of $168.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.59. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $144.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $145.05.

AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The company reported $2.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.09. AbbVie had a return on equity of 152.70% and a net margin of 11.81%. The company had revenue of $13.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.72 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.66 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that AbbVie Inc. will post 11.24 EPS for the current year.

AbbVie Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 16th will be paid a $1.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 12th. This represents a $6.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.01%. This is a positive change from AbbVies previous quarterly dividend of $1.48. AbbVies payout ratio is presently 162.19%.

AbbVie Company Profile

(Free Report)

AbbVie Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Humira, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune, intestinal Behcet's diseases, and pyoderma gangrenosum; Skyrizi to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic disease, and Crohn's disease; Rinvoq, a JAK inhibitor to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, axial spondyloarthropathy, and ulcerative colitis; Imbruvica for the treatment of adult patients with blood cancers; and Venclexta/Venclyxto to treat hematological malignancies.

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SOL Capital Management CO cut its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,988 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 200 shares during the period. SOL Capital Management COs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $696,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Westshore Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Westshore Wealth LLC now owns 3,658 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $254,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Stolper Co raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Stolper Co now owns 26,050 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,666,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd now owns 9,161 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the period. Cherry Creek Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% in 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. raised its stake 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 during the period. 74.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II purchased 8,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II purchased 8,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $49.78 per share, for a total transaction of $99,560.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,115,412.16. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired 13,571 shares of company stock valued at $672,994 over the last ninety days. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

NYSE:BMY opened at $51.22 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $51.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $57.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $104.22 billion, a PE ratio of 13.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.34. 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 twelve month low of $48.25 and a twelve month high of $75.18.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.24. The business had revenue of $10.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.96 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.59% and a net margin of 18.44%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.99 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to purchase up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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 is Thursday, January 4th. This is a positive change from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.69%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.87%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on BMY. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $55.00 price target on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald cut Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. HSBC upgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb from a reduce rating to a hold rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $56.00 to $50.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $62.88.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Bristol-Myers Squibb

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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Caprock Group LLC increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,611 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 392 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLCs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $597,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Truvestments Capital LLC increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 260.0% in the 2nd quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 270 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC purchased a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd purchased a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.25% of the companys stock.

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Edwards Lifesciences Stock Up 0.7 %

Edwards Lifesciences stock opened at $76.71 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $68.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $76.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 2.45 and a current ratio of 3.28. The company has a market cap of $46.52 billion, a PE ratio of 32.78, a PEG ratio of 4.60 and a beta of 1.01. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a fifty-two week low of $60.57 and a fifty-two week high of $94.87.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Edwards Lifesciences ( NYSE:EW Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The medical research company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.59. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 24.54% and a net margin of 24.59%. The firm had revenue of $1.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.61 earnings per share. Edwards Lifesciencess revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.51 EPS for the current year.

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $83.00 to $68.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $90.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $57.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. SVB Leerink initiated coverage on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Monday, October 16th. They set a market perform rating and a $75.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $78.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $81.94.

Read Our Latest Report on Edwards Lifesciences

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.25, for a total transaction of $547,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 23,950 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,874,087.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Daveen Chopra sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.25, for a total transaction of $547,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 23,950 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,874,087.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.86, for a total transaction of $574,880.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 39,503 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,838,685.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 164,283 shares of company stock valued at $11,498,474. 1.29% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Edwards Lifesciences Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases.

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Caprock Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SHG  Free Report) by 22.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 17,342 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 3,231 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLCs holdings in Shinhan Financial Group were worth $459,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 2,900.0% during the 3rd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,050 shares of the banks stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,015 shares during the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Shinhan Financial Group by 46.7% during the third quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,601 shares of the banks stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC grew its position in Shinhan Financial Group by 339.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 2,039 shares of the banks stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,575 shares during the period. Comerica Bank bought a new position in shares of Shinhan Financial Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $75,000. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 31.9% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,917 shares of the banks stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 706 shares during the last quarter. 2.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Shinhan Financial Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 30th.

Shinhan Financial Group Stock Up 2.9 %

SHG opened at $31.12 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $27.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $27.09. The company has a market capitalization of $16.04 billion, a PE ratio of 5.33, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.85. Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. has a 1-year low of $24.99 and a 1-year high of $36.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37.

Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The bank reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $3.12 billion for the quarter. Shinhan Financial Group had a return on equity of 7.46% and a net margin of 13.43%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. will post 6.23 EPS for the current year.

About Shinhan Financial Group

(Free Report)

Shinhan Financial Group Co, Ltd. provides financial products and services in South Korea and internationally. The company operates through six segments: Banking, Credit Card, Securities, Life Insurance, Credit, and Others. It offers retail banking services, including demand, savings, and fixed deposit-taking; checking accounts; mortgage and home equity, and retail lending; electronic banking and automatic teller machines (ATM); and bill paying, payroll and check-cashing, currency exchange, and wire fund transfer services.

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Caprock Group LLC raised its stake in shares of IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE:IDA  Free Report) by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,546 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 135 shares during the quarter. Caprock Group LLCs holdings in IDACORP were worth $613,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of IDACORP during the 2nd quarter worth about $569,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of IDACORP in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cohen & Steers Inc. grew its position in shares of IDACORP by 33.8% in the 1st quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 400 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. State of Wyoming grew its position in shares of IDACORP by 34.4% in the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 426 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of IDACORP in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $50,000. 83.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on IDA shares. Mizuho boosted their price objective on IDACORP from $93.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Guggenheim started coverage on IDACORP in a research report on Friday, October 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $104.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group started coverage on IDACORP in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $99.00 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded IDACORP to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, November 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $102.25.

IDACORP Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE IDA opened at $98.39 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.36, a PEG ratio of 4.66 and a beta of 0.57. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $97.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $98.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 2.12. IDACORP, Inc. has a 52 week low of $88.10 and a 52 week high of $112.96.

IDACORP (NYSE:IDA  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The energy company reported $2.07 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.37. The firm had revenue of $510.91 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $552.12 million. IDACORP had a return on equity of 9.51% and a net margin of 15.30%. As a group, analysts anticipate that IDACORP, Inc. will post 5.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

IDACORP Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st were paid a dividend of $0.83 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 31st. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.37%. This is a boost from IDACORPs previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. IDACORPs dividend payout ratio is currently 61.94%.

About IDACORP

(Free Report)

IDACORP, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada.

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Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC raised its stake in CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX  Free Report) by 26.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,161 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,950 shares during the period. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in CarMax were worth $1,002,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KMX. Park Place Capital Corp increased its holdings in CarMax by 125.8% in the second quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 298 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its holdings in CarMax by 100.0% in the third quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 400 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in CarMax by 194.0% in the third quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 438 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its holdings in CarMax by 456.5% in the second quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 384 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in CarMax in the first quarter valued at about $33,000.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on KMX. Wedbush increased their target price on shares of CarMax from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of CarMax from $96.00 to $88.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of CarMax from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of CarMax from $70.00 to $60.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on shares of CarMax from $80.00 to $79.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, CarMax currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $77.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other CarMax news, CEO William D. Nash sold 102,775 shares of CarMax stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.09, for a total value of $7,717,374.75. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 177,180 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,304,446.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other CarMax news, SVP Jon G. Daniels sold 10,000 shares of CarMax stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.56, for a total value of $775,600.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $118,279. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO William D. Nash sold 102,775 shares of CarMax stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.09, for a total transaction of $7,717,374.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 177,180 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,304,446.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.66% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

CarMax Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE KMX opened at $77.84 on Friday. CarMax, Inc. has a 1 year low of $55.76 and a 1 year high of $87.50. The firms 50 day moving average price is $67.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $75.28. The firm has a market cap of $12.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.01, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 2.45.

CarMax (NYSE:KMX  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, December 21st. The company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by $0.10. CarMax had a net margin of 1.87% and a return on equity of 7.72%. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.29 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.24 earnings per share. CarMaxs revenue was down 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that CarMax, Inc. will post 2.89 earnings per share for the current year.

About CarMax

(Free Report)

CarMax, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. It operates in two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. The company offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions.

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Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. decreased its holdings in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 11,222 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 320 shares during the quarter. Chevron makes up 0.7% of Pinnacle Bancorp Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc.s holdings in Chevron were worth $1,892,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Chevron by 4.6% in the third quarter. Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. now owns 2,624 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $431,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Valicenti Advisory Services Inc. raised its stake in Chevron by 8.9% during the third quarter. Valicenti Advisory Services Inc. now owns 56,644 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $9,551,000 after buying an additional 4,652 shares in the last quarter. NovaPoint Capital LLC raised its stake in Chevron by 4.8% during the third quarter. NovaPoint Capital LLC now owns 14,728 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,483,000 after buying an additional 678 shares in the last quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Chevron by 9.8% during the third quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 19,916 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,208,000 after buying an additional 1,784 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alta Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Chevron by 6.4% during the third quarter. Alta Capital Management LLC now owns 5,326 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $898,000 after buying an additional 319 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.87% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on CVX. Bank of America raised Chevron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $190.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $180.00 target price on shares of Chevron in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. BNP Paribas raised 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. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Chevron from $175.00 to $169.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Chevron in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chevron presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.50.

Chevron Stock Performance

CVX opened at $149.77 on Friday. Chevron Co. has a 1-year low of $140.72 and a 1-year high of $187.81. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $147.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $156.29. The company has a market capitalization of $282.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.97.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $3.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.70 by ($0.65). Chevron had a net margin of 12.11% and a return on equity of 16.15%. The company had revenue of $54.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $51.41 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.56 EPS. Chevrons revenue was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 13.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were given a $1.51 dividend. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 16th. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is currently 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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On the night of December 29, the aggressor country Russia launched many missiles at Kharkiv. A hospital building in the city was damaged and people were injured.

ADVERTISIMENT

The shelling lasted in several waves, preliminary, with two types of missiles: S-300 and X-22. This was reported by Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

According to him, as of 06:26, about eight hits were recorded in the regional center, preliminary in Kyiv and Kholodnohirsk districts.

As a result of the attack, the city experienced some problems with the supply of electricity for transport, but specialists immediately began to restore the power supply. Temporarily, autonomous trolleybuses started running.

For his part, the head of the RMA, Oleh Syniehubov, said that the Russian occupiers had launched about 10 missiles at Kharkiv. Experts are still establishing what type of weapons they used.

"There are no casualties at the moment. Information about the destruction is being established. Specialized services are working at the sites of the hits," he added.

ADVERTISIMENT

When Ukraine announced a large-scale air raid alert for the second time in the morning due to the launch of missiles by Russian aircraft, Kharkiv came under fire again.

Around 07:00, Terekhov said that at least four more hits were counted in the city, and then a third wave of strikes began.

The head of the Kharkiv regional police, Volodymyr Tymoshko, reported that a hospital in the Kyiv district of Kharkiv was damaged. And the director of the Emergency Medical Center Viktor Zabashta said that there were victims of the shelling of the city.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in the afternoon of December 28, Russian terrorists shelled the city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. A 66-year-old woman died from the injuries sustained as a result of the aggressor's actions, and another person was injured.

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Coastline Trust Co lessened its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 4.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,763 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 695 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 1.1% of Coastline Trust Cos investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Coastline Trust Cos holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,443,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in shares of 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 worth $494,710,366,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028,218,963 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 74,928,539 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $35,410,478,000 after buying an additional 509,633 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% in the 2nd 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 last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,546,024 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $8,410,038,000 after buying an additional 444,629 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 13.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 15,635,038 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $8,289,386,000 after buying an additional 1,893,192 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH stock opened at $524.90 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $485.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.78, a PEG ratio of 1.59 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 Incorporated has a twelve month low of $445.68 and a twelve month high of $554.70. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $535.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $508.49.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. The firm 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%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $5.79 earnings per share. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 1st. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.43%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 32.64%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on UNH. Piper Sandler raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $580.00 to $584.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. StockNews.com lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, October 21st. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $585.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $596.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $574.89.

Read Our Latest Research Report on UnitedHealth Group

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related 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 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 filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related 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 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 filing with the SEC, 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 635,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $349,788,255.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072 over the last quarter. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 55.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,886 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,029 shares during the period. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,550,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,878,417 shares of the companys stock worth $15,888,300,000 after buying an additional 642,274 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 533,336.4% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,059,681 shares of the companys stock worth $8,938,609,000 after acquiring an additional 19,056,108 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,205,501 shares of the companys stock worth $7,111,568,000 after acquiring an additional 338,077 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 3,691,436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,416,206,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LLY has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 9th. TheStreet lowered Eli Lilly and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 price objective for the company. 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 data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $583.24.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $581.28 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $551.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 105.30, a PEG ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 0.33. The stocks 50-day moving average is $585.16 and its 200 day moving average is $539.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $309.20 and a one year high of $629.97.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by $0.18. The firm 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.6 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Stockholders 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 represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 81.88%.

Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company

In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the companys 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction 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 approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(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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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC decreased its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWD  Free Report) by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,786 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 229 shares during the quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF were worth $727,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of IWD. Magnolia Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF in the first quarter worth about $214,000. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 123.6% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 181,320 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,141,000 after acquiring an additional 100,236 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 284.4% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 184,280 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,587,000 after acquiring an additional 136,345 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 1.0% in the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 43,099 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,154,000 after acquiring an additional 447 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP bought a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF in the first quarter worth about $2,529,000.

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iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Price Performance

Shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF stock opened at $165.78 on Friday. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF has a 1 year low of $143.34 and a 1 year high of $165.97. The business has a 50-day moving average of $155.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $156.37. The company has a market capitalization of $52.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.53 and a beta of 0.95.

About iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF

iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the large capitalization value sector of the U.S. equity market, as represented by the Russell 1000 Value Index (the Index).

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Connecticut Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in M&T Bank Co. (NYSE:MTB  Free Report) by 116.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,400 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,983 shares during the quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLCs holdings in M&T Bank were worth $936,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of M&T Bank during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 1,980.0% during the 2nd quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 208 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. RVW Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of M&T Bank in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of M&T Bank in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in M&T Bank during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Institutional investors own 82.86% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Bank of America lowered their price target on M&T Bank from $142.00 to $141.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Wedbush dropped their price target on shares of M&T Bank from $147.00 to $140.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of M&T Bank from $136.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of M&T Bank from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Odeon Capital Group cut M&T Bank from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $133.65 price target for the company. in a report on Friday, September 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $144.13.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Robert J. Bojdak sold 800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.17, for a total transaction of $100,936.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,897 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,131,894.49. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director John P. Barnes sold 16,378 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.28, for a total value of $2,182,859.84. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 34,545 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,604,157.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Robert J. Bojdak sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.17, for a total transaction of $100,936.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,897 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,131,894.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 80,122 shares of company stock worth $10,539,328 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.97% of the companys stock.

M&T Bank Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of MTB stock opened at $138.32 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $22.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.87. M&T Bank Co. has a 1 year low of $108.53 and a 1 year high of $161.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $125.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $127.32.

M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $3.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.88 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $3.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. M&T Bank had a return on equity of 13.13% and a net margin of 24.81%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.83 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that M&T Bank Co. will post 15.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

M&T Bank Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.76%. M&T Banks dividend payout ratio is 30.01%.

About M&T Bank

(Free Report)

M&T Bank Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association that offer retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. The company's Business Banking segment offers deposit, lending, cash management, and other financial services to small businesses and professionals.

Further Reading

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Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 1,513.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 83,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 78,088 shares during the period. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $41,973,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter worth about $35,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth about $39,000. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth about $44,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth about $47,000. Finally, Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth about $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of the firms 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 transaction, the director now owns 635,528 shares in the company, valued at $349,788,255.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 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 transaction, the executive vice president now 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 is accessible through this link. 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 transaction, the director now owns 635,528 shares in the company, valued at approximately $349,788,255.92. 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 quarter. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of UNH opened at $524.90 on Friday. 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 12 month low of $445.68 and a 12 month high of $554.70. The stocks 50 day moving average is $535.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $508.49. The firm has a market cap of $485.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.78, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.61.

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 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $92.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $91.41 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.58% and a net margin of 6.02%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.79 earnings per share. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 4th were given a $1.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 1st. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.43%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNH. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $610.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $580.00 to $584.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective 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. UBS Group raised UnitedHealth Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $520.00 to $640.00 in a report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, HSBC reaffirmed a reduce rating and set a $480.00 target price (down from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, December 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $574.89.

Read Our Latest Stock 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.

Further Reading

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC lessened its position in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK  Free Report) by 27.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,225 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 475 shares during the quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $350,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC grew its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 62.9% during the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 101 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Delta Asset Management LLC TN purchased a new position in Rockwell Automation during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Clear Street Markets LLC purchased a new position in Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in Rockwell Automation during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, First Manhattan Co. grew its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 150.0% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 125 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.84% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on ROK. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Rockwell Automation from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $280.00 to $357.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $350.00 price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Barclays lowered their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $287.00 to $270.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. KeyCorp started coverage on Rockwell Automation in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. They issued a sector weight rating for the company. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $303.60.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rockwell Automation

In other Rockwell Automation news, SVP Rebecca W. House sold 440 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $285.26, for a total transaction of $125,514.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,549 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,868,167.74. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP Isaac Woods sold 113 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $285.43, for a total transaction of $32,253.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 827 shares in the company, valued at $236,050.61. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Rebecca W. House sold 440 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $285.26, for a total transaction of $125,514.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 6,549 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,868,167.74. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 10,899 shares of company stock valued at $3,036,683 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.68% of the companys stock.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

Shares of ROK stock opened at $310.27 on Friday. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 52-week low of $252.19 and a 52-week high of $348.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.42. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $277.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $297.28.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The industrial products company reported $3.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.49 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $2.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.44 billion. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 40.19% and a net margin of 15.32%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 12.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Rockwell Automation Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 13th were given a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 10th. This is a positive change from Rockwell Automations previous quarterly dividend of $1.18. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. Rockwell Automations payout ratio is 41.81%.

Rockwell Automation Profile

(Free Report)

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:PFIG  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 14,041 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $317,000. CreativeOne Wealth LLC owned about 0.74% of Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of PFIG. Prairiewood Capital LLC increased its stake in Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 13.5% in the third quarter. Prairiewood Capital LLC now owns 77,853 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,757,000 after purchasing an additional 9,281 shares during the period. Equitable Holdings Inc. increased its stake in Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 36.9% in the second quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 37,412 shares of the companys stock valued at $863,000 after purchasing an additional 10,093 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. acquired a new position in Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF in the second quarter valued at $636,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 10.1% in the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 9,529 shares of the companys stock valued at $220,000 after purchasing an additional 873 shares during the period. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC increased its stake in Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 67.3% in the second quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 69,589 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,606,000 after purchasing an additional 27,999 shares during the period.

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Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA PFIG opened at $23.72 on Friday. Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF has a one year low of $21.38 and a one year high of $24.29. The firms fifty day moving average is $23.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $22.94.

About Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF

The Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (PFIG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the RAFI Bonds US Investment Grade 1-10 index. The fund tracks a fundamental-weighted index of investment-grade corporate bonds available in US markets. Issues are selected and weighted using RAFI scores based on financial statement metrics.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC lowered its stake in shares of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO  Free Report) by 62.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,586 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 7,748 shares during the quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in Brown & Brown were worth $320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Brown & Brown by 3.0% during the second quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 5,416 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in Brown & Brown by 3.3% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 4,876 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $336,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the period. Advisor Partners II LLC boosted its position in Brown & Brown by 1.3% during the first quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 11,845 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $680,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the period. Stephens Inc. AR boosted its position in Brown & Brown by 0.7% during the first quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 25,801 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,481,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the period. Finally, Tradition Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Brown & Brown by 8.9% during the first quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,134 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $123,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.33% of the companys stock.

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Brown & Brown Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BRO opened at $70.92 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $71.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $70.87. The company has a current ratio of 1.85, a quick ratio of 1.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.97, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.76. Brown & Brown, Inc. has a one year low of $52.82 and a one year high of $76.25.

Brown & Brown Increases Dividend

Brown & Brown ( NYSE:BRO Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.09. Brown & Brown had a return on equity of 15.72% and a net margin of 18.08%. The business had revenue of $1.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.50 earnings per share. Brown & Browns revenue was up 15.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Brown & Brown, Inc. will post 2.76 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This is a positive change from Brown & Browns previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 31st. Brown & Browns dividend payout ratio is currently 19.77%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Brown & Brown news, EVP Stephen M. Boyd sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.64, for a total transaction of $176,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 64,471 shares in the company, valued at $4,554,231.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 17.02% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BRO. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Brown & Brown from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $78.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Friday, December 15th. StockNews.com cut Brown & Brown from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of Brown & Brown in a research report on Friday, September 15th. Bank of America started coverage on Brown & Brown in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. They issued a neutral rating and a $77.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Raymond James increased their price objective on Brown & Brown from $76.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Brown & Brown has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $77.22.

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Brown & Brown Company Profile

(Free Report)

Brown & Brown, Inc markets and sells insurance products and services in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services. The Retail segment provides property and casualty, employee benefits insurance products, personal insurance products, specialties insurance products, risk management strategies, loss control survey and analysis, consultancy, and claims processing services.

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Czech National Bank raised its position in Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY  Free Report) by 47.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 88,283 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 28,302 shares during the quarter. Czech National Banks holdings in Sysco were worth $5,831,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Brinker Capital Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Sysco by 3.2% during the first quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 3,851 shares of the companys stock valued at $314,000 after buying an additional 121 shares during the period. Geller Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sysco by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Geller Advisors LLC now owns 3,362 shares of the companys stock valued at $276,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky lifted its stake in shares of Sysco by 9.7% during the 2nd quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 1,585 shares of the companys stock worth $118,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co boosted its position in Sysco by 2.9% during the second quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 5,071 shares of the companys stock valued at $376,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brasada Capital Management LP grew its stake in Sysco by 0.7% in the second quarter. Brasada Capital Management LP now owns 22,837 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,695,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. 80.60% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on SYY shares. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Sysco from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Barclays lowered their price target on Sysco from $86.00 to $77.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Sysco in a report on Thursday, October 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $75.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sysco in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, Stephens reduced their price target on shares of Sysco from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $83.30.

Sysco Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:SYY opened at $73.04 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.13. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $70.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $70.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.04, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 0.74. Sysco Co. has a 1 year low of $62.24 and a 1 year high of $82.38.

Sysco (NYSE:SYY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The company reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $19.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.73 billion. Sysco had a net margin of 2.35% and a return on equity of 117.17%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.97 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Sysco Co. will post 4.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sysco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 5th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 4th. Syscos dividend payout ratio is presently 56.34%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Sysco news, Director Sheila Talton sold 2,200 shares of Sysco stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.76, for a total transaction of $157,872.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 12,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $917,236.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.58% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Sysco Profile

(Free Report)

Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and distribution of various food and related products to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. It operates through U.S. Foodservice Operations, International Foodservice Operations, SYGMA, and Other segments.

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Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the thirteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $122.00.

Several research firms recently commented on DLR. Citigroup upped their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $136.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Digital Realty Trust from $98.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Scotiabank began coverage on Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Friday, October 13th. They set a sector perform rating and a $132.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com lowered Digital Realty Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, HSBC began coverage on Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Friday, December 1st. They set a reduce rating and a $112.00 price target for the company.

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Digital Realty Trust Stock Up 0.0 %

Digital Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

Shares of NYSE:DLR opened at $136.12 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $41.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.55. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $131.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $123.95. Digital Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $86.33 and a 52-week high of $139.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 19th. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be issued a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 170.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of DLR. RB Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 3,003 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $426,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $688,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 31.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 20,511 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,909,000 after purchasing an additional 4,879 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $424,000. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 15,001 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,127,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.71% of the companys stock.

About Digital Realty Trust

(Get Free Report

Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges.

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On the morning of December 29, the aggressor country of Russia launched missile strikes against Ukraine, resulting in at least 18 deaths and 132 injuries. Landings were reported in Sumy, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Odesa, while damage was caused by falling debris in Dnipro and Kyiv .

ADVERTISIMENT

Theenemy launched about 122 missiles - "everything except Kalibr"- and the air defense forces destroyed 87 targets. This attack continued in several waves, and air alerts were declared twice in almost all regions of the country.

Russia has sent many bombers into the sky

According to monitoring channels, on Friday morning, the enemy sent about two dozen bombers into the sky. Residents of the "red" regions were urged to take shelter immediately.

"Threat of cruise missile launches! Do not ignore the air raid alarms! Go to the shelter!" the Ukrainian Air Force said at 04:57.

At that time, missiles were seen flying in Sumy and Poltava regions, and then explosions were reported in Cherkasy and Kharkiv regions . Air defense was in operation.

ADVERTISIMENT

"There are nine TU-95MS and nine TU-22M3 aircraft in the air. Two TU-22M3s are in the Voronezh area. Please wake up and respond to the alarms," says the post on the Mykolaiv Vanek Telegram channel.

According to him, the occupiers also launched decoys along with missiles. At the same time, Kharkiv was under Russian fire from S-300 missiles, and Shaheds continued to fly in the sky over Lviv region.

At 05:35 , the Air Force announced that the missile threat had been lifted for all regions except Kharkiv.

After 06:00, reports of enemy missile launches continued. Monitoring channels reported that the enemy was launching X-101/555/55 from Tu-95MS aircraft in the Engels area.

ADVERTISIMENT

Later, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the movement of ballistic missiles from the south to Dnipro and Pavlohrad, as well as the repeated movement of cruise missiles through Sumy region in the direction of Poltava (Myrhorod).

Consequences of the Russian missile attack

At least 18 people were killed in the massive Russian attack. There are also 132 wounded, including children, the National Police of Ukraine reported around 13:00. According to the military authorities in the affected regions, the number of casualties is higher - 19.

Konotop

At 06:44, the Sumy Regional Military Administration confirmed a rocket attack on the city of Konotop, which injured three people, damaged a high-rise building and a service station, and set a car on fire.

ADVERTISIMENT

Kharkiv

The city of Kharkiv was under several waves of enemy shelling with S-300 missiles. Dozens of hits occurred, killing three and injuring 13 local residents.

Kyiv

Sviatoshynskyi, Podilskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts came under fire. Civilian infrastructure, cars, and warehouses were damaged in the city. Four people were killed and 21 injured.

Dnipro

The enemy hit a shopping center, killing five people and injuring 28. A maternity hospital was also hit. SES units rescued four patients.

ADVERTISIMENT

Lviv

An apartment building and infrastructure were damaged in the city as a result of rocket attacks . One person was killed and 24 residents of Lviv region were injured.

Odesa

In Odesa, a three-story building has been hit, with people possibly trapped under the rubble. At least two other buildings were damaged in the city. Rescuers rescued 23 people from a 17-story residential building. A total of three people were killed. The number of injured residents of the region has reached 27.

ADVERTISIMENT

Zaporizhzhia

Occupants launched rocket attacks on infrastructure facilities in Zaporizhzhia: four people were killed and one wounded. A high-rise building, other buildings and a tram were damaged in the city.

Data on targets downed

Ukrainian Armed Forces spokesman Yurii Ihnat said during the telethon that Russia launched everything at Ukraine today except Kalibr cruise missiles.

"The occupants used "Daggers", ballistic missiles, S-300, cruise missiles, X-22 or X-32, and UAVs. About 18 strategic bombers launched X-101/X-505," he listed.

Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Serhii Popko noted that the air alert was announced three times in the capital and lasted almost five hours in total. During this time, air defense forces shot down more than three dozen air targets over Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the enemy's attack on Ukraine and promised a response. According to him, Russia fired 110 missiles, most of which were shot down by the defenders of the sky.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said that during massive attacks with drones and missiles at night and in the morning of December 29, the enemy used at least 158 air attack vehicles to strike Ukraine. The rest were missiles, 87 of which were destroyed.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, during the air attack by kamikaze drones on the night of December 28-29, explosions were heard in Lviv. The mayor of the city, Andrii Sadovyi, confirmed two arrivals of the "Shahed" in the regional center.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Shares of Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Reduce from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $14.10.

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of Douglas Emmett from $15.00 to $13.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of Douglas Emmett from $13.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Douglas Emmett in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating for the company. KeyCorp began coverage on shares of Douglas Emmett in a research report on Monday, September 11th. They set a sector weight rating for the company. Finally, Wedbush assumed coverage on shares of Douglas Emmett in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $13.00 target price on the stock.

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Douglas Emmett Stock Up 1.0 %

Douglas Emmett Announces Dividend

Douglas Emmett stock opened at $14.85 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 123.75 and a beta of 1.03. Douglas Emmett has a 1-year low of $10.09 and a 1-year high of $17.98. The company has a current ratio of 3.86, a quick ratio of 3.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $12.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $13.04.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 17th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th will be given a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 28th. Douglas Emmetts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 633.33%.

Insider Activity at Douglas Emmett

In related news, Director William E. Simon, Jr. sold 91,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.95, for a total value of $1,269,450.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 14.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEI. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Douglas Emmett in the 4th quarter valued at about $114,497,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 5,141.9% during the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 6,148,141 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $76,677,000 after buying an additional 6,030,852 shares during the last quarter. First Pacific Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 902.3% during the 2nd quarter. First Pacific Advisors LP now owns 5,030,826 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $63,237,000 after buying an additional 4,528,921 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 91.1% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,155,765 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $88,232,000 after buying an additional 3,411,463 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rush Island Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Douglas Emmett by 271.4% during the 3rd quarter. Rush Island Management LP now owns 4,152,516 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $52,986,000 after buying an additional 3,034,375 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.37% of the companys stock.

Douglas Emmett Company Profile

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Douglas Emmett, Inc (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities.

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Shares of European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:ERE.UN  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$3.29.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ERE.UN. Cormark dropped their price target on European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from C$4.15 to C$4.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. CIBC lowered their target price on European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from C$3.75 to C$3.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from C$3.50 to C$3.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Raymond James lowered their target price on European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from C$3.50 to C$2.75 in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Scotiabank raised European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lowered their target price for the company from C$4.00 to C$3.50 in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th.

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European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Price Performance

About European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust

Shares of European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust stock opened at C$2.58 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is C$2.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$2.53. The stock has a market cap of C$235.12 million, a PE ratio of -3.23 and a beta of 1.17. European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust has a 52 week low of C$2.12 and a 52 week high of C$3.88. The company has a current ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 266.13.

(Get Free Report

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust  ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERESs REIT units are listed on the TSX under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canadas only European-focused multi-residential REIT, with a current initial focus on investing in high-quality multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands.

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Founders Financial Securities LLC increased its position in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 3.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 22,931 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 817 shares during the period. Founders Financial Securities LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $2,696,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 100,169.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,032,339,935 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $110,718,458,000 after purchasing an additional 1,031,310,373 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 140,855.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 123,341,568 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $13,604,575,000 after purchasing an additional 123,254,064 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Exxon Mobil by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 74,126,090 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $7,930,414,000 after buying an additional 254,968 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in Exxon Mobil by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 52,478,674 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,788,398,000 after buying an additional 5,566,797 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in Exxon Mobil by 16.0% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 47,592,122 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,218,954,000 after buying an additional 6,580,247 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.53% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Exxon Mobil news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben bought 250,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $105.97 per share, for a total transaction of $26,492,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,077,000 shares in the company, valued at $220,099,690. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Exxon Mobil news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben bought 250,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $105.97 per share, for a total transaction of $26,492,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,077,000 shares in the company, valued at $220,099,690. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the vice president now owns 220,678 shares in the company, valued at $22,652,596.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.06% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Redburn Partners upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the stock from $100.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $128.70.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Exxon Mobil

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

NYSE XOM opened at $100.19 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $397.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.95, a P/E/G ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.01. The companys fifty day moving average is $103.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.18. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 52-week low of $97.48 and a 52-week high of $120.70.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $2.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.36 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $90.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $93.41 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 20.72% and a net margin of 11.56%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 19.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.45 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.18 EPS for the current year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th were given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This is a positive change from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 14th. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is 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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Taylor Wimpey (OTCMKTS:TWODY  Get Free Report) and BAE Systems (OTCMKTS:BAESY  Get Free Report) are both construction companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, dividends, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Taylor Wimpey and BAE Systems, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Taylor Wimpey 0 0 0 0 N/A BAE Systems 0 1 4 0 2.80

BAE Systems has a consensus target price of $475.00, indicating a potential upside of 734.21%. Given BAE Systems higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe BAE Systems is more favorable than Taylor Wimpey.

Risk and Volatility

Profitability

Taylor Wimpey has a beta of 2.02, indicating that its stock price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BAE Systems has a beta of 0.59, indicating that its stock price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500.

This table compares Taylor Wimpey and BAE Systems net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Taylor Wimpey N/A N/A N/A BAE Systems N/A N/A N/A

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Taylor Wimpey and BAE Systems gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Taylor Wimpey $5.47 billion 1.17 $796.07 million N/A N/A BAE Systems $26.30 billion 1.64 $1.97 billion N/A N/A

BAE Systems has higher revenue and earnings than Taylor Wimpey.

Dividends

Taylor Wimpey pays an annual dividend of $1.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.0%. BAE Systems pays an annual dividend of $1.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

0.3% of BAE Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

BAE Systems beats Taylor Wimpey on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Taylor Wimpey

(Get Free Report)

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.

About BAE Systems

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BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Cyber & Intelligence, Platforms & Services (US), Air, and Maritime. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance systems, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems. The Cyber & Intelligence segment provides solutions to modernize, maintain, and test cyber-harden aircraft, radars, missile systems, and mission applications that detect and deter threats to national security; systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services for critical weapons systems, C5ISR, and cyber security; and solutions and services to intelligence and federal/civilian agencies. It also offers data intelligence solutions to defend against national-scale threats, protect their networks, and data against attacks; security and intelligence solutions to the United Kingdom government and allied international governments; anti-fraud and regulatory compliance solutions; and enterprise-level data and digital services. The Platforms & Services (US) segment manufactures combat vehicles, weapons, and munitions, as well as provides ship repair services and the management of government-owned munitions facilities. The Air segment develops, manufactures, upgrades, and supports combat and jet trainer aircraft. The Maritime segment designs, manufactures, and supports surface ships, submarines, torpedoes, radars, and command and combat systems; and supplies naval gun systems. It also supplies naval weapon systems, missile launchers, and precision munitions. The company was founded in 1970 and is based in Farnborough, the United Kingdom.

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Kimco Realty (NYSE:KIM  Get Free Report) and Rithm Capital (NYSE:RITM  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, earnings, risk and dividends.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Kimco Realty and Rithm Capital, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kimco Realty 0 4 4 0 2.50 Rithm Capital 0 0 6 0 3.00

Kimco Realty currently has a consensus price target of $21.88, indicating a potential upside of 0.34%. Rithm Capital has a consensus price target of $11.56, indicating a potential upside of 6.76%. Given Rithm Capitals stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Rithm Capital is more favorable than Kimco Realty.

Volatility & Risk

Earnings & Valuation

Kimco Realty has a beta of 1.45, indicating that its stock price is 45% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Rithm Capital has a beta of 1.84, indicating that its stock price is 84% more volatile than the S&P 500.

This table compares Kimco Realty and Rithm Capitals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kimco Realty $1.73 billion 7.82 $125.98 million $0.71 30.70 Rithm Capital $4.73 billion 1.11 $954.52 million $1.45 7.47

Rithm Capital has higher revenue and earnings than Kimco Realty. Rithm Capital is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Kimco Realty, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Kimco Realty and Rithm Capitals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kimco Realty 26.24% 4.78% 2.59% Rithm Capital 21.51% 17.01% 3.00%

Dividends

Kimco Realty pays an annual dividend of $0.96 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.4%. Rithm Capital pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 9.2%. Kimco Realty pays out 135.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Rithm Capital pays out 69.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Kimco Realty has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Rithm Capital is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

90.4% of Kimco Realty shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 44.6% of Rithm Capital shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.2% of Kimco Realty shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of Rithm Capital shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Rithm Capital beats Kimco Realty on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kimco Realty

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Kimco Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that is one of North Americas largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. As of December 31, 2018, the company owned interests in 437 U.S. shopping centers comprising 76 million square feet of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets.

About Rithm Capital

(Get Free Report)

Rithm Capital Corp. operates as an investment manager that operates a vertically integrated mortgage platform and invests in real estate and related properties in the United States and Europe. The company provides capital and services to the real estate and financial services sectors. Its investment portfolio comprises mortgage servicing related assets, residential securities and loans, and single-family rental loans. The company qualifies as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. It generally would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was formerly known as New Residential Investment Corp. and changed its name to Rithm Capital Corp. in August 2022. Rithm Capital Corp. was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Shares of Hubbell Incorporated (NYSE:HUBB  Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Hold from the nine research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $319.63.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on HUBB. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Hubbell from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $333.00 to $335.00 in a research note on Friday, November 17th. StockNews.com upgraded Hubbell from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Barclays started coverage on Hubbell in a research report on Monday, December 4th. They set an equal weight rating and a $325.00 target price for the company. Seaport Res Ptn restated a buy rating on shares of Hubbell in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Hubbell from $300.00 to $351.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on Hubbell

Insider Activity at Hubbell

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In related news, VP Nero Jonathan M. Del sold 1,902 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $285.54, for a total transaction of $543,097.08. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 3,646 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,041,078.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . In other Hubbell news, VP Nero Jonathan M. Del sold 1,902 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $285.54, for a total transaction of $543,097.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,646 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,041,078.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, Director John F. Malloy purchased 797 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $313.50 per share, with a total value of $249,859.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,923 shares in the company, valued at $5,618,860.50. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . 0.66% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Hubbell by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,777,774 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,810,812,000 after purchasing an additional 96,435 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its position in shares of Hubbell by 95.6% in the 3rd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 18,084 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $5,667,000 after acquiring an additional 8,839 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Hubbell by 16.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 358,432 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $112,336,000 after acquiring an additional 50,279 shares in the last quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Hubbell by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC now owns 28,162 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $8,826,000 after acquiring an additional 1,721 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG raised its position in shares of Hubbell by 78.3% in the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 98,879 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,990,000 after acquiring an additional 43,409 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.97% of the companys stock.

Hubbell Stock Performance

NYSE:HUBB opened at $328.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 2.16. Hubbell has a 52-week low of $219.77 and a 52-week high of $340.06. The firm has a market cap of $17.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.93, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.93. The businesss fifty day moving average is $300.09 and its 200 day moving average is $310.91.

Hubbell (NYSE:HUBB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $3.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.07 by ($0.12). Hubbell had a net margin of 13.56% and a return on equity of 30.09%. The company had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.08 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Hubbell will post 15.16 EPS for the current year.

Hubbell Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th were issued a dividend of $1.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 29th. This is a boost from Hubbells previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.49%. Hubbells dividend payout ratio is currently 37.08%.

Hubbell Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Hubbell Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells electrical and utility solutions in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Electrical Solutions and Utility Solutions. The Electrical Solution segment offers standard and special application wiring device products, rough-in electrical products, connector and grounding products, lighting fixtures, and other electrical equipment for use in industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities by electrical contractors, maintenance personnel, electricians, utilities, and telecommunications companies, as well as components and assemblies.

Further Reading

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Hubbell Strickland Wealth Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,219 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 205 shares during the quarter. Chevron accounts for approximately 0.9% of Hubbell Strickland Wealth Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position. Hubbell Strickland Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $1,554,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CVX. V Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chevron by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. V Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 7,007 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,102,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Addison Capital Co grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 1.9% during the second quarter. Addison Capital Co now owns 3,339 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $525,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. NCM Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.2% in the first quarter. NCM Capital Management LLC now owns 5,570 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $909,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. Strong Tower Advisory Services boosted its holdings in Chevron by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Strong Tower Advisory Services now owns 7,569 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,191,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, Unionview LLC grew its position in Chevron by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. Unionview LLC now owns 2,059 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $324,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. 68.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CVX. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of Chevron in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Chevron from $175.00 to $169.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. UBS Group reduced their price target on Chevron from $194.00 to $185.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Bank of America upgraded Chevron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $190.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, October 30th. Finally, Raymond James reduced their target price on Chevron from $200.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.50.

Chevron Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CVX opened at $149.77 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $147.22 and a 200-day moving average price of $156.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The company has a market capitalization of $282.73 billion, a PE ratio of 11.12, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.11. Chevron Co. has a 1-year low of $140.72 and a 1-year high of $187.81.

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 (EPS) 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 firm had revenue of $54.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $51.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.56 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Chevron Co. will post 13.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were issued a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.03%. Chevrons payout ratio is 44.84%.

Chevron Company Profile

(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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iShares Global Healthcare ETF (NYSEARCA:IXJ  Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday . 70,838 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 63% from the previous sessions volume of 191,173 shares.The stock last traded at $86.03 and had previously closed at $85.94.

iShares Global Healthcare ETF Stock Performance

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $82.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is $83.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.97 and a beta of 0.67.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares Global Healthcare ETF

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel lifted its stake in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF by 434.4% in the 2nd quarter. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel now owns 342 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF by 153.3% in the 4th quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 423 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares during the period. Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. SYM FINANCIAL Corp acquired a new position in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of iShares Global Healthcare ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $50,000.

iShares Global Healthcare ETF Company Profile

iShares Global Healthcare ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Global Healthcare Sector Index 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 Global 1200 Healthcare Sector Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of companies that Standards & Poors Financial Services LLC (S&P) deems to be a part of the consumer staples sector of the economy.

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Advisory Alpha LLC trimmed its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM  Free Report) by 15.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,591 shares of the companys stock after selling 297 shares during the quarter. Advisory Alpha LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF were worth $222,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in MTUM. Syntal Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 23.6% in the first quarter. Syntal Capital Partners LLC now owns 31,899 shares of the companys stock worth $5,367,000 after purchasing an additional 6,090 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 63.5% during the 1st quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,192 shares of the companys stock worth $201,000 after acquiring an additional 463 shares in the last quarter. Eudaimonia Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $689,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $329,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 1,202.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 534 shares of the companys stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 493 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF stock opened at $157.55 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a 12-month low of $81.37 and a 12-month high of $113.60. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $148.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $145.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.35 and a beta of 0.91.

About iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years.

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SOL Capital Management CO reduced its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) by 20.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,597 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,398 shares during the period. SOL Capital Management COs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $989,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 113,180.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 334,806,395 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $58,376,843,000 after acquiring an additional 334,510,840 shares during the period. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 106.6% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,124,411 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $585,108,000 after acquiring an additional 50,291,574 shares during the period. Select Equity Group L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 2,081 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $363,000 after acquiring an additional 10,769,881 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 254.6% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 9,618,012 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,715,853,000 after acquiring an additional 6,905,332 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 110.3% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 3,333,868 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $594,762,000 after acquiring an additional 1,748,543 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of IWM stock opened at $203.99 on Friday. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 1-year low of $161.67 and a 1-year high of $205.49. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $180.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $183.66.

iShares Russell 2000 ETF Profile

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

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The Russian occupation forces resumed using their Su-34 and Su-35 fighter-bombers to conduct air strikes along the front line. In just one day, 18 air strikes were recorded.

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This was stated by Oleksandr Stupun, spokesman for the joint press center of the Tauride Defense Forces, on the Liniia Frontu (Frontline) program. The enemy carried out at least two attacks in each of the frontline areas with the help of aircraft.

According to the military, the most tense situation is currently in the area of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, where the occupants do not stop their attacks.

"The enemy started using Su-35 and Su-34 again. 18 air strikes were recorded over the last day. It was not only Avdiivka but also the entire frontline. That is, 2-3 air strikes were recorded in almost all directions," Stupun said.

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He also said that the troops of the aggressor country doubled the use of kamikaze drones (compared to the previous day). More than 100 cases were recorded in one day.

Stupun also clarified that Russian troops continue to lose a large number of military equipment. Over the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed or severely damaged more than a hundred pieces of enemy equipment.

In just one day, the enemy's troops on the frontline in this area have lost 500 soldiers.

As a reminder, on December 24, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down a Su-34 fighter and a Su-30SM bomber in the Mariupol and Odesa sectors, respectively. These losses were confirmed by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the morning of December 25.

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Earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had destroyed three Russian Su-34 bombers in southern Ukraine. They took off to attack the positions of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kherson region.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russian pilots against attempts to attack Ukraine, reminding them that over the past week, the defenders of Ukrainian skies have shot down five invaders' warplanes.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. cut its position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report) by 21.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,768 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,012 shares during the quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $1,108,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in 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 worth $214,642,470,000 after acquiring an additional 1,858,338,022 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 118,562,086 shares of the companys stock worth $13,766,428,000 after buying an additional 2,174,829 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.9% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 52,723,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,068,750,000 after acquiring an additional 1,504,701 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 4,000,816 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 103,159.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 39,327,490 shares of the companys stock worth $4,363,385,000 after acquiring an additional 39,289,404 shares during the period. 74.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Merck & Co., Inc.

In related news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 43,823 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total transaction of $4,602,729.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 111,764 shares in the company, valued at $11,738,572.92. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 43,823 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total transaction of $4,602,729.69. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 111,764 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,738,572.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen sold 2,081 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.38, for a total transaction of $213,052.78. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 18,191 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,862,394.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on MRK. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $115.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, October 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $122.00 target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Friday, October 6th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $132.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a buy rating and a $115.00 price objective for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $125.14.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc. Price Performance

NYSE MRK opened at $108.77 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.38. The stock has a market cap of $275.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.43, a PEG ratio of 9.13 and a beta of 0.34. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $103.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.45. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52-week low of $96.36 and a 52-week 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 the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $16 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.30 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 7.77% and a return on equity of 18.26%. The firms revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.85 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 1.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared 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 represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. This is an increase from Merck & Co., Inc.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio is 171.11%.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company 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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Meridian Wealth Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of Target Co. (NYSE:TGT  Free Report) by 44.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,649 shares of the retailers stock after selling 2,943 shares during the quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Target were worth $408,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Plancorp LLC raised its stake in Target by 2.1% in the first quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 2,520 shares of the retailers stock valued at $535,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Dohj LLC increased its holdings in Target by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dohj LLC now owns 4,239 shares of the retailers stock valued at $559,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Triangle Securities Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Target by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Triangle Securities Wealth Management now owns 7,502 shares of the retailers stock valued at $990,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Target by 34.0% during the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 331 shares of the retailers stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Financial Architects Inc boosted its position in shares of Target by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Architects Inc now owns 1,726 shares of the retailers stock worth $228,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.33% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Target from $133.00 to $116.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Target from $155.00 to $140.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their target price on Target from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Target from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Target from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $153.88.

Target Trading Up 0.1 %

TGT opened at $142.55 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $65.81 billion, a PE ratio of 18.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. Target Co. has a twelve month low of $102.93 and a twelve month high of $181.70. The company has a fifty day moving average of $125.29 and a 200-day moving average of $125.34.

Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 15th. The retailer reported $2.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.48 by $0.62. Target had a return on equity of 30.69% and a net margin of 3.40%. The firm had revenue of $25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.28 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.54 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Target Co. will post 8.34 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Christina Hennington sold 4,000 shares of Target stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.55, for a total transaction of $522,200.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 38,451 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,019,778.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Christina Hennington sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.55, for a total transaction of $522,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 38,451 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,019,778.05. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Don H. Liu sold 16,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $2,080,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 48,882 shares in the company, valued at $6,354,660. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 24,000 shares of company stock worth $3,127,520. 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Target Company Profile

(Free Report)

Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies.

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Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:MITEY  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 47,500 shares, a growth of 5,177.8% from the November 30th total of 900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 76,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Mitsubishi Estate Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS MITEY opened at $13.68 on Friday. Mitsubishi Estate has a fifty-two week low of $11.20 and a fifty-two week high of $14.43. The stock has a market cap of $18.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.49 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a current ratio of 1.98. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $13.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $12.80.

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Mitsubishi Estate (OTCMKTS:MITEY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter. Mitsubishi Estate had a net margin of 9.60% and a return on equity of 5.69%.

Mitsubishi Estate Company Profile

Mitsubishi Estate Co, Ltd. engages in the real estate activities in Japan and internationally. The company develops, leases, manages, and sells office buildings and commercial facilities; operates rental offices, coworking space, virtual offices, hourly meeting rooms, home delivery storage service, commercial nursing homes, and building garages; offers real estate management, as well as building management services, such as security, facility management, cleaning, and planting services; and operates hotels and airports.

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NovaPoint Capital LLC increased its position in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 4.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 14,728 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 678 shares during the period. NovaPoint Capital LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $2,483,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVX. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its position in Chevron by 247.8% during the second quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 3,400 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 5,700 shares during the period. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in Chevron during the third quarter worth approximately $35,000. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Chevron during the first quarter worth approximately $36,000. HBC Financial Services PLLC bought a new stake in Chevron during the first quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Chevron during the second quarter worth approximately $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.87% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

CVX has been the subject of several research reports. Bank of America raised Chevron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $190.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Raymond James reduced their price objective on Chevron from $200.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $180.00 price objective on shares of Chevron in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Chevron from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Chevron from $175.00 to $169.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.50.

Chevron Stock Performance

Chevron stock opened at $149.77 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $147.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $156.29. Chevron Co. has a 52-week low of $140.72 and a 52-week high of $187.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $282.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.11.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $3.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.70 by ($0.65). Chevron had a net margin of 12.11% and a return on equity of 16.15%. The business had revenue of $54.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $51.41 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.56 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Chevron Co. will post 13.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were paid a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.03%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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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Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC grew its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Free Report) by 8.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,790 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 381 shares during the period. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $747,000 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 UPS. Abbrea Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.8% during the second quarter. Abbrea Capital LLC now owns 7,123 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,277,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the period. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 3.4% in the second quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,678 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $301,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. increased its position in United Parcel Service by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 1,300 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $233,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Bristlecone Advisors LLC raised its holdings in United Parcel Service by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Bristlecone Advisors LLC now owns 13,511 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,422,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Detalus Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. Detalus Advisors LLC now owns 2,168 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $389,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. 58.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of UPS stock opened at $157.31 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The company has a market cap of $134.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.92, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.09. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $133.68 and a 1 year high of $197.80. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $150.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $163.39.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

United Parcel Service ( NYSE:UPS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The transportation company reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.04. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 43.46% and a net margin of 9.19%. The business had revenue of $21.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.99 earnings per share. United Parcel Services revenue for the quarter was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.78 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 13th were issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.12%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 10th. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio is currently 65.59%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on UPS shares. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $195.00 price target on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Raymond James reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $205.00 to $200.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 29th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. HSBC began coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, September 29th. They set a hold rating and a $170.00 price target on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $186.48.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on UPS

About United Parcel Service

(Free Report)

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.

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PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE:PHX  Get Free Report) major shareholder Edenbrook Capital, Llc sold 1,575,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.11, for a total value of $4,898,250.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,679,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,443,388.06. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

PHX Minerals Price Performance

NYSE:PHX opened at $3.33 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 3.17 and a quick ratio of 3.17. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.36. PHX Minerals Inc. has a 1 year low of $2.33 and a 1 year high of $4.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $123.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.12 and a beta of 0.59.

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PHX Minerals (NYSE:PHX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.03. PHX Minerals had a return on equity of 6.66% and a net margin of 28.95%. The firm had revenue of $8.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.20 million. Equities analysts forecast that PHX Minerals Inc. will post 0.2 EPS for the current year.

PHX Minerals Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 23rd were issued a $0.03 dividend. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.60%. This is an increase from PHX Mineralss previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 21st. PHX Mineralss dividend payout ratio is presently 29.27%.

PHX has been the subject of a number of research reports. Johnson Rice started coverage on PHX Minerals in a research note on Friday, September 15th. They set a buy rating and a $5.50 price target for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on PHX Minerals in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on PHX Minerals from $5.40 to $5.70 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, PHX Minerals currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $5.55.

View Our Latest Stock Report on PHX

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PHX Minerals

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of PHX Minerals by 2.8% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,261,395 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,935,000 after buying an additional 34,810 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in PHX Minerals by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,219,070 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,950,000 after purchasing an additional 11,400 shares during the period. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. raised its position in PHX Minerals by 16.7% during the 3rd quarter. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,161,045 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $4,226,000 after purchasing an additional 165,876 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in PHX Minerals by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 475,933 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,447,000 after purchasing an additional 10,080 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its position in PHX Minerals by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 416,606 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,275,000 after purchasing an additional 6,046 shares in the last quarter. 35.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About PHX Minerals

(Get Free Report)

PHX Minerals Inc operates as a natural gas and oil mineral company in the United States. The company produces and sells natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. Its principal properties are located in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Arkansas. It sells its products to various purchasers, including pipeline and marketing companies.

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Private Trust Co. NA grew its holdings in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 36.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,768 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 745 shares during the quarter. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $351,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of EOG. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of EOG Resources by 100,317.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 538,528,863 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $61,629,243,000 after buying an additional 537,992,573 shares during the last quarter. Tejara Capital Ltd purchased a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the 4th quarter worth approximately $106,000. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of EOG Resources by 302.7% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,730,284 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,113,534,000 after buying an additional 7,313,743 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of EOG Resources by 196.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,859,925 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,175,599,000 after buying an additional 6,529,464 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of EOG Resources by 87.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 7,787,281 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,008,609,000 after buying an additional 3,641,504 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.21% of the companys stock.

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EOG Resources Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE EOG opened at $121.33 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $123.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $124.30. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 1 year low of $98.52 and a 1 year high of $137.95. The company has a market capitalization of $70.75 billion, a PE ratio of 9.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 2.10 and a current ratio of 2.43.

EOG Resources Increases Dividend

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The energy exploration company reported $3.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.49. EOG Resources had a net margin of 32.11% and a return on equity of 26.80%. The firm had revenue of $6.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.91 billion. On average, research analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.09 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%. This is an increase from EOG Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 16th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.04%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on EOG shares. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $158.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of EOG Resources from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price target for the company from $150.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Citigroup lowered shares of EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $144.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered shares of EOG Resources from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their price target for the company from $155.00 to $146.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered shares of EOG Resources from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $134.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $145.52.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on EOG Resources

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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Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR  Free Report)  Investment analysts at Northland Capmk decreased their Q1 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Quanta Services in a research report issued on Wednesday, December 27th. Northland Capmk analyst G. Richard now forecasts that the construction company will post earnings of $1.51 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.64. The consensus estimate for Quanta Services current full-year earnings is $6.44 per share. Northland Capmk also issued estimates for Quanta Services Q2 2024 earnings at $1.89 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $2.41 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $2.08 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $7.90 EPS.

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Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The construction company reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.99 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $5.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.26 billion. Quanta Services had a return on equity of 16.17% and a net margin of 3.57%.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Quanta Services in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Quanta Services from $212.00 to $237.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. StockNews.com began coverage on Quanta Services in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Argus boosted their target price on Quanta Services from $234.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Quanta Services from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their price objective for the company from $214.00 to $211.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Quanta Services presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $220.50.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on PWR

Quanta Services Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of PWR opened at $216.46 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.15 and a beta of 1.11. Quanta Services has a 1 year low of $134.61 and a 1 year high of $219.17. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $187.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $192.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.57.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quanta Services

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Quanta Services by 2,026.3% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,344,871 shares of the construction companys stock worth $11,136,000 after purchasing an additional 1,281,621 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Quanta Services during the 4th quarter worth $180,853,000. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in shares of Quanta Services by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 5,991,012 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,176,934,000 after purchasing an additional 771,861 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of Quanta Services by 52.2% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,492,323 shares of the construction companys stock worth $196,405,000 after purchasing an additional 511,508 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in shares of Quanta Services during the 2nd quarter worth $92,251,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Quanta Services Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 2nd will be issued a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.17%. This is a boost from Quanta Servicess previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 29th. Quanta Servicess dividend payout ratio is currently 6.82%.

Quanta Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Quanta Services, Inc provides infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, renewable energy, communications, and pipeline and energy industries worldwide. The company's Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment engages in the design, procurement, construction, upgrade, repair, and maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure and substation facilities; installation, maintenance, and upgrade of electric power infrastructure projects; installation of smart grid technologies on electric power networks; and design, installation, maintenance, and repair of commercial and industrial wirings.

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CreativeOne Wealth LLC reduced its position in Realty Income Co. (NYSE:O  Free Report) by 32.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,876 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 3,258 shares during the period. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in Realty Income were worth $343,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Modera Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Realty Income during the second quarter valued at approximately $281,000. Portside Wealth Group LLC purchased a new position in Realty Income during the second quarter valued at approximately $695,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in Realty Income during the second quarter valued at approximately $111,000. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC grew its position in Realty Income by 6.8% during the third quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 6,339 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $317,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its position in Realty Income by 0.4% during the second quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 385,741 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $23,063,000 after purchasing an additional 1,612 shares in the last quarter. 78.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

O has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Scotiabank downgraded shares of Realty Income from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $61.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Bank of America downgraded shares of Realty Income from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $67.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Realty Income from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Realty Income from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $66.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, Mizuho upgraded shares of Realty Income from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $48.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Monday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $61.45.

Insider Transactions at Realty Income

In related news, Director A. Larry Chapman sold 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.98, for a total transaction of $199,430.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,590 shares in the company, valued at approximately $603,418.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Realty Income Price Performance

Shares of Realty Income stock opened at $58.58 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $55.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. Realty Income Co. has a 1-year low of $45.03 and a 1-year high of $68.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.38, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.90.

Realty Income (NYSE:O  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by ($0.67). Realty Income had a return on equity of 2.90% and a net margin of 22.64%. The firm had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $999.01 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.98 earnings per share. Realty Incomes quarterly revenue was up 24.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Realty Income Co. will post 4.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Realty Income Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a jan 24 dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.2565 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.4%. This is a boost from Realty Incomes previous jan 24 dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 1st. Realty Incomes payout ratio is presently 232.58%.

Realty Income Company Profile

(Free Report)

Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company, is an S&P 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. We invest in people and places to deliver dependable monthly dividends that increase over time. The company is structured as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 13,250 real estate properties primarily owned under long-term net lease agreements with commercial clients.

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Scottish Mortgage (LON:SMT  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 805.60 ($10.24) and last traded at GBX 799.46 ($10.16), with a volume of 230240 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 786 ($9.99).

Scottish Mortgage Stock Up 0.4 %

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 718.80 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 691.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.86, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.50. The firm has a market cap of 11.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -394.34 and a beta of 0.70.

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Scottish Mortgage Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 23rd were issued a GBX 1.60 ($0.02) dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 23rd. This represents a yield of 0.23%. Scottish Mortgages dividend payout ratio is currently -195.12%.

Scottish Mortgage Company Profile

Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Baillie Gifford & Co Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Baillie Gifford & Co It invests in public equity markets of countries across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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During a missile attack on Ukraine on the morning of December 29, Russian troops struck Konotop in the Sumy region. A multi-story building was damaged and several people were injured.

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"Early this morning, Russian terrorists committed another crime against civilians. The enemy has launched a missile attack on Konotop," the agency said.

As of 07:00, it is known that three people were injured as a result of the Russian shelling.

A high-rise building and a car service station were damaged in the town, and a car caught fire.

All specialized services are working at the site of the enemy missile hit. Information on the damage and casualties is being updated.

"Be careful and do not ignore air raid alarms," the Sumy Regional Military Administration said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, during the attack on December 21, the Russian occupiers tried to strike the Sumy region with Shahed drones. The air defense system in the region did not let it happen: the defenders of the sky shot down two kamikaze drones.

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Simplicity Solutions LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 17.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 60,639 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 12,832 shares during the period. Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $3,519,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Riversedge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Riversedge Advisors LLC now owns 5,691 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $330,000 after buying an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 47.5% during the 3rd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,924 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $344,000 after acquiring an additional 1,909 shares during the last quarter. Roof Eidam Maycock Peralta LLC grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 14.5% during the 3rd quarter. Roof Eidam Maycock Peralta LLC now owns 9,500 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $551,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Jmac Enterprises LLC grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jmac Enterprises LLC now owns 12,171 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $706,000 after acquiring an additional 1,245 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MBM Wealth Consultants LLC grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 21.4% during the 3rd quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC now owns 14,295 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $807,000 after acquiring an additional 2,521 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II bought 8,500 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 2,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 82,672 shares in the company, valued at $4,115,412.16. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired a total of 13,571 shares of company stock valued at $672,994 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. TheStreet lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. 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 report on Friday, September 15th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $56.00 to $50.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Barclays reduced their price target on 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. Finally, William Blair lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $62.88.

Read Our Latest Report on BMY

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock opened at $51.22 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $104.22 billion, a PE ratio of 13.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.34. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $48.25 and a 52 week high of $75.18. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $51.24 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.76. 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 (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.00 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.24. The firm had revenue of $10.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.96 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.59% and a net margin of 18.44%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.99 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to purchase up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 5th will be issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 4th. This is a positive change from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.69%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 57.87%.

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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SOL Capital Management CO trimmed its position in iShares Global REIT ETF (NYSEARCA:REET  Free Report) by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 82,480 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,670 shares during the quarter. SOL Capital Management CO owned approximately 0.06% of iShares Global REIT ETF worth $1,746,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in REET. MAS Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Global REIT ETF by 35.4% during the first quarter. MAS Advisors LLC now owns 39,980 shares of the companys stock worth $1,183,000 after purchasing an additional 10,444 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Global REIT ETF by 64.2% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 13,705 shares of the companys stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 5,359 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Global REIT ETF by 57.2% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 43,908 shares of the companys stock worth $1,283,000 after purchasing an additional 15,985 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Global REIT ETF by 23.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,204,339 shares of the companys stock worth $152,019,000 after purchasing an additional 987,459 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Global REIT ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $237,000.

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iShares Global REIT ETF Stock Performance

Shares of REET opened at $24.46 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a PE ratio of 18.16 and a beta of 0.93. The firms 50 day moving average price is $22.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $22.43. iShares Global REIT ETF has a twelve month low of $19.69 and a twelve month high of $25.72.

iShares Global REIT ETF Company Profile

The iShares Global REIT ETF (REET) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE EPRA Nareit Global REITs index, a global, market-cap-weighted index of firms involved in the ownership and operation of real estate. REET was launched on Jul 8, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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SOL Capital Management CO lessened its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Free Report) by 4.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 35,581 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 1,741 shares during the quarter. SOL Capital Management COs holdings in Koninklijke Philips were worth $709,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,600 shares of the technology companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc grew its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 11.4% in the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 10,212 shares of the technology companys stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 1,044 shares during the last quarter. Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd increased its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd now owns 33,403 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $666,000 after purchasing an additional 2,227 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its position in Koninklijke Philips by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 16,984 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $339,000 after purchasing an additional 1,311 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New Hampshire grew its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New Hampshire now owns 116,372 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,320,000 after buying an additional 7,462 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 6.64% of the companys stock.

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Koninklijke Philips Price Performance

Koninklijke Philips stock opened at $23.38 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $20.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $20.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Koninklijke Philips has a fifty-two week low of $14.84 and a fifty-two week high of $23.49.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Koninklijke Philips ( NYSE:PHG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 23rd. The technology company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.18 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $4.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.87 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a positive return on equity of 13.22% and a negative net margin of 3.28%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded Koninklijke Philips from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Koninklijke Philips presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.83.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Koninklijke Philips

About Koninklijke Philips

(Free Report)

Koninklijke Philips N.V. operates as a health technology company in North America, the Greater China, and internationally. It operates through Diagnosis & Treatment Businesses, Connected Care Businesses, and Personal Health Businesses segments. The company provides diagnostic imaging solutions, includes magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray systems, and computed tomography (CT) systems and software comprising detector-based spectral CT solutions, as well as molecular and hybrid imaging solutions for nuclear medicine; echography solutions focused on diagnosis, treatment planning and guidance for cardiology, general imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and point-of-care applications; integrated interventional systems, and interventional diagnostic and therapeutic devices to treat coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease; proprietary software to enable diagnostics and intervention; and enterprise diagnostic informatics products and services.

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Suburban Propane Partners (NYSE:SPH  Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

Separately, TheStreet upgraded shares of Suburban Propane Partners from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th.

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Suburban Propane Partners Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE:SPH opened at $18.23 on Wednesday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $17.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.81. Suburban Propane Partners has a 52 week low of $14.42 and a 52 week high of $22.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17. The stock has a market cap of $1.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.49 and a beta of 0.56.

Suburban Propane Partners (NYSE:SPH  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The energy company reported ($0.33) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Suburban Propane Partners had a return on equity of 21.89% and a net margin of 8.66%. The company had revenue of $226.60 million during the quarter.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Douglas Brinkworth sold 9,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.15, for a total value of $154,350.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 163,659 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,806,751.85. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Douglas Brinkworth sold 9,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.15, for a total value of $154,350.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 163,659 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,806,751.85. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Nandini Sankara sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.04, for a total value of $170,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 55,246 shares in the company, valued at $941,391.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 23,538 shares of company stock worth $402,078. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Suburban Propane Partners

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SPH. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Suburban Propane Partners by 60.1% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,065 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 775 shares during the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp increased its position in shares of Suburban Propane Partners by 391.1% during the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 2,087 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,662 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its position in shares of Suburban Propane Partners by 194.0% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,273 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its position in shares of Suburban Propane Partners by 26.7% during the 3rd quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 3,571 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 753 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Credit Suisse AG bought a new position in shares of Suburban Propane Partners during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $101,000. 17.49% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Suburban Propane Partners

(Get Free Report)

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, Natural Gas and Electricity, and All Other.

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Private Trust Co. NA lowered its stake in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 41.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,195 shares of the banks stock after selling 7,271 shares during the quarter. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $435,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Bank of New York Mellon by 160.0% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 5,358 shares of the banks stock worth $263,000 after purchasing an additional 3,297 shares during the period. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the first quarter worth about $1,096,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Bank of New York Mellon by 3.3% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 35,635 shares of the banks stock worth $1,769,000 after purchasing an additional 1,154 shares during the period. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. increased its stake in Bank of New York Mellon by 54.3% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 232,115 shares of the banks stock worth $11,519,000 after purchasing an additional 81,728 shares during the period. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its stake in Bank of New York Mellon by 165.3% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,459 shares of the banks stock worth $72,000 after purchasing an additional 909 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.29% of the companys stock.

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Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance

BK stock opened at $52.23 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $40.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.26, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.11. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a twelve month low of $39.65 and a twelve month high of $52.31. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83.

Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement

Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 17th. The bank reported $1.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.15 by $0.12. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.84% and a net margin of 11.81%. The business had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.32 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.21 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.87 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 9th. Investors of record on Friday, October 27th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 26th. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is presently 39.44%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $55.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $54.50 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $52.77.

View Our Latest Analysis on BK

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Free Report)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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Simplicity Solutions LLC lessened its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 5.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,891 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 760 shares during the period. Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $4,171,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of GS. Synovus Financial Corp grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 13.7% in the 2nd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 13,338 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $4,302,000 after buying an additional 1,605 shares in the last quarter. First Foundation Advisors grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.4% in the 2nd quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 1,771 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $571,000 after buying an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 65,044 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $20,979,000 after buying an additional 3,803 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 3,461 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,129,000 after buying an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Savant Capital LLC grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 51.8% in the 2nd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 4,668 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,506,000 after buying an additional 1,592 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.06% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

GS has been the subject of several research reports. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. They set a buy rating and a $403.00 price objective for the company. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $447.00 to $468.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of 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. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $329.00 to $333.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $393.99.

The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

NYSE GS opened at $386.56 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $340.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $333.16. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $126.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.44. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $289.36 and a 52-week high of $387.76.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 17th. The investment management company reported $5.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.42 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $11.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.15 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 7.77% and a return on equity of 7.37%. The firms revenue was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $8.25 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 22.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th were given a dividend of $2.75 per share. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.85%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 29th. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is presently 53.24%.

Insider Activity at The Goldman Sachs Group

In related 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 transaction, the insider now owns 10,471 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,509,355.65. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 72,874 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $0.71, for a total transaction of $51,740.54. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 397,954 shares in the company, valued at $282,547.34. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Ericka T. Leslie sold 1,376 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.15, for a total value of $461,166.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 10,471 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,509,355.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 74,407 shares of company stock valued at $515,039. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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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UMB Bank n.a. lowered its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC  Free Report) by 10.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 16,904 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,960 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group were worth $2,075,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new position in The PNC Financial Services Group in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA acquired a new stake in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.14% of the companys stock.

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The PNC Financial Services Group Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of The PNC Financial Services Group stock opened at $155.60 on Friday. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $109.40 and a 1 year high of $169.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82. The company has a market capitalization of $61.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.80, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.17. The companys fifty day moving average is $132.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $127.43.

The PNC Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The PNC Financial Services Group ( NYSE:PNC Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $3.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.10 by $0.50. The business had revenue of $5.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.32 billion. The PNC Financial Services Group had a net margin of 20.39% and a return on equity of 12.91%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.78 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 13.74 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, November 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th were issued a $1.55 dividend. This represents a $6.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 16th. The PNC Financial Services Groups payout ratio is 43.03%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Guild Deborah sold 1,533 shares of The PNC Financial Services Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.51, for a total value of $203,137.83. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 17,092 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,264,860.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on PNC shares. Stephens restated an equal weight rating and issued a $138.00 price objective on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in a report on Tuesday, December 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from $128.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. StockNews.com lowered shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, Odeon Capital Group upgraded shares of The PNC Financial Services Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $153.38 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $149.10.

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About The PNC Financial Services Group

(Free Report)

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, and Asset Management Group segments. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services.

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UMB Bank n.a. lessened its holdings in shares of Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV  Free Report) by 44.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,020 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 12,700 shares during the quarter. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in Dover were worth $2,235,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new stake in shares of Dover during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Dover during the second quarter worth approximately $34,000. Mendota Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dover during the second quarter worth approximately $42,000. Old North State Trust LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dover by 52.0% during the first quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 456 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the period. Finally, Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Dover during the first quarter worth approximately $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.97% of the companys stock.

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Dover Stock Up 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:DOV opened at $154.17 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $140.38 and a 200-day moving average of $142.55. The company has a market capitalization of $21.57 billion, a PE ratio of 21.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.58. Dover Co. has a 52-week low of $127.25 and a 52-week high of $160.66.

Dover Dividend Announcement

Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.33 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $2.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. Dover had a return on equity of 26.23% and a net margin of 12.09%. Dovers quarterly revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.26 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Dover Co. will post 8.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th were issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 29th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.32%. Dovers payout ratio is 28.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on DOV shares. Oppenheimer cut their price target on Dover from $177.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Dover from $167.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Dover from $149.00 to $145.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Dover from $171.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price target on Dover from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $163.92.

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Insider Activity at Dover

In other Dover news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.00, for a total transaction of $1,988,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 35,938 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,103,196. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Dover news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.00, for a total transaction of $1,988,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 35,938 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,103,196. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Anthony K. Kosinski sold 664 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total transaction of $94,048.96. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,333 shares in the company, valued at approximately $755,366.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Dover Company Profile

(Free Report)

Dover Corporation provides equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services worldwide. The company's Engineered Products segment provides various equipment, component, software, solution, and services that are used in aftermarket vehicle service, solid waste handling, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, industrial winch and hoist, and fluid dispensing end-market.

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UMB Bank n.a. decreased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 139,944 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 8,501 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for approximately 1.1% of UMB Bank n.a.s holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $70,558,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. White Lighthouse Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth $1,336,000. Advisory Alpha LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 43.1% during the third quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 2,738 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,381,000 after buying an additional 825 shares in the last quarter. Occidental Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.8% during the third quarter. Occidental Asset Management LLC now owns 6,647 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $3,351,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 8.9% during the third quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $610,000 after buying an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 2.7% during the third quarter. Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,516 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,269,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. 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. HSBC reissued a reduce rating and issued a $480.00 price target (down previously from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. StockNews.com cut UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, October 21st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 20th. One equities research 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $574.89.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.4 %

UNH opened at $524.90 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $535.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $508.49. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $445.68 and a twelve month 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 firm has a market cap of $485.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.61.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results 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. 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 analyst estimates of $91.41 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $5.79 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 4th were given a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 1st. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 32.64%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 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 document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 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 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 document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 121,515 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the director now owns 521,818 shares in the company, valued at $282,084,374.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072 in the last three months. 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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Spirit of America Management Corp NY increased its stake in Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Free Report) by 26.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,800 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Spirit of America Management Corp NYs holdings in Weyerhaeuser were worth $147,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in Weyerhaeuser during the first quarter valued at $52,000. Cibc World Market Inc. bought a new stake in Weyerhaeuser during the first quarter valued at $1,440,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Weyerhaeuser by 1.5% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 414,977 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $15,730,000 after purchasing an additional 5,984 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. increased its stake in Weyerhaeuser by 2.9% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 41,422 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,570,000 after purchasing an additional 1,159 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its stake in Weyerhaeuser by 10.3% during the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 6,381 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $242,000 after purchasing an additional 596 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.54% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Devin W. Stockfish sold 29,008 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.54, for a total value of $1,001,936.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 711,070 shares of the companys stock, valued at $24,560,357.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Weyerhaeuser news, CEO Devin W. Stockfish sold 29,008 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.54, for a total value of $1,001,936.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 711,070 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,560,357.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO David M. Wold sold 923 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.51, for a total transaction of $29,083.73. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 60,436 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,904,338.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 30,854 shares of company stock valued at $1,059,292 over the last 90 days. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Weyerhaeuser Stock Performance

Weyerhaeuser Dividend Announcement

WY stock opened at $35.10 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $25.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.35 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.34 and a 200 day simple moving average of $31.94. Weyerhaeuser has a fifty-two week low of $27.65 and a fifty-two week high of $36.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st were issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 30th. Weyerhaeusers payout ratio is currently 87.36%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on WY shares. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Weyerhaeuser from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Raymond James lowered shares of Weyerhaeuser from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, November 27th. TheStreet lowered shares of Weyerhaeuser from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $38.14.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Weyerhaeuser

About Weyerhaeuser

(Free Report)

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards.

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Latvia has closed access to all websites associated with the Russian technology group Yandex. The decision was made by the National Electronic Mass Media Council of Latvia (NEPLP).

ADVERTISIMENT

This statement was made by the head of NEPLP Ivars Abolins. He wrote about this in his account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In the future, the country also plans to close access to Yandex Music, which provides free access to podcasts and similar content created in Russia by sanctioned persons.

According to Delfi, on April 7, 2022, NEPLP decided to restrict access to yandex.ru and its mirror sites in Latvia.

"Yandex disagreed with the regulator's decision and filed an appeal with the Administrative District Court, which will consider the application in writing on February 29, 2024.

As a reminder, in August, Yandex.kz stopped opening for Internet users in Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Digital Development of the country explained that it had stopped the work of the Yandex web resource amid information about the transfer of user data to the Russian FSB.

ADVERTISIMENT

After a large-scale leak of the source code of Yandex services, it became known that the company censored search results for images and videos. For example, Yandex resorted to blocking the display of photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin for requests containing nicknames offensive to the Russian dictator, such as "old bunker resident" and phrases about his death.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
There is no denying the fact that not a few people, particularly in Edo State, are aware that tragedy struck on Christmas eve in Benin City as a Journalist, Hillary Nosa Odia, who was a staff of the Independent Television and Radio (ITV) was reportedly murdered by suspected cultists who shot him point blank at a pub near Esigie Police Station in the heart of the state capital.

While reports indicate that Nosa, as the broadcast journalist was popularly called, was murdered by suspected cultists around 2nd East Circular Road, in Benin City, one of his colleagues explained that the deceased left his office at about 4pm on Sunday, and that the news of his demise came as a rude shock later in the night to those who were with him within the ITV premises earlier in the day.

The death of Nosa is particularly worrisome to not a few people as it resonates with virtually everyone who heard about the death of Joshua Edeghagba, a Crime Reporter with Radio Nigeria, Benin City who was in a similar brutal manner murdered in 2012, and that of Lawrence Okojie of the NTA, Benin City who was also murdered by unknown gunmen in a similar brutal manner on July 8, 2017 while returning home from work.

It will be recalled that the killing of Edeghagba was spectacular as his killing in 2012 brought the total number of journalists killed in the state in a spate of one month to five.

The slain journalist was felled in the cross-fire between men of the Nigeria Police and gunmen who were engaged in a robbery operation.

He was allegedly shot by the gunmen who shot sporadically into the air in a shootout with policemen after a robbery operation at the Lagos Street end of the busy Dawson Road, Benin City.

Sources at the time said the journalist was caught in the scene after he left his mechanics workshop on the same road, where he had gone to drop the car he newly bought from the mechanic with complaints of major faults.

He was said to have heeded the advice of the mechanic to bring the vehicle to his shop and he actually did so but was on a motorbike heading home when he met his untimely death in the hands of the dare-devil gunmen.

Edeghagba, a father of three who joined the Radio Nigeria in 2011, a federal government-owned broadcast station, was reputed to be abreast of crime reporting.

Given the foregoing untoward happenings, which are not peculiar to the State, as similar deaths have been witnessed in other parts of the country, it cannot be mistaken to opine that there is an increasing threat to journalists in Benin City as there are near-death experience of other Journalists who might had in the past escaped from the hands of cultists or common criminals by the whiskers, and of which such cases were under-reported to elicit write-ups such as this.

In fact, opining in the same vein, it is expedient to sound the alarm that Journalism is by each passing day becoming an increasingly dangerous profession across the country, and that many have lost their lives or were maimed in the course of duty.

In fact, it will be recalled that in the past when Nigeria was in turn ruled by military dictators, cases of journalists being illegally arrested, and detained for so long were commonplace. But despite the fact that brutal dictatorships are no more featuring in the ongoing democratic system of government, it is sad that the lives and limbs of journalists, and even their lives are still under severe threat, as those in government who ought to protect Journalists are feeling unconcerned probably anyone that is closely related to them has not been brutalized or killed as a Journalist.

Perhaps not many appreciate the sacrifices many journalists make, and the risks they face in bringing information to the public and exposing criminal activities. Sometimes they do so not only at personal risk but to that of their families as well. But how can the society protect journalists and make their job a safer one? The foregoing is a question which cannot be easily answered as the nation is increasingly becoming averse to Journalists, particularly in the course of duty.

Perhaps the safety of journalists would only be guaranteed when we bring an end to all scourges facing society and that does not seem possible in the near future.

In fact, as it will not augur well for his death to add to the list of other Journalists whose deaths have been shrouded in mystery, it is expedient to urge the governments; both at the state and federal levels to hearken to the collective voice of Journalists in the state under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as they demand justice over the death of Nosa.

In fact, despite the hyperbole that exists in the society today about what is or what may not be fake news, journalism plays a strong part in forming Nigerias national identity, particularly with the advent of the internet, journalism jobs have changed in type and scope over the last two decades more than ever before.

Therefore, while justice is being waited over the brutal murder of Nosa, it is expedient to remind the society that journalists are of benefits to them on daily basis as they are not just news gatherers and writers but are essentially the watchdogs of the society and are collectively by virtue of that, the most visible custodians of the constitutional rights of everyone; whether the police, the cultists and whosoever. This also means that prior restraint, which is the act of to killing a story or preventing story from being published or broadcast, is also eschewed by ethical Journalists. Thus, by their very jobs, journalists are preserving the right to free speech in the country.

To those that usually see Journalists as threats, it is germane in this context to enlighten them that journalists are not mischievous, rather they work round the clock by abiding by the code of ethics of the profession even as they operate within the ambit of the four tenets of the profession which all journalists abide with, and which cut across seeking the truth and report it, minimizing harm through their reports. Not only that, they seek the truth and report it, act independently, and being accountable and transparent in the course of news gathering.

In fact, it is absurd that Edo state that obviously has far less population of practicing Journalists compared to Lagos State appears to be having higher mortality rate of Journalists, and it is against the backdrop that it is germane to urge security agencies and the governments that it is inadvisable of turning Benin City to Journalists Graveyard.
Governor urges New Year safety for tourists

PHUKET: With 50,000 tourists arriving in Phuket each day for the New Year holidays, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has urged all visitors to obey the law, and all sectors to take steps to help prevent accidents and incidents as good hosts providing for tourists safety.

tourismtransportSafetyalcohol

By The Phuket News

Friday 29 December 2023 11:15 AM

In every area [on the island] there are a large number of citizens and tourists, both Thai and foreign, attending events, Governor Sophon said yesterday (Dec 28).

He listed many of the large-scale events being held across the island, including the Discover Phuket Countdown event in Phuket Town, the Dee Phuket Festival at Saphan Hin, the New Year Countdown event in Patong, the Phuket Countdown event by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) at Karon Beach as well as the slew of major celebration events being held by shopping malls and resorts across the island.

Therefore, we ask all parties to give importance to taking care of citizens and tourists in the safety of life and property by integrating all parties together, both local government departments and police officers, in taking care of convenience and security throughout the 2024 New Year holiday, Governor Sophon said.

At the same time, I would like to ask for cooperation from citizens and tourists. Cooperate in complying with legal regulations and follow the instructions of officials without violating or committing any crimes or offences or causing an impact or causing distress to others, he added.

This is especially when using cars and using the road. You must be more careful than during normal times. Since there are approximately 50,000 tourists traveling into Phuket province each day, we request that all departments provide increased security, the Governor said.

DRUNK DRIVING

Phuket officials yesterday (Dec 28) launched the Seven Days safety campaign for the New Year holidays, with special focus on preventing road accidents, namely through campaigning against drunk driving.

Patong Municipalitys warning against drunk driving said plainly, Dont Drive Drunk.

In Thailand it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05% or more. (Thai police report BAC readings as milligrammes per decilitres, hence 0.05% is reported as 50mg/dL.)

The Patong Municipality notice warned that drunk drivers faced a fine of B5,000 to B20,000 and up to one year in prison if caught driving while drunk.

The light fine warned by Patong Municipality is in line with changes reiterated last year, with drivers who commit the same offence within two years facing a fine of B50,000 to B100,000 or a jail term of up to two years, or both.

However, drunk drivers who cause injuries or deaths of other people can easily face much harsher penalties. (See image gallery.)

Under the revised Road Traffic Act (2007), drunk drivers who causes physical or mental injury to other people face one to five years imprisonment, a fine of B20,000-100,000 and suspension of their licence of up to one year or even revoked

Drunk drivers who cause serious injury to other people face two to six years imprisonment, a fine of B40,000-120,000 and suspension of their licence of up to two years or even revoked.

Drunk drivers who cause the death of another person face three to 10 years in prison, a fine of B60,000-200,000 and their licence revoked.

CLUB BREATHALYSERS

To help combat drunk driving now that nightlife venues in selected tourist areas may close at 4am, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has delisted breathalysers as medical devices so that nightlife venue operators may use them on patrons, or provide them to patrons as a service.

As an aside, and especially for visitors to note, in Thailand passengers are not allowed to drink in any vehicle, drinking is not allowed in stationary vehicles parked on roads and streets, and police have the authority to stop and breathalyse any driver at any time.
New Phuket Vice Governor arrives

PHUKET: Phukets third Vice Governor, Norasak Suksomboon, has arrived on the island to start fulfilling his duties as one of three vice governors assigned to support Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.



By The Phuket News

Friday 29 December 2023 09:15 AM

Vice Governor Norasaks assigned area of responsibility at the Phuket Provincial Office is Social Affairs. His previous position was Director of Local Legal Affairs Division at the Department of Local Administration (DOLA).

Mr Norasak and his family arrived at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Dec 28) and observed the traditional ceremonies of paying homage to the Royal Monument His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) at the old Provincial Hall on Narisorn Rd in Phuket Town, which now serves as the new home for the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO).

He also travelled to Wat Chalong to pay homage to an image of Luang Pho Chaem and the abbot of Wat Chalong, before heading to the Phuket Provincial Administration Center on Tha Krang on the southern side of Phuket Town, which is home to the new and current Phuket Provincial Hall.

At the Provincial Hall, Mr Norasak and his family were welcomed to Phuket, and paid homage to the monument of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and to the Buddha image and spirit house at the front of the main building.

On his first day, Vice Governor Norasak also met with leading figures in the private sector and the local provincial government.

Mr Norasak joins fellow Phuket Vice Governors Sattha Thongkham, who arrived on the island with his wife and daughter on Nov 8, and Amnuay Pinsuwan, who has served as a Phuket Vice Governor since 2021, after serving as Chief of the Phuket Provincial Land Office.
Patong karaoke stabbing suspects arrested

PHUKET: Police have arrested a second man for the fatal stabbing of a karaoke staffer in Patong early yesterday morning (Dec 28) and levied a charge of murder.

patongviolencedeathcrimemurderpolice

By The Phuket News

Friday 29 December 2023 09:53 AM

Photo: Patong Police

Itthinan Khola, 24, from Nong Bua Lamphu, was found dead on the street in front of the Up2U Karaoke on Phra Metta Rd at 5:30am. He had suffered a fatal stab wound to his right chest.

Police confirmed yesterday that they had taken one man into custody, Nachat Rattanarat, 32, from Surat Thani. Nachat was found walking along the street with cuts and abrasions to his face.

Patong Police late yesterday confirmed they had arrested a second man for the killing, taken into custody in front of the Tops convenience store on Sirirat Rd.

Police have yet to name the second suspect arrested, but did confirm that the knife used in the stabbing had been seized as evidence, as was the white shirt worn by the second suspect at the time of the killing.

Both suspects were being held at Patong Police Station.

Officers have pressed a charge of killing others with intent, police confirmed.
Telemedicine scheme for Thais abroad

BANGKOK: The Ministry of Public Health has announced it will provide telemedicine services to about a million Thais living abroad under its universal healthcare scheme, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday (Dec 27).

health

By Bangkok Post

Friday 29 December 2023 08:30 AM

Cholnan. Photo: Bangkok Post

Mr Cholnan said the policy would allow all Thais access to medical treatment regardless of location, reports the Bangkok Post.

He said the ministry has been working with the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to consider establishing a telemedicine consultant service for those abroad who dont have access to universal healthcare but who should have the right, Mr Cholnan said.

During the initial phase, the ministry will conduct a pilot test with Thai monks living in India, working with a medical team based in Bodhgaya to care for the monks.

A similar concept will be applied to other countries, which could be done under international law.

The telemedicine service will be operated under the NHSO, Mr Cholnan said.

We have around one million people who live abroad. Some of them do not have a chance to have medical services. The telemedicine service will help them access better medical healthcare and have primary care by doctors, he said.

The ministry will work with Thai ambassadors overseas to make a list of pharmacy shops that can provide over-the-counter drugs in each country so Thai patients can purchase drugs after being diagnosed by doctors via the telemedicine service.

Apart from India, the ministry aims to introduce the service in South Korea, Israel, the United States and Japan, he said.

In another development, the ministry announced its success in administering 1.3 million doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to women aged 11-20 within one month.

Mr Cholnan said another success for the ministry is the policy of B30-plus, which is operated under the concept of One Card for All.

He said people holding the universal healthcare card, known as the gold card, can access any medical services from any hospital under the scheme in four provinces during the first phase. The four provinces are Roi-Et, Phrae, Phetchaburi and Narathiwat.

The ministry also plans to introduce technology to 799 hospitals, turning them into smart hospitals next year.
Egypt says the proposal for forming a Palestinian government in Gaza and the West Bank, as outlined in the Egyptian three-phase ceasefire initiative, is exclusively a Palestinian matter.

20:00 South Africa today filed an application instituting proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the "Genocide Convention") in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Application: "Acts and omissions by Israel... are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent... to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group" and that "the conduct of Israel - through its State organs, State agents, and other persons and entities acting on its instructions or under its direction, control or influence- in relation to Palestinians in Gaza - is in violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

South Africa, which ended a brutal apartheid system in 1992, has been at the forefront of opposing the Israeli war on Gaza.

In late November, South African lawmakers voted in favour of closing Israels embassy and cutting diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of war crimes and "genocide" in Gaza

Earlier in November, the South African government recalled all its diplomats from Israel to "signal its concern" over the situation in Gaza

19:00 Al-Azhar announced on Friday that the fourth aid convoy organized by its Zakat and Charity House set off to the Rafah border crossing to deliver much-needed relief to Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The convoy consists of 50 giant trucks carrying approximately 1,000 tons of medical supplies, food, clean water, living necessities, and large quantities of blankets, quilts, and mattresses.

This brings the total number of trucks launched by Al-Azhar that have entered the Gaza Strip to 125, carrying nearly 2,000 tons of relief aid.

People from 70 countries donated to the campaign, including Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, Australia, Italy, Spain, Britain, India, Iraq, Morocco, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Pakistan, Qatar, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Malaysia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Argentina, and Tunisia.

"This is needed due to the continued suffering of the Palestinian people and the worsening conditions, with the continuation of the Israeli aggression and the bombing of every place in Gaza for more than 80 days amid a humanitarian and health disaster that is increasing day by day.

To donate: visit baitzakat.org.eg

18:00 Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), described Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza as "the monstrosity of our century," in a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday.

"Israel is bombing areas of Gaza it had designated as "safe". It is wiping out entire families, making countless children orphans & forcing countless men & women to survive their offspring. Each story is excruciating," Albanese said.

Albanese was commenting on a post by another X user which carried a video depicting a Palestinian father placing a pack of biscuits into the hands of his dead son.

I went to get you these biscuits, son. Keep them! Take them with you! the grief-stricken father tells his dead boy in the video.

The initial post explained: "His little son asked him for something sweet. He risked the dangers, leaving his home to cross Gaza to find something sweet for his little boy. He came home to find an Israeli missile had taken his son and wife."

The family had sought refuge in Khan Younis in southern Gaza after the Israeli army told people to evacuate for "their safety.

Israel is bombing areas of Gaza it had designated as "safe". It is wiping out entire families, making countless children orphans & forcing countless men & women to survive their offspring. Each story is excruciating.



"The monstruosity of our century". https://t.co/qE1gVp5CeF  Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) December 29, 202

"Yes: what Israel is doing to the Palestinians, especially in Gaza, is "the monstrosity of our century," she added in another post on Friday.

"Western complacency is turning into complicity."

17:30 A displaced Palestinian child insists on putting his cat first despite the scarcity of food in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The boy ran from Israeli attacks in Beni Sahila near Khan Younis in southern Gaza and brought his cat with him to a refugee camp.

He insists on finding food for his cat before finding something to feed himself :)

A displaced Palestinian child in Gaza brings his cat to the refuge camp, even though he struggles to feed himself. pic.twitter.com/XlvvCVx2m1  Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 29, 202

17:00 The Israeli army has added a seventh brigade to its military campaign in Khan Younis in southern Gaza amid fierce Palestinian resistance and rising casualties among its soldiers in recent days.

Last week, Israel pulled Battalion 13 in its Golani Brigade, an Israeli elite infantry from combat in northern Gaza after the elite infantry brigade, took 40 percent casualties in personnel and gear according to reports.

Also on Friday, the Israeli army confirmed on Friday that Israeli soldiers killed three of their comrades who raised white flags after escaping captivity in Gaza on the 15th of December.

"The soldiers carried out the correct measure based on their judgement because they believed that these men were Hamas fighters who wanted to ambush them," said the Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

The army said 21 of its soldiers were injured in battles in the last 24 hours.



Israeli soldiers carry the flag-draped casket of Staff Sgt. Birhanu Kassie during his funeral at Mt. Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. AP

16:00 The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said at least 21,507 people were killed and 55,915 people injured since the start of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip nearly 12 weeks ago.

The figure includes 187 fatalities over the past 24 hours, added the ministry in a statement.

Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings and homes have displaced more than 80 percent of Gaza's 2.4 million people.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said that 308 people were killed and 1,095 others injured while seeking shelter at UN sites during the war, UNRWA said on social media platform X.

15:00 The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Friday that an aid convoy came under fire by the Israeli military without causing any casualties.

"Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army," UNRWA's director in Gaza, Tom White, wrote on social media platform X.

"Our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage," he said.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.

14:00 Israeli security forces have prevented Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem from performing the Friday Prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque for the 11th straight week.

However, in defiance, hundreds of Palestinians performed the prayer on the pavements of streets in the vicinity of the third holiest site in Islam.

Palestinians perform the Friday Prayer as close as possible to Aqsa on 29 December 2023. Photo: AF

Israeli forces prevented many journalists from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque by sieging the Wadi Al-Jouz neighbourhood in east Jerusalem

As part of their actions to stop journalists from covering updates in the occupied Jerusalem, Israeli Occupation forces are preventing them from reaching Al-Aqsa mosque by sieging Wadi al-Joz neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/9bwYhdrGKm  Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 29, 2023

Since the start of its war on Gaza on 7 October, Israel has carried out a deadly campaign of repression on Palestinians in the occupied territories, killing nearly 300 Palestinians in raids on various towns in the West Bank and arresting more than 4,000.

Since the start of the year, before the start of the war in Gaza, Israel has carried deadly attacks on Palestinians in the occupied territories, killing more than 250, and intensified its efforts to Judaize east Jerusalem.

13:00 Head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan said Thursday the proposal for forming a Palestinian government in Gaza and the West Bank, as outlined in the Egyptian three-phase ceasefire initiative, is exclusively a Palestinian matter.

Rashwan said the formation of the Palestinian government has already been discussed among all Palestinian parties.

He added that the proposal entails three successive and linked stages ending with a permanent ceasefire, stressing that the proposal was drafted after considering the perspective of all concerned parties.

The initiative aims to reach an understanding among these parties in a bid to prevent Palestinian bloodshed, stop the aggression against Gaza, and restore peace and stability to the region, added Rashwan.

He noted that a detailed draft of the proposal will be formulated and declared once Egypt receives the responses from the concerned parties.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh welcomed the Egyptian proposal during a weekly cabinet meeting in Ramallah, stressing Egypts keenness on Palestinian unity.

He noted, however, that any regional or international arrangement should pass only through Palestinian legitimacy, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Egyptian officials have recently held separate talks in Cairo with delegations from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad on ceasefire and prisoner-captive swap efforts

A Hamas delegation is set to visit Cairo on Friday for more talks on the Egyptian proposal.

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."

12:30 Israeli bombardment hit densely populated areas in both central and southern Gaza on Friday morning.

In central Gaza, medical sources reported that 20 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shelling targeting homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp, while 14 people were killed in the Maghazi camp.

In the south, an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Rafah killed 21 and wounded 50, while airstrikes killed 11 people and injured several more in the Fakhari area, east of Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, over the past two days, Israeli shelling near Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis killed 41 people including "displaced persons seeking shelter," the Palestinian Red Crescent said on Thursday.

The UN humanitarian office said an estimated 100,000 more displaced people had arrived in the already-teeming southern border city of Rafah in recent days following the intensification of fighting around Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis.

UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths described on social media what he called "an impossible situation for the people of Gaza, and for those trying to help them."

"You think getting aid into Gaza is easy? Think again," he wrote Friday on X

You think getting aid into Gaza is easy? Think again. pic.twitter.com/CH4GuY6XUb  Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) December 29, 20

Israel has refused to allow the unsustainable entry of adequate aid to 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza despite a recent United Nations Security Council resolution mandating the entry of all aid to the strip.

Israel's aerial bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed at least 21,320 people and injured more than 55,000, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

The Israeli army says 168 of its soldiers have been killed inside Gaza.



Children inspect the damage following Israeli bombardment in Rafah on the southern Gaza Strip on December 29, 2023. AFP

12:15 The Rafah border crossing received Thursday 12 wounded Palestinians and 10 of their companions coming from hospitals in Gaza to receive medical treatment in Egypt.

Egypt has received hundreds of wounded Palestinians for treatment in its hospitals since the start of the war.

12:00 In a recorded speech on Thursday evening, Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Ezzdin Qassam Brigades, said that Qassam fighters targeted more than 825 Israeli military vehicles since the start of the war on 7 October, including army tanks, bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers.

He added, that Qassam fighters targeted three helicopters with anti-aircraft missiles in the last two days.

Speaking for the first time in a week, Abu Obeida said that Hamas would not agree to any prisoner exchange deals before the Israeli aggression was halted.

There is no deal in the war, and no exchange deals that we can accept before stopping the aggression against our people completely, he said.

Abu Obeida also stressed that the priority of the resistance in the Gaza Strip is stopping the aggression against our people, and no priority comes before that.

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IPS officers condole

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IMPHAL, Dec 29: The IPS Officers Association, Manipur Chapter has condoled the demise of retired IPS officer S Dinokumar Singh on December 23, 2023.

The IPS Officers Association, Manipur Chapter held a condolence meeting today, according to a press release issued by its general secretary.

The IPS officers observed two-minute silence to pay homage to the departed soul and also shared the grief and sorrow of the bereaved family.

They also prayed that the departed soul may rest in eternal peace.

May the Almighty God bestow strength, courage and perseverance on the family to overcome this tragic loss, the press release added.


An American warship shot down a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired Thursday by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the US military said.

The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Israeli-linked vessels in the vital Red Sea shipping lane, demanding Israel stop its aggression on the Palestinians and allow all humanitarian aid to enter the besieged Gaza Strip.

"The USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Houthis," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement, referring to a guided-missile destroyer.

"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 on international shipping by the Houthis since mid-October.

The attacks are endangering a transit route that carries up to 12 percent of global trade, prompting the United States to set up a multinational naval task force earlier this month to protect Red Sea shipping.

In addition to US military action, the Treasury Department unveiled sanctions Thursday against a network involved in financing Houthi attacks.

The Treasury said it had sanctioned the head of the Currency Exchangers Association in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, along with three exchanges in Yemen and Turkey responsible for "facilitating the flow of Iranian financial assistance" to the Houthis.

The mounting death toll in the besieged strip has sparked widespread anger in the Middle East and provided an impetus for attacks by armed groups across the region that are opposed to Israel.

US forces in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly come under fire from drone and rocket attacks that Washington says are being carried out by Iran-backed armed groups.

On Monday, a drone attack wounded three American personnel in northern Iraq, after which the US military struck three sites it said were used by Iran-backed forces in the country.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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Despite government initiatives to protect the girl child, the newborn daughters are still left to bear the brunt of utter negligence even by their mothers, which was evident at East Burdwan and Bankura in the last three days.

On 19 November, a housewife from Belerhalt locality in Purbasthali PS area gave birth to a girl child at the Kalna sub-divisional hospital. After the baby and the mother were found to be fit, the hospital authorities released them. Assistant medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Gautam Biswas said, The mother, for unknown reason, vanished after handing over her daughter to another patient. Despite repeated searches, she couldnt be traced.

The matter was informed to the police and the baby was shifted to the SNCU (special newborn care unit) of the Kalna Super Specialty Hospital on 24 November. The SNCU, on 27 December discharged the fit baby but the authorities found no takers.

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The hospital finally handed over the baby to the East Burdwan child welfare committee.

At the Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Payel Singh gave birth to a girl child on last 20 December. Payel was found hanging from the top stair room of the hospital on 25 December. The deceaseds mother Jamuna Singh said, My daughter was depressed with her newborn baby.
The finance ministry has sent compliance show cause notices to nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets service providers, including Binance. It also told the information technology ministry to block their URLs for operating illegally in the country without complying with the local money laundering laws.

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), Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

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.

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The nine entities are Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global, and Bitfinex.

Director FIU IND has written to Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block the URLs of said entities that are operating illegally without complying with the provisions of the PML Act in India.

It is to be noted that the 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 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.

Ministry of Finance said till date, 31 VDA SPs have registered with FIU IND. 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.
Indias 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.

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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 worlds 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.
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.

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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.
To ensure a fair inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicines supplied to Delhi government hospitals, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj recommended an immediate suspension of Delhis Health Secretary SB Deepak Kumar and the then Director General Health Services Dr. Nutan Mundeja to the lieutenant governor and Central government.

Addressing a press conference here, the minister demanded strict action by the LG and the Central government against Delhis health secretary and then DGHS.

Bharadwaj said when he assumed office of the health minister in March 2023; he ordered an audit of medicines, equipment, and consumables to the health secretary and then DGHS. However, despite repeated reminders, nothing has been done.

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He further said in October, a complaint was lodged with the LG through Chief Minister Kejriwal in the matter against the health secretary and the other officials due to their obstructionist approach. Still, no action was taken by either the LG or the Centre.

Bharadwaj stated that after the disappointment from the LGs office, the government knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court to initiate action on this sensitive issue.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Vigilance of the Delhi government urged the Central government to conduct a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the supply of suspected spurious drugs to city government hospitals.

In a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Directorate of Vigilance on Thursday said, Assigning the matter of reported supply of not of standard quality drugs to hospitals of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to CBI.
Today marks the birth anniversary of the legendary Bollywood actor, Rajesh Khanna, who continues to be remembered as the First Superstar of Indian cinema. Born on December 29, 1942, Rajesh Khanna left an indelible mark with his charismatic presence and stellar performances. On this special occasion, lets take a nostalgic trip through his top five films that have stood the test of time.

1. Anand (1971):

Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Anand remains one of Rajesh Khannas most iconic films. In this heartwarming tale, he played the role of Anand, a terminally ill patient who brings joy and love into the lives of those around him. Rajesh Khannas nuanced performance and his on-screen chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan made Anand a timeless classic.

2. Bawarchi (1972):

Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Bawarchi showcased Rajesh Khanna in a unique role as the magical cook who transforms a dysfunctional family with his culinary skills and wisdom. The film was a delightful blend of humor, emotion, and social commentary.

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3. Namak Haraam (1973):

Collaborating once again with Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Rajesh Khanna delivered a powerhouse performance in Namak Haraam. The film explored the dynamics of friendship and corporate ethics, with Khanna portraying the role of a labor leader. His on-screen camaraderie with Amitabh Bachchan was widely appreciated.

4. Amar Prem (1972):

Directed by Shakti Samanta, Amar Prem showcased Rajesh Khannas versatility as an actor. The film, known for its soulful music and memorable dialogues, featured Khanna in the role of a lonely man who forms a deep connection with a woman, played by Sharmila Tagore. The emotional depth of his performance resonated with audiences.

5. Safar (1970):

In this emotional drama directed by Asit Sen, Rajesh Khanna played a pivotal role alongside Sharmila Tagore and Feroz Khan. Safar explored themes of love, sacrifice, and destiny. Khannas portrayal of a terminally ill patient showcased his ability to bring depth and emotion to his characters.

As we celebrate the birth anniversary of the original Bollywood superstar, Rajesh Khannas cinematic legacy continues to inspire and entertain audiences. His memorable performances in these timeless classics ensure that he remains etched in the hearts of movie enthusiasts across generations. Lets remember and cherish the magic he brought to the silver screen.

Also Read: Twinkle Khanna turns 49: Celebrating her fop 5 iconic films
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj lashed out at the Central government for not including the tableaux of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-ruled states, Delhi and Punjab, for the upcoming Republic Day Parade 2024 accusing the ruling BJP of vendetta.

Addressing a press conference over the issue on Friday, the senior AAP leader said the Delhis tableau was in line with the topic suggested by the Centre, Viksit Bharat, yet was rejected without assigning any reason.

Delhi had proposed to portray the education and health model of Delhi with mohalla clinics and government schools which was rejected by the Centre.

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The minister said the rejection was no coincidence, but a revenge of the saffron party against the AAP governments as not only Delhi but the tableau of AAP-ruled Punjab was also rejected.

He said the tableaux were designed on the concept suggested by the Centre. If there were any changes in the proposed theme, suggestions could have been given. As such there was no competition in the selection process, he added.

Bharadwaj recalled in 2022, Delhis design with the theme Resolve 75 was rejected at the second round of meetings while in 2023 too Delhis design, which was based on the theme of Nari Shakti, was rejected.

On Thursday, 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 reflects on the dirty politics being pursued by the BJP while the BJP-ruled states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are consistently given an opportunity at the Republic-Day parade. 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 a chance to participate in the parade.

She had said, The health and education models are a matter of pride for Delhi. The government and the people of Delhi prioritise education. The think tank of the Central government, namely NITI Aayog, has stated that Delhi 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. Similarly, when Americas former first lady Melania Trump also came to see Delhi government schools.
As all arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit today are complete entire Ayodhya has turned into a fortress with security personnel taking position at all the places where he is expected to visit.

During his visit, the prime minister will inaugurate the new international airport and re-modelled railway station along with other development projects worth over Rs 15,000 crore.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday inspected the arrangements at the airport and the railway station along with checking the 8-kilometre long road between airport and railway station where the PM will hold a roadshow.

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CM Yogi also visited Hanumangarhi and Ramlala and prayed for the well-being and prosperity of the state.

It is noteworthy that today the history of Ayodhya will be written in golden letters.

Modi is expected to reach Ayodhya at 11 am.

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. He will also dedicate several other railway projects to the nation.

At around 12:15 PM, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya Airport. At around 1 PM, the Prime Minister will participate in a public programme where he will inaugurate, delicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 15,000 crore in the state. These include projects worth about Rs 11,100 crore for the development of Ayodhya and its surrounding areas and projects worth about Rs 4600 crore related to other projects across Uttar Pradesh.

After attending two programmes, he will leave for Delhi at around 4 pm.

Meanwhile, the PM informed through a post on X that the new airport in Ayodhya would be named Maharishi Valmiki International Airport.

On the other hand, security personnel conducted a rehearsal on Friday ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The PMs fleet left from Gate No. 3 of Ayodhya Airport and reached Ayodhya Railway Station via Dharampath and Rampath. There were more than 50 vehicles in the fleet. During this time, the route through which the fleet passed, including the highway, was evacuated.

Barricades have been installed on alongside the road on Dharampath and Rampath. People were not allowed to come out on the streets. Security personnel are deployed at the airport and railway station in large numbers. Vigilance through drones is being tested, and a rehearsal was conducted by flying drones at all the venues where the PM is slated to go.

Drones were flown from Lata Mangeshkar Chowk to Ram Path and Dharampath.

On the other hand, Railway Board Chairperson Jai Verma also reached Ayodhya Dham station, while the first Amrit Bharat train rake has reached platform number one of Ayodhya Dham Railway Junction. This train will go to Darbganga from Ayodhya.

Meanwhile, before the prime ministers scheduled arrival in Ayodhya, UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya conducted public relations and cleanliness campaign at Tedhi Bazaar intersection of Ayodhya Dham on Friday morning and invited local people to greet the PM and attend his roadshow tomorrow.
The Congress is likely to begin talks with the parties from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on seat sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the first week of January, party sources said on Friday.

Notably, several parties of the INDIA have already stressed on the need to finalise on seat sharing at the earliest. The INDIA is an umbrella group of the Opposition parties formed in July this year to take on the ruling BJP in the general elections.

The grand old party has constituted a National Alliance Committee (NAC) with Mukul Wasnik as the convenor in view of the Lok Sabha polls. Last week, Wasnik held the maiden meeting of the panel.

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We will discuss with senior leaders of the Pradesh Congress Committees (on seat sharing). We will take their views and after that what needs to be done, we will make a decision, he had said.

Taking it forward, the convenor of the panel on Friday held a meeting with the leaders of the partys Bihar and Maharashtra unit here.

We discussed the political situation of Maharashtra. High command will take the decision on the discussions held (in the meeting). Our only duty is to oust BJP, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole told reporters after the meeting.

He added that seat sharing in the state should be based on merit.

Earlier, on seat sharing, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had said all the leaders of INDIA alliance will work together on seat sharing and accordingly all the issues will be resolved.
Everyone knows Angelo Rabelo in the Pantanal, the largest freshwater wetland in the world. Around 30 years ago, they remember him wearing a military uniform, when he used to command the Environmental Military Police of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), training almost a hundred park rangers. Today, the retired colonel is the leader of the Homem Pantaneiro Institute, a civil society organization that protects the ecosystem, manages protected areas and supports local communities as they preserve the natural wealth of their territories.

This is an extremely biodiverse space, lying between Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. Its also home to the largest jaguar refuge in the world. For the former colonel, changing hats wasnt difficult: Ive been combatting poaching and illegal trafficking of these felines all my life, in one way or another.

Colonel Rabelo graduated as a brigade officer in the Brazilian Armed Forces and earned a degree in Law from Dom Bosco Catholic University. He also got a masters degree in Public Security Management from the Center for Advanced Security Studies. In a video interview with EL PAIS, he recalls how hes been implementing sustainability programs for decades, in both the public and private sectors.

His experience in the environmental field led him to meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a few days before the COP28 was held in Dubai. He brought together an expert from each ecosystem in Brazil. He wanted to understand them all, he didnt just want to talk about the Amazon. He wanted to understand Brazil in all its richness, he explains.

One of the things that Colonel Rabelo lobbied for was that the Pantanal receive the same attention that the Amazon gets. And that work not only be done on reforestation, but also on the recovery of biodiversity.

The former colonel  and the entire scientific and environmental community  unabashedly celebrates the change of government in Brazil. I would say that were living in an exceptional moment, with the Lula administration, Minister [of the Environment] Marina [Silva] and the governors. The one from Mato Grosso do Sul, for example, is a biologist. Everything is changing, he adds. For Rabelo, during Jair Bolsonaros mandate (2018-2022) many [environmental] programs were violently destroyed. He says that now is a great time to recover what was lost.

Maria Adelaida Correa  corporate director of ISA Sustainability  and Angelo Rabelo, during their interview with EL PAIS. Andres Felipe Restrepo Palacio

The carbon market: a way to preserve the jaguar

Among Rabelos many priorities is that the Pantanal continues to be the largest refuge for jaguars in the world. Of all the third-largest felines on the planet, half live in this territory, but fires and deforestation seriously threaten their sanctuary. In the 1980s and 1990s, the main threats to them were animal-trafficking and poaching. Today, however, the main problem is the presence of landowners and ranchers, who see the jaguar as a danger to their livestock. This is why the Colonel  as hes known in Brazil  has been focusing more and more on maintaining a dialogue with residents and farm owners. We go from farm to farm, proposing efficient technology that already exists, to reduce these conflicts and not wipe out the small population [of jaguars] that remains, he explains.

This species lives in 18 countries in the Americas. It tends to be at home in ecosystems that are less than 6,500 feet above sea level, such as tropical forests, mountain forests, tropical savannas and mangroves. Due to human intervention, jaguars have disappeared from 46% of their original territory and are extinct in countries such as El Salvador and Uruguay, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In the rest of the continent, the species is in a state of near threat, with its populations decreasing. This is according to data from the Red List of Threatened Species, released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Its within this framework of challenges described by Colonel Rabelo that the Jaguar Connection project emerged in Brazil. This initiative is promoted by the ISA Group, a Colombian energy company that has a presence throughout the region. The program supports the mitigation of retaliatory hunting by implementing a human-feline coexistence plan. The goal is to work towards a healthy coexistence between rural communities and wildlife. In addition, the firm provides technical and economic support to the best forestry initiatives throughout the Jaguar Corridor, to be able to issue and market certified carbon credits.

Recently, the ISA Group announced the creation of the REDD+ Project Serra do Amolar, in the Brazilian Pantanal UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Its the first area to be certified with more than 231,000 approved carbon credits, after an audit and review process was conducted by VERRA, the main carbon standard for voluntary markets. These credits will be sold internationally.

Maria Adelaida Correa  the corporate director of Sustainability at the ISA Group  emphasizes the relevance of the jaguar for ecosystems. The jaguar is an umbrella species. That is, the fact that the jaguar continues to live in its ecosystem is a sign that the system is healthy, that the food chain that follows it is present.

Angelo Robelo, at the Jaguar Connection headquarters, in Medellin. Andres Felipe Restrepo Palacio

When asked about how to guarantee that the economic benefits of this carbon market remain in the local communities, Coronel is blunt: Part of the carbon markets arent working correctly, its true. But we cannot discredit this enormous opportunity it would be irresponsible. Climate change is coming at us hard and this is a great opportunity.

For Rabelo, environmental education is very important, but its not enough. The market had to get involved in the protection of ecosystems. Of course, companies intend to profit, but theyre also going to contribute to society, he concludes.

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Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the amendment in the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme 2018 which will enable providing compensation to the victims of mob violence and lynching.

The proposal was submitted by the Delhi Government after a delay of five years as the Supreme Court in 2018 had directed the state governments to prepare such a scheme in one month, as per the LG office.

According to the amendment in the scheme, the definition of victim has been amended to include guardian or legal heir of a person who has suffered loss or injury or death as a result of the offence including the offence of mob violence and mob lynching and interim relief would be paid to the victim(s) or the next of the kin of the deceased within 30 days of the incident, it said on Friday.

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On July 17, 2018, the apex court in the matter of Tehseen Poonawala vs Union of India and others (WP (C) No. 754/2016) had directed that the state governments shall prepare a lynching/mob violence compensation scheme in the light of the provisions of Section 357A of the CrPC within one month of the judgement, the LG office said.

The verdict had given the guidelines that in the scheme for computation of compensation, the state governments shall give due regard to the nature of bodily injury, psychological injury and loss of earnings including loss of opportunities of employment and education and expenses incurred on account of legal, medical and other sufferings due to mob lynching or violence, it said

The Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme, 2018 was notified with the approval of the then LG vide notification dated June 27,2019, but the issue of compensation for lynching and mob violence was not covered in it, it added.
The Directorate of Vigilance of the Delhi government has urged the Central government for a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter of supply of suspected spurious drugs to city government hospitals.

In a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Directorate of Vigilance on Thursday said, Assigning the matter of reported supply of not of standard quality drugs to hospitals of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to CBI.

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 ie 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, read the letter.

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It further 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 may be mentioned that Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI inquiry over the matter last week.

Directing the Chief Secretary for action, the LG had said, These drugs procured by spending huge budgetary resources are a grave threat to public health and safety and have the potential of endangering lives of people. Prima facie, apart from CPA-Delhi Health Services (DHS), GNCTD there are suppliers, manufacturers situated in other states and Drug Controllers in those states associated in this whole exercise.

The move came after the Drug Controller under Health Department of Delhi, on the basis of complaints regarding sub-standard medicines being supplied in Delhi government hospitals, randomly collected the drug samples from IHBAS, Lok Nayak and Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospitals and sent them to the approved government and private labs for testing,

Out of 43 samples that were sent to government labs, three samples failed the test as 12 reports are still pending. Further, out of another 43 samples sent to private labs, five samples failed, as per the communique issued by the LG office.
With the shutters coming down early in the New Year on the landmark Bur Dubai Shiva temple complex in Dubais Meena Bazar area, devotees who have for decades thronged the complex, which also houses a gurdwara, are praying that authorities of the emirate will take steps to preserve the sanctity of the premises, by converting it into a museum complex for members of the faith.

Operations of the temple and gurdwara are being shifted to the Hindu temple Dubai in Jebel Ali village, and authorities of the Sindhi Guru Darbar temple complex, where the Bur Dubai Shiva temple is located, have put up notices to say operations will cease from 3 January 2024. The notice says: This is to inform all our devotees with effect from Wednesday, January 3 2024, this temple will be shifted to our new Hindu Temple, Jebel Ali.

This has provoked reactions from members of the Hindu and Sikh communities in the emirate who have been visiting the complex since the 1950s, and have a great sentimental attachment to it.

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Many members of the community, while appreciating the construction of the grand complex at Jebel Ali, feel that the landmark Bur Dubai temple should be preserved in some form.

Local newspapers in Dubai have reported on the strong emotional ties of the Indian community with the Bur Dubai temple. The Khaleej Times quoted Punit Mehta, a long-time resident, as saying, It has been 20 years since I have been coming to the Bur Dubai temple. The visits, he said, are engrained in my memory.

Others echo these sentiments and point out that the Bur Dubai temple has been an intrinsic part of their personal and spiritual heritage. It is estimated that at least 5,000 people visit the temple every weekend, while the number of pilgrims goes up to 100,000 during festivals. The temple complex is also hugely popular with visitors from India to Dubai and they too are praying it will be preserved in some form.

The new Hindu temple at Jebel Ali was inaugurated in October 2022, and was built alongside a gurdwara which was opened in 2012.
A day after an Appellate Court in Qatar commuted the death sentence of eight former Indian Navy personnel, the government on Friday said it would be discussing the next possible steps in the case with its legal team as well as the family members of the eight people.

The interests of Indians and their family members are our foremost concern, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

He said the sentences of the eight Indians have been reduced but he could not share any more information in the matter. I dont have any additional information to share until we see the detailed judgment. We would urge you again not to engage in speculation considering the confidential and sensitive nature of the case, he added.

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Asked if the government could request Qatar to extradite the eight Indians to serve their sentence here under the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners Treaty between the two countries, the spokesperson confirmed that there was such a pact between the two countries but was not sure if it was still in force. I have no knowledge if the treaty is still in force and whether Qatar has ratified it, he added.

The court in Qatar had yesterday reduced the sentence of the eight Indian nationals who were on death row in the Arab nation in an alleged case of espionage.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was on Friday unanimously elected as the JD(U) president after senior party leader Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh stepped down and proposed Kumars name for the post.

The party lauded Kumar for bringing together opposition parties and spearheading the demand for a caste census.

Kumar had reached the national capital on Thursday to attend the partys national executive and national council meetings.

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The Bihar government has, however, remained tight-lipped about the development with ministers and party officials denying the reports.

Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said Singh was working fine.

Currently, Lalan Singh is the Janata Dal (United) national president. If he is already the national chief, why would such a thing come up? He is working fine, he said earlier in the day.

Choudhary further conveyed that the matter would be discussed within the party, addressing any potential concerns raised by the agenda during the meeting.

Senior party leader K C Tyagi also emphasised that the party meetings were regular one where alliances in states would also be discussed.

Today, the JD(U) national executive meeting took place wherein discussions were held on the current political scenario and financial environment of the countryand on seat sharing, he said.

Commenting on the matter, Singh said, The national executive is a regular meeting of the JD(U). There are meetings of the national executive often. Nitish Kumar is our supreme leader and the JD(U) is one and will always remain one.

Asked if any changes are on the cards keeping the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in mind, Tyagi said, All these things are internal matters of the party. They are neither commented upon nor statements are made publicly.

The meeting comes just days after the crucial INDIA alliance meeting in Delhi. The JD(U), which is part of the alliance, will now be getting into hectic parleys with the Congress on the alliance combination for the state.

Amidst this many JD(U) leaders are making a pitch for Kumar to lead the INDIA bloc, even as Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal publicly announced Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the prospective prime ministerial candidate.

At the national executive meeting venue, posters featuring Kumar read Pradesh ne pehchana, ab desh bhi pehchanega (The state of Bihar recognised him, now the nation will) had been put up.
Pro-Kannada activists staged a protest at Bengalurus Freedom Park, demanding the immediate release of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists detained by police.

The protest was also attended by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers. They demanded the immediate release of KRV State President TA Narayan Gowda. Earlier in the day, some protesters were released by the Bengaluru police and were given a grand welcome by the group.

AAP leader Mukhyamantri Chandru claimed that the pro-Kannada fighters did nothing wrong and only did what the government should have done at the first place.

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What did pro-Kannada fighters do wrong? Robbed or murdered? Shop name boards in English and Hindi have been removed. Our pro-Kannada fighters have done what the government should haveIf pro-Kannada fighters are not released, then we will teach the government a lesson in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Mukhyamantri Chandru said.

Bengaluru Police, on Wednesday, detained KRV members, 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 states 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 TA 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.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress Chief DK Shivakumar said on Thursday that everyone has a right to protest in a democracy but taking law into ones own hands cant be tolerated after pro-Kannada protesters went on a rampage in Bengaluru.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Shivakumar said, In a democracy, everyone has the right to protest. We cant tolerate anyone taking the law into their hands. I am disturbed that they (pro-Kannada protesters) vandalised boards and establishments etc.

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.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday said the spread of Type 2 diabetes mellitus is assuming epidemic proportions in India.

Earlier, this disease was confined to the affluent and in cities but now its prevalence in rural areas is alarming, he said.

The Union Minister was addressing the gathering after launching the Rural Diabetes Prevention and Control Campaign in village Purana Ramnagar of Varanasi district, a Village Adoption Program under the aegis of Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI)  Uttar Pradesh Chapter.

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Terming the fast spread of Diabetes in the villages as a matter of grave concern, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also a Professor of Medicine and a renowned Diabetologist, said this has prompted a mass campaign for the prevention of the disease in rural areas.

It was found most appropriate to make a beginning from the auspicious city of ancient and holy place of Varanasi, he said.

The disease, hitherto identified as afflicting mostly the rich and elite due to their sedentary lifestyle and a phenomenon prevalent largely in cities, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the probable causes of its upsurge in rural India is a result of commonality of eating habits such as rising penchant for fast foods, more automation in agriculture and a resultant lack of physical activity.

Lauding the efforts of RSSDI for taking this initiative towards diabetes prevention and management in rural India, he applauded the efforts quoting ICMR-INDIAB Study, which says UP has 18 per cent of its population in pre-diabetes stage.

Such a large population, on the verge of being diabetic, can only be prevented if we start working for prevention in villages in the vicinity of big cities and progressing fast to urbanization. The idea of choosing Ramnagar for this initiative seems appropriate, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh also appreciated the efforts done by the RSSDI UP Chapter by adopting four villages in Barabanki in 2019 where peoples lives are better and diabetes control is improved.

This encourages us to continue efforts in the same direction, in fact, in a more intensive manner, he said.
Bangladesh has had two elec- tions since the system of a non-partisan caretaker gov- ernment overseeing elections was abolished. One was boycotted by most of the parties except the allies of the ruling Awami League, and the other was participated in by all the registered and unregistered parties. In reality, neither could be termed par- ticipatory, as voters were practically disenfranchised on both occasions. As we approach the third consecutive election to be held under the AL administration  which has so far been a restaging of 2014, due to the boycott by opposition parties  one question that worries everyone is: how will the world react?

It is clear why Awami League is so desperate to make 7 January 2024 look like a genuine competition, with- out any real competitors. Allowing aspirants of ruling party tickets to run as independents against ruling party nominees has already resulted in numerous bloody, internecine con- flicts. Discontent among the ruling partys allies, too, makes the future of its Grand Alliance shaky. But appar- ently, none of these potential risks matter anymore.

Costly decisions by the party and the alliance to make elections appear competitive is one thing, but coercing voters in order to increase their pres- ence at the polling booths is another. Disturbing reports of vulnerable peo- ple, who rely on social security bene- fits, being warned that staying home on election day would result in their allowances being cut off are quite shocking.

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One may ignore such threats if theyre coming from ALs union-level leaders (though they play a crucial role in preparing beneficiaries list and verifying them), but hearing this threat from a member of the ruling partys advisory council and a party candidate indicates that its part of party policy. There has been no official statement so far from AL leadership distancing itself from the statement made by former water resources min- ister Ramesh Chandra Sen.

Nobody is denying the fact that the Awami League government has expanded the social security net quite significantly over the last 15 years. According to the official statistics of the finance ministry, the number of beneficiaries in the 2022-23 fiscal year stood at 128.5 lakh. But even more intriguing is the fact that coercing women is much easier than men, as the government pays primary and secondary students stipends to their mothers, and their number is even higher than that of beneficiaries of social security allowances.

Though reports of political nepo- tism and corruption by party func- tionaries at the grassroots level are not uncommon, these state benefits are citizens rightful entitlement and not subject to their political beliefs or affil- iations. But using these social security programmes as a tool to force people to go to the voting centres is unprece- dented, unethical, and deplorable. If the government wanted to make vot- ing mandatory as part of its commit- ment to democracy and to strengthen democratic institutions, it could have legislated necessary laws. But this is not the path that it has taken, despite its overwhelming majority in parlia- ment during the past three terms.

In another development, police have now stepped in for the mission to increase voter presence by asking ward councillors of Dhakas city cor- porations to encourage residents of their respective areas to go to polling centres. One may ask, has it ever been a norm for the police to be entrusted by the Election Commission, or by any other authority, to put so much effort into increasing voter participation?

Clearly, this is an instance of par- tisan behaviour by a state institution that is required to be neutral under the law. Such a partisan role to count- er the oppositions boycott campaign will in fact unnerve voters even more. And all these coercive measures are being taken for an event where voters in most constituencies will have no choice but to elect someone from Awami League, irrespective of whichever symbol they vote for.

Can this restaging of the 2014 election (with better camouflage) fool the world? A lot has been discussed and speculated about the US, espe- cially due to its threat of a visa ban. But what about the Europeans? Lets revisit the post-2014 election situa- tion. On January 16 of that year, 11 days after the one-sided election took place, the European Parliament in a resolution, among other things, said that it sincerely regrets that the par- liament and political parties did not manage to agree on an inclusive mechanism for elections, and urgent- ly calls on the government and oppo- sition to put the best interests of Bangladesh first, and to find a com- promise which would give a chance to the Bangladeshi people to express their democratic will in a representa- tive and credible way; considers that all options should be considered, including an early election if all legiti- mate political parties are willing to stand and offer voters a choice.

Given the European Parliaments latest resolution on Bangladesh (adopted on 14 September 2023) call- ing on the government to guarantee the conditions for free, fair and par- ticipatory elections in 2024, who will bet on an endorsement of this govern- ments re-election? Could the oppo- sition parties participation in the 2018 election have restored the Euro- pean MPs confidence in our ability to hold a credible election? Unfortunate- ly, the European Commissions then foreign policy chief Vice-President Federica Mogherinis statement in parliament was a depressing one. Responding to a question on 14 June 2019, she said, The EUs cooperation with Bangladesh emphasises democ- racy, human rights, development, trade relations, and labour rights. The EU closely monitors the political situ- ation in Bangladesh, including the last parliamentary elections. Unfortu- nately, violence marred the election day, and significant obstacles to a level playing field remained in place throughout the process. The EU has been pressing national authorities in Bangladesh to ensure a proper exami- nation of alleged irregularities.

Back then, calls to investigate election irregularities also came from the United Kingdom, the United States, and from a few other coun- tries. But none of these calls were heeded. Understandably, strong sup- port from two Asian neighbours, India and China, bolstered Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina so much that she was able to avert pressures from the West and others. But can the same happen for a third time? It all depends on whether Western democ- racies are willing to conduct business as usual despite their concerns being ignored.

The Daily Star/ANN.
As discussions around a second term for Donald Trump gain momentum, the prospect of a resha- ped American foreign policy looms large. The no- tion of appointing loyalists to key positions, as out-lin- ed in recent reports, sparks a debate about the impli- cations of such a move on global relations, particularly with China, NATO, and Ukraine. The suggestion that Mr Trump would surround himself with loyalists un- derscores the complex relationship between leader- ship and bureaucracy. While the desire for loyalty is understandable, it raises concerns about the potential consequences of side-lining experienced voices that might provide a more nuanced approach to foreign affairs. The risk of impulsive decisions, as witnessed in his first term, becomes even more pronounced if dissenting voices are marginalised. The idea that per- sonnel is policy brings attention to the power dynam- ics within the US national security apparatus. If Mr Trump were to have a cadre of loyalists, it could indeed expedite the implementation of his foreign policy pri- orities. However, the key question remains. At what cost will this come about? A homogenous perspective within the administration might streamline decision- making, but it could also limit the range of insights crucial for navigating the complexities of global poli- tics. Potential policy shifts, such as deploying Special Forces against Mexican cartels or cutting defence aid to Europe, signal a departure from conventional diplom- atic norms. While some argue that such bold moves could be advantageous, critics worry about the reper- cussions, both diplomatically and strategically. The de- licate balance between assertiveness and recklessness in foreign policy hangs in the balance. Mr Trumps em- phasis on trade tariffs for NATO countries failing to meet defence spending commitments raises eyebrows. This tactic, if implemented, could strain the alliance and erode the collaborative spirit that has underpin- ned international security efforts. The unpredictability of such policy changes adds an element of uncertainty for nations reliant on US support. The reported doubts among European diplomats about Mr Trumps comm- itment to NATO and fears of aid cuts to Ukraine high- light the fragility of global alliances. A second Trump term could see a recalibration of these relationships, potentially reshaping the geopolitical landscape in ways that demand adept navigation from other na- tions. The potential doomsday option paints a stark picture of a weakened system of checks and balances. The scenario where Mr Trump dismantles elements of the bureaucracy raises concerns. The international co- mmunity would undoubtedly be watching closely, with world capitals scrambling for insights. The spectre of a second term for Mr Trump brings with it a mix of antic- ipation and trepidation. While some argue that an emboldened and experienced Mr Trump might wield power more effectively, the potential risks associated with a reshaped foreign policy apparatus underscore the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between decisiveness and diplomatic finesse.

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Over the two past decades of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans rule, Turkeys approach tow- ards Israeli-Palestinian affairs has been front and centre in its foreign policy. It is, in many ways, the key to Mr Erdogans vision of where he wants to take Turkey as a geopolitical player. As two of the non-Arab states in the region, Turkey and Israel have long been fascinated with one another and have enjoyed close ties for much of their 74-year relationship, iterates Bro- okings expert A. Aydintasbas. But under Mr Erdogan, relations have been marked by angst, most often re- flecting Israeli-Palestinian tensions. For example, Mr Erdogan walked out of a panel with Mr Shimon Peres in Davos in 2009 after accusing the former Israeli pres- ident of killing children. In 2010, a Turkish aid flotilla tried to break the blockade of Gaza, leading to a dead- ly Israeli raid and years of a cold peace between the two countries. It is against this backdrop that the renorma- lisation of ties between Turkey and Israel in 2022 has taken a dramatic downturn following the 7 October attack by Hamas and Tel Avivs ongoing military oper- ations in Gaza. President Erdogan has taken a hard line against Israel ~ the two countries have recalled their ambassadors ~ and his policy stance on the Isr- aeli-Palestinian conflict marks a clear departure from the earlier Kemalist period. The portents of Ankaras position for the region are not encouraging. First, Mr Erdogans belief in the legitimacy of Hamas as a viable Palestinian actor, which is a natural outcome of his id- eological affinity for the Muslim Brotherhood, is prob- lematic. And as details of the brutality and torture by Hamas continue trickling in, Turkeys Western allies are realising he is playing a different game. Full mem- bership of the European Union is not an ambition Turkey will realise under an Islamist regime and the countrys leader knows it. He is, therefore, pushing the line that Hamas needs to be part of the political pro- cess to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue and seems to have convinced the Turkish establishment of that idea. Hamas, it should be noted, has had a presence in Tur- key and sent delegations there, after it won the Pales- tinian elections in 2006. In fact, Hamas representatives were reportedly in Turkey at the time of the 7 October attack. Ankara now sees a pivotal role of the Palestinian issue in its aspirations for regional leadership, com- plete with Mr Erdogans use of rehashed Ottoman rhe- toric to sell that idea to Turkish voters. He has built his political platform on the theme of a rising Turkey with a historic responsibility to protect the so-called dis- possessed Muslim populations in the region; primary among them being the Palestinians. A notion of Turk- ish exceptionalism is clearly discernible in Mr Erdo- gans foreign policy pronouncements and is at the core of his Century of Turkey formulation. What makes the current situation particularly dangerous is that Ankara has assessed the Gaza War is an inflection point for the region and not just another flare-up. In making this assessment, Turkey has taken the cue from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu who has vowed to eradi- cate Hamas, which his Turkish counterpart terms a liberation movement.

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The stroke of a pencil or a piece of thread can change the world, says fashion journalist Laia Beltran, sitting under the lemon trees of the inner courtyard of a well-known bookstore in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona. The phrase is Miro's, but we made it ours, adds the graphic designer and fashion illustrator Lucy Victoria Davis. Both agree that fashion, as an artistic discipline, is undervalued, perceived as something frivolous. Why is the plan of a building more talented than the pattern of a jacket? Beltran questions. With the aim of reclaiming fashion as a major art, they created the book Sketching Fashion, a journey through the history of fashion illustration, accompanied by a compilation of biographies of contemporary illustrators.

When Beltran was preparing a history of illustration class for the IDEP School of Image and Design, in Barcelona, she thought that it was a good idea for her students to meet an illustrator to learn how to express their ideas; that is when Davis came into the picture. Two years and one pandemic later, Sketching Fashion saw the light, with a clear didactic mission. A lot of people think that men have always worn shirts and pants. Its a shame that the educational curriculum doesnt include these contents, says Beltran. The first part of the book is a historical overview of fashion illustration that avoids the sobriety of the essay, opting for nuggets of knowledge, instead: a format that combines documentary and anecdotal information, with illustrations from each historical era. A simple reference manual that cannot be missing from the bibliography of any fashion student.

One can get to know a society through its way of dressing, explains Beltran while pointing to an Egyptian model. This is a kalasiris, the flagship garment in ancient Egypt, a colorful tunic made of linen  one of the main crops on the banks of the Nile  suitable for high temperatures. The history of fashion is as old as that of civilization. The first illustrations rest on the walls of Egyptian pyramids and temples, and their descriptive value has made them a key element for archaeological research.

Illustrations by Lucy Victoria Davis of a Vivienne Westwood suit and a Rosa Clara dress, published in the book Sketching Fashion. foto cedida

The documentary role of clothing has remained present throughout the centuries. During the Middle Ages, illustrators traveled throughout Europe to capture the customs and the appearance of different kingdoms. Their drawings were collected in the so-called costume codices, such as the Trachtenbuch (Nuremberg, 1529), a compilation of 154 hand-colored drawings in watercolor, tempera and gold and silver metallic inks. After the popularization of the printing press, the codices were replaced by costume books: collections of engravings made with an informative purpose, which, unlike the portraits, also show the clothing and appearance of the lower classes.

Gradually, clothing takes center stage in illustration, says Davis. The perfect example is the appearance of the first influencer in history, in the 16th century, she adds. For 40 years, Matthaus Schwarz, an upper-class German gentleman, had himself painted 137 times by different artists who drew his outfits. He wanted to record what he wore; along with the drawings, he added a description of the clothes, in his own handwriting.

Laia Beltran and Lucy Victoria Davis, authors of the book Sketching Fashion. Albert Garcia

In the 19th century, the taste for aesthetic pleasure gave rise to the ancestors of Vogue, with fashion magazines such as the French Mercure Galant. For the men, tights to match the suit and little black shoes with golden straps. For the women, embroidered chiffon caps and shirt sleeves with knit cuffs, Beltran reads. They intend to create trends, describing what the wealthy classes wear in order to make it an object of admiration in all social strata, she explains.

Fashion and art in the 20th century: A turning point

At the beginning of the 20th century, like any artistic discipline, fashion abandoned realism and began to draw on the avant-garde. Paul Poiret was the culprit; with his illustrations, the artist freed women from corsets and corseting fashion, they say. Cubism, futurism and art deco come into fashion, and with them, interpretation. Fashion abandons its descriptive role and becomes an art, with great influence on the canons of beauty. The illustrations not only depicted the most beautiful upper-class women; they are made from the male perspective, Beltran denounces.

The configuration of the ideal of beauty matched the emerging consumer society perfectly and fashion illustration fused with the world of advertising, a love story that lasts to this day. With the appearance of photography, illustration took a backseat, but in the last decade the big fashion houses and magazines have once again turned to drawing as a personalized, more laborious, exclusive photograph, says Davis. Style illustration is back to stay; it currently is a sector with many professional opportunities.

The second part of the book is a snapshot of the current panorama of the field of illustration. Selecting 21 illustrators was not easy: We wanted gender parity, generational difference, emerging and established artists, like David Downton or Jordi Labanda. We also looked for different styles  Richard Haines is totally handmade, while Malika Favre is 100% digital  and a diversity of techniques, such as Prince Lauders collages and Angel Hernandez architectural element. The goal of presenting these artists biographies and advice is to offer a source of inspiration and education for those who are entering the world of fashion illustration. Its a way to get to know them more closely, to see their creative processes before developing your own style, says Davis. The authors also invite readers to do more than just read and become part of a community to exchange ideas and projects on an Instagram account they created with the same name as the book: Sketching Fashion.

Illustration of a Gaultier gown by David Downton, published in Sketching Fashion. foto cedida

There are no secrets in this profession. Just keep going. And going. And going, the famous Hungarian fashion illustrator Gladys Perint Palmer advises in the pages of Sketching Fashion. I learned to draw before I mastered walking, says the illustrator, who has worked for Harpers Bazaar and The New Yorker and is one of the first recognized female figures in the field. Women have always been present in the world of illustration, but, as in other fields, history has not been fair to them, and their names have not remained for posterity, says Beltran. Its as if they never existed, and their contribution to fashion illustration deserves to be recognized. It would be enough for a whole other book.

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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.
FILE - View of the Peace Palace which houses World Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on Sept. 19, 2023. South Africa has launched a case at the United Nations top court accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks. South Africas submission filed Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at the International Court of Justice alleges that acts and omissions by Israel ... are genocidal in character..
There are things you just cant hide from your barber. Miguel Jimenez Guillamon can attest to this: when he opened his barbershop in 2005, no one spoke about transplants. Little by little, however, he began to see thick heads of hair where there used to be minimal coverage; generous bangs over formerly exposed foreheads. I also saw specific scars that I began to identify, he explains. They were hair transplants. Jimenez took notice. He was barely 20 years old, but he had already started to lose his hair. That affected me, he says. I was less confident with the girls or on the street. Also, at work, I spent the day in front of the mirror.

In 2012, he decided to start a YouTube channel to share advice on hair care, but he was embarrassed to upload content. I thought, Whos going to want to see a bald barber? As it turns out, a lot of people. Michael  his social media name  spoke openly about his experience with hair loss and gained 300,000 followers. Then he spoke about his first transplant in Spain. The year was 2014, and things were about to change. By the time he underwent a second surgery (in Turkey, in 2017) a million people were watching his videos. That is how he realized that he was not alone. Nobody talked about it openly, but everyone was looking him up. Its normal. You dont realize how important your hair is until you lose it, he reflected.

By the time they are 30, one in four men has begun to lose his hair. At 50, nearly half find themselves in this situation, which 10 years later affects two out of three. It is the most evident effect of androgenic alopecia, which causes 95% of baldness cases in men. The other, least visible consequences, are psychological: low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Psychologist Dirk Kranz, who is bald and the author of the aptly named study Bald and Bad?, points out that these concerns are not unfounded. Being bald brings social disadvantages when applying for a job or dating a person. Men with a full head of hair are perceived more positively, as numerous studies have shown, states Kranz.

In some cultures, such as in East Asia (and formerly in the European context), hair loss in men is also associated with positive attributes such as morality, intelligence and wisdom, explains the expert. However, the Western ideal of beauty is becoming globalized, and a full head of hair seems essential to fit into it. Just take a look at the powerful industry that has grown around hair; or rather, around its absence.

According to the Medihair platform, approximately 3.4 million hair transplants were performed worldwide in 2021. The world market for this procedure was then valued at around $9.5 billion; more than double the GDP of a small country like Andorra, and triple the amount that was invested that same year to eradicate malaria in the world.

Synthetic hair, the next frontier

A transplant does not make new hair grow; it merely changes its location. This means that some patients with very advanced degrees of alopecia cannot get one. In those cases, new hair would need to be created. That is the last frontier, and it is close to being conquered. Stem cell biologist Karl Koehler of Harvard University has been using stem cells for a decade, and he has created patches of human skin that grow hair follicles over time. This opens the door to a future with synthetic hair.

Maksim Plikus, a biologist from the University of California, is experimenting with Scube3, a protein that promotes hair growth. His idea is to inject a messenger RNA vaccine to order the body to release this enzyme. In a recent article published in New Scientist magazine, Plikus stated that his team is about to reach a turning point. Optimism in this field is not dependent on a single treatment, which increases the chances of finding an effective strategy. But before understanding what the future holds, we must look back.

In recent years, science has deciphered the hair loss process, finding some products that can significantly delay it. The origin of this story is difficult to pinpoint: the case of a prison in Oklahoma, where the inmates who were serving sentences for rape and had been castrated recovered their hair, is frequently mentioned; other bibliographical references place it in the Dominican Republic, where a series of families in a town with many intersex children were studied. The fact is that science, at some point in the 20th century, began to relate testosterone, a male hormone produced in the testicles, with hair loss.

Over the following decades, researchers learned that it did not act alone. An enzyme turns it into a substance called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which causes hair follicles to shrink, explains Mario Puerta Pena, a dermatologist specializing in trichology at the Doctor Morales Raya Clinic in Madrid, Spain. Follicles are like hair factories, and DHT attacks the engine of the factory, the dermal papilla. It atrophies, and the hair it produces is increasingly finer and shorter. It becomes miniaturized, explains Puerta. It can remain suspended in this state for a few months; then it disappears. Thus, bald people still have the same hair factories as the rest of the people, but they are shrunken. It could be said that there are no bald people, but rather people with small follicles.

This understanding has resulted in the discovery of an effective treatment to fight and delay hair loss. There are two pills that keep many men away from the transplant (and many others happy with it). Without them, the graft would be a temporary patch  hair today, baldness tomorrow.

The science of baldness and testosterone

They are oral antiandrogens, explains Puerta. Finasteride and dutasteride, which inhibit the transformation of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Eliminating the hormone that attacks the follicles delays, and even reverses, miniaturization. For the most extreme cases there are also subcutaneous injections. These also serve to localize the treatment in a specific area and avoid possible side effects. Some patients have reported less sexual desire; an extreme that is still being disputed and not completely proven.

Dutasteride was used to treat prostate cancer, but the visible effect it had on hair led to a new use being studied and patented. Something similar is happening with minoxidil, a drug that was originally developed to improve blood pressure; it was found to increase blood flow to the head area, which in turn improves the vigor of the hair. In recent years, it has been discovered that its oral formula works better than the topical formula, and is less cumbersome, says Puerta. But no pharmaceutical company sells it. Some users choose to go on a drugstore pilgrimage in search of Loniten, an almost discontinued formulation of minoxidil designed for blood pressure that does not cost much. However, facing the shortage, many users are forced to purchase the more expensive master formulation. The combined treatment, dutasteride and minoxidil, can cost more than $60 a month; thus, having hair is starting to become a matter of purchasing power.

Pel de Ric (rich mans hair in Catalan) knows it well. With this ironic name, an Instagram account publishes photos of the lustrous manes of wealthy men. There is a class component in hair, confirms JLH, one of the four authors of this account, who prefers to remain anonymous. We started all this as a joke; we simply gave a name to a type of person, a character, and added clever copies. And it worked in some way  its a joke that 80,000 people have understood. Pel de Ric focuses on gray-haired gentlemen, ostensibly older than JHL, who recognizes that there is also a generational factor. There are more and more treatments, pills, grafts, etcetera. When they were our age, they didnt have the resources that we have, he reflects.

Puerta confirms this idea. Very young people come, whose hair is more or less okay, or with a very slight degree of alopecia. There are even parents who come with their children, 17, 18 years old, who are aware that it is hereditary and want to spare them that fate, he explains. The standards of masculinity are changing, and treatments and grafts are no longer taboo. Before, friends used to hide; now they go to the clinic as a group. Between the treatments, which begin at increasingly younger ages, and the transplants, which can help in the most extreme cases, experts believe that androgenic alopecia can be reduced to an increasingly residual phenomenon. In the future, being bald will be a choice, says Puerta.

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Job Title: Physician (Part Time  16 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-2023-092

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 Medical Degree from an accredited Medical School and completion of appropriate post-graduate internship/residency/or fellowship is required.

Must possess and maintains a current valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine within the host country, country of citizenship, or the U.S.

At least three 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 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. This may be tested.

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
When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets heads of public sector banks (PSBs) in Delhi on Saturday as part of her quarterly performance review, one of the more significant terms on the agenda is not bad loans or wilful defaulters. It will be the increasing amount of cybersecurity incidents, particularly online scams related to banking accounts and cards.

As India gets more and more digital, also increasing is the alarming number of cyber security breaches. Enough for the government to get into a flurry of precautionary measures.

The Reserve Bank of India observed that the amount of card, online banking and internet-related scams have increased by five times in just the April to September six-month period this year.

Already two major data breaches this year have exposed crores of Indian citizens to online hoodlums. In October, an American cybersecurity company claimed that the Aadhaar data of over 81 crore citizens was being offered for sale on the dark web. A similar breach, this time of CoWin data, was reported back in the summer. Last year, a ransomware attack had crippled the computer systems at Indias biggest hospital, the prestigious govt-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences, or AIIMS, in Delhi for days on end.

The AIIMS Delhi cyberattack is a classic example of how even premier institutes can fall prey to such attacks, said Nilesh Tribuvan, founder and managing partner of White & Brief, advocates & solicitors. This is enough to worry the government and authorities as such threats pose a challenge to Indias ambitions of becoming a digital economy.

While cyberattacks on Indian companies have been on the surge particularly in the wake of Covid-19 when many firms moved to a more digital presence with remote working, the recent advancements in artificial intelligence and deepfakes add a new dimension to the increased chances of threat in the future. Recent findings by the likes of 'PwC Risk Survey  India edition', as well as a study by Palo Alto Networks, hint that it will be the number one threat facing India Inc on the threat radar.

But perhaps even more worrisome are the risks ordinary citizens increasingly face, as life goes more digital in every sphere, exposing them to new dangers. As mobile phones are increasingly utilised for government digitalisation, cyber threats become a significant challenge for ordinary citizens, pointed out Tribuvan.

The authorities are also increasingly worried as cybersecurity becomes the new big issue, both by state and non-state actors. Strategy trends indicate that cyber warfare could make a crucial difference in future geopolitical manoeuvres. No wonder, India, the US and Taiwan got together in Delhi for a meeting of their Global Co-operation and Training Framework platform recently.

Add to that, of course, the vulnerability of ordinary citizens and the real big fear that AI deepfakes could play spoilsport in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll campaign. No wonder, brainstorming on a roadmap to counter deepfake videos and other new threats in cyberspace is one of the main agendas in the annual meeting of state police chiefs to be held in Jaipur next week.
Popular Kollywood star Vijay was attacked with a slipper while he was returning after paying respects to the mortal remains of actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth.



In a video that is being widely shared, a visibly distraught Vijay is seen walking amidst a group of people when a slipper is flung at him by an unidentified person. The actor is seen not looking back or reacting to the incident although the slipper hits him on his neck.





The incident caused much outrage, with people calling it "heinous."

I was hoping that it was an edited video. No, unfortunately, it's not.



Third video angle of slipper thrown at Vijay.



Heinous pic.twitter.com/lRDifxtzVy https://t.co/hJxpcYxgp3  WarLord (@Mr_Ashthetics) December 29, 2023





A fan page of actor Ajith Kumar said the attack on Vijay was "totally not acceptable."

We #Ajith fans strongly condemneding this disrespect behaviour to vijay . whoever it may be, we should respect when they came to our place.



Throwing slipper to @actorvijay is totally not acceptable 



Stay strong #Vijay #RIPCaptainVijayakanth pic.twitter.com/dVg9RjC7Yy  AK (@iam_K_A) December 29, 2023





Vijayakanth, who had been ill for about five years, passed away on Thursday morning after battling against pneumonia. Thousands of people, fans, celebrities and politicians thronged the Island Grounds near the Marina beach in Chennai on Friday to pay homage to Vijayakanth.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ayodhya, the city has been put under a thick security blanket with the National Security Guard and the Anti-Terrorist Squad on their toes.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate a slew of development and infrastructure projects, including the revamped railway station and new airport, on Saturday. He will also hold a road show on the same day, the rehearsal of which is being conducted on Friday.



Piyush Mordia, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone, said the area is under a security cover. "We are monitoring all areas with drones. To improve the traffic system, a traffic diversion plan has also been made," the Morida told ANI, adding that arrangements have been made to meet the Prime Minister's security requirements.



"Three DIG, 17 SP, 38 Additional SP, 82 Deputy SP, 90 Inspector, 325 Sub Inspector, 35 Female Sub Inspector, 2000 Constable, 14 Company PAC, 6 Company CRPF will be deployed as part of the security," he added.



#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Heavy security arrangements ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ayodhya tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/lAS958mQ1F  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

Security personnel have also been deployed at the premises of the new wing of the Ayodhya railway station where workers carry out civil work.



There is also an increased vigil on the India-Nepal border. "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's wing have also been deployed. Metal detectors have been installed at Sonauli and Thuthibari outposts on the Indo-Nepal border," Singh said.

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. Intelligence units have also been asked to keep an eye on religious places along the border.

Yogi in Ayodhya

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is taking stock of the preparations of security arrangements before the Prime Minister's visit. He has entrusted Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is camping in Ayodhya for three days to look after preparations ahead of the Prime Minister's visit.

The streets of the temple have also been decked up 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 the top that depict religious symbols.
Congress leader and former party president Sonia Gandhi will attend the consecration ceremony of Ayodhya Ram Temple on January 22, sources in the know of the development said.



NDTV reported that besides Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were invited for the consecration ceremony and Sonia Gandhi has decided to attend the event.

The idol of Ram Lalla which will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple during the consecration ceremony on January 22. According to Trust secretary Champat Rai, a 51-inch-tall idol of Lord Ram best reflecting a five-year-old-Ram Lalla would be selected for consecration. The idol will be placed on an eight-foot-tall gold-plated marble throne which is being crafted in Rajasthan.

The rituals will begin on January 16 and on the day before the consecration ceremony, the idol will be bathed in 125 urns. On January 22, after the morning puja, the deity of Ram Lala will be consecrated in 'Mrigashira Nakshatra' in the afternoon.

Congress was in a fix for the past few days as the party feared both attending and skipping the event could affect votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Leaders of the party made conflicting statements about party's leaders attending the event.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will hold a meeting with the party's state unit leaders on Thursday (January 4) to finalise the route of the Rahul Gandhi-helmed Bharat Nyay Yatra which will begin in Imphal, Manipur on January 14.

According to a senior Congress leader, the meeting, which will be attended by PCC presidents, CLP leaders, general secretaries and AICC in-charges of all the states and not just the ones through which the yatra will pass, will also discuss preparation for the Lok Sabha elections.

The party will release the logo and the tagline for the east-to-west yatra, which is being viewed as Part II of the Bharat Jodo Yatra that was undertaken by Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir earlier, on Thursday.

On January 8, the route of the yatra, which will cover a distance of around 6,200km over a period of 55 days, going through 14 states and culminating in Mumbai on March 20, will be unveiled.

The upcoming yatra will be different from the earlier one as it will not be a padayatra, but will be mainly undertaken on a bus. There will be short bursts of padayatra every day that will cover around six to seven km. Around 120 km will be covered in the yatra every day. Besides, public meetings will be held down the route.

Like Bharat Jodo Yatra, in the upcoming yatra too, Gandhi will interact with different groups of people, including women, youth, and farmers. These meetings will take place in the bus during the course of the yatra.

Explaining the reason behind the name Bharat Nyay Yatra, the Congress leader said the term 'nyay', which means justice, has been derived from the preamble of the Constitution, and the yatra will focus on issues of social justice, economic justice and political justice.

INDIA allies will be invited to join the yatra, the leader said. He said even during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, many opposition leaders had walked alongside Gandhi.
Crying is the universal language of newborns. They cry constantly to communicate their needs and feelings. In fact, they spend between one and three hours a day whimpering and sobbing. But not all crying is the same. Science has long attempted to decipher this ancestral communication system, searching for patterns and behavioral dynamics that explain what exactly each cry means. While there is still much to figure out, a new study from the Barcelona Hospital Clinic in Spain has taken a step forward in interpreting babies cries: the research classified the cries of healthy babies according to certain characteristics based on acoustics, behavior and neurophysiological patterns. Thus, they identified that hunger cries are constant, rhythmic and of short duration, while cries of distress are erratic and sharper. The authors say that their findings will help interpret crying in healthy infants at the household level and also have clinical potential: analysis of sobbing and the associated physiological variables may eventually function as a clinical biomarker and serve to assess an infants health status.

A babys wailing often causes confusion among parents. They sense that it is a warning sign or an unmet need, but they are not always sure of the cause or how to resolve it. The impact on parents can range from experiences of anxiety, depression, helplessness, anger and frustration in response to infant crying, which negatively affects bonding and the parents perception of the infant, the authors state in their article, published in the journal Computers in Biology and Medicine. Knowing how to interpret a newborns cries can be key to ensuring a babys well-being.

Scientists have been researching this subject for six decades. In recent years, artificial intelligence has been added to the mix for massive data analysis and increasingly reliable and accurate algorithms to analyze and interpret infant cries. Clinical experience told you that the newborn cries differently depending on what is happening to it. And as a pediatrician you had the sense that you could learn to interpret the cries, explains Oscar Garcia-Algar, the head of the Neonatology Department at the Clinic and the author of the study. His research was conducted in collaboration with the health technology startup Zoundream AG, which specializes in analyzing cries, and sought to test whether these perceptions were true. What were trying to do here is to see if there are different crying patterns based on different variables. If the acoustic and physiological characteristics associated with crying make it possible to interpret it, this would allow us to use it in households, as well as in the healthcare context, as in an intensive care unit with babies who have some type of illness. Until now, crying had never been used to measure a clinical situation, Garcia-Algar explains.

The Clinic researchers recruited 38 healthy newborns and took acoustic data, electroencephalogram (brain activity) data, brain oxygen saturation, facial expressions and body movements when the babies cried spontaneously. Then, using artificial intelligence systems, they analyzed and processed that data. Beyond acoustic differences, we were able to determine associated variables, such as heart rate and body oxygenation index. We can measure and monitor them. With these parameters, the cries correspond to something specific. The studies were done on healthy babies, but now we are collecting data from premature babies and those who have some sort of illness to see if the crying patterns change, Garcia-Algar says.

By collecting and analyzing data from these 38 healthy infants, the authors discovered that, indeed, each cry has distinct acoustic, neurophysiological and behavioral patterns. For instance, when a baby is tired and cannot fall asleep, its cry tends to be more prolonged and monotone. On the other hand, Clinic scientists found that when a baby cries because it is hungry, the acoustic patterns are constant, rhythmic and of short duration, intense, loud, but not high-pitched. The authors also found patterns of increased restlessness in the babies electroencephalograms, as well as in physical movements, facial expressions and muscle tone. When infants are hungry, they are more restless. In general, hunger in newborns can elicit a variety of facial expressions and body movements intended to attract caregivers attention, indicating a need for food, such as search reflex, sucking motions, restlessness, writhing and arching the back, the scientists found.

Erratic crying in the face of distress

Babies also cry when they are distressed or distraught, because they are in pain or due to overstimulation that causes them discomfort. The Clinic researchers acoustic study reveals that in cases of distress, crying is erratic, with fewer pauses, [it is] of prolonged duration and high-pitched. On the other hand, the study of the brains electrical activity also revealed increased arousal; in terms of body patterns, in these contexts of distress and discomfort, the baby presented a tendency to be restless, with an increase in motor activity as an expression of high levels of discomfort, such as facial grimacing, flailing their arms and legs, arching their back, or clenching their fists.

The way babies cry when they need to burp is similar to how they cry when they are in distress but hoarser. According to our results in cases where babies need to burp, infants with gastrointestinal problems produced longer cries (compared to those who are hungry or in distress) with more variable pitch and intensity, reflecting vocal cord instability, the authors explain. As for oxygenation, the research identified the lowest levels in these cases as compared to the other situations studied, which the scientists argue indicates that gastrointestinal problems, such as reflux, could interfere with proper breathing and decrease oxygen saturation levels.

A preliminary step toward a future tool

The authors recognize that their research has limitations, such as the small sample size (only 38 babies) and the changes that can be caused by the electroencephalogram and brain oxygenation meter setup, which require babies to wear a cap and have a sensor on their foreheads and can cause discomfort and, therefore, produce irritated cries. Nevertheless, the researchers argue that their results represent a preliminary step toward developing an effective tool to analyze crying and say that measuring the neurophysiological patterns of infants brains and behavior adds to and confirms the acoustic data. We also affirm the importance and potential use of a crys acoustics as a biomarker for assessing infant well-being, they say.

According to Garcia-Algar, this studys findings are the first steps in what can be done to interpret an infants crying. We are at an initial phase, analyzing the characteristics of crying and whether it corresponds to a physiological situation, he emphasizes. And while not all the variables can be analyzed at home  for example, an electroencephalogram cannot be performed there  this research can be applied broadly: There could be a domestic device that can interpret the cry from its acoustic characteristics. But in the clinical context, if you have a newborn baby in the hospital, you can also monitor it and interpret a crying pattern to identify, for example, whether it is hungry or what is wrong with it. Crying is a form of communication, and we can interpret what [babies] are saying. Crying can be quite valuable, the neuroscientist says.

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Road rage claimed another life in the national capital on Thursday when a cab driver was stabbed to death in full public view by three juveniles. One of the minors was apprehended by the Delhi Police in connection with the crime.

The shocking incident was reported in south Delhi's Mehrauli area, the police said. The victim was stabbed in the chest after he engaged in a war of words with three youngsters on a two-wheeler.

The victim was identified as Manoj Kumar (34), who worked as a cab driver for a Gurugram-based BPO. Kumar was in the middle of a ride when his vehicle got stuck in a traffic block in Mehrauli. Meanwhile, three boys on a bike started honking -- asking Kumar to give them space to pass. There was little the driver could do as the congestion made it impossible for him to move the car, PTI reported quoting police sources.

"On Thursday evening, he picked up five BPO employees from the Malviya Nagar area and then one from Mehrauli. Around 8:40 pm, three boys on a scooter came from behind and started honking at Kumar, asking for space to move ahead," PTI reported a senior police officer as saying.

The situation escalated when the three bike-borne juveniles got down and approached Kumar's cab. "Soon, a verbal spat ensued between the two sides. One of the scooter riders stabbed Kumar in the chest with a knife before fleeing from the spot with his accomplices," the police officer told the news agency.

Although he was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, the cabbie was declared dead on arrival by the doctors.

The cops later detained a minor, who was among the three on the bike. He reportedly confessed during interrogation and identified the other two involved in the crime.
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)'s pro-talks faction on Friday signed a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement pact with the Centre and the Assam government on Friday. The peace deal was inked by a 29-member delegation in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma,

The 29-member delegation of the ULFA's pro-talks delegation, included 16 ULFA members and 13 from civil society.

Speaking on the peace deal, Amit Shah said it is a bright day for the future of Assam. It is a matter of joy for me that today is a bright day for the future of Assam. For a long time, Assam, Northeast faced violence and after PM Modi became PM in 2014, efforts were made to reduce the gap between Delhi and Northeast said Shah.

"Assam has suffered for long due to the violence of the ULFA and 10,000 people lost their lives in this violence since 1979," he said.

Shah also added that a big development package will be given to Assam as part of the accord. "Every clause of the pact will be implemented fully," he said. The violence has come down in Assam by 87 per cent, deaths by 90 per cent and kidnappings by 84 per cent, added Shah.

While Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said it is a historic day for the state. "Today is a historic day for Assam. During PM Modi's tenure, under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, work for Assam's peace was always underway...three accords have been signed and with three accords tribal militancy has come to an end in Assam, said Sarma.

As an aftermath of an agitation against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh, ULFA was formed in April 1979. It was split into two groups in February 2011. The Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction gave up violence and agreed for peace talks, while the Paresh Baruah-led ULFA-Independent faction is against any talks with the government.

A peace accord was reached after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the ULFA faction and the government.

The peace pact is expected to end decades-old insurgency in Assam.

Baruah, who is against any peace talks, is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. ULFA was declared a banned outfit in 1990.
India has requested Pakistan to extradite Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, who is wanted in the country for various terror attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the request along with certain documents seeking the terrorist's extradition was sent to Islamabad recently. While addressing a press briefing, Bagchi said Saeed is wanted in numerous cases in India. "We have conveyed request along with relevant...documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case," he added.

Saeed, 71, was sentenced to 33 years in jail by a Pakistan court after being convicted in two cases of terror financing in April last year. The case was filed by Pakistan's Counter-Terrorism Department, reported NDTV. However, since 2019, Saeed has been in jail after being convicted for several years in multiple terror finance cases.

Saeed is a terrorist proscribed by the United Nations.

India's move comes, reportedly, amid a recent development that Hafiz Saeed-backed by Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) will contest the upcoming general elections in Pakistan. Saeed's son Talha Saeed is also in the run and will contest the polls from the National Assembly's constituency NA-127, Lahore.

The United States has placed a USD 10 million reward for any information on Saeed. Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) is the front organisation for LeT, which is behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected Janata Dal (United) president at the party's national executive meeting held in Delhi on Friday. Kumar replaced Lalan Singh, who proposed the chief minister's name for the post, party leader K C Tyagi told reporters.

The national council meeting of the party, scheduled to be held later in the day, is likely to ratify decisions taken in the executive meeting.

The move comes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Though speculations were rife that Singh would make way for Nitish Kumar, who worked to bring all opposition parties under one platform, the party's top rung leaders vehemently denied it until Friday.

Sources told PTI that most leaders within the party felt that Kumar, being its most prominent face, should take charge of the organisation at this crucial time. Singh had also faced flak from many quarters for his leadership style.

Earlier, Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary's name was doing rounds for the post of the national chief, but he had denied all reports of leadership change. However, just before the meeting, Choudhary changed his tone, stating the party could consider a leadership change. "There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal, then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the post of party president to him and Nitish Kumar accepted it," Choudhary told ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi: Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary says "There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the pic.twitter.com/qz4cqh7p8e  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

The rumours grew strong after some members of JD(U) were seen raising slogans "Desh ka Pradhan Mantri kaisa ho? Nitish Kumar jaisa ho" outside the Constitution Club in Delhi, where the national executive meeting was underway. Posters featuring Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reading 'Pradesh ne pehchana, ab desh bhi pehchanega' (The state of Bihar recognised him, now the nation will) have also been put up.

Many JD(U) leaders had mooted Nitish Kumar's name to lead the Opposition bloc, considering that he was the one who took initiative to form the alliance. Though TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal publicly announced Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as prospective PM candidate, Nitish still is one of the front runners to lead the coalition.
Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and founder of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), suggested to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge that the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra should be equally divided among the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT) and VBA.

In a letter to Kharge, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray, Ambedkar has put forth the formula of contesting 12 Lok Sabha seats each. This, he wrote, will ensure that there is no confusion among the opposition allies and will be a major step in ousting Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP from power.

Ambedkar and his VBA are not yet the constituents of INDIA alliance and MVA in Maharashtra. However, Thackeray and his Shiv Sena were the first to enter into an alliance with Ambedkar's VBA. Thackeray is of the opinion that VBA should be made a constituent of INDIA alliance.

Pawar too recently told Kharge that Ambedkar should be included in INDIA alliance as it will strengthen opposition unity in the state. State congress leaders have not taken any stand on the issue so far.

A meeting of the state executive of VBA was recently held at Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad). At this meeting, a resolution was passed saying all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra should be divided equally between VBA and three other MVA constituents (Congress, Pawar-led NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT).

Ambedkar said dividing the seats equally is the most practical way to avoid any differences over seat sharing. This will avoid bickering and efforts to cut each other down, he felt.

Considering Maharashtra sends the second largest contingent of MPs to Lok Sabha, it is necessary to decide seat-sharing formula at the earliest.
With the inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Mandir scheduled in January and the Abu Dhabi Hindu temple in February, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said BJP has forgotten its poll promises and the party will now revert to its core message of Hindutva politics for 2024 polls.



Tharoor charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP have forgotten its poll promises like achhe din and two crore jobs a year. Tharoor tweeted, So Prime Minister @NarendraModi will inaugurate the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22nd and the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14th. I expect elections to be called very soon thereafter. The message is clear.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP said while 2009 polls was fought presenting Narendra Modi as Avatar of economic development and 2019 over national security, Modi as  Hindu Hriday Samrat will be the major poll plank of BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In 2009, Mr Modi was sold to the Indian electorate as the avatar of economic development, the CEO of Gujarat Inc., who would bring development to all Indians. In 2019, with that narrative collapsing in the wake of the disastrous demonetisation, the Pulwama terrorist attack gave Mr Modi the opportunity to convert the general election into a national security election. In 2024, it is clear the BJP will now revert to its core message and offer Narendra Modi to the nation as a Hindu Hriday Samrat, Tharoor tweeted.

Tharoor questioned, What happened to achhe din? What happened to 2 crore jobs a year? What happened to economic growth that would benefit the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder? What happened to putting disposable income into the pockets and bank accounts of every Indian? These questions will have to be debated in an election that is shaping up to be Hindutva versus popular welfare.

While the Congress party is yet to decide on attending Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Tharoor on Thursday said religious faith is a personal matter and should not be seen politically, or misused politically. The Congress leader added he hopes each of the invitees is left free to make a personal choice.
The long-awaited peace deal between the Central and Assam governments and the ULFA pro-talks faction on Thursday is the first step towards bringing outlawed Paresh Baruah, the top militant of the dreaded militant outfit hiding on the China-Myanmar border, to the talking table.



Paresh, who is in secret talks with the Assam government, had set a precondition that the government reaches a settlement with ULFA pro-talks faction before he comes on board. That settlement is done now, senior security officials said, and the spotlight is back on Paresh to manoeuvrer his way through before the heat builds up on the truncated ULFA, which wreaked havoc and terror in the northeast once.



The protracted dialogue between the government and the pro-talks faction, led by Arabinda Rajkhowa and Anup Chetia among others, has been watched closely by Paresh who was getting restless about the long-drawn process even as he faced the heat of security forces, with many of his close aides expressing the desire to surrender and return home. Some like Drishti Rajkhowa got a safe passage back to Assama rare case when Paresh allowed a key ULFA aide to surrender.



The writing on the wall is clear. Paresh, in his 70s, realises that after running one of the longest-running insurgencies in the Northeast, aided and abetted by the Pakistan ISI at one point and enjoying Chinas covert support, has lost steam and support back home. Over the years, apart from the armed militants who had escaped to the China-Myanmar border, there was no future for ULFA sympathisers and supporters in Assam. This is also one of the reasons why the ULFA had attempted to form a larger alliance of insurgent outfits in the Southeast Asian region to wreak havoc, but it failed to quite an extent.



Presently, around 150 armed cadres of the anti-talks faction of ULFA are hiding in Myanmar while Paresh himself is said to be in Yunan province of China with a handful of close aides who have been given shelter there.



A top security official said the 150-odd ULFA militants can be taken out any day if the government decides to launch a counter-insurgency operation, but efforts are afoot to bring them on board to surrender.



The success of the government in disbanding the pro-talks faction, which ceased to exist after the signing of the peace accord, is a historic move as it leaves the ULFA truncated. The camps of the pro-talks faction of ULFA will cease to exist, arms and weapons surrendered and the around 8,200 cadres will go home.



The peace deal also comes at a time when the Assam DGP G.P. Singh faces a series of threats from the anti-talks faction, demonstrating that the Himanta Biswa Sarma government is adopting a carrot-and-stick policy in dealing with the insurgent outfit.



ULFA isnt the first. Nine insurgent groups have come on board during the tenure of the Modi government with Union Home Minister Amit Shah pointing out that border dispute settlements with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and nine peace deals have been signed during BJP tenure. He said 85 percent of the Northeast is free from the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, fulfilling the aspirations of the people for peace and stability.



Shah said the present accord will usher in peace and turn a new leaf for the people of Assam whose sacrifices will not be forgotten. Nearly 10,000 people have been killed in the bloody insurgency over the years, but now the Centre is fulfilling its commitment through the peace deal, he added.



The accord will bring developmental packages to the tune of at least Rs 1.5 lakh crore, benefits of delimitation for indigenous people, and land rights among others.



Himanta said the broad guidelines and methodology adopted for the delimitation exercise in Assam this year will be followed in future delimitations in the state. Some of these parameters are: the rate of growth of population, density of population, principles of historicity of areas and communities, geographical continuity, physical features and facilities of communication and public convenience.



The aim, Himanta said, is to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people who have long been worried about a demographic change caused by illegal migration. The next challenge is the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act and the updating of the National Register of Citizens which figures on the priority list of the Assam government.
The Israeli-Hamas war has already driven around 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes, levelling the northern part of the territory and heightening fears about a similar fate for the south as Israel's air and ground offensive widened Friday.

Here's what's happening in the war:

ISRAELIS WOUNDED BY A CAR DRIVEN BY A PALESTINIAN IN THE WEST BANK

TEL AVIV Israeli authorities say four Israelis were wounded after a Palestinian rammed his car into them in the occupied West Bank.

The military said the incident Friday occurred near a military post in the southern West Bank. Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said four people in their 20s were wounded, one moderately and the rest lightly.

The military said troops had stopped the driver, whose condition was not immediately known.

Violence in the West Bank has surged alongside Israel and Hamas' war in Gaza.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since Hamas' attacks against Israel on Oct 7, in Israeli raids or in clashes with Israeli forces. More than 2,500 have been arrested, according to the military.

AID GROUP WARNS OF FAMINE; UN OFFICIAL SAYS ISRAEL FIRED ON AN AID CONVOY

CAIRO The international aid group Mercy Corps is warning about famine and disease affecting Palestinians in Gaza as Israel and Hamas continue their war.

Kate Phillips-Barrasso, vice president of Mercy Corps, said that relentless fighting and insufficient humanitarian aid were compounding the crisis.

She said the amount of lifesaving goods being allowed inside Gaza is a drop in the ocean and has not yet increased to the level necessary to meet Gazans' basic and critical needs, even after Israel opened its Kerem Shalom border crossing.

She said half a million people face catastrophic hunger and starvation.

Phillips-Barrasso said the aid delivery is further complicated by the security risks involved.

A senior UN official said Friday that Israeli troops opened fire on an aid convoy returning from northern Gaza, damaging one vehicle. Thomas White, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, wrote on X that the convoy was driving Thursday on a route designated safe by the Israeli military.

He said no injuries were reported among the convoy's team.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

ISRAELI STRIKES HIT DAMASCUS AIRPORT, SYRIAN STATE MEDIA SAY

BEIRUT Israeli strikes late Thursday and early Friday hit the Damascus airport and Syrian military sites, state media and an opposition-linked war monitor said.

Syria's SANA news agency, citing military sources, reported Israeli airstrikes at 1:20 am local time targeting a number of points in the vicinity of Damascus, which it said caused some material losses. Late Thursday night, strikes had hit some points in the southern region, it said.

The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the strikes had hit the Damascus airport, a day after it returned to service after a two-month stoppage due to previous strikes. Other strikes hit Syrian air defense sites in the Damascus countryside and a military facility in the southern province of Sweida, injuring two soldiers, the monitor said.

There was no statement from Israel on the strikes. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on sites in government-controlled Syria in recent years but rarely acknowledges them. When it does, Israel says it's targeting Iran-backed groups there that have backed the government of President Bashar Assad.
The Pakistani government imposed a "strict ban" on all sorts of events to mark the New Year. The Asian nation will avoid revelries to mark the arrival of 2024 in an open show of solidarity towards the people of Gaza, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar declared on Thursday.



Civilian casualties are mounting in the Gaza Strip after Israel launched a military invasion in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas earlier in October. People are struggling due to lack of power, food and water amidst bombardment and ground offensive by the IDF.

It is against this backdrop that Islamabad reportedly urged its citizens to show solidarity with the Palestinians and exhibit humility at the New Year.

Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year, news agency PTI reported Anwaarul Haq Kakar as saying.

The caretaker PM reportedly added that Pakistan was engaged in talks with Jordan and Egypt to provide timely aid to Palestine and to evacuate the injured present in Gaza.

Kakar said Pakistan tried to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people on various global forums and would continue to do so in the future as well to stop the Israeli bloodshed.

Pakistan's New Year celebrations are traditionally not huge due to the influence of Islamic groups who try to stop the festivities through various methods, including the use of force.

According to the latest data, 21,507 people -- about 1 per cent of Gaza's population -- have died in the war.
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.
China issues military transport, force projection regulations

Xinhua) 08:22, December 29, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to publish regulations on military transport and force projection, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

These regulations, with 58 entries in eight chapters, aim to adapt the military transport and force projection to the new military leadership and command systems, clarify duties and liabilities as well as work relations, and regulate operation mechanisms, according to a statement from the military on Thursday.

The document is expected to tune and regulate mechanisms, mission and positioning, and organization procedures of the military transport and force projection to enhance capabilities and improve quality and efficiency in this regard.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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.

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.

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A shockingly large percentage of young Americans hold a positive view of Osama bin Laden, according to a new poll reported by the Daily Mail.

The publication detailed that 1 in 5 young Americans have a positive view of Osama bin Laden and 3 in 10 believe the views of the terrorist leader who slaughtered thousands of innocent people were a force for good.' The poll also noted that 81% of American voters expressed negative views of the terrorist leader.

James Johnson, founder of JL Partners, which conducted the poll, commented on the surveys findings: It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is a cancer in the American body politic: a small but sizable group of its youngest voters. He noted that this demographic is more likely to deny the Holocaust and sympathize with Hamas.

The polls release coincides with the recent popularity on social media of a letter by bin Laden on TikTok under the hashtag LettertoAmerica, which gained attention following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. In the letter, bin Laden justified acts of jihad as revenge for the treatment of Palestinians and people in the Middle East, blaming the American public for their governments actions.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Released hostage Sapir Cohen revealed more details about her abduction and captivity in Gaza, including the perek of Tehillim that she began reciting 30 days before October 7th, the chilling statement her captor told her, and the fact that the Hamas terrorists had to protect her to prevent the innocent civilians from killing her when she first arrived in Gaza.

A few months ago, I felt like something bad was going to happen to me, Sapir began. I thought that maybe I was coming down with some illness. And actually, I did find out I had some type of virus. I was told to recite a certain perek of Tehillim every day for 30 days. The 30th day was on October 7th.

I said this perek every day, and one day I started noticing the words and they werent about refuah  the perek speaks about war, that Hashem should save me. And I thought to myself, why am I davening this? What war am I davening to be saved from?

On Friday, October 6th, Sapir, a resident of Kiryat Ata in northern Israel, traveled to Kibbutz Nir Oz to visit relatives. She woke up at 6:30 on Shabbos morning and heard loud booms on a scale she had never heard before.

A few hours later the terrorists arrived at Kibbutz Nir Oz. Sapir had rolled herself in a blanket and hid under a bed.

They rolled me from the blanket, Sapir continued. I understood that it was better for me to get up and go. I got up and they took me out of the house and put me on a motorcycle with two terrorists.

We began the trip, the streets were full of people who came to video me. I looked at all the cameras with my head raised high. I told myself that at least my parents would see me and realize that I was abducted.

We enter the Gaza Strip, everyone is screeching  some had sticks, some had cigarettes. They came close to me and screamed at me and began beating me. I started protecting myself with my hands. They [the terrorists] put a shirt over my head to try to protect me so that Ill arrive there alive.

I was very optimistic from the first minute there. I kept smiling and laughing the whole time. One day I saw one of the terrorists with a memorial candle that had Sapir written on it. I got angry because I thought I had formed a connection with them. I said to him: Why, why did you write my name? And he said: I dont like you. Youre my enemy. I dont like you. But when youre here, theres light.'

I said to myself: Hashem Yishmor, I heard this from a terrorist.'

Sapir then continued speaking about the perek of Tehillim she recited for 30 days. Part of the tefillah that I davened  youll see how its not related at all to refuah  was:

         ,   .

   ,  :      ,     .     ,  ,  .

This entire perek speaks about war. And thank you Hashem that I was saved.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




The IDF on Thursday informed the family of Judy Weinstein-Chagai, Hyd, the oldest hostage thought to be held in Gaza, that she was killed by Hamas on October 7th and her body is being held by Hamas.

Judy, 70, and her husband, Gadi Chagai, Hyd, 73, who are dual US-Israeli citizens, were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of October 7th while on their morning walk.

Judy had tried to call for help and in her last message, said that she and her husband had been shot by terrorists riding on a motorcycle and that Gadi was seriously injured.

On December 22, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that the IDF had confirmed that Gadi, Hyd, was murdered by Hamas on October 7th and his body is being held by Hamas.

Last week, Judys 95-year-old mother told CNN in a statement, I am very worried and concerned. I want to know if Judy is alive and if shes being held hostage. Its been unbearable not knowing.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




An 18-year-old Israeli, Tal Mitnick, has been jailed for refusing to participate in the military operation against Hamas, making him apparently the first conscientious objector to face such a sanction.

Mitnick was tried and sentenced to 30 days in a military prison, a term that is three times the standard 10-day penalty for such refusals. Upon completion of his sentence, Mitnick will be given another opportunity to enlist. If he continues to refuse, he could face an extended period of imprisonment.

Im standing here at the Tel Hashomer base and refusing to be drafted, refusing to take part in the war in Gaza, Mitnick said on Tuesday. I believe that slaughter does not solve slaughter, violence does not solve violence.

Mitnick, a resident of Tel Aviv, presented himself at an IDF recruitment center to declare his objection to enlistment, supported by fellow activists from the Mesarvot Network, a collective of conscientious objectors. In Israel, military service is mandatory for all citizens at the age of 18, with men serving for three years and women for two, unless exempt for reasons such as religious study.

I refuse to believe that more violence will bring security, I refuse to take part in a war of revenge, Mitnick said. I grew up in a home where life is sacred, where discussion is valued, and where discourse and understanding always come before taking violent measures. In the world full of corrupt interests in which we live, violence and war are another way to increase support for the government and silence criticism.

In September, prior to Hamas October 7 attack, Mitnick was among a group of teens who drafted a letter announcing their intention not to serve in the IDF. We, teenagers who are about to draft, say no to dictatorship  both in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territories  and announce that we will not serve until democracy is guaranteed to all, to everyone who lives under Israeli rule, the letter read.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Rep. Rashida Tlaib attacked her Congressional colleagues who have engaged in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, labeling Netanyahu a genocidal maniac in a post on her Instagram Story on Wednesday.

Every member of Congress who sits down with this murderer is supporting a war criminal, Tlaib wrote. We will never ever forget.

Her remarks not only target members of the opposing party but also include Democrats who have met with Netanyahu since the conflicts escalation.

Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, is consistently anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, but has intensified her rhetoric against the Jewish State after the Hamas attack which sparked the current war.

I am so sick and tired of our country funding and supporting a genocide and war on children, Tlaib added in another Instagram post. Please dont stop talking about Palestine. Accompanying her post was a video allegedly showing a deceased Palestinian infant.

Tlaib shared her warped perspective after a visit by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a moderate Democrat from New Jersey, to Israel, where he met with Netanyahu and other officials, as well as families of individuals held captive by Hamas. Gottheimer emphasized the U.S. commitment to bringing hostages home, eliminating terrorists, and providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians used as human shields by Hamas.

Gottheimer was among 22 House Democrats who joined Republicans in voting to censure Tlaib over her past comments about Israel in November.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




In an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett revealed that during his tenure in 2022, he directed Israels security forces to carry out two significant strikes against Iran. Bennett provided details of these strikes in his article, which advocated for Israel and the United States to work towards toppling the regime of the Iranian ayatollahs, describing it as the source of endless war, terror and suffering throughout the world.

In the first instance, Bennett authorized an attack on an Iranian UAV base in February 2022, following two unsuccessful drone attacks launched by Iran at Israel. The second operation, in March 2022, involved the assassination of a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, though Bennett did not mention him by name. This was in response to an Iranian attempt to target Israeli tourists in Turkey.

I directed Israels security forces to make Tehran pay for its decision to sponsor terror. Enough impunity, Bennett wrote. After Iran launched two failed UAV attacks on Israel in February 2022, Israel destroyed a UAV base on Iranian soil. In March 2022, Irans terror unit attempted to kill Israeli tourists in Turkey and failed. Shortly thereafter, the commander of that very unit was assassinated in the center of Tehran.

While Bennett had previously hinted at Israels involvement in Khodaeis killing, he had not openly acknowledged it. Israel is often linked to various strikes in Iran, particularly against its nuclear program and senior figures, but rarely confirms such operations publicly.

It turns out that Irans tyrants are softer than one might expect. They gleefully send others to die for them. But when theyre hit at home, suddenly they become timid, Bennett wrote.

Bennetts article further stressed the need for direct action against the Iranian regime, citing his own experiences as a soldier fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. He highlighted the pattern of terror groups backed by Iran, such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah, engaging in attacks that destabilize the region and pose threats globally.

The former Prime Minister compared the situation to the Cold War, drawing parallels between Iran and the Soviet Union, and Israel and the United States. He suggested non-military efforts to weaken Iran, including empowering domestic opposition, ensuring internet access during riots, strengthening Irans enemies, and imposing sanctions.

The op-ed concluded with Bennett reiterating the importance of a focused effort to bring down Irans evil regime.

However, his revelations have sparked controversy among Israeli officials, with some criticizing him for potentially endangering the country by revealing classified information.

Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, wrote regarding the op-ed: There are those who mobilize for the sake of the state, and there are those who mobilize the state for their own sake.

Bennett defended himself in a statement, stressing the importance of mobilizing the US and other allies for the overarching goal overthrowing the Iranian regime.

The issue with Iran is not the publication of moves we made against it that were already public knowledge, but that they hold us hostage through Hamas and Hezbollah, and even the Houthis, he wrote. The governments of the last decade talk and preach, but dont exact a painful price from the leaders of Iran.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
GDS Wealth Management acquired a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 2,352 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $214,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of NVO. Green Square Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 103.7% in the third quarter. Green Square Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,612 shares of the companys stock worth $238,000 after buying an additional 1,330 shares in the last quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 94.0% during the third quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 44,292 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,028,000 after purchasing an additional 21,457 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 112.2% in the third quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 29,323 shares of the companys stock worth $2,667,000 after purchasing an additional 15,504 shares during the period. Meridian Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 277.6% in the third quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 63,922 shares of the companys stock worth $5,813,000 after purchasing an additional 46,992 shares in the last quarter. Finally, M&R Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 67.4% during the 3rd quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 678 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 273 shares in the last quarter. 6.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Monday, December 18th. TD Cowen upped their price target on Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Argus began 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 objective for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $115.00.

Novo Nordisk A/S Price Performance

Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S stock traded up $0.29 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $103.97. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,228,623 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,450,893. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $99.79 and a 200-day moving average price of $69.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The stock has a market cap of $466.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.40. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $65.05 and a one year high of $105.69.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.73 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.04. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 35.20% and a return on equity of 86.53%. The company had revenue of $8.58 billion during the quarter. On average, analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 2.62 EPS for the current year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(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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Verity & Verity LLC trimmed its position in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 13.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 43,794 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,071 shares during the quarter. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $2,367,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Johnson Midwest Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 7.5% during the 2nd quarter. Johnson Midwest Financial LLC now owns 2,321 shares of the companys stock valued at $140,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Alpha Financial Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. Alpha Financial Partners LLC now owns 4,913 shares of the companys stock valued at $296,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 4.4% in the second quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,831 shares of the companys stock worth $231,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Plancorp LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.1% in the second quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 14,897 shares of the companys stock worth $897,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.9% in the second quarter. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC now owns 17,756 shares of the companys stock worth $1,069,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. 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 Coca-Cola stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total value 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 $23,835,527.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Coca-Cola news, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 20,534 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.12, for a total value of $1,152,368.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares in the company, valued at $8,046,653.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the businesss 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,835,527.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 349,315 shares of company stock worth $19,805,715 over the last three months. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Coca-Cola Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of KO traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $58.67. 2,365,602 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,746,389. The firm has a market cap of $253.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.58, a PEG ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 0.58. 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 stocks fifty day moving average price is $57.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $58.68.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $11.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.45 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 23.92% and a return on equity of 42.44%. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st were issued a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.14%. Coca-Colas payout ratio is currently 73.90%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on KO. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $59.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 12th. StockNews.com cut shares of Coca-Cola from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $66.20.

Read Our Latest Analysis on KO

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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Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 5.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,496 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 315 shares during the quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $532,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Halpern Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. CGC Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. 73.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on ABT. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price 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. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $118.00 in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, TheStreet raised Abbott Laboratories from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $117.80.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at $7,022,916. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.05, for a total value of $4,702,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now 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 is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the companys 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

Abbott Laboratories stock traded up $0.68 during trading on Thursday, hitting $110.47. The stock had a trading volume of 625,380 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,167,650. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $89.67 and a 1 year high of $115.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The stocks 50 day moving average is $101.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $102.84. The stock has a market cap of $191.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.70.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 business had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.15 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.44 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 12th will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.99%. This is an increase from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 69.39%.

About Abbott Laboratories

(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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The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has ordered to start defensive actions in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after the arrival of a British warship off the coast of Guyana. The vice-president of that country, Bharrat Jagdeo, has shortly after denied plans for an offensive against its neighbor, who claims sovereignty over the Essequibo, a jungle territory rich in minerals and oil. These are routine measures that are planned for a long time, they are part of building defense capabilities. We do not plan to invade Venezuela, President Maduro knows that. We have no plans to take offensive action against Venezuela, Jagdeo added.

Maduro, who spoke about the territorial conflict during his New Years message, has qualified the presence of the British Navy ship as a threat [...] against peace and sovereignty. His government also denounced it as an act of hostile provocation and a violation of the bilateral agreements signed in mid-December in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A couple of weeks of apparent calm followed the meeting between Presidents Maduro and Irfaan Ali, organized by Brazil with the support of the countries of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), to defuse the escalation of tensions between Venezuela and Guyana over control of the Essequibo.

Now, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has said in a statement that the arrival of the military vessel HMS Trent is extremely serious and follows the declarations of Guyanas allies such as the United Kingdom and the United States in the territorial dispute. Venezuela urges the Guyanese authorities to take immediate action for the withdrawal of the vessel and to refrain from continuing to involve military powers in the territorial dispute.

The Venezuelan Armed Forces announced the operational deployment of 5,600 soldiers on the countrys eastern coast, which includes disputed territorial waters. We are going with the best disposition, with the best attitude of a trained combatant to guard Venezuelan territory and exercise sovereignty, said Ashraf Suleiman Gutierrez, head of the Strategic Region of Integral Maritime Insular Defense. The beginning of the mobilization of ocean patrol boats, ships, missile boats, F-16 and Sukhoi fighter planes, amphibious and anti-aircraft defense vehicles, among other equipment, was broadcast on television and authorized live by Maduro dressed in military attire.

In the midst of an internal whirlwind after the primaries in which the Venezuelan opposition closed ranks around candidate Maria Corina Machado, Maduro has dusted off a two-century-old conflict with Guyana over the sovereignty of the Essequibo, an extensive territory of 160,000 square kilometers, five times the surface of Belgium, with important mineral and oil riches. In the maps of 1777 the border of the Captaincy General of Venezuela included this area. But it was British Guyana, and later independent Guyana, which ended up occupying this territory. After the Paris Arbitral Award of 1899, a document considered rigged by Venezuela, Guyanas border was moved westward to keep that portion within its limits. For decades, this controversy was mediated at the request of the United Nations in the framework of the Geneva Agreement of 1966 and five years ago led to the International Court of Justice, whose jurisdiction to settle this conflict is rejected by Venezuela.

One day after the opposition primaries which mobilized more than two million Venezuelans, Maduro announced a referendum for December 3 in which the annexation of the Essequibo was approved, albeit with participation levels that have been questioned, due to the low mobilization seen in the streets and the absence of disaggregated results on the votes. Alarm bells went off in Latin America and were even discussed in an informal session of the UN Security Council. In spite of this, Maduro pushed forward and appointed authorities in the region, ordered the registration of its citizens and decreed a new map of the country with the Essequibo. Guyana, which in recent years has granted oil concessions in the disputed waters, also followed suit with the hoisting of its flag in the disputed sector and the mobilization of its allies in the field of diplomacy.

This is a simmering tension that might be politically exploited by Chavismo, according to several analysts, in order to suspend the 2024 presidential elections, in which it would be at a disadvantage if it is forced to comply with the democratic guarantees demanded by the international community, under the argument that an escalation with Guyana would force it to declare a state of emergency.

After the meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on December 14, the parties agreed to continue in dialogue and to avoid taking measures that could further complicate the situation. A couple of weeks later, the small Caribbean country was also the venue for the exchange of U.S. prisoners for the businessman Alex Saab, arrested for money laundering in the United States, which accuses him of being a frontman for high-ranking officials of the Maduro government, but that Venezuela claims as a diplomat. The issue of the Essequibo, on which the Government deployed an intense propaganda campaign, seemed to be buried for a few weeks following the new steps taken in the negotiating table between Chavismo and the United States, which has relaxed its sanctions, in order for Maduro to move towards competitive elections in 2024, such as the possible enabling of Machado to compete freely; a matter on which a decision of the Supreme Court is expected this last week of 2023, just when the waters between Venezuela and Guyana seem to be choppy once again.

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Verity & Verity LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Free Report) by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,188 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 156 shares during the quarter. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $515,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of Walmart by 93,272.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 821,003,685 shares of the retailers stock worth $129,045,359,000 after buying an additional 820,124,410 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Walmart by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 100,364,767 shares of the retailers stock valued at $15,775,334,000 after purchasing an additional 430,215 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Walmart by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 25,499,791 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,995,749,000 after purchasing an additional 394,797 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Walmart by 112,181.6% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 22,854,919 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,240,599,000 after purchasing an additional 22,834,564 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its position in Walmart by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,382,688 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,173,642,000 after purchasing an additional 1,923,199 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.18% of the companys stock.

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Walmart Price Performance

WMT stock traded up $0.13 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $158.01. 2,080,251 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,295,104. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.23. The company has a market capitalization of $425.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.19, a P/E/G ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a 52-week low of $136.09 and a 52-week high of $169.94. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $158.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $158.77.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 16th. The retailer reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.53. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.20% and a net margin of 2.55%. The company had revenue of $160.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $159.65 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.50 earnings per share. Walmarts revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total transaction of $1,582,306.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,451,801 shares of the companys stock, valued at $236,629,044.99. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP John D. Rainey sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.50, for a total value of $159,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 168,735 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,913,232.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total value of $1,582,306.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,451,801 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $236,629,044.99. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 3,479,006 shares of company stock valued at $542,170,741. 46.51% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on WMT shares. Piper Sandler reissued an overweight rating and issued a $210.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. TD Cowen reissued an outperform rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $168.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Tigress Financial raised their price objective on Walmart from $182.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group restated an outperform rating and set a $185.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Walmart has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $179.44.

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Walmart Profile

(Free Report)

Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications.

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Shares of ASOS Plc (OTCMKTS:ASOMY  Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company.

Several research firms have commented on ASOMY. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of ASOS from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. UBS Group raised shares of ASOS from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on ASOS from GBX 550 ($6.99) to GBX 500 ($6.35) in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on ASOS from GBX 450 ($5.72) to GBX 445 ($5.65) in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th.

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ASOS Trading Down 0.9 %

ASOS Company Profile

Shares of ASOMY stock opened at $5.36 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $4.91 and its 200 day moving average is $4.93. ASOS has a 1-year low of $4.06 and a 1-year high of $12.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12.

(Get Free Report

ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and internationally. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands.

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Vermilion Energy Inc. (TSE:VET  Get Free Report) (NYSE:VET) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$23.96.

VET has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Vermilion Energy from C$22.00 to C$19.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Vermilion Energy from C$27.00 to C$24.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. National Bankshares lowered their price target on Vermilion Energy from C$26.00 to C$24.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 12th. ATB Capital dropped their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$29.00 to C$27.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Vermilion Energy from C$26.00 to C$24.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th.

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Vermilion Energy Trading Down 2.4 %

TSE:VET opened at C$16.07 on Friday. Vermilion Energy has a one year low of C$14.55 and a one year high of C$24.13. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$17.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$18.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.04, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.90. The firm has a market cap of C$2.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 2.80, a P/E/G ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 2.66.

Vermilion Energy (TSE:VET  Get Free Report) (NYSE:VET) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The company reported C$0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.32 by C$0.02. The company had revenue of C$475.53 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$575.50 million. Vermilion Energy had a return on equity of 28.51% and a net margin of 45.17%. Equities analysts anticipate that Vermilion Energy will post 0.9226361 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vermilion Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 15th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. Vermilion Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 6.97%.

Vermilion Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Vermilion Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company owns 82% working interest in 796,648 net acres of developed land and 85% working interest in 384,237 net acres of undeveloped land in Canada; 149,043 net acres of land in the Powder River basin in the United States; 96% working interest in 258,125 net acres of developed land and 100% working interest in 106,993 net acres of undeveloped land in the Aquitaine and Paris Basins in France; 53% working interest in 1,604,206 net acres of land in the Netherlands; 107,351 net developed acres and 1,549,929 net undeveloped acres in Germany; 975,374 net acres land in Croatia; 614,625 net acres land in Hungary; and 97,907 net acres land in Slovakia.

Further Reading

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Fenimore Asset Management Inc. cut its holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG  Free Report) by 96.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,325 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 197,753 shares during the period. Fenimore Asset Management Inc.s holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group were worth $924,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 14.0% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 14,446 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,160,000 after purchasing an additional 1,772 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group during the 1st quarter worth about $209,000. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 3,679 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $550,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 5,221 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $780,000 after buying an additional 277 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its position in The Hanover Insurance Group by 2.7% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 13,423 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,007,000 after buying an additional 355 shares during the last quarter. 84.89% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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The Hanover Insurance Group Stock Down 0.2 %

THG stock traded down $0.26 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $121.48. The companys stock had a trading volume of 11,290 shares, compared to its average volume of 183,427. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $120.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $114.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.34 billion, a P/E ratio of -51.39, a PEG ratio of 4.07 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $103.82 and a 52-week high of $148.78.

The Hanover Insurance Group Increases Dividend

The Hanover Insurance Group ( NYSE:THG Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The insurance provider reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.19. The Hanover Insurance Group had a negative return on equity of 4.16% and a negative net margin of 1.42%. The firm had revenue of $1.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.58 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.99 earnings per share. The Hanover Insurance Groups revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 0.81 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.80%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This is a boost from The Hanover Insurance Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The Hanover Insurance Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -143.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $138.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. JMP Securities dropped their target price on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $160.00 to $150.00 and set a market outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 13th. Oppenheimer started coverage on The Hanover Insurance Group in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They issued an outperform rating and a $135.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded The Hanover Insurance Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded The Hanover Insurance Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $125.00 to $126.00 in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $134.00.

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The Hanover Insurance Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage.

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Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Free Report) by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 154,290 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 4,170 shares during the period. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF accounts for approximately 2.4% of Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC owned about 0.05% of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF worth $8,937,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 35,003,290 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,159,703,000 after purchasing an additional 1,745,652 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 5.6% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 10,874,009 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $670,926,000 after acquiring an additional 571,980 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 1.2% during the third quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 5,915,603 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $342,691,000 after acquiring an additional 70,567 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 30.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,578,446 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $344,190,000 after acquiring an additional 1,317,184 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 12.1% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,981,866 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $303,630,000 after acquiring an additional 536,550 shares in the last quarter.

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Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Trading Up 0.3 %

VGK stock opened at $64.59 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $60.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.53. The firm has a market cap of $19.75 billion, a PE ratio of 11.10 and a beta of 0.95. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a 1-year low of $55.06 and a 1-year high of $64.92.

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Company Profile

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index.

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Focused Investors LLC reduced its position in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Free Report) by 1.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,810,850 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 21,400 shares during the quarter. Morgan Stanley makes up about 5.3% of Focused Investors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Focused Investors LLCs holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $147,892,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 152.3% in the third quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,337 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $599,000 after purchasing an additional 4,429 shares during the period. Jmac Enterprises LLC acquired a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley during the third quarter worth approximately $221,000. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 360,868 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,472,000 after purchasing an additional 10,444 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 2.5% during the third quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 539,175 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $44,034,000 after acquiring an additional 12,897 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Czech National Bank grew its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 44.6% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 222,995 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,212,000 after buying an additional 68,782 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.09% of the companys stock.

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Morgan Stanley Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of MS stock opened at $93.65 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $153.71 billion, a PE ratio of 16.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 1.40. Morgan Stanley has a 52-week low of $69.42 and a 52-week high of $100.99. The businesss fifty day moving average is $79.97 and its 200 day moving average is $83.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.70, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.07. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 10.70% and a net margin of 10.86%. The firm had revenue of $13.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.53 EPS. The companys revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Morgan Stanley will post 5.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 31st were given a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 30th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.63%. Morgan Stanleys payout ratio is 60.93%.

Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley

In other Morgan Stanley news, major shareholder Stanley Morgan sold 135 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50,000.00, for a total value of $6,750,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on MS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. BNP Paribas cut shares of Morgan Stanley from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $85.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, November 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Wolfe Research raised Morgan Stanley from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Morgan Stanley in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Ten equities research analysts have 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. According to MarketBeat, Morgan Stanley currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $93.51.

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Morgan Stanley Company Profile

(Free Report)

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.

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Progressive Investment Management Corp decreased its holdings in ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW  Free Report) by 1.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,716 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 132 shares during the quarter. ServiceNow comprises about 2.1% of Progressive Investment Management Corps portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Progressive Investment Management Corps holdings in ServiceNow were worth $6,549,000 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 the business. Red Door Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in ServiceNow by 3.9% in the third quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,723 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $3,199,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC raised its position in shares of ServiceNow by 6.8% in the 3rd quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC now owns 1,297 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $725,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its stake in ServiceNow by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 59,360 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $33,180,000 after purchasing an additional 1,904 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its position in ServiceNow by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 99,412 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $55,567,000 after purchasing an additional 4,630 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Czech National Bank increased its stake in ServiceNow by 47.8% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 35,655 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $19,930,000 after purchasing an additional 11,537 shares in the last quarter. 87.14% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at ServiceNow

In other ServiceNow news, COO Chirantan Jitendra Desai sold 3,150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $671.84, for a total value of $2,116,296.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 38,904 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,137,263.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, General Counsel Russell S. Elmer sold 56 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $616.08, for a total value of $34,500.48. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 4,225 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,602,938. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, COO Chirantan Jitendra Desai sold 3,150 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $671.84, for a total value of $2,116,296.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 38,904 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,137,263.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 11,383 shares of company stock valued at $7,265,612 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.

ServiceNow Stock Performance

NOW opened at $702.46 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $144.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 90.99, a PEG ratio of 6.13 and a beta of 1.03. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $651.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $595.59. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 52-week low of $353.62 and a 52-week high of $720.68.

ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 25th. The information technology services provider reported $1.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.32. ServiceNow had a return on equity of 12.25% and a net margin of 18.72%. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.27 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 4.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on NOW. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of ServiceNow from $734.00 to $700.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Guggenheim reiterated a buy rating and set a $657.00 price target on shares of ServiceNow in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. HSBC initiated coverage on ServiceNow in a research note on Friday, September 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $704.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on ServiceNow from $675.00 to $725.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, Argus raised their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $675.00 to $770.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $621.39.

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ServiceNow Profile

(Free Report)

ServiceNow, Inc provides enterprise cloud computing solutions that defines, structures, consolidates, manages, and automates services for enterprises worldwide. The company operates the Now platform for workflow automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, process mining, performance analytics, electronic service catalogs and portals, configuration management systems, data benchmarking, encryption, and collaboration and development tools.

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Fenimore Asset Management Inc. lowered its stake in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 5.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 378,962 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 21,280 shares during the quarter. EOG Resources comprises approximately 1.2% of Fenimore Asset Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Fenimore Asset Management Inc. owned 0.07% of EOG Resources worth $48,037,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Pinnacle Holdings LLC bought a new position in EOG Resources during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of EOG Resources in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in EOG Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in EOG Resources during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in EOG Resources in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 89.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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EOG Resources Stock Up 0.0 %

NYSE EOG traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $121.35. 356,888 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,310,183. The stock has a market capitalization of $70.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.01, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.44. EOG Resources, Inc. has a twelve month low of $98.52 and a twelve month high of $137.95. The businesss 50-day moving average is $123.53 and its 200-day moving average is $124.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 2.10 and a current ratio of 2.43.

EOG Resources Increases Dividend

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The energy exploration company reported $3.44 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.49. The company had revenue of $6.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.91 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 26.80% and a net margin of 32.11%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.09 earnings per share for the current year.

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 dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 16th. 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 3.00%. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is currently 24.52%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on EOG shares. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered shares of EOG Resources from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $155.00 to $146.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. Mizuho decreased their target price on EOG Resources from $158.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered EOG Resources from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $156.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley cut EOG Resources from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $134.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on EOG Resources in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $145.52.

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EOG Resources Profile

(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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MCF Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 8.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,473 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 588 shares during the quarter. MCF Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Empirical Finance LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 21,586 shares of the companys stock worth $987,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 14,701 shares of the companys stock worth $670,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Corrigan Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Corrigan Financial Inc. now owns 5,294 shares of the companys stock worth $240,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. now owns 3,711 shares of the companys stock worth $168,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Perennial Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Perennial Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,055 shares of the companys stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Robert Matthews Davis bought 1,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $40.50 per share, for a total transaction of $48,600.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 8,473 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $343,156.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE MO traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $40.22. The company had a trading volume of 1,340,146 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,072,282. The stock has a market cap of $71.14 billion, a PE ratio of 8.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $41.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $42.96. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $39.06 and a 1-year high of $51.57.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $5.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 237.91% and a net margin of 35.58%. The businesss revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.28 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.96 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st will be issued a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.75%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th. Altria Groups payout ratio is 79.84%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on MO. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 13th. StockNews.com downgraded Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. UBS Group cut their target price on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Citigroup cut their target price on Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. Finally, Bank of America cut their target price on Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.53.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on MO

Altria Group 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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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report).

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Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH decreased its holdings in American Express (NYSE:AXP  Free Report) by 0.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,523 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 109 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OHs holdings in American Express were worth $1,868,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AXP. Bison Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of American Express by 2.1% during the second quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 20,444 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $3,561,000 after buying an additional 416 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in American Express by 127.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 135,098 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $23,534,000 after acquiring an additional 75,821 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its stake in American Express by 25.0% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 499,340 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $74,584,000 after purchasing an additional 99,813 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning boosted its holdings in shares of American Express by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 123,390 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $21,494,000 after purchasing an additional 6,635 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Symmetry Partners LLC grew its position in shares of American Express by 5.5% during the second quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC now owns 7,193 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $1,253,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.08% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other American Express news, Director Walter Joseph Clayton III purchased 1,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 24th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $143.93 per share, for a total transaction of $143,930.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $287,860. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other American Express news, Vice Chairman Douglas E. Buckminster sold 11,344 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.87, for a total value of $1,802,221.28. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 88,376 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,040,295.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Walter Joseph Clayton III bought 1,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 24th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $143.93 per share, for a total transaction of $143,930.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at $287,860. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. HSBC assumed coverage on American Express in a research note on Friday, October 13th. They set a buy rating and a $181.00 price target for the company. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of American Express from $194.00 to $188.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of American Express from $192.00 to $167.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of American Express in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. They issued an overweight rating and a $184.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of American Express from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $143.00 to $154.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $171.78.

View Our Latest Report on American Express

American Express Trading Down 0.2 %

AXP traded down $0.45 on Friday, reaching $187.35. 278,579 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,153,433. The company has a market cap of $136.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70. American Express has a one year low of $140.91 and a one year high of $188.30. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $164.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $163.26.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 20th. The payment services company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.96 by $0.34. American Express had a net margin of 13.61% and a return on equity of 30.60%. The firm had revenue of $15.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.36 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.47 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that American Express will post 11.22 earnings per share for the current year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 5th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 4th. American Expresss payout ratio is 22.51%.

About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Global Consumer Services Group, Global Commercial Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Its products and services include payment and financing products; network services; accounts payable expense management products and services; and travel and lifestyle services.

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Looking out of the window of a house that doesnt belong to her, Ana gazes at a country that isnt her own. Outside, her three-year-old daughter is playing. Mee-Maw, your soups ready, the girl calls out. Ana explains: She has only met her grandparents on video calls, so she pretends that Im her mee-maw. They havent seen the rest of their family for five years.

Situations like Anas are commonplace among people who have been forced to flee to Ecuador: obtaining legal residency and bringing their families back together are mammoth challenges. According to the UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, the country is host to around 550,000 refugees and migrants, a total that represents some 3% of Ecuadors population of 18 million. Between getting legal residency and managing to bring your family over, you may be waiting for a number of years, Ana says. And its difficult to get the money you need [to complete the process]. People take advantage of you, too  theres a lot of misinformation out there about how to go about it.

Ana, Luis and Yulitza, whose real names have not been used to protect their identities, are among Ecuadors 3%. Ana is Cuban. She arrived in Ecuador in 2018. After going through a long process, she secured legal residency and now works as a publicist. Luis is Venezuelan. He has been in Ecuador for four years. After the Ecuadorian governments approval in June of a migratory amnesty for Venezuelans who entered the country illegally, he has been able to begin the process of seeking the right to stay. Yulitza is Colombian. Two years after she arrived in Ecuador, she was given refugee status, but finding work has been difficult. Like Luis, she does odd jobs to support her family.

Ana, Luis and Yulitzas stories, home countries and reasons for leaving are different. But what they all have in common is a desire to see their families again. Luis left behind a two-year-old son and a pregnant wife. Four years on, he still hasnt met the daughter that was born after his departure. Its more than seven years since Yulitza last saw her mother, who, in turn, is yet to meet her youngest grandchildren.

Luis: Not that easy to get a job even if you have a visa

Luis is one of the almost 8 million Venezuelans that have left the country in search of a new life. And, although he believed that leaving his native land would allow him to provide his loved ones with a brighter future, he has found many obstacles blocking the path to this goal.

From the moment I arrived in Ecuador, it was clear that it wasnt going to be easy, he says. Being far away from your family, being unable to share your day-to-day with your kids Not having a stable job is also difficult, as is the threat of simply not being paid. Thats something that has happened to Luis. If they dont pay me what can I do? he says. Who can I go and complain to?

Luis, a Venezuelan migrant in Ecuador, washes a coffee pot. Marianne P. Sosa

More than 475,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants live in Ecuador, according to figures compiled by the Ecuadorian Taskforce for Refugees and Migrants (GTRM) in September. Only Colombia, Peru and Brazil house a higher expatriate Venezuelan population, the GTRM says.

Luis is the sole breadwinner for his family back in Venezuela. His income not only has to cover his expenses in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, where he rents a room; he also needs to set enough money aside to send home. During his first six months in Ecuador, he benefited from a food-aid scheme. He also received support during the Covid-19 pandemic, the toughest period of his time in Ecuador.

I havent brought my wife and my kids over, because I dont want them to go through what Ive been through to get here, Luis says. I came on foot, with a group of other Venezuelans. Id like them to come here with a visa  and, above all, Id like to have a steady income so that I can put the right conditions in place before bringing them over. Its not that easy to get a job even if you have a visa. Imagine what its like if youre here illegally.

In June 2022, Ecuador issued a decree that made a temporary residence visa available to Venezuelan citizens and their family members. Following the approval of the migratory amnesty a year on, people who entered the country illegally, like Luis, are able to apply for this permit. Its a ray of hope for Luis in his bid to meet his daughter and once more hug his wife and son.

Yulitza: An uncertain future

Although a while has now passed since Yulitza arrived in Ecuador from Colombia, she still remembers the violent circumstances that brought her here  circumstances she prefers not to go into  as if they were yesterday.

Violence has had a profound impact on the lives of Colombians. According to a report published last year by Colombias Truth Commission, there were at least 450,664 homicides in the country between 1985 and 2018, as a result of the Colombian internal armed conflict. However, the reports authors say the true figure could be as high as 800,000. Whats more, there were 121,768 enforced disappearances; 55,770 were kidnapped; and around 7.7 million Colombians  including Yulitza  were forcibly displaced.

As Colombia and Ecuador share a border, the latter has become the chief destination for Colombians leaving their home country. Per the UNHCR, Ecuador housed a little over 75,000 refugees as of November 2023  one of the highest figures in the region. Some 95% were Colombian.

For me, the toughest thing has been juggling looking after my kids with making ends meet, says Yulitza, who has four children and, back in Colombia, got childcare help from her mother and aunts. Ive had to take the kids out with me and look for a way to get by. She receives financial and food support from several NGOs, but it isnt enough. Im grateful for that, of course, she explains. But if Im honest, what I really need is someone to take care of my kids so I can go out and work. Im on my own. Sometimes my older kids watch the little ones for me so I can get out and do something  clean a house or sell things.

Asked why she hasnt yet been able to reunite with her family, she replies: Weve tried. We all had to leave the place where we lived, and everyone ended up in different locations. It hasnt been easy to stay in touch, either.

Anas uphill battle to see her son again

Between mid-2008 and December 2015, the open-doors policy in force at the time in Ecuador gave Cubans a pathway to leave their country and continue on to the United States. However, more than 2,000 people from Cuba  including Ana  have also found an opportunity for a new start on Ecuadorian soil.

But Cubans in Ecuador havent been free of the difficulties of reuniting with their families, either  a problem accentuated by their island of origin. The damn circumstance of water everywhere, says Ana, quoting the Cuban playwright Virgilio Pinera. Either people get a visa, or they have to travel to one of the few countries that offer visa-free access to Cubans, and from there you take the risk and go up against all the obstacles of getting to your destination illegally.

The obstacles that Cubans like Ana face when bringing family over also mount up inside Ecuador. First, you have to obtain legal residency, she says. Thats an uphill battle if, for whatever reason, youre undocumented when you arrive here, as was my case. It took me three years to sort it out. Then, even if its your own young child that you want to bring to Ecuador under your protection, you have to fulfil a series of requirements. Meeting all those requirements is very difficult, particularly the financial ones And then theres the problem of dealing with bureaucracy. For example, from April 2022 to March 2022, the webpage for applying for an appointment to get the visa you need from the Ecuadorian consulate in Havana was out of service. Almost a year without access to a simple procedure.

Refugees and migrants in Ecuador must also clear the hurdle of unemployment and job insecurity, problems which the country is beset by. More than 60% of people in employment are paid below the minimum wage, according to Ecuadors National Institute of Statistics and Census. In such circumstances, meeting basic financial needs and saving for the costs of going through immigration procedures becomes a colossal task.

As she looks out of the window, Ana thinks about her son in Cuba, and her eagerness to wrap her arms around him in a hug after five years apart. Mee-maw, come and have your soup, please, we hear from outside.

Marianne P. Sosa lives as a refugee in Ecuador. This report has been published under a partnership between UNHCR Ecuador and Planeta Futuro (EL PAIS).

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Uncommon Cents Investing LLC lessened its position in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 17,980 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 250 shares during the period. Illinois Tool Works makes up approximately 1.5% of Uncommon Cents Investing LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Uncommon Cents Investing LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $4,141,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Quarry LP grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 52.7% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 142 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

NYSE ITW traded up $0.13 during trading on Friday, hitting $262.01. The companys stock had a trading volume of 156,943 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,067,000. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52 week low of $217.06 and a 52 week high of $265.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.27. The firm has a market cap of $78.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.17 and a beta of 1.13. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $241.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $242.32.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.55 earnings per share (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 business had revenue of $4.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.35 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Workss revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business 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 2.14%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is presently 54.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on ITW. Barclays lowered their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $255.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $238.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Citigroup upped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $220.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $240.82.

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Illinois Tool Works 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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JGP Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM  Free Report) by 2.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,656 shares of the specialty retailers stock after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. JGP Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $879,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 0.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,269,096 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $283,955,000 after buying an additional 15,078 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,438,157 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $179,971,000 after acquiring an additional 53,754 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in Williams-Sonoma by 24.1% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,408,911 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $204,292,000 after acquiring an additional 273,424 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,142,272 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $142,944,000 after acquiring an additional 35,315 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.1% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 951,820 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $119,105,000 after purchasing an additional 9,994 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.76% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 1,811 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $271,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 563,698 shares in the company, valued at approximately $84,554,700. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Marta Benson sold 5,374 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.86, for a total transaction of $961,193.64. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 48,864 shares in the company, valued at $8,739,815.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 1,811 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $271,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 563,698 shares of the companys stock, valued at $84,554,700. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 27,319 shares of company stock worth $4,400,492 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

Shares of Williams-Sonoma stock traded down $1.50 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $201.81. The companys stock had a trading volume of 73,439 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,036,493. The company has a market capitalization of $12.94 billion, a PE ratio of 14.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.60. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $177.54 and a 200 day moving average of $152.10. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 12 month low of $109.44 and a 12 month high of $209.27.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 16th. The specialty retailer reported $3.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.34 by $0.32. The business had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.95 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 59.65% and a net margin of 11.99%. Equities analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 14.49 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 19th will be given a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.78%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 18th. Williams-Sonomas dividend payout ratio is 24.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on WSM shares. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $110.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma from an underperform rating to a hold rating and upped their target price for the company from $116.00 to $144.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $146.00 to $167.00 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $154.31.

View Our Latest Analysis on WSM

About Williams-Sonoma

(Free Report)

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.

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Shulman DeMeo Asset Management LLC lowered its stake in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Free Report) by 11.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,429 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 996 shares during the quarter. Shulman DeMeo Asset Management LLCs holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $607,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MS. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Morgan Stanley by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 90,635,593 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,740,280,000 after acquiring an additional 3,480,402 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in Morgan Stanley by 7.3% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 28,073,015 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,397,435,000 after purchasing an additional 1,908,648 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its stake in Morgan Stanley by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 24,463,443 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,089,138,000 after buying an additional 1,341,559 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Morgan Stanley by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 23,626,016 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,012,223,000 after buying an additional 422,710 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 114.8% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 23,059,090 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,024,589,000 after buying an additional 12,321,786 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.09% of the companys stock.

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Morgan Stanley Price Performance

MS traded down $0.07 on Friday, hitting $93.57. 214,647 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,679,637. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.70, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.76. Morgan Stanley has a 12 month low of $69.42 and a 12 month high of $100.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $153.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.78, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 1.40. The business has a 50-day moving average of $79.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of $83.63.

Morgan Stanley Announces Dividend

Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.07. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 10.86% and a return on equity of 10.70%. The business had revenue of $13.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.53 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 5.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 31st were paid a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.63%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, October 30th. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.93%.

Insider Activity

In other news, major shareholder Stanley Morgan sold 135 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50,000.00, for a total value of $6,750,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on Morgan Stanley from $98.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Morgan Stanley from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Friday, October 20th. BNP Paribas lowered shares of Morgan Stanley from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $85.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $85.00 price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $102.00 to $97.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $93.51.

View Our Latest Report on Morgan Stanley

About Morgan Stanley

(Free Report)

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.

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Solidarity Wealth LLC grew its position in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO  Free Report) by 13.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,666 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the period. AutoZone comprises about 4.3% of Solidarity Wealth LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Solidarity Wealth LLCs holdings in AutoZone were worth $11,850,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Independence Bank of Kentucky acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new position in AutoZone in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new position in AutoZone in the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp raised its holdings in AutoZone by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp now owns 16 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the period. Finally, Mascoma Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AutoZone during the third quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors own 90.34% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

AZO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Raymond James upgraded AutoZone from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $2,850.00 to $3,100.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. StockNews.com lowered AutoZone from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Barclays lifted their price target on AutoZone from $2,742.00 to $2,800.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of AutoZone from $2,750.00 to $2,900.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of AutoZone in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $2,851.50.

Insider Activity at AutoZone

In related news, VP Charles Pleas III sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,717.36, for a total transaction of $8,152,080.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,282,501.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Preston Frazer sold 6,754 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,476.97, for a total transaction of $16,729,455.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 709 shares in the company, valued at $1,756,171.73. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Charles Pleas III sold 3,000 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,717.36, for a total transaction of $8,152,080.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,282,501.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 14,949 shares of company stock worth $38,497,878 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.

AutoZone Stock Performance

Shares of AZO stock traded up $5.40 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $2,573.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 17,465 shares, compared to its average volume of 153,977. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $2,604.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2,541.71. AutoZone, Inc. has a 52 week low of $2,277.88 and a 52 week high of $2,750.00. The company has a market cap of $44.49 billion, a PE ratio of 18.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.63.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, December 5th. The company reported $32.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $31.57 by $0.98. AutoZone had a net margin of 14.62% and a negative return on equity of 57.23%. The company had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.19 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $27.45 EPS. AutoZones quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that AutoZone, Inc. will post 150.5 earnings per share for the current year.

About AutoZone

(Free Report)

AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.

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Town & Country Bank & Trust CO dba First Bankers Trust CO increased its position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 8.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 41,842 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,310 shares during the period. Philip Morris International comprises approximately 2.0% of Town & Country Bank & Trust CO dba First Bankers Trust COs portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Town & Country Bank & Trust CO dba First Bankers Trust COs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $3,874,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 86.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 11,474 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,062,000 after purchasing an additional 5,309 shares during the last quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the third quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,583 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,535,000 after buying an additional 179 shares during the period. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.8% in the third quarter. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV now owns 53,013 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,908,000 after acquiring an additional 940 shares during the last quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 11.9% during the 3rd quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 17,150 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,588,000 after acquiring an additional 1,819 shares during the last quarter. Finally, McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,117 shares of the companys stock valued at $381,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the period. 79.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Philip Morris International news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total value of $942,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at $18,703,629.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Bank of America reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.27.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.3 %

NYSE:PM opened at $94.08 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $146.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.77. Philip Morris International Inc. has a twelve month low of $87.23 and a twelve month high of $105.62. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $92.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $94.35.

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, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.62 by $0.05. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.62% and a negative return on equity of 129.48%. The business had revenue of $9.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.21 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.53 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st will be given a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 20th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 100.97%.

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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In front of the cameras, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is keeping up his hard-line rhetoric, saying that Israel will see through its war against Hamas in Gaza until the end. But behind the scenes, his government continues to move discreetly to secure the release of more hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails. What until just two weeks ago seemed like a red line for Israel  the partial withdrawal of its troops  is now being discussed in the negotiations with the Islamist group. That possibility is raised in a new ceasefire offer, supported by Washington. Under the agreement, Israeli soldiers would leave the most populated areas of Gaza, allowing the entry of large-scale humanitarian aid. Hamas has rejected the proposal, saying it will only consider a definitive ceasefire.

The offer has two well-defined phases. The first phase consists of a pause in fighting, when Palestinian prisoners would be swapped for Israeli hostages. During this initial stage, Israel would withdraw from the most populated areas of Gaza to allow humanitarian aid and medical supplies  that come from Egypt through the Rafah border crossing  to enter the entire Palestinian enclave. Since aid began to enter Gaza, the United Nations and its satellite humanitarian organizations in Gaza have repeatedly complained that the omnipresence of the Israeli military is a big obstacle for its distribution. In that first phase, the exchange would affect only the most vulnerable hostages and prisoners, Israels Channel 13 News reported on Wednesday.

The plan would also have a second phase that would involve exchanging women, soldiers and corpses. If the agreement went ahead, Israel would agree to relocate its defense forces to other areas of the territory. The United States, which supports the offer, has been pressuring Israel to move to a third phase of the war. This stage would involve Israel stopping its large-scale attacks by land, sea, and air and opting instead for more surgical special forces operations that minimize or stop altogether the rising death toll of Palestinians. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which Hamas controls, 21,320 people have been killed in Gaza, of whom 70% are civilians. And the death toll continues to rise at an exponential rate.

Hamas, however, has so far rejected the proposal as it did with the ceasefire plan put forward by Egypt, one of the intermediaries between the Islamist group and the Israeli government, on Sunday. The spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, Abu Obeida, said that the groups objective is to stop the aggression. There are no exchange deals or other proposals that we can accept before the aggression against our people is completely stopped, he said in an audio broadcast by the Qatari network Al Jazeera.

The Egyptian proposal only involved a temporary ceasefire, and also called on Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions to agree on the establishment of a government of experts that would focus on rebuilding Gaza, and agree on a roadmap to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in both Gaza and the West Bank. The plan was welcomed by Israel, which thought it was a good starting point and appreciated the fact that Qatar was no longer the sole intermediary putting forward proposals. Despite the opposition of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (which is also keeping Israeli hostages), Egypt said that it is still waiting for a response from both parties and that its objective is to bring their points of view closer to end the war and restore stability in the region.

In the zero-sum game that is the war in Gaza, Israel has been taking steps towards reaching a new agreement, while Hamas is increasingly reluctant. It is demanding a definitive ceasefire and the total withdrawal of Israeli military from Gaza as conditions to start talks. In public, Netanyahu claims that military pressure is the only way to get the hostages released. But in reality, the Israeli prime minister is under a lot of pressure from the Bring Them Home Now movement formed by the families of the hostages. This group is demanding an immediate agreement, particularly since the Israeli army mistakenly killed three hostages and the bodies of five more were recovered. On Thursday, after meeting with members, Netanyahu said: We are in contact now. We cannot detail the situation. We are working to bring them home. That is our goal. Hamas leaders are aware of the building pressure, and are using it as leverage.

Netanyahus tough public discourse against Hamas is greatly influenced by the wide social support for the military campaign. According to a poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, released on December 19, 81% of Israelis of Jewish descent believe that their country should not take into account the suffering of the Palestinian population of Gaza when planning its military operations. Among the Arab-Israeli population  which accounts for around 20% of the total  the feeling is the opposite: 83% believe that the government should take into account ways to minimize the harm to Gazan civilians. Under these conditions, its no surprise that the prime minister is publicly insisting on the need to maintain the campaign until it achieves its objectives.

Whats more, the internal cohesion of his government coalition is at stake. As Yedioth Ahronoth columnist Sima Kadmon wrote last Monday, Netanyahu would like the hostages to be released, but not at any price. Not at the price of stopping the war, which would bring about events that the prime minister does not want to happen: [Benny] Gantz and [Gadi] Eisenkot [both war cabinet ministers for the right-wing National Unity Party and former military officials] would leave the government, and the prime minister would suffer enormous criticism from the extreme right, which could also trigger the departure of [Itamar] Ben Gvir [interior minister and ultra leader]. According to the Israel Democracy Institute survey, two-thirds of Israelis (69%) want elections to be called as soon as the war is over, a position also held by most right-wing voters.

Unlawful killings

Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli attacks continue. At least 200 people died on Thursday in Rafah  a city on the south border with Egypt, where tens of thousands of people have been sleeping rough for weeks  and in towns in the center of Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Minister. Violence also reached several towns in the West Bank Thursday night, with Israeli soldiers searching for militants from Islamist organizations. The military raids ended Friday morning with the death of two Palestinians: one in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the West Bank, and another in the outskirts of Bethlehem.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called on Israel to end the unlawful killings of Palestinian citizens and settler violence in the West Bank, warning that the human right situation in the Palestinian territory has been rapidly deteriorating since the Hamas attacks on October 7. In a statement, the Austrian diplomat said: 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.

On the other hand, Israel gave its preliminary permission on Thursday for a maritime humanitarian corridor to be created between Cyprus and Gaza. There are, however, still details to negotiate before the project is launched, as announced by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Cyprus made the proposal weeks ago in a bid to help increase the amount of aid entering Gaza. Currently, supplies only enter through the border crossings at Rafah (with Egypt) and Kerem Shalom (with Israel).

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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

A fruit has become more politicized than ever. The watermelon has appeared in marches in support of the Palestinians and in thousands of comments on social media because it has the same colors as the Palestinian flag: red, black, white and green. Some accompany it with other messages; others, use it alone. Its a subtle wink to get around censorship and finger-pointing.

It may seem striking today, but the watermelon has been playing this role for almost 60 years. When the 1967 Arab-Israeli war ended, Israel took control of Gaza and the West Bank, and banned Palestinians from carrying national symbols such as their flag in public places, claiming they incited terrorism. It considered national symbols the same as those for Islamist armed groups such as Hamas or Hezbollah. Following the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, Israel lifted the ban and recognized the flag as that of the Palestinian Authority, which was created to administer the Gaza Strip and some parts of the occupied West Bank.

However, the flag has remained a source of constant tension and a pretext for repression against Palestinians. Nearly one year ago, the far-right Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered police to confiscate Palestinian flags in public places. The watermelon became famous again after Zazim, an Israeli-Arab peace activist group, stuck giant stickers of watermelons on a dozen Tel Aviv taxis. The stickers came with a Magritte-style message that read: This is not a watermelon. The goal was to protest the confiscation of the flag and several arrests for flag-flying. One of the leaders of the group told the local press that they would always be willing to overcome any absurd restrictions and fight for freedom of expression.

Before October 7, 200 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank, the highest number in a 10-month period since the U.N. began keeping records in 2005. Thats where things stood when Hamas murdered and kidnapped more than 1,400 Israelis. The Israeli army then launched an attack on Gaza and has since killed more than 21,000 Palestinians. Only then, has the world once again looked at the entrenched conflict. Social media is providing a platform for people to express themselves, although not on equal terms: Facebook and Instagram have eliminated or discriminated against thousands of pro-Palestinian content. Last week, the NGO Human Rights Watch reported that Meta  the technology company that owns these platforms  has censored peaceful, pro-Palestinian messages, videos and comments from 60 countries, mainly in English. Arabic content is more likely to be removed by mistake. However, on TikTok there is more content tagged with Palestine than with Israel, according to the platform.

On the streets, several governments have recently gone so far as to restrict demonstrations in support of Palestine. In the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunaks executive suggested that brandishing a Palestinian flag should be a crime. In many societies, the fear of offending Israel is restricting freedom of expression, which is why symbols are making a comeback.

@anafuentesf

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Cancer immunotherapy has been revolutionizing oncology medicine for more than a decade. This strategy, which consists of helping the immune system fight malignant cells, has managed to challenge  and reverse  some of the most dire prognoses in melanoma, lung cancer and a handful of hematological tumors. And although it is not an infallible magic bullet  it does not work in all patients nor for all tumors , there is still room to further exploit its possibilities, says Chris Klebanoff, 45, an oncologist and researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. The doctor, an expert in cellular therapy, visited Barcelona to participate in the first VHIO-BBVA Foundation International Symposium on Cellular Therapies in Oncology.

Question. Has immunotherapy reached its peak?

Answer. I think we are still in the middle of the second part of a three-act play. The first act of the play was the discovery that the immune system could be used as a form of cancer treatment. The second act is to develop new therapies that are more effective in more cancer types. The two major forms of immunotherapy are either the immune checkpoint blockade, which are antibodies that function as if they were taking the break off the immune system; and the other big innovation is reprogramming by genetically engineering the patients own immune cells to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, something called CAR-T therapy. The challenge is that the vast majority of cancers that affect adults are solid cancers and perhaps only 20% of all those solid cancers will respond to current immunotherapies. And while thats wonderful progress, it means that about 80% of adult solid cancers are not responding to currently approved immunotherapies. So I think that shows both the promise, but also where theres great opportunity to further expand immunotherapies.

Q. What happens to this 80%? Why doesnt immunotherapy work for some patients?

A. The most likely explanation in those 80% of patients is that they just, for whatever reason, are unable to develop an early immune response against the cancer. And that becomes a clue about what we can do to make responses happen in that 80%. One approach, which is the focus of my laboratory, is to genetically reprogram immune cells to recognize antigens or potential targets that are uniquely expressed by solid cancer cells, but are not expressed by normal cells. So the idea here is that if a patient cant generate a natural T-cell response, in the lab we can use genetic engineering to synthetically create an immune response, expand these cells outside the body, and then re-infuse them back as a form of cancer treatment to a cancer patient.

Q. Increasingly personalized medicine.

A. Correct. Therapies that are precisely tailored to the patient and, more importantly, precisely tailored to the unique genetic mutations or genetic changes that caused a patients cancer to grow in the first place.

Q. CAR-T therapy has shown good results in some types of hematological cancer, but not in solid tumors. Why?

A. One of the major limitations is the fact that in many blood cancers, especially those that begin from either antibody-producing B cells or the precursors of antibody B cells, we can target antigens that are expressed by these cells, but these targets are also expressed by normal B cells. [These antigens] are very uniformly expressed, so they represent ideal targets. And human beings, to my surprise and to the surprise of many of my colleagues, even though the CAR-T cells also eliminate normal, healthy B cells, patients do surprisingly well without normal B cells and the tumor cells regress. Using the same approach for solid cancers has been limited by the fact that we really havent found targets that cancer cells express and that, if shared by a normal healthy tissue, the patient can tolerate injury to healthy tissue. So a major limitation for the field is finding immunological targets that are uniquely expressed by cancer cells and are not expressed by normal, healthy tissues.

Q. Regarding these innovative immunotherapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just announced that it will investigate whether CAR-T therapy can cause blood tumors. Are you concerned about this research?

A. I read the FDA announcement, but there is much we in the field still dont know: we dont know much about specific cases, we dont know if secondary cancers express the gene that was used to reprogram CAR-T cells... This is key information to helping us establish what may or may not have caused these cancers. Unfortunately, in general, many kinds of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can be effective in treating the tumor, but they can also cause cancer, in a low frequency of patients, in their own right. What does appear to be the case is that although this may happen, the frequency with which it occurs appears to be extremely rare. Personally, I have never seen this and I have probably treated several hundred patients with CAR-T therapy. I have spoken via email with colleagues who have also treated many hundreds of patients and they have all been surprised by this finding. This isnt to say that it is not a possibility: in the laboratory we have always been concerned that this was a theoretical risk, but whether it is happening in humans, it is unfortunate, but it is probably very, very rare.

Q. In any case, these new therapies have risks and side effects. Are they safe strategies?

A. I think that every cancer treatment has risks of side effects. The immune system is an extremely powerful tool of the body, powerful enough for some tumors that have spread throughout the body to completely shrink and regress, causing the patient to go into complete remission. But we also know  for example, from Covid, which, among other things, causes a very strong immune response  that a very strong immune reaction can also cause many very significant side effects. In general, after patients have been treated with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy, patients find that the severity of side effects with immunotherapy are much less and more preferable than the kinds of side effects they might experience with other forms of cancer treatments.

Chris Klebanoff, oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, photographed at the Ateneu Barcelones, where he participated in a conference organized by the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology. Albert Garcia

Q. At what point is research into cancer vaccines, both therapeutic and preventive?

A. Nothing has probably done more to improve the health of human beings over the last two centuries than the development of reliable and safe vaccines for common infectious diseases. So, its very appealing and almost romantic to also ask if we can use vaccines as a cancer prevention or treatment strategy. There are two vaccines that are approved today that are fantastic cancer prevention vaccines: those that prevent human papillomavirus infection have done an extraordinary job of preventing cervical cancer, a significant proportion of head and neck cancers, as well as cancer that can affect the genitals and anus. Similarly, there is a vaccine that is routinely administered that prevents infection with the hepatitis B virus, which used to be a major cause of liver cancer if someone became infected with it. So, we can use these types of preventive vaccines for infectious diseases to also prevent certain forms of cancer. The idea of trying to use a vaccine as a therapy is a slightly different mindset, but it is not new one. In fact, over the last 30 years, there have been many, many clinical studies testing therapeutic cancer vaccines using very, very different strategies and objectives.

Q. But?

A. But these results were, in the vast majority of cases, negative. Not always, but they either had a very modest or negative effect. What has rejuvenated excitement, but I dont think it has truly translated into clearly demonstrating its benefits, is whether the RNA vaccines, which have been so effective and useful in preventing and minimizing Covid, might also be used for cancer prevention or treatment. There are some very small clinical trials that show that this approach is feasible, meaning that the vaccine can be given to cancer patients and that patients generally have very few or very manageable side effects. What is unclear is whether these new RNA vaccines are definitively helping cancer patients. So there are now randomized trials to definitively test whether these new RNA cancer vaccines can benefit cancer patients. So hopefully, well know the answer in the next two to four years.

Q. Can vaccines become a reality in the near future and change the paradigm as the first immunotherapies did a decade ago?

A. I think there is so much excitement, based largely on the success of the RNA vaccines for Covid. This, combined with the fact that immunotherapy has generated so much interest and cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy, means that there are an increasing number of clinical trials to address this question. So I think we will begin to know with absolute certainty whether this new approach will work in relatively few years. Now, initially it will be only for a subset of cancers, probably cancers where a surgeon has removed all of the observable disease. So, we are using the vaccine in an earlier disease setting, trying to prevent the recurrence or relapse of the cancer. Thats the most likely place where cancer vaccines might show an effect. So, if they show an effect there, I think they will be tested in other more difficult situations, such as in situations where there has been a relapse and cancers in various parts of the body. But like I said, I think well know the answer to this relatively shortly.

Q. We have a lot of weapons to fight against cancer, like never before. But cancer continues to win many battles. What is needed to end this disease?

A. I think we now have a growing body of evidence that clearly shows that for many kinds of cancers, at least in some patients, we can use the immune system to place the patient into a remission that can last many years, decades, or for the remainder of their lives. Thats important to know. I think the ultimate solution is we have to take a much more precise view towards how we treat each cancer patient. It is clear that when you take a group of patients with a breast cancer, for example, that look very similar under the microscope, if you do genetic sequencing to look at the unique genetic changes that cause that cancer, many of those cancers are very different from one other. We are moving away from treating cancer as a single entity, moving from treating the tissue in which it started, which looks the same under a microscope, to taking a much more precise view thats guided by the unique genetic changes that happen in a persons cancer, and really trying to take what we have in our armamentarium and more thoughtfully apply the right medicine at the right time for a particular cancer patients genetic changes.

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An average of 15,000 international protection applicants arriving in Ireland will be the new normal, according to Integration Minister Roderic OGorman.

In an interview with the PA news agency, the Green Party minister also said his department is working more effectively with gardai on its response to protests outside accommodation centres.

One of the key commitments secured by the Green Party in the Programme for Government was a pledge to end and replace the much-criticised system of direct provision, which is the name given to the accommodation and other supports provided to asylum seekers.

Mr OGorman said he was disappointed this has not been delivered but said the landscape has entirely changed since he published the White Paper to End Direct Provision in 2021.

Major war on the European continent has created a massive humanitarian challenge and one where Ireland has acted very strongly, decisively and been able to provide accommodation for more people than weve ever done in a similar circumstance.

Our department, for a year, had to focus on the immediate challenge there and that has created delays in terms of delivering the White Paper.

He also said that paper was based on approximately 3,500 people arriving every year but that figure is now between 13,000-15,000.

However, the minister said a lot has been achieved in terms of the papers goals on integration and support for children and families.

He said: People can work within six months now, they can get a bank account, they can get a drivers licence. Those are all basic things but werent readily accessible prior to the White Paper.

Asked about the departments projections on arrivals in the future, Mr OGorman said: Predictions in this area are always difficult but I suppose we have two years now where the numbers  though dramatically different to what they were pre-Covid  are reasonably in line in terms of 13,000, 15,000.

So I think going forwards, we have to plan that that is the new normal rather than, you know, 3,500.

And I think we have to build a system that is ready to accommodate that number while their applications are being processed. We also have to get better and faster at processing the applications.

He said he believed there should be more State-owned accommodation rather than paying out very significant amounts of money to the private sector.

There have been several protests and blockades outside buildings being used as or earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation this year, with some centres being targeted in suspected arson attacks  most recently in Co Galway.

The minister, gardai and the Government have faced criticism for their handling of such protests.

Mr OGorman said he has seen more effective engagement and co-operation with An Garda Siochana about handling the protests after meeting senior management earlier in the year.

I think its important that that co-operation continues and we always have to  as a situation evolves at a particular protest  monitor how we can best handle that.

He said he was quite frustrated with the claim that migration is not discussed in Ireland and also criticised some opposition TDs who had made entirely inaccurate claims about immigration during a recent Dail debate.

Mr OGorman said: Im very happy to have a discussion about migration in our country, about the huge benefits of migration, about the challenges of migration too  and there are challenges there.

But it should be on the basis of fact and reality, not on the basis of, you know, kind of: Oh, I saw in a Facebook group, someone said something once and Im going to repeat it like its gospel truth.

However, he said there are people who are committed racists who are determined to stir up racist sentiment around the country and accurate information would not change their position.

Mr OGorman said hate speech and hate crime legislation will be useful for when such people step beyond a certain mark.

He said: We cant stop people having particular views  thats not possible. But where, I suppose, through those views, theyre inciting violence and hatred to other people, I think thats where the State can step in.

As a politician frequently targeted by far-right abuse, Mr OGorman said he has stepped back from posting and engaging people on social media himself.

He said his own team has disabled comments on X, formerly Twitter, adding: Theres no point giving people a platform where they can spout abuse.

In addition, Mr OGorman said he was very privileged and very grateful to have garda protective services with him due to his position at Cabinet.

In May, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights wrote to the Irish Government expressing concern after the State failed to provide accommodation to hundreds of international protection applicants.

The Government is again in a position where it has not offered State-provided accommodation to hundreds of new applicants.

Mr OGorman said: Were here again for a combination of significant numbers of people arriving seeking international protection and the wider pressures were facing in terms of the provision of accommodation.

And look, theres no doubt incidents like we saw (in Galway)  the destruction of private property like that, violence like that  makes the job harder in terms of securing additional accommodation.

Elsewhere in his brief, the minister said he is focused on a range of targeted measures for the most vulnerable children, after securing a further universal 25% cut in childcare costs in the latest Budget.

It is a regular refrain from opposition parties that Mr OGorman has been isolated from his Cabinet colleagues while dealing with immigration issues.

The minister rejected the claims by saying he does not know where that idea comes from and said opposition parties are always looking for cracks in Government.

He said: I work well across Government. So much of the work I do is linked to what happens in other Government departments as well.

Mr OGorman said he could have sought a change of department in the reshuffle in December 2022, but he did not want to as he is committed and passionate about the brief, and added: I have a lot of things I still want to get done going into 2024.

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth added: Weve a busy department but lots of my colleagues in Government are busy too and lots of people in life have busy jobs as well. Im really passionate about the stuff thats in this department.
[December 28, 2023] RemotePC is Offering a High Performance Remote Desktop Solution for Enterprise Customers - Now Including Unlimited Endpoint Cloud Backup Tweet

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RemotePC , one of the fastest and most reliable remote desktop services on the market, is offering enterprise users a highly affordable and scalable solution that now includes unlimited endpoint cloud backup space at little extra cost. With the high demand for remote work and the need for efficient tools to help boost productivity, RemotePC continues to enhance its offering, now by including unlimited cloud backup space from IDrive Backup for just $20/year. With the inclusion of this cloud backup space, users can remotely enable backup for selected computers from within the dashboard of their RemotePC account, quickly allowing them to perform, manage, and restore backups from wherever they are. This backup solution comes integrated with the user's RemotePC account, allowing for instant backup activation and deployment and ensuring data recovery in the event of an accidental data loss, data disaster, or ransomware attack. With a RemotePC Enterprise plan, IT admins for large organizations can now reliably scale to thousands of computers, giving busineses of any size an affordable and feature-packed service without sacrificing on performance, with near 60 FPS speed making it possibly the world's fastest solution.



Along with the addition of unlimited cloud backup, enterprises have the opportunity to leverage one of the most robust and feature-packed remote access solutions available. Features include:

Remote Deployment - allow deployment for users and grant them permission to install RemotePC on other computers and access them remotely.

Computer Grouping - add computers, organize them into groups, and view the most recently accessed computers.

User Management - create new user accounts, organize them into groups, provide access permissions and more. RemotePC Enterprise also offers unlimited user licenses.

Attended Access - secure and instant access to any computer by entering a shared session code.

Mass Deployment - remotely install the RemotePC application on multiple target PCs and Macs in one-go.

Logs and Reports - track activities across the entire account or individual users with remote access logs and web activity logs.

Compliance - RemotePC assists businesses in ensuring the remote access solution meets regulatory compliance governing their industry.

Single sign-on - allow users to access RemotePC by signing in to a central identity provider. RemotePC utilizes TLS v 1.2/AES-256 encryption for transferring user authentication data between the remote computer and local computer, ensuring remote sessions are secure. Personal Key, a unique password set for each computer, acts as an extra layer of protection. Pricing for RemotePC Enterprise starts at $599.50/year for 100 computers, with the option to add-on computers as needed, and custom plans are also available by contacting the RemotePC sales team. The company also offers a full-featured free 7-day trial with no credit card required. About IDrive IDrive Inc. is a privately held company specializing in cloud storage, online backup, file sharing, remote access, compliance and related technologies. Core services include IDrive, RemotePC and IBackup. The company's services help over 4 million customers back up over 500 Petabytes of data. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remotepc-is-offering-a-high-performance-remote-desktop-solution-for-enterprise-customers---now-including-unlimited-endpoint-cloud-backup-302023482.html SOURCE IDrive Inc.

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[December 28, 2023] Console & Associates, P.C.: Corewell Health Reports Third-Party Data Breach at HealthEC Exposed Social Security Numbers of 1 Million Patients Tweet

MARLTON, N.J., Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately one million Corewell Health patients are being notified that their Social Security numbers and other confidential information were compromised after one of Corewell Health's vendors, HealthEC, experienced a major data breach. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of anyone affected by the HealthEC / Corewell Health breach, hoping to fully inform them of the risks they face in the wake of the breach as well as their legal rights. The sensitive personal data of one million patients has been compromised. As a result, victims' full names, Social Security numbers and health information may be in the hands of criminals, putting victims at a greater risk of identity theft and other frauds. On December 22, 2023, Corewell Health posted a website notice describing a third-party data breach. Evidently, HealthEC is a health technology company that provides services to Corewell. Due to this relationship, Corewell provides HealthEC with confidential patient information. Corewell notes that the incident stemmed from an unauthorized party gaining access to the computer system of one of its vendors, HealthEC. The website notice also contains a link to a HealthEC data breach letter. In the HealthEC letter, the company explains that, upon detecting a possible cybersecurity incident, HealthEC launched an investigation that confirmed that certain files on its computer network were accessed by an unauthorized party between July 14, 2023 and July 23, 2023. HealthEC also determined that the unuthorized party may have accessed confidential information belonging to as many as one million Corewell Health patients.



The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes: Names,

Addresses,

Dates of Birth,

Social Security Numbers,

Medical record numbers,

Medical information, and

Health insurance information. If you receive a data breach notice from HealthEC, you could now be at risk of identity theftand the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it.

What Should You Do if You Receive a HealthEC Data Breach Letter? Individuals who receive a data breach letter from HealthEC should take steps to protect themselves. (See our Guide for Victims of Data Breach for more details at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/patient-privacy-data-breach-lawyers/if-your-information-has-been-compromised-in-a-data-breach/ ). Additionally, victims should consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately, as anyone who receives a data breach letter from HealthEC may be entitled to financial compensation. If you wish to discuss this data security incident, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. You can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/corewell-health-data-breach-class-action-investigation-and-lawsuit-assistance/ . This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. CONTACT:

Console & Associates

P.C., 866-778-5500

[email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/console--associates-pc-corewell-health-reports-third-party-data-breach-at-healthec-exposed-social-security-numbers-of-1-million-patients-302023551.html SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C.

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[December 28, 2023] Console & Associates, P.C.: INTEGRIS Health Posts Notice of Possible Data Breach After Hackers Contact Individual Patients Tweet

MARLTON, N.J., Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An unknown number of patients are being notified that their Social Security numbers and other confidential information may have been compromised in what appears to be a cyberattack against INTEGRIS Health. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of anyone who may be affected by a possible INTEGRIS breach, hoping to fully inform them of the risks they face in the wake of the breach as well as their legal rights. The sensitive personal data of INTEGRIS patients may have been compromised. If the hackers' claims are correct, victims' full names, Social Security numbers and other personal information may be in the hands of criminals, putting victims at a greater risk of identity theft and other frauds. On December 24, 2023, INTEGRIS posted a website notice describing what the company calls a "data privacy incident." According to the notice, INTEGRIS was in the process of investigating a possible cyberattack when patients began receiving communications directly from those who claimed to have carried out the attack. The possible INTEGRIS breach is a developing situation, and more information is expected shortly. The list of sensitive information that was possibly exposed includes patients': Names,

Dates of birth,

Contact information,

Demographic information, and

Social Security numbers. Ifyou receive a data breach notice from INTEGRIS, you could now be at risk of identity theftand the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it.



What Should You Do if You Receive an INTEGRIS Data Breach Letter? INTEGRIS has not yet confirmed a data breach. However, based on the company's recent website notice, a breach of patient information is possible. Individuals who receive a data breach letter from INTEGRIS should take steps to protect themselves. (See our Guide for Victims of Data Breach for more details at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/patient-privacy-data-breach-lawyers/if-your-information-has-been-compromised-in-a-data-breach/).

Additionally, potential victims should consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately, as anyone who receives a data breach letter from INTEGRIS may be entitled to financial compensation. If you wish to discuss this data security incident, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. You can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/integris-health-data-breach-class-action-investigation-and-lawsuit-assistance/. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Console & Associates, P.C.

866-778-5500

[email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/console--associates-pc-integris-health-posts-notice-of-possible-data-breach-after-hackers-contact-individual-patients-302023552.html SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C.

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[December 28, 2023] Veterans Cybersecurity Group Introduces a "Zero Trust Proving Ground" as an essential step in Zero Trust Testing for Federal Agencies Tweet

PLANTATION, Fla., Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Mandate on Zero Trust Network Goals

President Biden's Executive Order 14028, Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity, mandates federal agencies to develop plans for implementing a zero-trust architecture (ZTA) by the end of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The major obstacle to setting these goals is the lack of zero-trust standards and an established testing methodology. Veterans Cybersecurity Group (VCSG) CTO, and Senior IEEE Zero Trust Working Group (ZTWG) member, Mr. Leighton Johnson has stated, "Although NIST and CISA have defined principles, it is difficult to audit a set of principles. Currently, there are no Zero Trust standards to test and validate complex ZTA Solutions. The IEEE ZTWG is tasked with the yearslong process of developing a Zero Trust ISO Standard. However, VCSG aims to establish testing criteria immediately thrugh an iterative SecDevOps approach. To this end, VCSG is establishing a Zero Trust Proving Ground (ZTPG) to test and evaluate ZTA implementations."



Zero Trust Proving Ground (ZTPG)

This Zero Trust Proving Ground aims to assist federal agencies in meeting these aggressive zero-trust goals by contributing to an auditable testing standard for zero-trust network architectures (ZTA). VCSG will host the ZTPG on an established Cyber Range utilized by government agencies as a virtual cybersecurity training and testing environment, allowing multiple "communities of interest" to implement cyber-attack and exploitation scenarios. VCSG's Zero Trust Proving Ground (ZTPG) brings together government and industry to establish a rigorous testing standard for ZTA solutions. Extensive vulnerability analysis and penetration testing within the ZTPG will inform the development of a standardized ZTA testing framework. This framework will empower federal agencies to evaluate and integrate third-party ZTA solutions into their emerging cybersecurity architectures.

Project Stakeholders

Veterans Cybersecurity Group (VCSG) is seeking stakeholders, including (1) Federal Agencies seeking information (RFI) to develop future Requests for Proposals (RFPs), (2) Cybersecurity Vendors seeking to have their ZTA Products and services demonstrated and tested, (3) standards bodies such as the IEEE Zero Trust Working Group (ZTWG), and (4) cybersecurity non-profits, such as ISC2 and CSA, with the mission to provide training and awareness promoting the use of Zero Trust best practices for providing security assurance and education to the cybersecurity workforce. Interested Stakeholders should contact VCSG President Paul Gozaloff at (754) 423-7352 or email [email protected] for more information. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veterans-cybersecurity-group-introduces-a-zero-trust-proving-ground-as-an-essential-step-in-zero-trust-testing-for-federal-agencies-302023560.html SOURCE Veterans Cybersecurity Group

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[December 29, 2023] Determinant Finance Announces Upcoming Presale: A New Frontier in DeFi Tweet

Dubai, UAE, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Determinant Finance , a new force in the DeFi sector, is excited to announce its upcoming presale event. This revelation is stirring anticipation within the investment community. The opportunity comes with early access to a platform setting new precedents in blockchain technology, liquidity, and user-centric design. The company sends an open invitation to all who wish to be part of this watershed moment in decentralized finance. Details of the Upcoming Presale and Whitelist Determinant Finance is soon launching its presale event, which has gathered much attention in the Web3 world. This is an opportunity for individuals looking to invest early in an advanced DeFi platform. Its liquid staking solutions, Ethereum v2 mining opportunities, and the introduction of a multi-chain bridge are revolutionary aspects worth noting. The presale event is a chance to become an integral part of this innovative financial ecosystem from inception. The project's official website features an official countdown to the launch, giving everyone a chance to join the whitelist . Determinant Finance lets users join thewhitelist by completing a short list of tasks. The process includes following Determinant Finance on Twitter, joining their Telegram group, and learning about the project.



What Determinant Finance Offers Determinant Finance offers a comprehensive DeFi platform with user-friendly features, diverse financial products, and advanced security measures.

Their innovative liquid staking model allows users to earn rewards while maintaining asset liquidity. They also enable participation in Ethereum v2 mining through their dtETH token. Additionally, they provide a multi-chain bridge for seamless asset transfers across different blockchain networks. Determinant Finance's governance model empowers users to contribute to the platform's development. With a commitment to security and transparency, Determinant Finance stands at the forefront of driving the DeFi sector forward. Furthermore, they offer key products and services to users. These include their liquid staking solution, yield farming programs, and governance token (vDTH). Determinant Finance wants to redefine the DeFi landscape as a community-driven ecosystem. In fact, the team invites anyone to join their journey toward a more inclusive and versatile platform. About Determinant Finance Determinant Finance is a DeFi platform committed to promoting decentralized market rules in the Web3 area. Its mission is to empower investors through services such as Farm, Liquid Stake, and Decentralized Management. The team intends to provide secure and equitable opportunities for high-yield investments. In addition, they challenge traditional banking norms by eliminating middlemen and offering lower transaction fees and attractive interest yields. Determinant Finance aims to create a fair and direct exchange between buyers and sellers. Investors can use this cutting-edge financial ecosystem by participating in their upcoming presale event. This is an exceptional opportunity for individuals to be part of the platform's growth from the ground up. More information above Determinant Finance is available on the project's website and the social pages below. X (Twitter) | Telegram | Discord



Disclaimer: This is a press release and does not contain any financial advice. Readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company mentioned. You are solely responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services mentioned in the press release. Cryptocurrency is volatile.



Emin Aksar support at determinant.finance

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[December 29, 2023] Major Efforts by China's Sanya CBD in Modern Financial Industry Tweet

SANYA, China, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, at the 3rd Sanya International Wealth Management Summit held at the Hainan Free Trade Port in China, the Sanya Central Business District - Financial Expansion and Opening-up Pilot Zone (the Modern Financial Industry Cluster) was officially unveiled. According to the Sanya CBD, this is the Hainan Free Trade Port's only financial expansion and opening-up pilot zone and the only approved modern financial industry cluster. It aims to implement the cross-border finance and modern finance development ideas, undertake high-level opening up pilot policies, facilitate the growth of industries such as cross-border insurance, cross-border asset management, QFLP and QDLP. Sanya International Wealth Management Summit, a key event focused on Sanya CBD, attracted more than 100 representatives from China's political, academic and business sectors, discussed in depth aboutthe opportunities and practical paths of science and innovation finance, consumer finance, wealth management, pension finance and cross-border insurance.



As a crucial growth hub in the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, Sanya City has implemented supportive incentives to boost the development of the financial industry in recent years, receiving sustained and steady progress. In this process, the Sanya Central Business District has achieved evident accomplishments such as establishing and operating Hainan International Clearing House, Hainan International Commodity Exchange, Hainan International Carbon Emissions Trading Center, and Sanya International Asset Exchange. The CBD has also attracted nearly 200 International venture capital institutions and private equity fund management companies, including Sequoia China, Hillhouse Capital, and IDG. Besides, Hainan's first S fund and Hainan's first commodity swap clearing business have been launched in the district, and Hainan's first SPAC listing and merger have been successfully completed. Notably the pilot QFLP in the district has exceeded USD 6 billion, and overseas investment business of QDLP pilot enterprises has been successfully launched. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/major-efforts-by-chinas-sanya-cbd-in-modern-financial-industry-302023711.html

SOURCE Sanya CBD

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The number of people who decide to analyze their DNA through at-home genetic tests is on the rise, currently exceeding 30 million. Thanks to genetics, today it is possible to reveal biological family relationships, find our true ethnic origins and expose old family secrets, such as extramarital affairs or births that were possible through a donor. But discovering that the man who raised you is not biologically related to you can trigger a storm of emotions. The estimation of paternal discrepancies, or non-paternity events (NPEs), in the general population, according to data published by the International Society of Genetic Genealogy, can be as high as one in ten people.

In late January 2019, I spat in the plastic tube and put it back in the box, writes Canadian novelist Kyo Maclear in her memoir Unearthing. Not for a moment did I consider that some of the things Id assumed basic to the story of who-I-am and where-I-come-from would be revised. Maclear explains that three months after her fathers death, and following the advice of a friend, she bought one of those at-home DNA kits to get to the bottom of the mystery of her Irish paternal grandmother, a woman who did not reach old age and about whose life there were very few details. The results showed that her father had no biological link with her. What I saw was a circle bisected into two halves. I had inherited half of each parents DNA  but the parental half bore no resemblance to my fathers genetic history, at least as it had been told to me.

Never before in history has it been so easy to confirm paternity, nor to discover discrepancies, with such certainty. In 2018, the DNA NPE Friends Facebook community established a non-profit support group. At the beginning of 2023 there were approximately 8,900 people registered. A qualitative study published in 2021 by Michele Grethel and collaborators from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles (UCLA), reports the impact on the identity of 27 participants between 40 and 70 years old, with a mean age of 50 years, who discovered an unexpected paternity as a result of an at-home DNA test. None of them were indifferent, or optimistic, about the discovery.

Instead, these people revealed feelings of shock, denial, anger, fear, confusion and isolation. Their extreme emotional reactions and bodily sensations  feeling frozen, dazed, overwhelmed  were common. Many tried to track down their newly discovered relatives, describing the process as an emotional roller coaster. However, this discovery allowed them to make sense of other aspects of their lives, figuring out stories of adoptions, infidelities, sibling rivalries and hereditary genetic conditions; previously inexplicable phenomena, such as inexplicable tastes, talents, and attractions, became understandable.

The search for ones father implies delving into identity continuity. Despite their different origins, mythological and biblical narratives highlight the ambivalent bond between a father and his children: revenge, castration, envy and murder coexist on one hand, and love, admiration and the desire to be like him on the other. The figure of the father is central in the configuration of the psyche  this I have noticed frequently with my patients, especially among those who lacked the concrete presence of one. His influence on the lives of children, and even on subsequent generations, is complex and somewhat enigmatic. It opens the door to a story full of ruptures, and any bond that is established is built on the basis of that discontinuity, where bonds are never completely free of the ghosts of the past. Maclear describes it like this: The father I had trapped in my mind needed to be free, his spirit needed to ascend.

According to Judith Butler, a philosopher specializing in gender studies, kinship structures tend to be on the side of normative family organization. However, we live in a time in which kinship has become fragile, porous, expansive. A time, as Butler says, in which children, due to divorce and remarriage, migration, refugee status and exile, pass from one family to another; from a family to not having a family, or from not having a family to having a family. Or, in which they live, psychically, at the crossroads of the family, or in multi-level family situations, in which they may well have more than one woman who acts as a mother, more than one man who acts as a father, or no mother or no father, with half-siblings who are also friends. Given this scenario, genetics increasingly defines, and limits, the meaning of kinship.

David Dorenbaum is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.

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[December 29, 2023] Macnica Inc. Selected Leading Innovation Consultancy Orangeleaf Consulting in Malaysia to Propel Accelerated Digital Transformation Excellence in Japan Tweet

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Macnica Inc. headquartered at Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Kazumasa Hara, hereinafter referred to as "Macnica" is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with Orangeleaf Consulting, CEO, Ellice Ng Pui San, a renowned digital transformation consultancy in Malaysia. The collaboration aims to strengthen Enterprise Digital Transformation (DX) capabilities and drive innovation within the Japanese manufacturing market. Orangeleaf Consulting brings a wealth of experience in guiding global organizations through successful digital transformations, with a proven track record of implementing cutting-edge technologies and strategies in the global market. At Orangeleaf Consulting, helmed by visionary, Ellice Ng, "We are honored to collaborate with Macnica, a leader in the technology solutions space in Japan. Together, we look forward to driving meaningful digital transformation outcomes and contributing to the success of Macnica's clients in the manufacturing industry. We aim not just to influence, but to revolutionize the way people think and act in the enterprise software industry through advance technology. Our ultimate aspiration: Operate dynamically, pushing boundaries to achieve audacious goals, instilling a culture of relentless innovation and unparalleled success." In addition, Ellice also mentioned the manufacturing industry is a significant and integral part of Japan's economy. Japan has long been recognized as a major global player in manufacturing, particularly in sectors such as automotive, electronics, machinery, and precision equipment. Problem Statement: Why is Digital Transformation (DX) in Japan's manufacturing industry not progressing? The challenge is to cultivate DX culture and develop human resources.

The wave of Industry 4.0 (Fourth Industrial Revolution), which was born in Germany in 2011, greatly shook the manufacturing industry in Japan. Many companies in Japan have been calling for "DX (digital transformation) in the manufacturing industry and have set up DX promotion departments and managers to make investments. DX is a strategic initiative that involves the adoption and integration of digital technologies to drive organizational growth, improve operations, and deliver enhanced value to customers. However, many companies face obstacles in cultivating a DX culture and developing human resurces for effective implementation. The lack of alignment in mindset and culture between top management and business departments is identified as a major internal barrier. A true DX requires in-house capabilities, highlighting the importance of developing internal leaders who can design business processes across departments. Macnica, a key player in the DX field aim to advocate for the use of the latest technology platform low-code tools to involve individuals without coding knowledge in projects, fostering collaboration between business and IT departments.



Digital Transformation (DX) team is crucial in the modern business landscape to enhance business processes, improve efficiency, and foster innovation.

Macnica's vision focuses on an "experience-first" approach, encouraging trial and error to address challenges in manufacturing sites. The company believes that in-house initiatives are crucial for the success of DX, allowing for greater speed, flexibility, and response to site-specific needs. Macnica recently introduced its Digital Synergy Factory-low-code development support service as a means to materialize its vision and accelerate manufacturing DX support services. The company has also welcomed a knowledgeable partner to further enhance its efforts in this domain. Macnica's decision to collaborates with its partner, Orangeleaf from Malaysia  the leading low-code expert, to provide comprehensive Digital Transformation (DX) consulting using low-code technology. Having successfully implemented over 100 DX projects in manufacturing, insurance, and retail across Europe, Singapore, and Malaysia, Orangeleaf Consulting focus is on empowering clients to drive their DX initiatives without lock-in contract. The support spans from long-term planning to agile application development, including information on cutting-edge technologies. Macnica and Orangeleaf aim to contribute to the advancement of DX in the Japanese manufacturing industry by leveraging best practices and offering holistic assistance in consulting, human resource development, and organizational building.

Orangeleaf impressed the "experience-first" using low-code tools with Macnica Employees

Macnica had a challenge in their semiconductor business  it used to take 15 minutes for sales people to set delivery dates for certain customers using a mix of data from ERP and Excel. To solve this, Macnica teamed up with Orangeleaf to create a simple app using low-code technology. The amazing part? The whole process, from planning to using the improved system, only took 14 hours! Now, instead of 15 minutes each time, they get things done in just seconds. It worked so well that now more ideas for improving their business keep popping up. About Macnica's Smart Manufacturing Business

Macnica is also involved in DX support for the manufacturing industry based on the technological capabilities it has cultivated as a semiconductor trading company and its experience in implementing cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT. In the future, as DX accelerates in the manufacturing industry, security issues will also emerge. Macnica has also introduced the world's most advanced technology in the field of security to Japan. Japan's manufacturing industry faces a unique set of challenges. Macnica will strive to create new business opportunities and develop society by discovering issues together and promoting DX while staying close to customers' concerns. About Orangeleaf Consulting

Orangeleaf Consulting, a trailblazing digital transformation consultancy headquartered in Malaysia, stands at the forefront of empowering organizations to embrace innovation and navigate the evolving landscape of technology. With a commitment to driving impactful change, Orangeleaf specializes in advance technology such as low-code solutions, offering a swift and effective approach to application development and process improvement. Orangeleaf Consulting believes in more than just technological solutions; we strive to instigate meaningful cultural shifts within organizations, fostering innovation and paving the way for sustainable success. About us: www.orangeleaf.com.my About Macnica Inc

Macnica is a service/solution company that handles the latest technologies in a comprehensive manner, centered on semiconductors and cyber security. Developing business in 81 locations in 23 countries/regions around the world, leveraging the technological capabilities and global network cultivated over a history of more than 50 years, we discover, propose, and implement cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, and autonomous driving. Please visit: www.macnica.co.jp View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/macnica-inc-selected-leading-innovation-consultancy-orangeleaf-consulting-in-malaysia-to-propel-accelerated-digital-transformation-excellence-in-japan-302023728.html SOURCE Orangeleaf

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[December 29, 2023] Ault Alliance, Inc. Announces Adjournment of Its Annual Meeting of Stockholders Tweet

Ault Alliance, Inc. (NYSE American: AULT), a diversified holding company ("Ault Alliance," or the "Company"), today announced the adjournment of the Company's 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting"), which was scheduled to be held at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on December 29, 2023 but has been postponed due to the absence of quorum to conduct business. Based on the absence of quorum, the board of directors (the "Board") elected to adjourn the Meeting until 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on January 12, 2024 for the purpose of allowing additional time for stockholders to vote on the Proposals contained in the Proxy Statement dated December 1, 2023 (the "Proxy Statement"). As described in the Proxy Statement, the Meeting will be held for the following purposes: To elect the seven (7) director nominees named in the Proxy Statement to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders;

To ratify the appointment of Marcum LLP, as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023;

To approve, pursuant to Rule 713(a) and (b) of the NYSE American, the conversion of the Company's 10% Senior Secured Convertible Note in the principal amount of $17,519,832.00 into the Company's Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the " Common Stock ") as well as the exercise of the warrants to purchase such shares of Common Stock, each as issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated October 13, 2023;

") as well as the exercise of the warrants to purchase such shares of Common Stock, each as issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated October 13, 2023; To approve, pursuant to Rule 713(a) and (b) of the NYSE American, the conversion of the Company's 50,000 shares of Series C convertible preferred stock into Common Stock, and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, for a total purchase price of up to $50,000,000.00, pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 6, 2023;

To approve, pursuant to Rule 713(a) of the NYSE American, (i) the issuance by the Company of additional shares of Common Stock, in a registered direct offering, underlying the Company's Convertible Note in the principal amount of $2.2 million issued pursuant to the Exchange Agreement dated September 27, 2023, as well as (ii) the right granted to the counterparty in the Exchange Agreement to purchase a note substantially identical to the Convertible Note in an amount of up to $3,300,000;

To approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our Common Stock by a ratio of not less than one-for-five and not more than one-for-twenty-five at any time prior to December 28, 2024, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion; and

To approve the adjournment of the Meeting to a later date or time, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Meeting, there are nt sufficient votes to approve any of the other proposals before the Meeting.



http://www.meetnow.global/MXV24TS. To login to the virtual meeting, you have two options: Join as a "Guest" or Join as a "Stockholder." If you join as a "Stockholder" you will be required to have a control number. Further information regarding this change to the location, time and date of the Meeting can be found in the Notice of Change of Location, Time and Date of Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2023.

If you have already voted your shares any of the proposals contained in Proxy Statement, you do not need to vote again and we thank you for your support. If you did not vote at all with respect to any such proposal, we urge you to vote your shares in favor of all the proposals. You may use the Proxy Card with which you were originally provided. About Ault Alliance, Inc. Ault Alliance, Inc. is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact. Through its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, Ault Alliance owns and operates a data center at which it mines Bitcoin and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging artificial intelligence ecosystems and other industries, and provides mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including a metaverse platform, oil exploration, crane services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma, consumer electronics, hotel operations and textiles. In addition, Ault Alliance extends credit to select entrepreneurial businesses through a licensed lending subsidiary. Ault Alliance's headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, NV 89141; www.Ault.com. Additional Information and Where to Find It The Company has filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A and associated proxy card (the "Proxy Statement") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which was filed on November 24, 2023. The Company, its directors, its executive officers and certain other individuals set forth in the definitive proxy statement will be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in respect of the Annual Meeting. Information regarding the names of the Company's directors and executive officers and certain other individuals and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in the Proxy Statement. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT. The Proxy Statement and a form of proxy have been mailed to stockholders of the Company. Investors and stockholders can obtain a copy of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC, including the Proxy Statement, free of charge by visiting the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.Ault.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231229360673/en/

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[December 29, 2023] BOARDWALKTECH SOFTWARE CORP ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF INITIAL TRANCHE OF NON-BROKERED PRIVATE PLACEMENT Tweet

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ CUPERTINO, Calif., Dec. 29, 2023 /CNW/ - (TSXV: BWLK) (OTCQB: BWLKF) Boardwalktech Software Corp. (the "Company" or "Boardwalktech") is pleased to announce it has closed, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), an initial tranche of a non-brokered private placement of 6,698,666 units (each, a "Unit", and collectively the "Units") of the Company at the price of C$0.30 per Unit for gross proceeds of approximately C$2,009,600 (the "LIFE Offering") pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "LIFE") of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), which was previously announced on December 11, 2023 and then when Offering was upsized on December 22, 2023. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.50 per Common Share for a period of 36 months from the closing date of the Offering, subject to early acceleration by the Company if the trading price of the common shares of the Company is greater than CDN$1.00. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, and in accordance with NI 45-106, the LIFE Offering was made to purchasers resident in Canada pursuant to the LIFE Part 5A of NI 45-106. The securities issued under the LIFE Offering are not subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Concurrently with the completion of the LIFE Offering, the Company also issued 316,687 Units on a non-brokered basis to United States Investors, at US$0.22 (equivalent of C$0.30) with equivalent commercial terms for each warrant per Unit (the "Concurrent Offering", and together with the LIFE Offering, the "Offering"). The securities issued under the Concurrent Offering remain subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Collectively with the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering a total of 7,015,353 Units were issued in the Offering, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$2,104,606. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid aggregate finder fees of approximately C$107,968 in cash commissions and 359,893 non-transferrable Warrants of the Company exercisable until December 28, 2026 to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.50 (the "Finder's Warrants"). The Finder's Warrants are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company will evaluate and may potentially close an additional tranche of the Offering as it deems strategic based on needs and fit with prospective investors, up to the maximum of C$2,500,000. The Company expects to use the net proceeds of the Offering for sales and marketing expenditures, working capital requirements, and to enhance its balance sheet to drive new business. Insiders of the Company participated in the Offering for approximately C$53,000 (equivalent of USD$38,870), and such Units issued to insiders are subject to a four month hold period pursuant to applicable policies of the TSXV. The issuance of Units to insiders may be considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(a) in respect of such insider participation as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.



This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. About Boardwalktech Software Corp.

Boardwalktech has developed a patented Digital Ledger Technology Platform currently used by Fortune 500 companies running mission-critical applications worldwide. Boardwalktech's digital ledger technology and its unique method of managing vast amounts of structured and unstructured data is the only platform on the market today where multiple parties can effectively work on the same data simultaneously while preserving the fidelity and provenance of the data. Boardwalktech can deliver collaborative, purpose-built enterprise information management applications on any device or user interface with full integration with enterprise systems of record in a fraction of the time it takes other non-digital ledger technology-based platforms. Boardwalktech is headquartered in Cupertino, California with offices in India and operations in North America. For more information on Boardwalktech, visit our website at www.boardwalktech.com. Legal Disclaimer 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. Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the Offering and the use of any proceeds raised under the Offering. By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. An investment in securities of the Company is speculative and subject to several risks including, without limitation, the risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's filing statement dated May 30, 2018. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. SOURCE BoardwalkTech

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[December 29, 2023] From Virtual Host to Metaverse, "Panda Beibei" IP Evolves with New Updates Tweet

Chengdu, China, Dec. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From the Golden Panda Awards Ceremony to the 2023 Chengdu World Science Fiction Convention, from Chengdu's night markets to the Chengdu FISU Games, from experiencing the lively atmosphere of autumn to warming up together in winterpanda Beibei is never absent in major events and seasonal changes, becoming a warm-hearted companion for a large number of audience.

With the great charm of panda Beibei, Panda Wandering has already launched over 30 episodes, covering various aspects of Sichuan, including culture, economy, trade, tourism, delicacy, folklore, transportation, technology, etc. Over 800 original videos of the program have been released globally, with a total of 2 billion views both domestically and internationally, it has achieved preliminary international influence.

(Home Page of Panda Beibei Metaverse)

After the initial half year, Panda Wandering, centered on the lovely and vivid IP character of panda Beibei and the diverse contents, combined with advanced technologies like AIGC, graphic rendering, cloud computing, has established a metaverse platform with network contents presentation, named "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan", featured by intelligence, immersive experience, real-time interaction.

With Multiple Features, Sichuan Culture Enters to the Metaverse With the iconic panda digital figure representing Sichuan, a self-controlled dissemination platform is created. Using AIGC metaverse technology and multimedia approaches, it showcases Sichuan's openness and inclusiveness, highlighting the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture. This forms distinct platform characteristics in terms of content, interaction, and so on.

It works as not only a new channel for promoting Panda Wandering, but also a new window for global audiences to understand Sichuan Province, being the key feature of "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan".

For the currently launched version, "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan" presents the theme contents from Panda Wandering, such as "The Grand Event at the Doorstep" and "The Lively and Bustling Atmosphere of Sichuan". The former primrily covers international events in Sichuan in 2023, including the 19th Western China International Fair, the 31st Chengdu FISU Games, the first Golden Panda Awards, and the 2023 Chengdu World Science Fiction Convention, etc. These all have demonstrated openness and international engagement of Sichuan. The latter focuses on delicacy, scenery, culture, museums, and intangible cultural heritage, aiming to promote Sichuan's distinctive local culture, like "In Kangding, see how Italian girl got the international love song" and "China in Light of Hanzi: The Splendor of Chinese Civilization in Writing" , which have gained widespread attention.









(Panorama Page of Panda Beibei Metaverse Sandbox)

Additionally, "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan" has established a dedicated content section about Sichuan, launching four major metaverse maps featuring Chengdu, Luzhou, Kangding, and Qionglai, prominently showcasing the renowned scenic areas like Mount Qingcheng, Mount Emei, Jiuzhai Valley, and Sanxingdui. Every user of this platform is able to enjoy the wonderful programs at the metaverse and to have a comprehensive understanding of Sichuan culture. This is the embodiment of the core theme: "Experience the Majectic and Grand Prospect of Chinese-style Modernization."

Real-time interaction, together with intelligent communication, is another prominent feature of "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan".

Right now, users can communicate with panda Beibei via texting, discussing a variety of topics, including but not limited to personal questions and Sichuan culture, tourism, etc. Furthermore, "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan" plans to roll out more exciting contents, with a voice interaction system set to launch in January. By then, users will be able to engage in real-time English-Chinese voice conversations with "Beibei".

Utilizing advanced graphic rendering technology, "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan" constructs a vibrant and colorful true three-dimensional metaverse environment. Upon entering the platform, users will see the metaverse structures, environments, and characters such as Chengdu Museum, Tianfu Greenway, Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, Luzhou East Gate Tower, Kangding City, and Pingle Ancient Town, which users are familiars with. This design provides users with a brand new and warm-hearted experience.

(Panorama Page of Panda Beibei Metaverse Sandbox)

By making full use of the distinctive symbol of the giant panda in the "home of the giant pandas", the character of panda Beibei, designed with animals as prototypes, is a remarkable breakthrough and full of local characteristics. In the digital persona industry, it can be regarded as a cross-species design, demonstrating the pioneering design in expanding IP function.



(Interactive Page of Panda Beibei Metaverse ChatGPT)

Centered on the panda digital character, a symbol representing Sichuan, "A Majestic and Grand Prospect @Sichuan" combines the forms of video, text, voice, AIGC, etc. This fully unleashes the positive impact of pandas in cross-cultural communication, breaking down cultural barriers with friendliness, mobilizing diverse participants in communication, actively spreading the contents, and transforming online users into offline visitors. This effort contributes to promoting cultural dissemination and the development of cultural tourism in Sichuan. Website: https://pw.sctv.com

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.

Media contact Contact: White Yang Company Name: Panda Beibei Website: https://pw.sctv.com Email: white-at-unitymobi.com

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[December 29, 2023] AI Market Expects Surprising 2024 Power Shifts Among Vendors, Futurum Intelligence AI Decision Maker Survey Shows Tweet

In its inaugural and first-of-its-kind study for the AI market, Futurum Intelligence released the findings of its AI In The Enterprise Decision Maker Survey. Conducted twice a year, Futurum Intelligence has independently ranked 159 vendors of AI deployments across tech enterprises, aiming to learn the current state of preferences towards products and vendors in near-term (12 months) buying plans. Following a year of innovation and R&D in AI across cloud computing, SaaS, Embedded End-to-End, semiconductors and hardware, the market is now expected to yield signs of monetization among its players. The power centers of traditional IT vendors for the enterprise have naturally pioneered with their AI deployment offerings among their customers, but in 2024, enterprise decision makers intend to make some surprising changes. Some of the most surprising power shifts can be found among the enterprises insourcing their AI deployments for AI Cloud Compute. In 2023 AWS ranks highest as select vendor (22%), followed by Microsoft, Google and IBM. Going into 2024, companies who've indicated exploring new vendor entries rank Google as their top new vendor for AI Cloud Compute (11.1%) followed by AWS and IBM. In the AI Development Tools and Platforms category, insourcing companies who seek new vendor entrants rank Google as top choice (7.2%), while leap-jumping AMD as second highest ranked new paid vendor entrant (up from 5th place), followed by AWS and IBM. Here are a few more key highlights from the study: Of those who outsource, 45% plan to change their vendors this quarter or early 2024

this quarter or early 2024 For those who insource, 47% plan to change vendors

vendors Top decision criteria as well as criteria for 'excellence in meeting requirements' was found to be expertise and experience with AI (40% and 35% respectively)

(40% and 35% respectively) Failure criteria to meet requirements was found to be implementation speed and timeline and projected time to value (23% and 22% respectively)

and (23% and 22% respectively) Among those who outsource, Accenture is selected as primary consultant / integrator by far (25%), followed by Deloitte (14%), CGI and KPMG

consultant / integrator by far (25%), followed by (14%), and Among outsourcing companies who deploy (paid) SaaS / Embedded for AI deployments, select vendors are Microsoft (21%), followed by Google (14%), AWS and IBM (13.5% and 10% respectively)

(21%), followed by (14%), and (13.5% and 10% respectively) In 2023 Microsoft leads asprimary vendor in SaaS / Embedded AI (21%) followed by Google (14%)

leads asprimary vendor in SaaS / Embedded AI (21%) followed by (14%) Within SaaS/Embedded, select vendors for End-to-End AI Applications rank AWS as primary vendor (21%) followed by Microsoft (19%), IBM and Google (15% and 10.5% respectively)

(21%) followed by (19%), and (15% and 10.5% respectively) Among companies who seek to change their choice of AI deployment vendor in 2024, Google and Microsoft rank almost evenly at 9.6% and 9.2% respectively, for SaaS/Embedded solutions while AWS and Google are the select choices for End-to-End solutions newly integrated in 2024 (7% and 5.5%)



"Not surprisingly, the market for SaaS/Embedded AI applications is highly competitive and fragmented," said Keith Kirkpatrick, Research Director, Enterprise Applications. "While Google (10%) and Microsoft (9%) were the top two choices for organizations seeking to add new vendors in late 2023 or 2024, 13 other large SaaS vendors are each expected to garner interest from buyers, reflective of the variety of quality, enterprise-grade solutions that are successfully integrating AI within their platform," he added.

Marc Beattie, Head of Futurum Intelligence, believes the market is exceptionally dynamic and the benefactors are customers and integrators. "AI vendors have been seeking credible intelligence on the plans and preferences of enterprise buyers that is both relevant and accessible," he said, adding, "The AI Decision Maker IQ service enables competitive and market intelligence professionals to dig in at the vendor level or zoom out to the market level to learn critical insights to make better decisions on building and deploying their own products and services." To download the full survey report, please visit Futurum Intelligence Methodology Survey was fielded in Q4 2023 between the week of September 25th and October 2nd, 2023. Line of Questioning (LOQ) - created and vetted by two expert Futurum Group AI analysts and a survey specialist. Responses were received and accepted online, reviewed and qualified by two expert Futurum Group AI analysts and a survey specialist. N = 1,009 (sample size).

Panel: Decision authority or influence in the selection of vendors and products and services used in the deployment of AI within their organization, or the organization they consult to.

Qualifiers: Pre-survey, each respondent was screened and qualified; In-survey, each respondent was gated for access and qualified, each required to pass a mid-survey "trick" question, a timestamp was applied on crucial questions and the overall survey - all respondents were measured for minimum expected time required in-survey with speedy responses rejected.

Geography - United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France (translated for local language and spend offered in local currency - USD, GBP, EURO). About Futurum Intelligence Futurum Intelligence, formerly 'Evaluator', is a Futurum Group company. Operating as The Futurum Group's research intelligence and data arm, Futurum Intelligence is the primary source for enterprise and industry insights in areas like AI, Customer experience, Enterprise Decision Making, Workplace trends, indices and industry rankings. The Futurum Group is the fastest growing independent tech research, intelligence, media, and advisory firm. Its continued growth is driven by emerging technologies and innovation across its clientele of more than 260 global companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231229221164/en/

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[December 29, 2023] Michigan Virtual, a Nonprofit That Serves Over 700 K-12 School Districts, Has Selected the YuJa Enterprise Video Platform as its All-in-One Video Solution Tweet

Michigan Virtual, a nonprofit organization that provides K-12 online learning solutions to improve student success statewide, has selected the YuJa Enterprise Video Platform as an all-in-one solution for video and media creation, hosting, storage and distribution. Michigan Virtual offers online, at-risk, advanced placement, core and other courses, as well as professional development courses for educators. The institution was seeking a Video Platform that would enable them to curate and manage content in a centralized system. It was using another video platform, but needed enhanced organization, search and delivery capabilities that also provided enhanced security, permissions and accessibility. The Video Platform will provide the institution with robust learning tools that facilitate the creation of engaging multimedia content. In addition, it will enable the Michigan Virtual to enhance teaching and learning with capabilities like lecture capture, auto captioning, video quizzing, and through embedding videos directly into D2L Brightspace, its learning management system. Other built-in tools within YuJa, such as automated production, processing, publishing and managing of video content, all help streamline workflows and enable course designers and instructors to create engaging learnng experiences.



"Michigan Virtual partners with hundreds of districts throughout the state to provide innovative, flexible learning solutions for students of various levels, from at-risk to advanced, and educators. With such a variety, it's critical to be able to create and manage content in a way that makes sense for everyone," said Nathan Arora, Chief Business Officer at YuJa, Inc. "We're excited for the institution to have an all-in-one solution to help them meet the needs of diverse learners." ABOUT MICHIGAN VIRTUAL

As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation focused on education, Michigan Virtual has been working hard to provide a path to the future for students and educators since 1998. Formerly known as Michigan Virtual University and Michigan Virtual School, Michigan Virtual is dedicated to helping each student shine their brightest by enhancing their opportunities to learn and working to strengthen the teachers that will show them the way. By discovering new ways to grow, we're taking K-12 education to the next level and working to leverage face-to-face, blended and online learning innovations that facilitate the advancement of education. Today, Michigan Virtual provides online courses for students and professional development for educators, including core courses, dual enrollment, at-risk, and more. Michigan Virtual reaches more than 120,000 students at 1,200 schools in 700 districts. ABOUT YUJA, INC. YuJa is a leader in ed-tech solutions. Our platforms provide organizations of all sizes with the tools to educate, engage, inspire and collaborate. We serve learning enterprises within all sectors, including higher-ed, K-12, government, healthcare, non-profit and corporate. We have legal headquarters in Delaware with primary U.S. offices in Silicon Valley, California, and Canadian offices in Toronto. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231229273814/en/

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This morning hottie Kara and her Winter styling inspire our peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Local Good Deeds Cont'd

Volunteers with Free Hot Soup feed, gift unhoused population in KCMO during holidays Nearly 1800 people experience homelessness in Kansas City, Missouri, on any given night, according to the Greater KC Coalition to End Homelessness.

Artsy Turnabout

After bringing 'inclusion and innovation' to a Kansas City museum, Erin Dziedzic is leaving The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art's lead curator guided groundbreaking exhibitions for 10 years, and championed the work of underrepresented and up-and-coming artists.

Bi-State Laws Take Hold

MO wages increasing, KS grocery taxes dropping: These new laws take effect on Jan. 1 The new year will bring changes to state taxes, wages and laws in Missouri and Kansas. Here's an overview of how they could effect you.

Puppers On Parade

Overland Park, Kansas company to be featured in Rose Bowl Parade on New Year's Day Five shelter dogs will also be a part of the float, serving as ambassadors for the cause of pet adoption.

Good Times Arrive?!?!

Weekend Possibilities | New Year's Eve, KC Wheel and the Rodeo Looking for last-minute New Year's Eve plans? Options range from pancakes and beer, to an avant-garde, modern disco in the Crossroads.

Insta Diva Risks Malfunction For High Fashion

Kara Del Toro put on racy display in VERY revealing see-through dress Kara Del Toro put on a racy display in VERY revealing see-through dress for Revolve Social Club opening in West Hollywood on Thursday.

White House Smoke Out

Biden's menthol ban pits civil rights groups against each other Opposition from prominent Black and civil rights groups is threatening to permanently derail Biden administration efforts to ban menthol cigarettes. The ban has also pitted organizations that are often allies, like the NAACP and the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network (NAN), against each other. The tobacco industry has long been accused of targeting the...

MAGA Plan ALMOST Exposed

Inflation, immigration and revenge: What Trump will campaign on in 2024 Former President Trump is not yet the Republican nominee for president in 2024, but he has in many respects already turned his attention to next year's general election and a rematch with President Biden. Trump is a dominant front-runner in GOP primary polls at the national and state level, and many of his rally speeches...

Feds Mess With Texas

DOJ threatens to sue Texas over anti-illegal immigration law; Abbott prepared for Supreme Court fight The Justice Department on Thursday said it will sue Texas if it enforces a new anti-illegal immigration law which the Biden administration believes is unconstitutional.

Vlad Strikes Again

Russia unleashes one of the year's biggest aerial barrages against Ukrainian targets Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia launched about 110 missiles overnight as well as drones against Ukrainian targets in one of the biggest barrages of the year.

Holy Land Admits Mistake

Israel's military says it used the wrong bombs in strike on a Gaza refugee center that killed at least 86 people Thursday's statements appear to be the IDF's first admission that it used excessive force in its war in Gaza.

Far East Correction Rejected

China fires back at U.S. sanctions Beijing's latest round of restrictions targets U.S.-based firms that gather open source data about business links to Xinjiang.

Support For Troops

Combating fight or flight: KC nonprofit deploys horses for veterans struggling to get back in the civilian saddle Horses taught Patrick Benson to feel again after serving in the military, he shared. Now he extends that experience to his fellow combat veterans through a nonprofit based on a rural Johnson County farm.

Katie's Forecast For Now

Blustery Friday with sun in the afternoon Decreasing clouds this afternoon makes way for sunshine. It will be a blustery and cool day with a high of 41.

Alan Walker, Dash Berlin & Vikkstar - Better Off is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Of course we'll defer to the judgement of so many amateur economists who comprise our blog community but there are a lot of smart people who think the "flat tax" is a dumb idea.

Don't get it twisted . . . We ABSOLUTELY agree with our GOP pals that tax breaks for beleaguered working-class Kansas residents are in order . . . But, as always, we suggest starting with help for the low-end and steering away from corporate and upper-class freebies.



There's plenty of data to argue & spin . . . In the meantime . . . The flat tax might serve as more of a red herring that'll help Guv Kelly reject any desperately needed payback to the plebs . . . Check-it:



As Kansas sits on a budget surplus of more than $2 billion, many Republican lawmakers want to again advance a flat tax after the governor blocked the proposal this spring. House and Senate GOP leaders even spent the fall touring the state promoting the idea.



But Kelly, who first won election as governor in 2018 promising to steer Kansas away from the fiscal woes of Republican Gov. Sam Brownbacks administration, remains a hard no.



I will not support a flat tax, Kelly told The Star in an interview. When you look at the numbers, what you will see is it will take us right back where the Brownback tax experiment took us. It wont be as abrupt or as drastic but over time well get right back there.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Today's reminder that GUN SAFETY should be the primary concern of responsible 2nd Amendment advocates.

Here's the latest local reminder that training is key for responsible owners and accidents ARE NOT inevitable but are never impossible . . . Check the story and your safety:



"He was cleaning his gun when it fired and hit him in the abdomen. Paramedics arrived on the scene and were able to revive him for an hour, but the 42-year-old eventually succumbed to his wounds."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Doukas swore to serve the citizens of Athens honestly and conscientiously while asking the councillors for unity and cooperation so that the new administration could meet the needs of the citizens and repay their trust

The new mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, was sworn into office on Thursday, alongside the members of the new municipal council, in a ceremony held at the Kypseli municipal market to symbolize the "municipality's return to neighborhoods", ANA reports.

He listed three conditions to ensure a new start for Greece's capital, among them having a clean and environmentally-friendly city, a new administrative model where each councilor will be in charge of one particular duty, and establishing a new relationship between the municipality and the citizens, ensuring that they have a say in all decisions.

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: Barcex
If you ask ChatGPT what it does with the personal data that someone brings into the conversation, it answers: As a language model developed by OpenAI, I do not have the ability to process, store or use users personal information, unless it is provided to me in the course of an individual conversation. However, OpenAI  the company that owns ChatGPT  can use that information in certain cases, according to the companys privacy policy.

This is true for certain types of data and for certain cases. It has to be OpenAI account data, such as the users name or payment card information, personal information that the user exchanges with ChatGPT or the company, users information when interacting with OpenAI accounts on social networks, such as Instagram, Facebook, Medium, X, YouTube and LinkedIn, or data that the user provides to the company in its surveys or events. With this information, OpenAI can improve its products and services, create new developments, conduct research, establish direct communication with users, comply with its legal obligations, and prevent fraud, misuse of the service and criminal activity.

This delicate issue does not only affect the new generative AI. Sending an email via Gmail to a friend, or sharing photos or documents in cloud spaces such as OneDrive, are everyday acts that authorize the providers of these services to share information with third parties. Companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft and Google may disclose information to service providers to meet their business needs, as indicated in their privacy policies.

However, with some exceptions, companies cannot use personal data for other purposes. Ricard Martinez, professor of constitutional law at the University of Valencia in Spain, points out that, in the European Union, this is strictly prohibited by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): They would be exposing themselves to a high level of regulatory risk. The company could be sanctioned with a fine equivalent to 4% of global annual turnover. According to Martinez, data can only be used for public interest purposes admitted by the regulations, such as archiving or historical, statistical or scientific research, or if a compatibility test is passed.

Generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, draws on a large volume of data, some of it personal, and from that information, it generates original content. It analyzes the information collected, responds to user queries and improves its service, despite the fact that the tool does not understand the documents it is fed, warns Borja Adsuara, a lawyer expert in digital law.

Recommendation: Be very discreet with chatbots

The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) recommends that users refuse the chatbot if it asks for registration data that is not necessary; requests consent without defining what the data will be processed for and without allowing it to be withdrawn at any time, or transfers data to countries that do not offer sufficient guarantees. It also recommends users limit how much personal data they provide or directly not provide if there is a chance that it may be moved internationally. There is no guarantee that the information provided by the chatbot is correct, adds AEPD, warning that this may lead to emotional damage, misinformation or being misled.

Experts agree with the AEPDs advice: do not share personal information with the artificial intelligence tool. Even ChatGPT itself warns: Please note that if you share personal, sensitive or confidential information during the conversation, you should exercise caution. It is recommended that you do not provide sensitive information through online platforms, even in conversations with language models like me.

Delete personal data

If, despite these recommendations, a user has already shared their personal data with an artificial intelligence system, its possible to try and delete it. There is a form on the OpenAI website to request personal data be removed. The bad news is that the company warns that submitting a request does not guarantee that information about you will be removed from ChatGPT outputs. The form must be completed with complete, accurate and relevant answers, and the user has to agree to a series of sworn statements. Additionally, the information provided in the document can be cross-checked with other sources to verify its veracity. Microsoft also offers a privacy panel to access and delete personal data.

Through legal action, Martinez explains that the user can exercise their right to have their personal data deleted, if they believe that it has been processed unlawfully, is incorrect and inadequate. He explains: You can unsubscribe, withdraw your consent, which is free and not subject to conditions, and the company is obliged to delete all information. The specialist also underscores the right to data portability: More and more applications allow the user to download their entire history and take it with them in a compatible format. The regulation also recommends the anonymization of personal data.

Anonymization, according to the AEPD, consists of converting personal data into data that cannot be used to identify a specific person. In its guidelines on how to manage artificial intelligence, the agency explains that anonymization is one of the techniques to minimize the use of data, ensuring that only the data necessary for the given purpose is used.

New artificial intelligence law

After the new EU law on artificial intelligence comes into force, companies that manage personal data will have to take three key issues into account. According to the consulting firm Entelgy, they must disclose how the algorithm works and the content it generates in a European registry; establish human supervision mechanisms (although this is recommended, not mandatory); and finally, ensure large language models (LLM) have security systems and that developers are transparent about the copyrighted material they use.

However, the new law is not incompatible with the General Data Protection Regulation. As Martinez explains: AI that processes personal data, or that generates personal data in the future, will never be able to reach the market if it does not guarantee compliance with the GDPR. This is especially evident in high-risk systems, which must implement a data governance model, as well as operating and usage records that guarantee traceability.

The next step for artificial intelligence, says Adsuara, is for the personal information collected to be used in a kind of personal pool: A place where everyone has their repository of documents with personal data, but the information does not leave. In other words, it is not used to feed universal generative artificial intelligence, he explains.

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Food waste is a big problem. It's a problem for people who can't easily access healthy food, it is a problem for the economy by wasting resources, and it's a problem for the environment because it creates harmful gas called methane that is produced when food rots in landfills. That's why our store is determined to put a stop to food waste.

According to Second Harvest, almost 60 per cent of the food produced in Canada is wasted every year, costing the economy $49 billion. This waste happens at different stages, from the farm to the grocery store to our homes. Regardless of where it happens, we can all agree that any amount of waste is too much.

As grocers, we recognize that food waste has far-reaching implications for the environment and for our social well-being. We know that we not only have an opportunity to change the system right within our stores, but we also have the chance to interact with customers and share our knowledge on how to help put an end to food waste. At my store, we're working toward our goal of sending zero food waste to landfills by 2030, and we're making significant changes to achieve this.

Here are some of the helpful waste reduction methods stores like mine have introduced:

Feeding Canadian farms: Through organizations like Loop Resource Ltd., stores like mine support local farmers across the country by repurposing food not fit for human consumption into animal feed. Partnerships like this help stores send millions of kilograms of food waste to more than a thousand farms.

Giving back to our community: We work hard to make sure none of the food that could be donated gets discarded at the end of the night. In partnership with Second Harvest and local food banks, safe and nutritious food is given to the community daily, keeping thousands of tonnes of food from being wasted. Not only is giving back to our community an opportunity to fulfil our social responsibility, but it also allows us to make a positive impact. Imagine the benefits wed see if all stores diverted surplus food to local food banks instead of it eventually ending up in landfill  theyre endless!

Let's break the cycle of food waste  from farms, to stores, to our homes. Everyone has a role to play in stopping food from ending up in landfills. Together, we can ensure that no waste goes to waste.
There's much debate about Canada's current 10 milligrams (mg) of THC limit per package of edibles.

Many public health professionals have pushed back against industry suggestions to raise that limit. The Cannabis Council of Canada, a group representing cannabis producers, has suggested a 100 mg limit per package, in line with California's laws on edibles and a recommendation from the Competition Bureau.

I went back and forth on my position in this debate, and over the last few weeks devoted focused time to exploring the research.

My public health and social policy side instinctively wants to hold steady with the current 10 mg limit. Research suggests that 58 per cent of infrequent consumers feel the effects at 2 mg of THC, and over 80 per cent feel them at 4 mg, so 10 mg in a package seems plenty.

Increasing the limit on edibles to 100 mg per package could impact some people negatively. Users can easily take too much THC in edible formats given the long onset period, leading to difficulty titrating their dose. Children who find a bag of gummies can suffer traumatizing effects from getting high when they are not able to understand the effects of drugs.

However, there are potential benefits of increasing the package limit. Most importantly, it will drive the price of edibles down. The primary expense of producing edibles isnt the cannabis; its the packaging. Increasing the limit should result in significant reductions in the cost of edibles.

A cheaper price will encourage the use of a non-combustible consumption format, drawing more individuals away from the illegal market and into the legal one.

Right now, you can easily purchase packages of edibles with more than 500 milligrams of THC through the illicit market. Those illicit products do not have child-proof seals and use imagery that is enticing to children.

When discussing this with a physician specializing in Emergency Department drug-related visits, they suggested that a significant portion of hospital visits due to cannabis are connected to potent illegal edible consumption.

Increasing the limit to 100 mg represents a minimal increase in risk. Cannabis oils already on the market contain many hundreds of milligrams of THC per bottle. We can mitigate any potential increase in risk associated with a 100 mg package by implementing education campaigns targeted towards consumers.

Combine good public education campaigns with child-proof packaging, and public messaging about safe storage, and youve got a potent set of harm reduction tools.

Ive come to the conclusion that we should increase the edible limit to 100 mg per package and consider going higher in the future after careful evaluation. The potential harms are small and manageable, and the potential benefits are quite significant.

It is important that we consider our cannabis regulations thoroughly, but in this case I think its time we made an adjustment. Maybe we can solve this whole debate right now and allow 100 mg packages of edibles, but they must have a black licorice flavour. Deal?
Ive been an editor for most of my professional life, though in the past few years, Ive turned to the other side.

Ive become a novelist, penning "The Maid" and "The Mystery Guest," two books in a loose series. As an editor and now as a novelist, Ive studied readers, examining what draws them to certain novels and their creators.

Paradoxically, readers of novels are fascinated by the very thing we associate with non-fiction rather than fiction: the truth. They want to know: what has the writer borrowed (or outright stolen) from reality to create something fictional? What about this novel is derived from fact? Are novelists books thinly veiled versions of their lives? Are writers thinly veiled versions of their characters?

Novelists who draw heavily from reality are the ones most loath to talk about the truth in their fiction. After all, if Bestselling Author X tells Uncle Joe hes the inspiration for the philandering con man in his latest mystery, its going to make for a rather uncomfortable Christmas dinner. But then there are the rest of us novelists who draw from reality more obliquely and subconsciously and yet, in the end, the fiction in our books can cleave closer to the truth than any hard facts from the real world.

Ill offer an example. Years ago, I used to pass the King Edward Hotel every day on my way to work. Out front was a stately doorman dressed in a cap and great coat. Every day when I walked by, he would tip his cap at me and I would smile back at him. Over the years, I watched him deal with drunken rock stars emerging from limos and scowling tycoons blowing cigar smoke in his face.

We never exchanged words but, for some reason, I felt I knew this man; I imagined how lucky youd be if he were your grandfather. And so, as a novelist, when I turned my hand to fiction, I plucked this stranger from reality and turned him into Mr. Preston, the dignified hotel doorman in both of my novels. I developed his backstory and gave him a young hotel maid to look out for the way I hoped hed been looking after me in real life every day that I passed him on my way to work.

So there it is: this is how a novelist takes a tiny nugget from reality and turns it into fiction. Where the truth ends and the fiction begins, I no longer know, because the character I created feels more real to me than the true-to-life person who inspired him. This is something novelists get used to, that an invention becomes more real than the truth. But lets just say it took me a while to get comfortable with that notion.

I dedicate my debut novel to my mother, Jackie. She was a living and breathing person. She was also a wildly imaginative storyteller. If youve seen the movie "Big Fish," starring Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney, you have (in a way) met my mother. The film features an estranged son whose father is dying. The father has always told tall tales about himself, which enrages his son. All the son wants is an iota of truth  a cold, hard fact about his fathers life  but he never gets that. Instead, his father aggrandizes his own life story with myths, metaphors and allegories.

When I first saw that film years ago, I thought, That father is my mother. And that son is me!

My mothers penchant for passing off totally unbelievable stories as truth used to infuriate me, especially when I was a teenager. Shed tell me some story about the town she grew up in and how a girl drowned in the river behind her house but came back to life two days later recognizing no one and speaking with a foreign accent. Then there was the day she mistook a skunk for a cat, picked it up by the tail and brought it right into her kitchen. One of her favourite stories, though, was about a pig she claimed she rode to school every day through the deep snow in northern Quebec.

Mom, you cant possibly think I believe any of this, I used to say every time she began one of her ridiculous stories.

Why cant it be true? shed reply. Give me one reason.

Because its far-fetched. Because you make things up. Just admit it, Mom, Id insist.

But she would never admit such a thing. Instead, shed embellish with further fantastical details: how the drowned girls hair turned from blond to black when she came back to life; how the skunk winked at her when she let it go in the forest; how the pigs name was Eugette and it was eventually added to the teachers morning roll call.

The angrier I got with my mothers stories, the funnier she thought it was. Sometimes, Id be so fuming mad that Id accuse her of being a liar, which she didnt like at all.

When my mother died a few years ago, I asked my no-nonsense aunt about my mothers penchant for making things up, fully expecting my aunt to commiserate with me about my mothers annoying bad habit. I brought up the ridiculous story about my mother riding a pig to school.

You mean Eugette, my aunt replied.

I couldnt believe what I was hearing. Please tell me it wasnt true, I said. Please admit that Eugette wasnt real.

She was real, my aunt said. Not everything your mother said was true, but that was. Eugette was a smart animal, easily trained. She became quite popular with the schoolchildren  but not so much with the teachers.

This is how I discovered that while not all of my mothers outrageous claims were true, some were not entirely made up. That left an important door open in my mind, one that Ive left open ever since. I no longer find the blurred line between fact and fiction as troubling as I once did, and an appreciation of this opacity is one of my mothers greatest gifts to me.

In "The Sign of Four," one of Arthur Conan Doyles early novels, Sherlock gets testy with Watson because hes not investigating the crime scene using the tried-and-true method Sherlock has taught him: Once you eliminate the impossible, he tells Watson, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

I spent years trying to eliminate the impossible in my mothers stories and yet, as a writer, I do what all writers do, which is exactly the opposite: I expand the possible. I construct a believable possibility  otherwise known as fiction  around the tiniest fragments of truth. And yet somehow, that which is invented, that which is not fact, will sometimes magnify and illuminate the truth. And therein lies the great truth about fiction: that fiction is truth, too.
In November, Las Vegas witnessed its highest-ever hotel room rates, averaging $249.31 per night. This price surge was mainly due to the Las Vegas Grand Prix, attracting a large number of visitors to the city. This event boosted room rates and other tourism indicators to unprecedented levels.

Las Vegas Hotels See Record Room Rates in November

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that the revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key metric in the hotel industry, reached an impressive $204.18.

According to Las Vegas Review-Journal, this figure represents a 34.8% increase compared to the same period last year. The average daily room rate on the Strip saw a significant hike to $270.17, which is 37.7% higher than in November 2022. Meanwhile, downtown Las Vegas hotels also experienced a rise in rates, averaging $108.67 per night, a 10.6% increase from last year.

Alongside the spike in Las Vegas room rates, Harry Reid International Airport announced a record number of passengers for November, totaling 4.8 million. This contributed to a historic yearly total of 52.8 million passengers, even before December's numbers were added.

Read also: Hong Kong Gears Up for Spectacular New Year's Eve Fireworks Show

The influx of visitors also positively impacted Clark County's gaming revenue, which hit a record $1.215 billion in November. Statewide, gaming wins reached $1.374 billion, marking the second-highest month ever. Despite the overall success, downtown Las Vegas experienced a slight decrease in gaming wins, likely due to the Grand Prix event.

Visitor volume in Las Vegas also saw a slight increase in November, rising 0.8% to 3.292 million. The LVCVA attributes the boost in tourism and hotel rates not only to the Grand Prix but also to the influence of the Specialty Equipment Market Association's automotive aftermarket trade show.

As 2023 nears its end, Las Vegas hotels have faced the challenge of maintaining high occupancy rates. With new hotel openings like Durango and Fontainebleau in December, the total room inventory in the city has increased by approximately 2.5%, presenting an additional challenge for the coming months.

Las Vegas Welcomes Over 400,000 People for New Year's Eve

Las Vegas is getting ready for a huge New Year's Eve celebration. This year, more than 356,000 tourists are expected to visit the city. Also, many local people will join the fun in downtown Las Vegas and on The Strip. In total, over 400,000 people will be there to welcome 2024, as reported by World Casino News.

The Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas hosts a big event called "NYE Time of Your Life Festival." This festival will have live music from famous bands and artists like Big Gigantic, Kid n' Play, Third Eye Blind, and Blackstreet. There will be three stages for all these performances. People can buy early tickets for $50.

Some roads will be closed to ensure public safety. According to the news source, starting at 5 a.m. on Dec. 31, the Interstate 15 off-ramps at Flamingo Road will be shut down. Also, Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed from Spring Mountain Road to Tropicana Avenue starting at 6:30 p.m. The Strip will be completely closed to cars by 8 p.m.

To help people move around easily and safely, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is offering a great deal. They are giving free rides on all their bus routes. This starts at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, and goes until 9 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Related article: Bali's Wellness Tourism Booms as Travelers Seek Health and Harmony
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly over Washington, D.C., as part of the Salute to America celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2020

The United States federal government recognizes 11 holidays. The latest addition to the list was the Juneteenth National Independence Day, which was preceded by Martin Luther King Jr. Day, two important dates for Black American communities.

On a federal holiday, most government offices and some private businesses close. Whether the employees get the day off or not is based on the employer. Private businesses arent required by federal law to give any of the federal holidays off, but many of them offer at least some as paid time off. If you have doubts, consult your work calendar.

New Years Day

Date: Monday, January 1

Fixed date. It marks the start of the Gregorian calendar year.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Date: Monday, January 15

Celebrated on the third Monday of January. The holiday was established on November 2, 1983, and it commemorates the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who led nonviolent resistance against Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination, advancing the civil rights movement.

George Washingtons Birthday

Date: Monday, February 19

The holiday honors George Washington, Founding Father and the first U.S. president. It was originally commemorated on February 22, Washingtons date of birth, but it was changed in 1968 to the third Monday of February, which means the observed holiday never falls on his actual birthday. Some call it Presidents Day, as Abraham Lincolns birthday falls on February 12.

Memorial Day

Date: Monday, May 27

Celebrated on the last Monday of May. This holiday is for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Juneteenth National Independence Day

Date: Wednesday, June 19

Fixed date. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas (although some places took longer to stop slavery). The earliest celebrations date back to 1866, and it was established as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.

Independence Day

Date: Thursday, July 4

Fixed date. It celebrates the adoption of the 1776 Declaration of Independence of the American Colonies from British rule, which established the United States of America.

Labor Day

Date: Monday, September 2

Celebrated on the first Monday of September, this holiday was established to honor and recognize the American labor movement.

Columbus Day

Date: Monday, October 14

Celebrated on the first Monday of October. It marks the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1492, which led to mass migration from Europe to the new continent. Some commemorate it as Indigenous Peoples Day, honoring the Native Americans who lived on the continent before the Europeans arrival.

Veterans Day

Date: Monday, November 11

Fixed date. It was established as Armistice Day in 1938 to commemorate the end of World War I. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill that changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day to honor all military veterans of the United States forces (alive or dead).

Thanksgiving Day

Date: Thursday, November 28

American Thanksgiving celebrates the autumn harvest on the fourth Thursday in November. The event commonly known as the first Thanksgiving is said to be celebrated by the Pilgrims with members of the Wampanoag tribe. Some groups of Native Americans call it National Day of Mourning, and commemorate it to raise awareness toward the struggles faced by the Native tribes.

Christmas Day

Date: Wednesday December 25

Fixed date. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians with religious traditions, but also by non-Christians, who follow secular traditions.

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On Friday the Caribbean Football Union will stage the 2024 Next Gen Referees Course for Regi
Belarus authoritarian president on Thursday attended a government-organized meeting with children brought from Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine.

The Associated Press reported, according to Ukrinform.

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.

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.

Read also: Taiwan extends sanctions against Russia and Belarus

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.

As reported, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said on Thursday that Russian invaders are compiling lists of children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine who are planned to be taken to Russia via Belarus.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited a forward command and observation post of the 110th Mechanized Brigade named after Corporal General Marko Bezruchko in Avdiivka and presented awards to Ukrainian soldiers.

That's according to the website of the head of state, Ukrinform reports.

Zelensky heard a report from the brigade's commander, Hero of Ukraine Mykola Chumak, on the operational situation in the area and the course of defensive actions. According to the brigade commander, Russian invaders show no mercy to people, but Ukrainian defenders are holding their positions firmly and even capturing enemy soldiers.

The president spoke with the soldiers, expressing gratitude for their high combat spirit. The head of state inquired about the primary needs of the military, with a frequent mention of the necessity for personnel replenishment and electronic warfare equipment. At the same time, the fighters said that the supply of drones has significantly improved in recent times.

Read also: Zelensky visits Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka

Zelensky also presented state awards to the defenders of Avdiivka. In particular, Junior Sergeant Ihor Tymoschuk received the order of the Golden Star from the President and was honored with the title of Hero of Ukraine. The junior sergeant personally plans, directs, and participates in assault operations. Groups under his leadership have repeatedly destroyed enemies, captured enemy soldiers, and regained control of positions. Thanks to the successful restoration of lost defensive positions, Ihor Tymoschuk prevented the enemy from breaking through to Avdiivka, ensuring the retention of a crucial line for the country's defense.

Zelensky awarded Senior Lieutenant Yevhen Baikov with the "Cross of Military Merit." Additionally, Zelensky presented the orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III class and the Order "For Courage" III class.

"I have the honor today, with our team, to be here in Avdiivka to thank you for your service and to award you. You are strong people. Thanks to you, we have Ukraine, our land, our relatives, and loved ones. I want to congratulate you on Christmas, on the New Year, and thank you on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people for the year you endured. The whole country endured because of you and because of people like you," Zelensky said.

He wished the defenders and their families good health and strength.

"Victory is definitely awaiting us. I am confident in each of you. Thank you for your service! Glory to Ukraine!" Zelensky said.

In addition, for the safety of the personnel, the president handed over awards to be presented to military personnel in their locations.
The U.S. military on Thursday opened a new chapter in how it investigates and prosecutes cases of sexual assault and other major crimes, putting independent lawyers in charge of those decisions and sidelining commanders after years of pressure from Congress.

The change, long resisted by Pentagon leaders, was finally forced by frustrated members of Congress who believed that too often commanders would fail to take victims complaints seriously or would try to protect alleged perpetrators in their units.

The new law was fueled by a persistent increase in sexual assaults and harassment across the military. The Air Force, the Marine Corps and the Navy all saw reported sexual assaults go up last year, but a sharp 9% drop in reports from the Army  the largest military service  drove the overall number down. In 2021, reported assaults spiked by 13%.

Under the law, new special counsels will have the authority to make prosecution decisions on a number of major crimes, including murder, rape and several other sexual assault-related offenses, kidnapping, domestic violence, making or possessing child sexual abuse images, stalking and retaliation.

In a statement, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called it the most important reform to our military justice system since the creation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1950.

Its unclear, however, what impact the change will have on the broader problem of sexual misconduct in the military, including if it will trigger an increase in prosecutions and, if so, whether that will have any deterrent effect.

Senior officials from the military services who are familiar with the new program said they already have more than 160 certified special trial counsels who will take over the prosecution decisions as of Thursday. Many of those lawyers, however, have already been involved, providing advice and support for months on cases that are underway. The officials spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to discuss the new program under rules set by the Defense Department.

As of Thursday, the special trial counsels will have sole authority to make prosecution decisions on new cases involving the major crimes. Any advice on already existing cases is nonbinding, the officials said.

According to the officials, the Army will have 65 certified trial counsels, the Air Force will have 40, the Marine Corps will have 33 and the Navy will have 24, with 23 attorneys who are not yet certified assisting in the cases. About 10 more are expected to be certified in the summer.

The lawyers will be scattered around the U.S. and the world, with larger numbers at bases and locations where there are more service members and more crime.

The officials said they expect each trial counsel to handle as many as 50 investigations and roughly eight to 12 trials a year.

An independent commission that studied sexual assaults in the military suggested in its report that the use of special counsels would have a positive impact. It said the special counsels would make better decisions on what cases should go forward, resulting in higher conviction rates. Increased convictions, the report said, will encourage more accused perpetrators to make plea agreements, which alleviates the need for victims to testify at trials.

These outcomes will also increase confidence in the public that the military is correcting its course in the prosecution of special victim cases, the report said.

Sean Timmons, managing partner at the Tully Rinckey law firm, which specializes in military cases, said the change doesnt really get at the underlying behavioral problems. As a result, he said, it is unlikely to have any real impact or deterrent effect on misconduct by service members. He said that it could result in more people being fired as a result of board proceedings but that in agreements in which the victims dont testify, the cases may end up being weaker.

My analogy of that is were rearranging the chairs on the Titanic, said Timmons, a former Army judge advocate general. Nothing will really change other than semantics and appearances. Thats the unfortunate reality.

The military services have long struggled to come up with programs to prevent sexual assaults and to encourage reporting, including a number of new initiatives in recent years. But they have yet to show any real progress in lowering the number of reported assaults, and anonymous surveys still indicate that many more victims opt not to report.

Defense officials have long argued that an increase in reported assaults is a positive trend, both in the military and in society as a whole. Greater reporting, they say, shows there is more confidence in the reporting system and the support available for victims.

Nate Galbreath, acting director of the Pentagons sexual assault prevention and response office, said in April the department was using a budget infusion of $479 million this year to hire as many as 2,400 personnel for a new prevention workforce. He said about 350 had already been hired and as the number grew they would be placed in military installations around the world to help commanders address some of the risk factors that lead to sexual assault.

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One of the great legal battles of 2024 is beginning to take shape. The Joe Biden administration threatened on Thursday to sue Texas over the SB4 law, one of the toughest regulations against irregular immigration in the United States, as it allows local authorities to detain and initiate deportation proceedings for any person without papers. The rule was signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbot on December 18, but will go into effect on March 5. The federal government argues that the law violates the U.S. Constitution, and that it will take it to court if it comes into force.

Because SB4 is unconstitutional and will disrupt the federal governments operations, we request that Texas forbear in its enforcement, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a letter addressed to Abbott. The document is signed by prosecutor Brian Boynton, the right-hand man of Attorney General Merrick Garland. The letter, which has been published by the CBS network, calls on Texas authorities to respond before January 3, 2024.

At the center of the dispute is the role that the Texas police will play if SB4 comes into force. The law creates new crimes for those who enter the country illegally and do not have U.S. citizenship. The new rules, approved by the Republican majority in Texas state Congress, put in place a system that allows local judges to initiate deportation proceedings for immigrants.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande from Piedras Negras towards Eagle Pass, on December 21. CHENEY ORR (REUTERS)

The Department of Justice argues that the law gives local authorities functions that the U.S. Constitution grants to federal officials, including regulating immigration and controlling international borders. The letter cites the case of SB170, a law that an ultra-conservative Arizona government approved in 2010 to increase the detention of immigrants. The rule was fought in court by the Obama administration, and over the years received several legal setbacks that rendered it little more than a dead letter. The conclusion of the long judicial process, which reached the Supreme Court in 2012, underlined the broad powers of the U.S. government in immigration matters.

According to Boynton, the Texas rule interferes with the process that federal authorities follow for immigrants. It also hinders some of the rights that newcomers to the United States have, such as the right to request asylum to avoid being returned to their countries to be persecuted or tortured.

In the letter, the Biden administration also points out that the new law has sparked discomfort in the Mexico government. Governor Abbott intends to return to Mexican territory anyone who crosses illegally into the United States, regardless of whether or not they are citizens of that country. SB4 likewise improperly regulates the movement of persons across an international boundary and undermines the United States foreign relations, the document states.

Abbott has already responded to the threat. Ive never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America, the governor wrote on his social networks. The Biden administration not only refuses to enforce current U.S. immigration laws, they now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration.

The politician has already implemented other controversial measures to reduce the number of immigrants in Texas. He has sent hundreds of migrants to cities governed by Democrats and installed a floating wall of buoys in the Rio Grande and razor wire along the border wall. The federal government has turned to the courts to stop some of these strategies.

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Applying to U.S. colleges and universities as an international student can be a daunting process, with numerous elements to consider. To increase the likelihood of success, experts advise prospective students to plan carefully and avoid common pitfalls. In this article, we will explore five mistakes that international students often make during the college application journey and provide insights from seasoned college admissions professionals.

1. Applying exclusively to well-known U.S. colleges and universities

A common misstep among international students is exclusively targeting renowned institutions. While prestigious universities carry significant appeal, Christine Chu, a college admissions counselor at IvyWise, emphasizes that brand recognition doesn't necessarily equate to educational quality. Students may miss out on hidden gems with outstanding programs, dedicated faculty, and smaller class sizes by overlooking a broader range of schools.

Lloyd Nimetz, CEO of Spike Lab, encourages students to optimize for value by considering factors like education quality, prestige, admissions selectivity, campus culture, and location. Katie Burns, a college admissions counselor at IvyWise, recommends exploring liberal arts colleges, emphasizing the importance of exposure to diverse disciplines beyond one's major.

READ ALSO: How Does Financial Aid Work In US Colleges? Here's A Comprehensive Guide For International Students

2. Waiting too long to begin test prep

Early and sustained test preparation is crucial for international students aiming to meet U.S. university admission requirements. Katie Burns advises students to start with standardized tests like the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and English-language proficiency exams (TOEFL, IELTS) as early as sophomore year. Nimetz stresses the significance of the SAT or ACT for international students, considering the unfamiliarity of overseas high schools to U.S. admissions officers.

To achieve optimal results, test preparation should be a gradual process, spanning several months. Christine Chu recommends dedicating at least two months to study for the first exam, with the possibility of two or three sittings. Early preparation not only improves scores but also helps students identify and address specific areas of weakness.

3. Failing to understand and investigate impaction

Impacted majors or programs, where demand exceeds available spaces, can catch international students off guard. Schools may limit enrollment in popular majors to maintain educational quality, turning what seemed like a likely or target school into a reach school. Katie Burns emphasizes the importance of exceeding minimum admission requirements to strengthen a student's profile in competitive fields.

Prospective international students should research whether their chosen major or program is impacted, using tools like the California State University's search tool. Understanding impaction allows students to better position themselves for admission to selective programs.

4. Not researching college scholarships or grants for international students

Financial considerations are a significant aspect of international education, and researching scholarship and grant opportunities is essential. While federal aid options are limited for non-U.S. citizens, some universities offer need-blind admission and need-based aid for international students.

Elizabeth Benedict suggests using resources like internationalscholarships.com to explore scholarship databases. Additionally, students should carefully tailor their college list, as few schools provide financial aid to international applicants. Merit-based scholarships are available at various institutions, such as the University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, the University of Oregon, and the University of Southern California.

5. Not completing additional requirements after submission

Submitting an application is just the beginning. Afterward, students must remain vigilant for communications from colleges regarding missing documents or additional requirements. Ignoring these requests could lead to a withdrawn application or missed scholarship opportunities.

Lloyd Nimetz emphasizes the importance of checking email and application portals regularly, as schools may request more information or conduct interviews. Optional components, such as additional essays or art supplements, can also strengthen an application and demonstrate genuine interest in a particular college.

The U.S. college admissions process for international students demands careful planning and consideration. By avoiding these common mistakes and heeding the advice of experienced professionals, prospective students can enhance their chances of securing admission to a diverse range of institutions and make the most of their educational journey in the United States.

RELATED ARTICLE: Planning To Study Abroad? Here Are Things Aspiring International Students Should Think About
In a world that is increasingly interconnected, pursuing higher education in a foreign country can be an enriching experience, offering exposure to diverse cultures and perspectives.

Despite the evident benefits, international students often grapple with myths and misconceptions that may deter them from applying to U.S. colleges and universities. Let's debunk some of these common myths and shed light on the realities of studying in the United States.

Yamily Villalba Paredes, a junior majoring in sociology and women's studies at the University of New Mexico, highlights the impact of political climates on international students' perceptions. While she initially felt welcomed, the Trump administration's policies created an atmosphere of uncertainty. However, Paredes emphasizes that such sentiments were not reflected on campus, emphasizing the welcoming nature of institutions of higher learning.

Myth 1: You Need to Be Wealthy to Attend American Schools

One prevalent misconception is that studying in the U.S. is an option only for the affluent. Pamela Rambo, founder of Rambo Research and Consulting, dispels this myth by highlighting the wide range of tuition costs. Colleges with the highest-priced tuition may range from $55,000 to $80,000 per year, but scholarship opportunities exist for high-achieving international students.

READ ALSO: How Does Financial Aid Work In US Colleges? Here's A Comprehensive Guide For International Students

The University of New Mexico's Amigo scholarship, for instance, grants international recipients in-state tuition rates, demonstrating that financial assistance is available. Rambo advises prospective students to explore scholarship opportunities early in the application process and consider affordable institutions, such as Florida State University, the University of Missouri, and others.

Myth 2: It Is Nearly Impossible to Get a Student Visa

Navigating the visa process can be a concern for many international students, exacerbated by pandemic-related challenges. However, Eric Welsh, an immigration attorney, assures that colleges and universities actively assist foreign students in the visa application process.

Despite pandemic-related disruptions, the student visa application process is relatively straightforward. The Biden administration's efforts to review and revise immigration policies aim to remove obstacles implemented by the previous administration. Seeking guidance from qualified immigration lawyers is recommended, especially for those with concerns about eligibility or previous visa denials.

Myth 3: U.S. Colleges Are Located in Big, Unsafe Cities

Safety concerns often deter prospective international students from considering U.S. colleges, fueled by the portrayal of American cities in the media. In reality, the U.S. boasts a diverse range of college locations, from rural areas to metropolitan cities, each with varying safety levels.

Pamela Rambo suggests that families research campus safety and security using resources provided by the U.S. Department of Education. The University of New Mexico exemplifies a commitment to safety, collaborating with law enforcement to address common crimes and providing resources to empower students to make informed decisions.

Myth 4: American Colleges Have a Lot of Students Who Party

The Hollywood image of nonstop college parties can create an inaccurate perception of campus life. Nicole Tami, executive director of Global Education Initiatives at the University of New Mexico, dismisses the stereotype, emphasizing that the majority of students prioritize learning, growth, and co-curricular opportunities.

While some students may engage in recreational activities, Tami underscores the importance of balance and highlights legal and safe ways to socialize. Choosing a college based on academic programs, student outcomes, and overall fit is crucial, says Pamela Rambo, encouraging families to focus on the educational aspect of the college experience.

Dispelling these myths illuminates the reality that U.S. colleges and universities are accessible, diverse, and welcoming to international students. Scholarships, visa assistance, varied campus locations, and a commitment to safety contribute to a positive and enriching educational experience for those seeking to pursue their academic goals in the United States.

RELATED ARTICLE: New Reports Show Rapid Growth Of International Students In US
Embarking on a journey to study in the United States is an exciting prospect for many international students. While the application process can be daunting, understanding which universities have higher acceptance rates can be a game-changer. We've compiled a list of 11 ranked National Universities that welcome international undergraduate applicants with open arms, offering an insight into where you might have a good chance of getting in.

- U.S. News rank: 249 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 2,485

- Acceptance rate for international students: 81%

Pace University sets the stage with an 81% acceptance rate for international students, making it an accessible option for those seeking quality education in the vibrant city of New York.

READ ALSO: Strategic 10-Step Guide For Choosing The Right College: Here's Everything You Need To Know

- U.S. News rank: 236 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 1,586

- Acceptance rate for international students: 81%

The University of Texas at Arlington stands out as an inviting institution, combining academic excellence with an 81% acceptance rate for international applicants.

- U.S. News rank: 280 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 1,664

- Acceptance rate for international students: 82%

With a welcoming atmosphere and an 82% acceptance rate, the University of Toledo in Ohio provides a conducive environment for international students.

- U.S. News rank: 115 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 1,813

- Acceptance rate for international students: 84%

The University of Texas at Dallas, ranked 115 (tie), offers an 84% acceptance rate, making it an attractive option for those pursuing undergraduate studies.

- U.S. News rank: 105 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 6,482

- Acceptance rate for international students: 85%

Arizona State University, with its dynamic academic environment, extends a warm welcome to international students, boasting an 85% acceptance rate.

- U.S. News rank: 105 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 1,953

- Acceptance rate for international students: 85%

Situated against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, the University of Colorado Boulder provides an enriching experience with an 85% acceptance rate.

- U.S. News rank: 216 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 1,293

- Acceptance rate for international students: 85%

For those drawn to the historical and cultural richness of Boston, the University of Massachusetts-Boston opens its doors with an 85% acceptance rate.

- U.S. News rank: 369 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 1,743

- Acceptance rate for international students: 93%

Long Island University in New York offers an impressive 93% acceptance rate, emphasizing its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.

- U.S. News rank: 115 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 835

- Acceptance rate for international students: 96%

With a remarkable 96% acceptance rate, the University of Utah provides a welcoming environment for international students seeking academic excellence.

- U.S. News rank: 159 (tie)

- International applicants for fall 2022: 519

- Acceptance rate for international students: 97%

The University of Kentucky stands out with a 97% acceptance rate, offering a balance of academic rigor and a warm collegiate atmosphere.

Choosing the right university is a crucial decision, and these institutions not only provide academic excellence but also embrace diversity, ensuring that international students feel welcomed and supported throughout their educational journey in the United States.

RELATED ARTICLE: Planning To Study Abroad? Here Are Things Aspiring International Students Should Think About
In the current landscape of higher education, a profound shift is underway, challenging the very essence of its purpose. The decline in support for humanities within academic institutions is not merely indicative of a shift toward a more technocratic society; rather, it is a pivotal component of a broader effort to mold America into a space more accommodating to corporate interests and their allies.

The Larger Agenda: Corporatization of Education

The assault on the humanities is a symptom of a larger agenda aimed at making America increasingly hospitable to corporations and their allies. The consequences extend beyond the realm of academia, raising questions about the kind of adults our educational institutions are producing. Are they being shaped to unquestioningly accept autocracy or even fascism if it were to arise?

READ ALSO: University Of New Haven Faculty Discuss Role Of Professors In New Age Of Artificial Intelligence

The Value of Humanities in Shaping Ethical Citizens

In a world devoid of Socrates, Shakespeare, Rembrandt, and Bach, the absence of humanities diminishes our ability to critically assess societal imperatives from an ethical standpoint. The arts and humanities serve as the bedrock for nurturing citizens capable of understanding the profound ethical implications of corporate initiatives and authoritarian state agendas.

False Assumptions: Arts and Humanities vs. Human Decency

While it's true that an appreciation for the arts doesn't automatically make individuals morally upright, the converse is not accurate either. The absence of arts and humanities does not inherently foster goodness. Humans rely on a rich repository of narratives and values to counterbalance the dictates of the state and powerful corporations. Whether through Shakespearean plays or folk tales, Bach's compositions or grandmother's songs, these encoded values provide a counterforce against centralized controls that disregard humane values.

Decline in Humanities Majors: A Troubling Trend

Over the last decade, majors in English, social science, and history have declined by 26,000, while majors in computer science, engineering, and business have surged by over 140,000. The increasing trend toward technical education at the expense of humanities raises concerns about the type of university that is emerging and the values it imparts to its graduates.

A Bleak Outlook in Imagining the Future University

Visualizing the university of the future reveals a landscape dominated by computer programming, health sciences, and a dearth of departments like classics, German, and art history. Graduates from this envisioned institution lack diverse university-derived values and are instead equipped with a narrow focus on coding, accounting principles, engineering solutions, and healthcare provision for those with financial means.

The diminishing emphasis on arts and humanities can be viewed as part of a larger effort by dominant interests to shape a conformist society adhering to a narrow set of values. This shift prioritizes numbers and efficiency over a sense of social 'good,' training students to offer practical solutions without questioning the ethical implications of their choices.

A Narrowing of Perspectives in STEM

As universities increasingly prioritize STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), the very fabric of academia is transforming. While some academics continue to challenge dominant values, the influx of instructors focusing on practical problem-solving reinforces the shift toward a technologically driven society.

This restructuring of university priorities is a long-term game, shaping the mindset of future generations. By channeling education toward circumscribed knowledge and glorifying answers over questions, institutions are subtly eliminating the potential for meaningful resistance to the existing structures of power.

Humanities as a Beacon for Societal Reflection

Shakespeare or Emily Dickinson may not enhance one's engineering skills, but their absence poses a risk of eroding the foundation of cultural and ethical understanding. A populace devoid of historical context, sociological analysis, and artistic touchstones becomes susceptible to conformity and manipulation by ruling elites.

The Urgency of Critical Inquiry

As universities increasingly become training grounds for a technologically focused society, the urgency of maintaining a space for critical inquiry becomes evident. The erosion of humanities threatens to create a generation with limited awareness of cultural heritage, historical context, and ethical considerations, paving the way for uncritical acceptance of authoritarian ideologies.

In a world where the humanities are relegated to the sidelines, the fundamental questions about who we are and where we are headed may go unanswered. The urgency lies in recognizing the vital role that arts and humanities play in shaping not just educated individuals but ethical and critically thinking citizens.

RELATED ARTICLE: Taylor Swift Courses Now Offered In US Colleges; Here's Why Academia Dives Into Pop Star Pedagogy
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday disposed of a petition challenging the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf social media activist Sanam Javed

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday disposed of a petition challenging the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf social media activist Sanam Javed.

The court disposed of the matter after a law officer submitted that the deputy commissioner had withdrawn orders for detention of Sanam Javed and submitted a notification in this regard.

The single bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petition filed by the father of the PTI activist.

The petitioner had submitted that the deputy commissioner Lahore had issued notification for detention of his daughter for 30-days under section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. He submitted that the detention orders were issued in violation of the law and pleaded with the court to set aside them.
KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) Pakistan Navy Fleet Annual Efficiency Competition Parade was held here at Pakistan Navy Dockyard upon the culmination of the operational year.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as Chief Guest that marked the culmination of a rewarding and eventful operational year for Pakistan Navy ships, submarines and aircrafts, a Pakistan Navy news release said.

Upon arrival at the venue, the chief guest was received by Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi and a smartly turned-out contingent presented the Guard of Honour.

The Chief of the Naval Staff expressed complete satisfaction and confidence over the operational preparedness of the Pakistan Navy Fleet. He acknowledged and praised the dedication and professionalism of officers and men in successfully achieving operational objectives and milestones for the year 2023.

The Admiral commended PN Fleets efforts and contributions towards maritime security. The chief guest also mentioned the modernization plan of the Pakistan Navy wherein various platforms are being inducted in the Fleet.

He underscored that induction of these platforms will immensely contribute towards capability enhancement of the Fleet.

He also dilated upon the evolving maritime security environment in the region which requires the Pakistan Navy to remain ever-vigilant and fully prepared to safeguard national maritime interests. The Admiral urged all the participants to be fully cognizant of the latest technologies and work with utmost dedication and honesty.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi highlighted PN Fleets operational achievements during last year. He further highlighted that PN Fleet maintained high level of combat readiness throughout the year while Fleet units participated in various Bilateral and Multilateral exercises in home and foreign waters besides undertaking Regional Maritime Security Patrols and Overseas Deployments.

During the ceremony, the Chief of the Naval Staff gave away efficiency trophies to units adjudged best in their respective squadrons and interacted with Officers and CPOs/ Sailors of Pakistan Navy Fleet.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Dec, 2023) Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, a 77-year-old luminary in the Kashmir Movement, passed away on Friday in a London hospital after a short illness.

Surrounded by close family, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl's passing is a profound loss, mourned beyond Jammu & Kashmir's borders. An icon for the state's self-determination cause, his untimely departure is a significant loss for all.

Barrister Abdul Majid Tramboo, paying tribute, said, 'We haven't merely lost a devoted leader; we've lost a genuine family man, and personally, I've lost a true brother. He has departed this world for the eternal abode, yet his courageous legacy endures among us.

Born on October 13, 1946, in Baramulla, Professor Shawl was a versatile individuala multilingual person, an educator, a poet, a human rights defender, and above all, a family man.

He completed his science degree at Jammu and Kashmir University, pursued post-graduation in Botany at Kashmir University with a specialisation in ecology, and obtained another post-graduate degree in education from Himachal Pradesh University.

Throughout his illustrious career, Professor Shawl has held various roles, including professor and researcher in Botany, field advisor in Sciences, coordinator for the UNICEF-assisted project PECR, member of the board of Undergraduate Studies in Botany at the University of Kashmir, and Chief Test Administrator for Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS-Bombay).

His writings passionately address human rights concerns in different conflict areas, with a particular focus on championing the Kashmir cause and exposing severe human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). Professor Shawl has served as the chief editor of Kashmir Press International, a news agency.

Additionally, he played a key role in establishing a think tank, the South Asia Centre for Peace and Human Rights, where he serves as the chairman.
And Maine said no. The Northeastern states Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, decided Thursday that Donald Trump cannot run in that states primary because she interprets the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which incorporates a now well-known disqualification clause for anyone who has participated in a rebellion or insurrection, as preventing him from doing so.

The decision comes after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled last week that the former president is not eligible to run for president in that state, under the same reading of the 14th Amendment. The Michigan Supreme Court, on the other hand, decided that he could run for president in that state. Five others, including Arizona, Florida or New Hampshire, have rejected similar lawsuits seeking to disqualify Trump in his aspiration to return to the White House in November 2024.

The last word on his eligibility or not to run for office will be made by the Supreme Court in Washington. The decision made by the highest judicial instance in the country, with a conservative majority and three justices appointed by Trump, will have an effect on all 50 states.

Bellows, who is a Democrat, justified in writing her resolution by appealing to Trumps role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection, Bellows argued in a 34-page document.

The 14th Amendment was passed in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War. It sanctioned the equality of all persons before the law and granted citizenship to slaves. Section 3 was intended to prevent Confederate insurgents from ever holding public office again. It has rarely been enforced; only twice since 1919.

The clause  which has been at the center of an acrimonious political-legal debate in this final stretch of the year  reads: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State [...] who, having previously taken an oath [...] to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine Secretary of State consider that what Trump did both in the lead-up to and on January 6, 2021  the day he called for a demonstration in Washington that ended in the attack on the Capitol  an act of insurrection and that his fiery diatribe that inflamed his support was not protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees free speech

Both courts also understand that this prohibition can be applied to the office of president. And that is another part of the constitutional text that is open to interpretation: Trumps lawyers argue that the president is not an officer of the United States and that his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution is not the same as the oath to support it, as described in the 14th Amendment.

The Michigan Supreme Court decision did not go into the issue, merely stating that it is not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.

The tycoons legal team has five days to appeal Bellows decision to a Maine superior court.

The primaries in Maine, a state that tends to vote Democratic, are part of Super Tuesday, which will be held next March 5. It is a decisive day for the presidential primaries, when the greatest number of U.S. states hold primary elections. Trump has a comfortable lead in the race for the Republican nomination: no one, neither Nikki Haley nor Ron DeSantis, the two best placed candidates, seems capable of overshadowing him.

Given Maines particular system, which allows electoral votes to be split, Trump one electoral vote in Maine in the 2016 and 2020 elections. To become president of the United States, a candidate needs to win 270 electoral votes.

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Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Friday said that a major part of the income of Green Pakistan Initiative would go to the provinces, while the rest would be kept for farmers and agricultural research

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Friday said that a major part of the income of Green Pakistan Initiative would go to the provinces, while the rest would be kept for farmers and agricultural research.

The role of the Pakistan Army in it was only to serve the people and farmers, he said while addressing the National Farmers' Convention, according to official sources.

The Army Chief said that agriculture and cattle rearing was the occupation of almost every Prophet, for it involved discipline, suffering, growth, and patience, resulting in immense rewards.

"Rumours and negative things are being said about Pakistan, but you should know that two states were established in the name of Kalma, State of Tayyaba and State of Pakistan, this is not a coincidence," the COAS said.

Pakistan, he said, was rich in resources. "It has glaciers, rivers, mountains, and fertile land from which the world's best rice, fruits like mandarin orange and mango, granite, gold and copper are produced."

In the sixties, the COAS said, Pakistan was the fastest growing country in Asia, "but we forgot the three golden principles of Quaid-i-Azam - faith, unity, discipline, due to which it suffered degradation.

"

The Army Chief added that the aim of the Green Pakistan Initiative was to work on agriculture first on a priority basis.

Agriculture malls would be organized in all districts where all kinds of agricultural facilities would be available to the farmers, the COAS said.

"Provision of easy agricultural credit, cold storage chain, climate change resistant seeds and genetically engineered livestock will be ensured," the Army Chief said.

"All types of mafia will be suppressed together with the help of the nation," he added.

The Army Chief said by creating an atmosphere of mayhem, despair and chaos on social media, an impression was being given through false news that the state was losing its existence.

Meanwhile, the farmers kept chanting Takbeer and Pakistan Zindabad slogans repeatedly during the convention. They also chanted the slogans of Pakistan Army Zindabad.
The Senate's Standing Committee on Human Rights on Friday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) The Senate's Standing Committee on Human Rights on Friday,

by a majority of the members present, opposed any statutory amendments that call for public execution for capital offences.

The committee, which met with Senator Walid Iqbal at the Parliament House, resolved, by a majority vote, that in view of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution  as interpreted by superior courts  and all of Pakistans applicable laws, any statutory amendments calling for public executions involving capital offences be opposed, and also appealed to the House to reject any such proposed amendments should they come up on its legislative agenda.

Two of the Senators present, Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani and Dr. Humayun Mohmand, expressed their disagreement by asserting that the committee had decided upon the matter in a haste without accessing any proper research and information on the possible deterrent effects of public executions.

The committee received detailed briefings on the subject of public executions from the Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, and the Secretary, National Commission for Human Rights.

The briefings highlighted a judgment passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1994 that had declared public executions to be contrary to the inviolability of human dignity as guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan, a position that was followed by the Lahore High Court in 2018 while disallowing the public execution of the rapist and murderer convicted in the infamous Zainab Case.

The committee was also apprised of a decision of the Federal Shariat Court where the matter of upholding human dignity was endorsed in the light of Quranic teachings.

The briefings additionally underscored various international conventions that Pakistan had ratified and made part of domestic law, most notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit public executions as cruel and inhuman, and also emphasized that according to global research and empirical evidence, public executions serve to brutalize society as opposed to having a deterrent effect, pointing out, in the case of Pakistan, that in the year immediately following the execution of Zainabs murderer, there was a 33% increase in rape cases.

The Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, also briefed the committee on various aspects of the Bangkok Rules, stressing on gender sensitivities involved as far as under-trial and convicted prisoners are concerned, but explained that the rules are non-binding in nature due the manner and circumstances in which they were issued.

The committee deferred discussion on the state of implementation of the rules in Pakistan to a subsequent meeting where Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women would be in attendance, and also directed representatives of the Commission to collect and bring with them some additional data and information on the subject from all of Pakistans provinces.

The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani, Dr. Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, Kamran Micheal, Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Syed Waqar Mehdi. Senior officials from attached departments were also present.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) The second convening of the 334th Senate session was adjourned again on Friday after the Upper House lacked quorum, right after the recitation of the Holy Quran when Senator Kamil Ali Agha of Pakistan Muslim League pointed out the quorum to the Presiding Officer before commencement of the proceedings.

Senator Rubina Khalid was the Presiding Officer who chaired the session, directed for the head count of the senators, right after the pointing out of quorum, to confirm the exact number of members of the House to continue the Senate proceedings.

Senator Muhammad Tahir Bizinjo of the National Party after the recitation of the Holy Quran interjected the chair to allow him to take the floor to discuss the matter of Balochistan rights activists, however, due to the identification of the forum, he was not allowed to proceed.

The Presiding Officer, Senator Rubina Khalid of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) urged the Senator to remain patient till the head count and would be allowed after it.

The Senate session was adjourned to meet again on January 1st, 2024 (Monday) at 1430 hours.

It is to be noted that at the commencement of each session the Chairman Senate nominates a panel, in order of precedence, of not more than three Presiding Officers.

In the absence of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, a member of the panel present, having precedence, presides over the sitting of the Senate.
Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) Russia launched a wave of missile strikes on Friday across Ukrainian cities, including the capital, officials said, as they raised a nationwide air alert.

"We are doing everything to strengthen our air shield. But the world needs to see that we need more support and strength to stop this terror," Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak wrote on Telegram.

AFP reporters in central Kyiv heard several powerful explosions in the early hours of Friday.

"Explosions in Kyiv.

Air defence operating. Stay in shelters," the city's mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a post on Telegram.

Klitschko later said a warehouse was on fire.

Sergiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said debris fell in two parts of the city and there was also a fire in a residential apartment building.

The overnight attacks came days after Ukraine struck a Russian warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in a major setback for the Russian navy.
With multiple US states hearing challenges to Donald Trump's right to run in the 2024 election, his supporters claim his enemies are tearing up democracy to prevent his return to the White House

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) With multiple US states hearing challenges to Donald Trump's right to run in the 2024 election, his supporters claim his enemies are tearing up democracy to prevent his return to the White House.

Rulings in Colorado and Maine banning the ex-president from their Primary nominating contests under the Constitution's "insurrection clause" set off a political earthquake that could upend the campaign.

The US House of Representatives impeached the Republican tycoon for inciting insurrection after he called on his supporters to march on the US Capitol ahead of a deadly riot that delayed the certification of the 2020 election.

A large, bipartisan majority of the Senate agreed with the lower chamber's finding, but the tally fell short of the two-thirds of members required for a conviction, which would have barred Trump from seeking office again.

Federal prosecutors have since charged Trump with conspiracy over the violence, and he is scheduled for trial in March.

Meanwhile, activists have brought court challenges nationwide to stop his name appearing on ballots for state primaries under the 14th Amendment, which bars people from office if they have taken an oath to defend the Constitution but subsequently "engage in insurrection."

On December 19, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible for the state's primary under the 14th Amendment's "insurrection clause."

Maine -- where the secretary of state, currently a Democrat, makes the initial eligibility determination -- followed suit on Thursday.

Related challenges have been filed nationwide, with decisions pending in 14 states, according to national security website Lawfare's online disqualification tracker.

Both states put their bans on hold while the legal process plays out -- meaning Trump will almost certainly appear on both ballots for their March 5 primaries.

Grassroots Republicans have challenged the ruling in Colorado and the Trump campaign has indicated that it intends to appeal in both cases.

The Maine decision would go to the state's Superior Court first, while Colorado's ruling has already been through the state system and would be elevated directly to the US Supreme Court.

The strongly conservative-leaning high court -- which includes three Trump appointees -- can decline to review the Colorado case, meaning the Trump ban would stand.

In reality, most analysts believe that Maine joining with Colorado removes any doubt that the justices will act.

They would determine whether or not section three of the 14th Amendment -- the insurrection clause -- applies to a former president.

The court could also rule on whether the ban is automatic or would require an act of Congress, and whether the 2021 storming of the Capitol and Trump's role in it indeed qualify as insurrection.

Even if the Colorado and Maine bans stand, front-running Trump is expected to be able to secure the Republican nomination comfortably without those states, so his path to the White House would not necessarily be impeded.

But an adverse Supreme Court ruling that is binding on lower courts nationwide -- rather than a narrow procedural ruling affecting only Colorado -- could torpedo the ex-president's primary challenge.

He would then have to decide whether to run for president as a third-party candidate.

But even if the high court doesn't weigh in on the state level rulings and the damage is limited to Colorado and Maine, the justices could leave the door open to challenges to Trump's eligibility for the general election.

So he could well find himself barred from challenging President Joe Biden in November, even if he wins the Republican nomination.

The gears of the US justice system grind notoriously slowly -- particularly at the top.

The Supreme Court has not indicated whether it intends to take up the Colorado appeal, nor how long it would take to rule on Trump's eligibility if it did. Trump's opponents have stressed the importance of an urgent decision.

The court can act quickly when required: Its ruling ending Florida's vote count in the 2000 election -- handing victory to George W. Bush -- took less than a month.

ft/nro
BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) "The Chinese PLA Southern Theatre Command hosted the China-Arab states special operations and counter-terrorism seminar from December 26 to 30 in Guangzhou City of south China's Guangdong Province.

Leaders of special operations and counter-terrorism departments and troop commanders from countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman attended the event," said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference.

According to the spokesperson, the seminar is hosted under the theme of "focusing on special operations and counter-terrorism cooperation, building a China-Arab community with a shared future".

Delegates had an in-depth exchange of views on topics including the new move in regional terrorism and joint response, the establishment, training and real combat of special operations and counter-terrorism forces, urban special operations and counter-terrorism operations, anti-piracy and coping with maritime terrorism, etc.

"This event aims to deepen exchanges and cooperation between China and Arab countries in the field of special operations and counter-terrorism, and build a community of a shared future between China and Arab countries," said the spokesperson.

APP/asg
Israels expanding ground offensive across the Gaza Strip is sending new waves of displaced people - at least 100,000 so far - into Rafa, the enclaves overcrowded southern city, where locals are already underfed and desperate under continuing bombardment, UN humanitarian officials said Friday

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) Israels expanding ground offensive across the Gaza Strip is sending new waves of displaced people - at least 100,000 so far - into Rafa, the enclaves overcrowded southern city, where locals are already underfed and desperate under continuing bombardment, UN humanitarian officials said Friday.

A traumatized and exhausted population is being crammed into a smaller and smaller sliver of land, UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths warned on social platform X on Friday.

Efforts to deliver medical supplies and fuel to the hospitals still functioning in and around Rafah have been increasingly disrupted by hungry people stopping convoys in search of food, the World Health Organization said this week.

Twelve weeks into Israels campaign against Palestinians, more than 21,000 people in Gaza have been killed and there is little relief in sight.

According to media reports, talks in Cairo, and an Egyptian ceasefire proposal, appear to be in early stages, and Hamas says it will not return Israeli hostages until the fighting stops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting Gaza this week, said the war isnt close to finished.

UN calls for urgent aid scale-up amid new mass exodus to Rafah

UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA cited reports from Gazas health authorities that half of all the pregnant women seeking safety in shelters in the Strip suffer from thirst, malnutrition and a lack of health care, there is a lack of vaccinations for newborns and one in every two displaced children faces dehydration, malnutrition and disease.

Some 1.9 million Gazans, or 85 per cent of the enclaves population, have been internally displaced since the start of Israels retaliation following Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7.

According to OCHA, the latest wave of displacement was prompted by an intensification of hostilities in the southern town of Khan Younis and central Gazas Deir al Balah, as well as evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military.

Some 10 days ago Rafah was already estimated to be the most densely populated area in Gaza, exceeding 12,000 people per square kilometre, OCHA said, which is more than in New York City.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution adopted last week calling for a scale-up in aid deliveries to the enclave, access to people in need has remained overwhelmingly insufficient.

Only 76 trucks entered Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Thursday, well below the daily average of 500 truckloads (including fuel and private sector goods) that entered every working day prior to October 7, OCHA noted.

You think getting aid into Gaza is easy? Think again, the UNs Mr Griffiths wrote on X on Friday. He listed the impediments faced by humanitarians working to help people in the Strip, including three layers of inspections before trucks can even enter, insufficient entry points, constant bombardment and damaged roads.

This is an impossible situation for the people of Gaza and for those trying to help them. The fighting must stop, he insisted.

Last week UN chief Antonio Guterres said,An effective aid operation in Gaza requires security; staff who can work in safety; logistical capacity; and the resumption of commercial activity.

These four elements do not exist, he concluded.

Despite the challenges, humanitarians have continued doing their utmost to assist desperate Gazans. On Thursday the UN World Food Programme (WFP) distributed food parcels for 10,000 displaced families in makeshift camps in Rafah.

OCHA reported that some 200 community leaders were identified to collect assistance on behalf of surrounding families in their communities, with each parcel covering a familys food needs for 10 days.

Incredible to see the collab[oration] between the team and communities as we race against time to deliver life-saving food in Gaza, WFP representative in Palestine Samer AbdelJaber wrote on the social platform X.

The distribution was set to continue on Friday after time and safety constraints meant that only 45 per cent of people targeted with assistance were reached on the first day.

Last week, humanitarian officials warned that more than one in four households in Gaza were enduring catastrophic hunger.

The risk of famine occurring in the Strip within the next six months was confirmed by the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, which showed that the entire population of Gaza, some 2.2 million people, is living with crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity.
Gaza Strip, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) Israel pounded south and central Gaza on Friday as Egypt was to host a high-level Hamas delegation for talks to try and end the nearly 12-week war that has devastated the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Israeli military said its forces "are extending operation in Khan Yunis" in the coastal territory's south, and had "eliminated dozens of terrorists" across Gaza over the past 24 hours.

AFPTV footage showed smoke billowing over Rafah, near Egypt, following fresh strikes early Friday.

Israeli shelling near Al-Amal in Khan Yunis killed 41 people over the past two days, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on Thursday.

The casualties in repeated Israeli strikes near the facility include "displaced persons seeking shelter", it said.

The UN humanitarian office said an estimated 100,000 more displaced people had arrived in the already-teeming southern border city of Rafah in recent days following the intensification of fighting around Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis.

The Gaza fighting left much of the territory's north in ruins, while the battlefront has shifted ever further to the south and raised tensions across the middle East.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas -- dubbed a "terrorist" group by the United States and European Union --- 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.

Around 250 hostages were also taken during the attack, more than half of whom remain captive.

Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

The Israeli army says 168 of its soldiers have been killed inside Gaza.

Sources close to Hamas say Egypt's three-stage plan provides for renewable ceasefires, a staggered release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and ultimately an end to the war.

The Israeli army has said it had deployed an additional brigade to Khan Yunis, hometown of Hamas's Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, and AFP correspondents reported sustained air and artillery strikes.

"The missions that our forces are carrying out in Khan Yunis are unprecedented... taking over control rooms and eliminating fighters," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday.

Israel has repeatedly said that one of the chief goals of the war is the return of the 129 hostages it says remain in Gaza.

On Thursday, an Israeli kibbutz community said one of its residents, US-Israeli Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, who was thought to be the oldest woman held captive had in fact died in the October 7 attack and her body held by militants.

US President Joe Biden said he was "devastated" by the news.

The UN says more than 80 percent of Gaza's 2.

4 million people have been driven from their homes. Many now live in cramped shelters in the tiny territory or in makeshift tents around Rafah.

Residents in Rafah combed through rubble for survivors on Thursday after an air strike that one witness said left "several casualties".

Tayseer Abu al-Eish said he was at home when "all of a sudden we heard a loud explosion and debris started falling on us. The apartment was completely destroyed and my daughters were screaming".

An Israeli siege imposed after October 7, following years of crippling blockade, has deprived Gazans of food, water, fuel and medicine.

A UN aid convoy on Thursday came under fire by the Israeli military, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA said.

The severe shortages have been only sporadically eased by humanitarian aid convoys entering primarily via Egypt.

Rafah residents and displaced people thronged a Rafah market on Friday morning to buy food, including fresh fruit, eggs and meat, trucked in the previous night from Egypt.

"This is the first time eggs and some types of fruit have entered Gaza from Egypt," said vendor Muntasser al-Shaer.

UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths described on social media what he called "an impossible situation for the people of Gaza, and for those trying to help them".

"You think getting aid into Gaza is easy? Think again," he wrote Friday on X.

A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the delegation in Cairo would "give the response of the Palestinian factions, including several observations" regarding the Egyptian proposal, recently put to officials from Hamas and another Gaza group.

Hamas would also seek "guarantees for a complete Israeli military withdrawal" from Gaza, the official said.

The proposal provides for a Palestinian government of technocrats after talks involving "all Palestinian factions", which would be responsible for governing and rebuilding in post-war Gaza.

Egypt's State Information Services chief Dia Rashwan said the plan was "intended to bring together the views of all parties concerned, with aim of ending the shedding of Palestinian blood".

In Tel Aviv, hundreds rallied Thursday calling for a ceasefire.

"Israelis, Palestinians, Muslims, Jews, Christians -- this is everybody's home," said teacher Itay Eyal, 51, saying everyone was entitled to live with "freedom and dignity".

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.

Israel has traded heavy cross-border fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah since the Gaza war erupted, and on Friday said its military had struck "Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon" after reporting rocket fire from there.

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Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Dec, 2023) Russia launched a massive air attack over Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 30 people and wounding over a hundred across the country in the fiercest assault since the first days of the war nearly two years ago.

Schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades and blocks of flats were among the buildings hit in the barrage, said Ukrainian officials.

The attacks -- which also saw a Russian missile passing through Polish airspace -- triggered international condemnation and fresh promises of military support to Ukraine, which has been fighting off invading Russian troops since late February 2022.

"Today Russia hit us with almost everything it has in its arsenal," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine's military estimated that Russia had fired 158 missiles and drones on Ukraine and 114 of them had been destroyed.

Air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat told AFP that this was a "record number" of missiles and "the most massive missile attack" of the war, excluding the early days of constant bombardment.

Russia tried to overwhelm Ukraine's air defences across most major cities, launching a wave of Shahed attack drones followed by missiles of numerous types fired from planes and from Russian-controlled territory.

Interior Minister Igor Klymenko announced on Telegram: "As of now, 30 people have been killed and more than 160 wounded as a result of Russia's massive attack on Ukrainian territory in the morning."

Russia's army said it had "carried out 50 group strikes and one massive strike" on military facilities in Ukraine over the past week, adding that "all targets were hit."
Gaza City, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees said Friday an aid convoy came under fire by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip, without causing any casualties.

"Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army -- our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage," UNRWA's director in Gaza, Tom White, wrote on X.

According to UNRWA, the incident took place on Thursday afternoon.

The Israeli military responded to requests for comment saying that it was looking into reports about the incident.

Earlier on Friday the UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, wrote a post on X describing what he called "an impossible situation for the people of Gaza, and for those trying to help them".

Griffiths said that aid convoys had been shot at, without elaborating.

"You think getting aid into Gaza is easy? Think again," he said.

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On Wednesday, the meeting between President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Secretary of State Antony Blinken resulted in several agreements: Ongoing cooperation also includes enhanced efforts to disrupt human smuggling, trafficking, and criminal networks, and continuing the work to promote legal instead of irregular migration pathways. Delegations of diplomatic and security officials from the two countries met in Mexico to try to stop the unprecedented arrival of migrants at the U.S. border, people who have been driven to take a brutal journey with their families by the violence, political repression and poverty in much of Latin America. The joint statement issued by the two countries does not specify ways to stop the coyotes who traffic migrants, an enterprise that has recently become a major business for criminal organizations.

The surge in migration in the final months of 2023, in which thousands of people crowd the banks of the Rio Bravo on a daily basis, kept several border crossings closed last week. The closures led Mexican businesspeople to complain about millions of dollars in losses. The cordial and friendly meeting between the two countries addressed this issue and concluded with a U.S. promise that these trade routes will remain open in the future. The joint statement says that they are focused on promoting orderly, humane and regular migration, which includes tackling the source of these mass exoduses through cooperation with Central American countries. The press release specifically mentioned the joint initiative for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, in line with the agreement at the recent summit in Palenque, where, at Mexicos invitation, these nations leaders met to address the causes of migration and possible solutions.

In the middle of winter, hundreds of thousands of migrants continue to cross Central American countries to complete their journey to the border through Mexico, an extremely dangerous and corrupt journey for these people.

President Lopez Obrador called for continued diplomatic engagement with the regions countries, as well as investing in ambitious development programs throughout the entire hemisphere of the Americas. Both delegations emphasized the White Houses willingness to implement humanitarian and development aid, as well as to encourage new private investments in the region.

The officials also discussed the benefit of regularizing the situation of long-term undocumented Hispanic migrants and DACA recipients, who are a vital part of the U.S. economy and society.

The Mexican presidents good relations with his northern neighbor will be channeled into new periodic meetings, the next of which will occur in January of next year. This latest bilateral meeting, to which Blinken was accompanied by the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the White House National Security Advisor, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, was preceded by Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellens visit last December 5. Yellen met with her counterparts in Mexico to discuss financial and economic measures to stifle criminal financing and money laundering channels. The three major problems that strain U.S.-Mexico relations the most are the trafficking of fentanyl, arms smuggling, and the trafficking and extortion of migrants.

This morning, Lopez Obrador said that Joe Biden is the only recent U.S. president, Democrat or Republican, who has not emphasized the need to build walls at the border. The Mexican president celebrated Bidens approach by praising him and once again emphasizing the good relationship between the two countries, as evidenced by the warm welcome Mexico extended to the U.S. delegation yesterday.

Both nations economies are inevitably interconnected by strong economic ties, despite the political upheavals that the presence of migrants on the border causes; that is especially true in the United States, where Republicans often use the issue to hurt Democrats politically.

But the truth is that neither the wall nor the implementation of restrictive measures during the coldest moments between the two administrations have managed to stop the enormous stream of people fleeing from misery in their own countries. On the contrary, the precarious economies and political situations of countries like Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua have recently pushed hundreds of thousands of fellow countrymen out of their nations. The subsequent punishing journey has not dissuaded these migrants from leaving.

Recently, a new caravan of thousands of migrants is heading from the south of Mexico to the north with the intent of crossing into the United States. However, in Texas, for example, Republican governor Greg Abbott has enacted drastic measures to curb the presence of migrants, including deportation if they are found to lack documentation. The hardline governor is also sending busloads of migrants all the way to New York and Washington in protest of Bidens immigration policies.

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The United Nations has asked Israel to end unlawful killings of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning that the human rights situation in the territory is worsening, amid levels of violence not seen in years

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2023) The United Nations has asked Israel to end unlawful killings of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning that the human rights situation in the territory is worsening, amid levels of violence not seen in years.

Bulldozers in refugee camps, detainees stripped naked and spat at, farmers robbed of their harvest: against the backdrop of the war in Gaza the situation in the occupied West Bank is rapidly deteriorating, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned on Thursday.

Commenting on a new report on the West Bank released by his office, OHCHR, Turk expressed concern at Israel's use of military means and weapons by law enforcement, movement restrictions affecting Palestinians and a sharp rise in settler violence resulting in the displacement of herding communities.

The dehumanization of Palestinians that characterizes many of the settlers actions is very disturbing and must cease immediately, Turk said, calling on Israel to investigate the incidents, prosecute perpetrators and protect Palestinian communities against any form of forcible transfer.

The UN rights chief said that the new reports of violations repeat patterns documented in the past but with a strengthened intensity. Since the start of Israels bombing of Gaza on October 7, in the occupied West Bank, verified the deaths of 300 Palestinians, including 79 children, the vast majority killed by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) while eight were killed by settlers.

Prior to October 7, a record-high 200 Palestinians had already been killed in the West Bank this year. In its latest update UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA) stressed that 2023 is the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN began recording casualties in 2005.

OHCHRs report notes 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 since October 7. It also highlights the arrest of more than 4,700 Palestinians, including about 40 journalists, by ISF, in most cases not linked to the commission of a criminal offence.

Some of the detainees were subjected to ill-treatment, the report says: Stripped naked, blindfolded and restrained for long hours with handcuffs and with their legs tied, while Israeli soldiers stepped on their heads and backs spat at, slammed against walls.

OHCHRs report recalls that on October 31, Israeli media reported that dozens of pictures and video clips were published by Israeli soldiers depicting themselves abusing, degrading and humiliating Palestinians apprehended in the West Bank.

Settler violence against Palestinians has surged in the occupied West Bank, the report says, highlighting that between October 7 and November 20, OCHA recorded 254 settler attacks at an average of six incidents per day, compared with three since the beginning of the year. These included shootings, burning of homes and vehicles and uprooting of trees, OHCHR said.

In many incidents, settlers were accompanied by ISF, or were themselves wearing ISF uniforms, and carrying army rifles, the report said. The findings include armed settler attacks against Palestinians harvesting their olives, forcing them to leave their land, stealing their harvest and poisoning or vandalizing their olive trees, depriving many Palestinians of a vital source of income.

The OHCHR report notes that after October 7 ISF reportedly distributed 8,000 army rifles to civilian settlements defence squads and regional defence battalions established to protect settlements in the West Bank after many Israeli troops were redeployed to Gaza.

Turk deplored the continued lack of accountability for settler and ISF violence and urged Israel to grant his Office access to the country, adding that it was ready to report similarly on the October 7 attacks.

Meanwhile in Gaza, the latest death toll as of midnight on Thursday stood at 21,110 according to the enclave's health authorities with over 55,243 Palestinians injured in the enclave.

OCHA reported that heavy Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea, continued across most of the territory on Wednesday while Palestinian armed groups continued firing rockets into Israel.

According to the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), 1.9 million people in Gaza, or nearly 85 per cent of the population, are estimated to be internally displaced, many repeatedly. On Thursday the agency stressed that new Israeli evacuation orders in Middle Gaza are exacerbating displacement as over 150,000 people  young children, women carrying babies, people with disabilities and the elderly  have nowhere to go.

OCHA noted that the lack of food and basic essentials as well as poor hygiene are making the already dire living conditions of displaced people even worse and fuelling disease.

UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths wrote on social platform X that while infectious diseases are spreading fast in overcrowded shelters, hospitals are barely functioning and hundreds of people with war injuries are deprived of care.

Gaza is a public health disaster in the making, he warned.

According to UN health agency WHO as of Wednesday only 13 hospitals in Gaza were partially functional. WHO noted that four of them in the north face shortages of medical staff and supplies including anaesthesia and antibiotics, as well as fuel, food and drinking water, while those in the south are at three times their capacity.

Earlier this week WHO teams with partners delivered essential supplies to two hospitals, Al-Shifa in the north and Al-Amal Palestine Red Crescent Society in the south. The UN health agency said that its staff witnessed intense fighting near the facilities and high patient loads. According to Gazas health authorities, occupancy rates are reaching 206 per cent in inpatient departments and 250 per cent in intensive care units, while tens of thousands of displaced people seek refuge at the facilities.

WHO reiterated that hungry people stopped its convoys on Tuesday in the hope of finding food and stressed that its 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.

While UN Security Council resolution 2070 adopted last week called for immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to Palestinian civilians throughout the Gaza Strip, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 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, Tedros said.
Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Dec, 2023) World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday he was "very concerned" about the growing threat of infectious diseases in the Gaza Strip.

"As people continue to be massively displaced across the south of Gaza, with some families forced to move multiple times and many sheltering in overcrowded health facilities, my WHO colleagues and I remain very concerned about the increasing threat of infectious diseases," Tedros said on X, formerly Twitter.

Tedros said that since mid-October until mid-December, people living in shelters had continued to fall sick.

He said that close to 180,000 people were suffering with upper respiratory infections, while 136,400 cases of diarrhoea have been recorded -- half of those among children aged under five.

The UN health agency chief said there had been 55,400 cases of lice and scabies; 5,330 cases of chickenpox; and 42,700 cases of skin rash, including 4722 cases of impetigo.

"WHO and partners are working tirelessly to support the health authorities to increase disease surveillance and control by supplying medicines, testing kits to support prompt detection and response to infectious diseases such as hepatitis, and trying to improve access to safe water, food, hygiene and sanitation services," said Tedros.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 29, 2023 - 23:00 | All, Japan, World

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Japan sees heavy New Year holiday traffic after COVID-19 downgrade

TOKYO - Travelers flooded airports and major train stations in Japan on Friday to head to their hometowns in the first New Year holiday season since the government downgraded the legal status of COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal flu.

To ease overcrowding, Central Japan Railway Co. and West Japan Railway Co. have made many of their shinkansen bullet train seats reservation-only during the year-end and the New Year period for the first time.

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Nikkei rises 28% in 2023, highest year-end finish since 1989

TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index on Friday finished up 28 percent from a year earlier, ending at its highest level since 1989 on the back of an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and solid company earnings supported by the yen's weakness.

Stocks were mixed on the final trading day of the year, however, with the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average finishing down 75.45 points, or 0.22 percent, from Thursday at 33,464.17, the highest year-end level since the record high of 38,915.87 during Japan's asset-inflated bubble economy.

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China picks ex-navy commander Dong Jun as new defense chief

BEIJING - China named former navy commander Dong Jun as the country's new defense minister on Friday, state-run media said, after Li Shangfu, who had held the portfolio, was removed from the post in October amid speculation over his involvement in a corruption case.

Dong's appointment was decided at a Standing Committee session of the National People's Congress, China's parliament, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Since disappearing from public view in late August, no information on Li's condition has been available.

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Hong Kong police vow to pursue democratic activist Agnes Chow for life

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police condemned Friday pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow for jumping bail after leaving the territory to study in Canada from September, and vowed to pursue her "for life" to bring her to justice.

Under an agreement with the police, Chow was originally scheduled to report back to Hong Kong on Thursday, but announced earlier this month that she would remain in Canada for fear of being detained and would likely never return to the former British colony.

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Jetstar cancels 15 domestic flights due to prolonged strike

TOKYO - Budget carrier Jetstar Japan Co. canceled 15 domestic flights Friday as it could not secure enough workers for operation amid an ongoing strike by some union members, affecting some 2,600 people, the company said.

The company expects flight cancellations on Saturday and is preparing for reimbursements while arranging to transfer affected passengers to alternative flights with other airlines.

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IOC sees Japan as potential host of 2026 Olympic Esports Games

TOKYO - The International Olympic Committee has called on Japan to host an Olympic Esports Games in 2026, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

The IOC's inaugural Olympic Esports Week was held in June 2023 in Singapore. Four months later, IOC President Thomas Bach announced plans to create an Olympic Esports Games amid the rapid growth of esports, especially among young people.

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IOC Pres. Thomas Bach confident of successful Paris Games

GENEVA - International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Thursday expressed confidence that the 2024 Paris Olympics would be a success.

"With the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 only months away, the athletes, the fans, the entire Olympic community -- all of us -- are looking forward to a new era of Olympic Games: younger, more inclusive, more urban, more sustainable," Bach said in his New Year's message.

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Bill to restrict wind farm construction set to be submitted to Diet

TOKYO - The Japanese government is set to submit a new bill to a regular diet session convening early next year to restrict the construction of wind farms as they can potentially interfere with the Self-Defense Forces' radar systems, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

The legislation will obligate businesses to notify the government of their construction plans if those facilities are built in areas designated by the defense minister, according to the sources.

Video: Sacred rope exchange at western Japan waterfall
An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2024  the Latest Guide from Dezan Shira & Associates

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This new 2024 edition of Doing Business in Vietnam looks at:

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Vietnam is a rapidly developing nation that has benefited enormously from a myriad of free trade agreements. Most notably of late, the EVFTA and CPTPP have seen trade with participating nations boom.

Furthermore, Vietnam has also been a key beneficiary of the diversification out of China by many large multinational brands.

This rapid growth, however, has come with some sustainability challenges. As environmental, social, and governance issues become increasingly important in global trade, firms producing goods for export in Vietnam have had to adapt their operations.

Likewise, Vietnam has laid out key sustainability regulatory guardrails for firms operating in the country.

Its with this in mind, that we present this Doing Business in Vietnam with a focus on sustainability.

Comprehensive and incredibly detailed this guide covers everything from establishing a business in Vietnam to social insurance payments.

It includes what firms need to know about tax and accounting in Vietnam from start to finish, including business license fees to corporate income tax and everything in between. It also covers transfer pricing and Vietnams environment tax among a range of other taxes.

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American Judih Weinstein was killed by Hamas on October 7 when the militant group invaded Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday. It was initially believed that Weinstein had been kidnapped by Hamas.

"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 in a statement.

Weinstein was 70 years old. Her husband, Gad Haggai, was killed on the same day, Biden said last week. He was 73.

"This tragic development cuts deep, coming on the heels of last week's news that Judih's beloved husband, Gad Haggai, is believed to have been killed by Hamas," Biden said in the statement.

During the October 7 attack, about 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli data. Following the Hamas attack, Israel's bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 21,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Of the hostages taken by Hamas, 110 were released during a brief truce in late November and another 23 have been declared dead in absentia, an Israeli government spokesperson said Thursday.

Three of the hostages were accidentally killed by the Israeli military.

Israeli troops killed three Israeli hostages  Yotam Haim, Samar Talalka and Alon Lulu Shamriz  in Gaza on December 15 when they misinterpreted their cries for help as a ploy by Hamas to draw Israeli soldiers into an ambush, the military said.

The Israel military published its report on the incident on Thursday, concluding "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 soldiers involved were not expected to be dismissed or to stand trial over the killings.

The inquiry determined that a soldier opened fire at three figures he misidentified as a threat. Two were killed, and the third fled to a nearby building.

Commanders called on the soldiers to cease fire until the third person could be identified. About 15 minutes later, the battalion commander heard someone in the building shouting "Help" and "They are shooting at me" in Hebrew.

The commander again ordered troops to hold their fire, while telling the figure to "come my way."

But when the man exited the building, two soldiers shot and killed him. The investigation said they had not heard the commander's order because of a nearby tank's noise.

"The IDF failed in its mission to rescue the hostages in this event," army chief General Herzi Halevi said in a statement. "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."

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
Since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the United States and other nations have reported dramatically heightened numbers of antisemitic and Islamophobic threats, leading to heightened security for their faith-based communities.

The number of reported antisemitic incidents in the U.S. increased by 388% in the four weeks after October 7, according to the Anti-Defamation League, or ADL, while the number of Islamophobic incidents in the U.S. increased 216% during the same timeframe, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.

As 2023 comes to a close, both anti-hate watchdogs say the most recent conflict in the Middle East  in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 others kidnapped by Hamas, the deadliest terrorist attack in Israels history, as well as a U.S.-backed Israeli response in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 19,000 people  has resulted in a record year for reported incidents of anti-faith hatred.

"In just 8 weeks in October and November of 2023, CAIR received 42% of the complaints it received in all of 2022," the U.S.-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy group said in a report published on December 20. "Following the escalation of hostilities in Israel and Palestine, and specifically the Israeli governments apparent intent to commit genocide against the Palestinian people, 2023 is set to lay claim to one of the worst waves of anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States in the last three decades."

Israeli and Palestinian representatives at the United Nations have traded accusations of "genocide" over the war raging in Gaza, with both sides demanding an international response.

The ADL last week issued a report stating that from October 7 to December 7 it recorded the highest number of antisemitic incidents of any two-month period since the group began tracking them in 1979.

"ADL recorded a total of 2,031 antisemitic incidents, up from 465 incidents during the same period in 2022, representing a 337% increase year-over-year," the report stated. "This includes 40 incidents of physical assault, 337 incidents of vandalism, 749 incidents of verbal or written harassment and 905 rallies including antisemitic rhetoric, expressions of support for terrorism against the state of Israel and/or anti-Zionism. On average, over the last 61 days, Jews in America experienced nearly 34 antisemitic incidents per day."

As reported by Reuters, virtually no continent was spared, with incidents of antisemitism registered in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR deputy director, told VOA in October that violence in Gaza also fueled unrest and Islamophobic bigotry around the world, including the targeting of Muslim Palestinian Americans.

"Our government must call for an end to that violence and the dehumanization of Muslims and Palestinians that is being used to justify that violence," Mitchell said, insisting that White House efforts to combat rising Islamophobia in the United States must go hand in hand with the protection of civilians in Gaza from Israels retaliatory strikes against Hamas. "Only then can the broader strategy to combat Islamophobia be effective."

The recent surge in antisemitism as a reaction to Israeli-Palestinian conflict is nothing new, Heidi Beirich, co-founder of Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told VOA shortly after October 7.

"It's just a sad fact that whenever conflict arises between Israel and the Palestinians, Jews in all parts of the world will suffer some level of hate violence," she said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offered recommendations to safeguard places of worship and community centers, and British police in October called for a review of the legal definition of extremism amid surging incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Similar measures were reported in Argentina, and leaders across the European Union pledged to crack down on incidents of hate.

In the U.S., college campuses have been scrambling to restore a sense of security for both Jewish and Arab students after weeks of dueling demonstrations  sometimes leading to clashes or arrests  stressing messages of inclusion for diverse student bodies. Untangling what's protected as political speech and what crosses into threatening language or intimidation, however, has proven a daunting task.

Several experts who spoke with VOAs Serbian Service, however, said its important for people on both sides of any contentious debate to maintain a firm distinction between legitimate criticism of a given policy and verbal threats or intimidation of a given ethnic- or faith-based community.

For example, does criticism of Israel's security policies or its conduct of the war in Gaza constitute antisemitism?

Joshua Shanes, director of the Arnolds Center for Israel Studies at the College of Charleston, told VOA that people sometimes "mislabel things that really deserve legitimate criticism."

"What has to be remembered is that criticism of a state has to focus on that state and that you cannot assume that Jews anywhere else in the world, just because they're Jewish, that they are somehow connected to Israel, even if they themselves may be Zionist, he said.

Similarly, the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" was repeatedly heard at pro-Palestinian protests around the world. While many Palestinian activists describe it as a call for peace and equality after 75 years of Israeli statehood and decades of Israeli military rule over millions of Palestinians, many members of the Jewish community hear a clear call for the destruction of Israel.

Anyone who knows something about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is aware that the river is the Jordan [River] and the sea is the Mediterranean, thus this liberation implies genocide or ethnic cleansing of the Jews, said Alejandro Baer, a sociologist from Spain's National Research Council and associate member of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Research at the University of Minnesota.

He speculated that many protestors in Europe and the U.S. are ignorant of the slogans meaning but said that replicating slogans chanted by Hamas is typically problematic.

We have barely heard slogans that are pro-peace, pro-rights or pro-two-state solution in those rallies, not to speak of condemnations of the Hamas massacre, he said.

Mehnaz Afridi, director of the Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan College, claims that this slogan really does mean the destruction of Israel, and that she would never join a protest that has those kinds of messages to any group, especially Jews.

"For me as a Muslim, it was hurtful because Hamas is anathema to my religion, she told VOA. It is not Islam. What Hamas is doing, and eliminating the Jews, is not the Muslim way at all. In fact, we suffer as brothers and sisters and we pray as brothers and sisters, just like with Christians."

According to the Arnolds Centers Shanes, the chant "sometimes has a violent meaning in the sense of ethnic cleansing of Jews or genocide, and sometimes the slogan is used in the sense that all people should be free, both Jews and Palestinians.

"It depends on the person who sings it, he told VOA. I think I've also heard a version that reads: 'From the river to the sea, everyone should be free' and I think that's very nice."

Correspondents Marko Protic, Patsy Widakuswara and Masood Farivar contributed reporting. Some information is from Reuters and The Associated Press. This story originated in VOA's Serbian Service.
Argentina formally announced Friday that it won't join the BRICS bloc of developing economies, the latest in a dramatic shift in foreign and economic policy by Argentina's new far-right populist president, Javier Milei.

In a letter addressed to the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa  the founding members of the alliance  Milei said the moment was not "opportune" for Argentina to join as a full member. The letter was dated a week ago, December 22, but released by the Argentine government on Friday, the last working day of 2023.

Argentina was among six countries invited in August to join the group to make an 11-nation bloc. Argentina was set to join January 1.

The move comes as Argentina has been left reeling by deepening economic crisis.

Milei's predecessor, former center-left President Alberto Fernandez, endorsed joining the alliance as an opportunity to reach new markets. The BRICS countries account for about 40% of the world's population and more than a quarter of the world's GDP.

But economic turmoil left many in Argentina eager for change, ushering chainsaw-wielding political outsider Milei into the presidency.

Milei, who defines himself as an "anarcho-capitalist"  a current within libertarianism that aspires to eliminate the state  has implemented a series of measures to deregulate the economy, which in recent decades has been marked by strong state interventionism.

In foreign policy, he has proclaimed full alignment with the "free nations of the West," especially the United States and Israel.

Throughout the campaign for the presidency, Milei also disparaged countries ruled "by communism" and announced that he would not maintain diplomatic relations with them despite growing Chinese investment in South America.

However, in the letter addressed to his counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in neighboring Brazil and the rest of the leaders of BRICS members  Xi Jinping of China, Narendra Modi of India, Vladimir Putin of Russia and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa  Milei proposed to "intensify bilateral ties" and increase "trade and investment flows."

Milei also expressed his readiness to hold meetings with each of the five leaders.
As native trees in the Pacific Northwest die off due to climate change, the U.S. Forest Service, the city of 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 needs  or 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," Lytle said.

The Forest Service is pursuing 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," Milarch said.

This story is part of a collaboration between The Associated Press and Columbia Insight, exploring the impact of climate on trees in the Pacific Northwest.
The restaurant where Katie Austin was a server burned in the wildfire that devastated Hawaii's historic town of Lahaina this summer.

Two months later, as travelers began to trickle back to nearby beach resorts, she went to work at a different eatery. But she soon quit, worn down by constant questions from diners: Was she affected by the fire? Did she know anyone who died?

"You're at work for eight hours and every 15 minutes you have a new stranger ask you about the most traumatic day of your life," Austin said. "It was soul-sucking."

Hawaii's governor and mayor invited tourists back to the west side of Maui months after the August 8 fire killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. They wanted the economic boost tourists would bring, particularly heading into the year-end holidays.

But some residents are struggling with the return of an industry requiring workers to be attentive and hospitable even though they are trying to care for themselves after losing their loved ones, friends, homes and community.

Maui is a large island. Many parts, like the ritzy resorts in Wailea, 48 kilometers south of Lahaina  where the first season of the HBO hit The White Lotus was filmed  are eagerly welcoming travelers and their dollars.

Things are more complicated in west Maui. Lahaina is still a mess of charred rubble. Efforts to clean up toxic debris are painstakingly slow. It's off-limits to everyone except residents.

Tensions are peaking over the lack of long-term, affordable housing for wildfire evacuees, many of whom work in tourism. Dozens have been camping out in protest around the clock on a popular tourist beach at Kaanapali, a few miles north of Lahaina. Last week, hundreds marched between two large hotels waving signs reading, "We need housing now!" and "Short-term rentals gotta go!"

Hotels at Kaanapali are still housing about 6,000 fire evacuees unable to find long-term shelter in Maui's tight and expensive housing market. But some have started to bring back tourists, and owners of timeshare condos have returned. At a shopping mall, visitors stroll past shops and dine at open-air oceanfront restaurants.

Austin took a job at a restaurant in Kaanapali after the fire but quit after five weeks. It was a strain to serve mai tais to people staying in a hotel or vacation rental while her friends were leaving the island because they lacked housing, she said.

Servers and many others in the tourism industry often work for tips, which puts them in a difficult position when a customer prods them with questions they don't want to answer. Even after Austin's restaurant posted a sign asking customers to respect employees' privacy, the queries continued.

"I started telling people, 'Unless you're a therapist, I don't want to talk to you about it,'" she said.

Austin now plans to work for a nonprofit organization that advocates for housing.

Erin Kelley didn't lose her home or workplace but has been laid off as a bartender at Sheraton Maui Resort since the fire. The hotel reopened to visitors in late December, but she doesn't expect to get called back to work until business picks up.

She has mixed feelings. Workers should have a place to live before tourists are welcome in west Maui, she said, but residents are so dependent on the industry that many will remain jobless without those same visitors.

"I'm really sad for friends and empathetic towards their situation," she said. "But we also need to make money."

When she does return to work, Kelley said she won't want to "talk about anything that happened for the past few months."

More travel destinations will likely have to navigate these dilemmas as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

There is no manual for doing so, said Chekitan Dev, a tourism professor at Cornell University. Handling disasters  natural and manmade  will have to be part of their business planning.

Andreas Neef, a development professor and tourism researcher at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, suggested one solution might be to promote organized "voluntourism." Instead of sunbathing, tourists could visit part of west Maui that didn't burn and enlist in an effort to help the community.

"Bringing tourists for relaxation back is just at this time a little bit unrealistic," Neef said. "I couldn't imagine relaxing in a place where you still feel the trauma that has affected the place overall."

Many travelers have been canceling holiday trips to Maui out of respect, said Lisa Paulson, the executive director of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association. Visitation is down about 20% from December of 2022, according to state data.

Cancellations are affecting hotels all over the island, not just in west Maui.

Paulson attributes some of this to confusing messages in national and social media about whether visitors should come. Many people don't understand the island's geography or that there are places people can visit outside west Maui, she said.

One way visitors can help is to remember they're traveling to a place that recently experienced significant trauma, said Amory Mowrey, the executive director of Maui Recovery, a mental health and substance abuse residential treatment center.

"Am I being driven by compassion and empathy or am I just here to take, take, take?" he said.

That's the approach honeymooners Jordan and Carter Prechel of Phoenix adopted. They kept their reservations in Kihei, about 40 kilometers south of Lahaina, vowing to be respectful and to support local businesses.

"Don't bombard them with questions," Jordan said recently while eating an afternoon snack in Kaanapali with her husband. "Be conscious of what they've gone through."
Three leaders at key Chinese aerospace and defense firms have been removed from the Communist Partys top political advisory organ amid Beijings effort to purge key figures related to the Chinese military, the official Xinhua News Agency said Thursday.

The military purge is part of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings hallmark anti-corruption campaign that has seen several top-level commanders being removed from their positions and facing corruption-related investigations. The anti-corruption campaign has been viewed by some experts as a way for Xi to remove political opponents or individuals viewed as posing threats to his leadership.

Xinhua said the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference decided Wednesday to dismiss Wu Yansheng, chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Liu Shiquan, chairman of Norinco Group, and Wang Changqing, a deputy manager at the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.

Wus company oversees the development of Chinas spacecraft and missile programs, while Lius Norinco Group is one of Chinas leading manufacturers of military equipment. State media reports did not provide details about their removal, but a report by Hong Kongs Sing Tao Daily claimed that the three were involved in an investigation related to the Chinese militarys rocket force, citing unnamed sources.

Some analysts say the latest wave of the purge reflects the large scale of corruption in Chinas defense industry and that it could affect the Chinese militarys combat capabilities.

"I think there may be a great deal of corruption in the Chinese defense industry and inevitably, it will have an impact on the Peoples Liberation Armys combat effectiveness," Lin Ying-yu, a China military expert at Tamkang University in Taiwan, told VOA by phone.

He added that the purge in the military also shows Xis desire to reinforce his control over the arms trade in China.

"In the past, a large part of China's arms trade was controlled by the princelings, who are descendants of senior Communist Party leaders," he told VOA. "The purge probably means Xi wants to reassert his control over arms trade."

Apart from affecting the Chinese militarys capabilities and strengthening Xis control over arms trade, other experts say the abrupt removal of top military commanders could also damage morale in the Chinese military and create unexpected challenges to Xis control over the military.

"The series of corruption scandals may create internal skepticism toward the credibility of the top leadership and form a vicious cycle that eventually affects Xis control," Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told VOA by phone.

Since the Chinese military lacks real combat experience and has limited joint warfare capability, Su said he thinks the growing internal turbulence may pose greater risks to the operation of the Chinese military.

"The PLA may face a situation where it has a huge military force but their capability may be shaky," he said.

Mounting challenges amid personnel reshuffling

The latest wave of purge follows a series of removals of top military leaders in recent months. In October, China removed then-Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who had been missing from public view since August and is reportedly facing an investigation for corruption, according to Reuters and The Financial Times.

Some observers say the personnel shakeups in Chinas military is connected to an investigation into the PLA Rocket Forces equipment procurement process, which the Chinese authorities said is controlled by a small circle of people, according to a notification released by the Central Military Commissions equipment procurement department on its official WeChat account. Li, the former defense minister, was the head of the department from 2017-22.

His removal also came after two top leaders of the Rocket Force, which oversees the PLA nuclear arsenal, were replaced by military commanders from other units.

By installing non-rocket specialists as leaders of the specialized unit, Lin said Xi is prioritizing the loyalty of these commanders over their expertise.

"The new commanders of the Rocket Force have no expertise in this field and this decision shows that Xi is looking for someone he can trust," he told VOA.

Su, from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, added that Xis efforts to overhaul the Chinese military based on loyalty may reduce the flexibility of the Chinese military.

"Since he came to power in 2012, around 58 generals have been purged by Xi, and his extreme emphasis on loyalty could compromise the agility and flexibility of the Chinese military in real combat situations," he told VOA.

Su added that when the militarys allegiance is concentrated on one person, it may become less responsive to the rapidly changing situation in a war as the power to command is held solely by that individual.

Lin said Xis campaign to strengthen his control over the Chinese military through purges will be "difficult to stop."

"Xi knows that he needs to get the military under his control before he can control everything," he said, adding that what matters to Xi is the "absolute loyalty" of the military rather than its actual combat capabilities.

"He would like to achieve a reign of terror, just like what Stalin did before the Second World War," Lin said.
A growing number of home buyers in China have seen their dream of moving into new homes dashed in the past year after a slew of bankrupt developers left behind millions of unfinished pre-sold properties.

Many of the buyers could do nothing but vent their anger and frustration on Chinese social media platforms such as Douyin, known internationally as TikTok, over what they called rotting apartments that represented their lifetime savings. Police are cracking down on protests.

The crisis of confidence in a sector that was once a reliable route to building wealth may threaten China's growth and stability in 2024, experts say.

"Since the real-estate market has historically been a key driver of China's economy, losing this momentum is expected to result in a long-term average economic growth rate below 5% starting in 2024," Darson Chiu, a research fellow at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research in Taipei, told VOA Mandarin in a written reply on December 14.

Among countless victims, a Douyin user from the Henan province in north-central China with the name, The happy life in my rotting apartment, posted a short video clip on December 1 showing a local project where construction was halted.

Its been a year, but my apartment remains unfinished.  I hope the construction of the building can be restarted soon so that I can move into my future home, he said in the video.

A victim in the Hunan province city of Changsha, identified only as Ms. Chen in a local TV news report, said in late 2022 that her family could barely make ends meet after paying the monthly mortgage of $700 (5,000 yuan).

If my unfinished property keeps rotting, I personally wont have the courage to go on living," said Chen.

VOA Mandarin has approached a dozen owners of unfinished homes on Chinese social media platforms Douyin, Xiaohongshu, known as RED outside of China, and Weibo, Chinas microblogging site similar to X. None agreed to talk.

Two lawyers in Shanghai and Beijing who specialize in property disputes also refused to be interviewed.

The Beijing lawyer said the citys Bureau of Justice has banned lawyers from talking to foreign press, citing the class actions sensitivity. None of his clients wanted to talk to foreign press.

The China Dissent Monitor, a project of U.S. rights group Freedom House, has been tracking postings across Chinese social media and tallied 1,841 demonstrations linked to the property sector between June 2022 and September 2023. Final 2023 figures wont be available until January, said Kevin Slaten, Taipei-based research lead with the China Dissident Monitor project.



Two-thirds of the strikes were staged by homebuyers over issues like project delays, contract violations and alleged fraud, while the others have been triggered by construction workers demanding unpaid wages, according to Slaten.

One-fourth of the housing protests saw police repression, which Slaten said is an underestimate, as piecemeal evidence can only be captured from those video clips.

But the trend toward silencing protesters shows the gravity of threat to Chinas leader, Xi Jinping.

As the dictator of such a centralized system and a person whos tried to centralize power, he [Xi] definitely sees this as a threat to his vision, which is keeping economic development high, making sure that he can deliver this to people as a way to co-opt them and garner enough support among the public for the authoritarian system, Slaten told VOA Mandarin by phone.

Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura, estimated in mid-November that $448 billion is needed to complete the homes pre-sold between 2015 and 2020 that remain unfinished projects, assuming an average construction progress of 50%, according to his research provided to VOA Mandarin. That represents roughly 20 million homes.

In one of his research papers dated November 27, Lu urged Beijing to play the role of lender of last resort to save the property sector or the crisis could endanger social stability at some point next year.

But Nan Li, a Shanghai-based finance scholar, disagreed, saying that the proceeds from the liquidation of builders assets after they file for bankruptcy should be prioritized to ensure the delivery of unfinished homes.

Li added that any government bailout will only indulge the developers appetite for over-leveraging.

The biggest firms with the worst debt woes have made a mistake in exercising excessive leverage. Theres no reason for the government to bail them out, Li told VOA Mandarin.

Li noted that Chinas property sector should learn from the experience of Guangdong province, where its problem of massive unfinished homes around 1997 was eventually solved in years after builders nonperforming assets were all restructured in a lawful manner and in line with the market mechanism.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 29, 2023 - 13:21 | All, Japan, Travel/Tourism, Coronavirus

Travelers flooded airports and major train stations in Japan on Friday to head to their hometowns in the first New Year holiday season since the government downgraded the legal status of COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal flu.

To ease overcrowding, Central Japan Railway Co. and West Japan Railway Co. have made many of their shinkansen bullet train seats reservation-only during the year-end and the New Year period for the first time.

At the bustling Tokyo Station, announcements warned travelers of the need to reserve their seats for the fastest-traveling shinkansen, the Nozomi.

"It is convenient because we don't have to line up when every seat is for reservation," said Tomoko Hino, 42, heading to her hometown in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, in southwestern Japan with her family.

All Nippon Airways Co. said 99 percent of its domestic flights departing Haneda airport in Tokyo on Friday were booked with some 55,000 passengers in total, while Japan Airlines Co. said its flights were also almost fully booked.

"I want to relax and spend the year-end and the New Year with all of my relatives," said Michiko Otsuki, a 37-year-old Tokyo resident traveling to Okayama Prefecture in western Japan.

On Dec. 12, six major Japanese railway companies announced the number of reservations for seats for their shinkansen and other trains totaled 3.5 million between Dec. 28 and Jan. 4, up 44 percent from the same period a year ago.

The train operators as well as JAL and ANA expect the return rush of travelers to peak next Wednesday.

Japan has seen a sharp rise in both domestic and international travelers since the government downgraded the legal status of COVID-19 in May and greatly relaxed health restrictions after three years of dealing with the coronavirus.

Rules on face masks were lifted in March to let individuals decide whether to wear them in public spaces.
China appointed Dong Jun, a former commander of the Chinese Navy, as its new defense minister, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.

Dong's appointment was announced by the Standing Committee of China's rubber-stamp parliament and comes two months after the removal of former Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu from his role without explanation.

Because Dong is not a member of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Military Commission, some analysts think his appointment suggests he may not play a significant role in the Chinese military.

"Dong is not a member of the Central Military Commission's leadership, so it indicates that he may not be as important as Li Shangfu, who was a member of the commission," Alfred Wu, an expert on Chinese politics at the National University of Singapore, told VOA in a phone call.

While he may not have much authority over the operation of the Chinese military, Dong's experience as the top commander of the Chinese Navy and the deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command, which oversees PLA Navy's activities in the South China Sea, reflect the growing level of importance that Beijing attaches to the territorially disputed waters.

"The new defense minister's appointment and the elevation of a new crop of top military officers with navy and South China Sea experience is a sign that China sees South China Sea as a new priority area of geopolitical contestation between China and the U.S.," Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist at the Australian National University, told VOA in a written response.

Since the defense minister is largely a ceremonial role that focuses on international engagement, other analysts say Dong's experience in dealing with Russia and other countries in the South China Sea makes him an ideal candidate to be the new Chinese defense minister.

"Since he took part in the joint naval exercise with Russia and also his interactions with other countries' navies in the South China Sea, he may know how to respond to press inquiries related to U.S.-China competition in the South China Sea," Lin Ying-yu, a China military expert at Tamkang University in Taiwan, told VOA by phone.

Dong's appointment ends months-long speculation about who would succeed Li Shangfu, who disappeared from the public's view in August and is reportedly facing a corruption-related investigation, according to Reuters and the Financial Times.

It also comes after two top leaders of the PLA Rocket Force, which oversees the Chinese military's nuclear arsenal, were replaced by military commanders from other units.

Some experts say the series of purges in the Chinese military, which includes the removal of three leaders at key Chinese aerospace and defense firms from the Communist Party's top political advisory organ on Wednesday, shows that the corruption-related investigation targeting the Rocket Force is ongoing.

"China has a tradition of appointing generals from non-army backgrounds to the role of defense minister," Sung from Australian National University said, adding that commanders from technical agencies such as the PLA Rocket Forces are usually favored for the role.

"The fact that China forgoes the Rocket Force and the General Armament Department and appoints someone from the navy as the new defense minister may be a sign that there are ongoing investigations at the two pools," he told VOA.

Following the removal of the top leaders of the PLA Rocket Force in July, the Chinese government appointed Wang Houbin, former deputy commander of the navy, and Xu Xisheng, former political commissar of the air force's Southern Theater Command, as the new commander and political commissar of the Rocket Force.

Wu in Singapore says these appointments show that Chinese President Xi Jinping prioritizes loyalty over expertise, which defies the previous protocol of personnel appointments based on meritocracy. "The new reality is that personnel appointment in Xi's third term is always based on loyalty," he told VOA, adding that the emphasis he puts on loyalty would make the Chinese system more opaque and fragile.

As the U.S. tries to restart bilateral military dialogue with China, some experts say Dong's appointment would be a welcome signal to Washington. "[His appointment] is going to inject a level of stability and familiarity into the relationship," Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, told VOA by phone.

"The U.S. is very keen to get to know who this new leader is, what their background is, what their leadership style is and develop a relationship with him," he added.

While Dong's appointment could inject a sense of stability into China's military following a series of abrupt removals of top commanders in recent months, Wu in Singapore thinks the growing opaqueness in the Chinese system may continue in the near future.

"The lack of transparency in China is one of the reasons why the outside world has so much doubt in China," he told VOA. "There's going to be an increased skepticism in China from the outside."
The authorities in Ethiopia's war-scarred Tigray region warned Friday of a looming famine linked to drought and the lingering effects of the devastating two-year war in the north of the country.

Getachew Reda, president of the interim regional authority in Tigray, said more than 91% of the population was "exposed to the risk of starvation and death" and called for the Ethiopian government and international community to help.

In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Getachew likened the situation to the Ethiopian famine in the 1980s, which cost the lives of around 1 million people.

"Since the signing of the Pretoria agreement, thousands of Tigrayans have perished due to lack of food," Getachew said, referring to the November 2022 peace deal that ended the war between Tigrayan rebels and Ethiopian government forces.

The situation on the ground in northern Ethiopia cannot be independently verified as media access to Tigray is restricted by the federal government.

Getachew said Tigray's interim administration had declared a disaster emergency in areas under its control but had limited resources to handle the crisis.

"The Ethiopian government and the international community have done their part to silence the guns. Now they should do their part to address the looming humanitarian catastrophe," he said.

Getachew highlighted the devastating consequences of the conflict, including economic crisis, mass displacement and destruction of health facilities, combined with the shortage of seasonal rains followed by destructive rainfall, as well as locust invasions.

He said the temporary suspension of aid earlier this year by the United States and the U.N.'s World Food Program, or WFP, had also played a role in the crisis.

USAID and the WFP halted all food aid to Ethiopia in June, alleging a "widespread and coordinated" campaign to divert donated supplies, but deliveries are slowly resuming.

"Although aid has since been restored on a limited basis, the amount of aid reaching the needy is a fraction of what is necessary to meet current requirements," Getachew said.

In a statement published on December 22, the U.N.'s humanitarian response agency OCHA said, "The drought situation is worsening in some parts of northern, southern and southeastern Ethiopia and is expected to deteriorate further unless aid is urgently scaled up."

It said the food security situation covering the October 2023-May 2024 period in Tigray is likely to deteriorate, while some populations, particularly those displaced, will experience severe food insecurity, according to the global Famine Early Warning Systems Network.
Russia launched what might be the largest aerial barrage against Ukraine of the two-year old war, well hear from Kyiv. The United Nations Security Council is expected to discuss Gaza again on Friday and the climate crisis is bringing unusual weather to Shanghai, and a look back at 2023 in Africa.
A delegation of high-level Hamas officials is expected in Cairo on Friday, where they will consider an Egyptian peace proposal designed to bring an end to the war between Hamas and Israel.

The Egyptian three-phase peace plan calls for the release of Hamas hostages taken on October 7, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel, and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel; observation of a cease-fire that would end the war; and establishment of a Palestinian government of technocrats responsible for administering a postwar Gaza.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have had access to the proposal since last week, reports say. Islamic Jihad is also fighting Israel.

Israel's military continued airstrikes and ground operations aimed at Hamas in northern, central and southern Gaza on Friday. Residents say residences were hit overnight in the Nuseirat and Maghazi refugee camps in central Gaza. Heavy fighting was also reported in the Bureij refugee camp.

Some of the heaviest fighting has been reported in the southern city of Khan Younis. An Israeli bomb hit a house there as night fell on Thursday, killing eight Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Further north, in the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, three Palestinians were killed and six injured in a missile strike on a house, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

Israeli tanks were seen nearby in Bureij. Hamas released a video that it said showed its forces targeting Israeli tanks and troops east of Bureij. Reuters said it could not verify the video.

The United Nations 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."

Macron urges sustainable cease-fire

As Israel remains focused on its campaign to eliminate the militant group, which is 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 Israel 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.

Israeli forces confiscate millions

In the West Bank, Israel's 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 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," said Volker Turk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights.

Turk called on Israel to take action to stop settler violence and investigate all incidents of violence by settlers and Israeli forces.

Destroyer downs drone, missile

In the Red Sea on Thursday, the USS Mason shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile that the Pentagon said were fired from Houthi rebels in Yemen. There were 18 ships in the area at the time, but no damage or injuries were reported, U.S. Central Command said on X, formerly Twitter.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Ukraine attempted to break through the lines of invading Russian forces in 2023, as the West stepped up the supply of heavier weapons and advanced missile systems. But as Henry Ridgwell reports, neither side appears able to make a significant breakthrough  and there is little sign that Kyiv and Moscow are prepared to negotiate a peace deal.
Powerful surf rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii on Thursday as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushed toward shorelines, causing localized flooding.

Forecasters urged people to stay off rocks and jetties, and to not turn their backs to the ocean because of the danger of "sneaker waves"  occasional much bigger waves that can run far up the sand and wash someone off a beach.

A high surf warning for parts of Northern California said waves would range from 28 to 33 feet (8.5 to 10 meters) and up to 40 feet (12 meters) at some locations, the National Weather Service said, adding that there were reports of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

In Aptos on the north end of Monterey Bay, surf overran the beach and swept into a parking lot, leaving the area strewn with debris. Santa Cruz County issued warnings for people in several coastal areas to be ready to evacuate.

"Mother Nature's angry," said Eve Krammer, an Aptos resident for several years. "I mean these waves are gnarly. They're huge."

The same area was battered by the ocean last January as the West Coast was slammed by numerous atmospheric rivers.

"I feel for the people that are down low here," said Jeff Howard, also an Aptos resident.

While not quite as huge, the waves along Southern California were also described as hazardous, with life-threatening rip currents. Nonetheless, surfers couldn't resist.

Patience was key, according to Alex Buford, 27, who was catching waves just north of Manhattan Beach on the Los Angeles County coast.

"I was waiting for a while because the waves were really sick, and they're kinda hard to get into even though I have a really big board," he said. "Just waited for a good one and I got it, and it was a long one. Pretty big. It was sick."

In Hawaii, the weather service forecast surf rising to 30 to 40 feet (9 to 12 meters) along north-facing shores and 18 to 22 feet (5.5 to 6.7 meters) along west-facing shores of five islands.

Professional Hawaii surfer Sheldon Paishon was getting ready to surf Thursday morning at Makaha, a world-famous surfing beach on Oahu's west side.

Paishon, 30, has been surfing at various spots around Oahu this week, taking advantage of waves during this week's high surf warning in effect till Friday morning.

"It's always big waves in the wintertime in Hawaii," he said.

He warned that novice surfers should check with lifeguards before heading into the water and "make sure you got some people around you and stay safe."

Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards, posted at beaches across Oahu, rescued 20 people along the island's famed North Shore on Wednesday, said spokesperson Shayne Enright. They were also busy with thousands of "preventative actions," she 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.
International students at Miami University in Ohio reflect on their experiences at the school in an article in The Miami Student, the student newspaper.

"In America, I think most people are really friendly compared to Japan," said Eiko Ishiyama, a student from Japan. "When you make eye contact with Americans on the street, they just smile at you. In Japan, we dont smile at all, even if we make eye contact."

Read the full story here. (December 2023)
Israel's military continued airstrikes and ground operations aimed at Hamas in northern, central and southern Gaza on 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. An Israeli bomb hit a house there as night fell on Thursday, killing eight Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Further north, in the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, three Palestinians were killed and six injured in a missile strike on a house, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

Israeli tanks were seen nearby in Bureij. Hamas released a video that it said showed its forces targeting Israeli tanks and troops east of Bureij. Reuters said it could not verify the video.

The United Nations 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."

Macron urges sustainable cease-fire

As Israel remains focused on its campaign to eliminate the militant group, which is 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 Israel 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.

Israeli forces confiscate millions

In the West Bank, Israel's 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 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," said Volker Turk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights.

Turk called on Israel to take action to stop settler violence and investigate all incidents of violence by settlers and Israeli forces.

Destroyer downs drone, missile

In the Red Sea on Thursday, the USS Mason shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile that the Pentagon said were fired from Houthi rebels in Yemen. There were 18 ships in the area at the time, but no damage or injuries were reported, U.S. Central Command said on X, formerly Twitter.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
On December 26, Financial Times reported that the European Union was preparing a backup plan to provide Ukraine with 20 billion euros, circumventing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans ability to veto the bailout at a summit scheduled for February 1.

In 2023, Orban is only one among 27 EU member state leaders who remains an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. On October 17, during a meeting with Putin in Beijing, Orban called the Russian invasion of Ukraine a "military operation," a term used by Russian authorities.

At his annual press conference in Budapest on December 21, Orban stated it was not by chance that he used the Kremlins preferred  and misleading  terminology. Orban said Russias invasion of Ukraine is not a war but a military operation because the conflicting countries neither declared war nor carry out general mobilizations:

"I called it a military operation because war is when two countries declare it. Let us be glad that there is no war yet, because war is a general mobilization. Sometimes, I will call it a war, sometimes a military operation, whatever you like."

This is false.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in its duration, destruction of infrastructure and scope and scale of lethality, fully corresponds to the broadly recognized international consensus definition of "war" and how military experts, diplomats and legal scholars use it.

Most countries in the world and the United Nations consider the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine a war.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, in popular understanding, war is a conflict between political groups involving hostilities of significant duration and magnitude. Military writers define war as "hostilities in which the contending groups are sufficiently equal in power to render the outcome uncertain for a time. ... Such incidents, if the resistance is sufficiently strong or protracted, may achieve a magnitude that entitles them to the name war.

Sufficiently strong, protracted resistance

Moscow controlled 24.4% of Ukrainian territory at the height of its advance in March 2022  including the 6.45% of Ukrainian territory comprising Crimea and part of the Donbas, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Since March 2022, Kyiv has regained control over a significant part of its land.

To date, Ukraine has liberated over 54% of Russian-occupied Ukraine, and they continue to retain the strategic initiative as of today," said U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley on September 19, 2023.

Magnitude of Russia's war on Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Putin announced the start of a special military operation. The Russian army perpetrated acts of war on major Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Mariupol and Kramatorsk, using ballistic cruise missiles and multiple launch rocket systems.

U.S. authorities estimate the losses of military personnel of both sides at approximately 500,000 people, wrote The New York Times in August 2023, citing unnamed officials.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified more than 10,000 civilian deaths and over 18,500 injuries in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale armed attack. The actual death toll is significantly higher, HRMMU noted.

According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, up to 100,000 civilians may have died since the Russian invasion began.

As of December 19, 2023, UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, said more than 6.3 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded globally, and another 5 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine.

International human rights organizations have documented numerous cases of international crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine  many that satisfy the legal criterial constituting war crimes  including the killing of civilians, torture, sexual crimes and forced displacement.

On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russia's children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, on charges of involvement in a war crime related to the abduction of children during the invasion of Ukraine.

According to a March 2023 joint assessment by the government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission and the U.N., direct physical damage to infrastructure and buildings in Ukraine caused by the first full year of Russian invasion from February 24, 2022, to February 24, 2023, has grown to $411 billion.

Global recognition of the Russian invasion as a war

On February 24, 2022, leaders of the Group of Seven, an informal grouping of advanced democracies, issued a statement on the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation, which says that President Putin has re-introduced war to the European continent.

The same day, members of the European Council, consisting of the 27 heads of state or governments of the EU member states, said in a joint statement that the EU stands firmly by Ukraine and its people as they face this war.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Russias attack on Ukraine a totally unjustifiable war on Ukraine, in remarks on February 24, 2022.

On February 23, 2023, the U.N. Assembly adopted a resolution deploring "the dire human rights and humanitarian consequences of the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine" and noting "the adverse impact of the war on global food security, energy, etc."

Why "military operation" and not "war"?

Russia uses the euphemism special military operation rather than the word war because a military operation is associated with something short-term and benign, including minimal loss of life, which, psychologically, is more palatable to the average Russian citizen.

Russia initially planned to capture Kyiv in three to four days and all of Ukraine in 2 to 3 weeks. Russia still calls the war a special military operation despite the glaring failure of these plans.

The word "war" in relation to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been criminalized since February 2022. Russias internet censor board, Roskomnadzor, announced it will block websites that violate the ban. Courts in Russia recognize any use of the word war about Russias military actions in Ukraine as fake and discrediting the army.

In July 2022, a deputy of the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow, Alexey Gorinov, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for uttering the word "war" in relation to the war in Ukraine. In her verdict, the judge said that Gorinov was guilty of calling the special operation in Ukraine a war and talking about the deaths of children.
Ukraine attempted to break through the lines of invading Russian forces in 2023 in the east of the country, as the West stepped up the supply of heavier weapons and advanced missile systems. However, neither side appears able to make a significant breakthrough and there is little sign that Kyiv and Moscow are prepared to negotiate a peace deal.

At an end of year news conference December 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had failed to achieve any victory in 2023. "Our yellow and blue flag is in Ukraine, and this is our main victory. And the main thing is that we will preserve it  not only in our hearts, but we will actually preserve it all for our future generations," Zelenskyy said.

The conflict has intensified into a war of attrition, at huge cost to both sides. A declassified U.S. intelligence report published earlier this month estimated that some 315,000 Russian troops had been killed or injured  nearly 90% of the personnel it had when the conflict began, according to Reuters. Ukraine does not release figures relating to its losses, but an August report in The New York Times citing U.S. officials put the Ukrainian death toll then at close to 70,000.

This year began with a strategic loss for Ukraine as Russian forces seized the salt-mining town of Soledar in January, after months of brutal fighting. Meanwhile, Russian missiles continued to rain down on Ukrainian cities, exerting a heavy toll on the civilian population.

With Ukrainian forces struggling to make battlefield gains, Western allies announced they would send heavy weapons to Kyiv, including tanks and longer-range missile systems.

Ahead of the first anniversary of the war in February, U.S. President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had been wrong about Western commitment to Ukraine. "He thought he could outlast us. I don't think he's thinking that right now," Biden told the crowd in Kyiv.

Evidence suggests Russia destroyed the Kakhovka dam in May, flooding vast areas of southeast Ukraine to stall any Ukrainian counteroffensive and creating an environmental disaster. Russia, in return, blamed Ukraine for the structure's collapse.

By June, Ukraine was able to recapture some territory but failed to break through the Russian lines. The Western weapon supplies were too little, too late, says analyst Ian Bond.

"The delays in supplying this equipment meant that the Russians had a long time to build up their minefields and their fixed fortifications, so they're actually in a much stronger position than they were. And we've been asking the Ukrainians to launch their counteroffensive when they have very little air capability," Bond told VOA, adding that Ukraine had made remarkable progress in countering Russia's navy.

"They have effectively removed the Russian Black Sea fleet from most of the western Black Sea. The Ukrainians have been able to start exporting grain from their ports on the Black Sea more freely than they could before. And that's a remarkable achievement for a country that has no functioning navy," he told VOA.

Mercenaries from Russia's private Wagner army staged a mutiny in June, demanding the dismissal of Moscow's defense minister over claims that Wagner fighters had been deprived of support and ammunition by the Russian army. Putin negotiated an end to the rebellion with the aid of his Belarusian counterpart, Aleksander Lukashenko. Wagner's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was killed in a plane crash a few weeks later.

By November, Ukraine's military chief General Valery Zaluzhny said the war had reached a stalemate, though Ukraine's president disagreed with his assessment.

Zelenskyy did achieve a diplomatic breakthrough as the European Union in December agreed to start formal accession talks. "The negotiation process will not be easy, but the main thing is that historically we have made a determination: Ukraine will always be part of our common European home," Zelenskyy said in video published on social media after the EU decision.

But that European future remains in the balance, says analyst Olga Tokariuk of Britain's Chatham House. "If Ukraine is defeated, if Ukraine fails militarily, all the EU membership negotiations process is worthless. But it will not just be a defeat of Ukraine. It will be a defeat of the European Union and the wider West, that committed to supporting Ukraine as long as it takes."

Ukrainian forces face a long bitter winter on the front lines. The military in December asked Zelenskyy for an additional 450,000 to 500,000 people to be mobilized into the army.

There is hope that the coming year will see Western deliveries of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. But with vital military aid packages held up in the both the United States and the European Union, analysts say Ukraine's greatest concern for the coming year is Western fatigue.

Zelenskyy insisted he was confident the military aid would be forthcoming. "I am sure that the United States of America will not betray us and that what we have achieved with the United States will be fulfilled," Zelenskyy said at his end of the year news conference.

The U.S. presidential election looms at the end of 2024, and there is nervousness in Ukraine and Europe, said Fabrice Pothier, a former head of policy planning at NATO and now CEO of the consultancy group Rasmussen Global.

"Losing the U.S. in the sense of having a U.S. president who might be actually counter to Ukraine's interests and to Europe's interests would be a major blow," he told VOA.

Russia is also due to hold presidential elections next year. With the vote neither free nor fair, according to analyst Ian Bond, Putin is all but certain to win  but the election could affect his war strategy. "He will be looking for something that he can portray as [a] military success in the run-up to the election," Bond said.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 29, 2023 - 22:03 | All, Japan

Budget carrier Jetstar Japan Co. canceled 15 domestic flights Friday as it could not secure enough workers for operation amid an ongoing strike by some union members, affecting some 2,600 people, the company said.

The company expects flight cancellations on Saturday and is preparing for reimbursements while arranging to transfer affected passengers to alternative flights with other airlines.

The cancellation came as many people in Japan plan to travel to their hometowns during the New Year holiday season, with many domestic flights fully booked.

The 15 flights canceled Friday include those connecting Narita near Tokyo and Hokkaido airports, as well as Matsuyama and Fukuoka.

The union, including flight crew members, launched the strike on Dec. 22 following failed negotiations with management over demands that the airline pay employees' unpaid wages and allegations that overtime work had been calculated erroneously.

The union has said it will continue the strike through Jan. 7.

Related coverage:

Jetstar plane makes emergency landing in Japan after bomb threat
A group of university students Friday launched a 24-hour blockade of a main street in Serbia's capital during New Year's holiday rush as protests continued in the troubled Balkan country after reports of irregularities that marred a recent election.

The students set up small tents, tables and chairs, brought food and blankets and played loud music at their makeshift camp near the government headquarters in Belgrade, saying they will stay put until the start of another opposition gathering planned for Saturday.

The student actions triggered a huge traffic gridlock in the capital Friday.

The Saturday rally is expected to draw thousands of people as political tensions are running high over the December 17 ballot and subsequent incidents and arrests of opposition supporters at a protest last weekend.

Populist President Aleksander Vucic has accused the opposition of inciting violence with an aim to overthrow the government under instructions from abroad, which opposition leaders have denied.

Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party has been declared the winner of the parliamentary and local elections, but the main opposition alliance, Serbia Against Violence, has alleged that fraud took place, particularly in Belgrade.

"I am here to fight for democracy in this country, for repeating the elections in fair conditions," student Aleta Cacic said at Friday's protest.

Opposition protests daily

Serbia Against Violence has been leading daily protests in Serbia since the vote as some politicians launched hunger strikes. The populists have said the vote was fair and rejected criticism, including from international observers who noted multiple irregularities in their preliminary findings published a day after the ballot.

Tensions soared Sunday evening, when protesters tried to enter Belgrade city hall, breaking windows before riot police pushed them back using tear gas, pepper spray and batons. Police detained at least 38 people, mostly students, many of whom were later slapped with a 30-day detention.

Opposition leader Dragan Djilas denied allegations Friday leveled by pro-government tabloids that the opposition was planning incidents at the rally planned for Saturday.

"No one is planning any violence," he said. "We will not accept stolen elections and we will fight with all democratic methods."

Watchdogs report vote-buying

The opposition has urged an international probe of the vote after representatives of several international rights watchdogs observing the elections reported multiple irregularities, including cases of vote-buying and ballot box stuffing.

They also noted unjust conditions for opposition candidates because of alleged mainstream media bias, abuse of public resources by the ruling party. They say Vucic dominated the ruling party's campaign and media time allocated for candidates, even though he was not running himself.

Serbia is formally seeking membership in the European Union, but the Balkan nation has maintained close ties with Moscow and has refused to join Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia supports crackdown on protesters

Russian officials have extended full support to Vucic in the crackdown against the protesters and backed his claims that the vote was free and fair.

Russia's Ambassador Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko has said that the protest Saturday and other planned opposition actions over the holidays represent "a very dangerous period" for "return of the violence" but added that Serbia's authorities have full control of the situation.

The Moscow ties came into focus this week when Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked Russia's security services for allegedly tipping off Serbia that violence was in the works.

Both Serbian and Russian officials have alleged a Western-backed ploy to stir political instability in Serbia like the 2014 pro-Western protests in Ukraine that resulted in the ouster of a pro-Russia leadership there.
It has been more than three decades since the last U.S. military base was removed from the Philippines, but amid fears of an expansionist China, Manila is granting more U.S. military access to sites across the country. VOAs Bill Gallo visited some of the sites and has this report. Camera: Ron Lopez
Tanzania has banned imports of soybeans from Malawi to protect its agricultural sector from the presence of the tobacco ringspot virus in that neighboring country.

The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority said in a recent statement that its pest risk analysis on soybeans from Malawi has established the presence of the tobacco ringspot virus, which poses significant risk to soybean production in Tanzania.

The virus is highly contagious and can lead to yield reduction and economic losses ranging from 25% to 100% for farmers, the statement said.

Some analysts are calling Tanzanias action retaliatory, as it comes a few days after Malawi banned maize imports from Tanzania and Kenya over maize lethal necrosis disease in those two countries.

Grace Mijiga-Mhango, president of the Grain Traders Association of Malawi, said Tanzanias ban on soybeans from Malawi is not surprising.

We call it a trade war, she said. They started the war, and their friends are fighting back.

Tanzania is among the biggest importers of soybeans from Malawi.

In February, Tanzania's high commissioner to Malawi committed to facilitate the purchase of 100,000 metric tons of soybeans from Malawi, worth about $30 million. Agriculture authorities in Malawi say the country harvested about 400,000 metric tons of soybeans in the 2022-23 season.

Mijiga-Mhango said the impact of the ban will go beyond selling soybeans within Tanzania because, she predicted, Tanzania will not allow exports to other countries, especially in the East African market, to pass through it.

Ronald Chilumpha, an expert in crop protection in Malawi, said that a better solution to the diseases could have been reached had Malawian and Tanzanian authorities held discussions before imposing their respective import bans.

Issues to do with plant diseases or pests  most of these are migratory and they will certainly move from one area to another, even when you have all the controls in place, he said.

You cannot stop maize from Tanzania coming into Malawi 100%, thats not possible, he said. It just requires a single grain of contaminated maize.

Tanzania has also banned the introduction of genetically modified maize seeds from Malawi, saying it wants to maintain a non-GMO status in its agricultural practices.

Malawian Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale told VOA via a messaging app that he could not comment on Tanzanias ban.

Malawian Principal Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture Dickxie Kampani said he was engaging experts on crop diseases for details about the presence of tobacco ringspot virus in his country.
Survivors have identified six Arab paramilitary commanders and militia leaders who they say played a key role in directing the ethnically targeted violence in the Sudanese city of El Geneina that killed thousands and forced hundreds of thousands to flee the country.

The commanders and militia leaders directed their forces to shell densely populated displaced-persons camps and districts in the city with rockets and mortars, and were seen giving orders to their forces as the attacks unfolded, according to more than 20 people who survived the assault and are now living in refugee camps on Chad's border with Sudan.

Much of the violence was directed at the ethnic African Masalit tribe, who comprised the majority in El Geneina until the attacks forced their mass exodus from the city. The violence, which began in late April and peaked in June, reignited in early November.

Some of the commanders identified by the survivors are part of the Arab-dominated Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary that has gained the upper hand in a widening war with the Sudanese Armed Forces for control of the country. The others include leaders of Arab militia forces allied with the RSF.

These militias have been involved in multiple rounds of ethnic violence against the Masalit and other darker-skinned African tribes over the past two decades. Earlier this month, the United States determined that the RSF and its militia allies had committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

In hundreds of interviews with Reuters since the purge of the Masalit began in April, survivors have described horrific scenes of bloodletting in El Geneina and on the 30-kilometer route from the city to the border with Chad as people fled for their lives. In attacks by RSF forces and allied Arab militias, survivors said, women were gang raped, babies had their throats slit and were clubbed to death, people were rammed by vehicles, burned alive in their homes and picked off in the streets by snipers.

Among the RSF commanders identified by survivors is General Abdul Rahman Juma, the paramilitary's chief for the Sudanese state of West Darfur, whose capital is El Geneina. Five witnesses in the city placed Juma at the scene of attacks on Masalit civilians between April and June. Separately, the U.S. government said in September that forces under his command were involved in the mid-June killing of the region's governor, a Masalit politician  a charge Juma denied.

Survivors identified several other key players who led RSF and militia operations in the city: Idriss Hassan, a former RSF commander of West Darfur and currently a senior RSF officer; Massar Aseel, a top Arab tribal leader; the deputy of the slain governor, Al Tijani Karshoum; Arab militia leader Moussa Angir; and a militiaman known as Marfaeen, or "the Hyena."

In July, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, told the U.N. Security Council that his office had begun investigating alleged atrocities in Darfur, including sexual violence and crimes against children.

According to a person familiar with the probe, three of the people identified by the survivors for this story are being investigated by the ICC: Juma, Karshoum, and Aseel. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the three men were the subject of allegations, which means ICC investigators have information suggesting they were involved in crimes. That does not mean the three would ultimately be prosecuted, the person said.

Reuters could not independently corroborate all the accounts of the roles played by RSF and Arab militia leaders in the violence. But witnesses were consistent in describing the patterns of violence and sequence of events in the assault on the city. In some instances, multiple people provided similar details about the specific commanders they identified, such as the type of vehicle they traveled in, how they were dressed, the types of weapons carried by their forces, or the districts where they were spotted.

Reuters is not publishing the full names of the survivors interviewed for this report to protect them from possible retaliation. The Chad-Sudan border is porous, and refugees say they have seen members of the RSF in markets on the Chad side of the border in recent months.

The survivor testimonies gathered by Reuters since the purge of the Masalit began this year, indicate the campaign against the tribe has been systematic and coordinated. Masalit men, from infants to adults, were targeted for killing in the attacks. Women who were human rights activists in the city were hunted down and raped. Largely Masalit-inhabited districts and refugee camps were shelled.

In September, the United States imposed sanctions on deputy RSF leader Abdelrahim Dagalo "for his connection to abuses by the RSF against civilians in Sudan, including conflict-related sexual violence and killings based on ethnicity." Dagalo, who has denied the charges, is the brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Hemedti has not been sanctioned.

The conflict in Darfur erupted days after the war broke out in the capital Khartoum between the Sudanese army and the RSF, who fell out over a plan to integrate their forces as part of a transition to democracy. More than seven million people have fled their homes since the war began, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

In Darfur, competition for land and water has fueled years of conflict between Arab and non-Arab tribes. In the early 2000s, the Masalit and other non-Arabs rebelled after enduring repeated attacks from Arab forces. The government of President Omar Al-Bashir armed Arab militias known as the Janjaweed to help crush the uprising.

The RSF evolved from the Janjaweed. And like the Janjaweed, it draws its leaders and many fighters from the Rizeigat, one of the largest Arab tribes in Darfur. RSF leader Hemedti is a Rizeigat. He has said this year's violence in Darfur is the result of a tribal conflict and his forces have no role in it.

Masalit leaders accuse the Arab forces of progressively driving them off their land. Now, they say, the RSF is trying to finish the job and expel them completely.

One of the most influential Arab figures identified by witnesses is Aseel, who is a leader of the Rizeigat tribe. Three witnesses identified him as one of the Arab militia commanders who led the attacks. A Masalit tribal leader in El Geneina said he saw Aseel in a neighborhood called Donki 13 in mid-June, traveling in a land cruiser and checking on the positions of Arab fighters.

In an interview with Reuters in September, Aseel blamed the Masalit for the outbreak of violence and said Arab forces were responding to attacks by the Masalit. The accounts given by the Masalit were "all lies," he said.

Aseel denied he was a militia commander and said he had no relationship with the RSF. "I am innocent," he added.

Aseel didn't respond to follow-up questions for this story.

Weeks after the second round of purges against the Masalit in early November, a video was posted on an official RSF social media channel. Aseel, along with Juma and Karshoum, the deputy governor, are seen addressing an event in El Geneina billed as a "festival for peaceful coexistence."

The Arab tribes had "no enmity" toward the Masalit, Aseel told the crowd. "We forget the past and we are turning a new page with you," he declared in the video, which was identified by the Center for Information Resilience's Sudan Witness project.

Karshoum had a similar message: "War is over," he said. "Now we need societal peace and coexistence."

Abdul Rahman Juma | RSF commander of West Darfur

Juma is the most senior leader placed at the head of the attacks in El Geneina by the witnesses who spoke to Reuters. Five described seeing him with his forces, issuing instructions, at different times and places during the assault on the Masalit between April and June.

The RSF-led attacks began in late April, with the shelling of Masalit neighborhoods. RSF forces under Juma pushed toward the city's Al Madaris area, according to the five witnesses.

Thousands of Masalit sought shelter in the area, which is adjacent to the governor's office, and Masalit fighters gathered there to make a stand. RSF-led forces shelled Al Madaris from surrounding positions, according to multiple survivors.

El Geneina hosted dozens of displaced persons camps that were largely inhabited by Masalit uprooted in earlier violence, and these too came under fire. A number of camps were razed to the ground, according to three witnesses and a review of satellite images of these areas. Two of the witnesses said they saw destroyed camps upon returning to El Geneina, after fleeing to Chad, to look for missing relatives. Bulldozers were used to demolish remaining shacks, several survivors said.

A former policeman who lived in the displaced persons camp of Al Hojaj, close to RSF headquarters in the city, said he encountered Juma three times in late April, shortly after the assault on the city began. After entering the camp with his forces, Juma gave orders to shell the area. "I could see him pointing in different directions to bomb," the man said.

The ex-policeman said he and other men in the camp took up arms to defend their families. "We had nowhere to go. We were trapped." He later fled to Chad.

A satellite image taken on June 21, just days after the violence ended, showed that much of the Al Hojaj camp had been destroyed.

Two other Masalit men who took up arms against the RSF said they saw Juma in another part of the city in mid-May. He was in Al Jamarek, a district in western El Geneina where RSF headquarters are located. Both said Juma was telling his forces where to aim as they were shelling the Al Madaris area, close to where the governor's compound was located.

One of the Masalit fighters, 37-year-old Abdel-Jalil, said he spotted Juma four times in May, dressed in military fatigues and the RSF's red beret. On one occasion, Abdel-Jalil said, Juma was traveling in a convoy of vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns close to the RSF headquarters. "He oversees the assault, but he doesn't engage himself in the fighting," Abdel-Jalil said.

The next month, on June 14, a Masalit activist for displaced persons said he saw Juma dressed in military uniform and carrying an assault rifle. He was giving orders to a large contingent of RSF fighters to target the Al Madaris area with mortars and RPGs, the activist said. Mortars rained down on people sheltering in the area that day, according to multiple survivors who were there.

The same day, West Darfur Gov. Khamis Abbakar, himself a Masalit, publicly condemned the actions of the RSF in the city, accusing the paramilitary of genocide. He was killed by RSF forces that same day, Reuters reported at the time. Footage posted on social media showed Abbakar being led into Juma's office at RSF headquarters in the city. Later, pictures of his body being mutilated also appeared on social media.

In September, the U.S. State Department said the men who killed the governor were led by Juma and announced sanctions against him. In an audio message posted on an RSF social media page, Juma said the governor was killed by an angry mob while trying to escape to Chad. He had tried to help the governor by arranging transport for him to Chad, Juma said.

Juma did not respond to questions for this report sent to him via the RSF. He has denied that the paramilitary was involved in the bloodshed in El Geneina.

Violence flared anew in early November. Hundreds of Masalit men were rounded up by Arab forces, according to dozens of survivors. Some of these captives were executed in the outlying Ardamata district of El Geneina, according to at least 30 witnesses.

After the RSF overran the Sudanese army base in El Geneina in early November, Juma can be seen in a video posted on an RSF social media channel addressing his troops outside the base and hailing RSF leader Hemedti. At the time, dozens of witnesses told Reuters, a killing campaign by RSF forces and Arab militias was underway in Ardamata, the district where the army base is located. Masalit men in particular were targeted. The European Union said more than 1,000 Masalit were killed in the rampage.

Idriss Hassan | RSF Brigadier General

Also spotted in the attacks was Idriss Hassan, an RSF Brigadier General and member of the Rizeigat tribe. Hassan was part of the Arab forces used by former dictator Bashir to crush the rebellion by the non-Arab tribes in the early 2000s. Bashir faces genocide charges by the ICC over his role in the violence.

Three witnesses said they saw Hassan in May directing RSF forces who were attacking civilian areas, largely populated by the Masalit.

El-Tayab, a 34-year-old Masalit who took up arms when hostilities began, said he saw Hassan in the city's Al Jabal district in mid-May. Hassan arrived in a mud-covered white land cruiser mounted with an anti-aircraft gun. "He was supervising the forces" that shelled the district, El-Tayab said.

Mohammed, a construction worker, said he performed work at Hassan's house a few years ago. Mohammed said he was in the city's Abu Zor displaced-persons camp in late May when he recognized Hassan leading a large force that stormed the camp. Hassan, dressed in RSF uniform and wearing a traditional Arab turban, arrived in a convoy of mud-covered land cruisers. Mohammed said he was hit in the arm by shrapnel during the attack and later fled to Chad.

A 39-year-old Masalit doctor told Reuters he saw Hassan in late May leading a convoy of some 30 pickup trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, heading to the Masalit district of Al Thawra in southern El Geneina.

Hassan did not respond to questions from Reuters sent to him via the RSF.

Al Tijani Karshoum | Deputy governor of West Darfur

Karshoum became deputy governor of West Darfur in 2022. Four people said they saw Karshoum  a well-known figure locally  with militiamen as Arab forces moved through the city during the attacks.

Younis, a 43-year-old Masalit resident, said he encountered Karshoum on May 6. Karshoum was riding in the front of a pickup truck, carrying about a dozen Arab militiamen, that pulled up outside Younis' house in the western Al Jamarek district near RSF headquarters. Younis said four of the militiamen stormed into his home, grilling him at gunpoint about his tribal affiliation and whether he was a soldier. "I said I am not Masalit," he told them.

The men searched the house and took all the mobile phones, he said, echoing dozens of other witnesses who told Reuters of militiamen seizing their phones. The men then left and began looting the neighbor's house, Younis recalled.

Days later, Yacoub, a 20-year-old Masalit civilian who took up arms to defend his family, said he saw Karshoum in a land cruiser leading an attack on the city's southern Al Jabal district. Karshoum was with the RSF's Hassan during the attack, he said.

"The fighters were shouting, 'nuba, we will kill you,'" Yacoub said, repeating a term used by Arab tribes in Darfur meaning slaves.

Multiple witnesses told Reuters that the RSF and Arab militias used the Al Jabal district's elevated position to shell displaced persons camps and neighborhoods inhabited by the Masalit.

Two people said they saw Karshoum issuing orders at the Abu Zor displaced-persons camp and in Al Madaris.

Mohammed, a social worker, said he spotted Karshoum on May 20, while sheltering from shelling directed by the RSF at Abu Zor, where his father had been living. From behind a wall where he was taking refuge, Mohammed said, he could see and hear Karshoum directing artillery fire towards the governor's office and telling his forces that they were "getting close." Mohammed said there was heavy smoke from the bombing that provided him with cover as there was nothing separating him from Karshoum but the wall. Karshoum, he said, was dressed in an olive-green outfit.

Sherif, a 40-year-old Masalit man, said he saw Karshoum in June in the Al Madaris district, and heard him instructing troops to direct their fire at the governor's office. That month, Sherif said he twice saw Karshoum traveling in a black land cruiser and directing attacks on displaced-persons camps.

In the camp attacks, "shells wiped out entire families," said Sherif. On June 13, he said he buried dozens of people in the city's Al Ghabat cemetery who had been killed. Four of his cousins were killed by the RSF in the city, he said.

The former policeman who escaped to Chad said he encountered Karshoum while fleeing El Geneina on the morning of June 15, along with thousands of other Masalit. The deputy governor was accompanied by armed men in RSF uniforms and traditional Arab clothing, riding in three land cruisers mounted with machine guns. Karshoum was rallying the militiamen, the ex-policeman said.

Other survivors have told Reuters that the RSF and Arab militias attacked people repeatedly on the route from El Geneina to Chad. Masalit men were shot and women raped at different points along the way, they said.

In an interview with Reuters in October, Karshoum said he supported an "independent investigation" into the violence in El Geneina. He said he had tried to mediate between Arab and non-Arab leaders in the city before the war spilled over from Khartoum to El Geneina in an attempt to prevent violence.

Karshoum didn't respond to follow-up questions about the witness accounts of his role in the fighting.

Moussa Angir | Militia commander

Angir is a commander of the Third Front-Tamazuj, an Arab-dominated militia allied with the RSF that has emerged as a force in the recent violence in West Darfur.

Six people from El Geneina described seeing Third Front-Tamazuj fighters waging attacks side-by-side with RSF forces in the city this year. In August, the group formally announced its alliance with the RSF.

In 2021, Sudan's prosecutor-general charged Angir and more than 30 others with murder, sabotage and looting in connection with attacks on a displaced-persons camp on the outskirts of El Geneina, according to a state prosecutor and four lawyers familiar with the case. Dozens of people were killed in the attacks, which took place in late 2019. The court proceeding against Angir and others was disrupted after the Sudanese military and RSF together seized power in a coup in 2021, the state prosecutor told Reuters.

Three people said they witnessed Angir directing forces during the El Geneina attacks this year.

Faisal, 26, a Masalit shop owner who took up arms to defend his family, said he saw Angir on May 13, leading a convoy of land cruisers carrying militiamen in the Al Madaris district. Faisal said he comes from the same district as Angir and recognized the well-known commander's face. He was watching from a window in a building overlooking a narrow street as Angir's convoy passed through when he heard Angir ordering his men to "move forward."

A 39-year-old doctor said he spotted Angir in the company of militiamen at different checkpoints in the city as he traveled around to treat patients. Throughout the assaults, the RSF and Arab militias set up checkpoints in El Geneina to control people's movement.

The third man, a civilian-turned-fighter, said he saw Angir on June 16, with militiamen at a security installation in the west of El Geneina, where residents trying to flee the city had gathered.

Angir did not respond to questions from Reuters. A spokesman for the Tamazuj declined to comment.

Marfaeen | Militiaman

The militiaman is well-known locally by his nom de guerre, Marfaeen, which means "hyena" in Sudanese Arabic.

Four witnesses described seeing Marfaeen in action in the eastern part of El Geneina.

A Masalit man named Gamal said he encountered Marfaeen while shopping for food at the Aredeba market in northeast El Geneina in late May. Marfaeen and militiamen under his command confronted Gamal and his companions and began questioning them about several individuals, including a Masalit lawyer.

"They made us lie on the ground and they asked us a lot of questions," said Gamal. When he and his companions denied knowing the individuals, he said, the militiamen proceeded to beat them on their feet. They were later let go.

Reuters was unable to contact Marfaeen for this report.

A relief worker with an international humanitarian agency said he came across Marfaeen in the Aredeba market around the same time in late May. The relief worker was moving from one district to another as he tried to evade the RSF's escalating attacks. He said he spotted Marfaeen one day after moving into a house on the edge of the market.

Through a hole in the door, the relief worker said he could see Marfaeen leading a group of nine armed men. The men were in a land cruiser mounted with an anti-aircraft gun and were firing randomly at people, the relief worker said.

People in the streets were shouting, "It's Marfaeen, Marfaeen," as they fled.

During the attack, two people fell to the ground, while the rest escaped, the relief worker said. The militiamen then looted some shops, taking meat from a butchery and cash from vegetable sellers.

"I saw him with my own eyes," the relief worker said of Marfaeen.
Turkish authorities have detained 29 people suspected of having ties to militant group Islamic State in operations across nine provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Friday.

Suspects captured in "Operation Heroes-37" on Friday were planning to attack churches and synagogues in Istanbul, Yerlikaya said on social media platform X.

Citing security sources, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said three other suspects linked to the 29 detainees had been captured in the operations as well. It said the three were senior members of Islamic State and added that one was planning an attack on the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara.

Anadolu did not provide any further details on the suspects or the operations.

Authorities have ramped up operations against Islamic State and Kurdish militants in recent weeks, after Kurdish militants detonated a bomb near government buildings in Ankara on October 1.
The U.S. military's secretive X-37B robot spaceplane blasted off from Florida on Thursday night on its seventh mission, the first launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket capable of delivering it to a higher orbit than previous missions.

The Falcon Heavy, composed of three rocket cores strapped together, roared off its launch pad from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in a spectacular nighttime liftoff carried live on a SpaceX webcast.

The launch followed more than two weeks of false starts and delays. Three earlier countdowns were aborted due to poor weather and unspecified technical issues, leading ground crews to roll the spacecraft back to its hangar before proceeding with Thursday's fight.

It came two weeks after China launched its own robot spaceplane, known as the Shenlong, or "Divine Dragon," on its third mission to orbit since 2020, adding a new twist to the growing U.S.-Sino rivalry in space.

The Pentagon has disclosed few details about the X-37B mission, which is conducted by the U.S. Space Force under the military's National Security Space Launch program.

The Boeing-built vehicle, roughly the size of a small bus and resembling a miniature space shuttle, is built to deploy various payloads and conduct technology experiments on long-duration orbital flights. At the end of its mission, the craft descends back through the atmosphere to land on a runway much like an airplane.

It has flown six previous missions since 2010, the first five of them carried to orbit by Atlas V rockets from United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and most recently, in May 2020, atop a Falcon 9 booster furnished by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Thursday's mission marked the first launched aboard SpaceX's more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, capable of carrying payloads even heavier than the X-37B farther into space, possibly into geosynchronous orbit, more than 35,000 kilometers above the Earth.

The X-37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, has previously been confined to flights in low-Earth orbit, at altitudes below 2,000 kilometers.

New orbital regimes

The Pentagon has not said how high the spaceplane will fly this time out. But in a statement last month, the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office said mission No. 7 would involve tests of "new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies."

The X-37B also is carrying a NASA experiment to study how plant seeds are affected by prolonged exposure to the harsh environment of radiation in space. The ability to cultivate crops in space has major implications for keeping astronauts nourished during future long-term missions to the moon and Mars.

China's equally secretive Shenlong was carried to space on December 14 by a Long March 2F rocket, a launch system less powerful than SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and believed to be limited to delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.

Still, Space Force General B. Chance Saltzman told reporters at an industry conference earlier this month he expected China to launch Shenlong around the same time as the X-37B flight in what he suggested was a competitive move.

"It's no surprise that the Chinese are extremely interested in our spaceplane. We're extremely interested in theirs," Saltzman said, according to remarks published in Air & Space Forces Magazine, a U.S. aerospace journal.

"These are two of the most watched objects on orbit while they're on orbit. It's probably no coincidence that they're trying to match us in timing and sequence of this," he said.

The planned duration of the latest X-37B mission has not been made public, but it will presumably run until June 2026 or later, given the prevailing pattern of successively longer flights.

Its last mission remained in orbit for well over two years before a return landing in November 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed Ukraine's peace formula in a call with Pope Francis on Thursday.

"We discussed our joint work to put Ukraine's Peace Formula into action," Zelenskyy said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"Over 80 countries are already involved in this process at the level of their representatives. And there will be more of them," he added.

In the pope's Christmas Day message, he called for an end to the war in Ukraine, among other conflicts.

Late Thursday, a fire broke out at a building in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, authorities said, after drones were reportedly headed for the area.

"A high-rise building in Odesa was damaged by a downed drone," Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said in a Telegram post.

Information about casualties was still being verified, Kiper added, urging city residents to stay in shelters.

Earlier Thursday, Ukraine's military said 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.

Russia's 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 incident sparked a fire on the ship and injured two people.

"A Panama-flagged civilian vessel was blown up on an enemy sea mine in the Black Sea," Ukraine's southern military command said on Telegram. "The vessel lost its course and control, and a fire broke out on the upper deck."

There were 18 crew members onboard, including 13 Egyptians, three Ukrainians, and two Turkish citizens, according to Reuters. The incident occurred Wednesday.

Ukrainian officials said the ship was heading to a Danube River port to collect grain.

Zelenskyy said on Thursday in his nightly address that Ukraine's alternative Black Sea export corridor has so far sent out 12 million metric tons of cargo.

The corridor was introduced after Moscow in July pulled out of a U.N.-negotiated agreement to allow safe transport of Ukrainian grain.

Zelenskyy thanked the United States for a new $250 million aid package, saying Thursday the military assistance will "cover Ukraine's 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.

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 spokesperson John Kirby said last week that President Joe Biden was planning one more military aid package in December but 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 on 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 do more to 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.
The United Nations Security Council met Friday to address Russia's "most massive aerial attack" across Ukraine since the beginning of the war in February 2022, launching 122 missiles and dozens of drones, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier on the social media platform X that Ukraine and three dozen other U.N. member states requested the Security Council meeting after the attacks, "which resulted in multiple civilian casualties and heavy destruction of civilian infrastructure."

Russia's missile and drone strikes killed at least 31 civilians and injured more than 160 people. Authorities believe others are buried under the rubble and say the death toll will likely rise.

"Today, Russia used nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal: 'Kindzhals,' S-300s, cruise missiles, and drones ... with the majority of them being shot down," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X.

He said a maternity hospital was among the targets hit by Russia's strikes.

The blasts were reported in Kyiv, the northeastern city of Kharkiv, western city of Lviv, eastern cities of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, and the southeastern port city of Odesa.

The scale of the attack surpassed previous large assaults: Russia launched 96 missiles in November 2022 and 81 missiles on March 9, according to Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk.

Meanwhile, Russia said one person was killed and four more hurt by Ukrainian missiles and drones fired on the Belgorod region along the border. Russias Defense Ministry said it shot down 13 rockets and six drones fired by Ukraine.

U.N. Security Council members, including the United States, France and Britain, condemned the attacks, calling them "a desperate and futile attempt by Russia to regain momentum" in its war with Ukraine.

British Ambassador to the U.N. Barbara Woodward told the council, "They will not succeed."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the Russian attacks, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable and must end immediately," Dujarric said.

Biden, Sunak call to continue aiding Ukraine

In a statement earlier Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden said the attack was "a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin's objective remains unchanged," seeking to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people. Biden added that Putin "must be stopped."



The U.S. president said that although the United States has aided Ukraine's war effort so far, Congress must step up its efforts and approve more aid "without any further delay" or "we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people."

Biden said "the stakes of this fight extend far beyond Ukraine. They affect the entirety of the NATO alliance, the security of Europe, and the future of the Transatlantic relationship," adding that the United States has rallied a coalition of more than 50 countries to support the defense of Ukraine.

"We cannot let our allies and partners down. We cannot let Ukraine down," he said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak echoed Biden's warnings, saying the attack should spur the world to further action in support of Ukraine.

"We must continue to stand with Ukraine  for as long as it takes," Sunak said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Missile may have entered Polish airspace

Elsewhere, Poland's deputy foreign minister summoned Russian charge d'affaires Andrei Ordash early Friday morning, the ministry said in a statement.

Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski demanded that the Russian diplomat explain an incident involving the violation of Poland's airspace by a missile and an immediate halt to such activities, the ministry wrote.

Ordash called the claim "unsubstantiated," according to RIA Novosti news agency.

"No proof was presented. My request for documented proof of what was in the note was refused," he said.

Polish defense forces said an unknown object entered about 40 kilometers (24 miles) into their airspace Friday morning from the direction of Ukraine and then disappeared from radar after less than 3 minutes.

"Everything indicates that a Russian missile intruded in Poland's airspace. It was monitored by us on radars and left the airspace. We have confirmation of this on radars and from allies" in NATO, said Poland's defense chief, General Wieslaw Kukula.

The defense forces said both its radar and NATO radar confirmed that the object left Polish airspace. Kukula said steps were being taken to verify those findings and eliminate the possibility of a technical error.

There were no immediate reports of any explosion or casualties.

Poland's border with Ukraine is also the European Union and NATO's border with Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on X that he had spoken with Poland's president about the "missile incident" and added that NATO was vigilant and monitoring the situation "as the facts are established."

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke Friday with the head of Poland's National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera. Sullivan expressed U.S. solidarity with Poland, "our close NATO ally," as it deals with the incident.

Sullivan also pledged technical assistance as needed and assured his Polish counterpart that the president is following this issue closely. Siewiera expressed appreciation for U.S. support and said their governments will remain in close contact, according to a White House statement.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Rather than looking forward to the new year, a staggering 85% of workers are shaking in their professional boots, worried they will lose their jobs. Brace yourselves for the rollercoaster ride that 2024 is shaping up to be in the job market.

A new survey from MyPerfectResume reveals that the possibility of a recession, tougher competition, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) contribute to this abundant job anxiety. But dont hit the panic button just yet  the survey also uncovers some surprising silver linings.

Most Predict a Stressful Job Market in 2024

The overall sense of job insecurity and pessimism for the economy's future prevails in MyPerfectResume's 2024 Workplace Trends Survey. Of the more than 1,800 Americans asked, 62% predict that the labor market in 2024 is going to be stressful.

Job security is at the forefront of concerns, with 50% reporting they were a little worried, and 35% were definitely worried that they will lose their jobs in 2024.

Anticipations of an economic downturn are part of why so many feel this way, with a substantial 78% of respondents predicting the U.S. will soon enter into a recession. This, in turn, leads to more competition, with 69% envisioning a battlefield scenario in the job market. Adding to the stress for those who cant find a job, 61% expect the recruitment process to take longer.

Nearly half (45%) added that they expect fewer remote job openings, and 87% believe that more companies will introduce return-to-office (RTO) policies in 2024  the opposite of what most employees want.

My previous job made people go back to the office four days per week, says SEO Consultant Jason Butler. I left that job and found another remote gig.

Compounding the stress, 40% of participants anticipate a surge in job burnout in 2024. They could be right, as things like returning to the office can negatively impact an employee's personal and professional life.

My husband worked at home for over two years and only recently has had to go back into the office once or twice a week, shares travel writer Margarita Ibbott. Working from home changed the dynamics in the family. He started doing more chores, cooking, little tasks. To say the least, I'm bummed he is back in the office.

Factors like employee wellness need to be considered when organizations make changes. For example, do the return-to-office policies genuinely contribute to the overall well-being of employees, or are they driven primarily by a desire for increased control?

Promoting physical and mental health creates a better work environment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lost productivity caused by depression and anxiety costs the global economy $1 trillion annually. A workplace that values and supports the well-being of its staff is more productive and attracts strong candidates, ultimately benefiting the bottom line and reducing employee turnover.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) hasnt gone unnoticed, with 78% expressing fears of job loss due to automation. After all, more than 250,000 tech industry workers were laid off in 2023. However, technology often requires human collaboration. For example, the demand for AI skills has increased globally by nine times since 2015, according to the Skills That Pay report by Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions, underlining the importance of developing in-demand skills.

Some Promising Trends

But, as they say, it's not all doom and gloom. Before drafting that resignation letter, consider the unexpected revelations the survey also uncovered that could reshape your career.

The 2024 workplace landscape promises a dynamic blend of challenges and opportunities, says Kellie Hanna, Career Expert at MyPerfectResume. Navigating this complex terrain will demand more than just resilience; it will require a high degree of professionalism and a strategic vision.

Developing skills should be part of that strategy. Those with unique skills, such as artificial intelligence, are predicted to be at an advantage, with 72% anticipating a higher demand for specialists.

Three-quarters (75%) of respondents are also convinced pay raises are on the horizon for 2024, hinting at increased negotiation power for workers. Part of this power is due to 69% believing that more people will quit if salaries do not meet expectations. The majority (68%) also agree that employers must pay their employees more.

Despite the uncertainties, 67% of respondents foresee the gig economy expanding, providing a lifeline for those seeking another income source in uncertain times. Gigs and side hustles are valuable ways to learn new job skills and build your network, giving applicants an extra advantage.

Although many are cautious about their job security in 2024, growth opportunities exist. By paying attention to the demands of the changing job market, acquiring in-demand skills, exploring the gig economy, and leveraging negotiation power, job seekers and career changers can position themselves for success in the dynamic landscape that lies ahead.
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- China will roll out a package of measures in 2024 to boost efforts in soliciting foreign investment, an official from the country's top economic planner has said.

China will work to solve existing problems that foreign businesses face in investing in the country, said Zheng Chiping, head of the National Development and Reform Commission's department of foreign investment utilization and outbound investment.

China will lift all the restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector and continue to open up the service sector, Zheng told Xinhua in an interview.

Official data shows that foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland in actual use stood at 1.04 trillion yuan (about 146.53 billion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months of the year, remaining at a historically high level against the backdrop of sluggish cross-border investment globally. 
Globally, workers have fallen in love with remote work, but according to reports, about 64% of executives believe its time to return to the office. Its hard to be sure of what the future of work will look like. But theres one thing we can do, and thats to look at trends.

Lets take a closer look at some trending contrasting opinions and realities of remote work as we head into 2024.

CEOs Say Remote Work Will End Soon

According to experts, global executives believe that the time of remote work is almost up. As stated in the KPMG Global CEO Outlook, 64% of global executives believe 2026 will be the year the world will return to full in-office work. CEOs further say they are exploring incentives and perks to make on-site work more attractive than remote work.

This greatly clashes with what employees want. Unsurprisingly, workers who have been fully remote over the past three years dont want to return to the office. Less commuting, no more strict work outfits, personalized workspaces, flexible work hours, and enhanced work-life balance are just a few obvious benefits of working remotely.

In a study by Gallup, 90% of workers say they dont want to return to entirely on-site work. In fact, many employees are willing to let go of their jobs that dont offer them the flexibility they want.

Since the great resignation began in early 2021, employers have been worried about losing their biggest talents because of flexibility issues. However, with industries finding their balance and new talents aggressively developing, power seems to be shifting back to employers. Its interesting to see how the next few years will play out.

One of the most vocal CEOs about his dislike for remote work is Elon Musk. Not only did the Tesla CEO send a notorious email to workers last year necessitating a minimum of 40 hours per week, but the recent 2023 Q3 Tesla Earnings Call featured Musk labeling remote workers as detached from reality.

Musk has a long history of disdain for remote work, but in recent times, several other CEOs have queued behind his narrative of ending remote work. In August 2023, in an ironic move, Zoom reversed its fully remote work culture to mandate employees within 50 miles of the company back to the office.

It doesnt end there. Meta (formerly Facebook) also recently initiated a 3-day office workday policy. These hybrid setups have proven to be a feasible compromise between employers wanting to maximize work hours and employees who love the taste of remote work.

Are All Companies Against Remote Work?

The short answer is No. There are global companies that remain supportive and invested in remote work. For instance, Gumroad has a fully remote work culture, with no meetings being one the company is known for.

Drew Houston, the CEO of Dropbox, gives a contrasting view of the future of remote work. According to the CEO, If you trust people and treat them like adults, they will behave like adults. With his companys 90/10 rule  90% of the year for remote work and 10% for off-site events  Houston demonstrates trust in people staying productive irrespective of location.

And hes not the only one. More global companies are encouraging employees to work on schedules and systems that are flexible and convenient for them.

Who Are Big Remote Work Advocates?

Remote work and hybrid arrangements are excellent for companies that are all about employees getting their jobs done and not when such employees log on. Expectedly, different companies have slightly varying ways of handling this need for flexibility.

Adobe

One of the established computer software companies that continue to support the remote work parade is Adobe. In the words of Gloria Chen, Adobes Chief People Officer, While we believe in the value of in-person interaction, we know that in some cases, a remote work arrangement makes sense for Adobe

The company created a smart digital campus app called Adobe Life to make remote work more inclusive for employees. Thanks to the app, workers can keep up to date with company developments while also encouraging interpersonal relationships and communication.

Airbnb

For a company that helps users find short lets around the world, it isnt unprecedented to have its employees living and working from anywhere in the world. The company affirmed its work-from-anywhere policy in 2022 and hasnt looked back since.

Atlassian

In a blog post, Atlassian confirmed that about 300 of its 8000+ employees have moved to a new country since its fully remote work policy came into play. In the same vein, the company claims that more than 10% of its US-based workers relocated to a new state after the company established this policy. So far, Atlassians "Team Anywhere" initiative has enjoyed marked success, and the company continues to ship products that improve remote work efficiency for the world.

HubSpot

Having a client list of 170,000 businesses relying on software created by the company hasnt prevented it from sticking to its remote work resolve. The company has three work arrangements: working entirely remotely, going to the office twice a week, and going to the office three times a week.

What Does the Future Hold for Remote Work?

There is more than one opinion on the future of work. With the remote work concept experiencing different realities in varying industries and diverse results, it posits not to be a one-size-fits-all model.

However, trends like the rapid adoption of new tech tools, focus on employee well-being, hybrid work models, ease of remote onboarding and integration, emphasis on cybersecurity, and more are bolstering the development of a new culture. Even if remote work is not an option, companies can transfer its principles and benefits to the office environment. Business executives should embrace and adopt this work setup, which is vital to unlocking sustained productivity.
More than 1,000 Florida manatees died in 2021, threatening to return the friendly sea cows to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species list.

Manatees are a beloved marine animal that people have been enthused with for a long time. They are 1,000 lb sea cows that spend their days grazing on underwater pastures. On a good day, they can eat 10% of their weight in seagrass. They're slow and sluggish, like a koala bear, even though their closest relative is an elephant.

Manatees migrate as far away as New York and Texas to overwinter in Florida's freshwater springs, making conservation in Florida paramount to the species' survival, but the species has faced endangerment throughout the past few decades. Even with their climb out of the "Endangered" status, tours and swimming expeditions with these sea creatures could be on the brink of ending.

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught," conservationist Baba Dioum once mused. Is this sentiment a vital piece in manatee conservation or a slippery slope that will lead to the marginalization of this iconic species?

Early Manatee Protection

The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, one of the first creatures listed as endangered when the federal Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973. In the mid-1970s, only about 1,000 individuals survived in Florida. Over the last 40 years, boat speed regulations, habitat protection, and other measures have helped the population rebound. In early 2017, there were an estimated 6,620 manatees in Florida waters.

On March 30, 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a final decision changing the West Indian manatee's status (including the Florida subspecies) from endangered  the law's gravest classification  to threatened. In support of the reclassification, Research Ecologist Michael Runge, Ph.D., with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, "Manatee populations will continue to face threats, but if these threats continue to be managed effectively, manatees will be an integral and iconic part of Florida's coastal ecosystems through the coming century."

The supporting USGS study identified two longstanding, serious threats to the Florida Manatee population: fatal collisions with watercraft and the loss of warm-water habitats that provide refuge during the winter. It also contained an ominous warning that mortality due to red tide will become an equally significant threat if these harmful algae blooms become more frequent and intense in the coming decades. Red tides are not only toxic to animals but destroy vital seagrass beds essential to manatee survival.

Atlantic Coast Manatee Unusual Mortality Event

An Unusual Mortality Event (UME) was caused by starvation due to a lack of forage in the Indian River Lagoon. It started in December 2020 on the Atlantic coast, and its investigation is ongoing. According to a Frontiers in Marine Science article, between 2011 and 2019, the Indian River Lagoon lost approximately 58% of its seagrasses. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission instigated a temporary feeding program, but a long-term solution to restore and protect the seagrass beds was needed.

A silver lining from the mortality event was a renewed interest in manatee protection. In July of 2021, the Florida legislature provided $8 million for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to help restore manatee access to springs and restore habitat in other areas important to manatees.

Reclassification of Florida Manatees as an Endangered Species

In October of 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a 90-day finding on an Endangered Species Act petition to reclassify the West Indian manatee, including the Antillean and Florida manatee subspecies, as an endangered species.

"The Service has a long history of working to save the manatee from extinction since it was one of the first species listed under the 1967 precursor to the Endangered Species Act," says Acting Southeast Regional Director Mike Oetker. "We are committed to ensuring we are getting the most updated scientific information during this status review to protect and recover the species."

The Service will conduct in-depth status reviews and analyses using the best available science and information and issue a 12-month finding to determine if the petitioned actions are warranted.

Crystal River Swimming With Manatees

Florida's Crystal River is widely considered the Manatee Capital of the World. It is the only place in North America where you can legally swim with manatees. Local guides are certified to ensure this beloved threatened species is treated with the utmost respect by using responsible passive observation techniques approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. An estimated 300,000 people visit Crystal River every year with an opportunity to see manatees in their natural habitat.

"We protect the things we love," shares Jeff Sandmann, a Crystal River boat captain. He adds that few animal encounters are as personal as an in-water manatee experience.

He continues, "It is in our best interest to do the right thing. You will get people to self-police if it's in their best interest."

He ensures all his clients take a short manatee awareness and protection course before they enter the water and is always looking for rowdy or misbehaving clients. For him, the manatees come first, and he has full authority to keep any customer out of the water for any reason he sees fit.

Local organizations, like Save Crystal River and the Homosassa River Restoration Project, are working hard to preserve and restore manatee habitat. Save Crystal River and Sea & Shoreline, another organization in the area, have restored over 50 acres by removing millions of pounds of Lyngbya (an invasive weed) and other material from the area's waterways. The Crystal River region now has the largest wintering population of manatees in the state, and the population is the benchmark of health in Florida due to the abundant food sources.

Will Swimming With Manatees Continue in Crystal River?

As with all animals on the endangered species list, protection starts at a federal level. Lourdes Mena, a Manager from the Division of Classification and Recovery of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said, "There are no discussions to modify current tour permits."

She refers back to 2017 when manatees were reclassified as threatened. The Service continued to apply prohibitions for endangered species to the manatee rather than developing species-specific rules. Based on this, Mena concludes, "The protections for the West Indian manatee are the same whether the species is listed as threatened or endangered."

Frank Calascione, interim director for the Visitors & Convention Bureau, is equally optimistic. He explains, "There shouldn't be any impact at all. Manatees are already protected by a slew of state and federal laws that explicitly spell out what people can or cannot do to manatees. Responsibly swimming in the same habitat as them would not violate these existing protections."

Swimming with manatees is one of the world's most transformative adventures that has the power to educate the masses while inspiring love and a commitment to change. It has proven to be an effective conservation tool in the past and has the potential to reach even more people as the manatee population grows and thrives in Crystal River.
Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Looks like Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner arent the only ones with a bit of Yellowstone drama bubbling up, eh? Pierce Brosnan might not have ever been part of the Dutton family, but hes still in hot water with Yellowstone  the park, that is. Cowboy State Daily reported on Wednesday that the 70-year-old James Bond actor has received two citations for allegedly walking in off-limits areas of Yellowstone National Park. People later obtained a copy of a criminal docket that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Wyoming on December 26. According to the court document, Brosnan was cited for walking in all thermal areas and w/in Yellowstone Canyone confined to trails and violating closures and use limits on November 1. Representatives for Brosnan did not immediately return Vultures request for comment. Scalding water and fragile ground can make certain areas in Yellowstone dangerous or even deadly, so the rules about where visitors can go are pretty serious  according to the Associated Press, trespassers have previously faced jail time, fines, and park bans. Brosnan has been ordered to appear in court at the Yellowstone Justice Center on January 23.
Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection, David Appleby/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images, Searchlight Pictures

Like any era-defining work of literature, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus works on multiple levels. Is it a religious allegory? A treatise on scientific ethics? The author processing her experiences with death and childbirth as only the original goth girl could? Yes, yes, and yes.

It follows, then, that cinematic adaptations of the novel would also approach the material from different angles. Some, like the 1973 Spanish film The Spirit of the Beehive, follow in the melancholy footsteps of James Whales iconic 1931 take on Shelleys story. Others seize on the gruesome terror of the science gone amok theme, like the recent New York indies Depraved (2019) and Birth/Rebirth (2023). Frankenstein was even part of the dark n gritty action/horror hybrid trend of the 2010s, bringing us weird curios like Frankensteins Army (2013) and I, Frankenstein (2014).

Yet other filmmakers pick up on the thread of romantic longing Whale introduced in 1935 with The Bride of Frankenstein, leading to films like Edward Scissorhands (1990) in which the monster becomes a sentimental anti-hero. That dovetails with the oddest and most colorful interpretation of the Frankenstein mythos: Ones where the monster, their creator, or both are possessed by throbbing, animalistic lust. For such a lonely and existential story (not to mention one that revolves around corpses and grave-robbing), sexually charged interpretations of Frankenstein are more common than one might think.

While romance is built into the Gothic nature of the tale, the erotic appeal of Frankenstein is not as obvious as that of Dracula, with his hypnotic stare and eternal devotion. The monster as Shelley imagined him does desire a mate, but hes more interested in being understood than getting laid. Stripped to their symbolic essence, the erotics of Frankenstein are about the body as meat, electrified by carnal pleasure and unencumbered by the soul. If, in Christian doctrine, the souls purpose is to transcend the body, then a soulless creature has no sin to commit. Taken one way, this opens up a path of sexual liberation that reflects Shelleys lineage as the daughter of a famous feminist. Another goes down a taboo road into the darkest of paraphilias.

Bella Baxter, the sexually liberated, undead heroine of Yorgos Lanthimos Poor Things, represents the libertine side of this equation, incorporating sexuality into Bellas arc towards fulfillment. She keeps company with hucksters, skin peddlers, and monster kids, all of whom had unencumbered access to Shelleys novel  if not Boris Karloffs interpretation of it. Frankenstein the novel passed into the public domain long before Universal got ahold of it. But the monsters makeup from the 1931 film  green skin, flat head, neck fitted with metal bolts  is still copyrighted. That leads to some interesting variations in the creatures look, some just different enough to appease Universals lawyers.

In a way, its a triumph of the human spirit: As a species, we can make anything horny.

15.

The Bride picks up where The Bride of Frankenstein leaves off, constructing a four-sided polygon of frustrated longing involving Baron Charles Frankenstein (Sting), his original Monster (Clancy Brown), the female creation he names Eva (Jennifer Beals), and the man who catches Evas eye (Cary Elwes). Despite that amazing  and very 80s  cast, The Bride was poorly reviewed upon its release, and has since fallen into obscurity. A bizarre subplot where Clancy Browns Monster joins the circus is a big contributor to that, but the biggest issue is that the horniness here just doesnt connect. In fact, the lustiest relationship is between its lead actress and the implied male gaze of the audience  as demonstrated by a heavily shadowed, obviously body-doubled nude scene early on in the film.

14.

Hammers tongue-in-cheek remake of its own The Curse of Frankenstein takes the wink-wink, nudge-nudge sexuality of the series to bawdy heights. Here, Victor Frankenstein (Ralph Bates) is a posh womanizer and stone-cold sociopath. He lies constantly, murders his own father to gain access to the Frankenstein fortune, and  most importantly for our purposes  treats the family bed wench, Alys (Kate OMara) like a piece of property. Alys is 16 when Victor leaves Frankenstein Castle and 22 when he returns, noting that shes put on weight in a couple of places in his absence. (This is a cleavage-forward film.) Poor Alys has the misfortune of being jealous when an upper-class woman starts romancing Victor, although neither of them can compete with the young Doctors true love: himself.

13.

Produced two years after Bram Stokers Dracula, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein shares a few things  lush production values, fidelity to the novel, ambient horniness  with its predecessor. But, frankly, it just isnt as good. Compared to the swooning Gothic romance of Francis Ford Coppolas Dracula, Kenneth Branaghs Frankenstein is just too perverse  in an unsettling way. But it tries, slathering Branaghs grimy, shirtless Victor Frankenstein and Robert De Niros nude Monster in whats supposed to be amniotic fluid (it looks more like K-Y jelly) and filming the two grappling on the floor of the Doctors steampunk lab. Compared to that homoerotic spectacle, Victors romance with his adopted sister Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) is bloodless. Their not-technically-incestuous relationship does culminate with a tasteful wedding night sex scene, but thats spoiled when it takes a turn for the (nec)romantic.

12.

Technically, Dr. Maria Frankenstein (Narda Onyx) is the OG doctors granddaughter. Thats one of the least brain-breaking things about this 1966 B movie programmer, which mashes up two popular genres of its time: Gothic horror and Westerns. The backstory here is that the Frankensteins have re-established themselves in the Old West, a desirable location for its lack of regulatory oversight and frequent lightning storms. (The fact that its full of hunky outlaws is a bonus.) Dr. Maria claims she needs a brute whos strong like a giant for her experiments, so his body will survive the electric shock. But her lusty eyes roving over the musclebound gunslinger soon to be known as Igor (Cal Bolder) betray her true intentions. What does Jesse James have to do with all of this, you ask? Dont worry about it.

11.

Mel Brooks classic monster-movie parody is bawdy, but in a PG kind of way. (Maybe PG-13, if such a rating had existed in 1974.) That being said, this is the first appearance on this list by a monster who actually gets laid. After escaping from Frankensteins lab at the beginning of the film, Peter Boyles Monster finds his mate after a magical night literally rolling in the hay with Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn), lab assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) and the films kooky sexpot character. The two make sweet, baying music together, and soon theyre shacked up in Frankensteins Castle, where Elizabeth installs two hampers in their bathroom  one for his shirts and one for socks and poo-poo undies. Dont let the domesticity fool you, however. Their relationship is electric, as you can see from Elizabeths hair.

10.

In the opening of this 1957 bargain-bin drive-in picture, a mid-century WASP patriarch in the Man in the Gray Flannel Suit mold (Whit Bissell) plucks the body of a student athlete (Gary Conway) from a flaming bus crash. Once revived, the Doctor sets out to mold his creation, basically a shirtless boy in a paper-mache mask, into a perfect specimen  which here seems to mostly involve weightlifting. The camp value of the dialogue  the English Doctor likes to monologue about the cultural superiority of Europe in a perfect newscaster American accent, for one  keeps the rank misogyny from weighing the film down too much. But its most interesting as a homoerotic artifact, given the swole creatures influence on Rocky in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (more on him later).

9.

Theres a lot of simulated sex in Lust for Frankenstein. But horny isnt quite the word for whats going on here. If you open your third eye, its kind of sweet: 18 years into their relationship, director Jesus Jess Franco cast his wife Lina Romay  a 70s sex symbol by this point long since passed into the practical haircut and cotton panties phase of her life  in the lead role of this softcore sex film. Its nice when couples stay hot for one another, you know? But the fact is that Francos once-evident talent had devolved to the point where much of the movie is so backlit that you cant tell whats going on. 80s scream queen Michelle Bauer does her best in a mostly thankless, mostly nude role, but the whole thing is just kind of sad. And whats with Frankensteins Ghost, a guy with dreads who looks like hed be selling meth outside of a Korn concert?

8.

The only reason that Bikini Frankenstein does not rank higher on this list is because putting a softcore porno at the top would feel like cheating. The films chiseled himbo doctor and his pouty blonde assistant spend most of their time slapping pasties, but even they cant keep up with their creation Eve (Jayden Cole), who doesnt even make it off of the slab before she pulls the assistant onto it for a lesbian scene (complete with saxophone music). Coles frisky, curious performance as Eve is honestly a delight, and the low-rent settings (the Crock Pot in the kitchen of a Carpathian castle is an amusing touch) and corny dialogue combine to make this a good-naturedly horny watch, once you get into the spirit of it. But the best bit comes at the end, as an extended threesome scene pays accidental homage to the queer sci-fi classic Liquid Sky.

7.

Showtimes premium-cable take on the public-domain horror icons of the Victorian era has two Monsters. First, Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) revives Caliban (Rory Kinnear), the original-recipe melancholy male creature. Then he creates Lily (Billie Piper), a woman whose lust  for power and sex  immediately outstrips that of her moody mate. And so she runs off, leaving Caliban to brood as Lily explores the finer points of sadism with the shows chief sinner, Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney). Lilys arc of self-awakening has similarities to that of Poor Things Bella Baxter, in a fin de siecle romantic Satanist kind of way. The chief difference between them is that Lily rejects humanity rather than embracing it, becoming a villain in the process.

6.

Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), the reanimated heroine of Yorgos Lanthimos Poor Things, has the most agency out of the creatures on this list. Shes not ruled by her primordial urges, but incorporates them into a larger personal quest for knowledge and enlightenment. Bella discovers her bodys capacity for pleasure early on in her second go-round at life, and the shock and distaste with which human society greets its public display soon after. (Not that it matters.) But theres a guilelessness to everything Bella does, a trust in the universe and an insatiable curiosity about humanity. Theres also a detachment, and she watches her own erotic adventures from a quizzical distance when she makes a new discovery  that Parisian men will pay her for what shes been doing for free with Duncan Wedderbottom (Mark Ruffalo) this whole time. Emotion doesnt factor into Bellas attitude towards sex, just intellect and primordial drive.

5.

Although theyre played by the same actress, the title character of Frank Henenlotters neon New York horror-comedy Frankenhooker is not the same person as Elizabeth Shelley (Patty Mullen)  most of her, anyway. Elizabeth is the budding mad doctors fiancee, whos dismembered under the blades of a rogue lawnmower in the opening scene of the film. Frankenhooker is the patchwork consequence of her death, as Jeffrey Franken (James Lorinz) puts Elizabeths head on a body stitched together from the limbs of Times Square sex workers. Theres nothing politically correct about this movie, but scenes like the one where

Jeffrey is surrounded by exploding women smoking supercrack are too outrageous to be taken seriously. With her highlighter-purple wig and greasepaint scars, Mullen throws herself into a very silly role, traversing the virgin/whore divide with slapstick enthusiasm. Shes liable to attack any man she sees, but beware, fellas: Shes electric, in more ways than one.

4.

Although its not obvious from Lust for Frankenstein, there was a time when Jess Franco had talent as a director. That talent is evident in La maldicion de Frankenstein, a film that combines all the pleasures of a good 70s Euro-horror picture: Classic monsters, gothic atmosphere, sinister cults, and full bush. Here, Dr. Frankenstein (Dennis Price)  who spends much of the film as a corpse on a slab, jolted back to life for a few minutes whenever someone wants to chat  and his daughter Vera (Beatriz Savon) are the good guys. Theyre fighting to save their silver-skinned Monster from the clutches of the evil wizard Caligrosto (Howard Vernon) and his lust-crazed bird-woman sidekick, who kidnaps women for kinky occult rituals in the basement of Caligrostos place. Its all very atmospheric  one key advantage of Europe is that they actually have castles to shoot these movies in. And Francos direction is hypnotic, lulling viewers into a state where it all makes a dreamy sort of tits-out sense.

3.

Lady Frankenstein apes the look of a Hammer Horror production, but its black-leather perversity marks it as pure Italian B-movie. Rosalba Neri stars as the title character, a woman scientist in an era  both within the world of the film, and at the time of its creation  where patriarchal condescension makes her a novelty at best. (Sample dialogue: I may be a woman, but Im also a doctor!) Here, the Monster is a rampaging beast, with a look that blends The HIlls Have Eyes with 50s sci-fi cheese. The kinky part is the scientific cuckolding, as Tania manipulates Dr. Charles Marshall (Paul Muller) into letting her remove his brain and put it in a more attractive mans body so he can finally have a chance with her. Tanias single-minded lust ranks her high on this list: While monsters rampage through the countryside, shes getting choked out on a bear rug by her hybrid lover. Good for her?

2.

There isnt a single thought in Rocky Horrors (Peter Hinwood) pretty blonde head. The queer spiritual descendant of the Teen-Age Monster, Rocky is a Golden Retriever puppy of a creature, and he buries his nose in crotches just as enthusiastically. Rockys look is rooted in gay bodybuilder culture: The tan. The bleached-blonde bowl cut. The tight little gold lame shorts. The bodybuilder boots laced up all tight as he pummels the gymnastics horse in Dr. Frank N. Furters (Tim Curry) lab. Frank creates this Charles Atlas golden god specifically to adore and satisfy him. But the night at the castle going the way it is, of course Rocky awakens to the same pansexual abandon as the rest of them. Thats where Franks lust backfires: His jealousy at finding Rocky in flagrante with Janet (Susan Sarandon) is what prompts his ultimate downfall. But for Frank, making out with all of his lovers while splashing around in a swimming pool might actually be worth dying for.

1.

Udo Kier is the perverted master of ceremonies in this three-ring circus of deviancy from director Paul Morrissey, which takes Frankensteins romantic necrophilia and distills it to its glistening, taboo essence. Gory and full of graphic violence, this film has pretensions towards art  it was executive produced by Andy Warhol  but its just too horny. Here, the Frankensteins (are they husband and wife? brother and sister? both?) are Serbian aristocrats with a cruel streak and a disturbing passion for eugenics. Kiers Baron von Frankenstein is obsessed with breeding the ideal man, which means he needs a real horndog to murder and reanimate in his own image. Enter Nicholas (Joe Dallesandro), a regular at the local bawdy house and the only Serbian stableboy to speak with a thick Noo Yawk accent. The camera palpably lusts after Dallesandro, but its Kier who steals the show. In a performance that rides the line between true evil and delicious camp, he delivers perhaps the greatest line in movie history: To know death, Otto, you must fuck life in the gallbladder! Hes not speaking metaphorically.
This aerial photo taken on June 28, 2023 shows the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. (Li Binghong/Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation/Handout via Xinhua)

CAIRO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- In the vast and scorching desert in North Africa, Chinese and Egyptian workers are working against the clock to dress up a cluster of newly erected high-rises in glass walls made in China.

Here is the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of the Egyptian capital of Cairo. The new capital is not only a key project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative but also the largest project constructed by Chinese companies in Egypt.

After four years of construction, the modern city is finally taking shape, with a cluster of glass buildings shining like a mirage amidst the arid landscape.

Located near the Sahara Desert, Egypt's climate is predominantly hot and dry, and the highest temperature can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Under such an extreme environment, installing glass walls for these skyscrapers requires impeccable craftsmanship and top-notch materials, in which Chinese builders have stood out when compared to their Western counterparts.

By the spring of next year, all the curtain walls of the CBD will be installed completely. The CBD will continue to radiate the glory of the China-Egypt friendship, serving as an enduring symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Workers install the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Xu Xiaoxiao (R), a project manager of China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company, works with Egyptian curtain wall engineer Ahmed Elsayed Mohamed to measure the aluminium component for installing the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 27, 2023. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

This cellphone photo taken on June 4, 2023 shows workers carrying out hoisting work of the curtain walls at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

Chinese and Egyptian workers carry out measuring work together at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2023. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

Workers install the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

A Chinese worker is seen at the construction site of the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

This cellphone photo taken on May 24, 2023 shows the installation work of the curtain wall at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. To avoid the high temperature at day time, workers often carry out the construction work at night time. (China Construction Shenzhen Decoration company/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 22, 2023 shows the installation work of the curtain walls at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital, 45 kilometers east of Cairo, Egypt. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have solved over 6,500 criminal cases and captured more than 11,000 suspects in a campaign to protect the Yangtze River, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday.

The ministry launched the campaign in March this year to clamp down on criminal activities involving fishing, sand mining, and water transport logistics in the Yangtze River Basin, Luo Ji, an official from the ministry, told a press conference.

Efforts to curb large-scale illegal fishing in the Yangtze River have yielded positive results, Luo said.

More than 5,600 criminal cases related to illegal fishing have been cracked by police this year, with 585 vessels and around 141,000 kilograms of catch involved in these cases seized.

In a six-month joint operation against illegal sand mining in the river, law enforcement authorities have cracked 232 cases involving a confirmed amount of 5.91 million tonnes of sand with an estimated value exceeding 250 million yuan (about 35.3 million U.S. dollars).

The number of sand-related criminal cases in the river this year has dropped 33.2 percent from last year, marking a decline for three consecutive years, according to Luo. 
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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. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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SOFIA, Bulgaria  Bulgaria and Romania have received permission to join Europes passport- and visa-free Schengen Area, starting in March, the governments of the two countries said. The move initially will apply only to travelers arriving by air and sea, while Austria has committed to continuing negotiations over the need for border checks when crossing from the two countries by land, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov told reporters on Thursday.

Austria previously blocked Bulgarias and Romanias entry into the Schengen Area over concerns about illegal immigration but reached an agreement in principle with the two fellow European Union members.

Negotiations with Austria will be combined with substantial support from the European Commission to protect the EUs external borders with Turkey and Serbia in order to reduce the flow of illegal migrants to Europe, Denkov added.

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Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu confirmed the admission of his country into the border-free travel zone.

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We have a political agreement on this! Ciolacu said in a post on Facebook. From March next year, Romanians will enjoy the benefits of the Schengen Area by air and sea.

The Schengen Area was established in 1985. Before Bulgaria and Romanias partial admission, it was comprised 23 out of the 27 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Austria vetoed Romania and Bulgaria's admission into the group of European countries at the end of 2022, but at the same time allowed Croatia  the EUs newest member  full accession. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007 and Croatia in 2013.

Critics of said that move alleged the Alpine nations rejection was fueled by the growing popularity in opinion polls of Austrias far-right Freedom Party.

After a government meeting on Thursday, Ciolacu said efforts would continue next year to fully join the Schengen Area. Lifting the air and maritime borders in March 2024 is a right won after long negotiations, but things wont stop there, he 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 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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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.
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.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mexico and the United States agreed to strengthen their collaboration to address "the root causes" of irregular migration and to halt human trafficking, Mexico's Foreign Ministry (SRE) announced Thursday.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador received a delegation of high-level U.S. officials in its capital Mexico City on Wednesday, following the agreement made last week with his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, to address new measures to reduce irregular migratory flows, the SRE said in a statement.

The SRE detailed that the two countries at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to promoting orderly, humane and regular migration.

"This includes strengthening our cooperation to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, inequality and violence," the ministry said.

"Ongoing cooperation also includes enhanced efforts to disrupt human smuggling, trafficking, and criminal networks, and continuing the work to promote legal instead of irregular migration pathways," it added.

The two countries' delegations agreed to meet again in the U.S. capital in January 2024 to continue advancing their joint management of migration in the context of the regional migration crisis.

In November, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 242,418 migrant detentions along the border with Mexico, mostly Central Americans and South Americans.

In recent days, the flow of migrants on the border with the United States rose to unprecedented levels to between 10,000 and 12,000 per day, which led to the partial closure of some crossings. 
BAGHDAD, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced Thursday the final results of the provincial elections held in 15 of the country's 18 provinces, excluding the three provinces in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

The Nabni Coalition, led by Hadi al-Ameri, leader of the Badr Organization affiliated with the Hashd Shaabi forces, emerged as the frontrunner after winning 43 seats in ten provinces, including Baghdad.

The State of Law Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, won 35 seats.

The Sunni alliance, known as Taqaddum (progress), headed by the sacked parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, won 21 seats in five provinces.

According to the IHEC, around 6.6 million out of more than 16 million eligible voters cast their votes during the general voting on Dec. 18 and early voting on Dec. 16. The voters chose 285 new members for the provincial councils from 5,901 candidates.

Iraq last held provincial elections in April 2013. 
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were burnt to death and several others injured on Friday after two vehicles collided and caught fire in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, police said.

According to the police, the fatal crash happened early in the morning in Khuzdar district of the province when two speeding vehicles carrying fuel collided, resulting in the eruption of fire.

Following the unfortunate incident, police and rescue teams doused the blaze and reached the area. Rescue teams shifted the injured to a nearby hospital.

Police said the accident occurred due to negligence of the drivers, adding that further investigation into the matter is underway.

Road accidents frequently happen in Pakistan due to poorly maintained roads, violation of safety rules, and reckless driving. 
Jonathan McCambridge, PA

The UK government will not stand by and allow public services to deteriorate in Northern Ireland while Stormont remains suspended, Chris Heaton-Harris has said.

The UK Northern Ireland secretary said he was preparing a budget to support civil servants in stabilising public finances if the powersharing impasse is not resolved, but warned there must be a limit to how far the UK government could go.

Talks between Mr Heaton-Harris and Northern Ireland political parties over finances, which included the offer of a 3.3 billion financial package, broke up at Hillsborough Castle earlier this month without any agreement to restore the devolved Assembly and Executive.

Mr Heaton-Harris had also said that his talks with the DUP over their concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements had concluded. However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted the negotiations will continue.

The Stormont Assembly has been suspended for almost two years (Liam McBurney/PA)

The powersharing institutions have been suspended for almost two years as the unionist party seeks further legislative assurances from the Government of Northern Irelands trading position within the UK.

Under current rules Mr Heaton-Harris is obliged to call new Assembly elections on January 18th if the powersharing Assembly has not returned.

But writing in the Belfast Telegraph, he said he would not be treating that date as a deadline.

He said: I am considering all options carefully, however, I want Stormont to return as soon as possible so I am not treating this date as a target and will be relentlessly working with all parties to find a way forward.

January 18th is also the date when thousands of public sector workers will go on strike over pay. A returned Executive could stop these strikes and the disruption it brings to people.

By getting back to work they will unlock the 584 million made available by the UK government to address public sector pay.

People in Northern Ireland expect and deserve devolved government back as soon as possible, to make use of the financial package we have put on the table.

He added: In its absence, however, the UK government cannot and will not just stand by and allow public services and finances to decline further.

Which is why, just like last year, we are preparing a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support the Northern Ireland Civil Service in stabilising public finances and services via a sustainable budget, should the Executive not be back in place to do so itself.

But we are clear that there must be a limit to how far the UK government can go without an Executive in place.

That is because the financial package we have offered requires decisions on how to improve and modernise the public services and these must be taken by locally-elected politicians with the mandate to do so.

It should not just be for local politicians to dispense funding from the UK government.

They should take active and sometimes difficult decisions about where priorities lie, because they know the place and the needs of their constituents better than anyone else.
KIEV, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and more than 70 others injured across Ukraine on Friday morning in the "largest missile and drone attack" on the country since the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the National Police said.

The Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 158 drones and missiles, including at least 90 air-launched cruise missiles and five Kinzhal ballistic missiles, said Valery Zaluzhny, chief commander of the armed forces of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air defense has destroyed 87 cruise missiles and 27 combat drones, Zaluzhny said in a post on Telegram.

The Russian attack targeted Ukraine's critical infrastructure, industrial and military facilities, Zaluzhny said.

The Ukrainian capital was attacked from different directions and the attack left two people dead and 21 others injured, said the Kiev City Military Administration.

The building of the Lukyanivska metro station in central Kiev, a big warehouse, apartment buildings and private houses were damaged in the attack, it said.

In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, five people were killed and 20 others were injured when a missile hit a shopping center and damaged a maternity hospital, regional governor Sergii Lysak said.

In the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, one person was killed and eight others wounded, said Mayor Andriy Sadovyi.

At least two people were killed and 22 others were injured in Ukraine's southern Odesa region, where a combat drone hit an industrial facility, while the debris of another drone fell on a high-rise building, the Odesa Regional Military Administration said.

One person was killed in the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and another one in Zaporizhzhia city in the country's south, according to local authorities. 
Bank of Ireland has appealed a decision to refuse planning for an ATM relocation to An Bord Pleanala.

Mayo County Council rejected the application to move the ATM at the banks Castlebar branch.

Council planners ruled that the building is a protected structure, and as such move the ATM to the right of the existing cash point would negatively impact the front facade of the building.

The proposed works submitted to Mayo County Council involved the installation of a new ATM, along with alterations to an existing window, and removal of a section of an existing stonework plinth.

In their report, planners felt the new ATM would significantly alter the fenestration associated with the facade.

The fenestration of the windows should be retained in full, Mayo County Council maintain.

The planners report stated that any proposal to accommodate additional ATMs should revise the existing ATM and provide slimeline ATMS with a vertical emphasis in the existing masonary, or relocate the ATM more suitably along the facade in a manner that does not negatively impact this protected structure.

An Bord Pleanala is to rule on the appeal by April 17.
A man was found with cannabis resin valued at over 1,000, a court has heard.

Niks Bergmanis, 5 Cemetery Road, Castlebar pleaded guilty at the local district court to possessing cannabis resin for personal use.

Insp David Gibbons told the court that a search warrant was executed at the defendants address on December 6, 2021. During the search, 1,005.54 worth of cannabis resin was found. Bergmanis later admitted possessing the drugs for his own use.

Bergmanis has several previous convictions, including two for possessing drugs.

Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said his client works for a scaffolding company and is now living in Longford. Bergmanis had been using cannabis at the time of the offence but is now staying free of drugs and has completed two drug-awareness programmes. Mr Mulchrone presented the court with clear hair follicle tests.

Judge Vincent Deane convicted the defendant and imposed a 500 fine.
It has been recommended that a special review be carried out in the case of a Mayo soldier who died while saving the lives of fellow officers but has never been recognised for his gallantry.

Ballyhaunis man Private Billy Kedian was aged just 22 when he was killed during a missile attack on a base where he was stationed alongside other Irish peacekeepers in south Lebanon in May 1999. His valour on the day saved the lives of 14 soldiers but has never been recognised with a Defence Forces medal.

The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has published its report on the awarding of Defence Force medals. In general, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces based on various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas, and acts of bravery associated with such service both at home and overseas.

Under Defence Forces regulations, the award of medals for bravery is time-bound. They may not be awarded, in any case, unless a recommendation is made through the usual channels to the Chief of Staff, not later than two years in the case of the Military Medal for Gallantry, and not later than four years in the case of the Distinguished Service Medal, after the performance of the act in respect of which the recommendation is made.

Committee Cathaoirleach Charlie Flanagan said: The committee was pleased to meet colleagues of Private Billy Kedian last month to discuss proposed amendments to the framework for awarding military medals for gallantry. Private Billy Kedian, a soldier of the 1st Battalion in Galway, was killed on May 31, 1999, while serving in the Lebanon. He is one of several members of the Defence Forces who have lost their lives and have never been recognised for it.

Notwithstanding the committees request for a review of the two-year rule, it is calling for the specific case of Pte Kedian to be examined.

Pte Kedian was killed during an attack on the compound where he was serving near a small town called Tibnine. He had just been promoted to acting corporal that fateful day. He was not even on duty but responded when a firefight with Hezbollah militants broke out.

He acted swiftly to try and get his fellow officers to safety, running to each billet block and getting troops to the shelter of a bunker. As he got the last of the men to safety, a pair of mortar rounds landed killing Pte Kedian and seriously injuring two soldiers.

Pte Kedians family and former army colleagues have welcomed the review into his case and are hopeful that his incredible bravery will finally be properly recognised.

What it would mean to us is that he is recognised and he is not forgotten, said his sister Mary Fitzmaurice. That night he laid down his life for his friends. He would be so honoured to receive that medal. We want that on his behalf and he deserves it.

A special memorial event for Billy is taking place in his hometown on May 31 next year, marking the 25th anniversary of his death.

If he got the medal in time for that, it would just be the icing on the cake, said Mary.

Billy was the baby of the family and is survived by his sisters Mary and Ann.

Its 25 years ago next May since Billy died, but it only seems like yesterday. It was such a shock to us at the time, said Mary. We will never get over it. Never, she added.

Mary said Billy adored his family and his army career meant everything to him.

He always wanted to join the army. Even when he was little, all he wanted was the army outfits or the toy guns.

She said it was his ambition to climb the ranks, before his life was so cruelly snatched away.

Sgt Larry Carty served with Pte Kedian, in Lebanon, and was among the delegation that met with the Oireachtas committee.

A lot of young soldiers on that post left the army after it, because they were so traumatised, Sgt Carty said.

Its still raw and it always will be, he added.

He was a lovely lad. When I met him first, I just took to him. I never even heard him swear and the lads respected him so much. He would have gone places in the army, he just had that cut out of him.

Sgt Carty and others have been pleading for a historical act of bravery like Pte Kedians to be recognised by the Defence Forces.

Its going to be a fight, he said.
READING, Pa. - The Biden administration has announced what may be the final military aid package for Ukraine in its continued fight against Russia's invasion.

"United States has been the leading in providing military equipment for the battlefield, and helping Ukraine to survive," said Dr. Tim Medianick, dentist at Boulevard Dental Associates in Reading.

Lawmakers said the military aid will continue to support Ukraine's needs to defend its independence.

The Pentagon said the $250 million package includes air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, antitank weapons and other equipment.

It's provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, pulled from United States stocks.

"Ukrainian people like myself are very, very thankful for each dollar," said Medianick.

Medianick was born in Ukraine. Along with having family still living there, the Reading dentist has returned to Ukraine over the years to provide dental work for soldiers and orphans.

"It's kind of a jarring experience to hearing the weapons going off and bombs into the night," said Medianick.

It's likely the last military aid package that lawmakers said the United States will provide to Ukraine, until Congress approves the Biden administration's additional funding requests. That package includes more than 60 billion dollars in aid for Ukraine.

But that's on hold, since Republicans said border security and immigration policy must be part of the deal.

"We have a big brother like United States that stepped up and just said, 'No, we're not going to allow this to happen. We're going to continue providing, so Ukraine can prevail over the enemy'," said Medianick.

The United States has sent more than $46 billion in military aid since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The Defense Department said "it remains critical that Congress takes action as soon as possible in the new year on the President's national security supplemental request to ensure that our support for Ukraine can continue."
READING, Pa. - Officials with the City of Reading say celebrations for the 275th Anniversary of the city will come to a close with a time capsule.

The capsule, that will close the ceremonies in Spring 2024, will include a collection of curated items that represent life in the year 2023.

A media release from city officials says residents will be able to contribute to the capsule by writing notes to future citizens.

A ceremony is being planned for March 16, Readings official day of incorporation, at City Hall.

A media release continues to say the capsule will be buried later in the spring, weather permitting, with a tree being planted to mark the occasion.

The City of Reading 275th anniversary was marked throughout the year with both city led and community organized events.
Everybody who stays at a hotel or Airbnb in Northampton County pays a little extra for the privilege, and in turn helps support the activities that might have drawn them to the Lehigh Valley.



Some people come in for big hikes, concerts and big events, and some might enjoy bouncing around at North Catasauqua's Community Day.



The county assesses a 4% tax on rooms and takes that pot of money to promote organizations and activities that bring in tourists.



County Council approved $675,015 in 2024 grants to 62 organizations earlier this month. The grants are proposed by County Executive Lamont G. McClure and his administration's Department of Community and Economic Development.



Some of the grants go to obvious tourist draws that bring in people who will spend money and may stay overnight. ArtsQuest (which operates MusikFest and SteelStacks), got $20,000 for its ice rink. The county gave $40,000 to support the annual Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival in Bethlehem, and the biggest grant, $75,000, helps fund a website and marketing program for downtown Bethlehem.



"Hotel Tax grants increase the number of visitors to our culturally rich and historic county," McClure said in a statement. "Municipal festivals, our parks and trails system, art organizations, living-history exhibits and concerts are instrumental to our communities."



Grant requests are reviewed by a committee, which makes recommendations to McClure. County Council has the final vote on the list.



Not all the groups benefitting are big Valley-wide enterprises. The Borough of Bath was awarded $1,665 to put up 15 signs marking historic spots. Hellertown will receive $3,750 for four concerts at Dimmick Park, and North Catasauqua is in line for $2,100 for its Community Day celebration, with some of that money helping pay for a "bounce house."



The complete list of grants is available on the county website, under the "news" headline.
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.
U. MILFORD TWP., Pa. - Wednesday night's heavy rain kept some roads across the Lehigh Valley closed through Thursday afternoon, and the ones that weren't blocked off remained slick.

People also dealt with power outages and anxiously waited to see if the water in their backyards would recede.

A woman who lives in Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, says it was the worst flooding she and her neighbor have seen on Indian Creek Road, and this sort of thing has happened twice, now, in the past two weeks.

"You realize how forceful and strong nature is, and there's no stopping it, like, my brother and I go out back, and we just watch. It's like, 'this is fantastic,'" explained Tami Reichman, who has lived on Indian Creek Road for several years now.

Reichman says it's a wonder to behold but not to stumble upon, and she's worried someone could get hurt.

"It's hard to see at night, and, they, people don't know that there's water coming over the bridge," Reichman said. "It could cause an accident."

Officials closed the road due to high water Wednesday into Thursday.

"My neighbor, Amelia, said that it was the worst she has seen it," said Reichman.

Even 24 hours later, the Leibert Creek remained rushing; though, officials had reopened the road.

A photo from Reichman captures the same spot covered in water just 10 days earlier. Debris from that event is still stacked against the bridge.

"With all the debris that stuck on the bridge, it floods a lot faster, and it even gets into my neighbor's driveway, and they move their cars higher up," she explained.

Reichman and her husband do what they can to remove the wood and rocks, that push up against the bridge and occasionally end up blocking the road.

"PennDOT came out, they came and looked at it," said Reichman. "They measured a whole bunch of stuff on the bridge after Dec. 18, but they didn't clean any of the wood up, because I don't think it's their responsibility. Then I'm like, 'Well, whose responsibility is it?'"

In other places, like Lower Macungie Township and parts of Northampton County, there was a similar washout.

Bethlehem Township saw downed trees; one knocked out power for at least 60 people.

As for Tami, she says she'll continue clearing debris every time heavy rain causes it to come hurtling down the creek.

"It's right next to my house, and I don't want it in my basement, so I try and pull out what I can, you know," added Reichman.

According to PPL's outage map, weather-related blackouts have been repaired.

As for roadway flooding, several spots closed Thursday morning in Lehigh and Bucks Counties reopened earlier in the afternoon and into the evening. That includes Indian Creek Road; Centronia Road, between Route 100 and Schantz Road; and parts of Route 309, that had been affected by the rain.
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  In 2023, Spotlight PA reporters uncovered serious issues with Pennsylvanias mortgage relief program, probed deep-seated problems with the competency system, won a court battle to reveal secret details about the states medical marijuana program, and more.

Below, read more about some of our best investigations of the year.

In 2022, Pennsylvania launched a $350 million program to help people cover mortgage and utility debt, delinquent property taxes, and other housing costs.

But as Charlotte Keith found, the program struggled to get the information it needs from mortgage companies, causing delays and complaints from increasingly desperate applicants who say they cannot get updates from program workers.

The state fired the contractor in charge of running the program just days after Keiths first story  accusing the company of failing to deliver on promises  but that didnt end the problems. Keith found the state was still struggling to get money out the door months after firing the contractor with serious consequences for homeowners in need of relief.

A decades-old Pennsylvania law is supposed to protect people with mental health issues from prosecution if they cannot understand the legal system and cannot aid in their own defense.

But an investigation by Spotlight PAs Danielle Ohl with the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism found that, rather than help people with mental illness, the competency system is so broken it often extends incarceration which can exacerbate mental health issues.

There is no one state agency overseeing the competency system and no standardized way for documenting competency assessments and hearings, making it difficult to identify people who may be languishing in jail.

After a court battle, Spotlight PAs Ed Mahon obtained records that showed anxiety disorders are now the leading reason Pennsylvanians get a medical marijuana card.

However medical evidence that cannabis or its compounds help treat anxiety is limited and mixed. Medical marijuana program leaders in at least three other states have rejected it as a qualifying condition, citing the lack of scientific evidence, the potential for some doses and types of cannabis to worsen anxiety symptoms, or other unintended consequences.

In March, the Office of Attorney General announced that Herm Suplizio  the city manager of DuBois  had been arrested for stealing more than $600,000 from public accounts over which he had signatory control.

Spotlight PAs Angela Couloumbis and Min Xian dug through public records, attended meetings, and spoke with more than two dozen residents, elected officials, and others to get the inside story of Suplizios rise and alleged fall.

They found that under Suplizios watch, DuBois received far more in state grants than other Pennsylvania cities of similar size. He also took care of city employees financially, giving out more than $561,000 in bonuses from city coffers to key staffers between 2014 and 2022.

Suplizio held multiple jobs that presented potential conflicts of interest while he worked as the citys manager, including executive director of the DuBois Area United Way. However, no one in the citys government publicly flagged it as a problem.

Penn State overhauled its ethics policies and misconduct reporting systems after the Sandusky scandal to protect students and employees.

But an investigation by Spotlight PAs Wyatt Massey with the Centre Daily Times found that, years later, distrust is rampant and many fear retaliation if they speak up.

Here are some of the year's other Spotlight PA highlights:

>> Lobbyist says she was sexually harassed by Pa. lawmaker Mike Zabel, calls on him to resign

>> Shapiro admin contends taking Super Bowl tickets from group that gets state money didnt violate governors own gift ban

>> Gov. Josh Shapiros office quietly settled sexual harassment allegation against top aide

>> An older Pa. woman was placed under guardianship. Her family says the system betrayed her.

>> Pennsylvanias Election Code is badly outdated. That could have serious consequences in 2024.

>> Thousands miss out on low-income tax forgiveness program due to outdated income limits

>> Bad tech, staffing shortages hinder Pa. as it reassesses health care coverage for 1000s

>> A dying man won release from prison after Spotlight PA highlighted his case. It shouldnt be that hard, advocates say.

>> Opioid settlement money is supposed to expand syringe services. Pa.s drug laws stand in the way.

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.
Demolition has begun on the house where a Poconos man allegedly killed four University of Idaho students.

University President Scott Green said that off-campus rental in Moscow has been a grim reminder of the heinous act that took place there in November 2022.

He said the demolition will let the community begin to heal.

Bryan Kohberger is accused of entering the home and fatally stabbing four students. The Poconos native is facing trial on first-degree murder charges.

Two of the victims' families are firmly against knocking down the house.

The Goncalves and Kernodle families say tearing down the house will destroy evidence.

Ethan Chapin's parents take a different view. They have two other children still attending the university, and believe the demolition will allow them to continue their education in peace.

The university has acknowledged the families' concerns, but reaffirmed that it's time to allow the community to heal.

Both the prosecution and defense have already gone through the house. Neither has requested it be retained.
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Since it was first proposed in 2013, the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from a single thought into a scientific system that has been put into practice via broad international cooperation, becoming a groundbreaking initiative leading trends of the times and promoting human progress.

Aiming to develop an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security, and shared prosperity, building a community with a shared future for mankind is the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era, as stated at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs which concluded Thursday.

Building a community with a shared future is not about replacing one system or civilization with another. Instead, it is about building a world where countries with different social systems, ideologies, histories, cultures, and levels of development share interests, rights, and responsibilities in global affairs, creating greater synergy for building a better world.

Such ideas point out the direction needed for human society to realize common development, lasting peace and security, and mutual learning between civilizations. These ideas have been warmly echoed by the international community. The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind has been written into resolutions of the UN General Assembly for seven years in succession, and also included in resolutions or declarations of multilateral mechanisms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

China also put forward important initiatives such as building of a global community of health for all, a community with a shared future in cyberspace, and a community of life for humanity and nature, giving a strong boost to global governance in various sectors.

China has built communities of shared future with dozens of countries and regions, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative it proposed have gained support from over 100 countries, and the Global Civilization Initiative has received positive feedback.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides a platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind through diverse high-quality cooperation. Under the BRI, China has signed more than 200 documents on cooperation with over 150 countries and in excess of 30 international organizations. From 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of trade between China and other BRI countries reached 19.1 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent.

After 10 years of development, the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind has become an international consensus, since it not only offers answers to questions regarding the development of human society but also responds to the common pursuit of people across the world seeking peace, development, and cooperation.

In the new decade, China will continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind with practices to expand substantive cooperation at different levels and in various sectors and to bring countries together to meet challenges, thus ushering in a brighter future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress for the world. 
Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the public's help in their search for a man charged with corruption of minors.

Edward Massey, 49, is known to frequent Monroe and Northampton counties, and also has ties to a business in Florida, according to a news release from state police.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts are encouraged to contact state police at 570-619-6800.
Schuylkill County could be facing another lawsuit, centered around alleged misconduct by outgoing county commissioner George Halcovage.

According to the Republican Herald, a lawyer sent county officials an email last week.

The lawyer says she represents "a new individual with claims against the County and Halcovage."

The same lawyer already represents four women who filed suit, accusing Halcovage of sexual harassment, and the county of failing to act.

Halcovage was defeated in the Republican primary in the spring.

His replacement was sworn in as a new majority commissioner in Schuylkill County Thursday morning.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - Employing veterans and addressing the critical nursing shortage are the two main goals of a new law in New Jersey. It goes into effect in the new year.

Come the new year, it'll be easier for veterans with medical training to become LPNs.

"They really are the ones who go out there and help thousands and thousands of soldiers and troops live a better way of life," said Michael Boll, the president of New Jersey Veterans Network. "So, this is a no brainer to really have them come home and continue the great work they're doing. It's a great transition."

"Trying to find ways to not only reward our veterans for their service, but to take advantage of the extra training that they get during their service years," said state Sen. Doug Steinhardt.

"This would be a good boost to our nursing ranks," said Judith Schmidt, the CEO of the New Jersey State Nurses Association.

The New Jersey State Nurses Association says before this, veterans would have to go through redundant coursework to continue their health care careers in civilian life.

The State of New Jersey will soon recognize qualifications from specific programs and determine if any more are needed.

"I believe one of the entities is lacking a requirement, so they wouldn't have to just make up that coursework, but we think it's a great idea," said Schmidt. "Everyone knows we're in a severe nursing shortage."

"I was an aeromedical evacuation technician," said Marguerite Hellwich, an Air Force and New Jersey National Guard veteran.

While the law takes effect in January, Hellwich has already started to get the ball rolling.

"I am the first person, I understand, to go through this new process," said Hellwich. "It's been really difficult for me."

Getting those necessary approvals has been among the challenges, but she's optimistic the kinks will be worked out.

"I'm really excited about this bill, so that everybody can get working and actually contribute in New Jersey and live in New Jersey," said Hellwich.

"The premise of the bill is just to really save lives and help others," said Boll.
Chefs are whipping up new dishes for people in San Francisco  and their training came at the time when they needed it the most.

The chefs are former inmates and folks who have struggled in life, and they're trained by the non profit Farming Hope. They offer a paid program where they teach you to be a chef.

Chefs in training are people who are overcoming obstacles in their life. A lot of people in the program have just come out of prison, are experiencing homelessness, and some have been survivors of violence.

The meals they are preparing are offered for free to the community to help with food insecurity. So this is a win-win in a lot of ways.

KPIX-TV spoke with Kerry Rodgers, the co-executive director of Farming Hope.

"When you're overcoming obstacles in your life and trying to move on to your next chapter and re-enter the workforce, you may be the last person called back for a job interview or never called back," Rodgers said.

Devon Jordan is one of the chefs. He was in and out of prison for a total of 16 years before he found this program. Jordan says no one was willing to give him a shot because of his record.

Jordan says the acceptance he found here at farming hope changed his life. For this meal, he was in charge of three high quality courses  and it's quite a meal.

"We have a three cheese mac and cheese, topped with garlic bread crumbs. For the second course we have a garlic crusted roast beef with a vegetable gravy and roasted vegetables and then to end it we got an olive oil cake with homemade whiped cream and topped with fresh pomegranate," Jordan said.

If you would like to make a donation to keep this program going, you can go to farminghope.org.
A food poisoning outbreak that killed two people and sickened 51, stemming from a Montana restaurant, has highlighted just how little is known about morel mushrooms and the risks in preparing the popular and expensive delicacy.

The FDA conducted an investigation into morel mushrooms after the severe illness outbreak linked to Daves Sushi in Bozeman in late March and April. The investigation found that undercooked or raw morels were the likely culprit, and it led the agency to issue its first guidelines on preparing morels.

The toxins in morel mushrooms that may cause illness are not fully understood; however, using proper preparation procedures, such as cooking, can help to reduce toxin levels, according to the FDA guidance.

Even then, a risk remains, according to the FDA: Properly preparing and cooking morel mushrooms can reduce risk of illness, however there is no guarantee of safety even if cooking steps are taken prior to consumption.

Jon Ebelt, spokesperson for Montanas health department, said there is limited public health information or medical literature on morels. And samples of the morels taken from Daves Sushi detected no specific toxin, pathogen, pesticide, or volatile or nonvolatile organic compound in the mushrooms.

Aaron Parker, the owner of Daves Sushi, said morels are a boutique item. In season, generally during the spring and fall, morels can cost him $40 per pound, while morels purchased out of season are close to $80 per pound, he said.

Many highly regarded recipe books describe sauteing morels to preserve the sought-after, earthy flavor. At Daves, a marinade, sometimes boiling, was poured over the raw mushrooms before they were served, Parker said. After his own investigation, Parker said he found boiling them between 10 and 30 minutes is the safest way to prepare morel mushrooms.

Parker said he reached out to chefs across the country and found that many, like him, were surprised to learn about the toxicity of morels.

They had no idea that morel mushrooms had this sort of inherent risk factor regardless of preparation, Parker said.

According to the FDAs Food Code, the vast majority of the more than 5,000 fleshy mushroom species that grow naturally in North America have not been tested for toxicity. Of those that have, 15 species are deadly, 60 are toxic whether raw or cooked  including false morels, which look like spongy edible morels  and at least 40 are poisonous if eaten raw, but safer when cooked.

The North American Mycological Association, a national nonprofit whose members are mushroom experts, recorded 1,641 cases of mushroom poisonings and 17 deaths from 1985 to 2006. One hundred and twenty-nine of those poisonings were attributed to morels, but no deaths were reported.

Marian Maxwell, the outreach chairperson for the Puget Sound Mycological Society, based in Seattle, said cooking breaks down the chitin in mushrooms, the same compound found in the exoskeletons of shellfish, and helps destroy toxins. Maxwell said morels may naturally contain a type of hydrazine  a chemical often used in pesticides or rocket fuel that can cause cancer which can affect people differently. Cooking does boil off the hydrazine, she said, but some people still have reactions even though its cooked and most of that hydrazine is gone.

Heather Hallen-Adams, chair of the toxicology committee of the North American Mycological Association, said hydrazine has been shown to exist in false morels, but its not as clear-cut in true morels, which were the mushrooms used at Daves Sushi.

Mushroom-caused food poisonings in restaurant settings are rare  the Montana outbreak is believed to be one of the first in the U.S. related to morels  but they have happened infrequently abroad. In 2019, a morel food poisoning outbreak at a Michelin-star-rated restaurant in Spain sickened about 30 customers. One woman who ate the morels died, but her death was determined to be from natural causes. Raw morels were served on a pasta salad in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2019 and poisoned 77 consumers, though none died.

Before the new guidelines were issued, the FDAs Food Code guidance to states was only that serving wild mushrooms must be approved by a regulatory authority.

The FDAs Food Code bans the sale of wild-picked mushrooms in a restaurant or other food establishment unless its been approved to do so, though cultivated wild mushrooms can be sold if the cultivation operations are overseen by a regulatory agency, as was the case with the morels at Daves Sushi. States regulations vary, according to a 2021 study by the Georgia Department of Public Health and included in the Association of Food and Drug Officials regulatory guidelines. For example, Montana and a half-dozen other states allow restaurants to sell wild mushrooms if they come from a licensed seller, according to the study. Seventeen other states allow the sale of wild mushrooms that have been identified by a state-credentialed expert.

The study found that the varied resources states use to identify safe wild mushrooms  including mycological associations, academics, and the food service industry  may suggest a need for better communication.

The study recognized a guidance document as the single most important step forward given the variety in regulations and the demand for wild mushrooms.

Hallen-Adams said raw morels are known to be poisonous by mushroom people, but thats not common knowledge among chefs.

In the Daves Sushi case, Hallen-Adams said, it was obvious that safety information didnt get to the people who needed it. And this could be something that could be addressed by labeling, she said.

There hasnt been much emphasis placed on making sure consumers know how to properly prepare the mushrooms, Hallen-Adams said, and thats something we need to start doing.
The U.S. military's X-37B space plane blasted off Thursday on another secretive mission thats expected to last at least a couple of years.

Like previous missions, the reusable plane resembling a mini space shuttle carried classified experiments. There's no one on board.

The space plane took off aboard SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at night, more than two weeks late because of technical issues.

It marked the seventh flight of an X-37B, which has logged more than 10 years in orbit since its debut in 2010.

The last flight, the longest one yet, lasted 2 1/2 years before ending on a runway at Kennedy a year ago.

Space Force officials would not say how long this orbital test vehicle would remain aloft or what's on board other than a NASA experiment to gauge the effects of radiation on materials.

Built by Boeing, the X-37B resembles NASAs retired space shuttles. But they're just one-fourth the size at 29 feet (9 meters) long. No astronauts are needed; the X-37B has an autonomous landing system.

They take off vertically like rockets but land horizontally like planes, and are designed to orbit between 150 miles and 500 miles (240 kilometers and 800 kilometers) high. There are two X-37Bs based in a former shuttle hangar at Kennedy.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WARSAW, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Poland has received a first payment of 5 billion euros (5.53 billion U.S. dollars) from the REPowerEU plan, the country's Minister for Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz announced on Thursday.

The funding comes as part of Poland's National Reconstruction Plan (KPO), for which it is due to receive a total of 59.8 billion euros from the European Union (EU).

The minister wrote on social media platform X that the first tranche of funding for the KPO is "money for cheap green energy for Polish citizens."

Polish initiatives covered by this funding include support for electricity transmission networks, the development of renewable energy sources, energy storage solutions, low and zero-emission buses, and the construction of offshore wind farms, according to a report by Polish Radio.

The larger tranche of funding for the KPO was held up due to a rule-of-law dispute between Brussels and Poland's former government. The new pro-EU Polish government, which took office in mid-December, has vowed to mend relations with Brussels.

Poland's KPO consists of 56 investments and 55 reforms. The EU funding for the KPO includes 25.28 billion euros in subsidies and 34.54 billion euros in preferential loans. Most of these funds will be invested in the form of financial instruments, which will allow for the implementation of projects after 2026.

The REPowerEU plan, proposed by the European Commission in 2022, aims to accelerate the deployment of renewables and to increase investment in energy efficiency throughout the EU. (1 euro = 1.11 U.S. dollar) 
Zullo Investment Group Inc. boosted its holdings in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 12.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,906 shares of the payment services companys stock after acquiring an additional 317 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc.s holdings in American Express were worth $434,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. RB Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in American Express by 5.3% during the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 3,783 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $707,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its stake in American Express by 0.4% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 27,029 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $5,054,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its stake in American Express by 5.6% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,421 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $266,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in American Express by 207.1% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 946 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $177,000 after purchasing an additional 638 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Donaldson Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in American Express during the first quarter worth $397,000. 83.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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American Express Stock Performance

NYSE AXP opened at $187.80 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.60, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70. American Express has a 52-week low of $140.91 and a 52-week high of $188.07. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $164.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $163.26. The firm has a market cap of $136.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.23.

American Express Dividend Announcement

American Express ( NYSE:AXP Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 20th. The payment services company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.96 by $0.34. American Express had a return on equity of 30.60% and a net margin of 13.61%. The company had revenue of $15.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.36 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.47 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that American Express will post 11.22 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 5th will be issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 4th. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is presently 22.51%.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Express

In other American Express news, Director Walter Joseph Clayton III acquired 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 24th. The shares were bought at an average price of $143.93 per share, with a total value of $143,930.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $287,860. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Walter Joseph Clayton III purchased 1,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 24th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $143.93 per share, for a total transaction of $143,930.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,000 shares in the company, valued at $287,860. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Vice Chairman Jeffrey C. Campbell sold 21,008 shares of American Express stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.33, for a total transaction of $3,536,276.64. Following the sale, the insider now owns 125,646 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,149,991.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AXP has been the topic of a number of research reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on American Express from $194.00 to $188.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Bank of America decreased their price target on American Express from $203.00 to $202.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on American Express from $190.00 to $185.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. TD Cowen assumed coverage on American Express in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. They issued a market perform rating and a $158.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on American Express from $186.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $171.78.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AXP

About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Global Consumer Services Group, Global Commercial Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Its products and services include payment and financing products; network services; accounts payable expense management products and services; and travel and lifestyle services.

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Ballast Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA  Free Report) by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,433 shares of the companys stock after selling 297 shares during the quarter. Ballast Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $285,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. MAS Advisors LLC lifted its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 5.0% during the first quarter. MAS Advisors LLC now owns 30,023 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,122,000 after purchasing an additional 1,434 shares in the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 61.5% during the 1st quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 6,034 shares of the companys stock valued at $419,000 after buying an additional 2,297 shares in the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 22.4% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 661,868 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,007,000 after buying an additional 121,118 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 8,577 shares of the companys stock valued at $596,000 after acquiring an additional 247 shares during the period. Finally, High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC now owns 74,317 shares of the companys stock worth $5,160,000 after acquiring an additional 2,514 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Up 0.6 %

BATS IEFA traded up $0.39 on Thursday, reaching $70.47. 7,137,519 shares of the stock were exchanged. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a one year low of $56.55 and a one year high of $70.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $103.59 billion, a PE ratio of 12.29 and a beta of 0.87. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $66.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $66.52.

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile

The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed-market stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, and excludes North America IEFA was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in McDonalds Co. (NYSE:MCD  Free Report) by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,085 shares of the fast-food giants stock after buying an additional 75 shares during the quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $1,603,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MCD. Dfpg Investments LLC boosted its holdings in McDonalds by 10.9% during the second quarter. Dfpg Investments LLC now owns 10,807 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $3,179,000 after purchasing an additional 1,062 shares in the last quarter. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. boosted its stake in McDonalds by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. now owns 1,153 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $344,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Register Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in McDonalds by 46.4% during the second quarter. Register Financial Advisors LLC now owns 947 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $282,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Northwest Bancshares Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 1.8% during the second quarter. Northwest Bancshares Inc. now owns 4,056 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $1,210,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 0.5% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 454,405 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $135,599,000 after acquiring an additional 2,254 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.60% of the companys stock.

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McDonalds Price Performance

Shares of McDonalds stock traded up $0.68 during trading on Thursday, hitting $295.23. 390,997 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,692,774. The firm has a market capitalization of $214.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.70. The firms fifty day moving average price is $277.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $280.09. McDonalds Co. has a 1-year low of $245.73 and a 1-year high of $299.35.

McDonalds Increases Dividend

McDonalds ( NYSE:MCD Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 30th. The fast-food giant reported $3.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.00 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.56 billion. McDonalds had a net margin of 33.31% and a negative return on equity of 157.19%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.68 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that McDonalds Co. will post 11.75 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st were given a $1.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $6.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.26%. This is a boost from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is currently 58.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on MCD. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of McDonalds from $340.00 to $325.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Stephens cut their target price on shares of McDonalds from $325.00 to $300.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company raised McDonalds from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $310.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on McDonalds from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on McDonalds from $270.00 to $278.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, McDonalds currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $316.60.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MCD

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other McDonalds news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 4,583 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.70, for a total value of $1,332,278.10. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 8,187 shares in the company, valued at $2,379,960.90. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 4,583 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $290.70, for a total value of $1,332,278.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 8,187 shares in the company, valued at $2,379,960.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Heidi B. Capozzi sold 688 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $262.00, for a total transaction of $180,256.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,331 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,064,722. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 14,245 shares of company stock worth $3,925,912. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

About McDonalds

(Free Report)

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises McDonald's restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company's restaurants offer hamburgers and cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and nuggets, fries, salads, shakes, frozen desserts, sundaes, soft serve cones, bakery items, soft drinks, coffee, and beverages and other beverages, as well as breakfast menu, including muffins, Sausages, biscuit and bagel sandwiches, oatmeal, hash browns, breakfast burritos and hotcakes.

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CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS  Free Report) had its target price upped by BMO Capital Markets from $61.00 to $64.00 in a report released on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the utilities providers stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on CMS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on CMS Energy from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Guggenheim cut their target price on CMS Energy from $61.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Barclays cut their target price on CMS Energy from $58.00 to $55.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on CMS Energy from $71.00 to $64.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on CMS Energy from $60.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $62.09.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CMS

CMS Energy Stock Up 0.9 %

NYSE CMS opened at $58.00 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $56.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $57.18. CMS Energy has a one year low of $49.87 and a one year high of $65.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.88, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.90. The company has a market cap of $16.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.40.

CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The utilities provider reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.63 by ($0.02). CMS Energy had a net margin of 9.61% and a return on equity of 10.49%. The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.56 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 17.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that CMS Energy will post 3.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CMS Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.4875 per share. This represents a $1.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 2nd. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 76.77%.

Insider Activity at CMS Energy

In related news, SVP Brian F. Rich sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.90, for a total transaction of $274,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 88,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,840,807.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Brian F. Rich sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.90, for a total transaction of $274,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 88,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,840,807.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.90, for a total value of $57,900.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 61,156 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,540,932.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 25,000 shares of company stock worth $1,387,470 in the last three months. 0.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CMS Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in CMS Energy by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 21,193,201 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,245,101,000 after purchasing an additional 1,532,826 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of CMS Energy by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 17,583,510 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,033,031,000 after acquiring an additional 259,974 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of CMS Energy by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 6,854,102 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $419,975,000 after acquiring an additional 257,872 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of CMS Energy by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,513,125 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $381,696,000 after acquiring an additional 227,199 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its position in shares of CMS Energy by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 6,327,495 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $371,740,000 after acquiring an additional 82,454 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.98% of the companys stock.

CMS Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources.

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Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. lessened its stake in Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC  Free Report) by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 15,743 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 263 shares during the quarter. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Moelis & Company were worth $710,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MC. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in Moelis & Company by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 13,269 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $438,000 after buying an additional 1,498 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of Moelis & Company by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 556,181 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $26,113,000 after purchasing an additional 17,074 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in Moelis & Company by 9.1% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 7,401 shares of the asset managers stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 620 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Moelis & Company by 95.5% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 7,478 shares of the asset managers stock worth $351,000 after purchasing an additional 3,653 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its position in Moelis & Company by 15.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 6,366 shares of the asset managers stock worth $299,000 after purchasing an additional 828 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.53% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Moelis & Company from $39.00 to $38.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Moelis & Company from $41.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. StockNews.com downgraded Moelis & Company from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on Moelis & Company from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $38.33.

Moelis & Company Trading Down 1.0 %

MC stock traded down $0.60 during trading on Friday, reaching $56.62. 34,344 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 731,687. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $46.76. The company has a market capitalization of $4.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 303.11 and a beta of 1.42. Moelis & Company has a twelve month low of $33.87 and a twelve month high of $58.67.

Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The asset manager reported ($0.15) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($0.20). Moelis & Company had a return on equity of 3.57% and a net margin of 0.12%. The firm had revenue of $272.18 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $243.22 million. Equities analysts predict that Moelis & Company will post -0.2 EPS for the current year.

Moelis & Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 13th were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 10th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.24%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Kenneth Moelis sold 23,388 shares of Moelis & Company stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.20, for a total transaction of $986,973.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 74,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,164,282.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 6.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Moelis & Company Profile

(Free Report)

Moelis & Company operates as an investment banking advisory firm. It offers advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters. The company offers its services to public multinational corporations, middle market private companies, financial sponsors, entrepreneurs, governments, and sovereign wealth funds.

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Clarius Group LLC decreased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 27.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,982 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,113 shares during the period. Clarius Group LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $687,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GoalVest Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 52.7% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 142 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter worth about $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ITW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $220.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. 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. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $240.82.

Illinois Tool Works Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:ITW opened at $261.84 on Friday. 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 market capitalization of $78.79 billion, a PE ratio of 25.40, a P/E/G ratio of 5.17 and a beta of 1.13. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12-month low of $217.06 and a 12-month high of $265.00. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $241.74 and its 200-day simple moving average is $242.32.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $4.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.10 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.55% and a return on equity of 95.68%. Illinois Tool Workss revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.35 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 29th will be paid a $1.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.14%. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is currently 54.32%.

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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Forestar Group Inc. (NYSE:FOR  Get Free Report) CEO Daniel C. Bartok sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.23, for a total value of $34,230.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 20,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $684,600. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Forestar Group Stock Performance

FOR stock opened at $33.77 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $1.69 billion, a PE ratio of 10.14 and a beta of 1.70. The company has a current ratio of 2.64, a quick ratio of 2.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $30.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $27.55. Forestar Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $13.72 and a 1-year high of $34.92.

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Forestar Group (NYSE:FOR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 7th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.94 by $0.50. The company had revenue of $549.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $373.80 million. Forestar Group had a net margin of 11.62% and a return on equity of 13.00%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Forestar Group Inc. will post 3.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Forestar Group

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FOR. Lee Johnson Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Forestar Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $401,000. Summit Global Investments increased its holdings in shares of Forestar Group by 97.5% during the third quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 27,136 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $731,000 after acquiring an additional 13,395 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in shares of Forestar Group by 600.6% during the second quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 11,230 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 9,627 shares in the last quarter. JBF Capital Inc. raised its position in shares of Forestar Group by 25.0% during the second quarter. JBF Capital Inc. now owns 2,500 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Forestar Group by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 178,634 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $4,028,000 after purchasing an additional 8,994 shares in the last quarter. 35.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

A number of research firms recently commented on FOR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Forestar Group from $30.00 to $33.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Forestar Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Forestar Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $32.50.

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About Forestar Group

(Get Free Report)

Forestar Group Inc operates as a residential lot development company in the United States. The company acquires land and develops infrastructure for single-family residential communities. It sells its residential single-family finished lots to local, regional, and national homebuilders. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Arlington, Texas.

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Handelsbanken Fonder AB lowered its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 354,111 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 24,036 shares during the period. Thermo Fisher Scientific accounts for 1.0% of Handelsbanken Fonder ABs portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $179,240,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Halpern Financial Inc. raised its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 307.7% during the third quarter. Halpern Financial Inc. now owns 53 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.06% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have commented on TMO shares. HSBC initiated coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Monday, December 18th. They set a buy rating and a $610.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $670.00 to $630.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $660.00 to $530.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $657.00 to $579.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Finally, KeyCorp downgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from an overweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Thermo Fisher Scientific has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $597.53.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance

TMO stock traded up $1.79 during trading on Thursday, hitting $533.44. 176,821 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,581,056. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market cap of $206.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.86, a P/E/G ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.83. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a one year low of $415.60 and a one year high of $609.85. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $481.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $510.21.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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. The firm had revenue of $10.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.60 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.68% and a return on equity of 18.88%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $5.08 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.26%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. Thermo Fisher Scientifics payout ratio is presently 9.17%.

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, November 14th that authorizes the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the medical research company to buy up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 131,175 shares in the company, valued at $59,607,231.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at 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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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Free Report) (TSE:ITH) in a report issued on Tuesday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Stock Down 7.2 %

International Tower Hill Mines stock opened at $0.61 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $0.42. International Tower Hill Mines has a 1 year low of $0.31 and a 1 year high of $0.75. The firm has a market cap of $118.51 million, a PE ratio of -60.50 and a beta of 0.92.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Tower Hill Mines

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Virtu Financial LLC boosted its stake in International Tower Hill Mines by 314.9% during the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 61,808 shares of the mining companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 46,910 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in International Tower Hill Mines by 25.2% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 161,859 shares of the mining companys stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 32,559 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines by 15.8% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 202,713 shares of the mining companys stock worth $85,000 after acquiring an additional 27,713 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.78% of the companys stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Company Profile

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds or has rights to acquire interests in the Livengood gold project covering an area of approximately 19,546 hectares located to the northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.

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ISLAMABAD, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has emerged as a linchpin in cultivating a shared destiny between China and Pakistan, bringing about a substantial transformation in Pakistan's economic terrain, Pakistani experts said.

Speaking at a webinar titled "A Decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," organized by the Center for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China Studies, under an Islamabad-based thinktank Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) on Thursday, the experts said that collaborative efforts in energy projects and advancements in digital technologies underscore the depth of cooperation between Pakistan and China.

The webinar gathered distinguished scholars and researchers from China and Pakistan, offering valuable insights into the ten years of CPEC progress.

In her keynote address, Farhat Asif, president of IPDS, said that CPEC stands as a catalyst not only for Pakistan's economic development but also as a potent force in alleviating poverty within the country.

Abdul Sattar, director of China Study Center, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, reflected on the achievements and challenges of CPEC.

Implementation of connectivity projects under CPEC has brought revolutionary changes to agricultural and industrial development in Pakistan, he said.

Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project under the China-proposed BRI, is a corridor linking Pakistan's southwest Gwadar port with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, highlighting energy, transport, and industrial cooperation. 
JGP Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 3.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 92,331 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 3,263 shares during the quarter. Abbott Laboratories makes up 1.5% of JGP Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. JGP Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $8,942,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 9.8% during the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,415,759 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $154,346,000 after acquiring an additional 126,547 shares during the last quarter. Core Alternative Capital increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 27.0% in the second quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 1,290 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $141,000 after buying an additional 274 shares during the period. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 315.5% during the first quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC now owns 12,182 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,234,000 after acquiring an additional 9,250 shares during the last quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 12.8% in the first quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC now owns 99,836 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $10,109,000 after acquiring an additional 11,303 shares during the period. Finally, Harbour Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% in the first quarter. Harbour Investment Management LLC now owns 26,750 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,709,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.70% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on ABT. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $118.00 in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, TheStreet raised Abbott Laboratories from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $117.80.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:ABT traded down $0.14 during trading on Friday, reaching $110.26. 625,058 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,159,708. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $101.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $102.90. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $89.67 and a 1-year high of $115.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.74 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The firm has a market cap of $191.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.70.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.82 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 20.15%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 12th will be given a $0.55 dividend. This is a positive change from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 11th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is presently 69.39%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.05, for a total value of $4,702,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,725,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $632,515,969.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total value of $1,620,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.05, for a total value of $4,702,500.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 6,725,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $632,515,969.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

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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Lindenwold Advisors INC purchased a new stake in shares of PNM Resources, Inc. (NYSE:PNM  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 6,770 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $302,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of PNM. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in shares of PNM Resources during the second quarter valued at $47,315,000. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP lifted its holdings in PNM Resources by 73.4% in the second quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP now owns 1,874,524 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $84,541,000 after purchasing an additional 793,558 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its holdings in PNM Resources by 247.9% in the second quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 735,900 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $33,189,000 after purchasing an additional 524,400 shares during the period. Jet Capital Investors L P acquired a new stake in PNM Resources in the second quarter worth about $22,324,000. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in PNM Resources by 17.5% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,160,826 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $150,677,000 after purchasing an additional 471,143 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.18% of the companys stock.

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PNM Resources Price Performance

PNM Resources stock traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $41.58. The companys stock had a trading volume of 69,474 shares, compared to its average volume of 584,520. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $42.53 and its 200-day moving average price is $43.96. PNM Resources, Inc. has a 12 month low of $41.44 and a 12 month high of $49.60. The company has a market capitalization of $3.57 billion, a PE ratio of 23.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.15 and a beta of 0.38.

PNM Resources Increases Dividend

PNM Resources ( NYSE:PNM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.24. The firm had revenue of $505.85 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $908.51 million. PNM Resources had a net margin of 7.33% and a return on equity of 10.58%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that PNM Resources, Inc. will post 2.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.387 per share. This represents a $1.55 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 1st. This is an increase from PNM Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. PNM Resourcess payout ratio is presently 82.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on PNM. StockNews.com downgraded shares of PNM Resources from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $51.00 price objective on shares of PNM Resources in a report on Monday, September 18th. Finally, Mizuho raised shares of PNM Resources from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $50.30 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 26th.

View Our Latest Research Report on PNM Resources

PNM Resources Profile

(Free Report)

PNM Resources, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides electricity and electric services in the United States. It operates through Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP) segments. The PNM segment engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Magna International (NYSE:MGA  Free Report) (TSE:MG) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Monday.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on MGA. TheStreet cut Magna International from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Magna International from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Magna International from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Magna International from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, November 6th. Finally, TD Securities increased their price target on Magna International from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $66.43.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MGA

Magna International Stock Performance

Magna International stock opened at $59.57 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $54.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $56.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.50, a P/E/G ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Magna International has a 12-month low of $46.71 and a 12-month high of $68.92.

Magna International (NYSE:MGA  Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 3rd. The company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $10.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.43 billion. Magna International had a net margin of 2.47% and a return on equity of 12.36%. Magna Internationals quarterly revenue was up 15.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.07 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Magna International will post 5.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Magna International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 16th. Magna Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.97%.

Institutional Trading of Magna International

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Magna International by 8.7% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 1,966,610 shares of the companys stock valued at $105,430,000 after buying an additional 157,808 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its stake in Magna International by 243.3% in the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 50,803 shares of the companys stock worth $2,724,000 after purchasing an additional 36,005 shares during the period. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Magna International by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC now owns 136,115 shares of the companys stock worth $7,297,000 after purchasing an additional 1,793 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in shares of Magna International by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 4,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $256,000 after purchasing an additional 226 shares during the period. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Magna International by 58.2% in the third quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 9,811,009 shares of the companys stock valued at $525,968,000 after purchasing an additional 3,609,429 shares in the last quarter. 62.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Magna International

(Get Free Report)

Magna International Inc designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. It operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles.

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MCF Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Free Report) by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 175,923 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 5,972 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF comprises 1.1% of MCF Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. MCF Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $12,125,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of EFA. FLC Capital Advisors acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $202,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,404,000. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 12.7% in the 3rd quarter. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC now owns 8,190 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $564,000 after purchasing an additional 921 shares during the period. Lincoln National Corp increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 58.8% in the 2nd quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 285,132 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $20,672,000 after purchasing an additional 105,548 shares during the period. Finally, Mutual Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 48.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 47,507 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,444,000 after purchasing an additional 15,400 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.78% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Price Performance

Shares of EFA traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $75.54. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,268,772 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,737,766. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 1-year low of $65.57 and a 1-year high of $75.66. The company has a 50 day moving average of $71.36 and a two-hundred day moving average of $71.29.

About iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance.

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MCF Advisors LLC lifted its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 8.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,473 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 588 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $320,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Zullo Investment Group Inc. increased its holdings in Altria Group by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 6,295 shares of the companys stock worth $265,000 after purchasing an additional 352 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 66.1% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 14,405 shares of the companys stock worth $606,000 after purchasing an additional 5,733 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC now owns 8,637 shares of the companys stock worth $363,000 after purchasing an additional 367 shares in the last quarter. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. increased its holdings in Altria Group by 140.0% during the 3rd quarter. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. now owns 1,008 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 588 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 10.0% during the 3rd quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 27,227 shares of the companys stock worth $1,145,000 after purchasing an additional 2,465 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE:MO traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $40.22. The stock had a trading volume of 1,340,146 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,072,282. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.06 and a twelve month high of $51.57. The stock has a market cap of $71.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.18, a PEG ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.66. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $41.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $42.96.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) 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 quarter last year, the business posted $1.28 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.75%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 79.84%.

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In related news, Director Robert Matthews Davis acquired 1,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $40.50 per share, for a total transaction of $48,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,473 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $343,156.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 13th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 6th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.53.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Altria Group

About Altria Group

(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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Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SWX  Get Free Report) CEO Paul M. Daily sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.80, for a total transaction of $63,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 58,377 shares in the company, valued at $3,724,452.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

Southwest Gas Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of SWX stock opened at $63.89 on Friday. Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $53.79 and a twelve month high of $68.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The businesss 50 day moving average is $60.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.08.

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Southwest Gas (NYSE:SWX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.02 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $1.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.06 billion. Southwest Gas had a negative net margin of 3.69% and a positive return on equity of 7.32%. Sell-side analysts expect that Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Southwest Gas Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $0.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.88%. Southwest Gass dividend payout ratio is currently -80.78%.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Southwest Gas from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup cut their price objective on Southwest Gas from $70.00 to $61.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Southwest Gas currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.50.

Get Our Latest Research Report on SWX

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SWX. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in shares of Southwest Gas by 56.1% during the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 484 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP grew its position in Southwest Gas by 115.5% during the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 502 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 269 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Southwest Gas in the third quarter valued at about $34,000. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its position in shares of Southwest Gas by 65.1% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 578 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the period. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc boosted its stake in shares of Southwest Gas by 37.4% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 713 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.98% of the companys stock.

Southwest Gas Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, distributes and transports natural gas in Arizona, Nevada, and California. It operates through Natural Gas Distribution, Utility Infrastructure Services, and Pipeline and Storage segments. The company also provides trenching, installation, and replacement of underground pipes, as well as maintenance services for energy distribution systems.

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Roof Eidam Maycock Peralta LLC grew its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO  Free Report) by 56.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,455 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 7,000 shares during the quarter. Roof Eidam Maycock Peralta LLCs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $763,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.3% during the third quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC now owns 88,267 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,445,000 after buying an additional 1,946 shares during the period. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 87.5% during the third quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 27,448 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,076,000 after buying an additional 12,808 shares during the period. Private Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 0.8% during the third quarter. Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 274,436 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $10,761,000 after buying an additional 2,282 shares during the period. Gemmer Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 4.0% during the third quarter. Gemmer Asset Management LLC now owns 42,822 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,679,000 after buying an additional 1,662 shares during the period. Finally, Warren Street Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.1% during the third quarter. Warren Street Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 15,208 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $596,000 after buying an additional 317 shares during the period.

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Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of VWO stock traded up $0.30 on Thursday, hitting $41.04. 5,777,373 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,024,224. The business has a 50-day moving average of $39.82 and a 200 day moving average of $40.33. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a fifty-two week low of $37.46 and a fifty-two week high of $43.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69.

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Profile

The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries.

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TFG Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU  Free Report) by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,150 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,084 shares during the quarter. TFG Advisers LLCs holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $1,343,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in Prudential Financial in the first quarter worth approximately $36,000. Union Savings Bank bought a new stake in Prudential Financial in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Riverview Trust Co raised its stake in Prudential Financial by 109.3% during the 2nd quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 314 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Prudential Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. 54.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Prudential Financial Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of PRU stock opened at $104.23 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.38. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.37 and a 12-month high of $107.31. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $96.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $94.18.

Prudential Financial Announces Dividend

Prudential Financial ( NYSE:PRU Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 1st. The financial services provider reported $3.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.16 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $10.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.91 billion. Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 16.03% and a net margin of 1.21%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.13 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 11.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 21st were paid a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 20th. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.80%. Prudential Financials payout ratio is currently 322.58%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Prudential Financial from an underperform rating to a hold rating and upped their price objective for the company from $70.00 to $93.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $100.00 price objective on shares of Prudential Financial in a report on Friday, September 8th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $121.00 to $119.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Raymond James raised their target price on Prudential Financial from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $103.70.

View Our Latest Analysis on PRU

Insider Transactions at Prudential Financial

In other Prudential Financial news, CFO Kenneth Tanji sold 23,124 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.14, for a total transaction of $2,431,257.36. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 47,155 shares in the company, valued at $4,957,876.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Kenneth Tanji sold 23,124 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.14, for a total transaction of $2,431,257.36. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 47,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,957,876.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Timothy L. Schmidt sold 8,281 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.49, for a total transaction of $782,471.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 14,621 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,381,538.29. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

About Prudential Financial

(Free Report)

Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Annuities, Individual Life, Assurance IQ, and International Businesses segments.

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TFG Advisers LLC reduced its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLV  Free Report) by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,220 shares of the companys stock after selling 432 shares during the period. TFG Advisers LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF were worth $777,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of SPLV. Barrett & Company Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF in the second quarter worth $25,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. acquired a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Missouri Trust & Investment Co grew its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 112.1% during the 2nd quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 507 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Spotlight Asset Group Inc. bought a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF in the second quarter valued at about $41,000.

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Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Stock Up 0.4 %

NYSEARCA:SPLV opened at $62.55 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $60.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $61.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.16 billion, a PE ratio of 20.07 and a beta of 0.69. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF has a 12-month low of $57.17 and a 12-month high of $65.29.

About Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF

The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Low Volatility index. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of the 100 least-volatile stocks in the S&P 500. SPLV was launched on May 5, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Town & Country Bank & Trust CO dba First Bankers Trust CO lifted its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 8.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 41,842 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,310 shares during the period. Philip Morris International makes up 2.0% of Town & Country Bank & Trust CO dba First Bankers Trust COs portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Town & Country Bank & Trust CO dba First Bankers Trust COs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $3,874,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 86.1% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 11,474 shares of the companys stock worth $1,062,000 after buying an additional 5,309 shares during the period. Red Door Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.1% during the third quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,583 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,535,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.8% during the third quarter. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV now owns 53,013 shares of the companys stock worth $4,908,000 after acquiring an additional 940 shares during the last quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 11.9% in the third quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 17,150 shares of the companys stock worth $1,588,000 after acquiring an additional 1,819 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 5.5% in the third quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,117 shares of the companys stock valued at $381,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $111.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $109.27.

Philip Morris International Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE PM opened at $94.08 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $146.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.77. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12-month low of $87.23 and a 12-month high of $105.62. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $92.12 and its 200 day simple moving average is $94.35.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.14 billion during 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 companys quarterly revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.53 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.53%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 100.97%.

Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International

In related news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total value of $942,500.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,703,629.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed 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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A woman is seen inside a damaged house after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 29, 2023. At least 187 Palestinians were killed and 312 others were wounded in Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, said the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Friday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

GAZA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 187 Palestinians were killed and 312 others were wounded in Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, said the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Friday.

It raised the total death toll of Palestinians to 21,507 and injuries to 55,915 since the conflict broke out on Oct. 7, the ministry added.

Over the past 24 hours, intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations continued from air, land, and sea in most parts of the enclave, especially in the central and southern regions, said Palestinian security sources.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced that it is working with the Egyptian Red Crescent to establish the first organized refugee camp in Khan Younis, the largest city in the southern part of the enclave.

The camp, in its initial stage, will contain 300 tents, and the capacity will later be expanded to reach 1,000 tents to hold the displaced in the south, the organization said on the social media platform X.

Thousands of Palestinians have arrived in Rafah City in recent days, following the escalation of Israeli attacks in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in the southern territory. Rafah has now become the most populated area in Gaza, with over 12,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that its forces are deepening their advance in Khan Younis and are operating for the first time in the Khuza'a area on the eastern outskirts of the city.

"So far, the forces have eliminated Palestinian militants and attacked several targets, including tunnel openings, tunnel routes and sites for launching anti-tank missiles," said Israeli spokesperson Avichay Adraee, adding the Israeli forces have found dozens of tunnel openings in Khan Younis and various weaponry, including Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, hand grenades, mines, rocket launchers, and mortar shells.

Israeli army is operating in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip for the fourth consecutive day, and are liquidating Palestinian militants in it, said Adraee.

For several days, the Israeli army has been urging residents of the Deir al-Balah governorate in central Gaza to evacuate to southern areas.

The targeted evacuation area includes about 90,000 people and six shelters accommodating about 61,000 internally displaced people, most of them from northern Gaza, according to UN estimates. 

A woman looks at a damaged car after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 29, 2023. At least 187 Palestinians were killed and 312 others were wounded in Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, said the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Friday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

A man inspects the damage after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 29, 2023. At least 187 Palestinians were killed and 312 others were wounded in Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, said the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Friday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

People inspect the damage after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 29, 2023. At least 187 Palestinians were killed and 312 others were wounded in Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, said the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Friday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

A woman holding a child walks among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 29, 2023. At least 187 Palestinians were killed and 312 others were wounded in Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, said the Gaza-based Health Ministry on Friday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 2.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 169,777 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,633 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $9,504,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 10.7% in the 3rd quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,515 shares of the companys stock valued at $253,000 after buying an additional 436 shares in the last quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. increased its holdings in Coca-Cola by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 18,332 shares of the companys stock worth $1,026,000 after purchasing an additional 718 shares in the last quarter. TFG Advisers LLC increased its holdings in Coca-Cola by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. TFG Advisers LLC now owns 25,479 shares of the companys stock worth $1,426,000 after purchasing an additional 1,091 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC increased its holdings in Coca-Cola by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC now owns 39,592 shares of the companys stock worth $2,216,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connecticut Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Coca-Cola by 27.6% during the 3rd quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,191 shares of the companys stock worth $626,000 after purchasing an additional 2,424 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.96% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on KO. StockNews.com cut Coca-Cola from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 13th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $59.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Coca-Cola in a research note on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $64.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Four 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 company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.20.

Insider Transactions at Coca-Cola

In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total transaction of $4,956,681.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,835,527.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total transaction of $4,956,681.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,835,527.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 20,534 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.12, for a total transaction of $1,152,368.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares in the company, valued at $8,046,653.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 349,315 shares of company stock valued at $19,805,715. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Coca-Cola Stock Performance

KO stock traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $58.76. 957,026 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,719,194. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $57.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $58.68. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $254.04 billion, a PE ratio of 23.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 0.58. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1-year low of $51.55 and a 1-year high of $64.99.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $11.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.45 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 23.92% and a return on equity of 42.44%. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Coca-Cola Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio is presently 73.90%.

Coca-Cola Company 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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Uncommon Cents Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of The European Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE:EEA  Free Report) by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 283,808 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 8,100 shares during the period. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC owned about 4.11% of The European Equity Fund worth $2,256,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Shaker Financial Services LLC lifted its position in shares of The European Equity Fund by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC now owns 276,886 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,384,000 after purchasing an additional 14,932 shares during the last quarter. CSS LLC IL raised its stake in The European Equity Fund by 27.0% during the 4th quarter. CSS LLC IL now owns 44,307 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $332,000 after acquiring an additional 9,414 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG raised its stake in The European Equity Fund by 186.6% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 7,163 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 4,664 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in The European Equity Fund by 25.0% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 13,904 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $127,000 after acquiring an additional 2,778 shares in the last quarter. Finally, City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in The European Equity Fund in the first quarter valued at $129,000. 51.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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The European Equity Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EEA traded up $0.02 on Friday, reaching $8.65. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,775 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,496. The stocks 50-day moving average is $8.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $8.31. The European Equity Fund, Inc. has a 52-week low of $7.45 and a 52-week high of $8.93.

The European Equity Fund Announces Dividend

The European Equity Fund Company Profile

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 26th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.1394 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 28th. This represents a yield of 1.97%.

(Free Report)

The European Equity Fund, Inc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched by Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc The fund is managed by Deutsche Asset Management International GmbH. It invests in the public equity markets of Europe. The fund seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EEA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The European Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE:EEA  Free Report).

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Shares of Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $0.95, but opened at $0.98. Zhihu shares last traded at $0.95, with a volume of 49,619 shares traded.

Zhihu Price Performance

The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $0.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1.05.

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Zhihu (NYSE:ZH  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 29th. The company reported ($0.06) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $140.10 million during the quarter. Zhihu had a negative return on equity of 16.94% and a negative net margin of 21.89%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Zhihu

Zhihu Company Profile

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Quantbot Technologies LP grew its holdings in Zhihu by 628.2% during the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 17,477 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 15,077 shares in the last quarter. Vident Investment Advisory LLC bought a new position in Zhihu during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Zhihu during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new position in Zhihu during the 1st quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its holdings in Zhihu by 247.1% during the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 36,100 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 25,700 shares in the last quarter. 11.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

Zhihu Inc operates an online content community in the People's Republic of China. Its community allows people to seek inspiration, find solutions, make decisions, and have fun. The company also offers technology, business support, and consulting services; information transmission, software, and information technology services; information and marketing services; vocational training; and internet services, as well as holds audio-visual permit.

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TEHRAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Friday executed four main members of an "Israeli-linked sabotage team" convicted of having committed "extensive actions against the country's security," the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported.

The convicts, identified as three men -- ringleader Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omri and Rahman Parhazou -- and a woman, named Nasim Namazi, were executed in the northwestern Iranian province of West Azerbaijan after undergoing legal procedures, the report said.

According to Mizan, the convicts "were in direct contact with Israel's Mossad intelligence service through video calls," and had perpetrated acts of sabotage in the provinces of West Azarbaijan, Tehran and Hormozgan.

The report said the individuals had received money from Israel in return for the missions they had carried out.

It added that they were part of a 10-member Israeli-linked group, whose main objective was to "identify Iranian intelligence agents who were foiling Israeli plots against Iran," according to the report.

The arrest of other six members of the group was announced in October last year, with each receiving a 10-year jail sentence charged with being in contact with Israel to compromise Iran's security, said the report. 


At the age of 23, she moved to Germany and, several years later, to Ecuador, where she founded a well-known clothing and footwear brand. She returned to her hometown, Qingtian, a county in Lishui, in East China's Zhejiang Province, several years ago, to operate Fangshan Valley Agricultural Heritage Cultural Park. In recent years, she has led local villagers as they have strived toward common prosperity. Who is she? Yang Xiaoai, honorary president of Ecuador Qingtian Natives' Association and president of Zhejiang Yinghe Ecological Agriculture Development Company.

Original Aspiration

Yang, a native of Fangshan, a township in Qingtian, moved to Germany in 1991, and then she established a Chinese restaurant in Cologne. Before she moved to Germany, her grandfather, a revolutionist, gave her a book, to help her learn the German language, and he told her, "Never forget your motherland, and always remember to serve your motherland." To this day, Yang bears her grandfather's words in mind.

In 2002, Yang moved from Germany to Ecuador, where she established a clothing and footwear brand. The items produced by her company have been sold in many countries. In 2014, her company began producing high-end socks, a line from China, and the socks became very popular in Ecuador. Her company also produces hundreds of varieties of slippers.

When she speaks of the rapid development of her enterprise, Yang says, "Our production lines come from the motherland, so do the production technology and the raw materials. We have benefited a lot from China's reform and opening up."

In 2009, Yang established Ecuador Qingtian Natives' Association and she has led the members in integrating into the local community, and in improving the competitiveness of Chinese products in the local market.

Yang is referred to as "Ecuador Rose" by overseas Chinese in Ecuador. She says she is like the grass  ordinary, but containing the most powerful vitality.





Spreading Love, Warmth

Yang, who has a benevolent heart, is always willing to do her best to help people in need. During the 2011 West Lake International Expo, in Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province, Yang served as an interpreter during the National Day of Ecuador activity.

In April 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the coastal areas of northwestern Ecuador. Three rescue teams from China provided quake relief, but they needed interpreters. When Yang heard about the situation, she gave up her vacation in Qingtian, returned to Ecuador, and served as an interpreter and a guide for the relief-aid teams.

Yang also mobilized members of Ecuador Qingtian Natives' Association and employees of her company to donate quake-relief materials to aid the victims. The trucks transporting the quake-relief materials displayed Chinese and Ecuadorian flags. Yang also donated slippers, salt, rice, cooking oil and other supplies to villagers living on remote islands in Ecuador.

During the past 15 years, Yang has donated funds and materials to nursing homes in Qingtian, to help the elderly people. Yang has helped protect the rivers in Fangshan, and she has also led villagers in building dams and green areas along the rivers.

She also donated money and materials to help quake-affected people in Wenchuan, in 2008, and in Yushu, in 2010. Throughout the years, she has helped raise more than 5 million yuan (US $714, 286) to help Chinese people in need.

"China is my home, forever. We have benefited from China's reform and opening-up, and we should do our best to contribute to the development of the motherland," Yang says.



Starting New Business

As a native of Fangshan, Yang has always dreamed of returning to her hometown to help boost its development.

In her view, overseas Chinese businessmen have integrated cultural backgrounds, so they are better able to introduce advanced foreign technology to their hometowns, and so they are also better able to help people in other countries better understand China, and the development of China's agriculture and rural areas.

Fangshan is known for its rice-fish agricultural system, which dates back more than 1,300 years. Ecological symbiosis exists in the traditional rice-fish agricultural system; rice provides shade and food for fish, while the fish provide fertilizer to the rice, help regulate micro-climatic conditions, soften the soil, disturb the water, and eat the larvae and weeds in paddy fields.

In 2005, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations selected the rice-fish agricultural system as one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS represent not only stunning natural landscapes, but also agricultural practices that create livelihoods in rural areas while combining biodiversity, resilient ecosystems and tradition and innovation in a unique way.

In 2019, Yang left her overseas business to her family, and she returned to her hometown to establish Fangshan Valley Agricultural Heritage Cultural Park. The park organizes various farming activities for tourists, so they can experience the charm of agricultural heritage. The park also holds exhibitions, to display traditional farming culture and agricultural heritage.

The agricultural heritage cultural park has not only created many job opportunities for locals, it has also provided a platform for local students, overseas Chinese and international friends to communicate and exchange ideas with each other. The park has also helped spur the vigorous development of the local tourism economy.

"Traditional farming culture is full of vitality. I will continue to work hard to promote the integration of agriculture and tourism, inherit and develop agricultural heritage culture, and make greater contributions to rural revitalization and common prosperity," Yang says. In 2020, she was named a March 8th Red-Banner Holder of Lishui.

Photos Provided by Interviewee

(Source: Qingtian Women's Federation / Women of China English Monthly September 2023 issue)
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. &&
This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows a male Tibetan antelope foraging with four female ones at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows a male Tibetan antelope making mating calls at female ones in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 19, 2023 shows a male Tibetan antelop staying with a herd of female ones, while another male Tibetan antelop staring from afar, at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 19, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes foraging on grassland at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023 shows two male Tibetan antelopes searching for female ones at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023 shows female Tibetan antelopes travelling on snowfield at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This photo taken on Dec. 19, 2023 shows two male Tibetan antelopes chasing female ones at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 19, 2023 shows a male Tibetan antelope at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes foraging on grassland at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 20, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes foraging at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows a male Tibetan antelope making mating calls at female ones in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows male Tibetan antelopes at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows two Tibetan antelopes mating at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes staying on a frozen river at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023 shows male Tibetan antelopes at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 21, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes foraging on grassland at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows two Tibetan antelopes mating at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows a male Tibetan antelope making mating calls at female ones in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

This photo taken on Dec. 19, 2023 shows Tibetan antelopes galloping on grassland at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Winter is the mating season for Tibetan antelopes living at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve. The mating season is the only time of year when male antelopes are seen together with the female ones.

Nestled deep in the eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve boasts a distinctive plateau desert ecosystem. With the average altitude reaching around 4,500 meters, the reserve covers a total area of about 45,000 square kilometers. Widely recognized as a "plateau gene bank," the reserve is an important habitat for about 65,000 Tibetan antelopes on the freezing and oxygen-deprived plateau. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
A fire at a nickel smelting plant in Indonesia on Sunday killed at least 19 workers while leaving as many as 40 others injured. Industrial accidents in this sector are common, with the disaster shining a light on the brutal and unsafe working conditions in the nickel processing industry and throughout Indonesia as a whole.

The fire killed 11 Indonesian workers and eight from other countries. It took place at a plant owned by Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS), which is a subsidiary of Tsingshan Holding Group, based in China. ITSS is located in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) on Sulawesi Island. IMIP is jointly owned by Tsingshan and Indonesias Bintang Delapan Group.

The accident occurred at about 5:30 a.m. while workers were conducting repairs on a furnace, according to a preliminary investigation. Dedy Kurniawan, a spokesman for the industrial complex, initially stated that a flammable liquid had ignited, causing nearby oxygen tanks to explode. He later changed his statement and claimed no oxygen tanks were on the site and no explosion had taken place.

Dedy stated that after a furnace had been shut off, its walls then collapsed and the remaining iron slag flowed out, causing a fire and resulting in some workers at the location suffering injuries and even fatalities.

In response to this tragedy, around 300 workers rallied on Wednesday demanding improved safety conditions. Workers chanted slogans such as, No production is worth a life. Others expressed their anger to the media. Parlin Hidayat, the cousin of Muhammad Taufik, a 40-year-old worker who was killed, told Al Jazeera, The family is grieving, he was the breadwinner, leaving behind a wife and two children. They hope there will be no more incidents like this in the future, let him be the last victim.

Relatives weep during the funeral of Irfan Bukhari, one of the victims of the explosion of a smelting furnace at a Chinese-owned nickel plant on Indonesia's Sulawesi island [AP Photo/Yusuf Wahil]

Wednesdays rally was organized by the Serikat Pekerja Indonesia Sejahtera (SPIS) trade union, which submitted 23 demands to management, including improving the maintenance of nickel smelters and better health clinics capable of dealing with emergencies. The union claimed that it would strike if its demands were not met within three days.

Katsaing, the regional head of the union, told Reuters, Our main demand is for the companies to comply with the occupational health and safety law. However, he previously told Wired magazine in an article published in February, The health and safety regulations now are toothless.

Dedy, the complex spokesman, dismissed the unions demands. He stated the rally had no impact on operations throughout the industrial park and claimed that ITSS had supposedly already implemented the demands.

Workers should not place any faith in the safety regulations or in the companies or government to improve conditions. To claim that if only the company had supposedly followed the law, the explosion would not have happened only deflects workers anger away from the government and the capitalist system, which is the root cause of these disasters.

Accidents are common throughout the nickel industry and are the result of President Joko Widodo governments drive to turn Indonesia into a major producer of the mineral for companies around the world. Indonesia has the worlds largest nickel reserves, at an estimated 21 million tonnes. Between 2020 and 2022, nickel production doubled to 1.6 million tonnes, or more than 48 percent of the global output.

Nickel is used for products such as electric vehicle (EV) batteries and stainless steel, making Indonesia a major part of the supply chain in the production of EVs. Jakarta has also signed deals worth as much as $US15 billion with companies like South Koreas Hyundai Motors and Taiwan-based Foxconn. The government is also actively trying to entice Tesla to invest in Indonesia in what will no doubt be a further race to the bottom when it comes to workers conditions.

Widodo therefore has no intention of addressing health and safety conditions, despite claims from Ministry of Manpower Deputy Minister Afriansyah Noor that Jakarta will strengthen work safety laws. Similarly, none of the three candidates running in Februarys presidential election will address these issues.

Instead, the ruling class is seeking to sow divisions between Indonesian and Chinese workers to distract from the responsibility of the local and central governments and from the capitalist system as a whole. The media has focused on the fact that the nickel smelter at IMIP where Sundays fire occurred is Chinese-owned.

Yet Chinese workers are no less exploited than their Indonesian class brothers and sisters. Both sections of the working class face similar brutal conditions. The IMIP complex hosts 18 nickel processing companies, employing more than 70,000 workers. In April, two workers were killed at the complex when they were buried under nickel slag. This is not limited to IMIP. At a plant located further north on Sulawesi, another two workers were killed in January during protests over safety conditions and low pay at Gunbuster Nickel Industry.

Wired magazine wrote in February that workers at IMIP labor for up to 15 hours a day with no days off for as long as three months. They earn less than $US25 a day. Workers struggle to continuing working as health, safety, and environmental needs take a backseat to profit. One 18-year-old worker stated, Sometimes its hard to breathe. Im concerned, but I cant do anything.

Trend Asia, a non-government organization based in Indonesia, reported in March that between 2015 and 2020, a total of 47 workers in the nickel industry were killed in accidents while 10 others committed suicide as a result of the conditions.

This is not limited to the nickel industry. Jakartas Ministry of Manpower reported in February in its National Occupational Safety and Health Profile that across the country, 6,552 workers had died in workplace accidents in 2021, nearly doubling the number of deaths from the previous year (3,410). Total accidents have also grown, with 234,370 in 2021, rising from 210,789 in 2019.

The rise in workplace safety accidents and deaths also corresponds to the refusal of capitalist governments around the world, including Jakarta, to address the COVID-19 pandemic. In what is undoubtedly a vast undercounting, there have been more than 6.8 million COVID cases and 161,921 deaths in Indonesia. Just as virus mitigation measures were torn up, so are workplace safety measures, all in the name of profit.
We are publishing here the tribute to Helen Halyard written by Julie Hyland, a member of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and for many years the assistant national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (UK). Comrade Helen, a leading member of the SEP (US) and the International Committee of the Fourth International for more than 50 years, died suddenly on November 28 at the age of 73.

My heartfelt condolences to Helens family and comrades in the US. She was an extraordinary comrade and a wonderful personality, whose sudden loss is felt by all of us who had the privilege to know her.

Leading members of the ICFI Chris Marsden and Julie Hyland with Helen Halyard in Berlin, November, 1991 to attend the Workers Conference Against War and Colonialism.

Writing on Helens place in the Trotskyist movement, comrade David North explained: A revolutionary party educates its members. But the political, social, cultural and moral character of the party is, in turn, profoundly influenced by the character of its cadre.

Helen profoundly influenced the character of the party in the US and internationally.

I first saw Helen at the Workers Revolutionary Partys Marxist College of Education in Parwich. It was the early 1980s and I believe she was part of a delegation to an international school, although the exact date escapes me.

I was aware of Helen through the campaign in defence of Gary Tyler. In truth, she was one of the few American comrades I can say that about, even though I was at the time the national secretary of the WRPs Young Socialists.

My patchy recollection is not primarily the fault of memory. In late October 1982, Comrade North had informed the WRP leadership of his disagreements with Healys theoretical work and the general opportunist drift within the WRP and the International Committee of the Fourth International. Mike Banda and Cliff Slaughter initially declared their agreement with the criticisms, but reneged very quickly when it became clear a principled discussion threatened the unity of the WRP leadership. Healy made no attempt to engage with the criticisms, instead denouncing Comrade North for interfering in the affairs of the WRP and disrupting his cadre. (See: Gerry Healy and his place in the history of the Fourth International).

Such was the attitude of the WRP leadership towards the ICFI and its cadre that fraternal relations between comrades internationally (and indeed, nationally) were actively discouraged, if not sabotaged.

This was ended by the struggle led by Comrade North and the US section in 1985-86, which culminated in the victory of the Trotskyist majority in the ICFI over the national opportunists of the WRP.

This is when Helen really entered my political consciousness. I was in awe of Helen and remained so over the nearly 40 years that I came to know her and count her as my friend.

She was formidable. She had earned her political spurs fighting against the streamrejecting the petty-bourgeois protest politics that dominated the anti-Vietnam War and Civil Rights movements in favour of continuing Trotskys struggle to build the Fourth International as the world party of socialist revolution.

This was the driving force of Helens entire adult life. Working in the cockpit of world reaction, she knew very well that US capitalism cannot be defeated by pressure or persuasion, but only by the revolutionary struggle of the US working class as part of an international class movement.

That accounted in no small part for why she could be tough and straight-talking, with no time for BS or political backsliding. Its the same reason that, just three years after joining the Trotskyist movement, she responded powerfully to the fight against Wohlforths renegacy, and then, a little over a decade later, to the WRP leaderships own backsliding into Pabloite revisionism.

In the aftermath of the 1985-86 split, under conditions in which the Workers League, (forerunner of the Socialist Equality Party), was leading the political, theoretical and cultural reorientation of the international movement, Helens role as its assistant national secretary was critical.

Especially for those of us who had gone through the Sheila Torrance school of organisational miseducation. In place of opportunistic short cuts, with its emphasis on numbers, and indifferenceeven contemptfor the membership, Helen understood that the strength of the vanguard party is its cadre, outside of which there does not exist a single revolutionary current on this planet really meriting the name. (See Trotsky: The Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International).

Helen was also funny, warm, generous, and had a heart of gold. She lived life to the max and with such panacheI have to smile at the photographs of her campaigning outside steel works or auto plants, with her statement necklace, rings and bangles. I always looked forward to the chance to spend time with her because it was guaranteed that I would come away knowing more than I did and having enjoyed myself.

Looking through email correspondence between us over the years, I am struck by her constant emphasis on the importance of cadrenot as a general, abstract category, but as living, breathing, real comrades.

In one, for example, she wrote:

In honor of international womans day I forward you the reminiscences I wrote about Jean [Brust] on the occasion of the 15th anniversary since her death. I really feel that it is critical to interview Barbara [Slaughter] and review the political and theoretical struggles through which she has passed for the education of a younger generation. Love ya and all the best, Helen

In another:

Our work has such tremendous meaning I am fortunate to be in a world movement with so many brilliant, compassionate, and warm members.

Of course, Helen played a leading role in making this so.

I can think of no more fitting conclusion than to quote Helens own words on Comrade Jean Brust:

Small-minded people sometimes suggest, particularly concerning women, that a devotion to a great cause and great historical principles makes you an insensitive and uncaring person. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jean, who spent her entire life fighting for the betterment of mankind and the cause of the working class, was among the most caring and sensitive people I have ever worked with. (Jean Brust: An example to the new generation, Helen Halyard, 26 November 2007)

Helen too leaves an example that will inspire and educate future generations of class fighters.

Long live the memory of Helen Halyard!

Julie Hyland
Millions of workers and young people have protested in the UK and internationally, outraged by the slaughter carried out by Israel in Gaza with the explicit aim of ethnically cleansing the Palestinians. Their anger is directed not only against Netanyahus fascist government, but their backers in Britains parliament and paymasters in the United States.

But Britains Stop the War Coalition (STWC) and its political leader Jeremy Corbyn have sought to limit all protests to placing pressure on the Conservative government, and its de facto allies in the Labour Party, to shift from their naked support for Israel and instead demand a ceasefire.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the Stop the War on Gaza rally in London, December 9, 2023

Week after week, the Israeli war machine grinds on and the mountain of Palestinian corpses grows while governments have either made their appeals for pauses or ceasefires in the United Nations, or abstained like the UKall knowing that the US-Israel axis will ensure the genocide continues unabated.

In the mouths of everyone from President Macron in France to the despotic rulers of various Arab regimes, calls for a ceasefire are a transparent cover for their active collusion with Israel in its efforts to ethnically cleanse Gaza, to be followed by the West Bank and Israel itself. Yet the more bankrupt this perspective has proved, the more Stop the War insists that success will come by just getting more people onto the streets.

December 9 saw the seventh national march demanding a ceasefire since October 7 and the last scheduled to take place until January 13 next year. The lead-up to that march saw the campaign for Britain to demand a ceasefire go down to a catastrophic defeat. On November 15, the first UK vote of any kind was held on Israels genocidal assault, on a Scottish National Partys (SNP) ceasefire amendment to the Kings Speech.

In the weeks before this vote, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer became a hate figure for millions because of his justification of war crimes by citing Israels right to self defence. Facing a backlash, more than two dozen Labour councillors quit, while thousands wrote condemning the partys position and demonstrations took place outside MPs constituency offices.

On November 11, 800,000 marched in London demanding a ceasefire in the biggest protest in the UK since the 2003 march against the Iraq War. Despite this, and after five weeks of mass murder, Starmer did not budge an inchjust four days later whipping his MPs to oppose the ceasefire amendment. The SNPs motion met with a resounding No, with 293 against and just 125 in favour. A large portion of the Tory Partys 350 MPs were not even required to cast a vote to ensure its defeat.

A section of the 800,000 strong London demonstration against Israel's genocide in Gaza, November 11, 2023

Close to three quarters (142) of Labour MPs followed Starmers order to abstain. Only 56 voted for a ceasefire. As the WSWS wrote, Not one of the Labour MPs who broke with Starmers orders in this vote has any intention of breaking with the Labour Party or waging any fight against its pro-genocide majority. Few were thinking about saving anything other than their chances of re-election.

In the votes aftermath, eight members of Labours frontbench resigned or were sacked and the party machine rumbled on. Most who did resign professed their continued loyalty to Starmer, with Labour Friends of Israel member Jess Phillipss Dear Keir resignation letter noting her heavy heart, pride in your Labour Party and pledge to do everything I can to deliver a Labour government Most of these scoundrels will be back on board in due course.

More revolting still was the refusal of a single nominally left MP to break from the party, after weeks of near blanket refusal to even criticise Starmer by name for his criminal collusion with genocide.

Stop the War works with Corbyn to insist on yet more pressure on MPs

On November 24, an operational pause began in Gaza to facilitate a prisoner exchange, accurately described by the WSWS as providing time for Israel to reload its weapons for the next stage in its ethnic cleansing of the enclave.

That weekend a much-reduced march took place in London, estimated by the STWC to number 300,000. Yet on December 2, Stop the War met to discuss the supposedly tremendous success of their campaign.

The first speaker, the Stalinist Andrew Murray, felt obliged to respond to growing dissatisfaction with what he summarised as marches from A to B that dont achieve anything. The marches, he insisted, had actually secured the resignation of semi-fascist home secretary, Suella Braverman, and the biggest rebellion against the Starmer leadership, proving we are on the right route.

Andrew Murray speaking at the Stop the War Coalition rally in London, February 25, 2023

The task, he insisted, was to continue putting pressure on the Labour Party by threatening to refuse to vote for its MPs at the next general election! Anxious not to raise any difficulties for the meetings featured speaker, Jeremy Corbyn, by making any direct criticism of Labours genocidal warmongers, Murray said British imperialism has a face and names. But I dont want to embarrass any of the excellent comrades on the platform, so I will put the matter positively... It is a great shame, a political tragedy, that Jeremy Corbyn is not still leader of the labour Party today.

Those without Corbyns moral clarity, provided with anonymity by Murray, would be nailed to the pillar of political infamy, those who cannot decide whether they are for a ceasefire or against it, whether they are for a ceasefire or for the war continuing, those politicians need just one simple message, No ceasefire, no vote.

This, said Murray, would enable the anti-war movement to impose peace and justice on the government of our country.

Corbyn, when he spoke, also maintained silence on Starmers Labour Party. After boasting of the 125 MPs who voted for a ceasefire, he continued, Large numbers of others didnt. In the parallel universe of parliament, politicians are calculating Well if I halfway go to a partial ceasefire, maybe those people who support Palestine will think Im alright, but I dont want to go all the way with them because I dont agree with them anyway. Theres some completely ludicrous conversations going on that I overhear.

When asked by a reporter whether such politicians will ever be forced to listen, Corbyn replied, Yes theyll be forced to listen because had we called that vote a week earlier we wouldnt have got the 125 that we did, voting for a permanent ceasefire. Wed have got much less. Those who were encouraged by the strength of activities in their own constituencies. Tens of thousands of emails were sent to each MP demanding that and theyve carried on doing so.

Corbyn said this almost nine weeks after the beginning of Israels onslaught, with thousands dead and Gaza reduced to rubble. The death toll on November 16 when the vote on a ceasefire was taken was around 12,000, which equates to 214 dead bodies for every Labour MPs vote. With over 21,000 now confirmed dead and thousands more buried under rubble, the blood price for every Labour MPs ceasefire vote is over 500 dead Palestinians and rising.

Yet in an election that will likely take place in May next yearwith Labour standing on an identical programme to the Tories and openly backing genocidethe Stop the War Coalition offers its backing for a Labour government if a few more of its MPs make a meaningless call for a ceasefire while Israel continues its military operation. By May the death toll could be in the hundreds of thousands, with Israel pledged to wage war for months to come and winter and disease widely expected to claim more lives than its bombs.

On December 9, around 100,000 protested in London, where they were told by Stop the War convenor Lindsay German of the pseudo-left group Counterfire, Come the election Palestine is on the ballot paper and if there is no vote for a ceasefire, there will be no vote for the politicians that refuse to do it. Corbyn and just two Labour MPs, Apsana Begum and John McDonnell, said nothing critical of Labour.

Lindsey German speaking at the London demonstration, December 9, 2023

STWC and the Labour lefts betrayal of the anti-war movement

The Stop the War Coalition promotes Corbyn and a handful of Labour lefts, and trade union leaders such as Mick Lynch of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, as the supposed leaders of an anti-war movement because its pseudo-left and Stalinist leadership shares with them an unswerving loyalty to the entire labour bureaucracy. Groups such as Counterfire and the Socialist Workers Party from which it split in 2010 operate outside the Labour Party, but only with the limited aim of pressurising the trade unions and Labours left to adopt a more radical agenda.

It is not merely their continued advocacy of a vote for Labour against the Tories, which they will certainly maintain despite their threats over a ceasefire. Above all, they never pose the need for workers to break free of the trade union apparatus on which the Labour Party depends to police the class struggle and impose its war policies. They may on occasion rail against Starmer, but Starmer makes clear that his right-wing programme for government will be imposed through a corporatist system of official collusion between government, employers and the unions.

The STWC must laud the anti-war credentials of Corbyn and his dwindling band of supporters all the more urgently given that the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress are so openly pro-war and their grip on workers has been massively eroded. Holding up Corbynism as an anti-war tendency is therefore essential if the STWC are to hold out the prospect of forcing Labour to make a turn on Gaza.

However, it is Corbyns record that most perfectly embodies the political bankruptcy of the STWCs anti-war strategy. He was popularly elected Labour leader in 2015 in large part because of his anti-war and anti-imperialist record, especially regarding the 2003 Iraq War but also his defence of the Palestinians. He assumed leadership of the Labour Party while occupying the position of chair of the Stop the War Coalition and Murray himself became an advisor to the new leader. But with millions of workers backing him and hundreds of thousands joining the party to defeat a right-wing plan to depose him in 2016, Corbyn presided over an extended rout, ending with his replacement in 2020 by Starmer.

Capitulating on every issue of principle, Corbyns most grotesque betrayal, and there are many, was when, after quitting as chair of the STWC on becoming Labour leader, he swiftly abandoned his opposition to NATO and the nuclear deterrent, committed to NATO military spending targets and gave a free vote to Labour MPs on military action against Syria.

The witch-hunt of anti-Zionist protesters opposing the Gaza genocide as antisemites was prefigured by the vile campaign against Corbyn and his supporters in the Labour Party. But it was Corbyn who facilitated this witch-hunt by refusing to oppose it and even presiding over the expulsion of some of his closest allies. This did not prevent his expulsion from the Parliamentary Labour Party in 2020 for suggesting a political motive for this slander campaign led by his Blairite opponents.

In response to this capitulation, at a meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of the STWC in 2021, Murray cautioned against making waves by being too harsh in criticising Labour because, We have to think about everything we say, and how we protesthow itll not just impact on public opinion, but how it could impact on Jeremy, who is a very staunch friend of Stop the War We have a lot of money in the bank with each other, as it were.

One year later this amnesty for Corbyn and his allies led to eleven members of the Socialist Campaign Group, including John McDonnell and Diane Abbott, withdrawing backing for an STWC open letter calling for a ceasefire in Ukrainewithin an hour of Starmer warning that criticism of NATO would result in expulsion from the party. McDonnell himself went on to become a prominent supporter of the Ukrainian government leading NATOs proxy war.

Britains Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, left, embraces Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of Britains main opposition Labour Party during his speech on stage during the Labour Party Conference at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, England, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 [Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/WSWS]

At the beginning of this year, for the first time in the organisations history, not a single Labour MP attended Stop the Wars national conference. Murray again provided the necessary apologetics, stressing that this was not because no Labour MP agrees with Stop the Wars position on [the Ukraine war] but because the leader of the Labour Party, revealing himself every day as more of an authoritarian imperialist, has made it clear that any Labour MP would sacrifice the whip and their seat in Parliament if they associate with the anti-war movementsomething even Tony Blair did not do.

If the likes of McDonnell now feel they can combine their prostration before Starmer and warmongering in Ukraine with mounting STWC platforms on Gaza, alongside Corbyn, this is only because they trust its continued commitment to think about everything we say, and how we protest so that the Labour lefts can continue to avoid clashing with Starmer.

An alternative foreign policy for British imperialism

The second basic issue that must be understood regarding the Stop the War Coalition is that its alliance with the rump of the Labour left is part and parcel of its advocacy of a pro-capitalist strategy, fought for in conscious political opposition to socialism and a perspective based on the independent political mobilisation of the working class.

The central leadership of the STWC since it was founded in 2010 consists of Counterfire and the Stalinist Communist Party of Britain. They act as a hub for various other pseudo-left tendencies, pacifists and Stalinists around the near defunct Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a few left Labourites and trade union bureaucrats, and religious groups including the Sunni Muslim Association of Britain. The war on Gaza has involved a prominent role for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, whose pseudo-left leadership is totally loyal to the Labour Party.

From its inception, Stop the War has combined its efforts to capture anti-war sentiment and bring it under the political tutelage of the trade union bureaucracy and a handful of Labourites such as Corbyn, with appeals to Labour and anyone else they think might listen to join them in advocating a British foreign policy that takes its distance from US imperialism. Alliances with supposedly less militaristic global powers, initially Europe and more recently the Global South, championed by progressive voices at home, are the way Stop the War actually proposes to stop wars.

In the lead-up to the second Gulf War in 2003, the Liberal Democrats were held up as anti-war allies, alongside the French and German governments and the United Nationsall advanced as an alternative to the alliance of Tony Blair with the US administration of George Bush Jr, to disastrous effect.

Protesters pack London's Whitehall during a march to Hyde Park, to demonstrate against a possible war against Iraq. February 15, 2003 (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Following Iraq, the STWC was adopted and promoted by a broad swathe of Labour and trade union lefts as a safe and trustworthy vehicle for making token protests against unpopular wars in Libya, Syria and elsewhere that committed nobody to anything, other than urging British imperialism to rethink its special relationship with the US.

As has been detailed on the World Socialist Web Site: In 2007, the STWC used the departure of Blair as Labour leader to make a direct appeal to his replacement and partner in crime Gordon Brown to Pursue a foreign policy independent of the administration of the United States of America.

The STWC acknowledged, Brown has been at the Prime Ministers right hand throughout the decisions on Iraq and Afghanistan, before adding, Nevertheless, it is our conviction that mass pressure, combined with electoral self-interest, can force the British government to break from George Bushs wars.

Public opposition to militarism forced the Conservative government of David Cameron to hold a parliamentary vote on August 30, 2013, which went against Britain taking part in planned US airstrikes against Syria. Lindsey German boasted in response, Weve said for some years that one of our aims as a movement should be to break Britain from following the US in every step of its foreign policy. This week we made that possible.

When Corbyn became party leader in 2015, the STWC again spelled out that they were advocating an alternative foreign policy for a Labour government to pursue, with no challenge made to the capitalist system driving Britains imperialist interests. An article by John Rees on November 4, 2017, Labour Badly Needs to Adopt Corbyn's View of War and Peace, denounced Out-of-date Cold War structures, with the US as the dominant state in the NATO alliance. With the US losing the economic race to China, Britain should abandon a special relationship leaving the UK under-labouring for the USs pivot to the Pacific and Adopt Corbynism.

John Rees speaking at the anti-war demonstration in Whitehall, London, November 25, 2023

The STWCs response to the ignominious pull-out of US and allied forces from Afghanistan in 2021 was an August 15 appeal for politicians of all parties to learn the lessons of the failed wars of intervention and turn to international cooperation as the means of resolving disputes and tackling problems of poverty and underdevelopment.

The same demand was advanced in the run-up to the proxy NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, in a January 21, 2022, statement, calling for a new all-inclusive security architecture in Europe, not under the hegemony of any one state. We demand that the British government and the Labour Party distance themselves from the policies and priorities of the USA and develop an independent foreign policy.

One month later, war began in Ukraine with every one of the major European powers backing the US and NATO and no trace of the mythical all-inclusive security architecture in sight. But should such a move ever be made by the European powers this would not be a move against war but would represent a commitment by the European imperialists to wage war on their own terms and in furtherance of their own predatory interests.

The bankrupt perspective of a peaceful multi-polar capitalism

No fundamental change in the STWCs line followed from these events, other than laying additional stress on the restraining hand supposedly offered by the rising economic powers, led above all by China.

At a rally against the Ukraine war in February 2023, Murray declared, When we say peace now we are talking in unison with China, with India, with South Africa, with Lula and Brazil, and with most of humanity saying now is the time to stop this war Lula has called for negotiations. The Chinese government has advanced a plan for negotiations. We need that ceasefire for those negotiations can start and we can get a peace We need that peace agreement now. And our responsibility is to make sure that our government doesn't sabotage it.

It is this line that is now most dominant in Stop the Wars perspective for ending the genocide in Gaza. Its website reproduced a December 18 article from the Stalinist Morning Star, one of a series by Jenny Clegg boosting the capitalist regime in Beijing with absurd titles such as How will China build a modern socialist state by 2049 and accepting that the Xi regimes goal is socialist modernisation with Chinese characteristics.

Jenny Clegg speaking at a meeting organised by the Marx Memorial Library on July 1, 2021 [Photo: screenshot: socialistchina.org]

Clegg, a Senior Lecturer in International Studies at the University of Central Lancashire, urges support for Chinas five-point peace proposal on Israel-Palestine launched at the United Nations Security Council on November 30. The trite nonsense in question, urging a ceasefire and a political settlement after the long delay in realising the dream of an independent state of Palestine and the failure to redress the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people, was put forward in a body in which the US has veto powers and has blocked countless similar resolutions over decades.

Clegg complains, The initiative has been entirely passed over in the West, whereas China underlined its significance by sending Foreign Minister Wang Yi to chair the session and deliver the proposal, before asking pathetically, Given that the UN, EU, US, Britain, China and Russia all claim to support a two-state solution, how hard can it be to get an agreement?

Clegg and the STWC are among the many advocates for a multi-polar world in which the United States and European powers are gradually eclipsed by their competitors, always led by China. The fate of the Palestinians is therefore entrusted to the success of China in replacing the European Union as the Middle Easts main trading partner, or in Israels case, the second largest trading partner, and to various regional powers looking east to the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, with Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia becoming dialogue partners in 2021, followed by UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait in 2022.

This is portrayed as Not so much a power struggle between China and the US, what is taking place is the rise of the Middle East itself, with Chinas role one of Consensus-building for peace.

The multi-polar perspective is spelled out as: This then is not about expelling the US from the Middle East but restricting its options: ending the regions subjection to US power is not so much about severing links but rather looking both West and East towards China to steer towards a green, digitised transition.

The main problem with all such scenarios is that they assume the US will respond to such a challenge to its global hegemony by rolling over and accepting its natural demotion. Reality proves the opposite. Even if one were to accept that Chinas role in world affairs is entirely altruistic, rather than designed to expand the commercial and political clout of its bourgeoisie while trying to avoid direct conflict with Washington, the US response to an economic challenge from China that it cannot overcome by economic means alone drives its turn to a military solution.

The Biden administrations plan is for the genocide in Gaza to be followed by military action against Iran and its allies, in what Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant has described as a multi-front war across seven theatres: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], Iraq, Yemen and Iran. The US is behind this drive, which it calculates will consolidate its grip over the oil-rich Middle East and strengthen its hand in an ongoing conflict with both China and Russia.

Stop the War knows this, publishing an article from Counterfire on December 21 The Red Sea is now the second front in the Gaza War. But the only answer to this grave danger offered by John Rees, after asking whether the Gaza War will engulf the entire Middle East, is to hope for a US defeat through a combination of Houthi attacks on Saudi oil fields, Iran supporting a more offensive strategy by both the Houthis and Hezbollah, the Iraqi resistance, under a pro-Iranian Iraqi government carrying out a sustained campaign of attacks on US bases both in Iraq and Syria, and the US bleeding credibility with everyone but its most servile allies, as successive UN votes have demonstrated.

Such a ragged programme cannot stop the global escalation of war and turns attention away from the oppositional movement in the international working class which can. Only in the penultimate paragraph is popular revulsion at what Israel is doing with US encouragement raised as a factor in the crisis of US imperialism. This testifies to how Stop the War conceives of the Gaza protests solely from the standpoint encouraging the main political actors in the STWCs viewWashingtons various capitalist rivalsto trim Americas sails and somehow secure a multi-polar world.

Left criticism versus revolutionary opposition

Writing in 1927, on The Struggle for Peace and the Anglo-Russian Committee, Leon Trotsky painted a scathingly accurate picture of the role the political left plays on behalf of imperialism that perfectly captures that of Corbyn and Stop the War over Gaza:

Leon Trotsky

The left criticizes the government within such limits as do not interfere with its role as exploiter and robber. The left gives expression to the dissatisfaction of the masses within these limits, so as to restrain them from revolutionary action. In case the dissatisfaction of the masses breaks through to the outside, the left seeks to dominate the movement in order to strangle it. Were the left not to criticize, not to expose, not to attack the bourgeoisie, it would be unable to serve it in its own way. If it is admitted that the left is a ballast, then it is admitted that it is the useful, appropriate, necessary, succoring ballast without which the ship of British imperialism would long ago have gone down. [Trotsky's Writings on Britain: Volume 2, p. 210, New Park Publications 1974]

The left is identified as occupying a position within imperialist politics, rather than a genuine opposition to imperialism, and part of a broader spectrum that includes their fervent critics on the right. Regarding the denunciations of Corbyn et al by the Blairites and the Tory media, Trotsky adds:

To be sure, the [Tory] diehards are fulminating against the left. But this is done to keep the fear of God in it, so that it will not overstep the bounds prescribed for it, so that no unnecessary expense be incurred for their ballast. The diehards are just as necessary an ingredient in the imperialist mechanism as the left. [ibid]

There is no basis for opposing the genocide in Gaza outside of a political struggle against the governments and nominal opposition parties such as Labour backing Israel, and the trade union bureaucracies that have done nothing to defend the Palestinians or oppose their persecutors. This includes in the front rank the naked warmongers in Washington and London, but also the wars many other facilitators such as imperialist France and Spain and the Arab regimes hiding their guilt behind ceasefire calls.

Ending mass murder and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the opposing the expanding war waged by the NATO imperialist powers and their proxies in the Middle East and Ukraine, ultimately targeting China, demands the development of a global movement of the working class against the capitalist class and its repressive state apparatus.

The millions who have taken part week after week in mass protests in defence of the Palestinians must turn consciously and systematically to the factories and workplaces, arguing for working class action, including strikes and boycotts of arms companies, docks and airports, to prevent the shipment of any items to Israel with a military use.

The demand must be raised for a political general strike, linking the struggle against war to the defeat of the savage austerity imposed by governments internationally to pay for it, and against the destruction of basic democratic rights by a ruling class determined to crush all opposition to its crimes.

The development of a mass socialist anti-war movement requires new organisations, a new perspective and the building of a political leadership aiming for the conquest of power by the working class, the overthrow of capitalism and imperialism, and the establishment of socialism on a world scale. The International Committee of the Fourth International and the Socialist Equality Party provide this new axis of struggle for workers and young people in Britain and throughout the world.
Todd Haynes new film May December is loosely based on the case of Mary Kay Letourneau, which made tabloid and other headlines in 1996. Letourneau, a teacher, had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old student, Vili Fualaau, which led to her eventually being sent to prison for a number of years. Letourneaus first child was delivered while she was awaiting sentencing. After her release from prison, she married Fualaau and they had two more children. The marriage lasted 14 years. Letourneau died of cancer in 2020, aged 58.

Haynes has made a number of intelligent films and television series, including Safe, Dark Waters and Mildred Pierce. He is a sensitive filmmaker, with an instinctive opposition to the status quo. However, intellectually shaped by semiotics, postmodernism and radical sexual politics, he sees opposition largely in cultural and psychological terms, as the revolt against heteronormativity, middle class suburban conventionality and related matters. May December suffers from a lack of angry social critique and substance. It identifies various mental conditions and forms of serious dysfunction, but does not make enough of them to create more than a ripple on the surface of things.

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in May December

May December, written by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, takes place more than 20 years after a scandal erupted when Gracie Atherton (Julianne Moore), 36 at the time, was caught having sex with 13-year-old Joe Yoo (Charles Melton) in the storeroom of the pet store where they both worked. Gracie was eventually sentenced to prison, where she gave birth to a child. The couple later married and had two more children, twins. They now live in some degree of comfort, in Georgia, having lucratively sold their story to the tabloids.

The well-known actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) arrives at the Atherton-Yoo home. She is set to play Gracie in a new, independent film. She has come to research her role and study her characters original. The Atherton-Yoos are at a moment of transition. The twins, Charlie (Gabriel Chung) and Mary (Elizabeth Yu), are graduating from high school. Their parents will be alone with one another for the first time.

Elizabeth begins her investigations, assuring Gracie that all she wants is for the other woman to feel seen and known. Hardly a neutral observer, however, the Hollywood actress, star of a popular television series, seems primarily interested in her career and how her appearance in such a role will be received. She is carrying on with a married colleague and has some degree of control over who will play the young teenage boy in the upcoming, not very promising film. Her self-involvement is intense, including in a scene where she re-enacts on her own, in the original pet shop, the incriminating sexual encounter.

Gracie is also self-centered and domineering. Hyper-feminine, hyper-conformist, she tells Elizabeth early in the film that my brother, Scott, is a rear admiral in the Navy, and he says that order is its own reward. Gracie continues to insist that her relationship with the teenager was a sort of Romeo and Juliet affair, or a matter of her being rescued from a loveless marriage by a young, heroic prince.

As her lawyer explains to Elizabeth, Gracie told him at the time, Were in love  I didnt mean it to happen. She was and remains, the lawyer suggests, in denial. She didnt think she did anything wrong. She was head over heels.  She thought she could just explain it all to the judge and thatd be that. Gracie endeavors to inflict her views of society and gender on her daughters in particular, pressing upon them the need to be thin and attractive to men.

When we first see him, Joe, half-child, half-man, remains persuaded by the same myths about their relationship that Gracie continues to believe and promote. People... they, like, see me as, like, a victim, or something. I mean, weve been together for almost 24 years now. ... Why would we do that if we werent happy? Elizabeths unsettling presence and the imminent departure of his children, along with what seems to be a budding extramarital relationship with a fellow butterfly enthusiast, lead to Joes unraveling, in a generally healthy direction.

In one of the sharper scenes in May December, as part of her research process presumably as much as anything else, Elizabeth has sex with Joe. She then tells him not to worry about Gracie: Your responsibility, ultimately, is to yourself. When he reacts angrily to her selfishness and her callous reference to these stories, i.e., his life history, she tells him that theres no need to get so worked up about it. He responds, I thought you actually liked me, and that we had a connection. I like you. Then what was this about? This is just what grown-ups do.



Julianne Moore and Charles Melton in May December

Gracie remains throughout an unappealing picture of unreflectiveness, obliviousness. Regarding the original scandal 20 years earlier, I dont really think about all that.  I have my plate pretty full. She rejects the very idea of looking back and considering her actions, or thinking about the past in general. When Elizabeth admits that the past weighs on me, Gracie scoffs at this: So you just sit there and you think about your history and your behavior.

Joe begins to confront the painful history. What if I was too young?, he asks Gracie finally. She insists, You seduced me. But I was 13 years old. She takes the offensive: Dont give me that.  I dont care how old you were. Who was in charge?  Who was the boss? Who was in charge? Who was in charge?

Attempting to initiate a conversation about their past, Joe says, If were really as in love as we say we are ... Shouldnt I be able to talk about this with you? If were really in love as we say we are, she repeats, outraged. There is no opening, no progress possible with her. The departing children, we sense, still have the opportunity to break away from this realm of self-deception and self-delusion.

In an interview with Deadline, Haynes commented that he hoped his film trusts that youre going to be OK not knowing what you think, and grappling a bit, and that there might even be a quotient of pleasure involved in that vacillation around your sort of moral certitude around these kinds of themes. The filmmaker continued, Youre observing life and youre observing these people who dont have a very keen sense of self-regard. They dont really know how to examine themselves. We are there to examine them because they cant. They are ill-equipped to do so.

Uncertainty and instability may be preferable to conservative, smug sureness, but as things in themselves they do not constitute much of a program or perspective either.

May December

It is not a very radical notion that many people, especially middle class people of an unself-critical bent, do not think deeply about their actions and the consequences of those actions.

Nor is it groundbreaking in this day and age to criticize gender culture and fixed notions about sexual identity and roles. Julianne Moore told an interviewer, Todd has always been interested in identity, and culture, and how were shaped by it, and who we are, in terms of how we live, and when we live. Our identity is not shaped out of nowhere. Its shaped by the world, the culture, and the time that we live in.

Yes, but what precisely has he concluded?

Speaking for Haynes, one would imagine, Moore further suggested that May December makes you question the nature of storytelling and how we present our stories to the world. What do we believe? What actually is the truth? Are we ever going to get to the truth of anything, or of any human being?  Again, what is real? What do we know? What is truth? Is everything performed?

This is the type of banal and stereotypical relativism, second-hand postmodernism that pervades artistic circles. In fact, in its better moments, May December insists quite strongly on the ability to get at the harsh truth about these lives and the social milieu. Why else the edge, the recurring sharp thumps of satire, if we cant know anything about anything? Its tedious and limiting.

(One question about the original affair that the films script never raises involves Mary Kay Letourneaus father, John G. Schmitz (1930-2001), an extreme right-wing figure, fanatical anticommunist, racist and antisemite. Schmitz managed to get himself kicked out of the notorious John Birch Society for his extremist rhetoric. He considered the Rockefeller family to have financed the Bolshevik Revolution and to be controlling President Richard Nixon. Why not consider the emotional impact of that sort of fascistic background and upbringing?)

Haynes seems to have in mind as well landing certain understated blows against officially sponsored identity politics, as it were, and perhaps even the #MeToo campaign. He told British Film Institute that May December is a potentially explosive or disturbing [film] for todays identity politics culture, which wants to know whos good and whos bad. Theres volatility, impenetrability and moral ambiguity here. And to Screen Daily, the director commented that in the contemporary culture and world, were so cocksure about our morals. Its immediateyoure in, youre out, youre black, youre white. He went on, All these agendas have to be confirmed. Its identity politics. That means its such a death of that great muddled anxiety that all the best movies stir up in you.

Again, this is very limited, and not truly explosive or disturbing. To argue for great muddled anxiety against being cocksure about our morals or to express pleasure, as Haynes did in another interview, about the fact that people are comfortable being uncertain and asking big moral questions about things, is setting the bar quite low. In fact, in its own way, this is an accommodation to the prevailing, reactionary establishment culture and political climate.

There are intriguing and subtle observations here about the self-centeredness of certain social layers, but not much more. And, in its own fashion, May December itself expresses one aspect of the same problem, only in a somewhat more transgressive form: the distance of many petty bourgeois intellectuals at this point from the critical questions of the time.
Police raided the home of prominent anti-Zionist Tony Greenstein in the early hours of December 20, arresting him under the Terrorism Act (2000) for a social media post defending the right of Palestinians to resist Israels genocide in Gaza.

Tony Greenstein [Photo: skwawkbox]

Sussex Police and unidentified plain clothes officers arrived at Greensteins Brighton home at 7am. They told the 69-year-old he was being arrested on suspicion of having committed an offence under Section 12 1(a) of the Terrorism Act.

Greensteins offending communication was a November 15 reply to a Zionist on X. Greenstein had written: I support the Palestinians that is enough and I support Hamas against the Israeli army.

In the legal dragnet represented by the Terrorism Act (2000) and subsequent amendments, Greenstein is deemed to have published a statement supportive of a proscribed terrorist organisation.

Greenstein co-founded the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in 2004. A supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, he was expelled from the Labour Party in 2018 based on manufactured charges of anti-Semitism. His father was a Rabbi who marched against Oswald Mosleys British Union of Fascists during the 1930s.

Officers bundled Greenstein into the back of a police van, and he was taken to Hollingbury Custody Centre where he was questioned for one hour and detained until 4pm. During his detention, police used Greensteins confiscated keys to raid his home. No warrant was provided by police. They seized electronic equipment including a laptop, desktop computer, two external hard drives and two mobile devices.

While Greenstein has not been charged with any offence, draconian bail conditions have been imposed. He is banned from posting statements on Twitter/X about Israels war on Gaza, he must inform police if he plans to sleep anywhere other than Brighton, and must give police the phone number, IMEI and SIM number for any new device within 24 hours.

Greensteins draconian bail conditions include a ban on posting about the Genocide in Gaza on Twitter/X

In a statement posted on his blog on Christmas Eve, Greenstein denounced the police raid and the seizure of his electronic devices as an intelligence gathering exercise against the states enemies on the Left and in the Palestine solidarity movement. He told the World Socialist Web Site his arrest was a fundamental attack on free speech and must be resisted on those grounds, amongst others.

His arrest is part of a campaign targeting left-wing opponents of Zionism. It is driven by fear of mass popular opposition ignited by Israels campaign of mass terror in Gaza that has seen millions demonstrate in Britain and worldwide.

On December 16, Mick Napier, founder of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) was arrested at a protest in Glasgow after he gave a speech supporting Palestinians right to resist by means that they choose. Noting that Hamas had won the [2006] elections by a landslide in Palestine with observers from Scotland saying the elections were free and fair, Napier thanked Hamas for breaking out of the Gaza concentration camp.

Police informed Napier he was being arrested for religiously aggravated offences. He was later charged under Section 12 (1) of the Terrorism Act for support for a proscribed organization. He has pleaded not guilty and will appear in court on January 9.

The bail conditions imposed on Napier, who is 76, are those of a police state. He is banned from attending any protest in Scotland and must not enter Glasgow city centre.

The SPSC has denounced Napiers arrest as the latest in a line of legal attacks by Scottish police and prosecution authorities over the last 14 years. Having successfully defeated in open court a series of fake antisemitism and wholly invented assault charges, extracted a churlish apology from Scottish police for wrongful arrest and assault, we will now vigorously fight and see off this new, but even more sinister and equally baseless terrorism charge.

PEN Scotland announced it was gravely alarmed by the arrest of Mick Napier at a peaceful pro-Palestinian demo last Saturday in Glasgow Freedom of speech and our democratic right to protest should not be denied. In the face of Israels genocide in Gaza, our right to resist is paramount. Scottish Pen is also deeply concerned that these events appear to follow a pattern of restrictions being placed on the ability to protest more generally.

Such measuresapproved at the highest levels of government in Westminster and Holyroodconfirm Britains complicity with Israels war of annihilation against the Palestinians. It drives home the indissoluble connection between genocide in Gaza and a rapidly escalating assault on the democratic rights of the working class. Since October 7:

Craig Murray was detained at Glasgow Airport on October 16 and questioned under the Terrorism Act about his attendance at a pro-Palestine rally in Iceland and his meetings there with members of the Julian Assange Defence Campaign. His phone and laptop equipment were seized and retained as part of an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation.

Hanin Barghouti was charged on November 11 under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act for allegedly supporting Hamas. The 22-year-old student union womens officer from Sussex University was charged for her speech at a Brighton protest on October 8 in which she praised the Palestinian uprising launched one day earlier.

Ranjeet Brar and three other members of the Stalinist Communist Party of Great Britain-Marxist Leninist were arrested at a mass protest in central London on November 25 for displaying a book, Zionism: A Racist, Antisemitic and Reactionary Tool of Imperialism. The books cover art links the swastika and the Star of David. While the four were held overnight in police detention, their homes were raided by counter-terrorism police who seized computer and phone equipment.

Dozens of protesters have been arrested and/or charged under the Terrorism Act since October for displaying banners warning of the parallels between Hitlers Final Solution against the Jewish people during World War II, and Israels war of annihilation against the Palestinians.

The legislation used to target left-wing opponents of genocide was enacted by the Blair Labour government in 2000. It was part of a battery of repressive laws rammed through on the pretext of a war on terror, aimed at overturning core democratic rights, suppressing domestic political opposition and to facilitate imperialist domination of the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa.

The Terrorism Act (2000) expanded the definition of terrorism to include any action, used or threatened, for the purpose of advancing any political, religious or ideological cause. It introduced arrest and detention of terror suspects without charge for 48 hours (later extended to 14 days with the permission of a judge) and allowed for the internment without trial of foreign nationals suspected of terrorism. It granted sweeping stop-and-search powers across cordoned locations (including entire cities) as designated by senior police; and allowed for the continuation of non-jury trials for terror and other serious offenses in Northern Ireland.

In detailing its provisions 23 years ago, the World Socialist Web Site described the Terrorism Act as a political watershed in Britain. It confirms the absence of any commitment to the defence of democratic rights throughout much of the Labour Party and the ruling establishment.

In 2019, this repressive legislation was bolstered by the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act. It amended Section 12 of the Terrorism Act, creating a new offence branding as a terrorist anyone who a) expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, and b) in doing so is reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation.

The legislation was passed unopposed, with the backing of then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. A gift to the British state, it has established a legal dragnet that is being deployed to intimidate and suppress mass opposition to genocide and imperialist military violence.

The working class must take the lead in demanding the dropping of all charges against Greenstein, Murray, Napier, and securing unconditional freedom for Julian Assange. The fight against war must be fused with the struggle of the working class against austerity. The battery of repressive legislation against political opponents of imperialism and Zionism must be repealed as part of the fight for socialism.
After the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claimed the oil-rich Essequibo region controlled by Guyana through a referendum held on December 3, military tensions in South America have escalated. Military operations have been carried out by the US and planned by the UK as the Guyana Defense Forces, and Brazil, the region's largest country, sent troops and arms to the border region with Venezuela and Guyana.

US and Brazilian officers review troops at close of Southern Vanguard military exercise in November

In an international context dominated by the US and NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, and Israels genocide backed by the imperialist powers in Gaza that threatens to engulf Iran, Venezuela and Guyana are aligning themselves with rival sides of a future third world war.

Since the government of former president Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), Venezuela has maintained strong economic and military relations with China, Russia and to a lesser extent Iran, countries that the head of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Laura Richardson, denounced in October as strategic competitors [of the US] who have malign intentions in South America.

In a telephone conversation between Maduro and Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 21, both defended a fair multipolar world order and the rejection of illegal sanctions, which have been used by US imperialism to undermine both countries economically and to attempt regime change. Putin also advocated Venezuela joining BRICS, a bloc formed by Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, which recently included Iran and seven other countries to counter US hegemony.

On the other hand, Guyana, a former British colony and member of the Commonwealth that in recent years has seen soaring economic growth due to huge offshore oil reserves discovered and exploited mainly by the American company Exxon Mobil, has sought the support of the US and the UK against the threat of annexation by the Maduro government. Having guaranteed unwavering support for Guyana, the Pentagon carried out an air operation in Essequibo on December 7, and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali has repeated that he may allow the US to install a military base in the country.

On Sunday, December 24, the United Kingdom announced the deployment of the warship HMS Trent to Guyana for military exercises with its Defense Force. This follows the SOUTHCOM-sponsored military exercise Tradewinds 23, held in July, which for the second time in the last three years was hosted by Guyana and saw the participation of 21 countries, including the United Kingdom and Brazil.

Venezuelas defense minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, responded that same day by writing on X/Twitter that the British initiative is a provocation that puts the peace and stability of the Caribbean and our America at risk. He added: A warship in waters to be delimited? ... What about the commitment to good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence? What about the agreement not to threaten or use force against each other under any circumstances?

Lopez was referring to the agreement reached between Presidents Maduro and Ali on December 14 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, whose president, Ralph Gonsalves, heads the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). According to the agreement, the two countries undertook not to make threats or use force, but rather to seek solutions to the crisis in accordance with international law and the peaceful coexistence and unity of Latin America and the Caribbean. Another meeting is scheduled to take place in Brazil within the next three months.

Despite the claims in the final declaration, the crisis is far from over. Ali has insisted that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will decide the dispute over the borders between Guyana and Venezuela, whose origins date back to the 19th century. The Maduro government, however, has insisted that it does not recognize the ICJs jurisdiction, and that Guyana did not have the right to grant oil exploration concessions to Exxon Mobil in a disputed territory.

The government of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party  PT) has been working closely with the US government of President Joe Biden to mediate the crisis between Venezuela and Guyana. Due to the possibility of an invasion by Venezuela crossing through Brazilian territory, the Lula governments defense minister, Jose Mucio, has warned, if a more energetic you won't pass here is necessary, we are prepared for it.

This has led the Lula government to escalate its military presence as a deterrent to any Venezuelan initiative in the sensitive Amazon region bordering both countries. He has moved up by two years the transformation of the 12th Mechanized Cavalry Squadron in Boa Vista, capital of the northern state of Roraima, into the 18th Mechanized Cavalry Regiment, which will increase the number of troops from 230 to 700.

Sixteen armored tanks and dozens of surface-to-surface missiles similar to the American Javelin, widely used by Ukraine against Russia, are also being sent to Boa Vistas military base.

Since the fraudulent impeachment of PT president Dilma Rousseff in 2016, the Amazon region has been the stage for military exercises with the participation of the US armed forces. In 2017, Brazil and the US, alongside Peru and Colombia (which host most of the US bases in Latin America), carried out the first war games in the region. The military exercise marked a new stage of the US imperialisms pivot to Latin America offensive to counter Chinas growing presence in the region.

In 2020, under the government of fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of then-US President Donald Trump, the Brazilian armed forces held the largest military exercise in the Amazon region, simulating a war with an enemy country, with clear reference to Venezuela. It took place amid increasing US threats against the Maduro government and the largest recent US military deployment in Latin America.

Since Lulas inauguration earlier this year, his government has deepened its military partnership with the US while providing criminal political cover for the Biden administration as it tries to assert US imperialisms strategic interests in the region it historically considers its backyard. As part of this process, 1,200 Brazilian military personnel and 300 American military personnel carried out a military exercise between November 1 and 16 on the border between Brazil and French Guianathe same Amazon rainforest environment as the triple border region between Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana.

According to Brazilian Gen. Luciano Guilherme Cabral Pinheiro, head of the Northern Military Command, the aim of the Combined Operation and Rotation Exercise (CORE) was to expand interoperability between the armies of Brazil, the US and forces made up of NATO member countries, in addition to ensuring that the Brazilian Army is trained to take part in international operations. Since 2019, Brazil has been a Major Non-NATO Ally, a position surpassed only by Colombia, which since 2018 has been the only Latin American country to be a global partner of NATO.

The crisis between Venezuela and Guyana has been used by the Bolsonaro-led opposition to the Lula government to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that increases the defense budget from 1.1 percent to 2 percent of Brazil's GDP. The measure, however, is also being promoted by leading officials in the Lula government, including its Defense Minister. If approved, the measure would add to an investment of 53 billion reais (11 billion US dollars) already announced by Lula in July to boost the national defense industry. These actions are at the core of the PTs bourgeois nationalist answer to the tensions with the Brazilian armed forces that emerged in the attempted fascist coup on January 8.

Maduro's claim to Essequibo is based on the capitalist character of his Bolivarian government. The Venezuelan bourgeoisie doesnt want to be left out of the exploitation of oil, and Maduros administration sees the enterprise as a way of boosting a severely deteriorated economy and profiting politically ahead of the general elections scheduled for next year. His government also reportedly intends to reactivate PetroCaribe, a partnership between Venezuela and 16 Caribbean countries for the sale of oil and fuel at favorable prices. Launched in 2005 by the Chavez government, it was virtually halted due to US sanctions in 2019.

Despite the Maduro government's anti-imperialist rhetoric, which has mainly targeted Exxon Mobils actions in Essequibo, it has relentlessly sought a diplomatic rapprochement with the US. Seeing oil exploitation in Venezuela, the country with the largest known reserves in the world, as a way of minimizing the Ukraine wars impact on global fuel prices and of undermining oil exportation to China, the US government has slightly relaxed its crippling economic sanctions on Venezuela over the last year.

At the same time, Washington sees the relaxation of sanctions against Caracas as a way of getting its candidate, Maria Corina Machado, into next years general elections. This process has also been overseen by Brazil, which has mediated negotiations between the Maduro government and the US-backed Venezuelan opposition.

In the latest move toward rapprochement between Venezuela and the US, an exchange of prisoners was announced on December 20. Venezuela released 30 prisoners, including two former members of the US armed forces who took part in an operation in 2020 to overthrow Maduro, and Roberto Abdul, a member of the commission that coordinated the opposition primaries. In exchange, the US released Alex Saab, a former Venezuelan diplomat convicted on trumped-up money laundering charges.

Maduros claim on Essequibo has nothing to do with the interests of the Venezuelan working class, let alone the workers of Guyana. Amid a growing domestic crisis, Maduro is trying to deflect a series of internal tensions outwards and, responding to growing geopolitical tensions, to stay in power and guarantee the interests of a sector of the Venezuelan bourgeoisie that has benefited from Chavismo since 1999.

As recent developments have shown, imperialisms ferocious drive to world war, alongside the bankruptcy of bourgeois nationalism, including its Pink Tide variant, are threatening to transform South Americasooner rather than laterinto a battleground. The only way to answer this threat is for the workers and youth of Venezuela, Guyana and all of Latin America to unite with the American and international working class in an anti-war movement based on an internationalist socialist program.
Healthcare Workers for Palestine vigil in Chicago, December 16, 2023 [Photo: Healthcare Workers for Palestine - Chicago via Instagram]

On December 18, healthcare workers held a rally at the Chicago headquarters of the American Medical Association (AMA) to urge the organization to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Rather than responding to the workers appeal, the AMA sent security guards to forcibly remove the workers from the building. The incident sheds light on the support of the AMA for US imperialism and contains lessons for healthcare workers who seek to end the Netanyahu governments campaign of genocide against the Palestinians.

Like workers in other industries, healthcare workers are outraged by Israels ongoing and systematic murder of medical personnel and deliberate destruction of hospitals in Gaza. For months, healthcare workers in the United States have been calling and sending emails to the AMA, urging the organization to defend its Hippocratic Oath and for the association to denounce these crimes publicly.

At the December 18 rally, workers brought a physical copy of their demands, which they planned to deliver personally to AMA representatives.

Even before the rally began, policemen and security guards arrived at the building and positioned themselves on its perimeter as the workers approached. As speakers addressed the rally and led the workers in chants, AMA security guards took pictures of the workers without asking for their consent. The guards also asked journalists who were covering the rally to leave the area.

Two doctors went into AMA headquarters carrying a packet that included their demands, various letters and other informational documents. AMA security guards quickly stopped them and asked for the packet. After glancing at the first page of the packet, the guards asked the doctors to leave the building. When the doctors asked the reason for this request, the guards told them that they were unwanted guests. The guards then tried to push one of the doctors toward the door.

The doctors stood their ground and called the AMA office, asking for the guards to be called off and for the opportunity to deliver their packet. A representative of the AMA refused both requests, and local police were soon called to help eject the doctors from the building. These repressive tactics prevented the workers from delivering their demands.

This Chicago rally is only the latest demonstration of the AMAs opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza. At a meeting of the AMA House of Delegates (the organizations legislative body) in November, representatives of the AMAs Minorities Affairs Group introduced a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine in order to protect civilian lives and healthcare personnel.

A delegate from the Resident and Fellow Section spoke in favor of the resolution, but was told by Dr. Andrew Gurman, a former AMA president, that the resolution dealt with geopolitical issues and thus was not within the purview of this House. When others tried to speak in support of the resolution, they were interrupted, and further discussion of the resolution was abruptly ended.

The AMAs sudden intolerance of statements on geopolitical issues is the sheerest hypocrisy. The AMA had no scruples about making a public statement supporting the US proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. The AMA is outraged by the senseless injury and death the Russian army has inflicted on the Ukrainian people, AMA President Dr. Gerald E. Harmon thundered in March 2022. We join physicians everywhereand especially in Ukrainewho are calling for an end to this war so we can work on healing the terrible damage already inflicted. He faithfully echoed the official US State Department line that the Russian invasion of Ukraine had been unprovoked.

The common thread linking the AMAs remarks on Ukraine with its refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza is that both positions uphold the interests of US imperialism and larger war plans by Washington and NATO allies to pursue a global war aimed ultimately at China.

It should come as no surprise that top leaders of the AMA have connections with the state and the military. Harmon, for example, served in the military for 35 years and retired as a major general of the Air National Guard. Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, the current AMA president, is a former lieutenant in the Naval Reserve and served a tour in Afghanistan beginning in 2014. His medical research has been supported by the US Department of Defense.

The AMA has long supported capitalism and profit-driven healthcare since its inception. In the 1940s, it opposed President Harry Trumans proposed healthcare reforms, which would have created a national health insurance plan and expanded healthcare facilities in low-income communities, on the grounds that they constituted socialized medicine.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the AMA campaigned vigorously against the introduction of Medicare. It helped defeat the healthcare reform proposed by President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. Today it opposes the proposed Medicare for All, which has been proposed by some Democrats such as Bernie Sanders in order to bolster the partys progressive credentials, but which they well know has no chance of passing against opposition from Republicans and right-wing Democrats. This defense of the profit system is the root of the AMAs social and political positions.

The US-supported genocide in Gaza and the proxy war between NATO and Russia in Ukraine are two facets of an emerging imperialist redivision of the world. The corporate and financial oligarchy of the US seeks to reverse its protracted economic decline through military means. The aim of the current conflicts is to seize control of new territory, resources, labor and markets by force. Preparations to expand the conflicts to Iran and China, which is the main economic and geopolitical rival of US imperialism, are already being carried out. These bipartisan policies are the result not of madness or misconceptions, but of objective economic processes.

To end the slaughter of healthcare workers and other innocent Palestinians in Gaza, healthcare workersand all workersmust establish their political independence from the ruling class. New organizations of struggle are needed: rank-and-file committees that workers themselves control democratically. Accomplishing this task requires that workers break with both capitalist political parties and their junior partners in the trade unions and professional organizations.

The establishment of rank-and-file committees will enable workers to communicate across borders and coordinate direct action to end the genocide. Only through rank-and-file committees can healthcare workers express and defend their interests, which include the right to live and practice in a world free from war, and capitalist exploitation which places profit before human life throughout the entire healthcare system. The fight against imperialist war is inseparable from the fight to replace the capitalist system with socialism, which is the only means by which high-quality healthcare can be provided to all as a human right.
Tal Mitnick, an 18-year-old conscript to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), refused to serve and was sentenced to a 30-day prison term. Mitnick is one of hundreds of Israeli teenagers who have refused military enlistment this year to protest the Palestinian occupation. His refusal became a lightning rod in Israeli politics because of his sentence and the sharply worded political statement he published on social media, tearing down the arguments of the defenders of genocide.

Fortress Israel always requires an endless stream of fresh recruits, guaranteed through Israels conscription laws, which mandate military service for both men and women, including reserve duty until age 40 or beyond.

Israel is a garrison state. Its navy strictly controls the shared coastline with the Gaza Strip; pilots crisscross the skies to carpet bomb the Palestinians or evade air defenses en route to Iran; drone pilots operate the densest reconnaissance network in the world; intelligence agents capture and process millions of signals a day; spies conduct assassinations abroad; and engineers maintain a massive nuclear arsenal, the Iron Dome missile shield, and sophisticated cyber operations. The West Bank is crowded with young foot soldiers guarding illegal settlements, patrolling endless checkpoints, and meting out military justice against an occupied population.

Military service functions as a pipeline to private industry, and placement in competitive military units is a prerequisite to specialized careers. The question, In what unit did you serve? is the Israeli equivalent of Hows the weather? and a non-answer may invite condemnation.

Mitnicks decision to refuse would therefore be a courageous act of defiance at any time. Amid the xenophobic anti-Palestinian hysteria whipped up to justify genocide in Gaza, it assumes even greater significance. Despite widespread enlistment exemptions granted for religious, health, and increasingly mental health reasons, the Zionist state views Mitnicks refusal under conscientious objector status as treasonous and, consequently, is making an example of him.

While first-time refusal often carries a sentence of 7-10 days, Mitnick has been sentenced to thirty days imprisonment, after which he will again be called up, again refuse, and face further punishments to act as a deterrent to others contemplating similar protests against the war crimes of the Israeli state.

Mitnick published a statement on Twitter/X, stating, Violence cannot solve the situation, neither by Hamas, nor by Israel. There is no military solution to a political problem. He lays out the political problem in clear and powerful language: Before the war, the army guarded the settlements, maintained the murderous siege on the Gaza Strip, and upheld the status quo of apartheid and Jewish supremacy in the land between the Jordan [river] and the [Mediterranean] Sea.

Israel is an apartheid state, propped up through the deepening of oppression, spreading of hatred, and the expansion of fascistic political persecution within Israel, in Mitnicks words.

He takes aim at fascistic arguments for collective punishment, noting recent polling within Gaza that found only 26 percent support for Hamas before October 7 and criticizing the criminal lie that there are no innocent civilians in Gaza.

Mitnick repeatedly draws parallels between Hamas and the Israeli military state, criticizing their corrupt interests and use of violence and war to increase support for the government and silence criticism. He is disgusted by the shoot first mandate of the IDF that led to the murder of three Israeli hostages shot to death while waving a white flag shouting in Hebrew. He recoils at the thought of how many innocent Palestinians have been mowed down without pretext during this genocide. Of the more than 21,000 Gazans officially murderedno doubt a severe undercountover 70 percent are women and children.

Israeli officials use genocidal language freely and have the full backing of the US for their indiscriminate killing spree.

Mitnick also alludes to an intentional standdown of Israeli forces around Gaza in the days before the invasion that led to the abandon[ment of] the residents of the south and the entire country. This conspiracy and the murder of escaped hostages have rocked Israeli society, leading to calls for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ouster for incompetence and treason.

Mitnick insists, It is important to distinguish between the ordinary people and the generals and self serving people who sit at the head of the system. He believes that for both Israelis and Palestinians, the vast majority of people want to live a good and safe life, have a place for their children to play after school, and to make ends meet at the end of the month.

According to Mitnick, In order to change, an alternative must be put in place, an alternative to Hamas, and an alternative to the militaristic society in which we live.

The call for a radical transformation of society is gaining broad support worldwide, especially among young people, and reflects an objective change in social conditions. However, as brave as Mitnick and other refuseniks are, it is insufficient to protest the politicians and moneyed interests hellbent on war in the hopes of pressuring them to work against their interests. The only hope for putting an end to the imperialist exploitation that has led to this 75-year conflict is to unify the mass protest movement that has erupted all over the world and orient it towards the working class, the only revolutionary force capable of overturning the capitalist system that is the root cause of war.
Indias opposition Congress Party suffered a major debacle while the far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has formed Indias national government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the past decade, secured a narrow overall victory in the five-state assembly elections whose results were announced earlier this month.

Held in states with a combined population of 230 million, the state elections were widely considered an important testing ground for the national election to be held in the spring of 2024.

The BJP, with the support of much of the corporate media, is pointing to its electoral triumph in the three northern Hindi-belt states that went to the polls in November and December to claim that the state elections showed strong popular support for Modi and his government.

President Joe Biden led Washington in feting Indias far-right Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited the US for a state visit last June. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

In reality, the BJPs electoral support is not indicative of any widespread popular enthusiasm for its right-wing, pro-big business policies and incessant promotion of far-right Hindu supremacism. Among workers and the rural poor, there is growing anger over the governments brutal attacks on their basic social and democratic rights, as it implements pro-investor economic reforms and slashes social spending to finance a rapid expansion of Indias military.

However, working people do not see the Congress Party and the other opposition partiesvarious regional parties and the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its Left Front alliesas a genuine alternative to the BJP. Congress, till recently the Indian bourgeoisies preferred party of national government, and its allies have all implemented pro-investor policies akin to those of the BJP when in national or state government.

Congress and the regional bourgeois parties also all support Indias ever-expanding anti-China Global Strategic Partnership with Washington. While Congress on occasion denounces Modi, his BJP and the RSS-led cabal of Hindu supremacist organizations with which they are closely allied for their most blatant communal outrages, it has increasingly adapted to and connived with the Hindu right.

Buoyed by their state election victories, Modi and his government moved aggressively in the just concluded 18-day-long winter session of parliament to ram though a series of repressive laws, violating at will traditional parliamentary norms. This includes a new Telecommunications Act, adopted just days after it was tabled in parliament and while more than 100 opposition parliamentarians had been temporarily expelled for misbehaviour. The new law, which has been termed totalitarian by some of its critics, gives the government sweeping powers to spy on electronic communications, including encrypted messages, censor online content and in the name of national security even take temporary control over the internet.

In Madhya Pradesh, which with a population of 85 million was the largest of the states to go to the polls this fall, the BJP government that came to power three years ago after it succeeded in organizing defections from a minority Congress-led administration, was returned to power with an increased majority. With 48 percent of the vote to Congresss 40 percent, the BJP won 163 of the 230 state assembly seats.

In two other Hindi-speaking statesRajasthan and Chhattisgarhthe BJP wrested power from Congress Party-led governments. In Rajasthan, which with a population of 80 million is Indias seventh largest state, the BJP won just 2 percent more of the vote than Congress. However, due to the first-past-the-post electoral system, which generally disproportionately favors the most popular party, the BJP captured 115 seats to the Congresss 69.

Only in the south Indian state of Telangana was the Congress able to win government. In a state in which the BJP is an also-ran, it defeated the regional Bharat Rashta Samiti (BRS), which had held power in Telangana since it became a separate state in 2014.

In the fifth state to go the polls, Mizoram, the Mizo National Front, till recently an ally of the BJP, fell from power. The Congress, meanwhile, saw its popular vote fall by 9 percentage points and won just 1 of the 40 assembly seats. Mizoram, which lies in Indias northeast and has a population of little more than one million, will now be governed by a recently-formed alliance of six tribal-based parties known as the Zoram Peoples Movement.

A significant indication of growing opposition towards all bourgeois parties was the number of votes for NOTA (None of the Above), which is the bottom-most button on the electronic voting machine ballot. It was reported that NOTA polled more votes than the winning margin in 47 seats across four states, most of them in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress Party dominated Indian politics during the first half-century after independence, and between 1991 and 2014 it did much of the heavy-lifting in dismantling the state-led capitalist development and non-aligned policies with which it had previously been associated and falsely touted as Congress socialism. This included spearheading the drive to fully integrate India into the imperialist-led world economy and making an Indo-US partnership the cornerstone of Indias foreign policy.

In 2004, after eight years in opposition, the Congress returned to power at the head of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on the basis of the fraudulent claim that it could intensify the implementation of pro-investor policies while providing increased social support to working peoplewhat it called pursuing reform with a human face. It was under the Congress-led UPA that New Delhi forged its global strategic partnership with US imperialism.

By the time the Congress was swept from power in 2014, its rule was synonymous with high prices and mass joblessness and corrupt ties to big business. Since then, Indias so-called Grand Old Party has suffered one electoral defeat after another. It has been eliminated as a major political force in large swaths of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, respectively the countrys largest, third largest and fifth most populous states.

In the 2019 national election, the Congress won its lowest ever share of the popular vote, 19.5 percent, and won just 52 seats in the Lok Sabha, less than the 10 percent required to be formally recognized as the official opposition.

With the outcome of the recent state elections, the Congress holds power outright in just three of Indias 28 states, Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, and is a junior partner in coalition governments in three others.

The Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, and its Left Front alliesincluding the older but smaller Communist Party of India (CPI)have similarly suffered a massive hemorrhaging in their electoral support and for like reasons. Since 1991, the Stalinists have supported a succession of right-wing governments at the Centre, most of them Congress-led, in the name of blocking the BJP from power. Indeed, the CPM was instrumental in stitching together the Congress Party-led UPA alliance. Moreover, in those states where they have held office, West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, the Stalinists have implemented what they themselves have termed pro-investor policies.

As a result, the supposedly secular and progressive Congress Party and the Indian Left have been discredited among the working class, rural toilers and lower middle class. It is the rotten record of these parties that has created the political opening for the BJP to exploit mass social anger and frustration with a combination of phony promises of development and reactionary communalist appeals.

Indias corporate media and big business have provided solid support to Modi and his BJP, which they view as their best bet to ruthlessly pursue their class war agenda at home and great-power aspirations internationally. And they have continued to do so throughout Modis second term, during which the BJP has been even more brazen in whipping up animosity against Muslims and other minorities and suppressing dissent, even from within the bourgeois establishment.

The Indian ruling classs further turn to the right and towards autocratic and fascist forms of rule, as indicated by its lining up behind Modi and his BJP, is not an isolated phenomenon. Rather, it is part of a global trend, personified by Donald Trump in the US, Giorgia Meloni in Italy, Javier Milei in Argentina and Rishi Sunak in the UK.

The BJPs campaign for the state elections combined Hindu communalism, jingoistic Indian chauvinism and casteism, as well as bare bones populist schemes, often targeting the most desperate of the poor. The party made use of caste divisions for electoral gains, above all, in the selection of its election candidates.

In the wake of Congresss debacle in the state elections, many of its partners in the newly formed anti-BJP electoral bloc, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or I.N.D.I.A., roundly criticised the Congress leadership for its refusal to agree to seat sharing with other alliance members. The INDIA alliance is a political coalition of 28 opposition parties, formed last July, with the aim of ousting the BJP in the 2024 Indian general elections. The Stalinist CPM is part of the INDIA alliance and promotes it, just as it previously did Congress and the UPA, as a secular bulwark against the Hindu supremacist BJP. The Stalinists thus provide political life support for the highly discredited big business Congress.

The Congress and INDIAs alliance secular credentials are a fraud. Among its key constituents are the Janata Dal (United), which for most of the past quarter-century has been a major BJP ally, and the fascistic, pro-Hindutva Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

As for the Congress, in many of the five states it ran an expressly Hindu chauvinist campaign. In Madhya Pradesh, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who led the Congress election campaign in the state, sought to outdo the BJP and the virulently communalist RSS by patronizing chauvinist Hindu priests. Recently he engineered the merger of the Bajrang Sena (a Hindu extremist outfit) with the Congress. In Chhattisgarh, Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel implemented Hindu chauvinist programs, like building the Ram Van Gaman Path.

Congress has been so closely associated with Hindu chauvinism that even the Stalinists have had to admit it. In its statement on the state election results, the CPM lamented that the Congress Party was pandering to Hindutva sentiments during the election campaign, blaming Kamal Nath as the chief practitioner of this soft Hindutva.

These criticisms from the CPM are all the more cynical given that they are made of a party that it has been hailing for decades as a progressive alternative to the Hindu supremacist BJP. The Stalinist CPM continues to play an extremely reactionary role by subordinating the working class and the rural poor to the pro-big business, pro-imperialist and soft Hindutva Congress party and numerous regional right-wing parties under the guise of fighting the fascistic and communal BJP.

It is thereby preventing the working class from mobilizing its independent social power and rallying the rural toilers behind it in the fight against all factions and political representatives of the bourgeoisie and for social equality and a workers and peasants government. This is the only viable means of opposing the Indian bourgeoisies turn to reaction and its war alliance with US imperialism, and of realizing the social and democratic aspirations of Indias workers and toilers.
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The year 2023 has seen a significant rise in both the quality and quantity of cultural activities in China.

After pandemic-induced restrictions came to an end, a resurgence in the demand for high-quality cultural activities was evident among the people.

To address this need, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a circular in March, which stipulated that regional cultural authorities were to resume the examination and approval of foreign-related commercial performances starting from March 20.

Foreign artists, largely absent in the preceding years due to the pandemic, were back on the stage across China with their performances.

Meanwhile, as cultural venues lifted crowd control measures, the public again felt the joy of appreciating performances with full venues of fellow enthusiasts.

According to data from the ministry, in the first three quarters of 2023, a total of 342,000 commercial live performances were staged in China, attracting 111 million audiences.

In March, shortly after the release of the circular, the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing welcomed celebrated Russian conductor Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra, one of the oldest musical ensembles in Russia. During the trip, the group put on high-quality renditions of renowned composers like Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Shostakovich.

Gergiev's visit with the orchestra marked the initiation of a series of performances by foreign artists at NCPA. Towards the end of 2022, NCPA President Wang Ning extended invitations to art institutions worldwide to come to China, eliciting a positive response from international artists and art institutions.

This has enabled the NCPA to organize performances and concerts by artists and art groups worldwide almost every month since March 2023.

According to the NCPA performance schedule, the center has already hosted nearly 20 artists and art groups from abroad this year for concerts. Notable names among them include pianist Rudolf Buchbinder and the Vienna Boys Choir.

In addition to performances held in esteemed cultural venues, numerous artists and art groups perform on stages that draw a broader audience.

Earlier this month, renowned jazz pianist Michael Kaeshammer performed before an electrifying audience at the Gulangyu Concert Hall in east China's coastal city of Xiamen. At this free concert, the artist performed a repertoire that included jazz adaptations of several traditional Chinese songs.

"We planned to stay indoors after dinner, but were surprised to learn about this free concert which is just a ten-minute walk from where we are staying," said Cheng Rusu, a tourist from Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

She added that all they had to do was register through the concert hall's WeChat public account.

Xiamen wasn't the only city that hosted jazz concerts this year. From Oct. 28 to Nov. 23, the 2023 Guangzhou Jazz Festival took place in south China's Guangdong Province, featuring performances by more than 40 world-class jazz musicians.

Hong Kong musician Andrew Tuason, who led his jazz ensemble at the festival, expressed amazement at the enthusiasm of the audience. "Before coming to Guangdong, I thought jazz music was no more than a niche on the mainland," he said. "I never expected to meet so many young jazz enthusiasts here, and the cultural atmosphere is welcoming."

According to him, in recent years, many artists from Hong Kong have chosen to expand their careers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"I believe such opportunities can be very helpful in facilitating exchange and cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangdong in the music sector," he said.

Just as how the musician put it, art can build bridges between people of different social backgrounds and help forge enduring friendships.

This November, the U.S.-based Philadelphia Orchestra visited China, commemorating the anniversary of its China tour 50 years ago. In 1973, the renowned ensemble became the first U.S. art group to visit China, marking a thaw in the China-U.S. cultural exchange before the normalization of the two countries' diplomatic relations.

At the concert held in Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, the orchestra joined the local Suzhou Symphony Orchestra to perform musical works from the ode to friendship "Auld Lang Syne" to the traditional Chinese tune "Jasmine Flower."

"The Chinese audience really obviously loves music and we are very grateful as performers," said Davyd Booth, a veteran violinist with the orchestra who was part of the 1973 trip. "I think these trips have more and more shown us the connection between our countries and cities... This is one of the most important relationships that we have."

To inject new impetus into cultural exchange through live performances, major cultural organizations in China have already made plans for the coming year.

According to the China Theatre Association, a drama based on Victor Hugo's celebrated novel "Les Miserables" will be staged in 2024 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The play is slated to be directed by French director Jean Bellorini, with the acclaimed Chinese actor Liu Ye portraying the role of the protagonist, Jean Valjean.

Through this collaborative effort by Chinese and French artists, the audience can once again fully appreciate the splendor of this timeless literary masterpiece, said Wang Chunmei, deputy secretary-general of the theatre association. 
offered up by the European Parliaments Terminology Coordination Unit.)

vectigal etiam novum ex salaria annona statuerunt. sextante sal et Romae et per totam Italiam erat; Romae pretio eodem, pluris in foris et conciliabulis et alio alibi pretio praebendum locaverunt. id vectigal commentum alterum ex censoribus satis credebant ... inde Salinatori Livio inditum cognomen.

(The censors) also imposed a new tax on the annual salt production. Salt cost a sixth of an as in Rome and throughout Italy; they set it to be offered at the same price in Rome, but more in town squares and marketplaces, and at other rates in other places. It was widely believed that just one of the two censors devised this tax ... As a result (the censor) Marcus Livius was given the nickname salt-dealer.

-- Livy 29.37.3

reported in Servius auctus, commentary on

4.244).

the Roman historian Pliny the Elder, who stated as an aside in his Natural Historys discussion of sea water, that [I]n Rome...the soldiers pay was originally salt and the word salary derives from it....

-- Wikipedia, Salary (the addition of this line dates to 2004

Note, 18 Jan.: this error, and the other Wikipedia excerpt quoted above, have since been corrected. However, some other parts of the articles are still inaccurate: see below.

Brine refinery at Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (source: tourist blog). Ancient Roman salinae worked in more or less the same way: see Pliny Nat. hist. 31.81-83.

In trading, they make no use of coined money, as the Europeans do, but their money are pieces of fifteen or twenty Pics of cloth, gold, which they give by weight, and a kind of salt, which they reduce into little square pieces like pieces of soap, and these pass for money. They cut out that salt upon the side of the Red Sea, five or six days journeys from Dangala, as you go from Cairo, and the places where they make it are called Arbo.

A collection of curious travels and voyages, vol. 2 (1st ed. 1693, 2nd ed. 1705), -- John Ray,, vol. 2 (1st ed. 1693, 2nd ed. 1705), 1738 printing, p. 486

B. salarium, ii, n. (sc. argentum; cf.: calcearium, congiarium, vestiarium, etc.); orig., the money given to the soldiers for salt, salt-money; hence, post-Aug. (v. Dio Cass. 52, 23, and 78, 22), in gen., a pension, stipend, allowance, salary (cf.: honorarium, annuum, merces, stipendium)

A Latin dictionary (1879), p. 1618, -- Lewis & Short,(1879), p. 1618, Salarius

Salarium, ii ...: proprie est annona salis, quae olim dabatur militibus.

salary ...: strictly, the annual salt revenue, which was once given to soldiers.

Totius Latinitatis lexicon (1st edition, 1771), vol. 4 p. 15, --(1st edition, 1771), vol. 4 p. 15, Salarius

Sea water refinery in western France (source: ISSLR.org)

A soldiers salary was cut if he was not worth his salt, a phrase that came into being because the Greeks and Romans often bought slaves with salt.

Time, A brief history of salt, 15 Mar. 1982 --

World salt production in 2012. That year, China produced between 22.5% and 27% of the worlds salt, well ahead of the USA, India, and Germany (in that order). (Generated using OpenHeatMap, based on Wikipedia figures)

And second, testimony about state taxes on salt. For example, the historian Livy reports how the Roman censors imposed a new tax in 204 BCE:Elsewhere Cato the Elder is quoted as talking about, treasurers of the salt taxes, as a specialised post in the 190s BCE (These passages, along with Pliny, are close as we get to a link between salt and money in any extant Roman sources.The trouble with citing Pliny as a source for the myth is of course that Pliny doesnt say anything of the kind. The problem is exacerbated by Wikipedia, which bald-facedly re-writes Pliny, and has been quoted very widely:This is a mistranslation, just to be clear. And this wording doesnt even appear in the linked source. And Pliny isnt writing about sea water, but about salt itself. None of that has stopped this fake quotation being repeated in countless books and websites.If you take a global view, of course youre bound to findtimes and places where salt could act as a means of storing value and facilitating exchange. The most famous example is Ethiopia in the modern era. Heres how its reported by Rays, a classic 17th century piece of travel writing: this 1977 essay , and this 1994 book report that salt bars calledcontinued to serve as an important medium for exchange -- one among many; others included Maria Theresa thalers, clothing, iron, gold, and cattle -- all the way up until the beginning of the 20th century. Reportedly the chief source of Ethiopian salt bars was the Afar depression , next to the Red Sea, a region that includes present-day Djibouti as well as slivers of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.Just bear in mind that this hasto do with Roman soldiers. The fact that salt could mediate exchange in 17th-19th century Ethiopia has no bearing on ancient Rome. Salt money might be a plausible thing in and of itself, but we have absolutely no reason to imagine salt currency in Rome. Its just that when you go hunting for something specific across the whole of human history, youre likely to find it.A few more examples. This 2013 book claims that salt has also been used as money (the word is tendentious: a medium for trade and money are not the same thing) in China, pre-Columbian Mexico, Borneo, and elsewhere. A person who uploaded this photo to Wikimedia.org claims it is a sample of salt currency from early 20th century Angola, held at the Royal Ontario Museum. And Wikipedia alleges that American soldiers were paid in brine during the War of 1812. This last one appears to be completely fictional, like the Roman case: apparently its some kind of distant distortion of the British salt embargo during the war, and the development of several important brine refineries in the USA throughout the 1800s-1810s.Roman soldiers were paid in salt may be the simplest form of the myth, but its also a secondary form. Ive done some searching around in Google Books with date constraints, and that seems to indicate that people first started writing about the idea around the 1860s ( here , for example).The older, primary form of the myth is that soldiers were given salt money, that is, a monetary allowance for buying salt. This, too, is a modern invention. It isnt nearly as daft as soldiers were paid in salt, but its still only a conjecture, unsupported by any ancient testimony.The phrase salt money, or in Latin, is an invention of 18th and 19th century Latin dictionaries. The phrase was coined by dictionary-writers as theirfor howsalary came frompertaining to salt. Heres one of the two standard Latin-English dictionaries, Lewis & Short, on the subject:The key bit is in the first line. The supposed meaning salt money (sc[ilicet] argentum, i.e. withimplied) is not actually attested anywhere. Its inferred by analogy with some other, real, expressions:(shoe money, fromshoe);(distribution of largesse, fromhalf an amphoras worth); and(clothing money, fromclothing). Unlike, these terms actually do appear in various ancient sources, with the correct meanings.Lewis & Short didnt invent the conjecture: it also appears in the older Latin-German dictionaries of Freund (1834) and Scheller (1804) . It seems to have its origin in the 1st edition of Facciolati and Forcellinis(dictionary of the entire Latin language):This was already a very muddled rendering of the evidence. Facciolati-Forcellini go on to cite Pliny, though as we have seen Pliny doesnt actually say this. It looks like whats happened is that they've conflated the Pliny passage with the Livy passage. Livy referred to a tax on theannual salt production.can mean either annual production or annual revenue, and Facciolati-Forcellini have taken Livys phrase and used it with the other meaning:annual salt revenue. Later on, Scheller and Freund realised that Pliny didnt say what Facciolati-Forcellini claimed he did, but they liked the idea so they instead supported it with the analogies of shoe money, clothing money, and so on. And the idea stuck.All these dictionaries are engaging in conjecture. No ancient source ever actually usesto mean salt allowance. Its a guess. It isnt a terrible guess, but its still a guess. One thing that weighs heavily against it is that even Pliny, whos trying to linkto salt as closely as he can, doesnt try to get away with inventing salt money.The current standard, the(1968), very properly avoids taking any view on the question. It just states thatcomes from. Unlike the older dictionaries, it doesnt make any inferences about how or why the two words are related.Salt money certainly isnt as ridiculous as the idea of paying soldiers in salt -- it does have parallels that make it at least aconjecture -- but theres still no evidence for it.I dont have a perfect explanation for how the Latin word for salty gave rise to the word for salary. Of course I dont: thats why we have this myth floating around. Weto settle on a single explanation.As I said above, salt allowance isnt a terrible guess. But I strongly suspect its much more metaphorical than that. Compare how the Greek word for a salary was, literally (money) for buying, wheremeans fish, relish, sauce. That doesnt mean Greek workers were given a fish allowance: it means that there was a generalised idea that wages went on traded goodsfish, and not on things like barley which land-owners would grow for themselves. Similarly, in Rome, grain allowances were a common thing; it could easily make sense to interpretas everything-else-money.This interpretation is less specific, slightly metaphorical, and its still just a conjecture. But Id say its more plausible, and certainly a more economical explanation, than inventing a specialised category of wages out of thin air.We still havent dealt with this:Oh dear oh dear. This one has made it into Wikipedia too (soldiers who did their job well were worth their salt). Unfortunately forand for the thousands of people who have repeated this idea, the phrase worth ones salt is definitely not Roman. It is first attested in the 1830s ( Etymonline.com ; for sources, see OED under salt). The thing about buying slaves with salt is fictional too.And then theres salt of the earth, which comes up in the 2009 blog post I quoted at the start. I mentioned this in my previous post on salting the earth. Its nothing to do with Roman soldiers: its biblical, from Matthew 5:13 in the New Testament. This means that (1) it isnt a Roman phrase, but at closest, Helleno-Christian; (2) its later than Plinys mention of; (3) its about using salt as a fertiliser as much as anything else, as I argued in my earlier post.Salt was certainly a significant strategic resource in antiquity. But calling it prized and valuable is silly. Yes, its the single most common preservative agent ever used, and it is by far the most common seasoning. The Roman salt trade was under state control from the earliest times (see e.g. Livy 1.33.9 2.9.6 ); the Via Salaria or Salt Road owed its name to its role in salt transportation; the Etruscan city of Veii owed much of its wealth to salt production; and access to salt even provoked a war between two German tribes at Bad Salzungen in the 1st century CE.But prized and valuable -- no. That suggests a special cultural status which isnt supported by any evidence. No one thought of salt as an heirloom, or used it for jewellery. No one talks about awarding salt as a prize for contests. Theres no evidence anyone used salt bars as money -- not even as one among many forms of exchange, as in 19th century Ethiopia. Salt was not a prestige object.Modern people who repeat these myths sometimes emphasise the high value of salt in the Roman world. Well, sure, the saltwas valuable ... thats because it was traded in such high volume. But in 204 BCE, when Marcus Livius the salt-dealer imposed his tax on salt, Livy quotes the price of salt at a: that is, one sixth of a copper, or one 60th of a silver(or in a civilian context, awas one 96th of a). Polybius, writing in the mid-100s BCE, quotes a foot-soldiers pay as two obols per day, that is to say, one third of a(Polybius 6.39.12 ).In other words, a Roman pound of salt (ca. 330 grams) cost one twentieth of a foot-soldiers daily wages.Important? Of course. Expensive by modern standards? Maybe, depending on the price of salt where you live. Prized and valuable? No.Actually that deserves more than a no. It deserves a hearty laugh followed by a no. Thus: Ha ha ha ha! No. There, got it right now.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the New Year gathering organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday addressed a gathering organized by the country's top political advisory body to ring in the year of 2024.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), delivered an important speech at the gathering of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.

Other Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the gathering.

They were joined by leading officials of the central committees of non-CPC parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of personages without party affiliation, leading officials of central Party and government departments, and representatives from various ethnic groups and sectors of society in Beijing.

Advancing the great cause of building China into a stronger country and rejuvenating the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization is the central task of the Party and the country on the new journey in the new era, Xi stressed.

Xi called for consolidating and developing the broadest patriotic united front, stressing the need to pool strength through unity, forge great achievements through hard work, and jointly write a magnificent chapter on Chinese modernization.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the CMC, Xi extended New Year greetings to non-CPC parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, personages without party affiliation, Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and the friends from around the world who support the development of China's modernization.

The year 2023 marks the first year of the full implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, Xi noted.

Over the past year, we have remained committed to the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, transitioned COVID-19 management to that of a class-B infectious disease, resolutely overcame internal and external difficulties, pushed for economic recovery, and fulfilled the main objectives for economic and social development, said Xi.

We have created new opportunities and won the strategic initiative while overcoming crises, fighting difficulties and responding to changes, which has greatly enhanced our confidence and strength, he said.

Xi pointed out that 2023 saw the CPPCC conscientiously implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and make new contributions to advancing the cause of the Party and the country.

Over the past year, the CPPCC played its due role as a specialized consultative body and carried out in-depth research, consultation and deliberation, and oversight with a focus on the central task, Xi said.

Xi emphasized that the year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and is a crucial year in fulfilling the goals and tasks in the 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development.

He urged efforts to consolidate and enhance the momentum of economic recovery and growth, improve people's well-being, maintain social stability, and make solid and steady progress in advancing the Chinese modernization.

Xi noted that 2024 also marks the CPPCC's 75th anniversary. He called on the advisory body to carry forward its fine traditions, be active in offering suggestions and building consensus, and improve itself so as to open up new horizons for CPPCC work in the new era.

The gathering was presided over by Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Addressing the gathering, Wang stressed that efforts should be made to study and grasp the guiding principles of Xi's speech. He called on members of the CPPCC National Committee to pool their wisdom and strength in deepening reform, advancing development, and facilitating progress in people's well-being.

Wang also called on them to remain confident, break new ground and forge ahead, make new contributions to the cause of the Party and the country, and strive for the advancement of Chinese modernization. 

Leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attend the New Year gathering organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. The leaders also watched a performance at the gathering. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the New Year gathering organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
There are thousands upon thousands of movies released each year. Too many, it could be argued  anyone who has leapt into the bowels of Prime Video will be greeted by an absurd number of new films that no one in their right mind will have seen or even heard of.

But sometimes these disappeared movies warrant a look  theyre the equivalent of finding a 10 note down the crack of the sofa. While our film critic Clarisse Loughrey has already curated a top 15 of the year in cinema  championing everything from Wes Andersons Asteroid City to the penis-tastic black comedy Rotting in the Sun  weve gathered together 10 hidden alternatives.

These arent necessarily the secret best of 2023, or even movies youd be remiss to never see. Instead, consider them to be the juicy off-cuts of the year in film  occasionally imperfect little things still brimming with potential and worthiness.

A Thousand and One

If there was an Oscar for Best Face in a Movie, it ought to go to Teyana Taylor, the one-time R&B star who fled an increasingly toxic music industry in 2020 to become an actor. Blessed with the killer cheekbones and sharp eyes of some kind of Egyptian hieroglyphic, Taylor is mesmerising here as a struggling single mother in early Nineties New York, who kidnaps back the son taken away from her after she was briefly imprisoned. Directed by debuting filmmaker AV Rockwell, A Thousand and One tackles maybe too many themes over the course of its two hours  gentrification, motherhood, poverty, Americas prison-industrial complex  but is otherwise harnessed by Taylor, who here crafts one of the most complex and bruised yet resilient characters of the year. (AW)

Streaming on Sky Cinema and Now, and available to buy

The Beasts

If Denis Menochet is in a film, youd better stand to attention. While mostly being known by international audiences for his appearance in the tense opening scene of Inglourious Basterds, hes delivered a relentless stream of standout roles throughout his career (see: By the Grace of God, Francois Ozons takedown of the Catholic Church, and Xavier Legrands divorce drama Custody). With 2023 hidden gem The Beasts, he has added another to the list. The film follows the escalating tensions between a French couple and their Spanish neighbours in the Galician countryside. To best preserve the films secrets, thats all you should know going in. (JS)

Streaming on BFI Player, and available to rent and buy

Full Time

Mum on the run: Laure Calamy in Full Time (Parkland)

Following a successful festival run, Eric Gravels nail-bitingly tense Full Time finally arrived in UK cinemas this year. The film charts one week in the life of a single mother living in the French suburbs, as she attempts to keep her job as a chambermaid during a time of transport strikes and general upheaval in Paris. Laure Calamy, who UK viewers will best know as Noemie in Call My Agent!, delivers a striking performance as Julie, whose stress levels are endlessly pushed to the limit. The film is, at just 87 minutes long, a succinct triumph. (JS)

Available to rent and buy

Godland

Back in March, I wrote that Hlynur Palmasons Godland should be considered one of the years greatest films when those Best of lists roll in this December. My stance hasnt changed. The film stars Elliott Crosset Hove as a Danish Lutheran priest named Lucas, who is sent on an expedition to oversee the completion of a new parish church in Iceland. There are stretches throughout Lucass journey where Palmason captivatingly plays with form, often chillingly accentuating the loneliness caused by the language barrier between Lucas and his assigned Icelandic guide (Ingvar Eggert Sigurdsson). The result may test casual viewers faith  much like Lucass is tested by the harsh weather conditions he finds himself in  but this approach, combined with the breathtaking backdrop, makes Godland amount to something special. (JS)

Streaming on BFI Player, and available to rent and buy

Harka

Lotfy Nathans Harka is inspired by the story of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor who died by suicide in a protest against Tunisias autocratic regime. Bouazizis act was a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring against corruption. In Harka, Adam Bessa plays a man who faces eviction while caring for his two younger sisters. His dreams of a better life, and his frustrations at being refused help at every turn, makes for a devastating but necessary film. Bessa in particular is extraordinary, and was jointly awarded  along with Vicky Krieps for Corsage  Cannes Film Festivals Un Certain Regard for his performance in 2022. (JS)

Available to rent and buy

Zelda Samson in Love According to Dalva (Curzon)

Love According to Dalva

One of the years most moving films came in the form of Belgian drama Love According to Dalva. The movie introduces us to a distressed 12-year-old as she is taken into foster care  the film then explores her subsequent abuse from her very eyes. Its an extraordinary debut from filmmaker Emmanuelle Nicot, who tells Dalvas story with necessary tenderness, which is heightened by an equally extraordinary debut performance from Zelda Samson. Remember the name  if Dalva is anything to go by, this is the start of a long career for the child star. (JS)

Streaming on BFI Player, and available to rent and buy

Other Peoples Children

This is a deceptively simple character study exploring a womans desire to have a child, heightened by the bond she forms with her boyfriends daughter. The French film, written and directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, features a tender performance from Virginie Efira (Benedetta), whose likeable Rachel continually hides her frustrations behind a smile. There are no showdowns, no screaming matches, no overreactions; this is a slice-of-life drama unafraid to show reality as it usually is  and is a better film for it. (JS)

Streaming on Prime Video, and available to rent and buy

Quiz Lady

There are shades of Romy and Micheles High School Reunion to this daffy buddy comedy, starring Sandra Oh and Awkwafina as mismatched sisters who conspire to win a popular quiz show in order to pay off mobsters whove kidnapped their dog. Released to little fanfare on Disney+ in November (partly due to the actors strike), this is the kind of upbeat, vaguely surreal riot that would have gone down a storm in cinemas a decade ago, but now gets coughed up on streaming platforms before rapidly disappearing into the algorithm. Its well worth throwing on  Oh is marvellous, Awkwafina isnt as exhausting as she can be, and the zingers are relentless. Jason Schwartzman, Will Ferrell and the late, great Paul Reubens provide solid support, too. (AW)

Streaming on Disney+

Behind you: Gideon Adlon in Sick (Peacock/Universal)

Sick

The first two Scream movies are filled with sweat-inducingly tense set pieces  helpless college students climbing over unconscious murderers, Neve Campbell stumbling across rooftops to evade masked killers, Drew Barrymore menaced over the phone. With Sick, Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson seemed to pose himself a challenge: what if an entire movie was one long set piece? Here, Gideon Adlon is pursued inside and around a secluded lake house by a masked killer for much of its runtime, and it is thrilling. Sick doesnt quite stick the landing once were clued in to whats been happening, but the journey there is at least a very good time. (AW)

Streaming on Sky Cinema and Now

Suzume

Thanks to the international renown of his work, Makoto Shinkai is often placed in conversation with the great Hayao Miyazaki, another titan of Japanese animation whose work tends to be as dazzling as it is thematically rich. But those comparisons also flatten the very singular magic of watching a Shinkai movie. His latest, Suzume, serves as his follow-up to films that include Your Name and Weathering with You, and it matches their busy, confounding sense of spectacle. Its the tale of a teenage girl who encounters a mystical doorway which unleashes a spirit god in the form of a three-legged chair, and that kind of dream logic sums up where it goes from there. But even if you cant square the climate metaphors or surrealism, Suzume is still remarkable in its sheer beauty. (AW)

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Trenque Lauquen

Perhaps the most intriguing release of the year was Argentine-German project Trenque Lauquen. The film begins as a man named Ezequiel Chicho Pierri attempts to track down an acquaintance named Laura (Laura Paredes), after she ups and leaves the sleepy titular province of Buenos Aires. But what initially seems a straightforward mystery drama about the disappearance of a botanist evolves into something else entirely. Its through a series of unsettling discoveries made by Chicho during his search for Laura that this epic tale  split into 12 parts  takes on a labyrinthine, genre-shifting form. Nothing is as it seems here, in a film that has shades of David Lynch and Alfred Hitchcock. A truly unique work from Argentine director Laura Citarella. (JS)

In cinemas now, and streaming on Curzon Home Cinema
In recent years, a traditional Chinese shoe manufacturer in Tianjin has been striving to adapt to the trends of the times, pioneering innovations, and rejuvenating traditional Chinese footwear in the new era.

Created in 1911, Laomeihua is a century-old brand famous for its handmade shoes and clothes. It was recognized as a China Time-honored Brand in 1993.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
X Corp. has lost a bid to temporarily block a California law requiring social media companies to disclose their terms of service and submit semiannual reports to the state about how they moderate content.

U.S. District Judge William Shubb on Thursday denied Xs (formerly Twitter) motion for a preliminary injunction, finding that the reporting requirements arent unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law. While compliance may carry a substantial burden, he concluded that the mandated disclosures are uncontroversial and merely requires identification of existing content moderation policies.

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X in September sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta after the passage of AB 587, which requires large social media companies to post their terms of service and submit reports of how their content moderation policies address hate speech or racism, extremism or radicalization, disinformation or misinformation, harassment and foreign political interference. It alleged that the law improperly compels speech in violation of the First Amendment and state constitution, among other arguments surrounding interference with editorial decisions.

The legislative record is crystal clear that one of the main purposes of AB 587  if not the main purpose  is to pressure social media companies to eliminate or minimize content that the government has deemed objectionable, the complaint stated.

In a ruling denying Xs motion for a preliminary injunction, the court said that the reporting requirements dont run afoul of the First Amendment since they only require purely factual disclosures.

The required disclosures are also uncontroversial, Shubb wrote. The mere fact that the reports may be tied in some way to a controversial issue does not make the reports themselves controversial.

The judge sided with the state that it met its burden of showing that the reporting requirements reasonably related to a substantial government interest in requiring social media companies to be transparent about their content moderation policies and practices. He said that the law is meant to allow users to make informed decisions about where they consume and disseminate news.

Arguments that the law is preempted by section 230 of the Communications Decency Act  Big Techs favorite legal shield, which has historically afforded firms significant legal protection from liability as third-party publishers  were rejected, per the order.

AB 587 only contemplates liability for failing to make the required disclosures about a companys terms of service and statistics about content moderation activities, or materially omitting or misrepresenting the required information, Shubb wrote. It does not provide for any potential liability stemming from a companys content moderation activities per se.

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A former Miss Bolivia is under investigation on gun-trafficking charges.

According to the New York Post, 22-year-old Alondra Mercado Campos is currently behind bars at Trinidad Womens Prison in Beni, Bolivia, on suspicion of acquiring unauthorized arms with her fugitive boyfriend, Andres Vasquez. Campos was given the titles of Miss Bolivia Mundo 2020 and Miss Charm Bolivia in 2023.

In November, Special Force to Fight Drug Trafficking (FLECN) authorities raided Mercado Campos and Vasquez, finding a large collection of more than 100 firearms, including AK-47s and ammunition. During a court appearance, a judge deemed Mercado a flight risk and decided to hold her in pre-trial detention for 30 days.

Investigators, who are awaiting forensic tests on the couple's BMW SUV to issue Mercado Campos additional charges on drug trafficking, believe that the 22-year-old could be involved in a ring under her boyfriend's lead. Vasquez is currently on the run although he's wanted for questioning. Mercado Campos' cell phone has also been seized for forensic analysis, as data could provide insight into her alleged involvement.

"The boyfriend is being investigated for trafficking in controlled substances and is a fugitive," said Beni Department Deputy Prosecutor Geraldo Balderas.

Mercado Campos, who has more than 41,000 followers on Instagram, shared images of the couple spending time together, including going to a waterpark with their dog and attending parties.

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Island Life Season 3 is a reality television show that continues to help couples and individuals find their dream property on different islands, such as those in Hawaii, the Florida Keys, or other picturesque coastal areas, keeping in mind the budget restraints and other concerns of the clients.

Heres how you can watch and stream Island Life Season 3 via streaming services such as HBO Max.

Is Island Life Season 3 available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Island Life Season 3 is available to watch via streaming on HBO Max, Discovery Plus, and HGTV.

The third season of the show originally aired from Jan 1 to February 6, 2016, and it consists of a total of 14 episodes, like the previous seasons.

Island Life is narrated by Lannon Killea and directed by Andy Tavarez, Brandon Williams, Dave Powitz, Christopher Barnes, and Carisse Moy.

Watch Island Life Season 3 streaming via HBO Max

Island Life Season 3 is available to watch on HBO Max. Subscribe to this popular streaming service and enjoy global hits like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Westworld, and many more, right from the comfort of your home!

You can watch the movie via Max, formerly known as HBO Max, by following these steps:

Go to HBOMax.com/subscribe Click Sign Up Now Choose your plan: $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (with ads)

$15.99 per month or $149.99 per year (ad-free)

$19.99 per month or $199.99 per year (ultimate ad-free) Enter your personal information and password Select Create Account

Max With Ads provides the services streaming library at a Full HD resolution, allowing users to stream on up to two supported devices at once. Max Ad-Free removes the services commercials and allows streaming on two devices at once in Full HD. It also allows for 30 downloads at a time to allow users to watch content offline. On the other hand, Max Ultimate Ad-Free allows users to stream on four devices at once in a 4K Ultra HD resolution and provides Dolby Atmos audio and 100 downloads.

The synopsis of Island Life is as follows:

Most people only fantasize about living on an island, but well prove that an Island Life is possible for anyone. Tropical dreamers will be shown island properties that fit into any budget, from ultra-affordable to totally outrageous.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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The MCU actor shared an Instagram Story from costar Emma Laird saying she would be "back with my favorite guy next week."

A year after being badly injured in a snowplow accident, Jeremy Renner is seemingly set to start shooting Mayor of Kingstown season 3.

The actor appeared to signal his imminent return by sharing an Instagram Story from actress Emma Laird, one of his costars on the Paramount+ crime show. The Story featured a photo of Laird with Renner.

"It's happening," Laird wrote. "Back with my favourite [sic] guy next week."



EW has reached out to Paramount+ for comment.

Jeremy Renner/Instagram Jeremy Renner and Emma Laird

On Mayor of Kingstown, Renner plays the character of Mike McLusky, who acts as a liaison between criminals, prison guards, and police in the eponymous, fictional Michigan town.

Renner was crushed by his snowplow last New Year's Day on his property in Nevada after trying to divert the vehicle from his nephew. The MCU actor suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries, and was airlifted to a hospital after the accident. He was discharged after two weeks and revealed on social media that he broke more than 30 bones,

Dennis P. Mong Jr./Paramount+ Jeremy Renner on 'Mayor of Kingstown'

In an interview with CNN in October, Renner spoke about how the accident had affected his life.

"I just feel very blessed and very lucky to be upright and walk around and to live life," he said. "I'm very, very clear. My life is really lean, if that makes sense. There's no fat in my life anymore. I don't have time for that. So there's something really beautiful about having that superpower."

Paramount+ announced that Mayor of Kingstown had been renewed for a third season in September. The show was created by Hugh Dillon and Yellowstone executive producer Taylor Sheridan.

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Lena Kross fondly looks back on her experiences of wrestling in Japan.

Wrestling in Japan had been a long-term dream of Lena Kross, and in 2022, that dream finally morphed into a reality as the Australian native made her debut for Meiko Satomuras Sendai Girls Pro Wrestling. During a recent interview with WrestleZones Ella Jay, Kross revealed that she was originally set to debut for the promotion in 2020. Due to the travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Krosss plans were put on hold.

Two years later, Sendai Girls reached back out to Kross, offering her another opportunity to wrestle for them. After getting her Visa documents in the proper order, Kross was then headed to Japan for a two-week tour  a venture that she will never forget.

It was pretty surreal, Kross said. I think the first match, I was just so nervous. But I think it was maybe like the second or third, and were on the bus driving back to where we were staying, and I just kind of had a moment of reflection. I was like, Holy s***. This is two and a half years later and Im here. Ive done this. Its that moment where its like things come back around if you keep working. Opportunities will arise, so youve just got to stick to it and let everything play out. Because it will work out.

I was really proud. And it was very surreal that I actually got there and got to do that first tour. Its even more insane that in the last year, Ive done four more. Insane, but I was very fortunate that at that first one, Millie McKenzie and Nina Samuels were also there from the UK. So, it was quite nice to meet them and get to experience that with other wrestlers as well. It made it a little bit more special.

Teaming With Aja Kong

Following her initial tour in late 2022, Kross eventually returned to Japan in the summer and autumn months of 2023. In September, Kross had an incredible opportunity to tag team with wrestling legend Aja Kong at Sendai Girls Big Show In Niigata event. There, the two teamed up with Ryo Mizunami to defeat Chi Chi, Saori Anou and Sareee (fka Sarray). Looking back on this experience, Kross is admittedly still in a state of disbelief.

[It was] insane, Kross said. Like what is my life? type stuff. I think I found out maybe the week before or maybe two weeks before that show. I was just dumbfounded, [and thinking] What is my life? Im wrestling in Japan and Im tagging with this absolute legend. What is this? But yeah, that was insane, really good, really fun. Theres no other words.

Watch our full interview with Lena Kross below:

The post Lena Kross Reflects On Surreal Experience Of Debuting For Sendai Girls, Later Teaming With Aja Kong appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Ragnarok (2013) or Gaten Ragnarok is a Norwegian fantasy adventure film directed by Mikkel Brnne Sandemose and written by John Kare Raake. It follows the journey of archaeologist Sigurd Svendsen who sets off on an expedition to find new physical evidence of Vikings explorations along with two colleagues and his two kids. Their adventure leads them to Finnmark in the Northernmost part of Norway, and into no mans land between Russia and Norway. However, they uncover something much more frightening.

Heres how you can watch and stream Ragnarok (2013) via streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video.

Is Ragnarok available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Ragnarok (2013) is available to watch via streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Ragnarok (2013) was produced by Fantefilm. Christian Siebenherz is the editor and Daniel Voldheim is the cinematographer of this film.

The cast members of Ragnarok (2013) include Pal Sverre Hagen as Sigurd, Nicolai Cleve Broch as Allan, Sofia Helin as Elisabeth, Bjrn Sundquist as Leif, Maria Annette Tander Berglyd as Ragnhild, Julian Podolski as Brage, Terje Strmdahl as Henriksen, Kyrre Haugen Sydness as Sponsor CEO, Marika Enstad as Sponsor Woman, Tom Aksel Mathisen as Sponsor Man, Jens Hulten as Viking King, Vera Rudi as Asa, Stefan Cronwall as Viking, Rina Kelly as Maren, and more.

Watch Ragnarok (2013) streaming via Amazon Prime Video

Ragnarok (2013) is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

You can watch via Amazon Prime Video by following these steps:

Go to Amazon Prime Video Select Sign in and Create your Amazon account Sign up for a Prime Video membership: $14.99 per month or $139 per year with an Amazon Prime membership

$8.99 per month for a standalone Prime Video membership

Amazon Prime is the online retailers paid service that provides fast shipping and exclusive sales on products, so the membership that includes both this service and Prime Video is the companys most popular offering. However, you can also opt to subscribe to Prime Video separately.

Ragnaroks (2013) synopsis is as follows:

Archaeologist Sigurd Svendsen discovers that the Oseberg ship hides a secret from the Viking Age. Along with his two children put Sigurd out on a quest to find the truth. The mystery leads them into No Mans Land between Norway and Russia where no man traveling in modern times. Old runes take on new meaning when the secret they uncover is more frightening than anyone could have imagined.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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The post Ragnarok (2013) Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon Prime Video appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Actress Denise Richards joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills during Season 9. It was obvious from the jump that Denise wasnt like her fellow cast members. For example, she often dressed down and didnt employ a glam squad. It was shocking to her always put-together co-stars.

But Denise departed after Season 10. The reason? It was because her friend, Lisa Rinna, and most of the cast ganged up on her. The group accused her of allegedly having a sexual encounter with RHOBH alum Brandi Glanville. At least, that is what Brandi said.

Denise denied it, but the cast called her a liar. This spelled the end of Denises longtime friendship with Lisa, and her time on the show.

Now that Lisa has retired from the franchise, Denise made some guest appearances on Season 13. This reminded us of why RHOBH needs Denise Richards to return and grab her diamond.

Denise Has a Down-to-Earth Charm

While the cast vacationed in the Bahamas, they set up a time to meet for drinks. The ladies wore dresses, while Denise strolled in wearing shorts and a tank top. It was refreshing to see someone who was so at ease being herself.

According to OK!, Denise shared her thoughts about fashion and the show. I just thought of me going to dinner or lunch with my girlfriends. I am not going to wear a frickin ballgown in the Bahamas, she said.

During the second season, Kyle Richards called Denise a ragamuffin. But Denise didnt care. Her co-stars used glam constantly, while Denise used glam if she was working. This ragamuffin wanted to inject some actual reality into the show, and viewers were glad to see it. I think that RHOBH could use some of Denises relaxed vibe.

She Isnt Afraid To Let Viewers Into Her Life (And Marriage)

Denise was an open book about her marriage to Aaron Phypers. In fact, their wedding was filmed for Season 9 of the show. People reported that the couple, along with their wedding planner, whipped together their ceremony in just 48 hours.

Erika Jayne, Lisa Vanderpump, Dorit Kemsley, and Teddi Mellencamp sweltered outside while waiting for the bride. Denise was so chill she showed up over an hour late for her wedding. After all, she is F*cking Denise Richards. The bride wore a white lace romper with a long tulle skirt. Very on-brand for Denise.

Denise was also very open about her sex life with Aaron. She told her co-stars all about arranging a happy ending for Aaron during his massage. Sometimes, this mom of threes discussions stunned her co-stars. Her open personality is another reason why RHOBH would benefit from Denises return as a housewife.

Denise Triggers Erika Jayne and Dorit Kemsley

During Kyles much-hyped weed dinner party, Denise and Camille Grammer were guests. Their former co-stars werent expecting this blast from the past. Dorit was still salty that Denise disappeared from the group. She even asked Denise if she missed her former co-stars.

But Denise had some questions for Erika. She asked Erika what she did to cause Erika to treat her differently. Her remarks were vague at best.

Erika seemed confused and asked Denise what she was referring to. Watch the show, Denise replied. Erika remained bewildered, and upset because Denise was ruining her high. While the guests at the dinner may have hated Denises antics, it was reality television gold.

Her Wild Behavior at Kyle Richards Weed Dinner

From the moment that Denise arrived at Kyles dinner party looking disheveled, she seemed off. Fans wondered if Denise had a drink before the party started. But she also mentioned that she wasnt feeling well. Denise didnt partake of any THC-infused food, so the cause of her behavior was a mystery.

But her facial expressions and comments were entertaining. When guests asked why Kyle hadnt yet joined the table, Denise asked, Did she have too much of the hors doeuvres? Well, you know what Im talking about, she added, twisting her lips to one side.

After her interrogation of Erika went nowhere, Denise insisted that Erika knew exactly what she was talking about. After having a verbal smackdown with Dorit over her upside-down jacket, Denise left the party early. But her guest appearance was nothing short of iconic.

Seeing Denise was a reminder of what the show is lacking. She brought a fresh and unassuming presence to the franchise. She was always true to herself. Other cast members, like Kyle and Dorit, have been accused of not showing their actual lives.

That is why RHOBH needs Denise Richards, and her upside-down jacket, to return next season.

TELL US  DOES RHOBH NEED DENISE RICHARDS TO RETURN? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DENISE MOMENT?

The post RHOBH Needs Denise Richards To Return, Heres Why appeared first on Reality Tea.
Before anyone had even seen Heroes of Halyard, it was already engulfed in scandal.

At an industry presentation at the Sarajevo Film Festivals CineLink forum in August, Telekom Srbija, which produced Heroes of Halyard together with Contrast Studios, screened clips of the World War II epic. The film, from Serbian actor and director Rados Bajic, was still in postproduction and the clips were only meant to give the audience a sense of the scope of the production, one of the biggest and most ambitious films ever made in the region.

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Instead, they sparked a political backlash. Some accused the film, which tells the story of the historic rescue of American airmen by Serbian fighters in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia in 1944, of glorifying Serbian nationalist groups. Benjamina Karic, the mayor of Sarajevo, called the film revisionist and demanded festival organizers distance themselves from the producers and the screening, which they promptly did.

Karic continued to throw oil on the fire, tweeting that the film caused immeasurable damage to the festival and the City of Sarajevo.

All this for a film no one had seen yet. It would be months before Heroes of Halyard had its official world premiere, in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on Oct. 10. It first screened for an international audience at the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia, in November.

U.S. ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill (left) attending the world premiere of Heroes of Halyard in Belgrade.

On its surface, theres nothing particularly controversial about Heroes of Halyard. The film explores an almost-forgotten corner of World War II history: the audacious and true tale of Operation Halyard, a rescue operation, organized by Americas war-time espionage agency the OSS, to use Serbian resistance fighters to help save American and Allied airmen trapped behind enemy lines in the dying days of the war. The forces, led by Serbian General Draza Mihailovic, saved more than 500 airmen and personnel, the largest rescue operation of American airmen in history.

The rescue is at the center of the film, but Heroes of Halyard is also a tale of Serbian history, in particular the complex, messy period during German occupation. Director Bajic structures the film as the story of three brothers, stand-ins for political movements at the time, whose lives are torn between conflicting ideologies. Mirko joins Mihailovics pro-nationalist Yugoslav Army, often known as the Chetniks. Brother Sreten throws in with the communist Partisans under Marshal Tito. Youngest son Ilija is caught in between.

The film is really a story of the civil war, the story of communities torn apart, families torn apart, says Lieutenant Colonel John Cappello, a consultant on Heroes of Halyard. The 25-year U.S. Air Force veteran is president of the Halyard Mission Foundation, a group set up to educate, commemorate and increase awareness of the Halyard mission and the role the Serbs played in its success. The civil war, says Cappello, was extremely complex.

Complex because while Chetniks  a catchall term for nationalist and royalist forces, not all of whom were under Mihailovics command  and Partisans both fought the Nazi occupiers, they also fought each other. Titos Partisans were allied with the Soviet Union and envisioned a communist future for Yugoslavia. Mihailovic wanted to reestablish the Yugoslav monarchy under a democratic framework. There are allegations on both sides of collaboration or coordination with Axis troops, the stuff of fierce historical debates that continue to this day.

After the war, and the defeat of general Mihailovics forces by Titos, Mihailovic was tried and convicted of high treason by the new communist Yugoslav government and executed by firing squad. His conviction was only overturned posthumously in 2015, with the Serbian Supreme Court ruling that Mihailovics trial and conviction were politically and ideologically motivated.

A year and a half after Mihailovics execution, U.S. President Harry S. Truman awarded him the U.S. Legion of Merit for his role in leading Operation Halyard. In his speech, President Truman said Mihailovic and the forces under his command were instrumental in obtaining a final Allied victory.

Heroes of Halyard

All that history is relevant because, in the Balkans, the battle over conflicting interpretations of Serbian history is a key part of modern political debates. The controversy over Heroes of Halyard in Sarajevo had less to do with the films content, or even with a historical debate over the role of General Mihailovic and the Chetniks, than with the politics of the current moment.

When Sarajevo Mayor Karic tweeted about Heroes of Halyard, she connected Mihailovic (whom she called a convicted war criminal) to Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, two Bosnian Serb leaders found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity in part for their role in the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian war that ravaged the region in the 1990s. Karic was using the experience of the 90s war to frame the World War II history depicted in the film. She isnt the first to make the connection. Some of those Serbian nationalist groups in the 90s also called themselves Chetniks, in honor of the World War II fighters.

Chetnik just means something like guerilla fighter, but its a term thats been misused and is the source of a lot of very emotional responses today, says Cappello. The term means very different things to different people. There are Chetnik groups in the United States today, in Chicago, in San Diego, whose fathers and grandfathers fought with General Mihailovic, resisting the Germans. And they see Chetniks as heroes.  I would argue this story, the rescue of these American airmen was a moment when there was coordination and cooperation, even among the groups that were fighting each other. Partisan forces assisted the Chetnik forces, the Royalist forces, to save Americans.

The producers of Heroes of Halyard, and many in the American government, would like to frame the story of the film as an example of, in Cappellos words, the 140 years of strong diplomatic relations between the United States and Serbia, avoiding the aberration of the 90s, where the U.S. and Serbia were at odds, with Washington viewing Belgrade as the primary aggressor in the wars that tore up Yugoslavia. Diplomatic relations between the two countries reached a historic low point in 1999, when the U.S. led a NATO bombing campaign against Serbian forces to force them to withdraw from the disputed region of Kosovo.

When you talk to Serbians these days about America, the prominent thought is: You bombed us. You bombed us, NATO, NATO, NATO,' says Cappello. I think overcoming those negative narratives without ignoring them is important.

The U.S.-Serbia relationship is about so much more than the conflicts of the 1990s. For much of our history  and as this film illustrates  we were allies, said Christopher Hill, the U.S. ambassador to Serbia, in an email reply to The Hollywood Reporter.

Heroes of Halyard

Cappello believes that the negative image of the role Serbs played in the 1990s in the Balkans has obscured the deep historical ties between Serbia and the United States.

Serbs were the only ones in this region that could say that they were allies [of the U.S.] during both world wars. And they suffered tremendously for that, he notes.

This American framing of Heroes of Halyard has its own, very current, political overtones. Since the 1990s and Serbias diplomatic break with the U.S., Russia has made inroads in the region. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose populist Serbian Progressive Party won a sweeping victory in snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, Dec. 17, has been accused of cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, refusing to impose sanctions on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine and calling Russia Serbias traditional friend. Serbia has been a candidate for European Union membership since 2014, but Vucics Moscow-friendly stance has not helped Belgrades efforts. Many in Europe, and many in Washington, would balk at the idea of another pro-Russia government in the EU alongside Viktor Orbans Hungary.

For those who would prefer to see Belgrade look west, Heroes of Halyard provides a convenient historical narrative, a look back at a time when the U.S. and Serbia stood side by side.

Films like this show us that, working together as partners, we can achieve the impossible, said Hill. I hope this film reminds anyone who sees it of what we achieved when we were allies. I hope it makes them realize how much we will achieve when  not if, but when  we are allies once again.

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Russian model Tanya Mityushina made an appearance in the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2016, when she rocked a series of adorable and bold string bikinis on the breathtaking beaches of Malta, an island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. The 30-year-old served the ultimate summery vibes and looked super toned, happy and sun-kissed as she posed for photographer Ben Watts.

It was an incredible experience, she gushed of the opportunity. I didnt sleep the whole night before [the photoshoot]  I didnt know what to expect from the shoot, and when I arrived, everyone was so supporting. I really loved working with that team. I think it was the best shoot Ive ever had.

She entered the industry four years prior to landing her feature with the brand, which she deemed a dream come true. Mityushina has also worked with major companies including GUESS, Victorias Secret, Intimissimi and American Eagle. The 1980s music enthusiast landed in the annual edition of the famous Cristal beer calendar the same year as her SI Swimsuit feature. She also had a brief acting stint when she made a quick appearance in the 2013 film Don Jon starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson.

Today, Mityushina is represented by Elite Model Management. She is active on her Instagram account, often sharing modeling campaign pics and posing for swimwear brands, including Sommer Swim and bond-eye.

Below are six stunning pics from her 2016 SI Swimsuit feature in Malta.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
Uchi and Oheya

A national sushi brand with a ravenous fandom just landed its first West Coast restaurant, launching in West Hollywood  with another L.A. sushi bar soon to follow.

Uchi, founded in 2003 by James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Tyson Cole, sprouted from Austin before expanding to Miami, Denver, Dallas, Houston and beyond. Famed for intricate seasonal small plates and vegetarian offerings in addition to a range of sashimi, nigiri and daily specials, its the first of two flags to be planted in West Hollywood. Oheya, a high-end, 14-seat omakase restaurant, is slated for a 2024 opening in the same building.

It's always been a dream of [Coles] to open a sushi place in Los Angeles, said chef de cuisine Joel Hammond, who heads the kitchen at L.A. Uchi and Oheya. Los Angeles is known to have some of the best sushi in the world.  Were very, very humble in that we know we've got a lot of competition, but I think we'll stand on our own. Uchi is very unique and its own thing.

Uchis fish is primarily sourced from Japans famed Toyosu Market, with some also from Europe, such as bluefin tuna from Spain, and others from New Zealand such as the Ora King found in nigiri, sashimi and with Spanish chorizo and brown-butter hollandaise. The kitchen prioritizes ocean sustainability, Hammond says.

The fish can be found throughout the omakase, as well as what they call the somakase, where the server builds an omakase out of their personal choices, plus a la carte small plates, nigiri and sashimi. A vegetarian omakase, a full vegetarian menu and vegan options also are on offer, and the space  all wood, low-lit and modern  seats nearly 200 across a sushi bar, the dining room, the cocktail bar, a patio and a private dining room.

Unique to West Hollywood is the bar menu; most Uchi locations and offshoots offer a happy hour, but here, Hammond and the team hope to create an entirely different set of bar-only bites  such as fried pork belly over maitake chawanmushi, or beef tartare over house-made milk bread seared in rendered A5 Wagyu fat  that could be worthy of their own visit at any time.

Given the proximity to the coast and the Santa Monica Farmers Market, special dishes and other items unique to West Hollywood will feature highly seasonal ingredients, with some pitched by staff even outside of the kitchen.

The quality of goods is just unmatched out here, Hammond said, so that's what we're the most excited about. Some include market vegetable tempura; market-squash gunkan; and a strawberry XO sauce devised in Houston that makes an appearance on a few items, including a seared scallop in vermouth butter and an heirloom tomato salad.

Beverages include sakes and imported Japanese beers in addition to cocktails such as an umami-packed dirty dashi"' martini, an apricot-tinged Boulevardier, and a citrus Old-Fashioned featuring yuzu bitters. Uchi is open in West Hollywood from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

9001 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 101, West Hollywood, (310) 708-4808, uchi.uchirestaurants.com

Heather Wong's Chinatown bakery, Flouring, specializes in petal-topped cake bars in a range of colors and flavors. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

Flouring

A long-anticipated bakery featuring some of the citys most stylish cakes and treats is set to open in Chinatown with a case full of flower-topped cake bars. Flouring, from Bottega Louie and Sweetsalt veteran Heather Wong, soft-opened, then closed, in December to test the business; on Jan. 13 it will reopen permanently after years of pop-ups and residencies.

Wong specializes in familiar flavors but with a twist, some with nods to her Chinese and Mexican heritage, such as the black sesame cake bar or the marranitos, or piggy cookies, which she makes with orange zest and piloncillo.

I just wanted something different, she said. It's been a long time coming, actually, because I've been baking in L.A. for 13-plus years, baking for other people and opening bakeries for other people. It was all just to prepare me for my own space.

Wong has been readying the space for more than two years, flipping a former storage unit and salon into a commercial bakery with a pint-size retail counter. In that counter are cake bars, pavlovas, smores bars, citrus shortbread cookies, meringue-topped brownies and more.

Her signature cake bars are topped with a rainbow of edible, pesticide-free flower petals, and come in flavors such as ube coconut, passion fruit, cookies and cream, and lavender lemon marble. Whole cakes, equally aesthetically pleasing, can be purchased with at least a day's advance notice, though some smaller versions will be available for walk-ins. Also available are baking items , including aprons, cake stands, piping bags, spatulas and edible coloring kits. Flouring opens Jan. 13 with hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Sunday , with additional days and hours to be added in the future.

932 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, (213) 266-8946, flouringla.com

At Little Fish's new Echo Park outpost, breakfast, lunch, vegan pastries and a full coffee program add to the existing seafood-focused menu with new dishes such as fish congee, left. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

Little Fish Echo Park and Dada Market

One of L.A.s most popular pop-up sandwiches just found a home in Echo Park with an expanded menu, pastries and a full coffee program. Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle began Little Fish, their seafood pop-up, during the pandemic. Theyve turned out countless beer-and-vodka-battered fish sandwiches over the years, first from their house, then with a residency at Smorgasburg and another at music venue and bar Checker Hall. This month they launched an indefinite residency within a new corner store, Dada Market, giving Little Fish a more permanent kitchen and picnic tables along Sunset Boulevard.

Here, Little Fishs breakfast menu is entirely new, with standouts such as fish congee and cottage cheese pancakes, the latter of which Vahle and Sonenshein both grew up eating. Stalwarts such as the whitefish salad and potatoes take on slightly new forms. The cult-status fried fish sandwich is available at lunch alongside a handful of new items such as a steak sandwich. A number of dishes likely will remain unique to the Echo Park location, even as Little Fish opens a Melrose Hill restaurant sometime next year.

Little Fish is now open inside Echo Park's Dada Market. A location in Melrose Hill is set to open in 2024. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

Sonenshein and Vahle also are using the new space to run a program that nearly eliminates food waste, especially when it comes to fish; smaller pieces not ideal for the sandwich are utilized in the fish congee, fish salad and the like, while the skin is dried and used as a garnish and the bones make seafood stock for the congee.

Also on offer are vegan pastries by Jen Yee of Bakers Bench, available on weekends, and a coffee bar by Phill Kim, who also handmade the cafes ceramics. Inside Dada Market there are teas, oils, fruits, tinned fish, bottles of wine and other gourmet retail items, while its evening menu serves marinated olives, wedge salads, hamachi tostadas and more. The market is set to be a daytime anchor for two forthcoming restaurant and bar concepts located behind the shop, and serve as a space for collaborations and pop-ups like Little Fish.

We've never built a kitchen before, I've never worked in a kitchen, Sonenshein said. Were counting ourselves so lucky to have a complete education in starting. Weve been so fortunate with people being like, Hey, come use our space and figure it out as you go, and it's such a safety net that I can't believe we've lucked into.

Little Fish is open inside Dada Market from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Dada Market is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.

1606 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 947-3232, littlefishechopark.com/echo-park and dadaechopark.com

Monterey Park's Mama Lu Dumpling House expanded to Pasadena this year with its signature dumplings, plus family-style Chinese and Taiwanese dishes. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

Mama Lu Dumpling House Pasadena

A San Gabriel Valley staple of about two decades just expanded to Pasadena. Famed for its xiao long bao but offering an array of other fresh, handmade dumplings as well, Mama Lu Dumpling House specializes in Chinese and Taiwanese specialties including crystal chicken, beef rolls, Shanghai-style rice cakes, soups, braised meatballs and whole fish with preserved vegetables. The dumpling specialist recently took over the former Chef Tony Dim Sum space, which features two dining rooms in Old Pasadena. The menu more or less mirrors the offerings found in its sibling Mama Lu locations in Monterey Park and City of Industry (not to be confused with Mama Lus, which operates in San Gabriel Valley and Chinatown and is under separate ownership). Mama Lu Dumpling House is open in Pasadena from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

2 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 803-0028, mamalutogo.com

Nam Coffee

Hollywood cafe Nam Coffee specializes in traditional and modern Vietnamese coffee concoctions, all made with Vietnam-grown coffee beans. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

After launching a coffee roastery out of his home in Anaheim nearly two years ago, Vince Nguyen has opened his first cafe and what he hopes will be a center for uplifting Vietnamese coffee culture. Nam Coffee is now open in East Hollywood, using only Vietnam-grown robusta and arabica beans and serving them as lattes, americanos, cappuccinos and flat whites, as well as specialty Vietnamese coffee drinks such as salted-cream coffees, coconut and purple yam cream coffees, shaken coffees with brown sugar and oat milk, classic condensed-milk coffees and more.

Though Nguyen previously worked in fashion, hes loved coffee since childhood and helped his mom operate her coffee cart in Ho Chi Minh City. After moving to the U.S. he noticed a lack of not only Vietnamese specialty drinks but also Vietnamese coffee thats made traditionally, using a phin coffee filter.

It's not only a coffee shop, Nguyen said. I want it to be a place for people to come and experience Vietnamese culture.

He sources beans directly from coffee farms in Vietnam and for nearly two years has been supplying L.A. restaurants and shops such as Di Di, Sesame and Saras Market. His new cafe sells bags of his coffee beans as well as phin filters and other apparatus for home brewing. In the future Nguyen hopes to offer coffee workshops and, thanks to a partnership with nearby shop and restaurant Gingergrass Mini Mart , banh mi and other food items. Nam Coffee is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

4876 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 741-0222, nam.coffee

Read more: Ask your barista! These tips will help you score the perfect beans to brew at home

Creamy Boys

This month Creamy Boys, home to some of the best soft serve in L.A. , launched a bricks-and-mortar in the South Bay for pillowy swirls of New Zealand-style ice cream. Founder and New Zealander Duncan Parsons launched a roving operation in 2020 before business partner Joe Wedd joined in 2022, and since then they've brought freshly churned, almost whipped ice cream featuring fresh and frozen fruit to events such as Smorgasburg and a weekly residency at the Mar Vista Farmers Market.

In their first permanent ice cream shop  a pink-and-white walk-up window two blocks from the beach  the longtime friends are serving the fruit-forward New Zealand-style ice cream of their childhood alongside seasonal specials and another regional specialty, the Hokey Pokey, a textural wonderland that incorporates crunchy honeycomb candy into the ice cream, then tops it all with another crumble. Whats more, each flavor can be made using dairy or a house-made vegan tapioca base. The trucks will continue to roam in 2024. Creamy Boys is open in Hermosa Beach from noon to 11 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

1136 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach, (424) 400-1372, creamyboys.com

Creamy Boys, already a weekly staple at the Mar Vista Farmers Market, now brings New Zealand-style whipped soft serve-like ice cream to a new shop. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump was barred on Thursday from Maine republican primary in 2024 for his role in 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, local media reported.

Colorado's top court disqualified him from the state primary ballot on Dec. 19, making him the first candidate in U.S. history to be deemed ineligible for the presidency for engaging in insurrection. 
Ancient civilization discovery off China coast: 'One of the greatest maritime migrations in human history'

Chinese archaeologists uncovered a 7,500-year-old civilization on Pingtan Island off the coast of Fujian province in southeastern China that suggests the island could have been an original source of what some scientists consider the greatest maritime migration in human history, according to ARTnews.

In late November, experts discovered that Pingtan Island was home to Austronesian people, also called Malayo-Polynesian, around 3,000 to 7,500 years ago.

Through genetic testing on human remains that were uncovered, archaeologists discovered a match for the Austronesian people.

Austronesians were a large ethnic group that lived across a massive geographical area, originating in Taiwan and reached as far as Easter Island in Chile. The population covered most of Southeast Asia, Micronesia, Polynesia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

MASSIVE SEA MONSTER SKULL EXCAVATED FROM UK'S 'JURASSIC COAST'

Tourists visit a scenic area on Pingtan Island, one of mainland China's closest points to Taiwan, in Fujian province.

It's estimated around 400 million people are considered to be descendants of the early Austronesian tribes.

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Until now, it has been widely believed that Austronesians originated in present-day Taiwan and started migrating over the last 5,000 years due to population growth.

MENU SIGNED BY CHINA'S CHAIRMAN MAO SELLS AT AUCTION FOR $275K

Tourists visit a scenic area on Pingtan Island, one of mainland China's closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province.

However, these new discoveries by the archaeologists suggest that these origins could be geographically larger than Taiwan and could even include mainland China.

Experts added that they also discovered evidence that the occupants developed into a complex society between 5,000 and 6,500 years ago with residential homes, as well as buildings, waste removal, and food processing.

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"For the first time, we established a complete lineage of cultures along the western shore of the Taiwan Strait within that time span," Zhou Zhenyu, a researcher with the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily News.





Original article source: Ancient civilization discovery off China coast: 'One of the greatest maritime migrations in human history'
Italy has been a shining star in the fashion galaxy as far back as there have been runways and Italian fashion designers bring a unique point of view to their sartorial creations. Evocative and often provocative, Italian designer brands are known for delivering unapologetic decadence in their designs. In addition to luxury, these fashion houses have mastered the art of celebrating and accentuating the bodys lines and curves. As a result, A-listers have been eager to wear designs from these fashion heavy-hitters for as long as the celebrity itself has existed.

Youd be hard-pressed to find a movie premiere, award ceremony, or sold-out concert tour that doesnt feature Versace, Gucci, Valentino, or the other Italian designer brands ahead.

Versace

Getty Images Amal Clooney and Dua Lipa in Versace.

If there's one Italian fashion designer brand that's achieved fashion royalty status, it's the House of Versace. Its sensual and playful designs have solidified Versace as a red carpet mainstay for decades, but its affinity for music superstars makes it something of a standout. Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Beyonce are among its chart-topping clientele, and, most recently, Dua Lipa teamed up with Donatella Versace herself to co-design Versace's 2023 "La Vacanza" collection.

Prada

Getty Images Sheila Atim and Hunter Schafer in Prada.

Prada knows its way around a stunning sheath dress, but this Italian designer brand truly dazzles with its trendy and elaborate creations like the viral jellyfish dress worn by Hunter Schafer and its stunning Met Gala ensembles. Off the red carpet, Prada best is known for its iconic handbags and statement shoes. In recent years, Prada has introduced eco-friendly materials without diminishing the quality for which the brand has been known since it was founded in 1913.

Schiaparelli

Getty Images Cardi B. and Bella Hadid in Schiaparelli.

Best known for stunning black gowns with dramatic adornments (who doesn't remember Kylie Jenner's lion head moment at Paris Fashion Week?) and gold accessories, Schiaparelli is one of the best Italian designer brands for over-the-top looks that dip toes into camp without devolving into silliness. Schiaparelli frequently references its own archival menagerie when dressing celebs for major events. Case in point: The stunning lobster skirt Zendaya wore during Comic-Con in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Related: The Triumphant Return of Schiaparelli

Valentino

Getty Images FKA Twigs and Zendaya in Valentino.

Italian designers don't often shy away from leaning into their logos and Valentino is among those that work its instantly recognizable monogram into patterns and prints on its dresses and separates. Anne Hathaway, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Zendaya are among the celebrities who often opt for Valentino's sculptural designs, but Florence Pugh has stolen the spotlight as Valentino's most daring A-list darling, appearing in sheer, stunning looks from the brand at film festivals and front-row fashion shows.

Related: A Brief History of Valentino

Armani

Getty Images Irina Shayk and Camila Mendes in Armani.

Armani does luxury at every level and the brand boasts a wide range of fragrances and makeup products that are just as lauded as its layered red carpet gowns The brand's versatility also extends to its fashion lines  there's the more casual Armani Exchange, the ultra-luxe red carpet stalwart Armani Prive, and the classic Giorgio Armani label.

Gucci

Getty Images Jessica Chastian and Dakota Johnson in Gucci.

Even before the House of Gucci hit the big screen, this designer brand was unquestionably one of the most infamous Italian fashion houses. Simply put, the brand adores opulence. Known for glittering red carpet gowns with daring silhouettes, Gucci has mastered the art of layering on luxury while still showing plenty of skin.

Miu Miu

Getty Images Sydney Sweeney and Natasha Lyonne in Miu Miu.

Miu Miu has a way of grabbing fashion's collective consciousness and hanging on tight. The pantless trend? That was Miu Miu. Everyone from celebrities on magazine covers to fashion influencers were spotted in the 2022 Miu Miu micro-mini skirt; it might be years until we see trending hemlines return anywhere near knee length. Miu Miu's playful proportions don't only skew in one direction. The brand also plays with oversized designs as illustrated by Gigi Hadid in the brand's most recent runway show. When it comes to the red carpet, Miu Miu goes glitzy with astonishing feats of rhinestones and ensembles that blend sensuality with sweetness.

Fendi

Getty Images Kendall Jenner and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Fendi.

Out of all the designer brands on this list, Fendi takes the most risks with collabs, teaming up with the likes of SKIMS, Mirror Palais, and, most recently, Pokemon by way of Fragment. Despite its modern and unexpected collaborations, Fendi is widely known as a brand capable of evoking maximum nostalgia thanks in large part to the fact that its iconic Baguette bag, a '90s fashion staple, keeps coming back with a vengeance.



Bottega Veneta

Getty Images Salma Hayek and Yara Shahidi in Bottega Veneta.

Bottega Veneta isn't just known for its jaw-dropping red carpet looks. The brand's accessories are also highly sought-after; Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Dua Lipa frequently step out in Bottega boots and with Bottega bags slung over their shoulders. Unlike other designers that leaned into the micro-bag trend, Bottega Veneta takes a more-is-more approach.

Roberto Cavalli

Getty Images Isabeli Fontana and Janelle Monet in Roberto Cavalli.

Known for gowns with curve-hugging silhouettes and scintillating cut-outs, Roberto Cavalli is one designer Italian brand that knows how to turn the heat way up. The brand is beloved by IRL celebs and fictional fashion aficionados alike from Taylor Swift to Carrie Bradshaw.



Moschino

Getty Images Serena de Ferrari and Vanessa Hudgens in Moschino.

Moschino's sense of humor is second to none. The brand is known for blending sensuality and cheeky pop culture references for one-of-a-kind moments that put the fun in fashion. While Jeremy Scott's playful and daring point of view shaped Moschino's visual identity during his decade-long tenure as the brand's creative director, the future of Moschino is currently in flux. David Renne, formerly a designer with Gucci, was announced as Scott's successor in October of 2023, but tragically passed soon after his appointment.

Alberta Ferretti

Getty Images Taylor Swift and Alessandra Ambrosio in Alberta Ferretti.

Not all that glitters is gold, but much of what glitters is Alberta Ferretti, an Italian designer brand seen on the likes of Taylor Swift, Ashley Graham, and Nicole Richie. Alberta Ferretti does ready-to-wear as boldly as the brand does red carpet looks with an emphasis on vivid colors and pieces that come alive with texture and movement.

Etro

Getty Images Maty Fall Diba and Taylor Marie Hill in Etro.

Known for layering luxe textures and ornate patterns in its full-length gowns, Etro is perhaps the most subtle of the iconic Italian designer brands. Founded in 1968, Etro's visual identity is rooted in its elevated prints and patterns. In fact, the popularity of the paisley print as we now know it is largely due to Gerolamo Etro who, in 1981, revived the pattern and wove it into his family's fashion brand's DNA.

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Read the original article on InStyle.
Texas joined the Union as the 28th state, after its war of independence against Mexico and 10 years as a Lone Star republic, on this day in history, Dec. 29, 1845.

The vast state, larger in area than the nation of France, joined the union but never lost its sense of independence.

"For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America," famed author John Steinbeck wrote in his 1962 travelogue, "Travels with Charley: In Search of America."

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, DECEMBER 28, 1958, COLTS BEAT GIANTS FOR NFL TITLE IN GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED

"Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study and the passionate possession of all Texans."

Everything is bigger in Texas  including the drama surrounding its road to statehood.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Engraving of the siege of the Alamo, the first thirteen days of the Battle of the Alamo, from the book 'Brief history of Texas from its earliest settlement to which is appended the constitution of the state' by De Witt Clinton Baker, 1873. Courtesy Internet Archive.

James Bowie, Davy Crockett and about 200 other heroes were killed at the siege of The Alamo during the Texas Revolution (1835-36), a massacre which turned into a resolute rallying cry  "Remember the Alamo!"  of Texas tenacity.

The Lone Star State won its independence from Mexico during the war.

Revolutionary leaders, mostly colonists from the U.S., including President of Texas Sam Houston, immediately made overtures of statehood to American leadership in Washington, D.C.

"Texas sought annexation by the United States, but both Mexico and antislavery forces in the United States opposed its admission into the Union," writes History.com.

The decade-long debate in Washington and among the American people over statehood for Texas, which allowed slavery, proved a prelude to the Civil War 25 years later.

"The United States extended diplomatic recognition to Texas, [but] it took no further action concerning annexation until 1844, when President John Tyler restarted negotiations with the Republic of Texas," writes the Office of the Historian of the U.S. Department of State.

James K. Polk (1813-1894), 11th president of the United States 1845-49, half-length portrait, oil on canvas painting, George Peter Alexander Healy, 1846. Polk oversaw a vast territorial expansion of the nation westward, including welcoming Texas as a state in 1845.

"His efforts culminated on April 12 in a Treaty of Annexation, an event that caused Mexico to sever diplomatic relations with the United States. Tyler, however, lacked the votes in the Senate to ratify the treaty  With the support of President-elect [James K.] Polk, Tyler managed to get the joint resolution passed on March 1, 1845, and Texas was admitted into the United States on December 29."

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, OCTOBER 17, 1835, TEXAS RANGERS FORMALLY PROPOSED AMONG SETTLERS PATROLLING FRONTIER

Texas would soon have to fight for its independence again in the Mexican-American War (1846-48), which arose out of the disputed border of the Nueces Strip  the stretch of land between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande further south.

"Mexico did not recognize Texas as legitimate American territory and Texas admission to the United States antagonized Mexican officials and citizens," writes the National Park Service.

"Rather than ameliorate this problem, President Polk intentionally worked to aggravate Mexico and provoke a war."

The United States handily defeated Mexico and, with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, gained vast stretches of what's now the American West, all the way to and including California.

Statehood did not last long.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, DECEMBER 5, 1848, PRESIDENT POLK IGNITES CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH WITH ADDRESS TO CONGRESS

Texas seceded from the Union on March 23, 1861, and joined the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War. It was readmitted in 1870, following the Union victory and the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in 1865.

The people of Texas today wave both the Stars and Stripes and the Lone Star with equal pride and swagger.

Texas has grown into a political and industrial juggernaut and boasts one of the world's most robust and fastest growing economies.

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Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson were born in Texas; while Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush called Texas home.

So the nation has been led by a Texan by birth or Texan by choice for 25 of the last 70 years.

With 38 congressional districts, Texas has as much power in Washington, D.C., as the 18 smallest states combined.

"Godfather of Soul" James Brown's Texas license plate on his tour bus reads "B Proud" at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 6, 1969, in Newport, Rhode Island.

Texas is physically the largest of the contiguous 48 states, with a land area of 269,000 square miles. France, by comparison, the largest nation in Western Europe, is just 213,000 square miles.

The Lone Star State welcomed more people than any other state between the 2010 and 2020 Censuses  growing from 25 million to 29 million.

It's also perhaps the most culturally diverse state in the Union, with a plurality of the population, 40 percent, of Hispanic or Latin American descent.

Texas's annual Gross Domestic Product of $2.1 trillion is about the same as that of Italy, the eighth-largest economy in the world, according to World Bank data.

"Texas is a state mind. Texas is an obsession," Steinbeck wrote. "Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word."

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle .





Original article source: On this day in history, December 29, 1845, Texas joins Union as 28th state after winning its independence
Editors Note: This CNN Travel series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy.

Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious goal for itself: 150 million tourist visits by 2030. Travel e-visas, a growing number of international air links and a new 96-hour layover program have all made it logistically easier to visit.

However, for many first-time visitors, especially ones who arent familiar with the Middle East or Muslim-majority countries, its critical to do some research before setting off.

The first and most basic thing to know about Saudi Arabia is that its not closed off from the world. Although the country has only been offering tourist visas since 2019, things have moved pretty quickly since then.

Just like major cities in Europe or North America, Jeddah and Riyadh have hipster cafes, cool arts and culture venues, and major sports teams packed with international players.

Road signs, menus, maps and more are usually in both Arabic and English. Western credit cards are widely accepted, too.

How do I get there?

Saudi Arabias primary air hubs are its two biggest cities  capital Riyadh and port city Jeddah. Regular connections are available via Doha, Dubai, London, and other major gateways.

Once youre traveling within the country, there are several options. Internal flights are easiest for popular tourist destinations like the oasis town of AlUla, which is where travelers go to access the archeological site of Hegra.

Saudi Arabia has also invested heavily in infrastructure, which includes high-speed rail. Right now, the system only serves Jeddah and the surrounding areas, namely the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina, but there are plans to expand.

Foreign visitors can rent cars in Saudi Arabia, and both men and women can drive  provided their international drivers licenses and other paperwork are in order.

Uber is available in larger cities, as are Middle East rideshare apps like Careem and Kaiian, both of which have English options. For street hails, there are taxi stands at busy areas like shopping malls and sports stadiums. Your hotel can also organize taxis for you.

A woman in long dress and headscarf takes a photo of a Rub al Khali sand dune in Saudi Arabia - Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis/Getty Images

What should I pack?

Bulgaria-born Elena Nikolova, who converted to Islam and now resides in Jeddah, makes a perfect bridge between locals and outsiders. On her website Muslim Travel Girl, she helps her followers know what to expect when they visit.

Nikolova also adds that while many women wear abayas, loose garments covering the body, or niqabs, which also cover the face, theyre not required for foreigners. In big cities like Jeddah and Riyadh you dont need to wear a scarf or abaya. Wearing clothes that cover your body is OK.

However, she points out that location is important, as smaller villages in more rural areas might not have the same vibe as major cities. It is better for you to wear a maxi dress for example or an open abaya and scarf [there], she adds. According to Nikolova, these guidelines are not laws  its just about fitting in.

Kareem George, CEO of travel specialist and tour organizer Culture Traveler, also fielded clothing-related questions from his clients ahead of a Saudi Arabia tour.

I was surprised by the variety of dress I observed, he says. Saudi women and men both in traditional dress as well as more contemporary attire. There was an overall modesty to the dress for both sexes, however there was a lot of variety in colors, styles and textures.

That said, its not unusual to see some men wearing shorts (granted, knee-length ones like cargos, not short shorts) and polo shirts, as the rules for male clothing are more relaxed.

There was not an expectation for a foreigner to wear a thobe, George adds, referring to the traditional garment many men wear in the Middle East. My Western dress was accepted and not considered rude in any way.

When it comes to dressing, weather and terrain are important considerations. If youre planning to hike or visit the desert attractions in AlUla, for example, youll want to take tips from the locals: loose-fitting clothing, lightweight fabrics like linen and natural cotton, and hiking boots. Its not unusual to see a Saudi woman sporting sneakers with her abaya.

And while its okay for non-Muslims to visit mosques  a pretty common occurrence, as many are tourist attractions in their own right  proper dress is a must. Women should cover their hair to be respectful.

If you plan to visit mosques, pack some socks  youll be asked to remove your shoes to go inside.

A view of Riyadh at night - JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images

Public displays of affection

Tourism is growing in Saudi Arabia and with it more cultural freedoms, but its important to remember that certain public displays of affection should be avoided.

No matter the gender or status of the people in a relationship, locking lips in public could result in some surprised stares.

There is a general expectation of modesty in ones deportment and respect of others personal space in public, George says.

Nikolova adds: You can hold hands, but kissing  especially for a prolonged time  is normally frowned upon, mostly because it makes [locals] uncomfortable. PDA is reserved for couples in private in many Muslim countries.

Some regulations around unmarried couples have loosened in recent years.

In 2019, Saudi authorities announced that unmarried foreign couples would be permitted to share hotel rooms.

The countrys national travel authority website indicates that LGBTQ tourists are welcome in Saudi Arabia. It says: Everyone is welcome to visit Saudi, and we ask that they follow and respect our culture and traditions and laws, as you would when visiting any other country in the world.

That said, it is important to note that gay sex is prohibited by law, with consequences including fines, jail time or even death. The UK Foreign Office, among others, warns its citizens that homosexual or extra-marital sexual relations, including adultery, are illegal and can be subject to severe penalties.

There are other social rules to be mindful of. Generally, unrelated men and women wouldnt be in a private space together. However, this is one of those areas where youll need to look around you and do as the locals are doing.

It might be OK for a foreign woman and a local man to have a business meeting together if theyre somewhere public like a coffee shop or if they just keep the office door open. When it comes to greetings, a polite hello is plenty  not everyone will feel comfortable shaking hands or kissing on the cheek, especially with someone of the opposite gender.

In urban areas like Jeddah, single women often take taxis driven by men  but they are expected to always sit in the back.

It is actually safe for women to travel in Saudi Arabia, Nikolova says. You will find that many women go out alone or with friends without issue, especially in large cities like Jeddah and Riyadh.

Raising a glass

One of the most discussed topics for foreign tourists in Saudi Arabia is alcohol.

While other nearby majority-Muslim countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates do sell alcohol under very specific, limited conditions and have it available in hotels, thats not the case in Saudi. Alcohol isnt just unfashionable  its illegal, regardless of whether youre a local or a tourist.

And that ban on alcohol isnt only in practice once youre on the ground in Saudi Arabia.

That law applies to Saudia, the countrys national airline, as well. If youre accustomed to having a glass of wine to help you sleep on a long flight, you might want to consider buying a ticket on a carrier that does serve booze on board.

The Kaaba, in Mecca, is Islam's holiest site - Aviator70/iStockphoto/Getty Images

All in the timing

Mecca, Islams holiest city, is here in Saudi Arabia. Muslims are required to make the hajj, or religious pilgrimage to the citys holiest sites, at least once in their lifetime.

Although it may sound like a bad time to visit Saudi Arabia, Nikolova says that if youre not Muslim and want to see other parts of the country, hajj could actually be the best time to plan a trip.

While restrictions on tourists are put in place at Jeddah, the rest of Saudi Arabia remains open for tourists, says Nikolova. Usually that time is also less crowded, as many locals and expats have two weeks off and leave the country for holidays.

When it comes to visiting mosques, its best not to try to go on a Friday, which is the holiest day of the week, or during prayer times. Many mosques will post visitors hours outside, and the larger, more famous ones often have a website with more details.

However, there are some mosques you wont be able to visit  namely those in Mecca and Medina. Those are restricted to Muslims only.

It might also be wise for non-Muslims to avoid visiting during Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. (In 2024, its likely to run from March 10 to April 8 - lunar months like Ramadan can vary a day either side)

I would recommend avoiding Muslim countries during Ramadan because there is not much to do during the day, Nikolova says, noting that because participants fast during the day and eat at night, shops and restaurants open later or not at all.

Many locals also advise against visiting in summer, as its normal for temperatures to top 120 degrees Fahrenheit (about 50 Celsius).

Due to the extreme heat, some businesses will close in the afternoon and reopen again later in the day. For example, in Jeddahs historic al-Balad neighborhood, most cafes and stores shut for several hours at midday.

If you want to find a place thats open for lunch, head to a mall  and also bring a sweater, as air-conditioning can sometimes overcompensate for the weather by being very strong.

The Red Seas luxurious waterfront resorts are best experienced in shoulder season, when prices are lower as well.

January is generally the coolest month of the year, with temperatures around 64-68 Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Celsius). Winter is the ideal season for enjoying Saudi Arabias many outdoor activities, from hiking historic archeological sites to stargazing in the desert.

CNNs Julia Buckley contributed reporting.

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Jonesburg is probably the most famous local community that hardly anyone has heard of.

Robert A.N. Jones would be crushed to learn of its current obscurity. He had big plans for the community -- and his long feud with the Illinois Central Railroad was responsible for the national press coverage it got during the first part of the 20th Century.

Where is Jonesburg? Head south on U.S. 60-West and just before you hit the Union County line youll see a road off to the left called Jonesburg Road. At the end of that road are about three houses, including a two-story, concrete block structure that is Jones most permanent legacy.

The Illinois Central used to have a line that ran between Corydon and Morganfield, which was completed in 1885.

The railroad initially had a watering station at Highland Creek, but regular flooding caused it to move the station to the Jones neighborhood.

Thats when the trouble began. Practically in front of Jones log cabin the railroad erected a sign designating the community as Highland, the same name it had used less than a mile away.

This has been Jones for 60 years, he said in The Gleaner of Dec. 6, 1907, a fact confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey. My father (William B. Jones) settled here when just a boy.

The feud didnt really heat up until after the railroad ignored a petition Jones sent signed by about 15 of the communitys residents. That prompted Jones to hire a sign painter to replicate the railroads sign, except it said: No Highland here. This is Jones Station. It was placed next to the railroads sign, but on Jones property.

The two signs, with their evident conflict between personal pride and the corporations design to do as it pleases, invariably causes smiles on the part of the passengers, according to an Evansville Courier article that was reprinted in The Gleaner of Oct. 15, 1904.

The sympathy of the passengers is with Jones. They wish they knew more of the story of his conflict with the railroad over the name.

The Dec. 6, 1907, article said Jones had replaced the famous old sign at Highland with two new signs  one on either side of the Illinois Centrals sign.

Robert A.N. Jones began building this concrete block house at the end of Jonesburg Road in late summer of 1911, the same year he won a long-running dispute with the Illinois Central Railroad. The railroad had wanted to call the community Highland but Jones insisted on Jones Station. A compromise was reached with Jonesburg.

Thousands of passengers have smiled and were puzzled over this (original) odd sign, and the railroad sent down men to have it demolished, but as it was planted on Jones land they thought it best to let it alone.

That story -- like later ones -- apparently was picked up by other publications because on Dec. 7 The Gleaner reprinted an article from the Louisville Courier-Journal calling the railroad very inconsiderate for its treatment of Jones.

The Joneses are respectable people. They own the land. They have lived there 60 years. It is a shame and an outrage, bordering on pleurisy, heresy and cisarabia (?) to talk about Highland.

The oldest in-depth article Ive been able to find about the feud appeared in The Gleaner of Oct. 24, 1909, where the reporter found Jones sitting in front of an old-time log fire in his old-time log cabin playing his banjo. The same article later described him as an old man of somewhat humble bearing but the natural born prowess of a fighter.

The basis for that story was the placement of a new sign, on which Jones published 15 lines of doggerel describing his conflict with the railroad. (I will not reproduce it here out of compassion for my readers.)

For years Jones and the big, powerful, arrogant and autocratic railroad have waged an incessant struggle about the name of a little one-hoss station. The new sign is the most recent sortie.

At least one divorce was said to have been caused by the division in the community, and when a fistfight occurs it is almost certain that the quarrel was brought about concerning the name the village should go by.

Jones had lived in a three-room log cabin all his life but had plans for a new house, an obelisk, a general store and a post office.

The Gleaner of April 27, 1911, carried another in-depth article, which described Jones as a large muscular person of middle age. The basis for that story was that his signs had finally worn down one of the countrys largest railroads, which resulted in a compromise. Instead of Jones Station or Highland, after 10 years of persistent effort the communitys new name was Jonesburg.

Well, a little poem I wrote decided the dispute, he told the reporter. The whole country laughed at the railroad and the officials of the company were glad to call this place Jonesburg. The new name was reflected in the railroads tickets, maps, and timetables.

That article also described Jones plans for a 10-room house with octagon front and diamond windows. Another dream was a 300-foot-tall obelisk, similar to the one that marks the birthplace of Jefferson Davis at Fairview. It was to mark the graves of the entire Jones clan. (He was the youngest of six children.)

The Henderson Evening Journal of Aug. 15, 1911, reported work had begun on his new house, which supposedly was to cost $5,000. Concrete blocks were being shipped in by the Illinois Central. That story also said hed decided the obelisk would be only 100 feet tall.

The log cabin in which Jones had been born May 11, 1862, and lived in most of his life had been torn down a week before the Journal published its article.

The story ended with these words: the tickets, maps, timetables, etc. now show the point as Jonesburg instead of Highland, and Robert A.N. Jones is proclaimed the winner.

That wasnt the last word about the controversy, though. The Gleaner of Jan. 6, 1924, revisited the matter  probably because it made such a good story. That article provided my entry into the topic of Jonesburg.

Smiles of derision (by railroad officials) over the eccentricity of a country man who sought local notoriety changed to chagrin when there was no letup in the strife, for as the corporation evinced a design to exercise its prerogative in naming stations along its line, just as determined was Mr. Jones to perpetuate his individuality by having the place named Jones Station.

It was a constant source of irritation to the I.C. and became sharper in (his) frequent contact with officials, who now dismayed by the tift with Mr. Jones, sought an escape from the dilemma without compromising with a farmer.

Ive already described the compromise. Robert A.N. Jones, whose name became a familiar one to men high in the councils of the Illinois Central, is buried by the side of the gleaming pathway of commerce in the family graveyard at Jonesburg.

His death May 28, 1921, came 18 days after he turned 59. His death certificate says he died after an operation on his right arm, which was probably an amputation attempt. He was suffering from embolic gangrene in both legs and his right arm.

75 YEARS AGO

First Baptist Church was getting ready for a ground-breaking ceremony to build a new educational building, the first to be built in Henderson since the early 1930s, according to The Gleaner of Jan. 1, 1949.

The new addition was expected to cost $119,024, not including the equipment although the entire project was expected to cost about $140,000.

The Gleaner of Jan. 4, 1949, reported Rev. E. Keevil Judy, pastor of the church, shoveled the first bit of dirt on the project.

50 YEARS AGO

Cold weather caused the city of Henderson to shut down natural gas service to 14 local industries and schools in the county system to close, according to The Gleaner of Jan. 2, 1974.

Also, Henderson and the rest of the country officially began Daylight Saving Time as an energy conservation measure, according to The Gleaner of Jan. 6, 1974.

The switch, which puts the nation on fast time for the first time since World War II, keeps the country on Daylight Saving Time until December 1975. President Nixon signed the bill last month as a conservation measure meant to reduce energy demands for heating and lighting.

25 YEARS AGO

The use of methamphetamine was a growing problem in this area, according to a package of stories that appeared in The Gleaner Jan. 3, 1999.

Meth had been around before that, but it had mostly been imported, and usage was at lower levels. Local production had begun in the mid-1990s and by 1999 it was a real problem.

Weve been seeing it here the past five years  quite a bit of it, said Detective Jamie Duvall of the Henderson Police Department. It is popular and it is available in larger quantities than it used to be. Making it is by leaps and bounds easier than it was five years ago.

Readers of The Gleaner can reach Frank Boyett at YesNews42@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Henderson history: How a local man beat the Illinois Central to a draw
If you ask Lauren Chan, her most favored look from her rookie SI Swimsuit photoshoot in the Dominican Republic was somewhat easy to pinpoint. My favorite swimsuit from the day was the Bromelia tortoiseshell bikini that we shot in the cenote, the model and entrepreneur told us during magazine launch week events in May.

While Chans feature, which was captured by James Macari in the Caribbean country, was inspired by the summers trendy Barbiecore aesthetic, she rocked plenty of bold patterns and strong silhouettes, like the aforementioned tortoiseshell bikini, in addition to pink.

I just think the colors are stunning [and] its wearable as ready-to-wear as well because of the neutral shades and what I typically choose to style with, and it looked so gorgeous against that deep, deep blue water, she said of her fave suit while in Miami this summer.

In addition to her work as a model, the Toronto native is also an entrepreneur and former editor. She previously worked as the fashion features editor at Glamour, where she focused on a plus-size fashion beat. Additionally, this spring, Chans size-inclusive luxury womenwear label, Henning, was acquired by Universal Standard.

When it comes to her rookie photoshoot, were just as enamored with the Bromelia two-piece as Chan herself is, but also couldnt possibly narrow our favorite picks down to just one. With that said, below are a handful of our favorite swimsuitsboth bikinis and monokinisthat Chan modeled while on location in the Dominican Republic.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated Lauren Chan was photographed by James Macari in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Bromelia Swimwear.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated Lauren Chan was photographed by James Macari in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Good American.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated Lauren Chan was photographed by James Macari in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Beach Riot.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated Lauren Chan was photographed by James Macari in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Initial S Paris. Earrings by ome.

James Macari/Sports Illustrated Lauren Chan was photographed by James Macari in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by BANANHOT.

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
Queen Maxima, 52, turned heads with her dazzling attire earlier this month. The queen of the Netherlands wore a ruby ballgown and a stunning tiara for a state banquet held at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Take a closer look below.

Patrick van Katwijk/Stringer/Getty Images

Per Hello! Magazine, the Dutch queen had a floor-length gown designed by Costarellos, a ready-to-wear fashion brand based in Athens, Greece. According to the Court Jeweller, she actually wore this same exact dress at a state dinner in Greece back in 2022. We love to see a royal repurposing a gorgeous gown and jewels.

To refresh our memories, the long-sleeve gown features ruby lace and velvet panelling throughout, which she paired with the Mellerio Ruby Parure tiara. According to Hello!, the statement piece was crafted for Queen Emma of The Netherlands in 1888.

She also wore drop earrings, bracelets and a corsage ornament mimicing the diamonds and rubies displayed on the tiara. The Dutch queen also sported a sash and star of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit in honor of their guests. And let's not forget her gorgeous wedding ring (that is considered the eighth most expensive royal ring, FYI).

Now, this isn't the first time the Dutch queen has re-worn an outfit or jewels. Back in 2021, she sported a gorgeous embroidered gown that she previously wore in 2017 for her husband's 50th birthday. Look, if the gown was custom-made by our favorite designer we would wear it a couple of times too.

Patrick van Katwijk/Contributor/Getty Images

At the state banquet, the queen was joined by her husband King Willem-Alexander, 56. They welcomed their guests, South Korean President Yoon Sul Yeol and Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who were visiting the country. The visit came a few weeks after they were hosted by Queen Camilla and King Charles III on Nov. 21 (where Queen Camilla was seen wearing ruby jewelry pieces, too).

A royal covered in rubies? 10 out of 10.

All the Details on the Dutch Royal Family, Including the Line of Succession & Queen Maxima

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Finding the middle path is never easy.

But Mondal Fashions Ltd., a manufacturer located in Tongabari, Ashulia, a Dhaka suburb, and its workers have overcome months of seemingly insurmountable mistrust and friction to forge an agreement brokered through trade unions and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

More from Sourcing Journal

There was a lot at stake.

Mondal was accused of anti-trade union practices as union leaders filed written complaints of harassment, physical abuse and the dismissal of workers.

Matters came to a head in August in the aftermath of a letter written by the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF) to BGMEA, the Department of Labour, the International Labour Organisation in Bangladesh, and the secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The letter outlined specific dates and names of members of the union who were allegedly threatened and harassed and forced to leave Dhaka to return to their hometowns.

It was also alleged that their union had been disallowed formation at the factory.

Nothing has happened inside the factory, Abdul Momin Mondal, managing director, Mondal Fashion, told Sourcing Journal as the situation unfurled over the summer, while explaining that the matter was being resolved. One of the trade unions complained to the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) and they came to investigate. We came to know they got complaints from the trade union, but as far as we know any incident has happened outside the company. We set up our own team to investigate and figure it out, he said.

As far as denying the formation of the trade union within the factory, he said: The formation of a trade union simply requires an application to the labor office, and they made their application there. Their request was refused by the labor office. I cannot answer on why, since this is a decision that is not made by us, he said.

Mondal Fashions Ltd. is a part of the Mondal Group which counts 19 factories across different locations.

According to Nazma Akhter, president, Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, the facts spoke for themselves, as did the dismissal of three members of the union.

Nothing happened in the factory because they hired goons who were waiting at the factory all day accosting the workers and union representatives outside the factory, she rebutted, citing several specific incidents which have also been included in the letter to BGMEA. The letter highlighted unfair labor practices and anti-trade union discrimination by the owner of Mondal Fashions Ltd., and a request to take necessary legal action into the matter.

In reality, the hired goons were waiting at the factory the whole day and when workers got out they attacked some of the proposed union members. They threatened the women leaders, and on July 29 and 30, four proposed union members were forced to resign after work, and they were scared to seek help, Akhter said.

The letter of complaint added that the proposed general secretary of the union was able to get away and make a report to the Ashulia Thana committee through his mobile phone.

Members of the union also informed the Industrial Police of Ashulia Zone, SB (Special Branch), NSI representatives who spoke to the building owner of the factory through the management and freed the detained organizers of SGSF. At this time, two mobile phones that were seized were kept by the factory management. Injured workers received healthcare from Upazila Health Complex, Savar, Dhaka, the letter stated.

Akhter said that factory officials visited the homes of several of the workers, along with other parties, and threatened the workers, while advising them to leave their homes, and the city, within hours.

Factory management denied these occurrences, telling Sourcing Journal that they would not venture into an area where workers live together.

As a result, a negotiation meeting was held at the BGMEA office on Sept. 18, with representatives of BGMEA, the Mondal factory management and the SGSF union members.

A unanimous decision was made after taking all the facts in consideration, including the reinstatement of nine workers, who could rejoin with continuity of employment with due wages if they wished, otherwise they would be provided with legal benefits through negotiation.

In addition, factory authorities will operate the factory as per labor law. If any misunderstanding or labor unrest ever arises, the authorities will resolve the issue in consultation with SGSF.

Its good that they signed a settlement, said Monika Hartsel, deputy country program director at Solidarity Center, Bangladesh. In many cases the workers get fired and paid out and thats the most common thing. Its pretty rare to have a reinstatement of terminated union leaders. If the retaliation stops, then they have the potential to make a collective bargaining statement and really help the workers.

In Bangladesh, there are independent unions, Hartsel explained. By which we mean there are unions that represent the interests of the workers and not the employers; then there are politically aligned unions, and the third kind, the yellow unionswhich may be politically-aligned, but also employer-aligned, thats a trend in Bangladesh.

The troubling sign we are seeing is management dominating unions and their interference with workers who are trying to represent the interests of the workers. It is hard for an independent union built by the workers.

International organizations and policy makers have been increasingly highlighting the need for more checks and balances, and assurances of labor safety in Bangladesh.

On Nov. 16, for instance, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally, and while making the announcement said that those who threaten, intimidate or attack union leaders, labor rights defenders and labor organizations will be held accountable.

The questions remains, can Bangladesh, in fact, solve its labor issues without outside intervention?

We have the right to, and we will solve them. These are our people, said one manufacturer.
This story is from an installment of The Oeno Files, our weekly insider newsletter to the world of fine wine. Sign up here.

Just a short distance from Milan, Italian sparkling wine region Franciacorta languishes in the long shadows cast by two better known but vastly different types of effervescent wine, Champagne and Prosecco. The first, which every wine lover knows is only produced in the Champagne region of France, is the luxurious standard-bearer for sparkling wine around the world, while the secondwhich, like Franciacorta, also hails from Northern Italyis now the planets most popular style of fizzy wine. Italian sparkling is often lumped into one category, unfortunately thought of as cheap and cheery, but that is not the case at all. We are here to tell you that Franciacorta deserves a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

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Lets start with the rules: Made using the same grapes and in the same style as Champagne, Franciacorta has even stricter regulations for aging than its French counterpart. For example, non-vintage Franciacorta must be aged a minimum of 18 months, while NV Champagne must age in the bottle for a minimum of 15 months, including 12 of those on the lees. Furthermore, non-vintage rose Franciacorta and the style known as Saten (more on that later) must be aged for 24 months; meanwhile, there is no additional time stipulated for rose Champagne to age. Vintage Franciacorta is required to be aged for 30 months as compared to Champagnes 36 months, but Franciacortas regulations include a higher quality level, Riserva, which is always a vintage wine and must be aged for 60 months.

Now lets get to the grapes: Unlike its native counterparts Prosecco (made with indigenous grape Glera) or Moscato dAsti, Italys famed sparkling Moscato, Franciacorta is produced using Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco, the last two being the Italian names for Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. These are three of the six allowable grapes in Champagne, and Franciacorta gets its sparkle from what is known in the wine world as the methode champenoise or methode traditionelle, which the Italians call metodo classico or metodo tradizionale.

Franciacorta

Same grapes, same style, but from a distinct region in a different country. So why hasnt it taken our shores by storm? Almost 90 percent of Franciacorta is sold within Italy, and only a small fraction of the remaining amount that is exported globally makes it into the United States. Considering its rarity, it should be selling for loftier prices, but several of the higher-end versions fetch between $50 and $100 at retail. We are not here to tell you that Franciacorta is a lower-priced alternative to Champagne but rather the wine worlds best-kept secret.

One of the brands with a strong presence in the U.S. market, Ca del Bosco, produces two top-tier offerings, Ca del Bosco Franciacorta Riserva Annamaria Clementi and Ca del Bosco Franciacorta Vintage Collection Saten, which sell for $100 and $75, respectively. Named for proprietor-winemaker Maurizio Zanellas mother, the 2014 Riserva Annamaria Clementi is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc from the winerys estate vineyards that is matured on the lees for eight years and receives no additional dosage at disgorgement. Saten is a type of Franciacorta obtained from white grapes only; it is the blanc de blancs of the territory, Zanella tells Robb Report. The atmospheres of pressure, lower than other Franciacortas, contribute to soft, silky bubbles. It is certainly the most delicate and elegant Franciacorta. The current vintage, 2018, is made with Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc and aged on the lees for four years after primary fermentation in small oak barrels.

Ricci Curbastro Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Millesimato Gualberto, a blend of about 70 percent Pinot Noir and 30 percent Chardonnay, receives no additional sugar when disgorged, hence the words dosaggio zero in its name. Gualberto Ricci Curbastro, winery co-CEO, explains that its dryness is compensated by a full body and an elegant acidity that is the result of a long aging on lees. He points out that the wine, which has a suggested price of $93, is made with up to 15 percent of Franciacorta wines that have been aged for eight to 10 years in magnum bottles on the lees. This process was developed in our estate 20 years ago and now is recognized among the authorized practices of the appellation, he says. The Dosaggio Zero Gualberto also ages over nine years to achieve all the elegance and freshness of a Franciacorta riserva.

Franciacorta cellar

Several other Franciacortas have caught our attention recently, including Barone Pizzini 2011 Franciacorta Riserva Bagnadore, which sells for $90, and Bellavista Franciacorta Brut Millesimato Teatro alla Scala, which fetches $53. Made with Chardonnay, the Barone Pizzini 2011 was aged 70 percent in barrel and 30 percent in steel tanks before aging 70 months in bottle on the lees. The long aging on the lees enhances complexity, aromas, and flavors, CEO Silvano Brescianini says. The 2011 harvest was one of the best in the last years and a riserva of this vintage could have a very long life.

While it is drinking gorgeously now, with beautiful apple, pear, and brioche flavors mingling with full mouthfeel and bold acidity, the wine could add more layers of complexity with up to eight more years in cellar. Named for the famous opera house founded in 1778 in the center of Milan, Bellavistas Teatro alla Scala offers fine perlage, a full, creamy texture, and flavors of citrus, green apple, orange blossom, and slivered almonds. Francesca Moretti, Bellavistas winemaker, explains that each year on December 7, the feast day of Milans patron saint, SantAmbrogio, the new season opens at Teatro alla Scala with a premiere. She proudly continues, Since 2004, the year in which the opera house reopened after lengthy restoration work, Bellavista has had the honor of being part of this ritual.

Like all sparkling wine, Franciacorta deserves to be served at more than just special occasions. Arturo Ziliani, CEO and winemaker at Berlucchi, who is the man behind, among other bottlings, Berlucchi 2016 Guido Franciacorta Nature Millesimato 61 (suggested price $73), likes the flexibility of pairing possibilities. This is not a vintage 1961 wine but is rather named in homage to the first vintage released by founder Guido Berlucchi. Made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and matured sur lie, it possesses a rare combination of freshness and depth, with what Ziliani refers to as bright acidity and a crisp, clean profile. With that in mind, he suggests pairing it with raw seafood such as oysters, shrimp, or sushi, explaining, The acidity of the wine will complement the freshness of the seafood. On the other hand, he also likes to pour it with fuller textured and richer dishes, pointing out, A creamy Parmesan risotto can work well with the texture and flavor profile of the wine. The richness of the risotto can be balanced by the acidity of the sparkling wine, creating a harmonious pairing. With possibilities like this at lunch or dinner, its time we let the Franciacorta secret out.

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Are you willing to put your tax dollars into "Baby Bonds" for later-in-life use by children born into poverty?

How about a brand-new $100 million building to house Rhode Island's precious history, including a bona fide John Hancock on an original copy of the Bill of Rights?

And how do you feel about same-day voter registration, no minimum residency required?

All three of these proposals top the wish lists of one or more of Rhode Island's general officers heading into the 2024 legislative session, amid warnings that the federal tap is running dry.

Treasurer James Diossa

General Treasurer James Diossa gets the prize for the most eye-catching  and thought-provoking  new proposal: a Rhode Island version of a "Baby Bonds Program," pioneered in Connecticut with an initial $381 million investment from a budget surplus in that state to fund the program for at least the next decade.

As Diossa envisions it here, a child born in Rhode Island in a family eligible for Medicaid would receive a sum of money held and invested by the Treasury until they reach 18 years of age.

General Treasurer James Diossa.

"When recipients reach adulthood, they can use the funds for wealth-building activities, such as purchasing a home, investing in education or starting a small business," Diossa spokeswoman Michelle Moreno-Silva explains.

In Connecticut, the money came from reserves created to shore up the teachers pension fund that were later replaced by an insurance policy.

In Rhode Island, Diossa is counting on taxpayer dollars, aka "general revenue."

Details are yet to come, but when asked how much money Diossa would like the state to put into "Baby Bonds," Moreno-Silva said $13.9 million initially.

"The Treasurer has not yet decided the exact amount of the initial trust, though it would be in the ballpark of at least $3,000 per child," she told The Journal.

The math: "If we gave every Medicaid-eligible child in RI $3,000 (over the past 5 years, an average of 4,633 children were born in RI to families receiving public health insurance). 4,633 x 3,000 = $13.889 million."

Diossa also hopes to convince lawmakers to pass what he calls a "Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program Act" to aid private-sector workers.

More: What new laws go into effect in RI on Jan. 1? From minimum wage to plastic bags, take a look

The impetus: a study that found Rhode Island among the three states with the lowest rates of access to employer-provided retirement plans nationally.

As of 2021, the study found, the states with the lowest share of workers with access to a plan were Florida (33%), Georgia (37%), and Rhode Island (38%).

Diossa's office is crafting legislation to create "automatic-enrollment [in a] portable retirement savings program for any private sector employee not currently offered a retirement savings plan." Stay tuned for more details.

Attorney General Peter Neronha

Attorney General Peter Neronha will again push for an "assault weapons" ban and a safe gun storage requirement, each of which has hit resistance in past years, though there are signs of movement in the Senate this year.

With Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson calling the safe-storage bill a personal priority, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio now says he has an "open mind."

Attorney General Peter Neronha.

"Law enforcement continues to be routinely outgunned in their communities  if you back the blue, you should be backing these bills," Neronha argues.

Neronha also plans to advocate for reform of the state's Coastal Resources Management Council in the wake of the messy Champlins Marina case.

The short version: After nearly two decades of hearings and litigation, the Rhode Island Supreme Court in October 2022 said Champlins Marina could not expand its operation into Block Island's Great Salt Pond, also known as New Harbor. In reaching that decision, the court rejected the validity of a "backroom deal" struck in late 2020 by the marina and the state Coastal Resources Management Council behind closed doors.

And finally, Neronha hopes to convince legislators to agree with him on an issue that got him in a public spat with Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini on the merits of requiring the prosecutions consent to a jury-waived trial.

He calls this "an issue of fundamental fairness in our criminal justice system" and says, "Rhode Island is currently in the minority."

Secretary of State Gregg Amore's priorities? New $100M state archive and museum, same-day voter registration

Secretary of State Gregg Amore has picked up his predecessor's campaign for the construction of a permanent "State Archives and History Center" across the street from the State House to house a trove of historic items dating back to the state's early history.

He has some convincing to do, though Ruggerio  who never met a construction project he didn't like  told The Journal he supports it in concept.

"We have what I like to refer to as treasures," Amore told The Public's Radio this fall.

Secretary of State Gregg Amore.

"We have an original Declaration of Independence, one of the original 13 before the signing," he said. "We have ... one of the original 13 Bill of Rights documents. We have 64 letters from George Washington. We have the Act of Renunciation from May of 1776, which made Rhode Island the first colony to declare its independence. We have a request for troops from Abraham Lincoln signed by Lincoln."

He also promises to pursue another elusive goal: moving the state's September primary elections back to August.

In the same bill, he wants the legislature "to codify a decision-making process" in the event there is suspected forgery or fraud on nomination papers, as happened with Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos' papers when she ran for Congress earlier this year.

Amore also wants the legislature to add poll workers and elections officials to the definition of a public official under the law (RIGL 11-42-4) that makes it a felony to threaten or harass public officials.

On the election front, Amore will continue the push for same-day voter registration, which would require a change in the Rhode Island Constitution. State law  and the Constitution  currently restrict voter registration to 30 days before an election.

Same-day registration, which is currently allowed only for presidential/vice presidential elections, is also a priority of the citizens advocacy group Common Cause.

"We want Rhode Island to join the 22 states, including four of the six New England states, that give voters the option to register up to and on Election Day," says Common Cause executive director John Marion.

Gov. Dan McKee.

Gov. Dan McKee's priorities? Raising incomes, life sciences and innovation

Gov. Dan McKee has lofty goals  many of which received legislative backing in 2023  but it is not yet clear how they will translate into a 2024 legislative agenda.

Broadly speaking, his spokeswoman Olivia DaRocha said he remains intent on "raising education outcomes" and "raising incomes" by, for example, "capitalizing on the creation of the new quasi-public Life Science agency, continuing to build housing at multiple levels, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship of our small businesses and more."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here's what RI's top general officers want to change in 2024 session
ISTANBUL, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Foreign tourists visiting Turkiye are spending more in 2023 than the previous year, contributing significantly to tourism revenues and the country's economy, according to industry insiders.

Hamit Kuk, chief advisor to the president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association, said the average spending of foreigners hit 942 U.S. dollars during the first nine months of this year, according to the latest statistics, up from 905 dollars during the same period in 2022.

"The tourism sector is one of the most important sectors that has a direct impact on the Turkish economy, as it provides direct cash inflows," Kuk said, noting that the sector is crucial to closing the foreign trade deficit and has a direct impact on employment.

Approximately 1.5 million people work in the tourism industry, the expert said, and dozens of subsidiary sectors relate to it. "Therefore, any increase in tourism revenues directly influences other sectors' production turnover, and thus affects employment," Kuk added.

Turkiye's tourism sector has been operating at around 60 percent capacity due to a series of factors, Kuk pointed out, adding when it reaches full capacity, "revenues will skyrocket."

According to the Visa Travel Intentions Survey, which monitors international travel trends, foreign tourists stay in Turkiye for an average of 11 days and spend an average of 2,900 dollars in 2023.

The survey noted that this figure goes up to 4,015 dollars for families traveling with children aged older than 12.

Meanwhile, the Culture and Tourism Ministry's latest data showed that Turkish tourism revenue reached 42 billion dollars during the first nine months of 2023, increasing by 20 percent compared to last year.

The ministry also said that Turkiye had attracted 52.7 million tourists in the first 11 months of this year.

"These data indicate that the development is extremely positive," despite a series of adverse conditions, such as the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the Israel-Hamas conflict, Mafi Egilmez, an economist, wrote on his website.

"Such a positive atmosphere shows those who are affected by these situations and change their holiday plans are immediately filled by others," Egilmez said, noting "Turkiye seems to be setting a record in tourism in 2023." 
When Jason and Jennifer Grogg and their four kids moved from Logansport to the Caribbean island of Dominica in 2021, they expected to make a new life spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ while living free of the frustrations they felt about COVID-19 mandates.

What they found instead was trouble.

First, the family couldnt find permanent housing. Then came a run-in with Dominican authorities who last spring searched their rental home and a shipping container the family used to move their belonging to the island. Those searches led to a gun, ammunition and accessories they could not legally possess on the island.

The fallout, which comes on the heels of a missionary group severing ties with the family, could land Jason Grogg, the family's patriarch, in a foreign prison or deported to the United States. For now, Jason says his family is stuck.

The Dominica government  not to be confused with the Dominican Republic  has seized Jason Groggs passport, and his wife and children, who have their passports, can't afford to leave as cost related to the legal cases diminish the family's savings. Meanwhile, Jason can't legally work because he doesnt have a work permit.

Still, Jason remains committed to the move and determined to fight the accusations against him. "We left the United States for a very particular reason when it came to the COVID nonsense," he said. "But we also saw very clearly this is the path that God was wanting us to take for purposes unknown."

Travel: Dominica: Where champagne and warm mud mix

A frustrating ordeal

The family's latest challenge came in mid-April when the Anti-Crime Task Force of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force and customs investigators searched the Groggs rental home and a 40-foot shipping container the family had stored at local church they were helping.

Law enforcement seized the firearm and various ammunition, initially charging the family with possessing a handgun without a license, arms trafficking and evasion of custom duties.

The family was taken into custody. The couple and their two oldest children, Hannah and Gracia, 18 and 16 at that time, respectively, were arrested and jailed. Their younger children, Eliyah and Nathan, 14 and 12 at the time, respectively, were taken into custody by the Commonwealth and sent to a home for abused and neglected children.

All of the items were accidentally brought into the country via the shipping container, Jason said, adding they were packed in moving totes and shipped to the island. None of it was supposed to have come down, he said.

The months-long legal drama has upended the Groggs new life in Dominica and turned what should have been a fresh start into a frustrating ordeal.

Dominca's government has brought two court cases against Jason since his family has been on the island. The first case  for possession  was settled when Jason pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm and paid a fine of $25,000 East Caribbean dollars, or about $9,250 in U.S. currency.

The commonwealth dropped all charges against Jason's wife and eldest children after his guilty plea. The younger children have since been reunited with the family. The second case involving customs is active and open.

"My wife and my children, they all have their passports to leave the country if they needed to like in an emergency," he said. "Because the government has been taking so long and absorbing so much of my funds, we have no way of at this point, unless we had family pay for tickets, there's no way for us to leave right now."

The Grogg family Left to right. Jason, Eliyah, Nathan, Hannah (with sunglasses), Jennifer and Gracia (wearing the hat).

Leaving it all behind

Before moving to Dominica, the Groggs owned their own house, grew their own vegetables, and always had home renovation projects in the works. Jennifer Grogg homeschooled the kids. Jason was a member of the National Rifle Association and an firearms instructor.

As self-proclaimed devout Christians, they saw the expansion of LGBTQ rights as a sign that the United States had turned away from God, according a series of newsletters about their lives the couple produced for friends and family. So, when a once-in-a-life time pandemic turned the world upside down, and local governments issued restrictions to curtail spread of the disease, the couple began toying with the idea of leaving the U.S.

"We were feeling like God was leading us out of the country to go somewhere else," Jason Grogg said in a telephone interview with IndyStar. "He led us to the Commonwealth of Dominica."

An associate in Florida suggested to Jason Grogg the commonwealth as a potential option for the Groggs to relocate.

Known as The Nature Island, Dominica is home to about 70,000 people. The island, covering roughly 290 square miles, is situated between Martinique and Guadeloupe in the eastern Caribbean Seas Lesser Antilles archipelago. The tropical island is home to rugged mountains, hot springs, volcanos, lush vegetation and waterfalls.

"It's a beautiful place," Grogg said, noting that the family also liked the commonwealth's strong constitution. "The people are absolutely wonderful."

The Groggs began researching the island after receiving the suggesting and that research led them to a faith-based nonprofit called Feed My Sheep, which supports youth in crisis. They connected with the nonprofit's Christian leadership while they were still in Logansport and collected Bibles they could hand out once in Dominica.

The family spent several months preparing for the move. They readied their house to sell and packed up items they were taking with them in Sterlite totes. They sold things they would no longer need or couldn't bring with them  including Jason Grogg's collection of firearms. They arranged for a shipping container to be delivered near their Logansport home and filled it with their belongings to be shipped to Dominica.

Then, one day in the summer of 2021, they loaded up their kids and suitcases, headed to Indianapolis International Airport and took off on a flight to their new Caribbean home.

The Grogg family stands in front of artworks spelling out Dominica's name. The Indiana family relocated from Logansport to the Commonwealth of Dominica in 2021 and have since encountered legal troubles on the island.

A different life

Once on the tropical island, life was different from what they experienced in Indiana. The Groggs arrived weeks ahead of their shipping container, which they temporarily stored at Feed My Sheep's campus. There were fewer COVID restrictions. They bounced from rental house to rental house. And in newsletters, they consistently asked friends and family to pray that they would find a reliable vehicle and that hurricanes would avoid the island.

We had read that Dominica was very God-centered. They have a national prayer that talks about Jesus and their national anthem gives praise to God," Jennifer Grogg wrote in the family's December 2021 newsletter. "The schools start each day with prayer as does each session of the government. The vehicles have religious phrases and wording on them and the people all nod their heads in agreement when we start talking about 'God things.'"

Still, they also initially struggled to find a church that fulfilled their spiritual needs.

There were good moments, too.

They made friends. Jason found work doing short-term renovation and construction jobs. He started a carpentry class. The family explored their new tropical environment using vehicles loaned by kind neighbors and friends. And, their friends at Feed My Sheep, where they often volunteered, helped them find a new rental home in the island's Belfast community. The organization would later disassociate itself from Jason Grogg. Feed My Sheep did not respond to request for comment.

Life was OK  that is until earlier this year when the police showed up after a dispute with a landlord that Feed My Sheep had connected the family with.

Jason Grogg speaks to the Christian Fellowship Club at Dominica State College last year.

Arrested and arrested again

Law enforcement told local media they found a Glock 9 mm pistol, 9 mm and 20 mm ammunition, four M16 magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition, and 17 20-gage shell. Jason Grogg disputes their descriptions of the items found.

They had found some miscellaneous ammunition," he said in a telephone interview. According to Jason's account, the handgun was initially found in a tote in an unsecured room inside of the Feed My Sheep building. The nonprofit had permitted him to use the space to sort things out from his shipping container. Jason took the gun home to secure it and intended to navigate Feed My Sheep's connections to secure a permit to legally possess it.

Before he could do that, though, the family was arrested on ammunition and gun charges because Jason did not have a license to legally possess firearms and ammo in Dominica, according to the Groggs and local news reports. The familys local attorney, Jilane-Milani Prevost, did not respond to interview requests before IndyStar's deadline.

My wife and my two daughters were essentially in a cell that was 4 feet by less than 10 feet for seven days. It was just it was incredibly inhumane, Jason Grogg said. He is accusing the government of trying to extort him as a foreign national. Dominicas Public Prosecutions Office did not respond to request for comment.

They said if you plead guilty to this ammunition and gun charges then then we will let your wife and your kids go so it was it was a matter of I had to do that I had to plead guilty to those charges, Grogg said. And, he did after spending seven days in jail. He also paid the fine.

Jason said he can appeal later. A judge at the East Caribbean Supreme Court ruled the government of Dominica illegally held the three underage younger children.

Security camera footage capture Mahuat police and investigators arriving at the Grogg's rental residence in Belfast in March 2023.

The U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs in Washington D.C. would not confirm whether it sent a representative to Domenica to look into the Grogg family arrest and the children's detention.

We are aware of reports of the arrest of U.S. citizens in Dominica. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment at this time, a spokesperson said via email. The federal agency assumes a limited role in these interactions, noting on its website that when a U.S. citizen is arrested abroad it does not always provide legal representation or get them out of jail.

Jason had been out of jail for several days when he was rearrested. Authorities detained him at the airport, where he says he was attempting to travel to the U.S. Consulate in Barbados. He was jailed for roughly another seven days on customs charges alleging the family evaded paying duties on items they brought to the country. The next court date is in February.

Theyre just kicking it months and months down the road and it makes it exponentially more expensive for me, he said.

The legal troubles have turned the Groggs' life upside down. Jason Grogg said he feels he's being lumped in with murderers and other criminals for what he claims is an innocent mistake.

"The government of Dominica has my passport. And I have to go, I have to walk down to the nearest town, sign the bail book three times a week  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday when there's people signing the books who are out on bail for murder," he said. "They're signing it like maybe once every other week. It's clearly disproportionate."

Contact IndyStar investigative reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @allyburris.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana family moves to small Caribbean island, arrested on gun charges
In the aftermath of Brandon Rodriguezs 2021 death by suicide at Rikers Island, investigators found a number of serious missteps by jail medical staff, but none resulted in discipline, according to records and interviews.

Thats not unusual. Just two Correctional Health Services staffers have been disciplined in the 44 deaths reported in city jails since January 2021, agency officials confirmed to the Daily News.

Detainee advocates argue that theyve seen cases mishandled by Correctional Health Service workers who they feel should have been sanctioned.

In Rodriguezs case, Correctional Health Services staffers failed the day before he died to identify him as a suicide risk  despite his record of mental illness and self-harm. They also failed to give him psychiatric medication and failed to put him in a mental health unit, records show.

I am asking for help because I cannot stay there, Rodriguez allegedly told a Correctional Health Services staffer. Rodriguez had been attacked 24 hours into his stay at Rikers and was scared of being placed in general population, his familys lawyer William Wagstaff said.

The staffer ignored Rodriguezs plea and didnt send him to a mental health unit, said Wagstaff. Rodriguez was then shoved into a caged shower stall where he hung himself.

[The staffer] should definitely have been disciplined, and thats why she is named in the lawsuit, Wagstaff said. It screams negligence in the best case, indifference in the worst case.

Correctional Health Services staff also failed to provide Rodriguez with medication for his mental condition, Wagstaff said  a belief he said was based on a review of case records. Any CHS employee who was responsible for the delay in medicating Brandon should have been fired, he said.

Last Tuesday, the city agreed to settle the lawsuit brought by Rodriguezs mother, Tamara Carter, for $2.25 million. A court hearing on the settlement is scheduled for January.

The two Correctional Health Services workers who were punished were sanctioned in the case of detainee Marvin Pines, who died Feb. 4 of a seizure.

The two employees were suspended and later quit after botching the use of electric defibrillator paddles to revive Pines and failing to bring a stretcher to his side as he was dying, the city Board of Correction found. Exactly why they were suspended was not made clear before the employees voluntarily left their jobs.

Correctional Health Services staffers errors contributed to other deaths as well, say investigative reports and lawsuits.

 In the death of Wilson Diaz-Guzman, who hung himself in the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Jan. 22 2021, the state Commission of Correction found that Correctional Health Services staff failed to secure psychiatric treatment for him after he threatened suicide and cut himself. [H]ad Diaz-Guzman received proper psychiatric referrals and treatment, his death may have been prevented, the report said. Correctional Health Services response to the finding was redacted from an otherwise public document.

 After Javier Velasco, 37, hanged himself on March 19, 2021, in a mental observation unit at the Anna M. Kross Center, the Commission of Correction found Correctional Health Services staff took him off suicide watch just 36 hours after a previous attempt. The commission also questioned why Velasco wasnt put in a hospital given a history of suicide attempts. Velascos death was preventable, the city Board of Correction said. As in the Diaz-Guzman case, Correctional Health Services response to the boards finding was redacted from an otherwise public document.

 After Robert Jackson died on June 30, 2021, of heart disease, the Commission of Correction found there was an unacceptable delay in the arrival of medical staff. If medical help had arrived sooner, Jackson could have been saved, the report said.

Correctional Health Services disputed that finding, stating it was notified of Jacksons medical emergency 68 minutes after the time claimed in Correction Department reports. The Commission of Correction noted a of conflict of findings between [Correction Department and Correctional Health Services] responses.

 After Victor Mercado died of COVID-19 on Oct. 15 2021, the Commission of Correction found multiple deficiencies in medical assessment and treatment that may have led to his death, including a failure to check his vital signs for 72 hours prior. Correctional Health Services called the findings incorrect.

 After Malcolm Boatwright died of a seizure on Dec. 10, 2021, the commission found Correctional Health Services staff mismanaged his anti-depressant medication.

Correctional Health Services also called this finding incorrect  a statement not elaborated on in the public record. The Commission of Correction said health services didnt provide medical documentation to back up its claim the finding was incorrect, and that it stood by its conclusions.

In the case of Herminio Villanueva, who died of a severe asthma attack while positive for COVID-19 on June 21, 2020, the commission found Correctional Health Services staffers repeatedly failed to give him his medication.

He needed an inhaled steroid, which reduces swelling in the lungs, said Katherine Rosenfeld, a lawyer for Villanuevas family. But they just kept giving him the less effective Albuterol, which was making him sicker and sicker.

Correctional Health Services response is not noted in the Commission of Correction report.

The health provider often pushes back on the commissions reports.

Correctional Health Services spokeswoman Jeanette Merrill said that after every in-custody death, the agency conducts a comprehensive review to assess the care that was provided, and also does a joint review of the cases with the Correction Department.

Any identified areas for improvement are addressed to support the provision of quality health care, she said.

Regarding the specific patient cases outlined in the death reports, CHS has provided clarifications and corrections to the oversight bodies, which are publicly available.

The Commission of Correction often takes more than two years to finalize a report  thus the agency has released final reports in only 10 of the 44 deaths since January 2021.

Lawyers and detainees families also raise questions about missteps by Correctional Health Services that are not yet the subject of state commission reports.

Esias Johnson, who overdosed on methadone on Sept 7, 2021, told a Correctional Health Services staffer he was getting the drug from another detainee  but that information was not passed on to the Correction Department, the city Board of Correction found.

The doctors reaction was to continue to prescribe methadone, but they didnt verify that the amount they were giving him was acceptable, said the Johnson familys lawyer Joshua Kelner.

While CHS often blames [the Correction Department] for failing to produce people for appointments, when they are continuing to give someone a drug, they have to be accountable for verifying its safe.

William Brown, who died Dec. 15, 2021 from a synthetic cannabis overdose, was on an anti-psychotic drug before his arrest, but didnt get any medication during his first 12 days at Rikers, the Board of Correction found.

As Herman Diaz choked on an orange peel on March 18, 2022, medical staff did not respond immediately and detainees had to try to render aid before he died, a report by the state attorney general found.

Correctional Health Services disputed any delay in response, a Board of Correction report said.

Mary Yehudah, who died May 18, 2022, of a diabetic seizure, was not screened for diabetes by Correctional Health Services when she entered the jail system, the AGs office found.

Medication could have reversed the effects of diabetic ketoacidosis and might have saved her, the attorney general found.

In two cases of detainee deaths, Correctional Health Services didnt know where a detainee was, the reports show.

Correctional Health Services records repeatedly listed Albert Drye as at Rikers when he was already in a hospital, the Board of Correction reported. Correctional Health Services records showed Antonio Bradley refusing treatment at Rikers, when he was brain-dead at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx.

Health services countered that the Correction Department is responsible for knowing the location of detainees.

In early November, the Correction Department notified the Board of Correction it plans to hire a leading accreditation organization, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, to review the jail health care system and identify risks or gaps in oversight.
The campaign to have former President Donald Trump removed from the ballot over his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election has kicked into high gear, with decisions in two states, Maine and Colorado, barring him from the primary ballots.

Challenges are still underway in many more states, based on an obscure clause of a constitutional amendment enacted after the Civil War that disqualifies government officials who engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding office.

Over the years, the courts and Congress have done little to clarify how that criterion should apply, adding urgency to the calls for the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the politically explosive dispute before the upcoming election.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

Heres what to know about the challenges.

Which states have already decided the matter?

The Maine secretary of state said Thursday that Trump did not qualify for the Republican primary ballot there because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She agreed with a handful of citizens who claimed that he had incited an insurrection and was thus barred from seeking the presidency again under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

In a written decision, the secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, said that while no one in her position had ever barred a candidate from the ballot based on Section 3 of the amendment, no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

Hours later, the secretary of state in California announced that Trump would remain on the ballot in the nations most populous state, where election officials have limited power to remove candidates.

In Colorado, the state Supreme Court decided last week in a 4-3 ruling that the former president should not be allowed to appear on the primary ballot there because he engaged in insurrection. The ruling did not address the general election.

The justices in Colorado said that if their ruling were to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, then Trump would be allowed to remain on the ballot until the high court decided the matter. The Colorado secretary of state has said that she will follow whatever order is in place on Jan. 5, when the state must certify ballots for the election.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Republican Party said it had asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the Colorado decision.

In Michigan and Minnesota, the courts have ruled that election officials cannot prevent the Republican Party from including Trump on their primary ballots. But both decisions left the door open for new challenges to bar him from the general election ballot.

Where else are there challenges to Donald Trumps appearing on the ballot?

Lawsuits seeking to remove Trump from the ballot were filed in about 30 states, but many have been dismissed; there are active lawsuits in 14 states, according to a database maintained by Lawfare, a website about legal and national security issues.

Those states are: Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. (A judge has dismissed the Arizona suit but the dismissal is being appealed.)

What are the challenges about?

At the heart of the disqualification efforts is the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which was adopted in 1868 and has a section that disqualifies former government officials who have betrayed their oaths by engaging in insurrection or rebellion from holding office. The provision, Section 3, was intended to bar Confederate officials from serving in the U.S. government.

The provision specifically says that anyone who served as an officer of the United States, took an oath to support the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion shall not hold any government office. It includes a provision that Congress can waive the prohibition with a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.

With the legal challenges mounting, the U.S. Supreme Court is widely expected to take up the issue, and experts say the scope of the decision would determine if the challenges are quickly handled or play out for months.

Ashraf Ahmed, a professor at Columbia Law School who studies election law, said that if the Supreme Court heard the case, it could avoid delving into the weightiest matters, like defining Section 3. Instead, he said, the justices might issue a ruling largely on procedural grounds.

What states might decide the matter next?

A decision is expected soon in Oregon, where the same group that filed the Michigan lawsuit, Free Speech for People, is seeking to have the state Supreme Court remove Trump from the primary ballot there. In that case, the secretary of state has asked the court to expedite its consideration of the case because she must finalize the primary ballot by March 21.

John C. Bonifaz, the president of Free Speech for People, said the group planned to file new challenges in other states soon, though he declined to share which states.

Free Speech for People has also directly asked the top election officials in all 50 states, as well as in Washington, D.C., to remove Trump from the ballots in those states.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
PANAMA CITY  Residents of Bay County can remain in the holiday spirit with a Kwanzaa celebration coming on Dec. 30.

Kwanzaa is a holiday very important to African Americans as they celebrate their heritage and values. Kwanzaa is celebrated each year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

The Phi Delta Kappa Gamma Gamma Chapter is hosting a Kwanzaa event at 2 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Bay County Public Library, 898 W. 11th St, Panama City.

The national sorority of Phi Delta Kappa has celebrated Kwanzaa at the Bay County Library before, in 2021.

Previous Kwanza coverage: Youth group observes Kwanzaa

Guests are encouraged to wear African attire to the event. Activities for children and adults will be available.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Phi Delta Kappa Gamma Gamma chapter hosts Kwanzaa event
Earlier this month, at the Slush tech conference in Helsinki, this editor had the opportunity to sit down with Sanna Marin, the popular former prime minister of Finland who became known internationally for socializing with friends, but whose accomplishments in office are far more significant, including successfully pushing Finland to join NATO to better protect the country from its neighbor Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

Marin, who opted out of Finnish politics in September, works today at the Tony Blair Institute as a strategic counselor; she is also working on a startup with one of her longtime political advisors. Still, based on the rapturous crowd that Marin drew during our conversation at Slush, it's easy to imagine her eventual return to the political arena.

She didn't rule it out during our sit-down. However, we spent much more time talking about what Russia's aggression means for the rest of the world, why women should more readily trust themselves in positions of power, and the promises and perils of AI -- and what lawmakers should do about it. Here are excerpts from that chat, edited lightly for length and clarity.

In late 2019, you took on a job that's typically the culmination of a long career in public service and you took it on fairly early [at age 34]. What was it like to be thrust into that position?

Well, of course, when you take that kind of position or job, you're never fully prepared. When you do the work, then you learn what the job is, so it's a leap of faith. In Finland, we've had a few female prime ministers, but if we look globally, the situation isn't very good. We have 193 countries in the UN and only 13 of them are led by women, so the world isn't very equal [when it comes to] leadership and it never has been. I only hope that we will see more female leadership in the world in the future.

We're sitting here in front of a very big audience of tech founders who are trying to knock down walls and also shatter glass ceilings. What's your advice to them?

My main advice is to trust yourself. Believe in yourself. If you're in a position where you are able to take a leadership position, then think, 'Maybe I am capable. Maybe I can do this.' Especially women, many times they question themselves. Are they ready for that job? Are they good enough? Can they do everything perfectly? Men don't think like that. They think that 'Yeah, I'm better. I'm the best one for the job.' I think women also need that attitude and they need the support and to be encouraged to take risks and leadership positions, because women are good leaders. And if you're at that point where you can take that position, it's because you are good and you are capable. So go for it.

You went through a lot as PM. Soon after you were elected, COVID took hold of the world. Last year, Russia invaded Ukraine. You have a very long and complicated relationship with Russia. You've got a very long border with Russia. Can you take us back to that day when you heard the news [of the invasion] and what was going through your mind?

I can remember vividly, like it was yesterday, because we knew by then that it was probable that Russia would attack Ukraine. During that [preceding] summer, almost half year earlier and during that whole fall, Russia, for example, slowed energy flows to Europe to lessen different countries' storage, and thus, Russia could use energy as a weapon against Europe later on. Russia also put many troops near the Ukrainian border, saying it was a drill and they wouldn't attack. Now we know that was a lie. Many leaders were in contact with Putin, trying to find diplomatic, peaceful routes out of the situation before the full attack started, and he lies to everyone. Now, we have to learn from that. I have said on many stages that Western countries, democratic countries everywhere globally, should stop being naive. We should wake up to authoritarian regimes and [recognize that's how] they function and see the world and their logic is very different from the democratic countries. We thought in Russia's case that because we have close economic and business ties with Russia that those connections could secure peace because it would be so costly and so stupid to start a war. Because it is stupid. It's illogical, from our perspective. But authoritarian countries don't think like that. So it didn't prevent anything.

You've talked before of people's naivete when it comes to dealing with authoritarian governments, including as it relates to tech, where you believe that autonomy is also important. I've heard you express concern about Europe's broad reliance on chips from China, for example. How would you rate Finland's progress on this front?

Finland is doing quite well compared to many other countries . . . When we look at tech, the most important thing is to invest in education from early childhood to universities [and to invest heavily in] R&D and new innovations . . . We agreed in Finland that we are aiming to raise our R&D funding to up to 4% of our GDP by the year 2030, which is actually a very ambitious goal . . . but I'm an optimist and I want to believe that technology can actually help us in solving the big issues of the future, like climate change, loss of biodiversity, pandemics and other critical problems. So we need technical solutions. We need innovation. And we need to make sure that we also have the platforms and the will to encourage building that. . .

How would you grade the European Commission's work?

In many ways, the situation in Ukraine has deepened the relationship between Europe and the States and also Great Britain. Europe as a whole has a great role in making sure that we have good rules internationally when it comes to big tech and the development of AI. So we need ethical rules that every country in the world should or have to follow. I can see a lot of risks if the European Commission or other legislative bodies don't work with the entrepreneurs or private sector businesses because the development of new technologies is so fast, so cooperation is key. And I would like to see more interaction and cooperation between private and public.

We're already seeing so much good from AI when it comes to healthcare and education. We're also hearing more and more about risks to humanity. I know you've been excited about AI for some time. Have you changed your view about its potential?

Every technology -- everything new -- comes with risks. There is always a negative side to everything. But there is also a positive side, and that's why I would like to see more and more interaction between the ones who are creating the technology and the legislative people who are creating the rules for these technologies . . . so we can make sure that there are more positive sides than negative ones.

I love the work-life balance in Finland, and I also love that there's some aversion to outsize wealth, the very extreme opposite of which we see in the U.S. and especially in the Bay Area, where people tend to value themselves based on how much money they make. I do wonder if that is a gating factor to ambition here or to attracting and retaining entrepreneurs.

It's very important that you have balance in your life. If you only work, you can work very hard for a certain period of time, but then you will burn out. I think we should encourage ambition but also [ensure people] have free time that they can spend with their family. In fact, we renewed the parental leave system in Finland [when] I led the government to ensure more time is given to fathers to spend with their small children, while also [making it more possible] for mothers to build their careers. I haven't ever met a father who has said, 'I really regret spending time with my kid when he or she was small,' right? Nobody ever says that. That time away from work gives people perspective.

You're now a political consultant working for the Tony Blair Institute. What do you make of the characterization of TBI as the 'McKinsey to world leaders'?

Well, [my longtime advisor Tuulia Pitkanen] and I used to do this, working in almost 40 countries globally, advising governments, advising heads of states on different matters. Of course, it varies from country to country whether it's to do with agriculture, technology or many other things, and my job [at TBI] is to [similarly] advise heads of state and also different governments on certain issues. You know, when you are in that position of leadership, leading a country, nobody really understands that. You cannot read it in a book, you have to experience it. So leaders need that kind of interaction -- to speak with people who really know the job and how hard it is and all the factors that you have to consider doing that job. So that's my job there. But I also do many other things like speaking at different events and interacting with people. I still want to change the world. I haven't lost my passion about the issues [that compelled me to enter into] politics in the first place. I still have all those passions, but now I have of course more freedom to do other things and I'm open to them.

You were so popular as a prime minister. You're also still very early in your career. Are you interested in going back into politics at some point?

I haven't said that I wouldn't ever go back. Of course, it's a possibility. Someday, I might find that passion to pursue a political career once again. But for now, I'm doing something else. And I believe you should always close some doors to open new ones. Closing some doors, doing something else, finding new paths has worked well for me so far. So I never have had a five-year or 10-year career plan or any plan of the sort. I believe opportunities come to you, and then you take them or not. You can always choose. But my advice is to not plan too much of your life because life is always a mystery and it's always unknown and that's why it's so interesting.
Slovakian police have arrested a man suspected of planning to carry out a copycat killing inspired by the mass shooting in Prague last week.

A 64-year-old man from Zilina, near the Czech border, was held after he called the emergency services and said he will do what happened in Prague, police said.

He faces prosecution for spreading general alarm, carrying a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

The threat came a day after the Czech Republic observed a day of national mourning to mark the deadliest massacre in its modern history. Fourteen students were killed when a gunman opened fire at Charles University, with 24 others injured.

The gunman is also suspected of killing his father and another two victims, a 32-year-old man and his two-month-old daughter, in Klanovice.

One survivor of the attack said shootings are spreading like a disease in Europe. The Danish student told CNN: You see this happen in Denmark, Serbia, and now here. This is incredibly frightening.

The Czech Republic has relatively liberal gun laws by European standards, with almost one million weapons owned legally.

Czech police are on high alert and have made a number of arrests since the shooting, with one man detained after calling the emergency services on the same evening to say he wanted to acquire a gun to carry out a similar massacre.

Video released by police shortly afterwards showed armed officers breaking down the mans door and arresting him.

Another arrest was made after a man threatened to kill the surviving members of the Prague gunmans family, with police reporting the recovery of a legally-held weapon in the Vysocina region, south-east of the Czech capital.

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About 3,200 startups failed this year, according to PitchBook data.

The shutdowns come as VCs continue to be careful with funding amid economic uncertainty.

Business Insider has compiled a list of some of the notable startup shutdowns in 2023.

The startup "mass extinction event" has been well underway.

After abundant venture capital funding in 2021 and parts of 2022, startups have experienced a cash crunch for the past 18 months due to a significant funding pullback. Funding remains more difficult to come by, resulting in startups doing multiple rounds of layoffs to cut back expenses.

But for many startups, budget cuts haven't been enough: more than 3,200 startups, which collectively raised $27 billion, closed up shop this year, The New York Times reported, citing data from PitchBook.

Startups could once raise funding rounds while "largely ignoring the underlying economics of their businesses," Sri Chandrasekar, a managing partner at Point72 Ventures, previously told Business Insider. But they're now under more pressure from investors to improve their unit economics.

It's already too late for many companies, and they have begun to fail. VCs predict that this will continue in 2024.

But the shutdown numbers alone don't paint the overall bleak picture of the startup industry. Some were forced to sell at a major discount or are actively seeking a buyer, while others filed for bankruptcy.



The pace of startup shutdowns is so fast that even other startups are trying to capitalize. Some are finding success by offering wind-down services to their industry peers, like SimpleClosure, an AI startup that helps other companies shut down correctly.

Here are 10 of the biggest startups  based on their valuation or how much they fundraised  that shut down in 2023. Our list is organized chronologically, beginning with the one that shut down most recently.

Hyperloop One

Hyperloop One cofounder Shervin Pishevar. Thomson Reuters

Hyperloop One, a transportation startup that was working to build a hyperloop transit system in the US, championed by Elon Musk, raised $450 million from investors including Richard Branson, Khosla Ventures, and David Sacks, according to PitchBook data.

Founded in 2014, Hyperloop One shut down in December, Bloomberg reported, after running into financial difficulties and pivoting away from passenger travel in recent years.

Olive AI

Olive AI founder and CEO Sean Lane. Olive

Once valued at $4 billion, Olive AI  the buzzy healthcare startup that sold revenue cycle automation tools  shut down in November, 11 years after it was founded. The startup had raised more than $800 million from investors, including General Catalyst, Oak HC/FT, Drive Capital, and Khosla Ventures, according to PitchBook data.

But less than six weeks after Olive AI folded, founder Sean Lane has already announced his next venture: a security-focused web browser called Ghostdog.

Convoy

Convoy founder and CEO Dan Lewis Convoy

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Mark Benioff, Greylock, and other tech all-stars, shipping logistics startup Convoy went from boom to bust in October after raising more than $1 billion from investors, according to PitchBook data. The startup was founded in 2015 and operated a digital freight network connecting shippers and carriers.

The former unicorn's tech platform was acquired in November by industry peer Flexport.

Zeus Living

Zeus Living's cofounders, CTO Joe Wong, COO Srini Panguluri, and CEO Kulveer Taggar. Zeus Living

Proptech startup Zeus Living told landlords in November that it had begun to wind down operations after financial struggles, The Information reported.



Founded in 2011, the startup raised over $160 million, according to PitchBook data, and was backed by investors including Airbnb, GV, and Initialized Capital.

Recur

NFT NurPhoto

NFT startup Recur announced it was shutting down in August after being valued at $333 million, according to PitchBook data. The startup, which hosted branded NFTs from companies such as Nickelodeon and Hello Kitty, was founded in 2021 and is one of many startups that have bit the dust thanks to the enduring crypto winter.

Zume

Zume cofounder & CEO Julia Collins. Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch

Founded in 2015, robot pizza delivery startup Zume raised more than $500 million from investors including SoftBank's Vision Fund and AME Cloud Ventures. But while it sought to revolutionize the pizza-building process, Zume was plagued with tech issues. A pivot was unsuccessful, and the startup shut down in June, The Information reported.

IRL

IRL's app. IRL

IRL abruptly shut down in late June after an investigation by its board of directors revealed that its supposed 20 million active monthly users were actually automated or from bots, The Information reported.



The startup had raised $200 million from SoftBank's Vision Fund, Founders Fund and Kleiner Perkins, among other investors, and was valued at over $1 billion. The startup's founders are now suing its investors, claiming that they intentionally foiled the company with the information from the board's investigation, Techcrunch reported.

Wyre

Crypto payments startup Wyre announced it was shutting down in June. Getty

Crypto payments startup Wyre announced in June that it was winding down its business operations after almost 10 years due to "difficult market conditions."

It has been a difficult year for crypto startups in the aftermath of FTX's downfall, and investors are no longer writing lavish checks to companies building in the space. For Wyre, the startup raised over $50 million in funding, according to PitchBook.



They were set to be acquired by payments startup Bolt  which, according to reports, recently came under the scrutiny of the US Securities and Exchange Commission  for a reported $1.5 billion in early 2022. But Bolt dropped the deal later that year.

Bitwise Industries

Tech startup Bitwise Industries was headquartered in Fresno, California. Shunyu Fan/Getty Images

Fresno, California-based startup Bitwise Industries was once considered a beacon of tech hope in the state's Central Valley. It offered workforce training to underserved communities, software services, and helped create coworking spaces to revitalize downtowns in smaller California cities like Fresno, Bakersfield, and Merced.

But that all came to a halt after the startup furloughed and then laid off nearly 900 employees and subsequently filed for bankruptcy. Its founders are now accused of misleading investors while fundraising in 2022. The startup had raised over $100 million from investors like Kapor Capital, Arlan Hamilton's Backstage Capital, and big banks, including JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup, according to PitchBook.

Medly

Medly, which delivered prescriptions to users' doors, shut down in February. Medly Pharmacy

Pharmacy startup Medly had once hoped to disrupt the space and take on giants like Walgreens and CVS. But in February, it permanently shut down, after declaring bankruptcy and selling off assets to Walgreens Business Insider previously reported.



Medly had raised more than $300 million in venture funding from firms like Lerer Hippeau and Greycroft, according to PitchBook data.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Wreckage of a Shahed-136 (or Geranium-2) kamikaze drone shot down by the Ukrainians

Eighteen people have been killed and dozens injured in a wave of Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government says dozens of Shahed attack drones - also known as "kamikaze" drones - were used in the "massive" air attack, along with missiles.

What is Russia's 'kamikaze' drone?

Ukraine's government and Western intelligence agencies say Russia has been using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in the conflict since the autumn of 2022.

Also called the Geranium-2 by Russia, it has explosives in a warhead on its nose and is designed to loiter over a target until it is instructed to attack.

The Shahed-136 has a wingspan of about 2.5m (8.2ft) and can be hard to detect on radar.

Iran's government says it supplied "a small number" of drones to Russia before the war.

But the US and the European Union have accused Iran of sending regular deliveries of drones to Russia, and the EU has imposed sanctions in response.

Graphic of Shahed 136 drone

Defence experts think Russia may be using Shahed-136 drones for air attacks because they are relatively cheap - about $20,000 (17,800) each.

What damage have kamikaze drones done in Ukraine?

Russia was first reported to have used a Shahed-136 drone in September 2022, attacking military targets in the Kharkiv region in the east of the country.

Since then, it has used the drones to target population centres and power stations, to deprive Ukraine of electricity and heating.

Drones and missiles were used to attack Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on 29 December

In the 29 December attacks, Ukraine's military says Russia used a total of 158 missiles and drones.

It says it shot down 87 missiles and 27 drones.

However, several drones struck the western city of Lviv, damaging residential buildings and a school.

How is Ukraine trying to combat them?

Ukrainian armed forces have used small arms fire, heavy machine guns, portable anti-air missiles and electronic jamming devices to try and shoot down drones.

The US and Western countries have also sent Ukraine advanced air defence systems such as Patriot and IRIS-T.

However, shooting down drones can be difficult when they are sent in large numbers, or "swarms".

However, Ukraine says its air defences have managed to shoot down over 80% of all the drones Russia has sent against it.

Has Ukraine used 'kamikaze' drones?

The US has supplied Ukraine with Switchblade kamikaze drones, but it is not known how widely they have been used.

Experts say Ukraine used kamikaze drones of some sort in autumn 2022 to attack a Russian military base in western Crimea, an airbase near Sevastopol, and ships in Sevastopol harbour.

Russia says Ukraine also used kamikaze drones in December 2022 for three separate attacks on airbases at Saratov and Ryazan - both hundreds of miles inside Russian territory.

What other drones do Ukraine and Russia have?

Ukraine's main military drone is the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2. It is about the size of a small plane, has cameras on board, and can be armed with laser-guided bombs.

A Bayraktar drone was used in the attack which sank the Russian warship Moskva in the Black Sea in April 2022.

Russia also uses the smaller, more basic Orlan-10, which has cameras and can carry small bombs.

Bayraktar TB2 drone graphic

How have military drones been used?

For both sides - Russia and Ukraine - drones have been effective for locating enemy targets and guiding artillery fire toward them.

In the past, observers might have had to spend 20 or 30 minutes pinpointing a target, says Dr Jack Watling, defence analyst at the Royal United Services Institute.

Now, however, he says: "Russian forces can bring their guns to bear on the enemy within only three to five minutes of an Orlan-10 drone spotting the target."

Dr Marina Miron, defence researcher at Kings College London, says drones have allowed Ukraine to stretch its limited forces.

"If you wanted to seek out enemy positions in the past, you would have had to send out special forces units... and you might have lost some troops," she says. "Now, all you're risking is a drone."

Russian Orlan-10 drones can target artillery fire on enemy positions within minutes

The main problem in using military drones is that they are large and slow moving, and are easy to shoot down.

They are also expensive to replace - a single Bayraktar TB2 costs about $2m (1.7m).

How are non-military drones being used?

Both sides in the war - but especially Ukraine - have increasingly been using small, cheap commercial models of drone such as the DJI Mavic 3, which costs about 1,700.

Graphic showing DJI Mavic 3 drone and its specifications

These can be fitted with small bombs, but are mainly used to spot enemy troops and to direct attacks.

However, commercial drones are much less capable than military ones.

For example, the DJI Mavic's total flying distance is only 30km, and it can only fly for a maximum of 46 minutes.

Russia is using electronic devices to counter them, says Dr Miron.

"Russian forces have the Stupor rifle, which shoots electromagnetic pulses," she says. This stops commercial drones from being able to navigate using GPS, she explains.

Russian forces have also used online systems, such as Aeroscope, to detect and interrupt communications between commercial drones and their operators.

These systems can cause a drone to crash or return to base, and can stop it sending back information.
Wind farm project near Tri-Cities could be cut in half under new proposal
This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway departing from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waiting for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor departs from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway passing beneath a highway bridge in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway departing from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)
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This aerial photo taken on Sept. 13, 2023 shows watchtowers in Taoping Qiang Village of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

CHENGDU, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nestled in a gorge near the upper reaches of the Minjiang River in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the ancient Taoping Qiang village has existed for over two millennia.

Originally constructed for military defense, the village's watchtower has seen the flames of war extinguished over the ages and is now a tourist attraction. Surviving the devastating 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the tower still stands tall and now bears witness to the area's transformation.

The village was reconstructed in the aftermath and a new village in the same architectural style was built nearby, with many residents of the ancient village choosing to move there for a better quality of life. Today, visitors are drawn to the picturesque village, bringing prosperity to the local tourism industry.

By Dec. 25, the Taoping Village area had welcomed 189,000 tourists in 2023, driving sales of local specialty agricultural products to 30.8 million yuan (about 4.35 million U.S. dollars) and generating over 95.2 million yuan in tourism revenue.

The skyrocketing sector has brought new opportunities and tangible benefits to locals such as Maixi, who is a member of the Qiang ethnic group. Her journey has mirrored the remarkable development of her hometown.

Maixi, one of eight children, worked as a shepherd when she was a girl. Now 60, she has achieved prosperity by converting her ancestral home into a homestay business.

And she has expanded her hospitality venture by opening a four-story homestay in the new village, drawing in a steady stream of repeat customers who enjoy her signature dish of a hearty soup with cornmeal and pickled vegetables.

Maixi is committed to quality and insists on offering only organic ingredients to her customers, even if it means narrowing her profit margins. She harvests many of the ingredients herself, and homegrown plums are provided to all guests as a complimentary after-dinner snack.

She is not shy about saying she now leads a life that seemed unattainable in her youth. The income her family brought in by selling Sichuan peppers was essential during her childhood, she remembers, and the children would work alongside the adults all day long throughout the harvest season as sundried peppers fetched a high price.

"With over 440 households and a population of more than 1,300, the village no longer relies on herding. Half of our workforce is now involved in tourism, and we also cultivate over 1,000 mu (about 66.67 hectares) of cherries and various other fruits. In recent years, the average income per mu has been approximately 60,000 yuan," said Yang Buyi, Party chief of Taoping.

People of the Qiang ethnic group have not only witnessed the post-quake reconstruction of their hometown and watched it transform into a thriving tourist destination, but they have also experienced the resurgence and flourishing of the Qiang culture.

"My family has lived here for generations, so I am delighted to witness the prosperity of the village and the continuation of the Qiang culture," said Wang Jiajun, standing amid a crowd of visitors in the folk culture museum he established.

Wang, who is now over 80 years old, spent more than 20 years collecting over 1,000 Qiang artifacts for the museum, where they are displayed to visitors today.

"Look at these three sets of local artifacts -- cauldrons crafted from clay, copper and iron. Despite the passage of over a thousand years, their forms remain unchanged," Wang said. "This is a symbol of cultural inheritance, and I hope that our excellent traditional culture will continue to be passed down." 

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 13, 2023 shows the Taoping Qiang Village of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

People visit the Taoping Qiang Village of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

People visit the Taoping Qiang Village of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
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- The member states of the European Union unanimously approved on Saturday the gradual entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area of free movement, after Austria, the last EU-27 country opposing this measure, lifted its veto, Agerpres reports.The decision regarding entry into the Schengen

- The National Union of Road Carriers in Romania welcomes the political agreement reached regarding the expansion of the Schengen Zone with Romania and Bulgaria in what concerns the air and sea borders as of March 2024, but demands the Romanian and European authorities to establish a clear date for the

- Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join Europes open-borders Schengen area by air and sea from March 2024, with talks set to continue next year about land borders, the Romanian interior ministry said late on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Austria opposed expanding the

- 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

- AGERPRES special correspondent Oana Ghita reports: Romania is pleading, beyond the accession to Schengen with the air borders, for a clear deadline, as soon as possible in 2024, for access to the free movement area with the land borders, with a clear mechanism for the transition from air to land accession,

- Bulgarii de la Euroins Insurance Group (EIG), care detin Euroins Romania, fostul lider RCA intrat in faliment, au inceput sa vanda pe piata locala asigurari generale (cu exceptia RCA) printr-o alta firma, in baza libertatii de prestare a serviciilor (FOS  Freedom of Services) sau asa numitul pasaport

- Intensificarea dialogului moldo-bulgar la toate nivelurile a fost discutata la intrevederea prim-ministrului Dorin Recean cu vicepresedinta Bulgariei, Iliana Iotova, aflata intr-o vizita de lucru in tara noastra. Vizita la Chisinau este un semnal puternic de sustinere politica si de apreciere a relatiilor
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has arrested two Vietnamese nationals for allegedly trafficking illicit drugs, seizing 20 kilograms of narcotics, the country's Anti-Drug Department (ADP) said in a news release on Friday.

The two suspects were arrested on the night of Dec. 24 in front of a hotel in the coastal city of Sihanoukville while they smuggled the drugs from a neighboring country (Laos).

Sixty packs of heroin weighing 20 kg were seized in the suspects' possession during the raid, the ADP said.

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the ADP, the kingdom reported crackdowns on 7,405 drug-related cases during the first 11 months of 2023, arresting 18,350 people, including 458 foreigners of 16 nationalities.

A total of 2.85 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized during the January-November period this year, the ADP said, adding that most of them were heroin, ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, and cathinone. 
York Community Leadership Book Club

YORK  The York Community Leadership Book Club will meet on Friday, Dec. 29 from 12 until 1 p.m. at Kilgore Memorial Library.

York Elks Lodge

YORK  The York Elks Lodge will host their New Years Eve Dinner on Sunday, Dec. 31. Serving begins at 6 p.m.

Gresham Village Board

GRESHAM  The monthly Gresham Village Board will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. at the village office.

York County Republicans

YORK  Fun, food, fellowship and creating our future in York County is the topic on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at the 4-H building on the York County fairgrounds. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with everyone bringing goodies to share, and will then roll into the fun and creating segment of the evening.

If you are a Republican you are welcome to join in the fun! Hosted by the York County Republicans.

York Noon Sertoma Club

YORK  The York Noon Sertoma Club will meet at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Chances R.

Waco Senior Citizens

WACO  The Waco Senior Citizens will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Hunters Restaurant & Lounge at noon for an order-off-the-menu luncheon. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please come join us for great food and fellowship!

York Ambassadors

YORK  A York Ambassadors Planning Meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 4 from 8 until 9 a.m.

York Rotary Club

YORK  The York Rotary Club will meet at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4 at Chances R.

Young Professionals

YORK  Join the Young Professionals board for our board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 4 at the York Country Club from 4:30 until 6 p.m. Were always looking for input and new ideas and want to hear from you! No RSVP necessary. We will be brainstorming ideas for: Fundraising events, Adulting 101 topics/educators, Lattes with Leaders speakers, Volunteer opportunities, Family Friendly activities, other opportunity ideas. If you cannot attend, but have some ideas to share, please let us know so we can add to our list!

York Board of Education

YORK  The York Board of Education will meet on Monday, Jan. 8 at the YPS District Office.

York Morning Sertoma Club

YORK  The York Morning Sertoma Club will meet at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8 at Wendys.

Fillmore County Hospital Auxiliary

GENEVA  The Fillmore County Hospital Auxiliary will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 8 for their quarterly meeting at the Catholic Hall in Geneva. The membership will enjoy a brunch before their meeting with items provided by the members. Annual dues of $5 will be collected and plans for 2024 will be discussed. All those wishing to join the organization are invited to attend the brunch and meeting. Any questions may be directed to Marsha at 402.366.9417, Alice at 402.759.1433, Rosalie at 402.759.1455 or Joan at 402.759.2053.

Leadership York

YORK  A Leadership York meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Benedict Village Board

BENEDICT  The Benedict Village Board will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center.

York Area Chamber

YORK  A Chamber Executive Meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

York Noon Sertoma Club

YORK  The York Noon Sertoma Club will meet at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Chances R.

Friends of the Library

YORK  The Kilgore Memorial Library Friends of the Library will meet at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at the library.

York Rotary Club

YORK  The York Rotary Club will meet at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11 at Chances R.

Fillmore County GriefShare: Loss of Spouse

GENEVA  Fillmore County GriefShare: Loss of Spouse will meet on Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Geneva Public Library Small Meeting Room from 2 to 4 p.m.

Fillmore County GriefShare: Loss of Spouse

GENEVA  Fillmore County GriefShare: Loss of Spouse will meet on Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Geneva Public Library Small Meeting Room from 7 to 9 p.m.

Benedict Volunteer Fire Department

BENEDICT  The Benedict Volunteer Fire Department will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.

Gresham Volunteer Fire Department

GRESHAM  The Gresham Firemans monthly meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the fire station.

Waco CBO

WACO  The Waco CBO will meet on Monday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the east end of the Waco Community Building.

York Area Chamber

YORK  The York Area Chambers Annual Banquet will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at Yorks Holthus Convention Center. The social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are being accepted at https://yorkchamber.org/annual-chamber-banquet/.

Benedict Volunteer Fire Department

BENEDICT  The Benedict Volunteer Fire Department Annual Barbeque will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a drive-thru or dine-in for supper. This is a free will donation to the Fire Department. If you are unable to attend and would like to make a monetary donation send them to: Benedict Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 76, Benedict, NE, 68316. Proceeds will go to purchase needed equipment that may not be possible through the normal budget.

York Young Professionals

YORK  We all know theres a lot of talk about potential solar projects around our area. Omaha Public Power Department wants to give us more information. Join the York Young Professionals for their Adulting 101 Series on Tuesday, Jan. 23 for lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. at the SCC Learning Center in York and leave with knowledge about whats really happening. RSVP at https://yorkchamber.org/young-professionals/.

York Senior Center

YORK  Dive into wellness with Rootology Functional Nutrition on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the York Senior Center (Upper Meeting Room) and learn how functional nutrition explores the root causes of todays most significant health challenges and offers targeted education to address them.

Lively Livestock 4-H Club

BENEDICT  The Lively Livestock 4-H Club will hold their 2024 Kick-Off Meeting on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. at the Benedict Community Building.

Benedict Mens Club

BENEDICT  The Benedict Mens Club will host a Six Point Pitch Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 3. There will be a $10 team entry fee. Sign up will be at 7 p.m. with play beginning at 7:30 p.m. Payouts are First Place: $100; Second Place: $50 and Third Place: $25.

York Young Professionals

YORK  York Young Professionals will host a Date Night on Friday, Feb. 9 at Chances R. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 7 p.m. Your ticket will include choice of entree, salad, red potatoes, dessert, cocktails and entertainment. Join Young Professionals for a romantic Valentines event! Youll come for the Rock Impressions, youll leave laughing your head off. Seats are limited so make your reservations soon at https://yorkchamber.org/date-night-2/
LINCOLN  Beth Holthus Godbout and John Godbout understand the impact of the University of NebraskaLincolns College of Business in preparing the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs for Nebraska.

Thats the reason the couple pledged $500,000 through the University of Nebraska Foundation to invest in scholarships for business students and training to help business faculty and staff develop their teaching skills.

We feel our knowledge and experience in starting and running our own businesses gives us motivation to contribute in whatever way possible to students interested in careers in the business community, John said.

In 1991, the couple founded CCS Presentation Systems, one of the top integrators of audiovisual equipment in the U.S. Beth also serves on the board of directors of York-based Cornerstone Bank.

The couple, who live in Paradise Valley, Arizona, have deep ties to Nebraska and the University of Nebraska. John was born in Holdrege and grew up on the West Coast. Beth was born in Lexington and grew up in York. Beth graduated from UNL with an elementary education degree in 1978, and the couples children, Brady Godbout and Tyeler Potter of Omaha, are also Nebraska alumni.

I am so thankful to John and Beth for their support for the College of Business, said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business and professor of finance. Their strategic investment helps to ensure the College of Business is always a place where students discover how to leverage their strengths to lead the future of business.

The Godbouts investment was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our Universitys Future, a historic effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support the University of Nebraska. The Godbouts are University of Nebraska Foundation trustees and serve on the College of Businesss campaign committee.

The couple committed $400,000 to create the Godbout Family Scholarship Fund. Some funds will be immediately available for scholarships, including the newly created Future of Nebraska Scholarship for the College of Business. Their investment will also establish a permanent endowment to provide scholarships in perpetuity for freshmen business students.

The transition from high school to college is such a big change, Beth said. We hope that easing the financial pressure just a little might help in that transition and encourage students to remain in college.

The College of Business emphasizes scholarships for incoming freshmen to increase enrollment and ensure accessibility and affordability. With 4,266 full-time students this fall, more than $1.1 million in scholarships was awarded to business students in the 2023-24 academic year.

The couple also pledged $100,000 for the College of Businesss Teaching and Learning Center Faculty Development Fund, which equips faculty and instructors with the tools and resources to be successful in the classroom.

We are incredibly appreciative of the Godbouts investment and vision to provide additional programs and resources for faculty to improve the learning experience for all students, said Kasey Linde, director of teaching, learning and accreditation in the Teaching and Learning Center. With the Godbouts partnership, the Teaching and Learning Center launched programs for new faculty and Ph.D. students and expanded on a grant program open to all business faculty and instructors.

Investing in faculty development is a priority for the Godbouts because both can recall professors from whom they learned and who positively impacted their college experience.

Beth and I want students to graduate with knowledge and skills learned from capable, professional professors who will be remembered by their students, John said. These teachers need a base of teaching techniques and behaviors that enable them to distribute their knowledge effectively.

The couple said they are happy to invest in the education of Nebraska Business students.

Beth and I support Dean Farrell and her passion for the College of Business, John said. Being entrepreneurs, we are especially interested in the fact that she runs the college with budgets, goals and strategies  just like a business.
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.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
New Delhi: Did you know that there are agarbattis designed for stress relief and meditation? Sugandh Lok store in Bengaluru goes beyond offering incense as a mere product; it provides an immersive experience. Upon entering, soothing spiritual music sets the ambiance, and a variety of incense sticks, ranging from traditional to unique flavors like chocolate, green tea, and pineapple, are on display. The store features rooms where visitors can understand the incense-making process and experience the ambiance created by lighting specific types of sticks. The brainchild of Sapthagiri S Boggaram, Director of Sarathi International Inc., the store is a sensory delight, but the real narrative unfolds in the story of the product and the individuals behind its creation.

Transformational Journey

Boggaram's journey is one of transformation, evolving from a reserved individual to a confident business leader. Initially introverted during his time at The East-West School in South Bengaluru, he began to explore his potential at St Josephs College. After graduating from Monash, he joined the family business and transitioned into managing a substantial workforce. This pivotal phase marked his transformation from a quiet individual to an outgoing and confident leader.

Family Business Legacy

As a third-generation entrepreneur, Sapthagiri Boggaram is part of the family that operates Sarathi International, a major aggarbati manufacturer with a 75-year legacy. Supplying high-quality incense sticks to 43 countries globally, Boggaram recognizes his future lies in the family business, celebrating his 25th year in 2024 as a truly enriching experience.

Memorable Journey

Boggaram's journey has been a rollercoaster, characterized by exhilarating moments and daunting challenges, especially with the initiation of a venture within the family business. "Sugandh Lok reflects my values, my vision for the business, and the essence of our products," he explains. The experience, while exciting, came with stress due to the steep learning curve and uncharted territory. The agarbatti industry, according to Boggaram, is a unique realm, and his approach to it is equally distinctive.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Boggaram has ambitious plans for Sugandh Lok. He aims to expand by opening approximately four more stores in Bengaluru and extending their reach pan-India. Already taking steps towards this goal, the franchise has been established in Delhi's Karol Bagh area, with discussions underway for potential franchises in Delhi, Mathura, and Brindavan. The overarching vision is to establish a network of about 100 stores within the next two years.

The e-commerce website is already in place to reach a broader audience and ensure a seamless shopping experience. Boggaram concludes by expressing the ultimate vision of Sugandh Lok: to revolutionize how people perceive agarbattis and incorporate them into their lives, introducing a fresh perspective to enrich the overall experience.
New Delhi: Depression hit Shipra Dawar when she went to Australia for higher education; the loneliness and difficulty in adjusting to a new environment away from home led to mood disorders. But naturally, this was noticed by people around her. When a professor at the university she was doing her MBA at recommended that she see a therapist, she was irked. For like most people, she was in denial about being in depression.

Owing to lack of awareness and knowledge, mental illnesses have been spreading in India. Like Shipra, lakhs of Indians have suffered or have been suffering from depression for years, maybe decades. But they choose to keep it under wraps. Platform to promote mental wellness But a lot more needs to be done to get rid of the stigmas attached to depression and mental health issues. Shipra is working towards that with ePsyClinic, an online platform where people who need help can text chat, audio chat, or video chat with psychiatrists or psychologists. Shipra was born in Chandigarh and her father was a banker.

Like every other bankers family, Shipras also moved around the country due to the regular transfers. Her father was involved with community service and helped womens help groups. Shipra inherited his traits and was keen to work for the welfare of people; right now, 80 per cent of the workforce at ePsyClinic is women. Shipra attended Australian National University where she did her bachelor's and her MBA in Leadership and International Strategy. With a strong urge to make healthcare services not a luxury for a significant few but accessible to anyone and everyone, she founded ePsyClinic in 2015 to address the mental and emotional wellness issues of the people in the country.

She bootstrapped the company with some funds from friends and family. Based out of Gurgaon, the company acquired its first set of customers through virtual clinics they set up in malls and corporate offices across Delhi and Gurgaon. They encouraged customers to speak about mental health issues at workplaces and shopping areas, working to reduce the stigma and ensuring that mental health issues were not treated as abnormal.

Tailor-made therapy ePsyClinic now claims that through the IWill therapy app, which was launched in June 2017, more than 1.5 million unique visitors each month, with over 500 people seeking help every day on its platform and 30,000 registered users on the IWill therapy app.

The therapy is tailor-made for each persons unique needs after an automated algorithm-based assessment tests the mental health concerns. The app pairs the person with the best therapist for them through the pool and creates a session plan automatically. The price for this session plan may vary from Rs 2,880 to Rs 9,900. The startup has more than 45 in-house therapists and counsellors and more than a 1,000 of them through extended networks. So far, more than a lakh session have been delivered offline and above 3,500 were delivered through the IWill therapy app.

The most common cases at ePsyClinic relate to depression, anxiety, marital and couple therapy, premarital therapy, bipolar disorder, and other mental health disorders. Training and therapy modules Speaking to YourStory, Shipra said that her revenue model is purely based on the therapy programme and recovery. She adds that there has been a month-on-month growth of 20 percent since June 2017 in revenues  this is organic and without any significant investments in marketing.

Other challenges included educating and convincing customers that recovery is possible from mental health issues. Building awareness "There was no conversation on the topic of mental health when we , at ePsyClinic, started, so building the market from the ground up, educating, building awareness, and ensuring that online therapy does provide recovery have been challenges," she said. Talking about the competition in the market, Shipra said it is essential to focus on the cause and the bigger picture, and consequently spread awareness about mental health issues. She believes it is imperative that the market players "come together and help the market evolve and reach out to as many people as possible.

In the future, Shipra and ePsyClinic are looking to enhance the IWill therapy app with more automation, for control in subsequent releases. . The company now plans to raise seed funding for scaling the IWill Therapy app. They are also planning more additions in treatment modules and a remote psychiatry module for rural India.
Assam Direct Recruitment 2023: The State Level Recruitment Commission, Assam, is concluding the registration process for Class 3 and 4 posts today, on December 29, 2023. Candidates interested in applying are strongly advised to submit their registration forms today, as no applications will be accepted after the deadline. To apply for these positions, candidates can use the official website of the Assam government at assam.gov.in or SEBA Assam at sebaonline.org and assam.gov.in. This recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 12,600 vacancies.

For Grade 3, candidates should have a bachelor's degree and pass 10+2, while for Grade 4, candidates should have passed HSLC or HSLC (Class 12) or an equivalent examination, or must have passed HSLC and ITI Exam. Selection will be based on performance in written exams, skill tests such as Computer/ Stenography/ Driving Skill tests, etc. Shortlisted candidates will undergo document verification.

Assam Direct Recruitment 2023: Steps to apply here

Visit assam.gov.in, the official website of Assam State Portal.

Locate the notification link 'Recruitment of Grade 3 and 4 2023' on the homepage.

Access the application form by clicking on the link.

Click on the 'apply online' tab.

Provide all the necessary details as instructed.

Upload the required documents and submit the form.

Save a printout of the application for future reference.

Candidates are not required to pay an application fee to submit their online applications. Candidates can find additional information on the official website of the Government of Assam.
A Qatar court has recently commuted the death sentence of 8 former Indian Navy Personnel serving their time in prison there. The decision came weeks after PM Narendra Modi's meeting with Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in the first week of December. Now, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said that the government will discuss the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members of the former Navy men.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the interests of Indians and their family members are the foremost concern for the government. Eight Indian nationals have been imprisoned in Qatar since October 2022 and were accused of alleged 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.

However, with the death sentence being reduced to prison term, India now has an opportunity to bring the jailed men back home to serve their prison sentence here. This may become possible due to a 2015 agreement signed between India and Qatar on the transfer of sentenced persons. The agreement 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 was signed by the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during his visit to India in March 2015. However, the agreement does not include prisoners facing death sentences.

If this happens, the family members of the jailed ex-navy men would be relieved as they could meet them in prison and know about their well-being.
COLOMBO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will continue for the coming four years irrespective of the government in power, said the central bank governor on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Nandalal Weerasinghe said the continuity of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement with the IMF is necessary to get the debt relief and international financial support required.

Weerasinghe warned that unilateral withdrawal from the IMF-EFF agreement would have severe implications.

In March this year, the IMF approved a 48-month extended arrangement under EFF of about 3 billion U.S. dollars to support Sri Lanka's economic policies and reforms. 
NEW DELHI: In a big political development months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was on Friday elected as national president of the Janata Dal (United) at a meeting of the party's national executive in Delhi. Kumar was appointed to the party's top position shortly after Lalan Singh offered to step down. According to sources, Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh offered his resignation shortly after the JDU national executive meeting began at the Constitution Club in Delhi.

During the JDU national executive meeting, Lalan Singh offered to resign as the JDU president, which was accepted by the top leadership, sources said. In the run-up to the crucial Lok Sabha polls, the Janata Dal (United), which is poised to make significant changes in its organizational structure, has now made it clear that Bihar's ruling party will now contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls under Nitish Kumar's leadership. An official announcement on the fast-paced developments within the JDU will be made in the evening around 5 PM.

The JDU national executive, which began around 11 AM, was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh and other top party leaders. Just minutes ahead of the meeting, Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary dismissed all reports about his possible elevation as party president and said that Lalan Singh, the present national president of the party, is working fine.

Senior JDU leader KC Tyagi also earlier emphasised that the meeting would be a regular one where alliances in states would also be discussed. "Today, JD(U) national executive meeting will take place wherein discussions will be held on the current political scenario and financial environment of the country...and on seat sharing to target other states as well" KC Tyagi said. Importantly, the JD(U) leadership had on Thursday quashed all reports that suggested a likely change of guard in the party leadership.

Growing Discord Within JDU

Reports earlier suggested that Lalan Singh had fallen out of favour with Nitish Kumar due to his perceived closeness to JD(U)'s ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Signs of this discord surfaced when Lalan Singh's name and photograph were conspicuously absent from posters welcoming Nitish and other leaders at the JD(U) office in New Delhi.

Agenda Of JDU National Executive Meeting

The national executive meeting, which began at Delhi's Constitution Club, is expected to delve into the party's strategy for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and seat-sharing with the INDIA bloc members.

Lalan-Nitish Meet Amidst Speculations

Interestingly, Lalan Singh met Nitish Kumar at the latter's residence on Thursday, followed by their joint arrival at the party office - a symbolic gesture to project unity within the party ahead of the crucial meet. The two leaders share a longstanding alliance, except for a brief hiatus between 2010 and 2013 when Singh parted ways with the JD(U).

While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dismissed the ongoing speculations, terming the JD(U) conclave as a routine event, he remained tight-lipped about taking over the JDU chief and rejoining the NDA fold. Lalan Singh, on the other hand, reacted contemptuously to reports of his resignation, affirming the normalcy within the party.

The leadership change in the JDU also comes months before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls amid reports of Bihar CM's prime ministerial ambitions. It may be recalled that the new JDU boss was not considered as the INDIA bloc's PM candidate - a move that didn't go well with Bihar's ruling party leaders who had been projecting Notish for the top job. However, both Nitish and the JDU categorically rubbished rumours of rifts within the INDIA alliance after Mallikarjun Kharge's name was proposed as the bloc's prime ministerial candidate.
New Delhi: In Maharashtra's Nagpur, the Congress initiated a unique approach to fundraising during a rally on Thursday. As part of the 'Donate for Desh' campaign, a Congress Crowdfunding initiative launched earlier this month, barcodes were affixed to the back of all chairs on the ground. Attendees of the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally were encouraged to contribute by scanning the barcodes.

The brochure placed behind the chairs showcased a picture of Rahul Gandhi alongside a barcode. The brochure conveyed, "In this 138-year journey to build a better India, Congress relies on your support. India needs you. Scan now to contribute."

The pamphlet further mentioned that among all the donors, five "lucky donors" will be awarded a donation appreciation certificate by Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi in his address at the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally exuded confidence that the grand old party will win elections in Maharashtra and across the country.

"This is a fight of ideologies. Together we are going to win elections in Maharashtra and the country," Gandhi said. The Congress leader, during his address, also mentioned that there is an ongoing conflict between two opposing ideologies in the country.

"There is a fight of ideologies going on in the country. People think that it is a political fight, a fight for power, it is, but the foundation of this fight is of ideology, of two opposing ideologies. (Desh mai vichardhaara ki ladai chal rahi hai, logo ko lagta hai rajneetik ladai hai, satta ki ladai hai, vo hai, magar iss ladai ki neev jo hai vo vichardhara hai, do vichardhara hai," Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, while speaking to ANI about the 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally, said, "I think today the eyes of the entire country were on the Congress party and on the day of its foundation day, the party has done a very good job giving the message that we are ready to fight in defence of the Constitution and democratic values of this country. We are committed to the unemployed youth and farmers of the country."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also spoke to ANI about the Nagpur rally and said, "Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi today sounded the trumpet of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There will be a meeting of the PCC president and CLP leaders in Delhi on January 4, 2024, and the route for Bharat Nyay Yatra, which will start under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, will be finalized."

The Congress kickstarted its campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the 'Hain Tayyar Hum' rally in Nagpur on Thursday. The Grand Old Party also celebrated their 139th Foundation Day on December 28.
MUMBAI: In the latest development within the INDIA bloc, Shiv Sena's (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, has clarified his party's position, stating that there will be no compromise on seat-sharing in Maharashtra. Emphasizing the party's prominence in the state, Raut highlighted ongoing positive discussions between Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray and key Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal. The party's unwavering stance on contesting on 23 seats, including Dadra and Nagar Haveli, adds complexity to the ongoing seat-sharing talks.

"This is Maharashtra, and Shiv Sena is the biggest party here. Congress is a national party. Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal. We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and that will be firm," Raut said, according to ANI.

Mamata To Go Solo In Bengal

Simultaneously, Mamata Banerjee, the leader of Trinamool Congress (TMC), has expressed her intent to go solo in Bengal during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While reiterating the presence of the INDIA alliance across the country, Mamata asserted that in Bengal, only TMC could effectively counter the BJP. This announcement introduces a significant dynamic to the overall seat-sharing strategy of the opposition bloc.

"INDIA alliance will be there across the country. In Bengal, the TMC will fight and defeat the BJP. Remember, in Bengal, only TMC can teach a lesson to the BJP and not any other party," Mamata said while she was speaking at a gathering in North 24 Parganas.

Uncertainty Over Seat-Sharing

As the seat-sharing discussions unfold, the Congress party has maintained an open-minded approach, emphasizing the need for dialogue without public posturing. Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, stated that negotiations would proceed with an open mind. Recognizing the diverse challenges posed by different states, Ramesh highlighted the importance of considering various political realities in the ongoing discussions.

Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, said, "Khule mann aur band muh se hi hum seat sharing pe baat aage chalaenge (We will carry forward seat-sharing talks with an open mind and refraining from public statements)."

Show Of Unity Against BJP

The recent fourth meeting of INDIA partners in the national capital left the crucial issue of seat-sharing unaddressed. The Opposition parties, uniting under the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance umbrella, aim to present a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, the intricate negotiations on seat-sharing present a potential challenge to the cohesion of the INDIA bloc.
The 2024 Lok Sabha Election is going to be historic in many ways. First, it will mark the first instance when Congress will go to the polls after warming the opposition benches for 10 consecutive years. Second, the BJP will complete 10 years in power with an absolute majority and third, it will seek another straight term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the history of independent India, only Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had secured three consecutive terms as Prime Minister with a clear majority. While under Nehru, Congress won 364 seats in 1951-52 elections, 371 seats in 1957 and 361 seats in 1962 elections. Nehru remained PM of India from 1951 until his death on 27 May 1964. Even Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh ruled for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Why Modi May Emerge Stronger Than Nehru?

When the former PM Nehru went to the third Lok Sabha polls in 1962, there was no doubt in anyone's mind about the Congress party's prospects as there was no strong opposition. The opposition at that point in time constituted smaller parties having no leaders who could challenge the authority of Nehru. In the 1962 polls, the Congress won 361 seats, the Communist Party of India won 29 seats, C Rajagopalchari's Swatantra Party 18 and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh 14 seats. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was at that time led by Debaprasad Ghosh but was popular only in certain regions. Also, back then, there was no concept of even Leader of Opposition and the provision for the post was made only in 1969. So, it can be said that Nehru virtually went into an opposition-less poll and the the victory for Congress was not only guaranteed but foretold.

Challenges Before NDA

On the other hand, the BJP led by Narendra Modi not only faces a strong opposition like Congress but also a united front of the INDIA bloc led by the grand old party. The bloc includes regional patriarchs like MK Stalin's DMK, Nitish Kumar's JDU, Lalu Yadav's RJD, Sharad Pawar's NCP, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, Mamata Banerjee's TMC, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and other key parties like Left, Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Omar Abdullah's Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party.

If the BJP manages to get a clear majority for the third straight time, not only Modi will emerge as a strong national leader but the opposition will have to rethink its strategy as well.
Lucknow: Days ahead of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Ayodhya on Saturday during which he will inaugurate a slew of development projects worth Rs 15,000 crore, affirming the NDA government's commitment to bolstering Ayodhya's infrastructure.

Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station

PM Modi's itinerary includes the inauguration of the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, a project exceeding Rs 240 crore in cost. This modern three-storey building stands as a testament to the government's dedication to enhancing connectivity and infrastructure. The station, certified as a green building by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), features state-of-the-art facilities such as lifts, escalators, food plazas, and childcare rooms.

Amrit Bharat Trains

At 11:15 AM, the Prime Minister will flag off the Amrit Bharat trains, introducing a new era of superfast passenger travel in the country. The Amrit Bharat Express promises an enhanced passenger experience, boasting improved amenities such as attractive seat designs, better luggage racks, mobile charging points, LED lights, CCTV, and a public information system. This initiative includes the inauguration of two Amrit Bharat trains and six Vande Bharat Trains, contributing significantly to the nation's rail network.

Rail Projects: Strengthening Rail Infrastructure

PM Modi will dedicate three railway projects worth Rs 2300 crore, aimed at fortifying rail infrastructure in the region. These include the Rooma Chakeri-Chanderi third line project, sections of the Jaunpur-Ayodhya-Barabanki doubling project, and the doubling and electrification project of the Malhaur-Daliganj railway section.

New Ayodhya Airport

The visit also encompasses the inauguration of the Ayodhya Airport, a crucial addition to the city's connectivity. PM Modi will participate in a public program where he will dedicate numerous development projects worth more than Rs 15,700 crore in the state, aligning with his vision to create modern, world-class infrastructure while preserving Ayodhya's rich history and heritage.

Tourist Facilities, Urban Landscape Transformation

PM Modi's ambitious agenda extends to the development and beautification of tourist facilities, the launch of a greenfield township, and the initiation of the Vashishtha Kunj Residential Scheme. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for key infrastructure projects, ensuring a comprehensive upliftment of Ayodhya's urban landscape.

Statewide Impact: A Ripple Effect Of Development

The development momentum reaches beyond Ayodhya, with the Prime Minister inaugurating and dedicating several key projects across Uttar Pradesh. These projects encompass vital infrastructure enhancements, emphasizing the government's commitment to propelling Ayodhya and Uttar Pradesh into a new era of growth and prosperity.

These initiatives underscore PM Modi's proactive approach towards development, setting the stage for a brighter future for Ayodhya and the entire region.
Janta Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi today said that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is the 'convenor' and 'Prime Minister' of INDIA Bloc's ideology. Tyagi's statement came after the JD(U) sidelined Lalan Singh as national president and put Nitish Kumar at the party's helm once again. Tyagi also said that the JDU has a policy level difference with the BJP and the party is not their enemy.

On the other hand, Kumar's former ally Prashant Kishor today made serious claims saying that now Nitish Kumar has no other option than to contest the upcoming polls as part of the INDIA alliance. Kishor also said that Nitish Kumar is in the last phase of his political career and has become a huge burden as a politician. Kishor also said that Kumar has nowhere to go as there is no taker for him. "It's not that he doesn't want to switch sides but the issue is that there are no takers of him. Nitish Kumar has become a burden as a politician and anyone who takes him will get buried under that burden," said Kishor while interacting with media.

Since Kumar's political clout has been reducing especially after the INDIA bloc did neither choose him as a PM candidate nor as the convenor, the JD(U) attempted to increase his in the opposition alliance. By removing RJD's close aide Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh from the post of national president, JDU has indicated that the party will not tolerate the way Mallikarjun Kharge's name was put forward ignoring Nitish Kumar in the last meeting of the INDIA bloc. Even though Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav left the meeting together with fuming faces, it does not mean their close political friendship. JDU leaders are asking why RJD remained silent when Congress sidelined Nitish Kumar. Since Lalan Singh kept saying publicly that everything was fine within the INDIA alliance, he had to bear the brunt of this and was removed from the post.

Nitish Kumar, who described Atal Bihari Vajpayee as his guardian and Arun Jaitley as his guide, has tried to strengthen his position by sacking Lalan Singh. JDU leaders have already warned Nitish that Singh may weaken the party and its leadership under the RJD's influence. Kumar is giving a subtle message to Lalu Yadav to not consider him weak because there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics. On the other hand, he is also trying to make Congress and Rahul Gandhi realise that the disciple of Jai Prakash who started the new opposition alliance cannot be ignored especially when the Congress has been wiped out from the Hindi belt.
New Delhi: The INDIA bloc, representing a united front of the opposition, is gearing up for the imminent Lok Sabha Elections. While discussions among opposition parties are ongoing to determine seat allocations in various states for the LS polls, it appears that Shiv Sena (UBT) is set to contest all 23 seats in Maharashtra.

On Friday, Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut asserted that while Congress may be a national party, Shiv Sena (UBT) holds significant influence in Maharashtra as a major political force. He affirmed that, as in the past, the party will participate in the election from all 23 seats, and there will be no alteration in the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal. We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and that will be firm," Sanjay Raut told ANI.

#WATCH | On seat sharing in INDIA alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "...This is Maharashtra and Shiv Sena is the biggest party here. Congress is a national party... Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress including pic.twitter.com/Uy5VCKSs5U  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

He said that in the meeting it was decided that further decisions on seats won by Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP would be taken later, adding that the Congress is an important ally and discussion will be held to decide the seat sharing ratio.

"During our (INDIA alliance) meeting, we decided that discussions will be done later on the seats that we have won. Congress did not win a seat in Maharashtra so they have to start from zero (seats) but Congress is an important ally for us in MVA. We will work together," he added.

Even today Shiv Sena (UBT) is the number one party in Maharashtra, he asserted. "People are in full support of Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar. On the issue of seat sharing, there is no conflict among MVA. Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. We are having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress regarding seat sharing. On the seat-sharing we will talk with the Congress leaders only in Delhi and not Maharashtra local leaders," he added.
In another big win for the democratic process in India, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)'s pro-talks faction today signed a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement pact with the Union Government and the Assam government in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. With ULFA signing a peace accord, now only the banned ULFA-Independent faction led by Paresh Baruah remains the major insurgent outfit in Assam.

The ULFA was formed in April 1979 in the aftermath of an agitation against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. 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.

Who Is Paresh Baruah?

Paresh Baruah was born in 1956 at Birpara of Assam. He is the vice-chairperson and the commander-in-chief of the United Liberation Front of AssamIndependent (ULFAI). The Indian security agencies have failed to trace him despite many attempts. As per reports, Baruah is believed to be living somewhere along the China-Myanmar border. Some reports claim that he is in Myanmar while some claim that he is living in China near the Myanmar border and has been receiving funding from a Chinese secret agency.

Some senior army leaders and even political parties have been in favour of involving ULFA-I in talks. Recently, outgoing Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita urged Baruah and his followers to return to Assam and join the mainstream of society. Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Assam Congress also urged the government and ULFA-I leadership to involve Baruah in the peace process. Earlier in August this year, Assam CM Sarma had invited Baruah to visit the state as a 'guest' and see the change that the state has undergone before joining the peace talks.
New Delhi: Prince Kumar's journey to success in the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination is nothing short of inspirational. Hailing from a humble background, Prince overcame numerous challenges to emerge victorious in one of India's toughest competitive exams. His story is a testament to perseverance, dedication, and the transformative power of education.

Early Struggles: Overcoming Adversity

Prince's early life was marked by financial constraints and limited resources. However, rather than succumbing to adversity, he viewed challenges as stepping stones. His determination to break the cycle of poverty fuelled his commitment to education, leading him to overcome financial hurdles through scholarships and part-time work.

Academic Excellence: A Steady Climb

Prince's academic journey was marked by consistent excellence. His disciplined approach to studies, coupled with an insatiable curiosity, garnered him academic accolades. Excelling in both school and college, he laid a solid foundation for the competitive challenges that awaited him in the UPSC examination.

UPSC Preparation: Grit and Strategy

Prince's UPSC preparation was a meticulous blend of hard work and strategic planning. Recognizing the vast syllabus, he devised a comprehensive study plan that ensured coverage of all subjects. His dedication to daily routines, combined with regular self-assessment, honed his analytical and writing skills, crucial for success in the UPSC's demanding exam pattern.

Community Involvement: Beyond Books

While preparing for UPSC, Prince did not confine himself to books alone. Recognizing the importance of a well-rounded personality, he actively engaged in community service and social initiatives. This not only provided him with a holistic perspective but also enriched his understanding of societal issues, a vital aspect of the UPSC examination.

Final Triumph: UPSC Success

Prince Kumar's hard work and determination bore fruit when he secured a top rank in the UPSC examination. His success not only brought personal fulfillment but also serves as an inspiration for aspirants across the country, showcasing that with dedication and perseverance, one can overcome any obstacle in the pursuit of one's dreams.

Prince Kumar's UPSC success story is a beacon of hope for aspiring civil servants, demonstrating that a resolute spirit and unwavering commitment can turn dreams into reality.
New Delhi: Hathras District Magistrate Archana Verma has earned praise for her exemplary choice. She enrolled her toddler son, Abhijeet, in a local Anganwadi center instead of a reputed play school. This is a rare move among high-ranking officials who usually prefer high-end private schools for their children.

DM Archana Verma who is the mother of two, valued a community-based education for her young son. She picked the Anganwadi center in Darshana village, close to her home, over a playgroup or any famous private school. Abhijeet, the son of the Hathras DM, interacts with the children of the village, enjoys meals, and plays games at the Anganwadi.

The Anganwadi provides a fair and friendly atmosphere for all children, nurturing a sense of community. Abhijeets admission has boosted the attendance at the Darshana Anganwadi, which now hosts 34 children. Reportedly, Abhijeet has been going to the Anganwadi center every day for the last three months, and his identity as the son of DM was only known recently. Sometimes, DM Verma's daughter also visits the Anganwadi for studies. This positive change in enrollment trends is a motivating outcome for the community.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the seventh session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. The 14th NPC Standing Committee concluded its seventh session on Friday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its seventh session Friday in Beijing.

At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt a revised Company Law, a food security law, Amendment XII to the Criminal Law, and a decision to amend the Charity Law.

They also adopted a decision to appoint Dong Jun as defense minister, to remove Tang Dengjie from the post of minister of civil affairs and appoint Lu Zhiyuan to the position, and to remove Hu Heping from the post of minister of culture and tourism and appoint Sun Yeli to the position.

President Xi Jinping signed five presidential orders to promulgate the laws and the decisions.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting.

The session decided to submit a draft revision to the Organic Law of the State Council to the second session of the 14th NPC for further deliberation, and entrusted Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, to make explanatory remarks to the NPC session.

Lawmakers passed a decision on improving and strengthening the system of recording and review, and a decision on authorizing the Macao Special Administrative Region to exercise jurisdiction over relevant land and sea areas southeast of the Gongbei Port in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province.

The session adopted a decision on convening the second session of the 14th NPC. According to the decision, the second session of the 14th NPC will open on March 5, 2024.

Lawmakers also ratified an extradition treaty between China and Botswana and a treaty on judicial assistance in criminal affairs between China and Senegal, and approved a deputy qualification report, among others.

Zhao Leji addressed the closing meeting after lawmakers finished voting.

Noting that the year 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the NPC, Zhao called for efforts to carry out the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and accurately determine the NPC's role and tasks in promoting high-quality development and advancing Chinese modernization.

He also urged effective preparations for the upcoming NPC annual session to ensure a successful meeting.

Zhao chaired a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting and presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the closing meeting. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the seventh session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. The 14th NPC Standing Committee concluded its seventh session on Friday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the seventh session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2023. The 14th NPC Standing Committee concluded its seventh session on Friday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
New Delhi: As the first female head of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Rajasthan cadre IPS officer Nina Singh brings a wealth of experience to her role. She has co-authored research papers with Nobel laureates and overseen high-profile cases like the Sheena Bora murder. After her predecessor Sheel Vardhan Singh retired from the force in August, she already held the position of special (interim) DG.

Singh, an officer from the 1989 IPS batch, has a distinguished career that includes work for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Rajasthan Police. In her career, she achieved numerous firsts as well, such as being the first female IPS officer to hold the position of Director General in the Rajasthan Police in 2021.

Daughter of Bihar

Originally from the Darbhanga district of Bihar, Singh attended Patna Women's College for her secondary education before graduating from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. She enrolled at Delhi School of Economics to pursue an MPhil, but she never finished it because she joined the police force. Additionally, Singh has a master's degree from Harvard University in public administration. She co-authored two research papers about reforms and enhancing police performance in a system at Harvard with Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, citing the Rajasthan Police as examples.

The IPS officer, who was assigned to the Manipur cadre, was transferred to Rajasthan at a very young age following her marriage to Rohit Kumar Singh, an IAS officer from Rajasthan cadre. Now, her spouse works as a secretary in the Union ministry of consumer affairs. She is credited with enforcing the strict requirement that two-wheeler riders wear helmets while serving as the Superintendent of Police in Jaipur. She went on to work as the Inspector General of the Ajmer range and the Deputy Inspector General of the Jaipur range.

In addition to the President's Police Medal, the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and the Ati Utkrisht Seva Pada for professional excellence, the senior IPS officer has also received these awards. Singh worked for the Rajasthan Police in several specialised departments and was more interested in administrative roles.

Prior to taking over as the ADG overseeing the Civil Rights & Anti-Human Trafficking division, she served as ADG (Training). Prior to her appointment as an ADG on deputation to CISF in 2021, she had been promoted to the DG level within the same department. Her tenure with the CISF is her second central deputation; from 2013 to 2018, she worked as a joint director with the CBI.

Smt Nina Singh, IPS (RJ: 89) assumed the charge of DG #CISF engraving a historic milestone as the first woman to helm this esteemed position. Her visionary leadership will usher this multi-skilled and multi -dimensional force to greater heights.@PMOIndia@HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/gQVfoYo0So  CISF (@CISFHQrs) December 29, 2023

In charge of the CBI's designated crime zone, she and her team successfully investigated a number of cases, including the rape and killing of a student in a Gurugram school and the Kotkhai gang's murder in Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, she had overseen high-profile cases, such as the murder of Sheena Bora, the daughter of socialite Indrani Mukerjea. After being returned to her native country in 2018, she worked as an auxiliary director general of police until becoming the first female DG in the Rajasthan Police in 2021.

Officer of academia

According to a senior CISF officer, the government has acknowledged her academic abilities as well, and she is using them to prepare the force for all aspects of the mandate, particularly in interdepartmental communication, as demonstrated by the weekly conferences where topics such as administration, operations, and welfare are discussed.

A specialised central para-military force, the CISF was established in 1969 and works under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It currently provides security cover to 358 establishments across the country. The CISF was recently asked by the MHA to carry out a survey of the Parliament complex after the 13 December security breach.
NEW DELHI: In a significant move, the Government of India has formally requested Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, confirmed the request during a press briefing on Friday, emphasizing Saeed's status as a UN-proscribed terrorist wanted in numerous cases in India.

''The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case. We have been flagging the issue of activities, that he's been wanted for. This is a recent request..." MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

A Modi Govt Masterstroke?

This extradition request is strategically timed, marking another masterstroke by the Narendra Modi government. It comes at a crucial juncture when Pakistan is striving to enhance its global image and distance itself from the tag of a "terror haven." The move adds pressure on Pakistan, emphasizing India's commitment to addressing cross-border terrorism.

Pak Leaders Acknowledge India's Global Prowess

The extradition request coincides with former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's recognition of India's growing global influence and technological advancements. Sharif, speaking to members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), drew a sharp contrast between India's achievements, including lunar exploration, and Pakistan's economic challenges.

Pakistan's Economic Struggles

Sharif lamented Pakistan's economic challenges, acknowledging the responsibility for the nation's struggles lies within. The former Prime Minister emphasized the need for internal reforms and acknowledged India's advancements in various fields.

Hafiz Saeed: Legal Battles

Hafiz Saeed, aged 71, has faced legal repercussions in Pakistan, including a 33-year jail sentence in April 2022 for terror financing. Despite these convictions, he has managed to evade punishment for his involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks. India's extradition request comes amid concerns over his continued influence, especially with his son, Hafiz Talha Saeed, entering the political arena.

Political Implications Ahead Of Pakistan Elections

The extradition request gains significance as Hafiz Talha Saeed, considered the No. 2 in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and son of Hafiz Saeed, is set to participate in the upcoming Pakistan elections. The political front backed by the 26/11 mastermind raises concerns about the perpetuation of extremist ideologies within Pakistan's political landscape.

India's extradition request for Hafiz Saeed emerges as a strategic move with broader geopolitical implications. It not only addresses concerns related to cross-border terrorism but also underscores India's proactive stance in the fight against terror. As the diplomatic maneuver unfolds, the international community watches closely, anticipating the response from Pakistan and the potential impact on regional stability.
NEW DELHI: Amid intense speculation about a leadership change in the party, a crucial meeting of the Janata Dal-United's national executive began at the Constitution Club in Delhi on Friday. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh and other top party leaders are attending the meeting. Just minutes of the meeting, Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary dismissed all reports about his possible elevation as party president and said that Lalan Singh, the present national president of the party, is working fine.

Senior JDU leader KC Tyagi also emphasised that the meeting would be a regular one where alliances in states would also be discussed. "Today, JD(U) national executive meeting will take place wherein discussions will be held on the current political scenario and financial environment of the country...and on seat sharing to target other states as well" KC Tyagi said.

Importantly, the JD(U) leadrship had on Thursday quashed all reports that suggested a likely change of guard in the party leadership. In the run-up to the crucial Lok Sabha polls, the Janata Dal (United) is poised to make significant decisions about its organizational structure. Speculation is rife that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar might ascend to the party leadership, leading to the likely resignation of the current JD(U) president, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, widely known as Lalan Singh. However, Singh has vehemently denied these rumours.

Growing Discord Within JDU

Reports suggest that Lalan Singh may be falling out of favour with Nitish Kumar due to his perceived closeness to JD(U)'s ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Signs of this discord surfaced when Lalan Singh's name and photograph were conspicuously absent from posters welcoming Nitish and other leaders at the JD(U) office in New Delhi.

Leadership Change In JDU?

Inside sources reveal that Lalan Singh is striving to retain his position, arguing that his resignation would weaken the party and adversely impact the INDIA alliance of opposition parties. On the flip side, another faction within the party is urging Nitish Kumar to assume control, emphasizing the need for a unilateral command over the party's rank and file.

National Executive Meeting Agenda

The national executive meeting, scheduled to commence around 11:30 am, is expected to delve into the party's strategy for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The backdrop of talks about a possible split within the party adds urgency to Nitish Kumar's potential leadership takeover.

Lalan Meets Nitish Amidst Speculations

A meeting between Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh at Kumar's residence, followed by their joint arrival at the party office, serves as a symbolic gesture to project unity within the party. The two leaders share a longstanding alliance, except for a brief hiatus between 2010 and 2013 when Singh parted ways with the JD(U).

While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dismisses the ongoing speculations, terming the JD(U) conclave as a routine event, he remains tight-lipped about rejoining the NDA fold. Lalan Singh, on the other hand, reacts contemptuously to reports of his resignation, affirming the normalcy within the party.

Opposition, Allies Weigh In

Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav downplays the rumours, asserting that all is well in the government, emphasizing the strong ties between JDU and RJD. Union Minister Giriraj Singh, however, fuels speculations by suggesting that Nitish Kumar's options within the NDA might be limited.

As the JD(U) navigates through internal tensions and external scrutiny, the outcome of the national executive and council meetings today will likely shape the party's trajectory leading up to the critical 2024 elections.
New Delhi: Tesla is prepared to make its debut in India with a manufacturing facility in Gujarat scheduled for January 2024. The announcement about Tesla's manufacturing unit in the state is expected to occur during the forthcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit as per the Ahmedabad Mirror report. Gujarat has been a key business location for many years.

Recently, Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel expressed optimism about Elon Musk's investment in Gujarat. (Also Read:Ratan Tata Turns 86 On Dec 28: Check His Net Worth, Car Collections, And More)

As per the reports, the state government has supposedly presented Sanand, Dholera, and Becharaji as potential locations for the plant. Tesla's goal is to meet demands from both the local and international markets by utilizing the Gujarat facility.

Tesla plans to localize 20% of car components within two years, increasing to 40% in four years. The company is looking to launch its Model 3, Model Y, and a more budget-friendly hatchback in the Indian market. With a concessional import duty, the prices of these models could be significantly reduced, making them more accessible to Indian consumers.
New Delhi: As turbulent as the times are in the house of Bigg Boss, the environment is tense outside too. Now, actor Faizan Ansari has come out in support of Munawar Faruqui and has slammed Ayesha Khan. According to Faizan, the wildcard contestant of the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss 17' is defaming Munawar Faruqui, and wants her to apologise to the stand-up comedian.

After Ayesha's entry in the show, many personal subjects have stirred conversation on Munawar. She made several shocking claims related to Munawar in the show, and said that he lied and was two-timing.

Faizan, who is famous for the dating reality show 'Datebaazi' said: "Munawar is the winner of 'Bigg Boss 17'. He is the champion inside because of whom the audience is watching the show. The show is getting viral because of him, and it's TRP is increasing."

"Ayesha has come with the plan to defame the image of Munawar. She has forgotten that his fans will not leave him alone, and if she thinks that Munawar is alone, then Faizan Ansari is with him. I will keep supporting him till he wins the trophy," he said. Faizan shared that Munawar has been trapped inside.

"Ayesha knows that Munawar is running the show, so she is planning accordingly, and is being friends with him. Munawar is an honest man, he is a bit afraid. Ayesha is geeting support because of Munawar inside the house, so she is utilising that. Ayesha is an actress and she is acting inside. She is fake. She should not do this. I have taken action against her and she will face problems once she comes outside," he said.

Faizan, who has worked with Salman Khan's sister Shweta Rohira for magazines as a cover model, has expressed his love for Munawar."We won't let his image degrade, and my legal team has filed a defamation case, she has to come to the police station, and go to the court. I want Ayesha to apologise to Munawar, and the makers should evict her soon from the house," added Faizan.

Ayesha has also said that Munawar's claim of staying with his son for six months is completely a lie. She and Munawar have been together for the last two months and did not see his son. The actress has also said that cheating is a pattern for Munawar.
New Delhi: Pakistan has instituted a nationwide prohibition on New Year's celebrations to express solidarity with Palestine. The interim Prime Minister of Pakistan, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, declared a stringent ban on any New Year celebrations as a demonstration of support for Palestine and Gaza, currently engaged in conflict with Israel.

In his address to the nation, Kakar called for a demonstration of unity with the Palestinians and emphasized the importance of displaying sobriety and humility in the New Year.

"In light of the deeply troubling situation in Palestine and as a gesture of solidarity with our Palestinian brethren, the government has declared a stringent prohibition on hosting any form of New Year events," said Kakar.

"The entire Pakistan and the Muslim world are deeply distressed by the tragedy of innocent children being massacred and the genocide of unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank," he added.

Kakar mentioned that Pakistan has dispatched two aid packages to Palestine, with a third one in the works. He underscored Pakistan's consistent endeavors to shed light on the plight of the Palestinian people on international forums, reiterating the nation's dedication to persist in these efforts to bring an end to the violence inflicted by Israel.

Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters burst into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Its air, sea and ground offensive in Gaza has since killed nearly 21,000 Palestinians, according to authorities.
This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waiting for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

CHONGQING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A freight train departed Friday morning from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in Chongqing for Map Ta Phut Station in Thailand, marking the opening of the first international freight train of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

Loaded with 64 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of chemicals, the train is scheduled to arrive in Map Ta Phut via Laos' Vientiane in 5 days. In the meantime, a freight train loaded with 30 TEU containers of agricultural products has set out from Map Ta Phut and is moving in the opposite direction.

The new service shortens the transportation time between Chongqing and Thailand by nearly 20 days if compared with routine water transport.

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway passing beneath a highway bridge in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway departing from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

The first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2023 shows the first freight train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor that runs via China-Laos-Thailand Railway departing from the Tuanjiecun Central Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)
Press Release

December 27, 2023 Super Health Center groundbreaking held in Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte as Bong Go continues efforts to bring medical services closer to grassroots Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, lauded the local government unit of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte, for the successful groundbreaking of its Super Health Center in Barangay Gunyan on Thursday, December 21. Local officials, including Mayor Alberto Bongcawel and Congresswoman Glona Labadlabad, among others attended the event. According to Go, this event marks a pivotal step in reinforcing the country's health infrastructure. He also added that this center is set to play an essential role in strengthening the country's health system especially in the grassroots. "The Super Health Center in Siayan is not just a mere health facility; it represents a substantial leap forward in the Philippine healthcare system by bringing primary care, medical consultations, and early disease detection to the grassroots level," he added. These centers are strategically designed to be more accessible to Filipinos, thereby ensuring that essential health services are within reach of many. The facility will offer a wide range of services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and an ambulatory surgical unit. Additionally, the Super Health Center provides specialized services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, allowing for remote diagnosis and treatment of patients. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, LGUs, and the Department of Health (DOH), sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 Super Health Centers in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where the centers will be constructed. Go also highlighted the pivotal role of Super Health Centers in narrowing the gap in existing health facilities in the country. He emphasized their primary functions, which include early disease detection and hospital decongestion, saying, "These functions are integral to providing timely and effective healthcare services, ensuring that medical care is not just available, but also efficient and proactive." Currently, eight Super Health Centers were funded in Zamboanga del Norte. Furthermore, the senator also highlighted other health initiatives aimed at bolstering the country's healthcare system. Among these is the Malasakit Centers program, which aims to provide convenient medical assistance to indigent patients. The center is a one-stop shop that streamlines the process of acquiring aid from the relevant agencies, namely the DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It seeks to reduce a patient's hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various services and expenses. Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 was principally authored and sponsored by Go. There are currently 159 centers nationwide, including those at Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City and the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City, that have helped around ten million indigent Filipinos, according to the DOH. "Sa mga pasyente rito, hindi niyo na po kailangang bumiyahe para pumila sa iba't ibang opisina para makahingi ng tulong mula sa gobyerno. Kung may bill kayo, ilapit niyo lang 'to sa Malasakit Center. Wala itong pinipili. Basta poor at indigent patient ka, qualified ka," assured Go. Go is also the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which seeks to establish specialized medical centers across different regions, further decentralizing and enhancing healthcare services. The Regional Specialty Centers Act assumes a vital role in the healthcare legislative priorities of the Marcos Administration, as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for the years 2023 to 2028. This law shall create Regional Specialty Centers within pre-existing regional hospitals under the jurisdiction of DOH.
ISTANBUL, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Air China launched its flights to and from Istanbul with a ceremony held at Istanbul Airport on Friday, boosting close ties between Turkiye and China, local media reported.

Speaking at the ceremony, Selahattin Bilgen, acting CEO of Istanbul Airport, said Istanbul-Beijing reciprocal flights will further strengthen the commercial, tourist, and cultural relations of the two countries, reported the Ihlas News Agency.

Bilgen said that the cooperation between Air China and Istanbul Airport is a positive sign for boosting regional and global air transport and international connectivity.

The number of Chinese airlines served at Istanbul Airport has reached four with Air China, according to Bilgen. 
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), on Friday announced measures to support key projects backed by private business investment.

The NDRC is soliciting applications nationwide for key private investment projects and will create a catalog of the eligible ones after review.

The commission said it will work with relevant departments to provide assistance for these projects in terms of land acquisition, finance and paperwork. 
Since 2008, the Chinese Navy has consistently dispatched 45 escort fleets, with more than 27,000 officers and soldiers, to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia over the course of 15 years.



It's phenomenally difficult. It's genuinely effective.

As a result, over 7,200 vessels have safely traversed this perilous region under the protection of a Chinese Navy escort fleet.








UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- In a video message released on the eve of 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the world, reflecting on the trials and tribulations of the past year and offering a vision of unity and hope for the year ahead.

"2023 has been a year of enormous suffering, violence, and climate chaos," Guterres said. "Humanity is in pain, and our planet is in peril. 2023 is the hottest year on record."

Highlighting the pressing global issues that have compounded the world's challenges, the UN chief emphasized that poverty and hunger continue to afflict countless people, while conflicts and wars are multiplying in number and intensity. Trust, both among nations and within communities, is "in short supply."

Guterres urged restraint against the temptation to cast blame and resort to violence, saying, "Pointing fingers and pointing guns lead nowhere. Humanity is strongest when we stand together."

Looking to the future, the top UN official called for 2024 to be a year dedicated to "rebuilding trust and restoring hope."

"We must come together across divides for shared solutions," including taking decisive action on climate change, creating economic opportunities, and establishing a more equitable global financial system that benefits all, he stressed.

Guterres also underscored the imperative to combat discrimination and hatred, which he said have strained relations between nations and communities.

Furthermore, he stressed the need to ensure that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, serve the greater good of humanity.

Guterres reaffirmed the United Nations' unwavering commitment to rallying the world for peace, sustainable development, and human rights. "Let's resolve to make 2024 a year of building trust and hope in all that we can accomplish together."

"I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year," the top UN official concluded. 
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach sends out his New Year's message. (IOC/Greg Martin)

IOC president Thomas Bach calls for making the world a better place through sport in his New Year's message.

GENEVA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has sent out his New Year's message to the world, seeking for the Olympic Games to be the hope of unifying and bringing the world together.

"In these difficult times we are living through, people everywhere are exhausted and tired of all the antagonism, the hostility, the hate they are confronted with in every area of their lives.

"Deep in our hearts, we are all longing for something unifying. Something that brings us together, despite the differences we have. Something that gives us hope. Something that inspires us to address problems in a peaceful way. Something that brings out the best in us," Bach said in his New Year's message published on the official website on Thursday.

Former South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na of South Korea speaks during a 100-day countdown ahead of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Yang Chang/Xinhua)

The Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games will kick off an Olympic year in January, while the highlight of the year is the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer.

"It is inspiring to see everyone in the Olympic Movement making this new era of Olympic Games a reality. Therefore, we can look forward with great confidence to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 as a symbol of global unity and peace," Bach added.

"These feelings are also shared by the international community. We are very grateful for this strong global support. At the same time, all the great expectations for Paris mean a great responsibility for all of us - the responsibility to live up to these expectations," he said.

Bach said he is looking beyond the Olympic Games to "make the world a better place through sport," as IOC is pushing the project of the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 to strengthen the role of sport in society.

People attend the first day of competition at the Olympic Esports Week 2023 in Singapore on June 23, 2023. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Bach also mentioned the digital revolution and artificial intelligence as huge opportunities for the Olympic Movement. "We need to seize them now. This is why the IOC Esports Commission is studying the creation of Olympic Esports Games. This new endeavor has been received with enthusiasm by the esports community. We are truly breaking new ground," he said.

"Building on this momentum and energy, we can look to the future of our Olympic community with great confidence. United in all our diversity, we live our Olympic motto: we are going even faster, we are aiming even higher, we are getting even stronger - because we stand together. Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together," Bach remarked. 
NANCHANG, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- For Peng Bin, a teacher at Jiangxi Arts & Ceramics Technology Institute in Jingdezhen, dubbed the "porcelain capital," in east China's Jiangxi Province, a new life came earlier than the new year.

It used to take Peng nearly three hours to return to his hometown Yugan. Starting from Dec. 27, it would only take him about 35 minutes for the trip thanks to the operation of a new high-speed railway that boasts a designed speed of 350 km per hour.

The high-speed railway linking Peng's workplace in Jingdezhen and his hometown is part of the 560-km-long Hangzhou-Nanchang high-speed railway, whose section connecting Huangshan City in Anhui Province and Nanchang City in Jiangxi Province was officially put into use Wednesday following over five years of construction.

The route passes through a region rich in tourist attractions featuring scenic lakes, mountains, ancient villages, and cultural treasures like porcelain and tea.

Jingdezhen is one of the railway's major beneficiaries as well as attractions, as increasingly convenient transport has boosted the development of the local porcelain industry by facilitating goods and personnel exchanges.

The time-honored porcelain hub gained access to railway services in 1982, blazing a new trail of porcelain sales other than water and road transport. In late 2017, Jingdezhen began electrical multiple unit (EMU) train services with a designed speed of 200 km per hour.

In the first half of 2023, the city received 28.11 million visits, up 57.9 percent year on year, and the total tourism revenue reached 27.14 billion yuan (about 3.83 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 87.6 percent.

"We expect a boost in passenger trips after the new railway route," said Lu Xiaojun, head of the Jingdezhen North Station, which has undertaken extension and face-lift projects to cater to the new high-speed railway service.

Local tourism attractions are also expecting growing inflows of visitors from a wider range of regions.

Taoyang Alley, once the site of an imperial kiln for producing porcelain used in the court, is expected to receive more visitors from cities like Beijing, which will reach Jingdezhen faster thanks to the newly operational high-speed railway.

"The high-speed railway will not only bring more travelers, but also business people and porcelain lovers from home and abroad," said Hu Jingping, general manager of Jingdezhen International Ceramics Exposition and Trading Center, a comprehensive platform to showcase and sell ceramics products.

In the first half of this year, Jingdezhen's ceramics industry saw its output value up by 23.8 percent year on year, with that for technologically advanced ceramics rising 239 percent.

"In additional to economic benefits, the high-speed railway will fast-track the spread of Jingdezhen's charming ceramics culture, which is key for the industry's growth in the long run," Hu said. 
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's railway network is expected to handle 63 million passenger trips during the New Year holiday travel rush, which starts on Friday, the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) said Friday.

The peak day is projected to fall on Saturday with 15 million trips to be made, China Railway said.

During the holiday rush, which will end on Jan. 2, an average of 10,680 trains are set to be operated each day, in a bid to meet travelers' needs.

China Railway will also make every effort to ensure the transportation of key materials such as coal and grain during the holiday, it said. 
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- In 2023, China prioritized high-quality development as it positioned itself for economic recovery after three years of COVID-19 containment, resulting in solid progress.

Making high-quality development a primary task in achieving the broader goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects, China is endeavoring to effectively upgrade and appropriately expand its economic output.

With this task in mind, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has traveled across the country throughout the year, spanning from the dynamic Yangtze River Delta in the east to the vast landscapes of Xinjiang in the west, and from the vibrant Guangdong in the south to the northern reaches of Heilongjiang.

Following Xi's inspection journey, here is a glimpse of the key elements essential for achieving high-quality development -- an ongoing focal point for China in 2024.

INNOVATION-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT

During his inspection tours, Xi has consistently underscored the vital role of scientific and technological innovation.

Visits to sites like a new energy vehicle assembly workshop, a chip production workshop, a 6G lab, and a helicopter assembly workshop allowed him to gain firsthand insights into breakthroughs in core technologies. Innovation, he stressed, is at the heart of China's modernization drive.

China is actively implementing its innovation-driven development strategy. It has set grand development objectives for 2035, aiming to join the ranks of the world's most innovative countries, with great self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

Xi has long stressed the significance of the Yangtze River Delta. This region, comprising Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, stands out as one of the most vibrant hubs for innovation, openness and economic activity in China.

In the first three quarters of 2023, the output value of the high-tech manufacturing sector in the region accounted for 31.1 percent of the national total, leading the country in integrated circuits, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and the new energy vehicle industry.

While inspecting the Purple Mountain Laboratories in Jiangsu in July, Xi said that disruptive technologies could emerge at any time amid the rapid advancement of information technology. He called for pursuing a pragmatic and solid path of innovation to build self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

He encouraged young R&D professionals to pursue a lifelong commitment to delving into cutting-edge technologies and forging a life of value.

During his trip to Shanghai from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, Xi urged the metropolis to strive to build an international center for economy, finance, trade, shipping and sci-tech innovation.

On numerous occasions, Xi has highlighted the spearheading role of sci-tech innovation in modernizing the industrial system, aiming to boost the resilience and security of both industrial and supply chains.

Addressing a key meeting in Heilongjiang in September, Xi said the key to revitalizing northeast China lies in sci-tech innovation. It is essential to foster strategic emerging industries including new energy, new materials, advanced manufacturing and electronic information, and nurture industries of the future in order to boost new growth drivers, he said.

GREEN DEVELOPMENT

China's efforts to achieve high-quality development hinges crucially on steering its economic and social progress toward greener and lower-carbon practices. According to Xi, embracing green development is an inevitable path.

Green transformation, carbon reduction, pollution control and ecological protection have been prominent themes during Xi's inspection trips.

In major coal production areas like Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia, Xi stressed the importance of restructuring the energy sector and upgrading the energy industry. He urged a proactive and cautious approach to achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

When visiting a refining and chemical enterprise along the Yangtze River in Jiangxi in October, Xi urged efforts to establish globally leading refining and chemical enterprises that are both eco-friendly and intelligent.

He has also underscored China's commitment to prioritizing ecological conservation and fostering harmony between humanity and nature in pursuit of Chinese modernization through high-quality development.

In June, Xi was on an inspection trip to Inner Mongolia, a region grappling with severe desertification. During the trip, he highlighted the importance of implementing comprehensive measures to address the pressing global ecological issue of desertification, noting that it is crucial for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

PROSPERITY FOR ALL

Guided by a people-centered development philosophy, Chinese modernization seeks to bring prosperity to the country's entire population of 1.4 billion while preventing social polarization -- an approach that sets Chinese modernization apart from the Western model.

China faces wide gaps in development and income distribution between urban and rural areas and between regions, and these challenges are precisely the focus of Xi's inspections.

Throughout this year, he has made a point of visiting diverse rural landscapes, ranging from a lychee orchard to a plot of saline-alkali wheat field, as well as a border village at the northernmost tip and a village at the heart of a wetland park.

Xi has stressed the urgency of advancing the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and emphasized promoting rural revitalization by fostering industries and tourism with distinctive local features and advantages.

In Lizu, a village in Zhejiang that has vanquished poverty to become a tourist hotspot, Xi described the progress made in promoting common prosperity as a microcosm of Zhejiang's remarkable achievements in bolstering rural development.

In China's pursuit of common prosperity, border areas with mainly ethnic minority populations must not be left behind, according to Xi. During a trip to Guangxi in December, he called on the region, which has the largest population of ethnic minorities, to narrow the gaps between urban and rural areas, and among various regions and ethnic groups.

Coordinated regional development is crucial for achieving high-quality development. Amid his busy inspection trips, Xi examined China's progress in fostering collaboration within and between regions, including the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Embracing a deep connection with the people, Xi made a point to visit those who went through tough times during his trips. Following massive floods that hit the north and northeast regions this summer, Xi undertook separate tours of Heilongjiang, Beijing and Hebei. There, he visited the homes of the affected residents, offering support and assessing local post-disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts.

HIGH-STANDARD OPENING UP

This April, Xi chose Guangdong for his first local inspection of the year. Known as a trailblazer and experimental hub in China's reform and opening up, Guangdong has witnessed an astonishing economic surge, doubling to around 13 trillion yuan (about 1.83 trillion U.S. dollars) over the past decade.

The southern province has taken the lead in foreign trade, and boasted an impressive actual utilization of foreign capital exceeding 1.4 trillion yuan over the past 10 years.

While visiting the Guangzhou manufacturing base of LG Display, Xi said that the Chinese market is vast like an ocean, and it stands as the world's largest consumer hub. LG Display, headquartered in the Republic of Korea, has selected Guangzhou as the site for its primary global production base.

"China remains steadfast in its commitment to the long-term and consistent policy of reform and opening up. We won't shut our doors; in fact, we're dedicated to widening our gates of openness even further," Xi said.

In Shanghai, another pivotal player in China's reform and opening up, Xi called for efforts to steadily expand institutional opening up concerning rules, regulations, management and standards. He emphasized the need to advance high-level openness in cross-border services trade and investment, and elevate the openness of the manufacturing industry.

While inspecting inland provinces such as Shaanxi and Jiangxi, he highlighted the importance of propelling development through openness. He urged the provinces to establish a focal point for reform and opening up in inland regions, and contribute to and integrate into China's new development pattern.

During his trips to border areas, Xi also stressed the importance of high-standard opening up. In his inspection tour of Guangxi following his state visit to Vietnam in December, Xi urged the region to expand both internal and external opening up. Guangxi should actively support the development of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future by deepening cooperation with ASEAN countries in trade, labor, industry, science and technology, and education, he said. 
CARACAS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday ordered a "joint military action" by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) in eastern Venezuela amid what he described as a "threat" from Britain.

The stationing of a British military ship in the waters of neighboring Guyana represents a breaking of the recent agreement Venezuela reached with the Guyanese government during the dialogue on Dec. 14, said Maduro during a New Year's greeting speech to military personnel.

After diplomatic measures fell short, Venezuela would respond in a "proportional" manner and reserves all corresponding actions within the framework of international law, he said, adding that the British attitude was "unacceptable."

One of the response measures implemented by the president was the immediate activation of the FANB joint military action General Domingo Antonio Sifontes 2023 in the eastern Venezuelan Caribbean and on the country's Atlantic front. 
LA PAZ, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 19 were injured after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine about 100 meters deep in northern La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, local authorities said Thursday.

The bus, owned by the Flota Yunguena company, fell Thursday morning on the highway from Caranavi to Alto Beni, Lieutenant Wilfredo Juarez, from the Caranavi province Traffic Department, told reporters.

The Search and Rescue Team and members of the Rural and Border Police rescued the injured, who were taken to a medical center in Caranavi.

Meanwhile, the Caranavi Traffic Department is investigating the causes of the accident.

Although there is still no official report on the accident, Juarez pointed out that the roads to the Yungas and northern La Paz have experienced landslides and that visibility was low due to weather conditions. 
The French Ambassador to Georgia, Sheraz Gasri, has criticized and condemned actions that undermine Georgia's territorial integrity. This comes in response to the de facto government of Abkhazia, which ratified an agreement to transfer land in Abkhazia to Russia.Gasri expressed France's support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of respecting internationally recognized borders and declared such actions as "illegal, null, and void"."France supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. Any decision undermining the territorial integrity of Georgia, such as the attempt to transfer land in Abkhazia to Russia, is illegal, null and void," Gasri wrote on X.The Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and Deputy Chairman Giorgi Sharabidze met with John A. Pennell, the Mission Director of USAID, and Marc Nordberg, Counselor at the US Embassy.According to CEC reports, the primary focus of the meeting was the preparation for the 2024 parliamentary elections and the introduction of electronic technologies in the electoral process.Giorgi Kalandarishvili spoke about the activities conducted in the direction of modernizing elections in 2023, including the projects implemented in cooperation with USAID. He emphasized that the joint projects and cooperation with USAID hold special importance and acknowledged their crucial support.Alongside the ongoing activities of the election administration, the meeting addressed issues related to informing voters, existing challenges, and identified needs.The discussions also revolved around the successful visit of the CEC delegation to the United States of America and its outcomes aimed at enhancing cooperation with international partners. Concluding the session, the parties delved into future cooperation plans and addressed important matters crucial to the successful administration of the 2024 elections at a high professional level.
The second batch of Chinese medical team dispatched to the Solomon Islands recently provided free medical services for six days in the Munda region, receiving high recognition from local residents and medical personnel.

This is the third time the team has conducted medical services on outer islands since they arrived in the Solomon Islands in March this year.

China and the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations in 2019.

In early 2022, China initiated the dispatch of medical teams to the Solomon Islands.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
YANGON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar exported 175,990 tons of rice and broken rice in November this year, according to data released by the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) on Friday.

The figure decreased from 264,037 tons of rice and broken rice exported in November last year, the MRF data showed.

The exports of rice and broken rice in November included 94,203 tons of rice and 81,787 tons of broken rice.

The federation said Myanmar has shipped 157,070 tons of the exported rice and broken rice via sea routes, and the rest via land border gates.

The Southeast Asian country exported rice and broken rice to more than 20 countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Poland, Malaysia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Vietnam last month.

Myanmar earned 361 million U.S. dollars from the export of 759,673 tons of rice and broken rice during the first eight months of the current 2023-24 fiscal year starting April, showed the MRF data. 
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- When it comes to smearing others based on fabrication, the United States is an absolute master.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the FBI and other agencies believe China "could use" AI to gather data on Americans at a scale that was never before.

It's a matter of repeated occurrence that U.S. officials, especially intelligence officers with a sense of mystery, made accusations with similar speculative words "probably" and "appear to be."

Has anyone in Washington presented any proof? Not yet. And don't expect there will be any.

Such irresponsible remarks show how the sole superpower of the world arbitrarily attacks other countries at its will as it is scrambling to keep its global supremacy. And those U.S. agencies have for long been grappling with notorious credibility problem.

Just in November, a bipartisan group of 11 U.S. House lawmakers asked the Biden administration to probe and potentially sanction Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics, based on their unfounded and speculative concerns of national security and the claim that the company appears to be "potentially supporting Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine."

Of course, China is not the only victim of U.S. speculative accusations. The United States launched a war against Iraq in 2003, claiming that the Mideast country possessed weapons of mass destruction; no such weapons have ever turned up.

Behind U.S. recurrent malicious speculations are its tendency to judge others through a self-referential lens and its sense of insecurity regarding its hegemony.

In the realm of data theft, the United States reigns supreme. Washington has been working with its "Five Eyes" allies and others to conduct secret data-stealing operations worldwide. Multiple media outlets revealed that the U.S. National Security Agency tapped directly into the servers of internet firms in a surveillance program known as Prism, involving internet giants such as Microsoft, Google and Apple. The leaked Pentagon documents in April also revealed how Washington spies on other countries, both allies and foes alike.

The United States is simply playing the trick of a thief crying "stop thief."

Furthermore, the United States regards its technological edge as the cornerstone for maintaining its hegemonic status. China has repeatedly stated that it never seeks hegemony. However, the superpower remains apprehensive about China's rapid technological progress, worrying being outdone.

Nevertheless, instead of focusing on advancing its own technology, the United States opts to sabotage China's progress, even by employing underhanded tactics. It did so with Japan's semiconductor industry; now, it wants to halt China's further tech breakthroughs.

It fabricated tons of excuses to clamp down on China's high-tech enterprises, putting more than 1,000 Chinese companies on sanction lists or export controls. From Huawei taking the brunt to the 36 Chinese companies recently added to the trade blacklist in December, groundless accusations, repeatedly cited national security risks, made-up tales and unjust sanctions have dominated Washington's bullying of China. The paranoid superpower is unwilling to sit by and let China's high-tech development flourish.

A clean hand requires no washing. The United States is welcome to present proof of its accusations. Otherwise, it should learn to become a more responsible global power and quit spreading lies. 
NANJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cai Esheng, former vice chairman of the former China Banking Regulatory Commission, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Friday for accepting bribes and abusing power.

The sentence was handed down to Cai by the Intermediate People's Court of Zhenjiang City in east China's Jiangsu Province.

The court found that Cai took advantage of his positions at the banking regulatory body to assist others in fundraising, loan approval, business contracting, job promotion, and equity transfer between 2006 and 2021. In return, Cai illegally accepted an especially huge amount of bribes in money and valuables.

The court also established that from 2010 to 2013, Cai abused power in performing his regulatory duties, which caused heavy losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people.

The court said Cai has been deprived of his political rights for life, and his personal property has been confiscated.

After the two-year reprieve, Cai's death sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment under the law, but no further sentence reduction or parole will be granted, the court said. 
HOHHOT, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region reported a new energy investment boom in 2023, as part of the country's moves to deliver on its dual carbon promises.

With the launch of four wind and photovoltaic projects, each with a power generating capacity of 1 GW, on Thursday, Inner Mongolia's installed new energy power generating capacity totaled 92.6 GW, according to the regional energy department.

The figure accounted for 45 percent of the total installed power generating capacity in the country's major coal-producing region.

So far this year, the region's new energy power generation capacity has increased by 31.28 GW, a record high.

The region has invested nearly 170 billion yuan (about 24 billion U.S. dollars) in new energy projects this year, with a year-on-year growth of 33 percent.

The four wind and photovoltaic projects are expected to generate 10.7 billion kWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the saving of standard coal by 3.42 million tonnes and reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide by 9.63 million tonnes, the department said.

As a major energy base of China, Inner Mongolia is also rich in wind and solar resources, with the technical development capacity of its wind and solar energy resources reaching more than 1,000 GW.

China made a commitment to the dual carbon goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. 
KAMPALA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said there will be no compulsory COVID-19 testing for delegates arriving in Uganda next month for the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Group of 77+China summits.

In a brief message posted Thursday night on his social media handle on X, formerly Twitter, Museveni said he had made consultations and had been advised against testing for the coronavirus.

The theme of the NAM Summit will be "Deepening Cooperation For Shared Global Affluence," while the G77+China Summit will be held under the theme "Leaving No One Behind."

Uganda says it will use the two summits to promote South-South cooperation and solidarity among member states. 
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces in an operation killed a "wanted terrorist" in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police has said.

During a joint operation conducted by police and security forces in the Tank district of the province, the notorious terrorist named Idrees, who belonged to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), got injured and later succumbed to his injuries, police told local media on Thursday.

Security forces were engaged in a joint operation against terrorists in the Tank district when terrorists attacked the security personnel with automatic weapons, police said, adding that the personnel carried out retaliatory firing and killed the terrorist.

Police said that other terrorists managed to escape from the scene while taking advantage of the forested area, and an operation is underway to arrest the fleeing terrorists.

The killed terrorist was involved in heinous terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces in the province, said the police. 
ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Friday welcomed the signing of the AU-Ethiopia grant agreement to sustain peace in northern Ethiopia's Tigray Region.

On Thursday, the Ethiopian government and the AU signed a 1-million-U.S.-dollar accord provided through the Crisis Reserve Facility of the AU Peace Fund as part of the AU's support to the peace process in Ethiopia, the AU said in a statement issued on Friday.

The AU's financial support aims for the effective implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program, pursuant to the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, signed between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2022.

"Significantly, the chairperson notes that this extension of the grant marks Ethiopia becoming the first AU member state to benefit directly from the AU Peace Fund since its operationalization in 2023," the statement read.

Faki reaffirmed the commitment to the full and expeditious implementation of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration process.

The chairperson renewed profound appreciation to the Ethiopian federal government and the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray for their continued commitment to implementing the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement within the spirit of African solutions to African problems.

"The chairperson equally expresses gratitude to all Ethiopian, regional, and international actors for their continued steadfast support to the AU-led peace process for northern Ethiopia," the statement read.

He called on bilateral and multilateral partners to concretely offer support to the AU-led process toward the implementation of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

In Nov. 2022, the Ethiopian government and the TPLF signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in Pretoria, South Africa, to end a two-year brutal conflict. The peace deal includes provisions for restoration of law and order, restoration of basic services, as well as unhindered access to humanitarian supplies. 
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over a State Council executive meeting on Friday.

The meeting mulled measures on further advancing a new type of "people-first" urbanization and decided to approve the Taipingling nuclear power project in Guangdong Province and the Jinqimen nuclear power project in Zhejiang Province.

A draft amendment to China's statistics law was discussed, which will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.

The meeting also deliberated and adopted draft regulations on the implementation of the country's archives law and the draft revision of the State Council's provisions on the standard for the declaration of concentration of business operators.

The meeting urged efforts to firmly stick to the people-centered principle, further deepen reform of the household registration system, and increase investment in fields including education, health care, elderly care and housing to help urban residents without household registration enjoy equal access to basic public services.

It also stressed the need for improvements to address weak links in urban infrastructure, administration and services, and to increase the carrying capacity of the economy and population.

Noting the extreme importance of nuclear power safety, the meeting emphasized safety and oversight, along with the orderly construction of projects following the highest global standards and requirements.

Measures should be taken to further ramp up support for the innovative development of the nuclear power industry, and to comprehensively enhance the competitiveness of nuclear power equipment and related industries.

The meeting also urged localities and departments to work out detailed measures to implement the comprehensive plan on next year's economic work proposed by the annual Central Economic Work Conference and ensure a good start in all kinds of work next year. 
SANAA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels issued a new warning to the United States on Friday, cautioning against any military escalation and pledging to continue attacks on "Israel-related" commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea, in a statement broadcast on the rebel-run al-Masirah TV, affirmed the group's commitment to counter "any potential aggression on Yemen."

Sarea also sent a warning to nations considering participation in the U.S.-led coalition aimed at protecting the ships.

In recent weeks, the rebel group has targeted "Israel-related" cargo vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

On Nov. 19, the Houthis hijacked a cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, in the Red Sea and took it and its crew to Hodeidah port.

The Houthis said they would stop attacks on ships if food and medicine aid were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Last week, the U.S. announced a multinational maritime coalition to secure the ships passing through the Red Sea after a series of Houthi attacks.

The rebels control much of northern Yemen, including the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, since they ousted the Yemeni government from the capital Sanaa. 
Asim Aliyev

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Malaysia Irfan Davudov met with Secretary General of the Thai Investment Council Narit Terdstirasukdi within the framework of his business trip to the Kingdom of Thailand, Azernews reports, citing a tweet by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Malaysia on his official X account.

It was reported that the meeting discussed investment opportunities in Azerbaijan, especially in the territories liberated from the Armenian occupation.

Recall that, on December 25, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Malaysia Irfan Davudov met with various officials and politicians within the framework of his visit to Malaysia and the Kingdom of Thailand.

During the meeting, sides discussed the expansion of economic and trade ties between Azerbaijan and Thailand, the simplification of the procedure for obtaining Thai visa for Azerbaijani citizens, the organisation of mutual visits, the improvement of the legal framework between the two countries, investment opportunities, especially in liberated territories, and the participation of Thai companies in reconstruction and rehabilitation works.
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The free trade agreement (FTA) between China and Nicaragua will become effective on Jan. 1, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Friday.

Both countries have completed their domestic procedures for the deal to take effect, the MOC said in a press release. The deal was signed in August 2023.

About 60 percent of goods in the bilateral trade will be exempt from tariffs upon the FTA taking effect, and the tariffs on over 95 percent will gradually be reduced to zero.

This FTA marks China's first instance of opening cross-border service trade and investment through a negative list.

The MOC described the signing of the FTA as a milestone in China-Nicaragua economic ties, which will further unleash potential in trade and investment cooperation and benefit businesses and people in the two countries. 
RAMALLAH, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian youth on Friday after he allegedly rammed his car into a group of Israelis near a military site in the West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli officials said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the Palestinian Civil Affairs Authority, which coordinates with Israel on civilian matters, notified it of the killing of a young Palestinian man by Israeli fire east of Dura, a village south of Hebron.

The Israeli military said in a statement that "a vehicular attack occurred near a military site" in the West Bank, and that troops in the area "responded with fire" and "neutralized" the assailant.

Israeli media outlets reported that the incident resulted in injuries of four Israelis with varying degrees of severity.

Palestinian sources said Israeli forces also "violently attacked" several journalists who were covering the incident, injuring some of them and damaging their equipment, and declared the nearby area a closed military zone.

The attack came a day after another Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire at a checkpoint in the central West Bank city of Bethlehem. The Israeli military said he stabbed and wounded a security guard and a female soldier before being shot dead.

According to Palestinian statistics, 315 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza on Oct. 7. 
BAGHDAD, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi Shiite militia on Friday claimed responsibility for a rocket barrage on a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria.

The militia, named Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed in an online statement that its fighters fired rockets on the U.S. base in Kharab al-Jir town in Syria's northeastern province of al-Hasakah.

It said the rockets hit their targets in the U.S. military base, without providing 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 statement added.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, confirmed that explosions were heard in the U.S. base in Kharab al-Jir. There are no reports of casualties so far.

The incident marked the 64th recorded attack on the U.S. bases in Syria since Oct. 19, the war monitor added. 
KINSHASA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Irregularities reported during the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are "insignificant" and will not affect the results of the elections, Denis Kadima, president of the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), said on Friday.

More than 5,000 irregular incidents during the voting for the general elections on Dec. 20 have been documented by observers across countries, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC), two of the most important religious organizations in the DRC, said on Thursday.

"We know of some of these irregularities ... but the majority of the accusations have no evidence and are mostly insignificant and can not affect the results," said Kadima at the results center in the capital of Kinshasa.

The president of the CENI affirmed that the opposition, despite their call for the annulment of the electoral process, has not presented any evidence to support their allegations. "At this level today, we are on track to announce the winner of the presidential election on Dec. 31 as planned in our calendar."

According to the partial results announced Thursday evening by the CENI, outgoing President Felix Tshisekedi leads the race with 76.32 percent of the votes among the ballots already counted, and Moise Katumbi comes in the second position with 16.16 percent of the votes. These results represent more than 10 million votes out of a total of approximately 44 million registered voters.

According to the official electoral calendar, provisional results are expected on Dec. 31, while the next head of state will be sworn in on Jan. 20, 2024, after confirmation by the Constitutional Court. 
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to be cautious in dealing with the appointment of a special envoy for Afghanistan.

The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution on the Afghanistan independent assessment, which requests the secretary-general to appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan to promote the implementation of the recommendations in the assessment.

China and Russia abstained while the remaining 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor.

In an explanation of vote, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, asked the secretary-general to cautiously deal with the appointment of a special envoy.

China has always maintained that when dealing with hot-spot issues, actions taken by the Security Council and the UN secretary-general, including the appointment of special envoys, should be based on thorough communications with the countries concerned and on respect for their opinions, said Geng.

"We are, therefore, of the view that the follow-up by this council to the independent assessment should also be taken in full communication with the Afghan authorities, respecting their opinions, with the decision to be made after extensive consultations with various stakeholders," he said.

Geng warned that a forcible appointment of a special envoy in disregard of the views of the country concerned may not only lead to the special envoy being unable to discharge his or her functions at all, but also heighten the antagonism and confrontation between the international community and the Afghan authorities.

Such a scenario, the envoy noted, completely runs counter to the signal sent by the independent assessment to step up constructive engagement with the Afghan authorities.

Security Council members remain obviously divided on the follow-up implementation of the assessment report, while the Afghan authorities, on the other hand, still have reservations about some recommendations, he said, adding that against this background, it seems hasty to force through the adoption of the resolution and doing so might turn out to be counterproductive.

China and Russia expressed these concerns in the consultation process and constructively proposed amendments to the draft resolution, which were regrettably not taken on board. China had to abstain from voting, he said.

"It is our hope that, going forward, the secretary-general will cautiously deal with the appointment of a special envoy, continue to strengthen communication and interaction with the Afghan authorities, and strive to find appropriate solutions," said Geng.

Afghanistan's history in the last two decades has proven once and again that externally imposed solutions will only end in failure. The real solution to the Afghan issue ultimately lies with the Afghan people themselves. In this process, the international community should effectively communicate and engage with the Afghan authorities to provide support and assistance in a constructive manner, he said. 
DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Youming, a Chinese gynecologist, once performed several surgeries in Algeria. She spent two and a half years there, helping bring newborns into the world.

When reflecting on her stay in Algeria, the elderly woman never forgets the herder in the area who went through a challenging childbirth that led to bleeding and shock.

But Zhang swiftly resolved the crisis. "You're the one I trust the most," the herder said after Zhang saved her.

The incident demonstrated strong trust between China and Algeria because of individuals like Zhang.

DESTINIES OF CHINA AND AFRICA INTERTWINED

Zhang was among the 13 members of the first batch of the Chinese medical team sent to Africa. In the early dawn of 1963, the team traveled for 10 days through Moscow, Belgrade and Rabat to finally arrive in Saida, Algeria.

Carrying the mission to resurrect Algeria's then-war-ravaged medical and health system, the team consisted of top-notch doctors from Beijing and Shanghai.

Xue Jin, a doctor from central China's Hubei Province, took up the baton from Zhang and worked there from 1965 to 1968. During this time, Xue recalled that only one doctor and nurse had returned from studying in France, leaving the team with a skeleton staff.

Saida's natural environment was also harsh, with frequent sandstorms, drought and intense sunlight, making it difficult for vegetables to survive.

Despite the numerous challenges, Chinese doctors have persevered to save lives, treat illnesses, forge new friendships and promote goodwill throughout Africa.

Since the 1960s, China has dispatched about 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, primarily in Africa, and provided 290 million diagnoses and treatments, according to the National Health Commission of China.

A GLORIOUS MISSION

In the early morning of Oct. 11, Gao Lingling, a doctor from the 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team in Tanzania's Zanzibar, rushed to the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Unguja to attend to a patient with an abdominal infection, resulting in a purulent and split womb while her small intestine was exposed and swelling.

In preparation for the emergency surgery, the local doctor on duty told Gao that the patient was also infected with HIV. Together with Jiang Guoqing, the leader of the Chinese medical team and an expert in general surgery, they completed the operation.

Jiang continued to help complete the operation on the HIV-infected patient despite having a bruised finger on his right hand. It was the first time both Gao and Jiang had operated on an HIV-infected patient.

"The focus in a doctor's eyes can mean life or death for a patient. What may seem risky can save lives," said Yang Lingling, a member of the 16th Chinese medical team in Francistown, Botswana.

Besides the risks during surgery, Chinese medical teams in Africa also confront challenging natural environments and complex medical conditions.

"It's tough here compared to home. But our team members overcame all obstacles and quickly adapted, earning the respect of locals," said Su Yong, a team member in the Comoros.

Every day, they endured a 45-minute mountain trek to the hospital, sometimes through heavy rains, mudslides and landslides. The team persevered despite initial uncertainty, fueled by a determination to represent China and help others.

LOFTY CAUSE

China has partnered with 46 hospitals in 41 countries and regions, establishing 25 specialty medical centers and addressing various technical gaps.

At Djibouti's largest public hospital, Chinese doctors Zhou Naizhong and Lian Xinguang have set up the acupuncture department. They treat 20 to 40 patients daily with Chinese traditional medicine involving acupuncture and massage.

Because successive medical teams have popularized acupuncture and massage, awareness of traditional Chinese medicine in Djibouti is growing.

To benefit more people in Djibouti, the Chinese medical team in November 2022 carried out the country's first acupuncture and massage training courses and selected 13 medical personnel to participate in the program.

For 60 years, Chinese medical teams have had a long-lasting influence in these countries. A Chinese doctor performed surgery on a patient named Keddaoui Anurni to remove her ovarian cysts using minimal incisions. The procedure inspired the 14-year-old to pursue a career in medicine.

Chinese medical teams have shifted their focus from offering short-term aid to fostering sustainable medical development. Their efforts have saved countless lives, enhanced medical expertise in these nations and trained over 100,000 healthcare professionals, producing lasting outcomes.

As China and Africa work towards building a community with a shared future in the new era, including a global community of health for all, the Chinese doctors serving on aid missions in Africa have become shining exemplars in this lofty cause. 
JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The death toll caused by floods in Ladysmith Town, South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Province, has risen to 14 while 10 others are still missing, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said on Friday.

The heavy rains on Dec. 24 resulted in Bellspruit River bursting its banks, causing water to overflow onto the N11 road in Ladysmith.

The disaster management teams are working with the police to continue to search for those missing people, said Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, an official from the department.

"We also urge all family members not to delay reporting their missing loved ones. This will greatly assist in the mobilization of search teams and allow us to get support from the various organizations we collaborate with on disaster matters," Sithole-Moloi said.

The South African Weather Service predicted that rains will continue in various areas of KwaZulu-Natal, according to Sithole-Moloi, who urged people to be cautious when traveling. 
KABUL, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan caretaker government's acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi said that the administration has been looking forward to achieving self-sufficiency within the next three years.

"We are going towards self-sufficiency and will achieve the goal within the next three years. We will improve our trade relations as well," a private television channel Tolonews quoted Azizi as saying on Thursday.

Talking to a panel debate arranged by the Tolonews on Thursday night, Azizi said "We need to fund our budget from our national revenue. We should not need foreign assistance."

The war-torn country has been facing harsh economic problems following the withdrawal of the U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 and holding assets of the Afghan central bank worth more than 9 billion U.S. dollars in American banks.

"We had exports to approximately more than 60 countries. It is a fact that we have our major exports to India, Pakistan and China. We are trying to target central Asia and Russia from now on," Azizi said in the panel debate.

Afghanistan's main export items include coal, saffron, fresh and dry fruits, hand-woven carpets, precious and semi-precious stones. 
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A recent media report showed Beijing has taken successful anti-surveillance moves that "vastly complicate (U.S.) spy operations" inside China. And in a jaw-dropping response, America not only had the brass to speak publicly about its dirty work, but even vowed to ramp up its spying push.

The informative report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) sheds light on the fact that spy operations -- which the United States frequently engages in -- have been compromised more and more often, even though the country has invested a lot in them.

America ranks first in the world when it comes to surveillance -- this is common knowledge. From China and Russia, to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and a few French presidents, and even to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, almost anyone can fall victim to U.S. tapping and surveillance, no matter whether they are considered a friend or foe by the United States.

With PRISM, Irritant Horn, Stellar Wind, Bvp47, the Hive and a whole bunch of other surveillance programs, the United States has woven an intricate worldwide surveillance network in its unremitting pursuit of global hegemony.

Perhaps one of the most vital pieces of evidence is its fanatic witch-hunt against China, which actually comes as no surprise. As the WSJ report noted, China has become "a much tougher intelligence target than it was a decade ago" due to its progress in and deployment of new technology.

In fact, the United States has blatantly suppressed a number of Chinese high-tech companies because they are a thorn in America's side for obstructing its worldwide surveillance operations. For example, America has banned products from Hikvision citing so-called "human rights concerns," but its trumped-up charges against the Chinese electrical equipment manufacturer have crumbled in the face of facts.

For a long time, America has been facilitating its own technologically top-notch cyber espionage activities in the world. But now it finds its army of hackers rendered ineffective, at least on China's soil.

China "obliterated" the U.S. human spy network a decade ago, and now America "is still struggling to rebuild its human espionage capabilities in China," accelerating a pivot after 2020 to "cut spending on counterterrorism and other targets, including in the Middle East, to fund expanded programs to penetrate China's government," said the WSJ report.

Such a debacle in China is definitely good news to those afflicted by America's stealthy cyber espionage.

China has been firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, with ever-improving means of modern technology. America's stronger spying push will only reinforce China's resolve to say no to bullying and protect its own rights and interests.

In its latest move against America's wrongful acts, China on Tuesday announced its decision to take countermeasures against the U.S. intelligence data company Kharon, which has long collected Xinjiang-related sensitive information and provided so-called "evidence" for America's illegal sanctions related to Xinjiang, as well as the two individuals involved.

A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust one finds little. America's obsession with perpetuating its global hegemony through cyber espionage is a futile attempt. If it continues down the wrong track, the United States will only elicit more outrage from other countries and isolate itself even more from the international community. 
New Delhi: The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, expressed gratitude to the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promptly dispatching humanitarian aid following the volcanic eruption of Mount Ulawun in West New Britain. Marape stated, "I thank Prime Minister Modi for the generous help, within a short period of time, as soon as he received my request for assistance." He appreciated India's commitment to supporting relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts in West New Britain, highlighting the friendship and partnership between the two nations.

The Indian government sent around 11 tonnes of disaster relief material and 6 tonnes of medical aid, valued at $1 million, to assist in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption. The aid package included tents, sleeping mats, hygiene kits, meals ready to eat, water storage tanks, essential medicines, surgical items, and sanitary pads. This assistance is crucial in addressing the urgent humanitarian needs created by the eruption of Mount Ulawun on November 20, which led to the evacuation of over 26,000 people.

India has consistently supported Papua New Guinea during times of crisis caused by natural disasters, demonstrating solidarity and providing assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake in 2018 and the volcanic eruption in 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Papua New Guinea on May 21, 2021, after attending the G7 meeting in Japan. During his visit, Prime Minister Marape greeted Modi at the airport with a gesture of touching his feet, symbolizing deep respect. This warm reception was followed by a hug between the two leaders, emphasizing the strong ties between India and Papua New Guinea. Modi's visit marked a historic moment as he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the island nation.

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An online meeting was held with the participation of Deputy Director of the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (SAARES) Kamran Huseynov and Director of the Georgian Energy Development Fund (GEDF) Jaba Khmaladze, Azernews reports.

According to the information, the renewable energy projects of the two countries and state support mechanisms in this direction were reported at the meeting.

Possible opportunities for cooperation in the field of renewable energy between the countries were considered, and a mutual exchange of knowledge and experience on attracting investors by the government was discussed.

It should be noted that the Georgian Energy Development Fund (GEDF) is a joint stock company established in 2010 by the Government of Georgia to facilitate investment and development of the countrys renewable energy sector. It aims to develop renewable energy projects and works mainly on the development of hydro, wind, and solar energy projects. GEDF uses its resources to maximize installed capacity and generation added to the Georgian energy market.
In this article, we will take a look at the 12 countries that produce the best uranium in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Countries That Produce The Best Uranium In The World.

The Uranium Industry Outlook

According to a report by Sprott, the uranium market is expected to experience strong demand, long-term contracting, and supply chain disruptions ahead of 2024, which may be primary contributors to the rising price of Uranium. In 2023, uranium grew by 50% across the globe. Sprott suggests that the primary reason for the upward trend in 2023 was the boost in producer activity by traditional and ancillary players. 2023 commenced with the price of uranium valued at $50 which then steadily grew to $60 in September. However, a few weeks after September, the price of uranium jumped to the $70s. The report also suggests that Europe has been particularly highly active in 2023 amid global geopolitical tensions. Furthermore, during the first quarter of 2024, North America is also expected to experience significant activity in the sector with a steady rise in Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

On September 7, Reuters reported that the demand for uranium in nuclear reactors is expected to increase at a growth rate of 28% by 2030. Such is primarily due to governments across the globe aiming to achieve zero-carbon targets. While the rise in demand for uranium has particularly been fueled by geopolitical tensions in Russia, sustainability goals and their contribution must not be ignored. As the next decade dawns, the need for planned and prospective mines will experience an upward trajectory. Nuclear capacity is expected to increase by 14% by 2030 and significantly expand by 76% by 2040 to 686 GWe. Prominent countries such as Canada, France, Japan, and Russia are home to some of the largest reactor fleets and are on track to operate their existing plants for more than 60 years. Lastly, the demand for uranium in nuclear plants is expected to grow from 65,650 tonnes in 2023 to 83,840 tonnes by 2030 and 130,000 tonnes by 2040.

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Prominent Names in the Uranium Industry

Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU), Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ), and NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) are among the leading uranium companies in the world. Let's discuss some latest updates from these companies. You can also take a look at the best uranium stocks to buy.

Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU) is a leading uranium producer in the United States. On December 27, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU) signed an MOU with Astron Corporation Limited (ASX:ATR.AX). The partnership will allow the two companies to develop the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project located in the State of Victoria, Australia. The project is of utmost importance as it will provide monazite sand in an REE concentrate to the company's mill in Utah, United States. The mill will then process it into REE oxides and several other REE materials. The two parties have until March 1, 2024, to conclude and negotiate definitive agreements.

On November 6, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share of $0.07, beating estimates by $0.10. The company also reported revenue worth $10.99 million during the quarter, ahead of market consensus by $5.30 million, with a year-over-year growth rate of 273.59%.

Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) is among the world's largest uranium mining companies. The company is based in Saskatoon, Canada, and was founded in 1988. On October 29, Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) signed an agreement with China Nuclear International Corporation, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The supply agreement will help China achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by speeding up the production of nuclear energy.

Cameco Corporation's (NYSE:CCJ) footprint across the globe explains its financial results. On October 31, Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share of $0.23, beating estimates by $0.13. The company also reported revenue worth $414.69 million during the quarter, with a year-over-year growth rate of 44.65%.

NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) is a prominent name in the uranium industry. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. On November 9, NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) announced that the company received approval from the Environmental Assessment Act of Saskatchewan to develop its 100% owned Rook I Project. The project will be able to meet the global demand for ethically produced and sourced uranium. Following the approval, the company has submitted initial applications for the approval of site earthworks, shaft sinking infrastructure, site water, and mine waste management facilities. The new project will not only aid in the provision of ethical and sustainable provision, but it will also create jobs in the region.

NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) was a part of 27 hedge fund portfolios at the close of the third quarter of 2023. The total stakes of these hedge funds amounted to $168.55 million, up from $91.87 million in the previous quarter with 19 positions. The hedge fund sentiment for the stock is positive. As of September 30, Waratah Capital Advisors is the largest shareholder in NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) and has a position worth $27.54 million. The stock covers 0.39% of the fund's portfolio.

With that, let's take a look at the 12 countries that produce the best uranium in the world. You can also take a look at the countries with the largest uranium reserves in the world.

12 Countries That Produce The Best Uranium In The World

12 Countries That Produce The Best Uranium In The World

Our Methodology

We sourced our data from the World Nuclear Association to come up with the 12 countries that produce the best uranium in the world. The data gave us information on the total uranium produced in tonnes in 2022 for each country. Using this data we extracted the top 12 names. The list of the 12 countries that produce the best uranium in the world is in ascending order of the tonnes of uranium produced in 2022. It is to be noted that we also included essential information such as the top mines in each of the countries and their contributions to the global supply of uranium, as such reasonably approximates or hints towards the quality of the uranium produced in a country.

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.

12 Countries That Produce The Best Uranium In The World

12. United States of America

Uranium Production (2022): 75 Tonnes

The United States of America ranks among the countries that produce the best uranium in the world. The country produced 75 tonnes of uranium in 2022 accounting for 0.15% of the world's uranium supply. Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado are home to the largest reserves in the United States.

11. Ukraine

Uranium Production (2022): 100 Tonnes

Ukraine contributed 100 tonnes of uranium production in 2022. The country accounted for 0.2% of the world's uranium supply. Major operating uranium mines in Ukraine include the Novokonstantinovskoye Mine, the Vatutinskoye Mine, the Smolinskaya Mine, the Ingulskaya Mine, and the Central Mine (Vostochny Mining and Ore-Dressing Combine).

10. South Africa

Uranium Production (2022): 200 Tonnes

South Africa ranks among the countries that produce the best uranium in the world. The country produced 200 tonnes of uranium in 2022, accounting for 0.41% of the world's uranium supply. Major uranium mines in the country include AGA Surface Operations, the Moab Khotsong Mine, the Mponeng Mine, the Tshepong Mine, the Kopanang Mine, the Masimong Mine, and the Randfontein Uranium Surface Mine.

9. India

Uranium Production (2022): 600 Tonnes

India accounts for 1.22% of the global uranium supply with total production of 600 tonnes in 2022. Some of the most prominent mines in India include the Tummalapalle Uranium Project, Banduhurang Mines, Turamdih Mines, the Bagjata Mine, and the Mohuldih Mine. Other mines currently under development include the KPM Uranium Project, the Gogi Project, and the Lambapur-Peddagattu Uranium Project.

8. China

Uranium Production (2022): 1,700 Tonnes

With total uranium production of 1,700 tonnes in 2022, China ranks among the best uranium-producing countries in the world. The country accounted for 3.44% of the world's uranium supply. Some of the prominent mines in China include the Fuzhou Mine, Yining Mine, and Qinglong Mine.

7. Niger

Uranium Production (2022): 2,020 Tonnes

Niger ranks among the countries that produce the best uranium in the world. The country accounted for 4.09% of the global uranium supply. The SOMAIR mine in Niger is among the top 10 mines in the world. The mine produced 2,020 tonnes of uranium in 2022.

6. Russia

Uranium Production (2022): 2,508 Tonnes

Russia, with total uranium production of 2,508 tonnes in 2022 ranks as one of the best uranium-producing countries in the world. The country accounted for 5.08% of the global uranium supply. Some of the prominent mines in Russia include the Dalur Mine, the Khiagda Mine, and the Lunnoye Project, among other large mines.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries That Produce The Best Uranium In The World.

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In this article, we will take a look at the 20 states with the highest fast food consumption in the US. If you want to skip our discussion on the fast food industry, you can go directly to the 5 States With The Highest Fast Food Consumption In The US.

Fast food in America isn't just a quick meal; it's a big part of the American culture, a symbol of busy living, and for many, a guilty pleasure that's tough to say no to. The United States stands at the first position on the list of countries with the highest fast-food consumption. More than one-third of adults living in the USA eat fast food every day, and 83% of American families feast on fast food at least once a week. In addition to the convenience it offers, fast food is also preferred due to its low cost. The fast food consumption by state varies to a great extent. In some states, Americans often allocate more of their budget to fast food than groceries, particularly as grocery prices experience inflation. The states with the most fast food restaurants per capita include Alabama and Nebraska.

In 2022, the global fast-food market reached a valuation of $731.65 billion. Projections indicate that by 2031, it is expected to grow to $1087.31 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2031. Fast food consumption statistics reveal that the average American dedicates 10% of their income annually to fast food. Despite facing a substantial dip in demand, with a more than 30% decline during pandemic-related lockdowns, the fast-food sector has demonstrated resilience and managed to rebound. North America is expected to be the main contributor to the global fast-food market during the projected period. The market's expansion in the region is driven by the increasing trend of fast-food consumption and the rising young adult demographic. An estimated 50 million people are served daily by various fast-food chains in North America. The continued rise in the use of online fast-food delivery apps and the success of drive-through restaurants is expected to further contribute to the growth of the fast-food market in North America throughout the coming years. The industry is also expected to transform quite a bit in the future, driven by technological advancements. While changes like drive-through and in-app ordering have become quite common, robot cooks and automated vans are expected to penetrate the market widely soon.

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There are numerous restaurants operating in the fast-food industry in the USA. However, only a few of these brands have managed to dominate the industry with their chain of restaurants spread country-wide. These include McDonald's Corp (NYSE:MCD), Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM), and Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ).

Heres what David Gibbs, CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) shared in the companys Q3 2023 earnings call:

"Im proud to share that we delivered 10% system sales growth, led by 6% same store sales growth and 6% unit growth. We set a Q3 record on unit development, opening an incredible 1,130 gross new units in the quarter. Our digital sales growth remains on fire, with sales up more than 20% year-over-year and digital sales setting a record by exceeding $7 billion. Our third quarter core operating profit grew an impressive 16%. KFC International and Taco Bell US, which collectively contribute approximately 80% of our divisional operating profit, fueled this quarters growth. Together, these twin growth engines delivered a remarkable 13% system sales growth in the quarter. KFC International has the most units among quick service restaurants in 60 countries and has been adding more absolute units than any other retail brand in the world since 2021."

20 States With The Highest Fast Food Consumption In The US

A close-up of a hamburger, french fries, and a soft drink, representing the fast food chain.

Our Methodology

To shortlist the 20 states with the highest fast-food consumption in the US, we consulted Datafinitis database of fast-food restaurants and their geographical distribution. The states have been ranked in ascending order of the fast-food restaurants per 10,000 people. This metric was chosen because it provides insights into the concentration of restaurants in a specific region, allowing for an association with the level of demand and, consequently, the consumption of fast food in that particular area.

20 States With The Highest Fast Food Consumption In The US

20. Louisiana

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.4

This Southern state is home to The Popeye Louisiana Kitchen, a prominent player in the US fast food industry. People in Louisiana spend more than half of their restaurant budget on fast food. Louisiana also has one of the highest rates of obesity in the country, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

19. Illinois

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.5

Residents of Illinois allocate approximately $2,904 per year to fast food, ranking it seventh highest in the USA. Illinois has its own culinary traditions, with local favorites like Chicago-style hot dogs. Some fast-food chains may provide regional variations to cater to these preferences.

18. North Carolina

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.5

North Carolinas cuisine, particularly the fast food, is similar to that of its neighboring southern states. This includes staples like barbecue, fried chicken, and biscuits with gravy. As a result, it's not surprising that Bojangles, renowned for its fried chicken, is the most searched-for restaurant in the state.

17. Arizona

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.6

Although the people of Arizona do not consume as much fast food as some other southern states, they still have a unique cuisine due to the Mexican, Southwest, and Native American influences. This diversity is reflected in the fast-food landscape, which includes options like tacos, burritos, and frybread, in addition to traditional burgers and fries.

16. Iowa

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.7

Iowa's predominantly rural landscape plays a significant role in shaping its fast-food consumption patterns. In smaller towns where food options may be limited, fast-food chains provide convenience.

15. Kansas

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.7

Kansas' location in the Midwest and Great Plains regions influences its fast-food landscape. National chains like Burger King and McDonald's remain popular, but regional favorites like Taco John's and Pizza Hut also hold a strong presence.

14. Arkansas

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.7

Consumption patterns vary within the state. Urban areas like Little Rock and Fayetteville see higher fast-food intake due to busy lifestyles and convenience factors. Rural areas rely less on fast food but still have popular chains like Taco Bell and Hardee's. Chick-fil-A is the most popular fast-food chain in Arkansas.

13. Ohio

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.7

In Ohio, the fast-food sector is growing as more than half of households' restaurant budgets are spent on fast food. Skyline Chili is the most popular among fast food brands in this Mid-Western state.

12. Nevada

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.7

Nevada is in the twelfth position on our list of states with the highest fast food consumption in the US. Las Vegas has a higher expenditure in this category than other towns and cities in the state.

11. Kentucky

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.8

Home to the famous Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kentucky has a high consumption of fast food. Yum Food, the parent company of KFC, is also based in Kentucky. The company also owns other popular brands like Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Furthermore, Kentucky is a state where residents allocate more than 50% of their restaurant expenditures to fast food.

10. South Carolina

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.9

In this state, the prevalence of fast-food restaurants outweighs the availability of supermarkets offering healthier food choices. Data from the South Carolina Food Access Task Force and the US Department of Agriculture reveal that low-income neighborhoods have fewer supermarkets compared to wealthier areas. Hence, residents in these neighborhoods often turn to readily available fast food, contributing to South Carolina's position as one of the top 10 states with the highest consumption of fast food.

9. Missouri

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.9

Missouri is one of the states where the cost of groceries exceeds that of a fast-food combo meal. As a result, individuals are more drawn to fast food due to its affordability and widespread availability. Although national fast-food chains are quite popular across the state, Missouri's fast-food landscape is also shaped by local brands like Imos Pizza, Tex-Mex chains such as Taco Bell, and various coffee shops.

8. Georgia

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 4.9

Georgia is another one of those states where healthy food options are more expensive than fast food, prompting consumers to choose the latter. While national chains like Chick-fil-A and McDonald's are popular, Georgia also showcases strong regional favorites like Waffle House and Krystal Burger. Georgia is at the eighth position on our list of the 20 states with the highest fast food consumption in the US.

7. Washington, DC

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 5.0

Washington, DC, takes the lead in food away-from-home expenditure, with a significant portion allocated to fast food. The high spending can be attributed to nonresident workers who flock to Washington, contributing to dining-out expenses. Apart from having all the popular national fast-food chains, Washington, DC, offers a unique blend of international flavors due to its diverse population.

6. Indiana

Number of Fast Food Restaurants per Capita: 5.0

In Indiana, the cost of a combo meal at a fast-food chain is lower than that of equivalent grocery store items. This affordability makes fast food a more attractive and convenient option compared to grocery shopping and cooking. National fast-food chains like Burger King and regional brands like Steak and Shake enjoy popularity across the state.

Some of the key companies operating in the fast food industry include McDonald's Corp (NYSE:MCD), Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM), and Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ).

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Disclosure: None. 20 States With The Highest Fast Food Consumption In The US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we shall discuss the 25 best campsites in the US. To skip our detailed analysis of the global camping equipment industry in 2024, go directly and see 10 Best Campsites in the US.

Camping equipment is primarily used by trekkers and hikers during different excursion activities for the purpose of protection, convenience, and safety. These items tend to comprise tents, small cooking appliances, ropes, bags, trekking shoes, and any other essential needed to trekking and camping excursions. With there being a rampant growth in demand for leisure activities and adventure tourism particularly amongst the younger demographic, the market size for the industry is expected to propel at unprecedented rates. Furthermore, the surge in travel post-pandemic has also augmented demand for camping equipment as a greater number of consumers gravitate towards some of the best campsites in the US for a more adventurous kind of travel. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global camping equipment industry was valued at more than $83.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $133.1 billion by 2030 at a staggering CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period. Key players in the market like Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ:DECK), YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI), and Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ:COLM) are targeting to launch new and attractive travelling products integrated with smart technology, which will further fuel demand for camping equipment. To read more on companies operating in this space, check out our coverage of the 10 Best RV and Camping Stocks to Buy Now.

The Rise of Glamping: An Overview

According to a report by Bloomberg, after such favorable projections for the camping industry in 2024, the trend towards the outdoors is taking off in a more lavish direction. Since international tourism has posted a remarkable return post the COVID-19 pandemic, with bookings increasing by more than 49% in the weeks preceding Christmas - in spring of 2023, there were more than 600,000 bookings in total, up from 400,000 in 2022. One of the leading organizations in this area is Campspot, which has aided in the digitization of camping operations across the country, making them bookable online through a common platform. It tends to facilitate consumers by offering everything from recreation vehicle resorts in California to family-friendly natural parks in Texas Hill County. As the number of bookings skyrocket, there is also a marked increase in overall earnings, with Campspot's revenue surging by more than 467% to $4.2 million in Q1 2023. These tailwinds are not just restricted to Campspot though, as companies operating on the higher end of the spectrum, like Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ:DECK), YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI), and Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ:COLM), are doing reasonably well too. Tentrr Inc, another camping startup which hosts more than 1200 of the best campsites in the US, has reported a 10% increase in revenue in the summer of 2023 compared with 2022. These indicators point to the fact that consumers on the higher end of the national salary bracket are increasingly looking for better camping alternatives compared to what is conventionally available. According to a study led by the operator of some of the best campsites in the US Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA), more than 40% of camping families rake in $100,000 or more, more than double the figure reported in 2019.

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More than half of these avid campers have pointed to the availability of unique and luxurious camping options which are more social media-friendly as well. Thereby, the growth of this industry is expected to be exponential owing to increased traction on social media. The number of US households expected to go camping in 2023 is 61.3 million, significantly p from the all-time-high figure of $56.9 million in 2021. However, there are certain limits impeding the rise of the glamping industry in 2024. According to the KOA, although demand for glamping is on the rise, the total number of nights families are willing to spend outdoors is depreciating, since the rise of glamping has made camping just one singular aspect of a broader travel itinerary. According to Bloomberg, the average number of nights consumers were willing to spend out in glamping pods dipped to 7.4 nights in 2022, down from 9.6 in 2021. Similarly, the demand of RVs is also diminishing, with shipments of new vehicles topping at 600,000 in 2023, down more than 1.5% from the number shipped in 2022. Nevertheless, Camping World Holdings, Inc. (CWH) shares are up more than 10% so far in 2023.

Camping in the Metaverse: An Analysis

According to McKinsey, the introduction and development of the metaverse sets the global tourism industry, and by extension the camping industry, up for a massive virtual disruption. However, the metaverse also presents major players in the camping industry like Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ:DECK), YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI), and Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ:COLM) with a $20 billion opportunity. With the metaverse - a plain of virtual reality wherein the physical and the digital worlds will coalesce to deliver a more immersive, interactive experience to some of the best campsites in the US - proving to be surprisingly cost-effective and efficient to implement, the potential upside for the larger travel industry is expected to be substantial. You can read more on the metaverse in our article 10 Metaverse Stocks Billionaires Are Loading Up On.

The report by McKinsey highlights major camping companies contemplating the metaverse can use to optimize profitability and capitalize on the aforementioned tailwinds, the first of them being the creation of a strategy which is predicated upon the disruption of individual traveler touchpoints. Companies like Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ:DECK), YETI Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YETI), and Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ:COLM) must invest in offers targeting future campers and take demographic groupings, travel purpose, and likely journeys, into consideration. Secondly, these companies must identify and target platforms they want to play on, depending on the respective strength of brand and the amount of breathing room it requires. Strong brands are well-positioned to curate their own platforms. However, if the brand of the company is relatively less known, they tend to integrate experiences with another organization's platform, with hopes that established consumers stumble upon their product. Lastly, companies must select the right talent and clarify safeguards with respect to IP and other potential challenges.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the 25 best campsites in the US, we decided to undertake a consensus-based approach using a diverse variety of credible sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). We then shortlisted more than 50 campsites which appeared most frequently during our research. Since intelligence is an incredibly multifaceted and complex phenomenon, we established a three-pronged criteria to measure the intelligence of each animal; the criteria is premised on each site's scenic beauty (20 points), accessibility (15 points), and safety (10 points). We then proceeded to award each site a cumulative score according to the aforementioned criteria and selected 25 campsites which scored the highest points. Subsequently, we ranked each entry based on the total points scored, from lowest to highest. Where there was a tie, we broke it based on the scenic beauty of each campsite. To read about other alternative traveling options across the world, check our our article on the 30 Best Backpacking Destinations Around the World.

To sum it up, we ranked the 25 best campsites in the US based on their cumulative scores, using a consensus methodology. 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 professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

25 Best Campsites in the U.S.

25. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - Utah

Total Score: 18

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park offers its visitors a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding, and guided tours of the valley. The scenic landscape and activities provide its visitors with a memorable experience.

24. Arch Rock Campground - Nevada

Total Score: 18

Arch Rock Campground is one of the best campsites in the US. Its arch is one of the premier attractions on the site. The campsite is also home to petrified trees, canyons, and ancient petroglyphs.

23. Wilson State Park - Kansas

Total Score: 19

The Wilson State Park lies on a 9000-acre reservoir. During their stay, visitors can experience the picturesque water views or go biking on the biking trails. It attracts many campers annually.

22. Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park - Missouri

Total Score: 20

Located in Missouri, Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park is home to a great number of campsites. Many people consider it to be a natural waterpark as it has multiple pools that are crystal clear, making it one of the best campsites in the US.

21. Pawtuckaway State Park - New Hampshire

Total Score: 20

Pawtuckaway State Park offers a holistic camping experience to its visitors. The campsite attracts hikers, mountain bikers, and wildlife watchers. The campsite is also home to massive glacier-deposited boulders, which attracts many campers.

20. White Sands National Monument - New Mexico

Total Score: 23

White Sands National Monument is one of the most secluded campsites in the campsites. Camping in White Sands National Monument is done in the backcountry and is home to many snow-white dunes.

19. Elkmont Campground - Tennessee

Total Score: 23

Elkmont Campground accommodates tents and RVs and is one of the most popular campsites in the United States. The campsite is home to many hiking trails, historical buildings, horseback riding trails, and waterfalls.

18. Big Meadow Campground - Virginia

Total Score: 24

Black bears, waterfalls, and the Appalachian Trail add to the scenic beauty of the Big Meadow Campground. The campground offers hikes, astronomy programs, and restaurants to its visitors to entertain them.

17. Jenny Lake Campground - Wyoming

Total Score: 25

Jenny Lake Campground is one of the best campsites in the US. It offers a wide range of activities to its visitors, including hiking and rafting. There are restaurants near the campsite that entertain the visitors.

16. Shenandoah National Park - Virginia

Total Score: 27

Shenandoah National Park is home to five different campgrounds. Some of these include Mathews Arm Campground, Big Meadows Campground, and Loft Mountain Campground.

15. White Mountain National Forest - New Hampshire

Total Score: 28

White Mountain National Forest is a vast camping ground and is home to many campsites. The campsite offers a wide range of outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, and climbing.

14. Lake McConaughy - Nebraska

Total Score: 28

Located in Nebraska, Lake McConaughy is home to many campsites that are available at different prices. The campsites offer its visitors scenic landscapes and a variety of experiences.

13. Glacier National Park - Montana

Total Score: 29

Glacier National Park is home to many different campsites. Some of the campsites accommodate visitors on a first-come, first-served basis while some campsites require reservations.

12. Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona

Total Score: 30

Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park is home to three main campsites, namely Mather Campground, South and North Rim Campground, and Desert View Campground.

11. Great Sand Dunes - Colorado

Total Score: 32

Great Sand Dunes, located in Colorado, offers a vast variety of experiences to its visitors. People visiting the campsites can partake in snowboarding, sandboarding, and sand sledding, making the place one of the best campsites in the US.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Best Campsites in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we will be taking a look at the 25 Countries with highest coal consumption by year. To skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to see the 5 countries with highest coal consumption by year.

While the world is attempting to move away from coal consumption globally, the coal industry is not going down without a fight, especially in light of the recent energy crisis. In fact, in 2022, global coal consumption, undoubtedly led by the countries with the highest coal consumption by year, increased by 6.3% in 2022 as compared to the previous year. Most of this growth is led by emerging markets where industries are continuing to grow at a fast pace, with a growth of 8.8.% in China, 52% in Indonesia and 8.3% in India.

While advanced economies have been focusing on switching to renewable energy industries, Russia's war with Ukraine and the ensuing massive increase in natural gas prices have further shifted the focus to coal, which is why even Europe saw coal consumption increase by a modest 2.3% in 2022, led by Italy with saw an increase of 48%, followed by Germany (+3.5%) and Turkiye (+3.2%). On the other hand, other countries and regions across the world registered a significant decline with the U.S. seeing coal consumption fall by 5.1% in the U.S. while South Africa led a 6% drop in Africa. Currently, China is easily among the countries with the highest coal consumption by year, and along with India, is mostly responsible for Asia accounting for around 75% of total global coal consumption. Europe follows Asia by accounting for 14% of global coal consumption which itself is then followed by the U.S. for 6%.

5 Countries with Highest Coal Consumption by Year

An aerial view of an open cut coal mine, showing the vastness of the company's mining operations.

While the aforementioned statistics seem to bode well for the coal industry and the countries with the highest coal consumption by year, the truth is that the long-term future for coal is still uncertain, as the transition to green energy continues globally. In China, one of the biggest coal consumers and the biggest coal producer in the world, coal usage has stagnated in the past decade as the country aims to become the global hub for green technology and has been phasing out fossil fuel usage in favor of renewable energy. Meanwhile, lower natural gas prices led by the shale gas revolution also resulted in coal usage in the U.S. dropping significantly. According to the International Energy Agency, demand for coal will decline to 2026, even though 2023 has seen growth of 1.3%, allowing production to cross 8.5 billion tons for the first time. However, 2023 will see double digit drops of 10% in both the U.S. and the European Union, which will drive a decline of 2.3% in 2026 as compared to 2023.

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Even now, major coal companies are missing earnings, with one such company being Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) whose reported EPS of $0.82 missed analyst expectations of $1.16 for Q3 2023. In its Q3 2023 earnings call, the CEO of Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) was still optimistic and stated "In the third quarter of 2023, we delivered strong operational results with better-than-expected production and effective cost management. We also advanced initiatives at Shoal Creek in North Goonyella that illustrate our ongoing commitment to continue investing in our seaborne metallurgical portfolio. During the quarter, our Board approved full funding at North Goonyella for the completion of initial development through the commencement of longwall operations in 2026. We are also excited to announce that we have reached an agreement to acquire a large portion of the Wards Well coal deposit adjacent to our existing North Goonyella mine. This is a tremendous opportunity to extend a world-class coal deposit and leverage our existing infrastructure and equipment. Before I expand on the quarter, I want to thank our global employees for their continued focus and commitment to working safely and efficiently. Now, turning to the global coal markets. Seaborne thermal coal markets remained volatile during the quarter with modest pricing improvements. Robust, but moderating coal and natural gas inventories in the Northern Hemisphere have continued to weigh on demand for high-energy thermal coal, coupled with better supply prospects due to drier weather on Australia's East Coast, resulting in Newcastle coal trading within a range of $130 to $160 a ton. China's year-to-date imports of lower-grade thermal coals continue to significantly surpass the prior year, with an increase in the annual thermal coal input run rate of approximately 93% over 2022 levels. India has also increased seaborne market participation, as our power demand continues to grow. Recent import trends have led the IEA to report that elevated global demand for thermal coal imports so far during 2023 are pointing to 6% year-on-year growth in overall seaborne coal trade versus 2022. Within the seaborne metallurgical market, global crude steel output during the quarter continued to be variable, with weaker production rates in Europe and South America, offset by notable year-on-year crude steel production growth in some Asian markets."

While the share price of Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) fell in the first three quarters, a late rebound in December means that its share price is where it was around a year ago. Meanwhile, another major coal company in Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc. (NYSE:AMR) has had a fantastic year where its share price jumped by 148% YTD 2023. This was achieved despite the declining price of coal, which was called out in the company's Q3 2023 earnings call, where it stated " Realizations in the incidental thermal portion of the Met segment decreased to $92.22 per ton in Q3 as compared to $115.50 per ton in Q2 due to the lower market pricing for thermal coal. And all other category realizations were also down as a result of the declining pricing environment for thermal coal coming in at $68.32 for the third quarter, as compared to $99.66 per ton in the second quarter. Third quarter cost of coal sales for our Met segment increased to $109.95 per ton, up from $106.35 per ton in the second quarter. Cost of coal sales in the all-other category decreased quarter-over-quarter to $84.73 per ton as compared to $88.59 per ton in the second quarter 2023."

Methodology

To rank the countries with the highest coal consumption by year, we considered data for each country for both 2020 and 2021, with said data obtained from BP's Statistic Review of World Energy. We then calculated the average ranking of each country for both years, and then, ranked each country based on highest consumption to lowest.

25. Chile

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.26

While Chile still has relatively high coal consumption, wind and solar energy are now both producing more power than coal in the country, showcasing steps in the right direction.

24. Morocco

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.31

In December 2023, Morocco joined a global coalition to phase out coal usage and consumption, with the country highlighted by various organizations as having great potential for renewable energy.

23. Czech Republic

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.54

While the Czech Republic has made plans to phase out coal usage, production actually increased in 2022, and the country's goal of phasing out coal by 2033 seems unlikely to be met.

22. Canada

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.48

Two Canadian provinces, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, vowed to end coal usage by 2030, which will also help Canada drop off this list.

21. Pakistan

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.67

While Pakistan is unable to fully meet electricity demand, most electricity production is still done through fossil fuels, with the power sector being the biggest coal consumer in the country.

20. Brazil

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.71

Brazil is the largest coal consuming country in Latin America, even as 93% of its electricity was generated from clean sources. This explains why Brazil, the 7th most populated country in the world, is so far behind in our list of coal consuming countries.

19. Philippines

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.79

Philippines is one of four countries which account for over 50% of total global thermal coal imports, and is also among the biggest CO2 polluters.

18. Thailand

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.81

South-East Asian countries are dominant among the highest coal consuming countries, and Thailand still generates 17% of its total electricity through coal.

17. Malaysia

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.89

While Malaysia, like most countries, is attempting to transition to clean energy, coal still plays an important part in the country's economy, as $375 billion is needed for the country to reach 2050 climate goals.

16. Ukraine

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 0.95

Ukraine's coal consumption has been impacted by the war, but because the latest data is pre-2022, it is still counted among the countries with the highest coal consumption by year.

15. Kazakhstan

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 1.56

Employing a policy that is in contravention to the global approach, Kazakhstan is actually investing in coal projects which could impact its sustainability credentials and lead to additional economic complications in the future.

14. Taiwan

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 1.67

A heat wave in East Asia in summer 2023 resulted in greater electricity production and hence, higher coal consumption. Around 97% of Taiwan's energy needs are met through imports.

13. Australia

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 1.63

Australia is one of the biggest coal consuming countries in the world, a fact demonstrated by it being the biggest per capita CO2 emitter among the G20.

12. Turkey

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 1.74

While Turkey is aiming to expand renewable energy, its dependence on coal for energy isn't likely to end anytime soon.

11. Poland

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 1.88

Poland is home to a fast growing economy, which is particularly reliant on fossil fuels, making it unsurprisingly one of the countries with the highest coal consumption by year. This means that Poland is likely to become the biggest power polluter in the EU.

10. Germany

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 2.12

While Germany has been aiming for a 2030 coal exit, the plan now seems to be in some doubt after the country's Finance Minister said "Until it is clear that energy is available and affordable, we should end dreams of phasing out electricity from coal in 2030."

9. Vietnam

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 2.15

Vietnam may be one of the countries with the highest coal consumption by year, but its own production is unable to satisfy its consumption requirements. A huge jump in imports in 2023 has resulted in higher coal emissions in the country, and shows that Vietnam is still some way away from decarbonization.

8. South Korea

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 3.04

In the first quarter of 2023, South Korea's thermal coal imports reached their highest level since 2018 as it increased coal imports in a bid to facilitate economic growth.

7. Indonesia

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 3.28

Indonesia is the biggest coal exporter in the world, and its own consumption is unlikely to decrease anytime soon.

6. Russia

Total consumption in 2021 (in exajoules): 3.41

While Russia is one of the biggest exporters of oil and natural gas, it is also a huge coal consumer, and one of the countries with the highest coal consumption by year. Despite Russia's economy facing a lot of issues because of its war with Ukraine, its Energy Ministry confirmed Russia currently has sufficient coal to last over 300 years.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries with Highest Coal Consumption by Year. Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 25 countries with highest coal consumption by year is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Before the zealous backers of artificial intelligence can revolutionize the world, they'll have to prove they aren't violating copyright law.

The New York Times has marshaled a major legal challenge against AI companies, alleging that Microsoft and OpenAI engaged in wide-scale copying, hijacking the Times' journalism to train its AI chatbots. The lawsuit is the latest in a broader dispute over how courts should view the legality of training large language models using the published work of others without compensation.

Permissive interpretations of AI and intellectual property could shield AI companies from liability not just when it comes to disputes with the Times and other news outlets, but with visual artists, record labels, and authors who have filed their own lawsuits against the makers of generative AI tools.

Sam Altman, left, CEO of OpenAI, appears onstage with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at OpenAI DevDay. (Barbara Ortutay/AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The legal battles have wide-ranging implications because they have the power to shape the future of AI development, potentially restricting how companies use data on the web to build and improve their products, like the popular chatbot ChatGPT. These cases also carry huge importance for creative professionals who see the dawn of AI tools as an existential threat to their professions and yet another iteration of Big Tech exploiting the labor of others and reaping the rewards.

The Times contends that millions of its articles were used without permission to train AI products, which use the authority of its journalism to provide reliable information to users in ways that now compete with the Times.

"Defendants 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 lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, said.

In a statement, OpenAI said, "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."

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Rick Allen, the co-founder of Nautilus Productions, a boutique stock footage company and production house, said generative AI models would not function without other peoples creative input.

"There are fundamental rules when it comes to copyright: No. 1, don't steal. And No. 2, if it's not yours, get permission to use it. That applies to me or Disney," said Allen, who also runs the Facebook group Artists Against Copyright Infringement.

"If you need this data and this information, you do what the rest of us do, you pay for it," he added. "There's an established way of doing business, and the AI companies have just ignored that."

AI backers have pushed back against this traditional view of copyright law. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, for instance, has said that "imposing the cost of actual or potential copyright liability on the creators of AI models will either kill or significantly hamper their development."

The VC firm, which has invested in OpenAI, went on to say that treating AI training as copyright infringement would lead to "far less competition, far less innovation and very likely the loss of the United States position as the leader in global AI development."

But critics say the tech world has sung this tune of unbridled innovation before.

"Theres a tech-utopian narrative that says stay out of the way, we've got this, we are changing the world, and any costs to us, whether it's legal liability or licensing demands, stand in the way of progress," said David Newhoff, an author and copyright advocate. "We have been told this many times before," he said, pointing to a litany of social problems that emerged alongside the rise of massive tech platforms.

Some financial analysts see the Times' dispute resolving itself in more amicable terms, in which AI companies get to keep using creative material to train their AI models by paying the institutions that produce the work. Other news outlets and publishers, including Axel Springer and the Associated Press, have already agreed to licensing deals with OpenAI.

In a new note from Evercore ISI, analysts said that investors have begun to view AI copyright disputes as a potential growth opportunity.

"We believe the most likely outcome is that NYT signs several AI licensing deals over the next few years that are each worth low tens of millions of dollars of revenue per year," the analysts said.

Times investors appear to be banking on that outcome. Shares of the newspaper have traded as much as 4% higher since news broke of the lawsuit.

The changing landscape of the web presents additional financial incentives for media companies considering agreements with AI companies.

As more users access information and content without using traditional web browsers, the advertising revenue tied to search will diminish. That poses a threat to companies reliant on such ad-based models. AI tools like ChatGPT, which answer users questions as if they were speaking to a person, are considered a more intuitive replacement to the formulaic search engines that have defined the internet experience for decades.

More than one-third of the Times web traffic comes from organic search, Evercore analysts noted, highlighting the risks of a drop in search-based revenue.

Even if the Times settles, advocates for creative professionals worry that the livelihoods of work-for-hire artists could be threatened if AI companies are free to hoover up content on the web while cutting deals with major institutional players.

"The New York Times is a very big fish in a small pond. On the other end is small creative professionals," said Allen. "We don't have the ability to fight or to stand up against AI misuses of our intellectual property."

Hamza Shaban is a reporter for Yahoo Finance covering markets and the economy. Follow Hamza on Twitter @hshaban.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market.

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The state's largest owner-operator of solar energy installations this month is tripling the power it draws from the sun.

Alliant Energy on Thursday announced the completion of six new solar farms, bringing its total generating capacity in Wisconsin to 764 megawatts. Operating at full capacity on bright, sunshiny days, Alliant's nine operating solar farms will be able to power about 225,000 homes.

"Completing these projects is a huge milestone and a pivotal moment in our journey toward a brighter energy future, said David de Leon, Alliant Energys Wisconsin president.

Alliant has set a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 through a combination of renewable energy investments and the shutdown of its coal-fired generating plants. It has set an "aspirational goal" of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Another three solar projects that are scheduled to begin operation in mid-2024 will give Alliant's solar installations the ability to generate 1,089 MW and power nearly 300,000 homes.

In all, Alliant will spend more than $1.5 billion to build its 12 solar farms.

Meanwhile, the company plans to close its two coal-fired plants in Wisconsin by 2026. The 380-megawatt Edgewater Generating Station in Sheboygan will shut down in 2025 and the 1,100-megawatt Columbia Energy Center, near Portage, which it jointly owns with Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and Madison Gas and Electric Co. will stop burning coal in 2026

"It is clear that Alliant Energy understands and recognizes the multiple benefits that large-scale solar power plants bring to Wisconsin," said Michael Vickerman, clean energy deployment manager for RENEW Wisconsin.

Alliant Energy's Bear Creek Solar Project, its first utility-scale solar project, is shown in Lone Rock. The 50-megawatt facility is in Richland County.

More: Consumer groups, lawmakers seek to reduce impact of $2 billion cost of closing Wisconsin coal plants

The newly completed solar projects are: Albany, a 50-megawatt site in Green County.Cassville, a 50-megawatt site in Grant County.Onion River, a 150-megawatt site in Sheboygan County. Paddock, a 65-megawatt site in Rock County. Springfield, a 100-megawatt site in Dodge County. Wautoma, a 99-megawatt site in Waushara County.

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The solar arrays have a pivoting tracking system that follows the sun and two-sided solar panels that allow them to capture both direct sunlight and light reflected from the ground.

Construction of the first solar farms began in 2022. Nearly 1,000 people, including a large contingent of local, union workers, built the projects. Emily Pritzkow, executive director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council, said Alliant's use of local labor kept dollars in the communities where the solar arrays were built.

The construction of renewable energy projects with skilled union labor creates a ripple effect that drives local economic growth," she said.

More: The federal Inflation Reduction Act will allow Alliant Energy to fully own solar farms, reduce customer costs by $138 million

With its large-scale solar construction projects winding down, the company will shift its focus to smaller projects like a partnership with the University of Wisconsin to explore possibilities for combining solar-energy production and agriculture, and installation of large-scale battery storage systems at two solar sites and at the Edgewater Generating Station, Alliant spokesman Tony Palese said.

Construction will begin next year on battery storage at the Grant and Wood county solar sites. The battery installations, to be built by FlexGen a Durham, N.C.-based battery systems provider, are a first foray for the company in building battery systems that are integrated with utility-scale solar arrays and can be called on for backup power at night or when solar energy output is diminished.

The lithium-ion battery arrays will be able to power more than 180,000 homes for four hours.

A third battery installation, planned for the Edgewater site, will be able to provide four hours of power for about 100,000 homes.

In all, the battery installations are expected to cost about $560 million, according to documents filed with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

The company is also seeking PSC approval to build a new type of carbon dioxide-based battery at the Columbia Energy Center. The project, in partnership with the Italian company Energy Dome, would be partially funded by a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Alliant Energy completes 6 solar project, triples generation in Wisconsin
A man carries his take way McDonald's foods as people take order at a machine at a newly opened McDonald's restaurant on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. AP/Andy Wong

Some of the world's biggest brands are weighing a manufacturing shift away from China.

But some major American fast-food chains are keen on China's market of 1.4 billion people.

KFC, McDonald's, and Starbucks have announced plans for major investment in China.

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 this 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.''

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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, and it plans to open 1,200 additional stores in the next three 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. But where do you draw the line for the stuff in between  say, automotive parts? What about ball bearings?''

___

Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok. AP writer Ken Moritsugu contributed to this report from Beijing.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Amicus Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:FOLD), a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and delivering novel high-quality medicines for people living with rare metabolic diseases, has reported an insider sell according to a recent SEC filing. Chief Accounting Officer Samantha Prout sold 7,659 shares of the company on December 26, 2023.

The transaction was executed at an average price of $14 per share, resulting in a total sale amount of $107,226. The insider's sell has adjusted the insider's holdings in Amicus Therapeutics Inc to fewer shares than before the transaction. Following this recent sell, over the past year, the insider has sold a total of 44,568 shares of Amicus Therapeutics Inc and has not made any purchases of the stock.

The insider transaction history for Amicus Therapeutics Inc shows a pattern of insider sales over the past year, with 47 insider sells and no insider buys recorded. This could suggest a trend among insiders in their trading activities, although the reasons for the sales are not disclosed.

Amicus Therapeutics Inc Chief Accounting Officer Sells Company Shares

On the valuation front, Amicus Therapeutics Inc's shares were trading at $14 on the day of the insider's recent sell, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $4.258 billion. The stock's price-to-GF-Value ratio stands at 1.04, indicating that the stock is Fairly Valued when compared to the GF Value of $13.42.

The GF Value is a proprietary intrinsic value estimate from GuruFocus, which is determined by considering historical trading multiples such as price-earnings ratio, price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow, along with a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's historical returns and growth, and future business performance estimates from Morningstar analysts.

Amicus Therapeutics Inc Chief Accounting Officer Sells Company Shares

Investors and stakeholders in Amicus Therapeutics Inc may consider the insider's recent trading activity alongside the company's current valuation to inform their investment decisions. However, it is important to note that insider trading activities can be subject to various motivations and may not always provide clear signals about the future direction of the stock price.

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.


FILE PHOTO: Women look at job listings posted on a light pole in downtown Sao Paulo

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)
(Bloomberg) -- Local Chinese officials unveiled their priorities for 2024, with pledges by some rich provinces to take the lead in driving growth shedding light on how Beijings economic strategy will play out nationwide.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Almost all 31 mainland provinces held meetings to discuss next years priorities after the end of the Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing earlier this month. The countrys top leaders at that conclave conveyed their commitment to stimulating the economy and developing emerging sectors.

Wealthy provinces such as Zhejiang and Guangdong responded to the central governments call for economically strong regions to play a pivotal role in supporting the national economy. They pledged to speed up infrastructure investment and outlined plans to grow in high value-added sectors.

Less-developed or debt-ridden provinces, while promising to increase efforts to help local economies recover, were less vocal about taking aggressive measures and stressed they will prevent risks from spiraling out of control. Guizhou and Yunnan said they will take concrete steps to resolve risks.

Tianjin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang and a few others stopped short of repeating the phrase consolidating stability through progress, a new slogan used by top leaders that fueled expectations for a more ambitious growth goal for 2024.

This isnt the first time Beijing has asked regional powerhouses to bolster national growth. In July last year, then Premier Li Keqiang met with leaders of five coastal regions to urge them to introduce more supportive policies when the Covid-hit economy was on the brink of contraction.

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Still, Chinas post-pandemic recovery has struggled due to a property crisis, local government debt risks, faltering demand and geopolitical tensions. Beijing has stepped in with stimulus to secure this years growth target of about 5%.

Economists are expecting China to repeat that growth target next year, although it will be harder to achieve because of a higher base of comparison.

National Target

Local officials are now mulling their own targets for 2024, which are typically announced at the annual provincial legislative sessions starting mid-January.

The provincial figures will offer clues to the national target, which Beijing will reveal when the National Peoples Congress meets in early March. The numbers will also indicate how much support the government will need to dish out.

The growth targets to be set by the provinces will be meaningful because there may be consequences if officials fail to achieve the goals, said Ding Shuang, chief economist for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Plc.

Ding expects most of the rich provinces to avoid a lower target than 2023. That would not be easy to achieve because the favorable base effect is waning, he added.

Authorities in Jiangsu, Shanghai, Sichuan and Anhui have also vowed to contribute more to national growth. The six regions, including Zhejiang and Guangdong, combined account for about 40% of Chinas gross domestic product.

The wealthy coastal province of Fujian and Shandong, the countrys third-largest local economy, didnt reference Beijings call.

Local authorities also vowed to address risks in the real estate sector, the single biggest threat to Chinas economic recovery. Fujian said it will facilitate property investments and prevent new risks from emerging.

Yunnan said it will stabilize the property market while acknowledging the local economy is at the most critical point to transform and upgrade.

--With assistance from Jane Pong and Christopher Udemans.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Abbas Ganbay

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.
Mao Zedong. Getty Images

China's share of world GDP is on pace to shrink 1.4 percentage points over two years, Ruchir Sharma wrote in the Financial Times.

It's the largest decline since the 1960s and 1970s, when Mao Zedong oversaw a weak economy.

"In a historic turn, China's rise as an economic superpower is reversing," Sharma said.

The Chinese economy's decades-long run of tremendous growth has finally found its end, Ruchir Sharma wrote in the Financial Times in November.

Now, the world's second-largest economy accounts for a smaller share of global GDP.

"In a historic turn, China's rise as an economic superpower is reversing. The biggest global story of the past half century may be over," the Rockefeller International chairman said.

In nominal dollar terms  which Sharma argues is the most accurate measure of an economy's relative strength  China's share of world GDP began slipping in 2022 as strict zero-COVID measures remained in place for most of the year.

Despite expectations for a blowout rebound, China's share will fall further in 2023, hitting 17%. That puts China on pace for a two-year drop of 1.4 percentage points, a slide not seen since the 1960s and 1970s, when Mao Zedong presided over a weak economy, he added.

Back then, Mao's disastrous "Great Leap Forward" was still wreaking havoc on the economy. Not until new leadership pivoted to market-based reforms in the late 1970s did the economy start to turn around.

In 1990, China's share of the global economy was less than 2%, but by 2021 it had soared to 18.4%. Such a rapid increase had never been seen before, Sharma noted.

But with its current slide, China will account for none of the growth of global GDP over the past two years, estimated at a total increase of $113 trillion.

"China's decline could reorder the world," Sharma said. "Since the 1990s, the country's share of global GDP grew mainly at the expense of Europe and Japan, which have seen their shares hold more or less steady over the past two years. The gap left by China has been filled mainly by the US and by other emerging nations."

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India, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil and Poland will account for half the emerging-market gains, he added later, calling that "a striking sign of possible power shifts to come."

For its part, Beijing has maintained a 5% annual growth target and expects to meet it this year. The forecast is supported by the International Monetary Fund, which sees 5.4% growth for 2023.

But Sharma dismisses the use of real GDP growth as a metric, saying it leaves too much room for Chinese authorities to tweak the numbers to fit their outlook and obscure a decline. In nominal dollar terms, the country's GDP will fall this year for the first time since 1994, he said.

Among key factors for the decline are growing government intervention in China's businesses, the ongoing debt turmoil, slower productivity, fewer workers, and the loss of foreign investors.

Still, Chinese President Xi Jinping has remained optimistic and hinted recently at a policy pivot while meeting with US President Joe Biden in November.

"But almost no matter what Xi does, his nation's share in the global economy is likely to decline for the foreseeable future," Sharma concluded. "It's a post-China world now."

This story was originally published in November.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Passive investing in index funds can generate returns that roughly match the overall market. But you can significantly boost your returns by picking above-average stocks. To wit, the Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCO) share price is 77% higher than it was a year ago, much better than the market return of around 24% (not including dividends) in the same period. So that should have shareholders smiling. However, the stock hasn't done so well in the longer term, with the stock only up 14% in three years.

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 Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

Over the last twelve months, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings' revenue grew by 15%. We respect that sort of growth, no doubt. Buyers pushed the share price 77% in response, which isn't unreasonable. If revenue stays on trend, there may be plenty more share price gains to come. But before deciding this growth stock is underappreciated, you might want to check out profitability trends (and cash flow)

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings

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A Different Perspective

It's good to see that Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 77% in the last twelve months. That certainly beats the loss of about 10% per year over the last half decade. This makes us a little wary, but the business might have turned around its fortunes. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (of which 1 is concerning!) you should know about.

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 American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A dispute in Dixmoor over whether union dues from part-time police officers are being deducted and sent to the Illinois Council of Police has led to the state union calling for an Illinois State Police investigation.

The council is asking the state to investigate where the money, which is used to fund the officers union expenses and other benefits, such as life insurance, has gone, according to a news release.

Alexander Dunn, an attorney and executive director of council, said hes gathered employee pay stubs to create a record of the collected union dues and will schedule a meeting with the state police division of criminal investigation.

These arent highly paid employees to begin with, Dunn said. It truly adds insult to injury when not only are they doing a thankless job with little pay but youre taking their money and not sending it where its supposed to go.

Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts said he was made aware about the unions calls for the union dues Wednesday night. To his knowledge, Roberts said the village hasnt collected dues from police officers.

My attorney said if we owe them anything we will send it, Roberts said. This administration isnt the type to sit back and not pay what we owe. Were going to take care of whatever we need to take care of and make sure its all right.

In a statement Friday, Roberts said the village sent the union a letter.

There is no need to escalate this situation, Roberts said in the statement. We want to sit down with the union and get an accounting of what if anything is owed and resolve this matter. I want to be clear in stating the fact that our intention is to make this situation right. We just want some clarity on what is owed.

Dunn said typically city and village officials who have members in the Illinois Council of Police send the union a roster of police officers, how much money was taken from each officers check for union dues and a check with that dues money, Dunn said.

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Beginning in April 2021, the union had not received union dues funds from Dixmoor officials, Dunn said. When the union reached out in July 2022 about the missing payments, the village sent a check for $6,615, which the union received the next month, he said.

But since August 2022, the union has again not received a check from Dixmoor, Dunn said. The union has reached out to Dixmoor officials, Dunn said, but no one has responded.

They dont send anything. The only way we know they are taking money is because our members send us their checks showing the money is being taken out, Dunn said.

The part-time police officers in Dixmoor have worked without a contract since 2019, Dunn said. The union negotiated a contract through 2020 and early 2021, he said, and a new contract was agreed to but the village wont sign or acknowledge it.

Under the previous contract, the officers made $13.29 an hour, Dunn said, and the pay rate agreed to in the unsigned contract is $18 an hour. Union dues are $11.50 a pay period, he said.

In August 2021, the union filed a labor board charge against the village for not signing or implementing the contract, Dunn said.

The fact that theyre taking the dues money without acknowledging the union is unfair, Dunn said.

Roberts said it doesnt sound right that the village hasnt honored the police contract.

Any problem they have they can reach out to me or the attorney and well make sure its done the right way, Roberts said.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in CTI Logistics (ASX:CLX). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide CTI Logistics with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.

See our latest analysis for CTI Logistics

How Fast Is CTI Logistics Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

In the last three years CTI Logistics' earnings per share took off; so much so that it's a bit disingenuous to use these figures to try and deduce long term estimates. As a result, we'll zoom in on growth over the last year, instead. In previous twelve months, CTI Logistics' EPS has risen from AU$0.20 to AU$0.22. That's a modest gain of 9.3%.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. CTI Logistics maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 6.6% to AU$302m. That's progress.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.

ASX:CLX Earnings and Revenue History December 29th 2023

CTI Logistics isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of AU$113m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

Are CTI Logistics Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Theory would suggest that it's an encouraging sign to see high insider ownership of a company, since it ties company performance directly to the financial success of its management. So as you can imagine, the fact that CTI Logistics insiders own a significant number of shares certainly is appealing. Actually, with 50% of the company to their names, insiders are profoundly invested in the business. This should be a welcoming sign for investors because it suggests that the people making the decisions are also impacted by their choices. In terms of absolute value, insiders have AU$57m invested in the business, at the current share price. So there's plenty there to keep them focused!

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Does CTI Logistics Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

One positive for CTI Logistics is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. To add an extra spark to the fire, significant insider ownership in the company is another highlight. That combination is very appealing. So yes, we do think the stock is worth keeping an eye on. We should say that we've discovered 2 warning signs for CTI Logistics that you should be aware of before investing here.

Although CTI Logistics certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with insider buying, then check out this handpicked selection of Australian companies that not only boast of strong growth but have also seen recent insider buying..

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Significant control over Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad by private companies implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

56% of the company is held by a single shareholder (Tirai Anggerik Sdn Bhd)

Ownership research, combined with past performance data can help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

Every investor in Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad (KLSE:EMCC) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are private companies with 56% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

And individual investors on the other hand have a 39% ownership in the company.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad

KLSE:EMCC Ownership Breakdown December 28th 2023

What Does The Lack Of Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad?

Small companies that are not very actively traded often lack institutional investors, but it's less common to see large companies without them.

There are multiple explanations for why institutions don't own a stock. The most common is that the company is too small relative to funds under management, so the institution does not bother to look closely at the company. Alternatively, there might be something about the company that has kept institutional investors away. Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad's earnings and revenue track record (below) may not be compelling to institutional investors -- or they simply might not have looked at the business closely.

KLSE:EMCC Earnings and Revenue Growth December 28th 2023

Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Tirai Anggerik Sdn Bhd is the largest shareholder with 56% of shares outstanding. With such a huge stake in the ownership, we infer that they have significant control of the future of the company. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 4.9% and 0.2% of the stock.

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While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known.

Insider Ownership Of Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

We can report that insiders do own shares in Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad. As individuals, the insiders collectively own RM24m worth of the RM463m company. This shows at least some alignment, but we usually like to see larger insider holdings. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 39% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 56%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks for example - Evergreen Max Cash Capital Berhad has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free free list of interesting companies.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Family says man with dementia lost his $50 million fortune in risky investments  now they're suing JPMorgan to recoup his wealth. Here's what baby boomers can learn from this case

The family of a once-wealthy businessman is fighting JPMorgan Chase & Co. in court after watching his multimillion-dollar fortune fade away in risky investments.

From age 78 to his mid-80s, Peter Doelger and his wife Yoon say his wealth shrunk from approximately $50 million to just $1.5 million under the watchful eye of JPMorgan, according to Bloomberg.

Don't miss

While the bank claims it was acting on Peters wishes to take investment risks  which actually paid off for several years prior to the portfolios rapid decline  the family argues Peter did not understand the risks he was taking.

Peters family and doctors say he was showing signs of cognitive decline and dementia during the period in which his wealth tanked. The family has accused JPMorgan of keeping Peter in risky investments and loaning him money to secure high management fees and interest.

In a counterclaim, JPMorgan  which says it has policies and procedures in place to protect elderly and vulnerable clients  says it was never made aware of Peters cognitive decline, and that Peter signed a letter in 2015 attesting to his sophistication and interest in making such risky investments.

The case is now playing out in a Boston federal court. The Doelgers are seeking to recoup tens of millions of dollars and JPMorgan says it will vigorously contest the claims.

The risk of MLPs

Peters fortune slipped away in Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), exchange-traded investments that typically hold cash-generating assets such as oil and gas properties or pipelines.

A big risk of an MLP is the concentrated exposure to one industry or segment. Because many MLPs are currently in the energy sector  particularly in the pipeline or energy storage industries  they can be acutely sensitive to shifts in oil and gas prices. JPMorgan claims it warned Peter of this risk and urged him to diversify his portfolio, but he was not persuaded.

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From 2009 through 2014, Peters bets on MLPs outperformed the S&P 500. He amassed tens of millions of dollars and sought to continue that strategy, according to JPMorgans court documents, per Bloomberg.

But there was an unprecedented dip in oil prices in 2015 and 2016  due, in part, to oversupply and weak global demand  and his extensive portfolio plunged 19% by the end of 2015 to about $30 million. In the following years, the portfolio experienced several dips and troughs in line with energy market volatility, but its value gradually declined to just $20 million by the end of 2019.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic hit and oil prices took an immediate nose dive. At this point, Yoon had become a co-owner of her husbands account. The Doelgers MLP investments lost 24% in a single day on March 9, 2020, and within days they had sold all their remaining assets to pay off their extensive bank loans, worth almost $10 million.

Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

Cognitive decline

The Doelgers case screams out for more attention to how waning cognitive abilities affect older peoples capacity for financial decision-making and independent financial management, Naomi Karp, a former analyst for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, told Bloomberg.

Baby boomers own around $78 trillion in assets, according to the Federal Reserve, which is nearly half of all wealth in the U.S. Many Americans in this older age bracket have enough in assets to be considered accredited investors under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations.

A 2019 working paper found strong evidence that older U.S. households are at risk of meeting the accredited investor definition without having the sophistication needed to avoid high agency costs in a largely unregulated securities market.

It also found: Accredited households aged 80 and older are more than 80% less likely than unaccredited investors aged 60-64 to have high financial literacy scores. This reduced financial capability in later life appears to mirror the rate of decline in measures of cognition.

Yoon told Bloomberg she never understood MLPs or the banks investment advice.

I feel like we were both dumb and dumber, she said, recounting how Peter was also in the dark.

That was reiterated by James Serritella, Yoons son-in-law and the lawyer representing the couple, who told Bloomberg: I dont believe Peter understood this stuff the way they made him out to understand it. Peter trusted people: I dont need to know all the ins-and-outs because I trust you. So this whole construct of the sophisticated guy, we strongly disagree with that.

Lessons for aging investors

Whatever happens with this case, there are lessons to be learned for aging investors.

Over time, as you progress toward retirement, financial advisers typically suggest adjusting the blend of investments in your portfolio to be more conservative.

The idea is to diversify your portfolio with safe investment options  such as bonds, high-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), Treasury bills, money market accounts and fixed annuities  instead of just relying on Social Security or your retirement savings.

If you were a keen investor during your working life, this doesnt mean you have to stop engaging with the stock market  but you may want to adjust your strategy away from riskier bets toward well-established dividend-paying stocks.

The aim is to ensure you have a stable income throughout your golden years and that youre not at risk of losing it all, such as the Doelgers, who claim they had to sell their condo and move in with relatives.

If you are an experienced and accredited investor, you may still see opportunities in MLPs, including their tax advantages and their potential for super-high yields. If youre considering an MLP, the SEC advises you to speak with an investment professional to help you understand the MLPs prospectus and financial statements. These filings are publicly available and include information about the MLPs business strategy, forecasts of future distributions and risks.

It is not wise to jump head first into an MLP investment  or any investment opportunity  without fully understanding your financial exposure.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
HO CHI MIHN, VIETNAM / ACCESSWIRE / December 29, 2023 / Established on March 28, 2000, Gas South (Southern Gas Trading Joint Stock Company) has solidified its position in the distribution and trading of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), and has pioneered in the reception and trading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as LNG enters the Vietnamese market, concordant with global trends.

Over its 23-year history, Gas South with the guideline of "Safety - Quality - Efficiency," has built a reputable brand and distinction. Presently, Gas South leads with a 34.5% market share in LPG and a 40% market share in CNG in Vietnam.

Through a strategy that simultaneously supplies CNG, LNG, and LPG, Gas South ensures flexible gas sources, stable quantities, competitive pricing, optimally meeting consumption needs, and satisfying customer choices.

Gas South - Leading Energy Provider in Vietnam

Products and Services by Gas South

Compressed Natural Gas - CNG

CNG is an oil industry product primarily composed of methane (CH4). Processed and compressed at high pressure (200 - 250 bar), it's stored in specialized tanks and transported to consumer sites such as industrial plants and refueling stations for transportation vehicles.

CNG has proven to be a smokeless fuel, reducing emissions of SOx, COx, NOx into the environment, while also saving fuel costs.

Gas South transports CNG to consumer sites

With its exceptional characteristics, many advanced countries like the United States, Japan, South Korea, India, China, and European nations use CNG as a cleaner fuel to limit environmental pollution.

Liquefied Natural Gas - LNG

LNG, primarily composed of CH4 - methane (constituting about 95%), is colorless and odorless. It's natural gas cooled to -162C to become a liquid, stored in specialized tanks, and transported to consumption sites.

LNG is used similarly to dry gas, serving the gas needs of power plants, industrial households, urban areas, etc. Additionally, in many countries globally, LNG is used as fuel for transport vehicles such as ships, trains, and heavy-duty vehicles to minimize environmental pollution.

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Gas South's LNG storage tanks

Moreover, LNG can be transported by tank trucks, trains, coastal vessels with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 12,000 m3 to remote gas pipeline-free consumer sites, coastal regional markets, and offshore islands.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas - LPG

LPG, commonly referred to as gas, consists of hydrocarbon gasses, primarily Propane and Butane (including Iso-Butane), obtained from crude oil refining or natural gas processing.

For LPG products, Gas South proudly stands as one of the leading Vietnamese brands, trusted by consumers, with long-term partnerships from customers through 06 domestic LPG cylinder brands: Gas Dau Khi, VT-Gas, A Gas, JP Gas, ak Gas, ang Phuoc Gas.

Gas South's LPG business network now spans from Ca Mau to Nghe An, including 04 storage facilities with a total capacity of 8,100 tons and 17 LPG refueling stations evenly distributed across business regions.

Gas South continually aims to improve product and service quality, ensuring transparent sales policies that align with the interests of customers and consumers. Simultaneously, it emphasizes corporate management capabilities, aiming to apply artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in management, operations, and customer care.

In the future, Gas South will persist in innovation, development, and contribute to elevating the Gas Industry to become a flagship industry in Vietnam's economy, gradually expanding into regional and continental markets.

The above information covers Gas South's products and services. For further details, please contact us via hotline: 18006776.

Gas South - Leading Gas Fuel Supplier in Vietnam - LPG, CNG, and LNG

Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/GasSouthJSC

For more information please visit our website: https://pgs.com.vn/

Media Contacts:

Name: TUAN KIET PHAM (Mr.)

Company name: SOUTHERN GAS TRADING JSC

Website: https://pgs.com.vn/

Email: lienhe@pgs.com.vn

Phone: (+84.28) 3910 0108 - 3910 0324

Address: 4th Floor, PetroVietnam Tower, 1-5 Le Duan, Ward Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

SOURCE: SOUTHERN GAS TRADING JSC





View the original press release on accesswire.com




Over the past year, many General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. When analyzing insider transactions, it is usually more valuable to know whether insiders are buying versus knowing if they are selling, as the latter sends an ambiguous message. However, if numerous insiders are selling, shareholders should investigate more.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for General Dynamics

General Dynamics Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Chairperson & CEO, Phebe Novakovic, sold US$7.6m worth of shares at a price of US$228 per share. That means that an insider was selling shares at slightly below the current price (US$258). When an insider sells below the current price, it suggests that they considered that lower price to be fair. That makes us wonder what they think of the (higher) recent valuation. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. We note that the biggest single sale was only 3.9% of Phebe Novakovic's holding.

Over the last year we saw more insider selling of General Dynamics shares, than buying. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. General Dynamics insiders own 0.6% of the company, currently worth about US$414m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

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So What Do The General Dynamics Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded General Dynamics shares in the last quarter. It's great to see high levels of insider ownership, but looking back over the last year, we don't gain confidence from the General Dynamics insiders selling. Therefore, you should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for General Dynamics.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Gold headed for its first annual gain in three years as investors doubled down on bets that the Federal Reserve will start to unwind its restrictive monetary policy stance in 2024.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Bullion fluctuated on the final trading day of 2023, putting it on track to end the year about 13% higher.

The precious metal typically has an inverted relationship with interest rates  the lower rates fall, the higher gold climbs. This years price movement has mostly been dictated by changing views on the Feds next steps on interest rates.

There has been growing expectation since October that the Fed will pivot to monetary easing in 2024 as inflation eases and the US labor market cools. Concerns around recession risks also boost the case to own debt, with traders betting global central bankers may have to aggressively cut rates to bolster growth. Such views have seen bullion gain nearly 13% since Oct. 6 amid declines in Treasury yields and the dollar, which is on pace for its worst year since 2020.

Gold surged to a record high in early December as traders bet the US central bank will start cutting rates at a sharper pace next year, only to quickly give up those gains when those positions were seen as overdone. It surged above $2,000 again in mid-December after Fed officials in their last meeting of the year gave the clearest signal yet that an aggressive rate hike campaign is over.

One important force behind golds strength has been central banks record buying of the haven asset. Such ferocious purchases help bullion trade at a significant premium to real Treasury yield  one of its biggest drivers  on a historical basis.

Story continues

Read More: Chinese Gold Buying Is Driving a Paradigm Shift in Bullion

Gold has also been underpinned factors including geopolitical uncertainty, with 41% of the worlds population due to go to the polls in 2024.

Gold was little changed $2,064.79 an ounce as of 11:46 a.m. in New York.

--With assistance from Mark Burton and Sybilla Gross.

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From Goldman to Bridgewater, here's everything we know about how Wall Street is embracing AI

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

Once ChatGPT hit the scene at the end of 2022, Wall Street ramped up its efforts in AI.

Business Insider has reported on how some of finance's biggest names are approaching the new tech.

See how firms from JPMorgan to Man Group are using it.

Generative AI has had Wall Street abuzz in 2023.

Business Insider has been reporting on how some of finance's biggest players are approaching artificial intelligence, from how it might impact jobs to how to use it to cut costs and ramp up efficiencies. It might even be the sector to end the drought in dealmaking.

Experts in the space are in high demand as banks and investment giants race to understand and implement AI. However, there's a level of trepidation, and most are early in experimenting with different use cases.

Here is what we know about how Wall Street is embracing AI:

Banks accelerated their AI research and use cases due to the rise of ChatGPT

We identified 17 of the top AI executives and technologists to know at the country's biggest banks.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said banks can win the AI battle against fintech in an earnings call this fall. Dimon laid out his vision for how America's largest bank will win this race through data. Meet the leaders of that mission.

Goldman Sachs' chief investment officer and head of machine learning quants say we are at an inflection point with AI. Large language models, the form of AI behind ChatGPT, could transform how Wall Street does business. Marco Argenti and Dimitris Tsementzis outlined three areas where the bank is experimenting with LLMs.

Deutsche Bank is aggressively experimenting with AI capabilities to transform the bank.

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The bank is on a hiring spree, trying to more than double its AI employee base of around 300, but uncertainty around regulation, talent wars, and the cost of scaling the tech won't make it easy.

Hedge funds have been on an AI hiring tear as firms look to solidify their teams and strategies

Top AI executives at hedge funds are tasked with setting their companies' AI agendas and ensuring that research and tech development progress is shared across the firm. These execs aren't always responsible for building the technology. For some, their role is influencingor advocating for  its use among internal stakeholders, like portfolio managers, business leaders, and fund founders.

Bridgewater plans to launch a fund next July that will be driven by AI. The fund's AIA Labs is working to replicate every stage of the investment process with machine learning. The firm's co-chief investment officer and chief scientist outlined the plans of the world's largest hedge fund.

Man Group, the largest publicly listed hedge fund with $161.2 billion, launched a new data and machine learning group focused on generative AI in October. Tim Mace, who heads the department, outlined new capabilities his team is developing.

Other asset managers are also trying to figure out how AI can boost their dealmaking and investment skills

Swedish PE giant EQT built an AI engine called Motherbrain that has changed how its investors source deals. ChatGPT enables the investing giant to take the next step with its AI ambitions.

AllianceBernstein has been building a team focused on AI and data science since 2017.

Andrew Chin, AB's head of investment solutions and data science, talked to BI about how the asset manager uses AI to get an edge, save analysts hours of work, and improve risk management.

AI could make some jobs less tedious but harder to get at the same time

Insider spoke to five industry experts to get their take on how ChatGPT and its underlying tech could be applied to various sectors of financial services.

AI could improve the lives of investment bankers by taking on some tedious tasks, but it can also make it harder to break into and alter the skills required for entry.

As financial firms' AI strategies come into focus, they're hiring more technologists with specialized skills. For those who want to land an AI job on Wall Street, here's everything you need to know about how tech skills and roles are changing.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Qabil Ashirov

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.
Google has agreed to settle a lawsuit claiming the search engine giant secretly tracked millions of users internet use, despite believing they were browsing in incognito mode.

The lawsuit, which had sought $5 billion, was filed in 2020 in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California and covered "millions" of Google users, seeking damages in the amount of $5,000 per user, or three times actual damages, whichever is greater.

Googles parent company Alphabet Inc. is accused of illegally collecting information about what people are viewing online and where they are doing their browsing, through various applications and website plug-ins, including Google Analytics and Google Ad Manager.

GOOGLE TO PAY $700M IN ANTITRUST SETTLEMENT OVER PLAY STORE DISPUTE

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - MAY 15: Google headquarters is seen in Mountain View, California, United States, on May 15, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers put a hold on the Feb. 5, 2024 trial for the proposed class action lawsuit on Thursday after attorneys for Google and for consumers said they reached a preliminary settlement.

The settlement terms were not disclosed, but lawyers stated they agreed to terms through mediation. The attorneys are also expected to present a formal agreement to the court for approval by Feb. 24, 2024.

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Google did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital seeking comment and information about the settlement terms.

FEDERAL JURY RULES AGAINST GOOGLE IN EPIC GAMES ANTICOMPETITION LAWSUIT

The attorneys for the consumers claim Googles analytics, cookies and apps allowed the company to track browsing activity even when Chrome was set to "Incognito" mode.

As a result, the attorneys allege the information became an "unaccountable trove of information" after allowing the company to learn about consumers peers, favorite foods, shopping habits, hobbies and "potentially embarrassing things" they sought out online.

Google requested to have the lawsuit dismissed, but in August, Rogers rejected the companys request.

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GOOGLE LAUNCHES ADVANCED AI MODEL GEMINI

Judge holding gavel in courtroom

In her rejection, the judge said this was an open question about whether Google made a legally binding promise not to collect the data of users when they browsed in private mode.

Rogers cited the companys privacy policy and statements by Google that suggested limits on what information may be collected.

Ultimately, the lawsuit accused the company of violations of federal wire-tapping and California privacy laws.

Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: Google agrees to settlement in $5B lawsuit accusing the company of tracking users in 'incognito' mode
If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after investigating Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG), we don't think it's current trends fit the mold of a multi-bagger.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Harley-Davidson:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.089 = US$874m  (US$12b - US$2.7b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

So, Harley-Davidson has an ROCE of 8.9%. Even though it's in line with the industry average of 8.9%, it's still a low return by itself.

View our latest analysis for Harley-Davidson

roce

In the above chart we have measured Harley-Davidson's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

How Are Returns Trending?

In terms of Harley-Davidson's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 13%, but since then they've fallen to 8.9%. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

On a related note, Harley-Davidson has decreased its current liabilities to 21% of total assets. That could partly explain why the ROCE has dropped. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE.

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The Bottom Line On Harley-Davidson's ROCE

To conclude, we've found that Harley-Davidson is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. And with the stock having returned a mere 25% in the last five years to shareholders, you could argue that they're aware of these lackluster trends. So if you're looking for a multi-bagger, the underlying trends indicate you may have better chances elsewhere.

Harley-Davidson does come with some risks though, we found 3 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 2 of those can't be ignored...

While Harley-Davidson may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list 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.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The heads of European Union institutions called for a strengthened euro and progress towards a capital markets union in a joint appeal that was published by Germany's Funke Media Group on Friday.

The piece, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the currency, was written by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, European Council head Charles Michel, the head of the ECB, Christine Lagarde, and Eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe.

In it, the leaders stress the need for cooperation to overcome challenges, which include increasing geopolitical tensions and the climate crisis.

In addition, "our competitiveness is facing unprecedented challenges due to energy and industrial policy measures in other parts of the world," they write in the piece that is due to appear in the media group's print editions on Saturday.

They also advocate the establishment of a capital markets union that would extend across the entire continent and could be used to mobilise private financial resources.

In order to increase competitiveness and security, "the existing structures could be strengthened through revised budgetary rules and a more robust banking union," they write.

(Writing by Miranda Murray, editing by Rachel More)
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up.

Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like ProCredit Holding (ETR:PCZ). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

See our latest analysis for ProCredit Holding

How Fast Is ProCredit Holding Growing?

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Impressively, ProCredit Holding has grown EPS by 24% per year, compound, in the last three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away satisfied.

Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Our analysis has highlighted that ProCredit Holding's revenue from operations did not account for all of their revenue in the previous 12 months, so our analysis of its margins might not accurately reflect the underlying business. EBIT margins for ProCredit Holding remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 47% to 363m. That's a real positive.

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You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.

XTRA:PCZ Earnings and Revenue History December 29th 2023

While we live in the present moment, there's little doubt that the future matters most in the investment decision process. So why not check this interactive chart depicting future EPS estimates, for ProCredit Holding?

Are ProCredit Holding Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Prior to investment, it's always a good idea to check that the management team is paid reasonably. Pay levels around or below the median, can be a sign that shareholder interests are well considered. For companies with market capitalisations between 181m and 723m, like ProCredit Holding, the median CEO pay is around 979k.

The ProCredit Holding CEO received total compensation of just 281k in the year to December 2022. That's clearly well below average, so at a glance that arrangement seems generous to shareholders and points to a modest remuneration culture. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making.

Should You Add ProCredit Holding To Your Watchlist?

If you believe that share price follows earnings per share you should definitely be delving further into ProCredit Holding's strong EPS growth. Strong EPS growth is a great look for the company and reasonable CEO compensation sweetens the deal for investors ass it alludes to management being conscious of frivolous spending. So this stock is well worth an addition to your watchlist as it has the potential to provide great value to shareholders. Of course, just because ProCredit Holding is growing does not mean it is undervalued. If you're wondering about the valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry.

While opting for stocks without growing earnings and absent insider buying can yield results, for investors valuing these key metrics, here is a carefully selected list of companies in DE with promising growth potential and insider confidence.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- India clamped down on overseas crypto exchanges like Binance that it says are operating illegally there, moving to block local access to their websites.

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The Financial Intelligence Unit issued so-called compliance show-cause notices to several platforms including Binance, Kraken, KuCoin and Huobi. It also asked the information ministry to block the URLs of the nine entities, according to a statement late Thursday.

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 FIU said in the statement.

Indias government this year imposed money-laundering provisions on the crypto sector as it tightens oversight of digital assets along with other countries. In 2022, authorities delivered a major blow to local crypto exchanges by introducing a tax on transactions that caused trading volumes to plummet.

A show-cause notice is issued when an individual or entity is suspected of misconduct. It is an official request to demonstrate that the person or entity is complying with Indian laws.

Local exchanges have complained that the new tax drove Indian crypto traders to offshore platforms that didnt impose the levy, further hurting their revenues. CoinDCX Chief Executive Officer Sumit Gupta in October estimated that 95% of trading volume has moved to offshore venues.

Bloomberg News reported in 2021 that Indias anti-money laundering agency was examining if Binance had a role to play in an investigation involving betting apps. A Binance spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Binance, the largest crypto exchange, has come under increased pressure from regulators around the world in the past year. In November, the company agreed to pay $4.3 billion as it pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering and US sanction violations. As part of the agreement with US authorities, co-founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao agreed to step down.

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A federal judge sided with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in a closely watched crypto case on Thursday, ruling that four crypto tokens offered by the failed Terraform Labs companyincluding UST and LUNAconstituted unregistered securities.

As the crypto industry battles regulators over how to classify digital assets, the decision is a setback for the sectors interpretation of securities law and a departure from a separate decision by a different judge in the Southern District of New York over the token XRP.

In his 71-page decision, Judge Jed Rakoff wrote that there is no genuine dispute that the four crypto tokens offered by Terraform were securities because they are investment contracts, arguing that defendants wanted to cast aside decades of settled law, citing the seminal Supreme Court precedent called the Howey test.

Howeys definition of investment contract was and remains a binding settlement of the law, not dicta, wrote Rakoff.

The trials of Do Kwon

During cryptos bull run of 2021, Terraform Labs represented one of the most successful projects in the sector, raking in billions of dollars and backed by prominent investors in the space. With its so-called algorithmic stablecoin, UST, Terraform cofounder Do Kwon promised a crypto token that could maintain a $1 peg through a complicated system of distributing a secondary cryptocurrency called LUNA.

Less than a year later, UST lost its $1 peg in a spectacular meltdown in May of 2022, causing investorsincluding retail traders across the worldto lose their money. The prices for both UST and LUNA plummeted in a death spiral. Kwon was soon arrested in Montenegro, triggering an ongoing extradition fight between the U.S. and his home country of South Korea, with fraud charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In February 2023, the SEC sued Terraform Labs and Kwon, alleging that they orchestrated a multibillion-dollar securities fraud by offering unregistered securities, including UST and LUNA, as well as two other crypto tokens tied to the ecosystem, MIR and wLUNA.

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In response, lawyers for the defendants made an argument similar to that of other crypto companies currently in legal battle with the SEC: U.S. securities law is antiquated, and crypto tokens do not fall under the traditional definition of the Howey test because they did not represent an investment in a common enterprise with the expectation of profit derived from the effort of others. UST, after all, was meant to maintain a $1 peg.

After U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled in a separate court case involving the crypto company Ripplefinding that its crypto token XRP itself was not a security, and that its sale only constituted an investment contract in certain contextslawyers for Terra filed a motion to dismiss.

Rakoff, the judge overseeing the Terra case, threw cold water on his colleagues decision, dismissing the motion and rejecting the approach used by Torres to distinguish how different digital assets are sold.

Thursdays decision furthers Rakoffs argument that the sale of Terraforms crypto assets constituted an unregistered security. Even with UST, the token meant to be pegged to $1, Rakoff argued that holders of the token could deposit the tokens in a proprietary protocol developed by Terraform to earn back a yield. The distinction, however, seems to support the argument that stablecoins that do not offer a yield would not constitute a security.

Rakoff left one matter of the case unsettledthe question of fraud claims related to USTs depeg brought by the SEC. In his decision, Rakoff wrote that the SECs evidence for its allegations comes from third-party whistleblowers that should be heard before a jury. Furthermore, he argued that defendants have shown a genuine dispute over whether a reasonable investor would have found statements around USTs depeg to be misleading. Part of the pending case will relate to the involvement of Jump, a prominent trading firm that served as one of Terras main backers.

We strongly disagree with the decision and do not believe that the UST stablecoin or the other tokens at issue are securities. Further, the SECs fraud claims are not supported by evidence, and we will continue to vigorously defend against those meritless allegations at trial," said a spokesperson for Terraform Labs in a statement shared with Fortune. The jury trial is scheduled to begin in January 2024.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Diane Janowiak is the third generation of her family to operate Kubiak's Tavern in Niles Township. The tavern recently celebrated its 90th anniversary.

Sitting on the state line straddled between South Bend and Niles, Kubiaks Tavern isnt the type of place you go to for its hidden-gem soups, chili, hamburgers or appetizers.

In fact, the only food available at the dimly-lit pub comes in snack bags that are hanging from a small rack by the bar. Chips, pretzels and popcorn are about as good as it gets most days.

Instead, most people come to Kubiaks for its affordable drinks with beers ranging from $1.50 up to $4 for a craft brew like Bells Two Hearted or hard drinks ranging from $4 to $6, says Diane Janowiak, the third generation of the Kubiak family to run the establishment.

A margarita is about as fancy as it gets, she says.

Market Basket: Frank's Place in South Bend gets a new lease on life with new owner, menu and staff

And yet, the lack of amenities, signature foods or hand-crafted cocktails works at Kubiaks, which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary in the same family and at the same location where its always been, 319 Stateline Road.

A local watering hole on most days, Kubiaks expands its clientele dramatically a couple of weekends each month when popular local bands like 1985, the Whistle Pigs, Memphis Underground and others are booked.

Kubiak's Tavern at 319 Stateline Road in Niles Township recently marked its 90th anniversary. It's reportedly the oldest tavern in Michigan owned by the same family.

During those events, the 300-seat tavern can fill up quickly and space is reserved in the parking lot for a food-truck vendor from the area, Janowiak says. When there isnt live music, Kubiaks generally offers karaoke to take advantage of its stage and dance floor.

The music might be different than the tunes that were common at Kubiaks in decades gone by, but not much else has changed since Leo Kubiak opened the tavern in 1933, just days after the end of Prohibition on Dec. 3.

This is an exterior of Kubiak's Tavern closer to its opening date in 1933.

Many of the chairs and tables are original as well as a phone booth in a corner and the overhead lights that have an art deco look. A manual cash register, which rings when the drawer is closed, is reminiscent of the type seen in the bar scenes in the Frank Capra classic Its a Wonderful Life.

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Were the oldest, single-family-owned bar in the state of Michigan, Janowiak says. And though she recognizes the need to make some eventual upgrades  for example, the floor needs to be replaced  she intends to be very careful about the changes that she makes.

Kubiak's Tavern, which has a stage and dance floor, is known for its inexpensive drinks and old-timey feel.

I want to keep it how it was, she says. Im going to do some updates eventually, but I dont want to change the vibe, for sure. People want the same feeling when they walk in.

Janowiak, who previously served as vice president of operations for the South Bend Medical Foundation and now works independently in the healthcare sector, took over the business after her mother, Ellen, died in 2022.

This old time menu board at Kubiak's Tavern shows that a regular beer could once be purchased for 40 cents.

Ellen took over the business when her husband Butch, the second generation of Kubiaks, died in 2002, Janowiak says, adding that she became the third generation to take over the tavern because she "wanted to preserve it and keep it in the family.

Though Janowiak has a full-time job, she says, the tavern pretty much runs itself thanks to an experienced crew of employees, some of whom have worked part time at the bar for years. Plus, she admits, shes sentimental about the business and the generations of her family who have served up drinks for generations of customers.

This cash register is among the original features at Kubiak's in Niles Township.

We have older Notre Dame alumni who come back here on game days and say the place is exactly the way they remember it in the 1970s, Janowiak says. In those days, places in Michigan near South Bend were especially popular among students because the drinking age in Michigan was 18 until Dec. 22, 1978.

They say they were bussed up here back then, she adds.

This phone booth is among the original features at Kubiak's in Niles Township.

Except for some flat-screen TVs, Kubiaks Tavern has found a successful formula by remaining the same through its 90 years.

Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 11 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

This is an original light fixture at Kubiak's Tavern in Niles Township.

Just remember to bring cash when you visit Kubiaks because its still operating in a time before the advent of ubiquitous credit cards, though there is an ATM machine for those who are forgetful.

And think about sitting in the same chairs that were used by patrons in the 1940s discussing the war effort. The memorabilia alone is worth the stop.

This World War II-era photo taken at Kubiac's Tavern in Niles Twp. advertises the bar's "Continuous Entertainment" on weekends by the Aloha Hawaiians and exhorts viewers to "Buy more war bonds and stamps."

Email Market Basket columnist Ed Semmler at esemmler@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Kubiak's makes it 90 years by being pretty much the same it always was
A group of seven megacap technology companies, known as the "Magnificent Seven," played a central role in driving a nice surge in technology stocks in 2023, which is evident from the 66% jump in the Nasdaq-100 Technology Sector index during the year.

The Magnificent Seven group comprises Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. These tech titans delivered healthy gains to investors in 2023.

For instance, shares of Alphabet have jumped 61% during the year. In this article, we will take a closer look at the reasons why Alphabet's robust rally is set to continue not just in 2024 but also in the long run.

AI can help accelerate Alphabet's growth

Alphabet stock's jump in 2023 can be attributed to the company's improving financial performance, driven by gains in its advertising and cloud businesses. Alphabet's revenue increased 11% year over year to $76.7 billion in the third quarter of 2023. Its diluted earnings jumped an impressive 46% year over year to $1.55 per share.

The good part is that Alphabet's financial performance improved every quarter in 2023. Its revenue was up just 3% year over year in Q1, followed by a 9% jump in Q2. Analysts are expecting Alphabet to finish the year with $306 billion in revenue, which would be an 8% increase over 2022.

GOOG Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart

More importantly, as the chart above indicates, Alphabet's growth rate is anticipated to get better in 2024 and 2025. This potential acceleration in Alphabet's growth can be attributed to the secular opportunities the company is sitting on, such as an uptick in digital ad spending and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) that could positively impact the company's search and cloud businesses.

For example, global digital ad spending is estimated to jump 11% in 2024 to $696 billion, which is in line with the growth this space clocked in 2023. Alphabet is looking to capitalize on this massive market opportunity by giving advertisers AI-powered tools so that they can improve audience targeting and generate stronger returns on the ad dollars they spend.

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Alphabet's Performance Max platform allows advertisers to create AI-powered ad campaigns, and the company points out that those who have adopted this platform have witnessed an 18% increase in average conversion rates. Additionally, Alphabet management points out that almost 80% of its advertisers "use at least one AI-powered Search Ads product."

As such, Alphabet has positioned itself to make the most of the growing adoption of AI within the digital ad market, which is expected to generate $107 billion in annual revenue in 2028 as compared to just under $16 billion in 2021.

On the other hand, Alphabet's Google Cloud business is also getting a nice boost thanks to AI. The company's Google Cloud revenue increased 22% year over year in the third quarter to $8.4 billion. That's not surprising, as Google is offering multiple AI products in the cloud, which allow customers to build generative AI applications, gain insights from unstructured data with the help of AI, and train machine learning models, among other things.

More importantly, the company has landed multiple customers for its AI-fueled cloud services already. This trend is likely to continue as the size of the cloud AI market is expected to hit a whopping $887 billion in 2032 as compared to just $43 billion last year. So, Alphabet is on track to benefit from massive markets where AI adoption is gaining steam, which is why it won't be surprising to see the stock delivering more upside in 2024, as well as in the long run.

More reasons to buy the stock right now

We have already seen that Alphabet is predicted to deliver stronger revenue growth this year. What's more, analysts are forecasting its earnings to grow at a healthy pace as well, following this year's estimated jump of 26% to $5.77 per share.

GOOG EPS Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart

Alphabet has a five-year average price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27.4. Multiplying that with the company's projected 2024 earnings of $6.70 per share points toward a stock price of $183, which would be a jump of 28% from current levels. Another year of robust bottom-line growth in 2025 means that this AI stock is built for even more upside in the long run.

At the same time, investors should note that Alphabet is the cheapest of the Magnificent Seven group.

AAPL PE Ratio Chart

So, investors are getting a good deal on this tech titan right now, even after the impressive gains it has delivered in 2023. What's more, Alphabet stock could deliver even stronger gains in the New Year if the market decides to reward it with higher earnings multiple thanks to its AI-fueled growth, giving investors another reason to buy it before it soars further.

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

This "Magnificent Seven" Stock Could Win Big From Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2024, and Beyond was originally published by The Motley Fool
(Bloomberg) -- Elon Musks X Corp. lost its effort in court to block a California law that seeks to control toxic posts on social media by requiring companies to disclose their content-moderation polices.

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In an eight-page ruling Thursday, a federal judge in Sacramento rejected arguments by the company formerly known as Twitter that the measure violates the free-speech rights of social media platforms.

The ruling comes after Musk ignited a firestorm in November by endorsing antisemitic posts on his platform. X Corp. Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino scrambled to contain the fallout after major advertisers like Sony, Discovery, Apple and CBS stopped or paused spending on the site.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said when he signed AB 587 in 2022 that it was designed to protect the public by demanding companies reveal their policies on hate speech, disinformation, harassment and extremism on their platforms, and report data on their enforcement of the policies.

But X Corp. complained in a September lawsuit that the laws true intent is to pressure social media platforms to eliminate certain constitutionally protected content viewed by the state as problematic.

The office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta said it was pleased with the ruling.

The attorney general will continue fighting for this commonsense law, which requires social media companies with annual gross revenues of at least $100 million to publicly disclose information about their content-moderation policies, a spokesperson for Bonta said Friday in an email.

Representatives of X Corp. didnt respond to a request for comment.

The US Supreme Court is considering whether Republican-backed laws in Florida and Texas violate the free-speech rights of social media companies by limiting their freedom to decide how material is presented and requiring detailed explanations for content-moderation decisions. The court will rule by the middle of 2024.

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Read More: Musks X Sues to Block California Anti-Hate Speech Law

When Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, he vowed it would be free of censorship and reinstated formerly banned users while firing content moderators. Researchers have said that during Musks tenure, the platform has seen a spike in harmful content due to policy changes in content moderation.

The self-styled free speech absolutist went on to hire Yaccarino, who was an NBCUniversal ad executive, to help repair partnerships in the media industry and lure back advertisers.

Musk has blamed watchdog groups including the Anti-Defamation League, the Center for Countering Digital Hate and Media Matters for America for a slump in US advertising revenue on X. He said they have tried to kill the platform with false accusations about it being overloaded with harmful content. The organizations have denied Musks claims.

US District Judge William Shubb disagreed with X Corp.s argument that the California law interferes with the companys content screening process in violation of the Constitution.

While the reporting requirement does appear to place a substantial compliance burden on social medial companies, it does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law, Shubb wrote in his order.

(Updates with comment by California attorney generals office)

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Wednesday, the Nigerian Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a $110 million fine on British American Tobacco Industries Plc (NYSE: BTI) due to infringement of competition laws/regulations and tobacco control efforts.

The penalty stems from a probe into BAT's practices, including allegations of impeding competitors and breaching public health controls.

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," equivalent to a plea bargain and not subject to appeal.

Also Read: Beyond The Smoke: Evaluating British American Tobacco Resilience As Industry Shifts.

The FCCPC initiated the inquiry in August 2020, securing a federal court order to search multiple BAT sites and service providers for evidence.

Subsequent analysis of gathered evidence confirmed multiple violations of competition laws, as per the report.

The commission will closely monitor BAT's conduct for 24 months, ensuring compliance with competition regulations and tobacco control measures.

Earlier this month, British American Tobacco reported a pre-close trading update and expects to incur an accounting non-cash adjusting impairment charge relating to some U.S. cigarette brands of around 25 billion ($31.50 billion).

For 2023, the company expects organic revenue to be at the lower end of its guidance range at constant rates of 3%-5%.

Price Action: BTI shares are up 0.24% at $29.30 during the premarket session on the last check Friday.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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This article Nigerian Watchdog Hits British American Tobacco With Record $110M Fine Over Alleged Market Abuse originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Market cheers as social security fund widens investment range

08:33, December 29, 2023 By Shi Jing ( China Daily

Investment: Long-term capital to be created

With the expansion in the national social security fund's investment range, more long-term capital will be available in the A-share market, facilitating the development of key industries and aiding China's high-quality economic growth, officials and experts said.

The National Council for Social Security Fund, the managing authority, is stepping up efforts to participate in the non-public offerings of listed companies as a strategic investor. This will inject long-term capital into the market, Wang Zhibin, director of the equity management department of the NCSSF, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency on Thursday.

According to experts at brokerage firm SDIC Securities, bringing in a strategic investor for non-public offerings of listed companies can be seen as private placement in the primary market. The national social security fund, which is both able and willing to hold a large number of shares of public companies for the longer term, will bring in more capital to facilitate the technology advancement, innovation and market exploration of the companies, they said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.38 percent to touch 2954.70 points on Thursday, while the Shenzhen Component Index jumped 2.71 percent to 9441.05 points following the NCSSF announcement. The technology- focused ChiNext in Shenzhen surged 3.85 percent. Photovoltaic companies led the Thursday rally by spiking 9.85 percent on average.

The northbound capital, the value that overseas investors buy into the A-share market via the stock connect program linking the Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong bourses, reported a net purchase of 13.5 billion yuan ($1.9 billion), the highest daily net purchase in five months.

On Dec 6, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security had released the draft measures for the administration of domestic investments of the national social security fund, which will be open for public opinion till Jan 5.

According to the measures, stocks and equity assets can account for a maximum 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively, in the national social security fund's investment portfolio, said Yang Delong, chief economist of First Seafront Fund. This will give the national security fund, which is a long-term investment by nature, more flexibility, boost confidence of investors and stabilize market performance, he added.

Liu Youhua, a senior researcher from private equity market tracker Simuwang.com, said the national social security fund is more inclined toward investing in companies with stable long-term growth prospects. Therefore, A-share computer, biomedicine and food and beverage companies may benefit more from the new measures, he said.

More investment will be directed to key technologies, industrial and supply chain stability, food and energy security, strategic emerging industries, green and low-carbon transformation and digital economy as the maximum investment ratio of equity assets in the national social security fund will be elevated according to the new measures, said Wang of NCSSF.

By including eligible direct equity investment, industrial funds and venture capital as investment targets, more long-term capital will be created to facilitate scientific and technological innovation as well as the construction of a modern industrial system, he said.

Zhao Jun, head of NCSSF's asset allocation and research department, said that relatively novel products gaining increasing market attention, such as the infrastructure real estate investment trusts, as well as hedging tools such as stock index futures, government bond futures and stock option futures, have also been included.

The enriched portfolio will help diversify the fund's investment and risks, eventually optimizing the fund's overall returns, said Zhao.

According to the Central Financial Work Conference held in October, the capital market should be further invigorated, and this can be achieved with more diversified equity financing and an optimized overall financing structure.

Nie Haijun, director of the NSCCF's legal and compliance department, said the current management regulations of the national social security fund have been in place for more than a decade, and are inadequate to address the needs of the capital market now. The forward-looking institutional design in the new measures will help preserve and increase the value of the fund by advancing the standardized and regulated operation of the capital, he said.

According to market tracker Wind Info, the national social security fund has actively adjusted its investments between Oct 17 and Dec 19, increasing its exposure to A-share companies specializing in computers, telecommunications, semiconductors and equipment manufacturing.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Abbas Ganbay

At the meeting chaired by Azerbaijani Economy Minister and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SOCAR Mikail Jabbarov, the results of SOCAR's activities for the first 9 months of 2023 were discussed in detail, Azernews reports.

Information was presented on the work done on the development of oil and gas fields, production indicators, development of renewable energy sources, as well as steps taken towards decarbonization.

At the same time, based on the results of the first 9 months of the current year, the Company reviewed the implementation of corporate key performance indicators (KPIs) and discussed the draft budget for 2024.

SOCAR Green LLC within the framework of the tasks arising from the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 25 December 2023 on declaring 2024 the "Green World Solidarity Year" in the Republic of Azerbaijan, to develop renewable energy sources in the country, as well as to achieve SOCAR's decarbonisation goals, the establishment of the company was approved.

At the Supervisory Board meeting, a presentation was also made on the implementation of the "New Operating Model". It was noted that the operating model applied to achieve the set strategic goals has made an important contribution to improving SOCAR's corporate governance processes, and business sustainability and bringing the corporate culture to a new stage of development in a short period.

Other issues on the agenda were exchanged at the meeting and relevant tasks were given.
NVIDIA Corporation NVDA formally launched a China-specific lower version of its most powerful gaming chip, which complies with the U.S. restrictions on the companys export of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to that country.

The graphic chip maker unveiled RTX 4090D on Thursday, which is available for sale on its China website. The newly launched graphic processing unit (GPU) has a reduced AI inference performance than the RTX 4090 sold in other countries.

According to a Bloomberg report, the chip has approximately 10% fewer processing cores than the RTX 4090. NVIDIA has also undertaken measures to prevent end-users from modifying the China-specific chip into a regular RTX 4090.

NVIDIA Corporation Price and Consensus

NVIDIA Corporation price-consensus-chart | NVIDIA Corporation Quote

NVIDIA Caught in the US-China Tech War

Over the past year, President Joe Biden's administration has been imposing trade restrictions to restrict China from getting its hands on cutting-edge technologies that can strengthen its military. Last year, the U.S. government restricted NVIDIA from selling its A100, A100X and H100 integrated circuits to China and Russia. It also banned the company from exporting DGX or other systems using A100 or H100 integrated circuits.

In October 2023, the Biden administration imposed fresh restrictions on the sale of AI chips and manufacturing equipment to China. The newly expanded restrictions have blocked NVIDIA from selling two AI chips  A800 and H800  specifically created for the Chinese market following last years export curb.

NVIDIA had cautioned that the restrictions may hurt its business in China. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company revealed that it may be forced to discontinue its business operations from countries on the U.S. governments export restriction list. The rules are expected to impact NVDAs ability to support its existing customers and complete the development of certain products in a timely manner.

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However, by launching the less powerful version of RTX 4090, which complies with all US restrictions, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company will be able to boost its sales in China. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

GenAI Investment Aids NVIDIAs Growth

NVIDIA has witnessed a remarkable run, showcasing a staggering 243% year-to-date surge in its stock price. The company also achieved a massive milestone in May 2023 by joining the exclusive club of companies with a $1 trillion market capitalization.

NVIDIAs robust stock price performance has been primarily driven by hopes that the company will be a prime beneficiary of growing investments in generative AI. The company dominates the market for AI chips. The meteoric rise of OpenAIs ChatGPT and its adoption among enterprises have already proven generative AI technologys usefulness across multiple industries, including marketing, advertising, customer service, education, content creation, healthcare, automotive, energy & utilities and video game development.

However, generative AI requires vast knowledge to create content and needs huge computational power. As a result, enterprises looking to create generative AI-based applications will be required to upgrade their existing network infrastructure.

NVIDIAs next-generation chips with high computing power can be the top choice for enterprises. The companys GPUs are already being applied in AI models. This is expanding NVDAs footprint in untapped markets like automotive, healthcare and manufacturing.

The generative AI revolution is likely to create huge demand for its next-generation high computing powerful chips. Considering surging AI investments across the data center end market, NVDA expects its fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 revenues to reach $20 billion from $6.05 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Other Companies Banking on AI Investment

As organizations pivot toward digital transformation, AI investments are set to soar in the coming years, becoming pivotal to staying competitive in the digital landscape. The latest projection from the International Data Corporation forecasts a monumental surge, estimating global AI spending to surpass $300 billion by 2026, indicating a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27% from 2022 to 2026.

Tech behemoths like Meta Platforms, Inc. META, Intel Corporation INTC and UiPath Inc. PATH are seizing the immense potential of the AI sector.

Meta is amplifying its presence in the AI realm with the groundbreaking Large Language Model Meta AI, or "Llama." Collaborating with Microsoft, Meta introduced Llama 2, the next-gen iteration, and Code Llama, an AI model proficient in generating and discussing code using text prompts. This Zacks Rank #2 company is set to launch Meta AI in beta  a sophisticated conversational assistant slated for integration across WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram, extending to their Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Quest 3.

Intel made a significant shift by launching AI chips for data centers and personal computers in 2023  a strategic leap in more than four decades. This move targets a robust foothold in the expansive AI domain, spanning cloud, enterprise servers, network infrastructure and edge computing  an alignment with the ever-evolving market trends. The upcoming Intel Gaudi3 chips, slated for release in 2024, signify this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company's focus on advancing AI accelerators, catering to the growing demand for generative AI models and deep learning applications.

UiPath is enhancing its platform with AI-centric services to foster top-line growth in 2024. These include augmentations to existing AutoPilot services and broader cross-platform connectivity options. This Zacks Rank #2 company's Clipboard AI, recognized as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2023, streamlines operations by eliminating manual copy-pasting.

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This handout screen grab captured from a video shows Yemen's Houthi fighters' takeover of the Israeli-linked Galaxy Leader Cargo Vessel in the Red Sea coast off Hudaydah, on November 20, 2023. Handout from Houthi Movement / Getty

Oil prices fell 3% on Thursday as fears about attacks in the Red Sea subsided.

That put oil markets are on track to notch a third straight month of declines.

Though Houthi attacks in the Red Sea caused detours, shipping lines are returning to the region.

Oil markets are on track to notch a three-month streak of declines, as crude prices are plummeting in the final stretch of this year's trading.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate both fell about 3% on Thursday, putting them on course for monthly declines of 2% and 2.8%, respectively. And since late September, they are both down about 17%.

That's as US crude output has been so strong that it helped offset OPEC+ supply cuts led by Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Meanwhile, upticks in oil that came when Houthis, an Iran-backed Yemen rebel group, began launching assaults on cargo ships passing through the Red Sea, have also eased.

Though the Red Sea is the quickest route between Europe and Asia, shipping lines began sending their vessels around Africa when the attacks started.

It also prompted concern that the war in Gaza was shifting into a larger, regional conflict, pushing Brent to just over $81 in mid-December.

However, the US has since organized a multinational naval task force to combat the Houthi threat, while Washington further doubled down with sanctions on groups in Turkey and Yemen accused of helping finance Houthi operations.

Though shipping companies such as Hapag-Lloyd still consider it too dangerous to return to the Red Sea, others are coming back. Maersk, the second-largest line by capacity, is returning almost all its vessels to traverse through the area, Reuters reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MOSCOW, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The BRICS+ Fashion Summit , held in Moscow from November 28th to December 2nd, brought together fashion experts from over 60 countries, showcasing their diverse expertise and potential. Heads of fashion associations, content creators, lecturers and designers shared their expertise with an international audience in this extraordinary summit.

Over 60 Countries Participated in BRICS+ Fashion Summit 2023

The Summit showcased a diverse range of events, featuring over 200 international speakers discussing industry matters. The Business program included 40 sessions, reaching 12,000 listeners, featuring speakers from Indonesia, China, India, and other countries. Speakers include Ali Charisma, Chairman of Indonesian Fashion Chamber, Yang Jian, Executive Chairman of China Fashion Association, Alia Khan, Founder and Chairwoman of Islamic Fashion and Design Council, Paras Bairoliya, Senior Member of Board of Governors at Fashion Design Council of India, and many more.

The Fashion Shows presented brands from 11 countries in Moscow's historical buildings, featuring 325 looks created by 126 stylists and makeup artists. The event showcased their unique perspectives and creativity. Renowned brands like ALDRIE (Indonesia), CHNNYU (China), The FDCI presents: riteshkumar; KHANIJO; Naushad Ali; Shruti Sancheti (India), Arzu Kaprol (Turkey) and many more graced the runway with their unique perspective, ideas; a testament to their immense talent and creativity.

The event also held a 5-day B2B showroom in Zaryadye, featuring over 130 brands and designers from different countries including Indonesia, India, Nigeria, Turkey and more, attracting buyers from various countries. Ali Charisma and Aldrie Indrayana, both from Indonesia, represented their brands here. The event fostered connections and deals worth 250 million rubles, according to Deputy Moscow Mayor Natalya Sergunina.

The 27-hour-long Fashion Intensive course aimed to equip attendees with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the fashion industry. The course included lectures from universities and industry experts like Gulbash Duggal, Dean of International College of Fashion, India; Bediz Yldrm, Founder of Bediz Co., Lecturer at Istanbul Fashion Academy, Tutu Jiang, Associate professor at School of Fashion Design of CAA, China; and others.

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The BRICS+ Fashion Summit hosted the World Fashion Shorts event, featuring award-winning fashion films and sustainable installations. Balthazar Magallon, Multimedia Artist, Founder of Manila International Fashion Week and Manila International Fashion Film Festival from Philippines, spoke on fashion's role in cognition and individuality.

Natalya Sergunina emphasizes the potential of strengthening partnerships with BRICS+ countries, stating that the international fashion forum will build on success and identify new areas for joint work.

Cision

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SOURCE BRICS+ Fashion Summit
(Bloomberg) -- Russia has based its Black Sea fleet in Crimea for 240 years. Now President Vladimir Putin is at risk of losing the flagship naval hub as Ukraine steps up attacks in the occupied peninsula.

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The assaults have forced Russia to move its ships further from harms way, almost a decade after Putin annexed Crimea with the goal of preserving the fleets presence there as Kyiv drew closer to the US and Europe.

No Crimean port is safe any more for Russian warships, said Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in Moscow. Ukraine has basically ejected the fleet from Crimea.Russia Strikes Ukrainian Cities Days After Warship Hit in Crimea

Its latest attack by a cruise missile claimed a large Russian landing ship at the eastern Crimean port of Feodosia on Tuesday. In all, Russia has lost at least 20 vessels including warships, a submarine and landing craft since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and independent assessments by the open-source intelligence outlet Oryx.

The breakthrough in Crimea provides Ukraine with some good news after its much-anticipated counteroffensive on land failed to oust Russian forces from occupied territory in the countrys east and south. Political disputes in the US and the European Union are holding up more than $110 billion of financial and military aid to Ukraine, casting doubt on allied support to Kyiv as the war approaches two years with no end in sight.

To be sure, while the attacks have increased pressure on Russian defenses in the peninsula as well as on supply lines to its troops in occupied southern Ukraine, theyre likely to have limited impact on battlefield developments with the fighting on land largely at a stalemate.

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Yet Ukraines success at sea is all the more notable because it lacks its own warships. Instead, its challenging Russias naval supremacy using missiles and unmanned maritime drones.

The Ukrainian attacks forced Russia to adopt a more permanent basing pattern along the eastern Black Sea coast as it transfers assets away from Crimea, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a report.

Supplies of British Storm Shadow and French Scalp cruise missiles have helped Ukraine tip the balance in its favor, enabling it to evade air defenses to conduct accurate strikes on Russian targets.

The raids have proved so effective that theyve helped Ukraine to break the Kremlins efforts to block its grain exports through the Black Sea after Moscow in July abandoned a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that had ensured safe passage for ships. Ukraine shipped 10 million tons of commodities, mostly grains, through the passage since August.

Russias fleet is no longer able to operate in the western part of the Black Sea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Oct. 24, calling it a historic achievement for his country. While Ukrainian forces havent yet established full fire control over Crimea and its waters, we will. Its just a matter of time, he said.

Ukraines navy reported Thursday that six Russian military ships were operating in the Black Sea, though it also accused Moscow of switching off vessels location transponders.

The sinking of Russias flagship Moskva missile cruiser in April last year was the most high-profile loss. Ukraine said its Neptune missiles attacked the ship, which sank after a fire broke out. Russia claimed at the time that the ship sunk in a storm, though video on social media contradicted this explanation.

The Kerch Strait bridge linking Russia to Crimea and used to resupply Moscows forces has been attacked twice, in October last year and in July. In September, Ukraine hit another shipyard on Crimeas western coast, affecting two navy vessels.

It fired cruise missiles into Russias Black Sea fleet headquarters in Crimeas Sevastopol in September, causing extensive damage and prompting Russia to relocate vessels to other ports including Feodosia and Novorossiysk.

The significance of the Feodosia strike wasnt lost on the Kremlin, which reported within hours that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had informed Putin about the damage to the landing ship. The assault came a day after Putin attended a flag-raising ceremony in St. Petersburg for three new military vessels as part of a shipbuilding program he said aimed to fundamentally improve Russias naval power in all strategic areas.

Russia hasnt commented on the location of its Black Sea fleet, though satellite images indicated vessels likely moved from Sevastopol following the strike on the headquarters.

After this weeks attack in Feodosia, the fleet is now essentially reliant on Novorossiysk. Still, Ukrainian naval drones succeeded in destroying a large landing ship there in August, too.

Russian plans to build a naval base further south along the Black Sea coast in Georgias Kremlin-backed separatist region of Abkhazia are expected to take several years. Abkhazia is internationally recognized as part of Georgia, which is protesting the move.

Russias fleet proved vulnerable in Crimea despite large-scale spending to bolster defenses on the peninsula. Shoigu said shortly after the 2014 annexation that Russia would invest 86 billion rubles (more than $2.4 billion at the time) to 2020 on new air defense and marine units.

Pro-Russian military Telegram channel Rybar, which has 1.2 million subscribers, directed its anger at Russias navy command for the latest loss, pointing the finger at negligence by the Black Sea fleet.

Neither Kyiv nor London have confirmed that a Storm Shadow missile was used in the latest assault though British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps welcomed the Ukrainian strike.

Russias dominance in the Black Sea is now challenged, Shapps said on X, formerly Twitter. This latest destruction of Putins navy demonstrates that those who believe theres a stalemate in the Ukraine war are wrong!

--With assistance from Gina Turner.

(Updates with Shoigu-Putin meeting in 16th paragraph. An earlier version of this story corrected the spelling of Novorossiysk in the 15th paragraph.)

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(Bloomberg) -- The Securities and Exchange Commissions failure to complete an ambitious climate-related agenda in 2023 is making environmental activists nervous.

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Less than a year before a US presidential election that could scuttle the regulators environmental, social and governance efforts, the SEC has yet to finish a mandate for public companies to disclose their environmental footprints. In addition, the agencys specialized ESG enforcement task force has brought few climate cases since it was created in 2021.

During the Biden administration, the SEC has led the charge in calling for more financial regulation and disclosures tied to ESG issues. But pressure on Chair Gary Gensler has been building as the agencys efforts become a political lightning rod.

Progressive advocates say the SEC should use securities regulations to tackle a range of social and climate issues, arguing that they are important to investors. But conservatives and business groups criticize such moves as overreach and have indicated they may sue to thwart them.

Theres still a lot of unfinished business to get over the finish line as quickly as possible, said Ben Cushing, director of the Sierra Clubs Fossil-Free Finance Campaign.

The most controversial part of the SECs agenda is a March 2022 proposal that would force businesses  in registration statements, annual reports or other documents  to detail risks that a warming planet poses to their operations. Under the plan, some large companies would also have to disclose emissions that come from other firms in their supply chain.

The SEC declined to comment.

Republican Opposition

Republicans, including two of the commissions five members, have attacked the proposal, which was floated with only Democratic support.

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Opponents have threatened lawsuits and congressional subpoenas, and have written thousands of comment letters against it. Some of their sharpest criticism has been aimed at a requirement to disclose so-called Scope 3 emissions  a broad term that essentially refers to pollution from other businesses in a companys supply chain and from consumption of the firms products by customers.

Though Gensler says the agency is busy reviewing comment letters, the strong pushback has some activists worried that the window to wrap up the rules will close if the agency doesnt move quickly. Theyre also concerned that the plan could be scaled back. Another proposed regulation to crack down on inflated ESG claims by fund managers also hasnt been finalized.

Hanging over the effort are the November elections, with control of both the White House and Congress up in the air. Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump, the partys front-runner, and Ron DeSantis have railed against ESG policies, calling them radical-left garbage and ideological joyrides, respectively. The president nominates the heads of the SEC and other top Washington regulators.

Its not the SECs job to be thinking about the political factors at play, but of course Republicans in Congress have not hidden the fact that they want to erase much of the Biden administrations regulatory agenda, the Sierra Clubs Cushing said.

Democratic Discord

Another complication is the long-standing lack of internal consensus among the agencys Democrats on how to finalize the package of climate risk disclosure rules. The SEC has stayed tight-lipped about whether public companies will have to disclose Scope 3 emissions, as proposed.

Many corporations report their own pollution, but industry groups have balked at doing the same for their suppliers and customers emissions. Companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Walmart Inc. have called for the Scope 3 mandate to be scrapped from the final rule.

In the past 21 months, agency staff, commissioners offices, climate activists and powerful trade associations have met dozens of times on the rule, with no clear resolution.

As the SEC proposals have lingered, other authorities have plowed ahead on climate disclosure rules. Thousands of US companies will fall under robust California mandates enacted this year and European Union regulations that went into effect in January.

This is an SEC that came in with a lot of energy and moved quick at the start, said Allison Handy, a partner at the law firm Perkins Coie who represents public companies. Im hopeful that were seeing the current commission learn from moving too fast. Theyre taking the time to create something that could survive.

Task Force

Meanwhile, the agencys efforts to scrutinize corporate Americas climate and ESG claims appear to have slipped to the back burner. The SEC removed ESG as a focus of its examination staff for 2024. It had been a priority in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Allison Lee, the SECs former acting chair, made a splash in early 2021 by announcing a 22-person task force of enforcement staff to find and prosecute ESG-related misconduct. Since then, the task force has brought four cases on alleged climate-related misconduct. Several others were filed on social or governance grounds.

In three of the enforcement cases, the SEC alleged that investment adviser units at Wall Street banks Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Deutsche Bank AG and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. made improper ESG investment claims or had procedural failures. The firms paid $24.5 million total in fines to settle the probes, and none of the firms admitted to or denied the SECs findings.

Some expected this year that the SEC would bring a lot of different enforcement actions based on ESG practices and open a new front, said Brantley Webb, a partner at Mayer Brown who represents retirement plan sponsors on ESG matters. And I dont think youve seen that.

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On this weeks episode of Taking the Hire Road, guest host Leah Shaver, president and CEO of the National Transportation Institute, is joined by Sean Horton, VP of sales at JobsInLogistics.com.

Like so many within the industry, Horton fell into trucking by accident. When he received a job offer from JobsInLogistics.com, he thought it was too good to be true and refused it outright.

In other words, when opportunity knocked, Horton was late in answering the door.

Given his firsthand experience, then, the importance of matching the right candidate to the right position is something that he has come to understand during his time in the industry. Even so, despite nearly a decade spent in trucking, Horton still regards himself as a novice.

When reflecting on the lessons he has learned in 2023, Horton summarizes them as eye-opening and challenging. The softer freight environment led to a slowdown in hiring among carriers, though this trend is beginning to reverse.

Looking forward to 2024, Horton anticipates a slow and potentially painful recovery in Q1 that might pick up steam in the following quarter. Hopefully, we will begin to see a turnaround in Q2 that will lead to 2024 being a positive year, when all is said and done.

For carriers to be able to take advantage of this recovery, however, they first need to ensure that their hiring needs are met. And to hire effectively, Horton argues, they need to be fully transparent with their hiring partners.

Just because you are needing to hire a Class 1 CDL driver in Indianapolis, he states, does not tell the whole story.

Why are you needing to hire this driver? Is it due to growth? Is it due to attrition? These types of questions, Horton notes, open a conversation that could ultimately maximize driver retention.

When putting together hiring strategies with carriers, it is vital to recognize the simple truth that different approaches will meet the needs of different carriers.

Nevertheless, Horton does see some broader trends at work as the industry continues to modernize. For instance, an increasing number of carriers need their drivers to be more technologically savvy in order to navigate their different operating systems and safety equipment.

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This need for tech-savvy drivers could be easily met by recruiting from a younger generation of candidates. To do so, however, Horton contends that recruiting firms need to meet them on their turf.

One of the most popular methods of reaching out to younger generations is through social media, wherein a company might post or repost a funny video with its logo visible.

Whatever the strategy, Horton stresses that it is important to cultivate positivity when recruiting. You can have the biggest dumpster fire in the world, the rails are coming off, the whole nine yards, but  when the day is said and done  you can still maintain a degree of positivity and walk away from a negative experience with a positive outlook.

Part of this positivity can be found in recognizing how success in one sector of this industry is linked to success in another.

We win together and we fail together, Horton asserts. Personally, I am absolutely a fan of winning.

Click here to learn more about JobsInLogistics.com.

More from Taking The Hire Road:

Reshaping the perception of trucking for a new era

Sleep smarter, drive safer

Lesson on reaching truckings next generation

The post Standing out in a crowd  Taking the Hire Road appeared first on FreightWaves.
'It's a trend we expect to keep growing': The number of unmarried couples buying homes together is surging  but there can be serious risks involved. Here's how to avoid them

With both wedding and home costs skyrocketing, many couples may be asking themselves: marriage or mortgage?

The most recent research on the subject suggests that more unmarried couples may be opting for the latter.

Dont miss

In a 2022 survey, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that 18% of first-time home buyers that year were unmarried couples  the highest percentage ever recorded.

And with The Knot reporting that weddings now run U.S. couples an average of $30,000, it makes sense that many opt for a secure long-term investment over a one-time expense.

It is a trend we expect to keep growing, NAR deputy chief economist Dr. Jessica Lautz told the Daily Mail. Even if you're looking at your partner and thinking you're not going to be together forever you can gain financially by buying together.

But a mortgage before marriage could hurt your net worth long-term. Heres a few common risks when buying with your partner before youre married  and how to avoid falling prey to them.

You may not own the house

When a married couple buys a home, each spouse owns half the home  even if both their names arent on the title.

But common-law regulations dont protect you as well as those for married couples. Only eight states recognize common-law marriages and they dont offer automatic asset sharing rights.

So if your name isnt on the title of a home and your common-law partners is, you dont actually own the home. If you break up, you have no rights to the house. Youre essentially considered a tenant.

To protect yourself, you need to be very explicit about getting your name on the title. There are several ways to ensure that you and your partner share equal rights to the property, whether that be by holding the title jointly or having separate titles.

Story continues

Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

Your partner may not be financially compatible with you

Have you discussed finances with your partner? Do you know the depths of their debt, savings and spending habits? Do you like the way your partner treats their money?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, you may not be ready to invest in real estate with your partner. Some people even see buying a home as similar to marriage because of how deeply entangled your financial situations will become. Divorces in both cases are neither cheap nor easy.

If youre still planning to buy with your boo, make sure to draft up a cohabitation agreement, which outlines each partners financial commitments to the home. In the event of a breakup, this document can work like a prenup and help you figure out the financial logistics.

Youre blinded by your desire to own a home

The median national home price is now $431,000, according to the Federal Reserves latest numbers. It may be tempting to buy a house any cheaper than this and see it as a deal. But ask yourself and your partner: can we afford the recommended 20% down payment?

Though NAR discovered that first-time home buyers usually paid 6% down, as financial expert Ramit Sethi puts it: If you havent saved a 20% down payment, youre not ready to buy a house.

Sethi explains that many couples are so caught up in the fantasy of having a house that theyre thinking with their emotions rather than their wallets.

If you buy a place and cant actually afford it, you and your partner will be house poor, having spent all your money on your new home. Many couples say financial problems break them up, so can your relationship withstand this?

Even if home prices arent as high as they once were, putting together the cash for a down payment plus all your closing costs can be a challenge. You can always eschew the house and try to find other ways to get financially involved with your partner. Perhaps you make a small investment in art together or put joint money in an ETF youre curious about.

Whatever you do, dont let your heart win out over your head. Your wallet will thank you.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
The U.S. presidential election is far from the only important political contest happening next year. Asian voters will take part in four electionsTaiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, and Indiain the first five months of next year. Together, these four economies contribute about $7 trillion in GDP, behind just the U.S. and China.

Taiwan, January

The first election will happen mere weeks into 2024, when voters in Taiwan go to the polls on Jan. 13 to choose the islands next president. Three different candidates are running to replace current president Tsai Ing-Wen of the Democratic Peoples Party, who cannot run again due to term limits.

Taiwan is one of the worlds most critical geopolitical flashpoints. The island is a self-governing democracy, yet the Peoples Republic of China regards the island as a breakaway province, and has threatened to use force if Taiwan ever declares formal independence. Taiwan is also home to some of the worlds most important companies, like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the leading manufacturer of advanced chips.

Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president, speaks at the opening ceremony for Micron Technology Inc.'s new plant in Taichung, Taiwan, on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Micron is the largest US memory-chip maker. Photographer: Annabelle Chih/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Beijing dislikes the DPP, which has taken a more anti-China stance and counts deepening democracy and safeguarding the islands sovereignty as its party values. William Lai, the islands vice president, is representing the DPP. By comparison, the other two candidates in the running, the Kuomintangs Hou Yu-ih and the Taiwan Peoples Party Ko Wen-je, support a thaw in cross-Strait relations. Current polling gives the DPP a slim lead ahead of the other two candidates.

Indonesia, February

Southeast Asias largest economy and the worlds third-largest democracy will choose its next president on Feb. 14. The country has enjoyed steady economic growth under popularand populistpresident Joko Widodo, or Jokowi to Indonesians.

Jokowi is ineligible to run again due to term limits, and the three candidates to replace himcurrent defense minister Prabowo Subianto, Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, and Jakarta governor Anies Baswedanlargely support continuing Jokowis economic policies.

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The Southeast Asian country has benefited from rising global demand for commodities, particularly for metals like nickel, a key component of electric vehicles and batteries. The Jokowi administration has tried to focus on downstreaming, or encouraging investment in value-added industries like smelting and refining. For example, Indonesia banned nickel ore exports in January 2020, encouraging foreign investment from China and elsewhere to flow into domestic smelters.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 16: Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks during the APEC CEO Summit at Moscone West on November 16, 2023 in San Francisco, California. The APEC summit is being held in San Francisco and runs through November 17. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Yet another of Jokowi's hoped-for legacies may prove to be a bit more challenging to carry out. The Indonesian president has set a bold plan to relocate the country's capital from Jakarta, on the island of Java, to "Nusantara," a wholly new city on the island of Borneo that is still under construction.

Indonesian officials cite overpopulation, traffic, and the threat of climate-change-induced flooding as reasons for the move. But moving the capital comes with a hefty projected price tag of around $30 billion. The Jokowi administration hopes foreign investment can cover 80% of the cost, yet foreign investors aren't biting. Jokowi has set a completion data of 2045 for Nusantara, but at least one of his potential successors may not be so keen on the move: Anies has already criticized the project.

South Korea, April

South Koreans will vote for the countrys legislature in April, which will be another measurement of public sentiment of president Yoon Suk Yeols tenure in office. Yoon, of the conservative Peoples Power Party, won the presidency in 2022 in one of the closest election in Koreas history.

Yoon has pursued a more pro-business agenda compared to his predecessor, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea. The Republic of Koreas president has sought to improve ties with Japan on both trade and security. In addition, Yoon has worked to establish a three-way security hotline with the neighboring country and the U.S.

Yoon also granted a pardon to Samsung executive chairman Lee Jae-yong for crimes including bribery. The justice ministry argued the pardon was needed to help South Korea overcome a national economic crisis.

Yoon is also promoting the countrys arms industry, especially as the U.S. and the European Union rapidly run through their stocks of ammunition and military hardware due to military aid to Ukraine. The Asian country surged to become the worlds ninth-largest arms exporter in 2022.

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - DECEMBER 13: President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol during a press conference at Binnenhof on December 13, 2023 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage)

The National Assembly, the countrys legislature, is dominated by Yoons main opposition, the Democratic Party of Korea. If the conservatives win in Aprils election, Yoon will be able to pass legislation and make key appointments without relying on cooperation from other parties.

South Koreans may already be weary about the state of politics in the country. Eunjung Lim, an associate professor of international studies at Kongju National University explained that people are quite tired with "vetocracy."

"Our president uses his veto power and so does the opposition party, and Korean people are very much frustrated with this overvetoed state of politics," Lim said. Yet she think it's unlikely either party will be able to win a landslide victory.

India, AprilMay

India, the worlds largest democracy, is expected to hold its general election over several weeks in April and May. The Bharatiya Janata Party and prime minister Narendra Modi are the frontrunners, according to recent polling.

Modi has enjoyed huge popularity since taking office in May 2014, and his tenure has coincided with a period of growth for the Indian economy. Modi has vowed to make India the worlds third largest economy if he wins a third term. Under the Modi administration, India has also seen a FDI inflow of over $500 billion. The country has been trying to position itself as an alternative to China as companies seek to diversify their operations.

The country is seeking to bolster its manufacturing sector, particularly as an alternative to China as companies seek to diversify their supply chains. India has pledged billions toward building a domestic chip sector, and companies like Apples manufacturer Foxconn are investing in local manufacturing of consumer electronics for export.

Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, speaks at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won three crucial state elections and unseated the opposition in two of them, strengthening Modi's bid for a third term in office. Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Yet the country still struggles with a skills gap and high unemployment, despite its young and growing population.

The Modi administration initially "overestimated how fast they could move on reforms," says Priyanka Kishore, founder of consultancy Asia Decoded, leading to a focus on "low-hanging fruits like attracting FDI inflow and infrastructure spending." These policies would likely continue under a possible third Modi term, she says.

Modi has tried to boost Indias profile by hosting high-profile summits like the G20 summit earlier this year. India has also endorsed security partnerships like the Quad with the U.S., Australia, and Japan to balance against China. Yet in other areas of geopolitics, India has refused to join the West: The country continues to trade with Russia, despite the latters invasion of Ukraine last year.

Domestically, Modi and the BJP have endorsed a Hindu nationalist agenda, which has proved controversial in multilingual India, which also boasts a sizable Muslim minority. Activists have also accused Modis government of trampling on civil liberties and civil society.

India's prime minister rejects these accusations. In an interview with the Financial Times last week, Modi cited the Parsis, a small religious minority of approximately 60,000 people, as proof that "Indian society itself has no feeling of discrimination towards any religious minority."

"There is a whole ecosystem that is using the freedom available in our country to hurl these allegations at us every day," he told the Financial Times. They have the right to do so. But others have an equal right to respond with facts.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Assessing the Sustainability of Werner Enterprises Inc's Upcoming Dividend

Werner Enterprises Inc (NASDAQ:WERN) recently announced a dividend of $0.14 per share, payable on 2024-01-17, 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 Werner Enterprises Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Werner Enterprises Inc Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 9 Warning Signs with AMGN.

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Werner Enterprises Inc ranks among the top five full-truckload carriers by revenue, with a fleet of more than 7,800 tractors, including owner-operators. The company has two reportable segments - TTS and Werner Logistics. It derives about 80% of its top line from a wide array of full-truckload shipping services (including dedicated contract carriage; roughly 20% comes from non-asset based logistics operations, including truck brokerage.

Werner Enterprises Inc's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Werner Enterprises Inc's Dividend History

Werner Enterprises Inc has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1987. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Werner Enterprises Inc has increased its dividend each year since 2010. The stock is thus listed as a dividend achiever, an honor that is given to companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 13 years. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Breaking Down Werner Enterprises Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Werner Enterprises Inc currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.25% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.31%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, Werner Enterprises Inc's annual dividend growth rate was 12.30%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 12.40% per year. And over the past decade, Werner Enterprises Inc's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at an impressive 10.60%.

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Based on Werner Enterprises Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Werner Enterprises Inc stock as of today is approximately 2.24%.

Werner Enterprises Inc's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-09-30, Werner Enterprises Inc's dividend payout ratio is 0.23.

Werner Enterprises Inc's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Werner Enterprises Inc's profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-09-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Werner Enterprises Inc's growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Werner Enterprises Inc's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Werner Enterprises Inc's revenue has increased by approximately 13.10% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 68.19% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Werner Enterprises Inc's earnings increased by approximately 14.80% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 53.44% of global competitors.

Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 7.10%, which outperforms approximately 47.15% of global competitors.

Engaging Conclusion: Werner Enterprises Inc's Dividend Outlook

In conclusion, Werner Enterprises Inc's upcoming dividend, consistent growth in dividend payments, and a prudent payout ratio, combined with strong profitability and growth metrics, paint a positive picture for the company's dividend sustainability. These factors are crucial for value investors who prioritize steady income and long-term investment stability. Will Werner Enterprises Inc continue its trajectory as a dividend achiever, and how will its growth strategies support this path? Only time will tell, but the current indicators are promising. For those seeking to expand their portfolio with high-dividend yield stocks, the High Dividend Yield Screener available to GuruFocus Premium users could be an invaluable tool.

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.


With shares up a whopping 244% year to date, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock has been a slam dunk for its near-term investors as the artificial intelligence (AI) boom sends demand for its data center chips through the roof. But what will the future bring -- especially as more companies join this red-hot industry? Let's dig deeper to find out how this technology giant may perform over the coming three years.

Why Nvidia?

If generative AI can be likened to the California Gold Rush, Nvidia is selling the picks and shovels via its advanced graphics processing units (GPUs). This hardware is crucial for training and running generative AI applications and giving data centers the computing power they need to offer AI-related solutions to their enterprise clients. The surging demand for these products shows no signs of stopping.

According to TechCrunch, Nvidia's third-quarter revenue jumped 206% year over year to $18.1 billion based on sales of some of its highest-margin products, like the H100 data center chip, which can cost over $30,000. And with consumer demand shifting from Nvidia's cheaper consumer GPUs to its most expensive offerings, the chipmaker could quickly become one of the world's most profitable companies. In the third quarter, its net income margin rose from 46% to 51% while profits jumped by 588% to $10 billion.

NVDA Net Income (TTM) Chart

NVDA Net Income (TTM) data by YCharts. TTM = trailing 12 months.

Keeping the competition at bay

As with any new technology, the prospects of soaring growth and high margins are attracting more competition. For Nvidia, this will take two forms. First will be the cloud service providers, like Amazon and Alphabet, which are developing homegrown AI chips. But this will mainly be for internal use. These companies will probably be unable to completely end their reliance on Nvidia because of its technical lead as a GPU specialist and how fast demand is growing.

Nvidia's most credible threat may come from its old rival, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), also a big player in the GPU industry. The company is releasing its MI300 family of AI chips it claims outperforms Nvidia's H100 on metrics like training and inference (running generative AI applications).

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However, AMD's CEO, Lisa Su, believes the market for AI chips will expand from $45 billion to $400 billion by 2027. This leaves plenty of room for both companies to sell these products as fast as they can make them.

Image source: Getty Images.

Shares remain relatively affordable

With a market cap of $1.22 trillion, Nvidia is already the world's sixth-largest company, behind e-commerce giant Amazon. The tech giant's epic scale means it will be harder to impress the market, which could discourage growth investors. That said, Nvidia's valuation isn't as high as it looks. While its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 27 is over 10 times the S&P 500 average, the metric doesn't account for Nvidia's explosive growth rate or sky-high margins.

The stock's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio (which looks at projected 12-month net income) may give a better understanding of Nvidia's worth. With a forward P/E of 25, shares are cheaper than the market average of 26. The company could become undervalued over the next three years if its stock price doesn't rise fast enough to match its explosive AI-driven expansion.

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Where Will Nvidia's Soaring Stock Be in 3 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Laman Ismayilova

Culture Volunteers Public Association has summed up the results of the year. The ceremony took place at Nizami Cinema, where the guests first got acquainted with a photo exhibition reflecting the association activities, Azernews reports.

A moment of silence was observed to honor the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan's independence and territorial integrity.

The Exemplary Band of the Defense Ministry performed the National Anthem of Azerbaijan.

Furthermore, a video was shown dedicated to the activities of the Culture Volunteers Public Association which operates since April, 2023.

Deputy Culture Minister Farid Jafarov addressed the event. In his speech, he underlined that the Culture Volunteers Public Association took an active part in numerous events organized by the ministry and contributed to the processes of cultural development. The Deputy Culture Minister emphasized that the activities of the association members played a big role in the successful conduct of these events.

In their remarks, MP, academician Nizami Jafarov, People's Artist, actor Nureddin Mehtikhanli, Director of the State Film Fund, Honored Artist Jamil Guliyev, People's Artist, composer Faig Sujaddinov and People's Artist, sculptor-monumentalist Omar Eldarov stressed the importance of volunteering in the field of culture and noted that the active participation of youth in this process deserves a special praise.

Chairman of the Public Association, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History Ulviya Babirli spoke about the activities and tasks of the association.

Ten members of the association were honored with Culture Volunteers of the Year Awards for active participation in events held in 2023.

Honorary members of the association, including soloists Turkai Jafarlinskaya, Ilkin Dovletov, Orkhan Huseynli and Arastun Guliyev performed the composition "Ey V?t?n".
Nio (NYSE: NIO) stock has been on a roll over the past month. The American depositary shares of the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker continued that run this week with double-digit gains.

As of early Friday, the shares are 12% higher than last week's closing price, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Some news from the company contributed to that but so did more general tailwinds. In fact, the strength of the EV market in China has contributed to a more than 30% gain in Nio stock over the last month.

Nio Day 2023

Nio held its annual Nio Day event last weekend, and the 2023 presentation impressed investors. The company showed that it wants to continue to expand its market share as it introduced its new "executive flagship" ET9 sedan. With an expected price tag of about $112,000, the ET9 will vault Nio into the ultra-luxury market for the first time when it begins sales in 2025.

It also highlights Nio's in-house technology that it plans to use across its vehicle lineup. But Nio isn't yet profitable, so it needs capital to continue developing technologies and new vehicles. That's where more good news came for the company this week.

Competing in a growing market

Nio announced it closed on a $2.2 billion equity investment from Abu Dhabi-based investor CYVN Holdings. CYVN has previously invested in Nio and now holds about a 20% equity stake in the EV maker. Commenting on the investment, Nio CEO William Li stated, "With the enhanced balance sheet, Nio is well prepared to sharpen brand positioning, bolster sales and service capabilities, and make long-term investment in core technologies to navigate the intensifying competitive landscape."

Competition is heating up in China because EV demand remains strong there. According to early data from research firm GlobalData, almost 27% of vehicles sold in China in the third quarter were EVs. That compares to about 8% in the U.S.

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Investors see a firmed-up balance sheet and expanding vehicle lineup as good signs. As mentioned, Nio isn't profitable yet, but there are signs that it will eventually get there. That helps explain the recent surge in Nio shares and why there could be more to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nio right now?

Before you buy stock in Nio, consider this:

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A new law coming into effect at the beginning of 2024 will affect numerous small business owners.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Corporate Transparency Act (ACT) will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. The law is intended to take action against money laundering, tax fraud, and financing for terrorism by retrieving more information around the ownership of a business.

For some companies, what will be required will be the completion of a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report, which must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The report will need information pertaining to any individual who, directly or indirectly exercises substantial control over a reporting company or owns or controls at least 25 percent of the ownership interests of a reporting company, according to a compliance document released by FinCEN.

Those that must complete the report will be domestic reporting companies (corporations, limited liability companies, and entities created with a secretary of state or other office in the United States) and foreign reporting companies. There are 23 types of entities that will not need to submit the report, per FinCEN.

In addition, individuals who created their business before Jan. 1, 2024, will have until Jan. 1, 2025, to file the initial report.

Companies created on or after Jan. 1, 2024, will have to complete their information sooner.

A reporting company created or registered on or after January 1, 2024, will have 30 days to file its initial beneficial ownership information report, the FinCEN document reads. This 30-day deadline runs from the time the company receives actual notice that its creation or registration is effective, or after a secretary of state or similar office first provides public notice of its creation or registration, whichever is earlier.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, reporting companies will be required to provide the following:

Story continues

Legal name

Trademarks

Current United States address

Taxpayer identification number

Jurisdiction where the company was established or officially registered

Failure to complete the report can result in civil and criminal penalties.

For reporting companies created or registered on or after Jan. 1, 2024, beneficial owners will need to provide individual information as well.

To fill out the report, individuals can choose to do it on their own. However, it will not be available until Jan. 1, 2024. While there is autonomy for that individual to complete the form themselves, it is suggested that an advisor, attorney, or accountant may ensure the filing meets FinCENs standards.

It may not be difficult to complete the forms, but with everything a small business owner must do to operate a successful business, I fear this is something that could be missed or not done [promptly], Roger Harris, president of Padgett Business Services, said, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

He added, There are some issues in the law that could require an interpretation of certain facts to determine who is a beneficial owner that must be included in the filings. If you find yourself in this situation consult with an attorney to help you decide how your set of facts fits within this law.
Inaugurated in 2020, TADS Awards is the world's first annual international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities ("TADS") sectors.

The TADS Awards 2023 has selected a total of 15 winners and a number of Rising Stars for three award categories, out of the nominees from 19 countries and territories around the world.

The TADS AWARDS 2023 Award Presentation Ceremony will be held in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport

HONG KONG, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TADS Awards, the world's leading international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities (TADS) sectors, is delighted to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. This prestigious event recognizes and honors outstanding contributions and achievements in the TADS industry worldwide.

The TADS Awards 2023 celebrated the remarkable advancements and transformative power of tokenization. The winners were selected through a rigorous judging process, with industry experts and thought leaders carefully evaluating each nomination based on their expertise and insights. The participating countries and territories (listed alphabetically) include Australia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, China, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. This international representation ensures a wide range of perspectives and expertise in the evaluation process.

Winners of the 4th Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities Awards, TADS AWARDS 2023 Announced

A total of fifteen winners were carefully chosen across three award categories: "Best of Class TADS," "Ecosystem Excellence," and "Web3 Innovations." These winners represent the pinnacle of excellence in their respective fields, and their contributions have significantly impacted the TADS industry.

The TADS Awards 2023 Awards Presentation Ceremony will bring industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries together to celebrate the advancements and transformative power of tokenization. It will take place in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport.

Story continues

The TADS Awards 2023 winners, Rising Stars winners and Student Award winner are:

1) "BEST OF CLASS TADS" category, for issuers of different types of Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities -

Winners:

Private Equity Award - PUBLISH

Fixed & Commercial Asset Award - Real-X-Token

Tokenized Debt & Bond Award - Helix

Arts & Collectible Award - GemSet

Tokenized Fund Award - Frictionless Markets

Rising Stars:

2) "ECOSYSTEM EXCELLENCE" category, for service providers and vertical solution providers along the TADS value chain -

Winners:

Identity & RegTech Solution Award - Shufti Pro

Tokenization & Brokerage Solution Award - Hamsa

Custodian & Trust Solution Award - Manta Network

DeFi & Asset Management Solution Award - Harbour Industrial Capital

Trading & Liquidity Solution Award - Matrixport

Rising Stars:

3) "WEB3 INNOVATIONS" category, for technology companies and service operators from different key areas in Web3 space -

Winners:

Artificial Intelligence Solution Award - Node Nexus Network

Metaverse, AR/ER, NFT Solution Award - CanvasLand

Game, IOT & Robotic Award- LOST (Lemniscate Imagination)

SDG / ESG Solution Award - MetAmazonia

DLT, Blockchain & Cyber Security - XDC Network

Rising Stars:

4) "STUDENT" category (in collaboration with Fintechstic organized by The School of Business and Management of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School))

Winner : MDB - Tokenized Bond for the Blue Economy

Samson Lee, Chairman of the Organization Committee of TADS Awards 2023 and Founder & CEO of CSpro, expressed his excitement about the winners, stating, "We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. Congratulations to all the winners who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the sector." He added, "This year, we are very pleased to expand the ecosystem to student communities with collaboration with The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Their knowledge and ingenuity in the TADS area are very impressive."

Christy Yeung, Head of Fintech and Green Finance Projects at Business School of The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology commented, "In this 4th edition of Fintechstic, we are very delighted to collaborate with TADS Awards." She added, "This year, we have reached a record participation in the award with more than 800 students taking part in this annual event. Big congratulations to the champions, Ananth Dhananjay, Thomas Beaudet and Xinyue Ma from the MDB team."

Prof. Haitian Lu, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in Accounting and Finance, Director of Mainland Development Office and Co-Director of the Center for Economic Sustainability and Entrepreneurial Finance (CESEF) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) commented, "The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been ranked No. 1 university for blockchain in the world, according to the latest "Best Universities for Blockchain 2022" rankings by CoinDesk and is a leader in blockchain technology education and research in Hong Kong. We are very pleased to collaborate with TADS Awards to allow students to gain research experience at the forefront of the industry with real-life projects in the TADS sector, and on the other hand contributing our unique research skills and resources to support the growth of the industry."

"Since TADS Awards have been launched in 2020, as one of the organizers of this award, we are very glad to see this award has been very well-received and recognized by the international community in the TADS industry. The quality and diversity of nominees this year have been exceptional, showcasing the dynamic and innovative nature of the Tokenized Asset & Digitized Securities industry." Peter Yip, Director of Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, added, "In view of the growing new TechFin era, we not only promote the excellence and best practices in tokenization transformation, but also developing education and training programs for TechFin talents. Future talents are instrumental in supporting the growth and development of the blooming Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. We are committed to groom new talents for the new economy!"

Stephen Law, JP, CPPCC National Committee Member and Vice Chairman at Coinstreet Group, commented, "Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities, TADS, are global opportunities. Hong Kong has a good track record being the international financial hub because of its financial, legal and monetary systems and is the ideal city for building next generation digital asset hub. TADS Awards originated from Hong Kong, being the world's first international awards of such space and with 4 years of encouraging growth rate and successful track records enhance such vision of Hong Kong."

TADS Awards is co-organized by Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, Coinstreet, and DAS (Digital Asset Series) Seminars. It has received strong support from strategic partners, including (alphabetically): Accenture, Association of Family Offices in Asia, Crypto Valley Association, Deloitte Hong Kong, DLA Piper, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Cyberport, IBM, InvestHK, Microsoft Hong Kong, Morningstar, Somerley Capital, The Tokenizer, and West Park Capital, among many others, plus support from its Global Ambassadors from over sixteen countries.

For more information about TADS Awards and results from the previous years, please visit https://tadsawards.org/

About TADS Awards

First launched in 2020, the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities Awards ("TADS Awards") is the world's first annual international award for the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. Hosted annually, TADS Awards aims to nurture the growth of Web3 industries by gathering leaders and experts from across the world's financial technology and financial service sectors to establish best practices and performance standards through recognizing and honoring individuals and businesses for their distinguished achievements and contributions in TADS sectors. For more information, please visit - www.tadsawards.org

About Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute (APDEI) aims to create a center of excellence, leadership, and partnership to incubate new thinking and innovation in practice; advance thought-leadership; generate new growth opportunities; enhance the competitiveness and productivity of business; and cultivate talents to accelerate the digital economy. APDEI is a co-organizer of the Digital Asset Series ( www.digitalassetseries.org )  a series of seminars that provides free education for the general public about the ever-growing landscape of digital assets and facilitates mass adoption. For more information, please visit - www.apdei.org

About Coinstreet - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning financial services and professional consulting firm focused in the Digital Asset sector. Coinstreet offers innovative fintech services, and business and operation solutions, covering four key business segments including: Tokenization Business, Asset Management, Web3 Enterprise Solutions, and Ecosystem Development. Over the past years, Coinstreet has helped 20+ Blockchain, Digital Asset and FinTech projects in the global market. For more information, please visit www.coinstreet.group

About CSpro (Hong Kong) Limited - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

CSpro is a joint venture between Coinstreet Holdings Limited, an award-winning technology financial services group focused in the digital asset sector, and Somerley Capital Holdings Limited, a leading financial services group in Hong Kong. CSpro provides issuance and distribution services for security token offerings to professional investors (as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance) and is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission to carry out Type 1 (dealing in securities) regulated activities having CE registration number BSH213. For more information, please visit https://hk.cspro.io

About DAS Seminars

Digital Asset Series (DAS) is a series of educational seminars covering twelve (12) key topics in Digital Asset space the general public, aiming to facilitate mass adoption of digital assets. DAS is co-organized by seven (7) leading professional organizations in the digital asset ecosystem in Hong Kong, namely (alphabetically) the Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute ("APDEI"), the Asia Security Token Alliance ("ASTA"), the Hong Kong Blockchain Association ("HKBA"), the Hong Kong Digital Asset Society ("HKDAS"), the Hong Kong Digital Finance Association ("HKDiFi"), the NFT Association of Hong Kong ("NFTAHK") and the Society of Registered Financial Planners ("HKRFP"). DAS is also supported by Invest Hong Kong, the HKSTP - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Cyberport , and five (5) leading universities including the HKUST Crypto-Fintech Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Research Academy (CEFAR), the LITE-lab (Law, Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship Lab) of Faculty of Law at The Hong Kong University, the Faculty of Digital Transformation Centre at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the EMBA Programme at the City University of Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.digitalassetseries.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/winners-of-the-4th-tokenized-assets--digitized-securities-awards-tads-awards-2023-announced-302023748.html

SOURCE TADS Awards
Inaugurated in 2020, TADS Awards is the world's first annual international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities ("TADS") sectors.

The TADS Awards 2023 has selected a total of 15 winners and a number of Rising Stars for three award categories, out of the nominees from 19 countries and territories around the world.

The TADS AWARDS 2023 Award Presentation Ceremony will be held in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport

HONG KONG, Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TADS Awards, the world's leading international awards for the Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities (TADS) sectors, is delighted to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. This prestigious event recognizes and honors outstanding contributions and achievements in the TADS industry worldwide.

The TADS Awards 2023 celebrated the remarkable advancements and transformative power of tokenization. The winners were selected through a rigorous judging process, with industry experts and thought leaders carefully evaluating each nomination based on their expertise and insights. The participating countries and territories (listed alphabetically) include Australia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, China, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. This international representation ensures a wide range of perspectives and expertise in the evaluation process.

Winners of the 4th Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities Awards, TADS AWARDS 2023 Announced (PRNewsfoto/TADS Awards)

A total of fifteen winners were carefully chosen across three award categories: "Best of Class TADS," "Ecosystem Excellence," and "Web3 Innovations." These winners represent the pinnacle of excellence in their respective fields, and their contributions have significantly impacted the TADS industry.

The TADS Awards 2023 Awards Presentation Ceremony will bring industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries together to celebrate the advancements and transformative power of tokenization. It will take place in early February 2024 at Hong Kong Cyberport.

Story continues

The TADS Awards 2023 winners, Rising Stars winners and Student Award winner are:

1) "BEST OF CLASS TADS" category, for issuers of different types of Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities -

Winners:

Private Equity Award - PUBLISH

Fixed & Commercial Asset Award - Real-X-Token

Tokenized Debt & Bond Award - Helix

Arts & Collectible Award - GemSet

Tokenized Fund Award - Frictionless Markets

Rising Stars:

2) "ECOSYSTEM EXCELLENCE" category, for service providers and vertical solution providers along the TADS value chain -

Winners:

Identity & RegTech Solution Award - Shufti Pro

Tokenization & Brokerage Solution Award - Hamsa

Custodian & Trust Solution Award - Manta Network

DeFi & Asset Management Solution Award - Harbour Industrial Capital

Trading & Liquidity Solution Award - Matrixport

Rising Stars:

3) "WEB3 INNOVATIONS" category, for technology companies and service operators from different key areas in Web3 space -

Winners:

Artificial Intelligence Solution Award - Node Nexus Network

Metaverse, AR/ER, NFT Solution Award - CanvasLand

Game, IOT & Robotic Award- LOST (Lemniscate Imagination)

SDG / ESG Solution Award - MetAmazonia

DLT, Blockchain & Cyber Security - XDC Network

Rising Stars:

4) "STUDENT" category (in collaboration with Fintechstic organized by The School of Business and Management of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School))

Winner : MDB - Tokenized Bond for the Blue Economy

Samson Lee, Chairman of the Organization Committee of TADS Awards 2023 and Founder & CEO of CSpro, expressed his excitement about the winners, stating, "We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 4th Annual TADS Awards. Congratulations to all the winners who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the sector." He added, "This year, we are very pleased to expand the ecosystem to student communities with collaboration with The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Their knowledge and ingenuity in the TADS area are very impressive."

Christy Yeung, Head of Fintech and Green Finance Projects at Business School of The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology commented, "In this 4th edition of Fintechstic, we are very delighted to collaborate with TADS Awards." She added, "This year, we have reached a record participation in the award with more than 800 students taking part in this annual event. Big congratulations to the champions, Ananth Dhananjay, Thomas Beaudet and Xinyue Ma from the MDB team."

Prof. Haitian Lu, Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in Accounting and Finance, Director of Mainland Development Office and Co-Director of the Center for Economic Sustainability and Entrepreneurial Finance (CESEF) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) commented, "The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been ranked No. 1 university for blockchain in the world, according to the latest "Best Universities for Blockchain 2022" rankings by CoinDesk and is a leader in blockchain technology education and research in Hong Kong. We are very pleased to collaborate with TADS Awards to allow students to gain research experience at the forefront of the industry with real-life projects in the TADS sector, and on the other hand contributing our unique research skills and resources to support the growth of the industry."

"Since TADS Awards have been launched in 2020, as one of the organizers of this award, we are very glad to see this award has been very well-received and recognized by the international community in the TADS industry. The quality and diversity of nominees this year have been exceptional, showcasing the dynamic and innovative nature of the Tokenized Asset & Digitized Securities industry." Peter Yip, Director of Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, added, "In view of the growing new TechFin era, we not only promote the excellence and best practices in tokenization transformation, but also developing education and training programs for TechFin talents. Future talents are instrumental in supporting the growth and development of the blooming Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. We are committed to groom new talents for the new economy!"

Stephen Law, JP, CPPCC National Committee Member and Vice Chairman at Coinstreet Group, commented, "Tokenized Assets & Digitized Securities, TADS, are global opportunities. Hong Kong has a good track record being the international financial hub because of its financial, legal and monetary systems and is the ideal city for building next generation digital asset hub. TADS Awards originated from Hong Kong, being the world's first international awards of such space and with 4 years of encouraging growth rate and successful track records enhance such vision of Hong Kong."

TADS Awards is co-organized by Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute, Coinstreet, and DAS (Digital Asset Series) Seminars. It has received strong support from strategic partners, including (alphabetically): Accenture, Association of Family Offices in Asia, Crypto Valley Association, Deloitte Hong Kong, DLA Piper, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Cyberport, IBM, InvestHK, Microsoft Hong Kong, Morningstar, Somerley Capital, The Tokenizer, and West Park Capital, among many others, plus support from its Global Ambassadors from over sixteen countries.

For more information about TADS Awards and results from the previous years, please visit https://tadsawards.org/

About TADS Awards

First launched in 2020, the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities Awards ("TADS Awards") is the world's first annual international award for the Tokenized Assets & Digital Securities sector. Hosted annually, TADS Awards aims to nurture the growth of Web3 industries by gathering leaders and experts from across the world's financial technology and financial service sectors to establish best practices and performance standards through recognizing and honoring individuals and businesses for their distinguished achievements and contributions in TADS sectors. For more information, please visit - www.tadsawards.org

About Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute (APDEI) aims to create a center of excellence, leadership, and partnership to incubate new thinking and innovation in practice; advance thought-leadership; generate new growth opportunities; enhance the competitiveness and productivity of business; and cultivate talents to accelerate the digital economy. APDEI is a co-organizer of the Digital Asset Series ( www.digitalassetseries.org )  a series of seminars that provides free education for the general public about the ever-growing landscape of digital assets and facilitates mass adoption. For more information, please visit - www.apdei.org

About Coinstreet - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning financial services and professional consulting firm focused in the Digital Asset sector. Coinstreet offers innovative fintech services, and business and operation solutions, covering four key business segments including: Tokenization Business, Asset Management, Web3 Enterprise Solutions, and Ecosystem Development. Over the past years, Coinstreet has helped 20+ Blockchain, Digital Asset and FinTech projects in the global market. For more information, please visit www.coinstreet.group

About CSpro (Hong Kong) Limited - Co-organizer of TADS Awards

CSpro is a joint venture between Coinstreet Holdings Limited, an award-winning technology financial services group focused in the digital asset sector, and Somerley Capital Holdings Limited, a leading financial services group in Hong Kong. CSpro provides issuance and distribution services for security token offerings to professional investors (as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance) and is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission to carry out Type 1 (dealing in securities) regulated activities having CE registration number BSH213. For more information, please visit https://hk.cspro.io

About DAS Seminars

Digital Asset Series (DAS) is a series of educational seminars covering twelve (12) key topics in Digital Asset space the general public, aiming to facilitate mass adoption of digital assets. DAS is co-organized by seven (7) leading professional organizations in the digital asset ecosystem in Hong Kong, namely (alphabetically) the Asia Pacific Digital Economy Institute ("APDEI"), the Asia Security Token Alliance ("ASTA"), the Hong Kong Blockchain Association ("HKBA"), the Hong Kong Digital Asset Society ("HKDAS"), the Hong Kong Digital Finance Association ("HKDiFi"), the NFT Association of Hong Kong ("NFTAHK") and the Society of Registered Financial Planners ("HKRFP"). DAS is also supported by Invest Hong Kong, the HKSTP - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Cyberport , and five (5) leading universities including the HKUST Crypto-Fintech Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the CUHK Engineering FinTech Applied Research Academy (CEFAR), the LITE-lab (Law, Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship Lab) of Faculty of Law at The Hong Kong University, the Faculty of Digital Transformation Centre at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the EMBA Programme at the City University of Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.digitalassetseries.com

SOURCE TADS Awards
FILE PHOTO: The headquarters of Wirecard AG, an independent provider of outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payment transactions is seen in Aschheim

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Accountancy firm EY is facing a new lawsuit claiming 1.5 billion euros ($1.66 billion) in damages over its role in auditing Wirecard's books before the German payments company collapsed in 2020.

The suit was filed by Wirecard's insolvency manager Michael Jaffe in a court in Stuttgart, a court spokesperson said on Friday.

It is one of several lawsuits EY is facing in the matter, including an investor suit filed last week claiming more than 700 million euros in damages.

EY declined to comment, as it did on last week's suit.

The accounting firm has previously rebuffed claims against it for damages in relation to Wirecard.

Wirecard filed for insolvency in June 2020, owing creditors almost $4 billion, after disclosing a 1.9 billion-euro hole in its accounts that EY said was the result of a sophisticated global fraud.

The firm's downfall shook the German business establishment, putting politicians who had backed it under intense scrutiny, along with regulators who took years to investigate allegations against the payments company that were circulating prior to its collapse.

Klaus Nieding, a lawyer representing shareholders in last week's lawsuit, said that EY should have seen "relatively easily that the alleged 1.9 billion did not exist in Wirecard's corresponding accounts," because another auditor later "found this out very quickly".

Handelsblatt first reported the value of damages sought in the Stuttgart case earlier on Friday.

($1 = 0.9051 euros)

(Reporting by Tom Sims and Alexander Huebner; Editing by Miranda Murray and Sharon Singleton)
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If a movie were made about activities in the Fredericksburg area in 2023, it might be called The Rise of the Data Centers.

This time last year, thered been little public discussion about the centers, physical locations that store computing machines and their associated hardware. But all that changed, starting in January when Spotsylvania County scheduled a public hearing to address a techno campus.

In the months that followed, every locality from Louisa to Caroline County, except the city of Fredericksburg, got into the business. They approved rezonings needed to bring data center campuses to their localities or performance agreements with Amazon Data Services that promise to bring billions of dollars to localities, in infrastructure, taxes and new jobs.

At the same time, the Spotsylvania School Board continued to make local, and national headlines, for its actions, including efforts to remove from school libraries books deemed sexually explicit.

Election frenzy swept the region in the summer and fall, a precursor to the showdown coming in the 2024 presidential race. Spotsylvania also moved forward with a water park that could bring as many activities, and traffic, to the Thornburg area as Kings Dominion does to the south.

Heres a look back at some of the major events in Fredericksburg during 2023.

DATA CENTER CENTRAL

In July, members of the King George Planning Commission considered the impact of Birchwood Power Partners plan to turn 869 acres into the largest data center complex in the United States. Data center space would cover 7.5 million square feet, along Route 3 near the King George Regional Landfill.

Planner Denise Flatley wondered if the county was ready to become data center central.

As shown by activity in 2023, that description could apply to central Virginia, from Louisa County to the west of Fredericksburg to Caroline County to its south.

King George officials approved the Birchwood rezoning, and the accompanying performance agreement with Amazon Data Services. Its Board of Supervisors postponed the decision for more than a month so residents could digest the details of the agreement, which offers incentives and bonuses to Amazon  rebates the giant company would get from the tax money it pays to the county.

Amazons lawyer Charlie Payne repeatedly has quoted estimates that each 1 million square feet of data center space would generate about $17 million annually in real estate and equipment taxes in King George.

The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors didnt give its residents a chance to mull things over. The board added the agreement to its agenda on Dec. 12, discussed it in closed session and voted to approve it 52 at the end of the meeting.

Amazon plans to build four data center projects in Spotsylvania and has said it expects to invest at least $6 billion in the county. The result: an average of $13.8 million in tax revenue annually for 15 years, beginning in 2025, according to county reports.

As with the King George agreement, Spotsylvania will provide rebates to Amazon from the tax money it provides to pay for some of Amazons infrastructure costs.

While there hasnt been a lot of public discussion on data centers, county officials across the region and Amazon representatives have been working behind the scenes for years to bring the Fredericksburg-area projects to fruition.

In 2019, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance negotiated an agreement with Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties to offer a substantially lower equipment tax to Amazon. The rate is $1.25 per $100 of assessed value of equipment, and in King Georges case is in effect through 2051.

In the last two years, Spotsylvania worked with Amazon on the agreement, and officials believe it will be a boon for the county, said David Ross, whose term on the board ends this weekend.

Im happy to be leaving on a game-changing deal like this, said Ross, who unsuccessfully sought a spot on the School Board.

SCHOOL BOARD CHAOS

The year was controversial and chaotic for the Spotsylvania School Board, which battled constantly over such issues as school library book removals and infighting that resulted in a fiery final meeting in 2023.

The books issue started in March when Superintendent Mark Taylor announced his decision to remove 14 titles from school libraries. He said that because they had been challenged using the existing process for challenging instructional materials, he would continue to consider them instructional materials.

In October, the superintendent removed 23 more titles from high school libraries.

According to the school division, the books were reviewed by ad-hoc committees of parents and community members, which recommended that they should remain in high school libraries.

The ensuing book removals sparked divisions in the community and the School Board, with critics saying the committees lacked diversity and decrying Taylors decisions as an outright book ban.

The school division stated after one removal action that the decision to remove these books aligns with the recently conducted survey in which parents were asked if they wanted their children to have access to sexually explicit literature.

Approximately 70% of parents expressed their preference against such access.

The board closed the year with a meeting in which members were accused of changing meeting minutes.

The November elections brought change to the School Board with three seats turning over.

April Gillespie, Nicole Cole, Lorita Daniels and Lisa Phelps remain. Rabih Abuismail, Dawn Shelley and Kirk Twigg are being replaced by new representatives, beginning in January.

Abuismail and Shelley did not run for reelection. Twigg lost his bid for another term.

Twigg also closed the year with a plea deal in a forgery case. The charges stemmed from a 2022 incident in which the Livingston representative, the board chairman at the time, altered a contract for the acting superintendent.

Twigg, 66, agreed to a deal in December that calls for him to repay the school system more than $10,000 while avoiding any criminal convictions. He had faced a felony charge of forging a public record and a misdemeanor charge of tampering with a county record.

ELECTION SELECTIONS

While Republican Tara Durant earned a victory in the 27th Senate District, in a crowded field that included businessman Joel Griffin, independent Monica Gary and write-in candidate Matt Strickland, Democrats ultimately took control of the Virginia House and Senate in the November elections.

Fredericksburg resident Joshua Cole was among the winners. He was elected to the 65th House District, marking the second victory for him in state politics in four years.

In local races, most incumbents were returned to office, but there were a few key exceptions. Matt Kelly, who has served for most of the last two decades, lost his seat on the Fredericksburg City Council.

In Stafford County, Deputy Deuntay Diggs celebrated a victory, after being told a Black gay man would never win a Board of Supervisors seat in his rural district.

King George County voters elected a new majority of conservative members to its Board of Supervisors.

And in Spotsylvania County, controversy prevailed in the days leading up to the election. A judge ruled in late October that Nick Ignacio, a candidate for clerk of Circuit Court, was prohibited from handing out misleading ballots that claimed hed been endorsed by Democrats and Republicans. Ignacio lost at the polls, too, as he was soundly defeated by incumbent Christy Jett.

The closest race in the region was for Caroline Countys commonwealths attorney, in which incumbent Ben Heidt defeated challenger Cary Bowen by 11 votes. A recount, completed six weeks after Election Day, certified those results.

WORK ON WATER PARK

Work started in October on the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions water park in Spotsylvania.

Plans for the resort call for more than 1.38 million square feet of commercial space, a 267,429-square-foot indoor water park, a 10-acre outdoor water park, a 900-room hotel and a 156,278 square-foot convention center in Thornburg, between Interstate 95 and U.S. 1.

The water park is scheduled to open in 2026.

RIVER LEVELS DIP

Anyone who tried to paddle down the Rappahannock River for most of 2023 already knew what U.S. Geological Survey data confirmed. In early November, the river reached the lowest level recorded for any November in the 21st century.

The rivers gage height, which measures the waters elevation at a specific monitoring station  near Motts Run  dipped to 1.67 feet on Nov. 2, 2023. Thats the lowest listing available for any November from 2000 to 2023, according to the USGS records available online.

A Free LanceStar story in late November looked at river levels for that time of the year because rainfall totals usually rebound by fall, as a result of tropical storms or seasonal showers. Bill Micks, whos run a river-outfitting company for 51 years, said 2023 was probably in the top five lowest recreational seasons hed experienced.

Members of the Friends of the Rappahannock, and other river-watchers, worried what impact future development, including proposed data centers that use a lot of water and electricity, will have on the Rappahannock.

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Two major projects designed to improve traffic along Interstate 95 were completed in 2023.

The new northbound Interstate 95 Rappahannock River crossing lanes fully opened in November. Work started on the $132 million northbound crossing project in 2020.

The new lanes of the southbound crossing opened in 2022. As a result, there are 12 lanes on the interstate between State Route 3 in Fredericksburg and U.S. 17 in Stafford, double the previous number.

The Rappahannock Crossing sections of the interstate divide local traffic from through-traffic. Two new bridges were built along with numerous other flyovers to accommodate the expanded interstate. The original northbound span also underwent rehabilitation work.

Another major milestone for I-95 occurred with the August opening of the 10-mile extension of the electronically tolled express lanes in Stafford.

Work on the $670 million extension started in 2019, five years after the opening of the express lanes, which replaced the formerly free HOV lanes to create an electronically tolled network running to the Capital Beltway.

The extension is the second addition since the toll lanes opened. The first, shorter extension was added after traffic problems emerged at the Route 610 terminus area soon after the express lanes opened.

HES GOT THE VOICE

Those who frequented bars and restaurants in downtown Fredericksburg where Michael Huntley often performed knew what a rock star he was.

But the rest of the world got in on the act in December when the artist known simply as Huntley won the national singing competition, The Voice. The prize came with a record deal and $100,000 in cash, and brought Huntley to tears in front of a worldwide audience.

The next day, Huntley said how much the support back home meant to him.

I love my hometown, he said in an email. The amount of support has been really heartwarming, and I just appreciate everyone having my back. It doesnt feel like its just my journey, it feels like its all of ours.

Sharon Shalawylo, owner of Billikens Smokehouse on Caroline Street, held regular watch parties during the competition. She said she would miss his performances at her business, but was thrilled that everybody gets to hear his voice.

Michael is more than the voice of this city, she posted on Facebook, He has become the vibrant heartbeat of it as well.

DRUGS AND CLINICS

The Fredericksburg area continued to deal with the fallout of fentanyl, a painkiller thats up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, on several fronts. When Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited Stafford High School in May, he brought the entirety of state government with him to enlist students in the fight against it and other drugs that are killing seven Virginians every day.

At least twice in December, the death toll has included innocent children. In separate incidents, two Spotsylvania children  a 9-month-old and a 2-year-old  died with drugs in their system and adult relatives were charged with a multitude of crimes.

Since 2013, more people in Virginia have died from drug overdoses than auto accidents or gunshots.

While the battle against drug use continues, communities in King George and Stafford counties were caught off guard when medical companies made plans to build drug treatment centers in their midst.

Neither Pyramid Healthcare Inc., which proposed a 100-bed facility in Dahlgren in January, or Concerted Care Group, which got zoning approval a few months later for a treatment center off Deacon Road where methadone and suboxone would be dispensed, did anything illegal. Both properties were zoned for commercial use, which includes medical clinics.

Members of the King George Board of Supervisors moved quickly to amend their zoning ordinance to stipulate that future medical clinics must be approved on a case-by-case basis. Stafford officials are still pondering the issue, which the Planning Commission may deal with on Jan. 10.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  The New Mexico Supreme Court is weighing whether to strike down local abortion restrictions by conservative cities and counties at the request of the attorney general for the state where abortion laws are among the most liberal in the country.

The high court heard oral arguments for roughly an hour Wednesday without a ruling as lawyers and activists packed the small courtroom and state police vehicles lined the street outside in a rarely seen security deployment.

It's unclear how soon the justices may rule after temporarily blocking local anti-abortion ordinances. At least one abortion provider abandoned efforts to open a facility in eastern New Mexico near the Texas state line as a result of local restrictions, relocating to Albuquerque instead.

At least four state supreme courts are grappling with abortion litigation this week in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision last year to rescind the constitutional right to abortion.

Opposition to abortion runs deep in New Mexico communities that border Texas. In Lea and Roosevelt counties and the cities of Hobbs and Clovis, officials argue that local governments have the right to back federal abortion restrictions under a 19th century U.S. law that prohibits the shipping of abortion medication and supplies.

They say the local abortion ordinances can't be struck down at least until federal courts rule on the meaning of provision within the anti-vice law known as the Comstock Act.

The law has been revived by anti-abortion groups and conservative states seeking to block the mailing of mifepristone, a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States. On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up a dispute over the drug it its first abortion case since it overturned Roe v. Wade last year.

Beyond New Mexico, the act underpins an anti-abortion sanctuary city ordinance in Danville, Illinois, and several proposed ordinances for jurisdictions stretching from Montana to rural Grayson County in Virginia, said Mark Lee Dickson, a Texas-based advocate for local restrictions on abortion and related travel.

Attorney General Raul Torrez argued Wednesday that the Comstock Act does not confer authority on local governments to enforce federal restrictions on abortion, just as they can't override New Mexico's legalization of recreational cannabis.

He said the local abortion ordinances violate constitutional guarantees under the New Mexicos equal rights amendment that prohibits discrimination based on sex or being pregnant.

Torrez urged the court to clarify women's right to abortion.

The court should at least consider whether there is an independent state constitutional basis for announcing a basic proposition that women in this state have a constitutional right, under the equal rights amendment, to access reproductive health care, he said.

Earlier this year, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill that overrides local ordinances aimed at limiting abortion access and enacted a shield law that protects abortion providers from investigations by other states.

Erin Hawley, a Washington-D.C.-based attorney representing Roosevelt County, argued that the new state law doesn't prevent local governments from interfering with services such as abortion that fall outside standardized medical obligations to patients.

We would disagree with it being health care, said Hawley, senior attorney at the Alliance Defending Freedom and wife of U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. These services are not within the medical standards of care.

Justices peppered the attorney general and three attorneys for local governments with questions, voicing skepticism on a variety of arguments.

Since the court case began, additional local ordinances have been adopted to restrict abortion near Albuquerque and along the state line with Texas.

New Mexico is among seven states that allow abortions up until birth, and it has become a major destination for people from other states with bans, especially Texas, who are seeking procedures.

Because of New Mexicos permissive abortion laws, some nearby Texas counties have sought to prevent pregnant women from using its highways to leave the state for the procedure. The ordinances, including one recently adopted in Lubbock County, ban helping people travel within local boundaries to get an abortion. The measures are solely enforced by lawsuits filed by private citizens, although to date there are no known cases that have been filed.

In 2021, the New Mexico Legislature repealed a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures as felonies, ensuring access to abortion even after the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back guarantees last year.
The Virginia Department of Health on Thursday announced the state's first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2023-24 flu season.

Officials said a child in eastern Virginia this week died 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 year's 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 that Virginians above the age of six 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.
Laman Ismayilova

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."
A Texas police chief says surveillance video may lead to answers in the killings of an 18-year-old pregnant woman who disappeared before Christmas and her boyfriend
An award-winning journalist, Luige serves as editor of Colorado Politics and The Denver Gazette. He previously covered politics in Arizona and wrote about national security in the Philippines, where he began his career in journalism.
When the Colorado Supreme Court decided, 4-3, on Tuesday that Donald Trump is constitutionally disqualified from the 2024 primary ballot because he engaged in insurrection, two of the dissenting justices voiced concerns about the former president's right to due process.
The Supreme Court will decide whether former President Donald Trump can be kept off the 2024 presidential ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss that culminated in the U.S. Capitol attack. The justices Friday agreed to take Trumps appeal of a Colorado case, with arguments to be held on Feb. 8. Voters will soon begin casting presidential primary ballots across the country. The court will be considering for the first time the meaning and reach of a provision of the post-Civil War 14th Amendment barring some people who engaged in insurrection from holding public office. A Colorado court ruled Trump should not be on the Republican primary ballot, and he appealed.
One person was stabbed in a road rage incident Wednesday afternoon in Colorado Springs' Knob Hill neighborhood near downtown.

Colorado Springs police responded just before 4:40 p.m. to the area at North Circle Drive and East St. Vrain Street for a reported road rage incident. When officers arrived on scene, the reporting party said they had stabbed another driver involved in the incident and the other driver had left the area in their vehicle.

Police learned the driver who was stabbed had gone to a local hospital and officers spoke with the individual there, police said.

Detectives with Colorado Springs Police Department's assault unit are taking over the investigation. No arrests have currently been made, according to police.
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.

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, 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 Blanchard's mother was able to dupe doctors by telling them her daughter's medical records had been lost in Hurricane Katrina. If they asked too many questions, she just found a new physician, shaving the girl's 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.

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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 Gypsy's 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 Blanchard's 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 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)
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)
Laman Ismayilova

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, ??rq c?ra?? Children's Creative Center and dance groups U?urum, Roya, Qafqaz Vur?unlar?, Az?rbaycan" Ritml?ri 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.
BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. chipmaker Nvidia on Thursday launched a modified version of an advanced gaming chip designed to comply with U.S. export controls targeting China.

The chip, which the company says offers a "quantum leap in performance, efficiency and artificial intelligence-driven graphics", will be available to Chinese customers starting in January, a Nvidia spokesperson told Reuters.

"The GeForce RTX 4090 D has been designed to fully comply with U.S. government export controls. While developing this product, we extensively engaged with the U.S. government," the spokesperson said.

The GeForce RTX 4090 D marks the first China-focused chip Nvidia has officially launched since export rules unveiled by the Biden Administration in October meant two modified articial intelligence (AI) chips Nvidia had created for the Chinese market to comply with previous export rules, the A800 and H800, were blocked for sale, as well as a top-of-the-line gaming chip, the RTX 4090.

Chip industry newsletter SemiAnalysis said in early November that Nvidia, in response to the October export rules, could announce three new AI chips aimed at the Chinese market as soon as November 16.

However, Reuters reported late last month that Nvidia told customers in China it was delaying the launch of one of these chips until the first quarter of next year. The remaining two have not yet appeared on Nvidia's China website.

Nvidia has commanded more than 90% share of China's $7 billion AI chip market, and analysts have said the U.S. curbs are likely to create opportunities for domestic firms such as Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) to make inroads.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo, in an interview with Reuters on December 11, said that Nvidia can sell AI chips to China, just not those with the highest processing power.

Compared to the banned RTX 4090, the China-focused RTX 4090 D is "5% slower in gaming and creating", according to the Nvidia spokesperson.

The China-focused RTX 4090 D will cost 12,999 yuan ($1,842), 350 yuan ($50) more expensive than the second most advanced chip in the product series available to Chinese customers.

(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Michael Perry)
By Ivan Lyubsyh-Kirdey, Yuliia Dysa and Tom Balmforth

KYIV (Reuters) -Russia unleashed its biggest air attack of the war on Ukraine on Friday, killing 31 civilians, wounding more than 160 others and hitting cities and infrastructure across the country, officials said.

NATO member Poland said a Russian missile appeared to have flown into its airspace for some 40 km before returning to Ukraine under three minutes later.

But the Russian charge d'affaires, summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry, said Warsaw had provided no evidence of a missile entering its airspace.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry said the assault showed there should be "no talk of a truce" with the Kremlin at a time when uncertainty hangs over the future of Western support for Kyiv.

"Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions. I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, urging allies to keep sending long-term aid.

At a hastily-convened U.N. Security Council session, most council members, including the United States, France and Britain, condemned the attacks.

Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said Moscow had attacked only military infrastructure and that Ukraine's air defense systems were responsible for civilian casualties.

In the capital Kyiv at least nine people were killed and 30 wounded after a warehouse, residential buildings and another uninhabited property were hit, officials said.

Kyiv resident Mariia told Reuters she had been awoken by a "horrible sound" and taken shelter in her bathroom.

"It was so frightening. A missile was flying and everything was buzzing, whirring. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to run down to the shelter," she said. "As I went inside the bathroom, the mirror flew off (the wall)."

The air force said it shot down 87 cruise missiles and 27 drones of a total 158 aerial "targets" fired by Russia. Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said it was the "most massive air attack of this war" and involved 18 strategic bombers.

Army chief General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said infrastructure and industrial and military facilities had been targeted.

"Russia attacked with everything it has in its arsenal... Approximately 110 missiles were fired, most of which were shot down," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram messenger.

ANTICIPATING MORE ATTACKS ON ENERGY SYSTEM

Ukraine has been warning for weeks that Russia could be stockpiling missiles to launch major air attacks on the energy system like it did last winter.

"It is obvious that with the stocks of missiles that the aggressor state has, it can and will continue such attacks," Umerov said.

In a roundup of military activities this week, the Russian defence ministry said its forces had performed one "massive" strike on Ukraine since Dec. 23, but provided no specifics.

The interior ministry put the death toll at 30, but statements from the regions indicated at least 31 people had been killed.

As rescuers picked through the rubble of a strike that hit a house in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, Viktor Chuhunov, 73, told Reuters he had been at home when he heard an explosion.

"A woman died here. I don't know whether her son was at home, maybe he was at work," he said of the ruined house.

Eight people were killed and 13 wounded in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, the governor said. Civilian infrastructure facilities were also struck, he said.

Six people were killed in the central region of Dnipropetrovsk where missiles struck a shopping centre, a house and a six-storey residential building, the governor said.

The attack also caused a fire in a maternity ward, he said.

Four people were killed in the Black Sea port of Odesa and at least 22 wounded, including two children, the regional governor said, reporting hits on residential buildings.

One person was killed in a residential building in the city of Lviv and 30 were wounded, the regional governor said. Three schools and a kindergarten were damaged, the mayor said.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, a missile strike damaged a warehouse, an industrial facility, a medical facility and a transport depot, the regional governor said. Three people were killed and 13 wounded.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Additional reporting by Olena Harmash and Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv, Sergiy Chalyi in Zaporizhzhia, Vitalii Hnidyi in Dnipro; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Jan Harvey, Nick Macfie, David Gregorio and Ron Popeski)
By Saleh Salem and Bassam Masoud

GAZA (Reuters) -Three Palestinian brothers rounded up by Israel in the Gaza Strip said they and fellow detainees were beaten, stripped to their underwear, burnt with cigarettes and subjected to other forms of mistreatment during their detention.

Sobhi Yaseen, his brothers Sady and Ibrahim were among dozens of Palestinian men sheltering in a school in Rafah in southern Gaza who spoke to Reuters about their treatment at the hands of Israeli soldiers.

Reuters could not independently confirm their accounts, which were consistent with descriptions from more than 20 other former detainees who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson's office said in a written response that the Israeli military was operating "to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities" and rescue hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group.

Detainees were treated in accordance with international law, and were often required to hand over clothes to ensure they were not carrying weapons or explosives, the office said.

The Yaseen brothers said they had been taken from their homes in the north of the enclave, separated from their families and held for up to two weeks at unknown locations including a military barracks or camp.

Sobhi said he and his brothers were detained in early December after the Israeli military encircled the area where they lived and worked as day labourers in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood.

He said four people beat him after he was unable to climb onto a truck due to a leg injury sustained before his arrest, and that he was then taken to an open area where captors were "smoking and putting out cigarettes on our backs, spraying sand and water on us, urinating on us".

His brothers Sady and Ibrahim gave similar accounts of mistreatment at the hands of Israeli soldiers. Reuters could not independently confirm their accounts.

TREATMENT OF CIVILIANS

Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a shock cross-border incursion by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 that Israel says left 1,200 dead. More than 21,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli campaign, according to authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory.

The U.N. human rights office (OHCHR) said on Dec. 16 that it had received numerous reports of mass detentions, ill-treatment and enforced disappearance of Palestinians in northern Gaza by the Israeli military.

International humanitarian law requires that civilians only be detained for imperative security reasons, and torture and other ill-treatment of detainees is strictly prohibited, OHCHR said.

Images of detainees stripped to their underwear in Gaza earlier this month triggered outrage from Palestinian, Arab and Muslim officials.

U.N. rights chief Volker Turk has said Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, its holding of hostages, and Israel's "collective punishment" and "unlawful forcible evacuation" of civilians, all constitute war crimes.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has since 2021 been investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territories, has called on Israel and Hamas to respect the international rules of war.

The ICC prosecutor's office said it was using all available means to ensure accountability for alleged crimes committed in the Palestinian territories including Gaza, but could not comment on specific allegations.

SCARS

The Yaseen brothers sheltering at Rafah said the Israeli military had not made specific accusations against them. They were rounded up together, then separated, as part of group arrests carried out by Israel's military in areas that it advances into.

Sady said he was placed with other detainees in a truck containing garbage.

"They were beating us, and anyone who raised their voice after the beating was beaten again. They searched us, took our IDs, money, and phones," he said, speaking among a group of about 20 men in a tent at the Rafah school, most wearing grey tracksuits issued by the Israeli military.

Some showed large scabs and raw skin on their wrists where they said their hands had been bound or cuffed, and one showed bruised streaks and a round red scar on his back. Another showed a stitched scar on his thigh where he said he had been beaten.

The third Yaseen brother, Ibrahim, described having his hands bound and being blindfolded as he was held for interrogation.

"They didn't let us sleep. We stood for hours, as punishment," he said.

Captors insulted the prisoners while banning them from talking to each other or praying, Ibrahim said. "Then there would be five soldiers who would hit you alternately in the head and body," he added, saying he had been beaten in the ribs and rolling up his sleeves to show circular scars and scabs from where his wrists were bound.

The Israeli military dropped the brothers off at different times at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, as it has done with other batches of men detained during its ground operation but no longer suspected of links to Hamas.

From there they said they walked several kilometres to Rafah, where they relocated each other among the hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and are now living in overcrowded buildings and tents.

(Reporting by Saleh Salem and Bassam Masoud; Additional reporting by James Mackenzie;Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Jon Boyle and Diane Craft)
Following Hamas's Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, universities in the United States became a hotbed for antisemitic protests.

College students discovered their stance against Israel was not without consequences in 2023.

BOB GOOD OUTLINES VISION TO PROMOTE 'CONSERVATIVE CONSCIENCE' AS NEW FREEDOM CAUCUS LEADER

Numerous company executives, including billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, slammed and vowed never to hire the members of Harvard University student groups who signed an anti-Israel letter.

In November, Durham College, a public college in Ontario, Canada, disavowed the pro-Hamas comments of student Sahar Shehadeh, who proudly supported the terrorist organization.

"Very, very proud. [I] would love it if they do it again," Shehadeh said in a social media post.

The university responded, "Durham College unequivocally condemns the inflammatory statements made in this video and does not tolerate antisemitism."

From October through November, conservative group Accuracy in Media organized mobile billboard trucks to circle the campuses of Harvard, Columbia, Yale, and George Washington University while listing the names of students they believed to be antisemitic on the trucks.

Students were outraged and called on university administrations to investigate the organization. Some activists placed swatting attempts on the organization's Jewish leader, Adam Guillette.

In November, Columbia University protesters took on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, now a professor at the school, by organizing numerous class walkouts and heckling her during class regarding her stance on Israel.

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The students chanted loudly at her: "Hillary, Hillary, you can't hide! You're supporting genocide!"

Blowback over antisemitism affected the administrators at the top of various universities differently.

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned in December amid criticism over her testimony at a congressional hearing in which she wouldn't say under repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews violated the school's conduct policy.

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Harvard President Claudine Gay, who attended the same hearing, struggled to answer antisemitism questions and received calls for resignation. Unlike Magill, Gay gained the unanimous support of Harvard's highest governing body and kept her job.

"As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gay's continued leadership of Harvard University," the statement from the Harvard Corporation said. "Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing."

Original Location: 2023 Review: The surprising rise of antisemitic college protesters and the following blowback

Washington Examiner Videos
A man in Philadelphia fatally shot a would-be criminal Tuesday after the suspect attempted to carjack him in the city's Pennsport area.

Authorities were called to the scene around 5 a.m., and when police got there, they were met with the body of the would-be carjacker, identified as an 18- to 22-year-old male, who was pronounced dead upon their arrival, according to a report.

LAUREN BOEBERT'S DISTRICT SWAP IS GIFT TO GOP, BUT REELECTION OBSTACLES REMAIN

The dead suspect was one of at least two people who tried to carjack a 38-year-old male in the former parking lot of the United Artist Theater, the report noted.

Video of the incident captured on a surveillance camera showed an individual run from the parking lot before falling over near a utility pole.

The shooter remained at the scene and was detained for a short time before he was released after officials determined the action was likely in self-defense.

"I heard a loud boom or a bang kind of sound," a resident of the area said. "A few seconds later, I heard someone shout. I couldn't tell what they were saying. It was just someone shouted."

The resident said her neighborhood has become more concerning after the area under the nearby I-95 overpass became a popular location for drug use.

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"A lot of people pull up under here to fix their cars and I've seen people passed out doing drugs under there," the resident said.

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Cities like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., have become hubs for vehicle theft.

Over 6,000 cars were stolen in the nation's capital in 2023, and one high-profile carjacking saw Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) have his vehicle stolen at gunpoint outside his apartment building.

Original Location: Armed man fatally shoots would-be carjacker in self-defense: Report

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Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) slammed President Joe Biden for complaining about the media's coverage of him as the reason for his unpopularity in polling, pointing to his policies, especially those concerning the border, that make him "as popular as herpes."

"The truth is that most members of the media tried to help him," Kennedy told Hannity. "But in Louisiana, President Biden is as popular as herpes."

LAUREN BOEBERT'S DISTRICT SWAP IS GIFT TO GOP, BUT REELECTION OBSTACLES REMAIN

"People of Louisiana are not stupid," the senator continued. "They think the Biden administration is. They think it is stupidity run from the river to the sea. Exhibit A is the open border. President Biden has dissolved the southern border. Our problems at the southern border are man-made. And that man's name is Joe Biden."

Kennedy also said that he is confident there will not be a supplemental appropriations bill passed in the Senate "unless we take steps to secure the border."

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The Republican senator's comments follow Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Mexico this week.

Blinken, alongside other U.S. officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday to discuss amnesty for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients as talks continue on a bipartisan border security deal aimed at stemming the flow of illegal migration.

Original Location: Biden is as popular as herpes due to open border, not media coverage: Sen. John Kennedy

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Republicans are condemning Maine's Democratic secretary of state for removing former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 presidential primary ballot on Thursday.

Maine became the second state behind Colorado to move to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot using Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, barring the former president from holding office for his role in the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

NIKKI HALEY CIVIL WAR FLAP EVOKES MEMORIES OF JOHN MCCAIN CONFEDERATE FLAG CONTROVERSY

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement shortly after the decision that the former president's legal team "will quickly file a legal objection in state court to prevent this atrocious decision in Maine from taking effect."

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is battling to hold on to second place in the 2024 GOP primary, said the decision from Maine's secretary of state "opens up Pandora's box" of what can disqualify a presidential candidate from the ballot, bringing the issue back to President Joe Biden's policies.

"It opens up Pandora's box. Can you have a Republican secretary of state disqualify Biden from the ballot? Because he's let in 8 million people illegally, a massive invasion, including from enemies of our country, places like Iran, China, Middle East have poured in with his knowledge," DeSantis said on Fox News.

FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks during a commit to caucus rally, Dec. 19, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall/AP

The Florida governor said he doesn't think Maine's ruling will be upheld.

"I think that we win when we hold Biden accountable and talk about the issues that matter to the American people. So I think the Democrats, they want the election to be about all these other issues. They do not want to face accountability for their failed policies," DeSantis said.

Also speaking on Fox News, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), a key leader in the impeachment inquiry of Biden and investigation into his son, said he was not surprised by the decision and expects other Democratic states will follow.

"I think that the Democrats are trying to do everything they can in a last-ditch effort to disrupt the Republican momentum right now heading into the presidential election," Comer said.

"We see Democrat tweets and Democrat politicians encouraging Democrat secretaries of state and liberal Supreme Courts to do this just to try to create a narrative that the Republicans are a threat to democracy," Comer added.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who has recently come under fire for allegedly pressuring GOP Wayne County canvassers not to certify 2020 votes, according to a recording reviewed by Detroit News, called the ruling in Maine "election interference" by Democrats.

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"Democrat election interference, just like we saw in Colorado," McDaniel wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "State officials do not get to decide who the American people cast their vote for. We look forward to helping fight this legal battle in the US Supreme Court."

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) echoed calls of election interference, writing on X, "Maine Secretary of State Sheena Bellows is a DISGRACE to the country. THEIR ONLY CHANCE AT WINNING IS RIGGING THE ELECTION! Trump will be BACK in the White House. WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!"

Several other Republican lawmakers expressed their frustration at the latest ruling to bar Trump from holding office.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) called Maine's ruling "an egregious abuse of power" on X and said he would introduce legislation that would prevent similar future actions in other states.

Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) said blocking the Republican front-runner from the ballot "is the type of crooked behavior you'd expect to see in a third world dictatorshipnot America."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Across the aisle, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) criticized the decision by the Maine secretary of state. Golden voted to impeach Trump in 2021 for his role in the Capitol riot after previously voting for one article of impeachment against him in December 2019.

"I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States," Golden wrote in a statement shared on X. "However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot."

Original Location: Maine Trump ruling: Republicans react to removal of former president from primary ballot

Washington Examiner Videos
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said she would pardon former President Donald Trump at a New Hampshire campaign event.

Haley was answering questions from a 9-year-old boy named Adam, who agreed with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's characterization that Haley is a "flip-flopper" and compared her to John Kerry. The young boy asked Haley directly if she would pardon the Republican front-runner.

NIKKI HALEY CIVIL WAR FLAP EVOKES MEMORIES OF JOHN MCCAIN CONFEDERATE FLAG CONTROVERSY

"I would pardon Trump if he is found guilty," Haley responded at the event Thursday afternoon. "A leader needs to think about what's in the best interest of the country."

"What's in the best interest of the country is not to have an 80-year-old man sitting in jail that continues to divide our country," Haley said.

Former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Seth Herald/Getty; Wade Vandervort/AFP via Getty

Trump has been criminally indicted four times and is facing various civil legal battles.

Haley restated that she believes Trump was "the right president at the right time," and she "agreed with a lot of his policies." However, she doesn't believe "he's the right president to go forward."

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"We can't handle the chaos anymore," Haley added, saying that Christie is "obsessed with Trump."

Haley made similar but less definitive remarks in June, speaking on the Conservative Clay Travis and Buck Sexton radio show. Haley condemned Trump's actions regarding national security while speaking about the former president's first indictment on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate, but she stated he should not be behind bars over the matter.

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"When you look at a pardon, the issue is less about guilt and more about what's good for the country. And I think it would be terrible for the country to have a former president in prison for years because of a documents case," Haley said. "So I would be inclined in favor of a pardon."

Haley's remarks on Thursday came before Maine's Democratic secretary of state disqualified Trump from the 2024 Maine primary ballot under the Constitution's insurrection clause.

Original Location: Nikki Haley says she would pardon Trump if he is found guilty of criminal charges

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Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) was among the latest swath of politicians to be "swatted" this week after two House Republicans and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu were victims of false emergency calls on Christmas.

Scott announced Thursday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he had been swatted at his home in Naples, Florida, and decried it as a "sick attempt to terrorize my family" while also praising law enforcement.

NIKKI HALEY CIVIL WAR FLAP EVOKES MEMORIES OF JOHN MCCAIN CONFEDERATE FLAG CONTROVERSY

"Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards 'swatted' my home in Naples," Scott said. "These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family. Ann & I want to thank [the Naples Police Department] & [Collier County Sheriff's Office] for all they do to keep us safe."

The Naples Police Department confirmed it had received a false report shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday alleging a shooting had occurred at Scott's residence.

"Within 15 minutes, we were able to confirm that the events did not occur, and the incident was a swatting event," the police department said in a post on X. "This is very much an active and ongoing investigation.

"Swatting is defined as a false report of an ongoing emergency or active threat of violence intended to prompt an immediate tactical law enforcement response," the post continued. "The response often prompts confusion on the part of the homeowners and pulls limited resources away from other possible valid emergencies."

Other politicians also said their families were swatted in the past day, both of whom hail from Georgia.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-GA) said his home was swatted Wednesday night, and a bomb threat was called to his office on Thursday. Jones vowed in a post on X that he "will not be intimidated by those attempting to silence me" and that "we will put an end to this madness."

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"Last night, my home was 'swatted'," Jones said. "This morning, a bomb threat was called to my office. Thankfully everyone is safe, and I commend our local law enforcement officers for their professionalism. Let me be clear  I will not be intimidated by those attempting to silence me. We will put an end to this madness. We are in full compliance with law enforcement, and I am confident that those responsible will be brought to justice and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who was the victim of a swatting incident on Christmas, said both of her daughters' homes were swatted and vowed that whoever is putting in the false calls will be "caught and it won't be funny to you anymore." She also called on lawmakers to better protect against swatting after the recent string of incidents.

"Swatting calls are coming in on many Members of Congress, Senators, State Reps and Mayors and Lt Governors, and many members of our families," Greene posted on X. "Is our government under attack? Swatting calls are also police harassment and an attack on police. We need to stop this now."

Original Location: Rick Scott among latest swath of politicians to be 'swatted' as hoax proliferates in politics

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Laman Ismayilova

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.
When the House returns from the holiday break on Jan. 9, lawmakers will stare down several deadlines where critical legislation has to be passed in a short time frame.

This is gearing up to be an intense time for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who, in his first two months on the job, has only passed two pieces of substantive legislation  a continuing resolution and the National Defense Authorization Act  and punted the rest of the must-pass bills into early 2024.

INFLATION FELL TO 2.6% IN NOVEMBER IN FED'S PREFERRED GAUGE

Here is a list of everything Johnson has to accomplish in a short time frame.

Government funding

Back in November, Congress passed a two-part continuing resolution that bifurcated when the appropriations bills would expire. Four of the bills are set to expire on Jan. 19, and the remaining eight will expire on Feb. 2. The goal was to spend time working on the first four appropriations bills from when the stop-gap measure passed until when funding ran out.

But, neither the House nor the Senate made progress on their spending bills, setting up an absolute sprint to pass legislation in the 10 days they have from getting back in session to when the first set of government funding expires.

The plan on how they will avoid a shutdown is unclear. But, multiple members and aides believe the only way will be some sort of minibus on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2, or one big omnibus that packages multiple appropriations bills together. Johnson has said that he is done with short-term continuing resolutions so if it comes to Feb. 2 and they don't have their bills ready to pass, there is also a chance he does a year-long stop-gap measure, which would implement a 1% cut across the board, something the Senate and White House are unlikely to go for.

So, exactly what Johnson plans to do is still very much up in the air.

FISA Section 702 Reauthorization

When the House returns, it must also deal with reauthorizing and reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Johnson is going to have to decide between two bills, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's bill and the House Judiciary Committee's bill.

The House will have until April 19, 2024, to reauthorize and reform FISA 702.

Section 702 of the FISA law relates to what the Office of the Director of National Intelligence describes as "a key provision" of FISA "that permits the government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign persons located outside the United States."

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But, over the years, it has been abused. According to a declassified FISA court opinion this year, the FBI committed FISA violations 278,000 times in recent years, including on people believed to be connected to violent George Floyd protests and the Capitol riot. This has led to bipartisan calls for reforms, but there are major differences on how far to go in reforming it.

Now, this will be a major task Johnson will have to deal with in the new year.

Each and every vote

Johnson has followed the footsteps of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), by upsetting the hard-line conservatives with just about every decision he's made. So much so that in his less than three months as speaker, Johnson's team has had to pull numerous bills and have had rules fail.

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The speaker has been forced to pass urgent legislation, such as the final NDAA in December, under suspension of rules so the conservative rebels can't tank the bill before it's even debated. Multiple members and aides have expressed that from here on out, almost every piece of important legislation will have to be voted on under suspension of the rules so they can skip the procedural motions and go straight to the bill. The trade-off, however, is that passage requires two-thirds of the support of the House and, therefore, considerable support from Democrats.

Going forward, Johnson will have difficulty keeping his conference together if he must rely on Democratic Party support for major legislation and inevitably anger conservatives in the process.

Original Location: Speaker Mike Johnson's laundry list of challenges for 2024

Washington Examiner Videos
Now that two states have officially removed former President Donald Trump from primary ballots, several others are still considering whether he engaged in insurrection during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and if he should be barred from other races heading into 2024.

Colorado and Maine this month became the first in the nation's history to find a presidential candidate, Trump, is ineligible to run for a second term under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, a provision of the Constitution used in the Civil War era to bar those who engage in insurrection from running for office.

TRUMP CAN APPEAR ON CALIFORNIA BALLOTS AS DEMOCRATIC OFFICIAL BREAKS WITH COLORADO AND MAINE

At least 33 states have seen similar lawsuits  which have either been dismissed or are still pending  to keep Trump off the ballot. The most formidable challenges thus far have been filed by liberal groups such as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Free Speech for People.

While the Colorado Supreme Court took the nation by surprise as the first state to remove Trump by a 4-3 ruling on Dec. 19, other states that have confronted similar challenges, such as Michigan and Minnesota, have been unsuccessful. An appeal has already been filed to the U.S. Supreme Court by the Republican Party in the state, and Trump is expected to file a petition by next week.

Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) also made the unprecedented decision to remove Trump on Wednesday, a move Trump has vowed he will appeal to the state's Superior Court.

Both Colorado and Maine's decisions came with automatic holds that will likely remain in place until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether to take up the appeal from Colorado. Legal experts have said a decision to keep Trump on a state primary ballot could effectively end the bulk of the ongoing or pending challenges against him across the nation.

In the meantime, some legal experts now suspect that the next state Supreme Court to weigh on a 14th Amendment lawsuit could be in Oregon. There, Free Speech for People sued the Democratic secretary of state earlier this month for making the decision to keep Trump on the upcoming primary ballot.

"The next place to watch for action in addition to appealing out from Colorado and in Maine: the Oregon Supreme Court," Anthony Michael Kreis posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Free Speech for People's legal director Ron Fein has said while the highest court "may have the final word," his group intends to challenge Democratic Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade's decision to keep Trump on the primary ballot there.

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Fein's group wrote in a Dec. 8 petition to the state Supreme Court asking the court to weigh the matter "before the late March 2024 finalization of the 2024 Oregon primary election ballots."

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It is not immediately clear when the Oregon Supreme Court will act on this petition. The Washington Examiner contacted a representative for Free Speech for People.

Meanwhile, Trump survived another effort to remove him from the primary ballot in Wisconsin on Thursday after officials there declined to review a complaint attempting to remove him under the 14th Amendment.

Original Location: Which states will challenge Trump's primary ballot status next?

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"We gotta get out of this place if it's the last thing we ever do "

From his Colorado Springs home on a recent Monday afternoon, Vietnam veteran Tom Dowell softly croons the lyrics from The Animals' 1965 song, "We Gotta Get out of This Place."

"That spoke to us. We would sing it and think about getting out of Vietnam," the retired Air Force master sergeant said. He recounted the year he spent as a young man in Vietnam to help mark the 50th anniversary of United States combat troops leaving the war in 1973.

Other popular songs of the time helped Dowell, now 77, and the men in his squadron get through the days there, like The Box Tops' 1967 hit "The Letter" and The Temptations' "My Girl," released in 1965.

So now, when he volunteers two days a year to teach high schoolers at The Vanguard School about the war, one day each in the first and second semesters, he lets music do most of the talking. Many of them don't know anything about the conflict, he said, so he teaches by meshing music with history.

"The kids, I tell them, 'When you're sad, angry, or excited about something, or you're depressed, you bring in your favorite song to make you feel better. This is how we existed in a war zone in Vietnam.'"

Dowell, who grew up in North Carolina, was 18 years old when he received his draft card in 1966, about a year after the first wave of U.S. combat troops landed in South Vietnam.

He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and five uncles who served in the military, most of them World War II veterans who served in the Army. In his hometown, job options were limited to mostly factory work. Schools still weren't fully integrated and Dowell, who is Black, saw opportunity in the military to learn marketable skills and get a higher-paying job.

But he wanted some control over his fate, he said.

"I didn't want to go into the Army because I thought I might get killed in Vietnam," he said.

An uncle who was serving in the Air Force encouraged him to join the branch. After an unsuccessful attempt to join the service in North Carolina  there was a quota the recruiting office there had hit  he got on a Greyhound bus with a shoe box full of fried chicken his mother cooked for him, and traveled for six days to Texas to enlist.

He entered the Air Force on April 21, 1966. After basic training Dowell spent 30 months as a heavy equipment operator working in Europe and Libya.

While there, Dowell heard stories from airmen who'd served and returned from Vietnam and were volunteering to go back for a second tour. He decided he would volunteer to go, too.

"I said to myself, this is where I need to be and I need to get it over with early in my life, before I get married," Dowell said.

Two months before he left for Vietnam in September 1969 he proposed to his wife Mary, an Englishwoman he met while in Europe. Right before his tour, he spent 20 days leave visiting his parents in North Carolina.

For three weeks, no one acknowledged the elephant in the room.

"We never ever talked about me going to Vietnam. Never mentioned it," he said. Before he left, he'd "sort of felt invincible," but as the reality of going to war set in, Dowell was too afraid to discuss it.

Dowell, his mother and his father drove in silence 58 miles from their home to the Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem, N.C., where they bid him goodbye. He gave his mother a kiss, his father a hug, his mom told him to behave himself and Dowell got on the plane.

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Later, on the flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, Calif., he knew there was no turning back.

"I realized I'm going to Vietnam and I didn't even say much to my mother. I started bawling and I could not stop. I mean, sobbing like a baby," Dowell said.

A flight attendant soothed him through it. Once he got to Travis Air Force Base, he called his mother collect.

"I explained to her that I loved her, and I was sorry I couldn't talk about (going to Vietnam)," he said.

He was stationed in Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. As a heavy equipment operator, he drove more than 12,000 miles all over Vietnam, building military bases, dormitories, hospitals and roads; cleaning up debris from aircraft crashes; barricading the base every night; and clearing dense vegetation by spraying Agent Orange, among other duties.

In the mornings when he reported for work he'd walk past the morgue near the 8th Aerial Port and count the caskets.

"Every day we were fixated on that  I never thought it was my time coming up or anything like that, but it was worrisome, how many of those caskets were stacked up in a day," Dowell said. "It was always over 60."

He and his squadron leaned into music to get through the days  The Animals, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and The Box Tops  dreaming of their girls and getting back home.

Then and now, Dowell said, he's thankful he was able to enlist in the Air Force and didn't see hand-to-hand combat in the jungles of Vietnam.

"It was a blessing from God and still continues to be," he said.

When he left Vietnam, he flew to England and married Mary in September 1970, then brought her home to meet his family in North Carolina. He spent 18 years of his 26 year Air Force career stationed all over Europe. He and Mary had two sons, Zachary and Jason.

His last military assignment was in Colorado Springs at Air Force Space Command, now U.S. Space Force, where he worked for two years from 1990-1992 before he retired. He then spent 14 years in civil service as a resources flight chief.

He reflects on his 12 months of service in Vietnam without regret, a sacrifice he made for his country.

In a way, the fight isn't fully over. Dowell developed Type 2 diabetes, which has been linked by the Institutes of Health to Agent Orange; he is currently in remission after fighting prostate cancer, and has had a double-heart bypass. He's also fighting third stage kidney disease and working to stave off stage four kidney disease, which requires dialysis. In early January, he will learn whether he needs surgery to remove four parathyroid glands pumping calcium into his kidneys.

As the president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1075 in Colorado Springs for the last five years, as second vice president of the Vietnam Veterans Colorado State Council and through his volunteer work teaching students about the war at Vanguard, Dowell wants to send the message that he and other Vietnam veterans served their country honorably.

The Vietnam Veterans of America refers Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era veterans to service officers to file claims with Veterans Affairs, supports legislation to benefit veterans, advocates for veterans and conducts outreach programs, among other services.

Many vets coming home from Vietnam were subject to anti-war sentiment, Dowell recalled. He sees that attitude changing among recent generations and he finds a military town like Colorado Springs generally supportive of veterans and service members.

"I think the majority of Vietnam vets are very resilient," he said.
While Christmas has come and gone, it arrived earlier this month for the Corvallis School District.

That's because the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation announced a total of $80,000 in grants awarded to school district staff for various education-related projects, according to a news release earlier in December.

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Those funds come from IMAGINE grants and are available to any Corvallis School District staff member, including teachers.

IMAGINE stands for Innovation, coMmunity, Action, chanGe, Inclusivity, collaboratioN and Engagement, according to the Corvallis Public School Foundation.

Beyond the arguably contrived acronym, the funding from such grants is dedicated toward "promoting student achievement, advancing equity, and facilitating real-world learning experiences and enhancing student health and well-being," according to the foundation's news release. To date, the foundation has awarded nearly $900,000 through the program.

This year, the foundation awarded more than 30 grants supporting a variety of school programs, including a districtwide art exhibit, literary-themed reading lounges, family math nights and even vihuelas (it's a 15th-century fretted, plucked Spanish string instrument) for a student mariachi project.

Corvallis Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Angela Hibbard said the opportunities provided by these grants would be transformative for students in the classroom.

"These grants not only spark innovation but also contribute significantly to creating an educational environment where every student can thrive," Hibbard said in the news release.

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Other IMAGINE-funded projects this year include the purchasing of children's books about Letitia Carson for elementary school classrooms, the creation of two sensory paths at Garfield Elementary to keep students moving through the halls, and an after-school woodworking program designed to boost women in the career and technical education fields, which will be offered at Cheldelin and Linus Pauling Middle Schools and at Crescent Valley and Corvallis High Hchools.

For a complete list of grant awardees and for more information about the grant program, you can visit the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation website.
Abbas Ganbay

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.
Iowas community colleges are seeing returns on recruiting efforts and partnerships with schools and businesses in the form of rising enrollment in 2023.

Enrollment in community colleges grew by 3.8% from last year, according to the Iowa Department of Education 2023 Fall Enrollment Report, with a total of 85,362 students spread across the state. Part-time student numbers reached an all-time high, making up two-thirds of total enrollment.

While enrollment isnt back to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic began, with more than 88,000 students attending community colleges in 2019, the report stated this is the second year of increased enrollment in the state.

I think that despite challenges facing higher (education) nationally, were faring well, Community Colleges for Iowa Executive Director Emily Shields said.

Out of the states 15 community colleges, nine saw increased enrollment. Des Moines Area Community College saw the highest number of enrolled students at 24,418 and the largest over-year increase of almost 13%. Indian Hills Community College saw the largest decrease in enrollment, dropping by 3.7% to 3,236 students.

Iowa falls behind the national average with its enrollment trends, according to the report. National enrollment in two-year institutions increased by 4.4%, helped by a 9% increase in part-time students. In Iowa, part-time student enrollment increased by 0.8%.

Full-time enrollment also dropped in both Iowa and across the country, with the state reporting a 0.8% decrease and the U.S. seeing a 0.2% drop.

Joint enrollment, in which students are simultaneously taking high school and college credit classes, increased in Iowa by 7.9%, while the national average increased by 8.8%. Shields said she doesnt like to compare the state and national numbers with joint enrollment, as she believes Iowa has been ahead of other states with tapping that market and has already seen major growth.

The biggest issue four-year universities and community colleges alike are up against is predicted drops in enrollment, Shields said, and it is a two-pronged problem. The first factor is that there will be fewer students graduating high school in the coming years, making the pool of applicants to colleges smaller. The other challenge is that fewer high school graduates are choosing to seek any post-secondary education, despite the majority of careers requiring a certification or degree of some kind.

Were facing a lot of pressures that are kind of driving down enrollment nationally, that were trying to address locally in different ways, but they are making it more challenging to kind of keep enrollment where it needs to be and keep college affordable and continue to attract students, Shields said.

Efforts on the national level to expand financial aid for certain programs could help bolster enrollment in certification and other non-degree training programs, Shields said. The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which has passed out of the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, would extend Pell Grant eligibility to some short-term workforce programs like those implemented by Iowas community colleges.

With the looming enrollment cliff and fewer students interested in pursuing an education after high school, Community Colleges for Iowa and the institutions it works with are trying to spread recruitment programs to a variety of areas.

Shields said community colleges dont have the luxury of trying to target specific types of students, whether they be just out of high school or working adults, and thus are using career and college transition counselors embedded in high schools and partnerships with businesses to try and reach traditional and nontraditional students.

Judging by the 7.9% increase in joint enrollment and 3.1% jump in Iowa Career and Technical Education enrollment, Shields said these strides seem to be paying off.

I think that really reflects where weve made a lot of efforts to align with the states workforce to partner even more with high schools and just to offer lots of different options for Iowans to start and continue their education, Shields said.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence.

Best public colleges in Iowa Best public colleges in Iowa #3. University of Northern Iowa #2. Iowa State University
After an initial appearance in court last week, Frederick Joseph Olson, the man accused of murdering a Mason City man in December, is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 16.

Olson, 51, of Mason City is being held on $1 million bail in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a felony charge of premeditated murder in connection with the killing of 63-year-old Leroy Leonard White.

According to a press release from the Mason City Police Department, officers responded to a welfare check around 1:26 p.m. Dec. 19 at the residence at 1916 S. Grover Ave. Court documents indicate it is the home of Olson. Upon entering the home, they found White's body. The documents suggest Olson assaulted White, causing White's death one or two days prior.
SIOUX CENTER -- 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.

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."

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.
DES MOINES  Knowingly reporting fake information about serious crimes to law enforcement agencies in Iowa would be a felony under legislation proposed by an Iowa state agency.

It is among dozens of legislative proposals filed in advance of the 2024 session of the Iowa Legislature, which begins Jan. 8. In the weeks leading up to each years session, state lawmakers and state agencies are able to pre-file bills for consideration.

As of Thursday afternoon, 50 bills had been pre-filed and posted by nonpartisan legislative staff. All 50 bills are proposed by state agencies or executive branch offices; none yet had been posted by individual legislators.

For any of the pre-filed bills to become state law, just like any other piece of proposed legislation, they must be approved by majorities in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate, and then be signed into law by the governor.

Here are some of the bills that state agencies are proposing for consideration:

Anti-swatting bill

In March, at least 30 Iowa schools received phone calls warning of school shootings. State public safety officials quickly determined the warnings were fake.

Law enforcement officials call that swatting, which is the criminal act of making a false report to law enforcement agencies with the goal of drawing out a large law enforcement response and create chaos and fear at the location.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety, in a letter accompanying its pre-filed bill proposal, said there were 39 swatting incidents in the 2022-2023 school year in Iowa.

In Iowa, knowingly reporting false information about a crime to law enforcement officials is a misdemeanor. The Iowa Department of Public Safety is proposing to increase that penalty to a felony.

Under the proposed bill, knowingly reporting to law enforcement officials false information about certain serious crimes would be a Class D felony, which is punishable up to five years in prison and a fine between $1,025 and $10,245. If the false report results in another persons serious injury or death, the penalty increases to a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine between $1,370 and $13,660.

In its letter accompanying the proposal, the public safety department says Wisconsin, Ohio and New York recently increased their penalties for swatting. The goal, the letter says, is to deter bad actors from making hoax or false reports of serious emergency situations that require a large police response.

Keeping the public and responding agencies safe is of utmost importance, and these situations put them at risk and are disruptive to the involved community, the department letter says.

Relaxing hotel inspection requirements

Periodic, required hotel inspections in Iowa would be eliminated under legislation proposed by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing.

Under the proposed legislation, hotels would be required to undergo inspection only at their opening. After that, the current biennial inspections of Iowa hotels would be eliminated. Hotels would face inspection only once a complaint is filed.

A spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing said the proposal to eliminate required hotel inspections is designed to focus the agencys resources on more frequent inspections for higher-risk establishments, like sushi restaurants, while conducting fewer inspections on lower-risk establishments.

Penalties for unpaid campaign finance fines

As of late September, there were $27,520 in unpaid fines from more than 240 campaign finance violations in Iowa dating to 2018, according to a memo prepared by Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Executive Director Zach Goodrich.

Part of the problem, Goodrich told The Gazette in October, is that the state laws governing campaign finance violations are not sufficiently stringent. The board proposed legislation last session, and is back again this year with a pre-filed bill that would allow the state to suspend the drivers license of anyone who has a delinquent campaign finance penalty in excess of $250.

I believe that if we have laws, we should actually enforce them, otherwise get rid of them, Goodrich told The Gazette in October. In this instance, the laws serve an important purpose and shouldnt be repealed. Here, the laws should be enforced because its important to hold government officials and political insiders accountable.

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Explanation

A group of anthropologists has argued that Europeans may not have been, as generally believed, the first to bring chickens to South America. The group cites European accounts dating from the arrival of Europeans in South America around five hundred years ago that suggest that the Inca had already incorporated chickens into religious ceremonies. Further, a DNA comparison suggests a Polynesian origin for a chicken bone unearthed at Chile's El Arenal site, where other artifacts have been dated to over six hundred years ago.

Europeans may not have been, as generally believed, the first to bring chickens to South America

European accounts dating from the arrival of Europeans in South America around five hundred years ago that suggest that the Inca had already incorporated chickens into religious ceremonies



a DNA comparison suggests a Polynesian origin for a chicken bone unearthed at Chile's El Arenal site, where other artifacts have been dated to over six hundred years ago

Which of the following would, if true, most seriously weaken the anthropologists' argument as reported above?

A) Preserved sweet potatoes up to one thousand years old from Polynesian archaeological sites most likely originated in South America.

B) The ages of other chicken bones found in the vicinity of the El Arenal site have been established by an absolutely irrefutable method.

C) Analyses of ancient Polynesian canoes suggest that they could have been used for voyages to places as far away from Polynesia as South America.

D) The Europeans often mistook certain South American ducks for chickens.

E) Given ocean currents, it is just as likely that South Americans traveled to Polynesia centuries ago as it is that Polynesians traveled to South America.

Correct Answer

Show Spoiler D



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We see that the anthropologists have argued, in other words, that their conclusion is, the following:The anthropologists provide two pieces of evidence to support their conclusion:The question asks the following:This question is different from many other GMAT Weaken questions, whose arguments support their conclusions in one main way rather that with two different types of evidence. All the same, having seen how the conclusion is supported, we can look for a choice that somehow weakens the support provided by one or both pieces of evidence.If anything, this choice strengthens, rather than weakens, the argument.After all, the fact that sweet potatoes up to one thousand years old from Polynesian archaeological sites most likely originated in South America indicates that, as long ago as a thousand years, people traveled between South America and Polynesia, which provides further reason to believe that the chicken bone found at Chile's El Arenal site is of Polynesian origin and predates the arrival of Europeans around five hundred years ago.Eliminate.This choice has a vibe of weakening the argument. By saying that the ages of other chicken bones have been established, it attempts to give us the impression that the piece of evidence we have that involves a chicken bone somehow does not support the anthropologist's conclusion.However, the truth is that this choice has no effect on the argument. After all, it doesn't say how old the other chicken bones are. So, we don't know whether their ages indicate that they are from before or after Europeans brought chickens to South America. In other words, the fact that the ages of the other bones have been established is irrelevant without information on what those ages are.Eliminate.As is the case with choice (A), if anything, this choice strengthens, rather than weakens, the argument.After all, the fact that ancient Polynesian canoes may have been used for voyages to places as far away from Polynesia as South America is further reason to believe that the chicken bone found at Chile's El Arenal site is of Polynesian origin. After all, if the canoes could have been used for such voyages, then we have some confirmation that it's possible that the chicken bone found at the site is from Polynesia.Eliminate.This choice weakens the support provided by the first piece of evidence, "European accounts dating from the arrival of Europeans in South America around five hundred years ago that suggest that the Inca had already incorporated chickens into religious ceremonies."This choice indicates that, while it's true that there are European accounts dating from the arrival of Europeans in South America that suggest that the Inca had already incorporated chickens into religious ceremonies, that fact may not indicate that there were chickens in South America before the Europeans arrived because the Europeans who provided those accounts may have mistaken ducks for chickens.Notice that this choice doesn't conflict with the facts of the argument. It doesn't say that there are not any European accounts that suggest that the Inca had already incorporated chickens into religious ceremonies when the Europeans arrived. Rather, it weakens the connection between the fact that those accounts exist and the conclusion by indicating that the accounts may not be accurate.Keep.This choice has absolutely no effect on the argument. All it says is basically that travel in one direction is just as likely to have occurred as travel in the other. It doesn't tell us how likely travel in either direction is to have occurred. So, it doesn't meaningfully affect what we know about the situation since it does not help to confirm whether travel between Polynesia and South America occurred.Eliminate._________________
RALEIGH  When Fox News hosted a debate last month between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, much of the media coverage focused on its implications for 2024. Would Newsom make some nervous Democrats pine for a Joe Biden retirement? Would DeSantis breathe new life into his sputtering presidential campaign?

Interesting questions. But speaking as someone whos spent most of his career in state-level policy and journalism, I found the substance of the event more compelling than its atmospherics. In a sense, the two governors  both polished speakers and experienced executives  were debating a question with which North Carolinians are very familiar: Does bigger, more activist government make the residents of a state better off or worse off?

Over the years, Ive explored this issue extensively in newspaper columns and magazine pieces. I even wrote a book about it more than a decade ago. My thesis was that while states and localities certainly fund valuable services such as education, infrastructure and public safety, the relationship between public expenditures and outcomes is rather weak.

That is to say, if North Carolina didnt fund schools, colleges and universities at all, or maintain a network of roads and bridges, or administer a system of law enforcement agencies and courts, North Carolinians would be poorer, less safe and less satisfied with our lives.

But the relevant question isnt whether to create these assets. They already exist! What current policymakers must decide is how best to fund and manage them, and whether a large increase in spending from current levels would produce enough measurable benefit to North Carolinians to justify the costs theyd bear in higher taxes.

Generally speaking, the answer to that last question is no. While I believe there are initiatives in education, infrastructure, public safety and other areas that deserve more funding, state spending as a whole isnt too low. Since 2010, North Carolina lawmakers have rightly made tax reduction a priority, as have fiscally conservative lawmakers in other states.

Economists and other scholars have published many hundreds of academic studies on this subject. While their models and conclusions vary, I think a fair description of a preponderance of the evidence is that states with smaller governments  measured by such variables as spending levels, tax rates and regulatory burdens  tend to grow faster than other states while providing an equivalent or even superior quality of public services.

For a 2022 column, I pulled economic, public finance, education and infrastructure data for the 10 most-populous states in the country. I found that the top four states in economic freedom  Florida, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina  outperformed the rest on most measures.

In other words, they didnt just have lower taxes and faster-growing economies. Their roads and other infrastructure were better maintained. Their students scored higher on standardized tests after adjusting for socioeconomic status (which is a way to try to isolate the educational value added by their schools).

Last week, I updated my analysis to include the latest economic-freedom ranking by the Frasier Institute as well as recent data on population flows, gross domestic product growth, and violent crime. The populous states rated freest were, again, Florida and Texas, with North Carolina and Georgia tying for third. Ohio, Illinois, California and New York were the lowest ranked.

Since 2020, only four of the 10 states have added population: Florida (+3%), Texas (+2.7%), North Carolina (+2.4%), and Georgia (+1.7%). New York (-2.1%), Illinois (-1.6%), and California (-1.2%) experienced the largest declines. In GDP growth, only Florida and Texas have exceeded the national average of 2.8% since 2020, while only North Carolina matched it. The rest underperformed. By contrast, there isnt much of a correlation between government size and violent crime.

There will always be plenty of issues about which North Carolinians can and will disagree. But if you believe our states turn toward fiscal conservatism has been a catastrophe, your argument isnt with me. Its with the facts on the ground.
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.
A Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs sergeant retired after 22 years of service to the community and his four-footed partner is going with him.

Sgt. Uriah Wood and his K9, Villi, served the community on countless deployments over the years through apprehension and narcotics projects.

Wood was introduced to Villi in 2016 and patrolled the streets for the past seven years with what Wood said was a great thing to have no dog bites.

Villi and Wood assisted on many incidents with Veterans Affairs, Helena Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol.

Wood said that every time suspects were told Villi was on the way they would comply before the K9 arrived.

He proposed the K9 program in 2015 to Sheriff Leo Dutton, but Dutton was reluctant to go through with the program due to a previous K9 always biting people, according to Wood.

Wood persuaded Dutton enough to let him start the program several months later. When Villi was introduced to the program he was trained as a dual-purpose K9.

Villis main focuses were apprehension and narcotics, Wood said.

K9s usually have a career between seven and nine years before they retire due to the toll the career takes on the K9, Wood said. Villi is retiring because K9s typically stay with their partner.

Dutton said that he has worked with Wood since he started at the sheriff's office and that he could always count on him.

"He had a steady drive to try new ideas and he didn't give up," Dutton said. He was respectful and and I could count on him to be the first one to step forward when I had a special mission."

Dutton added "Love yuh Uriah" and that Villi, who is 9, and him will be missed. A farewell to both was held Thursday.

Over the years, Wood said that he created so many memories with the department and in his work, but some stuck out more than others.

Wood helped start the Water Emergency Team, WET, which trained deputies in water rescue missions with the use of jet-skis.

In 2016, the team received a Higgins and Langley Memorial incident award for a rescue mission in the Missouri River by the Hauser Dam in 2015.

A boat capsized at night in the river with two people and two dogs on board and WET and other LCCS search and rescue teams helped the people out of the water and brought them to safety.

We had the right tools to do the job, Wood said.

Wood also received the Distinguished Service Award from the sheriff's office during his retirement for serving the community for over 20 years, according to the nomination document.

The document added that Wood sought out areas within the office that needed improvement and brought it to others' attention.

"Uriah was one of the first instructors that helped push the sheriff's office to optics on rifles and has been a huge proponent for the sheriff's office issued handgun project," the document said.

Wood was proud of his accomplishments as the sergeant of the patrol division and finding the remains of Noah Pippin in 2012, an Iraq War veteran who had been missing for nearly two years whose remains were found in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

There was so much I was able to do in my career, Wood said.

He praised the LCCS for the lengths it goes to help people in their lives and the situations they get into.

His long career had what he considered to be a milestone when he became a firearms instructor in the county even though he did not originally see himself in law enforcement.

Wood said his original plan was to go into the military, but was unable to due to a knee injury when he was 16 years old.

Instead he said it led him to law enforcement and the ability to see things in his career some people would not dream of.

In retirement, Wood plans to take a couple of months off to give Villi and himself a break during the winter before jumping into a new business he started developing two years ago.

He started Vigilante Working Dogs, a dog training business, which he plans to get into later in 2024 after the winter passes.

When asked if he had any advice to offer, people need to behave themselves, dont break the law, he said with a laugh.

Wood said he enjoyed every minute of his 22-year career and was happy he got so many opportunities.
Editor's note: The following is another installment in a series on the top Independent Record stories of 2023.

The lawsuit of an oncologist suing St. Peters Health for wrongful termination came to an abrupt halt in late August, when a judge dismissed the claims of Dr. Thomas Weiner, finding the hospital followed proper due process when they suspended his medical privileges in late 2020 after reviews into patient care.

The lengthy legal fight spilled from the hospital corridors out into the community, where a couple of groups sprouted supporting Weiner, and still are today. Most members were former patients or family members of former patients. They would carry signs and protest Weiners dismissal weekly in front of the hospital. They also posted yard signs and paid for billboards saying they supported Weiner.

The lawsuit was filed in late 2020.

Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Michael Menahan filed a 31-page decision on Aug. 31 stating Weiner failed to satisfy his burden of producing sufficient evidence that would allow a reasonable jury to conclude that the SPH Defendants are not entitled to statutory immunity under the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986.

Menahan said the defendants may not be found liable for damages and that Weiner could not recover compensatory or punitive damages.

St. Peters had argued HCQIA provided legal immunity for professional review bodies in the belief the action was in the furtherance of quality health care and adequate notice and hearing procedures were given to the physician. Weiner argued that the immunity did not apply.

A change of venue was granted, partly due to media coverage and the numbers of signs and billboards posted in the area by former patients of Weiner, their families and other supporters. Their support for him continues.

The trial was to be moved to Missoula County or to be heard in Helena by a jury of Missoula County residents. Menahan was to remain the judge hearing the case. A trial date had not been set.

Weiner joined St. Peters in 1996 and had served a chief of staff and chair of the Medical Executive Committee. According to court documents, Weiner was seeing an estimated 300 patients a week, or had nearly 15,000 patient contacts a year.

Some other legal wrangling continues. Weiner filed some claims against a fellow doctor, Randy Sasich, that included claims of defamation and punitive damages. Those claims are proceeding. And an appeal is now before the Montana Supreme Court regarding a 1st District Court judge's decision denying Weiners request to file a second amended complaint.
Dakota Adams used to believe in the impending apocalypse. But when the repeated promises of societal meltdown failed to materialize, despite continued, urgent assertions otherwise by notorious militia leader Stewart Rhodes, Adams began to see his father for who he really was.

Much has changed since then, and the world still turns. In November, Adams declared his candidacy as a Democrat for a seat in the House of the Montana Legislature. It's the 26-year-old's first bid for office after publicly denouncing his father as an abusive force he, his siblings and mother fled in 2018. Adams' story has been told internationally through outlets like BBC. He wrote a 10,000-word essay published last year on the progressive news site Raw Story titled "How I left the far right."

Broken oaths: Stewart Rhodes' estranged Montana family reflects on militia life Tasha Adams: I still sometimes feel like I released him out into the world. I think of him like a grenade where I was always putting the pin back in."

In part, Adams is running to ensure a deeply red district doesnt go uncontested as it has two of the last three election cycles. Adams is also running because as a former Trump supporter, he wants his criticisms of the GOP for kowtowing to Trump, who has in turn kowtowed to anti-government extremists like his father, to be more than talk.

"I believe that every election should be contested by default, because people deserve to have a fair hearing of issues, to know what their candidates believe and to hear debate on solutions," Adams said in a recent phone interview. "So as an advocate for people doing that, I have to walk the walk and do it myself or its just me yelling at people on Twitter."

Adams lives outside of Eureka and will run in the newly redrawn House District 1, which covers northwest Montana from Troy to Eureka. He works in construction while going to Flathead Valley Community College part-time and serves as a rural volunteer firefighter at the Trego-Fortine-Stryker fire service area south of town.

Democrats have continued to lose out in rural areas in recent years, falling into a super-minority at the state Legislature. They hold particularly little ground in northwest Montana. Adams believes the party has left too many elections on the table without a challenge in the region, but he also credited recruitment efforts like his father used to engineer for a snowballing migration of "hardcore conservatives" into regions like northwest Montana.

'Began to see cracks'

The story of his familys escape from Rhodes has also been told in the local news, where communities are familiar with the presence of militia movements in northwest Montana.

In its prosecution of Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, the U.S. Department of Justice described the Oath Keepers as a "large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias."

Adams grew up in that world, pushed into tactical training exercises and ideological bubbles. But eventually he and others came to realize Rhodes' game of making profits and egotistical gains depended on sustaining the global conspiracies that animated the organization's membership. Years later at trial for his actions around Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors raised examples that showed Rhodes using Oath Keepers funds for personal expenses.

"I began to see cracks because I became aware that Stewart, my father, was very much a fraud and was not running Oath Keepers in a way that signaled that he believed truly in Oath Keepers being a last bastion against the death of America," Adams said. "He was using it as a platform to pursue his own self-aggrandizement, to follow a pathological need to be a great figure in American history."

The Jan. 6 riots and the response from some Republicans to carry on with Trump's false stolen election claims made Adams re-evaluate his politics even further. Rhodes, meanwhile, was convicted after an eight-week trial for seditious conspiracy in plotting to upset the presidential transfer of power. In May he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

The turnabout for Adams has swept him entirely across the political spectrum, from a "hardcore Trump supporter" who believed in the Pizzagate conspiracy to identifying today as a Democratic socialist. He remains in support of the Second Amendment, although he said its a more nuanced stance than when he was a part of the militia movement.

"I no longer see anti-gun people as a tentacle of a sinister, global conspiracy," Adams said. "And I also can no longer consider gun rights to be the predominant single issue in the election."

Creating ripples

Before Jan. 6, militia groups picked up steam in response to government lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic extremism experts have warned about another uptick in activity during the 2024 presidential election. Asked about how voters in northwest Montana will receive his rejection of Rhodes and the militia movement, Adams said his past may actually provide some common ground.

"One big piece of the puzzle here is that Stewart burned all of his bridges in this area with the militia movement by being so personally toxic that he made himself a pariah in this corner of the state," he said. "I feel like leveraging my life story so not be dismissed out of hand for having the wrong team color is going to be really useful for talking to people, and talking with people about what is important to them."

This right here is one proud Mamma@That_Girl_Tasha filming her son Dakota who is running for state legislature in Montana.



These two serve as inspiration to our entire country.



Tasha was married to cheif Oath Keeper Stewart Rhodes, Dakota his sonand here they are pic.twitter.com/Vnbevlzt6Y  Ryan Busse (@ryandbusse) December 20, 2023

One of Adams early supporters is Scott Ernest, a self-described de-radicalization consultant. Since exiting the white nationalist Pioneer Little Europe community in the nearby Flathead Valley, Ernest developed a network to try giving people an off-ramp from extremist groups. The two connected on social media around the time Adams was growing more vocal about his past.

Ernest said that campaigns like Adams can create ripples through militia groups and the broader community as an example of someone who can flip the script on their life from inside a cult-like environment.

"I think he has one thing that his dad actually had, which is charisma," Ernest said. "Unlike his dad, though, he has critical thinking skills, common sense, other things his dad lacks. Its good to see the kid of Stewart Rhodes doing something that obviously can be construed as pro-government, running for office."

If elected, Adams said he wants to focus on the independence of the state Supreme Court, address rising property taxes that are riling communities across the state and push back on the Legislatures anti-transgender legislation. The latter largely defined the final weeks of the 2023 Legislature when Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr of Missoula, one of the first transgender lawmakers in Montana history, was voted off the House floor. That episode took off during the debate over Senate Bill 99, a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth uniformly opposed by Democrats. Republicans took a hard stance against Zephyr's comments during that debate and voted to ban her from the House floor when she refused to apologize.

"The rationale (of the bill) was protecting children from life-altering surgery, which I can see how people would have very strong opinions on that they have come to honestly," Adams said of Senate Bill 99. "But in the state of Montana I can find no rule preventing a pageant mom from badgering her 13-year-old into getting a boob job."

2024 race

Adams presumptive opponent next year will be three-term incumbent Republican Rep. Neil Duram, who was elected in 2018 and 2022 without a general election opponent. In 2020 Duram won a contested race with 80% of the vote over his Democratic challenger. No other candidates have declared for the seat. The filing period opens in January and closes mid-March.

While usually voting for the cultural agenda Republicans passed through the session, the bills Duram introduced during that 2023 Legislature strayed very little into fringe politics. One bill sought to create an "election security team" appointed by various government officials to oversee hand- counting of each voting precinct was done within a year of an election.

A former Montana Highway Patrol trooper of 28 years and current chief of police in Eureka, legislation Duram introduced in 2023 focused mostly on traffic and driving laws. While social issues may ignite headlines and phone calls, Duram said voters in his district have been most vocal about rising residential property taxes.

Asked for this story, however, if he perceives militia groups to be a visible constituency in his area, Duram responded, "Im not a member of any specific militia group but my position is that every citizen of this country is a member of the militia."

Said another way, Duram doesnt view militias as necessarily extremist. He suggested someone speaking up to avert a shoplifting underway could fit Durams definition of what a militia response can look like.

Duram has also been on the receiving end of extremism from across the political divide.

For weeks after the session, Duram said he received calls and phone messages attacking his support for the anti-trans legislation. That response escalated in June, when Duram and three other Montana GOP lawmakers received suspicious packages containing an unknown white powder. Durams letter was postmarked from Kansas City; Republican legislators in many states received similar letters in June. The Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office tested the powder sent to another legislator and determined it was flour.

"I think there was an extremist out there that had more time than the rest of us," Duram said.

Last week, Adams appeared at three campaign events in a single day in Lincoln County with Ryan Busse, Democratic candidate for governor whose profile has also grown in recent years.

That rise followed Busse turning away from his former life as a gun sales executive, as he wrote in his 2021 memoir "Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America.

Busse opens that book in a scene with his family at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020 in Kalispell, about an hour south of Adams home, standing opposite several armed counter protesters, some of whom wore Oath Keepers patches on their outfits. Adams said he was at that rally, as well.

"The guy wants to be able to have a free, rational thought and thats how I felt about much of the way things are in the firearms industry," Busse said in an interview this week. "We don't have to approve of Three Percenters and Boogaloo Boys. That's a low bar.  (But) I think people don't realize how incredibly hard it is to pull yourself from a totalitarian organization and extremist organization like Dakota was in, and how brave that is."

This article has been updated to correct a misquote attributed to Adams.
On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, the Grinch revealed itself in Great Falls.

I saw the mean-spirited character manifested in citizens of Cascade County.

Cascade County Commission held their bimonthly meeting at the Expo Park in anticipation of large public attendance. Commissioner Joe Brigg brought forth a resolution to remove election duties from the Clerk and Recorder. This resolution has been talked about for several years.

Public comments were heard from over 100 people. With many more in attendance to witness the spectacle of vile and spiteful testimony. This went on for seven long and excruciating hours.

As I sat in the audience listening to the public comments, I was so ashamed of the behavior of those speaking in opposition to the resolution.

These are my neighbors who used threats, yelled, and told outright lies. The Bible quotes were thrown out over and over to attack commissioners Joe Briggs and Jim Larson. Two pastors in our community spewed hateful words. Not once did I hear these so-called church attending people speak to the call to love thy neighbor as thyself. It was like watching school yard bullies and toddler temper tantrums. Never in the 62 years that I have lived in Great Falls have I ever experienced anything like the hateful actions and words that I saw that day.

I fought back tears of sadness that day for my community.

The restraint shown by Commissioners Joe Briggs, Jim Larson and those who spoke in support of the resolution is to be commended. Supporters spoke with decorum and integrity while expressing their concerns for the election process that has been flawed since Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant has taken office. They stuck to the facts and kept religion and emotion out of their testimony.

We are in need of change in Great Falls and around Montana as this type of extremist behavior spreads and basic community norms around public discussion and debate dissolve. Perhaps, the most disturbing aspect is the appeal to theocratic ideals which could not be more un-American.

This country was founded on a fundamental separation between church and state, and we have upheld that value, embodied in the First Amendment to the Constitution, for almost 250 years. The opponents' dogmatic appeal to a narrow-minded, intolerant brand of Christianity would be ridiculous if it were not so fundamentally dangerous and unconstitutional.

There is hard work ahead for all reasonable people of goodwill in this community and across Montana to try to bring us back to a semblance of decency and behavioral norms of civility and respect necessary for the community to not only survive but thrive.

Love thy Neighbor no Exception.
DECATUR  Carl W. Scott is a former hotel worker accused of confronting a Decatur guest and stabbing him in the neck.

The 41-year-old defendant is due to face trial March 11 on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery inflicting great bodily harm.

The strange case dates to the night of Oct. 6 at the USA Inn, 3141 N. Water St., and began with Decatur police conducting a traffic stop that ended up in the hotel parking lot.

The vehicle involved was due to get towed and the 28-year-old driver and several passengers went inside the hotel seeking a room for the night.

DPD officers were in the parking lot waiting for a tow for a vehicle they had stopped when they were approached by two of the occupants who had previously been released, said a sworn affidavit.

Officers observed (the driver) and (a passenger) holding pressure on the (the drivers) neck as they approached. The driver told officers that he had either been stabbed or cut on his neck. A DPD officer observed him to have an approximately four to five-inch-long laceration on the left side of his neck that was bleeding profusely.

The affidavit said police pulled surveillance video from the hotel which showed two confrontations between the victim and Scott. In the first encounter they argue and police say Scott is seen brandishing a knife he pulls from the pocket of his sweatshirt.

This first encounter happens at 8:22 p.m. and the driver then leaves only to return at 8:25 p.m. and is seen trying to usher a woman out the door who had entered before him.

The affidavit says the video shows Scott approaching the driver armed again with the knife. The driver reacts by jutting his head forward and pulling his right hand up at his side a few inches, as if faking a punch at the defendant.

Carl immediately swung the knife at (the driver) with his right hand and appeared to strike him on the left side of his neck, the affidavit said.

Officer Tanner Brummitt testified to a similar version of events when Macon County Circuit Court Judge Lindsey Shelton had found probable cause to try Scott at a Nov. 8 preliminary hearing.

Cross-examining Brummitt, Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders asked him if he was aware that the driver had previously been barred from the hotel. The officer replied he was aware of it, but didnt know if the driver had been officially barred from the premises or just told to stay away.

Sanders took the officer through the confrontations seen in the video and asked him: And its not until (the driver) starts making those aggressive moves forward that Mr. Scott slashes out with the knife? Brummitt said that was correct.

Records show Scott was on probation at the time of the alleged offense after having been convicted of domestic battery in Sangamon County and sentenced to 30 months in prison in January of 2022. He also has a previous conviction out of Cook County in March of 2009 when he was sentenced to 11 years after being convicted of attempted murder.

Shelton ruled at the preliminary hearing in November that Scott was too dangerous and too much of a flight risk to be released from custody before his trial and he remains held in the Macon County Jail.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park
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.
Conditions were mostly nice this year for travelers flying ahead of and on Christmas, but some naughty disruptions again plagued those flying with Southwest Airlines.

For millions of people traveling over the holiday, this year was much better than last. Christmas morning put a bow on a relatively smooth weekend.

Only 157 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been canceled and 2,111 were delayed as of late afternoon on Monday, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

For this holiday season, U.S. airlines prepared for massive waves of travelers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers  in an effort to avoid the delays and cancellations that marred travel in 2022, culminating with the Southwest Airlines debacle that stranded more than 2 million people.

Still, Southwest experienced hiccups again over the weekend that the airline was looking to clear by Monday.

Check out how airline performance has been recently at North Carolina airports.

See airline performance at North Carolina airports
Back in mid-November, the first pictures and the first information about the car with which Xiaomi intends to break into the electric car market were leaked. The arrival of the Chinese technology giant can make the competition in the segment especially sharp, as it is preparing to use a unified operating system for its cars, household appliances and phones.

Although it was only expected in the first half of next year, the official presentation of Xiaomis first electric model finally took place on Thursday. The sedan named SU7 made its debut at a time when China, the worlds largest market, is characterized by an abundance of capacity and slowing demand growth, triggering a serious price war.

At the presentation, CEO Lei Jun said, among other things,

in the next 15-20 years, Xiaomi will be one of the top five car manufacturers in the world.

Like many other technology companies, Xiaomi also strives to expand beyond its core activities into other areas, such as the production of electric vehicles. Xiaomi announced its car manufacturing plan in 2021, pledging to invest $10 billion in the sector over more than a decade.

Xiaomi cars are made in the Beijing factory of one of the state-owned vehicle manufacturers BAIC Group, which has the capacity to produce 200,000 cars a year.
The Colorado Republican Party officially asks the United States Supreme Court to weigh in on whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution prevents former President Donald Trump from once again holding elected office. With primary elections to determine party nominees for president just weeks away, the high court is almost certain to take up the question quickly. Heres the latest legal news for the man who hopes to be reelected to the White House in 2024.

Jan. 6 election interference

Colorado GOP asks US Supreme Court to decide 14th Amendment question about Trump

Key players: American Center for Law and Justice chief counsel Jay Sekulow, Colorado Supreme Court, United States Supreme Court

Late Wednesday, the Colorado Republican Party asked the US Supreme Court to rule on whether Trump could be barred from ballots based on a reading of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, Politico reported.

The party, which is represented by Sekulow, argues that the 14th Amendment clause does not apply to the presidency and must be enforced by Congress alone.

Earlier this month, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump should be removed from ballots because he engaged in insurrection when he directed his followers to descend on the US Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress was about to certify Bidens victory in the 2020 election.

In the majority 4-3 opinion, the court wrote: President Trump did not merely incite the insurrection. Even when the siege on the Capitol was fully underway, he continued to support it. These actions constituted overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the insurrection.

Several other states are hearing 14th Amendment challenges to Trumps 2024 candidacy. State supreme courts in Minnesota and Michigan have ruled that while Trump cannot be barred from appearing on primary ballots, the question of his eligibility for the general election remains undecided.

Sekulow defended Trump in 2020 during his first impeachment trial in the US Senate.

Why it matters: With conflicting state supreme court rulings and the start of the primary election just weeks away, the US Supreme Court is expected to quickly take up the matter of whether Trumps actions leading up to and on Jan. 6, 2021, disqualify him from ever again holding elected office.

Recommended reading

_______________________

Wednesday, Dec. 27

_______________________

The Michigan Supreme Court rules that state election law does not prohibit former President Donald Trump from being included on primary ballots there, but the court also makes clear that he could still be excluded from general election ballots. The ruling echoes one by the Minnesota Supreme Court but differs from the decision to kick Trump off the ballot in Colorado. Heres the latest legal news involving the man who is hoping to be reelected to the White House in 2024.

Jan. 6 election interference

Michigan Supreme Court rules Trumps name can appear on primary ballots

Key players: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth WelchColorado Supreme Court, Minnesota Supreme Court, United States Supreme Court, Free Speech for People

Echoing a ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court, the highest state court in Michigan upheld an appeals court ruling that allows Trump to remain on primary ballots there, but makes clear that plaintiffs can challenge his inclusion on general election ballots, CNN reported.

Citing Article 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits those who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding elected office, Free Speech for People had sued to keep Trump off primary ballots in 2024.

Unlike Colorados Supreme Court, which ruled that Trump had incited the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol building and was therefore ineligible to appear on state ballots, Michigans Supreme Court dismissed the question on procedural grounds because state law there does not require candidates to to attest to their legal qualification to hold the office.

But as with the Minnesota Supreme Courts ruling, Welch made it clear that those seeking to keep Trumps name from appearing on ballots could try again should he become the Republican Partys nominee for president.

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, she wrote.

Why it matters: The riot at the Capitol by Trumps supporters sought to block the certification of Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election. The question of whether Trumps role prevents him from holding office will ultimately be decided by the US Supreme Court.

_______________________

Tuesday, Dec. 26

_______________________

Former President Donald Trump asks the Washington appeals court to scrap special counsel Jack Smiths election interference case against him, claiming he cannot be prosecuted for a crime similar to the one for which he was acquitted by the US Senate during his second impeachment trial. In a social media post, Trump pushes that defense even further, claiming that it was his duty to contest his 2020 election loss to Biden. Heres the latest legal news involving the man who hopes to be reelected to the White House in 2024.

Jan. 6 election interference

Trump asks appeals court to toss election interference charges

Key players: Special counsel Jack Smith, DC Circuit US Court of Appeals, US Senate, US Supreme CourtJudge Tanya Chutkan

On Saturday, Trumps lawyers filed a brief with the DC Circuit asking them to toss Smiths election interference case on the grounds that the Senate acquitted Trump in February 2021 of incitement of insurrection charges, NBC News reported.

The structure of our government, the text of the Constitution and its early commentators, common-law immunity doctrines, our political history, the Supreme Courts analogous immunity doctrines, and the policy considerations rooted in the separation of powers all dictate that no President, current or former, may be criminally prosecuted for his official acts unless he is first impeached and convicted by the Senate, Trumps lawyers wrote.

Nor may a President face criminal prosecution based on conduct for which he was acquitted by the US Senate, they added. The indictment against President Trump is unlawful and unconstitutional. It must be dismissed.

While a bipartisan majority of the Senate (57-43) voted that Trump was guilty of inciting insurrection, it fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority required under the Constitution to convict him.

Smith has charged Trump with four felony counts in the Jan. 6 case, including conspiracy to defraud the United States by knowingly spreading false claims about the 2020 election and attempting to overturn legitimate results.

On Jan. 9, the appeals court is hearing arguments on whether presidential immunity claims protect Trump from prosecution. That decision is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court, which last week refused a request by Smith to fast-track a ruling on the immunity question.

Smith has argued that Trumps actions were not part of his official duties as president. Chutkan, who is overseeing the Jan. 6 case against Trump, has already ruled that Trump is not protected by presidential immunity.

In a potential preview of new defense arguments, Trump attempted once again to reframe his actions to block the certification by Congress of his loss to Biden on Jan. 6.

I was doing my duty as President to expose and further investigate a Rigged and Stolen Election, Trump wrote.

Why it matters: Now legal experts believe the appeals court will deny Trumps request to simply dismiss the charges against him and will rule against the former president on the question of presidential immunity, setting up a date with the Supreme Court.
Abbas Ganbay

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.
Jena Griswold announced that Donald Trumps name will be on the list of Republican presidential candidates to be finalized on January 5. Colorados Supreme Court ruled last week to disqualify the former president from running for re-election due to the sedition clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

The judicial panel set a deadline of January 4 for the appeal against the decision. In addition to the official appeal by the Colorado branch of the Republican Party, Donald Trumps campaign team also indicated that it will challenge the Colorado decision in the federal Supreme Court in Washington, the highest legal forum in the United States.

The Democratic leader of the states public administration, despite agreeing to the inclusion of Donald Trumps name, expressed in his statement his belief that the Supreme Court of Colorado made a just and justified decision, and at the same time encouraged the Federal Supreme Court to act quickly.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the state of Michigan  contrary to the supreme legal body of the state of Colorado  decided not to disqualify Donald Trump from running in the presidential election. This case is also expected to reach the US Supreme Court.

Various organizations have filed lawsuits in several states to prevent Donald Trump from running for office, including Texas, Nevada and Wisconsin.

In the United States, the primary election process begins in Iowa on January 15, during which Republican voters in each state vote for their presidential candidate. In Colorado, the candidate will be decided on March 5, the so-called Super Tuesday, when primaries will be held in 14 other states. Republican voters in Michigan will decide who they want to see as their candidate in the November 2024 presidential election at the end of February and the first days of March.

(MTI)

***
According to Wijnen The Netherlands should follow the example of Sweden, Finland and the Baltic States, as they  due to their geographical proximity  are better prepared for a possible armed conflict with Russia.

Dutch society must prepare, you should not think that your safety is guaranteed just because you are 1,500 kilometers away from Russia De Telegraaf quoted the lieutenant general.

Wijnen warned that Russia is getting stronger militarily, so a more prepared Dutch army than today is needed as a deterrent.

Russia only understands the language of robust armed force. That is why it is important to remedy the shortage of personnel in the Dutch army

he added.

He expressed his hope that two to three thousand young people will participate in the voluntary military service introduced this year on the Scandinavian model, some of whom will choose the military career or become reservists.

Wijnen will leave his post at the beginning of January and become director general of the infrastructure agency under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water.

Cover image source: Getty Images
Russia and NASA have agreed to extend their joint flights to the International Space Station (ISS) until 2025, spokespeople for the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced Thursday.

According to the statement, due to the reliability of the general operation of the ISS, and in order to ensure that at least one representative of Roscosmos and NASA is present at the station, an agreement was reached with the American partners in 2023 to extend the joint flights until 2025.

As early as July 2022, Russia expressed its desire to withdraw from the ISS after 2024, where its astronauts were permanently stationed and which it played a key role in operating. This could also be justified by the fact that Roskosmos is planning to create a new Russian space station.

In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the first segment of the Russian space station should be launched in 2027, and he also promised to continue the conquest of space despite recent setbacks.

The Russian space sector has always been the countrys pride, but its landscape has been plagued by funding problems, corruption scandals and failures for years. The loss of the lunar probe Luna-25 in August was also a big fiasco.

The ISS, a symbol of international cooperation involving Europe, Japan, the United States and Russia, began to be assembled in 1998 and was originally scheduled to shut down in 2024, but NASA estimates it could operate until 2030  MTI announced.
FORT FISHER  Maverick, the popular bald eagle at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF), will be protected away from his open-air habitat as a precautionary measure in response to new cases of avian influenza found in eastern North Carolina wild birds.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect several species of birds, including domestic poultry and wild birds. This disease, if spread, could have devastating effects on poultry farms, both commercial and backyard flocks, and birds living in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife centers, said Emily F. Christiansen, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACZM, chief veterinarian, North Carolina Aquariums.

This is the second time this year the NC Aquariums have taken precautions regarding avian flu. Visitors will notice this temporary measure to protect Maverick as the Aquarium team cares for him away from his public habitat. To further protect Maverick, the Aquariums have increased biosecurity for staff, including restricting access to Maverick to specific teams who work with the Aquariums feathered animals.

The Aquarium is working closely with the N.C. Aquarium Division veterinary team, the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to determine when they can safely return Maverick to his public habitat.

Maverick is healthy and not showing any signs of the disease, which include sneezing, coughing, lack of energy and poor appetite.

Our visitors really treasure Maverick, a majestic ambassador for birds, and we are taking every precaution to ensure he stays safe and healthy, so he can quickly return to his habitat for everyone to enjoy, said Hap Fatzinger, director, NCAFF.

No human infections from this virus have been found in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says transmission of the virus from birds to humans is very rare and considers the risk to the public very low. For more information, visit CDC Information on Avian Influenza.

For those who rear domestic poultry or are around wild birds, more information about caring for their own flock and recommended steps to increase their biosecurity is available at USDA Defend the Flock.

The public can report sick or dying wild birds to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission helpline at 866-318-2401, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can report any sick or dying birds in human care to a local veterinarian, the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Veterinary Division, 919-707-3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, 919-733-3986. For more information, visit NCDA&CS.

About the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington, on U.S. 421. The site is less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $12.95 ages 13-61; $10.95 children ages 3-12; $11.95 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; EBT card holders: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members.
100 years ago,

Dec. 29, 1923

CHARLESTON  Seven prisoners were taken from the city jail Friday night and transported to Charleston for incarceration in the Coles county jail, pending disposition of their cases. C.G. Burns, alias Harvey Porter, was arrested in Chicago on Thursday on a charge of "jumping a board bill" at the Hotel Byers on Sept. 15 last and, being a traveler, he was difficult to locate. Harry Scritchlow, arrested by Patrolmen Cutright and Brimberry after a foot race near Driskell's filling station Thursday night, is wanted for contempt of court, through his having failed, it is said, to honor a court decree ordering him to make weekly payments for the support of his wife. Scritchlow formerly lived in this city, but is said to have been working as a garage mechanic in several cities in Indiana. John Levi Wilson, arrested at Mackinaw, near Pekin, on Thursday on a warrant charging forgery of Pennsylvania railroad checks, was taken to Charleston and lodged in the county jail. Charles H. Drake and his son, Lester Drake, arrested Friday on warrants charging both with having mistreated the elder Drake's 14-year-old daughter, also were taken to the county jail. Father and son were arrested on information furnished the officers by the girl.

50 years ago, 1973

The Mattoon Association of Commerce and the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce have set up a joint program to assist in arranging car pools to conserve gasoline for those who commute between the two cities each day. The association office in Mattoon and the chamber office in Charleston will act as information centers. Anyone in Mattoon who works in Charleston and is interested in a car pool can call the Association of Commerce and register, giving their name, address, place of work, and working hours...LERNA  Coles County Sheriff Paul Smith hinted Friday that his office expects to break a chain of burglaries occurring in Lerna during the past three weeks. Burglars struck two homes and three businesses in Lerna during that period. Gary Stratton and Mel Boyer stated that burglars entered their residence on Dec. 23 and stole $160 in cash and a shotgun, stereo equipment, camera and a tape player. On Dec. 27, burglars entered the Thomas Randolph residence and stole a tape player, three wrapped Christmas gifts, and credit cards from Mrs. Randolph's purse. On Dec. 19 the thieves entered the Ivan Thompson Welding Shop and Spears Sunoco Station. A five horsepower engine and a quantity of chocolate pop were removed from the welding shop and cigarettes, candy and bubble gum were taken from the gas station.

25 years ago, 1998

CHARLESTON  Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau have nothing on these two retiring history professors, who for years have traded good-natured jabs and practical jokes, much to the amusement of their students and co-workers. The faux sparring has earned good friends Dan Hockman and Bob Sterling legendary status among the halls of Eastern Illinois University history department and beyond. "One way to motivate students was for one of us to attack the other," Hockman said. "It worked extremely well. The students looked forward to it. Most of them, for the first third or more of the semester, thought we were deadly serious." During a slide presentation, for example, Sterling would come across a blank slide and announce, matter-of-factly, that it was a scan of Hockman's brain. "It's been a very close friendship," Hockman said. The relationship began when Hockman was a student at EIU, and Sterling was one of his teachers. Will the duo continue the faux sparring in their retirement? "Oh, we probably will," Hockman said. "(But) it won't be nearly as enjoyable anymore." But then, Hockman couldn't resist another chance to get a jab in on Sterling. Talking to a person who would be visiting Sterling's house later, Hockman said to be sure to look at Sterling's collection of political buttons. "You might want to tell him mine's much nicer,' Hockman said.

Where in the U.S. are homes most likely to be broken into? Where in the U.S. are homes most likely to be broken into?
XPO Inc.s expansion push in the Triad has come with a $32.5 million price tag for the Kernersville campus of defunct Yellow Corp.

The sale was listed in a Forsyth County Register of Deeds filing Friday with the buyer officially listed as XPO LTL Properties LLC of Greenwich, Ct., and the seller as YRC Inc. of Overland Park, Kan.

The 71.34-acre campus at 1255 N.C. 66 South contains 217,767 square feet of space.

Yellow filed for federal bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Aug. 7, confirming plans for a total shutdown of operations that put nearly 30,000 employees out of work, including at least 145 employees in Kernersville and 893 overall in North Carolina.

On Dec. 12, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge approved the sale of 128 Yellow freight terminals for a combined $1.88 billion.

There were 21 successful bidders, led by XPO being approved to pay $870 million for 26 owned terminals and two leased properties.

None of those terminals will go to Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. even though the Thomasville trucking company made in August an initial $1.5 billion stalking-horse bid for 119 Yellow terminals.

Estes Express Lines exceeded that stalking horse bid in September at $1.525 billion. Estes was second at bidding $248.7 million for 24 owned terminals. Among the acquired terminals is 5201 Sunset Road in Charlotte.

XPO said Dec. 13 that it didnt have a timeline for when each terminal will be reopened, but with a goal of during 2024 to early 2025.

The company said that while its still premature to discuss any hiring plans, were committed to hiring and retaining the best talent in the industry.

XPO chief executive Mario Harik called the Yellow terminal acquisitions a once-in-a-generation opportunity to increase capacity in critical, growing freight markets, create more jobs and serve our customers even more effectively.

We look forward to integrating these prime sites to enhance network efficiency and drive our next decade of growth.

XPO includes in the prime-site description the Kernersville terminal, along with those in Atlanta, Brooklyn, N.Y., Columbus, Ohio, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Nashville, Tenn., and Portland, Ore.

According to Transport Topics.com, Bankruptcy Court judge Craig Goldblatt was quoted as saying that selling the 128 terminal for more than their $1.1 billion appraised value of the entire 169-terminal portfolio was obviously a tremendous outcome.

According to media reports, still subject to being sold are 46 owned properties, 147 of Yellows 149 leased properties and its rolling stock that consisted of 12,700 tractors and 42,000 trailers as of June 30.

A court hearing on the potential properties sale is set for 2 p.m. Jan. 12.
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.

Union Bank & Trust CEO to step down

After 42 years at Union Bank & Trust and 27 years in a top leadership role, Angie Muhleisen will step down and let a new generation of her family take over.

Starting Jan. 1, Muhleisen's son, Jason, will succeed her as president and CEO of the bank, becoming the fourth generation of the Dunlap family to lead a bank in Nebraska and the third to head up Union Bank & Trust.

Angie Muhleisen will remain at the bank as a board member and a member of the executive team, and she said she will continue working on some special projects at the bank's holding company.

Windstream says 911 service disruptions were caused by cut irrigation line

A disruption to 911 services across Southeast Nebraska in early September resulted from a contractor damaging a city water line.

Officials from Windstream told the Public Service Commission on Thursday the water leaked into a basement room where it caused electrical equipment to short out, leading to a fire and explosion.

Other power failures eventually led 911 service to go offline for about 4 and a half hours between Sept. 2 and 3. Windstream said a software bug led to a second outage in November.

Grain elevator near downtown Lincoln up for sale

Long a problem child on Lincoln's map, a grain elevator at Sixth and G streets just south of downtown is up for sale, and there are high hopes for its future.

James Woolsoncroft has owned the property for 45 years, but over time it has become a magnet for graffiti and copper theft.

In August, the building went up for sale by realtor Alan Beyke, listed at $425,000. In previous years, Woolsoncroft spoke about possibly turning the grain elevator into housing or a hotel. Similar projects have been completed in other cities, and Beyke said It would be a neat project to keep the Haymarket expanding that way. I think it's just waiting to happen."

The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023
Long a problem child on Lincoln's map, a grain elevator at Sixth and G streets just south of downtown is up for sale, and there are high hopes for its future.

James Woolsoncroft has owned the property for 45 years. When he bought it, the roof was in disrepair. The rainwater that found its way into the silos ruined the corn, but Woolsoncroft refused to give up on the building.

After investing time, money and resources into cleaning out the corn, rebuilding the roof and installing new rail scales, the grain elevator was back in business.

At the edge of the Haymarket, Woolsoncroft was loading seven train cars daily, helping his father's business in Princeton when they struggled to fill enough cars. Then, the railroads tore up their tracks and the property became a magnet for graffiti and copper theft.

In August, the building went up for sale by Alan Beyke, listed at $425,000. In previous years, Woolsoncroft spoke about possibly turning the grain elevator into housing or a hotel.

A similar concept has been completed in Akron, Ohio, where a developer converted old Quaker Oats silos into Quaker Square Inn, a hotel on the University of Akron's campus.

"It would be a neat project to keep the Haymarket expanding that way," Beyke said. "I think it's just waiting to happen."

Beyke said the majority of people looking at the property are hoping to develop it along those lines, and some of them have experience with similar projects.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
An Omaha man who was arrested nearly a year ago following an armed standoff with police after they served a warrant for child sexual assault allegations was charged Thursday with 22 more related felonies.

Christopher Heywood, 42, has been held on $2 million bail at the Douglas County Jail since his January arrest on six counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child.

The Omaha police report for that case says the child told authorities that Heywood sexually assaulted her numerous times between February and December 2022.

A week after investigators spoke to the alleged victim, officers went to Heywoods home and he was taken into custody on Jan. 4, 2023, after an armed standoff.

On Thursday, two warrants were served on Heywood.

In one, Heywood is charged with two counts of committing child abuse without injury. Court documents state police met with two more alleged victims who said Heywood abused them in prior years and forced them to watch pornography.

The second warrant Thursday charged Heywood with four counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, six counts of first-degree forcible sexual assault and 10 other felonies.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
Nebraska State Patrol troopers on Wednesday arrested a suspect connected to a shooting that occurred in Saratoga, Wyoming, earlier this month, according to a news release from the State Patrol.

On Wednesday evening, the State Patrol was notified that the woman, 28-year-old Victoria Tidball, of Saratoga, could be traveling through Nebraska. Later that night, a trooper pulled over a vehicle that she was believed to be traveling in on I-80 near Gothenburg.
Abbas Ganbay

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.
Former state Sen. Ernie Chambers has joined those calling for Gov. Jim Pillen to change his mind about a new federal program that could keep about 150,000 Nebraska children fed throughout the summer months.

The veteran Omaha senator delivered a letter to the governors office Thursday, along with a hand-drawn portrait of Pillen as a gesture of goodwill. The letter urged Pillen to accept the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children.

The program would provide an estimated $18 million in food aid during school vacation months to low-income families with children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The benefits are to launch in summer 2024, but states have to indicate interest by Jan. 1.

So far, the Pillen administration has refused to participate in the program, despite pleas from state senators and numerous Nebraskans.

Among those calling for reconsideration is Nebraska Appleseed, an advocacy group that submitted 6,144 signatures on a petition to Pillen on Friday. Signers included people who could benefit from the program, people who work with low-income Nebraskans and many concerned citizens, according to Eric Savaiano, the groups economic justice program manager.

Paul Feilmann, a retired mental health therapist from Omaha, has been holding a daily vigil outside the official governors residence since Dec. 22 to urge state participation. The eight-day vigil came to a conclusion with a news conference on Friday. He, along with state senators and community leaders, spoke about the importance of the issue.

"If you want to know the health of a community, you look at one number: how many children live below the poverty line," Feilmann said Friday. "In Nebraska it's particularly significant. People have a really limited idea of how many kids are impacted by poverty."

The number is 19,000 in Douglas County, according to Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha. The program, he said, would benefit more than 175,00 children across the state.

Nebraska State Education Association President Jenni Benson said Friday that there are children in need in every community in Nebraska. Teachers, she said, care about kids whether school is in session or not.

"Everything affects something else," Benson said outside the Governor's Mansion Friday. "It affects learning, it affects families, and we need to do something about it, and we are being given this opportunity to work with federal dollars."

The federal dollars, Vargas said, are in fact Nebraskan dollars. The issue at hand is about pragmatism and compassion, he said.

"I believe it is our moral obligation to fight and to help our neighbors," Vargas said. "I also believe it is our fiscal responsibility to bring taxpayer dollars back to Nebraska."

Both Vargas and State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln said the issue shouldn't be politicized. Conrad expressed that the way to move forward from the governor's decision is to come together.

"We need to remember that pointing fingers and calling names and political posturing will not help Nebraska children in need," Conrad said. "What we can do is join arms, join hands, join heads, join hearts and come together and continue to look for thoughtful solutions."

Preston Love Jr., a community advocate, submitted his final plea to the governor at Friday's news conference as well. He stressed that the decision to not enroll in the summer food program was a lapse in leadership.

"Our children are not a part of a party or a part of rural or urban, they're just our children. Leadership recognizes that," Love said. "I want to emphasize that this program is not just coming from some odd place. It's coming from Congress."

The program, Love said, is an extension of the programs already in place.

Last week, 15 current state senators sent a letter to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services calling for a change of heart. Chambers made his case in a letter that quoted from the Bible and historical figures.

Gov. Pillen, I beseech you in the bowels of Christ to give consideration to the food-insecure children in being and extend to them the same impassioned concern you express for those who are developing in the womb, he wrote, harkening back to a plea made by Oliver Cromwell, who ruled England in the mid-1600s.

But Pillen defended the decision to forgo the aid, saying the idea of summertime food aid for schoolchildren was a pandemic-era idea.

COVID-19 is over and Nebraska taxpayers expect that pandemic-era government relief programs will end too," he said in a statement Friday, reiterating that the state would not take the funds.

He also told the Lincoln Journal Star last week that he didn't believe in welfare.

He said he prefers providing food through the Summer Food Service Program, an older federal program that provides free meals and snacks to children and teens at various sites in low-income communities. The sites can be operated by schools, local governments, private nonprofits, camps and other organizations.

Having children appear in person to get food allows people to spot issues of malnutrition, neglect and abuse, which are often missed in the summer months. Pillen noted that calls to the states child abuse hotline dropped during the time that schools closed because of COVID.

Im 100% confident that if every Nebraskan understood everything about why I made that decision, theyd be 100% supportive, he said.

But Savaiano said the older food program reaches only limited numbers of Nebraska children. In 2023, Nebraska ranked 50th for its participation level, according to a national Food Research and Action Center report in July.

In most cases, he said, children have to go to the sites to get a meal, and the sites can be few and far between, especially in rural parts of the state. In 2019, Nebraska had 83 sponsors and 270 sites for the whole state. This year, there were only 58 sponsors and 197 sites.

Under the new summer program, families could get $40 per child per month on an EBT card to be spent on groceries. The money is to replace the lunches that children get during the rest of the year at school. Nebraska Appleseed estimated the state cost would be about $300,000 for administration.

The Lincoln Journal Star's Meghan O'Brien contributed to this story.

The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023
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.

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As the country awaits a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a New York state case that may create a federal constitutional right to carry guns outside the home, what lessons can the nation draw from the recent acquittal in Wisconsin of Kyle Rittenhouse and the convictions in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia?
Hi. Vern here. Psst! I see you. Yes, you. It doesnt matter if its light or dark, I still can see you. I might be able to hide, but you cant. SorryVern here is not trying to creep you out, especially so close to the holidays, but facts are facts.

Now, back in the day, hiding was so much easier to do. But an event happened. It was called the night the lights came on. It was a big deal for folks in Vernon County. It all started about 88 years around the sun ago, some fellas from Westby, Viroqua, Cashton, Genoa and Hillsboro met to talk about what it might look like to get electricity to their farms. The possibility of this becoming a reality spun out of something called the REA, or the Rural Electrification Act, which had an affect all over rural America. The REA functioned somewhat like a bank. It provided loans to farmer led cooperatives so they could build electrical lines to rural areas. How a Sasquatch knows so much about this is a mysterybut lets go with it!

You see, these first meetings with farmers who gathered around the kitchen table by light of the coal oil lamp were just the beginning. The hope was that the farmers would all contribute a little bit of money and that would make them eligible for these REA loans. As more meetings happened, the farmers took it upon themselves to electrify Vernon County. The spirit of DIY (that means do it yourself! I just learned that, BTW) has always been strong in Vernon County! So, when they met, they would spread out county road maps and plot in the homes of the people who had already signed up. Then they drew lines where they thought the wires could be strung, picking up as many new members as possible. When they had a general idea of where they were going, they split into teams to call personally on those farmers along the way who had not yet joined the co-op.

Long story long, farmers signed up, funds were gathered, and lines were built and then  the event happenedthe nights the light came on. The farms that were the first to be connected to the newly built energized power lines were located just southwest of Westby. I could say the rest is history, but that wouldnt account for the future. Humans now know theres a more sustainable way to electrify homes and that is using the power of the sun. Ya know, that big fiery ball in the sky? Anyways, bit by bit, were getting there, but it takes many talks around kitchen tables and some good ol Vernon County DIY to get it done. I hope as you wander around the county this holiday season, admiring all the Christmas lights, you think a little bit about what you may have learned from your friend Vern. You just got Vern-ed.
Abbas Ganbay

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.
Official population data show more men live in the western United States, while more women live in the East and South.

The data was collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. The numbers appear in the 2022 American Community Survey, released last week. The report gives state and local leaders the latest population and demographic information each year in order to plan investments for their communities.

The report found that women outnumber men in the most populated counties east of the Mississippi River. Women also outnumber men along the U.S. East Coast and in southern states.

The highest population of men was found west of the Mississippi and on the U.S. West Coast.

The American Community Survey found that across the U.S., there were 96.6 adult men for every 100 adult women.

The report seeks to identify a sex ratio, meaning the number of male and females living in a particular area. The ratio numbers do not consider sexual preference, gender identity or whether people included in the report were looking for partners.

Adult women outnumbered adult men around the eastern cities of Baltimore, New York, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

The biggest imbalances of men to women - with ratios above 103 for those age 18 and over - were recorded in the West. The highest ratios were found in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Austin, Texas. Men to women ratios were highest in California, including areas around San Francisco, San Jose and Bakersfield.

Population researchers say the ratios are influenced partly by the presence of certain organizations and industries that appeal more to one sex or the other. San Diego, California, for example, has several large military bases populated with a majority of men. And Austin, San Francisco, Seattle and San Jose have a large number of technology companies. Industry groups estimate men make up about three-quarters of the tech workforce.

At birth, the sex ratio in the U.S. has historically been 105 men for every 100 women. That ratio begins to change around age 30.

The U.S. death rate is higher for men than it is for women in nearly every age group. Researchers say this is because more men are affected by violence, drinking, smoking, job risks and suicide. But the ratio decreases over time until age 90. Around that age, there are generally two women to every man.

Michal Naisteter is a professional matchmaker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A matchmaker is someone who tries to bring two people together for a romantic relationship. She told the Associated Press she sees a difference in where single men and women choose to live. In the Philadelphia area, for example, she says single women are more likely than men to live within the city limits. But single men are more willing to live in areas outside the city, called suburbs.

Naisteter notes that because of such differences, people looking for a partner need to put in solid, thoughtful efforts to make connections. She suggests that people expand their search areas to include more available singles.

Such searches should take work, Naisteter noted. Because nothing is sweeter than something you have to work for.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

census  n. an organized effort to count the number of people living in a country and to collect information about them

survey  n. an examination of opinions, behavior, etc., made by asking people a series of questions

ratio  n. the relationship between two groups of amounts that expresses how much bigger one is than the other
The number of cases related to unlawful street crossings by pedestrians continues to grow, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) noted in a written response to the Times.

From January 1 to December 17 this year, the PSP issued a total of 3,833 fines to pedestrians, the majority of which (3,709) were for jaywalking. An additional 124 fines were issued for failures to comply with pedestrian traffic light signals.

Almost 650 fines to pedestrians were issued between December 1 and December 17 alone this year, indicating a daily increase in such occurrences, according to the PSP.

An average of 40 cases per day were recorded by officers in several locations across the city.

The total amount of revenue from fines for these infractions is estimated to be over MOP1.2 million this year, given that the amount of each fine is MOP300.

Among the fined individuals are numerous young tourists who walk the streets and roads of Macau in pursuit of capturing photos and videos of Macaus iconic views, often at the expense of road safety. There are also many instances of people failing to use pedestrian flyovers and underpasses whilst crossing some of the busiest streets and avenues in Macau.

In their statement, the PSP urged pedestrians to use designated zebra crossings or pedestrian flyovers to cross the roadways safely. They cautioned against jeopardizing their safety and that of road users by attempting to take scenic shots for social media posts.

The police further cautioned drivers to remain vigilant of road conditions and pedestrian traffic, especially in areas frequented by tourists.

To raise awareness and promote safe road crossing behavior, the PSP recently launched a special publicity campaign using a cartoon-like police officer to capture pedestrians attention.
The Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the new Cotai hospital has seen a daily average of over 200 patients since its opening on Dec. 21, with most seeking help for respiratory infections and gastrointestinal discomfort, public broadcaster TDM-Radio Macau (Chinese) reported yesterday. In a statement, the Health Bureau announced ambulances will not take patients to the new A&E, but instead to Kiang Wu or the public hospital. Severe cases will be diverted from the new A&E to the public hospital when necessary. The bureau expects that, in future, a full-capacity A&E will be in operation at the new hospital by the external operator.

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Macau and Hong Kong are among the top 10 popular destinations for outbound tourism for the New Year holiday, according to Ctrip.

Recently, Ctrip released the 2024 New Years Day Travel Insights, which shows outbound travel bookings on the Ctrip platform during the New Year holiday increased nearly five times year-on-year.

Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Macau, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom are among the top 10 popular destinations.

The SAR has been keen on luring overseas tourists, particularly this festive season, launching an array of attractions in the city, along with the gaming operators.

According to Ctrips user reservation data, there is a 194% year-on-year growth in reservations for 2024 New Years train travel compared to the previous year.

The age of outbound tourists is mainly concentrated in the post-90s, 80s and 70s, accounting for 39%, 30% and 14% respectively, according to the report.

The overall domestic travel order volume during the 2024 New Years Day holiday has increased by more than three times year-on-year, hotel orders have increased by more than five times year-on-year, and air tickets have increased by 205%.

Vacation orders such as customized group tours increased 240%.

The search popularity for domestic air tickets on the Ctrip platform increased 26% compared with the same period in 2019, and the search popularity for domestic hotels increased 170% compared with 2019.

Meanwhile, Chinas major railway ticket booking platform 12306 showed that by Dec. 17, tickets for several trains were sold out, including those departing from Beijing to Wuhan, Nanjing to Hefei, Hangzhou, Chengdu to Chongqing, and Xian, as train tickets officially went on sale on Dec. 16, the first day available to book trains for the 2024 New Years Day holiday. Staff Reporter
Returned U.S.-born giant panda meets public in China

Xinhua) 08:34, December 29, 2023

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji enjoys an ice cake at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Abbas Ganbay

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.
In the first 11 months of 2023, Guangdongs imports and exports to Macau reached RMB14.04 billion. In November alone, the import and export volume amounted to RMB1.38 billion, up 4.3%, according to the latest statistics released by the Guangdong Sub-administration of the General Administration of Customs of the Peoples Republic of China (GACC). Among the commodities Guangdong exported to Macau, renewable energy products, such as electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar cells, recorded an increase of 154.9% compared to the same period last year.

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The last day of the recent Christmas holidays  Dec. 26  saw on the Zhuhai border of the delta bridge the annual national peak of border-crossing motor traffic.

On that day, 115,000 walking travelers and over 17,000 motor vehicles crossed the Zhuhai checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

It was not only a new high in the bridges five-year history, but also a new high across all land border checkpoints across the country in this year, according to a report by local media Macao Daily News.

On each of the four days, the Zhuhai checkpoint saw border-crossing figures surpassing 100,000, with the four days having logged over 420,000 crossers. Among them, 316,000 were Macau and Hong Kong residents.

The influx of motor traffic was due to the fact that the bridge is the only available checkpoint for northbound vehicles from Macau and Hong Kong.

The four days have seen over 62,000 motor vehicles using the Zhuhai checkpoint, with the number of single-plate vehicles from Macau and Hong Kong nearing 10,000 on average per day during the holidays.

The newspaper cited a Zhuhai border official when reporting that the number of northbound vehicles from Hong Kong had surpassed those from Macau. This is the first time this has happened since the launch of the scheme in Hong Kong on July 1.

The number of Hong Kong vehicles was over 5,300 on average per day during the holidays, higher than that of Macau vehicles. However, the newspaper did not detail specific numbers for the latter.

As a much larger economy than Macau, Hong Kong also has more vehicles than its neighboring Special Administrative Region.

The official has also told the newspaper additional measures were enacted to smooth border clearance during the holidays.
The Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) will launch a brand-new Bachelor of Science degree program in International Business and Innovative Communication (IBIC), the institute has announced. It added this is a timely response to the demand from local industries. The IFTM said the IBIC is divided into three major academic areas: communication, language and culture, and business management. It covers areas including business management, international trade, communicative technology, innovative content creation and data analytics, offering students an in-depth understanding of global business and communication environments.

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A Hong Kong man was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison after pleading guilty to a terrorism charge under the 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 regions pro-democracy movement, but his case has drawn attention because most of those arrested for the plot were students.

In May, Ho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to organize, plan or commit terrorist activities under the security law.

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. KANIS LEUNG, HONG KONG, MDT/AP
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for bolstered war readiness to repel what he said were unprecedented U.S.-led confrontational moves, state media reported yesterday, as rival South Korea vowed a stern retaliation against any provocations by the North.

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 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 U.S. presidential election in November next year.

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 yesterday 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 yesterday, 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.

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 last year, North Korea has performed a barrage of missile tests in breach of U.N. bans, including last weeks 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. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP
The construction of Hengqin will be progressed in four directions in a pragmatic manner, Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong said yesterday in Beijing.

The local official was in the national capital yesterday for a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the development of the Greater Bay Area. Despite that, a majority of the questions from the press concerned the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

When asked how Macau and Hengqin will improve their cooperation developing the Zone, Cheong emphasized that progress will definitely be made, and that pragmatism will be employed during the development.

Earlier this month, the national government approved the plan for the development of the Zone, in addition to making some reminders on the matter for the two regional governments.

The four directions that Cheong mentioned yesterday revolve around the initial intention of diversifying Macaus economy. They target the development of various industries, the merger of lifestyles, the integration of Macau and Hengqin, as well as the enhancement of cooperation.

A larger number of capitals and businesses from Macau will be encouraged to Hengqin to develop a wider variety of industries and trades. Integration between these entities with counterparts in Hengqin will also be promoted.

Public and social services in Macau will be extended to Hengqin, so that Macau residents living on Hengqin will be able to reach these services at home. A lifestyle similar to that in Macau will also be fostered in Hengqin.

The flow of people, capital, cargo and information between the two places will be enhanced with the ultimate release of border controls between Macau and Hengqin. Those between Hengqin and other parts of Guangdong will be added.

Mechanisms will also be structured to improve services in business and administration.
Students in Indonesias Aceh province rallied earlier this week, demanding the government drive away Rohingya refugees who have been arriving by sea in growing numbers. The protest came as police named more suspects in human trafficking of refugees.

Over 1,500 Rohingya  who fled violent attacks in Myanmar to subsequently leave overcrowded refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh in search of a better life elsewhere  have arrived in Aceh, on the tip of the island of Sumatra, since November. They have faced some hostility from fellow Muslims in Aceh.

About 200 students protested in front of the provincial parliament in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, calling on lawmakers to turn away the Rohingyas, saying their presence would bring social and economic upheaval to the community.

Get out Rohingya, the protesters chanted. Many criticized the government and the United Nations refugee agency for failing to manage the refugee arrivals. Some protesters burned tires on the street.

We urged the parliament speaker to immediately take a firm action to remove all Rohingya refugees from Aceh, said Teuku Wariza, one of the protest organizers.

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.

Footage obtained by The Associated Press shows a large group of refugees, mostly women and children, crying and screaming as a mob, wearing university green jackets, is 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 group and the UNHCR, which said the attack left the refugees shocked and traumatized.

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 agency said in a statement released late Wednesday.

The statement called on local authorities to urgently act to protect the refugees and humanitarian workers.

Indonesia had once 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.

Earlier in December, Widodo said the government suspected a surge in human trafficking for the increase in Rohingya arrivals.

Also Wednesday, police in Banda Aceh named two more suspected human smugglers from Bangladesh and Myanmar, following the Dec. 10 arrival of another boat with refugees. One of the suspects, the boats captain, himself a refugee, was charged with trafficking.

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 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 largely denied citizenship rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and face widespread social discrimination. YAYAN ZAMZAMI, BANDA ACEH, MDT/AP
Taipas new outdoor parking lot for heavy-duty vehicles has had, since its opening on Dec. 11 and during its first week of operation, an occupancy rate of 7%, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) stated in a written response to a Times inquiry.

The figure shows that, on average, only 1.19 of the 17 available parking bays have been used over this period.

The figure coincides with a report that the Times published Dec. 20 in which several people residing or working in the area said that it was barely ever occupied.

Several reports noted the low occupancy could be related to the high fares charged. For these vehicles, the hourly rate is MOP10 during the day (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and MOP5 in the nighttime (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.).

In the same written response to the Times, the DSAT said the car park for light vehicles, beside the heavy-duty vehicles, has recorded an occupancy rate of 55% during the same period.

Several Times interviewees noted the light vehicles car park generally had a much higher occupancy, particularly overnight.

In the same Times report, residents complained about the design and functionality of the car park, which they said wastes space and resources. Some claimed it would be more useful if the park could have parking space for motorcycles.
Sauk County has a high overdose death rate, and a Sauk City business is now much better prepared to provide assistance should someone experience a drug overdose on site or nearby.

Vintage Brewery, which also has three locations in the Madison area, installed an Overdose Aid Kit near its bar on Dec. 21. The kit, which was provided by the Sauk County Health Department, includes Narcan spray, breathing masks, and other devices needed to revive a person who overdoses. Vintage is the first business in Sauk County to have one of these equipment packages in house.

Hannah Erdman, a health educator for the Sauk County Health Department, said the staff at Vintage was trained in revival tactics and how to use each of the kit's contents. The department partnered with Start Healing Now, a Wisconsin volunteer non-profit that helps people battling substance abuse and their families on a path to recovery, to bring the kit to Vintage at no charge.

"We're very appreciative of (Vintage) taking this first step in making a safer place for everyone to come to," Erdman said.

The decision to have Overdose Aid Kits at all four Vintage locations was a proactive decision, brewery co-owner Brittany Kraemer said, adding that other area businesses could be inspired to install the equipment in their facilities. She said the Vintage location on University Avenue in Madison will receive a kit in February.

"An emergency and an overdose can happen anywhere at any time," Erdman said. "Having Narcan available in this location makes it safer for everyone here and if an emergency happens, they have the skills and training to respond to that emergency and save a life."

Sauk County Narcan Contacts Any Sauk County residents looking to get free Narcan nasal spray and training on how to use it can call the county's Health Department at 608-355-3290 or visit UCanSaveALife.org.

Vintage area manager Elyse Olson began the initiative for Overdose Aid Kits during the fall, inquiring about the legality of on-site emergency overdose treatment with respect to Wisconsin's Good Samaritan Law, which states that "any person who renders emergency care at the scene of any emergency or accident in good faith shall be immune from civil liability for his or her acts or omissions in rendering such emergency care."

Among counties with available data, Sauk ranked third in Wisconsin for emergency room hospitalizations for opioid overdoses at 75.5 per 100,000 residents, according to 2022 Wisconsin Department of Health Services data. Adams and Jackson counties were the only two with higher rates. Erdman said Sauk County had 15 overdose deaths in 2022.

"We would love to have all of our restaurants, bars, any businesses in the area have Narcan available and have their staff trained on how to use Narcan," Erdman said, adding "we can all take action to save lives."
Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine who volunteered to help desegregate Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas in 1957, will headline the 39th annual Madison and Dane County Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance Jan. 15.

Were really excited to have such a distinguished figure for our speaker, said Edward Lee, co-chair of the King Coalition, which is organizing the event. This is someone who can relate such a profound firsthand experience and changed the trajectory of this country in a lot of ways.

When Roberts and eight Black peers tried to enter the school on Sept. 3, 1957, they were turned away by the Arkansas National Guard. Two days later, they were again blocked from entering the school by an angry white mob and National Guard troops. It wasnt until more than two weeks later, when President Dwight Eisenhower sent U.S. Army troops to the scene, that the nine students were able to safely attend classes at Little Rock Central.

After his graduation from high school, Roberts went on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology from Southern Illinois University and has written two books, including a memoir titled Lessons from Little Rock. In 1999, Roberts and the other members of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Bill Clinton.

Broadly, hell talk about his firsthand experience of integrating an all-white high school with such strong opposition to him being there and why that was important, but also a little bit of what that means today, Lee said. What gains have we made, and what issues do we still have in front of us?

The free MLK Day observance at the Overture Center begins shortly after 5 p.m. with a freedom song singalong in the rotunda, followed by the formal program in the Overture Centers Capitol Theatre at 6. In addition to Roberts remarks, the program will feature the MLK Community Choir and the 2024 MLK Humanitarian Awards, which will be presented by Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi.

Several other events are planned in the area in honor of Kings legacy. On Jan. 12, the King Coalition will kick off the holiday weekend with a free community dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Gordon Dining and Event Center. On Jan. 14, Fountain of Life Covenant Church will host an MLK ecumenical service from 4:30 to 6 p.m. And on Jan. 15, the Madison Central Library will hold a call-to-service event for local youth from noon to 5 p.m.

Also at noon on Jan. 15, the state will hold its annual celebration of Kings legacy at the Capitol. The 43rd annual event will feature musical performances by the Chicago Mass Choir and Arts Mariachi Juvenil, and remarks from guest speaker Rev. Marcus Allen of Mount Zion Baptist Church. The free event will be broadcast on WPR and PBS Wisconsin.

For more programming information, visit mlkingcoalition.org.

I think regardless of what event people attend, I hope they take away more information about the history of where weve come from in this country and where we still have to go, Lee said. Its also an opportunity to gather with other community members and commemorate and celebrate Dr. King.
Asim Aliyev

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Ankara has addressed Azerbaijani citizens living in Turkiye, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Embassy in Ankara.

It was reported that the consular section of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Turkey will not work from January 1 to 6, 2024, in connection with the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year holiday.
After voters returned Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to office for a second term while cementing Republicans strong hold over the Legislature in the 2022 elections, ensuring years more of divided government, leaders on both sides expressed a desire to thaw their relationship and reach more compromises.

To some degree, they achieved that goal as Evers and GOP leaders reached bipartisan agreement on landmark deals to boost state funding to local government and keep the Milwaukee Brewers in the state until at least 2050.

Evers signed 86 bipartisan bills into law in 2023, including the states two-year spending plan, according to the state website. While Evers approved the budget, he also used his broad veto power to ax billions in tax cuts to the wealthiest Wisconsinites and lock in K-12 school funding for the next 400 years.

The governor has also vetoed a handful of GOP-authored bills, including a second Republican effort to cut taxes by about $2 billion and a measure that would have banned gender-affirming care for any Wisconsinite under 18.

Heading into 2024, it appears both sides will continue to struggle to pass their top priorities, from more funding for child care and legalizing abortion for the Democrats to tax cuts and reining in the governors power for Republicans.

The battles have been over the big stuff, UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden said. And those are acrimonious and seem to have no path to compromise.

Unable to work together, Democrats and Republicans are increasingly looking for ways to get what they want outside of the normal legislative process. For Republicans, that has meant putting more policy proposals directly to voters in the form of constitutional amendments which, unlike bills, dont require Evers approval. Meanwhile, Democrats have increasingly turned to the Wisconsin Supreme Court now that liberals have a 4-3 majority.

Those are signs of the dysfunction of the lawmaking process, Burden said. The fact that the governor and legislative leaders cant even really communicate in an authentic way about bills means that theyre looking for other ways to circumvent the lawmaking process altogether.

The two sides were able to come together in June to adopt a sweeping update to the states decades-old funding mechanism that provides state dollars to towns, cities and counties across Wisconsin.

The local aid bill, as well as a separate measure increasing education funding, were forged over several months and culminated with a deal struck between the Legislatures GOP leaders and Evers to boost local aid  also known as shared revenue  using a portion of the states 5% sales tax.

The agreement also included several boosts to education spending, including a more than $1 billion increase in revenue for K-12 schools, a $325-per-pupil increase to revenue limits for the next two fiscal years, and per-pupil aid increases for choice and independent charter schools that would give K-8 students a $1,101 increase and high school students a nearly $3,000 increase.

At the time, Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, described the agreement as a true testament of what can get done when we work across the aisle.

In early December, Evers signed off on a bipartisan proposal to spend more than $500 million in state and local funds to maintain American Family Field and keep the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin until at least 2050.

At the bills signing at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Evers described the deal as the culmination of months of bipartisan conversations, collaboration and hard work.

We were able to get a lot done for Wisconsin by working together, finding common ground, and putting politics aside to do the right thing for our state, and I look forward to building upon this momentum in the new year, Evers said.

Yet, the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature have remained far apart on several other high-profile issues, ranging from tax cuts and child care funding to water quality spending and changes to state election practices.

Changing the charter

Each side blames the other for the breakdown in the normal legislative process.

I think our caucus and Republicans in general have a lot of concern over what this Supreme Court, the changing ideology, may look like, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said in explaining why Republicans are turning to constitutional amendments to preserve conservative policies before they can be overturned by the court.

Wisconsin voters already are slated to vote on two GOP-authored constitutional amendments next year. One would bar the use of private grants in elections, while the other would enshrine in the Constitution language barring noncitizens from voting in the state.

Republican lawmakers are also pursuing several other efforts to alter the state Constitution, including measures to take away the governors authority to spend some federal funds and to require a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers to increase taxes.

Other proposals working their way through the Legislature would bar the closure of places of worship during states of emergency and codify state law requiring a photo ID to cast a ballot.

The only option we have left is to go to the people, like we do with elections, and say, Hey, we got to guarantee that this thing that you support doesnt get overturned by an activist court who thinks that theyre going to be smarter than the voters and the Legislature, said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester.

Democrats say Republicans are abusing the process.

Our Constitution is about critical fundamental principles that underlie the way that our state government operates, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said. Treating the amendment process like part of the legislative process is not a wise way to approach changes to the Constitution.

Unlike bills, the governor cannot veto constitutional amendments. Such measures must pass two successive legislative sessions before voters have the final say. If enacted, such changes can only be reversed through the same amendment process or by a court order.

Through their use of constitutional amendments, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said, Its very clear that Republicans are attempting to go around the governor and ignore the fact that Wisconsinites elected Gov. Tony Evers to hold the veto pen. And I think that is problematic.

Since the adoption of the state Constitution in 1848, voters have weighed in on 200 proposed amendments. Of those, 148 have been approved, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau.

Ten of those constitutional amendments have come before Wisconsin voters in the past two decades. All but one, an effort to eliminate the state treasurers office in 2018, were adopted.

Turning to the courts

Feeling equally thwarted, liberals have filed several high-profile lawsuits seeking to undo laws adopted under previous Republican administrations.

Those lawsuits come as Democrats face a GOP supermajority in the Senate and nearly one in the Assembly, a dynamic that has blocked liberal priorities on abortion, child care and guns from passing the Legislature.

Because the legislative maps are so gerrymandered, the normal process that you would expect to see to address laws that dont have popular support hasnt been effective for Wisconsinites, Kaul said about liberals turning to courts. So its not surprising that you see efforts to pursue other ways of trying to obtain change.

After Justice Janet Protasiewicz joined the Wisconsin Supreme Court, giving it a liberal majority, liberals filed lawsuits alleging that the current Republican-drawn legislative maps, private school voucher system and Act 10, the 2011 law that undid collective bargaining for most public employees, were unconstitutional.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a request to accept the school voucher lawsuit, but the plaintiffs plan to refile the case in circuit court. The high court has yet to rule on the Act 10 lawsuit. It has already acted on the redistricting lawsuit, rejecting the Republican maps and ordering the parties to submit new ones.

Were supposed to have laws proposed by legislators pass through two chambers after lots of deliberation, signed by the governor so that theres a final check, and then implemented by him or her, Vos said. Somehow weve gotten to the point where we think that if I dont get my way (in the Legislature), Im going to ask a court to step in and do what I couldnt get.

Neubauer said lawmakers, or anyone, has a right to take their case to the courts if they think the Constitution or state law is being disregarded.

The most consequential case not currently before the Wisconsin Supreme Court is a lawsuit that liberals filed in June 2022 that seeks to clarify whether an 1849 law bans abortion in almost every case. Kaul filed the lawsuit days after the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade led abortion clinics to shutter statewide.

A Dane County judge ruled in December that the law, which bans feticide, doesnt apply to abortions, but conservatives are likely to appeal that ruling in a case all but certain to be resolved before the state Supreme Court.
State-run Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Friday it will develop more cruise terminals next year as it recorded more than 80,000 ship passengers visiting the Philippines this year.

PPA general-manager Jay Santiago said the agency would develop more cruise terminals near tourism sites in Siargao, Camiguin, Boracay, Palawan and Puerto Galera.

This is in addition to the cruise terminals in the ports of Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Salomague in Ilocos Sur, Manila, Bohol and El Nido, Palawan, Santiago said.

It said that from February to December this year, over 80,000 cruise ship passengers from Norweigan Cruise lines, Holland America Line, Silverseas, Windstar Cruises and Aida Cruises visited the Philippines.

PPA said that on Christmas Day, around 1,000 foreign and local passengers aboard MV AidaBella of Aida Cruises from Germany visited the Port of Coron to discover the natural wonders Palawan.

The Port of Coron is now ready to accommodate up to 900 persons in its passenger terminal area following a massive renovation which was completed earlier this year. Santiago said that from a maximum of 250 passengers before, the Port of Coron could now accommodate an additional 500 passengers and up to 900 people during peak season.

It is good that the passengers can now experience again the warmth of the Filipino culture and the hospitality of the people receiving them. From the ports upon arrival, we make sure they are given the proper treatment and we make sure that they are welcomed warmly in our newly improved passenger terminals, Santiago said.

Our recent painful experience in the mishandling of cruise passengers at the Port of Manila has taught us that the training and selection of tourism frontliners together with private service providers especially at our ports have to be made with very stringent qualification requirements and experience since they are the first Filipinos which foreign tourists encounter upon their arrival. The successful reception of MV AidaBella has brought us back on track in spite of the recent distraction at the Port of Manila, he said.
BANGKOK, ThailandPropertyGuru Group last week announced the winners of the 18th Annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, presented by Kohler and supported by Dongpeng Ceramic and Subzero Wolf, at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok.

GuocoLand won the biggest award of the year, Best Developer (Asia), for the third time in the history of the Awards. It marks one of five regional wins for developers from Singapore, with Frasers Property Singapore winning the Best Mixed Use Developer (Asia) award and UOL Group Limited and Pan Pacific Hotels Group winning the Best Hospitality Developer (Asia) award. UOL Group Limited also won the Best Sustainable Developer (Asia) award while EL Development Pte Ltd won the Best Hospitality Interior Design (Asia) award.

Developers from Indonesia gained eight regional wins, the most of any country. PT Sinar Mitbana Mas garnered the Best Breakthrough Developer (Asia) title, with parent company Sinar Mas Land and subsidiary PT. BSD Diamond Development also receiving regional wins. Various projects by Agung Sedayu Group & Salim Group; Summarecon Agung; and Summarecon Serpong collected regional wins.

PH snags seven regional wins

The Philippines was represented with seven regional wins, with Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates winning both the Best Industrial Developer (Asia) and Best Industrial Development (Asia) awards. RLC Residences; Robinsons Hotels and Resorts; North Bonifacio Landmark Realty and Development Inc.; Shang Robinsons Properties, Inc.; and Sunshine Fort North Bonifacio Realty Development Corporation received golden statuettes for a wide range of projects.

Developers from Vietnam received six regional wins, led by SonKim Land Corporation, which won both the Best Luxury Developer (Asia) and Best Boutique Mixed Use Development (Asia) awards. Regional winners include ParkCity Group, which won the Best Completed Condo Development (Asia) award.

Malaysia and Cambodia each gained four regional wins. Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) was hailed Best Affordable Homes Developer (Asia), with projects by Eastern & Oriental Berhad; Eupe Corporation Berhad; and Sime Darby Property also representing Malaysia with regional titles. Projects by OCIC Group and RM Commercial Co., Ltd. each clinched a regional win for Cambodia as Sir Stamford Raffles (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. gained two regional wins for the project Marum Estate.

Organised by PropertyGuru Group, the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final is supported by platinum sponsor Kohler; silver sponsors Dongpeng Ceramic and Subzero Wolf; official portal partner PropertyGuru; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; official publicity partner Artemis Associates; media partners Bridges, d+a Magazine, Housing.com, Manila Bulletin, Powderlife, and The Manila Times.
Washington, DC  The US state of Maine on Thursday (Friday in Manila) blocked former president Donald Trump from its Republican presidential primary ballot, the second state to disqualify him over his role in the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol.

Maines top election official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, decided in favor of the citizens who had claimed that Trump should be constitutionally barred from seeking re-election after trying to upend the 2020 election.

Bellows said in her decision that the January 6 attack occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President.

The US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government and (Maine law) requires me to act in response, read the decision, which came in response to challenges filed by a handful of Maine voters.

Maine joins Colorado, where the state supreme court this month found Trump ineligible for the presidency, moves that will certainly be challenged in the US Supreme Court.

Bellows said she was suspending the effect of her decision pending any court appeal by Trump.

The decisions in both states invoked the US Constitutions 14th Amendment, which bars from office anyone formerly sworn to protect the country who later engages in insurrection.

I do not reach this conclusion lightly, wrote Bellows, a Democrat. I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the 14th Amendment. I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

Later on Thursday, Californias top election official declined to remove Trump from the presidential primary ballot in the most populous US state, defying pressure from fellow Democrats.

Trumps campaign quickly slammed Bellowss decision as attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter and called her a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat.

These partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement, accusing President Joe Biden and Democrats of relying on the force of government institutions to protect their grip on power.

Cheung said Trump would appeal the decision.

Fellow Republicans jumped to Trumps defense, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who is also seeking the partys nomination.

It opens up Pandoras Box. Can you have a Republican Secretary of State disqualify Biden from the ballot? he said.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine agreed.

Maine voters should decide who wins the election  not a Secretary of State chosen by the Legislature, she wrote on social media platform X.

A Democratic representative from Maine, Jared Golden, also said Trump should be on the ballot.

I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection. I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States, Golden wrote on X.

However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.

The Maine decision comes as Trump remains the front-running Republican candidate to challenge Biden in next years vote.

The two are neck-and-neck in polls, and Biden has stepped up his attacks on his predecessor in recent weeks, saying Trump certainly supported an insurrection. No question about it, none, zero.

Biden recently told a campaign reception that the greatest threat Trump poses is to our democracy. Because if we lose, we lose everything.

He described Trump as sitting there, watching it unfold on TV as a mob attacked the Capitol in the assault by the Republicans supporters on January 6, 2021, aimed at overturning Trumps loss to Biden.

The twice-impeached Republican former president continues to claim, without proof, that he is the rightful winner of the 2020 vote.

He is scheduled to go on trial in Washington in March for conspiring to overturn the results of the election, and also faces racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to upend the election results in the southern state after his defeat.

Maine and Colorado hold their nominating contests on March 5  also known as Super Tuesday  when voters in more than a dozen states, including populous California and Texas, go to the polls.

Similar challenges have been filed in other states as well. Courts in Minnesota and Michigan recently ruled that Trump should stay on the ballot in those states. Another ruling is soon expected in Oregon. AFP
Kathmandu, Nepal  Pilot error caused the January plane crash in Nepal that killed all 72 on board, an official said Friday, after a months-long investigation of the countrys worst aviation disaster in three decades.

The Yeti Airlines service was flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara, a gateway for religious pilgrims and trekkers, when it crashed on descent.

The ATR 72 with 68 passengers and four crew plummeted into a steep gorge, smashed into pieces and burst into flames as it approached its destination.

Six children and 15 foreigners were among those killed.

Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, a member of the investigating commission, told AFP that the probe had concluded that the wrong lever was pulled in the cockpit.

Technically, the plane was fine but it seems wrong human input caused it to stall and crash, he said.

The report, submitted to the tourism ministry on Thursday, said the most probable cause of the fatal crash was inadvertent movement of both condition levers to the feathered position in flight.

Shifting the propellers to the feathered position stops them from producing thrust, which the report said was responsible for the plane stalling and then crashing.

Social media footage from the crash showed the twin-propeller aircraft banking suddenly and sharply to the left as it neared Pokhara airport.

Human factor issues such as high workload and stress that appears to have resulted in the misidentification and selection of the propellers, the report said.

It also said the crew missed the associated flight deck and engine indications that both propellers had been feathered.

Nepals aviation industry has boomed in recent years, carrying goods and people between hard-to-reach areas, as well as ferrying foreign mountain climbers.

But the sector has been plagued by a number of deadly crashes owing to insufficient training and maintenance.

The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns.

Nepal also has some of the worlds trickiest and most remote runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks with difficult approaches and capricious weather.

Its deadliest aviation accident was in 1992, when all 167 people on a Pakistan International Airlines jet were killed when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu. AFP
Jerusalem  Fighting raged Friday between Israel and Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian militant groups unprecedented attack nearly 12 weeks ago.

The Oct 7 attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Hamas gunmen seized about 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in Gaza after others were released and several were killed including by friendly fire.

Israel, determined to destroy Hamas, launched a relentless air and ground offensive that has left vast areas of Gaza in ruins.

The Israeli campaign has killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

On day 84 of the war, here are five key developments from the past 24 hours:

Israeli shelling over two days near Al-Amal hospital in southern Gazas main city Khan Yunis has killed 41 people, the Palestinian Red Crescent said Thursday.

The casualties include displaced persons seeking shelter at Red Crescent premises, it said.

The Gaza health ministry later said Israeli shelling had killed 20 people at the Shaboura camp in Rafah near Egypt.

The UN humanitarian office said an estimated 100,000 more people had arrived in the already-teeming southern border city of Rafah in recent days following the intensification of fighting around Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis.

A Hamas delegation is due in Cairo Friday to give its observations about an Egyptian plan for a ceasefire, a Hamas official said.

Sources close to Hamas say Cairos three-stage plan provides for renewable ceasefires, a staggered release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and ultimately a ceasefire to end the war.

Israel has given preliminary approval to Cyprus for a maritime humanitarian corridor to ship aid to Gaza, the Israeli foreign ministry said Thursday.

The proposal would allow badly needed international aid to be checked with Israeli supervision in Cyprus before delivery, it said.

Last week the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale.

US President Joe Biden is devastated by the death of US-Israeli Judith Weinstein Haggai, who had been thought to be the oldest woman held captive in Gaza, the White House said.

The 70-year-olds death was announced late Thursday by her kibbutz community of Nir Oz, which said her body remains in the hands of militants.

A military investigation published Thursday found that Israeli soldiers ignored cries for help when they stormed a Gaza building holding three hostages just days before killing them by mistake earlier this month.

The Israel-Hamas war has intensified tensions across the region.

Israeli air strikes late Thursday hit southern Syria, the Syrian defence ministry said, reporting no casualties.

A war monitor said the area of Damascus international airport had been hit one whole day after it had reopened following Israeli strikes in late November. AFP

In the Red Sea, where Yemens Huthis have repeatedly targeted vessels with strikes they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, the US military said it shot down on Thursday a drone and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Iran-backed rebels.

The US Treasury also unveiled sanctions against a network involved in financing Huthi attacks in the vital shipping route. AFP
President Marcos has not issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 2, 2024, a Tuesday, as a special non-working day, the Presidential Communications Office said Friday.

Wala po (Theres none), Presidential Communications Cheloy Garafil said in response to multiple queries from Malacanang reporters if the day after New Years Day is a holiday  after the same day this year was declared a holiday under Proclamation No. 90.

Mr. Marcos earlier declared Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, a special non-working day nationwide to encourage domestic tourism and to give families more time to spend together.

The administration adopted holiday economics in 2022 through Proclamation No. 90, which adjusted national holidays because a longer weekend will help encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country.

Last October, Malacanang released the list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2024.

President Marcos signed Proclamation 368, which contains the list of holidays for next year.

Under the proclamation, the following dates are declared regular holidays and special non-working days:

Regular holidays:

Jan. 1 (Monday)  New Years Day

March 28  Maundy Thursday

March 29  Good Friday

April 9 (Tuesday)  Araw ng Kagitingan

May 1 (Wednesday)  Labor Day

June 12 (Wednesday)  Independence Day

Aug. 26 (last Monday of August)  National Heroes Day

Nov. 30 (Saturday)  Bonifacio Day

Dec. 25 (Wednesday)  Christmas Day

Dec. 30 (Monday)  Rizal Day

Special (non-working) days:

Aug. 21 (Wednesday)  Ninoy Aquino Day

Nov. 1 (Friday)  All Saints Day

Dec. 8 (Sunday)  Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

Dec. 31 (Tuesday)  Last Day of the Year

Additional special (non-working) days:

Feb. 10 (Saturday)  Chinese New Year

March 30  Black Saturday

Nov. 2 (Saturday)  All Souls Day

Dec. 24 (Tuesday)  Christmas Eve

According to Proclamation 368, Feb. 10, 2024 may be declared as a special (non-working) day without detriment to public interest as Chinese New Year is one of the most revered and festive events celebrated not only in China but also in the Philippines.

The proclamation also states that Black Saturday, which falls on March 30, 2024, has been traditionally declared a special non-working day nationwide, considering that the observance of Holy Week is one of the most cherished traditions of the predominantly Catholic people.

It said that under Republic Act (RA) 9256, Aug. 21 of every year is declared as a national non-working holiday to commemorate the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr.

Proclamation 368 also declares Dec. 8 of every as a special non-working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, under RA 10966.

Under the proclamation, Nov. 2, 2024 has also been declared as an additional special non-working day to strengthen family ties by providing more time for the traditional All Saints Day, All Souls Day activities, as well as promote domestic tourism.

The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined, based on the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos is designated to recommend to the Office of the President the actual dates on which the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays will respectively fall.

Proclamation 368 directs the Department of Labor and Employment to promulgate the implementing guidelines. With Vince Lopez
Today, the Philippines marks the 127th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, an advocate of reform but not revolution, who was shot by a firing squad for sedition, conspiracy, and rebellion.

Center of the celebration is the 58-hectare bayside Rizal Park, where President Marcos will lay a wreath at the 12.7-meter granite monument erected from 1908 to 1913, where the heros remains are after being transferred from the Paco Cemetery in Manila.

The area was formerly called Luneta  from the French word Lunette  which means a crescent-shaped fort, the site of La Calzada, the social hub of Manilas elite, and was also used by the Spaniards as an execution ground for rebels and activist Rizal.

On Sept 28, 1901, the United States Philippine Commission approved Act 243, which would erect a monument in Luneta to commemorate Rizal, the Filipino patriot, writer and poet who was only 35 when shot to death as the Philippine sunrise crept over the then Bagumbayan field.

This is the spot where Rizal was executed at 7:03 in the morning, after his pulse rate was checked by Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, who declared it was normal.

Two hours earlier, Rizal married the misty-eyed Hong Kong-born Josephine Bracken, whose parents were Irish, who was gifted by Rizal with the classic Thomas a Kempis book Imitations of Christ in which he inscribed, To my dear and unhappy wife, Josephine, December 30th, 1896, Jose Rizal.

They embraced for the last time before he was walked to Bagumbayan.

His poem Mi Ultimo Adios in original Spanish, is inscribed there, with English translation by Encarnacion Alzona and Isidro Escare Abeto, and Tagalog version by Andres Bonifacio titled Pahimakas ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

Rizals martyrdom fueled the revolution led, historians say, by the young general Emilio Aguinaldo and Bonifacio.

The group Katipunan, founded by Bonifacio, was unprepared militarily to take on Spain when it began to revolt in response to the Spanish execution of key leaders and priests.

Katipunan split into factions, one of which was led by Aguinaldo who, some historians say, ultimately executed Bonifacio and took over the revolution.

On Dec. 20, 1898, then-President Aguinaldo issued a decree declaring Dec 30 a day of national mourning for Rizal and other patriots, who died during the 377-year Spanish rule that began in 1521.

Over 125 years later, President Marcos, in his speech during the commemorative program, is expected to urge 114 million Filipinos to continue to embody Rizals virtues of excellence, patriotism, and perseverance when he leads the commemoration at Rizal Park.

The President will offer a wreath at the Rizal Monument joined by National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Emmanuel Franco Calairo and AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, Jr.

The program in Manila will coincide with simultaneous programs at the Rizal Shrine in Calamba City, Laguna, and Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City, officials said.

With the theme Rizal: Pundasyon ng Kahapon, Isinasabuhay Ngayon, the annual commemoration of Rizals martyrdom serves as an opportunity for the Filipino nation to reflect on the values that his heroism exemplified for our people and how these may serve as a foundation for our future, a Palace statement said.

Apart from the morning commemorative program, the NHCP and the Philippine Information Agency will also hold the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of partnerships to promote Philippine history nationwide.

Monkey and the Turtle storybooks based off Rizals works will also be distributed to children participating in the programs in Manila, Calamba, and Dapitan.
China continued its disinformation campaign against the Philippines Friday, claiming that Manila was not really conducting humanitarian missions in the West Philippine Sea, but merely creating incidents in the waters that Beijing illegally claims.

Wu Qian, spokesman for Chinas Defense Department, said he did not believe the Philippines resupply missions were real because the supply vessels carried many journalists and propagated disinformation.

In my view, this is not humanitarian supply at all, it is to deliberately create an incident, play victim and make a show in the name of humanitarian supply, Wu said.

The Chinese military officials allegation came after the Philippines had for multiple times protested Chinas actions against Philippine vessels conducting humanitarian missions in the West Philippine Sea, including water cannon attacks and laser-pointing.

Despite the incidents being captured on camera and witnessed by journalists, Wu said Manilas protests against Beijing were just groundless accusation and false hype.

He also falsely claimed that the Philippines intruded into Chinese waters and provocatively rammed a larger Chinese vessel, and caused a scratch.

Such behavior is very dangerous and extremely unprofessional, Wu said.

The China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures in accordance with law, which were totally justified and legitimate, he said, ignoring a UN tribunals decision that Chinas extensive claims to the South China Sea have no legal basis.

On the reported laser-pointing, Wu said: This is [an] entirely groundless accusation and China has no intention to use such devices.

China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and making joint efforts to maintain maritime stability, he said.

But Wu also warned that China will not turn a blind eye towards the Philippines actions.

Meanwhile, a maritime law expert urged President Marcos to file an entitlement to a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) before a United Nations commission amid Chinas aggression in claiming parts of the area.

It is not a claim for territorial ownership but a submission to establish entitlement to a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the WPS, said the director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, Jay Batongbacal.

Batongbacal said the submission can be filed before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UN-CLCS).

He said he made the same recommendation to the past administrations under Presidents Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte but no action was taken.

But the Philippines had filed a similar submission before the commission in the case of Benham Rise.

In April 2012, the UN commission granted the Benham Rise to the Philippines as an extension of the countrys continental shelf, some 350 nautical miles from the nations shore.

On Thursday, the National Security Council (NSC) welcomed the latest OCTA survey which showed that the majority of adult Filipinos agree with the Marcos administrations approach in handling the territorial dispute with China in the WPS.

The survey showed a 15 percent increase in public support for the administration on the issue.

We appreciate the support of the Filipino people and the public can be assured that the NSC will always advance the national interest and protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity at all times, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement.

The survey results showed that the Filipinos consider the WPS as a major concern and that the lives and livelihood of our people, especially the fishers who depend on the seas, are primordial concerns that cannot be taken for granted.

The OCTA survey also revealed that most Filipinos feel the countrys foreign and security policies, including strengthening its ties with partners, allies and friends, are on the right track.

Ano, who chairs the NSC, also said the Philippines shall pursue its national interest with greater resolve in the coming year.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar also expressed satisfaction over the survey finding.

We are moving towards the right direction, one that promotes the interest of our people and strengthens international laws and conventions that contribute to regional peace and stability. With the support of our people, (we) will never be distracted from this course, he said.
Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday he supported Iraqs sovereignty and stability, during a visit to Baghdad where he also met with Spanish troops.

My country, always at the request of the Iraqi authorities, will support the unity, sovereignty and stability of Iraq, said Sanchez during a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani.

Spain has deployed more than 300 soldiers as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition and NATOs mission in Iraq, commanded since May by Spanish General Jose Antonio Aguero Martinez.

On Thursday, Sudani lauded the coalitions support for Iraqi efforts in its fight against terrorism.

However, Sudani also said Baghdad was reassessing its relations with the coalition and, reiterating previous comments, that it is heading towards the end of the presence of the international coalition stationed in Iraq since 2014.

The coalition, deployed to fight the Islamic State group, has faced increasing attacks since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, most of which were claimed by Iran-aligned groups opposing Israel.

Sanchez visited the Spanish troops at a military base in Baghdads high security Green Zone, where he thanked them on Spains behalf for their efforts and sacrifices in favour of international security and stability.

In Iraq, Spain has demonstrated for many years now our solid commitment to something that seems to have been questioned in recent years: multilateralism, he said.

Iraq is experiencing comparative political stability after decades of conflict, but corruption and nepotism remain major obstacles in the oil-rich country.

Dominated by parties close to Iran, an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas, tensions have escalated in Iraq since the groups unprecedented attack on Israel and the subsequent air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Since mid-October, Washington has documented more than 100 drone and rocket attacks against US and other coalition troops deployed to Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

The majority of the attacks in Iraq have been claimed by Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which opposes US support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

Sanchez, who was accompanied to Baghdad by a delegation of business leaders, said he is dedicated to the development of trade between Spain and Iraq, which derives more than 90 per cent of its income from oil and gas.

Sudani said Iraq would take preferential measures in favour of Spanish firms that wanted to establish operations in his country, according to Iraqs official news agency INA.
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.
In the long protracted history of Philippine struggle against colonial rule, woven with threads of courage, sacrifice, and resilience, there emerges a distinct and often unfortunately overlooked pattern  the important presence and contributions of Filipino heroes of Chinese heritage. These champions of freedom and progress came from an ethnic minority which has for many centuries lived and traded in the Philippines since the pre-colonial era.

As we commemorate the martyrdom of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal (himself a patrilineal descendant of the Cua family due to his immigrant ancestor Domingo Lamco, whose Chinese name was Cua YiLam), let us unravel the stories of other unsung heroes of Chinese lineage who stood valiantly in the fight for Philippine freedom and progress.

Roman Tanbensiang Ongpin

Here are only some of the many Filipino heroes of Chinese heritage:

1. General Jose Ignacio PauaA first-generation Chinese immigrant from the county of Nan-an, Quanzhou City, Fujian province, he exemplified the spirit of self-determination and public service. His journey from blacksmith entrepreneur in Manila to military general of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonizers and then the American colonial invaders from the 1890s to 1900s mirrors the transformative power of dedication to a cause larger than oneself.

General Paua not only forged armaments for the Filipino revolutionaries but also orchestrated successful fundraising campaigns among his fellow Hokkien-speaking ethnic Chinese traders, artisans and professionals in different regions. In doing so, he became a unique beacon, perhaps the only first-generation immigrant worldwide to rise to the rank of a military general in his adopted homeland.

Wenceslao Bintao Vinzons

2. Roman Tanbensiang Ongpin A 19th-century entrepreneur and civic leader and son of successful Chinese immigrant trader Simon Ongpin (Chinese name Ong Yak Pin from ChingMeng Village, Jinjiang, Quanzhou City, Fujian province), Roman Ongpin etched his name in history by sacrificing personal safety and social status to support the Philippine Revolution.

Enduring persecution and imprisonment, Ongpin became a symbol of resilience and commitment. His legacy lives on in the streets of Binondo, where Calle Sacristia had been renamed in his honor, and the Ong clan association had donated a monument which stands testament to his unwavering dedication. His descendants also contributed to Philippine progress the late billionaire tycoon Roberto Ongpin who was Trade and Industry Minister of President Ferdinand E. Marcos and 1986 Edsa Revolution stalwart Jaime Ongpin who became Finance Secretary of the revolutionary government of Chinese mestiza President Corazon Cory Cojuangco Aquino.

General Vicente Lim

3. General Vicente LimThe son of a Chinese immigrant turned self-made entrepreneur, General Vicente Lim embodied the pursuit of excellence and unswerving service to his country. As the first Filipino soldier to graduate from the prestigious West Point military academy, Lim rose to the rank of a military general. In the face of Japanese military invasion during World War II, he fought valiantly, enduring imprisonment and ultimately sacrificing his life. General Vicente Lim stands as a beacon of heroism and moral courage.

His story has become an integral part of the Philippines struggle for freedom.

4. St. Lorenzo RuizHe was the first Filipino Roman Catholic saint, son of a Chinese immigrant and baptized in historic Binondo Church. His life epitomized courage and faith, culminating in martyrdom for his beliefs.

St. Lorenzo Ruiz

5. Wenceslao Bintao Vinzons He was a legendary Bicol hero and fearless World War II martyr, who led the resistance against Japanese military occupation and was executed by the invaders. Vinzons ably led Filipino guerrillas who killed 3,000 Japanese soldiers in the Bicol region. The heros grandfather was anti-Qing Dynasty Chinese-language newspaper Kong Li Po editor Serafin Vinzons (Chinese name Sia Hui Tam) and his father was Gabino Vinzons (Chinese name Sia Din Long).

Vinzons legacy lives on at the University of the Philippines where a building bears his name. He became president of the UP Student Council and editor-in-chief of the college newspaper Philippine Collegian. He was also youngest delegate elected to the 1935 Philippine Constitutional Convention.

These are just some of the many Filipino heroes of Chinese heritage  along with countless nameless traders, artisans and other ordinary members of the Filipino Chinese community who have contributed immeasurably to the economic modernization, cultural development and social progress of the Philippines. As we honor the patriotism of Dr. Jose Rizal, let us also pay tribute to these remarkable heroes, acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping the destiny of a nation.
Last November 9, Google rolled out the Search Generative Experience (SGE) in the Philippines as an opt-in experiment in Search Labs. This AI-powered experience is available in English.

With new breakthroughs in generative AI, Google is reimagining what a search engine can do and is bringing these powerful new capabilities to Search in a bold and responsible way. This powerful new technology can unlock entirely new types of questions that Search could not previously answer, and transforms the way information is organized in Search to help people sort through and make sense of whats out there.

Improving Search with generative AI

With SGEs generative AI capabilities in Google Search, people will see an AI-powered overview of key information to consider, with links to dig deeper. For anyone who has ever been overwhelmed by the amount of information online, this will help find answers faster.

For instance, with a question like What are the most popular coffee beans in the world? Normally, you might break this question down into smaller ones, sort through the vast amount of information available, and then start to piece things together yourself. With generative AI, Search can do some of that heavy lifting.

SGE first delivers an overview, beneath this, users will see suggested next steps where they can simply tap a query like Can you roast coffee beans at home?, or type in a specific follow-up question. This conversational mode enables people to intuitively learn more about the topic theyre exploring.

Context will be carried over from question to question, to help people more naturally continue their exploration.

Featuring a wide range of voices and sources

Hearing insights from others is always useful when making decisions, so Google has designed these new experiences to highlight and drive attention to content on the web. This makes it easy for people to dive deeper on the topic theyre learning about. As generative AI makes its way into Search, Google is committed to continue sending valuable traffic to sites across the web.

Ads are a vital piece of how the web works, and help people find relevant products and services. In this new generative experience, Search ads will continue to appear in dedicated ad slots throughout the page.

Google will continue to uphold its commitment to ads transparency and making sure ads are distinguishable from organic search results. When Search ads do appear, they will continue to feature their industry-leading clear and transparent ad labels with the Sponsored label in bold black text.

Taking a responsible approach

Google is taking a responsible and deliberate approach to bringing new generative AI capabilities to Search. We have trained the models used in SGE to uphold Searchs high bar for quality, which will continue to improve over time.

These hallmark systems have been fine-tuned for decades, but will also have additional guardrails, like limiting the types of queries where generative AI capabilities will appear.

Google Philippines and South Asia Frontier Markets Country Marketing Manager Gabby Roxas, said, With new generative AI capabilities in Search, were now taking more of the work out of searching. Were imagining a supercharged Search that does the heavy lifting for you so youll be able to understand a topic faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights, and get things done more easily. The Search Generative Experience is the first step were taking in this journey, and part of our vision to make Search radically more helpful. Were excited to bring this to India, and look forward to receiving feedback and iterating on the experience alongside our users over the next few months.

Sign up in Search Labs and experiment today

Google is bringing SGE as an experiment in Search Labs, available on Chrome desktop and the latest version of the Google App on Android and iOS. Access begins today  people can opt in to try it out and share feedback directly with the teams working on it.

Simply tap the Labs icon in the Google app or Chrome desktop, and visit labs.google.com/search to learn more.
The long-awaited news became official on Tuesday December 26: Ethiopia has defaulted on its debt. The country has defaulted on its last payment of $33 million, corresponding to the repayment of interest on a bond issue. After missing the deadline, the country was granted a grace period, which expired on Monday December 25.

It is the third African country to default on its debt since 2020, along with Zambia and Ghana. Ethiopia, which should have honored this payment on December 11, benefited from a grace period of 14 days, written into the terms of the international government bond to which the country has subscribed. This obligation totals one billion dollars and matures at the end of 2024. At the beginning of December, Africas second most populous country announced that it would not be able to honor this new tranche of 33 million euros.

On December 22, the last international banking day, the countrys private creditors noted that they had not received any payment. The Ethiopian government would like to reach an agreement with the private bondholders, after having reached an agreement with its bilateral creditors at the end of November.

Ethiopia has obtained a provisional suspension of debt servicing to the tune of 1.5 billion euros for two years, provided that loan negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are concluded by March 2024.

Ethiopias economy has been hard hit by the Covid-19 crisis, combined with the consequences of the civil war in Tigray, and continues to suffer from the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region.
Five people have died following a wave of misinformation about cholera in Mozambique, said the commander-general of the Mozambican police, Bernardino Rafael.

The victims are mostly local leaders and health technicians, killed by the population under allegations that they were bringing cholera cases to the communities, explained Bernardino Rafael, during a rally in Chiure, in Cabo Delgado province, in northern Mozambique, held on Wednesday December 27.

We ask the population not to accept these messages and to denounce people who spread misinformation about cholera, said the general commander of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM).

The cases are occurring mainly in the districts of Chiure, Montepuez and Namuno, in Cabo Delgado province, where the authorities have registered half of the 26 cases of violence registered in the country due to misinformation.

The phenomenon is also being recorded in some remote districts of the provinces of Nampula, in northern Mozambique, and Zambezia, in the center, he said.

At least 16 people were arrested between May and November in Sofala province, in central Mozambique, for passing on misinformation about cholera, announced Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda, noting that lies about the disease have resulted in lynchings and destruction.
The Sao Tomean government guaranteed Thursday December 28 that the Port of Sao Tome will remain in the legal sphere of the State, with the assistance of international experts, denying the privatization or concession to the French company Africa Global Logistic, which is being contested by the workers.

In a press release, the office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Adelino Cardoso, assures that the contract with Africa Global Logistic (AGL) is in no way a privatization or concession, but rather an operational management agreement.

The Ministry of Infrastructure stresses that the port will always remain in the legal sphere of the Sao Tomean state and will be managed by a national board and controlled by the state, but will have the technical and operational assistance of a team of competent and experienced international experts in port management.

The statement also says that the operational management agreement was signed with Africa Global Logistic, a subsidiary of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a world leader in container transportation and logistics in search of solutions to the problems that are blatantly and rampantly afflicting the population and negatively impacting the countrys economy.

The Ministry states that Sao Tomes public companies are in a clear situation of technical and financial bankruptcy, with large debts to suppliers and non-compliance with tax obligations, as well as the inability to acquire equipment and goods and services to guarantee their operations.

In the particular case of Enaport, the Ministry of Infrastructure points out that the company has a total debt of more than 55 million dobras, equivalent to more than two million euros.

The public-private partnership agreement that the officials are contesting, dates from December 20 and is between the government, represented by the Minister for Infrastructure, Natural Resources and the Environment, Adelino Cardoso, the director of Enaport, Hamilton de Sousa, and the representative of the company Africa Global Logistics (AGL) Pierre-Francois Pioriou.
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An automated pain recognition system is promising for detecting pain before, during, and after surgery, according to a study presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, held from Oct. 13 to 17 in San Francisco.

Timothy Heintz, from the University of California San Diego, and colleagues examined the use of computer vision-based deep learning (DL) models to predict pain measurements using facial images in 77 patients. Patients were recorded using a three-camera array, and pain episodes were documented and assessed using the self-described visual analog scale (VAS) and the observer-measured Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) scale. Raw facial images were randomly divided into training (60 percent), validation (20 percent), and testing sets (20 percent).

The DL models were trained on 143,293 images from 115 and 159 pain and nonpain episodes in 69 unique patients who underwent a range of elective surgical procedures. For CPOT, scores of 2 were classified as no pain and scores of 3 were classified as pain. A score of 0 on the VAS denoted no pain, while scores greater than 0 indicated pain. The researchers found that DL models performed with an accuracy of 88 and 66 percent for CPOT and VAS, respectively. Occlusion heatmaps indicated increased attention to the brows, nose, and upper lip, indicating that these were critical facial indicators for pain assessment.

"Our proof-of-concept artificial intelligence model could help improve patient care through real-time, unbiased pain detection," Heintz said in a statement.

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Age-standardized proportions RTW by discharge year for sepsis patients admitted A. Non-ICU (20102021) and B. ICU (20142021). Credit: Critical Care (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04737-7

A few years ago, the World Health Organization estimated that blood poisoning, or sepsis, is involved in 1 in 5 deaths around the world; 11 million people die from sepsis each year, of which nearly 3 million are children.

This is also a problem in Norway, with thousands of people affected every year.

"Sepsis is a severe immunological overreaction to an infection. It causes the body's organs to fail," says Nina Vibeche Skei. She is a doctoral research fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and a senior anesthetist at Levanger Hospital.

In Norway, 3,000 people die every year from sepsis.

"Many people believe that sepsis only affects the elderly, but a third of those who survive are between the ages of 18 and 60, and this has many consequences," says doctoral research fellow Skei.

Many years of diminished health

Patients who survive sepsis may have health problems and reduced quality of life for years after they are discharged. Many develop a new chronic disorder or exacerbation of existing chronic conditions, or ailments due to organ failure and intensive care.

"Even everyday activities can become a challenge," says Skei.

As a result, many people do not return to work after having sepsis, but until now, we have not known how many.

"We investigated the percentage of sepsis patients who returned to work in Norway," says Lise Tuset Gustad. She is a researcher at the Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences at Nord University and Levanger Hospital. The study is published in the journal Critical Care.

High levels of occupational disability among people with sepsis

The research group they were part of retrieved figures from the Norwegian Patient Registry and from the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration's information on absence due to illness. The figures included 36,000 sepsis patients aged 18 to 60. The researchers looked at whether they had returned to work six months, one year and two years after they had been discharged from hospital.

After six months, fewer than 59% of the patients had returned to work. After one year, just over 67% were back at work. However, after two years, the number was down to just over 63%.

In other words, almost 4 out of 10 of those who had had sepsis were out of work two years after contracting the illness.

Several determining factors

Several factors come into play regarding who is able to return to work after having sepsis.

"Those who fared best were young people with few additional chronic diagnoses and less extensive organ failure," says Skei.

The 50- to 60-year-olds were 31% less likely to return to work than people aged 18 to 30. People with a chronic illness were 54% less likely to return to work, compared with those without a chronic illness. People who had two organs that failed were 40% less likely to return to work than those who suffered only one organ failure.

"In addition, people who required intensive care had almost a 50% reduced chance of returning to work, compared with those who were admitted to a ward," says Gustad.

This is because the individuals who require intensive care often have more severe sepsis. Only 52% of those admitted to an intensive care unit, compared with 64% of those admitted to a ward, were back at work two years after discharge.

The researchers also investigated people who contracted sepsis as a result of COVID-19. This group was 31% more likely to return to work than the rest of the patients with sepsis.

No improvement

"The main finding of this study is that sepsis greatly reduces the chances of returning to work," says Skei.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to indicate that we have become better in Norway at getting sepsis patients back to work. The figures were from the period 2010 to 2021, enabling the researchers to document changes.

"Developments over the past decade show no improvement. In fact, the percentage of people who were in work two years after discharge from a hospital ward fell from 70% in 2016 to 57% in 2019. The reasons for this should be investigated further. We can then implement targeted measures to improve the consequences of sepsis," says Gustad.

More information: Nina Vibeche Skei et al, Return to work after hospitalization for sepsis: a nationwide, registry-based cohort study, Critical Care (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04737-7 Journal information: Critical Care
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Credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

A strong, rhythmic pulse is a lifelong companion for those with a healthy heart. But for about 1% of babies born in the U.S. every year, developmental heart problems compromise that steady beat.

One cluster of serious developmental anomalies results in single-ventricle physiology, or just one functioning pumping chamber in the heart. These are extremely rare, affecting about 5 out of every 100,000 newborns, but they pose grave danger to infants as they enter the world.

Reshma Reddy, M.D., a pediatric cardiac intensive care physician at the Medical University of South Carolina, said that babies born with single-ventricle physiology are likely the highest-risk group of patients cared for by pediatric cardiologists.

While there is no cure for this type of disorder, Reddy and researchers like her are constantly seeking new ways to help these patients. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Reddy and her colleagues reported that treating certain single-ventricle patients with digoxin during a critical stage may enhance their survival and lead to better outcomes.

Single-ventricle disorders occur when there is a developmental problem that leads to a smaller, undeveloped lower heart chamber or a missing valve, and they include hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tricuspid atresia and double-inlet left ventricle, among others.

When a heart contends with having just one functional pumping chamber instead of the usual two, it must work harder and less efficiently to send oxygenated blood to the body and retrieve deoxygenated blood from the lungs. The body may not receive adequate oxygen delivery, and a whole host of medical issues can overwhelm the infant.

To survive being born with single-ventricle physiology, infants must undergo a series of surgeries that are not curative but can lead to a more stable circulation that supports heart function. They often undergo their first surgery at 7 to 14 days of age, and then a second procedure is performed when they are older, generally around 3 to 4 months.

The time between surgeries is called the interstage period, and patients are critically ill and at high risk during this stage. But in their study, Reddy and her team found that digoxin was effective at lowering this risk for patients undergoing an approach called the hybrid procedure.

The hybrid procedure is an initial palliative surgery that can be used as an alternative to the classical Norwood procedure, a highly complex surgery that requires a long support period with a heart-and-lung bypass machine and leaves patients extremely vulnerable. With the hybrid procedure, babies undergo both catheterization and surgery, but they usually do not need to spend time on the bypass machine. Removing that variable makes for less stress on this already vulnerable population.

In the study, the researchers examined data collected from 2008 to 2021 and reported to the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative, a network of more than 60 pediatric cardiology care centers that care for more than 1,400 patients with single-ventricle disease.

The study looked at 259 infants who underwent the hybrid procedure at 45 different care centers. Half of these infants were treated with digoxin between their stage 1 and stage 2 surgeries, and half did not receive digoxin.

The results showed that the patients taking digoxin had significantly less mortality than those who did not receive it, and they were significantly less likely to need a transplant during the interstage period. The same results were previously reported for the Norwood procedure, and the current study confirms the parallel for patients undergoing the hybrid procedure.

Because there is a lot of variation among care centersmany centers recommend the hybrid procedure for patients with certain risk factors and use the Norwood method for other patientsit was important to confirm that digoxin use is likely beneficial for these patients so long as they tolerate the medication well.

Reddy estimated that about 50% of centers prescribe digoxin for this purpose, and she hopes that this published confirmation will encourage a practice change in centers that were waiting for more certainty about this population.

"Researchers and providers are always looking for innovative strategies to help this patient population," she said. "And anything that we can do to increase survival for our sickest, most vulnerable patients in their most vulnerable period of life makes a huge difference."

More information: Reshma K. Reddy et al, Association of Digoxin Use With TransplantFree Interstage Survival in Infants Palliated With a Stage 1 Hybrid Procedure, Journal of the American Heart Association (2023). DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.029521 Journal information: Journal of the American Heart Association
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Proportion of PACS symptoms alleviation by six months. Credit: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00685-0

A randomized controlled trial in Hong Kong finds that the synbiotic drug SIM01 relieves multiple symptoms of long COVID, or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS).

SIM01 contains strains of anaerobic Bifidobacterium bacteria (which are probiotics) and soluble fibers (prebiotics) to alter the gut microbiome and possibly modify immune response.

Twice-daily doses

From June 2021 to August 2022, researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong randomly assigned 463 adult long COVID patients at a single hospital in a 1:1 ratio to receive SIM01 or a vitamin C placebo by mouth twice daily for six months. The median interval between infection and random assignment was four months.

The investigators clinically assessed participants at baseline for symptoms, quality of life, and physical activity level. At six months, interviewers administered a 14-item symptom questionnaire to participants and collected blood and fecal samples to assess changes in the gut microbiome and blood cytokines (small proteins that trigger the immune response).

"Decreased abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in the gut of patients with COVID-19 might represent one of the crucial mechanisms contributing to the gutlung interaction and thereby disease severity in COVID-19," the researchers wrote.

The study was published Dec. 7 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

No effect on quality of life, exercise ability

Nearly one third of patients (31%) had been hospitalized during their infections. At six months, significantly higher proportions of the SIM01 group reported an improvement in fatigue (odds ratio [OR], 2.27), memory loss (OR, 1.97), difficulty concentrating (OR, 2.64), gastrointestinal upset (OR, 2.00), and general unwellness (OR, 2.36) than the placebo group.

Increases in relative benefit after SIM01 therapy were 47% for fatigue, 56% for memory loss, 62% for difficulty concentrating, 30% for gastrointestinal upset, and 31% for general unwellness.

Rates of adverse events were similar between the two groups (SIM01, 10% vs. placebo, 11%), and none were considered related to treatment. Receipt of SIM01, infection with omicron subvariants, vaccination before COVID-19 infection, and mild COVID-19 infection were predictors of symptom improvement.

Average visual analog quality-of-life scores (on a scale of 0 to 100) at six months weren't significantly different (76.0 for SIM01 recipients vs. 74.5 for the placebo group). Nor was there a significant difference in physical activity at six months, per total metabolic equivalent of task-minutes per week (SIM01 median, 1,646.3 vs. placebo, 1,902.0).

Symptom relief tied to certain microbiome changes

Fecal metagenomic analyses showed that the gut microbiome was more diverse, including more short-chain acid-producing bacteria and fewer genes related to antibiotic resistance, at six months than at baseline in SIM01 recipients but not the placebo group.

Correlation of microbial changes with symptoms showed that relief of specific symptoms was tied to distinct compositional and functional changes in the microbiome.

"For instance, Bifidobacterium adolescentis showed positive correlations with alleviation in fatigue, gastrointestinal upset, and memory loss," the researchers wrote. "We also found that alleviation in fatigue and general unwellness correlated with an elevated relative abundance of Bifidobacterium bifidum, whereas alleviation in difficulty in concentration correlated with a positive shift in Bifidobacterium longum."

Cytokine analyses yielded no significant results.

"Treatment with SIM01 alleviates multiple symptoms of PACS," they wrote. "Our findings have implications on the management of PACS through gut microbiome modulation. Further studies are warranted to explore the beneficial effects of SIM01 in other chronic or post-infection conditions."

Lack of universal long COVID symptom assessment tool

In a related commentary, Betty Raman, DPhil, and Maheshi Ramasamy, DPhil, both of the University of Oxford, said that emerging evidence points to the importance of the gut microbiome in the development of long COVID, with a disruption in microbial balance, or gut dysbiosis, in some patients.

"There are now several studies showing that probiotics, consisting of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, might enhance gut health, modulate inflammation, and improve immune function," they wrote.

But study limitations such as the lack of a universally accepted long COVID symptom assessment tool and a reliance on subjective symptom reports complicates interpretation of the findings.

"Although alleviation of some symptoms of PACS was observed, this alleviation did not correspond with measurable improvements in quality of life or physical activity after six months, suggesting that the real benefits of the treatment on general health perception and functional capacity might be low," Raman and Ramasamy wrote.

More information: Raphaela I Lau et al, A synbiotic preparation (SIM01) for post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in Hong Kong (RECOVERY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00685-0 Betty Raman et al, Synbiotics in post-acute COVID-19 syndromea potential new treatment framework?, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00735-1 Journal information: Lancet Infectious Diseases

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The global demographic shift marked by a decline in birth rates and an increase in aging populations has posed a significant strain on health care resources. Recognizing the need for better health care, researchers have proposed innovative measures, including the integration of nurses into roles traditionally held by physicians. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have emerged as a potential solution to optimize the allocation of limited medical resources, particularly in addressing primary care physician shortages.

In Japan, the development of the NP programs began in 2008, leading to the certification of 759 NPs as of 2023. Despite this progress, the utilization of NPs in specialized settings, such as nursing homes for older adults, remains underexplored. Previous research has mostly focused on NP skills, but there is a notable lack of studies exploring the actual effects of NP-led care in primary settings.

IN this setting, Dr. Nahoko Harada from Okayama University, worked with a team of researchers, consisting of Dr. Masahide Koda from the Co-learning Community Health care Re-innovation Office, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University and Professor Miho Suzuki from the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Keio University, published a study in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners on December 04, 2023, that aimed to identify the role of NPs in specialized nursing homes for older adults in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

"In the U.S., nurse practitioners (NPs) have expanded their role to provide quality health care, especially in regions facing physician shortages. As a researcher educated in NPs in the U.S., I wanted to find evidence regarding the clinical impact of NPs in Japan and their contribution to the health of the population," says Dr. Harada.

The researchers conducted a retrospective investigation in a nursing home in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, by comparing two distinct periods: one before the introduction of NPs, which spanned October 2019 to September 2020 (cohort group), and the other after their introduction, from October 2021 to September 2022 (non-cohort group), in the nursing home. The research method involved a multilevel logistic regression analysis examining variables including residents' age, care needs, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and overall medical expenses.

Assessing the 229 residents in a Miyagi nursing home, researchers observed that in higher care needed residents, emergency visits decreased after NPs' introduction. Elders demanding advanced care increased (78% to 76.6%), but visits to ED dropped (from 0.8 to 0.5 times). For non-cohort residents, though care needs remained steady, ED visits significantly decreased (from 1.1 to 0.5 times). Multilevel logistic regression analysis showed that despite increased higher care needs, reduced emergency visits post-NP placement was significantly reduced, signaling the impactful role of NPs in optimizing care delivery.

Dr. Harada further emphasizes, "The observed reduction in unnecessary hospital visits tied with NPs' intervention in managing non-hospitalization requiring conditions, underscores their pivotal role in early diagnosis and continuous patient monitoring."

Amid Japan's aging population and limited medical resources, this research underscores the urgent need to acknowledge and amplify NP contributions. It signals an essential call for policymakers, researchers, and health care stakeholders to leverage NPs' potential, addressing resource disparities and enhancing elderly care.

These findings highlight a paradigm shift in elder care, suggesting NPs as pivotal players in optimizing health care delivery, reducing unnecessary hospital visits, and advocating for a reassessment of their roles within the broader health care framework.

Additionally, the study's implications can be extended globally, particularly to countries experiencing similar aging challenges such as South Korea, Singapore, China, and Thailand. The research highlights the relevance and adaptability of NP-driven care models, offering insights crucial for refining health care systems worldwide.

"In the midst of the demand to reform the way medical personnel work, we were able to provide evidence regarding the maintenance of the quality of medical care by medical practice nurses. This knowledge can be applied to future health care economic benefits from optimizing medical human resources," concludes a hopeful Dr. Harada.

More information: Masahide Koda et al, Nurse Practitioner Placement in A Nursing Home in Japan, The Journal for Nurse Practitioners (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2023.104845
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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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Taking on the parenting duties to support a newborn child is stressful enough when everything goes well.

But when parents living in under-resourced conditions also must battle government red tape to stay enrolled in important food benefit programs, the stress measurably affects their babies' emotional and behavioral health, according to research published Dec. 26, 2023, in JAMA Pediatrics.

Given the importance of the first year of life to overall brain development, addressing disruptions to food security is a problem that requires rapid intervention, according to lead author Chidiogo Anyigbo, MD, MPH, a clinician and researcher with the Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's.

"A number of studies have associated household food insecurity with poor pediatric mental health outcomes including depression, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and hyperactivity," Anyigbo says. "But those studies have focused almost exclusively on children aged 9 months and older. To our knowledge this is the first study to document the association between household food insecurity and problems accessing nutrition benefits programs and behavioral challenges during the first 6 months. This finding is important because at this stage of child development, every month matters, and early intervention can have lifelong benefits."

Measurable, predictable, avoidable outcomes

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides many recommendations for preventative screening for a child's physical and mental health. While pediatricians can use blood tests, scanners and other tools to learn many things about an infant's health, understanding how their environments influence mental health is no simple task.

This study used two measurement tools routinely administered during primary care pediatric well visits to identify populations of infants at early risk of behavioral challenges due to factors such as impact of food insecurity or public benefits programs. Overall, the study analyzed data from more than 1,500 infants, 90% of whom lived with families receiving or qualified to receive public health insurance (Medicaid).

The researchers started with a screening tool that assesses health-related social needs (HRSNs) before the age of 4 months. They compared that information to another standard tool called the Baby Pediatric Symptom Checklist (BPSC), which is given at age 6 months.

The HRSN data reveals a constellation of problems that under-resourced families can face, including challenges meeting basic needs for food, housing, and safety. But in this study, researchers found a particular correlation between reports of food insecurity and difficulties maintaining benefits, and infant behaviors measured in more detail at age 6 months.

Overall, about 26% of the families studied reported babies exhibiting unusual amounts of behavioral dysfunction such as inflexibility, difficulty with routines, and irritability. The more problems reported in the HRSN data, the more problems were found later in the BPSC data.

"Specifically, when two or more problems appeared on the HRSN screening, children were twice as likely to exhibit behavior concerns on their BPSC screening test that were serious enough to prompt clinical review," Anyigbo says.

Early intervention can help

"We already know that food insecurity can increase emotional distress, increase aggravation, and weaken the attachment between parent and child," Anyigbo says. "Now with screening tools that can detect these concerns at an early age, we have an opportunity to intervene."

Pediatricians and primary care clinics have near-universal access to infants and are well-positioned to help connect families to food pantries and community food banks. They also can help families connect with parent support programs, services to assist with insurance coverage, and programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Anyigbo has already begun working on an online platform and QR code project to help more families who speak a variety of languages navigate the hassles of qualifying for food benefits through the WIC program.

"The idea that these kinds of support systems are needed isn't especially new," Anyigbo says. "What is new is that the evidence indicating how vital it is for healthy infant behavioral development to address food insecurity right away. Challenges accessing public nutrition benefits such as WIC may further compound the deleterious effects of food insecurity on infant behavioral functioning. This is particularly relevant given ongoing calls for Congress to act to fully fund the WIC program."

More information: Chidiogo Anyigbo et al, Household Health-Related Social Needs in Newborns and Infant Behavioral Functioning at 6 Months, JAMA Pediatrics (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.5721 Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics
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:

As Americans travel far and wide to see family and friends this holiday season, a new COVID variant named JN.1 has become dominant across the country.

A descendant of the variant BA.2.86, JN.1 now accounts for 44 percent of COVID cases, up from roughly 7 percent in late November, the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

"Variants take some time to get going," Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told the New York Times. "Then they speed up, they spread widely, and just when they're doing that, after several months, a new variant crops up."

The holiday season is likely fueling the rise of JN.1, he added.

"When people are gathered inside close to each other, having parties and traveling and the like, those are the kind of circumstances where all respiratory viruses, including JN.1, have opportunities to spread," Schaffner said.

Still, the speed at which the JN.1 variant has spread this month suggests it may spread more easily and be better at evading people's immune systems than other circulating variants, according to a recent CDC report.

"It is too early to know whether or to what extent JN.1 will cause an increase in infections or hospitalizations," the CDC said in its report.

Luckily, JN.1 does not seem to be causing more severe illness yet, Schaffner noted.

The other good news? The updated COVID vaccines that were released in September produce antibodies that work against JN.1, which is distantly related to the XBB.1.5 variant the tweaked vaccines target.

"For those who were recently infected or boosted, the cross-protection against JN.1 should be decent, based on our laboratory studies," Dr. David Ho, a virologist at Columbia University in New York City, told the Times.

Ho led research published on the preprint server bioRxiv in early December that showed the latest COVID vaccines produce a strong antibody response to JN.1.

Despite the fact that JN.1 may not cause more severe disease than other variants, hospitalizations have started creeping up recently, the Times reported.

For the week of Dec. 10, there were just under 26,000 COVID-linked hospitalizations, a 10 percent increase from about 23,000 hospitalizations the week before. However, those numbers are still far lower than they were during during the peak of the tripledemic last winter, when COVID, flu and R.S.V. cases all surged simultaneously.

JN.1 will most likely remain the dominant COVID variant through spring, Schaffner said.

How can you protect yourself?

Experts said everyone should consider getting vaccinated, especially those who are over 65, are immunocompromised, have health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness or are visiting loved ones who may be vulnerable.

"Give yourself a New Year's present by getting this vaccine if you haven't done it yet," Schaffner said.

More information: Visit the CDC for more on COVID.

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Microbiological yield of "septic screen" specimens. Credit: PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295210

A new study led by researchers at University of Limerick in Ireland has revealed the most effective way to diagnose maternal sepsis, a condition with a devastating global impact.

The new study of microbiology specimens used to investigate maternal sepsis has found that placental swabs can provide critical information for guiding antimicrobial treatment.

The findings, described as "very significant" by the research team, have just been published in PLOS ONE.

The study was performed by researchers from University of Limerick (UL) and University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) and involved the examination of almost 2,000 specimens collected over 5.5 years.

Maternal or perinatal sepsis is a well-recognized risk and a condition affecting more than 20 million women and causing 17,000 deaths annually.

Identifying the causative agents can be challenging, however. Blood cultures, the gold standard for diagnosis, often have low positivity rates. Other samples, such as vaginal swabs, offer limited clinical value.

This unique new study was led by Professor Colum Dunne, Head of School and Foundation Chair and Director of Research at the UL School of Medicine and performed by a team of researchers from UL and UMHL.

The team retrospectively analyzed the bacterial culture results of a number of different specimens that were collected as part of a "septic screen," which detects bacteria that may cause maternal infections and can lead to sepsis. These specimens were: blood, urine, throat swabs, vaginal swabs and placental swabs.

"Maternal sepsis may occur during pregnancy or when a C-section incision, tear or other wound from childbirth becomes infected in the days or weeks after giving birth," explained Professor Dunne.

"This study provides new information on how sepsis can be detected, and the organisms involved identified early, so that the best approach to successful treatment can be selected."

Professor Dunne explained that national and indeed international guidelines are "not consistent" in their recommendations for diagnosing of maternal infections, and there is very little information available in the scientific literature regarding the use of placental swabs.

"By looking at the results of each of these specimens from 430 women, they could be compared to determine which detected the highest pathogen numbers and, in this study, placental swabs were found to be the most effective," Professor Dunne explained.

"These findings are very significant as these swabs are not always tested in hospitals. Due to this, important information that could be used in treatment choice for these infections could be missed."

James Powell, a Surveillance Scientist at University Hospital Limerick and one of the lead authors, said, "I am delighted to be a part of the team that conducted this research, and it was a great honor to be able to present our findings at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, in Copenhagen, Denmark."

Professor Roy Philip, a Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrician at the Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, and Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor of neonatology at UL, explained, "Placental microbial analysis remains a relatively unexplored diagnostic tool in the management of perinatal sepsis, and we hope our research enhances the clinical awareness."

Professor Nuala O'Connell, Consultant Microbiologist and Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor of Microbiology at UL, added, "The value of sending placental swabs for microbiological analysis as part of a septic workup is under-recognized.

"This study will augment the medical literature in the areas of both maternal and neonatal sepsis diagnostics and thereby assist with antimicrobial stewardship."

More information: James Powell et al, The microbial pathology of maternal perinatal sepsis: A single-institution retrospective five-year review, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295210 Journal information: PLoS ONE
Sen. Steve Daines and other Congress members are trying again to complete the nearly 50-year-old Continental Divide Trail.

The Republican senator from Montana is co-sponsoring legislation that would require the federal government to ensure completion of the 3,100-mile trail, which runs roughly along the Continental Divide from the U.S.-Canada border to the U.S.-Mexico border. The Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S. 594) passed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Dec. 14. As of Thursday, the full Senate had yet to take up the bill, which was introduced March 1 by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., with Daines as an original co-sponsor.

The trail has as many as 14 gaps ranging from less than 1 mile to nearly 50 miles that interrupt its path along the Rocky Mountains. The gaps total about 160 miles.

In Montana, the trail is interrupted by a 0.75-mile gap near Cadotte Pass northeast of Lincoln, a 5.7-mile gap along Interstate 15 near Elk Park north of Butte, a 9-mile gap along the interstate south of Butte, a 1.4-mile gap near Wise River, and a 10.5-mile gap near Monida Pass.

The bill gives the government a deadline of Nov. 10, 2028  when the trail turns 50 years old  to take measures to ensure that it will be completed. The trail, technically named the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, is about 95% complete, according to the Golden, Colorado-based nonprofit Continental Divide Trail Coalition, which lauded the bill's passage out of committee.

"This is a significant milestone for completing the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail," L. Fisher, the coalition's trail policy manager, said in a statement Dec. 14. "Todays vote demonstrates that public lands and the future of outdoor recreation are priorities that both parties can work together on. Because completing the CDT isnt just about the trail  its about investing in the rural communities along the CDT and protecting the experiences along the trail for future generations."

Daines, speaking to the committee in support of the bill, said, "Because of the checkerboard nature of land ownership in Montana and other states, there are areas of the trail where hikers are forced to walk along highways and even cross dangerous intersections. This bipartisan bill will bridge these gaps by working with local communities and expanding resources and partnerships. This is an important bill for the West."

The latest Senate bill is accompanied by a matching House bill, H.R. 1317, introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., and co-sponsored by three other Democrats. The House has yet to take any action on Neguse's bill, also introduced March 1.

The twin 10-page bills are the congress members' second attempt to pass legislation that would mandate completion of the trail. Neguse introduced a similar bill in 2021, in the last Congress, that grew into a 598-page bundle of outdoors and natural resources legislation. That bill passed the House but only pieces of it passed the Senate and were signed into law. In September 2022, Heinrich and Daines introduced the language pertaining to the Continental Divide Trail as a Senate bill that died in committee.

In a September 2022 statement supporting the previous, ultimately unsuccessful Senate bill, Visit Helena Executive Director Andrea Opitz noted that hikers and cyclists generate $4.3 million in economic activity there annually.

In all, the trail traverses five states, 20 national forests, 25 wilderness areas, three national parks, two national monuments, and 21 designated "gateway communities," according to the coalition.

Daines said in the hearing that completing the trail would "help spur recreation, economic development, and growing jobs, as well as helping our local gateway communities. The tourism economy generated from this bill supports our small businesses, and it supports jobs throughout the state of Montana."
Paula Bremner hoped to honor her late mother, Shari Bremner, by making the Parade of Lights in Browning the biggest yet. Shari Bremner started the annual event and spearheaded it for years, making it a centerpiece of winter festivities for the largest community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

My mom was really big on parades, Paula Bremner said. She had a lot of spirit.

Shari Bremner spent more than a decade working in the academic affairs department at Blackfeet Community College. What started as a job soon transcended the workplace.

It changed my mothers life, Paula Bremner said. BCC was her family. It was a huge part of her.

During her time working at the college, Shari Bremner developed a love for the campus itself as well as for the community she grew to know so well. She organized a gift exchange with elders, and her efforts to start the Parade of Lights tradition helped bring some cheer to the community, according to Brad Hall, president of Blackfeet Community College.

One of the things that we always acknowledge is that there are challenges in our community, but when we come together we can create beautiful things, Hall said. Shari was a well respected person in the community who brought everybody together.

Shari Bremner died on April 1, leaving behind what Hall describes as a huge void, not just because of the vital support she provided to campus administrators and students but also because of her extensive community-building work.

Paula Bremner, who has followed in her mothers footsteps by working as an employee at Blackfeet Community College, thought that continuing the annual parade event would be a valuable way for family and friends to celebrate the life of her mother and grieve together during a difficult time of year.

Blackfeet Community College agreed to sponsor the event again, this time making the parade in memory of Shari Bremner.

We are just picking up where she left off, Hall said.

On Dec. 18, the same date as Shari Bremners birthday, hundreds of people gathered to cheer for more than 30 parading floats decked out in holiday decor and festive lights, the most of any year yet. It was difficult to find parking on Main Street, Paula Bremner said, adding that her mother would have loved the huge turnout and the joy she had helped to build.

Theres no way to explain it, she said. It filled our hearts. We can do as much planning as we want, but what really matters is that everybody showed up. Thats all I ever could have asked for.

Blackfeet Community College provided prize money for the winners of the float competition as well as additional financial incentive for groups that signed up to compete early  the first 10 floats to snag a spot received $100 each.

The three best floats were awarded $500, $300 and $200, respectively. Winning floats were created by the Meineke family, with a long flatbed fashioned with inflatables and a holiday tree; Larry Crawford with a horse-drawn carriage; and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services with a jailed Grinch.

If not for Shari, this never would have been possible, Hall said. "Its a true community-wide effort. Its important that the college give back to the community because she was an extension of us.

Paula Bremner was nervous about taking on the project that had become so dear to her mother, but this years turnout inspired her to continue the tradition.

It sparked me to get my wheels turning for next year, she said. Im excited to make it even bigger and better.
SAN ANTONIO  A Texas police chief says investigators hope surveillance video will lead to answers in the killings of an 18-year-old pregnant woman who disappeared before Christmas and her boyfriend, both of whom were found shot in the head in a car and may have been dead for days.

Police on Friday had not named a possible motive or suspects as family members and friends mourned the deaths of Savanah Nicole Soto, 18, and Matthew Guerra, 22. Soto's family said she was overdue to deliver her baby and was scheduled to have an induced labor when she went missing last week.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office ruled both deaths homicides caused by gunshot wounds to the head.

The couple were found Tuesday in Guerra's car outside a San Antonio apartment complex, a crime scene that San Antonio Police Chief William McManus originally described as "very, very perplexing."

On Thursday, police asked the public for help identifying two people seen in surveillance video that included the car and was recorded before the bodies were found.

McManus would not say whether investigators believe the couple was dead when the video was taken.

"Detectives are hopeful that surveillance video will lead to the events leading up to their death," McManus said.

The video shows Guerra's car briefly pulling up next to a pickup truck at a spot close to where the couple was found, McManus said. A person gets out of the truck and approaches the driver's side of the car. Another person is seen briefly stepping out of Guerra's car, but McManus said they do not believe that person was one of the victims.

He has described the case as a capital murder investigation and called it "a heinous act."

Soto was scheduled to have an induced labor at a hospital last Saturday night, her family told KENS-TV. But her mother said she got no answer earlier that day when she knocked on the door of Soto's apartment in the suburb of Leon Valley.

The family spent Christmas night searching the area. On Monday, Leon Valley police issued a missing-person alert for Soto and later said Guerra also could not be found.

At a vigil Thursday in San Antonio, Savanah's grandmother Rachel Soto described Savanah as a "funny girl" and said she loved everybody and loved to live life. She said her granddaughter was looking forward to becoming a mom for the first time, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

"I just pray to God that she took her baby with her and that she is at peace," Rachel Soto said.
Stop scrolling now! This is the one you have been waiting for! Located just minutes away from LAKE JAMES in the well established, private and stately neighborhood of Cross Creek. A cozy modern take on a Cape-Cod style adjoining Pisgah National Forest, minutes from historic Marion. Explore thousands of miles of hiking/bike trails, and hundreds of waterfalls. Bring your boat and enjoy prestigious Lake James (ranked one of the top vacation destinations in the US.) Camp, ski, or relax and enjoy drinks and art from well over a hundred local artisan breweries, within minutes of the comfort of your own home! If you are looking for amenities and an entertaining wow-factor, look no further! This beauty has a custom bar, home theater, soundproof music room, a main floor deck built to withstand it all, a chef's dream kitchen, recessed lighting, surround speakers throughout. Ample storage on both levels including over 600sqft storage area above the garage. You HAVE to come see this home!

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MARION  This Sunday night, you can join in on North Carolinas most unique New Years Eve celebration happening in downtown Marion.

At the stroke of midnight, a big gold nugget will drop into a giant pot of gold. Youve not lived until youve counted down the seconds to the New Year while watching this oversized gold nugget descend from the sky during the countdown.

This scenario may sound strange, but this is how visitors to downtown Marion will celebrate the coming of 2024 during Marion Rotary Clubs New Years Eve Celebration, which is considered one of the most unique NYE events in the Southeast, according to a news release.

The city of Marion began its New Years Eve Gold Nugget Drop in 2009 as a nod to McDowell Countys gold heritage. Many people do not realize it, but the gold rush in the United States actually started in western North Carolina. McDowell County, where the city of Marion is located, played an integral part in that history before gold was discovered in California.

The North Carolina Gold Foundation designed the citys first gold nugget, which dropped every New Years Eve until 2016. At that time, the gold nugget was replaced with a more modern-looking one designed by local business Turtle Laboratories.

This years festivities will kick off on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 9 p.m. and feature a variety of activities.

From 9-11 p.m., families with small children can enjoy inflatables in the Kids Zone. Free miniature train rides will also be available during this time.

The local comic book shop All Things Geeky by 2 Nerds will host Marions annual New Years Eve Costume Contest. From 10-10:30 p.m., participants can register for the contest and have their picture taken at All Things Geeky by 2 Nerds, which is located in the lower level of the Larry D. Miller Business Complex at 33 Burgin St. in Marion.

Contest winners will be announced at the store at 10:30 p.m. and again before the gold nugget drop at midnight. Winners will receive one of several cash prizes.

Individuals and groups looking for a challenge can take part in a special New Years Eve Scavenger Hunt hosted by Joanne Howle Realty Brokered by EXP Realty.

Participants will be asked to download the app Goosechase and type in the events details at the information tent, located on Main Street. They will then have from 9:30-11 p.m. to find a variety of items located around town for a chance to win a prize. The top-ranking players will receive a prize for their efforts.

Hours before the gold nugget drop on Main Street, visitors can enjoy carriage rides on Main Street starting at 9 p.m. and continuing to midnight. Local shops, restaurants and breweries will be open downtown during this event, making perfect pit stops for visitors wanting to make the most out of the last day of 2023.

A few minutes before midnight, New Years Eve revelers can gather around the oversized gold nugget created by Turtle Laboratories in Marion and prepare to experience this one-of-a-kind New Years Eve countdown. As the seconds wind down to midnight, spectators can count down from 10 as the nugget drops slowly descends into a large pot of gold.

This years event is sponsored by Joanne Howle Realty brokered by EXP, Mission Hospital McDowell, Morris Heating & Cooling, McDowell Cornerstone Credit Union, Centro Unido Latino-Americano, All Things Geeky by 2 Nerds, Turtle Laboratories, Mountain Lake Realty, Marion Rotary Club past presidents, First Bank, McDowell Chamber of Commerce, Mountain Area Community Services, Whitson Realty, Mellott Company, McDowell Technical Community College, Flavors on Main, Morrow Insurance Agency, Sharon L. Parker, Attorney at Law; First Citizens Bank, Spencers Hardware, Key Gas Components, The Hub  Bloom Realty Group, Peoples Home Equity, Equity Shield, Mica Town Brewing and Gateway Wellness Foundation.

The citys New Years Eve Celebration is a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Marion, city of Marion and other community organizations and businesses. A committee made up of Rotary Club members, city of Marion staff, Chamber of Commerce staff, McDowell Emergency Services personnel, local residents and members of the nonprofit community begin planning the event shortly after each celebration, according to the news release.

Leading up to the event, the committee meets regularly to plan and develop amazing experiences for those visiting Marion on New Years Eve.

For additional information on this unique event, in the city that celebrates Bigfoot every May, visit www.facebook.com/NYEInMarionNC/.
Q: Many license plates have the slogan First in Freedom. Is there an event that this refers to?N.C.

Answer: The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles offers three different designs for license plates that are standard issue license plates. They are the First in Flight, the First in Freedom, and the In God We Trust, with the U.S. motto and the state motto, To Be Rather Than To Seem.

The First in Freedom plate has two dates on it that celebrate important events in North Carolina history. May 20, 1775, is the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and April 12, 1776, is the signing of the Halifax Resolves.

In May 1775, a group of men got together in Mecklenburg County to discuss what was happening in the country in regard to British rule. After a rider brought news of the Battle of Lexington in Massachusetts, they created a document that stated that Mecklenburg County was declaring that they wanted American independence.

The document was delivered to the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia in the summer of 1775, according to History.com. The North Carolina delegation to the Congress decided that it was too soon to present an independence declaration and held on to it.

According to an article on the Charlotte Museum of History website, www.charlottemuseum.org, the Meck Dec, as it is known, is shrouded in controversy. The first problem is no original copy of the records, including the declaration, exists. The records were destroyed in a fire in 1800 at the home of John McKnitt Alexander, the secretary of the delegation and a signer of the declaration.

In 1829, the N.C. General Assembly decided to put an end to the controversy. A special committee was named to investigate the declaration and report back. The committee talked to witnesses. Those who were there in May 1775 and other observers throughout North Carolina and also in Georgia and Tennessee. In 1831, they reported their findings in a 32-page document.

Much of the testimony from the witnesses was compelling.

For supporters of the story, the eyewitness testimony was conclusive. In addition, advocates point to the records of John McKnitt Alexander, which were found after his death. These fragmentary and rough notes, although undated and torn, communicate a clear picture of the events of May 19-20, according to the Charlotte Museum article.

To add to the controversy, in 1838, Peter Force, a historian, found a document that has become known as the Mecklenburg Resolves that was dated May 31, 1775.

These Resolves became (and in fact remain) the key to the entire case for the skeptics of the story. According to their theory, the people of Charlotte passed the Mecklenburg Resolves on May 31, 1775 (which is unarguable, since they have been found), but these fall short of a declaration of independence, the article said.

The Mecklenburg Resolves are available on the Library of Congress website, www.loc.gov/item/11022307.

The Halifax Resolves, on the other hand, is not a mystery. According to the National Park Service, the Halifax Resolves ordered North Carolinas delegation to the second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, not only to form foreign alliances, but also to seek and vote for independence from Great Britain. This action made North Carolina the first of the colonial governments to call for total independence.
The value of real estate deals in the GCC countries reached $171.6 billion from January to October 2023 (10 months), marking a growth of 21.1% annually as compared to $141.7 billion in the same period of 2022, said a report.

The report, issued by Kamco Invest said Dubai accounted for 52.1% of the total value of real estate deals executed across all GCC countries, a WAM report said. The value of real estate deals in Dubai surged by almost 57% annually during the first ten months of 2023, driven significantly by the rise in prices of leading developers and increased demand for luxury properties under construction for both single-family and multi-family homes valued at over AED5 million ($1.36 million).

Additionally, the report pointed out that the value of real estate deals in Abu Dhabi jumped by 56% during the first nine months of 2023. This contributed to the performance of the UAE markets in enhancing the overall value of real estate deals for the GCC countries during 10M the current year, surpassing the estimates for the entire 2022, which stood at $165.8 billion.

Strong performance

According to Kamco Invest's report, real estate stock indices in the UAE and Saudi Arabia continued their strong performance, witnessing significant gains during the first 11 months of the current year.

As per the Gulf real estate total yield index released by Refinitiv, the sector's performance rose by 19.2%, surpassing the Morgan Stanley Gulf Index. This growth was propelled by the strong performance of real estate development indices in Dubai by 32.9%, Abu Dhabi by around 29%, and Saudi Arabia by 21.4%.
The holidays are a time to be neighborly, and after a not-so-merry Christmas day, the team at Members Community Credit Union hope to help give some extra cheer to their temporary neighbors over in Weed Park.

Following a robbery and vandalism incident that saw Illuminate by Crossroads, a holiday light show meant to raise funds for senior residents and those with disabilities, temporarily go dark just before its final weekend, Members Community Credit Union announced that it will match up to $5,000 in donations in order to help the event make up for lost profits during its shutdown.

The credit union's Marketing Director Heather Neuweg said the idea for this match donation came from the credit unions CEO, Tim Chapman. It also came from a sense of understanding, as the credit union has its own light show.

Weve been doing our show to synchronized music for about 10 or 11 years now, and knowing the amount of work and effort goes into that, to have something like (this robbery/vandalism incident) happen, we can imagine how crushing it would be, Neuweg said.

Neuweg went on to say that she and the rest of the team at the credit union were grateful to Crossroads not only for all the work they were already doing in the community for seniors and disabled residents but for trying to meet a holiday need.

The community asked for something better in Weed Park, and Crossroads gave the community that, and for this incident to happen, it just seemed like a slap in the face, she said.

Previously, Crossroads, Inc. said between the cost of physical damages, losses from theft and lost donations from being unable to run the light show for several nights, the nonprofit was looking at a $10,000 loss. With another donor in town having since offered to cover the cost of replacing Illuminates stolen extension cords, Members Community Credit Union is primarily focusing on helping cover the lost donations.

The match donation offer runs from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, and includes both online and in-person donations at Illuminate's final shows on Friday and Saturday, Neuweg said.

Based on the amount of shares and comments on Facebook that weve seen, I have no doubt that well hit that $10,000 maximum, she said.

Neuweg also took a moment to acknowledge why donations like this are so important to the credit union.

The whole credit union philosophy is people helping people, and thats what we live to do. she said. Each of our members are owners in the credit union, and I feel like its a good way for us to continue to give back to the community we serve. If things are going well for us, were always going to do well for others.

Those wishing to make a digital donation to Crossroads can do so at https://crossroadsmuscatine.org/donate/.

How dangerous is driving on New Year's Eve? A closer look at the dangers of driving on New Year's Eve There are more than twice as many crashes overnight on New Year's Eve Fatal crashes spike in nearly every state  especially when alcohol is involved Fatal crashes are three times as likely to involve alcohol overnight on New Year's Eve as they are the rest of the year
DES MOINES  Calling it incredibly broad and wildly overbroad, a federal judge Friday temporarily halted the implementation of most of a new Iowa state law that bans school books and curriculum with depictions of sex acts and prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade.

The ruling means most of the new law cannot be enforced while the federal courts continue to hear legal challenges to its constitutionality.

Judge Stephen H. Locher, of the U.S. District Court in Iowas Southern District, in a ruling Friday halted parts of the law that prohibit books and curriculum with depictions of sex acts, as well as the prohibition on teaching gender identity or sexual orientation through sixth grade.

The sweeping restrictions in Senate File 496 are unlikely to satisfy the First Amendment under any standard of scrutiny and thus may not be enforced while the case is pending, Locher wrote.

Locher left in place the portion of the law that requires educators to notify parents when a student asks to be called by different pronouns. Locher said the plaintiffs in the case lacked legal standing: Because the plaintiffs involved are already publicly LGBTQ, that portion of the law does not apply to them, Locher ruled.

The new law was approved by only Republican state lawmakers and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. It went into effect July 1. Hundreds of books have been removed from Iowa schools as districts moved to comply with the new law.

The laws enforcement measures, including possible disciplinary action for educators, were set to go into effect Monday.

On the grounds that it violates their First Amendment rights to free speech, the new state law was challenged by the ACLU of Iowa, the publishing company Penguin Random House Publishing, 16 LGBTQ students in Iowa, the LGBTQ advocacy organization Iowa Safe Schools and the Iowa State Education Association teachers union.

The arguments

Locher heard from attorneys representing the plaintiffs and the state during a three-hour hearing Dec. 22.

During that hearing, an attorney for the ACLU of Iowa argued the state law represents the state exercising control over matters of opinion and thought, and said LGBTQ students are self-silencing for fear of their teachers and other educators being punished under the new law. And an attorney for Penguin Random House called the law an unprecedented assault on school libraries.

'Incredibly broad'

In its defense, the state suggested that some schools may be applying the law too broadly and argued that the law simply keeps graphic depictions out of schools.

In his ruling issued Friday, Locher said the portion of the law that bans books and curriculum with depictions of sex acts is is incredibly broad and has resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from school libraries, including, among others, nonfiction history books, classic works of fiction, Pulitzer Prize winning contemporary novels, books that regularly appear on Advanced Placement exams and even books designed to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault.

On the portion of the law that prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade, Locher notes the law defines those terms in generic terms, meaning the law would apply to the teaching of all gender identity and sexual orientation, not just when it pertains to LGBTQ individuals.

The law forbids programs, promotion, and instruction to students in those grades relating to gender identity and sexual orientation, but those terms are defined a neutral way that makes no distinction between cisgender or transgender identity or gay or straight relationships. Meaning: on its face, the law forbids any programs, promotion, or instruction recognizing that anyone is male or female or in a relationship of any sort (gay or straight), Locher wrote.

The statute is therefore content-neutral but so wildly overbroad that every school district and elementary school teacher in the State has likely been violating it since the day the school year started.

Conversely, Locher also wrote that the law is being misunderstood at grades seventh and above. Locher noted because the law does not prohibit the teaching of gender identity or sexual orientation at those grades, there is no prohibition on the existence of gay-straight alliances in schools or on educators assisting those groups.

Teachers and other licensed professionals are not restricted in any way from serving as advisers for such (gay-straight alliances), displaying rainbow flags, providing instruction on gay and transgender rights, and otherwise performing their responsibilities in a manner that emphasizes inclusiveness and respect for LGBTQ+ students in grades seven and above.

Likewise, students in grade seven and above are free to engage in whatever forms of expression they wish, subject only to generally applicable restrictions that apply equally to all students, Locher wrote. To the extent school districts, teachers, or students have been interpreting the law otherwise, they are simply wrong.

Reynolds: 'Disappointed'

Reynolds, in a statement, said she was extremely disappointed by the judges ruling.

Instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation has no place in kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms, she said. And there should be no question that books containing sexually explicit content  as clearly defined in Iowa law  do not belong in a school library for children.

The fact that were even arguing these issues is ridiculous. The real debate should be about why society is so intent on over-sexualizing our young children. Its wrong, and I will continue to do my part to protect their innocence.

Iowa State Education Association: 'A big win'

Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek called the temporary implementation of the new law a big win for education professionals, students, and parents.

When education professionals return to work next week, they can do what they do best: take great care of all their students without fear of reprisal, Beranek said in a statement.

We are incredibly proud of the thousands of education professionals and employees in Iowas public schools. This ruling means they can continue successfully guiding all students without fear of punishment or losing their jobs.

The ACLU of Iowa also applauded the ruling in its statement, issued with its legal partner in the case, Lambda Legal.

We are glad our clients, Iowa families and students, will be able to continue the school year free from the harms caused by these parts of this unconstitutional law, Nathan Maxwell, senior attorney for Lambda Legal, said in the statement.

This decision sends a strong message to the state that efforts to ban books based on LGBTQ+ content, or target speech that sends a message of inclusion to Iowa LGBTQ+ students, cannot stand.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Central Bank of Armenia to participate in the reception organized on the occasion of the upcoming New Year and Christmas, the PMs office informs.

The event was attended also by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Deputy Prime Ministers Mher Grigoryan and Tigran Khachatryan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, Governor of the Central Bank Martin Galstyan, Cabinet members, MPs, and representatives of the Central Bank and financial-banking system.

Prime Minister Pashinyan made a speech in which he stated as follows:

"Dear representatives of our banking system,

I greet everyone and I am happy to see you. I must record that the Central Bank, and the banking system in general, is obviously one of the most important institutions of our state. Since 2018, the government's policy has been as follows: we must provide proper conditions to ensure the institutional independence of the Central Bank. And we have consistently pursued this policy, which did not mean a break at all, because, in fact, representatives of the Central Bank participate in all our strategy discussions, all conceptual discussions, but at the same time, we made a decision, an obvious decision, which had been the subject of discussion in Armenia for a long time, that the institutional separation of functions should be fully ensured.

I am sure that this is also the reason why we, having gone through very severe shocks, have been able to ensure macroeconomic stability, because the Armenian government, of course, has and expresses its positions and approaches on all issues, but the government has never crossed institutional lines and relies on the institutional capacity and responsibility of the Central Bank. I think this decision has justified itself.

And, indeed, in our financial market, there were complications related to the general macroeconomic environment, but it is also due to this approach that we were able to make a precise division of labor, everyone did his job, as a result of which macroeconomic stability was ensured in the most critical period, after which we have been successfully providing high economic activity and growth for several years. And, as a matter of fact, according to the calculations of the Central Bank, more than 28 percent economic growth has been ensured in Armenia since 2018.

I want to emphasize that in general the banking system operates in an environment without political pressure. And this is also something that I think is good, it should be just like that, but on the other hand, I think it should also be recorded, because these nuances that are not noticed, are not recorded, they provide a background for the stability of macroeconomic, financial markets. And when we combine all this with the environment of high economic growth, we see that our banking system also has impressive indicators, in particular, as of November 2023, the total deposit portfolio of the banking system of Armenia registered a record-high indicator of 5 trillion 619 billion 277 million AMD. It is very important that the growth is sustainable and continuous. This indicator exceeds the October indicator of this year by almost 84 billion AMD, 1.51 percent, and exceeds the indicator of the same period of 2022 by 13.46 percent, and compared to 2018, the deposit portfolio has almost doubled, the growth is over 95 percent.

The total credit portfolio of our banking system has also registered a record-high indicator: as of November, 5 trillion 365 billion 604 million AMD, which is again 2.2 percent higher than the October index, 21.3 percent higher than the November index of last year, and compared to November 2018, more than 57 percent. I think it is important to record that the total deposit portfolio exceeds the total credit portfolio by 253 billion AMD, which is a very important guarantee of the stability of the banking system.

I would like to raise one or two more facts. As of November 30 of this year, the number of customers of the banking system was 4 million 442 thousand 950 people, which increased by 19.3 percent compared to 2022, and 65.7 percent compared to 2018. As of September 30, the total number of customer accounts of the banking system was 8 million 995 thousand 422, which in is 22 percent more than 2022, and 78 percent more than 2018.

These indicators are impressive and along with the decisions on capital increase that the Central Bank President mentioned, the opportunities for stability of our banking system has increased to a certain extent, which is a very important circumstance for increasing the potential of economic growth. The fact that the deposit portfolio is much larger than the loan portfolio also gives hope that the banking system still has some potential to contribute to at least 7 percent economic growth next year. Here, our business sector, the real sector, should focus on the quality of the programs to also generate interest in the banking system.

I want to congratulate all of us on the occasion of these indicators and also thank the people who have made an effort to get us into the zone of green indicators. And, of course, this is not the peak of our capabilities, our first task is to ensure stability and the second task is to realize the potential that exists in the economy and banking system. The government tends to promote that policy.

I also want to emphasize that we have been implementing certain social programs in recent years with the hope that our partners from the banking system will support and actively participate. I would like to thank all the banks that responded to the social programs of the government during this period and expressed practical and moral support. This is an important partnership.

I also think that on the other hand, we see new manifestations in our economy, which we also need to promote, which are related and not related to the banking system. We see that there are certain trends of activation in the stock market. I remember that in 2018-2019 we were discussing how important branch it is in the macroeconomics, and I am glad that there is some movement here as well. Of course, banks and the banking system are still the main actors here, both in the role of issuer and buyer, but I think it is what it should be like. We have no other expectations for reviving the market, to give it a start, it is important for us that this mechanism starts working. When the work of that mechanism also becomes sufficiently reliable, I think we will see new players there.

Dear attendees,

Dear representatives of the banking system,

I thank all of you for the work done in 2023, and of course, I am sure that we are all motivated to ensure high economic growth in the Republic of Armenia in 2024 like in the pervious years. For this, of course, the effective work of all branches of government is necessary, but also the Central Bank and the banking system obviously have a very significant role on the way of solving this political task.

I thank you for this readiness and motivation, so that next year, when we gather here, the indicators of not only the banking system, but also the macroeconomic indicators of Armenia, in general, will be in the green zone and we will all feel satisfied with our work. I wish you and all your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
I have no reason to say that Russia will question its alliance agreements with Armenia, but as an ambassador I cannot discuss such developments. Russian ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin said this on the air of Public Television of Armenia, answering the question whether Russia will help Armenia in case of an attack by Azerbaijan.

"We [i.e. Russia] do not see any desire from the Armenian side to work on the Russian negotiation platform. We cannot force. However, we are not leaving this region precisely because it is extremely important for us to have peace and stability here. Why does Russia accuse Armenia, not Azerbaijan, of non-fulfillment of the tripartite agreement?" he said.

Kopyrkin noted that such expressions that only Armenia is to blame for everything, the Russian position was not expressed in this way.

"Positive assessments of Armenia are often heard, which, sadly, are not being covered [by the media]. Also, the essence of all that is not coveredthat we are doing everything to establish real peace in this region, towards which they continue to work," said the Russian ambassador to Armenia.
To help avert yet another war and uphold the principles of freedom and democracy, the US government needs to mobilize regional support for Armenians right to self-defense and self-determination and advocate for the safe return of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Armenians to their historic homeland. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has announced his candidacy for the US president, stated this in his video message which he posted on X, former Twitter.

He stated that starting from 2020, Azerbaijan is carrying out merciless ethnic cleansing against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. And in September of this year, Azerbaijan attacked and displaced the entire 120,000 Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, added the US politician.

While the world's attention is focused on Gaza and Israel, no one hears anything about the mass displacement of the entire population of one of the ancient Armenian territories. Empty condemnation of ethnic cleansing is not enough. Unlike the 1915 genocide, this one is reversible. This is a situation where peaceful sanctions can work. The United States still has leverage in that region, and it can use this power to mobilize all the peoples of the region to reverse this humanitarian tragedy. Also, there is a need to look for ways to lift Armenias blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenia is a landlocked country and should have access to the ports of neighboring countries, the American politician said.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assured that if elected US president, he will contribute to the restoration of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. He said that as President of the United States, he will use diplomacy, as well as the US moral authority, economic leverage, and sanctions to restore Armenia. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. noted that he wants to help restore the sovereignty of Armenia and Artsakh, and restore their territories. The nephew of former US President John F. Kennedy added that he wants to do this peacefully; instead of starting a new war somewhere, he would like to stop one of them.
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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

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

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Gerapetritis to Pashinyan: Greece government ready to support Armenia in all possible directions

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Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia should be able to make use of Azerbaijan railway

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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

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The current situation in Armenian-Russian relations is characterized by a strong emotional backdrop, but it is important to distinguish between good and bad and not to give in to these emotions. Russian ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin stated this on the air of Public Television of Armenia, as he commented on the current situation regarding Sputnik Armenia radio.

On December 20, the Commission on Television and Radio of Armenia decided to suspend the broadcasting of the Sputnik Armenia radio for 30 days, and the rebroadcasting Tospa radio company was deprived of its respective license for one month. Also, it was fined 500 thousand drams.

The reason for the aforesaid decision is the November 17 broadcast of the "Friday with Tigran Keosayan" program, where the author allegedly made sarcastic remarks that humiliated the honor and dignity of Armenia and its people. And the aforesaid fine is due to former MP Arman Abovyan's Abovyan Time program during which, according to the Commission on Television and Radio of Armenia, unreliable and unverified information was presented.

Ambassador Kopyrkin emphasized that there can be emotional outbursts and statements by individuals, and there can be personal assessments that do not contribute to the recovery of Armenian-Russian bilateral relations.

"However, I believe that too much importance should not be given to them, taking into account the relations between our peoples. It is necessary to clearly separate people's personal opinions, which are emotional in some sense, sometimes contain incorrect, unbalanced assessments," he said.

To the remark that it is not about one person's unbalanced and blasphemous expressions, an that direct insults are being broadcast on Russian public channels, and Armenia and Armenians are called traitors, enemies, etc., the Russian ambassador responded: "When it comes to state policy, one should be guided not by the opinions of experts, journalists, but by the viewpoints being presented by the country's leadership. You will not find any example that the President of Russia, his press secretary have allowed [themselves] even some inappropriate, non-constructive qualifications towards the leadership of Armenia. I believe that, nonetheless, we should be guided by that."

Kopyrkin believes that it is not an easy situation, the emotions are hyped up, and this has its own explanation: the relations between the two countries are not just interstate relations. There are certain expectations, there are stereotypes, traditions of interaction, fraternal ties, and all these factors cannot but affect the emotional backdrop.

"There are certain concerns, misunderstandings; it is naturally bad. But it is a consequence of the fact that the human component is very strongly expressed in the relations. The human factor is an advantage, but sometimes in such situations it can cause such emotional outbursts. In this very controversial situation, it is very important to distinguish between good and bad. The attempts from outside to put additional complications in the relations between the two countries should not be ignored either," emphasized the Russian ambassador to Armenia.
Russia did not bring NATO to the region. This was stated by Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin in an interview given to the Public Television of Armenia, referring to the remark that on the one hand, the Russian foreign minister accuses Armenia of close relations with NATO and the West, on the other hand, after the 44-day war in 2020, Russia set up a joint observation post with NATO member Turkey in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), thereby actually bringing a NATO member to the region.

"We know what relations there are between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and Turkey's presence in the joint monitoring center is probably a reflection of that reality. But it is not exclusively Russia's reflection on NATO.

"When we [i.e. Russia] talk about NATO, we are worried that what we call the collective West has declared Russia their strategic opponentand even enemyat this moment. Certainly, the trends that exist in the relations with the West are observed in Russia with double caution. It is natural that we cannot oppose it in any way, we do not force a confrontation, we view politics [as] either with us or against us. In this situation, we must take into account that the objectives of the West are arranged in such a way that a struggle be waged against Russia itself on all fronts, be it regionally or internationally. From this point of view, Russia's concern is understandable and justified," said the Russian ambassador to Armenia.
One of the key goals of the UAE in the coming years is to make agricultural systems more sustainable and climate-smart, said Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri, the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

The UAE leadership places utmost importance on supporting farmers to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural and food sector and ensure national food security and address climate change, the Minister said chairing the ninth meeting of the Farmers' Council, to review the latest developments in the national agricultural sector and to discuss the Ministrys initiatives to promote its sustainable growth.

The meeting also focused on identifying the needs of the farmers to increase domestic productivity and thereby optimise imports. The Ministry will support farmers to enhance agricultural productivity and conserve natural resources, she said.

Top priority

She said: The transformation of the agricultural sector to make it more sustainable was a top priority for the UAE during the recent COP28 held in Dubai. This is underpinned by the 'COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action' being endorsed by 159 countries. These countries have a population of over 6.2 billion people, with 530 million farmers, and account for 77% of all the food we eat as well as 83% of all emissions from food systems.

She underlined the significance of maintaining open channels of communication with farmers to address their requirements. She stressed the need for collective efforts by the government, the private sector, and all other stakeholders to promote the sustainability of the national farms and create new economic prospects for farmers.

The meeting, held in Fujairah, was attended by several high-ranking officials including Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry, Eng. Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector, and Shaikha Ahmed Al Ali, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Regions Sector.

Farmers representatives

The meeting was also attended by representatives of farmers who have experience and knowledge of the UAEs agricultural areas, as well as district managers, and the secretariat of the Farmers Council.

The participants reviewed the progress of the recommendations made during the earlier meeting. They discussed the latest updates of the initiative aimed at promoting the sustainability of national farms as well as the volume of local purchases and the increase in the number of farmers who have benefitted from the initiative.

The meeting took decisions regarding the registration of national farms, leveraging marketing opportunities for local agricultural products, and adding new entities to the list of contractors to enhance their contributions to local purchases.

It discussed the farmer support programme for 2023, which aims to coordinate farmer representatives to support productive farmers. The number of beneficiaries of the Production Input Support Programme has increased from 694 in 2022 to 1,140 in 2023.

Honouring ceremony

During the meeting, Almheiri honoured a number of members of the Farmers' Council for their outstanding and dedicated efforts during their membership in the Council. The honourees included Ahmed Hamdan Al Malik, representative of the Northern Agricultural Area, Abdullah Khalfan Al Shuraiqi, representative of the Northern Agricultural Area; Hamed Al Hamed, representative of the Western Agricultural Area - Abu Dhabi; Hassan Juma Al Zaabi, representative of the Western Agricultural Area - Abu Dhabi; Rashid Mohammed Saif Al Atar, representative of the Eastern Agricultural Area  Fujairah; Rashid Muhair Bakhit Al Ketbi, representative of the Central Agricultural Area  Sharjah; Abdullatif Mohammed Al Banna, representative of the Central Agricultural Area  Dubai; Humaid Obaid Mohammed Al Zaabi, representative of the Central Agricultural Area - Ajman.--TradeArabia News Service
During the meetings with us, a number of partners of international organizations, including especially various banking donor partner organizations in Armenia, show great interest in the Crossroads of Peace project. Gnel Sanosyan, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, stated this at a press conference Friday.

"In discussions with us, they try to indicate that they are also interested, and if there is a need to implement construction or other processes in some parts of that project, they will be happy to be engaged in those processes. So, the signals are quite positive," added Sanosyan.

And commenting on the statements made by Azerbaijan regarding the return of eight villages, the Armenian official said: "We have talked about this many times. There are some areas that Azerbaijan outlines, and there are areas that Armenia speaks about them. Now the process can be organized in the following way that those areas be outlined, their legal bases should be removed, and then two processes will take place: one is the exchange [of villages], the other is to leave physically, just to have certain spatial regulations. [By] regulation, I mean that these areas have a certain surface area and the phenomenon called [border] delimitation, demarcation can give the answer to this question. In my opinion, this question can be answered within the framework of that working group, when demarcation, delimitation of borders will take place."
Employees of the Uusimaa state hospital in Finland have caught a man-eating cat, reports MTV Uutiset.

The animal, which was feeding on the human remains in the morgue, was caught by the employees of the Vantaa city medical institution.

According to them, the cat had entered the "temporary storage," a common storage area in the hospital courtyard where refrigerated chambers were installed.

The hospital did not say how many dead bodies were damaged by this animal.

This cat lived on the street.

Now it has been taken to an animal shelter.

The incident is being investigated by the police, who did not comment on what happened, but said that they will inform the public if new circumstances are revealed.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was in Russia on a two-day visit, during which he shook hands with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the informal CIS summit in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday.

The two parties continue active work on the peace treaty, which may be signed "shortly after New Year's Day," according to the sources of Kommersant newspaper.

At the end of the year, despite the constant setbacks and pauses in the South Caucasus negotiation process, before the CIS summit held in Saint Petersburg, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev were closer than ever to signing a peace treaty and putting an end to the 30-year conflict.

"Unlike all the previous meetingsand there were five of them in the passing year, the current contact in Saint Petersburg was the first after the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ceased to exist in September after a one-day military operation by Azerbaijan," Kommersant added.
BusinessWire India Pune (Maharashtra) [India], December 29: Bajaj Markets, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, empowers individuals to check and monitor their CIBIL score for free. The process entails providing personal details such as employment type, PAN details, full name, etc. Through the simple and user-friendly portal, one can seamlessly access their credit score. Outlined below are the advantages of checking the CIBIL score on Bajaj Markets: * In-depth insights into credit utilisation * Easy monitoring and tracking of the credit score * Awareness of outstanding debts * Access to a customised Credit Health Report This facility, available on Bajaj Markets, has no impact on the individual's credit score. Users can take proactive steps to enhance their score, and ensure easy access to loans and credit cards. Beyond the facility to check credit scores, one can also find a diverse range of financial products and services on the platform. Individuals can explore various investment options, insurance plans, and more on the Bajaj Markets website and app. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
In videos doing the rounds on the internet, Rajinikanth is seen offering condolences to Vijayakanth's wife Premalatha Vijayakanth at the Island Ground, Anna Salai, where the mortal remains of the late actor and politician are kept.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1740602776164684223

Rajinikanth also briefly spoke to the media and remembered Vijayakanth.

He said, "We will never get a person as good as Vijayakanth. In politics and cinema, there is no one like him. This loss is irreplaceable."

Vijayakanth passed away in Chennai, aged 71, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. The mortal remains of the DMDK chief were earlier kept at the DMDK office, where multiple political leaders, actors, and others came to pay their tributes.

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 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. (ANI)
American actor and comedian Rebel Wilson spoke about the "gut-wrenching" process of writing her book 'Rebel Rising', which will be released on April 2. She also showed a behind-the-scenes video of herself signing books, according to People. In the Instagram story clip, Wilson autographed printed pages from her book as she narrated the video. "This is how I'm spending my nights of my holidays," she said. "Just another few thousand to go for the first people that buy the book." "You guys, I mean, I can't wait for you to read this," she continued of her memoir. "You're going to see a whole new side of me. Lots of funny stuff and serious stuff... And hopefully, you guys will love the book as much as I've loved writing it--although sometimes it's been gut-wrenching and emotional." "Four thousand more to go. Let's go," Wilson added. 'Rebel Rising' follows Wilson's unconventional success in Hollywood and her personal issues with fertility, weight, sexuality, and more. She spoke to People about the 'scary' yet 'exciting' experience of writing her memoir in October. "I've been writing the book for the past 18 months because when I write, I have to be totally by myself and isolated," Wilson said. "It's just been this secret thing I've been doing by myself for 18 months. It's so exciting now that it's done." The Australian actress also acknowledged that she was unhappy with the book's introduction since she struggled to be herself in her writing. "I think the first few chapters were really s---," Wilson told People. "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. I just kind of found my writing style -- as if I'm sitting opposite my friend, telling you all my life's deepest secrets, which is a bit scary." Last month, Wilson celebrated her daughter Royce Lillian's first birthday. She posted clips on her Instagram story of her fiancee Ramona Agruma with baby Royce during her birthday celebrations, which included a mermaid cake and balloons. Wilson welcomed Royce via surrogate in November 2022. She got engaged to Agruma, 39, in February after confirming their relationship in June 2022, according to People. (ANI)
Actor-turned-author Twinkle Khanna, who shares her birthday with her father Rajesh Khanna, on Friday, shared a special post on his 81st birth anniversary. The 'Mela' actor took to Instagram to mark this day, she dug out a throwback picture from her childhood memories. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1bn-cRxhVg/ In the picture, Rajesh Khanna can be seen holding baby Twinkle in his arms after she was born. Sharing the picture, she wrote, "Our birthday! Now and forever." As soon as the picture was uploaded, fans and industry members flooded the comment section. Dia Mirza wrote, "Happy Birthday." Saif Ali Khan's sister Saba Pataudi commented, "Happy Happy Birthday." One of the users wrote, "Happy birthday to you. do miss Khanna Sahab." Another user commented, "Happy Birthday Rajesh Khanna sir. we miss you legend." Few hours ago, she took to Instagram and shared that she celebrated her special day in an adventurous way. She, along with her husband Akshay, went snorkeling. Twinkle also dropped a video in which she and Akshay can be seen spotting a sea turtle, colourful fish and corals. Twinkle also kissed Akshay through her mask. In a note, she wrote, "On my 50th birthday, my eyes and heart are still filled with wonder when I look at the world around me and at my family." Making her feel special on her special day, Akshay took to Instagram and dropped a hilarious yet sweet post. He posted a video in which Twinkle is seen posing in front of a Hulk statue and calling herself the real Hulk. "Long live my hulk!! Thank you for adding so many years to our life through your humour. May God add many more to yours. Happy Birthday, Tina," Akshay captioned the post.The video begins with a gorgeous picture of Twinkle posing against a scenic background. It has the words "Who I thought I married" written on it. After this picture, there is a clip in which Twinkle unleashed her fun avatar and posed in front of a Hulk statue.She cutely said in Punjabi, "Ae hega putla, ae hega asli Hulk (this is a dummy, and I am the real Hulk)."Akshay edited this particular clip with the text "Who I actually married". Akshay's post left netizens in splits. Rajesh Khanna fondly referred to as Kaka, made the world record of having 17 successive super-hits in three years from 1969-71, including 15 consecutive solo super-hit films. The actor won the Filmfare Best Actor Award on three occasions and was nominated 14 times. The actor-turned-politician was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour. (ANI)
The actor took to Instagram stories to share photos from her recent trip to Kerala, where she was filming for her upcoming film. She wrote, "Mood, last work day of 2023."

She also posted a series of pictures enjoying 'Kela Chips.' She captioned the post, "How many Kela chips can you eat? #wheninkerala #postpackup."

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1b5wt-rtFn/?img_index=2

In the images, she looked stunning in a pink suit. She completed her outfit with a pair of jhumkaas and left her hair in curls. She chose a glam makeup look for the day.

Soon after the actor shared the post, fans flooded the comment section with red hearts and fire emoticons.

A user wrote, "Karshima U R Looking Beautiful."

Another user wrote, "My Dearest Karishma You are a stunningly beautiful glamorous gorgeous-loving girl while eating kela chips kela is good to put on weight. Love you."

A fan commented, "Not only marvelous but also fabulous."

Notably, Kapoor ruled the Bollywood space in the 1990s and early 2000s with films such as 'Raja Hindustani', 'Dil To Pagal Hai', 'Raja Babu', 'Coolie No 1' and 'Judwa'.

She will be seen in an upcoming series 'Brown'. Helmed by Abhinay Deo of 'Delhi Belly' fame, 'Brown' is based on Rita Brown, a suicidal alcoholic, and Arjun Sinha, a widower with survivor's guilt. The protagonists need to deal with an unstoppable serial killer on the loose.

She also has director Homi Adajania's next 'Murder Mubarak' alongside Sara Ali Khan. (ANI)
The real estate sector is one of the largest sectors in the world that has a significant impact on the environment as well as society and hence project developers must adopt eco-friendly practices and sustainability methodologies to build a greener future, according to experts at Berkeley Group.

brand famous for developing luxury homes and premium residential neighbourhoods in London, Birmingham and the south of England, Berkeley is a pioneer in sustainable real estate development, as it adopts multiple methodologies to ensure that its new projects are compatible with communities, nature and the real estate market in general.

Embracing sustainability in property development is not only about saving the planet, but also a mutually beneficial approach that gives more value to residents, investors, and other stakeholders, stated Louise Clarke, Head of Sustainability and Adam Demetriou, Group Director for the Middle East, Africa and India.

Real estate developers often adopt different methodologies to achieve sustainability goals, depending on the size, location, and features of the project, they added.

The issue of confronting climate change is one of the most prominent of these methodologies, as new measures are being taken to reduce carbon emissions, such as integrating low-carbon technologies and using renewable energy sources on construction sites.

On the other hand, nature conservation may require the application of different methodologies, such as enhancing biodiversity by providing public spaces and achieving water neutrality on a project scale by modifying water-saving devices, the duo stated.

The importance of sustainability and social responsibility is highlighted through the decisions and strategies of real estate development companies around the world.

One of the main factors in increasing demand for sustainable real estate is the long-term value it provides, which goes beyond environmental protection goals. Adopting sustainable practices provides many benefits to residents, investors and other stakeholders.

Developing buildings that comply with sustainability standards in the sector also results in reducing operational costs, especially since these properties are designed to efficiently consume resources such as water, heating and electricity.

For residents, living in homes characterized by high levels of sustainability can lead to building more resilient communities, through the adoption of clean energy and other sustainable practices, as well as increasing the natural beauty of the area based on improving biodiversity.

According to these experts, resident-focused real estate developers prioritise creating healthy communities, such as rebuilding unwanted and unused spaces.

Some real estate companies are also taking additional steps to reduce waste, such as implementing waste control programmes and reusing building materials, which results in positive impacts on the environment.

In recent years, the increased focus on environmental, social and governance issues has brought about positive change.

According to a JLL survey, 83% of senior real estate executives are looking for ways to innovate and accelerate their sustainability strategies, recognizing its importance to the long-term success of their companies.

The Berkeley experts pointed out that both public and private sectors play a prominent role in increasing interest in sustainable real estate, as the private sector, which includes real estate development companies, seeks to explore new ways to enhance sustainability and reduce emissions, which encourages other peer companies to follow suit and help bring about a positive qualitative shift at the level of sector.

Many governments around the world also support this positive transformation, coinciding with the rise in regulatory standards.

The importance of measuring sustainability is highlighted by many companies adopting a more responsible approach to their operations, and having smooth procedures and reporting on sustainability can provide greater transparency for investors, buyers and other stakeholders.

All stakeholders can adopt a collective commitment to building a more sustainable and accountable future, by setting clear and consistent policies for the environment and society.

A major global player in the real estate sector, Berkeley has been at the forefront of companies adopting sustainable practices.

It has been a pioneer in adopting new sustainability methodologies by building high-quality homes, empowering communities and making a positive impact on the lives of its people, especially as it takes new measures to combat climate change and protect the environment, which is at the core of its business strategy and the way it develops new properties, said Clarke and Demetriou.

Berkeley, they stated, adopts a clear sustainability strategy in line with scientific goals to reduce carbon emissions.

"We emphasize that new real estate projects must improve nature instead of encroaching on it. In 2016, Berkeley Group became the first homebuilder to commit to significantly increasing biodiversity on every new site it develops," they noted.

"The group is currently active in exploring new methodologies for sustainability, in addition to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals," they added.-TradeArabia News Service
As Ayodhya prepares for the grand consecration ceremony next month, Lord Ram is set to get special offerings from the places of his maternal grandparents and his in-laws in Chhattisgarh and Nepal. This includes around three thousand quintals of rice from his maternal grandparents' place in Chhattisgarh's Chandkhuri and around 1100 plates from his in-laws' place in Nepal's Janakpur, sources said on Thursday. While Chandkhuri is considered the home of Lord Ram's maternal grandparents, Janakpur, a centre for religious and cultural tourism in Nepal, is considered to be the birthplace of Lord Ram's wife Sita. Around 3 thousand quintals of rice from Chhattisgarh's Chandkhuri, and clothes, fruits, and 1100 plates from his in-laws' place in Nepal's Janakpur, will be sent for Lord Ram as special offerings for the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, said sources. Nepal will also send special souvenirs consisting of various types of jewellery, utensils, clothes, and sweets for the event, they added. Apart from this, a bell weighing 2100 kg, made of 'ashtadhatu' from Etah district, a 108-foot-long incense stick from Vadodara, Rs 2 crore, and a gold bow and arrow worth Rs 5 lakh from Mahabir Trust in Patna would also reach Ayodhya, sources added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22. Preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. As per temple officials, the consecration ceremony will be held over a span of seven days starting from January 16. On January 16, the host appointed by the temple trust, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, will conduct the atonement ceremony. The 'Dashvidh' bath, Vishnu worship, and offering of cow will be held on the banks of the Saryu River. Following that, on January 17, a procession carrying the idol of Lord Ram in his child-like form (Ram Lalla) will reach Ayodhya. Devotees carrying Saryu water in Mangal Kalash will be reaching the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. On January 18, formal rituals will kick off with the Ganesh Ambika puja, Varun puja, Matrika puja, Brahmin Varan, and Vastu Puja. On January 19, the holy fire will be lit, followed by the establishment of 'Navagraha' and a 'havan' (holy ritual surrounding the fire). The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple will be washed with Saryu water on January 20, after which the Vaastu Shanti and 'Annadhivas' rituals will take place. On January 21, the Ram Lalla idol will be bathed in 125 urns and will finally be laid to rest. On the final day, January 22, after the morning puja, the deity of Ram Lala will be consecrated in 'Mrigashira Nakshatra' in the afternoon. Speaking about the Ram Temple, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Thursday said that the long wait of 450 years has come to an end, and the much-dreamt-of Ram Temple has come to completion. "The long wait of 450 years has come to an end, and the grand Ram Temple that many generations of Indians had imagined or dreamed of has come to completion," Thakur said. He said that people from every corner of the country who want to visit the Grand Ram temple will start coming after the consecration day and that devotees should come only after receiving proper information. "Those who have received the invitation on January 22 must go for darshan, and after that, as soon as the temple opens to the public, people must come for darshan. There should not be much crowd on the first day because there will be an event there. No one should be inconvenienced. People should go to Ayodhya for darshan of Lord Shri Ram only after getting information," he said. Speaking about the projects undertaken by the Narendra Modi government in the field of religious tourism, the Union Minister said, "In the last 10 years, the Modi government has opened the Kartarpur Corridor, built the ropeway to Hemkund Sahib, and constructed the Buddhist Circuit. After the divine and grand Somnath Dham, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Kedarnath Dham, and Mahakal Lok, now the divine and grand Ayodhya Dham has been constructed." "When crores of people come here to have darshan of Lord Ram, then the construction of Ayodhya Dham, which is going on, will help. The railway junction there is named after Lord Ram. A new airport has been completed so that people can commute conveniently," he added. (ANI)
"Let him place the documents before the inquiry commission," Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said, reacting over BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal's allegations against former CM BS Yediyurappa. Yatnal on Tuesday warned that he would expose the alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in the BJP government in Karnataka led by Yediyurappa at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic if he was expelled from the party. "If MLA Yatnal wants the guilty to be punished, then let him place the documents regarding the COVID-19 scam during the BJP period before the inquiry commission," said Siddaramaiah on Thursday. The Karnataka CM was responding to a question from media personnel about the allegations made by BJP MLA Yatnal about the scam that has taken place during the BJP's tenure. "I will take out names who have looted and made property wherever. BS Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister in the first wave of corona. 40,000 crores of rupees had been embezzled at that time. They billed 8 to 10 lakh rupees for each corona patient," Yatnal had said. "It was our government, doesn't matter whose government was in power, thieves are thieves," he said. CM Siddaramaiah had earlier also reacted to the allegations of the BJP MLA, saying that this supplements the earlier accusation against the BJP government that it was a 40 percent commission government. "BJP MLA @BasanagoudaBJP's bold allegation that the previous @BJP4Karnataka government led by @BSYBJP was involved in a Rs 40,000 crore corruption scandal during the COVID-19 pandemic has given further evidence to our earlier accusation that the BJP government was a '40 percent commission government'," said Siddaramaiah. "If we consider Yatnal's accusation, it seems like the corruption is 10 times more than our estimate. The group of BJP ministers who had come out howling at our accusation and held a press conference in Vidhana Soudha, where are they hiding now?" he added. (ANI)
Ahead of Lok Sabha polls in 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that the party has been contesting on 23 seats in the past and there would be no change in the seat-sharing ratio in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Speaking further on seat sharing in the INDIA alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "This is Maharashtra and Shiv Sena is the biggest party here. Congress is a national party. Uddhav Thackeray is having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal. We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and that will be firm." He said that in the meeting it was decided that further decisions on seats won by Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP would be taken later, adding that the Congress is an important ally and discussion will be held to decide the seat sharing ratio. "During our (INDIA alliance) meeting, we decided that discussions will be done later on the seats that we have won. Congress did not win a seat in Maharashtra so they have to start from zero (seats) but Congress is an important ally for us in MVA. We will work together," he added. Even today Shiv Sena (Led by Uddhav Thackeray) is the number one party in Maharashtra, he asserted. "People are in full support of Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar. On the issue of seat sharing, there is no conflict among MVA. Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. We are having positive discussions with the decision-making leaders of Congress regarding seat sharing. On the seat-sharing we will talk with the Congress leaders only in Delhi and not Maharashtra local leaders," he added. (ANI)
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on December 30, the city is to come under a blanket of heightened security, police said on Friday. PM Modi during his visit to Ayodhya will inaugurate various projects worth Rs 15,000 crore. Piyush Mordia, Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow Zone said that high-level arrangements meeting the recruitments of PM's security have been made ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to the district adding that Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and National Security Guards (NSG) among other security forces have been deployed. He said that a rehearsal of PM Modi's roadshow will be done today to oversee the arrangements. "We are monitoring all areas with drones. To improve the traffic system, a traffic diversion plan has also been made," the ADG said. "Three DIG, 17 SP, 38 Additional SP, 82 Deputy SP, 90 Inspector, 325 Sub Inspector, 35 Female Sub Inspector, 2000 Constable, 14 Company PAC, 6 Company CRPF will be deployed as part of the security," ADG Mordia added. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is taking stock of the preparations of security arrangements before the Prime Minister's visit. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is camping in Ayodhya for three days to look after preparations ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. During his visit, PM Modi will also inaugurate the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, a significant milestone in the government's commitment to enhancing infrastructure and connectivity. PM will inaugurate two Amrit Bharat trains, which are Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express. Additionally, six new Vande Bharat Trains will be flagged off, contributing to the nation's rail network. The Vande Bharat Express trains include routes such as Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi, Amritsar-Delhi, Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt, Mangalore-Madgaon and Jalna-Mumbai. PM Modi's Ayodhya visit also includes the inauguration of the newly built Ayodhya Airport and participation in a public program where the Prime Minister will dedicate numerous development projects worth more than Rs 15,700 crore in the state, aligning with his vision to create modern, world-class infrastructure while preserving Ayodhya's rich history and heritage. These include projects worth about Rs 11,100 crore for the development of Ayodhya and its surrounding areas and projects worth about Rs 4600 crore related to other projects across Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, the Prime Minister will also initiate the development and beautification of tourist facilities spanning from Naya Ghat to Laxman Ghat, the construction of a visitor gallery for events like Deepotsav and the strengthening and renovation of the pilgrim path from Ram Ki Paidi to Raj Ghat and Raj Ghat to Ram Temple. Furthermore, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects, including the Lucknow-Ayodhya section of NH-28 (new NH-27), modification of the existing Ayodhya bypass, the establishment of the CIPET centre, and the construction of offices for the Municipal Corporation Ayodhya and Ayodhya Development Authority. (ANI)
The second meeting of the Congress National Alliance Committee (NAC) is underway at Mukul Wasnik's residence in Delhi on Friday. Several senior party members were seen entering Wasnik's residence this morning. This is the second meeting of the group, which was formed earlier this month to discuss potential alliances with other political parties for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The first meeting of the newly formed committee was held last week on Saturday. After the committee's inaugural meeting, Mukul Wasnik, who has been appointed as the convenor of NAC said that the committee will decide on a "seat-sharing formula" after discussing it with state units. "We will first speak to the state units. Soon we will form a seat-sharing formula. There is no deadline set for this. But we will decide as soon as possible," Wasnik had said, speaking to reporters after the inaugural meeting on December 23. The Congress formed the five-member NAC, with Wasnik as convenor and veteran leaders including former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, former Union minister Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Prakash as members. As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections loom just four months away, the allocation of seats becomes pivotal for the Congress, especially after recent electoral setbacks. The fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc concluded in Delhi on December 19 with the passing of the resolution on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the suspension of MPs from Parliament. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that a resolution has been passed that the suspension of MPs is undemocratic. The meeting took place amid escalating political tensions between the Opposition and the BJP-led central government, triggered by the demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on the recent Parliament security breach. The meeting witnessed the attendance from 28 parties. (ANI)
Demonstrating another gesture of humanity beyond their mandate, the Border Security Force (BSF) arranged the last glimpse of the deceased Indian father for her daughter living in Bangladesh at zero line of India-Bangladesh border. The BSF troops of 68 Battalion under South Bengal Frontier arranged the last glimpse for the daughter near Border Outpost-Madhupur in West Bengal on humanitarian grounds. According to the information, Aminudeen, a Member of Gram Panchayat Hariharpur informed the company commander deployed in BOP Madhupur regarding the natural death of an Indian civilian namely late Liyakat Biswas of Hariharpur village in North-24 Paragana (West Bengal) and further requested to arrange for casual contact with counterpart Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) so that the daughter of deceased residing in Bangladesh near the border can get a last chance to pay homage to the mortal remains of her deceased father before its disposal. Keeping in view the humanitarian and emotional aspects, the BSF said, that the company commander of Border Outpost- Madhupur, 68 Battalion, BSF immediately contacted his counterpart BGB officials in this regard without any delay. "Following BSF's request, BGB also stepped forward keeping in mind the humanitarian approach. Therefore, the border guarding forces of both countries, keeping humanity paramount given mutual cooperation, made arrangements for the deceased person's relatives living in Bangladesh to pay the last glimpse of the deceased man at the zero line of the International Border," said the BSF. The Public Relations Officer of South Bengal Frontier, BSF stated that BSF troops are deployed on the border not only to ensure the security of the country but also every happiness and sorrow of the border residents. "They also take care of the religious and social values of the border peoples." He emphasized that the Border Security Force is against those with ill intentions, while it is always ready when it comes to humanity and human values. (ANI)
A large number of people gathered to pay tribute to Vijayakanth as his mortal remains were being taken from the Island ground, Anna Salai to the Koyambedu DMDK office for the last rites.

Meanwhile, Traders in Mayiladuthurai district on Friday closed their shops for 2 hours to mourn his death.

On Friday morning, actor Rajnikanth reached Island Ground to pay tribute to Vijayakanth in Chennai's Anna Salai.

Speaking to ANI, Rajinikanth said "We will never get a person as good as Vijayakanth. In politics and cinema, there is no one like him. This loss is irreplaceable."

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder-leader and actor Vijayakanth, passed away in Chennai, aged 71, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

The mortal remains of the late DMDK leader Vijayakanth were brought to Island Ground, Anna Salai on Friday morning.

DMDK cadres took out a silent procession in Kancheepuram to pay tribute to DMDK founder, actor Vijayakanth.

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.

Actor Vijayakanth has won an inevitable place in the film industry and politics.

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. (ANI)
Nara Lokesh told the media that the meeting does not imply that the TDP will be part of the India bloc.

"What's wrong with meeting DK Shiva Kumar?...He met Chandrababu, but it doesn't imply an alliance with the INDIA bloc," he said.

The meeting between Chandrababu Naidu and Shivakumar on the tarmac of Bengaluru airport on Thursday sparked speculation about political equations in Andhra Pradesh ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls and assembly polls in the state.

Talking to the media, Nara Lokesh also said his party had played a "pivotal role" in securing the rights of the Backward Classes (BCs) and asserted that the TDP has consistently stood by the BCs throughout its history.

Meanwhile, TDP MP Kesineni Nani expressed gratitude to the Modi government for the initiative of Vijayawada Critical Care Unit.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday laid the foundation Stone of two critical care blocks, BSL-3 Laboratory, in Vijayawada.

He said it is the Modi government's responsibility and commitment to provide quality healthcare infrastructure and services to the people, as only a healthy country can aspire to become a developed country. (ANI)
In a significant milestone, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)'s pro-talks faction on Friday signed a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement pact with the Centre and the Assam government on Friday agreeing to vacate all camps occupied by its armed cadres, engage in the peaceful democratic process established by law and maintain the integrity of the country. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a 29-member delegation of the ULFA's pro-talks delegation, including 16 ULFA members and 13 from civil society. Shah termed the pact a "golden day for Assam" at a time when peace was going to be established in Northeast and Assam, which have been bearing the brunt of violence for a long time. The Home Minister asserted on the occasion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government will fully implement every aspect of the agreement and act accordingly." After the Modi government came to power in 2014, Shah said there has been an 87 per cent decrease in violent incidents in Assam, a 90 per cent decrease in deaths, an 84 per cent decrease in abductions, and so far, more than 7,500 militants have surrendered, with 750 joining today. "This way, the surrender by more than 8,200 militants in Assam alone marks the dawn of a new era of peace for Assam." He said that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, efforts were made to bridge the gap between Delhi and Northeast and talks with everyone started with an open mind. The Home Minister said under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs worked with the vision of a Northeast, free from extremism, violence and conflict. He said that in the last five years, nine peace and border-related agreements have been signed with different states in the Northeast, and these have established peace in a large part of the Northeast. The Minister said that on record more than 9,000 cadres have surrendered and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been lifted from 85 per cent area of Assam. He said that due to the tripartite agreement being signed today between the Government of India, the Government of Assam and ULFA, the Modi government has achieved success in eliminating all the violent groups in Assam. The Minister said that today's agreement is very important for peace in Assam and the entire Northeast, pointing "in today's agreement, ULFA representatives have agreed to abjure the path of violence, lay down all their arms and ammunition and disband their armed organisation." Apart from this, Shah said ULFA has also agreed to vacate all camps occupied by its armed cadres, engage in the peaceful democratic process established by law and maintain the integrity of the country. He also mentioned that about 10,000 people from both sides were killed in the ULFA conflict, who were citizens of this country, but this problem is being completely resolved today. The Minister said that the government of India has agreed to provide a huge package and several big projects for the all-round development of Assam and that the Modi government will "comply with all provisions of the agreement." The Union Home Minister said that the Modi government has signed the NLFT agreement in 2019, Bru and Bodo in 2020, Karbi in 2021, the Adivasi agreement in 2022, the Assam-Meghalaya border agreement, Assam-Arunachal border agreement and agreement with UNLF in 2023 and today, with ULFA. He said that with this agreement today, a new era of peace is going to begin for the entire Northeast, especially Assam. Shah said that "a time-bound program will be made by the Ministry of Home Affairs to fulfil the demands of ULFA and a committee will also be formed for its monitoring. He also mentioned that in all the agreements signed after 2019, the Modi government is ahead of time and efforts have been made to fulfil all the conditions. 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. (ANI)
Delhi police on Friday arrested a person after he and his family members allegedly beat up a Delhi Police head constable in Delhi's South Extension Part-2 market area, the police said. As per the police, the incident happened after the accused, identified as Chayank Seelalan, was asked by the police to show the document of his motorcycle, which the accused refused. Following his refusal, the police head constable took the accused to the police booth, where the brothers and father of the accused, identified as Tanishk Kumar, Badal Choudhary and Anil Kumar, came and beat up the head constable. They fled, but the accused, Chayank Seelalan, was caught. "Four people beat up a Delhi Police head constable in the South Extension Part-2 market after the police official asked one of the accused to show the documents of his motorcycle. The accused, Chayank Seelalan, refused to show the documents and was taken to the police booth. After some time, his brother and father, identified as Tanishk Kumar, Badal Choudhary and Anil Kumar, came there and beat up the head constable. They fled the spot but the accused, Chayank Seelalan, was caught," as per Delhi Police. Further legal action will be taken against the accused, the police said. (ANI)
Inspector General of Police Kashmir V. K Birdi, IPS, reviewed the security of the valley during a meeting held at the Police Control Room (PCR) Kashmir on Friday. According to an office release from JK police, "The meeting was attended by senior officers of police CAPF and Intelligence officers. Besides, the crime scenario and overall functioning of all districts of Kashmir Zone were also reviewed on the sidelines of the meeting, which was joined by the DIsG and district SSsP of Kashmir Zone." At the onset of the meeting, the participating officers briefed IGP Kashmir about the overall security scenario with the primary focus on garnering insights into the existing security challenges and devising effective strategies to mitigate risks. The discussions encompassed various facets, including intelligence gathering, threat assessments, and emergency response protocols. The collaborative effort underscored the commitment of all stakeholders towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the citizens. On the occasion, IGP Kashmir lauded the dedication and commitment exhibited by all the senior officers in their roles. He actively engaged with the officers, delving into discussions about initiatives aimed at maintaining law and order, as well as anti-terrorist operations within the valley. Highlighting the importance of continued efforts and coordination among different forces on the ground, IGP Kashmir stressed that such collaboration is vital in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere across the Valley. Moreover, while taking crime review meeting of Kashmir Zone, IGP Kashmir stressed upon the participant officers to improve the quality of investigation of cases falling under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Property attachment in UAPA cases, cases of terror financing, terror-related incidents, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases, narco-terror cases, detentions under the Public Safety Act (PSA), general crime cases etc. Besides, inquest proceedings, arrest of absconders and action taken under preventive measures were also reviewed. With regard to the UAPA cases, the IGP stressed improving the quality and techniques of investigation to ensure the conviction rate in UAPA cases. He directed designating nodal officers to follow the required process of UAPA cases to ensure that cases are submitted for judicial determination within a prescribed period. The discussions encompassed various aspects of crime prevention, investigation techniques, and the implementation of proactive measures to curb emerging challenges. IGP Kashmir reiterated the Police commitment to transparency, accountability, and the swift resolution of cases to ensure justice and maintain the safety and well-being of the public. The security cum crime review meeting was attended by DIG BSF Satyabrata Mukherjee, DIG (Adm) CRPF Dinesh Kumar, DIG CRPF (Ops) P K Mehra, Asst Director IB Srinagar Akhlesh Chandre, DIG SSB Imtiyaz Ismail Parry, DIG IR Kashmir Abdul Qayoom, DIG CID Altaf Ahmed Khan, DIG SKR Anantnag Rayees Mohammad Bhat, DIG NKR Vivek Gupta, SSP Srinagar Ashish Kumar Mishra, SSP PCR Kashmir Shoket Hussain Shah and GS 01 15 Corps Lt. Col PK Singh. Besides all other District SSsP of Kashmir Zone also participated in the meeting. (ANI)
https://x.com/Dev_Fadnavis/status/1740756222754902025?s=20

Sharing the pictures of the meeting on his official social media account, Fadnavis wrote, "Had a very good meeting with Shri Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and Vice President of Google India, this morning at my official residence in Mumbai, " Devendra Fadnavis posted on X.

"We had a great discussion on application of AI in governance and various possibilities of collaboration with Maharashtra Government," the post added. (ANI)
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has worsened due to the economic crisis, according to a report by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) covering the period from August 2021 to March 2023, TOLO News reported. The report highlights that the economic downturn has led to an increased demand for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. Economic expert Abdul Nasir Reshtia expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of such aid, emphasising the need for development projects to address poverty and unemployment in the country, as reported by TOLO News. In contrast, the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Economy attributes the rise in poverty to international sanctions. Deputy Minister of Economy Abdul Latif Nazari, cited frozen assets, banking restrictions, and commercial constraints as factors contributing to the country's economic challenges. "The sanctions imposed on the people of Afghanistan, the assets of the Afghanistan people that have been frozen, and the banking and commercial restrictions that have been imposed in violation of international law, are the main factors of the spread of poverty in Afghanistan," he said. Despite the differing opinions on the impact of aid, he urged the continuation of assistance from aid organisations. UNICEF's projections for 2024 indicate that 23.3 million people, including 12.6 million children, will require humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. The complex interplay of economic challenges, international sanctions, and the ongoing need for aid underscores the multifaceted nature of the crisis facing the Afghan population, TOLO News reported. It's worth noting that the Taliban administration has disputed the UN report and has emphasised the importance of children's rights in the country. Meanwhile, as poverty grows in Afghanistan, the number of youngsters, seen working on the streets in the country has seen a drastic increase, raising concerns among human rights and children's organisations. Since the Taliban seized power, Afghanistan has become one of the worst places to live, especially for children whose fundamental rights are being compromised amid the strict rules and regulations of the de facto authorities. Following the sanction by the international community on the Taliban, as it took control, the country has faced financial, acute humanitarian, and human rights crises. Following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021 and their crackdown on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, Afghan women have been leading miserable lives. Girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade, including university, and women are barred from most jobs and public spaces. (ANI)
Kabul grapples with a surge in armed crime and robberies, leaving residents feeling trapped in what they describe as the world's most frightening and insecure place, Khaama Press reported. The city is plagued by constant threats from armed robbers, kidnappers, terrorist groups, and a disturbing frequency of mysterious murders, contributing to widespread fear and unrest among the population. In a recent incident, Ghafar Hamdard, a dermatology specialist and professor of medical sciences at Kabul University, was tragically killed in his private clinic. Matiallah Kharoti, a close friend of Hamdard, shared the heartbreaking news on social media, stating that the professor was attacked by two motorcyclists in the Kart-e-Now area. This follows another killing in the city, where Faqir Ahmad Shirzad, a former military person, was reportedly shot by armed robbers, according to Khaama Press. Residents, expressing their distress, reveal that only a fraction of the daily murders are reported in the media. One resident, Mohammad, shared his harrowing experiences, recounting encounters with armed robbers and witnessing a passenger bus targeted. He described the pervasive sense of danger, explaining that getting into a vehicle poses a dilemma: either the driver may be a thief or the vehicle could become the target of a suicide attack or bombings. Mohammad narrated his personal encounters with crime, stating, "The first time was in winter 2020 when I was surrounded by people who were chasing me in Dasht-e-Barchi. I handed over everything I had with full consent to stay alive." He continued, "The second time was in the first year of the Taliban's reign, again in Dasht-e-Barchi with robbers." Each time, he faced the imminent threat of violence and complied to ensure his safety, according to Khaama Press. Despite the lack of accurate statistics on daily murders in Kabul, some claim that dozens occur each day, with only a handful covered by the media. Zarifa Ghafari, the former mayor of Maidan Wardak, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating on social media that 30 people are killed daily in Kabul. The deteriorating security situation has left residents living in constant fear, unsure of their safety in various settings, from public transportation to the city's streets. The alarming increase in criminal activities, coupled with a lack of comprehensive reporting, paints a grim picture of Kabul as one of the most perilous places to reside. As the city grapples with rising crime rates, the urgent need for effective measures to address security concerns and protect the well-being of its residents becomes increasingly evident. The ongoing challenges in Kabul underscore the complex issues facing the population and the pressing need for comprehensive solutions to restore safety and stability to the city, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)
Shots were at the residence of an Indian-origin man in Canada's Surrey. Following this, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been investigating the incident. The firing happened on Wednesday (December 27) in the early morning at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, the president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, in Surrey. The incident happened at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue, Surrey. According to the Police no one was injured during the incident. According to the Constable Parmbir Kahlon, Media Relations Officer for Surrey Police, the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes. "On December 27, 2023 at approximately 8:03 am, Surrey RCMP responded a to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue. No one was injured during the incident, but the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes. Police remained in the area, examining the scene, speaking with witnesses and canvassing the neighbourhood for CCTV footage. The Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has conduct of the investigation. Officers are still working to determine the motive of this incident. Anyone with more information, including dash cam footage of the incident, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP" the Surrey Police said in its press release. Reportedly, the Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has conducted the investigation, and the officers are working to determine the motive of this incident, adding that the identities of the perpetrators are not known yet. The Surrey Police have not confirmed any link of the attack to recent threats recieved by the Laxhmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey. Earlier in November, India-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya shared a purported video of Pro Khalistani supporters in Surrey claiming they want to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir there. He wrote, "Last week, Khalistan supporters verbally abused a Sikh family outside a Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, BC, according to some reports. Now it appears the same Khalistan group wants to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey." Underscoring that Hindu temples have remained targets for attacks over the past years, Arya noted by saying, "Hindu temples have been attacked many times during the last couple of years. Hate crimes are being committed against Hindu-Canadians." Moreover, a Hindu temple was vandalised in Canada by extremist elements with Khalistan referendum posters in August this year. In April this year, BAPS Swaminarayan temple was vandalised with anti-India graffiti in Windsor, in Canada's Ontario. Meanwhile, in February, the Ram Mandir in Canada's Mississauga was vandalised with anti-India graffiti. In January, a Hindu temple in Brampton was defaced with anti-India graffiti, triggering outrage among the Indian community. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Russia, shared his delight as he visited the school named after Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in St. Petersburg. He emphasised that Rabindranath Tagore's love for India was truly heart-touching and their passion for India was truly moving. Sharing on his social media X, Jaishankar stated, "It was a great pleasure to visit the school named after Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Ji, #653 in St. Petersburg. His love for India was truly heart touching. See for yourself. Delighted to visit the School #653 named after Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in St. Petersburg. Their passion for India was truly moving. See for yourself." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1740629855413195084?s=20 EAM Jaishankar also shared a video glimpse of his visit to the school, where all dressed-up students were seen welcoming him by waving India and Russia flags. Further, as he entered, the students greeted him with sweets. The students also gave a beautiful dance performance, as shown in the video posted by Jaishankar. Later, he was seen addressing the students and other people present at the school. 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. Yesterday, he spoke at a round table conference with Indologists in Russia's St Petersburg. Notably, Indologists are students of subjects like Indian literature, Indian history, and Indian philosophy. During the conference, EAM Jaishankar batted for shaping international relations with Indian characteristics, stressing that it is his "major preoccupation" to devote more time to looking at India's reservoir of culture and knowledge. He also said that in today's geopolitical state of the world, it is very important for countries to have a direct understanding of each other. Moreover, President Vladimir Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year. "We will be glad to see our friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia," Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Kremlin. (ANI)
"A protestor has died during the clash. Apparently, he was hit by a teargas canister," Spokesperson of Lalitpur Police Circle, Nawaraj Karki confirmed over the phone.

On Friday afternoon, a group of protestors clashed with Nepal Police after they set fire to the vehicle of Nepal's Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala. Police then resorted to using force to control the mob including batons, teargas and bullet.

The protestors took onto the street over the issue of the Employment Permit System (EPS) and then torched Minister Jwala's vehicle (Ba 2 Jha 5861) at Balkumari of Lalitpur on Friday noon.

After over an hour clash, the condition of the area that adjoins Nepal's capital Kathmandu calmed down with protestors nowhere to be seen. (ANI)
Nicholas McCaffrey commenced his tenure as Australia's Deputy High Commissioner in India, in style, by riding on an autorickshaw on Friday. McCaffrey has replaced Sarah Storey in the position and said that he looks forward to working under the leadership of Australian High Commissioner Philip Green in India. "Namaste India! Terrific to start as Australia's Deputy High Commissioner in India, replacing the irrepressible Sarah Storey. Look forward to working with #TeamAustralia in India, under the leadership of @AusHCIndia Philip Green," McCaffrey posted on X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/AusDHCIndia/status/1740633854682304884?s=20 Earlier this month, Australian envoy Philip Green lauded the India-Australia relationship, and it is at the "highest point" in history. Affirming his dedication to advancing the partnership between the countries, he stressed on further propelling the relationship to new heights. "Our relationship is at the highest point in our history. But I'm not here to rest on laurels. I'm here to get more things done. I'm here to drive the relationship further and to drive it faster. That's what the Prime Minister told me to do when he sent me here," the envoy said. Emphasizing India's paramount significance in their bilateral relations, he expressed his commitment to proactive engagement during his tenure. "On the economic front, our two-way trade has grown by more than 50 per cent in the last five years. And last year, we signed the landmark Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). This deal has provided the momentum for negotiations towards an even more ambitious goal: a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement or CECA," Green added. Notably, India and Australia have also implemented an economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA) and are now negotiating the expansion of its scope for the CECA. The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAusECTA) came into effect on December 29, 2022. The ECTA was signed on April 2, 2022, and ratified on November 21. (ANI)
US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) President and CEO Mukesh Aghi on Friday said diplomatic momentum gained during the visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden paved the way for a "concrete strategic roadmap" and new initiatives between India and the US in several areas. In a statement, Aghi stated, "The diplomatic momentum gained during the visits of Prime Minister Modi and President Biden paved the way for a concrete strategic roadmap and new dialogues and initiatives in multifaceted areas such as clean energy cooperation, education, space collaboration, semiconductors, quantum computing, drone technology, artificial intelligence, with accelerated joint projects such as manufacturing GE F-414 jet engines in India, putting India in the elite club of countries with such manufacturing capability." Earlier in June, PM Modi travelled to the US for a State visit. US President Joe Biden had invited PM Modi for a State visit. He also addressed a joint meeting of Congress before a State dinner at the White House. Later, US President Biden travelled to India to attend the G20 Summit under India's Presidency. He said that India and the US will build on the "deep defence synergy in new areas of critical and emerging technology with initiatives launched in 2023 such as iCET, and INDUS-X." He further said, "Together, with their Quad Partners in Australia and Japan, both New Delhi and Washington will remain steadfast in securing a free and open Indo-Pacific. Washington and New Delhi have also been successful in building new economic corridors of trust in the landmark India-Middle East-European (IMEEC)." USISPF Chief noted that 2024 will be the year to capitalize on building new trade links and new shipping and transport planes that will boost digital connectivity, create clean energy corridors, and strengthen India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States (I2U2) collaboration in West Asia. "We look forward to 2024, as Washington and New Delhi continue their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and reinforcing the strong bonds between two of the world's leading democracies," he said in a statement. Mukesh Aghi called 2023 an "epochal year" marking the third State Visit by an Indian leader to Washington, DC. He said India landed on the moon with the historic landing of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 and world leaders gathered in Delhi to attend the G20 Summit. He stated that the G20 Summit in New Delhi marked a monumental year for India and marked Biden's first visit to India as the 46th US President. Hailing India's diplomacy at the G20 Summit, he said New Delhi was successful in voicing for global equity and a more "diplomatic and egalitarian world batting for the Global South." Calling India the "fastest-growing major economy," he said New Delhi has a bolder vision and added that it looks forward to hosting the Quad Leaders Summit in 2024. He said, "At a time of geopolitical fractures and global strife, India's adroit diplomacy at the G-20 Summit saw world leaders make a clarion call for peace and security and use diplomacy as a primary tool for conflict resolution. New Delhi was successful in voicing for global equity and a more diplomatic and egalitarian world batting for the Global South." "As we look forward to 2024, India, now the fastest-growing major economy and the most populous nation in the world has a bolder vision. New Delhi will look forward to hosting the Quad's Leader's Summit in 2024, albeit, at a later date than originally planned," he added. US President Joe Biden visited India to attend the 18th G20 Summit held on September 9-10, marking his first visit to India as a US President. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen and diversify the India-US Major Defence Partnership. During the G20 Summit, India and the US also settled the seventh and last outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute over poultry products. Notably, the six previous disputes were resolved during PM Modi's state visit to the US. (ANI)
Last week, forces from the IDF's infantry Kfir Brigade, together with elements of its 98th Division fighting in the Khan Yunis area, eliminated terrorist squads with the help of air support and armour forces. Guided by intelligence, the fighters raided dozens of homes of operatives of the Hamas terrorist organization, where ready-to-use explosives were found and destroyed trapped buildings.

In addition, many weapons and tunnel shafts were located in the area.

The fighters also located a doll that was dressed in an olive green camisole, apparently in an attempt by Hamas terrorists to lure into an ambush.

In one of the raids, fighters located weapons in a children's room in a civilian residence. Some of the weapons were hidden inside a children's bag. Grenades, vests, cartridges and intelligence materials were found there among what was described as "a great deal" of weapons. (ANI/WAM)
A pair of men are facing federal conspiracy charges after investigators say they staged armed robberies in Massachusetts to help the so-called victims apply for and obtain immigration benefits.

Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, both of New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office of Massachusetts.

Patel and Singh set up and carried out staged armed robberies at an estimated eight convenience stores, liquor stores, and fast food restaurants across the United States, at least four of which occurred in the Bay State, according to charging documents.

It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa), federal prosecutors wrote in a news release. A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.

During the staged robberies, prosecutors say the robber threatened store clerks or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video.

In all of the alleged incidents, the clerks or owners waited at least five minutes before calling the police to report the crime to allow the robber ample time to get away, according to investigators.

Patel, who was arrested in Seattle earlier this month, made an initial court appearance in the Western District of Washington and was ordered detained pending trial.

Singh appeared in federal court in Boston on Thursday afternoon. Patel is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

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Two more buses carrying migrants arrived early Friday morning at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, despite a new executive order from New York City Mayor Eric Adams targeting the influx of bus arrivals.

Adams's executive order, signed Wednesday afternoon, requires charter buses transporting migrants to give the city at least 32 hours advance notice.

Friday's buses arrived at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., even though the order also sets perimeters around dropoffs: between 8:30 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday at one designated spot within PABT.

A bus carrying migrants arrives at Port Authority Bus Terminal early Friday morning.

"Those who knowingly violate [the executive order] do so at their own peril."

There is a 32-hour grace period, however, so the buses on Friday morning will likely not face any penalties.

But Lisa Zornberg, chief counsel at City Hall, said the Adams administration is serious about enforcing these new rules.

"Those who knowingly violate it do so at their own peril," Zornberg said.

If these buses carrying migrants arrive outside this time frame and with no advance notice, the operators could be charged with Class B misdemeanors, possible fines, lawsuits, and their buses could be impounded.

"The NYPD has a variety of tools at their disposal, including seizure of evidence and impounding of evidence, but this is going to be treated like any other law," Zornberg added.

This comes after 14 buses arrived in just one day last week  breaking the previous record. And more than 7,200 migrants arrived here in the city in just the last two weeks, many of them sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott according to City Hall.

The Legal Aid Society said they agree that better coordination is needed but are worried that this could lead to some migrants being dropped off in random areas.

"We don't want any other extreme issues that could occur, such as bus drivers dropping people in unsafe places," said Stephanie Rudolph, an attorney with Legal Aid. "But overall, we understand wanting the city to have a little bit more communication around arrivals."

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his administration has already implemented a similar policy, and this prompted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to pivot and send migrants to the suburbs surrounding the city.

The Adams administration said they are aware that something similar could happen here in New York and are urging counties like Westchester to issue their own executive orders to limit buses carrying migrants.

They will be having a conversation with surrounding states like New Jersey as well.

"It is not our intention to shift any burdens," said Camille Joseph Varlack, the mayors chief of staff. "But we have no idea. It's quite frankly unpredictable."

The Adams administration also mentioned that they had reached out to Abbott about a year ago on this migrant issue and sending buses  but Abbott did not respond.
At least two people have been killed and 10 more have been injured, including two children, in the morning attack on Odesa Oblast.

Source: Oleksandr Kharlov, Deputy Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "There is operational information about damage to infrastructure facilities and residential buildings.

...In Odesa Oblast, 10 people have already been injured as a result of Russia's morning attack, including two children aged 6 and 8. The injured people were taken to hospital. Two people were killed as a result of the attack."

Details: Kharlov said that the lives of the hospitalised people are not in danger. He clarified that the children were among those taken to hospital.

Background:

Air-raid warnings were issued across Ukraine because of a large-scale Russian missile attack on the morning of 29 December.

The media outlets reported explosions in Odesa and a fire in a high-rise building caused by a missile strike.

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UNICEF deemed 2023 the deadliest year on record for children in the West Bank, with 130 conflict-related deaths.

This year has been the deadliest year on record for children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with conflict-related violence reaching unprecedented levels, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khodr wrote in a statement released Thursday.

Khodr said children in the West Bank have experienced grinding violence for years, but the recent intensity has dramatically increased since the onset of war between Israel and Hamas.

UNICEF reported that conflict-related violence has killed 124 Palestinian children and six Israeli children in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the start of 2023.

UNICEF said a majority of the deaths this year  83  happened in the weeks since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel that killed 1,200 Israelis and prompted a deadly counteroffensive from the Israeli military.

More than 576 children have been injured, and others have reportedly been detained, Khodr said in the statement.

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, she said, adding that UNICEF is extremely concerned about the childrens right to life and safety.

In the statement, UNICEF urged parties involved to abide by international human rights laws and protect children from conflict-related violence.

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, Khodr concluded.

The UNICEF report came on the same day the United Nations released a report that details the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the West Bank.

The U.N. found that there were 279 Palestinian deaths in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, by the Israel Security Forces since Oct. 7.

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Lets face it, 2023 was a challenging year for many, even in (mostly) sunny San Luis Obispo County.

We saw white supremacists peddling hate ... LGBTQ rights under attack ... neighborhoods littered with antisemitic literature.

There was economic hardship brought on by inflation  remember $9-a-dozen eggs?  and rising interest rates that made home ownership even more of an impossible dream for many in SLO County.

We continued to struggle for solutions to homelessness, addiction and poverty.

Per usual, there was political discord  including an ongoing effort to oust County Supervisor Bruce Gibson. And lets not forget acting County Administrative Officer John Nilon, who resigned in November to avoid being fired for improper conduct toward women.

Thats just scratching the surface of the disappointments, frustrations and tragedies of 2023. Yet there were high points as well, which are too often overlooked in year-end rundowns of top events.

Before we close out the year, its worth revisiting the small victories, the smart decisions and the human kindnesses that deserve to be celebrated. Heres our highly subjective Top 10 list of good things that happened in SLO County in 2023.

10. Return of the superbloom

Once again, wildflowers coaxed us off our couches to enjoy another (free) display of nature at its most spectacular. And because its hard to be grumpy in a field full of flowers, even on crowded weekends there wasnt a sneer in sight.

Wildflower fans turned out along Highway 58 on April 7, 2023. A series of drenching atmospheric river storms filled creeks and made for a solid wildflower season.

9. Cheap gas

Its not likely to last, and you wont find low prices everywhere in the county, but regular gasoline is still below $5 a gallon at several stations  and less than $4 a gallon in Morro Bay. It (sort of) offsets the rising cost of utilities, at least for now.

8. We have a Nordstrom Rack!

We had to say goodbye to some longtime businesses that closed their doors in 2023.

Restaurants were especially hard hit. Closures include Big Sky Restaurant, Splash Cafe and Mint & Craft in San Luis Obispo; Doc Burnsteins Ice Cream parlors; Vics Cafe in Paso Robles; the Tea Trolley in Atascadero; Willow in Nipomo.

Retail faired better. Several businesses opened or expanded, with the new Nordstrom Rack in the SLO Promenade topping the list.

7. City of San Luis Obispo reinstated first hour free parking

You did it, people! You revolted, and the city listened.

It did away with that silly locals only requirement that required preregistering and decided that everyone gets the first hour free  though it only applies to parking structures.

This wasnt just about saving money; it was also a reminder that it sometimes pays to fight City Hall.

If the city is smart, it will keep that first hour free in perpetuity, or at least as long as personal cars are still a thing.

6. SLO County (finally) joined Community Choice Energy

Every city in the county gave its residents the opportunity to ditch PG&E as its energy provider and switch to Central Coast Community Energy.

San Luis Obispo County was the only holdout, due to a Board of Supervisors majority that seemed to believe their constituents were incapable of making an informed decision.

The new board that took office in January reversed course, which meant that ratepayers in unincorporated communities like Cambria, Nipomo and Los Osos were finally on an equal footing with everyone else.

5. $65 million grant for part-time freeway lane in Pismo Beach

The formal name is the Five Cities Multimodal Transportation Network Enhancement Project, but in plain English its a third southbound lane on Highway 101 that will be open only during peak traffic hours.

Not everyone likes the plan  the Pismo Beach City Council split 3-2 on it  but something has to be done to relieve the awful congestion though the area known as the Shell Beach Straits.

Now that the money has been allocated, lets see how long it takes to get it built.

4. Reservoirs filled and spilled

Rains brought the Central Coast some much-needed drought relief this year, filling local reservoirs that had reached alarmingly low levels.

Lopez Lake spilled for the first time in more than two decades. The reservoir was less than a quarter full at the start of the year.

It was one of the last local reservoirs to reach full capacity after a winter with heavier-than-usual storms filled most all to capacity in recent weeks, The Tribune reported in March.

Months later, Lopez was still at 95.6% capacity on Dec. 26.

Lopez Lake spills over the chute in the early morning, Thursday, March 23, 2023, for the first time in more than two decades.

3. An emergency shelter opened in South County

Cabins for Change was declared officially open in January, providing individual cabins for 20 previously unhoused South County residents, plus support services to help them move into permanent housing. It was a long time coming; the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition had been trying for years to find a location but ran into a series of roadblocks before successfully partnering with the city of Grover Beach and San Luis Obispo County to open a shelter at 16th Street and Longbranch.

More good news: The Homeless Coalition has broken ground on a second, similar facility in Grover Beach that will include 30 cabins. Its located on city-owned land on 4th Street.

To be opening another shelter, Im kind of gobsmacked, the agencys executive director, Janna Nichols, told The Tribune. It only happens because we have had our community come together.

Marcos David Rodriguez was living in his car when a police officer told him about the Cabins for Change program in Grover Beach. He went from there to this no-frills cabin, seen here on April 28, 2023, and now graduating from the program to a home of his own.

2. Afghan family safe at last

An Afghan family that spent two years hiding from the Taliban is safe in San Luis Obispo County, thanks largely to the efforts and generosity of Cambria residents Mike Reeves and his wife, Linda Giordano.

For three years, Reeves worked with engineer Kawa Barakazai in the Middle East, for a company that made turbines for U.S. hydroelectric power projects that brought electricity to rural villages.

After the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021, Barakazai, his wife and their two children were forced into hiding.

Back in Cambria, Reeves worked to bring them to California, which meant acquiring special visas for the family and providing financial support. On Sept. 6, the family touched down in Los Angeles and headed to Cambria, to an apartment located on Reeves property.

This was not an isolated case; over the past several months, San Luis Obispo County residents helped several other Afghan refugees begin new lives here. To learn more, go to www.slo4home.org.

Kegina Barakzai, son Ben Yamin, husband Kawa and daughter Maryam in a 2022 selfie. Kawa Barakzai is an Afghan engineer who worked with the U.S.

1. Showing up and speaking out for justice

Just days after two masked men unfurled an Embrace White Pride banner on the Highway 101 bridge, locals staged a Rally Against Hate at the same location.

When some South County residents denounced the rainbow flag as ungodly and urged the Arroyo Grande City Council not to fly it for Pride Month, citizens showed up to defend the flag  and the council sided with them.

And when some Paso Robles parents opposed a new advanced placement chemistry textbook because it briefly mentioned the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals, the school board adopted it anyway  albeit on a 3-2 vote.

Too often, apathy is the enemy of justice.

While the hoped-for result isnt always achieved, the fact that San Luis Obispo County residents are willing to show up and speak out is, in and of itself, good news.

Honorable mention

New county Board of Supervisors ditches gerrymandered map adopted by the former board  an action made possible by the work of concerned citizens who had filed suit against the county

NASA astronaut Victor Glover, a Cal Poly alum, was selected for a manned flight around the moon.

The county Board of Supervisors adopted a 5-year plan to reduce homelessness by 50%  a far more realistic goal than the 10-year plan to end homelessness.

Medical advances included the opening of a new spine center and use of artificial intelligence to diagnose strokes.

The historic Sebastians General Store in Old San Simeon Village reopened after four years of renovations.

Alaska Airlines added daily flights from San Luis Obispo to Las Vegas  which means we no longer have to drive to Santa Maria to hop a flight to Sin City.

Work finally began at the derelict Pirates Cove parking area.

SLO County Board of Supervisors allocated $2 million to keep affordable housing at the Anderson Hotel.
Before the start of the 2020s, almost anyone who admitted to a belief in UFOs (unidentified flying objects) or extraterrestrial visitors was dismissed as a crackpot. Yet since the start of the decade, the Pentagon has repeatedly and openly acknowledged that their own pilots have spotted and recorded images of UFOs (more specifically known as UAPs, or unidentified anomalous phenomena). The so-called Pentagon UFO videos  the initial clips of which were released to the public in 2020  showed UAPs recorded in 2004, 2014, 2015 and 2019. Ever since, respected government officials and scientists have joined ordinary UFO enthusiasts in insisting that the proverbial truth must be out there.

But 2023 was arguably one the most important years for UAP developments, at least in terms of disclosures that didn't produce a smoking gun or things that were debunked. Here's a look back at what we learned.

01 NASA's first meeting confirming existence of UAPs

In June 2022, NASA announced the formation of an independent study group to weigh the evidence of UAPs and whether they indicate something more than strange weather phenomena or secretive military crafts. The 16-person group included experts from the aerospace aviation industry and academia, as well as former astronaut Scott Kelly. The panel disappointed many by concluding above all else that there is a need for more "high quality data," but even having NASA acknowledge the existence of UAPs was a major historic achievement. "We steer between the rocks and the cyclone," panel chairman David Spergel, a widely respected cosmologist, said in a statement at the time. "We have a community of people who are completely convinced of the existence of UFOs. And we have a community of people who think addressing this question is ridiculous, everything can be explained."

02 The impressive UFO hearing by the US Congress

A trio of military officials met with a House Oversight subcommittee in July to discuss UAPs. It was a fruitful meeting, one that yielded a number of important revelations. One former intelligence official, David Grusch, claimed that so-called "nonhuman biologics" have been discovered from a crashed UAP. He also claimed to the assembled legislators that the Pentagon runs a progress to reassemble crashed UAPs by misappropriating funds and operating "above congressional oversight." Then there was former Navy pilot Ryan Graves, who testified that both military and commercial pilots fear stigma and even professional repercussions when they report UAP encounters. Finally a former Navy commander, David Fravor, testified that in 2004 he and three of his fellow military pilots saw a white Tic-Tac shaped hovering between the Pacific Ocean and their jets, which vanished and immediately reappeared 60 miles away. "The technology that we faced is far superior to anything that we had," Fravor said. "And theres nothing we can do about it, nothing."

03 The less impressive UFO hearing held by the Mexican parliament

Not all of the UFO-related news in 2023 was promising. Just take the so-called "alien mummies" presented in Mexico, allegedly discovered by journalist and ufologist Jose Jaime Maussan Flota. The supposed extraterrestrials were revealed to the Mexican Congress in September. Maussan has twice before claimed to have found alien mummies, only to later be debunked, but despite this track record, Maussan was invited to present his findings to Mexican government officials. Once there, he said he had discovered the pair of mummified aliens in a diatom mine in Cusco, Peru. Experts were unimpressed  including Graves, who was also invited to attend this conference. Graves later said that "yesterday's demonstration was a huge step backwards for this issue," adding that he was "deeply disappointed by this unsubstantiated stunt."

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04 The US admits it receives dozens of UFO reports every month

When the Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (or AARO) in 2022, the new government agency's explicit goal was to investigate all UAP incidents. As the Pentagon disclosed when releasing its annual report in October, AARO has certainly been kept quite busy: The organization had received roughly 800 reports of UAP over the preceding six months, a major jump from the previous year. Although then-director Sean Kirkpatrick, a physicist, acknowledged that about half of these contain sufficient data that they can be ruled out as "mundane things," there is a small fraction  2% to 4%  that require further investigation. "There are ways to hide in our noise that always concern me ... It could just be a foreign entity. It could be a hobbyist. It could be anybody ... And those are the things that we have to look into," Kirkpatrick explained to CNN at the time.

05 The supposedly alien beads that weren't

In 2014, an object from outer space named CNEOS 2014-01-08 crashed into Earth at over 100,000 mph before exploding into fragments that landed in the South Pacific Ocean. A UFO by definition, CNEOS 2014-01-08 piqued the interest of the scientific community, with Harvard astronomy professor Dr. Avi Loeb suggesting in 2022 that it could be extraterrestrial technology. After leading an expedition to the seafloor in 2023 to retrieve CNEOS 2014-01-08, Loeb came back with "spherules" that he speculated were of "likely extrasolar composition." For a moment, it seemed as if the promise of CNEOS 2014-01-08 would be fulfilled  but then other experts came back with a very different conclusion. "Contents of nickel, beryllium, lanthanum and uranium are examined in the context of a known anthropogenic source of contamination, and found to be consistent with coal ash as suggested from a publicly available coal chemical composition database (COALQUAL)," wrote the authors of a paper in the journal Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society. In other words, as the study put it: "The meteoritic origin is disfavored."
Beginning Monday, California employers will be barred from discriminating against employees who use marijuana in their off hours.

Assembly Bill 2188 requires employers to change how they test for marijuana use among employees, using tests that show current impairment and not just past usage. The law carves out some exceptions, such as for those who work in the construction trades.

Technology to test for marijuana impairment has actually advanced quite a bit, so basically employers can now just test for THC  the psychoactive component in cannabis  and that can show impairment, said Los Angeles-based attorney Bernard Alexander in a statement. Most of the older tests detect the non-psychoactive metabolites, which can stay in a persons system for weeks. So, a worker can test positive when theyre not high or impaired at all.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2188 into law in September 2022, but a provision of the law prevented it from going into effect until Jan. 1, 2024.

The bill was championed by California NORML, a marijuana advocacy organization, which said in a statement that not a single, scientifically controlled FDA study has shown cannabis metabolite testing to be effective in improving workplace safety or productivity. Studies indicate that metabolite tests for past use of marijuana are useless in protecting job safety.

The group pointed to a survey of more than 136,000 Canadian workers that found no association between cannabis use and workplace-related injury, even in high-risk occupations.

The bill was opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce, which argued that employers would face liability by taking legitimate disciplinary measures against employees who use marijuana.

Put simply: marijuana use is not the same as protecting workers against discrimination based on race or national origin and should not be in (the Fair Employment and Housing Act), the chamber wrote in its argument.

Alexander noted that employers who disapprove of employees use of marijuana even in off hours will be looking for alternative ways to terminate employees for other reasons, and attorneys who defend those employees will argue those other reasons are just pretexts.

Los Angeles-based attorney Amy Duerk said that while the law will protect the rights of most workers to use cannabis when not working, it doesnt preclude employers from keeping their workplace drug-free.

These laws will push improvements in testing for impairment and psychoactive metabolites in cannabis. Employers will likely step up efforts to train supervisors on impairment testing. Testing will continue to improve to help employers distinguish between recent use of cannabis and non-impairment traces of cannabis, Duerk said in a statement.
Rendezvous with snow refreshes landscapes in China

Xinhua) 08:39, December 29, 2023

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
At least 26 people have been killed and 133 injured in the biggest coordinated Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine of the war.

Russia targeted kindergartens, maternity hospitals, shopping malls, and residential buildings in cities in every area of the country.

Read also: Russian overnight attack: Weve never seen so many targets on our monitor at the same time

One popular online meme is to share a photo of the damage in their city with the tag Russia is at war with kindergartens and maternity hospitals.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported preliminary casualty figures on Telegram on Dec. 29. Some figures have since been updated.

Read also: Photo report shows the aftermath of Russias largest missile and drone attack of the war

Kyiv: Eight civilians killed, 30 others injured, including seven that have been hospitalized. Multiple damages and fires reported in the capital's Shevchenkivskyi, Svyatoshynskyi, and Podilskyi districts.

Update: Nine bodies have been recovered from beneath the rubble of a destroyed warehouse, while eight others have been saved, reported Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. He noted that the search for survivors continues.

Lviv: One civilian killed, 24 others injured. The explosion damaged an apartment building and a critical infrastructure facility. Several schools and a kindergarten were damaged.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: Six civilians killed, 28 others injured, including a 1.5 year old child. The enemy hit a shopping mall and a maternity hospital. Four patients were rescued by emergency services.

Odesa Oblast: Four civilians killed, 18 others injured, including two young children aged six and eight. 23 residents were rescued from a 17-story apartment building. Some people may still be trapped under the rubble of a three-story building hit by the enemy. At least two other buildings were damaged.

A day of mourning has been announced for Odesa and Odesa Oblast on December 30.

Kharkiv Oblast: Three civilians killed, 13 others injured after the Russian pre-dawn attack. Medics are still at the scene.

Zaporizhzhya Oblast: Eight civilians killed, 10 others injured after 10 Russian Kinzhal missiles attacked the city.

Cherkasy Oblast: Nine people were injured, including one seriously, after Russia hit a residential area in Smila, Cherkasy Oblast. A child was hurt in the attack. 51 houses were damaged in the attack.

Sumy Oblast: Explosions were reported in Sumy Oblast around 3:00 p.m. EET. Earlier, it was announced that Konotop had been hit.

Khmelnytsky Oblast: Two cruise missiles were shot down in the region in the morning. Throughout the oblast, 10 homes, a kindergarten, a cultural center, a library, and a town hall were damaged. No casualties were reported in the oblast.

Russia attacked Ukraine with almost every missile and attack drone in its arsenal overnight on Dec. 29, with casualties reported in every region. The Russian onslaught continued throughout the day with explosions heard in multiple oblasts and air raid alarms ringing throughout much of the country.

Ukraine managed to destroy 114 of the 158 missiles that Russia criminally launched at Ukrainian cities far from the frontlines.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Kyiv during the Russian attack on 29 December

Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack using drones on Ukrainian cities on Dec. 29, causing huge destruction and casualties in many cities across the country.

Read also: There are dead and injured in Dnipro as Ukraine comes under massive Russian attack  Dnipro mayor

Four people were killed in Dnipro, with many others injured, reported Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak.

Lysak confirmed a hit on a shopping center, which led to a fire outbreak.

Currently, almost fifteen people are reported injured, with four fatalities, Lysak said.

Earlier reports indicated a fire at a shopping center and a damaged maternity hospital. The Health Ministry later confirmed that all patients and medical staff had safely moved to shelters.

All local services are fully mobilized and working with the State Emergency Service under the guidance of the regional administration, stated Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov.

Read also: Dead & injured in Lviv  1,000+ km from the front  as Russia attacks sleeping civilians and schools

In Lviv, one person was killed and 13 injured due to a missile strike, with four of them hospitalized, stated Lviv regional governor Maksym Kozytsky in Telegram on Dec. 29.

As of now, 13 residential buildings and two schools are damaged, as well as numerous vehicles. Efforts to mitigate the consequences of the enemy attack are ongoing.

A residential building on Khotkevych Street in Lviv was hit by a missile, resulting in one dead and eight injured civilians. Most injuries were caused by window shards blown in by the explosion.

Multiple fires broke out in various districts of Kyiv, with residential buildings damaged and casualties reported during Russia's massive attack on Ukraine, the Kyiv City State Administration reported on Telegram.

Seven people have been hospitalized in Kyiv, five of whom are in the Shevchenkivskyi district, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Dec. 29.

A residential building was damaged in Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district. Fires also erupted in a garage area.

A residential high-rise building caught fire, and parked cars ignited at another location in the Svyatoshynskyi district. One casualty has been reported.

A fire broke out in a warehouse area, with many injuries reported in the Podilskyi district. A residential building was also damaged.

Kyiv's Lukianivska Metro Station building was damaged in Russia's massive attack on Ukraine, said Klitschko.

Three people in the Shevchenkivskyi district are trapped under the debris of a warehouse building damaged by missile fragments, he said, adding that three people have already been rescued.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  The San Francisco Police Department is investigating an incident in which a 45-year-old man was fatally stabbed Thursday morning as a homicide. SFPD officers with the Southern District responded at 5:37 a.m. to the area of Mission and Washburn streets on a report of a stabbing, police said.

Good Samaritans shot at Pinole gas station, gunman found under I-80, police say

At the scene, officers located two victims: a 45-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman. Both were suffering from apparent stab wounds.

SFPD rendered aid and called for paramedics. Medics transported both victims to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The male victim was declared deceased at the hospital.

No arrests have been made at this time, police said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Wedding plans, generational treasures and a familys peace of mind were shattered in Fullerton on Friday night in what authorities are investigating as a follow-home robbery.

One assailant punched longtime emergency room physician Vijay Wali and tossed him to the ground outside his family home in an act he called "45 seconds of horror." The incident occurred as he and his wife, Jyotika, exited their white Tesla at 7:48 p.m., according to home security footage.

Another thief then stole Jyotika Walis cash, cell phone, purse and an additional bag containing family heirlooms. The items included a dejhoor  a piece of traditional Kashmiri Hindu jewelry  made of gold and encrusted with diamond and rubies.

The dejhoor was one of three pilfered traditional pieces that were intended to be used by the Wali's daughter, Priyanka, in her upcoming wedding.

It was a nightmare and Im thankful to God that neither my wife or I were killed, Vijay Wali said in a phone interview with The Times. I was happy there wasnt a visible weapon and were able to talk about it today.

Jyotika Wali, an internist, described the incident as terrorizing and said now even grocery trips leave her filled with fear of what may happen.

The Fullerton Police Department would not confirm any details, citing an ongoing investigation.

Priyanka Wali, an internal medicine and obesity medicine physician, said neither of her parents suffered serious injuries. But her father has a huge abrasion on his knee after tearing his jeans during a tussle with one suspect, and only recently recovered his voice, which he lost from shouting, she said.

Priyanki Wali said her father is still deciding if he will undergo an MRI, since he was struck on the head.

Most of the damage, she said, was psychological.

The couple left their home that Friday afternoon to attend to chores, including purchasing parts to refurbish the dejhoor, which they also hoped to have professionally cleaned. The three dejhoors belonged to Priyanki Wali, her mother and her maternal grandmother.

Vijay Wali and his wife arrived too late to a Little India jeweler to accomplish that task and left Artesia at 6:54 p.m., according to surveillance footage from a local store.

The couple did not take their normal route home, however, as Vijay Wali said he initially drove toward Brea to a mens suit outlet. About halfway there, however, he told his wife he was too tired and decided to return home.

They pulled up to their driveway at 7:57 p.m. Jyotika left the passenger seat and entered the familys garage carrying her purse and another bag, while Vijay went to unload the trunk.

Read more: Authorities break up Orange County crime ring: 20 suspects accused in more than 30 burglaries

Two men are shown on surveillance footage arriving at the house on foot while an unknown number of suspects are inside a black Honda Odyssey and another vehicle, a white sedan, circling the block. The first man is seen on surveillance rushing toward Jyotika Wali.

The suspect then stole her purse and valuables and is seen fleeing the scene on the surveillance footage.

As this was happening, Vijay Wali said he screamed to his wife to close the garage and call 911. He ran toward her before a second man attempted to push him back into the Tesla. During the melee, the suspect grabbed Wali, threw him to the ground and punched him in the head.

Priyanka Wali was inside the family home with her fiance Asheesh Bhalla when she said she heard her fathers yells and then her mothers blood-curdling, hair-raising shriek, causing her to drop a cup of tea.

Priyanka Wali ran outside and called the police while Bhalla, a former Nevada state deputy general counsel, jumped into his car and unsuccessfully tried to chase down the fleeing vehicles.

Vijay Wali attempted to track his wifes stolen phone but was "disappointed" when he found the device discarded in a neighbors yard.

Read more: Little India, already struggling before the pandemic, is at a crossroads

Since the assault, Priyanka Wali has decide to borrow a sister-in-law's dejhoor for her wedding.

"This piece is so traditional and so rare, you can't even find them in big Indian cities," she said. "I can't believe someone would take it and I hope local pawnshops don't buy them."

She said she's has been undergoing therapy to help deal with the trauma of the robbery.

Shes also spearheaded her own investigation, grabbing surveillance footage from a jewelry store in Little India.

Footage shows a similar Odyssey tailing the Walis Tesla out of the Little India commercial complex. Shes also placed videos and photos on her Instagram account.

Seeking justice through the justice system is something we all need, she said. We want these guys apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That will help us.

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A massive gravesite  dating back at least 1,300 years  was unearthed in central Mexico, offering a glimpse into the cultural practices of the regions pre-Hispanic occupants.

The remains of 48 individuals were found buried beneath tombstones in Tula, located about 75 miles northwest of Mexico City, according to a Dec. 21 news release from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

Many of the individuals were buried in a seated position and oriented toward the sunrise or sunset, and some of them displayed signs of body modification, officials said.

For example, the incisors of one individual were filed down to have sharpened points, while the individuals canines contained holes.

Some of the skulls showed evidence of cranial modification, a practice once carried out by various pre-Hispanic groups.

Also found at the gravesite was a cache of various artifacts  likely offerings  including ceramic pipes, seashell earrings and weapons, officials said.

A young male was buried wearing a necklace fashioned from 29 snails, which resembled the fangs of a carnivorous animal, officials said. Also located with his remains were two obsidian knives, which were likely placed inside of a bag.

Over a dozen hearths unearthed nearby allowed researchers to conclude the site was used by Pueblito and Huasteca groups between 250 and 650 A.D.  well before the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the 16th century.

This time frame encompasses the Early and Middle Classic periods, which saw the flourishing of various indigenous communities in Mexico, including the Mayan in Teotihuacan, according to the American Museum of Natural History.

Google Translate was used to translate a news release from INAH.

Farmer hits rock while plowing  and finds unusual World War II artifact in Slovakia

Rare 7,000-year-old bottle  with a mysterious purpose  unearthed in tomb in China

Rare, brightly colored creature seen for first time at UK nature reserve. See it
The FBI struggled to maintain its public image this year after new information appeared to contradict past investigations and a band of former federal agents blew the whistle about the bureau's alleged abuse of American civil liberties.

"From the interactions I have, it seems like conservatives either consider the FBI the butt of a cruel joke or an outright threat to American civil liberties," federal whistleblower and former FBI agent Kyle Seraphin told Fox News Digital. "Compared with how that looked three years ago, it feels like a complete nosedive in public confidence."

The bureau became further embroiled in controversy over the last 12 months when Seraphin and other whistleblowers uncovered a number of faulty investigations carried out by different FBI field offices across the United States. With the secret investigations exposed to the public eye, Seraphin said retired agents are "embarrassed" to reveal they once worked for the federal agency.

"That is a sea change," he said.

FBI DIRECTOR PLEADS FOR CONGRESS TO KEEP PROGRAM ACCUSED OF SPYING ON AMERICANS

The FBI was heavily criticized in 2023, causing Americans and former federal agents to lose trust in the agency.

"Over the last year, the 38,000 men and women of the FBI have worked tirelessly to protect the American people from a wide variety of criminal threats and foreign adversaries," a spokesperson with the FBI told Fox News Digital. "The FBI and our partners made more than 20,000 arrests, which included violent criminals, human traffickers, and child predators, and located more than 2,400 children. We disrupted over 40% more cyber operations and arrested over 60% more cybercriminals than the year before."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

From allegedly targeting American Catholics as so-called potential domestic terrorists to the acquittal of a pro-life activist whose home had been raided by dozens of FBI agents, here are five low points in 2023 for the bureau.

Ex-FBI agent colludes with Russian oligarch while investigating Trump-Russia collusion allegations

Former counterintelligence FBI special agent Charles McGonigal  who led New York's counterintelligence division and played a critical role in the alleged Trump-Russia collusion investigation  was earlier this month sentenced to four years in prison for charges related to colluding with a Russian oligarch.

McGonigal, 55, told a federal judge in New York City that he took more than $17,000 from Oleg Deripaska in exchange for collecting derogatory information on a different Russian oligarch. Additionally, prosecutors said the former federal agent helped remove Deripaska from the sanctions list.

EX-FBI LEADER INVOLVED IN TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE MAY CHANGE PLEA IN CHARGES FOR WORKING WITH RUSSIAN OLIGARCH

McGonigal's charges left a stain on the FBI's investigation, known as "Crossfire Hurricane," which looked into former President Trump's purported collusion with Moscow. The probe began months before Trump's 2016 campaign and came to an anticlimactic end with former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's highly anticipated congressional testimony in 2019.

Durham report blasts FBI's mission

In May, Special Counsel John Durham released a long-awaited final report to the Justice Department, which spans more than 300 pages of his years-long investigation into the origins of "Crossfire Hurricane." Durham found that both the DOJ and FBI "failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law" when it launched the Trump-Russia investigation.

FBI BLASTED FOR DEFENSIVE RESPONSE TO DURHAM REPORT: 'DOES ANYONE SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THIS?'

Special Counsel John Durham released his highly anticipated final report to the Justice Department, which spans more than 300 pages of his years-long investigation into the origins of the FBI's original, Trump-Russia investigation known as "Crossfire Hurricane."

Durham said his investigation also revealed that "senior FBI personnel displayed a serious lack of analytical rigor towards the information that they received, especially information received from politically-affiliated persons and entities."

The Biden treatment

While Trump and members of his inner circle remain at the center of several investigations, the bureau faced backlash for declining requests from House Republicans to release an unclassified FBI document that contained claims from an informant that President Biden was allegedly involved in foreign business dealings with his family.

But after the bureau balked for months to turn over the document to lawmakers, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, obtained the internal material  known as an FD-1023  and released it to the public. The document accused the FBI of improperly delaying or completely shutting down a full investigation into the Biden family.

FBI RECEIVED 'CRIMINAL INFORMATION' FROM OVER 40 CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES ON JOE BIDEN, HUNTER, JAMES: GRASSLEY

Multiple federal whistleblowers told Grassley's office that the FBI maintained more than 40 confidential human sources on various criminal matters related to the Biden family, including Joe Biden, dating back to his time as vice president. But, according to Grassley, an FBI task force within the Washington field office sought to, and in some cases successfully, shut down reporting and information from those sources by falsely discrediting the information as foreign disinformation. That effort "caused investigative activity to cease."

Pro-life activist fights back

When the FBI wasn't focused on  or allegedly turning a blind eye to  the White House, the bureau was slapped with a $1.1 million lawsuit in November brought by Catholic father and pro-life activist Mark Houck, who was arrested in his home in 2022 by FBI agents over a previous altercation outside a Planned Parenthood. A 12-person jury later unanimously acquitted Houck on all charges of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Houck filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department seeking restitution for what it called "a faulty investigation" and "excessive force" after a SWAT team of around 25 people arrested him in front of his children. The lawsuit alleges government agents deprived Houck of his Fourth Amendment rights by using excessive force to arrest him on non-violent charges.

PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST MARK HOUCK FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST BIDEN DOJ OVER ARREST

Catholic father and pro-life activist Mark Houck, second from left, filed a $1.1 million lawsuit in November against the FBI after authorities arrested him in his home in 2022 over a previous altercation outside a Planned Parenthood.

Memo allegedly targets Catholics

Perhaps the bureau's most shocking moment in 2023 came in February when former FBI agent Seraphin exposed an unclassified intelligence document from the FBI's Richmond field office in Virginia that appeared to target traditional Catholics as so-called potential domestic terrorists, which immediately forced the bureau's headquarters in Washington, D.C., to purge the anti-Catholic memo from its system.

After the bureau said it would "never conduct investigative activities or open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity," lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government launched an investigation into the FBI and discovered that the bureau interviewed a priest and a choir director affiliated with a Catholic church in Richmond, Virginia.

HEAVILY REDACTED RECORDS SHOW FBI'S TARGETING OF CATHOLICS WENT BEYOND WHAT IT CLAIMED: WATCHDOG

Lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government launched an investigation into the FBI and discovered the bureau interviewed a priest and a choir director affiliated with a Catholic church in Richmond, Virginia.

Steve Friend, a former FBI agent-turned-whistleblower and current senior fellow for the Center for Renewing America, told Fox News Digital that "the nation witnessed the FBI's further devolution into an increasingly politicized law enforcement agency" in 2023.

"Whether you are a Catholic worshiping at a Latin Mass, a parent speaking to your school board or a pro-lifer praying outside an abortion clinic, the FBI is cynically weaponizing its investigative processes to trample on the constitutional rights of those Americans who are disfavored by the ruling game," Friend said.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C., has become openly critical of the bureau in recent years, urging Congress to bring the agency under effective oversight and implement fundamental reformation.

"The FBI needs to be completely de-weaponized, and that would be the best thing not only for America but for the bureau itself," Mike Howell, director of the Oversight Project at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital. "Congress had a real chance to begin the process this year and chose not to."

"Whether it was the failure to set up a major Church Committee equivalent to begin a thorough audit, letting Director Wray off the hook on a contempt vote, inability to withhold a brand new Pentagon-sized headquarters, or advancing serious legislative reforms and appropriations cuts, Congress has time and time again affirmatively chosen to allow the FBI to continue more aggressively at its weaponized pace," Howell continued. "The failure to de-weaponize the FBI is a low point, not only for the country but for the bureau, which does not look like it will ever regain the trust of the American people."

But despite its growing disapproval, the 115-year-old federal agency, which currently employs approximately 38,000 agents, analysts and professionals, maintains that the bureau continues to carry out its broad mission to protect Americans and uphold the Constitution.

The FBI statement said the bureau in the last two years "seized enough fentanyl to kill 270 million people, which is more than 80% of all Americans.

"We pursued more than 2,000 active investigations into efforts by China to steal American innovation, and we worked around the clock to identify and disrupt potential attacks from violent extremists and foreign terrorist organizations," the statement continued. "We will continue to protect the Constitutional rights of all Americans, follow the facts wherever they lead, and speak through our work."

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.





Original article source: 5 FBI controversies of 2023 that shook faith in agency
The body of another person was found in Kyiv, bringing the death toll from Russia's morning attack on the capital to five, Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration reported at around 3:45 p.m. local time on Dec. 29.

Popko reported that the strike was "one of the most massive air strikes" Russia had ever unleashed on Ukraine. Russia launched a barrage of 158 attack drones and missiles overnight and in the early morning. Ukrainian air defense forces downed 114.

Over 18 civilians were killed and 132 were wounded across the country, according to the National Police.

In Kyiv, 30 people had been wounded, but casualty numbers may change as the search and rescue operation is ongoing, Popko said.

Several apartment buildings, warehouses, an office center, a residential house, and a metro station were damaged in different neighborhoods in Kyiv during the morning attack.

Traffic was blocked in some neighborhoods while emergency services carried out their work. The heating, water, and gas supply to the city was unaffected, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported.

There were no direct strikes on critical infrastructure or houses in Kyiv Oblast, but one person was injured and 11 homes were damaged as a result of falling debris, according to Kyiv Oblast Governor Ruslan Kravchenko.

Read also: Russia launches 158 drones, missiles at Ukraine, deaths reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
With a presidential election on the horizon and major questions facing the future of the news business, 2024 is likely to be a pivotal year for some of the countrys most prominent media personalities and executives.

Here are five figures across the media to watch in 2024.

Elon Musk

Musk spent much of 2023 as the center of major controversies and has shown no sign of moving away from the spotlight in the coming year.

The billionaire tech mogul is likely to drive news cycles for months to come over his handling of X, formerly known as Twitter, and near-constant commentary on political and cultural issues.

Musk notably will face a major crisis of his own making at X heading into 2024 with one recent analysis estimating a widespread advertiser boycott over Musks conduct could cost the company more than $75 million in lost revenue.

Musk himself acknowledged 2024 could be a difficult year for X because of the boycotts, going so far in a recent interview to say it could kill the company.

A businessman turned part-time online influencer who often spends time boosting conservative pundits and content creators on his newest tech toy, Musks political rhetoric and business decisions in 2024 will have meaningful consequences for both the companies he owns and the broader news-consuming public.

Mark Thompson

Thompson, who took over this year for embattled CNN chief Chris Licht, will have his work cut out for him in 2024.

Licht spent just more than a year on the job and oversaw the network during a time of near-constant internal strife, public criticisms over the channels tone and programming and sluggish ratings.

Thompson will be aiming to have a less rocky 2024 as CNN ramps up its coverage of next falls presidential election.

The network still faces major scrutiny over its coverage of former President Trump and conservatives, is likely to suffer further pain from increased cord-cutting and broadcasts multiple shows that rate among the lowest on any of the three major cable news networks.

Staffers have so far spoken positively of Thompson, whose arrival signals a new era at CNN that comes on the heels of a chaotic 2023 many at the network are happy to see come to an end.

Suzanne Scott

Fox News Medias CEO was at the helm of the network during its coverage of the 2020 election, portions of which resulted in a massive $787 million payment to Dominion Voting Systems to settle claims of defamation out of court more than two years later.

It was an embarrassing ordeal for Fox, which in 2024 will be looking to rebuild its reputation among mainstream media outlets while also retaining its status as the go-to channel for conservative commentary and opinions.

There are signs Fox is making an effort to move on from the Dominion saga, with Scott revamping the networks prime-time lineup and notching three big ratings wins late in 2023 with two widely watched prime time GOP debates and a similar event featuring Govs. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) and Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.).

Scott, as ever, will be under pressure in the coming year to deliver continued ratings dominance for the cable news leader without bending totally to the partisan leanings of Foxs largely conservative audience. Fox has been the top-rated cable channel for eight years and been the top-rated cable news outlet for more than two decades. A recent New York Times/Siena poll found 13 percent of viewers listed Fox as the news source they turned to most often compared to 10 percent who listed CNN and three percent who chose MSNBC.

Complicating matters for Scott will be the likely intensifying criticisms coming from Trump, whom Fox helped propel to the White House in 2016 but has more recently been on the receiving end of some of his sharpest complaints about the media.

Bob Iger

The coming year is likely to be chock-full of major tests for Disneys chief executive.

Observers in the news media specifically will be watching what Iger ultimately decides to do with its linear television arms, including ABC and ESPN, which he suggested this summer might not be part of the companys core business.

After adding a reported 7 million subscribers to its paid streaming service in 2023, how much further Iger pushes Disney into a streaming future will be among the biggest storylines surrounding the company in 2024.

More broadly, Iger is likely to face tough questions from shareholders about Disneys overall business strategy in an increasingly fragmented and unpredictable media environment.

Tucker Carlson

The former top-rated host on cable news, Carlson appears to be mounting an effort to stay relevant among political commentators heading into 2024 but without one key ingredient: the large megaphone he held at Fox.

After being ousted by the network in April, Carlson started a new media company of his own but has essentially lost the national GOP kingmaker status he enjoyed via his prime-time cable news perch.

Carlson has, however, been able to book interviews with and publish conversations online with some of the most popular figures on the right, including Trump.

How well Carlson can monetize his content and build his brand via his new venture is an open question.

But as Fox looks to rebuild its image amid the fallout of the Dominion lawsuit, and Carlson works to build a new following of his own, the brooding tensions between the two sides will be a dynamic to watch within conservative media in 2024.

Updated: 12:49 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Six people were arrested in Vancouver during a stolen vehicle operation which also included recovering firearms and fentanyl, authorities said.

According to Vancouver police, a joint stolen vehicle operation was conducted Thursday evening with the Clark County Sheriffs Office, Washington State Patrol Aviation Unit and the Clark County Prosecutors Office.

During the operation, authorities said they recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested one person for possession of a stolen vehicle.

Suspect arrested after Centennial standoff, shelter-in-place order lifted

Four other arrests were made on other people who were wanted for outstanding felony crimes and warrants. Another vehicle was also seized and is currently being investigated by the Vancouver Property Crimes Unit.

Officials shared that during one of the arrests, they spotted a non-plated vehicle from Vancouver, which was confirmed stolen by distinguishing features.

While being contacted by police, authorities said the driver of the vehicle attempted to flee on foot but after the use of a taser, they were taken into custody.

Inside the car, officers said they found a shaved key in the ignition as well as other known car prowl tools.

You feel violated: Artichoke music store struggling after multiple break-ins

One additional arrest was made during the stolen vehicle operation when officers served a warrant at the motel room of a 35-year-old Vancouver man who they said was suspected of distributing fentanyl, unlawfully possessing firearms and unlawfully possessing a stolen vehicle.

Inside the motel room, officers said they found 1,500 fentanyl pills, a half ounce of heroin, methamphetamine and a firearm.

Vancouver police say they will continue conducting stolen vehicle operations to reduce vehicle thefts and other crimes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Utah state officials including Gov. Spencer Cox and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, hold the flag during the raising of the new Utah state flag at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on May 17, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Ive been involved in politics for more than two decades now, and sometimes think I surely must have seen it all. Oh no. Theres always something out there to surprise me. Here are six of the political news stories that surprised me in 2023.

Utah

Flag controversy: Every legislative session, theres some unexpected bill that ends up garnering a lot of attention  and usually controversy. The year I was a member of the Legislature, for example, it was feral cats. Snowball, a Utah feral cat, even got her (his?) own Twitter channel.

This years surprisingly controversial bill, was, of all things, a flag. Utah kept its historic flag, but also added a new one, designed with public input and over 7,000 submissions of potential designs. But, there are people in our state who feel its disrespectful to replace the flag that has been around, in one version or another, since the 1920s. (The flag of 2022 is not Utahs original flag.) Committee meetings were heavily attended, and words like Marxist, woke and child sex trafficking were common. The ultra-conservative Sen. Dan McCay, R-Salt Lake, who sponsored the flag bill, was called a RINO (Republican in name only) and more. Who would have guessed?

Chris Stewart resigning: I was surprised to learn that Rep. Chris Stewart would be resigning from the U.S. House, especially since he was the senior member of the delegation and held some plum committee assignments. So few politicians can voluntarily walk away, so kudos to him. I was also somewhat surprised at Celeste Maloy winning at convention. She was not the favored candidate, but with 13 GOP candidates, you just never know. It wasnt just the number of candidates, either. Rural Utah voters really came through for their local candidate.

Sean Reyes not running: I thought for sure Sean Reyes was running again  if not for attorney general, then for Congress, or maybe even governor. But, as stories broke about his good friend Tim Ballard, Reyes couldnt separate himself from the fallout. To his credit, he said he believes the women who have come forward alleging that Ballard sexually harassed and assaulted them and has apologized to them.

Related

Mitt Romney: Im not all that surprised that Sen. Romney decided not to run again, given his votes to impeach then-President Donald Trump. What did surprise me was his decision to let a tell-all book be released while he still had a year to go in the Senate. From his less-than-friendly relationship with Sen. Mike Lee, to harsh words for other Senate colleagues on the events of Jan. 6, 2021, it would seem to me that Romney will find cool relationships even colder in this coming year. But he has fans, too, (Im one of them) who loved the book and his approach to politics and wanting to get stuff done in the U.S. Senate. Also, its apparent to me he just doesnt care what other people think of him at this point.

National

Flagging GOP support for Ukraine: This one really did surprise me. I understand war fatigue and that we can just tune out old news, but for a political party that used to look to leaders like Ronald Reagan, who called the former Soviet Union the Evil Empire, and who boldly told the Soviet leader to tear down this wall, to now equivocate on helping a sovereign nation not be completely overtaken and destroyed by a megalomaniac is not only surprising, its disappointing and dangerous. Have we forgotten World War II?

Thus far, we have kept our military men and women out of the fight, but Russia has made clear it does not intend to stop at Ukraine. Once a NATO country is attacked, the U.S. will be more heavily invested in protecting our allies. Friday, Poland reported that a Russian missile entered Polish airspace. Poland is a NATO country.

Santos out: Im not surprised theres a member of Congress who had some shady dealings. I was surprised that there were any legitimate consequences. Im cynical enough to see that most of the time, there is either no consequence at all, or theres a light slap on the wrist. To have George Santos expelled by the body did surprise me, even if it did take three attempts. Now, do Sen. Bob Menendez.

Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy.
A new surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border is overwhelming already-stretched resources and prompting urgent talks with Mexican officials as December border crossings reached a record monthly high.

Border authorities encountered more than 225,000 migrants along the US-Mexico border this month, marking the highest monthly total recorded since 2000, according to preliminary Homeland Security statistics shared with CNN. Over the course of the month, authorities dealt with more than 10,000 migrants crossing daily until more recently, when the numbers began to drop.

More than 11,700 migrant children are also in federal government custody, according to data released jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security.

The number of migrant children in Health and Human Services custody has jumped 6.5% since December 1, prompting the department to issue a news release Friday saying additional capacity is urgently needed to manage the increasing numbers of unaccompanied children arriving at the US southern border.

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is heading to Eagle Pass, Texas, along the southern border January 8 for an operational visit regarding immigration enforcement efforts, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday.

He will meet with officials with Customs and Border Protection as well as US Border Patrol and local officials.

Since last year, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has bused more than 92,000 migrants to cities across the country, according to his office. Those cities include Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, DC  all of which are led by Democratic mayors.

Even US cities far from the Mexican border are reaching a breaking point trying to manage the influx of migrants, several mayors told CNN on Friday.

The international crisis that we are experiencing right now is being subsidized by local economies, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told CNN This Morning Friday.

That is not sustainable, and thats why we need Congress to actually have appropriations to make sure that what refugees from Ukraine receive, we have to ask  why arent those same support services being provided for individuals who are coming from the continent of Africa and Central and South America?

The shelter system for migrants in Chicago has reached capacity, the mayor said. And without a coordinated solution, the migrant crisis is going to crush local economies, Johnson said.

Denver is expected to spend about 10% of its entire city budget on migrant shelter and aid next year, Mayor Mike Johnston said.

New York City has received more than 161,000 migrants since 2022, and the influx will likely cost an estimated $12 billion over three years, Mayor Eric Adams said.

This national crisis is impacting  and it has the potential to destabilize  the financial obligations that we have in our cities, Adams said.

He said New York City might reach a breaking point, which could include forced cutbacks to school programs, the police department, trash pickup and resources for senior citizens.

Every agency and delivery of service in my city is going to be drastically impacted by the actions of picking up the tab of $5 billion this fiscal year, $12 billion of three years, Adams said.

Abbotts office has defended Texas practice of busing migrants to other states, saying the busing mission is providing much-needed relief to our overwhelmed border communities.

As for the federal government, the Biden administration has acknowledged some mayors requests to help alleviate the shelter crisis and streamline work authorization for eligible noncitizens.

President Biden is committed to addressing this problem, thats why he submitted a supplemental funding request to Congress which includes additional resources to secure the border with more law enforcement, more grant funding for jurisdictions hosting migrants, and funding to accelerate the processing of work permits for eligible noncitizens, a White House spokesperson said.

DOJ says it will sue Texas over its new law

The Department of Justice has threatened to sue Texas over its new immigration law in a letter Thursday, according to a copy of the letter obtained by CNN. The threat marks the latest escalation between President Joe Biden and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over the handling of the US-Mexico border.

Earlier this month, Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law, giving local law enforcement the power to arrest migrants and empowering judges to remove migrants from the US. The measure is expected to take effect in March.

The White House slammed the new law, calling it incredibly extreme.

In a letter to Abbott, the DOJ argued the measure is preempted and violates the US Constitution and risks interfering with the federal governments ability to enforce immigration law.

Accordingly, the United States intends to file suit to enjoin the enforcement of SB 4 unless Texas agrees to refrain from enforcing the law, the letter, signed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, states. The United States is committed to both securing the border and ensuring the processing of noncitizens consistent with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). SB 4 is contrary to these goals.

Abbott slammed the Justice Departments letter later Thursday and accused President Joe Biden of destroying America.

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, Abbott said in a post on X. Ive never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America.

Thursdays legal threat comes after the Justice Department sued Texas over its use of floating barriers in the Rio Grande. The threat also comes after Texas sued the Biden administration over allegations federal agents were cutting razor wire in Eagle Pass put up by Abbotts border security initiative. Both lawsuits are still making their way through the courts.

7,000 arrests in a day mark a decrease

Border authorities apprehended more than 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. There has been a pretty significant reduction in border crossings in recent days, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

In early December, the seven-day average of daily encounters hovered around 9,600  a jump from late November, when the average stood at 6,800.

US and Mexican officials described high-level talks Wednesday as productive as Mexico moves to double down on immigration enforcement and crack down on human smugglers.

About 2,000 border arrests Wednesday took place in the Del Rio Sector, according to a law enforcement source.

The same source said total apprehensions Monday were about 2,000, a drop from the 3,000 daily average number of migrant apprehensions last week.

The Del Rio Sector includes Eagle Pass, Texas, which had thousands of migrants waiting outside to be transported for immigration processing last week.

Mexican officials will visit Washington

Mexican and US officials will meet in Washington next month to discuss curbing the influx of migrants into the US, according to the US National Security Council.

The visit will come after this weeks high-level US delegation visit to Mexico City, which included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

A National Security Council spokesperson called the trip productive and said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has taken significant new enforcement actions when it comes to migration.

Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena told reporters the talks also covered the importance of the economic relationship between the US and Mexico, as well as the root causes of migration, such as poverty, inequality, violence and family reunification, according to a recording provided to CNN by Mexicos foreign ministry.

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 US senior administration official said, and 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.

Many migrants coming from the Mexican side of the border are from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, Cuba and Haiti.

A migrant carries bags toward the US border fence from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Wednesday. - Christian Chavez/AP

Immigration has been a political vulnerability for Biden, who has faced fierce criticism from Republicans and even some members of his own party for the situation at the US-Mexico border.

US officials acknowledge more work needs to be done by both countries.

We continue to address the root causes and build on legal pathways that incentivize orderly migration and enforcement of our laws, a National Security Council official said.

The January meetings will assess progress and decide what more can be done, the National Security Council official said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Kevin Liptak and Antoine Sanfuentes contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
As the year winds down, we're taking a look back at some of the biggest stories in 2023.

Here are some of the Michigan stories that FOX 2 Detroit readers cared about most this year:

Abandoned dog seen wandering Detroit streets with stuffed toy rescued

A dog captured attention and broke hearts when she was spotted wandering Detroit with a stuffed toy earlier this year.

"Everybody was posting pictures in Detroit of who they were calling Nicholas, now Nikki because its a female, and of course started tagging Heather, South Lyon Murphy - can you help trap this dog?" said Katrina Weaver, the owner of It Is Pawzable Dog Training.

With teamwork, they were able to capture the German shepherd. Rescuers learned that Nikki's owner had recently died, leaving her to wander the streets alone with her favorite toy.

Nikki was heartworm positive, so she received treatment and went to a foster home.

Wynter Smith disappearance and death investigation

An Amber Alert over the summer ended murder charges against a man after the body of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith was found in Detroit.

Rashad Trice is accused of sexually assaulting and stabbing his ex-girlfriend before kidnapping her daughter Wynter on July 2. He was arrested July 3 after a chase in St. Clair Shores. When he was caught, Wynter was not with him, prompting the Amber Alert.

Wynter's body was found July 5 in a Detroit alley after phone location data led investigators to that area.

Trice is now facing numerous charges in three counties - Ingham, Wayne, and Macomb, along with federal charges.

He's due in court early next year.

Jet crashes at Thunder Over Michigan Airshow

A jet performing at the annual Thunder Over Michigan Airshow crashed over the summer and burst into flames outside a Belleville apartment.

According to the crash report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the fighter jet took off from Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti around 3:15 p.m. Aug. 13. The pilot told investigators that the plane made a "banana pass" (a low-level knife-edge pass) from the runway it departed before he banked the plane.

This is when the pilot noticed the engine afterburner did not ignite, and speed was decreasing. The pilot said he used swing wings to increase the plane's lift as he troubleshooted the issue.

As he worked to troubleshoot, the rear passenger said they needed to eject from the plane. However, the pilot did not want to yet. Both seats then ejected before the plane crashed at Waverly on the Lake apartments.

Warren police rescue boy who was electrocuted

A story from last year drew attention this year when video of a heroic rescue was released.

Warren Police Corp. Det. Daniel Rose and Officer David Chapman were honored this year with saving an 8-year-old boy who had been electrocuted in the summer of 2022.

When Rose and Chapman arrived at the scene for a different incident, they found the boy clinging to a downed wire.]

"When I picked him up first and brought him over he was shaking, you could feel him shaking," Chapman said. "We dont know what were going into, we just know that we have to do something."

They rushed the child to a hospital in the back of a squad car, saving his life.

Michigan State University shooter found dead

On Feb. 13, a man later identified as Anthony McRae, opened fire on Michigan State University's campus.

McRae killed three students - Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner - and injured five others.

It prompted an hours-long manhunt that ended in Lansing when McRae shot himself when confronted by police.

Authorities have said they don't know the motive for the shooting. A report released a few months after the shooting did say that McRae told a man he was beaten up by students three weeks before the campus attack. It's not clear if they were MSU students.

The man told police that McRae was attacked in downtown East Lansing where he would collect cans for cash. It isn't clear if that alleged attack had any correlation to the shooting.

The shooting led to calls for change at the university, and safety measures have been stepped up since it happened. McRae, who was not a student and had no connection to the school, was able to walk into two buildings.

According to the school, the university has improved the Family Assistance Center processes, expanded and centralized security cameras on campus, implemented a centralized security operations center, upgraded electronic building access, and updated door locks on campus.
Walter Ray Kyles III has spent most of the past six years in jail awaiting trial for the alleged violent beating and robbing of a man at gunpoint, leaving, then returning a few minutes later and killing his victim with several blasts from a semi-automatic rifle.

Earlier this month, Kyles, 34, got an early Christmas present when the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office suddenly dropped a slew of felony charges after a judge refused to give investigators more time to find a key witness.

The judge would no longer grant a continuance. Thats what led to the case being dropped, said State Attorney spokesman Ed Griffith. An essential witness could not be located.

Kyles attorney called the states decision just and said his client was home watching a movie when Victor Carter was killed. He claims the state has been dragging its feet with the witness for years and said his client intends on filing a lawsuit against the state for several civil rights violations.

After making him sit in jail for more than five years, the state shows up and dismisses the case. He walks out a free man and has Christmas with his family, said attorney Michael Pizzi. We have been saying for over five years that the alleged eye witnesss identification was never valid. This case should have been dismissed a long time ago.

Searches for Carters family members this week were fruitless. Carter, who was 46 when he was killed, struggled in and out of homelessness before his life ended on a Brownsville street. The charges were dropped Dec. 4.

Home for Christmas

Kyles couldnt be reached this week, but his mother said he was grateful to be able to spend the holidays with family and his kids.

I feel blessed to finally have my son home with his family and especially his children this Christmas, his mom Tanya Pollack Kyles said. Kyles has three children, ages 6, 7 and 9.

Before the January 2018 shooting death of Carter that led to Kyles lock-up, the Tallahassee-native had been in and out of jail for years, but mostly for non-violent offenses, like drug possession or traffic violations.

That all changed just after midnight on Jan. 8, 2018. Thats when, Miami police say, after being alerted to gunfire outside a home at 4401 NW 14th Ave., they found Carter dead in a pool of blood. His girlfriend at the time managed to scramble away and was allegedly the key witness the state has been trying to get to testify ever since.

Kyles was soon taken into custody and charged with 10 felonies, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

According to police, the unidentified woman provided a recorded statement saying she and Carter were asleep inside the home when Kyles and two other men busted through the door and ordered them onto the ground while pointing guns and assault rifles at them. When Carter began to argue, the woman told police, Kyles hit him in the head with a gun several times.

The woman said Kyles then ordered the two of them out of the house and hauled away a television set and some other items in the home and drove off. But he returned less than a minute later, got out of the backseat of the vehicle and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, the woman said.

She ran off safely. Carter was struck several times in his upper body and head. He was killed immediately. Police say she identified Kyles in a sequential lineup. They also said they obtained surveillance video of a subject matching the physical description of the defendant, armed with what appeared to be rifle...

Pizzi says his client was never at the crime scene and that investigators pressured the woman to identify Kyles after a failed first attempt.

Kyles was not on the surveillance video. His fingerprints and DNA were not at the scene or on any weapons. And more importantly, she never identified Kyles, the attorney said.
Patricia Arquette and Joey King star as Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard in 'The Act.' Hulu

Hulu's original series "The Act" is based on the real story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

Gypsy Rose (Joey King) pled guilty to the murder of her mom, Dee Dee Blanchard (Patricia Arquette).

Gypsy Rose said she was abused by her mother, who likely had a condition called Munchausen by proxy.

Hulu's original series "The Act" is based on the real murder of Dee Dee Blanchard, whose daughter Gypsy Rose eventually pled guilty to second-degree murder.

After her death, it was revealed that Dee Dee forcibly kept her daughter in a child-like state and convinced everyone  including many doctors  that Gypsy Rose suffered from a variety of diseases.

Hulu's dramatized take on their tragic relationship was based on a BuzzFeed article by Michelle Dean, who adapted the series with Nick Antosca. It's the second retelling of the 2015 murder, following HBO's documentary "Mommy Dead and Dearest."

When the Hulu show premiered in 2019, it earned positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised the moving performances. At the 71st Emmy Awards, Patricia Arquette won outstanding supporting actress in a limited series for her role as Dee Dee, while Joey King's portrayal of Gypsy Rose earned a nomination for outstanding lead actress in a limited series.

Interest in the case was recently reignited after Gypsy Rose, now 32, was released from prison after serving eight years of her sentence.

Here's how the cast of "The Act" compares to the real-life people.

Patricia Arquette (left) plays Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard.

Dee Dee was 48 years old when she was killed. Hulu

When Arquette made her on-screen debut as Dee Dee, she was fresh from her win at the Golden Globes for her role in Showtime's limited series "Escape at Dannemora."

Dee Dee was found dead in her bed on June 14, 2015. She had been stabbed several times in her sleep.

Experts speculate that Dee Dee had a condition called Munchausen by proxy.

Dee Dee is always holding Gypsy's hand in footage of the two together. KYTV / via HBO

To the public's knowledge, Dee Dee was never evaluated by a mental health professional during her life, and she cannot be posthumously diagnosed. However, multiple doctors and therapists who have studied this case say her symptoms are consistent with a rare mental illness called Munchausen by proxy, which is a form of abuse.

Caretakers who have Munchausen by proxy will pretend the person in their care is ill or unable to function independently, and will usually inflict illness or pain on purpose.

According to MedlinePlus, most people with this problem are mothers with small children. It's very uncommon for the abuse to continue for as long as it did for Gypsy, who was under her mother's thumb well into adulthood.

Joey King plays Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was a victim of her mother's abuse.

Gypsy has said she didn't realize that she was being abused for most of her life. CZ Post/Hulu

According to Gypsy, the abuse she suffered was both psychological and physical. In HBO's documentary, clinical psychologist Dr. Marc Feldman compared Gypsy's situation to that of a hostage.

Gypsy's mother made her believe she was much younger, mentally and physically.

Dee Dee claimed that Gypsy was mentally "slow" and had her take multiple unnecessary medications. HBO

Gypsy was born in 1991. She was 23 when she conspired to kill her mother.

But Dee Dee would claim that Gypsy had the mental capacity of a 7-year-old girl. Dee Dee also told Gypsy she was much younger, sometimes citing different birth years.

The Blanchards' friends and family, including Gypsy's father, believed that Gypsy was confined to a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy. According to BuzzFeed, tests for muscular dystrophy repeatedly came back negative, and Gypsy was aware she could walk by the time she was arrested.

Dee Dee also falsely claimed that Gypsy had been diagnosed with other diseases and mental illnesses, including leukemia, asthma, and infections that required multiple surgeries on her eyes, ears, and throat.

The show includes scenes after Gypsy's arrest.

Gypsy pled guilty to second-degree murder. Hulu

The day after the murder, Gypsy and her boyfriend took a bus to Wisconsin, but they were apprehended shortly after.

Gypsy was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2016 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Texts and online communication revealed that she had asked her boyfriend to carry out the crime.

Gypsy admitted to the murder shortly after her arrest.

Gypsy was 23 when her mother was killed. Springfield Police Department

Gypsy's attorney, Michael Stanfield, told BuzzFeed that she gained 14 pounds in the 12 months she spent in Greene County Jail before her plea; most inmates lose weight due to the poor food quality, which seems to indicate that Gypsy had been malnourished when living with her mother.

At the time, Gypsy's stepmother Kristy Blanchard told the Springfield News-Leader that her stepdaughter was "thriving" in prison.

"Despite everything, she still tells me that she's happier now than with her mom," Kristy said. "And that if she had a choice to either be in jail, or back with her mom, she would rather be in jail."

Calum Worthy plays Nicholas Godejohn, Gypsy's then-boyfriend, whom she met online.

Gypsy met Godejohn on a Christian dating site. Hulu

Gypsy asked Godejohn to kill her mother.

"Honey, you forget I am ruthless, and my hatred of her will force her to die," Godejohn texted Gypsy before the murder. "It's my evil side doing it. He won't mess up, because he enjoys killing."

Godejohn was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Godejohn was 26 years old when he killed Dee Dee. Springfield Police Department

Godejohn was sentenced by a judge in Greene County, Missouri in 2019.

AnnaSophia Robb plays Lacey, Gypsy's friend.

Robb starred in "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Soul Surfer." CZ Post/Hulu

In the trailer for "The Act," Gypsy tells Lacey that she met her "Prince Charming" when she begins talking to Godejohn online.

Lacey appears to be based on Aleah Woodmansee, Gypsy's real-life friend and neighbor.

Woodmansee appeared in HBO's documentary, "Mommy Dead and Dearest." HBO

"She would show interest in different boys and try to ask me advice on like, you know, 'How do you approach them? How do you, like, kiss a boy?' Gypsy just wanted to be a regular teen," Woodmansee said during an appearance on ABC's "20/20."

Chloe Sevigny plays Mel, the Blanchards' neighbor, though it's unclear whether she has a real-life counterpart.

In "The Act," Mel is a single mother who's suspicious of Dee Dee. CZ Post/Hulu

Chloe Sevigny plays Mel, the mother of Robb's character Lacey.

"We found it challenging," Sevigny told Collider. "Gypsy and Dee Dee are based on real people, and there's so much there. There's so much of that story they need to tell. We were obviously supposed to be a device for the storytelling."

"We were supposed to be the normal family," she continued. "We're also the observers and the audience. How do we help propel the story? What can we do, as actors and as characters, to show the opposite of what's going on, in this house across the street?"

Read the original article on Insider
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine on the night of 28-29 December, and the threat still remains as of 09:00.

Source: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Quote: "The enemy launched a large-scale attack using various means. In fact, everything was launched... except for Kalibr cruise missiles. Otherwise, we saw Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and other ballistic missiles, S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and cruise missiles, which are still on our radar. In addition, Shahed attack drones were also used.

The enemy also used Kh-22/32 missiles, and about 18 Tu-95 strategic bombers were also used (according to early reports, they carried and launched Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles).

In fact, we can see that the enemy carried out a powerful attack. Air defence systems shot down a lot of targets in oblasts, but, unfortunately, there were also casualties. This will be reported on later.

We haven't seen so many red [targets] on our monitors for a long time...

At first, they conducted reconnaissance with Shahed drones, then launched missiles of various types. As per usual, they circled around potential places where they could be shot down. They were flying around the oblast, coming in from the other side and striking."

Details: Ihnat reiterated that Kh-22/32 missiles, in particular, fly on a ballistic trajectory, and special assets (such as Patriot systems) are needed to intercept them. More than 300 of these missiles have been used by the Russians since the full-scale invasion. None of these missiles have been shot down. The Russians are mainly using them in the south and east of Ukraine.

Ihnat stressed that the air-raid warning map is still all red and called for compliance with security protocol and for people to stay in shelters until the all-clear is given.

Updated: The Ukrainian Air Force gave the all-clear in oblasts at 09:37.

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Its hard to go a week without a new story about nightmare children and their entitled parents hitting the headlines.

The latest of these divisive pieces, which often spark firece debate, centres around a European airline which has begun testing adult-only zones on its flights.

Corendon Dutch Airlines is set to pilot the idea on flights from Amsterdam to the Caribbean. It confirmed reserving a seat in the child-free section will cost an extra 45 per flight, rising to 100 for extra-large seats.

Atilay Uslu, chairman and founder of Corendon, said the airline is trying to appeal to travellers looking for some extra peace of mind during their flight.

Reaction to the news has been split, with some parents offended by the scheme altogether. Others have been supportive of the pilot, with both parents and child-free travellers alike keen on no-children zones or flights.

We want to know what you think. Are child-free flights a good idea? Would you be happy to pay more to sit in a child-free zone?

Should some flights be adult-only anyway? Or is there another solution to keep both child-free travellers and families happy?

If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments and well highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.

All you have to do is sign up and register your details - then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines , which can be found here . For a full guide on how to comment click here.

Join the conversation with other Independent readers below or by clicking here.
Kwa Hill of Akron lights a third candle for Ujima, the principle celebrated on the third day of Kwanzaa signifying collective work and responsibility, at the Gus Johnson Community Center in Akron on Thursday. Kwanzaa is seven-day celebration of African-American culture from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

The sound of drums filled the Gus Johnson Community Center in West Akron Thursday as about 100 people gathered to recognize the importance of collective work and responsibility, or Ujima, the third principle of Kwanzaa.

At one point during the event  one of seven scheduled between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 as a celebration of family, community, culture and the seven principles of Kwanzaa  participants stood to offer proverbs highlighting those values.

"We cant teach what we dont know, and we cant lead where we cant go," said one.

Xavier, 8 looks over at the other drummers as he joins with his grandfather Kwame Williams (not pictued) during the celebration of Ujima, the principle celebrated on the third day of Kwanzaa signifying collective work and responsibility, at the Gus Johnson Community Center in Akron on Thursday. Kwanzaa is seven-day celebration of African-American culture from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

The Akron Kwanzaa Ujima Celebration, hosted by Akron's Project Ujima, focused on work done to bring the community together. Two long-time members of the organization were recognized with the Crystal L. Jones Collective Work & Responsibility Award, named after one of the organization's co-founders.

Sondra "Esi" Bryant was honored for her work in helping children learn to read. Terrence "Kwabena" Shelton was honored for his work with discussion circles, where community members meet to iron out issues and come to a consensus on solutions.

"I just serve," Bryant said. "I'm committed to the mission of the community and the definition of collective work and responsibility."

She said her recent volunteer work focuses on improving literacy in the community by featuring books by African American authors to help young people "learn who they are and establish a sense of pride."

Like Bryant, Shelton has worked with Project Ujima since its inception in 2011.

"I've been doing circle work for years under various types of circumstances with deliberative dialogues, peace circles, mythological drumming circles," he said, adding he's tried to focus on making change in the community.

2020: Akron's Kwanzaa celebration caps year of extraordinary challenges

Project Ujima Executive Director LaKesh Hayes called the principles of Kwanzaa "a way of life for the African people in African community."

LaKesh Hayes, left, executive director of Project Ujima, watches as elder Thomas Smart Jr., 86, sprinkles water on a plant for a libation ceremony during the celebration Ujima, the principle celebrated on the third day of Kwanzaa signifying collective work and responsibility, at the Gus Johnson Community Center in Akron on Thursday. Kwanzaa is seven-day celebration of African-American culture from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

"The seven principles actually surround you  it's not just the last seven days of the year that we should be thinking about how we use those principles in our everyday lives to guide us and our family relationships, or friend relationships and our work relationships and our community," she said.

The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba," include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Origins of Kwanzaa

According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, California State University professor and activist Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 for four reasons:

To reaffirm and restore African heritage and culture;

To introduce and reinforce the "Nguzo Saba," or seven principles;

To serve as a nationally celebrated communal and non-heroic holiday; and

As an act of cultural self-determination.

Karenga based the holiday on African harvest festivals, with the East African language Swahili used to highlight principles shared across the continent and among people in the diaspora caused by the slave trade.

Debra Calhoun, co-chair of the Akron African American Cultural Association, said Kwanzaa has lessons for all cultures.

"Whether it's the values system, whether it's the idea of being responsible for oneself and making that responsibility at a larger level, it's things that everybody, every culture, every immigrant, if you will, has .... This is how we're going to move and groove if we're going to do what we need to do here," Calhoun said. "We have to work as a unit, and that unit starts as an individual as well as a larger level."

She also noted that an increasing number of families today are multi-cultural.

Likewise, John Fuller, the other co-chair of the Akron African American Cultural Association, said the Kwanzaa celebration can be seen as a celebration of culture as relevant as an Irish or Italian festival.

More: From homeless to head of class

A local celebration of global values

Thursday's celebration included the seating of elders, including respected members of the community such as Ohio State Sen. Vernon Sykes and Summit County Council District 5 Rep. Veronica Sims.

Mary Anderson sings the Black national anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," during the celebration of Ujima, the principle celebrated on the third day of Kwanzaa signifying collective work and responsibility, at the Gus Johnson Community Center in Akron on Thursday. Kwanzaa is seven-day celebration of African-American culture from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

The crowd also joined in singing what is known as the Black national anthem, a hymn written as a poem titled "Lift Every Voice and Sing." It was composed by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900 to commemorate President Abraham Lincoln's birthday and was prominently used as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Lathardus Goggins II, co-chair of the Akron NAACP chapter's Kwanzaa Planning Committee, said Kwanzaa is meant to bring African culture back to people who for centuries were prohibited by law from expressing their own culture.

Goggins hosted Friday's celebration, Ujamaa  or cooperative economics  in conjunction with the Akron chapter of the Urban League at the Bounce Innovation Hub.

Friday's celebration featured Black entrepreneurs, with the goal of encouraging the Black community to support local businesses and keep money circulating within the community.

In decades past, the celebration of Kwanzaa in Akron was hosted by homeowners who often had standing-room only crowds as the week-long celebration moved from house to house.

Eventually, they encouraged organizations to sponsor and host the events, which resulted in even larger audiences.

The week's celebration began Tuesday with a celebration of unity (Umoja), hosted and sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Wednesday's event recognized self-determination (Kujichagulia), hosted and sponsored by Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Following the Thursday and Friday events celebrating Ujima and Ujamaa, the 6 p.m. event Saturday will recognize purpose (Nia) at the 8 Point Bistro, 1912 Buchholzer Blvd., sponsored by Guys and Gals Inc.

Sunday's celebration will mark creativity (Kuumba) at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3300 Morewood Road. It is sponsored by the Greater Akron-Canton Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers.

The final day is Monday, celebrating faith (Imani), which will be a Zoom meeting hosted by the Kanuni Tribe, an organization devoted to providing community cultural events and education with a focus on African heritage. The meeting ID is 814 7931 9812, or dial 1-646-931-3860. Those interested in attending can also contact Kwa Hill at 330-322-9630.

Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron organizations join forces to celebrate Kwanzaa, African culture
An Amber Alert for a mother and daughter who were forced into a white SUV in Saco, Maine, on Thursday morning was called off overnight after they were found safe, authorities said.

Three-year-old Angie Rodondi and her mother 35-year-old Norma Rodondi Jimbikt, who live in the Biddeford area, were forced into a white Ford Explorer with a New York registration by a man around 11:30 a.m., according to Maine State Police.

The vehicle was seen crossing into New York state at 3:41 p.m. The Amber Alert was ultimately canceled around 1 a.m. Friday.

Norma Rodondi Jimbikt and her daughter Angie Rodond have been safely located, state police wrote in a Facebook post.

State police shared no other information on the situation that prompted the alert.

There were no additional details immediately available.

AMBER ALERT UPDATE Norma Rodondi Jimbikt and her daughter Angie Rodond have been safely located. AMBER ALERT The... Posted by Maine State Police on Thursday, December 28, 2023

Amber Alert update from Saco Maine Police.

12:36am pic.twitter.com/L4k5juIZOp   Lakes Region Maine Fire Rescue News (@lakeregionfire1) December 29, 2023

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AMC Theaters has apologized to the Rev. William J. Barber II, a minister and prominent civil rights leader, after he was booted out of a screening of The Color Purple at one of its North Carolina theaters this week. The 60-year-old said the incident had occurred at a Tuesday afternoon screening in Greenville that hed attended with his 90-year-old mother. His assistant attempted to set up a special chairwhich Barber uses to manage a painful form of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitisin the handicapped section of the theater, only to be told by a theater employee that he was not allowed. When Barber refused to remove the chair, theater staff called the local police. Barber said he agreed to leave voluntarily and that no charges were filed. A video of the incident shared by the reverend with The New York Times reportedly showed a police officer escorting Barber out of the theater, thanking him for his cooperation and apologizing for the way this turned out. AMC Theaters said in a statement to ABC 11 that it sincerely apologized to Barber for the way he was treated, saying that it was reviewing its policies with its theater teams. Adam Aron, the chains chairman and CEO, has also called Barber and arranged to meet with him in Greenville next week, the company said.

Read it at ABC 11

Read more at The Daily Beast.
An elderly American teacher originally thought to have been captured alive by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel was actually killed by the terrorist group that day, her kibbutz said Thursday.

The body of Judith Weinstein, a 70-year-old American-Canadian-Israeli citizen, is still being held in Gaza by Hamas, Kibbutz Nir Oz said in a statement, according to the BBC. Its unclear how the kibbutz determined details about her death.

Weinstein, who was initially believed to have been the oldest hostage taken by Hamas, was a poet, entrepreneur, and pursued many initiatives to advance peace in the region, the kibbutz said, adding that she was a mother of four and grandmother of seven who taught English to children with special needs.

Weinsteins family also released a statement.

We are heartbroken by the murder of our mother and grandmother Judy Weinstein Haggai, an American-Israeli-Canadian citizen. Judy was a mother of four, a grandmother of seven, and an active community member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, the family said, according to The Hill.

The kibbutz confirmed last week that Weinsteins husband, 73-year-old American-Israeli Gad Haggai, was also among the Oct. 7 fatalities.

Judith Weinstein and her husband Gad Haggai feature on a poster of missing Israelis.

Judith Weinstein and her husband Gad Haggai feature on a poster of missing Israelis.

President Joe Biden spoke out Thursday in honor of Weinsteins memory.

Jill and I are devastated to learn that American Judith Weinstein is also believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7, he said in a statement. 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.

Biden added that hes been in touch with the couples children.

They have been living through hell for weeks, he said. 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.

Kibbutz Nir Oz, which is near Israels border with Gaza, was among the hardest hit Israeli communities in the Oct. 7 attack, though exact death and kidnapping totals remain unclear. In total, Hamas has killed more than 1,000 Israelis. Of the 240 hostages it took, around 100 remain in the groups custody.

Israeli forces, meanwhile, have killed more than 20,000 Palestinians in an aggressive response to the attack funded in part by American tax dollars. Despite U.S. resistance, the United Nations passed a resolution aimed at increasing humanitarian aid for Gaza last week.

Related...
Andrew Malkinson has revealed that he faced resistance from prison staff over studying for an Open University degree.

Mr Malkinson, who served 17 years for a rape that he did not commit, made the comments while guest editing BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Friday.

He said: People wont want to hear this but the [prison] staff didnt really like us doing higher education.

There was resistance and made all kinds of problems over small matters that werent really important. I felt they were putting obstacles in the way so there was a lot of frustration, but I was determined to get through it.

Mr Malkinson, 57, was jailed in 2004 for an attack on a woman in Salford, serving almost two decades in prison before his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in July.

He kept his mind busy while incarcerated by studying for an Open University degree in maths and science. Im a nerd, he previously told The Telegraph. I love mathematics.

His wrongful imprisonment is now the subject of a government inquiry that will investigate why he remained in jail when DNA linking another man to the rape was uncovered by forensic scientists three years into his sentence.

Mr Malkinson's conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in July - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, said that Mr Malkinson deserved thorough and honest answers about why it took so long to uncover the atrocious miscarriage of justice.

Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, told the Today programme that he wasnt surprised to hear prison staff were resistant to inmates studying for higher education.

It was depressing to hear it, he said, adding: You got a sense from that brilliant interview from Andrew that he got such an enormous amount out of doing that degree, he said it was one of the things that kept him sane while he was doing this extraordinarily long sentence.

Asked why this might be the case, Mr Taylor said: I think there tends to be a lowest common denominator with prison education very often so if you fit the mould of a certain type of prisoner with level one type skill then theres usually provision in place for you.

But if youre the most needy, like a prisoner who cant read, then provision for prisoners who cant read is not good enough.

'When the truth came out, I got even more angry.'#R4Today guest editor Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit, tells @JustinOnWeb that he is still trying to process his sense of outrage.  BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) December 29, 2023

Mr Malkinsons guest editing of the Today programme focused on the psychological impacts of wrongful detention, the barriers to education in prison and how his passion for science and astronomy brought him strength and resilience while incarcerated.

Speaking about his case, Mr Taylor said: A lesser man would have just turned around and accepted the original sentence, said that he was guilty and taken it on the chin and got out many years ago.

But its an amazing testament to Andrews extraordinary tenacity that he just simply wasnt prepared to do that, he wanted justice to be done, and Im delighted to say it finally has been.

The Chief Inspector of Prisons added that he remained really concerned about the thousands of prisoners in Britain who are not getting anything like the levels of access to education that we need.

He said that a lack of access to education for inmates may mean that they will re-offend when released because they havent got the skills to get employment when they come out.

Mr Malkinson has said that compensation claims for his wrongful imprisonment could take years to resolve, and he is now waiting for the outcome of the first of two major inquiries into his treatment.

The Telegraph has contacted the Prison Officers Association for comment.

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A Connecticut-based animal advocacy organization has petitioned the federal government to classify an animal that lives in a Long Island Sound as an endangered species.

The goal is to create an effective and uniform method to protect these (the Atlantic horseshoe crab) species from exploitation and to protect them from extinction, said Jennifer Best, the director of Friends of Animals Wildlife Law Program.

This month, Friends of Animals submitted a petition to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to list the Atlantic horseshoe crab as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act  a designation that would prohibit the killing of horseshoe crabs without a permit on the eastern seaboard.

The petition argues that current protections under a Fisheries Management Plan are incapable of protecting horseshoe crabs from overfishing, habitat loss and bleeding by the pharmaceutical industry, which they say is driving the species to extinction.

In Connecticut, the horseshoe crab population has deteriorated since the early 2000s. Last year, researchers from Sacred Heart University labeled Long Island Sounds horseshoe crab as functionally extinct.

This summer, Connecticut enacted a statewide ban on horseshoe crab harvests, joining New Jersey and parts of Delaware and South Carolina in expanding protections.

While Best said state-level regulations are important, she emphasized the need for uniform horseshoe crab conservation at the federal level. According to the Friends of Animals petition, research has shown that when one region strengthens its regulations, other regions experience corresponding increases in harvest rates.

Unfortunately, if one state has some regulations and surrounding states dont, then the industries can kind of shift and still collect just as many horseshoe crabs, Best said.

More than 750,000 Atlantic horseshoe crabs were harvested as whelk and eel bait in 2021, according to Friends of Animals

Over the next 40 years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species projects that Atlantic horseshoe crab populations will shrink 100% in the Gulf of Maine, 92% in New England, 11% in New York, 55% in Florida Atlantic and 32% in Northeast Gulf of Mexico.

Friends of Animals said this isnt just bad news for the horseshoe crab. The population decline is also detrimental to the shore birds and other marine life that rely on horseshoe crabs and their eggs for food, including the endangered Red Knot bird and the Atlantic loggerhead turtle.

Surviving five mass extinctions and three ice ages, Horseshoe crabs are somewhat of an evolutionary marvel. According to biologists, the living fossils have remained practically indistinguishable from their ancient ancestors of almost half a billion ago.

It would be devastating for human exploitation to be the end of the species that has been around for so long, Best said.

Ironically, a key evolutionary asset to the horseshoe crab is now a top contributor to its declining numbers. Horseshoe crabs distinct blue blood is incredibly adept at protecting the body from infection. When its immune cells detect a toxic bacteria, the blood coagulates, trapping the intruder.

For the last 50 years, the compound responsible for this reaction, limulus amebocyte lysate, has been the standard for bacterial contamination screenings of all vaccines, pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices.

Each year bleeding labs collect hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs, drawing roughly a third of a crabs blood volume before releasing it back into the wild. An estimated 15% to 30% die in the process, conservationists say. The ones who survive can experience significant changes, including decreased reproductive fitness.

Its a multimillion-dollar industry, with some analysts reporting the cost of blue blood at $60,000 a gallon.

According to Friends of Animals, bleeding labs collected 637,029 horseshoe crabs in 2019  a 30% increase from the previous year. They said the demand for blue blood has continued to rise, writing in the petition that the three-fold increase in vaccine production from 2019 to 2021 in response to COVID-19 likely resulted in a proportionate increase in horseshoe crab harvest.

Horseshoe crab advocates argue that the blue blood harvest is unnecessary when synthetic endotoxin detectors are available. A non-animal-derived alternative entered the commercial market in 2003, but the FDA did not approve a drug tested with this synthetic reagent until 2018.

While Best said these blue-blood alternatives are widely used in Europe, they have yet to catch on in the U.S.

There needs to be a little push from the regulation side to make sure that people are using that safe, alternative route, rather than exploiting horseshoe crabs, Best said.

She said that the U.S. could limit pharmaceutical use of horseshoe crabs by listing them under the Endangered Species Act.

We are hoping that theyd be protected wherever theyre found, and if they were (listed as) endangered then they couldnt be taken without a specific permit, Best said. That would apply not just to fish bait industries, but also to the pharmaceutical industries.

Best explained that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has 90 days to review the petition and determine whether a listing under the Endangered Species Act may be warranted.

If the petition passes this step, it advances to a months-long data review and a 60-day comment period for the public, species specialists, other experts and federal and state agencies.

Best said that if everything follows the timeline, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could issue a ruling within the next year.

An Endangered Species Act listing is critical, Best said, for the survival of the Atlantic horseshoe crab and the species that rely on it.

(Horseshoe crabs) play an important role in helping ensure the health of the Atlantic-state coastal ecosystem, Best said. They have been around for millions of years, and I think we should do the best we can to protect them for the future.
An army of shoppers flooded one Apple Valley Rite Aid store to grab heavily discounted products after discovering the company planned to shutter the location.

On Thursday, store employees at the pharmacy store on the corner of Highway 18 and Navajo Road in Apple Valley told the Daily Press the store will permanently close on Jan. 22.

Employees also explained that shelves with yellow banners would disclose discounts of 50 to 70% on select items.

The sun is ready to set on one Apple Valley Rite Aid after the company announced they will permanently shutter the location in January.

At one point, over 20 people were in line with shopping carts loaded with makeup, hair supplies, cleaning items, food, candy, toys, cleaning supplies and more.

Several cars were also lined up to pick up prescriptions at the stores drive-through window.

It makes me sad that this Rite Aid is closing, Apple Valley resident Rebecca Cortez said. People will lose jobs and the Village will have another empty building to get vandalized.

Cortez, along with several shoppers, said the building property needs to be quickly occupied, but not with a gas station or car wash.

Bankruptcy filing

An army of shoppers flooded one Apple Valley Rite Aid store to grab heavily discounted products after discovering the location will permanently close in January.

The Apple Valley Rite Aid dodged the closing bullet in October when Rite Aid officials said they didn't have immediate plans to close stores in the High Desert as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

At that time, Rite Aid officials announced plans to shutter more than 150 locations, 31 in California, after the company filed for bankruptcy protection.

As part of the bankruptcy process, Rite Aid confirmed that it would be closing underperforming stores, according to court documents.

Nine High Desert stores were spared at that time, including three in Victorville, two in Hesperia, two in Apple Valley, one in Phelan and one in Barstow.

An army of shoppers flooded one Apple Valley Rite Aid store to grab heavily discounted products after discovering the location will permanently close in January.

The other Apple Valley Rite Aid is located near the corner of Bear Valley Road and Jess Ranch Parkway.

The timeline of the 31 store closures had not been determined and was subject to change, according to court documents.

We are committed to delivering the leading healthcare products and services that you expect from us, company officials wrote. You can still find what you are looking for at our stores and fill your prescriptions at our pharmacies.

Company officials had proposed to close as many as 500 of its more than 2,000 stores according to the Associated Press.

Rite Aids Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey cited $8.6 billion in total debts and $7.6 billion in assets.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Apple Valley Rite-Aid to permanently close in January
An area police force is investigating an officers use of force after a video of an arrest appeared on social media.

>> Dash cam video shows moments before crash that killed 2, including Preble Co. deputy

The Oxford Division of Police opened the investigation after a TikTok video showed Officer Mathew Blauvelt striking 20-year-old Miami University student Devin Johnson in the face during an arrest, according to our media partners in Cincinnati, WCPO-9 TV.

Blauvelt has since been placed on administrative leave as the investigation is ongoing.

On Nov. 18, Oxford police responded to calls for assistance at Brick Street Bar around 1:30 a.m.

According to a statement from the division, Johnson entered the bar through an exit and pushed past a female staff member. He was then confronted by the bar manager.

The bar manager said he sustained injuries after Johnson allegedly assaulted him.

Johnson reportedly refused to leave the bar and once they got him outside, an altercation occurred, the statement reads.

One officer arrived on scene and observed Johnson resisting the bar staffs efforts to restrain him. The officer had to call for backup to complete the arrest.

>> DeWine vetoes transgender medical care, sports bill

The division is investigating the use of force during this arrest to see if it was reasonable within their policy, according to the statement.

The department originally reviewed the November arrest but said they didnt have the camera angle seen on social media.

WCPO reported that the original video was posted by a relative of Johnson but has since been taken down. The video was captured on the bars security cameras, but the person who allegedly posted the original footage did not have permission to do so.

We understand that this video is troubling for many to watch and has caused concern in our community, the statement read.

After he was arrested, Johnson was taken to the Oxford police station without issue.

Johnson was issued a court summons for assault, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, and underage intoxication. He is scheduled to be in court on Jan. 25.

Our media partners reached out to Johnsons lawyer and are awaiting a response.

We ask the public to allow the review processes to be completed and not spread misinformation on social media, the statement read.

>> Officers, medics respond to a vehicle crashed into a building in Dayton

Miami University has also issued a statement, saying the university has been in touch with Johnson and his representative to offer support.

In a statement, the Fraternal Order of Police, Hamilton Lodge said they stand with Blauvelt and the other officers that responded to the scene.

The actions of the suspect required the officers to use the type of force that was used, the FOP statement read.
President-elect Javier Milei waves during a joint session of Congress to officially declare him and his running mate winners of the presidential runoff election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

BUENOS AIRES (AP)  Argentina formally announced Friday that it won't join the BRICS bloc of developing economies, the latest in a dramatic shift in foreign and economic policy by Argentina's new far-right populist President Javier Milei.

In a letter addressed to the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa  all members of the alliance  Milei said the moment was not opportune" for Argentina to join as a full member. The letter was dated a week ago, Dec. 22, but released by the Argentine government on Friday, the last working day of 2023.

Argentina was among six countries invited in August to join the bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to make an 11-nation bloc. Argentina was set to join Jan. 1, 2024.

The move comes as Argentina has been left reeling by deepening economic crisis.

Milei's predecessor, former center-left president Alberto Fernandez, endorsed joining the alliance as an opportunity to reach new markets. The BRICS currently account for about 40% of the worlds population and more than a quarter of the worlds GDP.

But economic turmoil left many in Argentina eager for change, ushering chainsaw-wielding political outsider Milei into the presidency.

Milei, who defines himself as an anarcho-capitalist  a current within liberalism that aspires to eliminate the state  has implemented a series of measures to deregulate the economy, which in recent decades has been marked by strong state interventionism.

In foreign policy, he has proclaimed full alignment with the free nations of the West, especially the United States and Israel.

Throughout the campaign for the presidency, Milei also disparaged countries ruled by communism and announced that he would not maintain diplomatic relations with them despite growing Chinese investment in South America.

However, in the letter addressed to his counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in neighboring Brazil and the rest of the leaders of full BRICS members  Xi Jinping of China, Narenda Mondi of India, Vladimir Putin of Russia and Matamela Ramaphosa of South Africa  Milei proposed to intensify bilateral ties and increase trade and investment flows.

Milei also expressed his readiness to hold meetings with each of the five leaders.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
An Arizona man was rescued in a remote area in the Ventura County backcountry after being stranded for several days.

The man, identified as a 65-year-old Phoenix resident, was found Tuesday, four days after he drove past a locked gate and into a secluded area with no cell service.

According to the Ventura County Sheriffs Department, deputies from the Lockwood Valley station responded to a forest service trail gate in the Grade Valley area that was locked for the winter.

These service trail gates are locked each year by the United States Forest Service to prevent motorists from getting stuck and stranded in winter storms.

Deputies were only in the area because another motorist was also stuck behind a locked gate and was able to call for help. Deputies arrived at the area to unlock the gate for that motorist, at which point they were informed that there were other vehicles stuck behind the gate.

A deputy and a dispatcher searched the area for other vehicles when they noticed a faint light in the distance about 10 miles from the nearest highway. They drove to the source of the light and found the 65-year-old man waving his flashlight.

He was malnourished and wearing wet clothing with no food or water, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release sent out Friday.

The subject may not have survived much longer with  the forecasted below-freezing temperatures, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release sent out Friday.

He was taken back to civilization for treatment and observation and was eventually escorted back to his cars days later.

The man told authorities that he drove past the winter gate four days before his rescue and became stranded after his vehicle got stuck.

Deputies from the Lockwood Valley Sheriffs Station are tasked with patrolling an area of more than 600 square miles, much of which is only accessible by off-road vehicles or forest service trails like the one the man had taken.

Officials from the Sheriffs Office say the closed and locked gates are there for a reason: to prevent any unnecessary risks to civilians or rescuers.

They urge anyone traveling in remote areas to bring GPS devices and provide travel itineraries to loved ones so they can contact law enforcement if they miss their planned arrival.

Authorities did not say if the man was going to be cited for driving past the locked gate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
ARLINGTON, Texas - Arlington police have arrested four teens in connection with the shooting at the Parks Mall Thursday night.

Police said it started with a fight between two groups.

Investigators found that 19-year-old Damius Lindon, 19-year-old Jaccques Jacques and 17-year-old Careco Harris were at the mall together. They reportedly got into an argument with 18-year-old Kaiden Jackson and some other people because one of them was talking with one of their girlfriends. That then turned into a fight as they were going down the escalator near the ice rink.

Arlington police have arrested four teens in connection with the shooting at the Parks Mall Thursday night.

The gunfire that led to a lockdown and evacuation started over a fight over a girl.

Less than 24 hours after gunfire inside the Parks Mall, shopping resumed Friday morning. Its a stark contrast from Thursday night when more than 35 police units responded to the mall shooting scene.

"So I work actually at the Chick-fil-A in the Parks Mall. So like in my work group chat, people are talking about it," said worker Shane John.

Investigators quickly determined it was not a random active shooter situation but rather an isolated fight between two groups of teens who did not know each other. However, one individual tried to talk to anothers girlfriend.

Investigators found that 19-year-old Damius Lindon, 19-year-old Jaccques Jacques and 17-year-old Careco Harris were at the mall together. They reportedly got into an argument with 18-year-old Kaiden Jackson and some other people because one of them was talking with one of their girlfriends.

"I was told the whole entire incident was over something as simple as just speaking with this female subject, and one of the individuals did not like that the group was speaking to his girlfriend," said Arlington Police Officer Courtney White.

Investigators say the violence started on an escalator when Harris pointed a gun at Jackson, hit him with it, but then lost control of it.

"The 18-year-old male who was originally hit with the firearm picked up that firearm and shot, fired around at the 17-year-old," White said. "The 17-year-old male was shot in the arm, and a female who was nearby and not involved in the incident was shot in the foot."

Harris and the 38-year-old woman were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

After looking at surveillance video and speaking with witnesses, police found Lindon and Jacques near one of the mall exits. They were taken into custody and later arrested for fighting in public.

Jackson left the mall before police arrived on scene, but after police identified him, they found him at his parents Mansfield home. He was arrested Friday on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police said Harris was arrested at the hospital and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He will be booked into jail after he is released from the hospital.

Meantime, police presence at the Parks Mall is increased as are the safety precautions of shoppers.

Police say they have not located the gun involved in the shooting and have not ruled out the possibility of more charges. They're urging anyone with information or who may have recorded video during the encounter to get in touch with the department right away.
The Armys effort to give individual soldiers an augmented reality device that aims to improve shooting, navigation and use soldier-built applications for a host of tasks hits final testing phases in 2024.

The Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS, is a helmet-mounted combined night vision/thermal augmented reality and situational awareness tool the service is funding to the tune of $22 billion.

The Army procured early versions, labeled IVAS 1.0 and 1.1, in late 2022 as the more ruggedized, field-worthy 1.2 version continued development. Officials confirmed to Army Times that they had procured funding for 5,000 sets of IVAS 1.0 in 2022, and another 5,000 sets of IVAS 1.1 in 2023.

Those 1.0 and 1.1 versions are slated for training units and schoolhouses for soldiers to tinker with and learn best applications for the new technology.

Microsoft, which based the IVAS on its HoloLens augmented reality device, delivered 20 prototypes of IVAS 1.2 in mid-2023.

Soldiers with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York tested the 1.2 in live fires for weapons compatibility checks in mid-August.

Another 80 such devices are scheduled for delivery in 2024 and a further 200 are slated for 2025 with fielding planned the same year, Program Executive Office-Soldier officials told Army Times.

The early HoloLens-based version of IVAS emerged in March 2019.

As teams developed the device, it transitioned from a helmet/no-helmet headstrap goggle option with a chest-mounted controller and thick cabling.

The cabling proved cumbersome for soldiers in various field tests.

Early testing showed image distortion and moisture control problems, which delayed testing by about a year but have since been resolved with software and hardware fixes, officials said.

The 1.2 version now has a flip-up, helmet mount, like many currently fielded night vision devices.

IVAS 1.2 (left) features a lower-profile Heads-Up-Display (HUD) than IVAS 1.0 (right), improving comfort and performance. (Jason Amadi, Courtney Bacon/Army)

Key features of the device include its ability to link wirelessly to an individuals weapon sight, allowing for picture-in-picture view from both the weapon-mounted camera and the devices heads-up display.

In demonstrations at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, home to PEO-Soldier, the Family of Weapons Sights-Individual software used for the weapon-IVAS combination, allowed for users to see through obscurants, such as fog or dust, using thermal vision. Shooters were also able to fire around obstacles by using the weapon camera, while the shooter remains under cover

Navigation and training applications allow for users to lay out 3D maps of terrain, follow compass points in the heads-up display and identify friendly and enemy locations. In tactical scenarios, the device can load a sand table or internal map of a shoot house.

It also records position information as users move in teams, allowing for immediate after action reviews following shooting training.

Soldiers can use the IVAS to fly microdrones to scout a nearby location and take imagery of a target to send to its tactical cloud package, that then renders a 3D map of the terrain.

The cloud package runs on a briefcase-sized device used at the small unit level.

The IVAS also connects to the existing Nett Warrior smartphone-based Tactical Assault Kit. That device allows users to share information and upload various applications.

One example includes laying out fields of fire for a machine gunner that could be preloaded onto the device for when that soldier reaches the fighting position, said Brig. Gen. Christohper Schneider, PEO-Soldier commander.

Developers could create an app that provides a nine-line report for medical evacuations or an augmented reality option for medics to perform field surgery at the direction of a doctor at another location, he said.
Dr Kunnathur Rajan researched the effects of smoking on human lungs as part of his work

Thousands of people with arthritis are helped every year thanks to the vision of a pioneering scientist.

With no NHS money available, Dr Kunnathur Rajan raised 60,000 to buy Wales' first bone density machine in 1998.

A quarter of a century later, it continues to scan 2,000 patients a year at Dewi Sant Hospital, Pontypridd.

A memorial has been unveiled following Dr Rajan's death from a stroke, aged 86, earlier this year.

His contribution to advancing medical knowledge in the Welsh NHS was "nothing short of exceptional", according to mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf Wendy Lewis.

In unveiling the plaque, she called him one of the UK's most renowned physicians and "one of its foremost research scientists".

As well as helping people with conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis, he was involved in ground-breaking research into the effects of smoking and asbestos on the lungs at Llandough Hospital in Vale of Glamorgan.

His passion earned him many admirers - when Princess Diana visited south Wales, she would ask for him to show her around hospitals.

Dr Rajan opened Wales' first osteoporosis research unit - looking at a chronic condition linked to arthritis - and convinced Edie May Evans to make it her chosen charity in her year as mayor in the late 1990s.

Dr Rajan - pictured at a charity medical conference in Prague in 1969 - looked at work in countries around the world for inspiration

"Arthritis strikes almost everyone at some time and in Rhondda we have the highest recorded incidences of the disease in Wales, so funding is desperately needed to provide staff and equipment in the fight," is how she summed it up.

In total, about 800,000 people in Wales suffer from related conditions that can cause swelling, inflammation, and pain in joints.

Dr Rajan realised those with arthritis were more at risk of developing osteoporosis and, after a trip to the USA, found equipment he believed would be a gamechanger.

"I scanned 16,000 patients on the NHS with the scanner and published nearly 100 research papers," he said in 2016.

"I found that if you can catch the signs of osteoporosis early and treat it, you can help prevent more serious fractures, avoid costs and, more importantly, improve the quality of life for sufferers of this debilitating condition."

Dr Rajan (far left) opened Wales' first osteoporosis research unit in 1998

Born in Kolkata, India, Dr Rajan moved to the UK in the 1950s to study at Kings College, Cambridge, where he developed a passion for research.

He became a consultant in the Welsh NHS in 1970.

At Llandough Hospital's pneumoconiosis research unit, Dr Rajan pioneered a ground-breaking technique that allowed the growth of human finger, brain, and pleura tissues for medical research.

While researching the effects of asbestos on the lungs, he developed the organ culture method for adult pleura (lining of the lung) and grew a tumour.

The work was seen as a breakthrough and results published in the Nature journal in 1972.

In the early 1990s, Dr Rajan became a consultant physician in rheumatology in what is now the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board.

He was described as "a man with a wicked sense of humour and a glint in his eye", by Dr James Martin, who worked alongside him.

"He worked tirelessly for the benefit of his patients, many of whom still remember him fondly some twenty years later."

Dr Rajan's children said his work within the NHS played a central role in his life

Dr Martin said the plaque, which is also in tribute to former mayor Ms Evans who helped him raise funds, meant Dr Rajan's "legacy is assured" at his "beloved" unit in Pontypridd.

Dr Rajan's wife Marcia and children Melissa, 52, Sasha, 48 and Aaron, 46, described his work in the Welsh NHS as playing a central part in his life.

"Dad was a very passionate soul, especially when it came to the arthritis and the osteoporosis cause and loved the research aspects of his work," said Melissa.

"On his trips to America he enjoyed discovering new innovations available that may help advance treatments and when he discovered the DEXA (bone) scanner he was so determined to get one into Wales.

"Even Princess Diana heard of dad and used to ask for him personally to show her around the hospitals and meet patients whenever she visited Wales - she liked his confidence and humour and they had a great deal of respect for one another."

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A commercial boom around using artificial intelligence in the classroom is creating a slew of privacy and safety hazards well before Washington grapples with the fast-moving technology.

Dozens of Arizona school districts have been vetting technology vendors to weed out products that might use student data for advertising. Schools in West Virginia and Montana have started to boost their security using facial recognition systems even though it has a high rate of false matches among women and children and is already a concern across New York.

A rush to create AI tools for K-12 education has attracted many businesses that arent familiar with the tighter privacy laws that govern kids, increasing the risk that their information will end up with heedless vendors, experts say. That knowledge gap, and the lagging federal support, is forcing state and local leaders to navigate protections for young people on their own as schools also turn to technology for personalized tutoring and lesson planning.

There hasnt been a whole lot from the federal government, Christine Dickinson, technology director of Maricopa Unified School District, south of Phoenix, Arizona, said in an interview. Were hopeful that there is some guidance, however, were going to go full steam ahead with making sure that we have all of the tools in place for our students to be successful and our teachers to make sure that they can uphold that academic integrity in their classrooms.

Oregon provides a checklist and other materials for schools looking to develop generative AI policies while California is directing schools on how they can integrate AI in the classroom in a way that prioritizes student safety. Mississippi expects to release school AI guidance in January, and Arizona is forming a committee in early 2024 to recommend policy procedures for implementing and monitoring the technology in schools.

Theres the balance of mitigating the risk that [AI] probably poses in terms of data privacy and bias and the equity implications, versus the opportunities it presents, said Charlene Williams, director of Oregons state education department, who noted that the state received some federal input on its guidance.

The Covid-19 pandemic set off a boom in education tech as students and educators suddenly went virtual  a swift change that also sparked a federal crackdown on the industry over allegedly lax privacy practices.



Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against the now-defunct ed tech company Edmodo, accusing them of violating COPPA, a federal law that bars using students personal information for advertising without parental consent, among other violations. The complaint followed the FTCs warning to the ed tech industry last year that the commission was monitoring COPPA compliance.

Now the FTC is proposing to codify that long-held guidance that bars schools from authorizing data collection on children under age 13 for commercial purposes like advertising.

The scramble to adopt technology during the height of the pandemic led Arizonas state education department to beef up data privacy and security practices in 2022, according to Dickinson. The Maricopa school district, home to roughly 8,000 students, and others across the state, now work with 1EdTech, which helps them maintain a dashboard of ed tech vendors that have been vetted to work with children. The clearance process ensures the companies have met the districts data agreement and comply with COPPA and FERPA, two federal privacy laws aimed at protecting children online and student education records, respectively.

But as the pandemic eased and students returned to in-person instruction, artificial intelligence began accelerating existing concerns with education technology.

In addition to making policy and procedure recommendations, Arizonas forthcoming AI committee plans to issue guidelines on AI in the classroom that would supplement recommendations made at the federal level.

President Joe Bidens sweeping executive order on AI gives the Education Department roughly a year to develop more resources that address non-discriminatory uses of the technology. Additionally, the department hopes to release an AI toolkit in the spring to help schools implement the agencys policy recommendations. The toolkit would include direction on designing AI systems to enhance trust and safety and align with privacy-related laws and regulations.

Parents are also worried about whats being done with their childs data. About 57 percent said their childs school or district hasnt asked for their input on how to securely and responsibly use student data and technology, according to polling from the Center for Democracy and Technology conducted between June and August 2023.

Hannah Quay-de la Vallee, a senior technologist at the center, said that states can play a larger role in vetting and approving the privacy practices of vendors which could prove beneficial for smaller districts that dont have the capacity to do so.



Both discrimination and privacy violations can result from lack of information about the system, lack of auditability of the system, Quay-de la Vallee said, noting that theres some overlap in how education leaders address both.

Theres also legislation in Congress that would create more federal oversight and require some companies to report how their technology could impact consumers. But lawmakers, particularly in the Senate, are still mapping out the path for AI governance.

The Algorithmic Accountability Act, though not an education-specific bill, would affect ed tech companies and non-education-specific vendors contracted by schools. The bill would give the FTC more governance over some tech companies by requiring them to assess their AI systems for a range of factors like bias and effectiveness.

After a legal challenge and subsequent moratorium, New York banned the use of facial recognition in schools in September after the state found the use of the technology for security purposes may implicate civil rights laws, noting that it could lead to a potentially higher rate of false positives for people of color, non-binary and transgender people, women, the elderly and children. But in Montana, the state barred the continuous use of facial recognition technology by state and local governments but carved schools out of the ban.

Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat and a lead co-sponsor of the Algorithmic Accountability Act, told POLITICO hes generally an opponent of facial recognition, noting that a lot of the systems are deeply flawed.

Facial recognition in schools should be banned until there is clear evidence that it is accurate, would actually improve safety in schools, and wont be used to target Black, Hispanic and other students of color, Wyden said in a follow-up statement to POLITICO.

Bree Dusseault, principal and managing director at the Center on Reinventing Public Education who has been tracking state guidance on AI in the classroom, underscored the significance of getting out preliminary AI resources now as schools are already seeing the technology used in the classroom.

We learned this during the pandemic, that some [school] systems make choices to get out ahead and still put flags in the sand and try to put some initial thoughts and guidance out there  and others do not, Dusseault said. And those have different implications on the students and the educators in those systems.
Things to do across the Upstate and beyond!

ARTS

Auditions for The Rainbow Fish (play) are 5:30  7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 or Jan. 10 at the Chapman Cultural Center. Auditionees should only audition one of the two nights and may arrive at any time during the two-hour block. Spartanburg Youth Theatre welcomes youth in grades 3  12 to audition. See the audition requirements and information online at spartanburgyouththeatre.com/auditions.

Wee Create Playgroup for ages 2  4 is 10  11 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays at Yellowbobbypins Art Camp at Hampton Station. The cost is $25 to drop in or $84 per month. For details and registration, visit yellowbobbypins.com.

Time Travel: Art Through the Ages for ages 5  7, 8  10, and 11  14 is offered at various times on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at Yellowbobbypins Art Camp at Hampton Station. The cost is $25 to drop in. For details and registration, visit yellowbobbypins.com.

The SC Governors School for the Arts and Humanities, a public, residential high school for artistically talented students, is now accepting applications for the 2024  2025 school year and summer programs. All South Carolina residents in grades 6  11 are eligible to apply online at SCGSAH.org. The Governors Schools tuition-free, residential high school currently serves students in grades 10  12 who receive pre-professional training in creative writing, dance, drama, music and visual arts. In the fall of 2024, the schools new film department will open with its first class of aspiring filmmakers. The dance department will also offer a new full modern and contemporary dance track for students interested in careers in modern dance and choreography. During the summer, the school hosts around 350 students for overnight summer programs in creative writing, dance, drama, film, music and visual arts. All interested students apply online at scgsah.org and complete application and/or audition requirements depending on their chosen program. The priority application deadline for all programs is Jan. 10, 2024. Applications will be received until all openings are filled. Financial assistance is available for all programs through the Governors School Foundation.

Art Classes are offered at the Spartanburg Art Museum. For details and registration, visit spartanburgartmuseum.org.

Display Your Art  The Back Door Art Gallery in Fountain Inn has a kids art wall. Children ages 12 and younger can hang one piece of their art for free for one month. For specifications and contact information, visit backdoorartgallery.com.

Art Classes for ages 6 and older are offered at A Cut Above Maker Space in Spartanburg. For cost, registration and details, visit acutabovemakerspace.com.

Art classes are offered at GCCA  Greenville Center for Creative Arts. For details, visit artcentergreenville.org.

Voice, piano, and acting private lessons are offered from Kimilee Bryant Studio. For details, email kimileebryantstudio@gmail.com or call 864-280-9150.

South Carolina Childrens Theatre offers classes for grades pre-K  12. For details visit, scchildrenstheatre.org.

Spartanburg Youth Theatre offers classes for grades K4  12. For full class listings and to enroll, visit spartanburgyouththeatre.com or call 864-585-8278.

Engage in music at the Lawson Academy of the Arts  Private lessons and group classes are offered for musicians of all ages and levels with instruction from Converse University professors and student-teachers. Learn to play piano or enroll in an ensemble. For details, call 864-596-9022.

Arts programs are at TR Makers. Programs include homeschool classes, Afterschool Makers Elementary (grades K5  5), Afterschool Art School (grades 2  6), and more. For cost and registration, visit trmakersco.org.

Music Adventure Classes are at 10 a.m. Mondays at Swamp Rabbit Cafe. Classes are geared for pre-K  K but all ages are welcome. The cost is $15 per class ($5 for each additional sibling) and includes a coffee and pastry. For details and registration, visit @musicadventure on Instagram or email musicadventureforkids@gmail.com.

FAMILY FUN, LEARNING, AND MORE

Spring 2024 Language Classes are offered by Upstate International. More than 25 different classes and 8 different languages are offered, including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Finnish. The spring session is Jan. 22  May 3. All classes are taught by instructors who are passionate speakers of the language. For details and registration, visit click here or visit UpstateInternational.org.

STRIDES Systematic Tutoring, a nonprofit program, offers individualized tutoring for ages 6  20. instruction is available. In-person tutoring is available in Cherrydale, Foutain Inn, Greer, Taylors, Berea and Easley or virtually with a smart phone, tablet or desk top computer. Scholarships are available. For details, call 864-246-9898 or stridestutor.org.

Painted Pacis Playgroup for ages 6 months  2 years is 9  10 a.m. Mondays or Fridays at Yellowbobbypins Art Camp at Hampton Station. The cost is $25 to drop in or $84 per month. For details and registration, visit yellowbobbypins.com.

Well Walkers is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays in January (except Jan. 25) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The arena concourse will be open from 9 a.m.  1 p.m. for anyone who wants to have a temperature-controlled space to exercise. Each loop around the concourse is a quarter mile. Well Walkers is a free event with no registration or prior notice required. Free parking for participants is provided in the VIP lot at the arena, located off Church Street. For details, visit bonsecoursarena.com.

Naturalist Talks: Deer are at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday in December at Antler Hill Villages historic Horse Barn at Biltmore Estate. No reservation required. No minimum age required. Parent or guardian must accompany guests under age 18. To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estates overnight properties. Visit biltmore.com/things-to-do/activities/outdoors/naturalist.

Italian Renaissance Alive is open at Biltmore Estate. The multi-sensory experience immerses guests in the beauty and brilliance of the greatest artistic period in history as it comes to life all around you. Large-scale projections with 360-degree views set to a powerful operatic score tell the story of artists and the time periods within which they lived. Italian Renaissance Alive features Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Caravaggio and more. It continues through Jan. 7, 2024. For details and ticket information, visit biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/italian-renaissance-alive.

Little Learners Club, available from the Greenville County Library System, is designed especially for children under age 5 to encourage the development of kindergarten readiness skills using the Palmetto Basics. Details are at greenvillelibrary.org/kids/little-learners-club.

Free Books  Greenville First Steps has launched a pilot of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Greenville County. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is an early literacy program that mails free age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age 5. Currently in Greenville County, children in 29690, 29611, and 29669can sign up for Imagination Library. Registration is available at ImaginationLibrary.com.

Story Time is at 10 a.m. Thursdays at Barnes and Noble at Greenridge. For details, visit stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2221.

Family Story Time for ages birth  5 is Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Pendleton and Lander Memorial Libraries, Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Powdersville Library, and Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Anderson Main Library. Visit andersonlibrary.org.

Preschool and Toddler Story Times are offered at Spartanburg Library locations. For details, visit spartanburglibraries.org.

Preschool Story Time for ages 3  5 is at 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Anderson Main Library. Visit andersonlibrary.org.

Toddler Storytime for ages 18  36 months is at 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Anderson Main Library. Visit andersonlibrary.org.

Preschool Storytimes for ages 2  5 are offered at the Pickens County Library. Call 864-850-7077 or visit pickenscountylibrarysystem.com.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Arts, family fun, learning and more for January
Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) at the Capitol on May 18, 2017, in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Bakersfield Republican Assemblymember Vince Fong can run in a Central Valley congressional race to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), a Sacramento County judge ruled Thursday.

The decision by Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang overrules the office of the Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, which in mid-December denied Fong's bid to appear on the March 5 primary ballot. Fong then sued Weber.

"Today's ruling is a victory for the voters of the 20th Congressional District, who will now have the opportunity to select the candidate of their choice in the March 5th election," Fong said in a statement.

Weber's office had said that Fong could not run for two offices at the same time. Before Fong filed to run in McCarthy's district, he had submitted paperwork for a reelection bid for his Assembly seat.

Read more: California elections officials say Assemblymember Vince Fong can't run for Congress in Bakersfield

In her ruling, Chang wrote that allowing Fong to run for both offices "somewhat defies common sense" and might also confuse voters.

But Fong should not be disqualified, Chang wrote, despite a state law saying that no person may run for "more than one office at the same election."

Fong argued that the law has not been applicable since 2010, when California voters changed the state's primary system, scrapping party nominations for a setup that lets the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of their party affiliation.

Chang agreed, saying the law applies only to California's old primary system.

In a news release, Weber said her office plans to appeal the ruling, noting that she is "gravely concerned" about its consequences. Voters could be left without representation if Fong wins both his Assembly and congressional races and has to give up one of the positions, she said.

"As California's chief election official, it is my duty to take steps necessary to protect voters," she said.

Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School, said Chang's ruling makes sense. Because the state law hasn't been updated, she said, the judge may have been "left without any choice."

Read more: 'How the hell does that even happen?' McCarthy exits Congress amid confusion over who can run to replace him

Typically, judges prefer the route that allows a candidate to stay on the ballot," Levinson said, noting concerns some have expressed about interfering with the democratic process.

Chang's ruling adds another twist to the election to replace McCarthy, who will leave Congress on Dec. 31, months after he was ousted as House Speaker. Gov. Gavin Newsom will call a separate special election after McCarthy's official resignation to temporarily fill the 20th District seat until January 2025.

Fong, a former McCarthy staff member, has been considered the front-runner and quickly secured McCarthy's endorsement after entering the race.

Other candidates include Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux; David Giglio, a self-described America First candidate who has been critical of McCarthy; Matt Stoll, a former fighter pilot who operates a landscaping business and has run for Congress twice before; and Kyle Kirkland, the owner of Fresnos only card room.

The most prominent Democrat in the race is Bakersfield teacher Marisa Wood, who raised more than $1 million in her unsuccessful run against McCarthy in 2022.

Read more: McCarthys constituents dont blame him, but worry about losing their voice in Congress

California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said in a statement that the ruling puts "an end to Democrats' political games."

"The Sacramento Democrat machine tried and failed to interfere in a district that heavily favors Republicans," she said in the statement.

Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) in a statement called the ruling "a gross interpretation of the law," saying her office plans to introduce a bill "that will clear up this mess."

"There is too much at stake and there is no time for GOP shenanigans," she said in the statement.

Times staff writer Laura J. Nelson contributed to this report.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In this photo provided by Alexei Navalny's team, Ksenia Fadeyeva, right, poses for a photo with Alexei Navalny in Tomsk, Russia on Aug. 2020. An associate of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced on Friday Dec. 29, 2023 to nine years in prison, the latest move in a relentless Kremlin crackdown on dissent. Fadeyeva, a former regional legislator who headed a local branch of Navalny's organization in the Siberian city of Tomsk, was convicted on charges of organizing an extremist group. (Alexei Navalny's team via AP)

MOSCOW (AP)  An associate of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to nine years in prison on Friday, the latest move in a relentless Kremlin crackdown on dissent.

Ksenia Fadeyeva, a regional legislator who headed a local branch of Navalny's organization in the Siberian city of Tomsk, was convicted on charges of organizing an extremist group. Her lawyers said they would appeal the verdict, arguing that Fadeyeva had ended her involvement with Navalny's organization before the authorities labeled it extremist in 2021.

Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, hailed Fadeyeva as honest and brave, saying on X, formerly known as Twitter, that those who fabricated the criminal case against her will eventually face punishment.

Navalny, the most prominent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. Earlier this month, he went missing for several weeks until his lawyers announced Monday that he has been moved from a prison in central Russia to a remote Arctic prison colony known for its harsh conditions.

Navalny has been behind bars in Russia since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. Before his arrest, he campaigned against official corruption and organized major anti-Kremlin protests.

A Moscow court outlawed Navalnys Foundation for Fighting Corruption and about 40 regional offices as extremist in June 2021, shutting down his political network and forcing many of his close associates and team members to leave Russia. Those who stayed have faced prosecution.

Fadeyeva's case is the latest in a string of convictions of regional activists linked to Navalnys work.

Lilia Chanysheva, who headed Navalnys headquarters in the central Russian city of Ufa, was sentenced to 7 years in prison on similar charges in June, and Vadim Ostanin, who previously headed Navalnys office in the southern Siberian city of Barnaul, was handed a 9-year sentence in July on charges of organizing an extremist community.

And in October, authorities detained three lawyers representing Navalny in what his associates described as part of Kremlin efforts to completely isolate him.

Navalny associate Leonid Volkov has said that he prodded Fadeyeva to leave Russia amid the crackdown, but she refused, citing her obligations to voters. She has been in custody since her arrest in November.
An associate of Kremlin critic and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to nine years in prison Friday in the latest crackdown against Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation.

Ksenia Fadeeva was previously found guilty in a closed trial of extremism charges and for working in an organization that infringes on the rights of citizens, according to Russian media outlets.

The Anti-Corruption Foundation said Fadeeva will be sent to a Russian penal colony after her sentencing.

Ksenia did not commit any crime, she is a brave politician who has been fighting against Putins corrupt regime, the organization wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. She has to be free.

Fadeeva is a city council member in the town of Tomsk, according to the Anti-Corruption Foundation.

She also served as the former head of Navalnys foundation in Tomsk, which is in the eastern Siberia region.

Her sentencing comes after Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison on extremism charges earlier this year. Navalny was recently transferred to a Russian prison site in Siberia known for its harsh cold.

Other Navalny allies have faced punishment from the Kremlin this year.

Vadim Ostanin, a former campaigner for Navalny, was sentenced to nine years in prison, and another associate, Lilia Chanysheva, was sentenced to more than seven years.

The Anti-Corruption Foundation is known for shining a light on allegations of corruption and abuse of power in Moscow.

The organization has faced suppression from Russia since 2021, when Navalny was arrested upon his return from Germany after a suspected Kremlin poisoning. The foundation has relocated out of Russia and to Lithuania.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An Israeli airstrike on the Damascus airport has reportedly killed nearly a dozen senior Iranian military officials, which one expert told Fox News Digital would prove Israels ability to maintain a multi-faceted defense of the region.

"While there is no independent confirmation of Guard Corps names or ranks, the IRGC has long seen Syria as a critical regional hub to project power into the Eastern Mediterranean and connect its constellation of proxies called the Axis of Resistance," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said.

"It should come as a shock to no one that Guard Corps elite are operating there, especially amid a regional war, which they are directing far away from their own soil," he added.

"Similarly, should the strike be independently verified, it would be more proof of Israel being able to hold back and deter elements of the Axis of Resistance in other geographies while fighting to defeat Hamas in Gaza," Taleblu stressed.

DESIGNATING HOUTHI REBELS AS TERRORISTS IS CRITICAL, IRAN EXPERT WARNS

Syrian media claimed that Israel had targeted sites in southern Syria and near Damascus in waves that aimed to disrupt and Irans operations in the country.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A report from The Jerusalem Post claimed the strike killed 11 leaders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at the airport on Thursday night.

The IRGC leadership targeted also reportedly included Nur Rashid, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards in eastern Syria, who only suffered injuries from the attack. The group had supposedly visited the country to meet with high-ranking delegates from Syria.

IRAN AND HAMAS ARGUE OVER CREDIT FOR OCT. 7 TERROR ATTACKS: LOOKING TO WASH BLOOD AWAY WITH BLOOD

Israel has reportedly launched strikes against IRGC personnel in Damascus across the past week: Iranian leaders claimed that one such strike on Monday killed senior IRGC commander Sayyed Razi Mousavi, who was responsible for coordinating a military alliance between Iran and Syria.

Pro-regime media quoting an IRGC official denied 11 of its senior members were killed in a report published late on Friday in Iran.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani (L) attends the funeral ceremony, held for senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Razi Mousavi, killed during the Israeli attacks on Damascus, in Tehran, Iran, on December 28, 2023.

Iran state media interrupted programming to announce Mousavis death and described him as one of the oldest advisers for the IRGC in Syria.

While the IDF has not commented on the recent strikes in Syria, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, spoke Friday during a tour of the Ramat David air base and stated that "The IAFs operations in all arenas is very impressive. It is appropriate that the thunder of our planes will drown out unnecessary discussions, and enable the IDF to carry out its missions quietly and safely."

Israel has not shied away from Irans aggressions, which Tehran pushes in the region through its various proxy groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

FEARS GROW OF A WIDER CONFLICT BREWING IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett this week in a Wall Street Journal op-ed said that Israel has even retaliated inside Iran for terrorist attacks committed in 2022, saying that he told his security chiefs during his administration that his goal was "to avoid, if reasonably possible, local clashes" with Iran proxies.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet gives a statement to the press he will not take part in the coming general elections on June 29, 2022 in Jerusalem, Israel. The dissolution of Israel's parliament, prompted by the collapse of its eight-party governing coalition, will force the fifth election in the last four years.

"As prime minister, I made another decision regarding Iran," Bennett wrote. "I directed Israel's security forces to make Tehran pay for its decision to sponsor terror."

"Enough impunity," he stressed. "After Iran launched two failed UAV attacks on Israel in February 2022, Israel destroyed a UAV base on Iranian soil."

"In March 2022, Iran's terror unit attempted to kill Israeli tourists in Turkey and failed. Shortly thereafter, the commander of that very unit was assassinated in the center of Tehran," he added.

Fox News Digitals Greg Wehner contributed to this report.





Original article source: Attack in Syria kills 11 senior Iranian military officers, injures top advisor to Damascus: report
This Attorney Helps Black Farmers After Her Familys Land Was Stolen: I Just Really Want The Families To Have Peace Of Mind | Photo: Getty Images

Author, agricultural attorney and nonprofit leader Jillian Hishaws grandfathers land in Oklahoma was stolen. An attorney who the family had hired to pay the farms taxes instead kept the money and sold the land. Years later, the Hishaw family discovered that the home had been replaced by an oil pump, leading them to believe that knowledge of oil on the land was the reason for the theft. Now, Hishaw advocates for other Black farmers through the court system to help preserve their land ownership.

According to Capital B News, Hishaw was inspired by her familys history to help make a difference for other Black families. She received a law and masters degree in agricultural law, and she later launched her own practice and the international nonprofit FARMS, or Family Agriculture Resource Management Services. The initiative provides legal assistance to Black farmers and aims to prevent land loss.

Some of the plaintiffs I represent have received relief, and that definitely keeps me motivated to continue, Hishaw told Capital B News.

However, the process has been complicated. As an attorney, Hishaw has faced multiple challenges due to the courts refusing to listen to her clients claims.

I feel as though that these [discrimination] cases are blatant racism. The evidence is there. I just really want the families to have peace of mind before my clients pass away because theyre not young, theyre not spring chickens, even though they raise the chicken. The legacy that my grandfather wanted me to leave is lost, but hopefully, through these farm cases, it can be restored, she said.

She talked about a class-action lawsuit filed last year by several white farmers who claimed a debt relief program had racially discriminated against them, per Capital B News.

Its just been difficult. With all of the [dozens of] lawsuits filed by the white farmers, they got discovery within days, and they got an injunction within days, Hishaw explained. For me representing all Black farmers, whether its in front of whatever court, theyre not even giving me discovery, she added, referring to when both parties must give each other information and documents about a case before heading to trial.

The fight for land ownership is something many Black farmers have had to face in recent years. Marvin Smith, a Black landowner in rural Georgia, went to court several times to keep his familys land. Smith owns a portion of his familys 600-acre land that has been part of their lineage since 1926. The land has been used to pay for education and serves the community through farming.

Capital B News reported that Smith and several other Black residents refused to sell their property. As a result, the Sandersville Railroad Co. filed a petition with the Georgia Public Service Commission to seize the land through eminent domain. The railroad company intended to use the land to create a railroad in Sparta, Georgia.

The American dream says if you play by the rules and work hard, justice will prevail and you will be rewarded, Smith said, according to Capital B News. It never occurred to me  over 43 years of playing by the rules  I would end up in a position where my land could be taken through eminent domain.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The City of Austin has revisited its criteria for activating cold weather shelters, which help keep people out of the elements overnight during dangerous weather.

We relook at it every year to make sure that were still able to provide the services required when we do activate, said Greg McCormack, a program manager with the City of Austins Homeless Strategy Office.

The threshold this year:

If its projected to be 32 degrees or lower overnight

If its expected to be 35 degrees or lower with precipitation

If its forecasted to be 35 degrees or lower with a wind chill of 32 degrees or lower

That last element is something the office recently added to the criteria.

When we talked with the different community members and understood that the wind chill has just as great a factor on someone who is outsidewe decided to include that, McCormack said.

As of this year, the Austin Area Urban League (AAUL) is doing all of the staffing for the overnight cold weather shelters, which pop up in Austin recreation centers, according to McCormack. That group has been working with the City for a couple years now on overnight shelter help.

Outdated, understaffed, untrained: City responds to Austin cold weather shelter audit

That same group will run the registration point at the One Texas Center, which is also the downtown Austin community court headquarters, he said. City employees had previously stepped in to help with the overnight shelters, a criticism of an audit released late 2022.

People in need of help can bring their animals, their belongings and there are no eligibility requirements for the shelters.

Getting the word out

The City of Austin says it works with an outreach team  which is comprised of roughly half a dozen nonprofit groups  to warn people experiencing homelessness of dangerous weather and ways to get help. First responders, like Austin-Travis County EMS, have previously told KXAN they also help spread the word.

In the last two or three years, there have been has been real growth in outreach, McCormack said.

This year, the Citys Homeless Strategy Office also took control of a text message system that has been used for several years to better let people know of upcoming cold weather shelter openings.

The feedback we get is that a lot of individuals who are unsheltered do have cell phones and receive those messages and appreciate it. We also let all of the community providers know when we activate so that when theyre out on the streets, talking with individuals, providing resources that theyre letting them know, McCormack said.

The extent of the need

While the City of Austin opening emergency overnight shelters helps rapidly expand the capacity of the system, day-to-day there is still a massive gap in need.

According to the latest data from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), there are 1,381 shelter beds available in our community, of which roughly 80% are filled. That leaves just over 200 shelter beds for people in need.

And our estimate of unsheltered homelessness is over 5,000. So we estimate that there are over 5,000 people experiencing homelessness in the community beyond the shelter capacity of our system, said Claire Burrus, director of research and evaluation at ECHO.

ECHO recently made efforts to make that data more easily available through its website. ECHOs dashboard provides updated numbers on things like system capacity, number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and programs available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Authorities across the US are working to ensure New Years revelers security this weekend, particularly in New York, where law enforcement officials say the war in Gaza has contributed to the concern of lone-wolf attacks, though they stress there is no specific reporting regarding any threats.

A joint threat assessment based on an analysis from 10 law enforcement agencies  the FBI, the US Department of Homeland Security and the New York Police Department among them  says the Israel-Hamas war has created a heightened threat environment.

The Intelligence Community remains concerned about lone offenders using online platforms to express threats of violence against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities, as well as committing simple, unsophisticated attacks that are difficult to detect in advance, the assessment obtained by CNN says.

The concern may be most prevalent in New York, where the FBI and the police department will monitor for potential threats Sunday from a large command center and amid an enhanced security perimeter as Times Square crowds count down to midnight  likely the highest profile New Years celebration of all, with an estimated audience of 1 billion worldwide. Demonstrations that could crop up related to the violence in Gaza also are on officials radar.

New York Mayor Eric Adams and the citys police leaders said Friday there were no specific threats to celebrations in Times Square but added, Were gonna be ready to respond to any potential problem.

The worries, while pronounced ahead of the holiday, are not new: Law enforcement across the United States has been especially vigilant since Hamas attacked on October 7 and as Israels siege of Gaza since then has intensified. The threat assessment obtained by CNN points to a series of false bomb threats early this month against synagogues and the shooting last month of three Palestinian students in Vermont as cases that could have been motivated by the Middle East conflict.

And one need not look far for an example of an attack in Times Square on New Years Eve by a so-called lone wolf, a reference to someone who might be radicalized to carry out violence but is not part of a formal extremist group: Last year, a 19-year-old characterized by FBI official Robert Kissane as a homegrown violent extremist radicalized by online propaganda was shot by police after he allegedly attacked three officers at a security checkpoint; he has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

This year, large, live televised events remain an attractive target for foreign terrorist organizations, as well as domestic violent extremists, the assessment notes.

Were in a heightened threat environment. Weve been in that heightened threat environment really since October 7, Kissane told CNN in an interview at a command center where officials from numerous partner agencies will monitor and investigate potential threats.

The day Hamas fighters poured across Israels border, killing 1,200 and taking dozens hostage, was something of a flashpoint, and the ongoing conflict is certainly motivating and inspiring people to do bad things, said Kissane, the special agent in charge of the FBIs Counterterrorism Division at its New York Field Office and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. But New York frequently hosts large events, he noted, and the New York Police Department, the FBI and their partners work well together.

I would argue theres no place in the world that is better positioned to put on an event like the New Years Eve ball drop, he said, emphasizing there is no specific and credible threat to this weekends Times Square event.

Protests present added concern, officials say

Authorities have expanded the security perimeter around Times Square  a move made in part due to last years attack, the citys Chief of Patrol John Chell said  to keep cars off nearby major streets so police could move quickly toward an emergency. And theyll rely on a myriad of tools and technology, like: cameras, a specially equipped police helicopter and drones, police countersniper teams in skyscrapers and bomb detection dogs that can catch a whiff of explosives, even in a crowd from 100 feet away.

Officials also have expressed concerns about potential demonstrations related to the war in Gaza, with the assessment noting they could disrupt critical infrastructure or events  or become targets themselves.

Some demonstrations in recent months have led to confrontations with police, as protesters decry the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza: More than 21,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave. As recently as Christmas Day, six people were arrested in New York during a pro-Palestinian demonstration after protesters clashed with officers, CNN affiliate WABC reported.

Theres an added concern because of some of the protests you have been seeing, Adams said Tuesday, nodding to an effort last month to disrupt the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. And were sure that theres going to be some type of attempt this year to use that stage for some other concerns that people are having.

Since October 7, the New York Police Department has seen more than 1,000 protests across the city, Chell told CNN. And the department fully expects protesters on New Years Eve, just like at the Rockefeller tree lighting and during the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Its a massive operation that we prepare for all year, Chell said of New Years Eve in Times Square. Youre talking 1.2 million spectators in a close, confined area  The eyes of the world are on us. We have an awesome responsibility to keep everyone safe, to keep New Yorkers in a good place and having fun and protect the whole community.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs John Miller reported and wrote this story from Los Angeles; Nicki Brown and Dakin Andone reported and wrote in New York. CNNs Mark Morales and Zenebou Sylla contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee speaks during her ceremonial inauguration at the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix on Jan. 5, 2023.

Two months after critics sued Arizona over a $15.3 million payout of public money to a Prescott rodeo, the state Treasurer's Office created new rules for similar budget appropriations to two astronomy centers.

The office published "requests for information" on two unnamed astronomy facilities eligible for a total of $15.6 million in public funding. Only two facilities could qualify for the state funds based on the wording of the requests: Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff and the International Dark Sky Discovery Center in Fountain Hills, which hasn't yet been built.

Before they could obtain the money, the facilities needed to provide a "detailed explanation of how the organization intends to use the funds" and how the value to the public "far exceeds what is being paid by the public through the appropriation."

To one of the Prescott activists who filed the rodeo-money lawsuit, the notices show Republican state Treasurer Kimberly Yee  who's named as a defendant  is trying to avoid more trouble related to the state constitution's Gift Clause.

Howard Mechanic said her action, which plaintiffs recently learned about, makes the same point the lawsuit makes about the "inadequacy" of the legislation intended to fund the rodeo.

"It's clear that this supposed procedure was formulated after the fact to try to make something constitutional that wasn't," Mechanic said.

The suit seeks to stop the state and the Treasurer's Office from making the rodeo payout, claiming it would violate the state constitution's Gift Clause. That's an anti-corruption provision that bans governments in Arizona from giving money to private companies without specific benefits to taxpayers.

After the suit was filed, lawyers for Yee and state Attorney General Kris Mayes agreed to stop the expenditure until a court ruled in the case. Mayes has recused herself in the case but hasn't said why.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes reflects on her first year in office on Dec. 13, 2023.

The Fountain Hills Dark Sky project has already begun to receive state money, its president confirmed. Lowell Observatory didn't return emails asking for comment.

The Treasurer's Office hasn't previously scrutinized appropriations like the astronomy center subsidies, but told The Arizona Republic it will continue to do so if necessary. The office has not yet fulfilled a records request seeking information about the outcome of the requests for information and declined to say if both facilities were cleared for funding.

Notices seek to ensure 'public purpose'

The nonprofit astronomy facilities received a total of $10 million in the 2021 and 2022 state budgets without having to justify their public worth. In those years, the appropriations were considered part of the state's "capital outlay" and were administered by the Department of Administration. This year, Lowell Observatory was slated to receive $5.6 million, and $10 million was to go to the Fountain Hills project.

Yee wouldn't give details on why her office published the notices, or why no similar request for information was made concerning the rodeo appropriation. The Legislature "directed" her to give the funds to nonprofits "that met specific criteria," she said in written statements through spokeswoman Alyssa Koury.

"To ensure maximum participation and opportunity, the Treasurer determined it was necessary to identify potentially eligible organizations that met the criteria established by the Legislature," Koury said. "Furthermore, the Treasurer has a duty to ensure that the appropriated fund expenditures meet the criteria set out by the Legislature and that such funds will be utilized in support of a public purpose."

Yee is using her discretion under the law to create a grant program to administer the funds, she explained.

"If the Legislature decides to make similar appropriations in the future," Koury continued, the office would carry out its duty "to ensure that government's monies support public purposes."

Rep. Selina Bliss speaks inside the Arizona House of Representatives chambers at the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix on March 21, 2023.

Requests are 'huge leap,' plaintiff's lawyer says

Questions about Gift Clause violations arose soon after lawmakers in May revealed this year's state budget.

Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs gained lawmaker support for the budget by divvying up surplus funds and allowing individual lawmakers to spend them as they saw fit.

Two Prescott-area GOP lawmakers, Reps. Selina Bliss and Quang Nguyen, directed some of their portions to a nonprofit that operates the town's long-running rodeo, fanning criticism over the budget plan. Mechanic, former Yavapai County judge Ralph Hess and the Phoenix-based Center for Law in the Public Interest filed their lawsuit soon after.

Rep. Quang Nguyen (right) listens during a Freedom of Expression Committee hearing on July 18, 2023, in a Senate Hearing room at the Arizona State Capital in Phoenix.

They accuse the state of failing to adhere to two traditional criteria for a gift of taxpayer funds to be legal under the state constitution's Gift Clause: It must serve a public purpose, and it must be a good deal for taxpayers. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that such gifts cannot simply increase sales tax revenue.

The plaintiffs also claim the plan violated the constitution's Appropriations Clause, which allows a general appropriations bill to provide funds only for "different departments of the state, for state institutions, for public schools, and for interest on the public debt."

Their complaint focuses in part on how the Legislature appropriated millions with no explanation of a public purpose for the funds and no explanation of how the nonprofit company that runs the rodeo would spend the money. That's the same information Yee's office sought from the astronomy facilities.

The budget language for the rodeo funding contained "no instructions or limitations on when or how the appropriated funds must be used" and did not promise "sufficient direct benefits," the suit claims.

State officials deny the rodeo funding broke the law. Hayleigh Crawford of the state Attorney General's Office, in a November response to the lawsuit, portrayed the lack of detail in the budget about the rodeo expenditure as the state's normal way of doing business.

Yee's requests for information about the public "value" of the astronomy centers are different, said Danny Adelman, executive director for the Center for Law in the Public Interest. He questioned why the Treasurer's Office is now making determinations on what nonprofits are eligible for public handouts "when the Legislature fails to do it in the legislation."

"It's a huge leap from what we've seen before," he said. "That her office has to come up with something seems to be quite a stretch for what the constitution envisions for the people's money."

Educational projects

The two taxpayer-assisted astronomy projects will undoubtedly be popular attractions when completed.

Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, itself a 129-year-old state treasure, expects to open a $54 million Astronomy Discovery Center in 2024 that will pull in more visitors and economic activity to the area. The International Dark Sky Discovery Center in Fountain Hills plans to boast the largest telescope in metro Phoenix, along with a planetarium and other features.

State Sen. John Kavanagh, a Fountain Hills Republican who directed some of his budget apportionment for the $10 million Dark Sky project, defended the payout when answering questions about the current budget shortfall that will require "clawing back" certain projects including roadwork around the state.

"I think education is as important as roads," Kavanagh said. "Some would say more important."

Asked later about the Treasurer's Office request for information, Kavanagh said he believed the Treasurer's Office issued the notices "on advice from their attorney."

"The budget allocated money for a dark sky project but did not give it to any group," he said. "Groups had to present proposals, and the best one who could do it got the grant."

Sen. John Kavanagh speaks during a Senate Committee of Director Nominations hearing at the Arizona state Senate in Phoenix on June 6, 2023.

Kavanagh said only one group applied "and was qualified" for the $10 million. That's because "apparently, nobody else could or was interested in doing the project in Fountain Hills, where it had to be located because it is the only 'Dark Sky' community here."

"The state did conclude that we met all the necessary qualifications and approved the allocation," said Joe Bill, president of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center in Fountain Hills. The nonprofit has received the first two quarterly dispersals, he said.

The completed questionnaire contains details of the facility's planned benefits, Bill said, adding that it will be "an amazing project" for the state.

Proponents of the Prescott rodeo funding say it will improve what is known as the "World's Oldest Rodeo," generating economic activity for the Prescott region and keeping a tradition alive.

A judge ruled on Dec. 27 that Prescott Frontier Days, the nonprofit that runs the rodeo, can join the lawsuit as intervenor defendants.

Factual disclosures are due in the case by mid-January.

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona treasurer seeks more info ahead of astronomy facility payout
Justin Governale has learned a thing or two about persevering through tough situations but it didnt start on the battlefield as a Marine.

I didnt have a bed to sleep on for the first 11 years of my life, he shared. I remember waking up to screaming all the time. One time, I found my mothers boyfriend in the living room covered in blood that wasnt his.

His mother had run across the street to call the police after her boyfriend had hit her during an argument. As Governale watched the police arrest the boyfriend amid flashing lights, his mother informed him theyd be moving. Again.

I think it was then I realized nothing about this kind of life was normal. Until that point, I didnt think anything of our constant moving and living with different people, he explained.

His mother grew up in Mexico as one of 11 children and times were hard. Those would follow her after she had her son and into her adult life as she battled addiction.

Governale would often use his traumatic memories as a child to mentally check out and not feel things, like pain. He described a challenge during his time in the Marine Corps where he had to hold the electric chair position for at least 30 minutes. He outlasted everyone and then held it, just because, for a total time of an hour and four minutes.

Its almost like I go into this trance where I dont think about the pain. I know its probably not healthy to do that to yourself but I do it to survive, he added. Basically, you have to ask yourself in a challenging situation if youre going to be a victim or a warrior.

Though he finally got a bed and his own room when he was 11 years old, it would be short-lived when his cousin had to move in with them. Mainly because he had to give up the top bunk, but Governale smiled when he added that at least he had a bed.

I use all of these experiences to fuel everything I do. When I was in the Marine Corps and they were going around asking if anyone wanted to go to training to become a scout sniper, I signed up. Friends would say, Do you really think youll make it? My response was to tell them if they ever asked questions like that again, Id cut them out of my life, he explained.

Governale said the Scout Sniper platoon didnt care if you were the absolute best or the smartest, even though they were undeniable assets. The most important attribute? To never give up.

Its something I held onto. When I was on Naked and Afraid the second time, they forced me out because I had a fever of 104 degrees for four days in a row. Even with that, I was refusing to leave, he laughed. It took a producer yelling at me and explaining I was a liability at this point for the show to make me leave. I dont give up. I cant.

Even when he was competing as an MMA fighter, there were times he didnt win a fight. But Governale is adamant that theres a difference between losing and failing.

Its that mentality that got me into the Marine Corps, too. When I told my mom, her response was to ask how, because I couldn't even wipe my own ass right," he laughed. "After the attacks on 9/11, I knew there was no way I was going to do anything else but the military. Even if it was hard."

And it was. As Governale puts it, receiving a Purple Heart in 2005 after being blown up a few times in Iraq is just a small part of his story and who he is. By 2006 he graduated from sniper school and spent the next two years doing work Governale doesnt publicly elaborate on other than to say he saw some dark shit.

Transitioning out of uniform and eventually out of contract work in Afghanistan was worse than being shot at, he added.

I remember driving down the road in my truck, drunk, crying and I was speeding. There was a loaded 45 next to me that was my grandfathers, Governale shared. The thoughts were there but then I pulled up to my friends and they shook me out of it by asking what I was doing.

Editor's note: If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 or text 838255. You are loved - there is no shame in asking for help!

It was like he just couldnt connect with humans any longer, he admitted, and it took him a long time to get back to feeling like himself. On the advice of a friend to go see the world, he quit his job and bought a one-way ticket to Thailand.

When I was a Marine I think Id visited five countries. At this point, Ive been to 38 different countries and it changed my life. When I got to Thailand, I started fighting, he said.

Fighting in MMA helped and slowly he was connecting to others again. He earned his first-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu and began to feel like himself as time went on. When he did, Governale was on Naked and Afraid and eventually, speaking about his experiences growing up and time in the service.

Governale also started rescuing and rehabilitating dogs, finding that he wasnt just healing them  but himself. His first rescue and rehabilitation would bring him to tears for the first time in years.

When I processed it I realized I wasnt just crying over giving the dog to someone but for so much that had happened to me, he explained.

A few years ago, Governale started showing up at open mic nights three days a week. Hed developed somewhat of a reputation for being funny during his time as a Marine, and humor had always been something he used to push through hard things.

I do open mics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Shows on Saturday and I use Sundays to regroup, he shared. The hope is to use laughter as medicine. I want to motivate and encourage people and challenge them to decide if theyre going to be a victim in whatever situation theyre facing or a warrior. I hope they pick a warrior. Its worth it.

You can follow this badass Marine veteran on Instagram
Whether you're just starting a fitness routine or you're trying to squeeze a new exercise into your day, you might be wondering when is the best time for you to work out.

The truth is that working out at any time of day can bring a ton of health benefits, including strengthening your muscles and improving your heart health. So the best time to work out is simply whenever you're most likely to actually do it.

That said, working out at certain times of day may offer different health benefits than others.

Working out in the morning is often the easiest and best option to get fitness into your day, research and experts suggest. But people who work out in the afternoon or evening may have some advantages too, like being able to fit both cardio and strength training into their routines or coming to their workout already feeling warmed up from the day's other activities.

Here's what to know about how to time your workouts during the day to get the most benefits.

The best time of day to workout

When TODAY.com interviewed several experts on the subject, they all pretty much agreed: Exercising in the morning is the best time of day to work out for logistical, effectiveness and health reasons.

A recent studied published in the journal Obesity found that exercising between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. could help with weight loss. Based on data from 5,200 people 20 years old and over, researchers found that moderate to rigorous exercise in the morning was associated with a lower body mass index than exercising midday or in the afternoon.

That said, a few factors could be playing a role in the findings. For example, morning exercisers were more likely to have never consumed tobacco or alcohol, to consistently work out at the same time every day and to consume fewer calories, than midday or afternoon exercisers.

Lead researcher Tongyu Ma, research assistant professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told NBC News that his "cautious suggestion" from the study is that exercising early in the morning before eating can lead to more weight loss than exercising in other times of day.

But Cameron Mitchell, Ph.D., assistant professor of kinesiology at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, who was not involved with the new research, told NBC News that he could not conclude working out in the morning leads to "optimal health" based on the study results.

Ross Andersen, Ph.D., professor of exercise physiology, medicine and nutrition at McGill University in Montreal, who was also not involved in the study, told NBC News he agreed, adding that people who exercise in the morning probably also practice other behaviors that help lower their weight and boost their health.

In fact, a study published in February 2023 found midday and afternoon exercise was linked with a lower risk of premature death, particularly for certain people.

The benefits of morning exercise

It pays to be a morning type: People who naturally woke up earlier in the day managed to squeeze in about 30 minutes more of physical activity a day for men and about 20 minutes more for women, compared to night owls, researchers in Finland found.

Women who exercised between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. had greater reductions in their belly fat and blood pressure, and they achieved stronger leg muscles, compared to those who worked out in the early evening, researchers reported in 2022 in Frontiers in Physiology.

The exact mechanisms remain elusive, the authors wrote, but morning exercise is increasingly recognized to benefit exercise adherence and weight management in overweight (and) obese individuals.

Mitchell also said that early research shows that exercising in the morning could prompt the body's molecular clock, which controls when certain molecules perform certain functions, to reset itself, boosting metabolic health and weight loss.

Then, theres the practical side: If you exercise in the morning, you get it over with right away, and theres less chance of something interfering with your workout  like a last-minute project that forces you to stay late at work  and you have a momentum, Daniel Pink, author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, previously told TODAY.com. Those early sessions can help you lose weight, form a habit or start the day with a mood boost, he added.

People who exercise in the morning feel very good about accomplishing that first thing, Jack Raglin, Ph.D., exercise psychologist and professor at Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, previously told TODAY.com.

Youve gotten it out of the way and youve got the whole day ahead of you and you can check that off your list, Raglin noted. Even if its tough to pull yourself out bed, you may be pleasantly surprised how good you feel once its done.

Theres also the positive impact a morning workout can have on your body. It releases endorphins, which help you feel great.

You may even want to consider exercising before breakfast: People who worked out on an empty stomach after fasting overnight burned double the amount of fat compared to those who exercised after eating the first meal of the day, a 2019 study found.

They were also able to better control their blood-sugar levels and adjusted easily to their before-breakfast workout sessions.

Such workouts on an empty stomach are not for everyone, including those with diabetes who are on insulin treatment and could increase their risk of hypoglycemia, Javier Gonzalez, Ph.D., study co-author and a senior lecturer in the department for health at the University of Bath, previously told TODAY.com.

Healthy people who are simply worried they wont have the energy to get their heart pumping before their morning bagel can try drinking some strong black coffee before their workout to help the exercise feel a little easier, he advised.

The case for afternoon exercise

Exercise during the midday and afternoon  defined as the hours between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.  was linked with a lower risk of premature death from all causes and heart disease compared to working out mostly in the morning or evening, researchers reported in Nature Communications in February 2023.

These benefits were particularly seen among older adults, men, people who were less physically active or those with pre-existing heart disease.

The exact reasons are a mystery, but the authors offered some possible explanations.

It may be due to how the body responds to activity based on its internal clock or circadian rhythm, including faster recovery of systolic blood pressure after exercise in the late afternoon than in the early morning.

Or perhaps eating and light exposure during the day boosted the benefits of afternoon workouts.

Another possibility is that afternoon exercisers engaged in a more comprehensive workout that included both cardio and weights than their morning or evening counterparts, leading to greater health benefits.

The study shows the timing of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity could "maximize the health benefits" of daily exercise, the authors wrote.

The findings were based on data from more than 92,000 people who wore an activity tracker and signed up to be part of the UK Biobank, a database with health information from half a million adults living in the U.K.

There are benefits to evening workouts, too

If you still prefer workouts later in the day, they can have their own unique benefits, too. Evening exercise  between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.  greatly increased upper body muscle strength, power and endurance, and enhanced overall mood for women, according to the study published in Frontiers in Physiology. For men, the p.m. workouts lowered systolic blood pressure and fatigue, and stimulated fat oxidation compared to early morning exercise.

If you want to enjoy your workout more and find it less of a struggle, the late afternoon or early evening may be better. Youre warmed up, leading to a better performance.

I tend to feel pretty creaky in the morning, but later in the day, I dont feel creaky at all, Pink said.

Plus, you can get the stresses of the working hours out and make the exercise session a ritual to end your day beneficially, Raglin noted.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The White House on Thursday issued a joint communique with Mexico that included democratic decline as a root cause of migration, and hours later deleted the phrase.

The Mexican version did not include the phrase but was otherwise an exact translation using the agreed-upon language.

The joint statement was the result of a meeting between Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

Both countries agreed to continue working together to better control migration in the Western Hemisphere by addressing root causes, continuing to build legal pathways for migrants and disrupting human smuggling networks.

The two countries reaffirmed their existing commitments on fostering an orderly, humane, and regular migration, read the White Houses original statement.

This includes reinforcing our partnership to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, inequality, democratic decline, and violence, and for the two countries initiative for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.

The Mexican version, identical save for the phrase democratic decline, caused an uproar among the countrys opposition, which has raised red flags over Lopez Obradors institutional reforms.

Lopez Obrador has derided institutions such as the countrys independent electoral authority as neoliberal, conservative and too costly for the country, pushing reforms and budget cuts to weaken them.

To Mexicos opposition, Lopez Obradors actions are the very definition of democratic decline.

Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, the top foreign policy adviser to opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez, accused Mexicos government on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, of shaving off the term after the White House published its initial version.

But the White House reissued the English language version of the statement hours later, this time without democratic decline.

An official with knowledge of the talks told The Hill the language was added by U.S. officials after the meeting.

Due to a version control issue, the initial version of the document that we posted online included an additional phrase that had not been discussed with the Mexicans. Promoting democratic values in the region is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and we have worked with Mexico to promote these values, including most recently in Guatemala and Venezuela, a National Security Council spokesperson told The Hill in an email.

Mexican officials had requested to include the U.S. embargo against Cuba and sanctions against Venezuela in the root causes section, but U.S. officials did not agree to that language, and it was not included in any of the three versions of the communique.

This story was updated at 4:23 p.m. on Dec. 29.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - President Joe Biden listens as he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli and U.S. government officials, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. For the second time this month, the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel. The State Department said Friday, Dec. 29, that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5 million sale for equipment that is needed to make the 155 mm shells that Israel has already purchased function. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  For the second time this month the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism.

The State Department said Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5 million sale for equipment, including fuses, charges and primers, that is needed to make the 155 mm shells that Israel has already purchased function.

Given the urgency of Israels defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer, the department said.

The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against the threats it faces, it said.

The emergency determination means the purchase will bypass the congressional review requirement for foreign military sales. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented, when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for lawmakers approval.

Blinken made a similar decision on Dec. 9, to approve the sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million.

Both moves have come as President Joe Bidens request for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs remains stalled in Congress, caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. Some Democratic lawmakers have spoken of making the proposed $14.3 billion in American assistance to its Mideast ally contingent on concrete steps by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza during the war with Hamas.

The State Department sought to counter potential criticism of the sale on human rights grounds by saying it was in constant touch with Israel to emphasize the importance of minimizing civilian casualties, which have soared since Israel began its response to the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.

We continue to strongly emphasize to the government of Israel that they must not only comply with international humanitarian law, but also take every feasible step to prevent harm to civilians, it said.

Hamas hides behind civilians and has embedded itself among the civilian population, but that does not lessen Israels responsibility and strategic imperative to distinguish between civilians and Hamas terrorists as it conducts its military operations, the department said. This type of campaign can only be won by protecting civilians.

Bypassing Congress with emergency determinations for arms sales is an unusual step that has in the past met resistance from lawmakers, who normally have a period of time to weigh in on proposed weapons transfers and, in some cases, block them.

In May 2019, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an emergency determination for an $8.1 billion sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan after it became clear that the Trump administration would have trouble overcoming lawmakers concerns about the Saudi and UAE-led war in Yemen.

Pompeo came under heavy criticism for the move, which some believed may have violated the law because many of the weapons involved had yet to be built and could not be delivered urgently. But he was cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation.

At least four administrations have used the authority since 1979. President George H.W. Bushs administration used it during the Gulf War to get arms quickly to Saudi Arabia.
Opposition from prominent Black and civil rights groups is threatening to permanently derail Biden administration efforts to ban menthol cigarettes.

The ban has also pitted organizations that are often allies, like the NAACP and the Rev. Al Sharptons National Action Network (NAN), against each other.

The tobacco industry has long been accused of targeting the Black community, especially with menthol products, while simultaneously courting and funding Black-led organizations, politicians and civil rights leaders in an effort to neutralize criticism.

Menthol is a lucrative industry. Menthol-flavored cigarettes accounted for more than a third of all cigarette sales in the U.S. in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The fact that 85 percent of Black people who smoke cigarettes smoke menthol cigarettes, its not a mistake. Its not happenstance. Its not culture. Its not a preference for the taste. It is a concerted marketing effort by industry that infiltrated these communities to peddle these drugs, and theyve done so successfully, said Mignonne Guy, an associate professor and former chair of the Department of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The political tide has been shifting in recent years, and a majority of the Congressional Black Caucus supports Bidens proposal. But the White House earlier this month delayed the plan until at least March after critics argued the ban would unfairly target Black smokers and hurt the presidents re-election chances.

The delay came about two weeks after top administration officials met with tobacco industry lobbyists, industry-adjacent organizations, as well as high-profile civil rights attorney Ben Crump and a top executive from Sharptons NAN.

The move dismayed public health groups, who say its a sign that the industrys influence, especially among certain Black leaders, remains strong.

Theres a whole plethora of people  its public health professionals, its lobbyists, members of Congress, you know, everybody they need to line up so that whenever the issue of the regulation of menthol comes up, theyve got an army of prepaid people who can step up to the plate and make the case about why menthol should be exceptional, said Yolanda Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Richardson recently convened a meeting between administration officials and prominent civil rights and public health leaders to press the White House to release the rule and stop what she decried as foot-dragging. She and the other groups were incensed over the level of access granted to the industry lobbyists so soon before the ban was delayed.

The more recent meeting included members of the NAACP, African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, the National Council of Negro Women, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and other public health representatives.

Therell always be these kinds of red herring issues, Richardson said. For one minute it was over-policing, now were hearing the issue is that Black men are going to be upset because theyre not going to have their menthol cigarettes. So, theres always a way for the industry to distort the facts, and theres always a way for them to kick up sand in the gears.

A potential ban on menthol cigarettes has been discussed across multiple administrations for more than a decade. Even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally proposed one in 2022, the target date for the final rule has been slipping for months.

The rule was initially slated for August release but then wasnt sent to the White House for final regulatory review until October, with the aim of releasing it by the end of the year. Now itll be March  if the rule is released at all.

Its hard to be surprised by another delay. But I certainly was surprised that here the delay was following so close on the heels of tobacco industry and industry-funded groups meeting with OMB [the White House Office of Management and Budget], said Micah Berman, a professor at Ohio State Universitys College of Public Health.

And then having the delay announced right after that  the fact that they still apparently have that much direct influence in 2023 is a bit shocking.

Opponents of the ban have argued it will expand an illicit, unregulated marketplace of menthol cigarettes and will lead to more over-policing in communities of color, similar to the war on drugs campaign of the 1980s and 1990s.

Sharptons National Action Network has been among the most vocal in arguing about the consequences of a ban on Black communities, often invoking the name of Eric Garner, who was killed by police in 2014 after being confronted for selling loose cigarettes.

NAN has opposed menthol bans across the country, holding town halls at prominent Black churches to talk about how menthol bans criminalize the Black community.

The National Action Network has followed the lead of Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who was killed by police during a cigarette enforcement stop. She, Attorney Ben Crump, and others have raised concerns that this ban will lead to the unintended consequences for Black people selling loose cigarettes, Ebonie Riley, senior vice president of the National Action Network, said in a statement to The Hill.

Riley was among the individuals, including former lawmakers, who met with administration officials in late November to push against the ban.

Public health advocates have pointed to the longstanding ties Sharpton has with RJ Reynolds, the manufacturer of Newport menthol cigarettes.

Sharpton, who publicly fought against New York Citys menthol ban in 2019, told the New York Times that Reynolds had made contributions to his group for two decades, and he did not dispute that the company regularly bought tables for as much as $15,000 at its events.

Riley said Sharpton himself has not made any public comments or lobbied on the federal proposal. She wouldnt say whether the group still receives funding from tobacco companies.

Other groups, including the ACLU and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), helped to lobby the White House against the ban, focusing on the law enforcement aspect. NOBLE lists the cigarette company Altria, which produces Virginia Slims, as one of its sponsors. The ACLU has opposed efforts at tobacco regulation since the 1990s.

For supporters of the ban, the arguments against it are cynical distractions.

Bidens proposed policy would only apply to companies that manufacture, distribute or sell menthol cigarettes, not individuals who possess or use them. Nobody has been arrested for smoking menthols in Massachusetts and California, the only two states that have banned them.

The message about losing Black voters reportedly came during recent private phone calls with administration officials, following polls showing Biden has been losing support among that key demographic.

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said the political risk wasnt real.

We are the largest civil rights organization in the Black community in 47 states across the country, he said. No one has raised this as a political issue  outside of a manufactured argument we began to hear about a week and a half [before the delay].

Johnson said the Black community is concerned about the price of gas, bread, the future of their children, the safety of their communities. Those are the political questions happening on the ground.

Congress banned flavored cigarettes as part of the 2009 law giving the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products, but a loophole exempted menthol. It was left up to the FDA to make a further decision.

The Obama administration solicited comments for potential regulation of menthol cigarettes in 2013, but it never proposed a rule. Then in 2018, the Trump administration revisited the issue.

But Trumps FDA also failed to issue a formal rule. So when the Biden administrations April 2022 proposals for a ban on menthol and flavored cigars were released, they represented a significant step forward.

Advocacy groups say tens of thousands of Black lives could be saved; they are planning a menthol funeral on Jan. 18 in Washington to memorialize the 45,000 Black Americans who die from tobacco-related illness each year and to encourage the White House to act.

But now the delay has extended into an election year, and advocates worry that electoral concerns will win out over public health.

Unfortunately, thats what Biden himself seems to be most concerned about and not concerned about saving Black lives, said Phillip Gardiner, co-chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden on Friday issued a scathing statement against Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russias latest attacks on Ukraine, the largest aerial assault since the war began.

It is a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putins objective remains unchanged. He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people. He must be stopped, Biden said.

The remarks come after a heavy overnight assault by Russia, and as Congress remains deadlocked over whether to provide further support for Ukraine. Biden has requested aid, but it is now part of a negotiation centered on the border, and its fate is very much in doubt.

The rocket and drone attacks across Ukraine early Friday killed at least 24 people, according to The Associated Press. Russia launched its attack days after Ukraine launched a strike in Crimea, which Russia occupies.

Biden noted that the Russians used drones and missiles, including those with hypersonic capability, for the bombardment and the deadly strikes hit a maternity hospital, shopping mall, and residential areas.

The president called on Congress to provide more aid for Ukraine, noting Ukraine used air defense systems from the U.S. and other allies to fend off the attack.

The American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom, and its independence. But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay, Biden said.

Zelensky visited Washington earlier this month to lobby for more help for his war-torn country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden speaks at the White House in Washington, DC, on Dec. 13, 2023. Credit - Al DragoBloomberg via Getty Images

It was 100 days into his presidency and President Joe Biden was touting his accomplishments at a rally in Georgia when protestors started shouting him down and telling him to close the countrys privately-run immigration detention centers.

I agree with you. I'm working on it man, the President said in response. There should be no private prisons period. None, period. Thats what theyre talking about, private detention centers. They should not exist and we are working to close all of them, he said. Bidens pledge, three months into his presidency, echoed a campaign promise he made to prevent businesses from profiting off of the suffering of people fleeing violence to come to the U.S.

And at the end of Bidens third year, his administration is still heavily reliant on for-profit companies to run immigration detention centers. Some 90% of people held in immigration detention are in facilities run by private companies, according to an analysis by the ACLU.

Since Biden came into office in January 2021, those held in immigration custody has more than doubled from 14,195 on Jan. 22, 2021 to 36,755 on Dec. 3, 2023, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a research institution at Syracuse University that collects and analyzes federal immigration data. While those figures are less than the peak immigration detention figures at 55,000 hit under the Trump administration in 2019, the trajectory reflects the spike in migration rates in the Biden era, after slowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the administration holding more immigrants in custody while their asylum cases play out.

Biden is under pressure from Republicans in Congress to shut down legal asylum and parole pathways in ongoing negotiations over funding for border security, making it unlikely Biden will be able to change course before next years election on his administration's reliance on private companies in immigration detention.

The evidence is quite clear that President Biden has failed to fulfill his campaign promise and in fact has back-tracked in terms of the use of immigration detention, says Eunice Cho, the senior staff attorney at the ACLUs National Prison Project. The number of people detained in ICE detention has expanded rapidly under the Biden administration.

Bidens campaign promise to end using private facilities for any detention, including immigration detention, is unmet, agrees Lauren-Brooke Eisen, senior director of the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice and author of the 2017 book Inside Private Prisons. Biden has run into a major hurdle in just how intertwined the private prison industry is with how the country detains people while their immigration cases are being heard. The challenge there is that most of the ICE detention centers are owned and operated by for-profit firms, says Eisen.

In Bidens first week in office, he issued an executive order that directed the Department of Justice to not renew contracts with privately-operated criminal detention facilities. Dena Iverson, a spokeswoman with the Justice Department, said the agency was continuing to work to implement the order, noting that the Bureau of Prisons and US Marshals Service had terminated contracts with over a dozen privately-owned providers.

Yet while that order has led to a reduction in use of for-profit companies in federal detention, it notably did not apply to immigration detention, allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to continue to rely heavily on for-profit companies.

The immigration systems reliance on for-profit detention centers goes back decades. As ICE built out its network of detention centers for holding people facing possible deportation, the federal government decided not to build large numbers of its own facilities, says Eisen at the Brennan Center. The government never really invested in or built its own detention centers. It outsourced that to these for-profit firms, Eisen says.

The logistics of migrant housing is complicated, as the funding available and the beds needed change from year to year, according to Corey A. Price, the executive associate director for Enforcement and Removal Operations at ICE. Contracting with private companies allows ICE to bring on new detention beds quickly when Congress allocates more funds, he says.

Ryan Gustin, a director of public affairs at CoreCivic, a for-profit detention company that contracts with ICE, says that the company plays a valued but limited role in Americas immigration system, which weve done for every administration  Democrat and Republican  for nearly 40 years. Federal government agencies often choose to work with us because of the flexibility we can provide, which is particularly important when their needs and priorities can change significantly from year to year, Gustin says.

But running prisons as money-making businesses can incentivize private companies to cut corners, says Jennifer Ibanez Whitlock, a supervisory policy and practice counsel at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The profit motive really drives down the safety and the security in those facilities, says Whitlock, who adds that for-profit detention centers have a pattern of being understaffed. The whole system works to do this at the cheapest available rate, she says.

A spokesperson for a group representing the private prison industry pushed back against the notion that their facilities are unsafe. "Contractors are held to strict federal standards, which were updated and strengthened under President Obama, says Alexandra Wilkes with the Day 1 Alliance. Everything from health care services to access to attorneys and immigrant rights advocates are provided. Without this critical infrastructure, migrants would likely be housed in overcrowded local jails alongside potentially dangerous people.

Price adds that ICE reviews facilities to ensure they are not falling short of federal guidelines. We may need the beds, but it is not worth the risk of continuing to contract with them if they are not meeting our standards," he said.

ICE announced in March 2022 that the Biden Administration would stop using the Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, a county facility that is operated by a private company, and would reduce its use of three other facilities in Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina. ICE announced at the time that the Etowah County Detention Center had "a long history of serious deficiencies" and was of "limited operational significance" to immigration officers.

Months after Bidens executive order in 2021, a privately run prison in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania called the Moshannon Valley Correctional Center shut down after the Federal Bureau of Prisons did not renew its contract. But within a year, the prison had reopened under a new name, the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, and under a new contract for immigration detention with ICE. On Dec. 6, a Cameroonian man named Frankline Okpu died at the Moshannon Valley detention center, according to ICE.

This administration, in the most generous light, over-promised what they were going to do or could do to deal with the problem of private detention and, in the worst light, just have completely abandoned those efforts, says Whitlock.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Cryonics companies cryogenically freeze people after death, hoping they will one day be revived.

Critics say it is fantastical. Proponents say the possibility is better than accepting death.

The idea of bringing people back to life raises a host of scientific, legal, and ethical questions.

Being cryogenically frozen after death and one day being brought back to life sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. But a handful of companies worldwide are selling people the dream that death is not final.

Max More spent 12 years working at Alcor Life Extension Foundation, the oldest cryonics company in the world, first as CEO and then as ambassador and president emeritus, before leaving earlier this year.

"It was kind of just an obvious thing to me, just an extension of the idea of not wanting to die," he told BI.

Alcor has 224 patients cryopreserved in its state-of-the-art facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, and 1,418 members signed up to be preserved after they die.

While the technology to freeze, or cryopreserve, a body after death has greatly improved over decades of fine-tuning, there is currently no way to revive people.

"To me, it's an illusion. It's a promise," Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, told BI. "Legit science doesn't think we know what we're doing."

"I worry that while people look to the future and say, well, in the future, they'll be able to solve anything  if you create a bunch of mush when you freeze using today's techniques, nobody's going to be able to solve it even a thousand years from now."

More is more optimistic. He points out that a hundred years ago, people wouldn't have believed it possible to land on the moon or that we could have technology like FaceTime that would allow people across the world to see and speak to one another in real time.

The first person to be cryogenically frozen was psychology professor James Bedford in 1966, and an urban legend has long circulated that Walt Disney opted to be frozen after death  although there is no evidence for this.

Billionaire Peter Thiel holds cash during a cryptocurrency conference. Marco Bello/Getty Images

As technology has progressed, the idea now seems less outlandish. Many tech billionaires are increasingly interested in ways to extend life , and billionaire Peter Thiel has said he's signed up to be cryogenically frozen after he dies to make an "ideological statement," even though he says he doesn't expect it to work.

A facility in Scottsdale has 224 members preserved in liquid nitrogen

A small number of cryonics companies operate around the world, and the Alcor Life Extension Foundation is the oldest and most well-known.

Among those preserved is a two-year-old Thai girl who died of brain cancer, the youngest person to be cryogenically frozen.

Full-body preservation costs $220,000, and the option to just preserve your brain costs $80,000. Most members pay using life insurance. Some even opt to freeze their pets.

The other major company, The Cryonics Institute, has 2,180 members worldwide, and there are smaller companies in Europe, China, and Russia.

Alcor president Max More. Jean-Marie HOSATTE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Other companies offer prices cheaper than Alcor, but their packages typically do not include the services of the medical standby teams that come to begin the process immediately after death.

How it works

When a member dies, a medical team on standby springs into action. Alcor has affiliated hospices in Arizona where patients can move when in critical condition, but typically, the team goes into the field to wherever the member has died.

The deceased person's blood is replaced with a cryoprotectant, which reduces the risk of ice crystal formation after death, in a process known as vitrification.

The body is then cooled down gradually and stored at -196C, or around -321F, in specialized containers filled with liquid nitrogen, preventing the body from decaying.

The bodies will then remain preserved indefinitely until science advances to the point where they can be revived.

A specialized ambulance for transporting bodies undergoing cryopreservation was shown at a conference in Madrid in November 2022. Ricardo Rubio/Europa Press via Getty Images

More said that science is progressing in the right direction, but not at the pace he would like. Earlier this year, scientists at The University of Minnesota successfully unfroze rat organs and transplanted them in a historic first.

The cryonics industry relies on the assumption that one day, death will be reversible. Not only would we need to be able to bring people back to life, but we would also have to be able to cure the cause of death  whether that was cancer, old age, or anything in between.

Critics say this feels far too fantastical. Caplan believes that even the process of freezing people is a bit of a gamble, let alone banking on the ability to one day bring them back to life.

"Speaking for myself, it's still something I want to do rather than just let myself die," More said.

'You're going to be a freak'

The concept of bringing people back to life brings up all kinds of legal, ethical, and philosophical questions.

On a practical level  when a person returns to life, would they have the same identity and Social Security number? If Queen Elizabeth II had been cryogenically preserved and had come back to life, would she have become monarch again? Would people have a claim to goods and assets that have passed on to their heirs?

Skeptics note that even if revival became possible, it would be extremely difficult to have people wake up hundreds or thousands of years in the future and then try to integrate into a new world they do not understand.

"Even if it worked, if you woke up a thousand years later, you're not going to know what is going on. You're going to be a freak," Caplan said.

More believes that this is simply another challenge to overcome. He compared the scenario to people waking up after years in a coma or moving to a different country and learning to assimilate to a new culture.

Aside from putting a lot of faith into the possibilities of science, members of cryonics companies also rely on the fact that these companies will still be around hundreds of years in the future.

Alcor protects its future through the nonprofit Patient Care Trust, which functions as a separate entity to manage and protect the funding for frozen patients, More said.

There are very strict rules on managing the money, including allowing no more than 2% to be taken out per year.

Science fiction cryogenics set appearing in the ABC tv series 'The Wide World of Mystery', episode 'The Two Deaths of Sean Doolittle'. American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images

Despite the aspirations of those in the field, there are a lot of whens, ifs, and buts when it comes to cryonics.

In his experience, the common trait among those who sign up is a profound "sense of adventure," coupled with not being afraid to be non-conformists, More said.

"The unknown terrifies people, and they'd actually rather die. I find that very hard to relate to. But that's their choice," More said.

"I'd rather be there for the grand adventure and see how all this works out," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A passenger plane belonging to the Russian airline Utair had an engine failure during a 29 December flight from Moscow to Kogalym, Russia's Tyumen Oblast.

Source: Russian news outlet Vesti (News)

Details: Reports say the Boeing 737-500 pilot-in-command announced an emergency signal two hours after departure from Vnukovo Airport and informed controllers of a right engine failure.

The aircraft then made an emergency landing in the city of Surgut. The landing reportedly went well, and the passengers will be transported by ground.

Background:

The number of accidents and emergencies involving aircraft, including civilian aircraft, has increased in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of international sanctions against Russia.

On 1 December, an Aeroflot Boeing-777 flying from Moscow made an emergency landing in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk due to a problem with its landing gear.

On 7 December, a Tu-204 cargo jet caught fire on take-off from the Russian city of Ulan-Ude in Buryatia.

On 8 December, a passenger Boeing 737 belonging to S7 Airlines made an emergency landing in Novosibirsk, Russia, due to an engine fire. On the same day, a Rossiya Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol Krai, Russia.

Russia has been given a red flag by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) for flight safety. Only four countries in the world have a red flag: Bhutan, Congo, Liberia and Russia. This assessment indicates serious deterioration in the safety of Russian aircraft.

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(Stacker)  While many baby boomers have now entered retirement, many more remain in the workforce with retirement upcoming. As this generation transitions into retired life, many may choose to move to a city more suitable for their new cash flows and routines. Some places may offer better tax advantages, lower cost of living, proximity to family, comfortable weather, and other amenities for retirees. Ultimately, the migration of boomers  and their economic power  will impact the local economies they move to and from.

With this in mind, SmartAsset examined Census Bureau data for 268 of the largest U.S. cities to see where people between the ages of 55 and 74 are moving. Cities are ranked by the rate at which baby boomers moved in in 2022.

Key findings

These Florida, Arizona, and Nevada cities dominate the top 10. The three states are home to eight of the 10 cities with the biggest boomer inflows, including Clearwater, FL; Reno, NV; Orlando, FL; Cape Coral, FL; Surprise, AZ; Henderson, NV; Mesa, AZ; and St. Petersburg, FL.

Nearly 30% of the population are boomers in these cities. Baby boomers account for almost three out of every 10 people in Cape Coral, FL (29.9%), Scottsdale, AZ (28.1%) and Clearwater, FL (27.0%).

Out-of-state boomers are moving to Billings, MT. Montanas largest city welcomed 1,842 baby boomers from different states in 2022, more than half of the total 3,401 new boomers. Billings, which ranked fifth studywide, is consequently one of the two states that made it to the top 10 outside of Florida, Nevada and Arizona.

Foreign boomers are moving to these cities in Florida. 2,131 baby boomers moved to Orlando from abroad last year. Cape Coral, FL had the second-highest rate of boomers moving from abroad, with 1,268 new individuals in this cohort.

North Carolina boomers are flocking to High Point. Overall, High Point ranked 9th. Of the 3,051 baby boomers who moved here in 2022, 81% came from within the state of North Carolina.

A chart showing the top 20 cities where baby boomers are moving

SmartAsset

Heres a closer look at the top 10 cities where baby boomers are moving

1. Clearwater, FL

Baby boomers who moved to Clearwater in 2022 accounted for 3.79% of the citys total population. 4,401 people from this age group moved into the city. Overall, the 31,349 baby boomers living in Clearwater made up 27.0% of the citys total population over the age of 1.

2. Reno, NV

A total of 8,329 baby boomers relocated to Reno in 2022. These new residents represented 3.07% of the citys population. Overall, 62,688 baby boomers living in Reno accounted for 23.1% of residents.

3. Orlando, FL

In 2022, Orlando welcomed 9,458 new residents from the baby boomer generation. Those newcomers accounted for 3.02% of the citys total population over the age of 1. Boomers now comprise 16.6% of the Orlando community, with a total of 51,927 individuals.

4. Cape Coral, FL

Baby boomers who moved to Cape Coral in 2022 made up 2.90% of the citys total population over the age of 1. A total of 6,233 people from this age group moved into the city that year, as baby boomers made up 29.9% of the overall population.

5. Billings, MT

Billings saw 3,401 baby boomers move into the city, accounting for 2.87% of the citys population. With the influx, baby boomers now comprise 22.5% of residents over the age of 1.

6. Surprise, AZ

4,372 baby boomers relocated to Surprise, making up 2.86% of the total population over the age of 1. This led to a total of 36,420 baby boomers living in Surprise in 2022. This generation constituted 23.8% of the overall community.

7. Henderson, NV

The 9,219 boomers who moved to Henderson in 2022 made up 2.80% of the citys total population. Meanwhile, a total of 84,183 boomers were living in Henderson in 2022, accounting for 25.6% of residents.

8. Mesa, AZ

Of the 108,881 baby boomers living in Mesa in 2022, 13,623 moved to the city that year. Newcomers in this age group made up 2.69% of the citys total population over the age of 1.

9. High Point, NC

High Point welcomed 3,051 new residents from the baby boomer generation in 2022. In total, the citys 26,023 baby boomers comprised 22.9% of the overall population over the age of 1. Baby boomers who moved to High Point that year accounted for 2.69% of residents.

10. St. Petersburg, FL

A total of 6,903 baby boomers moved to St. Petersburg in 2022, accounting for 2.67% of the total population over the age of 1. That year, 66,631 baby boomers  25.75% of all residents over the age of 1  called St. Petersburg home.

Data and methodology

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2022. The study included 268 cities that had available data and 100,000 or more people ages 1 or over. Boomers were defined as people ages 55 to 74. Cities were ranked by the percentage of the total population represented by boomers who moved into the city in 2022.

This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.

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Burglars broke into 27 garages in two neighbouring streets on Wednesday night, Dorset Police has said.

Eighteen garages were targeted in Keyes Close, Poole, and nine in Downey Close, Bournemouth, the force added.

Officers said they were gathering information on the items taken.

Police have appealed to trace three young people who were seen in the area wearing dark clothing and riding a brightly coloured bicycle.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.
National flags of Brazil and Venezuela flutter at the Brazil-Venezuela border in the Brazilian city of Pacaraima

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil expressed concern on Friday after Venezuela complained about the deployment of a British warship off the Guyana coast, raising tensions in a border dispute over the oil-rich Esequibo region of the former British colony.

"The Brazilian government believes that military demonstrations of support for any party must be avoided, so that the ongoing dialogue process can produce results," the Brazilian foreign ministry said in a statement. It urged all parties to "contain themselves" and resume talks.

Britain has dispatched the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Trent to Guyana, where it was due to arrive on Friday morning.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday slammed the warship's deployment and said it breached the "spirit" of an agreement reached between Venezuelan and Guyanese authorities.

Neighbors Venezuela and Guyana agreed earlier this month to avoid using force or increasing tensions in their long-running dispute border dispute over the Esequibo territory.

The 160,000-square-km (62,000-square-mile) region is generally recognized as part of Guyana, but in recent years Venezuela has revived its claim to the territory and to offshore areas after major oil and gas discoveries.

Western diplomats have urged the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has maintained friendly relations with Maduro, to ease tensions in the Guyana border dispute.

Brazil said on Friday the "Argyle Declaration for Dialogue and Peace" signed by Guyana and Venezuela on Dec. 14 was "a milestone in efforts to peacefully address the issue."

"The two countries also agreed to cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground and unilateral measures that could lead to an escalation of the situation," Brazil's statement said.

The UK defense ministry said this month that HMS Trent would visit Guyana as part of a series of engagements in the region, without referring to Venezuela or the border dispute.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Brad Haynes and Alistair Bell)
(Bloomberg) -- Membership of the BRICS group of emerging-market nations is set to double, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt to join its ranks on Jan. 1, South Africas envoy to the bloc said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Current members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in August invited six other nations to become part of their group, pairing some of the planets largest energy producers with some of the biggest consumers among developing countries. Only Argentina declined the invitation after President Javier Milei, who took office this month, reversed his predecessors membership bid.

The five invitees sent senior-level representatives to a BRICS sherpa meeting in Durban, South Africa, earlier this month and they fully participated in the gathering, a clear indication that they have accepted the invitation to join, Anil Sooklal, Pretorias ambassador to the bloc, said in an interview Friday.

The new members will also send officials to a sherpa meeting in Moscow on Jan. 30, he said.

BRIC was coined in 2001 by economist Jim ONeill, then at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., to draw attention to strong economic growth rates in Brazil, Russia, India and China. The term was intended as an optimistic scenario for investors amid market pessimism following the terrorist attacks in the US on Sept. 11 that year. The group held its first leaders summit in 2009 and invited South Africa to join a year later, adding another continent and the letter S.

About 30 countries want to establish ties with the bloc, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov was cited by news agency Tass as saying this week.

Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, will seek to become a member of BRICS within the next two years, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar said in November.

Except for India, the BRICS have underperformed their emerging-market peers over the last five years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. US-led sanctions have put Russia off limits for many foreign investors, and some sectors in China  especially technology companies  have also been sanctioned or face potential investment bans.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Before I rode Brightline, I thought we needed a train stop on the Treasure Coast. After taking my first trip on the new high-speed passenger train service to the Orlando airport, I know we need one.

This is the way to travel.

Riding Brightline from West Palm Beach to Orlando and back in October, which took over two hours each way, was the second time Ive ever taken a train.

I remembered riding Amtraks Downeaster for almost two hours from Wells, Maine, to Boston, Massachusetts. What struck me then were the views. As someone who loves driving and seeing the landscape, I saw a different view that cant be seen from the roadways.

The best part of my Brightline ride was going through untouched natural preserved lands, especially Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, Savannas Preserve State Park in Jensen Beach and Port St. Lucie, and St. Sebastian River State Park.

Incredible, I couldnt help but say aloud, looking out the window and seeing a landscape I thought I knew so well from a new perspective.

Whats it like to ride the Brightline train?

Just like an airplane flight, I was nervous the night before and the day of my trip, even though it was just to check out the service for work.

I rode premium or first class ($149) to Orlando and smart or coach ($89) back to West Palm Beach. I took the 9:03 a.m. northbound and the 11:54 a.m. southbound, and they ended up being the same train.

The main difference between premium and smart was the food, which was free for the former but not for the latter.

A Brightline ride from West Palm Beach to Orlando and back showed a different perspective of the Treasure Coast on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

Each time I got on the train, I found my seat and showed my ticket on my phone. I had a fold-down tray table and lights overhead, but no seatbelts, and much bigger bathrooms than an airplane.

It even felt and looked like the inside of an airplane, but the ride wasnt as smooth. I could hear rattling, and the train was slightly shaky. Still, it wasnt enough to spill my coffee.

Soon after we left the West Palm Beach station, a cart came by with drinks and snacks. I had just stuffed my face in the premium lounge, and the attendant said she would come by again when the train passed through Port St. Lucie.

Then something unexpected happened.

A Brightline ride from West Palm Beach to Orlando and back showed a different perspective of the Treasure Coast on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

I settled into my seat, staring out the window as the train picked up speed, and I got choked up. The reality of riding on these historic tracks through my native hometown hit me emotionally.

We started to pick up speed, and I recognized the vast scrub forest of Jonathan Dickinson from my time hiking and mountain biking the state park trails. It was beautiful. The landscape quickly changed to an old fishing village. I referred to the map on my phone and saw I was in Port Salerno.

I noticed the train slowed before curves, but not before busy intersections. I felt the brakes before it slowed over the Stuart train bridge. I felt like I was swaying as we crossed the St. Lucie River.

Every time we passed another train, I jumped in surprise at the horn.

The ride took me through unfamiliar and unseen parts of my hometown, behind the homes of Indian River Drive, sometimes with a view of the Indian River Lagoon. I couldnt help but FaceTime my mom as we rode through Fort Pierce, and we shouted with glee at different landmarks: Orange Avenue! South Bridge! Avenue D! North Bridge!

A Brightline ride from West Palm Beach to Orlando and back showed a different perspective of the Treasure Coast on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

The most interesting part was going through the Florida East Coast Railway railyard, since theres no public access road through it.

After we left Vero Beach and passed the Roseland bridge over the St. Sebastian River, I expected the train to take off like a bullet, especially after we made it through the Space Coast. But, if Brightline did top 100 mph through the vacant swampland along State Road 528, I didnt feel it. We slowly pulled into the new Terminal C at the Orlando International Airport.

The trip wasnt without annoying passengers. One woman behind me had her phone read her a news article. One man had an entire conversation on speakerphone. Thankfully, each car designed for 60 passengers had only 10.

I sat by myself when I rode premium, but I had someone next to me when I rode smart. Ryan Cussen lives in Boca Raton, just a few minutes from a Brightline train station. He told me we could spread out in the car after we started moving.

A Brightline ride from West Palm Beach to Orlando and back showed a different perspective of the Treasure Coast on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

As an account manager with ResMed, Cussen had a meeting to attend in Orlando. Instead of driving, he took the train the night before the meeting, got dinner and stayed in a hotel. After the meeting, he got on the train back to South Florida.

However, hes not going to need to take the train more than once a quarter. Also, his work paid for the trip; otherwise, he said, it would have been too expensive.

After my trip, I looked at the Brightline map to see where I had traveled. It looked strange to have several stops in South Florida, but a long, empty stretch from West Palm Beach to Orlando. I remembered Amtraks Downeaster had several stops, but the train didnt stop long at each.

After riding Brightline, it makes sense to have at least one or two more stops between West Palm Beach and Orlando. Geographically, they would fit on the Treasure Coast and close to Cocoa before the train makes a 90-degree turn.

Brightline CEO Michael Reininger told TCPalm a Treasure Coast station is the companys next focus. A lawsuit settlement agreement has Brightline committed to building a station in either St. Lucie or Martin within the next five years.

I look forward to the day I can ride Brightline to and from the Treasure Coast  instead of just through it.

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalms entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Brightline train ride shows special side of Treasure Coast
Ms Mielniczuk reportedly spent the last 18 months volunteering in Ukraine in a medical and operational capacity

A British volunteer medic working in Ukraine is reported to have been found dead at her home in Kyiv.

Katherine Mielniczuk, who was 25 and a former chemistry student at Bristol University, reportedly spent the last 18 months volunteering in Ukraine in a medical and operational capacity.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office could not confirm the identity of the deceased but said that it was supporting the family of a British woman who died in Ukraine.

Project Konstantin said the cause of Ms Mielniczuks death was not being treated as suspicious but that further information will be released later by authorities.

Ms Mielniczuk said the goal of her unit was to assist medics on the ground with critical equipment and vehicle repairs and fuel

In a video posted in July, Ms Mielniczuk  who was known as Kat  told a journalist she had worked in acute medicine for six years before volunteering in Ukraine.

She said she made the decision after seeing vulnerable children being killed in Kharkiv and Izyum and parts of Kyiv.

If I have even two hands and two legs and half a brain, its my duty to go and help, she said, standing in a khaki bullet-proof vest with a British flag sewn onto it.

She added: I will stay as long as its perhaps not safe to be here or until I need to go back to my brother or my mother. I feel safe and competent in this country.

Ms Mielniczuk said the goal of her unit  composed of 200 foreigners  was to assist medics on the ground with critical equipment and vehicle repairs and fuel.

Ms Mielniczuks family released a statement saying: It is impossible to truly convey what an incredible woman Katherine was or how deeply and widely she was loved and will be missed. Kasia is gone, but the endless warmth, love and grace she brought to the world will never be lost.

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (left) and Guyana President Irfaan Ali met in December 2023 and agreed not to use force to settle the territorial dispute (Adem ALTAN)

A British warship arrived off the coast of Guyana on Friday, further fueling tensions over a territorial dispute with Venezuela, which has launched a major military exercise in response to what it termed an "unacceptable" threat.

Venezuela and Guyana have been locked in a land dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region which makes up about two-thirds of Guyana's territory, but has long been claimed by Caracas.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday ordered over 5,600 troops to join a "defensive" exercise near the Guyana border, in response to Britain sending a warship to the area in a show of support to its former colony.

Britain said Friday the Venezuelan military exercises were "unjustified and should cease."

London diverted the patrol vessel HMS Trent to Guyana "as part of a series of engagements in the region during her Atlantic patrol task deployment."

A Guyana foreign ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the "uneventful" arrival of the warship in its waters on Friday.

Brazil, which borders both countries and whose President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has emerged as a peace broker of sorts, on Friday called for "restraint and a return to dialogue."

Expressing "concern," the Brazilian government said in a statement it "believes military demonstrations of support to either party should be avoided."

- 'Recklessness' -

Rocio San Miguel, a Venezuelan military expert and normally a critic of the government, said Britain's military response was "recklessness that forces Venezuela to respond as it has done."

However Gary Best, a former chief of staff of the Guyanan Defence Forces, said having the British ship in their waters was not "a provocation."

"It is nothing unusual. However, in the actual context... of the challenge to the sovereignty by Venezuela, it has taken on a new meaning.

"I can see how they would see it as a threat."

He said the military exercises were "a show of force" from Maduro, ahead of elections in 2024.

Venezuela's century-old claim on Essequibo has been revived since massive offshore oil deposits were discovered in the region and Guyana began handing out licenses to oil companies to operate there.

Maduro's government held a controversial referendum on December 3 in which 95 percent of voters, according to officials, supported declaring Venezuela the rightful owner of Essequibo.

He has since started legal maneuvers to create a Venezuelan province in Essequibo and ordered the state oil company to issue licenses for extracting crude in the region.

Guyana, a former British and Dutch colony, insists the Essequibo frontiers were determined by an arbitration panel in 1899.

But Venezuela claims the Essequibo River to the region's east forms a natural border recognized as far back as 1777.

Brazil urged both parties to respect an agreement reached after Maduro and Guyana President Irfaan Ali met earlier this month in the Caribbean, where they vowed not to resort to force to settle the dispute.

burs-fb/acb
A Brooklyn man was charged with the violent rape of a 49-year-old woman as he and a knife-wielding accomplice robbed the massage parlor where she worked, prosecutors said Friday.

Mohammed Izzeddin, 22, was arraigned at Kings County Criminal Court and charged with stealing money from a Sunset Park massage parlor and forcing himself on one of the workers when she took too long to hand over the cash.

If you do not give me the money I am going to rape you, Izzeddin allegedly told the victim repeatedly before following through on his threat, according to prosecutors.

As Assistant District Attorney David Ingle described horrifying details of how Mohammed Izzeddin allegedly choked, hit and then raped the victim, his sobbing mother fell over in her seat in the courtroom.

Ingle said Izzeddin and another man entered the spa where the victim worked, near the corner of 59th St. and Ninth Ave., last Saturday evening.

Security cameras spotted him on his phone in front of the massage parlor while he was waiting to be buzzed in, the prosecutor said.

Once inside, he demanded money from three workers inside of the spa. The other man with him, who has not yet been apprehended by police, brandished a knife.

The defendant asks the complaining witness where the money is, Ingle said. He begins to drag the complaining witness by her hair. The defendant says to the complaining witness, in some substance, if you do not give me the money I am going to rape you.

Izzeddin then allegedly grabbed the woman and pushed her into a massage room, again threatening rape if she did not hand over money.

He placed her hands around her throat, choked her, and then hit her multiple times. He told her to get a condom and then forced himself on her.

On his way out, he took $160 from the woman and $1,800 more from the other workers.

Cops said Izzeddin and the other man ran off afterwards to Izzeddins Bay Ridge home. He was arrested on Thursday.

I didnt rape her! Izzeddin shouted as he was led from the NYPDs 66th Precinct stationhouse. Its a prostitution spot!

While at the precinct, the defendant admitted to being at the scene of the robbery  the robbery was the others idea, the defendant denied any sexual assault, Ingle said.

His mother, a Syrian refugee, declined to comment as she left the courthouse. During the arraignment, she put her head in her hands, crying and shaking.

Emily Davis, Izzeddins attorney, said that Izzeddin denies all charges against him, and nodded to his mothers support of him and status as a single mom and Syrian refugee when asking the judge for a lower bail amount.

Mrs. Izzeddin came as soon as I called her to support her son, Davis said.

Izzeddin, who appeared in court handcuffed and wearing a gray hoodie and brown pants, remained stoic throughout the proceeding.

He remains in custody until the $15,000 cash bail amount can be met. Izzeddins next court date is Jan. 3.
HOUSTON - On December 23, the day before Christmas Eve, Florentino Hurtado and his wife went to La Michoacana, a food store in north Houston.

Florentino, 67, who according to his family has Alzheimers, waited for his wife in their car while she ran in.

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In the video, you see Florentino get out of the car, apparently disoriented, and try to get into the car next to his.

That car owner walks out of the store and immediately starts punching Florentino, beating him to the ground.

The attack lasts for about two minutes. The suspect, Trayvion Lockridge, according to police, punches the victim eight times and punches/stomps him four times.

Florentino Hurtado

The video also shows the suspect rummaging through the victim's pockets, and court documents say that Lockridge stole the victim's phone during the attack.

Police arrested Lockridge, and the man he was with, Derodrick Stephens. Both are charged with aggravated robbery [of a victim over the age of 65 or disabled].

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Jessica Hurtado, Florentino's daughter, says her father is still recovering.

"Fractured cheek bone, his eye is still being tested and stiches in three different spots," she said.

She says her father was simply confused and should never have been attacked like this.

"We're already dealing with a lot of Alzheimer's, and anyone who has family dealing with dementia knows it's a lot. So the fact that this had to happen is just sad. It's really sad. My father did not deserve this at all."

Although the state suggested a 1 million dollar bond, Judge Colleen Gaido set Lockridge's bond at $50 thousand. A bond Jessica says is much too low.

"It's just sad. It's really sad, my father did not deserve this at all," she said. "We just want justice for my dad. That's all we want."

According to court records, Lockridge doesn't have a criminal history. Records show that Stephens has a lengthy criminal history, including robbery and assault charges dating back to 2009.

Stephens has yet to appear in court for his bond to be set.
Buc-ees made the Top 10 list of most read stories for 2023, as did a casino jackpot winner and John Travolta, while he was filming a movie at Scarlet Pearl Casino in DIberville.

It wasnt all good news in South Mississippi. Drug overdoses and mass shootings also topped the list.

Looking back at the year reminds us of well-known business leaders, government officials and journalists who are among the many Coast residents who passed away this year.

Jimmy Buffett, born in Pascagoula on Christmas Day, kept close to his Coast roots as he performed around the world. On Labor Day Weekend, he left the Parrothead party he created to celebrate life. Former Gulfport Mayor George Schloegel, in addition to being a bank president and Coast mayor, was a champion of early childhood education.

Take a quick look back.

John Travolta, right, and Scarlet Pearl Casino owner Bob Granieri pose for a picture on the casino floor during filming of Travoltas new movie Cash Out in DIberville and other South Mississippi locations in 2023.

Most clicked stories for 2023

 Two dead after 6 Mississippi Coast high school students shot at Bay St. Louis house party

 1 dead, multiple people injured in mass shooting at downtown Ocean Springs restaurant

 A woman played a 10-cent slot machine at this Biloxi casino. She hit the jackpot

 John Travolta is filming a new movie at a Mississippi Coast casino

 5 people overdosed at a Mississippi Coast motel. The managers sold the drugs, police say.

 I-10 traffic from future Mississippi Buc-ees site to Hancock County backed up for hours

 New Orleans shipyard closes after 3 decades and moves operations to the Mississippi Coast

 Closed for years, a popular MS Coast buffet reopens in a new city. It tastes like home

 Longtime Mississippi Coast principal arrested for shoplifting at Walmart, police say

 When will construction begin on the first Buc-ees in Mississippi? Heres the latest.

Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett was born in Pascagoula and went on to become a renowned singer-songwriter, author and businessman with casinos, a cruise line and now retirement communities. He died Sept. 1.

Well-known Coast deaths in 2023

January

 Frank Leach, former Jackson County Supervisor

February

 Alben Hopkins Sr., Gulfport attorney, Maj. General of MS National Guard and chairman of MS Gaming Commission -

 Marjie McFarland, real estate broker and former director of the March of Dimes

May

 John McFarland died two months after his wife. He was director of American Red Cross and former Sun Herald marketing director

 Dwayne Bremmer, reporter at Sea Coast Echo

 Robert Boyd, former Moss Point mayor

June

 Kennon Barton, beloved teacher at Ocean Spring High School and son of State Rep. Manly Barton

 Oliver Diaz, businessman who helped incorporate the City of DIberville.

August

 David Riemann, chairman of Riemann Family Funeral Homes-

September

 Jimmy Buffett, who was born in Pascagoula and kept his roots as he became a renowned musician and businessman

 Robin Fitzgerald Eyman, a long-time crime reporter at The Sun Herald

October

 George Schloegel, long-time president of Hancock Bank and former mayor of Gulfport

November

 Albert Necaise, an Ocean Springs attorney who quietly gave to those in need
Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller said Thursday the allegations of domestic violence against him are 100% false and completely wrong and blown out of proportion in his first public comments since he was accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend.

Me and my girlfriend, we have problems just like any other couple does, but there has never been any of those things that was alleged against me, Miller said. Hopefully over time, all of this stuff will get cleared up. Sometimes life just be life-ing. Youve just got to keep pushing and keep moving. The people who know me and the people who have been around me know my character, they know who I am.

When asked what was not true about the allegations, he said, All of it is incorrect.

Miller, who is originally from DeSoto, Texas, was in his home state during the Bills bye week when police responded to the alleged incident on November 29. Miller turned himself in to the Glenn Heights Police Department on November 30 and was released on $5,000 bond.

You know, its not a funny situation, but all of it is incorrect and all of it is untrue. The only thing that is true is we do have a third son on the way, he said.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit from the Dallas Police Department, Miller has been accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. The alleged victim told police Miller ordered her to leave the apartment they share in Dallas after a verbal argument. As she was gathering personal items to leave, the affidavit says, Miller walked up to her and began to shove and push her, all while telling her to leave the unit.

Police say the woman informed them she is six weeks pregnant.

In the report, the woman alleges that at one point Miller pulled out a chunk of her hair, which caused her to fall to the ground.

She also told officers Miller twice placed pressure with his hand around her neck, although she was still able to breathe. Miller allegedly left the apartment after the woman said she was going to call the police. The police report says an officer observed minor abrasions on the Complainants left hand along with bruising to her neck, injuries consistent with applied pressure to the neck. Bruises were also later found on her abdomen and left arm.

CNN was not able to find contact information for Millers girlfriend. CNN affiliate WFAA reported it reached her by text, and she reportedly said, Things were blown way out of context. This is actually outrageous! She called the incident a huge misunderstanding and a verbal disagreement.

Miller has continued to play for the Bills since the arrest. Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said earlier this month Miller would play as the legal process continues.

Thats a very serious nature and  were gonna take every precaution with. Culture and character and all those things are super important. But we also have to remember we have to let the legal process play out. The guy that weve known here for a year and a half, that seems out of character, he said.

Miller, one of the NFLs most fearsome pass rushers of the last decade, signed a six-year, $120 million contract with the Bills last year. Now 34 and coming off several injuries, he has tallied only three tackles and no sacks this season and played in just 11 of 15 games.

CNNs Andy Rose, David Close and Ben Morse contributed to this report.

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(Bloomberg) -- Bulgaria and Romania said theyre close to an agreement that would bring them closer to the European Unions visa-free travel zone, with restrictions for air and sea travel possibly being lifted from the end of March.

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Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said Thursday the two Balkan nations, which joined the EU 16 years ago, have reached an agreement in principle with Austria, which is the last member state to block entry into the so-called Schengen area. He echoed comments made by Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu late Wednesday.

Denkov said the trust built up with access to the Schengen system by air and sea will pave the way to full membership in the border-free zone. Austrias Interior Ministry said talks on easing air access are ongoing, though there are no negotiations or date set for land access.

If there are no surprises, the next stage should follow, Denkov told reporters in Sofia.

Access to the EU travel area has been a source of frustration to Bulgaria and Romania, which have fulfilled the blocs requirements for years. Theyve met with resistance from EU member states that have taken issue with the countries ability to fight corruption and organized crime.

Earlier this month, the Netherlands lifted its veto against Bulgaria, while Austria stood by its reservations over the influx of migrants into the bloc. The government in Vienna is demanding better border controls overland and wants Sofia and Bucharest to host migrants from Afghanistan and Syria.

Eased control for air travel would mean passengers flying into Schengen airports wont have to go through passport controls.

Lifting land controls would ease commercial traffic transiting Bulgaria and Romania, where trucks coming from Greece and Turkey to the south stand in line for days at checkpoints across the Danube river.

A final accord needs the approval of all 27 EU member states.

--With assistance from Marton Eder and Andra Timu.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye has said that homosexuals in his country "should be stoned".

Responding to a reporter's question, Mr Ndayishimiye, a fervent Catholic, said powerful nations "should keep" their aid if it comes with an obligation to give rights to homosexuals.

Some African leaders have in the past accused donor countries of trying to impose their values on the continent.

Homosexual sex is illegal in Burundi, punishable by up to two years in jail.

In an interview with the BBC last month, Ghanaian Catholic Cardinal Peter Turkson said homosexuality should not be a criminal offence and people should be helped to understand the issue better.

But his views are at odds with many conservative Christians on the continent. More than 30 African countries outlaw homosexual sex.

Talking to journalists at a press conference, President Ndayishimiye used a Bible reference to say that God was opposed to homosexuality adding that it was no longer an issue in Burundi.

He had been asked about alleged pressure from Western countries for LGBT rights to be respected.

"For me, I think that if we find these people in Burundi they should be taken to stadiums and be stoned, and doing so would not be a crime," he said.

Mr Ndayishimiye suggested that homosexuality was like "choosing between Satan and God".

"If you want to choose Satan now go and live in those countries [in the West] and I think those who strive to go there want to acquire those habits, they should remain there and never bring them to us," the president added.

In a rare court case in August, seven people were sentenced to between one and two years in prison after they were found guilty of engaging in homosexual acts - a charge they denied.

Homosexual sex is also illegal in many other countries in the region, including in Uganda, which in May tightened its law further to include a possible death penalty for what is described as "aggravated homosexuality". This includes having gay sex with someone below the age of 18 or where someone is infected with a life-long illness such as HIV.

The fresh measures led the World Bank to halt new loans to Uganda and the US to pull Uganda out of a preferential trade agreement and impose visa restrictions on key officials.

Ugandan rights groups are currently challenging the law in the courts.

Ghanaian MPs are also considering a bill that would make identifying as LGBT punishable with a three-year prison sentence. People who campaign for LGBT rights could also face up to 10 years in jail.

More on LGBT issues in Africa:
California Democrats have shown little interest in elbowing their way to the front of the legal movement to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot next year, despite the state once relishing the role as his chief antagonist.

Its a marked shift from Trumps presidency, when Democrats in the state took an all-hands approach to obstructing his administration, even passing a law that would have effectively booted Trump from the 2020 ballot. It was later overturned by the courts.

But with voting rights and defending democracy now a rallying cry for Democrats nationwide, kicking Trump off the ballot has become far more politically fraught. California politicians are split over how assertively to act, far from their unanimous Trump opposition a few years ago. Colorado and Maine have emerged as the blue state vanguards in the effort to disqualify him from running, leaving California on the sidelines and Trump on its ballot.

Its a different calculus now, said Jessica A. Levinson, a professor of constitutional and California election law at Loyola Law School. This isn't a question about immigration or reproductive rights, she added. This is a question about, Do we let the voters decide?



The debate among California Democrats played out in unusually public fashion after the Colorado Supreme Court last week ruled that Trump was ineligible to run for president due to his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis exhorted fellow Democrat Secretary of State Shirley Weber in a letter to explore every legal option to similarly remove Trump from the ballot.

Kounalakis, who is running for governor in 2026, did not give advance notice about the letter to either Weber or Gov. Gavin Newsom, officials in those two offices said. The reception was notably chilly from the fellow Democrats.

Newsom dismissed attempts to pile-on as a political distraction, stating that in California, we defeat candidates at the polls. A Newsom adviser, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about the subject, said that Kounalakis strategy could end up backfiring.

If we act out of sequence here and proactively move to get him off the ballot, that could end up weakening the institutions you're trying to protect," the adviser said.

Weber, meanwhile, responded to Kounalakis in a chippy letter, reiterating her position that the courts should resolve any Trump ballot eligibility challenges. I must place the sanctity of these elections above partisan politics, Weber wrote to Kounalakis. She added, If you would like to be further informed on this issue, I invite you to contact me directly.

Late Thursday, Weber announced Trump would appear on the March 5 primary ballot.

Aleksandra Reetz, Kounalakis deputy chief of staff, downplayed the back-and-forth, saying, honest people can have honest disagreements. She also praised elections officials in Maine and Colorado for honoring our rule of law and helping to build the legal case for keeping Trump off the ballot.

Kounalakis was not the only Democrat in the state seeking to bar Trump from running on constitutional grounds. Assemblymember Evan Low in September sent a letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta, signed by 11 state lawmakers, urging him to use his powers as the states top lawyer to expedite a ruling on Trumps eligibility. Bonta never responded.

Now, all of a sudden, we want to not be assertive and not enforce the law. Republicans do not play fair, Low told POLITICO in an interview Friday. We play too nice. To me, this is foolish.

State Sen. Dave Min, an Orange County Democrat running for a swing congressional seat, proposed a bill inspired by the Colorado ruling that would let Californians sue to block ineligible candidates from the ballot.

The missives from Kounalakis, Low and Min recalled the combative California vs. Washington dynamic that defined Trumps White House tenure.

It began immediately after Election Night in 2016, when California Democrats positioned their state as his primary adversary, declaring they would be the keeper of the nations future.

A flood of anti-Trump measures followed. Then-Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued the administration more than 100 times, contesting a range of issues including environmental regulations, immigration policy and plans for conducting the 2020 census.

The deluge carried over to the state Capitol, where lawmakers introduced reams of bills blasting Trump and safeguarding state laws and regulations from federal encroachment. Some were deliberately provocative, such as the legislation to bar presidential and gubernatorial candidates from the ballot if they did not release their tax returns, as Trump notoriously refused to do.



Then-Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the tax-returns proposal, arguing it was unconstitutional and would set off a slippery slope of requirements for the ballot. Newsom signed an identical bill into law in 2019, but months later, the California Supreme Court overturned it.

That was California trying to poke the bear, Levinson, the Loyola professor, said of the 2019 law. Now, she said, Weber is navigating thornier territory  whether Trump has violated the so-called insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment and is therefore unable to run for president.

It's an entirely rational decision just to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court, Levinson said.

Even California Rep. Barbara Lee, a progressive who is part of a lawsuit against Trump for his role on Jan. 6, saw wisdom in Webers move.

Everyone  even Donald Trump  deserves their day in court. If we hope to strengthen and sustain our democracy, no Secretary of State should unilaterally decide who can appear on a ballot, Lee said in a statement to POLITICO. I have full faith that the voters of California will once again reject Trump's politics of hate and division and look forward to seeing the former president soundly defeated in 2024.
This California city will stay in the 'doom loop' in 2024 as businesses flee and crime rises, resident warns

Burgeoning crime, struggling businesses and underfunded police have turned Oakland, California, into a "ghost town," said a local safe neighborhoods advocate who believes the city's decline is set to continue into 2024.

"We're in a doom loop," Seneca Scott, founder of Neighbors Together Oakland, a nonprofit focused on safety issues, told Fox News. "The doom loop means businesses leave because of the crime and problems, there's less money to hire more police to solve the problem, and down you tumble."

There have been over 14,500 motor vehicle thefts in Oakland this year, according to police data. That averages to nearly two thefts per hour.

ACTIVIST CLASS ARE REALLY USEFUL IDIOTS ON HAMAS WAR, SIDE WITH TERRORISTS OUT OF OWN VANITY: SENECA SCOTT

"2024 is sadly going to continue the trajectory that we're on now," he continued, adding that Oakland will become "less livable and less safe."

Violent crime in Oakland increased 22% this year, according to the most recently available police data, which also show a nearly 10% increase in commercial burglary. In September, over 200 business owners shut down their stores to strike against the government's handling of public safety amid rising crime. The protest was held days after city officials admitted to missing a deadline to apply for state funding to fight retail theft.

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That same month, Oakland city leaders launched a grant program to provide funding for small business owners to hold events  like workout classes, musical performances and movie nights  to draw customers to local shops that have seen a decrease in patrons due to crime.

"Community safety is one of my administrations top priorities, and this program will boost foot traffic and help our City create safe, welcoming, inclusive, and thriving communities," Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said.

Oakland police investigates a shooting. Robbery with a firearm is up 49% in Oakland this year, police data show.

But Oakland is not thriving, Scott told Fox News.

"Oakland is now a ghost town, and people are scared to go outside," he said. "So we're hunkering down, and we're sheltering in place due to the escalating violence and unsafety in our city."

POLICE TOWED RVS FROM A HOMELESS CAMP TO HER STREET. NOW RESIDENTS ARE MOVING OUT, 'OUR TENANTS HAVE LEFT'

The Oakland Police Department, meanwhile, has been without a head since February, when Thao fired then-Chief LeRonne Armstrong after an independent investigation found he mishandled a misconduct probe. On Wednesday, Thao rejected the police commission's entire list of potential replacements, forcing the months-long process to restart.

And the defund the police movement led to more crime in Oakland, Scott previously told Fox News.

There have been over 14,500 reported motor vehicle thefts in Oakland, according to police data. On average, nearly two cars are stolen every hour in the city.

A BLM protester projects "Defund The Police" onto the Oakland Police Department in January 2023.

Further, lax prostitution laws have also led to "open-air sex trades and drug markets that would shock people," Scott said. Earlier this year, sex workers were caught on camera working outside a Catholic school.

"So we've lost all rule of law in Oakland, which leads to a situation where you would think elected officials would change their course," Scott told Fox News. He said that despite the rising crime, city officials' approach to the problems remains unchanged.

"The only thing that has gotten better is that finally neighbors are waking up and organizing and getting ready for the 2024 election cycle to kick the crazy people out of office and restore," Scott said. "All of these [problems] are results of failed progressive policies."

Oakland's City Hall did not respond to a request for comment.





Original article source: This California city will stay in the 'doom loop' in 2024 as businesses flee and crime rises, resident warns
California has ruled it will not follow in the footsteps of Colorado and Maine, with its secretary of state declining to remove Donald Trump from the states March 5 primary despite pressure from fellow lawmakers. While not yet commenting on the matter, the former presidents name was among a list of certified candidates released by Secretary of State Shirley Weber Thursday night. It comes despite a raft of pressure to reject Trumps candidacy, including from Democrat Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who wrote a letter Dec. 20 urging Weber to explore every legal option. Weber, however, later responded in her own letter that she was guided by honoring the rule of law, and protecting the fundamental pillars of democracy. The decision comes just hours after Maine dumped Trump from its 2024 ballot, with the states top election official ruling that the former commander-in-chief cannot take another shot at the White House under the Constitutions insurrection clause.

Read it at Office of the Secretary of State of California

Read more at The Daily Beast.
All Maricopa County residents who are citizens over 18 are required to serve on a jury if they receive a summons.

People convicted of felonies who have not had their rights restored are not required to serve.

If you receive a summons, your employer must make accommodations.

"State law prohibits an employer from discharging or discriminating against an employee for taking time to serve as a juror if the employee gives reasonable notice prior to serving," according to the Maricopa County Superior Court.

However, employers are not required to pay you for your time serving on a jury. Maricopa County pays $12 per day plus mileage for any day someone has to report to the courthouse for service.

The Legislature established the Arizona Jury Fund "to replace unpaid earnings for a juror who serves on a trial." Jurors can apply for an additional $28 to $300 daily from the fund.

Juror hours at the Maricopa County Superior Court are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an hour for lunch and breaks designated by the judge.

The dress code for jurors is "business casual," and shorts and tank tops are considered "not appropriate" for service.

According to the county, a juror who is summoned and fails to appear without a reasonable excuse may be found to be in contempt and subject to penalties.

If you miss the date you were summoned to appear, the county suggests you contact the jury office to explain your situation. The phone number is 602-506-5879, and the email is jury@JBAZMC.maricopa.gov.

People who appeared for their summons but were not selected for a trial are exempt from serving for the next 18 months.

Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Called for jury duty in Maricopa County? Here's what to know
As we head to a new year, its a time to look back and reflect.

In the world of news, that means looking back at the stories that connected with our readers.

The stories serve as a time capsule of sorts, reminding us of a year of tragedy and heartbreak but also some humorous moments.

We crunched the numbers, and out of the thousands of stories published by The News & Observer this year, these were the most-read stories of 2023, starting with No. 10.

10. North Carolinas new laws

Throughout the year, The News & Observers politics team chronicles the journey a bill takes to become a law, whether its discussion in a committee, a contentious debate (and maybe a veto), or final approval.

Once the dust settles, reporters make sure North Carolinians know what the laws mean and when they take effect. This year, some of those laws included increasing penalties for those who riot; restrictions on state employees talking about race at work; and a ban on abortion after 12 weeks. Some of those laws, or pieces of them, only recently took effect.

Read the story: Dozens of new laws in North Carolina started Dec. 1. Heres what they do

Extra credit: Heres a list of new North Carolina laws that take effect on New Years Day

Voters cast their ballot at the early voting site at the Cary Senior Center in Cary, N.C., on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

9. Weather Watch

North Carolinians are used to hurricane watches and warnings and anticipate a flurry of activity in the tropics when hurricane season begins. This year was no different. In September, we reported on tropical storm conditions that could impact North Carolina, thanks to a storm called Nigel and a separate low-pressure system. Nigel became a Category 1 hurricane but eventually was downgraded to a post-tropical storm.

Read the story: NC will see tropical storm conditions on Friday, plus a new storm may be forming

Extra credit: Shell hunters find treasures that Hurricane Lee left on NC beaches. Where to look.

A blue street light illuminates the intersection of Shawnee St. and E. Lynch Street in Durham, N.C., Nov. 26, 2022.

8. Lavender Haze

Part of The N&Os role is answering questions readers have, from how breaking news affects them to things that make them go hmmm. Our service journalism team kicked off its Triangle Asked & Answered series with a question about why streetlights in Durham were blue or purple-ish. Was it a city tie-in to the Duke Blue Devils?

Alas, that was not the case, as the blue-ish lights have been spotted all over the Triangle, and the reason for the hue was perhaps not the most exciting. Still, the popularity of the story showed us we werent the only ones who wondered this.

Read the story: We noticed purple streetlights in the Triangle. Heres why  and what to do about it

Have a burning question? Email ask@newsobserver.com.

UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty and family hold a candlelight vigil Friday, Aug 30, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in honor of professor Zijie Yan who was shot and killed on campus on Monday.

7. Remembering slain UNC professor

The UNC-Chapel Hill campus was paralyzed Aug. 28 as police searched all over for a man who was reportedly seen with a weapon. Texts were exchanged between students, faculty and their families as they feared the worst. After the lockdown was lifted and more information was revealed, we learned some of those fears had become reality.

Dr. Zijie Yan, a UNC physics professor, had been fatally shot. A graduate student was charged with his murder. Yan was remembered as an enthusiastic scientist and outgoing friend, and tributes poured in from UNC and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he had studied, other academic institutions and the Triangles Asian American community. Yan was known for being generous with his time and guidance and his positive demeanor.

He had a resting sweet face  and everything about his personality was consistent with that, Doug Chrisey, his former advisor, wrote.

Read the story: Dr. Zijie Yan, prolific, resilient and generous scientist, killed in UNC shooting

More on Yan: We will never forget. UNC comes together to mourn slain professor at candlelight vigil

6. Death row inmate dies

Allen R. Holman pleaded guilty to murder in 1998, months after he killed his wife in front of an Apex police officer in the summer of 1997. When he was sentenced, he told the judge that he would rather be executed than live out his days on death row. The judge sentenced him to death.

But the death penalty has been on pause since August 2006. Holman died of natural causes at the age of 64.

Read the story: Inmate on North Carolinas death row has died, but not the way he wanted to

Ryans Restaurant in Winston-Salem was named the most charming restaurant in NC.

5. Serving up charm

Stories about restaurant openings and closings remain some The N&Os most popular reads, and thats not limited to Triangle establishments. Foodies will drive hours away for a great meal.

In Winston-Salem, its a steakhouse and seafood restaurant that routinely attracts diners from near and far. Its not just the food, though thats obviously the draw. The most charming restaurant, according to Microsoft Start (MSN), is nestled on a hillside spot near a rolling creek and gives off homey vibes in the best way possible.

Read the story: Restaurant named most charming in NC is a 2-hour drive from Raleigh

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird, photographed in 2020.

4. Feathered friends

Every spring, North Carolina rolls out the welcome mat for the Ruby-throated hummingbird, which migrates to the state around April. The states most prevalent hummingbird  with its amazing vision  flits around all summer.

Those who hope to see them as house guests (of the outdoor variety) can do a few things to prepare for their arrival.

Read the story: NC hummingbirds are migrating back for spring. When to put out feeders & how to feed

Extra credit: NC has among the highest diversity of hummingbirds in the US. Heres what they look like

3. Party politics

On April 4, a tip rapidly circulated in political circles that Democratic state Rep. Tricia Cotham was going to switch her party affiliation. Democrats immediately called for Cothams resignation. Republicans welcomed her to their caucus.

N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham gets a hug from N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger as House Speaker Tim Moore, left, looks on during a press conference April 5, 2023, to announce that Cotham was switching parties to become a member of the House Republican caucus.

The decision by the Mecklenburg County politician, who has a long history with the Democratic Party, had seismic ramifications for legislation the rest of the year. By giving Republicans a supermajority, it meant they were able to override Gov. Roy Coopers vetoes again and again. That included legislation on abortion, school choice and the Parents Bill of Rights. Cotham is seeking reelection in 2024 in a new GOP-leaning Charlotte-area district.

Read the story: NC Rep. Tricia Cotham planning to switch parties, giving GOP supermajority

Extra credit: What are Rep. Tricia Cothams reelection odds in new GOP-leaning Charlotte district?

Under the Dome: The 10 moments well remember from 2023 in NC politics news

2. UNC campus on edge

The shooting on UNC-Chapel Hills campus attracted national attention with images of stunned students interspersed with photos of police officers and flashing police lights. People held their collective breath until an all clear message was announced and a graduate student had been apprehended. Almost immediately, students and staff raised questions about the universitys preparedness for a mass shooting and if more could be done. They called for improved mental health resources and tighter gun control laws.

A motive for the shooting remains unknown. In late November, the student charged with murder was found mentally ill and unfit to continue with court proceedings, The N&O reported. He will receive mental health treatment at Central Regional Hospital to determine whether proceedings can eventually continue.

Read the story: Grad student charged with 1st-degree murder in shooting of professor at UNC-Chapel Hill

1. Feeling caddywampus, yall?

If youve lived in North Carolina long enough, chances are youve heard someone drop a yall or a fixin to, or maybe a might could. How about broke as the Ten Commandments or butter my butt and call me a biscuit?

North Carolina is full of delightful idioms and phrases, some with obvious meanings. Others, not so much. Lord, have mercy. Yall read this glossary thousands upon thousands of times. Dont worry. We dont think the sun comes up just to hear us crow.

Read the story: Were fixin to teach you to talk like an NC native: A Guide to Southern Sayings

Extra credit: Need more lessons on talking like a Southerner? Were back with readers favorite sayings
Scholars Mews care home has been put in special measures

A care home has been put in special measures because of serious safeguarding concerns including one patient being left lying in urine-soaked sheets.

Scholars Mews Care Home, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, was criticised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for a significant deterioration in the standard of care.

It follows an unannounced inspection in October after concerns were raised over safeguarding and staffing levels.

Avery Healthcare, which runs the home, said it had taken immediate action to address the findings.

The inspection of Scholars Mews, which provides residential and dementia care services, took place when 43 residents were living at the site.

The subsequent report said patients were not always treated with respect and compassion.

It highlighted a culture where staff encouraged people to stay in their bedrooms and said the safeguarding measures in place were ineffective.

'Spoken to disrespectfully'

Amanda Lyndon, the CQC's deputy director of operations in the Midlands, said a staff member had carried out personal care with someone who was lying in urine-soaked sheets.

She said one patients care plan instructed staff to be firm with them by showing them their soiled clothing if they had been incontinent.

"We found very serious concerns regarding safeguarding procedures, safe staffing and the management of risks to people's health and well-being, Ms Lyndon said.

"Staff didn't have the right skills to support people safely and we heard people being spoken to disrespectfully.

"People's needs were not being met, which the provider must address urgently."

She added some staff had tried their best to provide compassionate care and highlight their concerns but were let down by poor leadership.

The CQC said Scholars Mews had taken some immediate actions in response to its findings.

These included making a safeguarding referral to the police and local authority as well as giving staff "safeguarding-themed supervision" to ensure they understood expectations.

A spokesperson for Avery Healthcare said the firm was dedicated to delivering high quality care and services to its residents.

They added: "We take the findings in the report extremely seriously and have taken immediate actions to address the concerns raised.

"We have a new leadership team in place at Scholars Mews, supporting our staff team, and are working with CQC to ensure we consistently meet the regulatory requirements.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
When there's a push to solve a homicide or cold case, offering reward money can be an enticing way to encourage a flow of new information.

In the case of Rodrigo Aguilar, someone is willing to pay $40,000 to find the person responsible for his death.

Aguilar, 60, was fatally shot on Highway 70 South near Bellevue Road on May 27. Nashville police believe he likely witnessed suspects trying to break into cars near his home and confronted them before being shot.

A case very similar to another

The large donation in the Aguilar case is reminiscent of the Caitlyn Kaufman case from December 2020, when private donors ponied up a $65,000 reward for information leading to those responsible for the Nashville nurse's death. She was shot during her commute to work.

Aguilar's case has not drawn the same national attention as Kaufman's, but that's not stopping a donor from offering money.

It's common for the Metro Nashville Police Department to ask for the public's assistance when searching for suspects. When they do, there are times when a reward is offered by Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit organization that works with MNPD, offering up to $5,000 for information in certain cases leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects.

In Aguilar's case, the $40,000 is not affiliated with Crime Stoppers, though they are offering a separate reward of up to $5,000 in the case. The $40,000, according to MNPD, would be paid to any successful tipster by the private donor.

Nashville Crime Stoppers Board Chair Gary Cordell said the nonprofit relies completely on donations, and they're always being accepted, but in most cases, he said the money is pooled into one fund and then used for payouts, not earmarked for certain cases.

At the time of Kaufman's murder, Cordell said Crime Stopper bylaws limited reward payouts to $1,000. That changed a little more than a year ago, when the organization increased potential payouts to $5,000.

"There are a lot of families out there and loved ones that have never gotten closure, not that you ever do," Cordell said, but with an increased reward payout, he and the board believe more people might be willing to come forward. Still, Cordell said even $5,000 might not be enough of an incentive to gain the necessary information to capture a suspect.

That's where the private donations come in.

Unless a donor wants a donation to go into a reserve fund that isn't earmarked for cases, they have to fill out a pledge form that does not operate through Crime Stoppers.

So how does a case get picked?

Metro Police spokesperson Brooke Reese said every case that comes before Crime Stoppers is different.

She said the department's liaison to Crime Stoppers will work with detectives to present cases to the Crime Stoppers board for reward approval.

"They usually prioritize cold cases and homicides," Reese said.

And there are plenty to choose from, with the department reporting 93 homicides through November. Almost 40 cases remained open without a suspect arrested as of press time for this story.

Not every case is flush with tips, meaning the reward money can inspire someone to come forward.

Crimestoppers and Metro Police are hoping that will be the case in the fatal shooting of Chris Spaunhorst. The 37-year-old Greenbrier man was killed last Christmas in Nashville. He'd left his family home after a Christmas gathering to drive his mother home, his wife said.

Crime Stoppers is offering $5,000 for information, and another $15,000 is being offered by private donors in the case.

But despite the $20,000 reward, Reese said information is sparse.

"There have been hardly any tips that have come in," Reese said. "Sometimes people see something if something was in a really dense area and heavily populated, like on the interstate. You would think a lot of people saw what happened on the interstate on Christmas Day last year, and there really haven't been any tips."

Spaunhorst was gunned down while driving westbound on Interstate 24.

First come, first serve?

When rewards are offered, it's not uncommon for a flood of tips to come in at first, Reese said.

Though it is not specifically tracked, the vast majority of these tips do not lead to results, though Metro Police detectives follow up on all the tips, Reese said, noting that no reward money has been paid out to date in 2023.

There is a bit of fine print when it comes to the tips. All of them need to result in the indictment and/or conviction of a suspect or suspects.

In Crime Stoppers' nearly 30 years of operations in Nashville, Cordell said every case has been different, but multiple tipsters can earn reward money if two or more people offer up the same tip and it leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects responsible for a homicide.

Surprise tips lead to big reward

In the Kaufman case, it was a tip from Jacques Merrell-Odom that led police to identify Devaunte Hill as a suspect. Hill was eventually convicted by a jury and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Another suspect in the case, James Cowan, was acquitted.

Merrell-Odom and Hill were childhood friends, police said.

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Crime Stoppers: Explaining the program that rewards tips with money
The Vaticans newly released document addressing the blessing of same-sex couples doesnt pave the way for gay weddings at churches or with Catholic priests as officiants. But it does now allow for non-specific blessings of gay couples, which some anticipate could be the first of future doctrinal changes.

Its ignited a firestorm of commentary, public statements, and attempts to interpret its overall meaning for church doctrine.

What is the document, and what does it say?

The nearly 50-page declaration is called Fiducia Supplicans, and it was issued by the Vaticans Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. This is a powerful and authoritative arm of the Catholic Churchs theological and disciplinary structure, responsible for promoting and protecting the doctrine of the Catholic Church, preserving the doctrine especially in harmonious growth of his understanding. The dicastery was widely known for more than 300 years as The Inquisition, and one of its more formidable recent prefects was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, better known later as Pope Benedict XVI.

The document itself was issued under the name of Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, the dicasterys prefect. Under the Catholic Churchs presumed teaching authority, it is not a document that can be easily dismissed or ignored. And yet the document itself, though surprising, does not change church doctrine on marriage, homosexuality, or blessings themselves. Notably, the document does not require priests to bestow blessings on gay couples, it merely now allows them to do so. Cardinal Fernandez clarified Thursday that bishops may refuse to implement the blessings in their diocese. The document also goes to great lengths to emphasize that it is the individuals receiving the blessing, not the union of the two people before the priest.

Nevertheless, any sort of blessing for gay couples is unprecedented in the history of Catholic pastoral practice. In 2021, the same Vatican dicastery issued a seemingly definitive statement saying it would not bless same-sex unions because God does not and cannot bless sin. Both the Old and New Testaments explicitly deem homosexual behavior sinful, and only in recent decades have some Protestant churches begun affirming homosexual relationships.

Fiducia Supplicans relies on a general theology of blessings to do the heavy lifting. The document explains that blessings are integrated throughout Christian life. They are bestowed on places, objects, and people. And one may presume the sinfulness of people who are receiving a blessing. The document explains, Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it. For, those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection. The argument of traditionalists, and the Vatican itself up to just two years ago, is the incongruity of appearing to bless the homosexual union, not just the individuals in the union. From the declaration:

 one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation. At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Churchs closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek Gods help through a simple blessing. In a brief prayer preceding this spontaneous blessing, the ordained minister could ask that the individuals have peace, health, a spirit of patience, dialogue, and mutual assistancebut also Gods light and strength to be able to fulfill his will completely. In any case, precisely to avoid any form of confusion or scandal, when the prayer of blessing is requested by a couple in an irregular situation, even though it is expressed outside the rites prescribed by the liturgical books, this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them. Nor can it be performed with any clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding.

No one should write special prayers for such blessings, and priests are not to wear any liturgical vestments when imparting such a blessing. Blessings might be requested on pilgrimage, at shrines, or when meeting a priest. But they are not to take place in liturgical settings.

What has been the response?

LGBTQ advocates might feel this is a case of being served out of the back door of the kitchen. Yet more traditional Catholics can hardly believe this has actually come to pass and worry about what is to come.

Mainstream media outlets noted the serious departure from previous Catholic practice regarding homosexual unions, but headlines touted any kind of blessing of homosexual unions, rather than the many limitations placed on such blessings. The New York Times, for example, featured an interview with Father James Martin, a well-known progressive priest, alongside a photo of him blessing a gay couple who are friends of his (in his black clerical streetwear, in an office, using only general words of blessing from the Bible).

Of less interest, but perhaps of more importance, is the reaction of Catholic bishops. A Catholic bishops authority and notoriety in the public mind pales beside that of the popebut each bishop has immense authority over the theological, pastoral, administrative, and financial life of his diocese. If the pope is Peter, then the bishops are the other apostles.

The bishops of Germany have been at the forefront of regularizing same-sex unions within the church. They, along with Austrian Archbishop Franz Lackner, chairman of the Austrian Bishops Conference, expressed joy at the document. Along with Martin, the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago Blase Cupich celebrated it as a step forward.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was more businesslike in explaining the essentials of how and where the blessings could be bestowed, and that Catholic teaching on marriage and homosexuality remained unchanged. The conference of Polish bishops rejected it on its facea not unimportant development coming from the land of St. (Pope) John Paul II.

Although its hard to definitively quantify, from the statements coming out of its bishops conferences, it appears that a majority of the African bishops have rejected implementation of the document, and many of their dioceses will not be bestowing blessings on gay couples. Their arguments cover the gamut of reasons: doctrinal, moral, cultural, and legalthey argue it is utterly foreign to their lived faith and the culture from which they come and the laws under which they live. What the collegial and disciplinary consequences of this will be remains uncertain, to say the least. Catholic Africa is increasing vastly in numbers, it has more priestly vocations than it needs for itself, and is sending its priests around the worldincluding to the U.S.to fill in for the precipitous decline of priests in the Western world. Many argue that Africa is the near future of global Catholicism. If the Vatican wishes in some way to enforce this document, Catholic Africa is where the showdown may take place.

What happens next?

The big question now seems to be whether this will be the last development regarding the churchs stance on same-sex relationships. How much further could a compromise go before the Catholic Churchs moral teaching on homosexuality had actually been changed from its biblical and doctrinal foundation?

What we are likely to see in such a large and varied global church is some bishops and priests pushing acceptance of the document up to and beyond the limits the Vatican laid out: Blessings given in some conjunction with celebration of gay marriages, taking place in some liturgical contexts, prayers formulated to bless not just the individual but the unions themselves. What would the Vatican do in such cases? Likewise, some bishops and priests will absolutely refuse to countenance such blessings. What then will the Vatican do? And finally, how many homosexual Catholic couples will actually present themselves for such blessings? Is there any kind of serious demand for such blessings? Is this a pastoral policy in search of an audience?

Its a big, unwieldy global church. Things may play out differently in different dioceses and different nations. Holding it all together faithfully has been among the most important roles popes have served, and time will tell if Pope Francis succeeds or fails.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Certain animals have long been considered companions for humankind. Whether for comfort and partnership or for more practical purposes like pest control and guarding people and livestock, humans have always had a relationship with animals of some sort.

While Americans tend to place dogs at the top of the pet pyramid, cats, both in the past and now, hold a special and coveted space in other cultures. In ancient Egypt, for example, cats were viewed as integral parts of the culture and they were even thought to carry an important role in the afterlife, which explains why they were discovered in tombs alongside humans. Cats also served a practical purpose by chasing away pests like mice and scorpions.

Cats are also depicted in Middle Eastern and ancient Egyptian artwork dating back centuries, and immortalized in miniature sculptures, incense holders, and other trinkets and art pieces. Some sculptures and statues even had cat-like heads, with deities sharing this same description.

In Islam, these feline friends are afforded special privileges compared to other pets, like dogs and cattle, says Imran Malik, a practicing Muslim and interfaith coordinator of the Noor Islamic Cultural Center's main campus.

"Cats have a very special place in the Muslim household and in the Muslim culture in general," Malik told the Dispatch. According to Malik, this reverence and adoration for cats stems from them being viewed as clean, pure, and hygienic. In fact, in mosques throughout the world, cats can be seen roaming the halls, are considered an integral part of the Islamic community and are granted leeway and access in these spiritual dwellings compared to other pets. Cats are even allowed to rest on Muslims' prayer rugs- which are required to be clean and hygienic at all times.

Prophet Muhammad and "The Father of Kittens"

The adoration of cats in Islam can be traced to the faith's Hadith (literally meaning 'statement'), a collection of wisdom and phrases from Prophet Muhammad.

The story goes that the Prophet himself was fond of cats and owned several. There is even a well-known tale about how the Prophet woke up one morning for the call to prayers when he noticed that his own cat, Muezza, fell asleep on the sleeve of his robe. Most people would have woken their cat if it fell asleep on any of their clothes. Instead, as the story goes, Prophet Muhammad chose to cut off a piece of the sleeve of his robe and attend the prayer session, so he didn't disturb Muezza's sleep.

In a separate hadith, it is said that Prophet Muhammad had a traveling companion named Abu Hurayrah, a nickname that translates to "father of cats." Prophet Muhammad gave him this nickname because Abu Hurayrah always carried a small cat with him in a bag. As the story goes, this same cat also saved Muhammad's life from a snake.

Raiiyaan-Ali Malik with the family cat, Anakin, at their home in Dublin.

While the authenticity of these tales is debated by Islamic scholars, they serve to highlight the fondness, respect and reverence that Islam shows towards cats, and the greater message that all Muslims are required treat all living things with empathy, compassion, and kindness.

"It is heavily subscribed that [you should] take care of your animals and that you should not be mean to them, you should not be aggressive to them, and you should be very humane and polite in in your relationship to your animals as well," says Malik.

So, are Muslims not allowed to own dogs?

While owning dogs is not strictly forbidden in the faith, it is generally frowned upon, says Malik. However, if dogs are being used in service such as guide dogs, to herd livestock, or for protection, it is permissible, as long as efforts are made to maintain the hygiene of the home.

"Cats are considered to be a lot more hygienic compared to dogs," says Malik. While it is usually recommended that dogs be kept outside of the home, Malik also acknowledges that this may not be practical or humane, depending on the environment or weather conditions.

"You know, you don't want to put your pet outside in an environment which can be either too cold or too hot for them to bear," says Malik.

"If you can manage them [dogs], then I think you're okay, because at the end of the day it's just a life that you're caring for."@ShahidMeighan

smeighan@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why cats are Islam's most highly regarded pet
The cultures and customs go far beyond fireworks and parties.

In the United States, New Years Eve is marked with parties, ball drops, and concerts. New Years Day has become a day of recovery while watching college football, the NHLs Winter Classic, or a good movie.

But in Africa and the Caribbean, countries have their own unique ways of celebrating. Carnivals, traditional meals, and family gatherings hold more importance than celebratory Champagne at midnight.

The celebration of Tweede Nuwe Jaar occurs each year in South Africa (Source: Ian Barbour, Flickr Creative Commons)

In South Africa, New Years stretches over two days, with the traditional day of Jan. 1 followed by Tweede Nuwe Jaar on Jan. 2. Tweede Nuwe Jaar means The Second New Year and has links to slavery. Hundreds of years ago, enslaved people were allowed one day off each year  Jan. 2. Some believe the celebration was held on that day because it allowed enslavers to rest after a hard New Years Day of partying. Others believe this was the one day each year enslavers and their enslaved people would mix together. After slavery ended, Tweede Nuwe Jaar became an annual celebration featuring the Kaapse Klopse, which translates to the Cape Town Minstrel Festival. Its a parade held in Cape Town and features hundreds of performers in glittery costumes, face paint, and hats performing ghoema music.

The Ethiopian New Year falls on Sept. 11 and, like many others, has a rich history. Ethiopia, which follows the 13-month Gregorian calendar, celebrates Enkutatash, which means gift of jewels. When the Queen of Sheba returned from Jerusalem after visiting King Solomon, the summer ended, and yellow flowers bloomed in Addis Ababa. The flowers signified a new beginning, and Ethiopia named its New Year Enkutatash, after its former queen. Today, the celebration features a traditional meal of chicken stew and injera, a flatbread, a honey wine like Tej, and coffee. When the sun goes down, Ethiopians light a bonfire that stays aflame until the sun comes up.

In Ghana, the New Year is called Akwasidae and is celebrated on the first Sunday of April. Akwasidae is a time for families to get together and celebrate their ancestors. People often wear traditional Kente cloth and dress in bright colors. There is also a lot of food and drink, and music and dancing are an important part of the celebrations.

Soup joumou is a staple of Haitians New Years celebrations. (Adobe Stock)

In Nigeria, New Years is called Iri ji and is celebrated on the last day of December. Iri ji is a time for families to come together and feast. There is often a lot of music and dancing, and people dress in traditional clothes.

In many parts of Africa, New Years celebrations have taken on Western themes, mostly as a way to attract tourists. But there are some differences.

In Zimbabwe, families and friends reunite, hoping for blessing and good luck. Rwandan families gather and exchange gifts.

Caribbean islands also have their own celebrations. Haitians make soup joumou, which has historical significance. The soup used to be served to enslavers only. But when Haiti declared independence on Jan.1, 1804, soup joumou became the first meal of the year to celebrate freedom. The hearty squash-based soup contains vegetables and meat.

In Trinidad and Tobago, people believe black-eyed peas bring good luck and prosperity, so a feast of the popular pelau might be in order.

However you celebrate New Years, have a happy one.

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The post New Years celebrations in Africa, Caribbean, focus on family, food, celebrations appeared first on TheGrio.
Museums face up to present-day problems

08:39, December 29, 2023 By Deng Zhangyu ( China Daily

Visitors admire ancient artifacts on display at Shanghai Museum. [Photo/Xinhua]

Institutions turn to technology to provide better services

Museums have been this year's hot ticket, with visitors making every effort to secure entry to such institutions and some even booking several days in advance.

However, they are sometimes thwarted by quick-thinking scalpers.

For example, if would-be visitors take several seconds to supply the information required by the online booking system for Nanjing Museum in Jiangsu province, they may not be able to obtain a ticket, as scalpers can complete the entire process in less than a second by using certain types of software.

Zhu Yuanyuan, director of the museum's public education department, said the limit on visitors was raised from 18,000 to 25,000 each day during the summer vacation to meet increased demand. But hundreds of complaints were received from those who could not obtain tickets.

"Even though we have lifted the cap on visitors to the maximum number, we can't meet the rising demand. The museum is always full of visitors. It is noisy and crowded, and this is not a good experience," Zhu said.

As the biggest museum in Jiangsu, the institution welcomed more than 500,000 visitors in August. Like most public museums in China, it offers free admission, but scalpers charge visitors service fees by assisting them to make online appointments illegally.

The problem faced by Nanjing Museum has been experienced by many others this year, as the public's rising desire to visit museums cannot be met, due to limited capacity.

Data from the National Cultural Heritage Administration show an additional 383 museums were built in China last year, taking the total to 6,565. Institutions nationwide staged 34,000 offline displays and hosted 587 million visits.

This year, during the seven-day National Day holiday in October, China's museums welcomed 66 million visitors. The difficulty in obtaining admission tickets went viral on social media platforms, triggering widespread discussion.

Liu Shuguang, head of the Chinese Museums Association, said that a decade ago, he never imagined that museums would be so popular.

"It's good that people are enthusiastic about museums. This shows they are passionate about their culture and eager to learn more about it at museums," Liu said.

He added that the nation's long-standing free admissions policy to museums contributes greatly to the public's love of these institutions. Since 2008, more than 90 percent of China's public museums have offered free admission. Last year, the central government provided some 330 million yuan ($46.2 million) to support this policy, Liu added.

Meanwhile, as more people have become better educated, especially the younger generation, their demand for cultural experiences has grown.

"Many visitors to museums are in their 20s, or parents with children. They know clearly what they want to see and learn about at these institutions," Liu said, adding that 10 years ago, the majority of museum visitors were seniors.

In recent years, museums have worked to improve their services to attract as many visitors as possible. Liu said they have transitioned from their role as collectors and protectors of artworks and antiques to also becoming cultural service providers.

When museum directors and experts nationwide took part in the Chinese Museum Studies Conference at Guangdong Museum in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, last month, they focused mainly on how to improve their services amid current challenges.

By playing host to concerts, immersive shows, children's plays, and diversified cultural products, museums have come up with innovative ways to educate and entertain the public.

Range of activities

Xiao Haiming, director of Guangdong Museum, said it organizes a range of activities, such as staging night galas and classical music concerts, to offer a diversified experience. The museum has also set up a large coffee bar area to provide soft drinks and desserts, the designs of which are inspired by its collections.

"Appreciating exhibitions is not the only activity for visitors  they now have more cultural choices," Xiao said.

In July and August, the museum welcomed 700,000 visitors. Its opening hours were extended to 8:30 pm on Fridays and Sundays to accommodate as many people as possible.

The museum also staged several performances based on the stories behind antiques. Its coffee bar area, one of the largest of its kind at a museum in China, is so popular that many young people visit the museum frequently to take photos of its food, before watching shows at the institution.

After six years of renovations, Tibet Museum in Lhasa, capital of Xizang autonomous region, reopened to the public in January. During the peak summer season  the best time for tourists to visit Xizang  the museum welcomed 6,000 visitors a day. This figure surprised Migmar Drolma, the institution's director, as the museum is relatively new and not that well known, even among locals.

In August, the museum staged a fashion show that featured traditional clothes worn by people living in various places in Xizang to illustrate their history and lifestyles, and to celebrate the Shoton Festival, also known as the Yogurt Festival, one of the most important holidays in Xizang.

The show attracted so many visitors that the museum had to call on the services of 20 volunteers from local universities.

Drolma said that for the show, local people were invited to model traditional clothes that are passed down in their families through different generations.

"Museums are now interesting and attractive places. To celebrate important holidays and festivals, various activities are held at our museum, and they are warmly received by visitors," Drolma said, adding that the museum is also discussing the introduction of measures to deal with the increasing demand.

Liaoning Provincial Museum in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, attracts children and teenagers by staging innovative shows to help them better understand what they are taught at school.

This year, many local schools held their Chinese classes at the museum. As poetry recitals can be boring for children, the museum hosts shows that tell the stories of well-known poets from the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, based on the institution's rich collection of artifacts from these periods.

It has also launched an acting project to make young visitors feel more engaged. Children are invited to play roles in which they recite poems and experience poets' daily lives. They also make a short movie.

Dong Baohou, the institution's deputy director, said more than 100 schools have cooperated with the museum for their students to learn about traditional culture in an immersive way.

Liu, from the Chinese Museums Association, said although museums have extended their opening hours, improved their online booking systems to deal with visitors at peak times, and are using innovative ways to attract more low-season visitors, problems remain.

"I think the difficulty of buying a museum ticket will remain for the short term. We can't expand our museums just to increase their capacity, but the technologies being used to build digital museums may offer a solution," he said.

Comfortable experience

Many museums now use technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence to offer better services. They frequently stage online or virtual reality shows for visitors who cannot obtain admission tickets.

Zhu, from Nanjing Museum, said it is now better for visitors to experience a virtual display, rather than attend a crowded show in person. For example, the institution is staging The Valuable Collections of Nanjing Museum online.

In Beijing, Prince Kung's Palace Museum, which houses collections of royal family members from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is launching a digital project to allow visitors to view the museum online in all four seasons. Its four mascots will act as digital avatars, with the help of artificial intelligence.

Feng Nai'en, director of the museum, said the mascots can even answer visitors' questions.

As of the end of last month, the museum, which charges 40 yuan for admission, had welcomed some five million visitors this year. Last year, it greeted three million visitors.

In Henan province, Luoyang Museum is using technology efficiently to improve its services for the public.

Luoyang, the museum's home, is known for its peonies. In April, when they bloom, tourists flock to the city, and many of them visit the museum.

The institution's director, Li Wenchu, said it was built to accommodate 2,000 visitors a day, but it now welcomes 10,000 on a daily basis from April to September. Long lines commonly form outside the museum, with many people waiting for up to two hours to gain admission.

Li said: "We're short of staff to deal with such large numbers of visitors. This year, we began offering the services of artificial intelligence volunteers to help visitors."

He added that most of the museum's employees have been asked to act as guides and volunteers, but it is still short of hands.

"I think technology offers good and efficient ways for museums to tackle their problems, and more and more of our peers are embracing technology positively," Li added.

This year, numerous policies have been introduced to encourage wider use of the metaverse  a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users.

In early March, 50 museums in China jointly released a proposal with university scholars calling for museums to actively engage in developing metaverses.

Liu Wentao, deputy director of the Shanghai Museum, said museums should make it their mission to actively develop metaverses and use technologies to provide better services for the public.

"In the future, museums will be spaces without walls. They should be open to everyone," Liu said, adding that this will solve the problem of visitors not being able to obtain admission tickets.

A traditional costume show is held at Tibet Museum in Lhasa, capital of Xizang autonomous region, in August. [Photo/Xinhua]

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
File image of the Disneyland monorail passing by as people walk towards the entrance to Disneyland. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

A mix-up of cleaning products in the backstage of Disneyland sent one park worker to a hospital early Thursday morning.

Anaheim police spokesman Sgt. Jon McClintock said paramedics responded to the scene shortly after 2 a.m. after receiving a report of an accident involving chemicals. A Disneyland official said the incident occurred when "a small amount of cleaning products" came into contact with one another.

Read more: 'I hate Mexicans,' woman shouts at mother in viral video from Disneyland

One custodial worker was briefly treated at the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange out of an "abundance of caution" and released, McClintock said. He said another worker was treated at the park.

The incident happened after the park closed for the night and in the area accessed only by employees. No guests were affected, the Disneyland official said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Frances Antoine Griezmann carries his crying daughter after his team won the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. | Martin Meissner, Associated Press

A study published in the scientific journal Plos Biology suggests that female tears contain a chemical that reduces male aggression.

Noam Sobel, co-author of the study and neurobiologist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, said in a statement, These findings suggest that tears are a chemical blanket offering protection against aggression  and that this effect is common to rodents and humans, and perhaps to other mammals as well.

Humans arent the only ones who cry

As Sobel noted, the study is similar to recent studies on the ways rodents use tears. One study observed blind male mole rats covering themselves in their own tears to reduce aggression from dominant male mole rats. Another study found that chemicals in female mice tears affect the area of male mices brains that control aggression, lessening it.

Scientific American recently referenced a study exploring how dogs secrete tears when reunited with their owners after extended periods of time. The study explained that tear secretion in dogs is mediated by oxytocin, and that tears in dogs eyes could facilitate human caregiving behavior.

How was this study conducted?

Over 100 women volunteered to produce tears for the Plos Biology study, but only six were able to provide at least one milliliter, which Sobel described as a lot of tears, per Scientific American. Most of the participants watched sad movies to provoke emotional tears.

To test the effects of the tears, scientists worked with male participants who were divided into two groups. Both groups were asked to play a video game against an opponent they were told was human but which was actually a bot. While playing, the bot would unfairly take game money from the participant and sabotage him for seemingly no reason.

The first groups aggressiveness was measured by dividing the number of times they took revenge on the bot by the times they were provoked. The second groups aggressiveness was measured by an MRI scanner, analyzing brain activity.

Each male participant played the rigged video game twice, and they were periodically asked to sniff what they were told was assorted odors. The assorted odors were really just separate vials of saline solution and tears from the female participants.

Female tears significantly reduced male aggression

Compared to the saline solution the participants sniffed, female tears reduced aggression by roughly 44%. The tears also had a dampening affect on several areas of the brain, researchers found. They concluded that female emotional tears had a significant influence on decreasing male aggression.

Sable told The Guardian he believes the aggression-reducing chemicals in tears developed to protect infants from harm.

He explained, Babies cant say: Stop being aggressive towards me. They are very limited in their ability to communicate, and they are helpless as well. They have a vested interest in lowering aggression and that reflects the sad reality of aggression towards babies.

A professor of emotions and well-being at the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands told The Guardian, It makes sense if tears in some way inhibit aggression because its common knowledge that infants that cry a lot are at risk for physical abuse. It might help them to survive.
Theyre everywhere  in our water, farms, food, clothing, cosmetics, and countless other everyday products. PFAS, or forever chemicals, are a group of nearly indestructible compounds used in manufacturing that have infiltrated our soil, water, and air, leading to a host of health problems for everyone exposed to them.

In October 2023, the EPA announced new research funding to better understand the effects of PFAS on our agricultural systems. In addition to this new EPA funding, the Delaware Attorney General is taking direct action. In October 2023, Attorney General Jennings filed a lawsuit against chemical companies including 3M for causing contamination of Delawares natural resources and jeopardizing residents health. Both of these steps are essential in better understanding PFAS contamination of our agricultural systems and the trickledown effect on our environment, food, and health.

In Delaware, Maryland and around the Chesapeake Bay watershed, our farms and rural communities are finding growing evidence of PFAS contamination in waterways and our soil. The combination of a years-long study by the U.S. Geological Survey in Delaware, new advisories by Marylands Department of the Environment, growing evidence from the EPA, and a developing understanding of the dangers of PFAS has gotten the public and governments attention. Now, the companies responsible for that contamination need to be identified and their pollution stopped.

A water researcher tests a sample of water for PFAS, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose restrictions on harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water after finding they are dangerous in amounts so small as to be undetectable, but experts say removing them will cost billions.

Nationally, PFAS has also been a top concern of both environmental and health officials. In March 2023, the Biden administration announced the first-ever national drinking water standard and invested $9 billion over five years, as part of the Infrastructure bill, to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS and other contamination reduce levels in drinking water. Here in Maryland and Delaware, were in a fragile ecosystem that connects waterways through the whole east coast and also a center for chemical and manufacturing businesses. Delaware is home to some major manufacturers  Dupont, Gore, Chemours  that have been identified as using PFAS in their manufacturing processes and now, often through litigation, are being forced to change their practices.

Studies have linked the presence of PFAS to increased risk of complications to immune response, fertility, and child developments. As an attorney who works on environmental protection cases, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact these chemicals have on both human health, our agricultural system, and the environment.

With the ongoing and growing discoveries of detrimental health and environmental effects, one would hope that companies would take action to clean up their manufacturing processes. And yet, we continue to discover companies polluting with these dangerous chemicals and harming local residents and environments.

As the research has strengthened the proof of PFAS dangers, manufacturing and chemical companies like Chemours and Dupont  both headquartered in Wilmington  and their trade organization, the American Chemistry Council, have adamantly opposed PFAS regulations. PFAS has made manufacturing processes cheap and easy, so pivoting to other compounds will come at a cost, often that these companies are not willing to pay. These companies oppose any threat to their bottom line, even to protect the health of their customers.

Citizens affected by PFAS pollution now understand the extent of the problem, while also facing the reality that timely and tangible change to solve it is likely not going to come from the companies responsible tasked with correcting them. Instead, everyday community members are forced to go to the courts for a remedy. Lawsuits filed by citizens against polluting companies can help fill the gap left when industry wont fix the problem or legislation is still in progress. These cases help hold companies accountable for the harms they have caused, but they also help shine a light on the need for increased safety regulations.

W.L. Gore, the manufacturer of Gore-Tex, a waterproof fabric, is a prime example of a company that now faces litigation due to their PFAS polluting manufacturing process. Gore is headquartered in Delaware and has manufacturing plants across the country. My firm represents members of the community surrounding its Elton, Maryland facility who are suing Gore for knowingly polluting the water. Just like other chemical companies, Gore had knowledge of the dangers of PFAS chemicals and still dumped large quantities of PFAS-laden wastewater into groundwater that supplies drinking water in wells, and into the public sewage system.

Litigation against these companies seeks to provide justice for the affected communities, but it also sends a message that corporations cannot prioritize profit over the well-being of people and the environment. It also plays an essential role as the EPA and Congress continue to battle to regulate these dangerous chemicals. In recent years, we have seen progress in the legal fight against PFAS, with some cases resulting in significant settlements and regulatory changes.

The fight against PFAS is not just a legal battle; it is a moral imperative to protect our communities, our families, and our environment. This fight is not just for attorneys or victims of PFAS contaminationit is a collective responsibility that demands action from governments, industries, and individuals alike. The legal battles we fight today will determine the health and well-being of future generations and the preservation of our planet. It's a battle we cannot afford to lose.

Chase Brockstedt is the lead partner of Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federicos injury litigation department. He has dedicated his career to representing individuals who have been injured through no fault of their own and are seeking fair compensation, including environmental pollution cases across the Mid-Atlantic region. He can be reached at chase@bmbde.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: The Chesapeake Watersheds growing battle against PFAS
Whitney Grigsby, a doctoral student in occupational therapy from Creighton University, is working with J.D. McCarty Center patient Dalton Blevens. Blevens was just one of the patients that Grigsby worked with during her 12-week pediatric clinical rotation at the pediatric rehab specialty hospital in Norman that specializes in children with developmental disabilities.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy  a nonprofit advocacy network for children  says it plans to renew its push to eliminate corporal punishment against children with disabilities during the 2024 legislative session.

The move is part of the group's 2024 legislative agenda, said Executive Director Joe Dorman.

Dorman said there is no good reason for corporal punishment against children with disabilities. "It's wrong," he said. "There are many more effective ways of disciplining a child with a disability. It's time for corporal punishment to go."

The nonprofit's effort comes after state Rep. Jim Talley, R-Stillwater, held an interim hearing on corporal punishment this fall. During the hearing two lawmakers  Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, and Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula  criticized the study, calling it one-sided without an opportunity for anybody with opposing viewpoints to present.

Olsen has been a vocal critic of other lawmakers attempts to outlaw corporal punishment. He said corporal punishment should be a part of proper child training. During the spring legislative session, he debated against Talleys bill, House Bill 1028. Olsen said lawmakers should base their policy on the Book of Hebrews from the Christian Bible.

More: How often do Oklahoma schools use corporal punishment compared to other states?

"It's best to take God at his word and do things His way," he said. "When we do, things turn out much better."

Along with the pushback against corporal punishment, Dorman said the group's agenda also includes a call to implement the recommendation by the Gov. Kevin Stitt's Child Welfare Task Force. He said institute is encouraging lawmakers to continue funding the "Double Up" program, which matches the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP  dollars spent at farmers markets and grocery stories to promote healthy food choices in lower-income households and families.

Advocates from across the state came together during our annual Fall Forum to discuss a wide range of issues relating to children, Dorman said While this is an ambitious agenda, we believe each component of it is critical to improving the lives of our most important resource.

Other legislative proposals the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is pushing for

Dorman said the institute  celebrating its 40th anniversary this year  will continue to push for the adoption of several legislative proposals, including the Family Representative and Advocacy Act, which is legislation that ensures children, indigent parents, legal guardians and Native American custodians who become involved in legal actions brought by the state, have access to legal representation.

He said the institute also wants to reduce the need for the use of group homes, increase educational options for children who use social media, increase the number of school counselors and mental health professionals, expand training for members of the judiciary and attorneys who work in the child welcome system and pass legislation to ensure foster families, foster children, adoptive families and children have access to legal, mental health and community-based services.

"Our goal is to do more for Oklahoma's children," Dorman said.

Dorman said this years agenda is special, as it is the last event for the institute during its 40th anniversary year. The nonprofit celebrated four decades since child advocates established the organization as an independent watchdog on state government in the aftermath of the child welfare scandal brought to light in the Gannett report, Oklahoma Shame.

He said the institute will host its Legislative Learning Lab on Jan. 31, Feb 1, 2, and 5. The organizations Advocacy Day at the Capitol will be March 12.

Photo copy of the 1982 Gannett New Service Special report on the state of child welfare in Oklahoma.

The second session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature opens at noon on Monday, Feb. 5.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy goals for legislative session
Chilling footage has captured two persons of interest wanted in connection to the murder of a pregnantteenager and her boyfriend, who were shot dead days before she was due to give birth.

Bodies belonging to Savanah Soto, 18, and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, 22, were discovered inside a Kia Optima in San Antonio on Tuesday.

An unborn baby was also found dead inside the car.

The victims had been shot.

The grim discovery came just days after the families of the victims raised the alarm, revealing that Soto had failed to show up for an appointment to be induced.

Now, San Antonio police have ruled the case a capital murder investigation and are seeking the publics help in tracking down two persons of interest in the case.

In video, released by police on Thursday, a dark-coloured pickup truck with a bed cover is seen driving into a parking lot in San Antonio.

Footage captures vehicle and persons of interest being sought in Savanah Soto killing (San Antonio Police)

The couples Kia Optima is seen driving and coming to a stop side-by-side with the truck.

Police said that one person of interest was driving the Kia Optima and the other the pickup truck.

One of the persons of interest is seen emerging from the pickup truck and approaching the drivers side of the victims car, appearing to speak to the individual inside.

The second person of interest is then seen getting out of the drivers side of the Kia Optima.

In a press conference on Thursday where the video was played, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters that none of the victims are visible in the footage.

The police chief would not confirm whether or not the video was believed to have been captured before or after the murders took place.

However, he said that police no longer believe it could be a murder-suicide  and are now probing the killings as capital murder.

It was undetermined at that time whether we were going to be looking at it as a murder-suicide, or as a capital-murder investigation, he said.

Missing pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra were found dead on Tuesday, 26 December, 2023 (Leon Valley Police Department)

I think weve gotten past that point right now, unless we get evidence that would lead us to believe otherwise.

He added: It was a heinous act, it was unspeakable, the tragedy of it.

The medical examiner confirmed the identity of the victims on Thursday.

Both Soto and Guerra died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Soto was last seen alive on 22 December at the apartment at the Valencia Lofts apartment complex in Leon Valley where she lived with Guerra.

The next day, her family said she was supposed to attend an appointment to have her labour induced but failed to show up.

Sotos mother Gloria Cordova told KSAT that she called her and couldnt get through to her daughter.

When I called her all morning she wasnt answering, was going straight to voicemail. We went to the hospital anyways. She was a no-show, and thats when I called the cops, she said while she was missing.

This is not like herShe was so excited to have this baby. The house was already baby-ready.

The family called the police and two days later on Christmas Day, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a CLEAR Alert for Soto, regarding her as in imminent danger or whose disappearance was involuntary.

The public was asked to be on the lookout for a grey, 2013 Kia Optima with temporary Texas tags numbered 4289D57, connected to the couple.

On Tuesday  four days after she was last seen alive the three bodies were found inside a Kia Optima parked outside a different San Antonio apartment complex.

Investigators believe their bodies had been at the location for several days.

Initially, some of Sotos family members speculated as to who may have been responsible for the tragedy, with her sister-in-law posting on social media that she was the victim of an abusive boyfriend.

Picture of missing pregnant Texas teenager Savanah Soto (Mariana Delgado/ Facebook)

In Christmas 2022, Guerra was arrested for assaulting Soto and sentenced to probation, according to court records obtained by WOAI-TV.

His sentence was later extended through February 2025 following further arrests.

Under the terms of his probation, he was banned from possessing a weapon and from having harmful or injurious communication with Soto.

However, Guerras mother previously insisted on social media that her son wouldnt do anything to hurt her.

This marks only the latest gun violence to rock Sotos family.

In May 2022, Sotos 15-year-old brother Ethan what shot dead over what investigators believe was an act of revenge for a drug robbery.

Anyone with any information about the dark-coloured pickup truck with a bed cover, or the two persons of interest seen in the video is urged to call SAPD Homicide at (210) 207-7674 or (210) 207-7440. You can remain anonymous when providing any information on this case.
China has named Dong Jun as its new defence minister, two months after his predecessor was officially sacked.

Mr Dong, a former navy commander, takes over from Li Shangfu - who was last seen in public in August.

Mr Dong's appointment was announced by China's top legislators at a Standing Committee meeting of the National People's Congress in Beijing on Friday.

The move follows a slew of dismissals of top military officials from the country's top posts earlier this year.

As well as Mr Li, it included the removal of Qin Gang as foreign minister in July. No reasons were given for Mr Li or Mr Qin's dismissals. Both had been in their posts for only seven months respectively.

Further sackings took place this week too, with nine senior military officials removed from the Standing Committee on Friday, Reuters reported, citing state media outlet Xinhua.

Three executives at state-owned missile defence firms were also removed from Beijing's top political advisory body earlier this week, according to state media.

Some analysts say this could indicate that a possible wider purge has taken place, targeting senior military leaders.

Mr Dong, 62, was made commander of the navy in August 2021.

His previous roles included serving as deputy commander of the Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command. Its area of operations includes the South China Sea - a disputed area, over large parts of which China claims sovereignty.

Mr Dong's appointment comes after military personnel from China and the US held their first high-level talks by phone in more than a year last week.

Relations between the two nations soured in 2022 after the then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. Taiwan is self-ruled, but China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually unite with it.

In recent months, there has been a rapprochement between China and the US, with Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting his counterpart Joe Biden in California in November and agreeing to resume military communications. The two had not spoken for more than a year.
Semafor Signals

Insights from South China Morning Post, Reuters, and Wen-Ti Sung

NEWS

China on Friday appointed a new defense minister to replace Li Shangfu, who was ousted from his post earlier this year after just seven months into the job, and hasnt been seen in public since August.

The appointment of Dong Jun, who has been the commander of Chinas navy since 2021, comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and across the Taiwan Strait.

As defense minister, Dong will be the public face of the Peoples Liberation Army and hold high-level talks with other militaries, including the U.S.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Dong's extensive naval experience shows Xi's priorities

Sources: South China Morning Post, Wen-Ti Sung, The Atlantic

The appointment of a navy admiral who has served in all of the countrys major naval divisions is a sign that Beijing sees the South China Sea as a new priority area of geopolitical contestation between China and the US, China expert Wen-Ti Sung said. Dong held a senior post in the naval division responsible for fighting over Taiwan in the East China Sea, and before that operated in the South China Sea. China also recently promoted two other naval officers with experience in the South China Sea  a global hotspot that some have called potentially explosive.

Announcement could restart regular US-China military talks

Sources: Politico China Watcher, Semafor, Reuters

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was unable to meet with Li because he was a subject of U.S. sanctions, previously said he hoped to meet his Chinese counterpart when that person is named. The two nations recently resumed military talks after they were on ice for over a year. A Singapore-based scholar told Reuters that Dong would be familiar with managing near-encounters between Chinese and U.S. military, adding, This is useful when he has to manage crises between both militaries.
China has named former naval commander Dong Jun as its new defense minister, two months after removing his predecessor Li Shangfu from the role without explanation following Lis extended absence from public view.

The top body of Chinas rubber stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), announced Dongs appointment Friday following their final session for the year, Chinese state media Xinhua reported.

The body also announced that nine military figures had been removed from their positions in the NPC, according to Xinhua. The announcement did not provide reasons for the sweeping move, which comes on the heels of a series of military personnel shake-ups in recent months.

The appointment of the new defense minister Dong, who had served as the top commander of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy since 2021, ends months of speculation over when Beijing would fill the role left vacant after the same political body approved Lis removal in October.

Li, who was appointed defense minister in March, has not been seen in public since late August, fueling intense speculation about his fate.

His disappearance and subsequent removal followed a series of unexplained personnel shakeups that have roiled the countrys upper ranks, including the dramatic ousting of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July and the removal of two leaders from the PLAs Rocket Force.

Both Li and Qin had taken up their roles earlier this year, hand-picked by Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he stacked important positions with his loyalists upon entering a norm-shattering third term.

Their abrupt dismissals raised questions about the governance of Xi, who has made Chinas political system even more opaque as he concentrates power and enforces strict party discipline.

Military shakeups

The removal of the nine PLA figures as NPC delegates is set to fuel speculations about a broader purge in the military, as Xi continues his decade-long drive to crackdown on corruption in its ranks.

While the NPC is largely a rubber-stamp parliament, being appointed a delegate to the organization is an endorsement of ones political elite status. Previously, NPC delegates have been stripped off their positions due to corruption investigations.

Among those listed Friday are former Rocket Force chief Li Yuchao, who was removed from his post in July, and four other officials who are currently or formerly in the branch.

Two of the NPC dismissals are those affiliated with the Equipment Development Department, which earlier this year announced a crackdown on corruption. Two others were each linked to the Air Force and the Navy, according to Xinhua.

Three of the ousted are at the rank of generals, and four are lieutenant generals.

The shake-up also appears to have hit the military-industrial complex. Earlier this week, Xinhua reported that three executives from the aerospace sector had their positions in the countrys top political advisory body revoked.

Weeks before Li, the former defense minister, vanished from public view, Xi convened the militarys top brass in Beijing for a meeting, where he emphasized political loyalty, discipline and the partys absolute leadership over the armed forces.

In July, the PLAs Equipment Development Department also announced a fresh crackdown on corrupt procurement practices, calling for tips on questionable activities dating back to 2017  coinciding with the time Li took the helm of the department.

But the Chinese government has remained tight-lipped about any investigation, and so far none of the ousted officials have been named in corruption allegations.

The Chinese government has repeatedly declined to comment on Lis whereabouts and reasons behind his absence. The announcement Friday did not provide further details besides announcing Dongs appointment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Li was taken away in September by authorities for questioning, citing a person close to decision making in Beijing.

The Financial Times also reported that the US government believes the defense minister has been placed under investigation, citing American officials. Neither of the reports cited a reason for the investigation.

Dong Jun, new minister

The new minister Dong became the top commander of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2021. On Monday, former submarine commander Hu Zhongming was named in that role during a ceremony promoting him to admiral.

Dong was present at the event and sitting in the front row, according to video broadcast by state media.

Prior to taking top command of the navy, Dong was the deputy commander of the PLAs Southern Theatre Command, which oversees operations in the South China Sea.

Beijing has become increasingly assertive in the disputed and strategically important waterway under Xi, militarizing islands and using its expanding navy to assert its power in the region, where a handful of Southeast Asian nations hold rival claims.

In China, the defense minister is a largely ceremonial role, serving as the public face of military diplomacy with other countries. Unlike the US defense secretary and other international equivalents, the Chinese defense minister does not have command power, which resides with the Central Military Commission. The defense minister traditionally sits on the commission.

However, the minister plays an important role in Chinas military diplomacy, and the appointment of Dong could facilitate the ongoing restoration of high-level defense dialogue between the US and China.

Top US and Chinese generals spoke last week for the first time in over a year, marking the end of a strained silence between senior US and Chinese military officials.

Beijing cut off communication in August 2022 following a visit from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, the self-governing island Beijings ruling Communist Party claims despite never having controlled.

Chinas former minister Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 over Chinas purchase of Russian weapons, and Beijing had repeatedly suggested that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wouldnt get a meeting with Li unless the sanctions were revoked.

CNNs Mengchen Zhang, Nectar Gan, and Wayne Chang contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
(Bloomberg) -- China named navy veteran Dong Jun as its new defense minister, a move that will help resume top-level military talks with the US that are seen as crucial to steadying ties between the nuclear-armed powers.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Dongs appointment was announced by the countrys top legislator on Friday, ending months of speculation over who would occupy the role Li Shangfu was ousted from in October, without explanation. Chinas new defense minister is the first to come from a naval background.

That departure from precedent comes as Chinas military has been rocked by a volley of unexplained personnel purges this year. Two top leaders were abruptly removed this summer from the secretive rocket force, from which some of the nations defense ministers have previously been picked.

Three senior executives at Chinese defense suppliers that manufacture missiles were exiled from a top Communist Party advisory body this week, with no details provided. The purges continued Friday, as China ousted nine military deputies from the legislature, including former ex-Air Force Commander Ding Laihang  the first time that area of the military had been implicated in the shake-ups.

Dongs promotion suggested purges were ongoing in the rocket force, as well as the military procurement department that Li used to run, and which is under investigation, according to Wen-Ti Sung, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub.

It was also a sign of China designating the South China Sea as a new priority area of geopolitical contestation between China and the US, he added.

Dongs appointment will help smooth the path for the resumption of top-level military talks between Beijing and Washington, which were suspended after then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022. A Pentagon spokesman on Friday said the US is communicating with China at the working level about a sequence of upcoming engagements, including a resumption of defence policy coordination talks in January and maritime consultations in early 2024.

Former defense minister Li had been unable to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, because he was subject to US sanctions. President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden pledged to resume high-level military talks during their meeting in California last month.

Unlike Chinas recent top military diplomats, Dong doesnt yet sit on the Central Military Commission, meaning Xi skipped members of the nations top military body to promote him. General Liu Zhenli, chief of the commissions joint staff department, for example, was touted as a contender.

Dong does, however, have extensive experience in Chinas navy, which has been projecting its force in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait this year. He has worked in both of those areas, which are two of the biggest flashpoints in Beijings fragile relationship with Washington.

He most recently served as head of the worlds largest navy by number of vessels, a role now occupied by General Hu Zhongming, state media revealed earlier this week.

Prior to that, Dong was a deputy commander of the Southern Military Command, which looks after the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with neighboring nations including the Philippines and Vietnam. The US conducts freedom of navigation operations in those waters, frustrating Beijing.

Dong was also a deputy commander of Eastern Military Commands navy force. That fleet is in charge of the East China Sea, including waters around the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. The force conducted drills around the island after Pelosis visit last year.

--With assistance from Lucille Liu and Courtney McBride.

(Updates with Pentagon comment in seventh paragraph.)

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The Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. earlier this year used a commercially available American internet provider, according to a report. U.S. intelligence officials concluded that the balloon had used the American companys services to send and receive messages from China mainly related to the balloons navigation, officials familiar with the assessment told NBC News. The company in questionwhich was not disclosed by NBCdenied that the balloon had used its network, citing its own investigation and discussions with unnamed officials. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., told the outlet that the airship was used only for meteorological research when it unintentionally drifted into [the] U.S. because of the westerlies and its limited self-steering capability.

Read it at NBC News

Read more at The Daily Beast.
American cities saw a historic drop in homicides in 2023, bucking a sharp rise during the pandemic, according to a data tracker.

There were 8,656 homicides in 177 U.S. cities over the past year, marking an average annual decrease of 12.8%, according to AH Datalytics, a company that tracks nationwide crime.

The numbers are clear, Jeff Asher, co-founder of the company, told McClatchy News. The double-digit decline would be extraordinary as the largest one-year decline on record.

In order to reach this eye-catching conclusion, the company analyzed data reported from cities, media reports and the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which publishes quarterly reports, Asher said.

The data shows homicides dropped in about three-quarters of the cities sampled, including Americas largest cities. In New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, homicides fell by around 11%, 15% and 13%, respectively.

There were outliers, though. The murder rate ticked up in 26% of sampled cities, including in Washington, D.C., and El Paso, which saw increases of 36% and 26%, respectively.

Homicides in the 177 city sample comprise about half of the nations murders in 2023, making it a good representative sample, Asher said.

Historically, murders in these cities tend to diverge by around 2% from the national average, meaning this years national homicide numbers should be down by between 11% and 15%.

Either one of (those percentages) would be the largest decline ever reported, Asher said.

This years extraordinary drop-off in murders follows a massive surge  around 30%  that occurred in 2020, Asher said.

The upswing in 2020 marked the largest year-over-year increase in over a century, according to the Pew Research Center.

Reality at odds with perception

This years unprecedented drop in murders is at odds with a widespread belief that crime is actually increasing nationwide.

The majority of Americans, 77%, believe crime is worse than it was one year ago, according to a Nov. 16 Gallup poll that surveyed 1,009 U.S. adults.

A smaller majority, 55%, said they believed crime was on the rise in their community, per the poll.

But, in addition to homicides, nearly every type of reported crime  including rape, robbery and assault  has trended down over the past year, Asher wrote in a Substack post. The only exception was car theft, which increased in 2023.

Asher said this mismatch is frustrating as someone who works in data.

The evidence is clear, Asher said. Most people are going to live in a place where crime decreased.

But, according to research, crime data has no bearing on peoples concerns about crime, Barry Glassner, a sociologist and author of The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things, previously told McClatchy News.

My recommendation is to get the facts, Glassner said. See whether, in fact, crime is up in your community or if instead youre hearing a lot about specific incidents that may in fact be alarming, but that do not in any way indicate a trend that you need to worry about.

The United States has long been an outlier among industrialized countries when it comes to homicides, according to Statista, a German data tracker. Between 2000 and 2021, the U.S. homicide rate was more than double the rate of other G7 countries, including Canada, the U.K. and France.

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FLORIDA CITY, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida City man is facing multiple child porn charges after being arrested Thursday, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) announced.

On Dec. 28, detectives say they arrested 55-year-old John Downing Jr. after a lengthy investigation conducted in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Dog survives being stabbed 17 times; authorities search for suspect

According to Detective Patrick Martin of the CCSO High Tech Crimes Unit, the unit received photos of potential child pornography in association with a home in Citrus County.

While executing a search warrant at the home, belonging to Downing, investigators seized multiple digital storage devices and determined Downing did possess multiple pictures and videos depicting child pornography.

Downings possession of this repulsive material has effects that reach far beyond the borders of Citrus County, said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. By possessing and hoarding these images and videos, Downing is not only creating a market for child pornography, but he is re-victimizing the children who were already exploited by these monsters. CCSOs High Tech Crimes Unit will continue to work with our state and federal partners to track criminals like Downing down and protect our communities most vulnerable victims.

Downing is being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility on a $180,000 bond. He faces 12 counts of possessing child porn, with more charges possible.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Mount Hope Cemetery has been a thorn in Bellevilles side since the mid-2000s, when the owners abandoned it while being accused of scamming people on prepaid funeral arrangements.

A county judge appointed a receiver, who was later replaced by an attorney with the Illinois comptrollers office. Problems with tall grass, weeds and trash prompted the citys Public Works Department to take over maintenance. That costs about $100,000 a year.

Cemeteries are not easy to maintain because of all the headstones, department Director Jason Poole said.

Now officials are exploring an idea to help cover costs. It would involve the city buying Mount Hopes 132 acres in a foreclosure sale; clearing trees from 25 acres of a wooded section in back; leasing them to a company for a community solar farm; and collecting $75,000 to $80,000 a year in rent.

The plan is contingent on the project receiving up to $2 million in state incentives for solar-farm installation, according to Cliff Cross, the citys director of economic development, planning and zoning.

We were trying to figure out a creative way (to) maintain that cemetery without further burdening the taxpayers, he said.

Cross was speaking at a meeting of the citys Zoning Board of Appeals last week, explaining why Mayor Patty Gregorys administration was requesting a special-use permit to build and operate a solar farm in an area thats zoned for two-family residential use.

Board members voted 5-0 to recommend that the full Belleville City Council approve the permit. Aldermen are expected to take up the issue at their next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

If the idea becomes a reality, the city would allow burials to continue and make improvements such as walking trails, Cross said.

The turquoise line shows the border of Mount Hope Cemetery land, which totals about 132 acres. The orange arrow points to a 25-acre tract where a solar farm could be installed if the city of Belleville buys the cemetery. City of Belleville

Opponents cite natural beauty

Several residents spoke in opposition to the special-use permit at the Zoning Board meeting. Some argued that 25 acres of solar panels would destroy a beautiful natural area with plentiful wildlife and cause potential problems with soil erosion and water runoff.

Jennifer Mosley, whose property borders Mount Hope, said barred owls, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, deer, coyotes, raccoons, opposums and other animals live in the woods.

This is an awful lot of land to clear, she said. My concern is with the amount of animals in the area. Where are they going to go? They are going to be displaced. This is a huge plot of land. It goes all the way down to the MetroLink tracks.

Clay Bertelsman, who also owns property in the vicinity, said the solar-farm proposal makes no sense due to the topography of steep ravines, thick woods and a natural creek, particularly given that Belleville has plenty of flat, vacant property that would be more suitable.

Bertelsman owns a trucking company that leases land at nearby Mount Carmel Cemetery from the Catholic Diocese of Belleville. He said a solar farm would require a back access road for transportation of equipment, and he would oppose any such road going through his leased land.

Zoning Board Chairman Dan Nollman read a letter submitted by a couple that called Mount Hope a sacred place, where people should be able to visit their loved ones in peace.

We are so blessed with green space in this area (thats filled with) trees, birds and animals, the letter stated. Please do not create destruction of these beautiful spaces.

Cross told board members that the solar farm would be surrounded by a buffer of trees, allowing people to visit the cemetery without knowing it was there; and that the energy production could possibly help lower electricity rates for St. Clair County residents.

One resident, Rick Brown, spoke in favor of the special-use permit.

This is a perfect example of how the government should work for the people, he said.

This diagram shows how solar panels would be positioned in the southeast corner of Mount Hope Cemetery land if the city of Belleville were to buy it and install a 25-acre solar farm. City of Belleville

Another buyer is interested

Real-estate agent Gerry Davidson also spoke at the Zoning Board meeting in opposition to the special-use permit.

Davidson asked how the city could apply for a state grant and request a special-use permit for a project on land that it doesnt own yet. She called the actions premature.

I have a buyer for the property, and the receiver knows about it, she said in an interview.

Davidson didnt reveal the potential buyers name or intent, except to say that the person is local and isnt planning to build apartments or other multi-family housing on the back half of the cemetery acreage.

Mount Hopes receiver, Sara Wooley, said its common for people to make sure property can be zoned to meet their needs before buying it.

Its done all the time, she said.

Wooley is an attorney with Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendozas office. In 2013, she took over Mount Hope and Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville, which were owned by the same companies in the early 2000s, from the original receiver, Jim Carlson.

In the past 10 years, only a handful of people have expressed interest in buying Mount Hope, and their interest waned after they realized the level of responsibility, according to Wooley. She praised Gregory, Cross and other Belleville officials for considering the idea.

(City ownership) is the best solution for all of these grieving families, Wooley said this week. They need someone thats going to be stable to run this place. Its 132 acres. Its huge. To maintain property like that ... It takes five to seven days a week to mow it.

The city of Belleville already owns and operates Walnut Hill Cemetery, off Mascoutah Avenue.

Cross said if someone else were to buy the Mount Hope property, that person could build apartment complexes on the back acreage under current zoning, resulting in less green space.

Belleville Public Works Department has been mowing grass and picking up trash at Mount Hope Cemetery, which is in receivership, for 15 years, despite the fact that the city doesnt own the property. Joshua Carter/Belleville News-Democrat

Cemetery dates back to 1897

More than 26,800 people have been buried at Mount Hope, which was founded in 1897 through Immanuel Evangelical Church, according to the St. Clair County Genealogical Society website. Judges, legislators and other prominent residents are buried there.

The property had grown to 110 acres by 1920 and 200 acres by 1928. Vandals hit hard in 1965, desecrating the mausoleum and toppling 104 grave markers. The cemetery became privately owned in 1991 after years of financial hardship.

A 1989 entry in the Genealogical Society history states:

Cash flow problem blamed for tall grass per Bob Buck, president of the board of directors of Mount Hope Cemetery and affiliate of Immanuel United Church of Christ in East St. Louis; says money problems plagued cemetery for past 20 years; plot sales very slow. There are 25,000 burials and markers. Cemetery is doing best it can.

St. Clair County records show that a company named Forever Illinois sold the cemetery and surrounding land for $376,000 to Mid-America Growth and Development Corp. in 2006. But the contract-for-deed sale didnt go through, so ownership reverted back the following year.

Forever Illinois later was dissolved, and its owner went to prison on federal fraud charges in an unrelated insurance case, Wooley said. Mid-Americas owner died amid accusations that he had misappropriated funds that people had prepaid for funerals and burials.

A Madison County judge appointed Carlson as receiver for Mount Hope and Valley View in 2009. Carlson died in 2013.

The city of Belleville decided to take over Mount Hope maintenance under former Mayor Mark Eckert, now deceased. Today, it employs a full-time supervisor and up to 10 part-time workers, depending on time of year.

Its a burden on the city, but its the right thing to do, Eckert said in 2017.

Over the years, AmeriCorps members from area schools and other volunteers, some affiliated with the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery Facebook group, have helped with periodic clean-ups.

E. Gayle Schneider, who founded the Friends group in 2014, said she was thrilled to hear that the city might take ownership of Mount Hope, where she has a plot next to her mother.

This is the second time this cemetery has been in receivership, she said. Its just been a mess.

A St. Clair County judge will decide who is qualified to buy Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville and its surrounding land this spring as part of a foreclosure. The city of Belleville may bid on it. Belleville News-Democrat file photo

Property now in foreclosure

In 2018, Wooley began foreclosure proceedings in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Forever Illinois and Mid-America, which both have been dissolved, so that Mount Hope could be sold.

That process is coming to an end. Wooley expects a foreclosure sale to take place this spring after proper legal notices have been published. But shes having to iron out a wrinkle.

Local investor Scott Sieron, of Raven Securities, holds a lien on the 132-acre parcel because he bought three years worth of its delinquent-tax bills.

Under Illinois law, cemeteries are exempt from real-estate taxes. St. Clair County historically didnt charge Mount Hope but started sending tax bills in 2020, according to county records. Bills werent paid in 2020, 2021 or 2022, prompting Sieron to buy them.

(The cemetery) shouldnt have gotten a tax bill, Assessor Jennifer Gomric-Minton said when contacted this week by the BND, adding that the delinquent tax-bill sales will have to be canceled.

In the foreclosure case, a court order requires the judge to sell Mount Hope to the highest qualified bidder, who could get a license to operate a cemetery and afford the required maintenance and operational costs.

It cant go back into receivership again, Wooley said.

The city is working with a Texas-based solar vendor known as Shine Development Partners to apply for up to $2 million in incentives for solar-farm installation through Illinois Shines, a state program implemented by the Illinois Power Agency.

Cross said he expects to find out this spring if the money will be available for the Mount Hope project.

Were trying to protect and respect whats already there (at the cemetery) while finding the best way to move forward with a sustainable property without building all around it, Cross said.

The lease on the solar farm would be for 25 years. If the company no longer wanted to operate it for some reason, a provision would require that it remove the panels, according to Cross.
Bishop William Barber II, a highly esteemed civil rights leader, was ejected from a screening room at a local AMC movie theater in Greenville, North Carolina. After a viral video showed the national leader being removed, the top executive at the corporate office offered apologies to the bishop and set up a meeting to discuss the regrettable incident.

Bishop William Barber II was forced to leave an AMC theater during a viewing The Color Purple. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Clinton Global Initiative)

According to police reports, at approximately 3:20 p.m., an AMC Fire Tower 12 employee contacted the Greenville Police Department with a trespassing complaint. Someone reported a customer inside the movie house arguing with a staff member.

Lt. Justin Wooten confirmed that two officers responded to the call and identified the customer involved as Barber.

The Yale University founding director of the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy was there with his assistant and elderly mother attempting to view The Color Purple, a day after it came out.

A video recorded by someone in the theater captures him seated in his personalized chair within the handicapped section.

Barber has arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis that necessitates he walks with two canes and uses a special chair, a practice he carries even to locations such as Broadway shows and even the White House.

I said this is my ADA and they questioned me, Barber said in an interview with WRAL News. They said, No, thats a regular chair, and I said, No, its for me because I cant sit low. Its impossible.'

Everything I know about ADA law says youre supposed to make adjustments, he added.

Upon setting up the chair in the screening room, a staff member informed him that it was not permitted and requested him to move to a regular house chair.

He refused  noting (off camera) that it was his civil right to be accommodated.

When the two officers met with Barber  who retired this past summer after 30 years as the pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in nearby Goldsboro, North Carolina  tried to explain his plight as others in the theater started to advocate for him, including someone telling the person recording on their cellphone to keep filming.

See what they do to people? This is Bishop Barber, someone else says in the footage.

Eventually, the preacher does get up and walks with his canes to the exit. As Barber is walking away, he says in his booming preacher voice, I want the children to see this because theyre going to deal with it. Ive fought for everybody in this state, according to WRAL.com.

It also appears that the preacher is praying as he walks out of the screening room, God, I ask you to bless them  To move in them  because they know what theyre doing is wrong.

In the video, he says, They called an officer of the law, the AMC theater in Greenville, North Carolina. They would not make amends to simply do the right thing. But well deal with it.

ABC 11 interviewed Katherine MacFarlane, the director of the Disability Law and Policy Program at Syracuse U. College of Law, and she said the AMC violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires that movie theaters have to assess individuals on a case-by-case basis and adapt policy to accommodate such patrons.

AMC Theatres corporate office released a statement regarding the incident and apologized for the location not accommodating him.

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. 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 the normal course of business, AMC Theatres Vice President of Corporate Communications Ryan Noonan wrote in the statement.

Noonan says the company encourages guests who require special seating to talk to a manager in advance of their visit to the theater to discuss accommodations and said the company will be reviewing its policies with local theater teams as a way to discourage something like this from happening again.

AMCs Chairman and CEO, Adam Aron, reached out to Bishop William Barber, to set up plans for a face-to-face meeting in the upcoming week to discuss both this situation. He also plans to talk about Barbers history of good works throughout his 45-year career in social justice.

While Barber has agreed to meet with Aron, he said there is a message he wants to be conveyed to the public.

This is just about how we treat, how we say to disabled folk, Theres no room for you here if you dont come a certain way,' the co-chair of the Poor Peoples Campaign said. He also announced he is hosting a press conference to address those needs.
A civil rights leader who said he was asked to leave a movie screening because of a specialized chair he tried to use has called the incident a violation of his 14th Amendment rights.

At a Friday news conference, Bishop William Barber, 60, said the situation with theater staff should have never escalated and he believed the incident was a violation of his rights under the 14th Amendment, which protects Americans civil rights.

Speaking to reporters in Greenville, North Carolina, where the incident occurred, Barber also offered new details, saying he was one of the individuals who called 911 because he felt unsafe over how he was being treated by theater staff.

The civil rights leader said theater staff asked him to leave the screening of The Color Purple because of a specialty chair he attempted to use in the disabled section of the theater, CNN previously reported.

Barber, who previously served as president of the NAACP North Carolina chapter, said he suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis he has dealt with for decades. As a result, he walks using two canes and uses a specialized chair to ease discomfort while he sits, he told CNN. In video of the incident shared by Barber with CNN, the chair appears to have a backrest and no arms.

Addressing whether he believed race played a factor in the confrontation, Barber said the AMC staff were not White, which to him underscored wrong is just wrong, no matter your skin color, he said.

It shouldve never been a police escalation situation, never been threatened to be charged with trespassing, said Barber.

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.

Barber said the day after Christmas matinee visit was planned as a special memory with his 90-year-old mother. Barber said he had to leave her behind with an assistant when asked to leave the theater or face arrest.

One of the managers (said) whats the big deal, Barber recalled.

Whats the big deal? Civil rights and disability rights are a big deal, he said.

Barber claims the workers actions went against Title 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which proscribes discrimination on the basis of disability and public accommodations, he said.

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.

Barber said he will meet with AMC representatives on Tuesday.

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 Zoe Sottile and Sharif Paget contributed to this report.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  New Years Eve 2023 is expected to be a popular wedding date in Las Vegas.

To help couples choosing to tie the knot in the wedding capital of the world Clark County Clerk Lynn Marie Goya opened up a pop-up marriage license bureau at Harry Reid International Airport from Dec. 26 through Dec. 31.

Because New Years Eve includes a rare numerical sequence of 1-2-3-1-2-3 it is considered an especially appealing date by many planning their wedding day.

The occasion marks the fifth time the Clerks Office opened a temporary Marriage License Bureau at the airport.

Located at Terminal 1 near baggage claim and open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 26 through Dec. 31, the pop-up marriage license bureau enables couples arriving at Harry Reid International Airport to skip going to the downtown office to obtain their marriage documents.

The temporary office will issue marriage licenses and vow renewal certificates and will accept credit card or debit payments. Couples using the pop-up location will also receive an exclusive NYE-themed keepsake to take with them for the wedding ceremony.

It is important to note the marriage license bureau locations will issue the paperwork  marriage certificates, and vow renewal certificates however, no weddings will take place at the locations. The pop-up service is solely a place for couples to pick up their documents before getting married.

Because Dec. 31, 2023or 12/31/23includes the rare numerical sequence of 1-2-3-1-2-3, it is considered an especially appealing date by many planning their nuptials, and, consequently, area chapels are experiencing high bookings for that date. (Photo Courtesy: Wedding Capital of the World)

We always strive to make the process as easy as possible for couples, and bringing the pop-up marriage license bureau to the airport streamlines the process for couples allowing them more time to experience Las Vegas wonderful New Years Eve excitement, Lynn Marie Goya, Clark County Clerk said. New Years Eve is already one of Las Vegas most popular wedding dates, and adding the magic date of 1-2-3-1-2-3 gives couples, even more, to celebrate on this historic night.

Couples coming to Las Vegas to get married are encouraged to fill out a marriage license pre-application, which can be found through the County Clerks website at weddings.vegas.

After completing the application online, the couple will be issued a reference number that they can show to the Deputy Clerk at any branch of the Marriage License Bureau. Couples seeking a marriage license need to show proper identification, such as a drivers license or passport (a complete list of allowed identification and other information is available through the Clerks web page). Marriage licenses cost $102.

The Marriage License Bureau, a division of the Clark County Clerks Office, issues about 80,000 marriage licenses annually and is the busiest in the world.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A Leeds-based printing business has been placed into administration, resulting in more than 600 job losses.

Communisis administrators said 638 jobs would go at sites in Leeds, Liverpool and Cramlington in Northumberland.

However, part of the business has been sold as part of the administration process, safeguarding 581 jobs, administrators said.

The company employed just over 1,000 people in the UK and about 200 overseas.

Stephen Absolom, managing director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: "First and foremost, we recognise that this will come as a devastating blow to those Communisis workers who have been impacted by redundancy.

"Our immediate priority will be to work with all affected employees to ensure that the full range of support is available to them."

'Challenging trading conditions'

He added that administrators would also make contact with the firm's key competitors, customers and other companies with regard to possible employment opportunities for staff.

According to the administrators, the group, which provided services for the UK's largest financial and public institutions, had been experiencing "challenging trading conditions" for some time.

These included declining volumes in the wake of the emergence of digital technologies and increased costs of production.

The firm's brand deployment business has been sold to Paragon Customer Communications as part of the administration process.

Joint administrator James Clark said: "The transaction with Paragon enables the historically profitable brand deployment business to move forward under new ownership, as well as ensuring the continuity of service to Lloyds Banking Group.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
The artists working on the Oregon District 8-4 Memorial have invited the community to help lay the first tiles in the mosaic, according to a spokesperson from the Mosaic Institute of Greater Dayton.

>>PHOTOS: Design for Oregon District Shooting Memorial revealed

The memorial project, called The Seed of Life, will honor the nine victims, first responders, and families impacted by the 2019 Oregon District shooting.

On Jan. 7, community members can attend the open house from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Mosaic Institute of Greater Dayton on 260 Oak Street.

Here, artists want to involve the public to take part in A Place and a Piece for Everyone, the spokesperson said. They hope this event can provide a sense of peace and healing.

>>RELATED: Design for Oregon District Shooting Memorial revealed

The memorial will be installed in the plaza on East Fifth Street, not far from Wayne Avenue, next to Trolley Stop.

We are place-makers and peacemakers. In order to create a place of peace and healing, we must first heal the place. Rather than simply placing an object in the existing setting, weve chosen to recreate the entire plaza within the existing site, a statement of the Mosaic Institutes team reads.

>>RELATED: Oregon District Shooting: Memorial service held to remember 9 victims killed 4 years ago

On Thursday, Jan. 25 the Dayton Metro Library Main Campus on 215 E 3rd St., will host a grief release-focused meditation and free sound bath from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information about The Seed of Life memorial, visit Oregon District 8-4 Memorials website.
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of Pope Francis' fiercest critics, had his first private audience with the pontiff in seven years on Friday, a month after the pope said he was stripping him of some of his Vatican privileges.

Asked by Reuters outside his residence in Rome if the meeting had gone well, Burke responded: "Well, I'm still alive".

The 75-year-old cardinal declined to further discuss the content of what was, according to Vatican records, his first private audience with Francis since Nov. 10, 2016.

Wearing a floor-length black overcoat and black hat and with rosary beads in his left hand, he walked away on a street near the Vatican.

The Vatican listed the meeting on the pope's official schedule but, as is customary, did not say what was discussed.

Last month, Francis told Vatican officials at a regular meeting of department heads that he had decided to strip Burke of some of his Vatican privileges, including a rent-subsidised apartment, according to a person who was in the room at the time.

The official quoted the pope as saying that Burke was "working against the Church and against the papacy" and that he had sown "disunity" in the Church.

When asked on Friday, Burke also declined to discuss the apartment.

Burke is a hero to traditionalists in the Church, particularly in the U.S., where he often has been a guest on conservative Catholic media outlets that have made criticism of the pope a mainstay of their operations.

He has had an antagonistic relationship with Francis from the early years of his papacy.

In 2014, a year after Francis was chosen, the pope removed Burke as head of a Vatican tribunal and moved him to a largely ceremonial post several days after Burke said the Church under Francis was "like a ship without a rudder".

This past October, Burke was among a handful of cardinals who openly challenged a global month-long synod and asked for a clarification on whether the Church could offer any kind of blessings for same-sex couples, which he opposes.

In a response made public the same month, Francis hinted that the answer was a qualified 'yes'. The Vatican formalised and explained its policy on blessings for same-sex couples in a major document from its doctrinal office on Dec. 18.

Before the synod began last October, Burke was the star guest of a gathering of conservative in a theatre near the Vatican, where he called for a defence against the "the poison of confusion, error and division" in the Church.

Burke was also one of four cardinals who publicly challenged the pope on doctrinal issues regarding the family in 2016.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Nashvilles notorious Lewis Country Store  known for its controversial political ties  will soon change owners.

The Scottsboro gas station and marketplace that was recently found to be hosting a gym for a local white supremacist group above the store will soon be purchased by Nashville-based Tri Star Energy, a fuel service company that owns more than 200 gas station convenience stores across the south, including the Twice Daily chain, Sudden Service chain and White Bison coffee chain.

Dawn Boulanger, Tri Star Energys vice president of marketing, confirmed the deal and said the sale is expected to close on Jan. 2.

When asked whether the stores heavy emphasis on combining retail with fiery political statements will continue, Boulanger said it will be company owned and operated and run like all of our other stores.

Anytime we acquire a store, we fold them into our culture and run them as our stores, she said.

Store has long history of controversy

Lewis Country Store was opened in 2004 by the late Jimmy Lewis and his son Brad Lewisthe current owner and self-described actual literal Nazi. The combination country store, restaurant and gas station sits at 5106 Old Hickory Blvd. in the Scottsboro neighborhood in northwest Davidson County, on the Cheatham County border. About half of the 5.7-acre busy corner property had been listed for sale for $5 million, but the listing was removed from the market in June.

Gabrielle Hanson, the stores listing agent at the time, was a Franklin elected official who became known for her failed run for city mayor in late 2023, following weeks of political controversy.

The Lewis Country Store is no stranger to controversy: For many years, explicit, often offensive messages have been displayed on its digital roadside sign along with politically-charged merchandise inside.

In 2016, Shell even removed its branding from the Lewis Country Store because of the signs.

The Tennessean reported a string of contentious sign messages in 2017, beginning with one that offered a "$50,000 reward for Kathy Griffin's head delivered." The message was likely a reaction to a controversial photograph featuring comedian Kathy Griffin posing with a fake, severed Donald Trump head.

More: Red prom dress altercation: Appeals court rules man's suit against Kathy Griffin can go on

In a bold act of defiance against Davidson County's COVID-19 mask mandate in 2020, Lewis Country Store placed a sign at the entrance stating, "if you are scared, stay at home! If you are afraid to be within 6 feet of another person, please do not enter."

In June 2023, a Southern Poverty Law Center investigation found that the family-owned log cabin market was harboring members of a local white-supremacist group "to network and train for hand-to-hand combat in a private gym above the store.

The SPLC inquiry revealed recentand long-spanningsocial-media interactions between the store and members of the Tennessee Active Club, an offshoot of the fascist and neo-Nazi group Rise Above Movement based in Southern California.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville's Notorious Lewis Country Store set for January sale
(FOX40.COM)  A Yuba County man convicted of murdering his father in 2014 was denied parole on Thursday, according to the Yuba County District Attorneys Office.

Johnny Nanlap was convicted of murder in 2014 for the murder of his father Lai Nanlap in August of the same year.

Judge to rule if Assm. Vince Fong can run for Kevin McCarthys Congressional seat

Nanlap pled guilty of murdering his father and was sentenced to 15-years-to-life.

Since his sentencing in 2014, Nanlap has earned enough good conduct credits afforded under Proposition 57 to receive his first parole.

Suspects arrested twice over Christmas weekend for mail theft in Lathrop

The credits are earned through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation when an inmate exhibits sustained good behavior.

Nanlaps parole comes five years before his minimum sentence was completed, which prompted the district attorneys office to argue against his release.

Multiple people arrested during protest against Israel-Hamas war outside Travis Air Force Base

He does not appear to understand or articulate what led him to kill his father, which could lead to his committing other violent acts in the future, the district attorneys wrote in a news release.

Board of Parole Commissioner Julie Garland and CDCR representative Mary Dang denied Nanlaps parole hearing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs three bills at New College of Florida in May. One bans state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public universities.

Review of New College fails smell test

Its remarkable that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges gave a clean bill of health to New Colleges compliance with SACSCOCs accreditation standards.

SACSCOCs own position statement on diversity, equity and inclusion reads:

While there are no specific benchmarks regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for SACSCOC member institutions, all are encouraged to continue to regularly engage in thoughtful discussions about diversity, to intentionally cultivate and sustain inclusive and equitable processes, and to implement strategies to create and maintain respectful and supportive learning environments in which to learn and work.

Historic Preservation Campaign: New College to host Caples Estate tours to raise awareness

The association may not have benchmarks, but surely this powerful statement reflects a standard.

Was SACSCOC unaware of the widely reported and numerous violations of DEI principles that have occurred under New Colleges president and its governor-appointed board?

They include:

Closing the DEI office.

Eliminating entire areas of concentration, such as gender studies.

Abruptly firing the colleges librarian, a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

New College Board Trustee Christopher Rufo even defiantly stated that he wanted the board to go on record as opposing any DEI initiatives.

SACSCOCs review of New College doesnt pass the smell test, and it warrants closer examination.

Jill Lewis-Spector, Ed.D., Sarasota

Honor Constitution: Cut Trump

The recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling disqualifying former President Donald Trump from the states primary ballot raises this question:

Is the disqualification of someone under the 14th Amendment, Article 3  which bars an individual from federal office for conduct of insurrection behavior  anti-democratic?

Write to us: How to send a letter to the editor

Many believe only the voters should decide Trumps fate, while ignoring both the intent and purpose of our Constitution.

Im not a constitutional scholar. However, it is clear through previous rulings that Trumps behavior Jan. 6, 2021, was that of an insurrectionist.

What would be anti-democratic is to not honor the Constitution by allowing a person already determined to have committed insurrection to be on the ballot.

You cant have it both ways for political reasons. The Constitution is clear on this.

The Colorado Supreme Court got it right, and courts in other states may also do so.

Robert OBrien, Holmes Beach

More than one cause of child care crisis

A letter Dec. 21 suggested the solution to our child care crisis is for larger employers to offer child care on-site.

We believe thats only part of the solution.

Providing safe, accessible, quality child care isnt as easy as just designating a room where kids go for eight hours a day. Many issues converge at the root of this crisis.

Perhaps the biggest: a shortage of qualified preschool teachers.

Wages in the industry are historically low and our cost of living only worsens things for child care workers, many of whom are working poor.

The pandemic upended this already fragile industry, with centers closing and a quarter of the workforce leaving. No wonder we have waitlists and empty classrooms at the same time!

The good news is our community is working hard to change that.

The strategies include:

A recruiting campaign to grow the workforce (https://youcanteach.org).

Professional development and retention bonuses to develop and keep qualified teachers.

Support for preschool directors.

Policy is also a piece of this puzzle, and state Rep. Fiona McFarland has sponsored a bill that includes tax credits for employers who provide or pay for child care.

There is indeed an opportunity to help working families access the child care they need. Achieving it requires cross-sector collaboration with community and business commitment.

Kelly Romanoff, senior vice president, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Positive DEI review of New College doesn't pass smell test
South Shore Health could end up fighting civil lawsuits in court after sex abuse charges were filed against one of its pediatricians.

Lawyer Derek Braslow, while not commenting specifically on the sex abuse charges against former South Shore Health pediatrician Richard A. Kauff, of Norwell, says his clients in sex abuse cases have typically sought damages from institutions rather than individual abusers, who might not have enough assets to pay compensation, especially in cases where victims are numerous.

In November, two dozen women and girls came forward to accuse Kauff of sexual abuse. In the case of two of the women, Kauff, 68, has been charged with 12 counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and four counts of child rape. Kauff practiced at South Shore Health's locations in Norwell and Kingston for decades.

Asked if any of Kauff's accusers have sought damages, a spokesperson for South Shore Health declined to comment.

Braslow represents hundreds of plaintiffs in cases against Catholic institutions across the country, including the archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Defense lawyer Kelli Porges, left, and her client, former Norwell pediatrician Richard Kauff, listen during his arraignment in Hingham District Court on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, on charges of sexual assault.

Why would someone go after South Shore Health?

Braslow said insurers often cover negligent acts on the part of institutions, but will not cover intentional acts on the part of doctors or other professionals accused of abuse, which is another reason why victims often seek compensation from employers rather than individual perpetrators.

"It's important that institutions are included in these types of suits for many reasons," he said. "Ultimately, we know that there are predators out there, but it's the institutions that have to keep our children safe."

Defense lawyer Kelli Porges, left, and her client, former Norwell pediatrician Richard Kauff, listen during his arraignment in Hingham District Court on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, on charges of sexual assault.

Braslow said there is precedent for medical institutions paying large settlements to victims who were sexually abused under the guise of care.

"The settlements were not small, either, particularly for larger institutions," he said.

Braslow cited the case of Dr. Robert Haddan, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Columbia University in New York. Haddan, 65, was convicted in July of abusing scores of victims for more than two decades and sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to a ProPublica report, Columbia has paid a total of $236.5 million to 226 women.

More: South Shore pediatrician charged with sexually assaulting children for years

Kauff case: 22 more ex-patients say Norwell pediatrician molested them. ADA: 'Dozens more' expected

In Haddan's case, a conviction in federal court came more than a year after Columbia settled the second of two civil cases, but Braslow said criminal proceedings often conclude before civil cases begin.

"Ideally, as a civil lawyer, Id like to have the outcome of the criminal matter resolved before I file suit," he said.

"But the clocks ticking. You dont have to wait. I wouldnt be surprised if a lot of suits were filed prior to the outcome of the criminal matter."

What might determine South Shore Health's liability?

Braslow said civil liability would depend on what is called "notice." If an institution is aware, or should be aware, that a pediatrician is abusing children, that institution has notice and is legally required to prevent further abuse.

"When you look at the record, maybe a parent or a patient said something to a nurse and its in the record," he said. "If there are more victims, its likely that the institution was on notice at some point prior to much of the abuse that took place."

Braslow said documentary evidence, such as written reports, as well as witness testimony, can establish "notice." Witnesses could include staff, nurses, other doctors, patients and, in the case of children, their parents.

"A lot times  you'd be surprised  you find evidence in the record regarding notice," he said.

Statute of limitations in civil sexual abuse cases

Massachusetts extended the statute of limitations for civil child sex abuse in 2014. Victims can now sue until they turn 53 years old. The previous age limit was 21, according to Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault.

Braslow said the 2014 law also retroactively gave victims seven years after discovering past abuse to file suit, even if they are older than 53.

More: Norwell pediatrician accused of sexual abuse. How to protect kids at the doctor's office

While such changes ease the path for sexual abuse victims seeking compensation, Braslow said significant personal and legal challenges remain.

"It takes great courage for survivors to come forward," he said. "Many are ashamed or embarrassed and don't want to believe it happened and have buried the memories of the abuse in order to cope.

"Speaking with an attorney about what happened and learning what the institution knew and could have prevented can be re-traumatizing."

Defense lawyer says trusting the process is essential in emotional cases

Lawyer Ernie Stone, who has represented defendants in sexual abuse cases for decades, said there's a risk of "trial by public opinion" and said it's important to let the judicial process run its course, especially in highly emotional cases.

Stone said sexual abuse charges, especially where children are involved, can elicit "an immediate and powerful reaction from communities."

He said it's critical that the public allow due process to run its course.

"False allegations are made," he said. "It happens. I'm not commenting on this case or any case in particular, but that does happen."

Stone said premature condemnation in the court of public opinion causes "incredible damage," not only to the accused but to their families.

"That's the shame of it," he said. "No one has any control of it. Especially now with social media, it happens exponentially, the damage that can be done."

Stone said the initial allegations typically receive the most media attention and amplification, but if facts come to light that contradict the original reports, it's too late. The damage has already been done.

"When (media outlets) report on the completion of the process, if it isnt either what people wanted to hear or its not salacious enough, if its not emotional enough, it doesnt get amplified," he said.

Civil sexual abuse cases resulting in settlements on the South Shore

If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual abuse, a list of resources in Massachusetts by county can be found here.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Could South Shore Health be sued in sex abuse case?
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo.  Newly released court documents are shedding more light on charges in a Clay County homicide.

The Clay County Sheriffs Office said a county employee found a mans body in Rocky Hollow Park in Excelsior Springs on Dec. 22.

Charging documents released Friday say parks employees found the victim in a culvert, partially wrapped in black trash bags, with trauma to his head and face.

The victims name has not been released yet.

Kansas City mans car stolen three times in 2023: It just feels like an epidemic

Then on Thursday, prosecutors charged Elena Del Carmen Flores with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse.

The Clay County Sheriffs Office was initially struggling to identify the man, even releasing a photo of the victims tattoo to the public.

Charging documents released Friday say detectives first went looking for Flores in an attempt to contact members of the mans family.

One person at the home said Flores was the victims girlfriend, and Flores told her she had to go to Mexico for a family emergency, court records say. Flores also told the woman if anyone from work called, she resigned, the witness told detectives.

Liberty Hospital confirms cyberattack led to computer issues

The woman also said she heard a noise or scream on Dec. 20 or Dec. 21. When she went into Flores bedroom, she saw her with a bat, court records say. The witness said the victim wasnt moving.

Flores had the witness help her carry out a mattress with a hole cut out of it, charging documents say. A juvenile witness said Flores told her to stay away while they cleaned the bedroom and removed the furniture and carpeting, officials said.

Officials later found the furniture, carpeting and trash bags in two separate dumpsters, court records say. Forensics experts also found blood in the bedroom.

Clay County deputies also searched surveillance cameras in Excelsior Springs and Kearney. They allegedly located Flores vehicle at a Kearney gas station on Dec. 21. Court records say the video shows what appears to be a large shiny material like a trash bag in the back seat.

Body pulled from Kansas River in Lawrence identified as Edgerton woman

The Clay County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help in locating Flores.

Officials said she lives in Gardner, Kansas, but they believe she has fled to Mexico and is no longer in the Kansas City area.

As of Thursday, a Clay County Sheriffs Office spokesperson said they have now identified the victim but are still trying to notify family.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A court has upheld a stay on Multnomah Countys ban on flavored vapes, chewing tobacco and cigarettes.

That means those products will still be available for the time being.

The Court of Appeals said Wednesday the ban will not go into effect like it was scheduled to on Monday, January 1.

You feel violated: Artichoke Music store struggling after multiple break-ins

When the ban was originally adopted last year, county leaders like then-Commissioner Susheela Jayapal said way too many children, young people are still getting access to the products.

Deborah Kafoury, the former commissioner who was the board chair at the time, agreed that the ban would save peoples lives and that it would deter teenagers today from ever starting on tobacco or vape products.

Meanwhile, some local businesses who are looking ahead and thinking about the future say they want to stay open during the battle in court.

Non-profits challenge Portland warehouse permit over health, environment concerns

We have seven locations in Multnomah County, Angelina Rizhuk, the manager for House of Pipes, told KOIN 6 News. They would lay off close to like 60 employees. And this is their way of you know, feeding their families.

The court will hear from both sides on the issue, and then decide whether to extend the stay.

This is a developing story. Stay with KOIN 6 News for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Rescue crews in southern Utah spent part of Christmas Day helping an injured snowmobiler off the high country near Brian Head.

Iron County Search and Rescue posted on social media that the rescue happened Monday afternoon in the Dry Lakes area, where a woman had injured her back.

1 hurt after kitchen flames at Orem restaurant spark roof fire

The woman was on a snowmobile with her husband when they hit a series of bumps, officials said. Its thought she might have suffered a compression injury while landing on the machine at the exact moment it hit another bump.

Crews were only able to access the high-elevation area by snowmobile and ATV. They loaded the woman into a rescue sled, and brought her to Brian Head, where an ambulance was waiting.

The rescue took roughly four hours, and ended after sundown.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
(FOX40.COM)  A traffic stop by officers with the California Highway Patrol at Auburn station resulted in the discovery of a large multi-store retail theft between Nevada and California, according to CHP.

On Dec. 21, an officer working the graveyard shift noticed a vehicle being driven recklessly as it traveling over 110 miles per hour, making unsafe lane changes and following multiple cars too closely.

Suspects arrested twice over Christmas weekend for mail theft in Lathrop

The officer initiated a traffic stop and found that a woman, without a drivers license, was traveling to Oakland from Reno with her boyfriend.

The boyfriend was also unlicensed and had a felony no-bail warrant out of Arkansas.

After detaining both the driver and the passenger, the officer searched the vehicle and found more than 100 stolen items in the car out of Reno, totaling nearly $5,000.

The Placer County District Attorneys Office, Reno Police Department and the Valley Division Retail Theft Task Force have been working with CHP to locate the affected retailers and return the items to them.

Convicted Yuba County murderer denied parole 10 years into minimum 15 year sentence

So far, 62 items valued at $1,672.69 have been returned to Safeway, nine items valued at $1,612.99 were returned to Dicks Sporting Goods and 10 items valued at $1588.04 were returned to JC Penny.

There are still 22 bottles of alcohol that need to be returned to the proper retailer, once they are identified.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
What an indelible year it's been celebrating Texas Tech's first century. While it's true the centennial celebration concluded with the Carol of Lights earlier this month, we'll still be in our first century through Feb. 10, 2024, the day Texas Gov. Pat Neff signed Texas Tech into legislation. While there was an initial push to make us an extension campus of another university down south, the desire to exist independently prevailed, enabling the Texas Tech University System we know today to exist with more than 63,000 students enrolled.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Lubbock was established in 1969, with TTUHSC El Paso joining in 2013. The Texas Tech University System (TTUS) officially began in 1996. Angelo State University joined in 2007, and Midwestern State University joined most recently in 2021. With a total of 27 campuses in 22 cities throughout Texas, (two internationally), the system accounts for a $16.4 billion economic output (FY21), a $9.2 billion contribution to the Texas Workforce by Graduates, a $22 return on every $1 invested and 45,000 total created and sustained jobs. The TTUS is one of only nine university systems in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas. There is much of which to be proud.

However, without the establishment of Texas Tech in 1923, none of these educational opportunities would have transpired these last 100 years. I would argue the most significant date in our first century, other than Feb. 10, 1923, was this fall on Nov. 7, 2023, when Texas voters supported the passage of the proposed Texas University Fund, enabling TTU to benefit from a nearly $4 billion endowment yielding a projected $44 million annually for Tech alone. Texas Tech alumni are to be commended for helping to secure this constitutional amendment with a voter turnout well above the state average.

Texas Tech is on the rise, and the Alumni Association has been privileged to partner with the TTU Centennial Committee in a year-long celebration honoring all those who came before and challenging those to come. Visiting with graduates far and wide, I've often stated what an honor it is for alumni today to be on the hinge of history with an institution transitioning from big to bold. From Lubbock to Austin, to Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and countless communities in between, Texas Tech has made its point and presence clear. From San Antonio's Battle of Flowers Parade to the Starlight Parade at the Texas State Fair to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, our spirit squads and the Goin' Band have trumpeted Texas Tech pride with millions hearing the drumbeat, doing a double take for the Double T.

It's been an unforgettable year, but 2023 is a launchpad for the best that is yet to come. Profoundly, University President Lawrence Schovanec reminds us that:

"As we embark upon our second century, we must elevate our thinking from big to bold. We must work tirelessly to open our doors to those seeking knowledge and life-changing opportunity. We must be courageous in our endeavors to find creative and unique solutions to worldwide problems, while standing at the forefront of discovery and innovation. We must look beyond the horizon, always in pursuit of making the impossible, possible."

Paul W. Horn, our first university president, would be immensely proud of these first 100 years and of everyone who played a part in our story. It's up to Red Raider Nation to ensure our next generations are every bit as proud of what's to come. Happy New Century to Texas Tech!

Curt Langford is President and CEO of the Texas Tech Alumni Association. Contact him at curt.langford@ttu.edu

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Curt Langford: Texas Tech on the hinge of history
Paul Gibbons outside Wickes with his Abbot SPG tank used by the British Army during the Cold War - Jonathan Buckmaster

A disgruntled customer has parked a Cold War tank outside a branch of Wickes in protest against what he says is a poor quality kitchen.

Paul Gibbons, 63, from Kingsclere in Hampshire, had looked at various retailers before settling on the Wickes branch in Basingstoke to carry out the work on his home in February.

The 25,000 kitchen was reportedly meant to be fitted to a high-quality standard within two weeks but Mr Gibbons says he is still experiencing problems 10 months later.

He claimed that the drawers and doors do not close, storage is unusable or falls out of place and mould has begun growing underneath his sink.

Mr Gibbons has now parked the green Abbot SPG tank used by the British Army during the Cold War in the car park of the branch. He has placed a white sign on the side of the tank built in 1965 spelling out the letters of the retailers name and stating: Warning Incompetent Complacent Kitchen Supplier alongside an angry face emoji.

Mr Gibbons told the Basingstoke Gazette: The finish throughout is so poor, and half of the kitchen doesnt fit as it should. I agreed to the contract and what I was told would be two weeks of work, and 10 months later I am still left with a kitchen which I cant even use as you should.

Im making a stand

He claimed that Wickes was refusing to accept the kitchen did not meet the standard promised.

The worst thing about it is that Wickes refuses to accept that the quality of the kitchen is nowhere near the standard it should be.

They should deal with these issues when they arise rather than palming people off, and Im making a stand simply to say that its not right.

A spokesman for Wickes said: We are aware of the situation at the Basingstoke store and would like to apologise for any inconvenience that has been caused to shoppers visiting the store today.

Our customer relations team is in contact with the customer to discuss their installation and help to resolve the issue.

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 newest Akron-area location of Kentucky Fried Chicken on 3070 Manchester Road in Coventry Township is now open, ahead of schedule.

The latest Akron-area KFC opened more than a week earlier than expected, and it's already cooking up a lot of interest in Coventry Township.

The restaurant was originally scheduled to open Jan. 8, but opened early on Thursday, generating a storm of excitement on social media.

The restaurant is located on Manchester Road across the street from the Coventry Elementary School. The area features a lot of fried chicken competition, from Showcase Meats about 1.5 miles away, and Barberton chicken locations to west.

Poultry fans cheer new Coventry Township KFC

The early arrival of the Col. Sanders' 11 herbs and spices to the Portage Lakes was met with enthusiasm from KFC fans in the region.

Akron resident Brett Faidley stopped by Friday for a chicken sandwich after hearing the restaurant had opened. He's a Barberton chicken fan but gives KFC the edge.

"I've been eating [KFC] a long time," he said. "They give you a better deal if they don't mess up."

'They are going to see a lot of volume'

Donnalyn and Marcellar Turner of Akron said they came to the Coventry Township location on Friday after seeing online that it was open.

"We knew it was coming, but we didn't know exactly when," Marcellar Turner said. "They are going to see a lot of volume here."

The location also is more convenient for the KFC fans in southern Summit County, who had been making the trek to Cuyahoga Falls.

"It's a lot closer than driving to State Road," Donnalyn Turner said.

KFC franchisee sees more Summit County locations

Dennis Reed, vice president of restaurant performance for franchisee Kendall House Inc., said the company has 21 locations in Ohio from Mansfield and Wooster to Dover and Zanesville. It also operates the Cuyahoga Falls and Waterloo Road locations.

Reed said the restaurant was able to open before the original Jan. 8 target date and business has been strong.

"Everything fell into place and it was ready," he said Friday. "Last night was extremely busy."

He said he's noticed people driving by for the last week, checking to see if the new KFC was open for business. The Akron-area locations have performed well and he expects another to open in the near future.

"It's probably going to be on West Market in Akron," he said.

Customer, resident calls for better access

Brian Frank, a township resident who lives near the KFC, said he's concerned about lack of access to the establishment from Rood Drive. Customers who can't get to the restaurant that way have been circling back down his dead end street nearby, he said.

"Some [driver] just ran into my trash can," he said Friday.

Another driver almost hit his parked car, he said. He said about 50 cars ended up at the end of his street on Thursday, with the stream continuing Friday.

Frank doesn't blame KFC and has already been a customer, but said he's emailed trustees about getting access on Rood.

"It needs to happen," he said.

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Customers clucking about new KFC location in Coventry Township
An investigation is underway after three family members were found dead inside a mansion in Dover, Massachusetts, following an apparent domestic-related incident on Thursday night, authorities said.

Officers responding to a 911 call at a home at 8 Wilsons Way just before 7:30 p.m. spoke with a relative who stopped by the house for a well-being check and found a man, woman, and their daughter dead inside, according to the Norfolk District Attorneys Office.

Dover police responded to the home to find an adult male, adult female, and their teenage daughter deceased, the DAs office said in a statement. Although the investigation is at a very preliminary stage, the evidence available at this time does not indicate the involvement of any outside party.

During a news conference late Friday morning, Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey identified the family members as 57-year-old Rakesh Kamal, 54-year-old Teena Kamal, and 18-year-old Arianna Kamal.

Morrissey confirmed that Arianna was a student at Middlebury College. In a statement, Milton Academy confirmed Arianna was a graduate of the class of 2023.

Milton Academy is heartbroken to learn of the death of Arianna Kamal, a recent graduate of the class of 2023, the school wrote. Aria was a sweet, smart, kind young woman who was just beginning to realize her full potential.

In a statement, Middlebury College described Aria as a brilliant student and an amazing singer who read at Middleburys Lessons and Carols service, and sang in the College Choir while enrolled in her first-year Mindfulness in Education seminar.

She was connected and engaged in class, and passionate about everything she did. She was a beautiful writer and always did things 110 percent. She was a deeply spiritual person and dove into the material in the first-year seminar course, Ariannas teacher, Melissa Hammerle detailed.

The private college says they hope to meet with Arias friends and extended family to plan a remembrance once the winter break ends.

Her mother, Teena, served as president of Milton Academys Upper School Parents Association and was a committed and caring advocate for both parents and students.

This is a devastating loss to our community. We are making counseling and grief support available to students, parents, and faculty who may need support as they process this incredibly sad news, the school added.

Teena also served on the regional board of the American Red Cross of Massachusetts.

The American Red Cross is deeply saddened by the tragedy in Dover. Teena Kamal served on our regional Board of Directors and served as vice-chair of our Massachusetts Tiffany Circle. Our hearts go out to their loved ones during this devastating time. As this is an ongoing investigation, we will refer any inquiries to the Norfolk County District Attorneys office, a Red Cross spokesperson told Boston 25.

Morrissey said that state police found a firearm near Rakeshs body during a sweep of the property and he called the incident a confined situation.

Morrissey added that the tragedy appears to be caused by a deadly incident of domestic violence and that the Office of the State Medical Examiner is working to determine an official cause and manner of the deaths.

Its safe for me to tell you that its probably a domestic incident, Morrissey told reporters. Its a nice neighborhood. Its a safe community.

Neighborhood resident Sadie Hyde said she was shocked to learn what transpired.

Just sad. It wasnt expected, its a quiet neighborhood. I just feel bad for the family, and their extended, especially around the holidays, Hyde said.

Morrissey urged anyone who is experiencing mental health problems to call the states domestic violence hotline at 877-785-2020 or the 988 Lifeline Chat.

I think tensions that people feel in relationships often come out during the holidays, Morrissey said. Its unfortunate.

An investigation of this nature is very rare for not only Dover but also all of Norfolk County, Morrissey added.

Boston 25 News uncovered documents that showed the Kamal family was facing apparent financial difficulties. Filings in federal bankruptcy court in Boston showed Teena Kamal filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in September 2022.

Chapter 13 is designed for individuals with regular income who are temporarily unable to pay their debts. Under Chapter 13, petitioners must file a plan with the court to repay their creditors all or part of the money that they owe them using future earnings.

Teena listed liabilities between $1 million and $10 million in the filings, but the bankruptcy case was dismissed a month later due to failure to comply with court orders, the documents indicate. A creditor listed among the bankruptcy filings is Wilsondale Associates LLC.

Records from the Dover Assessors Department show the Kamals sold 8 Wilsons Way to Wilsondale Associates in December 2022 for $3 million, despite the Town of Dover listing the value of the property at $6.8 million.

State troopers assigned to Morrisseys office are assisting Dover police with the investigation.

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

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

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Authorities are investigating an assault from early December that killed a 60-year-old man, the Dallas Police Department announced in a news release Thursday.

At about 3:15 a.m. on Dec. 9, Dallas Police responded to a call for service in the 100 block of Polk Street.

The preliminary investigation determined 60-year-old Ira Lollis was assaulted at the location. Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and took Lollis to a local hospital in critical condition.

On Dec. 27, Lollis died at the hospital from his injuries, according to police.

The investigation is ongoing, and the police have not announced an arrest or named a person of interest in the assault.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective White at 214-671-3690 or jacob.white@dallaspolice.gov.
CHICAGO  The 2024 elections will be dominated by the presidential contest and the battle for control of Congress, but another series of races is shaping up to be just as consequential.

Crucial battles over abortion, gerrymandering, voting rights and other issues will take center stage in next years elections for state supreme court seats  80 of them in 33 states.

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The races have emerged as some of the most hotly contested and costliest contests on the ballot since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the consitutional right to an abortion. The decision shifted the abortion debate to states, creating a new era in state supreme court elections, said Douglas Keith, senior counsel in the judiciary program at the Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks spending in judicial races.

We have seen attention on state supreme court elections like never before and money in these races like never before, Keith said.

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Heated court races in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2023 handed victories to Democrats and saw tens of millions of dollars in TV ads, offering a preview of 2024. Theyre also prompting groups to consider investing in states they would not previously have considered.

Abortion and gerrymandering top issues

At least 38 lawsuits have been filed challenging abortion bans in 23 states, according to the Brennan Center. Many of those are expected to end up before state supreme courts.

The ACLU is watching cases challenging abortion restrictions in Wyoming, Kentucky, Ohio, Utah, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska, Georgia and Montana.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, we had to turn to state courts and state constitutions as the critical backstop to protecting access to abortion, said Brigitte Amiri, deputy director at the ACLUs Reproductive Freedom Project. And the stakes are unbelievably high in each of these cases in each of these states.

The ACLU was among major spenders on behalf of Democrats in this years state supreme court contests in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Another big player in recent court races has been the Republican State Leadership Committee, which has said its focus is mainly on redistricting, or the drawing of political district boundaries. The group called state supreme courts the last line of defense against far-left national groups, but didnt say how much it intends to spend on next years races or which states its focusing on.

In Ohio, Democrats are expected to cast state supreme court races as an extension of the November election in which voters enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution. The state has more than 30 abortion restrictions in place that could be challenged now that the amendment has passed.

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The state supreme court is going to be the ultimate arbiter of the meaning of the new constitutional amendment that the people voted for and organized around, said Jessie Hill, law professor at Case Western Reserve University and a consultant for Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights. That is a huge amount of power.

With three seats up for a vote and a current Republican majority of 4-3, Democrats have an opportunity to flip the majority of the court while Republicans will try to expand their control. Hill said the very high-stakes election will serve as another test of the salience of the abortion issue in turning out voters.

We saw an incredible number of voters come out to vote on that amendment and an incredible amount of investment in those campaigns, Hill added. I think well see a similar attention and investment in Ohio come next year.

Redistricting also is likely to be a main focus in the states supreme court races, given the court will have realigned politically since it issued a series of rulings finding Ohios congressional and legislative maps unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor Republicans, said David Niven, political science professor at the University of Cincinnati. He expects millions of dollars to be spent on those campaigns.

Theres often little conversation about these races, but they are just so utterly consequential in very tangible, practical ways that touch voters everyday lives, he said.

Map broadens for consequential races

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Pending legislative and congressional redistricting cases also could play a role in North Carolina.

Republicans in North Carolina are looking to expand their majority two years after the court flipped from Democratic control in the 2022 election. That flip to a 5-2 GOP majority led to dramatic reversals in 2023 on rulings made by the previous court, which had struck down a 2018 photo voter identification law as well as district maps for the General Assembly and the states congressional delegation.

Groups on both sides also are expected to focus on Michigan, where Democrats hold a 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court. Candidates run without political affiliations listed on the ballot, though theyre nominated by political parties.

Two incumbents  one Democrat, one Republican  will be up for election in 2024. The court recently kept former President Donald Trump on the states ballot, denying a liberal groups request to kick him off. It is currently weighing a high-profile case over a Republican legislative maneuver that gutted a minimum wage hike backed by voters.

2023 races preview

In Wisconsin, abortion played a dominant role in the 2023 court race, with Democrats flipping the court to a 4-3 majority in a campaign that shattered previous national records for spending in state supreme court elections.

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Liberal-leaning Justice Janet Protasiewicz defeated former Justice Dan Kelly, who previously worked for Republicans and had support from the states leading anti-abortion groups.

Protasiewicz was targeted with impeachment threats this year over comments she made on the campaign trail about redistricting as Republicans argued she had prejudged what then was an expected case on the states heavily gerrymandered state legislative districts. Experts say the controversy is an example of how more money and attention have changed the dynamics of many state supreme court races to be increasingly partisan.

Democrats in Pennsylvania added to their majority on the court after a race with tens of millions of dollars in spending. Democrat Dan McCaffery won after positioning himself as a strong defender of abortion rights.

Contested seats even in deep red states

It remains to be seen whether abortion rights will play a factor in states where party control isnt at stake. That includes Arkansas, where the court is expected to maintain its 4-3 conservative majority. The seats up next year include the chief justice position, which has drawn three sitting justices.

A fight over abortion could wind up before the court, with a group trying to put a measure on the ballot next year that would scale back a state ban on the procedure that took effect once Roe was overturned.

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Abortion rights supporters also arent writing off longshot states such as Texas and its all-Republican high court, which rejected the request from a pregnant woman whose fetus had a fatal condition to be exempted from the states strict abortion ban.

In Montana, Republicans have spent huge sums to try to push the court in a more conservative direction. The liberal-leaning court is expected to hear cases related to restrictions on transgender youth and abortion. A landmark climate change case also is pending before the court, which will have two of its seven seats up for election.

Jeremiah Lynch, a former federal magistrate running for the open chief justice position, has cast himself as a defender of the courts independence and has warned voters to expect a barrage of negative advertising. Cory Swanson, a county attorney also running for the post, announced his bid on a conservative talk show and recently vowed to weed out any radicalized applicants for law clerks in response to antisemitism on college campuses.

In West Virginia, where conservatives have a current 5-4 majority on the court and two seats will be up for grabs, GOP chair Elgine McArdle said Republicans aim to focus more on judicial races than in years past.

One area the state party has never really engaged much in is nonpartisan races, including the judicial races, McArdle said. That wont be the case this time around.
In this final column on 2023, a look ahead to 17 things Id like to know, see, do or hear in the coming year, plus one thing I will definitely not be doing:

Things Id like to see:

Huge television production vans parked in Camden Yards for the World Series.

Continued progress against gun violence in Baltimore. Significantly fewer lives were lost in 2023 after eight dreary years of 300-plus homicides each, and the trend is not merely organic. Several players made this happen: Anti-violence programs, like Roca, aimed directly at young men at highest risk of being shot (again, or for the first time); effective coordination of local, state and federal resources by the U.S. Attorneys Office; successful prosecutions by the Maryland attorney generals organized crime unit, and impressive results in homicide trials under Ivan Bates in his first year as Baltimore states attorney: As of Dec. 27, 136 guilty verdicts against 19 acquittals, according to his office.

Id like to see Marlo Hargove and Archie Lee of F.A.C.E. (Freedom Advocates Celebrating Ex-offenders) get the support they need for the re-entry center and transitional housing program they were trying to establish for guys coming out of prison before the pandemic.

Chesapeake oyster farmers augmenting their crops with soft-shell clams. Morgan State Universitys Patuxent research lab has been studying that possibility. If it happens, we might finally see more Maryland seafood restaurants with fried, whole-belly soft shell clams, New England-style, on their menus.

Id like to see more small houses, like those in Hope Village, under construction on vacant lots in Baltimore. It doesnt happen without philanthropy or government subsidy, but few undertakings are more worthwhile. Small houses are an answer to homelessness and the affordability problem. They can be the first step in homeownership for people of modest incomes. They create the kind of density that leads to whole new neighborhoods. It would be great to see something like the villages created by the Veterans Community Project. That Missouri-based nonprofit has built dozens of tiny houses (240 to 320 square feet each) for homeless veterans in St. Louis and four other locations. Why not here, and why not for anyone in need of an affordable place to live?

Things Id like to hear:

The voice of Michael Bloomberg on my phone, pledging to give $1 billion of his estimated $96.3 billion to Baltimore Community Lending so it can finance the renovation of thousands of vacant houses here. Mike: What are you waiting for?

Id like to hear, at the Lyric or Hippodrome, a big, happy production of The Most Happy Fella, the superb Frank Loesser musical seldom staged.

Id like to hear that Netflix or Amazon picked up the rights to Scott Shanes excellent book, Flee North, a great story about a Maryland-born freed slave and abolitionist who deserves to be the subject of a movie.

A Maryland theater company or a collaboration of theater companies devoting an entire year to the 20th century cycle of August Wilsons plays. Imagine seeing all of those decade-by-decade plays  Joe Turners Come and Gone, Ma Raineys Black Bottom, and Fences among them  on stages throughout the state in a years time. That would be epic.

An MTA bus driver willing to remind passengers yapping on their cellphones that nobody else is interested in their business.

Things Id like to know:

Why the humongous widening of Interstate 95 between White March and Fallston was necessary. Looks like a boondoggle  that is, as the dictionary says: Work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value. Thats about the size of it.

Why so many Americans vote against their own interests by supporting politicians who oppose a higher minimum wage, affordable health insurance, regulating polluters, developing green energy jobs and, above all, holding democracy sacred.

Though I long ago lost my appetite for understanding MAGA discontent, I will consider one more book about it: White Rural Rage, by Tom Schaller, political science professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and journalist Paul Waldman. Due out in February, its pitched as a searing portrait and damning takedown of Americas proudest citizens, who are also the least likely to defend its core principles.

One thing I wont be doing:

Watching the new season of Worst Cooks In America: Spoiled Rotten on the Food Network  even with a Marylander as one of the competitors for the $25,000 grand prize. Asked by a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News what she would do if she won, Leona Chapman of Cresaptown, in Allegany County, said she would spend the prize money on cosmetic surgery, specifically on lip work to complement her Botox injections and face fillers. Im out.

Things Id like to do:

Finally, after talking about it for nearly 30 years, Id like to bake a large and delicious timpano like the one from Big Night.

Organize, with the help of Sun food writer Amanda Yeager, an investigative taco crawl through Fells Point, hitting 10 taquerias on a Saturday in March. Whos in?

Take my First Day Hike in Baltimores Leakin Park; the place needs people, it needs love, it needs far more attention than it gets from the city. If youre interested: Meet Monday at 10 a.m. at the Winans Meadow, 4500 N. Franklintown Road. The more, the merrier.

And I would like to hike the full distance of Charles Street, from Gittings Avenue on the north to Winder Street on the south, with stops for hydration at Dutch Courage, Mick OSheas and, if we get that far, Delia Foleys.
Russian war criminals targeted a residential building in Lviv  over one thousand kilometers from the frontline  leading to casualties during a relentless missile assault on Ukraine on Friday, Dec. 29, reported Lviv Regional State Administration head Maxym Kozytsky.

Lviv's mayor, Andriy Sadovyi, raised concerns about a potential fire at one of the city's educational institutions, sharing visual evidence of the strike's aftermath. Shortly after that, Kozytsky confirmed the tragic death of an individual in a residential building on Khotkevycha Street, adding that three other civilians were injured.

Sadovyi later provided updates, saying that as of 9:25 EET, there were reports of one dead and eight injured civilians because of the Russian missile strike. The assault also damaged three schools and a kindergarten.

The onslaught began in the evening of Dec. 28, with Russia initiating mass kamikaze drone attacks on Ukraine, followed by missile assaults starting the night of Dec. 29. Kharkiv faced numerous strikes, while Lviv witnessed suicide attacks, including a fire at a critical infrastructure facility, and hits in Konotop and Odesa. Explosions were reported in many cities, with casualties and injuries reported in Dnipro, Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

Missile fragments also rained down on the Sviatoshyn and Podil districts of Kyiv, sparking a fire in a residential high-rise building.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A January plane crash in Nepal that killed 72 people  including two Americans and two lawful U.S. permanent residents  was likely caused by its pilots mistakenly cutting the power, according to a report by government-appointed investigators released on Thursday.

The deadly decision resulted in an aerodynamic stall and then the Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu to the tourist town of Pokhara plummeted into a gorge in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The January 15 crash was the countrys most deadly airline disaster in 30 years.

NEPAL CRASH: VIDEO FROM INSIDE PLANE SHOWS PASSENGERS' FINAL MOMENTS

There were 72 people on the twin-engine aircraft, an ATR 72, including two infants, four crew and 15 foreign nationals. There were no survivors.

"The most probable cause of the accident is determined to be the inadvertent movement of both condition levers to the feathered position in flight, which resulted in feathering of both propellers and subsequent loss of thrust, leading to an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain," the report states.

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Dipak Prasad Bastola, an aeronautical engineer and a member of the investigating panel, told Reuters that 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."

An image of the ill-fated Yeti Airlines ATR 72 aircraft registration 9N-ANC, that crashed in January, is pictured here landing safely at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal on April 2022.

ATR is based in France and the plane's engines were manufactured in Canada by Pratt & Whitney Canada.

The report also listed a lack of appropriate technical and skill-based training, high workload and stress due to operating into a new airport, and non-compliance with standard operating procedures as contributing factors to the incident. The crew also missed associated flight deck and engine indications that both propellers had been feathered, the report states.

The report went on to state that the aircraft had been properly maintained, had no known defects and that the cockpit crew had been qualified in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

DOZENS KILLED IN NEPAL PLANE CRASH AFTER AIRCRAFT PLUMMETS INTO RIVER GORGE

Footage taken from inside the aircraft showed passengers chatting as the plane started making its descent. Video of the crash taken by eyewitnesses then showed the planes wing dropping aggressively before slamming into the ground.

It was co-piloted by Anju Khatiwada, who had pursued years of pilot training in the United States after her husband died in a 2006 plane crash while flying for the same airline. The plane was under the command of senior captain Kamal KC.

Nepal, home to eight of the worlds 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest, has a long and tragic history of air crashes. According to the Flight Safety Foundations Aviation Safety database, there have been 42 fatal plane crashes in Nepal since 1946.

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The January crash was Nepal's worst aircraft disaster since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 crashed into a hillside on approach to Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board.

Januarys passenger list included 53 Nepali citizens, five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, one Australian, one Argentinian, one Irish and one French, Nepali authorities said.

The European Union has banned Nepali airlines from its airspace since 2013, citing safety concerns, according to Reuters.

Fox News Greg Norman, Pilar Arias, Anders Hagstrom, as well as Reuters contributed to this report.





Original article source: Deadly Nepal plane crash likely caused by basic pilot error, report finds
A DeKalb County man was arrested in Miami, Fla. for several charges, including accusations of human trafficking a minor.

The police arrest record for Sterling Henderson, 39 of DeKalb County, said the minor was groomed for human trafficking.

Police said Henderson was arrested on Thursday. He now faces multiple felony charges.

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According to Miami police, the department was contacted by the DeKalb County Police Department, telling them that Henderson had a warrant out of DeKalb County for interstate interference with the custody of a 15-year-old girl.

DKPD received information that Henderson had enticed the minor victim to flee to Miami without the consent of her parents.

DeKalb police said they believed the minor was being groomed for human trafficking, according to the report from Miami police. Henderson was also driving on a suspended license, according to Miami police.

Around 9:36 p.m., the Miami-Dade Police Department pointed the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office Human Trafficking Task Force to an area where the minor may be.

The State Attorneys investigators went to that area to find the minor victim and Henderson.

Around 11:30 Thursday night, a Miami detective saw a vehicle that he believed was being driven by Henderson.

When Henderson saw the detective, he drove away in the vehicle. The detective advised law enforcement officers of the vehicles description and which way it was going and police and other investigators saturated the scene.

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Ten minutes later, the vehicle was seen again and officers signaled for them to pull over. Instead, they drove away, disregarding all the traffic lights before driving through the median, hitting several traffic poles. One of the poles flew off and hit another vehicle.

These actions by the defendant could reasonably be expected to result in physical harm to the minor victim, himself and others driving on this street, the police report states.

After attempting to make a turn, Henderson lost control of the SUV he was driving and hit a light pole, causing major damage to the light pole, his vehicle, and the minor victim, police said.

Following the crash, police said Henderson climbed out through the sunroof and ran away.

They said he made no efforts to assist the minor victim to exit the wrecked vehicle, who was in the backseat. The minor later dragged herself out through the sunroof, police said, but was severely injured.

The minor victim was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a fractured hip.

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Officers chased Henderson until he finally stopped, but he continued to not comply with officers. Police Tased him, after which they said he became compliant and was arrested. Police said the victim could not provide a statement, but did contact her mother to get consent for treatment.

Damage caused by the crash was estimated to be more than $100,000, according to police.

Henderson now faces the following charges:

Leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury (felony)

Child neglect, greater harm to body (felony)

Custody interference (felony)

Fleeing or eluding a police officer (felony)

Contributing to the delinquency of a child

Two counts of resisting an officer without violence

Driving with a suspended license

Reckless driving

IN OTHER NEWS:
A supermarket delivery driver won a lottery prize worth nearly $5 million.

It made him rich enough to quit  but he carried out a December 23 delivery shift all the same.

His partner said they both intend to keep working to remain grounded.

The morning after a work Christmas party, supermarket delivery driver Jonny Johnston learned he'd won the lottery.

Johnston was in line for 3.8 million, around $4.8 million, from the UK's National Lottery. It was easy enough to quit on the spot.

But Johnston didn't want to let down his colleagues at a Tesco branch in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

And so he kept up his shift on Saturday December 23 so that somebody else wouldn't have to take it on.

He had been using the same six lottery numbers for 20 years, BBC News reported  and they finally came good in the December 16 draw.

Johnston learned about the win on a night out with colleagues, the Telegraph reported. It said he got an app notification that he'd won, but decided not to check the prize itself, assuming it was something minor like a free ticket for next time.

It was only the next morning, when he checked the app with his partner, Christina Williams, that they realized they'd won a life-changing sum, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

He told the news outlet: "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."

They double-checked with the Camelot Group, the operator of the UK National Lottery, and confirmed the win, later celebrating the prize with coffee, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

Though they were eager to celebrate, Johnston still had another shift to work at Tesco before Christmas.

He told the Belfast Telegraph that he decided to honor his commitment and work it so as not to inconvenience his colleagues.

According to the newspaper, he worked a shift at his local store on December 23, during which he handed over turkeys and other Christmas essentials to customers who had no idea he was now a multimillionaire.

Johnston told the Belfast Telegraph: "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. "

The couple said they will use the money to provide financial security for their family and possibly go on a Caribbean cruise once Johnston gets a passport, the news outlet said.

Speaking to BBC News, his partner, Williams, said they will both continue to work in some capacity.

"We need to keep our feet on the ground, it doesn't make us different people," she said. "We like to work, it keeps us busy and gives you a purpose."

Read the original article on Business Insider
One of the most memorable things Margaret Thatcher ever said was, No. No. No. Those words triggered the resignation of Geoffrey Howe, her most senior minister, and thus the Conservative leadership contest of November 1990. She won the first ballot, but by too small a margin to prevent a second. Reluctantly, she stood down.

Few remember at whom her three nos were directed. But this week we have been reminded by his death, aged 98. Uniquely for a continental bureaucrat, Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission from 1985-95, became a household name in Britain. Mrs Thatcher opposed his ideas and his power. The consequences are still with us. There was an integrity to their quarrel. Like many Frenchmen of his generation, Delors believed the only way to avoid another terrible European war was to create a single European superstate with its own sovereignty, laws, currency, economic policy, defence and parliament  the European Union. Apart from the Commission, its chief motor would be the unbreakable alliance between the former enemies, France and Germany.

So important to Delors was the tightness of the Franco-German link that he was closer to the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, than to his own countrys president, Francois Mitterrand. He saw the big German as more European.

Mrs Thatcher countered Delorss points. While in office at least (her views hardened afterwards), she favoured quite a strong European Community, whose members shared a market. But she never wanted to let the EEC  as it was called when she became prime minister  gain the authority and appurtenances of a state.

She and Delors even disagreed about how he be addressed. As Commission President, he wished to be M. le President. To Mrs Thatcher, who denied him the status of elected leaders, he was just M. Delors.

Nor did she want a single European sovereignty, currency, economic policy or army, or a European parliament that could challenge the British one. Those three famous nos of hers were directed at Delors publicly stated idea that the European Parliament should be the democratic body of the Community, the Commission the executive and the Council of Ministers the Senate.

She disagreed with Delors about means as well as ends. He saw his European project and its Social Chapter  which almost single-handedly turned the Labour Party Europhile  as something that should bypass the tiresome tendency of national electorates to throw spanners in the bureaucratic works.

Mrs Thatcher, by contrast, disliked the way mainstream British parties kept the European debate away from voters. In her last days in office, she publicly proposed a referendum on Delorss plan to create a European single currency (the future euro). Part of her legacy was that this proposal morphed into a referendum on EU membership itself. The British electorates 2016 decision to leave was the largest vote ever cast for anything in our history.

Like Delors, Mrs Thatcher wanted to avoid another great European war. Unlike him, she thought security lay in strong, independent nation states, and in membership of Nato under US leadership. The only European nation state she did not want strong was Germany, whose will to power she feared. In 1984, Mitterrand and Kohl stood in reconciliation by the ossuary near Verdun, scene of the worst battle of the Great War. Didnt Mrs Thatcher find this moving, someone asked her privately. No, I did NOT, she replied, Two grown men holding hands!

Delors and Mrs Thatcher respected each other. She admired his rigour as French finance minister and supported his renewal as Commission President. He told me that her Eurosceptic Bruges speech of 1988, which had attacked the centralising tendencies he represented, had been delivered in beautiful language, very direct  tres bien cuit (very well cooked). But their disagreement, he felt, was necessary: I understood the need for confrontation with her.

They were worthy opponents  one socialist, anti-American, Catholic and of an official cast of mind; the other conservative, Atlanticist, Methodist and democratic  two serious, diligent, able, touchy people who sincerely disagreed about what was best for the future of their continent. Now that both are dead, and there is, in Ukraine, another European war, I wonder what might be learnt from their mighty quarrel.

At the time, Jacques Delors won. He provided the spark with which pro-European, anti-Thatcher elements at the top of the Party could light the blue touchpaper. He got the peaceful reunification of Germany and his stated price for it  the euro. He was arguably the most successful unelected person to hold office in Europe in the 20th century. Mrs Thatcher lost, although her rage against the Delors plan helped keep Britain out of the single currency and prevent the other half of the Delors vision, which was European political union. Her misgivings about the speed of German reunification marginalised her at what might otherwise have been her moment of greatest personal triumph  the peaceful defeat of Soviet Communism.

But now that another generation has passed, the picture is more confusing. Although the euro has not collapsed, as many predicted, under the strain of trying to fit more than half a continent into one size, it has not ushered in the new era of economic dynamism and industrial/social strategy for which Delors strove. Economically, the eurozone is stagnant. Nor, on the other hand, has an over-mighty Germany been as Mrs Thatcher imagined. Germany is the dominant power in western Europe, but its problem seems more its weakness than its strength. Look at its low growth, and its energy policies which laid it shockingly open to neutralism and Russian bullying. Look at its painful slowness in moving to help Ukraine militarily. Germany and France combined seem no longer to provide clear EU leadership.

Mrs Thatcher made a political, perhaps even a moral error in failing to give public credit to Germany for how it had transformed itself since the Second World War. Paradoxically, however, she saw Europe in a way which was more complete than that of most euro-enthusiasts. In the Bruges speech, she encouraged the EC to look eastward beyond its borders. It should always look on Warsaw, Prague and Budapest as great European cities. To its credit, the EU eventually agreed with her. In 2004, the states of those three capital cities joined (though none is yet in the eurozone).

Even hardened Eurosceptics (like me) will tend to see this as a benefit when compared with the alternative of being a Russian satellite. If I were a Ukrainian today, in search of shelter from Vladimir Putins blizzard, I would want my country admitted to the EU, though I would want Nato membership more.

One reason that Mrs Thatcher worried about speedy German reunification was how it might affect Russia. She feared the collapse of Mikhail Gorbachevs reforms there and the return of hardliners driven by resentment at the end of the Soviet Empire. At that time, the world had not heard of a young KGB officer in Dresden called Vladimir Putin. But, more than 30 years on, he is her fear made flesh.

Might it be possible that the threat from Putin could produce a Delors-like unity and a Thatcher-like response to danger, a truly powerful Western response, in which the EU and NATO  the European continent, the United Kingdom and the United States  are allies not rivals? We shall know in the course of the coming year whether it is already too late.

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UNITED STATES - JANUARY 17: Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., conducts a news conference at the House Triangle to introduce a financial relief bill for federal workers effected by the partial government shutdown at the on Thursday, January 17, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

A federal judge has ruled in a closely watched redistricting case out of Georgia, preserving a Republican gerrymander that dismantled the district represented by Rep. Lucy McBath (D).

McBath said shortly after the decision that she would run in a new district. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the maps would likely remain in place through at least Election Day 2024.

The maps, approved by the Georgia legislature and signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp (R) earlier this month, maintain Republicans 9-5 advantage in the states congressional representation. They protect Republican members of Congress who may have faced a challenging reelection, and show the impact of years of efforts by the Supreme Court to carve away chunks of the Voting Rights Act.

Just in: Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath says shes disappointed a judge ruled in favor of a map drawn by an extremist few Republicans but that she plans to run in the newly drawn 6th District on metro Atlantas west side if they stand. Too much is at stake to stand down. #gapol https://t.co/D5JrnO2WH5 pic.twitter.com/i1skspAd1M  Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) December 28, 2023

U.S. District Judge Steven Jones, who issued todays ruling, had ordered the legislature to draw new maps earlier this year after finding that its 2021 redistricting diluted the strength of Black voters.

In response to his order, Georgias Republican-controlled legislature created an obvious partisan gerrymander, Jones wrote. But it was not a racial gerrymander, he found, and the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that such aggressive partisan gerrymanders are allowed.

[T]he committee and floor debate transcripts make clear that the General Assembly

created the 2023 Remedial Congressional Plan in a manner that politically

protected the majority party (i.e., the Republican Party) as much as possible, wrote Jones, an Obama appointee. However, redistricting decisions by a legislative body with an eye toward securing partisan advantage does not alone violate Section 2, he wrote, citing Rucho v. Common Cause, a recent Supreme Court ruling on Section 2.

[T]he Supreme Court has expressly stated that 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 decisions, Jones wrote.

The decision was largely silent on a key issue that both friends and foes of the VRA have been watching closely: whether a district in which white voters are a minority, but in which no group is a majority, constitutes a protected, majority-minority district under the law. One such district was McBaths, which was controlled by a minority coalition of Black, Latino and Asian voters.

Jones sidestepped that question, saying it was not a part of the dispute at hand.

From its onset, however, this case has been about Black voters, Jones wrote, adding in a footnote that question of how coalitions of multiple minority groups should be handled would be better suited for a separate case.

Civil rights groups may appeal Jones ruling.

Meanwhile, a separate case out of Galveston County, Texas is winding its way through federal court, seeking an answer to a similar set of questions about coalition districts. Kate Riga wrote about that suit in her roundup of attacks on the VRA yesterday.

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Former President Donald Trump listens as he speaks with reporters while in flight on his plane after a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport, in Waco, Texas, March 25, 2023, while en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

The campaign to have former President Donald Trump removed from the ballot over his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election has kicked into high gear, with decisions in two states, Maine and Colorado, barring him from the primary ballots.

Challenges are still underway in many more states, based on an obscure clause of a constitutional amendment enacted after the Civil War that disqualifies government officials who engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding office.

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Over the years, the courts and Congress have done little to clarify how that criterion should apply, adding urgency to the calls for the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the politically explosive dispute before the upcoming election.

Heres what to know about the challenges.

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Which states have already decided the matter?

The Maine secretary of state said Thursday that Trump did not qualify for the Republican primary ballot there because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She agreed with a handful of citizens who claimed that he had incited an insurrection and was thus barred from seeking the presidency again under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

In a written decision, the secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, said that while no one in her position had ever barred a candidate from the ballot based on Section 3 of the amendment, no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.

Hours later, the secretary of state in California announced that Trump would remain on the ballot in the nations most populous state, where election officials have limited power to remove candidates.

In Colorado, the state Supreme Court decided last week in a 4-3 ruling that the former president should not be allowed to appear on the primary ballot there because he engaged in insurrection. The ruling did not address the general election.

The justices in Colorado said that if their ruling were to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, then Trump would be allowed to remain on the ballot until the high court decided the matter. The Colorado secretary of state has said that she will follow whatever order is in place on Jan. 5, when the state must certify ballots for the election.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Republican Party said it had asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the Colorado decision.

In Michigan and Minnesota, the courts have ruled that election officials cannot prevent the Republican Party from including Trump on their primary ballots. But both decisions left the door open for new challenges to bar him from the general election ballot.

Where else are there challenges to Donald Trumps appearing on the ballot?

Lawsuits seeking to remove Trump from the ballot were filed in about 30 states, but many have been dismissed; there are active lawsuits in 14 states, according to a database maintained by Lawfare, a website about legal and national security issues.

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Those states are: Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. (A judge has dismissed the Arizona suit but the dismissal is being appealed.)

What are the challenges about?

At the heart of the disqualification efforts is the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which was adopted in 1868 and has a section that disqualifies former government officials who have betrayed their oaths by engaging in insurrection or rebellion from holding office. The provision, Section 3, was intended to bar Confederate officials from serving in the U.S. government.

The provision specifically says that anyone who served as an officer of the United States, took an oath to support the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion shall not hold any government office. It includes a provision that Congress can waive the prohibition with a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.

With the legal challenges mounting, the U.S. Supreme Court is widely expected to take up the issue, and experts say the scope of the decision would determine if the challenges are quickly handled or play out for months.

Ashraf Ahmed, a professor at Columbia Law School who studies election law, said that if the Supreme Court heard the case, it could avoid delving into the weightiest matters, like defining Section 3. Instead, he said, the justices might issue a ruling largely on procedural grounds.

What states might decide the matter next?

A decision is expected soon in Oregon, where the same group that filed the Michigan lawsuit, Free Speech for People, is seeking to have the state Supreme Court remove Trump from the primary ballot there. In that case, the secretary of state has asked the court to expedite its consideration of the case because she must finalize the primary ballot by March 21.

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John C. Bonifaz, the president of Free Speech for People, said the group planned to file new challenges in other states soon, though he declined to share which states.

Free Speech for People has also directly asked the top election officials in all 50 states, as well as in Washington, D.C., to remove Trump from the ballots in those states.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has launched four billboards in Iowa attacking Republican presidential candidates for their anti-history record as they spend the weekend campaigning in the Hawkeye state.

The billboards, which will be in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, come as Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley faces criticism over her remarks at a town hall event in New Hampshire in which she failed to mention slavery was the cause of the Civil War.

The former South Carolina governor suggested the cause of the war was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do. She later claimed the voter who asked her the question was a Democrat plant.

The ads the DNC is launching target Haley for her comments, as well as the records of her fellow GOP candidates Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Trump. The three currently top the GOP primary field in the state, according to Decision Desk HQ and The Hills aggregation of polls.

We are at a pivotal and dangerous moment for American democracy: Voters are looking on at a GOP primary with three frontrunners who are so subsumed by the MAGA takeover of their party that they are campaigning on an agenda to whitewash slavery, ban books, and tell bold-faced lies about our history, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika said in a statement.

The billboards feature a photo of Haley, DeSantis and Trump and say MAGAs America includes whitewashing slavery, erasing history, banning books and parroting Hitler.

In the first presidential debate in the 2020 election cycle, Trump declined to condemn white supremacists and far-right groups. He later went back on his comments and said he has condemned all white supremacists many times.

In separate campaign events this month, Trump claimed migrants were poisoning the blood of our country. Critics have said the remark echoes the rhetoric of Adolf Hitler, who wrote in Mein Kampf that German blood was being poisoned by Jews. The former president later denied that he intended any racist sentiment with his comments and said he is not a student of Hitler.

Under DeSantiss leadership, Florida became the first in a wave of red states to enact laws that make it easier for parents to challenge what books school libraries carry, a push that has been particularly centered around books that depict race and LGBTQ history and issues.

DeSantis has also faced criticism in response to Floridas revised educational guidelines on teaching slavery, which tell teachers to instruct students on how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. The governor has defended the guidelines, saying the backlash against him is in bad faith.

Haley will make stops in Dubuque, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City over the coming days. DeSantis will make an appearance in Davenport before hosting a meet-and-greet with Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in Elkader this week.

The Republican presidential candidates are likely to continue campaigning in the early-voting state, as the Iowa caucuses begin in less than a month on Jan. 15.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Every kind of animal is vulnerable to plastic waste discarded by humans.

The Times of India reported in 2022 about a study that documented the rescue of two snakes that ate various single-use plastic items. Doctoral student Dikansh Parmar of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University published the paper in Brazils Phyllomedusa, hoping to raise awareness about single-use plastic.

In one case, a rat snake regurgitated five baby rats  and a handful of pill bottles.

I went to attend a snake rescue call at Vesu and while trying to rescue the snake, it spewed empty plastic bottles while trying to escape, Parmar told the Times. A total of five bottles it spewed.

The other serpent, a trinket snake, had eaten the magnetic tape of an audio cassette. It was fed two live mice and excreted the 23-foot coiled tape two days later.

On a snake rescue call, I noticed a piece of the tape coming out from its anus. I tried to remove it, but it was not coming out easily, Parmar said. Due to timely action, I could save the lives of both the snakes, but how many animals and birds die when they do not get help?

Also last year, a dead crocodile with plastic in its stomach was found at an Indian national park, marking the areas ninth unnatural croc death in 27 months. In Thailand over the last five years, a deer, dugong, and whale were found with so much plastic in their stomachs or intestines that it killed them. This year, a bear in Colorado and a whale in Hawaii suffered the same fate.

Single-use plastic is such a menace in India that it has been banned. The state of Tamil Nadu previously successfully enacted a similar law, but people have not completely stopped using the dirty energy-sourced products. Only China and the United States produce more disposable plastic waste, according to The New York Times.

To decrease your consumption of single-use plastics, you can rely on cloth bags, buy a metal razor, switch to a reusable water bottle, and take advantage of dissolvable laundry and dishwasher pods.

All of these steps and more will help you do your part to keep toxic waste from reaching the environment and save countless animals.

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AUSTIN (Texas Tribune)  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.

KXAN Investigates: New Texas DEI law closes campus LGBTQ+ centers. Heres the student impact

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.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The divorced couple who went viral for falling back in love 7 years later are officially re-married. Here's how they planned their romantic ceremony in 20 days.

Roughly 27 years after their first wedding, a divorced Cincinnati couple has tied the knot again.

Daughter Rachel Gaede has been documenting their unique love story, which went viral earlier this month.

Here's how the intimate, emotional ceremony came together in just 20 days.

Roughly 27 years after their first wedding  which ended in a somewhat contentious divorce  Cincinnati couple Julie Shore and Scott Gaede, both 54, remarried in an intimate ceremony on Thursday attended only by their two daughters, Rachel and Caroline.

The couple and their unique love story had previously gone viral. Last week, the two recounted to Business Insider their reconciliation 7 years later, having found their way back to one another after a rapid succession of family tragedies and milestones.

A cousin, Cameron, who served as the ring-bearer at Julie and Scott's first wedding, was chosen to officiate. Julie told BI she didn't want a stranger performing the ceremony, which she envisioned as an intimate testament to the perseverance of their family  even as hundreds of thousands of fans have followed the journey on daughter Rachel's TikTok account.

"Despite the fact she's blasted it all over the internet, this is a very intimate moment for our family, and it's important that we value it as a unit," Julie said.

The wedding date was chosen based on Julie's hairdresser's availability

Scott proposed to the whole family last Christmas, first asking permission from Julie's 98-year-old mother and then giving daughters Rachel, 24, and Caroline, 20, their own rings containing stones from Julie's original engagement ring.

Julie told BI she initially envisioned a destination wedding somewhere warm. But this fall, she felt a renewed sense of urgency to make things official after her mother suffered a health setback and hearing about the fatal shooting that occurred at UNC Chapel Hill in August, where Caroline goes to school. When her notoriously busy hairdresser texted an appointment reminder for December 28, it was settled.

"I had a moment of, 'We just need to make it official,'" Julie told BI. "'We need to be a family in every way right now.' And so we've just mobilized."

In recent weeks, they've been planning the event "on the fly" in just 20 days, Julie said  though she also has plans for a larger gathering for the extended family in the future.

'Everyone wept their eyeballs out'

The ceremony took place in the window-filled hallway of a local theater, Rachel told BI, and her parents wrote their own vows, adding that her dad had some anxiety about delivering without crying in front of everyone.

"Everyone wept their eyeballs out," Rachel confirmed on TikTok.

Julie told BI her dress was "reminiscent" of her first wedding gown, but with a shorter, "second wedding vibe." She also selected blue satin mini-dresses for her daughters, and Rachel did Julie's makeup for the big day.

On TikTok, after the ceremony was complete, Rachel joked that her life was like "The Parent Trap," the 1998 film where two daughters scheme to reunite their divorced parents, and viewers were also touched and tickled by the cinematic love story.

"Wait, so all that trauma was for nothing?!" one joked. "This is my royal wedding," another added.

"Thanks for taking the time to share this journey with us strangers," a third commenter said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Dog shelters may be forced to put XL Bullies down if they have not been rehomed by New Year's Eve

Animal charities and rescue groups are in a race against time to rehome abandoned XL Bully dogs before New Years Eve, when the ban on the breed will mean the organisations have to put them down.

Rishi Sunak announced in September that American XL Bullies would be banned by the end of the year, after a spate of fatal attacks.

From Sunday, it will be illegal to sell, breed or give away an XL Bully-type dog and it will be an offence to own one from Feb 1 unless the animal is registered to the Index of Exempted Dogs.

The RSPCA said that they had until New Years Eve to rehome the animals, with any XL Bullies remaining in their care having to be put down.

Dr Sam Gaines, of the animal charity, said: We are unfortunately facing a deadline of New Years Eve.

If we cannot rehome the XL Bullies that are in our care that are ready to be rehomed, we are going to be in the unfortunate situation that they are going to have to be put to sleep.

She said the charity is working very hard to rehome the breed in time but admitted that abandoned XL Bullies are still being sent to their centres.

The charity estimated that as many as 200 XL Bullies are in the care of the charity sector, but the figure could be higher.

Not all dogs ready to be rehomed

In a statement, the RSPCA said that not all of the dogs in our care are ready to be rehomed before the deadline, due to behavioural or medical reasons, and its heartbreaking for the staff and volunteers who have been caring for them.

Sadly, as a charity which rescues animals from cruelty and neglect, some of the dogs in our care would not be able to be safely rehomed due to the traumas they have suffered.

We do not have an exact number and are unlikely to know for some time due to a number of dogs still awaiting assessment from police dog liaison officers and court cases to conclude.

We believe it could be as many as 200 across the charity sector and local authority dog wardens are likely to have more as they deal with stray dogs, which can no longer be rehomed.

The RSPCA has previously expressed concern about what support will be offered by Government to rescue centres to fulfil the requirements of this ban, which will be very difficult for staff and vets to carry out.

Local shelters and rescue groups have also seen a rise in the number of the soon-to-be-banned pets being abandoned and ending up in their care.

The RSPCA estimates that as many as 200 XL bullies are in the care of charities and dog shelters

Michelle Jordan, who works as a volunteer for a local rescue group in Exeter, said: Up until the ban came into effect we were never asked by a council pound or vet to rescue any of these dogs because they had been abandoned.

We did not have any requests before but since October we have had about 12.

Two XL Bullies were found abandoned on the street in Cornwall, with the pair spending Christmas in kennels.

At the end of October three more XL Bully-type dogs were dumped and ended up in Cornwall Councils animal welfare team.

Dogs Trust has previously said it would not take in any more XL Bully dogs because the charity has a policy of never putting down a healthy dog.

Break for the border

Reports emerged earlier this month of some dogs being sent to Scotland for rehoming, as the new ban will only come into effect in England and Wales.

Social media posts suggested that several of the pets had been transported north of the border, adding weight to concerns that many breeders will relocate their entire operations to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Other banned dog breeds in the UK include Pit Bull Terrier and Fila Brasileiro.

From Sunday, it will be for rehoming centres to decide whether to apply for a certificate of exemption to keep the dogs, or to have them euthanised by a vet.

Rescue organisations will be able to claim 100 from the Government towards the cost of getting the dogs euthanised.

A Defra spokesman said that XL Bully dogs pose an unacceptable risk to the public and that the Government had acted decisively in enacting the ban.

We are working closely with charities and rehoming centres to safely manage any XL Bully dogs in their care, and we will provide financial support for any that have to put XL Bully dogs down.

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Cook County Jails processing center at 27th and California in Chicago on July 21, 2022. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Relatives of a Cook County Jail inmate who died Monday are calling on the Illinois State Police to complete a full and fair investigation of his death in custody.

Michael OConnor, 33, was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead Monday at Mount Sinai Hospital.

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While representatives of Cook County Sheriff Tom Darts office said Tuesday that no foul play was suspected in OConnors death, Michael OConnors brother, Martin, released a statement Thursday claiming his brothers body showed signs of being beaten.

In his statement, Martin OConnor said that Michael OConnor had been treated terribly in custody.

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The family was able to view pictures of Michaels body at the funeral home, and there is evidence of bruising to his face and body consistent with an assault, according to OConnors statement.

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 >

He called on the Illinois State Police to complete a full and fair investigation of his brothers death.

[ Cook County Jail inmate dead after found unresponsive in cell ]

An autopsy performed Tuesday failed to turn up a cause of death, with results pending a law enforcement investigation. The state polices Public Integrity Task Force is investigating.

The family has hired attorney Michael Gallagher to represent them.

A spokesperson from Darts office on Thursday extended condolences to the OConnor family in a statement and repeated that there is no evidence of foul play in the unfortunate death of Michael OConnor.

OConnor was awaiting trial on multiple felonies after he was arrested in June and accused of threatening a Chicago police officer and sending her explicit content, according to court documents.

He was held in jail on a $100,000 deposit bond that was issued shortly before cash bail was abolished in Illinois.

Records show that a judge in October ordered Michael to undergo a psychiatric examination. A hearing on whether he was fit to stand trial was scheduled for Jan. 12, per court documents.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is threatening to sue Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott over new legislation allowing local law enforcement to arrest migrants crossing the southern border into the US.

In a letter from the Biden administration to Mr Abbotts office, the federal government announced its intention to sue to enjoin the enforcement of SB 4 unless Texas agrees to refrain from enforcing the law, CNN reported.

The DOJ claims the new law  Senate Bill 4  violates the US constitution.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, who authored the letter, said the government is committed tosecuring the border but that the Texas statute is contrary to these goals.

Mr Abbott voiced his frustration with the letter on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.

The Biden Admin not only refuses to enforce current US immigration laws, they now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration, he said in a post.

Ive never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America. Biden is destroying America. Texas is trying to save it.

Under the new law, law enforcement officials will be granted powers to arrest and deport migrants who illegally enter Texas.

Repeat offenders are punishable by up to 20 years in prison  something that critics have deried as the most draconian anti-immigrant measure passed in more than a decade.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande and entered the US from Mexico on 19 October 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in an effort to stop the state from rolling out the legislation, which is due to take effect in March.

Governor Abbotts efforts to circumvent the federal immigration system and deny people the right to due process is not only unconstitutional, but also dangerously prone to error, and will disproportionately harm Black and Brown people regardless of their immigration status, Anand Balakrishnan, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project said.

The Justice Departments latest warning to Mr Abbott is far from the first spat between the Biden administration and the Texas governor.

Earlier this year, the federal government sued Mr Abbotts administration over the use of a floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande River  something that human rights groups slammed as inhumane.

The DOJ said that Mr Abbott did not have jurisdiction over the border land.

A ruling has not yet been made on the suit.

In August, a migrants body was found attached to the barrier.

Officials from the US and Mexico are expected to hold talks in Washington DC about the border next month.
The Biden administration on Thursday threatened to sue Texas if it moves forward with a new anti-illegal immigration law signed this month by Gov. Greg Abbott  but the Republican governor says he is prepared to take the fight to the Supreme Court.

Abbott signed the legislation, SB 4, this month, which allows law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants and allows state judges to order them removed from the country.

In a letter to Abbott, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, the Department of Justice says it will "pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government."

TEXAS IMMIGRATION LAW PUSHBACK MARKS LATEST TENSION BETWEEN BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND BORDER STATES OVER CRISIS

The letter says that the law "intrudes into a field that is occupied by the federal government and is preempted," citing a 2012 Supreme Court ruling, U.S. v Arizona, which found that the federal government has the power to enforce immigration law, according to the outlet.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is pictured during a panel discussion at the Yale Club in Manhattan on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Abbotts office said Texas was prepared to go to the nations highest court in defense of the legislation.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"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," spokesperson Renae Eze said. "President Bidens deliberate and dangerous inaction at our southern border has left Texas to fend for itself. Governor 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."

TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT SIGNS BILL MAKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A STATE CRIME

The legal battle is the latest clash between Abbott and the Biden administration over the illegal immigrant crisis at the border, of which Texas has been on the front line. Abbott has accused the Biden administration of failing to secure the border, while the administration has accused Abbott of promoting inhumane policies at the border.

Last week a federal appeals court temporarily blocked the Biden administration from cutting razor wire set up by Texas earlier this year. The state had sued in October and had been rebuffed by a federal judge, but the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals barred the Biden administration from damaging, destroying, or otherwise interfering with Texass [concertina wire] fence in the vicinity of Eagle Pass, Texas" unless it is for a medical emergency.

Separately, the DOJ has sued Texas over its deployment of buoys in the Rio Grande to stop illegal crossings. Texas says the buoys are designed to save lives by preventing people from entering the river, but humanitarian groups and the DOJ argue the barrier poses a safety risk.

The White House has also criticized Abbott for his moves to bus migrants to "sanctuary" cities, including Chicago and New York City, which Abbott says is necessary to relieve overwhelmed border communities.

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT BLOCKS BIDEN ADMIN FROM REMOVING TEXAS' RAZOR WIRE AT SOUTHERN BORDER

"We believe that Gov. Abbott's policies and political stunts are not safe, not safe for Texas communities and our CBP, our law enforcement on the ground who are trying to do their work. It puts them in harm's way, and they dehumanize and demonize immigrants. That's what his political stunts do," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last week.

The threat of a new lawsuit comes as the border is again seeing record numbers at the border. 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.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Biden administration including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday to discuss the migration crisis in the hemisphere.





Original article source: DOJ threatens to sue Texas over anti-illegal immigration law; Abbott prepared for Supreme Court fight
These weapons and narcotics were seized Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, at a residence on Nottingham Drive in Colonial Heights. Police arrested the homeowner.

COLONIAL HEIGHTS  A city man is under arrest after police confiscated what they called a large cache of weapons and narcotics at his Sherwood Hills residence.

Joshua Jernigan, 39, was charged after officers responded to an early morning call Wednesday of domestic violence and gun-wielding at a residence in the 300 block of Nottingham Drive, according to a Colonial Heights Police statement. The discovery of the items came after investigators got a search warrant for Jernigans house.

The subsequent search of the home resulted in the recovery of a large cache of firearms, several military ballistic vests and ballistic helmets, narcotics, and items indicative of the distribution of narcotics, the statement read.

This photo shows some of the ballistic helmets and gear police seized Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, at a residence on Nottingham Drive in Colonial Heights. The owner of the residence was arrested.

Police charged Jernigan with domestic assault and battery, brandishing a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a Schedule 1 or 2 narcotic with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm while in possession of a Schedule 1 or 2 narcotic, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation unfolds, police said.

Jernigan is being held without bond at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County pending a court appearance.

The Virginia State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the recovery of the items, police said.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Guns, drugs seized at residence in Colonial Heights; man arrested
WASHINGTON  After a year of legal challenges, former President Donald Trump  and the rest of the political world  face unprecedented unknowns in 2024.

A dozen months from now, Trump could be on his way back to the White House. He could also be a convicted felon facing a prison sentence.

Trump's legal and political worlds have collided in recent months. Last week, for example, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump ineligible for office because of the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, potentially keeping him off the ballot in the state. While Trump hasn't been criminally charged with inciting the Capitol riot, he does face both state and federal charges over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 race for the White House.

Trump and his aides have expressed confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will reverse the Colorado ruling. But they have also said that, while Trump's support in polls has increased amid indictments in four different cases in 2023, his legal problems could undercut his presidential campaign in 2024.

"Theyre weaponizing law enforcement for high-level election interference," Trump told supporters during an evidence-free rant in Reno, Nevada.

As voters prepare to weigh in during the upcoming Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, Trump and his rivals, including President Joe Biden, operate in a fog of uncertainty.

Here are the questions they'll face in the new year:

Donald Trump

Will Trump go to trial in 2024? What if he's convicted?

Trump and his legal team are pursuing pretrial motions that could, in theory, delay the starts of all four criminal trials past Election Day on Nov. 5.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, based in Washington, had scheduled a March trial on federal charges that Trump attempted to steal the 2020 election from Biden. Trump's attorneys, however, claim he's immune from prosecution for actions taken as president. They are engaged in an appeal process that could reach the Supreme Court, delaying the proceedings.

The timing of the Washington election case could also affect the schedule in New York, where Trump faces charges related to hush money payments before the 2016 election. That trial is scheduled to start in late March, but that could well slip.

The Trump team is also engaged in maneuvering in Florida, where the former business mogul is charged with mishandling classified information, and in Georgia, where he is accused of breaking state conspiracy laws in trying to overturn his loss to Biden in the Peach State.

If any of these cases do get to trial, Trump will have to attend in person  and be off the campaign trail. There's also a chance he'll become the Republican presidential nominee as he's facing four sets of criminal trials.

One of Trump's Republican opponents, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said earlier this month the indictments altered the race in 2023 because so many Republican voters thought they were unfair and rallied around the former president.

"I would say if I could have one thing change, I wish Trump hadn't been indicted on any of this stuff...it distorted the primary," DeSantis told the Christian Broadcast Network. "It also just crowded out, I think so much other stuff. And it's sucked out a lot of oxygen."

But perhaps the biggest question in an already certain year: What if Trump is convicted as he seeks a second term in office? While the former president has gained support from his political base over his indictments, there is evidence convictions would change the minds of some Trump voters.

A recent Wall Street Journal poll that gave Trump a 4% lead over Biden in a 2024 matchup also said that "a felony conviction for Trump ... would shift the head-to-head ballot to give Biden a slight, 1-point lead, within the polls margin of error."

Whether Trump is found guilty or innocent, or his trials are delayed, a former president facing criminal proceedings while seeking reelection will certainly mark a new element for the nation's voters.

Will Trump's support hold?

Throughout 2023, the procession of indictments against the former president appeared to help him, at least with Republican poll respondents nationally.

Now that 2024 is approaching, actual voters in specific states will weigh in on Trump's White House bid.

Trump is a huge favorite in Iowa, with big leads over DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Things are more up in the air in New Hampshire, where Haley is challenging Trump for the lead in various polls. Haley won a key endorsement from New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, and both are making issues of Trump's tribulations.

"She's a new generation of conservative leadership who can help leave behind the chaos and the drama of the past," Sununu said in a Haley television ad running in New Hampshire.

All of this raises more questions for candidates and voters. What happens if Haley beats Trump in New Hampshire? Would that give the former United Nations ambassador enough momentum heading into Haley's home state of South Carolina, which holds a primary on Feb. 24?

One thing seems certain: If Trump experiences primary losses as well as legal setbacks, expect the former president to lash out even more.

"It means we're going to have the meanest, most vicious campaign in modern times," said pollster Frank Luntz.

Will Trump debate?

Trump risked some political support in 2023 by deciding to skip all four of the Republican presidential primary debates. While rivals decried his absence as cowardly, Trump did not appear to suffer among his backers.

According to a Real Clear Politics average of national polls of Republican voters, the former president leads DeSantis, in second place, by more than 50 percentage points.

Now the question is whether he will skip planned debates in Iowa and New Hampshire ahead of the contests in the crucial early voting states.

The debates could spotlight an issue that Trump also faces in 2024: His rhetoric.

In recent months, Trump has made comments that echo 20th-century fascists, describing opponents as "vermin," denouncing migrants for "poisoning the blood" of the country and outlining plans to inject more partisan politics into governing. Even if Trump doesn't participate in primary debates in 2024, they could give his rivals a stage to target his controversial commentary.

What new revelations will there be about Trump?

It's not just criminal cases dogging Trump. There are civil lawsuits too.

Jan. 15, the same day as the Iowa caucuses, is the scheduled start date for a defamation damages trial involving writer E. Jean Carroll, who was another part of Trump's now-historic year.

In May, Carroll won a $5 million award against Trump for defamation and sexual abuse stemming from an incident in the 1990s.

The Carroll trial, and any of the criminal trials, could generate new accusations against Trump while he is campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination.

Trump is also awaiting a ruling on damages in a civil bank fraud trial that soaked up his time this year. Judge Arthur Engoron, who has found Trump liable for fraud by inflating the value of his real estate assets, is expected to assess damages that could gut large parts of Trump's business empire.

What will be the surprises?

In past presidential campaigns, officials have speculated about the "October Surprise," the last-month development that could shift votes down the stretch.

This time around, Republican political consultant Liz Mair said there could be monthly or even weekly surprises.

"There isn't anything predictable," said Mair, who opposes Trump. "Get ready for a roller coaster type of year."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Donald Trump go to trial next year? Will he be nominated in 2024?
Want to welcome 2024 with a bang? Then head over to Delray Beach for some fireworks this New Year's Eve.

WEST PALM BEACH  As Palm Beach County prepares to ring in the new year, local police agencies have a warning: Keep your firearms locked away.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the West Palm Beach Police Department have issued reminders ahead of the New Year's holiday that celebratory gunfire in Florida is illegal.

West Palm Beach police said that additional officers will be on patrol through the holiday, with the department putting a zero-tolerance policy in place for any people caught engaging in celebratory gunfire.

"While it may be culturally accepted in some countries, celebratory gunfire  shooting guns into the air to celebrate holidays  is not only dangerous, but illegal in Florida. Falling bullets can injure and kill," city police said in a statement Wednesday.

New Year's Eve in Palm Beach County: 6 best events to celebrate

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about 80 percent of injuries from falling bullets are to the heads, shoulders and feet of the people hit.

A woman in Delray Beach was wounded in the final moments of 2019 when she was struck in the right leg by what police said appeared to have been a bullet fired into the air as the clock struck midnight to ring in 2020.

Diane Harris told The Palm Beach Post in an interview days later that she initially was unaware of what happened, with those around her thinking she may have been hit by either a broken glass bottle or a firework.

Harris said a person in the ambulance driving her to the hospital told her she had been shot. She cautioned about the dangers of celebrating with gunfire.

"It may be fun for them to shoot off a gun," Harris said, "but you can really ruin someone's life."

New Year's weather: Winter plunges into South Florida this weekend. Cold enough for 'frozen' iguanas?

West Palm Beach police noted that bullets fired into the air also have the potential to cause property damage.

Police said the hood of a car was struck Tuesday in what appeared to be an act of celebratory gunfire in the area of Village Boulevard. The city uses the ShotSpotter sound detection system, which allows officers to pinpoint the location of gunfire within the city.

While gunfire is prohibited, there are other ways to celebrate the new year. Under Florida law, the use of fireworks is permitted on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and the Fourth of July.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: No New Year's Eve gunfire: It's illegal in Florida, police say
Speaking about Russias large-scale attack on Ukraine on 29 December, US President Joe Biden has emphasised that Congress must act quickly to approve more aid for Kyiv.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the White House

Details: The American president stressed that the most recent Russian attack is "a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putins objective remains unchanged. He seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people."

"He [Putin - ed.] must be stopped," Biden insisted.

He mentioned the assistance provided by the US and its allies in bolstering Ukraine's air defence and shielding it from numerous missiles and drone strikes.

Quote: "But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defence systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay."

Details: Biden added that Russias full-scale war against Ukraine affects the whole of NATO, the security of Europe, and the future of transatlantic relations.

"Putin has not just attempted to destroy Ukraine; he has threatened some of our NATO Allies as well. When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly," he said.

Background:

On the night of 28-29 December, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities were hit.

As of 19:30, it was reported that the massive Russian strike on 29 December resulted in approximately 30 deaths and over 160 injured, according to Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs.

The shelling has been condemned by a number of European countries.

On 29 December, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held a telephone conversation with Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, from the Foreign Ministrys bomb shelter during the air-raid alert.

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EXETER  A Dover woman who was arrested for allegedly selling a fatal dose of cocaine to a 52-year-old man in July will not face a life sentence, prosecutors said.

Ashley Holt, 40, was indicted this month on two counts of selling cocaine, including one count of selling the drug within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Both charges are Class A felonies, each carrying a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.

Holt was initially charged by Exeter police with the sale of a controlled drug with death resulting. The penalty for that charge is a life sentence in prison in New Hampshire.

Ashley Holt

Prosecutors, however, filed a notice to dismiss the death-resulting charge in November in Rockingham Superior Court. Assistant County Attorney Roger Chadwick wrote in the motion the deceased mans autopsy ruled out a conviction on the charge.

Due to results of the autopsy and other findings, the state is unable to proceed to prove the death resulting charge beyond a reasonable doubt, Chadwick wrote in the Nov. 27 notice.

Previous story: Dover woman charged in fatal overdose case in Exeter posts $1,000 bail

Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway said she could not comment further because the criminal case against Holt is still open.

Holt is scheduled to be arraigned on the two indictments Jan. 19 in Rockingham Superior Court in Brentwood.

Her attorney, Paul Garrity, could not be reached for comment. However, Garrity argued at the time of her bail hearing that any cocaine Holt may have sold cannot be linked to the mans death.

Exeter police began investigating Holt the day they discovered the man unresponsive in a home on Court Street March 9 and declared him deceased at the scene. Detectives determined the death was the result of a suspected overdose, according to police.

Ashley Q. Holt, 40, was arrested and charged with two drug-related felonies on July 25.

The officers said they found the man deceased, lying on his bed with a plate, cut straw, white powder and credit card at a nearby desk, the affidavit states. A toxicology report later listed the cause of death as acute combined alcohol and cocaine toxicity.

Holt was identified through a search by police of the mans phone, which included a conversation with a contact Ashley Coco. The contact was identified through T Mobile as Holt, the affidavit stated, and they said the texts revealed the coordination of a drug sale in Exeter that night. She was arrested on the death resulting charge and a felony sale of a controlled drug charge.

Holt was released on $1,000 bail, but prosecutors originally called for her to remain in preventative detention. They said the death resulting charge was on par with first-degree murder in that it warranted detention in addition to a life sentence.

Exeter police: Man dressed as 'Grinch' crashes into Word Barn sign on Christmas

In a bail hearing, Garrity argued the police affidavit shows the cocaine sold by Holt may not have been the only amount of the drug the man consumed that night. He points to text messages from the buyer sent to Holt that state he doubted the potency of the drug. He argued the fact the customer complained indicated he may have gotten more cocaine somewhere else.

Its maybe a gram, the text to Holt read. It ain't 200 worth and I have yet to feel the feeling and Im already half-way through.

According to the indictments handed down, Holt allegedly sold the cocaine to the man March 8 near Phillips Exeter Academy. If convicted, Holt faces a jail sentence of 3 to 7 years in prison on each count.

Hampton police: Galley Hatch worker doing much better after hit by alleged drunken driver

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Prosecutors drop charge against Dover woman in fatal Exeter drug case
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Downtown Shelter Network (DSN), which is composed of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, Sacred Heart Church and the Rescue Mission of El Paso, has been struggling to project the number of migrants expected to arrive at their facilities.

Over the past few weeks, there have been steady surges of migrants arriving at the border in the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez sector, only to settle back down within days.

The number of daily migrant encounters by CBP went up to over a thousand around Thanksgiving, only to come back down to around 700-800 encounters in the first weeks of December.

Were seeing very severe fluctuations. We may see the numbers drop one day, but then the following day theyre back up on top. And so, were not seeing any consistent trends as it relates to it steadily increasing or steadily decreasing, said Deputy Director for the Opportunity Center for the Homeless John Martin.

Altogether, the DSN has approximately 440 beds and with the fluctuating number of migrants coming through the city, they have been unsure of how to plan for the short-term or long-term.

It doesnt enable us to forecast. Are we looking at an increased need? Do we need to step up or can we step down a little bit, take a breath and then wait for the next wave to come through? Were just in that period of unknown, Martin said.

With the City of El Paso opening the Community Readiness Center (CRC) last week, formerly known as Morehead Middle School, Martin said it has alleviated the DSN as they prioritize housing migrant families with women and children.

And I dont know what numbers they currently have within the shelter, but whether its 300 or 500 or 600, that is a direct benefit to the Downtown Shelter Network because in the absence of that center, that means those individuals would be coming to us.

Martin highlighted that the collaborative effort of the El Paso County and the City, along with the DSN, has allowed them to address the fluctuating flow of migrants coming in and out of the community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD)  A growing coffee brand with roots in the South is bringing two locations to West Michigan.

7 Brew Coffee is opening in Holland this spring with a stand on 16th Street near US-31, where Boston Market used to be. A Muskegon location will shortly follow on Harvey Street near Sternberg Road.

The brand already has a location open in the Traverse City area.

Operator Kody Smith said the brand, which first started in Arkansas, is rapidly growing.

23 businesses West Michigan welcomed in 2023

(It) is starting to get to the Midwest and up to Western Michigan. Were excited to be in West Michigan, its been a long time coming, he said.

The drive-thru-only coffee chain offers seven original drinks, like the German Chocolate with coconut and caramel mocha and the Brunette with hazelnut and caramel mocha, along with other coffee classics, smoothies, teas and shakes. Also on the menu are 7 energy drinks, which Smith said are customizable with more than 20,000 possible flavor combinations.

Throughout the grand opening week, 7 Brew will offer free small drinks during community hours. Smith said that will build up to swag day, an absolutely crazy day where customers can get a free T-shirt with a purchase of a large drink.

7 Brew Coffee puts an emphasis on speed, with employees coming out to take orders. Smith said the brand is also focused on cultivating kindness, starting internally with the way the staff is treated. Employees then try to give a good experience to customers.

We really do believe that that were providing a positive experience while also serving a cup of coffee, he said. We want to make peoples day, and thats what makes 7 Brew different.

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The brand partners with local organizations for things like give-back days and fundraisers.

We try to make a positive impact in every community that were a part of, he said. (Holland and Muskegon) both are excellent candidates for us to come in and make a genuine impact, genuine connection in the community and be involved.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Falling debris from an intercepted Russian drone caused a fire to break out at a high-rise building in Odesa on Dec. 28, Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

Russian forces launched attack drones at Odesa Oblast late at night on Dec. 28. Ukrainian air defense units shot down one of the drones, causing debris to strike a high-rise building and start a fire.

Kiper said that casualties and details of the damage are still under investigation.

Kiper also urged residents to remain sheltered, as the attack is ongoing, and air defense is still at work in Odesa Oblast.

An overnight drone attack on Dec. 27 killed two people and injured three others, including a teenager.

Read also: Ukraines 2023 in photos

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island in June 2017. The proposed Icebreaker Wind project in Lake Erie off the shore of Ohio was expected to look similar to this offshore wind farm. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe)

Before millions of Americans installed solar roofs, before towering wind turbines became a common sight in Midwestern skies, before electric car giant Tesla rolled out its first sedan, there was Icebreaker.

Small but seemingly unstoppable, the Cleveland clean energy project fought for 14 years to become the first offshore wind farm on the Great Lakes.

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Along the way, there were victories: Icebreaker Wind secured a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and won a case before the Ohio Supreme Court.

But a few weeks ago, the Icebreaker team finally admitted defeat, with an announcement that the project had been indefinitely suspended due, in part, to lack of funding.

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We just dont have a path forward right now, said William Friedman, a board member at the nonprofit behind Icebreaker, the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp.

The fall of Icebreaker is a blow for those who dream of clean energy flowing in from the Great Lakes, which have the potential to supply electricity to millions of homes.

But experts and Icebreaker insiders told the Tribune that the pioneering Icebreaker project faced obstacles specific to its advancing age, relatively small size and lack of state support  obstacles that other projects, including one being considered in Illinois, could potentially avoid.

The Illinois wind farm  proposed in February for Lake Michigan in a bill that notes the potential benefits of a Chicago location  would be larger than Icebreaker and could benefit from strong state support for clean energy.

Chicago probably could lead the way, and in some ways is leading the way in the race to build the first Great Lakes wind farm, said Walt Musial, chief engineer for offshore wind energy at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

[ Lawmaker pushes for Chicago to join the race for 1st offshore wind farm on the Great Lakes: This is not pie-in-the-sky. ]

The Illinois bill, the Rust Belt to Green Belt Act, passed in the House and is under consideration in the Senate.

Some people think this is (just) a cute little thing were doing for energy, said state Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, who introduced the bill in the House. But he sees the quest for a Lake Michigan wind farm as part of a global clean energy transition.

Were building the infrastructure to power the world, Evans said.

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The Icebreaker era

From a clean energy perspective, offshore wind is better wind: faster and more consistent, with a smoother flow, according to Gregory Nemet, a professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

You get less electricity out of the same turbine on land, Nemet said. Its just the difference between having the smooth surface you have on water versus hills and buildings and terrain that introduce turbulence.

And the advantages of offshore wind dont stop there.

With wind turbines getting bigger, developers can avoid daunting transportation challenges, such as fitting huge trucks under bridges. Offshore turbines can be built at specialized ports and hauled directly to installation sites by barge.

[ The Port of Chicago is not just a scar on the citys shoreline and a threat to the environment. Its a drag on economic growth. ]

Offshore turbines, which can be situated 15 miles or more from land, are less likely to interfere with scenic views or cause aesthetic complaints, Nemet said. And they can be placed relatively close to major population centers such as Chicago.

A view of wind turbines from Block Island, Rhode Island, is seen in 2017. (Mark Harrington/Newsday)

Icebreaker would have benefited from such advantages, as well as the $50 million Department of Energy grant. For a while, there was also a partnership with a big Norwegian wind developer.

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But Icebreaker experienced delays in 2020, when Ohio regulators added a poison pill to their approval of the $126 million, six-turbine project: The turbines would have to power down at night for eight months of the year, to limit harm to migrating birds and bats.

The poison pill was added despite testimony from state experts that a nighttime shutdown was unnecessary, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

That was a very damaging blow, said Richard Stuebi, a lecturer at Boston Universitys Questrom School of Business and the first president of the nonprofit behind Icebreaker.

The regulators backed down, but they had already delayed a project that had to meet Department of Energy timetables and deadlines to keep its funding.

Another set of delays was caused by a lawsuit filed by citizens with environmental concerns. Icebreaker emerged victorious in a 2022 Ohio Supreme Court decision, but again, valuable time was lost.

[ Ohio Supreme Court to hear arguments over state certificate to allow Icebreaker wind project on Lake Erie ]

In the end, Icebreaker essentially ran out of deadline extensions from the Department of Energy and had to forgo $37 million of its $50 million grant, according to Friedman.

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Its disappointing, Friedman said. A lot of people worked hard over the years to try to advance the project.

Still, he remains optimistic about the future of Great Lakes wind power. Great Lakes wind can supply enough electricity to power millions of homes by 2050, according to Musial.

Icebreaker would have produced enough electricity to power about 7,000 homes.

Friedman noted that the proposed Illinois wind farm could get strong state support, something that Icebreaker never obtained.

And he pointed out that Icebreaker was conceived as a relatively small demonstration project that  due to its size  couldnt pay for itself. At this point, he said, it probably makes more sense to go with a big, economically viable project.

The Illinois bill proposes a pilot project capable of generating at least 150 megawatts of electricity, while Icebreaker would have generated about 21 megawatts.

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The Illinois bill would set up a fund to help the wind project apply for federal grant money and the bill would require the state to procure electricity from at least one very large offshore wind project on Lake Michigan.

Friedman, the president and CEO of the Port of Cleveland, said he isnt aware of an equally promising Great Lakes offshore wind project.

I think with the interest thats been sparked in Illinois, you all are probably the next up to bat, he said.

Jobs, money at stake

To make a wind turbine you need to bend steel, turn screws and grind gears.

Its the stuff that the industrial Midwest has historically done, said Stuebi, and workers in this region have the right skills for the jobs that will be created.

There could also be money for the state of Illinois. On the East Coast, wind developers have paid billions of dollars for leases that allow them to build offshore wind farms.

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Most of that money has gone to the federal government, but in the Great Lakes, the states would have control over leasing.

(States) would presumably be able to keep a lot of the (lease) money, Musial said. That hasnt been worked out yet, but I would think that would be an incentive to at least look into it.

Offshore wind can serve big cities like Chicago that have large populations, relatively little available land, and few options for local, utility-scale, carbon-free electricity.

One option  referenced in the Illinois bill but not required by it  would be to locate at least part of the project, a specialized port, on the South Side of Chicago, which is already home to a major port.

Offshore wind farms have been supplying power to Europe since the 1990s, and earlier this month a Long Island wind farm became the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the United States to deliver electricity to the power grid.

I think we will see wind power on the Great Lakes, said Musial. The question is more, how much will we see, and when will it happen?

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Wind turbine tower sections, which will be transported vertically to the South Fork Wind site off Long Island in New York, are raised into place in New London, Connecticut, on Nov. 20, 2023. Orsted, a Danish company, recently began producing power for Long Island from that modest farm. (Joe Buglewicz/The New York Times)

Large floating turbines could be installed about 15 miles offshore in the Great Lakes, where the winds are good, the birds are fewer and the visual impact is minimized, Musial said.

Among the challenges: There has never been a commercial-scale floating wind farm built in waters that freeze in winter.

Sheets of ice as big as Chicago could collide with floating turbines as tall as skyscrapers, and the turbines would have to be designed to break the ice and deflect it.

Weve done design studies and it doesnt appear to be an insurmountable engineering problem, but because it hasnt been done yet, theres uncertainty about the things that might occur, Musial said.

Passing the torch

There are also regulatory issues: States would have to set rules for wind farms, perhaps by adopting federal regulations. A government report co-authored by Musial recommends forming a Great Lakes wind energy advisory group, with members drawn from government, industry, nonprofits and research institutions.

The report also recommends holding workshops to allow discussion among the affected states, set research priorities and encourage regional partnerships.

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Musial said that given the technical challenges and regulatory gaps, it will likely be at least eight to 10 years before we will see a wind turbine operating on the Great Lakes.

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I think what happens next is some kind of regional dialogue among the states that want to do this, he said.

Icebreaker could, technically, be resurrected, should a new source of funding appear. But Friedman doubts that the project, in its current form, will ever be built.

Too much time went by, he said. Thats part of the whole story of the demise. When you begin planning and designing something many, many years ago, technology changes during that time frame. Costs change. And you get to the point where you almost have to start over.

As for Illinois, Evans refrained from offering an estimate of when a wind farm could be built, saying at this point its hard to know.

He knows his next step, though: drumming up support for his bill.

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Its all about moving the ball along, he said.

nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com
Polish President Andrzej Duda has convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council after the Polish army's Operational Command said that an unidentified object had entered Poland's airspace on Dec. 29.

Russia carried out a mass attack on Ukraine the same morning, launching 158 attack drones and missiles at cities across the country. One person was killed and 24 people were injured in Lviv Oblast, which borders Poland.

According to Polish media outlet RMF24, witnesses saw the object "moving at great speed" above the village of Dolhobyczow in Lublin Voivodeship, which is less than 5 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Dolhobyczow lies 12 kilometers north of the village of Przewodow, where two people were killed in November 2022 when a Ukrainian anti-air missile hit a grain storage facility.

Investigators concluded in September 2023 that Ukrainian air defense launched two S-300 missiles with a range of 75-90 kilometers in an effort to intercept a massive Russian missile strike.

According to RMF24, there was no information about an explosion, and the object has not yet been located on Polish soil. The search is ongoing.

Read also: Police: 18 civilians killed, 132 injured in Russias morning attack on Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  State police announced DUI checkpoints will be placed for a month across various roadways in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the aim of sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols is to deter drinking and driving. Police say they are operating with a zero-tolerance enforcement policy.

Police say one or more checkpoints and roving patrols will be placed on roadways across PA for the end of December that are experiencing high rates of DUI-related traffic violations and DUI-related crashes.

DUI checkpoints result in three arrests

The counties participating in the DUI checkpoints are as follows:

Bradford County

PSP did not give details on the areas where the patrols will be conducted.

State police encourage those who are out during the weekend and choose to consume alcohol to not drive a car.

Officials warn drivers Pennsylvanias DUI laws issue a legal limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). DUI offenses can range from a $300 fine with six months of probation, all the way up to fines of $5,000 with prison sentences of up to 5 years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A fugitive wanted over the attempted importation of 100,000 of cannabis to the UK has been found in Spain.

Jesus Benito Fernandez-Asta, 55, was detained by Spanish authorities in Almeria on Thursday, after failing to appear at Lewes Crown Court in July.

Mr Fernandez-Asta was charged with conspiring to import class B drugs, being involved in the supply of class A and B drugs and money laundering.

He was arrested in August 2021 at an address on Donald Hall Road, Brighton.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), an attempt was made to import cannabis from Spain to the UK.

Blocks of resin were found in the pallet locker of a lorry by Border Force officers carrying out checks on freight at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Coquelles, northern France, in November 2020.

Extradition proceedings

After failing to appear at Lewes Crown Court in July, a warrant was issued for Mr Fernandez-Asta's arrest.

Spanish National Police officers, working on behalf of the NCA, tracked Mr Fernandez-Asta down at a residential address in the city of Almeria, southeast Spain.

Mr Fernandez-Asta will now appear in court as extradition proceedings begin.

NCA senior investigating officer Dean Wallbank said he was "delighted" Mr Fernandez-Asta was tracked down and he was "grateful" to Spanish authorities.

"No matter where fugitives try to hide we have the determination and ability to hunt them down and bring them back to face justice," Mr Wallbank said.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.
A company logo on the door at the Ellison Brewery & Spirits REO Town space on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in Lansing.

LANSING  Ellison Brewing Co. announced plans Friday to permanently close its South Washington Avenue location in REO Town.

The brewery, restaurant and private event space's last day of operation will be Saturday, according to a post on the business's Facebook page. It's one of two locations operated by owner Aaron Hanson who opened Ellison Brewing in 2015. Ellison Brewery + Spirits, located on Dawn Avenue in East Lansing, will continue to operate, according to the social media post.

"After an extensive analysis of 2023 sales, expenses, lease renewal and 2024 economic trends, we are making the decision to permanently close the REO Town location as we couldn't make the numbers work to make that location profitable," it read. "We cannot accept keeping it open and operating at a net loss. All our employees have been offered jobs in production or at the East Lansing taproom as we feel we have a great team and we want to retain them."

Hanson could not be reached for comment at either brewery location Friday afternoon.

The Ellison Brewery & Spirits REO Town space on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in Lansing.

The business extended its lease at 1314 S. Washington Ave. in REO Town into December "while we figured out what the future looks like," according to the social media post.

"We will be re-focusing on the East Lansing location, production of new products and small renovations to make our outdoor patio a green space that is more friendly in the warmer months," said the post. "The East Lansing taproom will be launching a revised menu with more handhelds, fresh cocktails, mocktails and lots of specials. We look forward to 2024 and we hope everyone has a safe NYE!"

The brewery location is among a dozen and a half eateries that closed throughout the Lansing area in 2023, amid a volatile and changed landscape in the restaurant industry.

Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ellison Brewing Co. closing its location in Lansing's REO Town
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Dogecoin creator Billy Markus both shared their negative opinions of Portland on X this week, starting a lengthy discussion about the city on social media.

The conversation started on Dec. 26 when Markus wrote the following message on X:

Whats something that used to be awesome but now is terrible? Ill start: Portland, Oregon.

Feds: Drug traffickers using Honduran nationals to funnel fentanyl into Portland

Musk, who has been politically outspoken in recent months, agreed with Markus assessment of Portland.

Yeah, what happened there? Musk added.

The social media discussion was the second time in recent months that a celebrity billionaire has taken a shot at Rose City. In September, former President Donald Trump called Portland a burned-down hulk of a city during a Meet the Press interview with NBCs Kristen Welker.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
For close to two decades, Bobbi Hudson owned two specialty retail shops in downtown Glen Ellyn.

Also a vigorous advocate for small businesses in the west suburban village, Hudson served for a time as the president of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce.

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Bobbi was a real pioneer in revitalizing downtown Glen Ellyn, said Joe Costello, who owns Costellos Jewelry in downtown Glen Ellyn. Her store was full of very unique merchandise, and she and her partner were outstanding buyers who really searched the world over for the merchandise they put in their store. There was nothing typical about her gift store.

Bobbi Hudson, who was an advocate for small businesses and a longtime merchant in Glen Ellyn. (Hudson family)

Hudson, 89, died of complications from dementia on Nov. 29 at her home in Peoria, Arizona, said her husband of 68 years, Jim. She had lived full time in Arizona since 2014 and previously had homes in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn.

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Born Roberta Baumgartner in Milwaukee, Hudson graduated from Shorewood High School in Shorewood, a Milwaukee suburb. She then earned an associate degree from Stephens College in Missouri in 1954.

Hudson and her husband were high school sweethearts. They married in 1955 and moved to Wheaton in 1960 for a job transfer of his. Even as a homemaker, Hudson had had something of an entrepreneurial bent, teaming up with two friends to start a small business from her basement, Wreaths and Trimmings, in which they produced custom-made holiday wreaths.

Around 1982, Hudson began working for a store in downtown Glen Ellyn, Daffy Down Dilly, that had opened in 1980 and specialized in gifts and decorative accessories. Named after a nursery rhyme, the store initially was located inside Cottingtons Interiors, a downtown Glen Ellyn furniture store. Soon, the store relocated to a separate building to the north, and Hudson eventually became a half-owner and then the stores sole owner.

She was really up and coming, and kind of an innovator when it came to her business, said Doug Herwaldt, the longtime owner of Pauls Shoe Service in downtown Glen Ellyn, a neighboring business. It was really good for our town  her store brought a lot of people in from all over, and it was a classy store. So being next to her really made me feel good, knowing that she was bringing a lot of people into town and I was bringing a lot of people into town.

Hudson eventually headed Glen Ellyns Chamber of Commerce.

People in this community are interested in keeping the downtown viable and are loyal to local merchants, Hudson told the Tribune in 1987.

Costello called Hudson a catalyst in the community for keeping Glen Ellyn viable.

She was really a pro-community merchant, Costello said.

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Kimberly Oldis, who owned Kimberlys Flower Shop in Glen Ellyn from 1986 until 2000, remembered Hudson as a great inspiration and mentor to a lot of first-time business owners.

She took me under her wing, introduced me to the chamber and got me involved in the village, said Oldis, who now is based in Seattle. She was a real genteel, wonderful lady who loved Glen Ellyn.

Hudsons husband said his wife had fantastic color perception in selecting merchandise for her store.

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She always seemed to be a year or so ahead of things that were popular or fashionable, he said. So I think that was part of what her success was.

In 1994, Hudson sold Daffy Down Dilly to another woman and decided to open a new store, Knickers, in an adjacent space. Hudson ran Knickers, which was a bra-fitting and lingerie boutique, until selling it in 1999.

Hudson and her husband retired in 1999, and they began spending more time in Arizona. During retirement, she enjoyed attending art shows, entertaining, playing cards and dominoes, going out to dinner and shopping, her husband said.

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In addition to her husband, Hudson is survived by three daughters, Susie Wall, Nancy Hudson and Kathryn Shaw; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were held.

Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.

To purchase a death notice, visit https://placeanad.chicagotribune.com/death-notices. To suggest a staff-written obituary on a person of local interest, email chicagoland@chicagotribune.com.
By Mrinmay Dey

(Reuters) - Elon Musk's X on Thursday failed to block a California state law that requires social media companies to publicly disclose how they moderate certain content on their platforms.

X, formerly known as Twitter, in September sued California to undo the content moderation law, saying the law violated its free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment and California's state constitution.

The law requires social media companies with a sizable gross annual revenue to issue semiannual reports that describe their content moderation practices, and provide data on the number of objectionable posts and how they were addressed.

U.S. District Judge William Shubb in an eight-page decision dismissed the social media company's request.

"While the reporting requirement does appear to place a substantial compliance burden on social medial companies, it does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law," Shubb wrote.

X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shubb will meet with the lawyers in the case on Feb. 26 for a scheduling conference.

Shubb held "terms of service" requirements of the law to be integral and said their presence could be a major deciding factor for users.

X has been under fire regarding its content moderation rules, with many companies pausing advertising on the platform. Since Musk took over X in October 2022, its monthly U.S. ad revenue declined at least 55% year-over-year each month, according to third-party data provided to Reuters in October.

The social media platform also faces scrutiny in Europe. The European Union earlier this month said it was investigating X over suspected breaches of obligations, partly relating to posts following Hamas' attacks on Israel, its first probe under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Following Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, X and other social media companies were flooded with fake images and misleading information.

X said it remains committed to complying with the DSA and is cooperating with the regulatory process.

The case is X Corp v Bonta, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, No. 2:23-cv--01939.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler)
A group of political and business leaders are urging Oregon's legislators to reform the state's permissive drug laws in the beginning of 2024. If lawmakers don't act, that coalition will bring a ballot measure to the very voters who decriminalized drugs three years ago.

"Oregonians still believe that the best strategy is a minimal use of criminal justice resources to encourage people into treatment and recovery," former state legislator and onetime director of the Oregon Department of Corrections Max Williams said. "But they also realize the tools that we've currently given law enforcement . . . are not working."

Needles, foil and other drug paraphernalia filled a woman's tent in downtown Portland in July 2023. As public opinion sours on Oregon's drug decriminalization law, a group of political and business leaders hope 2024 will bring reform.

PORTLAND WOMAN KNOCKED OUT BY ATTACKER BLAMES CITY FOR SLOW POLICE RESPONSE: WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES

Nearly 60% of Oregon voters passed Measure 110 in 2020, decriminalizing personal use amounts of all drugs and redirecting swaths of the state's marijuana tax revenue to fund grants for addiction services.

The rollout was beleaguered by bureaucratic flubs and a brief implementation timeline. It also coincided with the nationwide fentanyl crisis. More than 100,000 people across the country died from a drug overdose in 2022, a 45% increase since 2019, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Now, polls consistently show Oregonians souring on the unprecedented (and so far unrepeated) law. The Coalition to Fix and Improve Ballot Measure 110 has commissioned three this year, the most recent of which found 74% of respondents favored recriminalizing possession of fentanyl, heroin and meth and making treatment required, not voluntary, as an alternative to jail.

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A full 86% of respondents also said Oregon should immediately ban the use of hard drugs in public.

"Oregon has turned into an international spectacle, and I think we looked at each other and realized that we made an enormous mistake," Portland trial attorney Kristin Olson, who voted in favor of the ballot measure and describes herself as a lifelong liberal, previously told Fox News.

The coalition, backed by big names like Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle, has put forth a voter initiative they believe would put the state back on the right track.

The proposal doesn't completely repeal the law. It still prioritizes diversion, treatment and recovery over prosecution and jail, but recriminalizes possession of small amounts of hard drugs and completely bans public drug use. It also aims to improve oversight of how tax dollars are spent and beef up penalties for drug dealing.

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When Measure 110 took effect, it made possession of small amounts of drugs punishable by just a $100 fine, which suspects could have waived if they completed a substance use assessment. But less than 1% of people ticketed have completed a treatment evaluation, according to Oregon Judicial Department data.

"Writing somebody a ticket that is oftentimes less than what you would get for parking illegally in downtown Portland is not motivating people to seek treatment and recovery," Williams told Fox News. "The data for that is overwhelming."

But supporters of Measure 110 say the 1% figure doesnt capture the more than 7,000 people who received substance use treatment in the first quarter of 2023. A further 11,000 clients utilized peer support services and 14,000 accessed harm reduction supplies like clean needles, smoking kits and naloxone, according to state data.

Oregon has so far approved $264 million in grants for more than 200 service providers, according to the most recent audit from the Secretary of States office.

Measure 110 supporters worry a return to criminalization will be "harmful and ineffective."

"It re-stigmatizes people who need help. People are less likely to get help when they are stigmatized," Tera Hurst, executive director of the Oregon Health Justice Recovery Alliance, a coalition of state and national groups that supported the law, told The Oregonian.

Tents cover an open space near the Steel Bridge in Portland, Oregon, on July 7, 2023. Polling from the right-centrist firm, GS Strategy Group, and Democratic firm, Impact Research, found more than 60% of respondents believe Measure 110 has made homelessness worse in Oregon.

STATE OF SQUATTING: AMERICA IS AT A 'TURNING POINT,' SAYS HANDYMAN WHO HELPS PEOPLE RECLAIM THEIR HOMES

And although overdose deaths in the state increased nearly 75% from 2020 to 2022, researchers at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine wrote in a September paper that they found no evidence of an association between decriminalization and fatal overdose rates in Oregon. The same was said for Washington, where drugs were decriminalized for just over two months after the state Supreme Court threw out the previous drug possession law.

Williams conceded that decriminalization did not create Oregon's current overdose, crime and livability issues, but argues that it "exacerbated every one of these situations."

He said it's telling that, three years later, Oregon is still the only state to have decriminalized drugs.

"Nobody's looked at Oregon and said, 'Wow, this is a model of fabulous success,'" he said. "If anything, a state like our friends to the north in Washington, I think, quickly moved to reinstate criminal sanctions associated with possession of these hard drugs because they did not want to follow the pattern that Oregon had followed."

The Oregon legislature heard testimony on Measure 110 earlier this month ahead of its upcoming short session in February. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler urged lawmakers to criminalize public drug use, and downtown business owners blamed the law for turning the city into a "virtual drug supermarket."

If the legislature doesn't take action, Williams said the coalition is prepared to run its proposal as a ballot measure. But they'd prefer not to wait for November.

"There really are people that are dying as a result of this policy," he said. Waiting "just delays the crisis that we're in that much longer."





Original article source: Enormous mistake': Business leaders, residents fed up with blue state drug laws issue 2024 ultimatum
SAN DIEGO  San Diego environmental groups are threatening a lawsuit against the federal commission that regulates water infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border over the ongoing spill of sewage that has hobbled access to the regions southernmost beaches for years.

San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation (CERF) announced their intention to sue the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) over what they say are hundreds of violations of federal law in a 24-page letter sent to the agency on Thursday.

These alleged violations stem from failing infrastructure at a sewage treatment facility near the border that has contributed to the chronic discharge of waste into the Tijuana River. Since the 1990s, the groups estimate that billions of gallons of waste have flowed to the Pacific Ocean through releases from this facility and another in Tijuana.

Lifeguards prepare for high surf at local beaches

The sewage has overwhelmed coastal marine waters, leading to prolonged beach closures in Imperial Beach and Coronado, reports of Shigella and E. coli infections among beachgoers, and hits to local economic development.

The people of the South Bay have suffered the failure of governmental leadership at all levels for far too long, Marco Gonzalez, executive director of CERF, said in a statement. Like these impacted communities, CERF is tired of waiting for officials to step up and finally address this decades old problem. Without citizen enforcement, its clear nothing will change.

The two groups previously sued IBWC in 2022 for its pollution of the Tijuana Estuary and Pacific Ocean from its treatment plant located near the port of San Ysidro. The lawsuit ended in a settlement that opened up about $300 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to modernize and expand the facility.

However, according to CERF and Coastkeeper, IBWC later acknowledged that the plant needed at least $150 million in repairs just to bring it back into basic working condition, while the expansion to accommodate future needs would cost upwards of $1 billion.

Since the settlement, the environmental groups allege that the condition of the treatment plant has continued to deteriorate, leading to further discharges of harmful chemicals above the limit permitted by the sites license that have led to unsafe bacteria levels in the Pacific Ocean.

The city of Imperial Beach has been particularly impacted by this, with its public beach having been closed for over two years.

IBWCs continuous discharges of sewage and toxic chemicals are threatening public health,

degrading the Tijuana estuary and  denying the people of Imperial Beach the right to live and recreate in a safe and clean environment, Coastkeeper executive director Phillip Musegaas said in a statement.

State and federal representatives held an informational hearing earlier this month in Chula Vista to discuss the cross-border pollution after pressure from local officials, including a state of emergency declaration in San Diego County over the crisis.

Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre said in October that Gov. Gavin Newsom also sent a letter to President Joe Biden two months prior to beseech the federal government to step up and address the issue.

The sewage pollution is out of control, there was just a spill this week. Its just a series of never-ending spills, and right now, its not just from Mexico, its our side of the border as well, said Serge Dedina, the former mayor of Imperial Beach.

During the hearing earlier this month, federal officials said that some repairs are underway at the plant, adding that the Biden Administration requested an additional $310 million from Congress to go towards further repairs and maintenance. That funding has been held up in the Republican-controlled Congress with other spending bills, according to Aguirre.

Lifeguards prepare for high surf at local beaches

In the notice letter sent to IBWC Thursday, the two advocacy groups said they would follow through on filing a lawsuit in federal court if the alleged violations detailed in the letter are not fixed within 60 days.

We are determined to hold IBWC accountable and compel action to solve this Tijuana sewage crisis once and for all, Musegaas said.

The full letter from CoastKeeper and CERF can be viewed below. FOX 5 has reached out to IBWC for comment and is awaiting response.

60-Day-Notice.IBWC_Download

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Lithuanian MEP Petras Austravicius has said that signatures are being collected in the European Parliament for a vote of no confidence in the European Commission due to the unfreezing of 10 billion for Hungary on the eve of the recent Ukraine-focused EU summit.

Source: Austrevicius said this in an interview with Delfi, reports European Pravda

Details: The MEP believes that the unfreezing of the funds was the European Unions "payment" for Hungary's decision not to block the start of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations.

Quote: "The Commission, in my estimation, made a mistake. If the unfreezing was necessary, it should have been done earlier. I have not seen a single analytical paper from the European Commission on the basis of which they [the funds  ed.] were unfrozen," he said.

Austravicius insists that EU member states were given no warning of the decision by the European Commission.

"So, the decision is a political one, and therefore, who takes the risk? [European Commission President Ursula] von der Leyen. Therefore, some of my colleagues in the European Parliament have begun an initiative process  they are collecting signatures [for a vote] of no confidence in the EC," Austravicius added.

In his opinion, Viktor Orban "seems to be the winner" in this situation: "He dictates the conditions, he is the one who starts and ends the process. But Hungary will pay a heavy price for this, because distrust of Orban has increased even more."

On 13 December, on the eve of the EU summit, the European Commission unlocked 10 billion of EU funds for Hungary that had been frozen over rule-of-law issues. Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban had previously promised to block financial and political support for Ukraine during the summit.

Ultimately, however, the Hungarian Prime Minister backed down during the vote on opening accession negotiations with Ukraine.

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EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell speaks in the European Parliament building in Strasbourg. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell on Friday condemned Russia's recent airstrikes on Ukrainian cities, calling them "barbaric" and yet another attack on innocent civilians.

"It was yet another cowardly and indiscriminate targeting of schools, a metro station and a hospital," Borrell wrote on the X platform.

Borrell said he had spoken to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

"Ukraine's fight for freedom against tyranny is a common fight," Borrell wrote.

The EU remains committed to providing additional military equipment in 2024 to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion, Borrell said.

"The EU stands with Ukraine, as long as it takes," he wrote.

Russia's latest bombing of Ukraine resulted in at least 26 people killed and almost 140 injured in unprecedented airstrikes across the country shortly before the New Year, according to regional Ukrainian authorities on Friday.
The North Umpqua Canyon in winter has been one of my favorite places to visit for more than a decade, but I had not returned since one of the worst wildfire disasters in state history.

The 131,419-acre Archie Creek Fire burned at the highest severity of all the 2020 Labor Day fires, killing much or most of the trees across a whopping 100,000 acres of the fires footprint.

Even though Ive explored and written about countless wildfire scars  and how they showcase forest rebirth  I was wary of returning to the waterfall trails that were such a joy to explore when I was a young reporter working in southern Oregon.

Turns out, such concern was misplaced.

Yes, some of my favorite waterfall hikes were roasted, but many werent, and the combination of burned and unburned waterfall hikes offers a fascinating contrast east of Roseburg along Oregon Highway 138.

The Archie Creek Fire burned some  but not all  of the waterfalls in the North Umpqua Canyon. On the left is Fall Creek Falls, which was burned, and on right, Toketee Falls, which wasn't.

It was pleasant to hike Susan Creek Falls Trail on a winter day and, amid burned forest, feel the sunlight streaming down and warming the pathway. The burned forest also opened up interesting new views of Fall Creek Falls, allowing you to see its 100-foot double-tier in a way that wasnt possible under its previous rainforest canopy.

The Umpquas two most famous waterfalls werent burned. The forest of Watson and Toketee falls remain just as lush and verdant as ever, concealing what could easily be considered Oregons most scenic waterfalls.

Its funny, for years I referred to the North Umpqua as southern Oregons answer to the Columbia River Gorge. Both have numerous waterfall hikes right off the highway, after all. Now, another similarity: Both are excellent spots to see waterfalls burned and undisturbed by the last decades rise of wildfires.

Where to stay on a visit to the North Umpqua Canyon in winter?

Umpqua's Last Resort offers RV sites and cabin rentals in the middle of the North Umpqua Canyon.

There are a few places to spend a night in the North Umpqua Canyon, but the place I stayed this past visit was Umpquas Last Resort. Its a private campground with RV sites and small cabins that start between $89 and $120 per night. The upside is its nestled right in the middle of the canyon, close to burned and unburned waterfalls.

Other places to stay the night are mainly centered in the Glide area.

Waterfalls of the North Umpqua

There are numerous waterfall hikes in the North Umpqua, typically beginning right around Glide. For the sake of simplicity, Im going to highlight two burned and two unburned waterfall hikes right off Highway 138 that are normally accessible in winter. Other waterfalls will be open too, but they might take more adventuring, may be snow-covered or could be closed by gates. As ever, explore at your own risk.

Burned: Susan Creek Falls (1 mile round-trip)

Susan Creek Falls in the North Umpqua Canyon sits in forest burned by the 2020 Archie Creek Fire.

This hike is fascinating for a number of reasons, but the reason I enjoyed it most was the ability to bask in winter sunshine while doing the hike. Traditionally, this trail would be deeply shaded below its combination of western red cedar, incense cedar, Douglas fir, hemlock and other flora. But after the burn, the forest was quite open, allowing for a hiking experience that felt similar to central or eastern Oregon.

The forest here burned hot, but there are still trees alive, and its fun to pick out the green in the canopy as you walk below them. Susan Creek Falls itself, a roughly 50-foot cascade, is sunny and open. The Bureau of Land Management has done a nice job rebuilding the trail, guardrails and adding a picnic table post-fire.

Location: Right off Highway 138, east of Glide, just past mile marker 28.

Burned: Fall Creek Falls (1.8 miles round-trip)

Double-tiered Fall Creek Falls in the North Umpqua Canyon sits in forest burned by the 2020 Archie Creek Fire.

This was the trail I anticipated being most bummed about. Before the fire, Fall Creek Falls was a deep rainforest jungle, nestled in a canyon of titanic boulders that felt like something out of Middle Earth. Indeed, the trail and canyon has lost much of its lushness.

Even so, its still a great hike with the upside now being able to see a lot more of your surroundings. The views now showcase both 50-foot tiers of the waterfall from multiple angles, and an upside I didnt expect was better views of the rock formations, including one that looks like a giant turtle.

The pool at the base of the waterfall is still lush, and the area where the trail weaves through the middle of a giant boulder is still a major highlight. I do miss the old Middle Earth version of this trail, but its still a path worth trekking.

Location: Right off Highway 138, east of Glide, just past mile marker 32.

Unburned: Watson Falls (1 mile round-trip)

Watson Falls is one of Oregon's tallest and most impressive waterfalls at 272 feet tall. It's located in the North Umpqua Canyon.

This unburned waterfall might have my vote for the most beautiful waterfall in Oregon  and for my money it offers the best surprise moment on a hiking trail.

At 272-feet, Watson is typically considered the third-tallest frequently visited waterfall after Multnomah and Salt Creek falls.

The difference is unlike those two, which are major tourist stops where the waterfall is visible almost right away, Watson is hidden back in the forest. You have to hike a little ways until, at a little rock outcrop, you look up and its suddenly there, offering a moment of real surprise at the size and scale of the falls.

Watson Falls is one of Oregon's tallest and most impressive waterfalls at 272 feet tall. It's located in the North Umpqua Canyon.

Watson is often overlooked by its counterpart Toketee, and I suspect its because most people visit in the summer when Watson isnt nearly as impressive. In the winter, though, Id say Watson is most beautiful not only in the Umpqua, but maybe in the state.

Location: Just off Highway 138, east of Glide, just past mile marker 62.

Unburned: Toketee Falls (1 mile round-trip)

Toketee Falls is one of Oregon's most impressive waterfalls, and it's located in the North Umpqua Canyon.

This is probably the most famous hike in the Umpqua Canyon, and for good reason, as Toketee Falls thunders into a colosseum of columnar basalt at one of Oregons truly iconic spots. My recent hike here reminded me its not all about the waterfall viewpoint, but the hike itself is really fun, showcasing where the river enters a deep, mossy, mystical gorge in the run-up to the falls.

One thing I love to talk with other hikers here is about Chris Korbulic, an extreme whitewater kayaker from Grants Pass who became the first person to launch a kayak off Toketee Falls. Could you imagine lowering yourself down into that canyon above the waterfall, launching off a 30-foot falls into a boiling cauldron and then dropping another 80 feet into the pool below? Me either, but its sure is fun to think about while youre looking out over one of Oregons great special places, untouched by wildfire.

Location: Just off Highway 138, east of Glide, around mile marker 59, turn left onto Toketee Road 34. Keep left at forks and follow signs for large trailhead parking area.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon's Umpqua waterfalls offer beauty even after wildfire
Maria Garcia, left, looks at a purse as ShaVante Dickey, right, an intern at Metropolitan Family Services, manages tables of purses donated by Love Purse on Dec. 18, 2023. Love Purse is a nonprofit organization that provides free purses filled with toiletries and other essentials. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

When the word purse is mentioned, some people may think about name brands. Others may think about fashion accessories. But for Pilsen resident Maria Castro, purses mean love.

Castro is the founder and CEO of Love Purse, a nonprofit born in 2021 that collects purses, fills them with toiletries and a note of inspiration, and then donates them to shelters and safe havens for women in need, who are often escaping dire situations such as domestic violence or human trafficking.

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A lot of times victims leave in the middle of the night with just the clothes on their back, so to be able to come to our shelter and get a purse filled with such wonderful things, some nice journals and inspirational notes is great, said Jane Ukleja, chief development officer at Guardian Angel Community Services in Joliet, a 126-year-old nonprofit agency that offers a domestic violence program, sexual assault treatment and service center, foster care and transitional living, among other services.

Its not just a purse, Castro said. In my purse, I carry everything  a rosary, things my grandkids have made me, photos of my mom and dad, things that mean something to me. This (purse) gives them some hope, an inkling of realization that somebody cared enough.

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I never realized the number of women that are trafficked all the time; it wasnt on my radar, Castro said. Now when I hear from shelters that I help that are helping trafficked women, homeless and domestic violence survivors ... I understand the need.

Castro heard about a spike in domestic violence calls since the pandemic started, a marked increase in people who were locked down with their abusers, many suffering in silence because they are not U.S. citizens and worried about deportation.

That was the impetus for the creation of Love Purse, Castro said. A friend called her about the huge influx of women in need of help. Castro, a regional external affairs manager for Comcasts Community Investment team for 18 years, leapt into action. She went out and bought one of everything from a list and asked friends to do the same. Then she looked down at the plastic bag with all the contents.

I thought: How insensitive would that be to say, Here, give these women these plastic bags. It could be delivered in a much more beautifully thoughtful way, she said. So I ordered purses from Amazon, all under $20  large, pretty, and started filling them with toiletries, handwritten notes of inspiration, letting them know that they mattered. And that this too shall pass. I thought, Theyre gonna feel the love that was put into this purse from me. I know they will.

Castro, 66, told her husband the endeavor was producing a little love purse, one filled with love. And the name Love Purse stuck.

The campaign has grown solely from word-of-mouth and social media, with the hashtag #lovepurse. People have started reaching out to Castro to help. Friends challenge friends to honor a loved one by giving a love purse in their name to a local safe haven. Women hold parties to collect and gather purses to donate. Real estate agents and Girl Scout troops have participated in the cause. Those who host events become Angel Ambassadors of Love Purse and get a signature Love Purse T-shirt.

The youngest ambassador just celebrated her bat mitzvah. She used the money she received to get purses. Castro said Oprah Winfrey has donated purses to auction at an annual gala. Angel ambassadors have delivered purses to those in need in Ukraine, Canada, Mexico and in 10 states so far. Numerous corporate supporters can be seen on the Love Purse website, as well as testimonials from organizations that have worked with Love Purse.

Only new purses and toiletries are accepted. Gently used purses are donated to Goodwill.

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Love Purse, a nonprofit organization, provides free purses that are filled with things like toiletries, a personal note of inspiration, chocolates, mints, dental floss, notepads and pens. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

We just seem to have this momentum, Castro said. My goal is to do this in all 50 states, have an angel ambassador in every single state that can help us find a womens shelter thats in need.

And as Love Purse grows, so do the demographics of the recipients. Women in hospitals who are going through chemotherapy are getting purses filled with special deodorants and lotions. Moms who have lost a loved one to violence can get a purse that includes a prayer card and a journal. Castro keeps purses in her car to have them at the ready to give to migrants. Shell hop out when she sees migrants to give the purses away.

Thats something near and dear to my heart because my dad was a migrant worker, so I understand the complexity of that and what it means to not have, Castro said. I know the need and I see it firsthand now with everybody thats coming here. As I get (purses) in, I give them out.

This is what its supposed to be ... putting love on the shoulders of women in need, one Love Purse at a time., she said. Thats what is happening. As we evolve, we start giving to women who are just in need ... they dont have to be homeless or in a trafficking shelter or domestic violence shelter. It could just be a woman whos going through a horrible time and just needs to be reminded that she matters.

Dignity, value and respect are all things that Castro hopes a purse carries with it.

Jacquiline Cisneros, with her newborn Natalia, is seen with the purse she chose at at Metropolitan Family Services on Dec. 18, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Gwendolyn McNutt has been a Love Purse board member since its inception. She said the organization has donated close to 12,000 purses. Castro sees that as close to 12,000 lives affected.

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Nicole Sancen, a manager at the Hooters restaurant in Joliet, has collected purses to donate to Love Purse for the past two holiday seasons. This year, she reached out to donate purses filled with full-size toiletries to Guardian Angel Community Services.

Ukleja, of Guardian Angel in Joliet, was at the restaurant the morning of Dec. 19 to receive the purses and transport them to her agency. She said it was a phenomenal, generous donation. Ukleja said her organization, whose domestic violence program just celebrated 40 years in October, always has an updated wish list on its website for essential items that are needed.

Its all about women empowerment, Castro said. I have three granddaughters, and Im always telling all of them how strong they are, how beautiful they are and how theyre gonna do great things. Why am I going to say that if Im not gonna lead by example?

When women are given this purse, I have to believe that it may have them turn their thought process around, Like OK, I can do this now. Im going to be OK, Castro said. When these women have to leave everything, they have to start all over again. At least with this purse, they can. And they can start filling it again with the love that they need. My hope and prayer is that it will make a big difference in the life of a woman and one day she will pay it forward.

drockett@chicagotribune.com
FILE - Carlos Reales Dominguez appears in Yolo Superior Court in Woodland, Calif., June 20, 2023, with court-appointed public defender Dan Hutchinson. Dominguez, accused of stabbing two people to death, has been found competent to stand trial. The Sacramento Bee says that Dominguez will return to court on Jan. 5 to face charges that he killed a homeless man and a University of California, Davis student and badly wounded a homeless woman in April near campus. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool, File)

DAVIS, Calif. (AP)  A former college student accused of stabbing two people to death and wounding a third in Northern California was found competent to stand trial, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Carlos Reales Dominguez will return to court on Jan. 5 and criminal proceedings will be reinstated if there isn't any challenge to his mental state, according to Yolo County assistant chief deputy district attorney Melinda Aiello, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Dominguez had been a third-year student at the University of California, Davis majoring in biological sciences until April 25, when he was expelled for academic reasons.

Stabbings near campus began shortly after. He is charged in the deaths of a 50-year-old homeless man and a 20-year-old UC Davis student. A homeless woman who was attacked in her tent survived.

The attacks terrified the community. Businesses closed early and some students were too scared to attend even daytime classes as their parents pleaded with them to return home.

Dominguez was arrested May 4, a week after the first body was found, near the location of the second attack. He later blurted out at a court hearing that he was guilty and wanted to apologize.

The case was put on hold in August after prosecutors agreed Dominguez wasn't mentally capable of taking part in criminal proceedings. Three medical experts testified he was schizophrenic and a judge ordered him to receive medication over his objections.

Dominguez was sent to the state hospital in Atascadero until he was found competent to understand court proceedings and take part in his defense.

A doctor there submitted a Dec. 20 report declaring him competent, Aiello said.
NEW YORK  Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen used Googles Bard AI to generate bogus legal filings in a bid to end his court-mandated supervised release, his lawyer admitted in a federal court filing Thursday.

Cohen is currently on supervised release after serving half of a three-year sentence following his 2018 guilty plea for arranging hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during Trumps 2016 presidential run.

Cohens attorney Danya Perry wrote that her client thought Google Bard was a souped-up search engine and not a Chat GPT-like artificial intelligence tool when he used the service to generate three phony decisions to support his argument for the court terminating his post-release supervision, according to attorney Danya Perry.

This is a simple story of a client making a well-intentioned but poorly-informed suggestion, Perry wrote in Thursdays letter to Judge Jesse M. Furman.

Cohens lawyers filed the motion asking Furman to relieve their client of their courts supervision in November, but the eagle-eyed judge found notable inconsistencies in the three decisions cited as support for their argument.

One was an excerpt taken from a Fourth Circuit decision that had nothing to do with supervised release, while another quoted from a decision by the Board of Veterans Appeals, an administrative tribunal that does not rule on criminal matters, the judge wrote.

The third case, according to Furmans order, appears to correspond to nothing at all.

Perry said that Cohen believed the decisions were legitimate when he handed them to attorney David Schwartz, who she blamed for failing to vet Cohens research before bundling it with the November filing.

Cohens filing is reminiscent of the legal chicanery detected by federal Judge Kevin Castel in June, when he fined two New York lawyers $5,000 for using ChatGPT to generate false cases in support of his clients case against Colombian airline Avianca.

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Alex Batty had been living separately from his mother and her new boyfriend for weeks before a final row prompted him to leave, The Telegraph can reveal.

Melanie Batty, 43, moved from a caravan into a newly converted stone house in early November, but was only joined by her 17-year-old son two days before he fled the Pyrenees on foot in search of a normal life.

Greater Manchester Police has launched a criminal investigation after she allegedly abducted Alex, then aged 11, from his legal guardian, his grandmother, while on holiday in Spain in 2017.

Since returning to the UK, Alex has spoken of living under false names with his mother and grandfather, David Batty, in a hand-to-mouth existence in and around hippy communes in Morocco, Spain and most recently France, working for hours a day on the land in return for food, and enjoying no social life.

He said this was because his spiritual mother was stridently anti-government and wanted to avoid him becoming a slave to the system.

However, The Telegraph can now reveal that in the months before her cover was blown, Ms Batty had adopted a more comfortable lifestyle that appeared to involve her son less.

She moved from a caravan near Lac Montbel to a 480-a-month converted cowshed in the hamlet of Villefort, Aude, with her boyfriend, Fabrizio, who is believed to be Italian.

The boy and his grandfather  I knew them as Zack and Peter  had been living somewhere else for the first five or six weeks after Melanie moved in, said Tony Smith, who owns the property. They joined a couple of days before it all blew up and Alex left.

Mr Smith, 81, said Ms Batty had become well known in the local area, particularly in the nearby town of Chalabre, where she spent a lot of time sitting outside bars and cafes with her laptop writing what he presumed was a book.

She knew an awful lot of people and was well liked, he said. If you go into any bar then all patrons would know her, even though her French was non-existent. The boy was rarely with her. Occasionally he and his grandfather would join.

Ms Batty also appeared to become less reliant on working the land in order to pay her way. Mr Smith said he believed the rent was paid for mainly by Fabrizio.

It is not known where or how Alex and his grandfather were living during this time.

Alex, who received no education from 2017 but dreamed of becoming a computer engineer, has described Ms Batty as a good person but not a great mum.

Having previously tried unsuccessfully to explore the possibility of going home, he escaped on foot towards Toulouse in the second week of this month. He is now at home with Susan Caruana, his grandmother, in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Alex is back in Britain after he fled the Pyrenees on foot in search of a normal life - The Sun

Although apparently reliant on Fabrizios money, Ms Batty was very much in charge, said Mr Smith, a former oil industry worker.

The French have a saying  animal de compagnie. He was a lapdog, essentially. My impression was that Rose [Ms Battys false name] had given herself to God, whatever that means, and she was essentially averse to relationships unless it was on a spiritual basis. But they were certainly very fond of each other.

Mr Smith revealed that Ms Batty had previously let slip that she was not her sons legal guardian, but that she changed the subject when he questioned her about it.

He also said she tried to sell him the caravan she had been using in Montbel, where she had been asked to leave because the site was closing to non-residents for the winter, for 3,000.

Mr Smith added that anyone attempting to evade the police could easily slip south to Andorra or Spain. They hardly ever check your passport at the border, he said.

However, he added that Ms Batty might well remain in the area, having taken refuge with one of the numerous cults for which this part of the Pyrenees is famous.

They are fairly well concealed and close-knit communities, he said. These groups have the maires [local mayors] permission, because they are sympathetic to them. She could still be with one of them.

Mr Smith has not been contacted by police in either the UK or France, despite GMPs formal investigation.

I was amazed when all this came out. To think Id been harbouring a fugitive, he said. When someone gives you their name you just accept it, you dont wonder if its false.

He said his former tenant appeared to have disconnected her phone and was no longer replying via email, adding: Shes smart enough to know that you can be traced via your IP address if you use that.

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv in the early morning of Dec. 29, according to local reports.

Russia unleashed a barrage of attack drones and missiles overnight, targeting regions across Ukraine.

In Lviv, multiple explosions were heard by Kyiv Independent reporters at 8:20 a.m. local time.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy said that according to preliminary information, more than 10 Shahed drones attacked Lviv Oblast.

Other regions in western Ukraine, including Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Lutsk, which borders Poland, also had air raid alerts.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported falling debris in at least two districts of Kyiv as of 8:20 a.m. local time. The building of the Lukianivska metro station was damaged by an explosion.

The city authorities also reported a fire on the premises of a warehouse in Kyiv, while in Dnipro, local reports said a shopping center was on fire. Sadoviy reported a fire at a "critical infrastructure facility" in Lviv.

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported as of 6:20 a.m., the city of Kharkiv had been hit by 10 Russian strikes overnight. The air raid alert sounded again shortly before 8:00 a.m.

One woman was killed and ten others were injured in Zaporizhzhia, Governor Yurii Malashko said.

High-rise buildings in the city were damaged by blast waves and debris, while one rocket destroyed a home.

Read also: Explosions heard in Kyiv, mayor urges residents to take shelter

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Editor's note: This is a continuing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv on Dec. 29 as Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to take shelter at 7:35am.

Local media also reported subsequent explosions at around 7:53am in Kyiv. At 7:55am city authorities reported more explosions and said air defenses were operational.

Russia overnight on Dec. 29 unleashed a barrage of missiles and UAVs targeting multiple cities across Ukraine, local media reported.

Six explosions from S-300 missiles were recorded in Kharkiv as Russia continues to pound the area with airstrikes. In Lviv in western Ukraine, explosions from drone strikes were recorded as air defenses operated in the city.

Strategic bomber aircraft capable of firing long-range missiles were reportedly detected in Russian airspace near Ukraine's Sumy Oblast.

Read also: Russia fires barrage at multiple cities in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Explosions rocked the cities of Lviv, Kharkiv and Cherkasy on the night of 28-29 December.

Source: Andrii Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv; Suspilne, a Ukrainian news outlet; National Police in Kharkiv Oblast

Quote from Andrii Sadovyi: "Lviv. An explosion was heard in the city. Two more air targets are approaching [the city]. Stay in shelters!"

Details: Sadovyi reported later that there had been two strikes in the city.

National Police said a series of explosions had rung out in Kharkiv.

An explosion was also heard in the city of Cherkasy.

Updated at 05:18: Ihor Terekhov, mayor of Kharkiv, stated that the city was under a large-scale missile attack. There were at least six explosions.

Background: The Russian forces launched attack drones at Ukraine from the south and north on the evening of 28 December, and the UAVs reached Volyn and Lviv oblasts at night.

The Ukrainian military detected a take-off of nine Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Olenya airfield in Russias Murmansk Oblast on the night of 28-29 December.

An air-raid warning was issued in some oblasts due to the missile threat.

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A suspected rabid fox is attacking people in the Coronado National Forest, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The department said Wednesday that two visitors, a Utah man and a mountain biker, were attacked in separate incidents in the Molino Basin Campground at the forest in southern Arizona by an "extremely aggressive" gray fox. Any sightings of a gray fox near the area should be reported to the Arizona Game and Fish dispatch center.

Anne Justice-Allen is the lead veterinarian at the Arizona Game and Fish Department. She says rabies is common in southern Arizona among land animals like skunks, but foxes are less commonly infected.

But when they are, she said foxes stay infected longer and are more likely to pass it on to other animals, so it's important to identify them.

"Animals with rabies generally behave abnormally," Justice-Allen said. "Aggression in gray foxes is especially unusual."

On the lookout: 3 people have been bitten by coyotes in 3 days in north Phoenix

She said foxes are usually active at night and would not normally approach people.

In addition to contacting the center if people see an animal behaving aggressively, Justice-Allen said park visitors should keep their distance and keep their pets on a leash.

'This is unusual': Recent spate of busy beavers in Phoenix, Tempe has rescuers bewildered

Arizona Game and Fish euthanizes animals that are suspected of having rabies and examines the brains to look for and confirm the virus.

"For the most part, wildlife are healthy and free of rabies," Justice-Allen said. "Things like this do happen, but it shouldn't be something that would keep people from going out and enjoying Coronado National Forest or any of our wild and scenic areas in the state."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suspected rabid fox at Coronado National Forest in southern Arizona
Claim:

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution expressly specifies that a criminal conviction for insurrection is needed to disqualify a candidate from state or federal office.

Rating:

Rating: False

On Dec. 28, 2023, a user on X made a post falsely claiming that a reading of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution showed that former U.S. President Donald Trump would need to be convicted of insurrection in order to be removed from the ballot for the 2024 election.

A rumor said that the 14th Amendment requires former US President Donald Trump to receive a criminal conviction in order to be removed from the 2024 election ballot.

The post in question read as follows:

In order to be removed from the ballot under the 14th amendment, there needs to be a CRIMINAL conviction for the crime of insurrection. That has never happened. Therefore, you cannot remove Trump from the ballot under the 14th amendment. Continuously saying the opposite of that makes you sound like a person who never stopped eating paste when you left kindergarten.

The user's post and its incorrect information ended with a last line that apparently remarked about users who post incorrect information.

The data in the post did not square with a reading of the 14th Amendment or the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service's (CRS) study of the text.

What Is This About?

Trump was indicted on Aug. 1 on four felony conspiracy counts in special counsel Jack Smith's 2020 election interference case. In a statement delivered on the same day, Smith called the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021 "an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy."

"As described in the indictment, it was fueled by lies," Smith continued. "Lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the U.S. government, the nations process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election."

On Dec. 19, the Colorado Supreme Court declared Trump would be removed from the state's ballot, citing a clause in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Nine days later, Maines Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows also removed Trump from the state's primary ballot, citing the same clause.

What Does the 14th Amendment Say?

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment reads as follows:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

When Was the 14th Amendment Enacted?

Findings published by the CRS, that also were cited in similar reporting by NBC News, laid out more information about the history of Section 3:

Enacted in the aftermath of the Civil War, Section 3 seems specifically designed for the Reconstruction Era but may be applicable to modern times as well. Section 3 was for the most part used only for the short period between its ratification and the 1872 enactment of the Amnesty Act. The Amnesty Act removed the disqualification from most Confederates and their sympathizers and was enacted by a two-thirds majority of Congress in accordance with the terms of Section 3. Some argue the Amnesty Act operates retrospectively. In a recent case, Cawthorn v. Amalfi, discussed in this Legal Sidebar, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found that the act does not apply to later insurrections or treasonous acts.

Is a Criminal Conviction Needed for Ballot Removal?

The report from the CRS specified, "Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment does not expressly require a criminal conviction, and historically, one was not necessary."

Further, the report laid out the history of the usage of Section 3:

Reconstruction Era federal prosecutors brought civil actions in court to oust officials linked to the Confederacy, and Congress in some cases took action to refuse to seat Members. Congress last used Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1919 to refuse to seat a socialist Congressman accused of having given aid and comfort to Germany during the First World War, irrespective of the Amnesty Act. The Congressman, Victor Berger, was eventually seated at a subsequent Congress after the Supreme Court threw out his espionage conviction for judicial bias.

Sources:

Amdt14.S3.1 Overview of Disqualification Clause. Constitution Annotated, https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S3-1/ALDE_00000848/.

Elsea, Jennifer K. The Insurrection Bar to Office: Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. Congressional Research Service, 2022, crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10569.

Gregorian, Dareh, and Ryan J. Reilly. Special Counsel Charges Trump with Conspiracy to Defraud the U.S. NBC News, 2 Aug. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-indicted-jan-6-grand-jury-2020-election-rcna95199.

Lynch, Myles. Disloyalty & Disqualification: Reconstructing Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. SSRN, 13 Dec. 2020, papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3749407.

Riccardi, Nicholas. Colorado Supreme Court Declares Donald Trump Is Ineligible for the White House. The Associated Press, 19 Dec. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-d16dd8f354eeaf450558378c65fd79a2.

Riccardi, Nicholas, and David Sharp. Maine Bars Trump from Ballot as US Supreme Court Weighs States Authority to Block Former President. The Associated Press, 28 Dec. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-presidential-ballot-election-insurrection-081fd38ce1f20be9b8423cb2f8c66dee.

Shabad, Rebecca. What Is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment? NBC News, 20 Dec. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-14-amendment-section-3-explained-colorado-ballot-ruling-rcna130581.

Special Counsel Jack Smith Delivers Statement. United States Department of Justice, Special Counsel Jack Smiths Office, 1 Aug. 2023, https://www.justice.gov/sco-smith/speech/special-counsel-jack-smith-delivers-statement-0.

Watson, Kathryn, et al. Trump Indicted by Grand Jury in Special Counsel Jack Smiths Jan. 6 Investigation - CBS News. CBS News, 2 Aug. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-indicted-grand-jury-jan-6/.
New Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms  typically dreaded by college hopefuls and their families  will soon be available after a makeover, including some exciting and controversial features.

The forms, which will drop on or before Sunday, intend to be easier and quicker to fill out, but theyre also coming fairly late in the college application season. FAFSA papers normally open up in October, and the timing is raising concerns for experts and students.

When students and families fill out the better FAFSA form, they will find that applying for college financial aid is simpler, easier, and faster than ever before, said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. The Biden-Harris Administrations implementation of the Bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act modernizes an archaic system, simplifies the form, and improves access for underserved students  representing the most significant overhaul of the federal financial aid application since the Reagan era.

Here is what to know about the new forms:

Financial information is easier to obtain

On the new FAFSA form, the student and their contributors must consent to allow the Department of Education to access IRS tax data.

Information about income and finances previously had to be inputted manually, which was a struggle for many families having to find the documents and ensure accuracy.

Theres going to be this thing called a direct data exchange where theyre just going to provide their consent to the Department of Education to ping the IRS and get all of their tax information directly entered into the FAFSA, said Jill Desjean, senior policy analyst for National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

The connection with the IRS will also allow the form to be shorter because fewer financial questions will need to be asked.

The Education Department said the questions will go from 108 to around 50, with some applicants having to complete as few as 18.

I think thats the really big win with the new FAFSA is there a direct data exchange with the IRS so that people dont have to manually enter a bunch of data, Desjean said.

More people qualify for Pell Grants

The new adaptation will make it so more than 600,000 additional students will qualify for Pell Grants this year.

The increase in Pell Grant recipients is due to changes in the calculation for the award, making it so 1.5 million students could receive the full $7,395 grant.

These bold changes will ultimately put affordable higher education within reach of more Americans, including 610,000 students from low-income families who will become eligible for Pell Grants for the very first time, Cardona said.

Financial aid for students who receive money for college from family or a 529 college savings plan will also no longer decrease due to the gifts. Previously, if a student was given money through these means, they would not receive as much aid from the government.

However, the new form also takes away the discount families used to receive for having multiple children in college.

The forms are coming out late

The new FAFSA forms will not be out until the end of December when they are typically released in October.

Additionally, all college students will have to refill out new FAFSA forms because the information could not be transferred from the old system.

This is adding some stress for people to the financial aid process because theyd like to kind of check that box to get the FAFSA out of the way and, unfortunately, were all still kind of waiting for that to be released so they can fill it out, Desjean said.

And what students and families need to understand, she added, is that even after they complete the form, it takes schools a couple of weeks to receive the information.

This means it will take more time for schools to release financial aid offers, giving applicants less time to make decisions on institutions.

If youre going to a selective school that requires you to make a deposit by a certain date, your school is not going to have a very long time to make your financial aid offer to you. The whole timeframe where you sort of get your financial aid offers, compare them and then decide which school you want to go to and commit to, that timeframe is really compressed this year, Desjean said.

The most important thing students can do, she added, is to fill out the FAFSA form as soon as they can and pay attention to deadlines.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The family of the Fort Collins city employee killed in a bus crash while working at a Transfort facility last January is making one final effort to force the prosecution of the city employee who drove the bus.

Jason Telleen, 37, was working as a fueler at Fort Collins' Transfort maintenance and fueling facility at 6570 Portner Road the evening of Jan. 24 when another employee hit and ran over him while parking a bus. After the driver hit Telleen, he put the bus in reverse and ran him over again.

A Fort Collins police investigation resulted in an officer recommending no charges be filed against the driver in mid-February, and the 8th Judicial District Attorneys Office announced its decision not to file charges shortly after.

But Patricia Telleen  unsatisfied with the police departments investigation and district attorneys conclusion  hired her own experts to investigate her sons death. She and her attorneys believe the driver should be charged with careless driving resulting in death, a Class 1 traffic misdemeanor, and filed a motion to compel prosecution in October.

Patricia Telleen displays a photo of her son Jason, who died after being hit by a bus at the Fort Collins Transfort maintenance and fueling facility in January.

Larimer County Judge Jenny Ellison denied Telleen's motion to compel prosecution during a court hearing Dec. 18.

Through her attorneys, Telleen filed an appeal of that decision with the Colorado Supreme Court this week.

The statute of limitations to file charges in this case expires Jan. 24  one year after Jason Telleen was killed  and an appeal through the state supreme court will hopefully be a faster process than an appeal at the district court level, attorney Adam Mueller told the Coloradoan after the Dec. 18 court hearing.

Mueller previously said an appeal to the state supreme court is really the only practical way to make sure some court looks at this before the statute of limitations expires next month. The state supreme court could overrule the district courts decision, appoint a special prosecutor and order the driver be charged; it could agree with the district courts ruling; or it could decline to look at the case, Mueller said.

The appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court argues that the "undisputed evidence" shows the driver of the bus was traveling faster than the posted speed limit and wasn't looking in the direction the bus was heading when Jason Telleen was hit, and if he had been he would have seen Jason Telleen, all of which is evidence that could prove a careless driving resulting in death charge to a jury.

After the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office decided not to file charges in this case, Patricia Telleen hired two experts to investigate, and both determined that charges should be filed. But "the District Attorney was unmoved by the expert reports," which the appeal said included new evidence that the driver may have had long-term vision issues that would have impaired his vision at the time of the crash.

But 8th Judicial District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin said the information is "significant hearsay" and not reliable. Even if it were, McLaughlin said, it's information investigators did not have at the time of his decision against filing charges.

After Ellison's ruling, McLaughlin said in a statement that he stands by his decision not to file charges based on the lack of evidence and his belief his office would not be able to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Fort Collins Police Services did not request criminal charges and the facts simply did not rise to the criminal level," McLaughlin said in an email statement Dec. 19. "Filing a charge not backed by the facts would be a violation of our legal and ethical obligations."

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Appeal filed with Colorado Supreme Court to force charges in Transfort crash